ben-hur-第117节
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to faith in the resurrection； without which Christianity would be an empty husk。 The confusion； as has been said； left him without the faculty of decision； he stood helplesswordless even。 Covering his face with his hand； he shook with the conflict between his wish； which was what he would have ordered； and the power that was upon him。
〃Come； we are waiting for you；〃 said Simonides； the fourth time。
Thereupon he walked mechanically after the chair and the litter。 Esther walked with him。 Like Balthasar and his friends； the Wise Men； the day they went to the meeting in the desert； he was being led along the way。
CHAPTER X
When the partyBalthasar； Simonides； Ben…Hur； Esther； and the two faithful Galileansreached the place of crucifixion； Ben…Hur was in advance leading them。 How they had been able to make way through the great press of excited people； he never knew； no more did he know the road by which they came or the time it took them to come。 He had walked in total unconsciousness； neither hearing nor seeing anybody or anything； and without a thought of where he was going； or the ghostliest semblance of a purpose in his mind。 In such condition a little child could have done as much as he to prevent the awful crime he was about to witness。 The intentions of God are always strange to us； but not more so than the means by which they are wrought out； and at last made plain to our belief。
Ben…Hur came to a stop； those following him also stopped。 As a curtain rises before an audience； the spell holding him in its sleep…awake rose； and he saw with a clear understanding。
There was a space upon the top of a low knoll rounded like a skull； and dry； dusty； and without vegetation； except some scrubby hyssop。 The boundary of the space was a living wall of men； with men behind struggling； some to look over； others to look through it。 An inner wall of Roman soldiery held the dense outer wall rigidly to its place。 A centurion kept eye upon the soldiers。 Up to the very line so vigilantly guarded Ben…Hur had been led； at the line he now stood； his face to the northwest。 The knoll was the old Aramaic Golgothain Latin； Calvaria； anglicized； Calvary； translated； The Skull。
On its slopes； in the low places； on the swells and higher hills； the earth sparkled with a strange enamelling。 Look where he would outside the walled space； he saw no patch of brown soil； no rock； no green thing； he saw only thousands of eyes in ruddy faces； off a little way in the perspective only ruddy faces without eyes； off a little farther only a broad； broad circle； which the nearer view instructed him was also of faces。 And this was the ensemble of three millions of people； under it three millions of hearts throbbing with passionate interest in what was taking place upon the knoll； indifferent as to the thieves； caring only for the Nazarene； and for him only as he was an object of hate or fear or curiosityhe who loved them all； and was about to die for them。
In the spectacle of a great assemblage of people there are always the bewilderment and fascination one feels while looking over a stretch of sea in agitation； and never had this one been exceeded； yet Ben…Hur gave it but a passing glance； for that which was going on in the space described would permit no division of his interest。
Up on the knoll so high as to be above the living wall； and visible over the heads of an attending company of notables； conspicuous because of his mitre and vestments and his haughty air； stood the high priest。 Up the knoll still higher； up quite to the round summit； so as to be seen far and near； was the Nazarene； stooped and suffering； but silent。 The wit among the guard had complemented the crown upon his head by putting a reed in his hand for a sceptre。 Clamors blew upon him like blastslaughterexecrationssometimes both together indistinguishably。 A manONLY a man； O reader； would have charged the blasts with the remainder of his love for the race； and let it go forever。
All the eyes then looking were fixed upon the Nazarene。 It may have been pity with which he was moved； whatever the cause； Ben…Hur was conscious of a change in his feelings。 A conception of something better than the best of this lifesomething so much better that it could serve a weak man with strength to endure agonies of spirit as well as of body； something to make death welcomeperhaps another life purer than this oneperhaps the spirit…life which Balthasar held to so fast； began to dawn upon his mind clearer and clearer； bringing to him a certain sense that； after all； the mission of the Nazarene was that of guide across the boundary for such as loved him； across the boundary to where his kingdom was set up and waiting for him。 Then； as something borne through the air out of the almost forgotten； he heard again； or seemed to hear； the saying of the Nazarene；
〃I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE。〃
And the words repeated themselves over and over； and took form； and the dawn touched them with its light； and filled them with a new meaning。 And as men repeat a question to grasp and fix the meaning； he asked； gazing at the figure on the hill fainting under its crown； Who the Resurrection？ and who the Life？
〃I AM；〃
the figure seemed to sayand say it for him； for instantly he was sensible of a peace such as he had never knownthe peace which is the end of doubt and mystery； and the beginning of faith and love and clear understanding。
From this dreamy state Ben…Hur was aroused by the sound of hammering。 On the summit of the knoll he observed then what had escaped him beforesome soldiers and workmen preparing the crosses。 The holes for planting the trees were ready； and now the transverse beams were being fitted to their places。
〃Bid the men make haste；〃 said the high…priest to the centurion。 〃These〃and he pointed to the Nazarene〃must be dead by the going…down of the sun； and buried that the land may not be defiled。 Such is the Law。〃
With a better mind； a soldier went to the Nazarene and offered him something to drink； but he refused the cup。 Then another went to him and took from his neck the board with the inscription upon it； which he nailed to the tree of the crossand the preparation was complete。
〃The crosses are ready；〃 said the centurion to the pontiff； who received the report with a wave of the hand and the reply；
〃Let the blasphemer go first。 The Son of God should be able to save himself。 We will see。〃
The people to whom the preparation in its several stages was visible； and who to this time had assailed the hill with incessant cries of impatience； permitted a lull which directly became a universal hush。 The part of the infliction most shocking； at least to the thought； was reachedthe men were to be nailed to their crosses。 When for that purpose the soldiers laid their hands upon the Nazarene first； a shudder passed through the great concourse； the most brutalized shrank with dread。 Afterwards there were those who said the air suddenly chilled and made them shiver。
〃How very still it is！〃 Esther said； as she put her arm about her father's neck。
And remembering the torture he himself had suffered； he drew her face down upon his breast； and sat trembling。
〃Avoid it； Esther； avoid it！〃 he said。 〃I know not but all who stand and see itthe innocent as well as the guiltymay be cursed from this hour。〃
Balthasar sank upon his knees。
〃Son of Hur；〃 said Simonides； with increasing excitement〃son of Hur； if Jehovah stretch not forth his hand； and quickly； Israel is lostand we are lost。〃
Ben…Hur answered； calmly； 〃I have been in a dream； Simonides； and heard in it why all this should be； and why it should go on。 It is the will of the Nazareneit is God's will。 Let us do as the Egyptian herelet us hold our peace and pray。〃
As he looked up on the knoll again； the words were wafted to him through the awful stillness
〃I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE。〃
He bowed reverently as to a person speaking。
Up on the summit meantime the work went on。 The guard took the Nazarene's clothes from him； so that he stood before the millions naked。 The stripes of the scourging he had received in the early morning were still bloody upon his back； yet he was laid pitilessly down； and stretched upon the crossfirst； the arms upon the transverse beam； the spikes were sharpa few blows； and they were driven through the tender palms； next； they drew his knees up until the soles of the feet rested flat upon the tree； then they placed one foot upon the other； and one spike fixed both of them fast。 The dulled sound of the hammering was heard outside the guarded space； and such as could not hear； yet saw the hammer as it fell； shivered with fear。 And withal not a groan； or cry； or word of remonstrance from the sufferer： nothing at which an enemy could laugh； nothing a lover could regret。
〃Which way wilt thou have him faced？〃 asked a soldier； bluntly。
〃Towards the Temple；〃 the pontiff replied。 〃In dying I would have him see the holy house hath not suffered by him。〃
The workmen put their hands to the cross； and carried it； burden and all； to the place of planting。 At a word； they dropped the tree into the hole； and the body of the Nazarene also dropped heavily； and hung by the b
