ben-hur-第8章
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aged in serving customers； the master； in a voice which only the initiated can understand； cries his stock。 Nothing can be simpler than his costumesandals； and an unbleached； undyed blanket； crossed over one shoulder and girt round the waist。 Near…by； and far more imposing and grotesque； though scarcely as patient as the donkey； kneels a camel； raw…boned； rough； and gray； with long shaggy tufts of fox…colored hair under its throat； neck； and body； and a load of boxes and baskets curiously arranged upon an enormous saddle。 The owner is an Egyptian； small； lithe； and of a complexion which has borrowed a good deal from the dust of the roads and the sands of the desert。 He wears a faded tarbooshe； a loose gown； sleeveless； unbelted； and dropping from the neck to the knee。 His feet are bare。 The camel； restless under the load； groans and occasionally shows his teeth； but the man paces indifferently to and fro； holding the driving…strap； and all the time advertising his fruits fresh from the orchards of the Kedrongrapes； dates； figs； apples； and pomegranates。
At the corner where the lane opens out into the court； some women sit with their backs against the gray stones of the wall。 Their dress is that common to the humbler classes of the countrya linen frock extending the full length of the person； loosely gathered at the waist； and a veil or wimple broad enough； after covering the head； to wrap the shoulders。 Their merchandise is contained in a number of earthen jars； such as are still used in the East for bringing water from the wells； and some leathern bottles。 Among the jars and bottles； rolling upon the stony floor； regardless of the crowd and cold； often in danger but never hurt； play half a dozen half…naked children； their brown bodies； jetty eyes； and thick black hair attesting the blood of Israel。 Sometimes； from under the wimples； the mothers look up； and in the vernacular modestly bespeak their trade： in the bottles 〃honey of grapes；〃 in the jars 〃strong drink。〃 Their entreaties are usually lost in the general uproar； and they fare illy against the many competitors： brawny fellows with bare legs； dirty tunics； and long beards； going about with bottles lashed to their backs； and shouting 〃Honey of wine！ Grapes of En…Gedi！〃 When a customer halts one of them； round comes the bottle； and； upon lifting the thumb from the nozzle； out into the ready cup gushes the deep…red blood of the luscious berry。
Scarcely less blatant are the dealers in birdsdoves； ducks； and frequently the singing bulbul； or nightingale； most frequently pigeons； and buyers； receiving them from the nets； seldom fail to think of the perilous life of the catchers； bold climbers of the cliffs； now hanging with hand and foot to the face of the crag； now swinging in a basket far down the mountain fissure。
Blent with peddlers of jewelrysharp men cloaked in scarlet and blue； top…heavy under prodigious white turbans； and fully conscious of the power there is in the lustre of a ribbon and the incisive gleam of gold； whether in bracelet or necklace； or in rings for the finger or the noseand with peddlers of household utensils； and with dealers in wearing…apparel； and with retailers of unguents for anointing the person； and with hucksters of all articles； fanciful as well as of need； hither and thither； tugging at halters and ropes； now screaming； now coaxing； toil the venders of animalsdonkeys； horses； calves； sheep； bleating kids； and awkward camels； animals of every kind except the outlawed swine。 All these are there； not singly； as described； but many times repeated； not in one place； but everywhere in the market。
Turning from this scene in the lane and court； this glance at the sellers and their commodities； the reader has need to give attention； in the next place； to visitors and buyers； for which the best studies will be found outside the gates； where the spectacle is quite as varied and animated； indeed； it may be more so； for there are superadded the effects of tent； booth； and sook； greater space； larger crowd； more unqualified freedom； and the glory of the Eastern sunshine。
CHAPTER VII
Let us take our stand by the gate； just out of the edge of the currentsone flowing in； the other outand use our eyes and ears awhile。
In good time！ Here come two men of a most noteworthy class。
〃Gods！ How cold it is！〃 says one of them； a powerful figure in armor； on his head a brazen helmet； on his body a shining breastplate and skirts of mail。 〃How cold it is！ Dost thou remember； my Caius； that vault in the Comitium at home which the flamens say is the entrance to the lower world？ By Pluto！ I could stand there this morning； long enough at least to get warm again！〃
The party addressed drops the hood of his military cloak； leaving bare his head and face； and replies； with an ironic smile； 〃The helmets of the legions which conquered Mark Antony were full of Gallic snow； but thouah； my poor friend！thou hast just come from Egypt； bringing its summer in thy blood。〃
And with the last word they disappear through the entrance。 Though they had been silent； the armor and the sturdy step would have published them Roman soldiers。
From the throng a Jew comes next； meager of frame； round…shouldered； and wearing a coarse brown robe； over his eyes and face； and down his back； hangs a mat of long； uncombed hair。 He is alone。 Those who meet him laugh； if they do not worse； for he is a Nazarite； one of a despised sect which rejects the books of Moses； devotes itself to abhorred vows； and goes unshorn while the vows endure。
As we watch his retiring figure； suddenly there is a commotion in the crowd； a parting quickly to the right and left； with exclamations sharp and decisive。 Then the cause comesa man； Hebrew in feature and dress。 The mantle of snow…white linen； held to his head by cords of yellow silk； flows free over his shoulders； his robe is richly embroidered； a red sash with fringes of gold wraps his waist several times。 His demeanor is calm； he even smiles upon those who； with such rude haste； make room for him。 A leper？ No； he is only a Samaritan。 The shrinking crowd； if asked； would say he is a mongrelan Assyrianwhose touch of the robe is pollution； from whom； consequently； an Israelite； though dying； might not accept life。 In fact； the feud is not of blood。 When David set his throne here on Mount Zion； with only Judah to support him； the ten tribes betook themselves to Shechem； a city much older； and； at that date； infinitely richer in holy memories。 The final union of the tribes did not settle the dispute thus begun。 The Samaritans clung to their tabernacle on Gerizim； and； while maintaining its superior sanctity； laughed at the irate doctors in Jerusalem。 Time brought no assuagement of the hate。 Under Herod； conversion to the faith was open to all the world except the Samaritans； they alone were absolutely and forever shut out from communion with Jews。
As the Samaritan goes in under the arch of the gate； out come three men so unlike all whom we have yet seen that they fix our gaze； whether we will or not。 They are of unusual stature and immense brawn； their eyes are blue； and so fair is their complexion that the blood shines through the skin like blue pencilling； their hair is light and short； their heads； small and round； rest squarely upon necks columnar as the trunks of trees。 Woollen tunics； open at the breast； sleeveless and loosely girt； drape their bodies； leaving bare arms and legs of such development that they at once suggest the arena； and when thereto we add their careless； confident； insolent manner； we cease to wonder that the people give them way； and stop after they have passed to look at them again。 They are gladiatorswrestlers； runners； boxers； swordsmen； professionals unknown in Judea before the coming of the Roman； fellows who； what time they are not in training； may be seen strolling through the king's gardens or sitting with the guards at the palace gates； or possibly they are visitors from Caesarea； Sebaste； or Jericho； in which Herod； more Greek than Jew； and with all a Roman's love of games and bloody spectacles； has built vast theaters； and now keeps schools of fighting…men； drawn； as is the custom； from the Gallic pro
