ben-hur-第79节
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The divine last touch in perfecting the beautiful is animation。 Can we accept the saying； then these latter days； so tame in pastime and dull in sports； have scarcely anything to compare to the spectacle offered by the six contestants。 Let the reader try to fancy it； let him first look down upon the arena； and see it glistening in its frame of dull…gray granite walls； let him then； in this perfect field； see the chariots； light of wheel； very graceful； and ornate as paint and burnishing can make themMessala's rich with ivory and gold； let him see the drivers； erect and statuesque； undisturbed by the motion of the cars； their limbs naked； and fresh and ruddy with the healthful polish of the bathsin their right hands goads； suggestive of torture dreadful to the thoughtin their left hands； held in careful separation； and high； that they may not interfere with view of the steeds； the reins passing taut from the fore ends of the carriage…poles； let him see the fours； chosen for beauty as well as speed； let him see them in magnificent action； their masters not more conscious of the situation and all that is asked and hoped from themtheir heads tossing； nostrils in play； now distent； now contractedlimbs too dainty for the sand which they touch but to spurnlimbs slender； yet with impact crushing as hammersevery muscle of the rounded bodies instinct with glorious life； swelling； diminishing； justifying the world in taking from them its ultimate measure of force； finally； along with chariots； drivers； horses； let the reader see the accompanying shadows fly； and； with such distinctness as the picture comes； he may share the satisfaction and deeper pleasure of those to whom it was a thrilling fact； not a feeble fancy。 Every age has its plenty of sorrows； Heaven help where there are no pleasures！
The competitors having started each on the shortest line for the position next the wall； yielding would be like giving up the race； and who dared yield？ It is not in common nature to change a purpose in mid…career； and the cries of encouragement from the balcony were indistinguishable and indescribable： a roar which had the same effect upon all the drivers。
The fours neared the rope together。 Then the trumpeter by the editor's side blew a signal vigorously。 Twenty feet away it was not heard。 Seeing the action； however； the judges dropped the rope； and not an instant too soon； for the hoof of one of Messala's horses struck it as it fell。 Nothing daunted； the Roman shook out his long lash； loosed the reins； leaned forward； and； with a triumphant shout； took the wall。
〃Jove with us！ Jove with us！〃 yelled all the Roman faction； in a frenzy of delight。
As Messala turned in； the bronze lion's head at the end of his axle caught the fore…leg of the Athenian's right…hand trace…mate； flinging the brute over against its yoke…fellow。 Both staggered； struggled； and lost their headway。 The ushers had their will at least in part。 The thousands held their breath with horror； only up where the consul sat was there shouting。
〃Jove with us！〃 screamed Drusus； frantically。
〃He wins！ Jove with us！〃 answered his associates； seeing Messala speed on。
Tablet in hand； Sanballat turned to them； a crash from the course below stopped his speech； and he could not but look that way。
Messala having passed； the Corinthian was the only contestant on the Athenian's right； and to that side the latter tried to turn his broken four； and then； as ill…fortune would have it； the wheel of the Byzantine； who was next on the left； struck the tail…piece of his chariot； knocking his feet from under him。 There was a crash； a scream of rage and fear； and the unfortunate Cleanthes fell under the hoofs of his own steeds： a terrible sight； against which Esther covered her eyes。
On swept the Corinthian； on the Byzantine； on the Sidonian。
Sanballat looked for Ben…Hur； and turned again to Drusus and his coterie。
〃A hundred sestertii on the Jew！〃 he cried。
〃Taken！〃 answered Drusus。
〃Another hundred on the Jew！〃 shouted Sanballat。
Nobody appeared to hear him。 He called again； the situation below was too absorbing； and they were too busy shouting； 〃Messala！ Messala！ Jove with us！〃
When the Jewess ventured to look again； a party of workmen were removing the horses and broken car； another party were taking off the man himself； and every bench upon which there was a Greek was vocal with execrations and prayers for vengeance。 Suddenly she dropped her hands； Ben…Hur； unhurt； was to the front； coursing freely forward along with the Roman！ Behind them； in a group； followed the Sidonian； the Corinthian； and the Byzantine。
The race was on； the souls of the racers were in it； over them bent the myriads。
CHAPTER XIV
When the dash for position began； Ben…Hur； as we have seen； was on the extreme left of the six。 For a moment； like the others； he was half blinded by the light in the arena； yet he managed to catch sight of his antagonists and divine their purpose。 At Messala； who was more than an antagonist to him； he gave one searching look。 The air of passionless hauteur characteristic of the fine patrician face was there as of old； and so was the Italian beauty； which the helmet rather increased； but moreit may have been a jealous fancy； or the effect of the brassy shadow in which the features were at the moment cast； still the Israelite thought he saw the soul of the man as through a glass； darkly： cruel； cunning； desperate； not so excited as determineda soul in a tension of watchfulness and fierce resolve。
In a time not longer than was required to turn to his four again； Ben…Hur felt his own resolution harden to a like temper。 At whatever cost； at all hazards； he would humble this enemy！ Prize； friends； wagers； honoreverything that can be thought of as a possible interest in the race was lost in the one deliberate purpose。 Regard for life even should not hold him back。 Yet there was no passion； on his part； no blinding rush of heated blood from heart to brain； and back again； no impulse to fling himself upon Fortune： he did not believe in Fortune； far otherwise。 He had his plan； and； confiding in himself； he settled to the task never more observant； never more capable。 The air about him seemed aglow with a renewed and perfect transparency。
When not half…way across the arena； he saw that Messala's rush would； if there was no collision； and the rope fell； give him the wall； that the rope would fall； he ceased as soon to doubt； and； further； it came to him； a sudden flash…like insight； that Messala knew it was to be let drop at the last moment （prearrangement with the editor could safely reach that point in the contest）； and it suggested； what more Roman…like than for the official to lend himself to a countryman who； besides being so popular； had also so much at stake？ There could be no other accounting for the confidence with which Messala pushed his four forward the instant his competitors were prudentially checking their fours in front of the obstructionno other except madness。
It is one thing to see a necessity and another to act upon it。 Ben…Hur yielded the wall for the time。
The rope fell； and all the fours but his sprang into the course under urgency of voice and lash。 He drew head to the right； and； with all the speed of his Arabs； darted across the trails of his opponents； the angle of movement being such as to lose the least time and gain the greatest possible advance。 So； while the spectators were shivering at the Athenian's mishap； and the Sidonian； Byzantine； and Corinthian were striving； with such skill as they possessed； to avoid involvement in the ruin； Ben…Hur swept around and took the course neck and neck with Messala； though on the outside。 The marvellous skill shown in making the change thus from the extreme left across to the right without appreciable loss did not fail the sharp eyes upon the benches； the Circus seemed to rock and rock again with prolonged applause。 Then Esther clasped her hands in glad surprise； then Sanballat； smiling； offered his hundred sestertii a second time without a taker； and then the Romans began to doubt； thinking Messala might have found an equal； if not a master； and that in an Israelite！
And now； racing together side by side； a narrow interval between them； the two neared the second goal。
The pedestal of the three pillars there； viewed from the west； was a stone wall in the form of a half…circle； around which the course and opposite balcony were bent in exact parallelism。 Making this turn was considered in all respects the most telling test of a charioteer； it was； in fact； the very feat in which Orastes failed。 As an involuntary admission of interest on the part of the spectators； a hush fell over all the Circus； so that for the first time in the race the rattle and clang of the cars plunging after the tugging steeds were distinctly heard。 Then； it would seem； Messala observed Ben…Hur； and recognized him； and at once the audacity of the man flamed out in an astonishing manner。
〃Down Eros； up Mars！〃 he shouted； whirling his lash with practised hand〃Down Eros； up Mars！〃 he repeated； and caught the well…doing Arabs of Ben…Hur a cut the like of which they had never known。
The blow was seen in
