Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem

  CHAPTER XIII

  WOE, WOE TO JERUSALEM

  Two more years went by, two dreadful, bloody years. In Jerusalem thefactions tore each other. In Galilee let the Jewish leader Josephus,under whom Caleb was fighting, do what he would, Vespasian and hisgenerals stormed city after city, massacring their inhabitants bythousands and tens of thousands. In the coast towns and elsewhereSyrians and Jews made war. The Jews assaulted Gadara and Gaulonitis,Sebaste and Ascalon, Anthedon and Gaza, putting many to the sword.Then came their own turn, for the Syrians and Greeks rose upon them andslaughtered them without mercy. As yet, however, there had been no bloodshed in Tyre, though all knew that it must come. The Essenes, whohad been driven from their home by the Dead Sea and taken refuge inJerusalem, sent messengers to Miriam warning her to flee from Tyre,where a massacre was being planned; warning her also not to come toJerusalem, which city they believed to be doomed, but to escape, ifpossible over sea. Nor was this all, for her own people, the Christians,besought her to fly for her life's sake with them to the city of Pella,where they were gathering from Jerusalem and all Judaea. To both Miriamanswered that what her grandsire did, that she must do. If he fled,she would fly; if he stayed at Tyre, she would stay; if he went toJerusalem, she would go; for he had been good to her and she had swornthat while he lived she would not desert him. So the Essene messengerswent back to Jerusalem, and the Christian elders prayed with her, andhaving blessed her and consigned her to the care of the Most High andHis Son, their Lord, departed to Pella, where, as it was fated, throughall those dreadful times not a hair of their heads was touched.

  When she had parted from them, Miriam sought out her grandfather, whomshe found pacing his chamber with a troubled air.

  "Why do you look so sad, Miriam?" he asked. "Have some of your friendswarned you that new sorrows are afoot?"

  "Yes, grandfather," and she told him all.

  "I do not believe them," he said passionately. "Say, do you? Where istheir authority? I tell you that we shall triumph. Vespasian is nowEmperor in Rome, and there will forget this little land; and the rest,those enemies who are of our own house and those without it, we willconquer and kill. The Messiah will come, the true Messiah. Many signsand wonders declare that he is at hand. Ay! I myself have had a visionconcerning him. He will come, and he will conquer, and Jerusalem shallbe great and free and see her desire upon her enemies. I ask--where isyour authority for these croakings?"

  Miriam drew a roll from her robe and read: "But when ye see Jerusalemcompassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. Thenlet them which are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them whichare in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in thecountry enter therein. For these are days of vengeance, that all thingsthat are written may be fulfilled. Woe to them that are with child andto them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distressupon the land and wrath unto this people. And they shall fall by theedge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations; andJerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of theGentiles be fulfilled."

  Benoni listened patiently until she had done. Then he answered withcontempt:

  "So says the book of your Law, but mine tells me otherwise. Well,child, if you believe it and are afraid, begone with your friends, theChristians, and leave me to meet this storm alone."

  "I do believe it," she answered quietly, "but I am not afraid."

  "That is strange," he said, "since you must then believe also that youwill come to a cruel death, which has terrors for the young and fair."

  "Not so, grandfather, for this same writing promises that in thesetroubles not one of us Christians shall perish. It is for you that Ifear, not for myself, who will go where you go, and bide where you bide.Therefore, once more, and for the last time, I pray you to be wise andfly--who otherwise must be slain"; and as Miriam said the words her blueeyes filled with tears.

  Benoni looked at her and for a moment his courage was shaken.

  "Of your book I take no account," he said, "but in the vision of yourpure spirit I am tempted to believe. Perhaps the things that you foreseewill happen, so, child, fly. You will not lack an escort and I can giveyou treasure."

  She shook her head. "I have said that I will not go without you."

  "Then I fear that you here must bide, for I will not leave my wealth andhome, even to save my life, and still less will I desert my people intheir holy war. Only, Miriam, if things fall out ill for us, rememberthat I entreated you to depart, and do not reproach me."

  "That I shall never do," she answered, smiling, and coming to the oldman kissed him tenderly.

  So they abode on in Tyre, and a week later the storm burst.

  For many days it had not been safe for Jews to show themselves in thestreets of the city, since several who crept out about their business,or to fetch water or provisions, had been set upon and beaten to deathby the mob, stirred up to the work by Roman emissaries. This time Benonihad employed in putting his house, which was part of an ancient fortressthat had stood many a siege, into a state of defence, and in supplyingit with an ample store of victuals. Also he sent messengers to Caleb,who was said to be in command of the Jewish force at Joppa, telling himof their peril. Because it was so strong many of the principal Jews inTyre, to the number of over a hundred indeed, had flocked into Benoni'spalace-fortress, together with their wives and children, since therewas no other place in their power in the town which could be so easilydefended. Lastly, in the outer courts and galleries were stationed fiftyor more faithful servants and slaves who understood the use of arms.

  Thus things remained, the Syrians threatening them through the gates orfrom the windows of high houses, and no more, till one night Miriam wasawakened by a dreadful sound of screaming. She sprang from her bed andinstantly Nehushta was at her side.

  "What happens?" she gasped as she dressed herself hastily.

  "Those Syrian dogs attack the Jews," answered Nehushta, "on the mainlandand in the lower city. Come to the roof, whence we can see what passes,"and hand in hand they ran to the sea-portico and up its steep steps.

  The dawn was just breaking, but looking from the walled roof they hadno need of its light, since everywhere in the dim city below and inPalaetyrus on the mainland, houses flared like gigantic torches. In theirred glare they could see the thousands of the attackers dragging outtheir inmates to death, or thrusting them back into the flames, whilethe night was made horrible with the shouts of the maddened mob, thecries of the victims and the crackling roar of burning houses.

  "Oh! Christ have mercy on them," sobbed Miriam.

  "Why should He?" asked Nehushta. "They slew Him and rejected Him;now they pay the price He prophesied. May He have mercy on us, Hisservants."

  "He would not have spoken thus," said Miriam indignantly.

  "Nay, but justice speaks. Those who take the sword shall perish by thesword. Even so have these Jews done to the Greeks and Syrians in many ofthe cities--they who are blind and mad. Now it is their hour, and mayhapours. Come, lady, these are no sights for you, though you might do wellto learn to bear them, since if you escape you may see many such.Come, and if you wish we will pray for these Jews, especially for theirchildren, who are innocent, and for ourselves."

  That day at noon, most of the poorer and least protected Jews ofthe city having been killed, the Syrians began their attack upon thefortified palace of Benoni. Now it was that the defenders learned thatthey had to deal with no mere rabble, but with savage hordes, manythousands strong, directed by officers skilled in war. Indeed these menmight be seen moving among them, and from their armour and appearanceit was easy to guess that they were Romans. This, in fact, was the case,since Gessius Florus, the wicked, and after him other officers, made itpart of their policy to send Romans to stir up the Syrians against theJews and to assist them in their slaughter.

  First an attack was made upon the main gates, but when it was found thatthese were too strong to be taken easily, the assailants r
etreated witha loss of a score of men shot by the defenders from the wall. Then othertactics were adopted, for the Syrians, possessing themselves of theneighbouring houses, began to gall the garrison with arrows from thewindows. Thus they drove them under cover, but did little more, sincethe palace was all of marble with cemented roofs, and could not be firedwith the burning shafts they sent down upon it.

  So the first day passed, and during the night no attack was made uponthem. When dawn came they learned the reason, for there opposite tothe gates was reared a great battering-ram; moreover, out at sea a hugegalley was being rowed in as close to their walls as the depth of waterwould allow, that from her decks the sailors might hurl stones and siegearrows by means of catapults and thus break down their defences anddestroy them.

  Then it was that the real fight began. The Jews posted on the roofof the house poured arrows on the men who strove to work the ram, andkilled many of them, till they were able to push the instrument so closethat it could no longer be commanded. Now it got to work and with threeblows of the great baulk of timber, of which the ram was fashioned,burst in the gates. Thereon the defenders, headed by old Benoni himself,rushed out and put those who served it to the sword; then beforethey could be overcome, retreated across the ditch to the inner wall,breaking down the wooden bridge behind them. Now, since the ram wasof no further use, as it could not be dragged through the ditch, thegalley, that was anchored within a hundred paces, began to hurl hugestones and arrows at them, knocking down the walls and killing several,including two women and three children.

  Thus matters went on till noon, the besiegers galling them with theirarrows from the land side and the galley battering them from the sea,while they could do little or nothing in return, having no engines.Benoni called a council and set out the case, which was desperateenough. It was evident, he said, that they could not hold out anotherday, since at nightfall the Syrians would cross the narrow protectingditch and set up a battering-ram against the inner wall. Therefore,they must do one of two things--sally out and attempt to cut their waythrough and gain open country, or fight on and at the last kill thewomen and children and rush out, those that were left of them, to behacked down by the besieging thousands. As the first plan gave no hope,since, cumbered as they were with helpless people, they could not expectto escape the city, in their despair they decided on the second. Allmust die, therefore they would perish by each other's hands. When thisdecision was known, a wail went up from the women and the children beganto scream with fright, those of them who were old enough to understandtheir doom.

  Nehushta caught Miriam by the arm.

  "Come to the highest roof," she said; "it is safe from the stones andarrows, and thence, if need be, we can hurl ourselves into the water anddie an easy death."

  So they went and crouched there, praying, for their case was desperate.Suddenly Nehushta touched Miriam and pointed to the sea. She looked andsaw another galley approaching fast as oars and sails could bring her.

  "What of it?" she asked heavily. "It will but hasten the end."

  "Nay," replied Nehushta, "this ship is Jewish; she does not fly theEagles, or a Phoenician banner. Behold! the Syrian vessel is getting upher anchors and preparing for fight."

  It was true enough, for now the oars of the Syrian shot out and sheforged ahead towards the newcomer. But just then the current caughther, laying her broadside on, whereon the Jewish ship, driven by thefollowing wind, shifted her helm and, amidst a mighty shouting from seaand shore, drove down upon her, striking her amidships with its beak sothat she heeled over. Then there was more tumult, and Miriam closed hereyes to shut out the horrid sight.

  When she opened them again the Syrian galley had vanished, only thewater was spotted with black dots which were the heads of men.

  "Gallantly done!" screamed Nehushta. "See, she anchors and puts out herboats; they will save us yet. Down to the water-gate!"

  On their way they met Benoni coming to seek them, and with him won thesteps which were already crowded with fugitives. The two boats of thegalley drew near and in the bow of the first of them stood a tall andnoble-looking figure.

  "It is Caleb," said Miriam, "Caleb who has come to save us."

  Caleb it was indeed. At a distance of ten paces from the steps he haltedhis boat and called aloud:

  "Benoni, Lady Miriam and Nehushta, if you still live, stand forward."

  They stood forward.

  "Now wade into the sea," he cried again, and they waded out untilthe water reached their armpits, when they were seized one by one anddragged into the boat. Many followed them and were also dragged in,until that boat and the other were quite full, whereon they turned andwere rowed to the galley. Having embarked them, the two boats wentback and again were filled with fugitives, for the most part women andchildren.

  Again they went, but as they laded for the third time, the ends ofladders appeared above the encircling walls of the steps, and Syrianscould be seen rushing out upon the portico, whence they began to lowerthemselves with ropes. The end of that scene was dreadful. The boatswere full, till the water indeed began to overflow their gunwales,but many still remained upon the steps or rushed into the water,women screaming and holding their children above their heads, and menthrusting them aside in the mad rush for life. The boats rowed off, somewho could swim following them. For the rest, their end was the sword. Inall, seventy souls were rescued.

  Miriam flung herself downwards upon the deck of the galley and burstinto tears, crying out:

  "Oh! save them! Can no one save them?" while Benoni seated at her side,the water running from his blood-stained garment, moaned:

  "My house sacked; my wealth taken; my people slain by the Gentiles!"

  "Thank God Who has saved us," broke in old Nehushta, "God and Caleb; andas for you, master, blame yourself. Did not we Christians warn you ofwhat was to come? Well, as it has been in the beginning, so it shall bein the end."

  Just then Caleb appeared before them, proud and flushed with triumph,as he well might be who had done great things and saved Miriam from thesword. Benoni rose and, casting his arms about his neck, embraced him.

  "Behold your deliverer!" he said to Miriam, and stooping down, he drewher to her feet.

  "I thank you, Caleb. I can say no more," she murmured; but in herheart she knew that God had delivered her and that Caleb was but Hisinstrument.

  "I am well repaid," answered Caleb gravely. "For me this has been afortunate day, who on it have sunk the great Syrian galley and rescuedthe woman--whom I love."

  "Oath or no oath," broke in Benoni, bethinking him of what he hadpromised in the past, "the life you saved is yours, and if I have my wayyou shall take her and such of her heritage as remains."

  "Is this a time to speak of such things?" said Miriam, looking up. "Seeyonder," and she pointed to the scene in progress on the seashore. "Theydrive our friends and servants into the sea and drown them," and oncemore she began to weep.

  Caleb sighed. "Cease from useless tears, Miriam. We have done our bestand it is the fortune of war. I dare not send out the boats again evenif the mariners would listen to my command. Nehushta, lead your lady tothe cabin and strip her of these wet garments lest she take cold in thisbitter wind. But first, Benoni, what is your mind?"

  "To go to my cousin Mathias, the high priest at Jerusalem," answered theold man, "who has promised to give me shelter if in these days any canbe found."

  "Nay," broke in Nehushta, "sail for Egypt."

  "Where also they massacre the Jews by thousands till the streets ofAlexandria run with their blood," replied Caleb with sarcasm; adding,"Well, to Egypt I cannot take you who must bring this ship to those whoawait her on this side of Joppa, whence I am summoned to Jerusalem."

  "Whither and nowhere else I will go," said Benoni, "to share in mynation's death or triumph. If Miriam wills it, I have told her she canleave me."

  "What I have said before I say again," replied Miriam, "that I willnever do."

  Then Nehushta took her to the cab
in, and presently the oars began tobeat and the great galley stood out of the harbour, till in the silenceof the sea the screams of the victims and the shouts of the victors diedaway, and as night fell naught could be seen of Tyre but the flare fromthe burning houses of the slaughtered Jews.

  Save for the sobs and cries of the fugitives who had lost their friendsand goods the night passed in quiet, since, although it was winter, thesea was calm and none pursued their ship. At daybreak she anchored,and coming from the cabin with Nehushta, in the light of the rising sunMiriam saw before her a ridge of rocks over which the water poured, andbeyond it a little bay backed by a desolate coast. Nehushta also saw andsighed.

  "What is this place?" asked Miriam.

  "Lady, it is the spot where you were born. On yonder flat rock laythe vessel, and there I burned her many years ago. See those blackenedtimbers half buried in the sand upon the beach; doubtless they are herribs."

  "It is strange that I should return hither, and thus, Nou," said Miriamsighing.

  "Strange, indeed, but mayhap there is a meaning in it. Before you camein storm to grow to womanhood in peace; now, perchance, you come on apeaceful sea to pass through womanhood in storm."

  "Both journeys began with death, Nou."

  "As all journeys end. Blackness behind and blackness in front, andbetween them a space of sunshine and shadow--that is the law. Yet haveno fear, for dead Anna, who had the gift of prophecy, foretold that youshould live out your life, though with me, whose days are almost done,it may be otherwise."

  Miriam's face grew troubled.

  "I fear neither life nor death, Nou, who am willing to meet either asmay chance. But to part with you--ah! that thought makes me fear."

  "I think that it will not be yet awhile," said Nehushta, "for althoughI am old, I still have work to do before I lay me down and sleep. Come,Caleb calls us. We are to disembark while the weather holds."

  So Miriam entered the boat with her grandfather and others who hadescaped, for the faces of all of them were set towards Jerusalem, andwas rowed to the shore over that very rock where first she drew herbreath. Here they found Jews who had been watching for the coming of thegalley. These men gave them a kind reception, and, what they needed evenmore, food, fire and some beasts of burden for their journey.

  When all were gathered on the beach Caleb joined them, having handedover the galley to another Jew, who was to depart in her with thosethat waited on the shore, upon some secret mission of intercepting Romancorn-ships. When these men heard what he had done at Tyre, at first theywere inclined to be angry, since they said that he had no authority torisk the vessel thus, but afterwards, seeing that he had succeeded, andwith no loss of men, praised him and said that it was a very great deed.

  So the galley put about and sailed away, and they, to the number of somesixty souls, began their journey to Jerusalem. A little while later theycame to a village, the same where Nehushta had found the peasant and hiswife, whose inhabitants, at the sight of them, fled, thinking that theywere one of the companies of robbers that hunted the land in packs,like wolves, plundering or murdering all they met. When they learnt thetruth, however, these people returned and heard their story in silence,for in those days such tales were common enough. As it came to an enda withered, sunburned woman advanced to Nehushta, and, laying one handupon her arm, pointed with the other at Miriam, saying:

  "Tell me, friend, is that the babe I suckled?"

  Then Nehushta, knowing her to be the nurse who had travelled withthem to the village of the Essenes, greeted her, and answered "Yea,"whereupon the woman cast her arms about Miriam and embraced her.

  "Day by day," she said, "have I thought of you, little one, and nowthat my eyes have seen you grown so sweet and fair, I care not--I whosehusband is dead and who have no children--how soon they close upon theworld." Then she blessed her, and called upon her angel to protect heryonder in Jerusalem, and found her food and an ass to ride; and so theyparted, to meet no more.

  As it happened, they were fortunate upon that journey, since, with thearmed guard of twenty men who accompanied Caleb, they were too strong aparty to be attacked by the wandering bands of thieves, and, althoughit was reported that Titus and his army had already reached Caesarea fromEgypt, they met no Romans. Indeed, their only enemy was the cold, whichproved so bitter that when, on the second night, they camped upon theheights over against Jerusalem, having no tents and fearing to lightfires, they were obliged to walk about till daylight to keep their bloodastir. Then it was that they saw strange and terrible things.

  In the clear sky over Jerusalem blazed a great comet, in appearance likea sword of fire. It was true that they had seen it before at Tyre, butnever before had it shown so bright. Moreover, there it had not theappearance of a sword. This they thought to be an ill omen, all of themexcept Benoni, who said that the point of the sword stretched out overCaesarea, presaging the destruction of the Romans by the hand of God.Towards dawn, the pale, unnatural lustre of the comet faded, and thesky grew overcast and stormy. At length the sun came up, when, to theirmarvelling eyes, the fiery clouds took strange shapes.

  "Look, look!" said Miriam, grasping her grandfather by the arm, "thereare armies in the heavens, and they fight together."

  They looked, and, sure enough, it seemed as though two great hostswere there embattled. They could discern the legions, the wind-blownstandards, the charging chariots, and the squadrons of impetuous horse.The firmament had become a battle-ground, and lo! it was red as withthe blood of the fallen, while the air was full of strange and dreadfulsounds, bred, perhaps, of wind and distant thunder, that came to themlike the wail of the vanquished and the dull roar of triumphant armies.So terrified were they at the sight, that they crouched upon the groundand hid their faces in their hands. Only old Benoni standing up, hiswhite beard and robes stained red by the ominous light, cried out thatthis celestial scene foretold the destruction of the enemies of God.

  "Ay!" said Nehushta, "but which enemies?"

  The tall Caleb, marching on his round of the camp, echoed:

  "Yes, which enemies?"

  Suddenly the light grew, all these fantastic shapes melted into a redhaze, which sank down till Jerusalem before them seemed as though shefloated in an ocean of blood and fire. Then a dark cloud came up and fora while the holy Hill of Zion vanished utterly away. It passed, the bluesky reappeared, and lo! the clear light streamed upon her marble palacesand clustered houses, and was reflected from the golden roofs of theTemple. So calm and peaceful did the glorious city look that none wouldhave deemed indeed that she was already nothing but a slaughter-house,where factions fought furiously, and day by day hundreds of Jewsperished beneath the knives of their own brethren.

  Caleb gave the word to break their camp, and with bodies shivering inthe cold and spirits terrified by fear, they marched across the ruggedhills towards the Joppa gate, noting as they passed into the valleythat the country had been desolated, for but little corn sprang in thefields, and that was trodden down, while of flocks and herds they sawnone. Reaching the gate they found it shut, and there were challenged bysoldiers, wild-looking men with ferocious faces of the army of Simon ofGerasa that held the Lower City.

  "Who are you and what is your business?" these asked.

  Caleb set out his rank and titles, and as these did not seem to satisfythem Benoni explained that the rest of them were fugitives from Tyre,where there had been a great slaughter of the Jews.

  "Fugitives always have money; best kill them," said the captain of thegate. "Doubtless they are traitors and deserve to die."

  Caleb grew angry and commanded them to open, asking by what right theydared to exclude him, a high officer who had done great service in thewars.

  "By the right of the strong," they answered. "Those who let in Simonhave to deal with Simon. If you are of the party of John or of Eleazergo to the Temple and knock upon its doors," and they pointed mockinglyto the gleaming gates above.

  "Has it come to this, then," asked Benoni, "that Jew
eats Jew inJerusalem, while the Roman wolves raven round the walls? Man, we areof no party, although, as I think, my name is known and honoured by allparties--the name of Benoni of Tyre. I demand to be led, not to Simon,or to John, or to Eleazer, but to my cousin, Mathias, the high priest,who bids us here."

  "Mathias, the high priest," said the captain; "that is another matter.Well, this Mathias let us into the city, where we have found goodquarters, and good plunder; so as one turn deserves another, we may aswell let in his friends. Pass, cousin of Mathias the high priest, withall your company," and he opened the gate.

  They entered and marched up the narrow streets towards the Temple. Itwas the hour of the day when all men should be stirring and busy withtheir work, but lo! the place was desolate--yes, although so crowded, itstill was desolate. On the pavement lay bodies of men and women slainin some midnight outrage. From behind the lattices of the windows theycaught sight of the eyes of hundreds peeping at them, but none gave thema good-morrow, or said one single word. The silence of death seemed tobrood upon the empty thoroughfares. Presently it was broken by a singlewailing voice that reached their ears from so far away that they couldnot catch its meaning. Nearer and nearer it came, till at length inthe dark and narrow street they caught sight of a thin, white-beardedfigure, naked to the waist as though to show the hideous scars androd-weals with which its back and breast were scored, still festering,some of them. This was the man who uttered the cries, and these were thewords he spoke:

  "A voice from the East! a voice from the West! a voice from the fourWinds! a voice against Jerusalem and against the Temple! a voice againstthe bridegrooms and the brides! a voice against the whole people! Woe,woe to Jerusalem!"

  Now he was upon them, yes, and marching through them as though he sawthem not, although they shrank to one side and the other of the narrowstreet to avoid the touch of this ominous, unclean creature who scarcelyseemed to be a man.

  "Fellow, what do these words mean?" cried Benoni in angry fear. But,taking no heed, his pale eyes fixed upon the heavens, the wandereranswered only, "Woe, woe to Jerusalem! Woe to you who come up toJerusalem!"

  So he passed on, still uttering those awful words, till at length theylost sight of his naked form and the sound of his crying grew faint anddied away.

  "What a fearful greeting is this!" said Miriam, wringing her hands.

  "Ay!" answered Nehushta, "but the farewell will be worse. The place isdoomed and all in it."

  Only Caleb said, striving to look unconcerned:

  "Have no fear, Miriam. I know the man. He is mad."

  "Where does wisdom end and madness begin?" asked Nehushta.

  Then they went on towards the gates of the Temple, always through thesame blood-stained, empty streets.