herodias-第6部分

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augured　the　death　of　some　man　of　great　importance；　to　occur　that　very

night　in　Machaerus。



Who　was　the　man？　Vitellius　was　too　closely　guarded　to　be　reached。　No

one　would　kill　Iaokanann。



〃It　is　I！〃　thought　the　tetrarch。



It　might　be　that　the　Arabs　would　return　and　make　a　successful　attack

upon　him。　Perhaps　the　proconsul　would　discover　his　relations　with　the

Parthians。　Several　men　whom　Antipas　had　recognised　as　hired　assassins

from　Jerusalem；　had　escorted　the　priests　in　the　train　of　the

proconsul；　they　all　carried　daggers　concealed　beneath　their　robes。　The

tetrarch　had　no　doubt　whatever　of　the　exactness　of　Phanuel's　skill　in

astrology。



Suddenly　he　bethought　him　of　Herodias。　He　would　consult　her。　He　hated

her；　certainly；　but　she　might　give　him　courage；　and　besides；　in　spite

of　his　dislike；　not　all　the　bonds　were　yet　broken　of　that　sorcery

which　once　she　had　woven　about　him。



When　he　entered　her　chamber；　he　was　met　by　the　pungent　odour　of

cinnamon　burning　in　a　porphyry　vase　and　the　perfume　of　powders；

unguents；　cloud…like　gauzes　and　embroideries　light　as　feathers；　filled

the　air　with　fragrance。



He　did　not　speak　of　Phanuel's　prophecy；　nor　of　his　own　fear　of　the

Jews　and　the　Arabs。　Herodias　had　already　accused　him　of　cowardice。　He

spoke　only　of　the　Romans；　and　complained　that　Vitellius　had　not

confided　to　him　any　of　his　military　projects。　He　said　he　supposed　the

proconsul　was　the　friend　of　Caligula；　who　often　visited　Agrippa；　and

expressed　a　surmise　that　he　himself　might　be　exiled；　or　that　perhaps

his　throat　would　be　cut。



Herodias；　who　now　treated　him　with　a　kind　of　disdainful　indulgence；

tried　to　reassure　him。　At　last　she　took　from　a　small　casket　a　curious

medallion；　ornamented　with　a　profile　of　Tiberius。　The　sight　of　it；　she

said；　as　she　gave　it　to　Antipas；　would　make　the　lictors　turn　pale　and

silence　all　accusing　voices。



Antipas；　filled　with　gratitude；　asked　her　how　the　medallion　had　come

into　her　possession。



〃It　was　given　to　me；〃　was　her　only　answer。



At　that　moment　Antipas　beheld　a　bare　arm　slipping　through　a　portiere

hanging　in　front　of　him。　It　was　the　arm　of　a　youthful　woman；　as

graceful　in　outline　as　if　carved　from　ivory　by　Polyclitus。　With　a

movement　a　little　awkward　and　at　the　same　time　charming；　it　felt　about

the　wall　an　instant；　as　if　seeking　something；　then　took　down　a　tunic

hanging　upon　a　hook　near　the　doorway；　and　disappeared。



An　elderly　female　attendant　passed　quietly　through　the　room；　lifted

the　portiere；　and　went　out。　A　sudden　recollection　pierced　the　memory

of　the　tetrarch。



〃Is　that　woman　one　of　thy　slaves？〃　he　asked。



〃What　matters　that　to　thee？〃　was　the　disdainful　reply。







CHAPTER　III



The　great　banqueting…hall　was　filled　with　guests。　This　apartment　had

three　naves；　like　a　basilica；　which　were　separated　by　columns　of

sandalwood；　whose　capitals　were　of　sculptured　bonze。　On　each　side　of

the　apartment　was　a　gallery　for　spectators；　and　a　third；　with　a　facade

of　gold　filigree；　was　at　one　end；　opposite　an　immense　arch　at　the

other。



The　candelabra　burning　on　the　tables；　which　were　spread　the　whole

length　of　the　banqueting…hall；　glowed　like　clusters　of　flaming　flowers

among　the　painted　cups；　the　plates　of　shining　copper；　the　cubes　of

snow　and　heaps　of　luscious　grapes。　Through　the　large　windows　the

guests　could　see　lighted　torches　on　the　terraces　of　the　neighbouring

houses；　for　this　night　Antipas　was　giving　a　feast　to　his　friends；　his

own　people；　and　to　anyone　that　presented　himself　at　the　castle。



The　slaves；　alert　as　dogs；　glided　about　noiselessly　in　felt　sandals；

carrying　dishes　to　and　fro。



The　table　of　the　proconsul　was　placed　beneath　the　gilded　balcony　upon

a　platform　of　sycamore　wood。　Rich　tapestries　from　Babylon　were　hung

about　the　pavilion；　giving　a　certain　effect　of　seclusion。



Upon　three　ivory　couches；　one　facing　the　great　hall；　and　the　other　two

placed　one　on　either　side　of　the　pavilion；　reclined　Vitellius；　his　son

Aulus；　and　Antipas；　the　proconsul　being　near　the　door；　at　the　left；

Aulus　on　the　right；　the　tetrarch　occupying　the　middle　couch。



Antipas　wore　a　heavy　black　mantle；　the　texture　of　which　was　almost

hidden　by　coloured　embroideries　and　glittering　decorations；　his　beard

was　spread　out　like　a　fan；　blue　powder　had　been　scattered　over　his

hair；　and　on　his　head　rested　a　diadem　covered　with　precious　stones。

Vitellius　still　wore　the　purple　band；　the　emblem　of　his　rank；　crossed

diagonally　over　a　linen　toga。



Aulus　had　tied　behind　his　back　the　sleeves　of　his　violet　robe；

embroidered　with　silver。　His　clustering　curls　were　laid　in　carefully

arranged　rows；　a　necklace　of　sapphires　gleamed　against　his　throat；

plump　and　white　as　that　of　a　woman。　Crouched　upon　a　rug　near　him；　with

legs　crossed　was　a　pretty　white　boy；　upon　whose　face　shone　a　perpetual

smile。　Aulus　had　found　him　somewhere　among　the　kitchens　and　had　taken

a　violent　fancy　to　him。　He　had　made　the　child　one　of　his　suite；　but　as

he　never　could　remember　his　protege's　Chaldean　name；　called　him　simply

〃the　Asiatic。〃　From　time　to　time　the　little　fellow　sprang　up　and

played　about　the　dining…table；　and　his　antics　appeared　to　amuse　the

guests。



At　one　side　of　the　tetrarch's　pavilion　were　the　tables　at　which　were

seated　his　priests　and　officers；　also　a　number　of　persons　from

Jerusalem；　and　the　more　important　men　from　the　Grecian　cities。　At　the

table　on　the　left　of　the　proconsul　sat　Marcellus　with　the　publicans；

several　friends　of　the　tetrarch；　and　various　representatives　from

Cana；　Ptolemais；　and　Jericho。　Seated　at　other　tables　were　mountaineers

from　Liban　and　many　of　the　old　soldiers　of　Herod's　army；　a　dozen

Thracians；　a　Greek　and　two　Germans；　besides　huntsmen　and　herdsmen；　the

Sultan　of　Palmyra；　and　sailors　from　Eziongaber。　Before　each　guest　was

placed　a　roll　of　soft　bread；　upon　which　to　wipe　the　fingers。　As　soon

as　they　were　seated；　hands　were　stretched　out　with　the　eagerness　of　a

vulture's　claws；　seizing　upon　olives；　pistachios；　and　almonds。　Every

face　was　joyous；　every　head　was　crowned　with　flowers；　except　those　of

the　Pharisees；　who　refused　to　wear　the　wreaths；　regarding　them　as　a

symbol　of　Roman　voluptuousness　and　vice。　They　shuddered　when　the

attendants　sprinkled　them　with　galburnum　and　incense；　the　use　of　which

the　Pharisees　reserved　strictly　for　services　in　the　Temple。



Antipas　observed　that　Aulus　rubbed　himself　under　the　arms；　as　if

annoyed　by　heat　or　chafing；　and　promised　to　give　him　three　flasks　of

the　same　kind　of　precious　balm　that　had　been　used　by　Cleopatra。



A　captain　from　the　garrison　of　Tiberias　who　had　just　arrived；　placed

himself　behind　the　tetrarch　as　protection　in　case　any　unexpected

trouble　should　arise。　But　his　attention　was　divided　between　observing

the　movements　of　the　proconsul　and　listening　to　the　conversation　of

his　neighbours。



There　was；　naturally；　much　talk　of　Iaokanann；　and　other　men　of　his

stamp。



〃It　is　said；〃　remarked　one　of　the　guests；　〃that　Simon　of　Gitta　washed

away　his　sins　in　fire。　And　a　certain　man　called　Jesus〃



〃He　is　the　worst　of　them　all！〃　interrupted　Eleazar。　〃A　miserable

imposter！〃



At　this　a　man　sprang　up　from　a　table　near　the　tetrarch's　pavilion；　and

made　his　way　towards　the　place　where　Eleazar　sat。　His　face　was　almost

as　pale　as　his　linen　robe；　but　he　addressed　the　Pharisees　boldly；

saying：　〃That　is　a　lie！　Jesus　has　performed　miracles！〃



Antipas　expressed　a　long…cherished　desire　to　see　the　man　Jesus　perform

some　of　his　so…called　miracles。　〃You　should　have　brought　him　with

you；〃　he　said　to　the　last　speaker；　who　was　still　standing。　〃Tell　us

what　you　know　about　him；〃　he　commanded。



Then　the　stranger　said　that　he　himself；　whose　name　was　Jacob；　having　a

daughter　who　was　very　ill；　had　gone　to　Capernaum　to　implore　the　Master

to　heal　his　child。　The　Master　had　answered　him；　saying：　〃Return　to　thy

home：　she　is　healed！〃　And　he　had　found　his　daughter　standing　at　the

threshold　of　his　house；　having　risen　from　her　couch　when　the　gnomon

had　marked　the　third　hour；　the　same　moment　when　he　had　made　his

supplication　to　Jesus。



The　Pharisees　admitted　that　certain　mysterious　arts　and　powerful　herbs

existed　that　would　heal　the　sick。　It　was　said　that　the　marvellous

plant　known　as　〃baaras〃　grew　even　in　Machaerus；　the　power　of　which

rendered　its　consumer　invulnerable　against　all　attacks；　but　to　cure

disease　without　seeing　or　touching　the　afflicted　person　was　clearly

impossible；　unless；　indeed；　the　man　Jesus　called　in　the　assistance　of

evil　spirits。



The　friends　of　Antipas　and　the　men　from　Galilee　nodded　wisely；　saying：

〃It　is　evident　that　he　is　aided　by　demons　of　some　sort！〃



Jacob；　standing　between　their　table　and　that　of　the　priests；

maintained　a　silence　at　once　lofty　and　respectful。



Several　voices　exclaimed：　〃Prove　his　power　to　us！〃



Jacob　leaned　over　the　priests'　table；　and　said　slowly；　in　a　half…

suppressed　tone；　as　if　awe…struck　by　his　own　words：



〃Know　ye　not；　then；　that　He　is　the　Messiah？〃



The　priests　stared　at　one　another；　and　Vitellius　demanded　the　meaning

of　the　word。　His　interpreter　paused　a　moment　before　translating　it。

Then　he　said　that　Messiah　was　the　name　to　be　given　to　one　who　was　to

come；　bringing　the　enjoyment　of　all　blessings；　and　giving　them

domination　over　all　the　peoples　of　the　earth。　Certain　persons　believed

that　there　were　to　be　two　Messiahs；　one　would　be　vanquished　by　Gog　and

Magog；　the　demons　of　the　North；　but　the　other　would　exterminate　the

Prince　of　Evil；　and　for　centuries　the　coming　of　this　Saviour　of

mankind　had　been　expected　at　any　moment。



At　this；　the　priests　began　to　talk　in　low　tones　among　themselves。

Eleazar　addressed　Jacob；　saying　that　it　had　always　been　understood

that　the　Messiah　would　be　a　son　of　David；　not　of　a　carpenter；　and　that

he　would　confirm　the　law；　whereas　this　Nazarene　attacked　it。

Furthermore；　as　a　sti