ben-hur-第25章

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groan　will　tell　all　men　feel　while；　perforce；　they　think　in　silence？　Existence　with　the　poor　wretches　was　like　a　stream　under　ground　sweeping　slowly；　laboriously　on　to　its　outlet；　wherever　that　might　chance　to　be。

O　Son　of　Mary！　The　sword　has　now　a　heartand　thine　the　glory！　So　now；　but；　in　the　days　of　which　we　are　writing；　for　captivity　there　was　drudgery　on　walls；　and　in　the　streets　and　mines；　and　the　galleys　both　of　war　and　commerce　were　insatiable。　When　Druilius　won　the　first　sea…fight　for　his　country；　Romans　plied　the　oars；　and　the　glory　was　to　the　rower　not　less　than　the　marine。　These　benches　which　now　we　are　trying　to　see　as　they　were　testified　to　the　change　come　with　conquest；　and　illustrated　both　the　policy　and　the　prowess　of　Rome。　Nearly　all　the　nations　had　sons　there；　mostly　prisoners　of　war；　chosen　for　their　brawn　and　endurance。　In　one　place　a　Briton；　before　him　a　Libyan；　behind　him　a　Crimean。　Elsewhere　a　Scythian；　a　Gaul；　and　a　Thebasite。　Roman　convicts　cast　down　to　consort　with　Goths　and　Longobardi；　Jews；　Ethiopians；　and　barbarians　from　the　shores　of　Maeotis。　Here　an　Athenian；　there　a　red…haired　savage　from　Hibernia；　yonder　blue…eyed　giants　of　the　Cimbri。

In　the　labor　of　the　rowers　there　was　not　enough　art　to　give　occupation　to　their　minds；　rude　and　simple　as　they　were。　The　reach　forward；　the　pull；　the　feathering　the　blade；　the　dip；　were　all　there　was　of　it；　motions　most　perfect　when　most　automatic。　Even　the　care　forced　upon　them　by　the　sea　outside　grew　in　time　to　be　a　thing　instinctive　rather　than　of　thought。　So；　as　the　result　of　long　service；　the　poor　wretches　became　imbrutedpatient；　spiritless；　obedientcreatures　of　vast　muscle　and　exhausted　intellects；　who　lived　upon　recollections　generally　few　but　dear；　and　at　last　lowered　into　the　semi…conscious　alchemic　state　wherein　misery　turns　to　habit；　and　the　soul　takes　on　incredible　endurance。

From　right　to　left；　hour　after　hour；　the　tribune；　swaying　in　his　easy…chair；　turned　with　thought　of　everything　rather　than　the　wretchedness　of　the　slaves　upon　the　benches。　Their　motions；　precise；　and　exactly　the　same　on　both　sides　of　the　vessel；　after　a　while　became　monotonous；　and　then　he　amused　himself　singling　out　individuals。　With　his　stylus　he　made　note　of　objections；　thinking；　if　all　went　well；　he　would　find　among　the　pirates　of　whom　he　was　in　search　better　men　for　the　places。

There　was　no　need　of　keeping　the　proper　names　of　the　slaves　brought　to　the　galleys　as　to　their　graves；　so；　for　convenience；　they　were　usually　identified　by　the　numerals　painted　upon　the　benches　to　which　they　were　assigned。　As　the　sharp　eyes　of　the　great　man　moved　from　seat　to　seat　on　either　hand；　they　came　at　last　to　number　sixty；　which；　as　has　been　said；　belonged　properly　to　the　last　bank　on　the　left…hand　side；　but；　wanting　room　aft；　had　been　fixed　above　the　first　bench　of　the　first　bank。　There　they　rested。

The　bench　of　number　sixty　was　slightly　above　the　level　of　the　platform；　and　but　a　few　feet　away。　The　light　glinting　through　the　grating　over　his　head　gave　the　rower　fairly　to　the　tribune's　viewerect；　and；　like　all　his　fellows；　naked；　except　a　cincture　about　the　loins。　There　were；　however；　some　points　in　his　favor。　He　was　very　young；　not　more　than　twenty。　Furthermore；　Arrius　was　not　merely　given　to　dice；　he　was　a　connoisseur　of　men　physically；　and　when　ashore　indulged　a　habit　of　visiting　the　gymnasia　to　see　and　admire　the　most　famous　athletae。　From　some　professor；　doubtless；　he　had　caught　the　idea　that　strength　was　as　much　of　the　quality　as　the　quantity　of　the　muscle；　while　superiority　in　performance　required　a　certain　mind　as　well　as　strength。　Having　adopted　the　doctrine；　like　most　men　with　a　hobby；　he　was　always　looking　for　illustrations　to　support　it。

The　reader　may　well　believe　that　while　the　tribune；　in　the　search　for　the　perfect；　was　often　called　upon　to　stop　and　study；　he　was　seldom　perfectly　satisfiedin　fact；　very　seldom　held　as　long　as　on　this　occasion。

In　the　beginning　of　each　movement　of　the　oar；　the　rower's　body　and　face　were　brought　into　profile　view　from　the　platform；　the　movement　ended　with　the　body　reversed；　and　in　a　pushing　posture。　The　grace　and　ease　of　the　action　at　first　suggested　a　doubt　of　the　honesty　of　the　effort　put　forth；　but　it　was　speedily　dismissed；　the　firmness　with　which　the　oar　was　held　while　in　the　reach　forward；　its　bending　under　the　push；　were　proofs　of　the　force　applied；　not　that　only；　they　as　certainly　proved　the　rower's　art；　and　put　the　critic　in　the　great　arm…chair　in　search　of　the　combination　of　strength　and　cleverness　which　was　the　central　idea　of　his　theory。

In　course　of　the　study；　Arrius　observed　the　subject's　youth；　wholly　unconscious　of　tenderness　on　that　account；　he　also　observed　that　he　seemed　of　good　height；　and　that　his　limbs；　upper　and　nether；　were　singularly　perfect。　The　arms；　perhaps；　were　too　long；　but　the　objection　was　well　hidden　under　a　mass　of　muscle；　which；　in　some　movements；　swelled　and　knotted　like　kinking　cords。　Every　rib　in　the　round　body　was　discernible；　yet　the　leanness　was　the　healthful　reduction　so　strained　after　in　the　palaestrae。　And　altogether　there　was　in　the　rower's　action　a　certain　harmony　which；　besides　addressing　itself　to　the　tribune's　theory；　stimulated　both　his　curiosity　and　general　interest。

Very　soon　he　found　himself　waiting　to　catch　a　view　of　the　man's　face　in　full。　The　head　was　shapely；　and　balanced　upon　a　neck　broad　at　the　base；　but　of　exceeding　pliancy　and　grace。　The　features　in　profile　were　of　Oriental　outline；　and　of　that　delicacy　of　expression　which　has　always　been　thought　a　sign　of　blood　and　sensitive　spirit。　With　these　observations；　the　tribune's　interest　in　the　subject　deepened。

〃By　the　gods；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃the　fellow　impresses　me！　He　promises　well。　I　will　know　more　of　him。〃

Directly　the　tribune　caught　the　view　he　wishedthe　rower　turned　and　looked　at　him。

〃A　Jew！　and　a　boy！〃

Under　the　gaze　then　fixed　steadily　upon　him；　the　large　eyes　of　the　slave　grew　largerthe　blood　surged　to　his　very　browsthe　blade　lingered　in　his　hands。　But　instantly；　with　an　angry　crash；　down　fell　the　gavel　of　the　hortator。　The　rower　started；　withdrew　his　face　from　the　inquisitor；　and；　as　if　personally　chidden；　dropped　the　oar　half　feathered。　When　he　glanced　again　at　the　tribune；　he　was　vastly　more　astonishedhe　was　met　with　a　kindly　smile。

Meantime　the　galley　entered　the　Straits　of　Messina；　and；　skimming　past　the　city　of　that　name；　was　after　a　while　turned　eastward；　leaving　the　cloud　over　AEtna　in　the　sky　astern。

Often　as　Arrius　resumed　to　his　platform　in　the　cabin　he　returned　to　study　the　rower；　and　he　kept　saying　to　himself；　〃The　fellow　hath　a　spirit。　A　Jew　is　not　a　barbarian。　I　will　know　more　of　him。〃




CHAPTER　III



The　fourth　day　out；　and　the　Astroeaso　the　galley　was　namedspeeding　through　the　Ionian　Sea。　The　sky　was　clear；　and　the　wind　blew　as　if　bearing　the　good…will　of　all　the　gods。

As　it　was　possible　to　overtake　the　fleet　before　reaching　the　bay　east　of　the　island　of　Cythera；　designated　for　assemblage；　Arrius；　somewhat　impatient；　spent　much　time　on　deck。　He　took　note　diligently　of　matters　pertaining　to　his　ship；　and　as　a　rule　was　well　pleased。　In　the　cabin；　swinging　in　the　great　chair；　his　thought　continually　reverted　to　the　rower　on　number　sixty。

〃Knowest　thou　the　man　just　come　from　yon　bench？〃　he　at　length　asked　of　the　hortator。

A　relief　was　going　on　at　the　moment。

〃From　number　sixty？〃　returned　the　chief。

〃Yes。〃

The　chief　looked　sharply　at　the　rower　then　going　forward。

〃As　thou　knowest；〃　he　replied　〃the　ship　is　but　a　month　from　the　maker's　hand；　and　the　men　are　as　new　to　me　as　the　ship。〃

〃He　is　a　Jew；〃　Arrius　remarked；　thoughtfully。

〃The　noble　Quintus　is　shrewd。〃

〃He　is　very　young；〃　Arrius　continued。

〃But　our　best　rower；〃　said　the　other。　〃I　have　seen　his　oar　bend　almost　to　breaking。〃

〃Of　what　disposition　is　he？〃

〃He　is　obedient；　further　I　know　not。　Once　he　made　request　of　me。〃

〃For　what？〃

〃He　wished　me　to　change　him　alternately　from　the　right　to　the　left。〃

〃Did　he　give　a　reason？〃

〃He　had　observed　that　the　men　who　are　confined　to　one　side　become　misshapen。　He　also　said　that　some　day　of　storm　or　battle　there　might　be　sudden　need　to　change　him；　and　he　might　then　be　unserviceable。〃

〃Perpol！　The　idea　is　new。　What　else　hast　thou　observed　of　him？〃

〃He　is　cleanly　above　his　companions。〃

〃In　that　he　is　Roman；〃　said　Arrius；　approvingly。　〃Have　you　nothing　of　his　history？〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

The　tribune　reflected　awhile；　and　turned　to　go　to　his　own　seat。

〃If　I　should　be　on　deck　when　his　time　is　up；〃　he　paused　to　say；　〃send　him　to　me。　Let　him　come　alone。〃

About　two　hours　later　Arrius　stood　under　the　aplustre　of　the　galley；　in　the　mood　of　one　who；　seeing　himself　carried　swiftly　towards　an　event　of　mighty　import；　has　nothing　to　do　but　waitthe　mood　in　which　philosophy　vests　an　even…minded　man　with　the　utmost　calm；　and　is　ever　so　serviceable。　The　pilot　sat　with　a　hand　upon　the　rope　by　which　the　rudder　paddles；　one　on　each　side　of　the　vessel；　were　managed。　In　the　shade　of　the　sail　some　sailors　lay　asleep；　and　up　on　the　yard　there　was　a　lookout。　Lifting　his　eyes　from　the　solarium　set　under　the　aplustre　for　reference　in　keeping　the　course；　Arrius　beheld　the　rower　approaching。

〃The　chief　called　thee　the　noble　Arrius；　and　said　it　was　thy　will　that　I　should　seek　thee　here。　I　have　come。〃

Arrius　surveyed　the　figure；　tall；　sinewy；　glistening　in　the　sun；　and　tinted　by　the　rich　red　blood　withinsurveyed　it　admiringly；　and　with　a　thought　of　the　arena；　yet　the　manner　was　not　without　effect　upon　him：　there　was　in　the　voice　a　suggestion　of　life　at　least　partly　spent　under　refining　influences；　the　eyes　were　clear　and　open；　and　more　curious　than　defiant。　To　the　shrewd；　demanding；　masterful　glance　bent　upon　it；　the　face　gave　back　nothing　to　mar　its　youthful　comelinessnothing　of　accusation　or　sullenness　or　menace；　only　the　signs　which　a　great　sorrow　long　borne　imprints；　as　time　mellows　the　surface　of　pictures。　In　tacit　acknowledgment　of　the　effect；　the　Roman　spoke　as　an　older　man　to　a　younger；　not　as　a　master　to　a　slave。

〃The　hortator　tells　me　thou　art　his　best　rower。〃

〃The　hortator　is　very　kind；〃　the　rower　answered。

〃Hast　thou　seen　much　service？〃

〃About　three　years。〃

〃At　the　oars？〃

〃I　cannot　recall　a　day　of　rest　from　them。〃

〃The　labor　is　hard；　few　men　bear　it　a　year　without　breaking；　and　thouthou　art　but　a　boy。〃

〃The　noble　Arrius　forgets　that　the　spirit　hath　much　to　do　with　endurance。　By　its　help　the　weak　sometimes　thrive；　when　the　strong　perish。〃

〃From　thy　speech；　thou　art　a　Jew。〃

〃My　ancestors　further　back　than　the　first　Roman　were　Hebrews。〃

〃The　stubborn　pride　of　thy　race　is　not　lost　in　thee；〃　said　Arrius；　observing　a　flush　upon　the　rower's　face。

〃Pride　is　never　so　loud　as　when　in　chains。〃

〃What　cause　hast　thou　for　pride？〃

〃That　I　am　a　Jew。〃

Arrius　smiled。

〃I　have　not　been　to　Jerusalem；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　heard　of　its　princes。　I　knew　one　of　them。　He　was　a　merchant；　and　sailed　the　seas。　He　was　fit　to　have　been　a　king。　Of　what　degree　art　thou？〃

〃I　must　answer　thee　from　the　bench　of　a　galley。　I　am　of　the　degree　of　slaves。　My　father　was　a　prince　of　Jerusalem；　and；　as　a　merchant；　he　sailed　the　seas。　H