ben-hur-第44章

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〃Again？〃

〃I　must　have　back　my　sestertium。〃

〃Be　it　so。〃

And　they　played　again　and　again；　and　when　day；　stealing　through　the　skylights；　began　to　dim　the　lamps；　it　found　the　two　in　the　same　places　at　the　same　table；　still　at　the　game。　Like　most　of　the　company；　they　were　military　attaches　of　the　consul；　awaiting　his　arrival　and　amusing　themselves　meantime。

During　this　conversation　a　party　entered　the　room；　and；　unnoticed　at　first；　proceeded　to　the　central　table。　The　signs　were　that　they　had　come　from　a　revel　just　dismissed。　Some　of　them　kept　their　feet　with　difficulty。　Around　the　leader's　brow　was　a　chaplet　which　marked　him　master　of　the　feast；　if　not　the　giver。　The　wine　had　made　no　impression　upon　him　unless　to　heighten　his　beauty；　which　was　of　the　most　manly　Roman　style；　he　carried　his　head　high　raised；　the　blood　flushed　his　lips　and　cheeks　brightly；　his　eyes　glittered；　though　the　manner　in　which；　shrouded　in　a　toga　spotless　white　and　of　ample　folds；　he　walked　was　too　nearly　imperial　for　one　sober　and　not　a　Caesar。　In　going　to　the　table；　he　made　room　for　himself　and　his　followers　with　little　ceremony　and　no　apologies；　and　when　at　length　he　stopped；　and　looked　over　it　and　at　the　players；　they　all　turned　to　him；　with　a　shout　like　a　cheer。

〃Messala！　Messala！〃　they　cried。

Those　in　distant　quarters；　hearing　the　cry；　re…echoed　it　where　they　were。　Instantly　there　were　dissolution　of　groups；　and　breaking…up　of　games；　and　a　general　rush　towards　the　centre。

Messala　took　the　demonstration　indifferently；　and　proceeded　presently　to　show　the　ground　of　his　popularity。

〃A　health　to　thee；　Drusus；　my　friend；〃　he　said　to　the　player　next　at　his　right；　〃a　healthand　thy　tablets　a　moment。〃

He　raised　the　waxen　boards；　glanced　at　the　memoranda　of　wagers；　and　tossed　them　down。

〃Denarii；　only　denariicoin　of　cartmen　and　butchers！〃　he　said；　with　a　scornful　laugh。　〃By　the　drunken　Semele；　to　what　is　Rome　coming；　when　a　Caesar　sits　o'　nights　waiting　a　turn　of　fortune　to　bring　him　but　a　beggarly　denarius！〃

The　scion　of　the　Drusi　reddened　to　his　brows；　but　the　bystanders　broke　in　upon　his　reply　by　surging　closer　around　the　table；　and　shouting；　〃The　Messala！　the　Messala！〃

〃Men　of　the　Tiber；〃　Messala　continued；　wresting　a　box　with　the　dice　in　it　from　a　hand　near…by；　〃who　is　he　most　favored　of　the　gods？　A　Roman。　Who　is　he　lawgiver　of　the　nations？　A　Roman。　Who　is　he；　by　sword　right；　the　universal　master？〃

The　company　were　of　the　easily　inspired；　and　the　thought　was　one　to　which　they　were　born；　in　a　twinkling　they　snatched　the　answer　from　him。

〃A　Roman；　a　Roman！〃　they　shouted。

〃Yetyet〃he　lingered　to　catch　their　ears〃yet　there　is　a　better　than　the　best　of　Rome。〃

He　tossed　his　patrician　head　and　paused；　as　if　to　sting　them　with　his　sneer。

〃Hear　ye？〃　he　asked。　〃There　is　a　better　than　the　best　of　Rome。〃

〃AyHercules！〃　cried　one。

〃Bacchus！〃　yelled　a　satirist。

〃JoveJove！〃　thundered　the　crowd。

〃No；〃　Messala　answered；　〃among　men。〃

〃Name　him；　name　him！〃　they　demanded。

〃I　will；〃　he　said；　the　next　lull。　〃He　who　to　the　perfection　of　Rome　hath　added　the　perfection　of　the　East；　who　to　the　arm　of　conquest；　which　is　Western；　hath　also　the　art　needful　to　the　enjoyment　of　dominion；　which　is　Eastern。〃

〃Perpol！　His　best　is　a　Roman；　after　all；〃　some　one　shouted；　and　there　was　a　great　laugh；　and　long　clapping　of　handsan　admission　that　Messala　had　the　advantage。

〃In　the　East〃　he　continued；　〃we　have　no　gods；　only　Wine；　Women；　and　Fortune；　and　the　greatest　of　them　is　Fortune；　wherefore　our　motto；　'Who　dareth　what　I　dare？'fit　for　the　senate；　fit　for　battle；　fittest　for　him　who；　seeking　the　best；　challenges　the　worst。〃

His　voice　dropped　into　an　easy；　familiar　tone；　but　without　relaxing　the　ascendancy　he　had　gained。

〃In　the　great　chest　up　in　the　citadel　I　have　five　talents　coin　current　in　the　markets；　and　here　are　the　receipts　for　them。〃

From　his　tunic　he　drew　a　roll　of　paper；　and；　flinging　it　on　the　table；　continued；　amidst　breathless　silence；　every　eye　having　him　in　view　fixed　on　his；　every　ear　listening：

〃The　sum　lies　there　the　measure　of　what　I　dare。　Who　of　you　dares　so　much！　You　are　silent。　Is　it　too　great？　I　will　strike　off　one　talent。　What！　still　silent？　Come；　then；　throw　me　once　for　these　three　talentsonly　three；　for　two；　for　oneone　at　leastone　for　the　honor　of　the　river　by　which　you　were　bornRome　East　against　Rome　West！Orontes　the　barbarous　against　Tiber　the　sacred！〃

He　rattled　the　dice　overhead　while　waiting。

〃The　Orontes　against　the　Tiber！〃　he　repeated；　with　an　increase　of　scornful　emphasis。

Not　a　man　moved；　then　he　flung　the　box　upon　the　table　and；　laughing；　took　up　the　receipts。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！　By　the　Olympian　Jove；　I　know　now　ye　have　fortunes　to　make　or　to　mend；　therefore　are　ye　come　to　Antioch。　Ho；　Cecilius！〃

〃Here；　Messala！〃　cried　a　man　behind　him；　〃here　am　I；　perishing　in　the　mob；　and　begging　a　drachma　to　settle　with　the　ragged　ferryman。　But；　Pluto　take　me！　these　new　ones　have　not　so　much　as　an　obolus　among　them。〃

The　sally　provoked　a　burst　of　laughter；　under　which　the　saloon　rang　and　rang　again。　Messala　alone　kept　his　gravity。

〃Go；　thou；〃　he　said　to　Cecilius；　〃to　the　chamber　whence　we　came；　and　bid　the　servants　bring　the　amphorae　here；　and　the　cups　and　goblets。　If　these　our　countrymen；　looking　for　fortune；　have　not　purses；　by　the　Syrian　Bacchus；　I　will　see　if　they　are　not　better　blessed　with　stomachs！　Haste　thee！〃

Then　he　turned　to　Drusus；　with　a　laugh　heard　throughout　the　apartment。

〃Ha；　ha；　my　friend！　Be　thou　not　offended　because　I　levelled　the　Caesar　in　thee　down　to　the　denarii。　Thou　seest　I　did　but　use　the　name　to　try　these　fine　fledglings　of　our　old　Rome。　Come；　my　Drusus；　come！〃　He　took　up　the　box　again　and　rattled　the　dice　merrily。　〃Here；　for　what　sum　thou　wilt；　let　us　measure　fortunes。〃

The　manner　was　frank；　cordial；　winsome。　Drusus　melted　in　a　moment。

〃By　the　Nymphae；　yes！〃　he　said；　laughing。　〃I　will　throw　with　thee；　Messalafor　a　denarius。〃

A　very　boyish　person　was　looking　over　the　table　watching　the　scene。　Suddenly　Messala　turned　to　him。

〃Who　art　thou？〃　he　asked。

The　lad　drew　back。

〃Nay；　by　Castor！　and　his　brother　too！　I　meant　not　offence。　It　is　a　rule　among　men；　in　matters　other　than　dice；　to　keep　the　record　closest　when　the　deal　is　least。　I　have　need　of　a　clerk。　Wilt　thou　serve　me？〃

The　young　fellow　drew　his　tablets　ready　to　keep　the　score：　the　manner　was　irresistible。

〃Hold；　Messala；　hold！〃　cried　Drusus。　〃I　know　not　if　it　be　ominous　to　stay　the　poised　dice　with　a　question；　but　one　occurs　to　me；　and　I　must　ask　it　though　Venus　slap　me　with　her　girdle。〃

〃Nay；　my　Drusus；　Venus　with　her　girdle　off　is　Venus　in　love。　To　thy　questionI　will　make　the　throw　and　hold　it　against　mischance。　Thus〃

He　turned　the　box　upon　the　table　and　held　it　firmly　over　the　dice。

And　Drusus　asked；　〃Did　you　ever　see　one　Quintus　Arrius？〃

〃The　duumvir？〃

〃Nohis　son？〃

〃I　knew　not　he　had　a　son。〃

〃Well；　it　is　nothing；〃　Drusus　added；　indifferently；　〃only；　my　Messala；　Pollux　was　not　more　like　Castor　than　Arrius　is　like　thee。〃

The　remark　had　the　effect　of　a　signal：　twenty　voices　took　it　up。

〃True；　true！　His　eyeshis　face；〃　they　cried。

〃What！〃　answered　one；　disgusted。　〃Messala　is　a　Roman；　Arrius　is　a　Jew。〃

〃Thou　sayest　right；〃　a　third　exclaimed。　〃He　is　a　Jew；　or　Momus　lent　his　mother　the　wrong　mask。〃

There　was　promise　of　a　dispute；　seeing　which；　Messala　interposed。　〃The　wine　is　not　come；　my　Drusus；　and；　as　thou　seest；　I　have　the　freckled　Pythias　as　they　were　dogs　in　leash。　As　to　Arrius；　I　will　accept　thy　opinion　of　him；　so　thou　tell　me　more　about　him。〃

〃Well；　be　he　Jew　or　Romanand；　by　the　great　god　Pan；　I　say　it　not　in　disrespect　of　thy　feelings；　my　Messala！this　Arrius　is　handsome　and　brave　and　shrewd。　The　emperor　offered　him　favor　and　patronage；　which　he　refused。　He　came　up　through　mystery；　and　keepeth　distance　as　if　he　felt　himself　better　or　knew　himself　worse　than　the　rest　of　us。　In　the　palaestrae　he　was　unmatched；　he　played　with　the　blue…eyed　giants　from　the　Rhine　and　the　hornless　bulls　of　Sarmatia　as　they　were　willow　wisps。　The　duumvir　left　him　vastly　rich。　He　has　a　passion　for　arms；　and　thinks　of　nothing　but　war。　Maxentius　admitted　him　into　his　family；　and　he　was　to　have　taken　ship　with　us；　but　we　lost　him　at　Ravenna。　Nevertheless　he　arrived　safely。　We　heard　of　him　this　morning。　Perpol！　Instead　of　coming　to　the　palace　or　going　to　the　citadel；　he　dropped　his　baggage　at　the　khan；　and　hath　disappeared　again。〃

At　the　beginning　of　the　speech　Messala　listened　with　polite　indifference；　as　it　proceeded；　he　became　more　attentive；　at　the　conclusion；　he　took　his　hand　from　the　dice…box；　and　called　out；　〃Ho；　my　Caius！　Dost　thou　hear？〃

A　youth　at　his　elbowhis　Myrtilus；　or　comrade；　in　the　day's　chariot　practiceanswered；　much　pleased　with　the　attention；　〃Did　I　not；　my　Messala；　I　were　not　thy　friend。〃

〃Dost　thou　remember　the　man　who　gave　thee　the　fall　to…day？〃

〃By　the　love…locks　of　Bacchus；　have　I　not　a　bruised　shoulder　to　help　me　keep　it　in　mind？〃　and　he　seconded　the　words　with　a　shrug　that　submerged　his　ears。

〃Well；　be　thou　grateful　to　the　FatesI　have　found　thy　enemy。　Listen。〃

Thereupon　Messala　turned　to　Drusus。

〃Tell　us　more　of　himperpol！of　him　who　is　both　Jew　and　Roman　by　Phoebus；　a　combination　to　make　a　Centaur　lovely！　What　garments　cloth　he　affect；　my　Drusus？〃

〃Those　of　the　Jews。〃

〃Hearest　thou；　Caius？〃　said　Messala。　〃The　fellow　is　youngone；　he　hath　the　visage　of　a　Romantwo；　he　loveth　best　the　garb　of　a　Jewthree；　and　in　the　palaestrae　fame　and　fortune　come　of　arms　to　throw　a　horse　or　tilt　a　chariot；　as　the　necessity　may　orderfour。　And；　Drusus；　help　thou　my　friend　again。　Doubtless　this　Arrius　hath　tricks　of　language；　otherwise　he　could　not　so　confound　himself；　to…day　a　Jew；　to…morrow　a　Roman；　but　of　the　rich　tongue　of　Athenediscourseth　he　in　that　as　well？〃

〃With　such　purity；　Messala；　he　might　have　been　a　contestant　in　the　Isthmia。〃

〃Art　thou　listening；　Caius？〃　said　Messala。　〃The　fellow　is　qualified　to　salute　a　womanfor　that　matter　Aristomache　herselfin　the　Greek；　and　as　I　keep　the　count；　that　is　five。　What　sayest　thou？〃

〃Thou　hast　found　him；　my　Messala；〃　Caius　answered；　〃or　I　am　not　myself。〃

〃Thy　pardon；　Drususand　pardon　of　allfor　speaking　in　riddles　thus；〃　Messala　said；　in　his　winsome　way。　〃By　all　the　decent　gods；　I　would　not　strain　thy　courtesy　to　the　point　of　breaking；　but　now　help　thou　me。　See！〃he　put　his　hand　on　the　dice…box　again；　laughing〃See　how　close　I　hold　the　Pythias　and　their　secret！　Thou　didst　speak；　I　think；　of　mystery　in　connection　with　the　coming　of　the　son　of　Arrius。　Tell　me　of　that。〃

〃'Tis　nothing；　Messala；　nothing；〃　Drusus　replied；　〃a　child's　story。　When　Arrius；　the　father；　sailed　in　pursuit　of　the　pirates；　he　was　without　wife　or　family；　he　returned　with　a　boyhim　of　whom　we　speakand　next　day　adopted　him。〃

〃Adopted　him？〃　Messala　repeated。　〃By　the　gods；　Drusus；　thou　dost；　indeed；　interest　me！　Where　did　the　duumvir　find　the　boy？　And　who　was　he？〃

〃Who　shall　answer　thee　that；　Messala？　who　but　the　young　Arrius　himself？　Perpol！　in　the　fight　the　duumvirthen　but　a　tribunelost　his　galley。　A　returning　vessel　found　him　and　one　otherall　of　the　crew　who　survivedafloat　upon　the　same　plank。　I　give　you　now　the　st