ben-hur-第47章
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day； Esther； that which was in my hands for stewardship is multiplied into talents sufficient to enrich a Caesar。〃
He lifted his head proudly； their eyes met； each read the other's thought。 〃What shall I with the treasure； Esther？〃 he asked； without lowering his gaze。
〃My father；〃 she answered； in a low voice； 〃did not the rightful owner call for it but now？〃
Still his look did not fail。
〃And thou； my child； shall I leave thee a beggar？〃
〃Nay； father； am not I； because I am thy child； his bond…servant？ And of whom was it written； 'Strength and honor are her clothing； and she shall rejoice in time to come？'〃
A gleam of ineffable love lighted his face as he said； 〃The Lord hath been good to me in many ways； but thou； Esther； art the sovereign excellence of his favor。〃
He drew her to his breast and kissed her many times。
〃Hear now；〃 he said； with clearer voice〃hear now why I laughed this morning。 The young man faced me the apparition of his father in comely youth。 My spirit arose to salute him。 I felt my trial…days were over and my labors ended。 Hardly could I keep from crying out。 I longed to take him by the hand and show the balance I had earned； and say； 'Lo； 'tis all thine！ and I am thy servant； ready now to be called away。' And so I would have done； Esther； so I would have done； but that moment three thoughts rushed to restrain me。 I will be sure he is my master's sonsuch was the first thought； if he is my master's son； I will learn somewhat of his nature。 Of those born to riches； bethink you； Esther； how many there are in whose hands riches are but breeding curses〃he paused； while his hands clutched； and his voice shrilled with passion〃Esther； consider the pains I endured at the Roman's hands； nay； not Gratus's alone： the merciless wretches who did his bidding the first time and the last were Romans； and they all alike laughed to hear me scream。 Consider my broken body； and the years I have gone shorn of my stature； consider thy mother yonder in her lonely tomb； crushed of soul as I of body； consider the sorrows of my master's family if they are living； and the cruelty of their taking…off if they are dead； consider all； and； with Heaven's love about thee； tell me； daughter； shall not a hair fall or a red drop run in expiation？ Tell me not； as the preachers sometimes dotell me not that vengeance is the Lord's。 Does he not work his will harmfully as well as in love by agencies？ Has he not his men of war more numerous than his prophets？ Is not his the law； Eye for eye； hand for hand； foot for foot？ Oh； in all these years I have dreamed of vengeance； and prayed and provided for it； and gathered patience from the growing of my store； thinking and promising； as the Lord liveth； it will one day buy me punishment of the wrong…doers？ And when； speaking of his practise with arms； the young man said it was for a nameless purpose； I named the purpose even as he spokevengeance！ and that； Esther； that it wasthe third thought which held me still and hard while his pleading lasted； and made me laugh when he was gone。〃
Esther caressed the faded hands； and said； as if her spirit with his were running forward to results； 〃He is gone。 Will he come again？〃
〃Ay； Malluch the faithful goes with him； and will bring him back when I am ready。〃
〃And when will that be； father？〃
〃Not long； not long。 He thinks all his witnesses dead。 There is one living who will not fail to know him； if he be indeed my master's son。〃
〃His mother？〃
〃Nay； daughter； I will set the witness before him； till then let us rest the business with the Lord。 I am tired。 Call Abimelech。〃
Esther called the servant； and they returned into the house。
CHAPTER V
When Ben…Hur sallied from the great warehouse； it was with the thought that another failure was to be added to the many he had already met in the quest for his people； and the idea was depressing exactly in proportion as the objects of his quest were dear to him； it curtained him round about with a sense of utter loneliness on earth； which； more than anything else； serves to eke from a soul cast down its remaining interest in life。
Through the people； and the piles of goods； he made way to the edge of the landing； and was tempted by the cool shadows darkening the river's depth。 The lazy current seemed to stop and wait for him。 In counteraction of the spell； the saying of the voyager flashed into memory〃Better be a worm； and feed upon the mulberries of Daphne； than a king's guest。〃 He turned； and walked rapidly down the landing and back to the khan。
〃The road to Daphne！〃 the steward said； surprised at the question Ben…Hur put to him。 〃You have not been here before？ Well； count this the happiest day of your life。 You cannot mistake the road。 The next street to the left； going south； leads straight to Mount Sulpius； crowned by the altar of Jupiter and the Amphitheater； keep it to the third cross street； known as Herod's Colonnade； turn to your right there； and hold the way through the old city of Seleucus to the bronze gates of Epiphanes。 There the road to Daphne beginsand may the gods keep you！〃
A few directions respecting his baggage； and Ben…Hur set out。
The Colonnade of Herod was easily found； thence to the brazen gates； under a continuous marble portico； he passed with a multitude mixed of people from all the trading nations of the earth。
It was about the fourth hour of the day when he passed out the gate； and found himself one of a procession apparently interminable； moving to the famous Grove。 The road was divided into separate ways for footmen； for men on horses； and men in chariots； and those again into separate ways for outgoers and incomers。 The lines of division were guarded by low balustrading； broken by massive pedestals； many of which were surmounted with statuary。 Right and left of the road extended margins of sward perfectly kept； relieved at intervals by groups of oak and sycamore trees； and vine…clad summer…houses for the accommodation of the weary； of whom； on the return side； there were always multitudes。 The ways of the footmen were paved with red stone； and those of the riders strewn with white sand compactly rolled； but not so solid as to give back an echo to hoof or wheel。 The number and variety of fountains at play were amazing； all gifts of visiting kings； and called after them。 Out southwest to the gates of the Grove； the magnificent thoroughfare stretched a little over four miles from the city。
In his wretchedness of feeling； Ben…Hur barely observed the royal liberality which marked the construction of the road。 Nor more did he at first notice the crowd going with him。 He treated the processional displays with like indifference。 To say truth； besides his self…absorption； he had not a little of the complacency of a Roman visiting the provinces fresh from the ceremonies which daily eddied round and round the golden pillar set up by Augustus as the centre of the world。 It was not possible for the provinces to offer anything new or superior。 He rather availed himself of every opportunity to push forward through the companies in the way； and too slow…going for his impatience。 By the time he reached Heracleia； a suburban village intermediate the city and the Grove； he was somewhat spent with exercise； and began to be susceptible of entertainment。 Once a pair of goats led by a beautiful woman； woman and goats alike brilliant with ribbons and flowers； attracted his attention。 Then he stopped to look at a bull of mighty girth； and snowy white； covered with vines freshly cut； and bearing on its broad back a naked child in a basket； the image of a young Bacchus； squeezing the juice of ripened berries into a goblet； and drinking with libational formulas。 As he resumed his walk； he wondered whose altars would be enriched by the offerings。 A horse went by with clipped mane； after the fashion of the time； his rider superbly dressed。 He smiled to observe the harmony of pride between the man and the brute。 Often after that he turned his head at hearing the rumble of wheels and the dull thud of hoofs； unconsciously he was becoming interested in the styles of chariots and charioteers； as they rustled past him going and coming。 Nor was it long until he be
