the blue flower-第21节

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〃And　remember；　my　son；〃　said　he；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　the
face　of　Artaban；　〃the　King　whom　thou　seekest　is　not　to　be
found　in　a　palace；　nor　among　the　rich　and　powerful。　　If　the
light　of　the　world　and　the　glory　of　Israel　had　been　appointed
to　come　with　the　greatness　of　earthly　splendour；　it　must　have
appeared　long　ago。　　For　no　son　of　Abraham　will　ever　again
rival　the　power　which　Joseph　had　in　the　palaces　of　Egypt；　or
the　magnificence　of　Solomon　throned　between　the　lions　in
Jerusalem。　　But　the　light　for　which　the　world　is　waiting　is　a　new
light；　the　glory　that　shall　rise　out　of　patient　and　triumphant
suffering。　　And　the　kingdom　which　is　to　be　established　forever　is
a　new　kingdom；　the　royalty　of　unconquerable　love。

〃I　do　not　know　how　this　shall　come　to　pass；　nor　how　the
turbulent　kings　and　peoples　of　earth　shall　be　brought　to
acknowledge　the　Messiah　and　pay　homage　to　him。　　But　this　I
know。　　Those　who　seek　him　will　do　well　to　look　among　the　poor
and　the　lowly；　the　sorrowful　and　the　oppressed。〃

So　I　saw　the　Other　Wise　Man　again　and　again；　travelling
from　place　to　place；　and　searching　among　the　people　of　the
dispersion；　with　whom　the　little　family　from　Bethlehem　might；
perhaps；　have　found　a　refuge。　　He　passed　through　countries
where　famine　lay　heavy　upon　the　land；　and　the　poor　were　crying
for　bread。　　He　made　his　dwelling　in　plague…stricken　cities
where　the　sick　were　languishing　in　the　bitter　companionship　of
helpless　misery。　　He　visited　the　oppressed　and　the　afflicted
in　the　gloom　of　subterranean　prisons；　and　the　crowded
wretchedness　of　slave…markets；　and　the　weary　toil　of
galley…ships。　　In　all　this　populous　and　intricate　world　of
anguish；　though　he　found　none　to　worship；　he　found　many　to　help。
He　fed　the　hungry；　and　clothed　the　naked；　and　healed　the　sick；
and　comforted　the　captive；　and　his　years　passed　more　swiftly　than
the　weaver's　shuttle　that　flashes　back　and　forth　through　the　loom
while　the　web　grows　and　the　pattern　is　completed。

It　seemed　almost　as　if　he　had　forgotten　his　quest。　　But
once　I　saw　him　for　a　moment　as　he　stood　alone　at　sunrise；
waiting　at　the　gate　of　a　Roman　prison。　　He　had　taken　from　a
secret　resting…place　in　his　bosom　the　pearl；　the　last　of　his
jewels。　　As　he　looked　at　it；　a　mellower　lustre；　a　soft　and
iridescent　light；　full　of　shifting　gleams　of　azure　and　rose；
trembled　upon　its　surface。　　It　seemed　to　have　absorbed　some
reflection　of　the　lost　sapphire　and　ruby。　　So　the　secret
purpose　of　a　noble　life　draws　into　itself　the　memories　of　past
joy　and　past　sorrow。　　All　that　has　helped　it；　all　that　has
hindered　it；　is　transfused　by　a　subtle　magic　into　its　very
essence。　　It　becomes　more　luminous　and　precious　the　longer　it
is　carried　close　to　the　warmth　of　the　beating　heart。

Then；　at　last；　while　I　was　thinking　of　this　pearl；　and　of
its　meaning；　I　heard　the　end　of　the　story　of　the　Other　Wise
Man。



V

Three…and…thirty　years　of　the　life　of　Artaban　had　passed　away；
and　he　was　still　a　pilgrim　and　a　seeker　after　light。　　His
hair；　once　darker　than　the　cliffs　of　Zagros；　was　now　white　as
the　wintry　snow　that　covered　them。　　His　eyes；　that　once
flashed　like　flames　of　fire；　were　dull　as　embers　smouldering
among　the　ashes。

Worn　and　weary　and　ready　to　die；　but　still　looking　for　the
King；　he　had　come　for　the　last　time　to　Jerusalem。　　He　had
often　visited　the　holy　city　before；　and　had　searched　all　its
lanes　and　crowded　bevels　and　black　prisons　without　finding　any
trace　of　the　family　of　Nazarenes　who　had　fled　from　Bethlehem
long　ago。　　But　now　it　seemed　as　if　he　must　make　one　more
effort；　and　something　whispered　in　his　heart　that；　at　last；　he
might　succeed。

It　was　the　season　of　the　Passover。　　The　city　was　thronged
with　strangers。　　The　children　of　Israel；　scattered　in　far　lands；
had　returned　to　the　Temple　for　the　great　feast；　and　there　had
been　a　confusion　of　tongues　in　the　narrow　streets　for　many　days。

But　on　this　day　a　singular　agitation　was　visible　in　the
multitude。　　The　sky　was　veiled　with　a　portentous　gloom。
Currents　of　excitement　seemed　to　flash　through　the　crowd。　　A
secret　tide　was　sweeping　them　all　one　way。　　The　clatter　of
sandals　and　the　soft；　thick　sound　of　thousands　of　bare　feet
shuffling　over　the　stones；　flowed　unceasingly　along　the　street
that　leads　to　the　Damascus　gate。

Artaban　joined　a　group　of　people　from　his　own　country；
Parthian　Jews　who　had　come　up　to　keep　the　Passover；　and
inquired　of　them　the　cause　of　the　tumult；　and　where　they　were
going。

〃We　are　going；〃　they　answered；　〃to　the　place　called
Golgotha；　outside　the　city　walls；　where　there　is　to　be　an
execution。　　Have　you　not　heard　what　has　happened？　　Two　famous
robbers　are　to　be　crucified；　and　with　them　another；　called
Jesus　of　Nazareth；　a　man　who　has　done　many　wonderful　works
among　the　people；　so　that　they　love　him　greatly。　　But　the　priests
and　elders　have　said　that　he　must　die；　because　he　gave　himself
out　to　be　the　Son　of　God。　　And　Pilate　has　sent　him　to　the　cross
because　he　said　that　he　was　the　‘King　of　the　Jews。'

How　strangely　these　familiar　words　fell　upon　the　tired
heart　of　Artaban！　　They　had　led　him　for　a　lifetime　over　land
and　sea。　　And　now　they　came　to　him　mysteriously；　like　a
message　of　despair。　　The　King　had　arisen；　but　he　had　been
denied　and　cast　out。　　He　was　about　to　perish。　　Perhaps　he　was
already　dying。　　Could　it　be　the　same　who　had　been　born　in
Bethlehem　thirty…three　years　ago；　at　whose　birth　the　star　had
appeared　in　heaven；　and　of　whose　coming　the　prophets　had
spoken？

Artaban's　heart　beat　unsteadily　with　that　troubled；
doubtful　apprehension　which　is　the　excitement　of　old　age。　　But
he　said　within　himself：　　〃The　ways　of　God　are　stranger　than
the　thoughts　of　men；　and　it　may　be　that　I　shall　find　the　King；
at　last；　in　the　hands　of　his　enemies；　and　shall　come　in　time
to　offer　my　pearl　for　his　ransom　before　he　dies。〃

So　the　old　man　followed　the　multitude　with　slow　and
painful　steps　toward　the　Damascus　gate　of　the　city。　　Just
beyond　the　entrance　of　the　guardhouse　a　troop　of　Macedonian
soldiers　came　down　the　street；　dragging　a　young　girl　with　torn
dress　and　dishevelled　hair。　　As　the　Magian　paused　to　look　at
her　with　compassion；　she　broke　suddenly　from　the　hands　of　her
tormentors；　and　threw　herself　at　his　feet；　clasping　him　around
the　knees。　　She　had　seen　his　white　cap　and　the　winged　circle
on　his　breast。

〃Have　pity　on　me；〃　she　cried；　〃and　save　me；　for　the　sake
of　the　God　of　Purity！　　I　also　am　a　daughter　of　the　true
religion　which　is　taught　by　the　Magi。　　My　father　was　a
merchant　of　Parthia；　but　he　is　dead；　and　I　am　seized　for　his
debts　to　be　sold　as　a　slave。　　Save　me　from　worse　than　death！〃

Artaban　trembled。

It　was　the　old　conflict　in　his　soul；　which　had　come　to　him
in　the　palm…grove　of　Babylon　and　in　the　cottage　at
Bethlehemthe　conflict　between　the　expectation　of　faith　and
the　impulse　of　love。　　Twice　the　gift　which　he　had　consecrated
to　the　worship　of　religion　had　been　drawn　to　the　service　of
humanity。　This　was　the　third　trial；　the　ultimate　probation；　the
final　and　irrevocable　choice。

Was　it　his　great　opportunity；　or　his　last　temptation？　　He
could　not　tell。　　One　thing　only　was　clear　in　the　darkness　of
his　mindit　was　inevitable。　　And　does　not　the　inevitable　come
from　God？

One　thing　only　was　sure　to　his　divided　heartto　rescue
this　helpless　girl　would　be　a　true　deed　of　love。　　And　is　not
love　the　light　of　the　soul？

He　took　the　pearl　from　his　bosom。　　Never　had　it　seemed　so
luminous；　so　radiant；　so　full　of　tender；　living　lustre。　　He
laid　it　in　the　hand　of　the　slave。

〃This　is　thy　ransom；　daughter！　　It　is　the　last　of　my
treasures　which　I　kept　for　the　King。〃

While　he　spoke；　the　darkness　of　the　sky　deepened；　and
shuddering　tremors　ran　through　the　earth　heaving　convulsively
like　the　breast　of　one　who　struggles　with　mighty　grief。

The　walls　of　the　houses　rocked　to　and　fro。　　Stones　were
loosened　and　crashed　into　the　street。　Dust　clouds　filled　the　air。
The　soldiers　fled　in　terror；　reeling　like　drunken　men。　　But
Artaban　and　the　girl　whom　he　had　ransomed　crouched　helpless
beneath　the　wall　of　the　Praetorium。

What　had　he　to　fear？　　What　had　he　to　hope？　　He　had　given
away　the　last　remnant　of　his　tribute　for　the　King。　　He　had
parted　with　the　last　hope　of　finding　him。　　The　quest　was　over；
and　it　had　failed。　　But；　even　in　that　thought；　accepted　and
embraced；　there　was　peace。　　It　was　not　resignation。　　It　was
not　submission。　　It　was　something　more　profound　and　searching。
He　knew　that　all　was　well；　because　he　had　done　the　best　that
he　could　from　day　to　day。　　He　had　been　true　to　the　light　that
had　been　given　to　him。　　He　had　looked　for　more。　　And　if　he　had
not　found　it；　if　a　failure　was　all　that　came　out　of　his　life；
doubtless　that　was　the　best　that　was　possible。　　He　had　not
seen　the　revelation　of　〃life　everlasting；　incorruptible　and
immortal。〃　　But　he　knew　that　even　if　he　could　live　his　earthly
life　over　again；　it　could　not　be　otherwise　than　it　had　been。

One　more　lingering　pulsation　of　the　earthquake　quivered
through　the　ground。　　A　heavy　tile；　shaken　from　the　roof；　fell　and
struck　the　old　man　on　the　temple。　　He　lay　breathless　and　pale；
with　his　gray　head　resting　on　the　young　girl's　shoulder；