ben-hur-第76章

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irmly；　〃Yes；　I　know　that　Judah　has　come　home。　I　saw　him　at　the　gate　night　before　last　asleep　on　the　step。　I　saw　you　wake　him。〃

Amrah　clasped　her　hands。

〃O　my　mistress！　You　saw　it；　and　did　not　come！〃

〃That　would　have　been　to　kill　him。　I　can　never　take　him　in　my　arms　again。　I　can　never　kiss　him　more。　O　Amrah；　Amrah；　you　love　him；　I　know！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　true　heart；　bursting　into　tears　again；　and　kneeling。　〃I　would　die　for　him。〃

〃Prove　to　me　what　you　say；　Amrah。〃

〃I　am　ready。〃

〃Then　you　shall　not　tell　him　where　we　are　or　that　you　have　seen　usonly　that；　Amrah。〃

〃But　he　is　looking　for　you。　He　has　come　from　afar　to　find　you。〃

〃He　must　not　find　us。　He　shall　not　become　what　we　are。　Hear；　Amrah。　You　shall　serve　us　as　you　have　this　day。　You　shall　bring　us　the　little　we　neednot　long　nownot　long。　You　shall　come　every　morning　and　evening　thus；　andand〃the　voice　trembled；　the　strong　will　almost　broke　down〃and　you　shall　tell　us　of　him；　Amrah；　but　to　him　you　shall　say　nothing　of　us。　Hear　you？〃

〃Oh；　it　will　be　so　hard　to　hear　him　speak　of　you；　and　see　him　going　about　looking　for　youto　see　all　his　love；　and　not　tell　him　so　much　as　that　you　are　alive！〃

〃Can　you　tell　him　we　are　well；　Amrah？〃

The　servant　bowed　her　head　in　her　arms。

〃No；〃　the　mistress　continued；　〃wherefore　to　be　silent　altogether。　Go　now；　and　come　this　evening。　We　will　look　for　you。　Till　then；　farewell。〃

〃The　burden　will　be　heavy；　O　my　mistress；　and　hard　to　bear；〃　said　Amrah；　falling　upon　her　face。

〃How　much　harder　would　it　be　to　see　him　as　we　are；〃　the　mother　answered　as　she　gave　the　basket　to　Tirzah。　〃Come　again　this　evening；〃　she　repeated；　taking　up　the　water；　and　starting　for　the　tomb。

Amrah　waited　kneeling　until　they　had　disappeared；　then　she　took　the　road　sorrowfully　home。

In　the　evening　she　returned；　and　thereafter　it　became　her　custom　to　serve　them　in　the　morning　and　evening；　so　that　they　wanted　for　nothing　needful。　The　tomb；　though　ever　so　stony　and　desolate；　was　less　cheerless　than　the　cell　in　the　Tower　had　been。　Daylight　gilded　its　door；　and　it　was　in　the　beautiful　world。　Then；　one　can　wait　death　with　so　much　more　faith　out　under　the　open　sky。




CHAPTER　VI



The　morning　of　the　first　day　of　the　seventh　monthTishri　in　the　Hebrew；　October　in　EnglishBen…Hur　arose　from　his　couch　in　the　khan　ill　satisfied　with　the　whole　world。

Little　time　had　been　lost　in　consultation　upon　the　arrival　of　Malluch。　The　latter　began　the　search　at　the　Tower　of　Antonia；　and　began　it　boldly；　by　a　direct　inquiry　of　the　tribune　commanding。　He　gave　the　officer　a　history　of　the　Hurs；　and　all　the　particulars　of　the　accident　to　Gratus；　describing　the　affair　as　wholly　without　criminality。　The　object　of　the　quest　now；　he　said；　was　if　any　of　the　unhappy　family　were　discovered　alive　to　carry　a　petition　to　the　feet　of　Caesar；　praying　restitution　of　the　estate　and　return　to　their　civil　rights。　Such　a　petition；　he　had　no　doubt；　would　result　in　an　investigation　by　the　imperial　order；　a　proceeding　of　which　the　friends　of　the　family　had　no　fear。

In　reply　the　tribune　stated　circumstantially　the　discovery　of　the　women　in　the　Tower；　and　permitted　a　reading　of　the　memorandum　he　had　taken　of　their　account　of　themselves；　when　leave　to　copy　it　was　prayed；　he　even　permitted　that。

Malluch　thereupon　hurried　to　Ben…Hur。

It　were　useless　to　attempt　description　of　the　effect　the　terrible　story　had　upon　the　young　man。　The　pain　was　not　relieved　by　tears　or　passionate　outcries；　it　was　too　deep　for　any　expression。　He　sat　still　a　long　time；　with　pallid　face　and　laboring　heart。　Now　and　then；　as　if　to　show　the　thoughts　which　were　most　poignant；　he　muttered；

〃Lepers；　lepers！　Theymy　mother　and　Tirzahthey　lepers！　How　long；　how　long；　O　Lord！〃

One　moment　he　was　torn　by　a　virtuous　rage　of　sorrow；　next　by　a　longing　for　vengeance　which；　it　must　be　admitted；　was　scarcely　less　virtuous。

At　length　he　arose。

〃I　must　look　for　them。　They　may　be　dying。〃

〃Where　will　you　look？〃　asked　Malluch。

〃There　is　but　one　place　for　them　to　go。〃

Malluch　interposed；　and　finally　prevailed　so　far　as　to　have　the　management　of　the　further　attempt　intrusted　to　him。　Together　they　went　to　the　gate　over　on　the　side　opposite　the　Hill　of　Evil　Counsel；　immemorially　the　lepers'　begging…ground。　There　they　stayed　all　day；　giving　alms；　asking　for　the　two　women；　and　offering　rich　rewards　for　their　discovery。　So　they　did　in　repetition　day　after　day　through　the　remainder　of　the　fifth　month；　and　all　the　sixth。　There　was　diligent　scouring　of　the　dread　city　on　the　hill　by　lepers　to　whom　the　rewards　offered　were　mighty　incentives；　for　they　were　only　dead　in　law。　Over　and　over　again　the　gaping　tomb　down　by　the　well　was　invaded；　and　its　tenants　subjected　to　inquiry；　but　they　kept　their　secret　fast。　The　result　was　failure。　And　now；　the　morning　of　the　first　day　of　the　seventh　month；　the　extent　of　the　additional　information　gained　was　that　not　long　before　two　leprous　women　had　been　stoned　from　the　Fish　Gate　by　the　authorities。　A　little　pressing　of　the　clew；　together　with　some　shrewd　comparison　of　dates；　led　to　the　sad　assurance　that　the　sufferers　were　the　Hurs；　and　left　the　old　questions　darker　than　ever。　Where　were　they？　And　what　had　become　of　them？

〃It　was　not　enough　that　my　people　should　be　made　lepers；〃　said　the　son；　over　and　over　again；　with　what　intensity　of　bitterness　the　reader　may　imagine；　〃that　was　not　enough。　Oh　no！　They　must　be　stoned　from　their　native　city！　My　mother　is　dead！　she　has　wandered　to　the　wilderness！　she　is　dead！　Tirzah　is　dead！　I　alone　am　left。　And　for　what？　How　long；　O　God；　thou　Lord　God　of　my　fathers；　how　long　shall　this　Rome　endure？〃

Angry；　hopeless；　vengeful；　he　entered　the　court　of　the　khan；　and　found　it　crowded　with　people　come　in　during　the　night。　While　he　ate　his　breakfast；　he　listened　to　some　of　them。　To　one　party　he　was　specially　attracted。　They　were　mostly　young；　stout；　active；　hardy　men；　in　manner　and　speech　provincial。　In　their　look；　the　certain　indefinable　air；　the　pose　of　the　head；　glance　of　the　eye；　there　was　a　spirit　which　did　not；　as　a　rule；　belong　to　the　outward　seeming　of　the　lower　orders　of　Jerusalem；　the　spirit　thought　by　some　to　be　a　peculiarity　of　life　in　mountainous　districts；　but　which　may　be　more　surely　traced　to　a　life　of　healthful　freedom。　In　a　short　time　he　ascertained　they　were　Galileans；　in　the　city　for　various　purposes；　but　chiefly　to　take　part　in　the　Feast　of　Trumpets；　set　for　that　day。　They　became　to　him　at　once　objects　of　interest；　as　hailing　from　the　region　in　which　he　hoped　to　find　readiest　support　in　the　work　he　was　shortly　to　set　about。

While　observing　them；　his　mind　running　ahead　in　thought　of　achievements　possible　to　a　legion　of　such　spirits　disciplined　after　the　severe　Roman　style；　a　man　came　into　the　court；　his　face　much　flushed；　his　eyes　bright　with　excitement。

〃Why　are　you　here？〃　he　said　to　the　Galileans。　〃The　rabbis　and　elders　are　going　from　the　Temple　to　see　Pilate。　Come；　make　haste；　and　let　us　go　with　them。〃

They　surrounded　him　in　a　moment。

〃To　see　Pilate！　For　what？〃

〃They　have　discovered　a　conspiracy。　Pilate's　new　aqueduct　is　to　be　paid　for　with　money　of　the　Temple。〃

〃What；　with　the　sacred　treasure？〃

They　repeated　the　question　to　each　other　with　flashing　eyes。

〃It　is　Corbanmoney　of　God。　Let　him　touch　a　shekel　of　it　if　he　dare！〃

〃Come；〃　cried　the　messenger。　〃The　procession　is　by　this　time　across　the　bridge。　The　whole　city　is　pouring　after。　We　may　be　needed。　Make　haste！〃

As　if　the　thought　and　the　act　were　one；　there　was　quick　putting　away　of　useless　garments；　and　the　party　stood　forth　bareheaded；　and　in　the　short　sleeveless　under…tunics　they　were　used　to　wearing　as　reapers　in　the　field　and　boatmen　on　the　lakethe　garb　in　which　they　climbed　the　hills　following　the　herds；　and　plucked　the　ripened　vintage；　careless　of　the　sun。　Lingering　only　to　tighten　their　girdles；　they　said；　〃We　are　ready。〃

Then　Ben…Hur　spoke　to　them。

〃Men　of　Galilee；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　a　son　of　Judah。　Will　you　take　me　in　your　company？〃

〃We　may　have　to　fight；〃　they　replied。

〃Oh；　then；　I　will　not　be　first　to　run　away！〃

They　took　the　retort　in　good　humor；　and　the　messenger　said；　〃You　seem　stout　enough。　Come　along。〃

Ben…Hur　put　off　his　outer　garments。

〃You　think　there　may　be　fighting？〃　he　asked；　quietly；　as　he　tightened　his　girdle。

〃Yes。〃

〃With　whom？〃

〃The　guard。〃

〃Legionaries？〃

〃Whom　else　can　a　Roman　trust？〃

〃What　have　you　to　fight　with？〃

They　looked　at　him　silently。

〃Well；〃　he　continued；　〃we　will　have　to　do　the　best　we　can；　but　had　we　not　better　choose　a　leader？　The　legionaries　always　have　one；　and　so　are　able　to　act　with　one　mind。〃

The　Galileans　stared　more　curiously；　as　if　the　idea　were　new　to　them。

〃Let　us　at　least　agree　to　stay　together；〃　he　said。　〃Now　I　am　ready；　if　you　are。〃

〃Yes；　let　us　go。〃

The　khan；　it　should　not　be　forgotten；　was　in　Bezetha；　the　new　town；　and　to　get　to　the　Praetorium；　as　the　Romans　resonantly　styled　the　palace　of　Herod　on　Mount　Zion；　the　party　had　to　cross　the　lowlands　north　and　west　of　the　Temple。　By　streetsif　they　may　be　so　calledtrending　north　and　south；　with　intersections　hardly　up　to　the　dignity　of　alleys；　they　passed　rapidly　round　the　Akra　district　to　the　Tower　of　Mariamne；　from　which　the　way　was　short　to　the　grand　gate　of　the　walled　heights。　In　going；　they　overtook；　or　were　overtaken　by；　people　like　themselves　stirred　to　wrath　by　news　of　the　proposed　desecration。　When；　at　length；　they　reached　the　gate　of　the　Praetorium；　the　procession　of　elders　and　rabbis　had　passed　in　with　a　great　following；　leaving　a　greater　crowd　clamoring　outside。

A　centurion　kept　the　entrance　with　a　guard　drawn　up　full　armed　under　the　beautiful　marble　battlements。　The　sun　struck　the　soldiers　fervidly　on　helm　and　shield；　but　they　kept　their　ranks　indifferent　alike　to　its　dazzle　and　to　the　mouthings　of　the　rabble。　Through　the　open　bronze　gates　a　current　of　citizens　poured　in；　while　a　much　lesser　one　poured　out。

〃What　is　going　on？〃　one　of　the　Galileans　asked　an　outcomer。

〃Nothing；〃　was　the　reply。　〃The　rabbis　are　before　the　door　of　the　palace　asking　to　see　Pilate。　He　has　refused　to　come　out。　They　have　sent　one　to　tell　him　they　will　not　go　away　till　he　has　heard　them。　They　are　waiting。〃

〃Let　us　go　in；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　in　his　quiet　way；　seeing　what　his　companions　probably　did　not；　that　there　was　not　only　a　disagreement　between　the　suitors　and　the　governor；　but　an　issue　joined；　and　a　serious　question　as　to　who　should　have　his　will。

Inside　the　gate　there　was　a　row　of　trees　in　leaf；　with　seats　under　them。　The　people；　whether　going　or　coming；　carefully　avoided　the　shade　cast　gratefully　upon　the　white；　clean…swept　pavement；　for；　strange　as　it　may　seem；　a　rabbinical　ordinance；　alleged　to　have　been　derived　from　the　law；　permitted　no　green　thing　to　be　grown　within　the　walls　of　Jerusalem。　Even　the　wise　king；　it　was　said；　wanting　a　garden　for　his　Egyptian　bride；　was　constrained　to　found　it　down　in　the　meeting…place　of　the　valleys　above　En…rogel。

Through　the　tree…tops　shone　the　outer　fronts　of　the　palace。　Turning　to　the　right；　the　party　proceeded　a　short　distance　to　a　spacious　square；　on　the　west　side　of　which　stood　the　residence　of　the　governor。　An　excited　multitude　filled　the　square。　Ever