ben-hur-第53节
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de。 They said； with shrewdness at least； that the real object of the removal of the legates was not a more healthful locality； but the assurance afforded them by the huge barracks； named； according to the prevalent style； citadel； situated just over the way on the eastern ridge of the mount。 And the opinion had plausible showing。 Among other pertinent things； it was remarked that the palace was kept in perpetual readiness for use； and when a consul； general of the army； king； or visiting potentate of any kind arrived at Antioch； quarters were at once assigned him on the island。
As we have to do with but one apartment in the old pile； the residue of it is left to the reader's fancy； and as pleases him； he may go through its gardens； baths； halls； and labyrinth of rooms to the pavilions on the roof； all furnished as became a house of fame in a city which was more nearly Milton's 〃gorgeous East〃 than any other in the world。
At this age the apartment alluded to would be termed a saloon。 It was quite spacious； floored with polished marble slabs； and lighted in the day by skylights in which colored mica served as glass。 The walls were broken by Atlantes； no two of which were alike； but all supporting a cornice wrought with arabesques exceedingly intricate in form； and more elegant on account of superadditions of colorblue； green； Tyrian purple； and gold。 Around the room ran a continuous divan of Indian silks and wool of Cashmere。 The furniture consisted of tables and stools of Egyptian patterns grotesquely carved。 We have left Simonides in his chair perfecting his scheme in aid of the miraculous king； whose coming he has decided is so close at hand。 Esther is asleep； and now； having crossed the river by the bridge； and made way through the lion…guarded gate and a number of Babylonian halls and courts； let us enter the gilded saloon。
There are five chandeliers hanging by sliding bronze chains from the ceilingone in each corner； and in the centre oneenormous pyramids of lighted lamps； illuminating even the demoniac faces of the Atlantes and the complex tracery of the cornice。 About the tables； seated or standing； or moving restlessly from one to another； there are probably a hundred persons； whom we must study at least for a moment。
They are all young； some of them little more than boys。 That they are Italians and mostly Romans is past doubt。 They all speak Latin in purity； while each one appears in the in…door dress of the great capital on the Tiber； that is； in tunics short of sleeve and skirt； a style of vesture well adapted to the climate of Antioch； and especially comfortable in the too close atmosphere of the saloon。 On the divan here and there togas and lacernae lie where they have been carelessly tossed； some of them significantly bordered with purple。 On the divan also lie sleepers stretched at ease； whether they were overcome by the heat and fatigue of the sultry day or by Bacchus we will not pause to inquire。
The hum of voices is loud and incessant。 Sometimes there is an explosion of laughter； sometimes a burst of rage or exultation； but over all prevails a sharp； prolonged rattle； at first somewhat confusing to the non…familiar。 If we approach the tables； however； the mystery solves itself。 The company is at the favorite games； draughts and dice； singly or together； and the rattle is merely of the tesserae； or ivory cubes； loudly shaken； and the moving of the hostes on the checkered boards。
Who are the company？
〃Good Flavius；〃 said a player； holding his piece in suspended movement； 〃thou seest yon lacerna； that one in front of us on the divan。 It is fresh from the shop； and hath a shoulder…buckle of gold broad as a palm。〃
〃Well；〃 said Flavius； intent upon his game； 〃I have seen such before； wherefore thine may not be old； yet； by the girdle of Venus； it is not new！ What of it？〃
〃Nothing。 Only I would give it to find a man who knows everything。〃
〃Ha； ha！ For something cheaper； I will find thee here several with purple who will take thy offer。 But play。〃
〃Therecheck！〃
〃So； by all the Jupiters！ Now； what sayest thou？ Again？〃
〃Be it so。〃
〃And the wager？〃
〃A sestertium。〃
Then each drew his tablets and stilus and made a memorandum； and； while they were resetting the pieces； Flavius returned to his friend's remark。
〃A man who knows everything！ Hercle！ the oracles would die。 What wouldst thou with such a monster？〃
〃Answer to one question； my Flavius； then； perpol！ I would cut his throat。〃
〃And the question？〃
〃I would have him tell me the hour Hour； said I？nay； the minute Maxentius will arrive to…morrow。〃
〃Good play； good play！ I have you！ And why the minute？〃
〃Hast thou ever stood uncovered in the Syrian sun on the quay at which he will land？ The fires of the Vesta are not so hot； and； by the Stator of our father Romulus； I would die； if die I must； in Rome。 Avernus is here； there； in the square before the Forum； I could stand； and； with my hand raised thus； touch the floor of the gods。 Ha； by Venus； my Flavius； thou didst beguile me！ I have lost。 O Fortune！〃
〃Again？〃
〃I must have back my sestertium。〃
〃Be it so。〃
And they played again and again； and when day； stealing through the skylights； began to dim the lamps； it found the two in the same places at the same table； still at the game。 Like most of the company； they were military attaches of the consul； awaiting his arrival and amusing themselves meantime。
During this conversation a party entered the room； and； unnoticed at first； proceeded to the central table。 The signs were that they had come from a revel just dismissed。 Some of them kept their feet with difficulty。 Around the leader's brow was a chaplet which marked him master of the feast； if not the giver。 The wine had made no impression upon him unless to heighten his beauty； which was of the most manly Roman style； he carried his head high raised； the blood flushed his lips and cheeks brightly； his eyes glittered； though the manner in which； shrouded in a toga spotless white and of ample folds； he walked was too nearly imperial for one sober and not a Caesar。 In going to the table； he made room for himself and his followers with little ceremony and no apologies； and when at length he stopped； and looked over it and at the players； they all turned to him； with a shout like a cheer。
〃Messala！ Messala！〃 they cried。
Those in distant quarters； hearing the cry； re…echoed it where they were。 Instantly there were dissolution of groups； and breaking…up of games； and a general rush towards the centre。
Messala took the demonstration indifferently； and proceeded presently to show the ground of his popularity。
〃A health to thee； Drusus； my friend；〃 he said to the player next at his right； 〃a healthand thy tablets a moment。〃
He raised the waxen boards； glanced at the memoranda of wagers； and tossed them down。
〃Denarii； only denariicoin of cartmen and butchers！〃 he said； with a scornful laugh。 〃By the drunken Semele； to what is Rome coming； when a Caesar sits o' nights waiting a turn of fortune to bring him but a beggarly denarius！〃
The scion of the Drusi reddened to his brows； but the bystanders broke in upon his reply by surging closer around the table； and shouting； 〃The Messala！ the Messala！〃
〃Men of the Tiber；〃 Messala continued； wresting a box with the dice in it from a hand near…by； 〃who is he most favored of the gods？ A Roman。 Who is he lawgiver of the nations？ A Roman。 Who is he； by sword right； the universal master？〃
The company were of the easily inspired； and the thought was one to which they were born； in a twinkling they snatched the answer from him。
〃A Roman； a Roman！〃 they shouted。
〃Yetyet〃he lingered to catch their ears〃yet there is a better than the best of Rome。〃
He tossed his patrician head and paused； as if to sting them with his sneer。
〃Hear ye？〃 he asked。 〃There is a better than the best of Rome。〃
〃AyHercules！〃 cried one。
〃Bacchus！〃 yelled a satirist。
〃JoveJove！〃 thundered the crowd。
〃No；〃 Messala answered； 〃among men。〃
〃Name him； name him！〃 they demanded。
〃I will；〃 he said； the next lull。 〃He who to the perfection of Rome hath added the perfection of the East； who to the arm of conquest； which is Western； hath also the art needful to the enjoyment of dominion； which is Eastern。〃
〃Perpol！ His best is a Roman； after all；〃 some one shouted； and there was a great laugh； and long clapping of handsan admission that Messala had the advantage。
〃In the East〃 he continued； 〃we have no gods； only Wine； Women； and Fortune； and the greatest of them is Fortune； wherefore our motto； 'Who dareth what I dare？'fit for the senate； fit for battle； fittest for him who； seeking the best； challenges the worst。〃
His voice dropped into an easy； familiar tone； but without relaxing the ascendancy he had gained。
〃In the great chest up in the citadel I have five talents coin current in the markets； and here are the receipts for them。〃
From his tunic he drew a roll of paper； and； flinging it on the table； continued； amidst breathless silence； every eye having him in view fixed on his； every ear listening：
〃The sum lies there the measure of what I dare。 Who of you dares so much！ You are silent。 Is it t
