ben-hur-第74章
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dor of the August moon； pouring over the crest of Olivet； since termed the Mount of Offence； brought the lettering boldly out； and he read； and was filled with rage。 All he could do was to wrench the board from its nailing； and hurl it into the ditch。 Then he sat upon the step； and prayed for the New King； and that his coming might be hastened。 As his blood cooled； insensibly he yielded to the fatigue of long travel in the summer heat； and sank down lower； and； at last； slept。
About that time two women came down the street from the direction of the Tower of Antonia； approaching the palace of the Hurs。 They advanced stealthily； with timid steps； pausing often to listen。 At the corner of the rugged pile； one said to the other； in a low voice；
〃This is it； Tirzah！〃
And Tirzah； after a look； caught her mother's hand； and leaned upon her heavily； sobbing； but silent。
〃Let us go on； my child； because〃the mother hesitated and trembled； then； with an effort to be calm； continued〃because when morning comes they will put us out of the gate of the city toreturn no more。〃
Tirzah sank almost to the stones。
〃Ah； yes！〃 she said； between sobs； 〃I forgot。 I had the feeling of going home。 But we are lepers； and have no homes； we belong to the dead！〃
The mother stooped and raised her tenderly； saying； 〃We have nothing to fear。 Let us go on。〃
Indeed； lifting their empty hands； they could have run upon a legion and put it to flight。
And； creeping in close to the rough wall； they glided on； like two ghosts； till they came to the gate； before which they also paused。 Seeing the board； they stepped upon the stone in the scarce cold tracks of Ben…Hur； and read the inscription〃This is the Property of the Emperor。〃
Then the mother clasped her hands； and； with upraised eyes； moaned in unutterable anguish。
〃What now； mother？ You scare me！〃
And the answer was； presently； 〃Oh； Tirzah； the poor are dead！ He is dead！〃
〃Who； mother？〃
〃Your brother！ They took everything from himeverythingeven this house！〃
〃Poor！〃 said Tirzah； vacantly。
〃He will never be able to help us。〃
〃And then； mother？〃
〃To…morrowto…morrow； my child； we must find a seat by the wayside； and beg alms as the lepers do； beg； or〃
Tirzah leaned upon her again； and said； whispering； 〃Let uslet us die！〃
〃No！〃 the mother said； firmly。 〃The Lord has appointed our times； and we are believers in the Lord。 We will wait on him even in this。 Come away！〃
She caught Tirzah's hand as she spoke； and hastened to the west corner of the house； keeping close to the wall。 No one being in sight there； they kept on to the next corner； and shrank from the moonlight； which lay exceedingly bright over the whole south front； and along a part of the street。 The mother's will was strong。 Casting one look back and up to the windows on the west side； she stepped out into the light； drawing Tirzah after her； and the extent of their amiction was then to be seenon their lips and cheeks； in their bleared eyes； in their cracked hands； especially in the long； snaky locks； stiff with loathsome ichor； and； like their eyebrows； ghastly white。 Nor was it possible to have told which was mother； which daughter； both alike seemed witch…like old。
〃Hist！〃 said the mother。 〃There is some one lying upon the stepa man。 Let us go round him。〃
They crossed to the opposite side of the street quickly； and； in the shade there； moved on till before the gate； where they stopped。
〃He is asleep； Tirzah！〃
The man was very still。
〃Stay here； and I will try the gate。〃
So saying； the mother stole noiselessly across； and ventured to touch the wicket； she never knew if it yielded； for that moment the man sighed； and； turning restlessly； shifted the handkerchief on his head in such manner that the face was left upturned and fair in the broad moonlight。 She looked down at it and started； then looked again； stooping a little； and arose and clasped her hands and raised her eyes to heaven in mute appeal。 An instant so； and she ran back to Tirzah。
〃As the Lord liveth； the man is my sonthy brother！〃 she said； in an awe…inspiring whisper。
〃My brother？Judah？〃
The mother caught her hand eagerly。
〃Come！〃 she said； in the same enforced whisper； 〃let us look at him togetheronce moreonly oncethen help thou thy servants； Lord！〃
They crossed the street hand in hand ghostly…quick； ghostly…still。 When their shadows fell upon him； they stopped。 One of his hands was lying out upon the step palm up。 Tirzah fell upon her knees； and would have kissed it； but the mother drew her back。
〃Not for thy life； not for thy life！ Unclean； unclean！〃 she whispered。
Tirzah shrank from him； as if he were the leprous one。
Ben…Hur was handsome as the manly are。 His cheeks and forehead were swarthy from exposure to the desert sun and air； yet under the light mustache the lips were red； and the teeth shone white； and the soft beard did not hide the full roundness of chin and throat。 How beautiful he appeared to the mother's eyes！ How mightily she yearned to put her arms about him； and take his head upon her bosom and kiss him； as had been her wont in his happy childhood！ Where got she the strength to resist the impulse？ From her love； O； reader！her mother…love； which； if thou wilt observe well； hath this unlikeness to any other love： tender to the object； it can be infinitely tyrannical to itself； and thence all its power of self…sacrifice。 Not for restoration to health and fortune； not for any blessing of life； not for life itself； would she have left her leprous kiss upon his cheek！ Yet touch him she must； in that instant of finding him she must renounce him forever！ How bitter； bitter hard it was； let some other mother say！ She knelt down； and； crawling to his feet； touched the sole of one of his sandals with her lips； yellow though it was with the dust of the streetand touched it again and again； and her very soul was in the kisses。
He stirred； and tossed his hand。 They moved back； but heard him mutter in his dream；
〃Mother！ Amrah！ Where is〃
He fell off into the deep sleep。
Tirzah stared wistfully。 The mother put her face in the dust； struggling to suppress a sob so deep and strong it seemed her heart was bursting。 Almost she wished he might waken。
He had asked for her； she was not forgotten； in his sleep he was thinking of her。 Was it not enough？
Presently mother beckoned to Tirzah； and they arose； and taking one more look； as if to print his image past fading； hand in hand they recrossed the street。 Back in the shade of the wall there； they retired and knelt； looking at him； waiting for him to wakewaiting some revelation； they knew not what。 Nobody has yet given us a measure for the patience of a love like theirs。
By…and…by； the sleep being yet upon him； another woman appeared at the corner of the palace。 The two in the shade saw her plainly in the light； a small figure； much bent； dark…skinned； gray…haired； dressed neatly in servant's garb； and carrying a basket full of vegetables。
At sight of the man upon the step the new…comer stopped； then； as if decided； she walked onvery lightly as she drew near the sleeper。 Passing round him； she went to the gate； slid the wicket latch easily to one side； and put her hand in the opening。 One of the broad boards in the left valve swung ajar without noise。 She put the basket through； and was about to follow； when； yielding to curiosity； she lingered to have one look at the stranger whose face was below her in open view。
The spectators across the street heard a low exclamation； and saw the woman rub her eyes as if to renew their power； bend closer down； clasp her hands； gaze wildly around； look at the sleeper； stoop and raise the outlying hand； and kiss it fondlythat which they wished so mightily to do； but dared not。
Awakened by the action； Ben…Hur instinctively withdrew the hand； as he did so； his eyes met the woman's。
〃Amrah！ O Amrah； is it thou？〃 he said。
The good heart made no answer in words； but fell upon his neck； crying for joy。
Gently he put her arms away； and lifting the dark face wet with tears； kissed it； his joy only a little less than hers。 Then those across the way heard him say；
〃MotherTirzahO Amrah； tell me of them！ Speak； speak； I pray thee！〃
Amrah only cried afresh。
〃Thou has seen them； Amrah。 Thou knowest where they are； tell me they are at home。〃
Tirzah moved； but her mother； divining her purpose； caught her and whispered； 〃Do not gonot for life。 Unclean； unclean！〃
Her love was in tyrannical mood。 Though both their hearts broke； he should not become what they were； and she conquered。
Meantime； Amrah； so entreated； only wept the more。
〃Wert thou going in？〃 he asked； presently； seeing the board swung back。 〃Come； then。 I will go with thee。〃 He arose as he spoke。 〃The Romansbe the curse of the Lord upon them！the Romans lied。 The house is mine。 Rise； Amrah； and let us go in。〃 A moment and they were gone； leaving the two in the shade to behold the gate staring blankly at themthe gate which they might not ever enter more。 They nestled together in the dust。
They had done their duty。
Their love was proven。
Next morning they were found； and driven out the city with stones。
〃Begone！ Ye are of the dead； go to the dead！〃
With the doom ringing in their ears； they went forth。
CHAPTER V
Nowadays travellers in the Holy Land looking for the famous place with the beautiful name； the King's Garden； descend the bed of the Cedron or the curve of Gihon and Hinnom as far as the old well En…rogel； take a drink of the sweet living water； and stop； having reached the limit of the interesting in that direction。 They look at the great stones with which the well is curbed； ask its depth； smile at the primitive mode of drawing the purling treasure； and waste some pity on the ragged wretch who presides over it； then； facing about； they are enraptured with the mounts Moriah and Zion； both of which slope towards them from the north； one terminating in Ophel； the other in what used to be the site of the city of David。 In the background； up far in the sky； the garniture of the sacred places is visible： here the Haram； with its graceful dome； yonder the stalward remains of Hippicus； defiant even in ruins。 When that view has been enjoyed； and is sufficiently impressed upon the memory； the travellers glance at the Mount of Offence standing in rugged stateliness at their right hand； and then at the Hill of Evil Counsel over on the left； in which； if they be well up in Scriptural history and in the traditions rabbinical and monkish； they will find a certain interest not to be overcome by superstitious horror。
It were long to tell all the points of interest grouped around that hill； for the present purpose； enough that its feet are planted in the veritable orthodox Hell of the modernsthe Hell of brimstone and firein the old nomenclature Gehenna； and that now； as in the days of Christ； its bluff face opposite the city on the south and southeast is seamed and pitted with tombs which have been immemorially the dwelling…places of lepers； not singly； but collectively。 There they set up their government and established their society； there they founded a city and dwelt by themselves； avoided as the accur
