ben-hur-第47节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cription upon its face； and the fame of the fountain seldom suffered loss by poverty of merit in the poetry。 Before Ben…Hur could test the oracle； some other visitors were seen approaching across the meadow； and their appearance piqued the curiosity of the company； his not less than theirs。
He saw first a camel； very tall and very white； in leading of a driver on horseback。 A houdah on the animal； besides being unusually large； was of crimson and gold。 Two other horsemen followed the camel with tall spears in hand。
〃What a wonderful camel！〃 said one of the company。
〃A prince from afar；〃 another one suggested。
〃More likely a king。〃
〃If he were on an elephant； I would say he was a king。〃
A third man had a very different opinion。
〃A cameland a white camel！〃 he said； authoritatively。 〃By Apollo； friends； they who come yonderyou can see there are two of themare neither kings nor princes； they are women！〃
In the midst of the dispute the strangers arrived。
The camel seen at hand did not belie his appearance afar。 A taller； statelier brute of his kind no traveller at the fountain； though from the remotest parts； had ever beheld。 Such great black eyes！ such exceedingly fine white hair！ feet so contractile when raised； so soundless in planting； so broad when set！nobody had ever seen the peer of this camel。 And how well he became his housing of silk； and all its frippery of gold in fringe and gold in tassel！ The tinkling of silver bells went before him； and he moved lightly； as if unknowing of his burden。
But who were the man and woman under the houdah？
Every eye saluted them with the inquiry。
If the former were a prince or a king； the philosophers of the crowd might not deny the impartiality of Time。 When they saw the thin； shrunken face buried under an immense turban； the skin of the hue of a mummy； making it impossible to form an idea of his nationality； they were pleased to think the limit of life was for the great as well as the small。 They saw about his person nothing so enviable as the shawl which draped him。
The woman was seated in the manner of the East； amidst veils and laces of surpassing fineness。 Above her elbows she wore armlets fashioned like coiled asps； and linked to bracelets at the wrists by strands of gold； otherwise the arms were bare and of singular natural grace； complemented with hands modelled daintily as a child's。 One of the hands rested upon the side of the carriage； showing tapered fingers glittering with rings； and stained at the tips till they blushed like the pink of mother…of…pearl。 She wore an open caul upon her head； sprinkled with beads of coral； and strung with coin…pieces called sunlets； some of which were carried across her forehead； while others fell down her back； half…smothered in the mass of her straight blue…black hair； of itself an incomparable ornament； not needing the veil which covered it； except as a protection against sun and dust。 From her elevated seat she looked upon the people calmly； pleasantly； and apparently so intent upon studying them as to be unconscious of the interest she herself was exciting； and； what was unusualnay； in violent contravention of the custom among women of rank in publicshe looked at them with an open face。
It was a fair face to see； quite youthful； in form； oval： complexion not white； like the Greek； nor brunet； like the Roman； nor blond； like the Gaul； but rather the tinting of the sun of the Upper Nile upon a skin of such transparency that the blood shone through it on cheek and brow with nigh the ruddiness of lamplight。 The eyes； naturally large； were touched along the lids with the black paint immemorial throughout the East。 The lips were slightly parted； disclosing； through their scarlet lake； teeth of glistening whiteness。 To all these excellences of countenance the reader is finally besought to superadd the air derived from the pose of a small head； classic in shape； set upon a neck long； drooping； and gracefulthe air； we may fancy； happily described by the word queenly。
As if satisfied with the survey of people and locality； the fair creature spoke to the driveran Ethiopian of vast brawn； naked to the waistwho led the camel nearer the fountain； and caused it to kneel； after which he received from her hand a cup； and proceeded to fill it at the basin。 That instant the sound of wheels and the trampling of horses in rapid motion broke the silence her beauty had imposed； and； with a great outcry； the bystanders parted in every direction； hurrying to get away。
〃The Roman has a mind to ride us down。 Look out！〃 Malluch shouted to Ben…Hur； setting him at the same time an example of hasty flight。
The latter faced to the direction the sounds came from； and beheld Messala in his chariot pushing the four straight at the crowd。 This time the view was near and distinct。
The parting of the company uncovered the camel； which might have been more agile than his kind generally； yet the hoofs were almost upon him； and he resting with closed eyes； chewing the endless cud with such sense of security as long favoritism may be supposed to have bred in him。 The Ethiopian wrung his hands afraid。 In the houdah； the old man moved to escape； but he was hampered with age； and could not； even in the face of danger； forget the dignity which was plainly his habit。 It was too late for the woman to save herself。 Ben…Hur stood nearest them； and he called to Messala；
〃Hold！ Look where thou goest！ Back； back！〃
The patrician was laughing in hearty good…humor； and； seeing there was but one chance of rescue； Ben…Hur stepped in； and caught the bits of the left yoke…steed and his mate。 〃Dog of a Roman！ Carest thou so little for life？〃 he cried； putting forth all his strength。 The two horses reared； and drew the others round； the tilting of the pole tilted the chariot； Messala barely escaped a fall； while his complacent Myrtilus rolled back like a clod to the ground。 Seeing the peril past； all the bystanders burst into derisive laughter。
The matchless audacity of the Roman then manifested itself。 Loosing the lines from his body； he tossed them to one side； dismounted； walked round the camel； looked at Ben…Hur； and spoke partly to the old man and partly to the woman。
〃Pardon； I pray youI pray you both。 I am Messala；〃 he said； 〃and； by the old Mother of the earth； I swear I did not see you or your camel！ As to these good peopleperhaps I trusted too much to my skill。 I sought a laugh at themthe laugh is theirs。 Good may it do them！〃
The good…natured； careless look and gesture he threw the bystanders accorded well with the speech。 To hear what more he had to say； they became quiet。 Assured of victory over the body of the offended； he signed his companion to take the chariot to a safer distance； and addressed himself boldly to the woman。
〃Thou hast interest in the good man here； whose pardon； if not granted now； I shall seek with the greater diligence hereafter； his daughter； I should say。〃
She made him no reply。
〃By Pallas； thou art beautiful！ Beware Apollo mistake thee not for his lost love。 I wonder what land can boast herself thy mother。 Turn not away。 A truce！ a truce！ There is the sun of India in thine eyes； in the corners of thy mouth； Egypt hath set her love…signs。 Perpol！ Turn not to that slave； fair mistress； before proving merciful to this one。 Tell me at least that I am pardoned。〃
At this point she broke in upon him。
〃Wilt thou come here？〃 she asked； smiling； and with gracious bend of the head to Ben…Hur。
〃Take the cup and fill it； I pray thee；〃 she said to the latter。 〃My father is thirsty。〃
〃I am thy most willing servant！〃
Ben…Hur turned about to do the favor； and was face to face with Messala。 Their glances met； the Jew's defiant； the Roman's sparkling with humor。
〃O stranger； beautiful as cruel！〃 Messala said； waving his hand to her。 〃If Apollo get thee not； thou shalt see me again。 Not knowing thy country； I cannot name a god to commend thee to； so； by all the gods； I will commend thee tomyself！〃
Seeing that Myrtilus had the four composed and ready； he returned to the chariot。 The woman looked after him as he moved away； and whatever else there was in her look； there was no displeasure。 Presently she received the water； her father drank； then she raised the cup to her lips； and； leaning down； gave it to Ben…Hur； never action more graceful and gracious。
〃Keep it； we pray of thee！ It is full of blessingsall thine！〃
Immediately the camel was aroused； and on his feet； and about to go； when the old man called；
〃Stand thou here。〃
Ben…Hur went to him respectfully。
〃Thou hast served the stranger well to…day。 There is but one God。 In his holy name I thank thee。 I am Balthasar； the Egyptian。 In the Great Orchard of Palms； beyond the village of Daphne； in the shade of the palms； Sheik Ilderim the Generous abideth in his tents； and we are his guests。 Seek us there。 Thou shalt have welcome sweet with the savor of the grateful。〃
Ben…Hur was left in wonder at the old man's clear voice and reverend manner。 As he gazed after the two departing； he caught sight of Messala going as he had come； joyous； indifferent； and with a mocking laugh。
CHAPTER IX
As a rule； there is no surer way
