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the　glory　of　the　Eastern　sunshine。




CHAPTER　VII



Let　us　take　our　stand　by　the　gate；　just　out　of　the　edge　of　the　currentsone　flowing　in；　the　other　outand　use　our　eyes　and　ears　awhile。

In　good　time！　Here　come　two　men　of　a　most　noteworthy　class。

〃Gods！　How　cold　it　is！〃　says　one　of　them；　a　powerful　figure　in　armor；　on　his　head　a　brazen　helmet；　on　his　body　a　shining　breastplate　and　skirts　of　mail。　〃How　cold　it　is！　Dost　thou　remember；　my　Caius；　that　vault　in　the　Comitium　at　home　which　the　flamens　say　is　the　entrance　to　the　lower　world？　By　Pluto！　I　could　stand　there　this　morning；　long　enough　at　least　to　get　warm　again！〃

The　party　addressed　drops　the　hood　of　his　military　cloak；　leaving　bare　his　head　and　face；　and　replies；　with　an　ironic　smile；　〃The　helmets　of　the　legions　which　conquered　Mark　Antony　were　full　of　Gallic　snow；　but　thouah；　my　poor　friend！thou　hast　just　come　from　Egypt；　bringing　its　summer　in　thy　blood。〃

And　with　the　last　word　they　disappear　through　the　entrance。　Though　they　had　been　silent；　the　armor　and　the　sturdy　step　would　have　published　them　Roman　soldiers。

From　the　throng　a　Jew　comes　next；　meager　of　frame；　round…shouldered；　and　wearing　a　coarse　brown　robe；　over　his　eyes　and　face；　and　down　his　back；　hangs　a　mat　of　long；　uncombed　hair。　He　is　alone。　Those　who　meet　him　laugh；　if　they　do　not　worse；　for　he　is　a　Nazarite；　one　of　a　despised　sect　which　rejects　the　books　of　Moses；　devotes　itself　to　abhorred　vows；　and　goes　unshorn　while　the　vows　endure。

As　we　watch　his　retiring　figure；　suddenly　there　is　a　commotion　in　the　crowd；　a　parting　quickly　to　the　right　and　left；　with　exclamations　sharp　and　decisive。　Then　the　cause　comesa　man；　Hebrew　in　feature　and　dress。　The　mantle　of　snow…white　linen；　held　to　his　head　by　cords　of　yellow　silk；　flows　free　over　his　shoulders；　his　robe　is　richly　embroidered；　a　red　sash　with　fringes　of　gold　wraps　his　waist　several　times。　His　demeanor　is　calm；　he　even　smiles　upon　those　who；　with　such　rude　haste；　make　room　for　him。　A　leper？　No；　he　is　only　a　Samaritan。　The　shrinking　crowd；　if　asked；　would　say　he　is　a　mongrelan　Assyrianwhose　touch　of　the　robe　is　pollution；　from　whom；　consequently；　an　Israelite；　though　dying；　might　not　accept　life。　In　fact；　the　feud　is　not　of　blood。　When　David　set　his　throne　here　on　Mount　Zion；　with　only　Judah　to　support　him；　the　ten　tribes　betook　themselves　to　Shechem；　a　city　much　older；　and；　at　that　date；　infinitely　richer　in　holy　memories。　The　final　union　of　the　tribes　did　not　settle　the　dispute　thus　begun。　The　Samaritans　clung　to　their　tabernacle　on　Gerizim；　and；　while　maintaining　its　superior　sanctity；　laughed　at　the　irate　doctors　in　Jerusalem。　Time　brought　no　assuagement　of　the　hate。　Under　Herod；　conversion　to　the　faith　was　open　to　all　the　world　except　the　Samaritans；　they　alone　were　absolutely　and　forever　shut　out　from　communion　with　Jews。

As　the　Samaritan　goes　in　under　the　arch　of　the　gate；　out　come　three　men　so　unlike　all　whom　we　have　yet　seen　that　they　fix　our　gaze；　whether　we　will　or　not。　They　are　of　unusual　stature　and　immense　brawn；　their　eyes　are　blue；　and　so　fair　is　their　complexion　that　the　blood　shines　through　the　skin　like　blue　pencilling；　their　hair　is　light　and　short；　their　heads；　small　and　round；　rest　squarely　upon　necks　columnar　as　the　trunks　of　trees。　Woollen　tunics；　open　at　the　breast；　sleeveless　and　loosely　girt；　drape　their　bodies；　leaving　bare　arms　and　legs　of　such　development　that　they　at　once　suggest　the　arena；　and　when　thereto　we　add　their　careless；　confident；　insolent　manner；　we　cease　to　wonder　that　the　people　give　them　way；　and　stop　after　they　have　passed　to　look　at　them　again。　They　are　gladiatorswrestlers；　runners；　boxers；　swordsmen；　professionals　unknown　in　Judea　before　the　coming　of　the　Roman；　fellows　who；　what　time　they　are　not　in　training；　may　be　seen　strolling　through　the　king's　gardens　or　sitting　with　the　guards　at　the　palace　gates；　or　possibly　they　are　visitors　from　Caesarea；　Sebaste；　or　Jericho；　in　which　Herod；　more　Greek　than　Jew；　and　with　all　a　Roman's　love　of　games　and　bloody　spectacles；　has　built　vast　theaters；　and　now　keeps　schools　of　fighting…men；　drawn；　as　is　the　custom；　from　the　Gallic　provinces　or　the　Slavic　tribes　on　the　Danube。

〃By　Bacchus！〃　says　one　of　them；　drawing　his　clenched　hand　to　his　shoulder；　〃their　skulls　are　not　thicker　than　eggshells。〃

The　brutal　look　which　goes　with　the　gesture　disgusts　us；　and　we　turn　happily　to　something　more　pleasant。

Opposite　us　is　a　fruit…stand。　The　proprietor　has　a　bald　head；　a　long　face；　and　a　nose　like　the　beak　of　a　hawk。　He　sits　upon　a　carpet　spread　upon　the　dust；　the　wall　is　at　his　back；　overhead　hangs　a　scant　curtain；　around　him；　within　hand's　reach　and　arranged　upon　little　stools；　lie　osier　boxes　full　of　almonds；　grapes；　figs；　and　pomegranates。　To　him　now　comes　one　at　whom　we　cannot　help　looking；　though　for　another　reason　than　that　which　fixed　our　eyes　upon　the　gladiators；　he　is　really　beautifula　beautiful　Greek。　Around　his　temples；　holding　the　waving　hair；　is　a　crown　of　myrtle；　to　which　still　cling　the　pale　flowers　and　half　ripe　berries。　His　tunic；　scarlet　in　color；　is　of　the　softest　woollen　fabric；　below　the　girdle　of　buff　leather；　which　is　clasped　in　front　by　a　fantastic　device　of　shining　gold；　the　skirt　drops　to　the　knee　in　folds　heavy　with　embroidery　of　the　same　royal　metal；　a　scarf；　also　woollen；　and　of　mixed　white　and　yellow；　crosses　his　throat　and　falls　trailing　at　his　back；　his　arms　and　legs；　where　exposed；　are　white　as　ivory；　and　of　the　polish　impossible　except　by　perfect　treatment　with　bath；　oil；　brushes；　and　pincers。

The　dealer；　keeping　his　seat；　bends　forward；　and　throws　his　hands　up　until　they　meet　in　front　of　him；　palm　downwards　and　fingers　extended。

〃What　hast　thou；　this　morning；　O　son　of　Paphos？〃　says　the　young　Greek；　looking　at　the　boxes　rather　than　at　the　Cypriote。　〃I　am　hungry。　What　hast　thou　for　breakfast？〃

〃Fruits　from　the　Pediusgenuinesuch　as　the　singers　of　Antioch　take　of　mornings　to　restore　the　waste　of　their　voices；〃　the　dealer　answers；　in　a　querulous　nasal　tone。

〃A　fig；　but　not　one　of　thy　best；　for　the　singers　of　Antioch！〃　says　the　Greek。　〃Thou　art　a　worshiper　of　Aphrodite；　and　so　am　I；　as　the　myrtle　I　wear　proves；　therefore　I　tell　thee　their　voices　have　the　chill　of　a　Caspian　wind。　Seest　thou　this　girdle？a　gift　of　the　mighty　Salome〃

〃The　king's　sister！〃　exclaims　the　Cypriote；　with　another　salaam。

〃And　of　royal　taste　and　divine　judgment。　And　why　not？　She　is　more　Greek　than　the　king。　Butmy　breakfast！　Here　is　thy　moneyred　coppers　of　Cyprus。　Give　me　grapes；　and〃

〃Wilt　thou　not　take　the　dates　also？〃

〃No；　I　am　not　an　Arab。〃

〃Nor　figs？〃

〃That　would　be　to　make　me　a　Jew。　No；　nothing　but　the　grapes。　Never　waters　mixed　so　sweetly　as　the　blood　of　the　Greek　and　the　blood　of　the　grape。〃

The　singer　in　the　grimed　and　seething　market；　with　all　his　airs　of　the　court；　is　a　vision　not　easily　shut　out　of　mind　by　such　as　see　him；　as　if　for　the　purpose；　however；　a　person　follows　him　challenging　all　our　wonder。　He　comes　up　the　road　slowly；　his　face　towards　the　ground；　at　intervals　he　stops；　crosses　his　hands　upon　his　breast；　lengthens　his　countenance；　and　turns　his　eyes　towards　heaven；　as　if　about　to　break　into　prayer。　Nowhere；　except　in　Jerusalem；　can　such　a　character　be　found。　On　his　forehead；　attached　to　the　band　which　keeps　the　mantle　in　place；　projects　a　leathern　case；　square　in　form；　another　similar　case　is　tied　by　a　thong　to　the　left　arm；　the　borders　of　his　robe　are　decorated　with　deep　fringe；　and　by　such　signsthe　phylacteries；　the　enlarged　borders　of　the　garment；　and　the　savor　of　intense　holiness　pervading　the　whole　manwe　know　him　to　be　a　Pharisee；　one　of　an　organization　（in　religion　a　sect；　in　politics　a　party）　whose　bigotry　and　power　will　shortly　bring　the　world　to　grief。

The　densest　of　the　throng　outside　the　gate　covers　the　road　leading　off　to　Joppa。　Turning　from　the　Pharisee；　we　are　attracted　by　some　parties　who；　as　subjects　of　study；　opportunely　separate　themselves　from　the　motley　crowd。　First　among　them　a　man　of　very　noble　appearanceclear；　healthful　complexion；　bright　black　eyes；　beard　long　and　flowing；　and　rich　with　unguents；　apparel　well…fitting；　costly；　and　suitable　for　the　season。　He　carries　a　staff；　and　wears；　suspended　by　a　cord　from　his　neck；　a　large　golden　seal。　Several　servants　attend　him；　some　of　them　with　short　swords　stuck　through　their　sashes；　when　they　address　him；　it　is　with　the　utmost　deference。　The　rest　of　the　party　consists　of　two　Arabs　of　the　pure　desert　stock；　thin；　wiry　men；　deeply　bronzed；　and　with　hollow　cheeks；　and　eyes　of　almost　evil　brightness；　on　their　heads　red　tarbooshes；　over　their　abas；　and　wrapping　the　left　shoulder　and　the　body　so　as　to　leave　the　right　arm　free；　brown　woollen　haicks；　or　blankets。　There　is　loud　chaffering；　for　the　Arabs　are　leading　horses　and　trying　to　sell　them；　and；　in　their　eagerness；　they　speak　in　high；　shrill　voices。　The　courtly　person　leaves　the　talking　mostly　to　his　servants；　occasionally　he　answers　with　much　dignity；　directly；　seeing　the　Cypriote；　he　stops　and　buys　some　figs。　And　when　the　whole　party　has　passed　the　portal；　close　after　the　Pharisee；　if　we　betake　ourselves　to　the　dealer　in　fruits；　he　will　tell；　with　a　wonderful　salaam；　that　the　stranger　is　a　Jew；　one　of　the　princes　of　the　city；　who　has　travelled；　and　learned　the　difference　between　the　common　grapes　of　Syria　and　those　of　Cyprus；　so　surpassingly　rich　with　the　dews　of　the　sea。

And　so；　till　towards　noon；　sometimes　later；　the　steady　currents　of　business　habitually　flow　in　and　out　of　the　Joppa　Gate；　carrying　with　them　every　variety　of　character；　including　representatives　of　all　the　tribes　of　Israel；　all　the　sects　among　whom　the　ancient　faith　has　been　parcelled　and　refined　away；　all　the　religious　and　social　divisions；　all　the　adventurous　rabble　who；　as　children　of　art　and　ministers　of　pleasure；　riot　in　the　prodigalities　of　Herod；　and　all　the　peoples　of　note　at　any　time　compassed　by　the　Caesars　and　their　predecessors；　especially　those　dwelling　within　the　circuit　of　the　Mediterranean。

In　other　words；　Jerusalem；　rich　in　sacred　history；　richer　in　connection　with　sacred　propheciesthe　Jerusalem　of　Solomon；　in　which　silver　was　as　stones；　and　cedars　as　the　sycamores　of　the　valehad　come　to　be　but