CHAPTER IX
Next night, about
the fourth hour, Ben-Hur stood on the terrace of the great warehouse with
Esther. Below them, on the landing, there was much running about, and shifting
of packages and boxes, and shouting of men, whose figures, stooping, heaving,
hauling, looked, in the light of the crackling torches kindled in their aid,
like the laboring genii of the fantastic Eastern tales. A galley was being
laden for instant departure. Simonides had not yet come from his office, in
which, at the last moment, he would deliver to the captain of the vessel
instructions to proceed without stop to Ostia, the seaport of Rome, and, after landing
a passenger there, continue more leisurely to Valentia, on the coast of Spain.
The passenger is the agent going to dispose of the
estate derived from Arrius the duumvir. When the lines of the vessel are cast
off, and she is put about, and her voyage begun, Ben-Hur will be committed
irrevocably to the work undertaken the night before. If he is disposed to
repent the agreement with Ilderim, a little time is allowed him to give notice
and break it off. He is master, and has only to say the word.
Such may have
been the thought at the moment in his mind. He was standing with folded arms,
looking upon the scene in the manner of a man debating with himself. Young,
handsome, rich, but recently from the patrician circles of Roman society, it is
easy to think of the world besetting him with appeals not to give more to
onerous duty or ambition attended with outlawry and danger. We can even imagine
the arguments with which he was pressed; the hopelessness of contention with
Caesar; the uncertainty veiling everything connected with the King and his
coming; the ease, honors, state, purchasable like goods in market; and,
strongest of all, the sense newly acquired of home, with friends to make it
delightful. Only those who have been wanderers long desolate can know the power
there was in the latter appeal.
Let us add now,
the world - always cunning enough of itself; always whispering to the weak,
Stay, take thine ease; always presenting the sunny side of life - the world was
in this instance helped by Ben-Hur's companion.
"Were you
ever at Rome?" he asked.
"No,"
Esther replied.
"Would you
like to go?"
"I think
not."
"Why?"
"I am afraid
of Rome," she answered, with a perceptible tremor of the voice.
He looked at her
then - or rather down upon her, for at his side she appeared little more than a
child. In the dim light he could not see her face distinctly; even the form was
shadowy. But again he was reminded of Tirzah, and a sudden tenderness fell upon
him - just so the lost sister stood with him on the house-top the calamitous
morning of the accident to Gratus. Poor Tirzah! Where was she now? Esther had
the benefit of the feeling evoked. If not his sister, he could never look upon
her as his servant; and that she was his servant in fact would make him always
the more considerate and gentle towards her.
"I cannot
think of Rome," she continued, recovering her voice, and speaking in her
quiet womanly way -”I cannot think of Rome as a city of palaces and temples,
and crowded with people; she is to me a monster which has possession of one of
the beautiful lands, and lies there luring men to ruin and death - a monster
which it is not possible to resist - a ravenous beast gorging with blood. Why
-”
She faltered,
looked down, stopped.
"Go
on," said Ben-Hur, reassuringly.
She drew closer
to him, looked up again, and said, "Why must you make her your enemy? Why
not rather make peace with her, and be at rest? You have had many ills, and
borne them; you have survived the snares laid for you by foes. Sorrow has
consumed your youth; is it well to give it the remainder of your days?"
The girlish face
under his eyes seemed to come nearer and get whiter as the pleading went on; he
stooped towards it, and asked, softly, "What would you have me do,
Esther?"
She hesitated a
moment, then asked, in return, "Is the property near Rome a
residence?"
"Yes."
"And
pretty?"
"It is
beautiful - a palace in the midst of gardens and shell-strewn walks; fountains
without and within; statuary in the shady nooks; hills around covered with
vines, and so high that Neapolis and Vesuvius are in sight, and the sea an
expanse of purpling blue dotted with restless sails. Caesar has a country-seat
near-by, but in Rome they say the old Arrian villa is the prettiest."
"And the
life there, is it quiet?"
"There was
never a summer day, never a moonlit night, more quiet, save when visitors come.
Now that the old owner is gone, and I am here, there is nothing to break its
silence - nothing, unless it be the whispering of servants, or the whistling of
happy birds, or the noise of fountains at play; it is changeless, except as day
by day old flowers fade and fall, and new ones bud and bloom, and the sunlight
gives place to the shadow of a passing cloud. The life, Esther, was all too
quiet for me. It made me restless by keeping always present a feeling that I,
who have so much to do, was dropping into idle habits, and tying myself with
silken chains, and after a while - and not a long while either - would end with
nothing done."
She looked off
over the river.
"Why did you
ask?" he said.
"Good my
master -”
"No, no,
Esther - not that. Call me friend - brother, if you will; I am not your master,
and will not be. Call me brother."
He could not see
the flush of pleasure which reddened her face, and the glow of the eyes that
went out lost in the void above the river.
"I cannot
understand," she said, "the nature which prefers the life you are
going to - a life of -”
"Of
violence, and it may be of blood," he said, completing the sentence.
"Yes,"
she added, "the nature which could prefer that life to such as might be in
the beautiful villa."
"Esther, you
mistake. There is no preference. Alas! the Roman is not so kind. I am going of
necessity. To stay here is to die; and if I go there, the end will be the same
- a poisoned cup, a bravo's blow, or a judge's sentence obtained by perjury.
Messala and the procurator Gratus are rich with plunder of my father's estate,
and it is more important to them to keep their gains now than was their getting
in the first instance. A peaceable settlement is out of reach, because of the
confession it would imply. And then - then -
Ah, Esther, if I could buy them, I do not know that I would. I do not
believe peace possible to me; no, not even in the sleepy shade and sweet air of
the marble porches of the old villa - no matter who might be there to help me
bear the burden of the days, nor by what patience of love she made the effort.
Peace is not possible to me while my people are lost, for I must be watchful to
find them. If I find them, and they have suffered wrong, shall not the guilty
suffer for it? If they are dead by violence, shall the murderers escape? Oh, I
could not sleep for dreams! Nor could the holiest love, by any stratagem, lull
me to a rest which conscience would not strangle."
"Is it so
bad then?" she asked, her voice tremulous with feeling. "Can nothing,
nothing, be done?"
Ben-Hur took her
hand.
"Do you care
so much for me?"
"Yes,"
she answered, simply.
The hand was
warm, and in the palm of his it was lost. He felt it tremble. Then the Egyptian
came, so the opposite of this little one; so tall, so audacious, with a
flattery so cunning, a wit so ready, a beauty so wonderful, a manner so
bewitching. He carried the hand to his lips, and gave it back.
"You shall
be another Tirzah to me, Esther."
"Who is
Tirzah?"
"The little
sister the Roman stole from me, and whom I must find before I can rest or be
happy."
Just then a gleam
of light flashed athwart the terrace and fell upon the two; and, looking round,
they saw a servant roll Simonides in his chair out of the door. They went to
the merchant, and in the after-talk he was principal.
Immediately the
lines of the galley were cast off, and she swung round, and, midst the flashing
of torches and the shouting of joyous sailors, hurried off to the sea - leaving
Ben-Hur committed to the cause of the KING WHO WAS TO COME.
CHAPTER X
The day before
the games, in the afternoon, all Ilderim's racing property was taken to the
city, and put in quarters adjoining the Circus. Along with it the good man
carried a great deal of property not of that class; so with servants, retainers
mounted and armed, horses in leading, cattle driven, camels laden with baggage,
his outgoing from the Orchard was not unlike a tribal migration. The people along
the road failed not to laugh at his motley procession; on the other side, it
was observed that, with all his irascibility, he was not in the least offended
by their rudeness. If he was under surveillance, as he had reason to believe,
the informer would describe the semi-barbarous show with which he came up to
the races. The Romans would laugh; the city would be amused; but what cared he?
Next morning the pageant would be far on the road to the desert, and going with
it would be every movable thing of value belonging to the Orchard - everything
save such as were essential to the success of his four. He was, in fact,
started home; his tents were all folded; the dowar was no more; in twelve hours
all would be out of reach, pursue who might. A man is never safer than when he
is under the laugh; and the shrewd old Arab knew it.
Neither he nor
Ben-Hur overestimated the influence of Messala; it was their opinion, however,
that he would not begin active measures against them until after the meeting in
the Circus; if defeated there, especially if defeated by Ben-Hur, they might
instantly look for the worst he could do; he might not even wait for advices
from Gratus. With this view, they shaped their course, and were prepared to
betake themselves out of harm's way. They rode together now in good spirits,
calmly confident of success on the morrow.
On the way, they
came upon Malluch in waiting for them. The faithful fellow gave no sign by
which it was possible to infer any knowledge on his part of the relationship so
recently admitted between Ben-Hur and Simonides, or of the treaty between them
and Ilderim. He exchanged salutations as usual, and produced a paper, saying to
the sheik, "I have here the notice of the editor of the games, just
issued, in which you will find your horses published for the race. You will
find in it also the order of exercises. Without waiting, good sheik, I
congratulate you upon your victory."
He gave the paper
over, and, leaving the worthy to master it, turned to Ben-Hur.
"To you
also, son of Arrius, my congratulations. There is nothing now to prevent your
meeting Messala. Every condition preliminary to the race is complied with. I
have the assurance from the editor himself."
"I thank
you, Malluch," said Ben-Hur.
Malluch
proceeded:
"Your color
is white, and Messala's mixed scarlet and gold. The good effects of the choice
are visible already. Boys are now hawking white ribbons along the streets;
tomorrow every Arab and Jew in the city will wear them. In the Circus you will
see the white fairly divide the galleries with the red."
"The
galleries - but not the tribunal over the Porta Pompae."
"No; the
scarlet and gold will rule there. But if we win" - Malluch chuckled with
the pleasure of the thought -”if we win, how the dignitaries will tremble! They
will bet, of course, according to their scorn of everything not Roman - two,
three, five to one on Messala, because he is Roman." Dropping his voice
yet lower, he added, "It ill becomes a Jew of good standing in the Temple
to put his money at such a hazard; yet, in confidence, I will have a friend
next behind the consul's seat to accept offers of three to one, or five, or ten
- the madness may go to such height. I have put to his order six thousand
shekels for the purpose."
"Nay,
Malluch," said Ben-Hur, "a Roman will wager only in his Roman coin.
Suppose you find your friend to-night, and place to his order sestertii in such
amount as you choose. And look you, Malluch - let him be instructed to seek
wagers with Messala and his supporters; Ilderim's four against Messala's."
Malluch reflected
a moment.
"The effect
will be to centre interest upon your contest."
"The very
thing I seek, Malluch."
"I see, I
see."
"Ay,
Malluch; would you serve me perfectly, help me to fix the public eye upon our race
- Messala's and mine."
Malluch spoke
quickly -”It can be done."
"Then let it
be done," said Ben-Hur.
"Enormous
wagers offered will answer; if the offers are accepted, all the better."
Malluch turned
his eyes watchfully upon Ben-Hur.
"Shall I not
have back the equivalent of his robbery?" said Ben-Hur, partly to himself.
"Another opportunity may not come. And if I could break him in fortune as
well as in pride! Our father Jacob could take no offence."
A look of
determined will knit his handsome face, giving emphasis to his further speech.
"Yes, it
shall be. Hark, Malluch! Stop not in thy offer of sestertii. Advance them to
talents, if any there be who dare so high. Five, ten, twenty talents; ay,
fifty, so the wager be with Messala himself."
"It is a
mighty sum," said Malluch. "I must have security."
"So thou
shalt. Go to Simonides, and tell him I wish the matter arranged. Tell him my
heart is set on the ruin of my enemy, and that the opportunity hath such
excellent promise that I choose such hazards. On our side be the God of our
fathers. Go, good Malluch. Let this not slip."
And Malluch,
greatly delighted, gave him parting salutation, and started to ride away, but
returned presently.
"Your
pardon," he said to Ben-Hur. "There was another matter. I could not
get near Messala's chariot myself, but I had another measure it; and, from his
report, its hub stands quite a palm higher from the ground than yours."
"A palm! So
much?" cried Ben-Hur, joyfully.
Then he leaned
over to Malluch.
"As thou art
a son of Judah, Malluch, and faithful to thy kin, get thee a seat in the
gallery over the Gate of Triumph, down close to the balcony in front of the
pillars, and watch well when we make the turns there; watch well, for if I have
favor at all, I will - Nay, Malluch, let
it go unsaid! Only get thee there, and watch well."
At that moment a
cry burst from Ilderim.
"Ha! By the
splendor of God! what is this?"
He drew near
Ben-Hur with a finger pointing on the face of the notice.
"Read,"
said Ben-Hur.
"No; better
thou."
Ben-Hur took the
paper, which, signed by the prefect of the province as editor, performed the
office of a modern programme, giving particularly the several divertisements
provided for the occasion. It informed the public that there would be first a
procession of extraordinary splendor; that the procession would be succeeded by
the customary honors to the god Consus, whereupon the games would begin;
running, leaping, wrestling, boxing, each in the order stated. The names of the
competitors were given, with their several nationalities and schools of
training, the trials in which they had been engaged, the prizes won, and the
prizes now offered; under the latter head the sums of money were stated in
illuminated letters, telling of the departure of the day when the simple
chaplet of pine or laurel was fully enough for the victor, hungering for glory
as something better than riches, and content with it.
Over these parts
of the programme Ben-Hur sped with rapid eyes. At last he came to the announcement
of the race. He read it slowly. Attending lovers of the heroic sports were
assured they would certainly be gratified by an Orestean struggle unparalleled
in Antioch. The city offered the spectacle in honor of the consul. One hundred
thousand sestertii and a crown of laurel were the prizes. Then followed the
particulars. The entries were six in all - fours only permitted; and, to
further interest in the performance, the competitors would be turned into the
course together. Each four then received description.
"I. A four
of Lysippus the Corinthian - two grays, a bay, and a black; entered at
Alexandria last year, and again at Corinth, where they were winners. Lysippus,
driver. Color, yellow.
"II. A four
of Messala of Rome - two white, two black; victors of the Circensian as
exhibited in the Circus Maximus last year. Messala, driver. Colors, scarlet and
gold.
"III. A four
of Cleanthes the Athenian - three gray, one bay; winners at the Isthmian last
year. Cleanthes, driver. Color, green.
"IV. A four
of Dicaeus the Byzantine - two black, one gray, one bay; winners this year at
Byzantium. Dicaeus, driver. Color, black.
"V. A four
of Admetus the Sidonian - all grays. Thrice entered at Caesarea, and thrice
victors. Admetus, driver. Color, blue.
"VI. A four
of Ilderim, sheik of the Desert. All bays; first race. Ben-Hur, a Jew, driver.
Color, white."
BEN-HUR,
A JEW, DRIVER!
Why that name instead of Arrius?
Ben-Hur raised
his eyes to Ilderim. He had found the cause of the Arab's outcry. Both rushed to
the same conclusion.
The hand was the
hand of Messala!
