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diff --git a/12821-h/12821-h.htm b/12821-h/12821-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4cef24 --- /dev/null +++ b/12821-h/12821-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,17731 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" +content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Brook Kerith, by George +Moore.</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + a {text-decoration: none;} + + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12821 ***</div> + +<h1>THE BROOK KERITH</h1> + +<h2>A SYRIAN STORY</h2> + +<h1>BY GEORGE MOORE</h1> + +<h4>1916</h4> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>A DEDICATION</h2> +<br /> + +<p>My dear Mary Hunter. It appears that you +wished to give me a book for Christmas, but +were in doubt what book to give me as I +seemed to have little taste for reading, so +in your embarrassment you gave me a Bible. +It lies on my table now with the date 1898 +on the fly-leaf—my constant companion and +chief literary interest for the last eighteen +years. Itself a literature, it has led me into +many various literatures and into the society +of scholars.</p> + +<p>I owe so much to your Bible that I cannot +let pass the publication of "The Brook +Kerith" without thanking you for it again. +Yours always, George Moore.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>THE BROOK KERITH</h2> +<br /> + +<h2>CHAP. I.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was at the end of a summer evening, long after his +usual bedtime, that Joseph, sitting on his grandmother's +knee, heard her tell that Kish having lost his asses sent +Saul, his son, to seek them in the land of the Benjamites +and the land of Shalisha, whither they might have +strayed. But they were not in these lands, Son, she continued, +nor in Zulp, whither Saul went afterwards, and +being then tired out with looking for them he said to +the servant: we shall do well to forget the asses, lest +my father should ask what has become of us. But the +servant, being of a mind that Kish would not care to +see them without the asses, said to young Saul: let us +go up into yon city, for a great seer lives there and he +will be able to put us in the right way to come upon the +asses. But we have little in our wallet to recompense +him, Saul answered, only half a loaf and a little wine at +the end of the bottle. We have more than that, the +servant replied, and opening his hand he showed a +quarter of a shekel of silver to Saul, who said: he will +take that in payment. Whereupon they walked into +Arimathea, casting their eyes about for somebody to +direct them to the seer's house. And seeing some +maidens at the well, come to draw water, they asked +them if the seer had been in the city that day, and were +answered that he had been seen and would offer sacrifice +that morning, as had been announced. He must be on +his way now to the high rock, one of the maidens cried +after them, and they pressed through the people till none +was in front of them but an old man walking alone, +likewise in the direction of the rock; and overtaking +him they asked if he could point out the seer's house +to them, to which he answered sharply: I am the seer, +and fell at once to gazing on Saul as if he saw in him +the one that had been revealed to him. For you see, Son, +seers have foresight, and the seer had been warned overnight +that the Lord would send a young man to him, so the +moment he saw Saul he knew him to be the one the Lord +had promised, and he said: thou art he whom the Lord has +promised to send me for anointment, but more than that +I cannot tell thee, being on my way to offer sacrifice, but +afterwards we will eat together, and all that has been +revealed to me I will tell. You understand me, Son, the +old woman crooned, the Lord had been with Samuel +beforetimes and had promised to send the King of Israel +to him for anointment, and the moment he laid eyes +on Saul he knew him to be the king; and that was why +he asked him to eat with him after sacrifice. Yes, +Granny, I understand: but did the Lord set the asses +astray that Saul might follow them and come to Samuel +to be made a King? I daresay there was something like +that at the bottom of it, the old woman answered, and continued +her story till her knees ached under the boy's weight.</p> + +<p>The child's asleep, she said, and on the instant he +awoke crying: no, Granny, I wasn't asleep. I heard all +you said and would like to be a prophet. A prophet, +Joseph, and to anoint a king? But there are no more +prophets or kings in Israel. And now, Joseph, my little +prophet, 'tis bedtime and past it. Come. I didn't say I +wanted to anoint kings, he answered, and refused to go to +bed, though manifestly he could hardly keep awake. I'll +wait up for Father.</p> + +<p>Now what can the child want his father for at this +hour? she muttered as she went about the room, not +guessing that he was angry and resentful, that her words +had wounded him deeply and that he was asking himself, +in his corner, if she thought him too stupid to be a +prophet.</p> + +<p>I'll tell thee no more stories, she said to him, but he +answered that he did not want to hear her stories, and +betwixt feelings of anger and shame his head drooped, +and he slept in his chair till the door opened and his +father's footsteps crossed the threshold.</p> + +<p>Now, he said to himself, Granny will tell Father that +I said I'd like to be a prophet. And feigning sleep he +listened, determined to hear the worst that could be said +of him. But they did not speak about him but of the +barrels of salt fish that were to go to Beth-Shemish on the +morrow; which was their usual talk. So he slipped from +his chair and bade his father good-night. A resentful +good-night it was; and his good-night to his grandmother +was still more resentful. But she found an excuse for his +rudeness, saying that his head was full of sleep—a remark +that annoyed him considerably and sent him upstairs +wishing that women would not talk about things they +do not understand. I'll ask Father in the morning why +Granny laughed at me for saying I'd like to be a prophet. +But as morning seemed still a long way ahead he tried +to find a reason, but could find no better one than that +prophets were usually old men. But I shall be old in +time to come and have a beard. Father has a beard and +they can't tell that I won't have a beard, and a white one +too, so why should they—</p> + +<p>His senses were numbing, and he must have fallen asleep +soon after, for when he awoke it seemed to him that he +had been asleep a long time, several hours at least, so +many things had happened or seemed to have happened; +but as he recovered his mind all the dream happenings +melted away, and he could remember only his mother. +She had been dead four years, but in his dream she looked +as she had always looked, and had scolded Granny for +laughing at him. He tried to remember what else she +had said but her words faded out of his mind and he fell +asleep again. In this second sleep an old man rose up by +his bedside and told him that he was the prophet Samuel, +who though he had been dead a thousand years had heard +him say he would like to be a prophet. But shall I be +a prophet? Joseph asked, and as Samuel did not answer +he cried out as loudly as he could: shall I? shall I?</p> + +<p>What ails thee, Son? he heard his grandmother calling +to him, and he answered: an old man, an old man. Ye +are dreaming, she mumbled between sleeping and waking. +Go to sleep like a good boy, and don't dream any +more. I will, Granny, and don't be getting up; the +bed-clothes don't want settling. I am well tucked in, he +pleaded; and fell asleep praying that Granny had not +heard him ask Samuel if he would be a prophet.</p> + +<p>A memory of his dream of Samuel came upon him +while she dressed him, and he hoped she had forgotten +all about it; but his father mentioned at breakfast that +he had been awakened by cries. It was Joseph crying +out in his dream, Dan, disturbed thee last night: such +cries, "Shall I? Shall I?" And when I asked "What +ails thee?" the only answer I got was "An old man."</p> + +<p>Dan, Joseph's father, wondered why Joseph should +seem so disheartened and why he should murmur so +perfunctorily that he could not remember his dream. +But if he had forgotten it, why trouble him further? If +we are to forget anything it were well that we should +choose our dreams; at which piece of incredulity his +mother shook her head, being firm in the belief that there +was much sense in dreams and that they could be +interpreted to the advantage of everybody.</p> + +<p>Dan said: if that be so, let him tell thee his dream. +But Joseph hung his head and pushed his plate away; +and seeing him so morose they left him to his sulks and +fell to talking of dreams that had come true. Joseph +had never heard them speak of anything so interesting +before, and though he suspected that they were making +fun of him he could not do else than listen, till becoming +convinced suddenly that they were talking in good +earnest without intention of fooling him he began to +regret that he had said he had forgotten his dream, and +rapped out: he was the prophet Samuel. Now what +are you saying, Joseph? his father asked. Joseph would +not say any more, but it pleased him to observe that +neither his father nor his granny laughed at his admission, +and seeing how interested they were in his dream he said: +if you want to know all, Samuel said he had heard me +say that I'd like to be a prophet. That was why he came +back from the dead. But, Father, is it true that we are +his descendants? He said that I was.</p> + +<p>A most extraordinary dream, his father answered, for it +has always been held in the family that we are descended +from him. Do you really mean, Joseph, that the old +man you saw in your dream told you he was Samuel and +that you were his descendant? How should I have +known if he hadn't told me? Joseph looked from one to +the other and wondered why they had kept the secret of +his ancestor from him. You laughed at me yesterday, +Granny, when I said I'd like to be a prophet. Now what +do you say? Answer me that. And he continued to +look from one to the other for an answer. But neither +had the wit to find an answer, so amazed were they at the +news that the prophet Samuel had visited Joseph in a +dream; and satisfied at the impression he had made and +a little frightened by their silence Joseph stole out of the +room, leaving his parents to place whatever interpretation +they pleased on his dream. Nor did he care whether +they believed he had spoken the truth. He was more +concerned with himself than with them, and conscious +that something of great importance had happened to him +he ascended the stairs, pausing at every step uncertain +if he should return to ask for the whole of the story of +Saul's anointment. It seemed to him to lack courtesy to +return to the room in which he had seen the prophet, till +he knew these things. But he could not return to ask +questions: later he would learn what had happened to +Samuel and Saul, and he entered the room, henceforth to +him a sacred room, and stood looking through it, having +all the circumstances of his dream well in mind: he was +lying on his left side when Samuel had risen up before +him, and it was there, upon that spot, in that space he had +seen Samuel. His ancestor had seemed to fade away from +the waist downwards, but his face was extraordinarily +clear in the darkness, and Joseph tried to recall it. But +he could only remember it as a face that a spirit might +wear, for it was not made up of flesh but of some glowing +matter or stuff, such as glow-worms are made of; nor +could he call it ugly or beautiful, for it was not of this +world. He had drawn the bed-clothes over his head, but—impelled +he knew not why, for he was nearly dead with +fright—he had poked his head out to see if the face was +still there. The lips did not move, but he had heard a +voice. The tones were not like any heard before, but he +had listened to them all the same, and if he had not lost +his wits again in an excess of fear he would have put +questions to Samuel: he would have put questions if his +tongue had not been tied back somewhere in the roof of +his mouth. But the next time he would not be frightened +and pull the bed-clothes over his head.</p> + +<p>And convinced of his own courage he lay night after +night thinking of all the great things he would ask the +old man and of the benefit he would derive from his +teaching. But Samuel did not appear again, perhaps +because the nights were so dark. Joseph was told the +moon would become full again, but sleep closed his eyes +when he should have been waking, and in the morning +he was full of fear that perhaps Samuel had come and +gone away disappointed at not finding him awake. But +that could not be, for if the prophet had come he would +have awakened him as he had done before. His ancestor +had not come again: a reasonable thing to suppose, for +when the dead return to the earth they do so with much +pain and difficulty; and if the living, whom they come +to instruct, cannot keep their eyes open, the poor dead +wander back and do not try to come between their +descendants and their fate again.</p> + +<p>But I will keep awake, he said, and resorted to all sorts +of devices, keeping up a repetition of a little phrase: he +will come to-night when the moon is full; and lying with +one leg hanging out of bed; and these proving unavailing +he strewed his bed with crumbs. But no ancestor +appeared, and little by little he relinquished hope of ever +being able to summon Samuel to his bedside, and accepted +as an explanation of his persistent absence that Samuel +had performed his duty by coming once to visit him and +would not come again unless some new necessity should +arise. It was then that the conviction began to mount +into his brain that he must learn all that his grandmother +could tell him about Saul and David, and learning from +her that they had been a great trouble to Samuel he +resolved never to allow a thought into his mind that the +prophet would deem unworthy. To become worthy of +his ancestor was now his aim, and when he heard that +Samuel was the author of two sacred books it seemed +to him that his education had been neglected: for he +had not yet been taught to read. Another step in his +advancement was the discovery that the language his +father, his granny and himself spoke was not the language +spoken by Samuel, and every day he pressed his grandmother +to tell him why the Jews had lost their language +in Babylon, till he exhausted the old woman's knowledge +and she said: well now, Son, if you want to hear any +more about Babylon you must ask your father, for I have +told you all I know. And Joseph waited eagerly for his +father to come home, and plagued him to tell him a story.</p> + +<p>But after a long day spent in the counting-house his +father was often too tired to take him on his knee and +instruct him, for Joseph's curiosity was unceasing and +very often wearisome. Now, Joseph, his father said, you +will learn more about these things when you are older. +And why not now? he asked, and his grandmother +answered that it was change of air that he wanted and +not books; and they began to speak of the fierce summer +that had taken the health out of all of them, and of how +necessary it was for a child of that age to be sent up to +the hills.</p> + +<p>Dan looked into his son's face, and Rachel seemed to +be right. A thin, wan little face, that the air of the hills +will brighten, he said; and he began at once to make +arrangements for Joseph's departure for a hill village, +saying that the pastoral life of the hills would take his +mind off Samuel, Hebrew and Babylon. Rachel was +doubtful if the shepherds would absorb Joseph's mind as +completely as his father thought. She hoped, however, +that they would. As soon as he hears the sound of the +pipe, his father answered. A prophecy this was, for while +Joseph was resting after the fatigue of the journey, he was +awakened suddenly by a sound he had never heard +before, and one that interested him strangely. His nurse +told him that the sound he was hearing was a shepherd's +pipe. The shepherd plays and the flock follows, she said. +And when may I see the flock coming home with the +shepherd? he asked. To-morrow evening, she answered, +and the time seemed to him to loiter, so eager was he to +see the flocks returning and to watch the she-goat milked.</p> + +<p>And in the spring as his strength came back he +followed the shepherds and heard from them many stories +of wolves and dogs, and from a shepherd lad, whom he +had chosen as a companion, he acquired knowledge of +the plumage and the cries and the habits of birds, +and whither he was to seek their nests: it had become +his ambition to possess all the wild birds' eggs, one +that was easily satisfied till he came to the egg of the +cuckoo, which he sought in vain, hearing of it often, +now here, now there, till at last he and the shepherd lad +ventured into a dangerous country in search of it and +remained there till news of their absence reached Magdala +and Dan set out in great alarm with an armed escort to +recover his son. He was very angry when he came upon +him, but the trouble he had been put to and the ransom he +had had to pay were very soon forgotten, so great was his +pleasure at the strong healthy boy he brought back with +him, and whose first question to Rachel was: are there +cuckoos in Magdala?—Father doesn't know. His grandmother +could not tell him, but she was willing to make +inquiries, but before any news of the egg had been gotten +the hope to possess it seemed to have drifted out of Joseph's +mind and to seem even a little foolish when he looked into +his box, for many of his egg shells had been broken on the +journey. See, Granny, he said, but on second thoughts he +refused to show his chipped possessions. But thou wast +once as eager to learn Hebrew, his grandmother said, and +the chance words, spoken as she left the room, awakened +his suspended interests. As soon as she returned she was +beset by questions, and the same evening his father had +to promise that the best scribe in Galilee should be +engaged to teach him: a discussion began between Dan +and Rachel as to the most notable and trustworthy, and +it was followed by Joseph so eagerly that they could not +help laughing; the questions he put to them regarding +the different accomplishments of the scribes were very +minute, and the phrase—But this one is a Greek scholar, +stirred his curiosity. Why should he be denied me +because he knows Greek? he asked, and his father could +only answer that no one can learn two languages at the +same time. But if he knows two languages, Joseph +insisted. I cannot tell thee more, his father answered, than +that the scribe I've chosen is a great Hebrew scholar.</p> + +<p>He was no doubt a great scholar, but he was not the +man that Joseph wished for: thin and tall and of gentle +appearance and demeanour, he did not stir up a flame for +work in Joseph, who, as soon as the novelty of learning +Hebrew had worn off, began to hide himself in the garden. +His father caught him one day sitting in a convenient +bough, looking down upon his preceptor fairly asleep +on a bench; and after this adventure he began to make +a mocking stock of his preceptor, inventing all kinds +of cruelties, and his truancy became so constant that +his father was forced to choose another. This time a +younger man was chosen, but he succeeded with Joseph +not very much better than the first. After the second +there came a third, and when Joseph began to complain +of his ignorance his father said:</p> + +<p>Well, Joseph, you said you wanted to learn Hebrew, +and you have shown no application, and three of the most +learned scribes in Galilee have been called in to teach you.</p> + +<p>Joseph felt the reproof bitterly, but he did not know +how to answer his father and he was grateful to his grandmother +for her answer. Joseph isn't an idle boy, Dan, +but his nature is such that he cannot learn from a man +he doesn't like. Why don't ye give him Azariah as an +instructor? Has he been speaking to thee about Azariah? +Dan asked. Maybe, she said, and Dan's face clouded.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. II.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>We are to understand, Son, Dan said, on hearing that the +fourth preceptor whom he had engaged to teach his son +Hebrew had failed to give satisfaction, that you cannot +learn from anybody but Azariah. Now, will you tell us +what there is in Azariah more than in Shimshai, Benaiah +or Zebad? and he waited for his son to speak, but as +Joseph did not answer he asked: is it because he looks more +like a prophet than any of the others? And Joseph, who +still dreaded any allusion to prophets, turned into his +corner mortified. But Rachel came forward directly and +taking the child by the shoulders led him back to his +father, asking Dan with a trace of anger in her voice why +he should think it strange that the child should prefer to +learn from Azariah rather than from a withered patriarch +who never could keep his eyes open but always sat dozing +in his chair like one in a dream.</p> + +<p>It wasn't, Granny, because he went to sleep often; I +could have kept him awake by kicking him under the +table. Joseph stopped suddenly and looked from one to +the other. Why then? his father asked, and on being +pressed to say why he didn't want to learn Hebrew he +said he had come to hate Hebrew, an admission which +rendered his parents speechless for a moment. Come to +hate Hebrew, they repeated one after the other till +frightened by their solemnity Joseph blurted out: you +wouldn't like Hebrew if the scholar's fleas jumped on +to you the moment you began. And pulling up his +sleeves Joseph exhibited his arms. How could I learn +Hebrew with three fleas biting me and all at one time, +one here, another there and a third down yonder. He +always has three or four about him. No, Father, don't, +don't ask me to learn Hebrew any more. But, Joseph, +all Hebrew scholars haven't fleas about them. An unbelieving +face confronted them, and Joseph looked as if +he were uncertain whether he should laugh or cry: but +seeing that his parents liked his story he began to +laugh. We've tried several preceptors but you're hard to +please, Joseph. Now what fault did you find with—and +while Dan searched his memory for the name Joseph +interjected that the little fellow whose back bulged like +Granny's chest wouldn't let him read the interesting +parts of the Scriptures but kept him always at the Psalms +and the Proverbs. And he was always telling me about +Hillel, who was a good man, but good men aren't as +interesting as prophets, Joseph rapped out. And wilt +thou tell us what he told thee about these pious men? +Dan asked, a smile playing about his long thin mouth. +That the law didn't matter as long as we were virtuous, +Joseph muttered, and he was always explaining the stories +that I understood quite well when Granny told them. +So it was Hiram that confirmed you in your distaste for +Hebrew, Dan said, and the child stood looking at his +father, not quite sure if it would be in his interest to +accept or repudiate the suggestion. He would have +refused to give a direct answer (such is the way of +children) but the servant relieved him of his embarrassment: +Azariah was at the gate asking for shelter from +the rain.</p> + +<p>From the rain! Dan said, rising suddenly. It is coming +down very fast, Mother, but we were so engaged in +listening to Joseph that we didn't hear it. Shall we ask +him in, Joseph? The child's face lighted up. Now isn't +it strange, Rachel said, he should be here to-day? We +haven't seen him for months, and now in the middle of a +talk about tutors—aren't you going to ask him in? Of +course, Dan said, and he instructed the servant to ask the +scribe to come upstairs. And now, Joseph, I hope you'll +listen to all that Azariah says, giving quiet and reasonable +answers. And not too many questions, mind!</p> + +<p>Joseph promised to be good and quiet and to keep +himself from putting questions. I will listen attentively, +he said, and he seized on the last chance available to his +tongue to tell that he had often seen Azariah in the lanes. +He doesn't see us, he walks like one in a dream, his hair +blowing in the wind. But when he does see us he speaks +very kindly ... I think I'd like to learn Hebrew from +him. Rachel laid her finger on her lips; the door opened +and Azariah advanced into the room with a long grave +Jewish stride, apologising to Dan as he came for his +sudden intrusion into their midst, mentioning the heavy +rain in a graceful phrase. Joseph, who was on the watch +for everything, could see that his father was full of respect +for Azariah, and hearing him say that it was some years +since Azariah had been in his house he began to wonder +if there had been a quarrel between them; it seemed to +him that his father was a little afraid of Azariah, which +was strange, for he himself did not feel in the least afraid +of Azariah but an almost uncontrollable desire to go and +sit on his knee.</p> + +<p>Here is my boy Joseph: and, Azariah, you will be +interested to hear that we were talking about you for the +last quarter of an hour.</p> + +<p>Azariah raised his thick eyebrows and waited to be +told how he had come to be the subject of their talk, +though he half knew the reason, for in a village like +Magdala it soon gets about that four preceptors have +been sent away unable to teach the rich man's son. He +has made up his mind, Dan said, to learn Hebrew and +Greek from none but you. No, Father, I didn't make +up my mind. But I couldn't learn from the others and I +told you why. Are you sure that you can learn from me? +Azariah asked. Joseph became shy at once, but he liked +to feel Azariah's friendly hand upon his shoulder, and +when Dan asked the scribe to be seated Joseph followed +him, and standing beside his chair asked him if he would +teach him Hebrew, a question Azariah did not answer. +You will teach me, he insisted, and Dan and Rachel kept +silence, so that they might better observe Joseph working +round Azariah with questions; and they were amused, for +Joseph's curiosity had overcome his shyness; and, quite +forgetful of his promise to listen and not to talk, he had +begun to beg the scribe to tell him if the language they +spoke had been brought back from Babylon, and how long +it was since people had ceased to speak Hebrew. Azariah +set himself to answer these questions; Joseph gave him +close attention, and when Azariah ceased speaking he +said: when may I begin my lessons? And he put the +question so innocently that his father could not help +laughing. But, Joseph, he said, Azariah has not yet +promised to teach you, and I wouldn't advise him to +try to teach a boy that has refused to learn from four +preceptors. But it will be different with you, Sir, Joseph +murmured, taking Azariah's hand. You will teach me, +won't you? When will you begin?</p> + +<p>Azariah answered that it could not be this week, for he +was going to Arimathea. The town we came from, Dan +said. I am still known as Dan of Arimathea, though I +have lived here twenty years. I too shall be known as +Joseph of Arimathea, Joseph interjected. I'd like to be +Joseph of Arimathea much better than Joseph of Magdala.</p> + +<p>You needn't shake your head at Magdala, Dan said. +Magdala has done well for us. To which Joseph answered +nothing, but it was not long, however, before he went to +his father saying that he would like to go to Arimathea, +and in charge of Azariah.</p> + +<p>You are asking too much, Joseph, his father answered +him. No, I don't think I am, and his honour Azariah +doesn't think so, Joseph cried, for his heart was already +set upon this holiday. Azariah has perhaps promised +to teach you Hebrew. Isn't that enough? his father +remarked. Now you want him to take you to Arimathea. +But if he likes to take me, Joseph replied, and he cast +such a winning glance at Azariah that the scribe was +moved to say that he would be glad to take charge of the +boy if his parents would confide him to his care. Whereupon +Joseph threw his arms about his father, but finding +him somewhat indifferent he went to his grandmother, +who welcomed his embrace, and in return for it pleaded +that the boy should not be denied this small pleasure. +But Dan, who only half liked to part with his son, tried +to hide his feelings from his mother, who had guessed +them already, with a joke, saying to Azariah that he was +a brave man to undertake the charge of so wayward a +boy. I shall not spoil him, and if he fails to obey he'll +have to find someone else to teach him Hebrew, Azariah +answered. I think the rain is now over, he said. Some +drops were still falling but the sky was brightening, and +he returned from the window to where Joseph was +standing, and laying his hand on his head promised to +come for him in the morning.</p> + +<p>We shall hear no more about fleas preventing thee +from study, Dan said to his son, and very much offended +Joseph withdrew to his room, and stood looking at the +spot in which he had seen Samuel, asking himself if the +prophet would appear to him in Arimathea and if it would +be by the fountain whither the maidens used to come to +draw water. Samuel and the maidens seemed to jar a +little, and as he could not think of them together he fell +to thinking of the rock on which the seer used to offer +sacrifices. It was still there and somebody would be +about to direct them to it, and it would be under this +rock that Azariah would read to him all that Samuel had +said to Saul. But we shall be riding all day, he said to +himself, Arimathea must be a long long way from here, +and he fled downstairs to ask his father if Azariah would +call for him at the head of a caravan, whether he would +ride on a camel or a mule or a horse: he thought he would +like to ride a camel, and awoke many times in the night, +once rolling out of his bed, for in a dream the ungainly +animal had jolted him from off his hump.</p> + +<p>And the old woman's patience was nigh exhausted +when he cried: Granny, it is day, and bade her leave her +bed and come to the window to tell him if day were not +breaking; but she answered: get thee back to thy bed, +for 'tis the moon shining down the sky, simpleton. The +sun won't give way an hour to the moon nor the moon +an hour to the sun because thou'rt going to Arimathea. +And methinks, Joseph, that to some the morrow is always +better than to-day, and yesterday better than either,—a +remark that puzzled Joseph and kept him from his rest. +Didst never hear, Joseph, that it is a clever chicken that +crows in the egg? the old woman continued, and who +knows but Azariah will forget to come for thee! He +won't forget, Granny, Joseph uttered in so doleful a tone +that Rachel repented and promised Joseph she would +wake him in time; and as she had never failed to keep +her promise to him he allowed sleep to close his eyelids. +And once asleep he was hard to awaken. At six in the +morning sleep seemed to him better than Arimathea, but +once awake Rachel could not hand him his clothes fast +enough; he escaped from her hands, dressing himself +as he ran into the lanes, and while tying his sandals at +the gate he forgot them and stood at gaze, wondering +whether Azariah would come to fetch him on a horse or +an ass or a mule or a camel.</p> + +<p>At last the sound of hooves came through the dusk, +and a moment after some three or four camels led the +way; and there were horses too and asses and mules, and +the mules were caparisoned gaily, the one reserved for +Joseph's riding more richly than the others—a tall +fine animal by which he was proud to stand, asking +questions of the muleteer, while admiring the dark +docile eyes shaded with black lashes. Now why do +we delay? he asked Azariah, who reminded him—and +somewhat tritely—that he had not yet said good-bye +to his parents. But they know I'm going with you, +Sir, he answered. Azariah would not, however, allow +Joseph to mount his mule till he had bidden good-bye +to his father and grandmother, and he brought the +boy back to the house, but without earning Dan's +approval, who was ashamed before Azariah of his son's +eagerness to leave home; a subtlety that escaped Rachel +who chided Dan saying: try to remember if it wasn't the +same with thee, for I can remember thine eyes sparkling +at the sight of a horse and thy knees all of an itch to +be on to him. Well, said Dan, he'll have enough riding +before the day is over, and I reckon his little backside +will be sore before they halt at the gates of Arimathea; +a remark that caused Rachel to turn amazed eyes on her +son and to answer harshly that since he had so much +foresight she hoped he had not forgotten to tell Azariah +that Joseph must have a long rest at midday. But thy +face tells me no order has been given for the care of +the child on the journey. But Azariah cannot be far +on his way. I'll send a messenger to caution him that +Joseph has his rest in the shade.</p> + +<p>Dan let her go in search of the messenger and moved +around the room hoping (he knew not why) that the +messenger would not overtake the caravan, the which he +very nearly missed doing, for while Rachel was instructing +the messenger, Joseph was asking Azariah if he +might have a stick to belabour his mule into a gallop. +The cavalcade, he said, needed a scout that would report +any traces of robbers he might detect among the rocks +and bushes. But we aren't likely to meet robber bands +this side of Jordan, Azariah said, they keep to the other +side; and he told Joseph, who was curious about everything, +that along the Jordan were great marshes into +which the nomads drove their flocks and herds in the +spring to feed on the young grass. So they are there +now, Joseph replied meditatively, for he was thinking he +would like better to ride through marshes full of reeds +than through a hilly country where there was nothing to +see but the barley-fields beset by an occasional olive garth. +But hooves were heard galloping in the rear and when +the messenger overtook the caravan and blurted out +Rachel's instructions, Joseph's face flushed. Now what +can a woman know, he cried, about a journey like this? +Tell her, he said, turning to the messenger, that I shall +ride and rest with the others. And as an earnest of his +resolve he struck the messenger's horse so sharply across +the quarters that the animal's head went down between +his knees and he plunged so violently that the messenger +was cast sprawling upon the ground. The cavalcade +roared with laughter and Joseph, overjoyed at the success +of his prank, begged Azariah to wait a little longer, for +he was curious to see if the messenger would succeed in +coaxing his horse. At present the horse seemed in no +humour to allow himself to be mounted. Whenever the +messenger approached he whinnied so menacingly that +everybody laughed again. Is there none amongst ye that +will help me to catch the horse? the poor messenger +cried after the departing travellers. We have a long +day's march in front of us, Azariah said; and he warned +Joseph not to beat his mule into a gallop at the beginning +of the journey or he would repent it later, words that +came true sooner than Joseph had expected, for before +midday he was asking how many miles would bring them +to the caravansary. In about another hour, Azariah +answered, and Joseph said he had begun to hate his mule +for it would neither trot nor gallop, only walk. Thou'rt +thinking of the nomads and would like to be after them +flourishing a lance, Azariah said, and—afraid that he was +being laughed at—Joseph made no answer.</p> + +<p>After the rest at midday it seemed to him to be his +duty to see that his mule had been properly fed, and he +bought some barley from the camel-driver, but while he +was giving it to his mule Azariah remarked that he was +only depriving other animals of their fair share of provender. +It is hard, he said, to do good without doing +wrong to another. But the present is no time for +philosophy: we must start again. And the cavalcade +moved on through the hills, avoiding the steep ascents +and descents by circuitous paths, and Joseph, who had not +seen a shepherd leading his flock for some years, became +all of a sudden delighted by the spectacle, the sheep +running forward scenting the fresh herbage with which +the hills were covered as with dark velvet.</p> + +<p>A little later they came into view of a flock of goats +browsing near a wood, and Azariah sought to improve the +occasion by a little dissertation on the destructive nature +of the goat. Of late years a sapling rarely escaped them, +and still more regrettable was the carelessness of the +shepherd who left the branches they had torn down to +become dry like tinder. He spoke of many forest fires, +and told all the stories he could remember in the hope +of distracting Joseph's thoughts from the length of the +journey. We are now about half-way, he said, disguising +the truth. We shall see the city upon the evening glow +in about another hour. The longest hour that I have +ever known, Joseph complained two hours later; and +Azariah laid his cloak over Joseph's saddle. Dost feel +more comfortable? A little, the child answered. At the +sight of the city thy heart will be lifted again and +the suffering forgotten. And Joseph believed him, but +towards the end of the day the miles seemed to stretch +out indefinitely and at five o'clock he was crying: shall +we ever get to Arimathea, for I can sit on this mule no +longer, nor shall I be able to stand straight upon my legs +when I alight.</p> + +<p>Azariah promised they would be at the gates in a few +minutes, but these few minutes seemed as if they would +never pass away, but they did pass, and at the gateway +Joseph toppled from his mule and just managed to hobble +into the inn at which they were to sleep that night: too +tired to eat, he said, too tired, he feared, to sleep. +Azariah pressed him to swallow a cup of soup and he +prepared a hot bath for him into which he poured a +bottle of vinegar; an excellent remedy he reported this +to be against stiffness, and it showed itself to be such: +for next morning Joseph was quite free from stiffness and +said he could walk for miles. Samuel's rock cannot be +more than a few hundred yards distant, so miles are not +necessary, Azariah answered, as they stepped over the +threshold into a delightful morning all smiles and +greetings and subtle invitations to come away into the +forest and fields, full of promises of flowers and songs, but +in conflict with their project, which was to inquire out +their way from the maidens at the fountain, who would +be sure to know it, and in its shade to read the story of +David and Goliath first and other stories afterwards. But +the gay morning drew their thoughts away from texts, and +without being aware of their apostasy they had already +begun to indulge in hopes that the maidens would be late +at the fountain and leave them some time to loiter by the +old aqueduct that brought the water in a tiny stream to +fall into a marble trough: an erstwhile sarcophagus, +maybe, Azariah said, as he gathered some water out of it +with his hands and drank, telling Joseph to do likewise.</p> + +<p>There were clouds in the sky, so the sun kept coming +and going. A great lantern, Joseph said. That God +holds in his hands, Azariah answered; and when tired of +waiting for maidens who did not appear their beguilement +was continued by shadows advancing and retreating across +the roadway. The town was an enchantment in the still +limpid morning, but when they rose to their feet their +eyes fell on a greater enchantment—the hills clothed in +moving light and shade so beautiful that the appeal to +come away to the woods and fields continued in their +hearts after they had lowered their eyes and would not +be denied, though they prayed for strength to adhere to +their original project. It had died out of their hearts +through no fault of theirs, as far as they could see; and +wondering how they might get remission from it they +strode about the city, idly casting their eyes into ravines +whither the walls dropped, and raising them to the crags +whither the walls rose: faithful servants, Azariah said, +that have saved the city many times from robbers from +the other side of Jordan.</p> + +<p>Joseph's thoughts were far away on the hillside +opposite amid the woods, and Azariah's voice jarred. By +this time, he said, the maidens are drawing water. But +perhaps, Joseph answered, none will be able to tell us the +way to the rock, and if none has heard for certain on +which rock Samuel offered sacrifice we might go roaming +over the hills and into forests yonder to find perhaps some +wolf cubs in a cave. But a she-wolf with cubs is +dangerous, Azariah replied. If we were to try to steal +her cubs, Joseph interjected. But we don't want to +meddle with them, only to see them. May we go roaming +to-day, Sir, and read the story of David and Goliath +to-morrow? The boy's voice was full of entreaty and +Azariah had very little heart to disappoint him, but he +dared not break an engagement which he looked upon as +almost sacred; and walked debating with himself, asking +himself if the absence of a maiden at the fountain might be +taken as a sign that they were free to abandon the Scriptures +for the day, only for the day. And seeing the fountain +deserted Joseph cried out in his heart: we are free! But +as they turned aside to go their way a maiden came with a +pitcher upon her head; but as she had never heard of the +rock, nor indeed of Samuel, Joseph was certain that God had +specially designed her ignorant, so that they might know +that the day before them was for enjoyment. You said, +Sir, that if none could direct us we might leave the story +until to-morrow. I did not say that, Azariah answered. +All the same he did not propose to wait for another +maiden more learned than the first, but followed Joseph +to the gates of the city, nor did he raise any objection to +passing through them, and they stood with their eyes +fixed on the path that led over the brow down into the +valley, a crooked twisting path that had seemed steep to +Azariah's mule overnight and that now seemed steeper +to Azariah. And will seem still steeper to me in the +evening when we return home tired, he said. But we +shall not be tired, Joseph interposed, we need not go very +far, only a little way into the forest. And he did not dare +to say more, lest by some careless word he might provoke +an unpremeditated opposition.</p> + +<p>He dreaded to hear the words on Azariah's lips: you +have come here with me to learn Hebrew and may not +miss a lesson.... If he could persuade Azariah into the +path he would not turn back until they reached the valley, +and once in the valley, he might as well ascend the +opposite hill as go back and climb up the hill whence +they had come. I am afraid, said Azariah, that this cool +morning will pass into a very hot day: the clouds that +veil the sky are dispersing. We shall not feel the heat +once we are in the forest, Joseph replied, and the path up +yonder hill is not so steep as the paths we go down by. +You see the road, Sir, twisting up the hillside, and it is +planned so carefully to avoid a direct ascent that a man +has just belaboured his ass into a trot. They have passed +behind a rock, but we shall see them presently.</p> + +<p>Azariah waited a moment for the man and ass to reappear, +but after all he was not much concerned with +them, and began to descend unmindful of the lark which +mounted the sky in circles singing his delirious song. +Joseph begged Azariah to hearken, but his preceptor was +too much occupied with the difficulties of the descent, +nor could he be persuaded to give much attention to +a flight of doves flying hither and thither as if they had +just discovered that they could fly, diving and wheeling +and then going away in a great company, coming back +and diving again, setting Joseph wondering why one +bird should separate himself from the flock and alight +again. Again and again this happened, the flock returning +to release him from his post. Were the birds playing +a sort of game? Frolicking they were, for sure, and +Joseph felt he would like to have wings and go away with +them, and he wished Azariah would hasten, so pleasant it +was in the valley.</p> + +<p>A pleasant spacious valley it was, lying between two +hills of about equal height: the hill they had come down +was a little steeper than the hill they were about to go +up. Joseph noticed the shadows that fell from the cliffs +and those that the tall feathery trees, growing out of the +scrub, cast over the sunny bottom of the valley, a water-course +probably in the rainy season; and he enjoyed the +little puffing winds that came and went, and the insects +that came out of their hiding-places to enjoy the morning. +The dragonflies were bustling about their business: what +it was not easy to discover, but they went by in +companies of small flies, with now and then a great one +that rustled past on gauzy wings. And the bees were +coming and going from their hive in the rocks, incited by +the fragrance of the flowers, and Joseph watched them +crawling over the anemones and leaving them hastily to +bury their blunt noses in the pistils of the white squills +that abounded everywhere in the corners, in the inlets +and bays and crevices of the rocks. Butterflies, especially +the white, pursued love untiringly in the air, fluttering +and hovering, uniting and then separating—aerial wooings +that Joseph followed with strained eyes, till at last the +white bloom passed out of sight; and he turned to the +dragonflies, hoping to capture one of the fearful kind, +often nearly succeeding, but failing at the last moment +and returning disappointed to Azariah who, seated on a +comfortable stone, waited till Joseph's ardour should abate +a little. These stones will be too hot in another hour, +he said. But it will be cool enough under the boughs, +Joseph answered. Perhaps too cool, Azariah muttered, +and Joseph wondered if it were reasonable to be so discontented +with the world, especially on a morning like +this, he said to himself; and to hearten Azariah he +mentioned again that the path up the hillside zigzagged. +You'll not feel the ascent, Sir. To which encouragement +Azariah made no answer but drew Joseph's attention to +the industry of the people of Arimathea. The eager boy +could spare only a few moments for the beauty of the fig +and mulberry leaves showing against the dark rocks, but +he snuffed the scent the breeze bore and said it was the +same that had followed them yesterday. The scent of the +vine-flower, Azariah rejoined. The hillsides were covered +with the pale yellow clusters. But I thought, Joseph, +that you were too tired yesterday to notice anything. +Only towards the end of the journey, Joseph muttered. +But what are you going to do, Sir? he asked. I am going +to run up the hill. You may run if you please, the preceptor +answered, and as he followed the boy at a more +leisurely pace he wondered at Joseph's spindle shanks +struggling manfully against the ascent. He will stop +before the road turns, he said, but Joseph ran on. He +is anxious to reach the top, Azariah pondered. There is +some pleasant turf up there full of flowers: he'll like to +roll like a young donkey, his heels in the air, Azariah said +to himself as he ascended the steep path, stopping from +time to time that he might better ponder on the moral of +this spring morning. He will roll among the grass and +flowers like a young donkey, and then run hither and +thither after insects and birds, his heart aflame with +delight. He desires so many things that he knows not +what he desires, only that he desires. Whereas I can but +remember that once I was as he is to-day. So the spring +is sad for the young as well as for the old.</p> + +<p>But old as he was he was glad to feel that he was still +liable to the season's thrill in retrospect at least, and he +asked himself questions: how many years ago is it +since...? But he did not get further with his recollections. +The ascent is too steep, he said, and he continued +the ascent thinking of his breath rather than of her.</p> + +<p>Joseph stood waiting on the edge of the rocks and +cried out in the fulness of his joy on seeing his preceptor +appear above the cliff, and at once fell to rolling himself +over and over. Just as I expected he would, Azariah +remarked to himself. And then, starting to his feet, +Joseph began gathering flowers, but in a little while he +stood still, his nosegay dropping flower by flower, for his +thoughts had taken flight. The doves, the doves! he +cried, looking into the blue and white sky. The doves +have their nests in the woods, the larks build in the grass +he said, and asked Azariah to come with him. The nest +was on a tuft of grass. But I've not touched them, he +said. Three years ago I used to rob all the nests and +blow the eggs, you see, for I was making a collection. +Azariah asked him if the lark would grieve for her eggs, +and Joseph answered that he supposed she would soon +forget them. Hark to his singing! and he ran on into +the outskirts of the woods, coming back a few minutes +afterwards to ask Azariah to hasten, for the wood was +more beautiful than any wood he had ever seen. And if +you know the trees in which the doves build I will climb +and get the nest. Doves build in taller trees than these, +in fir-trees, Azariah answered. But this is a pretty wood, +Joseph. And he looked round the quiet sunny oak wood +and began his relation that this wood was probably the +remains of the ancient forests that had covered the +country when the Israelites came out of the north of +Arabia. How long ago was that, Sir? Joseph asked, and +Azariah hazarded the answer that it might be as many as +fifteen hundred years ago. How old is the oldest oak-tree? +Joseph inquired, and Azariah had again to hazard +the answer that a thousand years would make an old tree. +And when will these trees be in leaf, Sir, and may we +come to Arimathea when they are in leaf? And look, +somebody has been felling trees here. Who do you think +it was, Sir? Azariah looked round. The forest must have +been supplying the city with firewood for many years, he +said. All these trees are young and they are too regularly +spaced for a natural growth. But higher up the hills the +woods are denser and darker, and there we may find +some old trees. Any badgers and foxes? Joseph asked, +and shall we see any wolves?</p> + +<p>The sunny woods were threaded with little paths, and +Joseph cast curious eyes upon them all. The first led +him into bracken so deep that he did not venture farther, +and the second took him to the verge of a dark hollow so +dismal that he came running back to ask if there were +crocodiles in the waters he had discovered. He did not +give his preceptor time to answer the difficult question, +but laid his hand upon his arm and whispered that he was +to look between two rocks, for a jackal was there, slinking +away—turning his pointed muzzle to us now and then. To +see he isn't followed, Azariah added: and the observation +endeared him so to Joseph that the boy walked for a +moment pensively in the path they were following. It +turned into the forest, and they had not gone very far +before they became aware of a strange silence, if silence +it could be called, for when they listened the silence was +full of sound, innumerable little sounds, some of which +they recognised; but it was not the hum of the insects or +the chirp of a bird or the snapping of a rotten twig that +filled Joseph with awe, but something that he could +neither see, nor hear, nor smell, nor touch. The life of +the trees—is that it? he asked himself. A remote and +mysterious life was certainly breathing about him, and he +regretted he was without a sense to apprehend this life.</p> + +<p>Again and again it seemed that the forest was about +to whisper its secret, but something always happened to +interrupt. Once it was certainly Azariah's fault, for just +as the trees were about to speak he picked up a leaf and +began to explain how the shape of an oak leaf differed +from that of the leaf of the chestnut and the ash. A +patter was heard among the leaves. There she goes—a +hare! Joseph said, and a moment afterwards a white +thing appeared. A white weasel, Azariah said. Shall we +follow him? Joseph asked, and Azariah answered that it +would be useless to follow. We should soon miss them +in the thickets. And he continued his discourse upon +trees, hoping that Joseph would never again mistake a +sycamore for a chestnut. And what is that tree so dark +and gloomy rising up through all the other trees, Joseph +asked, so much higher than any of them? That is a +cedar, Azariah said. Do doves build in cedars? Azariah +did not know, and the tree did not inspire a climb: it +seemed to forbid any attempt on its privacy. Do trees +talk when they are alone? Joseph asked Azariah, and +his preceptor gave the very sensible answer that the life +of trees is unknown to us, but that trees had always +awakened religious emotions in men. The earliest tribes +were tree-worshippers, which was very foolish, for we can +fell trees and put them to our usage.</p> + +<p>They had come to a part of the forest in which there +seemed to be neither birds nor beasts and Joseph had +begun to feel the forest a little wearisome and to wish for +a change, when the trees suddenly stopped, and before +them lay a sunny interspace full of tall grass with here +and there a fallen tree, and on these trees prone great +lizards sunned themselves, nodding their heads in a +motion ever the same. Something had died in that +beautiful interspace, for a vulture rose sullenly and went +away over the top of the trees, and Azariah begged +Joseph not to pursue his search but to hasten out of the +smell of the carrion that a little breeze had just carried +towards them. Besides, this thick grass is full of +snakes, he said, and the words were no sooner out of his +mouth than a snake issued from a thick tuft, stopped and +hissed. Snakes feed on mice and rats? Joseph asked, +and come out of their holes to catch them, isn't that so, +Sir? Everything is out this sunny morning, seeking its +food, Azariah answered: snakes after mice, vultures after +carrion. This way, Joseph—yonder we may rest awhile, +but we must be careful not to sit upon a snake; that +knoll yonder is free from vermin, for the trees that grow +about it are fir-trees and snakes do not like any place +where they can easily be detected. And they sat on +the fibrous ground and looked up into the darkness of +the withered pines—withered everywhere except in the +topmost branches that alone caught the light. A sad +place to sit in, Joseph said. Don't you feel the sadness, +Sir? Azariah answered that he did. But it is preferable +to snake-bites, he added. At that moment slowly flapping +wings were heard overhead. It is the vulture returning, +Azariah whispered to Joseph, and he is bringing a +comrade back to dinner. To a very smelly dinner, +Joseph rejoined. The breeze had veered suddenly and +they found themselves again in the smell of carrion.</p> + +<p>We must go on farther, Azariah said, and after passing +into many quiet hollows and ascending many crests the +path to which they had remained faithful debouched at +last on broken ground with the tail end of the forest +straggling up the opposite hillside in groups and single +trees. I know where we are now, Joseph cried. Do +you not remember, Sir—Joseph's explanation was +cut short by the sight of some shepherds sitting at +their midday meal, and hunger falling suddenly upon +Azariah and Joseph, both began to regret they had +not brought food with them. But Azariah had some +shekels tied in his garment, and for one of these pieces of +silver the shepherds were glad to share their bread and +figs with them and to draw milk for them from one of the +she-goats. From which shall I draw milk? the shepherd +asked his mate, and the mate answered: White-nose +looks as if her udder is paining her. She lost her kid +yesterday. He mentioned two others: Speckled and +Long-ears. Whichever would like her milk drawn off will +answer to thy call, the shepherd answered, and the goat +came running to him as if glad to hear her name. White-nose, +isn't it? Joseph asked, and he gathered a branch +for her, and while she nibbled he watched the milk drawn +off and drank it foaming and warm from the jug, believing +it to be the sweetest he had ever drunk, though he had +often drunk goat's milk before. Azariah, too, vowed that +he had never drunk better milk and persuaded the shepherds +into discourse of their trade, learning much thereby, +for these men knew everything that men may know about +flocks, having been engaged in leading them from pasture +to pasture all their lives and their fathers before them.</p> + +<p>After telling of many famous rams they related the +courage and fidelity of their dogs, none of which feared a +wolf, and they mentioned that two had been lost in an +encounter with a leopard—but the flock had been saved. +As much as wolves the shepherds feared the eagles. +There are a dozen nests in yon mountain if there be one. +Take the strangers up the hillside, mate, so that they +may get a sight of the birds. And Azariah and Joseph +followed the shepherd up to the crags and were shown +some birds wheeling above rocks so steep that there was +no foothold for man. Or else we should have had their +nests long ago, the shepherd said. Now here is a bear's +trail. He's been seeking water here, but he didn't get +any; he came by here, and my word, he's been up here after +wild bees. The shepherd showed scratches among the +dropping resin, saying: it was here that he clawed his +way up. But did he get the honey? Joseph asked, a +question the shepherd could not answer; and talking +about bears and honey and eagles and lambs and wolves +and lions, the afternoon passed away without their feeling +it, till one of the shepherds said: it is folding-time +now; and answering to different calls the flocks separated, +and the shepherds went their different ways followed by +their flocks.</p> + +<p>The sunset had begun to redden the sky, and the +shadows of the trees drew out as they crossed the hillside +and descended by the steep path into the valley. The +ascent that faced them was steep indeed, and Azariah had +to rest several times, but at last they reached the slope on +which the city was built: but they did not enter the +gates yet awhile but stood looking back, thinking of +the day that had gone by. We shall remember this day +always, Joseph said, if we live to be as old as the +patriarchs. Was it then so wonderful? Azariah asked, +and Joseph could only answer: yes, very wonderful. +Didn't you think so? and tell me, he added, is it true +that God is going to destroy the world and very soon? +Why do you ask, Joseph? Azariah replied, and Joseph +answered: because the world is so very beautiful. I +never saw the world before to-day. My eyes were +opened, and I shall be sorry if God destroys the world, for +I should like to see more of it. But why should he make +a beautiful world, and then destroy it? Don't you think +he will relent when the time comes and the day be as +beautiful as it was this morning? Azariah answered him +that God does not relent, for He knows the past and +future as well as the present, and that the world was not +as beautiful as it seems to be, for man is sinning always, +though certainly God said all things are beautiful. But +perhaps we sinned this morning in the sight of God. We +sinned? Joseph repeated. How did we sin? Have you +forgotten, Azariah answered, that it was arranged that we +should spend the day reading the Scriptures, and we've +spent it talking to shepherds? Was that a sin? Joseph +asked. We can read the Scriptures to-morrow; if the +day be clouded and rain comes, we can read them indoors. +If the day be clouded, Azariah replied smiling. But was +not thy life dedicated to Samuel? Thou hast forgotten +him. But the world is God's world. Joseph answered +that he had forgotten his vow, and all that evening, in +spite of Azariah's gentleness with him, he was pursued by +the memory of the sin he had committed. In Samuel's +own city he had broken his vow! And Azariah heard +the boy blubbering in the darkness that night.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. III.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>He should not have interrupted the manifestations of joy +at his return with: when may I go to Arimathea again? +And his second question was hardly less indiscreet: why +did we leave Arimathea? His father answered: because +it suited us to do so; and Joseph withdrew to Rachel who +was never gruff with him. But despite her bias in favour +of all he said and did she reproved him, saying that he +should not ask as soon as he returned home when he was +going away again. I am glad in a way, Granny, but +there's no forest here. Dan left the room, and the boy +would tell no more but burst into tears, asking what he +had done to make Father so angry. Rachel could not tell +him with safety, and Joseph, thinking that perhaps something +unpleasant had happened to his father in the forest +(a wolf may have bitten him there), spoke of the high rock +on the next occasion and of the story of Jonathan and +David that Azariah had read to him. You will ask him to +come here one night, Father, and translate it to you? +Promise me that you will. But I can read Hebrew, Dan +replied, and there is no reason for those wondering eyes. +Thy Granny will tell thee. But, Father—Joseph stopped +suddenly. It had come into his mind to ask his father +how it was that he had never read the story of Jonathan +and David to him, but his interest in the matter dying +suddenly, he said: to-morrow I begin my lessons, and +Azariah tells me that I must have a copy of the Scriptures +for my very own use. Now where are thy thoughts? In +a barrel of salt fish? Father, do listen. I'd like to learn +Hebrew from bottom to top and from top to bottom and +then sideways, so as to put the Scribes in Jerusalem to +shame when you send me thither for the Feast of the +Passover. And thou'lt mind that my Scriptures be made +by the best Scribe in Galilee and on the best parchment, +promise me, Father!</p> + +<p>Dan promised his son that no finer manuscript should +be procurable in Galilee. But the making of this magnificent +copy would delay for many months Joseph's instruction +in Hebrew, and Joseph was so impatient to begin +that he lay awake that night and in the morning +ransacked his father's rooms, laying hands on some quires +of his father's Scriptures; and no sooner out of the house +than a great fear fell upon him that he might be robbed: +the quires were hidden in his vest suddenly and he +walked on in confidence, also in a great seriousness, going +his way melancholy as a camel, his head turned from the +many temptations that the way offered to him—the flower +in the cactus hedge was one. He passed it without +picking it, and further on he allowed a strange crawling +insect to go by without molestation, and feeling his mood +to be exceptional he fell to thinking that his granny +would laugh, were she to see him.</p> + +<p>He was not, however, afraid of her laughing: women +had no sense of the Word of God, he muttered. There +were nests in the trees, but he kept himself from looking, +lest a nest might inspire him to climb for it. But nobody +could climb trees with several quires of Scriptures under +his arm. He would lose his grip and fall, or else the +Scriptures would fall, and if a thief happened to be going +by it would be easy for him to pick up the quires and +away with them before it would be possible for Joseph to +slide down the tree and raise a hue and cry.</p> + +<p>The lanes through which his way took him were frequented +by boys, ball-players every one of them, and at +this time ball-playing was a passion with Joseph and he +would steal away whenever he got a chance and spend a +whole day in an alley with a number of little ragamuffins. +And if he were to meet the tribe, which was as likely as +not at the next turning, he must tell them that he was +going to school and dared not stop. But they would jeer +at him. He might give them his ball and in return they +might not mock at him. He walked very quietly, hoping +to pass unobserved, but a boy was looking over the cactus +hedge and called to him, asking if he had brought a ball +with him, for they had lost theirs. He threw his ball to +him. But aren't you coming to play with us? Not to-day, +Joseph answered. I'm on my way to school. Well, +to-morrow? Not to-morrow. I may not play truant from +learning, Joseph answered sententiously, walking away, +leaving his former playmates staring after him without a +word in their mouths. But by the next day they had +recovered their speech and cried out: the fishmonger's +son is going by to his lessons and dare not play at ball. +Azariah would whip him if he did. One a little bolder +than the rest dangled a piece of rope in his face saying: +this is what you'd get if you stayed with us. He was +moved to run after the boy and cuff him, but the quires +under his arms restrained him and he passed on, keeping +a dignified silence. Soon thou'lt be reading to us in the +synagogues! was the last jeer cried after him that day, +but for many a day he caught sight of a face grinning +at him through the hedge, and the way to his lessons +became hateful.</p> + +<p>As he showed no sign of anger, the persecution grew +wearisome to the persecutors, and soon after he discovered +another way to Azariah. But this way was +beset with women, whose sex impelled a yearning for +this tall lithe boy with the gazelle-like eyes. Joseph was +more inclined to the welcome of the Greek poets and +sculptors who stopped their mules and leaning from high +saddles spoke to him, for he was now beginning to speak +Greek and it was pleasant to avail himself of the +advantages of the road to chatter his Greek and to +acquire new turns of phrases. Why not? since it seemed +to be the wish of these men to instruct him. My very +model! a bearded man cried out one morning, and +stopping his mule he bent from the saddle towards +Joseph and asked him many questions. Joseph told him +that he was on his way to his lessons and that he passed +through this lane every morning. At these words the +sculptor's eyes lighted up, for he had accepted Joseph's +answer as a tryst, and when Joseph came through the +lane next day he caught sight of the sculptor waiting for +him and—flattered—Joseph entered into conversation +with him, resisting, however, the sculptor's repeated +invitation that Joseph should come to sit to him—if not +for a statue, for a bust at least. But a bust is a graven +image, Joseph answered, and as the point was being +debated a rich merchant came by, riding a white horse +that curveted splendidly, and Joseph, who was interested +in the horse, referred the difficulty they were engaged in +to the merchant. After some consideration of it he asked +the meaning of the scrolls that Joseph carried in his hand, +feigning an interest in them and in Azariah. Who is he? +he asked, and Joseph answered: a very learned man, +my tutor, to whom I must be on my way. And with a +pretty bow he left merchant and sculptor exchanging +angry looks.</p> + +<p>But the sculptor knowing more of Joseph than the +merchant—that he would be passing through the lane on +the morrow at the same time—and as the boy's beauty +was of great importance to him, kept another tryst, +waiting impatiently, and as soon as Joseph appeared he +began to beseech him to come to Tiberias and pose in his +studio for a statue he was carving, offering presents that +would have shaken many determinations. But Joseph +was as firm to-day as he was yesterday. I must be going +on to my Hebrew, he said, and he left the sculptor cast +away in dreams. He had not gone very far, however, +before he met the merchant, who happened to be passing +through the lane again, and seeing Joseph his eyes +lighted up with pleasure, and after speaking to him he +dismounted from his mule and showed him a beautiful +engraved dagger which Joseph desired ardently; but a +present so rich he did not care to accept, and hurried +away, nor did he look back, so busy was he inventing +reasons as he went for the delay.</p> + +<p>I do not deny, Sir, that I'm past my time, but not by +an hour; at most by half an hour. Playing at ball again, +and in the purlieus of the neighbourhood, against your +father's instructions! Azariah said, his face full of storm. +No, Sir, I have put ball-playing out of my mind; or +Hebrew has put it out of my mind, and Greek too has +had a say in the matter. The delay was caused by meeting +a sculptor who asked me to pose before him for a +statue. And what was thy answer to him? That we +were forbidden by our laws to look upon graven images. +And what answer did he give to that very proper answer? +Azariah asked, somewhat softened. Many answers, Sir, +and among them was this one: that there was no need for +me to look upon the statue he was carving. The answer +that one might expect from a Greek, Azariah rapped out, +one that sets me thinking that there is more to be said +against the Greek language than I cared to admit to +thy father when last in argument with him on the subject. +But, Sir, you will not forbid me the reading of +Menander for no better reason than that a Greek asked +that he might carve a statue after me, for what am I to +blame, since yourself said my answer was commendable? +And in these words there was so plaintive an accent that +Azariah's heart was touched, for he guessed that the +diverting scene in which the slave arranges for a meeting +between the lovers was in the boy's mind.</p> + +<p>At that moment their eyes went together to the tally +on the wall, and pointing to it Joseph said it bore witness +to the earnestness with which he had pursued his studies +for the last six months, and Azariah was forced to admit +there was little to complain of in the past, but he had +noticed that once a boy came late for his lessons his +truancy became common. Moreover, Sir, my time is of +importance, Azariah declared, his hairy nostrils swelling +at the thought of the half hour he had been kept waiting. +But may we finish Menander's comedy? Joseph asked, +for he was curious to learn if Moschion succeeded in +obtaining his father's leave to marry the girl he had put +in the family way. The lovers' plan was to ingratiate +themselves with the father's concubine and to persuade +her to get permission to rear and adopt the child. Yes, +Joseph, the father relents. But it would please me, Sir, +to learn why he relents. And Joseph promised that he +would be for a whole year in advance of his time rather +than behind it. He did not doubt that he would be able +to keep his promise, for he had found a new way to +Tiberias; a deserted way it seemed to be at first, and +most propitious, without the temptations of ball-players, +but as the season advanced the lane became infested by +showmen on their way to Tiberias: mummers, acrobats, +jugglers, fortune-tellers, star-mongers, dealers in charms +and amulets, and Joseph was tempted more than once to +stop and speak with these random folk, but the promise he +had given Azariah was sufficiently powerful to inspire a +dread and a dislike of these, and to avoid them he sought +for a third way to Tiberias and found one: a path through +an orchard belonging to a neighbour who was glad to give +him permission to pass through it every morning, which +he did, thereby making progress in his studies till one +day, by the stile over which his custom was to vault into +the quiet lane, he came suddenly upon what seemed to +him like a small encampment: wayfarers of some sort he +judged them to be, but of what sort he could not tell at +first, there being some distance and the branches of an +apple-tree between him and them.</p> + +<p>But as he came through the trees, he decided in his +mind that they were the servitude of some great man: +varlets, hirelings or slaves. But his eyes fell on their +baskets and—deceived by the number and size of these—the +thought crossed his mind that they might be +poulterers on their way to Tiberias. But whatever their +trade they had no right to encamp in the orchard, and +he informed them politely that the orchard belonged to +friends of his, and that large and fierce dogs were loose +about the place. For his warning they thanked him, +saying they'd make off at once; remarking as they made +their preparations for going that they did not think they +were doing any harm by coming into the orchard, having +only crossed the stile to rest themselves.</p> + +<p>Going with poultry to Tiberias? Joseph said. Not +with poultry, Sir, the varlets answered. We are not +poulterers, but cockers. Cockers! Joseph repeated, and +on reading the blank look in his face they told him they +were the servants of a great Roman who had sent them in +search of fighting cocks; for a great main was going to be +fought that day in Tiberias. We are his cockers, a man +said (he spoke with some slight authority, the others +seemed to be in his charge), and have been far in search +of these birds. He pointed to the baskets and asked +Joseph if he would care to see the cocks, and as if to +awaken Joseph's curiosity he began to tell their pedigrees. +That one, he said, is a Cilician and of a breed +that has won thousands of shekels, and a bird in the +basket next him is a Bythinian brown-red, the victor +in many a main, and the birds in the next three baskets +are Cappadocian Duns, all of celebrated ancestry, for our +master will have none but the finest birds; and if you +happen to know of any good birds, price will not stand in +the way of our purchasing them. Joseph answered that +he had not heard of any, but if he should—You'll not +forget us, said a small meagre woman with black shining +eyes in a colourless face, drab as the long desert road she +had come by. Joseph promised; and then a short thick-set +man with matted hair, and sore eyes that were always +fixed on the ground, opened one of the baskets and took +out a long lean bird, which he held in shining fingers for +Joseph's admiration. Listen to him, cried the woman in +a high thin voice. Listen to him, for no one can set a +cock a-sparring like him. The servants consulted among +themselves in a language Joseph did not understand, and +then, as if they had come to an agreement among themselves, +the foreman said, approaching Joseph and cringing +a little before him, that if the little master could assure +them they would not be disturbed by dogs, they would +like to show him the cocks. A little exercise, the man +said, would be of advantage to the birds—to those that +were not fighting that morning—he added, and the man +whom the woman nicknamed The Heeler, a nickname +acquired from the dexterity with which he fitted the +cock's heels with soft leather pads, said: you see, +master, they may fight and buffet one another for a space +without injury.</p> + +<p>Joseph watched the birds advance and retire and +pursue each other, and after this exhibition they were +put back into their baskets and covered with hay. So +you are the Heeler? Joseph asked. The man grinned +vacantly, and the woman answered for him. There is +none like him in this country for fixing a pair of spurs, for +cutting the tail and wings and shortening the hackle and +the rump feathers. You see, young Master, the comb is +cut close so that there shall be no mark for t'other bird's +bill. And who knows but you'd like to see the spurs, +Master. And she showed him spurs of two kinds, for +there are cocks that fight better with long spurs and +cocks that fight better with short. And how many days +does it take to train a cock? Joseph asked, and they +began to tell him that a fighting cock must be fed with +bread and spring water, and have his exercise—running +and sparring—every day. It was the woman that kept +Joseph in chat, for the men were busy carrying the +baskets over the stile and placing them in mule cars that +were waiting in the lane. But, young Master, she said, if +you've never seen a cock-fight come with us, for a better +one you'll never live to see. The best birds in Western +Asia will be in Tiberias to-day. Joseph did not answer +this invitation at once, for he did not altogether like this +woman nor her manner of standing near to him, her black +shining eyes fixed upon him. But he was like one +infected, and could not escape from his desire to see a +cock-fight. He knew that Azariah would never forgive +him for keeping him waiting ... waiting for how long? +he asked himself. Till he cares to wait no longer, his +conscience answered him. He was going to get into +great trouble, but he could not say no to the cockers, and +he followed them, asking himself when he should escape +from the evil spirit which—at their instigation, perhaps—had +taken possession of him. A moment after he +was assuring himself that the folk he had fallen in +with were ignorant of everything but cockering, without +knowledge of witchcraft, star-mongering or sortilege—the +servants of some great Roman, without doubt, which +was sufficient assurance that though they might be cock +stealers on occasion they were not kidnappers. Besides, +in frequented lanes and in Tiberias the stealing of a boy +was out of the question, and after seeing one or two +cocks killed he could return home, for he need not wait +till the end. He could not help himself, he must see the +great red and yellow bird strike his spur through the head +of his adversary, as the Heeler told him he had never failed +to do in many combats. And he would not fail now, though +he was two years old, which is old for a fighting cock. +You see, little Master, the woman said, they be not as +quick on their legs as they get older, nor are they as +eager to fight. To-day's battle will be his last—win or +lose—and if he conies out alive at the end he'll go to the +hens, which will be more frolicsome than having spurs +driven into his neck as happened three months gone by, +but it didn't check his spirit, she continued, he killed his +bird and let off one great crowing before he toppled over: +we thought he was gone, but I sucked his wound, bathed +it with salt and water, and you see he's none the worse +to-day.</p> + +<p>At every turning of the lane the demon seemed to +propel Joseph more violently, till at last he put Azariah +out of his head and began to ask himself if he would be +guilty of any great sin in going to see the cock-fight? +Of any sin greater than that of following the custom of +the heathen? His father might be angry, but there'd be +no particular atonement: a fast day, or some study of the +law, no more, for he'd be careful not to raise his eyes to +the gods and goddesses that beset the streets and public +places in Tiberias. And on this resolve he followed the +cockers into the city. He was glad to see that many +statues stood on the roofs of the buildings and so far +away that no faces or limbs were visible; but the statues +in the streets were difficult to avoid seeing. Worst of all, +the cock-fight that he thought would be fought in the +open air had been arranged to happen in a great building—a +theatre or circus—he did not know which. Joseph +had never seen so great a crowd before, and the servants +he had come with pointed out to him their master among +a group of Romans. The Jews from Alexandria, he was +told, came to these games, and this caused his conscience +to quicken, for he had heard his father speak of the +Alexandrian Jews as heretics. Azariah did not hold such +orthodox views, but what his tutor's views were about +cock-fighting Joseph did not know; and when he asked if +he might approach the ring he was told that the circle +about the ring was for the Romans and those whom they +might invite, but he'd be able to see very well from +where he was.</p> + +<p>The Romans seemed to him an arrogant and proud +people; and, conscious of an innate hostility, he watched +them as they leaned over the railing that enclosed the +fighting ring, talking among themselves, sometimes, +however, deigning to call a Jew to join them. The Jews +came to them obsequiously, hoping that the honour +bestowed upon them did not escape notice; and Joseph's +ear caught servile phrases: young Sir, it is reported +you've a bird that will smite down all comers, and, Sir, we +can offer you but a poor show of birds. Those at Rome——</p> + +<p>A sudden silence fell, which was broken by the falling +of dice, and Joseph was told that the throw would decide +which seven birds were to begin.... We have won the +throw, was whispered in his ear. We've the advantage. +But why it was an advantage to fight from the right +rather than from the left Joseph was too excited to +inquire, for the cocks had just been put into the ring or +pit, and Joseph recognised the tall lank bird that the +Heeler had taken out of his basket in the orchard. He's +fighting to-day with long spurs, he was told. But why +does he fight the other bird—a yearling? he heard the +woman ask; and he saw a black cock crouch to meet +the red in deadly fight. Must one die? he asked, but +the cockers were too intent on the battle to answer his +question. The birds re-sparred and leaped aside, avoiding +each other's rushes, and before long it became clear +even to Joseph that their bird, though stronger than the +younger bird, did not spring as high or as easily. A good +bird, he heard the servants say: there'll be a battle for it, +my word, there will, and our bird will win if the young +one doesn't get his stroke in quickly; an old bird will tire +out a young bird.... As these words were spoken, the +black cock dashed in, and with a quick stroke sent his +spur through the red bird's head. He's gone this time +beyond thy care! And tears came into Lydia's eyes. +I'm sorry, I'd have liked to have seen him end his days +happily among the hens, a-treading of them. Joseph felt +he had not rightly understood her, and when he inquired +out her meaning from her, she told it with so repulsive +a leer that he could not conquer a sudden dislike. He +moved away from her immediately and asked her no more +questions.</p> + +<p>More cocks were set to fight, and they fought to the +death always: only once did a cock turn tail and refuse +to continue the combat. To persuade him to be brave, +the slave in charge placed him breast to breast with his +adversary, but despite all encouragement he turned tail +and hid himself in the netting. Now what will happen +to him? Joseph asked. First he'll be cut and then fattened +for the spit or the gridiron, the Heeler answered. Look, +young Master, and turning his eyes whither the Heeler's +finger pointed, Joseph saw the bird's owner sign to the +slave that he was to twist the bird's neck; which was +done, and the poltroon went into a basket by himself—he +did not deserve to be with those that had been slain in +combat.</p> + +<p>The ring was now covered with blood and feathers, +and two slaves came with buckets of water and brushes to +clean it, and while this office was being performed many +fell to drinking from flasks which their slaves handed to +them. The man who had told his slave to wring his +cock's neck regretted that he had done so. The merited +punishment would have been to hand the bird over to +a large ape, that would have plucked the bird feather by +feather, examining each feather curiously before selecting +the next one; and he swore a great oath by Jupiter and +then, as if to annoy the Jews, by Jehovah, that the next of +his birds that refused combat should be served this way. +Our master will not put us on the cross for so misjudging +a bird's courage, Joseph heard the Heeler say; and Lydia +sidled up against Joseph, and it was her thigh as much as +the memory of the oaths he had heard uttered and that +were being uttered and that would be uttered again as +soon as the fighting commenced that set him thinking +of Azariah scanning the tally on the wall—vowing that +he would teach him no more; but the tally, which Joseph +knew well, showed that he had not missed an hour for +many months. But a whole day's absence was something +more than any truancy he had ever indulged in before, +and the only reason he could give for it would be the +inacceptable one that the cockers had bidden a demon +take possession of him.</p> + +<p>Another pair of cocks was already in the ring: two +young birds trained to the finest distinction, and they +sparred so lustily that even the experts could not predict +the victor. But there was no heart in Joseph for more +cock-fighting, and he viewed with disgust the mean vile +faces that leered at him while he thanked them for the +occasion which he owed them of overlooking so much fine +sport. But they were a scurvy lot, viler than he had +supposed, though he had suspected from the first that +they were nurturing some trick against him. And he +searched himself, for he would willingly give them money +to be rid of them. But how much will they accept? he +asked himself, as he searched his pockets ... his +money was gone! Stolen, no doubt, but by whom? By +the cockers standing around him, quarrelling and railing +at each other, levelling accusations right and left—the +Heeler wrangling with Lydia, saying it was she that had +asked the young penniless to come with them. A mercy +it was that he didn't call me a ragamuffin, Joseph said to +himself. He was not without some apprehension that +they might detain him till a ransom was paid, and right +glad to perceive himself free to go: having gotten his +money they wished to be rid of him quietly; and he too, +wishing to avoid attracting attention, slunk out of Tiberias +without laying complaint before the magistrate.</p> + +<p>It was unlikely that his money would be found upon +the thieves and his father would be very angry indeed if +he were obliged to go to Tiberias to bear witness to the +truth of his story that his son, while on his way to his +tutor's—Joseph stopped to consider the eventualities, +and he heard in imagination the tale unfolding. Azariah +might be called! And if he were, he would tell he had +been kept waiting all day, and the jealous neighbours +would be glad to send round to commiserate with his +father. It seemed to Joseph that he had escaped lightly +with the loss of a few shekels. But what reason +should he give for coming home so late? He'd have to +say where he had spent the day. Azariah would tell of his +absence from his lessons. Ah, if he had foreseen all these +worries, he wouldn't have gone to Tiberias.... Should +he say he had been out fishing on the lake? The +fishers would not betray him, but they might; and he +could not bring himself to tell his father a lie. So did he +argue with himself as he walked, saying that he had not +done worse than—But what had happened at home? +Something must have happened, for the gates were +open. The gate-keeper, where was he? And his wonder +increased as he reached the house, for all the servants +seemed to be running to and fro. The Lord be praised +for sending you back to us! they exclaimed. You +thought then that the Lord had taken me from you? +Joseph asked, and the man replied that they had been +searching for him all day—sending messengers hither and +thither, and that in the afternoon a boat had hoisted sail +and put out for the fishing fleet, thinking that Simon +Peter might be able to give tidings of Master Joseph. +But why all this fuss? Joseph said, because I come home +a little later than usual. Your father, Master Joseph, is +beside himself, and your grandmother—Joseph left +the man with the end of the sentence on his tongue.</p> + +<p>So you've returned at last! his father cried on seeing +him, and began at once to tell the anxiety he had suffered. +Nor was Rachel without her word, and between their +reproofs it was some time before Joseph began to apprehend +the cause of the tumult: Azariah had laid a long +complaint of truancy! As to that, Joseph answered +tartly, he has little to complain of. And he spoke of the +pact between them, relating that seven or eight months +before he had promised Azariah not to be past his time +by five minutes. Look to his tally, Father: it will tell +that I have kept my word for eight months and more and +would have kept it for the year if—Be mindful of +what he is saying to thee, Dan. Look well to the tally +before condemning, Rachel cried. Wouldst have it then, +woman, Azariah lied to me? Not lied, but was carried +beyond himself in a great heat of passion at being kept +waiting, Rachel answered. He said that he enjoyed +teaching thee, Joseph, God having granted thee a good +intelligence and ways of comprehension. But he couldn't +abide seeing thee waste thy time and his. We're willing +and ready to hear about this absence and the cause of it, +Dan interposed. So get on with the story: where hast +thou been? Out with it, boy. Where hast thou been?</p> + +<p>The bare question could only be met by the bare +answer: watching a cock-fight in Tiberias; and to save +his parents from much misunderstanding, he said he must +begin at the beginning. Dan would have liked a straight +answer, but Rachel said the boy should be suffered to tell +his story his own way; and Joseph told a fine tale, the +purport of which was that he had sought for a by-way to +Tiberias, the large lanes being beset by acrobats, zanies, +circus riders and the like, and had found one through +Argob orchard and had followed it daily without meeting +anyone for many months, but this morning as he came +through the trees he had caught sight of an encampment; +some cockers on their way to Tiberias, where a great main +was to be fought. And it was the cocks of Pamphilia +that had—He stopped, for the great change that +had come over his parents' faces set him wondering if his +conduct was as shameful as their faces seemed to affirm. +He could not see that he had sinned against the law by +going to Tiberias, though he had associated himself with +Gentiles and for a whole day ... he had eaten in their +company, but not of any forbidden meat. And while +Joseph sought to mitigate his offence to himself, his +father sat immersed in woe, his head in his hands. What +calamity, he cried, has fallen on my house, and how have +I sinned, O Lord, that punishment should fall upon me, +and that my own son should be chosen to mete out my +punishment? My house is riven from rafter to foundation +stone. But, Father, at most—It seemed useless to +plead. He stood apart; his grandmother stood silent and +grave, not understanding fully, and Joseph foresaw that +he could not count upon her to side with him against his +father. But if his father would only tell him if he had +sinned against the law, instead of rending his garments, +he would do all the law commanded to obtain forgiveness. +Was there, he asked, anything in the law against cock-fighting? +or in the traditions? It was a pastime of the +heathen: he knew that, and had hoped a day of fasting +might be suggested to him, but if this offence was more +serious than he had supposed he besought his father to +say so. Tell me, Father, have I sinned against the law?</p> + +<p>The question seemed to exasperate his father who at +last cried out: of what value may be thy Hebrew studies +and a knowledge of the language, if the law be not +studied with Azariah? Does not the Book of Leviticus +ever lie open before thee? How has the law been +affronted? The law given by the Lord unto Moses. My +own son asks me this. "And if a soul sin and hear the +voice swearing and is a witness whether he has sinned or +known of it, if he did not utter it, then he shall bear his +iniquity." Was there no swearing at thy cock-fight? +Plenty, I reckon. All day was spent listening to swearing, +hearing the name of the Lord taken in vain: a name +we don't dare to pronounce ourselves. Joseph sat dumbfounded. +So Azariah never taught thee the law? All the +time goes by wasted in the reading of Greek plays. We +read Hebrew and speak it, Joseph answered, and it was +your wish that I should learn Greek. And, Father, is +there any reason to worry over a loss of repute? For my +sin will be known to nobody but God, unless told by thee, +and thou'lt keep it secret. Or told by Azariah, Dan +answered moodily, who never teaches the law, but likes +Greek plays better. Well, thou shalt hear the law from +me to-night, for I can read Hebrew, not, belike, as well +as Azariah, but I can read Hebrew all the same. Mother, +hand me down the Scriptures from the shelf.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. IV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Well, Dan, you must make up your mind whether you +are going to look out for one who will teach him better, +or let him remain with Azariah, who likes teaching him, +for he is a clever but oft-times an idle boy. I don't +know that I should have said idle, she added, and sat +thinking of what word would describe Joseph's truancy +better than idle, without, however, finding the word +she needed, and her thoughts floated away into a long +consideration of her son's anger, for she could see he was +angry with Azariah. But the cause of his anger she +could not discover. It could not be that he was annoyed +with Azariah for coming to complain that he was often +kept waiting: and it was on her tongue to ask him why +he was so gloomy, why he knitted his brows and bit his +lips. But she held back the question, for it would not be +long before Dan would let out his secret: he could not +keep one. And Dan, knowing well his own weakness and +his mother's shrewdness (she would soon be guessing +what was passing in his mind), began to animadvert on +Azariah for his residence in Tiberias, a pagan city—his +plan for leading her on a false trail. Others, he said, +spoke more unfavourably than he did; and he continued +in this strain until Rachel, losing patience, interrupted +him suddenly saying that Azariah did not live in Tiberias. +If not in Tiberias, he answered, in a suburb, and within a +stone's throw of the city walls. But what has that got to +do with Joseph? Rachel asked. What has it got to do +with Joseph! Dan growled, when to reach the scribe's +house he has to pass through lanes infested with the off-scourings +of the pagan world: mummers, zanies, jugglers, +dancers, whores from Babylon. Did ye not hear him, +woman, describe these lanes, saying that he had to change +his course three times so that he might keep his promise +to Azariah, and are ye not mindful that he told me, +and you sitting there listening on that very stool, +that the showmen he met in Argob orchard put +a spell upon him, and that it was the demon that had +obtained temporary lodgment in him that had bidden him +to Tiberias to see the cock-fight: Jews from Alexandria, +heretics, adventurers, beggars, aliens! Look ye here, +Dan, Rachel said, he is a proud boy and may thank thee +little for—There are others to teach him, Dan interrupted, +and continued to walk up and down the room, for +he wished to make an end of this talk with his mother. +But he hadn't crossed the room twice when he was +brought to a full stop, having remembered suddenly that +it is always by such acts as he was now meditating that +fathers lose the affections of their sons. If he were to +drag Joseph away from Azariah, from whom he was +learning Hebrew and Greek, Joseph might begin to look +upon him as a tyrant. His mother was a sharp-witted +woman, and very little was needed to set her thinking. +She had an irritating way of looking as it were into his +mind, and if she were to suspect him of jealousy of +Azariah he would never have a moment's peace again.</p> + +<p>But what in the world may we understand from all this +bear-dancing up and down the room? asked Rachel. +Ye must know if you are going to withdraw the boy +from his schooling.</p> + +<p>Dan cast an angry glance at his mother and hated her; +and then his heart misgave him, for he knew that he +lacked courage to take Joseph out of his present schooling, +and dared not divide his house against himself, or do +anything that might lose him his son's love and little by +little cause himself to be looked upon as a tyrant. He +knew himself to be a weak man, except in the counting-house; +he knew it, and must stifle his jealousy of +Azariah, who had forgiven Joseph his truancy and was +the only one that knew of the excursion into Tiberias. +But Azariah's indulgence did not altogether please him. +He began to suspect it and to doubt if he had acted +wisely in not ordering Joseph away from Azariah: for +Azariah was robbing him, robbing him of all that he +valued in this world, his son! And it seemed to him a +little later in the day, as he closed his ledger, that he had +come to be disregarded in his own house; and he thought +he would have liked much better to stay away, to dine in +the counting-house, urging a press of business. The first +thing he would hear would be "Azariah." The hated +name was never off the boy's lips: he talked of nothing +else but Azariah and Hebrew and Greek and the learned +Jews whom he met at Azariah's house.</p> + +<p>Dan sat looking into the dusk asking himself if his +bargain were not that his son should learn the Greek +language but not Greek literature, which is full of heresy, +he said to himself; and he returned home determined +to raise the point; but Joseph told him, and he thought +rather abruptly, that it was only through Greek literature +that one could learn Greek in Tiberias—the spoken +language was a dialect.</p> + +<p>It may have been that Joseph perceived that praise of +Azariah caused his father to writhe a little, and—curious +to observe the effect—he spoke more of Azariah than he +would have done otherwise, and laid an accent on his +master's learning, and related incidents in which his +master appeared to great advantage, causing his father +much perplexity and pain of mind, till at last, unable to +bear the torture any longer, he said—the words slipped +from him incontinently—you're no better than a little +Azariah! and, unable to contain himself, he rushed from +the room, leaving Joseph and Rachel to discuss his +vehemence and discover motives which he hoped would +not include the right one. But afraid that he had +betrayed his jealousy of Azariah he returned, and to +mislead his mother and son he began to speak of the +duty of the pupil to the master, telling Joseph he must +submit himself to Azariah in everything: by representing +Azariah as one in full authority he hoped to overcome +his influence and before many months had passed over +a different accent was notable in Joseph's voice when he +spoke of Azariah; but he continued with him for two +more years. And it was then that Dan set himself to +devise plans to end his son's studies in Hebrew and +Greek.</p> + +<p>Joseph knows now all that Azariah can teach him, and +it is high time that I took him in hand and taught him +his trade. But though determined to rid himself of +Azariah he felt he must proceed gently (if possible, in +conjunction with his mother); he must wait for an +occasion; and while he was watching for one it fell out +that Joseph wearied of Azariah and went to his father +saying that he had learnt Hebrew and could speak Greek, +so there was no use in his returning to Azariah any +more. At first his parents could only think that he had; +quarrelled with Azariah, but it was not so, they soon +discovered that he had merely become tired of him—a +change that betokened a capricious mind. A growing +boy is full of fancies, Rachel said: an explanation that +Dan deemed sufficient, and he was careful not to speak +against Azariah lest he should turn his son's thoughts +back on Greek literature, or Greek philosophy, which is +more pernicious even than the literature. He did not +dare to ask Joseph to come down to the counting-house, +afraid lest by trying to influence him in one direction +he might influence him in the opposite direction. He +deemed it better to leave everything to fate, and while +putting his trust in God Dan applied himself to meditate +on the young man's character and his tastes, which +seemed to have taken a sudden turn; for, to his father's +surprise, Joseph had begun to put questions to him about +the sale of fish, and to speak of visiting Tyre and Sidon +with a view to establishing branch houses—extensions of +their business. His father, while approving of this plan, +pointed out that Tyre and Sidon being themselves on +the coast of the sea could never be as good customers +as inland cities, sea fish being considered, he thought +mistakenly, preferable to lake. He had been doing, it +is true, a fair trade with Damascus, but whereas it was +impossible to reckon on Damascus it seemed to him +that their industry might be extended in many other +directions. And delighted with the change that had come +over his son he said that he would have tried long ago to +extend his business, if he had had knowledge of the Greek +language.</p> + +<p>He spoke of Heliopolis, and proposed to Joseph that +he should go there and establish a mart for salt fish +as soon as he had mastered all the details of the trade, +which would be soon: a very little application in the +counting-house would be enough for a clever fellow like +Joseph.</p> + +<p>As he said these words his eyes met Rachel's, and as +soon as Joseph left the room she asked him if he believed +that Joseph would settle down to the selling of salt fish: +a question which was not agreeable to Dan, who was at +that moment settling himself into the conviction that +Joseph had begun to evince an aptitude for trade that he +himself did not acquire till many years older, causing him +to flame up as might be expected against his mother, +telling her that her remarks were most mischievous, +whether she meant them or not. He hoped Joseph was +not the young man that she saw in him. Before he could +say any more Joseph returned, and linked his arm into +his father's, and the twain went away together to the +counting-house, Dan enamoured of his son but just a +little afraid all the same that Joseph might weary of trade +in the end, just as he had wearied of learning. He was +moved to speak his fear to Joseph, but on consideration +he resolved that no good could come of such confidences, +and on the evening of the first day in the counting-house +he whispered to Rachel that Joseph had taken to trade +as a duck to the water, as the saying is.</p> + +<p>Day after day he watched his son's progress in administration, +saying nothing, waiting for the head clerk to endorse +his opinion that there were the makings of a first-rate man +in Joseph. He was careful not to ask any leading questions, +but he could not refrain from letting the conversation drop, +so that the clerk might have an opportunity of expressing +his opinion of Master Joseph's business capacities. But the +clerk made no remark: it might as well have been that +Joseph was not in the counting-house; Dan had begun to +hate his clerk, who had been with him for thirty years. +He had brought him from Arimathea and couldn't +dismiss him; he could only look into his eyes appealingly. +At last the clerk spoke, and his words were like +manna in the desert; and, overjoyed, Dan wondered how it +was that he could have refrained so long. It was concerning +a certain falling off in an order: if Master Joseph +were to go on a circuit through the Greek cities—Dan +could have thrown his arms about his clerk for these +words, but it were better to dissimulate. You think then +that Joseph understands the business sufficiently? The +clerk acquiesced, and it was a great day, of course, the +day Joseph went forth; and in a few weeks Dan had +proof that his confidence in his son's business aptitudes +was not misplaced. Joseph showed himself to be suited +to the enterprise by his engaging manner as well as by +his knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, the two languages +procuring him an admission into the confidences of Jew +and Gentile alike.</p> + +<p>The length of these excursions was from three to four +weeks, and when Joseph returned home for an interval +his parents disputed as to whether he should spend his +holiday in the counting-house or the dwelling-house. +So to avoid giving offence to either, and for his own +pleasure Joseph often spent these days on the boats with +the fishers, learning their craft from them, losing himself +often in meditations how the draught of fishes might be +increased by a superior kind of net: interested in his trade +far too much, Rachel said. His mind seemed bent on it +always; whereas she would have liked to have heard him +tell of all the countries he had been to and of all the +people he had seen, but it was always about salt fish +that he was talking: how many barrels had gone to this +town, and how many barrels to another, and the new +opening he had discovered for salt fish in a village the +name of which he had never heard before.</p> + +<p>Rachel's patience with Joseph was long but at last she lost +patience and said she would be glad when the last barrel of +salt fish came out of the lake, for it would not be till then +that they would have time to live their lives in peace and +comfort. She gathered up her knitting and was going to +bed, but Joseph would not suffer her to go. He said he +had stories to tell her, and he fell to telling of the several +preachers he had heard in the synagogues, and his voice +beguiled the evening away so pleasantly that Rachel let +her knitting drop into her lap and sat looking at her +grandson, stupefied and transported with love.</p> + +<p>Dan's love for his son was more tender in these days +than it had ever been before, but Rachel looked +back, thinking the old days were better, when Joseph +used to come from Azariah's talking about his studies. +It may be that Dan, forgetful of his jealousy, looked back +to those days gone over with a certain wistfulness. A boy +is, if not more interesting, at least more unexpected, than +a young man. In the old days Dan did not know what +sort of son God had given him, but now he knew that +God had given him the son he always desired, and that +Azariah's tending of the boy's character had been kind, +wise and salutary, as the flower and fruit showed. But in +the deepest peace there is disquiet, and in the relation +of his adventures Joseph had begun to display interest in +various interpretations of Scripture which he had heard +in the synagogues—true that he laughed at these, but he +had met learned heretics from Alexandria in Azariah's +house. Dan often wondered if these had not tried to +impregnate his mind with their religious theories and +doctrines, for being without religious interests, Dan was +strictly orthodox.</p> + +<p>He did not suspect Azariah, whom he knew to be withal +orthodox, as much as Azariah's friend, Apollonius, the +Alexandrian Jew. But though he kept his ears open for +the slightest word he could not discover any trace of his +influence. If his discourse had had any effect, it was to +make Joseph more than ever a Pharisee. He was sometimes +even inclined to think that Joseph was a little too +particular, laying too much stress upon the practice of +minute observances, and he began to apprehend that there +was something of the Scribe in Joseph after all. The +significance of his mother's words becoming suddenly clear +to Dan, he asked himself if it were not yet within the +width of a finger that Joseph would tire of trade and +retire to Jerusalem and expound the law and the traditions +in the Temple. His vocation, Dan was of opinion, +could not yet be predicted with any certainty: he might +go either way—to trade or to religious learning—and in +the midst of these meditations on his son's character Dan +remembered that some friends had come to see Joseph at +the counting-house yesterday. Joseph had taken them +out into the yard and they had talked together, but it was +not of the export of salt fish they had spoken, but of the +observances of the Sabbath. Dan had listened, pen in +hand, his thoughts suspended, and had heard them devote +many minutes to the question whether a man should dip +himself in the nearest brook if he had accidentally touched +a pig. He had heard them discuss at length the grace +that should be used before eating fruit from a tree, and +whether it were necessary to say three graces after eating +three kinds of fruit at one meal. He had heard one ask +if a sheep that had been killed with a Greek knife could +be eaten, and he had heard Joseph ask him if he knew +the sheep had been killed with a Greek knife and the +man confess that he had not made inquiry. If he had +known—</p> + +<p>Dan did not hear the end of the sentence, but imagined +that it ended in a gesture of abhorrence. In his day +religion was limited to the law of Moses, a skein well +combed out, but the Scribes in Jerusalem had knotted and +twisted the skein. He had heard Joseph maintain, and +stiffly too, that an egg laid on the day after the Sabbath +could not be eaten, because it had been prepared by the +hen on the Sabbath. But one can't always be watching +hens, he said to himself, and the discussion of such points +seeming to him unmanly, he drew back the window-curtain +and fell into admiration of his son's slim loins and +great shoulders. Joseph was laughing with his companions +at that moment and his teeth glistened, every one +white and shapely. Why do such discussions interest +him? Dan asked, for his eyes are soft as flowers; and he +envied the woman that Joseph would resort unto in the +night. But very often men like Joseph did not marry, +and a new disquietude arose in his mind: he wanted +children, grandchildren. In a few years Joseph should +begin to look round.... Meanwhile it might be well to +tell him that men like Hillel had always held that it is +after the spirit rather than the letter we should strive, +and that in running after the latter we are apt to lose the +former, and he accepted the first opportunity to admonish +Joseph, who listened in amazement, wondering what had +befallen his father, whom he had never heard speak like this +before. All the same he hearkened to these warnings and +laid them in his memory, and fell to considering his father +as one who had just jogged along the road that he and his +ancestors had come by, without much question. But if +his father had set himself to consider religions, and with +that seriousness they deserved, he would not keep back +any longer the matter on which he had long desired to +speak to him.</p> + +<p>The young men to whom he had just bidden good-bye +were all going to Jerusalem, whither Dan was accustomed +to go every year for the Feast of the Passover, but last +year the journey thither had fatigued him unduly, and it +seemed to Joseph that this year he should go to Jerusalem +in his father's place; and when he broached the subject, +Dan, who had been thinking for some time that he was +not feeling strong enough for this journey, welcomed +Joseph's proposal—a most proper presence Joseph's +would be at the Feast. Joseph had come to the age +when he should visit Jerusalem, but he did not readily +understand this sudden enthusiasm. If he wanted to +go to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover, why had he +not said so before? And Dan, whose thoughts reached +back to the discussion overheard in the yard, was +compelled to ask Joseph if it were for the purpose of +discussing the value of certain minute points of law +that he wished to go to Jerusalem. At which Joseph was +astonished that his father should have asked him such a +thing.... Yet why not? For awhile back he was discussing +such very points with some young gossips. His +tongue wagged as was its wont on all occasions, though his +mind was away and he suddenly stopped speaking; and +when the stirring of his father's feet on the floor awakened +him, he saw his father sitting pen in hand watching him +and no doubt asking himself of what great and wonderful +thing his son was thinking.</p> + +<p>Once again actuality disappeared. He stood engulfed +in memories of things heard in Azariah's house: or things +only half heard, for he had never thought of them since. +The words of the Jews he met there had fallen dead at +the time, but now he remembered things that had passed +over his mind. The heresies of the Jews in Alexandria +awoke in him, and a marvellous longing awoke to see the +world. First of all he must begin with Jerusalem, and he +bade his father good-bye with an eagerness not too pleasant +to the old man.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. V.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Gone to the study of the law! Dan said, as he walked +up and down the room, glancing often into Joseph's +letter, for it figured to him the Temple with the Scribes +meditating on the law, or discussing it with each other +while their wives remained at home doing the work. So +do their lives pass over, he said, in the study of the +law. Nothing else is to them of any worth.... My poor +boy hopes that I shall forgive him for not returning home +after the Feast of the Passover! Does he suspect that +I would prefer him indifferent to the law in Magdala, +rather than immersed in it at Jerusalem? A little +surprised and shocked at the licentiousness of his +thoughts, he drew them into order with the admission +that it is better in every way that a young man should +go to Jerusalem early in his life and acquire reverence for +the ritual and traditions of his race, else he will drift +later on into heresy, or maybe go to live in cities like +Tiberias, amongst statues. But why do I trouble myself +like this? For there was a time before I had a son, and +the time is getting very close now when I shall lose him. +And Dan stood swallowed up in the thought of the great +gulf into which precarious health would soon pitch him +out of sight of Joseph for ever. It was Rachel coming +into the room that awoke him. She too! he muttered. +He began to fuss about, seeking for writing materials, for +he was now intent to send Joseph a letter of recommendation +to the High Priest, having already forgotten +the gulf that awaited him, in the pleasurable recollection +of the courtesy and consideration he received from +the most distinguished men the last time he was in +Jerusalem—from Hanan the son of Seth and father-in-law +of Kaiaphas: Kaiaphas was now High Priest, the +High Priest of that year; but in truth, Hanan, who had +been High Priest before him, retained all the power and +importance of the office and was even called the High +Priest. Dan remembered that he had been received +with all the homage due to a man of wealth. He liked +his wealth to be acknowledged, for it was part of himself: +he had created it; and it was with pride that he continued +his letter to Hanan recommending his son to him, +saying that anything that was done to further Joseph's +interests would be a greater favour than any that could be +conferred on himself.</p> + +<p>The letter was sent off by special messenger and +Joseph was enjoined to carry it himself at once to Hanan, +which he did, since it was his father's pleasure that he +should do so. He would have preferred to be allowed to +pick his friends from among the people he met casually, +but since this was not to be he assumed the necessary +reverence and came forward in the proper spirit to meet +Hanan, who expressed himself as entirely gratified by +Joseph's presence in Jerusalem and promised to support +his election for the Sanhedrin. But if the councillors +reject me? For you see I am still a young man. The +innocency of Joseph's remark pleased Hanan, who smiled +over it, expressing a muttered hope that the Sanhedrin +would not take upon itself the task of discussing the +merits and qualifications of those whom he should deem +worthy to present for election. The great man purred +out these sentences, Joseph's remark having reminded +him of his exalted position. But thinking his remark +had nettled Hanan, Joseph said: you see I have only +just come to Jerusalem; and this remark continued the +flattery, and with an impulsive movement Hanan took +Joseph's hands and spoke to him about his father in terms +that made Joseph feel very proud of Dan, and also of +being in Jerusalem, which had already begun to seem to +him more wonderful than he had imagined it to be: and +he had imagined it very wonderful indeed. But there +was a certain native shrewdness in Joseph; and after +leaving the High Priest's place he had not taken many +steps before he began to see through Hanan's plans: +which no doubt are laid with the view to impress me with +the magnificence of Jerusalem and its priesthood. He +walked a few yards farther, and remembered that there +are always dissensions among the Jews, and that the son +of a rich man (one of first-rate importance in Galilee) +would be a valuable acquisition to the priestly caste.</p> + +<p>But though he saw through Hanan's designs, he was +still the dupe of Hanan, who was a clever man and a +learned man; his importance loomed up very large, and +Joseph could not be without a hero, true or false; so it +could not be otherwise than that Hanan and Kaiaphas and +the Sadducees, whom Joseph met in the Sanhedrin and +whose houses he frequented, commanded his admiration +for several months and would have held it for many +months more, had it not been that he happened to be a +genuinely religious man, concerned much more with an +intimate sense of God than with the slaying of bullocks +and rams.</p> + +<p>He had accepted the sacrifices as part of a ritual which +should not be questioned and which he had never questioned: +yet, without discussion, without argument, they +fell in his estimation without pain, as naturally as a +leaf falls. A friend quoted to him a certain well-known +passage in Isaiah, and not the whole of it: only +a few words; and from that moment the Temple, the +priests and the sacrifices became every day more distasteful +to him than they were the day before, setting +him pondering on the mind of the man who lives upon +religion while laughing in his beard at his dupe; he +contrasted him with the fellow that drives in his beast +for slaughter and pays his yearly dole; he remembered +how he loved the prophets instinctively though the priests +always seemed a little alien, even before he knew +them. Yet he never imagined them to be as far from +true religion (which is the love of God) as he found +them; for they did not try to conceal their scepticism +from him: knowing him to be a friend of the +High Priest, it had seemed to them that they might +indulge their wit as they pleased, and once he had even +to reprove some priests, so blasphemous did their jests +appear to him. An unusually fat bullock caused them to +speak of the fine regalement he would be to Jahveh's +nostrils. One sacristan, mentioning the sacred name, +figured Jahveh as pressing forward with dilated nostrils. +There is no belly in heaven, he said: its joys are entirely +olfactory, and when this beast is smoking, Jahveh will +call down the angels Michael and Gabriel. As if not +satisfied with this blasphemy, as if it were not enough, he +turned to the sacristans by him, to ask them if they could +not hear the angels sniffing as they leaned forward out of +their clouds. My priests are doing splendidly: the fat of +this beast is delicious in our nostrils; were the words he +attributed to Jahveh. Michael and Gabriel, he said, would +reply: it is indeed as thou sayest, Sire!</p> + +<p>Joseph marvelled that priests could speak like this, and +tried to forget the vile things they said, but they were +unforgettable: he treasured them in his heart, for he +could not do else, and when he did speak, it was at first +cautiously, though there was little need for caution; for +he found to his surprise that everybody knew that the +Sadducees did not believe in a future life and very little +in the dogma that the Jews were the sect chosen by God, +Jahveh. He was their God and had upheld the Jewish +race, but for all practical purposes it was better to put +their faith henceforth in the Romans, who would defend +Jerusalem against all barbarians. It was necessary to +observe the Sabbath and to preach its observances and to +punish those who violated it, for on the Sabbath rested +the entire superstructure of the Temple itself, and all +belief might topple if the Sabbath was not maintained, +and rigorously. In the houses of the Sadducees Joseph +heard these very words, and their crude scepticism +revolted his tender soul: he was drawn back to his own +sect, the Pharisees, for however narrow-minded and +fanatical they might be he could not deny to them the +virtue of sincerity. It was with a delightful sense of +community of spirit that he returned to them, and in the +conviction that it would be well to let pass without protest +the observances which himself long ago in Galilee began +to look upon with amusement.</p> + +<p>A sudden recollection of the discussion that had arisen +in the yard behind the counting-house, whether an egg +could be eaten if it had been laid the day after the Sabbath, +brought a smile to his face, but a different smile from of +yore, for he understood now better than he had understood +then, that this (in itself a ridiculous) question was no more +serious than a bramble that might for a moment entangle +the garment of a wayfarer: of little account was the +delay, if the feet were on the right road. Now the +scruple of conscience that the question had awakened +might be considered as a desire to live according to a +law which, observed for generations, had become part of +the national sense and spirit. On this he fell to thinking +that it is only by laws and traditions that we may know +ourselves—whence we have come and whither we are +going. He attributed to these laws and traditions +the love of the Jewish race for their God, and their +desire to love God, and to form their lives in obedience +to what they believed to be God's will. Without these +rites and observances their love of God would not have +survived. It was not by exaggeration of these laws but +by the scepticism of the Sadducees that the Temple was +polluted. If the priests degraded religion and made a +vile thing of it, there were others that ennobled the +Temple by their piety.</p> + +<p>And as these thoughts passed through Joseph's mind, +his eyes went to the simple folk who never asked themselves +whether they were Sadducees or Pharisees, but +were content to pray around the Temple that the +Lord would not take them away till they witnessed the +triumph of Israel, never asking if the promised resurrection +would be obtained in this world—if not in each +individual case, by the race itself—or whether they would +all be lifted by angels out of their graves and carried +away by them into a happy immortality.</p> + +<p>The simple folk on whom Joseph's eyes rested favourably, +prayed, untroubled by difficult questions: they were +content to love God; and, captured by their simple unquestioning +faith, which he felt to be the only spiritual +value in this world, he was glad to turn away from both +Sadducees and Pharisees and mix with them. Sometimes, +and to his great regret, he brought about involuntarily +the very religious disputations that it was his object to +quit for ever when he withdrew himself from the society +of the Pharisees. A chance word was enough to set some +of them by the ears, asking each other whether the soul +may or can descend again into the corruptible body; and +it was one day when this question was being disputed +that a disputant, pressing forward, announced his belief +that the soul, being alone immortal, does not attempt to +regain the temple of the body. A doctrine which astonished +Joseph, so simple did it seem and so reasonable; +and as he stood wondering why he had not thought of it +himself, his eyes telling his perplexity, he was awakened +from his dream, and his awakening was caused by the +word "Essene." He asked for a meaning to be put +upon it, to the great astonishment of the people, who +were not aware that the fame of this third sect of the +Jews was not yet spread into Galilee. There were many +willing to instruct him, and almost the first thing he +learnt about them was that they were not viewed with +favour in Jerusalem, for they did not send animals to the +Temple for sacrifice, deeming blood-letting a crime. A +still more fundamental tenet of this sect was its denial +of private property: all they had, belonged to one brother +as much as to another, and they lived in various places, +avoiding cities, and setting up villages of their own +accord; notably one on the eastern bank of the Jordan, +from whence recruiting missionaries sometimes came +forth, for the Essenes disdained marriage, and relied on +proselytism for the maintenance of the order. The rule +of the Essenes, however, did not exclude marriage because +they believed the end of the world was drawing +nigh, but because they wished to exclude all pleasure +from life. To do this, to conceive the duty of man to +be a cheerful exclusion of all pleasure, seemed to Joseph +wonderful, an exaltation of the spirit that he had not +hitherto believed man to be capable of: and one night, +while thinking of these things, he fell on a resolve that +he would go to Jericho on the morrow to see for himself +if all the tales he heard about the brethren were true. +At the same time he looked forward to getting away +from the seven windy hills where the sun had not been +seen for days, only grey vapour coiling and uncoiling +and going out, and where, with a patter of rain in his +ears, he was for many days crouching up to a fire for +warmth.</p> + +<p>But in Jericho he would be as it were back in Galilee: +a pleasant winter resort, to be reached easily in a day by +a path through the hills, so plainly traced by frequent +usage that a guide was not needed. A servant he could +not bring with him, for none was permitted in the +cenoby, a different mode and colour of life prevailing +there from any he ever heard of, but he hoped to range +himself to it, and—thinking how this might be done—he +rode round the hillside, coming soon into view +of Bethany over against the desert. From thence he +proceeded by long descents into a land tossed into +numberless hills and torn up into such deep valleys that +it seemed to him to be a symbol of God's anger in a +moment of great provocation. Or maybe, he said to +himself, these valleys are the ruts of the celestial chariot +that passed this way to take Elijah up to heaven? Or +maybe ... His mind was wandering, and—forgetful +of the subject of his meditation—he looked round and +could see little else but strange shapes of cliffs and +boulders, rocks and lofty scarps enwrapped in mist +so thick that he fell to thinking whence came the +fume? For rocks are breathless, he said, and there are +only rocks here, only rocks and patches of earth in which +the peasants sow patches of barley. At that moment his +mule slid in the slime of the path to within a few inches +of a precipice, and Joseph uttered a cry before the gulf +which startled a few rain-drenched crows that went away +cawing, making the silence more melancholy than before. +A few more inches, Joseph thought, and we should have +been over, though a mule has never been known to walk +or to slide over a precipice. A moment after, his mule +was climbing up a heap of rubble; and when they were at +the top Joseph looked over the misted gulf, thinking that +if the animal had crossed his legs mule and rider would both +be at the bottom of a ravine by now. And the crows that +my cry startled, he said, would soon return, scenting blood. +He rode on, thinking of the three crows, and when he +returned to himself the mule was about to pass under a +projecting rock, regardless, he thought, of the man on his +back, but the sagacious animal had taken his rider's height +into his consideration, so it seemed, for at least three inches +were to spare between Joseph's head and the rock. Nor +did the mule's sagacity end here; for finding no trace of +the path on the other side he started to climb the steep +hill as a goat might, frightening Joseph into a tug or two +at the bridle, to which the mule gave no heed but +continued the ascent with conviction and after a little +circuit among intricate rocks turned down the hill again +and slid into the path almost on his haunches. A +wonderful animal truly! Joseph said, marvelling greatly; +he guessed that the path lay under the mass of rubble +come down in some landslip. He knew he would meet +it farther on: he may have been this way before. A +wonderful animal all the same, a perfect animal, if he +could be persuaded not to walk within ten inches of the +brink! and Joseph drew the mule away to the right, +under the hillside, but a few minutes after, divining that +his rider's thoughts were lost in those strange argumentations +common to human beings, the mule returned to the +brink, out of reach of any projecting rocks. He was +happily content to follow the twisting road, giving no +faintest attention to the humped hills always falling into +steep valleys and always rising out of steep valleys, as +round and humped as the hills that were left behind. +Joseph noticed the hills, but the mule did not: he only +knew the beginning and the end of his journey, whereas +Joseph began very soon to be concerned to learn how far +they were come, and as there was nobody about who could +tell him he reined up his mule, which began to seek +herbage—a dandelion, an anemone, a tuft of wild +rosemary—while his rider meditated on the whereabouts +of the inn. The road, he said, winds round the highest +of these hills, reaching at last a tableland half-way +between Jerusalem and Jericho, and on the top of it is +the inn. We shall see it as soon as yon cloud lifts.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. VI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A few wanderers loitered about the inn: they came +from Mount Sinai, so the innkeeper said; he mentioned +that they had a camel and an ass in the paddock; and +Joseph was surprised by the harshness with which the +innkeeper rushed from him and told the wanderers that +they waited in vain.</p> + +<p>They were strange and fierce, remote like the desert, +whence they had come; and he was afraid of them like the +innkeeper, but began to pity them when he heard that they +had not tasted food for a fortnight, only a little camel's +milk. They're waiting for me to give them the rinsings, +the innkeeper said, if any should remain at the bottom of +the barrel: you see, all water has to be brought to the inn +in an ox-cart. There's no well on the hills and we sell +water to those who can afford to pay for it. Then let +the man drink his fill, Joseph answered, and his wife too. +And his eyes examined the woman curiously, for he never +saw so mean a thing before: her small beady eyes were +like a rat's, and her skin was nearly as brown. Twenty +years of desert wandering leave them like mummies, he +reflected; and the child, whom the mother enjoined to +come forward and to speak winningly to the rich man, +though in her early teens was as lean and brown and ugly +as her mother. Marauders they sometimes were, but now +they seemed so poor that Joseph thought he could never +have seen poverty before, and took pleasure in distributing +figs amongst them. Let them not see your money when +you pay me, the innkeeper said, for half a shekel they would +have my life, and many's the time they'd have had it if +Pilate, our governor, had not sent me a guard. The twain +spoke of the new procurator till Joseph mounted his +mule. I'll see that none of them follow you, the innkeeper +whispered; and Joseph rode away down the lower +hills, alongside of precipices and through narrow defiles, +following the path, which debouched at last on to a +shallow valley full of loose stones and rocks. I suppose +the mule knows best, Joseph said, and he held the bridle +loosely and watched the rain, regretting that the downpour +should have begun in so exposed a place, but so +convinced did the animal seem that the conduct of the +journey should be left entirely to his judgment that it +was vain to ask him to hasten his pace, and he continued +to clamber down loose heaps of stones, seeking every +byway unnecessarily, Joseph could not help thinking, +but bringing his rider and himself safely, he was forced +to admit, at the foot of the hills over against Jericho. +Another toiling ascent was begun, and Joseph felt +a trickle of rain down his spine, while the mule seemed +to debate with himself whether shelter was to be +sought, and spying a rock a little way up the hillside he +trotted straight to it and entered the cave—the rock +projected so far beyond a hill that it might be called a +cave, and better shelter from the rain they could not have +found. A wonderful animal, thou'rt surely, knowing +everything, Joseph said, and the mule shook the rain out +of his long ears, and Joseph stood at the mouth of the +cave, watching the rain falling and gathering into pools +among the rocks, wondering the while if this land was +cast away into desert by the power of the Almighty +God because of the worship of the Golden Calf; and then +remembering that it was cast into desert for the sins of the +cities of the plain, he said: how could I have thought else? +As soon as this rain ceases we will go up the defile and +at the end of it the lake will lie before us deep down +under the Moab mountains. He remembered too that he +would have to reach to the cenoby before the day was +over, or else sleep in Jericho.</p> + +<p>The sky seemed to be brightening: at that moment +he heard footsteps. He was unarmed and the hills were +infested by robbers. The steps continued to approach....</p> + +<p>His hope was that the man might be some innocent +shepherd in search of a lost ewe: if he were a robber, +that he might pass on, unsuspicious of a traveller seeking +shelter from the rain in a cave a little way up the hillside. +The man came into view of the cave and stood +for some time in front of it, his back turned to Joseph, +looking round the sky, and then, like one who has lost +hope in the weather, he hastened on his way. As soon +as he was out of sight, Joseph led out his mule, clambered +into the saddle, and digging his heels into the mule's +sides, galloped the best part of a mile till he reached the +Roman fort overlooking the valley. If a robber was to +emerge, a Roman soldier would speedily come to his +assistance; but behind him and the fort were some excellent +lurking-places, Joseph thought, for robbers, and +again his heels went into his mule. But this time, as +if he knew that haste was no longer necessary, the mule +hitched up his back and jangled his bells so loudly that +again Joseph's heart stood still. He was within sight of +Jericho, but half-way down the descent a group of men +were waiting, as if for travellers. His best chance was +to consider them as harmless passengers, so he rode on, +and the beggars—for they were no more—held up maimed +leprous limbs to excite his pity.</p> + +<p>He was now within two miles of Jericho, and he rode +across the sandy plain, thinking of the Essenes and the +cenoby on the other side of Jordan. He rode in full +meditation, and it was not till he was nigh the town of +Jericho that he attempted to think by which ford he +should cross Jordan: whether by ferry, in which case he +must leave his mule in Jericho; or by a ford higher up +the stream, if there was a ford practicable at this season; +which is doubtful, he said to himself, as he came within +view of the swollen river. And he hearkened to one +who declared the river to be dangerous to man and beast: +but another told him differently, and being eager to +reach the cenoby he determined to test the ford.</p> + +<p>If the water proved too strong he would return to +Jericho, but the mule plunged forward, and at one +moment it was as like as not that the flood would carry +them away into the lake beyond, but Joseph's weight +enabled the animal to keep on his hooves, and the water +shallowing suddenly, the mule reached the opposite bank. +It was my weight that saved us, Joseph said; and dismounting, +he waited for the panting animal to recover +breath. We only just did it. The way to the cenoby? +he called out to a passenger along the bank, and was +told he must hasten, for the Essenes did not receive +anybody after sunset: which may or may not be true, +he muttered, as he pursued his way, his eyes attracted +and amused by the long shadow that himself and his +mule projected over the wintry earth. He was tempted +to tickle the animal's long ears with a view to altering +the silhouette, and then his thoughts ran on into the +cenoby and what might befall him yonder; for that must +be it, he said, looking forward and discovering a small +village on the lower slopes of the hills, on the ground +shelving down towards the river.</p> + +<p>His mule, scenting food and rest, began to trot, though +very tired, and half-an-hour afterwards Joseph rode into +a collection of huts, grouped—but without design—round +a central building which he judged to be an assembly hall +whither the curators, of whom he had heard, met for the +transaction of the business of the community. And no +doubt, he said, it serves for a refectory, for the midday +meal which gathers all the brethren for the breaking of +bread. As he was thinking of these things, one of the +brethren laid hands on the bridle and asked him whom +he might be wishing to see; to which question Joseph +answered: the Head. The brother replied: so be it; and +tethered the mule to a post at the corner of the central +hut, begging Joseph to enter and seat himself on one of +the benches, of which there were many, and a table long +enough to seat some fifty or sixty.</p> + +<p>He recognised the place he was in as the refectory, +where the rite of the breaking of bread was accomplished. +To-morrow I shall witness it, he said, and felt like dancing +and singing in his childish eagerness. But the severity +of the hall soon quieted his mood, and he remembered +he must collect his thoughts and prepare his story for +recital, for he would be asked to give an account of +himself. As he was preparing his story, the president +entered: a tall man of bulk, with the pallor of age in +his face and in the hand that lifted the black taffeta cap +from his head. The courteousness of the greeting did +more than to put Joseph at his ease, as the saying is. +In a few moments he was confiding himself to this man +of kindly dignity, whose voice was low, who seemed to +speak always from the heart, and it was wholly delightful +to tell the great Essene that he was come from Galilee to +attend the Feast of the Passover in his father's place, and +that after having allied himself in turn to the Sadducees +and the Pharisees he came to hear of the Essenes: I +have come thither, hoping to find the truth here. You +have truthful eyes, said the president; and, thus encouraged, +Joseph told that there were some in the Temple, +the poor who worship God daily with a whole heart. It +was from them, he said, that I heard of your doctrines. +Of which you can have obtained only the merest outline, +the president answered; and perhaps when you know +us better our rule may seem too hard for you to follow, +or it may be that you will feel that you are called to +worship God differently from us. But it matters naught +how we worship, if our worship come from the heart.</p> + +<p>The word "heart" startled Joseph out of himself, and +his eyes falling at that moment on the Essene he was +moved to these words: Father, I could never disobey +thee. Let me stay, put me to the tests. But the tests +are long, the president answered; we would not suffer +you to return to Jericho to-night, even if you wished it. +Your mule is tired and would be swept away by the +descending flood. You will remain with us for to-night +and for as long after it as pleases you—to the end of +your probationship and after, if you prove yourself worthy +of admission. Meanwhile you will be given a girdle, a +white garment and a little axe. You will sleep in one +of the outlying huts. Come with me and I will take +you round our village. We shall meet on our way some +of the brothers returning from their daily tasks, for we +all have a craft: many of us are husbandmen; the two +coming towards us carrying spades are from the fields, +and that one turning down the lane is a shepherd; he +has just folded his flock, but he will return to them with +his dogs, for we suffer a great deal from the ravages of +wild beasts with which the woods are thronged, wolves +especially. In our community there are healers, and +these study the medicinal properties of herbs. If you +resolve to remain with us, you will choose a craft.</p> + +<p>Joseph mentioned that the only craft he knew was dry-salting, +and it was disappointing to hear that there were +no fish in the lake.</p> + +<p>There is a long time of probationship before one is +admitted, the president continued, and when that is +concluded another long time must pass over before the +proselyte is called to join us at the common repasts. +Before he breaks bread with us he must bind himself by +oath to be always pious towards the Divinity, to observe +justice towards men, and to injure no one voluntarily or +by command: to hate always the unjust and never to +shrink from taking part in the conflict on the side of the +just; to show fidelity to all and especially to those who rule. +Thou'lt soon begin to understand that rule doesn't fall to +anyone except by the will of God. I have never deserved +to rule, but headship came to me, he added half sadly, as +if he feared he had not been sufficiently exacting. After +asking Joseph whether he felt himself strong enough to +obey so severe a rule, he passed from father to teacher. +Every one of us must love truth and make it his purpose +to confute those who speak falsehood; to keep his hands +from stealing and his soul from unjust gain. He must +never conceal anything from a member of the order, nor +reveal its secrets to others, even if he should have to +suffer death by withholding them; and above all, while +trying to engage proselytes he must speak the doctrines +only as he has heard them from us. Thou'lt return +perhaps to Jerusalem....</p> + +<p>He broke off to speak to the brothers who were passing +into the village from their daily work, and presented +Joseph as one who, shocked by the service of the +Sadducees in the Temple, had come desiring admission +to their order. At the news of a new adherent, the +faces of the brothers became joyous; for though the rule +seems hard when related, they said, in practice, even at +first, it seems light enough, and soon we do not feel it +at all.</p> + +<p>They were now on the outskirts of the village, and +pointing to a cabin the Essene told Joseph that he would +sleep there and enter on the morrow upon his probationship. +But, Father, may I not hear more? If a brother +be found guilty of sin, will he be cast out of the +order? The president answered that if one having been +admitted to their community committed sins deserving +of death, he was cast out and often perished by a most +wretched fate, for being bound by oath and customs he +could not even receive food from others but must eat +grass, and with his body worn by famine he perishes. +Unless, the president added, we have pity on him at the +last breath and think he has suffered sufficiently for his sins.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. VII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The hut that Joseph was bidden to enter was the last +left in the cenoby for allotment, four proselytes having +arrived last month.</p> + +<p>No better commodity have we for the moment, the +curator said, struck by the precarious shelter the hut +offered—a crazy door and a roof that let the starlight +through at one end of the wall. But the rains are over, +he added, and the coverlet is a warm one. On this he left +Joseph, whom the bell would call to orison, too tired to +sleep, turning vaguely from side to side, trying to hush the +thoughts that hurtled through his clear brain—that stars +endure for ever, but the life of the palm-tree was as the +life of the man who fed on its fruit. The tree lived one +hundred years, and among the Essenes a centenarian was +no rare thing, but of what value to live a hundred years +in the monotonous life of the cenoby? And in his +imagination, heightened by insomnia, the Essenes seemed +to him like the sleeping trees. If he remained he would +become like them, while his father lived alone in Galilee! +Dan rose up before him and he could find no sense in the +assurances he had given the president that he wished to +be admitted into the order. He seemed no longer to +desire admission, and if he did desire it he could not, +for his father's sake, accept the admission. Then why had +he talked as he had done to the president? He could +not tell: and it must have been while lying on his right +side, trying to understand himself, what he was and why +he was in the cenoby, that he fell into that deep and +dreamless sleep from which he was awakened by a bell, +and so suddenly that it seemed to him that he had not +been asleep more than a few minutes. It was no doubt +the bell for morning prayer: and only half awake he +repaired with the other proselytes to the part of the +village open to the sunrise.</p> + +<p>All the Essenes were assembled there, and he learnt +that they looked upon this prayer of thanksgiving for the +return of light as the important event of the day. He +joined in it, though he suspected a certain idolatry in the +prayer. It seemed to him that the Essenes were praying +for the sun to rise; but to do this would be to worship +the sun in some measure, and to look upon the sun as in +some degree a God, he feared; but the Essenes were +certainly very pious Jews. What else they were, time +would reveal to him: a few days would be enough; and +long before the prayer was finished he was thinking of +his father in Galilee and what his face would tell, were +he to see his son bowing before the sun. But the +Essenes were not really worshipping the sun but praying +to God that the sun might rise and give them light +again to continue their daily work. One whole day at +least he must spend in the cenoby, and—feeling that he +was becoming interested again in the Essenes—he began +to form a plan to stay some time with them.</p> + +<p>On rising from his knees, he thought he might stay for +some weeks. But if the Essene brotherhood succeeded +in persuading him that his fate was to abandon his father +and the trade that awaited him in Galilee and the wife +who awaited him somewhere? His father often said: +Joseph, you are the last of our race. I hope to see +with you a good wife who will bear you children, for I +should like to bless my grandchildren before I die. The +Essenes would at least free him from the necessity of +telling his father that there was no heart in him for a +wife; and if he did not take a wife, he might become—— One +of the curators whispered to him the use he should +make of the little axe, and he followed the other +proselytes; and having found a place where the earth +was soft, each dug a hole about a foot deep, into +which they eased themselves, afterwards filling up the +hole with the earth that had been taken out. Joseph +then went down with them to a source for purifications, +and these being finished the proselytes grouped +themselves round Joseph, anxious to become acquainted +with the last recruit, and asking all together what provision +of food he had made for himself for that day: if +he had made none, he would have to go without food, +for only those who were admitted into the order were +suffered to the common repasts. A serious announcement, +he said, to make to a man at break of day who knew +nothing of these things yesterday, and he asked how his +omission might be repaired. He must ask for permission +to go to Jericho to buy food. As he was going there on +a mule, he might bring back food not only for himself but +for all of them: enough lentils to last a week; and he +inquired what else they were permitted to eat—if eggs +were forbidden? At which the proselytes clapped their +hands. A basket of eggs! A basket of eggs! And +some honey! cried another. Figs! cried a third; we +haven't tasted any for a month. But my mule's back +will not bear all that you require, Joseph answered. +Our mule! cried the proselytes; all property is held in +common. Even the fact of my mule having become +common property, Joseph said, will not enable him to carry +more than his customary burden, and the goods will embarrass +me. If the mule belongs to the community, then +I am the mule driver, the provider of the community. +Constituted such by thy knowledge of the aptitudes and +temper and strength of the animal! cried a proselyte +after him, and he went away to seek out one of the +curators; for it is not permissible for an Essene to go to +Jericho without having gotten permission. Of course the +permission was at once granted, and while saddling his +mule for the journey the memory of the river overnight +now caused Joseph to hesitate and to think that he might +find himself return empty-handed to the plump of +proselytes now waiting to see him start.</p> + +<p>But if thou crossed the river yesterday, there is no reason +why thou shouldn't cross it in safety now, cried one. But +forget not the basket of eggs, said a second. Nor the +honey, mentioned a third, and a fourth called after him +the quality of lentils he enjoyed. The mind of the fifth +regarding food was not expressed, for a curator came +by and reproved them, saying they were mere belly-worshippers.</p> + +<p>There will be less water in the river than there was +overnight, the curator said, and Joseph hoped he was +right, for it would be a harsh and disagreeable death to +drown in a lake so salt that fish could not live in it. True, +one would escape being eaten by fishes; but if the mule +be carried away, he said to himself, drown I shall, long +before I reach the lake, unless indeed I strike out and +swim—which, it seemed to him, might be the best way to +save his life—and if there be no current in the lake I can +gain the shore easily. But the first sight of the river +proved the vanity of his foreboding, for during the night +it had emptied a great part of its flood into the lake. The +struggle in getting his mule across was slight; still slighter +when he returned with a sack of lentils, a basket of eggs, +some pounds of honey and many misgivings as to whether +he should announce this last commodity to the curator or +introduce it surreptitiously. To begin his probationship +with a surreptitious act would disgrace him in the eyes +of the prior, whose good opinion he valued above all. So +did his thoughts run on till he came within sight of a +curator, who told him that sometimes, on the first day +of probationship, honey and figs were allowed.</p> + +<p>The cooking of the food and the eating of it in the only +cabin in which there were conveniences for eating helped +the time away, and Joseph began to ask himself how long +his cloistral life was going to endure, for he seemed to +have lost all desire to leave it, and had begun to turn the +different crafts over in his mind and to debate which he +should choose to put his hand to. Of husbandry he was +as ignorant as a crow, nor could he tell poisonous pastures +from wholesome, nor could he help in the bakery. At +first venture there seemed to be no craft for him to +follow, since fish did not thrive in the Salt Lake and the +fisherman's art could not be practised, he was told, in the +Jordan, for the Essenes were not permitted to kill any +living thing.</p> + +<p>While laying emphasis on this rule, the curator cracked +a flea under his robe, but Joseph did not call his attention +to his disobedience, but bowed his head and left him to +the scruple of conscience which he hoped would awaken +in him later.</p> + +<p>Before this had time to come to pass, the curator called +after him and suggested that he might teach Hebrew to +the four proselytes, whose knowledge of that language +had seemed to Mathias, their instructor, disgracefully +weak. They were all from Alexandria, like their teacher, +and read the Scriptures in Greek; but the Essenes, so +said the curator, must read the Scriptures in Hebrew; +and the teaching of Hebrew, Mathias said to Joseph, +takes me away from my important work, but it may amuse +you to teach them. Our father may accept you as a +sufficient teacher: go to him for examination.</p> + +<p>A little talk and a few passages read from the Scriptures +satisfied the president that Joseph was the assistant +teacher that had been so long desired in the community, +and he spoke to Joseph soothingly of Mathias, whose life +work was the true interpretation of the Scriptures. But +did the Scriptures need interpretation? Joseph asked +himself, not daring to put questions to the president; and +on an early occasion he asked Mathias what the president +meant when he spoke of a true interpretation of the +Scriptures, and was told that the true meaning of the +Scriptures lay below the literal meaning. There can be +no doubt, he said, that the Scriptures must be regarded as +allegories; and he explained to Joseph that he devoted +all his intellect to discovering and explaining these allegories, +a task demanding extraordinary assiduity, for they +lay concealed in what seemed to the vulgar eye mere +statements of fact: as if, he added scornfully, God chose +the prophets for no better end than a mere relation of +facts! He was willing, however, to concede that his +manner of treating the Scriptures was not approved by +the entire community, but in view of his learning, the +proselytes were admitted to his lectures—one of the innovations +of the prior, who, in spite of all, remained one +of his supporters.</p> + +<p>To the end of his life Joseph kept in his memory the +moment when he sat in the corner of the hall, his eyes +fixed upon Mathias's young and beautiful profile, clear +cut, hard and decisive as the profiles of the young gods +that decorated the Greek coins which shocked him in +Cæsarea. His memory of Mathias was as partial; but he +knew the president's full face, and while pondering on +it he remembered that he had never seen him in +profile. Nor was this all that set the two men apart in +Joseph's consciousness. The prior's simple and homely +language came from the heart, entered the heart and was +remembered, whereas Mathias spoke from his brain. The +heart is simple and always the same, but the brain is +complex and various; and therefore it was natural that +Mathias should hold, as if in fee, a great store of verbal +felicities, and that he should translate all shades of thought +at once into words.</p> + +<p>His mind moved in a rich, erudite and complex syntax +that turned all opposition into admiration. Even the +president, who had been listening to theology all his life +and had much business to attend to, must fain neglect +some of it for the pleasure of listening to Mathias when +he lectured. Even Saddoc, the most orthodox Jew in the +cenoby, Mathias could keep as it were chained to his seat. +He resented and spurned the allegory, but the beautiful +voice that brought out sentence after sentence, like silk +from off a spool, enticed his thoughts away from it. The +language used in the cenoby was Aramaic, and never did +Joseph hear that language spoken so beautifully. It +seemed to him that he was listening to a new language +and on leaving the hall he told Mathias that it had +seemed to him that he was listening to Aramaic for the +first time. Mathias answered him—blushing a little, +Joseph thought—that he hoped one of these days, in +Egypt perhaps, if Joseph ever went there, to lecture to +him in Greek. He liked Aramaic for other purposes, but +for philosophy there was but one language. But you +speak Greek and are now teaching Greek, so let us speak +it when we are together, Mathias said, and if I detect any +incorrectness I will warn you against it.</p> + +<p>That Mathias should choose to speak to him in Greek +was flattering indeed, and Joseph, who had not spoken +Greek for many months, began to prattle, but he had +not said many words before Mathias interrupted him +and said: you must have learnt Greek very young. This +remark turned the talk on to Azariah; and Mathias +listened to Joseph's account of his tutor carelessly, +interrupting him when he had heard enough with a +remark anent the advancement of the spring, to which +Joseph did not know how to reply, so suddenly had his +thoughts been jerked away from the subject he was +pursuing. You have the full Jewish mind, Mathias +continued; interested in moral ideas rather than beauty: +without eyes for the village. True that you see it in +winter plight, but in the near season all the fields will be +verdant and the lintels running over with flowers. He +waited for Joseph to defend himself, but Joseph did not +know for certain that Mathias was not right—perhaps +he was more interested in moral ideas than in beauty. +However this might be, he began to experience an +aversion, and might have taken leave of Mathias if they +had not come upon the president. He stopped to speak +to them; and having congratulated Mathias on having +fortuned at last on an efficient teacher of Hebrew and +Greek, and addressed a few kindly words directly to +Joseph and taken his hand in his, the head of the community +bade them both good-bye, saying that important +business needed his presence. He sped away on his +business, but he seemed to leave something of himself +behind, and even Mathias was perforce distracted from +his search of a philosophic point of view and indulged +himself in the luxury of a simple remark. His goodness, +he said, is so natural, like the air we breathe and the +bread we eat, and that is why we all love him, and why +all dissension vanishes at the approach of our president; +a remarkable man.</p> + +<p>The most wonderful I have ever seen, Joseph answered: +a remark that did not altogether please Mathias, for he +added: his power is in himself, for he is altogether +without philosophy.</p> + +<p>Joseph was moved to ask Mathias if the charm that +himself experienced was not an entire absence of philosophy. +But he did not dare to rouse Mathias, whom he +feared, and his curiosity overcame his sense of loyalty +to the president. If he were to take his leave abruptly, +he would have to return alone to the village to seek the +four proselytes, but their companionship did not attract +him, and he found himself at that moment unable +to deny himself the pleasure of the sweet refreshing +evening air, which as they approached the river seemed +to grow sweeter. The river itself was more attractive +than he had yet seen it, and there was that sadness +upon it which we notice when a rainy day passes +into a fine evening. The clouds were rolling on like a +battle—pennants flying in splendid array, leaving the last +row of hills outlined against a clear space of sky; and, +with his eyes fixed on the cliffs over against the coasts +of the lake, Mathias let his thoughts run after his favourite +abstractions: the relation of God to time and place. +As he dreamed his metaphysics, he answered Joseph's +questions from time to time, manifesting, however, so +little interest in them that at last Joseph felt he could +bear it no longer, and resolved to leave him. But just +as he was about to bid him good-bye, Mathias said that +the Essenes were pious Jews who were content with mere +piety, but mere piety was not enough: God had given +to man a mind, and therefore desired man to meditate, +not on his own nature—which was trivial and passing—but +on God's nature, which was important and eternal.</p> + +<p>This remark revealed a new scope for inquiry to Joseph, +who was interested in the Essenes; but his search was +for miracles and prophets rather than ideas, and if he +tarried among the Essenes it was because he had come +upon two great men. He fell to considering the question +afresh, and—forgetful of Mathias's admonitions that the +business of man is to meditate on the nature of God—he +said: the Essenes perform no miracles and do not prophesy;—an +interruption to Mathias's loquacity which the other +took with a better grace than Joseph had expected—for no +one ever dared before to interrupt Mathias. Joseph had +done so accidentally and expected a very fine reproof, but +Mathias checked his indignation and told Joseph that +Manahem, an Essene, had foreknowledge of future events +given to him by God: for when he was a child and going to +school, Manahem saw Herod and saluted him as king of +the Jews; and Herod, thinking the boy was in jest or did +not know him, told him he was but a private citizen; +whereat Manahem smiled to himself, and clapping Herod +on the backside with his hand said: thou wilt be king +and wilt begin thy reign happily, for God finds thee +worthy. And then, as if enough was said on this subject, +Mathias began to diverge from it, mixing up the story +with many admonitions and philosophical reflections, +very wise and salutary, but not what Joseph cared to +hear at that moment. He was in no wise interested at +that moment to hear that he had done well in testing +all the different sects of the Jews, and though the Essenes +were certainly the most learned, they did not possess +the whole truth. With a determination that was impossible +to oppose, Mathias said: the whole truth is not +to be found, even among the Essenes, and, my good +friend, I would not encourage in you a hope that you +may be permitted ever during your mortal life to discover +the whole truth. It exists not in any created thing: +but glimpses of the light are often detected, now here, +now there, shining through a clouded vase. But the +simile, he added, of the clouded vase gives rise to the +thought that the light resides within the vase: the very +contrary of which is the case. For there is no light in +the vase itself: the light shines from beyond the skies, +and I should therefore have compared man to a crystal +itself that catches the light so well that it seems to our +eyes to be the source of light, which is not true in principle +or in fact, for in the darkness a crystal is as dark +as any other stone. In such part do I explain the meaning +that the wicked man, having no divine irradiation, +is without instruction of God and knowledge of God's +creations; he is as a fugitive from the divine company, +and cannot do else than hold that everything is created +from the world to be again dissolved into the world. +And being no better than a follower of Heraclitus—But +who is Heraclitus? Joseph asked.</p> + +<p>A clouded face was turned upon Joseph, and for some +moments the sage could not collect his thoughts sufficiently +to answer him. Who is Heraclitus? he repeated, +and then, with a general interest in his pupil, he ran off +a concise exposition of that philosopher's doctrine—a +mistake on his part, as he was quick enough to admit +to himself; for though he reduced his statement to the +lowest limits, it awakened in Joseph an interest so +lively that he felt himself obliged to expose this philosopher's +fallacies; and in doing this he was drawn away +from his subject, which was unfortunate. The hour was +near by when the Essenes would, according to rule, retire +to their cells for meditation, and—foreseeing that +he could not rid himself of the burden which Joseph's +question imposed upon him—he abandoned Heraclitus +in a last refutation, to warn Joseph that he must not +resume his questions.</p> + +<p>But if I do not ask at once, my chance is gone for +ever; for your discourse is like the clouds, always taking +new shapes, Joseph pleaded. In dread lest all be +forgotten, I repeat to myself what you have said, and +so lose a great deal for a certain remembrance.</p> + +<p>Joseph's manifest delight in his statement of the +doctrines of Heraclitus, and his subsequent refutation of +the heathen philosopher caused Mathias to forget temporarily +certain ideas that he had been fostering for +some days—that God, being the designer and maker of +all things, and their governor, is likewise the creator of +time itself, for he is the father of its father, and the +father of time is the world, which made its own mother—the +creation. So that time stands towards God in the +relation of a grandson; for this world is a young son of +God. On these things the sage's thoughts had been +running for some days past, and he would have liked to +have expounded his theory to Joseph: that nothing is +future to God: creations and the very boundaries of time +are subject.</p> + +<p>He said much more, but Joseph did not hear. He was +too busy memorising what he had already heard, and +during long hours he strove to come to terms with what +he remembered, but in vain. The more he thought, +the less clear did it seem to him that in eternity there +is neither past nor future, that in eternity everything is +present. Mathias's very words; but when he said them, +there seemed to be something behind the words; while +listening, it seemed to Joseph that sight had been +given to him, but his eyes proved too weak to bear +the too great illumination, and he had been obliged to +cover them with his hands, shutting out a great deal so +that he might see just a little ... as it were between +his fingers. As we think of God only under the form +of light, it seemed to him that the revelation entered +into him by his eyes rather than by his ears. He +would return to the sage every day, but what if he were +not able to remember, if it were all to end in words +with nothing behind the words? The sage said that in +a little while the discourses would not seem so elusive +and evanescent. At present they seemed to Joseph +like the mist on the edge of a stream, and he strove +against the belief that a philosopher is like a man who +sets out to walk after the clouds.</p> + +<p>Such a belief being detestable, he resolved to rid +himself of it, and Mathias would help him, he was sure, +and in this hope he confided his life to him, going back +to the night when Samuel appeared to him, and recounting +his father's business and character, introducing +the different tutors that were chosen for him, and his +own choice of Azariah, to whom he owed his knowledge +of Greek. To all of which the philosopher listened +complacently enough, merely asking if Azariah shared the +belief prevalent in Galilee that the world was drawing +to a close. On hearing that he did, he seemed to lose +interest in Joseph's story of Azariah's relations to his +neighbours, nor did he seem unduly afflicted at hearing +that only the most orthodox views were acceptable in +Galilee. His indifference was disheartening, but being +now deep in his biography, Joseph related perforce the +years he spent doing his father's business in northern +Syria, hoping as he told his story to awaken the sage's +interest in his visit to Jerusalem. The Sadducees did +not believe that Jahveh had resolved to end the world and +might be expected to appear in his chariot surrounded by +angels blowing trumpets, bidding the dead to rise. But +the Pharisees did believe in the resurrection—unfortunately +including that of the corruptible body, which +seemed to present many difficulties. He was about to +enter on an examination of these difficulties, but the +philosopher moved them aside contemptuously, and +Joseph understood that he could not demean himself to +the point of discussing the fallacies of the Pharisees, who, +Joseph said, hope to stem the just anger of God on the +last day by minute observances of the Sabbath. Mathias +raised his eyes, and it was a revulsion of feeling, Joseph +continued, against hypocrisy and fornication, that put me +astride my mule as soon as I heard of the Essenes, the +most enlightened sect of the Jews in Palestine. That +you should be among them is testimony of their enlightenment.... +Mathias raised his hand, and Joseph's +face dropped into an expression of attention. Mathias +was willing to accede that much, but certain circumlocutions +in his language led Joseph to suspect that Mathias +was not altogether satisfied with the Essenes. He +seemed to think that they were too prone to place mere +piety above philosophy: a mistake; for our intellect +being the highest gift we have received from God, it +follows that we shall please him best by using it assiduously. +He spoke about the prayers before sunrise and +asked Joseph if they did not seem to him somewhat +trite and trivial and if he did not think that the moment +would be more profitably spent by instituting a comparison +between the light of the intellect and that of the sun?</p> + +<p>Mathias turned to Joseph, and waited for him to confess +his perplexities. But it was hard to confess to Mathias +that philosophy was useless if the day of judgment were +at hand! He dared not speak against philosophy and it +was a long time before Mathias guessed his trouble, but +as soon as it dawned on him that Joseph was in doubt as +to the utility of philosophy, his face assumed so stern +an expression that Joseph began to feel that Mathias +looked upon him as a fool. It may have been that +Joseph's consternation, so apparent on his face, restored +Mathias into a kindly humour. Be that as it may, +Mathias pointed out, and with less contempt than Joseph +expected, that the day of judgment and philosophy had +nothing in common. We should never cease to seek +after wisdom, he said. Joseph concurred. It was not, +however, pleasing to Joseph to hear prophecy spoken +of as the outpourings of madmen, but—having in mind +the contemptuous glance that would fall upon him if +he dared to put prophecy above philosophy—he held +his peace, venturing only to remark that no prophets +were found in Judea for some hundreds of years. +Except Manahem, he added hurriedly. But his remembrance +of Manahem did not appease the philosopher, +who dropped his eyes on Joseph and fixed them +on him. The moment was one of agony for Joseph. And +as if he remembered suddenly that Joseph was only just +come into the district of the Jordan, Mathias told with +some ironical laughter that the neighbourhood was full of +prophets, as ignorant and as ugly as hyenas. They live, +he said, in the caves along the western coasts of the Salt +Lake, growling and snarling over the world, which they +seem to think rotten and ready for them to devour. Or +else they issue forth and entice the ignorant multitude +into the Jordan, so that they may the more easily plunge +them under the flood. But of what use to speak of these +crazed folk, when there are so many subjects of which +philosophy may gracefully treat?</p> + +<p>Prophets in caves about the Salt Lake! Joseph muttered; +and a great desire awakened in him to see them. But +you're not going in search of these wretched men? +Mathias asked, and his eyes filled with contempt, and +Joseph felt that Mathias had already decided that all +intellectual companionship was henceforth impossible +between them. He was tempted to temporise. It was +not to discuss the resurrection that he desired to see these +men, but for curiosity; and during the long walk he +would meditate on Mathias's doctrines.... Mathias did +not answer him, and Joseph, seeing him cast away in +philosophy and unable to advise him further, went to the +president to ask for permission to absent himself for two +days from the cenoby, a permission that was granted +willingly when the object of the absence was duly +related.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. VIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>There was one John preaching in the country about +the Jordan: the Baptist, they call him, the president said. +But go, Joseph, and see the prophets for thyself. I +shall be rare glad to hear what thou hast to say! And he +pressed Joseph's hand, sending him off in good cheer. +Banu, ask for Banu! were the last words he called after +him, and Joseph hoped the ferryman would be able to +point out the way to him. Oh yes, I know the prophet; +the ferryman answered: a disciple of John, that all the +people are following. But there be a bit of a walk before +thee, and one that'll last thee till dawn, for Banu has been +that bothered by visits these times, that he has gone up the +desert out of the way, for he be preparing himself these +whiles. For what? Joseph asked. The ferryman did not +know; he told that John was not baptizing that morning, +but for why he did not know. As like as not he be waiting +for the river to lower, he said. At which Joseph had half a +mind to leave Banu for John; but a passenger was calling +the ferryman from the opposite bank and he was left +with incomplete information and wandered on in doubt +whether to return in quest of the Baptist or make the +disciple his shift.</p> + +<p>The way pointed out to him lay through the desert, +and to find Banu's cave without guidance would not be +easy, and after having found and interrogated him the +way would seem longer to return than to come. But, +having gone so far, he could not do else than attempt the +hot weary search. And it will be one! he said, as he +picked his way through the bushes and brambles that +contrive to subsist somehow in the flat sandy waste lying +at the head of the lake. But as he proceeded into the +desert these signs of life vanished, and he came upon a +region of craggy and intricate rocks rising sometimes into +hills and sometimes breaking away and littering the plain +with rubble. The desert is never completely desert +for long, and on turning westward as he was directed, +Joseph caught sight of the hill which he had been +told to look out for—he could not miss it, for the evening +sun lit up a high scarp, and on coming to the end of +a third mile the desert began to look a little less desert, +brambles began again. Banu could not be far away. +But Joseph did not dare to go farther. He had been +walking for many hours, and even if he were to meet +Banu he could not speak to him, so closely did his tongue +cleave to the sides of his mouth. But these brambles +betoken water, he said; and on coming round a certain +rock bulging uncouth from the hillside, he discovered a +trickle, and a few paces distant, Banu, ugly as a hyena and +more ridiculous than the animal, for—having no shirt to +cover his nakedness—he had tressed a garland of leaves +about his waist! Yet not so ugly at second sight as at +first, for he sees God, Joseph said to himself; and he +waited for Banu to rise from his knees.</p> + +<p>Even hither do they pursue me, Banu's eyes seemed to +say, while his fingers modestly rearranged his garland; and +Joseph, who began to dread the hermit, begged to have +the spring pointed out to him that he might drink. Banu +pointed to it, and Joseph knelt and drank, and after drinking +he was in better humour to tell Banu that Mathias, the +great philosopher from Alexandria, scorned the prophecies +that the end of the world could not be delayed much longer. +And, as John is not baptizing these days, I thought I'd +come and ask if we had better begin to prepare for the +resurrection and the judgment. On hearing Joseph's +reasons for his visit, the hermit stood with dilated +eyes, as if about to speak. But he did not speak; and +Joseph asked him what would become of the world after +God destroyed it. Before answering, Banu stooped down, +and having filled his hand with sand and gravel he said: +God will fill his hand with earth, but not this time to +make a man and woman, but out of each of his hands +will come a full nation, and these he will put into full +possession of the earth, for his chosen people will not +repent....</p> + +<p>But the ferryman told me that John gathered many +together and was baptizing in Jordan? Joseph inquired. +To which Banu answered naught, but stood looking at +Joseph, who could scarce bring himself to look at Banu, +though he felt himself to be in sore need of some +prophetic confirmation of the date of the judgment. Is +John the Messiah, come to preach that God is near and +that we must repent in time? he asked; to which the +hermit replied that the Messiah would have many fore-runners, +and one of these would give his earthly life as a +peace-offering, but enraged Jahveh would not accept it as +sufficient and would return with the Messiah and destroy +the world. I am waiting here till God bids me arise and +preach to men, and the call will be soon, Banu said, for +God's wrath is even now at its height. But do thou go +hence to John, who has been called to the Jordan, and +get baptism from him. But John is not baptizing these +days, the river being in flood, Joseph cried after him. +That flood will pass away, Banu answered, before the +great and overwhelming flood arises. Will the world +be destroyed by water? At this question Banu turned +towards the hillside, like one that deemed his last +exhortation to be enough, and who desired an undisturbed +possession of the solitude. But at the entrance of the cave +he stopped: the track is easy to lose after nightfall, he +said, and panthers will be about in search of gazelles. Thou +wouldst do well to remain with me: my cave is secure +against wild beasts. Look behind thee: how dark are +the rocks and hills! Joseph cast his eyes in the direction +of Jericho and thanked God for having put a kind +thought into the hermit's mind, for the landscape was +gloomy enough already, and an hour hence he would be +stumbling over a panther in the dark, and the sensation of +teeth clutching at his throat and of hind claws tearing out +his belly banished from his mind all thoughts of the +unpleasantness of passing a night in a narrow cave with +Banu, whom he helped to close the entrance with a big +stone and to pile up other stones about the big stone +making themselves safe, so Banu said, from everything +except perhaps a bear.</p> + +<p>The thought of the bear that might scrape aside the +stone kept Joseph awake listening to Banu snoring, and +to the jackals that barked all night long. They are +quarrelling among themselves, Banu said, turning over, +for the jackals succeeded in waking him, quarrelling +over some gazelle they've caught. A moment after, he +was asleep again, and Joseph, despite his fear of the +wild beasts, must have dozed for a little while, for he +started up, his hair on end. A bear! a bear! he cried, +without awakening Banu, and he listened to a scratching +and a sniffling round the stones with which they had +blocked the entrance to the cave. Or a panther, he said +to himself. The animal moved away, and then Joseph +lay awake hour after hour, dropping to sleep and +awakening again and again.</p> + +<p>About an hour after sunrise, Banu awakened him and +asked him to help him to roll the stones aside; which +Joseph did, and as soon as they were in the dusk he +turned out of his pockets a few crusts and some cheese +made out of ewe's milk, and offered to share the food +with his host; but Banu, pointing to a store of locusts, +put some of the insects into his mouth and told Joseph +that his vow was not to eat any other food till God called +him forth to preach; which would be, he thought, a few +days before the judgment: a view that Joseph did not +try to combat, nor did he eat his bread and cheese before +him, lest the sight of it should turn the prophet's stomach +from the locusts. It was distressing to watch him chewing +them; they were not easy to swallow, but he got +them down at last with the aid of some water obtained +from the source, and during breakfast his talk +was all the while of the day of judgment and the anger +of God, who would destroy Israel and build up another +nation that would obey him. It would be three or four +days before the judgment that God would call him out +to preach, he repeated; and Joseph was waiting to hear +how far distant were these days? A month, a year, belike +some years, for God's patience is great. He stopped +speaking suddenly, and throwing out his arms he cried +out: he has come, he has come! He whom the world +is waiting for. Baptize him! Baptize him! He whom +the world is waiting for has come.</p> + +<p>But for whom is the world waiting? Joseph asked; +and Banu answered: hasten to the Jordan, and find him +whom thou seekest.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. IX.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I shall pray that the Lord call thee out of the desert +to join thy voice with those already preaching, Joseph +cried; and the hermit answered him: let us praise the +Lord for having sent us the new prophet! But do thou +hasten to John, he called after Joseph, who ran and +walked alternately, striving up every hillock for sight of +the ferryman's boat which might well be waiting on this +side for him to step on board; Joseph being in a hurry, +it would certainly be lying under the opposite bank, the +ferryman asleep in it, and so soundly that no cries would +awaken him.</p> + +<p>But Joseph's fortune was kinder than he anticipated, +for on arriving at the Jordan he found himself +at the very spot where the ferryman had tied his boat +and—napping—awaited a passenger. So rousing him +with a great shout, Joseph leaped on board and told the +old fellow to pull his hardest; but having been pulling +across the Jordan for nigh fifty years, the ferryman was +little disposed to alter his stroke for the pleasure of the +young man, who, he remembered, had not paid him over-liberally +yester-evening; and in the mid-stream he rested +on his oars, so that he might the better discern the great +multitude gathered on yon bank. For baptism, he said; +or making ready to go home after baptism, he added; +and letting his boat drift, sat discoursing on the cold +of the water, which he said was colder than he ever +knew it before at this season of the year: remarks' that +Joseph considered well enough in themselves, but out of +his humour. So ye be craving for baptism, the ferryman +said, and looked as if he did not care a wild fig whether +Joseph got it that morning or missed it. But there +was no use arguing with the ferryman, who after a long +stare fell to his oars, but so leisurely that Joseph seized +one of them and—putting his full strength upon it—turned +the boat's head up-stream.</p> + +<p>There be no landing up-stream anywhere, so loose my +oars or I'll leave them to thee, the ferryman growled, +and we shall be twirling about stream till midday and +after. But I can row, Joseph said. Then row! and the +ferryman put the other oar into his hand. But we shall +be quicker across if thou'lt leave them to me. And as +this seemed to Joseph the truth, he fell back into his +seat, and did not get out of it till the boat touched the +bank. But he jumped too soon and fell into the mud, +causing much laughter along the bank, and not a few +ribald remarks, some saying that he needed baptism +more than those that had gotten it. But a hand was +reached out to him, and that he should ask for the +Baptist before thinking of his clothes showed the multitude +that he must be another prophet, which he denied, +calling on heaven to witness that he was not one: whereupon +he was mistaken for a great sinner, and heard that +however great his repentance it would avail him nothing, +for the Baptist was gone away with his disciple. Joseph, +thinking that he had left the Baptist's disciple in the +desert, began to argue that this could not be, and raved incontinently +at the man, bringing others round him, till he +was hemmed into a circle of ridicule. Among the multitude +many were of the same faith as Joseph himself, and +these drew him out of the circle and explained to him +that the Baptist baptized in the river for several hours, +till—unable to bear the cold any longer—he had gone +away, his teeth chattering, with Jesus the Essene.</p> + +<p>Jesus the Essene! Joseph repeated, but before he +could inquire further, men came running along the bank, +saying they had sins to repent, and on hearing that the +Baptist was gone and would not return that day, they +began to tell each other stories of the great cloud that +was seen in the east, bearing within it a chariot; and +from the chariot angels were seen descending all the +morning with flaming swords in their hands. Get thee +baptized! they shouted, and clamoured, and pushed to +and fro—a thronging gesticulating multitude of brown +faces and hooked noses, of bony shoulders and striped +shirts. Get thee baptized before sunset! everybody was +crying. And Joseph watched the veils floating from their +turbans as they fled southwards. On what errand? he +asked; in search of the Baptist or the new disciple Jesus? +Not the new disciple, was the answer he got back; for +Jesus leaves baptism to John. But why doesn't Jesus +baptize? Joseph asked, since he is a disciple of +the Baptist. If baptism be good for him, it is good +enough for another. And so the multitude seemed to +think, and were confounded till one amongst them said +that Jesus might not be endowed with the gift of baptism; +or belike have accepted baptism from John for a +purpose, it having been prophesied that the Messiah +would have a forerunner. But who, asked many voices +together, has said that Jesus is the Messiah? some maintaining +that Jesus was the lesser prophet. But this contention +was not agreeable to all, some having, for, reasons +unknown to Joseph, ranged themselves already alongside +of Jesus, believing him to be greater than John, yet not +the final prophet promised to Israel. And these came +to blows with the others, who looked upon John as the +Messiah, and Jesus as the one whom John had called to +his standard: a recruit—nothing. Skinny fists were +striving in the air and—thrusting himself between two +disputants—Joseph begged them to tell him if Jesus, +John's disciple, was from the cenoby? Yea, yea, he +heard from all sides; the shepherd of the brotherhood—that +one who follows their flocks over the hills; but +not being sure of his mission, he has gone into the desert +to wait for a sign. An Essene, but one that was seldom +in the cenoby, more often to be met on the hills with +his flocks. A shepherd? Joseph asked. Yea, and it was +among the hills that John met him, and seeing a prophet +in him spoke to him, and Jesus, seeing that another +prophet was risen up in Israel, had thrown his flute away +and gone to the president to ask for leave to preach the +baptism of repentance unto men, for the grand day is at +hand. Joseph having heard this before, heeded only +tidings of the new prophet, when a woman pressing +forward shouted: a pleasant voice to hear on the mountain-side, +said she; and another added: the hills will +seem lonely without his gait. A great slinger, cried a +third. But why did he come to John for baptism, knowing +himself to be the greater prophet? A question that +started them all wrangling again, and crying one against +the other that repentance was necessary, or else the Lord +would desert them or choose another race.</p> + +<p>These are irksome gossips, a man said to Joseph; but +come with me and I'll tell thee much about him. No +better shepherd than he ever ranged the hills. I wouldn't +have thee forget, mate, another man said, that he's gone +without leaving us his great cure for scab. True for thee, +mate, answered the first, for a great forgetfulness has +been on him this time past.... A great cure, certainly, +which he might have left us. And the twain fell to +discussing their several cures for scab. Another shepherd +came by and passed the remark that Jesus knew the +hills like one born among them. But neither could tell +whence he came, nor did they know if he brought the +cure for scab with him, or learnt it at the cenoby. +The brotherhood has secrets that it is forbidden to tell. +I be with thee on this matter, said another shepherd, +that wherever he goes, he'll be a prize to a master, for +the schooling he has been through will stand to him.</p> + +<p>The last of this chatter that came to Joseph's ears was +that Jesus could do as much with sheep as any man since +Abraham, and—satisfied with this knowledge—he took his +leave of the shepherds, certain that Jesus must have been +among the Essenes for many years before God called to +him to leave his dogs and to follow John, whom he began +to recognise as greater than himself, but whom he was +destined to supersede, as John's own disciple, Banu, +testified in the desert before Joseph's own eyes. He +remembered how Banu saw John in a vision plunging +Jesus into Jordan. Of trickery and cozenage there was +none: for the men along these banks bore witness +to the baptism that Joseph would have seen for himself +if he had started a little earlier; nor could the Jesus +who came to John for baptism be other than the young +shepherd whom Joseph had seen, at the beginning of his +novitiate, walking with the president in deep converse; +the president apparently trying to dissuade him from +some project. Joseph could not remember having +heard anyone speak so familiarly or so authoritatively to +the president, a man some twenty years older; and he +wondered at the time how a mere shepherd from the hills +could talk on an equality, as if they were friends, with the +president. The shepherd, he now heard, was an Essene, +but he lived among the hills, and Joseph remembered the +striped shirt, the sheepskin and the long stride. His +memory continued to unfold, and he recalled with singular +distinctness and pleasure the fine broad brow curving +upwards—a noble arch, he said to himself—the eyes +distant as stars and the underlying sadness in his voice +oftentimes soft and low, but with a cry in it; and he remembered +how their eyes met, and it seemed to Joseph +that he read in the shepherd's eyes a look of recognition +and amity.</p> + +<p>And now, as he walked from the Jordan to the cenoby, +he remembered how, all one night after that meeting, +dreams of a mutual destiny plagued him: how he slept +and was awakened by visions that fled from his mind as +he strove to recall them. But was this young shepherd +the one that Banu saw John baptize in the Jordan? +It cannot be else, he said to himself. But whither was +Jesus gone? Did the brethren know, and if they did +know would they tell him? It was against the rule to +put questions: only the president could tell him, and he +dared not go to the president. Yet consult somebody he +must; and a few days afterwards he got leave again to +visit Banu, whom he found lying in his cave, sick: not very +sick; though having eaten nothing for nearly two days +he begged Joseph to fetch him a little water from the +rock; which Joseph did. After having drunk a little +the hermit seemed to revive, and Joseph related how he +missed Jesus on the bank and had no tidings of him +except that he was gone into the desert to meditate. +But the desert is large, and I know not which side of +the lake he has chosen. To which Banu answered: +John is baptizing in the Jordan; get thee baptized +and repent! On which he reached out his hand to his +store of locusts, and while munching a few he added: +the Baptist is greater than Jesus, and he is still baptizing. +Get thee to Jordan! At this Joseph took offence and +returned to the cenoby with the intention of resuming +his teaching. But he was again so possessed of Jesus +that he could not keep his mind on the lesson before +him: a pupil was often forced to put a question to +him in a loud voice, and perhaps to repeat it, before +Joseph's sick reverie was sufficiently broken for him to +formulate an answer. The pain of the effort to return +to them was so apparent in his face that the pupils began +to be sorry for him and kept up a fire of questions, to save +him from the melancholy abstractions to which he lately +seemed to have become liable. The cause of his grief they +could not guess, but he was not sure they did not suspect +the cause; and so the classes in which he heretofore +took so much pleasure came to be dreaded by him. +Every moment except those in which he sat immersed in +dreams was a penance and a pain; and at last he pleaded +illness, and Mathias took his class, leaving Joseph to +wander as far as he liked from the cenoby, which had +become hateful to him.</p> + +<p>He was often met in the public gardens in Jericho, +watching the people going by, vaguely interested and +vaguely wearied by the thoughts that their different +shows called up in his mind; and he was always +painfully conscious that nothing mattered: that the great +void would never be filled up again: and that time would +not restore to him a single desire or hope. Nothing +matters, he often said to himself, as he sat drawing +patterns in the gravel with his stick. Yet he had no will +to die, only to believe he was the victim of some powerful +malign influence.</p> + +<p>One day as he sat watching the wind in the palm-trees, +it seemed to him that this influence, this demon, was +always moving behind his life, disturbing and setting +himself to destroy any project that Joseph might form. +Another day it seemed to Joseph that the demon cast a +net over him, and that—entangled in the meshes—he was +being drawn—Somebody spoke to him, and he awoke +so affrighted that the gossip could hardly keep himself from +laughing outright. If the end of the world were at hand, +let the end come to pass! he said; but he did not go to +John for baptism. He knew not why, only that he +could not rouse himself! And it was not till it came to +be rumoured in Jericho that a prophet was gone to Egypt +to learn Greek that he awoke sufficiently to ask why a +Jewish prophet needed Greek. The answer he got was that +the new doctrine required a knowledge of Greek; Greek +being a world-wide language, and the doctrine being also +world-wide. As there was but one God for all the world, +it was reasonable to suppose that every man might hope +for salvation, be he Jew or Gentile. It seemed to Joseph +that this doctrine could only emanate from the young +shepherd he had met in the cenoby, and he joined a +caravan, and for fifteen days dreamed of the meeting +that awaited him at the end of the journey—and of +the delightful instruction in Greek that he was going to +impart to Jesus. The heights of Mount Sinai turned his +thoughts backward only for a moment, and he continued +his dream of Jesus, continuing without interruption along +the shell-strewn shores of the Sea of Arabah, on and on +into the peninsula, till he stepped from the lurching +camel into the great caravanserai in Alexandria.</p> + +<p>Without exactly expecting to find Jesus waiting for him +in the street, he had dreamed of meeting him somewhere +in the city. He was sure he would recognise that lean +face, lit with brilliant eyes, in any crowd, and the thought +of getting news of Jesus in the synagogues in some +sort drowsed in his mind. As Jesus did not happen to be +waiting outside the caravanserai, Joseph sought him from +synagogue to synagogue, without getting tidings of him +but of another, for the camel-drivers at Mount Sinai had not +informed him wrongly: a young Jew had passed through +the city on his way to Athens, but as he did not correspond +to Joseph's remembrances of Jesus, Joseph did not deem +it to be worth his while to follow this Jew to Athens. He +remained in Alexandria without forming any resolutions, +seeking Jesus occasionally in the Jewish quarters; and +when they were all searched he returned to the synagogues +once more and began a fresh inquisition, but very soon +he began to see that the faces about him were overspread +with incredulous looks and smiles, especially when he +related that his friend was the young prophet discovered +by John among the hills of Judea, tending sheep.</p> + +<p>What tale is this that he tells us? the Jews asked +apart; but finding Joseph well instructed and of agreeable +presence and manner, they made much of him. If +Galilee could produce such a man as Joseph, Galilee was +going up in the world. We will receive thee and gladly, +but speak no more to us of thy shepherd prophet, and +betake thyself to our schools of philosophy, which thou'lt +enjoy, for thy Greek is excellent. But who taught thee +Greek? And while Joseph was telling of Azariah, little +smiles played about his eyes and mouth, for the incredulity +of the Alexandrian Jews had begotten incredulity in +him, and he began to see how much absurdity his adventure +made show for. The Alexandrian Jews liked him +better for submitting himself so cheerfully to their learning +and their ideas, and he became a conspicuous and +interesting person, without knowledge that he was becoming +one. Nor was it till having moulded himself, +or been moulded, into a new shape that he began to +think that he might have done better if he had left the +moulding to God. His conscience told him this and +reminded him how he vowed himself to Jesus, whom +Banu saw in a vision. All the same he remained, +not unnaturally, a young man enticed by the charm of +the Greek language, and the science of the Alexandrian +philosophers, who were every one possessed of Mathias's +skill in dialectics. They all knew Mathias and were imbued +with much respect for him as a teacher, and were +willing to instruct Joseph in psychology, taking up the +lesson where Mathias closed the book. So, putting +his conscience behind him, Joseph listened, his ears +wide open and his mind alert to understand that it +was a child's story—the report in Jerusalem that the +end of the world was approaching, and that God would +remould it afresh—as if God were human like ourselves, +animated with like business and desires! He heard for +the first time that to arrive at any clear notion of divinity +we must begin by stripping divinity of all human attributes, +and when every one is sloughed, what remains? +Divinity, Joseph answered; and his instructor bowed his +head, saying: here is no matter for reflection.</p> + +<p>The philosophers were surprised to learn that in +Jerusalem many still retained the belief that God was no +more than a man of colossal stature, angry, revengeful, and +desirous of burnt offerings and of prayers which were little +better; that the corruptible body could be raised from the +dead and given back to the soul for a dwelling. That +Jerusalem had fallen so low in intellect was not known +to them; and Joseph, feeling he was making a noise in +the world, admitted that despite the knowledge of the +Greek language he accepted the theory that the soul was +created before the body and waited in a sort of dim hall, +hanging like a bat, for the creation of the body which it +was predestined to descend into, till the death of the +body released it. He was, however, now willing to believe +that the souls of all the wise men mentioned in the books +of Moses were sent down to earth as to a colony; great +souls could not abide like bats in the darkness, but are +ever desirous of contemplation and learning. And on +pursuing this thought in the Greek language, which +lends itself to subtle shades of thought, he discovered +that there are three zones: the first zone is reason, +the second passion and the third appetite. And this +his first psychological discovery was approved by his +teacher, and many months were passed over in agreeable +exercises of the mind of like nature, interrupted only by +letters from his father, asking him when he proposed to +return home.</p> + +<p>After reading one of these letters, his unhappiness +lasted sometimes for a whole day, and it was revived +many times during the week; but philosophy enabled +him to resist the voice of conscience still a little while, +and even a letter relating the death of his grandmother +did not decide his departure. It seemed at first to have +decided him, and he told all his friends that he was +leaving with the next caravan. But of what use, he +asked himself, for me to return to Galilee? Granny is +in her grave: could I bring her back to life I would return! +So he remained in Egypt for some time longer, +and what enforced his return were the long plains, in +which oxen drew the plough from morning till evening; +and he had begun to long for clouds and for the hills, and +the desire to escape from the plain grew stronger every +day till at last he could not do else than yield to it. By +the next caravan, he said to himself.</p> + +<p>In Egypt he had met no prophet, only philosophers, and +becoming once more obsessed by miracles, he hastened +to Banu, but of Jesus Banu could only tell him that +he was doing the work that our Father had given him to +do. Which is more than thou art doing. Go and get +baptism from John! Go back to Jericho and wait for +a sign, leaving me in peace, for I need it, having been +troubled by many, eager and anxious about things that +do not matter. I will indeed, Joseph replied, for nothing +matters to me since I cannot find him. And he returned +to Jericho, saying to himself that Jesus must be known to +every shepherd; perhaps to that one, he said, running to +head back his flock, which has been tempted by a patch of +young corn; Joseph stood at gaze, for the shepherd wore +the same garb as Jesus had done: a turban fixed on the +head with two tiring-rings of camel's hair, with veils +floating from the shoulders to save the neck from the +sun. Jesus, too, wore a striped shirt, and over it was +buckled a dressed sheepskin; and Joseph pondered on +the shepherd's shoon, on his leathern water-bottle, on his +long slender fingers twitching the thongs of the sling. +He had been told that no better slinger had been known +in these hills than Jesus. But he had left the hills and +had gone, whither none could tell! He was gone, whither +no man knew, not even Banu. He is about his Father's +work, was all Banu could say; and Joseph wandered on +from shepherd to shepherd, questioning them all, and +when none was in sight he cried again Jesus's name to +the winds, and never passed a cave without looking into +it, though he had lost hope of finding him. But he continued +his search, for it whiled the time away, though +it did nothing else, and one day as he lay under a rock, +watching a shepherd passing across the opposite hillside, +he tried to summon courage to call him; but judging him +to be one of those whom he had already asked for tidings +of Jesus, he let him go, and fell to thinking of the look +that would come into the shepherd's face on hearing the +same question put to him again. A poor demented man! +he would mutter to himself as he went away. Nor was +Joseph sure that his mind was not estranged from him. +He could no longer fix it upon anything: it wandered as +incontinently as the wind among the hills, and very often +he seemed to have come back to himself after a long +absence, but without any memory. Yet he must have +been thinking of something; and he was trying to recall +his thoughts, when the shepherd came back into view +again and Joseph remarked to himself that he was without +a flock. He seemed to be seeking something, for +from a sheer edge he peered down into the valley. +A ewe that has fallen over, no doubt, Joseph thought; +but what concern of mine is that shepherd who has lost +a ewe, and whether he will find his ewe or will fail to +find it? Of no concern whatever, he said to himself, +and—forgetful of the shepherd—he began to watch the +evening gathering in the sky. Very soon, he said, the +hills will be folded in a dim blue veil, and sleep will +perchance blot out the misery that has brooded in me all +this livelong day, he muttered. May I never see another, +but close my eyes for ever on the broad ruthless light. +Of what avail to witness another day? All days are alike +to me.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Joseph that he was of a sort dead already, +for he could detach himself from himself, and consider +himself as indifferently as he might a blade of grass. +My life, he said, is like these bare hills, and the one +thing left for me to desire is death.</p> + +<p>A footstep aroused him from his dream. The man +whom he had seen on the hillside yonder had crossed +the valley, and he began to describe the animals he had +lost, before Joseph recovered from his reverie. No, he +said, I have seen no camels. Camels might have passed +him by without his seeing them, but there was no obligation +on him to confide his misery to the shepherd, a +rough, bearded man in a sheepskin, who thanked him +and was about to go, when Joseph called after him: if +you want help to seek your camels, I'll come with you. +Even the company of this man were better than his +loneliness; and together they crossed some hills. Why, +there be my camels, as I'm alive! the camel-driver cried. +Joseph had brought him luck, for in a valley close at +hand the camels were found, staring into emptiness. +Strange abstractions! Joseph said to himself, and then +to the camel-driver: since I have found your camels, +who knows but that you may tell me of one Jesus, an +Essene from the cenoby on the eastern bank of the +Jordan? A shepherd of these hills? the man asked, and +Joseph replied: yes, indeed. To which the camel-driver +answered: if I hear of him, I'll send him a message that +you are looking for him, and I'll send you word that he +has been found. But you'll never find him, Joseph +answered. You didn't think you would find my camels, +the driver replied; but so it fell out, and if I could only +find a few more camels, or the money to buy them, I +could lay down a great trade in figs between Jericho and +Jerusalem; he related simply, not knowing that the man +he was talking to could give him all the money he required; +telling that figs ripen earlier in Jericho, especially +if the trees have the advantage of high rocks behind them.</p> + +<p>It pleased Joseph to listen to his patter: it seemed to +him that his father was talking to him, and he was plunged +in such misery that he had to extricate himself somehow. +So he signed the deed that evening, and within a month +a caravan laden with figs went forth and wended its way +safely to Jerusalem. Another caravan followed a few +weeks after, and still larger profits were made, and these +becoming known to certain thieves, the next caravan was +waylaid and driven away to the coast, and the figs shipped +to some foreign part or sold to unscrupulous dealers, who +knew them to be stolen. The loss was so great that +Gaddi said to Joseph: if we lose a second caravan we +shall be worse off than we were when we began, and we +shall lose a third and a fourth, unless the robbers be +driven out of their caves. Let us then go to the Roman +governor, Pilate, and lay our case before him. Joseph +had no fault to find with Gaddi's words, and he said: +it may be that I shall go to Pilate myself, for I am known +to him through my father, who trades largely between +Tiberias and Antioch with salt fish.</p> + +<p>It so happened that Pilate had received instructions +from Rome to give every protection to trade, it being +hoped thereby to win the Jews from religious disputations, +which always ended in riots. Pilate therefore now +found the occasion he needed. Joseph had brought it +to him, for the ridding of the road between Jerusalem +and Jericho would evince his ability as administrator; +and with his hand in his beard, his fine eyes bent favourably +upon Joseph, he promised that all the forces of the +Roman Empire would be employed to smoke out these +nests of robbers. From the account given by Joseph of +the caves, he did not deem it worth while to send soldiers +groping through the darkness of rocks; he was of opinion +that bundles of damp straw would serve the purpose +admirably; and turning to the captain of the guard he +appealed to him, and got for answer that a few trusses +of damp straw would send forth such a reek that all +within the cave would be choked, or reel out half blinded.</p> + +<p>Joseph reminded Pilate and the captain of the guard +that the openings of the caves were not always accessible, +but abutted over a ledge away down a precipitous cliff. +It might be necessary to lower soldiers down in baskets, or +the caves might be closed with mortised stones. Joseph's +counsel was wise; the closing of the caves proved very +efficacious in ridding the hills of robbers, though in some +cases the robbers managed to pick a way out, and then +sought other caves, which were not difficult to find, the +hills abounding in such places of hiding. A cave would +sometimes have two outlets, and it was hard to get the +shepherds to betray the robbers, their fear of them was +so great. But within six months the larger dens were +betrayed, and while the robbers writhed the last hours of +their lives away on crosses, long trains of camels and asses +pursued their way from Jericho to Jerusalem and back +again, without fear of molestation, the remnant of robbers +never daring to do more than draw away a single camel or +ass found astray from the encampment.</p> + +<p>The result of all this labour was that figs were no longer +scarce in Jerusalem; and when a delay in bringing wheat +from Moab was announced to Pilate, he sent a messenger +to Joseph, it having struck him that the transport service +so admirably organised by them both was capable of +development. A hundred camels, Joseph answered, +needs a great sum, but perhaps Gaddi, my partner, may +have some savings or my father may give me the money.</p> + +<p>And with Pilate's eyes full upon him, Joseph sat thinking +of the lake, recalling every bight and promontory, +and asking himself how it was that he had not thought +of Galilee for so long a time. He longed to set +eyes on Magdala, and he would have ridden away at +once, but an escort would have to be ordered, for a +single horseman could not ride through Samaria without +a certainty of being robbed before he got to the end of +his journey. Pilate's voice roused Joseph from his reverie, +and after apologising to the Roman magistrate for his +absentmindedness, he went away to consult hurriedly with +Gaddi, and then to make preparations for the journey. +It was a journey of three days on horseback, he was told, +but of two days only on camel-back, for a camel can walk +three miles an hour for eighteen hours. But what should +I be doing on a camel's back for eighteen hours? Joseph +cried, and the driver showed Joseph how with his legs +strapped on either side of the beast he could lie back in +the pack and sleep away many hours. Your head, sir, +would soon get accustomed to the rocking. But I should +have to leave my horse behind, Joseph said. He was +fain to see his father and the lake; he was already +there in spirit, and would like to transport his cumbersome +body there in the least possible time; but he could +not separate himself from Xerxes, a beautiful horse that +he had brought with him from Egypt—a dark grey—a +sagacious animal that would neigh at the sound of his +voice and follow him like a dog, and when they encamped +for the night, wander in search of herbage and come +back when he was called, or wait for him like a wooden +horse at an inn door.</p> + +<p>Horse and horseman seemed a match the morning they +went away to Galilee together, Xerxes all bits and bridles, +stirrups and trappings, and Joseph equipped for the +journey not less elaborately than his horse. He wore +a striped shirt and an embroidered vest with two veils +falling from his turban over his shoulders, and as he was +not going to visit the Essenes, he did not forget to +provide himself with weapons: a curved scimitar hung +by his side and the jewelled hilt of a dagger showed +above his girdle. His escort not having arrived yet, he +waited; taking pleasure in the arch of Xerxes' neck when +the horse turned his head towards him, and in the dark +courageous eyes and the beautifully turned hoof that +pawed the earth so prettily. At last the five spearmen +and their captain appeared, and Xerxes, who seemed to +recognise the escort as a sign for departure, presented +his left side for Joseph to mount him. As soon as his +master was in the saddle, he shook his accoutrements and +sprang forward at the head of the cavalcade, Joseph crying +back: he must have the sound of hoofs behind him. +He could refuse his horse nothing, and suffered him to +canter some few hundred yards up the road, though it +was not customary to leave the escort behind, and when +Joseph returned, the foreman told him, as he expected +he would, that it would be well not to tire his horse by +galloping him at the beginning of the journey, for a +matter of thirty miles lay in front of them. Thirty miles +the first day, he said, and fifty the second day; for by +this division he would leave twenty-five miles for the third +day; and Joseph learnt that the captain had arranged +the journey in this wise for the sake of the inns, for +though they would meet an inn every twenty miles, there +were but three good inns between Jerusalem and Tiberias. +He had arranged too with a view to the rest at midday. +Our way lies, he said, through the large shallow valley, +and that is why I started at six. It is about four hours +hence, so we shall be through it well before noon. But +why must we pass through it before noon? Joseph asked. +Because, the captain answered, the rocks on either side +are heated after noon like the walls of an oven, and man +and beast choke in it. But once we get out of the valley, +we shall have pleasant country. You know the hills, Sir; +and Joseph remembered the rounded hills and Azariah's +condemnation of the felling of the forests, a condemnation +that the captain agreed with; for though it was true +that the woods afforded cover for wolves, still it was not +wise to fell the trees; for when the woods go, the captain +said, the country will lose its fertility. He was a loquacious +fellow, knowing the country well, wherefore pleasant +to ride alongside of, and the hours passed quickly, hearing +him relate his life. And when after two days' riding +Joseph wearied of his foreman's many various relations, +his eyes admired the slopes, now greener than they +would be again till another year passed. The fig-trees +were sending out shoots, the vines were in little leaf, +and the fragrance of the vineyards and fig gardens was +sweet in the cool morning when the dusk melted away +and rose-coloured clouds appeared above the hills; and +as Joseph rode he liked to think that the spectacle of +the cavalcade faring through the vine-clad hills would +abide in his memory, and that in years to come he would +be able to recall it exactly as he now saw it—all the +faces of the spearmen and their odd horses; even his +foreman's discourses would become a pleasure to remember +when time would redeem them of triteness and +commonplace; the very weariness he now experienced in +listening to them would, too, become a perennial source +of secret amusement to him later on. But for the +moment he could not withstand his foreman a moment +longer, and made no answer when he came interrupting +his meditations with tiresome learning regarding the +great acacia-tree into whose shade Joseph had withdrawn +himself. He was content to enjoy the shade and +the beauty of the kindly tree that flourished among rocks +where no one would expect a tree to flourish, and did +not need to be told that the roots of a tree seek water +instinctively, and that the roots of the acacia seek +water and find it, about three feet down. The acacia +gave the captain an opportunity to testify of his +knowledge, and Joseph remembered suddenly that he +would be returning to Jerusalem with him in three days, +for not more than three days would his escort remain +in Galilee, resting their horses, unless they were paid a +large sum of money; and with that escort idle in the +village the thought would never be out of his mind that +in a few days he would be listening to his foreman all +the way back to Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>Impossible! He couldn't go back to Jerusalem in +three days, nor in three weeks. His father would be +mortally grieved if he did; and Pilate himself would be +surprised to see him back so soon and think him lacking +altogether in filial affection if, after an absence of more +than two years, he could stay only three days with his +father. He must, however, send a letter to Pilate and +one that consisted with all the circumstances. The barely +stirring foliage of the acacia inspired a desire of composition: +a more favourable moment than the present, or a +more inspiring spot, he did not think he would be likely +to find. He called for his tablets and fell to thinking, +but hardly filled in the first dozen lines when his +foreman—this time apologising for the intrusion—came to +tell him that if he wished to reach Magdala that evening +they must start at once. He could not but acquiesce, +and—as if contemptuous of the protection of his escort—he +rode on in front, wishing to be left alone so that he +might seek out the terms of his letter, and his mood +of irritated perplexity did not pass away till he came +within sight of the great upland, rising, however, so +gently that he did not think Xerxes would mind ascending +it at a gallop. As soon as he reached the last crest, +he would see the lake alone, having—thanks to the speed +of Xerxes—escaped from his companions for at least +five minutes. He looked forward to these moments +eagerly yet not altogether absolved from apprehension of +a spiritual kind, for the lake always seemed to him a +sort of sign, symbol or hieroglyphic, in which he read a +warning addressed specially, if not wholly, to himself. +The meaning that the lake held out to him always eluded +him, and never more completely than now, at the end of +an almost windless spring evening.</p> + +<p>It came into view a moment sooner than he thought +for, and in an altogether different aspect—bluer than +ever seen by him in memory or reality—and, he confessed +to himself, more beautiful. Like a great harp +it lay below him, and his eyes followed the coast-lines +widening out in an indenture of the hills: on one side +desert, on the other richly cultivated ascents, with villages +and one great city, Tiberias—its domes, cupolas, towers +and the high cliffs abutting the lake between Tiberias +and Magdala bathed in a purple glow as the sun went +down. My own village! he said, and it was a pleasure to +him to imagine his father sipping sherbet on his balcony, +in good humour, no doubt, the weather being so favourable +to fish-taking. Now which are Peter's boats among +these? he asked himself, his eyes returning to the fishing +fleet. And which are John's and James's boats? He +could tell that all the nets were down by the reefed sails +crossed over, for the boats were before the wind. A long +pull back it will be to Capernaum, he was thinking, a +matter of thirteen or fourteen miles, for the leading boat +is not more than a mile from the mouth of the Jordan. +Then, raising his eyes from the fishing-boats, he followed +the coast-lines again, seeking the shapes of the wooded +hills, rising in gently cadenced ascents.</p> + +<p>A more limpid evening never breathed upon a lake! he +said; and when he raised his eyes a second time they +rested on the ravines of Hermon far away in the north, +still full of the winter's snow; and—being a Galilean—he +knew they would keep their snow for another month +at least. The eagerness of the spring would then be +well out of the air; and I shall be thinking, he continued, +of returning to Jerusalem and concerning myself once +more with Pilate's business. But what a beautiful evening! +still and pure as a crystal.</p> + +<p>A bird floated past, his black eyes always watchful. The +bird turned away to join his mates, and Joseph bade his +escort watch the flock: a bird here and a bird there swooping +and missing and getting no doubt sometimes a fish that +had ventured too near the surface—that one leaving his +mates, flying high towards Magdala, to be there, he said, +in a few minutes, by my father's house; and in another +hour thou shalt be in thy stable, thy muzzle in the corn, +he whispered into his horse's ear; and calling upon his +comrades to put their heels into their tired steeds, he +turned Xerxes into the great road leading to Tiberias.</p> + +<p>But there were some Jews among the escort who shrank +from entering a pagan city. Their prejudices might be +overcome with argument, but it were simpler to turn +their horses' heads to the west and then to the north as +soon as the city was passed. The detour would be a long +one, but it were shorter than argument: yet argument +he did not escape from, for as they rode through the +open country behind Tiberias, some declared that Herod +was not a pure Jew; and to make their points clearer +they often reined up their horses, to the annoyance of +Joseph, who could not bring the discussion to an end +without seeming indifferent to the law and the traditions. +But, happily, it had to end before long, for within three +miles of Magdala they were riding in single file down +deep lanes along whose low dykes the cactus crawled, +hooking itself along. One lane led into another. A +network of deep lanes wound round Magdala, which, +judging by the number of new dwellings, seemed to have +prospered since Joseph had last seen it. Humble dwellings +no doubt, Joseph said to himself, but bread is not lacking, +nor fish. Then he thought of the wharves his father had +built for the boats, and the workshops for the making +of the barrels into which the fish was packed. Magdala +owed its existence to Dan's forethought, and he had +earned his right, Joseph thought, to live in the tall house +which he had built for his pleasure in a garden amid tall +acacia-trees that every breeze that blew up from the lake +set in motion.</p> + +<p>If ever a man, Joseph thought, earned his right to a +peaceable old age amid pleasant surroundings, that man +was his father; and he thought of him returning from his +counting-house to his spacious verandah, thinking of the +barrels of salt fish that he would send away the following +week, if the fishers were letting down their nets with +fortunate enterprise.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. X.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A very good guessing of his father's wonts and +thoughts was that of Joseph while riding from Tiberias, +for as the horsemen came up the lane at a canter the old +man was wending homeward from his counting-house, +wishing Peter and Andrew, James and John and the rest +good fortune with their nets, or else, he had begun to +think, the order from Damascus cannot——- The completed +sentence would probably have run: cannot be executed, +but the sound of the hooves of Joseph's horse checked the +words on his lips and he had to squeeze himself against +the ditch, to escape being trodden upon. Joseph sprang +from the saddle. Father, I haven't hurt you, I hope? I +was dreaming. Why, Joseph, it is you! You haven't +hurt me, and I was dreaming too. But what a beautiful +horse you are riding! Aren't you afraid he will run +away? Up and down these lanes he would give us a fine +chase. No, Joseph replied, he'll follow me. And the +horse followed them, pushing his head against Joseph's +shoulder from time to time; but Joseph was too much +engaged with his father to do more than whistle to +Xerxes when he lingered to browse.</p> + +<p>As we rode past Tiberias, I had imagined you, Father, +sitting in the verandah drinking sherbet. We will have +some presently, Dan answered. I was detained at my +business. Tell me, Father, how are the monkeys and the +parrots? Much the same as you left them, Dan answered, +as he laid his hand on the latch of the large wooden gate. +A servant came forward to conduct them, and Joseph +threw his reins to him.</p> + +<p>A monkey came hopping across the sward and jumped +on to Joseph's shoulder. Another came, and then a third. +Dan would have been annoyed if the monkeys had not +recognised Joseph, for it seemed to him quite natural +that all things should love Joseph. You see, he +continued, the parrots are screaming and dancing on their +perches, waiting for you to scratch their polls. Joseph +complied, and then Dan wearied of the monkeys, which +were absorbing Joseph's attention, and drove them away. +You haven't told me that you're glad to be back in +Galilee in front of that beautiful lake. Jerusalem has its +temple but God made the lake himself. But you don't +seem as pleased to be back as I'd like. Father, it is of +thee I'm thinking and not of temples or lakes, Joseph +answered, and for a moment Dan could not speak, so deep +was his happiness, and so intense. Overcome by it, they +walked a little way and Joseph followed his father up the +tall stairs on to the verandahed balcony, and when they +had drunk some sherbet and Joseph had vowed he had not +tasted any like it, Dan interposed suddenly: but thou +hast not told me, Joseph, how thou camest by thy beautiful +horse. He came from Egypt, Joseph answered casually, +and was about to add that he was an Egyptian horse, but +on second thoughts it seemed to him that it would be well +not to speak the word "Egypt" again: to do so might +put another question into his father's mouth; he would +not commit himself to a rank lie, and to tell that he had +gone to Egypt could not do else than lead him into an +intricate story which would indispose his father to listen +to Pilate's projects, or at least estrange Dan's mind from +a calm judgment of them; so he resolved to omit all +mention of Banu, Jesus and Egypt and to begin his +narrative with an account of his meeting with the camel-driver +Gaddi. But the camel-driver seemed to be the +last person that Dan was interested in. But he's my +partner! Joseph exclaimed, and it was he who sent me to +Pilate. I'll tell thee about the Essenes afterwards. And +feeling that he had at last succeeded in fixing his father's +attention on that part of the story which he wished to tell +him, Joseph said: an excellent governor, one who is ready +to listen to all schemes for the furtherance of commercial +enterprise in Judea: he has ridded the hills of the robbers; +and his account of the summer in the desert with the +Roman soldiers, smoking out nest after nest and putting +on crosses those that were taken alive interested the old +man. I wish he would start on Samaria, Dan mentioned +casually; and Joseph replied, and he will as soon as he +is certain that he can rely on the help of men like thee. +Pilate's favour is worth winning, Father, and it can be won. +I doubt thee not, but wilt tell how it may be won, my boy? +By falling in with his projects, Joseph answered, and +began his relation. And when he had finished, Dan sat +meditating, casting up the account: Pilate's good will is +desirable, he said, but a large sum of money will have to +be advanced. But, Father, the carrying trade has been +a great success. Well, let us go into figures, Joseph. And +they balanced the profits against the losses. Without +doubt thou hast done well this last half year, Dan said, and +if business don't fall away—— But, Father, Joseph interrupted, +think of the profit my account would have shown +if we had not lost two convoys. The loss has already been +very nearly paid off. There are no more robbers and the +demand for figs is steady in Jerusalem. Figs ripen much +earlier—— Say no more, Joseph. My money is thy money, +and if fifty camels be wanted, thou shalt have them. 'Tis +the least I can do for thee, for thou hast ever been a frugal +son, Joseph, and art deserving of all I have. So Pilate has +heard of my fish-salting and maybe that was why he met +thee on such fair terms. That has much to do with it, +Joseph replied, and he watched the look of satisfaction that +came into his father's face. But tell me, Joseph, has all +this long time been spent smoking out robbers? Tell me +again of their caves. Well, Father, the caves often opened +on to ledges, and we had to lower the soldiers in baskets.</p> + +<p>And the tale how one great cavern was besieged amused +the old man till he was nigh to clapping his hands with +delight and to reminding Joseph of the time when he used +to ask his grandmother to tell him stories. Were she here +she'd like to hear thee telling thy stories. Thou wast in +her thoughts to the last and now we shall never see her any +more, however great our trouble may be; and in the midst +of a great silence they fell to thinking how the same black +curtain would drop between them and the world. She +has gone away to Arimathea, Joseph, whence we came and +whither I shall follow her. We go forward a little way but +to go back again. But I can't talk of deaths and graves. +Go on telling me about Pilate and the robbers, for I've been +busy all day in the counting-house adding up figures, and +to listen to a good tale is a rare distraction. Yet I wouldn't +talk of them either, Joseph, but of thyself and thy horse +that all the country will be talking about the day after +to-morrow, when thou'lt ride him into the town. And +now say it, Joseph: ye are a wee bit tired, isn't that so? +Nay, Father, not a bit. We have come but twenty +miles from the last halt, and as for the telling of my +story, maybe the loose ends which I've forgotten for the +moment will unravel themselves while we're talking of +fish-salting—of the many extra barrels you've sent out. +Now, Father, say how many? At it, Joseph, as beforetimes, +rallying thy old father! Well, I've not done so +badly, but a drop in the year's trading is never a pleasant +thought, though it be but a barrel. And he began again +his complaint against the government of Antipas, who +had never encouraged trade as he should have done. +Now, if we had a man here such as thy friend Pilate, +I'd not be saying too much were I to say that my trade +could be doubled. But Pilate has no authority in Galilee. +Joseph thought that Pilate's authority should be extended. +But how can that be done? Dan inquired, and being +embarrassed for an answer, Joseph pressed Dan to +confide in him, a thing which Dan showed no wish to do; +but at last his reluctance was overcome, and shyly he +admitted that his despondency had nothing to do with +Antipas nor with a casual drop in the order from +Damascus, but with a prophet that was troubling the +neighbourhood. A very dangerous prophet, too, is this +one; but I am afraid, Joseph, we don't view prophets in +exactly the same light. Joseph was about to laugh, but +seeing the smile coming into his eyes, his father begged +him to wait till he heard the whole story.</p> + +<p>He called up all his attention into his face, and the +story he heard was that the new prophet, who came up +from Jordan about a year ago, was preaching that the +Lord was so outraged at the conduct of his chosen people +that he had determined to destroy the world, and might +begin the wrecking of it any day of the week. But +before the world ends there'll be wars. Joseph said: but +there has been none, nor have I heard rumours of any. +We don't hear much what's going on up here in Galilee, +Dan answered, and he continued his story: the new +prophet had persuaded many of the fishers to lay down +their nets. Simon Peter, thou rememberest him? Well, +he's the prophet's right-hand man, and now casts a net but +seldom. And thou hast not forgotten James and John, +sons of Zebedee? They come next in the prophet's +favour, and there are plenty of others walking about the +village, neglecting their work and telling of the judgment +and the great share of the world that'll come to them +when the prophet returns from heaven in a chariot. +Among them is Matthew, a publican, the only one +that can read or write. You don't remember him? +Now I come to think on it, he was appointed soon +after thou wentest to Jerusalem. Soon after I went to +Jerusalem? Joseph asked; was the prophet preaching +then? No. It all began soon after thy departure for +Jerusalem about a year ago; a more ignorant lot of fellows +thou'st be puzzled to find, if thou wert to travel the +world over in search of them. The prophet himself comes +from the most ignorant village in Galilee—Nazareth. +But why look like that, Joseph? What ails thee? Go +on, Father, with thy telling of the prophet from Nazareth. +He started in Nazareth, Dan answered, but none paid +any heed to him but made a mock of him, for he'd +have us believe that he is the Messiah that the Jews +have been expecting for many a year. But it was predicted +that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem; and +everybody knows that Jesus was born in Nazareth. There's +some talk, too, that he comes from the line of David, but +everybody knows that Jesus is the son of Joseph the +Carpenter. His mother and his brothers tried all they +could do to dissuade him from preaching about the judgment, +which he knows no more about than the next one, +but he wouldn't listen to them. A good quiet woman, +his mother; I know her well and am sorry for her; but +she has better sons in James and Jude. Joseph her +husband, I knew him in days gone by—a God-fearing +honest man, whom one could always entrust with a day's +work. He doted on his eldest son, though he never +could teach him to handle a saw with any skill, for his +thoughts were always wandering, and when an Essene +came up to Galilee in search of neophytes, Jesus took +his fancy and they went away together. But what ails +thee? As soon as Joseph could get control of his voice, +he asked his father if the twain were gone away together +to the cenoby on the eastern bank of Jordan, and Dan +answered that he thought he had heard of the great +Essenes' encampment by the Dead Sea. A fellow fair-spoken +enough, Dan continued, that has bewitched the +poor folk about the lakeside. But, Joseph, thy cheek is +like ashes, and thou'rt all of a tremble: drink a little +sherbet, my boy. No, Father, no. Tell me, is the +Galilean as tall or as heavy as I am, or of slight build, +with a forehead broad and high? And does he walk as +if he were away and in communion with his Father in +heaven? But what ails thee, my son? What ails thee? +He came from the cenoby on the eastern shores of the +Jordan? Joseph continued; and has been here nearly +two years? He received baptism from John in the +Jordan? Isn't that so, Father? I know naught of his +baptism, Dan answered, but he'll fall into trouble. I was +with Banu, Joseph said, when the hermit saw him in a +vision receiving baptism from John; but though I ran, +I was too late, and ever since have sought Jesus, in Egypt +and afterwards among the hills of Judea. I can't tell +thee more at present, but would go out into the garden +or perhaps wander by myself for a little while under +the cliffs by the lake. Thou'lt forgive me this sudden +absence, Father?</p> + +<p>Dan put down his glass of sherbet and looked after +his son. He had been so happy for a little while, and +now unhappiness was by again.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The dogs barked as he unlocked the gate, but a few +words quieted them (they still remembered his voice) and +he crept upstairs to his room, weary in body and sore of +foot, for he had come a long way, having accompanied +Jesus, whom he had met under the cliffs abutting the +lake, to the little pathway cut in the shoulder of the +hill that leads to Capernaum. He had not recognised +him as he passed, which was not strange, so unseemly +were the ragged shirt and the cloak of camel's or goat's +hair he wore over it, patched along and across, one long +tatter hanging on a loose thread. It caught in his feet, +and perforce he hitched it up as he walked, and Joseph +remembered that he looked upon the passenger as a +mendicant wonder-worker on his round from village to +village. But Jesus had not gone very far when Joseph +was stopped by a memory of a face seen long ago: a +pale bony olive face, lit with brilliant eyes. It is he! +he cried; and starting in pursuit and quickly overtaking +Jesus, he called his name. Jesus turned, and there was no +doubt when the men stood face to face that the shepherd +Joseph had seen in the cenoby in converse with the president, +and the wandering beggar by the lake shore, were +one and the same person. Jesus asked him which way +he was walking, and he answered that all directions were +the same to him, for he was only come out for a breath +of fresh air before bed-time. But thinking he had expressed +himself vulgarly, he added other words and waited +for Jesus to speak of the beauty of God's handiwork. +Jesus merely mentioned in answer that he was going to +Capernaum, where he lodged with Simon Peter. But +he had not forgotten the brotherhood by the Dead Sea, +and invited Joseph to accompany him and tell him +of those whom he had left behind. We are of the +same brotherhood, he said; and then, as if noticing +Joseph's embarrassment, or you are a proselyte, maybe, +who at the end of the first year retired from the order? +Many do so. Joseph did not know how to answer this +question, for he had not obtained permission from the +president to seek Jesus in Egypt, and it seemed to him +that the most truthful account he could give of himself +at the cenoby was to say that he was not there long +enough to consider himself even a proselyte. He lived +in the cenoby as a visitor, rather than as one attached +to the order; but how far he might consider himself +an Essene did not matter to anybody. Besides he +wished to hear Jesus talk rather than to talk about himself, +so he compared his residence with the Essenes to a clue +out of which a long thread had unravelled: a thread, he +said, that led me into the desert in search of thee.</p> + +<p>Jesus had known Banu, in the desert, and listened +attentively while Joseph told him how Banu was +interrupted while speaking of the resurrection by a vision +of John baptizing Jesus, and had bidden him go to Jordan +and get baptism from John. But it was not John's +baptism I sought, but thee, and I arrived breathless, to +hear that thou hadst gone away with him, John not being +able to bear the cold of the water any longer. Afterwards +I sought thee hither and thither, till hearing of thee in +Egypt I went there and sought thee from synagogue to +synagogue.</p> + +<p>A man travels the world over in search of what he +needs and returns home to find it, Jesus answered gently, +and in a tenderer voice than his scrannel peacock throat +would have led one to expect. And as if foreseeing an +ardent disciple he began to speak to Joseph of God, +his speech moving on with a gentle motion like that +of clouds wreathing and unwreathing, finding new +shapes for every period, and always beautiful shapes. +He often stopped speaking and his eyes became +fixed, as if he saw beyond the things we all see; and +after an interval he would begin to speak again; and +Joseph heard that he had met John among the hills and +listened to him, and that if he accepted baptism from +him it was because he wished to follow John: but +John sought to establish the kingdom of God within +the law, and so a dancing-girl asked for his head. It +seemed as if Jesus were on the point of some tremendous +avowal, but if so it passed away like a cloud, and he put +his hand on Joseph's shoulder affectionately and asked +him to tell him about Egypt, a country which he said he +had never heard of before. Whereupon Joseph raised +his eyes and saw in Jesus a travelling wonder-worker +come down from a northern village—a peasant, without +knowledge of the world and of the great Roman Empire. +At every step Jesus' ignorance of the world surprised +Joseph more and more. He seemed to believe that all the +nations were at war, and from further discourse Joseph +learnt that Jesus could not speak Greek, and he marvelled +at his ignorance, for Jesus only knew such Hebrew as is +picked up in the synagogues. He did not seek to conceal +his ignorance of this world from Joseph, and almost made +parade of it, as if he was aware that one must discard a +great deal to gain a little, as if he would impress this truth +upon Joseph, almost as if he would reprove him for having +spent so much time on learning Greek, for instance, and +Greek philosophy. He treated these things as negligible +when Joseph spoke of them, and evinced more interest +in Joseph himself, who admitted he had returned from +philosophy to the love of God.</p> + +<p>Now sitting on his bed, kept awake by his memories, +Joseph relived in thought the hours he had spent with +Jesus. He seemed to comprehend the significance of +every word much better now than when he was with +Jesus, and he deplored his obtuseness and revised +all the answers given to Jesus. He remembered with +sorrow how he tried to explain to Jesus the teaching of +the Alexandrian philosophers regarding the Scriptures, +paining Jesus very much by his recital but he had continued +to explain for the sake of the answer that he knew +would come at last. It did come. He remembered +Jesus saying that philosophies change in different men, +but the love of God is the same in all men. A +great truth, Joseph said to himself, for every school +is in opposition to another school. But how did Jesus +come to know this being without philosophy? He had +been tempted to ask how he was able to get at the +truth of things without the Greek language and without +education, but refrained lest a question should break +the harmony of the evening. The past was not yet past +and sitting on his bed in the moonlight Joseph could +re-see the plain covered with beautiful grasses and flowers, +with low flowering bushes waving over dusky headlands, +for it was dark as they crossed the plain; and they had +heard rather than seen the rushing stream, bubbling +out of the earth, making music in the still night. He +knew the stream from early childhood, but he had +never really known it until he stood with Jesus under +the stars by the narrow pathway cut in the shoulder of +the hill, whither the way leads to Capernaum, for it was +there that Jesus took his hands and said the words: +"Our Father which is in Heaven." At these words +their eyes were raised to the skies, and Jesus said: +whoever admires the stars and the flowers finds God in +his heart and sees him in his neighbour's face. And as +Joseph sat, his hands on his knees, he recalled the +moment that Jesus turned from him abruptly and passed +into the shadow of the hillside that fell across the +flowering mead. He heard his footsteps and had listened, +repressing the passionate desire to follow him and +to say: having found thee, I can leave thee never +again. It was fear of Jesus that prevented him from +following Jesus, and he returned slowly the way he +came, his eyes fixed on the stars, for the day was now +well behind the hills and the night all over the valley, +calm and still. The stars in their allotted places, he +said: as they have always been and always will be. +He stood watching them. Behind the stars that +twinkled were stars that blazed; behind the stars that +blazed were smaller stars, and behind them a sort of +luminous dust. And all this immensity is God's dwelling-place, +he said. The stars are God's eyes; we live +under his eyes and he has given us a beautiful garden +to live in. Are we worthy of it? he asked; and Jew +though he was he forgot God for a moment in the +sweetness of the breathing of earth, for there is no more +lovely plain in the spring of the year than the Plain of +Gennesaret.</p> + +<p>Every breath of air brought a new and exquisite +scent to him, and through the myrtle bushes he could +hear the streams singing their way down to the lake; +and when he came to the lake's edge he heard the +warble that came into his ear when he was a little +child, which it retained always. He heard it in Egypt, +under the Pyramids, and the cataracts of the Nile +were not able to silence it in his ears. But suddenly +from among the myrtle bushes a song arose. It began +with a little phrase of three notes, which the bird repeated, +as if to impress the listener and prepare him for +the runs and trills and joyous little cadenzas that were to +follow. A sudden shower of jewels it seemed like, and +when the last drops had fallen the bird began another +song, a continuation of the first, but more voluptuous and +intense; and then, as if he felt that he had set the theme +sufficiently, he started away into new trills and shakes and +runs, piling cadenza upon cadenza till the theme seemed +lost, but the bird held it in memory while all his musical +extravagances were flowing, and when the inevitable +moment came he repeated the first three notes. Again +Joseph heard the warbling water, and it seemed to him +that he could hear the stars throbbing. It was one of +those moments when the soul of man seems to break, to +yearn for that original unity out of which some sad fate +has cast it—a moment when the world seems to be one +thing and not several things: the stars and the stream, +the odours afloat upon the stream, the bird's song and the +words of Jesus: whosoever admires the stars and flowers +finds God in his heart, seemed to become all blended into +one extraordinary harmony; and unable to resist the +emotion of the moment any longer, Joseph threw himself +upon the ground and prayed that the moment he was +living in might not be taken from him, but that it might +endure for ever. But while he prayed, the moment +was passing, and becoming suddenly aware that it had +gone, he rose from his knees and returned home mentally +weary and sad at heart; but sitting on his bedside the +remembrance that he was to meet Jesus in the morning +at Capernaum called up the ghost of a departed ecstasy, +and his head drowsing upon his pillow he fell asleep, +hushed by remembrances.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A few hours later he was speeding along the lake's +edge in the bright morning, happy as the bird singing +in the skies, when the thought like a dagger-thrust +crossed his mind that being the son of a rich man Jesus +could not receive him as a disciple, only the poor were +welcome into the brotherhood of the poor. His father +had told him as much, and the beggar whom he had met +under the cliffs, smelling of rags and raw garlic, expressed +the riches of simplicity. Happy, happy evening, for +ever gone by! Happy ignorance already turned into +knowledge! For in Peter's house Jesus would hear that +the man whom he had met under the cliffs was the son of +the fish-salter of Magdala, and perhaps they knew enough +of his story to add, who has been making money in +Jerusalem himself and has no doubt come to Galilee to +engage his father in some new trade that will extort more +money from the poor. He is not for thy company. A +great aversion seized him for Capernaum, and he walked, +overcome with grief, to the lake's edge and stooped to +pick up a smooth stone, thinking to send it skimming over +the water, as he used to when a boy; but there was neither +the will nor the strength in him for the innocent sport, and +he lay down, exhausted in mind and body, to lament this +new triumph of the demon that from the beginning of +his life thwarted him and interrupted all his designs—this +time intervening at the last moment as if with a +purpose of great cruelty. This demon seemed to him to +descend out of the blue air and sometimes to step out of +the blue water, and Joseph was betimes moved to rush +into the lake, for there seemed to him no other way of +escaping from him. Then he would turn back from the +foam and the reeds, and pray to the demon to leave him +for some little while in peace: let me be with Jesus +for a little while, and then I'll do thy bidding. Tie the +tongues of those that would tell him I'm the son of a rich +man—Simon Peter, James and John, sons of Zebedee. +James would say a word in his favour, but Jesus would +answer: why did he not tell these things to me overnight? +And if he loves me, why does he not rid himself of the +wealth that separates him from me?</p> + +<p>Well, young Master, cried somebody behind him, now +what be ye thinking over this fine morning? Of the fish +the nets will bring to be safely packed away in your +father's barrels? My father's barrels be accursed! Joseph +exclaimed, springing to his feet. And why dost thou call +me master? I'm not master, nor art thou servant. And +then, his eyes opening fully to the external world, he +recognised the nearly hunchback Philip of Capernaum—a +high-necked, thick-set fellow, in whom a hooked nose +and prominent eyes were the distinguishing features. A +sail-maker, that spoke with a sharp voice, and Joseph +remembered him as combining the oddest innocence of +mind regarding spiritual things with a certain shrewdness +in the conduct of his business. Thy voice startled me out of +a dream, Joseph said, and I knew not what I said. Beg +pardon, Master—but the word "Sir" you like no better, +and it would sound unseemly to call you "Joseph" and +no more. As we are not born the same height nor strength +nor wits, such little differences as "Sir" and "Master" get +into our speech. All those that love God are the same, +and there is neither class nor wealth, only love, Joseph +answered passionately. That is the teaching of the new +prophet Jesus, Philip replied, his yapping voice assuming +an inveigling tone or something like one. I was in +Magdala yester evening, and spent the night in my +debtor's house, and as we were figuring out the principal +and interest a neighbour came in, and among his several +news was that you were seen walking with Jesus by +the lake in the direction of Capernaum. We were glad to +hear that, for having only returned to us last night you +did not know that Jesus has become a great man in these +parts, especially since he has come to lodge in Simon Peter's +house. That was a great step for him. But I must be +hastening away, for a meeting is at Simon Peter's house. +And I have promised Jesus to be there too, Joseph answered. +Then we may step the way out together, Philip answered, +looking up into Joseph's face, and—as if he read there +encouragement to speak out the whole of his mind—he +continued:</p> + +<p>I was saying that it was a great step up for him when +Simon Peter took him to lodge in his house, for beforetimes +he had, as the saying is, no place to lay his head: an +outcast from Cana, whither he went first to his mother's +house, and it is said he turned water into wine on one +occasion at a marriage feast; but that cannot be true, for +if it were, there is no reason that I can see why he should +stay his hand and not turn all water into wine. To which +Joseph replied that it would be a great misfortune, for the +greater part of men would be as drunk as Noah was when +he planted a vineyard, and we know how Lot's daughters +turned their father's drunkenness to account. Moreover, +Philip, if Jesus had turned all the water into wine there +would be no miracle, for a miracle is a special act performed +by someone whom God has chosen as an instrument. It is +as likely as not, Master, that you be right in what you say, +for there's no saying what is true and what is false in this +world, for what one man says another man denies, and it +is not even certain that all men see and hear alike. But, +Philip, thou must remember that though men neither hear +nor see alike, yet the love of God is the same in every man. +But is it? Philip asked. For can it be denied that some +men love God in the hope that God may do something for +them, while others love God lest he may punish them. +But methinks that such love as that is more fear than +love; and then there are others that can love God—well, +just because it seems to them that God is by them, just as +I'm by you at the present moment. Jesus is such an one. +But there be not many like him, and that was why his +teaching found no favour either in Cana or in Nazareth. +In them parts they knew that he was the carpenter's son, +and his mother and his brothers and sisters were a +hindrance to him, for thinking him a bit queer, they came +ofttimes to the synagogues to ask him to come home with +them, for they are shrewd enough to see that such talk as +his will bring him no good in the end, for priests are +strong everywhere and have the law of the land on their +side, for governors would make but poor shift to govern +without them. But why then, Philip, shouldst thou who art +a cautious man, be going to Peter's house to meet him? +Well, that's the question I've been asking myself all the +morning till I came upon you. Master, sitting by the lake, +and not unlikely you were asking yourself the same question, +sitting over yonder by the lake all by yourself. He casts a +spell upon me, I'm thinking, and has, it would seem to me, +cast one upon you, for you went a long way with him last +night, by all accounts. I'd have it from thee, Philip, how long +he has been in these parts? Well, I should say it must be +two years or thereabouts that he came up from Jericho, +staying but a little while in Jerusalem and going on to his +mother at Cana, and afterwards trying his luck, as +I have said, in Nazareth. But his mother hasn't +seen him for many a year? He has been away since +childhood, living with a certain sect of Jews called the +Essenes, and it was John—— Yes, I know John was baptizing +in Jordan, Joseph interrupted, and he baptized Jesus. +And after that he went into the desert, said Philip hurriedly, +for he did not like being interrupted in his story. He +came up to Nazareth, I was saying, about two years ago, +but was thrown out of that city and came here; he was +more fortunate here, picking up bits of food from the +people now and then, who, thinking him harmless, let him +sleep in an odd hole or corner; but he must have often +been like dying of hunger by the wayside, for he was +always travelling, going his rounds from village to +village. But luck was on his side, and when he was +near dying a traveller would come by and raise him and +give him a little wine. He is one of those that can do +with little, and after the first few months he had the +luck to cast out one or two devils, and finding he could +cast out devils, he turned to the healing of the sick; +and many is the withered limb that he put right, and +many a lame man he has set walking with as good a stride +as we are taking now, and many a blind man's eyes he has +opened, and the scrofulous he cured by looking at them—so +it is said. And so his fame grew from day to day; the +people love him, for he asks no money from them, which +is a sure way into men's affections; but those whose +children he has cured cannot see him go away hungry, and +they put a loaf into his shirt, for he takes anything that he +can get except money, which he will not look upon. There +has been no holier man in these parts, Sir, these many +years. The oldest in the country cannot remember one +like him—my father is nearer ninety than eighty, and he +says that Jesus is a greater man than he ever heard his +father tell of, and he was well into the eighties before he +died. Now, Sir, as we are near to Peter's house, you'll +not mind my telling you that there is no "Sir" or +"Master" at Peter's house. But, Philip, has it not +already been said that thou mayst drop such titles as "Sir" +and "Master" in addressing me? And wert thou not at +one with me that we should be more courteous and +friendly one between the other without them? Well, +yes, Master, I do recollect some such talk between us, +but now that we be coming into Capernaum it would +be well that I should call you "Joseph," but "Joseph" +would be difficult to me at first, and we are all +brothers amongst us, only Jesus is Master over all of us, +and God over him. But it now strikes my mind that I +have not told you how Jesus and Peter became acquainted.</p> + +<p>One day as Jesus was passing on his rounds a man ran +out of his house and besought him to help him to stop +some boys who were playing drums and fifes and psalteries, +saying to him: I know not who thou art, but my wife's +mother is dying of fever, and the boys jeer at me and +show no mercy. Let us take stones and cast them at +them. But Jesus answered: no stone is required; and +turning to the boys he said: boys, all this woman asks of +you is to be allowed to die in quiet, and you may ask +the same thing some day, and that day may not be long +delayed. Whereupon the boys were ashamed, and Jesus +followed Peter into his house and took his wife's mother's +hand and lifted her up a little and placed her head upon +the pillow and bade her sleep, which she did, and seeing +that he had such power Peter asked him to remain in +the house till his mother-in-law opened her eyes, which +he did, and he has been there ever since. Now here we +are at the pathway through which Jesus comes and goes +every day on his mission of healing and preaching the +love of God. Your father, Sir, is much opposed to Jesus, +who he says has persuaded Peter away from his fishing +and James and John and many others, but no doubt your +father told you these things last night.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Yonder is Capernaum—or it would have been more +in our speech had I said, why, brother, yonder is +Capernaum. But habit's like a fly, brother, it won't +leave us alone, it comes back however often and angrily +we may drive it away.</p> + +<p>Joseph made no reply, hoping by silence to quiet +Philip's tongue which returned to the attack, he was +fain to admit, not altogether unlike a fly. He tried not +to hear him, for the sight of the town at the head of +the lake awakened recollections of himself and his nurse +walking valiantly, their strength holding out till they +reached Capernaum, but after eating at the inn they were +too weary to return to Magdala on foot and Peter had +had to take them back in his boat. Peter's boat was his +adventure in those days, and strangely distinct the day +rose up in his mind that he and Peter had gone forth +firm in the resolution that they would ascend the Jordan as +far as the waters of Merom. They succeeded in dragging +the boat over the shallows, but there was much wind on the +distant lake. Peter thought it would not be well to venture +out upon it, and Andrew thought so too. He was now going +to see those two brothers again after a long absence and +was not certain whether he was glad or sorry. It seemed +to him that the lake, its towns and villages, were too inseparably +part of himself for him to wish to see them with +the physical eyes, and that it would be wiser to keep this +part of Galilee, the upper reaches of the lake at least, for +his meditations; yet he did not think he would like to +return to Magdala without seeing Capernaum. Perhaps +because Jesus was there. That Jesus should have pitched +upon Capernaum as a centre revived his interest in it, +and there was a certain pathetic interest attached to the +memory of a question he once put to his father. He +asked him if Capernaum was the greatest city in the +world, and for years after he was teased till Capernaum +became hateful to him; but Capernaum within the +last few minutes regained its place in his affections. +And as the town became hallowed in recollection he +cried out to Philip that he could not go farther with +him. Not go any farther with me, Philip answered: +now why is that, brother, for Peter is waiting to see you +and will take on mightily when I tell him that you came +to the head of the lake with me and turned back. But +it is Peter whom I fear to meet, Joseph muttered, and +then at the sight of the long lean street slanting down +the hillside towards the lake, breaking up into irregular +hamlets, some situated at the water's edge close to the +wharf where Peter's boats lay gently rocking, he repeated: +it is Peter that I fear. But unwilling to take Philip into +his confidence he turned as if to go back to Magdala +without further words, but Philip restrained him, and +at last Joseph confessed his grief—that being the son +of a rich man he was not eligible to the society of the +poor. You will ask me, he said, to give up my money +to the poor, a thing I would willingly do for the sake of +Jesus, whom I believe to be God's prophet; but how can +I give that which does not belong to me—my father's +money? That was my grief when you found me sitting +on the stone by the lake's edge.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Philip stood looking at Joseph as one suspended, +for the first time understanding rightly that the +rich have their troubles as well as the poor. At last words +coming to him he said: money has been our trouble since +Jesus drew us together, for we would do without money +and yet we know not how this is to be done. Like you, +Sir, I'm asking if I'm to sell my sails, those already out and +those in the unrolled material, and if I do sell and give +the money to the poor how am I to live but by begging +of those that have not given their all? But why should +I worry you with our troubles? But your troubles are +mine, Joseph answered; and Philip went away to fetch +Peter, who, he said, would be able to tell him if Jesus +could accept a rich man as a disciple. If a man that +has a little be permitted to remain, who is to say how +much means interdiction? Joseph asked himself as he +kept watch for Peter to appear at the corner of the +street. And does he know the Master's mind enough to +answer the question of my admission or—— The sentence +did not finish in his mind, for Peter was coming up the +street at that moment, a great broad face coming into +its features and expression. The same high-shouldered +fisher as of yore, Joseph said to himself, and he sought +to read in Peter's face the story of Peter's transference +from one master to another. It wasn't the approach of +the Great Day, he said, for Peter never could see beyond +his sails and the fins of a fish; and if Jesus were able +to lift his thoughts beyond them he had accomplished +a no less miracle than turning water into wine.</p> + +<p>Well, young Master, he said, we're glad to have you +back among us again. There be no place like home for +us Galileans. Isn't that so? And no fishing like that on +these coasts? But, Peter, Joseph interrupted, my father +tells me that thou hast laid aside thy nets—but that isn't +what I'm here to talk to thee about, he interjected +suddenly, but about Jesus himself, whom I've been +seeking for nearly two years, very nearly since I parted +from you all, well nigh two years ago, isn't it? I've +sought him in the hills of Judea, in Moab, in the Arabian +desert and all the way to Egypt and back again. It's +about two years since you went away on your travels, +Master Joseph, and a great fine story there'll be for us +to listen to when our nets are down, Peter said. I'd ask +you to begin it now, Master Joseph, weren't it that the +Master is waiting for us over yonder in my house. And +from what Philip tells me you would have my advice +about joining our community, Master Joseph. You've +seen no doubt a good deal of the Temple at Jerusalem +and know everything about the goings on there, and are +with us in this—that the Lord don't want no more fat +rams and goats and bullocks, and incense is hateful in +his nostrils. So I've heard. They be Isaiah's words, +aren't they, young Master? But there's no master here, +only Jesus: he is Master, and if I call you "Master" it +is from habit of beforetimes. But no offence intended. +You always will be master for me, and I'll be servant +always in a sense, which won't prevent us from being +brothers. The Master yonder will understand and will +explain it all to you better than I.... And Peter +nodded his great head covered with frizzly hair. But, +Peter, I am a rich man, and my father is too, and none +but the poor is admitted into the Community of Jesus. +That's what affrights him, Peter—his money, Philip +interjected, and I have been trying to make him understand +that Jesus won't ask him for his father's money, he +not having it to give away. I'm not so sure of that, Peter +said. The Master told us a story yesterday of a steward +who took his master's money and gave it to the poor, +he being frightened lest the poor, whom he hadn't been +over-good to in his lifetime, might not let him into +heaven when he died. And the Master seemed to think +that he did well, for he said: it is well to bank with the +poor. Them were his very words. So it seems to thee, +Peter, that I should take my father's money? Joseph +asked. Take your father's money! Peter answered. We +wouldn't wrong your father out of the price of two +perch, and never have done, neither myself nor John and +James. Now I won't say as much for—— We love your +father, and never do we forget that when our nets were +washed away it was he that gave us new ones. I am +sure thou wouldst not wrong my father, Joseph answered, +and he refrained from asking Peter to explain the +relevancy of the story he had just told lest he should +entangle him. It is better, he said to himself, to +keep to facts, and he told Peter that even his own +money was not altogether his own money, for he had +a partner in Jericho and it would be hard to take his +money out of the business and give it all to the poor. +Giving it to the poor in Galilee, he said, would deprive +my camel-drivers of their living. Which, Peter observed, +would be a cruel thing to do, for a man must be allowed +to get his living, whether he be from Jericho or Galilee, +fisher or camel-driver or sail-maker. Which reminds +me, Philip, that thou be'st a long time over the +sail I was to have had at the end of last month. And +the twain began to wrangle so that Joseph thought +they would never end, so prolix was Philip in his +explanations. He had had to leave the sail unsewn, +was all he had to say, but he embroidered on this simple +fact so largely that Joseph lost patience and began to +tell them he had come to Galilee, Pilate wishing him +to add the portage of wheat from Moab to the trade +already started in figs and dates. So Pilate is in the +business, Peter ejaculated, for Peter did not think that +a Jew should have any dealings with Gentiles, and this +opinion, abruptly expressed, threw the discourse again +into disarray. But Pilate is in Jerusalem, Joseph began. +And has he brought the Roman eagles with him? Peter +interrupted. And seeing that these eagles would lead +them far from the point which he was anxious to have +settled—whether the trade he was doing between +Jerusalem and Jericho prevented him from being a +disciple—Joseph began by assuring Peter that the eagles +had been sent back to Cæsarea. Cæsarea, Peter muttered, +our Master has been there, and says it is as full +as it can hold of graven images. Well, Peter, what I have +come to say is, that were I to disappoint Pilate he might +allow the robbers to infest the hills again, and all my +money would be lost, and my partner's money, and the +camel-drivers would be killed; and if my convoys did +not arrive in Jerusalem there might be bread riots. How +would you like that, Peter?</p> + +<p>Now what do ye say to that, Peter? and Philip +looked up into Peter's great broad face. Only this, +Peter answered, that money will shipwreck our Community +sooner or later—we're never free from it. +Like a fly, Philip suggested, the more we chase it away +the more it returns. The fly cannot resist a sweating +forehead, Philip, Peter said. Thine own is more +sweaty than mine, Philip retorted, and a big blue fly is +drinking his belly full though thou feelest him not, being +as callous as a camel. The Master's teaching is, Peter +continued, having driven off the fly, that no man should +own anything, that everyone should have the same rights, +which seems true enough till we begin to put it into +practice, for if I were to let whosoever wished take my +boats and nets to go out fishing, my boats and nets would be +all at the bottom of the lake before the sun went down +as like as not, for all men don't understand fishing. As +we must have fish to live I haven't parted with my boats; +but every time we take that turning down yonder to the +lake's edge and I see my boats rocking I offer up a little +prayer that the Master may be looking the other way +or thinking of something else. James and John, sons of +Zebedee, are of the same mind as myself—that we +shouldn't trouble the Master too closely with the working +out of his teaching. The teaching is the thing. Why, +they be coming towards us, as sure as my name's Simon +Peter, sent perhaps by the Master to fetch us, so long have +we been away talking.</p> + +<p>Joseph turned to greet the two young men, whom he +had known always; as far back as he could remember he +had talked to them over the oars, and seen them let down +the nets and draw up the nets, and they had hoisted the +sail for his pleasure, abandoning the fishing for the day, +knowing well that Joseph's father would pay them for +the time they lost in pleasing his son. And now they +were young men like himself, only they knew no Greek; +rough young men, of simple minds and simple life, who +were drawn to Jesus—James a lean man, whose small sullen +eyes, dilatory speech and vacant little laugh used to annoy +Joseph. James always asked him to repeat the words +though he had heard perfectly. Joseph liked John better, +for his mind was sturdy and his voice grew sullen at any +word of reproof and his eyes flamed, and Joseph wondered +what might be the authority that Jesus held over him, a +rough turbulent fellow, whom Joseph had always feared a +little; even now in their greeting there was a certain dread +in Joseph, which soon vanished, for John's words were +outspoken and hearty. We're glad to have you back again +amongst us, Master, I've been saying since I left Capernaum +this morning. But "Master" is a word, John, that I've +heard isn't used among you. Truly it is not used among +the brotherhood, John answered. And I came to ask +admission, Joseph said. Well, that be good news, Master—brother +I should say, for our Master will be glad to meet +thee. But that, Philip began, is just the matter we were +speaking of among ourselves before we saw thee coming +towards us. For there be a difficulty. He be as earnest +as any of us, but our rule is what thou knowest it to be. +Despite John's knowledge of the rule Philip began the +story, and again he was so prolix in it that Joseph, wishing +John to decide on the strict matter of it, and not to be +lost in details, some of which were true and some of which +were false and all confused in Philip's telling, interrupted +the narrator, saying that he would give all the money that +was strictly his, but his father's he couldn't give nor his +partner's. We've many camels, he said, in common, and +how are these to be divided? Nor is it right, it seems to +me, that my partner should be left with the burden of all the +trade we have created together; yet it is hard that I who +have sought Jesus in the deserts of Judea as far as Egypt, +and found him in Galilee, at home, should be forced to +range myself apart from him, with whom my heart is. +Would that the Master were here to hear him speak, +Philip interjected. He was with the Master last night, and +the Master was well pleased with him. It all depends on +what mood the Master be in, John answered, and they all +fell to asking each other what the Master's mood was +that morning. But it would seem that all read him +differently, and it was with joy at the prospect of a new +opinion that they viewed Judas coming towards them.</p> + +<p>And taking Judas into the discussion Peter said: now +I've two boats, and John and James have four, so we aren't +without money though our riches are small compared with +the young Master's. Are we to sell our boats and give the +money to the poor, and if we do who then will look after +the Master's wants? They are small it is true, a bit of +fish and bread every day, and a roof over his head; but +who will give him a roof if mine be taken from me? Is +not this so? All seemed in agreement, and Peter continued: +I am thinking, John, that our new brother might +help us to buy the Master a new cloak, for his is falling to +pieces and my wife's mother is weary with patching it. +He cured her of the fever, but she thinks that a great cost +is put upon me and would ask the Master something for +his keep. Whereupon John spoke out that the story of +his mother-in-law was for ever the same; and seeing that +he was offending Peter with the words he addressed +against his wife's mother, though indeed Peter liked her +not too much himself, Joseph put his hand in his pocket +and said: here are some shekels, go and buy Jesus a +cloak, but say not to him whence the money came.</p> + +<p>Say not to him! Judas interjected. No need to tell +him that can read the thoughts in the mind. It would be +better for the young Master to give him one of his old +cloaks. Jesus would question the new cloak and say it +savours of money. He sees into the heart. We have tried +to keep things from him before, Judas continued turning +to Joseph.... It is our duty to save him as much as we +can. Peter has done much and I've shared the expense +with Peter, though I am a poor man; we pick the stones +from his path, for he walks with his eyes fixed upon the +Kingdom of God always. Yes, he sees into our hearts, +Philip interrupted, and reads through all we are thinking +even before the thoughts come into our minds. It is as +Philip says, Judas muttered: our hearts are open to him +always. But James, who had not spoken till now, put +forward the opinion, and no one seemed inclined to gainsay +it, that if Jesus knew men's thoughts before they came +into men's minds he must be warned of them by the +angels. He goes into the solitude of the mountains to +converse with the angels, James said—for what else? +Moses went into the clefts of Mount Sinai, Joseph added, +and he asked Peter to tell him if Jesus believed that the +soul existed apart from the body, at which question Peter +was fairly embarrassed, for the soul must be somewhere, +he said, and if there be no body to contain it—— You must +ask the Master about these things, we have not considered +them. All the same we are glad that you are with us and +ready to follow him into danger, for if the Sadducees and +Pharisees are against him we are with him. Is that not so, +sons of Zebedee?</p> + +<p>At the challenge the two lads came forward again and +all began to talk of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the +enthusiasm of the disciples catching upon Joseph he, too, +was soon talking of the Kingdom that was to come, and +whether they should all go down to Jerusalem together +to meet the Kingdom and share it, or wait for it to appear +in Galilee. Share and share alike, Joseph said. Ay, ay, +sure we shall, and enjoy it, Peter rolled out at his elbow. +But we must set our hearts in patience, for there be a rare +lot to be converted yet. Every man must have his chance, +and seeing Jesus coming towards him Peter waited till +Jesus was by him. Haven't I thy promise, Master, he +asked, laying his hand on Jesus' shoulder, that my chair +in Kingdom Come will be next to thine? Before Jesus +could answer John and James asked him if their chairs +would not be on his left and right. But not next to the +Master's, Peter answered. I'm on the right hand of the +Master, and my brother Andrew on the left. Look into +his face and read in it that I have said well. But the +disciples were not minded to read the Master's face as +Peter instructed them to read it, and might have come to +gripping each other's throats if Jesus had not asked them +if they would have the fat in the narrow chairs and the +thin in the wide, as often happens in this world. The +spectacle of Peter trying to sit on James' chair set them +laughing, and as if to make an end of an unseemly disputation +John asked the Master whither they were going +to cure the sick that day? To which question Jesus made +no answer, for he felt no power on him that day to cure +the sick or to cast out demons. You'll see him do these +things on another occasion, Peter whispered in Joseph's +ear; to-day he's deep in one of his meditations, and we +dare not ask him whither he be going, but must just +follow him. As likely as not he'll lead us up into the hills +for—— But I see Salome coming this way. You know her +sons, John and James. The woman bears me an ill will +and would have my chair set far down, belike as not +between Nathaniel and Philip, who as you have noticed +do not hold their heads very high in our company. But +let us hasten a little to hear what she has to say. Listen, +'tis as I said, Master, Peter continued; you heard her ask +him that her sons should sit on either side of him. Now +mark his answer, if he answers her; I doubt if he will, so +dark is his mood.</p> + +<p>But dark though it was he answered her with a seeming +cheerfulness that in the coming world there is neither +weariness of spirit nor of body, and therefore chairs are +not set in heaven. A fine answer that, and Peter chuckled; +too wise for thee. Go home and ponder on it. We shall +lie on couches when we are not flying, he added, and +being in doubt he asked Joseph if the heavenly host +was always on the wing. A question that seemed somewhat +silly to Joseph, though he could not have given his +reason for thinking it silly. Peter called on Jesus to +hasten for the disciples were half way up the principal +street at a turning whither their way led through the +town by olive garths and orchards, and finding a path +through these they came upon green corn sown in patches +just beginning to show above ground, and the fringe of +the wood higher up the hillside—some grey bushes with +young oaks starting through them, still bare of leaves, +ferns beginning to mark green lanes into the heart +of the woods, and certain dark wet places where the +insects had already begun to hum. But when the +wood opened out the birds were talking to one another, +blackbird to blackbird, thrush to thrush, robin to robin, +kin understanding kin, and every bird uttering vain +jargon to them that did not wear the same beak and +feathers, just like ourselves, Joseph said to himself and he +stood stark before a hollow into which he remembered +having once been forbidden to stray lest a wolf should +pounce upon him suddenly. Now he was a man, he +was among men, and all had staves in their hands, and +the thoughts of wolves departed at the sight of a wild +fruit tree before which Jesus stopped, and calling John +and James to him, as if he had forgotten Peter, he said: +you see that tree covered with beautiful blossoms, but +the harsh wind which is now blowing along the hillside +will bear many of the blossoms away before the fruit +begins to gather. And the birds will come and destroy +many a berry before the plucker comes to pick the few +that remain for the table. How many of you that are +gathered about me now—— He stopped suddenly, and +his eyes falling on John he addressed his question directly +to him as if he doubted that Peter would apprehend +the significance of the parable. But Joseph, whom it +touched to the quick, was moved to cry out, Master, +I understand; restraining himself, however, or his natural +diffidence restraining him, he could only ask Peter to +ask Jesus for another parable. Peter reproved Joseph, +saying that it were not well to ask anything from the +Master at present, but that his mood might improve +during the course of the afternoon. Thomas, who did +not know the Master as well as Peter, could not keep +back the question that rose to his lips. Our trade, he +said, is in apricots, but is it the same with men as with +the apricots, or shall we live to see the fruit that thou +hast promised us come to table? Whereupon James and +John began to ask which were the blossoms among them +that would be eaten by the birds and insects and which +would wither in the branches. Shall I feed the insects, +Master? Matthew asked, or shall I be eaten by the birds? +A question that seemed to everyone so stupid that none +was surprised that Jesus did not answer it, but turning to +Philip he asked him: canst thou not, Philip, divine my +meaning? But Philip, though pleased to come under the +Master's notice, was frightened, and could think of no +better answer than that the apricots they would eat in +Paradise would be better. For there are no harsh winds +in Paradise, isn't that so, Master? Thy question is no +better than Salome's, Jesus answered, who sees Paradise +ranged with chairs. Then everyone wondered if there +were no chairs nor apricots in Paradise of what good +would Paradise be to them; and were dissatisfied with the +answer that Jesus gave to them, that the soul is satisfied +in the love of God as the flower in the sun. But with +this answer they had to content themselves, for so dark +was his face that none dared to ask another question till +Matthew said: Master, we would understand thee fairly. +If there be no chairs nor apricots in Paradise there cannot +be a temple wherein to worship God. To which Jesus +answered: God hath no need of temples in Paradise, nor +has he need of any temple except the human heart +wherein he dwells. It is not with incense nor the blood +of sheep and rams that God is worshipped, but in the +heart and with silent prayers unknown to all but God +himself, who knows all things. And the day is coming, +I say unto you, when the Son of Man shall return with +his Father to remake this world afresh, but before that +time comes you would do well to learn to love God in +your hearts, else all my teaching is vainer than any of +the things in this world that ye are accustomed to look +upon as vain. Upon this he took them to a mountain-side +where the rock was crumbling, and he said: you see +this crumbling rock? Once it held together, now it is +falling into sand, but it shall be built up into rock again, +and again it shall crumble into sand. At which they +drew together silent with wonder, each fearing to ask +the other if the Master were mad, for though they could +see that the rock might drift into sand, they could not +see how sand might be built up again into rock.</p> + +<p>Master, how shall we know thee when thou returnest +to us? Wilt thou be changed as the rock changes? +Wilt thou be sand or rock? It was Andrew that had +spoken; and Philip answered him that the Master will +return in a chariot of fire, for he was angry that a fellow +of Andrew's stupidity should put questions to Jesus +whether they were wise or foolish; but could they be +aught else than foolish coming from him? Andrew, +persisting, replied: but we may not be within sight of +the Master when he steps out of his chariot of fire, and +we are only asking for a token whereby we may know +him from his Father. My Father and thy Father, +Andrew, Jesus answered, the Father of all that has +lived, that lives, and that shall live in the world; and +the law over the rock that crumbles into sand and the +sand that is built up into rock again, was in that rock +before Abraham was, and will abide in it and in the +flower that grows under the rock till time everlasting. +But, Master, wilt thou tell us if the rock we are looking +upon was sand or rock in the time of Abraham? Philip +asked, and Jesus answered him: my words are not then +plain, that before that rock was and before the sand out +of which the rock was built, was God's love—that which +binds and unbinds enduring always though the rock pass +into sand and the sand into rock a thousand times.</p> + +<p>And it was then that a disciple poked himiself up to +Jesus to ask him if they were not to believe the +Scriptures. He answered him that the Scriptures were +no more than the love of God. This answer did not quell +the dissidents, but caused them to murmur more loudly +against him, and Jesus, though he must have seen that he +was about to lose some disciples, would retract nothing. +The Scriptures are, he repeated, but the love of God. He +that came to betray him said: and the Gentiles that +haven't the Scriptures? Jesus answered that all men that +have the love of God in their hearts are beloved by God. +Is it then of no value to come of the stock of Abraham? +the man asked, and Jesus replied: none, but a loss if ye do +not love God, for God asks more from those whose minds +he has opened than from those whose minds he has +suffered to remain shut. At which Peter cried: though +there be not a pint of wine in all heaven we will follow +thee, and though there be no fish in heaven but the scaleless +that the Gentiles eat—— He stopped suddenly and +looked at Jesus, saying: there are no Gentiles in heaven. +Heaven is open to all men that love God, Jesus said, and +after these words he continued to look at Peter, but like +one that sees things that are not before him; and the +residue followed him over the hills, saying to themselves: +he is thinking about this journey to Jerusalem, and then +a little later one said to the others: he is in commune +with the spirits that lead him, asking them to spare him +this journey, for he knows that the Pharisees will rise up +against him, and will stone him if he preach against the +Temple. What else should he preach against? asked +another disciple; and they continued to watch Jesus, +trying to gather from his face what his thoughts might +be, thinking that his distant eyes might be seeking a +prediction of the coming kingdom in the sky. We might +ask him if he sees the kingdom coming this way, an +apostle whispered in the ear of another, and was forthwith +silenced, for it was deemed important that the Master +should never be disturbed in his meditations, whatever +they might be.</p> + +<p>He stood at gaze, his apostles and his disciples watching +from a little distance, recalling the day his dog Coran +refused to follow him, and seeing that the dog had +something on his mind, he left his flock in charge of the +other dogs and followed Coran to the hills above the +Brook Kerith, down a little crumbling path to Elijah's +cave. He found John the Baptist, and recognising in +him Elijah's inheritor—at that moment a flutter of wings +in the branches awoke him from his reverie, and seeing +his disciples about him, he asked them whose inheritor +he was. Some said Elijah, some said Jeremiah, some +said Moses. As if dissatisfied with these answers, he +looked into their faces, as if he would read their souls, +and asked them to look up through the tree tops and +tell him what they could see in a certain space +of sky. In fear of his mood, and lest he might call +them feeble of sight or purblind, his disciples, or many +among them, fell to disputing among themselves as to +what might be discerned by human eyes in the cloud; +till John, thinking to raise himself in the Master's sight, +so it seemed to Joseph (who dared not raise his eyes to +the sky, but bent them on the earth), said that he could +see a chariot drawn by seven beasts, each having on its +forehead seven horns; the jaws of these beasts, he +averred, were like those of monkeys, and in their paws, he +said, were fourteen golden candlesticks. Andrew, being +misled by the colour of the cloud which was yellow, said +that the seven beasts were like leopards; whereas Philip +deemed that the beasts were not leopards, for him they +were bears; and they began to dispute one with the +other, some discerning the Father Almighty in a chariot, +describing him to be a man garmented in white; his hair +is like wool, they said. And seated beside him Matthew +saw the Son of Man with an open book on his knees. +But these visions, to their great trouble, did not seem to +interest Jesus; or not sufficiently for their intention; and +to the mortification of Peter and Andrew, James and John, +he turned to Thaddeus and Aristion and asked them what +they saw in the clouds, and partly because they were loath +to say they could see naught, and also thinking to please +him, they began to see a vision, and their vision was an +angel whom they could hear crying: at thy bidding, +O Lord; on which he emptied his vial into the Euphrates, +and forthwith the river was turned to blood. The second +angel crying likewise, at thy bidding, O Lord, emptied +his vial; and when the third angel had emptied his, +three animals of the shape of frogs crawled out of the +river; and then from over the mountains came a great +serpent to devour the frog-shapen beasts, and after devouring +them he vomited forth a great flood, and the woman +that had been seated on it was borne away. It was Thaddeus +that spoke the last words, and he would have continued +if Jesus' eyes had not warned him that the Master was +thinking of other things, perhaps seeing and hearing other +things. It is known to you all, he said, that Jeremiah +kneels at the steps of my Father's throne praying for the +salvation of Israel? Therefore tell me what is your +understanding of the words "praying for the salvation of +Israel"? Was the prophet praying that Israel might be +redeemed from the taxes the Romans had imposed upon +them? Being without precise knowledge of how much +remission Jeremiah might obtain for them, it seemed to +them that it would be well to say that Jeremiah was +praying to God to delay no longer, but send the Messiah +he had promised. At which Jesus smiled and asked them +if the Messiah would remit the taxes; and the disciples +answered craftily that the Messiah would set up the +Kingdom of God on earth: in which kingdom no taxes +are levied, Jesus replied. Come, he said, let us sit upon +these rocks and talk of the great prophecies, for I would hear +from you how you think the promised kingdom will come to +pass. And the disciples answered, one here, one there, +and then in twos and threes. But, Master, thou knowest +all these things, since it is to thee our Father has given +the task of establishing his Kingdom upon earth; tell us, +plague us no longer with dark questions. We are not +alone, Thaddeus cried, a rich man's son is amongst us. If +he have come amongst us God has sent him, Jesus said, and +we should have no fear of riches, since we desire them +not. This kindness heartened Joseph, who dared to ask +Jesus how he might disburden himself of the wealth that +would come to him at his father's death.</p> + +<p>As no such dilemma as Joseph's had arisen before, all +waited to hear Jesus, but his thoughts having seemingly +wandered far, they all fell to argument and advised Joseph +in so many different ways that he did not know to whom +to accede so contradictory were all their notions of fairness; +and, the babble becoming louder, it waked Jesus out of +his mood, and catching Joseph's eyes, he asked him if he +whom our Father sent to establish his Kingdom on earth +would not have to give his life to men for doing it. A +question that Joseph could not answer; and while he +sought for the Master's meaning the disciples began again +aloud to babble and to put questions to the Master, +hurriedly asking him why he thought he must die before +going up to heaven. Did not Elijah, they asked, ascend +into heaven alive in his corporeal body?—and the cloak +he left with Elisha, Aristion said, might be held to be a +symbol of the fleshly body. This view was scorned, for the +truth of the Scriptures could not be that the disciples +inherited not the spiritual power of the prophet, but his +fleshly show. Then the fate of Judas the Gaulonite +rising up in Peter's mind, he said: but, Master, we shall +not allow thee to be slain on a cross and given as food to +the birds. The disciples raised their staves, crying, we're +with thee, Master, and the forest gave back their oaths +in echoes that seemed to reach the ends of the earth; +and when the echoes ceased a silence came up from +the forest that shut their lips, and, panic-stricken, all +would have run away if Peter had not drawn the sword +which he had brought with him in case of an attack by +wolves, and swore he would strike the man down that +raised his hand against the Master. To which Jesus replied +that every man is born to pursue a destiny, and that he had +long known that his led to Jerusalem, whereupon Peter +cried out: we'll defend thee from thyself; for which words +Jesus reproved him, saying that to try to save a man from +himself were like trying to save him from the decree that +he brings into the world with his blood. And what is mine, +Master? It may be, Jesus answered, to return to thy fishing. +Whereupon Peter wept, saying: Master, if we lose thee +we're as sheep that have lost their shepherd, a huddled, +senseless flock on the hillside, for we have laid down our +nets to follow thee, believing that the Kingdom of God +would come down here in Galilee rather than in +Jerusalem; pray that it may descend here, for thou'lt +be safer here, Master; we have swords and staves to +defend thee—so let us kneel in prayer and ask the +Lord that he choose Galilee rather than Judea for the +setting up of his kingdom. To which Jesus answered +nothing, and his face was as if he had not heard Peter; +and then Peter's fears for Jesus' life, should he go to +Jerusalem, seemed to pass on from one to the other, till +all were possessed by the same fear, and Peter said: let +us lift up our hearts to our Father in Heaven and pray +that Jesus be not taken from us. Let us kneel, he said, +and they all knelt and prayed, but to their supplication +Jesus seemed indifferent. And seeing they were unable to +dissuade him from Jerusalem, Peter turned to Joseph. Here +is one, he said, who knows the perils of Jerusalem and will +bear witness, that if thou preach that God have no need of +a Temple or a sacrifice, thou'lt surely be done to death by +the priests.</p> + +<p>Peter's sudden appeal to his knowledge of the priests +of Jerusalem awoke Joseph, who was wholly absorbed in +his love of Jesus, and thought only of rushing forward and +worshipping; but he was held back and strained forward +at the same time, and seeing he was overcome, Peter did +not press him for an answer, and Joseph fell back among +the crowd, ashamed, thinking that if Peter came to him +again he would speak forthright. He had words that +would bring him into the sympathy of Jesus, but instead +of speaking them he stood, held at gaze by the beauty of +the bright forehead, large and arched; and so exalted were +the eyes that Joseph could not think else than that Jesus +was looking upon things that his disciples did not see. +It seemed to Joseph that Jesus was meditating whether +he should confide all he saw and heard to his disciples. +He waited, tremulous with expectation, watching the +thin scrannel throat out of which rose a voice to which +the ear became attuned quickly and was gratified as by a +welcome dissonance. It rose up among the silence of the +pines, and the delight of listening to it, Joseph thought, +was so near to intoxication that he would have pressed +forward if he had not remembered suddenly that he was +a new-comer into the community; one who might at any +moment be driven out of it because he possessed riches +which he could not unburden himself of. So he kept his +seat in the background among the casual followers, by +two men whose accents told him they were Samaritans, +and these now seemed within the last few minutes to +have become opposed to Jesus, and Joseph wondered at +the change that had come over them and lent an ear to +their discourse so that he might discover a reason for it. +And it was not long before he discovered that their +objection related to the Book of Daniel, for they were of +the sort that receive no Scriptures after the five Books +of the Law.</p> + +<p>Joseph knew the book less perhaps than any other +book of the Scriptures; he had looked into it with Azariah, +but for a reason which he could not now discover he had +read it with little attention; and since his schooldays he +had not looked into it again. Peter and Andrew and John +and James were listening intently to the story of Nebuchadnezzar's +dream for the sake of the story related and without +thought of what might be Jesus' purpose in relating it. +But to Joseph Jesus' purpose was the chief interest of the +relation; and the purpose became apparent when he began +to tell how the great statue seen by Nebuchadnezzar in +his dream, whose head was gold, whose arms and breast +were silver, whose belly was brass, and whose legs and feet +were iron and clay intermingled, was overthrown by a +stone that hand had not cut out of the mountain. This +stone became forthwith as big as a mountain and filled +the whole earth, and Joseph fell to thinking if this stone +were the fifth kingdom which the Messiah would set up +when the Roman kingdom had fallen to dust, or whether the +stone were the Messiah himself. And while Joseph sat +thinking he heard suddenly that when Nebuchadnezzar +looked into the furnace and saw the four men whom he +had ordered to be thrown into it walking through the +flames safely, he said: and the form of the fourth is like +the son of God.</p> + +<p>The story wholly delighted the disciples; and they asked +Jesus to tell them the further adventures of Daniel, and +as if wishing to humour them he began to relate that +a hand had appeared writing on the wall during the great +feast at Babylon, a story to which Joseph could give but +little heed, for his imagination was controlled by the words, +"whose form is like the son of God"—an inspiration on +the part of the Babylonian king. If ever a man had +seemed since to another like the son of God, Jesus was +that man; and Joseph asked himself how it was that these +words had passed over the ears of the disciples—over the +ears of those who knew Jesus' mind, if any could be said to +know Jesus' mind. Jesus, though he lived near them and +loved them, lived in the world of his own thoughts, which, +so it seemed to Joseph, he could not share with anybody. +Not one of the men he had gathered about him, neither +Peter, nor John, nor James, had noticed the notable +words: "And the form of the fourth is like the son of +God." It was for these words, Joseph felt sure, that +Jesus had related the story of Daniel in the furnace. +But his disciples had not apprehended the significance; +and like one whose confidence was unmoved by the slowness +or the quickness of his listeners, almost as if he knew +that the real drift of his speech was beyond his hearers, +Jesus began to tell that Darius' counsellors had combined +into a plot against Daniel and succeeded in it so well that +Daniel and his companions were cast in a den of lions. +But there being nothing in the story that pointed to the +setting up of the Kingdom of God upon earth, Joseph +was puzzled to understand why Jesus was at pains to +relate it at such length. Was it to amuse his disciples? +he asked himself, but no sooner had he put the question +to himself than the purpose of the relation passed into +his mind. Jesus had told the marvellous stories of +Daniel's escapes from death so that his disciples might +have no fear that the priests of Jerusalem would have +power to destroy him: whomsoever God sends into the +world to do his work, Jesus would have us understand, +are under God's protection for ever and ever; and Joseph +rejoiced greatly at having discovered Jesus' intent, and +for a long time the glen, the silent forest and the men +sitting listening to the Master were all forgotten by him. +He even forgot the Master's presence, so filled was he by +the abundant hope that his divination of the Master's +intent marked him out as one to be associated with the +Master's work—more than any one of those now listening +to him, more than Peter himself.</p> + +<p>And so sweet was his reverie to him that he regretted +the passing of it as a misfortune, but finding he was in +spirit as well as in body among realities, he lent his ear to +the story of the four winds that had striven upon the +great sea and driven up four great beasts. These beasts +Joseph readily understood to be but another figuration of +the four great empires; the Babylonian, the Persian, and +the Grecian had been blown away like dust, and as soon +as the fourth, the Roman Empire, was broken into pieces +the kingdom of the whole world would be given to the +people of the saints of the Most High. It was Philip the +nearly hunchback that asked Jesus for an explanation of +this vision—saying, and obtaining the approval of several +for the question, would he, Jesus, acquiesce in this sharing +of the earth among the angels who had not seen him, nor +heard him, nor served him upon earth. If the earth is to +be shared among the angels we follow thee in vain, he +muttered; and Joseph felt that he could never speak +freely again with Philip for having dared to interrupt the +Master and weary him with questions that a child could +answer. To whom Philip said: but you, young Master, +that have received good instruction in Hebrew and Greek +from the scribe Azariah, and have travelled far, do you +answer my question. If the earth is to be shared among +angels—— He was not allowed to repeat more of his +question, for a clamour of explanation began among the +disciples that the earth would not be shared among +the angels of God—God would find his people repentant +when he arrived with his son. At last the assembly +settled themselves to listen to the story of the vision in +which a ram pushed westward and northward and southward, +till a he-goat came from the west—one with a +notable horn between the eyes, and butted the ram till +he had broken his two horns. Joseph had forgotten +these visions, and he learnt for the first time, so it seemed +to him, that the goat meant the Syrian king, Antiochus, +who had conquered Jerusalem, polluted the sanctuary and +set up heathen gods. But how are all these visions +concerned with the setting up of the Kingdom of God +on earth? and Jesus' purpose did not appear to him till +Daniel heard a voice between the banks of the Ula +crying: make this man understand. Joseph understood +forthwith that Jesus' purpose was still the same, to make +it plain to the disciples that Daniel was protected and +guided by God, and, that being so, Jesus could go to +Jerusalem fearing nothing, he being greater than Daniel. +So he sat immersed in belief, hearing but faintly the +many marvellous things that Daniel heard and saw, nor +did he awake from his reverie till Jesus announced that +Gabriel flew about Daniel at the hour of the evening +oblation, telling him that seventy weeks was the measure +of time allowed by God to make reconciliation for iniquity +and bring everlasting righteousness, and build Jerusalem +unto the Messiah; and that after three score and two +weeks the Messiah should be cut off but not for himself.</p> + +<p>The words "cut off but not for himself" troubled Joseph, +and he pondered them, while the disciples marvelled at +hearing Jesus speak of these things (he seemed to know +the Scriptures by rote), and his voice went upward into +the silence of the firs, and they heard as if in a dream +that the king of the south should come into his kingdom +and return to his own land. But his sons shall be stirred +up and shall revolt against him, Jesus said, and the disciples +marvelled greatly, for Jesus made clear the meaning that +lay under these dark sayings, and they heard and understood +how the robbers of the people should exalt themselves +and establish a vision; but these shall fall and the king of +the north shall come and cast up mounds and take the +fortified cities. And they heard of destructions and +leagues and armies and sanctuaries that were polluted, +and of peoples who did not know their God, but who +nevertheless became strong; and they heard of Edom +and Moab and the children of Ammon, but at the end +of all these troubles the Tabernacle was placed between +the seas of the glorious holy mountain. And that day +the fishers from the lake of Galilee and others heard that +Michael had told the people of Israel that those that were +dead should rise out of the earth and come into everlasting +life. But can the dead be raised up and come +to life in their corruptible bodies? asked the Samaritans +that sat by Joseph, and their mutterings grew louder, +and they denied that the prophet Daniel had spoken +truth in this and many other things, and as he had not +spoken truth he was a false prophet; whereupon so great +a clamour arose that the wild beasts in the ravine began +to growl, being awaked in their lairs. The disciples, +foreseeing that it would soon be dark night in the forest, +fell to seeking the way back to Capernaum, the Galileans +in one group with Jesus among them, the Samaritans +speeding away together and stopping at times for fresh +discussion with the Galileans, asking among many other +things how the corruptible body might be raised up to +heaven and live indulging in the many imperfections +inherent in our bodies. It was vain to ask them what +justice there would be if the men that had died before +the coming of the Kingdom of God were not raised up +into heaven. If this were true the dead had led virtuous +lives in vain; they might for all it had profited them have +lived like the heathen.</p> + +<p>It was at Capernaum that the truth became manifest +that not only was Daniel denied, but Isaiah, Jeremiah, +Ezekiel, all the prophets since Moses, at which the +disciples were greatly incensed and raised their staves +against the Samaritans, but Jesus dissuaded his followers, +and the dissidents were suffered to depart unhurt. Let +them go, Jesus said, for they are in the hands of God, +like ourselves, and he bade them all good-night, and there +seemed to Joseph to be a great sadness in Jesus' voice, +as if he felt that in this world there was little else but +leave-taking.</p> + +<p>Joseph too resented this parting, though it was for but +a few hours; he would unite himself to Jesus, become +one, as the mother and the unborn babe are one—he +would be of the same mind and flesh; all division seemed +to him loss, till, frightened at his own great love of Jesus, +he stopped in the Plain of Gennesaret, star-gazing. But +the stars told him nothing, and he walked on again. And +it was about a half-hour's walk from Magdala that he +overtook the Samaritans, who sought to draw him into +argument. But he was in no humour for further discussion, +and dismissed them, saying: what matter if all the +prophets were false since the promised Messiah is among +us. He has come, he has come! he repeated all the +way home: and at every flight of the high stairs he +tried to collect his thoughts. But his brain was whirling, +and he could only repeat: he has come, he has come!</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XIV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It seemed to Joseph as he hurried along the Plain of +Gennesaret that the sun shone gayer than his wont, but +as he approached Capernaum he began to think that +the sun had risen a little earlier than his wont. Nobody +was about! He listened in vain for some sound of life, +till at last his ear caught a sound as of somebody moving +along the wharves, and, going thither, he came upon Peter +storing his oars in the boathouse. Making ready, Joseph +said, for fishing? You don't see, Master, that I'm putting +my oars away, but I'd as lief take them out again and +fish till evening. Here was a mysterious answer from the +least mysterious of men, and Peter continued in his work, +throwing the oars into a corner like one that cared little +if he broke them, and kicking his nets aside as if he +were never going to let them down again into the lake: +altogether his mood was of an exasperation such as Joseph +had never suspected to be possible in this good-humoured, +simple fellow. Had he been obliged to leave the community +or sell his boats? If that were so, his chance +(Joseph's chance) of entering the community was a poor +one indeed; and he begged Peter to relate his trouble +to him—for trouble there had been last night, he was +sure of it.</p> + +<p>Trouble there always is in this world, Peter answered, +so long as I've known it, and will be till God sets up his +kingdom. The sooner he does it the better, so say +I. But I don't know about the saints we heard of +yesterday, what they have to do with it. The Master's +mood is stranger than I ever can recollect it, he said, +standing up straight and looking Joseph in the eyes. It +was yourself that said it yesterday, Peter, Joseph rejoined. +I'm thinking it may have been the Samaritans that +vexed him. Peter lifted his heavy shoulders and +muttered: the Samaritans? We give no heed to them: +and he began to speak, at first with diffidence; Joseph +had to woo him into speaking, which he did; but +after the first few minutes Peter was glib enough, telling +Joseph that last night there had been stirs and quarrels +among the disciples regarding his boats, and John's and +James' boats too, he said, and by the jealous and envious, +he muttered, who would like to come between us and the +Master. Joseph asked who had raised the vexatious +question, but Peter avoided it, and went about the wharf +grunting that none could answer it: was it to Matthew, +the publican, he was to give his boats? one, he said, who +never was on the water in his life till I took him out for +a sail a week come Tuesday. A fine use they'd be to him +but to drown himself. A puff of wind, and not knowing +how to take in a reef, the boat would be over in a jiffy and +the nets lost. Now who would be the better for the loss +of my nets? answer me that. And I'd like to be told +when my boats and nets were at the bottom of the lake +to whom would the Son of Man turn for a corner in +which to lay his head, or for a bite or a sup of wine. +John and James would give their boats to Judas belike, +and he'd bring home about as much fish as would—— But +I'm thinking of your father. What will he be saying +to all this, and his business dwindling all the while, and +we beggars?—the words with which my wife roused me +this morning. Of course, says she, if the stone that +never was cut out of the mountain with hands is going to +be slung and send the Romans toppling, I've naught to +say against sharing, but the Kingdom had better come +quickly, Simon Peter, if thou'lt fish no more; and the +woman is right, say I, though I hold with every word +that falls from the Master's lips, only this way it is, he +looks to my fishing for his support, and Miriam is quick +to remind me of that. A good woman, one that has been +always yielding to my will and never had a word against +our lodger, but sets the best before him out of thankfulness +for his saving of her mother's life, though one more +mouth in a house is always a drain, if the Master is +as easily fed as a sparrow. But restive she is now about +the delay: as I was saying just now she wakes me up +with a loud question in my ear: now, Simon Peter, +answer me, art thou going into Syria to bid the blind +to see, the lame to walk, and the palsied to shake no +more, or art thou going to thy trade? for in this house +there be four little children, myself, their mother, and +thy mother-in-law. I say nothing against the journey +if it bring thee good money, or if it bring the Kingdom, +but if it bring naught but miracles there'll be little +enough in the house to eat by the time ye come back. +And, says she, the feeding of his children is a nobler +work for a married man (she speaks like that sometimes) +than bidding those to see who would belike be better +without their eyes than with them. You wouldn't think +it, but 'tis as I say: she talks up to me like that, and +ofttimes I've to go to the Master and ask him to quiet +her, which he rarely fails to do, for she loves him for +what he has done for her mother, and is willing to wait. +But last night when the busybodies brought her news +that the Master had been preaching in the forest, of the +sharing of the world out among the holy saints, she gave +way to her temper and was violent, saying, by what +right are the saints of the most high coming here to ask +for a share of this world, as if they hadn't a heaven to +live in. You see, good Master, there's right on her side, +that's what makes it so hard to answer her, and I'm with +her in this, for by what right do the holy saints down +here ask for a share in the world, that's what keeps +drumming in my head; and, as I told you a while ago, +I'd as lief put out upon the lake and fish as go to Syria +for nothing, say the word—— And leave the Master to go +alone? Joseph interposed. Well, I suppose we can't do +that, Peter answered, and then it seemed to Joseph wiser +not to talk any more, but to allow things to fashion their +own course, which they did very amiably, in about an +hour's time the little band going forth, Joseph walking +by Peter's side, hoping that he would not have to wait +long before seeing a miracle.</p> + +<p>Their first stop was at Chorazin, about five miles distant, +and the sick began to rise quickly from their beds, and +Jesus had only to impose his hands for the palsied to +cease quivering. The laws of nature seemed suspended +and Joseph forgot his father at Magdala and likewise +Pilate's business which had brought him to Galilee. It +will have to wait, he said, talking with himself, and now +certain that he had come upon him whom he had always +been seeking; it was as lost time to look at anything but +Jesus, or to hear any words but his, or to admire aught but +the manifestations of his power; and every time a sick man +rose from his bed Joseph thanked God for having allowed +him to live in the days of the Messiah. He saw sight +restored to the blind, hearing to the deaf, swiftness of +foot to cripples, issues of blood that had endured ten +years stanched; the cleansing of the leper had become +too common a miracle; he looked forward to seeing +demons taking flight from the bodies of men and women, +and accepted Peter's telling that the day could not be +delayed much longer when he would see some dead man +rise up in his cere-clothes from the tomb. He found no +interest but in the miraculous, and his one vexation of +spirit was that Jesus forbade his disciples (among whom +Joseph now counted himself) to tell anybody that he +was the Messiah.</p> + +<p>In every town they were welcomed by the Gentiles +as well as by the Jews, which was surprising, and set +Joseph's wits to work; and these being well trained, +he soon began to apprehend that the Jews accepted +the miracles as testimony that Jesus was really the +Messiah and that his teaching was true; whereas the +Gentiles admired the miracles for their own sake, failing, +however, and completely, to see that because he +cured the blind, the palsied, the scrofulous and the halt, +they should no longer visit their temples and sacred +groves, and admire no more Pan's huge sexuality and +hang garlands upon it, nor carve images of Diana and +Apollo. Such abstinence they could not comprehend, and +deemed it enough that they were ready to proclaim him a +god on the occasion of every great miracle, a readiness +that gave great scandal and caused many Jews to turn away +from Jesus. It was not enough that he should repudiate +this godhead; and the hardness of heart and narrowness +of soul that he encountered among his own people +afflicted Jesus as much as did the incontinency of the +Gentiles, whom he sometimes met, bearing images in +procession, going towards some shrine—the very same +who had listened to his teaching in the evening. Joseph +once dared throw himself in front of one of these processions, +and he begged the processionists to Pan to +throw aside the garlands and wreaths they had woven. +This they would not do, but out of respect to the distinguished +strangers that had come to their town they +listened for some minutes to his relation that on the +last day the dead would be roused by the trumpets of +angels to attend the judgment and that the man Jesus +before them—the Messiah announced hundreds of years +ago in many a prophetic book—would return to earth +in a chariot of fire by his Father's side, the Judgment +Book in his hands. May we now proceed on our way? +they asked, but Joseph besought them to listen to him +for another few minutes, and thinking he had perhaps +explained the resurrection badly, and forthwith calling to +mind the philosophy of Egypt and Mathias, he asked +them to apprehend that it would not be the corruptible +body that would rise from the dead but the spiritual +body, whereby he only succeeded in perplexing still +further the minds of the worthy pagans of Cæsarea +Philippi, and provoking stirs and quarrels among his own +people.</p> + +<p>The processionists took advantage of this diversion of +opinion among the Jews to pass on and dispose of their +wreaths and votive offerings as it pleased them to do. But +on their way back they begged Jesus to perform some +more miracles, which he refused to do, and to their great +amazement he left them for the Tyrians and Sidonians. +But the same difficulties occurred in Tyre and Sidon, the +Gentiles accepting the miracles with delight but paying +little heed to the doctrine. They begged him to remain +with them and offered gifts for his services as healer, but +he refused these and returned to Galilee, having performed +miracles of all sorts, without, however, having bidden a +dead man rise from the grave, to the great disappointment +of Joseph, who would have liked to witness this miracle (the +greatest of all); seemingly it was not his lot. Peter bade +him hope!—the great miracle might happen in Galilee, and +as such a miracle would evince the truth of Jesus' Messiah-ship +even to his father, Joseph remained in Capernaum, +going out in the boats with Jesus and his disciples, sailing +along the shores till the people gathered in numbers +sufficient for an exhortation. As there were always many +Pharisees and Sadducees among the crowds assembled to +hear the Master, he did not land, but preached standing +up in the bow, Peter vigilant with an oar, for priests are +everywhere enemies of reformation and instigate attacks +upon reformers, and those made on Jesus were often so +violent that Peter had to strike out to the right and left, +but he always managed to get free, and they sailed for less +hostile coasts or back to the wharf at Capernaum.</p> + +<p>It once occurred to them to try their luck with the +Gadarenes, and it was in returning from their coasts one +evening that Peter's boat was caught in a great storm +and that Joseph was met by one of his father's servants as +he jumped ashore. The man had come to tell him that +if he wished to see his father alive he must hasten to +Magdala, and Joseph glared at him dumbfounded, for he +had suspected all along that he had little or no right at +all to leave his father for Jesus. I did not know I was +like this, he blurted out to himself. And as much to +silence his accusing conscience as anything else he +questioned the stupid messenger, asking him if his father +had seen a physician, and if the physician had held out +any hopes of a recovery. But the thin and halting account +which was all the messenger could give only increased +Joseph's alarm, and it was with much difficulty that he +learnt from him that the master had brought some walnuts +to the parrots, and just after giving a nut to the green +parrot had cried out to Tobias that a great pain had come +into his head. Joseph dug his heels into his ass's side +and cried to the messenger: and then? The messenger +answered that the pain in the back of his father's head +had become so great that he had begun to reel about, +overthrowing one of the parrots on its perch. The parrot +flew at master, thinking he had done it—— Never mind +the parrot, Joseph replied angrily, confusing the messenger, +who told him that the master had entered the house on +Tobias' arm, and had sat down to supper but had eaten +nothing to speak of. None of us dared to go to bed that +night, the messenger continued. We sat up, expecting +every moment somebody to come down from the room +overhead to tell us that the master was dead. The next +part of the messenger's story was like a tangled skein, and +Joseph half heard and half understood that the great +physician that had come from Tiberias had said that he +must awaken the master out of the swoon and at any cost. +He kept bawling at him, the messenger said. Bawling +at him, Joseph repeated after the messenger, and the +messenger repeated the words, bawling at him, and +saying that the physician said the master's swoon was +like a wall and that he must get him to hear him somehow. +He said the effort would cost your father, Sir, a great +deal, but he must get him to hear him. The story as +the servant related it seemed incredible, but he reflected +that servants' stories are always incredible, and Joseph +learned with increasing wonder that Dan had heard the +physician and sat up in bed and spoken reasonably, +but had fallen back again unconscious, and that the +physician on leaving him said that they must get his +mouth open somehow and pour a spoonful of milk into +his mouth, and call upon him as loudly as they could to +swallow. What physician have they sent for? Joseph +asked the messenger, but he could not remember the name.</p> + +<p>It was Ecanus who was sitting by Dan's bedside when +Joseph arrived, and Joseph learnt by careful nursing and +feeding him every ten minutes there was just a chance of +saving Dan's life.</p> + +<p>For seven days Dan's life receded, and it was not +till the eighth day the wheel of life paused on the edge +of the abyss. Dan, with his eyes turned up under the +eyelids, only the white showing, lay motionless; and +it was not till the morning of the ninth day that the +wheel began to revolve back again; but so slow were its +revolutions that Joseph was in doubt for two or three days. +But on the fifth day he was sure that Dan was mending, +and in about three days more the pupils of Dan's eyes +looked at his son's from under the eyelids. He spoke a +few words and took his milk more easily, without being +asked to swallow. The pains in his head returned with +consciousness; he often moaned; the doctor was obliged +to give him opiates, but he continued to mend and in three +weeks was speaking of going out to walk in the garden. +To gain his end he often showed a certain childish +cunning, urging Joseph on one occasion to go to the +verandah to see if somebody was coming up the garden, +and as soon as Joseph's back was turned he slipped out of +bed with the intention of getting to his clothes. He fell, +without, however, hurting himself, and was put back to +bed and kept there for three more weeks before he was +allowed a short walk. Even then the concession seemed +to be given too soon; for he could not distinguish the +different trees, nor could he see the parrots, though he +could hear them, and he remained in purblindness for +some two or three weeks; but his sight returned, and he +said to Joseph: that is a palm-tree and that is a pepper-tree. +Joseph answered that he said truly and hastened +across the garden to meet Ecanus, for he desired to ask +him privily if his father were out of all danger; and the +answer to his question was that Dan's life would pass away +in a swoon like the one he had just come out of, but he +might swoon many times—two or three times, perhaps +oftener—before he swooned for the last time. More than +that Ecanus could not say. A silence fell suddenly +between them, and wondering what term of life his father +had still to traverse before he swooned into eternity, +Joseph followed the physician through the wilting alleys, +seeking the shadiest parts, for the summer was well-nigh +upon them now.</p> + +<p>At the end of one of these, out of the sun's rays, the +old man lay propped up among cushions, dreaming, or +perhaps only conscious, of the refreshing breeze that +came and went away again. But he awoke at the sound +of their steps on the sanded paths, and raised his stick +as a sign to them to come to him, and, seeing that he +wished to speak, Joseph leaned over his chair, putting his +ear close to his father's face, for Dan's speech was still +thick and often inarticulate. Thou wast nearly going +down in the storm, he said, and Joseph could hardly +believe that he heard rightly, for what could his father +know of the storm on the lake, he being in a deep swoon +at the time beyond the reach of words. He asked +his father who had told him of the storm, but Dan could +say no more than that a voice had told him that there was +a great storm upon the lake and that Joseph was in it. +Miracle upon miracle! Joseph cried, and he related his +escape from shipwreck; how when coming in Peter's boat +from the opposite shores the wind had risen, carrying +the lake in showers over the boat till all were wetted to +their skins. But, unmindful of these showers, Jesus had +continued his teaching, even after a great wave wrenched +away a plank or part of one. Master, if the boat be not +staunched we perish, Peter said, for which Jesus rebuked +Peter and called them all to come forward and kneel +closer about him. Kneel, he said, your faces towards me, +and forget the plank and remember your sins. We could +not do else but as we were bidden, and we all knelt about +him, our thoughts fixed as well as we were able to fix them +on our sins, but the water was coming into the boat all the +while, and in the midst of our prayers we said: in another +moment we perish if he stay not the wind and waves. +We thought that he would stand up in the bow and +command, but he remained seated, and continued to teach +us, but the wind lulled all the same, and when we looked +round the boat was staunch again, and we made the wharf +at Capernaum easily.</p> + +<p>Ecanus, who was a man of little faith, asked Joseph if +he had seen anybody put his hand to the plank and +restore it to its place, and Joseph answered that all were +grouped round the Master praying, and that none had +fallen away from the group. But there were some in the +boat that saw a little angel speeding over the waves. +Philip saw both wings and the angel's feet, but I had +only a glimpse. If you would only let me bring him to +you—— But, reading his father's face, Joseph continued: +if you haven't faith, Father, he couldn't do anything for +thee. Father, let me bring him. This shows no distrust +in your power, he interjected suddenly, turning to Ecanus. +Each man has powers given to him; some are physical +and some spiritual; some are powerful in one element +and some in another. But no magician that I have met +has power over fire and water. Only those into whom +God has descended can command both fire and water +alike. And he related that when they passed through +Chorazin and a woman ran out of her house crying that +her little boy had fallen into the fire, Jesus had asked +her if she had applied any remedy, and on her saying she +had not, he had said: then I will cure him. With his +breath he restored him, and five minutes after the child +was playing with his little comrades in the street. If, +however, she had poured oil on the wounds he couldn't +have cured them, Joseph explained, for his affinity with +fire would have been interrupted. In the village of +Opeira a child while carrying a kettle of boiling water +from the fire tipped it over, burning a good deal of the +flesh of one foot, which, however, healed under Jesus' +breath almost as soon as he had breathed upon it. And +yet another child was healed of the croup, but this time +it was John who imposed his hands: Jesus had transmitted +some of his power over the ills of the flesh to the +disciples. On Dan asking if Joseph had seen Jesus cast +out devils, Joseph replied that he had, but it would take +some time to tell the exordium. Whereupon Ecanus +remembered that other patients waited for his attendance +and took his leave, warning Joseph before leaving against +the danger of tiring his father, a thing that Joseph +promised not to do; but as soon as the door closed +after the physician Dan began to beg so earnestly for +stories that Joseph could not do else than tell him of the +miracle he had witnessed. Better to submit, he thought, +than to agitate his father by refusal; and he began this +narrative; the morning of the storm, which they would +not have succeeded in weathering had it not been for +the intervention of the angel. Jesus and some of the +disciples, including Joseph, had set their sail for the +Gadarene coasts; and finding a landing-place by a shore +seeming desolate, they proceeded into the country; and +while seeking a sufficient number to exhort and to +teach, their search led them past some broken ruins, +shards of an old castle, apparently tenantless. They +were about to pass it without examination when a +wailing voice from one of the turrets brought them to +a standstill. They were not at first certain whether +the wailing sound was the voice of the wind or a +human voice, but they had hearkened and with difficulty +had separated the doleful sound into: woe! woe! woe! +unto thee Jerusalem, woe! woe! It sounds to me, Peter +said, like one that is making a mock of thee, Master. +Having heard that thou foretellest woe to Chorazin—— But +Judas, seeing a cloud gathering on Peter's face, nudged +Peter, and the twain went up together and some minutes +after returned with a half-naked creature, an outcast +whom they had found crouching like a jackal in a hole +among the stones, one clearly possessed by many devils. +Now as all were in wonder what his history might be, +a swineherd passing by at the time told them how the +poor, naked creature would take a beating or a gift of food +for his singing with the same gentle grace. The words +had hardly passed the swineherd's lips than the possessed +began to sing:</p> + + +<div class='poem'> +<span>Woe! woe! woe! the winds are wailing.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The four great sisters, the winds of the world</span><br /> +<span>Call one to the other, and it is thy doom</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">They are calling, Jerusalem.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Woe! woe! woe!</span><br /> +<span>The North brings ruin, the South brings sorrow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The East wind grief, and the West wind tears</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">For Jerusalem.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Woe! woe! woe!</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>And he sung this little song several times, till the hearts +of the disciples hardened against the outcast and they +were minded to beat him if he did not cease; but the +swineherd warned them that a surer way to silence him +was by giving him some food; and while he stood by +eating, the swineherd confided the story of the fool, or as +much of it as he knew, to Jesus. The fool, he said, came +from Jerusalem some two years ago. He had been driven +out of the Temple, which he frequented daily, crying +about the courts the song with which he wearied you just +now, till the most patient were unable to bear it any +longer; and every time he met a priest he looked into +his face and sang: woe! woe! woe! unto Jerusalem, +and whenever he met a scribe he would cry: woe! woe! +woe! unto Jerusalem, hindering them in their work about +the Temple. Some stones were thrown, but enough life +was left in him to crawl away, and as soon as he recovered +from his wounds he was about again, singing his +melancholy ditty (he knows but one). He was told if he +did not cease he would be beaten with rods, but he could +not cease it, and started his ditty again as soon as he could +bear a shirt on his back; and then he must have travelled +up here afoot, picking up a bit here and a bit there, +getting a lift in an ox-cart. He is without memory of +anything, who he is, where he came from, or who taught +him his song. He does not know why he chose that +broken tower for a dwelling, nor do we, but fortunately +it stands in a waste. We hear him singing as we go by +to our work and pitch him scraps of food from time to +time. We hear him as we return in the evening to our +homes making his melancholy dwelling sadder with his +song. But he is a harmless, poor fool, save for the +annoyance of his song, which he cannot stanch any more +than the wind in the broken turrets. A harmless fool +who will follow whosoever asked him to follow, unafraid, +and taking a blow or a hunch of bread in the same +humour, and distinguishing no man from the next one.</p> + +<p>As the swineherd said these words the fool said: +Jesus, thou hast come to my help, but woe to thee, +Son of God, thou wilt suffer thy death in Jerusalem; +and looking up into Jesus' face more intensely: oh, +Son of Man, what aileth thee or me? And knowest thou +anything of the cloud of woe that hangs over Jerusalem? +To which Jesus made no answer, but called upon the +devils to say how many there were, and they answered: +three. Then depart ye three, Jesus replied, and was +about to impose his hands when the three devils asked +whither they should go, to which Jesus answered: ye +must seek another refuge, for here ye cannot remain. +Seek among the wolves and foxes. But these will flee +from us, the devils answered; allow us to enter the hogs +rooting the ground before thee. But at this the swineherd +cried out: forbid the devils to enter into my hogs, +else they will run over the cliffs and drown themselves in +the sea. Though you are Jews, and do not look favourably +on hogs, they are as God made them. To which Jesus +answered, turning to his disciples: the man speaks well, +for if unclean they be, it was the will of God that made +them so. And taking pity on the hogs that were rooting +quietly, unaware of the devils eager to enter into them, he +said: there are statues of gods and goddesses in Tiberias, +enter into them. And immediately the devils took flight, +giving thanks to Jesus as they departed thither.</p> + +<p>Joseph waited a moment and tried to read his father's +face. But Dan's face remained fixed, and as if purposely, +which vexed Joseph, who cried: now, Father, you may +believe or disbelieve, or be it thou'rt naturally averse from +Jesus, but thou knowest as well as I do that two days after +the great storm a statue of the goddess Venus fell from her +pedestal in the streets of Tiberias and was broken. But, +Joseph, when the statue fell I was sick and had no knowledge +of the fall. But if a statue of the goddess Venus did +fall from her pedestal, I'd ask why the devils should choose +to destroy false gods? Were it not more reasonable for +them to uphold the false gods safe and secure on their +pedestals? The gods were overthrown for a sign that the +devils had left the fool's body, Joseph answered. But +why, Dan replied, didn't three statues fall?—a statue for +each devil—and whither did the devils go? That one +statue should fall was enough for a sign, Joseph said, +but no more would he say, for his father's incredulity +irritated him, and seeing that he had angered his son, +Dan stretched his hand to him and said: perhaps we +are more eager to believe when we are young than +when we are old. And he asked Joseph to tell him of +some other miracle that he might have seen Jesus +perform.</p> + +<p>Joseph had seen Jesus perform many other miracles, +but he was loath to relate them, for none, he felt sure, +would impose upon his father the belief that Jesus +was the Messiah that was promised to the Jews. All +the same the miracle of the woods rose in his mind, +and so plainly that he could not keep the story back, +and almost before he was aware of it he began the +relation, telling how Jesus, James, John, Andrew, and +himself were at table, mingling jest with earnest (Peter +was not with them, being kept at home, for his wife was +in child-birth at the time), when the women of the village +were heard running up the street crying together to the +men to take part in the chase of the wild man of the +woods, who had come down amongst them once more +questing the flesh of women. But this time we'll put a +stop to his leaping, they cried. A goatherd coming from +the hills has seen him enter a cave and as soon as he has +folded his goats he will lead us to it. But the villagers +were in no mood for waiting; the goats could be folded +by another; and the goatherd was bidden and obliged +to leave his goats and lead the way, Jesus and his +disciples following with the others through the forest +till we came to a ravine. And the goatherd said: look +between yon great rocks, for it was between them he +passed out of my sight. And let one of you creep in after +him, but I must return to my goats, having no confidence +that they have been properly folded for the night. The +goatherd would have run away if he hadn't been held +fast, and there were questions as to who would enter. +The first said "no," the second the same, giving as +reason that they were not young or strong enough, +whereas the goatherd was both, and none better endowed +for the struggle; and the people became of one mind +that they must beat the goatherd with the crows if he +did not go down into the cave, but Jesus, arriving in time, +said: it is not lawful to break into any man's dwelling +with crows, nor to kill him because his sins affront you; +let us rather give him means to cut himself free from +sins. At which words the people were near to jeering, +for it seemed to them that Jesus knew little of the man +they were pursuing, and they knew not what to understand +when he asked if any among them had a long, sharp +knife, and there was a movement as if they were about +to leave him; but one man said: thou shalt have mine, +Master, and, taking it out of his girdle, he gave it to Jesus, +who tested it with his thumb, and, satisfied with it, laid +it on the rock beside the cave. But the people began to +mutter: he will use the knife against us, Master. Not +against you, Jesus answered, but against himself, thereby +defending himself against himself. There were mutterings +among the people, and some said that his words were too +hard to understand, but all were silent as soon as Jesus +raised his hands and stepped towards the cave, and began +to breathe his spirit against the lust that possessed the +man's flesh. We must return here, he said, with oil and +linen cloths. At which all wondered, not knowing what +meaning to put upon his words, but they believed Jesus, +and came at daybreak to meet him at the edge of the +forest and followed the path as before till they came to the +hillside. The man was no longer hidden in his cave, but +sat outside by the rock on which Jesus had laid the knife, +and Jesus said: happy is he born into the world without +sting, and happy is he out of whom men have taken the +sting before he knew it, but happier than these is the +man that cuts out the part that offends him, setting +the spirit free as this man has done.</p> + +<p>Joseph ceased speaking suddenly and stood waiting for +his father to admire the miracle he had related, but Dan's +tongue struggled with words; and Joseph, being taken as +it were with another flux of words, and like one apprehensive +of the argument that none shall undo God's +handiwork, set out on the telling that the cause of +man's lust of women was that God and the devil had a +bet together—the devil saying that if God let him sting +a man in a certain part of his hide he would get him in +the end despite all that God might do to save him from +hell. To which God, being in the humour, consented, and +the sting was put into nearly all men. A few the devil +overlooked, and these have much spared to them, and +those out of whom the sting is taken in childhood are +fortunate, but those who, like the wild man of the wood, +cut the sting out of their own free will are worthy of all +praise; and he cited the authority of Jesus that man should +mutilate his body till it conform perforce to his piety. +But the story of man's fall is told differently in the Book +of Genesis, my son. The admonition that he was laying +violent hands on a sacred book startled Joseph out of his +meditations, and in some confusion of words and mind +he began to prevaricate, saying that he thought he +had made himself clear: the release of pious souls from +the bondage of the flesh was more important than the +continuance of the impious. Moreover in the days of +Moses, Israel was not steeped in as many iniquities as +she is now, and the Day of Judgment was not so close +at hand. More men meant more sins, and sin has +become so common that God can endure the torture no +longer.... Again Joseph ceased speaking suddenly and, +almost agape, stood gazing into his father's face, reading +therein a great perplexity, for Dan was asking himself +for what good reason had God given him so strange a +son. He would have been content to let the story pass +into another, but Joseph was waiting for him to speak, +and speaking incontinently he said he had heard that in +the Temple of Astoreth the Phoenician youths often +castrated themselves with shards of shells or pottery and +threw their testicles in the lap of the goddess crying out: +art thou satisfied now, Astoreth? But he did not know +of any text in their Scriptures that counselled such a +practice; and the introduction of it seemed to savour of +borrowing from the heathen. Whereupon Joseph averred +that whereas the wont of the Phoenician youths is without +reason, the same could not be said of Jesus' device to save +a soul. To which Dan rejoined that the leaving of the +knife for the man to mutilate himself with, seemed to him +to be contrary to all the rumours of Jesus that had come +to his ears. I have heard that he would set the law aside +and the traditions of our race, declaring the uncircumcised +to be acceptable to God as the Jew; that he sits down to +food with the uncircumcised and lays no store on burnt +offerings. Nor did Isaiah, Joseph interrupted, and circumcision +is itself a mutilation. I do not contest its value, +mark you; but if thou deny'st that Jesus was right to leave +a knife whereby the sinner might free himself from sin +thou must also deny circumcision. Circumcision is the +sign of our race, Dan answered. A physical sign, an outward +sign, Joseph cried, and he asked his father to say +if the Jews would ever forget priests and ritual; and he reminded +his father that the once sinner, now a holy anchorite, +did not bring an appetency into the world that could +be overcome by prayer, and so had to resort to the knife +that he might live in the spirit. It seems to me, Joseph, +that we should live as God made us, for better or worse. But, +Father, once you admit circumcision—— A man should +not be over-nice, Joseph, and though it be far from my +thought to wish to see thee a fornicator or adulterer it +would rejoice me exceedingly to see grandchildren about +me. There is a maiden—— Another reason, Father, of +which I have not yet spoken makes the marriage of the +flesh seem a vanity to me, and that is—— I know it well, +Joseph, that the great day is coming when the world will +be remoulded afresh. But, Father, do ye believe in +nothing but observances? Tell me, Joseph, did thy +prophet ever raise anybody from the dead? Yes, and +hoping to convince his father by another miracle he fell +to telling eagerly how a young girl who was being carried +to the grave was called back to life.</p> + +<p>She was, he said, coming from her wedding feast. +And he told how there were in the village two young +girls, one as fair as the other, rivals in love as well as in +beauty, both having the same young man in their hearts, +and for a long time it seemed uncertain which would get +him; for he seemed to favour them alternately, till at +length Ruth, unable to bear her jealousy any longer, went +to the young man, saying that she was close on a resolve +to see him no more. Your lover? he answered, his cheek +blanching, for he dearly loved her. I haven't gotten a +lover, she said; only a share in a lover. Your words, +Ruth, relieve me of much trouble, he replied, and took her +in his arms and said: it was a good thought that brought +you hither, for if you hadn't come I might never have +been able to decide between you, but your coming has +given me strength, and now I know which I desire. And +then it was the girl's cheek that grew pale, for he hadn't +answered at once which he would have. Which? she +asked, and he replied: you, not Rachel. If that be so, +she answered, I am divided between joy and sorrow; +gladness for myself, sorrow for my friend; and it behoves +me to go to her and tell her of her loss. I am the +chosen one, she said to Rachel, who turned away, saying: +had I gone to him and asked him to choose between +us he would have chosen me. He couldn't do else.</p> + +<p>She began to brood and to speak of a spell laid upon the +young man, and her visits to a sorceress came to be spoken +about so openly that it was against the bridegroom's wish +that Rachel was asked to the wedding feast; but Ruth +pleaded, saying that it would be no feast for her if Rachel +did not present herself at the table. The twain sat +opposite each other at table, Rachel seemingly the +happier, eating, drinking, laughing, foretelling that Mondis +would fill Ruth's life with happiness from end to end. +Thou wilt never see the face of an evil hour, she said, and +Ruth in her great joy answered: Rachel, I know not why +he didn't choose thee; thou'rt so beautiful; and the young +Mondis wooed her at the table, to Ruth's pleasure, for +she knew of his thankfulness to Rachel for allowing the +wedding to pass in concord, without a jarring note.</p> + +<p>She seemed to listen to him as a sister might to a +beloved brother, and as the wedding feast drew to a close +she said: Ruth shall drink wine with me, and the cups +were passed across the table, and laughter and jest flowed +on for a while. But soon after drinking from Rachel's cup +Ruth turned pale and, leaning back into the arms of her +bridegroom, she said: I know not what ails me.... And +then a little later on she was heard to say: I am going, +and with a little sigh she went out of her life, lying on her +bridegroom's arm white and still like a cut flower. The +word "poison" swelled up louder and louder, and all eyes +were directed against Rachel, who to prove her innocence +drank the wine that was left in Ruth's glass; but it was +said afterwards that she had not drunk out of the cup +that she had handed to Ruth. Be this as it may, a house +of joy was turned into a house of tears. Bridegroom, +parents and friends fell into procession, and we who were +coming down the street met the bier, and after hearing +the story of the girl's death Jesus said: let me speak to +her, and, leaning over her, he whispered in her ear, and +soon after we thought it was the wind that stirred the +folds of her garments, but her limbs were astir in them; +the colour came back to her cheeks; she raised herself on +her bier, and with his bride in his arms the bridegroom +worshipped Jesus as a god; but Jesus reproved him, saying: +it was by the power of God working through me that she +was raised from the dead: give thanks to him who alone +merits our thanks. But Rachel, who had been following +the bier in great grief, hanging on the bridegroom's arm +could not contain herself at the sight of Ruth raised from +the dead, and it wrenching her reason out of her control +compelled her to call upon the people to cast out the +Nazarene, who worked cures with the help of the demons +with whom he was in league, which proved to everybody +that her friendly words to Ruth at the feast were make-believe, +and that she had been plotting all the while how +she might ruin her.</p> + +<p>At the sight of Ruth beautiful and living naught mattered +to Rachel but revenge, and she crossed the street +as if with the intention of striking her with a dagger, +but as she approached Jesus the flame of fury died out of +her face, and like one overwhelmed with a great love she +cast herself at his feet, and could not be removed. Why do +you turn the woman from me? he asked. Whatever her +sins may have been they are forgiven, for she loves me. But +she loved the other man five seconds before, Dan submitted, +and Joseph replying to him said: she only knew that +passion of the flesh which we share with the beasts of the +fields, the fowls of the air and the fish in the sea. But now +she loves Jesus as we love him—with the spirit. And next +day she brought all her wealth to him; the golden comb +she was wont to wear in her hair she would place in his; +and the silks and linen in which she was wont to clothe herself +she laid at his service; but he told her to sell all these +things and give the money to the poor. Give to the poor! +That is what I hear always, cried Dan; but if we gave all +to the poor we would be as poor as the very poorest; and +where, then, would the money come from with which we +now help the poor?</p> + +<p>Give to the poor that thou mayest become worthy of a +place in the world to come. This world is but a shadow—an +illusion, Joseph answered defiantly. Thou hast that +answer for everything, Joseph; and another day when I'm +stronger I'll argue that out with thee. I have tired thee, +Father; but if I've told you many stories it was because—— Because, +Dan retorted, thou wouldst have Jesus cast his +spells over me. But I've no use for them; thou art enough.</p> + +<p>And while Joseph debated how he might convince his +father that the girl was really dead, Dan asked for news +of Rachel, and Joseph answered that she was with them +every day, that their company had been increased by +several devoted women. Thou hast talked enough, Father, +and more than enough; if Ecanus were to return he would +accuse me of planning to talk you to death.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Like every other old Jew, Dan liked the marvellous, +and listened to his son's stories, not knowing whether he +believed or disbelieved, nor seeking to inquire; content +to enjoy the stories as they went by, he listened, suffering +such a little disappointment when his son's voice ceased +as he might at the death of a melodious wind among the +branches, the same little sadness. Moreover, while Joseph +talked he had his attention, and it irritated him to see +Joseph's thoughts wander from him in search of parrots +and monkeys; and he begged his son to tell him another +miracle, for he was sure that Joseph had not told him +the last one. Joseph pleaded that there was no use +relating miracles to one who only believed in ancient +miracles, a statement that Dan combated, saying that one +could like a story for its own sake. Like a Gentile, Joseph +interposed gaily, bringing all the same a cloud into his +father's face, which he would have liked to disperse with +the relation of another miracle, but he continued to plead +that he had told all his stories. There was, however, a +certain faint-heartedness in his pleading, and Dan became +more certain than ever that his son was holding back a +miracle, and becoming suddenly curious, he declared that +Joseph had no right to hold back a story from him, for to +do that provoked argument, and argument fatigued him.</p> + +<p>Joseph thought the device to extort a story from him, +which he did not wish to tell, a shabby one, but, fearing to +vex his father in his present state of health, he began to +think it would be better to tell him the miracle he had +heard of that morning at Capernaum; but, still loath, he +tried instead to divert his father's attention from Jesus, +reminding him of the numerous matters that would have +to be settled up between them, especially Dan's responsibility +in the new adventure, the transport of grain from +Moab to Jerusalem. Dan's curiosity was not to be diverted, +and seeing him give way to his rage like a petulant child, +Joseph decided that he must tell him, and he began with +a disparagement of his story, the truth of which he did +not vouch for. At Capernaum they were all telling +how some two or three weeks ago Jesus heard God +speaking within him, and, naming those he wished to +accompany him, led them through the woods, up the +slow ascending hills in silence, no word being exchanged +between him and them. Every one of the disciples was +aware that the Master was in communion with his Father +in heaven, and that his communion was shared by them +as long as a word was not spoken. A word would break +it; and so they journeyed with their eyes set upon the +stars or upon the ground, never daring to look for Jesus, +who remained amongst them for an hour or more and then +seemed to them to pass into shadow, only his voice +remaining with them bidding them to journey on, which +they did, each man in his faith, until they reached a +lonely hill on the top of which stood a blighted tree. +Why, Master, they asked, have you led us hither? and, +receiving no answer, they looked round for Jesus, but +he was missing, and, thinking they walked too fast and +had left him on the road behind them, they returned to +the place where he had last spoken to them; and, not +finding him there, they returned to the hill-top, and, seeing +him among the white branches waiting for them, they +knelt and prayed. When the stars began to grow dim +they heard a voice cry out: behold he is with you, he who +brings salvation to all men, Jew and Gentile; and ye +twelve are bidden to carry the joyful tidings to the ends +of the earth.</p> + +<p>At these words the disciples rose from their knees and +looked round astonished, for only four had gone with Jesus +up the hillside, but twelve were kneeling at the foot of +the tree, and the four that had come with Jesus knew +not how the eight were gathered with them, nor could +the eight tell how they reached the hill-top, nor what +spirit guided them thither. The day is breaking, +someone said; and looking towards the east they saw +innumerable angels and all of them singing hosanna; +hosannas fell from the skies and blossoms from the tree; +for the tree was no longer a blighted but a quickened +tree. Jesus was amongst them, talking to them, telling +those who were standing around him that they were +chosen by his Father in heaven first of all, and then by +him, to carry the joyful tidings to the ends of the earth, +and they all answered: we heard the words that thou +hast spoken, Master. And he answered: ye have heard +truly, and I am here to carry out my Father's will; ye +shall go forth and bring salvation to all, Jew and Gentile +alike.</p> + +<p>Father, of what art thou thinking—that the twelve slept +and dreamed? But before Dan could find an answer to +his son's question Joseph sank away into regrets that he +had acceded to his father's request and told him this last +miracle, and that he had not been able to disguise the +fact, in the telling, that Jesus had chosen as his apostles +those who accompanied him into the mountains. He +intended to omit all mention of this election, but it +slipped from him unawares in the excitement of the +telling, and now to divert his father's thoughts from the +unfortunate admission Joseph called to one of the parrots +and spoke cheerfully to the bird, and to the monkey that +came hopping across the sward and jumped into his arms; +but Dan knew his son's face too well to be deceived by +the poor show Joseph could paint upon it, and guessing +that his father divined the truth, words deserted him +altogether. He sat striving against regret and hoping +that his father did not think he loved him less than +he loved Jesus. At last something had to be said, and +Dan could find nothing better to say than: Joseph, there +is gloom in thy face; but be not afraid to tell me if thou +art disappointed that thou wert not with Jesus when +his Father spoke to him out of heaven, and thereby +missed being among the apostles. For this suspicion +Joseph rebuked his father, but as it was his dearest wish to +be numbered amongst the apostles his rebukes were faint, +and feeling he was making bad worse, he put as bold a +face upon it as he could, saying to his father that he +would have liked to have been numbered among the +twelve, but since it did not befall he was content; +and to himself that he was younger than any that were +elected, and if one of them were to die he would be +called to fill his place.</p> + +<p>So much admission was forced upon him, for it was important +that his father should accept his absence from the +mountain that day as a sufficient reason for his not having +been elected an apostle, the real reason being, not his +absence from the mountain, but the fact that he chose to +turn aside from Jesus and leave him to attend his father's +sick-bed. That was the sin he was judged guilty of, an +unpardonable act in Jesus' mind, and one that discredited +Joseph for ever, proving him for good and all +to be unworthy to follow Jesus, which might be no more +than the truth. He could follow Jesus' way of thinking, +apprehending it remotely; but to his father, Jesus +present teaching, that one must learn to hate one's +father and one's mother, one's wife and one's children +before one can love God, would be incomprehensible; and +he would be estranged from Jesus for ever, as many of the +disciples had been that morning by such ultra-idealism. +It would have been better to have withheld the miracle, +he said to himself, and then he lost himself thinking how +the election of the apostles had dropped from him, for it +had nothing to do with the miracle, and then awakening +a little from his reverie he assured himself that his father +must never know, for Dan could never understand Jesus +in his extravagant moods. But if some accident should +bring the knowledge to his father? It wasn't likely that +this could happen, for who knew it? Hardly was it known +among those whom he had met that morning as he crossed +the Plain of Gennesaret. He had seen the disciples with +Jesus, Jesus walking ahead with Peter and with James +and John, to whom he addressed not a word, the others +following him shamefacedly at a little distance. One of +his black moods is upon him, Joseph said to himself, and +gliding in among the crowd he questioned the nearest +to him, who happened to be Judas, who told him +that Jesus didn't know for certain if he were called to +go to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles. The +Master foresees his death in Jerusalem, but he is not +sure if it be ordained for this year or the next. Peter +would dissuade him, he added, and in the midst of his +wonderment Joseph heard from Judas that Jesus had +elected his apostles, and now Joseph remembered how, +speaking out of his heart, he uttered a little cry and +said: it was because I am a rich man that he didn't +think of me. But Judas answered that there might be +another reason, to which he replied: there can be no +other reason except the simple one—I wasn't there and +he didn't think of me. But Judas murmured that +there might be another reason—he never allows a +disciple to desert him, whatever reason may be for so +doing. But there was no desertion on my part. My +father's illness! Wait in any case, Judas had said, till +the Master has fallen out of his mood, for he is in his +blackest now; we dare not speak to him. But I couldn't +believe that that could make any difference, Joseph +said to himself, and he put the monkey away from him +somewhat harshly, and fell to thinking how he ran +to Jesus, his story on his lips. But it all seemed to +drift away from him the moment he looked upon +Jesus, so changed was he from the Jesus he had +seen in the cenoby, a young man of somewhat stern +countenance and cold and thin, with the neck erect, +walking with a measured gait, whose eyes were cold +and distant, though they could descend from their starry +heights and rest for a moment almost affectionately on +the face of a mortal. That was two years ago. And +the Jesus whom he met in rags by the lake-side one +evening and journeyed with as far as Cæsarea Philippi, +to Tyre and Sidon, was no doubt very different from the +severe young man he had seen in the monastery. He had +grown older, more careworn, but the first Jesus still +lingered in the second, whereas the Jesus he was looking at +now was a new Jesus, one whom he had seen never before; +the cheeks were fallen in and the eyes that he remembered +soft and luminous were now concentrated; a sort of +malignant hate glowered in them: he seemed to hate +all he looked upon; and his features seemed to have +enlarged, the nose and chin were more prominent, and +the body was shrunken. A sword that is wearing out its +scabbard was the thought that passed through Joseph's +frightened mind; and frightened at the change in Jesus' +appearance, and still more by the words that were hurled +out at him, when intimidated and trembling, he babbled +out: my father lay between life and death for eight days +and came out of his swoon slowly. He could say no more, +the rest of his story was swallowed up in a violent interruption, +Jesus telling him that there was no place among +his followers for those who could not free themselves +from such ghosts as father, mother and children and wife.</p> + +<p>Jesus had flung his father's wealth and his own in his +face, and his own pitiful understanding that had not been +able to see that this world and the world to come were +not one thing but twain. And whosoever chooses this +world must remain satisfied with its fleshly indulgences +and its cares and its laws and responsibilities, and whoso +ever chooses the Kingdom of Heaven must cast this world +far from him, must pluck it, as it were, out of his heart +and throw it away, bidding it depart; for it is but a ghost. +All these, he said, pointing to his apostles, have cast their +ghosts into the lake. The apostles stood with eyes fixed, +for they did not understand how they had despoiled +themselves of their ghosts, and only Peter ventured +into words: all my family is in the lake, Master; and +at his simplicity Jesus smiled, then as if to compensate +him for his faith he said: I shall come in a chariot +sitting on the right hand of our Father, the Judgment +Book upon my lap. As the rocks of this world +are shaken and riven by earthquakes, my words shall +sunder father from son, brother from brother, daughter +from mother; the ties that have been held sacred shall +be broken and all the things looked upon as eternal +shall pass away even as the Temple of Jerusalem shall +pass away. My words shall sunder it Beam by beam, +pillar by pillar, and every stone of it shall be scattered. +For I say unto you that God is weary of the fat of rams +and goats, and incense delights his nostrils; it is not +our flocks and herds that our Father desires nor the sweet-smelling +herbs of this world, but a temple in which there +shall be nothing but the love of God. It is for the +building of this temple that I have been called hither; +and not with hands during laborious years will it be built, +but at once, for the temple that I speak to you of, is in +the heart of every man; and woe, woe, woe, I say unto +you who delay to build this temple, for the fulfilment +of the prophecies is at hand, and when the last day of this +world begins to dawn and the dead rise up seeking their +cere-clothes it will be too late. Woe! woe! woe! unto +thee, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Magdala, for you have not +repented yet, but still choose the ghosts that haunt the +sepulchres out of which ye shall be called soon; too soon +for many; for I say unto you that it is not the dead that +sleep but the living. At these words there were murmurings +among the disciples, and they said, turning from +one to the other: he says we sleep, brother, but this +is not true. He mocks at us. But Jesus, as if he did +not hear these rebukers, and moved as if by a sudden +sympathy for Joseph, said: here is one that left me to +attend his father's sick-bed, but I would have you understand +me in this, that if we would love God we must +abandon father, mother, wife and children, for there is +not room in our hearts for two loves. Ye say that I lay +heavy burdens on your backs, but I say unto you that +I lay no burdens on your backs that I did not first weigh +upon my own shoulders; for have I not denied myself +brothers and sisters, and did I not say to my mother, who +came to dissuade me: God chose thee as a vehicle to give +to man a redeemer to lead him out of this kingdom of +clay. Thou hast done it and so there is no further need +of thee. Out of this corruptible body I shall rise in +Jerusalem, my mission accomplished, into the incorruptible +spirit. His passion rising again and into flood, he seemed +like one bereft of reason, for he said that all men must +drink of his blood if they would live for ever. He who +licked up one drop would have everlasting life. Joseph +recalled the murmurings that followed these words, but +Jesus would not desist. These murmurings seemed to +sting him to declare his doctrine to the full, and he +added that his flesh, too, was like bread, and that any +crumb would give to him who ate it a place before the +throne of the Almighty. Whereupon many withdrew, +murmuring more loudly than before, saying among themselves: +who is this man that asks us to assuage our +thirst with his blood and our hunger with his flesh? +Moses and Elijah did not ask such things. Who is he +that says he will scatter the Temple to build up another?</p> + +<p>Many other animadversions Joseph remembered among +the multitude, and he recalled them one by one, pondering +over each till one of the monkeys sprang into his +arms and snatched some flowers out of his hand and +hobbled away shrieking, awaking Dan, who had been +dozing, and who, seeing whence the shrieking came, +closed his eyes again. While his father slept Joseph +remembered that Peter, John and James stood by the +Master throughout the dissidence. But what answer will +they give, Joseph asked himself, when they are questioned +as to what the Master meant when he said that they must +drink his blood and eat his flesh? What answer will they +make when the people question them in the different +countries?—for they are to go to every part of the world, +carrying the joyful tidings. It seemed to Joseph that the +apostles would be able to make plain these hard sayings +even less well than he, and he could not make plain to +anybody what the Master had meant, and still less would +he be able to convince others that the Master had said +well that a man must leave his father though he were +dying. He said that he should leave his father unburied, +the dead not needing our care, for they are the living +ones, and the hyenas and crows would find to eat only +that which had always been dead. Of course if the +old world were going out and the new coming in, +it mattered very little what happened within the next +twenty-four hours. But was the new world as near as +that? He wondered! It might be nearer still without +his being able to leave his father to die among strangers, +and a feeling rose up within him that he knew he would +never be able to subdue though he were to gain an +eternity of happiness by subduing it; and, pursuing this +thread of thought, he came to the conclusion that he was +a very weak creature, neither sufficiently enamoured of +this world nor of the next; so he supposed Jesus was +right to discard him, for, as he knew himself, he would +be an insufficient apostle, just as he was an insufficient +son. But his father did not think him a bad son. He +raised his eyes, and, finding his father's eyes upon him, +he remembered that he had left him because he wished +to see the world, to go to Jerusalem, to live with the +Essenes, to go to Egypt; and that he had remained away +for nearly two years, and had returned to settle a business +matter between himself and his father. Therefore it +was not love of his father but a business matter that +brought him back from Egypt; and now he was going to +leave his father again, though he knew that his father +wished him to marry some lusty girl, who would bear +healthy children.</p> + +<p>If he were a good son he would take a maid to bed. +But that he couldn't do! I am afraid, he said, speaking +suddenly out of his thoughts, I'm not the son you deserve, +Father. I'm not a bad son, but I'm not the son God +should have given you. Thou shouldst not say that, Joseph, +for we have loved each other dearly. It is true that I +hoped to see little children about me, and it may be that +hope will never be fulfilled, which is sad to think on. I've +never seen thee over-busy with one of our serving girls, nor +caught thee near her bed, and the family will end with, +thee, and the counting-house will end with me, and these +things will happen through no fault of mine or thine, +Joseph. Our lives are not planned by ourselves, and when +life comes sweetly to a man a bitter death awaits him, for +death is bitter to those that have lived in ease and health +as I have done. I am still obdurate, for I can sit down to +a meal with pleasure, but a time will come when I shall +not be able to do this, and then the sentence that the +Lord pronounced over all flesh will seem easy to bear, and +the grandchildren I have not gotten will be desired no +longer; only the peace of the grave, where there is no +questioning nor dainties. But, Father, this world is but +the shadow of a reality beyond the grave, and I beseech +you to believe in your eternity and in mine. In the eternity +of my body or of my soul—which, Joseph? Thou +knowest not, but of this we are sure, that there is little +time left for me to love you in this comfortable land of +Galilee. And, this being so, I will ask you to promise me +that thou wilt not leave Judea in my lifetime. Thou'lt have +to go to Jerusalem, for business awaits you there, and to +Jericho, perhaps, which is a long way from Galilee, but I'd +not have thee leave Judea to preach a strange creed to the +Gentiles. I know no reason now, Father, for me to leave +Judea, since I am not among the chosen. If thou hadst +been, Joseph, thou wouldst not have left me in these last +years of my life? Jesus is dear to thee, but he isn't thy +father, and every father would like his son to be by him +when the Lord chooses to call him. I would have thee +within a day's journey or two; death comes quicker than +that sometimes, but we must risk something. I'd have +thee remain in Judea so that thou mayest come, if thou art +called, to receive my last blessing. I'd have thee close +my eyes, Joseph. The children I'll forgive thee, if thou +wilt promise me this. I promise it, Father, and will hold +to my promise if I live beyond thee. If thou livest beyond +me, Joseph? Of course thou wilt live many years after +me. But, Joseph, I would have thee shun dangerous +company. And guessing that his father had Jesus in his +mind, Joseph asked him if it were so, and he answered +that it was so, saying that Jesus was no new thing in +Judea, and that the priests and the prophets have ever +been in strife. That is my meaning, he said. The +exactions of the priests weigh heavily, and Jesus is right +in this much, that priests always have been, and perhaps +always will be, oppressors of the poor; they are strong, +and have many hirelings about them. Thou hast heard of +the Zealots, Son, who walk in the streets of Jerusalem, +their hands on their knives, following those who speak +against the law and the traditions, and who, when they +meet them, put their knives into their ribs, and when the +murdered man falls back into their arms call aloud for +help? So do the priests free themselves from their +opponents, and, my good son, Joseph, think what my grief +would be if I were to receive tidings that thou hadst been +slain in the streets. Dost think that the news would not +slay me as quickly as any knife? I ask little of thee, +Joseph, the children I'll forgo, but do thou separate thyself +from these sectaries during my lifetime. Think of +me receiving the news of thy death; an old man living +alone among all his riches without hope of any inheritance +of his name. But, Joseph, I can't put away altogether +the hope that the day will come when thou'lt look more +favourably on a maid than now. Thy thoughts be all +for Jesus, his teaching, and his return to this world, +sitting by the side of his Father in a fiery chariot, but +maybe the day will come when these hopes will fade +away and thy eyes will rest upon a maid. It is strange +that thou shouldst be so unlike me. I was warmer-blooded +at thy age, and when I saw thy mother——Father, the +promise is given to thee already, and my hand upon it. +I'll not see Jesus during thy life. If the sudden news +of my death were to kill thee, I should be thy murderer. +Jesus will forgive thee these few years, Dan said. The +expression on Joseph's face changed, and Dan wondered +if Jesus were so cruel, so hard, and so self-centred that +he would not grant his son a few years, if he were to ask +it, so that he might stay by his father's bedside and close +his eyes and bury him. It seemed from Joseph's face that +Jesus asked everything from his disciples, and if they did +not give everything it was as if they gave nothing.</p> + +<p>And while Dan was thus conferring with his own +thoughts he heard Joseph saying that if he were to keep +the promise he had just given, not to see Jesus again, he +must not remain in his neighbourhood. Yes, that is so, +Joseph; go to Jerusalem. And the old man began to babble +of the transport of figs from Jericho, till Joseph could not +do else than ponder on the grip of habit on a man's heart, +and ask himself if the news of his death would affect his +father's health more than the news that there was no +further demand in Damascus for his salt fish. He repented +the thought as soon as it had passed through his mind, and +he understood that, however much it would cost him, he +must go away to Jerusalem. He dared not risk the +accusation that would for ever echo in his heart: my +father has no peace by day, nor rest at night, he is thinking +always that a Zealot's knife is in my back. But after +my father's death—His thoughts brought him back again +to a sudden shame of himself. I am like that, he said, +and shall always be as I am. And, not daring to think of +himself any more, he jumped to his feet: I must tell my +servant that I shall start soon after daybreak.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XVI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>And on his arrival in Jerusalem Joseph stood for a moment +before his camel thanking the beast for his great, rocking +stride, which has given me, he said, respite from thinking +for two whole days and part of two nights. But I cannot +be always on the back of a camel, he continued, and must +now rely on my business to help me to forget; and he +strove to apply his mind to every count that came before +him, but in the middle of every one his thoughts would +fly away to Galilee, and the merchant waiting to receive +the provisions he had come to fetch wondered of what +the young man was thinking, and the cause of the +melancholy that was in his face.</p> + +<p>He was still less master of his thoughts when he sat +alone, his ledger before him; and finding he could not +add up the figures, he would abandon himself without +restraint to his grief; and very often it was so deep that +when the clerk opened the door it took Joseph some +moments to remember that he was in his counting-house; +and when the clerk spoke of the camel-drivers that were +waiting in the yard behind the counting-house for orders, +it was only by an effort of will that he collected his +thoughts sufficiently to realise that the yard was still +there, and that a caravan was waiting for orders to return +to Jericho. The orders were forgotten on the way to +the yard, and the clerk had to remind him, and sometimes +to say: Master, if you'll allow me, I will settle this +business for you.</p> + +<p>Joseph was glad of his clerk's help, and he returned to +the ledger, and, staring at figures which he did not see, +he sat thinking of Jesus, of the night they walked by +the lake's edge, of the day spent in the woods above +Capernaum, and the various towns of Syria that they +visited. It seemed to him that the good days had gone +over for ever, and it was but a sad pleasure to remember +the pagans that liked Jesus' miracles without being able +to abandon their own gods. Only Peter could bring a +smile into his face; a smile wandered round his lips, for +it was impossible to think of Peter and not to smile. +But the smile faded quickly and the old pain gripped +his heart.</p> + +<p>I have lost Jesus for ever, he said, and at that moment +a sudden rap at his door awoke him from his reveries. +He was angry with his clerk, but he tried to disguise +his anger, for he was conscious that he must present a very +ridiculous appearance to his clerk, unless, indeed, which +was quite likely, his clerk was indifferent to anything but +the business of the counting-house. Be this as it may, he +was an old and confidential servant who made no comments +and asked no questions. Joseph was grateful to his clerk +for his assumed ignorance and an hour later Joseph bade +him good-night. I shall see thee in the morning, to which +Samuel answered: yes, sir; and Joseph was left alone in +the crowded street of Jerusalem, staring at the passengers +as they went, wondering if they were realities, everyone +compelled by a business or a desire, or merely shadows, +figments of his imagination and himself no more than +a shadow, a something that moved and that must move +across the valley of Jehoshaphat and up the Mount of +Olives. Why that way more than any other way? he asked +himself: because it is the shortest way. As if that +mattered, he added, and as soon as he reached the top +of the Mount of Olives he looked over the desert and was +surprised by the smallness of the hills; like the people +who lived among them, they seemed to him to have +dwindled. The world is much smaller than I thought, he +said. That is it, the world seems to have dwindled into +a sort of ash-heap; life has become as tasteless as ashes. +It can only end, he said to himself, by my discovering +something that interests me, but nothing interests me +except Jesus. Lack of desire, he said, is my burden, for, +desiring one thing too much, I have lost desire for all else, +and that is why life has come to me like an ash-heap.</p> + +<p>As the days went by he began to feel life more +oppressive and unendurable, till one evening the thought +crossed his mind that change of scene might be a great +benefit to him. If he were to go to Egypt, he would journey +for fifteen days through the desert, the rocking stride of +the camel would keep him from thinking, and he might +arrive in Egypt eager to listen to the philosophers again. +But the temptations that Egypt presented faded almost +as soon as they had arisen, and he deemed that it might +be better for him to choose a city oversea. A sea voyage, +he thought, will cheer me more than a long journey +across the desert, and Joppa is but a day's journey from +Jerusalem. But the shipping is more frequent from +Cæsarea, and it is not as far; and for a moment it seemed +to him that he would like to be on board a ship watching +the wind making the sail beautiful. But to what port +should he be making for? he asked. Why not to Greece?—for +there are philosophers as great or greater than those +of Alexandria. But philosophers are out of my humour, +he added, and, putting Athens aside, he bethought himself +of Corinth, and the variegated world he would meet +there. From every port ships come to Corinth, bringing +different habits, customs, languages, religions; and for +the better part of the evening Corinth seemed to be +his destination.</p> + +<p>Corinth was famous for its courtesans, and he remembered +suddenly that the most celebrated were collected there; +and it may have been the courtesans that kept him from +this journey, and his thoughts turning from vice to +marriage a bitterness rose up in his mind against his +father for the persistency with which Dan reminded him +in and out of season that every man's duty is to bring +children into the world.</p> + +<p>It had seemed to him that in asking him to take a wife +to his discomfort his father was asking him too much, and +he had put the question aside; but he was now without +will to resist any memory that might befall him, and for the +first time he allowed his thoughts to dwell on his father's +implied regret that he had never caught his son near a +servant girl's bed. His unwillingness to impugn his +father's opinions kept him heretofore from pondering +on his words, but feeling his life to be now broken and +cast away, there seemed to arise some reasons for an +examination of his father's words. They could not mean +anything else than that a young man was following +the natural instincts if he lingered about a young girl's +room; and that to be without this instinct was almost +a worse misfortune than to be possessed by it to the +practical exclusion of other interests.</p> + +<p>His father, it is true, may have argued the matter out +with himself somewhat in this fashion: that love of women +in a man may be controlled; and looking back into his +own life he may have found this view confirmed. Joseph +remembered that his grandmother often spoke to him +of Dan's great love of his wife, and it might be that +he had never loved another woman; few men, however, +were as fortunate as his father, and Joseph could not help +thinking that it were better to put women out of his +mind altogether than to become inflamed by the sight of +every woman. He believed that was why he had always +kept all thoughts of women out of his mind; but it +seemed to him now that a wife would break the monotony +that he saw in front of him, and were he to meet a +woman such as his father seems to have met he might +take her to live with him. He thought of himself as +her husband, though he was by no means sure that +married life was a possible makeshift for the life he +sought and was obliged to forgo, but as life seemed an +obligation from which he could not reasonably escape +he thought he would like to share it with some woman +who would give him children. His father desired grandchildren, +and since he had partly sacrificed his life for +his father's sake, he might, it seemed to him, sacrifice +himself wholly. But could he? That did not depend +altogether on himself, and with the view to discovering +the turn of his sex instinct he called to mind all the +women he had seen, asking himself as each rose up before +him if he could marry her. There were some that +seemed nearer to his desire than others, and it was with +the view to honourable marriage that he called upon his +friends, and his father's friends, and passed his eyes over +all their daughters; but the girl whose image had lingered +more pleasantly than any other in his memory had married +lately, and all the others inspired only a physical aversion +which he felt none would succeed in overcoming. He +had seen some Greek women, and been attracted in a +way, for they were not too like their sex; but these +Jewish women—the women of his race—seemed to him +as gross in their minds as in their bodies, and it surprised +him to find that though many men seemed to think as +he did about these women, they were not repelled as he +was, but accepted them willingly, even greedily, as instruments +of pleasure and afterwards as mothers of children. +But I am not as these men are, he said; my father must +bear his sorrow like another; and in meditation it seemed +to him that it would not be reasonable that his father +should get everything he desired and his son nothing.</p> + +<p>His father had gotten more out of life than ever he +should get; he would have his son till he died (so far +as he could he would secure him that satisfaction), and +after death this world and its shows concern us not. But +it may well be that we die out of one life to be born into +another life, that everything that passes is replaced by +an equivalent, he said, repeating the words of a Greek +philosopher to whom he had been much addicted in happy +days gone by, and that reality is but an eternal shaping +and reshaping of things. All that is beyond doubt, he +continued, is that things pass too quickly for us to have any +certain knowledge of them, our only standard being our +own flitting impressions; and as all men bring a different +sensitiveness into the world, knowledge is a word without +meaning, for there can be no knowledge. Every race +is possessed of a different sensitiveness, he said, as he +passed up the Mount of Olives on his way home. We ask +for miracles, but the Greeks are satisfied with reason. +Am I Greek or Jew? he asked, for he was looking +forward to some silent hours with a book of Greek +philosophy and hoped to forget himself in the manuscript. +But he could not always keep his thoughts on the manuscript, +and, forgetful of Heraclitus, he often sat thinking +of Jesus' promise—that one morning men would awake to +find that God had come to judge the world and divide +it among those that repented their sins. He remembered +he had forfeited his share in the Kingdom for his father's +sake, or had he been driven out of the community because +his belief in the coming of the Kingdom was insufficient? +It is true that his belief had wavered, but he had +always believed. Even his natural humility, of which +he was conscious, did not allow him to doubt that +his belief in Jesus was less fervid than that of Peter, +James, John and the residue. The conviction was always +quick in him that he felt more deeply than these +publicans and fishers, yet Jesus retained them and sent +him away.</p> + +<p>The manuscript glided from his hand to the floor, and +his thoughts wandered back to Alexandria, and he sat +thinking that death must be rather the beginning than +the end of things, for it were impossible to believe that +life was an end in itself. Heraclitus was right: his +present life could be nothing else but the death of +another life. And as if to enforce this doctrine a recollection +of his grandmother intruded upon his meditation. +She was seventy-eight when she died, and her intellect +must have faded some months before, but with her passing +one of the servants told him that a curious expression +came into her face—a sort of mocking expression, as +if she had learnt the truth at last and was laughing at +the dupes she left behind. She lay in a grave in +Galilee, under some pleasant trees, and while thinking +of her grave it occurred to him that he would not like to +be put into the earth; his fancy favoured a tomb cut +out of the rocks in Mount Scropas, for there, he said to +himself, I shall be far from the Scribes and Pharisees, and +going out on the terrace he stood under the cedars and +watched for an hour the outlines of the humped hills that +God had driven in endless disorder, like herds of cattle, +all the way to Jericho, thinking all the while that it would +be pleasant to lie out of hearing of all the silly hurly-burly +that we call life. But the hurly-burly would not be silly +if Jesus were by him, and he asked himself if Jesus was +an illusion like all the rest, and as soon as the pain the +question provoked had died away, his desire of a tomb +took possession of him again, and it left him no peace, +but led him out of the house every evening, up a zigzagging +path along the hillside till he came to some rocks over +against the desert. I shall lie in quiet here till he calls +me, on a couch embedded in the wall and surmounted by +an arch—but if he should prefer me to rise out of an +humble grave? That I may not know, only that the +poorest is not as unhappy as I, so I may as well have +a tomb to my liking.</p> + +<p>It was a long time since he had come to a resolve, and +having come to one at last, he was happier. And in more +cheerful mood he decided that now that the site was +settled it would be well to seek information as to which +are the best workmen to employ on the job.</p> + +<p>But for him whose thoughts run on death nothing is +harder to settle than where his bones shall lie; and next +time he visited the hillside Joseph came upon rocks +facing eastward, and it seemed to him that the rays of the +rising sun should fall on his sepulchre; but a few days +later, coming out of his house in great disquiet, it seemed +to him he would lie happy if his tomb were visited +every evening by the peaceful rays of the setting sun, +and he asked himself how many years of life he would +have to drag through before God released him from his +prison. If he wished to die he could, for our lives are in +our own hands. But he did not know that he cared to +die and, overpowered with grief, he abandoned himself to +metaphysical speculation, asking himself again if it were +not true that to be born into this world meant to pass out +of one life into another; therefore, if so, to die in this +world only meant to pass into another, a life unknown to +us, for all is unknown—nothing being fixed or permanent. +We cannot bathe twice in the same river, so Heraclitus +said, but we cannot bathe even once in the same river, +he added; and to carry the master's thought a stage +further was a pleasure, if any moment of his present +life could be called pleasurable. He heard these sayings +first in Alexandria, and, looking towards Jerusalem, he +tried to recall the exact words of the sage regarding +the futility of sacrifice. Our priests try, said Heraclitus, +to purify themselves with blood and we admire them, but +if a filthy man were to roll himself in the mud in the hope +of cleaning himself we should think he was mad. In +some such wise Heraclitus spoke, but it seemed to +Joseph he had lost something of the spirit of the +saying in too profuse wording of it. As he sought for +the original epitome he heard his name called, and +awaking from his recollections of Alexandria he looked +up and saw before him a young man whom he remembered +having seen at the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus was his name; +and he remembered how the fellow had kept his eyes +on him for one whole evening, trying at various times +to engage him in talk; an insistent fellow who, despite +rebuffs, had followed him into the street after the meeting, +and, refusing to be shaken off, had led the way so +skilfully that Joseph found himself at last on Nicodemus' +doorstep and with no option but to accept Nicodemus' +invitation to enter. He did not like the fellow, but not +on account of his insistence; it was not his insistence +that had prejudiced him against him as much as the +young man's elaboration of raiment, his hairdressing +above all; he wore curls on either side that must have +taken his barber a long while to prepare, and he exhaled +scents. He wore bracelets, and from his appearance +Joseph had not been able to refrain from imagining +lascivious pictures on the walls of his house and statues in +the corners of the rooms—in a word, he thought he had +been persuaded to enter an ultra-Greek house.</p> + +<p>In this he was, however, mistaken, and in the hour they +spent together his host's thoughts were much less occupied +than Joseph expected them to be with the jewels on his +neck and his wrists, and the rich tassels on his sash. He +talked of many things, but his real thoughts were upon +arms; and he showed Joseph scimitars and daggers. +Despite a long discussion on the steel of Damascus, Joseph +could not bring himself to believe that Nicodemus' +interests in heroic warfare were more than intellectual +caprice: and he regarded as entirely superficial Nicodemus' +attacks on the present-day Jews, whose sloth and indolence +he reproved, saying that they had left the heroic spirit +brought out of Arabia with their language, on the +banks of the Euphrates. One hero, he admitted, they +had produced in modern times (Judas Maccabeus), and +Joseph heard for the first time that this great man +always had addressed his soldiers in Hebrew. All the +same he did not believe that Nicodemus was serious in +his passionate demands for the Hebrew language, which +had not been spoken since the Jews emerged from the +pastoral stage. We should do well, Nicodemus said, to +engage others to look to our flocks and herds, so that we +may have leisure to ponder the texts of Talmud, nor do I +hesitate to condemn my own class, the Sadducees, as the +least worthy of all; for we look upon the Temple as a +means of wealth, despising the poor people, who pay +their half-shekel and bring their rams and their goats and +bullocks hither.</p> + +<p>He could talk for a long time in this way, his eyes +abstracted from Joseph, fixed on the darkness of the room. +While listening to him Joseph had often asked himself +if there were a real inspiration behind that lean face, +carven like a marble, with prominent nose and fading +chin, or if he were a mere buffoon.</p> + +<p>He succeeded in provoking a casual curiosity in Joseph, +but he had not infected Joseph with any desire of +his acquaintance; his visits to the counting-house had +not been returned. Yet this meeting on the hillside was +not altogether unwelcome, and Joseph, to his surprise, +surveyed the young man's ringlets and bracelets with +consideration; he admired his many weapons, and +listened to him with interest. He talked well, telling +that the sword that hung from his thigh was from +Damascus and recommending a merchant to Joseph who +could be trusted to discover as fine a one for him. It was +not wise to go about this lonely hillside unarmed, and +Joseph was moved to ask him to draw the sword from its +scabbard, which Nicodemus was only too glad to do, +calling Joseph's attention to the beautiful engraving on +the blade, and to the hilt studded with jewels. He drew +a dagger from his jacket, a hardly less costly weapon, +and Joseph was too abashed to speak of his buckler on his +left arm and the spear that he held in his right hand. +But, nothing loath, Nicodemus bubbled into explanation. +It was part of his project to remind his fellow-countrymen +that they too must arm themselves if they ever wished to +throw off the Roman yoke.</p> + +<p>So long as the Romans substitute a Hebrew word or +letter for the head of Tiberius on the coin we pay the +tribute willingly, he said as they followed the crooked +path through the rocks up the hillside towards Joseph's +house. And in reply to Joseph, who asked him if he +believed in the coming end of the world, he answered +that he did, but he interpreted the coming end of the +world to mean the freeing of the people of Israel from +the Roman yoke, astonishing Joseph by the vigour of his +reply; for Joseph was not yet sure which was the truer +part of this young man, the ringlets and the bracelets or +the shield and the spear.</p> + +<p>He was partial to long silences; and the next of these +was so long that Joseph had begun to wonder, but when +they reached the crest of the hill he burst into speech like +a bird into song, asking what was happening in Galilee, +avouching much interest in Jesus, whom he had heard +of, but had never seen. Joseph, guessing that it was to +obtain news of Jesus that Nicodemus sought him on the +hillside, told him that he had not spoken of Jesus for +many weeks, and found a sudden relief in relating all +he knew about him: how Jesus said that father, mother, +brother and sister must be abandoned. Yes, he had +said, we must look upon all sacrifice as naught if we +would obtain our ancient kingdom and language. But +the Essenes have never spoken like that, Nicodemus +urged: he is not an Essene, nor Moses, nor Elijah, nor +Jeremiah. He is none of these: he is Judas Maccabeus +come to life again: and henceforth I shall look upon +myself as his disciple.</p> + +<p>He spoke so loudly that any passer-by might have +caught up his words; and there was danger from Joseph's +servants, for they were now standing by his gate. He +looked round uneasily, and as Nicodemus showed no signs +of taking leave of him, he thought it would be more prudent +to ask him into the house, warning him, however, that he +had no beautiful things to show him in the way of engraved +weapons, swords from Damascus or daggers from Circassia. +It was not, however, to see beautiful weapons that +Nicodemus inclined; only so far as they related to Jesus +was he interested in arms; and he besought Joseph to tell +him more of Jesus, whom he seemed to have already +accepted as the leader of a revolt against the Romans. But +Joseph, who had begun to fear the young man, protested +that Jesus' Kingdom was not of this earth, thinking thereby +to discredit Jesus in Nicodemus' eyes. Nicodemus was +not to be put off so easily: the Jews spoke of the Kingdom +of Heaven so that they might gain the kingdom of earth. +A method not very remarkable for its success, Joseph +interposed. The Romans do otherwise, never thinking +about the Kingdom of Heaven, but only of riches and vainglory, +whereas Jesus, he said, says it is as hard for the +rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as it would be +for a sword to pass through the eye of a needle. A sword +through the eye of a needle, Nicodemus repeated, walking +up and down the floor, stamping his lance as he went. He +is the leader we have been waiting for. But it is not always +thus that he speaks, Joseph interposed, I have heard him +myself say: it is as hard for a rich man to enter heaven +as it would be for a cow to calve in a rook's nest. As he +went to and fro Nicodemus muttered: there is much to be +said for this revision of his words. Jesus wishes to reach +the imagination of the poor that know not swords. And +he spoke for a long time of the indolence of the rich, of +their gross pleasures and sensual indulgences. But we +must give them swords, he added under his breath, as if +he were speaking for himself alone and did not wish Joseph +to hear, and then, awaking from his reverie, he turned to +his host: tell me more of this remarkable man. And +Joseph, who was now a little amused at his guest's +extravagances, asked him if he knew the answer he had +given to Antipas, who had invited him to his court in +Tiberias in consequence of the renown of his miracles. +Wishing to witness some exhibition of his skill, Antipas +seated himself in imperial fashion on his highest throne, +and, drawing his finest embroideries about him, asked +Jesus if he had seen anybody attired so beautifully before, +to which Jesus, who stood between two soldiers, a beggar +in rags, before the king, replied: I have indeed; pheasants +and peacocks, for nature apparelled them. Neither Moses +nor Elijah nor Jeremiah, Nicodemus declared, could have +invented a reply more apt. He asked Joseph if any +further doubt lingered in his mind that Jesus was the +prophet promised to the Jews. How I envy thy intercourse +with him, he cried. How I envy thee, for thou art +the friend of him that will overthrow the Romans.</p> + +<p>Overthrow the Romans! Joseph repeated to himself, +and as soon as his guest had left his house he was brought +to a presentiment of the danger he incurred in allowing +this man to come to his house: a young man who walked +about extravagantly armed would, sooner or later, find +himself haled before Pilate. Joseph felt that it would +be better to refuse to see him if he called at the counting-house: +an excuse could be found easily: his foreman might +say: Master is away in Jericho. But when Nicodemus +called a few weeks afterwards Joseph was constrained to +tell his foreman to tell Nicodemus that he would see him. +The truth was, Joseph was glad of an interruption, for his +business was boring him more than it did usually, but he +liked to pretend to himself that he could not escape from +Nicodemus.</p> + +<p>A new opinion of Nicodemus began to shape itself +in his mind when Nicodemus said that many and +many a year will have to pass before that can be done +with success, and the Roman rule is so light that the +people feel it not. It saves us from quarrels among +ourselves, and who have quarrelled as bitterly as we have +done? Joseph's heart softened at this appreciation of +the Jewish people, and they began to talk in sympathy +for the first time, and it was a pleasure to find themselves +in this agreement, that before the Jews could conquer the +Romans they would have to conquer themselves. He is +more cautious than I thought for, Joseph muttered as he +returned to his camel-drivers, for his guest had departed +suddenly without giving any reason for his visitation. A +spy he cannot be, Joseph said to himself. I stand too +well with Pilate to be suspected of schemes of mutiny. +But he will soon come under the notice of Pilate; and +Joseph was not surprised when Pilate asked him if he +knew an extravagantly dressed young man, Nicodemus +by name. Joseph replied that he did, giving Pilate to +understand that Nicodemus was no more than one of +the many eccentrics to be found in every city, with +a taste for the beauty of engraved swords, and little for +the use of these weapons; and Pilate, who seemed to be +of the same opinion himself, suddenly asked him if he +had ever met in Galilee one named Jesus. Jesus from +Nazareth, Pilate said; and Joseph watched the tall, handsome, +pompous Roman, one of those intelligently stupid +men of which there are so many about. He arrived, +Pilate continued, in Jerusalem yesterday with a number +of Galileans, all talking of the resurrection, and news has +just reached me that he had been preaching in the Temple, +creating some disturbance, which will, I hope, not be +repeated, for disturbances in the Temple lead to disturbances +in the streets. Does your father know this new +prophet? As Joseph was about to answer one of Pilate's +apparitors entered suddenly with papers that demanded +the procurator's attention. We will talk over this on +another occasion, Pilate said as he bent over the papers, +and Joseph went out muttering: so he has come, so he +has come to Jerusalem at last.</p> + +<p>At any moment he might meet Jesus, and to stop to +speak to him in the street would, in a sense, involve a +profanation of his oath to his father; and he knew he +could not turn aside from Jesus. He must therefore +refrain from going up to Jerusalem and transact his +business from his house by means of messengers. But +if Pilate were to send for him? We cannot altogether +avoid risk, he said to himself. I can do no more than +remain within doors.</p> + +<p>It was not many days afterwards that one of his servants +came suddenly into the room. Nicodemus, Sir, is waiting +in the hall and would see you, though I told him you were +engaged with business. He says the matter on which he +is come to speak to you is important. Well, then, let me +see him, Joseph answered.</p> + +<p>Now, what has happened? he asked. Has he said +anything that the Sanhedrin will be able to punish him +for? He threw some more olive roots on the fire and told +the servant to bring a lamp. A lamp, he said, will be +welcome, for this grey dusk is disheartening.</p> + +<p>The weather is cold, so draw your chair near to the +fire. I am glad to see you. The men waited for the +servant to leave the room. We shall be more comfortable +when the curtains are drawn. The lamp, I see, +is beginning to burn up.... Nicodemus sat grave +and hieratic, thin and tall, in the high chair, and the +gloom on his face was so immovable that Joseph wasted +no words. What has fallen out? he said, and Nicodemus +asked him if he knew Phinehas, the great money-changer +in the Temple. Joseph nodded, and, holding his hands +before the fire, Nicodemus told his story very slowly, +exasperating Joseph by his slowness; but he did not +dare to bid him to hasten, and, holding himself in patience, +he listened to him while he told that Phinehas was +perhaps the worst of the extorters, the most noisy and +arrogant, a vicious and quarrelsome man, who, yester-morning, +was engaged with a rich Alexandrian Jew, +Shamhuth, who had lately arrived from Alexandria and +was buying oxen, rams and ewes in great numbers for +sacrifice. We wondered at his munificence, Nicodemus +said, not being able to explain it to ourselves, for the +Feast of the Tabernacles is over; and our curiosity was +still more roused when it became known that he was +distributing largess. The man's appearance aroused +suspicion, for it is indeed a fearful one. From his single +eye to his chin a fearful avariciousness fills his face, and +the empty, withered socket speaks of a close, sordid, +secret passion, and so clearly that Jesus said: that man +has not come to glorify God nor to repent of his sins. +He is guilty of a great crime, and he would have it +forgiven him. But the crime? Of what crime is he +guilty? we asked. Jesus did not answer us, for at that +moment some young man had come to listen to him, and +the man's crime appeared to him as of little importance +compared to his own teaching. Has he come, we asked, +to pray that his sight may be restored to him? Jesus +motioned to us that that was so; and he also bade us be +silent, for stories of miracles have a great hold upon the +human mind, and Jesus wished to teach some young men +who had come to ask him how they were to live during +these last days. But myself, consumed with desire to +hear the man's story, mingled with the herdsmen who +had brought in the cattle, and inquired how Shamhuth +had lost his eye. None could tell me, and I failed to get +tidings of him till I came upon an Alexandrian Jew who +told me a strange story. Shamhuth's money came from +his friend's wife, whom he married after causing him to be +killed by hirelings; and when his senses tired of her he +persuaded her daughter to come over to him in the night. +Shamhuth always walked praying aloud, his eyes cast down +lest they should fall upon a woman, and his wife did not +suspect him. But one night she was bidden in a dream +to seek her husband, and rising from her bed she descended +and opened the door very softly, not wishing to +disturb him in his sleep. The sight that met her eyes +kindled such a great flame of hate in her that she +returned to her room for a needle, and placing her +hands upon her daughter's mouth she quickly pricked +out both her eyes, and then, approaching her husband, +she pricked out his right eye, and was about to prick +out the other, but he slid from her hands and escaped, +blind of an eye, to Jerusalem, bringing with him great +sums of money in the hope that he may purchase a +miracle, which is a great blasphemy in itself, and shows +what the man really is in his heart.</p> + +<p>Such was the story that the Alexandrian Jew, who +knew him, told us; and as soon as these abominations +became known in the Temple a riot began, and somebody +cried: the adulterer must be put away. Whereupon +Phinehas, seeing the large profits he had expected +vanishing, turned to Jesus and said: it is thou who +hast brought this disaster upon me, lying Galilean, who +callest thyself the son of David, when all know ye to be +the son of Joseph the Carpenter.</p> + +<p>Son of David! Son of David! How can that be? the +people began to ask each other, and in the midst of their +questioning a great hilarity broke over them. In great +wrath Jesus overturned Phinehas' table, and Phinehas +would have overthrown Jesus had not Peter, who had +armed himself with a sword, raised it. The people +became like mad: tables were broken for staves, some +rushed away to escape with a whole skin, and the +frightened cattle dashed among them, a black bull goring +many. And in all the mob Jesus was the fiercest fighter, +lashing the people in the face with the thongs of the +whip he had taken from a herdsman, and felling others +with the handle. The cages of the doves were broken, +the birds took flight, and the priests, at their wits' +end, called for the guards to come down from the +porticoes, and it was not till much blood had been spilt +that order was restored. Joseph asked how Phinehas +came out of all this trouble, and heard that he had +escaped without injury. Merely losing a few shekels, +not more, though he deserved to lose his life, for +he placed his money above the Temple, not caring +whether it was polluted by the presence of an adulterer, +only thinking of the great profit he could make out of +the man's sins, differing in no wise in this from the +priests and sacristans.</p> + +<p>Jesus should never have gone to the Temple nor come +to Jerusalem, Joseph said. But in this Nicodemus could +not agree with him, for if Jesus were the Messiah his +mission was nothing less than to free Jerusalem from +the Roman yoke. But he should have brought a larger +body of disciples with him—some thousands, instead +of a few hundreds—not enough to bring about the +abolition of the Temple, which, according to Nicodemus, +was the Galilean's project—one more difficult to accomplish +than he thinks for. The Romans support the Temple, +he cried, because the Temple divides us. I say it myself, +Sadducee though I am.</p> + +<p>It was these last words that proved to Joseph that the +ringlets and bracelets did not comprise the whole of this +young man's soul, and he was moved forthwith to confide +the story of his father's sickness to him, dwelling on all its +consequences: he had not been elected an apostle, and +Jesus consequently had no one by to tell him that he +must not speak of the abolition of the law in Jerusalem. +But if he did not come to incite the people against the +Temple, for what did he come? Nicodemus asked. You've +heard him preach in Galilee, tell me who he is, and in what +does his teaching consist?—a direct question that prompted +Joseph to relate his associations with the Essenes, Banu, +John, the search for Jesus in Egypt and among the Judean +hills—a long story I'm afraid it is, Joseph mentioned +apologetically to Nicodemus, who begged him to omit no +detail of it. Nicodemus sat with his eyes fixed on Joseph +while Joseph told of the discovery of Jesus in Galilee +among his father's fishermen; and as if to excuse the +almost immodest interest awakened in Nicodemus, Joseph +murmured that the story owed nothing to his telling of +it; he was telling it as plainly as it could be told for a +purpose; Nicodemus must judge it fairly. Resuming his +narrative, Joseph related the day spent in the forest and +Jesus' interpretation of the prophecies. Nicodemus cried: +he is the stone cut by no hand out of the mountain; +the idol shall fall, and the stone that felled it shall grow as +big as a mountain and fill the whole earth.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XVII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>As they sat talking the servant brought in a letter which, +he said, has just arrived from Galilee. The messenger +rode the whole journey in two days, Sir, and you'll have +to do the same, Sir, and to start at once if you would +see your father alive. If I would see my father alive! +if I would see my father alive! Joseph repeated, and, +seizing Nicodemus by the hand, he bade him farewell.</p> + +<p>Let an escort be called together at once, he cried, and +an hour later he was on the back of a speedy dromedary +riding through the night, his mind whirling with questions +which he did not put to the messenger, knowing he +could not answer any of them. And they rode on +through that night and next day, stopping but once to +rest themselves and their animals—six hours' rest was +all he allowed himself or them. Six hours' rest for +them, for him not an hour, so full was his mind with +questions. He rode on, drinking a little, but eating +nothing, thinking how his father's life might be saved, +of that and nothing else. Were they feeding him with +milk every ten minutes?—he could not trust nurses, +nobody but himself. Were they shouting in his ear, +keeping him awake, as it were, stimulating his consciousness +at wane?</p> + +<p>Once, and only once, while attending on his father +did Joseph remember that if his father died he would +be free to follow Jesus: a shameful thought that he +shook out of his mind quickly, praying the while upon +his knees by the bedside that he might not desire his +father's death. As the thought did not come again, he +assumed that his prayer was granted, and when he +returned to Jerusalem a month later (the new year +springing up all about him), immersed in a sort of sad +happiness, thanking God, who had restored his father +to health (Joseph had left Dan looking as if he would +live to a hundred), a strange new thought came into +his mind and took possession of it: the promise given +his father only bound him during his father's lifetime; at +his father's death he would be free to follow Jesus; but +the dead hold us more tightly than the living, and he +feared that his life would be always in his father's keeping.</p> + +<p>He was about his father's business in the counting-house; +his father seemed to direct every transaction, and, +ashamed of his weakness, he refrained from giving an +order till he heard, or thought he heard, his father's voice +speaking through him, and when he returned to his +dwelling-house, over against the desert, it often seemed +to him that if he were to raise his eyes from the ashes in +which some olive roots were burning he would see his +father, and as plain as if he were before his eyes in the +flesh. But my father isn't dead, so what is the meaning +of this dreaming? he cried one evening; and, starting +out of his chair, he stood listening to the gusts whirling +through the hills with so melancholy a sound that Joseph +could not dismiss the thought that the moment was +fateful. His father was dying ... something was befalling, +or it might be that Jesus was at the door asking +for him. The door opened, and he uttered a cry: what +is it? Nicodemus, the servant answered, has come to +see you, Sir. And he waited for his order to bid the +visitor to enter or depart.</p> + +<p>His master seemed unable to give either order, and +stood at gaze till the servant reminded him that +Nicodemus was waiting in the hall; and then, as if +yielding to superior force, Joseph answered he was +willing to receive the visitor, regretting his decision +almost at once, while the servant descended the stairs, +and vehemently on seeing Nicodemus, who entered, +the lamplight falling upon him, more brilliantly apparelled +than Joseph had ever seen him. A crimson +mantle hung from his shoulders and a white hand issuing +from a purfled sleeve grasped a lance; weapons, jewelled +and engraved, appeared among the folds of his raiment, +and he strode about the room in silence, as if he +thought it necessary to give Joseph a few moments in +which to consider his war gear (intended as an elaborate +piece of symbolism). In response to the riddle presented, +Joseph began to wonder if Nicodemus regarded +himself rather as a riddle than as a reality—a riddle that +might be propounded again and again, or if he could not +do else than devise gaud and trappings to conceal his +inner emptiness, a dust-heap of which he himself was +grown weary. A great deal of dust-heap there certainly +is, Joseph said to himself as his eyes followed the strange +figure prowling along and across the room, breaking +occasionally into speech. But he could not help thinking +that beneath the dust-heap there was something of worth, +for when Nicodemus spoke, he spoke well, and to speak well +means to think well, and to think well, Joseph was prone +to conclude, means to act well, if not always, at least sometimes. +But could an apt phrase condone the accoutrements? +He had added a helmet to the rest of his war gear, and the +glint of the lamplight on the brass provoked Joseph to beg +of him to unarm and relate his story, that burdens you more +than your armour, he said. At these words Nicodemus was +raised from the buffoon to a man of sense and shrewdness. +I have come here, he said, to speak to you about Jesus. +But the story is a somewhat perilous one, and as it rains +no longer I will walk with you along the hillside and tell +it to you.</p> + +<p>He raised his hand to Joseph, forbidding him to speak, +and it was not till they reached a lonely track that +Nicodemus stopped suddenly: his death had been resolved +upon, he said, and the two men stood for a moment looking +into each other's eyes without speaking. It was Nicodemus +who fell to walking again and the relation of circumstances. +He had come straight from the Sanhedrin, where he +defended Jesus against his enemies and accusers at some +personal risk, as he was quickly brought to see by Raguel's +retort: and art thou too a Galilean? And walking with +his eyes on the ground, as if communing with himself, +Nicodemus related that there was now but one opinion in +the Sanhedrin: Jesus and Judaism were incompatible; +one or the other must go. Better that one man +should perish than that a nation should be destroyed, he +said, are the words one hears. Stopping again, he said, +looking Joseph in the face: it is believed that +sufficient warrant for his death has been gotten, for he +said not many days ago he could destroy the Temple +and build it again in three days, which can be interpreted +as speech against the law. Joseph asked that a +meaning should be put on the words, and Nicodemus +answered that Jesus spoke figuratively. To his mind the +Temple stood for no more than observances from which +all spiritual significance had faded long ago, and Jesus +meant that he could and would replace dead formulæ by +a religion of heart: the true religion which has no need +of priests or sacrifices. We must persuade him to leave +Jerusalem and return to Galilee, Joseph cried, his voice +trembling. By no means, by no means, Nicodemus exclaimed, +raising his voice and stamping his lance. He has been +called to the work and must drive the plough to the headland, +though death be waiting him there. But he can be +saved, I think, Nicodemus continued, his voice assuming a +thoughtful tone, for though he has spoken against the law +the Jews may not put him to death: his death can be +obtained only by application to Pilate. Will Pilate grant +it to please the Jews? Joseph asked. The Romans are +averse, Nicodemus answered, from religious executions +and will not comprehend the putting to death of a man +for saying he can destroy the Temple and build it again +in three days.</p> + +<p>Nicodemus became prolix and tedious, repeating again +and again that it was the second part of the sentence +that would save Jesus, for it was obvious that though a +man might destroy the Temple in three days (a great fire +would achieve the destruction in a few hours), he could +not build it again in three days. This second part of the +sentence proved beyond doubt that Jesus was speaking +figuratively, and the Romans would refuse to put a man to +death because he was a poet and spoke in symbols and +allegories. The Romans were hard, but they were just; +and he spoke on Roman justice till they came round +the hills shouldering over against Bethany, and found +themselves in the midst of a small group of men taking +shelter from the wind behind a large rock. Why, Master, +it is you. And Joseph recognised Peter's voice, and +afterwards the voices of James and John, who were with +him, called to Matthew and Aristion, who were at some +little distance, sitting under another rock, and the five +apostles crowded round Joseph, bidding him welcome, +Peter, James and John demonstratively, and Aristion and +Matthew, who knew Joseph but little, giving him a more +timid but hardly less friendly welcome. We did not know +why you had left us, they said. But it is pleasant to find +you in Jerusalem, for we are lonely here, Matthew said, +and the Hierosolymites mock at us for not speaking as +they do. But you are with us here, young Master, as you +were in Galilee? John asked. We knew not why you left +us. But we did, John, Peter interposed, we knew well that +Jesus said to him, when he returned from his father's sick-bed, +that those who would follow him must leave father and +mother, brother and sister, wives and children to live and +die by themselves, which is as we have done. Yes, Sir, +Peter continued, freeing himself from John and turning +to Joseph, we've left this world behind us, or if not this +world itself, the things of this world: our boats and nets, +our wives and our children. All that Jesus calls our +ghostly life we have thrown into the lake. My wife and +children and mother-in-law are all there, and John and +James have left their mother, Salome. But, said James, +the neighbours will not be lacking to give her a bite if +she wants something when she is hungry. She'll be +getting men to fish for her, for we've left her our boats +and nets. They've done this, Peter chimed in, and my +wife and children will have to be fishing for themselves; +but we hope they'll manage to get somehow a bite and +a sup of something till the Kingdom comes, which we hope +will not be delayed much longer, for we like not Jerusalem, +and being mocked at in the Temple. But say ye, Master, +that we've done wrong in leaving our wives and children +to fish for themselves? It seemed hard at first, and you +were weak, Master, and stayed with your father; but after +all he has money and could pay for attendance, whereas +our wives and little ones have none; ourselves will be +in straits to get our living if the Kingdom be delayed in +its coming, for what good are fishermen except along the +sea coast or where there is a lake or a river, and here there +isn't enough water for a minnow to swim in. Our wives +and our children are better off than we are, for they'll be +getting someone to fish for them, and will stand at the +doors at Capernaum waiting for the boats to return, praying +that the nets weren't let down in vain; but we aren't as +sure of the Kingdom as we were of a great take of fishes +in Galilee when the wind was favourable to fishing. Not +that we'd have you think our faith be failing us; we be +as firm as ever we were, as John and James will be telling +you. And Peter, interrupting them again, reminded +Joseph that if they lacked faith the promised Kingdom +would not come.</p> + +<p>It was Jesus' faith that upheld us, John said, pushing +Peter aside, and the promises he made us that we +might hear the trumpets of the cherubims and seraphims +announcing the Kingdom at any moment of the day or +night. And making himself the spokesman of the five, +John told Joseph and Nicodemus that Jesus now looked +upon the arrival of the Kingdom as a very secondary +matter, and his own death as one of much greater import. +He says that he'll have to give his blood to the earth and +his flesh to the birds of the air else none will believe his +teaching. He says that God demands a victim; and looks +upon him as the victim; but if that be so, the world will +get his teaching and we shall get nothing, for we know +his teaching of old.</p> + +<p>As Peter has told you, James interrupted, there be no +water here, not a spring nor a rivulet, nothing in which a +fish could live; we're fishermen stranded in a desert +without boats or nets, which would be of no use to us, +nor am I gainsaying it; but if he gives himself as a victim +how shall we get back to Galilee? He now talks not of +these matters to us, but of his Father only, and of doing +his Father's will. He seems to have forgotten us, and +everything else but his Father and his Father's will, and +we cannot make him understand when we try that we +shall want money, that money will be wanting to get us +back to Galilee, nor does he hear us when we say: our +nets and our boats may have passed into other hands. +We know not what is come over him; he's a changed +man; a lamb as long as you're agreeing with him, but at +a word of contradiction he's all claws and teeth.</p> + +<p>The walk is a long one, Matthew interjected, and the +taxes will be collected by the time we get back if the +Kingdom don't come, and sore of foot I'll be sitting in +a desolate house without wife or children or fire in the +hearth. But we have faith, they all cried out together, +and having followed Jesus so far we'll follow him to the +end. But we are glad, Sirs, James said, that you've come, +for you'll see Jesus and tell him that we would like to +have a word from him as to when we may expect the +Kingdom; and a word, too, as to what it will be like; +whether there'll be rivers and lakes well stocked with +fish in it, and whether our chairs shall be set; Peter on +the Master's right hand to be sure, we are all agreed as +to that. But you remember, Master, our mother, Salome, +how she took Jesus aside and said that myself and John +were to be on his left with Andrew one below us? Peter +began to raise his voice, and, straightening his shoulders, +he declared that his brother Andrew must sit on Jesus' +left. You remember, Master? I remember, Joseph +interrupted, that the Master answered you all saying that +every chair had been made and caned and cushioned +before the world was. You can't have forgotten, Peter, +this saying: that every one would find a chair according +to his measure? Yes, Master, he did say something like +that. I'm far from saying we'd all sit equally easy in +the same chairs, and if the chairs were before the world +was, all I can say is that there seems to have been a +lack of foresight, for how could God himself know what +our backsides would be like years upon years before they +came into being.</p> + +<p>About that we will speak later; but now point out the +house of Simon the Leper to us where Jesus lodges, Joseph +asked. You see yon house, James replied, and they went +forward together, meeting on the way thither several +apostles and many disciples; and these accompanied +Joseph and Nicodemus to the door, telling them the while +that Jesus had driven them out of the house. It is a main +struggle that is going by in him, Philip said, and so we left +him, being afraid of his looks. Isn't that so, Bartholomew? +And they all acquiesced, and Bartholomew nodded, saying: +yes, we were afraid of his looks. It was then that Simon +the Leper opened the door, and Joseph, remembering +his promise to his father, laid his hand on Nicodemus' +shoulder: I may not enter, he said. I have come thus far +but may not go into the house; but do you go in and tell +him, Nicodemus, that in spirit I am with him.</p> + +<p>On these words Nicodemus passed into the house, leaving +Joseph in the centre of a small crowd of apostles, disciples +and sympathisers in several degrees, all eager to talk to +him and to hear him say that they had but to follow +Jesus to Jerusalem and the Scribes and Pharisees would +give way before them at once. You that are of the +Sanhedrin should know if we are strong enough to cast +them out of the Temple. But, my good men, I know +nothing of your plot to clear the Temple of its thieves, +Joseph answered, and there'll always be thieves in this +world, wherever you go. But the Day of Judgment is +approaching. When may we expect his second coming? +somebody shouted from out of a group of men standing a +little way back from the others, and the cry was taken up. +He is coming with his Father in a chariot, one said. +With our Father, somebody interrupted, and an eddying +current of theology spread through the crowd. I've +come from Galilee, from my father's sick-bed, and know +nothing of your numbers and have not seen him these +many months, Joseph said. He is the true Messiah, and +we believe in him, was an unexpected utterance; but +Joseph was not given time to ponder on it, for a woman, +thrusting her way up to him, cried out in his face: he can +destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. And +when Joseph asked her who had said that, she told him +that Jesus had said it. He turned to Peter, John and +James to ask them the meaning of these words. What +did Jesus mean when he said he could destroy the Temple +and build it again in three days? He means, said half-a-dozen +voices, that the priests and the Scribes are to be +cast out, and a new Temple set up, for the pure worship +of the true God, who desires not the fat of rams. Joseph +understood that the rams destined for sacrifice were to +be given to the poor.</p> + +<p>If you don't mind, will you be telling us why you refuse +to go up with Nicodemus to ask Jesus to delay no longer, +but to lead us into Jerusalem? he was asked, and perforce +had to answer that Nicodemus wished to talk privily to +Jesus, at which they pressed round him, and from every +side the question was put to him: is he going to lead +us into Jerusalem? And then Joseph began to understand +that these people would find themselves on the +morrow, or perhaps the next day, fighting with the +Roman legions, and, knowing how the fight would end, +he answered them that the Romans would be on the side +of the priests and Scribes. Whereupon they tore their +garments and cast dust on their heads, and in his attempt +to pacify them he asked if it would not be better for Jesus +to go up to Galilee and wait till the priests were less prepared +to resist him. No, no, to Jerusalem, to Jerusalem, +they cried on every side, and voices were again raised, and +the Galileans admitted that they had come down from +Galilee for this revolution, and had been insulted in the +Temple by the Scribes, and laughed at, and called +"foolish Galileans"; but they would show the Scribes what +the Galileans could do. Was it true that Jesus was the +Messiah promised to the Jewish people by the prophet +Daniel?—and while Joseph was seeking an answer to this +question a woman cried: you're not worthy of a Messiah, +for do you not know that he is the one promised to us in +Holy Writ? And do not his miracles prove that he is the +Messiah we have been waiting for? None but the true +Messiah could have rid my son of the demon that infested +him for two years; and with these words gaining the +attention of the crowd she related how the ghost of a +man long dead had come into her boy when he was but +fourteen, bringing him to the verge of death in two +years—a pale, exhausted creature, having no will of his +own nor strength for anything. But how, asked Joseph, +do you know that the demon was the ghost of a man that +had lived long ago? Because in life he had dearly loved +his wife, but had found her to be unfaithful to him and +had died of grief twenty years ago, and was captured then +by the beauty of my boy; and his grief entered into the boy +and abode in him, and would have destroyed him utterly +if Jesus had not imposed his hands upon him and put the +vampire to flight. Whither I know not, but my boy is +free. It is as the woman says, a man cried out, for I've +seen the boy, and he is free now of the demon. My +limb, too, is proof that Jesus is a prophet. And the lion-hunter +told how in a fight with a great beast his thigh +had been dislocated; and for seven years he had walked +with a crutch, but the moment Jesus imposed his hands +upon him the use of his limb was given back to him.</p> + +<p>Another came forward and showed his arm, which for +many a year had hung lifeless, but as soon as Jesus took +it in his hand the sinews reknit themselves, and now it +was stronger than the other. And then a woman pressed +through the crowd, and she wished everybody to know +that a flux of blood that had troubled her for seven years +had been healed. But the people were bored with +accounts of miracles and were now anxious to hear from +Joseph if Jesus was going up to Jerusalem for the Feast +of the Passover. But, my friends, I have but just returned +from Galilee, and have come from there to learn these +things. He is watching for a sign from his Father in +heaven, a woman cried, shaking her head. A man tried +to get some words privily with Joseph: will he speak +against the taxes? he asked, but before he could get any +further Nicodemus appeared in the doorway, and the +people pressed round him, asking what Jesus had said to +him, and if he were coming down to speak to them. But +before Nicodemus could answer any of them the lion-hunter +cried out that a priest was not so terrible a beast +as a lion, and while he was with them Jesus had nothing +to fear. At which his enemy in the crowd began to jeer, +saying: Asiel wears the lion's skin, we all know, but he +has never told anybody who killed the lion for him. And +the men might have hit each other if the woman who +suffered for seven years had not cried out: now, what +are you fighting for? know ye not that Jesus cannot come +down to us, for he is waiting for a sign from his Father? +From our Father, John thundered out. Nicodemus said +he had spoken truly, and the crowd followed Nicodemus +and Joseph a little way. Do not return to the house of +Simon the Leper. Leave Jesus in peace to-night to pray, +meditate, and rest, for he needs rest. He'll lead you +to Jerusalem as soon as he gets a sign from our Father +which is in heaven, Nicodemus said.</p> + +<p>At these words the people dispersed in great joy, and +Joseph and Nicodemus walked on together in silence, till +Joseph, feeling that they were safely out of hearing, asked +if Jesus spoke of his intention to take Jerusalem by +assault. Nicodemus seemed to examine his memory for +a moment, and then, as if forgetting Joseph's question, +he began to tell that Jesus was standing in the middle +of the room when he entered, seemingly unaware that +his disciples were assembled about the house. His eyes +fixed, as it were, on his thoughts or ideas, he did not +hear the door open, and to get his attention Nicodemus +had to lay his hand upon his arm. At his touch Jesus +awoke from his dream, but it seemed quite a little +while before he could shake himself free from his dream, +and was again of this world. Joseph asked Nicodemus +to repeat his first words. Was he violent or affectionate? +Affectionate, gentle, and winning, Nicodemus answered. +A few moments of sweetness, and then he seemed suddenly +to become old and wild and savage.</p> + +<p>The two men stopped on the road, and Nicodemus +looking into Joseph's eyes, said: I asked him if he were +going up to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, +and after speaking a few words on the subject he broke +out, coiling himself like a diseased panther meditating on +its spring, and as if uncertain if he could accomplish it, he +fell back into a chair and into his dream, out of which he +spoke a few words clear and reasonable; and then with a +concentrated hate he spoke of the Temple as a resort of +thieves and of the priests as the despoilers of widows and +orphans, saying that the law must be abrogated and the +Temple destroyed. Until then there would be no true +religion in Judea. It is like that he speaks now; the +one-time reformer sees clearly that the Temple must go. +And would he, Joseph asked, build another in its place? +I'm not sure that he would. I put the question to him +and he was uncertain if the old foundations could be used. +The old spirits of lust, and blood, and money would +haunt the walls, and as fast as we raised up a new +Temple the spirits would pull it down and rebuild it as +it was before. We are forbidden by the law of Moses +to create any graven image of man, of bird or beast. +Would that Moses had added: build no walls, for as soon +as there are walls priests will enter in and set themselves +upon thrones. The priests have taken the place of God, +and I have come, he said, to cast them out of their +thrones, and to cut the knot of the bondage of the people +of Israel. I come, he said, with a sword to cut that knot, +which hands have failed to loosen, and in my other hand +there is a torch, and with it I shall set fire to the thrones. +All the world as ye know it must be burnt up like stubble, +for a new world to rise up in its place. In the beginning +I spoke sweet words of peace, and they were of no avail +to stay the sins that were committed in every house; so +now I speak no more sweet words to anybody, but words +that shall divide father from son, and mother from +daughter, and wife from husband. There is no other +way to cure the evil. What say I, he cried, cure! +There is none. The evil must be cut down and thrown +upon the fire, and whosoever would be saved from the fire +must follow me. The priests hate me and call me +arrogant, but if I seem arrogant to them it is because I +speak the word of God.</p> + +<p>And then, seizing me by the shoulder, he said: look into +my eyes and see. They shall tell thee that those who +would be saved from the fire must follow me. I am the +word, the truth, and the life. Follow me, follow me, or +else be for ever accursed and destroyed and burnt up like +weeds that the gardener throws into heaps and fires on +an autumn evening. Yes, he cried, we are nearing the +springtime when life shall begin again in the world. But +I say to thee that this springtime shall never come to pass. +Never again shall the fig ripen on the wall and the wheat +be cut down in the fields. Before these things come to +pass in their natural course the Son of Man shall return in +a chariot of fire to make an end of things; or if thou +wilt thou can say that he'll come not to make an end +but a new beginning, a world in which justice and peace +shall reign. And it is for this end I offer myself, a victim +to appease our Father in heaven. I'm the sacrifice and +the communion, for it is no longer the fat of rams that my +Father desires, but my blood, only that; only my blood +will appease his wrath. As I have said, I am the communion, +and thou shalt eat my flesh and drink my blood, +else perish utterly, and go into eternal damnation. But I +love thee and—— And after a pause he said: those that +love God are loved by me, and willingly and gladly will I +yield myself up as the last sacrifice.</p> + +<p>Nicodemus stopped, for his memory died suddenly, and, +unable to discover anything in the blank, he turned to +Joseph and said: he speaks with a strange, bitter energy, +like one that has lost control of his words; he is hardly +aware of them, nor does he retain any memory of them. +They are as the wind, rising we know not why, and going +its way unbidden. I have seen him like that in Galilee, +Joseph answered. Ah! Nicodemus answered suddenly, I +remember, but cannot put words upon it. He said that +before the world was, he and his Father were one, and +that his great love of man induced him to separate +himself——</p> + +<p>At that moment a man came out from the shadow of +a rock and approached the wayfarers, who drew back +quickly, thinking they were about to be attacked. It +is Judas, Joseph whispered, one of the apostles. You +have seen Jesus? Judas asked breathlessly, and when +Nicodemus told how Jesus had said he would go up to +Jerusalem for the Passover he cried out: to lead us +against the Temple? He must be saved. From what? +Nicodemus asked: from his mission? He must go on to +the end with the work he has been called out of heaven +to accomplish. I can see that you have been speaking +with him. Called out of heaven to accomplish! And +then, clasping his hands, Judas looked with imploring +eyes upon them: save him, he cried, save him, for if +not, I must myself, for every day his pride redoubles +and now he believes himself to be the Messiah, the +Messiah as sent by God, Judas cried. By whom else +could he be sent? Joseph replied. If he be not taken +by the priests and put to death he will be driven +by the demon into the last blasphemy; one which no +Jew has yet committed even in his heart, and if that +word be spoken all will be accomplished, and the Lord +will choose another nation from among the Gentiles. He +will declare himself God, Judas continued. Nicodemus +and Joseph raised their hands. He speaks already of the +time before the world was, when he and his Father were +one; and setting aside the Scriptures in his madness he +has begun to imagine that the angels that revolted against +God were changed into men, and given the world for +abode till their sins so angered the Father (remark you, +of whom Jesus was then a part) that he determined to +destroy the world; at which Jesus in his great love of men +(or of fallen angels, for betimes he doesn't know what he +is saying) said he would put Godhead off and become man, +and give his life as atonement for the sins of men. Sirs, +I'll ask you how God or man may by his death make +atonement for the sins that men have committed? Hear +me to the end, for as many minutes as you have listened, +I have listened hours. By this sacrifice of his life his +teaching will become known to men and he will reign the +one and only king till the world itself crumbles and +perishes. Then he will become one with his Father, and +from that moment there will be but one God. These are +the thoughts, noble Sirs, on which he is brooding, and if +he go up to yon town it will be to—— Judas could not +bring himself to pronounce the words "declare himself +God," so blasphemous did they seem to him. And before +the wayfarers could ask him, as they were minded to, if +he were sure that he had rightly understood Jesus, the +apostle had bidden them farewell, and, running up a +by-track, disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind +him a memory of a large bony nose hanging over a thin +black moustache that barely covered his lips.</p> + +<p>As they walked towards the city, over which the moon +was hanging, filling the valleys and hills with strange, +fantastical shadows, they remembered the black, shaggy +eyebrows, the luminous eyes, and the bitter, penetrating +voice, and they remembered the gait, the long striding +legs as they hastened up the steep path; even the pinched +back often started up in their memory. And the next +three or four days they sought him in the crowds that +assembled to make the triumphal entry with Jesus into +Jerusalem, but he was not to be seen; and if he had +been among the people they could not fail to have +discovered him. He is not here to welcome Jesus, Joseph +muttered under his breath, and added: can it be that he +has deserted to the other side?</p> + +<p>He is a sort of other Jesus, Nicodemus said. But +yonder Jesus comes riding on an ass, on which a crimson +cloak has been laid. As Jesus passed Nicodemus and +Joseph he waved his hand, and there was a smile on his +lips and a light in his eye. He seems to have become +suddenly young again, Joseph said. He is exalted, +Nicodemus added sadly, by his following. And they +counted about fifty men and women. Does he think that +with these he will drive the Pharisees and Sadducees out +of the Temple? he added. He is happy again, Joseph +answered. See how he lifts up the fringe of the mantle +they have laid upon the ass, and admires it. His face is +happier than we have seen it for many a day. He likes +the people to salute him as the Son of David. Yet he +knows, Nicodemus said, that he is the son of Joseph the +Carpenter. Ask him to beg the people not to call him the +Son of David, Joseph pleaded. And, running after the ass, +Nicodemus dared to say: ask the people not to call thee +the Son of David, for it will go against thee in the end. +But Jesus' heart at that moment was swollen with pride, +and he answered Nicodemus: what thou hearest to-day +on earth was spoken in heaven before our Father bade the +stars give light. Be not afraid for my sake. Remember +that whomsoever my Father sends on earth to do his +business, him will he watch over. He has no eyes for +me, Joseph said sadly, for I left him to attend my father +in sickness. And, taking Nicodemus' arm, he drew him +close, that he might more safely whisper that two men +seemed to be searching in their garments as if for +daggers. Nicodemus knew them to be hirelings in the pay +of the priests. Look, he said, how their hands fidget for +their daggers; the opportunity seems favourable now to +stab him; but no, the crowd closes round his ass again, +and the Zealots draw back. God saved Daniel from the +flames and the lions, Joseph answered. But will he, +Nicodemus returned, be able to save him from the priests?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XVIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Nicodemus invited Joseph to follow Jesus, saying that +at a safe distance he would like to see him ride through +the gates into the city; but Joseph, sorely troubled in +his mind, could not answer him, and an hour later was +hastening along the Jericho road, praying all the while +that he might be given strength to keep the promise he +had given to his father. But no sooner was he in Jericho +than he began to feel ashamed of himself, and after resisting +the impulse to return to Jesus for two days he yielded +to it, and returned obediently the way he had come, uncertain +whether shame of his cowardice or love was bringing +him back. One or the other it must be, he said, as +he came round the bend in the road into Bethany; and +it was soon after passing through that village, somewhere +about three o'clock, that he met his masons coming from +Mount Scropas. Coming from my tomb, he said to himself, +and, reining up his horse and speaking to them, he heard +that his tomb was finished. We've chiselled a great stone to +be rolled into the doorway, he heard one of the masons say; +another uttered vauntingly that the stone closed the tomb +perfectly, and Joseph was about to press his horse forward +when the men called after him, and, gathering about his +stirrup, they related that Jesus of Nazareth had been tried +and condemned by Pilate that morning, and was now hanging +on a cross, a-top of Golgotha, one of the masons said: +you can see him yourself, Master, if you be going that way, +and between two thieves. One of them was to have been +Jesus Bar-Abba, but the people cried out that he was to +be released instead of Jesus. As Joseph repeated the +words, Bar-Abba instead of Jesus, as if he only half +understood them, the masons reminded him that it was +the custom to deliver up a prisoner to the people at the +time of the Passover. At the time of the Passover, he +repeated.... At last, realising what had happened, his +face became overwrought; his eyes and mouth testified +to the grief he was suffering; and he pressed his spurs to +his horse's side, and would have been away beyond call if +two of his workmen had not seized the bridle and almost +forced the horse on his haunches. Loose my bridle, +Joseph cried, astonished and beside himself. A moment +with you, Master. Be careful to speak no word in his +favour, and make no show of sympathy, else a Zealot's +knife will be in your back before evening, for they be +seeking the Galileans everywhere, at the priests' bidding. +Before Joseph could break away he heard that the +priests stirred up the people against Jesus, giving it +forth against him that he had come to Jerusalem to burn +down the Temple, and would set up another—built without +the help of hands, of what materials he did not know, but +not of stones nor wood, yet a Temple that will last for +ever, the mason shouted after Joseph, who had stuck his +spurs again into his horse and was riding full tilt towards +a hill about half-a-mile from the city walls. On his way +thither he met some of the populace—the remnant returning +from the crucifixion—and he rode up the ascent at a +gallop in the hope that he might be in time to save Jesus' +life.</p> + +<p>He knew Pilate would grant him almost any favour he +might ask; but within fifty yards of the crosses his heart +began to fail him, for, whereas the thieves were straining +their heads high in the air above the crossbar, Jesus' head +was sunk on to his chest. He died a while ago, the +centurion said, and as soon as he was dead the multitude +began to disperse, the Sabbath being at hand; and guessing +Joseph to be a man of importance, he added: if you like +I'll make certain that he is dead, and, taking his spear +from one of the soldiers, he would have plunged it into +Jesus' side, but Joseph, forgetful of the warning he had +received, on no account to show sympathy with Jesus, laid +his hand on the spear-head, saying: respect the dead. As +you will, the centurion replied, and gave the spear back +to the soldier, who returned to his comrades, it being his +turn to cast the dice. They have cast dice, the centurion +continued, and will divide the clothes of these men +amongst them; and, hearing the words, one of the soldiers +held up the rags that had come to him, while another +spread upon the ground Jesus' fine cloak, the one that +Peter had bought for Jesus with money that Joseph +gave to him. That he should see the cloak again, +and on such an occasion, touched his heart. It was a +humble incident in a cruel murder committed by a priest; +and the thought crossed Joseph's mind that he might +purchase the cloak from the soldier, but, remembering the +warning he had received, he did not ask for the cloak, +nor did he once lift his eyes to Jesus' face, lest the sight of +it should wring his heart, and being overcome and helpless +with grief, the priests and their hirelings might begin +to suspect him.</p> + +<p>He strove instead to call reason to his aid: Jesus' life +being spent, his duty was to obtain the body and bury +it: far worse than the death he endured would be for +his sacred body to be thrown into the common ditch +with these malefactors. I know not how you can abide +here, he said to the centurion; their groans make the +heart faint. We shall break their bones presently; the +Jews asked us to do this, for at six o'clock their Sabbath +begins. And in this the thieves are lucky, for were it +not for their Sabbath they would last on for three or four +days: the first day is the worst day; afterwards the +crucified sinks into unconsciousness, and I doubt if he +suffers at all on the third day, and on the fourth day he +dies. But, Sir, what may I do for you? I've come for +the body of this man, Joseph answered; for, however +erring, he was not a thief, and deserves decent burial. +You can come with me to testify that I've buried it in +a rock sepulchre, the stone of which yourself shall roll +into the door. To which the centurion answered that he +did not dare to deliver up the body of Jesus without an +order from Pilate, though he was dead. Dead an hour or +more, truly dead, he added. Pilate will not refuse his body +to me, Joseph replied. Pilate and I are well acquainted; +we are as friends are; you must have seen me at the +Prætorium before now, coming to talk with the procurator +about the transport of wheat from Moab, and other things.</p> + +<p>These words filled the centurion with admiration, and, +afraid to seem ignorant, he said he remembered having +seen Joseph and knew him to be a friend of Pilate. Well +then, come with me at once to Jerusalem, Joseph said +coaxingly, and you'll see that Pilate will order thee to +deliver the dead unto me. But the centurion demurred, +saying that his orders were not to leave the gibbets. +Upon my own word, Pilate will not deliver up the body +unless I bring you with me; I shall require you to testify +of the death. So come with me. The unwillingness of +the centurion was reduced to naught at the mention of +a sum of money, and, giving orders to his soldiers that +nothing was to be done during his absence, he walked +beside Joseph's horse into Jerusalem, telling to Joseph as +they went the story of the arrest in the garden, the +haling of Jesus before the High Priest, and the sending +of him on to Pilate, who, though unwilling to confirm the +sentence of death, was afraid of a riot, and had yielded +to the people's wish. The account of the scourging of +Jesus in the hall of the palace, and the bribing of the +soldiers by the Jews to make a mocking-stock of Jesus, +was not finished when Joseph, who had been listening +without hearing, said: here is the door.</p> + +<p>And while they waited for the door to be opened, and +after the doorkeeper had opened it, the centurion continued +to tell his tale: how a purple cloak was thrown upon +the shoulders of Jesus, a reed put into his hand, and a +crown of thorns pressed upon his forehead. We wondered +how it was that he said nothing. We have come to +see his worship, Joseph interrupted; and the doorkeeper, +who knew Joseph to be a friend of Pilate, was +embarrassed, for Pilate had sent down an order that he +would see no one again that day; but, like the centurion, +he was amenable to money, and consented to take in +Joseph's name. There was no need to give him money, +he would not have dared to refuse Pilate's friend, the +centurion said as they waited.</p> + +<p>Word came back quickly that Joseph was to be admitted, +and after begging Pilate to forgive him for intruding upon +his privacy so late in the day, he put his request into words, +saying straight away: I have come to ask for the body of +Jesus, who was condemned to the cross at noon. At these +words Pilate's face became overcast, and he said that he regretted +that Joseph had come to ask him for something he +could not grant. It would have been pleasant to leave +Jerusalem knowing that I never refused you anything, +Joseph, for you are the one Jew for whom I have any +respect, and, I may add, some affection. But why, Pilate, +cannot you give me Jesus' body? His body, is that what +you ask for, Joseph? It seemed to me that you had come +to ask me to undo the sentence that I pronounced to-day at +noon. The body! Is Jesus dead then? The centurion +answered for Joseph: yes, sir; he died to-day at the ninth +hour. I put a lance into him to make sure, and blood and +water came from his side. At which statement Joseph +trembled, for he was acquiescing in a lie; but he did not +dare to contradict the centurion, who was speaking in his +favour for the sake of the money he had received, and in +the hope of receiving more for the lie that he told. On +the cross at noon and dead before the ninth hour! Pilate +muttered: he could but bear the cross for three hours! +After the scourging we gave him, Sir, the centurion +answered, he was so weak and feeble that we had to pass +on his cross to the shoulders of a Jew named Simon of +Cyrene, who carried it to the top of the mount for him. +If he be dead there is no reason for my not giving up the +body, Pilate answered. Which I shall bury, Joseph replied, +in my own sepulchre. What, Joseph, have you already +ordered your sepulchre? To my eyes you do not look +more than five or six and twenty years, and to my eyes +you look as if you would live for sixty more years at least; +but you Jews never lose sight of death, as if it were the +only good. We Romans think so too sometimes, but not +so frequently as you.</p> + +<p>And then this tall, grave, handsome man, whose face +reflected a friendly but somewhat formal soul, took Joseph +by the arm and walked with him up and down the tessellated +pavement, talking in his ear, showing himself so +well disposed towards him that the centurion congratulated +himself that he had accepted Joseph's bribe. If I had +only known that you were a close friend, Pilate said to +Joseph—but if I had known as much it would only have +made things more difficult for me. A remarkable man. +And now, on thinking it over, it must have been that I was +well disposed to him for that reason, for there could have +been no other; for what concern of mine is it that you +Jews quarrel and would tear each other to pieces for your +various beliefs in God and his angels? So Jesus was your +friend? Tell me about him; I would know more about +him than I could learn from a brief interview with him in +the Prætorium, where I took him and talked to him alone. +A brief account I pray you give me. And Joseph, who +was thinking all the while that the Sabbath was approaching, +gave to Pilate some brief account of Jesus in +Galilee.</p> + +<p>So you too, Joseph, are susceptible to this belief that +the bodies of men are raised out of the earth into heaven? +I would ask you if the body is ridded of its worms before +it is carried away by angels. But I see that you are +pressed for time; the Sabbath approaches; I must not +detain you, and yet I would not let you go without telling +you that it pleases me to give his body for burial. A body +deserves burial that has been possessed by a lofty soul, for +how many years, thirty? I would have saved him if it +had been possible to do so; but he gave me no chance; +his answers were brief and evasive; and he seemed to +desire death; seemingly he looked upon his death as +necessary for the accomplishment of his mission. Have I +divined him right? Joseph answered that Pilate read +Jesus' soul truly, which flattered Pilate and persuaded +him into further complaint that if he had not saved Jesus it +was because Jesus would not answer him. He seemed to +me like a man only conscious of his own thoughts, Pilate +said; even while speaking he seemed to rouse hardly at all +out of his dream, a delirious dream, if I may so speak, of +the world redeemed from the powers of evil and given over +to the love of God. This, however, he did say: that any +power which I might have over him came to me from +above, from his Father which is in heaven, else I could +do nothing; and there was bitterness in his voice as he +spoke these words, which seemed to suggest that he was of +opinion that his Father had gone a little too far in allowing +the Jews to send him to me to condemn to death.</p> + +<p>His Father in heaven and himself are one, and yet +they differ in this. So he was your friend, Joseph? If +I had known it there would have been an additional +reason for my trying to save him from the hatred of the +Jews; for I hate the Jews, and would willingly leave them +to-morrow. But they cried out: you are not Cæsar's +friend; this man would set up a new kingdom and overthrow +the Romans; and, as I have already told you, Joseph, +I asked Jesus if he claimed to be King of the Jews, but he +answered me: you have said it, adding, however, that his +kingdom was not of this world. Evasive answers of that +kind are worthless when a mob is surging round the +Prætorium. A hateful crowd they looked to me; a cruel, +rapacious, vindictive crowd, with nothing in their minds +but hatred. I suspect they hated him for religious +reasons. You Jews are—forgive me, Joseph, you are an +exception among your people—a bitter, intolerant race. +You would not allow me to bring the Roman eagles to +Jerusalem, for you cannot look upon graven things. All +the arts you have abolished, and your love of God resolves +itself into hatred of men; so it seems to me. It would +have pleased me very well indeed to have thwarted +the Jews in their desire for this man's life, but I was +threatened by a revolt, and the soldiers at my command +are but auxiliaries, and not in sufficient numbers to +quell a substantial riot. I will tell you more: if the +legion that I was promised had arrived from Cæsarea the +lust of the Jews for the blood of those that disagree with +them would not have been satisfied. I went so far as to +send messengers to inquire for the legion. But the man +is dead now, and further talking will not raise him into +life again. You have come to ask me for his body, and +you would bury it in your own tomb. It is like you, +Joseph, to wish to honour your dead friend. Methinks +you are more Roman than Jew. Say not so in the hearing +of my countrymen, Joseph replied, or I may meet my +death for your good opinion.</p> + +<p>The Sabbath is now approaching, and you'll forgive me +if I indulge in no further words of thanks, Pilate. I may +not delay, lest the hour should come upon me after which +no work can be done. Not that I hold with such strict +observances. A good work done upon the Sabbath must be +viewed more favourably by God than a bad work done on +another day of the week. But I would not have it said that +I violated the Sabbath to bury Jesus. As you will, my good +Joseph, Pilate said, and stood looking after Joseph and the +centurion, who, as they drew near to the gate of the city, +remembered that a sheet would be wanted to wrap the +body in. Joseph answered the centurion that there was +no time for delay, but the centurion replied: in yon shop +sheets are sold. Moreover, you will want a lantern, Sir, +for the lifting of the body from the cross will take some +time, and the carrying of it to the tomb will be a slow +journey for you though you get help, and the day will be +gone when you arrive. You had better buy a lantern, Sir. +Joseph did as he was bidden, and they hurried on to +Golgotha.</p> + +<p>Nothing has been done in my absence? the centurion +asked the soldiers, who answered: nothing, Sir; and none +has been here but these women, whom we did not drive away, +but told that you were gone with one Joseph of Arimathea +to get an order from Pilate for the body. That was well, +the centurion answered. And now do you loose the cords +that bind the hands, and get the dead man down. Which +was easy to accomplish, the feet of the crucified being no +more than a few inches from the ground; and while this +was being done Joseph told the centurion that the women +were the sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the +dead; a story that set the Roman soldiers laughing. Can a +man be raised from the dead? they asked; and if this man +could do such a thing how is it that he did not raise himself +out of death into life? To which neither Joseph nor the +two women made any answer, but stood, their eyes fixed on +their thoughts, asking themselves how they were to carry +Jesus to the sepulchre, distant about a mile and a half. +And it not seeming to them that they could carry the +body, the centurion offered Joseph the help of one of his +soldiers, which they would have accepted, but at that +moment an ox-cart was perceived hastening home in the +dusk. Joseph, going after the carrier, offered him money +if he would bring the body of one of the crucified to the +sepulchre in Mount Scropas for him. To which the carrier +consented, though he was not certain that the job might +not prevent him from getting home before the Sabbath +began. But he would see what could be done.</p> + +<p>Jesus was laid on the ox-cart, and Mary, Martha and +Joseph following it reached Mount Scropas, in which was +the tomb, before sunset. As I told thee with half-an-hour +for thee to get home before the Sabbath, Joseph +said to the carrier, his eyes fixed on the descending +sun. Now take this man by the feet and I'll take him by +the head. But will you not light the lantern, Sir? the +carrier said; for though there be light on the hillside, it +will be night in the tomb, and we shall be jostling our +heads against the stone and perhaps falling over the +dead man.... I have steel and tinder. Wherefrom +the lantern was lit and given to Martha, who lighted +them into the tomb, Joseph and the carrier bearing the +body, with Mary following.</p> + +<p>Jesus was laid on the couch beneath the arch, and when +Mary and Martha had drawn the sheet over his face +Joseph turned to the women, saying: now do you go +hence to Bethany and prepare spices and cloths for the +embalmment, and come hither with them in the early +morning the day after the Sabbath. The carrier, who +was standing by waiting for his wage, received it thankfully. +Now, Master, if you want another shoulder to help +with that sealing stone, I can give it you. But Joseph, +looking at the stone, said it would offer no trouble to +him, for he believed in his strength to do it, though the +carrier said: it looks as if two men, or more like three, +would be needed. But it is as you like, Master. On this +he went to his oxen, thinking of the Sabbath, and whether +Joseph had forgotten how near it was to them. He hasn't +blown out his lantern yet. My word, he be going back +into the tomb, the carrier said; maybe he's forgotten +something, or maybe to have a last look at his friend. He +talks like one in a dream, or one that hadn't half recovered +his wits.</p> + +<p>And it was just in the mood which the carrier divined +that Joseph entered the tomb: life had been coming +and going like a dream ever since he met the masons; +and asking himself if he were truly awake and in his +seven senses, he returned to bid Jesus a last farewell, +though he would not have been astonished if he sought +him in vain through the darkness filled with the dust of +freshly cut stones and the smell thereof. But Jesus was +where they had laid him; and Joseph sate himself by the +dead Master's side, so that he might meditate and come +to see better into the meanings of things, for all meaning +seemed to have gone out of life for him since he had come +up from Jericho. The flickering shadows and lights distracted +his meditation, and set him thinking of the +masons and their pride in their work; he looked round +the sepulchre and perceived it to be a small chamber +with a couch at the farther end.... Martha and Mary have +gone, he said to himself, and he remembered he had +bidden them go hence to prepare spices, and to return +after the Sabbath. Which they will do as soon as the +Sabbath is over, he repeated to himself, as if to convince +himself that he was not dreaming.... God did not save him +in the end as he expected he would, he continued: he'd +have done better to have given Pilate answers whereby +Pilate would have been able to save him from the cross. +Pilate was anxious to save him, but, as Nicodemus said, +Jesus had come to think that it had been decreed in +heaven that his blood must be spilt, so that he might +rise again, as it were, out of his own blood, to return +in a chariot with his Father in three days.... But will +he return to inhabit again this beautiful mould? Joseph +asked, and striving against the doubt that the sight of +the dead put into his mind, he left the tomb with the +intention of rolling the stone into the door. Better not +to see him than to doubt him, he said. But who will, he +asked himself, roll away the stone for Martha and Mary +when they come with spices and fine linen for the +embalming? His mind was divided whether he should +close the tomb and go his way, or watch through the +Sabbath, and while seeking to come upon a resolve he +was overcome by desire to see his dead friend once more, +and he entered the tomb, holding high the lantern so that +he might better see him. But as he approached the couch +on which the body lay he stopped, and the colour went +out of his face; he trembled all over; for the sheet with +which Martha and Mary covered over the face had fallen +away, and a long tress of hair had dropped across the cheek. +He must have moved, or angels must have moved him, and, +uncertain whether Jesus was alive or dead, Joseph remembered +Lazarus, and stood watching, cold and frightened, +waiting for some movement.</p> + +<p>He is not dead, he is not dead, he cried, and his joy +died, for on the instant Jesus passed again into the +darkness of swoon. Joseph had no water to bathe his +forehead with, nor even a drop to wet his lips with. +There is none nearer than my house, he said. I shall +have to carry him thither. But if a wayfarer meets us +the news that a man newly risen from the tomb was seen +on the hillside with another will soon reach Jerusalem; +and the Pharisees will send soldiers.... The tomb will +be violated; the houses in the neighbourhood will be +searched. Why then did he awaken only to be taken +again? Jesus lay as still as the dead, and hope came +again to Joseph. On a Sabbath evening, he said, I shall +be able to carry him to my house secretly. The distance is +about half-a-mile. But to carry a swooning man half-a-mile +up a crooked and steep path among rocks will take all my +strength.</p> + +<p>He took cognisance of his thews and sinews, and +feeling them to be strong and like iron, he said: I +can do it, and fell to thinking of his servants loitering +in the passages, talking as they ascended the stairs, +stopping half-way and talking again, and getting to bed +slowly, more slowly than ever on this night, the night of +all others that he wished them sound asleep in their beds. +Half-a-mile up a zigzagging path I shall have to carry +him; he may die in my arms; and he entertained the +thought for a moment that he might go for his servants, +who would bring with them oil and wine; but dismissing +the thought as unwise, he left the tomb to see if the +darkness were thick enough to shelter himself and his +burden.</p> + +<p>But Jesus might pass away in his swoon. If he had +some water to give him. But he had none, and he sat by +the couch waiting for Jesus to open his eyes. At last he +opened them.</p> + +<p>The twilight had vanished and the stars were coming +out, and Joseph said to himself: there will be no moon, +only a soft starlight, and he stood gazing at the desert +showing through a great tide of blue shadow, the shape +of the hills emerging, like the hulls of great ships afloat +in a shadowy sea. A dark, close, dusty night, he said, and +moonless, deserted by every man and woman; a Sabbath +night. On none other would it be possible. But thinking +that some hours would have to pass before he dared to +enter his gates with Jesus on his shoulder, he seated +himself on the great stone. Though Jesus were to die +for lack of succour he must wait till his servants were in +bed asleep. And then? The stone on which he was +sitting must be rolled into the entrance of the tomb +before leaving. He had told the carrier that he would +have no trouble with it, and to discover that he had not +boasted he slid down the rock, and, putting his shoulder +to it, found he could move it, for the ground was aslant, +and if he were to remove some rubble the stone would +itself roll into the entrance of the tomb. But he hadn't +known this when he refused the carrier's help. Then +why?... To pass away the time he fell to thinking +that he had refused the carrier's aid because of some +thought of which he wasn't very conscious at the time; +that he had been appointed watcher, and that his watch +extended through the night, and through the next day +and night, until Mary and Martha came with spices and +linen cloths.</p> + +<p>The cycle of his thoughts was brought to a close and +with a sudden jerk by some memory of his maybe dying +friend; and in his grief he found no better solace than +to gaze at the stars, now thickly sown in the sky, and to +attempt to decipher their conjunctions and oppositions, +trying to pick out a prophecy in heaven of what was +happening on earth.</p> + +<p>His star-gazing was interrupted suddenly by a bark. A +jackal, he said. Other jackals answered the first bark; +the hillside seemed to be filled with them; but, however +numerous, he could scare them away; a wandering hyena +scenting a dead body would be more dangerous, for he was +weaponless. But it was seldom that one ventured into +the environs of the city; and he listened to the jackals, +and they kept him awake till something in the air told +him the hour had come for him to go into the tomb and +carry Jesus out of it ... if he were not dead. He slid +down from the rock again, and no sooner did he reach the +ground than he remembered having left Galilee to keep +his promise to his father; but, despite his obedience to his +father's will, had not escaped his fate. In vain he avoided +the Temple and refused to enter the house of Simon the +Leper.... If he were to take Jesus to his house and +hide him he would become a party to Jesus' crime, and +were Jesus discovered in his house the angry Pharisees +would demand their death from Pilate. If he would escape +the doom of the cross he must roll the stone up into the +entrance of the sepulchre.... A dying man perceives no +difference between a sepulchre and a dwelling-house. He +would be dead before morning; before the Sabbath was +done for certain; and Mary and Martha would begin the +embalmment on Sunday. He would be dead certainly on +Sunday morning, and dead men tell no tales, so they say. +But do they say truly? The dead are voiceless, but they +speak, and are closer to us than the living; and for ever +the spectre of that man would be by him, making frightful +every hour of his life. Yet by closing up the sepulchre +and leaving Jesus to die in it he would be serving him +better than by carrying him to his house and bringing him +back to life. To what life was he bringing him? He +could not be kept hidden for long; he could not remain in +Jerusalem, and whither Jesus went Joseph would follow, +and his bond to his father would be broken then in spirit +as well as in fact. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead +and for a long time his mind seemed like a broken thing +and the pieces scattered; and as much exhausted as if he +had carried Jesus a mile on his shoulders, he stooped +forward and entered the tomb, without certain knowledge +whether he was going to kiss Jesus and close the tomb +upon him or carry him to his house about a half-an-hour +distant.</p> + +<p>As he drew the cere-cloths from the body, a vision of +his house rose up in his mind—a large two-storeyed house +with a domed roof, situated on a large vineyard on the +eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives, screened from the +highway by hedges of carob, olive garths and cedars. +And this house seemed to Joseph as if designed by Providence +for the concealment of Jesus. The only way, he +muttered, will be to lift him upon my shoulders, getting +the weight as far as I can from off my arms. If he could +walk a little supported on my arm. He questioned Jesus, +but Jesus could not answer him; and there seemed to +be no other way but to carry him in his arms out of the +tomb, place him on the rock, and from thence hoist him +on to his shoulders.</p> + +<p>Jesus was carried more easily than he thought for, as +easily carried as a child for the first hundred yards, nor did +he weigh much heavier for the next, but before three +hundred yards were over Joseph began to look round +for a rock against which he might rest his burden.</p> + +<p>One of the hardships of this journey was that howsoever +he held Jesus he seemed to cause him great pain, and +he guessed by the feel that the body was wounded in +many places; but the stars did not show sufficient light +for him to see where not to grasp it, and he sat in the +pathway, resting Jesus across his knees, thinking of a +large rock within sight of his own gates and how he +would lean Jesus against it, if he managed to carry him +so far. He stopped at sight of something, something +seemed to slink through the pale, diffused shadows in and +out of the rocks up the hillside, and Joseph thought of a +midnight wolf. The wolves did not venture as near the +city, but—Whatever Joseph saw with his eyes, or +fancied he saw, did not appear again, and he picked up +his load, thinking of the hopeless struggle it would be +between him and a grey wolf burdened as he was. He +could not do else than leave Jesus to be eaten, and his +fear of wolf and hyena so exhausted him that he nearly +toppled at the next halt. A fall would be fatal to Jesus, +and Joseph asked himself how he would lift Jesus on +to his shoulder again. He did not think that he could +manage it, but he did, and staggered to the gates; but +no sooner had he laid his burden down than he remembered +that he could not ascend the stairs without noise. +The gardener's cottage is empty; I will carry him thither. +The very place, Joseph said, as he paused for breath by +the gate-post. I must send away the two men-servants, +he continued, one to Galilee and the other to Jericho. +The truth cannot be kept from Esora. I need her help: +I can depend upon her to cure Jesus of his wounds and +keep the young girl in the house, forbidding her the +garden while Jesus is in the cottage. The danger of +dismissal would be too great, she would carry the story +or part of it to Jerusalem, it would spread like oil, and in +a few days, in a few weeks certainly, the Pharisees would +be sending their agents to search the house. With Jesus +hoisted on to his shoulder he followed the path through +the trees round the shelving lawn and crossed the terrace +at the bottom of the garden. He had then to follow a +twisting path through a little wood, and he feared to +bump Jesus against the trees. The path led down into +a dell, and he could hardly bear up so steep was the +ascent; his breath and strength were gone when he came +to the cottage door.</p> + +<p>Fortune seems to be with us, he said, as he carried +Jesus through the doorway, but he must have a bed, and +fortune is still with us, they haven't removed the bed; +and as soon as Jesus was laid upon it he began to remember +many things. He must go to the house and get a +lamp, and in the house he remembered that he must +bring some wine and some water. He noticed that his +hand and his sleeve were stained with blood. He must +have been badly scourged, he said, and continued his +search for bottles, and after mixing wine and water he +returned to the gardener's cottage, hoping that casual +ministrations would relieve Jesus of some of the pain he +was suffering till Esora would come with her more +serious remedies in the morning.</p> + +<p>He put the lamp on a chair on the opposite side of the +bed and turned Jesus over and began to pick out of the +wounds the splinters of the rods he had been beaten with, +and after binding up the back with a linen cloth he drew +Jesus' head forward and managed to get him to swallow +a little wine and water. I can do no more, he said, and +must leave him.... It will be better to lock the door; +he must bide there till I hear Esora on the stairs coming +down from her room. She is always out of bed first, and +if luck is still with us she will rise early this morning.</p> + +<p>He tried to check his thoughts, but they ran on till +he remembered that he must fetch the lantern forgotten +among the rocks, and that he should follow the twisting +path up and down the hillside seemed more than he +could accomplish. Strength and will seemed to have +departed from him; yet he must go back to fetch the +lantern. He had left it lighted, and some curious person +might be led by the light ... the open sepulchre would +attract his eye, and he might take up the light and discover +the tomb to be empty. It wasn't likely, but some +such curious one might be on the prowl. Now was the +only safe time to fetch the lantern. He daren't leave it.... At +the first light Mary and Martha would be at the +sepulchre, and the finding of a lantern by the door of the +empty sepulchre would give rise to—</p> + +<p>He passed through his gates, locking them after him, too +weary to think further what might and might not befall.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XIX.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>And when he returned with the lantern he had forgotten +he threw himself on his bed, remembering that he must +not sleep, for to miss Esora as she came downstairs would +mean to leave Jesus in pain longer than he need be left. +But sleep closed his eyelids. Sleep! He did not know if +he had slept. The room was still quite dark, and Esora +did not come down till dawn; and, sitting up in his bed, +he said: God saved him from death, or raised him out +of death, but he has not raised him yet into heaven. +He is in the gardener's cottage! If only Esora can cure +him of his wounds, he continued, he and I might live +together in this garden happily.</p> + +<p>He closed his eyes so that he might enjoy his dream +of Jesus' companionship, but fell into a deeper sleep, +from which he was awakened by the sound of footsteps +on the stairs. It is Esora trying to descend without +awakening me, he said. But nobody was on the stairs, +and he stood listening on the landing, asking himself +if Esora was at work so early. And then it seemed to +him that he could hear somebody in her pantry.... To +make sure he descended and found her before her table +brushing the clothes he had thrown off. You must have +been in my room and picked up my clothes without my +hearing you, he said; it was not till you were on the +second flight of stairs that I awoke. I didn't know that +you rose so early, Esora. It is still dusk. And if I didn't, +Master, I don't know how the work would get done. But +the Sabbath, Joseph rejoined; and incontinently began to +discuss the observances of the Sabbath with her. But even +on the Sabbath there is work to be done, she answered; +your clothes—a nice state you brought them home in, and +if they were not cleaned for you, you could not present +yourself in the synagogue to-day. But, Esora, Joseph +answered faintly, I don't see why you should be up and at +work at this hour and that girl, Matred, still asleep. Does +she never help you in your work? Esora muttered something +that Joseph did not hear, and in answer to his +question why she did not rouse Matred from her bed she +said that the young require more sleep than the old; an +answer that surprised Joseph, for he had never been able +to rid himself of his first impression of Esora. He remembered +when he was a child how he hated her long +nose, her long yellow neck and her doleful voice always +crying out against somebody, her son, her kitchen-maid, +or Joseph himself. She used to turn him out of her +kitchen and larder and dairy, saying that his place was +upstairs, and once raised her hand to him; later she +had complained to his father of his thefts; for he brought +his dogs with him and stole the larder key and cut off +pieces of meat for them, and very often dipped jars into +the pans of milk that were standing for cream. His +father reproved him, and from that day he hated Esora, +casting names at her, and playing many pranks upon her +until the day he tipped a kettle of boiling water over his +foot while running to scald the wasps in their nest—one +of the apes was stung; it was to avenge the sting he was +running, and no one had known how to relieve his suffering; +his father had gone away for the doctor, but Esora, +as soon as she heard what had happened, came with her +balsam, and it subdued the pain almost miraculously.</p> + +<p>After his scalding Joseph brought all his troubles to +her to be cured, confiding to her care coughs, colds, and +cut fingers; and, as she never failed to relieve his pain, +whatever it was, he began to look upon her with respect +and admiration. All the same something of his original +dislike remained. He disliked her while he admired her, +and his suspicion was that she loved him more for his +father's sake than for his own—— It was his father +who sent her from Galilee to look after him. There was +no fault to find with her management, but he could not +rid his mind of the belief that she was a hard task-mistress, +and often fell to pitying the servants under her +supervision, yet here she was up at five while Matred +lay drowsing. This testimony of her kind heart was +agreeable to him, for he had need of all her kindness and +sympathy that morning—only with her help could Jesus +be cured of his wounds and the story of his escape from +the cross he kept a secret. He was in her hands, and, +confident of her loyalty to him, he told her that he had left +his door open because he wished to speak to her before +the others were out of bed.</p> + +<p>She lifted her face till he saw her dim eyes, perhaps for +the first time: but ye haven't been in bed, and there be +dust on thy garments, and blood upon thy hands and +sleeves. Yes, Esora, my cloak is full of dust, and the +blood on my sleeve is that of a man who lies wounded +in the gardener's cottage belike to death. But thou +canst cure him and wilt keep the secret of his burial if +we have to bury him in the garden. It may be that some +day I'll tell thee his story, but think now only how thou +mayst relieve his suffering. Another time thou shalt hear +everything; but now, Esora, understand nobody must +know that a man is in the gardener's cottage. It is a +matter of life and death for us. I am here to serve you, +Master, and it matters not to me what his story may be; +but tell how he is wounded; are the wounds the clean +wounds of the sword or the torn wounds of rods? If he +have been scourged—— A cruel scourging it must have +been, Joseph answered. Now, before we go, Esora, understand +that I shall send the two men away, one to Galilee +and one to Jericho. Better both should go to Jericho, +she said. I'd trust neither in Jerusalem. Let them go +straight from here as soon as the Sabbath is over, the +journey is shorter, and they'll be as well out of the way +in one country as in the other. Esora is wiser than I, +Joseph thought, and together they shall go to Jericho, +and with an important message. But to whom? Not to +Gaddi, who might come up to Jerusalem to see me. I'll +send a letter to Hazael, the Essene, and after having +delivered the message they can remain at the caravanserai +in Jericho. Some excuse that will satisfy Gaddi must be +discovered, Esora. I shall find one later. Both the men +are now in bed, but if for some reason one of them should +come down to the gardener's cottage! It isn't likely, +Esora answered. Not likely, Joseph replied; but we +must guard against anything. If thou knewest the risk! +I'll lock the door of the passage leading to their rooms, +and I'll do it at once. Give me the keys. She handed +him the keys, and, having locked the men in, he returned, +saying: the wounded man, whom thou'lt cure, Esora, +may be here for a month or more, and till he leaves +us thou must watch the girl and see she doesn't stray +through the garden. I can manage her, Esora answered. +But now about the poor man who is waiting for attendance +in the gardener's cottage. What have ye done for him, +Master? I picked from his back the splinters I could see +by the light of the lamp, and gave him some wine and +water, and laid him on a linen cloth. The old woman +muttered that the drawing of the cloth from the wound +would be very painful. I dare say it will, Joseph returned, +but I knew not what else to do, and it seemed to relieve +him. Can you help him, Esora? Yes, I can; and she +began telling him of her own famous balsam, the secret +of which was imparted to her by her mother, who had it +from her mother; and her great-grandmother learnt it +from an Arabian. But knowledge of the balsam went +back to the Queen of Sheba, who brought the plant to +King Solomon. Thou must have seen the bush in the +garden in Galilee. It throws a white flower, like the +acacia, and the juice when drawn passes through many +colours, honey colour and then green. The Egyptians +use it for many sicknesses, and it heals wounds magically. +The sweet liquor pours from cuts in the branches, and +care must be taken not to wound them too sorely. This +plant fears the sword, for it heals sword wounds, so the +cuts in the tree are best made with a sharp flint or shell, +these being holier than steel. If thou hast missed the bush +in Magdala, Master, thou must have seen it in Jericho, +for I brought some seeds from Galilee to Jericho and +planted them by the gardener's cottage. Esora, all that +thou tellest me about the balsam is marvellous. I could +listen to thee for hours, and thou'lt tell me about thy +grandmother and the Arabian who taught her how to +gather the juice of the plant, but we must be thinking +now of my friend's agony. Hast any of thy balsam +ready, or must thou go to Jericho for the juice?—you +draw the juice from the tree? No, Master, Esora +answered him, I have here in my press a jar of the +balsam, and, going to her press, she held the jar to +Joseph, who saw a white, milky liquid, and after +smelling and liking its sweet smell he said: let us go at +once. But thou mustn't hurry me, Master; I'm collecting +bandages of fine linen and getting this kettle of water to +boil; for this I learnt from a man who learnt it from the +best surgeons in Rome: that freshly boiled water holds +no more the humours that make wounds fructify, and if +boiled long enough the humours fall to the bottom. I +strain them off, and let the water cool. Thou mustn't +hurry me; what I do, I do well, and at my own pace; +and I'll not touch a wound with unclean things. Now I'll +get some oil. Some hold Denbalassa is best mixed with +oil, but I pour oil upon the balm after I have laid it on +the wound, and by this means it will stick less when it is +removed. But is thy friend a patient man? Wounds +from scourging heal slowly; the flesh is bruised and many +humours must come away; wounds from rods are not like +the clean cut of a sword, which will heal under the balm +when the edges have been brought together carefully, so +that no man can find the place. This balm will cure all +kinds of coughs, and will disperse bile as many a time +I have found. Some will wash a wound with wine and +water, but I hold it heats the blood about the wound and +so increases the making of fresh humours. Now, Master, +take up the pot of water and see that ye hold it steady. +I'll carry the basket containing the oil and the balm.... +It was the Queen of Sheba who first made the balm known, +because she gave it to Solomon. But we must keep the +flies from him; and while I'm getting these things go to +him and take with thee a fine linen cloth; thou'lt find +some pieces in that cupboard, and a hammer and some +nails. I'm thinking there are few flies in the gardener's +cottage, half of it being underground; but hasten and +nail up the linen cloth over the window, for the first sun +ray will awaken any that are in the cottage, and, if +there aren't any, flies will come streaming in from the +garden as soon as the light comes, following the scent +of blood. No, not there, a little to the right, he heard her +crying, and, finding a piece of linen and a hammer and +some nails, he went out into the greyness still undisturbed +by the chirrup of a half-awakened bird.</p> + +<p>On either side of the shelving lawn or interspace were +woods, the remains of an ancient forest that had once +covered this hillside; paths wound sinuously through the +woods, and, taking the one he had followed overnight, he +passed under sycamore boughs, through some woodland to +the terrace that he had crossed last night with a naked +man on his shoulders. And he remembered how hard +it had been to keep to the path overnight, and how +fortunate it was that the gardener's cottage was not +locked, for if he had had to lay Jesus down he would +never have been able to lift him up again on to his +shoulder. He had done all he could to relieve his +suffering. But Jesus, he said to himself, is lying in agony, +and if he has regained consciousness he may believe himself +buried alive. I must hasten. Yet when he arrived +at the cottage he did not enter it at once, but stood +outside listening to the moans of the wounded man +within, which were good to hear in this much that they +were an assurance that he was still alive. At last he +pushed the door open and found Jesus moving his head +from side to side, unable to rid himself of a fly that was +crawling about his mouth. Joseph drove it away and gave +Jesus some more weak wine and water, which seemed +to soothe him, and feeling he could do no more he sat +down by the bedside to wait for Esora. A few minutes +after he heard her steps and she came into the cottage +with balsam and bandages in a basket, divining before +any examination Jesus' state. He is in a bad way; +you've given him wine and water, but he'll need something +stronger, and, taking a bottle from her basket, +she lifted Jesus' head so that he might drink from it. It +will help him to bear the pain of the dressing, she said. +Now, Master, will you roll him over on to his side, so that +I may see his back. The pain, she said, looking up, when +we remove this cloth on which you have laid him will +almost kill him, but we must get it off. The water with +which I'll cleanse the wound, you'll find it in that basket: +it is cool enough now to use. Take him by the wrists and +pull him forward, keeping him in a sitting position. Which +Joseph did, Esora washing his back the while and removing +the splinters that Joseph missed overnight. And, taking +pleasure in her ministrations, she steeped a piece of +linen in the balm, and over the medicated linen laid a +linen pad, rolling a bandage round the chest; and the +skill with which she wound it surprised Joseph and +persuaded him that the worst was over and there was no +cause for further fear, a confidence Esora did not share. +He'll rest easier, she said, and will suffer no pain at the +next dressing; for the oil will prevent the balm from +sticking. We can roll him on his back now, and without +asking any question she dressed his hands and feet.</p> + +<p>Joseph thanked her inwardly for her reticence, and he +nailed up the fine linen cloth before the window, saying: +now he is secure from the flies. But one or two have got +in already, Esora answered, and one or two will trouble +the sick man as much as a hundred. We can't leave him +alone; one of us must watch by his side; for he is still +delirious and knows not yet what has befallen him nor +where he is. If he were to return to clear reason and +find the door locked he might lose his reason for good +and all, and if we left the door open he might run out +into the garden. It isn't safe to leave him.</p> + +<p>And perceiving all she said to be sound sense, Joseph +took counsel with her, and his resolve was that the two +men-servants should remain in their house till the sunset +That I should send them away to Jericho on my own +horses will surprise them, he said to himself, but that +can't be altered. A long, weary day lies before us, Esora, +and we shall have to take it in turns, and neither can be +away for more than two hours at a time from the house. +Matred will be asking for instructions whether she is to +feed the poultry or to kill a chicken. Though it be the +Sabbath, she'll find reasons to be about because we would +have her indoors. And when I'm watching by the sick +man, Esora returned, she'll be asking: where, Master, +is Esora? Thou'lt have to invent excuses. We've forgotten +the servants, Esora. Give me the key. I must +run with it and unlock the door of the passage. Do you +wait here till I return.</p> + +<p>He hoped to find his servants asleep, and his hopes were +fulfilled; and after rousing them with vigorous reproof for +their laziness, he descended the stairs, thinking of the +letter he would devise for them to carry to Jericho. These +men, Sarea and Asiel, were his peril. Once they were +away on their journey to Jericho he would feel easier. +But all these hours I shall suffer, he said. But, Master, +they know the cottage to be empty. One never can +think, my good Esora, whither idle men will be wandering, +and the risk is great. Having gone so far we must +have courage, Esora answered. Now give me the key, +and I'll lock myself in with him; we'll take it in turns, +and the day will not be as long passing as you think for. +It is now six o'clock, he answered: twelve hours will +have to pass away before the men start for Jericho. +And then the night will be before us, replied Esora. +I hadn't thought of the night, Joseph answered, and +she reminded him that it might be days before his +friend, who had been scourged, could recover sufficiently +for him to leave. For he won't always remain here, she +added. No! no! Joseph replied, and gave her the key of +the cottage, and returned to the house to tell Sarea and +Asiel that he hoped they would remain indoors during the +Sabbath, for he wished them to start for Jericho as soon +as the Sabbath was over. They shall ride my horses, +he said to himself, and bear letters that will detain them +in Jericho for some weeks, and if Jesus be not well enough +to leave me, another letter will delay their return. It +can be so arranged, with a little luck on our side!</p> + +<p>The lantern suddenly flashed into his mind. He had +left it on the table in his room and Esora would see it. +But why shouldn't she see the lantern? The centurion +and the carrier and Martha and Mary all knew that he +had brought from Jerusalem a sheet in which to wrap +the body of Jesus, and a lantern to light their way into +the tomb. It would be in agreement with what he had +already said to tell that he brought the lantern back with +him, nor would it have mattered if he had not returned +to the tomb to fetch the lantern. The lantern would +not cast any suspicion upon him. But he had done well +to refrain from closing the sepulchre with the stone, for +the story of the resurrection would rise out of the empty +tomb, and though there were many among the Jews who +would not believe the story, few would have the courage +to inquire into the truth of a miracle.</p> + +<p>A faint smile gathered on his lips, and he began to +wonder what the expression would be on the faces of +Martha and Mary when they came to him on the morrow +with the news that Jesus had risen from the dead.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XX.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>He said to himself that they would start at dawn, and +getting to the sepulchre soon after three, and finding +it empty, would come running to him, and, so that himself +might open the gate to them, he ordered his watch +(it should have ended by midnight) to continue till four +o'clock. And, sitting by the sick man's side, he listened +expectant for the hush that comes at the end of night. +At last it fell upon his ear. The women are on their way +to the sepulchre, he said, and in about an hour and +a half I'll hear the bell clang. But the bell clanged +sooner than he thought for; and so impatient was he +to see them that he did not remember to draw his cloak +about him as if he were only half dressed (a necessary +thing to do if he were to deceive them) till he was in +the middle of the garden. But feigning of disordered +raiment was vanity, for the women were too troubled to +notice that he had not kept them waiting long enough +to testify of any sudden rousing from his bed, and began +to cry aloud as he approached: he has risen, he has +risen from the dead as he promised us. Joseph came +towards them yawning, as if his sleep were not yet dispersed +sufficiently for him to comprehend them; and he +let them through the gate, inviting them into his house; +but they cried: he's risen from the dead. The sepulchre +is empty, Mary cried, anticipating her sister's words, and +we have come to you for counsel. Are we to tell what +we have seen? Seen! said Joseph. Forthwith both +began to babble about a young man in a white raiment. +His counsel to them was neither to spread the news nor +to conceal it. Let the apostles, he began—but Martha +interrupted him, saying: they are all in hiding, in great +fear of the Pharisees, who have power over Pilate, and +he will condemn them all to the cross, so they say, if +they do not escape at once into Galilee. But since we +can vouch that we found the stone rolled away and a +young man in white garments in the sepulchre, we are +uncertain that they may not take courage and delay their +departure, for they can no longer doubt the second coming +of the Lord in his chariot of fire by the side of his Father, +the Judgment Book upon his lap. Those that have +already gone will return, Mary answered; and our +testimony will cause the wicked Pharisees to repent +before it be too late. His words were that his blood +was the means whereby we might rise into everlasting +life.</p> + +<p>Martha then broke in with much discourse, which +Joseph interrupted with a question: had the young man +they saw in the tomb spoken to them? The sisters were +taken aback, and stood asking each other what he said, +Martha saying one thing and Mary another; and so +bewildered were they that Joseph bade them return +to Bethany and relate to Lazarus, and any others of +their company they might meet, all they had seen and +heard: if you've heard anything, he added. Then +thou believest Jesus to be risen from the dead, they cried +through the bars as he locked the gates. Yes, I believe +that Jesus lives. Will he return to us? Martha cried; +and Joseph as he crossed the garden heard Mary crying +through the dusk: shall we see him again? A fine story +they'll relate, one which will not grow smaller as it passes +from mouth to mouth. Sooner or later it will reach Pilate, +and Pilate's first thought will be: the centurion told me +that Jesus died on the cross after three hours; and I +believed him, though it was outside of all reason to +suppose the cross could kill a man in three hours. But +if the Pharisees should go to Pilate and say to him: the +rumour is about that Jesus has risen from the dead. +Will you, Pilate, cause a search to be made from house +to house? Pilate would answer that the law had been +fulfilled, and that the testimony of his centurion was +sufficient; for he hated the Pharisees and would refuse +any other answer; but Pilate might send for him, Joseph; +and Joseph fell to wondering at the answers he would +make to Pilate, and at the duplicity of these, for he had +never suspected himself of cunning. But circumstances +make the man, he said, and before Jesus passes out of +my keeping I shall have learnt to speak even as he did +in double meanings.</p> + +<p>He lay down to sleep, and when he rose it was time +to go to help Esora to change the bandages, and while +they were busy unwinding them (it was towards the end +of the afternoon) they were interrupted suddenly in their +work by Matred's voice in the garden calling: Esora, +where are you? and, not getting an answer from Esora, +she cried: Master! Master! A moment after her voice +came from a different part of the garden, and Joseph +said to Esora: she'll be knocking at the door in another +minute; she mustn't come hither. Go and meet her, +Esora, and as soon as the girl is safe come back to me. +It shall be as thou sayest, Master; but meanwhile hold +the man forward; let him not fall back upon the pillow, +for it will stick there and my work will be undone. To +which Joseph obeyed, himself quaking lest the Pharisees +had come in search of Jesus, saying to himself: the +Pharisees might be persuaded that Jesus is risen from +the dead, but the Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection. +What answer shall I give to them?</p> + +<p>At last he heard Esora's voice outside: fear nothing, +Master, for friends have come; one named Cleophas and +another are here with a story of a miracle, and, unable +to rid myself of them without rudeness, I asked them into +the house, saying that you had business (meaning that +we must finish dressing this poor man's wounds), but as +soon as your business was finished you would go to meet +them. You spoke as you should have spoken, Joseph +answered her, and went towards the house certain and +sure that they too came to tell Jesus' resurrection; and +the moment he entered it and saw his guests, their faces +and demeanour told him that he guessed rightly. Leaning +towards them over the table familiarly, so as to help +them to narrate simply, he heard Cleophas, whom the +friend elected as spokesman, say they heard Martha and +Mary telling they had found the stone rolled away, and +a young man in white raiment seated where Jesus was +overnight, and from him they had learnt that he whom +they sought was risen from the dead. So we said to +one another: if he sent an angel to tell these women of +his resurrection he will not forget us, for we loved him; +and in hopes of getting news of him in the country, and +that we might better think of him, we agreed to walk +together to Emmaus; for when a man is sad he likes +to be with another one who may share his sadness, and +Khuza and I have always loved the same Jesus of +Nazareth.</p> + +<p>We walked sadly, without speech, indulging in recollections +of Jesus, and were half-way on our journey +when a wayfarer approached us and asked us the cause +of our grief. We asked him in reply if he were the +only one in Jerusalem that had not heard speak of Jesus +of Nazareth, a great prophet before God and the people. +Do you not know that our priests and our rulers condemned +him who we hoped would deliver Israel and +to-day is the third day since all that has befallen? Some +women of our company told us this morning that they +had been to the sepulchre at daybreak and found nobody, +but had seen angels, who told them that he lived; and +then others of our company went to the sepulchre and +they found that the women spoke truthfully; the tomb +was empty of all but the cere-cloths. So did we tell the +story to the wayfarer, who then asked us whither our way +was, and we told him to Emmaus, and that our hope was +our Master might send an angel to us with news of himself. +It was with that hope that we left the city. And +your way, honoured Sir? and he answered me, to Emmaus, +and perceiving him as we walked thither to be a pious +man, and more learned than ourselves in the Scriptures, +we begged him to remain with us. He seemed averse, +as if he had business farther on, but myself and my friend +here, Khuza, persuaded him to stay and sup with us, so +that we might tell our memories of him that was gone. +But he seemed to know all we related to him of Jesus, +interrupting us often with: as was foretold in the +Scriptures, giving us chapter and verse; and enlivened by +a glass of good wine, he spoke to us of the fruit of the +vine which Jesus would drink with us in the Kingdom of +his Father; and he broke bread and shared it with us, +as it was meet that the head of the house should, and +the gesture with which he broke it is one of our memories +of Jesus. We fell to dreaming ourselves back in Galilee, +and the intonations of Jesus' voice and the faces of the +apostles were all remembered by us. We don't know for +how long we dreamed, but when our eyes were opened +to reality again we saw that our friend, who was anxious +to continue his journey, had risen and gone away without +bidding us good-bye, belike not wishing to disturb +the current of our recollections. Did we not feel something +strange while he was with us? my friend asked me, +so to my friend here I put the question: did not our +hearts burn while he spoke to us on the road hither? and +I cited prophecies that were testimony that the Messiah +must suffer before he entered into glory. And Khuza +answered: did you not recognise him, Cleophas, by the +way in which he broke bread? Now you speak of it, +I replied—</p> + +<p>Our eyes that had not seen saw, and we knew that +Jesus had been with us, and hurried to Jerusalem to +tell the apostles that we had seen him. But their hearts +are hard and narrow and dry, as Jesus himself well knew, +and as he said would be evinced at the striking of the +hour, and when we told Peter that Martha and Mary +had been to the sepulchre and found the stone rolled +away he answered: I too have visited the sepulchre +and saw nothing. It was open, but I saw no young man +sitting in white raiment, nor did an angel greet me. John +said: three days have now passed away since he was put +on the cross, and in three days he was to have returned +in a chariot of fire by the side of his Father and made +a great Kingdom of happiness and peace in this country. +But he hasn't come; he has deceived us and put our lives +in jeopardy, for if the Pharisees find us here they'll bring +us before Pilate, who is a man without mercy, and eleven +more will hang on crosses.</p> + +<p>Salome, mother of John and James, too, got in her +word and railed against Jesus for having brought them +all from Galilee for naught. John and James, he promised +me, were to sit on either side of him in Kingdom Come. +Whereupon Peter said: thou liest, woman. I was to sit +on his right hand. And while these disciples disputed on +Jesus' words Bartholomew praised Judas, who had withdrawn +as soon as Jesus began to talk of the angels +that would surround the chariot. Thomas reproved +Bartholomew, saying that Jesus never said that there +would be angels; and they all began to wrangle, asking +each other how many angels would be required to match +a Roman legion. Nor were they sure that Jesus said he +was God's own son, and equal to God; at which many +were scandalised and turned away their faces; nor could +they say that they had not desired to find a god in him on +account of the chairs. I'm not speaking of James and +John. And then the ugly twain turned upon us, saying +that we—myself and Khuza—were but disciples and could +baptize with water, but not with the holy breath, which +was reserved for the apostles; nor with fire. At his words +the lightning flashed into the room, and John said: we +are in the midst of a great miracle—the baptism by fire of +the apostles. And when the storm ceased they were all +mixed in a dispute about the imposition of hands; of this +right they were the inheritors, so they said, and all were +resolved to practise it as soon as they got back to Galilee, +from whence they had foolishly strayed, abandoning their +boats and nets. On the morrow they would return +thither and pray that the Lord, who is the only god of +Israel, would forgive them and send them a great draught +of fish, which they hoped your father, Sir, would pay for +at more than ordinary price to recompense them for what +they lost by following the Master hither.</p> + +<p>Joseph would have asked him if Nathaniel and Thomas +and Bartholomew denied Jesus as well as Peter and +James and John: if there was not one among the eleven +that had faith that he might return. But prudence restrained +him from putting needless questions, for Cleophas +was loquacious, and he had only to listen to hear that +Peter and James and John were eager that it should be +known that they no longer believed Jesus to be the true +Messiah that the Jews were waiting for. It is said, +Khuza interrupted, becoming suddenly talkative in his +turn, it is said that they are afraid lest the agents +of the Pharisees should discover them. Many left for +Galilee on the Friday evening, and in three days the +fishers he brought hither will be letting down their +nets again and the publican Matthew will start on his +round asking for the taxes. All will be—</p> + +<p>But, said Joseph, whose thoughts had gone back to the +great draught of fish which Peter and John hoped his +father would pay for above the usual price so that they +might be recompensed for their journey to Jerusalem, you +did not come to me to pray me to write to my father that +he may punish the apostles for their lack of faith by +refusing to buy their fish? No, it wasn't for that we came +hither, Khuza answered quickly, and Cleophas looked at +him, wondering if he would have the courage to put into +words the cause of their visit. We thought that because +Pilate had given the body of Jesus to you to lay in your +sepulchre, and as you were the last to see him, you might +come into Jerusalem with us and declare the miracle +to the people. You see, Sir, Martha and Mary have +testified to the rolling back of the stone, and no more is +needed than your word for all to believe. Joseph looked +in their faces for some moments, unable to reply to them; +and then, collecting his thoughts as he spoke, he impressed +upon Cleophas and Khuza that for him to go down to +Jerusalem and proclaim his belief in the resurrection +would only anger the Pharisees and give rise to further +persecutions. It will be better, he said, to let the truth +leak out and convince men naturally, without suspicion +that we are attempting to deceive them with testimony +which their hearts are already hardened against. This +answer, which showed a knowledge of men that Joseph did +not know he possessed, satisfied both Cleophas and Khuza, +and perceiving that they were detaining Joseph they rose +to go. On the way to the gate Joseph's words lighted up +in their minds: he said it would be not well for him +to go down to Jerusalem and proclaim his belief in the +resurrection; therefore he believed in the resurrection, +and, unable to restrain his curiosity, Khuza besought him +to answer if Jesus ever said that it would be his corruptible +body or a spiritual body (a sort of spirit of sense) +that would ascend. It could not be the fleshy body +which eats and drinks and passes soil and water, for unless +there be in heaven corners where one can loosen one's +belt the body would be gravely incommoded; and he +began to argue, placing his foot so that Joseph could not +close the gate, saying that if the corruptible body had +not ascended into heaven it must be upon earth. But +where—</p> + +<p>Joseph's cheek paled, and Cleophas, noticing the pallor +and interpreting it to mean Joseph's anger against his +friend for his insistence in putting questions which Joseph +could not answer—for had he not rolled up the stone of +the sepulchre and sealed it and gone his way?—took his +friend by the arm and said: we must leave Joseph of +Arimathea some time to attend to his business. We are +detaining him. Come, Khuza, we are trespassing on his time. +Joseph smiled in acquiescence; but Khuza, who was still +anxious to learn how many Roman soldiers equalled one +angel, hung on until Joseph's patience ran dry. At last +Cleophas got him away, and no sooner were their backs +turned than Joseph forgot them completely as if they had +never been: for Esora had said that she hoped to be able +to get Jesus to swallow a little soup, and he hastened his +steps, anxious to know if she had succeeded.</p> + +<p>I got him to swallow two or three spoonfuls, she said, +and they seem to have done him good. Dost think he +seems to be resting easier? Yes; but the fever hasn't +left him. His brain is still clouded and feeble. This is +but the third day, she replied. Truthfully I can say that +I've never seen any man scourged like this one. It is +more than the customary scourging; the executioners +must have gotten an extra fee. As she had seen men +crucified in Tiberias and Cæsarea, he asked her if it were +common for the crucified to live after being lifted from +the cross. Those that haven't been on the cross more +than two days are brought back frequently, but the third +day ends them, so great are the pains in the head and +heart. But I knew one—and she began to relate the +almost miraculous recovery of a man who had been on +the cross for nearly three days, and had been brought +back by strong remedies to live to a good old age. But +none die on the first day? Joseph said, and Esora answered +that she never heard of anyone that died so quickly; +without, however, asking Joseph if the man before them +had been lifted down from the cross the first, second or +third day.</p> + +<p>He expected her to ask him if Cleophas had come +to warn him that inquiries were on foot regarding the +disappearance of the body of one of the crucified, but she +asked no questions, and he knew not whether she refrained +from discretion or because her interest in things was dying. +Not dying but dead, he said to himself as he scanned the +years that her face and figure manifested, and judged +them to be eighty.</p> + +<p>Now Esora, I'll go and lie down for a little while, and +lest I should oversleep myself I'll tell the girl to call me. +But how shall I recompense thee for this care, Esora? I +am too old, Master, to hope for anything but your pleasure, +she answered, and when he returned she told him that +Jesus was fallen into another swoon, and they began +talking of the sick man. His mind wanders up and down +Galilee, she said. And now I'll leave you to him. I've that +girl on my mind. And while Jesus slept, Joseph pondered +on the extraordinary adventure that he found himself on, +giving thanks to God for having chosen him as the humble +instrument of his will.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was after she had persuaded him to take a little soup, +which he did with some show of appetite, that Esora +began to think she might save him: if his strength does +not die away, she said. But will it? Joseph inquired. +Not if he continues to take food, she replied; and two +hours later she returned to the bedside to feed him again, +and for a few seconds he was roused from his lethargy; but +it was not till the seventh day that his eyes seemed to ask: +who art thou, and who am I? And how came I hither? +Thou'rt Jesus of Nazareth, and I am Joseph of Arimathea, +whom thou knewest in Galilee, and it was I that brought +thee hither, but more than that I dare not tell lest too much +story should fatigue thy brain. I do not remember coming +here. Where am I? Is this a holy place? Was a prophet +ever taken away to heaven from here? Afraid to perplex +the sick man, Joseph answered that he never heard that +anything of the sort had happened lately. But thou +canst tell me, Jesus continued, why thou'rt here? Thou'rt +the rich man's son. Ah, yes, and my sorrow for some +wrong done to thee brought thee hither. His eyelids +fell over his eyes, and a few minutes afterwards he opened +them, and after looking at Joseph repeated: my sorrow +brought thee here; and still in doubt as to what answer +he should make, Joseph asked him if he were glad he was +by him. Very glad, he said, and strove to take Joseph's +hand. But my hand pains me, and the other hand likewise; +my feet too; my forehead; my back; I am all +pain. Thou must have patience, Esora broke in, and the +pain will pass away. Who is that woman? A leper, or +one suffering from a flux of blood? Tell her I cannot +impose my hands and cast out the wicked demon that +afflicts her. He mustn't be allowed to talk, Esora said; +he must rest. And on these words he seemed to sink into +a lethargy. Has he fallen asleep again? It is sleep or +lethargy, she answered, and they went to the door of the +cottage, and, leaning against the lintels, stood balancing +the chances of the sick man's recovery.</p> + +<p>We can do no more, she said, than we are doing. We +must put our trust in my balsam and give him food as +often as he'll take it from us. Which they did day after +day, relieving each other's watches, and standing over +Jesus' bed conferring together, wondering if he cared to +live or would prefer that they suffered him to die....</p> + +<p>For many days he lay like a piece of wreckage, and it +was not till the seventh day that he seemed to rouse a +little out of his lethargy, or his indifference—they knew +not which it was. In answer to Esora he said he felt +easier, and would be glad if they would wheel his bed +nearer to the door. Outside is the garden, he whispered, +for I see boughs waving, and can hear the bees. Wilt +thou let me go into the garden? As soon as I've removed +the dressing thou shalt have a look into the garden, Esora +replied, and she called upon Joseph to pull Jesus forward. +All this, she said, was raw flesh a week ago, and now the +scab is coming away nicely; you see the new skin my +balsam is bringing up. His feet, too, are healing, Joseph +observed, and look as if he will be able to stand upon them +in another few days. Wounds do not heal as quickly as +that, Master. Thou must have patience. But he'll be +wanting a pair of crutches very soon. We might send to +Jerusalem for a pair. There is no need to send to +Jerusalem, he answered. I think I'd like to make him +a pair. Anybody can make a pair of crutches, however +poor a carpenter he may be; and every evening as soon +as his watch was over he repaired to the wood-shed. +They won't be much to look at, Esora reflected, but that +won't matter, if he gets them the right length, and strong.</p> + +<p>Come and see them, he said to her one evening, and +when she had admired his handiwork sufficiently he said: +tell me, Esora, is a man's mind the same after scourging +and crucifixion as it was before? Esora shook her head. +I suppose not, Joseph continued, for our minds draw their +lives from our bodies. He'll be a different man if he +comes up from his sickness. But he may live to be as +old as I am, or the patriarchs, she returned. With a +different mind, he added. So I've lost him in life whom +I saved from death.</p> + +<p>Esora did not ask any questions, and fearing that her +master might tell her things he might afterwards regret +having said, she remarked that Jesus would be needing +the crutches in about another week.</p> + +<p>And it was in or about that time, not finding Jesus in +the cottage, they came down the pathway in great alarm, +to be brought to a sudden stop by the sight of Jesus +sitting under the cedars. How did he get there? Esora +cried, for the crutches were in the wood-shed. They were, +Esora, but I took them down to the cottage last night, +and seeing them, and finding they fitted him, he has +hobbled to the terrace. But he mustn't hobble about +where he pleases, Esora said. He is a sick man and in +our charge, and if he doesn't obey us he may fall back +again into sickness. The bones have not properly set—— We +don't know that any bones were broken, do we, +Esora? We don't; for the nails may have pierced the +feet and hands without breaking any. But, Master, look! +Didst ever see such imprudence? Go! drive away my +cat, or else my work will be undone.</p> + +<p>Her cat, large, strong and supple as a tiger, had advanced +from the opposite wood, and, unmindful of a bitch and her +puppies, seated himself in the middle of the terrace. +As he sat tidying his coat the puppies conceived the +foolish idea of a gambol with him. The cat continued to +lick himself, though no doubt fully aware of the puppies' +intention, and it was not till they were almost on him +that he rose, hackle erect, to meet the onset in which +they would have been torn badly if Jesus had not hopped +hastily forward and menaced him with his crutches. Even +then the puppies, unmindful of the danger, continued to +dance round the cat. You little fools, he will have your +eyes, Jesus cried, and he caught them up in his arms, +but unable to manage them and his crutches together, +he dropped the crutches and started to get back to his +seat without them.</p> + +<p>It was this last imprudence that compelled Esora to +cry out to Joseph that her work would be undone if +Joseph did not run at once to Jesus and give him his +crutches: now, Master, I hope ye told him he must leave +cats and dogs alone, she said as soon as Joseph returned +to her. If he doesn't we shall have him on our hands all +the winter. All the winter! Joseph repeated. It is +for thee to say, Master, how long he is to stay here; +three weeks, till he is fit to travel, or all the winter, it is +for you to say. Fit to travel, Joseph repeated. Why +should he leave when he is fit to travel? he asked. Only, +Master, because it will be hard to keep him in hiding much +longer. Secrets take a long time to leak out, but they +leak out in the end. But I may be wrong, Master, in +thinking that there is a secret. I hardly know anything +about this man, only that thou broughtest him back +one night. So thou'rt not certain then that there is a +secret, Esora? Joseph said. I won't say that, Master, for +I can see by his back that he has been scourged, and +cruelly, she answered. His hands and feet testify that he +has been on the cross. Therefore, Joseph interposed, thou +judgest him to be a malefactor of some sort. Master, I +would judge no one. He is what thou choosest to tell me +he is. Come then, Esora, Joseph replied, and I will tell +thee his story and mine, for our stories have been strangely +interwoven. But the telling will take some time. Come, +let us sit in the shade of the acacia-trees yonder; there is +a seat there, and we shall be in view of our sick man, ready +to attend upon him should he require our attention.</p> + +<p>She sat listening, immovable, like a figure of stone, her +hands hanging over her knees. And when he told how +Jesus opened his eyes in the tomb, and how he carried +him through the rocks, seeking perhaps to astonish her +a little by his account of the darkness, and the wild +beasts, he said: now tell me, Esora, if I could have done +else but bring him here on my shoulders. True it +is that Pilate believed he was giving me not a live but +a dead body; but Pilate wouldn't expect me to go to him +with the tidings that Jesus was not dead, and that he +might have him back to hoist on to a cross again. +Pilate did not want to give him up for crucifixion. He +found no fault with him. Dost understand, Esora? I +understand very well, Master, that Pilate would think +thee but a false friend if you had acted differently. He +would not have thanked thee if thou hadst brought back +this man to him. But, Esora, thy face wears a puzzled +look. One thing puzzles me, she answered, for I cannot +think what could have put it into his head that he was +sent into the world to suffer for others. For are we not +all suffering for others?</p> + +<p>The simplicity of her question took Joseph aback, and +he replied: I suppose thou'rt right in a way, Esora. Thou +hast no doubt suffered for thy parents; I have suffered +for my father. I left Galilee to keep my promise not to +see Jesus; when I heard he was going to ride into Jerusalem +in triumph on an ass from Bethany I ran away to +Jericho. Could a man do more to keep his promise? +But it was of no avail, for we may not change in our little +lives the fate we were branded with a thousand years +before we were born.</p> + +<p>Thou'rt of one mind with me, Esora, that I couldn't +have left him to die in the sepulchre? Thou couldst +not have done such a thing and remained thyself; and +it was God that gave you those fine broad shoulders for +the burden. I saw thee a baby, and thou hast grown +into a fine image like those they've put up to Cæsar in +Tiberias; and then, as if abashed by her familiarity, she +began: Master, I wouldn't wish him to return to Jerusalem, +for they would put him on the cross again, but he +had better leave Judea. Art thou weary, Esora, of attendance +on him? Joseph asked, and the servant answered: +have I ever shown, Master, that I found attendance on him +wearisome? He is so gentle and patient that it is a +pleasure to attend on him, and an honour, for one feels +him to be a great man. The highest I have met among +men, Joseph interposed, and I have searched diligently, +wishing always to worship the best on earth. He is that, +and maybe there's no better in heaven; after God comes +Jesus.</p> + +<p>It wouldn't be a woman then that thou wouldst choose +to meet in heaven, but a man? Men love women, Joseph +said, for their corruptible bodies, and women love men for +theirs; but even the lecher would choose rather to meet +a man in heaven, and the wanton another woman. If +we would discover whom we love most, we can do so by +asking ourselves whom we would choose to meet in heaven. +Heaven without Jesus would not be heaven for me. But +if he be not the Messiah after all? Esora asked. Should +I love him less? he answered her. None is as perfect as +he. I have known him long, Esora, and can say truly that +none is worthy to be the carpet under his feet.</p> + +<p>I have never spoken like this before, but I am glad to +have spoken, for now thou understandest how much thou +hast done for me. Thou and thy balsam and thy ministration. +My balsam, she answered, has done better than +I expected it would do. Thou sawest his back this morning. +One can call it cured. His hands and feet have +mended and his strength is returning. In a few days he +will be fit to travel. This is the third time, Esora, that +thou hast said he'll be able to travel soon—yet thou sayest +he is so patient and gentle that it is a pleasure to attend +on him; and an honour. But, Master, the danger is great, +and every day augments the danger. Secrets, as I've said, +take a long time to leak out, but they leak out in time. +Her words are wise, he thought to himself, and he overlooked +her, guessing her to have shrunken to less than her +original size; she seemed but a handful of bones and +yellow skin, but when she looked up in his face her eyes +were alive, and from under a small bony forehead they +pleaded, and with quavering voice she said: let him go, +dear Master, for if the Pharisees seek him here and find +him, he will hang again on the cross. Thou wouldst have +me tell him, Esora, that rumours are about that he did not +die on the cross and that a search may be made for him. I +wouldn't have thee speak to him of Pilate or his crucifixion, +Master, for we don't know that he'd care to look back +upon his troubles; he might prefer to forget them as far as +he is able to forget them. But thou canst speak to him of +his health, Master, which increases every day, and of the +benefit a change would be to him. Speak to him if thou +wouldst of a sea voyage, but speak not of anything directly +for fear of perplexing him. Lead rather than direct, +for his mind must be a sort of maze at present. A great +deal has befallen, and nothing exactly as he expected. +Nor would I have thee speak to him of anything but +actual things; speak of what is before his eyes as much +as possible; not a word about yesterday or of to-morrow, +only so far as his departure is concerned. Keep his +thoughts on actual things, Master: on his health, for he +feels that, and on the dogs about his feet, for he sees them; +he takes an interest in them; let him speak to thee of +them, which will be better still, and in your talk about +dogs many things will happen. The hills about Cæsarea +may be mentioned; see that they are mentioned; ask him +if they are like the hills above Jericho. I cannot tell +thee more, Master, but will pray that thou mayest speak +the right words.</p> + +<p>A shrewd old thing, Joseph thought, as he went towards +Jesus, looking back once to see Esora disappearing into +the wood. She'd have me keep his thoughts on actual +things, he continued, and seeing that Jesus had called +the puppies to him and was making himself their playmate, +he asked him if he were fond of dogs; whereupon +Jesus began to praise the bitch, saying she was of better +breeding than her puppies, and that when she came on +heat again she should be sent to a pure Thracian like +herself. Joseph asked, not because he was interested in +dog-breeding, but to make talk, if the puppies were +mongrels. Mongrels, Jesus repeated, overlooking them; +not altogether mongrels, three-quarter bred; the dog +that begot them was a mongrel, half Syrian, half Thracian. +I've seen worse dogs highly prized. Send the bitch to a +dog of pure Thracian stock and thou'lt get some puppies +that will be the sort that I used to seek.</p> + +<p>Joseph waited, for he expected Jesus to speak of the +Essenes and of the time when he was their shepherd; +but Jesus' thoughts seemed to have wandered from dogs, +and to bring them back to dogs again Joseph interposed: +thou wast then a shepherd? But Jesus did not seem to +hear him, and as he was about to repeat his question he +remembered that Esora told him to keep to the present +time. We do not know, she said, that he remembers, +and if he has forgotten the effort to remember will +fatigue him, or it may be, she had added, that he wishes +to keep his troubles out of mind. A shrewd old thing, +Joseph said to himself, and he sat by Jesus considering +how he might introduce the subject he had come to +speak to Jesus about, the necessity of his departure from +Judea. But as no natural or appropriate remark came +into his mind to make, he sat like one perplexed and +frightened, not knowing how the silence that had fallen +would be broken. It is easy, he thought, for Esora to say, +speak only of present things, but it is hard to keep on +speaking of things to a man whose thoughts are always +at ramble. But if I speak to him of his health an +occasion must occur to remind him that a change is +desirable after a long or a severe illness. It may have +been that Joseph did not set forth the subject adroitly; +he made mention, however, of a marvellous recovery, and +as Jesus did not answer him he continued: Esora thought +that thou wouldst be able to get as far as the terrace +in another week, but thou'rt on the terrace to-day. Still +Jesus did not answer him, and feeling that nothing +venture nothing win, he struck boldly out into a sentence +that change of air is the best medicine after sickness. +Jesus remaining still unresponsive, he added: sea air is +better than mountain air, and none as beneficial as the air +that blows about Cæsarea.</p> + +<p>The word Cæsarea brought a change of expression into +Jesus' face, and Joseph, interpreting it to mean that Jesus +was prejudiced against those coasts, hastened to say that a +sick man is often the best judge of the air he needs. But, +Joseph, I have none but thee, Jesus said; and the two +men sat looking into each other's eyes, Joseph thinking +that if Jesus were to recover his mind he would be outcast, +as no man had ever been before in the world: without +a country, without kindred, without a belief wherewith to +cover himself; for nothing, Joseph said to himself as he +sat looking into Jesus' eyes, has happened as he thought +it would; and no man finds new thoughts and dreams +whereby he may live. I did not foresee this double +nakedness, or else might have left him to die on the cross. +Will he, can he, forgive me? A moment afterwards he +recovered hope, for Jesus did not seem to know that +the hills beyond the terrace were the Judean hills, and +then, as if forgetting the matter in hand (his projected +residence in Cæsarea), he began to speak of Bethlehem, +saying he could not think of Bethlehem without +thinking of Nazareth, a remark that was obscure to +Joseph, who did not know Nazareth. It was to make +some answer—for Jesus seemed to be waiting for him to +answer—that Joseph said: Nazareth is far from Cæsarea, +a remark that he soon perceived to be unfortunate, +for it awakened doubts in Jesus that he was no longer +welcome in Joseph's house. Why speakest thou of +Cæsarea to me? he said. Is it because thou wouldst rid +thyself of me? Whereupon Joseph besought Jesus to +lay aside the thought that he, Joseph, wished him away. +I would have thee with me always, deeming it a great +honour; but Esora has charge of thy health and has asked +me to say that a change is needed.</p> + +<p>My health, Jesus interrupted. Am I not getting my +strength quickly? do not send me away, Joseph, for I am +weak in body and in mind; let me stay with thee a little +longer; a few days; a few weeks. If I go to Cæsarea I +must learn Greek, for that is the language spoken there, +and thou'lt teach me Greek, Joseph. Send me not away. +But there is no thought of sending thee away, Joseph +answered; my house is thy house for as long as thou carest +to remain, and the words were spoken with such an accent +of truth that Jesus answered them with a look that went +straight to Joseph's heart; but while he rejoiced Jesus' mind +seemed to float away: he was absent from himself again, and +Joseph had begun to think that all that could be said that +day had been said on the subject of his departure from +Judea, when a little memory began to be stirring in Jesus, +as Esora would say, like a wind in a field.</p> + +<p>I remember thee, Joseph, as one to whom I did a great +wrong, but what that wrong was I have forgotten. Do +not try to recall it, Joseph said to him, no wrong was +done, Jesus. Thou'rt the rich man's son, he said, and +what I remember concerning thee is thy horse, for he +was handsomer than any other. His name was Xerxes. +Dost still ride him? Is he in the stables of yon house? +He was sold, Joseph answered, to pay for our journey +in Syria, and some of the price went to pay for thy +cloak. The cloak on my shoulders? Jesus asked. The +cloak on thy shoulders is one of my cloaks. Thou +earnest here naked. I was carried here by an angel, +Jesus replied, for I felt the feathers of his wings brush +across my face. But why that strange look, Joseph?—those +curious, inquisitive eyes? It was an angel that +carried me hither. No, Jesus, it was I that carried +thee out of the sepulchre up the crooked path. What is +thy purpose in saying that it was no angel but thou? +Jesus asked; and Joseph, remembering that he must not +say anything that would vex Jesus, regretted having contradicted +him and tried to think how he might mend his +mistake with words that would soothe Jesus; but, as it often +is on such occasions, the more we seek for the right words +the further we seem to be from them, and Joseph did not +know how he might plausibly unsay his story that he had +carried him without vexing Jesus still further: he is +sure an angel carried him, Joseph said: he felt the +feathers of the wings brush across his face, and he is now +asking himself why I lied to him.</p> + +<p>As Joseph was thinking that it might be well to say +that Bethlehem was like Nazareth, he caught sight of +Jesus' face as pale as ashes, more like a dead face than a +living, and fearing that he was about to swoon again or +die, Joseph called loudly for Esora, who came running +down the pathway.</p> + +<p>Thou mustn't call for me so loudly, Master. If Matred +had heard thee and come running—— But, Esora, look. +As likely as not it is no more than a little faintness, she +said. He has been overdoing it: running after puppies, +and talking with thee about Cæsarea. But it was thyself +told me to ask him to go to Cæsarea for change of air. +Never mind, Master, what I told thee. We must think +now how we shall get him back to bed. Do thou take +one arm and I'll take the other.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Jesus did not speak about angels again, and one morning +at the end of the week before going away to Jerusalem +to attend to some important business Joseph, after +a talk with Esora, turned down the alley with the intention +of asking Jesus to leave Judea. It would have been +better, she said to herself, if he had waited till evening; +these things cannot be settled off-hand; he'll only say +the wrong thing again, and she stood waiting at her +kitchen door, hoping that Joseph would stop on his way +out to tell her Jesus' decision, but he went away without +speaking, and she began to think it unlikely that anything +was decided. He is soft-hearted and without much +will of his own, she said.... Jesus is going to stay with +us, so we may all hang upon crosses yet, unless, indeed, +Master comes to hear something in Jerusalem that will +bring him round to my way of thinking. He believes, +she continued, that Jesus is forgotten because the apostles +have returned to their fishing, but that cannot be; the +two young women that came here one Sunday morning +with a story about an empty sepulchre have found, I'll +vouch, plenty of eager gossips, and a smile floated round +her old face at the additions she heard to it yester +morning at the gates. But no good would come of my +telling him, she meditated, for he'd only say it was my +fancies, though he has to acknowledge that I am always +right when I speak out of what he calls my fancies. In +about three weeks, she muttered, the stories that are +going the round will begin to reach his ears.</p> + +<p>The old woman's guess was a good one. It was about +that time the camel-drivers, assembled in the yard behind +the counting-house, began to tell that Jesus had been +raised from the dead, and their stories, being overheard +by the clerk, were reported to Joseph. The Pharisees +are angry with Pilate for not having put a guard of soldiers +over the tomb, the clerk was saying, when Joseph interjected +that a guard of soldiers would be of no avail if +God had wished to raise Jesus from the dead. The point +of their discourse, the clerk continued, is that no man +but Jesus died on the cross in three hours; three days, +Sir, are mentioned as the usual time. It is said that a +man, Sir, often lingers on until the end of the fourth +day. Joseph remained, his thoughts suspended, and the +clerk, being a faithful servant, and anxious for Joseph's +safety, asked if he might speak a word of counsel, and +reading on Joseph's face that he was permitted to speak, +he said: I would have you make an end of these rumours, +Sir, and this can be done if you will attend the next +meeting of the Sanhedrin and make plain your reason +for having gone to Pilate to ask him for the body. As +it seemed to Joseph that his clerk had spoken well, +he attended the next meeting of the Council, but the +business that the councillors had come together for did +not admit of interruption for the sake of personal explanation, +however interesting, and the hostility of everybody +to him was notable from the first. Only a few +personal friends spoke to him; among them was Nicodemus, +who would not be dismissed, but went away with him +at the close of the meeting, beseeching him not to cross +the valley unarmed, and if thou wouldst not draw attention +to thyself by the purchase of arms, he said, I will give +thee the arms thou needest for thyself and will arm some +camel-drivers for thee. I thank thee, Nicodemus, but if +I were to return home accompanied by three or four +armed camel-drivers I should draw the attention of Jerusalem +upon me, thereby quickening the anger of the +Pharisees, and my death would be resolved upon. But +art thou sure that the hirelings of the priests haven't +been told to kill thee? Nicodemus asked. Pilate's friendship +for me is notorious, Joseph replied. I'm not afraid, +Nicodemus, and it is well for me that I'm not, for assassination +comes to the timorous. That is true, Nicodemus +rejoined, our fears often bring about our destiny, but thou +shouldst avoid returning by the valley; return by the +eastern gate and on horseback. But that way, Joseph +answered, is a lonely and long one, and thinking it better +to put a bold face on the matter, though his heart was +beating, he began to speak scornfully of the Pharisees +who, seemingly, would have consented to a desecration of +the Sabbath. He had done no more than any other Jew +who did not wish the Sabbath to be desecrated, and remembering +suddenly that Nicodemus would repeat everything +he said, he spoke again of Pilate's friendship, and +the swift vengeance that would follow his murder. Pilate +is my friend, and whoever kills me makes sure of his own +death. I do not doubt that what thou sayest is true, +Joseph, but Pilate may be recalled, and it may suit the +next Roman to let the priests have their way. I am going +to Egypt to-morrow, he said suddenly. To Egypt, Joseph +repeated, and memories awoke in him of the months he +spent in Alexandria, of the friends he left there, of the +Greek that he had taken so much trouble to perfect himself +in, and the various philosophies which he thought +enlarged his mind, though he pinned his faith to none; +and reading in his face the pleasure given by the word +Egypt, Nicodemus pressed him to come with him: all +those who are suspected of sympathy with Jesus, he said, +will do well to leave Judea for a year at least. Alexandria, +as thou knowest, having lived there, is friendly +to intellectual dispute. In Alexandria men live in a +kingdom that belongs neither to Cæsar nor to God. But +all things belong to God, Joseph replied. Yes, answered +Nicodemus; but God sets no limits to the mind, but +priests do in the name of God. Remember Egypt, where +thou'lt find me, and glad to see thee....</p> + +<p>On these words the men parted, and Joseph descended +into the valley a little puzzled, for the traditionalism of +Nicodemus seemed to have undergone a change. But +more important than any change that may have happened +in Nicodemus' mind was the journey to Egypt, that he had +proposed to Joseph. Joseph would like to go to Egypt, +taking Jesus with him, and as he walked he beheld in +imagination Jesus disputing in the schools of philosophy, +but if he were to go away to Egypt the promise to his +father would be broken fully. If his father were to fall +ill he might die before the tidings of his father's illness +could reach him; a year's residence in Egypt was, therefore, +forbidden to him; on the top of the Mount of +Olives he stopped, so that he might remember that +Nicodemus' disposition was always to hear the clashing +of swords; spears are always glittering in his eyes for +one reason or another, he said, and though he would regret +a friend's death, he would regard it as being atoned +for if the brawl were sufficiently violent. He has gone to +Egypt, no doubt, because it is pleasing to him to believe +his life to be in danger. He invents reasons. Pilate's +recall! Now what put that into his mind? He may be +right, but this Mount of Olives is peaceful enough and +the road beyond leading to my house seems safe to the +wayfarer even at this hour. He followed the road in +a quieter mood, and it befell that Esora opened the +gates to him, for which he thanked her abruptly and +turned away, wishing to be alone; but seeing how overcast +was his face, she did not return to her kitchen as +she had intended, but remained with him, anxious to +learn if the rumours she knew to be current had reached +his ears. She would not be shaken off by silence, but +followed him down the alley leading to Jesus' cottage, +answering silence by silence, certain in this way to +provoke him thereby into confidences. They had not +proceeded far into the wood before they came upon +Jesus in front of a heap of dead leaves that he +had raked together. A great many had fallen, he said, +and the place was beginning to look untidy, so I thought +I would gather them for burning. Thou must not tire +thyself, Joseph answered, as he passed on with Esora, +asking her as they went through the autumn woods +if Jesus found the rake for himself or if she gave it to +him. He asked me if he might be allowed to feed the +chickens, she said, and I would have let him if +Matred's window did not overlook the yard. Master, +the hope of getting him out of Judea rests upon the +chance that he may recover his mind, and staring at the +desert all day won't help him. He musn't brood, and as +there is no work like raking up leaves to keep a man's +thought off himself, unless, indeed, it be digging, I +thought I had better let him have the rake. But if +Matred should meet him? Joseph asked. She will see +the new gardener in him, that will be all. I told her +last night, Esora continued, that we were expecting the +new gardener, and she said it would be pleasant to have +a man about the house again. But he musn't attempt +any hard work like digging yet awhile; he has done +enough to-day; I'll go and tell him to put away the +rake and pass on to his supper. She waited for Joseph to +answer, but he was in no humour for speech, and she left +him looking at the hills.</p> + +<p>A cloud lifts, and we are; another cloud descends, and +we are not; so much do we know, but we are without +sufficient sight to discover the reason behind all this +shaping and reshaping, for like all else we ourselves are +changing as Heraclitus said many years ago.</p> + +<p>And while thinking of this philosopher, whose wisdom +he felt to be more satisfying than any other, he paced back +and forth, seeking a little while longer to untie the knot +that all men seek to untie, abandoning at last, saying: +fate tied it securely before the beginning of history, and +on these words he ran up the steps of his house, pausing +on the threshold to listen, for he could distinguish Esora's +voice, and Matred's; afterwards he heard Jesus' voice, +and he said: Jesus eats with my servants in the kitchen! +This cannot be, and he very nearly obeyed the impulse +of the moment, which was to call Jesus and tell him +to come and eat his supper with him. To do this, +however, would draw Matred's attention to the fact that +Jesus was not of her company but of her master's, and distinctions +between servants and master, he continued, are +not for him, who thinks in eternal terms.</p> + +<p>He sat at table, his thoughts suspended, but awakening +suddenly from a reverie, of which he remembered nothing, +he rose from his seat and went to the kitchen door, +regretting that he was not with Jesus, for to miss his +words, however slight they might be, seemed to him to +be a loss that could not be repaired. They are listening +to him, he said, with the same pleasure that I used to do, +watching his eyes lighting his words on their way.</p> + +<p>At that moment a shuffling of feet sent him back to +his seat again, and he put food into his mouth just in +time to escape suspicion of eavesdropping. I thought, +Master, that thy supper was finished, and that I might +take away the plates. I've hardly begun my supper, +Esora. Your voices in the kitchen prevented me from +eating. We are sorry for that, Master, she replied. +Make no excuses, Esora. I said it was the voices in the +kitchen that disturbed me, but in truth it was my own +thoughts, for I have heard many things to-day in +Jerusalem. Esora's face brightened and she said to +herself: my words to him are coming true. Sit here, +Esora, and I'll tell thee what I've heard to-day. And +while Matred listened to Jesus in the kitchen Esora heard +from Joseph that the camel-drivers had been talking of +the resurrection in the yard behind the counting-house, +and that his clerk's advice to him had been to attend the +Sanhedrin, and make plain that his reason for going to +Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus was because he did +not wish a desecration of the Sabbath. But he had only +met a show of dark faces, and left the meeting in company +with Nicodemus. Esora, is our danger as great as this +young man says it is? Master, I have always told thee +that as soon as Jesus leaves Judea he will be safe from +violence, from death, and we shall be safe too, but not +till then. But how are we to persuade him to leave +Judea, Esora? Thou must try, Master, to persuade him, +there is no other way. He is talking now with Matred +in the kitchen. Ask him to come here, and thou'lt see, +Esora, the sad face that uplifts when I speak to him of +Cæsarea. I'll speak for thee, Master, she answered, and +going to the door she called Jesus to them, and when +he stood before them she said: have I not proved a good +physician to thee? To-day thy back gives thee no trouble. +Only aching a bit, he answered, from stooping, but that +will pass away. And my balsam having cured thy feet +and hands is it not right that I should take a pride in +thee? And, smiling, Jesus answered: had I voice enough +I would call the virtue of thy balsam all over the world. +My balsam has done well with thee, but a change is +needed to restore thee to thyself, and seeing a cloud come +into his face, she continued: we weren't talking of sending +thee to Cæsarea, for it is of little use to send a man in +search of health whither he is not minded to go. Our +talk was not of Cæsarea. But of what city then? Jesus +asked, and Esora began to speak of Alexandria, and +Joseph, thinking that she repeated indifferently all that +she had heard of that city from him, interrupted her and +began to discourse about the several schools of philosophy +and his eagerness to hear Jesus among the sages. But +why should thy philosophers listen to me? Jesus asked. +Because thou'rt wise. No man, he replied, is wise but +he who would learn, and none is foolish but he who would +teach. If there are learners there must be teachers, +Joseph said, and he awaited Jesus' answer eagerly, but +Esora, fearing their project would be lost sight of in +argument, broke in, saying: neither teaching nor learning +avails, but thy health, Jesus, and to-morrow a caravan +starts for Egypt, and we would know if thou'lt join it, +for one whom thou knowest goes with it, a friend, one +Nicodemus, a disciple, whose love for thee is equal to my +master's.</p> + +<p>Jesus' face darkened, but he said nothing, and Esora +asked him if he did not care to travel with Nicodemus, +and he answered that if he went to Egypt he would like +to go with Joseph. But my master has business here, +and may not leave it easily. Is this so, Joseph? Jesus +asked, and Joseph answered: it is true that I have +business here, but there are other reasons, and weightier +ones than the one Esora has put before thee, why I may +not leave Jerusalem and go to live in Egypt. But wouldst +thou have me go to Egypt with Nicodemus, Joseph? Jesus +asked, and Joseph could not do else than say that the +companion he would choose would not be one whose +tongue was always at babble. But wilt thou go to Egypt, +he asked, if I tell thee that it is for thy safety and for +ours that we propose this voyage to thee? And Jesus +answered: be it so.</p> + +<p>Then, Jesus, we'll make plans together, Esora and +myself, for thy departure; and having thanked him, Jesus +returned to Matred in the kitchen, and they could hear +him talking with her while they debated, and as soon +as the kitchen door closed Joseph told Esora that he +could not break the promise he gave to his father, and +it was this very promise that she strove to persuade +him to forgo. For it is the only way, she said, and he, +agreeing with her, said: though I have promised my father +not to keep the company of Jesus, it seems to me that I +should be negligent in my duty towards Jesus if I did not +go with him to Egypt; and Esora said: that is well said, +Master, and now we will go to our beds. God often +counsels us in sleep and warns us against hasty promises.</p> + +<p>And it was as he expected it would be: he was that +night disturbed by a dream in which his father appeared +to him wearing a distressful face, saying: I have a blessing +that I would give to thee. There were more words than +this, but Joseph could not remember them; but the words +he did remember seemed to him a warning that he must +not leave Judea; and Jesus was of one mind with him +when he heard them related on the terrace. A son, he said, +must be always obedient to his father, and love him before +other men.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Esora, who was standing by when these +words were spoken, was much moved, for she, too, believed +in dreams and their interpretation, and she could put no +other interpretation upon Joseph's dream than that he +was forbidden to go to Egypt. But Joseph might write, +she said, to some of his friends in Egypt, and they could +send a friend, if they wished it, who would meet Jesus at +Jericho; and this plan was in dispute till all interest in +Egypt faded from their minds, and they began to talk +of other countries and cities; of Athens and Corinth we +were talking, Joseph said to Esora, who had come into +the room, and of India, of Judea. But if Jesus were to +go to India we should never see him again, she answered. +It is thy good pleasure, Master, to arrange the journey, +and when it is arranged to thy satisfaction thou'lt tell +me, though I do not know why thou shouldst consult me +again. I came to tell thee that one of thy camel-drivers +has come with the news that the departure of the caravan +for Egypt has been advanced by two days. But if thou'rt +thinking of Egypt no longer I may send him away. Tell +him to return to the counting-house, and that there is +no order for to-day, Joseph replied. You will settle the +journey between you, Esora said, turning back on her way +to the kitchen to speak once more. She would have me +go, Jesus said. Put that thought out of thy mind, Joseph +replied quickly, for it is not a true thought. Thou +shouldst have guessed better; it is well that thou goest, +but we must find the country and the city that is agreeable +to thee, and that will be discovered in our talk in the +next few days, to which Jesus answered nothing; and at +the end of the next few days, though much had been said, +it seemed to Joseph that Jesus' departure was as far away +as ever. It has become, he said to Esora, a little dim. I +know nothing, he continued, of Jesus' mind.</p> + +<p>On these words he went to his counting-house distracted +and sad, expecting to hear from his clerk that the story +of Jesus' resurrection was beginning to be forgotten in +Jerusalem, but the clerk knew nothing more, and was +eager to speak on another matter. Pilate had sent +soldiers to prevent a multitude from assembling at the +holy mountain, Gerezim, for the purpose of searching +for some sacred vessels hidden there by Moses, so it was +said. Many had been slain in the riot, and the Samaritans +had made representations to Vitellius, artfully worded, the +clerk said, and dangerous to Pilate, for Vitellius had a +friend whom he would like to put in Pilate's place. +Joseph sat thinking that it was not at all unlikely he +was about to lose his friend and protector, and the clerk, +seeing his master troubled, dropped in the words: nothing +has been settled yet. Joseph gave no heed, and a few +days afterwards a messenger came from the Prætorium to +tell Joseph that Pilate wished to see him. We shall not +meet again, Joseph, unless you come to Rome, and you +must come quickly to see me there, for my health is +declining. We have been friends, such friends as may +rarely consist with Roman and Hebrew, he said, and the +words stirred up a great grief in Joseph's heart, and when +he returned that evening to his house he was overcome +by the evil tidings, but he did not convey them to Esora +that evening, nor the next day, nor the day afterwards, +and they becoming such a great torment in his heart he +did not care to go to his counting-house, but remained +waiting in his own rooms, or walking in the garden, +startled by every noise and by every shadow.</p> + +<p>Day passed over day, and it was one of the providers +that came to the gates that brought the news of Pilate's +departure to Esora, and when she had gotten it she came +to Joseph, saying: so your friend Pilate has been ordered +to Rome? He has, indeed, Joseph answered, overcome by +the intrigues of the Samaritans, who sought to assemble +together, not so much to discover sacred vessels as to bring +about a change of government. We are beset with danger, +Esora, for it has come to my mind that the stories about +the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth may be kindled again, +and it will not be difficult to incite the priests against me; +everybody is saying that I was the last man to see Jesus, +and must know where his body is hidden; that is enough +for the priests, and they will send up a band of Zealots to +seek him in this garden. There is no place here where we +can hide him from them. That is why I haven't been to +my counting-house for three days, fearing to leave thee and +Matred alone with him, for they would surely choose the +time when I was away in Jerusalem to plunder my house. +As he was saying these things Matred came into the room +with some wood for the fire, but before throwing the logs +on the hearth that Jesus carried up she looked at +them, and it seemed to Joseph her eyes were full of +suspicion, and as soon as she left the room he said: now +why did she bring the logs into the room while we were +talking of Jesus, and why did she mention that he +carried them up this afternoon, having felled a dead tree +this morning?</p> + +<p>Esora tried to persuade him that his fears were imaginary, +but she too feared that Matred might begin to suspect +that Jesus was no ordinary gardener; she had said, ye +speak strangely in Galilee, and to kindle the story again +it would only be necessary for somebody to come up to the +gates and ask her if one, Jesus, a Galilean, was known to +her, one that Pilate condemned to the cross. Her +answer would be: there is one here called Jesus, he is a +Galilean, and may have been on the cross for aught I know. +And such answer would be carried back to the priests, who +would order their hirelings to make a search for Jesus, and +the master and servant often sat of an evening listening to +the wind in the chimney, thinking it was warning them +of the raid of the Jews. If a tree fell it was an omen, and +they related their dreams to each other in the alleys of +the gardens, till it occurred to them that to be seen in +long converse together would awaken Matred's suspicion. +The shutters were put up and they sat in the dark +afraid to speak lest the walls had ears.</p> + +<p>Esora, who was the braver of the two, often said, Master, +strive to quell thy fears, for the new procurator has given +pause to the story of the resurrection. We have heard little +of it lately, and Jesus is beginning to be forgotten. Not +so, Esora, for to-day I heard—and Joseph began a long +relation which ended always with the phrase: we are beset +with danger. We have been saying that now for a long +while, Esora answered, yet nothing has befallen us yet, and +what cannot be cured must be endured. We must bear with +him. If, Esora, I could bring myself to break all promises +to my father and go away with him to Egypt this misery +would be ended. Master, thou canst not do this thing; +thou hast been thinking of it all the winter, and were it +possible it would be accomplished already. If it hadn't +been for that dream—and Joseph began to relate again +the dream related many times before. Forget thy dream, +Master, Esora said to him, for it will not help us; as I +have said, what cannot be cured must be endured. We +must put our trust in time, which brings many +changes; and in the spring something will befall; +he'll be taken from us. The spring, Esora? And in +safety? Tell me, and in safety? Nay, Master, I cannot +tell thee more than I have said; something will befall, +but what that thing may be I cannot say. Will it be in +the winter or in the spring? It will be in February or +March, she said. It was, however, before then, in January +(the winter being a mild one, the birds were already +singing in the shaws), that a camel-driver came to the +house on the hillside to tell Joseph that a camel had +been stolen from them on their way from Jericho to +Jerusalem during the night or in the early morning, and +with many words and movements of the hands, that +irritated Joseph, he sought to describe the valley where +they pitched their tent. Get on with thy story, Joseph +said; and the man told that they had succeeded in +tracking the band, a small one, to a cave, out of which, +he said, it will be easy to smoke them if Fadus, the +procurator, will send soldiers at once, for they may go +on to another cave, not deeming it safe to remain long +in the same one. Didst beg the camel back from the +robbers? Joseph asked, for he was not thinking of the +robbery, but of his meeting with Fadus. No, Master, +there was no use doing that. They would have taken +our lives. But we followed them, spying them from +behind rocks all the way, and the cave having but one +entrance they can be smoked to death with a few trusses +of damp straw. But care must be taken lest our camel +perish with them. If we could get them to give up the +camel first, I'm thinking—</p> + +<p>It was a serious matter to hear that robbers had again +established themselves in the hills; and while Joseph +pondered the disagreeable tidings a vagrant breeze carried +the scent of the camel-driver's sheepskin straight into +Jesus' nostrils as he came up the path with a bundle of +faggots on his shoulders. He stopped at first perplexed +by the smell and then, recognising it, he hurried forward, +till he stood before the spare frame and withered brown +face of the desert wanderer.</p> + +<p>Joseph looked on puzzled, for Jesus stood like one in +ecstatic vision and began to put questions to the camel-driver +regarding the quality of the sheep the shepherds +led, asking if the rams speeded, if there were many barren +ewes in the flock, and if there was as much scab about as +formerly, questions that one shepherd might put to another, +but which seemed strangely out of keeping with a gardener's +interests.</p> + +<p>The camel-driver answered Jesus' question as well as +he was able, and then, guessing a former shepherd in the +gardener, he asked if Jesus had ever led a flock. Joseph +tried to interrupt, but the interruption came too late; +Jesus blurted out that for many years he was a shepherd. +And who was thy master? the camel-driver asked; Jesus +answered that he was in those days an Essene living in +the great settlement on the eastern bank of Jordan. +Whereupon the camel-driver began to relate that Brother +Amos was not doing well with the sheep and that some +of the brethren were gone to the Brook Kerith and had +taken possession of a cave in the rocks above it. The +camel-driver was about to begin to make plain this Amos' +misunderstanding of sheep, but Jesus interrupted him. +Who may their president be? he asked; and with head +bent, scratching his poll, the camel-driver said at last that +he thought it was Hazael. Hazael! Jesus answered, and +forthwith his interest in the camel-driver began to slacken. +The anemone is on the hills to-day, he said, and Joseph +looked at him reproachfully; his eyes seemed to say: +hast forgotten so easily the danger we passed through by +keeping thee here, counting it as nothing, so great was our +love of thee?—and Jesus answering that look replied: but, +Joseph, how often didst thou speak to me of Cæsarea, +Alexandria, Athens, and other cities. Esora, too, was +anxious that I should leave Judea ... for my sake as +well as yours. India was spoken of, but the Brook Kerith +is not twenty odd miles from here and I shall be safe +among the brethren. Why this silence, Joseph? and +whence comes this change of mood? Jesus asked, and +Joseph began to speak of the parting that awaited them. +But there'll be no parting, Jesus interposed. Thou'lt ride +thy ass out to meet me, and we shall learn to know +each other, for thou knowest nothing of me yet, Joseph. +Thou'lt bring a loaf of bread and a flagon of wine in +thy wallet, and we shall share it together. I shall wait +for thy coming on the hillside. Even so, Jesus, I am +sad that our life here among the trees in this garden +should have come to an end. We were frightened many +times, but what we suffered is now forgotten. The +pleasure of having thee with us alone is remembered. +But it is true we have been estranged here. May we +start to-night? Jesus asked, and Joseph said: if a man +be minded to leave, it is better that he should leave at +once.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>An hour later, about two hours before midnight, they +were riding into the desert, lighted by a late moon and +incommoded by two puppies that Jesus could not be +dissuaded from bringing with him: for if Brother Amos +give up his flock to me, he argued, I shall need dogs. +But Brother Amos will give thee his dogs, Joseph said. +A shepherd, Jesus answered, cannot work with any dogs +but his own. But what has become of the dogs that were +left behind? Joseph asked, and not being able to tell him, +Jesus fell to wondering how it was he had forgotten his +dogs. At that moment one of the puppies cried to be +let down: see how well he follows, Jesus said, but hardly +were the words past his lips than the puppy turned tail, +and Jesus had to chase him very nearly back to Bethany +before he allowed himself to be overtaken and picked up +again. The way is long, Joseph cried, more than seven +hours to the city of Jericho, and if these chases happen +again we shall be overtaken by the daylight. One of my +caravans starts from Jericho at dawn; and if we meet +it I shall have my camel-drivers round me asking pertinent +questions and may be compelled to return with +them to Jericho. Come, Jesus, thine ass seems willing +to amble down this long incline; and dropping the reins +over the animal's withers, and leaning back, holding a +puppy under each arm, Jesus allowed the large brown ass +he was riding to trot; it was not long before he left far +behind the heavy weighted white ass, which carried +Joseph.</p> + +<p>Now seeing the distance lengthening out between them +Joseph was tempted to cry to Jesus to stop, but dared not, +lest he might awaken robbers (their strongholds having +lately been raided by soldiers), and he had in mind the +fugitives that might be lurking in the hills, so instead +of crying to Jesus to hold hard, he urged his ass forward. +But the best speed he could make was not sufficient to +overtake the nimbly trotting brown ass, and the pursuit +might have been continued into Jericho if Jesus had not +been suddenly behoven by the silence to stop and wait +for Joseph to overtake him, which he did in about ten +minutes, whispering: ride not so fast, robbers may be +watching for travellers. Not at this hour, Jesus replied; +and he prepared to ride on. This time one of the puppies +succeeded in getting away and might have run back +again to Bethany had not Joseph leapt from his ass +and driven him back to Jesus with loud cries that the +ravines repeated again and again. If there were robbers +asleep, thy cries would awaken them. True, true, Joseph +replied; I forgot; and he vowed he would not utter +another word till they passed a certain part of the road, +advantageous, he said, to robbers. No better spot between +Jerusalem and Jericho for murder and robbery, he +continued: cast thine eyes down into the ravine into +which he could throw us. But if a robber should fall +upon me do not stay to defend me; ride swiftly to the +inn for help, and, despite the danger, Joseph rode in front +of Jesus, sustained by the hope that the good fortune that +attended him so far would attend him to the end. And +they rode on through the grey moonlight till a wolf +howled in the distance. Joseph bent over and whispered +in Jesus' ear: hold thy puppies close to thy bosom, +Jesus, for if one be dropped and start running back to +Bethany he will be overtaken easily by that wolf and +thou'lt never hear of him again. Jesus held the puppies +tighter, but there was no need to do so, for they seemed +to know that the howl was not of their kin. The wolf +howled again, and was answered by another wolf. The +twain have missed our trail, Joseph said, and had there +been more we might have had to abandon our asses. If +we hasten we shall reach the inn without molestation +from robbers or wolves. How far are we from the inn, +Jesus? About two hours, Jesus answered, and Joseph +fell to gazing on the hills, trying to remember them, +but unable to do so, so transformed were they in the +haze of the moonlight beyond their natural seeming. +They attracted him strangely, the hills, dim, shadowy, +phantasmal, rising out of their loneliness towards the +bright sky, a white cliff showing sometimes through the +greyness; the shadow of a rock falling sometimes across +a track faintly seen winding round the hills, every hill +being, as it were, a stage in the ascent.</p> + +<p>As the hills fell back behind the wayfarers the inn +began to take shape in the pearl-coloured haze, and the +day Joseph rested for the first time in this inn rose up +in his memory with the long-forgotten wanderers whom +he had succoured on the occasion: the wizened woman in +her black rags and the wizened child in hers. They came +up from the great desert and for the last fifteen days had +only a little camel's milk, so they had said, and like rats +they huddled together to eat the figs he distributed.</p> + +<p>He had seen the inn many times since then and the +thought came into his mind that he would never see it +again. But men are always haunted by thoughts of an +impending fate, he said to himself, which never befalls. +But it has befallen mine ass to tire under my weight, +he cried. He must be very tired, Jesus answered, for +mine is tired, and I've not much more than half thy +weight; and the puppies are tired, tired of running +alongside of the asses, and tired of being carried, and +ourselves are tired and thirsty; shall we knock at the +door and cry to the innkeeper that he rouse out of his +bed and give us milk for the puppies if he have any? I +wouldn't have him know that I journeyed hither with +thee, Joseph replied, for stories are soon set rolling. +Esora has put a bottle of water into the wallet; the +puppies will have to lap a little. We can spare them +a little though we are thirstier than they. She had put +bread and figs into the wallet, so they were not as badly +off as they thought for; and eating and drinking and +talking to the puppies and feeding them the while, the +twain stood looking through the blue, limpid, Syrian night.</p> + +<p>At the end of a long silence Jesus said: the dawn +begins; look, Joseph, the stars are not shining as brightly +over the Jericho hills as they were. But Joseph could +not see that the stars were dimmer. Are they not with-drawing? +Jesus asked, and then, forgetful of the stars, +his thoughts went to the puppies: see how they crouch +and tremble under the wall of the garth, he said. There +must be a wolf about, he said, and after he had thrown +a stone to hasten the animal's departure he began to talk +to the puppies, telling them they need have no fear of +wolves, for when they were full-grown and were taught +by him they would not hold on but snap and snap again. +That is how the Thracian dogs fight, like the wolves, he +said, turning to Joseph. He is thinking, Joseph said to +himself, of sheep and dogs and being a shepherd again. +But of-what art thou thinking, Joseph?—of that strip of +green sky which is the dawn? I can see, now, that thy +shepherd eyes did not deceive thee, Joseph answered. +The day begins again; and how wonderful is the return +of the day, hill after hill rising out of the shadow. An +old land, he said, like the end of the world. Why like +the end of the world? Jesus asked. Joseph had spoken +casually; he regretted the remark, and while he sought +for words that would explain it away a train of camels +came through the dusk rocking up the hillside, swinging +long necks, one bearing on its back what looked like a +gigantic bird. A strange burden, Joseph said, and what +it may be I cannot say, but the camels are my camels, +and thou art safe out of sight under the wall of this garth.</p> + +<p>A moment after the word that the master had bidden a +halt was passed up the line, and one of the camel-drivers +said: she stopped half-an-hour ago to drop her young +one, and we put him on the dam's back, and she doesn't +feel his weight. We shall rest for an hour between this +and Jerusalem, and when we lift him down he'll find the +dug. But I've a letter for you, Master, from Gaddi, who +wishes to see you. I thought to deliver it in Jerusalem. +It was fortunate to meet you here. Gaddi will see you +half-a-day sooner than he hoped for. I shall get to him +by midday, Joseph said, raising his eyes from the letter. +By midday, Master? Why, in early morning I should +have thought for, unless, indeed, you bide here till the +innkeeper opens his doors. I have business, Joseph +answered, with the Essenes that have settled in a cave +above the Brook Kerith. About whom, the camel-driver +interjected, there be much talk going in Jericho. They've +disputed among themselves, some remaining where they +always were on the eastern bank of the Jordan, but ten or +a dozen going to the Brook Kerith, with Hazael for their +president. And for what reason? Joseph inquired. I +have told you, Master, all I know, and since you be +going to the Brook Kerith the brethren themselves +will give reasons better than I can, even if I had heard +what their reasons be for differing among themselves. +Whereupon Joseph bade his caravan proceed onward to +Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>We shall be surprised here by the daylight if we delay +any longer, he said, returning to Jesus, and, mounting +their asses, they rode down the hillside into a long, shallow +valley out of which the track rose upwards and upwards +penetrating into the hills above Jericho.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXIV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Now it is here we leave the track, Jesus said, and he +turned his ass into a little path leading down a steeply +shelving hillside. We shall find the brethren coming +back from the hills, if they aren't back already. It is +daylight on the hills though it is night still in this valley; +and looking up they saw a greenish moon in the middle +of a mottled sky of pink and grey. Over the face of the +moon wisps of vapour curled and went out: and the asses, +Joseph said, are loath to descend the hillside for fear of +this strange moon, or it may be they are frightened by +the babble of this brook; it seems to rise out of the +very centre of the earth. How deep is the gorge? Very +deep, Jesus answered; many hundred feet. But the asses +don't fear precipices, and if ours are unwilling to descend the +hillside it is because the paths do not seem likely to lead +to a stable; so would I account for their obstinacy. I'll +not ride down so steep a descent, and Joseph slipped +from his ass's back; and, rid of his load, the ass tried to +escape, but Jesus managed to turn him back to Joseph, +who seized the bridle. Dismount, Jesus, he cried, for +the path is narrow, and to please him Jesus dismounted, +and, driving their animals in front of them, they ventured +on to a sort of ledge.</p> + +<p>It passed under rocks and between rocks to the very +brink of the precipice as it descended towards the +bridge that spanned the brook some hundreds of feet +lower down. Already our asses scent a stable, Jesus said; +he called after them to stop, and the obedient animals +stopped and began to seek among the stones for a tuft of +grass or a bramble. I see no place here for a hermitage, +Joseph said, only roosts for choughs and crows. There +have been hermits here always, Jesus answered. We shall +pass the ruins of ancient hermitages farther down on this +side above the bridge. The bridge was built by hermits +who came from India, Jesus said. And was destroyed, +Joseph interjected, by the Romans, so that they might +capture the robbers that infested the caves. But the +Essenes must have repaired the bridge lately, Jesus +replied, and he asked Joseph how long the Essenes had +been at the Brook Kerith. My camel-driver did not say, +Joseph answered, and Jesus pointed to the ledge that the +Essenes must have chosen for a dwelling: it cannot be +else, he said; there is no other ledge large enough to build +upon in the ravine; and behind the ledge thou seest up +yonder is the large cave whither the ravens came to feed +Elijah. If the brethren are anywhere they are on that +ledge, in that cave, and he asked Joseph if his eyes +could not follow the building of a balcony: thine eyes +cannot fail to see it, for it is plain to mine. Joseph said +he thought he could discern the balcony. But how do we +reach it? We aren't angels, he said. We shall ascend, +Jesus answered, by a path going back and forth, through +many terraces. Lead on, Joseph answered. But stay, let +us admire the bridge they have built and the pepper-trees +that border it. I am glad the Romans spared +the trees, for men that live in this solitude deserve the +beauty of these pepper-trees. Jesus said: yonder is the +path leading to the source of the brook; fledged at this +season with green reeds and rushes. They have built a +mill I see! turned by the brook and fed, no doubt, by +the wheat thy camels bring from Moab. But the Essenes +seem late at work this morning.</p> + +<p>As he spoke these words an old man appeared on the +balcony, and Joseph said: that must be Hazael, but his +beard has gone very white. It is Hazael, our president, +Jesus answered. Let us go to him at once, and still driving +the asses in front of them and carrying the puppies in +their arms they worked their way up through the many +terraces; not one is more than three feet wide, yet in +every one are fig-trees, Jesus remarked, and there seem +to be vines everywhere, for though the Essenes drink no +wine, they sell their grapes to be eaten or to be turned +into wine, Joseph. Our rule is not to kill, but we sell our +sheep, and alas! some go to the Temple and are offered +in sacrifice. I used to weep for my sheep, he muttered, +but in this world——</p> + +<p>The steep ascent checked further speech, and they +walked to the east and then to the west, back and forth, +fifty little journeys taking them up to the cenoby. The +great door was opened to them at once, and Hazael came +forward to meet them, giving his left hand to Joseph and +his right to Jesus, whom he drew to his bosom. So, my +dear Jesus, thou hast come back to us, Hazael said, and +he looked into Jesus' face inquiringly, learning from it +that it would not be well to ask Jesus for the story of +what had befallen him during the last three years; and +Joseph gave thanks that Hazael was possessed of a mind +that saw into recesses and appreciated fine shades.</p> + +<p>We are glad to have thee back again, Jesus; and thou +hast come to stay, and perhaps to take charge of our flock +again, which needs thy guidance. How so? Jesus asked. +Hasn't the flock prospered under Brother Amos? Ah! +that is a long story, Hazael answered. We'll tell it thee +when the time comes. But thou hast brought dogs with +thee, and of the breed that our shepherds are always +seeking.</p> + +<p>It was thus that Jesus and Hazael began to talk to +each other, leaving Joseph to admire the vaulting of +the long dwelling, and to wander out through the +embrasure on to the balcony, from whence he could see +the Essenes going to their work along the terraces. +Among the ruins of the hermitage on the opposite side +above the bridge, a brother fondled a pet lamb while +he read. He is one, Joseph said to himself, that has found +the society of this cenoby too numerous for him, so he +retired to a ruin, hoping to draw himself nearer to God. +But even he must have a living thing by him; and then, +his thoughts changing, he fell to thinking of the day when +he would ride out to meet Jesus among the hills. His +happiness was so intense in the prospect that he delighted +in all he saw and heard: in the flight of doves that had +just left their cotes and were flying now across the gorge, +and in the soothing chant of the water rising out of the +dusk.</p> + +<p>Jesus had told him that the gorge was never without +water. The spring that fed it rose out of the earth as by +enchantment. Hazael's voice interrupted his reveries: +would you like, Sir, to visit our house? he asked, and he +threw open the door and showed a great room, common +to all. On either side of it, he said, are cells, six on one +side, four on the other, and into these cells the brethren +retire after breaking bread, and it is in this domed gallery +we sit at food. But Jesus has spoken to thee of these +things, for though we do not speak to strangers of our +rule of life, Jesus would not have transgressed in speaking +of it to thee. Joseph asked for news of Banu, and was +sorry to hear that he had been killed and partially eaten +by a lion.</p> + +<p>The tidings seemed to affect Jesus strangely; he +covered his face with his hands, and Hazael repented +having spoken of Banu, guessing that the hermit's death +carried Jesus' thoughts into a past time that he would +shut out for ever from his mind. He atoned, however, +for his mistake by an easy transition which carried their +discourse into an explanation of the dissidence that had +arisen among the brethren, and which, he said, compelled +us to come hither. The Essenes are celibates, and it +used to be my duty to go in search of young men +whom I might judge to be well disposed towards +God, and to bring them hither with me so that they +might see what our life is, and, discovering themselves +to be true servants of the Lord, adopt a life as +delightful and easy to those who love God truly as it is +hard to them whose thoughts are set on the world and +its pleasures. I have travelled through Palestine often in +search of such young men, and many who came with me +are still with me. It was in Nazareth that we met, he +said, and he stretched his hand to Jesus. Dost remember? +And without more he pursued his story.</p> + +<p>The brother, however, who succeeded me as missionary +brought back only young men who, after a few months +trial, fell away. It would be unjust for me to say that +the fault was with the missionary: times are not as they +used to be; the spirit of the Lord is not so rife nor so +ardent now as it was once, and the dwindling of our order +was the reason given for the proposal that some of us +should take wives. The argument put forward was that +the children born of these marriages would be more likely +than other children to understand our oaths of renunciation +of the world and its illusions. It was pleaded, and I +doubt not in good faith, that it were better the Essenes +should exist under a modified and more worldly rule than +not to exist at all; and while unable to accept this view +we have never ceased to admire the great sacrifice that +our erstwhile brethren have made for the sake of our order. +That the large majority was moved by such an exalted +motive cannot be doubted; but temptations are always +about; everyone is the Adam of his own soul, and there +may have been a few that desired the change for less +worthy motives. There was a brother——</p> + +<p>At that moment an accidental tread sent one of the +puppies howling down the dwelling, and Hazael, fearing +that he might fall into the well and drown there, sent +Jesus to call him back. The puppy, however, managed to +escape the well in time, and the pain in his tail ceasing +suddenly he ran, followed by his brother, out of the +cenoby on to the rocks. I must go after them, for they +will roll down the rocks if left to themselves, Jesus cried. +A matter of little moment, Hazael replied, compared with +the greater calamity of drowning himself in the well, for it +is of extraordinary depth and represents the labour of years. +Wonderful are the works of man, he added. But greater +are the works of God, Joseph replied. You did well to +correct me, Hazael answered, for one never should forget +that God is over all things, and the only real significance +man has, is his knowledge of God. But we were speaking +of the exodus of a few monks from the great cenoby on +the eastern side of Jordan.</p> + +<p>We came hither for the reason that I have told. We +left protesting that even if it were as our brethren said, +and that the children of Essenes would be more likely +than the children of Pharisees and Sadducees to choose to +worship God according to the spirit rather than to wear +their lives away in pursuit of vain conformity to the law—even +if this were so, we said, man can only love God on +condition that he put women aside, for woman represents +the five senses: pleasure of the eyes, of the ears, of the +mouth, of the finger-tips, of the nostrils: we did not fail +to point out that though our brethren might go in and +unto them for worthy motives, yet in so doing they would +experience pleasure, and sexual pleasure leads to the +pleasure of wine and food. One of the brethren said this +might not be so if elderly women were chosen, and at first +it seemed as if a compromise were possible. But a moment +after, a brother reminded us that elderly women were not +fruitful. To which I added myself another argument, that +a different diet from ours is necessary to those who take +wives unto themselves. Thou understandest me, Joseph? +Women have never been a temptation to me, Joseph +answered, nor to Jesus, and in meditative mood he related +the story of the wild man in the woods, at the entrance of +whose cave Jesus had laid a knife so that he might cut +himself free of temptation.</p> + +<p>At this Hazael was much moved, and they talked of +Jesus, Joseph saying that he had suffered cruelly for +teaching that the Kingdom of God is in our own hearts; for +to teach that religion is no more than a personal aspiration +is to attack the law, which, though given to us by Moses, +existed beforetimes in heaven, always observed by the +angels, and to be observed by them for time everlasting. +Jesus, then, set himself against the Temple? Hazael said +slowly, looking into Joseph's eyes. In a measure, Joseph +answered, but it was the priests who exasperated the +people against him, and what I have come here for, +beyond his companionship on the journey is to beg of you +to put no questions to him. A day may come when he +will tell his story if he remain with thee. Here he is +safe, Hazael said, and I pray God that he may remain +with us. But where is Jesus? Hazael asked, and they +sought him in the terraces, where the monks were at +work among the vines. See our fig-trees already in leaf. +Without our figs we should hardly be able to live here, +and it is thy transport that enables us to sell our grapes +and our figs and the wine that we make, for we make +wine, though there are some who think it would be better +if we made none.</p> + +<p>It was thou that urged Pilate to free these hills from +robbers, and hadst thou not done so we shouldn't have been +able to live here. But I'm thinking of so many things +that I have lost thought of him whom we seek. He +cannot have passed this way, unless, indeed, he descended +the terrace towards the bridge, and he could hardly have +done that. He has gone up the hills, and they will help +to put the past out of his mind. And, talking of Jesus' +early life in the cenoby, and of his knowledge of flocks +and suchlike, Hazael led Joseph through the long house +and up some steps on to a rubble path. The mountain +seems to be crumbling, Joseph said, and looked askance +at the quiet room built on the very verge of the abyss. +Where thou'lt sleep when thou honourest us with a visit, +Hazael said, which will be soon, we trust, he continued; +for we owe a great deal to thee, as I have already explained, +and now thou com'st with a last gift—our shepherd.</p> + +<p>On these words they passed under an overhanging rock +which Joseph said would fall one day. One day, replied +the Essene, all the world will fall, and I wish we were as +safe from men as we are from this rock. Part of the bridge +over the brook is of wood and it can be raised. But the +ledge on which we live can be reached only from the hills +by this path, and it would be possible to raid us from this +side. Thou seest here a wall, a poor one, it is true; but +next year we hope to build a much stronger wall, some +twenty feet high and several feet in thickness, and then +we shall be secure against the robbers if they would return +to their caves. We have little or nothing to steal, but +wicked men take pleasure in despoiling even when there +is nothing to gain: our content would fill them with +displeasure, he said, as he sought the key.</p> + +<p>But on trying the door it was found to be unlocked, and +Joseph said: it will be no use building a wall twenty feet +high to secure yourself from robbers if you leave the door +unlocked. It was Jesus that left the door unlocked, +Hazael answered, he must have passed this way, we shall +find him on the hillside; and Joseph stood amazed at the +uprolling hills and their quick descents into stony valleys. +Beyond that barren hill there is some pasturage, Hazael +said; and in search of Jesus they climbed summit after +summit, hoping always to catch sight of him playing with +his dogs in the shadow of some rocks, but he was nowhere +to be seen, and Hazael could not think else than that he +had fallen in with Amos and yielded to the beguilement +of the hills, for he has known them, Hazael continued, +since I brought him here from Nazareth, a lad of fifteen +or sixteen years, not more. We shall do better to return +and wait for him. He will remember us presently. To +which Joseph answered, that since he was so near Jericho +he would like to go thither; a great pile of business +awaited his attention there, and he begged Hazael to tell +Jesus that he would return to bid him good-bye on his way +back to Jerusalem that evening, if it were possible to do so.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was as Hazael had guessed: the puppies had scampered +up the loose pathway leading to the hills; Jesus had let +them through the door, and had followed them up the +hills, saying to himself: they have got the scent of sheep.</p> + +<p>The stubborn, unruly ground lay before him just as he +remembered it, falling into hollows but rising upwards +always, with still a little grass between the stones, but +not enough to feed a flock, he remarked, as he wandered +on, watching the sunrise unfolding, and thinking that +Amos should be down by the Jordan, and would be there, +he said to himself, no doubt, were it not for the wild +beasts that have their lairs in the thickets. Whosoever +redeems the shepherd from the danger of lions, he added, +as he climbed up the last ascents, will be the great benefactor. +But the wolves perhaps kill more sheep than +lions, being more numerous. It was at this moment that +Brother Amos came into sight, and he walked so deep +in meditation that he might have passed Jesus without +seeing him if Jesus had not called aloud.</p> + +<p>Why, Jesus, it is thou, as I'm alive, come back to us at +last. Well, we've been expecting thee this long while. +And thou hast not come back too soon, as my poor flock +testifies. I'm ashamed of them; but thou'lt not speak too +harshly of my flock to Hazael, who thinks if he complains +enough he'll work me up into a good shepherd despite my +natural turn for an indoor life. But I'd not have thee +think that the flock perished through my fault, and see +in them a lazy shepherd lying always at length on the +hillside. I walk with them in search of pasture from +daylight till dark, wearing my feet away, but to no +purpose, as any man can see though he never laid eyes +on a sheep before. But it was thou, Brother, that recommended +me for a shepherd, and I can think of naught +but my love of wandering with thee on the hills, and +listening to thee prating of rams and ewes, that put it +into my head that I was a shepherd by nature and thy +successor.</p> + +<p>Thou wast brought up to the flock from thy boyhood, +and a ram's head has more interest for thee than a verse +of Scripture; thy steady, easy gait was always the finest +known on these hills for leading a flock; but my feet +pain me after a dozen miles, and a shepherd with corny +feet is like a bird with a torn wing. Thou understandest +the hardship of a shepherd, and that one isn't a shepherd +for willing it; and I rely on thee, Brother, to take my +part and to speak up for me when Hazael puts questions +to thee. So thou wouldst be freed from the care of the +flock? Jesus said. My only wish, he answered. But +thou'lt make it clear to Hazael that it was for lack of a +good ram the flock fell away. I gave thee over a young +ram with the flock, one of the finest on these hills, Jesus +said. Thou didst; and he seemed like coming into such +a fine beast, Amos answered, that we hadn't the heart +to turn him among the ewes the first year but bred from +the old fellow. An old ram is a waste, Jesus replied, +and he would have said more if Amos had not begun to +relate the death of the fine young beast that Jesus had +bred for the continuance of the flock. We owe the loss of +him, he said, to a ewe that no shepherd would look twice at, +one of the ugliest in the flock, she seemed to me to be +and to everybody that laid his eyes on her, and she ought +to have been put out of the flock, but though uninviting +to our eyes she was longed for by another ram, and so +ardently that he could not abide his own ewes and became +as a wild sheep on the hills, always on the prowl about my +flock, seeking his favourite, and she casting her head back +at him nothing loath.</p> + +<p>It would have been better if I had turned the evil ewe +out of the flock, making him a present of her, but I kept +on foiling him; and my own ram, taking rage against this +wild one, challenged him, and one day, seeing me asleep +on the hillside, the wild ram came down and with a great +bleat summoned mine to battle. It seemed to me that +heaven was raining thunderbolts, so loud was the noise +of their charging; and looking out of my dreams I saw the +two rams backing away from each other, making ready for +another onset. My ram's skull was the softer, he being a +youngling, it had been already shaken in several charges, +and it was broken in this last one, a terrible one it was, I +can still hear them, they are still at it in my mind—the +ewes of both flocks gathered on different sides, spectators.</p> + +<p>But where were thy dogs all this while? Jesus inquired. +My dogs! If I'd had a Thracian he never would have +suffered that the sheep killed each other. A Thracian +would have awakened me. My dogs are of the soft Syrian +breed given to growling and no more. The wild ram might +have become tame again, and would doubtless have stayed +with me as long as I had the ewe; but he might have +refused to serve any but she. No man can say how it +would have ended if I had not killed him in my anger. +So thou wast left, Jesus remarked, without a serviceable +ram. With naught, Amos sighed, but the old one, and he +was that weary of jumping that he began to think more +of his fodder than ewes. Without money one can't get a +well-bred ram, as I often said to Hazael, but he answered +me always that he had no money to give me, and that I +must do as well as I could with the ram I had.... He +is gone now, but before he died he ruined my flock.</p> + +<p>It is true that the shepherd's labour is wasted without a +good ram, Jesus repeated. Thou speakest but the truth, +Amos replied; and knowing the truth, forget not to speak +well of me to Hazael, as a shepherd, finding reason that +will satisfy him for the dwindling of the flock that henceforth +will be in thy charge. Jesus said that he was +willing to resume his charge, but did not know if Hazael +and the brethren would receive him back into the order +after his long absence. Amos seemed to think that of +that there could be no doubt. All will be glad to have +thee back ... thou'rt too useful for them to slight thee, +he cried back, and Jesus returned to the cenoby dreaming +of some grand strain that would restore the supremacy +of the flock.</p> + +<p>As he passed down the gallery Hazael, who was sitting +on the balcony, cried to him; Joseph, he said, waited an +hour and has gone; he had business to transact in Jericho. +But, Jesus, what ails thee? It seems strange, Jesus +answered, he should have gone away like this. But have +I not told thee, Jesus, that he will return this evening to +wish thee good-bye. But he may not be able to return +this evening, Jesus replied. That is so, Hazael rejoined. +He said that he might have to return to Jerusalem at +once, but he will not fail to ride out to meet thee in a +few days. But he will not find me on the hills, no tryst +has been made, Jesus said, as he turned away; and guessing +his intention to be to leave at once for Jericho, Hazael +spoke of Joseph's business in Jericho, and how displeased +he might be to meet Jesus in the middle of his business +and amongst strangers. The Essenes are not well looked +upon in Jerusalem, he said. We do not send fat rams to +the Temple. Fat rams, Jesus repeated. Amos has been +telling me that what lacks is a ram, and the community +had not enough money to buy one. That is true, Hazael +said. Rams are hard to get even for a great deal of money. +Joseph might lend us the money, he is rich. He will do +that, Jesus answered, and be glad to do it. But a ram +must be found, and if thou'lt give me all the money thou +hast I will go in search of one. Joseph will remit to thee +the money I have taken from thee when he returns. It +will be a surprise for him to find in the flock a great fine +ram of the breed that I remember to have seen on the +western hills. I'll start at daybreak. Thou shalt have +our shekels, Hazael said; they are few, but the Lord be +with thee and his luck.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXVI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>His was the long, steady gait of the shepherd, and he +had not proceeded far into the hills before he was looking +round acknowledging them, one after the other; they +were his friends, and his sheep's friends, having given +them pasturage for many a year; and the oak wood's +shade had been friendly beforetimes to himself and his +sheep. And he was going to rest in its shade once more. +At noon he would be there, glad of some water; for +though the day was still young the sun was warm, +the sky told him that before noon his tongue would be +cleaving to the sides of his mouth; a fair prediction this +was, for long before the oak wood came into sight he had +begun to think of the well at the end of the wood, and +the quality of the water he would find in it, remembering +that it used to hold good water, but the shepherds often +forgot to replace the stopper and the water got fouled.</p> + +<p>As he walked his comrades of old time kept rising up in +his memory one by one; their faces, even their hands and +feet, and the stories they told of their dogs, their fights +with the wild beasts, and the losses they suffered from +wolves and lions in the jungles along the Jordan. In old +times these topics were the substance of his life, and he +wished to hear the shepherds' rough voices again, to look +into their eyes, to talk sheep with them, to plunge his hands +once more into the greasy fleeces, yes, and to vent his +knowledge, so that if he should happen to come upon new +men they would see that he, Jesus, had been at the job +before.</p> + +<p>Now the day seems like keeping up, he said; but there +was a certain fear in his heart that the valleys would be +close and hot in the afternoon and the hill-tops uninviting. +But his humour was not for fault-finding; and with the +ram in view always—not a long-legged brute with a face +like a ewe upon him, but a broad, compact animal with a +fine woolly head—he stepped out gaily, climbing hill after +hill, enjoying his walk and interested in his remembrance +of certain rams he had once seen near Cæsarea, and in his +hope of possessing himself of one of these. With money +enough upon me to buy one, he kept saying to himself, +I shouldn't come back empty-handed. But, O Lord, the +the day is hot, he cried at the end of the fourth hour. +But yonder is the oak wood; and he stopped to think out +the whereabouts of the well. A moment after he caught +sight of a shepherd: who is, no doubt, by the well, he +said. He is, and trying to lift out the stopper; and the +shepherd, catching sight of Jesus, called him to come +to his help, saying that it would need their united +strength to get it out. We're moving it, the shepherd +cried after a bit. We are, Jesus replied. How is the +water? Fair enough if thy thirst be fierce, the shepherd +replied. There is better about a mile from here, but I +see thou'rt thirsty.</p> + +<p>As soon as the men had quenched their thirst, the sheep +came forward, each waiting his turn, as is their wont; and +when the flock was watered it sought the shade of a great +oak, and the twain, sitting under the burgeoning branches, +began to talk. It was agreed between them that it +would not do to advise anybody to choose shepherding +as a trade at present, for things seemed to be going more +than ever against the shepherd; the wild animals in the +thickets along the Jordan had increased, and the robbers, +though many had been crucified, were becoming numerous +again; these did not hesitate to take a ewe or wether +away with them, paying little for it, or not paying at all. +But art thou a shepherd? Jesus answered that he had +been a shepherd—an erstwhile Essene, he said; one that +has returned to the brethren. The Essenes are good to the +poor, the shepherd said, and glad to hear he was talking +to a mate, he continued his complaint, to which Jesus +gave heed, knowing well that it would not be long before +they would be speaking of the breed of sheep best suited +to the hills; the which came to pass, for, like Jesus, +he lacked a good ram, and for the want of one, he said, +his flock had declined. The better the breed, he continued, +the more often it required renewing, and his +master would not pay money for new blood, so he was +thinking of leaving him; and to justify his intention +he pointed out the ram to Jesus that was to serve the +flock that autumn, asking him how a shepherd could earn +with such a one the few lambs that he receives in payment +if the flock increase under his care. He's four +years old if he's a day, Jesus muttered. He is that, the +shepherd answered; yet master told me yesterday he must +serve another season, for he won't put his hand in his +pocket, rams being so dear; but nothing, say I, is dearer +than an old ram. I'm with thee in that, Jesus answered; +and my plight is the same as thine. I'm searching for a +ram, and have a friend who would pay a great sum of money +for one if one of the style I am looking for can be found.</p> + +<p>Well, luck will be with thee, but I know no ram on +these hills that I'd pay money for, the shepherd +answered, none we see is better than yon beast, and he +is what thou seest him to be, a long-backed, long-legged, +ugly ram that would be pretty tough under the tooth, and +whose fleece a shepherd would find thin in winter-time.</p> + +<p>But there were once fine sheep on these hills, Jesus +answered, and I remember a ram—— Ay, mate, thou +mayest well remember one, and I think I know the +shepherd that thou'rt thinking of, but he that owns the +breed will not sell a ram for the great sums of money that +have been offered to him, for his pride is to keep the +breed to himself. We've tried to buy, and been watching +this long while for a lucky chance to drive one away, for a +man that has more than he needs and will not sell aught +thereof calls the thief down into his house, as it were, +creating the thief out of an honest man, for which he deserves +to be punished. But the rich are never punished and +this man's shepherds are wary, and his dogs are fierce, and +none has succeeded yet in getting a sample of the breed.</p> + +<p>But where may this man be found? Jesus asked, and +the shepherd mentioned a village high up on the +mountains over against the sea. But go not thither, for +twenty miles is a long walk if the end of it be but jeers and +a scoffing. A scoffing! Jesus returned. Ay, and a fine one +in thine ears; and a fine thirst upon thee, the shepherd +continued, and turning to the oak-tree he began to cut +branches to feed his goats. Twenty miles uphill in front +of me, Jesus meditated, with jeers and scoffings at the +end of the journey, of which I have had plenty; and he +began to walk quickly and to look round the hills in +search of pasture for a flock, for these hills were but +faintly known to him. It isn't reasonable that a man will +not part with a ram for a great sum of money, he said, +and though he may not sell the lamb to his neighbours, +whom he knows for rascals, he may sell to the Essenes, +whose report is good. And he continued his way, stopping +very often to think how he might find a bypath that +would save him a climb; for the foot-hills running down +from west to east, off the main range, formed a sort of +gigantic ridge and furrow broken here and there, and +whenever he met a shepherd he asked him to put him in +the way of a bypath; and with a word of counsel from +a shepherd and some remembrance he discovered many +passes; but despite these easy ways the journey began +to seem very long, so long that it often seemed as if he +would never arrive at the village he was seeking. He +told me I'd find it on the last ridge looking seaward. +He said I couldn't miss it; and shading his eyes with +his hand, Jesus caught sight of some roofs that he had not +seen before. Maybe the roofs, he said, of the village in +which I shall find my ram, and maybe he who will sell +me the ram sits under that sycamore. If such be my +fortune he will rise to meet me, Jesus continued, and he +strove against the faintness coming over him. Is there +a fountain? he asked. By that arch the fountain flows, +drink thy fill, wayfarer. His sight being darkened he +could not see the arch but stumbled against it and stood +there, his face white and drawn, his hand to his side, till, +unable to bear up any longer, he fell.</p> + +<p>Somebody came to him with water, and after drinking +a little he revived, and said he could walk alone, but +as soon as they loosed him he fell again, and when +lifted from the ground a second time he asked for the inn, +saying he had come a long way. Whereupon a man said, +thou shalt rest in my house; I guess thee to be a shepherd, +though thy garb isn't altogether a shepherd's. But my +house is open to him who needs food and shelter. Lean +on my arm.</p> + +<p>Let me untie thy sandals, were the next words Jesus +heard, and when his feet were bathed and he had partaken +of food and drink and was rested, the villager, +whom Jesus guessed to be a shepherd, began to ask him +about the length of the journey from Jericho to Cæsarea: +we're three hours from Cæsarea, he said; thou must have +been walking many hours. Many hours indeed, Jesus +answered. I've come from the Brook Kerith, which is five +miles from Jericho. From the Brook Kerith? the villager +repeated. A shepherd I guessed thee to be. And a +fair guess, Jesus answered. A shepherd I am and in +search of a ram of good breeding, sent on hither by a +shepherd. He did but make sport of thee, the villager +answered, for it is I that own the breed that all men +would have. So a shepherd sent thee hither to buy a ram +from me? No, Jesus replied, he said thou wouldst not sell. +Then he was an honester shepherd than I thought for: he +would have saved thee a vain journey, and it would have +been well hadst thou listened to his counsel, for I will not +part with the breed; and my hope is that my son will not +be tempted to part with the breed, for it is through our +sheep that we have made our riches, such small riches +as we possess, he added, lest he should appear too rich in +the eyes of a stranger. If thou'lt not sell I must continue +my journey farther, Jesus answered. In quest of a ram? +the shepherd said. But thou'lt not find any but long-backed +brutes tucked up in the belly that offend the eye +and are worse by far than a hole in the pocket. With +such rams the hills abound. But get thee the best, +though the best may be bad, for every man must work +according to his tools.</p> + +<p>If thou asked me for anything but my breed of sheep +I would have given it, for thy face and thy speech please +me, but as well ask me for my wife or my daughter +as for my rams. Be it so, Jesus answered, and he rose to +continue his way, but his host said that having taken meat +and drink in his house he must sleep in it too, and Jesus, +being tired, accepted the bed offered to him. He +could not have fared farther; there was no inn nor public +guest-room, and in the morning his host might be in the +humour to part with a ram for a great sum of money. But +the morning found his host in the same humour regarding +his breed of sheep—determined to keep it; but in all other +things willing to serve his guest. Jesus bade him good-bye, +sorry he could not persuade him but liking him all +the same.</p> + +<p>In two hours he was near the cultivated lands of +Cæsarea, and it seemed to him that his best chance +of getting news of a ram would be to turn westward, +and finding bed and board in every village, he travelled +far and wide in search of the fine rams that he had once +caught sight of in those parts. But the rams of yore +seemed to have disappeared altogether from the country: +thou mayest journey to Cæsarea and back again, but +thou'lt not find anything better than that I offer thee +one man said to Jesus, whereupon Jesus turned his back +upon Cæsarea and began the return journey sad and +humble, but with hope still a-flutter in his heart, for +he continued to inquire after rams all the way till he +came one bright morning to the village in which lived +the owner of the great breed of sheep that he coveted, +honourably coveted, he muttered to himself, but coveted +heartily.</p> + +<p>The sun was well up at the time, and Jesus had come by +the road leading up from the coast. He had passed over +the first ridge, and had begun to think that he must be +near the village in which the man lived who owned the +great breed of sheep when his thoughts were interrupted +by a lamb bleating piteously, and, looking round, he saw +one running hither and thither, seeking his dam. Now +the lamb seeming to him a fine one, he was moved to +turn back to the village to tell the man he had lodged +with that a lamb of his breed had lost the ewe. Thou +sayest well, the man answered, and that lamb will seek +vainly, for the ewe hurt her hoof, and we kept her in the +house so that she might be safer than with my shepherd +out on the hills, and the luck we have had is that a +panther broke into our garden last night. We thought +he had killed the lamb as well, but he only took the ewe, +and the lamb thou bringest me tidings of will be dead +before evening. My thanks to thee, shepherd, for thy +pains. But, said Jesus, thou'lt sell me the lamb that runs +bleating after ewe, on the chance that I shall rear him? +Whereat the villager smiled and said: it seems hard to +take thy money for naught, for thou hast a pleasant face; +but who knows what luck may be with thee. For a +shekel thou shalt have the lamb. Jesus paid the shekel, +and his eyes falling upon a bush in whose stems he knew +he should find plenty of sap, he cut some six or seven +inches off, and, having forced out the sap, showed it to +the villager, and asked him for a rag to tie round the +end of it. I hardly know yet what purpose thou'lt +put this stem to, the shepherd said, but he gave Jesus +the rag he asked for, and Jesus answered: I've a good +supply of ewe's milk drawn from the udder scarce an hour +ago. Thou hast ewe's milk in thy bottle! the villager +said. Then it may be I shall lose my breed through +thoughtlessness. And it was with a grave face that he +watched Jesus tie a rag around the hollow stem.</p> + +<p>He put the stem into the lamb's jaws and poured +milk down it, feeding the lamb as well as the ewe could +have done. It may be I shall get him home alive, Jesus +muttered to himself. Thou'lt do it, if luck be with thee, +and if thou canst rear him my breed has passed from me. +Thou'lt be rewarded for taking my shekel, Jesus answered. +A fine lamb for a month, the villager remarked. One +that will soon begin to weigh heavy in my bosom, Jesus +answered; a true prophecy, for after a few miles Jesus +was glad to let him run by his side; and knowing now no +other mother but Jesus, he trotted after him as he might +after the ewe: divining perhaps, Jesus said to himself, +the leathern bottle at my girdle.</p> + +<p>But very soon Jesus had to carry him again, and, despite +his weight, they were at noon by the well at the end of +the oak wood. Lamb, we'll sleep awhile together in a +pleasant hollow at the edge of the wood. Lay thyself +down and doze. The lamb was obedient, but before long +he awoke Jesus with his bleating. He wants some milk, +he said, and undid the leather girdle and placed the +feeding-pipe into the lamb's mouth. But before giving +him milk he was moved to taste it: for if the milk be +sour—— The milk has soured, he said, and the poor +bleating thing will die in the wood, his bleatings growing +fainter and fainter. He'll look into my face, wondering +why I do not give him the bottle from which he took +such a good feed only a few hours ago; and while Jesus +was thinking these things the lamb began to bleat for his +milk, and as Jesus did not give it to him he began to run +round in search of the ewe, and Jesus let him run, hoping +that a wild beast would seize and carry him away and +with his fangs end the lamb's sufferings quicker than +hunger could.</p> + +<p>But no wolf or panther was in the thicket, and the lamb +returned to him: brought back, he said, by a memory of +the bottle. But, my poor wee lamb, there is no sweet +milk in my bottle, only sour, which would pain thee. +Think no more of life, but lie down and die: we shall all +do the same some day.... Thy life has been shorter +than mine, and perhaps better for that. No, I've no milk +for thee and cannot bear to look in thy face: run away +again in search of the ewe and find instead the panther +that took her. Poor little lamb, dying for milk in this +wild place. So thou hast returned to me, having found +neither ewe nor panther. Go, and seek a wolf, he will be +a better friend to thee than I.</p> + +<p>He had seen many lambs die and did not understand +why he should feel more pain at this lamb's death than +another's. But it was so; and now all his hopes and fears +centred in this one thing that Fate had confided to his +bosom. A little milk would save it, but he had no milk. +He might pick him up and run, calling to the shepherds, +but none would hear. I cannot listen to his bleating any +longer, he said, and tried to escape from the lamb, but he +was followed round the trees, and just as he was about to +climb into one out of the lamb's sight his nostrils caught +the scent of fleeces coming up the hillside. A shepherd is +leading his flock to the well-head, he said, so, wee lamb, +thou wilt not die to-day, and, addressing himself to the +shepherd, he said: I've got a lamb of the right breed, but +have no milk to give him. Canst thou pay for it? the +shepherd asked; and Jesus said, I can, and the shepherd +called a ewe and the lamb was fed.</p> + +<p>Well, luck is in thy way, the shepherd said, for I was +on my way to another well, and cannot tell what came +into my mind and turned me from it and brought me up +here. Every life, Jesus said, is in the hands of God, and +it was not his will to let this lamb die. Dost believe, +the shepherd answered, that all is ordered so? And Jesus +answered him: thou'lt fill my bottle with milk? The +shepherd said: I will; but thou hast still a long way before +the lamb can be fed again. Hide thy bottle under a +cool stone in yon forest and in the evening the milk will +still be sweet and thou canst feed thy lamb again and +continue thy journey by starlight. But these hills are not +my hills; mine are yonder, Jesus said, and at night all +shapes are different. No matter, the way is simple from +this well, the shepherd answered, and he gave Jesus such +directions as he could follow during the night. Now mind +thee, he continued, look round for a shepherd at daybreak. +He'll give thee fresh milk for thy lamb and by +to-morrow evening thou'lt be by the Brook Kerith. And +this advice appearing good to Jesus, he turned into the +shade of the trees with his lamb, and both slept together +side by side till the moon showed like a ghost in the +branches of the trees.</p> + +<p>It was time then to feed the lamb, and the milk being +sweet in the bottle, the lamb drank it greedily; and when +he had drunk enough Jesus was tempted to drink what +the lamb could not drink, for he was thirsty after eating +his bread, but he went to the well and took a little water +instead, and lay down, telling the lamb that he might sleep +but a little while, for they must be ready at midnight to +travel again. If we meet a shepherd thou livest, if he +fail us thou diest. Jesus said, and seeing a shepherd +leaving a cavern at dawn with his flock, Jesus called to +him and bought milk from him and once more the twain +continued their journey, the lamb becoming so dependent +on the shepherd that Jesus took pleasure sometimes in +hiding himself behind a rock, and as soon as the lamb +missed him he would run to and fro bleating in great +alarm till he found Jesus; and when he came upon him +he thrust his nozzle into Jesus' hand.</p> + +<p>It was then more than at any time he delighted in +being carried. No, my good lamb, I've carried thee far +and now can barely carry myself to the bridge; and the +lamb had to follow to the bridge, and they began to ascend +the terraces together, but the steep ascents very soon +began to tire him, and the lamb lay down and bleated for +Jesus to take him up in his arms, which he did, but, overcome +with the weariness of a long journey, he had to lay him +down after a few paces. Yet he would not surrender the +lamb to the brethren who came and offered to carry him, +saying: I have carried him so far and will carry him to +the end, but ye must let me rest on your arms. Meanwhile, +fetch me a little milk, for the lamb has had all +that I could buy from the shepherds on the hills, and do +not ask how I became possessed of this lamb, for I am too +tired to tell the story. So did he speak, holding the lamb +to his bosom; and leaning on the arm of one of the +brethren while another pushed from behind, and in this +exhausted state he reached the cenoby.</p> + +<p>Now I must feed my lamb; go to Brother Amos and ask +him to bring some ewe's milk at once. But the brethren +were loath to go, saying: Brother Amos is feeding his +sheep far from here, but will return in the evening. But +the lamb must be fed every three or four hours, Jesus +answered, and do ye go at once to Amos and tell him to +bring the milk at once. He must not be kept waiting +for his milk. Now look at him and say if any of ye have +seen a finer lamb. I can speak no more, but will sleep +a little as soon as I have placed him in a basket. But +wake me up as soon the milk comes, for I will trust none +to feed him but myself, and he dropped off to sleep almost +on these words.</p> + +<p>The Essenes, understanding that the lamb had caused +Jesus a long search, went after Amos as they were bidden, +and finding him not as far as they thought for with his +flock, they related to him Jesus' request that he should +bring some ewe's milk at once, which he did, and seeing +Jesus in deep sleep he said: it is a pity to waken him, for +I know how to feed a lamb as well as he does. May +I not? But the Essenes said: he'll be vexed indeed if +the lamb be fed by any but him. So be it, Amos answered; +and they roused Jesus with difficulty, for his sleep was +deep, and when he opened his eyes he knew not where he +was for some time. At last memory returned to him, and, +struggling from the couch, he said: I must feed my lamb. +The milk is fresh from the ewe? he asked. Yes, Jesus, +Amos answered, I have just drawn it from the udder. As +soon as he is old enough to run with the flock I'll bring +him, Jesus said, and thou'lt be free to return to the +Scriptures.</p> + +<p>And having asked that he might be awaked in four +hours his eyes closed, which is not to be wondered +at, he having slept hardly at all for four days. Does he +put his lamb before the Scriptures? the Essenes asked +each other, and they withdrew, shaking their heads.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXVII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Jesus fell back into sleep as soon as the lamb was fed, +and it was in this second sleep of more than six hours that +he regained his natural strength. Has Joseph returned? +he asked on awakening, and the brother nearest him +answered that he had not; whereupon Jesus asked that +Hazael should come to him, and he said to him: Hazael, +Joseph told thee that as soon as his business was transacted +in Jericho he would return hither, and if that were +not possible the delay would not be long. But four days +have passed and we haven't seen him nor have we news of +him. Now how is this? He couldn't have heard in Jericho +nor in Jerusalem of my faring among the hills of Cæsarea +in search of a lamb. It was only on those hills that I +might find a lamb that would recover for us the strength +that has gone out of the flock. And I would that Joseph +were here to see him that I've brought back. My heart +misgives me. Thou'lt feed him in my absence, he said to +one of the brethren, and I'll go down on to the terraces +and wander across the bridge, for on the hills over yonder +I may catch sight of Joseph coming to meet me. Can +none tell me if he will come from Jericho or Jerusalem? +A brother cried that he would feed the lamb as Jesus +directed, and the brethren at work among the fig-trees +spoke to each other of the grief visible on Jesus' face as +he passed them and questioned each other and sought +a reason for it. Has the lamb fallen sick? one asked, +and on that thought they ran up the terraces to inquire +for the lamb, who, that day, had been given the name +of Cæsar. The lamb sleeps in peace, Hazael answered, +but Jesus, his saviour, has gone out in great disorder +of mind to get tidings of Joseph, the great trader +in figs and dates. He promised to return the same +evening after transacting his business in Jericho, Hazael +continued. Four days have passed away without news +of him; some misfortune may have befallen him. May +have! Hazael repeated under his breath as he walked +away. <i>Has</i> befallen him without doubt.</p> + +<p>The brethren waited for Jesus to return, but he did not +return to them; and at nightfall a watch was set at the +bridge head, and the same was done for many succeeding +days, till the story reached the Brook Kerith that Joseph +had been killed in the streets of Jerusalem by order of +the Zealots. Priests never forget to revenge themselves +on those that do not submit to their ideas and exactions, +Hazael muttered, thereby stirring the curiosity of the +brethren; but he could not tell them more, Joseph's +relation having been insufficient to make plain the truth +that Joseph, as Jesus' friend, must have earned the High +Priest's displeasure. A very little suspicion, he said to +himself, is enough to bring about the death of a man in +our days; and the priests were always jealous and afraid +of prophets. Is then our Jesus a prophet? Saddoc asked, +and Manahem's eyes were full of questions. I can tell ye +no more than I've said already, Hazael answered, and the +brethren forgot their curiosity, for their hearts were +stirred with pity. A great grief it surely will be, they +said to one another, when Jesus returns and hears that +his friend is dead, and they asked which among them +should be the one to tell him of this great loss that had +befallen him. Not I, said one, nor I, another answered, +and as they passed into their cells it was the opinion of +all that Hazael should tell him.</p> + +<p>Next morning when they came forth from their cells, +after giving thanks for the returning light, they stood on +the hillside, hoping that every minute would bring them +sight of Jesus returning. At last a shepherd came through +the dusk, but it was not Jesus but Amos coming towards +them, and the news he brought was that he had met Jesus +on the hills wandering like one of disordered mind. He +has taken my sheep from me and has lost them, I fear. But +why, the brethren cried, didst thou leave thy sheep to +him? To which Amos could make no straightforward +answer: all he knew was that he had met Jesus and been +greatly frightened by his speech and his show of gestures +and demeanour. All the same, he said, I felt I had better +let him have the sheep. And the brethren said: ruin +has befallen us this time. We know the reason of the +disordered mind that thou tellest of. Joseph was slain by +the Zealots in Jerusalem by order of the priests, and the +tidings must have come to Jesus as he wandered out on +to the hills seeking his friend, and it was they that robbed +him of his mind. We are ruined, the brethren cried, for +our sheep are with him, and he without thought for +anything but his grief. Amos could not answer them +nay, for their words seemed to him but the truth, and +they all returned to the cenoby to mourn for Jesus and +themselves till Jesus was brought back to them by some +shepherds who found him wandering, giving no heed +to the few sheep that followed him; only a few had +escaped the wolves, and the brethren charged Amos with +the remnant, muttering among themselves: his heart is +broken. He is without knowledge of us or the world +around him. But why does he turn aside from our +dwelling preferring to lie with his dogs under the rocks? +It is for that our dwelling reminds him of Joseph. It +was here he saw him last, Manahem replied. It will be +well to leave him to wander at will, giving him food if +his grief allows him to come for it; any restraint would +estrange him from us, nor may we watch him, for when +the mind is away man is but animal; and animals do not +like watchful eyes. We may only watch over him lest he +do himself bodily harm, Eleazar said, There is no harm, +Manahem said, he can do himself, but to walk over the +cliffs in a dream and so end his misery. We would not +that the crows and vultures fed on Jesus, Caleb answered. +We must watch lest he fall into the dream of his grief.... +But he lives in one. Behold him now. He sees not the +cliffs over yonder nor the cliffs beneath. Nor does he +hear the brook murmur under the cliffs. Grief is a +wonderful thing, Manahem said, it overpowers a man +more than anything else; it is more powerful even than +the love of God, but it wears away; and in this it is unlike +the love of God, which doesn't change, and many of us +have come here so that we may love God the better +without interruptions. It is strange, Eleazar said, that +one who loves God as truly as Jesus, should abandon +himself to grief. Eleazar's words caused the Essenes to +drop into reveries and dreams, and when they spoke out of +these their words were: his grief is more like despair. And +in speaking these words they were nearer the truth than they +suspected, for though Jesus grieved and truly for Joseph, +there was in his heart something more than mortal grief.</p> + +<p>It often seemed to him as he sat gazing across the +abyss that his temerity in proclaiming himself the +Messiah was punished enough by crucifixion: the taking +from him of the one thing that crucifixion had left behind +often put the thought into his mind that God held +him accursed; and in his despair he lost faith in death, +believing he would be held accursed for all eternity. He +forgot to take food and drink; he fed upon his grief and +would have faded out of life if Cæsar had not conceived a +dislike to his keeper and run bleating among the rocks +till he came upon Jesus whom he recognised at once and +refused to leave, thrusting a nozzle into Jesus' hand and +lying down by his side. Nor could the brethren beguile +the lamb from Jesus with milk, and Jesus taking pity on +the faithful animal said: give me the feeding bottle, I +will feed him. Whereupon Cæsar began to bleat, and so +cheerfully, that all conceived a new affection for him, but +he had none for anybody but Jesus, whom he followed +about the cliffs as a dog might, lying down at his side.</p> + +<p>The twain strayed together whither there was scarce +foothold for either, and the brethren said as they watched +them: if Cæsar were to miss his footing and fall over the +edge, the last link would be broken and Jesus would go +over after him. But sheep and goats never miss their footing, +a brother answered. It is fortunate, another replied, +that Cæsar should have attached himself to Jesus. He +seems to say, I get happier and happier every day, and his +disposition will react on Jesus and may win him out of his +melancholy.</p> + +<p>And it seemed as if the brother had guessed rightly, for +though Jesus' face showed no interest in the brethren, nor +in the cenoby, he seemed to enjoy the sympathy of the +dumb animal. He liked to call to Cæsar and to lay his +hand upon Cæsar's head, and to look into his eyes, and +in those moments of sympathy the brethren said: he +forgets his grief. But Cæsar is coming into ramhood, +Saddoc answered, and will have to go away with the flock. +There were brethren who cried out against this: let the +flock perish rather than Jesus should be deprived of Cæsar. +Wouldst have him remain when he is a great ram? +Manahem asked, and the others answered: yes, for Jesus +takes no thought for anything but Cæsar, and the brethren +conferred together, and spent much thought in trying to +discover a remedy other than Cæsar for Jesus' grief.</p> + +<p>But one day Jesus said to the brethren: Cæsar is +coming into ramhood, and I must take him away to the +hills, he must come with me and join the ewes. Art thou +going to be our shepherd again? said they. If ye will +entrust the flock to me. My thoughts will never wander +from it again. Jesus spoke the words significantly, and +many of the brethren believed that he would prove +himself to be the great shepherd that he was of yore, but +others said: his grief will break out upon him on the +hills; but these counsels were overruled by Manahem and +Saddoc. Jesus, Saddoc said, never smiles and his words are +few, but he is himself again, and the best shepherd that +ever walked these hills is worse than he, so it is said. He +lost a few sheep, Manahem said, in the first days of his +great grief, but his mind is altogether now on the encouragement +of the flock and Amos is wearied of it and would +return to the reading of the Scriptures. Thou speakest +well, Manahem, Saddoc returned, for it was in his mind as it +was in Manahem's that the sight of men and the sound of +men's voices were a torture to Jesus, and that he longed +for solitude and silence and the occupation of the flock.</p> + +<p>The cenoby will never be the same again without our pet, +some of the brethren cried, but others said: it must be so. +We'll go to see Cæsar's lambs, they cried, as he was being +led away. There will be no lambs by Cæsar this spring, +Jesus answered. He'll run with the ewes and that's about +all; for a ram is not fit for service till he is two years old. +Whereupon the distraction of Jesus' grief being removed +from the cenoby, the Essenes fell to talking again of the +great schism and what came of it. Are our brothers +happier in wedlock than we are in celibacy? was the +question they often put to each other on the balcony; +and a sudden meeting of thoughts set them comparing +the wives beyond Jordan with the ewes of the hills. +Which are the most fruitful? they asked themselves; and +it was averred that though twin lambs were of equal +worth, it might fall out in the strange destinies that +beset human life that one of human twins might be a +robber and the other a devout Essene.</p> + +<p>On a balcony overhanging an abyss some hundred feet +in depth, through which a brook sings a monotonous song, +men may dream a long while on the problem of destiny, +and on awaking from their different meditations it was +natural that they should speak about the difficulties the +brethren by the lake would experience when they set +themselves to discover women who would accept the rule +of life of the Essenes and for no enjoyment for themselves, +but that the order might not perish, and with it holiness +pass out of the world.</p> + +<p>Of what women will they possess themselves? a brother +often asked. Not Jewish women, who would prefer to +join themselves with Pharisees or Sadducees rather than +with Essenes, and the converts, the brother continued, +that might be made among the Gentile women from +Mesopotamia and Arabia could not be counted upon to +produce pious children, though the fathers that begot +the children might be themselves of great piety. These +words put the thought into another brother's mind, +that a woman is never faithful to one man, an abiding +doctrine among the Essenes: and the group of three, +Caleb, Eleazar and Benjamin, began to speak of the stirs +and quarrels that these converts would provoke in the +cenoby. For even amongst those who have renounced +women, there are always a few that retain a longing for +women in their heart, and the smouldering embers will +burst into flame at the sight of woman. Is not that so, +Benjamin? There is much truth in thy words, Caleb, +Benjamin answered, and I would know if they partition +off the women into an enclosure by themselves, and only +take them out at a time judged to be the fruitfullest, for +it is not lawful for us to experience pleasure, and as soon +as the women are with child, the brethren we have left +behind, I trust, withdraw from the company of their wives. +Unless, said Eleazar, all the rules of our order be abolished. +We did well to leave them, Caleb answered. And then, +posing his small fat hands on the parapet, he said: women +have ever been looked upon as man's pleasure, and our +pleasures are as wolves, and our virtues are as sheep, and +as soon as pleasure breaks into the fold the sheep are torn +and mangled. We're better here with our virtues than +they by the lake with their pleasures.</p> + +<p>Trouble has begun amongst them already, Eleazar said, +and Benjamin turned to ask him if he had gotten news of +the brethren by the lake; and he answered that yesterday +a shepherd told him that many brothers had left the +settlement. We did well, Caleb said, to cherish our +celibacy, and the price of living on this rock was not too +high a price for it. But tell us what thou hast heard, +Eleazar. Eleazar had heard that troubles were begun, +but he hoped children would bring peace to all. But all +women aren't fruitful, Caleb said, and Benjamin was vexed +with Eleazar because he hadn't asked how many women +were already quick. And they fell to talking scandal, +putting forward reasons why some of the brethren should +separate themselves from their wives.</p> + +<p>Perhaps we shall never know the why and the wherefore, +Eleazar said, it being against our rules to absent +ourselves without permission from the cenoby, and if +we were to break this rule, Hazael might refuse to +receive us again. We should wander on the hills seeking +grass and roots, for our oaths are that we take no +food from strangers. Yet I'd give much to hear how +our brethren, for they are our brethren, fare with their +wives.</p> + +<p>And when they met on the balcony, the elder members +of the community, Hazael, Mathias, Saddoc and Manahem, +like the younger members conferred together as to whether +any good could come to those that had taken wives to +themselves for their pleasure. Not for their pleasure, +Hazael said, but that holiness may not pass out of the +world for ever. But as holiness, Mathias was moved to +remark, is of the mind, it cannot be affected by any +custom we might impose upon our corporeal nature. +Whereupon a disputation began in which Manahem urged +upon Mathias that if he had made himself plain it would +seem that his belief was that holiness was not dependent +upon our acts; and if that be so, he asked, why +do we live on this ledge of rock? To which question +Mathias answered that the man whose mind is in order +need not fear that he will fall into sin, for sin is but a +disorder of the mind.</p> + +<p>A debate followed regarding the relation of the mind to +the body and of the body to the mind, and when all four +were wearied of the old discussion, Saddoc said: is it right +that we should concern ourselves with these things, asking +which of the brothers have taken wives, and how they +behave themselves to their wives? It seems to me that +Saddoc is right, these matters don't concern us who have +no wives and who never will have. But, said Manahem, +though this question has been decided so far as our bodies +are concerned, are we not justified in considering marriage +as philosophers may, no subject being alien to philosophy? +Is not that so, Mathias? No subject is alien to philosophy, +Mathias agreed, to which Saddoc replied: we could discuss +this matter with profit if we knew which of the brothers +had taken to himself a wife; but only rumours reach us +here; and the brethren looked across the chasm, their +thoughts crossing it easily and passing over the intervening +hills down into the plains and over Jordan. We +should no doubt be content, said Manahem, with our own +beliefs, and abide in the choice that we have made without +questioning it further, as Hazael has said. Yet it is hard +to keep thoughts of the brethren we have left out of our +minds. How are we, Hazael, to remain unmoved when +rumours touching on the lives of those we have left behind +reach us? Is it not merely natural that we should desire +to hear how our brethren fare in married life? Dost +think, Hazael, that those we left behind never ask each +other how we fare in our celibacy? Man is the same all +the world over inasmuch as he would like to hear he +has avoided the pitfall his brother has fallen into. It is +said, Manahem continued, that the elders yonder are +disturbed now as to whether they too should take wives, +though in the great disputation that we took part in, it +was decided that marriage should be left to the younger +and more fruitful. Wherefore, if it is said that trouble has +come, Hazael answered, we should be sorry for our weak +brethren, and if stories reach us, he continued, we should +receive them with modesty: we should not go out to seek +stories of the misfortunes of those who have not been as +wise as we, and of all we should not wish to go down +to Jordan to inquire out the truth of these stories; Caleb +and Benjamin ask betimes for leave to visit them. Eleazar, +too, has asked; but I have refused them always, knowing +well whither their curiosity would lead them. Lest, +Mathias interposed, they bring back the spirit and sense +of women with them.</p> + +<p>A flock of doves crossing over the chasm on quick wings +put an end to the discourse, and as no more stories reached +them who dwelt in the cavern above the Brook Kerith +regarding the behaviour of the wives to their husbands +and of the husbands towards their wives, the thoughts +of the younger brethren reverted to Cæsar, and to the +admiration of the ewes for his beauty. A year later, +when Jesus came down from the hills, he was met with +cries of: how fares it with Cæsar? Does he tire on the +hills? When will the ewes begin to drop their lambs? A +buzz of talk began at once in the cenoby when the news +arrived that Cæsar's lambs were appearing, but the brethren +could not conceal their disappointment that they should +look like the lambs they had seen before. We expected +the finest lambs ever seen on these hills, they said, and +thou hast no more word to say in praise of them than that +they are good lambs. Jesus answered that in two months +he would be better able to judge Cæsar's lambs, and to +choose amongst them some two or three that would +continue the flock worthily. Which? the brethren asked, +but Jesus said a choice would be but guess-work at +present, none could pick out the making of a good ram +till past the second month. Caleb marked one which he +was sure would be chosen later, and Benjamin another, +and Eleazar another; but when the time came for Jesus +to choose, it was none of these that he chose, and on +hearing of their mistakes, the brethren were disappointed, +and thought no more of the flock, asking only casually +for Cæsar, and forgetting to mourn his decease at the +end of the fourth year; his successor coming to them +without romantic story, the brethren were from henceforth +satisfied to hear from time to time that the hills +were free from robbers; that the shepherds had banded +together in great wolf hunts; and that freed from their +natural enemies, the wolves and robbers, the flock had +increased in numbers beyond the memory of the oldest +shepherd on the hills.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXVIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The brethren waxed rich, and after their midday meal +they talked of the exceeding good fortune that had been +vouchsafed to them, dwelling on the matter so earnestly +that a scruple sometimes rose up in their hearts. Did we +do well to forgo all troubles? Do the selfish find favour +in God's sight? they were asking, when Caleb said: we +have visitors to-day, and looking across the chasm they +saw three men emerging from the shadow of the high +rock. They may be robbers, Benjamin cried, and we +would do well to tell the brethren working along the +terraces to pass the word down to him who stands by the +bridge-head that he is to raise the bridge and refuse to +lower it till the strangers speak to him of their intentions +and convince him that they are peaceful. That is well +said, Benjamin, Eleazar replied: Amos, who is standing by +the fig-tree yonder, will pass on the word. They cried +out to him and watched the warning being passed +from Essene to Essene till it reached the brother standing +by the bridge-head. He looked in the direction of the +strangers coming down the path, and then in haste +set himself to pull the ropes and press the levers +whereby the bridge was raised and lowered. Now they +are speaking across the brook to each other, Benjamin +said: and the group on the balcony saw the bridge +being let down for the strangers to cross over. It seems +to me, Benjamin continued, Bartholomew might have +spent more time inquiring out their intentions. But +we are many and they are few, Caleb answered, and the +Essenes on the balcony watched somewhat anxiously +Bartholomew conducting the strangers back and forth +through the terraces. Is not Bartholomew as trustworthy +as any amongst us? Eleazar asked. It isn't likely that he +would mistake robbers for pilgrims; and as if Bartholomew +divined the anxiety of those above him he called up the +rocks that the visitors he was bringing were Essenes from +the lake. Essenes from the lake! Caleb cried. Then we +shall learn, Eleazar replied, which is preferable, celibacy or +marriage. But we mustn't speak at once to them of such +matters. We must prepare food for them, which they will +require after their long journey. Our president will be +with you in a moment, Bartholomew said, addressing +Shallum, a tall thin man, whose long neck, sloping +shoulders and dark round eyes reminded his brethren +of an ungainly bird. His companions, Shaphan and +Eleakim, were of different appearances. Shaphan's +skull, smooth and glistening, rose, a great dome above a +crumpled face; he moped like a sick monkey, dashing tears +from his eyes continually, whereas Eleakim, a sprightly +little fellow with half-closed eyes like a pig, agreed +that Shallum should speak for them. Shallum began: we +are, as you have already heard, from the great cenoby at +the head of the lake and, therefore, I need not tell you the +reason why you are here and why the residue are yonder, +but will confine myself to the story of our flight from the +lake to the brook. Honourable President and Brethren, it +is known unto you that the division of our order was not +brought about by any other reason than a dispute on both +sides for the maintenance of the order. We know that, +Hazael answered, and attribute no sinfulness to the +brethren that differed from us. Our dream, Shallum +continued, was to perpetuate holiness in this world, and +our dream abides, for man is a reality only in his dreams; +his acts are but a grotesque of his dream.</p> + +<p>At these words the Essenes gathered close together, +and with brightening eyes listened, for they interpreted +these words to mean that the brethren by the lake had +fallen headlong into unseasonable pleasures, whereof they +were now reaping the fruit: no sweet one, if the fruit +might be judged by the countenances of their visitors. +As I have said, Shallum continued, it was with us as it has +been with men always—our acts became a mockery of our +dreams almost from the beginning, for when you left us +we gave out that we were willing to receive women who +would share our lives and with us perpetuate holiness. +We gave out that we were willing to view all who came +and consider their qualifications, and to take them as +wives if they should satisfy us, that they would obey our +rule and bear children; but the women that came in +response to our advertisement, though seemingly of pious +and honourable demeanour, were not satisfied with us. +Our rule is, as you brethren know well, to wear the same +smock till it be in rags, and never to ask for a new pair of +sandals till the last pieces of the old pair have left our +feet. We presented, therefore, no fair show before the +women who came to us, and when our rule was told to +them, they withdrew, dissatisfied with our appearances, +with the food we ate, and the hours we kept, and of all +with the rule that they should live apart from us, only +keeping company with us at such times when women are +believed to be most fruitful. Such was the first batch in +brief; the second batch (they came in batches) pleaded +that they could not be wives for us, it being that we were +held in little esteem by the Sadducees and the Pharisees, +and we were reproved by them for not sending animals +for sacrifice to the Temple, a thing that we must do if we +would have them live with us. But it being against our +rule to send animals to the Temple for sacrifice, we bade +them farewell and sent forth messengers into other lands, +inviting the Gentiles to come to us to receive instruction +in the Jewish religion, with promises to them that if our +rule of life was agreeable to them, and they were exact in +the appointments of all rites and ceremonies, we should +be willing to marry them after their time of probationship +was over. On this second advertisement, women came to +us from Arabia and Mesopotamia, and though we did not +approve of the fine garments they wore and the sweet +perfumes that trailed after them, we liked these things, as +all men do, with our senses; and our minds being filled +with thoughts of the children that would continue the +order of the Essenes, we spoke but little against the fine +linen that these women brought and the perfumes they +exhaled, whereby our ruin was consummated. Joazabdus, +our president, himself fell into the temptation of woman's +beauty and was led into sinful acquiescence of a display of +the images she had brought with her; for without a display +of them on either side of the bridal bed she would not +permit his embraces. She was of our religion in all else, +having abjured her gods and goddesses at every other +moment of the day and night; but licence of her body +she could not grant except under the eyes of Astarte, and +Joazabdus, being a weak man, allowed the images to +remain. As soon as the news of these images spread, we +went in deputation to our president to beg him to cast +out the images from our midst, but he answered us: but +one image remains—that of Astarte: none looks upon it +but she, and if I cast out the image that she reverences +she will go hence and with the fruit of my body within +her body, and a saint may be lost to us. But we answered +him that even as Jacob set up parti-coloured rods before +the conceiving ewes that they might bear parti-coloured +lambs, so to gaze in the marriage-bed upon the image of +Astarte would surely stamp upon the children that might +come the image of that demon. But he was not to be +moved, whereupon we withdrew, saying to one another: +we shall not move him out of his wickedness; and that +was why we went to his brother Daddeus and asked him +to accept the headship of the community in his brother's +place. And seeing that he was unwilling to set himself +against his brother, we said: our God comes before all +things, and here we have heathen goddesses in our midst; +and the end of it was that Cozby, that was the Chaldean +woman's name, put poison into Daddeus' food, thinking to +establish her rule thereby, but as soon as the death of +Daddeus became known many left the cenoby polluted in +their eyes by heathenism and murder.</p> + +<p>So it always falls out, Hazael cried, wine and women +have lost the world many saints. Wine deceives the minds +of those that drink it, and it exalts men above themselves, +and leads them into acts that in any other moment +they would shrink from, leaving them more stupid than +the animals. Nor is the temptation of women less +violent than that of wine. Women's beauty is even more +potent, for once a man perceives it he becomes as if blind +to all other things; his reason deserts him, he broods upon +it by day, and falls at last, as our brother has told us, +into unseasonable pleasures, like Solomon himself, about +whom many things are related, but not so far as I know +that he became so intoxicated with women's various beauty +that he found his pleasure at last in his own humiliation. +If Solomon did not, others have; for there is a story of a +king that allowed his love of a certain queen to take so great +a hold upon him that he asked her to come up the steps +of his throne to strike him on the face, to take his crown +from his head and set it upon her own. This was in his +old age, and it is in old age that men fall under the +unreasonable sway of women—he was once a wise man, +so we should refrain from blame, and pity our +brethren who have fallen headlong into the sway of +these Chaldean and Arabian women. I might say much +more on this subject, but words are useless, so deeply is +the passion for women ingrained in the human heart. +Proceed, therefore, Brother: we would hear the trouble +that women have brought on thee, Brother Eleakim. At +once all eyes were turned towards the little fellow +whose wandering odours put into everybody's mind +thoughts of the great price he must have paid in +bracelets and fine linen, but Eleakim told a different +story—that he was sought for himself alone, too much +so, for the Arabian woman that fell to his lot was +not content with the chaste and reasonable intercourse +suitable for the begetting of children, the reason for which +they had met, but would practise with him heathen rites, +and of a kind so terrible that one night he fled to his +president to ask for counsel. But the president, who was +absorbed in his own pleasures, drove him from his door, +saying that every man must settle such questions with his +wife. Hazael threw up his hands. Say no more, Brother +Eleakim, thou didst well to leave that cenoby. We +welcome thee, and having heard thee in brief we would +now hear Brother Shaphan. At once all eyes were turned +towards the short, thick, silent man, who had till now +ventured into no words; and as they looked upon him +their thoughts dwelt on the strange choice the curator +had made when he chose Brother Shaphan for a husband; +for though they were without knowledge of women, their +sense told them that Brother Shaphan would not be +pleasing to a woman. But Eleakim's story had prepared +them for every strange taste, and they waited eagerly for +Shaphan. But Shaphan had not spoken many words +when tears began to roll down his cheeks, and the +brethren of the Brook Kerith bethought themselves that +it might be a kindly act to avert their eyes from him till +he recovered his composure; but as his grief continued +they sought to comfort him, telling him that his troubles +were now ended. He would not, however, lift his face +from his hands at their entreaty, and his companions +said that the intervals between his tears since he was +married were never long. At these words Shaphan lifted +his face from his hands and dashed some tears from his +eyelids. He will tell us now, the brethren said to themselves, +but he only uttered a few incoherent words, and +his face sank back into his hands.</p> + +<p>And it was then that Jesus appeared at the end of the +domed gallery. Hazael signed to one of the brethren +to bring a chair to him, and when Jesus was seated +Hazael told him who the strangers were in these +words: great trouble has fallen upon our order, he +said, the wives the brethren have taken unto themselves +against my counsel have not obeyed their +husbands. Wilt tell our Brother Jesus the trouble that +has befallen those that stayed by the lake, Shallum? I +will, Shallum replied, for it will please him to hear my +story and it will be a satisfaction to me to tell the +quarrels that set my wife and me apart till at last I +was forced to send her back to her own people. My +story will be profitable to you, though you are without +wives, for to err is human. The brethren were at once all +ear for the new story, but Shallum was so prolix in his +telling of his misfortunes that the brethren begged him +to tell them again of the ranging of the gods and goddesses +on either side of the president's marriage-bed. He paid +no heed to them, however, but proceeded with his own story, +and so slow was his procedure that Hazael had to interrupt +him again. Shallum, he said, it is clear to me that our +shepherd has come with some important tidings to me, and +it will be kind of thee to forgo the rest of thy story for the +present at least, till I have conferred with our shepherd. +I should have been loath, Jesus interposed, to interrupt a +discourse which seems to be pleasing to you all and which +would be to me too if I had knowledge of the matters which +concern you, but the differences of men with their wives and +wives with their husbands are unknown to me, my life having +been spent on the hills with rams and ewes. As he said these +words a smile came into his eyes. The first smile I have +seen on his face for many years, Hazael said to himself, and +Jesus continued: I have left my flock in charge of my +serving boy, for I have come to tell the president that he +must not be disappointed if many sheep are lost on the +hills this year; robbers having hidden themselves again +in the caves and fortified themselves among cliffs so +difficult that to capture them soldiers must be let down +in chests and baskets—a perilous undertaking this is, +for the robbers are armed and determined upon revolt +against Herod, who they say is not a Jew, and holds his +power in Judea from the Romans. They are robbers +inasmuch as they steal my sheep, but they are +men who value their country higher than their lives. +This I know, for I have conferred with them: and +Jesus told the Essenes a story of an old man who lived +in a cave with his family of seven, all of whom +besought him to allow them to surrender to the +Romans. Cowards, he said, under his breath, and made +pact with them that they should come out of the cave +one by one, which they did, and as they came he slew +them and threw their bodies into the precipice, sons +and daughters, and then he slew his wife, and after +reproaching Herod with the meanness of his family, +although he was then a king, he threw himself from +the cliff's edge.</p> + +<p>It is a great story that thou tellest, Jesus, Manahem +said, and it is well to hear that there are great souls still +amongst us, as in the days of the Maccabees. However +this may be, Saddoc interposed, these men in their strife +against the Romans must look to our flocks for food. +Three sheep were taken from me last night, Jesus answered, +and the rest will go one by one, two by two, three by +three, unless the revolt be quelled. And if the revolt be +not quelled, Saddoc continued, the robbers will need all +we have gotten, which is little; they may even need our +cave here, and unless we join them they will cast us over +the precipices. It was to ask: are we to take up arms +against these robbers that I came hither, Jesus said. You +will confer amongst yourselves, brethren, Hazael said, and +will forgive me if I withdraw: Jesus would like to speak +with me privately.</p> + +<p>The Essenes bowed, and Hazael walked up the domed +gallery with Jesus, and as soon as they disappeared at the +other end Shallum began: your shepherd tells you the +truth; the hills are once more infested with the remains +of Theudas' army. But who may Theudas be? one of the +brethren asked. So you have not heard, Shallum cried, +of Theudas, and you living here within a few miles of the +track he followed with his army down to Jordan. Little +news reaches us here, Saddoc said, and he asked Shallum +to tell of Theudas, and Shallum related how Theudas had +gathered a great following together in Jerusalem and +provoked a great uprising of the people whom he called +to follow him through the gates of the city, which they +did, and over the hills as far as Jordan. The current of +the river, he said, will stop, and the water rise up in a +great wall as soon as I impose my hands. We have no +knowledge if the waters would have obeyed his bidding, +for before the waters had time to divide a Roman soldier +struck off the prophet's head and carried it to Jerusalem +on a spear, where the sight of it was well received by the +priests, for Theudas preached against the Temple, against +the law, and the traditions as John and his disciples had +done beforetimes. A great number, he continued, were +slain by the Roman soldiers, and the rest dispersed, having +hidden themselves in the caves, and become robbers and +rebels. Nor was Theudas the last, he began again, there +was another, an Egyptian, a prophet or a sorcerer of great +repute, at whose bidding the people assembled when +he announced that the walls of the city would fall as +soon as he lifted up his hands. They must follow him +through the breach into the desert to meet the day of +judgment by the Dead Sea. And what befell this last +prophet? Saddoc asked. He was pursued by the Roman +soldiers, Eleakim cried, starting out of a sudden reverie. +And was he taken prisoner? Manahem asked. No, for he +threw a rope into the air and climbed out of sight, +Eleakim answered. He must have been a great prophet +or an angel more like, for a prophet could not climb up a +rope thrown into the air, Caleb said. No, a prophet +could not do that. But it is easier, Shaphan snorted, to +climb up a rope thrown into the air than to return to a +wife, if the flesh be always unwilling. At the words all +eyes were turned to Shaphan, who seemed to have +recovered his composure. It is a woeful thing to be +wedded, he cried. But why didst thou accept a wife? +Manahem asked. Why were ye not guided by our +counsels? We hoped, Shaphan said, to bring saints into +the world and we know not yet that robbers may not +be the fruit of our wives' wombs. But if the flesh was +always unwilling, Manahem answered, thou hast naught to +fear. It would be better, Shallum interrupted, to turn us +adrift on the hills than that we should return to the lake +where all is disorder now. Ye are not many here, Eleakim +said, to defend yourselves against robbers, and we have +hands that can draw swords. Our president alone can say +if ye may remain, Manahem said; he is in the gallery now +and coming towards us. Our former brethren, Hazael, +have renounced their wives, Manahem began, and would +return to us and help to defend our cave. You come +submissive to our wisdom? Hazael asked. The three +strangers replied that they did so, and Hazael stood, his +eyes fixed on the three strangers. We will defend you +against robbers if these would seek to dispossess you of +your cave, Eleakim cried. We have but two cells vacant, +Hazael said. It matters not to us where we sleep if +we sleep alone; and the president smiling at Shaphan's +earnestness said: but three more mouths to feed will be a +strain upon our stores of grain. Even though there be +three more mouths to feed, Shallum answered, there will +be six more hands to build a wall against the robbers. +To build a wall against robbers? Hazael said. It is a +long while we have been dreaming of that wall; and now +it seems the time has come to hold a council. We have +been speaking of a wall to protect us against robbers ever +since we came here, Manahem cried, and Saddoc answered: +we have delayed too long, we must build: the younger +brethren will reap the benefit of our toil.</p> + +<p>We all seem to be in favour of the wall, Hazael said. +Are there no dissentients? None. For the next year or +more we shall be builders rather than interpreters of the +Scriptures. Mathias will come to the wall to discourse +to us, Caleb interjected, and Saddoc answered him: +whatsoever may befall us, we are certain of one thing, +we shall always be listening to Mathias. But Mathias +is a man of great learning, Caleb replied. Of Greek +learning may be, Saddoc answered. But even that is not +sure, some years ago—— But if Greek wisdom be of no +value why is it taught here? Caleb interrupted, and the +old Essene answered: that Greek wisdom was not taught +in the Brook Kerith, but Greek reasoning was applied +to the interpretation of Scripture. But there will be no +occasion for Mathias' teaching for some years. Years, +sayest thou, Saddoc? Amos interjected. I spoke plainly, +did I not? Saddoc answered. If it will take us years to +build the wall, Amos said, we may as well save ourselves +the trouble of becoming builders, for the robbers will +be upon us before it is high enough to keep them out; +we shall lose our lives before a half-finished wall, and +methinks I might as well have been left to my flock on +the hills. Thou speakest truly, Saddoc replied, for I doubt +if thou wilt prove a better builder than thou wast a +shepherd. If my sheep were poor, thy interpretations of +the Scriptures are poorer still, Amos said, and the twain +fell to quarrelling apart, while the brethren took counsel +together. If this mischief did not befall them, and a wall +twenty feet high and many feet in thickness were raised, +would they be able to store enough food in the cave to +bear a three-months' siege? And would they be able to +continue the cultivation of their figs along the terrace +if robbers were at the gates? But a siege, Manahem +answered these disputants, cannot well be, for the shepherds +on the hills would carry the news of the siege to +Jericho, whence troops would be sent to our help, and +at their approach the robbers would flee into the hills. +What we have to fear is not a siege, but a sudden assault; +and from a successful assault a wall will save us. That +is true, Saddoc said. And to defend the wall we must +possess ourselves of weapons, Caleb, Benjamin and Eleakim +cried; and Shallum told them that a certain hard wood, of +which there was an abundance in Jericho, could be shaped +into cutlasses whereby a man's head might be struck off at +a blow.</p> + +<p>At these words the brethren took heart, and Hazael +selected Shallum for messenger to go to Jericho for the +wood, and a few days afterwards the Essenes were busy +carving cutlasses for their defence, and designing a great +wall with towers, whilst others were among the cliffs +hurling down great masses of stone out of which a wall +would soon begin to rise.</p> + +<p>And every day, an hour after sunrise, the Essenes were +quarrying stone and building their wall, and though they +had designed it on a great scale, it rose so fast that in +two months they were bragging that it would protect +them against the great robber, Saulous, a pillager of many +caravans, of whom Jesus had much to say when he came +down from the hills. The wall will save you, Jesus said, +from him. But who will save my flock from Saulous, who +is besieged in a cave, and comes forth at night to seek +for food for himself and his followers? But if the cave is +besieged? Caleb said, laying down his trowel. The cave +has two entrances, Jesus answered, and he told them that +his belief now was that what remained of the flock should +be sent to Jerusalem for sale. The rams, of course, +should be kept, and a few of the best ewes for a flock +to be raised in happier times. These were his words one +sad evening, and they were so convincing that the builders +laid down their trowels and repaired to the vaulted gallery +to sit in council. But while they sat thinking how they +might send representatives to the procurator the robbers +were preparing their own doom by seizing a caravan of +more than fifty camels laden with wheat for Jerusalem. +A very welcome booty no doubt it was considered by the +robbers, but booty—was not their only object? They +hoped, as the procurator knew well, to bring about an +uprising against Roman rule by means of bread riots, and +this last raid provided him with a reason for a grand +punitive expedition. Many troops of soldiers were sent +out with orders to bring all that could be taken alive into +Jerusalem for crucifixion, no mean punishment when +carried out as the procurator meditated it. He saw it +in his thoughts reaching from Jerusalem to Jericho, and +a death penalty for all. Pilate's methods of smoking the +robbers out of their caves has not proved a sufficient deterrent, +he said to himself, and a smile came into his face and +he rubbed his hands when the news of the first captures +was brought to him, and every day small batches were +announced. We shall wait, he said, until we have fifty-three, +the exact number of camels that were stolen, and +then the populace shall come out with me to view them. +The spectacle will perhaps quench the desire of robbery +in everybody who is disposed to look upon it as an easy +way of gaining a livelihood. And the renown of this +crucifixion will spread through Judea. For three days at +least malefactors will be seen dying at distances of half-a-mile, +and lest their sufferings should inspire an attempt +at rescue, a decree shall be placed over every cross that +any attempt at rescue will be punishable by crucifixion, +and to make certain that there shall be no tampering +with Roman justice, the soldiers on guard shall be given +extra crosses to be used if a comrade should cut down a +robber or give him drugs to mitigate his agony. And +all this was done as had been commanded. The robbers +were exposed at once on the road from Jerusalem, and it +was on the first day of the great crucifixion that Jesus, +coming round the shoulder of the hill with his flock, +was brought to a sudden stop before a group of three.</p> + +<p>These, about six or seven hours, a Roman soldier said, +in answer to Jesus' question as to the length of time they +had been on their crosses, not more than six hours, the +soldier repeated, and he turned to his comrade for confirmation +of his words. Put a lance into my side, a robber +cried out, and God will reward thee in heaven. Thou +hast not ceased to groan since the first hour. But put a +lance into my side, the robber cried again. I dare not, the +soldier answered. Thou'lt hang easier to-morrow. But all +night I shall suffer; put a lance into my side, for my heart +is like a fire within me. And do the same for me, cried +the robbers hanging on either side. All night long, cried +the first robber, the pain and the ache and the torment +will last; if not a lance, give me wine to drink, some +strong, heady wine that will dull the pain. Thy brethren +bear the cross better than thou. Take courage and +bear thy pain. I was not a robber because I wished it, my +house was set on fire as many another to obtain recruits. +Yon shepherd is no better than I. Why am I on the cross +and not he? His turn may come, who knows, though he +stands so happy among his sheep. To-night he will sleep +in a cool cavern, but I shall linger in pain. Give me drink +and I will tell thee where the money we have robbed is +hidden. The money may not be in the cave, and if it be +we might not be able to find it, the soldier answered; +and the crucified cried down to him that he could make +plain the spot. The soldier was not, however, to be +bribed, and they told the crucified that the procurator +was coming out to visit the crosses on the morrow, and +would be disappointed if he found dead men upon them +instead of dying men. Shepherd, the soldiers will not +help us, canst thou not help us? Happy shepherd, that +will sleep to-night amongst thy sheep. Come by night +and give us poison when these soldiers are asleep. We +will reward thee. Lift not thy hand against Roman +justice, the soldier said to Jesus, lest thou takest his +place on the cross. Such are our orders.</p> + +<p>Jesus hurried away through the hills, pursued by +memories of the crucified robbers, and he went on and on, +with the intent of escaping from their cries and faces, till, +unable to walk farther, he stopped, and, looking round, +saw the tired sheep, their eyes mutely asking him why +he had come so far, passing by so much good herbage +without halting. Poor sheep, he said, I had forgotten +you, but there is yet an hour of light before folding-time. +Go, seek the herbage among the rocks. My dogs, too, +are tired, he added, and want water, and when he had +given them some to drink he sat down, hoping that the +crucified might not return to his eyes and ears. But +he need not have hoped: he was too tired to think of +what he had seen and heard, and sat in peace watching +the sunset till, as in a vision, a man in a garden, +in an agony of doubt, appeared to him. He was +betrayed by a disciple and taken before the priests +and afterwards before Pilate, who ordered him to be +scourged and crucified, and beneath his cross the multitude +passed, wagging their heads, inviting him to descend if +he could detach himself from the nails. A veil fell and +when it was lifted Joseph was bending over him, and +soon after was carrying him to his house. The people of +that time rose up before him: Esora, Matred, and the +camel-driver, the scent of whose sheepskin had led him +back to his sheep, and he had given himself to their +service with profit to himself, for it had kept his +thoughts from straying backwards or forwards, fixing them +in the present. He had lived in the ever-fleeting present +for many years—how many? The question awoke him +from his reverie, and he sat wondering how it was he +could think so quietly of things that he had put out of +his mind instinctively, till he seemed to himself to be a +man detached as much from hope as from regret. It was +through such strict rule that I managed to live through +the years behind me, he said; I felt that I must never +look back, but in a moment of great physical fatigue the +past returned, and it lies before me now, the sting taken +out of it, like the evening sky in tranquil waters. Even +the memory that I once believed myself to be the Messiah +promised to the Jews ceases to hurt; what we deem +mistakes are part and parcel of some great design. +Nothing befalls but by the will of God. My mistakes! +why do I speak of them as mistakes, for like all else they +were from the beginning of time, and still are and will +be till the end of time, in the mind of God. His thoughts +continued to unroll, it was not long before he felt himself +thinking that the world was right to defend itself +against those that would repudiate it. For the world, he +said to himself, cannot be else than the world, a truth +that was hidden from me in those early days. The world +does not belong to us, but to God. It was he that made +it, and it is for him to unmake it when he chooses and +to remake us if he chooses. Meanwhile we should do +well to accept his decrees and to talk no more of destroying +the Temple and building it up again in three +days. Nor should we trouble ourselves to reprove the +keepers of the Temple for having made themselves a +God according to their own image and likeness, with +passions like a man and angers like a man, thereby falling +into idolatry, for what else is our God but an Assyrian +king who sits on a throne and metes out punishments and +rewards? It may be that the priests will some day come +into the knowledge that all things are equal in God's sight, and +that he is not to be won by sacrifices, observances +or prayers, that he has no need of these things, not even +of our love, or it may be that they will remain priests. +But though God desires neither sacrifices, observances, nor +even love, it cannot be that we are wholly divorced from +God. It may be that we are united to him by the daily +tasks which he has set us to perform.</p> + +<p>Jesus was moved to put his pipes to his lips, and the +sheep returned to him and followed him into the cavern +in which they were to sleep that night.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXIX.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It is a great joy to return to thought after a long absence +from it, and Jesus was not afraid, though once his conscience +asked him if he were justified in yielding himself +unreservedly to reason. A man's mind, he answered, like +all else, is part of the Godhead; and at that moment he +heard God speaking to him out of the breeze. My beloved +son, he said, we shall never be separated from each other +again. And Jesus replied: not again, Father, for thou +hast returned to me the God that I once knew in Nazareth +and in the hills above Jericho, and lost sight of as soon as +I began to read the Book of Daniel. How many, he asked +himself, have been led by reading that book into the belief +that they were the precursors of the Messiah? We know +of Theudas and the Egyptian, and there were many others +whose names have not reached us. But I alone believed +myself to be the Messiah. He was astonished he could +remember so great a sin and not fear God. But I cannot +fear God, for I love God, he said; my God neither forgives +nor punishes, and if we repent it should be for our own +sakes and not to please God. Moreover, it must be well +not to waste too much time in repentance, for it is surely +better to understand than to repent. We learn through +our sins. If it had not been for mine, I should not +have learnt that quires and scrolls lead men from God, +and that to see and hear God we have only to open our +eyes and ears. God is always about us. We hear him in +the breeze, and we find him in the flower. He is in these +things as much as he is in man, and all things are equal +in his sight; Solomon is no greater than Joshbekashar.</p> + +<p>He had not remembered the old shepherd, who had +taught him all he knew about sheep, for many a day. It +is nigh on five and forty years, he said to himself, since +he called me to hold the ewes while he made them clean +for the winter. It was in yon cave the flock was folded +when I laid hands on the ewes for the first time and +dragged them forward for him to clip the wool from the +rumps. He could see in his memory each different ewe +trotting away, looking as if she were thankful for the +shepherd's kind office towards her. There was something +extraordinarily restful in his memory of old Joshbekashar, +and to prolong it Jesus fell to recalling the old man's words; +and every little disjointed sentence raised up the old man +before him. It was but three times that I held the ewes +for him, so it cannot be much more than forty years since +that first clipping. Now I come to think on it, the clipping +befell on a day like to-day. We'll clip our ewes to-day, +and it was with a sense of memorial service in his mind +that he called to young Jacob to come to his aid, saying: +Joshbekashar's flock was always folded in yon cave for this +clipping, the only change is that I am the clipper and thou'rt +holding them for me. There are forty-five to be clipped, +and just the same as before each ewe will trot away into the +field looking as if she were thankful at having been made +clean for the winter. On these words both fell to their +work, and the cunning hand spent no more than a minute +over each. Stooping over ewes makes one's back ache, +he said, rising from the last one, using the very same +words he heard forty years before from Joshbekashar: +time brings back the past! he said. We repeat the +words of those that have gone before while doing their +work; and it is likely we are doing God's work as well by +making the ewes clean for the winter as by cutting their +throats in the Temple. All the same stooping over ewes +makes one's back ache, he repeated, for the words evoked +the old shepherd, and he waited for Jacob to answer in +the words spoken by him forty years ago to Joshbekashar. +Himself had forgotten his words, but he thought he +would recognise them if Jacob were inspired to speak +them. But Jacob kept silence for shame's sake, for his +hope was that the flock would be given to his charge as +soon as old age obliged Jesus to join his brethren in the +cenoby.</p> + +<p>Thou'lt be sorry for me, lad, I know that well, but +thou hast begun to look forward to the time when thou'lt +walk the hills at the head of the flock like another; +it is but proper that thou shouldst, and it is but natural +that the time should seem long to thee; but take on +a little patience, this much I can vouch for, every bone +in me was aching when I left the cavern this morning, +and my sight is no longer what it was. Master Jesus, +I'd as lief wait; the hills will be naught without thee. +Dost hear me, Master? Jesus smiled and dropped back +into his meditations and from that day onward very +little sufficed to remind him that he would end his days +in the cenoby reading the Scriptures and interpreting +them. In the cenoby, he said, men do not think, they +only read, but in the fields a shepherd need never lose +sight of the thought that leads him. A good shepherd +can think while watching his sheep, and as the flock +was feeding in good order, he took up the thread of +a thought to which he had become attached since his +discovery that signs and sounds of God's presence are +never lacking on earth. As God's constant companion +and confidant he had come to comprehend that the world +of nature was a manifestation of the God he knew in +himself. I know myself, he said one day, but I do not +know the God which is above, for he seems to be infinite; +nor do I know nature, which is beyond me, for that, too, +seems to run into infinite, but infinite that is not that of +God. A few moments later it seemed to him he might +look upon himself as an islet between two infinities. But +to which was he nearer in eternity? Ah, if he knew that! +And it was then that a conviction fell upon him that if he +remained on the hills he would be able to understand many +things that were obscure to him to-day. It will take about +two years, he said, and then many things that are dark will +become clear. Two infinites, God and nature. At that +moment a ewe wandering near some scrub caught his +attention. A wolf, he said, may be lurking there. I must +bring her back; and he put a stone into his sling. A wolf +is lurking there, he continued, else Gorbotha would not +stand growling. Gorbotha, a golden-haired dog, like a +wolf in build, stood snuffing the breeze, whilst Thema, his +sister, sought her master's hand. A moment after the +breeze veered, bringing the scent to her, and the two dogs +dashed forward into the scrub without finding either wolf +or jackal lying in wait. All the same, he said, a wolf or a +jackal must have been lying there, and not long ago, or +else the dogs would not have growled and rushed to the +onset as they did.</p> + +<p>They returned perplexed and anxious to their master, +who resumed his meditation, saying to himself that if +aching bones obliged him to return to the cenoby he +would have to give up thinking. For one only thinks +well in solitude and when one thinks for oneself alone; +but in the cenoby the brethren think together. All the +same my life on the hills is not over yet, and an hour later +he put his pipes to his lips and led his flock to different +hills, for, guided by some subtle sense, he seemed to +divine the springing up of new grass; and the shepherds, +knowing of this instinct for pasturage, were wont to follow +him, and he was often at pains to elude them, for on no +hillside is there grass enough for many flocks.</p> + +<p>My poor sheep, he said, as he watched them scatter +over a grassy hillside. Ye're happy this springtime for +ye do not know that your shepherd is about to be taken +from you. But he has suffered too much in the winter +we've come out of to remain on the hills many more years. +Before leaving you he must discover a shepherd that +will care for you as well as I have done. Amos is dead; +there is no one in the cenoby that understands sheep. +Would ye had speech to counsel me. But tell me, what +would ye say if I were to leave you in Jacob's charge? +He stood waiting, as if he expected the sheep to answer, +and it was then it began to seem to Jesus he might as +well entrust his flock to Jacob as to another.</p> + +<p>He had sent him out that morning with twenty lambs +that were yet too young to run with the flock, and he now +stood waiting for him, thinking that if he lost none +between this day and the end of the summer, the flock +might be handed over to him. Every young man's past +is tarnished, he continued, for he could not forget that +Jacob had begun by losing his master's dogs, two had +been killed by panthers. Nor was this the only misfortune +that had befallen him. Having heard that rain had fallen +in the west, he set out for Cæsarea to redeem his +credit, he hoped, but at the end of the fourth day +he could find no cavern in which to fold his sheep, and +he lay down in the open, surrounded by his flock, unsuspicious +that a pack of wolves had been trailing him +from cavern to cavern since he left the Jordan valley—the +animals divining that their chance would come at +last. It would have been better, Jacob said, if the +wolves had fallen upon him, for after this disaster no +one would employ him, and he had wandered an outcast, +living on the charity of shepherds, sharing a little of +their bread. But such charity could not last long and +he would have had to sit with the beggars by the wayside +above Jericho if Jesus had not given his lambs into +his charge, by this act restoring to Jacob some of his +lost faith in himself. He had gone away saying to himself: +Jesus, who knows more than all the other shepherds +put together, holds me to be no fool, and one day I'll be +trusted again with a flock. I'm young and can wait, and, +who knows, Jesus may tell me his cure for the scab, and by +serving him I may get a puppy when Thema has a litter. +In such wise Jacob looked to Jesus and Thema for future +fortune, and as he came over the ridge and caught sight of +Jesus waiting for him, he said: call up thy dogs, Master, +lest they should fall upon mine and upon me. Gorbotha +has already risen to his feet and Thema is growling.</p> + +<p>Jesus laid his staff across their backs. What, will ye +attack Jacob, he cried, and what be your quarrel with his +dogs? Poor Syrian dogs, Jacob answered, that would be +quickly killed by thine. If I had had dogs like Gorbotha +and Thema the wolves would not—— But, Jacob, thou +wouldst have lost thy dogs as well as thy sheep. What +stand could any dogs make against a pack of wolves, +and a shepherd without dogs is like a bird without wings, +as Brother Amos used to say. Yes, that is just it, Jacob +replied, struck by the aptness of the comparison. Thou +art known, Jesus, to be the most foreseeing shepherd on +the hills; but the flock would not have increased without +thy dogs. Abdiel is great in his knowledge of dogs, and +he told me that he had never known any like thine, +Master. Come now, Thema, Jesus cried. Come, lie down +here; lay thy muzzle against my knee. And growl not +at Jacob or I'll send thee away. So Abdiel spoke of my +dogs! They are well enough, one can work with them. +But I've had better dogs. Whereupon Jesus told a story +how one night he had lain under a fair sky to sleep and +had slept so soundly that the rain had not wakened him, +but Boreth—that was the dog's name—distressed at the +sight of me lying in the rain, began to lick my face, and +when I had wrung out my cloak he led me to a dry cave +unknown to me, though I thought I knew every one in +these hills. He must have gone in search of one as soon +as it began to rain, and when he found a dry one he came +back to awaken me. More faithful dogs, he said, there +never were than these at my feet, but I've known stronger +and fiercer. But I'd tell thee another story of Boreth, and +he related how one night in December as he watched, +having for his protection only Boreth (his other dogs, Anos +and Torbitt, being at home, one with a lame paw, the other +with puppies), he had fallen asleep, though he knew +robbers were about in the hills, especially in the winter +months, he said; but I knew I could count on Boreth to +awake me if one came to steal the sheep. Now what I'm +about to say, Jacob, happened at the time of the great +rain of December, when the nights are dark about us. I +was sleeping in a sheltered place in the coign of a cliff, +the flock was folded and Boreth was away upon his rounds, +and it was then that two robbers stole into the cave. One +was about to plunge his dagger into me, but I had time +to catch his wrist and to whistle; and in a few seconds +Boreth leapt upon the robber that was seeking to stab +me. He bit his neck and shoulder; and then, leaving +that robber disabled, he attacked the robber's mate, +and it was wonderful how he crept round and round in +the darkness, biting him all the time, and then pursuing +the two he worried them up the valley until his heart +misgave him and he thought it wouldn't be safe to +leave me alone any longer. But Gorbotha would defend +thee against a robber, Jacob said, and he called to +the dog, but Gorbotha only growled at him. Have +patience with them, Jesus rejoined; I'll not feed them +for three days, and after feeding them thou'lt take them +to the hills, and when they have coursed and killed a +jackal for thee it may be that they'll accept thee for +master. But these Thracians rarely love twice. Come, +Jacob, and we'll look into thy flock of lambs and take +counsel together. They seem to be doing fairly well with +thee—a bit tired, I dare say thou hast come a long way +with them. We walked too fast, Jacob answered, saying +he had had to go farther than he thought for in search of +grass, and had found some that was worth the distance +they had journeyed, for the lambs had fallen to nibbling at +once. Fell to nibbling at once, did they? Jesus repeated +When they're folded with the ewes, thou'lt put into their +jaws a stick to keep them from sucking. And without +waiting for Jacob to answer he asked which of all these +lambs he would choose to keep for breeding from. Jacob +pointed out first one and then another; but Jesus shook +his head and showed him a lamb which Jacob had not +cast his eyes over and said: one may not say for certain, +but I shall be surprised if he doesn't come into a fine, +broad-shouldered ram, strong across the loins and straight +on his legs, the sort to get lambs that do well on these +hills. And thou'lt be well advised to leave him on his +dam another hundred days; shear him, for it will give +him strength to take some wool from him, but do not +take it from his back, for he will want the wool there +to protect him from the sun. And all the first year he +will skip about with the ewes and jump upon them, but +it will be only play, for his time has not yet come; in +two more years he'll be at his height, serving ten ewes +a day; but keep him not over-long; thou must always +have some new rams preparing, else thy flock will decline. +The ram thou seest on the right is old, and must soon +be replaced. But the white ram yonder is still full of +service: a better I've never known. The white ram is +stronger than the black, though the black ewe will turn +from him and seek a ram of her own colour. I've known +a white ram so ardent for a black ewe that he fought +the black ram till their skulls cracked. Master, it is +well to listen to thee, Jacob interrupted, for none knows +sheep like thee, but as none will ever give me charge of +a flock again, thy teaching is wasted upon me. Look to +the ewes' teeth, Jacob, and to their udders; see that the +udders are sound. Master, never before didst thou mock +at me, who am for my misfortunes the mocking-stock of +all these fields. In what have I done wrong? That my +lambs are a bit tired is all thou hast to blame me for +to-day. Jacob, I'm not mocking at thee, but looking +forward a little, for time is on thy side and will soon +put thee in charge of a flock again. Time is on my side, +Jacob repeated. If I understand thee rightly, Master, thy +meaning is, that the hills are beginning to weary thee. +Look into my beard, Jacob, and see how much grey hair +is in it, and my gait is slower than it used to be, a stiffness +has come upon me that will not wear out, and my +eyes are not as keen as they were, and when I see in thee +a wise shepherd, between the spring and autumn, it may +be that Hazael, our president, at my advice, will entrust +my flock to thy charge.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXX.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>So thou thinkest, Eliab, that the autumn rains will make +an end of him. And maybe of thee too, Bozrah, Eliab +returned. A hard life ours is, even for the young ones. +Hard bread by day and at night a bed of stones, a hard +life from the beginning one that doesn't grow softer, and +to end in a lion's maw at fifty is the best we can hope for. +For us, perhaps, Bozrah answered; but Jesus will go up to +the cenoby among the rocks and die amongst the brethren +reading the Scriptures. If the autumn rains don't make an +end of him, Eliab interjected testily, as if he did not like +his forecast of Jesus' death to be called into question. As +I was saying, a shepherd's life is a hard one, and when the +autumn rains make an end of him, the brethren will be +on the look-out for another shepherd, and there's not one +amongst them that would bring half the flock entrusted to +him into the fold at the end of the year. The best of us +lose sheep: what with——</p> + +<p>The flock will go to Jacob, the lad he's been training to +follow him ever since his friend was killed, Havilah remarked +timidly. Eliab and Bozrah raised their eyes, and +looked at Havilah in surprise, for a sensible remark from +Havilah was an event, and to their wonder they found +themselves in agreement with Havilah. The flock would +go to Jacob without doubt. Of course, Havilah cried, +excited by the success of his last remark, he be more than +fifty. Thou mightst put five years more to the fifty and not +be far wrong, Bozrah interposed. Havilah was minded to +speak again, but his elders' looks made him feel that they +had heard him sufficiently. Now, Bozrah, how many years +dost thou make it since Joseph of Arimathea was killed? +How many years? Bozrah repeated. I can't tell thee how +many years, but many years.... Stay, I can mark the +date down for thee. It was about ten years before Theudas +(wasn't that his name?) led the multitude over these hills. +A great riot that was surely—fires lighted at the side of +the woods for the roasting of our lambs, and many's the +fine wood that was turned to blackened stems and sad +ashes in those days. It comes back to me now, Eliab +interjected. Theudas was the name. I'd forgotten it for +the moment. He led the multitude to Jordan, and while +he was bidding the waters divide to let him across the +Romans had his head off. It was nigh ten years before +that rioting Gaddi's partner was killed in Jerusalem. I +believe thee to be right, Bozrah replied, and they talked +of the different magicians and messiahs that were still +plaguing the country, stirring them up against the Romans. +But, cried Bozrah suddenly, the story comes back to me. +Not getting any news of his friend, Jesus left his flock with +Jacob, and came down to the pass between the hills where +the road descends to the lake to inquire from the beggars +if they had seen Gaddi's partner on his way to Jerusalem +or Jericho, and seeing the lepers and beggars gathering +about Jesus, I came down to hear what was being said, +but before I got as far I saw Jesus turn away and walk +into the hills. It was from the beggars and lepers that +I heard that Joseph had been killed in the streets of +Jerusalem. Thou knowest how long beggars take to tell a +story; Jesus was far away before they got to the end of it, +simple though it was. I'd have gone after him if they'd +been quicker. More of the story I don't know. It was +just as thou sayest, mate, Eliab answered, and thou'lt +bear me out that it was some months after, maybe six +or seven, that Jesus was seen again leading the flock. I +remember the day I saw him, for wasn't I near to rubbing +my eyes lest they might be deceiving me—I remember, +Eliab continued, it comes back to me as it does to thee, +for within two years he had gathered another handsome +flock about him. A fine shepherd, Havilah said. None +better to be found on the hills. Thou speakest well, +Eliab answered him, and for thee to speak well twice +in the same day is well-nigh a miracle. Belike thou'lt +awake one morning to find thyself the Messiah Israel is +waiting for, so great is thy advancement of late in good +sense. Havilah turned aside, and Eliab, divining his +wounded spirit, sought to make amends by offering him +some bread and garlic, but Havilah went away, a melancholy, +heavy-shouldered young man, one that, Eliab said, must feel +life cruelly, knowing himself as he must have done from +the beginning to be what is known as a good-for-nothing. +And it was soon after Havilah's departure that Jesus +returned to the shepherds and, stopping in front of Eliab +and Bozrah, he said: I've come back, mates, to give you my +thanks for many a year of good-fellowship. So the time +has come for us to lose thee, mate, Eliab answered. We +are sorry for it, though it isn't altogether unlocked for. We +were saying not many moments ago, Bozrah interjected, that +the life on the hills is no life for a man when he has gone +fifty, and thou'lt not see fifty again: no, and not by three +years, Jesus answered. It was just about fifty years that +the feeling began to come over me that I couldn't fight +another winter, and to think of Jacob, who is waiting for +a flock, and he may as well have mine during my life as +wait for my death to get it. Better so, said Eliab, +whose wont it was to strike his word in whenever +the speaker paused. He did not always wait for the +speaker to pause, and this trick being known to Bozrah, +he said, and by all accounts thou hast made a true +shepherd of him, passing over to him all thy knowledge. +A lad of good report, Jesus answered, who had fallen on +a hard master, a thing that has happened to all of us in +our time, Bozrah interjected. He's not the first that +fell out of favour, for that his ewes hadn't given as +many lambs as they might have done. Nor was there +anything of neglect in it, but such a bit of ill luck as +might run into any man or any man might run up against. +He was told, said Eliab, who could not bear anyone to +tell a story but himself, that though he were to bring +the parts of the sheep the wolf had left behind to +his master he would have to seek another master. Such +severity frightens the shepherd, and the wolf smells out +the frightened shepherd, Jesus said, and he told his +mates that he had not found Jacob lacking in truthfulness +nor in natural discernment, and he asked them to give all +their protection to Jacob, who will, he said, go forth in +charge of our flock to-morrow.</p> + +<p>The shepherds said again that they were sorry to lose +Jesus, and that the hills would not seem like the hills +without him, and Jesus answered that he, too, would be +lonely among the brethren reading the Scriptures. When +one is used to sheep one misses them sorely, Eliab said, +there's always something to learn from them; and he +began to tell a story; but before he had come to the end +of it Jesus' thoughts took leave of the story he was +listening to, and he turned away, leaving the shepherd +with his half-finished story, and walked absorbed in his +thoughts, immersed in his own mind, till he had reached +the crest of the next hill and was within some hundred +yards of the brook. It was then that he remembered he +had left them abruptly in the middle of a half-finished +relation, and he stopped to consider if he should return to +them and ask for the end of the story. But fearing they +would think he was making a mocking-stock of them, he +sighed, and was vexed that they had parted on a seeming +lack of courtesy: on no seeming lack, on a very clear +lack, he said to himself; but it would be useless to return +to them; they would not understand, and a man had +always better return to his own thoughts. Repent, +repent, he said, picking up the thread of his thoughts, but +acknowledgment comes before repentance, and of what +help will repentance be, for repentance changes nothing, +it brings nothing unless grief peradventure. I was in the +hands of God then just as I am now, and everything +within and without us is in his hands. The things that +we look upon as evil and the things that we look upon as +good. Our sight is not his sight, our hearing is not his +hearing, we must despise nothing, for all things come +from him, and return to him. I used, he said, to despise +the air I breathed, and long for the airs of paradise, but +what did these longings bring me?—grief. God bade us +live on earth and we bring unhappiness upon ourselves by +desiring heaven. Jesus stopped, and looking through the +blue air of evening, he could see the shepherds eating +their bread and garlic on the hillside. Folding-time is +near, he said to himself, but I shall never fold a flock +again....</p> + +<p>His thoughts began again, flowing like a wind, as +mysteriously, arising he knew not whence, nor how, his +mind holding him as fast as if he were in chains, and he +heard from within that he had passed through two stages—the +first was in Jerusalem, when he preached against +the priests and their sacrifices. God does not desire the +blood of sheep, but our love, and all ritual comes between +us and God ... God is in the heart, he had said, and he +had spoken as truly as a man may speak of the journey +that lies before him on the morning of the first day.</p> + +<p>In the desert he had looked for God in the flowers +that the sun called forth and in the clouds that +the wind shepherded, and he had learnt to prize the +earth and live content among his sheep, all things being +the gift of God and his holy will. He had not placed +himself above the flowers and grasses of the earth, nor the +sheep that fed upon them, nor above the men that fed +upon the sheep. He had striven against the memory of +his sin, he had desired only one thing, to acknowledge his +sin, and to repent. But it seemed to him that anger and +shame and sorrow, and desire of repentance had dropped +out of his heart. It seemed to him as he turned and +pursued his way that some new thought was striving to +speak through him. Rites and observances, all that +comes under the name of religion estranges us from God, +he repeated. God is not here, nor there, but everywhere: +in the flower, and in the star, and in the earth underfoot. +He has often been at my elbow, God or this vast +Providence that upholds the work; but shall we gather +the universal will into an image and call it God?—for +by doing this do we not drift back to the starting-point of +all our misery? We again become the dupes of illusion +and desire; God and his heaven are our old enemies in +disguise. He who yields himself to God goes forth to +persuade others to love God, and very soon his love of +God impels him to violent words and cruel deeds. It +cannot be else, for God is but desire, and whosoever yields +to desire falls into sin. To be without sin we must be +without God.</p> + +<p>Jesus stood before the door of the cenoby, startled at +the thoughts that had been put into his mind, asking +himself if any man had dared to ask himself if God were +not indeed the last uncleanliness of the mind.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>If thou wouldst not miss Mathias' discourse, Brother +Jesus, thou must hasten thy steps. He is telling that the +Scriptures are but allegories. Some of us are opposed to +this view, believing that Adam and Eve are—Yea, +Brother, and my thanks to thee for thy admonishment, +Jesus said, for he did not wish to discredit Mathias' +reputation for theological argument; but no sooner was he +out of sight of the gate-keeper than he began to examine +the great rock that Joseph had predicted would one day +come crashing down, and, being no wise in a hurry, fell to +wondering how much of the mountain-side it would bring +with it when it fell. At present it projected over the +pathway for several yards, making an excellent store-house, +and, his thoughts suspended between the discussion +that was proceeding regarding Adam and Eve—whether +the original twain had ever lived or were but +allegories (themselves and their garden)—he began to +consider if the brethren had laid in a sufficient stock of +firewood, and how long it would take him to chop it into +pieces handy for burning. He would be glad to relieve +the brethren from all such humble work, and for taking +it upon himself he would he able to plead an excuse +for absenting himself from Mathias' discourses. Hazael +would not refuse to assign to him the task of feeding the +doves and the cleaning out of their coops; he would find +occupation among the vines and fig-trees—he was something +of a gardener—and Hazael would not refuse him +permission to return to the hills to see that all was +well with the flocks. Jacob will need to be looked +after; and there are the dogs; and if they cannot be +brought to look upon Jacob as master their lives will be +wasted, he said.</p> + +<p>I seem to read supper in their eyes, he said, and having +tied them up supperless he visited the bitch and her puppies. +Brother Ozias hasn't forgotten to feed her. There is some +food still in the platter. But they must submit, he continued, +his thoughts having returned to his dogs, Theusa +and Tharsa, and then he stood listening, for he could hear +Mathias' voice. The door of the lecture-room is closed; if +I step softly none will know that I have returned from the +hills, and I can sit unsuspected on the balcony till Mathias' +allegories are ended, and watching the evening descending +on the cliff it may be that I shall be able to examine the +thoughts that assailed me as I ascended the hillside; +whether we pursue a corruptible or an incorruptible crown +the end is the same, he said. It was not enough for me +to love God, I must needs ask others to worship him, at +first with words of love, and when love failed I threatened, +I raved; and the sin I fell into others will fall into, for it +s natural to man to wish to make his brother like himself, +thereby undoing the work of God. Myself am no paragon; +I condemned the priests whilst setting myself up as a +priest, and spoke of God and the will of God though in +all truth I had very little more reason than they to speak +of these things. God has not created us to know him, or +only partially through our consciousness of good and evil. +Good and evil do not exist in God's eyes as in our eyes, +for he is the author of all, but it may be that our +sense of good and evil was given to us by him as a token +of our divine nature. If this be true, why should we +puzzle and fret ourselves with distinctions like Mathias? +It were better to leave the mystery and attend to this +life, casting out desire to know what God is or what +nature is, as well as desire for particular things in this +world which long ago I told men to disregard.... A +flight of doves distracted his attention, and a moment +after the door of the lecture-room opened and Saddoc and +Manahem appeared, carrying somebody dead or who had +fainted. As they came across the domed gallery towards +the embrasure Jesus heard Manahem say: he will return +to himself as soon as we get him into the air. And they +placed him where Jesus had been sitting. A little water, +Saddoc cried, and Jesus ran to the well, and returning with +a cup of water he stood by sprinkling the worn, grey face. +The heat overcame me, he murmured, but I shall soon be +well and then you will bear me back to hear—The +sentence did not finish, and Jesus said: thou'lt be better +here with me, Hazael, than listening to discourses that +fatigue the mind. Mathias is very insistent, Manahem +muttered. He is indeed, Saddoc answered. And while +Jesus sat by Hazael, fearing that his life might go out +at any moment, Manahem reproved Saddoc, saying that +whereas duty is the cause of all good, we have only to +look beyond our own doors to see evil everywhere. Even +so, Saddoc answered, what wouldst thou? That the +world, Manahem answered, was created by good and evil +angels. Whereupon Saddoc asked him if he numbered +Lilith, Adam's first wife, among the evil angels. A +question Manahem did not answer, and, being eager to +tell the story, he turned to Jesus, who he guessed did not +know it, and began at once to tell it, after warning Jesus +that it was among their oldest stories though not to be +found in the Scriptures. She must be numbered among +the evil angels, he said, remembering that Saddoc had +put the question to him, for she rebuked Adam, who took +great delight in her hair, combing it for his pleasure from +morn to eve in the garden, and left him, saying she could +abide him no longer. At which words, Jesus, Adam +sorrowed, and his grief was such that God heard his sighs +and asked him for what he was grieving, and he said: I +live in great loneliness, for Lilith, O Lord, has left me, +and I beg thee to send messengers who will bring her +back. Whereupon God took pity on his servant Adam +and bade his three angels, Raphael, Gabriel and Michael, +to go away at once in search of Lilith, whom they found +flying over the sea, and her answer to them was that her +pleasure was now in flying, and for that reason I will not +return to Adam, she said. Is that the answer we are to +bring back to God? they asked. I have no other answer +for him, she answered, being in a humour in which it pleased +her to anger God, and the anger that her words put upon +him was so great that to punish her he set himself to +the creation of a lovely companion for Adam. Be thou +lonely no more, he said to Adam. See, I have given +Eve to thee. Adam was never lonely again, but walked +through a beautiful garden, enjoying Eve's beauty +unceasingly, happy as the day was long, till tidings of +their happiness reached Lilith, who by that time had +grown weary of flying from sea to sea: I will make an +end of it, she said, and descending circle by circle she +went about seeking the garden, which she found at last, +but failing to find the gate or any gap in the walls she sat +down and began combing her hair. Nor was she long +combing it before Lucifer, attracted by the rustling, came +by, saying: I would be taken captive in the net thou +weavest with thy hair, and she answered: not yet; for my +business is in yon garden, but into it I can find no way. +Wilt lend me thy sinewy shape, Lucifer? for in it I shall be +able to glide over the walls and coil myself into the tree +of forbidden fruit, and I shall persuade Eve as she passes +to eat of it, for it will be to her great detriment to do so. +But of what good will that be to me? Lucifer answered, +wouldst thou leave me without a shape whilst thou art +tempting Eve? Thy reward will be that I will come to thee +again when I have tempted Eve and made an end of her +happiness. We shall repeople the world with sons and +daughters more bright and beautiful and more supple than +any that have ever been seen yet. All the same, Lucifer +answered, not liking to part with his shape. But as his +desire could not be gainsaid, he lent his shape to Lilith +for an hour. And it was in that hour our first parents +fell into sin, and were chased from the garden. Did +she return to Lucifer and fulfil her promise or did she +cheat him? Saddoc asked. As Manahem was about to +answer Saddoc intervened again: Manahem, thou overlookest +the fact that Mathias holds that the Garden of +Eden and Adam and Eve, to say nothing of Lilith, are a +parable, and his reason for thinking thus is, as thou +knowest well, that the Scriptures tell us that after eating +of the forbidden fruit Adam and Eve sought to hide +themselves from God among the trees.</p> + +<p>He holds as thou sayest, Saddoc, that the garden means +the mind of man as an individual; and he who would +escape from God flees from himself, for our lives are swayed +between two powers: the mind of the universe, which is +God, and the separate mind of the individual. Then, if +I understand thee rightly, Manahem, and thy master, +Mathias, the Scriptures melt into imagery? What says +Jesus? This, Saddoc, that it was with such subtleties of +discourse and lengthy periods that Mathias fatigued our +Father till he fainted away in his chair. Jesus is right, +Manahem answered; it was certainly Mathias' discourse +that fatigued our Father, so why should we prolong the +argument in his face while he is coming back to life?</p> + +<p>It was not the length of Mathias' discourse, nor his +eloquence, Hazael said, that caused my senses to swoon +away. My age will not permit me to listen long. I +would be with Jesus, and I would that ye, Saddoc and +Manahem, return to the lecture-room at once, else our +brother will think his discourse has failed. Jesus is here +to give the attendance I require. Go, hasten, lest ye miss +any of his points. The brethren were about to raise a +protest, but at a sign from Jesus they obeyed; Mathias' +voice was heard as soon as the door of the lecture-room +was opened, but the brethren did not forget to close it, +and when silence came again Hazael said: Jesus, come +hither, sit near me, for I would speak to thee, but cannot +raise my voice. Thou'lt sleep here to-night, and to-morrow +we shall meet again. And this is well, for my days are +numbered. I shall not be here to see next year's lambs +and to agree that this new shepherd shall be recompensed +by a gift of eighteen, as is the custom. And +Jesus, understanding that the president was prophesying +his own death, said: why speakest like this to me who have +returned from the hills to strangers, for all are strangers to +me but thou. I shall be sorry to leave thee, Jesus, for our +lives have been twisted together, strands of the same rope. +But it must be plain to thee that I am growing weaker; +month by month, week by week, my strength is ebbing. +I am going out; but for what reason should I lament that +God has not chosen to retain me a few months longer, +since my life cannot be prolonged for more than a few +months? My eighty odd years have left me with barely +strength enough to sit in the doorway looking back on +the way I have come. Every day the things of this world +grow fainter, and life becomes to me an unreal thing, and +myself becomes unreal to those around me; only to thee +do I retain anything of my vanished self. So why should +I remain? For thy sake, lest thou be lonely here? Well, +that is reason enough, and I will bear the burden of life +as well as I can for thy sake. A burden it is, and for +a reason that thou mayest not divine, for thou art still +a young man in my eyes, and, moreover, hast not lived +under a roof for many years listening to learned interpretations +of Scripture. Thou hast not guessed, nor wilt +thou ever guess, till age reveals it to thee, that as we grow +old we no longer concern ourselves to love God as we used +to love him. No one would have thought, not even thou, +whose mind is always occupied with God, and who is more +conscious of him perhaps than any one I have known, +no one, I say, not even thou, would have thought that as +we approach death our love of God should grow weaker, +but this is so. In great age nothing seems to matter, and +it is this indifference that I wish to escape from. Thou +goest forth in the morning to lead thy flock in search of +pasture, if need be many hours, and God is nearer to us +in the wilderness than he is among men. This meaning, +Jesus said, that under this roof I, too, may cease to love +God? Not cease to love God: one doesn't cease to love +God, Hazael answered. But, Hazael, this night I've +yielded up the flocks to a new shepherd, for my limbs +have grown weary, and what thou tellest me of old age +frightens me. Thou wouldst warn me that God is only +loved on the hills under the sky—— I am too weak to +choose my thoughts or my words, and many things pass +out of my mind, Hazael answered. Had I remembered +I shouldn't have spoken. But why not speak, Father? +Jesus asked, so that I may be prepared in a measure for +the new life that awaits me. Life never comes twice +in the same way, Hazael replied; nor do the same things +befall any two men. I know not what may befall thee: +but the sky, Jesus, will always be before thine eyes +and the green fields under thy feet, even while listening +to Mathias. But thou didst live once under the sky, Jesus +said. Not long enough, Hazael murmured, but the love of +God was ardent in me when I walked by day and night, +sleeping under the stars, seeking young men who could +give up their lives to the love of God and bringing them +back hither into the fold of the Essenes. In those days +there was little else in me but love of God, and I could +walk from dusk to dusk without wearying; twelve and +fifteen hours were not too many for my feet: my feet +bounded along the road while my eyes followed white +clouds moving over the sky; I dreamed of them as God's +palaces, and I saw God not only in the clouds but in the +grass, and in the fields, and the flower that covers the +fields. I read God in the air and in the waters: and in +every town in Palestine I sought out those that loved God +and those that could learn to love God. I could walk well +in those days, fifteen hours were less than as many +minutes are now. I have walked from Jerusalem to Joppa +in one day, and the night that I met thy father outside +Nazareth I had walked twelve hours, though I had been +delayed in the morning: eight hours before midday, and +after a rest in the wood I went on again for several +hours more, how many I do not know, I've forgotten. I +did not know the distance that I had walked till I met +thy father coming home from his work, his tools in the +bag upon his shoulder. His voice is still in my ear. +But if it be to Nazareth thou'rt going, come along with +me, he said. And I can still hear ourselves talking, +myself asking him to direct me to a lodging, and his +answering: there's a house in the village where thou'lt +get one, and I'll lead thee to it. But all the beds in that +house were full; we knocked at other inns, but the men +and women and children in them were asleep and not to +be roused; and if by chance our knocking awakened somebody +we were bidden away with threats that the dogs +would be loosed upon us. Nazareth looks not kindly on +the wayfarer to-night, I said. Yet it shall not be said +that a stranger had to sleep in the streets of Nazareth, +were thy father's very words to me, Jesus. Come to +my house, he said, though it be small and we have to +put somebody out of his bed, it will be better than +that our town should gain evil repute. Thou canst not +have forgotten me coming, for thy father shook thee out +of thy sleep and told thee that he wanted thy bed for +a stranger. I can see thee still standing before me in thy +shift, and though the hours I'd travelled had gone down +into my very marrow, and sleep was heavy upon my eyes, +yet a freshness came upon me as of the dawn when I +looked on thee, and my heart told me that I had found +one that would do honour to the Essenes, and love God +more than any I had ever met with yet. But I think +I hear thee weeping, Jesus. Now, for what art thou +weeping? There is nothing sad in the story, only that +it is a long time ago. Our speech next day still rings +in my ear—my telling thee of the Pharisees that merely +minded the letter of the law, and of the Sadducees that +said there was no life outside this world except for angels. +It is well indeed that I remember our two selves sitting by +the door on two stools set under a vine, and it throwing +pretty patterns of shadow on the pavement whilst we +talked—whilst I talked to thee of the brethren, who lived +down by the Bitter Lake, no one owning anything more +than his fellow, so that none might be distracted from God +by the pleasures of this world. I can see clearly through +the years thy face expectant, and Nazareth—the deeply +rutted streets and the hills above.</p> + +<p>The days that we walked in Nazareth are pleasant +memories, for I could never tell thee enough about the +Essenes: their contempt of riches, and that if there were +one among them who had more than another, on entering +the order he willingly shared it. We were among the +hills the day that I told thee about the baker; how he +put a platter with a loaf on it before each of the brethren, +how they broke bread, deeming the meal sacred, and it +was the next day that we bade farewell to thy father +and thy mother and started on our journey; a long way, +but one that did not seem long to us, so engaged were +we with our hopes. It was with me thou sawest Jerusalem +for the first time; and I remember telling thee +as we journeyed by the Jordan seeking a ford that the +Essenes looked upon oil as a defilement, and if any one +of them be anointed without his approbation it is wiped +off, for we think to be sweaty is a good thing, and to be +clothed in white garments, and never to change these +till they be torn to pieces or worn out by time.</p> + +<p>And of the little band that came with us that day from +Galilee there remain Saddoc, Manahem and thyself. All +of you learnt from me on the journey that we laboured +till the fifth hour and then assembled together again +clothed in white veils, after having bathed our bodies in +cold water. But, Jesus, why this grief? Because I am +going from thee? But, dear friend, to come and to go +is the law of life, and it may be that I shall be with +thee longer than thou thinkest for; eighty odd years may +be lengthened into ninety: the patriarchs lived till a +hundred and more years, and we believe that the soul outlives +the body. Out of the chrysalis we escape from our +corruptible bodies, and the beautiful butterfly flutters +Godward. Grieve for me a little when I am gone, but +grieve not before I go, for I would see thy face always +happy, as I remember it in those years long ago in +Nazareth. Jesus, Jesus, thou shouldst not weep like +this! None should weep but for sin, and thy life is +known to me from the day in Nazareth when we sat +in the street together to the day that thou wentest to +the Jordan to get baptism from John.</p> + +<p>Ah! that day was the only day that my words were +unheeded. But I am saying things that would seem to +wound thee, and for why I know not! Tell me if my +words wound or call up painful memories. Thy suffering +is forgotten, or should be, for if ever any man merited +love and admiration for a sincere and holy life thou—— I +beg of thee, Father, not to say another word, for none +is less worthy than I am. The greatest sinner amongst +us is sitting by thee, one that has not dared to tell his +secret to thee.... The memory of my sin has fed upon +me and grown stronger, becoming a devil within me, +but till now I have lacked courage to come to thee and +ask thee to cast it out. But now since thou art going +from us this year or the next, I wouldn't let thee go +without telling it; to none may I tell it but to thee, for +none else would understand it. I am listening, Jesus, +Hazael answered.</p> + +<p>The mutter of the water in the valley below them +arose and grew louder in the silence; as Jesus prepared +to speak his secret the doors of the lecture-room opened +and the monks came out singing:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>In the Lord put I my trust:<br /></span> +<span>How say ye to my soul, Flee<br /></span> +<span>As a bird to your mountain?<br /></span> +<span>For, lo, the wicked bend their<br /></span> +<span>Bow, they make ready their arrow<br /></span> +<span>Upon the string, that they may privily<br /></span> +<span>Shoot at the upright in heart.<br /></span> +<span>If the foundations be destroyed, what<br /></span> +<span>Can the righteous do?<br /></span> +<span>For the righteous Lord loveth<br /></span> +<span>Righteousness; his countenance<br /></span> +<span>Doth behold the upright.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The words of the psalm are intended for me, Jesus +whispered, and now that the brethren are here I may +not speak, but to-morrow—— There may be no to-morrow +for us, the president answered. Even so, Jesus +answered, I cannot speak to-night. It is as if I were +bidden to withhold my secret till to-morrow. We know +not why we speak or why we are silent, but silence has +been put upon me by the words of the psalm. Be it so, +the president answered, and he was helped by Saddoc +and Manahem to his feet. Our Brother Jesus, he said, +has given over the charge of our flocks to a young +shepherd in whom he has confidence, and Jesus sleeps +under a roof to-night, the first for many years, for, like +us, he is getting older, and the rains and blasts of last +winter have gone into his bones. All the cells, Father, +Saddoc replied, are filled. I know that well, Saddoc, +Hazael said as he went out; Jesus can sleep here on +these benches; a mattress and a cloak will be sufficient +for him who has slept in caverns, or in valleys on heaps +of stones that he piled so that he might not drown in +the rains. Manahem will get thee a mattress, Jesus; he +knows where to find one. I am strong enough to walk +alone, Saddoc. And disengaging himself from Saddoc's +arm he walked with the monks towards his cell, joining +them in the psalm:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>All the powers of the Lord<br /></span> +<span>Bless ye the Lord; praise and<br /></span> +<span>Exalt him above all for ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>As the doors of the cell closed Saddoc approached +Jesus, and, breaking his reverie, he said: thou hast returned +to us at last; and it was not too soon, for the +winter rains are cold on bones as old as thine. But here +comes Manahem with a mattress for thee. On the bench +here, Manahem; on the bench he'll lie comfortably, and +we'll get him a covering, for the nights are often chilly +though the days be hot, we must try to make a comfortable +resting-place for him that has guarded our flocks +these long years. Wilt tell us if thou beest glad to yield +thy flock to Jacob and if he will sell ewes and rams to +the Temple for sacrifice? Ask me not any questions to-night, +Brother Saddoc, for I'm troubled in mind. Forgive +me my question, Jesus, Saddoc answered, and the three +Essenes, leaning over the edge of the gorge, stood listening +to the mutter of the brook. At last, to break the silence +that the brook rumpled without breaking, Jesus asked +if a wayfarer never knocked at the door of the cenoby +after dark asking for bread and board. None knows the +path well enough to keep to it after dark, Saddoc said; +though the moon be high and bright the shadows disguise +the path yonder. The path is always in darkness +where it bends round the rocks, and the wayfarer would +miss his footing and fall over into the abyss, even though +he were a shepherd. Thyself wouldst miss it. Saddoc +speaks well; none can follow the path, Manahem said, +and fortunately, else we should have all the vagrants of +the country knocking at our door.</p> + +<p>We shall have one to-night—vagrant or prophet, Jesus +said, and asked his brethren to look yonder; for it seemed +to him that a man had just come out of the shadow of +an overhanging rock. Manahem could see nobody, for, +he said, none could find the way in the darkness, and if +it be a demon, he continued, and fall, it will not harm +him: the devil will hold him up lest he dash himself at +the bottom of the ravine. But if it be a man of flesh +and blood like ourselves he will topple over yon rock, and +Manahem pointed to a spot, and they waited, expecting +to see the shadow or the man they were watching disappear, +but the man or the shadow kept close to the cliffs, +avoiding what seemed to be the path so skilfully that +Saddoc and Manahem said he must know the way. He +will reach the bridge safely, cried Saddoc, and we shall +have to open our doors to him. Now he is crossing the +bridge, and now he begins the ascent. Let us pray that +he may miss the path through the terraces. But would +you have him miss it, Saddoc, Jesus asked, for the sake +of thy rest? He shall have my mattress; I'll sleep on +this bench in the window under the sky, and shall be +better there: a roof is not my use nor wont. But who, +said Saddoc, can he be?—for certainly the man, if he be +not an evil spirit, is coming to ask for shelter for the +night; and if he be not a demon he may be a prophet +or robber: once more the hills are filled with robbers. +Or it may be, Jesus said, the preacher of whom Jacob +spoke to me this evening; he came up from the Jordan +with a story of a preacher that the multitude would not +listen to and sought to drown in the river, and our future +shepherd told me how the rabble had followed him over +the hills with the intent to kill him. Some great and +terrible heresy he must be preaching to stir them like that, +Manahem said, and he asked if the shepherd had brought +news of the prophet's escape or death. Jesus answered +that the shepherd thought the prophet had escaped into +a cave, for he saw the crowd dispersing, going home like +dogs from a hunt when they have lost their prey. If so, +he has been lying by in the cave. Who can he be? Saddoc +asked. Only a shepherd could have kept to the path. +Now he sees us ... and methinks he is no shepherd, +but a robber.</p> + +<p>The Essenes waited a few moments longer and the +knocking they had expected came at their door. Do not +open it, Saddoc cried. He is for sure a robber sent in +advance of his band, or it may be a prisoner of the +Romans, and to harbour him may put us on crosses above +the hills. We shall hang! Open not the door! If it be +a wayfarer lost among the hills a little food and water will +save him, Jesus answered. Open not the door, Jesus; +though he be a prophet I would not open to him. A +prophet he may be, and no greater danger besets us, for +our later prophets induced men to follow them into the +desert, promising that they should witness the raising of +the dead with God riding the clouds and coming down for +judgment. I say open not the door to him, Jesus! He +may be one of the followers of the prophets, of which we +have seen enough in these last years, God knows! The +cavalry of Festus may be in pursuit of him and his band, +and they have cut down many between Jerusalem and +Jericho. I say open not the door! We live among +terrors and dangers, Jesus; open not the door! Hearken, +Saddoc, he calls us to open to him, Jesus said, moving +towards the door. He is alone. We know he is, for we +have seen him coming down a path on which two men +pass each other with difficulty. He is a wayfarer, and +we've been safe on this ledge of rock for many years; +and times are quieter now than they have been since the +dispersal of the great multitude that followed Theudas +and were destroyed, and the lesser multitude that followed +Banu; they, too, have perished.</p> + +<p>Open not the door, Jesus! Saddoc cried again. There +are Sicarii who kill men in the daytime, mingling +themselves among the multitude with daggers hidden in +their garments, their mission being to stab those that +disobey the law in any fraction. We're Essenes, and have +not sent blood offerings to the Temple. Open not the +door. Sicarii or Zealots travel in search of heretics through +the cities of Samaria and Judea. Open not the door! +Men are for ever fooled, Saddoc continued, and will never +cease to open their doors to those who stand in need of +meat and drink. It will be safer, Jesus, to bid him away. +Tell him rather that we'll let down a basket of meat and +drink from the balcony to him. Art thou, Manahem, for +turning this man from the door or letting him in? Jesus +asked. There is no need to be frightened, Manahem +answered; he is but a wanderer, Saddoc. A wanderer +he cannot be, for he has found his way along the path +in the darkness of the night, Saddoc interjected. Open +not the door, I tell thee, or else we all hang on crosses +above the hills to-morrow. But, Saddoc, we are beholden +to the law not to refuse bed and board to the poor, +Manahem replied, returning from the door. If we do +not open, Jesus said, he will leave our door, and that +will be a greater misfortune than any that he may bring +us. Hearken, Saddoc! He speaks fair enough, Saddoc +replied; but we may plead that after sunset in the times +we live in—— But, Manahem, Jesus interjected, say +on which side thou art.... We know there is but one +man; and we are more than a match for one. Put a +sword in Saddoc's hand. No! Manahem! for I should +seem like a fool with a sword in my hand. Since +thou sayest there is but one man and we are three, it +might be unlucky to turn him from our doors. May I +then open to him? Jesus asked, and he began to unbar the +great door, and a heavy, thick-set man, weary of limb and +mind, staggered into the gallery, and stood looking from +one to the other, as if trying to guess which of the three +would be most likely to welcome him. His large and +bowed shoulders made his bald, egg-shaped skull (his +turban had fallen in his flight) seem ridiculously small; it +was bald to the ears, and a thick black beard spread over +the face like broom, and nearly to the eyes; thick black +eyebrows shaded eyes so piercing and brilliant that the +three Essenes were already aware that a man of great +energy had come amongst them. He had run up the +terraces despite his great girdlestead and he stood before +them like a hunted animal, breathing hard, looking from +one to the other, a red, callous hand scratching in his +shaggy chest, his eyes fixed first on Saddoc and then on +Manahem and lastly on Jesus, whom he seemed to +recognise as a friend. May I rest a little while? If so, +give me drink before I sleep, he asked. No food, but +drink. Why do ye not answer? Do ye fear me, mistaking +me for a robber? Or have I wandered among +robbers? Where am I? Hark: I am but a wayfarer and +thou'rt a shepherd of the hills, I know thee by thy garb, +thou'lt not refuse me shelter. And Jesus, turning to +Saddoc and Manahem, said: he shall have the mattress +I was to sleep upon. Give it to him, Manahem. Thou +shalt have food and a coverlet, he said, turning to the +wayfarer. No food! he cried; but a drink of water. +There is some ewe's milk on the shelf, Manahem. +Thou must be footsore, he said, giving the milk to the +stranger, who drank it greedily. I'll get thee a linen +garment so that thou mayst sleep more comfortable; and +I'll bathe thy feet before sleep; sleep will come easier in +a fresh garment. But to whose dwelling have I come? +the stranger asked. A shepherd told me the Essenes +lived among the rocks.... Am I among them? He +told me to keep close to the cliff's edge or I should topple +over. We watched thee, and it seemed every moment +that thou couldst not escape death. It will be well to ask +him his name and whence he comes, Saddoc whispered to +Manahem. The shepherd told thee that we are Essenes, +and it remains for thee to tell us whom we entertain. A +prisoner of the Romans—— A prisoner of the Romans! +Saddoc cried. Then indeed we are lost; a prisoner of the +Romans with soldiers perhaps at thy heels! A prisoner +fled from Roman justice may not lodge here.... Let us +put him beyond our doors. And becoming suddenly +courageous Saddoc went up to Paul and tried to lift him +to his feet. Manahem, aid me!</p> + +<p>Jesus, who had gone to fetch a basin of water and a +garment, returned and asked Saddoc and Manahem the +cause of their unseemly struggle with their guest. They +replied that their guest had told them he was a prisoner +of the Romans. Even so, Jesus answered, we cannot turn +him from our doors. These men have little understanding, +Paul answered. I'm not a criminal fled from Roman +justice, but a man escaped from Jewish persecution. Why +then didst thou say, cried Saddoc, that thou'rt a prisoner +of the Romans? Because I would not be taken to +Jerusalem to be tried before the Jews. I appealed to +Cæsar, and while waiting on the ship to take me to Italy, +Festus gave me leave to come here, for I heard that +there were Jews in Jericho of great piety, men unlike +the Jews of Jerusalem, who though circumcised in the +flesh are uncircumcised in heart and ear. Of all of +this I will tell you to-morrow, and do you tell me now +of him that followed me along the cliff. We saw no +one following thee; thou wast alone. He may have +missed me before I turned down the path coming from +Jericho. I speak of Timothy, my beloved son in the +faith. What strange man is this that we entertain for +the night? Saddoc whispered to Manahem. And if +any disciple of mine fall into the hands of the Jews +of Jerusalem—— We know not of what thou'rt speaking, +Jesus answered; and it is doubtless too long a +story to tell to-night. I must go at once in search +of Timothy, Paul said, and he turned towards the door. +The moon is setting, Jesus cried, and returning to-night +will mean thy death over the cliffs edge. There is no +strength in thy legs to keep thee to the path. I should +seek him in vain, Paul answered. Rest a little while, +Jesus said, and drink a little ewe's milk, and when thou +hast drunken I'll bathe thy feet.</p> + +<p>Without waiting for Paul's assent he knelt to untie +his sandals. We came from Cæsarea to Jericho to preach +the abrogation of the law. What strange thing is he +saying now? The abrogation of the law! Saddoc whispered +to Manahem. The people would not listen to us, and, +stirred up by the Jews, they sought to capture us, but we +escaped into the hills and hid in a cave that an angel +pointed out to us. Hark, an angel pointed out a cave +to him! Manahem whispered in Saddoc's ear. Then he +must be a good man, Saddoc answered, but we know not +if he speaks the truth. We have had too many prophets; +he is another, and of the same tribe, setting men by the +ears. We have had too many prophets!</p> + +<p>Now let me bathe thy feet, which are swollen, and after +bathing Paul's feet Jesus relieved him of his garment and +passed a white robe over his shoulders. Thou'lt sleep +easier in it. They would have done well to hearken to me, +Paul muttered. Thou'lt tell us thy story of ill treatment +to-morrow, Jesus said, and he laid Paul back on his +pillow, and a moment after he was asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Jesus feared to awaken him, but was constrained at last +to call after him: thou'rt dreaming, Paul. Awake! +Remember the Essenes ... friends, friends. But Paul +did not hear him, and it was not till Jesus laid his hand +on his shoulder that Paul opened his eyes: thou hast been +dreaming, Paul, Jesus said. Where am I? Paul inquired. +With the Essenes, Jesus answered. I was too tired to +sleep deeply, Paul said, and it would be useless for me to lie +down again. I am afraid of my dreams; and together they +stood looking across the abyss watching the rocks opposite +coming into their shapes against a strip of green sky.</p> + +<p>The ravine was still full of mist, and a long time seemed +to pass before the bridge and the ruins over against the +bridge began to appear. As the dawn advanced sleep +came upon Paul's eyelids. He lay down and dozed awhile, +for about an hour, and when he opened his eyes again +Jesus' hand was upon his shoulder and he was saying: Paul, +it is now daybreak: at the Brook Kerith we go forth to +meet the sunrise. To meet the sunrise, Paul repeated, +for he knew nothing of the doctrine of the Essenes. But +he followed Jesus through the gallery and received from +him a small hatchet with instructions how he should use +it, and a jar which he must fill with water at the well. +We carry water with us, Jesus said, for the way is long to +the brook; only by sending nearly to the source can we +reach it, for we are mindful not to foul the water we +drink. But come, we're late already. Jesus threw a +garment over Paul's shoulder and told him of the prayers +he must murmur. We do not speak of profane matters +till after sunrise. He broke off suddenly and pointed +to a place where they might dig: and as soon as we +have purified ourselves, he continued, we will fare forth +in search of shepherds, who, on being instructed by us, +will be watchful for a young man lost on the hills and +will direct him to the Essene settlement above the Brook +Kerith. Be of good courage, he will be found. Hadst +thou come before to-day myself would be seeking him +for thee, but yesterday I gave over my flock to Jacob, +a trustworthy lad, who will give the word to the next +one, and he will pass it on to another, and so the news +will be carried the best part of the way to Cæsarea before +noon. It may be that thy companion has found his way +to Cæsarea already, for some can return whither they +have come, however long and strange the way may be. +Pause, we shall hear Jacob's pipe answer mine. Jesus +played a few notes, which were answered immediately, +and not long afterwards the shepherd appeared over a +ridge of hills. Thy shepherd, Paul said, is but a few +years younger than Timothy and he looks to thee as +Timothy looks to me. Tell him who I am and whom +I seek. Jacob, Jesus said, thou didst tell me last night +of a preacher to whom the multitude would not listen, +but sought to throw into the Jordan. He has come +amongst us seeking his companion Timothy. The twain +escaped from the multitude, Jacob interjected. That is +true, Jesus answered, but they ran apart above the brook, +one keeping on to Cæsarea, this man followed the path +round the rocks (how he did it we are still wondering) +and climbed up to our dwelling. We must find his companion +for him. Jacob promised that every shepherd +should hear that a young man was missing. As soon as +a shepherd appears on yon hillside, Jacob said, he shall +have the word from me, and he will pass it on. Jesus +looked up into Paul's anxious face. We cannot do more, +he said, and began to speak with Jacob of rams and ewes +just as if Timothy had passed out of their minds. Paul +listened for a while, but finding little to beguile his +attention in their talk, he bade Jesus and Jacob good-bye +for the present, saying he was returning to the cenoby. +I wonder, he said to himself, as he went up the hill, if +they'd take interest in my craft, I could talk to them +for a long while of the thread which should always be +carefully chosen, and which should be smooth and of +equal strength, else, however deftly the shuttle be passed, +the woof would be rough. But no matter, if they'll get +news of Timothy for me I'll listen to their talk of rams +and ewes without complaint. It was kind of Jacob to say +he did not think Timothy had fallen down a precipice, but +what does he know? and on his way back Paul tried to +recall the ravine that he had seen in the dusk as he leaned +over the balcony with Jesus. And as he passed through +the domed gallery he stopped for a moment by the well, +it having struck him that he might ask the brother drawing +water to come with him to look for Timothy. If my son +were lying at the bottom of the ravine, he said, I should +not be able to get him out without help. Come with me.</p> + +<p>The Essene did not know who Paul was, nor of whom +he was speaking, and at the end of Paul's relation the +brother answered that there might be two hundred feet +from the pathway to the brook, more than that in many +places; but thou'lt see for thyself; I may not leave my +work. If a man be dying the Essene, by his rule, must +succour him, Paul said. But I know not, the Essene +answered, that any man be dying in the brook. We +believe thy comrade held on to the road to Cæsarea. So +it may have befallen, Paul said, but it may be else. It +may be, the Essene answered, but not likely. He held on +to the road to Cæsarea, and finding thee no longer with +him kept on—or rolled over the cliff, Paul interrupted. +Well, see for thyself; and if he be at the bottom I'll +come to help thee. But it is a long way down, and it +may be that we have no rope long enough, and without +one we cannot reach him, but forgive me, for I see that +my words hurt thee. But how else am I to speak? I +know thy words were meant kindly, and if thy president +should ask to see me thou'lt tell him I've gone down the +terraces and will return as soon as I have made search. +This search should have been made before. That was not +possible; the mist is only; just cleared, the brother answered, +and Paul proceeded up and down the terraces till he +reached the bridge, and after crossing it he mounted the +path and continued it, venturing close to the edge and looking +down the steep sides as he went, but seeing nowhere +any traces of Timothy. Had he fallen here, he said to himself, +he would be lying in the brook. But were Timothy +lying there I could not fail to see him, nor is there +water enough to wash him down into Jordan. It must +be he is seeking his way to Cæsarea. Let it be so, I +pray God, and Paul continued his search till he came to +where the path twisted round a rock debouching on to +the hillsides. We separated here, he said, looking round, +and then remembering that they had been pursued for +several miles into the hills and that the enemy's scouts +might be lurking in the neighbourhood, he turned back +and descended the path, convinced of the uselessness +of his search. We parted at that rock, Timothy keeping +to the left and myself turning to the right, and if anything +has befallen he must be sought for by shepherds, +aided by dogs. Only with the help of dogs can he be +traced, he said, and returning slowly to the bridge, he +stood there lost in feverish forebodings, new ones rising +up in his mind continually, for it might well be, he +reflected, that Timothy has been killed by robbers, for +these hills are infested by robbers and wild beasts, and +worse than the wild beasts and the robbers are the +Jews, who would pay a large sum of money for his +capture.</p> + +<p>And his thoughts running on incontinently, he imagined +Timothy a prisoner in Jerusalem and himself forced to +decide whether he should go there to defend Timothy +or abandon his mission. A terrible choice it would be for +him to have to choose between his duty towards men and +his love of his son, for Timothy was more to him than +many sons are to their fathers, the companion of all +his travels and his hope, for he was falling into years and +needed Timothy now more than ever. But it was not +likely that the Jews had heard that Timothy was travelling +from Jericho to Cæsarea, and it was a feverish +imagination of his to think that they would have time to +send out agents to capture Timothy. But if such a thing +befell how would he account to Eunice for the death +of the son that she had given him, wishing that somebody +should be near him to protect and to serve him. +He had thought never to see Eunice again, but if her son +perished he would have to see her. But no, there would +be no time—he had appealed to Cæsar. He must send a +letter to her telling that he had started out for Jericho. A +dangerous journey he knew it to be, but he was without +strength to resist the temptation of one more effort to +save the Jews: a hard, bitter, stiff-necked, stubborn race +that did not deserve salvation, that resisted it. He had +been scourged, how many times, at the instigation of the +Jews? and they had stoned him at Lystra, a city ever +dear to him, for it was there he had met Eunice; the +memories that gathered round her beautiful name calmed +his disquiet, and the brook murmuring under the bridge +through the silence of the gorge disposed Paul to indulge +his memory, and in it the past was so pathetic +and poignant that it was almost a pain to remember. +But he must remember, and following after a glimpse +of the synagogue and himself preaching in it there +came upon him a vision of a tall, grave woman since +known to him as a thorn in his flesh, but he need not +trouble to remember his sins, for had not God himself +forgiven him, telling him that his grace was enough? +Why then should he hesitate to recall the grave, oval face +that he had loved? He could see it as plainly in his +memory as if it were before him in the flesh, her eyes +asking for his help so appealingly that he had been constrained +to relinquish the crowd to Barnabas and give his +mind to Eunice. And they had walked on together, he +listening to her telling how she had not been to the +Synagogue for many years, for though she and her mother +were proselytes to the Jewish faith, neither practised it, +since her marriage, for her husband was a pagan. She +had indeed taught her son the Scriptures in Greek, but +no restraint had been put upon him; and she did not know +to what god or goddess he offered sacrifice. But last night +an angel visited her and told her that that which she had +always been seeking (though she had forgotten it) awaited +her in the synagogue. So she had gone thither and was +not disappointed. I've always been seeking him of whom +thou speakest. Her very words, and the very intonation +of her voice in these words came back to him; he had +put questions to her, and they had not come to the end of +their talk when Laos, calling from the doorstep, said: wilt +pass the door, Eunice, without asking the stranger to +cross it? Whereupon she turned her eyes on Paul and +asked him to forgive her for her forgetfulness, and +Barnabas arriving at that moment, she begged him to +enter.</p> + +<p>And they had stayed on and on, exceeding their apportioned +time, Barnabas reproving the delay, but always +agreeing that their departure should be adjourned +since it was Paul's wish to adjourn it. So Barnabas had +always spoken, for he was a weak man, and Paul acknowledged +to himself that he too was a weak man in those +days.</p> + +<p>Laos seemed to love Barnabas as a mother, and +Laos and Eunice were received by me into the faith, +Paul said. On these words his thoughts floated away +and he became absorbed in recollections of the house +in Lystra. The months he had spent with these +two women had been given to him, no doubt, as a +recompense for the labours he had endured to bring +men to believe that by faith only in our Lord Jesus +Christ could they be saved. He would never see +Lystra again with his physical eye, but it would always +be before him in his mind's eye: that terrible day the +Jews had dragged him and Barnabas outside the town +rose up before him. Only by feigning death did they +escape the fate of Stephen. In the evening the disciples +brought them back. Laos and Eunice sponged their +wounds, and at daybreak they left for Derbe, Barnabas +saying that perhaps God was angry at their delay in +Lystra and to bring them back to his work had bidden +the Jews stone them without killing them. Eunice was +not sure that Barnabas had not spoken truly, and Paul +remembered with gratitude that she always put his +mission before herself. Thou'lt be safer, she said, in +Derbe, and from Derbe thou must go on carrying the glad +tidings to the ends of the earth. But thou must not +forget thy Galatians, and when thou returnest to Lystra +Timothy will be old enough to follow thee. He had fared +for ever onwards over seas and lands, ever mindful of his +faithful Galatians and Eunice and her son whom she had +promised to him, and whom he had left learning Greek so +that he might fulfil the duties of amanuensis.</p> + +<p>The silence of the gorge and the murmur of the brook +enticed recollections and he was about to abandon himself +to memories of his second visit to Lystra when a voice +startled him from his reverie, and, looking round, he saw +a tall, thin man who held his head picturesquely. I +presume you are our guest, and seeing you alone, I laid +my notes aside and have come to offer my services to +you. Your services? Paul repeated. If you desire my +services, Mathias replied; and if I am mistaken, and you +do not require them, I will withdraw and apologise for +my intrusion. For your intrusion? Paul repeated. I am +your guest, and the guest of the Essenes, for last night +Timothy and myself were assailed by the Jews. By the +Jews? Mathias replied, but we are Jews. Whereupon +Paul told him of his journey from Cæsarea, and that he +barely escaped drowning in the Jordan. In the escape +from drowning Mathias showed little interest, but he was +curious to hear the doctrine that had given so much +offence. I spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul answered, +the one Mediator between God and man who was sent by +his Father to redeem the world. Only by faith in him +the world may be saved, and the Jews will not listen. +A hard, bitter, cruel race they are, that God will turn +from in the end, choosing another from the Gentiles, since +they will not accept him whom God has chosen to redeem +men by the death and resurrection from the dead of the +Lord Jesus Christ, raised from the dead by his Father. +Mathias raised his eyes at the words "resurrection from +the dead." Of whom was Paul speaking? He could still +be interested in miracles, but not in the question whether +the corruptible body could be raised up from earth to +heaven. He had wearied of that question long ago, and +was now propense to rail against the little interest the +Jews took in certain philosophical questions—the relation +of God to the universe, and suchlike—and he began to +speak to Paul of his country, Egypt, and of Alexandria's +schools of philosophy, continuing in this wise till Paul +asked him how it was that he had left a country where +the minds of the people were in harmony with his mind to +come to live among people whose thoughts were opposed +to his. That would be a long story to tell, Mathias +answered, and I am in the midst of my argument.</p> + +<p>The expression that began to move over Mathias' face +told Paul that he was asking himself once again what his +life would have been if he had remained in Alexandria. +Talking, he said, to these Essenes who stand midway +between Jerusalem and Alexandria my life has gone by. +Why I remained with them so long is a question I have +often asked myself. Why I came hither with them from +the cenoby on the eastern bank, that, too, is a matter +that I have never been able to decide. You have heard, +he continued, of the schism of the Essenes. How those +on the eastern bank believe that the order can only be +preserved by marriage, while those on the western bank, +the traditionalists up there on that rock in that aerie, +would rather the order died than that any change should +be made in the rule of life. In answer to a question from +Paul he said he did not believe that the order would survive +the schism. It may be, too, that I return to Alexandria. +No man knows his destiny; but if you be minded, he +said, to hear me, I will reserve a place near to me. My +mind is distracted, Paul replied, by fears for the safety +of Timothy; and perhaps to save himself from Mathias' +somewhat monotonous discourse he spoke of his apostolic +mission, interesting Mathias at once, who began to perceive +that Paul, however crude and elementary his conceptions +might be (so crude did they appear to Mathias that he +was not inclined to include them in his code of philosophical +notions at all), was a story in himself, and one +not lacking in interest; his ideas though crude were not +common, and their talk had lasted long enough for him to +discern many original turns of speech in Paul's incorrect +Greek, altogether lacking in construction, but betraying +constantly an abrupt vigour of thought. He was therefore +disappointed when Paul, dropping suddenly the story of the +apostolic mission, which he had received from the apostles, +who themselves had received it from the Lord Jesus Christ, +began to tell suddenly that on his return from his mission +to Cyprus with Barnabas he had preached in Derbe and +Lystra. It was in Lystra, he cried, that I met Timothy, +whom I circumcised with my own hand; he was then a +boy of ten, and his mother, who was a pious, God-fearing +woman, foresaw in him a disciple, and said when we left, +after having been cured by her and her mother of our +wounds, when thou returnest to the Galatians he will be +nearly old enough to follow thee, but tarry not so long, she +added. But it was a long while before I returned to +Lystra, and then Timothy was a young man, and ever since +our lives have been spent in the Lord's service, suffering +tortures from robbers that sought to obtain ransom. We +have been scourged and shipwrecked. But, said Mathias, +interrupting him, I know not of what you are speaking, +and Paul was obliged to go over laboriously in words the +story that he had dreamed in a few seconds. And when +it was told Mathias said: your story is worth telling. +After my lecture the brethren will be glad to listen to +you. But, said Paul, what I have told you is nothing to +what I could tell; and Mathias answered: so much the +better, for I shall not have to listen to a twice-told story. +And now, he added, I must leave you, for I have matter +that must be carefully thought out, and in those ruins +yonder my best thinking is done.</p> + +<p>Speak to the Essenes; tell them of my conversion? +Paul repeated. Why not? he asked himself, since he +was here and could not leave till nightfall. Festus had +given him leave to go to Jericho to preach while waiting for +the ship that was to take him to Rome, and he had found +in Jericho the intolerance that had dragged him out of +the Temple at Jerusalem; circumcision of the flesh but +no circumcision of the spirit.... But here! He had +been led to the Essenes by God, and all that had seemed +dark the night before now seemed clear to him. There +was no longer any doubt in his mind that the Lord +wished his chosen people to hear the truth before his +servant Paul left Palestine for ever. He had been led +by the Lord among these rocks, perhaps to find twelve +disciples, who would leave their rocks when they heard +the truth of the death and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth +and would carry the joyful tidings to the ends of the earth.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The Essenes, ten in number, were seated in an +embrasure. A reader had been chosen (an elder) to read +the Scriptures, and the attention of the community was +now engaged in judgment of his attempt to reconcile two +passages, one taken from Numbers in which it is said that +God is not as man, with another passage taken from +Deuteronomy in which God is said to be as man. He +had just finished telling the brethren that these two +passages were not in contradiction, the second being +introduced for the instruction of the multitude and not +because the nature of man is as God's nature, and, on +second thoughts, he added: nor must it be forgotten that +the Book of Deuteronomy was written when we were a +wandering tribe come out of the desert of Arabia, without +towns or cities, without a Temple, without an Ark—ours +having fallen into the hands of the Philistines. He +continued his gloss till Mathias held up his hand and +asked Hazael's permission to speak: the words that had +been quoted from Deuteronomy, those in which the +Scriptures speak of God as if he were a man, attributing +to him the acts and motives of man, were addressed, as +our reader has pointed out, to men who had hardly advanced +beyond the intelligence of childhood, whose minds were +still simple and unable to receive any idea of God except +the primitive notion that God is a greater man. Now the +reason for my interruption is this: I should like to point +out that for those who have passed beyond this stage, +whose intelligence is not limited to their imagination, and +whose will is not governed by selfish fears and hopes, +there is another lesson in the words: we can rise to the +consciousness of God as an absolute Being, of whom we +know only that he is, and not what he is, and this is what +is meant when God is spoken of by the name I am that I am.</p> + +<p>Eleazar was minded to speak: Mathias begged of him +not to withhold his thoughts, but to speak them, and it was +at this moment that Paul entered, walking softly, lest his +footsteps should interrupt Eleazar, whom he heard say that +he disagreed with the last part of Mathias' speech, inasmuch +as it would be against the word of the Scriptures +and likewise against all tradition to accept God as +no more than the absolute substance, which strictly +taken would exclude all differences and relation, even +the differences and relation of subject and object in self-consciousness. +I shall not be lacking in appreciation of +the wisdom of our learned brother, Paul heard him say, if +I venture to hold to the idea of a God whom we know at +least to be conscious, for he says: I am, a statement which +had much interest for Paul; and while considering it +he heard Manahem say: it is hard to conceive of God +except as a high principle of being and well-being in +the universe, who binds all things to each other in binding +them to himself. Then there are two Gods and not one +God, Saddoc interposed quickly, an objection to which +Manahem made this answer: not two Gods but two +aspects, thereby confuting Saddoc for the moment, who +muttered: two aspects which have, however, to be +reduced to unity.</p> + +<p>Paul's eyes went from Saddoc to Mathias, and he +thought that Mathias' face wore an expression of amused +contempt as he listened and called upon other disputants +to contribute their small thoughts to the discussion. +Encouraged by a wave of his hand, Caleb ventured to +remark: there is God and there is the word of God, +to which Hazael murmured this reply: there is only one +God; one who watches over his chosen people and over +all the other nations of the earth. But does God love +the other nations as dearly as the Hebrew people? +Manahem asked, and Hazael answered him: we may +not discriminate so far into the love of God, it being +infinite, but this we may say, that it is through the +Hebrew people that God makes manifest his love of +mankind, on condition, let it be understood, of their +obedience to his revealed will. And if I may add a +few words to the idea so eloquently suggested by our +Brother Mathias, I would say that God is the primal +substance out of which all things evolve. But these +words must not be taken too literally, thereby refusing to +God a personal consciousness, for God knows certainly all +the differences and all the relations, and we should overturn +all the teaching of Scripture and lose ourselves in +the errors of Greek philosophy if we held to the belief +of a God, absolute, pure, simple, detached from all +concern with his world and his people. But in what +measure, Manahem asked, laying his scroll upon his knees +and leaning forward, his long chin resting on his hand, +in what measure, he asked, speaking out of his deepest +self, are we to look upon God as a conscious being; if +Mathias could answer that question we should be grateful, +for it is the question which torments every Essene in the +solitude of his cell.</p> + +<p>Has any other brother here a word to say? Now you, +Brother Caleb? I am sure there is a thought in your +heart that we would all like to hear. Brother Saddoc, I +call upon thee! Brother Saddoc seemed to have no wish +to speak, but Mathias continued to press him, saying. +Brother Saddoc, for what else hast thou been seeking in +thy scroll but for a text whereon to base an argument? +And seeing that it was impossible for him to escape from +the fray of argument, Brother Saddoc answered that he +took his stand upon Deuteronomy. Do we not read that +the Lord thy God that goeth before thee shall fight for +thee, and in the desert thou hast seen that he bore thee, +as a man bears his sons, all the way that ye went till ye +came unto this place. But Saddoc, Eleazar interrupted, +has forgotten that one of the leading thoughts in this +discourse is that the words in Deuteronomy were written +for starving tribes that came out of Arabia rather than for +us to whom God has given the land of Canaan. We +were then among the rudiments of the world and man +was but a child, incapable, as Mathias has said, of the +knowledge of God as an absolute being. But then, +answered Saddoc, the Scriptures were not written for all +time. Was anything, Mathias murmured, written for all +time? Paul was about to ask himself if Mathias numbered +God among the many things that time wastes away when +his thought was interrupted by Manahem asking how we +are to understand the words, the heavens were created +before the earth. Do the Scriptures mean that intelligence +is prior to sense? Mathias' face lighted up, and, +foreseeing his opportunity to make show of his Greek +proficiency he began: heaven is our intelligence and the +earth our sensibility. The spirit descended into matter, +and God created man according to his image, as Moses said +and said well, for no creature is more like to God than +man: not in bodily form (God is without body), but in +his intelligence; for the intelligence of every man is in a +little the intelligence of the universe, and it may be said +that the intelligence lives in the flesh that bears it as God +himself lives in the universe, being in some sort a God of +the body, which carries it about like an image in a shrine. +Thus the intelligence occupies the same place in man as +the great President occupies in the universe—being itself +invisible while it sees everything, and having its own +essence hidden while it penetrates the essences of all +other things. Also, by its arts and sciences, it finds its +way through the earth and through the seas, and searches +out everything that is contained in them. And then +again it rises on wings and, looking down upon the air and +all its commotions, it is borne upwards to the sky and the +revolving heavens and accompanies the choral dances of +the planets and stars fixed according to the laws of music. +And led by love, the guide of wisdom, it proceeds still +onward till it transcends all that is capable of being +apprehended by the senses, and rises to that which is +perceptible only by the intellect. And there, seeing in +their surpassing beauty the original ideas and archetypes +of all the things which sense finds beautiful, it becomes +possessed by a sober intoxication, like the Corybantian +revellers, and is filled with a still stronger longing, which +bears it up to the highest summit of the intelligible world +till it seems to approach to the great king of the intelligible +world himself. And while it is eagerly seeking to +behold him in all his glory, rays of divine light are +pouring forth upon it which by their exceeding brilliance +dazzle the eyes of the intelligence.</p> + +<p>Whilst he spoke, his periods constructed with regard for +every comma, Mathias' eyes were directed so frequently +towards Paul that Paul could not but think that Mathias +was vaunting his knowledge of Greek expressly, as if to +reprove him, Paul, for the Aramaic idiom that he had +never been able to wring out of his Greek, which he +regretted, but which, after hearing Mathias, he would not +be without; for to rid himself of it he would have to +sacrifice the spirit to the outer form; as well might he +offer sacrifice to the heathen gods; and he could not take +his eyes off the tall, lean figure showing against the blue +sky, for Mathias spoke from the balcony, flinging his grey +locks from his forehead, uncertain if he should break into +another eloquent period or call upon Paul to speak. He +was curious to hear Paul, having divined a quick intelligence +beneath an abrupt form that was withal not +without beauty; he advanced towards Hazael and, leaning +over his chair, whispered to him. He is telling, Paul +said to himself, that it would be well to hear me as I +am about to start for Rome to proclaim the truth in +that city wherein all nations assemble. Well, let it be so, +since it was to this I was called hither.</p> + +<p>Hazael raised his eyes and was about to ask Paul to +speak, but at that moment the bakers arrived with their +bread baskets, and the Essenes moved from the deep +embrasure in the wall into the domed gallery, each one +departing into his cell and returning clothed in a white +garment and white veil. Paul was about to withdraw, but +Hazael said to him: none shares this repast with us; it is +against the rule; but so many of the rules of the brethren +have been set aside in these later days that, with the +consent of all, I will break another rule and ask Paul of +Tarsus to sit with us though he be not of our brotherhood, +for is he not our brother in the love of God, which he has +preached travelling over sea and land with it for ever in +his mouth for the last twenty years. Preaching, Paul +answered, the glad tidings of the resurrection, believing +myself to have been bidden by the same will of God +that called me hither and saved me from death many +times that I might continue to be the humble instrument +of his will. I will tell you that I was behoven to preach +in Jericho—called out of myself—God knowing well +they would not hear me and would drive me into the +mountains and turn my feet by night to this place. Be it +so, Paul, thou shalt tell thy story, the president answered, +and the cook put a plate of lentils before the brethren +and the baker set by each plate a loaf of bread, and +everyone waited till the grace had been repeated before +he tasted food. The peace, concord and good will; all +that he had recommended in his Epistles; Paul saw +around him, and he looked forward to teaching the +Essenes of the approaching end of the world, convinced +that God in his great justice would not allow him, Paul, to +leave Palestine without every worthy servant hearing +the truth. So he was impatient to make an end of the +food before him, for the sustenance of the body was of +little importance to him, its only use being to bear the +spirit and to fortify it. He took counsel therefore with +himself while eating as to the story he should tell, and +his mind was ready with it when the president said: +Paul, our meal is finished now; we would hear thee.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXIV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Yesterday the Jews would have thrown me into the +Jordan or stoned me together with Timothy, my son in +the faith, who instead of following me round the hill +shoulder kept straight on for Cæsarea, where I pray that +I may find him. These things you know of me, for three +of the brethren were on that balcony yesternight when, +upheld by the will of God, my feet were kept fast in +the path that runs round this ravine. The Jews had +abandoned their hunt when I arrived at your door, +awakening fear in Brother Saddoc's heart that I was a +robber or the head of some band of robbers. Such +thoughts must have disturbed his mind when he saw me, +and they were not driven off when I declared myself a +prisoner to the Romans; for he besought me to depart +lest my presence should bring all here within the grip of +the Roman power. A hard and ruthless power it may be, +but less bitter than the power which the Jews crave from +the Romans to compel all to follow not the law alone, but +the traditions that have grown about the law. But you +brethren who send no fat rams to the Temple for sacrifice, +but worship God out of your own hearts, will have pity +for me who have been persecuted by the Jews of Jerusalem +(who in their own eyes are the only Jews) for no reason +but that I preach the death and the resurrection from the +dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose apostle I am, being +so made by himself when he spoke to me out of the +clouds on the road to Damascus.</p> + +<p>Of this great wonder you shall hear in good time, but +before beginning the story you have asked me to relate +I would before all calm Brother Saddoc's fears: I am no +prisoner as he imagines me to be, but am under the law +to return to Cæsarea, having appealed to Cæsar as was +my right to do, being a Roman citizen long persecuted +by the Jews; and I would thank you for the blankets +I enjoyed last night and for the bread I have broken +with you. Also for the promise that I have that one +of you shall at nightfall put me on the way to Cæsarea +and accompany me part of the way, so that I may +not fall into the hands of my enemies the Jews, of +Jerusalem, but shall reach Cæsarea to take ship for Rome. +None of you need fear anything; you have my assurances; +I am here by the permission of the noble Festus.</p> + +<p>And now that you have learnt from me the hazard +that cast me among you I will tell you that I am a Jew +like yourselves: one born in Tarsus, a great city of +Cilicia; a Roman citizen as you have heard from me, a +privilege which was not bought by me for a great sum +of money, nor by any act of mine, but inherited from +my father, a Hebrew like yourselves, and descended from +the stock of Abraham like yourselves. And by trade a +weaver of that cloth of which tents are made; for my +father gave me that trade, for which I thank him, for +by it I have earned my living these many years, in various +countries and cities. At an early age I was a skilful +hand at the loom, and at the same time learned in the +Scriptures, and my father, seeing a Rabbi in me, sent +me to Jerusalem, and while I was taught the law I +remember hearing of the Baptist, and the priests of the +Temple muttering against him, but they were afraid to +send men against him, for he was in great favour with +the people. Afterwards I returned to Tarsus, where I +worked daily at my loom until tidings came to that city +that a disciple of John was preaching the destruction +of the law, saying that he could destroy the Temple +and build it up again in three days. We spoke under +our breaths in Tarsus of this man, hardly able to believe +that anyone could be so blasphemous and reprobate, and +when we heard of his death upon a cross we were overjoyed +and thought the Pharisees had done well; for we +were full of zeal for the traditions and the ancient glory +of our people. We believed then that heresy and blasphemy +were at an end, and when news came of one +Stephen, who had revived all the stories that Jesus told, +that the end of the world was nigh and that the Temple +could be destroyed and built up again, I laid my loom +aside and started for Jerusalem in great anger to join +with those who would root out the Nazarenes: we are +now known as Christians, the name given to us at +Antioch.</p> + +<p>I was telling that I laid aside my loom in Tarsus and +set out for Jerusalem to aid in rooting out the sect that +I held to be blasphemous and pernicious. Now on the +day of my arrival in that city, while coming from the +Temple I saw three men hurrying by, one whose face +was white as the dead, with a small crowd following; +and everyone saying: not here, not here! And as they +spoke stones were being gathered, and I knew that they +were for stoning the man they had with them, one +Stephen, they said, who had been teaching in the Temple +that Jesus was born and died and raised from the dead, +and that since his death the law is of no account. So +did I gather news and with it abhorrence, and followed +them till they came to an angle, at which they said: +this corner will do. Stephen was thrown into it, and +stones of all kinds were heaped upon him till one spattered +his brains along the wall, after which the crowd muttered, +we shall have no more of them.</p> + +<p>That day I was of the crowd, and the stone that +spattered the brains of Stephen along the wall seemed +to me to have been well cast; I hated those who spoke +against the law of our fathers, which I held in reverence, +as essential and to be practised for all time; and the mild +steadfastness in their faces, and the great love that shone +in their eyes when the name of our Lord Jesus Christ +was mentioned, instead of persuading me that I might +be persecuting saints, exasperated me to further misdeeds. +I became foremost in these persecutions, and informed by +spies of the names of the saints, I made search in their +houses at the head of armed agents and dragged them +into the synagogue, compelling them to renounce the +truth that the Messiah had come which had been promised +in the Scriptures. Nor was I satisfied when the +last Nazarene had been rooted out of Jerusalem, but +cast my eyes forward to other towns, into which the +saints might have fled, and, hearing that many were in +Damascus, I got letters from the chief priests and started +forth in a fume of rage which I strove to blow up with +the threats of what we would put the saints to when +we reached Damascus. But while the threats were on +my lips there was in my heart a mighty questioning, from +which I did not seem to escape, perhaps because I had +not thrown a stone but stood by an approving spectator +merely. I know not how it was, but as we forded the +Jordan the cruelties that I had been guilty of, the inquisitions, +the beatings with rods, the imprisonment—all +these things rose up in my mind, a terrible troop of +phantoms. Gentle faces and words of forgiveness floated +past me one night as we lay encamped in a great quarry, +and I asked myself again if these saints were what they +seemed to be; and soon after the thought crossed my +mind that if the Nazarenes were the saints that they +seemed to be, bearing their flogging and imprisonments +with fortitude, without complaint, it was of persecuting +God I was guilty, since all goodness comes from God.</p> + +<p>I had asked for letters from Hanan, the High Priest, +that would give me the right to arrest all ill thinkers, +and to lead them back in chains to Jerusalem, and these +letters seemed to take fire in my bosom, and when we +came in view of the town, and saw the roofs between the +trees, I heard a voice crying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest +thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the +pricks; and trembling I fell forward, my face upon the +ground, and the Lord said: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. +Arise, and go into the city and it shall be told +to thee what thou must do; by these words appointing +me his apostle and establishing my rights above those of +Peter or John or James or any of the twelve who walked +with him whilst he lived as a man in Galilee. My followers, +who were merely stricken, but not blinded as I was, took +me by the arm and led me into Damascus, where I abode +as a blind man till Ananias laid his hands upon me and +the scales fell from my eyes, and I cried out for baptism, +and having received baptism, which is spiritual strength, +and taken food, which is bodily, I went up to the synagogue +to preach that Jesus is the son of God, and continued +till the Jews in that city rose up against me and +would have killed me if I had not escaped by night, let +down from the wall in a basket.</p> + +<p>From Damascus I went into Arabia, and did not go up +to Jerusalem for three years to confer with the apostles, +nor was there need that I should do so, for had I not +received my apostleship by direct revelation? But after +three years I went thither, hearing that the persecutions +had ceased, and that some of those whom I had persecuted +had returned. The brother of Jesus, James, had come +down from Galilee and as a holy man was a great power in +Jerusalem. His prayers were valued, and his appearance +excited pity and belief that God would hearken to him +when he knelt, for he was naked but for a coarse cloth +hanging from his neck to his ankles. Of water and +cleanliness he knew naught, and his beard and hair grew +as the weeds grow in the fields. Peter, too, was in +Jerusalem, and come into a great girth since the toil +of his craft, as a fisher, had been abandoned, as it had +to be, for, as ye know, it is dry desert about Jerusalem, +without lakes or streams. But he lived there better than +he had ever lived before, by talking of our Lord Jesus +Christ, of whom it was no longer a danger to talk, for +James had made his brother acceptable in Jerusalem +by lopping from him all that was Jesus, making him +according to his own image; with these Christians he no +longer stood up as an opponent of the law, but as one +who believed in it, who had said: I come not to abolish +the law but to confirm it. So did his brother James +interpret Jesus to me who had heard Jesus speak out +of the spirit, and when I answered that he had said too +that he had come to abolish the law, James answered +only that his brother had said many things and that some +were not as wise as others. Peter, who was called upon +to testify that Jesus wished the Jews to remain Jews, and +that circumcision and all the observances were needed, +answered that he did not know which was the truth, +Jesus not having spoken plainly on these matters, and +neither one nor the other seemed to understand that it +was of no avail that Jesus should have been born, should +have died and been raised from the dead by his Father +if the law were to prevail unchanged for evermore. +To James and to Peter Jesus was a prophet, but no +more than the prophets, and unable to understand either +Peter or Jesus, I returned to Tarsus broken-hearted, for +there did not seem to be on earth a true Christian but +myself, and I knew not whom to preach to, Gentiles or +Jews. Only of one thing was I sure, that the Lord Jesus +Christ had spoken to me out of the clouds and ordained +me his apostle, but he had not pointed out the way, and +I mourned that I had gone up to Jerusalem, and abode +in Tarsus disheartened, resuming my loom, sitting at it +from daylight till dark, waiting for some new sign to be +given me, for I did not lose hope altogether, but, knowing +well that the ways of Providence are not immediate, +waited in patience or in such patience as I might possess +myself. Barnabas I had forgotten, and he was forgotten +when I said that I had met none in Jerusalem that could +be said to be a follower of the Master.</p> + +<p>It was Barnabas who brought me to James, the +brother of the Lord, and to Peter, and told them that +though I had persecuted I was now zealous, and had +preached in many synagogues that Christ Jesus had died +and been raised from the dead. But whether they feared +me as a spy, one who would betray them, or whether it +was that our minds were divided upon many things, I +know not, but Barnabas could not persuade them, and, +as I have said, I left Jerusalem and returned to Tarsus, +and resumed my trade, until Barnabas, who had been sent +to Antioch to meet some disciples, said to them, but there +is one at Tarsus who has preached the life and death of our +Lord Jesus Christ and brought many to believe in him. +So they said to him: go to Tarsus for this man and bring +him hither. And when they had seen and conferred with +me and knew what sort of man I was, Barnabas said, with +your permission and your authority, Paul and I will start +together for Cyprus, for that is my country, and my friends +there will believe us when we tell them that Jesus was +raised from the dead and was seen by many: first by +Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, and afterwards +by Peter and by the apostles and many others. As the +disciples were willing that we should go to preach the +Gospel in Cyprus, we went thither furnished with letters, +and received a kindly welcome from everybody, as it had +been foretold by Barnabas, and many heard the Gospel, +and if my stay among you Essenes could be prolonged +beyond this evening and for several days I could tell +you stories of a great magician and how he was confuted +by me by the grace of God working through me, but as +everything cannot be told in the first telling I will pass +from Cyprus back to Antioch, where we rested awhile, so +that we might tell the brethren of the great joy with +which the faith had been received in Cyprus, of the +churches we founded and our promise to the Cyprians +to return to them.</p> + +<p>And so joyful were the brethren in Antioch at our +success that I said to Barnabas: let us not tarry here, +but go on into Galatia. We set out, accompanied by John +Mark, Barnabas' cousin, but he left us at Perga, being +afraid, and for his lack of courage I was unable to forgive +him, thereby estranging myself later on from Barnabas, +a God-fearing man. But to tell you what happened at +Lystra. We found the people there ready to listen to the +faith, and it was given to me to set a cripple that had +never walked in his life straight upon his feet, and as +sturdily as any. The people cried out at this wonder, the +gods have come down to us, and when the rumour reached +the High Priest that the gods had come to their city, he +drove out two oxen, garlanded, and would have sacrificed +them in our honour, but we tore our garments, saying, we +are men like yourselves and have come to preach that +you should turn from vanities and false gods and worship +the one true living God, who created the earth, and all +the firmament. The people heard us and promised to +abjure their idolatries, and would have abjured them for +ever if the Jews from the neighbouring cities had not +heard of our preaching and had not gathered together +and denounced us in Lystra, where there were no Jews, +or very few. Nor were they content with denouncing us, +but on a convenient occasion dragged Barnabas and myself +outside the town, stoned us and left us for dead, for we, +knowing that God required us, feigned death, thereby +deceiving them and escaping death we returned to the +town by night and left it next day for Derbe.</p> + +<p>Now, Essenes, this story that I tell of what happened +to us at Lystra has been told with some care by me, for it +is significant of what has happened to me for twenty years, +since the day, as you have heard, when the Lord Jesus +himself spoke to me out of the clouds and appointed me +to preach the Gospel he had given unto me, which, upheld +by him, I have preached faithfully, followed wherever I +went by persecution from Jews determined to undo my +work. But undeterred by stones and threats, we returned +to Lystra and preached there again, and in Perga and +Attalia, from thence we sailed to Antioch, and there were +great rejoicings in Saigon Street, as we sat in the doorways +telling of the churches that we founded in Galatia, +and how we flung open the door of truth to the pagans, +and how many had passed through.</p> + +<p>But some came from Jerusalem preaching that the +uncircumcised could not hope for salvation, and that there +could be no conversion unless the law be observed, and +the first observance of the law, they said, is circumcision. +We answered them as is our wont that it is no longer by +observances of the law but by grace, through our Lord +Jesus Christ, that men may be saved; and we being +unable to yield to them or they to us, it was resolved that +Barnabas and Titus, a Gentile that we brought over to +the faith, should go to Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>On the way thither we preached that the Saviour +promised to the Jews had come, and been raised from +the dead, and the Samaritans hearkened and were converted +in great numbers, and the news of these conversions +preceding us the joy among the brethren was very great, +for you, who know the Scriptures, need not be told that +the conversion of the Gentiles has been foretold; nor +was it till we began to talk about the abrogation of +the law that James and the followers of James rose up +against us. We wondered, and said to each other: were +ever two brothers as unlike as these? Though myself +had never seen the Lord in the flesh, I knew of him from +Peter, and we whispered together with our eyes fixed on +the long, lean man whose knees were reported callous +from kneeling in the Temple praying that God might not +yet awhile destroy the world. It was sufficient, so it was +said, for him to hold up his hand to perform miracles, and +we came to dislike him and to remember that he had +always looked upon Jesus our Lord with suspicion during +his lifetime. Why then, we asked, should he come into +power derived from his brother's glory?</p> + +<p>He seemed to be less likely than any other Jew to +understand the new truth born into the world. So I turned +from him to Peter, in whom I thought to find an advocate, +knowing him to be one with us in this, saying that it were +vain to ask the Gentiles to accept a yoke which the Hebrews +themselves had been unable to bear; but Peter was still +the timid man that he had ever been, and myself being +of small wit in large and violent assemblies said to him: +thou and I and James will consult together in private at +the end of this uproar. But James could not come to +my reason, saying always that the Gentiles must become +Jews before they became Christians; and remembering +very well all the trouble and vexation the demand for the +circumcision of Titus had put upon me (to which I consented, +for with a Jew I am a Jew so that I may gain +them), and how he had submitted himself lest he should +be a stumbling-block, I said to Timothy, my own son in +the faith, thy mother and grandmother were hearers of +the law, and he answered, let me be a Jew externally, +and myself took and circumcised. A good accommodation +Peter thought this to be, and I said to Peter, henceforth +for thee the circumcised and for me the uncircumcised. +Against which Peter and James had nothing to say, for it +seemed to them that the uncircumcised were one thing +in Jerusalem and another thing beyond Jerusalem. But +I was glad thus to come to terms with them, thinking +thereby to obtain from them the confirmation of my +apostleship, though there was no need for any such, as I +have always held, it having teen bestowed upon me by our +Lord Jesus Christ himself; and holding it to be of little +account that they had known our Lord Jesus in the flesh, +I said to their faces, it were better to have known him in +the spirit, thereby darkening them. It might have been +better to have held back the words.</p> + +<p>Myself and Barnabas and Titus returned to Antioch +and it was some days after that I said to Barnabas: let us +go again into the cities in which we have preached and +see if the brethren abide in our teaching and how they +do with it. But Barnabas would bring John Mark with +him, he who had left us before in Perga from cowardice +of soul. Therefore I chose Silas and departed. He was +our warrant that we were one with the Church of Jerusalem, +which was true inasmuch as we were willing to yield all +but essential things so that everybody, Jews and Gentiles, +might be brought into communion with Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>We went together to Lystra and Mysia, preaching in all +these towns, and the brethren were confirmed in their +faith in us, and leaving them we were about to set out for +Bithynia and would have gone thither had we not been +warned one night by the Holy Breath to go back, and +instead we went to Troas, where one night a vision came +to me in my sleep: a man stood before me at the foot +of my bed, a Macedonian I knew him to be, by his dress +and speech, for he spoke not the broken Greek that I +speak, but pure Greek, the Greek that Mathias speaks, +and he told me that we were to go over into Macedonia.</p> + +<p>To tell of all the countries we visited and the towns in +which we preached, and the many that were received into +the faith, would be a story that would carry us through +the night and into the next day, for it would be the story +of my life, and every life is long when it is put into words; +nor would the story be profitable unto you in any great +measure, though it be full of various incidents. But I am +behoven to tell that wherever we went the persecution +that began in Lystra followed us. As soon as the Jews +heard of our conversions they assembled either to assault +us or to lay complaints before the Roman magistrates, as +they did at Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia. Among +my miracles was the conversion of a slave, a pythonist, a +teller of fortunes, a caster of horoscopes, who brought her +master good money by her divinations, and seeing that he +would profit thereby no longer, he drew myself and Silas +into the market-place and calling for help of others had +us brought before the rulers, and the pleading of the man +was, and he was supported by others, that we taught many +things that it was not lawful of them, being Jews, to +hearken to, and the magistrates, wishing to please the +multitude, commanded us to be beaten, and when many +stripes had been laid on us we were cast into prison, and +the jailer being charged to keep us in safety thrust our +feet into the stocks.</p> + +<p>Myself and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God +despite our wounds, and as if in response there was a +great earthquake, and the prison was shaken and all the +doors opened, on seeing which the keeper of the prison +drew his sword and would have fallen upon it, believing +that the prisoners had fled, if I had not cried to him in +a loud voice: there is no reason to kill thyself, for thy +charges are here. What may I do to be saved? he said, +being greatly astonished at the miracle, and we answered: +believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thereupon he invited +us into his house and set food before us, and he was +baptized and bidden to have no fear, for we confided to +him that we were Romans, and that the magistrates would +tremble when they heard that they had ordered a citizen +of Rome to be beaten and him uncondemned. Why, he +asked, did ye not declare yourselves to be Romans? Because, +we answered, we were minded to suffer for our Lord +Jesus Christ's son, at which he wondered and gave thanks. +He was baptized by us, and when he had carried the news +of their mistake to the ears of the magistrates they sent +sergeants saying that we were to be allowed to go. But +we refused to leave the prison, saying, we are Romans and +have been beaten uncondemned. Let the magistrates +come to fetch us. Which message being taken to them +they came beseeching us to go, and not to injure them, +for they had done wrong unwittingly, and taking pity of +them for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ we passed +into Thessalonica, where I preached in the synagogues for +three Sabbaths and reasoned with the Jews, showing them +passages in the Scriptures confirming all that we said to +them about the Christ that had suffered and been raised from +the dead. Some believed, and others assaulted the house +of Jason, in which we were living, and the Romans were +perplexed to know how to keep order, for wherever we +went there were stirs and quarrels among the Jews, the +fault being with them and not with us. In Corinth too +the Jews pleaded against us before the Roman magistrates +and——</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXV.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A sudden dryness in Paul's throat prevented him from +finishing his sentence, and he asked for a cup of water, and +having drained it he put down the cup and said, looking +round, I was speaking to you about Corinth. The moment +seemed a favourable one to Mathias to ask a question. +How was it, he said, that you passed on to Corinth without +stopping at Athens? I made stay at Athens, Paul +answered, and I thank you, Mathias, for having reminded +me of Athens, for the current of my discourse had borne +me past that city, so eager was I to tell of the persecutions +of the Jews. We are all Jews here! I speak only of the +Hierosolymites who understand only that the law has +been revealed, and we have only to follow it; though, +indeed, some of them cannot tell us why we should follow +any law, since they do not believe in any life except the +sad life we lead on the surface of this earth.</p> + +<p>But you asked me, Mathias, about Athens. A city of +graven images and statues and altars to gods. On +raising my eyes I always saw their marble deities—effigies, +they said, of all the spirits of the earth and sea +and the clouds above the earth and the heavens beyond +the clouds. Whereupon I answered that these statues +that they had carved with their hands could in no wise +resemble any gods even if the gods had existence outside +of their images, for none sees God. Moses heard God on +Mount Sinai, but he saw only the hinderparts; which is +an allegory, for there are two covenants, and I come +to reveal—— Whereat they were much amused and said: +if Moses saw the hinderparts why should we not see the +faces, for our eyes see beauty, whereas the Hebrews see +but the backside? At which I showed no anger, for they +were not Jews, but strove, as it is my custom, to be all +things to all men. The Jews require a miracle, the +Greeks demand reason, and therefore I asked them why +they set up altars to the unknowable God. And they +said: Paul, thou readest our language as badly as thou +speakest it; we have inscriptions "to unknown gods" but +not to the unknowable God. Didst go to school at +Tarsus, yet canst not tell the plural from the singular? +To which I answered: then you are so religious-minded +that you would not offend any god whose name +you might not have heard, and so favour him by the +inscription to an unknown God? But some of your +philosophers, Athenians, call God unknowable. I knew +this before I learnt how superstitious ye are. Ye are +all alike ignorant since God left you to your sins for your +idolatry; God, unknown or unknowable, has been made +manifest to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born +like us all for a purpose, his death, which was to save the +world from its sins, whereupon, greedy for a story, they +began to listen to me, and I had their attention till I +came to these words—"And was raised by his Father +from the dead." Paul, they answered, we will listen +another day to the rest of this story of thy new divinity.</p> + +<p>A frivolous people, Mathias, living in a city of statues +in the air, and in the streets below a city of men that seek +after reason, and would explain all things in the heavens +above and the earth beneath by their reason, and only +willing to listen to the story of a miracle because miracles +amuse them. A race much given to enjoyment, like +women, Mathias, and among their mountains they are not +a different race from what they are in the city, but given +to milking goats and dancing in the shade to the sounds +of a pipe, and dreaming over the past glories of Athens, +that are dust to-day though yesterday they were realities, +a light race that will be soon forgotten, and convinced of +their transience I departed for Corinth, a city of fencing +masters, merchants, slaves, courtesans, yet a city more +willing to hearken to the truth than the light Athenians, +perhaps because it has much commerce and is not slothful +in business, a city wherein I fortuned upon a pious twain, +Aquila and Priscilla, of our faith, and of the same trade as +myself, wherefore we set up our looms together in one +house and sold the cloths as we weaved them, getting our +living thereby and never costing the faithful anything, +which was just pride, and mine always, for I have travelled +the world over gaining a living with my own hands, never +taking money from anybody, though it has been offered +to me in plenty by the devout, thinking it better to be +under no obligation, for such destroys independence....</p> + +<p>Once only was this rule broken by me. In Macedonia, +a dyer of purple—— But Lydia's story concerns ye not, +therefore I will leave her story untold and return to +Corinth, to Priscilla and Aquila, weavers like myself, with +whom I worked for eighteen months, and more than that; +preaching the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus +Christ to all who would hear us when our daily work was +done, until the same fate befell us—the intervention of +the Jews, who sought to embroil us, as beforetimes, with +the Romans.</p> + +<p>We preached in the synagogues on the Sabbath and I +upheld the faith I had come to preach: that the Messiah +promised to the Jews had lived and had died for us. +Whereupon there was a great uproar among the Jews, +who would not believe, and so I tore my garments and +said: then I will go forth to the Gentiles, and find +believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and leave you who +were elected by God as his chosen people, who were his +by adoption, a privilege conferred upon you throughout +the centuries, the race out of whom came the patriarchs, +and Jesus Christ himself in the flesh. I will leave you, +for you are not worthy and will perish as all flesh +perishes; will drift into nothingness, and be scattered +even as the dust of the roads is scattered by the winds. +My heart is broken for you, but since ye will it so, let +it be so.</p> + +<p>So did I speak, but my heart is often tenderer than my +words, and I strove again to be reconciled with the Jews, +and abode in Corinth proving their folly to them by the +Scriptures till again they sought to rid themselves of +me by means of the Romans, saying before Gallic: this +fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the +law. But Gallic, understanding fully that his judgment +seat had not been set up for the settling of disputes of +the spirit, but of the things of this world, drove the Jews +out of his court, and there was an uproar and Sosthenes, +a God-fearing man, was beaten. Yet for the sake of the +race of the patriarchs, the chosen people of God, I abode +in Corinth till the close of the second year, when news +reached me of the many dissensions that had arisen in +Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>The old questions always stirring: whether the +Gentiles should be admitted without circumcision and if +the observances of the law were sufficient; if salvation +could be obtained by works without faith, and many other +questions that I thought had long been decided; in the +hope of putting an end to these discussions, which could +only end in schism, I bade the brethren good-bye on the +wharf, and, shaving my head as a sign of my vow to keep +the Feast of Pentecost, I set sail with Aquila and Priscilla +for Syria and left them at Ephesus, though there were +many Christians there who prayed me to remain and +speak to them; but pointing to my shaved head, I said, +my vow! and went down to Jerusalem and kept the +Feast of Pentecost and distributed money among the +poor, which had been given to me by the churches +founded by me in Macedonia, in Greece and Syria.</p> + +<p>I hoped to escape from discussion with James, the +brother of the Lord, for of what good could it be to +discuss once again things on which it is our nature to +think differently, but upheld by hope that the Jews +might be numbered among the faithful at the last day I +told him that the Jews were the root of the olive-trees +whose branches had been cut, and had received grafts, but +let not the grafts, I said, indulge in vainglory; it is not the +branches that bear the root, but the root that bears the +branches. And many other things of this sort did I say, +wishing to be in all things conciliatory; to be, as usual, +all things to all men; but James, the brother of the +Lord, answered that Jesus had not come to abrogate the +law but to confirm it, which was not true, for the law +stood in no need of confirmation. James could do that +as well as his brother and better, and Peter not being +there to bear witness of the teaching of Jesus (he too +had gone forth upon a mission with John Mark as an +interpreter, for Peter cannot speak Greek), Silas, who was +with me, was won over by James, and easily, for Silas was +originally of the Church of Jerusalem; as I have already +told you, he had been sent with us to Antioch.</p> + +<p>But I would not weary you with such small matters as +Silas' desertion of me to join Peter, who was preaching +in Syria, and whose doctrine he said was nearer to Jesus' +than mine, it having been given to him by Jesus, whom +he had known in the flesh. So be it, I said to Silas, and +went without him to Antioch, a city dear to me for that +it was there the word Christian was spoken for the first +time; my return thither was fortunate, for there I met +Barnabas, whom it was pleasant after these many years to +meet again, all memory of our dissension was forgotten, +which was no great matter, it having arisen out of no +deeper cause than my refusal to travel with John Mark, +his cousin. Titus was there too, and we had much to +tell each other of our travels and the conversions +we had made, and all was joy amongst us; and our +joy was increased by Peter, who appeared amongst +us, bringing Silas with him, who must have been +grieved though he said nothing to me of it; but who +must have seen that the law to which he was attached +was forgotten at Antioch; not by us only, but by his new +leader, Peter, who mixed like ourselves with the Gentiles +and did not refuse to eat with them.</p> + +<p>A moment indeed of great joy this was, but it did +not last longer than many other moments of the same +kind with which my life has been sprinkled. James, the +brother of the Lord, sent up agents to Antioch with +letters signed by himself. They had come to tell the +people that I had not authority to teach, and could not +be considered by anybody as a true apostle, for I had not +known the Christ, it was said: and when I answered +them that my authority came straight from him, they +began to make little of my revelation, saying: even if +thou didst hear the Christ on the road to Damascus, as +thou sayest, it was but for a few minutes, and he couldn't +teach thee all his doctrine in a few minutes. A year or +more would be required. Thou wast deceived. No vision +can be taken as of equal evidence to the senses. Those +that we see in a vision may be but the evil spirits that, +if it were possible, would deceive the very elect. If we +question an apparition it answers anything that we wish. +The spectre shines for an instant and disappears quickly +before one has time to put further questions; the thoughts +of the dreamer are not under his control. To see the +Son of God outside of the natural flesh is impossible. +Even an angel wishing to be seen has to clothe himself in +flesh. Nor were they satisfied with such sayings as these, +but mentioned the vision of infidels and evil livers, and +to support their argument thus quoted Scripture, proving +that God sent visions when he was irritated. As in +Numbers, murmured Eleazar. And likewise in Exodus, +said Manahem, and he turned over the quires before him. +These emissaries and agents asked me how it was that +even if Jesus had appeared to me he could not have +instructed me wrongly. If I wished to prove the truth of +my vision it were better for me to accept the teaching of +the apostles, who had received it directly from him; to +which I made answer: my revelation was not from Jesus +when he lived in the flesh, but from the spiritual Jesus; +the spirit descended out of heaven to instruct me, and if +God has created us, which none will deny, he has created +our souls wherewith to know him, and he needs not the +authority of other apostles who speak as men, falling into +the errors that men must fall into when they speak, for +every man's truth is made known unto him by God.</p> + +<p>One day we came out of a house heated with argument, +and as we loitered by the pavement's edge regretting we +had not said certain things whereby we might have confuted +each other, we came upon Peter in a public inn, +eating and drinking with the uncircumcised, whereupon +the Hierosolymites said we see now what ye are, Peter, +a Jew that eats with Gentiles and of unclean meats. +Peter did not withstand them and say as he should have +done: how is it that you call them that God has made +unclean? but being a timid man and anxious always to +avoid schism, he excused himself and withdrew, and was +followed by Barnabas and Silas.</p> + +<p>It was for this that I withstood him before all in the +assembly, reproaching him for his inconsequences, saying +to him: if thou that art a Jew livest according to the +manner of Gentiles, how is it that thou wouldst compel +the Gentiles to live as the Jews do? and until this man +came thou wert one with us, saying as we say, that none is +justified by conforming to the law and practising it, but +by the faith in Jesus Christ. But if we seek justification +in Christ, and in him alone, and yet are found to be +sinners, of what help is Christ then to us? Is he a +minister of sinners? God forbid! By his life and death +he abolished the law, whereby we might live in faith in +Christ, for the law stands between us and Christ. I say +unto thee, Peter, that if Christ was crucified for me I live +in Christ; no longer my own life of the flesh, but the +spiritual life that Christ has given me. I say unto thee +likewise, that if we care only to know Christ through +the law then Christ has died in vain. To which Peter +answered nothing, but went his way, as is his custom, in +silence, and my grief was great; for I could see that the +many were shocked, and wondered at our violence, and +could not have said else than that we were divided among +ourselves, though they said it under their breath. Nor did +peace come till the emissaries of James left us to go to the +churches I had founded in Galatia and undo the work I +had done there. Whereupon I collected all my thoughts +for an epistle that would comfort those, and enable them +to resist, saying: though an angel from heaven tell you +a different doctrine from the one that I have taught +you, listen not to him. Copies of this letter were sent +to the churches that I had founded, but the sending of +the letter did not calm my anger. An angry soul I +have been since God first separated me from my mother's +womb, gaining something on one side and losing on +the other side; but we make not ourselves; God makes +us. And there is a jealousy still within me; I know it +and have suffered from it, and never did it cause me +greater suffering than in those days in Antioch. My +jealousy was like a hungry animal, gnawing at my ribs +till, unable to bear it any longer, and seeing in visions all +that I had raised pulled down, I started with Titus and +travelled all over Galatia and Phrygia to Bithynia, along +the shores of Pontus, and returned back again, informing +the kindly, docile souls, who loved us in their weakness, of +Lystra, Derbe and other towns, setting up my loom and +preaching every evening the coming of the Lord, whither +I went in Macedonia, Thessalonica, Iconium, Laodicea, +not forgetful of Colossae for two years or more (I have +forgotten), and then hearing that Apollos, an Alexandrian +Jew of great learning, our most notable convert, of whom +I have not spoken, for there is no time to speak of everything, +had taken ship at Corinth for Ephesus, I returned +the way I had come along the coast to meet him there, +likewise many good friends, Aquila and Priscilla, who were +working at their looms, gathering a faithful circle about +them. We set up shop again as we had done at Corinth, +Aquila, Priscilla and myself worked at our looms all day, +and preached in the evening in and about the city, and on +the Sabbath in the synagogue.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXVI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>In Ephesus stands a temple said to be one of the wonders +of the world, the Temple of Diana; pilgrims come to it +from all countries, and buy statues of the goddess to set +upon their tables (little silver statues), and as the making +of these is the principal industry in that city, the silversmiths +raised cries against me in the theatre, where once +I stood up to address the people. Great is Diana, goddess +of the Ephesians! they cried out, and would have thrown +me to the beasts. Yea, I fought with the beasts, for they +were nothing else, and had not Aquila and Priscilla risked +their lives to save me I should have perished that day. +That day or another day; it matters not; we all perish +sooner or later. My life has never been my concern, but +God's, a thing upheld by God for so many years that I +shun danger no longer. It has even come to pass that +I am lonely in security, withdrawn from God in houses, +and safe in his arms when clinging to a spar in the dark +sea. God and our Lord Jesus Christ, his beloved son, +have walked on either side of me in mountain passes +where robbers lie in wait. We are nearer to God in +hunger and thirst than when the mouth is full. In +fatigue rather than in rest, and to know oneself to be +God's servant is good cheer for the traveller, better than +the lights of the inn showing over the horizon, for false +brethren may await him in the inn, some that will hale +him before rulers, but if he knows that he is God's servant +he will be secure in his own heart, where alone security +matters.</p> + +<p>It may have been my sin to weary too often at the +length of the journey, and to cry out to the Lord Jesus +to make an end of it. It may have been that I was often +too eager to meet my death and to receive the reward of +all my labour, but who shall judge me? Our Lord Jesus +Christ is the only judge and his reign shall endure over +this world till the last man has vanished into death. +And when the last man has perished? Mathias asked. +Paul answered: Jesus shall pass into his Father's keeping +and again there shall be but one God. But, Paul, Mathias +rejoined, if I understand thee rightly, there are now two +Gods, and our hope is that in time to come the twain +may turn to one. Paul was about to answer, but his lips +were parched, and he raised the cup of water to his lips, +and when he had drunk he was about to answer Mathias, +but Hazael said: Mathias, we are all eager to hear the +story of Paul's own life. There will be time afterwards +to discuss his doctrine. Mathias waved his hand, a sign +that Paul might continue his story, which he did.</p> + +<p>From Ephesus we returned to Corinth and to Macedonia, +and dreams began to take hold on us of longer journeys +than any we had yet undertaken; we dreamed of Rome, +and then of Spain, for all should hear the joyful tidings +that there is salvation for all, and we live in dread that +the judgment may come upon the world before the distant +countries have heard that the Christ has been born and +has died and been raised by his Father from the dead, +thereby abolishing the law, which was no longer needed, +faith in Christ being sufficient. But if the judgment +comes before all men have heard of the Christ, then is +God unjust. God forbid: our sloth and tardy feet are +responsible. Our fear is for the Jews that have closed +their ears to the truth, and, therefore, we were warned not +to leave Palestine without a last effort to save them. Once +more my soul said unto me: Paul, go to Jerusalem, for +the last time enter the Temple and comply with all the +law, for these things matter not whether they be done +or left undone; all that matters is that Jerusalem should +accept Jesus. Be all things, once more, to all men. And +it was after this command, given to me in the silence of +the night, that I took leave of the brethren at Ephesus, +saying to them: brethren, you knew from the first day +that I came unto Asia what manner of man had come +among you, directing you only towards repentance towards +God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I would indeed +remember all I said on that occasion, for I spoke well, the +Holy Ghost being upon me, putting the very words of the +leave-taking into my mouth that I should speak, words +which I cannot find again, but which were written by me +afterwards, as I wished them to be preserved for the use +of the faithful. They shall be sent to you. But in this +moment I'm too tired to remember them, and will continue +my story, telling how when the sails of the ship were +lifted we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the +day following unto Rhodes, and thence Patara, and finding +a ship about to start for Phoenicia, we went aboard and set +forth again. We left Cyprus on the left, and were landed +at Tyre, where there were many disciples who said to me +that I must not go to Jerusalem. We kneeled on the +shore and prayed; and when we had taken leave of one +another, and I had said: my face you shall see no more, +we took ship, and they returned home.</p> + +<p>Next day we were at Cæsarea and went to the house +of Philip the Apostle (him of many daughters, and all +prophetesses), and lived with him, tarrying till there came +from Judea Agabus, who, when he saw me, took my +girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said: so +at Jerusalem shall the Jews bind him that owns this +girdle, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the +Gentiles. At which all my disciples there wept, and I +said: why do ye weep? for your weeping breaks my +heart. Think not of what this man has said, even if he +has spoken the truth, for I am ready to die for the name +of the Lord Jesus Christ. I comforted them and went up +to Jerusalem, and was received by the brethren. James +and all the elders were present, and after having heard +from me how widely the name of our Lord Jesus Christ +had been made known to the Gentiles and to the Jews +that lived among the Gentiles, they answered: brother, +there are a great many believers among the Jews, and +all here are ardent followers of the law, and these have +heard that thou teachest to the Jews in exile that Moses +may be forsaken, and that they need not circumcise their +children and may set aside our customs. Now, Paul, +they asked, what favour dost thou expect from us if these +things be as they have been reported to us? And being +sure within myself that it was not counsel they sought +from me, but words out of my own mouth whereby +they might stir up the people against me, I answered +only: upon whose testimony do ye say these things? +There are, they said, four holy men, who are under a +vow; go with them and purify thyself and pay the money +they need for the shaving of their heads and all other +expenses. Whereupon I was much angered, seeing the +snare that they were laying for me, but, as I have told +you, my rule is always to be all things to all men, and +remembering that though Jesus Christ our Lord has set +us free from the law, it would be better to forgo this +liberty than to scandalise a brother, I said: I will do, +brethren, as you ask, and went with the four poor men +to the Temple and remained there with them for five +days, abstaining from wine, and cutting off—well, there +was little hair for me to cut off, but what there was I +cut off.</p> + +<p>All went well during the first days, but the emissaries +and agents of James, seeing that my devotion in the +Temple might win over the Jews to me, laid another +snare, and I was accused of having held converse with +Trophimus, an uncircumcised Greek, in the street the +day of my arrival in Jerusalem, and this not being a +sufficient offence to justify them in stoning me as they +had stoned Stephen before my eyes, it was said that I +had brought him into the Temple, and the agents of +the priests came on the fifth day to drag me out +and kill me in some convenient byway, the sacristans +closing the doors of the Temple behind me. We will +make an end of this mischief, the hirelings said, and +began to look around for stones wherewith to spatter +out my brains; they cast off their garments and threw +dust into the air, and I should have met my death +if the noise had been any less, but it was even greater +than the day Stephen died, and the Roman guard came +upon the people and drew me out of their hands, saying: +what is the meaning of this? The Jews could not tell +them so great was their anger.</p> + +<p>We'll take him to the castle, the centurion said, and +the crowd followed, pressing upon us and casting stones +at me till the soldiers had perforce to draw their swords so +as to get me to the castle alive. We were thrown hither +and thither, and the violence of the crowd at the foot +of the stairs and the pressure obliged the soldiers to carry +me up the steps in their arms. So I turned to the Chief +Captain, who was trying in vain to calm the rioters, and +said to him in Greek: may I speak to them? So thou +canst speak Greek? he answered, surprised, and gave me +leave to speak, and I said: Hebrews, listen to a Hebrew +like yourselves, and I told of the vision on the road to +Damascus, to which they listened, but as soon as the tale +was over they cried: remove him from this world, he is +not fit to live. At these words the centurion, who was +anxious to appease the people, signed to his apparitors +to seize me, and before I had time to make myself heard +these strapped me to the whipping-post, my hands above +me. But is it lawful to scourge a Roman and he uncondemned? +I said to the centurion next to me. Whereupon +the lictors withdrew and the centurion turned to +the Chief Captain, who looked me up and down, for, as +you see, my appearance did not command respect. Is +it true that thou'rt a Roman citizen? he asked, and I +answered, yes, and he was astonished, for he had paid +a great deal of money for the title. But I was born free, +I answered him, confusing and perplexing him and putting +a great fear in his heart that belike his office might be +taken from him for having tied a Roman citizen to the +whipping-post, merely that and nothing more.</p> + +<p>It was to gain my favour that he promised to summon +a council (the Sanhedrin), and on the day appointed, +ordering my chains to be unlocked, introduced me to +the Jews as a free man, saying he would remain to hear +the discussion. Brothers, I have lived till to-day in good +conscience before God. On that the High Priest ordered +those that stood by him to strike me on the face. God +shall strike thee, thou whited wall, I answered him, for +thou sittest to judge me according to the law, and +breaking the law thou orderest me to be struck. Those +that were present said: so that is how thou revilest the +High Priest. I did not know he was the High Priest, I +answered: if I had I should not have spoken as I spoke, +for is it not written, thou must not insult the chief of +thy people?</p> + +<p>As I spoke these words, I saw that the assembly was +divided into two parts, that each part was inspired by +different ideas, and that one part, the Sadducees, were +determined upon my death. Therefore my words were, +brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee, do +you know of what they accuse me? Of saying that the +dead will be raised out of their graves for judgment, +a thing which you all believe. So did I divide my +enemies, persuading the Pharisees thereby to defend me, +and they, believing the story I told of my vision on the +road to Damascus, said: let us hear nothing against him, +a spirit or angel may have spoken to him. But the +Sadducees were the stronger party, and dividing the +Pharisees with their arms many rushed to kill me, and +they would have done this if the Captain of the Guard +had not sent soldiers to my assistance, who with difficulty +rescued me from the Jews and brought me back to the +castle.</p> + +<p>I was sorry for the Captain of the Guard, who came to +me and said: I know not how this will end or what to +do with thee, and I answered him: there are knots in +every business, and the clever man unties them, and +thou'lt find a way of untying this knot in thy sleep to-night.... +And I likewise, which was true, for a vision +came to me that night, Jesus himself, and he said: thou +hast testified of me in Jerusalem and thou shalt testify +of me in Rome, and Jesus having said this much, I knew +that I should go to Rome, how I should go I knew not, +but I knew that I should go and had no fear when my +sister's son, my nephew, came to me next day and said: +forty of the Jews have banded together to kill thee, Uncle, +and this is how they will do it. They will present a +petition to the Chief Captain to have thee down among the +council again so that they may question thee regarding +some points of the law which they affirm thou hast transgressed. +Thou must not go down to them, Uncle, for they +have knives concealed under their cloaks, and are upon oath +neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed thee.</p> + +<p>So they are base enough for this, I answered, but I'll +outwit them, and calling to the centurion said: take this +young man to the Chief Captain of the Guard; he has +matter to relate which the Chief Captain should hear +at once, and when he had told the plot Chief Captain +Lysias said: they have sworn in vain. Thou shalt go +with me to Cæsarea and under a strong guard, two +hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred +spearmen; these will be able to resist any attack that +the Jews may attempt even should they hear of thy +departure. At nine o'clock to-night I shall put into thy +hand a letter to Felix, the Governor, telling him that +I know nothing against thee that merits death or prison. +The orders of the Captain of the Guard were carried out +punctually; we marched all night, arriving at Antipatris +in the morning, which is about half-way between Jerusalem +and Cæsarea, and all danger of surprise being now +over the escort divided, the four hundred men returning +to Jerusalem, myself going on to Cæsarea with the +horsemen, to be judged by Felix, who said: I shall sit in +judgment as soon as thy accusers arrive from Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>And it was five days afterwards that my accusers began +to come into Cæsarea, Ananias arriving first with some of +the elders and with one named Tertullus, who began his +speech against me with many coaxings of the Governor, +saying that it was through him that Palestine enjoyed its +great peace and prosperity and for these gifts he was truly +thankful, and though he feared he might prove tedious, +still he would hope that Felix in his great clemency might +allow him to say a few further words about a pestilential +fellow, an agent of sedition among the Jews throughout +the world, and a ringleader of the sect known as the +Nazarenes: one who came to Jerusalem but to profane +the Temple, and wishing, he said, to judge him for his +blasphemy according to our law, we laid hands upon him, +but the Captain, Lysias, came upon us and with great +violence took him out of our hands, and after hearing +him disputing with us in the council said, I find no fault +with him but will send him to the noble Felix. And you, +most noble Felix, have sent for us, and we have come, +and feel right well that we have not come in vain, for +your knowledge and your justice are known in all the +world. He said these things and many more of this sort +till he feared that his first words were coming true and +that he was beginning to weary Felix, which was the +truth, for Felix raised his hand for me to speak, whereupon +without cozenage and without preamble I told Felix +that I had gone to Jerusalem with alms collected from all +parts of the world for the poor and also for worship in the +Temple. Why then, if I am the pestilential fellow that +Tertullus says I am, is it that the Jews allowed me the +Temple to abide therein for five days and that they have +not brought witnesses to testify that they found me disputing +therein or stirring the people to riot in the +synagogue and in the city. And I see none here to bear +witness that I do not believe in all that is written in the +law and in the prophets; only that I believe with a +great part of the citizens of Jerusalem that the dead will +be raised from their graves for judgment at the last day. +If I am guilty of heresy so are many others here. But +you Essenes do not hold with the Pharisees, that the +corruptible body is raised from the dead, you believe +that the soul only is immortal; I believe that there +is a spiritual body also which is raised; and Paul turned +his searching eyes on Mathias, in whose mind an answer +began to form, but before he had time to speak it +the brethren began to evince a desire that Paul should +continue his story.</p> + +<p>Felix after hearing me bade the Jews return to +Jerusalem. I will deliver no sentence until I have +conferred with Lysias, he said. The Jews returned discomfited, +and Felix said to my jailer, let him be relieved +of his chains and be free to see his friends and disciples +and to preach what he pleases. Nor was this all: Felix +came with his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and she +heard me tell Felix that there would be a judgment, and +he answered: speak to me again of this, and they came to +me many times to hear of the judgment, and to hint at a +sum of money which would be easy for me to collect; my +disciples would pay for my liberty and the money would +enable him to risk the anger of the Jews, who, he said, +desired my death most savagely.</p> + +<p>But I was of no mind to ask my disciples to pay for my +release; and then Felix, desirous of obtaining the good +will of the Jews, put chains upon me again, and so left me +for two years, till Festus was appointed in his place.</p> + +<p>It was three days after Festus had disembarked at +Cæsarea that he went up to Jerusalem, and no sooner +had he arrived there than the High Priest asked for +audience and besought him to send for Paul that he might +be judged in Jerusalem; the intention of the High Priest +being that I should be waylaid and killed by a highwayman +among the hills. But Festus thought it was unnecessary +to bring me to Jerusalem, for he was about to return to +Cæsarea. Come, he said, with me, and accuse this man, +and they agreed. And it was ten days afterwards that +Festus returned to Cæsarea and commanded me to be +brought before his judgment seat. The Jews that had +come with him sat about, and with many voices complained +against me of blasphemy, but their accusations were vain, +for I answered: I have not offended against the law of +the Jews nor against Cæsar, and they answered, so thou +sayest, but wilt thou come to Jerusalem to be judged by +us? and Festus, who now only thought to avoid trouble and +riot, said to me, will you go to Jerusalem that I may hear +you?</p> + +<p>But, Lord Festus, I answered, you can hear me here as +well as in Jerusalem, and these men desire but my death +and ask that I shall be brought to Jerusalem to kill me +secretly, therefore I appeal to Cæsar.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Festus answered that he had no fault to +find with me, but since I had appealed to Cæsar I must +go by the next ship, and as there would be none for +some weeks Festus, who had said to King Agrippa and +Berenice, when they came to pay a visit to the new +governor, and, being Jews, were curious about my gospel, +I find no fault with this man and would have set him at +liberty, but he has appealed to Cæsar and by the next ship +he goes to Rome, permitted me my liberty to go whither +I pleased and to preach as I pleased in the city and +beyond the city if I pleased. Whereupon I notified to +Festus I would go to Jericho, a two days' journey from +Cæsarea, and he said, go, and in three weeks a ship will +be here to take thee to Rome. But he said: if the Jews +should hear of thee thou'lt lose thy life, and he offered me +a guard, which I refused as useless, knowing well that I +should not meet my death at Jericho. Why cherish a +love for them that hate thee? he said, and I answered: +they are my own people, and my heart was filled again +with the memory of the elect race that had given birth to +the prophets. Shall these go down dead into their graves +never to rise again, God's chosen people? I asked myself, +and set out with Timothy, my son in the faith, for Jericho, +a city I had never seen nor yet the banks of Jordan down +which Jesus went for John's baptism. But for these things +I had little thought or care, but was as if propelled by +some force that I could not understand nor withstand; +and a multitude collected and hearkened to the story of +my conversion on the road to Damascus, but discontent +broke out among them when I said that Jesus had come +neither to confirm nor to abolish the law, that the law was +well while we were children but now we could only enter +into eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.</p> + +<p>The rest of my story you know: how we fled into the +hills for our lives' sake, and how Timothy in the dark +of the evening kept to the left whereas I came round +the shoulder of the hill and was upheld in the path by +God, who has still need of me. His ways are inscrutable, +for, wishing to bring me to you, he sent me to preach in +Jordan and urged the Jews to threaten me and pursue me +into the hills, for he wished you holy men who live upon +this ridge of rock in piety, in humility, in content, in peace +one with the other, fearing God always, to hear of Jesus +and his resurrection from the dead and the meaning +thereof, which is that Christ came to redeem us from the +bondage of the law and that sense of sin which the law +reveals unceasingly and which terrifies and comes between +us and love of Jesus Christ, who will (at the sound of the +last trump) raise the incorruptible out of the corruptible. +Even as the sown grain is raised out of its rotten grave to +nourish and rejoice again at the light, so will ye nourish +again in the fields of heaven, never again to sink into old +age and death if you have faith in Christ, for you have all +else, fear of God, and charity, piety and humility, brotherly +love, peace and content in the work that the day brings +to your hands and the pillow that the night brings to your +head for reward for the work done. God that knows all +knew you were waiting on this margin of rock for the +joyful tidings, and he sent me as a shepherd might send +his servant out to call in the flock at the close of day, for in +his justice he would not have it that ten just men should +perish. He sent me to you with a double purpose, +methinks, for he may have designed you to come to my +aid, for it would be like him that has had in his heart +since all time my great mission to Italy and Spain, to have +conceived this way to provide me with new feet to carry +the joyful tidings to the ends of the earth; and now I +stand amazed, it being clear to me that it was not for the +Jews of Jericho that I was sent out from Cæsarea but +for you.</p> + +<p>Paul waited for one of the Essenes to answer, and his +eyes falling on Mathias' face he read in it a web of +argument preparing wherein to catch him, and he prayed +that God might inspire his answers. At last Mathias, in +clear, silvery voice, broke the silence that had fallen so +suddenly, and all were intent to hear the silken periods +with which the Egyptian thanked Paul for the adventurous +story he had related to them, who, he said, lived on a +narrow margin of rock, knowing nothing of the world, +and unknown to it, content to live, as it were, immersed +in God. Paul's narrative was full of interesting things, +and he regretted that Paul was leaving them, for he would +have liked to have given longer time to the examination +of the several points, but his story contained one thing of +such great moment that he passed over many points of +great interest, and would ask Paul to tell them why the +resurrection of Jesus Christ should bring with it the +abrogation of the law of Moses. If the law was true +once, it was true always, for the law was the mind and +spirit and essence of God. That is, he continued, the +law spiritually understood; for there are those among +us Essenes who have gone beyond the letter. I, too, +know something of that spiritual interpretation, Paul +cried out, but I understand it of God's providence in +relation to man during a certain period; that which is +truth for the heir is not truth to the lord. Mathias +acquiesced with lofty dignity, and continued his interrogation +in measured phrases: that if he understood Paul +rightly, and he thought he did, his teaching was that +the law only served to create sin, by multiplying the +number of possible transgressions. Thy meaning would +seem to be that Jews as well as Gentiles sin by acquiring +consciousness of sin, but by faith in Jesus Christ we get +peace with God and access unto his grace. Upon grace, +Paul, we see thee standing as on a pedestal crying out, +sin abounds but grace abounds, fear not sin. The words +of my enemies, Paul cried, interrupting; sin so that grace +may abound, God forbid. Those that are baptized in +Christ are dead to sin, buried with him to rise with him +again and to live a new life. The old man (that which +we were before Christ died for us) was crucified with +Christ so that we might serve sin no longer. Freed from +the bondage of the law and concupiscence by grace we +are saved through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ from +damnation. It is of this grace that we would hear thee +speak. Do we enter into faith through grace? Mathias +asked, and, having obtained a sign of assent from Paul, +he asked if grace were other than a free gift from God, +and he waited again for a sign of assent. Paul nodded, +and reminded him that God had said to Moses, I will have +mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion +on whom I will have compassion. Then, Mathias +said, the law of Moses is not abrogated, thou leanest upon +it when it suiteth thy purpose to lean, and pushest it aside +when it pleases thee to reprove us as laggards in tradition +and among the beginnings of things. It was lest some +mood of injustice might be imputed to God in neglecting +us that we were invited to become thy disciples, and to +carry the joyful tidings into Italy and Spain. But we no +longer find those rudiments in the law. We read it with +the eyes of the mind, and we receive not from thy lips +that God is like a man—a parcel of moods, and obedient +to them. It is true that God justifies whom he glorifies, +Paul answered, but for that he is not an unjust God. If +he did not spare his son, but delivered him to death that +we might be saved, will he not give us all things? Who +shall accuse God's elect? He that chose them? Who +will condemn them? Christ that will sit on the right +hand of his Father, that intercedes for us? Neither death +nor life nor angels can separate me from the love of our +Lord Jesus Christ, and if I came hither it is for the sake +of my brothers, my kinsmen that might be saved. God +has not broken his promise to his chosen people. A man +may be born an Israelite and not be one; we are true +Israelites, not by birth but by election. God calls whom +he pleases, and without injustice. But, brethren, Mathias +would ask of me: why does God yet find a fault though +none may resist his will? We dare not reason with God +or ask him to explain his preferences. Does the vase ask +the potter: why hast thou made me thus? Had not the +potter power over the clay to make from the same lump +two vases, one for noble and the other for ignoble use. +Not in discourse of reason is the Kingdom of God, but +in its own power to be and to grow, and that power is +manifested in my gospel.</p> + +<p>The approval of the brethren whitened Mathias' cheek +with anger, and he answered Paul that his denial of the +law did not help him to rise to any higher conception of +the deity than to compare him to a potter, and he warned +Paul that to arrive at any idea of God we must forget +potters, rejecting the idea of a maker setting out from a +certain moment of time to shape things according to a +pattern out of pre-existing matter. And I would tell thee +before thou startest for the end of the earth that the +Jesus Christ which has obsessed thee is but the Logos, +the principle that mediates between the supreme God +and the world formed out of matter, which has no being +of its own, for being is not in that mere potency of all +things alike, which thou callest Power, but in Divine +Reason.</p> + +<p>I have heard men speak like thee in Athens, Paul +answered slowly and sadly, and I said then that the wisdom +of man is but foolishness in God's sight. But thy stay +there was not long, and thou hast not spoken of my +country, Egypt, Mathias answered, and rising from his +seat he left the table and passed out on to the balcony +like one offended, and, leaning his arms on the rail, he +stood looking into the abyss.</p> + +<p>A Jew of Alexandria, Manahem whispered in Paul's +ear, but he holds fast by the law in his own sense, and +in telling of this Christ thou—— We would hear of +Peter, Saddoc interrupted, the fisherman thou foundest +eating unclean meat with the Gentiles. Have I not +said, Paul answered, that what is eaten and what is +drunk finds neither favour nor disfavour in God's eyes—that +it is not by observance we are saved, but by faith +in our Lord Jesus Christ that died to redeem us from +the law, and was raised from the dead by his Father, +and who appeared to the twelve and to five hundred +others, some of whom are dead, but many are still +alive? But this Christ, who was he when he lived upon +this earth? Manahem inquired. Son of the living God, +Paul answered, that took on the beggarly raiment of +human flesh at Nazareth, was baptized by John in Jordan, +and preached in Galilee, went up to Jerusalem and was +crucified by Pilate between two thieves; the third day he +rose from the dead, that our sins—— Didst say he was +born in Nazareth? Hazael asked, the word Nazareth +having roused him from his reveries, and was baptized +by John in Jordan, preached afterwards in Galilee, and +suffered under Pilate? Was crucified, Paul interjected; +then you have heard, he said, of the resurrection? Not +of the resurrection; but we know that our Brother Jesus +was born in Nazareth, was baptized in Jordan by John, +preached in Galilee and suffered under Pilate. Pilate condemned +many men, Paul answered, a cruel man even among +the Romans. But born in Nazareth and was baptized by +John didst say? I said it, Hazael answered. Which +among you, Paul asked, looking into every face, is he? +Jesus is not here, Hazael replied, he is out with the +flock. He slept by thy side on this balcony last night. +We've listened to thy story with interest, Paul; we give +thee thanks for telling it, and by thy leave we will return +to our daily duties and to our consciences.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXVII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>One of the Essenes had left some quires of his Scriptures +upon the table; Paul picked them up, but, unable to fix +his attention, he walked out on to the balcony, and when +the murmur of the brook began to exasperate him he +returned to the domed gallery and walked through it +with some vague intention of following the rubble path +that led out on to the mountains, but remembering the +Thracian dogs chained under the rocks, he came back and +stood by the well, and in its moist atmosphere fell into +argument with himself as to the cause of his disquiet, +denying to himself that it was related in any way to the +story he had heard from the Essenes—that there was one +amongst them, a shepherd from Nazareth, who had received +baptism from John and suffered under Pilate, the very one +whom he had heard talking that morning to Jacob about +ewes and rams. At last he attributed his disquiet to his +anxiety for the safety of Timothy.</p> + +<p>All the same, he said, it was strange that Pilate should +have put one from the cenoby on the cross, another +Jesus of Nazareth.... It might be that this Essene +shepherd and his story were but a trap laid for him by +the Jews! But no——</p> + +<p>Paul remembered he had written a long epistle to the +Galatians reproving them for lack of faith, and now he +found himself caught in one of those moments to which +all flesh seems prone. But no; the cause of his disquiet +was Timothy; Jesus had promised him news of Timothy, +else he would not have delayed so long among these clefts. +He might start at once; but he would not be able to find +the way through these hills without a guide, and he could +not leave till he heard from this Essene why Pilate had +ordered him to be scourged. What crime was he guilty +of? A follower he was, no doubt, of Judas the Gaulonite, +else Pilate would not have ordered him to be crucified. But +the reason for his having left the wilderness? There must +be one, and he sought the reason through the long afternoon +without finding one that seemed plausible for more +than a few minutes.</p> + +<p>The drone of the brook increased his agitation and the +day was well-nigh spent when the doors of the cells opened +and the brethren began to appear in their white garments; +and when they had found seats about the table Paul +related that he was waiting for Jesus to return from +the hills.</p> + +<p>At last he heard one say: here is Jesus, and at the +sound of the familiar name Paul started up to meet him, +and speaking the first words that came to his lips he asked +him if it were true that he was from Nazareth and had +received baptism from John and suffered under Pilate. I +was born in Nazareth, but what of that? Why dost thou +look into my face so steadfastly? Because this noon, +Paul answered, while thou wast with thy flock, I was +moved to tell the brethren of Jesus of Nazareth, who died +on the cross to redeem us, for I would that all you here +should join with us and carry the joyful tidings to Italy +and Spain. The doors are open——</p> + +<p>Hazael coming from his cell at that moment stayed the +words that had risen up in Paul's mind, and he looked at +the president as if he expected him to speak, but Hazael +sank into his chair and soon after into his own thoughts. +So thy name is Jesus and thou'rt from Nazareth? Paul +said, turning to the shepherd, and Jesus answered: I was +born in Nazareth and my life has been lived among these +hills. Our guest, Saddoc said, interrupting, has told us +the story of his life, and he hopes to persuade us to leave +this gorge and go with him to Italy and on to Spain. To +Spain? Jesus asked. To carry the joyful tidings that +the doors of salvation are now open to all, Saddoc +answered. He has told us that he was once a great persecutor +of Christians. Of Christians? Jesus repeated. And +who are they? The Christians are they that believe the +Messiah promised to the Jews was raised by God from +the dead, Saddoc replied, and our guest would have us +go with him to Spain, for on the road to Damascus he had +a vision, and nearly lost his sight in it. And ever since +he has been preaching that the doors are open to all. He +is the greatest traveller the world has ever known. Christ +is a Greek word, Manahem said, for it seemed to him that +Saddoc was speaking too much, and that he could give +Jesus a better account of Paul's journeyings, his conversions +of the Gentiles and the persecutions that followed +these conversions: for the Jews, Manahem said, have +been on his track always, and his last quarrel with them +was yester even by the Jordan, where he was preaching +with Timothy. They lost each other in the hills. Of +Timothy I have news, Jesus answered. He met a +shepherd in the valley who pointed out the way to +Cæsarea to him, and it may be that he is not far from that +city now. Then I will go to Cæsarea at once, Paul cried. +I have promised to put thee on the direct road, Jesus +said, but it is for thee to choose another guide, he added, +for Paul's face told him the thoughts that were passing in +Paul's mind: that he would sooner that any other of the +brethren should guide him out of the wilderness. After +looking at Paul for some time he said: I've heard from +Manahem and Saddoc that thou wast a persecutor of +Christians, but without understanding, so hurried was the +story. And they tell me, Paul said, that thou'rt from +Nazareth and suffered under Pilate. More than that they +do not seem to know; but from what they tell me thy story +resembles that of our Lord Jesus Christ who was betrayed +in a garden and was raised from the dead. At the words, +who was betrayed in a garden, a light seemed to break in +Jesus' face and he said: some two years of my life are +unknown to anybody here, even Hazael does not know +them, and last night I was about to tell them to him on +the balcony.</p> + +<p>You all remember how he was carried out of the lecture-room +on to this balcony by Saddoc and Manahem, who +left him with me. I had just returned from the mountain, +having left my flock with Jacob, our new shepherd, and +Hazael, who recovered his senses quickly in the evening +air, begged me to tell him of Jacob's knowledge of the flock, +and I spoke to him highly of Jacob.... Hazael, have I +thy permission to tell the brethren here assembled the +story I began to tell thee last night, but which was interrupted? +The old man raised his head and said: Jesus, +I hearken, go on with thy story.</p> + +<p>Brethren, yester evening I returned from the hills after +having left our flock in charge of Jacob. You know, +brethren, why I confided the flock to him. After fifty +(I am fifty-five) our steps are no longer as alert as they +were: an old man cannot sleep in a cavern like a young +man nor defend himself against robbers like a young man, +and yesternight was the first night I spent under a roof for +many a year, and under that roof I am to live henceforth +with you here, tending on our president, who needs +attention now in his great age. These things were in +his mind and in mine while we sat on the balcony +last night taking the air. Hazael had spoken his fear +that the change from the hills to this dwelling would +prove irksome to me at first, and our talk turned upon +the life I have led since boyhood. Our president seemed +to think that the better life is to live under the sky and +the sure way to happiness is in solitude: he had fallen to +admiration of my life spent among the hills, and had +spoken to me of the long journeys he used to undertake +in his youth over Palestine, seeking for young men in +whom he foresaw the making of good Essenes; many +of you here are his discoveries, myself certainly. We +indulged in recollection, and listening to him my thoughts +were back in Nazareth, and I waited for him to tell me +how one night he met my father, Joseph the carpenter, +returning home after his day's work, and seeing in him +a native of the district, he addressed himself to him and +begged my father to point out the road to Nazareth. My +father answered: I am going thither, thou canst not do +better than follow me. So the two fared on together, +talking of a lodging for the night, my father fearing that +no house would be open to a stranger, which was the +truth. They knocked at many, but received only threats +that the dogs would be turned upon them if they did not +hasten away. My father said: never shall it be rumoured +in Nazareth that a stranger was turned away and had to +sleep in the streets. Thou shalt have my son's bed, and +taking Hazael by the hand my father urged him and +forced him into our house. Thou shalt sleep in my house, +my father said, and shook me out of my sleep, saying, +Jesus, thy bed is wanted for a stranger, and to this day +I remember standing in my smock before Hazael, my eyes +dazed with sleep.</p> + +<p>Next day Hazael was teaching me; and it pleasing him +to see in me the making of a good Essene, and my father +being willing that I should go (a good carpenter he did +not see in me), he took me away with him through +Samaria into Jerusalem, and we struck across the desert, +descending the hills into the plain of Jericho, and crossed +the Jordan.</p> + +<p>After a year's probationship I was admitted into the +order of the Essenes and was given choice of a trade, and +it was put forth that I should follow the trade of my +father or work amid the fig-trees along our terraces, +but my imagination being stirred by the sight of the +shepherds among the hills, I said, let me be one. And +for fifteen years I led my flock, content to see it prosper +under my care, until one day, spying two wolves scratching +where I knew there was a cave, an empty one I +thought, the hermit having been taken by wolves not long +before, I couched my spear and went forward; at sight +of me and my dogs the wolves fled, as I expected they +would, and the hermit that had come to the cave overnight +came out, and after thanking me for driving off +the wolves asked me if I could guide him to a spring +of pure water. Thou'rt not far from one, I said, for the +cave he had come to live in was situated in the valley +of the leopard's den, which is but half-a-mile from our +brook. I will go thither with thee this evening, but first +drink from my water-bottle, I said, for I could see he +needed water, and I spoke to him of the number of +hermits we had lost lately from wild animals, but he did +not heed me, and as soon as he had soothed his parched +tongue with my water-bottle he began to tell me that he +had come from the shores of the Dead Sea and was about +to begin to preach the baptism of repentance for the +remission of sins, and that we must not indulge in +hope of salvation because we have Abraham for our +father.</p> + +<p>His words seemed to be true words, and I pondered on +them, and along the Jordan everybody was asking whether +he was the promised Christ. I walked miles to hear him, +leaving my flock in another's charge, or waited for him to +return to his cave, and often spent the night watching over +him lest a wild beast should break in upon him while he +slept. I had known none but my brethren, nor any city, +and John had travelled through all Judea, and it was from +him I learnt that the world was nearing its end, and that +if man did not repent at once God would raise another +race out of the stones by the wayside, so needful was the +love of man to God; and though it had always seemed to +me God was gentler than he seemed to be in John's +prophesying, yet his teaching suddenly seemed to be right +to me. I got baptism from him in Jordan and went +into the wilderness to read the Book of Daniel, in which +he said all had been foretold, and, having read, at his +advice I bade farewell to the brethren. Manahem, +Saddoc, Mathias, Caleb and Eleazar remember my departure; +you regretted it and tried to dissuade me, but +I answered you, saying that God had called me to preach +in my own country, Galilee, that whosoever has two coats +should give one to the poor; for it is the poor that will +intercede for us on the last day; and, carrying John's +doctrine further, I declared that it were easier for a sword +to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to +go to heaven, which may be true, but such judgments +should be left to God, and, carrying it still further, I said +it was as hard for a rich man to go to heaven as for cow +to calve in a rook's nest.</p> + +<p>In my teaching I wandered beyond our doctrines and +taught that this world is but a mock, a shame, a disgrace, +and that naught was of avail but repentance. John's +teaching took possession of me, but I would not have you +think here that I am about to lay my sins at John's door, +for sin it is for a man to desire that which God has not +given, and I should have remained an Essene shepherd +following my flocks in the hills, whereas John did well +to come out of his desert and preach that the end of the +world was approaching and that men must repent, for +God willed him to preach these things. His teaching +was true when he was the teacher, but when I became his +disciple his teaching became false; it turned me from +my natural self and into such great harshness of mind +that in Nazareth when my mother came with my brothers +and sisters to the synagogue I said, woman, I have no +need of thee, and when Joseph of Arimathea returned +to me after a long attendance by his father's bedside +(his father had lain in a great sickness for many months; +it was through Joseph's care that he had been saved +from death, Joseph was a good son), I told him he must +learn to hate his father and his mother if he would become +worthy to follow me. But my passion was so great +in those days that I did not see that my teaching was +not less than blasphemy against God, for God has created +the world for us to live in it, and he has put love of +parents into our hearts because he wishes us to love our +parents, and if he has put into the heart of man love of +woman, and into the heart of woman love of man, it is +because he wishes both to enjoy that love.</p> + +<p>I fear to think of the things I said at that time, but I +must speak of them. One man asked me before he left +all things to follow me if he might not bury his father +first. I answered, leave the dead to bury their dead, +and to another who said, my hand is at the plough, may +I not drive it to the headland, I answered: leave all +things and follow me. My teaching grew more and more +violent. It is not peace, I said, that I bring to you, but a +sword, and I come as a brand wherewith to set the world +in flame. I said, too, that I came to divide the house; +to set father against mother, brother against brother, +sister against sister. I can see that my remembrance of +him who once was wounds the dear brethren with whom +I have lived so long; I knew it would be hard for you +to hear that an Essene had broken the rules of a holy +order, and it is hard for me to stand before you and tell +that I, who was instructed by Hazael in all the pious +traditions of our race, should have blasphemed against +God's creation and God's own self. You will thrust me +through the door as an unworthy brother, saying, go, +live in the wilderness, and I shall not cry out against +my expulsion through the hills and valleys, but continue +to repent my sins in silence till death leads me into +silence that never ends. You are perhaps asking yourselves +why I returned here: was it to hide myself from +Pilate and the Jews? No, but to repent of the evil seed +that I had sown that I returned here; and it was because +he wished me to repent that God took me down from the +cross and cured me of my wounds in Joseph's house and +sent me here to lead the sheep over the hills, and it was +he who put this last confession into my mouth.</p> + +<p>It seems to me that in telling this story, brethren, I am +doing but the work of God; no man strays very far from +the work that God has decreed to him. But in the time I +am telling I was so exalted by the many miracles which +I had performed by the power of God or the power of a +demon, I know not which, that I encouraged my disciples +to speak of me as the son of David, though I knew myself +to be the son of Joseph the carpenter; and when I rode +into Jerusalem and the people strewed palms before me +and called out, the son of David, and Joseph said to me, +let them not call thee the son of David, I answered in my +pride, if they did not call it forth the stones themselves +would. In the days I am telling, pride lifted me above +myself, and I went about asking who I was, Moses, Elijah, +Jeremiah or the Messiah promised to the Jews.</p> + +<p>A madman! A madman, or possessed by some evil +spirit, Paul cried out, and rising to his feet he rushed +out of the cenoby, but nobody rose to detain him; some +of the Essenes raised their heads, and a moment after the +interruption was forgotten.</p> + +<p>A day passed in the great exaltation and hope, and one +evening I took bread and broke it, saying that I was the +bread of life that came down from heaven and that whosoever +ate of it had everlasting life given to him. After +saying these words a great disquiet fell upon me, and +calling my disciples together I asked them to come to the +garden of olives with me. And it was while asking God's +forgiveness for my blasphemies that the emissaries and +agents of the priests came and took me prisoner.</p> + +<p>At the touch of their hands the belief that I was the +Messiah promised to the Jews rose up in my heart again, +and when the priests asked me if I were the Christ, the +Son of the Blessed, I answered, I am, and ye shall see +the son of man sitting on the right hand of God; and +it was not till I was hanging on the cross for upwards +of two hours that the belief I had come down from +heaven to do our Father's will faded; again much that +I had said seemed to me evil and blasphemous, and +feeling myself about to die I called out to my Father, +who answered my call at once, bringing Joseph of Arimathea +to the foot of the cross to ask the centurion for my +body for burial. But the centurion could not deliver me +unto him without Pilate's order, and both went to Pilate, +and he gave me to Joseph for burial.</p> + +<p>Nor did our Father allow the swoon to be lifted till +Joseph entered the tomb to kiss me for the last time. +It was then he opened my eyes and I saw Joseph standing +by me, a lantern in his hand, looking at me ... for the +last time before closing the tomb.</p> + +<p>He lifted me on to his shoulder and carried me up +a little twisting path to his house, and an old woman, +named Esora, attended to my wounds with balsam, and +when they were cured Joseph began to tell me that +my stay in his house was dangerous to him and to me, and +he vaunted to me in turn Cæsarea and Antioch as cities in +which I should be safe from the Jews. But my mind was +so weak and shaken that his reasons faded from my mind +and I sat smiling at the sunlight like one bereft of sense. +Strive as he might, he could not awaken me from the +lethargy in which I was sunken, and every day and every +week increased his danger and mine; and it was not till +the news came that my old comrades had come to live in +the Brook Kerith that my mind began to awaken and to +move towards a resolution; an outline began to appear, +when I said, I have led my sheep over the hills yonder +many a time, and tempted me to speak of you till the +desire arose in me to see you again. You remember our +arrival one morning at daybreak and my eagerness to see +the flock.</p> + +<p>Brother Amos was glad to see me back again, and in +talking of the flock Joseph was almost forgotten, which +shows how wandering my mind was at the time.... He +left without seeing me, but not without warning Hazael +not to question me else my mind might yield to the strain, +saying that it hung on a thread, which was true, and I +remember how for many a year every cliff's edge tempted +me to jump over. Joseph was gone for ever, and the +memory of my sins were as tongues of flame that leaped +by turns out of the ashes. But the fiercest ashes grow +cold in time; we turn them over without fear of flame, +and last night I said to Hazael as we sat together, there +is a sin in my life that none knows of, it is buried fathoms +deep out of all sight of men, and Hazael having said there +was little of the world's time in front of him, I felt +suddenly I could not conceal from him any longer the +sin that Joseph had not dared to tell him—that I had +once believed myself to be a precursor of the Messiah +like many that came before me, but unlike any other I +began to believe myself to be the incarnate word.</p> + +<p>A soft, vague sound, the gurgle of the brook, rose out of +the stillness, as it flowed down the gorge from cavern to +cavern.</p> + +<p>After a little while Hazael called to Manahem and +bade him relate to Jesus the story Paul had told them, +and when Jesus had heard the story he was overtaken +with a great pity for Paul. But thinkest that he will +believe thee? Hazael asked, lifting his chin out of his +beard, and the calm of Jesus' face was troubled by the +question and he sank upon a stool close by Hazael's chair. +What may we do? he muttered, and the Essenes withdrew, +for they guessed that the elders had serious words +to speak together.</p> + +<p>Thou hast heard my story, Hazael; nothing remains +now but to bid farewell to thy old friend. To say +farewell, Jesus, Hazael repeated, why should we say +farewell? Hazael, the rule of our order forbids me to +stay, Jesus answered; those who commit crimes like mine +are cast out and left to starve in the desert. But, Jesus, +Hazael replied, thou knowest well that none here would +put thee beyond the doors. Thy crimes, whatever they +may have been, are between thee and God. It is for thee +to repent, and from hill-top to hill-top thou hast prayed +for forgiveness, and through all the valleys. All things +in the end rest with him. Speak to us not of going. +But if God had forgiven me, Jesus answered, and my +blasphemies against him, he would not have sent this man +hither. And what dost thou propose to do? Hazael asked, +raising his head from his beard and looking Jesus in the +face.</p> + +<p>To go to Jerusalem, Jesus answered, and to tell the +people that I was not raised from the dead by God to +open the doors of heaven to Jews and infidels alike. But +who will believe thee to be Jesus that Pilate condemned +to the cross? Hazael asked. Twenty years have gone over +and they will say: a poor, insane shepherd from the Judean +hills. Be this as it may, my repentance will then be +complete, Jesus muttered. But thou hast repented, +Hazael wailed in his beard. But, Jesus, all religions, +except ours, are founded on lies, and there have been +thousands, and there will be thousands more. Why trouble +thyself about the races that cover the face of the earth or +even about thine own race. Let thy thoughts not stray +from this group of Essenes whom thou hast known always +or from me who found thee in Nazareth and took thee by +the hand. Why think of me? It is enough to remember +that all good and all evil (that concern us) proceeds from +ourselves. Hast not said to me that God has implanted +a sense of good and evil in our hearts and that it is by this +sense that we know him rather than through scrolls and +miracles? Abide by thy own words, Jesus. Be not led away +again by an impulse, and go not forth again, for it is by +going forth, as thou knowest, that we fall into sin. Wouldst +try once more to make others according to thine own image +and likeness, to make them see and hear and feel as thou +feelest, seest and hearest; but such changes may not be +made by any man in another. We may not alter the work +of God, and we are all the works of God, each shaped out +of a design that lay in the back of his mind for all eternity. +We cannot reshape others nor ourselves, and why do I +tell things thou knowest better than I? The thoughts +that I am teaching now are thine own thoughts +related to me often on thy return from the hills and +collected by me in faithful memory. Hast forgotten, +Jesus, having said to me, the world cannot be remoulded, +all men may not be saved, only a few, by the grace of God? +I said these things to thee, Hazael, but what did I say +but my thoughts, and what are my thoughts? Lighter +than the bloom of dandelion floating on the hills. It is +not to our own thoughts we must look for guidance but +God's thoughts, which are deep in us and clear in us, but +we do not listen and are led away by our reason. My sin +was to have preached John as well as myself. I strayed +beyond myself and lost myself in the love of God, a thing +a man may do if he love not his fellows. My sin was not +to have loved men enough. But we are as God made us, +and must do the best we can with ourselves.</p> + +<p>Jesus waited for Hazael to answer him, but Hazael +made no answer, but sat like a stone, his head hanging +upon his chest. Why dost thou not answer, Hazael? he +said, and Hazael answered: Jesus, my thoughts were +away. I was thinking of last night, of our talk together +in that balcony—I was thinking, Jesus, how sweet life is +in the beginning, and how it grows bitter in the mouth; +and the end seems bitter indeed when we think of the +gladness that day when we walked through the garlanded +streets of our first day together in Nazareth. It was +in the springtime of our lives and of the year. How +delightful it was for me to find one like thee so eager +to understand the life of the Essenes: so eager to join +us. Such delight I shall not find again. We spoke last +night of our journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem and +across the Jordan. Thou wouldst not follow thy father's +trade, but would lead flocks from the hills, and becamest +in time the best shepherd, it is said, ever known in the +hills. No one ever had an eye for a ram or ewe like +thee, and of thy cure for scab all the shepherds are +envious. We were proud of our shepherd, but he met +John and came to me saying that God had called him +to go forth and convert the world. Since God has placed +thee here, I said, how is it that he should come and call +thee away now? And thou wast eager with explanation +up and down the terraces till we reached the bridge. +We crossed it and followed the path and under the cliffs +till we came to the road that leads to Jerusalem. It was +there we said farewell. Two years or more passed away, +and then Joseph brought thee back. A tired, suffering +man whose wits were half gone and who recovered them +slowly, but who did not recover them while leading his +flock. How often have we talked of its increase, and now +we shall never talk again of rams and ewes nor of thy +meditations in the desert and on the hill-tops and in the +cave at night. So much to me were these sweet returnings +of thee from the hills that my hope was that the +dawn was drawing nigh when thou wouldst return no +more to the hills, and yesternight was a happy night +when we sat together on the balcony indulging in recollection, +thinking that henceforth we should live within +sight of each other's faces always. My hope last night +was that it would be thou that wouldst close my eyes and +lay me in a rock sepulchre out of reach of the hyenas. +But my hopes have all vanished now. Thou art about +to leave me. The brethren? No, they will not leave +me, but even should all remain, if thou be not here I +shall be as alone.</p> + +<p>But, Hazael, all may be as thou sayest, the Jews will +welcome me, Jesus answered. I am no longer the enemy; +Paul is the enemy of Judaism and I am become the +testimony. Judaism, he says, is the root that bears the +branches, and if I go to Jerusalem and tell the Jews that +the Nazarene whom Pilate put upon the cross still lives in +the flesh, they will rejoice exceedingly, and send agents +and emissaries after him wherever he goes. Paul persecuted +me and my disciples, and now it would seem that +my hand is turned against him. Remain with us, Hazael +cried. Forget the world, leave it to itself and fear not; +one lie more will make no difference in a world that has +lived upon lies from the beginning of time. A counsel +that tempts me, for I would begin no persecution against +Paul, but the lie has spread and will run all over the +world even as a single mustard seed, and the seed is of +my sowing; all returns to me; that Paul was able to follow +the path is certain testimony that he was sent by God +to me, and that I am called to be about my Father's +work. As thou sayest, things repeat themselves. Farewell, +Hazael. Farewell, my father in the faith. So +there is no detaining thee, my dear son, and, rising from +his seat, Hazael put a staff in Jesus' hand and hung a +scrip about his neck. If thy business be done perhaps—— But +no, let us indulge in no false hopes. Neither will +look upon the other's face again. Jesus did not answer, +and returning to the balcony Hazael said: I will sit here +and watch thee for the last time.</p> + +<p>But Jesus did not raise his eyes until he reached the +bridge, and then he took the path that led by the cenobies +of other days, and walked hastily, for he was too agitated +to think. A little in front of him, some hundred yards, a +great rock overhung the path, and when he came there +he stopped, for it was the last point from which he could +have sight of the balcony. As he stood looking back, +shading his eyes with his hand, he saw two of the brethren +come and touch Hazael on the shoulder. As he did not +raise his head to answer, they consulted together, and +Jesus hurried away lest some sudden and impetuous +emotion should call him back from his errand.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXVIII.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A small black bird with yellow wings, usually met with +along the brook flitting from stone to stone, diverted his +thoughts from Jerusalem and set him wondering what +instinct had brought the bird up from the brook on to a +dry hill-top. The bird must have sensed the coming rain, +he said, and he came up here to escape the torrent. On +looking round the sky for confirmation of the bird's +instinct, he saw dark clouds gathering everywhere and in +a manner that to his shepherd's eye betokened rain. The +bird seems a little impatient with the clouds for not +breaking, he continued, and at that moment the bird +turned sharply from the rock on which he was about to +alight, and Jesus, divining a cause for the change of intention, +sought behind the rock for it and found it in a +man lying there with foam upon his lips. He seemed to +Jesus like one returning to himself out of a great swoon, +and helping him to his feet Jesus seated him on a rock. +In a little while, Paul said, I shall be able to continue my +journey. Thou'rt Jesus whom I left speaking in the +cenoby. Give me a little water to drink. I forgot to fill +the bottle before I left the brook, Jesus answered. There +is a little left, but not the fresh water that I would like +to give thee, Paul, but water from overnight. It matters +not, Paul said, and having drunk a little and bathed his +temples, Paul asked Jesus to help him to his feet, but after +a few yards he tottered into Jesus' arms and had to rest +again, and while resting he said: I rushed out of the +cenoby, for I felt the swoon was nigh upon me. I am +sorry to have interrupted thy discourse, he added, but +refrain from repeating any of it, for my brain is too tired +to listen to thee. Thou'lt understand the weakness of a +sick man and pardon me. Now I'm beginning to remember. +I had a promise from thee to lead me out of this desert. +Yes, Paul, I promised to guide thee to Cæsarea—— But +I rushed away, Paul said, and thou hast followed me, +knowing well that I should not find my way alone to +Cæsarea. I should have missed it and perhaps fallen into +the hands of the Jews or fallen over the precipice and +become food for vultures. Now my strength is coming +back to me, but without thee I shall not find my way out +of the desert. Fear nothing, Paul, I shall not leave thee +till I have seen thee safely on thy way to Cæsarea or +within sight of that city. Thou hast come to guide me? +Paul asked, looking up. Yes, to guide thee, Paul, to +accompany thee to Cæsarea, if not all the way the greater +part of it, Jesus answered. Thou'lt sleep to-morrow at +a village about two hours from Cæsarea, and there we +shall part. But be not afraid. I'll not leave thee till +thou'rt safe out of reach of the Jews. But I must be at +Cæsarea to-morrow, Paul said, or else my mission to Italy +and Spain will be delayed, perhaps forfeited. My mission +to Spain, dost hear me? Do not speak of thy mission +now, Jesus answered, for he was afraid lest a discussion +might spring up between him and Paul, and he was glad +when Paul asked him how it was he had come upon him +in this great wilderness. He asked Jesus if he had traced +his footsteps in the sand, or if an angel had guided him. +My eyes are not young enough to follow footsteps in the +sand, Jesus replied, and I saw no angel, but a bird turned +aside from the rock on which he was about to alight +abruptly, and going to seek the cause of it I found thee.... +Now if thy strength be coming back we will try to +walk a little farther.</p> + +<p>I'll lean on thee, and then, just as if Paul felt that +Jesus might tell him once again that he was Jesus of +Nazareth whom Pilate had condemned to the cross, he +began to put questions: was Jesus sure that it was not +an angel disguised as a bird that had directed him? +Jesus could only answer that as far as he knew the bird +was a bird and no more. But birds and angels are alike +contained within the will of God; whereupon Paul invited +Jesus to speak of the angels that doubtless alighted among +the rocks and conversed with the Essenes without fear of +falling into sin, there being no women in the cenoby. But +in the churches and synagogues it was different, and he +had always taught that women must be careful to cover +their hair under veils lest angels might be tempted. For +the soiled angel, he explained, is unable to return to +heaven, and therefore passes into the bodies of men and +women and becomes a demon, and when the soiled angel +can find neither men nor women to descend into they +abide in animals, and become arch demons.</p> + +<p>Paul, who had seemed to Jesus to have recovered a +great part of his strength, spoke with great volubility and +vehemence, saying that angels were but the messengers +of God, and to carry on the work of the world God must +have messengers, but angels had no power to carry +messages from man back to God. There was but one +Mediator, and he was on the point of saying that this +Mediator was Jesus Christ our Lord, but he checked +himself, and said instead that the power to perform +miracles was not transmitted from God to man by means +of angels. Angels, he continued, were no more than +God's messengers, and he related that when he had shed +a mist and darkness over the eyes of Elymas, the sooth-sayer +in Cyprus, he had received the power to do so +direct from God; he affirmed too, and in great earnestness, +that it was not an angel but God himself that had +prompted him to tell the cripple at Iconium to stand +upright on his feet; he had been warned in a vision not +to go into Bithynia; and at Troas a man had appeared +to him in the night and ordered him to come over to +Macedonia, which was his country; he did not know if +the man was a real man in the flesh or the spirit of a man +who had lived in the flesh: but he was not an angel. Of +that Paul was sure and certain; then he related how he +had taken ship and sailed to Samothrace, and next day +to Neopolis, and the next day to Philippi, and how in +the city of Thyatira he had bidden a demon depart out +of a certain damsel who brought her master much gain by +soothsaying. And for doing this he had been cast into +prison. He knew not of angels, and it was an earthquake +that caused the prison doors to open and not an angel. +Peter had met angels, but he, Paul, had never met one, +he knew naught of angels, except the terrible Kosmokratores, +the rulers of this world, the planetary spirits of +the Chaldeans, and he feared angel worship, and had +spoken to the Colossians against it, saying: remember +there is always but one Mediator between God and man, +Jesus Christ our Lord, who came to deliver us from those +usurping powers and their chief, the Prince of the +Powers of the Air. They it was, as he had told the +Corinthians, that crucified the Lord of glory. But +perhaps even they may be saved, for they knew not +what they did.</p> + +<p>Jesus was afraid that Paul's vehemence would carry +him on into another fit like the one that he had just come +out of, and he was glad to meet a shepherd, who passed +his water-bottle to Paul. Fill thy bottle from mine, the +shepherd said to Jesus, and there is half-a-loaf of bread +in my wallet which I'd like thee to have to share with +thy traveller in the morning, else he will not be able +to begin the journey again. Nay, do not fear to take it, +he said, my wife'll have prepared supper for me. Jesus +took the bread and bade his mate farewell. There is a +cave, Paul, Jesus said, in yonder valley which we can +make safe against wolves and panthers. Lean on my +arm. Thy head is still a trouble; drink a little more +water. See, the shepherd has given me half-a-loaf, which +we will share in the morning. Come, the cave is not +far: in yon valley. Paul raised his eyes, and they +reasoned with vague, pathetic appeal, for at that moment +Jesus was the stronger. Since it must be so, I'll try, +he said, and he tottered, leaning heavily on Jesus for +what seemed to him a long way and then stopped. I +can go no farther; thou wouldst do well to leave me to +the hyenas. Go thy way. But Jesus continued to encourage +him, saying that the cave in which they were +to rest was at the end of the valley, and when Paul +asked how many yards distant, he did not answer the +exact distance, but halved it, so that Paul might be +heartened and encouraged, and when the distance +mentioned had been traversed and the cave was still far +away he bore with Paul's reproaches and answered them +with kindly voice: we shall soon be there, another few +steps will bring us into it, and it isn't a long valley; +only a gutter, Paul answered, the way the rains have +worn through the centuries. A strange desert, the +strangest we have seen yet, and I have travelled a +thousand leagues but never seen one so melancholy. +I like better the great desert. I have lived all my life +among these hills, Jesus replied, and to my eyes they +have lost their melancholy.</p> + +<p>All thy life in these deserts, Paul replied eagerly, and +his manner softened and became almost winning. Thou'lt +forgive, he said, any abruptness there may have been in +my speech, I am speaking differently from my wont, but +to-morrow I shall be in health and able to follow thee +and to listen with interest to thy tales of shepherding +among these hills of which thou must know a goodly +number. My speech is improving, isn't it? answer me. +Jesus answered that he understood Paul very well; and +could tell him many stories of flocks, pillaging by robbers +and fights between brave Thracian dogs and wolves, and +if such stories interested Paul he could relate them. But +here is our cave, he said, pointing to a passage between +the rocks. We must go down on our hands and knees +to enter it; and in answer to Paul, who was anxious to +know the depth of the cave, Jesus averred that he only +knew the cave through having once looked into it. The +caves we know best are the vast caves into which the +shepherd can gather his flocks, trusting to his dogs to +scent the approach of a wild animal and to awaken him. +Go first and I'll follow thee, and Jesus crawled till the +rocks opened above him and he stood up in what Paul +described as a bowel in the mountain; a long cave it was, +surely, twisting for miles through the darkness, and +especially evil-smelling, Paul said. Because of the bats, +Jesus answered, and looking up they saw the vermin +hanging among the clefts, a sort of hideous fruit, measuring +three feet from wing to wing, Paul muttered, and as +large as rats. We shall see them drop from their roosts +as the sky darkens and flit away in search of food, Jesus +said. Paul asked what food they could find in the +desert, and Jesus answered: we are not many miles from +Jericho and these winged rats travel a long way. In +Brook Kerith they are destructive among our figs; we +take many in traps. Our rule forbids us to take life, but +we cannot lose all our figs. I've often wondered why we +hesitate to light bundles of damp straw in these caves, for +that is the way to reduce the multitudes, which are worse +than the locusts, for they are eaten; and Jesus told stories +of the locust-eating hermits he had known, omitting, +however, all mention of the Baptist, so afraid was he lest +he might provoke Paul into disputation. See, he said, +that great fellow clinging to that ledge, he is beginning +to be conscious of the sun setting, and a moment after +the bat flopped away, passing close over their heads into +the evening air, followed soon after by dozens of male and +female and many half-grown bats that were a few months +before on the dug, a stinking colony, that the wayfarers +were glad to be rid of. But they'll be in and out the +whole night, Jesus said, and I know of no other cave +within reach where we can sleep safely. Sometimes +the wild cats come after them and then there is much +squealing. But think no more of them. I will roll up +my sheepskin for a pillow for thee, and sleep as well as +thou mayest, comrade, for to-morrow's march is a long one.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XXXIX.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was as Jesus had said, the bats kept coming in and +going out all the night through, and their squeakings as +they settled themselves to sleep a little before dawn +awakened Paul, who, lifting his head from the sheepskin +that Jesus had rolled into a comfortable pillow for him, +spied Jesus asleep in a corner, and he began to ask himself +if he should awaken Jesus or let him sleep a little +while longer. But myself, he said, must escape from the +stifle of this cave and the reek of the bats, and, dropping +on his hands and knees, he crawled into the air.</p> + +<p>It was a great joy to draw the pure air into his lungs, +to drink a deep draught, and to look round for a wild cat. +One may be lurking, he said, impatient for our departure, +and as soon as we go will creep in and spring among the +roosts and carry off the flopping, squeaking morsel. But +if a cat had been there licking her fur, waiting for the +tiresome wayfarers to depart, she would have remained +undiscovered to Paul's eyes, so thick was the shadow, and +it was a long time before the valley lengthened out and +the rocks reassumed their different shapes.</p> + +<p>He was in a long narrow valley between steep hills, +with a path zigzagging up the hillside at the farther end, +among rocks that set Paul thinking of the little that would +remain of his sandals before they reached Cæsarea.</p> + +<p>A long day's march of twelve or thirteen hours lay +before him, one that he would have been able to undertake +in the old days without a thought of failure, but it +was over and above his strength to-day. But was it? +It seemed to him that he could walk a long way if the +present breeze that had come up with the day were to +continue. It came up the valley, delicious as spring water, +but suddenly he recognised in it the smell of a wild animal; +the sour smell of wolves, he said to himself, and looking +among the rocks he spied two large wolves not more than +fifty yards distant. It is fortunate, he said, that the wind +is blowing from them to me, else they would have scented +me; and Paul watched the lolloping gait of the wolves till +they were out of sight, and then descending from the rock +he returned to the cave, thinking he had done wrong to +leave it, for he had entrusted himself to Jesus, and perforce +to clear his conscience had to confide to him he had +been out in the valley and seen two wolves go by. But +they did not scent me, the wind being unfavourable. If +they had, and been hungry, it might have gone hard with +thee, Jesus said, and then he spoke of Bethennabrio, a +village within a dozen miles of Cæsarea in which Paul +would sleep that night. Thou canst not get to Cæsarea +to-night, Jesus affirmed to him, and they resumed their +journey through a country that seemed to grow more +arid and melancholy as they advanced.</p> + +<p>Paul complained often that he had come by a more +direct and a better way with Timothy, but Jesus insisted +that the way they were going was not many miles longer +than the way Paul had come by. Moreover, the way he +was taking was safer to follow. The Jews of Jericho had +had many hours in which to lay plans for his capture, but +Jesus thought that if Paul would believe in him he would +be able to get him in safety to the village of Bethennabrio, +where Paul thought he would be safe; the Jews would +not dare to arrest a Roman prisoner, one who had +been ordered by Festus to Italy to receive Cæsar's +judgment within a few miles of Cæsarea. Thou'lt be +within two hours of Cæsarea, Jesus said, and can look +forward to seeing your comrade Timothy the next day. +Jesus' words brought comfort to Paul's heart and helped +him to forget his feet that were beginning to pain him. +But a long distance would still have to be traversed, and +his eyes wandered over the outlines of the round-backed +hills divided by steep valleys, so much alike that he +asked himself how it was that Jesus could distinguish one +from the other; but his guide seemed to divine the way +as by instinct, and Paul struggled on, encouraged by a +promise of a half-hour's rest as soon as they reached the +summit of the hill before them. But no sooner had +they reached it than Jesus said, come behind this rock +and hide thyself quickly. And when he was safely +hidden Jesus said, now peep over the top and thou'lt +see a shepherd leading his sheep along the hillside. +What of that? Paul answered, and Jesus said, not much, +only I am thinking whether it would be well to let him +go his way without putting a question to him, or whether it +would be better to leave thee here while I go to him with +the intention of finding out from him if there be tidings +going about that one Paul of Tarsus, a spreader of great +heresies, a pestilential fellow, a stirrer-up of sedition, has +been seen wandering, trying to find his way back to +Cæsarea.</p> + +<p>The shepherd was passing away over the crest of the +hill when Jesus said, the pretext will come to me on my +way to him. Do thou abide here till I return, and Paul +watched him running, lurching from side to side over the +rough ground towards the shepherd, still far away. Will he +overtake him before he passes out of sight and hearing? +he asked himself.</p> + +<p>The sheep were running merrily, and the breeze carried +down to Paul's ear the sound of the pipe, setting him +thinking of the Patriarchs and then of his guide; only +mad, he said, in one corner of his brain, convinced that he +returned to the Essenes because he had said in Jerusalem +that he was the Messiah. A strange blasphemy, he +muttered, and yet not strange enough to save the +brethren from the infection of it. It would seem that +they believe with him that he suffered under Pilate, +without knowing, however, for what crime he was +punished; and a terrible curiosity arose in Paul to learn +the true story of his guide's life, who, he judged, might +be led into telling it if care were taken not to arouse his +suspicion. But these madmen are full of cunning, he said +to himself, and when Jesus returned Paul asked if he had +discovered from the shepherd if an order was abroad from +Jericho to arrest two itinerant preachers on their way to +Cæsarea. Jesus answered him that he had put no direct +question to the shepherd. He had talked to him of +the prospect of future rains, and we were both agreed, +Jesus said, that the sky looked like rain, and he told +me we should find water in the valley collected in pools +among the rocks; he mentioned one by a group of fig-trees +which we could not miss seeing. Thou art safe, +Paul, have no fear for thy safe arrival at Cæsarea at +midday to-morrow. If a search had been ordered to +arrest two wayfarers my shepherd would have heard of +it, for it was about here that they would try to intercept +us, and we shall do well to turn into a path that they +will overlook even if they have sent out agents in pursuit +of thee and Timothy.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XL.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>By midday they reached a region more rugged than +the one they had come out of. The path they followed +zigzagged up steep ascents and descended into crumbling +valleys and plains filled with split stones, rubble and sand, +a desert truly, without sign of a living thing till the shadow +of an eagle's wings passed over the hot stones. Jesus told +Paul that the birds nested up among the clefts yonder +and were most destructive in the spring when the ewes +were lambing. Having to feed three or four eaglets, he +said, the birds would descend on the flocks, the she-eagle, +the larger, stronger and fiercer, will attack and drive off +even the dog that does not fear a wolf, yet I have seen, +he continued, a timid ewe, her youngling behind her in +a coign in the hill, face the bird fiercely and butt it +till she lost her eyes, poor ewe, for I came up too late +with my staff. And the lamb? Paul inquired: was far +away, Jesus answered, aloft among the eaglets.</p> + +<p>Jesus had stories of wolves and hyenas to beguile the +way with, and he pointed with his staff to the narrow +paths above them up which they would have to climb. +But be not discouraged, he said, we shall be in a better +country presently; as soon as we pass the hill yonder +we shall begin to descend into the plain, another three +leagues beyond yon hill we shall be where we bid each +other farewell. Paul answered he was leaving Palestine for +ever. His way was first to Italy and then to Spain and +afterwards his life would be over, his mission fulfilled, but +he was glad to have been to Jericho to have seen the +Jordan, the river in which John had baptized Jesus. He +was sorry now when it was too late that he had never +been to Galilee, and Jesus told of wooded hills rising +gently from the lake shore, and he took pleasure in +relating the town of Magdala and the house of Dan of +Arimathea, Joseph's father, and the great industry he +had established there; he continued talking, showing +such an intimate and personal knowledge of Galilee that +Paul could not doubt that he was what he professed to be, +a Nazarene. There were hundreds of Nazarenes, many +of which were called Jesus: but there was only one +Jesus of Nazareth. He did not say this to Jesus; but +after Jesus had asked him how it was that he who had +travelled the world over had never turned into Galilee, +he replied that the human life of Jesus in Galilee +concerned him not at all and his teaching very little. He +taught all the virtues, but these were known to humanity +from the beginning; they are in the law that God +revealed to Moses. Even pagans know of them. The +Greeks have expounded them excellently well. A teacher +Jesus was and a great teacher, but far more important was +the fact that God had raised him from the dead, thereby +placing him above all the prophets and near to God +himself. So I have always taught that if Jesus were not +raised from the dead our teaching is vain. A miracle, +he said, and he looked into Jesus' face just as if he +suspected him to be thinking that something more than +a miracle was needed to convince the world of the truth +of Paul's doctrine. A miracle, to the truth of which +more than five hundred have already testified. First he +appeared to Mary and Martha, afterwards to Cleophas and +Khuza. On the way to Emmaus he stayed and supped +with them and afterwards he appeared to the twelve. +Hast met all the twelve and consulted with them? Jesus +asked, and Paul, a little irritated by the interruption, +answered that he had seen Peter and John and James +and Philip but he knew not the others; and, of course, +James, the brother of the Lord. Tell me about him, +Jesus answered. He admits Jesus as a prophet among +the others but no more, and observes the law more strictly +than any other Jew, a narrow-minded bigot that has +opposed my teaching as bitterly as the priests themselves. +It was he who, Paul began, but Jesus interrupted and +asked about Peter. Where was he? And what doctrine +is he preaching? Paul answered that Peter was at +Antioch, though why he should choose to live there has +always seemed strange to me, for he does not speak Greek. +But what trade does he follow? Jesus asked. There are +marshes and lakes about Antioch, Paul replied, and these +are well stocked with fish, of a quality inferior, however, +to those he used to catch in the lake of Gennesaret, +but still fish for which there is some sale. He and +John own some boats and they ply up and down the +marshes, and draw up a living in their nets, a poor and +uncertain living I believe it to be, for they are often +about telling stories to the faithful of our Lord Jesus +Christ, who pay them for their recitals. One is always +with them, a woman called Rachel. It is said that she +poisoned a rival at a wedding, a girl called Ruth whom +Jesus raised from the dead. Ruth went to her husband, +but Rachel followed Jesus of Nazareth.... Thou'rt a +Galilean, Paul said, and know these stories better +than I.</p> + +<p>As they walked on together, Paul's thoughts returned to +the miracle of his apostleship, received, he said, by me from +Jesus Christ our Lord himself on the road to Damascus. +Thy brethren have doubtless related the story to thee +how in my journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, full of +wrath to kill and to punish the saints, I was blinded by +a great light from the skies, and out of a cloud Jesus +Christ our Lord spoke to me: Paul! Paul! he cried, why +persecutest thou me? Ever since I have preached that +there is but one Mediator between God and man—Christ +Jesus our Lord, and if I ran out whilst thou wast telling +thy story, crying, he is mad, he is mad! it was because +it seemed to me that thou wert speaking by order of +the Jews who would ensnare and entrap me or for some +other reason. None may divine men's desire of soul, +unless an evil spirit has descended into thee I may not +divine any reason for thy story. There is some mistake +that none would regret more than thou, for thou wouldst +hear the truth from me this day, thereby gaining everlasting +life. Why dost thou not answer me, Jesus? +Because thou'rt waiting to hear from me the words that +our Lord Jesus Christ spoke to me? My brethren have +told it to me, Jesus answered. And thou believest it not? +Paul cried. I believe, Jesus answered, that the Jesus that +spake to thee out of a cloud never lived in the flesh; he +was a Lord Jesus Christ of thy own imagining, and I +believe, too, that if we had met in Galilee thou wouldst +not have heeded me, and thou wouldst have done well, for +in Galilee I was but a seeker; go thou and seek and be +not always satisfied with what first comes to thy hand.</p> + +<p>These words provoked a great rage in Paul, and believing +Jesus to be an evil spirit come to tempt him, he +turned fiercely upon him, threatening him with his staff, +bidding him begone. But as he could not desert Paul +in the wilderness Jesus dropped behind him and directed +Paul's journey, bidding him tread here and not there, +to avoid the hill in front of him, and to keep along the +valley.</p> + +<p>In this way they proceeded for about another hour, +and then Jesus cried out to Paul: yonder are the fig-trees +where the shepherd told me to look for a pool +among the rocks after the late rains. Art overcome, Paul, +with the long march and the heat? Rest. Let me untie +thy sandals. Alas! they are worn through and will scarce +carry thee into Bethennabrio. But they must carry me +thither, Paul answered, and if there be water in the pool +after we have drunken and filled our water-bottle I'll +loose the thongs and bathe my feet.</p> + +<p>The season was advanced, but there were still leaves +on the fig-trees, and among the rocks some water had +collected, and having drunk and filled the water-bottle, +Jesus loosed the thongs of Paul's sandals and bound his +feet with some bandages torn from his own clothing. He +broke the bread that the passing shepherd had given him, +but Paul could eat very little so overcome was he with +fatigue. I shall try to eat after I have slept a little, and +having made his head comfortable with his sheepskin, +Jesus watched him doze away.</p> + +<p>Soon after the warm rocks brought sleep to Jesus' eyes, +and he fell asleep trying to remember that he had nothing +more explicit to rely upon than his own declaration (where +should it be made, in the streets to the people or in the +Sanhedrin to the priests?) that he was Jesus of Nazareth +whom Pilate condemned to the cross, only his own words +to convince the priests and the people that he was not +a shepherd whom the loneliness of the hills had robbed +of his senses. He could not bring the Essenes as testimony, +nor could they if they came vouch for the whole +truth of his story.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CHAP. XLI.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Hast slept well, Paul, and hath sleep refreshed +thee and given thee strength to pursue thy journey? +Paul answered that he was very weary, but however +weary must struggle on to Cæsarea. Thy strength wilt +not suffer thee to get farther than Bethennabrio, and to +reach Bethennabrio I must make thy sandals comfortable, +Jesus answered, and on these words he knelt and succeeded +in arranging the thongs so that Paul walked +without pain.</p> + +<p>They walked without speaking, Paul afraid lest some +chance word of his might awaken Jesus' madness, and +Jesus forgetful of Paul, his mind now set on Jerusalem, +whither he was going as soon as Paul was safely out of +the way of the Jews. Each shut himself within the +circle of his own mind, and the silence was not broken +till Paul began to fear that Jesus was plotting against +him, and to distract Jesus' mind from his plots, if he +were weaving any, he ventured to compare the country +they were passing through with Galilee, and forthwith +Jesus began to talk to Paul of Peter and John and James, +sons of Zebedee, mentioning their appearances, voices, +manner of speech, relating their boats, their fishing tackle, +the fish-salting factory at Magdala, Dan, and Joseph his +son. He spoke volubly, genially, a winning relation it +was of the fishing life round the lake, without mention +of miracles, for it was not to his purpose to convince Paul +of any spiritual power he may have enjoyed, but rather +of his own simple humanity. And Paul listened to all +his narratives complacently, still believing his guide to +be a madman. If thou hadst not run away crying, he +is mad, he is mad! thou wouldst have heard how my +crucifixion was brought about; how my eyes opened in +the tomb and—— Interrupting Jesus, Paul hastened +to assure him that if he cried out, he is mad, he is mad, +he had spoken the words unwittingly, they were put +into his mouth by the sickness in which Jesus had discovered +him. And the sickness, he admitted, might +have been brought about by the shock of hearing thee +speak of thyself as the Messiah. But, Paul, I did not +speak of myself as the Messiah, but as an Essene who +during some frenzied months believed himself to be the +Messiah. But, shepherd, Paul answered, the Messiah +promised to the Jews was Jesus of Nazareth, who was +raised by his Father from the dead, and thou sayest +that thou art the same. If thou didst once believe thyself +to be the Messiah thou hast repented thy blasphemy. +Let us talk no more about the Messiah. In the desert +these twenty years, Jesus answered. But not till now +did I know my folly had borne fruit. Nor do I know +now if Joseph knew that a story had been set going. +It may be that the story was not set going till after +his death. Now it seems too late to go into the field +thou hast sown with tares instead of corn. To which +Paul answered: it is my knowledge of thy seclusion +among rocks that prompts me to listen to thee. The +field I have sown like every other field has some tares +in it, but it is full of corn ripening fast which will be +ready for the reaping when it shall please the Lord to +descend with his own son, Jesus of Nazareth, from the +skies. As soon as the words Jesus of Nazareth had left +his lips Paul regretted them, for he did not doubt that +he was speaking to a madman whose name, no doubt, +was Jesus, and who had come from Nazareth, and having +got some inkling of the true story of the resurrection had +little by little conceived himself to be he who had died +that all might be saved; and upon a sudden resolve not +to utter another word that might offend the madman's +beliefs, he began to tell that he had brought hope to +the beggar, the outcast, to the slave; though this world +was but a den of misery to them, another world was +coming to which they might look forward in full surety; +and many, he said, that led vile lives are now God-fearing +men and women who, when the daily work is done, go +forth in the evening to beseech the multitude to give +some time to God.</p> + +<p>In every field there are tares, but there are fewer in my +field than in any other, and that I hold to be the truth; +and seeing that Jesus was listening to his story he began +to relate his theology, perplexing Jesus with his doctrines, +but interesting him with the glad tidings that the burden +of the law had been lifted from all. If he had stopped +there all would have been well, so it seemed to Jesus, +whose present mind was not able to grasp why a miracle +should be necessary to prove to men that the love of God +was in the heart rather than in observances, and the +miracle that Paul continued to relate with so much +unction seemed to him so crude; yet he once believed +that God was pleased to send his only begotten son to +redeem the world by his death on a cross. A strange +conception truly. And while he was thinking these things +Paul fell to telling his dogma concerning predestination, +and he was anxious that Jesus should digest his reply to +Mathias, who had said that predestination conflicted with +the doctrine of salvation for all. But Jesus, who was of +Mathias' opinion, refrained from expressing himself definitely +on the point, preferring to forget Paul, so that he +might better consider if he would be able to make plain +to Paul that miracles bring no real knowledge of God to +man, and that our conscience is the source of our knowledge +of God and that perhaps a providence nourishes +beyond the world.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Paul continued his discourse, till, becoming +suddenly aware that Jesus' thoughts were far away, he +stopped speaking; the silence awoke Jesus from his +meditation, and he began to compare Paul's strenuous +and restless life with his own, asking himself if he envied +this man who had laboured so fiercely and meditated so +little. And Paul, divining in a measure the thoughts that +were passing in Jesus' mind, began to speak to Jesus of +our life in the flesh and its value. For is it not true, +he asked, that it is in our fleshly life we earn our immortal +life? But, Paul, Jesus said, it seems unworthy to +love virtue to gain heaven. Is it not better to love virtue +for its own sake? I have heard that question many times, +Paul answered, and believe those that ask it to be of +little faith; were I not sure that our Lord Jesus Christ +died, and was raised by his Father from the dead, I should +turn to the pleasures of this world, though there is but +little taste in me for them, only that little which all men +suffer, and I have begged God to redeem me from it, but +he answered: my grace suffices.</p> + +<p>A great pity for Paul took possession of Jesus, and +seeking to gain him, Jesus spoke of the Essenes and their +life, and the advantage it would be to him to return to +the Brook Kerith. Among the brethren thou'lt seek and +find thyself, and every man, he continued, is behoven +sooner or later to seek himself; and thyself, Paul, if I +read thee rightly, hath always been overlooked by thee, +which is a fault. So thou thinkest, Jesus, that I have +always overlooked myself? But which self? For there +have been many selves in me. A Pharisee that went +forth from Jerusalem with letters from the chief priests +to persecute the saints in Damascus. The self that has +begun to wish that life were over so that I may be brought +to Christ, never to be separated again from him. Or the +self that lies beyond my reason, that would hold me +accursed from Christ, if thereby I might bring the whole +world to Christ in exchange: which self of those three +wouldst thou have me seek and discover in the Brook +Kerith? He waited a little while for Jesus to answer, +then he answered his own question: my work is my +conscience made manifest, and my soul is in the Lord +Jesus Christ that was crucified and raised from the dead +by his Father. He lives in me, and it is by his power +that I live.</p> + +<p>The men stopped and looked into each other's eyes, +and it seemed to them that no two men were so irreparably +divided. Thou must bear with me, Paul, Jesus said, a +little while longer, till we reach a certain hillside, distant +about an hour's journey from this valley. I must see thee +to a place of safety, and the thoughts in my mind I will +consider while we strive up these sand-hills. Now if thy +sandals hurt thee tell me and I will arrange the thongs +differently. Paul answered that they were easy to wear, +and they toiled up the dunes in silence, Paul thinking how +he might persuade this madman to return to his cenoby +and leave the world to him.</p> + +<p>There are some, he said, as they came out of a valley, +that think the time is long deferred before the Lord will +come. Thou'rt Jesus of Nazareth, I deny it not, but the +Jesus of Nazareth that I preach is of the spirit and not of +the flesh, and it was the spirit and not the flesh that was +raised from the dead. Thy doctrine that man's own soul +is his whole concern is well enough for the philosophers of +Egypt and Greece, but we who know the judgment to be +near, and that there is salvation for all, must hasten with +the glad tidings. Wilt tell me, Paul, of what value +would thy teaching be if Jesus did not die on the cross? +Many times and in many places I have said my teaching +would be as naught if our Lord Jesus had not died, +Paul answered. Are not my hands and feet testimony, +Paul, that I speak the truth? Look unto them. Pilate +put many beside thee on the cross, Paul replied, and, as I +have told thee, my Christ is not of this world. If he be +not of this world, is he God or angel? Jesus asked, and +Paul said: neither, but God's own son, chosen by God +from the beginning to redeem the world, not the Jews +only, but all men, Gentiles and Jews alike. Thou hast +asked me to look into thy hands and feet, but what +testimony may be a few ancient scars to me that heard +our Lord Jesus Christ speak out of the clouds? Thou +wast not in the cenoby when I told my story, hoping +thereby to get a dozen apostles to accompany me to Spain, +a wide and difficult country I'm told, a dozen would not be +too many; but thou wast not there to hear what befell me +on the road to Damascus, whither I was going to persecute +the saints; and again a great pity for Paul took possession +of Jesus as he listened to the story. Were I to persuade +him that there was no miracle, his mind would snap, Jesus +said to himself, and he figured Paul wandering demented +through the hills.</p> + +<p>And when Paul came to the end of his story he seemed +to have forgotten the man walking by his side. He is +rapt, Jesus said to himself, in the Jesus of his imagination. +And when they had walked for another hour Jesus said: +seest the ridge of hills over yonder? There we shall find +the village, two hours' march from Cæsarea. The sea +rises up in front of thee and a long meandering road will +lead thee into Cæsarea. At yonder ridge of hills we part. +And whither goest thou? Paul asked. Returnest thou +to the Brook Kerith? I know not whither I go, but a +great seeming is in my heart that it will not be to the +Brook Kerith nor to Jerusalem. To Jerusalem? Paul +repeated. What persuasion or what desire would bring +thee to that accursed city of men more stubborn than +all others? I left the Brook Kerith, Paul, after listening +to Hazael for a long while; he sought to dissuade me +against Jerusalem, but I resisted his counsel, saying that +now I knew thee to be preaching the resurrection of Jesus +of Nazareth from the dead, thereby leading the people +astray, I must return to Jerusalem to tell the priest that +he whom they believed to be raised from the dead still +lived in the flesh. However mad thou beest, the priests +will welcome thy story and for it may glorify thee or +belike put thee on the cross again. But this is sure that +emissaries will be sent to Italy and Spain, who will turn +the people's mind from the truth; and the testimony of +the twelve that saw Jesus and of the five hundred +that saw him afterwards will be as naught; and the +Jews will scoff at me, saying: he whom thou declarest +was raised from the dead lives; and the Gentiles will +scoff and say: we will listen to thee, Paul, another day; +and the world will fall back into idolatry, led back into +it by the delusions of a madman. The word of God is +a weak thing, Paul, Jesus answered, if it cannot withstand +and overcome the delusions of a madman, and God himself +a derision, for he will have sent his son to die on +the cross in vain. Of the value of the testimony of the +twelve I am the better judge. Then thou goest to +Jerusalem, Paul asked, to confute me? No, Paul, I shall +not return to Jerusalem. Because, Paul interrupted, +thou wouldst not see the world fall back into idolatry? +Thou art a good man despite—— Despite my delusions, +Jesus said, interrupting Paul. So thou'rt afraid the world +will fall back into idolatry?—yet Jesus of Nazareth has +been proclaimed by thee as the Messiah, a man above +mankind. A spiritual being, higher than the angels, +therefore, in a way, part and parcel of the Godhead +though not yet equal to God. Thinkest, Paul, that those +that come after thee will not pick up the Messiah where +thou hast left him and carry him still further into deity?</p> + +<p>It is not fear of idolatry, Paul, that turns me from +Jerusalem. The world will always be idolatrous in some +sort of fashion. Bear that well in mind whither thou +goest. The world cannot be else than the world.</p> + +<p>Let us sit here, Paul answered, for I would hear thee +under this rock in front of this sea; thou shalt tell me +how thou earnest into these thoughts. Thou, a shepherd +among the Judean hills. Jesus answered him: the things +that I taught in Galilee were not vain, but I only knew +part of the truth, that which thou knowest, that sacrifices +and observances are vain; and when I went to Jerusalem +the infamy of the Temple and its priests became clear +to me, and I yielded to anger, for I was possessed of a +great desire to save the people. The Scribes and Pharisees +conspired against me, and I was brought before the High +Priest, who rent his garments. We have but little time +to spend together, and rather than that story I would +hear thee tell of the thoughts that came to thee whilst +thou didst lead thy flocks over the hills.</p> + +<p>For many years, Paul, there were no thoughts in my +mind, or they were kept back, for I was without a belief; +but thought returned to my desolate mind as the spring +returns to these hills; and the next step in my advancement +was when I began to understand that we may not +think of God as a man who would punish men for doing +things they have never promised not to do, or recompense +them for abstinence from things they never promised to +abstain from. Soon after I began to comprehend that +the beliefs of our forefathers must be abandoned, and +that if we would arrive at any reasonable conception of +God, we must not put a stint upon him. And as I +wandered with my sheep he became in my senses +not without but within the universe, part and parcel, +not only of the stars and the earth, but of me, yea, +even of my sheep on the hillside. All things are God, +Paul: thou art God and I am God, but if I were to +say thou art man and I am God, I should be the madman +that thou believest me to be. That was the second +step in my advancement; and the third step, Paul, in +my advancement was the knowledge that God did not +design us to know him but through our consciousness of +good and evil, only thus far may we know him. So thou +seest, Paul, he has not written the utmost stint of his +power upon us, and this being so, Paul—and who shall +say that it is not so—it came to me to understand that +all striving was vain, and worse than vain. The pursuit +of a corruptible crown as well as the pursuit of an incorruptible +crown leads us to sin. If we would reach the +sinless state we must relinquish pursuit. What I mean +is this, that he who seeks the incorruptible crown starts +out with words of love on his lips to persuade men to +love God, and finding that men do not heed him he begins +to hate them, and hate leads on into persecution. Such +is the end of all worship. There is but one thing, Paul, +to learn to live for ourselves, and to suffer our fellows +to do likewise; all learning comes out of ourselves, and +no one may communicate his thought; for his thought +was given to him for himself alone. Thou art where I +was once, thou hast learnt that sacrifices and observances +are vain, that God is in our heart; and it may be that +in years to come thy knowledge will be extended, or it +may be that thou hast reached the end of thy tether: +we are all at tether, Paul.</p> + +<p>Wouldst thou have me learn, Jesus, that God is to be +put aside? Again, Paul, thou showest me the vanity of +words. God forbid that I should say banish God from thy +hearts. God cannot be banished, for God is in us. All +things proceed from God; all things end in God; God +like all the rest is a possession of the mind. He who +would be clean must be obedient to God. God has not +designed us to know him except through our conscience. +Each man's conscience is a glimpse. These are some of +the things that I have learnt, Paul, in the wilderness +during the last twenty years. But seek not to understand +me. Thou canst not understand me and be thyself; +but, Paul, I can comprehend thee, for once I was thou. +Whither goest thou? Paul cried, looking back. But Jesus +made no answer, and Paul, with a flutter of exaltation +in his heart, turned towards Cæsarea, knowing now for +certain that Jesus would not go to Jerusalem to provoke +the Jews against him. Italy would therefore hear of the +life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ that had brought +salvation for all, and Spain afterwards. Spain, Spain, +Spain! he repeated as he walked, filled with visions of +salvation. He walked with Spain vaguely in his mind till +his reverie was broken by the sound of voices, and he +saw people suddenly in a strange garb going towards the +hillside on which he had left Jesus; neither Jews nor +Greeks were they, and on turning to a shepherd standing +by he heard that the strangely garbed people were monks +from India, and they are telling the people, the shepherd +said, that they must not believe that they have souls, and +that they know that they are saved. What can be saved +but the spirit? Paul cried, and he asked the shepherd how +far he was from the village of Bethennabrio. Not more +than half-an-hour, the shepherd answered, and it was upon +coming into sight of the village that Paul began to trace +a likeness between the doctrines that Jesus had confided +to him and the shepherd's story of the doctrines that were +being preached by the monks from India. His thoughts +were interrupted by the necessity of asking the first +passenger coming from the village to direct him to the +inn, and it was good tidings to hear that there was one.</p> + +<p>However meagre the food might be, it would be enough, +he answered, and while he sat at supper he remembered +Jesus again, and while thinking of his doctrines and the +likeness they bore to those the Indians were preaching, +some words of Jesus returned to him. He had said that +he did not think he was going back to the Brook Kerith, +and it may well be, Paul muttered, that in saying those +words he was a prophet without knowing it. The monks +from India will meet him in the valley, and if they speak to +him they will soon gather from him that he divined much +of their philosophy while watching his flock, and finding +him to be of their mind they may ask him to return to +India with them and he will preach there.</p> + +<p>Sleep began to gather in Paul's eyes and he was soon +dozing, thinking in his doze how pleasant it was to lie in +a room with no bats above him. A remembrance of the +smell kept him awake, but his fatigue was so great that +his sleep grew deeper and deeper and many hours passed +over, and the people in the inn thought that Paul would +never wake again. But this long sleep did not redeem +him from the fatigue of his journeys. He could not set +out again till late in the afternoon, and it was evening when +he passed over the last ridge of hills and saw the yellow +sands of Cæsarea before him. The sky was grey, and the +rain that Jesus had foreseen was beginning to fall, and +it was through shades of evening that he saw the great +mole covered with buildings stretching far into the sea. +Timothy will be waiting for me at the gate if he has +not fallen over a precipice, he said, and a few minutes +after he caught sight of Timothy waiting for him. Paul +opened his arms to him. Thoughtest that I was lost to +thee for ever, Timothy? God whispered in my ears, +Timothy answered, that he would bring thee back +safely, and the ship is already in offing. It would be +well to go on board now, for at daybreak we weigh +anchor. Thou'lt sleep better on board. And Paul, who +was too weary even to answer, allowed himself to be +led. And, too weary to sleep, he lay waking often out +of shallow sleeps. He could hear Timothy breathing +by his side, and when he raised his eyes he saw the +stars that were to guide them along the coasts; but +the beauty of the stars could not blot out of his mind +the shepherd's face: and Paul's thoughts murmured, he +who believed himself the Messiah and still thinks he is +Jesus of Nazareth which was raised by his Father from the +dead. Yet without his help I should not have reached +Cæsarea. It then seemed to Paul that the shepherd was +an angel in disguise sent to his aid, or a madman. A +madman with a strange light in his eyes, he continued, +and fell to thinking if the voice that spoke out of the +cloud bore any likeness to the voice that had compelled +his attention for so long a term on the hillside. But a +bodily voice, he said, cannot resemble a spiritual voice, +and it is enough that the Lord Jesus spoke to me, and +that his voice has abided in me and become my voice. +It is his voice that is now calling me to Rome, and it is +his voice that I shall hear when my life is over, saying: +Paul, I have long waited for thee; come unto me, faithful +servant, and receive in me thy gain and the fruit of all thy +labour. He repeated the words so loudly that Timothy +awoke, and at the sight of the young man's face the +present sank out of sight and he was again in Lystra, +and on looking into the young man's eyes he knew that +Timothy would remind him always of the woman in +Lystra whom he would never see again. Of what art +thou thinking, Paul? The voice seemed to come from +the ends of the earth, but it came from Timothy's lips. +Of Lystra, Timothy, that we shall never see again nor +any of the people we have ever known. We are leaving +our country and our kindred. But remember, Timothy, +that it is God that calls thee Homeward. And they sat +talking in the soft starlight of what had befallen them +when they separated in the darkness. Timothy told that +he remembered the way he had come by sufficiently not to +fall far out of it, and that at daybreak he had met shepherds +who had directed him. He had walked and he had +rested and in that way managed to reach Cæsarea the +following evening. A long journey on foot, but a poor +adventure. But thou hast been away three days, three +days and three nights.... How earnest thou hither? +Thy eyes are full of story. A fair adventure, Timothy, +and he related his visit to the Essenes and their dwelling +among the cliffs above the Brook Kerith. A fair adventure +truly, Timothy. Would I'd been with thee to have +seen and heard them. Would indeed that we had not +been separated—— He was about to tell the shepherd's +story but was stopped by some power within himself. But +how didst thou come hither? Timothy asked again, and +Paul answered, the Essenes sent their shepherd with me. +Timothy begged Paul to tell him more about the Essenes, +but the sailors begged them to cease talking, and next +day the ship touched at Sidon, and Julius, in whose charge +Paul had been placed, gave him the liberty to go unto +his friends and to refresh himself.</p> + +<p>The sea of Cilicia was beautifully calm, and they sailed +on, hearing all the sailors, who were Greek, telling their +country's legends of the wars of Troy, and of Venus +whose great temple was in Cyprus. After passing Cyprus +they came to Myra, a city of Cilicia, and were fortunate +enough to find a ship there bound for Alexandria, sailing +from thence to Italy. Julius put them all on board it; +but the wind was unfavourable, and as soon as they +came within sight of the Cnidus the wind blew against +them and they sailed to Crete and by Salome till they +came to a coast known as the Fair Havens by the city +of Lasea, where much time was spent to the great danger +of the ship, and also to the lives of the passengers and +the crew as Paul fully warned them, the season, he said, +being too advanced for them to expect fair sailings. I +have fared much by land and sea, he said, and know the +danger and perils of this season. He was not listened +to, but the Haven being not safe in winter they loosed +for Phoenice; and the wind blew softly, and they mocked +Paul, but not long, for a dangerous wind arose known +as euroclydon, against which the ship could not bear up, +and so the crew let her drive before it till in great fear +of quicksands they unloaded the ship of some cargo. +And next day, the wind rising still higher, they threw +overboard all they could lay hands upon, and for several +days and nights the wrack was so thick and black overhead +that they were driven on and on through unknown +wastes of water, Paul exhorting all to be of good cheer, +for an angel of God had exhorted him that night, telling +that none should drown.</p> + +<p>And when the fourteenth day was spent it seemed to +the sailors that they were close upon land. Upon sounding +they found fifteen fathoms, and afraid they were upon +rocks, they cast out anchors. But the anchors did not +hold, and the danger of drowning became so great as +the night advanced that the sailors would have launched +a boat, but Paul besought them to remain upon the ship; +and when it was day they discovered a certain creek in +which they thought they might beach the ship, which +they did, and none too soon, for the ship began to break +to pieces soon after. But shall our prisoners be supposed +to swim ashore? the soldiers asked, and they would have +killed the prisoners, but the centurion restrained them, +for he was minded to save Paul's life, and all reached +the shore either by swimming or clinging to wreckage +which the waves cast up upon the shore.</p> + +<p>They were then upon the island of Melita, where Paul +was mistaken for a murderer because a viper springing +out of a bundle of sticks fastened on his hand. But he +shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm, and +the barbarians waited for him to swell and fall down +suddenly, but when he showed no sign of sickness they +mistook him for a god, and in fear that they would offer +sacrifices in his honour, as the priests of Lystra wished +to do when he bade the cripple stand straight upon his +feet, he told them that he was a man like themselves; +he consented, however, that they should bring him to +Publius, the chief man of the island, who lay sick with +fever and a flux of blood, and he rose up healed as soon +as Paul imposed his hand upon him. And many other +people coming, all of whom were healed, the barbarians +brought him presents.</p> + +<p>After three months' stay they went on board a ship from +Alexandria, whose sign was Castor and Pollux, and a fair +wind took them to Syracuse, where they tarried three +days; a south wind arose at Rhegium and carried them +next into Puteoli, where Paul found the brethren, who +begged the centurion Julius to allow him to remain with +them for a few days, and on account of his great friendship +and admiration of Paul he allowed him to tarry for +seven days.</p> + +<p>From Puteoli Paul and Timothy and Aristarchus went +forward towards Rome with the centurion, and the news +of their journey having preceded them the brethren came +to meet them as far as The Three Taverns.... With +great rejoicing they all went on to Rome together, and +when they arrived in Rome the centurion delivered +the prisoners to the Captain of the Guard, but Paul was +permitted to live by himself with a soldier on guard over +him, and he enjoyed the right to see whom he pleased +and to teach his doctrine, which he did, calling as soon +as he was rested the chiefs of the Jews together, and when +they were come together he related to them the story +of the persecutions he had endured from the Jews from +the beginning, and that he had appealed to Cæsar in +order to escape from them. He expounded and testified +the Kingdom of God, persuading them on all matters concerning +Jesus, his birth, his death and his resurrection, +enjoining them to look into the Scriptures and to accept +the testification of five hundred, many of whom were +still alive, while some were sleeping. He spoke from +morning to evening.</p> + +<p>The rest of his story is unknown.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12821 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |