ben-hur-第113章
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re was no element else of beauty except Form and Light； and to them the earth had been born。 Now； indeed； Osiris was done； and if the creature should again fall off into wretchedness； her help must be asked； and her fingers flewtwo； three； five； even ten stitches she took at once。
〃And the man was happy a long timelonger than ever before； it seemed； indeed； he would never tire again。 But Isis knew better； and she waited and waited； nor minded the many laughs flung at her from the sun； she waited and waited； and at last saw signs of the end。 Sounds became familiar to him； and in their range； from the chirruping of the cricket under the roses to the roar of the seas and the bellow of the clouds in storm； there was not anything unusual。 And he pined and sickened； and sought his place of moping by the river； and at last fell down motionless。
〃Then Isis in pity spoke。
〃'My lord；' she said； 'the creature is dying。'
〃But Osiris； though seeing it all； held his peace； he could do no more。
〃'Shall I help him？' she asked。
〃Osiris was too proud to speak。
〃Then Isis took the last stitch in her knitting； and gathering her work in a roll of brilliance flung it offflung it so it fell close to the man。 And he； hearing the sound of the fall so near by； looked up； and lo！ a Womanthe First Womanwas stooping to help him！ She reached a hand to him； he caught it and arose； and nevermore was miserable； but evermore happy。〃
〃Such； O son of Hur！ is the genesis of the beautiful； as they tell it on the Nile。〃
She paused。
〃A pretty invention； and cunning；〃 he said； directly； 〃but it is imperfect。 What did Osiris afterwards？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 she replied。 〃He called the Divine Wife back to the sun； and they went on all pleasantly together； each helping the other。〃
〃And shall I not do as the first man？〃
He carried the hand resting upon his neck to his lips。 〃In lovein love！〃 he said。
His head dropped softly into her lap。
〃You will find the King；〃 she said； placing her other hand caressingly upon his head。 〃You will go on and find the King and serve him。 With your sword you will earn his richest gifts； and his best soldier will be my hero。〃
He turned his face； and saw hers close above。 In all the sky there was that moment nothing so bright to him as her eyes； enshadowed though they were。 Presently he sat up； and put his arms about her； and kissed her passionately； saying； 〃O Egypt； Egypt！ If the King has crowns in gift； one shall be mine； and I will bring it and put it here over the place my lips have marked。 You shall be a queenmy queenno one more beautiful！ And we will be ever； ever so happy！〃
〃And you will tell me everything； and let me help you in all？〃 she said； kissing him in return。
The question chilled his fervor。
〃Is it not enough that I love you？〃 he asked。
〃Perfect love means perfect faith；〃 she replied。 〃But never mindyou will know me better。〃
She took her hand from him and arose。
〃You are cruel；〃 he said。
Moving away； she stopped by the camel； and touched its front face with her lips。
〃O thou noblest of thy kind！that； because there is no suspicion in thy love。〃
An instant； and she was gone。
CHAPTER V
The third day of the journey the party nooned by the river Jabbok； where there were a hundred or more men； mostly of Peraea； resting themselves and their beasts。 Hardly had they dismounted； before a man came to them with a pitcher of water and a bowl； and offered them drink； as they received the attention with much courtesy； he said； looking at the camel； 〃I am returning from the Jordan； where just now there are many people from distant parts； travelling as you are； illustrious friend； but they had none of them the equal of your servant here。 A very noble animal。 May I ask of what breed he is sprung？〃
Balthasar answered； and sought his rest； but Ben…Hur； more curious； took up the remark。
〃At what place on the river are the people？〃 he asked。
〃At Bethabara。〃
〃It used to be a lonesome ford；〃 said Ben…Hur。 〃I cannot understand how it can have become of such interest。〃
〃I see；〃 the stranger replied； 〃you； too； are from abroad； and have not heard the good tidings。〃
〃What tidings？〃
〃Well； a man has appeared out of the wildernessa very holy manwith his mouth full of strange words； which take hold of all who hear them。 He calls himself John the Nazarite； son of Zacharias； and says he is the messenger sent before the Messiah。〃
Even Iras listened closely while the man continued：
〃They say of this John that he has spent his life from childhood in a cave down by En…Gedi； praying and living more strictly than the Essenes。 Crowds go to hear him preach。 I went to hear him with the rest。〃
〃Have all these； your friends； been there？〃
〃Most of them are going； a few are coming away。〃
〃What does he preach？〃
〃A new doctrineone never before taught in Israel； as all say。 He calls it repentance and baptism。 The rabbis do not know what to make of him； nor do we。 Some have asked him if he is the Christ； others if he is Elias； but to them all he has the answer； 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness； Make straight the way of the Lord！'〃
At this point the man was called away by his friends； as he was going； Balthasar spoke。
〃Good stranger！〃 he said； tremulously； 〃tell us if we shall find the preacher at the place you left him。〃
〃Yes； at Bethabara。〃
〃Who should this Nazarite be？〃 said Ben…Hur to Iras； 〃if not the herald of our King？〃
In so short a time he had come to regard the daughter as more interested in the mysterious personage he was looking for than the aged father！ Nevertheless； the latter with a positive glow in his sunken eyes half arose； and said；
〃Let us make haste。 I am not tired。〃
They turned away to help the slave。
There was little conversation between the three at the stopping…place for the night west of Ramoth…Gilead。
〃Let us arise early； son of Hur；〃 said the old man。 〃The Saviour may come； and we not there。〃
〃The King cannot be far behind his herald；〃 Iras whispered； as she prepared to take her place on the camel。
〃To…morrow we will see！〃 Ben…Hur replied； kissing her hand。
Next day about the third hour； out of the pass through which； skirting the base of Mount Gilead； they had journeyed since leaving Ramoth； the party came upon the barren steppe east of the sacred river。 Opposite them they saw the upper limit of the old palm lands of Jericho； stretching off to the hill…country of Judea。 Ben…Hur's blood ran quickly； for he knew the ford was close at hand。
〃Content you； good Balthasar；〃 he said； 〃we are almost there。〃
The driver quickened the camel's pace。 Soon they caught sight of booths and tents and tethered animals； and then of the river； and a multitude collected down close by the bank； and yet another multitude on the western shore。 Knowing that the preacher was preaching； they made greater haste； yet； as they were drawing near； suddenly there was a commotion in the mass； and it began to break up and disperse。
They were too late！
〃Let us stay here；〃 said Ben…Hur to Balthasar； who was wringing his hands。 〃The Nazarite may come this way。〃
The people were too intent upon what they had heard； and too busy in discussion； to notice the new…comers。 When some hundreds were gone by； and it seemed the opportunity to so much as see the Nazarite was lost to the latter； up the river not far away they beheld a person coming towards them of such singular appearance they forgot all else。
Outwardly the man was rude and uncouth； even savage。 Over a thin； gaunt visage of the hue of brown parchment； over his shoulders and down his back below the middle； in witch…like locks； fell a covering of sun…scorched hair。 His eyes were burning…bright。 All his right side was naked； and of the color of his face； and quite as meagre； a shirt of the coarsest camel's…haircoarse as Bedouin tent…clothclothed the rest of his person to the knees； being gathered at the waist by a broad girdle of untanned leather。 His feet were bare。 A scrip； also of untanned leather； was fastened to the girdle。 He used a knotted staff to help him forward。 His movement was quick； decided； and strangely watchful。 Every little while he tos
