the blue flower-第20节

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The　land　of　death　spread　its　cruel　net　around　him。　　The
stony　waste　bore　no　fruit　but　briers　and　thorns。　　The　dark
ledges　of　rock　thrust　themselves　above　the　surface　here　and
there；　like　the　bones　of　perished　monsters。　　Arid　and
inhospitable　mountain…ranges　rose　before　him；　furrowed　with　dry
channels　of　ancient　torrents；　white　and　ghastly　as　scars　on　the
face　of　nature。　　Shifting　hills　of　treacherous　sand　were　heaped
like　tombs　along　the　horizon。　　By　day；　the　fierce　heat　pressed
its　intolerable　burden　on　the　quivering　air。　　No　living　creature
moved　on　the　dumb；　swooning　earth；　but　tiny　jerboas　scuttling
through　the　parched　bushes；　or　lizards　vanishing　in　the　clefts　of
the　rock。　　By　night　the　jackals　prowled　and　barked　in　the
distance；　and　the　lion　made　the　black　ravines　echo　with　his
hollow　roaring；　while　a　bitter；　blighting　chill　followed　the
fever　of　the　day。　　Through　heat　and　cold；　the　Magian　moved
steadily　onward。

Then　I　saw　the　gardens　and　orchards　of　Damascus；　watered
by　the　streams　of　Abana　and　Pharpar；　with　their　sloping　swards
inlaid　with　bloom；　and　their　thickets　of　myrrh　and　roses。　　I
saw　the　long；　snowy　ridge　of　Hermon；　and　the　dark　groves　of
cedars；　and　the　valley　of　the　Jordan；　and　the　blue　waters　of
the　Lake　of　Galilee；　and　the　fertile　plain　of　Esdraelon；　and　the
hills　of　Ephraim；　and　the　highlands　of　Judah。　　Through　all　these
I　followed　the　figure　of　Artaban　moving　steadily　onward；　until　he
arrived　at　Bethlehem。　　And　it　was　the　third　day　after　the　three
Wise　Men　had　come　to　that　place　and　had　found　Mary　and　Joseph；
with　the　young　child；　Jesus；　and　had　laid　their　gifts　of　gold　and
frankincense　and　myrrh　at　his　feet。

Then　the　Other　Wise　Man　drew　near；　weary；　but　full　of
hope；　bearing　his　ruby　and　his　pearl　to　offer　to　the　King。
〃For　now　at　last；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　surely　find　him；　though
I　be　alone；　and　later　than　my　brethren。　　This　is　the　place　of
which　the　Hebrew　exile　told　me　that　the　prophets　had　spoken；
and　here　I　shall　behold　the　rising　of　the　great　light。　　But　I
must　inquire　about　the　visit　of　my　brethren；　and　to　what　house
the　star　directed　them；　and　to　whom　they　presented　their
tribute。〃

The　streets　of　the　village　seemed　to　be　deserted；　and
Artaban　wondered　whether　the　men　had　all　gone　up　to　the
hill…pastures　to　bring　down　their　sheep。　　From　the　open　door　of　a
cottage　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　woman's　voice　singing　softly。　　He
entered　and　found　a　young　mother　hushing　her　baby　to　rest。　　She
told　him　of　the　strangers　from　the　far　East　who　had　appeared　in
the　village　three　days　ago；　and　how　they　said　that　a　star　had
guided　them　to　the　place　where　Joseph　of　Nazareth　was　lodging
with　his　wife　and　her　new…born　child；　and　how　they　had　paid
reverence　to　the　child　and　given　him　many　rich　gifts。

〃But　the　travellers　disappeared　again；〃　she　continued；　〃as
suddenly　as　they　had　come。　　We　were　afraid　at　the　strangeness
of　their　visit。　　We　could　not　understand　it。　　The　man　of
Nazareth　took　the　child　and　his　mother；　and　fled　away　that
same　night　secretly；　and　it　was　whispered　that　they　were　going
to　Egypt。　　Ever　since；　there　has　been　a　spell　upon　the
village；　something　evil　hangs　over　it。　　They　say　that　the
Roman　soldiers　are　coming　from　Jerusalem　to　force　a　new　tax
from　us；　and　the　men　have　driven　the　flocks　and　herds　far　back
among　the　hills；　and　hidden　themselves　to　escape　it。〃

Artaban　listened　to　her　gentle；　timid　speech；　and　the
child　in　her　arms　looked　up　in　his　face　and　smiled；　stretching
out　its　rosy　hands　to　grasp　at　the　winged　circle　of　gold　on
his　breast。　　His　heart　warmed　to　the　touch。　　It　seemed　like　a
greeting　of　love　and　trust　to　one　who　had　journeyed　long　in
loneliness　and　perplexity；　fighting　with　his　own　doubts　and
fears；　and　following　a　light　that　was　veiled　in　clouds。

〃Why　might　not　this　child　have　been　the　promised　Prince？〃
he　asked　within　himself；　as　he　touched　its　soft　cheek。　　〃Kings
have　been　born　ere　now　in　lowlier　houses　than　this；　and　the
favourite　of　the　stars　may　rise　even　from　a　cottage。　　But　it
has　not　seemed　good　to　the　God　of　wisdom　to　reward　my　search
so　soon　and　so　easily。　　The　one　whom　I　seek　has　gone　before
me；　and　now　I　must　follow　the　King　to　Egypt。〃

The　young　mother　laid　the　baby　in　its　cradle；　and　rose　to
minister　to　the　wants　of　the　strange　guest　that　fate　had
brought　into　her　house。　　She　set　food　before　him；　the　plain
fare　of　peasants；　but　willingly　offered；　and　therefore　full　of
refreshment　for　the　soul　as　well　as　for　the　body。　　Artaban
accepted　it　gratefully；　and；　as　he　ate；　the　child　fell　into　a
happy　slumber；　and　murmured　sweetly　in　its　dreams；　and　a　great
peace　filled　the　room。

But　suddenly　there　came　the　noise　of　a　wild　confusion　in
the　streets　of　the　village；　a　shrieking　and　wailing　of　women's
voices；　a　clangour　of　brazen　trumpets　and　a　clashing　of
swords；　and　a　desperate　cry：　　〃The　soldiers！　the　soldiers　of
Herod！　　They　are　killing　our　children。〃
　　The　young　mother's　face　grew　white　with　terror。　　She
clasped　her　child　to　her　bosom；　and　crouched　motionless　in　the
darkest　corner　of　the　room；　covering　him　with　the　folds　of　her
robe；　lest　he　should　wake　and　cry。

But　Artaban　went　quickly　and　stood　in　the　doorway　of　the
house。　　His　broad　shoulders　filled　the　portal　from　side　to
side；　and　the　peak　of　his　white　cap　all　but　touched　the
lintel。

The　soldiers　came　hurrying　down　the　street　with　bloody
hands　and　dripping　swords。　　At　the　sight　of　the　stranger　in
his　imposing　dress　they　hesitated　with　surprise。　　The　captain
of　the　band　approached　the　threshold　to　thrust　him　aside。　　But
Artaban　did　not　stir。　　His　face　was　as　calm　as　though　he　were
watching　the　stars；　and　in　his　eyes　there　burned　that　steady
radiance　before　which　even　the　half…tamed　hunting　leopard
shrinks；　and　the　bloodhound　pauses　in　his　leap。　　He　held　the
soldier　silently　for　an　instant；　and　then　said　in　a　low　voice：
　　〃I　am　all　alone　in　this　place；　and　I　am　waiting　to　give
this　jewel　to　the　prudent　captain　who　will　leave　me　in　peace。〃

He　showed　the　ruby；　glistening　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand
like　a　great　drop　of　blood。

The　captain　was　amazed　at　the　splendour　of　the　gem。　　The
pupils　of　his　eyes　expanded　with　desire；　and　the　hard　lines　of
greed　wrinkled　around　his　lips。　　He　stretched　out　his　hand　and
took　the　ruby。

〃March　on！〃　he　cried　to　his　men；　〃there　is　no　child　here。
The　house　is　empty。〃

The　clamor　and　the　clang　of　arms　passed　down　the　street
as　the　headlong　fury　of　the　chase　sweeps　by　the　secret　covert
where　the　trembling　deer　is　hidden。　　Artaban　re…entered　the
cottage。　　He　turned　his　face　to　the　east　and　prayed：

　〃God　of　truth；　forgive　my　sin！　　I　have　said　the　thing　that
is　not；　to　save　the　life　of　a　child。　　And　two　of　my　gifts　are
gone。　　I　have　spent　for　man　that　which　was　meant　for　God。
Shall　I　ever　be　worthy　to　see　the　face　of　the　King？〃

But　the　voice　of　the　woman；　weeping　for　joy　in　the　shadow
behind　him；　said　very　gently：

〃Because　thou　hast　saved　the　life　of　my　little　one；　may
the　Lord　bless　thee　and　keep　thee；　the　Lord　make　His　face　to
shine　upon　thee　and　be　gracious　unto　thee；　the　Lord　lift　up
His　countenance　upon　thee　and　give　thee　peace。〃



IV

Again　there　was　a　silence　in　the　Hall　of　Dreams；　deeper　and
more　mysterious　than　the　first　interval；　and　I　understood　that
the　years　of　Artaban　were　flowing　very　swiftly　under　the
stillness；　and　I　caught　only　a　glimpse；　here　and　there；　of　the
river　of　his　life　shining　through　the　mist　that　concealed　its
course。

I　saw　him　moving　among　the　throngs　of　men　in　populous
Egypt；　seeking　everywhere　for　traces　of　the　household　that　had
come　down　from　Bethlehem；　and　finding　them　under　the　spreading
sycamore…trees　of　Heliopolis；　and　beneath　the　walls　of　the
Roman　fortress　of　New　Babylon　beside　the　Niletraces　so　faint
and　dim　that　they　vanished　before　him　continually；　as
footprints　on　the　wet　river…sand　glisten　for　a　moment　with
moisture　and　then　disappear。

I　saw　him　again　at　the　foot　of　the　pyramids；　which　lifted
their　sharp　points　into　the　intense　saffron　glow　of　the　sunset
sky；　changeless　monuments　of　the　perishable　glory　and　the
imperishable　hope　of　man。　　He　looked　up　into　the　face　of　the
crouching　Sphinx　and　vainly　tried　to　read　the　meaning　of　the
calm　eyes　and　smiling　mouth。　　Was　it；　indeed；　the　mockery　of
all　effort　and　all　aspiration；　as　Tigranes　had　saidthe　cruel
jest　of　a　riddle　that　has　no　answer；　a　search　that　never　can
succeed？　　Or　was　there　a　touch　of　pity　and　encouragement　in
that　inscrutable　smilea　promise　that　even　the　defeated
should　attain　a　victory；　and　the　disappointed　should　discover　a
prize；　and　the　ignorant　should　be　made　wise；　and　the　blind　should
see；　and　the　wandering　should　come　into　the　haven　at　last？

I　saw　him　again　in　an　obscure　house　of　Alexandria；　taking
counsel　with　a　Hebrew　rabbi。　　The　venerable　man；　bending　over
the　rolls　of　parchment　on　which　the　prophecies　of　Israel　were
written；　read　aloud　the　pathetic　words　which　foretold　the
sufferings　of　the　promised　Messiahthe　despised　and　rejected
of　men；　the　man　of　sorrows　and　acquainted　with　grief。

〃And　remember；　my　son；〃　said　he；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　the
face　of　Artaban；　〃the　King　whom　thou　seekest　is　not　t