ben-hur- 第87部分

His　cheeks　began　to　flush。

〃That　was　one　sign。　There　is　another。　In　a　combat　with　swords　you　slew　a　Roman。〃

The　flush　deepenednot　so　much　for　the　triumphs　themselves　as　the　flattery　there　was　in　the　thought　that　she　had　followed　his　career　with　interest。　A　moment；　and　the　pleasure　was　succeeded　by　a　reflection。　The　combat；　he　knew；　was　matter　of　report　throughout　the　East；　but　the　name　of　the　victor　had　been　committed　to　a　very　fewMalluch；　Ilderim；　and　Simonides。　Could　they　have　made　a　confidante　of　the　woman？　So　with　wonder　and　gratification　he　was　confused；　and　seeing　it；　she　arose　and　said；　holding　the　cup　over　the　pool；

〃O　gods　of　Egypt！　I　give　thanks　for　a　hero　discoveredthanks　that　the　victim　in　the　Palace　of　Idernee　was　not　my　king　of　men。　And　so；　O　holy　gods；　I　pour　and　drink。〃

Part　of　the　contents　of　the　cup　she　returned　to　the　stream；　the　rest　she　drank。　When　she　took　the　crystal　from　her　lips；　she　laughed　at　him。

〃O　son　of　Hur；　is　it　a　fashion　of　the　very　brave　to　be　so　easily　overcome　by　a　woman？　Take　the　cup　now；　and　see　if　you　cannot　find　a　happy　word　in　it　for　me〃

He　took　the　cup；　and　stooped　to　refill　it。

〃A　son　of　Israel　has　no　gods　whom　he　can　libate；〃　he　said；　playing　with　the　water　to　hide　his　amazement；　now　greater　than　before。　What　more　did　the　Egyptian　know　about　him？　Had　she　been　told　of　his　relations　with　Simonides？　And　there　was　the　treaty　with　Ilderimhad　she　knowledge　of　that　also？　He　was　struck　with　mistrust。　Somebody　had　betrayed　his　secrets；　and　they　were　serious。　And；　besides；　he　was　going　to　Jerusalem；　just　then　of　all　the　world　the　place　where　such　intelligence　possessed　by　an　enemy　might　be　most　dangerous　to　him；　his　associates；　and　the　cause。　But　was　she　an　enemy？　It　is　well　for　us　that；　while　writing　is　slow；　thought　is　instantaneous。　When　the　cup　was　fairly　cooled；　he　filled　it　and　arose；　saying；　with　indifference　well　affected；

〃Most　fair；　were　I　an　Egyptian　or　a　Greek　or　a　Roman；　I　would　say〃he　raised　the　goblet　overhead　as　he　spoke〃O　ye　better　gods！　I　give　thanks　that　there　are　yet　left　to　the　world；　despite　its　wrongs　and　sufferings；　the　charm　of　beauty　and　the　solace　of　love；　and　I　drink　to　her　who　best　represents　themto　Iras；　loveliest　of　the　daughters　of　the　Nile！〃

She　laid　her　hand　softly　upon　his　shoulder。

〃You　have　offended　against　the　law。　The　gods　you　have　drunk　to　are　false　gods。　Why　shall　I　not　tell　the　rabbis　on　you？〃

〃Oh！〃　he　replied；　laughing；　〃that　is　very　little　to　tell　for　one　who　knows　so　much　else　that　is　really　important。〃

〃I　will　go　furtherI　will　go　to　the　little　Jewess　who　makes　the　roses　grow　and　the　shadows　flame　in　the　house　of　the　great　merchant　over　in　Antioch。　To　the　rabbis　I　will　accuse　you　of　impenitence；　to　her〃

〃Well；　to　her？〃

〃I　will　repeat　what　you　have　said　to　me　under　the　lifted　cup；　with　the　gods　for　witnesses。〃

He　was　still　a　moment；　as　if　waiting　for　the　Egyptian　to　go　on。　With　quickened　fancy　he　saw　Esther　at　her　father's　side　listening　to　the　despatches　he　had　forwardedsometimes　reading　them。　In　her　presence　he　had　told　Simonides　the　story　of　the　affair　in　the　Palace　of　Idernee。　She　and　Iras　were　acquainted；　this　one　was　shrewd　and　worldly；　the　other　was　simple　and　affectionate；　and　therefore　easily　won。　Simonides　could　not　have　broken　faithnor　Ilderimfor　if　not　held　by　honor；　there　was　no　one；　unless　it　might　be　himself；　to　whom　the　consequences　of　exposure　were　more　serious　and　certain。　Could　Esther　have　been　the　Egyptian's　informant？　He　did　not　accuse　her；　yet　a　suspicion　was　sown　with　the　thought；　and　suspicions；　as　we　all　know；　are　weeds　of　the　mind　which　grow　of　themselves；　and　most　rapidly　when　least　wanted。　Before　he　could　answer　the　allusion　to　the　little　Jewess；　Balthasar　came　to　the　pool。

〃We　are　greatly　indebted　to　you；　son　of　Hur；〃　he　said；　in　his　grave　manner。　〃This　vale　is　very　beautiful；　the　grass；　the　trees；　the　shade；　invite　us　to　stay　and　rest；　and　the　spring　here　has　the　sparkle　of　diamonds　in　motion；　and　sings　to　me　of　a　loving　God。　It　is　not　enough　to　thank　you　for　the　enjoyment　we　find；　come　sit　with　us；　and　taste　our　bread。〃

〃Suffer　me　first　to　serve　you。〃

With　that　Ben…Hur　filled　the　goblet；　and　gave　it　to　Balthasar；　who　lifted　his　eyes　in　thanksgiving。

Immediately　the　slave　brought　napkins；　and　after　laving　their　hands　and　drying　them；　the　three　seated　themselves　in　Eastern　style　under　the　tent　which　years　before　had　served　the　Wise　Men　at　the　meeting　in　the　Desert。　And　they　ate　heartily　of　the　good　things　taken　from　the　camel's　pack。




CHAPTER　III



The　tent　was　cosily　pitched　beneath　a　tree　where　the　gurgle　of　the　stream　was　constantly　in　ear。　Overhead　the　broad　leaves　hung　motionless　on　their　stems；　the　delicate　reed…stalks　off　in　the　pearly　haze　stood　up　arrowy…straight；　occasionally　a　home…returning　bee　shot　humming　athwart　the　shade；　and　a　partridge　creeping　from　the　sedge　drank；　whistled　to　his　mate；　and　ran　away。　The　restfulness　of　the　vale；　the　freshness　of　the　air；　the　garden　beauty；　the　Sabbath　stillness；　seemed　to　have　affected　the　spirits　of　the　elder　Egyptian；　his　voice；　gestures；　and　whole　manner　were　unusually　gentle；　and　often　as　he　bent　his　eyes　upon　Ben…Hur　conversing　with　Iras；　they　softened　with　pity。

〃When　we　overtook　you；　son　of　Hur；〃　he　said；　at　the　conclusion　of　the　repast；　〃it　seemed　your　face　was　also　turned　towards　Jerusalem。　May　I　ask；　without　offence；　if　you　are　going　so　far？〃

〃I　am　going　to　the　Holy　City。〃

〃For　the　great　need　I　have　to　spare　myself　prolonged　toil；　I　will　further　ask　you；　Is　there　a　shorter　road　than　that　by　Rabbath…Ammon？〃

〃A　rougher　route；　but　shorter；　lies　by　Gerasa　and　Rabbath…Gilead。　It　is　the　one　I　design　taking。〃

〃I　am　impatient；〃　said　Balthasar。　〃Latterly　my　sleep　has　been　visited　by　dreamsor　rather　by　the　same　dream　in　repetition。　A　voiceit　is　nothing　morecomes　and　tells　me；　'Hastearise！　He　whom　thou　hast　so　long　awaited　is　at　hand。'〃

〃You　mean　he　that　is　to　be　King　of　the　JewsY'　Ben…Hur　asked；　gazing　at　the　Egyptian　in　wonder。

〃Even　so。〃

〃Then　you　have　heard　nothing　of　him？〃

〃Nothing；　except　the　words　of　the　voice　in　the　dream。〃

〃Here；　then；　are　tidings　to　make　you　glad　as　they　made　me。〃

From　his　gown　Ben…Hur　drew　the　letter　received　from　Malluch。　The　hand　the　Egyptian　held　out　trembled　violently。　He　read　aloud；　and　as　he　read　his　feelings　increased；　the　limp　veins　in　his　neck　swelled　and　throbbed。　At　the　conclusion　he　raised　his　suffused　eyes　in　thanksgiving　and　prayer。　He　asked　no　questions；　yet　had　no　doubts。

〃Thou　hast　been　very　good　to　me；　O　God；〃　he　said。　〃Give　me；　I　pray　thee；　to　see　the　Saviour　again；　and　worship　him；　and　thy　servant　will　be　ready　to　go　in　peace。〃

The　words；　the　manner；　the　singular　personality　of　the　simple　prayer；　touched　Ben…Hur　with　a　sensation　new　and　abiding。　God　never　seemed　so　actual　and　so　near　by；　it　was　as　if　he　were　there　bending　over　them　or　sitting　at　their　sidea　Friend　whose　favors　were　to　be　had　by　the　most　unceremonious　askinga　Father　to　whom　all　his　children　were　alike　in　loveFather；　not　more　of　the　Jew　than　of　the　Gentilethe　Universal　Father；　who　needed　no　intermediates；　no　rabbis；　no　priests；　no　teachers。　The　idea　that　such　a　God　might　send　mankind　a　Saviour　instead　of　a　king　appeared　to　Ben…Hur　in　a　light　not　merely　new；　but　so　plain　that　he　could　almost　discern　both　the　greater　want　of　such　a　gift　and　its　greater　consistency　with　the　nature　of　such　a　Deity。　So　he　could　not　resist　asking；

〃Now　that　he　has　come；　O　Balthasar；　you　still　think　he　is　to　be　a　Saviour；　and　not　a　king？〃

Balthasar　gave　him　a　look　thoughtful　as　it　was　tender。

〃How　shall　I　understand　you？〃　he　asked；　in　return。　〃The　Spirit；　which　was　the　Star　that　was　my　guide　of　old；　has　not　appeared　to　me　since　I　met　you　in　the　tent　of　the　good　sheik；　that　is　to　say；　I　have　not　seen　or　heard　it　as　formerly。　I　believe　the　voice　that　spoke　to　me　in　my　dreams　was　it；　but　other　than　that　I　have　no　revelation。〃

〃I　will　recall　the　difference　between　us；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　with　deference。　〃You　were　of　opinion　that　he　would　be　a　king；　but　not　as　Caesar　is；　you　thought　his　sovereignty　would　be　spiritual；　not　of　the　world。〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　the　Egyptian　answered；　〃and　I　am　of　the　same　opinion　now。　I　see　the　divergence　in　our　faith。　You　are　going　to　meet　a　king　of　men；　I　a　Saviour　of　souls。〃

He　paused　with　the　look　often　seen　when　people　are　struggling；　with　introverted　effort；　to　disentangle　a　thought　which　is　either　too　high　for　quick　discernment　or　too　subtle　for　simple　expression。

〃Let　me　try；　O　son　of　Hur；〃　he　said；　directly；　〃and　help　you　to　a　clear　understanding　of　my　belief；　then　it　may　be；　seeing　how　the　spiritual　kingdom　I　expect　him　to　set　up　can　be　more　excellent　in　every　sense　than　anything　of　mere　Caesarean　splendor；　you　will　better　understand　the　reason　of　the　interest　I　take　in　the　mysterious　person　we　are　going　to　welcome。

〃I　cannot　tell　you　when　the　idea　of　a　Soul　in　every　man　had　its　origin。　Most　likely　the　first　parents　brought　it　with　them　out　of　the　garden　in　which　they　had　their　first　dwelling。　We　all　do　know；　however；　that　it　has　never　perished　entirely　out　of　mind。　By　some　peoples　it　was　lost；　but　not　by　all；　in　some　ages　it　dulled　and　faded；　in　others　it　was　overwhelmed　with　doubts；　but；　in　great　goodness；　God　kept　sending　us　at　intervals　mighty　intellects　to　argue　it　back　to　faith　and　hope。

〃Why　should　there　be　a　Soul　in　every　man？　Look；　O　son　of　Hurfor　one　moment　look　at　the　necessity　of　such　a　device。　To　lie　down　and　die；　and　be　no　moreno　more　forevertime　never　was　when　man　wished　for　such　an　end；　nor　has　the　man　ever　been　who　did　not　in　his　heart　promise　himself　something　better。　The　monuments　of　the　nations　are　all　protests　against　nothingness　after　death；　so　are　statues　and　inscriptions；　so　is　history。　The　greatest　of　our　Egyptian　kings　had　his　effigy　cut…out　of　a　hill　of　solid　rock。　Day　after　day　he　went　with　a　host　in　chariots　to　see　the　work；　at　last　it　was　finished；　never　effigy　so　grand；　so　enduring：　it　looked　like　himthe　features　were　his；　faithful　even　in　expression。　Now　may　we　not　think　of　him　saying　in　that　moment　of　pride；　'Let　Death　come；　there　is　an　after…life　for　me！'　He　had　his　wish。　The　statue　is　there　yet。

〃But　what