ben-hur-第72部分

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And　now；　racing　together　side　by　side；　a　narrow　interval　between　them；　the　two　neared　the　second　goal。

The　pedestal　of　the　three　pillars　there；　viewed　from　the　west；　was　a　stone　wall　in　the　form　of　a　half…circle；　around　which　the　course　and　opposite　balcony　were　bent　in　exact　parallelism。　Making　this　turn　was　considered　in　all　respects　the　most　telling　test　of　a　charioteer；　it　was；　in　fact；　the　very　feat　in　which　Orastes　failed。　As　an　involuntary　admission　of　interest　on　the　part　of　the　spectators；　a　hush　fell　over　all　the　Circus；　so　that　for　the　first　time　in　the　race　the　rattle　and　clang　of　the　cars　plunging　after　the　tugging　steeds　were　distinctly　heard。　Then；　it　would　seem；　Messala　observed　Ben…Hur；　and　recognized　him；　and　at　once　the　audacity　of　the　man　flamed　out　in　an　astonishing　manner。

〃Down　Eros；　up　Mars！〃　he　shouted；　whirling　his　lash　with　practised　hand〃Down　Eros；　up　Mars！〃　he　repeated；　and　caught　the　well…doing　Arabs　of　Ben…Hur　a　cut　the　like　of　which　they　had　never　known。

The　blow　was　seen　in　every　quarter；　and　the　amazement　was　universal。　The　silence　deepened；　up　on　the　benches　behind　the　consul　the　boldest　held　his　breath；　waiting　for　the　outcome。　Only　a　moment　thus：　then；　involuntarily；　down　from　the　balcony；　as　thunder　falls；　burst　the　indignant　cry　of　the　people。

The　four　sprang　forward　affrighted。　No　hand　had　ever　been　laid　upon　them　except　in　love；　they　had　been　nurtured　ever　so　tenderly；　and　as　they　grew；　their　confidence　in　man　became　a　lesson　to　men　beautiful　to　see。　What　should　such　dainty　natures　do　under　such　indignity　but　leap　as　from　death？

Forward　they　sprang　as　with　one　impulse；　and　forward　leaped　the　car。　Past　question；　every　experience　is　serviceable　to　us。　Where　got　Ben…Hur　the　large　hand　and　mighty　grip　which　helped　him　now　so　well？　Where　but　from　the　oar　with　which　so　long　he　fought　the　sea？　And　what　was　this　spring　of　the　floor　under　his　feet　to　the　dizzy　eccentric　lurch　with　which　in　the　old　time　the　trembling　ship　yielded　to　the　beat　of　staggering　billows；　drunk　with　their　power？　So　he　kept　his　place；　and　gave　the　four　free　rein；　and　called　to　them　in　soothing　voice；　trying　merely　to　guide　them　round　the　dangerous　turn；　and　before　the　fever　of　the　people　began　to　abate；　he　had　back　the　mastery。　Nor　that　only：　on　approaching　the　first　goal；　he　was　again　side　by　side　with　Messala；　bearing　with　him　the　sympathy　and　admiration　of　every　one　not　a　Roman。　So　clearly　was　the　feeling　shown；　so　vigorous　its　manifestation；　that　Messala；　with　all　his　boldness；　felt　it　unsafe　to　trifle　further。

As　the　cars　whirled　round　the　goal；　Esther　caught　sight　of　Ben…Hur's　facea　little　pale；　a　little　higher　raised；　otherwise　calm；　even　placid。

Immediately　a　man　climbed　on　the　entablature　at　the　west　end　of　the　division　wall；　and　took　down　one　of　the　conical　wooden　balls。　A　dolphin　on　the　east　entablature　was　taken　down　at　the　same　time。

In　like　manner；　the　second　ball　and　second　dolphin　disappeared。

And　then　the　third　ball　and　third　dolphin。

Three　rounds　concluded：　still　Messala　held　the　inside　position；　still　Ben…Hur　moved　with　him　side　by　side；　still　the　other　competitors　followed　as　before。　The　contest　began　to　have　the　appearance　of　one　of　the　double　races　which　became　so　popular　in　Rome　during　the　later　Caesarean　periodMessala　and　Ben…Hur　in　the　first；　the　Corinthian；　Sidonian；　and　Byzantine　in　the　second。　Meantime　the　ushers　succeeded　in　returning　the　multitude　to　their　seats；　though　the　clamor　continued　to　run　the　rounds；　keeping；　as　it　were；　even　pace　with　the　rivals　in　the　course　below。

In　the　fifth　round　the　Sidonian　succeeded　in　getting　a　place　outside　Ben…Hur；　but　lost　it　directly。

The　sixth　round　was　entered　upon　without　change　of　relative　position。

Gradually　the　speed　had　been　quickenedgradually　the　blood　of　the　competitors　warmed　with　the　work。　Men　and　beasts　seemed　to　know　alike　that　the　final　crisis　was　near；　bringing　the　time　for　the　winner　to　assert　himself。

The　interest　which　from　the　beginning　had　centred　chiefly　in　the　struggle　between　the　Roman　and　the　Jew；　with　an　intense　and　general　sympathy　for　the　latter；　was　fast　changing　to　anxiety　on　his　account。　On　all　the　benches　the　spectators　bent　forward　motionless；　except　as　their　faces　turned　following　the　contestants。　Ilderim　quitted　combing　his　beard；　and　Esther　forgot　her　fears。

〃A　hundred　sestertii　on　the　Jew！〃　cried　Sanballat　to　the　Romans　under　the　consul's　awning。

There　was　no　reply。

〃A　talentor　five　talents；　or　ten；　choose　ye！〃

He　shook　his　tablets　at　them　defiantly。

〃I　will　take　thy　sestertii；〃　answered　a　Roman　youth；　preparing　to　write。

〃Do　not　so；〃　interposed　a　friend。

〃Why？〃

〃Messala　hath　reached　his　utmost　speed。　See　him　lean　over　his　chariot　rim；　the　reins　loose　as　flying　ribbons。　Look　then　at　the　Jew。〃

The　first　one　looked。

〃By　Hercules！〃　he　replied；　his　countenance　falling。　〃The　dog　throws　all　his　weight　on　the　bits。　I　see；　I　see！　If　the　gods　help　not　our　friend；　he　will　be　run　away　with　by　the　Israelite。　No；　not　yet。　Look！　Jove　with　us；　Jove　with　us！〃

The　cry；　swelled　by　every　Latin　tongue；　shook　the　velaria　over　the　consul's　head。

If　it　were　true　that　Messala　had　attained　his　utmost　speed；　the　effort　was　with　effect；　slowly　but　certainly　he　was　beginning　to　forge　ahead。　His　horses　were　running　with　their　heads　low　down；　from　the　balcony　their　bodies　appeared　actually　to　skim　the　earth；　their　nostrils　showed　blood　red　in　expansion；　their　eyes　seemed　straining　in　their　sockets。　Certainly　the　good　steeds　were　doing　their　best！　How　long　could　they　keep　the　pace？　It　was　but　the　commencement　of　the　sixth　round。　On　they　dashed。　As　they　neared　the　second　goal；　Ben…Hur　turned　in　behind　the　Roman's　car。

The　joy　of　the　Messala　faction　reached　its　bound：　they　screamed　and　howled；　and　tossed　their　colors；　and　Sanballat　filled　his　tablets　with　wagers　of　their　tendering。

Malluch；　in　the　lower　gallery　over　the　Gate　of　Triumph；　found　it　hard　to　keep　his　cheer。　He　had　cherished　the　vague　hint　dropped　to　him　by　Ben…Hur　of　something　to　happen　in　the　turning　of　the　western　pillars。　It　was　the　fifth　round；　yet　the　something　had　not　come；　and　he　had　said　to　himself；　the　sixth　will　bring　it；　but；　lo！　Ben…Hur　was　hardly　holding　a　place　at　the　tail　of　his　enemy's　car。

Over　in　the　east　end；　Simonides'　party　held　their　peace。　The　merchant's　head　was　bent　low。　Ilderim　tugged　at　his　beard；　and　dropped　his　brows　till　there　was　nothing　of　his　eyes　but　an　occasional　sparkle　of　light。　Esther　scarcely　breathed。　Iras　alone　appeared　glad。

Along　the　home…stretchsixth　roundMessala　leading；　next　him　Ben…Hur；　and　so　close　it　was　the　old　story：

〃First　flew　Eumelus　on　Pheretian　steeds；　With　those　of　Tros　bold　Diomed　succeeds；　Close　on　Eumelus'　back　they　puff　the　wind；　And　seem　just　mounting　on　his　car　behind；　Full　on　his　neck　he　feels　the　sultry　breeze；　And；　hovering　o'er；　their　stretching　shadow　sees。〃

Thus　to　the　first　goal；　and　round　it。　Messala；　fearful　of　losing　his　place；　hugged　the　stony　wall　with　perilous　clasp；　a　foot　to　the　left；　and　he　had　been　dashed　to　pieces；　yet；　when　the　turn　was　finished；　no　man；　looking　at　the　wheel…tracks　of　the　two　cars；　could　have　said；　here　went　Messala；　there　the　Jew。　They　left　but　one　trace　behind　them。

As　they　whirled　by；　Esther　saw　Ben…Hur's　face　again；　and　it　was　whiter　than　before。

Simonides；　shrewder　than　Esther；　said　to　Ilderim；　the　moment　the　rivals　turned　into　the　course；　〃I　am　no　judge；　good　sheik；　if　Ben…Hur　be　not　about　to　execute　some　design。　His　face　hath　that　look。〃

To　which　Ilderim　answered；　〃Saw　you　how　clean　they　were　and　fresh？　By　the　splendor　of　God；　friend；　they　have　not　been　running！　But　now　watch！〃

One　ball　and　one　dolphin　remained　on　the　entablatures；　and　all　the　people　drew　a　long　breath；　for　the　beginning　of　the　end　was　at　hand。

First；　the　Sidonian　gave　the　scourge　to　his　four；　and；　smarting　with　fear　and　pain；　they　dashed　desperately　forward；　promising　for　a　brief　time　to　go　to　the　front。　The　effort　ended　in　promise。　Next；　the　Byzantine　and　the　Corinthian　each　made　the　trial　with　like　result；　after　which　they　were　practically　out　of　the　race。　Thereupon；　with　a　readiness　perfectly　explicable；　all　the　factions　except　the　Romans　joined　hope　in　Ben…Hur；　and　openly　indulged　their　feeling。

〃Ben…Hur！　Ben…Hur！〃　they　shouted；　and　the　blent　voices　of　the　many　rolled　overwhelmingly　against　the　consular　stand。

From　the　benches　above　him　as　he　passed；　the　favor　descended　in　fierce　injunctions。

〃Speed　thee；　Jew！〃

〃Take　the　wall　now！〃

〃On！　loose　the　Arabs！　Give　them　rein　and　scourge！〃

〃Let　him　not　have　the　turn　on　thee　again。　Now　or　never！〃

Over　the　balustrade　they　stooped　low；　stretching　their　hands　imploringly　to　him。

Either　he　did　not　hear；　or　could　not　do　better；　for　halfway　round　the　course　and　he　was　still　following；　at　the　second　goal　even　still　no　change！

And　now；　to　make　the　turn；　Messala　began　to　draw　in　his　left…hand　steeds；　an　act　which　necessarily　slackened　their　speed。　His　spirit　was　high；　more　than　one　altar　was　richer　of　his　vows；　the　Roman　genius　was　still　president。　On　the　three　pillars　only　six　hundred　feet　away　were　fame；　increase　of　fortune；　promotions；　and　a　triumph　ineffably　sweetened　by　hate；　all　in　store　for　him！　That　moment　Malluch；　in　the　gallery；　saw　Ben…Hur　lean　forward　over　his　Arabs；　and　give　them　the　reins。　Out　flew　the　many…folded　lash　in　his　hand；　over　the　backs　of　the　startled　steeds　it　writhed　and　hissed；　and　hissed　and　writhed　again　and　again；　and　though　it　fell　not；　there　were　both　sting　and　menace　in　its　quick　report；　and　as　the　man　passed　thus　from　quiet　to　resistless　action；　his　face　suffused；　his　eyes　gleaming；　along　the　reins　he　seemed　to　flash　his　will；　and　instantly　not　one；　but　the　four　as　one；　answered　with　a　leap　that　landed　them　alongside　the　Roman's　car。　Messala；　on　the　perilous　edge　of　the　goal；　heard；　but　dared　not　look　to　see　what　the　awakening　portended。　From　the　people　he　received　no　sign。　Above　the　noises　of　the　race　there　was　but　one　voice；　and　that　was　Ben…Hur's。　In　the　old　Aramaic；　as　the　sheik　himself；　he　called　to　the　Arabs；

〃On；　Atair！　On；　Rigel！　What；　Antares！　dost　thou　linger　now？　Good　horseoho；　Aldebaran！　I　hear　them　singing