ben-hur-第87章
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in which a sharp listener may detect the shrill piping of women and children； at the same time； the things roseate flying from the balcony thicken into a storm； and； striking the men； drop into the chariot…beds； which are threatened with filling to the tops。 Even the horses have a share in the ovation； nor may it be said they are less conscious than their masters of the honors they receive。
Very soon； as with the other contestants； it is made apparent that some of the drivers are more in favor than others； and then the discovery follows that nearly every individual on the benches； women and children as well as men； wears a color； most frequently a ribbon upon the breast or in the hair： now it is green； now yellow； now blue； but； searching the great body carefully； it is manifest that there is a preponderance of white； and scarlet and gold。
In a modern assemblage called together as this one is； particularly where there are sums at hazard upon the race； a preference would be decided by the qualities or performance of the horses； here； however； nationality was the rule。 If the Byzantine and Sidonian found small support； it was because their cities were scarcely represented on the benches。 On their side； the Greeks； though very numerous； were divided between the Corinthian and the Athenian； leaving but a scant showing of green and yellow。 Messala's scarlet and gold would have been but little better had not the citizens of Antioch； proverbially a race of courtiers； joined the Romans by adopting the color of their favorite。 There were left then the country people； or Syrians； the Jews； and the Arabs； and they； from faith in the blood of the sheik's four； blent largely with hate of the Romans； whom they desired； above all things； to see beaten and humbled； mounted the white； making the most noisy； and probably the most numerous； faction of all。
As the charioteers move on in the circuit； the excitement increases； at the second goal； where； especially in the galleries； the white is the ruling color； the people exhaust their flowers and rive the air with screams。
〃Messala！ Messala！〃
〃Ben…Hur！ Ben…Hur！〃
Such are the cries。
Upon the passage of the procession； the factionists take their seats and resume conversation。
〃Ah； by Bacchus！ was he not handsome？〃 exclaims a woman； whose Romanism is betrayed by the colors flying in her hair。
〃And how splendid his chariot！〃 replies a neighbor； of the same proclivities。 〃It is all ivory and gold。 Jupiter grant he wins！〃
The notes on the bench behind them were entirely different。
〃A hundred shekels on the Jew！〃
The voice is high and shrill。
〃Nay； be thou not rash；〃 whispers a moderating friend to the speaker。 〃The children of Jacob are not much given to Gentile sports； which are too often accursed in the sight of the Lord。〃
〃True； but saw you ever one more cool and assured？ And what an arm he has！〃
〃And what horses！〃 says a third。
〃And for that；〃 a fourth one adds； 〃they say he has all the tricks of the Romans。〃
A woman completes the eulogium：
〃Yes； and he is even handsomer than the Roman。〃
Thus encouraged； the enthusiast shrieks again； 〃A hundred shekels on the Jew！〃
〃Thou fool！〃 answers an Antiochian； from a bench well forward on the balcony。 〃Knowest thou not there are fifty talents laid against him； six to one； on Messala？ Put up thy shekels； lest Abraham rise and smite thee。〃
〃Ha； ha！ thou ass of Antioch！ Cease thy bray。 Knowest thou not it was Messala betting on himself？〃
Such the reply。
And so ran the controversy； not always good…natured。
When at length the march was ended and the Porta Pompae received back the procession； Ben…Hur knew he had his prayer。
The eyes of the East were upon his contest with Messala。
CHAPTER XIII
About three o'clock； speaking in modern style； the program was concluded except the chariot…race。 The editor； wisely considerate of the comfort of the people； chose that time for a recess。 At once the vomitoria were thrown open； and all who could hastened to the portico outside where the restaurateurs had their quarters。 Those who remained yawned； talked； gossiped； consulted their tablets； and； all distinctions else forgotten； merged into but two classesthe winners； who were happy； and the losers； who were grum and captious。
Now； however； a third class of spectators； composed of citizens who desired only to witness the chariot…race； availed themselves of the recess to come in and take their reserved seats； by so doing they thought to attract the least attention and give the least offence。 Among these were Simonides and his party； whose places were in the vicinity of the main entrance on the north side； opposite the consul。
As the four stout servants carried the merchant in his chair up the aisle； curiosity was much excited。 Presently some one called his name。 Those about caught it and passed it on along the benches to the west； and there was hurried climbing on seats to get sight of the man about whom common report had coined and put in circulation a romance so mixed of good fortune and bad that the like had never been known or heard of before。
Ilderim was also recognized and warmly greeted； but nobody knew Balthasar or the two women who followed him closely veiled。
The people made way for the party respectfully； and the ushers seated them in easy speaking distance of each other down by the balustrade overlooking the arena。 In providence of comfort； they sat upon cushions and had stools for footrests。
The women were Iras and Esther。
Upon being seated； the latter cast a frightened look over the Circus； and drew the veil closer about her face； while the Egyptian； letting her veil fall upon her shoulders； gave herself to view； and gazed at the scene with the seeming unconsciousness of being stared at； which； in a woman； is usually the result of long social habitude。
The new…comers generally were yet making their first examination of the great spectacle； beginning with the consul and his attendants； when some workmen ran in and commenced to stretch a chalked rope across the arena from balcony to balcony in front of the pillars of the first goal。
About the same time； also； six men came in through the Porta Pompae and took post； one in front of each occupied stall； whereat there was a prolonged hum of voices in every quarter。
〃See； see！ The green goes to number four on the right； the Athenian is there。〃
〃And Messalayes； he is in number two。〃
〃The Corinthian〃
〃Watch the white！ See； he crosses over； he stops； number one it isnumber one on the left。〃
〃No； the black stops there； and the white at number two。〃
〃So it is。〃
These gate…keepers； it should be understood； were dressed in tunics colored like those of the competing charioteers； so； when they took their stations； everybody knew the particular stall in which his favorite was that moment waiting。
〃Did you ever see Messala？〃 the Egyptian asked Esther。
The Jewess shuddered as she answered no。 If not her father's enemy； the Roman was Ben…Hur's。
〃He is beautiful as Apollo。〃
As Iras spoke； her large eyes brightened and she shook her jeweled fan。 Esther looked at her with the thought； 〃Is he； then； so much handsomer than Ben…Hur？〃 Next moment she heard Ilderim say to her father； 〃Yes； his stall is number two on the left of the Porta Pompae；〃 and； thinking it was of Ben…Hur he spoke； her eyes turned that way。 Taking but the briefest glance at the wattled face of the gate； she drew the veil close and muttered a little prayer。
Presently Sanballat came to the party。
〃I am just from the stalls； O sheik；〃 he said； bowing gravely to IIderim； who began combing his beard； while his eyes glittered with eager inquiry。 〃The horses are in perfect condition。〃
Ilderim replied simply； 〃If they are beaten； I pray it be by some other than Messala。〃
Turning then to Simonides； Sanballat drew out a tablet； saying； 〃I bring you also something of interest。 I reported； you will remember； the wager concluded with Messala last night； and stated that I left another which； if taken； was to be delivered to me in writing to…day before the race began。 Here it is。〃
Simonides took the tablet and read the memorandum ca
