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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20367.txt b/20367.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d6f6ef --- /dev/null +++ b/20367.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9582 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Coming of the King, by Bernie Babcock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Coming of the King + +Author: Bernie Babcock + +Release Date: January 15, 2007 [EBook #20367] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COMING OF THE KING *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +THE COMING OF THE KING + + +BY + +BERNIE BABCOCK + + + + +AUTHOR OF + +THE SOUL OF ANN RUTLEDGE, ETC. + + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP + +PUBLISHERS ---- NEW YORK + + +Made in the United States of America + + + + +COPYRIGHT 1921 + +THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY + + + + +To + +THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PROLOGUE--THE CHILD + + + Part One + A. D. 32 + +CHAPTER + + I IN THE NET + II AT TIBERIAS + III UNDER THE FOX'S NOSE + IV IN THE VALLEY OF LILIES + V HULDAH AND ELIZABETH + VI HARD SAYINGS + VII LOST--AN ANKLET + VIII STRANGE TALES ABE ABOUT + IX SWEET IS THE SCAR + X I WOULD SEE JESUS + XI ON WITH THE DANCE + XII ON THE ROOF + XIII ORANGE BRANCHES + XIV WITH WHAT EYES + XV THE DEATH OF LAZARUS + XVI HE CALLETH FOR THEE + XVII THINK ON THESE THINGS + XVIII THOU ART THE KING + + + Part Two + A. D. 33 + + XIX CATACOMBS COMRADES + XX THE LITTLE TALLITH + XXI ANOTHER PASSOVER + XXII BRIDAL CHAMBER TALK + XXIII YE GENERATION OF VIPERS + XXIV BY THIS WITNESS + XXV IN THE GARDEN + XXVI CLAUDIA AND PILATE + XXVII CAESAR'S FRIEND + XXVIII ROSES AND IRIS AND TEARS + XXIX SWIFT MESSENGERS + XXX CLAUDIA'S DREAM + XXXI KING OF THE JEWS + XXXII IN THIS SIGN + XXXIII I AM + + + + +THE COMING OF THE KING + + +PROLOGUE + +THE CHILD + +"The fangs of the she-wolf are whetted keen for Galilean flesh and else +the wrath of Jehovah palsy the arm of Rome, Galilean soil will run red +with blood from scourged backs ere the noon of a new day." + +The speaker, a slender woman wearing the garb of a peasant, lowered a +water-jar from her shoulder and stood beside the bench of a workman, +who paused at his task to get news from the market place. + +"The souls for the cross--are they many?" he asked. + +"A score of hundred I hear whispered, but at market place and fountain +the spear of the soldier presseth hard against the ribs of those who +congregate to exchange a word." + +The man, who was fashioning a heavy yoke, lifted his bearded face to +that of the woman. "A score of hundred!" he exclaimed. "To-morrow's +sun will climb over Tabor to the ring of axes cutting green timber for +twenty hundred crosses! The mercy of God on the victims!" + +"Yea--and to-morrow's sun will set with the breeze of evening wafting +one great groan of agony over the hills and vales of Galilee--one great +sob of lamentation--one great curse on the barbarians of the city on +the Tiber. And this for no crime save that of poverty!" + +"Insurrection," the man corrected. "The Gaulonite raised, not a +popular revolt, alas. It is but _insurrection_." + +"Insurrection!--and why not insurrection? The Gaulonite may hang on a +cross until the black winged ravens pick his bones and wild dogs carry +them to desert places, but the Gaulonite speaks the voice of our +fathers for verily, verily, the soil of the earth belongs to God, not +men, and the toiler should eat of the increase of his labor! Doth not +our toil yield the barley harvest, yet are we not ofttimes hungry? +Doth not our toil make the vine hang heavy in the vineyard, yet do not +our bottles droop empty of wine? Doth not the substance of our bitter +toiling go to the tax-gatherer? Aye, Joseph, thou knowest I speak +truly. It is tax--tax--tax,--land tax, temple tax, poll tax, army tax, +court tax--always tax; and when there is to be a great orgy in the +banquet halls of Rome, or Herod is to give a mighty feast for that +brazen harlot, his brother's wife, are we not reduced to the bran and +vinegar fare of slaves to pay the cost? A curse on Rome! A curse on +Herod!" + +"Hist, Mary, hist! Know'st thou not there may be ears listening even +now behind the pomegranate?" + +The woman glanced nervously toward the door where a leather curtain +hung. She crossed the room, lifted the curtain and looked out into the +court. It was empty save for a group of children. She returned to the +room and from the wall took several small skin bottles which she placed +by the water-jar. Then she called, "Jesu! Jesu!" + +In answer a lad of six or eight years appeared from the court. + +"Fill the bottles and hang them under the vine where the night breeze +will cool them for the morrow." + +When the child had done her bidding he stepped to the door. "Mother," +he said, "hear thou? There is weeping in the home of Jael's father! +Listen! Hear thou--the children calling--calling?" + +The woman went to the door. She listened a moment and as the wail of a +child sounded over the court she said, "Aye, sore weeping. Why, Jesu?" + +"Jael's father went away yester morning and hath not come again. A man +saw him with many others driven in chains like cattle. A stain of +blood was on his face--and he will not come again. Why did the +soldiers take Jael's father?" + +"Hist, child. Talk not of Jael's father. Run and play." + + * * * * * * + +The next morning before the rising sun had climbed above Mount Tabor, +little Jesu with his peasant mother left Nazareth, carrying between +them a new-made yoke. They had not yet reached the end of the footpath +around the slope of the hill to the highway, when they heard a +heart-sickening moan. + +The child stopped suddenly saying, "Something doth suffer?" + +The woman took a few steps forward and looked out into the roadway. +Then she too stopped, and with a sharp cry threw her hand across her +eyes. Having received no answer to his inquiry the child pushed past +her to the highroad. Then he too gave a cry, half fear, half pain, +saying, "It is the father of Jael--and, mother--_mother_--there is a +_dog_." And with a scream he dashed into the roadway. As he did so an +animal slunk across his path and disappeared behind a cactus thicket +hedging a barley field. + +The moan gave way to a feeble call as the child appeared. "Jesu! +Jesu, I thirst!" were the words the parched lips uttered. + +Helpless, the man hung crucified. The cross was not more than four +feet high, all in this wholesale crucifixion being purposely low that +wild dogs and jackals might tear the vitals, the bodies thus exposed +emphasizing the power and cruelty of Rome. Naked the crucified one +hung, his palms clotted with blood where spikes held them on the green +cross-beam, and the wood behind the body stained dark from thong-cuts +on the back. His legs lay on the ground. Flies swarmed wherever there +was blood and the gray face of the victim was yet grayer from dust cast +up by travelers on the roadway. + +"Jesu! Jesu! Water for my burning tongue!" the man moaned. + +"Give him to drink," the woman said in low tones to the child, who +stood before the cross, his large dark eyes fixed on the helpless one +in horror and in pity. "Give him water and I will watch that none spy +you at the deed. Hasten!" + +The child opened his water-bottle and held it toward the lips of the +man. Pinioned hands, stiffened shoulders and weakened muscles made the +effort to drink difficult. Pulling his kerchief from his neck, the +child sopped it with water and held it to the dry lips. + +In wavering tones the man, refreshed, said, "Since yester noon have I +hung here. With the morning came the dog; thrice came he sniffing. +Once, before weakness overcame me, with kicking and fierce screams I +frightened the brute. Again, a herdsman drove him far across the +field. And now you come, Jesu. Ah, that you might tarry until the +numbness creeping over my back where the flies swarm, and into my hands +that have burned, reached my brain, that you might stay until the +darkness of death hides from me the skulking form waiting to rend my +flesh." + +"Woman," said the child, raising his dark eyes to his mother's face, +"dost fear to leave me?" + +"Yea, my little one, lest seeing thee minister to a malefactor some spy +or guard might take thee." + +"And would they take one young like me, who never did Rome harm?" + +"All do Rome harm who cry beneath her heel." + +"I fear not. I can hide in the bushes and keep the evil beast away. +And when the road is clear I can wet the dry lips of Jael's father." + +The woman hesitated. + +"Canst carry the burden alone, woman?" and there was concern in the +child's voice. "The way is long, the road rough and the yoke a heavy +one." + +"The burden is naught save the burden of fear on my heart lest thou +meet harm, my beloved one--my little Jesu!" + +"Be not afraid. Will not the God of our fathers save me from the +soldier's spear as once our father David was saved from the spear of +Saul? Find me but a stout club with which to keep the bristled dog +from Jael's father." + +Throughout the day the child kept watch over the cross and its victim +by the dusty wayside. There were passers-by, most of them Galileans +muttering curses on the powers that had put him on the cross, but +offering no comfort to the malefactor. Twice the gaunt dog came nearer +but drew back before the raised club, and with blinking eye and +restless tongue, bided his time. As the sun dropped behind the trees, +the moaning from the cross grew almost too faint to be heard, and when, +after a long stillness, there came a sharp strange cry from the lips of +the crucified, the child gave a start and then hastened to offer the +wet kerchief. But before he reached the cross the head had fallen limp +over the bosom, and the feet lay quiet in the roadside dust. + +The child spoke. There was no answer. He went back to his shelter in +the bushes. A strange hush seemed to have fallen over the earth. With +searching eyes he now watched the long road for a sight of his mother. +When he turned his gaze for a moment from the roadway to the cactus +hedge he noticed the watching dog had drawn closer and with fierce +eagerness eyed the limp body on the cross. Fear now took possession of +the child, and he moved nearer the highway and shuddered as he noticed +that the dog moved nearer also. + +When at last his mother came he buried his face in her breast and +sobbed: "His head hangs like a flower broken at the stem. He can not +lift it, and he thirsts no more for water." + +"Peace be to Jael's father," the mother replied, choking back a sob, +"and peace be to thee, my brave little Jesu." + +"Nay, I am not brave. I was afraid--afraid!" + +"Nay, nay. My little Jesu is not afraid of a dog." + +"Nay, not a dog. But after the head of Jael's father fell low, +something seemed reaching out long dark arms to gather me in--in to +Jael's father--and I feared." + +The mother pressed the hand of the child in hers. Reassured by the +warm strong clasp, he smiled as his mother said, "It were but childish +fear. There is nothing by the roadside reaching dark arms out to you." + +"Nay, nothing--nothing, woman," replied the child, laughing at his own +fear, "nothing save the shadow of the cross." + + + + +PART ONE + +A.D.32 + + +CHAPTER I + +IN THE NET + +Through the open doorway and latticed window of a peasant's hut, the +sunset colors of a Palestine sky glowed red. The only occupant of the +room was an aged woman, thin haired and bent, who moved slowly about +preparing the evening meal. She stopped beside a dingy little oven on +one end of the bed platform, and bending stiffly to the floor gathered +up a few handsful of stubble which she thrust into the fire. As the +quick flames rose under her kettle she stirred her brew muttering: "Do +not two sparrows go for a farthing and yet have we no flavor for our +sop. It was not so in the days of our fathers." + +Stirring and muttering she did not notice the approach of a young girl +who had entered the room, until an armful of chaff was dropped by the +oven. With a start she, turned about. + +"Sara!" she cried, "thou comest like a thief in the night. Singing +doth better become thee." + +"There is no song in me. Empty is my stomach, and look you," and she +pointed across the room to a pile of nets beside a wooden bench. +"There are three score rents to mend and the day is done." She turned +to the doorway and for a moment stood looking out, barefooted, meanly +clad and unkept, yet of comely form and with abundant dark hair falling +around an oval face of more than ordinary beauty. She sighed and +turned back into the room. + +"Thou shalt eat," and the aged woman took bread from the oven and +placed it on a wooden table in the center of the room. "Sit thee down." + +Sara sat down and glanced over the small table. "Bread and unseasoned +sop!" she exclaimed. + +"And water," cheerfully added Grandmother Rachael, as she poured the +contents of a skin bottle into a pitcher. + +After the washing of hands from a bowl on a stool at the table side, +the aged woman muttered thanks and the evening meal began. + +"It goeth down hard," Sara complained. + +"But it was not so in the days of our fathers," her companion reminded +her. "Then there was plenty and each man sat under his own vine and +fig tree, for by the law of Moses no man was allowed to collect usury, +so sayeth the Rabbi." + +Hardly had the meal begun when, unnoticed by either of the women, a +fisherman entered. His muscular arms were uncovered; the short skirt +of his garment scarce reached his knees. His heavy dark hair was +pushed back from his forehead and the dying sunset falling over his +swarthy face and neck gave him the appearance of bronze. He stopped +behind Sara and spoke her name. + +"It is the voice of Jael," she cried, looking back. "My Jael." + +"And he hath brought a fish!" Grandmother Rachael exclaimed, laughing. +"The blessing of God on thee, my son Jael. Sit thee down and sup with +us." + +"Thy hospitality exceedeth thy stores," he answered, "yet could I not +swallow food if thy table did groan with milk and honey." + +"Thou art not sick?" Sara asked, concern in her voice. + +"Nay, and yet have I a fever, the consuming fever of wrath, for again +hath the tax-gatherer been abroad. Robbed are our tables of fat, milk +and honey; lean are our bellies for food; stripped are our bodies of +covering. Yet doth the tax ever increase that Herod may add to his +vast stores. It is tax--tax--tax until at night the waves of the sea +beat against the shore calling 'Tax--tax,' and in the solitary places +the wild dogs bark 'Tax--tax,' and in the homes of the peasant the +children cry for bread while over their roofs the wind calls +'Tax--tax.'" + +"It was not so in the days of our fathers," Grandmother Rachael +muttered, beating her palms slowly together. + +"Her heart is not without Israel's hope of the coming of the King even +though her lips make much muttering," Sara said, as Jael turned to the +aged woman who again wailed: + +"It was not so in the days of our fathers." + +"Nay, nor will it ever be so in the days of our fathers' sons," he +answered her. "Was it for this that Israel was called to be God's +chosen people--this--that they should toil and starve and be spit upon +by heathen dogs? That they should till the soil and be robbed of the +increase that Herod might buy gold platters in which to serve good Jew +heads to dancing harlots? It hath been and ever will be among men +struggling for bread, as among dogs fighting over a carcass that the +strong shall overcome the weak. But our fathers every fifty years took +back the land from the strong and gave it again to the toiler that he +might have a new start. So shall it be." + +While he had been speaking he had dropped the leather curtain hanging +at the door. Sara lit a lamp. + +"And when shall come again the days of our fathers?" Grandmother +Rachael asked. + +"When we rise up and wrest from the oppressor our stolen inheritance." + +"Aye, but, my Jael, hast thou forgotten the Gaulonite?" Sara asked. +"Did he not with two thousand followers rise up to take back the land? +And were not his followers hanged on two thousand crosses until the +wild dogs of Palestine broke their fast on Jewish flesh?" + +Jael had grown excited as Sara questioned him. He paced the floor. +"Yea," he answered, "yea, did wild dogs feast on Jewish flesh, even the +flesh of thy Jael's father! Forget not shall I until the stone of my +father's tomb be rolled against my bones, how he was hung where two +roads meet! Forget will I--nor forgive. And in the time of Israel's +revenge will my own hands spill blood to settle the debt." + +"Sh- sh- sh-" warned Sara. "Methought I saw the curtain move. Fear +even now doth catch my heart in its pinching fingers." + +"Fear not, my fair Sara," Jael said. "Could harm befall thee with +Jael, the fisherman, nigh? Look thou at the strength of my arm and the +keen edge of my tough fishing knife!" and he held forth his shining +blade. + +"Not for myself do I feel fear, but for thee. Thy life would not be +worth a farthing were thy fierce words heard by the dogs of Rome. Thy +knife is long and keen, but the sword of the enemy is longer--and +methought the curtain moved again." + +"Nay, but to stay thy fears I will look." + +Jael turned toward the door but had taken only a step when the leather +was thrust aside and two soldiers sprang in. + +"Jael! Thy strong arm! Thy knife!" Sara cried. + +"Give me the knife, dog of a Jew," commanded one of the soldiers, +drawing his sword. "Give me, else will I strike thy head from thy body +and kick it like offal into the darkness of the night! Give me," and +he held out his hand. + +"Get the knife," was Jael's reply as he flung it through the uncovered +door. + +"By the gods! Now shalt thou come before the bar of justice to answer +the charge of sedition against the mighty Caesar and his king, thy +Herod." + +"Nay, no king of mine is that Idumean fox whose brother's wife doth +defile his bed. Such for Rome, but not for Israel!" + +"Dog of a Jew!" + +"Swine of a Roman!" + +For a moment the two measured glances. Then Jael was seized on each +side by one of the soldiers, the first spitting in his face with the +question, "Swine of a Roman am I?" + +"Yea, verily--son of a she-swine," and Jael blew the contents of his +mouth in the face of the soldier, who struck him across the cheek with +his sword, exclaiming: "This for thy portion to-night, then the cross." + +Grandmother Rachael had taken refuge on the oven step and was wringing +her hands and muttering prayers, while Sara was keeping as close as +possible to Jael. + +"Have pity, sir," she begged of the soldier when the cross was +mentioned. "Have pity, he hath done thee no harm." + +"Hold your tongue, woman," the soldier replied without looking at her, +"else the cross will be thy portion also." + +"And to the cross I choose to go if there my Jael goeth," she replied. + +Then the second soldier, casting admiring glances on Sara, said, "She +is a fair maiden; she shall be my spoil." + +"Jove Almighty!" exclaimed the other, catching his sword-point in the +front of her bodice and laying it open. "A fair maiden indeed. Not +thine, but mine shall she be," and he motioned his fellow soldier to +stand back. + +"The God of our fathers strike thee dead!" Jael shouted in wrath. + +"The God of thy fathers! Ha! Ha! The God of thy fathers hath no more +power than yonder driveling granny. By Rome hath the God of thy +fathers been smitten. To Rome belongs the maiden." + +"Of all the spoil," the soldier who had discovered the beauty of Sara +said to his companion, "of all the spoil that hath been taken between +us, you have the larger portion. I first saw the maiden. She shall be +mine!" + +"Nay, mine--first mine. Then shall she be yours." + +"Lord God Almighty!" Jael cried. "Is it the name of my Sara your +polluted lips pass back and forth? Is it the virgin innocence of my +betrothed you would trade between you? Nay!" + +And with a tremendous effort he freed himself and attacked the soldiers +with his naked hands. In the thick of the conflict, Sara, who had +seized the lamp, went out with it to search for the knife. In the dark +the struggle continued, but when Sara returned with the knife she found +Jael on the floor with blood running from a wound in the head. She +screamed, but no attention was paid her until her lover had been +securely enmeshed in the pile of fish nets and thrown upon the wooden +bench. Then the first soldier, wiping his brow and regaining his +helmet, said, "Now shall I take my own?" and he moved toward Sara. + +Turning the point of the fishing knife against her breast she +whispered, "If thou takest me, thou takest me dead." + +"'Twas I who first saw her," the second soldier protested, stepping up. + +"Hold thy tongue," his companion exclaimed angrily, "else will I tie +thee in the fish net with the Jew. Art thou ready to go with me?" +turning toward Sara. + +"Touch me not!" she commanded, drawing back. + +The soldier laughed. "Touch thee not, when thou hast set my blood +running like fire? Touch thee not?" and he snatched the knife from her +hand and flung it into the pile of nets, as he said, "Flame doth become +thy cheek and fire thine eye! Come, nay--thou comest not? Then will +Jael hang on a cross. Then will Jael's flayed back draw many stinging +flies. Then will Jael's moans for water to cool his veins drained dry +of blood, make sweet music. Then will the smell of Jael's flesh draw +dogs with whetted fangs. Then--" + +"Stop! Stay!" cried Sara. "Wilt thou spare Jael?" + +"When thou art mine, then Jael shall be spared." + +Sara turned to the bench. "Jael--Jael--Jael," she called, drawing her +long hair across her face. + +"Tangle not thy fair tresses. Soft must they lie across my cheek when +thou art mine. Come," and the soldier lay hands upon her, but she +shrank away and throwing herself down beside the bench cried: + +"Oh, Jael--Jael--save me!" + +"Come here," the first soldier called to the second, "thy sword. A +live Roman is better than a dead Jew. Why wait we for the cross?" + +Turning on her knees before the soldier, Sara caught the upraised sword +saying, "Nay--nay--spare him." + +"Wilt thou come with me?" + +"Yea--God of my fathers--God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I come! But +ere I leave my home forever, let me have the blessing of my mother +Rachael. Stand thou beyond the threshold lest thy presence pollute the +air." + +"Thou wouldst be blessed?" and the soldier laughed. "I await beyond +the threshold," and pushing the other soldier in front of him, he +stepped outside and stood where he could watch the pile of fish nets, +from which came the sound of heavy breathing. + +"My blessing," Sara whispered, "_the bitter hemlock_!" + +With tears streaming down her withered cheeks while she muttered and +cursed, the aged woman fastened Sara's torn bodice, binding the deadly +herb within easy hand's reach. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +AT TIBERIAS + +A Tyrian merchant-ship manned by three galleys of oarsmen, turned its +high and proudly arched red and gold neck into the harbor of Tiberias. + +After the manner of that master builder his father, Herod the Great, in +building Caesarea, Herod Antipas had built Tiberias as a home of luxury +for himself and a fitting tribute to the ruling Caesar. The great +semicircular harbor reared its colossal pillars in a mighty curve +flanked far out in the sea by massive towers of gray stone. On a hill +rising gradually from beyond the harbor stood the royal palace of +Antipas, its polished marble gleaming through the tops of palms and the +lace-like green of shittah trees. Against this background of pillared +stone and shining marble and living green was the shipping in the +harbor. Hugged against the dock near by was a load of silver from +Tarshish. Near it was a ship from Caprus bearing copper. A cargo of +wine from Damascus and a cargo of linen from Egypt rocked side by side; +and a low boat piled with shells of dye fish had just come into port +from the far Peloponnesus, while everywhere ships of different size and +kind from those centers of commercial activity, Tyre and Sidon, were +changing sails and dipping oars. + +In the prow of the Tyrian merchant-ship stood Zador Ben Amon, by race +and faith a Jew; by political alignment a Sadducee; by occupation an +importer of precious stones, owner of a number of shops in Jerusalem +where cunning work was done in gold and ivory, and a money-changer in +the Temple. Zador Ben Amon was returning from a prosperous trip that +had taken him as far as Rome, and having business with Herod Antipas +had sent word of his visit to Tiberias. It was with a smile he stroked +his perfumed beard as he caught sight of an equipage making its way to +the water-front. A flock of goats and rams being driven by Arabs +across the wharf, scattered, and to both right and left sailors and +slaves made way for the driver of Herod's horses. + +Black as ravens were the horses of Herod Antipas, and shiny as satin. +Their manes and tails hung in closely curled, glossy ringlets and their +heavy harness was thickly studded with polished gold buttons. The +glossy black hair of Antipas was also curled, and the crown-like +head-gear he wore was thickly studded with jewels, as was also the +richly gold embroidered border of his robe. In his ears he wore rings +which swung down against the upper edge of his curled and greased beard. + +The greeting between Antipas and the money-changer was cordial; and +before they went to the palace, Zador Ben Amon was driven about the +city to see the stadium, the new theatre, the streets and the +underground watercourses. And he was taken to the famous hot baths a +mile down the seaside, considered by Romans one of the great +curiosities of the world. It was in the feast room Zador made known +his business, and yet, not until some discussion of other matters had +taken place, beginning with a description of a Roman banquet at which +the Jew had been a guest. + +"The table at which we sat was of citron wood from Mauritania, more +precious than gold. And it was covered with a plateau of massive +silver weighing five hundred pounds--five hundred pounds, mind you, +chased and carven. Dost thou marvel that I made friends with the +Romans?" + +"Thou art wise, Son of Amon," Antipas answered. + +"After the feast, young slave girls strewed the mosaic with sawdust +dyed saffron and vermilion, mixed with sparkling powder, and naked +virgins danced--_naked_ virgins!" + +Herod Antipas rubbed his palms and smiled, showing the tips of several +sharp teeth. + +"And the next day," continued the guest, "we went to the circus and +waved our ribbon-decked palms while half a score of combatants were +dragged to the spoilarium and carted through the Gate of Death. A +bloody sport, but they enjoy it, and gladiators are plenty. Gorgeous +the shows of Rome; like the waters of the Tiber doth her wine flow, and +her gold is like the stars for plenty." + +"And the populace, doth it not mutter even as our own?" + +"Into the feast halls comes no mention of the populace. Yet it hath +been said they stand about trembling lest they starve because of the +delay of an Alexandrian corn ship. But what of the populace? Whether +her hordes be corn fed or not corn fed, Rome careth not. What souls +have these?" + +"It is the naked virgins that possess souls," and Antipas showed his +pointed teeth a little more. + +"Nay, it is the naked virgins that set souls on fire," Zador Ben Amon +corrected. + +"Rome hath not all the naked virgins that do dance. Antipas hath had a +dance for his wife's sake." With this remark his sharp-toothed smile +gave way to laughter. + +"Which wife?" Zador asked. + +"Herodias, sister of Agrippa the Great. Her Salome danced until like +fire my blood chased itself into a fever. Then did I tell her to name +her price. And the price was none other than the head of John--John +Baptist, who for defiling the name of Antipas' wife had been put in a +dungeon under the castle of Machaerus. Antipas is not cursed with +poverty. Yet are there prices too great, for since the head of the +brawler came blinking on a platter, do the people declare he were +Elias, and that he is not dead but walks the dungeon by day and whither +he will by night." + +"Thou shouldst be a Sadducee and declare against a hereafter. They +eat, drink and be merry while the Pharisees speak darkly of a hereafter +of which they know nothing, and beget fear of ghosts." + +"Yea, but in the hearts of the people great hope of a hereafter is ever +alive. This do the Pharisees know and teach." + +"The Pharisees are hypocrites. But let us to business for it meaneth +more stores of gold to Antipas and Zador." + +The Idumean leaned forward with his eyes on the Jew. "Speak on," he +said. + +"There is a reason Rome ruleth the world. She knoweth how. In the +Senate are the laws made. By the sword of her vast army are they +enforced. And lest insurrection be plotted against the throne of the +Caesars, Rome hath a system of spies sufficient to hear a whisper in +the bowels of the earth. It hath not been so determined, but it is +suspected that there is some sort of a union of toilers. Such +societies would be like a worm in the heart to our profits, Antipas." + +"Fear not such worms. Some wild dream is this--that those who toil +bind themselves together. Ever do cattle contend among themselves and +not unite." + +"It hath been done. What hath been done by slaves and men, might be +done again. It hath not yet outlived the memory of man how the slaves +in the Laurian silver mines arose, killed their guards, took the +citadel of Sunium to sleep in, raided the armory for weapons and laid +Attica waste for a great season. Nor was it because they were not well +enslaved. Naked did their men and women toil under the lash. Yet they +became as one man and, at the word, rose as one man. And was it not in +Macedonia at the gold mines of Pangaetus that another bloody uprising +took place at vast cost to the gold industry because they rose as a +man? Suppose you, that the silversmiths, gold-gilders, pearl and ivory +and filigree workers should secretly band themselves together, hast +thou knowledge to compute the loss to my profit?" + +Herod Antipas had covered his sharp teeth with his lip and was +listening intently to Zador Ben Amon. + +"Would it mean naught to thee if in thine own province thy hewers of +stone and builders of ships, thy tent-makers and herdsmen and corn +growers should secretly unite and rise against thee?" + +"Thy words sink deep," Antipas said, taking up his cup. Finding it +empty, he looked behind him. The stewart who had been standing there +had gone out. "More wine!" Antipas shouted. "And keep thee by the +cups," he gave order as the stewart came hastily in. Antipas and his +guest drank freely. Then the Jew spoke again. + +"Here is Herod Antipas," he said, holding up his left hand and marking +its first finger with the stubby forefinger of his right hand. "And +here is Pilate, Procurator of Judea, and here is the High Priest of the +House of Annas. And the three have much gold. But between them hath +Annas the greater portion. From the tax on all the world getteth +Pilate his. From Galilean tax getteth Antipas his, but from the Temple +getteth Annas his through the hands of Caiaphas. The tribute money +from all the earth, the Sanctuary half shekel and the Temple Bazaars +and money-changers bring riches untold to Annas. Did not Crassus when +he went out against the Parthians carry from the Temple gold uncounted? +Did Pompey not take one hundred million of shekels in gold beside the +beams of gold hidden in the hollow wood?" + +"Yea, much fine gold," Antipas replied. "But thou art thyself a +money-changer in the Temple, and its riches cometh to thy hands also." + +"Thou dost not know Annas. Bled I am of my lawful profits else another +get my place. Annas is all powerful. Yet have I a plan." + +"What planneth thou?" and Antipas leaned across the table with eager +eyes on the Jew. + +"Let these three mighty ones--Herod of Tiberias, Zador Ben Amon of +Jerusalem and Pilate of Rome--form a secret union for their profit and +for breaking the power of Annas. What thinkest thou of such a union?" + +"Thou art the son of a fool," and Antipas straightened up stiffly. + +"A fool thou sayest? And wherefore?" Zador Ben Amon asked, somewhat +confused by the sudden change in the attitude of his host. + +Antipas leaned forward. His lips were securely drawn over the points +of his teeth. His eyes, somewhat watery from much drinking, looked +with anger into the steady eye of Zador. "Pilate," he began, "doth +come riding to the Passover in a gold inlaid ivory chariot and with +royal lictors, and in the Palace of Herod the Great doth he revel. Who +builded this palace? What man should be seated on its throne?" He +paused and held out his cup to the stewart who filled it afresh. "Who +was the friend of Cleopatra and Anthony? Was it not Herod the Great, +father of Antipas? Who went to Rome in a three-decked ship he builded, +was taken to the Roman Senate and made King of the Jews? Was it not +the father of Antipas? Who builded Caesarea at the fountains of +Jordan? Who builded the Temple, the arches, the monuments, the +streets, the aqueducts, the walls, the towers and the Palace of Herod +the Great, King of the Jews? Was it not Herod the Great, father of +Antipas? And when he had died and the worms eaten him who was given +command of the Tower of Antonio? Into whose hands was the Palace of +Herod the Great given? Who is this Pilate--impostor of a Roman? Is he +not the son of a heathen of Seville? Was not his father Marcus Pontius +who deserted his countrymen when Rome made conquest in his land? Was +he not rewarded for his treachery with the sharp-edged pilatus which +gave to him the new name 'Pilate'? Did not the son of this heathen dog +follow Germanicus and through him creep in among the Romans of high +estate? Did he not wed Claudia Procula, granddaughter of Augustus? +And shortly thereafter was he not made Procurator at Jerusalem? Who +should sit in state in Herod's palace in Jerusalem? Antipas, son of +the King of the Jews, who builded it, or Pilate who would grind him +beneath his clanking Roman heel? And wouldst thou have me to form +union with _this_?" + +With flushed face Antipas paused to get breath. "More wine!" he +called. He drained the cup and throwing it across the table, arose and +walked the length of the room and back with heavy strides. Then he sat +down and pounded the table shouting, "Hear, oh, Zador Ben Amon! not +until the desire of Pilate be the desire of the son of Herod the Great +shall Antipas and Pilate come together! Dost thou understand? Like +fleas on a dog these secret societies thou fearest may vex Rome. That +is Rome's grievance. In Galilee know they better for the Gaulonite is +yet remembered. Yet will I comb the province clean with teeth of steel +that not one breaching insurrection may escape." + +Antipas was trembling with rage. Zador Ben Amon saw that he had done +little less than insult his host by his untimely suggestion about +Pilate. + +"Let not the peace of Antipas be disturbed by the power of Pilate in +Jerusalem," he said quietly, moving nearer Antipas. "Like the mist of +the morning his days pass, and what man knoweth who shall be Procurator +then?" + +"What meanest thou?" and the Tetrarch leaned forward with returning +interest. + +"We must be alone." + +Antipas turned around to his stewart. "Begone!" he commanded. When +the door had closed behind him, Zador's host with burning eyes +whispered, "A plot? Hast thou heard in Rome of a plot against the life +of Pilate?" + +"Whether plot I know not. But by evil omens is the day marked for him, +deadly as the Ides of March." + +"Evil omens? From an oracle?" + +"From an oracle under the wings of a raven and bat. Came the omen from +the entrails of a falcon which, when spread before the oracle, did lift +themselves one against the other. Then did they tremble without touch +of hand and did wrap themselves in a knot and struggle together until +they did burst asunder. And from that which was hidden therein came +forth the hind foot of a hare." + +"The meaning thereof?" and Antipas waited. + +"That which be hidden is no Roman. That which hideth it shall meet +death by strangulation. Then shall that which hath been swallowed come +forth to run a swift race." + +Antipas reflected a moment. His anger was leaving him, but the tips of +his teeth were not yet showing. + +Zador Ben Amon turned to his cloak and from a wallet took out three +leather cases, two of which he opened and placed on the table. The +first contained a ring, the second a frontlet. "Of so excellent a +nature hath been thy entertainment," said the Jew, "thou makest me to +forget my gifts," and taking up the frontlet he handed it to Antipas. +"This is a gift for the High Priest. Look thou at the filigree work +around the amethyst, and the hyacinth color of the ribbon." + +Antipas took it and Zador noticed that his fingers seemed to stick as +he relinquished his hold. + +"And this," Zador took the ring, "hath been made by workers of rare +skill. Its jaspers came from far India. This is for Herod Antipas +from his friend Zador Ben Amon," and he handed it to Herod. + +The keen edge of the sharp teeth now came into view for a smile of long +duration. When the ring had been duly admired, Antipas glanced at the +third leather case. Zador opened it and drew forth an anklet which +Antipas reached for. Slipping it over the fingers of his hand he held +it up, and after examining its jewels, he shook it until it tinkled, +and enjoyed it as a child enjoys a toy. When he had played with it a +few moments he lifted his eyes to the Jew and studied him. "Thy desire +is buried well under thy itch for gain," he said. "Yet do I now +remember the eye of the money-changer when he spoke of the naked +virgins." + +"Is a money-changer not as other men?" + +"With his two eyes ever set on gold and his ten fingers ever counting +treasure, what eye or finger touch hath he left for woman? Is this for +the profit of thy purse or the pleasure of the flesh?" + +"It is a betrothal gift." + +"Thou sayest! Beware an Asmonean princess!" and Antipas smiled broadly. + +"A princess of Israel she is. I saw her in the shop of a Jerusalem +silk dealer named Joel who will wed her sister. Her hair is fine as +webs spun at night. She hath arms and a bosom her veil did but half +conceal. So was I stirred into loving her. Her brother liveth at +Bethany where she too abides and there have I been. Fair she is and +not upper-minded, and I go to make her my betrothed." + +"And doth this fit?" Taking the circlet from his fingers Antipas put +it on his wrist and shoved it as far up on his hair-grown arm as it +would go. He then placed his broad hand on the table and gave an +imitation of a woman walking. Both men roared with laughter as the +hairy leg skipped and danced and hobbled while the bangles tinkled +merrily. + +"Thou art a keen Jew, my friend," Antipas said. "Thou tellest not the +name of the woman. If she shall scorn thy gift then canst thou give it +to another for, ever there are women whose softness can be thine for a +jeweled trinket." And with a broad showing of sharp teeth, Herod +Antipas removed the anklet from his arm and handed it back to Zador Ben +Amon. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +UNDER THE FOX'S NOSE + +Behind the well guarded doors of a mud plastered house not far from the +shores of Genassaret, a small company of Galilean peasants and +fishermen had gathered to meet a _kurios_[1] from a Phoenician +_thiasos_,[2] who was making a pilgrimage to gather information and +organize societies. When introduced to the little group, the _kurios_ +said, "I see the table spread for the supper. Around such a table have +I sat in Greece and Asia Minor as well as in Italy. Great is its power +of breaking down the hatred between races and of making strong the +spirit of the Brotherhood. In every land, though customs are not the +same and the tongues are strange, yet do those who enter in know the +bath of acceptance; the common table; the common treasury; love of the +living; care for the dead; hope for the future; worship of a divinity +and belief that a Savior cometh. Long hath it come to the ears of the +_thiasos_ how Galilee doth suffer. By the sword hath not a whole +village of thy race been taken? Were not thy men shackled and thy +maidens ravished? And ye who remain, art thou not taxed to the death?" + +The words were spoken in low tones, yet there was a strange force in +them. The speaker bent forward and the index finger he pointed at his +hearers seemed to have been thrust suddenly from between his eyes. +When the sleeve of his mantle fell back it disclosed upon his arm a +fish, having a lion's head with a circle in its mouth. + +"To gather news of thy distress, that is not hear-say, and to learn of +thy hope, if hope thou hast, have I come. Speak on." + +There was a moment of silence. Then a peasant stepped forward. + +"Look thou!" and he threw back his skirt. "See thou these grievous +wounds? I was set upon at the thrashing floor by a band of ruffians +who demanded my wheat. And when I did say, 'Nay,' they did beat me, +take the wheat and cast me into the chaff to die. And it hath since +come to me that these ruffians are none other than servants of Annas, +High Priest, who go about to pillage and destroy. Is it not so?" and +turning to one side he lay hold of another man's arm. "Here is Herod's +stewart. Hear him." + +"Are the doors well barred and the court guards alert?" the stewart +questioned. "Are there watchmen on the housetop? Herod hath said he +will comb Galilee with teeth of steel for such as this. Yea, one +wounded and robbed brother hath spoken truly. Nor is this the worst. +The Sicarii, those murderers that do so grievously afflict the whole +province, these too ply their bloody business at the hands of Herod and +Annas. For no sooner have the pirates been caught than they give over +to Herod and Annas their booty except a small stipend. Then are these +murderers turned loose to get yet more booty for the accursed +bloodsuckers called priests and kings. Am I not of the household of +Herod? Do I not know of these things? And of virgins despoiled do I +not know?" + +"Yea, yea--thou knowest!" The answer came sharply from a young +fisherman whose head was bound in a faded red turban and who carried +one arm in a sling. + +"Yea! Yea!" cried several other voices. "Let Jael speak!" + +"Oh, that Jael _might_ speak!" he answered fiercely. "That Jael +_might_ find tongue to curse those thrice accursed heathen who but +three days ago stole from him the maiden Sara. Oh, that he _might_ +find words to speak her fate, for rather than be polluted by the +serpent touch of Belial, took she the bitter hemlock! Oh, that Jael +could know where her body lieth that a pile of stones might cover it +from open corruption! Behold--" and from his breast he took a cord +with a bit of cloth attached, which he held up. "Behold all that Jael +the fisherman hath left of his betrothed--a little _tallith_ found upon +the floor where she had struggled! And look! Look, thou!" and he +snatched from his head the dull red cloth which had bound an angry +wound and waved it with savage swiftness before the _kurios_. "Behold +all that is left of the father of Jael, the fisherman who followed the +call of the Gaulonite to liberty from oppression, nor was the head that +once this covering clung to, allowed its right to rot in a decent tomb. +What hast thou of help to offer the oppressed?" and with a sudden twist +he wrapped the cloth about his outstretched hand and held it toward the +_kurios_. + +In a well controlled voice strongly contrasting with that of Jael, the +answer came. "If thou didst know the meaning of that which once didst +bind thy father's head, then would thy question have its answer. If +thou didst know the tongue the colors speak, the eyes of thy +understanding would be open. The white of the gens families and the +priests, hath it not from the hidden past meant 'washed' and 'set +apart' from the soil of the world? And what is red the color of the +toiler since those flaming deities, Ceres and Minerva, first presided +over their destinies? Who first gave homage to the crimson of the +rising sun? Kath it not ever been he who labors? Whose strength +bringeth forth the wheat and wine that maketh the red blood of mankind? +Cometh it not of the toiler? Is it not told in ancient song that those +of white robes dwell on thrones of gold in Mount Olympus while their +vaulted dome doth rest on the shoulders of the slaves and humble, whose +red robes have grown dun and murk and brown with soil and toil? Verily +there are blood makers and devourers of that blood. Thy father, Jael +the fisherman, didst know that the way of hope is the way of +Brotherhood. So did he bind himself with others. The hand of Rome +destroyed him. Yet the way of Brotherhood liveth." + +A woman had entered the room as he spoke. She hastily put some cups on +the table and then, in a voice vibrant with gladness, she repeated the +words, "The way of Brotherhood," and lifting her hands high, palms +upward, exclaimed, "My soul doth magnify the Lord!" + +All eyes were turned to her. A beautiful woman she was about whose +face, which shone as if fresh from a glory bath, silvery threads shone +like a dim halo. Her fine dark eyes were lit with radiant brightness. + +"James," she said addressing the master of the abode, "canst thou not +see--canst thou not hear thy brother as he read from the Word when +first he taught? Hear him; 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon _me_. He +hath anointed _me_ to preach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent _me_ +to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to captives, to set +at liberty them that are bruised.' Hath not the Spirit of the Lord +been upon him as he doth teach the way of Brotherhood and pray that +this kingdom may come on earth? Yet he hath not spoken of a red +banner." + +"The kingdom he would set up," said a man of gentle voice and spiritual +countenance who had not yet spoken, "cometh not with swords and +banners, for hath he not said 'They that lift the sword shall perish by +the sword?' There is a better way of Brotherhood. It cometh by the +law that he doth teach." + +"And what is the law of this, thy teacher that would bring +Brotherhood?" and there was interest in the voice of the _kurios_ as he +asked the question. + +"There is but one law. On it hangeth all law and all prophecy. Verily +a new law it is so that no more forever shall an eye be given for an +eye or one sword-thrust for another, for God is love." + +"Love? No longer a sword for a sword? Thou dost speak a strange +language! Shall naught be paid to robbers and murderers and despoilers +of women but _love_? Yet until the time of the great Brotherhood, vain +is the sword, for while the oppressed do rise here and there in small +revolt, swift and terrible is their cutting down. Slow grows the +Brotherhood. Yet since the mighty Solomon did weld into one whole his +stone-cutters and builders, hath those of like kind in toil and poverty +come together; fruit sellers, wool carders, perfume makers, +fortune-tellers, linen weavers, patch workers, wash women, dyers, image +makers, ivory carvers, bridge builders, poets and singers, dwarfsmiths, +sea-farers, wonder workers, hunters for the amphitheatre, brothel +keepers, all these and many others shall be gathered into one great +society and in that day--" The words of the _kurios_ were stopped +suddenly by the sound of three quick knocks on the roof over their +heads. + +"The enemy is upon us!" James exclaimed. "Mary, bring the roast kid +with great haste! Let every man be gathered about the table ready for +a feast--and be merry." + +A steaming kid was hurriedly brought and the men moved quickly to their +places except Jael, who stepped behind the door and drew from his +mantle, his long keen knife. When the soldiers entered shortly, with +steps as stealthy as those of a cat, he moved out where their faces +might be seen and scanned them swiftly, concealing his knife under his +skirt. + +"What goeth on?" one soldier shouted, while the other walked across the +room and looked into the kitchen. + +"I have a guest," James replied. "A kinsman whose father is my +father's father. With him we feast." + +"Feast?" and the soldier turned his attention to the table. "They do +feast! Ha! Ha! Come hither." + +The second soldier came, saying, "A banquet they give--Ho! Ho! For a +better one would I take me to the stables of Herod." + +"A kid have they that shineth with grease." + +"Is it a kid? Methought it a sparrow." + +"By its size, its bones will but breed a quarrel." + +"Let us be keepers of the peace--for this hath Herod not appointed us?" +and lifting his sword he brought it down on the roast kid severing it +in two halves. "A sharp blade cutteth clean!" + +"And a stiff leg maketh a good handle." And with the words each +soldier seized with his left hand a half of the kid which he fell +greedily upon, while holding his sword aloft in his right hand. With +hungry teeth the soldiers tore the flesh from the bones, spewing such +as they did not want on to the floor, and devouring the tender, until +their cheeks shone like ruddy apples and their beards were drabbled +with gravy. Then they dropped the remains on the floor and with their +boot toes rubbed them over the mud that had dropped from their heels. +When the flesh was well covered with filth, the two halves of the +carcass were lifted by the sword point and flung back on the table with +the words, "A feast they would have!" The soldiers cast their eyes +over the angry but silent company, and broke into roars of laughter. + +"A flock of sacred goats!" one said. + +"Nay--by the stink of them, fish long rotten. Let us go hence! Ugh!" +and pinching their noses, the soldiers left the abode. + +There was silence in the room for a moment before the _kurios_ said in +low tones, holding his hand toward the door to enjoin caution, "What +think ye, men of Galilee--needest thou a Brotherhood?" + +"Yea--yea," came like a growl from the throats of the company. + +"And who wilt thy leader be?" + +All eyes were turned to James as his name was spoken. + +"This night hast thou seen the fruit of the tree of oppression. What +sayest thou?" + +With the light of indignation in his eye and the tremor of wrath in his +voice, the master of the house said, "In the words of one greater than +I, 'Let the ax be laid at the roots of the tree.' And this also do I +say, Go to, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall +come upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments +moth-eaten! Your gold and silver is cankered and the rust of them +shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were +fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days! Behold! +The hire of the laborers who have reaped down thy fields, which you +kept back by fraud, crieth, and the cries of them which have reaped +have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth! Ye have lived in +pleasure on the earth and been wanton! Ye have nourished thy hearts as +in a day of slaughter! Ye have condemned and killed the just!" Then +addressing his words more closely to those about the table he said, "Be +patient, therefore, brethern, unto the coming of the Lord. Be patient, +for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh--draweth nigh." + +The Hallelujah, "My soul doth magnify the Lord!" broke the stillness +that had fallen after the words of James. All eyes were turned again +to the woman who had spoken once before. + + "He hath put down the mighty from their seats; + And exalted them of low degree: + He hath filled the hungry with good things, + And the rich hath he sent away empty." + + +As she stood with face aglow and arms extended, a strange pervading +hush filled the room. Her voice, while mellow with sweetness and glad +as a song yet had a depth that betokened mysterious strength. + +"Who is this," the _kurios_ asked, "that seeth what is to be while it +is yet forming in the womb of pain? Who is this that shouteth victory +before it hath been brought forth?" + +"The woman speaketh of her son who hath come to establish the Kingdom," +James answered. "And her soul doth greatly magnify the Lord." + +"Who is her son?" and there was keen interest in the question. + +"A Galilean even as we, and son of a carpenter. But he doth many +mighty works and his heart turneth to the lowly. Jesus his name." + +"I would see this Jesus. Where is he?" + +"He hath gone apart into a mountain to pray, as is his custom. But +tarry thou among us until he come, for of a truth he speaketh as never +man hath spoken." + +"I tarry," answered the _kurios_. + + + +[1] Lord and contract maker of ancient working man's society. + +[2] One of several names of ancient working man's society. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN THE VALLEY OF LILIES + +Thanks to the untiring labor of Martha and her slow-moving servant Eli, +the house of her brother Lazarus of Bethany was set in order three days +before the expected arrival of Passover guests. Followed by Eli, who +was girt about with a long towel, Martha made a last survey of the +large and well furnished living-room, looking for a truant speck of +dust. She paused for a moment at a table containing writing materials +and bade the servant wipe it carefully and place it, with a case of +scrolls, at one end of the wide, latticed window-couch, for here on the +comfortable cushions Lazarus spent much time reading. She had just +turned from the window-seat to a watering jar of fresh palm leaves when +from the open way leading into the garden, two maidens entered. + +"Martha," the first to enter said, laughing, "my guest Debora from +Capernaum hath already arrived and I have brought her to see Mary's +beds of lilies. Where is Mary? I saw her not in the garden," and she +glanced about the room. + +When greetings had been exchanged, Martha bade the man-servant go into +the garden and look at the dial while she polished the already glossy +palms. To Anna she said, "Thou knowest Mary. Was ever there another +such Mary? Look you at these palms. Is it not enough that the garden +be full to overflowing with vines and herbs? Yet would Mary fill the +house with flowers of the wayside did I not struggle against it. Even +now is she wandering off to a valley of lilies she hath found by the +wady beyond Olivet, searching a strange lily for her beds. Ere the +threefold blast of the Temple Priests awoke Jerusalem, were her eyes +open. And look you at the sun mark on the dial, and yet Mary, dreamer +of gardens and lilies and sweet odors, hath not yet returned." + +"Nay--call not Mary a dreamer," Anna protested, "for names that are +once given stick. Call they not my father 'Simon the Leper' for no +reason than that in his youth he had an issue of blood? And while the +world knows that his home could not be among the clean were he a leper +yet doth the name hang to him. To fasten on her the title of 'dreamer' +might lose Mary a good husband, for who wants a dreamer when the +sparrow pie is burning to the pot?" + +"Such is Mary, yet would I not spoil her chance of a husband though it +be left for me to look after food and the pots and my stupid Eli. And +if such a chance as Zador Ben Amon should be hers--would not my heart +rejoice?" + +"Hath he spoken to Lazarus for her hand?" + +"Nay, nor hath he supped with us for many months, nor even sent a +message." + +"Hath Mary's heart been heavy?" + +"Nay, Mary hath not had time to grow heavy-hearted, for since the +winter gave place to spring hath she been in the garden searching a +warm spot for some chicken yet wet from the shell, or scratching the +sod from some struggling seed. This is Mary," and Martha laughed +good-naturedly as she finished rubbing the palms. + +"Debora would see the garden," Anna said. "Such a lovely garden!" + +"Yea," answered Martha, as they passed into the court, "yet doth Mary +have strange ideas, for on top of the old wall that she would let no +man tear down because of its vines which bind the stones together, she +hath grasses growing, such grasses as grow by the wayside to be eaten +of asses and goats. And when I asked Lazarus to have the wild green +pulled out by the roots, he said since they injure not the wall and +delight the heart of Mary by their playful wagging in the spring +breeze, they shall stay. So there is a fringe of green blades set +thick with blue blossoms on top of the old wall with vines, and of +these, as of the valley of lilies she hath found, doth Mary throw up +her hands and cry--'Beautiful!'" + +Anna and Debora laughed as Martha acted the part of Mary and they +passed on toward the lily beds. Between the garden wall and the +winding roadway, grew a luxurious grove of date palms which gave to the +home of Lazarus its name. Inside the garden, pomegranates and grapes +and figs grew, with melons and lentils and aromatic plants, in addition +to Mary's garden of many colored lilies. In the center of the +courtyard near the house was a water pool in a stony basin, and from +the top of a pile of stones in the middle of the pool, water bubbled +and dropped over the aquatic plants that grew along its sides. On the +side of the pool nearest the house was the sun-dial. Close to the +stairs which went to the housetop from the outside, was an olive tree +of unusual size, the wide extended branches of which shaded a corner of +the house and its roof garden, for Mary had shade-loving plants here +also. Under this gnarled and ancient tree was a thick stone slab hewn +into a seat and here Martha and her guests sat down, after walking +through the garden, to talk of the Passover celebration just at hand, +of Martha's lover Joel, the silk merchant, and Zador Ben Amon's wealth. + + +As Martha had said, her sister had set forth in the sunrise for a yet +damp wady around the foot of Olivet, where, before the time of +blossoms, she had discovered beds of lilies. After an uninterrupted +walk of a mile or two, Mary paused on the brow of Olivet and stopping +to rest, turned her face to the east. Against the flood light of the +rising sun the far distant Mountains of Moab cast dim blue sky-lines. +Emerging from the many-hued green hills that rose in the foreground, +like a twisted thread, stretched the Jericho road which led past the +garden wall of Lazarus' home in Bethany. Even at this early hour +pilgrims on foot and on donkeys were journeying toward the scene of the +great Passover. + +From the east Mary turned her face to the west. Often had she seen +Jerusalem before, yet now she gave an exclamation of joy as the +ascending sunlight fell in floods of golden glory over the snowy towers +and gold minarets of the City of David, secure on its summit of rugged +fastness. "Who has not seen Zion knows not what beauty is!" she +exclaimed. "Zion--fairest throughout the earth!" The veil which she +had loosely bound about her head had fallen from her shoulders and the +morning breeze touching her soft dark hair was moving it gently around +her face while unseen fingers stirred the hem of her woolen skirt above +her dew wet sandals. The altar smoke of the morning offering was +ascending from the Temple of snow and gold, casting delicate and ever +changing spirals of gray and black against the rosy sky, and now and +then the silver glint of a dove's wing caught the eye as it circled +over one of the shining domes. Filled with racial pride as well as +with artistic admiration, Mary looked to the west, hidden, except its +sky, by the battlements of Jerusalem. But she knew that at the West +Gates the great highway to Joppa and the sea entered the city and +although no glimpse of it could be seen, she knew that the long and +dusty miles would soon resound to the call of the driver, as caravans +of wares for the Passover sale came through the gates. + +After a last long look at the shining Temple, Mary turned to the south. +As she did so the exquisite fragrance of grape blossoms came to her on +the changing breeze and she laughed with joy as her eager eyes took in +the panorama, of vineyards here and there with their gray watch towers +set in nature's most delicate filigree of green; of billowing fields of +grain; of groves of olives turning color from green to gray and white +as moved by the breeze, and back of it all the mountains of Judea, +their rugged outlines softened by the rose and purple mist of the +morning. In this direction the road leaving Jerusalem went into the +south as far as Hebron. + +Before pursuing her way she turned to see what signs of life appeared +on the great Damascus road which led to the north through Samaria and +Galilee. Here, as far as the eye could reach, glimpses of companies +which seemed but slowly-moving specks in the distance, drew nearer the +Holy City to worship or to profit. At the foot of a near-by hill a +flock of goats, with herdsmen keeping close watch, were browsing among +the prickly pears, feeding their last before being driven into the +Temple stalls as sacrificial beasts. On another road a company of +Arabs was putting up its mean and ragged tents and just beyond some +Galilean peasants were building booths. Turning from the brow of the +olive-green Mount, Mary made her way down a dim trail toward the valley +of lilies she had discovered. Around her feet the gently sloping +hillside was a mass of flowers, blood red anemones, spotted tulips and +blue star blossoms. In the winter, with the bare gray stones scattered +about in confusion, this place was dreary as poverty itself. But now +the wealth of beauty that lay over it suggested the joy of the Passover +to the whole world. + +It was while picking golden narcissus in her lily valley, Mary's heart +was gladdened by the sudden outburst of a nightingale in a thicket +close at hand. Careful watching was rewarded by a sight, not only of +the singer but of a nest with three little ones in it. While she yet +peeped at the nestlings, a man appeared with an ax. He was looking for +boughs with which to thatch his booth and his eye was on the +nightingale's home. Taking the nest from its hiding-place Mary tucked +it under her veil, wrapped her lily stems in wet leaves and started +away. A moment later a stroke of the ax felled the bush that had +housed the birds. Looking back Mary saw the mother bird fluttering +wildly about over the cast-off pile of leaves. "Knowing not her little +ones are safe she suffers pain," she said to herself. + +She had not gone far along the roadway when she came upon the tent of a +Bedouin. A woman holding an infant on one arm had just stepped out. +She looked about anxiously until her eye caught sight of a goat grazing +at no great distance. By its broken tether the goat had made its +escape. The milk and cheese of the family depended on the goat. In no +spoken word could Mary converse with the woman, but she understood, and +holding out her arms for the child, pointed toward the goat. The +swarthy woman nodded, placed the little brown baby in the arms of the +unknown friend, and hurried after the goat. + +Sitting on a flat stone behind the tent, Mary, who had for the moment +removed from her bosom the veil in which she had wrapped the nestlings +and was quieting their calls for their mother by fitting her warm palm +close over them, was suddenly startled by what seemed to be an infinite +throb, a passion unspeakable and mysterious. She did not know that the +mouth of a sucking child is a vortex in which the interplay of +universal forces starts into vibration a thousand generations of +instinctive motherhood. Nor did the little brown baby know aught of +this. Moved by the first impulse of Nature which makes every mother a +universal mother, the instinct of self-preservation had turned the face +of the child to the breast of Mary. Looking about with a glance of +apprehension lest she should be discovered in some unworthy act, she +hastily moved the infant from her arm and the nestlings from her veil +which she gathered over her shoulders and bosom. The birds she tied in +a loose end of the veil and hid in the front of her garment. Meantime +the baby was crying lustily and making feeble and aimless motions of +protest or desire with its tiny brown fingers. Mary was trying to +quiet it by walking when the Bedouin woman returned with the goat. + +The sun was shining high and the roads were peopled with pilgrims as +she made her way back to Bethany with her nestlings and narcissus. But +the way did not seem long, for out of her visit to the valley of lilies +had come a new mystery for her mind to dwell upon--the eternal mystery +of motherhood awakening. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings +shall come wisdom." The words of one of the Rabbis kept coming to her. +But what was the wisdom? Her only impression at the time was the +strange suggestion that because both nestlings and Bedouin babe had +mistaken her for their mother, they must be brothers. When Mary +reached home she found Martha and her guests in a state of pleased +excitement. News had just been brought by Lazarus that Zador Ben Amon +had arrived in Jerusalem after a long journey in far lands, and would +sup with them the day following. Especially had he sent his respects +to Mary. + +"Thou canst feed him, and Lazarus entertain him with his merry +speech-making," Mary observed quietly as she took the nestlings from +her veil. + +"And what wilt thou do for thy distinguished guest?" Anna asked of Mary. + +"I will watch with great care these little nightingales so that they +may live in the thicket by the spring just over the garden wall. And +next year when Zador Ben Amon doth pass with his camel train from +Damascus will their sweet song welcome him home." + +"No greater guest doth come to the Passover than Zador Ben Amon--and he +hath an interest in thee, Mary." + +"Yea--a greater than he hath come to the Passover," said Anna. "From +Rome hath Pilate come, so sayeth my father, and with a retinue of +servants that doth make Herod green with envy. And speech hath it that +the wife of Pilate doth dazzle the eye with such gorgeous apparel as is +seen only in the Roman circus." + +"Glad is my heart," said Martha, "that Herod be undone in the glory of +display for apeth he not the Romans? Herod is great when there is none +greater, but ever doth Rome send the greatest." + +"Nay, not Rome sends the greatest to the Passover." It was Debora who +spoke. "From Capernaum cometh he." + +"Capernaum of Galilee?" Martha exclaimed. "The home of fishermen?" + +"Yea, verily. From Galilee doth a prophet come the like of which hath +not been seen since Elias was taken in a chariot of fire and whirlwind." + +"Thou dost speak strange words," Mary observed. "Who is this prophet?" + +"He is called Jesus of Nazareth, for there did he live before his home +was at Capernaum." + +"Nazareth," Anna repeated with curling lip. "Nazareth is a town of +beggars and thieves, so sayeth my father. Can any good thing come out +of Nazareth? My father hath mentioned the name of Jesus--was he at the +Passover feast last year?" + +"Yea, and the Feast of Tabernacles," Debora answered. + +"Jesus of Nazareth," Martha repeated, putting her hand to her forehead. +"Methinks Lazarus did mention the name when Joseph of Arimathea was our +guest. Dost thou remember, Mary?" + +"The name? Yea, I remember. But what of it? None said he was a +prophet." + +"Listen," Debora said, leaning eagerly forward and half whispering: +"Knowest thou not that Israel hath long been dispersed and scattered +like sheep without a shepherd? Knowest thou not that the cohorts of +Rome guard the Sacred Temple and profane the Sanctuary of the Most +High? Knowest thou not the heart of Israel hath long waited for the +king who shall restore again the throne of David? And knowest thou not +that the time is at hand for the coming of the promised one? Aye, even +so hath he already come, and his name is Jesus." + +"By what sign is he the Messiah?" Mary asked. + +"By the sign of a prophet, and the greatest of all prophets is he. +Once was I at the home of Peter when his wife's mother lay sick of a +fever. Her skin was hot as if her couch were in a bake oven; her eyes +did shine and vain was her babbling. Then came the Prophet of Galilee. +On her head where the heat raged he placed his hand. Close and firm he +held it as if he were holding down a struggling world. And lo! The +struggling world grew quiet. The vain babbling of the parched lips +ceased. Then did he speak. Aye--Mary, Martha, Anna--to hear his +voice--deep like unsounded depths, mellow like the music of the viol +and restful as when small waves play upon smooth shores. Twice did he +speak. There was stillness. His eyes were fastened kindly on the face +of her who lay beneath his touch. Then did she open her eyes. Her +lips did part in a smile. She arose and by the open casement did stand +to breathe deep of the cool air. And those who had gathered in the +street to set up the death-wail, did cry, 'A miracle! A miracle!'" + +"But it is not a miracle to heal those who are not dead. Do not the +Rabbis heal the sick?" Mary asked. + +"And the prophets are all dead," Martha added. + +"Wait and see," was Debora's answer. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HULDAH AND ELIZABETH + +In a gala dress of blue with silver embroidery, Martha, her faithful +Eli close at hand and girt in a clean towel, awaited the coming of +Passover guests, for the few days preceding the Feast were used for +visiting, and Lazarus and his sisters had many friends. The first +guest to arrive was Huldah, wife of a Temple scribe. Martha opened the +door. The servant took his place behind a stool near the door with a +basin of water. + +"Sit thee down," Martha said after greetings. "Let thy feet be cooled. +The way is dusty for ten thousand feet press to the City of David." + +"Yea, from all the world they come to see the Temple of the Jews," +Huldah answered. "For a week hath the ring of the hammer sounded over +the hills where the roadways are made safe, and tombs are fresh +whitened that none be rendered unclean. All Jerusalem is a guest +chamber. Where is Mary?" and she glanced about the room. + +"She is in the garden with Anna and her Capernaum guest Debora. And +Debora hath been saying a prophet hath arisen the like of which hath +not been seen since Elijah went up in his fiery chariot." + +"A prophet! A prophet!" exclaimed Huldah, greatly interested. "Whence +cometh he?" + +"From Galilee--but the maidens are coming. Ask Debora." + +In festive attire and carrying flowers, Anna and Debora entered the +room, followed by Mary, gowned in clinging white caught high on her +breast and falling away leaving her arms bare. Her hair had blown +softly about her face. Her cheeks were like almond blossoms and a +white veil caught around her head by a carved silver chaplet, fell over +her shoulders. After the greeting, Huldah turned to Debora. + +"Hast thou said a prophet cometh from Galilee?" + +"So I have spoken." + +"Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." + +"From Galilee cometh Jesus of Nazareth." + +"Jesus of Nazareth!" Huldah exclaimed, throwing up her hands. + +"Hast heard of him?" Martha inquired. + +"Jesus son of Gamaliel, successor to Jesus son of Damneus; Jesus son of +Sie; Jesus son of Phabet! Be there no end to the Jesus' sons? And now +cometh the worse of them all. Yea, I have heard of him. A wolf in +sheep's clothing--a false prophet is he. Never was he taught in the +Temple school, yet doth he dare within its sacred portals to teach +others. By an evil one is he led." + +"Why dost thou say by an evil one?" asked Debora. + +"Dost thou, a daughter of Israel, so ask? Aye, is it not evil to speak +against the traditions of the Elders? No worse to blaspheme the Temple +itself! Is not Israel the chosen of God, and hath it not been written +there is no salvation outside Israel? Had there been no Jew the Law +from Sinai had not been given and we too would be unclean as the +Gentiles. What worse could one do than set at naught the traditions of +the Elders? But this is not all. He doth both harvest and winnow on +the Holy Sabbath." + +"Harvest and winnow on the Sabbath?" Martha asked in surprise. + +"Yea, and this is not all. He is a friend of publicans." + +"Publicans? Those vile wretches who filch from the pockets of Israel +to pay for the pageantry of Rome?" It was Anna who questioned. + +"Yea, and this is not all. He is also a friend of the defiled +Samaritan, friendly as a brother is he with these heathen--and--and--" +she whispered, "he keepeth company with harlots." + +"Harlots!" exclaimed the maidens under their breath. + +"Yea--what manner of prophet thinkest thou this be?" + +"Hast thou thyself seen the evil things of which thou beareth witness?" +Debora asked of Huldah. + +"Nay, but such are the reports." + +"Our guest Debora hath both seen the face of him and heard his voice," +Mary observed. + +Huldah laughed. "And what so easy for a false prophet to deceive with +smooth speech and searching eyes, as a maiden's heart? But enough of +such talk as doth vex the Rabbis. See thou my cloth of gold? With my +needle I shall make it gay with crimson pomegranates." Huldah took her +embroidery from her bag, and the young women stood around admiring her +work when voices were heard outside. Martha turned to the lattice +window and looked out. + +"More pilgrims are coming. A mother in Israel is to be our guest. She +cometh with a neighbor and leaneth heavily on her staff. Mary--Mary! +It is Elizabeth. Hasten to meet her." + +Mary hurried out. When she had gone Huldah asked, "Who is this aged +Elizabeth?" + +"Knowest thou not? She is the mother of John the Baptiser whose head +Herod did give as a bauble to the vile Herodias." Huldah rose +hurriedly and looked out the window. + +"The mother of John Baptist, he who did come from the caves of the +mountains with the garment of a wolf, the beard of a lion and the voice +of a bear. Jerusalem turned out to hear the man. Possessed of a devil +was he. Aye, and the hair of his mother be white like the cap of snow +that sits on Hermon's head. Verily a foolish son bringeth down his +mother's hair in sorrow. If the Rabbis are not able to teach the Law, +shall one wild from the desert be able? For attending to business not +his own lost he his head." + +"Lean on me," said Mary, just outside the door. "My feet have not +traveled the hard path so long." + +"The blessing of Jehovah on thee, my daughter," Elizabeth replied as +they came up the steps. In ample black drapery and wearing a widow's +headdress, the aged woman entered. "Peace be to this house and to thy +hearts, my daughters," she said with upraised hands. She was conducted +to a wide armchair, and Mary threw back her black mantle and Eli +unloosed her sandals. + +"There are many pilgrim feet pressing toward the Passover Feast," +Huldah said. + +"Yea, my daughter. And some whose feet pressed the pilgrim path last +year have gone on a longer pilgrimage, a farther journey than to the +City of Zion--yea to the Heavenly Zion have they gone." Elizabeth +rested her head wearily against the back of the chair and tears rolled +down her withered cheeks. Mary knelt beside her and taking her hands +said gently, "Weep not! From our brother have we heard what Herod hath +done. It was cruel, aye, cruel as the grave to take thine son--the +only son of thine old age. But weep not!" + +"Cruel as the grave! So seemeth it. Yet the Lord gave and the Lord +hath taken away. The Lord truly blessed me in that it was given me to +be the mother of a prophet. Strange too, was it, for the spring-time +of my life had gone. Yea, the ten years had passed after which the +Israelite may give a writing of divorcement to a barren wife. Yet did +the love of my husband live and in the fulness of time to us a son was +born. A Nazarene did he grow, neither cutting his beard, nor drinking +wine nor looking on women. And as Elijah came from the wilds of Gilead +to confound Ahab, so came the son of my bosom from the wilds of Judea +crying in the ear of an adulterous generation, 'Prepare ye! Prepare! +There cometh one after me whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to +unloose.' And as he did declare, so hath that mightier appeared--aye, +the hope of Israel. Not a Nazarene is he. Came he both eating and +drinking and loving womankind, and lo! of him they say 'a wine bibber +and a glutton.' But, daughters, wisdom be justified of her children. +Lo, he that hath been promised to restore again the glory of Israel is +even now in the City of our God!" + +"Strange words thou speakest," said Huldah. + +"Thou dost not speak of Jesus of Nazareth?" Mary asked. + +"Even of him," the aged woman answered. + +"Art thou of his acquaintance?" Debora asked with interest. + +"Even more, for was not the mother of her who bare Jesus even the +sister of my father?" + +"Thy kinsman he is? Thou hast looked upon his face and heard the +wondrous voice that doth drive away fever?" + +"Yea, have I seen and heard, both the son and his mother and father, +for twice did I visit under the roof of my cousin." + +"His mother--what of her? Is she skilled in savoring rich sop?" Martha +asked. + +"She hath not possessed the wherewithal to make rich sop, yet in her +veins runneth the blood of kings. Of the house of David hath she come." + +"And where hath she been in hiding, this royal-blooded Jewess?" Huldah +asked. + +"In the rude home of a Galilean peasant, for poverty hath been her lot. +Yea, in the stone feed-trough of a cattle shed was Jesus born because +his father had not the price of keep at the inn. A little lad at +Nazareth was he when I first saw him." + +"A little lad," Mary repeated. "What manner of little lad was he?" + +"Beside his mother's knee he heard stories of the brave and mighty of +Israel. He walked with his mother by the sea and in the fields. He +loved the fowls of the air, the hares and the foxes. And such +questions did he ask as no man hath wisdom to answer. While his mother +toiled he played with the children of the village. When they played +funeral right vigorously would he weep with the mourners. When they +played wedding with those who piped, piped he, and with those who +danced, danced he until his small garments, like wings, flew apace. +Mild was he and obedient, yet when his hand was lifted in wrath it did +strike hard. Once he did fight. Aye, and a good fight it was and over +the wall did he send with the speed of a wild ass and fierce blows, a +lad twice his size. His mother did bind his black eye in a fig leaf +poultice and tell him fighting were not good for little lads. I +remember yet his face as he did make answer, 'Woman, know'st thou not +our father David did smite a giant which did torment Jehovah's chosen +ones? Even so did I smite him who was plucking hair from the head of a +feeble child who could do naught but cry out. For this did I send him +over the wall, and no more will he do this evil thing when I am nigh.'" + +"Blessings on him," laughed Debora, clapping her hands. + +"My heart goeth out to such a lad," Mary said. + +"What for?" Huldah asked. "For making bloody another lad's nose?" + +"If so be that to bloody a nose is the only way to stay the hand of +oppression." + +"And yet another time did I see him," Elizabeth continued. "At a +wedding in Cana, when he had grown to man's estate. Merry were the +guests with feasting and shouting when the wine did fall short. In an +outer room were some firkins which Jesus did order filled with water. +When the water was drawn out, it was wine." + +"This is no sign of a prophet," Huldah answered quickly. "Ofttimes +have I with a cup of grape sirup well thickened, made a kid skin of +wine. What sign hath he given of being a prophet that hath not already +been given?" + +"From the dungeon my John asked this question," Elizabeth answered +slowly. "After other things did Jesus say, 'Tell John I have come to +bring the gospel to the _poor_.'" + +Huldah laughed heartily. Then she said, "Of a surety this is a sign no +prophet hath given. The poor? Who taketh account of the poor? +Poverty is a visitation of Jehovah. Ever have the poor been despised +and forsaken. Cursed be the lot of the poor--yea, thrice cursed!" + +"Yea, cursed be the lot of the poor. Even was this the lot of Jesus of +Galilee. Oft was his food but dried locusts. Oft bore his thin +garments many patches. Oft was a heavy yoke put on the burden of his +childish shoulders. For this pitieth he the poor." + +"Locusts for the belly; patches for the back; a yoke for the shoulders! +Shame on Israel that of this sort it would call a king--even from +Galilee where women labor in the field and men like cattle toil!" and +Huldah's lip curled with scorn. + +"The toiler toileth that Herod may make great banquets. Pilate doth +ride in a golden chariot and Caesar feed men to tigers. When cometh +the King of the Jews, such will be done away with, for again will +slaves be set free and the Year of Jubilee proclaimed." + +"A king must be a King--not a herder of sheep or a driver of oxen," was +Huldah's emphatic reply. + +"Was not our glorious David a keeper of sheep before the crown was put +upon his head? Not whence he cometh, but the kind he is, doth decide +the quality of kings," Mary observed thoughtfully. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +HARD SAYINGS + +The table was set for the evening meal in the home of Lazarus. Martha +was in the kitchen urging Eli to more speed in final preparations, and +Mary was arranging a bowl of vari-colored lilies on the table. +Entering the room Martha paused to look at her sister. "Mary," she +exclaimed, "thou dost spend time as though lilies made fit eating." + +"Fit eating? Nay, but Zador Ben Amon doth sup with us to-night. From +the splendors of Rome hath he come. Shall we not set forth for him the +better splendors of lilies in all their glory? And should I not help +make joyful the coming of Joel who hath been away two weeks?" + +"It is wine in the cup and meat well seasoned that doth delight the +heart of man." + +"The perfume of flowers doth breathe of giving. So do they breathe of +love which doth ever give, until a woman giveth herself to be loved of +a man as thou art promised to Joel. How strange and holy a thing is +love!" + +"Mayhap it is strange; mayhap is [Transcriber's note: it?] is holy. +But get thou the sop bowls. Joel and Lazarus are coming." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" The laughing voice sounded just outside the door. "The +face of him was like--ha! ha!--it was like--like--" and again the words +ended in laughter. + +"Like what was the face of him?" a second voice asked. + +"A mild ass well beaten,--ha--ha!" + +"Lazarus is in a merry mood to-day," Mary said to Martha. + +"It taketh not much to gladden his heart," was Martha's answer, as the +two men entered the room. When Joel had kissed Martha and exchanged +greetings with Mary, she said to Lazarus, "Thou comest in good spirits, +my brother." + +"Yea," replied Joel, "a bit of wit doth make him to bubble over like +sour wine in a kid skin, and thrice doth he bubble at wit from the lips +of a prophet." + +"Is there a prophet given to wit?" Mary inquired. + +"Nay, not to wit," Lazarus answered. "To wisdom he is given, yet in +his wisdom doth often sparkle wit." + +"Who is this prophet that causeth thy pleasure?" Mary asked. + +"Another Jesus--Jesus of Nazareth this one is." + +"Is there none other at the Passover Feast than he to talk of?" was +Martha's question. "Naught have we heard from our guests to-day save +of him. Now again hear we more." + +"Lazarus is much taken with his teachings which he calleth wisdom. +Methinks his sayings are hard, eh, Lazarus?" + +"Yea, hard sayings," the master of the house replied seriously, as he +settled himself on the window couch. "Yet is there that within them +which giveth wine its flavor," and again he laughed. + +"What was the saying that did please thee?" Mary asked. + +"Knowest thou what the Law sayeth about graven images? Aye, to touch +one defileth a Jew. With fierce righteousness do those in authority +contend for observance of the letter of the law. Was not much blood +spilled when Pilate sought to put an image of Caesar in the Temple? +The Galilean Prophet oft setteth aside the Law. For this reason do the +Scribes and Pharisees seek to entangle him. Taking council, they did +say to him, 'What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to +Caesar, or not?' Hard by stood many with their ears well open. And +near at hand stood I. Upon him who spoke and those his followers, did +the Galilean look. Then did he say, 'Why tempt me, ye hypocrites?' +With these words did the countenances of his tempters grow long like +their beards and take on a grievous expression like a beast unjustly +berated. 'Show me the tribute money,' said he. With exceeding +quickness were their hands thrust into their pockets, while the eyes of +those who stood by watched close. As the Prophet of Galilee did take +on his palm the coins, the corners of his beard did twitch yet was his +voice grave as he said, 'Whose is this image and superscription?' With +one voice they did answer, 'Caesar's'--and by my most precious beard so +bore the coins the image of Tiberius! Dost thou get the flavor of the +situation? Breathing out fierce contention for the letter of the Law, +go they about with their wallets stuffed with images--stuffed with +images of Tiberius! Ha! ha! ha! Thou shouldst have seen their faces +when those who stood by to see them entrap the Galilean laughed at them +boisterously." + +The story told by the young man ended in a hearty laugh, which was +entered into by the others. + +"Did he make answer?" Mary asked. + +"Aye. Listen now if thou wouldst hear wisdom. Giving their images +back to those who sought to entangle him, he said, 'Render unto Caesar +the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.'" + +"Had they an answer?" It was Mary again who questioned. + +"None save the face of them. It were enough--ha! ha!" + +"Lazarus is much taken with this man," Martha observed. "Art thou, +too, gone after him, Joel?" + +"Nay. I like him not. Far be it from the business of a Galilean +peasant to tell a merchant of Jerusalem that riches be a curse." + +"And hath he said this to thee?" Martha inquired in astonishment. + +"Yea, at the gate where my camel did stick and skin his nether +quarters." + +Lazarus laughed again as he exclaimed, "Enough it were to make dry +bones shake! Such a sight! Tell it, Joel." + +"Lazarus doth make light of matters sorely vexatious," Joel said +without smiling. + +"What did happen, Joel?" and there was concern in Martha's question. + +"My camel train bearing great stores of silks had come from Damascus. +The city gates were gorged with pilgrims so that my men did lead their +beasts to the far side of the city wall where the small gates are. +Here, when the camel would have walked under, he could not for the +bales of silk that did wedge against the stones. Then did we strip the +beasts, yet were their frames too large. Then did we get them on their +knees and while some did pull, others did push. I stood with those in +the rear and most mightily did I push until sweat did drop from my head +and much straining did rend my _kittuna_." + +"Didst get the camel through?" Martha asked anxiously. + +"Yea, save the patch of hide he did leave sticking on the stone walls." + +"Thou shouldst have seen," Lazarus laughed, "thou shouldst have seen +thy Joel. Like a dog of the hills did he pant and like the swine of +the heathen did he grunt." + +"Were there bystanders to witness thy sad plight?" Martha asked the +question of Joel. + +"Yea, hard by stood a small company, one of them in the garment of a +Rabbi. Beholding the struggling he said, 'Verily, verily, it is easier +for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get +into Heaven.' Then did those about fasten searching eyes on me, and I +like him not." + +"The truth doth fit close, friend Joel. Now to me did he also make a +hard speech, yet I like him the more for his plain speaking." + +"And hast thou too had speech with the Galilean? Tell me, my brother?" +Mary asked. + +"Lazarus would be his disciple," Joel remarked. + +"Lazarus! Our brother? The son of a Sanhedrin Pharisee be the +disciple of a Galilean?" and there was consternation in the voice of +Martha. + +"Thou hast spoken," he replied quietly, arranging himself more +comfortably on the couch. "The Law have I studied since the days of my +father. Hillel and Shammiah have I poured over and of Philo have I +sought knowledge. Yea, even of the heathen Socrates have I sought +knowledge. But, it is vain. The traditions of the Elders do weary me +for at last tradition is no more than tradition. What avails fierce +contentions over the ashes of the red heifer, the waving of willows or +the pouring of holy water? Whether the Sadducees or the Pharisees gain +the contention the burden remaineth the same. At times have I thought +of turning to the spade and apron and white robe of the Essenes where +there be no Aaronic priesthood or bloody sacrifice." + +"But this Jesus--is he an Essene? Hast thou heard aught of his +teachings?" + +"Yea, Mary. In the Temple doth he tell of a Kingdom where the Law +shall be less and justice and liberty more, a Kingdom of Brotherhood +which the sword bringeth not but which cometh as spring-time brings a +new earth. Wonderful did this teaching sound, and as I did drink it +in, turned he his face to me as if my lips had called him. And I did +know, even as his eye rested on mine, that I should love him, yea, as +if he were a brother. Again did I draw near as he did pass on +Solomon's porch, and again did his eyes find my face. Then did I ask +what I should do to be his disciple. 'Keep the commandments,' was his +answer. 'All these have I kept from my youth up,' I made answer. But +it were not enough." + +"It should be enough. What more doth the Law require?" Joel asked. + +"Yet," observed Mary thoughtfully, "there be no virtue in keeping the +Law which bids us not steal, so long as the belly is full of red wine +and rich mutton." + +"Or in coveting thy neighbor's fat wife when a shapely Martha is +promised. Eh, Joel?" Lazarus questioned. + +They all laughed. Joel's reply was, "Not virtue, nay. But where is +virtue in the hard sayings he did put to Lazarus?" + +"A hard saying truly," Lazarus repeated. "He did bid me sell my +possessions and give to the poor." + +"The Law doth not allow but a certain portion for the poor." + +"Thou sayest truly, Mary. Yet him whose disciple I would be, says, +'Give all.'" + +"Thy vineyards and wine presses?" and Martha's face was troubled. + +"Thy olive orchard?" and Mary too expressed concern. + +"Yea, and thy home and garden and fountain and thy chickens and lilies, +Mary," Joel answered quickly. + +"An evil spirit doth work in his head," was Martha's observation. + +"Why said he this to thee, my brother?" and Mary stood by Lazarus with +perplexed face. + +"That I should love him more than all these." + +"He doth require much love." + +"Yea, verily, much love doth he require for much doth he give and +everything doth he make of love. Sorrowful I turned away. Yet will I +see him again. But, Mary--Martha--look thou at the western sky. Hast +thou made ready for our honored guest, Zador Ben Amon, who arriveth +shortly? Fortunate is he as those of the House of Annas since with the +money-changers hath the High Priest given him a place so that he hath +riches more abundant than us all. Since he hath been our guest before, +his heart hath become settled on Mary and of her hand hath he spoken to +me already." + +"And thou wert not slow to say 'yes.'" There was joy in Martha's +question, though it was not a question. + +"'The heart of a woman should go out to him whose wife she would be; +and the heart is not worn on the hand. Tell thy desire to Mary.' This +said I to Zador who seeks her hand." + +"Listen!" exclaimed Martha. + +The sound of wheels on the pebble strewn incline just outside, told the +approach of Zador Ben Amon. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +LOST--AN ANKLET + +The face of Zador Ben Amon was divided into two halves, the upper of +which reached from the line of his black beard that ran straight under +his cheek-bones, to the lower edge of his elegant head covering. +Prominent in this half were the eyes of Zador Ben Amon, but whether +those of a wolf, a fox or a saved son of Israel, was a matter of +reciprocity depending on the kind and condition of profit-making at +hand. The lower portion of the money-changer's face was again divided +into two halves by a thin white line running from lip to chin; this +line was preserved by choice oils applied liberally to his beard hair. +The solidity of Zador Ben Amon, whether financial or otherwise, was +suggested by the broad back of his short body and in the square shape +of his feet, whose bones bulged in spite of the best of sandals. To +cover his broad back, Zador had a wonderful cloak of blue with a purple +stripe above the border where crimson pomegranates were embroidered. +With this cloak over his arm, for the season was getting too warm for +more back covering than the usual garment, with new hand-wrought silver +buckles on his sandals, a jaunty sash with deep knotted fringes, and +with hair and beard perfumed, he made his way to the home of Lazarus at +Bethany. + +The wheels of his carriage had not yet turned from the door when Zador +Ben Amon was welcomed by Lazarus and bidden through the open door, +inside which stood Mary and Martha and Joel. His greeting to Martha +was brief. Toward Mary he advanced with smiling face, as if to embrace +her. "Nay?" he questioned as she drew back. "Didst not thy brother +tell thee I have decided to make thee my betrothed?" + +"The words my brother spake I did not so understand," she replied, +stepping yet farther back from him. + +"Then hath the pleasure been left for Zador, son of Amon, to tell Mary +of the House of Dates that he hath come to make her his betrothed and +hath brought her a fit gift." + +"But I know thee not save as a friend of my brother Lazarus, nor dost +thou know me." + +"And what needst thou to know save that I am among Israel's rich and +mighty and would take thee to wife? And what need I to know of thee +more than that thou art fair and a woman? Doth the hungry beast not +know its heart's desire? To thy brother have I spoken." + +"And hath Lazarus given you knowledge that my heart is in his keeping?" +Mary asked. + +"Hearts!" Zador exclaimed, laughing like one well fed. "Lazarus, thy +fair sister doth take hearts into account rather than shekels and +talents of gold." + +"Perhaps there is wisdom in the words she speaketh when she saith you +know her not," and Lazarus smiled. "Seat thyself and make ready for a +better acquaintance." + +"Thou speakest," Zador answered heartily, glancing toward the +window-seat. "But before thou layest my cloak aside would I show it to +the maidens. At a great price I secured this," and he held it toward +Martha and Mary. + +"Its colors are most beautiful," Mary said. + +Martha had slipped her hand inside the folds and was closely examining +the needlework. + +"From hem to hem the pomegranates reach," Zador explained, noticing +Martha's interest. "Doth not the needlework far exceed that of +Israel's workers in fine thread?" + +"The workmanship is wonderful. Yet here are loose stitches at the top +of the border." + +Zador caught up the cloak hem and examined it with careful eye as he +said, "Thou knowest. On the morrow will it be mended. But now, since +Zador hath come to know that Mary and Martha delight in rich apparel, +let him tell them of garments that dazzle the eye for glory and riches." + +"Robes of Rome?" Martha asked with keen interest + +"Yea, as I saw them in banquet hall and amphitheatre." + +When the guest's cloak had been carefully put aside and his feet +washed, the group gathered in the wide window-seat where he reclined, +to hear news from Rome. "Hath the fame of the garment of Lolilla +Pauline come to your ears?" he asked. + +"Nay," answered Martha. + +"Of seed pearls was it covered and over the pearls lay leaves of +emerald. Forty million sesterces did it cost. Thou holdest up thy +hands? Then will I tell thee of one that did cost fifty million +sesterces--the like of which eye hath not seen before. On a robe of +pearls sprinkled with diamonds, sat a peacock of great size so that his +head did rest on the shoulders of the wearer and the tail of the bird +did cover her back. And of rare jewels was this bird made; emeralds +and rubies and topaz and sapphire and amethyst and opals and jacinths, +set with such skill as to make the breast-plate of the High Priest a +bauble. What delighteth the heart of a woman more than rich wearing +apparel?" The question followed his description of the jewels and he +laughed heartily at Martha's expression of amazed delight. + +"Yet another garment would I tell thee of, such a one as eye hath not +before seen." He stopped to laugh heartily. "A garment it also was of +many colors," and again he laughed. "In that which is filthy and cast +away do rag-pickers stir and strive. And when they have great stores +of that which is vile and useless, do they sew it together into a +garment and sell it for a pittance to a slave to cover his naked body. +Such a rag-picker's garment saw I. Such a sight--sold for such a +pittance." + +"But might not the pittance paid for a rag-picker's garment be more to +the slave than fifty million sesterces to one whose toil earned not +even the first of them?" asked Mary. + +"Ask me not questions about slaves, the rabble. Thou knowest they are +but broilers and vile." + +"Perhaps," Mary answered thoughtfully, "if slaves and the rabble were +better fed they would broil less. Doth not Baba Metzia say 'When the +barley in the jar is finished, quarrels come thundering through the +house'?" + +"Thou knowest nothing of slaves and the rabble, fair Mary. Never are +the poor content. Give them bran and vinegar and they want herbs. +Give them herbs and they want lentils. Give them lentils and they want +sop of mutton. And once sop-fed will they cry aloud for the mutton +itself. Cursed be the poor, by God. Let them be accursed." And the +money-changer nodded his head in approval of his speech. + +"Yea, accursed be the poor," said Lazarus. "Yet it seemeth not so much +according to the curse of God as to the greed of man. To the rich +their riches come by inheritance as came mine. Or cometh riches by +great cunning and skill in taking from others." + +"As cometh mine," Zador Ben Amon laughed, rubbing his hands and looking +from one to the other for approval. "And even now my palms grow hot +for that which shall come into them from my Temple booths at the +Passover. But how dost thou reason, Lazarus? If there are rich and +mighty must there not of necessity be the poor and weak?" + +"Yea. Yet is this according to the Law of Moses? According to the Law +was not grain left in the corners for the gleaners? Was not stealing +and lying forbidden among Israelites? Was usury not forbidden under +great penalty? And was not the year of Jubilee proclaimed? Hath the +Law no meaning?" + +"Like fire is the Law, a good servant but a bad master, my friend +Lazarus. But let us not talk of the Law but of the Great Feast. +Gorged with pilgrims from all the earth is Jerusalem and this year's +Temple business will exceed all bounds. Never did I see so many and +strange peoples." + +"Even wonder workers--eh, Mary?" Joel said. + +Zador Ben Amon looked toward Mary for an answer. + +"He speaketh of Jesus of Nazareth, methinks," she replied. + +"Who is he?" and he turned to Lazarus. + +"A Galilean Rabbi." + +"Galilee is not noted for furnishing Rabbis. Hath he been taught in +the Temple?" + +"Nay. Yet in the Temple teacheth he such wisdom as hath not before +been taught by any Rabbi." + +"And he works wonders," Martha added. + +Zador Ben Amon laughed heartily. "Women believe all things," he said. +"There are no wonder workers but sorcerers. Even Eunus, who had the +whole Isle of Sicily bewitched, did spit out fire by first putting fire +in his mouth. So doeth this Jesus his wonders by Beelzebub--if indeed +he doeth them." + +As the time for dining drew near, the scent of cooking meat reached the +nostrils of Zador. He sniffed and smiled approval, saying, "The savory +odor of thy well seasoned meat bringeth to mind the meat and wine of +the banquet at which the Roman noblewoman wore the blazing peacock." +Again Martha showed keen interest. "In myrrhine and jeweled vases were +the wines served and the nightingales' tongues on platters of pure +gold," and he watched for the effect of his words. + +"Nightingales' tongues!" Mary exclaimed. + +"Of a truth. It seemeth past reason that enough of meat so small +should be secured to banquet on. Yet when Rome would banquet, all +things are hers. Into far places goeth the fowler with his snare and +by the thousand are the fowls of the air sent in, to be burned, save +the tongues of them." + +The eyes of Mary were fastened on the face of her guest in bewildered +amazement. "And you ate nightingales' tongues?" she again exclaimed. + +"By the gold plate full. Savory beyond telling was the dish and my +appetite was at best." + +The eyes of Mary turned from the face of Zador. + +"Mary hath three unfeathered ones she spendeth much time feeding," Joel +remarked after a short silence. "She would have them grow large." + +Zador looked at Mary, leaned his head against a pillow and laughed. +"And so our Mary would sup after the manner of Rome. Three +nightingales? The tongues of them all will not make a taste!" + +A flush tinged Mary's face as she said, "Dost thou think I would +nourish the lives of nestlings to pluck from their throats their +tongues?" and she cast a straight glance at the reclining man. + +"Of what other use are they?" and a mild expression of interest showed +on Zador's face. + +"Hast thou forgotten the song?" + +"Song? Hear the woman, Lazarus, my friend! But a moment ago she did +put a value on hearts. Now songs have a value. The heart of a woman +and the song of a bird! Are they worth shekels or talents, my fair +Mary?" + +"The love of the heart is priceless," she replied, "and there is music +of value more than gold talents." + +"Are not the silver trumpets of the Temple music enough for thee?" + +"Such music is indeed sweet. But there is yet other music." + +After Mary had excused herself and gone into the garden a few moments +later, Martha said, "She hath gone to feed her nestlings." + +"Then will I show you the rare gift I brought thy sister," and from a +leather case taken from inside his cloak Zador drew a delicately +wrought anklet of gold set thick with shining green chalcedony. From +it hung bangles, like bits of fine gold lace, carrying, each in the +center, a precious stone of changing color. At sight of it Martha gave +an exclamation of delight, and Lazarus and Joel looked at it with +interest. "My betrothal gift to Mary," Zador Ben Amon said with +undisguised admiration as he turned it about and shook it so that the +tinkling of the bangles sounded. "From Ceylon came the garnets and the +emerald from Ethiopian mines. When hath man given his betrothed so +rich a gift? Proud will thy fair sister be to receive it." + +"I would have Mary come," Lazarus said, and leaving the house, he went +into the garden. At the far end Mary was sitting under a glossy green +pomegranate which was in full crimson blossom. Clad in white and with +her silver bound veil falling softly about her, she made a picture +worth pausing a moment to view. She held the nest of young birds in +one hand and moved the other slowly over them, until, roused by the +wing-like motion, they opened wide their yellow mouths for the food she +dropped in. Lazarus watched a moment before seating himself near her. +"Mary, my sister," he said, "Zador Ben Amon is an Israelite high and +mighty and hath set his heart on thee." + +"Nay. Nay," she replied quickly. "He is a heathen and his heart is +set on shekels and talents." + +"He hath brought thee a betrothal gift." + +Mary was silent until she had closed her hand over the crying +nestlings. Then she turned to Lazarus. "Dost thou want me to leave +thee, my brother?" + +"Nay, nay, Mary. Not so. I would keep thee always if thou wouldst. +Yet there cometh a time when a woman's heart goeth out to another man +than her brother. Thou art different from Martha and setteth much +store on things not sold in market places. Let not thy answer come +from the mouth of a nightingale. When thy arms grow hungry for little +ones and thy breast casts about for him who shall be father to them, +Zador Ben Amon--" + +Further words were cut short by an exclamation from Mary who drew back +in horror. + +"What is it?" and Lazarus looked about. "What abominable thing cometh +nigh thee?" + +For a moment Mary made no reply. With her brother's reference to +little ones which should come of her union with the money-changer, she +had felt again the passion unspeakable that had for the moment gripped +her at touch of the Bedouin baby's lips. Yet as it swept through her +now it was the passion of utter revulsion, such passionate revulsion as +had stamped itself on her face when her brother looked about for some +ugly, creeping reptile. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings +cometh wisdom," she seemed to hear the Rabbi say again, and without +understanding the mystery of the wisdom, she knew it had come through +the mouth of the Bedouin baby. "Not from the mouth of a nightingale +shall my answer come," said Mary. "But if thou lovest me, speak no +more forever of wedding me with this Jew. It hath been revealed to me +there is no wisdom in it." + +"He will press the matter with thee. He is a guest under my roof and a +Sadducee of power. Choose well thy way." + +"I have already made choice. To the home of Anna do I go for the +night. She hath called me, for her father is in Jerusalem." + +"Is this wisdom?" asked Lazarus thoughtfully. + +"It is a favor to Anna, and Zador Ben Amon will not miss a foolish +lover of songs when he doth lay hold of Martha's choice meat." + +Together Mary and Lazarus walked toward the house. When they reached +the big stone bench, Zador stood waiting. Lazarus passed on, and +because he insisted, Mary sat beside the Temple money-maker. He put +the cloak carefully over the back of the seat and from its folds drew +the anklet. Uncovering it, he thrust it suddenly before her, watching +eagerly for her first impression. + +"What thinkest thou? Is this not a fit betrothal gift for a Roman +noblewoman?" + +"It is most beautiful," she answered quietly. + +"It is thine, my Israelitish princess--my Mary!" he exclaimed with all +the interest she had not shown. "Draw up thy skirt for with my own +hand would I fit it to thy white and shapely ankle," and his narrow +black eyes shone with the anticipated pleasure. + +Mary drew away saying, "Nay, nay. I wear no anklets." + +"See," and he held it toward her. "Its jewels will tinkle on thy skirt +like the silver bells on the High Priest's robe. What soundeth more +pleasant to the ears of a woman?" + +"But I care not for wagging nose rings and tinkling anklets," she +replied. + +"And thou wouldst have another gift than this?" Zador asked, his +disappointment apparent. + +"Nay. No gift would I have. When there is no betrothal what need of a +gift?" + +Zador Ben Amon turned his eyes on Mary. "No betrothal!" he exclaimed. +"No betrothal! Thou dost jest. Where is the woman who would do less +than be betrothed to Zador Ben Amon? Take thou the gift. As the price +of thy heart was it fashioned and I make my oath that no other woman +shall possess it. Here," and he held it toward her. She made no move. +He placed it carefully on the wide stone arm of the bench. "There is +thy gift and palsied be my arm if my hand toucheth it again. It is +thine." And Zador waited for Mary to speak. "Thou dost disturb me +much!" And his voice suggested anger when she made no move to take the +gift, and arising he went to the pool beside which he stood with bowed +head. + +After watching him a moment, Mary's hand sought the border of his +cloak. Her fingers felt the loose thread in the wide hem. Lifting the +anklet, she slipped it inside the hem and pushed it around to one side +of the garment. + +"On the morrow when he mends the rent he will find that I neither took +it nor must his arm suffer palsy for withholding it from me," and she +smiled. Then she arose. "Zador Ben Amon," she said, "I go to the home +of Anna whose father doth not return from Jerusalem to-night. +Farewell." + +With a start he turned his face to her. A few quick steps brought him +to her side and he would have thrown his arms about her but she +gathered her veil tightly and said, "Touch me not!" + +"Touch thee not? Am I a god of wood?" and before she had stepped aside +his fingers touched her. + +"My brother sitteth just behind the lattice. Wilt thou that I call +him?" Zador Ben Amon stopped. Mary cast one swift glance at him. +"Devourer of songs unsung," she said slowly, turning her back on him. + +He watched her cross the court and pass through the gate into the yard +of Simon the Leper. When she was beyond sight he stepped hurriedly +back to the bench. He glanced cautiously toward the house. He ran his +hand over the stone where he had placed the anklet. He shook his +cloak. He dropped on his hands and knees and searched the grass +carefully. "The woman hath taken it and I have me no recourse," he +muttered angrily. "A curse upon her! But this is not the end of it!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +STRANGE TALES ARE ABOUT + +The palace occupied by Pilate, Roman Procurator of Judea, during his +visitations to the once Jewish capital, was one of the gorgeous and +perpetual monuments to the architectural skill of Herod the Great and +his almost inconceivable expenditure of gold. Had Pilate built it for +himself it could not have been more to his liking, containing as it did +apartments in size from the closet of a slave maiden to halls of state +large enough to banquet whole companies. The favorite state apartment +of Pilate was always first set in order. A palace within a palace was +it, pillared into twelve compartments which yet made one whole. The +frieze of the twelve compartments was surmounted with the twelve signs +of the Zodiac and paintings of meat eaters. The side walls were +decorated with fauns and naked bacchantes carrying vases of flowers. +The gleaming pillars that reached to a ceiling of great height were +entwined with carved ivy and vine branches. There were couches, one of +bronze ornamented with tortoise shell and gold, the cushions of which +were Gallic wool dyed purple; another near it was of ivory and gold and +across it was thrown a wolf skin robe. Corinthian vases nobly wrought +of fine brass were filled with palms tied with gay ribbons, such as +were waved in the Roman circus. Back of the couch covered with wolf +skin was a pedestal wreathed with fresh flowers, and the fragrance of +incense from cunningly wrought metal lamps perfumed the air. + +With the coming of Pilate came a retinue of servants and soldiers, and +always guards stood at all entrances inside and out of the palace. In +the palace of Pilate all was in readiness for the Passover guests +certain to be on hand, for Rome sent many visitors annually to +Jerusalem. Claudia, wife of the Procurator, herself enjoyed the +impressive crowds that gorged the great city and was out sight-seeing +daily. On the third day before the great Feast, she returned to the +palace before the time of Pilate's arrival, and pushing aside one of +the magnificent hangings that lent a touch of barbaric color to the +gorgeous apartment, she entered and looked about. + +"Margara! Zenobe!" she called. At sound of her voice, from behind +another hanging, two slave maidens appeared. "Take thou my cloak, +Zenobe," she said, uncovering a splendid gown heavy with spangles of +silver and rare lace, "and bring back the jewels that have been under +guard since we left Rome. And thou, Margara, freshen my hair while I +sit and rest, for Pilate doth come shortly." + +"Aye, Pilate doth come shortly--and for Pilate doth Claudia dress her +hair." The words were spoken softly. + +"Yea," Claudia said, laughing, "for Pilate doth bring guests from the +Senate at Rome. In the court of Caesar have these men oft dined, and +Roman women wear jewels the gods envy. But so hath Claudia jewels, +rare jewels that have been handed down to her from her grandfather +Augustus and her mother Julia." + +Zenobe returned shortly with a closed casket which she handed to +Claudia with a key. From it ornaments and strings of jewels were taken +and handed to the maid. + +"On my arms fasten thy bands and make my throat to sparkle, and when +Margara hath dressed my hair, twine it thick with shining stones." +Claudia rested herself on the wolf skin couch and as the two slaves +dressed her hair and ornamented her body, she talked with them. + +"Strange sights I saw in Jerusalem this day. The city is packed with +odd peoples from every land. Indian princes saw I from beyond the +Ganges. African lion hunters, their black bodies bare save for strings +of golden nuggets; Arabians swinging on crimson decked camels; +chieftains from Assyria whose purple cloth was gay with blue and yellow +stones; Scythian savages whose garments were no more than suns and +moons and fishes marked upon their knees, all these I saw. Aye, +strange peoples making a strange show and a strange babel." + +"Yea, and strange tales are about," Zenobe half whispered. + +"What tales hast thou heard?" + +"No more than that the dead are turned to life." + +"A strange tale indeed--too strange, my little maid." + +"It doth come from a Roman centurion." + +"Hath a centurion died?" + +"Nay, but his servant, sick unto death, was restored by a wonder +worker." + +"Whence came this wonder worker?" + +"He is a Jew. I know not more, but the centurion telleth it broadly." + +"Whence got thou the story?" + +"From thy scarred eunuch, my mistress." + +"From my scarred eunuch? And where got he the story?" + +"I know not save he hath it." + +"Call thou my eunuch to me." + +With flying feet Zenobe hastened to obey. Meantime Margara finished +her work of hair dressing, exclaiming, "Thy hair is most beautiful!" + +Claudia arose, arranged the folds of her luxurious train and twisted +several strings of jewels over her bare arms. She had started across +the shining mosaic floor when Zenobe returned followed by a large and +finely shaped slave with a scarred face. His swarthy body was scantily +attired. Claudia gave him recognition, and stopping in front of her he +made low obeisance and then stood straight and rigid as a statue. + +"To-day," Claudia said, "I stood in the portico of the Tower of Antonio +from which watch is kept over the Temple of the Jews, and gazed upon +the surging crowds. Saw I all manner of mankind from infants to +giants, black, brown, red and Roman, and of every kind methought. Yet +doth my maiden tell me there is one I have not seen--a wonder worker +that is a Jew. Hast thou heard aught of this?" + +"Yea. A wonder worker is Jesus of Nazareth." + +"Never did I hear his name. Whence came the Jew?" + +"From Galilee. There liveth the centurion who told of him." + +"Galilee? Galilee? It is somewhere I know not of. Whence got thou +the story?" + +"A slave of the centurion chanced to be in thy palace garden. He did +tell much." + +"How went the story?" + +"The servant of the centurion was ill unto death. The Jew did turn +death to life. To turn mourning into joy, they say, hath he come into +the world." + +"To turn mourning into joy. A glad mission. Hast thou heard aught +else?" + +"The centurion's slave did tell much." + +"What?" + +"That the Jews are a strange people. Long before thy mighty Rome was +dreamed of by the gods, most noble mistress, was the Kingdom of the +Jews great. In this same Jerusalem was there a temple of pure gold +which did throw back the sun itself into the sun's face for brightness. +And a king sat on a throne of gold. Wealth had this king surpassing +that of every nation, and wisdom had he so that among the wise of all +the earth none had such wisdom. Also, had this great people seers and +prophets from whose eyes the veil of time was lifted so that clear as +noonday did their vision behold that which was to be. And, lo, most +noble mistress, out of the mouths of three soothsayers hath a prophecy +been recorded of a king who shall restore again the throne of their +glory. This do the Jews believe, aye, as they believe in sun and air. +And it is whispered, most noble mistress, that this wonder worker from +Galilee is the long looked for king. Ah, that his kingdom might come!" + +"What mattereth his kingdom to thee?" + +"It doth hold promise of liberty to those in bondage and freedom to +those sore wounded. It would let men be free, as Rome doth not. Such +a king would be a saviour, and I would love him, even as I hate Rome!" + +"As thou hatest Rome? Fear'st thou not to speak thus?" + +The eunuch moved a step nearer Claudia and threw back his shoulders, +exclaiming, "What have I to fear at the hand of Rome? Nothing save my +life hath Rome left me, and this I scorn. By sword or cross or +ravening beast may Rome take my life and I would smile in her face. +Ah, have I not sore scars to speak my hatred? Here"--and he drew his +finger over a long scar on his face--"here is where the sword of Rome +lay open my face, yea, wide open as the lips of a crying child. And on +my back, most noble mistress, thou mightest hide thy white fingers in +the welts cut by the stinging thong. And seest thou my arm? Here is +flesh cooked sere as the shell of a tortoise. Thus have blade and +thong and branding iron of Rome marked me with wounds and commanded my +lips to silence. Yet have these scars each one a thousand silent +tongues crying ever 'Hate! Hate! Hate!' But here," and he threw back +his tunic and placed three fingers over a scar on his breast, "here is +a scar I love. My life it is--my satisfaction--my victory over Rome +which Rome hath no power to take. Aye, the victory of this scar, most +noble mistress, Rome with her armies, her spears, her torch nor her +power of stretching writhing bodies on hewn trees, hath no power to +take! In this I glory! This is my victory and sweet is the scar to +the heart of thy scarred eunuch." + +Claudia moved near the slave and looked closer at the scar. "It doth +lie snugly near thy heart," she said. "Thou art a strange scarred +eunuch to call such a one sweet--aye, to call a wound in thy flesh a +victory." + +"There is a story, most noble mistress." + +"My scarred eunuch hath a story? I have thought so since Pilate made +thee mine." + +"Yea, a story. Would that my lips might tell into the ear of the noble +Claudia the story of the scar thy late-bought slave doth bear." + +"There is yet time before Pilate cometh. Tell on." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SWEET IS THE SCAR + +"Where the blue Aegean washes the shores of sunny Thrace," the eunuch +began, with a far-away look in his eye. "Yea, in the land of +Sparticus, that bravest of all fighters for the freedom of mankind, +there lived my people and there lived I save when to gain knowledge I +attended the schools of Greece. Fields had my people where the vine +hung purple as the sky at midnight and grain did we garner golden as +the belly of the tiger hide beside our hearthstones. Rich was my +father's house in fields, and rich were his sons in wine and stores and +flocks. Golden were my arms with cunningly wrought bracelets and +around my neck hung gems from far lands. + +"But richer than purple wine, or golden bands, or jewels, was the look +of her whom I loved. White were the arms she hung around my neck, as +milk and ivory. Pink like the first flush of the morning were the +cheeks my lips pressed. Dark was her hair and soft like smoke in the +evening, and her eyes shone like stars on the bosom of the sea. Blue +as the summer sky were the veins that lay like tender lace over her +virgin bosom. Her breath was fragrant like flowers behind damp stones +and sweet was her voice as the music of waves when rainbow foam kisses +rainbow foam and is lost in one embrace. And she was mine; and I was +hers and a cot at the foot of a violet hill was ours. + +"The sun shone. The breezes blew. The flowers bloomed. The clusters +hung purple. The grain stood golden. And then--aye, then came +Rome--Rome the scourge! Rome the curse! Rome the wolf! With fire, +sword, rapine, murder--came Rome! When the invading army crossed the +bounds we took refuge in a walled city. Soon we were surrounded by a +forest of glittering spears. I was an archer on the wall, and we +showered the brutes that hid under the bristling steel. But their +shields made a phalanx which did toss back our arrows as a bull tosses +stubble. Against the wall did they hurl mighty stones which did come +with fierce fury, and with a great beam did they batter our walls as a +ram doth batter a thin hedge. For days did we withstand. I fought +with mad fierceness, for she whom I loved cheered me from beneath the +wall. + +"Then did the enemy without the city throw balls of burning pitch. Our +men did fight the fire until their hands were blistered, yet came those +balls of fire. And when flames were consuming us, the gates of the +city were broken and the hand of Rome did have us in its power. With +many of my fellows was I taken away and made fast to a great tree near +by the tent where a Roman chieftain did collect spoil. Of the lithe of +limb who were taken captive, some were to be made gladiators, but the +fierce screams of others of my countrymen, mingled with Roman curses, +told of a more ignominious fate than the arena. For this was I marked. +Fierce was the passion of my bosom that my heritage of the gods should +be sacrificed on the bloody edge of a Roman knife. While yet I stood +chained did my eye catch a sight that did freeze my boiling blood fast +in my veins, steep my breath in curses and turn my vision to mad +blackness, for into the tent of the Roman chief I saw her carried whom +I loved--she who was mine. + +"I tore at the chain until blood did ooze from my flesh. Aye, and the +gods did see my plight. My weapons had the hand of Rome taken save a +knife hid in my tunic. Shortly was I to be taken to the chief to be +robbed of my armlets. Then did all the gods show me favor, for as I +went into the tent the chief was called out. Save for the time an eye +doth twinkle was he called out. Yet I rushed behind the curtains which +did hide the maiden. Swift were my words as the falcon flies and +gleaming was my blade in my hand ere the words did pass my lips. And +swift as light falls, bared she her bosom, and here, on the spot where +we had dreamed a little head would lie which should be ours, I drove +the keen blade in deep--deep drove I the blade, kissing her lips. And +she did laugh--laugh like a happy child and press her lips to mine. I +drew the dagger dripping red from the heart of my Thracian love and +stuck it to my bosom bidding her strike it hard. But the stroke fell +short. Even as the first blood met the blade was I struck low by the +sword of Rome which lay open my face. Aye, seest thou? Seest thou the +face of thy slave? And when he beheld blood bubbling from my face and +pumping from my breast, did the Roman chieftain laugh. + +"Aye, how Rome doth love blood! Rivers of blood! Seas of blood! With +the blood of my face dripping on to the blood of my breast I looked +into the face of him who had laughed at my blood, and I did +laugh--laugh in the face of Rome and shout with victorious shouting, +'My blood may'st thou have! Aye, from a thousand wounds may thou steal +it--shout over it--drink it, if thou wilt! But never shall the hand of +Rome pollute her whom I loved! Never shall the feverish lips of thy +foul lust stain her sweet breathing!' Again did the chieftain smite me +across the head, and darkness came. When I awoke blood was there from +a third wound, yea, most noble mistress, that wound which did rob me of +man's most sacred possession. Yet again did I laugh in the face of +Rome, laugh with the joy of a victor and praise the gods, for around +the neck of him who had smitten me would never twine the ivory arms of +her I loved. Neither would the hand that had made me a thing of wood, +caress the blue veined breast of her who was mine. For this I love the +scar! Sweet is the scar, most noble mistress, of thy eunuch's sore +scarred love! Sweet is the scar!" + +During the recital of her slave's tragic story, Claudia had shown much +interest. "Is there more?" she asked, when he paused. + +"Yea, that which doth delight the heart of Rome--the Triumph. When as +captives we first saw Rome, great was the rejoicing in the city whose +sword rules the world. With garlands were the buildings gay. The +streets were strewn with flowers, and the populace was robed in white. +The victor came in a golden chariot with its four white horses and its +stately lictors. Proud was he in purple robe and crown of laurel and +he smiled as the trumpet tones of the heralds rang out and the populace +shouted praise in thunderous tones. With the captives and the spoils +of war came I, chained, and the rabble did shout in my face. So also +did my heart shout. For far from the marble courts and gilded palaces +that hid the polluted couches of helpless maidens, she who was mine +rested in the dust of Thrace with the winds of the Aegean sobbing where +she lay. And as these desecrators did exult, so did my heart thank the +gods for the steel of my blade, the strength of my arm and the pale +dead face of my love! Most noble mistress, I have done. Dost thou +understand?" + +"I understand thou hast been cruelly robbed," she answered. + +"Yet have I not been robbed of that which maketh a man to think." + +"Hast thou thoughts? What is the wisdom of thy thinking?" + +"On the shores of the sea have I seen the storm make mountains of +water, yet the depths were not moved from their holdings. Down from +the mountains hath the wind raged and hath fought me for my mantle, +which ever I held tighter. From the hand of Rome comes the sword which +doth scar and rob and pollute. Yet it doth not subdue." + +"This thou hast observed. What meaning hath it?" + +"Even this. What the storm can not do with much thundering, the tide +doeth at will. What the wind can not do with loud battling, the sun +doeth in silence. What the sword can not do though blood be spilled +like water, the mind of man can accomplish." + +"Thou speakest wisdom. But how doth this put a light on thy scarred +face?" + +"A vision hath been given of a kingdom greater than that of Caesar's, +wherein the bruised and beaten and scarred who toil and starve that +idlers may gorge, shall be accounted greater than those who rule by the +might of the sword." + +Claudia crossed and recrossed the room several times after the slave +spoke these words, the silence unbroken save by the tinkle of her +strings of ornaments. Pausing before him she said, "As the tide is +greater than the storm; as the sun is greater than the wind; as the +mind of man is greater than the sword, so shall there be a kingdom +greater than that of Caesar? Is this what thou sayest?" + +"Not I, but the Jew that teacheth in the Temple." + +"Hast heard this from his own lips?" + +"Thou knowest I have not. Save as the centurion's slave hath spoken +know I nothing." + +Claudia bent toward the slave, so near the jewels swinging from her +shoulders lay on his arm, as she whispered, "Wouldst thou hear the Jew?" + +"Ah, that I might--that I might," and the sad eyes of the eunuch filled +with tears. + +"Thou hast my permission. Nay, even more, it is my command. Go thou +daily to the Temple of the Jews and bring me word." + +"Be it permitted a slave of Rome to enter the Temple of the Jews? +Sweet is one scar, but there are no others like it." + +"The Tower of Antonio stands guard against the Temple and behind its +frowning walls hides the arm of Rome. Into one court thou art +permitted to go. Here if any say thee nay, reply thou, 'I am the +property of Claudia, wife of Pilate.'" + +"Thy kindness doth make my heart glad. With rejoicing will I go and +come again to thee with the wisdom of the Jew." + +"Keep thou thy ears open and thy mouth shut. Understandest thou? Go +now. Bring wreaths of flowers. Thy master, Pilate, will soon come +with Roman Senators." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +I WOULD SEE JESUS + +The busy days immediately preceding the Passover had gone, and on the +eve of the New Year the hush of expectancy brooded over Jerusalem. The +family of Lazarus, at the time of the evening meal, awaited the coming +of Joseph of Arimathea who was to spend the night with them and with +Lazarus go to offer his sacrifice on the next day. The rays of the +setting sun shone through the big lattice window and fell across the +table. + +"Look at those clouds of flame!" Mary exclaimed. "Lazarus--Joel--hast +thou ever seen aught more gorgeous? In my garden I have a lily red +like the sky. In honor of our guest I shall pluck it." + +"Unless he tippeth it over Joseph will not see Mary's red lily," Joel +said as she left the room. + +"Where is Mary?" Martha called from the kitchen a moment later. + +"Gone to the garden to pluck a red lily," called Joel in answer. + +Martha appeared in the doorway. "Already," she complained, "hath she +plucked lilies when she should have been plucking sparrows. Now she is +gone again and preparation there be yet to make before we sup. Mary! +Mary!" she called, turning toward the court door. When her sister +entered a moment later, Martha said, "Thou dost leave me to do much +service. Fix thou the cushions at the head of the table where our +guest of honor will be seated." + +"Yea, my sister," Mary answered, as she arranged her choice lily in a +vase and put it near the place of the guest. + +"Hurry, Mary," Martha urged. "The sun is down, soon will our guest +appear, and he is rich. Lazarus doth say the richest man in Arimathea." + +"Content would I be with half his possessions," observed Joel. + +"To-day in the Temple I did see him," Lazarus said. "He too is given +to the wisdom of the Galilean Prophet." + +"A member of the Great Sanhedrin taken with strange teachings!" Joel +exclaimed in surprise. + +"Elizabeth hath declared him the Messiah," Mary said thoughtfully. + +"Women are given to vain words," was Joel's answer. "It is said this +Galilean Prophet is no prophet at all, but the son of a carpenter in a +poverty-ridden fishing town." + +Lazarus reflected a moment before saying, "I know not from whence the +King of the Jews shall come to restore again the throne of David, but +if this Jesus is he, and need wealth, mine shall he have." + +"Thou wouldst give to him but not to the poor? A great head hast thou +for business, my friend Lazarus!" and Joel laughed. + +"Aye, but for the establishment of the Kingdom, what man of Israel +would not give of his riches, even of his life?" + +Further conversation was stopped by a knocking at the door. Hastening +to answer it, Lazarus opened to Joseph of Arimathea. He wore the rich +Sanhedrin robe of silk and Egyptian linen heavily embroidered and his +phylacteries were bound on his forehead with wide soft thongs. His +tall and stately bearing, his flowing beard and official dress gave him +dignity that impressed even Eli who rendered him the usual courtesies +with alacrity. "Late I am," he said as the servant unloosed his +sandals, "but the highway is thronged with pilgrims getting in for +to-morrow's celebration." + +"Glad we are that of all the guests, thou comest to sup under our roof. +Meat is ready. Come, let us to the table." + +With Joseph at the head of the table, Mary by Lazarus and Martha by +Joel, the meal began. Eli passed bowls of water for the washing of +hands. Grace was said and then after a second hand cleansing, wine was +poured and thanks said over the cups, after which came the meat, and as +they ate they talked. + +"About the Galilean Prophet were we speaking," Lazarus said. + +"The young Rabbi is much in the mouths of both Temple scribes and +pilgrims in the street. Some have praise for his words of wisdom. +Others, stung ofttimes by his rebukes, attack him cunningly. The way +in which he doth answer those who would entangle him doth please me. +To-day in the Temple he was cleverly attacked by some Pharisees who +drew the attention of a crowd by accusing him of having such speech +with a publican and a harlot as the Law doth not allow. With few words +did he tell of a man who had two sons. To the one did he say, 'Son, +wilt thou do a service for thy father?' and the son said, 'Nay.' To +the other, the man did say, 'Son, wilt thou do a service for thy +father?' and the son did answer, 'Yea.' And when came time to take +account of the service, lo, the son that had said, 'Nay' had performed +the service, while he who had said 'Yea' had done no service. This did +the Galilean Prophet tell in the ears of the crowd for the Pharisees +who had accused him. And then did he say to them, 'I say unto thee, +the publicans and harlots shall enter the Kingdom before thou dost!'" + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Lazarus with pleasure. "The man pleaseth me. When +hath a Rabbi spoken such wisdom or possessed such powers of +discernment?" + +"Are there many in the Sanhedrin who harken to the teachings of this +Jesus?" Joel asked. + +"Beside myself none, save Nicodemus who did go to him by night. Aye, +and it was a hard saying the ears of Nicodemus did hear, for when the +Ruler asked what he should do to be saved, the Galilean told him, 'Thou +must be born again.'" + +"Born again? A man be born again--and thou dost call such speaking +wisdom?" It was Joel who asked the question. + +"The young Rabbi made clear that the birth he teaches is not of flesh, +but entereth in like the blowing of the wind, and hath to do with the +spirit of man." + +"Herein is mystery," Lazarus observed with perplexed face. "I +understand not this being born again. Mary, thou dost spend much time +studying the mysteries of life as it doth appear to thee in living +things. Understandest thou how to be born again?" + +"I understand not," Mary answered. "Yet the miracle I have seen. Once +did I plant in the soil a root, brown like a dead leaf and wrinkled +like a hag's face. It hath been born again. Lo--here it is," and she +took the red lily from the vase by Joseph's cup. "See its glad color? +Smell its rare fragrance? Here is a miracle, for this that is +beautiful, is only a changed form of that which was uncomely. A +miracle--yet the secret be with Jehovah God. Mayhap the heart of +Nicodemus was brown and wrinkled with much tradition and useless custom +until the words of wisdom Joseph doth speak of, seemed but foolishness. +And lo! A change did come and he findeth Truth in the words of the +Galilean Rabbi. Thus would he be born again. The miracle thou +mightest see, but the manner of its doing is hidden in the heart of +Jehovah." + +During Mary's explanation of a miracle the eyes of Joseph had been +drawn to her in surprise and admiration. "Thou hast well spoken," he +said. "Hast thou heard the words of this young Rabbi whose wisdom is +old?" + +"Nay, Father Joseph. Yet would I." + +"Thou wouldst learn much at his feet." + +"But knowest thou not it is forbidden by the Law that a woman be taught +that which the Rabbis would withhold?" + +"I forget not. Yet will the Galilean teach thee." + +"And glad of a chance, methinks, will he be to break the Law," said +Joel, "for doth he not think himself better than the Law?" + +"Say rather 'greater' than the Law," Joseph replied. "As a prop to a +vine, so is the Law to the weak. But as the vine doth grow greater +than the prop, because of what the prop hath been to it, is it able to +stand in its own strength. So there are prophets who have outgrown the +Law. For such, to live within the Law would be putting new wine in old +bottles." + +"Much hath been said of this man," Martha observed, "but none hath yet +told of his garments. What sort are they?" + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Lazarus. "Martha doth think perchance she may help +Joel sell a new garment." + +"Thou dost make merry over a straight question. Doth not the Law teach +that man is the glory of God, and the glory of man is his dress?" + +"And methinks thou knoweth also the saying, 'The dress of the wife of a +learned man is of more importance than the life of one ignorant.' +Hear, Joel, thou learned man?" + +"Affright not Joel," Martha replied to her brother, "but tell me +whether the _kittuna_ of this Rabbi is wool or flax, or his _tallith_ +handsomely embroidered." + +"What weareth this man?" Lazarus asked of Joseph. + +"Save for the phylacteries, the plain raiment of a Rabbi with the white +and lavender fringes on his _tallith_ as the Law doth command. Yet it +is said he hath appeared in the white of the Essenes." + +"What matter the color of his fringes?" Mary asked. "His words would I +hear. Perhaps I should love him even as Lazarus loveth him." + +"And thy gentleness, and strange wisdom for a woman, will win for thee +his love, methinks," Joseph answered. + +"Mary is not so gentle as thou thinkest," and Martha laughed. +"Elizabeth did visit in the home of Jesus when he was a little lad. Of +all she did tell concerning him, that which did most delight the heart +of Mary was the tale of a bloody nose he did give another lad." + +"How went the tale?" and rubbing the beard around a mouth shaped for +laughter, Lazarus awaited a reply. + +"He did act," promptly answered Mary, "because a large coward did pluck +the hair of a small child which could do naught but weep. Unafraid +souls my heart loves." + +"Ever hath womankind loved bravery," Joseph remarked. "Well, the +Galilean Rabbi is brave, Mary." + +"How brave?" + +"Brave sufficient to dare the wrath of the High Priest. Is this not +bravery?" + +"Rather the act of a fool," Joel answered. + + +When they had tarried about the table until a late hour, the guests +went to their couches. + +"To-morrow is the birthday of Israel," Lazarus said after the door had +closed behind Joel and Joseph. "Now must the house be searched for +leaven that not a speck remain." + +Taking up the lamps which were burning low on the table, he fastened +them to long handles. Martha, taking one of them, went to the kitchen, +while Mary and Lazarus made search in the larger room. + +"My brother," Mary said when the last cushion had been shaken and the +last corner searched, "on this eve of Israel's birthday I have a +request of thee. Wilt thou be Ahasuerus and hold to me thy golden +scepter?" + +"What is the request of thy heart, my sister?" + +"My heart is burdened with a desire to meet this unafraid yet tender +and wise man thou dost talk of. I would see Jesus." + +"It shall be even so. To our home shall he be bidden. When thou +hearest the silver trumpets blowing in the New Year, remember this is +thy brother's promise, and may joy come to thee with the coming of the +Galilean." + +"Thou dost give me joy on this New Year's Eve. A kiss I have for +thee--for pleasant dreams." + +"Now am I well paid," laughed Lazarus when his sister kissed him. + +"The blessing of God on thee, my brother. Good night." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +ON WITH THE DANCE + +While Lazarus and Mary were searching the house with their long-handled +lamps that not a speck of leaven should remain to defile the Passover, +a different scene was being enacted in the Palace of Herod for Pilate +and his guests. Earlier in the evening the Procurator had entered his +luxurious apartment and casting aside his purple robe had exclaimed, +"The wrath of Jove on Jerusalem. Save for its size it is not better +than a tomb across Kedron!" + +"A tomb?" one of his guests repeated questioningly. "Methinks it is a +mountain of bees swarming and buzzing. Never have I seen such crowds." + +"People, yea, _people_. But what are people if they be Jews? The +tombs lack not a plentiful filling of bones and creeping things." + +"When thy stomach hath become a tomb for a cup of red wine, then will +Jerusalem be more to thy liking," Claudia said, and turning to the +guest added, "My lord Pilate doth love Rome much when he is in +Jerusalem." + +"Yet even Jerusalem doth seem to be getting Romanized, with her +hippodrome and her trophies of Augustan victories. Also, there is a +statue of Caligula, and the golden eagle hangs its wings over the +Temple gate itself, while Antonio commands all." + +"Yea," assented Pilate, "there are a few images and theatres, but the +atmosphere is heavy with religion--barbarous superstition, as hath +Cicero said. And fools they are for they worship the unseen. Greeks, +Egyptians, Asiatics, Romans all have gods, but these dish-faced ones +with beards refuse to pay honor to Caesar and scorn the gods." + +"True," the guest replied, "but if there were no Jew, the wit of the +theatre would suffer. Doth not the wag ever make merry concerning the +god of the Jew which refuseth to be a god unless an inch of skin be +taken where the eye misseth it not?" + +Pilate joined his guests in hearty laughter. "And their ancestral +veneration of the swine, what meaneth it?" + +"Perhaps they fear more than venerate the swine." + +"Of that I know not, but much fasting doth make them lean enough to +thank the gods for the fat of a swine." + +"They are loyal to their god--whatever it is," Claudia said. + +"Yea, in dimly lighted synagogues they ever gather, muttering prayers. +Even do they close their shops one day that they may have more time for +more prayers." + +"It hath come to my ears that they neither eat nor sleep with +strangers," one of the guests observed. + +"In the valley of Gehenna where the stench of their funeral fires doth +ever ascend and the worm ceaseth not to wiggle in corruption, there +would the circumcized rather lie like a dog, than sup with one +uncircumcized. Aye, a dog is the Jew, and a thief." + +"Yet have I heard that they contend to the death for their Law. Doth +it not deal with stealing?" Pilate was asked. + +"Yea, it dealeth with stealing and for it they contend. Yet they are +thieves beginning with Annas the High Priest. Into the Temple offices +hath he put all his sons and nephews and kinsmen that through them his +itching fingers may possess all the wealth of the Temple. The Law of +the Jews is for others than those who make it, preach it, sell it or +trade in it. Yet for all their sins have these long-faced robbers a +scapegoat. Over his head do they mumble their sins and then frighten +him away to the wilderness. And when he is departed, lo, they are as +innocent as babes new-born. Jove, what fools!" + +"Here now are thy spirits coming," Claudia laughed. "Drink thou and +see if thou gettest not out of the tomb." + +Servants with viands and wines entered and placed them on tables near +the couches. Pilate poured for the guests and then took his own cup. + +"Pilate takes a second cup," said Claudia. "He is moving out of the +tomb." + +"Antipas hath not found his Tiberias a tomb yet," Pilate remarked +between cups. + +"What hath he done?" a guest asked. + +"To a maiden who pleased him with gay dancing gave he the head of a Jew +prophet in a silver platter. Good use for such head." + +"In seven veils did she dance," Claudia added. + +"On my soul I would have seen the show." + +"My lord Pilate emerges from the tomb," and Claudia laughed as he +poured another cup. + +"And for a purpose," Pilate answered her. "As Antipas hath taken the +pleasures of Rome to Tiberias, so will Pilate bring Rome to Jerusalem +this night for the pleasure of his guests. Where, Claudia, my love, is +thy maiden whose limbs are like the milky marble Greece boasts and +whose feet fly like the wings of a chased butterfly? Summon thou the +slave. Yet stay--not seven veils shall hide her marble loveliness. +Here," and snatching a wreath of flowers from a pedestal he flung them +to Claudia, "bid her robe her beauteous nakedness in this. Here's to +the dancer whose virgin charms unhidden by such dense and senseless +draperies as veils, shall set our blood racing as blood doth race at +Rome. Bid the slave come!" + +"My maiden doth not choose to come clad only in a wreath," and Claudia +tossed the flowers aside. + +"Slaves have no choice when masters do the bidding." + +"Thy words sound large, yet hath Claudia a choice for her maiden. +Confusion will take the buoyancy from her supple limbs, and so drawn +will her arms be to her face to hide its shame, that the sensuous swing +thou dost desire will be stiff as the scabbard on thy wall. Lest she +be veiled my maiden can not dance to do Rome pleasure." + +"A veil! A veil!" shouted Pilate, laughing. + +"Give the maiden a veil," the guests added. + +"A veil! One veil--_one_ but not _two_, Claudia. One veil!" and again +Pilate laughed loudly. + +"A veil. _One_ veil," Claudia repeated, bowing as she left the room. + +When she had gone Pilate summoned servants. "Set the palms to make a +garden," he commanded. "Call the torch-bearers and make of them a +flaming pathway. Summon the musicians. Let there be haste!" + +In a very short time the palm grove was in order and a blast of music +sounded. Claudia returned smiling, and all eyes turned to the +curtained entrance at the far end of the aisle of palms. The first +glimpse of the little Greek slave was that of a fairy dancing into the +shadowy background. Her white and shapely body sparkled as if powdered +with diamond dust and the veil that floated about her was woven of fine +and shining threads in rainbow tints. For a time she flitted up and +down between the palms and rows of torch-light bearers standing like +purple statues, while Pilate and the guests drank to her grace and +beauty and cheered her skill. At a signal from the Procurator the +dancing stopped. "Thus doth Greece show her grace," he said to his +guests. "Now wouldst thou see Rome dance?" + +"Yea--but Rome is not Greece in the art." + +"Bid thy eunuch to come," Pilate said, addressing Claudia. + +Without asking questions, for Pilate was growing too merry with wine to +answer them, Claudia summoned her slave. + +"Come hither, thou scar-ridden eunuch!" Pilate shouted as he entered +the place. "Wrap thy broad back in this wolf hide and take thou a +helmet and spear--so! Now, musicians, pipe thee a tune that will be +wild like the wrath of the gods. No music now to make a butterfly +flit, but thunder for the beast that maketh the earth tremble. Ready! +On with the dance!" + +The big slave cast a glance of appeal at his mistress, but she motioned +him to obey. Then the eunuch, wrapped in the great wolf robe, danced, +heavy and without grace. + +"Stay!" Pilate called. "Ye gods! Rome was not built to dance. Thy +legs are like tree trunks, thy back like a ship. To gain possession of +Greece, this is Rome's glory. Rome, pursue thou Greece. Tantalize her +as doth a cat torment a mouse. Aye, now, slave girl, take to yonder +forest of palms and elude him who follows, for the wolf of Rome is on +thy track. And thou, oh, Rome, dog thy fair prey, as the sword of +Caesar doth dog that which it would possess. Away to the woods! Fly, +Greece, fly! On with the dance!" + +To weird music the girl began an elusive dance in and out among the +palms but ever under the moving glare of a flaming torch. The eunuch, +like some shaggy monster, doggedly followed her. After some minutes of +this dancing-chase, Pilate cried, "This is but play! Rome by the +strength in his arms can pick Greece away from the earth. Come thou, +Rome and Greece, dance _close_! Greece--evade the powerful arm that +seeks to draw thee beneath the wolf's tawny hide! Dance! Dance! +Dance away from Rome! Harder! Faster! Fiercer! He comes nearer! +His hand doth touch thee. Aye--watch! He comes closer. Hear his +heart thump with eagerness to seize thee? Feel his hot breath? He is +about to seize thee! He taketh thee, Greece! Thou art disappearing +under the hide of the wolf!" + +As the wild dance neared its end, Pilate became so aroused he rushed +back and forth across the room in imitation of first one dancer then +the other, while his guests roared with laughter. And when the eunuch +seized the slave girl and gathered her under the thick fur, her screams +were those of honest fear for she knew not what might be in store for +her. "Scream--scream again!" shouted Pilate. "I like it. Aye, to the +heart of Rome stifled by the pious air of Jerusalem, screaming is like +new wine! Scream once again!" Again the slave girl's cry was heard +from under the wolf hide. "Thou doest well. Come forth and from the +golden cup of Pontius Pilate, held in his own hand, shalt thou drink. +Aye, thou doest well," he repeated as she came toward him. "To the +heart of Rome screams are dear. Here's to thy screaming, and here's to +Rome forever!" and he lifted the cup. + +"Stay thy hand a moment," and Claudia touched the sleeve of Pilate +lightly as she spoke. + +"What meanest thou?" + +"Drink thou to Rome, my lord--but _not_ Rome _forever_." + +"What meanest thou?" he repeated. + +"In days long gone before Romulus had found the lair of the she-wolf, +there lived seers who foretold a king whose kingdom would be greater +than that of Caesar." + +"Claudia hath been filching cups, methinks," Pilate said, joining in +the laughter of the Senators. "Another king than Caesar? As the +mighty Tiberius would do to a worm that should raise its head from the +dust to sting his heel, so will the mighty Caesar do to him whose voice +be lifted against the empire. My fair Claudia, thy brain is addled. +Here's to thee, my love, here's to our guests, the Senators, and here's +to Rome--_Rome forever_! On with the dance!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ON THE ROOF + +The Day of Atonement had just passed and throughout Palestine great +preparations were being made for the Feast of Tabernacles, for the +harvest yield had been rich. Beginning with the fruits of the oleaster +and white mulberry in the early season, the ingathering of wheat, of +almonds and Beyrout honey, of apples and apricots and corn, of grapes +and of figs, of maize and of pomegranates and dates, of olives and +walnuts, had taken place as the months passed, and now from the +northern bounds of Galilee to the southern edge of Judea and from +Peraea to the sea, pilgrims were ready to set forth with their +first-fruits to be offered in the Temple. The vineyards and olive +orchards of Lazarus had yielded bountifully, and the laborers had been +accounted worthy of their hire and generously paid. + +Martha had been busy putting in her store of corn and wine and now, +late on the last day before Atonement was counting her pig skin bottles +while Eli cleaned the ashes from the big earthenware oven. "Hath Mary +carried the last of her boughs to the housetop?" she questioned, +glancing into the court. And without waiting for an answer she +continued, "Such a pile of myrtle and olive and palm branches as hath +not before been used in an arbor hath Mary dragged up the steps, and +made into a bower. Anna doth build her bower in the garden, but not so +my sister who will have hers set where she can sit under its roof of +leaves and look out over the hills where there are a thousand booths. +And with her harp she sings. Listen--but Eli, there is a new skin +bottle missing!" and grave concern was in Martha's voice. + + "My beloved is mine and I am his + Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away." + + +The words floated gently out on the air from the housetop. The voice +was that of Mary. + +"Mary--Mary!" called Martha. "A new pig-skin bottle is missing." And +she started toward the stair steps. Hearing no answer she hurried +upward calling, "Mary, Mary, canst thou not hear?" + + "Many waters can not quench love. + Neither can the floods drown it, + For love is strong as death--" + +Mary sang, lightly touching the strings of her harp as she sat under +her bower of myrtle and palm. + +"Mary, a new skin bottle is missing!" the housewife shouted in her +sister's ear, "and the foolishness thou singeth doth make thee deaf." + +"'Foolishness,' thou sayest? Once, to me also the beauty of it were +hidden. But now--listen, Martha-- + + "I sat under his shade with great delight + And his fruit was sweet + He brought me into his banqueting house + And his banner over me was love. + +Since the Master hath come it seemeth clear. Is not his wisdom a +banquet? Are not the wondrous beauty of his words and the tones of his +voice like sweetest fruit and is not his banner of love over us?" + +"That shouldst thou know, for since the first time he crossed our +threshold thou hast made thy dwelling place at his feet. And his +banner of love methinks is large enough for all sorts of women to find +place under, even such kind as would pollute thee by a touch." + +"What meanest thou, Martha?" + +"No more than I did say. Did not Joel attend a feast where Jesus had +been bidden? And lo, as they sat at meat did not a woman make her way +to the feet of Jesus and there sit--aye, a woman of the town? And did +he not look into her eyes when she was spoken harshly to, even as he +looketh into thine? And did he not say comforting words to her and +excuse her, saying she had loved much--aye, loved even to her own +damnation?" + +"For this alone could I love Jesus," Mary answered, "even this--he +pities womankind, nor thrusts them beyond the circle of his kindness +because they have been weak. Not of evil cometh woman's confidence, +which, betrayed, maketh her an outcast. But of goodness cometh +confidence." + +"Thy speech soundeth well, but it stirreth not mercy in my heart for +she who sins against the Law." + +"Hard and often cruel is the Law. Dost thou ever think, Martha, that +in the sight of God, to sin against love may be a greater sin than to +sin against the Law?" + +"I know not the meaning of thy question. Dost think I am a Rabbi?" + +"Thou hast a right to think on these things even if thou art not a +Rabbi." + +"Nay--no right have I, for doth not the Law say a woman shall not be +taught?" + +"What the Law denieth, the Master doth allow. Doth he not ever bid me +sit at his feet and learn?" + +"Far be it from me," Martha said, "to say aught against the teachings +of the Master, yet a woman's place is not with Rabbis. To serve is her +lot." + +"Methinks thou didst make this speech once to Jesus." + +"Yea," Martha answered, "and thou needst not remind me he said thou +hadst chosen the better part. Yet have I noticed that neither thy +desire for wisdom, nor his for imparting it, did satisfy his belly. +Even as Lazarus and Joel, doth he take his meat and wine." + +Voices in the garden announced the coming of Lazarus and Joel. Martha +leaned over the parapet and called, "A new skin bottle is missing." + +"Hath it been stolen?" Joel asked. + +"I greatly fear it hath," she replied anxiously. + +When they came out upon the housetop, Lazarus said in a voice of +emotion, "Alas--woe be upon us. Yea, misery hath fallen to our lot. +Ah, that my soul should have lived to see this evil hour!" + +"What hath happened?" Mary asked, resting the fingers that had been +lightly touching the harp strings. "Hath evil tidings?" + +"Alas that this should have fallen upon this household. Canst thou, +Mary, sustain the grief of thy sister while I do break the evil +tidings?" + +"Thou dost distress my soul!" Martha exclaimed. "Speak." + +"A new skin bottle is missing," Lazarus solemnly declared. + +After the laughter which followed, Martha said, "Thou, Lazarus, and thy +sister Mary would both starve had not our father saved his mites. Doth +not our own Solomon teach of the saving ways of the ant?" + +"The words of the Galilean Rabbi mean more to Mary than the wisdom of +Solomon," Joel observed. + +"The son of David," Mary answered, "was not his heart led of strange +women?" + +"Cast not blame on him," Joel said. "Snared he was by the daughters of +Baal as was our father Adam tempted of Eve." + +"Man is queer. Ever he doth boast of being strong, yet doth he ever +likewise boast of being led astray," reflected Mary. + +"Joel," Lazarus asked, "how camest thou in the net of Martha? Didst +thou walk in, or wert thou dragged?" + +"I did walk," Joel answered, laughing. "But Martha is not like other +women." + +"And I did prepare the way for his walking, for much did my heart +desire a man with such beard," Martha confessed. + +"Martha's heart hath been drawn out by a man's beard. What drew thy +heart when first thou set eyes on the Master?" and Lazarus turned to +Mary. "Thou shouldst have seen her, Joel," he continued. "Long had we +waited in the Temple for a sight of him and we had turned on to the +porch when Mary did look back. Then her feet stopped as if turned to +salt and in my ear she did whisper, with undue excitement, 'Look! +Look! Is that Jesus?' And I did look. And behold, the Master stood +with a small child in his arms. Then did Mary refuse to move forward, +but established her feet on the stones of the portico and with her +hands on my shoulders did she lean that she might see the man. And +while she did thus lean, he raised his eyes from the face of the child +in his arms and looked straight at Mary. Dost thou remember, Mary?" + +"Some things the heart can not forget," Mary answered, resting her head +against her harp. "Never will I forget the Master as I saw him first. +Against a white marble pillar carved with lilies he stood. Behind him, +high against the line made by the portico roof, was the blue, blue +sky--bending as it touched the purple mountains and the green and +silver olive hills. Straight and strong he stood, and the little one +did look into his face as if there it saw its future. One of its hands +lay on Jesus' cheek and the other was close hidden in his large hand. +When the child stroked the face of the man and smiled, the man kissed +it, rested his hand upon its head a moment in blessing and gave it to +its mother. Will I forget? No, never!" + +"And when he did put the child down," Lazarus said, "lo, he did turn +his face toward Mary. Twice had I asked him to be my guest, yet had +his heart not given assent. Now he came. Over Olivet we made our way +in the sunset, and on the brow of the hill we stopped to look back, and +Mary's tongue did lend her voice to praise the Temple." + +"Yea, my brother. Was ever Jerusalem so holy as that night, or the +Temple so glorious? From the gathering shadows of the deep valleys the +hand of God had placed about it, rose Zion like a towering island of +gold and snow, rearing its shining lines against a burnished crimson +sky and raising its gleaming towers, crown above crown to the stars +above. Dost remember it, Lazarus?" + +"Yea, and why not? Daily ever had I seen it, and even so, had the +Rabbi, though he did seem to get a new vision of it from thy speech and +face which did so please him." + +"And, Lazarus, dost thou not hear it yet--the music of that night? +From the throats of a thousand Levites rang out the evening chant which +did move over the valley on noiseless wings and lose itself in the +gathering night, making all the earth seem blessed. Canst thou forget +it? Never shall I." + +"Neither shall I forget," said Martha, "when thou didst reach home with +thy guest, Mary. Thou didst rush upon me with the news so that I upset +a pot of roast and burned my finger, and all for naught save that a +Galilean Rabbi was to sup with us. Yet did I know the man would win +the heart of Mary when she showed him to her lily bed, as surely as I +did know Zador Ben Amon had lost her by too much eating of bird +tongues, for I did hear him say--'Even Solomon in all his glory was not +arrayed like one of these.'" + +"And dost thou yet think on his words of wisdom as we sat at meat: +Great be the mystery of life and great the hunger for Eternal Life." + +"Now is Mary started again on speech-making which will begin with the +bones of our fathers and end with the hereafter. I care not for it. +Let us go, Joel, that we count the pig-skin bottles once again before +daylight has waned." + +When Martha and Joel had gone, Lazarus made himself comfortable with +his feet against the parapet and turned to Mary. + +"Once I sat with him upon the housetop," she said. + +"Yea, Mary." + +"The night was still and under the stars did stretch the far dim lines +of the Mountains of Moab. Of days long gone did he speak--days when +our fathers wandered in search of a Promised Land. When, from regions +far beyond, the spies of Israel crossed the Moabitish hills, they did +go to the home of an harlot. Wherefore they went hath not been handed +down. Mayhap to teach the woman the seventh commandment of Moses. But +they did go and she was an harlot. And when their hiding was +discovered she let them over the wall and they escaped. For this +kindness was her life spared, and when our fathers took the city, +Salmon did wed the harlot. Then did Salmon beget Boaz; Boaz begat +Obed; Obed begat Jesse; Jesse begat David. Thus was an harlot the +mother in Israel of whom was begotten Israel's kings. And is not the +blood of David in the veins of him we love--even Jesus? It is not +strange he hath ever words of kindness and a helping hand for women +downtrodden by the Law, for as the eye of God seeth good in what the +Law condemns, so doth the heart of the Master, and he hath courage to +speak." + +"Yea. To be with him doth give new visions." + +"And great love. Sometimes when I am with him or my mind traveleth far +paths with him, it seemeth as if God was pouring love into my heart +until it is full to overflowing. Again it seemeth I hunger for love." + +"Thy heart need not hunger for love. Thou art much loved." + +"I know thou dost love me much." + +"All who know thee, love thee." + +"The Master?" + +"Yea, yea--he loveth thee." + +"Ah, Lazarus, this is knowledge my heart doth hunger for. I know he +doth love me for he loveth all women. Martha sayeth he doth look upon +the women of the street even as in my eyes he looketh. Joel did tell +her so." + +"Joel discerneth not the difference between sympathy in the eye of +pity, and hunger in the eye of such love as constraineth a man to take +one woman to himself apart from all the world even as the wild dove +taketh its mate to the hidden cleft of the solitary rock. The Master +hath no common love for thee." + +"How knoweth thou this, my brother?" + +"He is a man. I am a man. Hungry he sitteth at meat as a man. Weary +he resteth his limbs as a man. Merry he looketh upon the fair arms and +flying garments of dancers at the wedding as a man. Sad doth he grow, +and troubled, as a man. With a child held to his bosom the tenderness +of fatherhood sounds in his voice and with thee at his side the +mightiest love with which the Creator hath blessed man, toucheth his +soul. Did not the Creator so make man that it is not good for him to +be alone? None but the heathen teach contrary to the Law." + +"Thy words are to my heart as a song of Zion to the captives in +Babylon. Yet would I have a sign from him." + +"So do women always want signs," Lazarus laughed. + +Mary rested her head against the myrtle twined support of the bower and +looked away to the sky of the setting sun--nor did Lazarus disturb her +thoughts by speaking. The hush of evening was brooding over the +distant valleys soon to be enfolded in the twilight and there was no +sound on the housetop when, a few moments later, Mary heard her name +spoken just behind her. A man had come quietly up the steps and +stopped where they opened on the roof. He wore a travel-stained +garment, carried a staff and held against one shoulder some branches of +flowering green. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," he said, as +Mary and Lazarus with a glad cry, sprang up to greet him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ORANGE BRANCHES + +"The hem of thy garment is heavy with dust and thy feet are torn by +thorns," Mary said with concern. "Rest thee. I will unloose thy +shoes' latchet and Lazarus will bring thee drink. Thou art weary." + +"Yea, footsore and weary. But take thou the branches of orange +blossoms. All the way from Ajalon have I carried them to make thee thy +festival _lulab_," [1] and he held the branches to her. + +"The Day of Atonement did not find thee in the Temple. From Ajalon +hast thou come?" Lazarus asked. + +"Yea. On the road to Ajalon there is a place of turning that doth lead +over a desert way, and rocky. But when the end is reached, there is a +valley of springs giving rise to a stream that at last findeth the +Great Sea. And in this hidden and quiet place where the wild gazelle +feedeth unharmed because there is no shedding of blood, there is a +retreat of the Essenes. Here was I. Neither in the Temple nor out of +the Temple cometh At-one-ment with the Father, but in the sanctuary of +the heart, Lazarus. And it was in this holy place," and the guest +turned toward Mary, "that the air was rich with perfume from a little +grove of early oranges and citron. Here I did think of thee and +brought thy _lulab_ flowers, though their leaves are faded somewhat." + +"Aye, but their fragrance is tenfold, as doth come from broken lilies." + +"There is a fragrance that spilleth itself in dying. In this there is +a hard lesson thou hast yet to learn, Mary." + +"If I learn from thee it is not hard." + +"Thou knowest not what thou sayest." + +"I go to get thee new wine," Lazarus said. + +"And take thou the branches, my brother, except one that I keep on the +arbor roof to make the night fragrant like the valley of retreat beyond +the way to Ajalon. The others put in the water pot by the cistern that +they may be fresh for to-morrow's festival. And hasten thou back with +the wine." + +"Nay, hasten not," the young Rabbi said. "As I came along the way, +travelers did give me figs and wine so that I hunger not. Yet when the +moon hath cleared the mountains would I drink with thee thy new wine." + +"As thou sayest," Lazarus replied, and taking the guest's cloak and +staff he went below. + +"I saw thy face as I stood waiting at the door," the guest said to Mary +when they were alone. "Thine eyes saw farther than the parapet, and +the vision made thy countenance a very pleasant one. Sit thee down and +let us look together." + +Mary sat down on a foot-stool which he drew to the side of his chair +and turned a smiling face to him as she said, "Often in the heavens I +see sights more beautiful than words can tell. Look you now, just over +there where the clouds bank low behind the olive tops. Dost thou not +see fleecy lambs playing on hillsides of ruddy lilies! And over where +the mountain casts its purple line across the far-off pink--see thou +the pile of marble palaces wrought in such beauty as even Solomon hath +not conceived? And canst thou not see rosy chariots driving from the +west, the banners of the horsemen streaming and their red and burnished +hair reaching into endless tresses? But look you yonder!" and she +pointed toward a bank of moving clouds. "There are such beautiful +clouds as angel wings are made of, and is not that a distant shore +across the sky?" + +"Yea," he answered, "and snowy mountains bearing snowy cedars." + +"A path of light doth open up between thy snowy mountains," and she +leaned eagerly forward. + +"Maybe the Golden Gates of the New Jerusalem that lieth four square are +opening, if thou hast eyes to see." + +"Yea--I see! The clouds are turning into a throng of +children--countless children. With snowy robes are they wrapped. +Their arms are wings of feathery softness, and white and shining hair +doth blow across their faces! Aye--how beautiful, and a golden glow +shines over them. Stay! Children, stay!" and Mary pressed her hands +together and leaned out across the parapet. + +"They are passing," he said, watching Mary. + +"Yea, they are passing into the forest of snow and the sea of gold. +But oh, my Master, when hath eye seen a more beautiful sight?" + +"Listen!" and he took her hand in his. "There is music for the passing +footsteps of thy white and shining children." + +Together they listened when, over hills and valleys there came, +breathing on the silent air, the thousand throated choir of the Levites +chanting in the Temple. As the music came to them, sometimes far and +faint and sometimes like a fresh wave on a rising tide, it seemed to +bear them away from the world and themselves, save as they were held +together by the touch of hands. As the gray of twilight veiled the +lowlands, the red fires of booth-dwellers shone out like vivid jewels +scattered in irregular pattern, and when darkness had fallen the music +ceased. + +"My mystery," Mary said softly to herself. + +"What is thy mystery?" he asked. + +"The way of music with my soul. It casteth a spell over me so that +sometimes I am moved to laughter, sometimes to tears, sometimes to +great longing, sometimes to a love too great for me. My mystery!" + +"Thy mystery will be no more a mystery when thou knowest that thy soul +is but Waves of Being." + +"I understand not what 'Being' means." + +"Nor canst thou. But the way of waves thou knowest. Whether they run +mountain high or as the smallest pebble stirreth them, yet is there +ever motion, and the one touching the other doth bear the motion to the +farthest bounds. So do thy Waves of Being in eternal motion make thy +soul's substance." + +"Thy words savor of much wisdom, but the meaning thereof escapeth me. +Waves of water my eye can see. But Waves of Being--alas! What are +they?" + +"Hast thou stood by the mountain path when the grass is burned to +stubble and the stones by the wayside are as ovens? Hast thou seen +coming from the burning earth such waves as seem to be neither black +nor white nor substance as thou knowest it? These are waves of heat. +So the light taketh its way, and the sound, though the eye of the body +may not discern them. The Waves of Being, thy soul's substance, and +the waves of light and heat and sound, be but one power made manifest +in different degree. And when these unseen waves of melody come to +thee from the Temple and strike against thy Soul, they have but found +their own, and according to their measure do they stir that which thou +callest joy and pain." + +"I have seen the waves of fierce heat in the drought time and I have +felt the waves of music breaking over my soul--yet question I, and +doubt sometimes, all things--even God." + +"Lift thy face, Mary--look up! The heavens declare the glory of God +and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Ask of thyself who laid the +foundations of the earth? Who shut up the sea with doors and said +'Thus far shalt thou come but no farther and here shall thy proud waves +be stayed'? Who hath bound the cluster of the Pleiades? Who hath +loosed the band of Orion? Who hath put understanding in the inward +parts? The _inward parts_, Mary, that still, small voice? Thou dost +not doubt. That which thou calleth 'doubt' is but the unrest of +growing, for thou dost ever grow in grace and knowledge of the Truth." + +"And shouldst not one find wisdom who oft sitteth at the feet of the +Master of Wisdom and who worketh mighty miracles? Anna hath been to +Nain and hath brought back a strange story." + +"How went the story?" + +"To the home of a kinsman who owned vineyards near Nain did Anna go. +And in Nain there lived a widow whose lot had been hard, for when her +husband died his creditors came upon her and when they had done, a +Temple lawyer had her one small field and the creditor drove away her +milch goats and all the kids that were her winter meat. So grievous +was her lot that she must needs fast to save her Temple mite. Nor was +this the end of her pitiful plight, for her only son, as he was +treading the wine-press, was smitten on the head by the sun, and died. +Anna and her brother went to the funeral to help make mourning, and +never hath she seen so queer an ending to shrill wailing as she saw +that day. 'Ah, if thou couldst have been there,' said Anna. 'From +Endor to Nain was Rabbi Jesus journeying accompanied by many. Shouting +his praises were the men. Waving olive branches were the women while +children did pluck bright leaves and scatter across the pathway. A +merry party it was, singing and laughing. Then lo, did the funeral +procession make its sad way. Rough was the road toward which it tended +and gloomy the valley with gaping tombs. And through this dark valley +did the sad note of the funeral dirge sound and with great sobbing and +wailing did the mourners march beside the bier whereon lay the dead son +of the widow. Thus did the march of Life and the march of Death make +toward each other and the way was wide enough but for one of them to +pass. On, on they marched, the one passing to the hilltop and blue +sky, the other to the bat-ridden place of corruption. When they did +meet, on the bier Jesus placed his hand--a hand throbbing with the life +of a strong man. And the Death march did stop. "Weep not," said he to +the weeping mother. And to the dead did he say, "Young man, arise!" +Then did the eyelids of the dead quiver; the set jaw move in its grave +napkin; the gray face show the tinge of running blood. Hands stirred +underneath the shroud and the dead awakened. It was wonderful! And a +young man that had hold of the bier, when he saw the eyes of the dead +open and the jaw fall apart, dropped his corner of the bier and ran.' +And Anna doth say he is running yet." + +Mary's story ended with a laugh in which her listener joined. "This is +one of the greatest of thy miracles--so they say." + +There was a moment of silence. Then the young man said, "There are no +miracles. There is only Knowledge, and lack of it. When a soul is +born of the Spirit, he cometh into the Light. Of Light cometh +Knowledge and of Knowledge, Power. And as all life is one life, so is +all power one power. Power and the Father's will to work bringeth the +consciousness that '_I and my Father are one_.' There are no miracles." + +"By thy wisdom thou doeth away with miracles. Yet do men call thy +mighty works miracles and dispute much as to who he is that doeth them." + +"Who do men say that I am?" + +"Some say thou art Elias. Some say Jeremiah. Some say John. Some say +that with a camel train didst thou go to the Far East while thou wert +yet a lad and in the schools of the Magi, far beyond the Punjab valley +and the Indus, did learn to work wonders." + +"And some say I am Beelzebub," he added. + +Mary made no reply to this. + +"And to turn back into its fleshy form a few waves of the universal sea +of life--is this a miracle, think you? Thy life aboundeth in greater +miracles." + +"Methinks ofttimes that love is a miracle." + +"Thou thinkest well." + +"And oft my heart hath longed to open my lips to thee." + +"Speak on." + +"Thou art a man--not a youth, neither womanish. Yet when my eyes did +first behold thee, in thy face shone the love of a mother for a child. +Herein lieth a great mystery to my heart." + +"As all life is one life, so all love is one love. Hath thine own love +never exceeded the bounds of thy understanding?" + +"Yea. Yea," she answered quickly. Then she paused. + +"Say on, Mary," he said, listening with interest. + +"Once an infant, brown and foreign, did mistake me for its mother. And +on that selfsame day did a brood of motherless nestlings do likewise. +Strange sensations came to me, and the strange thought that mayhap +there be one motherhood for all creatures as there be a Father to all +mankind, and the strangeness of my feeling was the heart-throb of it." + +"Wilt thou turn thy face to me, Mary?" he asked. And when she had done +so he said, "Thy feet are on the threshold of the mystery thy heart +wouldst know." + +"And wilt thou lead me across?" + +"Dost thou love me, Mary--more than all these?" + +"Yea, my master, thou knowest that I love thee." + +"Wilt thou drink the cup given me to drink?" + +"The cup, though I know not what thou meanest, with thee will I drink." + +"Ho! Ho! Ho! The new wine cometh," called Lazarus on the steps, and +laughing voices told the two on the housetop that the hour for words of +wisdom was at an end. Lazarus and Joel brought the wine and the cups. +Anna and Martha followed, carrying trays with sweetmeats and fruit. In +the moonlight they set a table for a feast and after they ate and +drank, Mary made music on the harp and they sang psalms. + +"Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting +doors, that the King of Glory may come in," their voices sang in +unison. Then the women sang "Who is the King of Glory?" and the rich +bass of the men's voices answered "The Lord strong and mighty!" Ever +and again they sang, until Jerusalem lay dark and the red fires in the +valleys had burned out. + +"The night is far spent for one who hath come the way from Ajalon," +Lazarus said at last. + +"Bearing orange boughs," Joel added. + +"Yet a sweet burden," laughed Anna as the three men turned to the +stairs. + +"My heart is eager for the festivities of to-morrow night," Martha said +as she gathered the cups and bottles. "Lights will shine and the +silver trumpets blow, and great will be the throng in gay apparel +carrying bright _lulabs_." + +"Yet far will the eye travel before it falleth on such fragrant boughs +as these," Mary added. + +Anna and Martha laughed. Before they turned from the housetop, Mary +picked a blossom from the branch on the arbor roof. "This goeth to my +pillow," she said. "It is a sign." + + + +[1] Festival branches carried at the annual Feast of Ingathering. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +WITH WHAT EYES + +Without the walls of Jerusalem, the hills and vales were dotted with +booths of green. Inside the gates the city seemed to have burst into +springtime bloom, and the populace looked like a walking garden, for +every Jew carried an armful of green boughs, and in his hand a sprig of +willow to be placed on the great altar. Many pious ones had witnessed +the early morning service when a priest, entering from the water gate, +brought a gold pitcher full of water from the Pool of Siloam. At the +sacred altar it was mixed with wine and through silver basins and pipes +sent on its way to Chedron while a thousand trumpets proclaimed the +ceremony. But it was at night the great crowds thronged the Temple at +the most festive of all Jewish holidays for at this time the Great +Lights were lit, the altar piled with leafy offerings brought by +pilgrims from all Palestine, and the thanksgiving music of the priestly +choir made a glorious shout of rejoicing. + +Into the Court of the Gentiles the crowds passed, and up the marble +steps of the Beautiful Gate with its Parian marble sculptured in gold +and set with jewels. There had been the brightness of flambeau and +lanterns in the outer court, but it was in the Court of Women that the +Great Lights, branching out on high supports, were lighted. Just +beyond this pillared and shining court and approached by fifteen marble +steps, rose the Nicantor Gate with its titanic doors of Corinthian +brass, more costly than fine gold, and towering to such a height that +the moving throng looked like a line of ants creeping between its +burnished pillars. + +In the crowd thronging the Court of Women was Zador Ben Amon, and with +him a Temple lawyer, who passed here and there to hear what the +populace might be saying. When the people had turned toward the +Nicantor Gate, just beyond which ten thousand candles illuminated the +willow-decked altar, Zador stopped suddenly and stepped aside saying, +"Let us tarry. I would use my eyes." After pausing a moment Zador +pointed toward the steps and said, "Look, seest thou the woman with a +man on each side of her? She weareth white with a veil. And the one +man is a Rabbi with uncovered head and carrying a staff. The other +weareth a blue turban with fringed sash on the side. See them? Midway +of the third step they stand. Let us move toward them." + +Keeping to the outer edge of the animated throng, Zador soon came to a +place from which, by standing on the base of a pillar he could see over +the heads of the people. "Yea," he said to his companion, "it is +Lazarus and his sister as I thought. And at his heels is the other +sister with her man. Now I will get me on the track of my anklet. +Watch thou my standing place while I call a guard." Leaving the Temple +lawyer by the pillar, Zador Ben Amon soon found a guard to whom he +said, "The woman in the white cloak and veil who walketh between the +Rabbi uncovered, and the man in blue head-dress, with a sash, hath in +times past vexed me sore because of a lost anklet which she prayed me +to find for her. Since I have seen her last, good fortune may have +brought her the trinket. This would I know. For her right leg just +above the ankle was it made. Pass thou behind her as she maketh her +way to Nicantor. There are fifteen steps, on one of these shalt thou +overtake her. When thou hast done so, lift thou her skirt and--if she +be offended, swear that thou didst it unwittingly. If she wear not the +anklet, lift thy sword as though thou wouldst open a way for a priest. +If it be there, make haste to tell me and a piece of gold shall be +thine. I will watch thee from the base-stone of the fourth pillar." + +So it happened that as the group from Bethany stood for a moment midway +of the marble steps to look forward to the shining altar and backward +at the surging crowd, some one lifted the skirt of Mary. "What meanest +thou," she exclaimed, turning to face a Temple guard. "He hath lifted +my skirt," was her angry explanation as her brother and the Rabbi +turned to the offender. + +"Not of purpose did I, but from the press of the crowd," was his answer. + +"Nay, with thy hands didst thou do it. I felt the touch of thy +fingers." + +Leaving Lazarus and Joel to have words over the matter, the Rabbi moved +quickly a step higher and cast his eyes across the moving throng to the +outskirts where he saw a thick-set man who wore a royal blue cloak and +gold embroidered head-dress, standing above the others, and looking +with fixed and eager eye at the group on the steps. Suddenly he became +nervous, moved his body as if some discomfiture had come upon him and +then turned his head slowly. The next instant he met the eyes of the +Rabbi. As if he had been struck, he moved down from his foot-stone. +"By the strength of my beard!" he exclaimed. "Didst thou see the face +of that Rabbi? Nay? Such eyes he hath as looketh a hole into the +inward parts of a man. Of a certainty will he know me again--and I +him. Come, let us lose ourselves in this vast assemblage and yet go +under the Gate of Nicantor. I would learn if this is the Rabbi who was +with the woman." + +For some time Zador Ben Amon and the Temple lawyer moved with the +crowd. Now and then they caught sight of the Bethany party and Zador +made comment. "She walketh by her brother," he first said. Then, "Now +she is with the Rabbi," and again, "Now she is with both of them. Yet +I can not determine what I would from this place. Let us go to the +East Gate that openeth on to the Bethany road. There the way is narrow +and as they turn toward home the Rabbi will walk with the woman, if +this is their choice." + +The last stall on the narrow street toward the East Gate was that of a +pottery molder and baker of small ovens. Outside his door, which was +now securely barred, stood several large water-jars and behind them a +low table used for mixing clay. When Zador and his companion reached +this place they stopped and withdrew into the shadows. "The moon is +rising. They will not be long coming," he said. "Whether the Rabbi is +with the brother or the woman, this is the question." + +"Thou dost not know him?" + +"Nay, nor care I to know a man with eyes like the Great Lights--unless +he is crossing my path with the woman." + +"By the hair that lieth upon his shoulders and the staff in his hand he +looketh like the Galilean Rabbi that hath been teaching in the Temple." + +"A Galilean Rabbi? When did this Province of diggers in dirt and +gutters of fish send forth Rabbis? Thou makest a jest." + +"Nay. If thy eyes were turned more to the study of the Law and less to +thy gold, then wouldst thou know that a Galilean Rabbi hath arisen." + +"Now do I know he is a friend of the brother, for the woman is fair and +her ways gentle, nor would she give to a rough and witless Galilean +what she would withhold from me." + +"There is a puzzle. The Galilean is not witless, but hath both wit and +wisdom and speaketh with authority. Yet came neither his wisdom nor +authority from the Temple. So did the lawyers and scribes question +among themselves, and we held council. And to me it was given to +speak, calling in question his authority. And I did say, 'By what +authority dost thou speak things? And who gave thee this authority?' +For the moment he did not speak. Then he lifted up two such eyes upon +me as thou sayest look holes into the inward parts. And he did say, +'The baptism of John--whence was it? From Heaven or of men?' Then did +we see of a surety he had entrapped us, for hard by hung the multitude +that hold John the Baptiser,--whose father officiated in the Temple and +who would have succeeded to the priesthood had he not taken to the +wilderness shouting 'Repent, for the Kingdom be at hand!--as a great +and mighty prophet. If we answer him saying, 'The baptism of John is +of man,' then would they murmur and throw stones. If we say, 'The +baptism of John is of God,' then would this man of eyes say, 'Why did +ye not hear him?' and he would claim succession to the Priesthood +through the baptism of John." + +"Thy speech doth upset my peace of mind if this is the man and he is +with the woman, for as I live she is curious in her notions and might +be taken with such words. But they will be coming soon. Watch well +and look closely." + +"Thy words sound pleasant. But my watch will I keep between the cracks +of the water-jars. Once is enough to feel defeat by the wit of a +Galilean." + +As the Temple lawyer spoke, voices were heard not far down the narrow +street. Both men stepped behind the jars. The lawyer sat low. Zador +dropped on his knees keeping his eyes above the edge of the vessel. +Several groups passed, laughing and talking, when the quick eye of the +lawyer caught sight of the friends from Bethany. "It is the Galilean +Rabbi," he whispered to Zador. + +"Doth he walk with the woman?" + +"Yea, following them all. But they pass. Look you." + +Simon the Leper and two other elders walked in front with staffs. Then +Lazarus and Anna carrying between them a branch over which they were +making merry, while Joel and Martha followed close, singing bits of the +thanksgiving choral. Following them and apart, walked the Rabbi and +the woman Zador Ben Amon was waiting to see. + +"He walketh with the woman," Zador said to himself. "With what eyes +doth he look upon her?" + +"A veil doth hide her face that only the Galilean may look upon it in +the moonlight," the lawyer breathed softly. + +"Doth he hold her hand?" and there was suppressed emotion in Zador's +voice. + +"Who knoweth?" + +"Doth her shoulder touch his as she leaneth close to hear the words he +speaks?" + +"Who knoweth?" + +"How doth he hold his arm nearest the woman?" and in his anxiety to +see, Zador raised his head above the jar. "His words and touch maketh +her face to shine. Like a sour citron did her countenance glow when I +did try to touch her," he growled. + +"Hst! Hst! Hst!" + +"Where he walketh, there should Zador Ben Amon walk, whispering over +her smiling face. Yet by all the worms of torment shall not that +Galilean ass take from me the comely one of Bethany!" he muttered. + +While the breath of the words yet hung on his lips the Rabbi turned as +if in answer to a call and before Zador could drop behind the jar, a +message had been flashed to him. And the Galilean smiled. + +"God of Abraham!" Zador Ben Amon exclaimed when Lazarus and his friends +had passed through the gate. "With what eyes doth he do it? Twice +hath he sent me his mind without words. As I stood by the pillar in +the Temple did he not say to me, keen as the arrow flies, 'Thou art the +man'? Now hath he shot again at me such words as lay hold like hooks +of steel in raw flesh. Thou fool!' he hath said, and in such manner +that now when the breath enter my body, it sayeth 'Thou fool!' and when +it passeth out it sayeth 'Thou fool!' To the fires of Gehenna with +such eyes!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE DEATH OF LAZARUS + +An illness had fallen on Lazarus. By his bedside sat Mary. The +curtains were drawn, and a lamp burned on a table near by. Bending +over the couch Mary called softly, "Lazarus! Lazarus!" She +straightened up and looked down at the body of her brother with grave +concern. "Three days," she said to herself, "hath his groaning fallen +heavily on my heart. Now doth the silence fall with heavier weight. +Yet doth the skill of the physician avail not." Stepping to the door +she called Martha. "Through the night I have been with him," she said +to her sister as she came in, "and have done as the physician directed. +Yet even before the midnight cock-crowing did he moan until tears wet +my eyes for his much suffering. With bath and soothing words did I +minister to him until the morning cometh, and sleep. But it is not +good sleep." + +Hastening to the couch, Martha bent over, calling anxiously, "Lazarus!" +There was no reply. "I like not this sleep. It is too heavy--too +heavy. Rub thou his hands while I summon the physician." + +"Aye, but, Martha, three days hath the physician poured potions between +the lips of our brother to no avail. Let us despatch a swift messenger +for him we love, who hath more healing in his voice and touch than have +all the physicians in Jerusalem. Beside the couch of Lazarus hath my +heart cried for Jesus." + +"Aye, so doth my heart cry out for Jesus. Yet hath he taken a far +pilgrimage to Peraea. The physicians of Israel were good enough for +our father and mother." + +"Even so. Yet rest their bones in the tombs of their fathers! Is this +good enough for our brother Lazarus?" + +"Thou dost alarm my heart. With speed will I summon the physician." + +"And send thou to me the servant." + +Quickly on Martha's departure Eli came into the sick chamber. "With +haste lend thine hand to help awaken thy master Lazarus," Mary said. +"Rub thou his feet diligently while I rub his hands." After a few +moments of effort which brought no response, Mary gave fresh orders. +"He doth not awaken. Take thou the rue and the pennag and make a brew +over the coals. Bring it steaming! Hasten." + +"Doth our brother awake?" Martha asked, reentering the room. "Nay? A +messenger is well on his way with a command of haste and the promise of +thrice his fee if the physician is swift." + +"Thou art wise. The promise of gold putteth wings on slow heels. But, +Martha, my sister, would that the servant, Eli, had wings and were +flying toward Peraea. Through the night as I did watch beside my +brother, I did think of the many suffering ones the Master hath healed. +And not one of them all did he love as he loveth our brother." + +"Aye, he loveth Lazarus. And if death crosses our threshold will it +not be as if death entered his own abode?" + +"Lazarus--oh, my brother--wouldst thou lie so silent if the Master +called thy name?" Mary pleaded, bending over the couch. Then to Martha +she said, "The minutes pass like aged oxen turning rocky soil." + +"The physician will not be long coming. With haste must I set the +house in order." And Martha hung several garments on hooks in the +wall, smoothed the couch covers, straightened the cups and bowls on the +table, blew out the lamp and pulled back the curtains. Looking out the +window she gave a short cry, exclaiming, "The sky is red--red as if a +great veil had been dipped in blood and hung across the sun. Such a +sight in the morning is an evil sign," and her face showed fear. + +"I put not faith in signs," Mary replied. + +"Since the beginning hath Israel been warned by signs and dreams," and +Martha shook her head in sadness. + +"Signs take neither the living nor bring back the dead. Hand me the +pot of herbs and help me here," and Mary turned to the couch. + +"Doth he swallow?" Martha inquired anxiously as she held her brother's +head while Mary tried to administer the dose. + +"Nay." + +"As well. There is no virtue in it. He hath swallowed a water pot +full already. Evil is about. The sky is red." + +While the sisters stood about the bed the physician, garbed in a long +coat of brown and striped turban, hurried in with an air of importance. +He was followed by a servant carrying a bundle of herbs, some green +sprigs and several cruises of oil. "What evil thing hath befallen thy +brother since yesternoon?" he asked, going to the couch. + +"A strange sleep hath fallen upon him." + +The physician turned back his patient's eyelids and looked carefully. +"Evil spirits are about," he announced. "When the medicine I did leave +yesterday drove from his veins the devils of fire, then did demons of +sleep rush in. So doth he sleep." + +"Canst thou awaken him?" Mary asked. + +"By my rare skill I can. Pour out thine oil," this to the servant, +"and set forth the herbs. Mix thou a bitter potion and I will +administer a prayer." From a wallet the physician took a small paper +which he rolled into a pill between the palms of his hands. The pill +he dipped in a bowl. "This is to dispel evil spirits," he explained. +"Make fast his head while I push the prayer between his lips." + +Mary and Martha raised the shoulders of Lazarus, and the physician +tried to force the pill into his throat. + +"Even of his mouth have the evil spirits taken possession," he said, +failing to force open the set teeth of the man. "Bring the oil." Then +followed an elaborate anointing while the physician tried to rub in his +prayers. Meantime several neighbors had entered the room and while +Mary watched eagerly for the awakening of her brother, Martha stepped +to the door to tell in anxious whispers of her brother's serious +condition. + +"Evil spirits have taken entire possession," the physician told the +sisters when no sign of life responded to the oil bath. "There be yet +one manner in which evil may be driven from thy brother. Wilt thou +give of thy abundant hair, Mary?" + +"Of my hair? Yea, thou shalt have all--even my blood for my brother +Larazus." + +"Seat thyself and bid thy servant to give me a plait of thy hair. And +thou, Martha, bring me a knife wholly of iron and have thy man-servant +in readiness with an ax." + +Mary sat down on a stool and unbound her hair. In the middle of the +back a plait was made, and this was cut from her head. + +"Evil are the spirits that have taken possession of the master of this +abode and fierce must be the contention of the angel of the Lord else +they accomplish their dark desire. Pray thou who standest about this +bed and seest the knife bound in this hair, that the path of evil +spirits be cut off." Taking the iron knife which Martha handed him, he +prayed over it, tied Mary's hair about it, uttered another prayer and +turned toward the servant who had appeared with an ax. "Take thou this +to the valley. Find there a thorn-bush aside from the pathway and +there tie the iron knife by the hair of Mary and repeat the scripture +which is on the scroll I give thee, and as the Lord appeared in a +thorn-bush to Moses, so shall he appear again. And if thine eyes be +holden that thou seest not the flame, yet will it of a surety be there, +this being the sign--the bush be not consumed. Then shalt thou turn +aside as did Moses when the Lord commanded him to take his shoes from +his feet, for so shalt thou be on holy ground. And when thou hast hid +thy face a sufficient time for the angel of the Lord to find thy iron +knife to destroy the evil spirits, then shalt thou turn again to the +bush and cut it down. Go thou, and hasten." + +"How long ere thy skill will waken our brother?" Martha asked anxiously. + +"Until the angel of the Lord doth overcome the demons of disease." + +"Aye," said Mary, "but the time passes and the sleep of our brother +deepens." She bent over the couch and taking the hand of her brother +called softly, "Lazarus! Oh, that the Master was here! One touch of +his hand--one sound of his voice would be enough!" + +"Who is this to whom thy sister's heart calleth?" the physician asked +Martha. "Some magician?" + +"The Galilean Rabbi--Jesus," she answered. + +"Him they call 'Jesus of Nazareth'?" + +"Even the same." + +"He is an impostor. Away with him! To whom hath it been given save to +a physician to cast out evil spirits with his pills and potions? Thy +sister doth behave foolishly." + +While the household was engaged about the bedside a party of mourners, +having been told by the servant of the condition of Lazarus, gathered +about the door seeking information. + +"A terrible and deadly evil hath lain hold of the master of the house, +a young man rich and noble," a neighbor said. + +"What sayeth the physician?" + +"A deep sleep hath fallen upon him from which neither the voices of his +sisters nor the skill of the physician can awaken him." + +"Thou sayest he is rich?" + +"He hath vineyards and olive orchards." + +"His sisters love him much--much will they pay for loud mourning." + +"Yea, much they love him. Listen how Mary doth entreat him to answer +her and Martha doth plead with the physician." + +"Aye, aye," the mourners answered, nodding, "They will require much +wailing." + +At the bedside the sisters hovered, making frequent appeals to the +physician for help. "His hands are getting cold!" Mary suddenly +exclaimed. "And the cold creepeth upon him," and she rubbed his arms. + +"He groweth cold?" asked the physician. "Then did not the iron knife +cut off the way of the evil spirits. Hath there been a sign?" + +"A red sky," Martha answered, fear showing on her face. + +"When?" and there was eager interest in the physician's voice. + +"This morning," replied Martha. + +"Thou shouldst have told me," he said sternly, "that my oil I might +have saved." + +"Now do I send for the Master," Mary announced with decision. Turning +to the door filled with neighbors and mourners she said, "A messenger! +Is there among you one fleet of foot?" A lithe youth pushed his way to +the front. "My blessings on thee, and a purse of gold if thou make thy +tracks like that of a roe before a beast of prey. Fly thou to Peraea. +Take thou the road by the upper ford and follow on past Bethabara. As +thou goest inquire for the Galilean Prophet and when thou hast found +him, this say, 'Him whom thou lovest lies sick unto death!' And when +he shall ask who sent thee, naught say save 'Mary.' Hasten thee! And +God give thy feet wings like the eagle!" + +"Thy brother will be dead before thy messenger gets beyond the brow of +Olive," the physician announced. + +Throwing herself by the couch Mary cried, "Brother--my brother! Speak +thou to me--just once more speak thou thy sister's name!" + +"No more shall his lips be opened till the Judgment Day," the steady +voice of the physician replied. + +"Hearest thou not my voice? I am thy sister Mary. God of my fathers! +Dost thou not hear?" + +"Closed be his ears until the trumpet of the dead shall sound," was the +comment. + +"Thou dost not mean Lazarus sleeps the sleep of the dead?" Martha cried +in pain. + +"By evil spirits hath my unfailing skill been set at naught. Thy +brother sleepeth the sleep of death." + +"No--no!" sobbed Mary, as the physician turned to collect his oil and +herbs. "Lazarus is not dead!" and throwing her arms around Martha down +whose face tears were streaming, she cried over and over, "He is not +dead--he is not dead!" + +While the sisters were giving way to their grief, the mourners filed +into the room. Some had cymbals, some flutes, some pieces of sackcloth +which they put over their heads before turning their faces to the wall. +"Alas the lion--alas the hero--alas for him!" wailed the mourners. +"Woe! Woe! Death hath entered into the place of the living and hath +taken the flower of its strength! Oh, grave! Oh, tomb! Hungry art +thou! Woe! Woe! From the garden of woman's smiles hath he gone to +darkness and the bat. Corruption hath gathered him to its bosom! +Weep! Howl! Never shall he return to the place of the living from the +place of the dead!" + +Before the mourners had finished their lamentations, the body of +Lazarus had been wrapped in a sheet and was being hastily borne from +the house. Following the body, with her arms around her sister, Mary +sobbed, "If the Master had only been here, my brother had not died." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +HE CALLETH FOR THEE + +Three days after the death of Lazarus, Mary sat alone in his room +beside the empty couch, which was turned upside down, as were the +chairs also. The clothing that hung on the wall was covered with +sackcloth and the tightly drawn window curtains were banded with black. + +"Art thou ready to go to the tomb?" Martha asked, coming to the door of +the room. "Soon will the mourners come from Jerusalem and great will +the weeping be at the grave of our brother. Where is thy sackcloth?" + +"Neither sackcloth nor ashes have I put on. Only to think, come I to +this silent room." + +"Knowest thou not it is yet unclean?" + +"Uncleanness cometh not from the passing out of those we love. Only to +keep the Law, observe I the mourning rites. Yet in my quiet do I +think." + +"Scarce four days is our brother dead and thou art at thy old habit of +thinking. Wilt thou never learn thinking is not to tax a woman's time? +Wouldst thou take from men their rights?" + +"Methinks thinking is proper for whoever hath power to think. Why +shouldst not a woman think if by so doing she can find answer to some +question that doth perplex her heart?" + +"Thou dost ever make thy way seem right because of fair speech. But of +thy thinking what cometh? Here hast thou sat thinking by the couch of +him who lieth in the tomb. Hast thou thought anything that is of +service?" + +"Whether it is of service I know not. But of my thinking doth it come +to me that it is not wisdom to seal the dead in tombs when the breath +hath scarce left the body. They carried our brother to the garden and +laid him on fresh earth as is done with things unclean. There did they +trim his beard and cut his nails and wrap him. And before the sun went +down he was put in the tomb behind a great stone that scarce a score of +men could roll aside." + +"Much thinking and much grieving doth make thee foolish. Know you not +that the Jew wanteth not corruption in the house after the sunset? +Even the air were not enough to hold the evil spirits that would come +of it." + +"The Jew hath strange ideas about evil spirits and greatly fears +something he knoweth not of. Thus doth fear early seal the dead in the +tomb--and perhaps they are not dead." + +"Thou speakest strangely, as if thy trouble hath gone to thy head." + +"Fear not for my head, Martha, since from thy lips did I hear the +strange tale that did give rise to my thinking. Didst thou not tell of +a kinsman of Joel who put his wife in a new tomb and sealed the door +with a great stone? And what was it that did leap into their arms +when, after three years, they rolled the stone away? Was it not the +bones of the woman who had been buried alive? And had she not stood +with her lips against the stone crying for help until she starved? +Aye, and she stood on, waiting for those to come who should learn from +her bones what her lips had prayed to tell. Didst thou not repeat me +this, my Martha, even to the screams of those into whose arms the +woman's bones did fall?" + +"Thou sayest truly. But save this one, my ears have not heard so +gruesome a tale." + +"What might happen once, might come to pass again. Who knoweth if +there might not be others--who knoweth?" + +"Did not the physician say Lazarus is dead?" + +"Yea, the physician." + +"And the Rabbi?" + +"Yea, the Rabbi." + +"And did not the chief mourners whose business is ever with the dead, +speak him dead?" + +"Yea, the chief mourners." + +"Then why inviteth thou misery to thy heart? God of our fathers, Mary! +After these days our brother stinketh! Wouldst thou court the woes of +corruption by opening the tomb? Arise! Wrap thy veil over thy face. +The mourners will soon be coming." + +"Nay, I go not. Even before the Master's teaching brought me wisdom +did my heart oft question the gain of lamentation and disfigurement, +the soiling of the hair with ashes and the itching of the flesh with +sackcloth. What is the use to turn beds upside down, to shut the +sunshine out with black and give voice to naught but howls and wails? +Bringeth this back the dead?" + +"Thou art queer at times. Wouldst thou do away with our ancient +customs? Since the days when David did wail in sackcloth for his son, +hath Israel so done." + +"If there be not reason in customs, wherefore hold to them? Is it +forbidden the Jew to gain wisdom in a thousand years, or must we ever +follow custom for no other reason save that we follow? Dost thou not +believe in the resurrection as the Master teacheth?" + +"I believe my brother shall rise again in the resurrection at the last +day." + +"Then why much fruitless mourning? Oft to my mind come the words of +the Master. In the quiet of the garden did he tell me of the time his +father Joseph fell asleep in death, and his words to his mother bore +her up with comfort. When I am alone, in my heart, I try to seem as +the mother of Jesus in her trouble, and take to myself his words to +her. Aye, Martha, if the Master had been here what comfort would have +been ours. Didst not thy heart call for him?" + +"I did wish for him, yea. But forgettest thou the kindness of Joel?" + +"I had no Joel--but listen, Martha. Afar I hear the sound of mourning." + +"It is our mourners coming round the hill from Jerusalem," Martha said +after listening a moment. "Many friends and a fat purse getteth much +mourning. Wilt come?" + +"Nay, I like not hired mourning. It seemeth but noise. Here I will +stay and let my tears drop where they will not be counted by the +passer-by." + +The sound of flutes and wailing voices, which before had seemed far +away, came nearer. Martha drew her veil across her head as she turned +in the door. "I go to join the mourners at my brother's tomb. When +thy friends ask of thee, what reason shall I give?" + +"Tell them weariness hath overtaken me and I would be alone." + +"Is there none thou wouldst see?" + +"Nay, not one," Mary answered softly. + +As Martha passed down the steps the sound of the mourners came from in +front of the door. A moment they paused, then went wailing on to the +tomb. + +"I am alone," Mary sobbed as quiet again fell over the room. "Martha +hath Joel and when the mother of Jesus did pass through the Valley of +Separation, did she have him whom my soul loveth? Oh, that I might +have felt the pressure of his strong hands around mine when the fingers +of my brother grew cold and weak! Oh, that I might have heard his +voice speaking sweetest comfort when the voice of my brother was hushed +in death! Oh, that Jesus had been here! And my heart is sore because +he came not. Urgent was the message and swift delivered, yet have two +days passed and he tarrieth yet in Peraea while my heart doth break +with loneliness!" and she threw herself down beside the couch. + +She had lain but a moment when Martha from the outside called, "Mary! +Mary!" There was no response from the quiet room. "Mary! Mary! +Mary!" shouted Martha joyfully, just outside the door. + +Mary arose in haste. What had come over Martha who had only now left +to go mourning? + +"Mary--Mary!" and in her eagerness Martha forgot that the room of +Lazarus was yet defiled and ran across its threshold crying, "The +Master hath come!" + +"The Master hath come?" Mary exclaimed, springing toward her sister. + +"Yea, yea! The Master hath come and calleth for thee!" + +"For me--he calleth for _me_?" and Mary's voice was vibrant with new +life. + +"Yea, for thee. Aye, not even of Lazarus whom he loveth did the Master +make inquiry, but taking me aside did he ask of 'Mary,' and biddeth me +hurry to call. Hasten thou? The Master waiteth!" + +Transfixed with joy for the moment, Mary folded her hands and lifted a +shining face heavenward, saying again, "The Master hath come and +calleth for me--for _me_--for _me_!" Then she caught up a veil and +followed Martha hurriedly from the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THINK ON THESE THINGS + +The scent of freshly turned earth, mingled with the fragrance of citron +blossoms, hung on the air as a woman from a Galilean fishing town made +her way around a hill-path that overlooked the highway and entered into +it a little farther on. It was the time of plowing and sowing in +Palestine. In a field close by, a sower with a basket on his arm +scattered the seed broadcast. Farther down the hillside a peasant was +beating his seed into the soil with branches and thorns, and in the +valley could be seen a flock of goats being driven back and forth +across the field to cover the seed. But the woman was not interested +in the sowers. On a stone near a clump of citron she sat down to watch +the long roadway for a first sight of one beloved. Months before he +had bade her farewell and had journeyed to Judea. In his own Galilee +he was accounted a great and mighty teacher and wonder worker and +gladly had his message been heard by the common people who followed him +in throngs and oft would have proclaimed him king. But from Jerusalem +had come conflicting reports, and it was with a strange hope and a +strange fear the woman waited his return. + +The sower with the seed bag had gone and the birds had come in his +place; the thorn branches had been cast aside by the man on the hill +and the goats were being driven from the valley field, when the figure +of the woman, who had been sitting like a statue on the gray stone, +suddenly became animate, and with eager step hastened into the highway +to meet an advancing pilgrim. Wearily he came as if even his staff +were too great a burden, until he saw the woman. Then his pace +quickened. With outstretched arms she greeted him, crying in joy, "The +God of our fathers bless thee, my son!" + +Tenderly he embraced her, pressing the kiss of peace upon her cheek and +saying, "Blessed art thou among women!" Then putting her away he said, +"Is all well with thee, woman--my mother?" + +"Yea, save that my heart hath grown hungry to starvation for a sight of +thee, my beloved son, and anxious have I been to hear news of thy +pilgrimage throughout Judea and beyond the Jordan. On thy long +journey, thou hast found friends, and rest and love?" + +"Friends and rest and love," he repeated, and the expression of +weariness on his face gave place to a smile. "All these I found under +one roof, which was to me a home." + +"And who were these kindly ones and generous?" + +"A young man, Lazarus of Bethany, and his two sisters. And the one of +them is Martha, much given to cooking fine meats and sweeping for dust +where it is not." + +The woman laughed and asked of him, "Doth this Martha love thee?" + +"Yea, as she loveth her brother." + +"And the other sister, doth she too brew gravy and seek the dust?" + +"Nay. She doth make lilies grow and seek the pearl of greatest price. +At my feet hath she chosen the better way than that of meat and drink. +She is born into the Kingdom." + +"Doth this sister, too, love thee?" + +"Doth she love me?" he repeated. But he made no answer save as it was +written in the face he turned toward the distance beyond the plowed +fields. + +"What is her name?" his mother inquired very softly, lest she dispel +some pleasant thought. + +"There is but one name." + +"But one name--and yet a world of women?" + +"Mary," he repeated, as if to himself. + +"Thy mother's name," and the woman laughed for joy. + +"Yea--my mother's name." + +For the time of a short walk the light of glad memories shone in the +face of the pilgrim. Then the expression that told of a heavy burden +came again. "Like sheep without a shepherd are my people scattered," +he said wearily, "and there is no Zion. Rome alone is ruling there +through the Imperial Legions housed in the Tower of Antonio, over +against the city of David. Even the Sanhedrin hath turned wolf-hearted +so that for gain the people are fleeced like the ewe lamb, and with +none to succor--and my Father's house hath become a den of thieves." + +"Even so do I remember," the woman replied sadly. "When thou wert my +tiny one close to my breast, I went to the Temple with my offering of a +dove. And lo, in the Temple were sellers of doves. One stopped me who +said of my offering, 'It hath a blemish.' And forthwith I was sold one +thrice blemished. Yea, I remember, for they took from me my last penny +for the ill-favored bird and at a dry breast didst thou, my little one, +struggle that night unsatisfied. But thy great and wondrous +teaching--thy new commandment that is to bring the Kingdom, will it not +make all these things right?" + +"Nay, woman, nay. New wine in old bottles doth but burst them. So +will this new law of love, this new law of justice established in man's +heart, burst the old customs that hold men in bondage. Then much +fasting, long prayers, much saying of 'Lord! Lord!' will avail +nothing, but only man's duty to his fellow man. For how can man love +God whom he hath not seen, if he fail in duty to his brother? For this +teaching in the Temple did those pious assassins of the Temple take up +stones to kill me. Herein is my heart greatly troubled. I preach the +gospel of love and of justice; but bran for the belly and stripes for +the back beget brute creatures that know not how to love. Neither can +he love who withholds all save bran, nor stays the hand that holds the +scourge." + +"My heart catcheth the sadness in thy face," the woman said softly as +the young man looked out into the gathering dusk. "And a fear doth +pain me lest my merry child hath gone from me forever. But yesterday +thou wert my little one. When first I heard thy cry, e'en though thy +cradle were a manger, it was as if angels sang, and the pressure of thy +lips against my breast brought to my heart great joy as if the glory of +the motherhood of all the ages were mine. When thou didst learn to +walk, thy baby feet made sweet music and thy wee hand on my cheek oft +drove away heartache. When thou wert older, thou went to the fields +with me. Dost thou remember the sloping hillsides red with lilies in +which thou didst roll thy body? And at the seashore--rememberest thou +the little tracks so soon washed away? And dost thou remember thy +first visit to Jerusalem and the valley of weeping where the dark +streams issued from the crags and many tombs were hewn from rocks? +Here it was we camped and thy father and I did miss thee. And dost +thou remember the questions thou wert asking when we found thee in the +Temple? Many times had thou asked them to me before. And +Nazareth--doth thy heart remember thy playmates--Jael and the others?" + +"Jael? Yea, verily I remember Jael." + +"Often I think of those days and remember that then, even as now, the +question oft asked was, 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?'" + +"A cruel question and senseless. Can any good thing come out of hunger +and cold and fear of the Law?" he asked quickly. + +"Ah, the long struggle--the bitter struggle that the poor know. Toiled +we not from sun to sun, yet ofttimes was our table bare of honey and +fat, and my heart ached that thy tiny garments must always be thin and +patched, that thou, my little Jesu, should be poor of the poorest." + +"Poor? Nay, rich was I above all others, rich in the love of thee, my +mother! Woman, the richness of thy love hath blessed my life and +through my life, thy love shall bless the world." + +There was a moment's pause. Then the woman said in tones of reverence, +"Yea, I love thee--love thee! And when thou art far away, all things +speak of thee, ofttimes with sadness. As I lay on my roof alone, the +waves that roll nightly against the near-by shore seem sobbing--ever +sobbing under the silent stars for that which can be no more. And as I +journey over the paths where once thou wert with me and thy hand lay +close in mine, the mourning dove calling from the cleft of the rock +bringeth to my heart the pain of unutterable longing for days that be +gone forever. Before thy ax and tools wert laid away thou didst make +many things, one day a cradle--the next a bier. And between these two +doth all life lie. Life, like the red lily--yesterday a bud hidden in +its green; to-day a flower reaching toward the sun; to-morrow a dried +leaf waiting for the oven. As I think on these things I grow sad and +fearful. Yesterday the throng would make thee king. To-day those of +the Temple would stone thee. To-morrow--to-morrow it may be the crown +and the Kingdom--or--it may be--" The woman's voice which had been +growing unsteady, ended in a sob and she hid her face against the +shoulder of the young man. + +"Weep not, woman, nor fear thou death," he said reassuringly. "Verily, +verily, I say unto thee, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground +and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. +Hast thou not often thought of this as thou hast seen the sower and the +reaper in his season?" + +"Aye, of the Kingdom thy words be comforting. But to my heart thou art +dearer than e'en the Kingdom." + +"Fear not death. Death is but change. Change is but growth. +Growth--ah, growth is life. Didst not the infancy of thy babe give +place to the childhood of the boy who played in the market place? +Didst not childhood drop into the silence of the past as the youth +swung his ax on the hills of Nazareth? And the days of the +carpenter--are they not dead days? Is not the bench of the carpenter +deserted forever? Aye, hath the babe, the child, the youth all gone +that the man may live. And to-morrow will the man pass to yet another +higher form in my Father's plan of more Abundant Life. Verily, all +that hath gone on before must die that that which is, may live. +Verily, that which is, must die, that that which is to be, may be. But +ever the thread of Life goes on unbroken and always upward on the way. +Whilst thou liest alone at night and the waves of Galilee make moaning +in thy heart for that which can never return, think on these things." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THOU ART THE KING + +The sun cast its rising brightness over the Sea of Galilee which lay in +its rock- and sand-bound bed, quiet as if yet asleep and blue as the +cloudless sky hanging over it. Against the blue of the sea and the +blue of the sky, the figure of a man, who stood close to the water's +edge, was sharply silhouetted. For a time he stood with folded arms +looking away toward the distant coast line. Then he turned and cast +his eyes on the near-by shore reaching away from his feet in every +direction. + +In the slanting rays of the rising sun, this bit of beach looked like a +monster honeycomb, each shapen place the broken track of a human foot. +It was here the day before, Jesus of Nazareth had talked to a vast +concourse of people. So insistent were they in getting close to him, +he took to a boat, and even then men crowded knee-deep into the quiet +water to hear his teachings, so strangely different from that of the +Temple priests. All sign of the multitude was now gone but the far +reach of footprints. At no great distance from where the lone man +stood, a pile of rock jutted into the water behind which was a secluded +spot known to the man on the shore and to which he now went, making his +way around the point on half submerged stones. Farther down the shore +was a line of rushes and willows growing by a wady that in wet season +turned a small stream into the sea. + +The man who had sought seclusion behind the pile of rock had scarcely +found time for meditation or for prayer, when a second figure came upon +the sand, the figure of a woman. As she approached, the stillness was +not broken by so much as the call of a bird. Yet the man behind the +wall of rocks moved that he might watch her, yet himself remain unseen. +Slowly and painfully she moved the burden of a wasted and diseased body +toward the water's edge, looking about with the caution of a wounded +beast. One of her arms was covered with sores. The knee joint of a +leg, around which she put both hands from time to time, was swollen to +great size. Her eyes were sunken in a colorless face. Her hair was +thin and uneven and her garments were tattered and stained with soil. + +Reaching the edge of the water she sat down, putting her leg in place +with her two hands. Then she began digging in the soft sand and soon +there was a bowl of water before her. She bathed her face and poured +water on her sores. Again she looked cautiously about and listened. +All was still. She hurriedly drew off her bodice and put it in the +bowl of water, but before she had finished cleansing it she was +startled by the sound of a dipping oar quite near, then from behind the +line of rushes a small fishing boat came into view. Folding her arms +across her breast and bending low to hide her nakedness, the woman in a +shrill voice cried, "Unclean! Unclean!" + +The fisherman instinctively pulled away a little, lifted his oar and +stopped. + +Again the voice, now half sobbing, called, "Unclean! Unclean! Oh, +Jael--I am unclean!" + +The fisherman gave a start and cried, "Who art thou that doth call +'Jael' in the voice of one dead?" + +"It is Sara." + +"Sara is dead--by bitter hemlock did she die." + +"Yea, Sara is dead. Yet not by bitter hemlock. By the living death of +an issue of blood which is worse than leprosy hath Sara been buried +from the clean, though she yet liveth." + +"God of my fathers!" The words rang out on the stillness as an +accusing yell. "It is Sara speaking from a living tomb. Whence hast +thou come?" + +"To the place where soldiers are quartered in the household of Herod +was I taken. Here were many other maidens. Some there were whose +tongue I knew not. But on the faces of them all was one speech +written, one fear and one prayer for death. Here were we searched to +the skin. Here was my hemlock taken. Here did Herod walk forth and +when he did see a maiden that well pleased him, to the palace she went. +But not I. By those of brutal force was I taken. And when I was no +longer fair, my strength had gone and the issue of death had come upon +me, then was I cast out. Since, have I wandered, feeding on what the +gleaners left and where the fruit grows wild and the springs cast up +their water. To-day I came to wash my garment that doth pain me by its +stiffness. Then comest thou and I am covered with shame. Once I was +clean as my love for thee, but now--oh, Jael--go back! Go back!" + +"Nay, but I will take thee first across the water to the country of the +Gadarenes. The outcast of Gadara be better fed than dogs, for in the +place of caves and tombs do they congregate and bread be carried +thither more than the crumbs cast to the unclean by those making much +prayer in Israel. Go hence." + +"Nay--nay! The screams of the tomb-dwellers hath come across the water +to my ears at night." + +"These are maniacs chained to rocks." + +"I go not. Though I be unclean, would I be free, lest when my misery +go to my head, I too be chained to a rock. Alone will I wander. Get +thee gone, my Jael--get thee gone that I may draw my garment from the +water and hide away from the light." + +"Thou shalt have my garment," and he snatched his upper garment from +his body and, hastily paddling to the shore, spread it on the sand. + +"The blessing of God on thee, Jael--Jael who was once mine," she +sobbed. "When the rains fall cold will it warm my body as thy love did +once warm my heart. Haste thee now--hast thee away, once my beloved. +The sun rises; soon the fishermen will gather and stones will be my +portion. Wilt thou go?" + +"Yea, Sara, when thou lettest me know by whose hand this evil hath come +upon thee and me." + +"By the hand of the soldier who smote thee into sleep and weakness and +stole me by force." + +The face of the fisherman turned livid with anger. His fingers +twitched and his breath came hard as he drew from under his skirt a +shining blade and held it aloft shouting until the rocks gave back the +echo of his voice, "Look thee, Sara--once my betrothed! By the height +of the sky above me; by the depths of the sea beneath me; by the +distance that lieth between the East and the West and the hand that set +the stars, do I swear to bury this blade in the heart of the beast that +hath taken from me my Sara. May the God of my fathers lay me low in +the fires of Gehenna if I do less!" A moment the fisherman stood with +upraised arm. The rising sun fell on the gleaming steel like a fire +along its edge. + +A sob from the shore broke the silence. "Go! Go!" cried the +half-naked creature by the water. + +With a last look of pity and of horror, Jael seated himself, took up +the oars and passed from sight around the ledge of rock. In a few +moments, however, he returned, rowing swiftly. He pushed his boat up +on the sand and went ashore. There was no living thing in sight. +Whether Sara had fled to the rushes and willows or had cast herself +into the sea, he knew not. As he stood he heard his name spoken. +Looking around again, he saw no man, and yet again he heard a voice +saying, "Jael." + +"Whose is this voice?" he questioned. "A strange voice yet it seemeth +I have somewhere heard it." + +"Thy heart is troubled, Jael," the voice said. "Come unto me and I +will give thee help." From behind the rocks the words came. Hastening +into his boat he rowed around the narrow point and came upon a man of +about his own age who wore one of the garments of a Rabbi. "Dost thou +remember me?" the stranger said to Jael. + +With dripping oar poised on the boat's edge, the half-naked fisherman +studied the face of the man on the rocks. Then he exclaimed with joy, +"Thou art Jesus of Nazareth! Yea, well do I remember thee and the +games of our childhood." + +"Rest thy boat, Jael. I would talk with thee." + +"The years have been many since we ran the streets of Nazareth," Jael +said, his eyes studying the face of Jesus, "yet the struggle hath gone +on." + +"How hath thy struggle gone?" + +"Wrest I my bread from the sea. In the nine cities on her border have +I sold to the markets. Yet never have I seen thee there." + +"While I was yet young I went on a far journey in search of Wisdom," +the Rabbi said thoughtfully. "More years than one was I with strange +peoples, who were hungry for God as are my brethren in Israel, yet +searching ever for him where he is not found, save a few wise ones. +When I had learned that the heart of all mankind is one heart, the need +of all mankind the same need and one God sufficient for all, then came +I back to Galilee to preach good news to my people." + +"So have I heard thou art a prophet and a wonder worker. Some there +are who have called thee a king." + +"What sayest thou?" + +"Said I, 'He is neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. Was not +his home in Nazareth? Was his father not the town carpenter? Was he +not poor like unto the rest of us? Hath any good thing come out of +Nazareth?' And the man who did say with loud speech that thou art a +king, I did smite on the mouth. 'A king?' said I. 'A king--this son +of a carpenter that once did shout wildly as we chased goats over the +hills and who ran fleet-footed when his mother called him to sop--he is +a king, and while Jael yet stinketh of fish? For thy lack of wits thou +shouldst be soundly kicked where it be not seemly to apply the sting,' +and I smote him. All fools are not yet dead fools--what sayest thou?" + +The face of the Rabbi was smiling when the fisherman raised his eyes +for an answer. "Thou art right. There are yet those among the living, +void of understanding and because of this thy heart suffereth." + +Jael looked at Jesus a moment as if he failed to catch the meaning of +the words. Then he said, "Yea, as if a torch had been touched to my +blood do I suffer. If thou hadst eyes to see through these rocks thou +wouldst have beheld a maiden carrying about in her body a living tomb +of corruption which came to her at the hand of Herod and back of him, +of Rome. Ah, that the prophets were not all dead, for had they not +powers of healing? That Sara might be made whole?" + +"And dost thou think all power for healing passed from the earth with +the passing of the prophets? Hast thou not heard of late that the sick +are healed, the lame walk and the blind made to see?" + +"Yea, have I heard. Yet I believe not. In Chorazin and Bethsaida had +there been much boasting of thy wonder-working powers. Yet thou didst +not any mighty works there." + +"Because of their hardness of heart and unbelief I did not many mighty +works in these cities, neither in Tiberias." + +"There be ever an excuse," Jael answered, laughing. "Yet I take thee +for a good fellow and when a day cometh for idle talk will we be boys +again together as in Nazareth. Yet for a season must my eyes be ever +looking--looking for him into whose heart the point of this may find +burial," and he drew out his blade. Jael turned the weapon over slowly +once or twice and ran his finger lightly across the thin part. + +"They that lift the sword shall perish by the sword," the Rabbi +remarked quietly. + +"Yea--thou speakest. So shall Jael the fisherman make thy words come +true against him who hath in days past lifted the Roman blade to smite +the Jew." + +"Hast thou not heard the better way is to return good for evil?" + +Jael turned a glance of astonishment on the Rabbi as he said, "Now know +I for certain thou art no prophet. Doth not the Law say, 'An eye for +an eye and a tooth for a tooth'? And wouldst thou do away with the +Law?" and he lifted his oars as if desirous of getting away from an +impostor. + +"In thy ship would I also go," the Rabbi said. "Peter with James and +John and others of my brethren soon cometh and I go with them." + +"And art thou a fisherman as well as a wonder worker?" There was +mockery in the voice of Jael. + +"Yea, of such fish as thou art." + +"Call me not a fish," Jael retorted angrily. "Because thou hast a +following and I yet toil, dost thou call me fish!" + +"Take no offense, Jael," the Rabbi said kindly. "Such fish as thou are +Sons of God not yet caught in the drag-net of His calling. Go with me +into the deeper waters and thou shalt learn." + +The sound of husky voices raised in snatches of song and speech came +from behind the band of rushes and a moment later a sailboat with full +crew and loaded with nets, rode into view. + +"Son of Barjona," shouted the Rabbi, "my friend Jael and I would go +with thee." + +"Ye ho! Ye ho!" answered a lusty voice and the large craft slackened +speed that the small boat might be fastened to its side. + +"We seek the deep," Peter said as Jael and Jesus climbed up the side of +the ship, and when they were safely landed he shouted, "Launch out!" +and the boat turned toward the Gadarene shore. + +Before the first net had been cast, Jael spoke with Peter. "What +manner of man is this Rabbi Jesus?" he asked. "While yet I was young I +did live in Nazareth and with him eat and play. Then was he the son of +a carpenter and was learning the use of tools. Now he doth talk +strangely of being a fisherman, yet hath he the savor of a Rabbi." + +"What manner of man? I know not. Yet when he called me to be his +disciple he did say he would make of me a fisher--not of much sea +food--but of men. So now do I follow when he sayeth follow, and fish +for my bread between times." + +"Where getteth he the name of wonder worker?" + +"That which men say he doeth, he doeth, and more." + +"And thou dost believe this? I believe not." + +"Believe? Yea, what my eyes see. Did not my wife's mother lay sick of +a fever? Did not he heal her by the touch of his hand? Have I not +seen one born blind made to see by his power?" + +"Nay. Never hath one born blind been made to see." + +"Dispute me not, else wilt thou tempt me to cast thee into the sea. I +speak the truth." + +"I believe not." + +"Hath any man bidden thee believe? Get thee hence." + + +During the day, the crew commanded by Peter cast their nets, but after +each casting drew them in empty and when the sun had neared the distant +water line, they were yet toiling. A drowsiness had fallen over the +sea and a bank of gray clouds lifted itself slowly and stealthily above +the horizon line to the northwest and spread its flanks as it rose over +the water like the wings of some ominous creature of the air. The +Rabbi, who had toiled with the others until late in the afternoon, left +them before the clouds rose, and finding some dry nets made a pillow +and lay down to sleep. The other fishermen toiled on. One wing of the +cloud bank reached across the sun and the sea grew restless. But it +was not until a sharp breeze struck the bearded faces bending over the +nets that Peter said to James, "Let us back to land. A storm ariseth." + +The nets were quickly hauled in and the sails loosened to the rising +wind. But the storm was one of the sudden kind that at times sweep +Galilee like an unbridled fury, and almost before they were aware of +its speed their ship was running like a wild bird, while Peter shouted +and the crew worked with sails and tackle. The light of the sun turned +dark. The fury of the storm increased until the air was filled with +roaring and the earth seemed to be vomiting the sea from its bosom. +When the darkness was riven by lightning, the set faces of the +fishermen, fighting for life, showed pallid for a moment and the racing +billows glimmered with blue streaks. + +It was while the gray was turning yet darker that Peter caught sight of +that which took his attention from the storm. "My Lord and my God!" he +cried in great alarm. "What is that?" and he threw out a long arm +which wavered with the vibration of the boat, as he pointed. + +"Where? What seest thou?" those about him called back. + +"I know not. But look you where the waves boil as a brew doth boil in +a kettle! Something doth move about the waters like a strange, living +mist." + +"It is but spray thrown up." + +"Nay, nay, not spray. It riseth and moveth itself aright, like unto a +man." + +The fishermen gathered at the side of the pitching ship and held on to +one another and to the wet woodwork. + +"It is a man. It walketh on the water!" + +"It is the ghost of John whose head Herod took off!" + +"Walks it without a head?" + +"Nay, it hath a head." + +"It is a spectre. It treadeth the way of death and that swirling pool +over which it hovereth is our grave!" + +"Look you! Look--my Lord--my Lord! A light cometh where the face is. +God of our fathers--it is Jesus walking the waters like a bird of the +storm! When gat he from the ship? Watch thee the spirit, James, while +I find the place he lay." And Peter fell on his hands and knees and +started to creep toward the pile of fish-nets in the other end of the +boat. + +In terror the men he had left huddled together, except James who +watched the spirit moving over the water. A cry from Peter drew their +attention. "He is here," they heard him shouting above the whistle of +the wind. "He is sleeping as if the soul of him had departed!" + +"Wake him! Shout into his ear that we perish--we perish--" The last +words of James who had called, were swallowed up by the hissing of a +wave which broke over the deck and threw the men into the rigging and +nets. + +"Waken him before she takes the next wave! Hasten!" + +The words were borne away on the gale but in the ear of the sleeping +Rabbi, Peter was shouting as he shook his shoulder, "Master, the +tempest is raging! The billows dash like mountains! Just ahead lieth +death! Carest thou not that we perish? How canst thou lie asleep? +Thy garments are running like a river and thy hair washed tight to thy +head! Awake! Awake!" + +The sleeping man awoke. The next moment James shouted, "The spirit +hath passed away!" + +As Jesus made his way to the prow of the ship which was pointing high +on the crest of a wave, he saw in the flashes of light, the blanched +faces of the terrified crew. + +"The winds be contrary," James shouted as he passed him. + +"Nay, not the winds, but the force that is back of the wind is +divided," he answered. "They need but a center in which to become as +one." + +Though the ship was taking the waves and pitching so violently that all +hands lay flat where they had been thrown, Jesus made his way +steady-footed to the high point of the prow where he folded his arms +and looked out over the scene of turbulence and darkness. He breathed +deep and lifted his face to the flakes of foam torn from the long +spray-arms of the warring waves. He turned his ear to the moan of the +gale which seemed to breathe out in wrath from the heart of the earth. +Calm and secure as if he and the elements were one, he rode for a few +moments watching the play of the divided force. Then he held forth his +hands after the manner of a High Priest in benediction and said, +"Peace. Be still." And the wind and the waves obeyed his will, the +wind moaning itself into nothingness; the waves subsiding into their +wonted calm, and in the dawn of the setting sunlight, they saw the +shore. + +When Jesus turned about, he found Jael kneeling beside him and holding +to the hem of his garment with both hands. On the face that looked up +to the Rabbi was written revelation and the joy of a great escape. +"Thou art the King!" he cried. "Forgive me the blindness of my heart I +pray thee and grant my soul one request!" + +"What wilt thou, Jael?" Jesus said. + +"This be my one desire--that Sara yet liveth and be made whole." + +"According to thy faith shall thy desire come to pass," he answered. +Then he called Peter saying, "Cast now thy net and make ready for the +ingathering." + +The net was cast and a great burden of fish towed to the shore, which +was washed clean of footmarks and strewn with fresh pebbles. With the +vigor of new-born joy, Jael worked with the other fishers. But when he +would have come in contact again with his hope, he found Jesus had +gone, no man knew whither. + + + + +PART TWO + +A. D. 33 + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CATACOMBS COMRADES + +With its hyena head pointed toward the Imperial Capitol, the brazen +She-Wolf of the Roman Empire stood, its bristled hair and exposed fangs +symbolic of the beast-nature that was its Babylonian inheritance. +Enthroned on her Seven Hills, Rome had subjugated and pillaged the +nations of the earth until she had grown drunk with power, and although +life on the Palatine and the Quirinal was one outflowing exercise of +brute force and one long feast and revel on the spoils thereof, yet was +the Empire rushing as headlong to the destruction predestined at the +hand of her own corruption, as was Tiberius Caesar rushing to his +earthly end by debauchery unbridled. And although neither the Latin +world nor its vassals had will or vision to foresee it, Time, in its +inscrutable womb was fashioning that which was to bring about conflict +ages-long, between Pagan autocracy and the spiritual essence of Liberty +for all humankind. + +On an evening when the purple and blue, the glistening white and golden +glow and shining green of an Italian spring, speaking through sea and +sky, through billowing clouds and the verdure of the earth, was rivaled +by the purple and gold of Rome's pageantry and the gleaming whiteness +of her pillared palaces, a sojourner in the Imperial City, who had but +that day sailed up the River Tiber, stood waiting beneath the shadow of +the She-Wolf. The stranger, a Phoenician who had at one time done +stone cutting at Tyre and Sidon, had not long to wait. The man who met +him wore the dull brown tunic of the working man. A scarlet cord bound +his waist and he carried a covered bundle. Speaking in Latin, he +addressed a few words to the Phoenician and then said, "Follow me." + +For a time the working man, whose present occupation was that of +torch-lighter, led the visitor through the streets of the city, the +surrounding scenes changing until from the marble palaces of the +Palatine their way led them past the slave pens at the lower end of Via +Sacra, and shortly after they found themselves traveling a roadway on +the Campagna. Here they often found it necessary to step aside to make +passageway for carts loaded with Pozzolana sand. It was toward the +pits from which this sand came the two were making their way and it was +not until they had turned into deserted pitroad that they entered into +free conversation. + +"Shortly," said the guide, "we will enter into the way which leadeth to +the burial place of slaves, some of which are thrown in dead, and some +not yet dead but only worthless. From its corruption ariseth a stench +that ceaseth not day nor night." + +"Do we go that way?" + +"Nay. Yet were it well for a _kurios_ to see to what ignoble ends one +of like desires with himself can come, and for no crime save the lack +of freedom to be better than a slave. Another day thou mayest see. +Now we must hasten where we go. The mouth of the subterranean passage +opens just ahead. The way will be narrow when we reach the corridor +leading into the _tufa_ rock. I guide thee this back way, and longer, +that thou mayest pass the prison where my fellow working man and thy +brother, oft are thrown into." + +As they made their way into the subterranean passage, the light of day +faded into a small pale spot and then went out, leaving the gloom of +midnight ahead. "The path beneath thy feet is smooth. The walls are +so close thy hand on either side can feel the way. There is no water +nor living beast to fear. When we reach the first chamber, we will +find a torch burning with which to light other torches. Follow me." + +A faint glow, like a star against the pitch black, told them they were +near the chamber where the spark, as they entered, grew into the dim +light of a torch which cast a yellow circle on the rock floor. Here +the guide opened his bundle and took out two torches which he lit. +Handing one to the Phoenician he said, "Watch well thy step and keep +thou at my heels. We go down into a huge grotto quarried in the bowels +of the earth. Its passages are cut through sharp cornered rocks +between which thou must squeeze thy body, and yet other rocks stick out +into the darkness like the bristles of a mad boar. Beware these +bristles! If thou shouldst run against one, thy feet will stumble over +the edge of the abyss. Once thou hast fallen into it, no more forever +will thine eyes behold the light of day. Hold tight thy lamp. Watch +well thy step." + +Carefully they made their way down, and down, and around the sharp +rocks in silence. Once they stopped and the guide said, "Stand close +against the wall. Just beyond thy feet lieth the hole of live tombs +that is a prison. From it was quarried rich material to build palaces +for masters. And the hole that was left of their labor hath often made +good prison for the workmen who quarried, when found guilty of the +crime of planning freedom." + +Like parasital mites making their intestinal way the two men followed +the windings of the narrow, black corridor until they came into another +chamber where, from a grotto in the wall, oil was taken to replenish +the torch cups. + +"There is now a long journey before thee," the torch-bearer said. +"Many and devious windings will take thee up and down, back and across +the Campagna that doth lie, with its cart burdened roads, fifty feet +above our heads. By the light of thy lamp thou wilt see the walls +change. No longer are they sharp, nor are there bottomless pits, for +soon we enter the sleeping place of those whose bodies toil no more nor +their hearts hunger for the freedom that belongs to every man." + +It was as the guide had spoken. By the flickering light of the smoking +torch, the eyes of the Phoenician soon caught the white lines of +skeletons lying in grottoes and niches cut tier above tier in the side +walls of the narrow corridors. After walking several miles they +arrived at a large chamber with massive stone arches, crudely cut, +reaching to a dome-shaped ceiling. Here paintings decorated the walls, +and images of popular gods and goddesses were set in niches, and models +of sculpture on pedestals. One side wall of the large room was lined +with slabs, some with inscriptions and others carved with the notes of +music. Several torches burning on high standards gave the chamber a +soft light. From it lead five passageways opening, like dark mouths, +into unknown byways. + +"Here we tarry, while I strengthen the lights," said the torch-bearer. +"This is the headquarters of the union of all those who chant hymns, +take part in the Olympic games, dance after the manner of satyrs and +play the Greek trilogies. A league of fun-makers they are. Also these +actors do lay claim to the greatest of all antiquity for their order, +saying that no less a one than Homer himself did found it. Also they +make claim to being the first of all baptists and their speech-makers +will prove into your ears that Dion, the forerunner of their Dionysus, +did first initiate with it, and how that all the Phrygian Brotherhoods +were baptists." + +"Do they baptize now?" + +"Yea, yea. Every Brotherhood of them all whose torches I light doth +initiate with the bath of purification. This is as necessary as the +common table of communion around which they all sit. The Brotherhood +of Actors and Fun-makers is one of the strongest, and least often +disturbed with dissension." + +"Doth dissension come even into a brotherhood?" + +"Art thou a _kurios_ and knowest not this?" the torch-bearer asked +quickly. + +"It hath been so in Syria and Phoenicia, yet I hoped in Rome to find +this evil remedied." + +"Human nature is the same in Rome as in Syria. Yet there is always a +way in a brotherhood to keep peace. Did not the 'Medici' stir up +strife when the 'Mulo Medici' would join the Brotherhood saying these +latter would bring ridicule to their honorable order? And did not the +_kurios_ say to them that so long as their fellow beings were allowed +to live no better than mules, there was the greater need of having them +in the Brotherhood. And when the gold and silver workers stirred up +strife because the rag-pickers would come into the union, did not the +_kurios_ point out that, under an autocracy of masters they themselves +might be picking rags on the morrow? But the actors and fun-makers +have not yet wrangled. To-night a man from Delphi maketh a speech when +this tablet is erected," and he turned out the face of a marble slab +which leaned against the wall. "With great pride do these actors and +musicians and dancers claim Delphi which they say still nestles at the +foot of Mount Parnassus; a place where gorgeous birds spread rainbow +wings over fragrant flowers, and everlasting springs feed the stream +that foams and tumbles past the ruins of Apollo's temple. But the +torches are now made ready." + +"And what is the tablet?" + +The two men examined it. Delicately cut in the marble was the face of +a young girl, with flutes beside her. Three rows of curls hung from +her wreath-bound head, and her lips were parted in a merry smile. "A +dancing girl and her pipes," the guide said. "She belonged to the +union and getteth burial and a memorial. But let us be going. Take up +thy torch." + +After no long walk the corridor ran into another chamber. "This is a +place of initiation into some mystery," the torch-bearer said. +"Wouldst see?" and he pointed across the room to an opening in the wall +near the floor, scarce large enough for the body of a man to worm its +way through. "Look thou beyond it," and the guide held his torch +toward the opening. + +The Phoenician hesitated. Then he dropped on his knees and thrust his +shoulders into the hole. By the dim light he saw something on the +floor which at first seemed to be the body of a man lying with feet +close together and arms straight extended. A second look showed this +man-like object to be a heavy cross of wood. At its side an open grave. + +"What meaneth it?" the Phoenician asked, backing out of the hole. + +"I know not save that those who enter there come wearing white and +carrying green sprigs, and with them one not wearing white. And when +they go, all but one who wears white and he who wore not white go out. +Three days later these two go also both wearing white. Nothing more +know I save that I be given orders at times to make the light. But let +us hasten on to the big chamber." + +Between a seemingly endless labyrinth of galleries lined with closed +coffins and shelved skeletons the two passed until at last a great +noise, like a far-off droning, broke the stillness. "The meeting hath +begun," the guide said. As they neared the chamber they encountered +guards to whom the guide gave a pass-word; and again before they +entered, other guards demanded a sign which was given by a grip of the +hand. Once inside, the Phoenician pushed gently through the circle +assembled to a place near the front. + +"Hourly do you pray," the speaker was saying. "Yea, hourly for relief. +But the cycles of the years roll on in blood and pain while the heel of +Rome grinds into brute servility all save a favored few. Even have +women by the hand of Rome been stripped naked, their legs painted, +their bodies shackled and thrown into caverns where, with pick in hand, +they dug stones from the rock to build palaces for brutes. If the gods +yet live why do they not hear the bitter crying of the helpless when +the branding iron is laid to the flesh until slave pens smell like cook +shops? Why do not the gods hear the cries of humankind fed on pods and +roots and skins, beaten with clubs and hung on crosses, for no evil +save honest toil for thankless masters? + +"Oppression hath grown mighty until all the world is divided into two +classes, the slave who toileth and the master who remaineth idle. +Millions are there of the one--few of the other. Yea, for their very +number are toilers counted as beasts. Since Caesar brought his fifty +and three thousand slaves from far Gaul hath slaves come to be in +numbers like the sands of the sea. On the market when their bones have +become stiff are they not sold for food to fatten eels for Roman +Senators? And those who escape being food for tigers and hyenas, or +nailed to a cross, are they not lost in the fearful pit of pollution of +the Esquiline Cemetery? And in the arena--were not eight thousand +gladiators slaughtered in one year? + +"A sweeper of the amphitheatre was I. Mine was the task of dragging +from the arena dead gladiators, shoveling up the blood, sprinkling +fresh sand over dark spots yet warm, sharpening swords and javelins for +fresh encounters and cutting off heads when the death rattle was too +slow sounding. Often have I lifted mine eyes from the sands dyed red +to the glitter and pomp above, and have said, 'Who payeth for all this? +Who payeth for the striped-backed and spotted-bellied beasts? Who +payeth for the shining pythons and the wild bulls that toss bare bodies +until from their bleeding wounds long entrails hang while bejeweled +women and swine-snouted men cheer? Who payeth for the silver cages +that house Numidian lions? Who payeth for the tanks of perfume in +which naked women sport to please licentious eyes? Who payeth for the +purple and the emerald--the palace and the villa? And who for the +olive oil and the wine that Caesar doth give to the populace to win him +favor?" + +"In the slave pens of Via Sacra find I my answer. The _arficulata +implemente_ of Rome payeth for all these things whether this jointed +implement be bound or free. And who would keep the slave and working +man forever under the heel of the master? What meant the relentless +war that Cicero did wage against the working class? Because of his +Pagan belief in the divine rights of the _gens_ families and a like +strong belief that he who toileth hath no right to freedom, did he make +war. And for like reason is war still upon us until, like rats, we +burrow into the belly of the earth, and were it not for the Jus Coeundi +that doth allow free organization for religious and death ceremonies, +would we and our Brotherhood perish on a forest of crosses. Yet +starved, we struggle! Beaten, we toil! Damned, we hope! Believing +that out of Brotherhood will come the Liberty for which we die, we hold +ourselves together. That which sitteth on the Seven Hills above us +rotteth at the core. Signs are fast ripening of a change. Egyptian +wisdom doth tell us the Phoenix is about to spring again to birth from +her ashes. Somewhere is the savior and his coming shall be swift and +terrible as lightning." + +As the arena-cleaner made reference to the coming of a world savior, +the Phoenician pushed himself before the _kurios_ and when the last +word had been uttered he said in a voice that filled the chamber vault, +"Hear! Hear!" and he lifted his arm and pointed into the face of the +orator. As he did so his sleeve fell back disclosing on his arm, a +fish with a lion's head and a circle in its mouth. + +All eyes were turned on the stranger as the _kurios_ spoke, "Who art +thou and whence hast thou come?" + +"A _kurios_ of Sidon I am. From afar have I journeyed to bring the +glad news that one hath arisen mighty in power and wisdom to succor the +oppressed. Hear ye what the spirit of the gods hath anointed him to +do: Preach the gospel to the poor--heal the broken-hearted--give +deliverance to the captives--sight to the blind and LIBERTY to the +bruised and enslaved! Twice already hath a great and mighty following +sought to crown him King, and he would not!" + +"Whence cometh he?" a dozen eager voices asked. + +"From the province of Galilee, in Palestine, and when cometh again the +Passover of the Jews, when Jerusalem, that great city, is thronged with +the population of the world, then shall he be made King--King of the +People--the toiling people! And this King shall break every shackle on +every human body and free from cave and dungeon, every human soul. But +one thing there remaineth to determine. This is the added strength of +Roman legions in Jerusalem at the Passover. Would that the gods could +let us know the mind of Pilate!" + +As he spoke these words, one who had eagerly listened moved from the +rear toward him. The man stood head and shoulders above any other of +the number and his face was disfigured with a deep and desperate scar +across one cheek. He listened intently as a speech-maker said to the +Phoenician: + +"And is this Galilean wiser and braver than Sparticus? Did not this +noble lover of human liberty slay Roman legions as a fierce wind +strikes down forest leaves? And yet was he not at last hacked to bits +and his loyal followers hung on crosses to fatten birds of prey?" + +"Aye, but Sparticus was betrayed by one of his own," a voice called. + +"So will the Galilean be betrayed," came the reply. + +"The Galilean hath a great following of men strong and zealous who +would go with him to the death." + +"Were not the Lusitanians strong and brave? Was not Lusitania ravished +and stripped? And who remained after the massacre of Galba? Success +cometh not by uprising but by forming one great brotherhood which, when +formed, will command all power." + +The discussion following these different opinions had scarce begun when +the torch-bearer touched the Phoenician on the arm saying, "Thou hast +opened the gates of controversy, yet we can not tarry to the end. +Follow thy guide." + +As they turned to go, the visitor felt his hand caught in a mighty grip +and turned to see a scarred face gazing intently upon him. "Thou hast +looked upon his face--the face of Jesus?" he asked the Phoenician in a +whisper. + +"Yea. In the home of his brethren have I been with him. But what dost +thou know of this Jesus?" + +"That which my heart knoweth, my lips can not express save that I love +him. And in your ear would I whisper the knowledge you much desire." + +"Let us move into the dark," the torch-bearer said, and they left the +chamber. Under a sealed shelf of bones they stopped. The scarred man +of great size and the bearded Phoenician stood in the dim light of the +torch held at a little distance, by the bearer. + +"This thou couldst know," said the man of the scar. "The strength of +the Roman legions will not be in Jerusalem at the time of Passover. +Weak will be the forces of the Tower of Antonio." + +"How knowest thou this?" and there was eagerness in the question. + +"My lips are sealed further. Yet as I love the Galilean, my words come +to thee from the mouth of official Rome." + +"Wilt thou be at the Passover?" + +"That is my hope." + +"And wilt thou lend aid in making the Galilean a king?" + +"He is already a king--and more." + +The Phoenician looked inquiringly into the calm eyes of the unknown. + +"King of my heart he is." The words were offered as an explanation. +"Whether there is wisdom in acclaiming him a king over mankind, I know +not. From his own lips would I get my 'Yea' or 'Nay.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE LITTLE TALLITH + +After Jael, the fisherman, had seen the warring waves of the Sea of +Galilee calmed by an exercise of universal power, self-centered, the +desire of his heart had been to see again the childhood friend he had +called king. This, however, did not come about for a number of months. +Shortly after the storm, the Galilean Prophet had gone on a long +pilgrimage, rumor only telling where. Moved by his great hope for the +healing of Sara and impatient at long delay, Jael, when he chanced to +hear that Jesus had turned his face homeward, forsook his nets, and +burdened by no more possessions than his staff and the scrip he hung +over his shoulder, he set out on the Damascus road leading north. As +he went he inquired of travelers along the way for one Jesus, a +Galilean Prophet. But it was not until he reached Magdala that he got +news. Here he overheard a party of pilgrims who stopped for the night, +telling about a wonder worker who was camping on the Plain of +Gennesaret a few miles to the north. The blind son of one of the party +had received almost instant sight by the application of clay to his +eyes at the hands of this wonder worker. + +With this information Jael hurried forward toward the Plain, sore of +foot, yet glad of heart, for he had no doubt the wonder worker was +Jesus. As he journeyed the twilight gave way to the dark, and +innumerable stars came forth. But it was not a light in the heavens +the eye of the fisherman watched for, rather a red glow near the earth +line. When he finally saw this it was as strength to his tired feet. +Soon the outlines of a tent became visible and the bodies of two men +lying by the fire. The approach of Jael was announced by the barking +of a dog which kept him at a distance until repeated shouting brought a +sleepy man to the tent door. + +"Doth there rest here a Galilean, by name Jesus?" the fisherman called. + +Before the tent dweller had answered, one of the men by the fire +called, "Jael! Jael--come hither!" + +Forgetting the blisters on his feet, the stiff muscles of his legs and +the savage barking of the dog, Jael ran to the man by the fire +shouting, "Yea, Lord! I come! I come!" + +With his head lying against his hand which was in turn supported by an +elbow resting on the ground, Jesus lay in his undergarment, his +traveling coat thrown over a tent stake near by. "Sit thee down and +rest, Jael," he said. "The friend at my side is a Hindoo of great +wisdom and knowledge of the stars. When I traveled in far lands he was +to me as a brother. Well be it thy steps have led thee to cross his +path while he travels with this caravan if thou wouldst gather +knowledge of Sara." + +"Sara!" Jael exclaimed. "By what mystery is the desire of my heart +known to thee ere my lips have spoken?" + +"Mystery?" Jesus repeated. "There is no mystery. There is only +understanding." + +"Thy words have a sound but their meaning I know not, if thou art not a +miracle worker." + +"All mind is one mind. He who knoweth himself knoweth also his +brother. If I loved the maiden Sara as thou lovest her, would not the +desire of my heart give me an understanding of the desire of thy heart?" + +"If thou dost know a man's love for a maiden, then wilt thou of thy man +pity and thy god-power, give aid to Jael?" + +"Hast thou aught of the maiden's which lay upon her naked body?" Jesus +said. + +From his coat Jael took a small bit of cloth suspended like an ornament +on a neck cord and holding it toward Jesus said, "Her little _tallith_." + +"Put it in the hand of the Wise Man." + +Drawing himself into a sitting position, the Hindoo took the _tallith_, +pressed it into the palm of his hand and sat for a short time without +speaking. + +"Her hair was abundant and dark," he presently said, speaking more to +himself than to Jael. "Her face was ruddy and her eyes were bright +like sunshine dancing on quick waters. She was supple of body and +worked among fish-nets. Overcome in a great struggle she was borne +away and made unclean of body and hopeless at heart. She wandered +about, an outcast, in the land of her fathers until at last she crept +away to die." + +A curse broke from the lips of Jael and his hand moved quickly toward +his belt as he exclaimed, "When I find him--! But first I must find +her. Where is Sara now?" + +"Even now doth she lie in a bed of rushes which the waves of Jordan +have washed against a bleaching sycamore. Here, while she waiteth +death, the serpent that hath wrought her downfall doth circle her +though she knoweth it not." + +"God of my fathers!" Jael groaned. + +"What is thy request, Jael?" Jesus asked. + +"That Sara be made clean and given again to Jael." + +"Dost thou know what thou asketh? From thee the woman hath been taken +by the serpent. If thou wouldst possess her, to the place of the +serpent must thou go and conquer him. Then shall the woman be free and +with the freedom of the woman shall come thy victory. Wouldst thou go?" + +"Yea, yea! Direct my pathway." + +"Hear then the words of the Wise Man of the East." + +"Lift thine eyes to the heavens," the Hindoo said. "Seest thou Seven +Stars where they shine in their constellation?" + +"Nay. But six I see." + +"Look again." + +"My eyes behold six." + +"Thou must see seven." + +After keeping his face to the sky some minutes Jael exclaimed, "Another +shineth afar. This is seven." + +"The way thou takest will lead thee from the place of Seven Stars to +the place of the serpent. Look thou well into the eyes of the stars. +And when thou dost look into the snake's eyes that ever glitter, +remember that all light be one light though according to its use it +hath contrary powers." + +He held the little _tallith_ against his forehead for a moment with +upturned face and said, "Thou wilt start thy journey under seven stars. +When they fade from the heavens stop by the roadside and take thy rest +in sleep. Thou wilt be awakened by the flutter of wings and on opening +thy eyes will see six birds. Follow their flight with the eye and thou +wilt look to the east from whence cometh the light. Keep thee on the +highway toward Bethsaida. When the sun is well risen shall thine eyes +behold five palms, strong and stately. When thou comest near thou +shalt see children playing where the tall palms cast their shades. +They shall be chasing lambs and throwing lilies and shouting with glad +voices. As thy feet pause here, remember this: All life is one life. +Beside this there is no other whether it seem to thine eye a palm tree, +a shouting child, a ewe lamb or a lily. Think on this as thou, the +man, doth seek the desire of thy heart, thy woman. + +"When thou hast passed through Bethsaida and come out upon the other +side thou wilt overtake a herdsman driving four shabby and much +smelling goats. And the hands of the man shall be like unto the hoofs +of the beast for filth and his visage shall be like that of a wild +he-goat. Of this man inquire if there are those unclean beyond +Bethsaida and of his reply learn that a beast be not told by the number +of his legs. . . . . + +"When thou dost draw near Capernaum three geese will seek to turn thee +aside. Thy toes will they peck at with much hissing and the hem of thy +garment will their necks lift angry beaks to. Tarry not, neither kick +nor curse them. They are but birds to tempt the foolish. Waste not +thy effort on them. . . . . + +"When thou hast cleared the North Gate of this city, keep to the +Damascus road until it reach the walls of Chorazin. When thou reachest +the South Gate of the city two dogs shall draw nigh. And the one shall +be hairy and water-eyed; and the other shall be lean and warty. And +when thou passeth under the gate shall they likewise pass under, the +one before thee and the one behind. Close to the wall on the inside +shall the fore dog trot. Keep thou in his tracks. He goeth to a fish +stall. When thy feet reach this fish market let thine eyes look for a +hag that doth sit near a dung heap taking the heads from fish. When +she seeth the dogs she will curse. Then shalt thou help her drive the +dogs away and she shall speak. Forget not what she saith of the marsh +path, and beyond. + +"When thou hast left Chorazin keep thee going until thou hath passed a +peasant thrashing with the drag. Here turn aside from the road to the +right and go straight until thou comest to a grove of carib trees. Now +rest thy feet but use thine eyes and ears. Thou art not far from the +Jordan. Searching to the right thine eyes will see the willows on the +banks and thine ear will hear the fall of water over stones. To the +right of the caribs turn and soon thou shalt come to a marsh. Remember +now the words of the hag and shortly shall the waters of the Jordan +greet thy eye. Thou wilt see a place beyond a flat stone where the +waters lie quiet as in a basin. Yet beyond this is a bed of rushes +washed against a dead sycamore. In the leaves look thou for the +serpent. In the bed lieth the woman whose enemy, though she knoweth it +not, doth encircle her. Like two sparks broken from the sun will the +eyes hidden in the rushes look into thy eyes. From the Seven Stars to +the Serpent hast thou now made thy way. If thou be victorious over the +serpent, back to the stars will thy feet be turned. If thy faith fail +utterly, the serpent will have victory over both man and woman and +there will come death instead of life." + +"At thy strange words I wonder--but--" and he turned to Jesus: "Thou +art the King--thou art the wonder worker. By what means shall I gain +victory over this serpent that hath Sara encircled?" + +"This be the victory--even thy faith, Jael," Jesus answered. "_What +things soever thou desirest when thou prayeth, believe that thou hast +them and they shall be thine_. To the woman, which I bid thee bring +again to me, carry thou this gospel of salvation--'As a man thinketh in +his heart, _so is he_.' There is no bondage to uncleanness or to +darkness when the mind of man thinks purity and light. He who thinks +_Strength_ is at last a _Conqueror_. Take now thy little _tallith_ and +if thy faith fail thee, from the touch of it may new strength come. +Go, Jael." + +According to directions Jael made his way. He was aroused by the sweep +of wings passing toward the east. He heard the children singing +underneath the palms and beyond Bethsaida he overtook the herdsman. + +"Are there those unclean beyond the city?" he asked him. + +"Nay, for with dogs and staves drive we the unclean away. Sad was the +plight of the last who came this way. A woman she had once been. Now +came she like a creeping thing, lean of flesh, eaten of sores, and when +the dogs and staves of the city rabble had driven her far, then did my +goat with the broken horn butt her into a sharp ravine." + +"Was her right leg swollen at the knee?" + +"Yea, and the goat did break it with his head." + +"And her right arm--had it sores?" + +"Yea, sores until blow flies chased her even down there among the +rocks, and as she did lie, with a stone I broke her foul arm open! A +curse upon the scar-ridden bones of the unclean!" + +"Verily a beast is not known by the number of his legs," said Jael +angrily as the herdsman turned across the plain. + +When the fisherman reached Chorazin, the lean and warty dog led him to +the place where the hag gutted fish. When she saw the lean dog and the +hairy one which followed, she cursed. + +"Vile dogs they are, yet there is one thing worse. Scarce a fortnight +ago and before the dawn of morning, there was a stirring up of the +lentil pods and melon skins cast upon the ground. And when the man of +the house looked out, in the light of the moon beheld he a sight +fearful to the eye, for one did cry 'Unclean! Unclean!' Wrapped was +this evil one in a fisherman's coat yet was she a woman. Then did we +shower her with fish long spoiled and with bitter curses, and she crept +away. On the evening of the next day came a pilgrim who did tell that +he saw one eaten alive of disease and uncleanness, creeping through the +marsh toward the Jordan. Feebly did she crawl as if life were all but +departed. And if she die not in the marsh then will the life be sucked +from her by serpents, for beyond the marsh dwelleth such snakes as +creep against the bodies of living things to seek warmth and take from +them the life that goeth to make the wisdom of the serpent." And when +she had said this, the hag returned to her fish cleaning. + +With a sad heart Jael turned from her, yet not without hope. He +hastened on, keeping to directions. He saw the willows by the +watercourse and heard the murmur of the river. He cleared the marsh. +He came to the still pool. He saw the bed of rushes piled by the +spring flood against the bleached sycamore. All was as pictured by the +Wise Man of the East. Softly he made his way toward the bed of rushes +with eyes keenly watching for the serpent When he had come near he +stopped. A sore and loathsome hand lay over the top of the bed of +rushes. Underneath it two bright sparks suddenly appeared. Looking +close Jael saw the head of a serpent and that its body lay concealed +under the leaves, yet so like its surroundings was it that it seemed to +be but a part of them. + +The eye of the serpent was both cunning and evil. Under its first +glitter Jael took a backward step. Emboldened by this move the serpent +thrust out a barbed and rapidly scintillating tongue. Instinctively +the fisherman thrust his fingers against the little _tallith_, the +touch of which aroused in him a mighty passion, for in the face of the +serpent he now saw the lust of the Roman who had taken Sara. A swift +and terrible wrath swept over him. He drew his knife and with an oath +sprang forward. As he did so there was a soft rustling of dead +rushes--and the sparks of light and the twinkling tongue were gone and +though he did not notice it, the hand resting just above where the +venomous head had lain, was trembling violently. + +"Lord, I believe!" shouted Jael in trumpet tones. "Help thou mine +unbelief!" + +The ringing voice broke the stillness sharply. It was an echoing wail +that called from behind the rushes, "Unclean! Unclean!" + +"Knowest thou not who standeth near thee? Sara, lift up thy head!" + +Slowly a head appeared above the bed of rushes. Dark eyes were sunken +deep in an emaciated and ashy face. "Jael!" The name was called with +great effort in a thin and rasping voice. "Unclean, Jael!" + +"Nay, nay, my Sara!" He shouted with a glad voice. "Thou art not +unclean! Jesus of Nazareth _hath cleansed thee already_ if in thy +heart thou believest thou art clean. He hath bidden me bring thee to +him, clean, _clean_." + +"Thou hast come too late!" the wailing voice called back. "Thou canst +do nothing for me." + +"Nay. Nothing can I do. But he--Jesus of Nazareth--can do all things. +He hath all power on sea and land, in air and sky, in heaven and hell! +There is nothing this wonder worker can not do. Lift up thine arms as +thou wilt lift them before his face when thou comest into his presence. +Clap thy hands! Open thy mouth and shout! Shout, Sara!" + +For a moment there was silence only broken by the running water of the +Jordan. Then the stillness was again broken by a scream and the one +word, "Jael!" The cry came from the bed of rushes and was in strong +contrast to the rasping effort of the moment before. "Jael! Jael!" +Again the sharp scream. + +"What is it, my Sara?" + +"My flesh is coming clean! What meaneth it?" + +"Jesus of Nazareth is here. My eyes be holden that I can not see, yet +I _feel_ him." + +"Jael! Jael!" Again it was a scream--a wild, glad, unearthly scream. +"My strength is returning. It is pouring into me like sunshine. Jael! +My knee! My legs! They are coming clean under my very eyes! Run to +me. Hurry! Hurry else the miracle thou mayest not see! The flesh +cometh clean _fast_. Fast! And the breath of healing bloweth over the +running sores! See! They are drying! Look, like scales they are +dropping away!" + +Before Jael reached the bed Sara had risen on her knees. + +"My Jesus!" he shouted in a voice that made the valley ring as he met +her face to face. "Sara! Thou art made _whole_!" + +Even as he spoke she lifted herself with a great shout and left the +nest of rushes for the arms of Jael. For a moment he held her as if +between the woman and destruction there remained nothing but his arms. +Yet the lips of them both were dumb in the first moments of the +miracle. Then he held her at arm's length and looked into her face. + +"Thou art Jael--surely Jael," she said, "but am I Sara?" + +"Yea, yea. And every whit made whole. Feel thou thy hair. Feel thou +thy ruddy cheeks. Feel thou thy supple arms and strong young hands as +when they tossed the nets," and he drew his fingers over her hair and +face and arms. + +Again she stood unable to speak. She looked back to the empty bed of +rushes and into the face of Jael. + +"Feel for thyself," and taking her hand he made it stroke her long hair. + +"Let mine eyes bear me witness," and turning toward the still pool she +ran fleet footed, and dropped on her hands and knees beside it. So +long and carefully she bent above the water, Jael came beside her and +looked in to see there her mirrored face. "Look, Jael," she whispered. +"Seest thou a face?" + +"Yea, thy face, clean and whole." + +"Nay--not mine. There is one altogether fair and more beautiful than +tongue can tell. It seemeth to look out from mine as though it had +always been there, yet it is not mine, but another. My soul telleth me +this mighty Jesus hath taken possession of thy Sara." + +A moment they tarried by the pool of the Jordan. Then Sara sprang up +exclaiming, "Jael--I love thee! I love thee! But there is another I +love with a strong love that tongue can not speak. Come! Let us +hasten with winged feet to Jesus of Nazareth. Before his face would I +shout the joy of my salvation!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ANOTHER PASSOVER + +The year between the Passover feasts of 32 and 33 A. D. had been a busy +and eventful one in the Bethany household where Jesus made his home +during much of the time of his Judean teaching. Out of his frequent +visits and the thoughtful ministrations of Mary and Martha had come an +intimacy that had cemented the bands of love between them, while +Lazarus and the young Rabbi, close as brothers, studied the Law and the +Scriptures together. + +Through the year Martha and Joel had been making preparations for their +marriage which was to take place soon after the Passover and in this +wedding Jesus was deeply interested. But the one great event of the +year had been the death and resurrection of Lazarus. This strange +event had not only been the miracle talk of the home, but it had been +widely discussed in Jerusalem. + +Passover guests were beginning to throng the highways leading to +Jerusalem, and the home at Bethany was set in order for the coming of +Joseph of Arimathea and Jesus of Galilee, who were again to be guests +of Lazarus. Martha and Joel sat in the big window talking over their +own affairs while Mary and Lazarus stood by the table looking over a +scroll, all four meantime, listening for the approach of their guests. + +"Is it not strange," Lazarus said, "that in the name of those who were +stoned yesterday for being prophets, the prophets of to-morrow are +stoned to-day." + +"There are no good prophets but dead prophets," Mary answered. + +"So it seemeth," and Lazarus turned to the scroll and began to read. +"The ox knoweth--" The words were interrupted by a knocking at the +door which both Mary and Lazarus hastened to answer. + +"It is Joseph of Arimathea," said Lazarus. + +"Perhaps Jesus cometh first," Mary replied, laughing. + +The door was thrown open to Joseph who was greeted warmly, relieved of +his cloak and seated for foot-washing. + +"Aye, but we are glad to have thee," Lazarus said, shaking his hand. + +"The year hath been long since we saw thee last," Mary said, and Martha +added, "Thou dost honor us to be our Passover guest." + +"The blessing of God be on thee, my daughters, and thou, Lazarus. And, +Joel, it seemeth I saw thee here also at the last Passover." + +"Yea, indeed," laughed Lazarus. "And art like to find him here next +Passover, eh, Martha?" and his laughter called forth a response of +merriment from the company. + +Before the face of Lazarus had yet straightened into its accustomed +good-natured lines, Joseph was looking intently upon it. + +"Lazarus, my young friend," he said, stroking his long white beard, +"for one that hath been dead thy voice beareth strange meaning. Yea, +verily, my ears can not believe what my eyes behold. Of much people +have I heard of thy coming from the tomb where thou hast lain four +days. Now would I hear from thy lips of this miracle. Wast thou of a +surety dead?" + +"So sayest those who did entomb me." + +"And yet do I see thee alive," and his hand came to a rest on his +flowing beard as he studied Lazarus. + +"So do I bear witness," Martha said, laughing. "Though it has been +weeks since the strange thing came to pass, yet doth he devour food as +doth the grasshopper that eateth clean the face of the earth." + +"Ha! ha! Four days be a good fast to one not given to fasting," +Lazarus replied to Martha. + +"Herein is a marvel," and the hand of Joseph still lay quiet against +his beard. "Thou sayest thou wert dead?" + +"Nay. I said those who did entomb me so said." + +"The Law doth teach," and Joseph moved his hand down his beard slowly, +"that when the sword of death doth enter the soul of man from its cruel +point doth a drop of corruption enter into the flesh, of which death +maketh more corruption. The sword of death did enter thy soul, but not +the drop of corruption?" + +"Of this I bear testimony," Martha quickly answered. "I feared greatly +to have the tomb opened lest the stench of corruption should sicken the +mourners." + +"And there was no stench?" said Joseph, turning to Martha. + +"None save the odor of grave spices." + +"Then of a fact there must be death from which there is an awakening." + +"Yea, surely." It was Lazarus who answered. "In days of old did not +the prophets make some to sneeze and sit up on their biers while others +might not sneeze for all the prophets?" + +"Much have I heard of prophets raising the dead. Yet had none turned +to corruption." + +"Even Jesus doth make no claim of bringing back to life those whose +flesh hath turned black." + +Joseph made no reply to the last speech of Lazarus, but turned to Mary +and said, "What thinketh thou?" + +"As my brother hath spoken," she replied. "There is one death, and +there is another death. Into one hath corruption entered. Into the +other it hath not. Hath not Jesus made this plain? Yet because of +their ignorance do the people not understand. When he did enter the +house of Jarius, synagogue ruler at Capernaum, to raise his daughter, +did he not tell them plainly the damsel was not dead? Yet wept they +and howled. And when he sought to quiet them by again saying, 'She +sleepeth only,' did they laugh him to scorn. But when he did take the +little damsel by the hand and bid her arise, she awakened. Then did +the shout go up, 'A miracle! A miracle!' The Master doth thus teach +there is a death from which the sleeper may be awakened. How cruel it +is to seal such dead in the tomb!" + +"Thou hast spoken, Mary," Joseph answered. "Fearful it is." Then he +turned to Lazarus. "Canst tell how thy soul did feel as thou didst +pass into the state of the dead?" + +"Of feeling I had no knowledge. The incantations of the physician grew +feeble as the buzzing of a bee. The pleading of Martha reached my ears +like a child's call over a vast mountain, and the eyes of Mary, rimmed +in tears, did sink into darkness like stars in a far sky and then go +out. Yea, sight, sound, feeling, even knowledge of my own soul faded +away--for how long I know not. They do tell me it was four days. Once +as I lay asleep I did feel something like a cold flutter and faint +touch across my cheek as in a dream, and from a great distance seemed +to come the scent of spice. Then did something startle me. Aye, the +blood in my veins which had refused to run, gave a mighty leap forward, +there came a flood of air and a great burst of sunlight which did shine +through my being, and I awoke and did walk from the tomb in obedience +to the voice that called me forth--_it was the voice of Jesus_." + +Joseph shook his head slowly saying, "I understand not. Herein lieth a +mystery." + +"Yea, a mystery," Lazarus repeated. + +"A mystery to those who understand not," Mary said. "But to the Master +it seemeth to be no mystery. Once when I sat with him upon the +house-top and marveled at the mystery of music, he did tell me that the +soul of man is made of Waves of Being. Yet did I not understand until +again he taught me. And this have I gathered of his wondrous +wisdom--all Time and all Space, and all Power that moves therein is a +Great Sea of Waves of Being. And the soul of man is like a tiny cupful +of the Waves of Being, dipped from this sea that lieth between endless +shores. And for a time these waves run to and fro in that which hath +the form of a man. Then do they depart into another form that the eye +beholdeth not. But whether these Waves of Being are making motion in +the Great Sea of the Universe or the soul of man, they are one and the +same waves, so that from a great force without is a great force within +played upon, and we call it a mystery. Yet, when he had told all this +I did not understand clearly, nor when he called the Great Sea by the +name of 'God' and the soul of man a little God. But when he called +this Universal Sea of Waves of Being by the name of 'Love,' then had he +reached my understanding, for under the teaching of Jesus, the Master, +hath my own soul come to know a love boundless as the Sea of Being +itself. Since God is love, and God is life, it cometh that love is +life and according as a man loveth, be it much or little, so doth he +possess the powers of life. So all things are possible according as +one hath the power of loving. Is it strange therefore that to him who +loveth as Jesus doth, uncommon power be given? There _is_ a mystery. +_It is the mystery of love_." + +"What eye is this that thou seest these things with, Mary?" Joseph +asked, after a moment of silence. + +"Sometimes," she answered, smiling, "methinks I have a third eye that +hath long been sealed, but under the teaching of him whom we love, is +opening to the light." + +"Thou art a wise disciple." + +"Much wisdom is required of those to whom much opportunity is given. +Many of these things are grave yet simple, even as the fulfillment of +the Law by casting the Law aside is grave, yet simple." + +"Mary," said Joel, "thy speeches ofttimes sound simple, yet are thy +words like a keen blade in a soft kid case. Thy talk would disturb my +peace of mind had I time to think on it." + +"What doth now threaten to disturb thy peace of mind, Joel?" Lazarus +asked. + +"In the setting aside of the Law I see great danger, yet Jesus is ever +so doing. Lo, it hath come to my ears that he hath declared no writing +of divorcement be given by a man, save for one reason." + +"Even so, what matter?" Lazarus asked. + +"Hath it not been since the days of Moses that a man be the rightful +head of the woman, and to him is given power to put her away when his +judgment sees fit?" + +"Yea, for spoiling his mutton." + +"And what man chooseth to dine on spoiled mutton?" + +"Or scorching his porridge?" + +"Scorched porridge maketh not a sweet temper for a man." + +"Or speaking back with a sharp tongue?" + +"Shouldst not a woman's tongue be meek in the presence of her husband?" + +"And in thine own memory," Lazarus said to Joel as a climax, "hath not +a Rabbi put away an old and faithful wife for a fresh and ruddy one, +for no reason save her lack of freshness?" + +"So doth the Law give man his right," Joel answered. + +"And now cometh a Teacher who sayeth to this sort 'Nay!'" And Lazarus +laughed, for concern was written on the face of Joel as he spoke again. + +"Canst thou not see whereunto this liberty to women will lead? Aye, +even there may come a time when women will be allowed to give a man a +writing of divorcement." + +"Even so,--ha! ha! If he doth beat her with a stick or refuse to feed +her, let her do this to him." + +"I look for the world to come to a speedy end when the Law and the +traditions of the Elders are overturned," and Joel heaved a heavy sigh. + +"The traditions of the Elders," Mary repeated. "Often hath the Master +spoken of the Elders and their traditions. They claim to sit in the +seat of Moses, knowing not that the seat of Moses did pass with the +passing of Moses. As saw their fathers, so see they; as spoke their +fathers, so speak they; as did their fathers, so try they to do, +forgetting this, that as the times of their fathers have perished, so +have perished their needs, and with the coming of new generations have +come new needs. 'Harken not to these neither now nor in the days to +come,' saith the Master. 'They be blind leaders of the blind. Beware +thou that man who boasts of changing not.'" + +"I perceive that closely thou hast learned of Jesus. Tell me now, +wherein, thinkest thou, lieth the secret that shall bring the Kingdom +of which he doth ever speak?" + +The question was asked Mary by Joseph. She said, "Once was I standing +in the far end of the garden where the soil had been made soft for a +row of mustard trees. And the seed lay upon the palm of my hand when +Jesus did come softly behind me saying, 'What hast thou?' For answer I +held forth my hand black with seed like dust. 'Watch thou, Mary,' were +his words. 'As the tree doth come from the seed, so cometh the +Kingdom.' Then went he on a long journey. Returning he did ask of my +garden. Again did we walk to the far end where the wall was hidden by +branching mustard trees. And as we drew near the flutter of wings +greeted us, and over the garden wall to the olive trees flew the fowls +of the air that had gathered in the mustard tree to eat its bright +fruit and lodge in its branches. Then again did he speak of the +Kingdom saying, 'Lo, from the life of the tiny seed thou held in thine +hand hath come this more abundant life. Even so shall the Kingdom come +from the seed sowing of Truth. Truth is--'" The words of Mary who had +been sitting in the window came to a sudden stop. A step outside had +attracted her attention. She sprang up and hastened to put a fresh +basin of water by the guest stool at the door. Then she went back to +the window and piled cushions in a corner, making ready for a guest. +Before she had finished Lazarus was laughing. + +"When Mary's hand, without the goad of Martha's tongue, fall diligently +to indoor labor, then know we who cometh." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +BRIDAL CHAMBER TALK + +Martha's approaching marriage was of more interest to her than even the +solemnity and feasting of the Passover. So it was that on a night +preceding the great celebration, the conversation of Mary and Martha +turned from the events of the day to a new bridal garment. In the +sleeping-room were two handsome carved chests. Beside one of these +Martha knelt, while Mary sat at a dressing-table taking down her hair +for the night. + +"Is not my Persian shawl beautiful and my Arabian veil fair to the +eye?" Martha asked proudly, taking them from the chest. + +"Yea, but thy robe is more beautiful." + +Martha replaced the shawl and veil carefully in the chest and took from +it a robe. She rose, draped the garment over her arm and held it under +the lamp that burned by Mary's table. "Ah, Mary," she said with pride, +"hast thou seen anything more gorgeous? Look thou at the threads of +gold and silver and the blue and purple flowers." + +"Yea, thou hast a treasure. Fair wilt thou be as a bride, and proud +will beat the heart of Joel. And there will be merry music with wine +and oil for those who gather along the way to see the procession, and +nuts and sweetmeats for the children." + +"And there will be myrtle branches and wreaths of flowers and dancing +maidens with flowing hair and laughing mouths. But Martha will be the +center of all eyes, in snowy veil; and voices all along the way will +cheer and hands will clap." + +"Yea," laughed Mary, "hands will clap for among the Jews doth not +everything give way to a wedding procession and everybody make merry?" + +"They say," Martha answered, as she brushed a speck of dust from a +flower on her robe, "it was because she oft clapped her hands at +wedding that only the hands of Jezebel were left when the dogs ate her +flesh." + +"So the old women like to tell, but it is no more true than that God +had a wedding for Adam and Eve with Michael and Gabriel for groomsmen." + +"These sayings sound well, Mary. Why declarest thou they are not true?" + +"The understanding of my head doth tell me so. In the days of our +fathers there was no marriage save that a man did go out and find her +whom his heart loved and take her. If one were not enough, he took +two. If two did not suffice, he took three." + +"And if three were not enough," Martha observed, laughing, "he took a +score." + +"Yea, a score. Then thinkest thou our fathers had naught to do but +make great processions?" + +"Much I like the procession, the veil, the flowers, the sweetmeats and +all this that maketh marriage." + +"But all this maketh not the marriage, Martha. Naught but love hath +power to make the marriage." + +"Ever thou maketh much of love, Mary." + +"The blessing of the priest can not take the place of it when a man and +a woman unite to abide under one roof." + +"Maybe so," Martha assented, going back to the chest, "but see thou my +girdle of jewels from the Far East. Come thou and look once again at +my goodly store. A long time have I been getting my chest filled +against the day I am the bride of Joel." + +"And an outfit thou hast worthy an Asmonean princess, while my chest +hath little in it save my alabaster vase of very precious perfume." + +"Fragrant will it make thy wedding veil." + +"For this hope I treasure it. And yet--" + +The words were stayed by a knocking at the door and the voice of +Lazarus shouting in excitement, "Mary! Mary! Open to me the door. I +have great news!" + +"Yea--yea, we open," Mary answered. "Even the tomb door doth open to +thee, my brother." + +"Aye, but I have great news--great news!" he exclaimed as he crossed +the threshold. + +"But thou bearest a sword," Mary said, drawing back. "A sword! What +of this sword?" + +"Yea, what of the sword?" Martha repeated. "And what is the news?" + +"Israel hath a King!" The words were shouted rather than spoken and +the hand of Lazarus trembled with excitement against the hilt of the +sword he carried. + +"Israel hath a King? What meanest thou?" and the tone of Mary's voice +showed that she had caught the spirit of excitement from her brother. + +"Is the throne of David to be established?" and Martha tucked her +jeweled girdle hastily into the chest as she asked the question. + +"It is even so, Mary--Martha--and him whom we love hath been acclaimed +King of the Jews!" + +"Dost thou mean Jesus--_our_ Jesus?" and Mary lay hold of her brother's +sleeve with tight fingers. + +"Jesus? The Galilean Rabbi that doth abide under _our_ roof?" and +Martha came hastily to the side of Lazarus. + +"Yea--yea, verily. It is even this same Jesus!" + +"My brother," and Mary stepped in front of him and looked into his +eager smiling face, "what strange thing is this thou sayest? Ah, it is +too strange that after the long, long years of Israel's bondage the +King of the Jews hath come! And stranger far than this if it _should +be the Jesus we love_." + +"But I do swear to you I speak the truth. Thou shouldst have seen +Jerusalem this day. Thou shouldst have heard the glad hosannahs to the +King, shouted from ten thousand throats!" + +"Thou makest my ears to burn!" Martha said, her face glowing with +excitement. + +"Nay, rather doth my heart burn with a fire of wondrous and holy joy," +Mary said in trembling voice. + +"And glad I am that our home hath been his stopping place and that I, +Martha, have baked him sparrow pies." + +"Rather thank Jehovah that we have been blessed with quiet hours of +teaching ere all Israel doth make demands on his wisdom, as did our +fathers on the wisdom of Solomon. But, Lazarus, what of the day? Last +night he sat with us at meat and no word was spoken of a king. And +this morning when thou and Jesus did turn thy faces to Jerusalem, was +naught said of so grave a matter." + +"Thou speakest the truth, Mary. This morning the Master had no thought +of the near coming of the Kingdom, though twice had the people of +Galilee called him to be King. But as we journeyed toward Jerusalem, +as if it had been well planned, throngs came out from everywhere waving +palms and tossing olive branches. Aye, it seemed a forest of olive +branches moved along the road and children threw flowers, and mighty +was the shouting. As we drew near the city, Jerusalem, hearing the +glad shouting, came forth to meet us and as the great gate was neared +did the men of Israel spread their garments along the way as when the +army of Jehu made a carpet of its coats. With victorious shoutings +entered the procession beneath the city gates and with wild waving of +palms was the King of the Jews heralded. Not in a hundred years hath +the City of Zion witnessed such a sight and the noise of shouting was +at times like thunder. Near mine own ear did a zealot shout until +methought the top of my skull was tumbling in. And with his shouting +did he wave an old red rag which he shook fiercely, as he roared out, +'Thou art the King!' And with him was a woman, young and comely who +likewise shouted saying, 'Hosannah! Praise his name!' keeping tight +hold of the coat of the man, meantime, because of such a run of joyful +tears as blinded her eyes. And these were but two of the multitude. +Think ye, my sisters, that the Roman soldiers stood not aside when such +a following did pass?" + +"Aye, but I like the sound of thy speech," said Martha, smiling and +clapping her hands. + +"Wonderful!" exclaimed Mary. "But the sword, why the sword?" + +"The King hath been acclaimed, but the throne hath yet to be +established and swords shall the sons of Judah take up if there be +need." + +"The spears of Rome are sharp and held by matchless soldiery and Pilate +is cruel as the grave and thirsting ever for the blood of Israel." + +"Thou speakest, Mary. But when the people rise, even the legions of +Rome stand back. Saw we not that this day? Just now the flower of +Rome's strength in Palestine hath been sent to Assyria and ere the +legions of the Imperial City could reach Jerusalem, will the Tower of +Antonio and its stores be in possession of the Jews. With a handful of +the following the Master had to-day a Maccabee would take Jerusalem +from pagan hands. Shall the followers of him who is greater than David +fall short? Rather let the arm of Israel be palsied than to fail when +the Kingdom is in sight. Shout, my sisters, for the Kingdom is at +hand!" + +"Thrice glad am I my wedding garments are gorgeous enough for a king's +court," Martha said. + +"Talk of a king's court would be pleasant save for the glint of yonder +sword. Lazarus, is there harm or danger for him we love in all this +thou tellest?" and there was grave concern in Mary's face. + +"There hath been dark mutterings and Pilate's wrath will be sore +kindled by what hath taken place. But the sons of Judah are brave and +the Lion of the Tribe shall prevail." + +"Glad I am that ever I have given the Master of the best wine and +richest sop!" Martha exclaimed. + +"My heart doth rejoice that while he was yet poor, our home hath been +his. Even as our fathers did entertain angels unawares, so have we +given shelter to a King," Mary said. + +"Hath not thy heart from the beginning taken him for a King, Mary?" +Lazarus asked. "Yea, even _thy_ King?" + +"Since first I saw him in the portals of the Temple have I loved him +whom thou sayest is to be King." + +"So! So!" shouted Martha, laughing. "Even more than a friend may I be +to the King of the Jews, for doth not the Master love our Mary?" + +"Methought thou hast feigned blindness these months," Lazarus said to +Martha. + +"Blind was I in the beginning since I took not notice of signs. But, +brother, when thou didst die, my eyes came open. After thou hadst been +dead four days, and the Master came, methought he would ask straightway +concerning thy sickness that did take thee to the tomb, and that he +would speak comfort. But not so. Of Mary did he straightway ask and +to Mary did he bid me hasten, saying he had come. Aye, even though +half Jerusalem had gone to thy grave to mourn did he have eyes for +none. And when Mary did come--ah, that thou might'st have seen! At +the feet of him did she fall crying, 'Jesus--Jesus, if thou hadst been +here my brother had not died!' Tears wet her cheeks as she held her +face to his and her voice broke with sobs. Then beholding her, he too +did weep. And the Jews which looked on said, 'Behold, how much did he +love Lazarus.' Yet did I know he wept not for thee, my brother, but +rather because the heart of Mary was nigh broken with sorrow. Thus did +the scales drop from my eyes and I did see that the Master loveth our +Mary more than us all. So it seemeth good that I may be sister of the +King of the Jews." + +Mary clasped her hands and lifted her eyes, "The Lord be good!" she +said softly. "The Lord be praised! Our brother hath been restored +from the tomb and the Master hath been acclaimed King of the Jews, even +as good Elizabeth prophesied a year ago." + +"And while thou dost lift thy voice in praise, forget not that this is +the downfall of that crafty fox of an Idumean who hath climbed to the +throne of the Jews by one murder following another murder until the +name of Herod is but a hiss. But his days are numbered now!" + +While Lazarus had been speaking Martha had turned back to the carved +chest and taken out the jeweled girdle. She held it toward Lazarus +saying, "Thou hast not yet seen this, my brother, nor my veil." + +Lazarus took the jeweled belt and laughed. "It is fine. Anything +else, for it doth seem my eyes must behold thy finery before the +Kingdom be discussed." + +"Look here! See this!" and Martha improved the chance to interest her +brother by taking again from the chest the shawl and the robe. + +When he had hastily passed approval of them he turned to Mary and said: +"Where is thy finery? Open thou thy chest and bring forth thy +treasures also." + +In reply Mary opened her chest and took out an alabaster vase of rare +design. She laughed as she showed it to him saying, "This, my +alabaster box of very precious ointment thou gavest me, is all my chest +contains, and the seal of it remains unbroken. Yet do I treasure it +against the day when it shall make my wedding veil fragrant as a field +of lilies. When I am spoken for I will fill my chest with wedding +garments as hath Martha." + +"And if thou art spoken for by the King of the Jews, like a queen must +thou be decked. Glad am I, my sister, that thou art fair. Aye, just +now will I deck thee in my wedding garments and see thee shine," and +Martha took from the chest a golden scarf, a spangled veil and some +strings of beads. With the gold and spangled cloth she draped Mary. +The jeweled girdle was coiled about her head like a crown and her +flowing hair was hung with strands of shining beads. + +When Martha had finished, Lazarus, who stood by looking on with +interest, said, "Thou lackest a scepter, Mary. Take thou the sword," +and he rested it against her knee and stood back with Martha to get the +effect. + +"God of our fathers!" Martha exclaimed with smiling face. "Among all +the daughters of Jerusalem none is more fair than our Mary." + +"But I like it not. Behold! A sword hath been given me and he that +hath been called to bring the Kingdom doth ever teach those are blessed +who make not war, but who bring peace. Take thou the sword. It doth +savor of Rome, of battle-fields, cries of pain, black wings over far +fields of death and little children crying for fathers who will come no +more. Take thou the sword." + +"Not even in the raiment of a queen canst thou forget the words of the +Master. Thou art queer, Mary," Lazarus said as he took the sword. + +"Nor do I like the heavy weight of jewels on my brow nor pearls hanging +down my hair. Aye, Lazarus, hath not thy lips just passed the word +that the poor breathe curses against Herod because that of their +nakedness he doth wear jewels, of their starvation doth he fatten with +rich food, of their misery doth come his ease even as these things come +to Pilate and to Caesar? Should one woman wear on her brow that for +which the peasants of Galilee suffer and sweat and toil? Nay, nay. +Not such a Kingdom preacheth the Master." + +"Thou and the Master doth love peace. So did our father David. Yet +was it not the will of God that he lift the sword most mightily? How +can a Kingdom come without the sword?" + +"I know not the manner of its coming, my brother. But the Kingdom the +Master doth preach cometh first within the heart of man. And if the +members of a man's life lift up the sword of disagreement between +themselves, will the Kingdom be destroyed and not built up." + +"I understand not the meaning of thy speech, my sister, and reason +telleth me the Kingdom cometh by the sword." + +"Great is the mystery of the coming of the Kingdom," Mary assented. +"Yet there are hearts that understand what reason never knew or hath +forgotten. But go thou now to rest. The day hath been full of +wonders--and of weariness, as my eye can see in thy face though it doth +glow with joy." + +"Yea, the day hath been full of wonders and the morrow will be big with +an event which shall be known throughout the earth. In thy dreams +to-night, my gentle Mary, shout praises to the King, that thy lips may +be shaped for great rejoicing when the new day cometh!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +YE GENERATION OF VIPERS + +For several days before the Passover celebration every highway leading +to Jerusalem had been ground to fine dust by the hoofs of flocks and +herds, and of slow asses laden with coops of doves and by the wheels of +carts heavy with lambs--all moving toward the sacrificial knives of the +Temple. By the morning of the day preceding that of the Great Feast, +at an early hour all was life and excitement in the Outer Court of the +Temple. Here booths and stalls had been erected for traffic in +everything from oil and wine to graven earrings, and although such was +forbidden, yet for more than half a century had the House of Annas +grown rich from the tax on Temple traffic and no man had dared speak +openly against it. + +Not only was this income great, but there were yet greater returns from +the tables of the money-changers. From all portions of the world came +devout Jews to the Passover each contributing his compulsory half +shekel tribute money. As this tax money must by law be paid in Hebrew +coin, the money-changing business was established and the favored ones +who were allowed to operate in the Temple took the best places which +they filled with chests and sacks of Hebrew money, mostly mites and +farthings, and with unfilled boxes and bags in which to store the +foreign coin taken in at an exorbitant exchange profit. While the +tradesmen and stock drivers had begun early to prepare for a season of +unusual profit making, the money-changers had not forgotten their +interests. Indeed, this aristocracy of profit makers had held council +but the night before and agreed on the price of exchange and the extra +soldiery necessary for handling such troublesome strangers as might +raise objections should a spurious coin lodge in an honest palm. Among +the money-lenders none was more keenly alive to his own interests than +Zador Ben Amon who by gift-giving and cunning had secured a place for +his long table near the steps leading from the Outer Court up to the +Beautiful Gate. In addition to this choice place of business, Ben Amon +had a gold and silver shop on the other side of the Outer Court and +half a dozen more scattered through the city. In each of these places +he had trusted salesmen and trusted watchers all of whom he himself +watched. + + +It was early on the morning following the day he had been publicly +proclaimed King with such a mighty demonstration, that Jesus made his +way over Olivet from Bethany to Jerusalem. As was his pleasure +oftentimes, he walked alone. The greater number who had followed him +the day before were Galileans and those who camped with them beyond the +city walls. These would not have business in the Temple until a later +hour nor did he expect recognition that would give him any publicity +from strangers or the busy tradesmen. Before the Golden Gate he paused +and lifted his eyes. On each side were handsome pillars said to have +been brought to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba. But he was not thinking +of these. Perhaps he heard the glad hosannahs ringing as they had +sounded but a day before. Perhaps it was the bleating of young lambs +he heard; perhaps the voice of a woman as she bade him not be late at +the day's dinner where he was to be an honored guest. + +Standing but a moment he passed under the gate and through the city +streets to the Temple. As he entered the portals of Solomon's Porch +the babel of many tongues, the ring of hammers and the hoarse shouting +of cattle drivers reached his ear and prepared his eye for the picture +of activity it would behold in the Outer Court. With every step he +took, the noise and confusion grew. Wishing to study the crowd without +himself being seen, he climbed on to the marble balustrade of the Outer +Court where it ran between two pillars and in the niche thus made +concealed himself. + +Directly across from where he stood was the table of Zador Ben Amon +with two servants already in charge and a watcher to keep his eye on +the chests and bags under the table. At this stand business had +already begun. A Roman Jew had just left with his good Hebrew coin, +and an Egyptian had come up, when a woman with two men stopped in front +of the Galilean so that he could no longer see the money-changing going +on. The woman wore the garb of a widow. One of the men was a scribe. +The other man was a Pharisee. The face of the woman was much troubled +and she plead with the scribe and the Pharisee. And when they would +have left her she clung to them and passed on thus into the crowd. +Very shortly after the three had passed the Galilean, he saw this same +scribe at the money table across the way. He seemed to be buying a bag +of coins, most likely mites for alms giving. + +For half an hour the Galilean Rabbi watched the moving people from +where he stood. Then he left the place and went into the Woman's +Court. As there could be no traffic carried on here, there were few +people and less noise, and he had not gone far when he heard some one +weeping. He soon found it to be the widow he had seen a short time +before. Without hesitation he approached her. "Why weepest thou?" he +asked. + +"The inheritance of my father hath been taken from me. The mother of +six small men children I am and my husband hath died. And now no place +of shelter have I." + +"Who hath taken thy home?" + +"The scribe took it not--so sayeth he. The Pharisee took it not--so +sayeth he. But the two of them have taken my shelter to satisfy the +Law--so say they." + +"A scribe and a Pharisee. They are wolves in sheep's clothing!" + +"Yea--but doth this get back for me my inheritance? Canst thou help +me? My husband hath died and I am defrauded of all I possess." + +"Silver and gold have I none--yet shall there be a reckoning!" + +"My shelter is taken! My husband is dead and there is none to defend +me!" and the woman turned her face again to the wall and wept bitterly. + +The Galilean stood for a moment. Then he turned back and crossed the +Outer Court coming into the porch. Here the sound of a trumpet +attracted his attention. It was a Pharisee announcing his time of +prayer. And when a crowd had gathered the Pharisee threw back his head +and beat his breast until his frontlet dangled, and he thanked God he +was not as other men. And lo, it was the one who had robbed the widow. +The Galilean felt the flush of anger heat his cheek and he clenched his +fist as in childhood days he had done when some injustice demanded +relief at his hands. With rising indignation he watched the Pharisee +until a part of his long and carefully worded prayer had been told into +the ear of the public. + +As Jesus passed down the steps at no great distance he heard shouting +and scuffling. Here he saw the scribe who had purchased coins from the +table of Zador Ben Amon. A crowd of beggars had gathered and when the +lawyer threw out the coins there was a great scramble and shoving and +cursing. Those who picked up a coin shouted. Those who found none, +fought. As a coin rolled toward the young Rabbi he picked it up and a +look of surprise showed on his face as he examined it. Then again rose +his anger and indignation, for the coin was spurious, as he soon found +others to be. + +Again he clenched his fist and the impulse came to strike, but he put +it away and leaving the Temple turned his feet toward a narrow back +street where the poverty-stricken swarmed. Here the pallid faces of +the hungry, and the maimed bodies of many men told something of the +suffering inflicted on these poor by the late wars. As he made his way +through this district, the heart of Jesus was bowed under a great +weight which was growing heavier and heavier as he acquainted himself +with the mass suffering. Following a narrow street to a side gate he +went beyond the city walls into a place of stony valleys and gloomy +ravines that made the quarries and pools of Jerusalem. In this place, +fed by waters running through a subterranean passage from a fountain, +was the Pool of Siloam. Gathered here on the broad stone steps that +ran to the water's edge, was the outcast poor and the crippled. For a +time the Galilean looked upon the scene of helplessness and pain with +eyes of infinite compassion and pity, then turning his back on the +basin of Siloam's misery, he lifted his eyes to Zion on the Mount and +with a long deep sigh exclaimed: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem!" + +Retracing his steps, Kedron came into view and again he paused. As he +looked into the valley the stream ran brown. To-morrow it would carry +clots of rosy foam under which the current would be dark and ruddy. +Even as he looked upon it, the lambs were bleating in the stalls. The +picture of the bloody sacrifice came before him--the awe-inspiring +congregation of two hundred thousand of 'God's chosen ones.' At the +ninth hour three blasts of the silver trumpet would start the surging +chant of five thousand Levites and signal the beginning of the +slaughter. And in the next six hours two hundred thousand lambs must +be slain and carried away from the gate. + +"What availeth all this?" he said to himself. + + +When Jesus reentered the Temple, several hours had passed. The noise +in the Outer Court had now grown to a deafening roar. Cattle were +lowing and lambs bleating. Men shouted and cursed when an affrighted +animal broke its tether. The voices of other men were heard calling +their wares at shop entrances and booths, and the air was heavy with +the stench of goats and cattle dung. Making his way through the crowd +he found the niche between the pillars and again stepped into it to +look for a few moments upon the scene of uproar and confusion. There +was nothing to indicate a place of worship. Rather was it a great +bazaar of shops with competition so keen at times as to give promise of +the use of fists. In addition to the stalls of lambs and pigeons and +the booths of oil and wine and wheat required for the sacrifices, there +were stands for vase sellers, brass and copper dealers, dealers in +ovens, dishes and bottles, silk merchants and jewelers and traffickers +in imported goods. + +The crowd was made up mostly of tradespeople and strangers with a +sprinkling of Temple Guards and here and there scribes and Pharisees. +The gleam of spear points of the Legion told that an extra guard had +been sent in from the Tower of Antonio, and Jesus noticed that this +guard was well established around the tables of the money-changers. +His eye turned again to the table directly in front of him and now for +the first time he saw its owner. He smiled at the memory of a startled +face looking at him in the dark from over a water-jar. But Zador Ben +Amon did not look his way now. He was busy passing on the value of +coins and in seeing that any who complained were well pushed out of the +way by soldiers, to be swallowed up by the crowd. For a time Jesus +watched the game. The last victim of the unscrupulous money-changer +was a Galilean peasant, whose travel-stained and shabby body covering, +bent shoulders and knotted hands bespoke poverty. When the change was +pressed into his hand he refused to accept it. There were words. The +peasant was ordered by Zador Ben Amon to move on. This he refused to +do. Guards were summoned and when the man, who had been robbed of his +one coin, still clamored for his money, he was cruelly beaten and +dragged away to the stocks. + +The Galilean watching from the balustrade felt again the fierce anger +sweeping over him and he left his place of watching with his face +turned in the direction of the money-changers. As he crossed the court +he stopped at a goat pen. A dozen goats were just being brought in on +the shoulders of as many men. As the animals were pushed into the pen +the thongs that bound their legs were cast aside. Selecting a handful +of these Jesus pressed on. When he reached the table of Zador Ben +Amon, this mighty Sadducee was not in sight. But business was going on +and, quite near at hand, the Galilean watched the money-changing while +his quick fingers plaited a scourge, and the muscles of his arm called +him to action. He spoke no word and no man noticed the flush on his +face nor the fire in his eye until the hiss of the thong sang over the +heads of those about the table of Ben Amon and its stinging force fell +across those who bent over the money bags. There was a yell, and +another hissing of the thongs. Then the words rang out in a shout of +mighty condemnation, "Ye have made my Father's house _a den of +thieves_!" And the thong writhed and hissed and struck and stung and +the coin-laden tables were overturned with the ease and fury of an +enraged man brushing straw aside. Seeing the uproar about his table, +Zador Ben Amon pushed his way through the confusion just in time to see +two well filled money bags kicked open by a fellow money-changer trying +to escape the scourge. With a shout and a curse he sprang forward. As +he did so the hiss of the burning thongs sounded in his ears and the +next instant he was blinded by the stinging pain of the scourge as +blood ran across his cheeks and into his well oiled beard. + +With incredible swiftness the money-changers had been driven out and +the cleanser of the Temple had mounted the steps of the Beautiful Gate, +and thong in hand was looking out on a scene unparalleled. Servants of +money-changers were creeping about the floor; thieves were quickly at +work stealing from those who had stolen, and the money-changers +themselves, Zador Ben Amon with bloody face among them, were struggling +desperately to get possession of their bags before their contents +should be wholly appropriated by itching fingers. Running in and out +among the affrighted people were animals yet more affrighted whose +bleating and bellowing mingled with the outcries of men, while over the +heads of them all flocks of frightened doves with swift wing sought +escape to the open. + +There was a call for guards, but the man pausing on the steps for a +passing moment only smiled as he saw them search for one who so boldly +stood before them. But if the guards knew not where to look for him, +there were those who saw, and in the commotion, when the question was +asked, "Who did this thing?" the answer was, "Jesus, the Prophet of +Nazareth of Galilee who hath been acclaimed King of the Jews. He hath +taken charge of the Temple! Let us see what cometh." + +The first development from the confusion was the appearance of a number +of scribes, Pharisees and Chief Priests who made their way in a body to +the foot of the steps where he who had wrought the confusion stood. +Fear, surprise and anger in varying degree marked the faces of these +Temple officials. But their wrath was as nothing beside the righteous +indignation of him who stood, thong in hand, awaiting their coming. +They stopped at the foot of the steps--beyond reach of the weapon in +his hand. And from this safe distance they challenged his right and +his authority. + +A moment he regarded them in silent scorn, then he twisted the whip +into a loose roll and flung it at their feet saying, "Woe unto you, +scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven +against men! Woe unto you, hypocrites! Ye devour widows' houses and +for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore ye shall receive the +greater damnation! Woe unto ye, blind guides! Ye pay the tithe of +mint and anise and cummin and omit the weightier matters of the +Law,--judgment, mercy and faith. Ye blind guides which strain at a +gnat and swallow a camel! Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, +hypocrites! Ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, +but within they are full of extortion and excess! Woe, woe unto you! +Ye are like whited sepulchres which indeed appear beautiful outward but +within are full of dead men's bones! Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, +hypocrites! Ye build tombs for the prophets and garnish the sepulchres +of the righteous while ye yourselves be children of them which _killed_ +the prophets! Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers! Ye +serpents! How can ye escape the damnation of hell? Ye generation of +vipers!" + +A murmur was heard from the crowd which threatened to grow into a +mighty demonstration, when, beginning on the outer edge, it died +suddenly. In its place was heard the measured tramp of feet and the +clanking of arms. As if a magic wand had been extended over the +people, the mass separated in the middle, forming an aisle through +which came the High Priest's guard of Roman spearmen. Tongues stopped +wagging. Something was going to happen. The tinkle of golden bells +told that the High Priest himself approached, and every eye was turned +to look upon him. Imperious in the splendor of his exalted office he +made his way. His robe of blue and purple and scarlet, his gorgeous +colored coat, his purple mitre and above all the sacred breast-plate +sparkling with its twelve emblematic jewels as it hung in place on blue +cords through gold rings, were in strong contrast to the plain and worn +garment of the man who waited under the high arch of the Beautiful Gate +with arms folded across his breast. An intense stillness fell over the +gathering--such a hush as marked the circus arena in Rome when +gladiatorial combatants came together in the death-struggle. As Annas, +the All-Powerful head of God's elect priesthood, neared the end of the +open path cut through the throng, the Galilean lifted his eyes from the +surrounding scene and entered into some high place of communion. The +flush of anger left his face. The calm of the Eternal took its place, +and the High Priest with his Roman spearmen lined behind him stood +without recognition for a moment. When the Galilean turned his eyes on +Annas he looked down as if from some vast height. + +The lips of the High Priest moved, but something in the majestic mien +and unfathomable eye of the one before him stopped the words +half-formed. A second and third time his tongue raised itself to shape +words, but the silent one before him gave unuttered command for +silence. The conflict was on. Not a conflict of gleaming blades; not +a conflict of cunning, neither of Senatorial oratory, nor contention of +the wise gone mad. In the arena of the occult was the conflict on +between such forces as move constellations and give birth to worlds. +And the one force was white and the one was black. The one was the +will of God leading by way of man's reason to Liberty and Life. The +other was perversion leading by way of servile obedience to Bondage and +Death. The one was Reality; the other but the Passing Show. So +intense was the conflict of these unseen forces that it drew the +multitude into its silent circle and held it spellbound. On the face +of Annas alone was the progress of the fierce and deadly conflict +written in terms of such hatred as made him appear almost inhuman. Yet +the destructive force of the terrible vibration he sent out touched not +the poise and calm of the Galilean, but after the law of like force it +followed the arc of its own circle back into the breast that wore the +twelve-jeweled breast-plate. + +The nerve strain that seemed tearing the soul of the High Priest was +communicating itself to the congregation when the tense and awful +stillness was broken by a shout. "Thou art the King!" a mighty voice +called above the heads of the people. "Jesus of Nazareth, thou art the +King!" + +With an involuntary sigh of relief the people turned from the silent +actors in the drama taking place under the Beautiful Gate, to learn who +had spoken. A third time the shout rang out: "Thou art the King!" Now +the people saw. It was a fisherman supported above the crowd on the +shoulders of two Galileans. He shook a dingy red head-cloth as he +shouted. The suppressed feeling of the crowd now gave way to a great +murmur like that of a sea with a tide turning in, but before there was +a demonstration a wild cry sounded through the court. + +A soldier standing beneath the shouting fisherman had bent his body +backward, as he gave command for silence, that he might the better face +him who did the unlawful act. Casting his eye down as the soldier +prodded him on the leg, the fisherman saw something that changed the +shout on his lips to a curse. The next instant, as if it had been +hurled from the heavens, the keen, two-edged blade of a fishing knife +had lodged its point in the heart of the Roman. While the dying cries +of the spearman yet moved the multitude to frenzied curiosity, Jael the +fisherman, the High Priest and Jesus of Nazareth, each according to his +own way, left the Temple. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +BY THIS WITNESS + +At the Bethany home on the following afternoon Joseph of Arimathea and +Lazarus discussed the great drama that had taken place in the Temple +and the danger coming out of it that would be added to the peril the +Galilean was already in, because of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. +While the men discussed the day's excitement, Martha told Mary of her +visit to Jerusalem, as they sat in the garden on the edge of the stone +basin, from which place Martha could watch the gate for the arrival of +Eli from market. + +"To-day while in Jerusalem," said Martha, "did Anna and Debora and I +seek to make our way into the Temple, yet we got no farther than +Solomon's Porch for here a thick crowd did stay our steps. As we +pressed around one of the great pillars, we heard a voice. 'It is thy +friend Rabbi Jesus,' said Anna. And by squeezing and struggling we +pressed close until our eyes fell upon him in the midst of his +disciples and a throng of strangers. When I did cast my eye from him +to the other side, it fell upon a beautiful woman wearing a dull mantle +and a veil about her head. Beside her stood a massive slave with a +scar on his cheek like the cut of a thrashing scythe. And the face of +the woman and the face of the slave were set toward the Master. As she +stood, a passer-by brushed her veil from her head, when, from under her +dull cloak she did reach a hand as resplendent with jewels as the +breast-plate of the High Priest. Then her arm appeared, and, lo, it +was banded with gold and with chains of jewels, and also where the dull +garment did part I saw the sheen of rare silk and fringes of silver and +gold that glistened. Anna also saw and whispered 'Who is she?' Yet +neither the woman nor the slave saw aught but Jesus. And as they +listened to his words, tears gathered in the dark eyes of the great +slave and like rivers of water crossing a deep gorge did pass the bold +scar and drop over its edge. And as his tears fell Jesus turned to the +scarred face, and Mary--what thinkest thou? It were as though I could +read the look Jesus gave, which was writ in the light that did break +over that scarred face, making it shine like the sun. And, too, his +eye did find the woman of rich robes well concealed, and did rest on +her face, and her face gave back an answer which was none other than +that she loved him. It passed in a moment and the woman spoke to the +scarred slave who wiped the tears from that cruelly marked face, as +slowly they turned away, the slave following the woman at a distance +because of those who pushed between. And when the slave was passing +the place where Jesus stood, the Master moved near him and spoke a few +words which again did bring such a light as was a miracle on so ugly a +countenance. While he paused, the woman looked back and seeing who +spoke with her slave, waited. Then did Anna and Debora and thy sister +Martha follow them to the portico." + +"Thou hast forgotten something, Martha. Of importance, it is," Mary +said. + +"What is of importance?" + +"The words of the Master. What said he that did hold together the +crowd, that did bring tears to the scarred face of the slave and that +did drive them away again with a glad light?" + +"I know not. My eyes were too busy to give my ears a chance. At the +portico a chariot and horses were waiting, such as the Romans drive. +Mighty were their necks, and gorgeous were their trappings. Before the +chariot the woman removed her dull coat and gave place to one like her +jewels; and the scarred slave did show her great homage, as if she were +a queen. When she was seated in the chariot he questioned her, and +Mary--my sister Mary--who thinkest thou this gorgeous woman is?" + +"Of the many gorgeous ones in Jerusalem, why asketh thou?" + +"There is but one such in Jerusalem." + +"Who is the woman?" + +"The words she did speak, I will tell thee. Then wilt thou know. To +the scarred slave she said, 'Drive thou to the Praetorium. Thy Lord +Pilate awaits thy mistress Claudia.'" + +"Thou hast seen Pilate's wife!" and Mary's voice was alive with +interest. + +"Yea, the wife of that vile heathen who sticketh spears into +Israelites, as a bold child picks wings from flies--for no reason save +to see them kick." + +"And the wife of Pilate hath looked on the face of Jesus. Her ear hath +heard the words of him who speaks as never man hath spoken." + +"Yea, and she doth love him." + +"Oh, that thou hadst heard his words, Martha." + +"Rather that I might possess a chain of beads such as hung from her +shoulder. But look thee down the roadway. There cometh Eli toiling up +the path with no more speed than if he were not already two hours late." + +When Martha and Mary entered the house, Eli, loaded with bundles, was +coming in the door from the roadway. + +"Thou art much loaded," Lazarus said, looking up. + +"And thou art much late," Martha added. + +"Behind a tomb black and stale have I tarried." + +"Hast thou been near a tomb with thy meat?" Martha asked in alarm. + +"I touched not the unclean thing though close was I driven. Yet did my +tongue shake for fear of the plot." + +"Plot?" quickly exclaimed Lazarus. + +"What plot?" Joseph as quickly asked. + +"The tombs throw not shadows while the sun yet hangs high. Methinks +the man hath the plot in his own head," Martha said. + +"The sun tarrieth not for the Passover rabble to finish its haggling +over locusts and fish and oil. Ugh! The mob! And as I struggled for +a place at the fish stand the sun passed over the mountain and left the +valley grim. And lo, as I did travel, my fish and my sparrows slipped +from me and to escape the hoofs and dust of a party of pilgrims I took +my way behind an ancient tomb a long time used of sheep, to bind up my +bundles. And no sooner had I sat me on the green than I heard a voice. +Yet saw I no man. Again I heard the voice like a whisper. Then did +fear lay hold of me lest the tomb be a den of ghosts and glad I was +that the wall on the back was thick. Near this thick wall I put my +back. Then the ghostly voice sounded nearer and I found my ear against +a crack and I listened, for, though great my fear, my curiosity to hear +the speech of ghosts overcame it. And when my ear lay close the voice +was no longer that of a ghost but of a man who hatched a plot which +another who is not a ghost listened to." + +"What is the plot?" Lazarus asked again. + +"That I learned not though my ears did itch." + +"A plot thou hast heard--a plot that hath made thine ears itch, yet +neither dost thou know the plotter nor the plot. The ears of an ass +are thine." + +Eli gathered up his bundles. "If the plot shall come to pass then will +thy eyes drop water-jars of tears and thy head know all are not fools +who carry bundles," and he turned toward the court. + +"Stay," said Lazarus. "Of a plot thou knowest, yet knowest not. Of a +plotter thou knowest, but knowest not. What dost thou know?" + +"Little--save him they whispered against. . . Him I know, and that the +one who hatched the evil did come from the Temple." + +"From the Temple!" It was Joseph who spoke and his words were an +exclamation. + +"Yea. And the evil one he whispered with is one who knoweth thy friend +Jesus." + +"Jesus!" exclaimed Lazarus and Mary in a breath. "Dost thou speak of +_our_ Jesus?" + +"A plot against Jesus?" Lazarus asked. "Put thy goods down, thou fool, +and tell what thou knowest." + +"Already have I told that for which I was called a fool." + +"What hast thou heard? Out with it!" and Lazarus helped Eli unload his +bundles again. + +With the party gathered closely about him Eli said, "There is naught to +tell save that some one who hath been much about the Temple did make an +offer of money for knowledge of the hiding-place of Jesus when he is +not at Bethany. To do him harm was the purpose of the evil one, who +did much thick-lipped whispering." + +"What harm would this enemy of the Master do to him?" and Mary waited +before Eli for an answer. + +"Plotters plot death," he answered shortly, taking up his bundles. + +"God of our fathers!" Mary cried. "What doth this mean? Lazarus, my +brother Lazarus, Joseph, Father Joseph--let not harm come to him we +love! Promise me--promise me!" and she held out her hands. + +Taking her hands in his Joseph said, "Let not fear take possession of +thy heart but rather thank thy God that thy servant did hide behind the +tomb. Knowledge is better than swords. The young man hath life in his +veins. He hath a great work to do. He courts not death. With +knowledge aforetime of a plot, escape will be easy. But what is this +plot? Who is this enemy? Is it of Rome, or the Great Sanhedrin?" + +Lazarus, who had been walking the floor while Joseph spoke, stopped +before Mary. "Yea, Mary," he said, "thank Jehovah that this hath been +revealed, for while the source and manner of the plot doth not appear, +yet there is safety in the warning. Soon will he be with us to hear +the news. From the fox that hath oft crossed his path on Galilean +hills hath he learned how to hide. From the hare that he hath seen +running before the wolf hath he learned the wisdom of flight. Until +the Passover is done must his whereabouts be kept dark. After this, a +far journey." + +Eli, with both hands full of packages, had gone as far as the door and +stopped. He seemed waiting for something, and when Lazarus had +finished he said, "That which an enemy of thy friend dropped, was +picked up by the hand of Eli." + +"What picked thou up? Money?" Lazarus asked. + +"Nay--yet did I think that which he dropped and muttered curses over +was money else would my feet have made wider space between the tomb and +the place of his standing. An old and open tomb was it around which +the smell of sheep hung heavy, and a bush of thorns grew at its corner +and sent branches across the entrance. And when the enemy of thy +friend would have held the branches down to walk over them, a thorn +pierced his hand and he did curse. When he let go his hold of the +branches, they did leap up and catch his garment. And again did he +curse, saying he had suffered a loss. When he had gone and was well +hid in the distance, then did Eli go by the thorn bush to find what had +been lost, and there on the sharp thorn stuck a bit of the garment of +this cursing enemy. So I tore it loose to bring to Martha for I saw it +had pleasant threads woven in it. And when I stooped to pick up my +bundles at my feet, I found a treasure which I did bring Mary. Put thy +hand in my wallet and take out that which doth shine but is not money." + +With hurried fingers Mary opened the wallet while the others stood +about looking eagerly on. When she had drawn out that which was not +money, and before those standing by had seen what it was, she dropped +it to the floor and sprang back, screaming. + +"Hast thou been stung by an adder?" Lazarus cried. + +"Yea--yea. There it is!" and she pointed to a shining gold circlet +lying at the hem of Joseph's robe. Lazarus picked it up. A bit of +blue border with a purple stripe and a red pomegranate, whose ragged +edges showed that it had been torn from a garment, was twisted in one +side of it. Every eye in the room was on the circlet when Lazarus +placed it on the table, and they all gathered close around except Mary, +who stood back watching the faces of Lazarus and Joseph. Martha took +the bit of blue wool from the circlet, while Lazarus lifted up the gold +itself, and the two looked at each other in speechless questioning. +Then Lazarus turned to Mary. + +"What is the mystery of this that our servant Eli hath found at the +mouth of a sheep ridden tomb?" + +"Mary seeth little of mystery but much of danger in that which thy hand +holdeth," she answered. + +"Thou gavest Zador Ben Amon back his betrothal anklet?" + +"Yea, by putting it, unbeknown to him, in the border of his coat." + +"Where it was tightly sewn the next day and hath remained in the dark +until torn out by the sharp thorn, methinks," said Martha. + +As Joseph, standing by, heard this brief conversation, his face took on +a puzzled expression, seeing which Lazarus said, "Thou dost not +understand. Here is that which seemeth to uncover to us the enemy of +our friend Jesus. He is Zador Ben Amon, a Sadducee of power and a +money-lender of great wealth. The man did have his heart set on Mary +and did bring this anklet as a betrothal gift. But my sister loved him +not, nor listened to his proposal for marriage and this gift she gave +to him again." + +"Yea, by putting it in the border of his cloak where methought he would +find it on the morrow." + +Joseph looked at the anklet. Then he raised his eyes to the face of +Mary. "Thou didst not love the money-changer?" + +"Nay! Nay!" + +"Thy heart hath taken its way wisely. By this witness," and he tapped +the shining ring with his long forefinger, "he is," and the aged Rabbi +bent his shoulders until his face was even with that of Mary, "he is a +_murderer_!" + +"Yea, yea--a murderer he is--_by this witness_," Mary promptly answered. + +"Is this Jew whose sensuous advances thou hast repulsed, acquainted +with thy friendship for the Galilean?" + +"I know not." + +Joseph considered the matter a moment. When he spoke again it was to +Lazarus. "There is a reason the money-changer is an enemy of our +friend Jesus. It may be the woman. But in the money-changer's +balances where gold doth weigh heavy, women weigh light. It is more +likely this cometh of the swift and terrible scourging suffered by the +money-changers at the hand of our brave friend. If so, a third source +of danger ariseth. The wrath of Pilate is the wrath of Rome--a +political danger--ever deadly. The wrath of the High Priest Annas is a +religious wrath, cunning, and cruel as the grave. But the wrath of +Zador Ben Amon is both these and more, for hath not the Master himself +said, 'The love of money is the root of _all_ evil'? Protected must +our friend be against this threefold danger until he can escape, and +God forbid that he fall into the hands of the enemy!" + +"Yea--God forbid," Mary repeated with trembling voice. "Thinkest thou +harm hath befallen him so soon? See--the sun is sinking, yet he cometh +not!" Choking back a sob Mary went into the court and to the place at +the wall where she could watch down the roadway. + +"Mary hath gone to watch for the Master," Martha said. + +"She loveth him much," Joseph answered thoughtfully. + +"Even so. Yet it is not seemly for a Jewish woman to let a man know +she loveth him as doth Mary." + +"Would that I knew," said Joseph without answering Martha's remark, +"whether the voice in the tomb were the voice of the Great Sanhedrin. +The spirit of murder brooded over the meeting I did attend +to-day--murder in the name of Moses and the prophets." + +"Murder thou sayest!" Lazarus exclaimed in astonishment. + +"Yea--murder. Such is the spirit brooding over the priests." + +The silence following this declaration was broken by a sharp cry coming +from Mary in the garden. "Martha! Lazarus! Father Joseph!" and her +voice was tense with excitement. + +"What? What?" they cried, rushing to the door. + +"The God of our fathers be praised!'" + +"Yea--yea--but for what?" + +"He is safe! He is safe! The Master cometh!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +IN THE GARDEN + +The Passover moon was shedding its soft light over the garden of +Lazarus, when Mary and Martha came from the house and sat down on the +broad rim of the fountain basin. The day had been a busy one, and the +day to follow was to be crowded yet fuller with work and pleasure for +it was the day of the Great Feast. + +"Anna's father doth give a feast to-morrow for his Passover guests, and +for Jesus, who will be gone with the sunrise on the third day that he +may escape danger. Joel hath been bidden with Lazarus, and Anna doth +desire that we come to help her with the serving," Martha said as a +beginning to her comment on the hospitality of Simon. + +While they discussed the feast to be given by their neighbor, Lazarus +joined them and said to Martha, "I am going to Simon's and Anna doth +desire that thou come to plan with her for the feast to-morrow. Wilt +thou also go, Mary?" + +"Who goeth?" + +"Joel goeth. Joseph hath gone to the roof and Jesus doth rest on the +couch in the window." + +"I go with thee," and Martha rose and turned to Mary, who said, "Nay, I +go not. I will stay and gather lilies." + +"Hast thou not yet learned the heart of man doth delight in meat and +drink--not in lilies?" + +"Thou forgettest the Master, my sister. The guest of honor will he be +before his long going away, and thinkest thou he will not know whose +hand plucked the lilies?" + +"Mary hath the last word on thee, Martha," Lazarus said, laughing. +"Let us be going," and they crossed the garden to the gate that opened +into the court of Simon. + +After they had gone, Mary went the length of the garden to her lily +beds. While she was gathering the blossoms, Jesus came from the house +and looked about him, and as he passed into the shade of the big olive +tree, he discovered Mary. He stopped and watched her, as with her arms +full of lilies she came toward the pool. In the silver light of the +moon her soft white garments and silky veil lent spirit-like appearance +to her slender body, and her face was beautiful with a rare beauty not +born of flesh. When she reached the pool she knelt and placed the lily +stems in the water. Rising, she hesitated a moment, then turned into +the walk leading to the old stone wall where she often stood to watch +down the roadway for expected guests. For a few moments she leaned +against the vine-grown stones gazing away into the moonlit distance. +Then she dropped her head on her arms which lay folded across the top +of the wall. + +In a little while the stillness of the garden was broken by a voice +which said, "Mary." She looked up with a start. Again she heard her +name, "Mary." + +Recognizing the voice she ran to the shade of the olive tree +exclaiming, "Master! Master!" + +She found Jesus sitting on the old stone bench and knelt beside him on +a foot-stone. "Rest thou beside me," he said to her. + +"Nay. Nay. At thy feet have the hours most precious to my heart been +spent." + +"Hath my teaching meant this to thee, Mary?" + +"Yea. It hath meant all in life worth living for." + +"Yet didst thou stand at the wall with bowed head." + +"Yea. As the olive branches crossing the moon's light throw shadows +over thy shoulders, so doth fear ofttimes coming across my faith, throw +shadows on my heart. As I stood by the wall looking down the pathway +thou dost often tread, the words of our servant Eli came to me, and +fear for thy safety like a burden fell upon me. At other times the +continual changing, maketh my heart sick and my soul to long for that +which changeth not. To-night thou, Jesus, and I, Mary, sit beneath the +olive shade. Strong is thy step and in thy voice is mastery. Abundant +is my hair and dark, and my body is supple and full of life. Yet will +Time make of thy strength, weakness, and the frost of many winters will +thin my hair and whiten it. In that day the keepers will tremble, the +silver cord be loosened and the pitcher be broken at the fountain. +Strange feet will tread the paths of Olivet and strange eyes look back +on Jerusalem. Yet to-night we are here, thou, Jesus, and I, Mary. +To-morrow--and then we shall be no more. Like feet ever fearful of the +way and reaching for the solid rock, so the heart reaches for that +which changeth not. Ever thou teachest 'God is love.' Doth love +change?" + +"Nay, Mary. Love remaineth the same, yesterday, to-day and forever. +Yet the manner of its expression oft changeth. This knowest thou. The +child that presseth its lips to her breast and fondleth her cheek, doth +the mother love. So also doth she love the man that the child groweth +into. And though he be hanged on the highest tree of Calvary, will she +stand by and cover the hisses of the rabble with her sobs, for she doth +love him though he is no longer at her breast. The lover doth love his +love in life's springtime with wild passion. Then her form is round +and her cheek fair and his strength is in the making. When life's +evening cometh--the flame hath given way to the soft glow. Then her +shoulders stoop and her cheek is pale and his strength is in the +garner, yet he doth not love the woman less, but differently. Love is +the soul of the Universe and showing itself in _service_ doth _fulfill +all law_. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work also." + +"Aye, my Master, I know thou lovest. In a tone akin to reverence hast +thou oft spoken of thy love for thy mother. With great tenderness +lovest thou little children, and thy fellow man--aye, have I not oft +heard from thy lips that to do away with the kingdom of swords and +hunger and want and bitterness--aye, to bring in the Kingdom of man's +Brotherhood, thou wouldst be willing to lay down thy life? Strong and +fearless, even tender is thy love as thou art a man. Yet because thou +art a man, there is a love thou knowest not?" + +"There is a love my heart doth not divine?" + +"Yea, so my wisdom telleth me. Yet when I saw thee first a mother's +love shone in thy face." + +"And is there a love greater than a mother's love, Mary?" + +"Yea, my Master. There is the love of which this mother-love is born." + +"What manner of love is this?" and he leaned toward her as he waited +for her answer. + +"Before cometh mother-love, cometh woman's love for a man," she said +after a brief hesitation. + +"The mystery thou divinest. Thou art a woman. Tell me--what is the +love of a woman for a man?" + +"Thou dost ask me concerning the love in the heart of a woman that doth +make it hunger for one man alone--apart from all the world, and in her +dreams feel his arms about her, and beside a cradle look with him upon +bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh? Dost thou ask me this?" + +"I do ask thee, woman." + +"And I do answer thee. A woman's love is a white flame on a deathless +altar burning for the High Priest of her heart, where, over their +united love the Shekinah doth hover as holy incense. And when the +flame doth burn and the ear be ever listening for the priest in snowy +raiment that cometh not, then doth the flame be ever consuming itself +and the heart groweth sick, for woman's love desireth to give all." + +"And doth thy ear listen for the footsteps of thy sacred altar's one +High Priest?" + +"Ask me not, my Master--ask me not. From my heart I have already +lifted the veil too far aside for it is not given woman to speak of her +love, though it is her life. Yet love is strange--love is holy!" + +"Thou sayest well 'Love is strange--love is holy.' Love is the breath +of God which corruption hath not power to touch. And as it hath been +ordered of the Creator that woman desire to give all, so hath it been +given to man's love, to ask all--aye, Mary, _to take all_. So there +are not two loves different. A man's love and a woman's love are but +the two parts of that love which is both center and circumference of +all that is. And among mankind it is the love that moves the woman and +the man each to forsake all others and cleave one to the other. And +thinkest thou I know not this love? Knowest thou not the fathers of +Israel are a race of lovers? Did not our Father Jacob toil seven years +for her whom his soul loved? It were not a female he would take unto +himself, as a beast doth mate, else Leah would have served as well as +Rachael. But for the love of Rachael did he toil yet other seven +years. Nor did his body rest in the tomb until her bones lay beside +him. And of the love of Boaz--were not Israel's kings begotten of this +love? Aye, it was a lover of Israel that did sing 'Love is strong as +death!' Of this race that has lived and loved and written of love and +died loving come I. In my veins doth run the blood of a nation of +lovers. Rise, Mary, and sit thou beside me. My heart hath that to say +which my lips have not yet spoken." + +When Mary had moved from the stone at his feet to a place beside him, +Jesus said, "Sit thou close to me, aye, so close that not the shadow of +a silver olive leaf can come between our souls--thy soul and mine, for +since mine eyes first beheld thee on the Temple porch thou hast been +more to me than thou canst ever know. Weary have I oft come to thy +home and thou hast rested me. Faint-hearted have I come, and thou hast +strengthened me. Disappointed, and thou hast cheered me; discouraged +with those dull of comprehension and thou hast understood, and while +thou hast sat at my feet to learn, much have I learned of thee. Yea, +thou hast been my friend, my counselor, my comrade, my disciple--all +things thou hast been to me save one and without this, all other were +but the hunger thy heart doth feel--were but the High Priest waiting +where there were no altar fire. Mary, thou art my Rachael. Thou art +my Ruth. Thou are my Rose of Sharon and my Lily of the Valley. As a +rose among thorns, so to my heart art thou among the daughters of Zion. +Thou art my soul's beloved! Woman--woman--I love thee! Lovest thou me +with the love that is one with mine?" + +"Love I thee? Aye, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Love I thee +with all my soul, mind, strength and body. Yea, I love thee--not for a +moon--not for a harvest--not for a jubilee of years--nay, not for the +long centuries that make dust of our fathers' tombs. But until the +Jordan forsaketh its course--until the moon droppeth forever behind +Moab's hills--aye, beloved, until the mother forsaketh her son hanging +on the highest tree, will I love thee--and after that _forever_! For +is not our God love? And is not God eternal?" + +"Ah, Mary! Mary! The mystery of Love! Love is Life. He hath not +known life who hath not felt the creative energy of the universe +throbbing, breathing in his soul which love bringeth--aye, love of a +woman. And yet--yet there be some, eunuchs which were so born: there +be eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs which +have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake." The +last words were spoken by the young Rabbi as if to himself. He lifted +his face to the moonlight for the moment and something like a sigh +escaped his half closed lips. Then he turned again to the woman. + +"Mary--beloved, there is a cup which each of us must drink. The cup +that Life hath given me to drink hath ofttimes been filled with the +bitterness of want, with loneliness and heart hunger. But knowledge of +thy love doth overrun it with exceeding sweetness so that all suffering +seems as naught. Blessed be the God that hath turned thy heart to me." + +Again they sat silent in the shadows of the olive tree for a few +moments. Then Mary spoke slowly and softly. + +"To be here--just here alone with thee! Better than heaven it is to +hear thy voice, to feel the pressure of thy hand and to know that the +throbbing of thy heart is for Mary. Thou makest my soul to dwell in +groves of myrrh; to wander on mountains of frankincense and to feed in +valleys of lilies. Though every drop of water in the fountain, though +every silver leaf on Olivet were the tongue of a Levite shouting +praise, this were faint singing beside the hosannahs of my heart +because I am my beloved's and he is mine! This were enough--enough! +Let the cup of Life be what it may! Henceforth thy cup be my cup." + +"Knowest thou what thou sayest, woman? Doth thy heart know?" + +"Yea, my heart knoweth. Where thou goest I will go. Thy lot shall be +my lot. Thy dwelling shall be my dwelling whether cave or palace. Thy +pillow shall be my pillow whether crimson wool or stone. Thy joy shall +be my joy. Thy poverty shall be my poverty and my riches, thy riches. +Thy danger shall be mine. Thy suffering shall be mine and whether come +victory or defeat, this shall be ours together!" + +"If victory cometh by way of that which men call 'death,' couldst thou +see victory in this?" + +"Speak not of death, my beloved," Mary said quickly, "when life hath +just begun." + +"Thou hast great faith, Mary, yea and great love. Yet do shadows +sometimes fall across thy heart. So also doth fear cast over my heart +shadows. Last night in the stillness, words I heard spoken in +Jerusalem did come to me until from the darkness that hung roundabout, +a cross did seem to lift itself and afar I seemed to hear my own voice +calling faintly for water." + +"Nay, nay," and there was fear and the burden of a sob in Mary's voice. +"Tell me not this evil thing! It doth make the shadow of the cross to +fall upon my heart, dark and heavy." + +"Be not burdened with it for from my heart all shadow fled with the +coming of the new day. And to-night, this blessed night, do I feel +life never held so much. Love maketh it doubly sweet." + +"Thou art right. The cross were but a troubled dream. For malefactors +and thieves and slaves of Rome is the cross. But not for a Prophet--a +Rabbi--a Teacher--aye, a King." + +"Not for a King sayest thou? Herein lieth my danger. Pilate's ear is +never closed nor his lust for blood ever satisfied, neither his greed +for the approval of Caesar, and Pilate's crosses are ever ready for +those who stir up the people. But weep not nor let thy heart be +troubled. The uplifted cross of the dream I take as warning. Daily I +teach in the Temple and none dare take me for my following. At night I +abide without the city, where, none know save those who are my friends. +When the Passover is done, I will go away for a season." + +"Wilt thou be with us to-morrow? Ah, wilt thou come again to me when +the moon doth rise after to-morrow's busy day?" + +"On the morrow we sit at meat with Simon. The Passover supper I eat +with my disciples in the city, for so have I given my promise. If all +go well I will return to thee when the moon cometh. If I am late, wait +thou until the crowing of the cock, for where my treasure is, there is +my heart also, and thither will my feet turn though the hour is late." + +The crowing of a cock beyond the garden wall told the man and woman on +the old stone bench that the hour was late. They arose and stood +together just at the edge of the wavering shadows cast by the ancient +tree. + +"Alone on Olivet!" Jesus said in subdued voice. "How calm--how holy is +the garden, and the new day that the crowing of the cock doth bring to +us . . . . . . . . . . . . From the little town of Bethany lieth the +road to the City of Zion, whither our feet tend. But between this calm +and holy place and the towers of snow and gold that shine in glory from +the City of God, lieth Kedron. Quiet with the hush of long silenced +tongues, and dark with the shadow of tombs, lieth Kedron. . . . . . . . +. . . . Mary, if it be that for a little time I should go on ahead of +thee, even to the battlements of the New Jerusalem where the saved of +Levi send their glad songs ringing over all earth's valley, will I +watch for thee, my beloved. And if through the Valley of the Shadow +thou shouldst be called to go alone, remember that I am with thee." + +"Remember will I? Yea, ever will I remember that there is not in the +universe that which can destroy love. But thou wilt come again on the +morrow night. I feel it in my heart, and may the Lord watch between +thee and me while we are absent one from the other." + +"It shall be even so for what God hath joined together none can put +asunder. The peace of God that passeth understanding and His +Everlasting Arms of Strength, tender as those about a bride, protect +thee. Farewell, my Mary. Woman, fare thee well." + +"Farewell, my soul's beloved. Until the morrow, fare thee well." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +CLAUDIA AND PILATE + +While Mary the Jewess was sitting with the Galilean Rabbi in the +moonlit garden at Bethany, Claudia Procula, the Roman noblewoman, was +spending her last evening before the Passover in her gorgeously +appointed apartment in the palace of Herod the Great. On one side of +this pillared chamber, high-hung heavy curtains drawn apart, disclosed +a sleeping apartment with a bed and couches. At the foot of the bed a +swinging window opened out above the street and through its mullioned +outlines the fading pink of a springtime sunset could be seen. +Claudia's two Greek slaves, Zenobe and Margara, were lounging on the +couches discussing a new robe that had been brought from Rome, when +their mistress, followed by her eunuch, entered the apartment. + +"Light thou the lamps," Claudia commanded as, without unfastening her +outer wrap, she sat down and watched the big slave. When he had +applied fire to the oil held high in silver basins set on polished +cedar standards, he turned to his mistress. For a moment she did not +heed him. Then she said, "Say to the servants, Pilate cometh soon. +When thou hast done so, return to me drawing the curtains at thy back +when thou hast entered." + +When the eunuch returned to the room he took his place against the +curtained hanging, and stood like a statue until his mistress said, +without looking toward him, "Stand thou before me." + +"What is thy command, most noble mistress?" he asked as he stepped +before her and with squared shoulders and crossed arms waited her +command. + +She did not answer for a few moments. When she spoke it was an +inquiry. "The Jew of the Temple--his face do I see whether I look in +the circle where the light falls or in the corners where the shadows +gather--his face. With such eyes doth he look into my eyes as it +seemeth have been searching me out since the beginning of time. And +those eyes are imploring me for something--pleading as if for some +withheld treasure." + +"Yea, most noble mistress." + +"'Yea' thou dost say. Dost thou know the request of the Jew's eyes?" + +"Yea, most noble mistress." + +"What sayeth those eyes to Claudia?" + +"This sayeth those eyes to the heart of Claudia, 'Give me thy heart.'" + +"My heart!" Claudia exclaimed. + +"Yea, most noble mistress. This is the treasure the Galilean doth +implore of thee." + +Claudia arose. She stood in silent thought a moment. Then she turned +her eyes to the face of the eunuch and after studying it said, "Thy +scarred face did glow this day with a light that seemed not earthly. +My slave hath had words with the Jew. Is it forbidden to tell them to +a Roman woman?" + +"With the Galilean there is neither Roman nor Jew. Neither is it +forbidden to spread abroad his teachings. The words he did say to thy +scarred slave were these: 'Blessed be the eyes which see the things +that ye see; for many prophets and kings have desired to see those +things which ye see and have not seen them; and to hear those things +which ye hear, and have not heard them.'" + +With her eyes on the face of the slave, Claudia pondered the words he +had spoken before saying, "And he hath said thy eyes be blessed because +thou seest something hidden. I would understand. Is this forbidden?" + +"Nay. Yet there is an understanding of the heart which is unutterable. +To another heart no words can make it known. Of this did he speak to +thy slave. There is that, however, coming ever from the power +unspeakable, that hath a name. This word wouldst thou hear?" + +"Yea, yea, my eunuch. Speak it." + +"It is _freedom_." + +"Freedom? What sayest thou, slave of Claudia? What meanest thou? Art +thou not the property of thy mistress?" + +"There is freedom, and again there is other freedom. Thou dost own the +hands, the toil, the obedience of this body that Rome hath mutilated +and burned. But there is a man in me that the hand of Rome toucheth +not. As this man thinketh in his heart, so is he. If in my heart I am +a slave, then am I a slave though my body be free. But if in my heart +I am free, then I am free though an implement of Rome. Aye, most noble +mistress, the Jew hath given me freedom." + +"Freedom! How the heart doth hunger for freedom--freedom from one's +self." And she crossed the room and recrossing stopped again before +the slave. "My scarred eunuch," she said. + +"I listen, my mistress." + +"It is not beneath the dignity of Claudia Procula to glean gems when +she findeth them shining in her path. Out of thy mouth have come words +of wisdom which bear not scars as doth thy body. Such have been +treasured. Ah, as the tide is greater than the storm, as the sun is +greater than the wind, as the mind of man is greater than the sword, so +shall there come a Kingdom before which that of Caesar's sword shall +perish forever. What sayest thou? Is the Kingdom the Jew doth teach +of, this Kingdom?" + +"So it hath been revealed to the heart of thy slave." + +"A year hath passed since last thou wert in Jerusalem. In the arena at +Rome hath been the clash of steel, and fangs, and the wild and +soul-piercing music of screams and dying curses. Beyond Rome hath Rome +held the nations of the earth under the sword-blade that her lords be +drunk and her rich fed on the life-blood of the poor. Again we are at +Jerusalem to the Passover Feast of the Jews. And again in their Temple +find we one who teacheth against all this. My scarred eunuch, lovest +thou this Jew?" + +"Aye, most gracious mistress, even to the laying down of my life." + +"He hath disciples." + +"Yea--blessed be they." + +"Wouldst thou be his disciple?" + +"Such I am." + +"Yea, in thy heart. But wouldst thou be free to go abroad and of thy +wisdom teach the wisdom of the Jew; spread news of that greater Kingdom +which cometh not of the sword and wherein all men shall be free?" + +"Most noble mistress, tempt me not to hate my bondage more by bringing +to my ears such words." + +"To-night are the Jews celebrating the birthday of their nation with a +great feast. To-night shalt thou also have a birthday for hereby give +I thee thy freedom. When the sun doth rise on the morrow, go thou and +sit at the feet of the Jew and hearing glad tidings, bear them to +others." + +For a moment the slave stood as if dazed before his breath shaped the +words "Freedom? Freedom?" and his lips trembled as he said, "Do my +ears hear? Dost thou say 'Freedom' for thy scarred eunuch?" + +"Yea, doubly free shalt thou go--free by the word of the Jew and free +by the hand of the Roman, and would that I too might be as free as thou +art!" Then the slave fell on his knees before Claudia, bowed his head +to her jeweled shoe and sobbed. There were tears in the eyes of +Pilate's wife as she said, "Arise--thou art no longer a slave." + +Lifting his face, which appeared strangely noble, he said, "My +mistress--my most gracious mistress, thy feet are on the threshold of +the Kingdom." + +"Arise--arise. Go to thy bed. This night thou art free. To-morrow +thou shalt go from me. As thou goest, forget not that the heart of +Claudia doth beat with sympathy for the oppressed and that she too hath +love for him whose love thou shalt spread abroad. Arise!" + +The eunuch arose and extended his arms so that his mighty body stood +before her like a cross of flesh. Before it she bowed her head. + +"The blessing of the Jew who is called Jesus fill thy heart, most +gracious Claudia, and the peace that cometh of his teaching rest thy +soul. Farewell!" He again kissed the border of her cloak, hesitated, +and turning abruptly, left the apartment. + +When the curtain had swung into place shutting the slave from view, +Claudia sat down and called her maids. "Unclasp my jewels and unbind +my hair, Margara," she said wearily, throwing her cloak aside. "And +thou, Zenobe, summon Pilate's servant with the wine. Thy master +tarrieth, and delay improveth not the temper of a man when he would +have his cups." + +The servant had placed a tray of wine beside the couch of Pilate and +the maids had gone out with the cloak and jewels when the approach of +the Procurator was announced by a shout, the tramping of feet and +clanking of arms. The door was thrown open wide and between two rows +of soldiery standing stiff and shining as the spears in their hands, +the Roman in royal purple and glittering winged helmet, entered. + +"Greetings, Claudia! Dry am I as the Law of the Jews. Hath my wine +been made ready?" + +"Thy wine is ready." + +He threw himself down on the couch saying, "And over it shall I return +thanks, as do the Jews, that to-night doth end their uproar. No more +for a year will they feed on lamb, roast whole with bitter sauce. For +the impudence of the Jew would I fill his Temple with the gods of Rome +and make of his holy place a dancing spot for virgins that be neither +virgins nor veiled. The dogs!" + +"Hath thy memory become shortened that thou dost not see back a space +of months? Didst thou not try moving Caesarea to Jerusalem and putting +thine image in the Temple? And did not these same dogs spread their +necks at thy feet and court the sword rather than have their Temple +desecrated? Yet more blood would have flown than that of the six +thousand thou slew hadst thou not been made to remember that Pilate is +not Caesar. It is not right, my Lord, to do evil, nay not to the neck +of a dog." + +"Whether the hand is that of Pilate or of Caesar, the sword of Rome +determines what is right." + +"Not so, my Lord Pilate. Might is not right unless it be _right_. In +the jungle where hunters for the arena seek wild beasts, pythons and +wolves and hyenas growl and scream, and the strong doth ever lick from +his jaws the blood of the weak. To Rome all the earth is a jungle +where Rome is the king lion, the fierce he-tiger, the unsatisfied +she-wolf. And from the jaws of this Beast, the blood of nations drips +and the groans of mangled slaves fall ever on the ear. Ever in my +heart have I felt this is not right. Now hath arisen among the Jews, +whose blood thou delightest to spill, one whose teaching I have felt +before I ever heard of him. This one delighteth not in gleaming steel, +nor screams of agony, nor running blood." + +"Ho! Claudia! Where is the Jew whose heart taketh not delight in +flashing steel, dying screams and running blood? Thinkest thou there +be such? Then should thou feast thine eyes on the Passover sacrifice. +Here are ten thousand priests with whetted blades which they do plunge +in bleating throats until two hundred thousand lambs are slaughtered +before the eyes of their great god Jehovah. Beside such slaughter as +this that of the arena is but child's play." + +"I mark thy words. The Jew is bloody and hath a bloody god. Yet from +among them ariseth one who doth preach a new Kingdom and a god that +delighteth not in the shedding of blood." + +"Where getteth thou thy knowledge?" + +"From the eunuch thou gavest me, my Lord Pilate." + +"Ho! ho!" and Pilate threw up his hands and shouted with laughter. +"From a slave the wife of Pontius Pilate doth get learning? Ho! ho! +Claudia wouldst be a disciple of a eunuch whose back bears marks of the +scourge, whose arm is branded with deep burning and whose face beareth +the scar of a Roman blade? Or wouldst thou be a Jew, my fair Claudia?" +and he drained three cups of wine between times of laughter. + +Claudia stepped before Pilate and threw her hands across her +breast--"Nay--not a Jew would I be!" she exclaimed. "A woman of the +Proculas I am. But under the royal robe that hideth the breast of +Pilate's wife there is a heart, a heart, most mighty Pilate, that turns +against blood and the quivering of flesh and the soul-sickening agony +of death! A heart, my Lord, that cries out against this and doth ever +hope for a power that doth not hate and torture. A Kingdom there shall +be without the sword of Rome or the lamb's blood of Jerusalem; a +Kingdom without the arena of Rome or the Temple sacrifices. And in +this Kingdom shall man render unto man as he himself would be rendered +unto. Of this Kingdom doth he teach who hath arisen from among the +Jews." + +Pilate poured another cup. "The lips of Pilate's wife do babble like a +babe," he said. "Knowest thou not, my fair Claudia, that the coming of +such a kingdom would mean naught save the passing of Rome?" + +Claudia rested her hand on the arm of Pilate until he looked up at her. +She said slowly, "And knowest thou not, my brave Pilate, that Rome is +_already passing_? Aye, even the more that Rome doth enslave men, the +more she doth bring to herself the weakness which death shall overtake, +for no more do Roman women bear the sort of sons valor cometh of." + +"Ho! ho! What thou shouldst say is that Caesar's wife is no more above +suspicion." + +"Of a surety, my Lord, since _Rome hath no more Caesars_. On that day +when the populace stood weeping where flames from the funeral pyre did +cast their somber smoke against Castor and Pollux, perished Caesar." + +"Rome hath ever its Caesar." + +"Yea, of some sort. Augustus were not Caesar. Tiberius is not Caesar, +neither is he Augustus. Who doth follow Tiberius? And then what next?" + +"What next? Aye, Claudia, my fair one--a cup of wine next. And after +that shall Rome make Senators of her women and thou shalt be Brutus, +for, by the gods, thou makest a ripe speech. Here's to thee, Claudia, +my love. A Roman thou art though much taken with the twaddle of a Jew. +And here is to the Jew. May he live long to oil his beard, haggle over +fish in the market place, cry 'Unclean' at sight of a Gentile and pray +in musty synagogues for the kingdom greater than that of Rome. Let us +now to bed and see thou hast no dreams to disturb thy rest," and +throwing down his cup, Pilate arose. + +"Dreams are signs, my Pilate." + +"Dream then of the prosperity of Pilate." As he paused under the drawn +curtains, Pilate stopped to command his guard, "Waken me not until the +sun doth clear the Temple tower. Draw the curtains tight and let no +man pass them." + +When he had entered the bedchamber the curtains were lowered and the +guards stationed themselves at the door. A moment later, Claudia +paused as she pushed the curtain aside, saying to the guards, "Forget +not thy Lord Pilate's command. Wake him not." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +CAESAR'S FRIEND + +After Pilate and Claudia had retired behind the curtains, the guards +took their places for the night. Inside the door to the left and right +a picked man of Pilate's body-guard stationed himself. An enormous +spear, which lifted its shining point like an ensign over his head, was +held by each soldier and shifted from hand to hand as these motionless +and silent men grew drowsy. In the outer hall soldiers of the Legion +stood on guard from the entrance into the inner room, down the long +corridor to the portico steps. In spite of orders that no word be +spoken in the hallway after Pilate had retired, these soldiers, knowing +his manner of sleep, made use of the night hours to discuss such +daytime gossip as had reached their ears. The comment began when news +was passed that Pilate had gone to sleep, and between the left guard +and the right guard a conversation took place which would have been +interesting to the public. + +"Had I as much ripe wine in my paunch as hath the gracious Pilate, I +would also sleep." + +"Aye. But by the shades of Caesar did not his sleep of yesternight +outmatch even the measure of his cups? Drank and drank did our master +Pilate until his eyes bulged and his tongue was pushed out of his +throat by the fulness thereof. And he did sleep and sleep until the +sun had started down next day." + +"And were there not soldiers and priests and lawyers and centurions and +Senators clamoring to have speech with him? And did not Claudia pass +out the word that he was engaged in matters of importance to Tiberius?" + +"Thou makest my inwards to shake with choked laughter when thou sayest +this--'business of importance to Tiberius.'" + +"Yea--and wherefore the smothered laughter. Is not the important +business of Caesar Tiberius the putting away of much wine, even as is +the business of Pilate?" + +"Yea. But Tiberius doth have a deputy to satisfy the demands for him." + +"And some are as insistent as itch." + +"Yea, like the broad Jew whose foot caught in the blue and purple cloak +he let drag in his desire to be heard." + +"His business was urgent by the glittering eagerness of his two small +eyes." + +"Yea, and the gold he held forth did glitter better than his Jew eyes +as he said, 'My mission is urgent! One hath arisen against the Empire +yet doth Pontius Pilate not come forth nor give audience to message +bearers.'" + +"'He seeth neither god nor man until his business of importance to +Tiberius is finished, since first of all he is Caesar's friend,' did I +make answer, straight-faced and solemn, for who would feel the fire of +the branding iron for a bit of gold? Then it was his countenance +became entangled in anger as his foot became entangled in his blue +cloak, and he did breathe out a curse." + +"The curse of a Jew is no curse since it must be swallowed if it is +against Rome. But look thee toward the steps. On my life a messenger +cometh." + +While the two soldiers of the Legion were gossiping on the outside of +the door the two guards on the inside were leaning heavily on their +spears. + +"My eyes--but sleep pricketh me," the first guard said. + +"Sleep then," the second replied. "But no dreaming." + +"Nay--no dreaming." + +"Listen! Pilate is gone until the new day." + +On the stillness the sound of heavy snoring was heard. The guards +leaned against the wall, spears in hand, and were soon asleep. A +trumpet from the street below sounded the hours of night. The snores +of Pilate were answered by the snoring of the two guards and the palace +seemed given to slumber, when the tramp of feet and knocking of +standards was heard outside. + +"Methinks I dream," the first guard said drowsily. "Yea, I dream there +is a great commotion." + +"It is the troops rushing to war!" the second guard answered sleepily. + +"Troops rushing to war." The words were feebly uttered. + +The knocking continued at the door, growing quicker and harder. + +"Who knocks?" the guard shouted. + +"Open thou the door," was shouted back. + +"Who cometh?" + +"A message from the Tower of Antonio. We would see Pilate," the voice +outside answered. + +The door was opened and the messenger with a number of soldiers +entered. "A message for the Procurator, Pontius Pilate." + +"My Lord Pilate is in bed with orders not to awaken him." + +"Whether thou awaken him or no, make thy choice. Here is the message +and I await a reply." + +"Take thou it," the first guard said to the second one. "Take thou the +message to his bed." + +"Risk thou thine own life," was the prompt reply. + +"Enter and awaken him," the first guard said to the messenger. + +"Time is passing," he replied with dignity. "I await a reply." + +"Let us all waken him!" the second guard suggested. + +So they advanced to the curtains that hung over Pilate's door and +shouted together as they beat the floor, "Awake! Arise, my Lord +Pilate!" + +"Is the house falling?" The voice was that of Pilate. A moment later +he stuck his head from between the curtains shouting, "To the fires of +Pluto with you! What meaneth this disturbance?" + +"A message for my Lord Pilate," the messenger replied, handing him a +tablet. "From the Tower of Antonio, a message." + +Claudia stepped behind Pilate and looked over his shoulder. "What is +it?" she asked. + +"The hiding-place of a Jew who hath not regard for the Law of Moses has +been discovered. This is a request for soldiers to go out against him." + +"A Jew? Who is he?" and Claudia's voice bespoke deep interest. + +"What matter?" Pilate replied, yawning. "A Jew is a Jew. Let them go +out against him. My tablets!" he shouted to a servant. After hastily +writing, he gave the messenger a tablet saying, "Depart! One Jew is +not worth the asking, but take him." Before the feet of the messenger +had crossed the threshold Pilate was ready to return to his sleep. +"Get thou on guard," he commanded his Legion soldiers, "and let none +less than Caesar pass my threshold." + +For a few hours the long corridors and empty chambers of the palace +were quiet. Then again there came the sound of approaching feet, +followed by knocking and a heavy voice calling the Procurator. + +"Pilate again!" murmured one of the guards sleepily. Then speaking to +the other he cried, "Why sleepest thou on duty? Get thee awake!" + +Hardly had they assumed their positions inside the door when it was +thrown open and an officer followed by soldiers, entered. "Let not an +instant pass!" he commanded. "Call the Procurator, Pontius Pilate." + +Following his command, the voice of Claudia behind the curtains was +heard saying, "Pilate--my Lord Pilate--awake! It is an officer of the +Legion. Arise!" + +A moment later the head of Pilate was again thrust between the curtains +as he shouted, "The wrath of Jove! What meaneth this?" + +"In the Judgment Hall thou art wanted. Thy soldiers have taken captive +one charged with sedition. At a midnight meeting of the Sanhedrin hath +he been found guilty." + +"And what care I, Pontius Pilate, whether he be guilty or no? On the +Law of Moses would I myself spit. Yet by their own Law can not the +swine-fearing dogs condemn a man before morning. By their own law will +I condemn them and take their Temple. Go thou to those long-faced +circumcized and say in their ears that for causing this unlawful +disturbance ere the morning watch, I will make them suffer." + +"Aye," replied the officer. "But my most gracious Pilate, conspiracy +is also charged against the Jew for it is he who was acclaimed King of +the Jews while all Jerusalem did shout his praises. A great following +hath he of Galileans, Zealots and Judean warriors. Revolution against +the throne of Caesar is all but born." + +"Thou sayest this is he that was acclaimed King of the Jews?" and +Pilate's eye shone with a new glow. + +"The same. He is a conspirator." + +"And they have taken _him_? Then have they favored Pilate who hath not +yet discovered the nightly hiding-place of this conspirator." + +"Nay! Nay! He is no conspirator, my Lord Pilate," cried Claudia, +hurrying from behind the curtains as she wrapped her shoulders in a +veil. "He is no conspirator! Naught save a teacher of Truth is he." + +"Thou sayest he hath been taken?" Pilate asked of the officer. + +"Yea, by the soldiers which thou didst despatch before midnight with +the guard of the Temple. He was betrayed by one of his followers, and +his hiding-place discovered. Already hath he been before Annas who did +send him to Caiaphas. Now waiteth he at the Judgment Hall around which +a crowd is gathered, and they say thou art not Caesar's friend unless +thou cometh." + +"They say I am not Caesar's friend?" he exclaimed in excitement. +"Hasten thou to the Judgment Hall and say thou to the right and to the +left, as a trumpeteer doth lead thee, 'Pilate is already on the way!'" +When the officer had made a hurried exit, Pilate in great haste +shouted: "Up, laggards! Move! My coat! Quick with the royal ensign +and the eagle! Pilate is a friend of Caesar and this conspirator for +the throne of our Tiberius shall be stretched on a cross ere the +new-day sun reach the mountain top." + +"Calm thyself, my Lord Pilate," Claudia said. "Nor let the words of +the rabble spoil thy reason. No conspirator is this Jew. He is a +teacher of the Truth. Quell thou this uproar and come thou back to +bed. Hearest thou my words?" + +"Nay. No words I hear save the words 'He is not Caesar's friend.' +Caesar's friend would I be though all the Jews in Palestine are hung on +wooden crosses. Farewell, Claudia. Thou art the wife of Caesar's +friend." + +Pilate turned to go, but Claudia lay hold of him saying, "Nay, my Lord +Pilate, thou shalt not go until my words thou hearest. Forever will +Rome bear the brand of shame should it stretch on a wooden cross one +who teacheth such wisdom as doth this Jew. Thou shalt not go until a +promise is made me." + +"What promise?" he asked hurriedly. + +"If he come before thy judgment seat, judge him of the words of his own +mouth and by the words of his own mouth free or condemn him." + +"I promise, Claudia--I promise." + +"Thou understandest that out of the mouth of the Jew thou wilt free or +condemn him?" + +"Yea--yea! Let me go! I am a friend of Caesar!" and he loosed himself +and hurried down the long corridor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ROSES AND IRIS AND TEARS + +In full vestments of the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea stood beside +the moonlit pool in the garden of Lazarus. The hand-washing and +hymn-singing and feasting on roast lamb in bitter sauce, was over for +another twelvemonth. With a glance prophetic, Joseph looked into this +new year and shook his head saying slowly, "The signs are full of +portent. Darkness doth seem to gather over Israel." + +"Thy heart hath a burden?" Lazarus asked, coming from the house. + +The patriarch lifted his face to the young man. For a moment there was +no answer. The voice of Joseph was grave when he said, "Yea, more than +a burden doth lie on my heart. Fear hath clutched it and while my lips +made merry at the feast I did suffer, knowing the young man's life is +in danger--aye, the life of Jesus. Doth not thy heart feel it? And +the heart of thy sister Mary, doth not her heart suffer the torture of +fear?" + +"Perchance it is weariness that Mary suffereth. The feast maketh much +labor." + +"As we did sing the Pascal hymn, lo, did the lips of Mary shape a +prayer. Twice did tears, which she did try to hide, drop from her +cheek, and thrice did she choke in the throat. Is this weariness?" + +"She was disappointed. The heart of Mary did want the Master by her +side, but it had seemed good to him to eat the Passover with his +disciples in the city." + +"Disappointment? Would to God it were no more. But, Lazarus, when the +alabaster vase of thy sister was broken, then was her heart broken also +and as the rich perfume was spilled, so was hope spilled from her heart +because of the saying of the Master that she had anointed him for +burial. Aye, Lazarus, the signs are full of portent." + +"Where is thy sister Mary?" Lazarus asked of Martha who had joined them +by the pool. + +"She is in the house bending over the Scriptures. Yet her heart doth +not go out to the songs of David. A burden she would hide." + +"Knoweth she aught of Jesus?" Joseph asked. + +"I know not. Until the cock crew she was in the garden with him yester +evening. And in the night as she lay beside me in her bed, methought I +heard a moan that traveled not far from the heart where it was born. +Mary lay awake and I did question her. 'It is but the tamarask leaves +against the casement,' she said. Again I heard a sob quickly +smothered. When I did speak, and bid Mary listen, she declared it +naught but the night wind lifting the pomegranate branches. When +morning cometh, from her carved chest she took her alabaster box of +very precious ointment which she did cherish to make sweet her wedding +veil. Her face was glad as if she had been a bride and joyous her +words as she said, 'Lo, the darkness is gone! In the night, fear of +shadows and losses trouble me, but with the morning cometh light. Look +thou! Was ever a sun so golden? I go to Simon's to the feast. One +there is among the guests who is a King. Yea, Martha, by the words of +his own mouth he is my King--_mine_, my sister. Thus, after the manner +of the feast, the guest of honor I will anoint with my oil of roses and +iris, because so soon he goeth on a long journey.'" + +"Ever will my heart be glad to think on the joy of her face," Lazarus +said, "as she did break the seal and scatter the first drops of her +perfume on his hair." + +"Did ever such fragrance make thy breathing glad?" Martha asked with +smiling face. "Like the balm of Gilead, like forests of frankincense, +it filled the room. Was it not even so, Father Joseph?" + +"Great was the fragrance and precious the joy on thy sister's face. +But straightway my pleasure was turned away by the words of Judas." + +"Yea, great concern doth he show for the poor!" And there was +indignation in the voice of Lazarus. "'Here is great waste,' said he. +'Are not two hundred dinars sufficient to buy bread for a thousand?'" + +"And, Lazarus," Joseph said, "with the words of Judas did the first +shadow fall across thy sister's face. Faint it was, yet not too faint +for his eye who loveth her. And he said, 'Why trouble you the woman? +She hath wrought a good work. The poor ye have always with you. But +me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my +body, she doeth it for my burial.' Aye, Lazarus, aye, Martha, that I +might forget thy sister's face as these words did pass his lips. It +turned white as the alabaster in her hand. Stillness fell on the +company about the table like that of the tomb. And then the sob! +Lazarus, that sob did wound my heart. Then did thy sister drop at the +feet of Jesus and there spill out her fragrant oil. And on the oil her +tears fell, even like rain fell they, and bending low her cheek did +press his foot. And then she dried away the tears with the tresses of +her hair--sobbing--sobbing--sobbing! Sobs are a part of life, the sobs +of women and children. But this woman--aye, greater love hath never +woman known than this which Mary beareth the brave young Rabbi." + +"And hath man e'er given back to woman greater love than he beareth +her? Saw thou his face as she did sob at his feet? Did thou catch the +message he did speak to comfort the heart of Mary? In a voice that did +mean more than words, both to the woman and him who had condemned her +spoke he saying, 'Truly, truly say I unto you, wheresoever this message +that I bring shall be preached, there also what this woman hath done +shall be told for a memorial of her.' Joseph--friend Joseph, meaneth +it not much to her heart, meaneth it not much to this household, that +wherever the name of Jesus shall be spoken there also shall be known +the name of Mary?" + +"And if he is King," Martha exclaimed, "King of the Jews, then shall +her name be exalted above that of all women." + +"And if he is condemned on some false charge and given to the cross, +Martha? But no, that can never be," and Lazarus ceased speaking +abruptly. + +"Neither can a throne give nor a cross take away a woman's crown when +he who is her king doth crown her with his love. So it is that the +alabaster vase which hath poured out fragrance from its fragments, +shall shed its perfume down the ages so long as love is of life a +part." It was Joseph who spoke. + +"Lazarus doth utter strange, yea, evil words about a cross and a +malefactor. What meaneth it?" Martha asked him. + +"Knowest thou not, woman, how the plot doth thicken that would make way +with Jesus? Passed is that day when the Sanhedrin did sneer and +condemn and mutter and hatch plans. Now doth it openly seek his death." + +"Yet," said Lazarus, "he hath been threatened before and hath escaped, +even though they took up stones against him. Plans have we made for a +long journey, yea, even to Rome will he journey and under the throne of +Caesar will he preach the Kingdom greater than that of Tiberius." + +Joseph stroked his beard slowly. "There doth come a time," and his +voice was low, "when fire, long smoldering, doth burst into a devouring +flame. Was I not in the Sanhedrin? Did I not hear? Such fire, to the +eternal undoing of Israel, doth burn in the hearts of the Sanhedrin." + +"They dare not take him by day," Lazarus protested, "and by night he +abideth not in Jerusalem and none knoweth his dwelling place save those +his heart trusts." + +"In hiding and flight lieth now his safety. Would that I might know he +is secure this night." + +"Mary hath said he will return to-night to Bethany," Martha told Joseph. + +He raised his face to the sky saying, "The moon doth climb the heavens." + +"Yet ofttimes do guests tarry over the Pascal cup until the hour grow +late. Methinks he will yet come, Joseph," said Lazarus. + +"So hopeth my heart. But from the silence I get no answer to my +question, 'Will Israel cast off her Lord's anointed?'" + +"Nay, nay. All will be well. But let us to rest, the hour is growing +late," and Lazarus turned to the house. + +"And Mary?" The question was asked by Joseph. + +"Mary doth yet sit with her writings," Martha answered, looking in the +door, "though her ear is to the roadway. When I shall enter and say, +'Mary, wilt thou go to rest?' she will answer, 'Shortly.' And lo, when +I have gone, she will come into the garden and from her place at the +wall watch down the hillside." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +SWIFT MESSENGERS + +As Martha had expected, Mary refused to go to rest and when all about +was quiet she went into the garden. For a moment she paused before the +stone bench, then with lingering step she sought the fountain. Under +the light of the moon the garden seemed to lie in a silver aura. Where +the lilies grew thick and white the aura seemed to be a cloud-like halo +lying close to earth and on the pool the light was caught in tiny +shining bars. + +"How still the garden!" Mary said, speaking to herself. "Scarce +breathing is the summer night--waiting it doth seem for something to +give it life. The leaves wait--wait for the evening breeze to touch +them into morion. The valley waiteth--waiteth for the song of the +pilgrim to break its hush with gladness. So waiteth my soul for sight +of a face that shall drive back the shadows of fear. So waiteth my +heart for the sound of a voice that shall stir the silence of the +waiting into wild glad music. Will he come? Or will--but no, no--it +can not, can not be that he will come no more. The God that fashioned +me of dust formed likewise the mystery of life, my love for him and his +for me. . . . And lo, then did the hand of Jehovah make the feet of +him I love to enter in upon the path my feet do tread. So hath my soul +been bound to his soul and there are no more two souls, but one soul. +And having wrought thus blessedly, will God play with the love he hath +put in a woman's heart and bring to her soul such agony as doth wring +drops of blood from her? Nay, nay! It can not be! He must come! He +will come! Hasten, my beloved; I am waiting!" + +Mary walked around the circular pool slowly. As she did so, the +crowing of a cock, its sharpness muffled by some distance, sounded on +the stillness. "The cock croweth the midnight hour," she said as the +last faint vibration died. "Until the crowing of the cock did he bid +me wait to see his face. Yea, until the breaking of the day will I +wait. Until the sunset of my life will I wait. Yea, even until the +Resurrection of the dead will I wait to see his face!" + +She crossed the garden and back, paused, and raised her face to the +vault above where the moon was casting floods of silver over the +billowing clouds. She sighed and the words she spoke were breathed out +softly as if they too were a part of the passing night. "The hours +move on and naught there is but silence! What a silence it is! Like a +pall hangeth it over the Judean hills! Like a shroud falleth it over +Olivet! Like grave wrappings huggeth it the valley! God! The silence +of this night! Hath there been before such silence? It doth make of +itself feet that tread upon my soul and, treading, leave wounds with +living tongues which call in agony, 'I am waiting! I am waiting in the +garden!' No sound cometh to break this that oppresseth? The silence +deepens and its mystery doth affright my soul!" + +For a moment she stood under the flood-light from above like a white +veiled statue, yet softer than marble, locked in the pervading and low +brooding hush. Then, suddenly, she turned her ear in the direction of +the highway. "A sound breaketh the stillness!" she exclaimed in an +excited undertone. "Faint and far it is--but a _sound_!" With light +steps she ran to her watching place by the stone wall. "Yea, a sound!" +and she leaned over the wall. "It groweth on the air. What cometh? A +speck it is against the gray! It moveth! It groweth larger! Aye, it +cometh! It cometh! It taketh on the shape of flying garments--yea, +flying garments! What meaneth this? He cometh as if pursued! Aye, if +danger threaten, may Israel's God lend speed to his feet!" + +The first faint sounds had rapidly grown more distinct. Mary leaned as +far across the wall as safety permitted and peered into the roadway. +"What is it I see? There are two running as doth the hind run to +escape the pursuing dogs! On, on they come! Close--they draw nigh! +They are here! They pass!" With the last words she dropped from the +wall just as the runners dashed by. + +"Ho! Stop!" cried one of them. "This is the place." + +"The home of Lazarus?" the other panted. + +"Yea! Hast thou voice left to shout?" + +"Yea, while thou dost beat the door!" + +Before Mary could reach the house she heard the runners pounding on the +door and shouting, "Open! Open!" and when she entered at the back her +brother was unbarring the front door. "What news?" he demanded as the +two rushed in. + +"Be not loud of mouth. We bear news of Jesus," one of them answered. + +Lazarus cast his eyes over them. One was a Galilean fisherman, the +other was naked save a fragment of garment about his loins. "Who art +thou, and what is thy message?" + +"Disciples of Jesus are we both. Lo, was my coat torn from me in +resisting those who took him and I fled leaving it in the hands of a +soldier." + +"Who hath taken Jesus?" It was Mary who asked, and her voice was +charged with apprehension. + +"Yea, who hath taken Jesus?" Joseph asked as he appeared hastily +fastening his vestment. + +"By the midnight Temple guard and soldiers from the Tower of Antonio +hath he been taken!" + +"Lazarus--Joseph!" Mary cried. "Let us hasten to him--let us _fly_ to +him!" + +"Soldiers have taken him who is to be King of the Jews?" Martha +exclaimed. "Not so!" + +"Peace, women," Joseph said, lifting his hands. "Wisdom demandeth +there be no loss of time. Let the stranger make speech." + +"The Passover feast we ate in an upper chamber," he said. "Before the +singing of the last hymn and the washing of hands Judas left, and it +doth seem that from his word or act, the Master did suspect him of +disloyalty. Soon we went into the streets which lay quiet save for the +sound of singing from those who tarried late at the feast. Leaving the +city by a side gate we followed a dim path to an old stone mill hard by +an olive orchard. A secluded and hidden place it is. At the entrance +to the grove the Master bade us tarry, save three, and watch with all +our eyes, for threats had been breathed against him. And the three +which went with him did he also bid watch while he went yet farther +under the trees to commune with Jehovah as oft he doeth. Secure would +he have been had not our eyes been heavy with sleep for then would we +have seen the crowd approaching that with clubs and torches and spears, +wormed its way across Kedron and up the hillside. And had we seen, +then would we have passed word to the inner watchers, and to the Master +would they have called. Then, lo! him whom Judas would betray, could +have escaped far down the hillside, and have safely hidden in some cave +or tomb. So hath he escaped aforetimes. But _woe_! _Woe_! Woe unto +him whose words thou hearest! The spirit was willing, but the flesh +was weak and around the old stone mill did we fall asleep. And, alas +for the misery that hath come upon us; those of the inner watch did +also fall asleep, and while we slept came the soldiers of Rome, the +Temple guards and the rabble. Scarce had we opened our eyes when they +were upon us, yet did not the inner watch awaken until Jesus, hearing +the uproar, came from the shadows and said, as he stood above the +sleeping forms of his disciples, 'What, could ye not watch with me one +hour?' And as he did stand, Judas hurried to him, kissing his cheek +and crying, 'Hail, Master!' At this the soldiers fell upon him, yet +fear did not move him, and at his command they fell back. Without the +twitching of a hair or the shadow of a fear he stood out before them +while he said, 'Why have ye come out against me as a robber? Daily +have I taught in the Temple. Why take me not there?' And because they +could make no answer they smote him on the mouth." + +"Those he loved slept while his life was in peril! Those he trusted +have betrayed him? Those to whom he hath done no evil have smitten +him? It can not be so! Say it is not so!" and Mary's voice broke in +sobs. + +"Smite the Master," angrily exclaimed Martha. "Him to be King of the +Jews?" + +"Yea, they did smite him," the fisherman answered. "They did curse him +and as they turned away they spat upon him. Some of his disciples bore +arms and in the struggle the servant of the High Priest lost an ear. +Would God it had been the High Priest's head the sword severed! And as +they rudely pushed him on, he whispered a word in the ear of a disciple +asking that swift news of his arrest be brought to Lazarus of Bethany. +Then took they him." + +"Where have they taken him?" Joseph asked. + +"To Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin; to the Judgment Hall of Pilate; to the +scourger and the cross if they have power." + +"To the Roman judgment seat--to the scourgers--to the cross--the cruel, +cruel cross? Nay, not the _cross_! Save him! +Lazarus--Joseph--Strangers--Men of Israel, save him whom we love! Let +not the hand of Rome hang his body on a cross!" Mary plead hysterically. + +"Calm thyself, Mary," Joseph said. "The Jew hath not power to take the +life of Jesus, and Pilate doth hate the Sanhedrin with such fierce +hatred that for nothing short of Temple gold or fear of Caesar would he +sign a death-warrant that would please a Jew." + +"Trust not to Pilate," plead the fisherman. "Pilate is but Rome in +Palestine and doth not Rome love the cross? Aye, in our own Galilee +were not two thousand of our sons and fathers crucified, and left for +dogs to gnaw because they followed the Gaulonite and refused Rome the +tax? The cross is fearful and bloody. Jesus of Nazareth must be saved +from the cross!" + +"Yea, by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob must he be saved!" Lazarus +shouted. "Let us away and arouse the hills and awake the valleys where +thousands of armed Galileans are sleeping. Other thousands there are +of Zealots whose hands are ever near a blade. And will not the +Nationalists strike for the honor of the nation? And the Essenes? +Aye, all these will we waken, and more, and by morning when the city +gates swing open such a populace will enter as proclaimed him King. +The time hath come for Israel to strike--aye, to strike with the sword!" + +"A mob is not an army, Lazarus. Though the populace shout hosannahs or +breathe curses it is all one to the sword of Rome." + +"Aye, Joseph, but the wrath of Israel will make of scythes and reaping +hooks, blades to strike off the shackles of Rome, and from the fastness +of Judean mountains will those who know not fear, engage Rome in such +warfare as she hath never known." + +"The love of thy heart doth upset thy reason," Joseph answered, shaking +his head. "What to Rome is the fastness of Judean hills? Hath not +Rome crossed mountains and jungles and deserts in search of her prey? +Like sheep in a pen wouldst thou be made to stay in thy hiding-places +until thy bleached bones would tell that Rome findeth starvation oft +cheaper than the sword. From Dan to Beersheba doth the heathen purple +fly over tower and wall, and under the dark shadow of her mighty eagle +do the nations of the earth cower. Whence then could come thy succor? +To lift the sword is but to bring it down on thine own neck. If he +whom our hearts love escape, by the wit of man's mind must the thing be +accomplished. Go thou, Lazarus, with these disciples and rouse the +sleeping people that they be ready to swarm the city at the opening of +the gates. And I--I will hasten to Jerusalem and until daybreak keep +my eye where the Sanhedrin might hold meeting." + +"It is not lawful for the Great Sanhedrin to meet until the sun is well +risen," said Lazarus eagerly. + +"And what care murderers for the law of Moses when the fires of hatred +gnaw their souls? To their meeting place I will hasten, and if quietly +they seek to do evil before the break of day, I will, with innocent +words, seek an entanglement among them concerning the Law. And with +the daybreak will come the followers of Jesus and safety for another +day. Haste! Let us haste!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +CLAUDIA'S DREAM + +After Pilate had left for the Judgment Hall and the soldiers and servants +had returned to their accustomed places, Claudia walked the length of the +room and back several times speaking to herself as she did so. "Before +the tribunal of the Jew hath the greatest one of them all been judged +guilty of sedition against their Law. Aye, but the gods be thanked those +cunning workers of darkness have not power to take his life. And +Pilate--ah, have I not Pilate's promise that of the Jew will he judge the +Jew? Glad I am that Pilate is to hear his voice and look upon his face. +One glance from those eyes--one word from those lips and Pilate will know +that all evil accusation be accusation only." + +Then Claudia threw herself across the bed, but sleep did not come, so +after a time she arose, threw open the window and stood looking into the +indigo sky, spangled with stars, that hung over Jerusalem. From the +street beneath, the near call of a trumpet sounded which seemed to be +echoed by farther and fainter trumpet-calls, each telling the hour of the +passing night. When she lay down again she slept. Through the window at +the side of the bed the rich blue of the sky faded into gray and as this +was shot across with a thin streak of rosy pink the cry "_Staurosate_! +_Staurosate_!" came across the stillness of the yet unawakened morning. + +With a start Claudia sprang up crying--"Whence cometh that cry, thin like +the howl of a lone wolf, and sharp like its fangs: 'Crucify him! Crucify +him?' Like the cry of a beast calling the pack, it soundeth. Pilate!" +She pressed her hands to her head and looked toward Pilate's empty couch. + +"Ah--it cometh to me! At the third watch was Pilate called to the +Praetorium and hath not returned. A dream it hath been! Aye! It doth +come to me!" She drew back a pace and an expression of horror marked her +face as she cried, "It doth come to me! I see troops--swords--trembling +of the earth--thunder answered by earthquake--black clouds, like great +bats of death settling low--the rush of fire, like a cataclysm--and then +darkness! And then--and _then_--what see I?" + +Claudia shaded her eyes with her hands and peered into the darkness of +the dream, the horror on her face deepening, and her breath coming swift +and hard. "What see I? In the darkness--the thick impenetrable darkness +dead to all light, I see the hands of Pilate--_and they drip with blood_! +And over against those crimson hands I see the pale face of the Jew. Ye +gods! It is a warning!" + +For a moment she stood dazed with terror. Then she shouted to her maids, +"Margara! Zenobe! Hasten! Summon my eunuch. I must have speech with +Pilate!" + +When the eunuch appeared, Claudia cried: "Ah, my scarred eunuch! Warning +hath been given me in a dream that all is not well at the Judgment Hall. +Ah, a dream--such a dream--a dream in which earth and air and sky and +water war and are not satisfied! A dream of fire and death and open +graves and darkness--and Pilate and the Jew," and Claudia shivered and +wrung her hands. + +"If thou wouldst calm thyself, most noble mistress, and make known thy +great fear, thy servant might bring thee help," the eunuch said. + +"Aye, my eunuch. Ere the midnight trumpet sounded was Pilate awakened by +request for soldiers from Antonio to arrest one seditious. Again before +dawn summoned they him to judge the Jew. And, oh, my eunuch--my +eunuch--that Jew is him whom thy soul loveth--him whose disciple thou art +to be!" + +"Jesus of Nazareth?" the eunuch cried sharply. + +"Yea, yea--the Jew!" + +The eunuch raised his face toward heaven and lifting high his hands said +in the voice of one imploring, "God of the Jew, God of the Jew, hear and +deliver him from the hand of Rome." + +"Hear thou the dream," said Claudia, stepping close to him. "At the +turning of the dawn came it to me. The shout of battle! The screams of +those pierced by spears! The groans of those trodden under the hoofs of +mad chargers! The curses of those tortured! And above the din did I +hear children's voices calling, 'Help--help!' and the voices of women +calling, 'Help! Help! In God's name, 'help!' and the voices of men +shouting, 'Help! Help! 'Cometh no help!' And no help came save the +Angel of Desolation with sweeping black wings! And, oh, my eunuch! Out +of the darkness and the desolation, I saw the hands of Pilate rising +scarlet with wet blood and over against them the pale face of the Jew!" + +Before she had finished speaking with the eunuch, Claudia's cries for +help had drawn the household, and soldiers and servants crowded into the +room and filled the passageway as she brought fear and trembling to them +by her dramatic recital of her tragic dream. + +"It is a dream--a dream! But in that dream, between my vision and the +darkness, passeth a purple robe, a crown of thorns, a lonely cross on a +far hillside, a white face drawn in agony and parched lips moving as to +moan! Then again the tumult and the carnage! Ah, see! Canst thou not +see? There are soldiers upon the city walls! There are balls of fire +flying in the gloom! There are stones crashing through the air--yea, +even the marble of the Temple of the Jews! Canst thou not see? +Aye--look! The Temple falleth! It is scattered until not one stone is +left upon another! And ever above the thunder-din cometh the cry, 'Help! +Help!' Famine do I see until mothers eat the tender flesh that hugs +their bosoms! And pestilence do I see until death hath devoured all +life! The Roman plow is driven over the Holy Place of the Jew and +scavengers of the desert revel in naked tombs! And here from this place +of abominations arise the hands of Pilate! Crimson like dye they are. +And there gathers from the gray and awful stillness, the pale face of the +Jew! Again--and yet again I see them!" + +When Claudia had reached this part of her vision she screamed and covered +her eyes, and the soldiers and servants who had crowded about, drew back +in terror, their gaze transfixed. + +Suddenly she cried, throwing her hands out to the eunuch: "I must have +speech with Pilate. Fly thou to the Judgment Seat! Let no door stop +thee! Let no guard stay thy feet! And when thou hast gained the ear of +Pilate, tell into it, 'Thus sayeth thy wife--have nothing to do with this +just man for I have this day suffered many things in a dream because of +him!' Thus shall it be that Claudia shall raise her voice to save the +hands of Pontius Pilate from the livid stain of innocent blood and the +pale face of the Jew from forever haunting the centuries." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +KING OF THE JEWS + +"Jove, but my eyes are tired! Since the third watch hath my service +been required, yet am I feverish to see the end of this matter. Look! +Yonder housetops are black with men, eager-eyed, and the streets are +swarmed with early risers running hither and thither like ants much +stirred up. When did ever the morning sun shine on such a scene?" + +"Where is he now, this enemy of our Tiberius that hath thus stirred up +the populace?" + +"To the barracks of the Tower of Antonio they have taken him for the +_flagellum horrible_." + +"And will they be long in laying open the flesh of his back?" + +"Nay, for twelve brawny armed and deaf to the cries of pity will lay on +the scourge. Soon will he be brought again before Pilate." The +speaker was a scribe in the palace of Herod the Great. With two Romans +visiting in Jerusalem, he stood on the steps of the Praetorium looking +out over the open court which united its two colossal wings. + +"Didst thou see the mighty procession which heralded the new King?" +asked one of the visitors. + +"Yea, by the gods it was a great outpouring! Peoples from all nations +of the earth were there to bear back the news that one had arisen to +take the throne of Caesar. And well hath the time been chosen for +revolt when the city is gorged with strangers, and the flower of Rome's +legions in Palestine, is called to Syria. Of him who betrayed the +Galilean revolutionist and hatched the plot for his deliverance, Rome +should make a divinity." + +"A betrayer was there?" + +"Yea, a betrayer and a plot else those pious dogs of the Sanhedrin had +not yet laid hands on him who stirred the people, for by day his +followers, who were many, kept near him, and by night hath he cunningly +concealed himself. Cowards and curs are these Jews whose faces are +solemn and whose prayers are long. Rome shows her hand in the open. +But these move under dark cloaks of piety, spin webs and heap up much +spoil." + +"Hast thou seen this stirrer up of strife?" + +"Yea, and heard his speech. Daily he taught in the Temple and though +he is called a Galilean peasant, he hath much knowledge. A strange +people were those of his race, and strange were the kings that once sat +on their thrones, for out of the Galilean's mouth their law allowed no +usury, left fruit on the vine for the poor, and turned vast estates +back to be redistributed. Aye, this stirrer up of sedition makes much +of the poor. Perchance hunger hath gnawed at his own vitals. By +traffic in 'traditions' and sacrifices have their priests grown rich +filching from the poor. For this did the Galilean call them a den of +thieves and curse and beat them, and for this gained he their hatred. +Yet they did not dare lay hands on him openly for fear of the populace. +Yesternight his hiding-place was learned. At midnight as his followers +lay sleeping on the hills outside the city, a body of armed men with +the midnight guard of the Temple, crossed Kedron and found the revolter +at an old olive farm. Then was he brought before the Sanhedrin--sly +foxes, evil beasts--for by their own law it is not lawful to hold +council until sunrise. But fearing lest his followers should rescue +him if daylight found him uncondemned, even at the cock crowing was he +led before Caiaphas. Then was he led before Pilate. By Pilate was he +sent to Herod. A raw joke, this that Pilate did poke at Herod in the +face of much people." + +"Doth Pilate not love the Tetrarch of Galilee?" + +"Nay, and yet more than Herod doth love him. The father of Herod, he +who was called the Great, was crowned a king by the Senate at Rome. +Yet did Pilate fall heir to the glory thereof and the hurt hath worked +on Herod like a running sore. Yet must his lips be ever sealed. Now +hath Pilate sent one accused to this man, knowing that he hath no power +of life and death under the Roman law in Jerusalem. But if he had, yet +would the joke be a raw one, for is not the following of the Galilean +from the province of Herod? With what wisdom could he lift his arm +against the chosen one of so great and zealous a following? So Herod +did send the accused back to Pilate and while the man passed back and +forth, the mob gathered and those pious murderers from the Temple, like +worms of corruption, worked in and out among the mob whispering, +'Traitor! Traitor! Treason! Revolt!' throwing into the face of +Pilate that he is no friend of Caesar if this one be not crucified. +Then gave Pilate the rebel to the flayers. Next comes the cross." + +"So shall ever perish those who espouse the cause of the poor. None +but a fool dreams crowns come to the poor. What reason hath this man +who would be king, for befriending the poor? Hath he a reason?" + +"Aye. He teacheth of that which he doth call 'Liberty.' By his way +there would be no more slave, but all masters." + +"Strange--passing strange! How then if there is no _articulata +implementa_, could there be Roman property? And who would pay for the +circus?" + +"I know not. But the arm of Caesar will see that no chance is given +this wild teaching of liberty. Not since Sparticus lifted the sword to +get freedom for his kind has the head of our Caesar rested on an easy +pillow. Revolt and insurrection rumble in the hearts of the slave and +the poor rabble, as still fire smolders in the heart of Vesuvius. Like +a brand in a dry corn field will this revolt grow into insurrection +unless it is put down. The arm of Rome is sufficient--but see! The +mob parts! They are coming from the scourge with him who is to be +crucified. The death warrant hath been already written." + +"Dost write death warrants for all crucified ones?" + +"Nay, no more than for flies or vermin, else the earth would be running +over with warrants. But a stirrer up of sedition, this is the one +crime that Rome doth not forgive. Look! Yonder he comes! Lo, he +weareth a gaudy robe. His face is pale from loss of blood. Look you! +It drips from under the gaudy robe and follows his feet in plotches +which stain the mosaic. The thongs must have cut deep. Ha! ha! He +weareth a crown--a crown for a King--a crown of prickly thorns. It +hath left its mark on his forehead, and across one cheek there lieth a +purple stripe!" + +"Listen--they are calling '_Staurosate_! _Staurosate_!' Like demons +do they yell as he is being led before Pilate." + +"Canst see?" + +"Yea. Pilate doth have him mount the steps so that the mob may see +him. Look you; what manner of man is he, who moveth like a conqueror +among those shouting his praises? There is majesty in the tread of the +feet that leave a trail of blood! And look! Across his breast doth he +fold his arms; he lifteth his head; he looketh out over the multitude +as Julius Caesar might look upon a handful of chained slaves who had +breathed against his power invincible. Why hath this Galilean this +majestic presence? See thou--it doth impress the mob until their +tongues stop wagging and the buzz dieth to the stillness of the dead. +Look--look! The Procurator ariseth. He is full robed! And about to +speak!" + +Pontius Pilate moved himself so that the hungry mob, awed for the +moment into silence by the sight of one condemned, might look upon the +voice of power back of the Judgment Hall and Tower of Antonio. When +every eye had turned from the royal-robed figure looking out on the mob +with god-like calm, Pilate himself turned his eyes from the solitary +man to the multitude and after prolonging the silence a moment said, +"_Ecce homo_!" + +For the spell of a few short breaths, as if something heavy hung over +the heads of the gaping crowd, the silence lasted. Then from a dozen +sources, like the fierce yelping of the pack came the cry, +'_Staurosate_! Crucify him!" + +"Hear! Hear!" exclaimed the scribe to his visitor, "those curs of long +prayers and dangling frontlet do much loyal shouting for Caesar whom in +their hearts they curse. Neither for Caesar care they, neither for +their Temple, but for the favor of Caesar and the gold of the Temple +will they swear lies and lick the hand of power. But let me turn aside +for a brief spell to deliver up the superscription that Pilate hath +commanded be fastened on the cross above the thorn-cut brow of him who +would be king. Look you--read: '_Jesus Nasarenus, Rex Judaeorum_.'" +The scribe and his visitors laughed heartily. "And lest among the +multitude that hath heard of a new king, there are those unfamiliar +with our own tongue, Pilate hath given command that the superscription +be written in Greek and in the ancient letters of the Jews' own Law. +Also I would put the seal on the death sentence. Wouldst thou see this +too?" + +"Yea, for not before hath it been given my eyes to read the death +sentence of a 'King.'" + +The scribe spread a fresh parchment[1] on the table and the Romans bent +over it to read. "Yet a moment!" the scribe called to the men at the +table. "Something strange is happening--look! Pilate is washing his +hands in a basin! What hath so defiled them that ablution doth take +place in the eyes of the shouting mob?" + +"A mystery--yea. But look you--aye, look you! To mystery is added yet +more mystery! Herod the Tetrarch doth approach Pilate. He smileth +until the rising light doth sparkle on his teeth. He holdeth forth his +hand! Will the Procurator whose hands are yet wet from their strange +cleansing give him greeting? Look you! Steady thine eyes for a rare +sight. He doth not hesitate! Now is the hand of Pontius Pilate +gripped together with that of Herod Antipas. By Castor and Pollux--by +Jove himself a rare fellowship hath been born of this tempest. What +next?" and laughing, the Romans turned back to the death sentence. + + + +[1] The original of what is accepted as Pilate's sentence was +discovered about the year 1380 in an iron tube among the marble ruins +of a temple in the city of Aquila, Italy, written in Hebrew characters +on parchment. It is now in the custody of the Keeper of the Royal and +General Archives of Simancus, Spain. The following is the translation +from the original parchment: + +In the year 17 of Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome and of all the +world, unconquerable monarch: In the CXXI Olympiad; in the XXIV Illiad +and of the creation of the world according to the number and count of +the Hebrews, four times 1157; of the propagation of the Roman Empire, +the year 73; of the deliverance from slavery to Babylon the year 430; +and the restitution of the Holy Empire, the year 497. Lucius Marius +Sauricus being Consuls of Rome and Pontiff, Proconsuls of the +unconquerable Tiberius; Public Governor of Judea, Regent and Governor +of the City of Jerusalem, Flavius IV; its graceful president Pontius +Pilate; Regent of Lower Galilee, Herod Antipas; Pontiff of the High +Priesthood--Caiaphas; Ales Maelo, Master of the Temple; Rababan Ambe, +Centurion of the Consuls and of the City of Jerusalem. Quintas +Cornelius Sublimius and Setus Pompilius Rufus, on the 25th, I Pontius +Pilate, representative of the Roman Empire, in the Palace of Larchi, +our residence, judge, condemn and sentence to death, Jesus, called +Christ, the Nazarene, of the multitude of Galilee, a man seditious of +the Mosaic Law, against the Great Emperor Tiberius Caesar, I determine +and pronounce by reason of the explained, that he shall suffer death +nailed to the cross, according to the usage of criminals, because +having congregated many men, rich and poor, he hath not ceased to stir +up tumults throughout Galilee, pretending to be the Son of God, and +King of Israel, threatening the ruin of Jerusalem and the Holy Empire, +and denying the tribute to Caesar; having the boldness to enter with +palms of triumph and accompanied by a multitude as King within the City +of Jerusalem in the Sacred Temple. + +I therefore command my Centurion, Quintas Cornelius, that he conduct +publicly through the City of Jerusalem this Jesus Christ and that he be +tied and flogged, dressed in purple and crowned with prickly thorns, +with his own cross on his shoulders, so that he may serve as an example +to malefactors; and to take with him two homicidal thieves; all of whom +shall leave by the Giarancola Gate, designed to-day Antonia, and will +proceed to the mount of the wicked, called Calvary, where crucified and +dead, the body shall remain on the cross so that it may be a spectacle +and example to all criminals, and on said cross there shall be the +inscription in three languages, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, in Hebrew +'Jesu Aloi Alisidin'; in Greek 'Iesous Nazarenos Basileus ion +Iouoaion'; in Latin 'Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum.' We likewise +command that no one of whatever class he may be, shall attempt +imprudently to impede this justice by us commanded, administered and +followed with all rigor, according to the decrees and laws of the Roman +and Hebrews, under penalty which those incur who rebel against the +Empire." + + +[Transcriber's note: The Greek phrase in the above footnote was +transliterated as follows: + +Iesous: Iota, eta, sigma, omicron, (rough breathing mark) upsilon, +final sigma. + +Nazarenos: Nu, alpha, zeta, alpha, rho, eta, (rough breathing mark) +omicron, final sigma. + +Basileus: Beta, alpha, sigma, iota, lambda, epsilon, (soft breathing +mark) upsilon, final sigma. + +ion: iota, omega, nu. + +Iouoaion: (soft breathing mark) Iota, omicron, upsilon, (soft breathing +mark) omicron, alpha, iota, omega, nu.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +BY THIS SIGN + +At the side of a roadway leading up the sloping ascent of a bald hill, +on the outskirts of Jerusalem, stood a rock, which by the stone rolled +against it, was evidently a tomb of ancient days. This roadway, which +had been tramped into fine dust by the tread of many feet, ran along +the edge of a ravine, the far side of which was cut with sepulchres and +fissured into narrow caves. Just beyond the tomb, the road turned to +the top of the hill which was hidden by a solitary dying olive that +cast its black branches across a pile of bleached gray rock. On this +bald hill three crosses had been set up and since sunrise a vast crowd +had thronged the roadway, for it had early become news that he who had +been acclaimed King of the Jews had been hanged between two thieves, +and many there were who were curious to see the sad plight of the King. + +As the mocking crowd surged about the hill-top, and the sun was shining +high in the heavens, the victim on the center cross uttered a cry which +seemed to vibrate into the very element and turn the light of midday +into impenetrable darkness and shake the earth with a mighty trembling. +Rocks rattled down the ravine; tomb-doors were shaken from their +holdings; the moaning of wind, like a dying breath, passed the length +of the valley below and from the black depths a leper cried, "Unclean! +Unclean!" his despairing wail answered by the scream of a maniac. + +In the midst of the darkness there were fitful outbursts of dull green +light, like the expiring effort of a perishing sun, and in these +ghostly gleams people could be seen running to and fro. Among them +were a woman and a man; the woman wrapped in a long cloak, the man, +mighty in size, with scarce enough garments to cover his body, but to +these the woman clung as they crept behind the wayside rock for +shelter. Scarcely had they settled close to the rock than it began to +tremble, and then the stone rolled away from before it and a skeleton +toppled out, falling at the very feet of the woman. + +With a scream she cried, "My dream! My dream! Even now it cometh to +pass! Help! Help!" + +The man drew the woman away from the skeleton and closer to the +trembling rock. + +"Even the dead come forth!" she wailed. "It is the end of all things! +By the death of us all shall the gods avenge the death of the Jew! Oh, +my eunuch, save me! Thou art strong! Thou wert a follower and a +believer. Save me!" and she threw herself into his arms. + +"Calm thyself, most noble Claudia," the man said in quiet tones. "That +which maketh the earth tremble until stones roll from the grave, is +naught but the same power that piles still water into waves of rocking +mountains and that breaks the cedars of the hills as if they were dead +grass. Fear not." + +"Thou sayest--but feel the rocking of the earth." + +"Yea, it doth tremble. Yet hath it trembled before and will tremble +again. In Thrace have I seen the earth shake open in yawning pits." + +"But the sun is dark at midday! What meaneth it?" + +"Something hath come between the sun and thy vision. The sun yet +shineth." + +"Nay! Nay! Even the sun doth darker, its face in shame that the Jew, +that just man, should be hung upon a cross to die! Oh, Pilate! +Pilate! How could you?" + +While they were speaking the darkness lightened and two soldiers +crossed the road. When they reached the skeleton whose white outlines +could be dimly seen in the gray light, they stopped suddenly. + +"The dead come forth! Wherefore?" exclaimed one. + +"Because this thing came of a race that knowest nothing, not even that +it is dead." He kicked the skull which separated itself from the body +and rolled toward him. Stopping it with his boot he said, "Aye, good +Jew, art thou dead or alive? Speak!" + +"He is lacking a tongue," and the second soldier laughed. The first +ran his sword through the ribs of the skeleton and flinging it into the +ravine kicked the skull after it. + +In the silence that followed this clearing of the roadway, a moan was +heard from the hidden hill-top. It was one of the malefactors begging +for a stupefying potion to stay his torment. + +"Hear," said one of the soldiers. "_He_ beggeth with a good tongue." + +"Yea, but the Jew that hangeth between the two refused the draught." + +"He refuseth nothing now. The tongue of the 'King of the Jews' waggeth +no longer in profane bragging against Caesar. Let us see to him." + +When the soldiers had turned up the hill, the woman behind the rock +spoke again. "Oh, my eunuch," she said, "go thou to the cross and +inquire of the Jew. They say he is dead--dead," and her voice ended in +a sob. + +"Be comforted, most gracious Claudia. Methinks they speak what they +know not. Yet will thy servant inquire." + +While the eunuch was gone a group of soldiers came down the road +bearing a purple robe. Near the rock behind which Claudia stood +concealed they seated themselves, removed their helmets and dropped +dice in them. + +"A goodly apparel," one soldier said, holding forth the robe. + +"Yea, and a crown went with it," a second said. + +"Yea, and a cross followed after it," a third added. + +"For Pilate is the friend of Caesar." + +"Thus ever with those Rome hath cause to fear," the first soldier +observed as he shook the dice in his helmet. Then in turn the soldiers +rattled their dice and spoke. + +"Look thou! Look thou!" + +"Aye, but look here." + +"Yea, but cast thine eyes on my luck!" + +"I throw well!" + +"I throw better!" + +"I throw best! Look! The garment is mine!" + +While they had been casting lots for the robe, several bystanders had +collected. Among them was a thickly built man with a peculiar mark on +his face. Straight above the line of his black beard it lay across one +cheek like a red and purple band ending in a black mark at the tip on +his ear. He wore a handsomely embroidered turban and carried a blue +cloak. When the game, which he watched with interest, was finished and +the new owner of the robe had taken possession of it, the bystander +said, "How fareth the King whose robe now becometh thine?" + +"When we left him but a short time since, he no longer begged for water +and his head hung limp." + +"Perhaps he hath but fainted," the man with the blue cloak suggested. + +"Then shall the breaking of bones make sure his end." + +"Knowest thou where the bone-breaker is?" + +"I am he." + +"And when wilt thou break the bones of his body?" + +"What matter to thee when his bones are broken?" + +"None save this. When the vast darkness that just now is lifting, was +blackest, I heard a company of his followers whispering, and they did +say he swore that, though dead, yet on the third day would he rise from +the grave." + +"And thou wouldst know of a surety that his legs are broken so that if +he be stolen from the tomb his legs carry him not far?" and the +soldiers laughed. "Fret not, the bones of the Jew will soon be broken." + +"Wouldst thou break them sooner for a piece of gold?" and he drew from +his cloak a wallet. + +The soldier sprang up eagerly and held out his hand saying, "A coin +upon the palm doth grant thy desire before thine eyes. The coin--then +come, let us to the bone-breaking." + +The man with the wallet had his hand on the gold, and the man with the +heavy sword had his hand well held out for the gift, when a woman +appeared suddenly before them and said to the soldier, "Lift not thy +hand against the bones of the Jew!" + +"What meanest thou--follower of the Jew?" the soldier replied angrily. + +"Nay, not a follower of the Jew am I. Yet I know he was a just man." + +"Thou dost lie with clumsy tongue," the soldier declared. "Thou art +one of his followers." + +"Whether I lie, or whether I lie not, break not a bone of the Jew's +body!" + +"Thou art a cunning follower of the Jew, and bold. Yet shall his bones +be broken. Move thou on farther from the cross. Stand to one side," +and he lifted his broad sword. + +"And when did it come to pass," she said without moving, "that a dog of +a soldier lifted the sword against a Roman?" + +"A Roman? In my eye, a Roman," and the soldier laughed. + +"Yea, a Roman--and more than a Roman. Let thine eyes look!" With the +words Claudia threw back the long cloak and stood forth in the gorgeous +apparel of a Roman noblewoman. The soldiers moved back a step and +looked in wonderment as she spoke again. "A Roman? More than a Roman +is Claudia Procula, wife of Pontius Pilate! Knowest thou, +bone-breakers of the Tower of Antonio, who Pilate is? Not a follower +of the Jew am I, but by the ring upon my hand I am the wife of the +Roman Procurator, and I say to thee, not a bone of this just man's body +shall be broken, else with thy broken body wilt thou pay bone for bone!" + +The soldiers moved back a few steps farther. Then one said, "And when +hath it come to pass that Pilate's wife giveth orders?" + +"When Pilate washeth his hands of the tragedy, then doth Claudia +command." + +"Thou dost talk strangely for a Roman." + +"This is a time of strange things. Strange darkness--strange trembling +of the earth--strange bravery of a just man. Yea, a time of strange +happenings. But break thou not the bones of the Jew." + +The bystander with blue cloak and open wallet had moved aside a short +distance. To him Claudia now turned, and after a moment of scrutiny +she said, "By thy nose made fast against thy head and the twist of thy +tongue when it doth barter where gold is passed, thou art a Jew. A +Jew--and _such_ a Jew! For the hardness of thy heart may the dark and +ugly stripe thou wearest stay with thee ever. Even as thou standest +before me in the dust, my eyes behold thee shrink into a viper! Get +thee hence!" + +When the soldiers and the Jewish bystander had gone down the roadway +toward the city, Claudia stepped back behind the rock. During the time +she had been talking the dim light had given way again to the +brightness of the day. From her place she watched the passers-by and +harkened their comment. Some, mocking, said, "He saved others, himself +he could not save." Some marveled that his last breath should be a +prayer of forgiveness for those who had robbed him of his life; some +declared the show were not worth the dusty pilgrimage from Jerusalem on +a hot day; some laughed to find a King in so sad a plight. Some wept. +One such a woman in black who came slowly, leaning on the arm of a +young man, and sobbing: "He is dead! He is dead!" And when the young +man sought to comfort her as a son would comfort a mother, her moaning +heart cried only, "He is dead! My son--my little Jehu--he is dead!" +And the suffering of the woman moved the heart of Claudia until tears +wet her face. + +Gradually the number of passers-by grew less and by the conversation of +the stragglers Claudia knew that the body had been taken from the +cross. After what seemed hours of waiting, the eunuch returned to her. + +"Long hast thou been gone!" she said. + +"Yea, most noble Claudia, for it hath been given thy scarred servant to +take in his strong arm the body of the Galilean from his cross. Holy +service!" + +"And he is dead--dead--" and Claudia's voice broke under its burden of +pain. + +"Weep not! Weep not!" said the scarred eunuch. "Thy falling tears +drop heavily on thy servant's heart. Weep not." + +"Thy kind heart hath never been the heart of a bond-slave," Claudia +sobbed. "But he is dead--he is _dead_!" + +"Dead? Yea--and nay, for of his promise cometh the glorious hope that +turneth the waters of bitterness into the oil of joy and sobs into +singing." + +"What promise is this?" + +"On the third day he shall rise from the dead and come forth from the +grave." + +"Rise from the dead! Come forth from the grave!" and Claudia lifted +her eyes in astonishment. + +"Yea, most noble Claudia--alive forever more. When he hath so often +said, 'I and the Father are One,' he hath meant in power over life and +death, for hath he not said of his life, 'I have power to lay it down +and power to take it up again?'" + +"He that is dead shall come forth to everlasting life?" Claudia +repeated as if dazed. + +"Thou speakest. Of his divine love for humankind hath the Nazarene +laid down his life, that of the sacrifice may be knitted together the +hearts of all races and kinds of men into the Brotherhood for which he +lived and died. And when he shall take up that life, then will there +be victory over death and the grave forever more to all who believe. +According to the faith he hath taught hath the Galilean this day +achieved immortal victory. Wouldst thou see from whence the body of +the Conqueror hath been taken?" + +"Yea, I would see." + +He led the way up the road and as they turned on to the brow of the +hill, three upright crosses came boldly into view. On two of them hung +human forms with drooping heads from the half opened mouths of which a +tongue point protruded. Their hand palms were filled with clotted +blood and their legs, freshly mangled by the bone-breakers, hung limp. +They were too well dead now longer to attract sight-seers, and the few +guards left kept tired watch at a distance. The center cross stood +tall, its outstretched arms overtopping the lesser crosses. On its +highest point was the superscription of Pilate. There was nothing to +show it had been the death bed of a human being, other than the red +stains at its center made by the scourge-cut back that had lain against +it. In the full light of a western sun, this red center took on a +ruddy glow. + +Silent the two stood a moment. Then she said, "And thou callest him +'conqueror' whose wounded body doth even now lie in the tomb?" + +"According to the mystery of the Way, he is more than conqueror." + +"What is the Way, my eunuch?" + +"The way of a seed of corn that passeth into the abundance of new life." + +"Thy message reacheth the heart of Claudia but dimly. Hast thou not +words to name this Way?" + +"Yea, most noble mistress. In thine own tongue can thy servant name +the Way." + +"I listen." + +"_Via crucis_." + +"_Via crucis_," Claudia repeated. "And this meaneth?" and she lifted +her eyes to the face of the man. + +"That when in thy heart thou hast overcome fear and unbelief, then hast +thou the victory over death and the grave. This be the Way." + +"Oh, that I _might_ have victory over fear and doubt and death! That I +might enter into the faith! My scarred eunuch, thou hast led my feet +thus far. Take thou my hand and lead me yet a little nearer to the +cross." + +Hand in hand the Roman noblewoman and the scarred eunuch moved nearer +the bloodstained emblem of baptism to the Way. The man released the +hand of the woman that he might hold both hands over his heart as he +lifted his face to some blessed hope or vision that lay beyond sight of +the woman's eyes. Yet she read on his calm and shining face that he +too was a conqueror and that yet in his body he had victory over death. +She turned her eyes once again to the crimson wood just before her, +lifted her hand and reverently made the sign of the cross over her +heart. As she did so a peace greater than her understanding flooded +her being and her breath came like that of one new born, as she +whispered, "_Crux rosatus_! _In hoc signo vinces_!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +I AM + +Thirty-six hours had passed since the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, +bringing the first day of a new week. Very early in the morning Mary +and Martha had arisen. With Anna and Debora, Martha was going to +Jerusalem, where, just outside the city gate, she was to meet Mary, the +mother of James and other women who had followed their acclaimed King +from his own Galilee, and were now going to his sepulchre. These women +had rested over the Sabbath as the Law required, and had prepared +spices and sweet ointment with which to anoint the body so hastily put +away on the evening the third day before. + +Mary had chosen to remain in her garden that she might be alone, and in +the dawning of the morning, she walked slowly. Her heart had been +wrung by pain; her tears had been spent. The will to grieve had left +her and the calm of resignation had settled where the storm had torn +her soul. As she walked in white the surrounding gray gave her the +appearance of an ethereal being, dim and unreal, walking in a garden of +shadows, quiet as a sleeping child, and perfumed with dewy lilies. + +Beside the lily bed she paused where she had once stood on a glad day +with her beloved Master. She did not break a stem. She did not even +stoop over the blossoms. She did not sigh. She did not for the moment +seem conscious of her own existence. As she stood she felt her heart +grow warm with a warmth as penetrating as sunshine and as vital as life +itself, a strange unfathomable warmth that seemed to flood her being +and yet be at one with it. Strangely moved by this pulsing warmth, she +turned in the pathway, and as she turned, the hush of the sleeping +garden was stirred by a vibrant voice which spoke the one word, "Mary!" +With wildly beating heart she paused. The voice seemed to have come +from under the olive tree where the old stone bench stood empty and +wrapped in gloom. When she had strained her vision for a moment she +saw a form in the shadows, at first misty and gray as the morning, but +taking distinct shape before her bewildered eyes until a face looked +toward her with unutterable love. + +"Mary." Again her name sounded on the stillness like a holy call. "It +is I, be not afraid." + +She knew now, and in a voice of ecstasy she replied, as with flying +feet she ran to him, "Master--oh, my Master!" + +"Touch me not," he said when she would have thrown her arms about him. +"Thy hands are not yet ready. Yet because thou hast eyes to see, thou +seest. Blessed art thou among women! The things that I have taught +thee, forget not, nor add to. I am the Beginning and the End. I have +the keys of Death and the Unseen and lo, I am with thee always, even +unto the end of the Ages." + +And when Jesus had seen the face of Mary illumined with the immortal +joy of the mystery of Deathless Love revealed, he passed again into the +Unseen. + + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Coming of the King, by Bernie Babcock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COMING OF THE KING *** + +***** This file should be named 20367.txt or 20367.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/6/20367/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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