UNIVERSITYy
PENNSYLVANIA.
UBKARIE5
^^MnrKAMW^ Cvnnr
PAUL, A HERALD OF THE CROSS
raiil— Frontispiece.
" ' lU.ASlMlKMKRS— SORCKRERS— MIRDKRERS ! ' "
See p. 299.
PAUL
A HERALD OF THE CROSS
— by
Florence Morse Kingsley
Author of "TITUS," "S T E P H E N." etc.
with IlioBttations by
J. E. McBURNEY
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS : NEW YORK
YARNALL LIBRARY OF THEOLOGY
S. CLEMENT'S CHURCH
PHILADELPHIA
PREFACE.
TN "Titus," the first of this series, I endeavored to -^ make new "the old, old story," to depict a real, a living Jesus, not enthroned in some far-away inac- cessible glory, but "with us alway, even unto the end."
In "Stephen." I showed the bereft disciples, com- forted with the comfort which streamed down into their sad hearts in abundant measure from the Master who had gone away because it was "expedient" for them, joyful with the joy which he had given them, and serene in the midst of trial and persecution with the peace which he had bestowed upon them, a last precious legacy.
In " Paul," I have carried the story further, and with it I have interwoven some account of the great world without the confines of the Holy Land ; the world which lay in misery and sin, and into which Christ had bidden his disciples go forth to carry the Glad-tidings of the Cross.
(V)
^{ /^A(:)0
vi PREFACE.
Saul the persecutor, the relentless Pharisee, the learned rabbi, has become Paul, the herald of the Cross. We see his heroic figure starting out into the night alone, in that darkest hour which comes before dawn, proclaiming in trumpet-tones the glorious tidings of the coming day. We see the brood of evil crea- tures, that loved darkness rather than light, bestir themselves to do him battle. We see the conflict joined, never to be given over for a moment till the worn conqueror lays his armor down to receive the crown of victory from the hand of the Lord, the right- eous Judge.
To fully understand the life and labors of the great apostle, it is necessary to also comprehend something of the hopeless degradation of those in high places, to look for an instant into the frightful abysses into which the decadent religions were hurrying mankind. I have therefore endeavored to portray the Christless world — the world as it was in the " fullness of time," as well as the divine remedy applied.
It seems scarcely necessary to give the long list of authorities consulted in the preparation of this volume. It will be noticed, however, that I refer most frequently in my occasional notes to Farrar's " Life and Work of St. Paul," and to "The Life and Epistles of St. Paul " by Conybearc and Howson. And, indeed, while I
PREFACE. vii
had in my possession many of the authorities to which these authors in their turn refer, I would acknowledge my great indebtedness to their scholarly works. I should also mention Guhl and Koner's " Life of the Greeks and Romans," to which I referred continually for information relating to dress, customs, etc. ; and to the ancient chronicles of Josephus, where I found the stories of Agrippa, of Caius, of Herodias, and of the other historical personages who figure more or less largely in these pages.
If in these scenes from the life and times of St. Paul, I have succeeded, in some small measure, in enabling the reader to see for himself not merely Paul, the the- ologian ; Paul, the setter-forth of " the scheme of sal- vation ;" Paul, the stern ascetic, thundering forth reproof and denunciation against evil-doers — but Paul, the fear- less herald of the Cross, pouring out his life like water, that he might save the lost ; Paul, the tent-maker, laboring with his hands that he might minister to the necessities of others ; " Paul, the aged ;" " Paul, the prisoner of the Lord Jesus," healing the sick, cheer- ing the oppressed and down-trodden, the father of all the churches, the friend of sinners and of God — if we shall look upon him thus, we shall read the Epistles with new eyes, seeing in them the outpourings of a great loving heart which beat divinely for all human-
viii PREFACE.
ity ; and so reading, we shall long to be numbered
among the saints and faithful brethren to whom he
writes.
Florence Morse Kingsley.
West New Brighton, Feb. 6, 1897.
Statkn Island, M. *.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
" The Night is Far Spent."
PAGE
CHAPTKR
I. The Vision on the Housetop, . . . • *3
II. In the House of Judas, 23
HI. The Soothsayer, 32
IV. Three Princes and a Slave, 39
V, In the Desert of Sinai, 49
VI. The Recluse of Caprae, , . . r . . 5^
VII. The Rose of Lebanon, 7°
VIII. A Forbidden Visit, 77
IX. In the Temple of Baal, 88
X. The Physician and the Emperor, .... 96
XI. The Master of the World 107
XII. The Chosen and the Accursed, . . . • "5
XIII. Saul in Jerusalem 129
XIV. Herodias, »43
XV. Caius, The God, 152
XVI. The Colossus of Sidon, 167
XVII. The Mediator '80
XVIII. The End of the Play 191
XIX. Interregnum, 201
XX. Claudius C/Ksar, 209
(ix)
CONTENTS.
PART II. " 77ie Day is at Hand:*
CHAPTER PAGE
XXI. An Epistle, 223
XXII. A Boatman of Antioch, 228
XXIII. The King of the Jews, 241
XXIV. A Strong Deliverer, 253
XXV. Retribution, 261
XXVI. Sent Forth, 271
XXVII. A Light of the Gentiles, .... 282
XXVIII. A Messenger of the Most High, . . . 291
XXIX. The Calling of Timothy 301
XXX. From Jerusalem to Galatia, . . . .310
XXXI. In Philippi, 317
XXXII. A Stranger in Athens, 329
XXXIII. The Tent-Maker, 341
XXXIV. A Business Man of Ephesus, .... 353 XXXV. Great Diana of the Ephesians, . . . 366
PART III.
"An Ambassador in Bonds."
XXXVI. " Df^pised and Rejected," . . . • 3^1
XXXVII. A Promise and a Vow, 392
XXXVIII. Paul and Felix, 403
XXXIX. "C/esarem Appello!" 415
XL. On the Way to Rome 427
XLI. " Ready to be Offered," 440
PART I
"The Night is Far Spent'
(^)
CHAPTER I.
THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP.
" /^ IVE the little one to me, and rest thou, queen of V_X my soul, while I show him the new moon yonder."
*' He is ill because of the hot wind," said the woman wearily. " See the roses also, how they hang their heads ; the breath of the wilderness is death to such tender things."
"Ay," said the man, "it is an evil spirit which the mountains yonder war against continually. But be of good cheer, it hath again been driven back into the fiery torments of the desert. Hark, littlest, hearest thou the voice of the fountains, the song of many birds also, and the rejoicing of the green leaves ?"
He paused for a moment in his slow walk and the child hushed its fretful wail to listen ; as for the mother, she sat quietly, her back against the parapet, her eyes fixed upon the slender horn of the new moon which hung above the low western horizon. Through the silence came the musical gurgle and rush of water, and the rustle of foliage from the little garden below.
" Look thou at the great mountain, son of mine," continued the man ; "he hath put on his robes of rose
(13)
14 PA UL.
tliat he may say farewell to the sun. Anon, he will be clothed in violet, then in sad garments the color of ashes, afterward he will sleep. Sleep thou also, little one ; to-morrow there will be no wind from the desert. Sleep thou, and the good Shepherd will watch thee."
" I hear some one knocking," said the woman. She arose and advanced to the parapet which over- looked the street. " It is our neighbor, Simon ; he hath returned from his journey to Jerusalem and will tell thee of it. Give me the child ; he will sleep now," and taking the little one in her arms she de- scended to the terrace.
A slow step on the stair presently announced the new-comer. He was a stout man and breathed heavily as he set his foot on the roof level. He was also grumbling aloud. " Had I a garden below, such as thine, friend Ananias," he said, "I would not climb to the roof"
" Greetings, friend, and a welcome," returned Ana- nias with a quiet smile. "Jehovah grant that thy ways have been prospered. My garden is indeed good, but this is better, for here one can feel the breath of the mountains, the fragrance of the eternal snows on Hermon yonder."
Simon replied with a shrug of the shoulders and an inarticulate grunt, as he settled himself upon a bench. " There are tidings of evil," he said ab- ruptly. " Hast thou heard ?"
" Nay, I have not heard ; what hath befallen?"
THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP. 15
" As thou knowcst, I have been in Jerusalem ; there hath been there a great persecution of them that be- lieve on the Crucified One. Many are slain ; others are in prison, and others still are fled."
The face of Ananias grew white in the fading light. "Who hath caused these things to be done?"
" They that slew Jesus of Nazareth, and who will yet accomplish the destruction of all that believe on him," answered Simon bitterly.
" Hast thou forgotten that the Christ is set down at the right hand of Jehovah?" cried Ananias. "Surely he will not suffer our foot to be moved."
" He hath already suffered Stephen to be killed with stones. He hath suffered others of the disciples to be scourged and imprisoned. He hath suffered babes also to be left desolate, and little children to wail for food. But the destroyers wax fat and flourishing ; they are not moved."
" So hath it ever appeared," said Ananias. " Yet is the Lord mindful of his own." Then, after a pause, he added, " We are at peace, thanks be to Jehovah, for there is no one in all Damascus who would lift up a hand against us — who also walk blameless according to the law. Let us send word to the smitten ones that they come hither ; here shall they find refuge."
" I have not yet told thee the worst," said Simon, dejectedly. "A certain Sau\ of Tarsus, a Pharisee taught of Gamaliel, and most bitter against the Christ, hath come hither to Damascus with the intent to carry away in chains to Jerusalem every least disciple of the
16 PA UL.
Crucified One. He is without mercy, and will slay and spare not all that resist him. When I heard of his purpose, I made haste to return to Damascus, that I might warn the brethren. Surely it were better to flee into the desert than to perish miserably under the scourge."
His voice died away into silence, and in the hush the voice of the mother singing to her babe floated up to them.
Ananias moistened his dry lips. " Didst thou say that the man laid his hand also upon women and babes?" he asked huskily.
" More than once hath he seized the mother and left the little ones desolate in the house — for so it was told me in Jerusalem," replied Simon. "Yet it may be that the Lord hath had mercy upon us. I heard a strange thing concerning the man as I came hither to- night ; it was told me by Ben Ethan, one of the keepers of the Eastern Gate. Yesterday, at about the ninth hour, a company of men approached the city, some riding upon beasts, others walking. In the midst was a man, whom also two of his comrades led by the hand. When the head keeper questioned them, say- ing, ' Who are you and whence do ye come ?' One made answer, saying, • The chief man of our company is Saul, a worshipful rabbi from Jerusalem. He bear- eth letters from the Senate and Council of Israel to the governor of this city.'
" * Let him appear then and speak,' quoth the keeper of the gate. To whom the other made answer, • The
THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP. 17
man Saul hath been grievously smitten in the way by a great and terrible light which blazed suddenly out of heaven as we journeyed ; and lo, he is blind, and we have brought him hither leading him by the hand, even as thou seest. Grant us an entrance speedily, I pray thee, that we may fetch him to a resting-place, for he is in a desperate strait.' "
" And as Ben Ethan looked earnestly upon the man Saul, he perceived that he trembled exceedingly as he stood, and seemed not to hear what was passing about him, but continually did moan within himself, and also that his face was as the face of one stricken with death. Furthermore, he told me that when the business with the chief officer of the gate was finished, that they led the man, still trembling and moaning, into the city. God grant that death follow hard after, and that it overtake him speedily."
Ananias shook his head. " Thou knowest not what thou art saying, friend. God's ways are not man's ways, nor are his thoughts their thoughts. There is something here that we do not understand."
" If he be smitten that he die, then shall we live — we and our little ones," said Simon obstinately. "Therefore shall I continue to pray to God to remove him out of the land of the living. Surely he hath deserved to die."
" Pray, rather, that God's will may be done concern- ing the man and us. Even should he rend my child from my bosom I could not pray for his undoing. Vengeance belongeth to the Lord, and in his hand also is the breath of every living thing."
2
18 PA UL.
" Pray as thou wilt, friend," said Simon, rising, " and I will pray, even as did David, for the destruction of mine enemies. The Lord heard him and gave him his desire upon them that sought his hurt, as thou mayst read in the Psalms. Farewell ; Jehovah keep thee and thine."
Ananias seemed hardly to have heard the parting words of his guest ; he also had risen and was walking slowly up and down. His heart had grown heavy within him, and it was heavier still as he saw his wife approaching from the adjoining roof-terrace.
" Our son sleeps, my lord," she said, with a low- laugh of content. "Thou shouldst have heard him pray to the ascended One ; he repeated the prayer that thou didst teach him, and afterward, ' Good Jesus, let not the wind from the desert blow to-morrow. Amen.' I could not chide him, and to-morrow the wind will continue to set from Lebanon, thou wilt see ; for I believe that the Ascended heeds the little ones whom he so loved when he was on earth."
"Teach him, then, to pray that our faith be not shaken," said Ananias with a sigh.
" Assuredly, that is a good thing to ask. But what said our friend Simon of his journey ? And why hath he made such haste to be gone ? I would fain have heard of the wondrous sights he beheld in Jerusalem."
" He brought tidings of evil, heart of mine. The brethren which dwell at Jerusalem are suffering many things at the hand of them which believe not, scourg- ing, imprisonment, and even death."
THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP. 19
The woman shuddered. " Nay, then, I am glad that we do not dwell there," she said quickly. " It is a wicked city and doubtless the vengeance of Jehovah will yet overtake it, even as Sodom perished at his word. But come, my lord, let us sup, for the houf grows late. I had the intent to have bidden oul neighbor also, for to-night we shall taste the first of the white figs from the young tree by the fountain. They are fine, I can promise thee ; I plucked them myself"
" Go thou and eat, little one ; I shall fast to-night for the peace of the brethren," said Ananias, turning away his head.
" And what will it profit them, my lord, if thou dost fast? Wilt thou not eat of my figs even?" and the woman laid her hand persuasively on her husband's arm.
He looked down at her with a melancholy smile. " Dost thou love me, rose of Lebanon ?"
"What shall I answer thee, my lord? I love thee even as the thirsty earth loveth the streams which flow down from the mountain ; the desert laughs aloud because of the abundance of waters."
" 'Tis well, life of mine. Go thou and rest in peace ; but as for me, I must fast and pray this night, both for the brethren that be in peril, and also for our own souls that they faint not in the hour of trial."
The woman looked at him, her eyes misty with vague alarms. " Let me fast with thee, my lord. I also will pray."
20 PA UL.
" Nay, I would be alone. Go."
She lingered yet a moment, looking wistfully at the averted face, then she turned swiftly and went away, but not before an angry little sob had escaped her.
Ananias aroused himself at the sound. " I must have spoken roughly to the child," he murmured peni- tently. " What if I tell her all — but no, I cannot. To-morrow I will look into the matter further, and if a persecution be imminent I will send her away into the mountains together with my son ; they will be safe there." Then he fell again into a reverie, but this time his thoughts busied themselves with the day when he had first seen the rose of Lebanon, blooming in a remote nook of the barren hills, and of how, saddened and grown old before his time, he had plucked the flower to fill his desolate home with fragrance and beauty. " Nay, my God, I cannot again suffer as I have suffered," he said aloud, clenching his strong hands. *' I will die for the faith if need be, but spare thou these."
The long hours of the summer night crept slowly by, the slender young moon, shamed by the golden radiance of the thronging stars, hid herself behind the rim of the desert. The breath of roses floated spirit-like on the breeze, and in the silence the voice of myriads of fountains cried aloud, the small silver tinkle of the jets about the basin below, the gush and babble of water-wheels in the neighboring gardens, and above all dominated the solemn murmur of the river, Barada, mother of all the waters. " From the
THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP. 21
eternal snows I come, to the unchanging desert I go : there is no variableness, neither shadow of change in the God that hath set my course."
To the man, who still watched and prayed on the housetop, there came at length peace. He knew that the Lord had heard him, and that the blessing was not far away, that it was even at hand — as was also the day, for all the snowy heights of Hermon were flushed with heavenly color. He wrapped himself in his man- tle and lay down, and immediately a deep sleep fell softly upon him. As he slept, it seemed presently that the roseate glimmer of the dawn had deepened and brightened into a splendor of light ; in the midst of the light he saw the figure of a man, a man into whose face he looked with awe and yet with an over- whelming sense of joy and love, for it was the face of his ascended Lord.
Then was there the sound of a voice, it called him by his name. He made answer, saying, " Behold, I am here, Lord."
Again came the voice and these were the words of it : " Arise, go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus ; for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."
To Ananias it seemed that without fear he answered of all that was within his heart, " Lord, I have heard of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints
22 PA UL.
at Jerusalem, and now he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name."
But the Lord said unto him, " Go thy way : for he is my chosen herald, to proclaim my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Children of Israel : and I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." Then the glory faded, Ananias awoke, and behold, it was day.
IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS. 23
CHAPTER II.
IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS.
"' ^ I ^IS a strange case, and most untoward, I would -i- gladly have aided the holy council of Jeru- salem in suppressing this deadly heresy ; but in a heathen city and unsupported by outside authority, what could we do ? If the man do not speedily re- cover his wits, we must report the matter."
"Thinkest thou that he will recover?"
Judas shrugged his shoulders. " Nay, how can I tell ? There was a light, sayest thou ? Lightning perchance, and yet how could that be out of a cloud- less heaven ?"
"There was a light," said the other vehemently; " I myself saw it, as did the others of our company ; there was also a sound, as of a voice — a terrible voice, but the sound was void of meaning."
A slight incredulous smile flitted across the atten- tive face of his listener, " If there chanced to be a cloud overhead, we should say that the sound was thunder."
"There was no cloud, I tell thee," said the other hotly. " The heavens were as clear as they are at this moment."
" Well, what was it then ?"
24 PA UL.
The man, who was called Silas Ben Ezra, dropped his eyes in silence, seemingly intent on nothing more important than the pattern of the rich Persian carpet beneath his feet.
" It is evident that thou hast an opinion, friend," continued Judas. " Come, explain the matter accord- ing to thy thought concerning it, thou wast an eye- witness.'"
Ben Ezra raised his head and looked squarely into the face of his host. " I will tell thee what I think hath befallen the man," he said, and there was a shade of defiance in his low tones. " He beheld the cruci- fied Nazarene and was rebuked of him."
"What sayest thou?" cried Judas angrily. "Art thou also apostate, who wert chosen by the holy San- hedrim to perform this sacred mission ?"
" If it be heresy to believe the evidence of one's senses then am I apostate," declared the other boldly. " Saul answered the voice ; twice answered he and after this manner ; first he cried out as one greatly astonished and afraid, 'Who art thou, Lord?' And afterward, 'What wilt thou have me to do ?' "
"The man was crazed by the heat," said Judas, with an easy wave of the hand. " 'Tis no less than the act of a fool to travel at midday in this clime."
Ben Ezra's black eyes flashed angrily. "Think as thou wilt, my worshipful host," he said coldly. "And I also, who was eye-witness, will hold to mine own opinion of the matter."
" Nay, but — friend," said Judas softly, " hast thou
IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS. 25
duly weighed and considered the matter aright ? Thou hast as yet spoken of this to no other save myself; but and if thou shalt return to Jerusalem and say to the most holy and reverend high priest, Saul hath had a vision of the Nazarene whom ye lately slew, and hath been smitten with blindness because of his glory, what then will befall thee ? Will it not be better to say, Saul was smitten with the fierce heat of the sun, insomuch that he fell to the earth blind and senseless ; for because of his zeal in thy service he was traveling at midday. If it was in truth a vision, then let the man declare it for himself, and bear the consequences thereof — that is, if ever he recover his lost wits, which I myself doubt."
Ben Ezra stroked his beard in silence for a time, then he said slowly, "Thou hast spoken words of wisdom ; and I have heard and understood ; also it is an evil thing to be an apostate, and a foolish thing to interpret a vision which hath appeared to another. For the present I will not return to the Sanhedrim, The others of the company may report the matter as seemeth best to them."
" As to the man himself," pursued Judas, " if indeed he be mad, or if an unclean spirit hath entered in and taken possession of him, he must needs go forth into the desert ; so shall he recover himself, if it be the will of Jehovah."
" Thou wouldst not thrust him forth, blind and help- less as he is !" said Ben Ezra, aghast.
" If Jehovah hath smitten him, or if the evil one
26 PA UL.
hath obtained the mastery over him, it signifleth one and the same thing according to the law," said the other judicially. " He hath gravely sinned, and it ill becometh man to strive against unseen powers ; besides all this, he that hath disordered wits is unclean and polluteth the house of a righteous man. — How now, Malluch ! What wouldst thou ?"
" I kiss thy feet, most worshipful master," replied the slave, who had noiselessly entered the apartment. "There is a man without who desires entrance, one Ananias, a Jew. He would see Saul of Tarsus."
" Admit him at once, and conduct him to our pres- ence ; I would fain know his errand with the man."
The slave bowed himself before his master and with- drew, to return a moment later followed by a man, upon whom both Judas and Ben Ezra fixed their eyes with some curiosity.
"Greetings, friend," said Judas, "thou art known unto me by reputation as one that is zealous for the law and also for the peace of Israel ; I am glad, there- fore, that thou hast sought my dwelling. Most wel- come in these troublous times is the converse of holy men."
Ananias bowed his head courteously in response to these greetings. " My errand is with one Saul of Tar- sus, who is abiding under this roof," he said gravely. " I pray you to conduct me without delay into his presence."
"Thou art not aware, then, that the worshipful rabbi met witli a lamentable mischance on his journc)'
IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS. 27
hither," rcph'cd Judas suavely. " He hath continually remained upon his bed, neither eating nor drinking, nor holding converse with any man since he arrived in Damascus, this being also the third day. I myself have visited him a score of times and have sent for divers wise men and physicians. Some hold that he hath been smitten by the power of the sun, others that an evil spirit has entered into him ; for myself I know not what to think, but I am the more grieved concern- ing the matter, since the man had come hither on a most godly errand, that of purging the synagogues of Damascus of them that blasphemously declare a cer- tain Galilean, named Jesus — lately crucified in Jeru- salem because of his crimes — ^to be the Christ foretold of the Prophets."
The sensitive face of Ananias flushed and his eyes burned with righteous anger. " Beware, lest thou also ignorantly fall into the grievous sin of blasphemy," he said sternly. " Because thou hast not known the Christ, thou mayst be forgiven ; but I have both seen him and know him ; and I know furthermore that that which I declare unto you is true, Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God, the Savior of Israel, whom also with murderous hands the chief priests and elders at Jerusalem put to death. But, thanks be to Jehovah, he hath overcome the grave and is set down at the right hand of eternal power. It was this living Jesus that appeared unto the man Saul by the way, when he would have brought chains and death into Damascus to them that believe. And behold, I am sent unto
28 PA UL.
him to deliver him out of his blindness, and to declare unto him the word of peace. Make haste, therefore, and show me where he lieth."
Judas regarded the speaker with open disdain. " It is sad indeed to see a righteous man the victim of such an unlawful and unholy delusion," he said icily. " If there be many such in Damascus, the wisdom of the Sanhedrim of Jerusalem is abundantly proven. I only regret that their erstw'hile able emissary hath been prevented from performing his duty. In the mean- time I will conduct thee to the chamber of the stricken man, if only to prove that thou art miserably deceived. As I have declared to you, the man hath been blind and dumb for three days."
"So likewise did the Christ remain during three days in the tomb, and on the third day he arose into newness of life," murmured Ananias as if to himself
Ben Ezra regarded the pale face and shining eyes of the stranger with awe. Instinctively he drew away a little from Judas, who had risen to lead the way to the chamber of Saul.
" He is here," .said their host briefly, drawing aside the heavy curtains which served to shut out the light of day from a small chamber on their right.
Ananias paused on the threshold, signing authorita- tively to the two men that they should remain without, then he entered the chamber, which, in truth, was the tomb of a fruitless life. Upon a couch in one corner lay the motionless and apparently rigid form of Saul, his face turned toward the wall, his hands clenched.
7.V THE HOUSE OF JUDAS.
29
Ananias advanced without hesitation ; kneeling down at the bedside, he laid his hands upon the prostrate man and said in a clear voice :
" Brother Saul, the Lord — even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest — hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the holy Spirit."
" Blasphemy !" cried Judas, starting forward. " Mine house is polluted !"
" Let be, man, lest the curse that hath been lifted from him fall upon thee," said Ben Ezra, grasping him by the arm. " Dost thou not see that a miracle hath been wrought ?"
Judas drew back, and stared as if spellbound into the chamber. Saul had turned himself upon his bed, he raised his trembling hands to his eyes. " Thank God," he cried aloud, "I see." Then he looked steadfastly upon Ananias, as if he would fain remem- ber to eternity that face shining with love and joy.
" The God of our fathers hath chosen thee," said Ananias softly, " that thou shouldst know his will and see that Just One, and shouldst hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now, why tarriest thou ? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
And when Judas heard these words, and when he saw that Saul was risen from the bed whereon he had lam, and that he had indeed been restored, he was greatly amazed, also he was angry.
30 PA UL.
" Fetch food and drink," he commanded his ser- vants, " and set before the man that he may eat ; and fetch him fair raiment that he may be clothed — for he is my guest." But he himself withdrew to an inner chamber of his house.
Ananias perceived that he was offended, neverthe- less he baptized Saul straightway in the water of the fountain, and afterward he urged him to take some meat.
" Come, I pray thee," he said, " sojourn at my house for a space, and the brethren shall strengthen thy heart."
So the two went away together, but Silas Ben Ezra remained in the house of Judas. Of all men in Damascus he was that day the most miserable, being divided betwixt a longing to seek Ananias and to declare to him, I also believe in this Jesus, of whose glory I have been witness, and a desire to stand well in the eyes of the rich man Judas and before the San- hedrim, in whose service he had come thither. When it was evening he arose and went away out of the city, and was seen no more of them that were in his com- pany, nor yet of Judas. And when after the seventh day he returned not, they concluded that he had fallen unawares into the river, or that a beast from the desert had devoured him.
"These matters must be reported to the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem," said Judas to Ben Ahaz, one of the temple officers who had been deputed to accompany Saul.
IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS. 31
" The man should himself he fetched back to Jeru- salem that he may answer for his madness before the high priest," said Ben Ahaz frowning, "for I hear that he hath even been baptized in the accursed name."
They went therefore to the house of Ananias, but it was told them, " Saul hath gone away into the wilder- ness to be alone for a space ; but whither he hath gone we know not."
" He is assuredly mad," said Ben Ahaz. He returned back to Jerusalem therefore, and declared before the Sanhedrim that Saul had fallen into a state of grievous madness, and that he had fled into the desert no man knew whither. As for Ben Ezra, he forgot to make mention of him.
32 PAUL.
CHAPTER III.
THE SOOTHSAYER.
" T T AVE a care, Ethiopian dogs, that there be not
JL X so much as a fleck of dust upon the beasts, else shall ye taste the lash. Look to that hind leg there, Sechu. Eyes on your work, idle devils."
The slaves, who were engaged in rubbing down the glossy flanks of a pair of spirited Arabians, looked up apprehensively, then bent to their task with redoubled vigor.
The man who had spoken passed on to the inspec- tion of a gilded chariot which was being cleansed of dust in the courtyard.
Here he was presently joined by a curled and per- fumed youth wearing the livery of the Caesars.
"Thou art in good spirits to-day, my Codrus," re- marked the new-comer, languidly adjusting his girdle.
"Why not?"
" It was told me that thou hadst the misfortune to spill a drop of wine on the robe of his worshipful highness, Agrippa, at supper last night, and that thy master had thee scourged for it."
"Thou hast heard a lie, slave." returned Codrus with a black look.
The other laughed and beat the palms of his hands
THE SOOTHSA YER. 33
softly together. " I am a slave, verily ; but what art thou, good Codrus ?"
" In mine own country I was the owner of an hun- dred such gilded chattels as thou art," said Codrus contemptuously ; " by the fortunes of war I became what I am, a slave, yes — a brute, if thou wilt, but — " and the speaker showed his white teeth in a savage grin, " I am able to avenge an insult even as a man."
" Spoken like an orator !" exclaimed the other, with a gesture of fervid admiration. " Nay, like a prince, the owner of a hundred slaves, ha, ha ! And yet, alas, thyself a slave, beaten at a nod from thy master."
He fled away, with a mocking laugh, just in time to avoid a part of the harness which the other in his exasperation had flung at his head.
" May the gods smite him with madness !" growled the slave angrily, as he turned his attention to the har- nessing of the horses. Presently, the last strap being adjusted, he sprang into the chariot and, standing erect in the driver's place, guided the prancing animals through the narrow passage which led into the great outer court of the palace, drawing up with a skilful flourish at the broad flight of steps before the principal entrance.
From this doorway presently issued two men. One of them was dwarfish, misshapen, pallid, red-haired, yet he was by no means insignificant looking ; in his cold crafty eyes and about the corners of his thin colorless lips lurked a curiously inhuman expression. He resembled some dangerous beast imperfectly dis-
S
34 PAUL.
guiscd in human form, but whether this animal would turn out to be a swine or a wolf when once unmasked, was not clear to the thoughtful beholder. For the rest, he wore the showy scarlet and gold trappings of a general in the Roman army.
His companion was a singularly handsome man of the Jewish type ; his dark regular features and broad- shouldered athletic figure were set off to advantage by his toga of white wool bordered with a narrow tracery of the imperial purple.
"To the springs, Codrus," commanded the Roman. " Ha, the Arabians are in good spirits to-day ! A pretty pair, sayest thou not so, prince Agrippa?"
" There is not their equal at the palace, my Caius," returned the man in the white toga, regarding the fly- ing horses approvingly. " The emperor is perchance too deeply absorbed in matters of statecraft to notice the occupants of the royal stables."
Both men laughed softly at this. " I must secure a pair for myself, and at once," continued Herod. "Canst thou commend me an honest dealer?"
" Nay, I will do more ; if these animals please thee, my Agrippa, they are thine, together with the chariot and the slave."
" By Apollo ! Thou hast a more than royal gen- erosity ; I have sojourned a month in the imperial palace and have not seen the like. Alas ! our divine Tiberius is grievously beclouded by age and infirmi- ties ; haply the gods will soon release him from the burden of his mortality, and when that shall come to
THE SOOTHSA YEH. 35
pass the sceptre of the world shall fall into a worthier hand. Then let the ruler of the universe remember his friends with the same royal favor."
Caius made no reply, but a fierce light leapt up in his eyes.
"Jehovah hasten the day!" added Herod with fervor.
Caius laughed aloud. " There speaks the Jew !" he exclaimed, " and yet thy Jehovah, for aught I know, is every whit as powerful as Jupiter."
Agrippa's dark face flushed. " I fear neither Jove nor Jehovah," he cried scornfully,
" Beware how thou dost provoke the gods to anger," said Caius, with a superstitious shiver.
"Thou art right as usual, son of Germanicus," said Agrippa gaily. " I will offer a hecatomb of victims in the temple when next I visit Jerusalem, and thus appease my countrymen as well as their God ; as for the gods of Rome, thou art the last man to deny that I am a devotee of Bacchus."
The rythmic feet of the horses and the clank of the silver harness-chains filled the silence that followed. They had neared Puteoli by this time, and were skim- ming swiftly along the smooth road which bordered the shore at that point. Below them lay the exquisite bay of Cumae, its blue waters flecked with the white sails of numerous fishing craft; while within the shel- ter of the gigantic mole, which stretched its piers of solid masonry far out into the waters, lay a swarm of merchantmen busily discharging their cargoes. Not far away, a group of royal galleys reflected the dazzling
36 PA UL.
beams of the sun from their carved and gilded sides, and with their sails of silken stuff half furled reminded the beholder of a bevy of gorgeous birds from some strange far-away clime. On the right loomed the dark form of Vesuvius, the walls and towers of Pompeii and Herculaneum gleaming whitely amid the masses of verdure at its foot. Nearer at hand, and overlook- ing the bay, was the town of Puteoli with its baths, amphitheatres, temples, and its avenues lined with the palaces of Roman nobles.
" There is a certain spring within the shelter of this grove of olives, which I would have thee taste, my Agrippa," said Caius at length. " In my opinion it surpasses all the fountains of Baiae yonder ; thou wilt find it a wondrous spur to the appetite."
" Let us taste then," said the Jewish prince lan- guidly. "A feast with no stomach for it is worse than the bumpers of Tantalus. I have tried both," he added with a grimace.
The two now dismounted from the chariot and en- tered the shadow of the grove. From betwixt the gnarled roots of an ancient olive, a fountain clear as crystal gushed into its basin of golden-hued pebbles, and thence with a musical rush and tinkle fled away toward the sea.
"A veritable haunt of dryads," said Agrippa, looking about him. "And, by Bacchus," he added with a laugh, " we have stumbled upon the presiding genius of the place."
Caius drew back with a smothered oath and laid his
THE SOOTHSA YER. 37
hand upon the dagger in his girdle. Upon the soft earth at their feet, well-nigh hidden by the luxuriant branches of laurel lay the half-naked figure of a man. He had evidently been asleep, but at the sound of the voices he raised his shaggy head and fixed his savage' eyes upon the intruders ; then he slowly rose to his feet.
"Begone!" commanded Caius with a gesture of disgust.
" I must needs obey the words of one on whom the gods have set the seal of an awful majesty," answered the man in a strange hollow voice. " Emperor of Rome, yet destined to die by an assassin's dagger, I salute thee." Then he turned to Agrippa. " Hail, King Aprippa ! for thou shalt be king, and thy son after thee. Yet, beware the day when thou shalt again behold the bird of Minerva ; in that day thou shalt surely die."
Agrippa involuntarily raised his eyes in obedience to the wild gesture of the man, and saw, perched in the leafy branches above his head, a small brown owl of a sort common enough in the neighborhood of Puteoli.
Caius was the first to recover himself "Where is the fellow?" he cried, "I believe by Apollo, that he hath taken wings to himself I did but lift mine eyes for an instant and behold the place is empty."
" He is hid within the laurel thicket," replied Agrippa hurriedly. "But let be; the man is mad perchance, and we have no guard."
88 PA UL.
The slave, Codrus, wrapped in his gloomy thoughts, stood holding the bits of the horses. He was scarce conscious of a swift shadow that flitted past him, but he fancied that he heard a sound as of mad laughter echoing from the hills beyond. " I will do this thing," he muttered, his eyes glowing fiercely ; " the gods have willed it. I am a slave ; I will be a slave no longer."
THEEE FEINCES AND A ULA VE. 39
CHAPTER IV.
THREE PRINCES AND A SLAVE.
"17^ ETCH more Falernian, slave; 'tis too seldom -I- that I sup with thee for sole company, my princess. I will drink to thee who art to be queen. Ay, look not startled, sweet one, the gods have willed it."
The princess Cypros lifted her dark eyes to the handsome flushed face of her husband, then she glanced apprehensively at the attendant slaves. " It pleases thee to jest, my lord," she said in clear low tones. " It also pleaseth me to listen. Hast thou been with the emperor to-day ?"
" Nay, beloved," said Agrippa, lying back upon his purple cushions, and regarding with half-closed eyes the delicately-wrought cup of gold which he held be- twixt his fingers. " Nay, I have been in better com- pany. Truth to tell, princess, I find but sorry cheer with our emperor of late. He lieth all day on his couch, a huge bloated mass, but half alive, and un- pleasant to look upon as if he were already dead."
"Thou art again jesting, prince Agrippa," said the lady, a shade of sternness in her voice. "The coun- tenance of the divine Tiberius yet irradiates a power which is prosperity or adversity, life or death to his
40 PA UL.
subjects. To me hath he granted the privilege of an audience this day ; he is graciously minded to restore to thee the aedileship of Tiberias."
" He is minded to restore to me the aedileship of Tiberias?" said Agrippa with a mocking laugh. "What divine condescension ! What royal munificence ! Thou art my guardian spirit, princess. — Nay, now I am in earnest, sweet one, but for thee I should perchance be wandering among the disconsolate shades."
" May the immortals avert the hour !" exclaimed Cypros, growing pale. " But tell me truly, my lord, wouldst thou not rejoice to return to our own land ? We have wandered far of late ; would that we might find some quiet spot where we might abide with our children, and where — " she paused a moment as if her thoughts were too painful for utterance, slow tears gathering in her dark eyes.
" Dost thou not enjoy the splendors of Caprae, sweet one ? Nay, there was a time when I should scarce have dared to leave so fair a flower unguarded in any one of the twelve palaces of Tiberius, but the candle hath been well-nigh burnt out ; I am minded to see what will happen when its last expiring flicker shall have disappeared. Something more alluring than a paltry aedileship of Tiberias may come my way then. I tell thee I shall be a king. Ay, it will come to pass. — What sayest thou, slave ? Caius and Claudius are without ? Admit them ; we will have a merr>' night. Nay, princess, do not remove the light of th}- coun- tenance."
THREE PRINCES AND A SLA VE. 41
" I cannot remain longer, my lord, Berenice hath been ailing to-day ; I must see her once again before I sleep."
"Best of wives and mothers, peace go with thee!" said Agrippa, rising and escorting the lady to the door which led to her own apartments.
She lingered yet a moment to whisper imploringly, " Have a care, I beseech thee, my lord ; speak no word against the emperor ; if he be dying, as thou sayest, he is yet alive to a breath of treason. I like not the face of the strange slave, who attended thee to-night."
" What, Codrus ? He was given me by Caius this day. Fear nothing, my princess, our star is in the ascendant," replied Agrippa, kissing her hand.
The Princess Cypros sighed as she flitted along the dimly-lighted corridor. A premonition of coming evil was heavy upon her, the remembrance of past trials and dangers only serving to make more dark the un- certain future. In truth, her position was such as to make the stoutest heart afraid : married to the Asmo- nean Herod at an early age, herself a princess of the same house, she had suffered all the vicissitudes of a capricious fortune during the years of her married life. Expelled from the splendors of the imperial court be- cause of his unparalleled excesses, Agrippa had dragged the unfortunate Cypros through a series of debts and disgraces, culminating a few months since in his arrest for an enormous sum of money which he had borrowed from the treasury at Rome. In his
42 PA UL.
despair he had been about to take his own life, urging his unhappy wife to follow his example. Cypros shud- dered as the ghastly scene forced itself back upon her remembrance. She had finally succeeded in persuad- ing him to abandon his purpose for the moment, then in tears and despair had sought the assistance of the governor of Alexandria. Not unmoved by her en- treaties, the gallant Lysimachus had advanced to her, on little better security than the smile of a beautiful woman, the goodly sum of two hundred thousand drachmae.
Once more at liberty, Agrippa, at the entreaty of Cypros, set sail for Puteoli, where he was received with certain marks of favor by the aged Tiberius. One of the magnificent villas of Caprae had been placed at his disposal, with tacit permission to remain a guest of the emperor as long as it might please him.
" May the gods guard his incautious lips," mur- mured the anxious wife, as the sounds of revelry from the banquet hall reached her from time to time. "A word against yonder dying brute and we are undone."
Then her thoughts wandered to her children ; rising, she glided softly into the apartment where the two little maidens Berenice and Mariamne lay asleep. With all a mother's pride in their rosy loveliness she moved lightly here and there, smoothing a crumpled pillow, or drawing a stray coverlid over restless limbs.
Passing on she entered the adjoining chamber. Her heart leapt within her as she shaded the light from the sleeper's eyes with slender tremulous fingers. " My
THREE PRINCES AND A SLA VE. 43
Agrippa," she murmured, looking down upon the handsome boy, " surely thy pathway in life must be a happy one. Would that I knew how to pray for thy future. At least I may implore that the gods will pour upon me all their hoarded wrath. I have already suf- fered, and little or much, all will soon be forgotten in the black night of the grave. But for thee, son of my heart, I must pray, Jehovah spare thee !" Secretly she vowed a sacrifice in the temple at Jerusalem, but the thought of the holy city, of the priests in their snowy robes half terrified her. "We are neither Jews nor Romans," she thought bitterly, " for us there is no God that cares ; of what use are sacrifices to Jehovah or to Jupiter?" And with these dark thoughts for company she returned once more to her lonely vigil.
Left to himself in the banquet hall, Agrippa wel- comed his guests with the hilarious abandon of a man who had already drunken too deeply. He commanded the slaves to bring more wine.
" I would drink to thee, son of Germanicus," he cried, with a reckless laugh, " because thou art to be—"
" Hold !" growled Caius, scowling. " Forget the insane ravings of a witless fool. I have commanded that search be made for the man ; if found, his treason- able tongue shall be cut from his head."
"What unhappy wight hath had the misfortune to offend thee, my Caius," inquired the third man, lean- ing forward to pluck an olive from the crystal dish before him.
44 PA UL.
" A mad soothsayer," responded Caius, briefly," who dared to speak a word against the majesty of the world in my hearing."
" If he be mad, why afflict him further? The gods have already smitten him."
Caius fixed his dull gray eyes on the speaker, while a malicious smile curled the corners of his lips. " I shall cut out his tongue, most sapient Claudius, because it pleaseth me to behold blood."
Claudius shivered ; he made no reply.
" Come !" broke in Agrippa, impatiently. " Drink and forget — forget and drink ! Hail to Bacchus, the god of pleasure !" and he drained the cup which the attentive slave at his elbow had just filled.
"There are no gods and no pleasures," said Caius, sullenly. " We only befool ourselves by thinking so."
"There be pleasures of the mind — " began Clau- dius, eagerly, but Caius interrupted him with a burst of loud laughter.
"What canst thou know of the mind, who wast born without one," he cried. "The gods gave thee a body, but even that is inferior to the body of the slave yonder."
Again Claudius was silent. He seemed either un- willing or unable to answer the man, who now lay back among his cushions with an expression of malig- nant enjoyment upon his pale face.
"Let him alone," said Agrippa in a low voice. " Poor Claudius, his own mother hath no good word for him ; but he is not without wit, he is even writing
THREE PRINCES AND A SLA VE. 45
a history which would do credit to Livy himself, I give you my word for it. Yesterday I listened for an hour while he read to me. I advised him not to show it to the emperor ; 'tis too true to be pleasant reading."
"Writing history, is he?" said Caius, with another loud laugh. " Look at him now, he is going to sleep ; that last bumper of Falernian was too much for him. Nay, for myself I shall make history ; 'tis labor worthy a witless slave to toil with the stylus, no one save a fool would attempt it. More wine, slave."
" Thou wilt indeed make history, my Caius," replied Agrippa, confidently. " Was it for naught that thou wast born son of Germanicus, Rome's bravest soldier ? that thou didst first behold the light amid the clash of arms and the bray of trumpets ? that thou hast been reared amid all the magnificence of the court of Tiberius ?"
The face of the man to whom these flattering words were addressed underwent a frightful change. Plain almost to ugliness at his best moments, the counte- nance of Caius now assumed such an expression of unbridled ferocity and hate that even his hardened companion shrank back ; the pale skin grew ghastly, the gray eyes gleamed dully beneath the furrowed brow, the reddish hair, which but scantily covered the ill-shapen head, seemed to rise into bristles.
"Thou hast forgotten in thy enumeration of the blessings which the gods have bestowed upon me," he said in a smothered voice, " the fate of my father, my
46 PA UL.
mother, my sisters, my brothers." * After a pause he added, with a reckless laugh, " If I myself remem- ber, 'tis only that I may glut myself with the blood of — But stay, I may no longer enjoy the pleasures of thy hospitable board. I have an appointment with Macro which must not be broken. Come, thou dolt, thou addle-pated monstrosity, wake up!" and gather- ing up a handful of olive pits he discharged them full in the face of the unfortunate Claudius.
Agrippa half started up, " Do not carry thy jests too far, I beseech thee," he said soothingly. " Leave him to me, I will send him away presently."
"As thou wilt, Prince Agrippa; farewell." With a leer of mock humility he bent before the couch of Clau- dius who, suddenly awakened by the shower of olive stones, sat up, rubbing his eyes with the expression of a sulky child.
" P'are thee well also, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Caesar Germanicus, thou art a prince of princes, the historian of all historians, the most amiable of an ami- able and pious family."
* Caius Caesar, called also Caligula, was the son of German- icus and the elder Agrippina. Germanicus was a nephew of Tiberius, and a brave, wise and virtuous man, as well as the most successful general of his day. He was poisoned by the jealous Tiberius in Syria. Agrippina, his wife, a model of a Roman matron of the highest stamp, was starved to death in the island of Pandataria. His eldest brother, Nero, was put to death, and Drusus was kept close prisoner in a secret dungeon of the palace. His sister was banished. Caius, the youngest of the family, was summoned by Tiberius to Caprae, and there only saved his life by the most abject flattery and submission.
THREE PRINCES AND A SLA VE. 47
" Nay, I will go with thee, my good nephew, since thou art come to thy proper senses !" exclaimed Clau- dius, his broad face beaming with delight. "And I will read to thee my history of the Roman wars this very night ; thou shalt see, my Caius, if it be not meet to amuse the leisure of our emperor, who should now delight to review the triumphs of his reign."
"Thou wilt read me thy history? Nay, I will see thee choked with thy parchments first," growled Caius. " But come, thy excellent wife will be chiding thee for thy absence."
Left to himself, Agrippa looked about the empty hall disconsolately, his eye fell upon the disordered table. " Pah !" he exclaimed in a tone of dreary dis- gust, " Caius is right after all ; there are no gods and no pleasures."
" Wilt thou not take a fresh flask of wine, my lord ?" said Codrus, humbly.
"Pah!" repeated Agrippa, with an impatient ges- ture, " I am sick of wine." He rose slowly and un- steadily to his feet. " I will sleep," he growled, " and to-morrow— to-morrow I will see the emperor. ' Gali- lee—Jerusalem— anything is better than this accursed island."
Codrus followed him to his chamber, and deftly performed all the necessary offices. Agrippa, scarcely noticing that his usual attendant was missing, sank onto his couch, and almost immediately fell into^'a sod- den slumber.
The slave Codrus stood at his bedside and stared at
48 PA UL.
the handsome flushed face on its silken pillow. "To- morrow thou wilt see the emperor," he said, scorn- fully ; " to-morrow thou wilt again drink, and again be drunken, and I shall be thy slave." He stooped, and lifting the nerveless hand of the sleeper, drew from it softly the signet ring of the Herods. " To-morrow !" he repeated, with a low laugh, " to-morrow, thou shalt again remember that there are no gods and no pleas- ures '*
IN THE DESERT OF SINAI. 49
CHAPTER V.
IN THE DESERT OF SINAI.
"•^OD, if I must die, let me die in the land of my V_X fathers ! Slay me not in this wilderness, I be- seech thee."
The voice that had spoken these words faltered, died away into silence, then broke forth anew in a stifled wail, " I have sinned — I have sinned, but have mercy upon me according to thy loving kindness and the multitude of thy tender mercies !"
Again there was silence, the silence which beats in upon the brain with the awfulness of eternity.
The man who had ventured to break the terrible stillness with his petty clamor sat up and looked about him with wild eyes. On either side towered vast pre- cipitous heights of naked rock, blood-red where the sun smote them, purplish black where the shadows fell. In the narrow valley where he crouched, sand also the color of blood lay in wrinkled waves about the huge fantastic boulders, splintered off from the crags above by some Titanic hammer. Overhead the fierce blue of the sky, unsoftened by fleece of cloud or fleck of wing, closed in the narrow space between the jagged cliffs. Stay, there is a black speck high above yonder crag ! The wretch on the sand .stared at it
4
o« PAUL.
with unwinking eyes. The black speck resolved itself into a body with wings.
"A bird," muttered the man.
Another speck appeared from behind the highest of the blood-red crags, then another, and another.
" More birds," repeated the man, still staring stu- pidly. " One, two, three, four, five, six. They are — "
He burst into a ghastly shriek, and tottering to his feet ran blindly down the narrow valley.
The six vultures, circling on motionless wing, looked down unmoved. What matter if the thing below them crawled yet a little further. The word had gone forth, they must feast to-night. They followed him patiently ; seeing him stumble and fall, they settled heavily down at a decent distance and watched him. They saw him tear at the sand v.'ith his claw-like hands. They saw him struggle again and yet again to rise — and fail. They saw him draw the corner of his ragged robe across his face, and their red eyes glistened with a solemn joy. They drew nearer.
" Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from age to age, Before the mountains were brought forth, Or even the earth and the world were born, From everlasting to everlasting. Thou art God."
The vultures paused, then with hoarse croakings of disappointment arose and flapped heavily away. A man had issued from one of the cave-like apertures of the rock, and was walking slowly along the valley.
IN THE DESERT OF SIN AT. 51
His head was bent ; he looked neither to the right hand nor to the left.
" Thou turnest man to dust, And sayest, Return, ye children of men, P'or in Thy sight a thousand years Are Hke yesterday as it passeth, Or like a watch in the night. Thou destroyest them ; they fall asleep — "
The sound of the chanting ceased suddenly ; the man .stopped in his slow, meditative walk and stared at the shapeless heap which lay across his path. He knelt beside it and drew away the ragged cloth.
" In the morning he groweth Hke grass ; In the morning it is green and groweth ; At evening it is cut down and withered — cut down and withered."
The new-comer shook his head sadly as he looked with keen eyes at the emaciated face and swollen purple tongue of the lifeless figure before him ; then, fancying that he detected a slight quiver of the mus- cles, he took the water-flask from his girdle and poured a few drops into the half-opened mouth. An hour or more the stranger persisted in his apparently hopeless ministrations ; at the end of that time he was rewarded by a low moan, the sunken eyes opened, and an indistinguishable murmur issued from the livid lips.
" Drink — drink, friend ; the breath had well nigh gone out of thee, but thou art saved. Be comforted
52 PAUL.
and take of the water, for it is in truth the water of Hfe."
•' The vultures !" gasped the other, faintly.
" Nay, there are no vultures. Be comforted. God hath had pity on thee and hath saved thee out of all thy distresses. Canst thou stand?"
By way of answer, the man struggled to his feet, leaning hard upon the shoulder of his rescuer. The sun was sunken behind the blood-red cliffs, and solemn shadows filled the little valley. The savage blue of the sky had softened to an infinitely tender opalescent hue ; no longer did it appear to close in above the rocky heights like the lid to a tomb, but rather to recede into remote and mysterious dis- tances ; no trace of cloud or fleck of wing sullied its purity.
" Be comforted and walk yet a little way ; there is shelter and food near at hand."
And so, by slow degrees, the two came to the cleft in the rock, which in truth was not far distant. And there the starving man ate and drank like a child from the hand of him that had saved him, and when he had eaten he immediately sank into a deep sleep.
Strange dreams visited the desert cave that night ; they clustered thickly about the heap of dried shrubs whereon lay the man whose feet had passed quite through the valley of the shadow of death, only to turn back again. At the first, there came to him a vision of many men and beasts traveling along a stony wilderness, the burning desert flint under foot, the
IN THE DESERT OF SINAI. 53
burning Syrian sky overhead. On and on they toiled, and as they went the pitiless sun climbed its appointed way till it stood in mid-heaven and looked down at them with red murderous eye. Then, suddenly — for so it seemed to the dreamer — the sun fell, enveloping them with sheets of awful splendor.
The scene changes. He is in a great city now, walking down a long street lined with stately colon- nades ; past him hurries a great multitude of every nation under heaven — Arab merchants, laden with their precious wares ; Egyptians, with their dark faces and gay robes ; Roman soldiers, fair-haired Greeks, Syrians, Jews, Phoenicians, Edomites — mingling and intermingling in endless confusion, amid a deep, mo- notonous humming as of a gigantic swarm of bees. He himself — so he fancies — is leading a blind man, and with infinite difficulty keeping him from falling beneath the feet of the reckless crowd. Suddenly the gay street vanishes, and in its place stretch long vistas of yellow desert. He is riding again beneath the fierce eye of the sun, riding swiftly to escape something that pursues him from behind ; through long ages, it seems, he flees onward, ever faster and faster. His mysterious pursuer gains upon him ; it is clutching at him from behind ; his beast is falling. Ah, he is alone now, staring up vacantly into the brazen sky, shut in on either side by walls of naked rock. What is yonder black speck against the unan- swering heaven ? God ! the end has come at last : but not this — not this !
5 i PA UL.
" Turn, Jehovah ! — How long ? — And pity thy servants. Fill us each morning with thy love That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Give us joy for the days that thou hast afflicted us, The years we have known adversity."
The dreamer turned on his rough couch and opened his eyes. The cool light of the early dawn streamed into the narrow opening of the cave, and rested like a benediction from heaven upon his burning fore- head.
''Thank God!" he cried aloud, "Thank God!" His eyes fell upon a gourd of water placed within his reach ; he grasped it with trembling fingers and drank long and deep. "Thank God !"
" I also thank God in thy behalf, and for myself that I was able to save thee," said a grave voice at his side. " But come, break thy fast that thou mayest recover thy strength more perfectly ; thou art as yet weak and fevered."
" Who art thou that hast saved me ?" cried the other, trembling. "Surely, thou art Saul of Tarsus !"
" Even so, and thou art — "
"Silas, the son of Ezra, of all men most misera- ble."
" Nay, call not thyself miserable, who livest to thank God for thy life."
" But T have sinned."
" Have not I sinned, who of late made havoc of them which believed on the Anointed of Jehovah, pur-
IX THE DESERT OF SINAL 55
suing them even unto strange cities in my fury ? Yet hath God had mercy upon me in that he hath revealed to me the truth."
" Thou wast honest in thy wrath against the disci- ples," groaned Ben Ezra, "but I — what canst thou say to me ? I knew Jesus of Nazareth while he yet lived, I saw his miracles, I heard his words. Nay, I was convinced that he was the Christ of God, and for a time I was numbered with the disciples, but when he was seized by the chief priests I was afraid lest I also should suffer. I fled from Jerusalem till his death was accomplished, and afterward I denied him, not twice nor thrice, as did Peter, but daily — hourly. How can I be forgiven when not content with denying the persecuted Christ, I also denied him risen, ascended, glorified ? For all of these things were known unto me, and not once did I doubt the truth of them, yet because of my cowardice I even joined myself with them which hated Jesus, and when persecutions arose against them that believed, I made common cause with the chief priests, insomuch that I received posi- tion and advancement at their hands. For this cause also was I chosen one of them who should accompany thee to Damascus. Again, I beheld the glory of the Lord when he appeared unto thee by the way, but for me he had no word. I have sinned beyond forgive- ness. Would that I had died yesterday, and that the vultures had devoured my polluted flesh."
"What wast thou doing in the desert alone?"
" I fled from Damascus beneath the scourge of an
56 PA UL.
accusing whisper which pursued me from behind," groaned Ben Ezra, hiding his face in his hands.
" What said the voice ?"
" Nay, I know not ; but it was death. Why hast thou saved me? I must again go forth."
Saul was silent for a space ; he put forth his hand and touched the other upon his bowed head. " Silas, son of Ezra," he said solemnly, " I cannot speak unto thee with the authority of a holy man, bidding thee put thy sins behind thy back and rejoice in the Lord, for I myself have sinned too grievously. I came forth into this desert place that here I might commune with the Eternal One in solitude, for he hath showed to me this much, that I am set apart for his service. Now, therefore, I will withdraw myself into the mountains to fast and pray this day in thy behalf, and I will entreat the Lord to reveal his pleasure con- cerning thee. Do thou remain here and cease not to humble thyself before him till I shall come back unto thee." With these words he turned away, and Silas Ben Ezra, remaining behind in the cleft of the rock, heard his retreating footsteps growing fainter and fainter, till at last the silence of the desert settled down once more over the little valley.
All that day did Ben Ezra remain upon his fece in the shelter of the cave, but at evening he arose and drank of the water and ate of the bread which Saul had placed ready at his hand, then he sat down in the door of the cave to wait. When at length the first faint stars slionc in the depths of heaven he heard afar
IN THE DESERT OF SINAI. 57
off on the mountain the sound of solemn chanting, the sound drew nearer, until the meiisured words were dis- tinctly audible.
" With waiting I waited on Jehovah, And he inclined to me and heard my cry ; He raised me from a pit of destruction, from the miry clay. And set my feet on a rock, making firm my steps, He put in my mouth a new song, praise to our God."
Like the song of an angel fell the familiar words upon the sore heart of the listener. He arose to his feet and stretched out his arms toward heaven,
" And I — distressed and needy — The Lord careth for me ; My help and deliverer, Thou, My God, tarry not !"
Ben Ezra cried aloud in his joy. He knew that he was forgiven.
The day following Saul journeyed with his guest till they were come to the borders of the wilderness ; there they parted, for Ben Ezra was minded to return to Jerusalem.
•' I must confess my sins before the disciples," he said, "and before the chief priests also, that I may wit- ness how great things the Lord hath done for me."
But Saul returned again to Sinai that he might be alone with God.
68 PA UL.
CHAPTER VI.
THE RECLUSE OE CAPRAE.
"T MUST see the emperor, and that without delay." X " Thou art a madman — begone !"
" Thou shalt pay dearly for it, if thou admit me not ; 'tis a matter of life and death, I tell thee."
"Who art thou?"
" Codrus, the slave of Agrippa ; I bear his signet ring in token that I must be admitted to the emperor's presence."
The porter stared suspiciously at the solitary figure, which waited below in the half darkness. He scratched his head reflectively. "Who is with thee?"
" I am alone ; canst thou not see, knave ?"
" Knave, am I ?" growled the other. " I know thee not, dog of a slave ; get thee gone, or I shall have thee seized and thrust into the stocks."
"Ah, very well. I was ordered to giv^e thee a golden cup, but now I shall come to-morrow, and thou wilt receive, instead, a scourging. Farewell."
" Stay yet a moment, fellow ; how didst thou pass the guard ?"
" By this token of the signet, blockhead. — I am going."
" Nay, I will open. One must be cautious, as thou
THE RECLUSE OF CAPRAE. 59
knowest, in these days, or lose one's breath beneath the cord. 'Tis an ugly death is strangHng — ugh !" He was undoing the heavy bolts as he spoke, and pres- ently flung open the door. Codrus stepped in.
" What is thy message ? I will carry it."
" Thinkest thou that my master would have me bruit his words in the ear of every slave in the palace ? Lead on."
" Not so fast, slave of a Jew ; there is yet the inner guard to be passed, and the officers of the bed-cham- ber. Where is my cup ? Um — yes, a very pretty bauble, stolen, I dare swear, from thy master."
Codrus turned pale with anger. " May the gods smite thee for a chattering fool," he said violently. " Show me the way to the emperor."
By way of answer the porter lifted a small silver whistle to his lips. Two armed men instantly appeared.
" Here is a man," said the porter, " who insists upon being admitted to the presence of the emperor."
" Impossible, at this hour of the night," exclaimed the centurion, flashing the light of his torch full into the face of Codrus. " Return to-morrow at the proper time ; then, if thou art rightly credited, thou shalt be admitted."
" I will be admitted now," said Codrus boldly. " To-morrow will be too late. This is the token that my business is urgent." He displayed the signet. The two soldiers exchanged glances ; they withdrew to a little distance and whispered together for a few moments.
60 PAUL.
" Follow mc," commanded the centurion with an authoritative gesture. Codrus obeyed.
Through long corridors paved with costly marbles, past terraced gardens, where the moonbeams played brightly on sparkling fountains or lingered on the white beauty of countless statues, acro.ss spaces of velvet lawn glistening with dew, went the three, the centu- rion leading the way, Codrus following, while the third man brought up the rear. Presently the centurion paused before a large doorway, in front of which stood four armed men. A word to these and the door swung open, revealing a large dimly-lighted apartment.
" Pass in," commanded the centurion, briefly.
Codrus trembled ; great beads of moisture started out upon his forehead. He fancied tliat he could detect a scornful smile upon the face of the soldier. "What is this place?" he said, looking about him fearfully.
"The ante-room of the emperor's bed-chamber, knave," replied the centurion, in a half whisper. " If thou hast lied concerning thy errand, thou art a dying man, for Tiberius will cause thee to be strangled on the spot."
Codrus made no reply ; he could not, his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. He fixed liis eyes on the imposing personage who had advanced to chal- lenge their presence.
"Who is this person, and (or what reason is he here ?"
"A slave belonging to the Jew, Agrippa, and bear-
THE RECLUSE OF CAPEAE. 61
ing his signet. He demands audience with the em- peror," rephed the centurion. "I have brought him to thee that thou mayst judge whether or not to admit him. What sayest thou, shall I put him in guard till to-morrow ? It is not impossible that this is some plot to assassinate — "
" Hold thy peace !" cried the other, sharply. "Art thou not one of the slaves of Caius ?" he added, turn- ing to Codrus.
" I was formerly, worshipful Stephanion," answered the slave, who had regained his courage by this time. " At present I am the property of Agrippa. I hold his signet in token — "
The chamberlain shrugged his shoulders indiffer- ently. " It matters little what thou art and what thy errand. The emperor is awake ; thou shalt enter. It will serve to while away the hours of the night." He drew aside the heavy curtains of crimson stuff inter- woven with silver, which hung before the arched opening at the end of the room, and signed to Codrus to enter.
Upon a low couch of carved ivor>', heaped with cushions, lay the figure of a man, huge, bloated, the livid face hideously disfigured with purple blotches., This much the slave saw at a single glance.
Stephanion advanced noiselessly and knelt at the foot of the couch. "A messenger from the Jewish prince, Agrippa, would deliver to thee important tid- ings, divine Tiberius. What is thy pleasure concern- ing him ?"
62 PA UL.
The huge bulk stirred with difficulty, the swollen lips moved. " Fetch him hither."
" He is here, illustrious master of the world."
Codrus fell on his knees ; he felt, rather than saw, that a pair of terrible eyes were fixed upon him. Again his tongue refused its office.
" Speak, slave."
"Thy life is in danger," faltered the trembling wretch.
Tiberius laughed harshly. "And does Agrippa send me this word ? By the gods, 'tis a good word, a word of cheer to send at midnight to a man weighed down by years and infirmities. What does the fellow mean ?"
" Nay, thou dost mistake ; I will tell thee all ; it is not the word of Agrippa, but — "
"What then? Say what thou hast to say quickly. Thou art the slave of Agrippa?"
Codrus crawled a little nearer the couch. " Be* pleased to look in mercy upon me, divine majesty, who am a slave o\\^ncd by Agrippa ; two days ago I was the slave of Caius. I drove his chariot, Agrippa being in his company. They talked of many things. They spoke the name Tiberius, emperor of Rome. The Jew Agrippa declared that — but how can I speak the base words in thy hearing?"
" Declare them instantly, knave, or thou shalt die !"
"The Jew Agrippa declared that the illustrious master of the universe, the god of the whole — mercy ! have mercy !"
THE BECLUSE OF CAPRAE. 6S
The emperor had thrown the contents of a cup of wine, which stood at his elbow, full into the face of the kneeling man. Stephanion smothered a laugh.
" Now, canst thou speak ?" growled Tiberius, rais- ing himself unassisted to a sitting posture. " Thou hast had wine — royal wine. Speak !"
"Agrippa declared that thou wast too old to rule longer," muttered Codrus sullenly, " and said that he hoped the time would not be long before a worthier should occupy thy room."
"And what said Caligula?" *
Codrus hesitated a moment. His former master was at his mercy, should he ruin him with a word ? Nay, he would even spare him for the present. He smiled triumphantly. " Caius made him no answer, master of the world."
" He can afford to keep silent, black-hearted wretch," muttered Tiberius, as if to himself " I know him — I know him. But what if I cause him to be poisoned or sent into exile, the Romans would exe- crate my memory. Let them have the son of Ger- manicus to rule over them. When it shall come to pass they will cry out in their misery that Tiberius was a god, that his reign was a reign of happiness. Ay — he will avenge me."
The emperor's great head had sunken upon his breast, his eyes grew fixed and glassy, a low gurghng
* Caligula signifies " a little shoe," or " bootling." It was a pet name given to Caius by the soldiers in the camp of his father where he was born, a name which clung to him ever after.
«4 PA UL.
sound issued from his lips. Stephanion sprang for- ward in alarm and caught him in his arms. " Hand me yonder silver flask !" he said to Codrus. The slave obeyed. " Now chafe his feet — so, while I bathe his temples with wine, ah — he is reviving."
Scarcely had he uttered the words before he was hurled violently to the floor. Tiberius had caught the last words. " Reviving !" he cried in a terrible voicC; his eyes flaming, " Dog of a slave, how often must I tell thee that I am not ill. I am strong enough to strangle thee. Ay, and I will do it yet. I am old — yes, so also are the gods. I am mighty — I am terri- ble. I am the lord of the whole earth." Then on a sudden he sank back on his cushions, sobbing weakly like a sick child.
" Wilt thou not be pleased to take a swallow of wine, divine master?" ventured Stephanion humbly. "It may serve to refresh thee ?*"
Tiberius seized the cup and raised it to his lips. " Pah, it is not wine," he muttered, "it is blood — blood. But no matter, I will drink it — blood is life." He handed the empty cup to Stephanion, his manner once more calm and composed. "Send this slave away. — Stay, let him remain in the palace for the present. Call Sejanus hither."
Stephanion touched a silver gong. Instantly a number of liveried servants entered the apartment ; to these he repeated the orders of the emperor in a low voice.
Codrus found himself unceremoniously hurried
THE RECLUSE OF CAPRAE. 65
away. "Stop!" he cried. "I have had no reward. I must ask the emperor for my freedom."
"Be thankful that thou hast faced Tiberius and live," answered one of the men who had seized him, with a low laugh. With this scant comfort he was forced to be content.
Left to himself in the slave quarters of the palace he gave vent to his rage and disappointment. He tore his hair and his tunic ; he bit at the wooden bench upon which he had thrown himself He cursed the fates, he cursed Agrippa, Caius and even Tiberius him- self; he cursed them eating, drinking, sleeping, dead and wandering on the hither side of the gloomy Styx, He besought the gods to torture them, as he himself was tortured, with perpetual chains and servitude. In the mad delirium of his anger his voice rose to a loud scream.
" May they lie upon beds of flame !" he howled. " May they quench their thirst with molten brass ! May they feed upon scorpions !"
" Ay !" interrupted a deep voice from out the gloom. "Very proper and pretty wishes, friend; but if thou art not presently silent, thou shalt arrive first upon the banks of the Styx, for I myself will immediately choke thee, and that as convincingly as a professional handler of the bow-string."
"Who art thou ?" said Codrus, turning cold in his terror.
" I am Narcissus, like thyself, a slave. With delight have I listened to thy ravings ; each malediction have
5
66 PA UL.
I echoed ; but thou hast overstepped the bounds of prudence in raising thy voice. A whispered curse, good friend, will reach the ears of the furies quite as surely as one shrieked forth, and 'tis far less likely to recoil upon the head of him that utters it. Besides all this, T am weary and must sleep, therefore hold thy peace."
" I cannot sleep," answered Codrus, sullenly. "Nay, if I sleep, let it be the sleep that knows no awakening. I will no longer live a slave."
" The slave of to-day may be the freedman of to-morrow and rolling in gold," replied the other oracularly. " Fortuna delighteth to perform such miracles. Best remain alive yet a little while ; many things will happen, and strange things, too, before the year is out. Moreover, I carry the keys of the wine vaults ; hold thy peace that I may sleep, and to-mor- row thou shalt taste the emperor's vintage."
To prince Agrippa the light of morning brought an unwonted sense of satisfaction. He lay for awhile watching the play of the sunbeams amid the silken draperies of his couch, then languidly stretching his strong limbs he admired the manly beauty of their proportions.
"Ha, ha," he chuckled to himself, "what a miser- able, bandy-legged specimen of humanity is our friend Caius Caligula ; a surly dog, too. But I must flatter him and keep him friendly to me, for, unless I mis- take, he will one day be master of the civilized world. He will make me a king — if his humor sud-
THE RECLUSE OF CAPRAE. 67
dcnly change not to a fancy for strangling or poisoning me. By all the gods — if there be any gods — there is no such thing as true friendship in earth or heaven ! And yet there is Cypres, poor little woman " — a touch of tenderness crept into his hard black eyes. "What now if I do as she asks, return to Galilee. By Apollo, I will do it. I am weary of all this myself, and as for yonder dying brute, Tiberius, he is as dangerous as a wounded lion ; I had best put myself out of reach of his claws."
An hour later, fresh from his bath and arrayed in robes of royal purple, he sought his wife. He found her in the garden where she had bidden the slaves prepare breakfast.
"Greetings, wife of mine," he cried gaily. "Thou art as lovely as Aurora herself, and more sweet than the roses beside thee."
Cypros blushed with pleasure. She did indeed pre- sent a fair picture in her filmy robes of white, bound at the waist with a girdle of gold and pearls. Fair and golden-haired as a daughter of Greece, her dark fiery eyes yet reminded the beholder of her Idumaean ancestors. The dark eyes were tender and loving now, as they wandered from the tiny maiden who was clinging to her robe, to the face of her husband.
"Thou wilt breakfast with us, my lord?"
"I will breakfast with thee, princess," replied Agrippa, throwing himself carelessly upon the marble bench at her side. "And afterward I will see the emperor. If, as thou hast said, he will restore to me
68 PA UL.
the aedileship of Tiberias, I am minded to accept it, though 'tis a beggarly enough place for a grandson of Herod the Great."
"And what is our present position?" said Cypros bitterly, a dark flush staining her pale cheeks. " De- pendent on the bounty of a man whom we can neither love nor honor."
" Love and honor are strange words to use on the island of Caprae, princess," said Agrippa, with a mocking laugh. "What, love Tiberius! honor Tiberius !"
" Hush — I beg of thee," whispered Cypros. " I heard a strange sound, a sound as of the clash of weapons."
" Nay, little one, 'tis only the clink of silver dishes ; the slaves are bringing in the breakfast, and I am right glad of it, for truth to tell I have an appetite." Agrippa rose as he spoke and with a light laugh turned toward the entrance of the court ; through the open door he saw, to his intense astonishment, a qua- ternion of Roman soldiers.
" Fly !" gasped Cypros. " They will seize thee !"
" Nay, I will not fly ; here is some stupid blunder." He raised his voice angrily. " What mean ye, knaves, by intruding upon our privacy ? By the gods, but some one shall smart for this !"
" In the name of the emperor," said the centurion, laying his hand on the shoulder of the angry man. "Soldiers, do your duty."
The soldiers advanced stolidly, the foremost man
Paul— 3.
WHAT MEANS THIS OUTRAGE?"
THE RECLmE OF CAPRAE. 69
producing an ominous-looking chain. But he paused open-mouthed as Cypres with a wild cry darted for- ward. "What means this outrage ?" she demanded, fixing her blazing eyes upon the centurion. *• Surely thou art out of thy senses."
" I am commanded, princess, to deliver the body of Herod Agrippa, prince of Jerusalem, to the governor of the Tullianum. I must do my duty."
" On what charge ? Surely he may first plead his cause before the emperor — the meanest citizen hath the right."
"The rights of his position, princess, will surely be extended to him ; do not doubt it. In the meantime he will be treated with the well-known clemency and justice of the divine Tiberius."
Agrippa burst into a loud contemptuous laugh. " 'Tis enough," he said with a shrug of the shoulders ; " content thyself, my princess, with the glad assurance. Farewell, till some happier fortune shall unite us." Turning to the centurion, he added, "Spare me that chain in presence of my children. I will go with thee without resistance."
70 PAUL,
CHAPTER VII.
THE ROSE OF LEBANON.
" TX THAT thinkcst thou, my lord, hath become ▼ V of the strange rabbi from Jerusalem who tarried with us for a space ? The moon hath waxed and waned six — nay, seven times — since he departed into the wilderness alone." As she spoke, the wife of Ananias was busily pulling the buds and young leaves from the blossoming rose sprays which swung from the wall above her head. These she gathered into the skirt of her robe, and settling herself upon the marble bench at her husband's side, began to plait them into a wreath.
Ananias looked up thoughtfully from the scroll of the prophecies which he was studying. " Thou art speaking of the man, Saul of Tarsus," he said, after a pause. " I have thought of him often of late. He spoke of returning to Damascus ; I have feared lest some evil fate hath overtaken him in the wilderness, yet he is in the Lord's hands, and the Lord hath work for him to do — even as it was revealed to me. He will surely perform it."
" He may have gone to Jerusalem," said the woman, whose name was Myra, eying her garland with a pleased
THE ROSE OF LEBANON. 71
smile. " Look, my lord, is this not beautiful ? I will crown thee with it when it is finished."
Ananias frowned. " Nay, beloved," he said, laying his hand upon hers, "the weaving of garlands is a pastime of the heathen women all about us. Thou art a mother in Israel and shouldst train thy hands to soberer tasks."
Myra burst into a ringing laugh. " Is not this a sober task?" she cried. "See, I have pricked my thumb. As for the heathen women, as thou callest them, they are far more beautiful and pleasant than the Jewish women."
" What knowest thou of the godless abandoned creatures?" demanded Ananias wdth some sternness. " They are not fit — "
" Nay, do not wear that frowning brow, my lord," interrupted Myra, dropping her unfinished garland. " I but spoke kindly to our neighbor across the roofs. She is fair to look upon, and sweet-voiced as any thrush."
"A fair face and lying lips, with a heart full of all iniquity and unclcanness," broke in Ananias harshly. " Listen ! thou shalt not again speak to the woman, she is an accursed Gentile. Hear and understand, for in mine own house I will be obeyed."
"Thou art unkind ! thou dost not love me !" cried Myra, her voice shaking with sudden passion. " Have I not ever given thee my obedience ? but if thou lov- est me not, I will return to the house of my fathers ; I have said it."
72 PAUL.
Ananias looked up in sorrow and amaze at the beau- tiful angry face before him. Surely his rose of Leba- non was set about with sharp thorns. After a long silence he spoke, slowly and with frequent pauses. " There is no need, life of mine, that I again say to thee, I love thee. Thou knowest that I love thee — love thee as a pearl of great price, as a star set in the blackness of my sorrow, as a spotless flower that blooms in innocence and grace. Could I bear to lose my pearl ? Could I see my star quenched in eternal night? Could I see — God help me — my flower crushed in the mire of the streets ? Thou art but a child and knowest not what Damascus is. I tell thee it is more wicked than Sodom, which the Lord de- stroyed with fire from on high ; it is abominable with the abominations of the pit. What canst thou know of the shameless worship of Baal and Astoreth, of their temples reeking with blood and lust ? Couldst thou know, beloved, surely thou wouldst be content with the women of thine own nation — nay, thou wouldst rejoice because God hath chosen to number thee with Israel — even though Israel be oppressed and afflicted."
Myra dropped her eyes to the ground, her lips trembled. "But the woman is a Greek," she mur- mured, plucking ruthlessly at the half-finished gar- land. " Surely, the Greeks — "
" The Greeks are not better than the Syrians," said Ananias, his brow darkening. "They are all alike idolaters, hateful unto God and accursed. Speak no further of the matter. Thou wilt obey me." And
THE ROSE OF LEBANON. 73
with this he returned to the study of the prophecies, albeit sadly disquieted in mind.
Turning to the books of the Kings he read concern- ing the ancient warfare of his people against the Syrians, and again in the prophet Isaiah how that the Lord had spoken against Damascus ; and his heart burned within him. "Surely," he said aloud, "the Lord Jehovah hath given the sign even as it is written, ' Behold a virgin shall bear a son and shall call his name Imman- uel !' Surely the end is nigh at hand ; the Gentiles shall stumble and fall ; their cities shall be made deso- late, and the temples wherein they defile the land shall become as heaps. Immanuel hath visited his people, let Israel rise up and call him blessed." The scroll fell from the reader's hands, the memory of that awful death on Calvary flashed before him, a picture of un- utterable woe and ruin. He groaned aloud. " Slain, slain ! the Prince of peace, the Saviour of Israel, slain by the Israel he came to save !"
Myra had stolen away to her chamber, her heart still sore and defiant. Truth to tell, the mountain maid had received little training to fit her for the grave responsibilities of a Jewish matron. Nurtured amid the wild fastnesses of Lebanon, she had been as free and almost as wild as the birds that flitted among the branches. The sudden transition from the care- less out-of-door life of a mountain peasant to the grave decorous household of Ananias, had proved more trying to the seventeen-year-old Myra than she had ever owned even to herself.
74 PA UL.
She was certainly very, very happy, she assured herself. Was it not a wonderful thing for a man so great, so wise, so beautiful as was her husband, to single out from among all women a humble maid of the mountains like herself? And if that were not almost beyond belief, there was the little Jesse, a small sweet copy of his father, to be loved and played with through the long hours. There was the garden also, and the house to be looked to.
Assuredly, there was nothing more to ask of the good God. Her cup ran quite over. And if, occa- sionally, she longed to see more of the great city in which she lived — strange fascinating glimpses of which she caught in her jealously-guarded walks to and from worship — she kept it to herself, or confided it to the safe keeping of her two-year-old son.
The grave Jewish matrons whom she met in the syn- agogue, and even visited at discreet intervals, wearied her with their perpetual talk of religious rites and household economies, though occasionally they in- dulged in solemn gossip concerning the Gentile women. With bated breath they told how the Syrian wives deceived their husbands, and beat and neglected their children ; of the shameless and open way in which the Greek and Roman ladies went about In public without even so much as a veil over their painted and perfumed faces. With darker whispers of the mysterious and dreadful worship going on night and day in the gor- geous temples and groves of the heathen gods.
To all these things Myra listened with large grave
THE ROSE OF LEBANON. 75
eyes. It was all very strange, she thought ; but not more strange than the story of Jesus of Nazareth, which she had first heard from her husband's lips. She had accepted it without question or comment, because he had told her that it was true, obediently adding to her morning and evening prayer a petition to the ascended One. Indeed, there were many strange things which were also true things. Her thoughts wandered to the terrible Saul of Tarsus, struck blind in an instant by a fiery vision, and healed by the hand of her husband. Because of this she had looked with awe and curiosity at the man during the days of his sojourn at their house. He was sad and silent, she decided, as well as dark and ugly to look upon, with never a smile for the little one nor a word of praise for her excellent housewifery. She was heartily glad when he had departed.
" I hope that he will not come back, pearl of sons," she whispered in the rosy ear of the little Jesse, " Thy father hath no eyes for us when he is here. Heigho, little one, the heathen are merry folk — merry, merry folk. They laugh and feast, they wear gay robes and jewels, and if they weave garlands of roses no one chides them, for they may fetch them to their temples for offerings. Our God looketh not upon rose gar- lands. He is too great and wise — too terrible also. And our synagogue — it is not beautiful, is it ? Tell not thy father, littlest, but I should like to be a Gen- tile, just for a little while — a day — a week. Would not thou, son ? Then could we see the stranjje tern-
76 PAUL.
pics, all rose color and scarlet and blue, with pillars of marble set with gold and jewels, as beautiful as heaven. What harm could it be ? Nay, thou art frowning at thy mother ; thou art a man — an Israelite. Go thou to the good Rebecca ; she may sing to thee a psalm."
The foolish little mother sprang up and surveyed herself in the quiet pool of the fountain ; dimpled cheeks, flushed with the color of a ripe pomegranate, long lustrous eyes, veiled with curling dark lashes and shaded by heavy masses of blue-black hair, a flash of white teeth through scarlet lips, such was the picture that smiled back at her from the cool depths.
" Heigho !" she sighed, " I can never be a Gentile — never, I am far too dark." Then she fell to think- ing of the forbidden neighbor, of her pink cheeks and golden hair, of the melting eyes the color of hyacinths, which had looked so innocently into hers. " She is not wicked," she murmured defiantly, "I know that she is not ; and how can I hate anything so beautiful ? She asked me to come to her house to-day, and prom- ised to show me her jewels and dresses, pink and blue, ah — and silver tissue. If only I might see them ! Why did I speak of her at all ; my husband would not have known. Nay, I will go if only to tell her that I may not tarry — 'tis but courtesy. Afterward I will obey."
A FORBIDDEN VISIT. 77
CHAPTER VIII.
A FORBIDDEN VISIT.
WRAPPING herself in her veil, Myra stole out into the narrow street, and in another mo- ment with timorous hand was pulling the bell-rope that hung from the adjoining doorway. A Nubian slave admitted her ; he had evidently received his in- structions, for at the first faltering word, he smiled broadly and beckoned her to follow. Myra shrank back a little before the man's bold gaze, being half- minded to slip away again to the safe shelter of home. As if reading her thought the slave shut and locked the door, then with many bows and grimaces, which were evidently intended to reassure her, he again mo- tioned her to advance. With a beating heart she fol- lowed her guide through a long dimly-lighted passage way, emerging at length into a large apartment, which opened directly upon a terrace, gay with masses of brilliant flowers. Curtains of green and white looped between the twisted columns of colored marble cast a cool light within upon the broad divans heaped with gay embroidered cushions, upon the gorgeously-col- ored walls, upon the carved and gilded tables, laden with cups and vases of jade and ivory, which stood about in odd nooks and corners.
78 PA UL.
The little Jewess in her dark robes seemed as much out of place in the midst of all this richness of color and ornament as a sad-colored moth within the petals of a crimson rose. She stood looking about her in a maze of bewilderment scarcely daring to move.
"Ah, my little neighbor, thou art come at last ! Thou art welcome even as the breeze from yonder mountain."
Myra turned quickly with an involuntary cry.
" Nay, did I startle thee, little one ?" and her hostess broke into a light ripple of amusement. " Come, lay aside thy veil, and sit by me on the divan."
" But I may not tarry," faltered Myra, drawing away a little from the touch of the white fingers. " My hus- band— "
" Thy husband hath forbidden thee ? Yes, it is so, I am a Gentile, and worse therefore than an evil spirit. But tell me, do I look like a devil, little neighbor?"
Myra looked seriously into the fair smiling face, at the soft blue eyes, at the melting rose of the smooth cheeks, at the rippling waves of hair gathered under a coif of gold thread set with pearls ; then her eyes wandered to the strange and graceful dress which fell in long folds of pale rose-hucd tissue about the slender figure. She sighed.
"Thou art like — an angel," she said slowly.
"An angel?" said the Greek woman, "And what is an angel, little neighbor?"
Myra's eyes opened widely, "An angel is — Why, angels dwell in the heavens, knowest thou not?"
A FORBIDDEN VISIT. 79
"A goddess then ? Nay, I have often been called so."
" Not a goddess — Oh no," cried Myra in horror. "There is but one God in heaven ; there are no god- desses."
"That is what the Jews believe," said the Greek, lifting her eyebrows. " Rut now in truth, little neighbor, hast thou ever visited the heavens?"
Myra shook her head, " Wise men and godly have written it in the Scriptures," she began, then she paused and twisted the corner of her mantle into a little knot. "Also Jesus, the Christ, hath declared it. He came down from heaven and therefore he knows," she finished triumphantly.
"Who is Jesus?"
" He was the son of David — the Messiah,"
"And what may that be ?"
"The King — to deliver Israel."
"Ah, yes," murmured the lady, indolently twist- ing the jewels on her white fingers. " Where is he now?"
"They killed him — crucified him, because he was so good, so wonderful, healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, and even raising the dead to life."
" But I do not understand, little one ; who killed him?"
"The Romans — yes, and the chief priests of the Jews, who hated him."
" Hated their king — and killed him ! Nay, that was folly ; now he cannot deliver them,"
80 PAUL.
" My husband says that he will save us from our sins."
" But he is dead, saidst thou ?"
" He became alive again and went up into the heavens."
"And dost thou believe this tale, little neighbor?" said the Greek lady, admiring her perfectly moulded foot in its jeweled sandal. " Why is it better than the stories of Jove and of Venus, of Minerva — the good and wise goddess, of Apollo, of Mercury, and — "
"They are heathen gods," cried Myra. "It is a sin even to speak of them !"
The Greek shrugged her fair shoulders. " Dost thou pray to this crucified man, who became alive again and went up into heaven?" she asked, a mock- ing smile curling the corners of her lips.
"Assuredly, thrice every day," responded Myra, with fervor.
" Then thou hast two gods in the heavens ; and but now thou didst declare — "
" Nay, there is but one God," declared Myra, posi- tively. " I — I cannot tell thee how it is," she added confusedly. " I am not wise and holy, like my hus- band." At the thought of her husband she sprang up from the divan. " I must not stay longer, my hus- band will — "
" He will not beat thee, child — though stay, I am not so sure of that. Will he beat thee, thinkest thou ?"
" Beat mc ! Ah, no," said Myra, with a little smile and sigh ; "he loves me far too well for that, but he
A FORBIDDEN VISIT. 81
will be displeased and sorrowful because I have done that he forbade."
" He will not know, child, if thou hast thy wits about thee. Now for myself I do not carry my heart in my hand, and bring it to my lord and say, ' Look thou, my master, here is my heart, doth it please thee ?' Then, if he be displeased with aught that he sees there, sit me down to weep and bemoan myself What know I of his life ? I am but a fair plaything — a beautiful image on which to hang soft tissues and sparkling jewels ; there are a thousand more fair to be had for the asking."
"Then thou dost not love him?" cried Myra, a world of pity in her dark eyes.
"Love?" echoed the lady with a light laugh of scorn. "What is love? — But come, we grow very dull, and Diana knoweth when I shall again behold a human being other than a slave. — I am alone here," she added in response to the inquiring look in the eyes of her guest. " My husband is in Greece, and when he is absent I am kept like a prisoner by yonder black wretch who admitted thee. Thou shalt taste my con- serve of rose leaves, if it please thee ; afterward I will show thee my jewels." She clapped her hands, instantly the heavy curtains parted to admit several female slaves laden with silver dishes containing vari- ous cakes and sweetmeats, together with tall crystal flasks of yellow Chian wine.
Myra flushed scarlet, a confused remembrance of Pharisaical laws and rabbinical precepts suddenly over-
82 PA UL.
whelmed her. " Thou shalt not cat — unclean — pol- luted— accursed!" sounded the voice of her accusing conscience. She drew back and motioned away the tempting dish which her hostess was pressing upon her. " I — cannot," she said faintly, " I have already sinned, but — "
" Wilt thou not eat with me ?" said the Greek, flush- ing in her turn. " Nay, we live under the same sky, breathe the same air, drink and eat the fruits of the same earth, but thou art blessed and I am accursed. Know then that my people also despise the Jews, and yet — I could have loved thee."
Myra's warm heart was touched. " I will eat with thee," she said stoutly. "Afterward — well, I care not for the rabbis — except my husband." And she tossed her head defiantly.
Her companion leaned forward and laid her white jeweled fingers caressingly on the little brown hand of the Jewess. This time there was no shrinking from her touch. " Because thou hast done this thing for me," she said softly, " I will go with thee to the temple of thy God, and fetch an offering, and who knows but that I may also believe on him ; I would fain believe something — I am weaiy of unbelief"
Myra's face grew bright. There were many Greek and even Syrian women who attended the worship at the synagogue. They were called proselytes, and although they were regarded with but scant favor by the native Jews, still they were numbered with Israel and were believed to be looked upon with toleration
A FORBIDDEN VISIT. 83
by Jehovah. " Then thou wilt no longer be accursed," she cried joyfully, "and I may see thee without fear."
She thought almost with pleasure of the confession she must make to her husband. " He can scarce be angry with me," she said within herself, "if I have saved a soul from death."
" It will be very pleasant to be no longer accursed," remarked the Greek lady, lowering her eyelids with an inscrutable smile. "But before I shall become one of the chosen, I must even pay one vow at the shrine of Diana. Thou shalt go with me ; 'tis but to drop a garland of roses at the feet of the goddess, and to give a silver lamp which I have ordered fashioned into the hand of the priest. See, here it is ; a pretty trifle, is it not?"
Myra looked with a certain awe at the mysterious figures which adorned the rim of the bowl. " Is the temple very beautiful ?" she asked timidly.
" Very, very beautiful," replied the other, her eyes kindling. " White marble without, as white as snow ; within the columns are veined with green and rose ; then there is the statue of the goddess, ivory overlaid with gold. But surely thou hast seen it?"
" Never," said Myra sadly. " It is a sin for us to look upon a heathen temple, much less to enter one. One must lift one's eyes to the heavens and repeat the Kadish often in Damascus."
"There is a vulgar saying among my people," said the Greek, a merry light dancing in her blue eyes,
84 PA UL.
"that a thief might as well die for a bullock as for a calf; thou hast already eaten bread with a heathen, now come and behold the glories of a heathen god- dess. Thou shalt return anon and purify thyself according to thy law, and all will be well with thee."
" I should like to see it," acknowledged Myra hesi- tatingly. "And after all, what harm — "
"What harm indeed?" broke in the other trium- phantly. " Eglah, my mantle and veil ; Rissah, com- mand my litter to be brought."
Within the hour Myra had looked wonderingly upon the glories of the Greek temple. She had shrunken back a little and drawn her mantle more closely about her face when her companion paused before the shrine of the goddess, and she had closed her ears resolutely to the chanting of the white-robed priests, but now they were in the open air once more and she drew a long breath of delight. The slow motion of the litter borne by four slaves, the stolen glimpses of the gay streets through the fluttering silken curtains seemed to intoxicate her. She laughed aloud.
Her companion, who was attentively watching the flushed sparkling face, sighed and then smiled. "Was it so very evil, daughter of Abraham?" she asked.
" It is an evil thing to pray to an image," said Myra unhesitatingly.
" But suppose I did not pray to the image at all, little neighbor, only to the goddess herself, of whom the image is but a token and visible sign."
A FORBIDDEN VISIT. 85
" But there is no goddess," persisted Myra. "As for the image, the commandment of Moses says, ' Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image of anything, either in heaven above or in the earth be- neath, or in the waters under the earth.' "
" What ! no pictures ? no statues ? Nay, but this Moses is too hard — too severe ; one must have beauty. But holy immortals ! what is this ; is it that the furies are let loose?"
A wild clamor of shouts and fierce yells mingled with the shrill screaming of women and the wails of children broke harshly upon their ears. At the same instant the litter came to an abrupt standstill. The lady drew aside the curtains and leaned out. " Pro- ceed !" she cried angrily to the bearers, "what mean you by stopping here?"
"It is impossible to proceed, my lady," said the Nubian slave who walked beside the litter. "We must wait till the god has passed."
"What god?"
"The god Baal; to-day is the Feast of Torches. Draw the curtains closely, and there is no danger."
"Diana and all the immortals defend us!" mur- mured the Greek under her breath. Then she glanced apprehensively at her companion. The Jewess was peering out from betwixt the silken curtains with a look of childish curiosity.
"Look!" she cried, "See the children wreathed with roses ; are they not beautiful ? But why do they look so frightened ? And the woman yonder is weeping."
86 PA UL.
" They will make them pass through the fire to their god," answered the other coldly, " 'tis a part of their worship. I saw it once ; I do not wish to see it again. But hush, the god is near at hand."
Myra trembled, the scarlet flush faded from her round cheeks. "I — I am frightened," she faltered. " I want to go home. I must go home," she repeated, her eyes brimming over with large tears.
The white fingers of the Greek closed like a vise upon her arm. " Fool !" she whispered. " Be quiet, or we are lost."
The words were drowned in the horrid tumult of sounds that now broke forth, the clash of cymbals, the harsh braying of trumpets mingled with the beating of a thousand palms, while a thousand wild voices shrieked, " Baal ! Baal ! — bow the knee to Baal !"
The litter shook violently as the crowd surged back against it, then with a sudden sound of rending silk the daylight flared in, followed by a rough towsled head.
"By the shrine of Ashtoreth !" cried a voice, " here are two fair ones, who have veiled their beauty from the light of day, but they shall come forth and bow the knee to Baal — to whom belongeth all beauty and ex- cellence."
" Dog !" cried the Nubian, felling him to the earth. Then he seized his mistress by the arm. " Come, there is no time to lose. There are five of us — we can save you."
Instinctively Myra had thrown herself into the
A FORBIDDEN VISIT. 87
crowd from the opposite side, and not a moment too soon, for the Httcr torn from the shoulders of the bearers was instantly trampled into a shapeless mass beneath the feet of the mad multitude.
" Baal ! Baal ! Bow the knee to Baal !" shrilled the rabble of yellow-robed priests, and with loud an- swering cries the great struggling mass of men, women, and children sank to their knees, all save Myra, who stood looking about her with a vacant glassy stare, like one who dreams a frightful dream and strives in vain to awaken.
88 FA UL.
CHAPTER IX.
IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL.
" "jy^NEEL, woman, kneel!" whispered a voice in
J-^- her ear, at the same time a powerful hand upon her shoulder forced her down to the ground.
Myra was not a coward ; she neither struggled nor cried out. For perhaps the first time in her short life she really prayed. Her eyes were fixed upon the monstrous figure of the idol beneath its canopy of scarlet and gold, yet she did not see it. " My God !" she murmured, clasping her hands in an agony of supplication, " I have sinned, but forsake me not; help me, who am helpless ! Restore me for I am lost."
" Come now, pretty one," continued the harsh voice still in a half whisper, " that is better, thou hast prayed to the god ; now shalt thou learn still further how to do his pleasure."
Myra turned her head and looked at the speaker who still grasped her firmly by the shoulder ; to her great relief she perceived that her captor was a woman, old, bent, and shriveled.
" I must go home, good mother," she said. " I pray thee to release me ; the idol has pa.sscd and the crowd is moving on."
" I must go home, good mother !" said the crone
IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL. 89
mockingly. " Hi — yes, that is a comely speech as thou art a comely wench. Know that I am a mother of devils, girl, thou shalt be my daughter." Her tone changed to a coaxing whine, " Come, come, pretty one, do not shrink from me, I was once beautiful even as thou art. Dost thou know that I saved thee from death a moment since ? The priests of Melkarth would have slain thee, Jewess, where thou wert stand- ing."
" I — I am beholden to thee," stammered Myra trembling, " if thou wilt come home with me I will give thee — "
" Gold?" broke in the old woman eagerly. " Wilt thou give me gold?"
"I will give thee my necklace," said Myra, turning away her face from the hot fetid breath, which was like, she thought, to the breath of a wild beast.
" Thy necklace ? Yes, I see it. Well, that is mine already. I must have gold; hast thou gold at thy house ?"
Myra burst into tears. " Let me go," she cried desperately, "thou art hurting my arm."
The old woman laughed silently by way of answer ; she tightened the grasp of her muscular bony fingers. "Gold," she mumbled. " But yes — I know how to get it. Come, thou shalt go with me to the temple, there will be merry sights there to-night — merry, merry sights. Thou shalt see them, Jewess ; dost thou hear me?"
Myra's heart sank ; she remembered her foolish
90 PA UL.
wish of the morning. " Dear good Jesus," she mur- mured, "wilt thou not hear me? I have sinned, but do thou forgive me, and restore me to my husband and my babe — Oh, my little babe. Have pity on me, thou who wert crucified. Never again will I dis- obey ; never again will I weave rose garlands, nor speak to a Gentile. I promise thee."
In her wild terror she scarcely noticed that the old woman was dragging her forward as briskly as the throng permitted. No one appeared to notice them. Myra looked from one to another of the wild brutal faces that surrounded them, and her heart sank lower still. The tumult increased moment by moment, so likewise did the heat and the pressure of the multi- tude. She reeled, a mist gathered before her eyes, she would have fallen but for the old woman who promply thrust a wine-flask to her lips.
" Drink."
"I cannot," faltered Myra faintly, "it is unclean."
"Unclean!" screamed the hag with a frightful im- precation. " Drink, or I leave thee to be trampled by the crowd !"
At that moment Myra remembered her husband's words : " Could I bear — God help me, to see my flower crushed in the mire of the streets?" His pale seri- ous face seemed to rise before her, the large loving eyes full of tears. With the vision came a sudden mysterious strength. I must save myself for his sake, she resolved. " I do not need the wine," she said aloud firmly. " I am quite strong now."
IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL. 91
" Hi — i, my pretty dove, thou art thinking that presently thou wilt plume thy wings in flight," snarled the old woman with a suspicious look ; " but thou art mine — a gift of Baal ; thou shalt not escape me. Now look you, we have reached the temple enclosure, pre- sently we shall see some merry sights, as I have said ; if again I say to thee, drink, then do thou drink from my flask, for this is no place for swoonings."
" I shall not swoon," answered Myra steadily. It is my punishment, she was thinking, I wished to see these things, now I must see them. She looked about her with a shudder. Twilight was already gathering, and the vast columned court in which they were standing twinkled with countless lights. Away at the further end of the enclosure she could dimly see the colossal image of the god, and the lofty altar set with flaring torches. Above in the infinite spaces of the tranquil heavens shone the first faint stars of evening.
"We are too far away," grumbled the old woman. "We cannot smell the sacrifices from here. Come !" And without relaxing her hold on Myra's arm she again began to elbow her way through the multitude.
The altar stood in the midst of a large open space floored with beaten earth, from which, Myra observed, the surrounding throng of worshipers shrank back with manifest tokens of fear. Into this place, issuing it seemed from beneath the shrine itself, there streamed a long line of priests. With low monotonous chant- ing they paced slowly backward and forward, bowing at intervals before the hideous image which towered
92 PAUL.
above them. Presently their pace quickened almost to a run ; the chanting grew louder ; they had formed a double circle now about the shrine, the circles revolving in opposite directions, and with inconceivable velocity. After a time these circles resolved them- selves into a wild and seemingly meaningless maze, yet in some mysterious manner a great heap of faggots, laid in regular order, was growing upon the altar.
" Ha ! there will be fire in abundance to-night," chuckled the crone. She gave vent to an eldritch shriek ; it was echoed by a thousand shrill voices throughout the enclosure, a wild inarticulate wailing cry that seemed to pierce to the distant stars, dying away into silence as the mad whirl about the altar suddenly ceased.
After a long pause one of the priests advanced and seizing a torch applied it to the heaped-up faggots ; in- stantly a great billow of flame darted upward, the red light casting a hideously life-like glow upon the dark grinning visage of the idol. " Baal ! Baal !" shrieked the multitude, " god of fire ! god of light !"
Again there was silence, broken this time by a sound of sweet treble voices singing somewhere at a distance ; the sound drew nearer, till presently from the same hidden door from which the priests had issued there came a procession of children, their naked bodies wreathed with flowers, their heads bound with golden fillets. Round and round the altar they marched, the dancing fire-light gleaming on silken curls and satin-smooth dimpled limbs.
IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL. 93
" How beautiful !" cried Myra involuntarily, half for- getting where she was.
" Beautiful — yes," snarled the old woman. " But they will tread a brisker measure before many mo- ments."
Myra trembled at the old woman's tone and gesture. "What will they do with them?" she asked, remem- bering with sudden horror the words of the Greek lady.
"Art thou also impatient for the sacrifice?" said the crone, showing her long yellow fangs; "the god hath waited this hour through the long year ; it ill be- cometh a mortal to chafe while Baal waits unmoved. See the pretty dears how daintily they trip it, they have been promised sugar cakes and honey wine, to- gether with a gold coin, if they shall please the god this night. Ay ! there is never a lack of the lambs on any year, Baal be praised !"
Round and round, faster and faster flew the children in obedience to the wild gestures of the priests, the leaping flames rising and sinking fitfully, till at last they drowsed with a low purring sound upon a bed of glowing scarlet. The feet of the little dancers were lagging now, and the curly heads drooped piteously in the fierce heat. One by one the brave sweet voices died away into silence, still the priests urged them on with loud imperative cries. From somewhere out of the throng sounded a woman's low wail, but it was instantly drowned in the noisy beating of thousands of palms.
94 PA UL.
"The god waits!" cried the old woman, dancing up and down, "Shall he wait in vain?"
" The god waits !" echoed the multitude with a vast discordant roar.
Two priests darted forward, armed with brazen shovels.
" The fire ! the fire ! Praise be to Baal, the fire at last !"
The priests hastily spread the glowing coals in a thick bed directly in the path of the dancing children.
"Ay ! sugar cakes and honey wine — and gold, red gold, see it gleaming before thee ! Now dance my pretty ones, dance !" shrieked the hag in an ecstacy.
The children drew back with loud frightened cries ; but now the watching priests sprang up and the gleam of a hundred knives flashed in the ruddy glow.
" Dance, my lambs, dance to the god !" screamed the old woman madly, " So danced my pretty ones to their rest long years ago. Ay ! thou shalt dance !" And relaxing her hold on Myra's arm she darted into the sacred enclosure.
Myra stood as if turned to stone staring at the hor- rible sight before her. Before the angry priests could seize the intruder, the flames from the waiting fire leapt up and enfolded the gaunt figure with a scarlet shroud.
"The god hath chosen! The god hath chosen!" shrilled a woman's voice. " The children are saved !"
Then Myra turned and fled away through the crowd, the shrieks of the dying woman echoing in her ears. The veil was torn from her face, but she knew it not ;
IN THE TEMPLE OF BAAL. 9©
mad with horror, she eluded the hands outstretched to grasp her, neither hearing nor heeding the helHsh tumult which pursued hard after her.
" My God !" she cried aloud, " My God— my God !" And faster and ever faster she fled on through the darkness, led by that mysterious something which we mortals call instinct ; a something, we say grandly, which serves the lower creation in the place of the God-like reason which is denied them. A something which is perhaps both below and above reason, fit attribute for beast or angel, but which God grants in its fullness only to the most helpless of his creatures. Straight as a homing pigeon to its mate, so fled this wandering one through the black night into the heaven of home.
fl» PAUL
CHAPTER X.
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE EMPEROR.
THE physician Charicles stood near the large open window of his hbrary, his hands folded behind him. He was apparently intent upon the scene without, and indeed a wiser than he might look again and yet again from that lofty window with both plea- sure and profit, for in a manner the kingdoms of the world and the glories of them lay spread out before him. Rome, the undying city, in the full strength of her mighty youth, gleaming with palaces, temples and statues, her yellow Tiber shining like a veritable river of gold in the clear morning sunlight, Rome sat like a throned queen upon her seven hills, inviting the homage of the gazer.
But Charicles was not looking at the haughty mis- tress of nations ; his eyes were fixed upon a spider's web which hung from a coping not ten feet from his window, the owner and maker of which, equally indifferent to the grandeur of the imperial city, was casting line upon line of his filmy thread about the body of a fly. The luckless insect struggled valiantly, and the physician stretched forth his hand as if half minded to release it, then he gave vent to a short laugh.
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE EMPEROR. 97
" Nay, if I save the fly," he said aloud, " I shall ruin the domicile of the industrious spider, besides depriving him of his morning meal : moreover, the fly will have derived no wisdom from his experience which will serve to keep him from to-morrow's web ; also he must in any event perish soon, therefore let him die now. In like manner do the Fates watch unhappy mortals entangled in the web of life ; in like manner also is the prosperous spider spared and the foolish fly devoured, and so doth death and oblivion sweep away all." With a single motion of his hand he destroyed the web.
"I am called the wise Charicles," he continued, turning away from the window with a sigh, "yet I know little more than yonder insect concerning these wondrous human bodies which I profess to understand. Understand ?— Who then can understand the fountain of the heart, the rivers of the blood, the mysterious alchemy which takes of dead flesh and transmutes it into living flesh ; the eye, that globe of living fire, set in a cavern of bone which defies corruption. Nay, these things are too wonderful for me, and there is no voice that explains in all the empty heavens. Man is a question to which their seems to be no answer, and yet some unseen power compels us to labor as beneath the lash to solve the problem."
Seating himself at his table he began to make dili- gent study of a portion of human vertebrae, stopping from time to time to add a line to the closely-written parchment which lay before him.
7
98 FA UL.
His labors were presently interrupted by his favorite slave, who with many apologies announced a visitor.
" Have I not told thee, knave, that I must not be disturbed by visitors during the morning hours ? Nay, I am too merciful, I should command thee to be tortured once for disobedience."
" But a messenger from the emperor, my good lord," began the slave cringing,
*' Why didst thou not say so at once, fool. Admit him instantly. Ha, 'tis the praetorian prefect. Greet- ings, my lord ; I trust there is nothing amiss with the emperor ; does he send for me ?"
"The master of the world is apparently in his usual health," responded the new-comer with a cautious air. " Yet there are those of us who feel much anxiety concerning him. He steadily refuses to see a physi- cian ; but if by chance a physician should see him — "
" I think I understand," said Charicles gravely. " But how may that be ?"
" He has left the island of Caprae, and is established in the villa of Lucullus at Misenum," continued Macro. " The distinguished Charicles could perchance pay a friendly visit without offence."
"Ah — yes," said the physician, glancing thoughtfully at his parchments, " next month, perhaps, when I shall be more at leisure, I — "
" Now, to-day," interrupted the other quickly. "Thou shalt return with me. There is no time to lose."
Charicles lifted his eyebrows inquiringly.
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE EMPEROR. 99
" Here is thy fee," said the other impatiently, de- positing a small leathern bag upon the table. " There are horses below. Come, I pray thee, make all pos- sible haste."
The physician lifted the bag deliberately. ^' I shall be able," he said with an air of animation, *'to con- tinue my experiments on — "
"The furies fly away with thy experiments!" cried the prefect with a stamp of his foot. " Make haste, I say."
" But there can be no possible doubt as to the suc- cession, my good Macro," remarked the physician, beginning to gather his parchments together with an air of manifest reluctance. " Tiberius Gemellus, the grandson of the emperor, will of course — "
" But if the Fates have willed otherwise, there is no ' of course * about it."
"And the Fates in this instance are represented by the illustrious prefect of praetorians ?"
Macro smiled as if not altogether displeased. He drew himself up proudly. " In any event we must know, and at once, the probable extent of the present reign," he said decidedly. "Art thou ready?"
The emperor Tiberius was dragging out the last wretched remnant of his days. There could be no possible doubt as to that. For three and twenty years he had sat upon the throne of Rome, " hated of all and hating," the fountain head of that flood of crime, bloodshed and lust which had swept over Rome in devastating tide, reducing it to " a frightful silence and
100 PA UL.
torpor as of death." During this reign of terror, in a scarce-noticed province of his realm, a mightier One than he had begun a never-ending reign, Maker of countless worlds yet the humble Burden-bearer of humanity, his cradle a manger, his roof the stars of heaven, his death -bed a Roman cross, Jesus of Naza- reth, the Prince of Peace.
Tiberius had heard of this man in his wicked seclu- sion at Caprae, — a Jewish soothsayer, he was told, a mad fanatic, a dangerous fellow, well out of the way when out of the world — had heard and forgotten long ago. Of what possible interest was the life and death of a Jewish peasant to this mighty emperor of might- iest Rome, and yet to-day it would be hard to find a slave in all the palace who would exchange places with Tiberius. Tiberius himself knew this ; he knew him- self unloved, unpitied, tortured with the pains of swift- coming death, loathsome with the corruption of the tomb while yet cursed with breath. He watched his attendants with a terrible intentness, reading his sen- tence of death in their averted eyes. Clothing was torment, yet he forced himself to endure a kingly toilet every day. Food and wine palled upon him, yet he ate and drank with dogged determination. Sleeping and waking, he was haunted by the faces and forms of his countless victims ; mingling with his attendants, their ghastly blood-.staincd faces hung over his couch at midnight ; with withered fingers they beckoned to him from behind the shoulders of his counselors in tlie morning hours. He longed to shriek aloud of
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE EMPEROR. 101
his misery, to wail and lament even as a slave beneath the lash, but who would listen ? Who in all the world of mortals or of spirits was there to whom he could unburden himself?
" The physician Charicles desires an audience with thee, divine master." And Stephanion bowed low before the royal couch.
'* The physician Charicles," repeated Tiberius, rous- ing himself with difficulty from a frightful reverie. " Who is there here who needs or desires the pres- ence of a physician ?"
" Praise be to the gods, all are in health," replied Stephanion. "The wise Charicles comes not to exer- cise his craft, but only to look upon the face of his royal master, since there is no greater joy or privi- lege in all the world."
" Fetch me a mirror," commanded Tiberius. " But no — how do we seem to-day, Stephanion ? The truth, knave — if thou hast a grain of truth in thine entrails."
"As ever, divine master, the wisdom of the ancients and the majesty and beauty of the gods irradiate thy glorious countenance."
Tiberius made an impatient gesture. " Chattering parrot !" he muttered. He drew his gold-bordered purple mantle close about his shoulders. " Drop yonder curtain ; the sun glares in impertinently. Now admit the man to my presence." He composed his countenance into an artificial smile.
" Nay, good Charicles, do not kneel, it rejoices me
102 PA UL.
to receive thee, and to sec that the passing years have used thee not unkindly."
" It is needless for me to ask after the health of the illustrious master of the world. It needs but a glance to assure me of it," responded Charicles, kissing the proffered hand of the emperor.
" Ha, sayest thou so?" said Tiberius, drawing his hand quickly away. " Yet there are those who pro- fess to think me ill. I am no leech, but it seemeth to me that a man can scarce be ill who eats, drinks, and sleeps with the appetite of youth."
"A truer word was never spoken," assented Chari- cles, cautiously studying the face before him. The swollen purple visage, the livid lips, the heaving breast, all repeating to his intelligent eye the story of the laboring pulse which he had managed to touch as he kissed the royal hand.
Tiberius was not looking at his visitor now, his eyes were fixed upon the space directly above his head ; the expression of his face grew frightful.
" To eat, drink, and sleep well," continued Chari- cles in a somewhat louder tone, " the body must needs be in perfect accord with the indwelling spirit, all the parts of the machine working harmoniously. Thou hast in thy wisdom seized the whole meat of the matter."
Tiberius dropped his eyes with a hollow laugh. " If thou wast asked to prescribe for a man, good Char- icles, who was constantly plagued by visions of the dead," he said, pulling at his pillows uneasil\-. " what
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE EMPEROR. 103
wouldst thou do for him ? There is in the palace a — a slave who constantly beholds the faces of murdered men, ay, and of murdered women — livid, ghastly, some with dagger-thrusts in the breast, others with swollen faces as of those strangled, and most terrible of all, a woman — " here his voice dropped to a husky whisper, "a woman whose discolored skin scarce covers the bones of her frame, and whose skeleton hands are ever outstretched as if to seize him !"*
" A most unfortunate slave — a most unhappy slave," said the physician gravely. " Nay, I can do nothing for such an one ; death is the best remedy."
"A wise man, art thou, O physician, I also have said it. But be the hour of dissolution far from us, who have reached the age of wisdom, and who after many follies are at last prepared to enjoy the serene pleasures of a riper age. Thou shalt sup with me this night, good Charicles, that thou mayest drink to the prosperity of the four and twentieth year of my reign."
At midnight of that same day the prefect of the praetorian guard received the anxiously -awaited report of the physician.
" The emperor," declared Charicles solemnly, " can- not at the longest survive more than two days ; he is even now a dying man."
"Sayest thou so?" cried Macro with manifest delight. "Art thou sure? They tell me that he remained long at table to-night, and ate and drank more than his wont."
* Agrippina the elder, see note, page 45.
104 PA UL.
The physician shrugged his shoulders. " That is also true," he said. " So might the mariner, who knows the hull of his vessel to be gnawed by the tooth of the hostile rock, hoist sail to the wind, as if by any chance he could cheat the hungry deeps that await him. The emperor is dying. I, Charicles, have said it ; and yet it is not I that have said it, but the Fates, who have spun and measured the thread of his life, and whose shining blades are even now uplifted to sever it."
Macro turned away abruptly. " There is no time to be lost," he said, " I must away." Then as if struck by some new thought he paused a moment at the door, to say with an authoritative gesture, " Thou wilt remain, my Charicles, till all is over."
Left to himself, Charicles allowed a quiet smile to look out of his eyes. " If now I cared to meddle in the affairs of state-craft I might make or mar many a fortune," he said to himself. "There is Tiberius Ge- mellus, against whom the tide appears to set strongly ; if at this moment I should seek the emperor and say to him, Thou art dying, and there is naught to save thee ; his last moments of time might suffice to seat his grandson securely on the throne. I, Charicles, moreover would not fail of my reward, gold, estates, perchance an high office in some distant province, and — Macro and Caius Caligula for mine enemies. May the immortals avert the hour ! Nay, an I get back to my parchments, let who will rule Rome. Neverthe- less I am minded to see the end of the play."
All that nicfht the thud of swift hoofs resounded
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE EMPEROR. 105
from the wooded avenues of the villa ; messengers were being despatched to the distant provinces and their armies. All the next day whispering groups of courtiers stood about the corridors. Caius Caligula was not to be seen, he was closeted with Macro in the chamber of council. As for the dying Tiberius, he lay at last unresisting upon his couch, scarce conscious of what was passing around him. Twice during the day Charicles, moved by genuine pity, endeavored to administer a potion which he thought might serve to ease the labored breathing, but perceiving that his presence was a source of positive annoyance to the royal sufferer, he finally withdrew, leaving him to the care of his attendants.
For more than three hours now Stephanion had stood motionless at the bedside of his master, watching the irregular heaving of the broad chest ; now he turned to a slave who stood near, " Let in more light," he commanded in a whisper. A flood of yellow sun- shine darted into the chamber and rested full on the ghastly face beneath the purple canopy. Stephanion raised his head ; his eyes sparkled with joy. " He is dead," he said in a hard measured voice. Without another word he turned and left the apartment.
Advancing on tiptoe to the couch the slave, who was now sole occupant of the chamber, gazed for a moment in silence upon the livid mask on its silken pillow. Raising his clenched hands high above his head he laughed aloud. " Dog!" he cried in a terrible voice, " for the dishonor of my child, for the murder of my
106 PA UL.
son, I am at last avenged." With that he smote the dead face twice — thrice with the palm of his open hand. Then he too fled away, leaving the door of the cham- ber wide open.
THE MASTER OF THE WORLD. 107
CHAPTER XI.
THE MASTER OF THE WORLD.
I SAW him move, I tell thee." " Nay, thou art blind, man ; 'twas but the sun- light flickering athwart his pillow. He has been dead this half hour, and already the son of Germanicus has gone forth to assume the imperial authority. Dost thou not hear the shouting of the guard?"
" I hear ; but I would that it were the other."
"What Gemellus? Not so, say I. I have had enough of the name Tiberius, and the people can stomach it no better than I. This golden cup now shall be thine. I will take the chain."
" I am afraid to do it ; Stephanion will return, and — Ow ! Didst thou hear that ?"
With eyes starting from their heads the guilty slaves hid themselves behind a fold of the bed-curtains.
A low gurgling sound had issued from the lips of the supposed corpse, now the heavy lids lifted. " Ste- phanion— Narcissus — " called a hoarse weak voice, " hither knaves ! Call Sejanus — What, no answer, where are the dogs?" The huge bulk stirred, raised itself upon one elbow. " Ha ! they are gone ; they think me dead, but they will find their mistake. I am alive. I am strong again. I will feed their bodies to
108 PA UL.
slow flames. I will torture them — as I myself am tortured."
To the horror of the hidden witnesses, the man who was to have stirred no more actually staggered to his feet and advanced into the middle of the floor ; here he stood for a moment as if irresolute, then with a low despairing cry threw up his hands and fell heavily to the floor.
" Caius ! Caius !" shouted the voices outside. " Mas- ter of the world ! Emperor of Rome !"
At this one of the men behind the curtains started forward suddenly. " Call a physician," he cried. Then as the other still drew back, he whispered impatiently, " Dost thou not see, dolt, that this is the chance of a lifetime for us ? If we save Tiberius now he will make us free and rich and powerful, as for the distinguished prefect of praetorians and his tool, the bandy-legged Caligula, to say nothing of the overbearing Stephanion and his crew, what think you will befall them ? Make haste, I say !"
The other slave stroked his chin reflectively. " It is a chance, as thou say est," he said slowly, staring at the prostrate figure of Tiberius which still stirred feebly. " 'T would be for a day, I am thinking ; the man here is all but dead, as for Caius — " he paused and looked heavily down upon the floor.
"Thou art a slow-witted fool !" exclaimed his com- panion violently, "and dost deserve thy chain. Stay thou here, I will call a leech."
" Hold !" growled the other with a fierce look. " I
THE MASTER OF THE WORLD. 109
may be slow-witted, but I am no fool. Leave this matter to me and I will bring out of it both freedom and fortune. Keep him alive for half an hour yet, and we are slaves no longer."
Left to himself his companion bent over the body of the emperor and listened anxiously at his breast ; he picked up the golden cup from the floor where he had let it fall in his fright, and pouring into it a draught of wine raised the heavy head and carefully dropped a small portion of the liquid into the half-open mouth.
" My signet," groaned Tiberius, rolling his head from side to side, " My Gemellus."
To Caius, the son of Germanicus, it seemed that the goal of his ambition was finally reached. He was emperor of Rome at last. Smiling courtiers were thronging about him, the joyful shouts of the praeto- rian guard rent the air, distinguished generals and deputies were arriving to do him honor. Truly he had climbed to a dizzy height, but his nerve was steady and his heart was strong. They feared him already, this glittering throng, he could see that. Well, they should fear him yet more.
"They do not know me," he said within himself. At the thought a sneering smile crept about the cor- ners of his pale lips.
At the right hand of Caius stood the prefect of the praetorians clad in the full panoply of his office. He also was flushed and triumphant. All had gone smoothly and well ; there had been no opposition to his plans, scarce a mention of the unfortunate Gemel-
110 PAUL.
lus, who, through the machinations of the prefect, was absent at this time. And all this without bloodshed or show of violence. Of this the worthy Macro was on the whole glad ; too long had Rome been nau- seated with blood, from henceforth matters should be conducted on a different plan.
" If I am not emperor," he thought complacently, " I am that which is far greater, a maker and ruler of emperors. As I have moved this puppet, Caius, in the past so will I control and direct him in the future."
He expanded his chest with a deep breath of enjoy- ment and triumph ; his tone and gesture, as he re- sponded to some trifling remark addressed to him by the newly-made emperor, suggested that of an indul- gent master to his favorite slave.
Caius perceived this ; his face grew dark. At that moment his eye fell upon a man who was endeavoring to make his way through the throng of courtiers and soldiers. " 'Tis my old slave Codrus," he said, "the fellow will crave a boon of me, but I have a score to settle with him first," and he drew his brows together with an ominous look.
"No violence to-day, I beg of thee," whispered Macro hastily. "There has been too much of that in days past. Do what thou wilt in secret, but — "
"And is it thou. Macro, who art emperor?" said Caius, with an insulting smile, " or is it I, Caius Caesar ? Nay, I like not thy tone and manner, good prefect."
Macro bit his lip, his face grew red with anger. " I
THE MASTER OF THE WORLD. Ill
must venture to remind the emperor," he said coldly, "that had it not been for — "
"Nay, thou must not venture to remind the em- peror," interrupted Caius arrogantly. " The emperor, like the gods, can both remember and forget at his pleasure ; for thee there is but forgetting — as far as the past goes ; this thou mayest remember," and he burst into a loud laugh at his own sorry wit.
Macro did not join in the laugh, but none the less his face lit up marvelously.
The slave Codrus had thrown himself down before them, with a loud cry. " Tiberius is alive ! he hath recovered himself by the mercy of the gods, and both speaks and sees."
The effect of these words was am.azing ; the crowd of flattering courtiers dissolved away and vanished, even as a bank of mist before the rising sun ; the shouts of the soldiers were instantly silenced by some one in authority. Caius stood as if turned to stone, the arrogant laugh frozen upon his lips. He tottered and would have fallen but for the prompt arm of the man at his side.
"What — what shall I do?" he gasped, turning his white face upon the prefect. " I — must fly !"
" Hadst thou asked me the question an hour since, son of Germanicus, I might perchance have answered thee," sneered Macro. " Thou, who alone canst re- member, wilt perchance remember that for me there is but forgetting. I have, therefore, forgotten my wisdom ; I cannot advise thee."
112 PAUL.
" Nay, I did but jest, good Macro — I did but jest."
"And thou wilt again jest, if I restore thee to power," said Macro, regarding him gloomily.
" I swear that I will not," gasped Caius, his teeth chattering with abject fear. " Look, they are already coming to drag me before him !"
"Who is with the emperor?" demanded Macro, turn- ing to Codrus.
" The slave Narcissus, no other," replied Codrus, looking straight into the eyes of the prefect. " Tibe- rius," he continued, in a lower tone, "rose from his couch unassisted, and is fallen upon the floor of his chamber."
"Desirest thou thy freedom, slave?" said the prefect.
"The gods be my witness that I do," responded Codrus fervently.
" Go then, deliver the soul of Tiberius from the flesh which hath too long irked him, and thou shalt have thy freedom, together with a thousand drachmae of gold. Stay — he lies, sayest thou, upon the floor of his chamber ; heap upon him the clothing of his couch, and leave him alone ; the gods will take care of the rest."
" I will do this thing for my freedom," said the slave, slowly raising his right hand above his head. " But the father of the gods is my witness that thou hast commanded it. I but obey — as the javelin obeys the hand of him that hurls it." With that he was gone, swift as the murderous weapon to which he had likened himself.
THE MASTER OF THE WORLD. 113
And so on that day perished miserably, Tiberius, in the seventy and eighth year of his hfe, and Caius Caesar, son of his brother's son, reigned in his stead.
Among those who presently thronged more thickly than ever about the newly-made emperor — Tiberius having been at last officially declared dead, to the great joy of all concerned — there came a woman, pal- lid and sorrowful, yet bearing herself with a right queenly grace. "A boon, my lord, the emperor, a boon," she cried, throwing herself at his feet. " Herod Agrippa was thy friend, and because he was thy friend he hath languished now for many months in a foul dungeon, laden moreover with a chain of iron which cankers not his flesh more than the thought of it hath tortured me, his wife."
The foul and sluggish current of Caligula's blood was flowing more swiftly on this memorable day than was its wont, he therefore sprang to his feet with a flush on his cheek that in another might have argued the generous indignation of true friendship.
"Agrippa ! and in a dungeon !" he exclaimed, " Fetch him forth instantly ; and for the iron chain that hath bound him, let a golden chain be made of equal weight. For with blood will Caius Caesar quench the fires of hatred, and with chains of gold will he bind to him the hearts of his friends."
All that heard applauded him for the god-like wis- dom of his words. Macro applauded with the rest ; he had begun to understand the nature of his royal master.
114 PA UL.
And Charicles, the wise physician, having seen the play to its end, went back to Rome content to have been only a looker-on. " Verily," he said aloud, thoughtfully contemplating the grinning skull which served to keep his parchment leaves from fluttering away in the breeze from the open window. " Verily, this world must present a strange spectacle to the immortal gods — if there be any gods, for in it we mortals, emerging from the black night of nothing- ness, crawl for a little in the light, sleeping and waking, burden-bearing, fighting, eating, drinking, loving perhaps and loved, of a surety hating and hated, clutching madly at a robe of sheep's wool dyed with purple — the purple, but the blood of a miserable shell- fish, empty emblem of a power that exists not — and at the last scourged again by some invisible hand into the further blackness, to emerge no more. If we be what men call wise, what is our wisdom save the power to know our unspeakable ignorance ?"
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 115
CHAPTER XII.
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED.
JUDAS of Damascus was a just man ; not only was he held so to be by his fellow-countrymen, but he was respected aud even feared by all the Syrians, Greeks, Romans and other Gentiles with whom he had dealings in a commercial way. No one could regret more sincerely than did Judas the hard necessity of com- ing into contact with " the accursed " in even the most casual manner ; but business was business in Damas- cus as elsewhere, and if holiness unto the Lord was the best thing in the world, certainly the next unto it in point of desirability was to be possessed of shekels in abundance. A man might be never so holy, and yet be clothed in rags — which was assuredly an evil thing. To be holy, to be blameless after the law, and at the same time to be rich, was to be like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, like Saul and Solomon and David ; not that Judas openly compared himself with the patri- archs and kings of old, but the thing was obvious even to the dullest comprehension ; if a man was pros- pered in his business, God was with him. The Scrip- tures taught it ; and Judas, being rich and prosperous, thoroughly believed it.
Why then was it that the face of this good man
116 PA VL.
should be downcast and gloomy. He had just brought to successful issue a transaction which, while it would assuredly impoverish the short-sighted Gentile with whom it had been concluded, would just as assur- edly bring a goodly sum into the strong box of the astute Judas. Moreover he had since thoroughly cleansed both his conscience and his hands by a vast deal of ceremonial washing ; even the robe which he had worn had been duly purified, according to the law, from all polluting contact. Clean without and within, triumphant over lawlessness and idolatry, why did not peace irradiate the countenance of the just and pros- perous Judas ? Alas ! in this present evil world there is ever some trial to buffet even the very elect. In accordance with his comprehensive yet simple code of ethics Judas was wont to set down all such mental and bodily disquietude to the active interference of the evil one.
" All was well with man," he would say piously, "till the devil tempted the woman in the garden of Eden. Through the deplorable folly of woman came all manner of evil into the world ; and so, alas, hath it ever remained, for the devil having once obtained favor in the eyes of woman, hath not ceased through her to plague all the sons of Adam unto this present day."
These reflections, which he had heretofore indulged with the peaceful calm of a philosopher, had been brought to his mind with unaccustomed poignancy on this very morning. He had come upon his wife in the great court of the household just in time to see her
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 117
bestow a goodly loaf of barley bread upon a ragged unkempt woman, whose speech and countenance but too clearly betrayed the accursed Gentile.
"May the father of all the gods bless thee," cried the woman, the tears coursing down her thin cheeks. " My little ones are starving, another evening would have seen them lying stark and cold ; but now, thanks be to the merciful Diana— who hath softened thy heart according to my prayer — they shall live and not die." " Nay, good friend, say not so," replied the wife of Judas, her dark eyes glistening with sympathy. " It was for the love of Jesus of Nazareth, who also gave himself for the sins of the world, that I have had com- passion upon thee. Pray no more to the false gods, I beseech thee, but unto Jehovah, the eternal One, and to Jesus Christ his well-beloved son."
Judas stood as if turned to stone. He could scarce believe the evidence of his unwilling ears.
" I will pray to thy god, lady, if only to please thee,"cried the beggar woman, sinking to her knees ; "but I will also kiss the hem of thy garment, since thou art blessed even as one beloved of the gods."
" Hold, dog !" cried a rancorous voice from behind. " Lay not thine accursed hand upon a daughter of Abraham." Then quite forgetting himself in his holy wrath, Judas advanced with uplifted hand towards the beggar, who pallid and trembling, still clasping the precious loaf to her breast, cowered before him, as abject and wretched an object as could perhaps be found within the four walls of Damascus.
118 PA UL.
" Get thee gone, vile heathen," he continued in a tone which caused the half-dozen maids and men who were staring open-mouthed at the spectacle to glance apprehensively at their mistress. " Drop the loaf — no morsel of mine shall nourish the viperous brood of a Gentile."
But at this his wife laid her hand upon his arm. " I gave the bread, my lord," she said in a low voice. " It shall not be taken from her. Go, my poor woman, and peace go with thee."
Judas turned upon the speaker, his breath coming short in his fury. " I have also somewhat to say unto thee, woman," he said; "attend me in the inner house."
The beggar released from the spell of his wrathful eyes made haste to slink away through the open door- way into the street, followed by the contemptuous glances of the servants. " Good Diana !" she gasped, " if yonder man be a worshiper of the god of the Jews, I cannot pray to him as I promised, he is too awful ; but do thou have mercy on the lady, for she hath need of succor at this moment."
If there was either terror or remorse in the heart of the lady Rachel as she followed her husband into the inner court of the mansion, it was not evident to the curious eyes of the servants. The mild serenity of her gracious brow remained quite unruffled, and if her eyes still glistened with tears, they were but the tears of angelic pity with which she had regarded the wretched object of her compassion. The wife of
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 119
Judas was a tall woman, tall and large, with a certain gracious and majestic amplitude of figure. All of her movements were deliberate ; she spoke little, smiled less, and laughed not at all. Yet there breathed forth from her presence such a sweet and tranquilizing serenity, such a tender and soul-satisfying warmth, that I know not unto what to liken her. She was most, perhaps, like the brooding light of a day in August, when all is complete, finished, all the sharp anxiety and stress of spring, all the lusty haste and laughing tumult of early summer ; the harvest fields rest in golden peace, the clusters purple slowly in the shade of the drowsy leaves, and over all the silent sunshine lies like a benediction.
Judas was forced by reason of the smallness of his stature to look up when he addressed the stately Rachel, an attitude little suited to towering fury and scathing denunciation ; on this occasion therefore, he bade her sit, that he might the better pour out upon her the vials of his righteous indignation. For some moments he kept silence, pacing rapidly up and down, and plucking savagely at his scanty beard.
The lady Rachel regarded him steadily, her large eyes beaming with anxious affection. " Thou art dis- quieted, my lord," she said at length, " because I have bestowed an alms upon the Gentile woman."
"Disquieted!" snarled Judas, stopping short and fixing his ferret-like eyes upon her. " Disquieted !" and his voice rose to a shrill wail. " God of Abra- ham ! in what have I offended, that the flesh of my
120 PAUL.
flesh, the bone of my bone hath presumed to rise up against me ? Mine house is polluted ! Mine ears have listened to wicked words ! Fetch ashes that I may strew them upon my beard, and bitter waters that I may drink thereof." Then his tone changed sud- denly, " Of whom hast thou learned to prate of Jesus of Nazareth ? Who taught thee the foul blasphemy of calling a crucified malefactor the son of Jehovah ? and when didst thou see the righteous give alms to an idolater? Answer."
" I will answer thee right gladly, my lord," replied the lady, a shadowy smile touching her lips with sweet- ness. " I learned the things whereof thou hast spoken, of the rabbi Saul, who also was a guest in our house, when first he came up from Jerusalem. To thee also is it known how that he was rebuked of the Lord in a vision as he approached Damascus for to make havoc of them which believe. Surely thou art not ignorant that for many months now he hath spoken both in the synagogue and elsewhere, convincing many — "
" I have known — yes," broke in Judas rudely, " that the man Saul, who was smitten with an evil spirit, and driven by it into the wilderness for a space, hath re- turned, and that he hath plagued the synagogues with his foul ravings."
" But hast thou heard — "
" Nay, I have not heard. I will not hear. Nor shalt thou again listen to the devil-possessed. He shall be dealt with after the law. Alas, I have been remiss in my duty, and because of it I am made
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 121
ashamed in mine own house. Thou art a woman, and therefore Satan hath had easy mastery over thee ; but a sin-offering shall be made for thee, that thou mayst yet be restored."
" But I declare to thee, my lord, that I believe in my heart what the man hath proclaimed. He is not mad ; he hath convinced many — not women only, but Reuben, and Isaac the son of Nun, and — "
" What is it that thou are saying ?" exclaimed Judas aghast. "But hold, I must look into this matter. Go thou into thine own apartments, put sackcloth upon thy body, and ashes upon thine head, and hum- ble thyself before Jehovah. Neither eat nor drink, nor have speech with thy maidens, till I shall give thee leave ; for I am a just man, and holiness to the Lord is written upon the lintels of my doors."
The lady Rachel bowed her head. " Behold !" she said, solemnly, " I will fast and pray for the peace of Israel, and for the salvation of this house."
The day following Ananias sat in the garden of his house, reading as was his wont at the noontide hour from the books of the law. His face was troubled, and he sighed now and again as he read.
" I fear me that we do evil in the sight of God in that we remain within the walls of this place," he said at length, lifting his eyes to the face of his wife who sat near him, her hands peacefully employed with the distaff. "It is not enough that we keep ourselves a separate people ; we ought to come out from among them, even as it is commanded. The women of the
122 PA UL.
accursed come into our synagogues, and their children mingle with the children of the chosen in the market places and in the streets."
" But if by reason of so doing, some be turned unto life, beloved, surely thou wilt rejoice," said Myra gently.. " It may be that God hath placed Israel even as leaven among the nations, till all shall be leavened with the righteousness which it hath pleased him to reveal alone to us, his chosen." Then her eyes filled with sudden tears, " It is a year," she said in a half- whisper. "Again they will force the children to dance before Baal. Why, oh why, can we not do something to save them ? Surely a little child, whether born of Jew or Gentile, is but a little lower than the angels."
" Not so is it decreed in the law and in the prophets," said Ananias sternly. " Behold it is written that our God is a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him. And this word of the law was spoken to Israel ; if then God spare not the children of a sinning Israelite, how think you doth he look upon the offspring of idolaters, who for count- less generations have not ceased from their abomina- tions. And what also did the Lord command Israel concerning those nations which dwelt in the land of Canaan ; was it not to dri\'e them out, and to destroy them off the face of the earth ? Both old men and maidens, children also and women were our fathers commanded to put to the edge of the sword. Listen, while I read to thee from the law. ' When the Lord
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 123
thy God shall bring thcc into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee — even seven nations greater and mightier than thou, and when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee : thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them ; thou shalt make no covenant with them ; nor show mercy unto them. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them ; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son, for they will turn away thy sons from following me, that they may serve other gods : so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them ; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.' "
"Amen and amen," said a deep voice from the entrance to the garden. " This shall be ; yet must the purifying fire come from on high, even as it came in answer to the cry of Elijah, consuming the burnt sacri- fice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, lick- ing up the water also that was in the trench."
" Enter thou in brother Saul, and may the blessing of Jehovah with which he hath blessed thee, rest also upon me and upon my household," said Ananias rising. " I would also speak with thee of something that concerns thee and thy welfare ; and of this I am persuaded to speak with all boldness because of my love for thee. For many months now, hast thou dwelt in Damascus, and thou hast without ceasing preached
124 PA UL.
Jesus of Nazareth in every synagogue, convincing men that he was in deed and in truth the Christ of God. But in so doing thou hast raised up for thyself fierce enemies among the Jews." He paused a moment as if he scarce knew how to proceed.
Saul who had listened attentively to the words of his host, looked up with a quiet smile. " Thinkest thou that I am not aware of it ?" he said. " It is meet that I should suffer the things which also I laid upon others in times past : if I be persecuted, scourged, stoned even, as I preach the Christ, I shall count it but glory, since if I bear these chastenings in my body with patience I shall not only receive the reward of them hereafter, but now also in the flesh ; for if in the flesh we do show forth the death of our Lord we shall also show forth his life."
" I have read this day, what thou art assuredly not ignorant of," continued Ananias, looking more and more troubled, " how that all idolaters are an abomin- ation unto the Lord of Hosts, and yet thou dost declare that salvation shall come to the Gentiles. How then can this be ? Was not the Christ foretold as the Savior of Israel ? And can God who is the same yesterday, to-day and forever, change ? If yesterday he hated the uncircumcised, and pronounced against them anathema, how can he receive them to-day? How can his anger against them cease to burn ? Nay, brother, it is because of these things that murmurings have risen against thee — and that even among them that believe on Jesus."
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 125
" It is written that the Lord regardeth not man," answered Saul gravely. "All nations are the work of his hands. Moreover it hath been shown me, not by flesh and blood but through the revelation of God, that I am called to preach Christ to the Gentiles. All that hath happened in days past, and all that hath been written, both in the prophecies and in the law, shall be reconciled in Christ, for in him is God made mani- fest. The fire of God shall descend upon the heathen, and their altars shall be broken, and their groves shall be laid even with the ground, and their graven images also shall be utterly destroyed, for the fire of the spirit shall be poured out upon all flesh, and in it shall all that is unworthy and unclean be purged away."
"Would that these things might be," murmured Ananias, turning over the leaves of parchment. " But what dost thou say of the command. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them?"
" That word was spoken unto the Children of Israel, children indeed, in that they comprehended not the glory of God nor the magnitude of his mercies, for they did continually turn unto strange gods, even making unto themselves a golden calf at the foot of Sinai, the mount that could not be touched because of the presence of the Almighty. But now we are no longer children, for unto us hath been plainly shown the wisdom and glory of God in Jesus Christ his son, of whom also it is written, ' And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots which shall stand for an
126 PAUL.
ensign of the people ; to it shall the Gentiles seek ; and his rest shall be glorious.' And to Abraham did God promise, ' in thy seed shall all the kingdoms of the earth be blessed.' Also in the book of Daniel it is written ' I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.' "
"All nations are kindred," said Myra softly, "for all claim a common father, even the first-created."
"Ay," assented Saul, with a grave yet singularly beautiful smile. " In Adam did all sin, and through sin came death into the world ; yet there is one, even Christ, who hath conquered death, and in him shall all that believe be made alive again."
At the mention of that name the face of Ananias grew bright. " I have heard that he himself declared this saying shortly before his death, and that also in the presence of certain Gentiles who had sought him, * I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.' "
While he yet spoke, there came a sound of loud knocking at the outer portal, and one entered in who bore tidings of evil.
"There hath a plot been made to put Saul to death," cried the messenger when he had found his
THE CHOSEN AND THE ACCURSED. 127
voice. " Moreover there be men posted at the city gates who will watch night and day that he escape not."
"And how is it that thou knowest of these things?" asked Saul, his quiet voice betraying neither fear nor anger.
" I am of the household of Judas," answered the man, " and I stood without the door as my master and certain others of the Jews talked together. When I heard what things they plotted against thee, I hasted to bring thee word lest thou shouldst fall into the pit which these have digged for thee. But alas, I know not how thy safety shall be assured."
" Nevertheless, I shall live and not die," said Saul confidently ; " for I have not yet accomplished that whereunto I am set apart."
And when after sunset the thing became known unto others of them that believed, they gathered themselves together in the house of Ananias to consult as to what should be done. Some advised one thing and some another, and they were all afraid, neither could any think of a way out of the danger.
"Could he not escape by way of the walls?" whis- pered Myra timidly in the ear of her husband ; " even if the gates be guarded."
" But how may that be, little one, since the walls are high, and moreover, we have learned that there be men posted without who patrol the city ?"
"The night is dark," persisted Myra, "and Ben Eli, thy kinsman, d-A-ells in a house whose windows overhang the wall."
128 PAUL.
" But how — "
" In this perhaps." And as if half ashamed of her thought, she displayed a large basket made of rope, the like of which was used for carrying heavy burdens. "It is strong," she whispered, " and if there be no other way — "
This suggestion Ananias made known to Saul, where he sat apart, his face quite serene and untroubled, though many of the others were weeping aloud and lamenting.
"Yes," he said with a quiet smile, looking at the basket of ropes, " it is a good thought; so doth God choose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty."
Then he called them all together, and prayed with them, and blessed them, and bade them farewell. Afterward with Ananias and one other for company, he made his way across the intervening roofs to the ' house of Ben Eli. When it was now the dark hour before the dawn, and the sentries dozed at their posts, with all caution and secrecy they lowered Saul in the basket of ropes from a window which overhung the wall. The silence and the darkness received him, and there was neither sound nor motion. After a little they pulled gently upon the rope and felt no weight thereon, then they knew that he was gone.
SA UL IN JEB mALEM. 129
F
CHAPTER XIII.
SAUL IN JERUSALEM.
OR many days the fugitive journeyed on, in wea- riness and painfulncss, in hunger and thirst, scorched by the burning heat of desert noons, wet with the cold dew of lonely midnights, over the same tortuous and difficult road which he had traversed not many months since in all the pride and arrogance of Pharisaical zeal. Past the spot where the dazzling splendor of the heavenly vision had smitten him to the earth, past pools and streams where he had sought in vain to cleanse his blood-stained conscience with cere- monial washings, past the sea of Galilee, where the lowly Christ had walked with his disciples, till at length the mountains round about Jerusalem crowded the near horizon. Past Gethsemanc, past Calvary, past that other spot outside the walls, where Stephen had fallen asleep beneath his rough coverlid of murderous
stone.
If it be given to the souls of mortals to visit again the scene of this earth-life, how must their eyes, touched with the finger of eternal truth, look upon the well-remembered places. Here I laughed, while angels wept. In this place I wailed aloud and refused to look upon the light, and for what— nay, I have
9
130 PAUL.
already forgotten. Yonder, like a tortured beast of burden, I stumbled and fell, cursing the God that gave me breath.
O blind, lost, ignorant and demon-haunted children of men ! O pitying God, who hath from the begin- ning looked down upon the unutterable ruin and woe which sin hath wrought in the earth ! Angel after angel didst thou send down on radiant wing into the blackness, and the blackness devoured them and gave no sign, but at the last came He that shall be called the Strong Deliverer ; He that shall yet draw all men unto himself, being the likeness of the Father, and the express image of his person ; with Him came light unto the world, but as yet the darkness comprehend- eth it not.
Saul, who had died in Christ and was now made alive again, entered into Jerusalem where in that other life of his he had lived and walked about, long, long ago — it seemed to him. In a maze of strange thoughts he looked upon the familiar streets, upon the schools where he had stood up in all the pride of his learning and eloquence to argue some hotly-disputed point of the Jewish law ; upon the synagogues where he had presided at many a bloody scourging ; upon the prisons which he fancied still echoed with the groans of the tortured Nazarenes ; and yonder was the tem- ple, within its council chamber at this very moment the Sanhedrim may be convened. Should he enter in, and like a visitant from another world proclaim the amazing truths of heaven ?
SA UL IN JER USA LEM. 131
" Not yet," he said within himself. " I must seek the disciples."
No one knew better than Saul where the followers of Jesus were to be found. Into this humble street he had entered twice, thrice, bringing sorrow and crying with him ; from the courtyard of yonder dwelling he had dragged the wife and mother, leaving the little ones wailing behind.
" My God ! Canst thou forgive me ?"
His tear-dimmed eyes scarcely discerned the two little figures which were playing in the warm dust by the shadow of the wall. At the sound of his voice one of them sprang up. "Jesus save us !" she mur- mured, pushing the curls out of her startled eyes. " 'Tis the man — the awful man ! Come quickly, little brother," and the two hurried away like frightened mice.
A woman, with a water-jar poised upon her head, turned the corner by the fountain singing softly to her- self; her eyes lighted upon the stranger. "God of Abraham ! he is not after all dead !" The jar fell with a loud crash upon the stones at her feet, but she heeded it not. Catching up the child which clung to the fold of her robe, she too fled away with uneven steps in the opposite direction.
Still the wayfarer walked slowly forward, wrapped in his half-painful, half-joyful thoughts. " I have sinned, alas ! — I am forgiven, thank God ! I have grievously injured — I will make amends. A year did I persecute the Christ and his elect — through all the
132 PA UL.
years of my life will I serve him, and cherish those whom he loved." He paused, a man walking rapidly was coming toward him down the street. " Canst thou tell me — " he began, but the man broke into a run, and passed him with averted eyes. Saul looked after him a moment in troubled silence, then his head dropped upon his breast. He understood.
" I should have brought letters from the brethren in Damascus," he said with a sigh. " I scarce know what to do — Hold, this is the house of John, I will inquire here."
A half-grown lad opened the door in answer to his knock. " Canst thou tell me if either of the sons of Zebedee are within ?" The boy stared at his ques- tioner with open mouth. He made no reply. " I would see the man John, if he be within," repeated Saul, pass- ing his hand across his burning eyes. For the first time he became aware that he was wearied almost to the verge of exhaustion, and that he had tasted neither food nor water for many hours. " May I enter?" he asked humbly.
"Who is it?" queried a woman's shrill voice from the courtyard ; a decisive footfall followed the voice. " Who art thou, and what dost thou want? Stand out of the way, Marcus, till I shall see," and the speaker laid hold upon the door with a threatening air. " I know who thou art, Jew," she continued raising her voice, " but there is no one in this house who believes on the Nazarene ; my husband is a Roman."
" Where then is John, who formerly lived here ?"
SAUL IN JERUSALEM. 133
said Saul with a shadow of his old authoritative man- ner.
The woman laughed aloud and tossed her head. " Dost thou ask me that question ? By the gods, there is no one who should know better than thou thyself." With that she shut the door in his face.
The wayfarer turned away. " I will go," he said, "to their synagogue." Then straightway he remem- bered that one of the first acts in his reign of perse cution had been to destroy the humble edifice in which the Nazarenes were wont to gather. " A stronghold of iniquity," he had called it, "a breeding-place of foul heresies." A sudden faintness overpowered him, and he sank heavily upon a doorstep near at hand, that he might recover himself. " It is just," he murmured, " just. Nay, I must yet drain to the dregs the poi- soned cup which I have forced upon innocent lips." He sat there a long time thinking and praying, till at last somewhat refreshed, he arose and went on. It was growing dark now in the narrow streets, and he was conscious of a feeling of thankfulness because of this. Pausing before a little stall whereon cakes of bread, and white and purple figs were displayed for sale, he laid a coin before the vendor.
"Sit down whilst thou art eating," said the man hospitably enough, pushing two of the leathery cakes and a handful of fruit toward his customer. "Water? Yes, there is water in the jar there ; but I must have another farthing if thou drink. 'Tis no easy task to fetch the jar from the fountain thrice a day. — No
134 PAUL.
matter if thou hast it not, drink if thou wilt ; thou hast the look of an honest man. Thou hast traveled far, perhaps?"
" I have traveled far, and I have learned many won- derful things," answered Saul gravely, "but most wonderful of all things in this thirsty world, it seemeth to me, is a fountain of living water, that floweth for every one that would drink — and that without money and without price."
" There are such fountains in this very city of Jerusa- lem," cried the merchant boastfully ; " if one can learn nothing more wonderful by travel, what need, say I, to blister one's feet."
" But there is also bread which came down from heaven," continued Saul steadily, " on the which he that is hungry may feed and faint no more."
"Why then buy of my loaves?" asked the other with a short laugh and a sidelong glance at his cus- tomer. " I once heard talk of the like — a long time ago," he added meditatively, " when the man from Galilee fed five thousand people in the fields upon five barley loaves and two small fishes. I saw the thing done moreover, and tasted the bread myself By the ark of the covenant, that were a marvel worth the telling ! How the man accomplished the thing I know not ; 't was a pity they killed him ; he wrought no ill to any living mortal, and what an one to have in the city in case of a siege or a plague — for he could also heal all manner of diseases,"
"Thou art a believer?"
^^1 UL ly JER VSALEM. 135
The man pushed back his turban and wiped his forehead with the corner of his robe. '-A warm even- ing," he remarked, shifting his position a httle. " I cannot well abide the heat because of an ailment in my head. Wilt thou eat another cake ? thou art welcome if thou wilt, since to-morrow they will be stale."
" I have satisfied my need, but I thank you, good friend. — Thou wast speaking of the Nazarene ; didst thou believe on him?"
" The man had some compact or other with the powers of the air," answered the merchant shrugging his shoulders, " else how could he have worked his miracles. But I am not one of the Nazarenes — no, no. I had enough of that the year after the man Jesus was slain, when a great persecution broke out against them that professed to believe on him. I had consorted with them myself for a time, since they gave away money and food freely to everj' one that asked — a good thing for a poor man with a large family. But all that was put a stop to, and scourgings, prisons, and even stonings were on a sudden meted out to them at the hand of one Saul of Tarsus. I had no stomach for such things, and I soon left them."
Saul sighed. " Knowest thou not that thou mightest have laid up for thyself eternal glory, hadst thou re- mained faithful ?"
" Sayest thou so ? Thou also art one of them per- chance. There is one thing that I do know, and that right well ; 'tis this, a live man is as much better than
136 PA UL.
a dead one, as a full belly is better than an empty. I should have been dead — or as good as dead, and what glory or profit can there be in the grave?"
" There is a life beyond the grave for all them that believe on the ascended One."
"So they say, so they say," cried the merchant, somewhat impatiently. " But I know not how we shall be assured of it." Spying two men approaching he lifted up his voice —
" Fresh sweet figs ! Fresh-baked loaves ! Come ye, buy and eat. Buy of an honest man, that ye faint not by the way. Fresh sweet figs ! — honey sweet and wet with the dews of heaven ! Fresh-baked loaves ! Come buy and eat !"
One of the strangers paused at the sound of the shrill summons, and approaching the stall stooped to inspect the wares. " Fresh figs, sayest thou ? Give me a farthing's worth, good merchant. For the little ones," he added with a mellow laugh, turning to his companion.
"Ay!" replied the other with a shrug, "thou art ever thinking of the children."
" Did not the Master say, ' Of such is the kingdom of heaven ?' And also, that if we ourselves would enter in we must become as little children. 'Tis a good thing to think much of the little ones. But come, let us make haste or the preaching will have begun."
The merchant looked after the two as they went away. " Those be Nazarenes," he said with a wave of
SA UL IN JER USA LEM. 1 37
his hand; "harmless enough, mayhap, but touched with a certain madness one and all ; now I could tell thee — " he paused with his mouth half open, then laughed under his breath. " By the beard of my father, the fellow is off after them like an arrow from the bow ; 'tis a good thing to have a cool head and a shrewd judgment in these times — yes, and a long eye for the future. As it was with the master, so is it like to be with the disciples ; and God knowcth the man came to no good end. — Fresh sweet figs ! white like milk, and purple as the dawn ! Fresh-baked loaves, brown and crisp. Come buy ! Come buy !"
The Nazarenes had reached the corner of the street ere Saul overtook them. He touched one of them on the shoulder. " A word with thee, good sir," he said, his voice trembling a little in his anxiety.
The man to whom he had spoken turned quickh'. "What will thou, friend?" he said, fi.xing his grave eyes upon Saul.
The red glow of the evening sky shone full upon him as he stood thus, and Saul instinctively drew back into the shadow of the wall.
" A beggar !" quoth the other with an impatient ges- ture. " But I have nothing to give, and we may not tarry."
"Sir, I am not a beggar," said Saul boldly, "save as I crave from thee love and fellowship in our Lord Jesus Christ, for truly there is naught else upon earth that I desire. Look steadfastly upon mc," he con- tinued, turning his face upward toward the rosy sky.
188 PA UL.
" and behold Saul of Tarsus, aforetime the perse- cutor of them that loved Jesus. Not content with making havoc of the flock in Jerusalem, I was pursu- ing them that believed even unto strange cities. But thanks be to God for the riches of his grace and glory, I was not suffered to continue in my madness, for even in the way as I journeyed — being come nigh unto Da- mascus at the noon-tide hour — suddenly there shone from heaven a great light, and I fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto me, ' Saul, Saul, why perse- cutest thou me ?' and I answered, Who art thou ? And the Lord said, * I am Jesus whom thou perse- cutest ; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.' Afterward he commanded me to arise and go into the city, where also I remained without sight, neither eat- ing nor drinking for the space of three days — Nay, hear me, I pray thee to the end !" For the two men had drawn back, and were regarding him with cold suspicious looks.
" Dost thou not believe me ?" he cried passionately. " Did not your Master — nay, my Master also — did he not declare that he could save unto the uttermost ? And why dost thou doubt the power of his grace for even such an one as I."
"A strange story," said one of his listeners hesi- tatingly. " I would fain believe it, but — "
" Over-strange to be true," said the other, turning away with an air of decision. " Either a devil hath entered into the man for the purpose of deceiving the elect, or — " and he lowered his voice to a whisper,
SA UL IN JERUSALEM. 139
" he doth feign to be one of us that he may the better entrap us."
" I had not thought of that," said his companion, turning his troubled eyes upon Saul, who stood with drooping head as if awaiting sentence.
" Come, let us leave him ; we can speak of the mat- ter to the brethren, but who are we, that we should receive him, and by so doing bring fresh distress upon the innocent? Go thy way," he continued, raising his voice, " until we shall have reported this matter which thou hast declared unto us to them which are in au- thority."
" But why may I not go with thee, that I may speak for myself?" said Saul eagerly. " What hast thou to fear at my hands ? behold, I have spoken truly unto thee of all that hath befallen mc."
" So also did we speak truly unto thee in days past, and for the truth of God thou didst recompense us with scourgings and chains ; forty stripes save one re- ceived I at thy command — not once only, but twice, thrice, and my wife — Nay, I cannot speak further with thee, thou art hateful in mine eyes. Get thee gone."
"For the love of the crucified One — "
" Nay, we will none of thee. Go thou unto thine own." And the two strode rapidly away, not without many a fearful backward glance at the lonely figure of Saul, who stood still in the place where they had left him, his face bowed upon his hands.
An hour later they spoke to the brethren of the matter. "The man Saul." said they, "who formerly
140 PA UL.
scourged, imprisoned, and put to death divers of our number, and with the rest dealt even as the strong wind dealeth with the chaff of the threshing-floor, hath returned, and we have had speech with him. A strange tale told he us of a heavenly vision, whereby he was rebuked and turned from the error of his ways. He would have come with us to this place, but we suf- fered him not, fearing lest it should be a device of our enemies to spy upon us in our worship."
And of them that listened was there found not one to speak any good word for Saul ; for they were all afraid of him. But as they talked together, Joseph, called also Barnabas, which is being interpreted, the Son of Consolation, came among them, and to him they repeated their story.
And when he heard it he praised God with a loud voice. " Behold," he said to them, " I have known this man from his youth ; he hath ever feared God, truth and verity also hath his tongue spoken. When he persecuted them that believed, it was because the light had not been revealed unto him ; terrible was he in his blindness even as the strong man Samson, who also destroyed and spared not, but now shall he greatly glorify the name of the ascended One." Straightway he went forth to seek Saul, and when after nearly an hour he found him at the place where the cross of Christ had stood — which place is called Golgotha, he brought him to Peter and James and declared unto them how that he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him ; and how he had preached
SA UL IN JER USALEM. 141
boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. Then they received him with gladness.
And he was with the brethren certain days in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus in the synagogues of the Grecians, where also he himself in former days had striven to over- throw the young man Stephen. Moreover, he was not afraid, but the rather rejoiced when he heard that he had made enemies amongst them, and that these were minded to accomplish his death. " It is just that I die in this place and for this cause," he said.
But Peter reasoned with him, " It is not expedient that thou die for the faith at this time, for behold the fields are white to the harvest, but laborers be few. Go, therefore, in peace."
That same day Saul was in the temple praying, for he desired with a great desire to remain in Jerusalem. And as he prayed, all that was earthly faded from be- fore his eyes. He saw again the form which had appeared to him on the Damascus road, again he heard the voice which had once smitten him to the earth in an agony of contrition —
" Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusa- lem ; for they will not receive thy testimony concern- ing me ?"
Then did Saul answer out of the fullness of his heart, " Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee ; and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was
142 PA UL.
Standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him."
"Depart!" commanded the solemn voice, "for I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles."
When he was come to himself he returned to the brethren and told them of the vision. And certain of them accompanied him as far as Caesarea ; from thence he went to Tarsus.*
* We have no means of knowing what took place during this period of the Apostle's life. It is only known that he remained in Cilicia for a number of years, the length of time being vari- ously estimated according to the date of his conversion. This date is not exactly known, but the year 37 A. D. is generally accepted by authorities.
HEBODIAS. 143
CHAPTER XIV.
HERODIAS.
THE city of Caesarca-Philippi was in full gala dress, every road and by-way leading to the open gates was thronged with sightseers. Haughty Roman officials caracoling on their mettlesome Arabians, keen- eyed inhabitants of the desert, mounted on swift drom- edaries, turbaned Hebrews, ambling decorously on slow-stepping mules as sleek and solemn-looking as themselves, mingled with the still greater throng of pedestrians, of almost every nation under heaven, which was crowding into the little mountain city. Eight thousand feet above their heads towered Her- mon, his ancient crest white with the snows of count- less winters ; his scarred and rugged shoulders veiled in mystic robes of floating mist, pierced with the flash- ing splendor of many a milk-white torrent. But the age-long miracle of eternal snow, of unfailing flood, of evanescent vapor, attracted no second glance on this morning of all others.
"The day will be fair," quoth the weather-wise, wagging their heads in the face of the mountain. " So much the better for us." Then they fastened their eyes the more eagerly on the gay banners which streamed and fluttered from every tower and battle-
144 PA UL.
merited wall of the city. Within the gates, the houses^ theaters and temples were decked out with a wondrous profusion of wreaths and garlands, intermingled with gay hangings of scarlet, of blue and of yellow ; the streets resounded to the tread of marching columns and the loud cheerful blare of golden-throated trumpets.
All day long in the great square before the splendid temple of Augustus, liveried servants stood in long lines and distributed to the people heaps of loaves, moun- tains of roasted flesh, cheeses without number, fruits without limit. As for the central fountain, it no longer gushed the pure sparkling water of the mountain, for by some cunning device it was made to pour forth red wine. About it surged a throng of revelers who drank till they could drink no more, lifting their dripping mouths from its purple flood to shout themselver hoarse in honor of the founder of the feast.
" The king ! The king ! All hail to Agrippa, the king — the king !"
In honor of the king also were magnificent shows in all the theaters, and not so much as a farthing's charge to see the best of them. Nor were the temples forgotten ; with a splendid impartiality sacrifices were smoking on Roman and Syrian altars alike, and at Jerusalem, it was rumored, in the great temple of the Hebrews, no fewer than a thousand beasts were to be slain on this day of rejoicing.
In the midst of the banqueting hall of his palace, surrounded by throngs of gaily-attired courtiers, was Agrippa himself Arrayed in royal purple, his dark
HERODIAS. 145
curls bound with a diadem of gold, the ncwly-madc king lay at his ease on his elevated couch surveying with a smile of triumph the scenes of revelry about him. By his side reclined his wife, the fair Cypros, her delicate face flushed with joy and pride ; a little below and at the right hand the boy Agrippa, robed like a Roman prince, was devoting himself to the deli- cate sweetmeats and fruits with all the zest of unac- customed appetite. On the left of the royal couch reclined a magnificently-appareled woman, in whose dark jewel-like eyes, pale olive complexion and haughty aquiline features could be traced a sufficiently strong resemblance to Agrippa to betray their kinship. Her companion, a man apparently many years older than herself, played with the grapes upon his plate, and from time to time addressed a remark to his nephew, the young Agrippa.
"Come, princeling," he said languidly, "drink with me now to the health of the Emperor, Caius Caesar, who has bestowed upon thee all these good things."
" Gladly will I drink to the emperor," cried the boy lifting his cup, " though truth to tell, I like him far off better than near at hand. Yet by his grace I also shall be king one day."
"Thinkest thou so?" said Herod Antipas with a half sigh. ,"My father was a king, yet am I only a governor."
"The more fool thou," murmured the woman at his side, with an impatient toss of the head which set all her jewels winking.
10
146 PA UL.
" Yet hast thou not failed of being queen — who art queen of my soul," whispered the man with an admir- ing glance at her beautiful face.
" Methinks the garland of pearls we sent thee adorneth the fair Herodias even as drops of dew adorn a royal rose," said Agrippa graciously, turning his flushed face upon the pair, " What sayest thou, my Antipas?"
" Thou hast spoken golden words, as becometh a king and one favored by the king of kings — the great and glorious Caesar ; a fairer jewel hav^e I rarely seen ; 'tis worthy to adorn a queen of beauty."
Herodias raised her eyes slowly to the face of Agrippa. " I could believe that I dream, brother of mine," she said with a curl of her red lips, " Thou a king — who wert of late but a beggar, flying before thine enemies like a withered leaf before the blasts of winter ! Thou a giver of jewels, who — "
" Hold, daughter of my mother!" said Agrippa, his eyes flashing dangerously. " Beware lest thou speak words of which thou shalt hereafter repent. The past is dead — Ay, dead as that just man whose head was served up to thee in a platter at thine own request, a dainty dish for a dainty princess."
Herodias shrugged her fair shoulders with seeming indifference, but Antipas grew white to the lips as if stung by some unseen lash of remembrance. " The man was just," he cried, " but he had spoken words hard to be forgiven ; besides there was my oath, what could I do ?"
HERODIAS. 147
Hcrodias smiled evilly. " There was also my oath," she said, languidly adjusting the jewels upon her round arms. " But why fatigue ourselves by thinking of the fellow ; he was a fool, and he perished in his folly ; in like manner shall other fools lose the air from their nostrils and become for lack of it — carrion." She raised her eyes suddenly and fixed them insolently upon Agrippa. " Am I not right, my royal brother?"
" Thou art as ever entirely right, princess," replied Agrippa with a mocking laugh. " I drink to thee, charming being, blent of fire and snow, and endowed with all the wit, purity, and exalted goodness of a daughter of the gods."
"A pretty speech, by the immortals!" exclaimed Antipas complacently. " There is a subtile something in the air of Rome that refines the tongue, lends luster to the eye, and — "
" Adds perchance a coronet where none appeared before," whispered Herodias in his ear. " I pray thee try that air, my lord, that thou also may.st learn the trick by which a beggar may be made a king."
" I like not the air of Rome," observed Cypres, who had hitherto kept silence, albeit a look of anxict)- had crept into her soft eyes. " 'Tis heavy with dread ; in this pure air of the mountains one can draw the breath of joy and freedom. Taste this conserve of pomegranates, my sister ; 'twas made, they tell me, by the mountain maids,