the blue flower-第18节

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the　heavens。　And　of　these　Balaam　the　son　of　Beor　was　one　of　the
mightiest。　　Hear　the　words　of　his　prophecy：　　'There　shall　come　a
star　out　of　Jacob；　and　a　sceptre　shall　arise　out　of　Israel。'〃

The　lips　of　Tigranes　drew　downward　with　contempt；　as　he
said：

〃Judah　was　a　captive　by　the　waters　of　Babylon；　and　the
sons　of　Jacob　were　in　bondage　to　our　kings。　　The　tribes　of
Israel　are　scattered　through　the　mountains　like　lost　sheep；
and　from　the　remnant　that　dwells　in　Judea　under　the　yoke　of
Rome　neither　star　nor　sceptre　shall　arise。〃

　〃And　yet；〃　answered　Artaban；　〃it　was　the　Hebrew　Daniel；
the　mighty　searcher　of　dreams；　the　counsellor　of　kings；　the
wise　Belteshazzar；　who　was　most　honoured　and　beloved　of　our
great　King　Cyrus。　　A　prophet　of　sure　things　and　a　reader　of
the　thoughts　of　the　Eternal；　Daniel　proved　himself　to　our
people。　　And　these　are　the　words　that　he　wrote。〃　　（Artaban
read　from　the　second　roll：）　　〃　'Know；　therefore；　and　understand
that　from　the　going　forth　of　the　commandment　to　restore
Jerusalem；　unto　the　Anointed　One；　the　Prince；　the　time　shall　be
seven　and　threescore　and　two　weeks。〃'

〃But；　my　son；〃　said　Abgarus；　doubtfully；　〃these　are
mystical　numbers。　　Who　can　interpret　them；　or　who　can　find　the
key　that　shall　unlock　their　meaning？〃

Artaban　answered：　　〃It　has　been　shown　to　me　and　to　my
three　companions　among　the　MagiCaspar；　Melchior；　and
Balthazar。　　We　have　searched　the　ancient　tablets　of　Chaldea
and　computed　the　time。　　It　falls　in　this　year。　　We　have
studied　the　sky；　and　in　the　spring　of　the　year　we　saw　two　of
the　greatest　planets　draw　near　together　in　the　sign　of　the
Fish；　which　is　the　house　of　the　Hebrews。　　We　also　saw　a　new
star　there；　which　shone　for　one　night　and　then　vanished。　　Now
again　the　two　great　planets　are　meeting。　　This　night　is　their
conjunction。　　My　three　brothers　are　watching　by　the　ancient
Temple　of　the　Seven　Spheres；　at　Borsippa；　in　Babylonia；　and　I
am　watching　here。　　If　the　star　shines　again；　they　will　wait
ten　days　for　me　at　the　temple；　and　then　we　will　set　out
together　for　Jerusalem；　to　see　and　worship　the　promised　one　who
shall　be　born　King　of　Israel。　　I　believe　the　sign　will　come。　　I
have　made　ready　for　the　journey。　　I　have　sold　my　possessions；　and
bought　these　three　jewelsa　sapphire；　a　ruby；　and　a　pearlto
carry　them　as　tribute　to　the　King。　　And　I　ask　you　to　go　with　me
on　the　pilgrimage；　that　we　may　have　joy　together　in　finding　the
Prince　who　is　worthy　to　be　served。〃

While　he　was　speaking　he　thrust　his　hand　into　the　inmost
fold　of　his；　girdle　and　drew　out　three　great　gemsone　blue　as
a　fragment　of　the　night　sky；　one　redder　than　a　ray　of　sunrise；
and　one　as　pure　as　the　peak　of　a　snow…mountain　at
twilightand　laid　them　on　the　outspread　scrolls　before　him。

But　his　friends　looked　on　with　strange　and　alien　eyes。　　A
veil　of　doubt　and　mistrust　came　over　their　faces；　like　a　fog
creeping　up　from　the　marshes　to　hide　the　hills。　　They　glanced
at　each　other　with　looks　of　wonder　and　pity；　as　those　who　have
listened　to　incredible　sayings；　the　story　of　a　wild　vision；　or
the　proposal　of　an　impossible　enterprise。

At　last　Tigranes　said：　　〃Artaban；　this　is　a　vain　dream。
It　comes　from　too　much　looking　upon　the　stars　and　the
cherishing　of　lofty　thoughts。　　It　would　be　wiser　to　spend　the
time　in　gathering　money　for　the　new　fire…temple　at　Chala。　　No
king　will　ever　rise　from　the　broken　race　of　Israel；　and　no　end
will　ever　come　to　the　eternal　strife　of　light　and　darkness。
He　who　looks　for　it　is　a　chaser　of　shadows。　　Farewell。〃

And　another　said：　　〃Artaban；　I　have　no　knowledge　of　these
things；　and　my　office　as　guardian　of　the　royal　treasure　binds
me　here。　　The　quest　is　not　for　me。　　But　if　thou　must　follow
it；　fare　thee　well。〃

And　another　said：　　〃In　my　house　there　sleeps　a　new　bride；
and　I　cannot　leave　her　nor　take　her　with　me　on　this　strange
journey。　　This　quest　is　not　for　me。　　But　may　thy　steps　be
prospered　wherever　thou　goest。　　So；　farewell。〃

And　another　said：　　〃I　am　ill　and　unfit　for　hardship；　but
there　is　a　man　among　my　servants　whom　I　will　send　with　thee
when　thou　goest；　to　bring　me　word　how　thou　farest。〃

So；　one　by　one；　they　left　the　house　of　Artaban。　　But
Abgarus；　the　oldest　and　the　one　who　loved　him　the　best；
lingered　after　the　others　had　gone；　and　said；　gravely：　　〃My
son；　it　may　be　that　the　light　of　truth　is　in　this　sign　that
has　appeared　in　the　skies；　and　then　it　will　surely　lead　to　the
Prince　and　the　mighty　brightness。　　Or　it　may　be　that　it　is
only　a　shadow　of　the　light；　as　Tigranes　has　said；　and　then　he
who　follows　it　will　have　a　long　pilgrimage　and　a　fruitless
search。　　But　it　is　better　to　follow　even　the　shadow　of　the
best　than　to　remain　content　with　the　worst。　　And　those　who
would　see　wonderful　things　must　often　be　ready　to　travel
alone。　　I　am　too　old　for　this　journey；　but　my　heart　shall　be
a　companion　of　thy　pilgrimage　day　and　night；　and　I　shall　know
the　end　of　thy　quest。　　Go　in　peace。〃

Then　Abgarus　went　out　of　the　azure　chamber　with　its　silver
stars；　and　Artaban　was　left　in　solitude。

He　gathered　up　the　jewels　and　replaced　them　in　his　girdle。
For　a　long　time　he　stood　and　watched　the　flame　that　flickered
and　sank　upon　the　altar。　Then　he　crossed　the　hall；　lifted　the
heavy　curtain；　and　passed　out　between　the　pillars　of　porphyry　to
the　terrace　on　the　roof。

The　shiver　that　runs　through　the　earth　ere　she　rouses　from
her　night…sleep　had　already　begun；　and　the　cool　wind　that
heralds　the　daybreak　was　drawing　downward　from　the　lofty
snow…traced　ravines　of　Mount　Orontes。　　Birds；　half…awakened；
crept　and　chirped　among　the　rustling　leaves；　and　the　smell　of
ripened　grapes　came　in　brief　wafts　from　the　arbours。

Far　over　the　eastern　plain　a　white　mist　stretched　like　a
lake。　　But　where　the　distant　peaks　of　Zagros　serrated　the
western　horizon　the　sky　was　clear。　　Jupiter　and　Saturn　rolled
together　like　drops　of　lambent　flame　about　to　blend　in　one。

As　Artaban　watched　them；　a　steel…blue　spark　was　born　out
of　the　darkness　beneath；　rounding　itself　with　purple
splendours　to　a　crimson　sphere；　and　spiring　upward　through
rays　of　saffron　and　orange　into　a　point　of　white　radiance。
Tiny　and　infinitely　remote；　yet　perfect　in　every　part；　it
pulsated　in　the　enormous　vault　as　if　the　three　jewels　in　the
Magian's　girdle　had　mingled　and　been　transformed　into　a　living
heart　of　light。

He　bowed　his　head。　　He　covered　his　brow　with　his　hands。

〃It　is　the　sign；〃　he　said。　　〃The　King　is　coming；　and　I
will　go　to　meet　him。〃



II

All　night　long；　Vasda；　the　swiftest　of　Artaban's　horses；　had
been　waiting；　saddled　and　bridled；　in　her　stall；　pawing　the
ground　impatiently；　and　shaking　her　bit　as　if　she　shared　the
eagerness　of　her　master's　purpose；　though　she　knew　not　its
meaning。

Before　the　birds　had　fully　roused　to　their　strong；　high；
joyful　chant　of　morning　song；　before　the　white　mist　had　begun
to　lift　lazily　from　the　plain；　the　Other　Wise　Man　was　in　the
saddle；　riding　swiftly　along　the　high…road；　which　skirted　the
base　of　Mount　Orontes；　westward。

How　close；　how　intimate　is　the　comradeship　between　a　man
and　his　favourite　horse　on　a　long　journey。　　It　is　a　silent；
comprehensive　friendship；　an　intercourse　beyond　the　need　of
words。

They　drink　at　the　same　way…side　springs；　and　sleep　under
the　same　guardian　stars。　　They　are　conscious　together　of　the
subduing　spell　of　nightfall　and　the　quickening　joy　of
daybreak。　　The　master　shares　his　evening　meal　with　his　hungry
companion；　and　feels　the　soft；　moist　lips　caressing　the　palm
of　his　hand　as　they　close　over　the　morsel　of　bread。　　In　the
gray　dawn　he　is　roused　from　his　bivouac　by　the　gentle　stir　of
a　warm；　sweet　breath　over　his　sleeping　face；　and　looks　up　into
the　eyes　of　his　faithful　fellow…traveller；　ready　and　waiting
for　the　toil　of　the　day。　　Surely；　unless　he　is　a　pagan　and　an
unbeliever；　by　whatever　name　he　calls　upon　his　God；　he　will
thank　Him　for　this　voiceless　sympathy；　this　dumb　affection；
and　his　morning　prayer　will　embrace　a　double　blessingGod
bless　us　both；　the　horse　and　the　rider；　and　keep　our　feet　from
falling　and　our　souls　from　death！

Then；　through　the　keen　morning　air；　the　swift　hoofs　beat
their　tattoo　along　the　road；　keeping　time　to　the　pulsing　of
two　hearts　that　are　moved　with　the　same　eager　desireto
conquer　space；　to　devour　the　distance；　to　attain　the　goal　of
the　journey。

Artaban　must　indeed　ride　wisely　and　well　if　he　would　keep
the　appointed　hour　with　the　other　Magi；　for　the　route　was　a
hundred　and　fifty　parasangs；　and　fifteen　was　the　utmost　that
he　could　travel　in　a　day。　　But　he　knew　Vasda's　strength；　and
pushed　forward　without　anxiety；　making　the　fixed　distance
every　day；　though　he　must　travel　late　into　the　night；　and　in
the　morning　long　before　sunrise。

He　passed　along　the　brown　slopes　of　Mount　Orontes；
furrowed　by　the　rocky　courses　of　a　hundred　torrents。

He　crossed　the　level　plains　of　the　Nisaeans；　where　the
famous　herds　of　horses；　feeding　in　the　wide　pastures；　tossed
their　heads　at　Vasda's　approach；　and　galloped　away　with　a
thunder　of　many　hoofs；　and　flocks　of　wild　birds　rose　suddenly
from　the　swampy　meadows；　wheeling　in　great　circles　with　a
shining　flutter　of　innumerable　wings　and　shrill　cries　o