ben-hur- 第26部分

From　the　folds　of　his　toga　he　drew　a　roll　of　paper；　and　passed　it　to　them；　saying；　〃Received　while　at　table　last　night　fromSejanus。〃

The　name　was　already　a　great　one　in　the　Roman　world；　great；　and　not　so　infamous　as　it　afterwards　became。

〃Sejanus！〃　they　exclaimed；　with　one　voice；　closing　in　to　read　what　the　minister　had　written。


〃Sejanus　to　C。　Coecilius　Rufus；　Duumvir。

〃ROME；　XIX。　Kal。　Sept。

〃Caesar　hath　good　report　of　Quintus　Arrius；　the　tribune。　In　particular　he　bath　heard　of　his　valor；　manifested　in　the　western　seas；　insomuch　that　it　is　his　will　that　the　said　Quintus　be　transferred　instantly　to　the　East。

〃It　is　our　Caesar's　will；　further；　that　you　cause　a　hundred　triremes；　of　the　first　class；　and　full　appointment；　to　be　despatched　without　delay　against　the　pirates　who　have　appeared　in　the　Aegean；　and　that　Quintus　be　sent　to　command　the　fleet　so　despatched。

〃Details　are　thine；　my　Caecilius。

〃The　necessity　is　urgent；　as　thou　will　be　advised　by　the　reports　enclosed　for　thy　perusal　and　the　information　of　the　said　Quintus。

〃SEJANUS。〃


Arrius　gave　little　heed　to　the　reading。　As　the　ship　drew　more　plainly　out　of　the　perspective；　she　became　more　and　more　an　attraction　to　him。　The　look　with　which　he　watched　her　was　that　of　an　enthusiast。　At　length　he　tossed　the　loosened　folds　of　his　toga　in　the　air；　in　reply　to　the　signal；　over　the　aplustre；　or　fan…like　fixture　at　the　stern　of　the　vessel；　a　scarlet　flag　was　displayed；　while　several　sailors　appeared　upon　the　bulwarks；　and　swung　themselves　hand　over　hand　up　the　ropes　to　the　antenna；　or　yard；　and　furled　the　sail。　The　bow　was　put　round；　and　the　time　of　the　oars　increased　one　half；　so　that　at　racing　speed　she　bore　down　directly　towards　him　and　his　friends。　He　observed　the　manoeuvring　with　a　perceptible　brightening　of　the　eyes。　Her　instant　answer　to　the　rudder；　and　the　steadiness　with　which　she　kept　her　course；　were　especially　noticeable　as　virtues　to　be　relied　upon　in　action。

〃By　the　Nymphae！〃　said　one　of　the　friends；　giving　back　the　roll；　〃we　may　not　longer　say　our　friend　will　be　great；　he　is　already　great。　Our　love　will　now　have　famous　things　to　feed　upon。　What　more　hast　thou　for　us？〃

〃Nothing　more；〃　Arrius　replied。　〃What　ye　have　of　the　affair　is　by　this　time　old　news　in　Rome；　especially　between　the　palace　and　the　Forum。　The　duumvir　is　discreet；　what　I　am　to　do；　where　go　to　find　my　fleet；　he　will　tell　on　the　ship；　where　a　sealed　package　is　waiting　me。　If；　however；　ye　have　offerings　for　any　of　the　altars　to…day；　pray　the　gods　for　a　friend　plying　oar　and　sail　somewhere　in　the　direction　of　Sicily。　But　she　is　here；　and　will　come　to；〃　he　said；　reverting　to　the　vessel。　〃I　have　interest　in　her　masters；　they　will　sail　and　fight　with　me。　It　is　not　an　easy　thing　to　lay　ship　side　on　a　shore　like　this；　so　let　us　judge　their　training　and　skill。〃

〃What；　is　she　new　to　thee？〃

〃I　never　saw　her　before；　and；　as　yet；　I　know　not　if　she　will　bring　me　one　acquaintance。〃

〃Is　that　well？〃

〃It　matters　but　little。　We　of　the　sea　come　to　know　each　other　quickly；　our　loves；　like　our　hates；　are　born　of　sudden　dangers。〃

The　vessel　was　of　the　class　called　naves　liburnicaelong；　narrow；　low　in　the　water；　and　modelled　for　speed　and　quick　manoeuvre。　The　bow　was　beautiful。　A　jet　of　water　spun　from　its　foot　as　she　came　on；　sprinkling　all　the　prow；　which　rose　in　graceful　curvature　twice　a　man's　stature　above　the　plane　of　the　deck。　Upon　the　bending　of　the　sides　were　figures　of　Triton　blowing　shells。　Below　the　bow；　fixed　to　the　keel；　and　projecting　forward　under　the　water…line；　was　the　rostrum；　or　beak；　a　device　of　solid　wood；　reinforced　and　armed　with　iron；　in　action　used　as　a　ram。　A　stout　molding　extended　from　the　bow　the　full　length　of　the　ship's　sides；　defining　the　bulwarks；　which　were　tastefully　crenelated；　below　the　molding；　in　three　rows；　each　covered　with　a　cap　or　shield　of　bull…hide；　were　the　holes　in　which　the　oars　were　workedsixty　on　the　right；　sixty　on　the　left。　In　further　ornamentation；　caducei　leaned　against　the　lofty　prow。　Two　immense　ropes　passing　across　the　bow　marked　the　number　of　anchors　stowed　on　the　foredeck。

The　simplicity　of　the　upper　works　declared　the　oars　the　chief　dependence　of　the　crew。　A　mast；　set　a　little　forward　of　midship；　was　held　by　fore　and　back　stays　and　shrouds　fixed　to　rings　on　the　inner　side　of　the　bulwarks。　The　tackle　was　that　required　for　the　management　of　one　great　square　sail　and　the　yard　to　which　it　was　hung。　Above　the　bulwarks　the　deck　was　visible。

Save　the　sailors　who　had　reefed　the　sail；　and　yet　lingered　on　the　yard；　but　one　man　was　to　be　seen　by　the　party　on　the　mole；　and　he　stood　by　the　prow　helmeted　and　with　a　shield。

The　hundred　and　twenty　oaken　blades；　kept　white　and　shining　by　pumice　and　the　constant　wash　of　the　waves；　rose　and　fell　as　if　operated　by　the　same　hand；　and　drove　the　galley　forward　with　a　speed　rivalling　that　of　a　modern　steamer。

So　rapidly；　and　apparently；　so　rashly；　did　she　come　that　the　landsmen　of　the　tribune's　party　were　alarmed。　Suddenly　the　man　by　the　prow　raised　his　hand　with　a　peculiar　gesture；　whereupon　all　the　oars　flew　up；　poised　a　moment　in　air；　then　fell　straight　down。　The　water　boiled　and　bubbled　about　them；　the　galley　shook　in　every　timber；　and　stopped　as　if　scared。　Another　gesture　of　the　hand；　and　again　the　oars　arose；　feathered；　and　fell；　but　this　time　those　on　the　right；　dropping　towards　the　stern；　pushed　forward；　while　those　on　the　left；　dropping　towards　the　bow；　pulled　backwards。　Three　times　the　oars　thus　pushed　and　pulled　against　each　other。　Round　to　the　right　the　ship　swung　as　upon　a　pivot；　then；　caught　by　the　wind；　she　settled　gently　broadside　to　the　mole。

The　movement　brought　the　stern　to　view；　with　all　its　garniture　Tritons　like　those　at　the　bow；　name　in　large　raised　letters；　the　rudder　at　the　side；　the　elevated　platform　upon　which　the　helmsman　sat；　a　stately　figure　in　full　armor；　his　hand　upon　the　rudder…rope；　and　the　aplustre；　high；　gilt；　carved；　and　bent　over　the　helmsman　like　a　great　runcinate　leaf。

In　the　midst　of　the　rounding…to；　a　trumpet　was　blown　brief　and　shrill；　and　from　the　hatchways　out　poured　the　marines；　all　in　superb　equipment；　brazen　helms；　burnished　shields　and　javelins。　While　the　fighting…men　thus　went　to　quarters　as　for　action；　the　sailors　proper　climbed　the　shrouds　and　perched　themselves　along　the　yard。　The　officers　and　musicians　took　their　posts。　There　was　no　shouting　or　needless　noise。　When　the　oars　touched　the　mole；　a　bridge　was　sent　out　from　the　helmsman's　deck。　Then　the　tribune　turned　to　his　party　and　said；　with　a　gravity　he　had　not　before　shown：

〃Duty　now；　O　my　friends。〃

He　took　the　chaplet　from　his　head　and　gave　it　to　the　dice…player。

〃Take　thou　the　myrtle；　O　favorite　of　the　tesserae！〃　he　said。　〃If　I　return；　I　will　seek　my　sestertii　again；　if　I　am　not　victor；　I　will　not　return。　Hang　the　crown　in　thy　atrium。〃

To　the　company　he　opened　his　arms；　and　they　came　one　by　one　and　received　his　parting　embrace。

〃The　gods　go　with　thee；　O　Quintus！〃　they　said。

〃Farewell；〃　he　replied。

To　the　slaves　waving　their　torches　he　waved　his　hand；　then　he　turned　to　the　waiting　ship；　beautiful　with　ordered　ranks　and　crested　helms；　and　shields　and　javelins。　As　he　stepped　upon　the　bridge；　the　trumpets　sounded；　and　over　the　aplustre　rose　the　vexillum　purpureum；　or　pennant　of　a　commander　of　a　fleet。




CHAPTER　II



The　tribune；　standing　upon　the　helmsman's　deck　with　the　order　of　the　duumvir　open　in　his　hand；　spoke　to　the　chief　of　the　rowers。*

…　*　Called　hortator。　…

〃What　force　hast　thou？〃

〃Of　oarsmen；　two　hundred　and　fifty…two；　ten　supernumeraries。

〃Making　reliefs　of〃

〃Eighty…four。〃

〃And　thy　habit？〃

〃It　has　been　to　take　off　and　put　on　every　two　hours。〃

The　tribune　mused　a　moment。

〃The　division　is　hard；　and　I　will　reform　it；　but　not　now。　The　oars　may　not　rest　day　or　night。〃

Then　to　the　sailing…master　he　said；

〃The　wind　is　fair。　Let　the　sail　help　the　oars。〃

When　the　two　thus　addressed　were　gone；　he　turned　to　the　chief　pilot。*

…　*　Called　rector。　…

〃What　service　hast　thou　had？〃

〃Two…and…thirty　years。〃

〃In　what　seas　chiefly？〃

〃Between　our　Rome　and　the　East。〃

〃Thou　art　the　man　I　would　have　chosen。〃

The　tribune　looked　at　his　orders　again。

〃Past　the　Camponellan　cape；　the　course　will　be　to　Messina。　Beyond　that；　follow　the　bend　of　the　Calabrian　shore　till　Melito　is　on　thy　left；　then　Knowest　thou　the　stars　that　govern　in　the　Ionian　Sea？〃

〃I　know　them　well。〃

〃Then　from　Melito　course　eastward　for　Cythera。　The　gods　willing；　I　will　not　anchor　until　in　the　Bay　of　Antemona。　The　duty　is　urgent。　I　rely　upon　thee。〃

A　prudent　man　was　Arriusprudent；　and　of　the　class　which；　while　enriching　the　altars　at　Praeneste　and　Antium；　was　of　opinion；　nevertheless；　that　the　favor　of　the　blind　goddess　depended　more　upon　the　votary's　care　and　judgment　than　upon　his　gifts　and　vows。　All　night　as　master　of　the　feast　he　had　sat　at　table　drinking　and　playing；　yet　the　odor　of　the　sea　returned　him　to　the　mood　of　the　sailor；　and　he　would　not　rest　until　he　knew　his　ship。　Knowledge　leaves　no　room　for　chances。　Having　begun　with　the　chief　of　the　rowers；　the　sailing…master；　and　the　pilot；　in　company　with　the　other　officersthe　commander　of　the　marines；　the　keeper　of　the　stores；　the　master　of　the　machines；　the　overseer　of　the　kitchen　or　fireshe　passed　through　the　several　quarters。　Nothing　escaped　his　inspection。　When　he　was　through；　of　the　community　crowded　within　the　narrow　walls　he　alone　knew　perfectly　all　there　was　of　material　preparation　for　the　voyage　and　its　possible　incidents；　and；　finding　the　preparation　complete；　there　was　left　him　but　one　thing　furtherthorough　knowledge　of　the　personnel　of　his　command。　As　this　was　the　most　delicate　and　difficult　part　of　his　task；　requiring　much　time；　he　set　about　it　his　own　way。

At　noon　that　day　the　galley　was　skimming　the　sea　off　Paestum。　The　wind　was　yet　from　the　west；　filling　the　sail　to　the　master's　content。　The　watches　had　been　established。　On　the　foredeck　the　altar　had　been　set　and　sprinkled　with　salt　and　barley；　and　before　it　the　tribune　had　offered　solemn　prayers　to　Jove　and　to　Neptune　and　all　the　Oceanidae；　and；　with　vows；　poured　the　wine　and　burned　the　incense。　And　now；　the　bett