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Literary
February 1, 1788
The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A Hungarian king, tormented by fear of death and divine judgment due to his sins, sends the executioner to his brother's door at night to illustrate the terror of impending doom, sobering the jesting courtier who had mocked his concerns.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A CERTAIN king in Hungary, being on a time exercised with very serious apprehensions of death; his brother a jolly courtier, would needs know of him what ailed him. O brother, said he, I have been a great Sinner before God, and I know not how to die or to appear before God, in judgment. These are, said his brother, melancholy thoughts, and made a jest of them. The king replied nothing for the present: but the custom of the country was, that if the executioner came and sounded a trumpet before any man's door, he was presently to be led to execution. The king in the dead time of the night sends the executioner to sound the trumpet before his brother's door: who hearing it, and seeing the messenger, hastens pale and trembling to his brother, beseeching him to tell wherein he had offended. O brother, replied the king, you have never offended me: and is the sight of my executioner so dreadful, and shall not I, that have greatly, and grievously offended God, fear to be brought before the judgment seat of Christ?
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Fable
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Death Mortality
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Hungarian King
Death Apprehension
Divine Judgment
Moral Lesson
Sin Fear
Executioner Trumpet
Literary Details
Key Lines
O Brother, Said He, I Have Been A Great Sinner Before God, And I Know Not How To Die Or To Appear Before God, In Judgment.
O Brother, Replied The King, You Have Never Offended Me: And Is The Sight Of My Executioner So Dreadful, And Shall Not I, That Have Greatly, And Grievously Offended God, Fear To Be Brought Before The Judgment Seat Of Christ?