horizonlights that are known only to the dwellers in the far
south…land； among the spice…trees of Punt and the gold mines of
Ophir？〃
There was a murmur of assent among the listeners。
〃The stars；〃 said Tigranes； 〃are the thoughts of the
Eternal。 They are numberless。 But the thoughts of man can be
counted； like the years of his life。 The wisdom of the Magi
is the greatest of all wisdoms on earth； because it knows its
own ignorance。 And that is the secret of power。 We keep men
always looking and waiting for a new sunrise。 But we
ourselves understand that the darkness is equal to the light；
and that the conflict between them will never be ended。〃
〃That does not satisfy me；〃 answered Artaban； 〃for； if the
waiting must be endless； if there could be no fulfilment of
it； then it would not be wisdom to look and wait。 We should
become like those new teachers of the Greeks； who say that
there is no truth； and that the only wise men are those who
spend their lives in discovering and exposing the lies that
have been believed in the world。 But the new sunrise will
certainly appear in the appointed time。 Do not our own books
tell us that this will come to pass； and that men will see the
brightness of a great light？〃
〃That is true；〃 said the voice of Abgarus； 〃every faithful
disciple of Zoroaster knows the prophecy of the Avesta； and
carries the word in his heart。 ‘In that day Sosiosh the
Victorious shall arise out of the number of the prophets in
the east country。 Around him shall shine a mighty brightness；
and he shall make life everlasting； incorruptible； and
immortal； and the dead shall rise again。'〃
〃This is a dark saying；〃 said Tigranes； 〃and it may be
that we shall never understand it。 It is better to consider
the things that are near at hand； and to increase the
influence of the Magi in their own country； rather than to
look for one who may be a stranger； and to whom we must resign
our power。〃
The others seemed to approve these words。 There was a
silent feeling of agreement manifest among them； their looks
responded with that indefinable expression which always
follows when a speaker has uttered the thought that has been
slumbering in the hearts of his listeners。 But Artaban turned
to Abgarus with a glow on his face； and said：
〃My father； I have kept this prophecy in the secret place
of my soul。 Religion without a great hope would be like an
altar without a living fire。 And now the flame has burned
more brightly； and by the light of it I have read other words
which also have come from the fountain of Truth； and speak yet
more clearly of the rising of the Victorious One in his
brightness。〃
He drew from the breast of his tunic two small rolls of
fine parchment； with writing upon them； and unfolded them
carefully upon his knee。
〃In the years that are lost in the past； long before our
fathers came into the land of Babylon； there were wise men in
Chaldea； from whom the first of the Magi learned the secret of
the heavens。 And of these Balaam the son of Beor was one of the
mightiest。 Hear the words of his prophecy： 'There shall come a
star out of Jacob； and a sceptre shall arise out of Israel。'〃
The lips of Tigranes drew downward with contempt； as he
said：
〃Judah was a captive by the waters of Babylon； and the
sons of Jacob were in bondage to our kings。 The tribes of
Israel are scattered through the mountains like lost sheep；
and from the remnant that dwells in Judea under the yoke of
Rome neither star nor sceptre shall arise。〃
〃And yet；〃 answered Artaban； 〃it was the Hebrew Daniel；
the mighty searcher of dreams； the counsellor of kings； the
wise Belteshazzar； who was most honoured and beloved of our
great King Cyrus。 A prophet of sure things and a reader of
the thoughts of the Eternal； Daniel proved himself to our
people。 And these are the words that he wrote。〃 （Artaban
read from the second roll：） 〃 'Know； therefore； and understand
that from the going forth of the commandment to restore
Jerusalem； unto the Anointed One； the Prince； the time shall be
seven and threescore and two weeks。〃'
〃But； my son；〃 said Abgarus； doubtfully； 〃these are
mystical numbers。 Who can interpret them； or who can find the
key that shall unlock their meaning？〃
Artaban answered： 〃It has been shown to me and to my
three companions among the MagiCaspar； Melchior； and
Balthazar。 We have searched the ancient tablets of Chaldea
and computed the time。 It falls in this year。 We have
studied the sky； and in the spring of the year we saw two of
the greatest planets draw near together in the sign of the
Fish； which is the house of the Hebrews。 We also saw a new
star there； which shone for one night and then vanished。 Now
again the two great planets are meeting。 This night is their
conjunction。 My three brothers are watching by the ancient
Temple of the Seven Spheres； at Borsippa； in Babylonia； and I
am watching here。 If the star shines again； they will wait
ten days for me at the temple； and then we will set out
together for Jerusalem； to see and worship the promised one who
shall be born King of Israel。 I believe the sign will come。 I
have made ready for the journey。 I have sold my possessions； and
bought these three jewelsa sapphire； a ruby； and a pearlto
carry them as tribute to the King。 And I ask you to go with me
on the pilgrimage； that we may have joy together in finding the
Prince who is worthy to be served。〃
While he was speaking he thrust his hand into the inmost
fold of his； girdle and drew out three great gemsone blue as
a fragment of the night sky； one redder than a ray of sunrise；
and one as pure as the peak of a snow…mountain at
twilightand laid them on the outspread scrolls before him。
But his friends looked on with strange and alien eyes。 A
veil of doubt and mistrust came over their faces； like a fog
creeping up from the marshes to hide the hills。 They glanced
at each other with looks of wonder and pity； as those who have
listened to incredible sayings； the story of a wild vision； or
the proposal of an impossible enterprise。
At last Tigranes said： 〃Artaban； this is a vain dream。
It comes from too much looking upon the stars and the
cherishing of lofty thoughts。 It would be wiser to spend the
time in gathering money for the new fire…temple at Chala。 No
king will ever rise from the broken race of Israel； and no end
will ever come to the eternal strife of light and darkness。
He who looks for it is a chaser of shadows。 Farewell。〃
And another said： 〃Artaban； I have no knowledge of these
things； and my office as guardian of the royal treasure binds
me here。 The quest is not for me。 But if thou must follow
it； fare thee well。〃
And another said： 〃In my house there sleeps a new bride；
and I cannot leave her nor take her with me on this strange
journey。 This quest is not for me。 But may thy steps be
prospered wherever thou goest。 So； farewell。〃
And another said： 〃I am ill and unfit for hardship； but
there is a man among my servants whom I will send with thee
when thou goest； to bring me word how thou farest。〃
So； one by one； they left the house of Artaban。 But
Abgarus； the oldest and the one who loved him the best；
lingered after the others had gone； and said； gravely： 〃My
son； it may be that the light of truth is in this sign that
has appeared in the skies； and then it will surely lead to the
Prince and the mighty brightness。 Or it may be that it is
only a shadow of the light； as Tigranes has said； and then he
who follows it will have a long pilgrimage and a fruitless
search。 But it is better to follow even the shadow of the
best than to remain content with the worst。 And those who
would see wonderful things must often be ready to travel
alone。 I am too old for this journey； but my heart shall be
a companion of thy pilgrimage day and night； and I shall know
the end of thy quest。 Go in peace。〃
Then Abgarus went out of the azure chamber with its silver
stars； and Artaban was left in solitude。
He gathered up the jewels and replaced them in his girdle。
For a long time he stood and watched the flame that flickered
and sank upon the altar。 Then he crossed the hall； lifted the
heavy curtain； and passed out between the pillars of porphyry to
the terrace on the roof。
The shiver that runs through the earth ere she rouses from
her night…sleep had already begun； and the cool wind that
heralds the daybreak was drawing downward from the lofty
snow…traced ravines of Mount Orontes。 Birds； half…awakened；
crept and chirped among the rustling leaves； and the smell of
ripened grapes came in brief wafts from the arbours。
Far over the eastern plain a white mist stretched like a
lake。 But where the distant peaks of Zagros serrated the
western horizon the sky was clear。 Jupiter and Saturn rolled
together like drops of lambent flame about to blend in one。
As Artaban watched them； a steel…blue spark was born out
of the darkness beneath； rounding itself with purple
splendours to a crimson sphere； and spiring upward through
rays of saffron and orange into a point of white radiance。
Tiny and infinitely remote； yet perfect in every part； it
pulsated in the enormous vault as if the three jewels in the
Magian's girdle had mingled and been transformed into a living
heart of light。
He bowed his head。 He covered his brow with his hands。
〃It is the sign；〃 he said。 〃The King is coming； and I
will go to meet him。〃
II
All night long； Vasda； the swiftest of Artaban's horses； had
been waiting； saddled and bridled； in her stall； pawing the
ground impatiently； and shaking her bit as if she shared the
eagerness of her master's purpose； though she knew not its
meaning。
Before the birds had fully roused to their strong； high；
joyful chant of morning song； before the white mist had begun
to lift lazily from the plain； the Other Wise Man was in the
saddle； riding swiftly along the high…road； which skirted the
base of Mount Orontes； westward。
How close； how intimate is the comradeship between a man
and his favourite horse on a long journey。 It is a silent；
comprehensive friendship； an intercourse beyond the need of
words。