ben-hur-第45章

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　walls　of　the　villa　by　Misenum　there　are　many　of　themall　came　to　me　as　the　son　of　Arrius；　the　duumvir。　In　that　relation　only　am　I　known　among　Romans。　。　。　。　In　steadfast　pursuit　of　my　secret　aim；　I　left　Rome　for　Antioch；　intending　to　accompany　the　Consul　Maxentius　in　the　campaign　he　is　organizing　against　the　Parthians。　Master　of　personal　skill　in　all　arms；　I　seek　now　the　higher　knowledge　pertaining　to　the　conduct　of　bodies　of　men　in　the　field。　The　consul　has　admitted　me　one　of　his　military　family。　But　yesterday；　as　our　ship　entered　the　Orontes；　two　other　ships　sailed　in　with　us　flying　yellow　flags。　A　fellow…passenger　and　countryman　from　Cyprus　explained　that　the　vessels　belonged　to　Simonides；　the　master…merchant　of　Antioch；　he　told　us；　also；　who　the　merchant　was；　his　marvellous　success　in　commerce；　of　his　fleets　and　caravans；　and　their　coming　and　going；　and；　not　knowing　I　had　interest　in　the　theme　beyond　my　associate　listeners；　he　said　Simonides　was　a　Jew；　once　the　servant　of　the　Prince　Hur；　nor　did　he　conceal　the　cruelties　of　Gratus；　or　the　purpose　of　their　infliction。〃

At　this　allusion　Simonides　bowed　his　head；　and；　as　if　to　help　him　conceal　his　feelings　and　her　own　deep　sympathy；　the　daughter　hid　her　face　on　his　neck。　Directly　he　raised　his　eyes；　and　said；　in　a　clear　voice；　〃I　am　listening。〃

〃O　good　Simonides！〃　Ben…Hur　then　said；　advancing　a　step；　his　whole　soul　seeking　expression；　〃I　see　thou　art　not　convinced；　and　that　yet　I　stand　in　the　shadow　of　thy　distrust。〃

The　merchant　held　his　features　fixed　as　marble；　and　his　tongue　as　still。

〃And　not　less　clearly；　I　see　the　difficulties　of　my　position；〃　Ben…Hur　continued。　〃All　my　Roman　connection　I　can　prove；　I　have　only　to　call　upon　the　consul；　now　the　guest　of　the　governor　of　the　city；　but　I　cannot　prove　the　particulars　of　thy　demand　upon　me。　I　cannot　prove　I　am　my　father's　son。　They　who　could　serve　me　in　thatalas！　they　are　dead　or　lost。〃

He　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　whereupon　Esther　arose；　and；　taking　the　rejected　cup　to　him；　said；　〃The　wine　is　of　the　country　we　all　so　love。　Drink；　I　pray　thee！〃

The　voice　was　sweet　as　that　of　Rebekah　offering　drink　at　the　well　near　Nahor　the　city；　he　saw　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　he　drank；　saying；　〃Daughter　of　Simonides；　thy　heart　is　full　of　goodness；　and　merciful　art　thou　to　let　the　stranger　share　it　with　thy　father。　Be　thou　blessed　of　our　God！　I　thank　thee。〃

Then　he　addressed　himself　to　the　merchant　again：

〃As　I　have　no　proof　that　I　am　my　father's　son；　I　will　withdraw　that　I　demanded　of　thee；　O　Simonides；　and　go　hence　to　trouble　you　no　more；　only　let　me　say　I　did　not　seek　thy　return　to　servitude　nor　account　of　thy　fortune；　in　any　event；　I　would　have　said；　as　now　I　say；　that　all　which　is　product　of　thy　labor　and　genius　is　thine；　keep　it　in　welcome。　I　have　no　need　of　any　part　thereof。　When　the　good　Quintus；　my　second　father；　sailed　on　the　voyage　which　was　his　last；　he　left　me　his　heir；　princely　rich。　If；　therefore；　thou　cost　think　of　me　again；　be　it　with　remembrance　of　this　question；　which；　as　I　do　swear　by　the　prophets　and　Jehovah；　thy　God　and　mine；　was　the　chief　purpose　of　my　coming　here：　What　cost　thou　knowwhat　canst　thou　tell　meof　my　mother　and　Tirzah；　my　sistershe　who　should　be　in　beauty　and　grace　even　as　this　one；　thy　sweetness　of　life；　if　not　thy　very　life？　Oh！　what　canst　thou　tell　me　of　them？〃

The　tears　ran　down　Esther's　cheeks；　but　the　man　was　wilful：　in　a　clear　voice；　he　replied；

〃I　have　said　I　knew　the　Prince　Ben…Hur。　I　remember　hearing　of　the　misfortune　which　overtook　his　family。　I　remember　the　bitterness　with　which　I　heard　it。　He　who　wrought　such　misery　to　the　widow　of　my　friend　is　the　same　who；　in　the　same　spirit；　hath　since　wrought　upon　me。　I　will　go　further；　and　say　to　you；　I　have　made　diligent　quest　concerning　the　family；　butI　have　nothing　to　tell　you　of　them。　They　are　lost。〃

Ben…Hur　uttered　a　great　groan。

〃Thenthen　it　is　another　hope　broken！〃　he　said；　struggling　with　his　feelings。　〃I　am　used　to　disappointments。　I　pray　you　pardon　my　intrusion；　and　if　I　have　occasioned　you　annoyance；　forgive　it　because　of　my　sorrow。　I　have　nothing　now　to　live　for　but　vengeance。　Farewell。〃

At　the　curtain　he　turned；　and　said；　simply；　〃I　thank　you　both。〃

〃Peace　go　with　you；〃　the　merchant　said。

Esther　could　not　speak　for　sobbing。

And　so　he　departed。



CHAPTER　IV



Scarcely　was　Ben…Hur　gone；　when　Simonides　seemed　to　wake　as　from　sleep：　his　countenance　flushed；　the　sullen　light　of　his　eyes　changed　to　brightness；　and　he　said；　cheerily；

〃Esther；　ringquick！〃

She　went　to　the　table；　and　rang　a　service…bell。

One　of　the　panels　in　the　wall　swung　back；　exposing　a　doorway　which　gave　admittance　to　a　man　who　passed　round　to　the　merchant's　front；　and　saluted　him　with　a　half…salaam。

〃Malluch；　herenearerto　the　chair；〃　the　master　said；　imperiously。　〃I　have　a　mission　which　shall　not　fail　though　the　sun　should。　Hearken！　A　young　man　is　now　descending　to　the　store…roomtall；　comely；　and　in　the　garb　of　Israel；　follow　him；　his　shadow　not　more　faithful；　and　every　night　send　me　report　of　where　he　is；　what　he　does；　and　the　company　he　keeps；　and　if；　without　discovery；　you　overhear　his　conversations；　report　them　word　for　word；　together　with　whatever　will　serve　to　expose　him；　his　habits；　motives；　life。　Understand　you？　Go　quickly！　Stay；　Malluch：　if　he　leave　the　city；　go　after　himand；　mark　you；　Malluch；　be　as　a　friend。　If　he　bespeak　you；　tell　him　what　you　will　to　the　occasion　most　suited；　except　that　you　are　in　my　service；　of　that；　not　a　word。　Hastemake　haste！〃

The　man　saluted　as　before；　and　was　gone。

Then　Simonides　rubbed　his　wan　hands　together；　and　laughed。

〃What　is　the　day；　daughter？〃　he　said；　in　the　midst　of　the　mood。　〃What　is　the　day？　I　wish　to　remember　it　for　happiness　come。　See；　and　look　for　it　laughing；　and　laughing　tell　me；　Esther。〃

The　merriment　seemed　unnatural　to　her；　and；　as　if　to　entreat　him　from　it；　she　answered；　sorrowfully；　〃Woe's　me；　father；　that　I　should　ever　forget　this　day！〃

His　hands　fell　down　the　instant；　and　his　chin；　dropping　upon　his　breast；　lost　itself　in　the　muffling　folds　of　flesh　composing　his　lower　face。

〃True；　most　true；　my　daughter！〃　he　said；　without　looking　up。　〃This　is　the　twentieth　day　of　the　fourth　month。　To…day；　five　years　ago；　my　Rachel；　thy　mother；　fell　down　and　died。　They　brought　me　home　broken　as　thou　seest　me；　and　we　found　her　dead　of　grief。　Oh；　to　me　she　was　a　cluster　of　camphire　in　the　vineyards　of　En…Gedi！　I　have　gathered　my　myrrh　with　my　spice。　I　have　eaten　my　honeycomb　with　my　honey。　We　laid　her　away　in　a　lonely　placein　a　tomb　cut　in　the　mountain；　no　one　near　her。　Yet　in　the　darkness　she　left　me　a　little　light；　which　the　years　have　increased　to　a　brightness　of　morning。〃　He　raised　his　hand　and　rested　it　upon　his　daughter's　head。　〃Dear　Lord；　I　thank　thee　that　now　in　my　Esther　my　lost　Rachel　liveth　again！〃

Directly　he　lifted　his　head；　and　said；　as　with　a　sudden　thought；　〃Is　it　not　clear　day　outside？〃

〃It　was；　when　the　young　man　came　in。〃

〃Then　let　Abimelech　come　and　take　me　to　the　garden；　where　I　can　see　the　river　and　the　ships；　and　I　will　tell　thee；　dear　Esther；　why　but　now　my　mouth　filled　with　laughter；　and　my　tongue　with　singing；　and　my　spirit　was　like　to　a　roe　or　to　a　young　hart　upon　the　mountains　of　spices。〃

In　answer　to　the　bell　a　servant　came；　and　at　her　bidding　pushed　the　chair；　set　on　little　wheels　for　the　purpose；　out　of　the　room　to　the　roof　of　the　lower　house；　called　by　him　his　garden。　Out　through　the　roses；　and　by　beds　of　lesser　flowers；　all　triumphs　of　careful　attendance；　but　now　unnoticed；　he　was　rolled　to　a　position　from　which　he　could　view　the　palace…tops　over　against　him　on　the　island；　the　bridge　in　lessening　perspective　to　the　farther　shore；　and　the　river　below　the　bridge　crowded　with　vessels；　all　swimming　amidst　the　dancing　splendors　of　the　early　sun　upon　the　rippling　water。　There　the　servant　left　him　with　Esther。

The　much　shouting　of　laborers；　and　their　beating　and　pounding；　did　not　disturb　him　any　more　than　the　tramping　of　people　on　the　bridge　floor　almost　overhead；　being　as　familiar　to　his　ear　as　the　view　before　him　to　his　eye；　and　therefore　unnoticeable；　except　as　suggestions　of　profits　in　promise。

Esthe