ben-hur-第37部分

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re　him　to　his　eye；　and　therefore　unnoticeable；　except　as　suggestions　of　profits　in　promise。

Esther　sat　on　the　arm　of　the　chair　nursing　his　hand；　and　waiting　his　speech；　which　came　at　length　in　the　calm　way；　the　mighty　will　having　carried　him　back　to　himself。

〃When　the　young　man　was　speaking；　Esther；　I　observed　thee；　and　thought　thou　wert　won　by　him。〃

Her　eyes　fell　as　she　replied；

〃Speak　you　of　faith；　father；　I　believed　him。〃

〃In　thy　eyes；　then；　he　is　the　lost　son　of　the　Prince　Hur？〃

〃If　he　is　not〃　She　hesitated。

〃And　if　he　is　not；　Esther？〃

〃I　have　been　thy　handmaiden；　father；　since　my　mother　answered　the　call　of　the　Lord　God；　by　thy　side　I　have　heard　and　seen　thee　deal　in　wise　ways　with　all　manner　of　men　seeking　profit；　holy　and　unholy；　and　now　I　say；　if　indeed　the　young　man　be　not　the　prince　he　claims　to　be；　then　before　me　falsehood　never　played　so　well　the　part　of　righteous　truth。〃

〃By　the　glory　of　Solomon；　daughter；　thou　speakest　earnestly。　Dost　thou　believe　thy　father　his　father's　servant？〃

〃I　understood　him　to　ask　of　that　as　something　he　had　but　heard。〃

For　a　time　Simonides'　gaze　swam　among　his　swimming　ships；　though　they　had　no　place　in　his　mind。

〃Well；　thou　art　a　good　child；　Esther；　of　genuine　Jewish　shrewdness；　and　of　years　and　strength　to　hear　a　sorrowful　tale。　Wherefore　give　me　heed；　and　I　will　tell　you　of　myself；　and　of　thy　mother；　and　of　many　things　pertaining　to　the　past　not　in　thy　knowledge　or　thy　dreamsthings　withheld　from　the　persecuting　Romans　for　a　hope's　sake；　and　from　thee　that　thy　nature　should　grow　towards　the　Lord　straight　as　the　reed　to　the　sun。　。　。　。　I　was　born　in　a　tomb　in　the　valley　of　Hinnom；　on　the　south　side　of　Zion。　My　father　and　mother　were　Hebrew　bond…servants；　tenders　of　the　fig　and　olive　trees　growing；　with　many　vines；　in　the　King's　Garden　hard　by　Siloam；　and　in　my　boyhood　I　helped　them。　They　were　of　the　class　bound　to　serve　forever。　They　sold　me　to　the　Prince　Hur；　then；　next　to　Herod　the　King；　the　richest　man　in　Jerusalem。　From　the　garden　he　transferred　me　to　his　storehouse　in　Alexandria　of　Egypt；　where　I　came　of　age。　I　served　him　six　years；　and　in　the　seventh；　by　the　law　of　Moses；　I　went　free。〃

Esther　clapped　her　hands　lightly。

〃Oh；　then；　thou　art　not　his　father's　servant！〃

〃Nay；　daughter；　hear。　Now；　in　those　days　there　were　lawyers　in　the　cloisters　of　the　Temple　who　disputed　vehemently；　saying　the　children　of　servants　bound　forever　took　the　condition　of　their　parents；　but　the　Prince　Hur　was　a　man　righteous　in　all　things；　and　an　interpreter　of　the　law　after　the　straitest　sect；　though　not　of　them。　He　said　I　was　a　Hebrew　servant　bought；　in　the　true　meaning　of　the　great　lawgiver；　and；　by　sealed　writings；　which　I　yet　have；　he　set　me　free。〃

〃And　my　mother？〃　Esther　asked。

〃Thou　shalt　hear　all；　Esther；　be　patient。　Before　I　am　through　thou　shalt　see　it　were　easier　for　me　to　forget　myself　than　thy　mother。　。　。　。　At　the　end　of　my　service；　I　came　up　to　Jerusalem　to　the　Passover。　My　master　entertained　me。　I　was　in　love　with　him　already；　and　I　prayed　to　be　continued　in　his　service。　He　consented；　and　I　served　him　yet　another　seven　years；　but　as　a　hired　son　of　Israel。　In　his　behalf　I　had　charge　of　ventures　on　the　sea　by　ships；　and　of　ventures　on　land　by　caravans　eastward　to　Susa　and　Persepolis；　and　the　lands　of　silk　beyond　them。　Perilous　passages　were　they；　my　daughter；　but　the　Lord　blessed　all　I　undertook。　I　brought　home　vast　gains　for　the　prince；　and　richer　knowledge　for　myself；　without　which　I　could　not　have　mastered　the　charges　since　fallen　to　me。　。　。　。　One　day　I　was　a　guest　in　his　house　in　Jerusalem。　A　servant　entered　with　some　sliced　bread　on　a　platter。　She　came　to　me　first。　It　was　then　I　saw　thy　mother；　and　loved　her；　and　took　her　away　in　my　secret　heart。　After　a　while　a　time　came　when　I　sought　the　prince　to　make　her　my　wife。　He　told　me　she　was　bond…servant　forever；　but　if　she　wished；　he　would　set　her　free　that　I　might　be　gratified。　She　gave　me　love　for　love；　but　was　happy　where　she　was；　and　refused　her　freedom。　I　prayed　and　besought；　going　again　and　again　after　long　intervals。　She　would　be　my　wife；　she　all　the　time　said；　if　I　would　become　her　fellow　in　servitude。　Our　father　Jacob　served　yet　other　seven　years　for　his　Rachel。　Could　I　not　as　much　for　mine？　But　thy　mother　said　I　must　become　as　she；　to　serve　forever。　I　came　away；　but　went　back。　Look；　Esther；　look　here。〃

He　pulled　out　the　lobe　of　his　left　ear。

〃See　you　not　the　scar　of　the　awl？〃

〃I　see　it；〃　she　said；　〃and；　oh；　I　see　how　thou　didst　love　my　mother！〃

〃Love　her；　Esther！　She　was　to　me　more　than　the　Shulamite　to　the　singing　king；　fairer；　more　spotless；　a　fountain　of　gardens；　a　well　of　living　waters；　and　streams　from　Lebanon。　The　master；　even　as　I　required　him；　took　me　to　the　judges；　and　back　to　his　door；　and　thrust　the　awl　through　my　ear　into　the　door；　and　I　was　his　servant　forever。　So　I　won　my　Rachel。　And　was　ever　love　like　mine？〃

Esther　stooped　and　kissed　him；　and　they　were　silent；　thinking　of　the　dead。

〃My　master　was　drowned　at　sea；　the　first　sorrow　that　ever　fell　upon　me；〃　the　merchant　continued。　〃There　was　mourning　in　his　house；　and　in　mine　here　in　Antioch；　my　abiding…place　at　the　time。　Now；　Esther；　mark　you！　When　the　good　prince　was　lost；　I　had　risen　to　be　his　chief　steward；　with　everything　of　property　belonging　to　him　in　my　management　and　control。　Judge　you　how　much　he　loved　and　trusted　me！　I　hastened　to　Jerusalem　to　render　account　to　the　widow。　She　continued　me　in　the　stewardship。　I　applied　myself　with　greater　diligence。　The　business　prospered；　and　grew　year　by　year。　Ten　years　passed；　then　came　the　blow　which　you　heard　the　young　man　tell　aboutthe　accident；　as　he　called　it；　to　the　Procurator　Gratus。　The　Roman　gave　it　out　an　attempt　to　assassinate　him。　Under　that　pretext；　by　leave　from　Rome；　he　confiscated　to　his　own　use　the　immense　fortune　of　the　widow　and　children。　Nor　stopped　he　there。　That　there　might　be　no　reversal　of　the　judgment；　he　removed　all　the　parties　interested。　From　that　dreadful　day　to　this　the　family　of　Hur　have　been　lost。　The　son；　whom　I　had　seen　as　a　child；　was　sentenced　to　the　galleys。　The　widow　and　daughter　are　supposed　to　have　been　buried　in　some　of　the　many　dungeons　of　Judea；　which；　once　closed　upon　the　doomed；　are　like　sepulchers　sealed　and　locked。　They　passed　from　the　knowledge　of　men　as　utterly　as　if　the　sea　had　swallowed　them　unseen。　We　could　not　hear　how　they　diednay；　not　even　that　they　were　dead。〃

Esther's　eyes　were　dewy　with　tears。

〃Thy　heart　is　good；　Esther；　good　as　thy　mother's　was；　and　I　pray　it　have　not　the　fate　of　most　good　heartsto　be　trampled　upon　by　the　unmerciful　and　blind。　But　hearken　further。　I　went　up　to　Jerusalem　to　give　help　to　my　benefactress；　and　was　seized　at　the　gate　of　the　city　and　carried　to　the　sunken　cells　of　the　Tower　of　Antonia；　why；　I　knew　not；　until　Gratus　himself　came　and　demanded　of　me　the　moneys　of　the　House　of　Hur；　which　he　knew；　after　our　Jewish　custom　of　exchange；　were　subject　to　my　draft　in　the　different　marts　of　the　world。　He　required　me　to　sign　to　his　order。　I　refused。　He　had　the　houses；　lands；　goods；　ships；　and　movable　property　of　those　I　served；　he　had　not　their　moneys。　I　saw；　if　I　kept　favor　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　I　could　rebuild　their　broken　fortunes。　I　refused　the　tyrant's　demands。　He　put　me　to　torture；　my　will　held　good；　and　he　set　me　free；　nothing　gained。　I　came　home　and　began　again；　in　the　name　of　Simonides　of　Antioch；　instead　of　the　Prince　Hur　of　Jerusalem。　Thou　knowest；　Esther；　how　I　have　prospered；　that　the　increase　of　the　millions　of　the　prince　in　my　hands　was　miraculous；　thou　knowest　how；　at　the　end　of　three　years；　while　going　up　to　Caesarea；　I　was　taken　and　a　second　time　tortured　by　Gratus　to　compel　a　confession　that　my　goods　and　moneys　were　subject　to　his　order　of　confiscation；　thou　knowest　he　failed　as　before。　Broken　in　body；　I　came　home　and　found　my　Rachel　dead　of　fear　and　grief　for　me。　The　Lord　our　God　reigned；　and　I　lived。　From　the　emperor　himself　I　bought　immunity　and　license　to　trade　throughout　the　world。　To…daypraised　be　He　who　maketh　the　clouds　his　chariot　and　walketh　upon　the　winds！to…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