ben-hur-第67节

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At　the　conclusion　of　the　story；　Ben…Hur　was　sitting　at　the　Egyptian's　feet；　and　her　hand　upon　the　tiller　was　covered　by　his　hand。

〃Menopha　was　wrong；〃　he　said。

〃How？〃

〃Love　lives　by　loving。〃

〃Then　there　is　no　cure　for　it？〃

〃Yes。　Oraetes　found　the　cure。〃

〃What　was　it？〃

〃Death。〃

〃You　are　a　good　listener；　O　son　of　Arrius。〃

And　so　with　conversation　and　stories；　they　whiled　the　hours　away。　As　they　stepped　ashore；　she　said；

〃To…morrow　we　go　to　the　city。〃

〃But　you　will　be　at　the　games？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh　yes。〃

〃I　will　send　you　my　colors。〃

With　that　they　separated。




CHAPTER　IV



Ilderim　returned　to　the　dowar　next　day　about　the　third　hour。　As　he　dismounted；　a　man　whom　he　recognized　as　of　his　own　tribe　came　to　him　and　said；　〃O　sheik；　I　was　bidden　give　thee　this　package；　with　request　that　thou　read　it　at　once。　If　there　be　answer；　I　was　to　wait　thy　pleasure。〃

Ilderim　gave　the　package　immediate　attention。　The　seal　was　already　broken。　The　address　ran；　TO　VALERIUS　GRATUS　AT　CAESAREA。

〃Abaddon　take　him！〃　growled　the　sheik；　at　discovering　a　letter　in　Latin。

Had　the　missive　been　in　Greek　or　Arabic；　he　could　have　read　it；　as　it　was；　the　utmost　he　could　make　out　was　the　signature　in　bold　Roman　lettersMESSALAwhereat　his　eyes　twinkled。

〃Where　is　the　young　Jew？〃　he　asked。

〃In　the　field　with　the　horses；〃　a　servant　replied。

The　sheik　replaced　the　papyrus　in　its　envelopes；　and；　tucking　the　package　under　his　girdle；　remounted　the　horse。　That　moment　a　stranger　made　his　appearance；　coming；　apparently；　from　the　city。

〃I　am　looking　for　Sheik　Ilderim；　surnamed　the　Generous；〃　the　stranger　said。

His　language　and　attire　bespoke　him　a　Roman。

What　he　could　not　read；　he　yet　could　speak；　so　the　old　Arab　answered；　with　dignity；　〃I　am　Sheik　Ilderim。〃

The　man's　eyes　fell；　he　raised　them　again；　and　said；　with　forced　composure；　〃I　heard　you　had　need　of　a　driver　for　the　games。〃

Ilderim's　lip　under　the　white　mustache　curled　contemptuously。

〃Go　thy　way；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　driver。〃

He　turned　to　ride　away；　but　the　man；　lingering；　spoke　again。

〃Sheik；　I　am　a　lover　of　horses；　and　they　say　you　have　the　most　beautiful　in　the　world。〃

The　old　man　was　touched；　he　drew　rein；　as　if　on　the　point　of　yielding　to　the　flattery；　but　finally　replied；　〃Not　to…day；　not　to…day；　some　other　time　I　will　show　them　to　you。　I　am　too　busy　just　now。〃

He　rode　to　the　field；　while　the　stranger　betook　himself　to　town　again　with　a　smiling　countenance。　He　had　accomplished　his　mission。

And　every　day　thereafter；　down　to　the　great　day　of　the　games；　a　mansometimes　two　or　three　mencame　to　the　sheik　at　the　Orchard；　pretending　to　seek　an　engagement　as　driver。

In　such　manner　Messala　kept　watch　over　Ben…Hur。




CHAPTER　V



The　sheik　waited；　well　satisfied；　until　Ben…Hur　drew　his　horses　off　the　field　for　the　forenoonwell　satisfied；　for　he　had　seen　them；　after　being　put　through　all　the　other　paces；　run　full　speed　in　such　manner　that　it　did　not　seem　there　were　one　the　slowest　and　another　the　fastestrun　in　other　words；　as　if　the　four　were　one。

〃This　afternoon；　O　sheik；　I　will　give　Sirius　back　to　you。〃　Ben…Hur　patted　the　neck　of　the　old　horse　as　he　spoke。　〃I　will　give　him　back；　and　take　to　the　chariot。〃

〃So　soon？〃　Ilderim　asked。

〃With　such　as　these；　good　sheik；　one　day　suffices。　They　are　not　afraid；　they　have　a　man's　intelligence；　and　they　love　the　exercise。　This　one；〃　he　shook　a　rein　over　the　back　of　the　youngest　of　the　four〃you　called　him　Aldebaran；　I　believeis　the　swiftest；　in　once　round　a　stadium　he　would　lead　the　others　thrice　his　length。〃

Ilderim　pulled　his　beard；　and　said；　with　twinkling　eyes；　〃Aldebaran　is　the　swiftest；　but　what　of　the　slowest？〃

〃This　is　he。〃　Ben…Hur　shook　the　rein　over　Antares。　〃This　is　he：　but　he　will　win；　for；　look　you；　sheik；　he　will　run　his　utmost　all　dayall　day；　and；　as　the　sun　goes　down；　he　will　reach　his　swiftest。〃

〃Right　again；〃　said　Ilderim。

〃I　have　but　one　fear；　O　sheik。〃

The　sheik　became　doubly　serious。

〃In　his　greed　of　triumph；　a　Roman　cannot　keep　honor　pure。　In　the　gamesall　of　them；　mark　youtheir　tricks　are　infinite；　in　chariot　racing　their　knavery　extends　to　everythingfrom　horse　to　driver；　from　driver　to　master。　Wherefore；　good　sheik；　look　well　to　all　thou　hast；　from　this　till　the　trial　is　over；　let　no　stranger　so　much　as　see　the　horses。　Would　you　be　perfectly　safe；　do　morekeep　watch　over　them　with　armed　hand　as　well　as　sleepless　eye；　then　I　will　have　no　fear　of　the　end。〃

At　the　door　of　the　tent　they　dismounted。

〃What　you　say　shall　be　attended　to。　By　the　splendor　of　God；　no　hand　shall　come　near　them　except　it　belong　to　one　of　the　faithful。　To…night　I　will　set　watches。　But；　son　of　Arrius〃Ilderim　drew　forth　the　package；　and　opened　it　slowly；　while　they　walked　to　the　divan　and　seated　themselves〃son　of　Arrius；　see　thou　here；　and　help　me　with　thy　Latin。〃

He　passed　the　despatch　to　Ben…Hur。

〃There；　readand　read　aloud；　rendering　what　thou　findest　into　the　tongue　of　thy　fathers。　Latin　is　an　abomination。〃

Ben…Hur　was　in　good　spirits；　and　began　the　reading　carelessly。　〃'MESSALA　TO　GRATUS！'〃　He　paused。　A　premonition　drove　the　blood　to　his　heart。　Ilderim　observed　his　agitation。

〃Well；　I　am　waiting。〃

Ben…Hur　prayed　pardon；　and　recommenced　the　paper；　which；　it　is　sufficient　to　say；　was　one　of　the　duplicates　of　the　letter　despatched　so　carefully　to　Gratus　by　Messala　the　morning　after　the　revel　in　the　palace。

The　paragraphs　in　the　beginning　were　remarkable　only　as　proof　that　the　writer　had　not　outgrown　his　habit　of　mockery；　when　they　were　passed；　and　the　reader　came　to　the　parts　intended　to　refresh　the　memory　of　Gratus；　his　voice　trembled；　and　twice　he　stopped　to　regain　his　self…control。　By　a　strong　effort　he　continued。　〃'I　recall　further；'〃　he　read；　〃'that　thou　didst　make　disposition　of　the　family　of　Hur'〃there　the　reader　again　paused　and　drew　a　long　breath〃'both　of　us　at　the　time　supposing　the　plan　hit　upon　to　be　the　most　effective　possible　for　the　purposes　in　view；　which　were　silence　and　delivery　over　to　inevitable　but　natural　death。'〃

Here　Ben…Hur　broke　down　utterly。　The　paper　fell　from　his　hands；　and　he　covered　his　face。

〃They　are　deaddead。　I　alone　am　left。〃

The　sheik　had　been　a　silent；　but　not　unsympathetic；　witness　of　the　young　man's　suffering；　now　he　arose　and　said；　〃Son　of　Arrius；　it　is　for　me　to　beg　thy　pardon。　Read　the　paper　by　thyself。　When　thou　art　strong　enough　to　give　the　rest　of　it　to　me；　send　word；　and　I　will　return。〃

He　went　out　of　the　tent；　and　nothing　in　all　his　life　became　him　better。

Ben…Hur　flung　himself　on　the　divan　and　gave　way　to　his　feelings。　When　somewhat　recovered；　he　recollected　that　a　portion　of　the　letter　remained　unread；　and；　taking　it　up；　he　resumed　the　reading。　〃Thou　wilt　remember；〃　the　missive　ran；　〃what　thou　didst　with　the　mother　and　sister　of　the　malefactor；　yet；　if　now　I　yield　to　a　desire　to　learn　if　they　be　living　or　dead〃Ben…Hur　started；　and　read　again；　and　then　again；　and　at　last　broke　into　exclamation。　〃He　does　not　know　they　are　dead；　he　does　not　know　it！　Blessed　be　the　name　of　the　Lord！　there　is　yet　hope。〃　He　finished　the　sentence；　and　was　strengthened　by　it；　and　went　on　bravely　to　the　end　of　the　letter。

〃They　are　not　dead；〃　he　said；　after　reflection；　〃they　are　not　dead；　or　he　would　have　heard　of　it。〃

A　second　reading；　more　careful　than　the　first；　confirmed　him　in　the　opinion。　Then　he　sent　for　the　sheik。

〃In　coming　to　your　hospitable　tent；　O　sheik；〃　he　said；　calmly；　when　the　Arab　was　seated　and　they　were　alone；　〃it　was　not　in　my　mind　to　speak　of　myself　further　than　to　assure　you　I　had　sufficient　training　to　be　intrusted　with　your　horses。　I　declined　to　tell　you　my　history。　But　the　chances　which　have　sent　this　paper　to　my　hand　and　given　it　to　me　to　be　read　are　so　strange　that　I　feel　bidden　to　trust　you　with　everything。　And　I　am　the　more　inclined　to　do　so　by　knowledge　here　conveyed　that　we　are　both　of　us　threatened　by　the　same　enemy；　against　whom　it　is　needful　that　we　make　common　cause。　I　will　read　the　letter　and　give　you　explanation；　after　which　you　will　not　wonder　I　was　so　moved。　If　you　thought　me　weak　or　childish；　you　will　then　excuse　me。〃

The　sheik　held　his　peace；　listening　closely；　until　Ben…Hur　came　to　the　paragraph　in　which　he　was　particularly　mentioned：　〃'I　saw　the　Jew　yesterday　in　the　Grove　of　Daphne；'〃　so　ran　the　part；　〃'and　if　he　be　not　there　now；　he　is　certainly　in　the　neighborhood；　making　it　easy　for　me　to　keep　him　in　eye。　Indeed；　wert　thou　to　ask　me　where　he　is　now；　I　should　say；　with　the　most　positive　assurance；　he　is　to　be　found　at　the　old　Orchard　of　Palms。'〃

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Ilderim；　in　such　a　tone　one　might　hardly　say　he　was　more　surprised　than　angry；　at　the　same　time；　he　clutched　his　beard。

〃'At　the　old　Orchard　of　Palms；'〃　Ben…Hur　repeated；　〃'under　the　tent　of　the　traitor　Shiek　Ilderim。'〃

〃Traitor！I？〃　the　old　man　cried；　in　his　shrillest　tone；　while　lip　and　beard　curled　with　ire；　and　on　his　forehead　and　neck　the　veins　swelled　and　beat　as　they　would　burst。

〃Yet　a　moment；　sheik；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　with　a　deprecatory　gesture。　〃Such　is　Messala's　opinion　of　you。　Hear　his　threat。〃　And　he　read　on〃'under　the　tent　of　the　traitor　Sheik　Ilderim；　who　cannot　long