ben-hur-第135章

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d　the　servants；　none　of　them　had　seen　her　during　the　day。　After　a　long　quest　everywhere　through　the　house；　Ben…Hur　returned　to　the　guest…chamber；　and　took　the　place　by　the　dead　which　should　have　been　hers；　and　he　bethought　him　there　how　merciful　the　Christ　had　been　to　his　aged　servant。　At　the　gate　of　the　kingdom　of　Paradise　happily　the　afflictions　of　this　life；　even　its　desertions；　are　left　behind　and　forgotten　by　those　who　go　in　and　rest。

When　the　gloom　of　the　burial　was　nigh　gone；　on　the　ninth　day　after　the　healing；　the　law　being　fulfilled；　Ben…Hur　brought　his　mother　and　Tirzah　home；　and　from　that　day；　in　that　house　the　most　sacred　names　possible　of　utterance　by　men　were　always　coupled　worshipfully　together；

GOD　THE　FATHER　AND　CHRIST　THE　SON。



About　five　years　after　the　crucifixion；　Esther；　the　wife　of　Ben…Hur；　sat　in　her　room　in　the　beautiful　villa　by　Misenum。　It　was　noon；　with　a　warm　Italian　sun　making　summer　for　the　roses　and　vines　outside。　Everything　in　the　apartment　was　Roman；　except　that　Esther　wore　the　garments　of　a　Jewish　matron。　Tirzah　and　two　children　at　play　upon　a　lion　skin　on　the　floor　were　her　companions；　and　one　had　only　to　observe　how　carefully　she　watched　them　to　know　that　the　little　ones　were　hers。

Time　had　treated　her　generously。　She　was　more　than　ever　beautiful；　and　in　becoming　mistress　of　the　villa；　she　had　realized　one　of　her　cherished　dreams。

In　the　midst　of　this　simple；　home…like　scene；　a　servant　appeared　in　the　doorway；　and　spoke　to　her。

〃A　woman　in　the　atrium　to　speak　with　the　mistress。〃

〃Let　her　come。　I　will　receive　her　here。〃

Presently　the　stranger　entered。　At　sight　of　her　the　Jewess　arose；　and　was　about　to　speak；　then　she　hesitated；　changed　color；　and　finally　drew　back；　saying；　〃I　have　known　you；　good　woman。　You　are〃

〃I　was　Iras；　the　daughter　of　Balthasar。〃

Esther　conquered　her　surprise；　and　bade　the　servant　bring　the　Egyptian　a　seat。

〃No；〃　said　Iras；　coldly。　〃I　will　retire　directly。〃

The　two　gazed　at　each　other。　We　know　what　Esther　presenteda　beautiful　woman；　a　happy　mother；　a　contented　wife。　On　the　other　side；　it　was　very　plain　that　fortune　had　not　dealt　so　gently　with　her　former　rival。　The　tall　figure　remained　with　some　of　its　grace；　but　an　evil　life　had　tainted　the　whole　person。　The　face　was　coarse；　the　large　eyes　were　red　and　pursed　beneath　the　lower　lids；　there　was　no　color　in　her　cheeks。　The　lips　were　cynical　and　hard；　and　general　neglect　was　leading　rapidly　to　premature　old　age。　Her　attire　was　ill　chosen　and　draggled。　The　mud　of　the　road　clung　to　her　sandals。　Iras　broke　the　painful　silence。

〃These　are　thy　children？〃

Esther　looked　at　them；　and　smiled。

〃Yes。　Will　you　not　speak　to　them？〃

〃I　would　scare　them；〃　Iras　replied。　Then　she　drew　closer　to　Esther；　and　seeing　her　shrink；　said；　〃Be　not　afraid。　Give　thy　husband　a　message　for　me。　Tell　him　his　enemy　is　dead；　and　that　for　the　much　misery　he　brought　me　I　slew　him。〃

〃His　enemy！〃

〃The　Messala。　Further；　tell　thy　husband　that　for　the　harm　I　sought　to　do　him　I　have　been　punished　until　even　he　would　pity　me。〃

Tears　arose　in　Esther's　eyes；　and　she　was　about　to　speak。

〃Nay；〃　said　Iras；　〃I　do　not　want　pity　or　tears。　Tell　him；　finally；　I　have　found　that　to　be　a　Roman　is　to　be　a　brute。　Farewell。〃

She　moved　to　go。　Esther　followed　her。

〃Stay；　and　see　my　husband。　He　has　no　feeling　against　you。　He　sought　for　you　everywhere。　He　will　be　your　friend。　I　will　be　your　friend。　We　are　Christians。〃

The　other　was　firm。

〃No；　I　am　what　I　am　of　choice。　It　will　be　over　shortly。〃

〃But〃Esther　hesitated〃have　we　nothing　you　would　wish；　nothing　toto〃

The　countenance　of　the　Egyptian　softened；　something　like　a　smile　played　about　her　lips。　She　looked　at　the　children　upon　the　floor。

〃There　is　something；〃　she　said。

Esther　followed　her　eyes；　and　with　quick　perception　answered；　〃It　is　yours。〃

Iras　went　to　them；　and　knelt　on　the　lion's　skin；　and　kissed　them　both。　Rising　slowly；　she　looked　at　them；　then　passed　to　the　door　and　out　of　it　without　a　parting　word。　She　walked　rapidly；　and　was　gone　before　Esther　could　decide　what　to　do。

Ben…Hur；　when　he　was　told　of　the　visit；　knew　certainly　what　he　had　long　surmisedthat　on　the　day　of　the　crucifixion　Iras　had　deserted　her　father　for　Messala。　Nevertheless；　he　set　out　immediately　and　hunted　for　her　vainly；　they　never　saw　her　more；　or　heard　of　her。　The　blue　bay；　with　all　its　laughing　under　the　sun；　has　yet　its　dark　secrets。　Had　it　a　tongue；　it　might　tell　us　of　the　Egyptian。

Simonides　lived　to　be　a　very　old　man。　In　the　tenth　year　of　Nero's　reign；　he　gave　up　the　business　so　long　centred　in　the　warehouse　at　Antioch。　To　the　last　he　kept　a　clear　head　and　a　good　heart；　and　was　successful。

One　evening；　in　the　year　named；　he　sat　in　his　arm…chair　on　the　terrace　of　the　warehouse。　Ben…Hur　and　Esther；　and　their　three　children；　were　with　him。　The　last　of　the　ships　swung　at　mooring　in　the　current　of　the　river；　all　the　rest　had　been　sold。　In　the　long　interval　between　this　and　the　day　of　the　crucifixion　but　one　sorrow　had　befallen　them：　that　was　when　the　mother　of　Ben…Hur　died；　and　then　and　now　their　grief　would　have　been　greater　but　for　their　Christian　faith。

The　ship　spoken　of　had　arrived　only　the　day　before；　bringing　intelligence　of　the　persecution　of　Christians　begun　by　Nero　in　Rome；　and　the　party　on　the　terrace　were　talking　of　the　news　when　Malluch；　who　was　still　in　their　service；　approached　and　delivered　a　package　to　Ben…Hur。

〃Who　brings　this？〃　the　latter　asked；　after　reading。

〃An　Arab。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃He　left　immediately。〃

〃Listen；〃　said　Ben…Hur　to　Simonides。

He　read　then　the　following　letter：

〃I；　Ilderim；　the　son　of　Ilderim　the　Generous；　and　sheik　of　the　tribe　of　Ilderim；　to　Judah；　son　of　Hur。

〃Know；　O　friend　of　my　father's；　how　my　father　loved　you。　Read　what　is　herewith　sent；　and　you　will　know。　His　will　is　my　will；　therefore　what　he　gave　is　thine。

〃All　the　Parthians　took　from　him　in　the　great　battle　in　which　they　slew　him　I　have　retakenthis　writing；　with　other　things；　and　vengeance；　and　all　the　brood　of　that　Mira　who　in　his　time　was　mother　of　so　many　stars。

〃Peace　be　to　you　and　all　yours。

〃This　voice　out　of　the　desert　is　the　voice　of

〃Ilderim；　Shiek。〃


Ben…Hur　next　unrolled　a　scrap　of　papyrus　yellow　as　a　withered　mulberry　leaf。　It　required　the　daintiest　handling。　Proceeding；　he　read：

〃Ilderim；　surnamed　the　Generous；　sheik　of　the　tribe　of　Ilderim；　to　the　son　who　succeeds　me。

〃All　I　have；　O　son；　shall　be　thine　in　the　day　of　thy　succession；　except　that　property　by　Antioch　known　as　the　Orchard　of　Palms；　and　it　shall　be　to　the　son　of　Hur　who　brought　us　such　glory　in　the　Circusto　him　and　his　forever。

〃Dishonor　not　thy　father。　　　　　　　　ILDERIM　THE　GENEROUS；　Sheik。〃


〃What　say　you？〃　asked　Ben…Hur；　of　Simonides。

Esther　took　the　papers　pleased；　and　read　them　to　herself。　Simonides　remained　silent。　His　eyes　were　upon　the　ship；　but　he　was　thinking。　At　length　he　spoke。

〃Son　of　Hur；〃　he　said；　gravely；　〃the　Lord　has　been　good　to　you　in　these　later　years。　You　have　much　to　be　thankful　for。　Is　it　not　time　to　decide　finally　the　meaning　of　the　gift　of　the　great　fortune　now　all　in　your　hand；　and　growing？〃

〃I　decided　that　long　ago。　The　fortune　was　meant　for　the　service　of　the　Giver；　not　a　part；　Simonides；　but　all　of　it。　The　question　with　me　has　been；　How　can　I　make　it　most　useful　in　his　cause？　And　of　that　tell　me；　I　pray　you。〃

Simonides　answered；

〃The　great　sums　you　have　given　to　the　Church　here　in　Antioch；　I　am　witness　to。　Now；　instantly　almost　with　this　gift　of　the　generous　sheik's；　comes　the　news　of　the　persecution　of　the　brethren　in　Rome。　It　is　the　opening　of　a　new　field。　The　light　must　not　go　out　in　the　capital。〃

〃Tell　me　how　I　can　keep　it　alive。〃

〃I　will　tell　you。　The　Romans；　even　this　Nero；　hold　two　things　sacredI　know　of　no　others　they　so　holdthey　are　the　ashes　of　the　dead　and　all　places　of　burial。　If　you　cannot　build　temples　for　the　worship　of　the　Lord　above　ground；　then　build　them　below　the　ground；　and　to　keep　them　from　profanation；　carry　to　them　the　bodies　of　all　who　die　in　the　faith。〃

Ben…Hur　arose　excitedly。

〃It　is　a　great　idea；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　not　wait　to　begin　it。　Time　forbids　waiting。　T