ben-hur-第50部分

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here　shall　be　a　kid。　God　with　ye！　Want　of　sweet　water　there　shall　not　be；　for　the　lake　is　our　well；　neither　shall　the　bearers　of　burden　hunger；　or　the　least　of　the　flock；　for　here　is　green　pasture　also。　God　with　you　all；　my　children！　Go。〃

And；　shouting；　the　many　happy　went　their　ways　then　to　pitch　their　own　habitations。　A　few　remained　to　arrange　the　interior　for　the　sheik；　and　of　these　the　men…servants　hung　a　curtain　to　the　central　row　of　pillars；　making　two　apartments；　the　one　on　the　right　sacred　to　Ilderim　himself；　the　other　sacred　to　his　horseshis　jewels　of　Solomonwhich　they　led　in；　and　with　kisses　and　love…taps　set　at　liberty。　Against　the　middle　pillar　they　then　erected　the　arms…rack；　and　filled　it　with　javelins　and　spears；　and　bows；　arrows；　and　shields；　outside　of　them　hanging　the　master's　sword；　modelled　after　the　new　moon；　and　the　glitter　of　its　blade　rivalled　the　glitter　of　the　jewels　bedded　in　its　grip。　Upon　one　end　of　the　rack　they　hung　the　housings　of　the　horses；　gay　some　of　them　as　the　livery　of　a　king's　servant；　while　on　the　other　end　they　displayed　the　great　man's　wearing　apparelhis　robes　woollen　and　robes　linen；　his　tunics　and　trousers；　and　many　colored　kerchiefs　for　the　head。　Nor　did　they　give　over　the　work　until　he　pronounced　it　well。

Meantime　the　women　drew　out　and　set　up　the　divan；　more　indispensable　to　him　than　the　beard　down…flowing　over　his　breast；　white　as　Aaron's。　They　put　a　frame　together　in　shape　of　three　sides　of　a　square；　the　opening　to　the　door；　and　covered　it　with　cushions　and　base　curtains；　and　the　cushions　with　a　changeable　spread　striped　brown　and　yellow；　at　the　corners　they　placed　pillows　and　bolsters　sacked　in　cloth　blue　and　crimson；　then　around　the　divan　they　laid　a　margin　of　carpet；　and　the　inner　space　they　carpeted　as　well；　and　when　the　carpet　was　carried　from　the　opening　of　the　divan　to　the　door　of　the　tent；　their　work　was　done；　whereupon　they　again　waited　until　the　master　said　it　was　good。　Nothing　remained　then　but　to　bring　and　fill　the　jars　with　water；　and　hang　the　skin　bottles　of　arrack　ready　for　the　handto…morrow　the　leben。　Nor　might　an　Arab　see　why　Ilderim　should　not　be　　both　happy　and　generousin　his　tent　by　the　lake　of　sweet　waters；　under　the　palms　of　the　Orchard　of　Palms。

Such　was　the　tent　at　the　door　of　which　we　left　Ben…Hur。

Servants　were　already　waiting　the　master's　direction。　One　of　them　took　off　his　sandals；　another　unlatched　Ben…Hur's　Roman　shoes；　then　the　two　exchanged　their　dusty　outer　garments　for　fresh　ones　of　white　linen。

〃Enterin　God's　name；　enter；　and　take　thy　rest；〃　said　the　host；　heartily；　in　the　dialect　of　the　Market…place　of　Jerusalem；　forthwith　he　led　the　way　to　the　divan。

〃I　will　sit　here；〃　he　said　next；　pointing；　〃and　there　the　stranger。〃

A　womanin　the　old　time　she　would　have　been　called　a　handmaidanswered；　and　dexterously　piled　the　pillows　and　bolsters　as　rests　for　the　back；　after　which　they　sat　upon　the　side　of　the　divan；　while　water　was　brought　fresh　from　the　lake；　and　their　feet　bathed　and　dried　with　napkins。

〃We　have　a　saying　in　the　Desert；〃　Ilderim　began；　gathering　his　beard；　and　combing　it　with　his　slender　fingers；　〃that　a　good　appetite　is　the　promise　of　a　long　life。　Hast　thou　such？〃

〃By　that　rule；　good　sheik；　I　will　live　a　hundred　years。　I　am　a　hungry　wolf　at　thy　door；〃　Ben…Hur　replied。

〃Well；　thou　shalt　not　be　sent　away　like　a　wolf。　I　will　give　thee　the　best　of　the　flocks。〃

Ilderim　clapped　his　hands。

〃Seek　the　stranger　in　the　guest…tent；　and　say　I；　Ilderim；　send　him　a　prayer　that　his　peace　may　be　as　incessant　as　the　flowing　of　waters。〃

The　man　in　waiting　bowed。

〃Say；　also；〃　Ilderim　continued；　〃that　I　have　returned　with　another　for　breaking　of　bread；　and；　if　Balthasar　the　wise　careth　to　share　the　loaf；　three　may　partake　of　it；　and　the　portion　of　the　birds　be　none　the　less。〃

The　second　servant　went　away。

〃Let　us　take　our　rest　now。〃

Thereupon　Ilderim　settled　himself　upon　the　divan；　as　at　this　day　merchants　sit　on　their　rugs　in　the　bazaars　of　Damascus；　and　when　fairly　at　rest；　he　stopped　combing　his　beard；　and　said；　gravely；　〃That　thou　art　my　guest；　and　hast　drunk　my　leben；　and　art　about　to　taste　my　salt；　ought　not　to　forbid　a　question：　Who　art　thou？〃

〃Sheik　Ilderim；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　calmly　enduring　his　gaze；　〃I　pray　thee　not　to　think　me　trifling　with　thy　just　demand；　but　was　there　never　a　time　in　thy　life　when　to　answer　such　a　question　would　have　been　a　crime　to　thyself？〃

〃By　the　splendor　of　Solomon；　yes！〃　Ilderim　answered。　〃Betrayal　of　self　is　at　times　as　base　as　the　betrayal　of　a　tribe。〃

〃Thanks；　thanks；　good　sheik！〃　Ben…Hur　exclaimed。

〃Never　answer　became　thee　better。　Now　I　know　thou　cost　but　seek　assurance　to　justify　the　trust　I　have　come　to　ask；　and　that　such　assurance　is　of　more　interest　to　thee　than　the　affairs　of　my　poor　life。〃

The　sheik　in　his　turn　bowed；　and　Ben…Hur　hastened　to　pursue　his　advantage。

〃So　it　please　thee　then；〃　he　said；　〃first；　I　am　not　a　Roman；　as　the　name　given　thee　as　mine　implieth。〃

Ilderim　clasped　the　beard　overflowing　his　breast；　and　gazed　at　the　speaker　with　eyes　faintly　twinkling　through　the　shade　of　the　heavy　close…drawn　brows。

〃In　the　next　place；〃　Ben…Hur　continued；　〃I　am　an　Israelite　of　the　tribe　of　Judah。〃

The　sheik　raised　his　brows　a　little。

〃Nor　that　merely。　Sheik；　I　am　a　Jew　with　a　grievance　against　Rome　compared　with　which　thine　is　not　more　than　a　child's　trouble。〃

The　old　man　combed　his　beard　with　nervous　haste；　and　let　fall　his　brows　until　even　the　twinkle　of　the　eyes　went　out。

〃Still　further：　I　swear　to　thee；　Sheik　IlderimI　swear　by　the　covenant　the　Lord　made　with　my　fathersso　thou　but　give　me　the　revenge　I　seek；　the　money　and　the　glory　of　the　race　shall　be　thine。〃

Ilderim's　brows　relaxed；　his　head　arose；　his　face　began　to　beam；　and　it　was　almost　possible　to　see　the　satisfaction　taking　possession　of　him。

〃Enough！〃　he　said。　〃If　at　the　roots　of　thy　tongue　there　is　a　lie　in　coil；　Solomon　himself　had　not　been　safe　against　thee。　That　thou　art　not　a　Romanthat　as　a　Jew　thou　hast　a　grievance　against　Rome；　and　revenge　to　compass；　I　believe；　and　on　that　score　enough。　But　as　to　thy　skill。　What　experience　hast　thou　in　racing　with　chariots？　And　the　horsescanst　thou　make　them　creatures　of　thy　will？to　know　thee？　to　come　at　call？　to　go；　if　thou　sayest　it；　to　the　last　extreme　of　breath　and　strength？　and　then；　in　the　perishing　moment；　out　of　the　depths　of　thy　life　thrill　them　to　one　exertion　the　mightiest　of　all？　The　gift；　my　son；　is　not　to　every　one。　Ah；　by　the　splendor　of　God！　I　knew　a　king　who　governed　millions　of　men；　their　perfect　master；　but　could　not　win　the　respect　of　a　horse。　Mark！　I　speak　not　of　the　dull　brutes　whose　round　it　is　to　slave　for　slavesthe　debased　in　blood　and　imagethe　dead　in　spirit；　but　of　such　as　mine　herethe　kings　of　their　kind；　of　a　lineage　reaching　back　to　the　broods　of　the　first　Pharaoh；　my　comrades　and　friends；　dwellers　in　tents；　whom　long　association　with　me　has　brought　up　to　my　plane；　who　to　their　instincts　have　added　our　wits　and　to　their　senses　joined　our　souls；　until　they　feel　all　we　know　of　ambition；　love；　hate；　and　contempt；　in　war；　heroes；　in　trust；　faithful　as　women。　Ho；　there！〃

A　servant　came　forward。

〃Let　my　Arabs　come！〃

The　man　drew　aside　part　of　the　division　curtain　of　the　tent；　exposing　to　view　a　group　of　horses；　who　lingered　a　moment　where　they　were　as　if　to　make　certain　of　the　invitation。

〃Come！〃　Ilderim　said　to　them。　〃Why　stand　ye　there？　What　have　I　that　is　not　yours？　Come；　I　say！〃

They　stalked　slowly　in。

〃Son　of　Israel；〃　the　master　said；　〃thy　Moses　was　a　mighty　man；　butha；　ha　ha！I　must　laugh　when　I　think　of　his　allowing　thy　fathers　the　plodding　ox　and　the　dull；　slow…natured　ass；　and　forbidding　them　property　in　horses。　Ha；　ha；　ha！　Thinkest　thou　he　would　have　done　so　had　he　seen　that　oneand　thatand　this？〃　At　the　word　he　laid　his　hand　upon　the　face　of　the　first　to　reach　him；　and　patted　it　with　infinite　pride　and　tenderness。

〃It　is　a　misjudgment；　sheik；　a　misjudgment；〃　Ben…Hur　said；　warmly。　〃Moses　was　a　warrior　as　well　as　a　lawgiver　beloved　by　God；　and　to　follow　warah；　what　is　it　but　to　love　all　its　creaturesthese　among　the　rest？〃

A　head　of　exquisite　turnwith　large　eyes；　soft　as　a　deer's；　and　half　hidden　by　the　dense　forelock；　and　small　ears；　sharp…pointed　and　sloped　well　forwardapproached　then　quite　to　his　breast；　the　nostrils　open；　and　the　upper　lip　in　motion。　〃Who　are　you？〃　it　asked；　plainly　as　ever　man　spoke。　Ben…Hur　recognized　one　of　the　four　racers　he　had　seen　on　the　course；　and　gave　his　open　hand　to　the　beautiful　brute。

〃They　will　tell　you；　the　blasphemers！may　their　days　shorten　as　they　grow　fewer！〃the　sheik　spoke　with　the　feeling　of　a　man　repelling　a　personal　defamation〃they　will　tell　you；　I　say；　that　our　horses　of　the　best　blood　are　derived　from　the　Nesaean　pastures　of　Persia。　God　gave　the　first　Arab　a　measureless　waste　of　sand；　with　some　treeless　mountains；　and　here　and　there　a　well　of　bitter　waters；　and　said　to　him；　'Behold　thy　country！'　And　when　the　poor　man　complained；　the　Mighty　One　pitied　him；　and　said　again；　'Be　of　cheer！　for　I　will　twice　bless　thee　above　other　men。'　The　Arab　heard；　and　gave　thanks；　and　with　faith　set　out　to　find　the　blessings。　He　travelled　all　the　boundaries　first；　and　failed；　then　he　made　a　path　into　the　desert；　and　went　on　and　onand　in　the　heart　of　the　waste　there　was　an　island　of　green　very　beautiful　to　see；　and　in　the　heart　of　the　island；　lo！　a　herd　of　camels；　and　another　of　horses！　He　took　them　joyfully　and　kept　them　with　care　for　what　they　werebest　gifts　of　God。　And　from　that　green　isle　went　forth　all　the　horses　of　the　earth；　even　to　the　pastures　of　Nesaea　they　went；　and　northward　to　the　dreadful　vales　perpetually　threshed　by　blasts　from　the　Sea　of　Chill　Winds。　Doubt　not　the　story；　or　if　thou　dost；　may　never　amulet　have　charm　for　an　Arab　again。　Nay；　I　will　give　thee　proof。〃

He　clapped　his　hands。

〃Bring　me　the　records　of　the　tribe；〃　he　said　to　the　servant　who　responded。

While　waiting；　the　sheik　played　with　the　horses；　patting　their　cheeks；　combing　their　forelocks　with　his　fingers；　giving　each　one　a　token　of　remembrance。　Presently　six　men　appeared　with　chests　of　cedar　reinforced　by　bands　of　brass；　and　hinged　and　bolted　with　brass。

〃Nay；〃　s