ben-hur-第4章

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；　to　attest　the　great　fact；　where　Nature；　gone　back　to　its　primeval　condition；　and　secure　in　its　immensities；　invites　the　sage　and　the　exile；　with　promise　of　safety　to　the　one　and　solitude　to　the　otherthere　I　went　to　abide　alone　with　God；　praying；　fasting；　waiting　for　death。〃

Again　the　voice　fell；　and　the　bony　hands　met　in　a　fervent　clasp。

〃One　night　I　walked　by　the　shores　of　the　lake；　and　spoke　to　the　listening　silence；　'When　will　God　come　and　claim　his　own？　Is　there　to　be　no　redemption？'　Suddenly　a　light　began　to　glow　tremulously　out　on　the　water；　soon　a　star　arose；　and　moved　towards　me；　and　stood　overhead。　The　brightness　stunned　me。　While　I　lay　upon　the　ground；　I　heard　a　voice　of　infinite　sweetness　say；　'Thy　love　hath　conquered。　Blessed　art　thou；　O　son　of　India！　The　redemption　is　at　hand。　With　two　others；　from　far　quarters　of　the　earth；　thou　shalt　see　the　Redeemer；　and　be　a　witness　that　he　hath　come。　In　the　morning　arise；　and　go　meet　them；　and　put　all　thy　trust　in　the　Spirit　which　shall　guide　thee。'

〃And　from　that　time　the　light　has　stayed　with　me；　so　I　knew　it　was　the　visible　presence　of　the　Spirit。　In　the　morning　I　started　to　the　world　by　the　way　I　had　come。　In　a　cleft　of　the　mountain　I　found　a　stone　of　vast　worth；　which　I　sold　in　Hurdwar。　By　Lahore；　and　Cabool；　and　Yezd；　I　came　to　Ispahan。　There　I　bought　the　camel；　and　thence　was　led　to　Bagdad；　not　waiting　for　caravans。　Alone　I　traveled；　fearless；　for　the　Spirit　was　with　me；　and　is　with　me　yet。　What　glory　is　ours；　O　brethren！　We　are　to　see　the　Redeemerto　speak　to　himto　worship　him！　I　am　done。〃




CHAPTER　V



The　vivacious　Greek　broke　forth　in　expressions　of　joy　and　congratulations；　after　which　the　Egyptian　said；　with　characteristic　gravity：

〃I　salute　you；　my　brother。　You　have　suffered　much；　and　I　rejoice　in　your　triumph。　If　you　are　both　pleased　to　hear　me；　I　will　now　tell　you　who　I　am；　and　how　I　came　to　be　called。　Wait　for　me　a　moment。〃

He　went　out　and　tended　the　camels；　coming　back；　he　resumed　his　seat。

〃Your　words；　brethren；　were　of　the　Spirit；〃　he　said；　in　commencement；　〃and　the　Spirit　gives　me　to　understand　them。　You　each　spoke　particularly　of　your　countries；　in　that　there　was　a　great　object；　which　I　will　explain；　but　to　make　the　interpretation　complete；　let　me　first　speak　of　myself　and　my　people。　I　am　Balthasar　the　Egyptian。〃

The　last　words　were　spoken　quietly；　but　with　so　much　dignity　that　both　listeners　bowed　to　the　speaker。

〃There　are　many　distinctions　I　might　claim　for　my　race；〃　he　continued；　〃but　I　will　content　myself　with　one。　History　began　with　us。　We　were　the　first　to　perpetuate　events　by　records　kept。　So　we　have　no　traditions；　and　instead　of　poetry；　we　offer　you　certainty。　On　the　facades　of　palaces　and　temples；　on　obelisks；　on　the　inner　walls　of　tombs；　we　wrote　the　names　of　our　kings；　and　what　they　did；　and　to　the　delicate　papyri　we　intrusted　the　wisdom　of　our　philosophers　and　the　secrets　of　our　religionall　the　secrets　but　one；　whereof　I　will　presently　speak。　Older　than　the　Vedas　of　Para…Brahm　or　the　Up…Angas　of　Vyasa；　O　Melchior；　older　than　the　songs　of　Homer　or　the　metaphysics　of　Plato；　O　my　Gaspar；　older　than　the　sacred　books　or　kings　of　the　people　of　China；　or　those　of　Siddartha；　son　of　the　beautiful　Maya；　older　than　the　Genesis　of　Mosche　the　Hebrewoldest　of　human　records　are　the　writings　of　Menes；　our　first　king。〃　Pausing　an　instant；　he　fixed　his　large　eves　kindly　upon　the　Greek；　saying；　〃In　the　youth　of　Hellas；　who；　O　Gaspar；　were　the　teachers　of　her　teachers？〃

The　Greek　bowed；　smiling。

〃By　those　records；〃　Balthasar　continued；　〃we　know　that　when　the　fathers　came　from　the　far　East；　from　the　region　of　the　birth　of　the　three　sacred　rivers；　from　the　centre　of　the　earththe　Old　Iran　of　which　you　spoke；　O　Melchiorcame　bringing　with　them　the　history　of　the　world　before　the　Flood；　and　of　the　Flood　itself；　as　given　to　the　Aryans　by　the　sons　of　Noah；　they　taught　God；　the　Creator　and　the　Beginning；　and　the　Soul；　deathless　as　God。　When　the　duty　which　calls　us　now　is　happily　done；　if　you　choose　to　go　with　me；　I　will　show　you　the　sacred　library　of　our　priesthood；　among　others；　the　Book　of　the　Dead；　in　which　is　the　ritual　to　be　observed　by　the　soul　after　Death　has　despatched　it　on　its　journey　to　judgment。　The　ideasGod　and　the　Immortal　Soulwere　borne　to　Mizraim　over　the　desert；　and　by　him　to　the　banks　of　the　Nile。　They　were　then　in　their　purity；　easy　of　understanding；　as　what　God　intends　for　our　happiness　always　is；　so；　also；　was　the　first　worshipa　song　and　a　prayer　natural　to　a　soul　joyous；　hopeful；　and　in　love　with　its　Maker。〃

Here　the　Greek　threw　up　his　hands；　exclaiming；　〃Oh！　the　light　deepens　within　me！〃

〃And　in　me！〃　said　the　Hindoo；　with　equal　fervor。

The　Egyptian　regarded　them　benignantly；　then　went　on；　saying；　〃Religion　is　merely　the　law　which　binds　man　to　his　Creator：　in　purity　it　has　but　these　elementsGod；　the　Soul；　and　their　Mutual　Recognition；　out　of　which；　when　put　in　practise；　spring　Worship；　Love；　and　Reward。　This　law；　like　all　others　of　divine　origin　like　that；　for　instance；　which　binds　the　earth　to　the　sunwas　perfected　in　the　beginning　by　its　Author。　Such；　my　brothers；　was　the　religion　of　the　first　family；　such　was　the　religion　of　our　father　Mizraim；　who　could　not　have　been　blind　to　the　formula　of　creation；　nowhere　so　discernible　as　in　the　first　faith　and　the　earliest　worship。　Perfection　is　God；　simplicity　is　perfection。　The　curse　of　curses　is　that　men　will　not　let　truths　like　these　alone。〃

He　stopped；　as　if　considering　in　what　manner　to　continue。

〃Many　nations　have　loved　the　sweet　waters　of　the　Nile；〃　he　said　next；　〃the　Ethiopian；　the　Pali…Putra；　the　Hebrew；　the　Assyrian；　the　Persian；　the　Macedonian；　the　Romanof　whom　all；　except　the　Hebrew；　have　at　one　time　or　another　been　its　masters。　So　much　coming　and　going　of　peoples　corrupted　the　old　Mizraimic　faith。　The　Valley　of　Palms　became　a　Valley　of　Gods。　The　Supreme　One　was　divided　into　eight；　each　personating　a　creative　principle　in　nature；　with　Ammon…Re　at　the　head。　Then　Isis　and　Osiris；　and　their　circle；　representing　water；　fire；　air；　and　other　forces；　were　invented。　Still　the　multiplication　went　on　until　we　had　another　order；　suggested　by　human　qualities；　such　as　strength；　knowledge；　love；　and　the　like。〃

〃In　all　which　there　was　the　old　folly！〃　cried　the　Greek；　impulsively。　〃Only　the　things　out　of　reach　remain　as　they　came　to　us。〃

The　Egyptian　bowed；　and　proceeded：

〃Yet　a　little　further；　O　my　brethren；　a　little　further；　before　I　come　to　myself。　What　we　go　to　will　seem　all　the　holier　of　comparison　with　what　is　and　has　been。　The　records　show　that　Mizraim　found　the　Nile　in　possession　of　the　Ethiopians；　who　were　spread　thence　through　the　African　desert；　a　people　of　rich；　fantastic　genius；　wholly　given　to　the　worship　of　nature。　The　Poetic　Persian　sacrificed　to　the　sun；　as　the　completest　image　of　Ormuzd；　his　God；　the　devout　children　of　the　far　East　carved　their　deities　out　of　wood　and　ivory；　but　the　Ethiopian；　without　writing；　without　books；　without　mechanical　faculty　of　any　kind；　quieted　his　soul　by　the　worship　of　animals；　birds；　and　insects；　holding　the　cat　sacred　to　Re；　the　bull　to　Isis；　the　beetle　to　Pthah。　A　long　struggle　against　their　rude　faith　ended　in　its　adoption　as　the　religion　of　the　new　empire。　Then　rose　the　mighty　monuments　that　cumber　the　river…bank　and　the　desertobelisk；　labyrinth；　pyramid；　and　tomb　of　king；　blent　with　tomb　of　crocodile。　Into　such　deep　debasement；　O　brethren；　the　sons　of　the　Aryan　fell！〃

Here；　for　the　first　time；　the　calmness　of　the　Egyptian　forsook　him：　though　his　countenance　remained　impassive；　his　voice　gave　way。

〃Do　not　too　much　despise　my　countrymen；〃　he　began　again。　〃They　did　not　all　forget　God。　I　said　awhile　ago；　you　may　remember；　that　to　papyri　we　intrusted　all　the　secrets　of　our　religion　except　one；　of　that　I　will　now　tell　you。　We　had　as　king　once　a　certain　Pharaoh；　who　lent　himself　to　all　manner　of　changes　and　additions。　To　establish　the　new　system；　he　strove　to　drive　the　old　entirely　out　of　mind。　The　Hebrews　then　dwelt　with　us　as　slaves。　They　clung　to　their　God；　and　when　the　persecution　became　intolerable；　they　were　delivered　in　a　manner　never　to　be　forgotten。　I　speak　from　the　records　now。　Mosche；　himself　a　Hebrew；　came　to　the　palace；　and　demanded　permission　for　the　slaves；　then　millions　in　number；　to　leave　the　country。　The　demand　was　in　the　name　of　the　Lord　God　of　Israel。　Pharaoh　refused。　Hear　what　followed。　First；　all　the　water；　that　in　the　lakes　and　rivers；　like　that　in　the　wells　and　vessels；　turned　to　blood。　Yet　the　monarch　refused。　Then　frogs　came　up　and　covered　all　the　land。　Still　he　was　firm。　Then　Mosche　threw　ashes　in　the　air；　and　a　plague　attacked　the　Egyptians。　Next；　all　the　cattle；　except　of　the　Hebrews；　were　struck　dead。　Locusts　devoured　the　green　things　of　the　valley。　At　noon　the　day　was　turned　into　a　darkness　so　thick　that　lamps　would　not　burn。　Finally；　in　the　night　all　the　first…born　of　the　Egyptians　died；　not　even　Pharaoh's　escaped。　Then　he　yielded。　But　when　the　Hebrews　were　gone　he　followed　them　with　his　army。　At　the　last　moment　the　sea　was　divided；　so　that　the　fugitives　passed　it　dry…shod。　When　the　pursuers　drove　in　after　them；　the　waves　rushed　back　and　drowned　horse；　foot；　charioteers；　and　king。　You　spoke　of　revelation；　my　Gaspar〃

The　blue　eyes　of　the　Greek　sparkled。

〃I　had　the　story　from　the　Jew；〃　he　cried。　〃You　confirm　it；　O　Balthasar！〃

〃Yes；　but　through　me　Egypt　speaks；　not　Mosche。　I　interpret　the　marbles。　The　priests　of　that　time　wrote　in　their　way　what　they　witnessed；　and　the　revelation　has　lived。　So　I　come　to　the　one　unrecorded　secret。　In　my　country；　brethren；　we　have；　from　the　day　of　the　unfortunate　Pharaoh；　always　had　two　religionsone　private；　the　other　public；　one　of　many　gods；　practised　by　the　people；　the　other　of　one　God；　cherished　only　by　the　priesthood。　Rejoice　with　me；　O　brothers！　All　the　trampling　by　the　many　nations；　all　the　harrowing　by　kings；　all　the　inventions　of　enemies；　all　the　changes　of　time；　have　been　in　vain。　Like　a　seed　under　the　mountains　waiting　its　hour；　the　glorious　Truth　has　lived；　and　thisthis　is　its　day！〃

The　wasted　frame　of　the　Hindoo　trembled　with　delight；　and　the　Greek　cried　aloud；

〃It　seems　to　me　the　very　desert　is　singing。〃

From　a　gurglet　of　water　near…by　the　Egyptian　took　a　draught；　and　proceeded：

〃I　was　born　at　Alexandria；　a　prince　and　a　priest；　and　had　the　education　usual　to　my　class。　But　very　early　I　became　discontented。　Part　of　the　faith　imposed　was　that　after　death　upon　the　destruction　of　the　body；　the　soul　at　once　began　its　former　progression　from　the　lowest　up　to　humanity；　the　highest　and　last　existence；　and　that　without　reference　to　conduct　in　the　mortal　life。　When　I　heard　of　the　Persian's　Realm　of　Light；　his　Paradise　across　the　bridge　Chinevat；　where　only　the　good　go；　the　thought　haunted　me；　insomuch　that　in　the　day；　as　in　the　night；　I　brooded　over　the　comparative　ideas　Eternal　Transmigration　and　Eternal　Life　in　Heaven。　If；　as　my　teacher　taught；　God　was　just；　why　was　there　no　distinction　between　the　good　and　the　bad？　At　length　it　became　clear　to　me；　a　certainty；　a　corollary　of　the　law　to　which　I　reduced　pure　religion；　that　death　was　only　the　point　of　separation　at　which　the　wicked　are　left　or　lost；　and　the　faithful　rise　to　a　hig