at became of them will not speak。 They died doubtless in the cells of one of the castles which spot the waysides of Judea。〃
Judah walked to the pilot's quarter。 So absorbed was he in thought that he scarcely noticed the shores of the river； which from sea to city were surpassingly beautiful with orchards of all the Syrian fruits and vines； clustered about villas rich as those of Neapolis。 No more did he observe the vessels passing in an endless fleet； nor hear the singing and shouting of the sailors； some in labor； some in merriment。 The sky was full of sunlight； lying in hazy warmth upon the land and the water； nowhere except over his life was there a shadow。
Once only he awoke to a momentary interest； and that was when some one pointed out the Grove of Daphne； discernible from a bend in the river。
CHAPTER II
When the city came into view； the passengers were on deck； eager that nothing of the scene might escape them。 The respectable Jew already introduced to the reader was the principal spokesman。
〃The river here runs to the west；〃 he said； in the way of general answer。 〃I remember when it washed the base of the walls； but as Roman subjects we have lived in peace； and； as always happens in such times； trade has had its will； now the whole river front is taken up with wharves and docks。 Yonder〃the speaker pointed southward〃is Mount Casius； or； as these people love to call it； the Mountains of Orontes； looking across to its brother Amnus in the north； and between them lies the Plain of Antioch。 Farther on are the Black Mountains； whence the Ducts of the Kings bring the purest water to wash the thirsty streets and people； yet they are forests in wilderness state； dense； and full of birds and beasts。〃
〃Where is the lake？〃 one asked。
〃Over north there。 You can take horse； if you wish to see itor； better； a boat； for a tributary connects it with the river。〃
〃The Grove of Daphne！〃 he said； to a third inquirer。 〃Nobody can describe it； only beware！ It was begun by Apollo； and completed by him。 He prefers it to Olympus。 People go there for one look just oneand never come away。 They have a saying which tells it all'Better be a worm and feed on the mulberries of Daphne than a king's guest。'〃
〃Then you advise me to stay away from it？〃
〃Not I！ Go you will。 Everybody goes； cynic philosopher； virile boy； women； and priestsall go。 So sure am I of what you will do that I assume to advise you。 Do not take quarters in the city that will be loss of time； but go at once to the village in the edge of the grove。 The way is through a garden； under the spray of fountains。 The lovers of the god and his Penaean maid built the town； and in its porticos and paths and thousand retreats you will find characters and habits and sweets and kinds elsewhere impossible。 But the wall of the city！ there it is； the masterpiece of Xeraeus； the master of mural architecture。〃
All eyes followed his pointing finger。
〃This part was raised by order of the first of the Seleucidae。 Three hundred years have made it part of the rock it rests upon。〃
The defense justified the encomium。 High； solid； and with many bold angles； it curved southwardly out of view。
〃On the top there are four hundred towers； each a reservoir of water；〃 the Hebrew continued。 〃Look now！ Over the wall； tall as it is； see in the distance two hills； which you may know as the rival crests of Sulpius。 The structure on the farthest one is the citadel； garrisoned all the year round by a Roman legion。 Opposite it this way rises the Temple of Jupiter； and under that the front of the legate's residencea palace full of offices； and yet a fortress against which a mob would dash harmlessly as a south wind。〃
At this point the sailors began taking in sail； whereupon the Hebrew exclaimed； heartily； 〃See！ you who hate the sea； and you who have vows； get ready your curses and your prayers。 The bridge yonder； over which the road to Seleucia is carried； marks the limit of navigation。 What the ship unloads for further transit； the camel takes up there。 Above the bridge begins the island upon which Calinicus built his new city； connecting it with five great viaducts so solid time has made no impression upon them； nor floods nor earthquakes。 Of the main town； my friends； I have only to say you will be happier all your lives for having seen it。〃
As he concluded； the ship turned and made slowly for her wharf under the wall； bringing even more fairly to view the life with which the river at that point was possessed。 Finally； the lines were thrown； the oars shipped； and the voyage was done。 Then Ben…Hur sought the respectable Hebrew。
〃Let me trouble you a moment before saying farewell。〃
The man bowed assent。
〃Your story of the merchant has made me curious to see him。 You called him Simonides？〃
〃Yes。 He is a Jew with a Greek name。〃
〃Where is he to be found？〃
The acquaintance gave a sharp look before he answered；
〃I may save you mortification。 He is not a money…lender。〃
〃Nor am I a money…borrower；〃 said Ben…Hur； smiling at the other's shrewdness。
The man raised his head and considered an instant。
〃One would think；〃 he then replied； 〃that the richest merchant in Antioch would have a house for business corresponding to his wealth； but if you would find him in the day； follow the river to yon bridge； under which he quarters in a building that looks like a buttress of the wall。 Before the door there is an immense landing； always covered with cargoes come and to go。 The fleet that lies moored there is his。 You cannot fail to find him。〃
〃I give you thanks。〃
〃The peace of our fathers go with you。〃
〃And with you。〃
With that they separated。
Two street…porters； loaded with his baggage； received Ben…Hur's orders upon the wharf。
〃To the citadel；〃 he said； a direction which implied an official military connection。
Two great streets； cutting each other at right angles； divided the city into quarters。 A curious and immense structure； called the Nymphaeum； arose at the foot of the one running north and south。 When the porters turned south there； the new…comer； though fresh from Rome； was amazed at the magnificence of the avenue。 On the right and left there were palaces； and between them extended indefinitely double colonnades of marble； leaving separate ways for footmen； beasts； and chariots； the whole under shade； and cooled by fountains of incessant flow。
Ben…Hur was not in mood to enjoy the spectacle。 The story of Simonides haunted him。 Arrived at the Omphalusa monument of four arches wide as the streets； superbly illustrated； and erected to himself by Epiphanes； the eighth of the Seleucidaehe suddenly changed his mind。
〃I will not go to the citadel to…night；〃 he said to the porters。 〃Take me to the khan nearest the bridge on the road to Seleucia。〃
The party faced about； and in good time he was deposited in a public house of primitive but ample construction； within stone's…throw of the bridge under which old Simonides had his quarters。 He lay upon the house…top through the night。 In his inner mind lived the thought； 〃Nownow I will hear of homeand motherand the dear little Tirzah。 If they are on earth； I will find them。〃
CHAPTER III
Next day early； to the neglect of the city； Ben…Hur sought the house of Simonides。 Through an embattled gateway he passed to a continuity of wharves； thence up the river midst a busy press； to the Seleucian Bridge； under which he paused to take in the scene。
There； directly under the bridge； was the merchant's house； a mass of gray stone； unhewn； referable to no style； looking； as the voyager had described it； like a buttress of the wall against which it leaned。 Two immense doors in front communicated with the wharf。 Some holes near the top； heavily barred； served as windows。 Weeds waved from the crevices； and in places black moss splotched the otherwise bald stones。
The doors were open。 Through one of them business went in； through the other it came out； and there was hurry； hurry in all its movements。
On the wharf there were piles of goods in every kind of package； and groups of slaves； stripped to the waist； going about in the abandon of labor。
Below the bridge lay a fleet of galleys； some loading； others unloading。 A yellow flag blew out from each masthead。 From fleet and wharf； and from ship to ship； the bondmen of traffic passed in clamorous counter…currents。
Above the bridge； across the river； a wall rose from the water's edge； over which towered the fanciful cornices and turrets of an imperial palace； covering every foot of the island spoken of in the Hebrew's description。 But； with all its suggestions； Ben…Hur scarcely noticed it。 Now； at last； he thought to hear of his peoplethis； certainly； if Simonides had indeed been his father's slave。 But would the man acknowledge the relation？ That would be to give up his riches and the sovereignty of trade so royally witnessed on the wharf and river。 And what was of still greater consequence to the merchant； it would be to forego his career in the midst of amazing success； and yield himself voluntarily once more a slave。 Simple thought of the demand seemed a monstrous audacity。 Stripped of diplomatic address； it was to say； You are my slave； give me all you have； andyourself。
Yet Ben…Hur derived strength for the interview from faith in his rights and the hope uppermost in his heart。 If the story to which he was yielding were true； Simonides belonged to him； with all he had。 For the wealth； be it said in justice； he cared nothing。 When he started to the door determined in mind； it was with a promise to himself〃Let him tell me of mother and Tirzah； and I will give him his freedom without account。〃
He passed boldly into the house。
The interior was that of a vast depot where； in ordered spaces； and under careful arrangement； goods of every kind were heaped and pent。 Though the light was murky and the air stifling； men moved about briskly； and in places he saw workmen with saws and hammers making packages for shipments。 Down a path between the piles he walked slowly； wondering if the man of whose genius there were here such abounding proofs could have been his father's slave？ If so； to what class had he belonged？ If a Jew； was he th