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！
The land of death spread its cruel net around him。 The
stony waste bore no fruit but briers and thorns。 The dark
ledges of rock thrust themselves above the surface here and
there； like the bones of perished monsters。 Arid and
inhospitable mountain…ranges rose before him； furrowed with dry
channels of ancient torrents； white and ghastly as scars on the
face of nature。 Shifting hills of treacherous sand were heaped
like tombs along the horizon。 By day； the fierce heat pressed
its intolerable burden on the quivering air。 No living creature
moved on the dumb； swooning earth； but tiny jerboas scuttling
through the parched bushes； or lizards vanishing in the clefts of
the rock。 By night the jackals prowled and barked in the
distance； and the lion made the black ravines echo with his
hollow roaring； while a bitter； blighting chill followed the
fever of the day。 Through heat and cold； the Magian moved
steadily onward。
Then I saw the gardens and orchards of Damascus； watered
by the streams of Abana and Pharpar； with their sloping swards
inlaid with bloom； and their thickets of myrrh and roses。 I
saw the long； snowy ridge of Hermon； and the dark groves of
cedars； and the valley of the Jordan； and the blue waters of
the Lake of Galilee； and the fertile plain of Esdraelon； and the
hills of Ephraim； and the highlands of Judah。 Through all these
I followed the figure of Artaban moving steadily onward； until he
arrived at Bethlehem。 And it was the third day after the three
Wise Men had come to that place and had found Mary and Joseph；
with the young child； Jesus； and had laid their gifts of gold and
frankincense and myrrh at his feet。
Then the Other Wise Man drew near； weary； but full of
hope； bearing his ruby and his pearl to offer to the King。
〃For now at last；〃 he said； 〃I shall surely find him； though
I be alone； and later than my brethren。 This is the place of
which the Hebrew exile told me that the prophets had spoken；
and here I shall behold the rising of the great light。 But I
must inquire about the visit of my brethren； and to what house
the star directed them； and to whom they presented their
tribute。〃
The streets of the village seemed to be deserted； and
Artaban wondered whether the men had all gone up to the
hill…pastures to bring down their sheep。 From the open door of a
cottage he heard the sound of a woman's voice singing softly。 He
entered and found a young mother hushing her baby to rest。 She
told him of the strangers from the far East who had appeared in
the village three days ago； and how they said that a star had
guided them to the place where Joseph of Nazareth was lodging
with his wife and her new…born child； and how they had paid
reverence to the child and given him many rich gifts。
〃But the travellers disappeared again；〃 she continued； 〃as
suddenly as they had come。 We were afraid at the strangeness
of their visit。 We could not understand it。 The man of
Nazareth took the child and his mother； and fled away that
same night secretly； and it was whispered that they were going
to Egypt。 Ever since； there has been a spell upon the
village； something evil hangs over it。 They say that the
Roman soldiers are coming from Jerusalem to force a new tax
from us； and the men have driven the flocks and herds far back
among the hills； and hidden themselves to escape it。〃
Artaban listened to her gentle； timid speech； and the
child in her arms looked up in his face and smiled； stretching
out its rosy hands to grasp at the winged circle of gold on
his breast。 His heart warmed to the touch。 It seemed like a
greeting of love and trust to one who had journeyed long in
loneliness and perplexity； fighting with his own doubts and
fears； and following a light that was veiled in clouds。
〃Why might not this child have been the promised Prince？〃
he asked within himself； as he touched its soft cheek。 〃Kings
have been born ere now in lowlier houses than this； and the
favourite of the stars may rise even from a cottage。 But it
has not seemed good to the God of wisdom to reward my search
so soon and so easily。 The one whom I seek has gone before
me； and now I must follow the King to Egypt。〃
The young mother laid the baby in its cradle； and rose to
minister to the wants of the strange guest that fate had
brought into her house。 She set food before him； the plain
fare of peasants； but willingly offered； and therefore full of
refreshment for the soul as well as for the body。 Artaban
accepted it gratefully； and； as he ate； the child fell into a
happy slumber； and murmured sweetly in its dreams； and a great
peace filled the room。
But suddenly there came the noise of a wild confusion in
the streets of the village； a shrieking and wailing of women's
voices； a clangour of brazen trumpets and a clashing of
swords； and a desperate cry： 〃The soldiers！ the soldiers of
Herod！ They are killing our children。〃
The young mother's face grew white with terror。 She
clasped her child to her bosom； and crouched motionless in the
darkest corner of the room； covering him with the folds of her
robe； lest he should wake and cry。
But Artaban went quickly and stood in the doorway of the
house。 His broad shoulders filled the portal from side to
side； and the peak of his white cap all but touched the
lintel。
The soldiers came hurrying down the street with bloody
hands and dripping swords。 At the sight of the stranger in
his imposing dress they hesitated with surprise。 The captain
of the band approached the threshold to thrust him aside。 But
Artaban did not stir。 His face was as calm as though he were
watching the stars； and in his eyes there burned that steady
radiance before which even the half…tamed hunting leopard
shrinks； and the bloodhound pauses in his leap。 He held the
soldier silently for an instant； and then said in a low voice：
〃I am all alone in this place； and I am waiting to give
this jewel to the prudent captain who will leave me in peace。〃
He showed the ruby； glistening in the hollow of his hand
like a great drop of blood。
The captain was amazed at the splendour of the gem。 The
pupils of his eyes expanded with desire； and the hard lines of
greed wrinkled around his lips。 He stretched out his hand and
took the ruby。
〃March on！〃 he cried to his men； 〃there is no child here。
The house is empty。〃
The clamor and the clang of arms passed down the street
as the headlong fury of the chase sweeps by the secret covert
where the trembling deer is hidden。 Artaban re…entered the
cottage。 He turned his face to the east and prayed：
〃God of truth； forgive my sin！ I have said the thing that
is not； to save the life of a child。 And two of my gifts are
gone。 I have spent for man that which was meant for God。
Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King？〃
But the voice of the woman； weeping for joy in the shadow
behind him； said very gently：
〃Because thou hast saved the life of my little one； may
the Lord bless thee and keep thee； the Lord make His face to
shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee； the Lord lift up
His countenance upon thee and give thee peace。〃
IV
Again there was a silence in the Hall of Dreams； deeper and
more mysterious than the first interval； and I understood that
the years of Artaban were flowing very swiftly under the
stillness； and I caught only a glimpse； here and there； of the
river of his life shining through the mist that concealed its
course。
I saw him moving among the throngs of men in populous
Egypt； seeking everywhere for traces of the household that had
come down from Bethlehem； and finding them under the spreading
sycamore…trees of Heliopolis； and beneath the walls of the
Roman fortress of New Babylon beside the Niletraces so faint
and dim that they vanished before him continually； as
footprints on the wet river…sand glisten for a moment with
moisture and then disappear。
I saw him again at the foot of the pyramids； which lifted
their sharp points into the intense saffron glow of the sunset
sky； changeless monuments of the perishable glory and the
imperishable hope of man。 He looked up into the face of the
crouching Sphinx and vainly tried to read the meaning of the
calm eyes and smiling mouth。 Was it； indeed； the mockery of
all effort and all aspiration； as Tigranes had saidthe cruel
jest of a riddle that has no answer； a search that never can
succeed？ Or was there a touch of pity and encouragement in
that inscrutable smilea promise that even the defeated
should attain a victory； and the disappointed should discover a
prize； and the ignorant should be made wise； and the blind should
see； and the wandering should come into the haven at last？
I saw him again in an obscure house of Alexandria； taking
counsel with a Hebrew rabbi。 The venerable man； bending over
the rolls of parchment on which the prophecies of Israel were
written； read aloud the pathetic words which foretold the
sufferings of the promised Messiahthe despised and rejected
of men； the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief。
〃And remember； my son；〃 said he； fixing his eyes upon the
face of Artaban； 〃the King whom thou seekest is not t