ben-hur-第41部分

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〃They　should　respect　his　beard　at　least。　Who　is　he？〃　asked　Ben…Hur。

〃A　mighty　man　from　the　Desert；　somewhere　beyond　Moab；　and　owner　of　camels　in　herds；　and　horses　descended；　they　say；　from　the　racers　of　the　first　PharaohSheik　Ilderim　by　name　and　title。〃

Thus　Malluch　replied。

The　driver　meanwhile　exerted　himself　to　quiet　the　four；　but　without　avail。　Each　ineffectual　effort　excited　the　sheik　the　more。

〃Abaddon　seize　him！〃　yelled　the　patriarch；　shrilly。　〃Run！　fly！　do　you　hear；　my　children？〃　The　question　was　to　his　attendants；　apparently　of　the　tribe。　〃Do　you　hear？　They　are　Desert…born；　like　yourselves。　Catch　themquick！〃

The　plunging　of　the　animals　increased。

〃Accursed　Roman！〃　and　the　sheik　shook　his　fist　at　the　driver。　〃Did　he　not　swear　he　could　drive　themswear　it　by　all　his　brood　of　bastard　Latin　gods？　Nay；　hands　off　meoff；　I　say！　They　should　run　swift　as　eagles；　and　with　the　temper　of　hand…bred　lambs；　he　swore。　Cursed　be　hecursed　the　mother　of　liars　who　calls　him　son！　See　them；　the　priceless！　Let　him　touch　one　of　them　with　a　lash；　and〃the　rest　of　the　sentence　was　lost　in　a　furious　grinding　of　his　teeth。　〃To　their　heads；　some　of　you；　and　speak　thema　word；　one　is　enough；　from　the　tent…song　your　mothers　sang　you。　Oh；　fool；　fool　that　I　was　to　put　trust　in　a　Roman！〃

Some　of　the　shrewder　of　the　old　man's　friends　planted　themselves　between　him　and　the　horses。　An　opportune　failure　of　breath　on　his　part　helped　the　stratagem。

Ben…Hur；　thinking　he　comprehended　the　sheik；　sympathized　with　him。　Far　more　than　mere　pride　of　propertymore　than　anxiety　for　the　result　of　the　racein　his　view　it　was　within　the　possible　for　the　patriarch；　according　to　his　habits　of　thought　and　his　ideas　of　the　inestimable；　to　love　such　animals　with　a　tenderness　akin　to　the　most　sensitive　passion。

They　were　all　bright　bays；　unspotted；　perfectly　matched；　and　so　proportioned　as　to　seem　less　than　they　really　were。　Delicate　ears　pointed　small　heads；　the　faces　were　broad　and　full　between　the　eyes；　the　nostrils　in　expansion　disclosed　membrane　so　deeply　red　as　to　suggest　the　flashing　of　flame；　the　necks　were　arches；　overlaid　with　fine　mane　so　abundant　as　to　drape　the　shoulders　and　breast；　while　in　happy　consonance　the　forelocks　were　like　ravellings　of　silken　veils；　between　the　knees　and　the　fetlocks　the　legs　were　flat　as　an　open　hand；　but　above　the　knees　they　were　rounded　with　mighty　muscles；　needful　to　upbear　the　shapely　close…knit　bodies；　the　hoofs　were　like　cups　of　polished　agate；　and　in　rearing　and　plunging　they　whipped　the　air；　and　sometimes　the　earth；　with　tails　glossy…black　and　thick　and　long。　The　sheik　spoke　of　them　as　the　priceless；　and　it　was　a　good　saying。

In　this　second　and　closer　look　at　the　horses；　Ben…Hur　read　the　story　of　their　relation　to　their　master。　They　had　grown　up　under　his　eyes；　objects　of　his　special　care　in　the　day；　his　visions　of　pride　in　the　night；　with　his　family　at　home　in　the　black　tent　out　on　the　shadeless　bosom　of　the　desert；　as　his　children　beloved。　That　they　might　win　him　a　triumph　over　the　haughty　and　hated　Roman；　the　old　man　had　brought　his　loves　to　the　city；　never　doubting　they　would　win；　if　only　he　could　find　a　trusty　expert　to　take　them　in　hand；　not　merely　one　with　skill；　but　of　a　spirit　which　their　spirits　would　acknowledge。　Unlike　the　colder　people　of　the　West；　he　could　not　protest　the　driver's　inability；　and　dismiss　him　civilly；　an　Arab　and　a　sheik；　he　had　to　explode；　and　rive　the　air　about　him　with　clamor。

Before　the　patriarch　was　done　with　his　expletives；　a　dozen　hands　were　at　the　bits　of　the　horses；　and　their　quiet　assured。　About　that　time；　another　chariot　appeared　upon　the　track；　and；　unlike　the　others；　driver；　vehicle；　and　races　were　precisely　as　they　would　be　presented　in　the　Circus　the　day　of　final　trial。　For　a　reason　which　will　presently　be　more　apparent；　it　is　desirable　now　to　give　this　turnout　plainly　to　the　reader。

There　should　be　no　difficulty　in　understanding　the　carriage　known　to　us　all　as　the　chariot　of　classical　renown。　One　has　but　to　picture　to　himself　a　dray　with　low　wheels　and　broad　axle；　surmounted　by　a　box　open　at　the　tail　end。　Such　was　the　primitive　pattern。　Artistic　genius　came　along　in　time；　and；　touching　the　rude　machine；　raised　it　into　a　thing　of　beautythat；　for　instance；　in　which　Aurora；　riding　in　advance　of　the　dawn；　is　given　to　our　fancy。

The　jockeys　of　the　ancients；　quite　as　shrewd　and　ambitious　as　their　successors　of　the　present；　called　their　humblest　turnout　a　two；　and　their　best　in　grade　a　four；　in　the　latter；　they　contested　the　Olympics　and　the　other　festal　shows　founded　in　imitation　of　them。

The　same　sharp　gamesters　preferred　to　put　their　horses　to　the　chariot　all　abreast；　and　for　distinction　they　termed　the　two　next　the　pole　yoke…steeds；　and　those　on　the　right　and　left　outside　trace…mates。　It　was　their　judgment；　also；　that；　by　allowing　the　fullest　freedom　of　action；　the　greatest　speed　was　attainable；　accordingly；　the　harness　resorted　to　was　peculiarly　simple；　in　fact；　there　was　nothing　of　it　save　a　collar　round　the　animal's　neck；　and　a　trace　fixed　to　the　collar；　unless　the　lines　and　a　halter　fall　within　the　term。　Wanting　to　hitch　up；　the　masters　pinned　a　narrow　wooden　yoke；　or　cross…tree；　near　the　end　of　the　pole；　and；　by　straps　passed　through　rings　at　the　end　of　the　yoke；　buckled　the　latter　to　the　collar。　The　traces　of　the　yokesteeds　they　hitched　to　the　axle；　those　of　the　trace…mates　to　the　top　rim　of　the　chariot…bed。　There　remained　then　but　the　adjustment　of　the　lines；　which；　judged　by　the　modern　devices；　was　not　the　least　curious　part　of　the　method。　For　this　there　was　a　large　ring　at　the　forward　extremity　of　the　pole；　securing　the　ends　to　that　ring　first；　they　parted　the　lines　so　as　to　give　one　to　each　horse；　and　proceeded　to　pass　them　to　the　driver；　slipping　them　separately　through　rings　on　the　inner　side　of　the　halters　at　the　mouth。

With　this　plain　generalization　in　mind；　all　further　desirable　knowledge　upon　the　subject　can　be　had　by　following　the　incidents　of　the　scene　occurring。

The　other　contestants　had　been　received　in　silence；　the　last　comer　was　more　fortunate。　While　moving　towards　the　stand　from　which　we　are　viewing　the　scene；　his　progress　was　signalized　by　loud　demonstrations；　by　clapping　of　hands　and　cheers；　the　effect　of　which　was　to　centre　attention　upon　him　exclusively。　His　yoke…steeds；　it　was　observed；　were　black；　while　the　trace…mates　were　snow…white。　In　conformity　to　the　exacting　canons　of　Roman　taste；　they　had　all　four　been　mutilated；　that　is　to　say；　their　tails　had　been　clipped；　and；　to　complete　the　barbarity；　their　shorn　manes　were　divided　into　knots　tied　with　flaring　red　and　yellow　ribbons。

In　advancing；　the　stranger　at　length　reached　a　point　where　the　chariot　came　into　view　from　the　stand；　and　its　appearance　would　of　itself　have　justified　the　shouting。　The　wheels　were　very　marvels　of　construction。　Stout　bands　of　burnished　bronze　reinforced　the　hubs；　otherwise　very　light；　the　spokes　were　sections　of　ivory　tusks；　set　in　with　the　natural　curve　outward　to　perfect　the　dishing；　considered　important　then　as　now；　bronze　tires　held　the　fellies；　which　were　of　shining　ebony。　The　axle；　in　keeping　with　the　wheels；　was　tipped　with　heads　of　snarling　tigers　done　in　brass；　and　the　bed　was　woven　of　willow　wands　gilded　with　gold。

The　coming　of　the　beautiful　horses　and　resplendent　chariot　drew　Ben…Hur　to　look　at　the　driver　with　increased　interest。

Who　was　he？

When　Ben…Hur　asked　himself　the　question　first；　he　could　not　see　the　man's　face；　or　even　his　full　figure；　yet　the　air　and　manner　were　familiar；　and　pricked　him　keenly　with　a　reminder　of　a　period　long　gone。

Who　could　it　be？

Nearer　now；　and　the　horses　approaching　at　a　trot。　From　the　shouting　and　the　gorgeousness　of　the　turnout；　it　was　thought　he　might　be　some　official　favorite　or　famous　prince。　Such　an　appearance　was　not　inconsistent　with　exalted　rank。　Kings　often　struggled　for　the　crown　of　leaves　which　was　the　prize　of　victory。　Nero　and　Commodus；　it　will　be　remembered；　devoted　themselves　to　the　chariot。　Ben…Hur　arose　and　forced　a　passage　down　nearly　to　the　railing　in　front　of　the　lower　seat　of　the　stand。　His　face　was　earnest；　his　manner　eager。

And　directly　the　whole　person　of　the　driver　was　in　view。　A　companion　rode　with　him；　in　classic　description　a　Myrtilus；　permitted　men　of　high　estate　indulging　their　passion　for　the　race…course。　Ben…Hur　could　see　only　the　driver；　standing　erect　in　the　chariot；　with　the　reins　passed　several　times　round　his　bodya　handsome　figure；　scantily　covered　by　a　tunic　of　light…red　cloth；　in　the　right　hand　a　whip；　in　the　other；　the　arm　raised　and　lightly　extended；　the　four　lines。　The　pose　was　exceedingly　graceful　and　animated。　The　cheers　and　clapping　of　hands　were　received　with　statuesque　indifference。　Ben…Hur　stood　transfixedhis　instinct　and　memory　had　served　him　faithfullyTHE　DRIVER　WAS　MESSALA。

By　the　selection　of　horses；　the　magnificence　of　the　chariot；　the　attitude；　and　display　of　personabove　all；　by　the　expression　of　the　cold；　sharp；　eagle　features；　imperialized　in　his　countrymen　by　sway　of　the　world　through　so　many　generations；　Ben…Hur　knew　Messala　unchanged；　as　haughty；　confident；　and　audacious　as　ever；　the　same　in　ambition；　cynicism；　and　mocking　insouciance。




CHAPTER　VIII



As　Ben…Hur　descended　the　steps　of　the　stand；　an　Arab　arose　upon　the　last　one　at　the　foot；　and　cried　out；

〃Men　of　the　East　and　Westhearken！　The　good　Sheik　Ilderim　giveth　greeting。　With　four　horses；　sons　of　the　favorites　of　Solomon　the　Wise；　he　bath　come　up　against　the　best。　Needs　he　most　a　mighty　man　to　drive　them。　Whoso　will　take　them　to　his　satisfaction；　to　him　he　promiseth　enrichment　forever。　Heretherein　the　city　and　in　the　Circuses；　and　wherever　the　strong　most　do　congregate；　tell　ye　this　his　offer。　So　saith　my　master；　Sheik　Ilderim　the　Generous。〃

The　proclamation　awakened　a　great　buzz　among　the　people　under　the　awning。　By　night　it　would　be　repeated　and　discussed　in　all　the　sporting　circles　of　Antioch。　Ben…Hur；　hearing　it；　stopped　and　looked　hesitatingly　from　the　herald　to　the　sheik。　Malluch　thought　he　was　about　to　accept　the　offer；　but　was　relieved　when　he　presently　turned　to　him；　and　asked；　〃Good　Malluch；　where　to　now？〃

The　worthy　replied；　with　a　laugh；