ben-hur-第79部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
That is； to be a leper was to be treated as deadto be excluded from the city as a corpse； to be spoken to by the best beloved and most loving only at a distance； to dwell with none but lepers； to be utterly unprivileged； to be denied the rites of the Temple and the synagogue； to go about in rent garments and with covered mouth； except when crying； 〃Unclean； unclean！〃 to find home in the wilderness or in abandoned tombs； to become a materialized specter of Hinnom and Gehenna； to be at all times less a living offence to others than a breathing torment to self； afraid to die； yet without hope except in death。
Onceshe might not tell the day or the year； for down in the haunted hell even time was lostonce the mother felt a dry scurf in the palm of her right hand； a trifle which she tried to wash away。 It clung to the member pertinaciously； yet she thought but little of the sign till Tirzah complained that she； too； was attacked in the same way。 The supply of water was scant； and they denied themselves drink that they might use it as a curative。 At length the whole hand was attacked； the skin cracked open； the fingernails loosened from the flesh。 There was not much pain withal； chiefly a steadily increasing discomfort。 Later their lips began to parch and seam。 One day the mother； who was cleanly to godliness； and struggled against the impurities of the dungeon with all ingenuity； thinking the enemy was taking hold on Tirzah's face； led her to the light； and； looking with the inspiration of a terrible dread； lo！ the young girl's eyebrows were white as snow。
Oh； the anguish of that assurance！
The mother sat awhile speechless； motionless； paralyzed of soul； and capable of but one thoughtleprosy； leprosy！
When she began to think； mother…like； it was not of herself； but her child； and； mother…like； her natural tenderness turned to courage； and she made ready for the last sacrifice of perfect heroism。 She buried her knowledge in her heart； hopeless herself； she redoubled her devotion to Tirzah； and with wonderful ingenuitywonderful chiefly in its very inexhaustibilitycontinued to keep the daughter ignorant of what they were beset with； and even hopeful that it was nothing。 She repeated her little games； and retold her stories； and invented new ones； and listened with ever so much pleasure to the songs she would have from Tirzah； while on her own wasting lips the psalms of the singing king and their race served to bring soothing of forgetfulness； and keep alive in them both the recollection of the God who would seem to have abandoned themthe world not more lightly or utterly。
Slowly； steadily； with horrible certainty； the disease spread； after a while bleaching their heads white； eating holes in their lips and eyelids； and covering their bodies with scales； then it fell to their throats shrilling their voices； and to their joints； hardening the tissues and cartilagesslowly； and； as the mother well knew； past remedy； it was affecting their lungs and arteries and bones； at each advance making the sufferers more and more loathsome； and so it would continue till death； which might be years before them。
Another day of dread at length camethe day the mother； under impulsion of duty； at last told Tirzah the name of their ailment； and the two； in agony of despair； prayed that the end might come quickly。
Still； as is the force of habit； these so afflicted grew in time not merely to speak composedly of their disease； they beheld the hideous transformation of their persons as of course； and in despite clung to existence。 One tie to earth remained to them； unmindful of their own loneliness； they kept up a certain spirit by talking and dreaming of Ben…Hur。 The mother promised reunion with him to the sister； and she to the mother； not doubting； either of them； that he was equally faithful to them； and would be equally happy of the meeting。 And with the spinning and respinning of this slender thread they found pleasure； and excused their not dying。 In such manner as we have seen； they were solacing themselves the moment Gesius called them； at the end of twelve hours' fasting and thirst。
The torches flashed redly through the dungeon； and liberty was come。 〃God is good；〃 the widow criednot for what had been； O reader； but for what was。 In thankfulness for present mercy； nothing so becomes us as losing sight of past ills。
The tribune came directly； then in the corner to which she had fled； suddenly a sense of duty smote the elder of the women； and straightway the awful warning
〃Unclean； unclean！〃
Ah； the pang the effort to acquit herself of that duty cost the mother！ Not all the selfishness of joy over the prospect could keep her blind to the consequences of release； now that it was at hand。 The old happy life could never be again。 If she went near the house called home； it would be to stop at the gate and cry； 〃Unclean； unclean！〃 She must go about with the yearnings of love alive in her breast strong as ever； and more sensitive even； because return in kind could not be。 The boy of whom she had so constantly thought； and with all sweet promises such as mothers find their purest delight in； must； at meeting her； stand afar off。 If he held out his hands to her； and called 〃Mother； mother；〃 for very love of him she must answer； 〃Unclean； unclean！〃 And this other child； before whom； in want of other covering； she was spreading her long tangled locks； bleached unnaturally whiteah！ that she was she must continue； sole partner of her blasted remainder of life。 Yet； O reader； the brave woman accepted the lot； and took up the cry which had been its sign immemorially； and which thenceforward was to be her salutation without change〃Unclean； unclean！〃
The tribune heard it with a tremor； but kept his place。
〃Who are you？〃 he asked。
〃Two women dying of hunger and thirst。 Yet〃the mother did not falter〃come not near us； nor touch the floor or the wall。 Unclean； unclean！〃
〃Give me thy story； womanthy name； and when thou wert put here； and by whom； and for what。〃
〃There was once in this city of Jerusalem a Prince Ben…Hur； the friend of all generous Romans； and who had Caesar for his friend。 I am his widow； and this one with me is his child。 How may I tell you for what we were sunk here； when I do not know； unless it was because we were rich？ Valerius Gratus can tell you who our enemy was； and when our imprisonment began。 I cannot。 See to what we have been reducedoh； see； and have pity！〃
The air was heavy with the pest and the smoke of the torches； yet the Roman called one of the torch…bearers to his side； and wrote the answer nearly word for word。 It was terse； and comprehensive； containing at once a history； an accusation； and a prayer。 No common person could have made it； and he could not but pity and believe。
〃Thou shalt have relief； woman；〃 he said； closing the tablets。 〃I will send thee food and drink。〃
〃And raiment； and purifying water； we pray you； O generous Roman！〃
〃As thou wilt；〃 he replied。
〃God is good；〃 said the widow； sobbing。 〃May his peace abide with you！〃
〃And； further；〃 he added； 〃I cannot see thee again。 Make preparation； and to…night I will have thee taken to the gate of the Tower； and set free。 Thou knowest the law。 Farewell。〃
He spoke to the men； and went out the door。
Very shortly some slaves came to the cell with a large gurglet of water； a basin and napkins； a platter with bread and meat； and some garments of women's wear； and； setting them down within reach of the prisoners； they ran away。
About the middle of the first watch； the two were conducted to the gate； and turned into the street。 So the Roman quit himself of them； and in the city of their fathers they were once more free。
Up to the stars； twinkling merrily as of old； they looked； then they asked themselves；
〃What next？ and where to？〃
CHAPTER III
About the hour Gesius； the keeper； made his appearance before the tribune in the Tower of Antonia； a footman was climbing the eastern face of Mount Olivet。 The road was rough and dusty； and vegetation on that side burned brown； for it was the dry season in Judea。 Well for the traveller that he had youth and strength； not to speak of the cool； flowing garments with which he was clothed。
He proceeded slowly； looking often to his right and left； not with the vexed； anxious expression which marks a man going forward uncertain of the way； but rather the air with which one approaches as old acquaintance after a long separationhalf of pleasure； half of inquiry； as if he were saying； 〃I am glad to be with you again； let me see in what you are changed。〃
As he arose higher； he sometimes paused to look behind him over the gradually widening view terminating in the mountains of Moab； but when at length he drew near the summit； he quickened his step； unmindful of fatigue； and hurried on without pause or turning of the face。 On the summitto reach which he bent his steps somewhat right of the beaten pathhe came to a dead stop； arrested as if by a strong hand。 Then one might have seen his eyes dilate； his cheeks flush； his breath quicken； effects all of one bright sweeping glance at what lay before him。
The traveller； good reader； was no other than Ben…Hur； the spectacle； Jerusalem。
Not the Holy City of to…day； but the Holy City as left by Herodthe Holy City of the Christ。 Beautiful yet； as seen from old Olivet； what must it have been then？
Ben…Hur betook him to a stone and sat down； and； stripping his head of the close white handkerchief which served it for covering； made the survey at leisure。
The same has been done often since by a great variety of persons； under circumstances surpassingly singularby the son of Vespasian； by the Islamite； by the Crusader； conquerors all of them； by many a pilgrim from the great New World； which waited discovery nearly fifteen hundred years after the time of our story； but of the multitude probably not one has taken that view with sensations more keenly poignant； more sadly sweet； more proudly bitter； than Ben…Hur。 He was stirred by recollections of his countrymen； their triumphs and vicissitudes； their history the history of God。 The city was of their building； at once a lasting testimony of their crimes and devotion； their weakn
