ben-hur-第50节

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of　sheik；　moving　as　our　fathers　Abraham　and　Jacob　moved；　comes　up　to　exchange　briefly　his　bitter　wells　for　the　pleasantness　you　see　about　us。〃

〃How　is　it；　then？〃　said　Ben…Hur；　who　had　been　listening　unmindful　of　the　slow　gait　of　the　dromedaries。　〃I　saw　the　sheik　tear　his　beard　while　he　cursed　himself　that　he　had　put　trust　in　a　Roman。　Caesar；　had　he　heard　him；　might　have　said；　'I　like　not　such　a　friend　as　this；　put　him　away。'〃

〃It　would　be　but　shrewd　judgment；〃　Malluch　replied；　smiling。　〃Ilderim　is　not　a　lover　of　Rome；　he　has　a　grievance。　Three　years　ago　the　Parthians　rode　across　the　road　from　Bozra　to　Damascus；　and　fell　upon　a　caravan　laden；　among　other　things；　with　the　incoming　tax…returns　of　a　district　over　that　way。　They　slew　every　creature　taken；　which　the　censors　in　Rome　could　have　forgiven　if　the　imperial　treasure　had　been　spared　and　forwarded。　The　farmers　of　the　taxes；　being　chargeable　with　the　loss；　complained　to　Caesar；　and　Caesar　held　Herod　to　payment；　and　Herod；　on　his　part；　seized　property　of　Ilderim；　whom　he　charged　with　treasonable　neglect　of　duty。　The　sheik　appealed　to　Caesar；　and　Caesar　has　made　him　such　answer　as　might　be　looked　for　from　the　unwinking　sphinx。　The　old　man's　heart　has　been　aching　sore　ever　since；　and　he　nurses　his　wrath；　and　takes　pleasure　in　its　daily　growth。〃

〃He　can　do　nothing；　Malluch。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Malluch；　〃that　involves　another　explanation；　which　I　will　give　you；　if　we　can　draw　nearer。　But　see！the　hospitality　of　the　sheik　begins　earlythe　children　are　speaking　to　you。〃

The　dromedaries　stopped；　and　Ben…Hur　looked　down　upon　some　little　girls　of　the　Syrian　peasant　class；　who　were　offering　him　their　baskets　filled　with　dates。　The　fruit　was　freshly　gathered；　and　not　to　be　refused；　he　stooped　and　took　it；　and　as　he　did　so　a　man　in　the　tree　by　which　they　were　halted　cried；　〃Peace　to　you；　and　welcome！〃

Their　thanks　said　to　the　children；　the　friends　moved　on　at　such　gait　as　the　animals　chose。

〃You　must　know；〃　Malluch　continued；　pausing　now　and　then　to　dispose　of　a　date；　〃that　the　merchant　Simonides　gives　me　his　confidence；　and　sometimes　flatters　me　by　taking　me　into　council；　and　as　I　attend　him　at　his　house；　I　have　made　acquaintance　with　many　of　his　friends；　who；　knowing　my　footing　with　the　host；　talk　to　him　freely　in　my　presence。　In　that　way　I　became　somewhat　intimate　with　Sheik　IIderim。〃

For　a　moment　Ben…Hur's　attention　wandered。　Before　his　mind's　eye　there　arose　the　image；　pure；　gentle；　and　appealing；　of　Esther；　the　merchant's　daughter。　Her　dark　eyes　bright　with　the　peculiar　Jewish　lustre　met　his　in　modest　gaze；　he　heard　her　step　as　when　she　approached　him　with　the　wine；　and　her　voice　as　she　tendered　him　the　cup；　and　he　acknowledged　to　himself　again　all　the　sympathy　she　manifested　for　him；　and　manifested　so　plainly　that　words　were　unnecessary；　and　so　sweetly　that　words　would　have　been　but　a　detraction。　The　vision　was　exceeding　pleasant；　but　upon　his　turning　to　Malluch；　it　flew　away。

〃A　few　weeks　ago；〃　said　Malluch；　continuing；　〃the　old　Arab　called　on　Simonides；　and　found　me　present。　I　observed　he　seemed　much　moved　about　something；　and；　in　deference；　offered　to　withdraw；　but　he　himself　forbade　me。　'As　you　are　an　Israelite；'　he　said；　'stay；　for　I　have　a　strange　story　to　tell。'　The　emphasis　on　the　word　Israelite　excited　my　curiosity。　I　remained；　and　this　is　in　substance　his　storyI　cut　it　short　because　we　are　drawing　nigh　the　tent；　and　I　leave　the　details　to　the　good　man　himself。　A　good　many　years　ago；　three　men　called　at　Ilderim's　tent　out　in　the　wilderness。　They　were　all　foreigners；　a　Hindoo；　a　Greek；　and　an　Egyptian；　and　they　had　come　on　camels；　the　largest　he　had　ever　seen；　and　all　white。　He　welcomed　them；　and　gave　them　rest。　Next　morning　they　arose　and　prayed　a　prayer　new　to　the　sheika　prayer　addressed　to　God　and　his　sonthis　with　much　mystery　besides。　After　breaking　fast　with　him；　the　Egyptian　told　who　they　were；　and　whence　they　had　come。　Each　had　seen　a　star；　out　of　which　a　voice　had　bidden　them　go　to　Jerusalem　and　ask；　Where　is　he　that　is　born　King　of　the　Jews？'　They　obeyed。　From　Jerusalem　they　were　led　by　a　star　to　Bethlehem；　where；　in　a　cave；　they　found　a　child　newly　born；　which　they　fell　down　and　worshipped；　and　after　worshipping　it；　and　giving　it　costly　presents；　and　bearing　witness　of　what　it　was；　they　took　to　their　camels；　and　fled　without　pause　to　the　sheik；　because　if　Herodmeaning　him　surnamed　the　Greatcould　lay　hands　upon　them；　he　would　certainly　kill　them。　And；　faithful　to　his　habit；　the　sheik　took　care　of　them；　and　kept　them　concealed　for　a　year；　when　they　departed；　leaving　with　him　gifts　of　great　value；　and　each　going　a　separate　way。〃

〃It　is；　indeed；　a　most　wonderful　story；〃　Ben…Hur　exclaimed　at　its　conclusion。　〃What　did　you　say　they　were　to　ask　at　Jerusalem？〃

〃They　were　to　ask；　'Where　is　he　that　is　born　King　of　the　Jews？'〃

〃Was　that　all？〃

〃There　was　more　to　the　question；　but　I　cannot　recall　it。〃

〃And　they　found　the　child？〃

〃Yes；　and　worshipped　him。〃

〃It　is　a　miracle；　Malluch。〃

〃Ilderim　is　a　grave　man；　though　excitable　as　all　Arabs　are。　A　lie　on　his　tongue　is　impossible。〃

Malluch　spoke　positively。　Thereupon　the　dromedaries　were　forgotten；　and；　quite　as　unmindful　of　their　riders；　they　turned　off　the　road　to　the　growing　grass。

〃Has　Ilderim　heard　nothing　more　of　the　three　men？〃　asked　Ben…Hur。　〃What　became　of　them？〃

〃Ah；　yes；　that　was　the　cause　of　his　coming　to　Simonides　the　day　of　which　I　was　speaking。　Only　the　night　before　that　day　the　Egyptian　reappeared　to　him。〃

〃Where？〃

〃Here　at　the　door　of　the　tent　to　which　we　are　coming。〃

〃How　knew　he　the　man？〃

〃As　you　knew　the　horses　to…dayby　face　and　manner。〃

〃By　nothing　else？〃

〃He　rode　the　same　great　white　camel；　and　gave　him　the　same　nameBalthasar；　the　Egyptian。〃

〃It　is　a　wonder　of　the　Lord's！〃

Ben…Hur　spoke　with　excitement。

And　Malluch；　wondering；　asked；　〃Why　so？〃

〃Balthasar；　you　said？〃

〃Yes。　Balthasar；　the　Egyptian。〃

〃That　was　the　name　the　old　man　gave　us　at　the　fountain　today。〃

Then；　at　the　reminder；　Malluch　became　excited。

〃It　is　true；〃　he　said；　〃and　the　camel　was　the　sameand　you　saved　the　man's　life。〃

〃And　the　woman；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　like　one　speaking　to　himself〃the　woman　was　his　daughter。〃

He　fell　to　thinking；　and　even　the　reader　will　say　he　was　having　a　vision　of　the　woman；　and　that　it　was　more　welcome　than　that　of　Esther；　if　only　because　it　stayed　longer　with　him；　but　no

〃Tell　me　again；〃　he　said；　presently。　〃Were　the　three　to　ask；　'Where　is　he　that　is　to　be　King　of　the　Jews？'〃

〃Not　exactly。　The　words　were　BORN　TO　BE　KING　OF　THE　JEWS。　Those　were　the　words　as　the　old　sheik　caught　them　first　in　the　desert；　and　he　has　ever　since　been　waiting　the　coming　of　the　king；　nor　can　any　one　shake　his　faith　that　he　will　come。〃

〃Howas　king？〃

〃Yes；　and　bringing　the　doom　of　Romeso　says　the　sheik。〃

Ben…Hur　kept　silent　awhile；　thinking　and　trying　to　control　his　feelings。

〃The　old　man　is　one　of　many　millions；〃　he　said；　slowly〃one　of　many　millions　each　with　a　wrong　to　avenge；　and　this　strange　faith；　Malluch；　is　bread　and　wine　to　his　hope；　for　who　but　a　Herod　may　be　King　of　the　Jews　while　Rome　endures？　But；　following　the　story；　did　you　hear　what　Simonides　said　to　him？〃

〃If　Ilderim　is　a　grave　man；　Simonides　is　a　wise　one；〃　Malluch　replied。　〃I　listened；　and　he　said　But　hark！　Some　one　comes　overtaking　us。〃

The　noise　grew　louder；　until　presently　they　heard　the　rumble　of　wheels　mixed　with　the　beating　of　horse…hoofsa　moment　later　Sheik　I1derim　himself　appeared　on　horseback；　followed　by　a　train；　among　which　were　the　four　wine…red　Arabs　drawing　the　chariot。　The　sheik's　chin；　in　its　muffling　of　long　white　beard；　was　drooped　upon　his　breast。　Our　friends　had　out…travelled　him；　but　at　sight　of　them　he　raised　his　head　and　spoke　kindly。

〃Peace　to　you！Ah；　my　friend　Malluch！　Welcome！　And　tell　me　you　are　not　going；　but　just　come；　that　you　have　something　for　me　from　the　good　Simonidesmay　the　Lord　of　his　fathers　keep　him　in　life　for　many　years　to　come！　Ay；　take　up　the　straps；　both　of　you；　and　follow　me。　I　have　bread　and　leben；　or；　if　you　prefer　it；　arrack；　and　the　flesh　of　young　kid。　Come！〃

They　followed　after　him　to　the　door　of　the　tent；　in　which；　when　they　were　dismounted；　he　stood　to　receive　them；　holding　a　platter　with　three　cups　filled　with　creamy　liquor　just　drawn　from　a　great　smoke…stained　skin　bottle；　pendent　from　the　central　post。

〃Drink；〃　he　said；　heartily；　〃drink；　for　this　is　the　fear…naught　of　the　tentmen。〃

They　each　took　a　cup；　and　drank　till　but　the　foam　remained。

〃Enter　now；　in　God's　name。〃

And　when　they　were　gone　in；　Malluch　took　the　sheik　aside；　and　spoke　to　him　privately；　after　which　he　went　to　Ben…Hur　and　excused　himself。

〃I　have　told　the　sheik　about　you；　and　he　will　give　you　the　trial　of　his　horses　in　the　morning。　He　is　your　friend。　Having　done　for　you　all　I　can；　you　must　do　the　rest；　and　let　me　return　to　Antioch。　There　is　one　there　who　has　my　promise　to　meet　him　to…night。　I　have　no　choice　but　to　go。　I　will　come　back　to…morrow　prepared；　if　all　goes　well　in　the　meantime；　to　stay　with　you　until　the　games　are　over。〃

With　blessings　given　and　received；　Malluch　set　out　in　return。




CHAPTER　XI



What　time　the