ben-hur-第110章
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ny gross thing； it must be finer than air； more impalpable than light； purer than essenceit is life in absolute purity。
〃What now； O son of Hur？ Knowing so much； shall I dispute with myself or you about the unnecessariesabout the form of my soul？ Or where it is to abide？ Or whether it eats and drinks？ Or is winged； or wears this or that？ No。 It is more becoming to trust in God。 The beautiful in this world is all from his hand declaring the perfection of taste； he is the author of all form； he clothes the lily； he colors the rose； he distils the dew…drop； he makes the music of nature； in a word； he organized us for this life； and imposed its conditions； and they are such guaranty to me that； trustful as a little child； I leave to him the organization of my Soul； and every arrangement for the life after death。 I know he loves me。〃
The good man stopped and drank； and the hand carrying the cup to his lips trembled； and both Iras and Ben…Hur shared his emotion and remained silent。 Upon the latter a light was breaking。 He was beginning to see； as never before； that there might be a spiritual kingdom of more import to men than any earthly empire； and that after all a Saviour would indeed be a more godly gift than the greatest king。
〃I might ask you now；〃 said Balthasar； continuing； 〃whether this human life； so troubled and brief； is preferable to the perfect and everlasting life designed for the Soul？ But take the question； and think of it for yourself； formulating thus： Supposing both to be equally happy； is one hour more desirable than one year？ From that then advance to the final inquiry； what are threescore and ten years on earth to all eternity with God？ By…and…by； son of Hur； thinking in such manner； you will be filled with the meaning of the fact I present you next； to me the most amazing of all events； and in its effects the most sorrowful； it is that the very idea of life as a Soul is a light almost gone out in the world。 Here and there； to be sure； a philosopher may be found who will talk to you of a Soul； likening it to a principle； but because philosophers take nothing upon faith； they will not go the length of admitting a Soul to be a being； and on that account its purpose is compressed darkness to them。
〃Everything animate has a mind measurable by its wants。 Is there to you no meaning in the singularity that power in full degree to speculate upon the future was given to man alone？ By the sign as I see it； God meant to make us know ourselves created for another and a better life； such being in fact the greatest need of our nature。 But； alas！ into what a habit the nations have fallen！ They live for the day； as if the present were the all in all； and go about saying； 'There is no to…morrow after death； or if there be； since we know nothing about it； be it a care unto itself。' So when Death calls them； 'Come；' they may not enter into enjoyment of the glorious after…life because of their unfitness。 That is to say； the ultimate happiness of man was everlasting life in the society of God。 Alas； O son of Hur； that I should say it！ but as well yon sleeping camel constant in such society as the holiest priests this day serving the highest altars in the most renowned temples。 So much are men given to this lower earthly life！ So nearly have they forgotten that other which is to come！
〃See now； I pray you； that which is to be saved to us。
〃For my part； speaking with the holiness of truth； I would not give one hour of life as a Soul for a thousand years of life as a man。〃
Here the Egyptian seemed to become unconscious of companionship and fall away into abstraction。
〃This life has its problems；〃 he said； 〃and there are men who spend their days trying to solve them； but what are they to the problems of the hereafter？ What is there like knowing God？ Not a scroll of the mysteries； but the mysteries themselves would for that hour at least lie before me revealed； even the innermost and most awfulthe power which now we shrink from thought ofwhich rimmed the void with shores； and lighted the darkness； and out of nothing appointed the universe。 All places would be opened。 I would be filled with divine knowledge； I would see all glories； taste all delights； I would revel in being。 And if； at the end of the hour； it should please God to tell me； 'I take thee into my service forever；' the furthest limit of desire would be passed； after which the attainable ambitions of life； and its joys of whatever kind； would not be so much as the tinkling of little bells。〃
Balthasar paused as if to recover from very ecstasy of feeling； and to Ben…Hur it seemed the speech had been the delivery of a Soul speaking for itself。
〃I pray pardon； son of Hur；〃 the good man continued； with a bow the gravity of which was relieved by the tender look that followed it； 〃I meant to leave the life of a Soul； its conditions； pleasures； superiority； to your own reflection and finding out。 The joy of the thought has betrayed me into much speech。 I set out to show； though ever so faintly； the reason of my faith。 It grieves me that words are so weak。 But help yourself to truth。 Consider first the excellence of the existence which was reserved for us after death； and give heed to the feelings and impulses the thought is sure to awaken in youheed them； I say； because they are your own Soul astir； doing what it can to urge you in the right way。 Consider next that the afterlife has become so obscured as to justify calling it a lost light。 If you find it； rejoice； O son of Hurrejoice as I do； though in beggary of words。 For then； besides the great gift which is to be saved to us； you will have found the need of a Saviour so infinitely greater than the need of a king； and he we are going to meet will not longer hold place in your hope a warrior with a sword or a monarch with a crown。
〃A practical question presents itselfHow shall we know him at sight？ If you continue in your belief as to his characterthat he is to be a king as Herod wasof course you will keep on until you meet a man clothed in purple and with a sceptre。 On the other hand； he I look for will be one poor； humble； undistinguisheda man in appearance as other men； and the sign by which I will know him will be never so simple。 He will offer to show me and all mankind the way to the eternal life； the beautiful pure Life of the Soul。〃
The company sat a moment in silence which was broken by Balthasar。
〃Let us arise now；〃 he said〃let us arise and set forward again。 What I have said has caused a return of impatience to see him who is ever in my thought； and if I seem to hurry you； O son of Hurand you； my daughterbe that my excuse。〃
At his signal the slave brought them wine in a skin bottle； and they poured and drank； and shaking the lap…cloths out arose。
While the slave restored the tent and wares to the box under the houdah； and the Arab brought up the horses； the three principals laved themselves in the pool。
In a little while they were retracing their steps back through the wady； intending to overtake the caravan if it had passed them by。
CHAPTER IV
The caravan； stretched out upon the Desert； was very picturesque； in motion； however； it was like a lazy serpent。 By…and…by its stubborn dragging became intolerably irksome to Balthasar； patient as he was； so； at his suggestion； the party determined to go on by themselves。
If the reader be young； or if he has yet a sympathetic recollection of the romanticisms of his youth； he will relish the pleasure with which Ben…Hur； riding near the camel of the Egyptians； gave a last look at the head of the straggling column almost out of sight on the shimmering plain。
To be definite as may be； and perfectly confidential； Ben…Hur found a certain charm in Iras's presence。 If she looked down upon him from her high place； he made haste to get near her； if she spoke to him； his heart beat out of its usual time。 The desire to be agreeable to her was a constant impulse。 Objects on the way； though ever so common； became interesting the moment she called attention to them； a black swallow in the air pursued by her pointing finger went off in a halo； if a bit of quartz or a flake of mica was seen to sparkle in the drab sand under kissing of
