the blue flower-第24章

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secret　tide　was　sweeping　them　all　one　way。　　The　clatter　of
sandals　and　the　soft；　thick　sound　of　thousands　of　bare　feet
shuffling　over　the　stones；　flowed　unceasingly　along　the　street
that　leads　to　the　Damascus　gate。

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

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

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

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

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

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

Artaban　trembled。

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One　more　lingering　pulsation　of　the　earthquake　quivered
through　the　ground。　　A　heavy　tile；　shaken　from　the　roof；　fell　and
struck　the　old　man　on　the　temple。　　He　lay　breathless　and　pale；
with　his　gray　head　resting　on　the　young　girl's　shoulder；　and　the
blood　trickling　from　the　wound。　　As　she　bent　over　him；　fearing
that　he　was　dead；　there　came　a　voice　through　the　twilight；　very
small　and　still；　like　music　sounding　from　a　distance；　in　which
the　notes　are　clear　but　the　words　are　lost。　　The　girl　turned　to
see　if　some　one　had　spoken　from　the　window　above　them；　but　she
saw　no　one。

Then　the　old　man's　lips　began　to　move；　as　if　in　answer；
and　she　heard　him　say　in　the　Parthian　tongue：

〃Not　so；　my　Lord！　　For　when　saw　I　thee　an　hungered　and　fed
thee？　　Or　thirsty；　and　gave　thee　drink？　　When　saw　I　thee　a
stranger；　and　took　thee　in？　　Or　naked；　and　clothed　thee？　　When
saw　I　thee　sick　or　in　prison；　and　came　unto　thee？　　Three…and
thirty　years　have　I　looked　for　thee；　but　I　have　never　seen　thy
face；　nor　ministered　to　thee；　my　King。〃

He　ceased；　and　the　sweet　voice　came　again。　　And
again　the　maid　heard　it；　very　faint　and　far　away。　　But　now　it
seemed　as　though　she　understood　the　words：

〃Verily　I　say　unto　thee；　Inasmuch　as　thou　hast　done　it
unto　one　of　the　least　of　these　my　brethren；　thou　hast　done　it
unto　me。〃

A　calm　radiance　of　wonder　and　joy　lighted　the　pale　face　of
Artaban　like　the　first　ray　of　dawn；　on　a　snowy　mountain…peak。
A　long　breath　of　relief　exhaled　gently　from　his　lips。

His　journey　was　ended。　　His　treasures　were　accepted。　　The
Other　Wise　Man　had　found　the　King。



A　HANDFUL　OF　CLAY

There　was　a　handful　of　clay　in　the　bank　of　a　river。　　It　was
only　common　clay；　coarse　and　heavy；　but　it　had　high　thoughts
of　its　own　value；　and　wonderful　dreams　of　the　great　place
which　it　was　to　fill　in　the　world　when　the　time　came　for　its
virtues　to　be　discovered。

Overhead；　in　the　spring　sunshine；　the　trees　whispered
together　of　the　glory　which　descended　upon　them　when　the
delicate　blossoms　and　leaves　began　to　expand；　and　the　forest
glowed　with　fair；　clear　colours；　as　if　the　dust　of　thousands
of　rubies　and　emeralds　were　hanging；　in　soft　clouds；　above　the
earth。

The　flowers；　surprised　with　the　joy　of　beauty；　bent　their
heads　to　one　another；　as　the　wind　caressed　them；　and　said：
〃Sisters；　how　lovely　you　have　become。　　You　make　the　day
bright。〃

The　river；　glad　of　new　strength　and　rejoicing　in　the
unison　of　all　its　waters；　murmured　to　the　shores　in　music；
telling　of　its　release　from　icy　fetters；　its　swift　flight　from
the　snow…clad　mountains；　and　the　mighty　work　to　which　it　was
hurryingthe　wheels　of　many　mills　to　be　turned；　and　great　ships
to　be　floated　to　the　sea。

Waiting　blindly　in　its　bed；　the　clay　comforted　itself　with
lofty　hopes。　　〃My　time　will　come；〃　it　said。　　〃I　was　not　made
to　be　hidden　forever。　　Glory　and　beauty　and　honour　are　coming
to　me　in　due　season。〃

One　day　the　clay　felt　itself　taken　from　the　place　where　it
had　waited　so　long。　　A　flat　blade　of　iron　passed　beneath　it；
and　lifted　it；　and　tossed　it　into　a　cart　with　other　lumps　of
clay；　and　it　was　carried　far　away；　as　it　seemed；　over　a　rough
and　stony　road。　　But　it　was　not　afraid；　nor　discouraged；　for
it　said　to　itself：　　〃This　is　necessary。　　The　path　to　glory　is
always　rugged。　　Now