ben-hur- 第6部分

〃I　said　there　was　a　purpose　in　the　particularity　with　which　we　described　our　people　and　their　histories；〃　so　the　Egyptian　proceeded。　〃He　we　go　to　find　was　called　'King　of　the　Jews；'　by　that　name　we　are　bidden　to　ask　for　him。　But；　now　that　we　have　met；　and　heard　from　each　other；　we　may　know　him　to　be　the　Redeemer；　not　of　the　Jews　alone；　but　of　all　the　nations　of　the　earth。　The　patriarch　who　survived　the　Flood　had　with　him　three　sons；　and　their　families；　by　whom　the　world　was　repeopled。　From　the　old　Aryana…Vaejo；　the　well…remembered　Region　of　Delight　in　the　heart　of　Asia；　they　parted。　India　and　the　far　East　received　the　children　of　the　first；　the　descendant　of　the　youngest；　through　the　North；　streamed　into　Europe；　those　of　the　second　overflowed　the　deserts　about　the　Red　Sea；　passing　into　Africa；　and　though　most　of　the　latter　are　yet　dwellers　in　shifting　tents；　some　of　them　became　builders　along　the　Nile。〃

By　a　simultaneous　impulse　the　three　joined　hands。

〃Could　anything　be　more　divinely　ordered？〃　Balthasar　continued。　〃When　we　have　found　the　Lord；　the　brothers；　and　all　the　generations　that　have　succeeded　them；　will　kneel　to　him　in　homage　with　us。　And　when　we　part　to　go　our　separate　ways；　the　world　will　have　learned　a　new　lessonthat　Heaven　may　be　won；　not　by　the　sword；　not　by　human　wisdom；　but　by　Faith；　Love；　and　Good　Works。〃

There　was　silence；　broken　by　sighs　and　sanctified　with　tears；　for　the　joy　that　filled　them　might　not　be　stayed。　It　was　the　unspeakable　joy　of　souls　on　the　shores　of　the　River　of　Life；　resting　with　the　Redeemed　in　God's　presence。

Presently　their　hands　fell　apart；　and　together　they　went　out　of　the　tent。　The　desert　was　still　as　the　sky。　The　sun　was　sinking　fast。　The　camels　slept。

A　little　while　after；　the　tent　was　struck；　and；　with　the　remains　of　the　repast；　restored　to　the　cot；　then　the　friends　mounted；　and　set　out　single　file；　led　by　the　Egyptian。　Their　course　was　due　west；　into　the　chilly　night。　The　camels　swung　forward　in　steady　trot；　keeping　the　line　and　the　intervals　so　exactly　that　those　following　seemed　to　tread　in　the　tracks　of　the　leader。　The　riders　spoke　not　once。

By…and…by　the　moon　came　up。　And　as　the　three　tall　white　figures　sped；　with　soundless　tread；　through　the　opalescent　light；　they　appeared　like　specters　flying　from　hateful　shadows。　Suddenly；　in　the　air　before　them；　not　farther　up　than　a　low　hill…top　flared　a　lambent　flame；　as　they　looked　at　it；　the　apparition　contracted　into　a　focus　of　dazzling　lustre。　Their　hearts　beat　fast；　their　souls　thrilled；　and　they　shouted　as　with　one　voice；　〃The　Star！　the　Star！　God　is　with　us！〃




CHAPTER　VI



In　an　aperture　of　the　western　wall　of　Jerusalem　hang　the　〃oaken　valves〃　called　the　Bethlehem　or　Joppa　Gate。　The　area　outside　of　them　is　one　of　the　notable　places　of　the　city。　Long　before　David　coveted　Zion　there　was　a　citadel　there。　When　at　last　the　son　of　Jesse　ousted　the　Jebusite；　and　began　to　build；　the　site　of　the　citadel　became　the　northwest　corner　of　the　new　wall；　defended　by　a　tower　much　more　imposing　than　the　old　one。　The　location　of　the　gate；　however；　was　not　disturbed；　for　the　reasons；　most　likely；　that　the　roads　which　met　and　merged　in　front　of　it　could　not　well　be　transferred　to　any　other　point；　while　the　area　outside　had　become　a　recognized　market…place。　In　Solomon's　day　there　was　great　traffic　at　the　locality；　shared　in　by　traders　from　Egypt　and　the　rich　dealers　from　Tyre　and　Sidon。　Nearly　three　thousand　years　have　passed；　and　yet　a　kind　of　commerce　clings　to　the　spot。　A　pilgrim　wanting　a　pin　or　a　pistol；　a　cucumber　or　a　camel；　a　house　or　a　horse；　a　loan　or　a　lentil；　a　date　or　a　dragoman；　a　melon　or　a　man；　a　dove　or　a　donkey；　has　only　to　inquire　for　the　article　at　the　Joppa　Gate。　Sometimes　the　scene　is　quite　animated；　and　then　it　suggests；　What　a　place　the　old　market　must　have　been　in　the　days　of　Herod　the　Builder！　And　to　that　period　and　that　market　the　reader　is　now　to　be　transferred。

Following　the　Hebrew　system；　the　meeting　of　the　wise　men　described　in　the　preceding　chapters　took　place　in　the　afternoon　of　the　twenty…fifth　day　of　the　third　month　of　the　year；　that　is　say；　on　the　twenty…fifth　day　of　December。　The　year　was　the　second　of　the　193d　Olympiad；　or　the　747th　of　Rome；　the　sixty…seventh　of　Herod　the　Great；　and　the　thirty…fifth　of　his　reign；　the　fourth　before　the　beginning　of　the　Christian　era。　The　hours　of　the　day；　by　Judean　custom；　begin　with　the　sun；　the　first　hour　being　the　first　after　sunrise；　so；　to　be　precise；　the　market　at　the　Joppa　Gate　during　the　first　hour　of　the　day　stated　was　in　full　session；　and　very　lively。　The　massive　valves　had　been　wide　open　since　dawn。　Business；　always　aggressive；　had　pushed　through　the　arched　entrance　into　a　narrow　lane　and　court；　which；　passing　by　the　walls　of　the　great　tower；　conducted　on　into　the　city。　As　Jerusalem　is　in　the　hill　country；　the　morning　air　on　this　occasion　was　not　a　little　crisp。　The　rays　of　the　sun；　with　their　promise　of　warmth；　lingered　provokingly　far　up　on　the　battlements　and　turrets　of　the　great　piles　about；　down　from　which　fell　the　crooning　of　pigeons　and　the　whir　of　the　flocks　coming　and　going。

As　a　passing　acquaintance　with　the　people　of　the　Holy　City；　strangers　as　well　as　residents；　will　be　necessary　to　an　understanding　of　some　of　the　pages　which　follow；　it　will　be　well　to　stop　at　the　gate　and　pass　the　scene　in　review。　Better　opportunity　will　not　offer　to　get　sight　of　the　populace　who　will　afterwhile　go　forward　in　a　mood　very　different　from　that　which　now　possesses　them。

The　scene　is　at　first　one　of　utter　confusionconfusion　of　action；　sounds；　colors；　and　things。　It　is　especially　so　in　the　lane　and　court。　The　ground　there　is　paved　with　broad　unshaped　flags；　from　which　each　cry　and　jar　and　hoof…stamp　arises　to　swell　the　medley　that　rings　and　roars　up　between　the　solid　impending　walls。　A　little　mixing　with　the　throng；　however；　a　little　familiarity　with　the　business　going　on；　will　make　analysis　possible。

Here　stands　a　donkey；　dozing　under　panniers　full　of　lentils；　beans；　onions；　and　cucumbers；　brought　fresh　from　the　gardens　and　terraces　of　Galilee。　When　not　engaged　in　serving　customers；　the　master；　in　a　voice　which　only　the　initiated　can　understand；　cries　his　stock。　Nothing　can　be　simpler　than　his　costumesandals；　and　an　unbleached；　undyed　blanket；　crossed　over　one　shoulder　and　girt　round　the　waist。　Near…by；　and　far　more　imposing　and　grotesque；　though　scarcely　as　patient　as　the　donkey；　kneels　a　camel；　raw…boned；　rough；　and　gray；　with　long　shaggy　tufts　of　fox…colored　hair　under　its　throat；　neck；　and　body；　and　a　load　of　boxes　and　baskets　curiously　arranged　upon　an　enormous　saddle。　The　owner　is　an　Egyptian；　small；　lithe；　and　of　a　complexion　which　has　borrowed　a　good　deal　from　the　dust　of　the　roads　and　the　sands　of　the　desert。　He　wears　a　faded　tarbooshe；　a　loose　gown；　sleeveless；　unbelted；　and　dropping　from　the　neck　to　the　knee。　His　feet　are　bare。　The　camel；　restless　under　the　load；　groans　and　occasionally　shows　his　teeth；　but　the　man　paces　indifferently　to　and　fro；　holding　the　driving…strap；　and　all　the　time　advertising　his　fruits　fresh　from　the　orchards　of　the　Kedrongrapes；　dates；　figs；　apples；　and　pomegranates。

At　the　corner　where　the　lane　opens　out　into　the　court；　some　women　sit　with　their　backs　against　the　gray　stones　of　the　wall。　Their　dress　is　that　common　to　the　humbler　classes　of　the　countrya　linen　frock　extending　the　full　length　of　the　person；　loosely　gathered　at　the　waist；　and　a　veil　or　wimple　broad　enough；　after　covering　the　head；　to　wrap　the　shoulders。　Their　merchandise　is　contained　in　a　number　of　earthen　jars；　such　as　are　still　used　in　the　East　for　bringing　water　from　the　wells；　and　some　leathern　bottles。　Among　the　jars　and　bottles；　rolling　upon　the　stony　floor；　regardless　of　the　crowd　and　cold；　often　in　danger　but　never　hurt；　play　half　a　dozen　half…naked　children；　their　brown　bodies；　jetty　eyes；　and　thick　black　hair　attesting　the　blood　of　Israel。　Sometimes；　from　under　the　wimples；　the　mothers　look　up；　and　in　the　vernacular　modestly　bespeak　their　trade：　in　the　bottles　〃honey　of　grapes；〃　in　the　jars　〃strong　drink。〃　Their　entreaties　are　usually　lost　in　the　general　uproar；　and　they　fare　illy　against　the　many　competitors：　brawny　fellows　with　bare　legs；　dirty　tunics；　and　long　beards；　going　about　with　bottles　lashed　to　their　backs；　and　shouting　〃Honey　of　wine！　Grapes　of　En…Gedi！〃　When　a　customer　halts　one　of　them；　round　comes　the　bottle；　and；　upon　lifting　the　thumb　from　the　nozzle；　out　into　the　ready　cup　gushes　the　deep…red　blood　of　the　luscious　berry。

Scarcely　less　blatant　are　the　dealers　in　birdsdoves；　ducks；　and　frequently　the　singing　bulbul；　or　nightingale；　most　frequently　pigeons；　and　buyers；　receiving　them　from　the　nets；　seldom　fail　to　think　of　the　perilous　life　of　the　catchers；　bold　climbers　of　the　cliffs；　now　hanging　with　hand　and　foot　to　the　face　of　the　crag；　now　swinging　in　a　basket　far　down　the　mountain　fissure。

Blent　with　peddlers　of　jewelrysharp　men　cloaked　in　scarlet　and　blue；　top…heavy　under　prodigious　white　turbans；　and　fully　conscious　of　the　power　there　is　in　the　lustre　of　a　ribbon　and　the　incisive　gleam　of　gold；　whether　in　bracelet　or　necklace；　or　in　rings　for　the　finger　or　the　noseand　with　peddlers　of　household　utensils；　and　with　dealers　in　wearing…apparel；　and　with　retailers　of　unguents　for　anointing　the　person；　and　with　hucksters　of　all　articles；　fanciful　as　well　as　of　need；　hither　and　thither；　tugging　at　halters　and　ropes；　now　screaming；　now　coaxing；　toil　the　venders　of　animalsdonkeys；　horses；　calves；　sheep；　bleating　kids；　and　awkward　camels；　animals　of　every　kind　except　the　outlawed　swine。　All　these　are　there；　not　singly；　as　described；　but　many　times　repeated；　not　in　one　place；　but　everywhere　in　the　market。

Turning　from　this　scene　in　the　lane　and　court；　this　glance　at　the　sellers　and　their　commodities；　the　reader　has　need　to　give　attention；　in　the　next　place；　to　visitors　and　buyers；　for　which　the　best　studies　will　be　found　outside　the　gates；　where　the　spectacle　is　quite　as　varied　and　animated；　indeed；　it　may　be　more　so；　for　there　are　superadded　the　effects　of　tent；　booth；　and　sook；　greater　space；　larger　crowd；　more　unqualified　freedom；　and　the　glory　of　the　Eastern　sunshine。




CHAPTER　VII



Let　us　take　our　stan