ben-hur-第115章
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is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost。 And I saw and bare record； that this〃he paused； his staff still pointing at the stranger in the white garments； as if to give a more absolute certainty to both his words and the conclusions intended〃I bare record； THAT THIS IS THE SON OF GOD！〃
〃It is he； it is he！〃 Balthasar cried； with upraised tearful eyes。 Next moment he sank down insensible。
In this time； it should be remembered； Ben…Hur was studying the face of the stranger； though with an interest entirely different。 He was not insensible to its purity of feature； and its thoughtfulness； tenderness； humility； and holiness； but just then there was room in his mind for but one thoughtWho is this man？ And what？ Messiah or king？ Never was apparition more unroyal。 Nay； looking at that calm； benignant countenance； the very idea of war and conquest； and lust of dominion； smote him like a profanation。 He said； as if speaking to his own heart； Balthasar must be right and Simonides wrong。 This man has not come to rebuild the throne of Solomon； he has neither the nature nor the genius of Herod； king he may be； but not of another and greater than Rome。
It should be understood now that this was not a conclusion with Ben…Hur； but an impression merely； and while it was forming； while yet he gazed at the wonderful countenance； his memory began to throe and struggle。 〃Surely；〃 he said to himself； 〃I have seen the man； but where and when？〃 That the look； so calm； so pitiful； so loving； had somewhere in a past time beamed upon him as that moment it was beaming upon Balthasar became an assurance。 Faintly at first； at last a clear light； a burst of sunshine； the scene by the well at Nazareth what time the Roman guard was dragging him to the galleys returned； and all his being thrilled。 Those hands had helped him when he was perishing。 The face was one of the pictures he had carried in mind ever since。 In the effusion of feeling excited； the explanation of the preacher was lost by him； all but the last wordswords so marvellous that the world yet rings with them：
〃this is the SON OF GOD！〃
Ben…Hur leaped from his horse to render homage to his benefactor； but Iras cried to him； 〃Help； son of Hur； help； or my father will die！〃
He stopped； looked back； then hurried to her assistance。 She gave him a cup； and leaving the slave to bring the camel to its knees； he ran to the river for water。 The stranger was gone when he came back。
At last Balthasar was restored to consciousness。 Stretching forth his hands； he asked； feebly； 〃Where is he？〃
〃Who？〃 asked Iras。
An intense instant interest shone upon the good man's face； as if a last wish had been gratified； and he answered；
〃Hethe Redeemerthe Son of God； whom I have seen again。〃
〃Believest thou so？〃 Iras asked in a low voice of Ben…Hur。
〃The time is full of wonders； let us wait；〃 was all he said。
And next day while the three were listening to him； the Nazarite broke off in mid…speech； saying reverently； 〃Behold the Lamb of God！〃
Looking to where he pointed； they beheld the stranger again。 As Ben…Hur surveyed the slender figure； and holy beautiful countenance compassionate to sadness； a new idea broke upon him。
〃Balthasar is rightso is Simonides。 May not the Redeemer be a king also？〃
And he asked one at his side； 〃Who is the man walking yonder？〃
The other laughed mockingly； and replied；
〃He is the son of a carpenter over in Nazareth。〃
BOOK EIGHTH
〃Who could resist？ Who in this universe？ She did so breathe ambrosia； so immerse My fine existence in a golden clime。 She took me like a child of suckling…time； And cradled me in roses。 Thus condemn'd； The current of my former life was stemm'd； And to this arbitrary queen of sense I bow'd a tranced vassal。〃KEATS； Endymion。
〃I am the resurrection and the life。〃
CHAPTER I
〃EstherEsther！ Speak to the servant below that he may bring me a cup of water。〃
〃Would you not rather have wine； father？〃
〃Let him bring both。〃
This was in the summer…house upon the roof of the old palace of the Hurs in Jerusalem。 From the parapet overlooking the court…yard Esther called to a man in waiting there； at the same moment another man…servant came up the steps and saluted respectfully。
〃A package for the master；〃 he said； giving her a letter enclosed in linen cloth； tied and sealed。
For the satisfaction of the reader； we stop to say that it is the twenty…first day of March； nearly three years after the annunciation of the Christ at Bethabara。
In the meanwhile； Malluch； acting for Ben…Hur； who could not longer endure the emptiness and decay of his father's house； had bought it from Pontius Pilate； and； in process of repair； gates； courts； lewens； stairways； terraces； rooms； and roof had been cleansed and thoroughly restored； not only was there no reminder left of the tragic circumstances so ruinous to the family； but the refurnishment was in a style richer than before。 At every point； indeed； a visitor was met by evidences of the higher tastes acquired by the young proprietor during his years of residence in the villa by Misenum and in the Roman capital。
Now it should not be inferred from this explanation that Ben…Hur had publicly assumed ownership of the property。 In his opinion； the hour for that was not yet come。 Neither had he yet taken his proper name。 Passing the time in the labors of preparation in Galilee； he waited patiently the action of the Nazarene； who became daily more and more a mystery to him； and by prodigies done； often before his eyes； kept him in a state of anxious doubt both as to his character and mission。 Occasionally he came up to the Holy City； stopping at the paternal house； always； however； as a stranger and a guest。
These visits of Ben…Hur； it should also be observed； were for more than mere rest from labor。 Balthasar and Iras made their home in the palace； and the charm of the daughter was still upon him with all its original freshness； while the father； though feebler in body； held him an unflagging listener to speeches of astonishing power； urging the divinity of the wandering miracle…worker of whom they were all so expectant。
As to Simonides and Esther； they had arrived from Antioch only a few days before this their reappearancea wearisome journey to the merchant； borne； as he had been； in a palanquin swung between two camels； which； in their careening； did not always keep the same step。 But now that he was come； the good man； it seemed； could not see enough of his native land。 He delighted in the perch upon the roof； and spent most of his day hours there seated in an arm…chair； the duplicate of that one kept for him in the cabinet over the store…house by the Orontes。 In the shade of the summer…house he could drink fully of the inspiring air lying lightly upon the familiar hills； he could better watch the sun rise； run its course； and set as it used to in the far…gone； not a habit lost； and with Esther by him it was so much easier up there close to the sky； to bring back the other Esther； his love in youth； his wife； dearer growing with the passage of years。 And yet he was not unmindful of business。 Every day a messenger brought him a despatch from Sanballat； in charge of the big commerce behind； and every day a despatch left him for Sanballat with directions of such minuteness of detail as to exclude all judgment save his own； and all chances except those the Almighty has refused to submit to the most mindful of men。
As Esther started in return to the summer…house； the sunlight fell softly upon the dustless roof； showing her a woman nowsmall； graceful in form； of regular features； rosy with youth and health； bright with intelligence； beautiful with the outshining of a devoted naturea woman to be loved because loving was a habit of life irrepressible with her。
She looked at the package as she turned； paused； looked at it a second time more closely than at first； and the blood rose reddening her cheeksthe seal was Ben…Hur's。 With quickened steps she hastened on。
Simonides held the package a moment while he also inspected the seal。 Breaking it open； he gave her the roll it contained。
〃Read；〃 he said。
His eyes were upon her as he spoke； and instan
