ben-hur-第2章

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ons；　he　was　not　moved　by　them。　When　men　are　lonely；　they　stoop　to　any　companionship；　the　dog　becomes　a　comrade；　the　horse　a　friend；　and　it　is　no　shame　to　shower　them　with　caresses　and　speeches　of　love。　The　camel　received　no　such　token；　not　a　touch；　not　a　word。

Exactly　at　noon　the　dromedary；　of　its　own　will；　stopped；　and　uttered　the　cry　or　moan；　peculiarly　piteous；　by　which　its　kind　always　protest　against　an　overload；　and　sometimes　crave　attention　and　rest。　The　master　thereupon　bestirred　himself；　waking；　as　it　were；　from　sleep。　He　threw　the　curtains　of　the　houdah　up；　looked　at　the　sun；　surveyed　the　country　on　every　side　long　and　carefully；　as　if　to　identify　an　appointed　place。　Satisfied　with　the　inspection；　he　drew　a　deep　breath　and　nodded；　much　as　to　say；　〃At　last；　at　last！〃　A　moment　after；　he　crossed　his　hands　upon　his　breast；　bowed　his　head；　and　prayed　silently。　The　pious　duty　done；　he　prepared　to　dismount。　From　his　throat　proceeded　the　sound　heard　doubtless　by　the　favorite　camels　of　JobIkh！　ikh！the　signal　to　kneel。　Slowly　the　animal　obeyed；　grunting　the　while。　The　rider　then　put　his　foot　upon　the　slender　neck；　and　stepped　upon　the　sand。




CHAPTER　II



The　man　as　now　revealed　was　of　admirable　proportions；　not　so　tall　as　powerful。　Loosening　the　silken　rope　which　held　the　kufiyeh　on　his　head；　he　brushed　the　fringed　folds　back　until　his　face　was　barea　strong　face；　almost　negro　in　color；　yet　the　low；　broad　forehead；　aquiline　nose；　the　outer　corners　of　the　eyes　turned　slightly　upward；　the　hair　profuse；　straight；　harsh；　of　metallic　lustre；　and　falling　to　the　shoulder　in　many　plaits；　were　signs　of　origin　impossible　to　disguise。　So　looked　the　Pharaohs　and　the　later　Ptolemies；　so　looked　Mizraim；　father　of　the　Egyptian　race。　He　wore　the　kamis；　a　white　cotton　shirt　tight…sleeved；　open　in　front；　extending　to　the　ankles　and　embroidered　down　the　collar　and　breast；　over　which　was　thrown　a　brown　woollen　cloak；　now；　as　in　all　probability　it　was　then；　called　the　aba；　an　outer　garment　with　long　skirt　and　short　sleeves；　lined　inside　with　stuff　of　mixed　cotton　and　silk；　edged　all　round　with　a　margin　of　clouded　yellow。　His　feet　were　protected　by　sandals；　attached　by　thongs　of　soft　leather。　A　sash　held　the　kamis　to　his　waist。　What　was　very　noticeable；　considering　he　was　alone；　and　that　the　desert　was　the　haunt　of　leopards　and　lions；　and　men　quite　as　wild；　he　carried　no　arms；　not　even　the　crooked　stick　used　for　guiding　camels；　wherefore　we　may　at　least　infer　his　errand　peaceful；　and　that　he　was　either　uncommonly　bold　or　under　extraordinary　protection。

The　traveller's　limbs　were　numb；　for　the　ride　had　been　long　and　wearisome；　so　he　rubbed　his　hands　and　stamped　his　feet；　and　walked　round　the　faithful　servant；　whose　lustrous　eyes　were　closing　in　calm　content　with　the　cud　he　had　already　found。　Often；　while　making　the　circuit；　he　paused；　and；　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hands；　examined　the　desert　to　the　extremest　verge　of　vision；　and　always；　when　the　survey　was　ended；　his　face　clouded　with　disappointment；　slight；　but　enough　to　advise　a　shrewd　spectator　that　he　was　there　expecting　company；　if　not　by　appointment；　at　the　same　time；　the　spectator　would　have　been　conscious　of　a　sharpening　of　the　curiosity　to　learn　what　the　business　could　be　that　required　transaction　in　a　place　so　far　from　civilized　abode。

However　disappointed；　there　could　be　little　doubt　of　the　stranger's　confidence　in　the　coming　of　the　expected　company。　In　token　thereof；　he　went　first　to　the　litter；　and；　from　the　cot　or　box　opposite　the　one　he　had　occupied　in　coming；　produced　a　sponge　and　a　small　gurglet　of　water；　with　which　he　washed　the　eyes；　face；　and　nostrils　of　the　camel；　that　done；　from　the　same　depository　he　drew　a　circular　cloth；　red…and　white…striped；　a　bundle　of　rods；　and　a　stout　cane。　The　latter；　after　some　manipulation；　proved　to　be　a　cunning　device　of　lesser　joints；　one　within　another；　which；　when　united　together；　formed　a　centre　pole　higher　than　his　head。　When　the　pole　was　planted；　and　the　rods　set　around　it；　he　spread　the　cloth　over　them；　and　was　literally　at　homea　home　much　smaller　than　the　habitations　of　emir　and　sheik；　yet　their　counterpart　in　all　other　respects。　From　the　litter　again　he　brought　a　carpet　or　square　rug；　and　covered　the　floor　of　the　tent　on　the　side　from　the　sun。　That　done；　he　went　out；　and　once　more；　and　with　greater　care　and　more　eager　eyes；　swept　the　encircling　country。　Except　a　distant　jackal；　galloping　across　the　plain；　and　an　eagle　flying　towards　the　Gulf　of　Akaba；　the　waste　below；　like　the　blue　above　it；　was　lifeless。

He　turned　to　the　camel；　saying　low；　and　in　a　tongue　strange　to　the　desert；　〃We　are　far　from　home；　O　racer　with　the　swiftest　windswe　are　far　from　home；　but　God　is　with　us。　Let　us　be　patient。〃

Then　he　took　some　beans　from　a　pocket　in　the　saddle；　and　put　them　in　a　bag　made　to　hang　below　the　animal's　nose；　and　when　he　saw　the　relish　with　which　the　good　servant　took　to　the　food；　he　turned　and　again　scanned　the　world　of　sand；　dim　with　the　glow　of　the　vertical　sun。

〃They　will　come　〃　he　said；　calmly。　〃He　that　led　me　is　leading　them。　I　will　make　ready。〃

From　the　pouches　which　lined　the　interior　of　the　cot；　and　from　a　willow　basket　which　was　part　of　its　furniture；　he　brought　forth　materials　for　a　meal：　platters　close…woven　of　the　fibres　of　palms；　wine　in　small　gurglets　of　skin；　mutton　dried　and　smoked；　stoneless　shami；　or　Syrian　pomegranates；　dates　of　El　Shelebi；　wondrous　rich　and　grown　in　the　nakhil；　or　palm　orchards；　of　Central　Arabia；　cheese；　like　David's　〃slices　of　milk；〃　and　leavened　bread　from　the　city　bakeryall　which　he　carried　and　set　upon　the　carpet　under　the　tent。　As　the　final　preparation；　about　the　provisions　he　laid　three　pieces　of　silk　cloth；　used　among　refined　people　of　the　East　to　cover　the　knees　of　guests　while　at　tablea　circumstance　significant　of　the　number　of　persons　who　were　to　partake　of　his　entertainmentthe　number　he　was　awaiting。

All　was　now　ready。　He　stepped　out：　lo！　in　the　east　a　dark　speck　on　the　face　of　the　desert。　He　stood　as　if　rooted　to　the　ground；　his　eyes　dilated；　his　flesh　crept　chilly；　as　if　touched　by　something　supernatural。　The　speck　grew；　became　large　as　a　hand；　at　length　assumed　defined　proportions。　A　little　later；　full　into　view　swung　a　duplication　of　his　own　dromedary；　tall　and　white；　and　bearing　a　houdah；　the　travelling　litter　of　Hindostan。　Then　the　Egyptian　crossed　his　hands　upon　his　breast；　and　looked　to　heaven。

〃God　only　is　great！〃　he　exclaimed；　his　eyes　full　of　tears；　his　soul　in　awe。

The　stranger　drew　nighat　last　stopped。　Then　he；　too；　seemed　just　waking。　He　beheld　the　kneeling　camel；　the　tent；　and　the　man　standing　prayerfully　at　the　door。　He　crossed　his　hands；　bent　his　head；　and　prayed　silently；　after　which；　in　a　little　while；　he　stepped　from　his　camel's　neck　to　the　sand；　and　advanced　towards　the　Egyptian；　as　did　the　Egyptian　towards　him。　A　moment　they　looked　at　each　other；　then　they　embracedthat　is；　each　threw　his　right　arm　over　the　other's　shoulder；　and　the　left　round　the　side；　placing　his　chin　first　upon　the　left；　then　upon　the　right　breast。

〃Peace　be　with　thee；　O　servant　of　the　true　God！〃　the　stranger　said。

〃And　to　thee；　O　brother　of　the　true　faith！to　thee　peace　and　welcome；〃　the　Egyptian　replied；　with　fervor。

The　new…comer　was　tall　and　gaunt；　with　lean　face；　sunken　eyes；　white　hair　and　beard；　and　a　complexion　between　the　hue　of　cinnamon　and　bronze。　He；　too；　was　unarmed。　His　costume　was　Hindostani；　over　the　skull…cap　a　shawl　was　wound　in　great　folds；　forming　a　turban；　his　body　garments　were　in　the　style　of　the　Egyptian's；　except　that　the　aba　was　shorter；　exposing　wide　flowing　breeches　gathered　at　the　ankles。　In　place　of　sandals；　his　feet　were　clad　in　half…slippers　of　red　leather；　pointed　at　the　toes。　Save　the　slippers；　the　costume　from　head　to　foot　was　of　white　linen。　The　air　of　the　man　was　high；　stately；　severe。　Visvamitra；　the　greatest　of　the　ascetic　heroes　of　the　Iliad　of　the　East；　had　in　him　a　perfect　representative。　He　might　have　been　called　a　Life　drenched　with　the　wisdom　of　BrahmaDevotion　Incarnate。　Only　in　his　eyes　was　there　proof　of　humanity；　when　he　lifted　his　face　from　the　Egyptian's　breast；　they　were　glistening　with　tears。

〃God　only　is　great！