Hieroglyphic Tales

Hieroglyphic Tales

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Hieroglyphic Tales by Horace Walpole

Published:

1785

Pages:

36

Downloads:

1,111

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Hieroglyphic Tales

By

0
(0 Reviews)
An odd little book of ' Hieroglyphic Tales' appeared in 1785, of which only six copies are said to have been printed. The 'Tales' were written by Walpole during the years 1771 and 1772. He described them as 'even wilder than the Castle of Otranto,' and assured his friends that, despite appearances, they were not written 'in the gout' nor when he was 'out of his senses.'

Book Excerpt

e erudition passes the lands of the sea, is too well acquainted with all human sciences to require information. It is therefore that his exalted wisdom prefers accounts of what never happened, to any relation either in history or divinity--You lie, said the emperor; when I exclude truth, I certainly do not mean to forbid divinity--How many divinities have you in Europe, woman? The council of Trent, replied Gronovia, has decided--the emperor began to snore--I mean, continued Gronovia, that notwithstanding all father Paul has asserted, cardinal Palavicini affirms that in the three first sessions of that council--the emperor was now fast asleep, which the princess and the chief eunuch perceiving, clapped several pillows upon his face, and held them there till he expired. As soon as they were convinced he was dead, the princess, putting on every mark of despair and concern, issued to the divan, where she was immediately proclaimed empress. The emperor, it was given out, had died of an hermorrhoidal cholic, but to

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