ben-hur-第129章
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The people were come up now； and in his own ears asking angrily； 〃Who art thou； man？〃
〃O master；〃 Ben…Hur made haste to say； his voice sharp with anxiety； 〃I am thy friend and lover。 Tell me； I pray thee； if I bring rescue； wilt thou accept it？〃
The Nazarene never so much as looked up or allowed the slightest sign of recognition； yet the something which when we are suffering is always telling it to such as look at us； though they be strangers； failed not now。 〃Let him alone；〃 it seemed to say； 〃he has been abandoned by his friends； the world has denied him； in bitterness of spirit； he has taken farewell of men； he is going he knows not where； and he cares not。 Let him alone。〃
And to that Ben…Hur was now driven。 A dozen hands were upon him； and from all sides there was shouting； 〃He is one of them。 Bring him along； club himkill him！〃
With a gust of passion which gave him many times his ordinary force； Ben…Hur raised himself； turned once about with arms outstretched； shook the hands off； and rushed through the circle which was fast hemming him in。 The hands snatching at him as he passed tore his garments from his back； so he ran off the road naked； and the gorge； in keeping of the friendly darkness； darker there than elsewhere； received him safe。
Reclaiming his handkerchief and outer garments from the orchard wall； he followed back to the city gate； thence he went to the khan； and on the good horse rode to the tents of his people out by the Tombs of the Kings。
As he rode； he promised himself to see the Nazarene on the morrow promised it； not knowing that the unfriended man was taken straightway to the house of Hannas to be tried that night。
The heart the young man carried to his couch beat so heavily he could not sleep； for now clearly his renewed Judean kingdom resolved itself into what it wasonly a dream。 It is bad enough to see our castles overthrown one after another with an interval between in which to recover from the shock； or at least let the echoes of the fall die away； but when they go altogethergo as ships sink； as houses tumble in earthquakesthe spirits which endure it calmly are made of stuffs sterner than common； and Ben…Hur's was not of them。 Through vistas in the future； he began to catch glimpses of a life serenely beautiful； with a home instead of a palace of state； and Esther its mistress。 Again and again through the leaden…footed hours of the night he saw the villa by Misenum； and with his little countrywoman strolled through the garden； and rested in the panelled atrium； overhead the Neapolitan sky； at their feet the sunniest of sun…lands and the bluest of bays。
In plainest speech； he was entering upon a crisis with which to…morrow and the Nazarene will have everything to do。
CHAPTER IX
Next morning； about the second hour； two men rode full speed to the doors of Ben…Hur's tents； and dismounting； asked to see him。 He was not yet risen； but gave directions for their admission。
〃Peace to you； brethren；〃 he said； for they were of his Galileans； and trusted officers。 〃Will you be seated？〃
〃Nay；〃 the senior replied； bluntly； 〃to sit and be at ease is to let the Nazarene die。 Rise； son of Judah； and go with us。 The judgment has been given。 The tree of the cross is already at Golgotha。〃
Ben…Hur stared at them。
〃The cross！〃 was all he could for the moment say。
〃They took him last night； and tried him；〃 the man continued。 〃At dawn they led him before Pilate。 Twice the Roman denied his guilt； twice he refused to give him over。 At last he washed his hands； and said； 'Be it upon you then；' and they answered〃
〃Who answered？〃
〃Theythe priests and people'His blood be upon us and our children。'〃
〃Holy father Abraham！〃 cried Ben…Hur； 〃a Roman kinder to an Israelite than his own kin！ And ifah； if he should indeed be the son of God； what shall ever wash his blood from their children？ It must not be'tis time to fight！〃
His face brightened with resolution； and he clapped his hands。
〃The horsesand quickly！〃 he said to the Arab who answered the signal。 〃And bid Amrah send me fresh garments； and bring my sword！ It is time to die for Israel； my friends。 Tarry without till I come。〃
He ate a crust； drank a cup of wine； and was soon upon the road。
〃Whither would you go first？〃 asked the Galilean。
〃To collect the legions。〃
〃Alas！〃 the man replied； throwing up his hands。
〃Why alas？〃
〃Master〃the man spoke with shame〃master； I and my friend here are all that are faithful。 The rest do follow the priests。〃
〃Seeking what？〃 and Ben…Hur drew rein。
〃To kill him。〃
〃Not the Nazarene？〃
〃You have said it。〃
Ben…Hur looked slowly from one man to the other。 He was hearing again the question of the night before： 〃The cup my Father hath given me； shall I not drink it？〃 In the ear of the Nazarene he was putting his own question； 〃If I bring thee rescue； wilt thou accept it？〃 He was saying to himself； 〃This death may not be averted。 The man has been travelling towards it with full knowledge from the day he began his mission： it is imposed by a will higher than his； whose but the Lord's！ If he is consenting； if he goes to it voluntarily； what shall another do？〃 Nor less did Ben…Hur see the failure of the scheme he had built upon the fidelity of the Galileans； their desertion； in fact； left nothing more of it。 But how singular it should happen that morning of all others！ A dread seized him。 It was possible his scheming； and labor； and expenditure of treasure might have been but blasphemous contention with God。 When he picked up the reins and said； 〃Let us go； brethren；〃 all before him was uncertainty。 The faculty of resolving quickly； without which one cannot be a hero in the midst of stirring scenes； was numb within him。
〃Let us go； brethren； let us to Golgotha。〃
They passed through excited crowds of people going south； like themselves。 All the country north of the city seemed aroused and in motion。
Hearing that the procession with the condemned might be met with somewhere near the great white towers left by Herod； the three friends rode thither； passing round southeast of Akra。 In the valley below the Pool of Hezekiah； passage…way against the multitude became impossible； and they were compelled to dismount； and take shelter behind the corner of a house and wait。
The waiting was as if they were on a river bank； watching a flood go by； for such the people seemed。
There are certain chapters in the First Book of this story which were written to give the reader an idea of the composition of the Jewish nationality as it was in the time of Christ。 They were also written in anticipation of this hour and scene； so that he who has read them with attention can now see all Ben…Hur saw of the going to the crucifixiona rare and wonderful sight！
Half an houran hourthe flood surged by Ben…Hur and his companions； within arm's reach； incessant； undiminished。 At the end of that time he could have said； 〃I have seen all the castes of Jerusalem； all the sects of Judea； all the tribes of Israel； and all the nationalities of earth represented by them。〃 The Libyan Jew went by； and the Jew of Egypt； and the Jew from the Rhine； in short； Jews from all East countries and all West countries； and all islands within commercial connection； they went by on foot； on horseback； on camels； in litters and chariots； and with an infinite variety of costumes； yet with the same marvellous similitude of features which to…day particularizes the children of Israel； tried as they have been by climates and modes of life； they went by speaking all known tongues； for by that means only were they distinguishable group from group； they went by in hasteeager； anxious； crowdingall to behold one poor Nazarene die； a felon between felons。
These were the many； but they were not all。
Borne along with the stream were thousands not Jewsthousands hating and despising themGreeks； Romans； Arabs； Syrians； Africans； Egyptians； Easterns。 So that； studying the mass； it seemed the whole world was to be represented； and； in that sense； present at the crucifixion。
The going was singularly quiet。 A hoof…stroke upon a rock； the glide and rattle of revolving wheels； voices in conversation； and now and th
