ben-hur-第99章
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lve hours' fasting and thirst。
The torches flashed redly through the dungeon； and liberty was come。 〃God is good；〃 the widow criednot for what had been； O reader； but for what was。 In thankfulness for present mercy； nothing so becomes us as losing sight of past ills。
The tribune came directly； then in the corner to which she had fled； suddenly a sense of duty smote the elder of the women； and straightway the awful warning
〃Unclean； unclean！〃
Ah； the pang the effort to acquit herself of that duty cost the mother！ Not all the selfishness of joy over the prospect could keep her blind to the consequences of release； now that it was at hand。 The old happy life could never be again。 If she went near the house called home； it would be to stop at the gate and cry； 〃Unclean； unclean！〃 She must go about with the yearnings of love alive in her breast strong as ever； and more sensitive even； because return in kind could not be。 The boy of whom she had so constantly thought； and with all sweet promises such as mothers find their purest delight in； must； at meeting her； stand afar off。 If he held out his hands to her； and called 〃Mother； mother；〃 for very love of him she must answer； 〃Unclean； unclean！〃 And this other child； before whom； in want of other covering； she was spreading her long tangled locks； bleached unnaturally whiteah！ that she was she must continue； sole partner of her blasted remainder of life。 Yet； O reader； the brave woman accepted the lot； and took up the cry which had been its sign immemorially； and which thenceforward was to be her salutation without change〃Unclean； unclean！〃
The tribune heard it with a tremor； but kept his place。
〃Who are you？〃 he asked。
〃Two women dying of hunger and thirst。 Yet〃the mother did not falter〃come not near us； nor touch the floor or the wall。 Unclean； unclean！〃
〃Give me thy story； womanthy name； and when thou wert put here； and by whom； and for what。〃
〃There was once in this city of Jerusalem a Prince Ben…Hur； the friend of all generous Romans； and who had Caesar for his friend。 I am his widow； and this one with me is his child。 How may I tell you for what we were sunk here； when I do not know； unless it was because we were rich？ Valerius Gratus can tell you who our enemy was； and when our imprisonment began。 I cannot。 See to what we have been reducedoh； see； and have pity！〃
The air was heavy with the pest and the smoke of the torches； yet the Roman called one of the torch…bearers to his side； and wrote the answer nearly word for word。 It was terse； and comprehensive； containing at once a history； an accusation； and a prayer。 No common person could have made it； and he could not but pity and believe。
〃Thou shalt have relief； woman；〃 he said； closing the tablets。 〃I will send thee food and drink。〃
〃And raiment； and purifying water； we pray you； O generous Roman！〃
〃As thou wilt；〃 he replied。
〃God is good；〃 said the widow； sobbing。 〃May his peace abide with you！〃
〃And； further；〃 he added； 〃I cannot see thee again。 Make preparation； and to…night I will have thee taken to the gate of the Tower； and set free。 Thou knowest the law。 Farewell。〃
He spoke to the men； and went out the door。
Very shortly some slaves came to the cell with a large gurglet of water； a basin and napkins； a platter with bread and meat； and some garments of women's wear； and； setting them down within reach of the prisoners； they ran away。
About the middle of the first watch； the two were conducted to the gate； and turned into the street。 So the Roman quit himself of them； and in the city of their fathers they were once more free。
Up to the stars； twinkling merrily as of old； they looked； then they asked themselves；
〃What next？ and where to？〃
CHAPTER III
About the hour Gesius； the keeper； made his appearance before the tribune in the Tower of Antonia； a footman was climbing the eastern face of Mount Olivet。 The road was rough and dusty； and vegetation on that side burned brown； for it was the dry season in Judea。 Well for the traveller that he had youth and strength； not to speak of the cool； flowing garments with which he was clothed。
He proceeded slowly； looking often to his right and left； not with the vexed； anxious expression which marks a man going forward uncertain of the way； but rather the air with which one approaches as old acquaintance after a long separationhalf of pleasure； half of inquiry； as if he were saying； 〃I am glad to be with you again； let me see in what you are changed。〃
As he arose higher； he sometimes paused to look behind him over the gradually widening view terminating in the mountains of Moab； but when at length he drew near the summit； he quickened his step； unmindful of fatigue； and hurried on without pause or turning of the face。 On the summitto reach which he bent his steps somewhat right of the beaten pathhe came to a dead stop； arrested as if by a strong hand。 Then one might have seen his eyes dilate； his cheeks flush； his breath quicken； effects all of one bright sweeping glance at what lay before him。
The traveller； good reader； was no other than Ben…Hur； the spectacle； Jerusalem。
Not the Holy City of to…day； but the Holy City as left by Herodthe Holy City of the Christ。 Beautiful yet； as seen from old Olivet； what must it have been then？
Ben…Hur betook him to a stone and sat down； and； stripping his head of the close white handkerchief which served it for covering； made the survey at leisure。
The same has been done often since by a great variety of persons； under circumstances surpassingly singularby the son of Vespasian； by the Islamite； by the Crusader； conquerors all of them； by many a pilgrim from the great New World； which waited discovery nearly fifteen hundred years after the time of our story； but of the multitude probably not one has taken that view with sensations more keenly poignant； more sadly sweet； more proudly bitter； than Ben…Hur。 He was stirred by recollections of his countrymen； their triumphs and vicissitudes； their history the history of God。 The city was of their building； at once a lasting testimony of their crimes and devotion； their weakness and genius； their religion and their irreligion。 Though he had seen Rome to familiarity； he was gratified。 The sight filled a measure of pride which would have made him drunk with vainglory but for the thought； princely as the property was； it did not any longer belong to his countrymen； the worship in the Temple was by permission of strangers； the hill where David dwelt was a marbled cheatan office in which the chosen of the Lord were wrung and wrung for taxes； and scourged for very deathlessness of faith。 These； however； were pleasures and griefs of patriotism common to every Jew of the period； in addition； Ben…Hur brought with him a personal history which would not out of mind for other consideration whatever； which the spectacle served only to freshen and vivify。
A country of hills changes but little； where the hills are of rock； it changes not at all。 The scene Ben…Hur beheld is the same now； except as respects the city。 The failure is in the handiwork of man alone。
The sun dealt more kindly by the west side of Olivet than by the east； and men were certainly more loving towards it。 The vines with which it was partially clad； and the sprinkling of trees； chiefly figs and old wild olives； were comparatively green。 Down to the dry bed of the Cedron the verdure extended； a refreshment to the vision； there Olivet ceased and Moriah begana wall of bluff boldness； white as snow； founded by Solomon； completed by Herod。 Up； up the wall the eye climbed course by course of the ponderous rocks composing itup to Solomon's Porch； which was as the pedestal of the monument； the hill being the plinth。 Lingering there a moment； the eye resumed its climbing； going next to the Gentiles' Court； then to the Israelites' Court； then to the Women's Court； then to the Court of the Priests； each a pillared tier of white marble； one above the other in terraced retrocession； over them all a crown of crowns infinitely sacred； infinitely beautiful； majestic in proportions； effulgent with beaten goldlo！ the Tent； the Tabernacle； the Holy of Holies。 The Ark was n
