herodias-第3节

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had　just　stepped　out　upon　the　balcony　of　a　house　not　far　away。　At　her

side　stood　an　elderly　female　slave；　who　held　over　the　girl's　head　a

kind　of　parasol　with　a　handle　made　of　long；　slender　reeds。　In　the

middle　of　the　rug　spread　upon　the　floor　of　the　balcony　stood　a　large

open　travelling…hamper　or　basket；　and　girdles；　veils；　head…dresses；

and　gold　and　silver　ornaments　were　scattered　about　in　confusion。　At

intervals　the　young　girl　took　one　object　or　another　in　her　hands；　and

held　it　up　admiringly。　She　was　dressed　in　the　costume　of　the　Roman

ladies；　with　a　flowing　tunic　and　a　peplum　ornamented　with　tassels　of

emeralds；　and　blue　silken　bands　confined　her　hair；　which　seemed　almost

too　luxuriant；　since　from　time　to　time　she　raised　a　small　hand　to　push

back　the　heavy　masses。　The　parasol　half　hid　the　maiden　from　the　gaze

of　Antipas；　but　now　and　then　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　delicate　neck；

her　large　eyes；　or　a　fleeting　smile　upon　her　small　mouth。　He　noted

that　her　figure　swayed　about　with　a　singularly　elastic　grace　and

elegance。　He　leaned　forward；　his　eyes　kindled；　his　breath　quickened。

All　this　was　not　lost　upon　Herodias；　who　watched　him　narrowly。



〃Who　is　that　maiden？〃　the　tetrarch　asked　at　last。



Herodias　replied　that　she　did　not　know；　and　her　fierce　demeanour

suddenly　changed　to　one　of　gentleness　and　amiability。



At　the　entrance　to　the　castle　the　tetrarch　was　awaited　by　several

Galileans；　the　master　of　the　scribes；　the　chief　of　the　land　stewards；

the　manager　of　the　salt　mines；　and　a　Jew　from　Babylon；　commanding　his

troops　of　horse。　As　the　tetrarch　approached　the　group；　he　was　greeted

with　respectful　enthusiasm。　Acknowledging　the　acclamations　with　a

grave　salute；　he　entered　the　castle。



As　he　proceeded　along　one　of　the　corridors；　Phanuel　suddenly　sprang

from　a　corner　and　intercepted　him。



〃What！　Art　thou　still　here？〃　said　the　tetrarch　in　displeasure。　〃Thou

seekest　Iaokanann；　no　doubt。〃



〃And　thyself；　my　lord。　I　have　something　of　great　importance　to　tell

thee。〃



At　a　sign　from　Antipas；　the　Essene　followed　him　into　a　somewhat　dark

and　gloomy　room。



The　daylight　came　faintly　through　a　grated　window。　The　walls　were　of　a

deep　shade　of　crimson；　so　dark　as　to　look　almost　black。　At　one　end　of

the　room　stood　an　ebony　bed；　ornamented　with　bands　of　leather。　A

shield　of　gold；　hanging　at　the　head　of　the　bed；　shone　like　a　sun　in

the　obscurity　of　the　apartment。　Antipas　crossed　over　to　the　couch　and

threw　himself　upon　it　in　a　half…reclining　attitude；　while　Phanuel

remained　standing　before　him。　Suddenly　he　raised　one　hand；　and

striking　a　commanding　attitude　said：



〃At　times；　my　lord；　the　Most　High　sends　a　message　to　the　people

through　one　of　His　sons。　Iaokanann　is　one　of　these。　If　thou　oppress

him；　thou　shalt　be　punished！〃



〃But　it　is　he　that　persecutes　me！〃　exclaimed　Antipas。　〃He　asked　me　to

do　a　thing　that　was　impossible。　Since　then　he　has　done　nothing　but

revile　me。　And　I　was　not　severe　with　him　when　he　began　his　abuse　of

me。　But　he　had　the　hardihood　to　send　various　men　from　Machaerus　to

spread　dissension　and　discontent　throughout　my　domain。　A　curse　upon

him！　Since　he　attacks　me；　I　shall　defend　myself。〃



〃Without　doubt；　he　has　expressed　his　anger　with　too　much　violence；〃

Phanuel　replied　calmly。　〃But　do　not　heed　that　further。　He　must　be　set

free。〃



〃One　does　not　let　loose　a　furious　animal；〃　said　the　tetrarch。



〃Have　no　fear　of　him　now；〃　was　the　quick　reply。　〃He　will　go　straight

to　the　Arabs；　the　Gauls；　and　the　Scythians。　His　work　must　be　extended

to　the　uttermost　ends　of　the　earth。〃



For　a　moment　Antipas　appeared　lost　in　thought；　as　one　who　sees　a

vision。　Then　he　said：



〃His　power　over　men　is　indeed　great。　In　spite　of　myself；　I　admire

him！〃



〃Then　set　him　free！〃



But　the　tetrarch　shook　his　head。　He　feared　Herodias；　Mannaeus；　and

unknown　dangers。



Phanuel　tried　to　persuade　him；　promising；　as　a　guaranty　of　the　honesty

of　his　projects；　the　submission　of　the　Essenians　to　the　King。　These

poor　people；　clad　only　in　linen；　untameable　in　spite　of　severe

treatment；　endowed　with　the　power　to　divine　the　future　by　reading　the

stars；　had　succeeded　in　commanding　a　certain　degree　of　respect。



〃What　is　the　important　matter　thou　wouldst　communicate　to　me？〃　Antipas

inquired；　with　sudden　recollection。



Before　Phanuel　could　reply；　a　Negro　entered　the　room　in　great　haste。

He　was　covered　with　dust；　and　panted　so　violently　that　he　could

scarcely　utter　the　single　word：



〃Vitellus！〃



〃Has　he　arrived？〃　asked　the　tetrarch。



〃I　have　seen　him；　my　lord。　Within　three　hours　he　will　be　here。〃



Throughout　the　palace；　doors　were　opening　and　closing　and　portieres

were　swaying　as　if　in　a　high　wind；　with　the　coming　and　going　of　many

persons；　there　was　a　murmur　of　voices；　sounds　of　the　moving　of　heavy

furniture　could　be　heard；　and　the　rattle　of　silver　plates　and　dishes。

From　the　highest　tower　a　loud　blast　upon　a　conch　summoned　from　far　and

near　all　the　slaves　belonging　to　the　castle。







CHAPTER　II



The　ramparts　were　thronged　with　people　when　at　last　Vitellius　entered

the　castle　gates；　leaning　on　the　arm　of　his　interpreter。　Behind　them

came　an　imposing　red　litter；　decorated　with　plumes　and　mirrors。　The

proconsul　wore　a　toga　ornamented　with　the　laticlave；　a　broad　purple

band　extending　down　the　front　of　the　garment；　indicating　his　rank；　and

his　feet　were　encased　in　the　kind　of　buskins　worn　by　consuls。　A　guard

of　lictors　surrounded　him。　Against　the　wall　they　placed　their　twelve

fascesa　bundle　of　sticks　with　an　axe　in　the　centre。　And　the　populace

trembled　before　the　insignia　of　Roman　majesty。



The　gorgeous　litter；　borne　by　eight　men；　came　to　a　halt。　From　it

descended　a　youth。　He　wore　many　pearls　upon　his　fingers；　but　he　had　a

protruding　abdomen　and　his　face　was　covered　with　pimples。　A　cup　of

aromatic　wine　was　offered　to　him。　He　drank　it；　and　asked　for　a　second

draught。



The　tetrarch　had　fallen　upon　his　knees　before　the　proconsul；　saying

that　he　was　grieved　beyond　words　not　to　have　known　sooner　of　the

favour　of　his　presence　within　those　domains；　had　he　been　aware　of　the

approach　of　his　distinguished　guest；　he　would　have　issued　a　command

that　every　person　along　the　route　should　place　himself　at　the

proconsul's　orders。　Of　a　surety；　the　proconsul's　family　was　descended

direct　from　the　goddess　Vitellia。　A　highway；　leading　from　the

Janiculum　to　the　sea；　still　bore　their　name。　Questors　and　consuls　were

innumerable　in　that　great　family；　and　as　for　the　noble　Lucius；　now　his

honoured　guest；　it　was　the　duty　of　the　whole　people　to　thank　him；　as

the　conqueror　of　the　Cliti　and　the　father　of　the　young　Aulus；　now

returning　to　his　own　domain；　since　the　East　was　the　country　of　the

gods。　These　hyperboles　were　expressed　in　Latin；　and　Vitellius　accepted

them　impassively。



He　replied　that　the　great　Herod　was　the　honour　and　glory　of　the

nation；　that　the　Athenians　had　chosen　him　to　direct　the　Olympian

games；　that　he　had　built　temples　in　the　honour　of　Augustus；　had　been

patient；　ingenious；　terrible；　and　was　faithful　to　all　the　Caesars。



Between　the　two　marble　columns；　with　bronze　capitals；　Herodias　could

now　be　seen　advancing　with　the　air　of　an　empress；　in　the　midst　of　a

group　of　women　and　eunuchs　carrying　perfumed　torches　set　in　sockets　of

silver…gilt。



The　proconsul　advanced　three　steps　to　meet　her。　She　saluted　him　with

an　inclination　of　her　head。



〃How　fortunate；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃that　henceforth　Agrippa；　the　enemy　of

Tiberius；　can　work　harm　no　longer！〃



Vitellius　did　not　understand　her　allusion；　but　he　thought　her　a

dangerous　woman。　Antipas　immediately　declared　that　he　was　ready　to　do

anything　for　the　emperor。



〃Even　to　the　injury　of　others？〃　Vitellius　asked；　significantly。



He　had　taken　hostages　from　the　king　of　the　Parthians；　but　the　emperor

had　given　no　further　thought　to　the　matter；　because　Antipas；　who　had

been　present　at　the　conference；　had；　in　order　to　gain　favour；　sent　off

despatches　bearing　the　news。　From　that　time　he　had　borne　a　profound

hatred　towards　the　emperor　and　had　delayed　in　sending　assistance　to

him。



The　tetrarch　stammered　in　attempting　to　reply　to　the　query　of　the

proconsul。　But　Aulus　laughed　and　said：　〃Do　not　be　disturbed。　I　will

protect　thee！〃



The　proconsul　feigned　not　to　hear　this　remark。　The　fortune　of　the

father　depended；　in　a　way；　on　the　corrupt　influence　of　the　son；　and

through　him　it　was　possible　that　Antipas　might　be　able　to　procure　for

the　proconsul　very　substantial　benefits；　although　the　glances　that　he

cast　about　him　were　defiant；　and　even　venomous。



But　now　a　new　tumult　arose　just　within　the　gates。　A　file　of　white

mules　entered　the　courtyard；　mounted　by　men　in　priestly　garb。　These

were　the　Sadducees　and　the　Pharisees；　who　were　drawn　to　Machaerus　by

the　same　ambition：　the　one　party　hoping　to　be　appointed　public

sacrificers；　the　other　de