e as became a servant of the gods。
Forward from the bridge he beheld a landscape of wide valleys and irregular heights； with groves and lakes and fanciful houses linked together by white paths and shining streams。 The valleys were spread below； that the river might be poured upon them for refreshment in days of drought； and they were as green carpets figured with beds and fields of flowers； and flecked with flocks of sheep white as balls of snow； and the voices of shepherds following the flocks were heard afar。 As if to tell him of the pious inscription of all he beheld； the altars out under the open sky seemed countless； each with a white…gowned figure attending it； while processions in white went slowly hither and thither between them； and the smoke of the altars half…risen hung collected in pale clouds over the devoted places。
Here； there； happy in flight； intoxicated in pause； from object to object； point to point； now in the meadow； now on the heights； now lingering to penetrate the groves and observe the processions； then lost in efforts to pursue the paths and streams which trended mazily into dim perspectives to end finally in Ah； what might be a fitting end to scene so beautiful！ What adequate mysteries were hidden behind an introduction so marvellous！ Here and there； the speech was beginning； his gaze wandered； so he could not help the conviction； forced by the view； and as the sum of it all； that there was peace in the air and on the earth； and invitation everywhere to come and lie down here and be at rest。
Suddenly a revelation dawned upon himthe Grove was； in fact； a templeone far…reaching； wall…less temple！
Never anything like it！
The architect had not stopped to pother about columns and porticos； proportions or interiors； or any limitation upon the epic he sought to materialize； he had simply made a servant of Natureart can go no further。 So the cunning son of Jupiter and Callisto built the old Arcadia； and in this； as in that； the genius was Greek。
From the bridge Ben…Hur went forward into the nearest valley。
He came to a flock of sheep。 The shepherd was a girl； and she beckoned him； 〃Come！〃
Farther on； the path was divided by an altara pedestal of black gneiss； capped with a slab of white marble deftly foliated； and on that a brazier of bronze holding a fire。 Close by it； a woman； seeing him； waved a wand of willow； and as he passed called him； 〃Stay！〃 And the temptation in her smile was that of passionate youth。
On yet further； he met one of the processions； at its head a troop of little girls； nude except as they were covered with garlands； piped their shrill voices into a song； then a troop of boys； also nude； their bodies deeply sun…browned； came dancing to the song of the girls； behind them the procession； all women； bearing baskets of spices and sweets to the altarswomen clad in simple robes； careless of exposure。 As he went by they held their hands to him； and said； 〃Stay； and go with us。〃 One； a Greek； sang a verse from Anacreon：
〃For to…day I take or give； For to…day I drink and live； For to…day I beg or borrow； Who knows about the silent morrow？〃
But he pursued his way indifferent； and came next to a grove luxuriant； in the heart of the vale at the point where it would be most attractive to the observing eye。 As it came close to the path he was travelling； there was a seduction in its shade； and through the foliage he caught the shining of what appeared a pretentious statue； so he turned aside； and entered the cool retreat。
The grass was fresh and clean。 The trees did not crowd each other； and they were of every kind native to the East； blended well with strangers adopted from far quarters； here grouped in exclusive companionship palm…trees plumed like queens； there sycamores； overtopping laurels of darker foliage； and evergreen oaks rising verdantly； with cedars vast enough to be kings on Lebanon； and mulberries； and terebinths so beautiful it is not hyperbole to speak of them as blown from the orchards of Paradise。
The statue proved to be a Daphne of wondrous beauty。 Hardly； however； had he time to more than glance at her face： at the base of the pedestal a girl and a youth were lying upon a tiger's skin asleep in each other's arms； close by them the implements of their servicehis axe and sickle； her basketflung carelessly upon a heap of fading roses。
The exposure startled him。 Back in the hush of the perfumed thicket he discovered； as he thought； that the charm of the great Grove was peace without fear； and almost yielded to it； now； in this sleep in the day's broad glarethis sleep at the feet of Daphnehe read a further chapter to which only the vaguest allusion is sufferable。 The law of the place was Love； but Love without Law。
And this was the sweet peace of Daphne！
This the life's end of her ministers！
For this kings and princes gave of their revenues！
For this a crafty priesthood subordinated natureher birds and brooks and lilies； the river； the labor of many hands； the sanctity of altars； the fertile power of the sun！
It would be pleasant now to record that as Ben…Hur pursued his walk assailed by such reflections； he yielded somewhat to sorrow for the votaries of the great outdoor temple； especially for those who； by personal service； kept it in a state so surpassingly lovely。 How they came to the condition was not any longer a mystery； the motive； the influence； the inducement； were before him。 Some there were； no doubt； caught by the promise held out to their troubled spirits of endless peace in a consecrated abode； to the beauty of which； if they had not money； they could contribute their labor； this class implied intellect peculiarly subject to hope and fear； but the great body of the faithful could not be classed with such。 Apollo's nets were wide； and their meshes small； and hardly may one tell what all his fishermen landed： this less for that they cannot be described than because they ought not to be。 Enough that the mass were of the sybarites of the world； and of the herds in number vaster and in degree lowerdevotees of the unmixed sensualism to which the East was almost wholly given。 Not to any of the exaltationsnot to the singing…god； or his unhappy mistress； not to any philosophy requiring for its enjoyment the calm of retirement； nor to any service for the comfort there is in religion； nor to love in its holier sensewere they abiding their vows。 Good reader； why shall not the truth be told here？ Why not learn that； at this age； there were in all earth but two peoples capable of exaltations of the kind referred tothose who lived by the law of Moses； and those who lived by the law of Brahma。 They alone could have cried you； Better a law without love than a love without law。
Besides that； sympathy is in great degree a result of the mood we are in at the moment： anger forbids the emotion。 On the other hand； it is easiest taken on when we are in a state of most absolute self…satisfaction。 Ben…Hur walked with a quicker step； holding his head higher； and； while not less sensitive to the delightfulness of all about him； he made his survey with calmer spirit； though sometimes with curling lip； that is to say； he could not so soon forget how nearly he himself had been imposed upon。
CHAPTER VII
In front of Ben…Hur there was a forest of cypress…trees； each a column tall and straight as a mast。 Venturing into the shady precinct； he heard a trumpet gayly blown； and an instant after saw lying upon the grass close by the countryman whom he had run upon in the road going to the temples。 The man arose； and came to him。
〃I give you peace again；〃 he said； pleasantly。
〃Thank you；〃 Ben…Hur replied； then asked； 〃Go you my way？〃
〃I am for the stadium； if that is your way。〃
〃The stadium！〃
〃Yes。 The trumpet you heard but now was a call for the competitors。〃
〃Good friend；〃 said Ben…Hur； frankly； 〃I admit my ignorance of the Grove； and if you will let me be your follower； I will be glad。〃
〃That will delight me。 Hark！ I hear the wheels of the chariots。 They are taking the track。〃
Ben…Hur listened a moment； then completed the introduction by laying his hand upon the man's arm； and saying； 〃I am the son of Arrius； the duumvir； and thou？〃
〃I am Malluch； a merchant of Antioch。〃
〃Well； good Malluch； the trumpet； and the gride of wheels； and the prospect of diversion excite me。 I have some skill in the exercises。 In the palaestrae of Rome I am not unknown。 Let us to the course。〃
Malluch lingered to say； quickly； 〃The duumvir was a Roman； yet I see his son in the garments of a Jew。〃
〃The noble Arrius was my father by adoption；〃 Ben…Hur answered。
〃Ah！ I see； and beg pardon。〃
Passing through the belt of forest； they came to a field with a track laid out upon it； in shape and extent exactly like those of the stadia。 The course； or track proper； was of soft earth； rolled and sprinkled； and on both sides defined by ropes； stretched loosely upon upright javelins。 For the accommodation of spectators； and such as had interests reaching forward of the mere practise； there were several stands shaded by substantial awnings； and provided with seats in rising rows。 In one of the stands the two new…comers found places。
Ben…Hur counted the chariots as they went bynine in all。
〃I commend the fellows；〃 he said； with good…will。 〃Here in the East； I thought they aspired to nothing better than the two； but they are ambitious； and play with royal fours。 Let us study their performance。〃
Eight of the fours passed the stand； some walking； others on the trot； and all unexceptionably handled； then the ninth one came on the gallop。 Ben…Hur burst into exclamation。
〃I have been in the stables of the emperor； Malluch； but； by our father Abraham of blessed memory！ I never saw the like of these。〃
The last four was then sweeping past。 All at once they fell into confusion。 Some one on the stand uttered a sharp cry。 Ben…Hur turned； and saw an old man half…risen from an upper seat； his hands clenched and raised； his eyes fiercely bright； his long white beard fairly quivering。 Some of the spectators nearest him began to laugh。
〃They should respect his beard at least。 Who is he？〃 asked Ben…Hur。
〃A mighty man from the Desert； somewhe