ben-hur-第77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！
e for an altar； commences a wall ten or twelve feet in breadth and five or six in height； extending thence exactly two hundred yards； or one Olympic stadium。 At the farther； or westward； extremity of the wall there is another pedestal； surmounted with pillars which mark the second goal。
The racers will enter the course on the right of the first goal； and keep the wall all the time to their left。 The beginning and ending points of the contest lie； consequently； directly in front of the consul across the arena； and for that reason his seat was admittedly the most desirable in the Circus。
Now if the reader； who is still supposed to be seated on the consular tribunal over the Porta Pompae； will look up from the ground arrangement of the interior； the first point to attract his notice will be the marking of the outer boundary…line of the coursethat is； a plain…faced； solid wall； fifteen or twenty feet in height； with a balustrade on its cope； like that over the carceres； or stalls； in the east。 This balcony； if followed round the course； will be found broken in three places to allow passages of exit and entrance； two in the north and one in the west； the latter very ornate； and called the Gate of Triumph； because； when all is over； the victors will pass out that way； crowned； and with triumphal escort and ceremonies。
At the west end the balcony encloses the course in the form of a half circle； and is made to uphold two great galleries。
Directly behind the balustrade on the coping of the balcony is the first seat； from which ascend the succeeding benches； each higher than the one in front of it； giving to view a spectacle of surpassing interestthe spectacle of a vast space ruddy and glistening with human faces； and rich with varicolored costumes。
The commonalty occupy quarters over in the west； beginning at the point of termination of an awning； stretched； it would seem； for the accommodation of the better classes exclusively。
Having thus the whole interior of the Circus under view at the moment of the sounding of the trumpets； let the reader next imagine the multitude seated and sunk to sudden silence； and motionless in its intensity of interest。
Out of the Porta Pompae over in the east rises a sound mixed of voices and instruments harmonized。 Presently； forth issues the chorus of the procession with which the celebration begins； the editor and civic authorities of the city； givers of the games； follow in robes and garlands； then the gods； some on platforms borne by men； others in great four…wheel carriages gorgeously decorated； next them； again； the contestants of the day； each in costume exactly as he will run； wrestle； leap； box； or drive。
Slowly crossing the arena； the procession proceeds to make circuit of the course。 The display is beautiful and imposing。 Approval runs before it in a shout； as the water rises and swells in front of a boat in motion。 If the dumb； figured gods make no sign of appreciation of the welcome； the editor and his associates are not so backward。
The reception of the athletes is even more demonstrative； for there is not a man in the assemblage who has not something in wager upon them； though but a mite or farthing。 And it is noticeable； as the classes move by； that the favorites among them are speedily singled out： either their names are loudest in the uproar； or they are more profusely showered with wreaths and garlands tossed to them from the balcony。
If there is a question as to the popularity with the public of the several games； it is now put to rest。 To the splendor of the chariots and the superexcellent beauty of the horses； the charioteers add the personality necessary to perfect the charm of their display。 Their tunics； short； sleeveless； and of the finest woollen texture； are of the assigned colors。 A horseman accompanies each one of them except Ben…Hur； who； for some reasonpossibly distrusthas chosen to go alone； so； too； they are all helmeted but him。 As they approach； the spectators stand upon the benches； and there is a sensible deepening of the clamor； in which a sharp listener may detect the shrill piping of women and children； at the same time； the things roseate flying from the balcony thicken into a storm； and； striking the men； drop into the chariot…beds； which are threatened with filling to the tops。 Even the horses have a share in the ovation； nor may it be said they are less conscious than their masters of the honors they receive。
Very soon； as with the other contestants； it is made apparent that some of the drivers are more in favor than others； and then the discovery follows that nearly every individual on the benches； women and children as well as men； wears a color； most frequently a ribbon upon the breast or in the hair： now it is green； now yellow； now blue； but； searching the great body carefully； it is manifest that there is a preponderance of white； and scarlet and gold。
In a modern assemblage called together as this one is； particularly where there are sums at hazard upon the race； a preference would be decided by the qualities or performance of the horses； here； however； nationality was the rule。 If the Byzantine and Sidonian found small support； it was because their cities were scarcely represented on the benches。 On their side； the Greeks； though very numerous； were divided between the Corinthian and the Athenian； leaving but a scant showing of green and yellow。 Messala's scarlet and gold would have been but little better had not the citizens of Antioch； proverbially a race of courtiers； joined the Romans by adopting the color of their favorite。 There were left then the country people； or Syrians； the Jews； and the Arabs； and they； from faith in the blood of the sheik's four； blent largely with hate of the Romans； whom they desired； above all things； to see beaten and humbled； mounted the white； making the most noisy； and probably the most numerous； faction of all。
As the charioteers move on in the circuit； the excitement increases； at the second goal； where； especially in the galleries； the white is the ruling color； the people exhaust their flowers and rive the air with screams。
〃Messala！ Messala！〃
〃Ben…Hur！ Ben…Hur！〃
Such are the cries。
Upon the passage of the procession； the factionists take their seats and resume conversation。
〃Ah； by Bacchus！ was he not handsome？〃 exclaims a woman； whose Romanism is betrayed by the colors flying in her hair。
〃And how splendid his chariot！〃 replies a neighbor； of the same proclivities。 〃It is all ivory and gold。 Jupiter grant he wins！〃
The notes on the bench behind them were entirely different。
〃A hundred shekels on the Jew！〃
The voice is high and shrill。
〃Nay； be thou not rash；〃 whispers a moderating friend to the speaker。 〃The children of Jacob are not much given to Gentile sports； which are too often accursed in the sight of the Lord。〃
〃True； but saw you ever one more cool and assured？ And what an arm he has！〃
〃And what horses！〃 says a third。
〃And for that；〃 a fourth one adds； 〃they say he has all the tricks of the Romans。〃
A woman completes the eulogium：
〃Yes； and he is even handsomer than the Roman。〃
Thus encouraged； the enthusiast shrieks again； 〃A hundred shekels on the Jew！〃
〃Thou fool！〃 answers an Antiochian； from a bench well forward on the balcony。 〃Knowest thou not there are fifty talents laid against him； six to one； on Messala？ Put up thy shekels； lest Abraham rise and smite thee。〃
〃Ha； ha！ thou ass of Antioch！ Cease thy bray。 Knowest thou not it was Messala betting on himself？〃
Such the reply。
And so ran the controversy； not always good…natured。
When at length the march was ended and the Porta Pompae received back the procession； Ben…Hur knew he had his prayer。
The eyes of the East were upon his contest with Messala。
CHAPTER XIII
About three o'clock； speaking in modern style； the program was concluded except the chariot…race。 The editor； wisely considerate of the comfort of the people； chose that time for a recess。 At once the vomitoria were thrown open； and all who could hastened to the portico outside where the restaurateurs had their quarters。 Those who remained yawned； talked； gossiped； consulted their tablets； and； all distinctions else forgotten； merged into but two classesthe winners； who were happy； and the losers； who were grum and captious。
Now； however； a third class of spectators； composed of citizens who desired only to witness the chariot…race； availed themselves of the recess to come in and take their reserved seats； by so doing they thought to attract the least attention and give the least offence。 Among these were Simonides and his party； whose places were in the vicinity of the main entrance on the north side； opposite the consul。
As the four stout servants carried the merchant in his chair up the aisle； curiosity was much excited。 Presently some one called his name。 Those about caught it and passed it on along the benches to the west； and there was hurried climbing on seats to get sight of the man about whom common report had coined and put in circulation a romance so mixed of good fortune and bad that the like had never been known or heard of before。
Ilderim was also recognized a
