ben-hur-第14章

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in　part；　to　the　primitive　life　they　led；　but　chiefly　to　their　constant　care　of　things　lovable　and　helpless。

They　rested　and　talked；　and　their　talk　was　all　about　their　flocks；　a　dull　theme　to　the　world；　yet　a　theme　which　was　all　the　world　to　them。　If　in　narrative　they　dwelt　long　upon　affairs　of　trifling　moment；　if　one　of　them　omitted　nothing　of　detail　in　recounting　the　loss　of　a　lamb；　the　relation　between　him　and　the　unfortunate　should　be　remembered：　at　birth　it　became　his　charge；　his　to　keep　all　its　days；　to　help　over　the　floods；　to　carry　down　the　hollows；　to　name　and　train；　it　was　to　be　his　companion；　his　object　of　thought　and　interest；　the　subject　of　his　will；　it　was　to　enliven　and　share　his　wanderings；　in　its　defense　he　might　be　called　on　to　face　the　lion　or　robberto　die。

The　great　events；　such　as　blotted　out　nations　and　changed　the　mastery　of　the　world；　were　trifles　to　them；　if　perchance　they　came　to　their　knowledge。　Of　what　Herod　was　doing　in　this　city　or　that；　building　palaces　and　gymnasia；　and　indulging　forbidden　practises；　they　occasionally　heard。　As　was　her　habit　in　those　days；　Rome　did　not　wait　for　people　slow　to　inquire　about　her；　she　came　to　them。　Over　the　hills　along　which　he　was　leading　his　lagging　herd；　or　in　the　fastnesses　in　which　he　was　hiding　them；　not　unfrequently　the　shepherd　was　startled　by　the　blare　of　trumpets；　and；　peering　out；　beheld　a　cohort；　sometimes　a　legion；　in　march；　and　when　the　glittering　crests　were　gone；　and　the　excitement　incident　to　the　intrusion　over；　he　bent　himself　to　evolve　the　meaning　of　the　eagles　and　gilded　globes　of　the　soldiery；　and　the　charm　of　a　life　so　the　opposite　of　his　own。

Yet　these　men；　rude　and　simple　as　they　were；　had　a　knowledge　and　a　wisdom　of　their　own。　On　Sabbaths　they　were　accustomed　to　purify　themselves；　and　go　up　into　the　synagogues；　and　sit　on　the　benches　farthest　from　the　ark。　When　the　chazzan　bore　the　Torah　round；　none　kissed　it　with　greater　zest；　when　the　sheliach　read　the　text；　none　listened　to　the　interpreter　with　more　absolute　faith；　and　none　took　away　with　them　more　of　the　elder's　sermon；　or　gave　it　more　thought　afterwards。　In　a　verse　of　the　Shema　they　found　all　the　learning　and　all　the　law　of　their　simple　livesthat　their　Lord　was　One　God；　and　that　they　must　love　him　with　all　their　souls。　And　they　loved　him；　and　such　was　their　wisdom；　surpassing　that　of　kings。

While　they　talked；　and　before　the　first　watch　was　over；　one　by　one　the　shepherds　went　to　sleep；　each　lying　where　he　had　sat。

The　night；　like　most　nights　of　the　winter　season　in　the　hill　country；　was　clear；　crisp；　and　sparkling　with　stars。　There　was　no　wind。　The　atmosphere　seemed　never　so　pure；　and　the　stillness　was　more　than　silence；　it　was　a　holy　hush；　a　warning　that　heaven　was　stooping　low　to　whisper　some　good　thing　to　the　listening　earth。

By　the　gate；　hugging　his　mantle　close；　the　watchman　walked；　at　times　he　stopped；　attracted　by　a　stir　among　the　sleeping　herds；　or　by　a　jackal's　cry　off　on　the　mountain…side。　The　midnight　was　slow　coming　to　him；　but　at　last　it　came。　His　task　was　done；　now　for　the　dreamless　sleep　with　which　labor　blesses　its　wearied　children！　He　moved　towards　the　fire；　but　paused；　a　light　was　breaking　around　him；　soft　and　white；　like　the　moon's。　He　waited　breathlessly。　The　light　deepened；　things　before　invisible　came　to　view；　he　saw　the　whole　field；　and　all　it　sheltered。　A　chill　sharper　than　that　of　the　frosty　aira　chill　of　fearsmote　him。　He　looked　up；　the　stars　were　gone；　the　light　was　dropping　as　from　a　window　in　the　sky；　as　he　looked；　it　became　a　splendor；　then；　in　terror；　he　cried；

〃Awake；　awake！〃

Up　sprang　the　dogs；　and；　howling；　ran　away。

The　herds　rushed　together　bewildered。

The　men　clambered　to　their　feet；　weapons　in　hand。

〃What　is　it？〃　they　asked；　in　one　voice。

〃See！〃　cried　the　watchman；　〃the　sky　is　on　fire！〃

Suddenly　the　light　became　intolerably　bright；　and　they　covered　their　eyes；　and　dropped　upon　their　knees；　then；　as　their　souls　shrank　with　fear；　they　fell　upon　their　faces　blind　and　fainting；　and　would　have　died　had　not　a　voice　said　to　them；

〃Fear　not！〃

And　they　listened。

〃Fear　not：　for　behold；　I　bring　you　good　tidings　of　great　joy；　which　shall　be　to　all　people。〃

The　voice；　in　sweetness　and　soothing　more　than　human；　and　low　and　clear；　penetrated　all　their　being；　and　filled　them　with　assurance。　They　rose　upon　their　knees；　and；　looking　worshipfully；　beheld　in　the　centre　of　a　great　glory　the　appearance　of　a　man；　clad　in　a　robe　intensely　white；　above　its　shoulders　towered　the　tops　of　wings　shining　and　folded；　a　star　over　its　forehead　glowed　with　steady　lustre；　brilliant　as　Hesperus；　its　hands　were　stretched　towards　them　in　blessing；　its　face　was　serene　and　divinely　beautiful。

They　had　often　heard；　and；　in　their　simple　way；　talked；　of　angels；　and　they　doubted　not　now；　but　said；　in　their　hearts；　The　glory　of　God　is　about　us；　and　this　is　he　who　of　old　came　to　the　prophet　by　the　river　of　Ulai。

Directly　the　angel　continued：

〃For　unto　you　is　born　this　day；　in　the　city　of　David；　a　Savior；　which　is　Christ　the　Lord！〃

Again　there　was　a　rest；　while　the　words　sank　into　their　minds。

〃And　this　shall　be　a　sign　unto　you；〃　the　annunciator　said　next。　〃Ye　shall　find　the　babe；　wrapped　in　swaddling…clothes；　lying　in　a　manger。〃

The　herald　spoke　not　again；　his　good　tidings　were　told；　yet　he　stayed　awhile。　Suddenly　the　light；　of　which　he　seemed　the　centre；　turned　roseate　and　began　to　tremble；　then　up；　far　as　the　men　could　see；　there　was　flashing　of　white　wings；　and　coming　and　going　of　radiant　forms；　and　voices　as　of　a　multitude　chanting　in　unison；

〃Glory　to　God　in　the　highest；　and　on　earth　peace；　good…will　towards　men！〃

Not　once　the　praise；　but　many　times。

Then　the　herald　raised　his　eyes　as　seeking　approval　of　one　far　off；　his　wings　stirred；　and　spread　slowly　and　majestically；　on　their　upper　side　white　as　snow；　in　the　shadow　vari…tinted；　like　mother…of…pearl；　when　they　were　expanded　many　cubits　beyond　his　stature；　he　arose　lightly；　and；　without　effort；　floated　out　of　view；　taking　the　light　up　with　him。　Long　after　he　was　gone；　down　from　the　sky　fell　the　refrain　in　measure　mellowed　by　distance；　〃Glory　to　God　in　the　highest；　and　on　earth　peace；　good…will　towards　men。〃

When　the　shepherds　came　fully　to　their　senses；　they　stared　at　each　other　stupidly；　until　one　of　them　said；　〃It　was　Gabriel；　the　Lord's　messenger　unto　men。〃

None　answered。

〃Christ　the　Lord　is　born；　said　he　not　so？〃

Then　another　recovered　his　voice；　and　replied；　〃That　is　what　he　said。〃

〃And　did　he　not　also　say；　in　the　city　of　David；　which　is　our　Bethlehem　yonder。　And　that　we　should　find　him　a　babe　in　swaddling…clothes？〃

〃And　lying　in　a　manger。〃

The　first　speaker　gazed　into　the　fire　thoughtfully；　but　at　length　said；　like　one　possessed　of　a　sudden　resolve；　〃There　is　but　one　place　in　Bethlehem　where　there　are　mangers；　but　one；　and　that　is　in　the　cave　near　the　old　khan。　Brethren；　let　us　go　see　this　thing　which　has　come　to　pass。　The　priests　and　doctors　have　been　a　long　time　looking　for　the　Christ。　Now　he　is　born；　and　the　Lord　has　given　us　a　sign　by　which　to　know　him。　Let　us　go　up　and　worship　him。〃

〃But　the　flocks！〃

〃The　Lord　will　take　care　of　them。　Let　us　make　haste。〃

Then　they　all　arose　and　left　the　marah。

*　*　*　*　*　*

Around　the　mountain　and　through　the　town　they　passed；　and　came　to　the　gate　of　the　khan；　where　there　was　a　man　on　watch。

〃What　would　you　have？〃　he　asked。

〃We　have　seen　and　heard　great　things　to…night；〃　they　replied。

〃Well；　we；　too；　have　seen　great　things；　but　heard　nothing。　What　did　you　hear？〃

〃Let　us　go　down　to　the　cave　in　the　enclosure；　that　we　may　be　sure；　then　we　will　tell　you　all。　Come　with　us；　and　see　for　yourself。〃

〃It　is　a　fool's　errand。〃

〃No；　the　Christ　is　born。〃

〃The　Christ！　How　do　you　know？〃

〃Let　us　go　and　see　first。〃

The　man　laughed　scornfully。

〃The　Christ　indeed！　How　are　you　to　know　him？〃

〃He　was　born　this　night；　and　is　now　lying　in　a　manger；　so　we　were　told；　and　there　is　but　one　place　in　Bethlehem　with　mangers。〃

〃The　cave？〃

〃Yes。　Come　with　us。〃

They　went　through　the　court…yard　without　notice；　although　there　were　some　up　even　then　talking　about　the　wonderful　light。　The　d