CHAPTER VIII
THE JEW
The man who entered the apartment with the air of one to whom every nookand corner was familiar, must have been fully three-score years of age,yet his dark eye still glittered with the fire of youth, his thick curlingbeard and hair were but slightly sprinkled with grey, and the muscles ofhis square powerful frame seemed but to have acquired solidity andconsistency with age. His appearance was that of a warrior, toughened,and, as it were, forged into iron, by years of strife, hardship, andunremitting toil.
If something in the line of his aquiline features resembled Calchas, notwo faces could have been more different in their character and expressionthan those of Eleazar and his brother. The latter was all gentleness,kindliness, and peace; on the former, fiery passions, deep schemes,continual peril, and contention, had set their indelible marks. The onewas that of the spectator, who is seated securely on the cliff, and marksthe seething waters below with interest, indeed, and sympathy, but withfeelings neither of agitation nor alarm; the other was the strong swimmer,breasting the waves fiercely, and battling with their might, striving forhis life inch by inch, and stroke by stroke, conscious of his peril,confident in his strength, and never despairing for an instant of theresult. At times, indeed, the influence of opposite feelings, softeningthe one and kindling the other, would bring out the family likeness clearand apparent upon each; but in repose no two faces could be moredissimilar, no two types of character more utterly at variance, than thoseof the Christian and the Jew.
As Eleazar's warlike figure came into the light, Esca could not but remarkwith what a glance of mistrust his quick eye took in the presence of astranger, how the strong fingers closed instinctively round the staff hewas in the act of laying down, and the whole form seemed to gather itselfin an instant as though ready for the promptest measures of resistance orattack. Such trifling gestures spoke volumes of the character and habitsof the man.
Nevertheless Calchas rapidly explained to his brother the cause of thisaddition to their supper-party; and Mariamne, who seemed in considerableawe of her father, busied herself in placing food and wine before him,with even more alacrity than she had shown when serving their guest.
The Jew thanked his new friend for the kindness he had rendered hisdaughter, with a few brief cordial words, as one brave man expresses hisgratitude to another, then fell to on the meat and drink provided, with avoracity that argued well for his physical powers, and denoted a strongconstitution and a long fast. As he took breath after a deep draught ofwine in which, though he pledged him not, he challenged his guest to join,Calchas asked his brother how he had sped in the affairs that kept himfrom home all day.
"Ill," answered the other, shooting from under his thick eyebrows apenetrating glance at the Briton. "Ill and slowly, yet not so ill but thatsomething has been gained, another step taken in the direction at which Iaim. Yet I have been to-day in high places, have seen those bloatedgluttons and drunkards who are the ministers of Caesar's will, have spokenwith that spotted panther, Vespasian's scheming agent forsooth! who thinkshe hath the cunning, as he can doubtless boast of the treachery and thegaudy colours, of the beast of prey. Let him take care! Weaker hands thanmine have ere this strangled a fiercer animal for the worth of his shiningskin. Let him beware! Eleazar-Ben-Manahem is a match, and more than amatch, for Julius Placidus the tribune!"
Esca glanced quickly at the speaker, as his ear caught the familiar name.The look was not lost upon his host.
"You know him?" said he, with a fierce smile that showed the strong whiteteeth gleaming through his bushy beard. "Then you know as cool and well-taught a soldier as ever buckled on a sword. I wish I had a few like himto officer the Sicarii(3) at home. But you know, also, a man who would notscruple to slay his own father for the worth of the clasp that fastens hisgown. I have seen him in the field, and I have seen him in the council. Heis bold, skilful, and he can be treacherous in both! Where met you himlast?" he added, with a searching glance at Esca, while at the same timehe desired Mariamne to fill the stranger's cup and his own.
The latter proceeding engrossed the Briton's whole attention. It was withthe utmost carelessness that he replied to the question, by relating hisinterview, that very morning, with the tribune at Valeria's door. Hescarcely marked how precisely the father noted down the name in histablets, for the daughter's white arm was reaching over his shoulder, soclose that it almost touched his cheek.
It was indeed well worth Eleazar's while to obtain information, fromwhatever source, of any influence that might affect those in authoritywith whom he was in daily contact at Rome. His position was one whichcalled for courage, tact, skill, and even cunning, to a great extent.Charged by the Supreme Council at Jerusalem, then in the last stage ofperplexity and sorely beset by Vespasian and his legions, with a privatemission to Vitellius, who much mistrusted the successful general, herepresented the hopes and fears, the temporal and political prosperity,nay, the very existence of the Chosen People. Nor to all appearance coulda better instrument have been selected for the purpose. Eleazar, though abigoted and fanatical Jew of the strictest sect, was a man of keen andpowerful intellect, whose obstinacy was open to no conviction, whoseperseverance was to be deterred by no obstacle. A distinguished andfearless soldier, he possessed the confidence of the large and fightingportion of the nation, who looked on Roman supremacy with abhorrence, andwho clung dearly to the notion of earthly dominion, wrested from theheathen with the sword. His rigid observance of its fasts, its duties, andits ceremonials, had gained him the affections of the priesthood, and themore enthusiastic followers of that religion in which outward forms wereso strictly enjoined and so faithfully observed; while a certain fierce,defiant, and unbending demeanour towards all classes of men, had won forhim a character of frankness which did him good service in the schemes ofintrigue and dissimulation with which he was continually engaged.
Yet perhaps the man was honest too, as far as his own convictions went. Heesteemed all means lawful for the furtherance of a lawful object. He wasone of those who deem it the most contemptible of weakness to shrink fromdoing evil that good may come. Like Jephthah he would have sacrificed hisdaughter unflinchingly in performance of a vow; nay, had Mariamne stoodbetween him and the attainment of his ambition, or even the accomplishmentof his revenge, he would have walked ruthlessly over the body of hischild. Versed in the traditions of his family and the history of hisnation, he was steeped to the lips in that pride of pedigree which was soessential a feature of the Jewish character: he was convinced that theeventual destiny of his people was to lord it over the whole earth. Hepossessed more than his share of that haughty self-sufficiency which badethe Pharisee hold aloof from those of lower pretensions and humblerdemeanour than himself; while he had all the fierce courage and energy ofthe Lion of Judah, so terrible when roused, so difficult to be appeasedwhen victorious. In his secret heart he anticipated the time whenJerusalem should again become a sovereign city, when the Roman eaglesshould be scared away from Syria, and a hierarchy established once more asthe government of the people chosen by Heaven. That he should be a secondJudas Maccabaeus, a chief commander of the armies of the faithful in thenew order of things, was an ambition naturally enough entertained by thebold and skilful soldier; but, to do Eleazar justice, individualaggrandisement had but little share in his schemes, and personal interestnever crossed those visions for the future, on which his dark anddangerous enthusiasm so loved to dwell.
It was a delicate matter to intrigue with Vitellius in Rome against thevery general who held supreme authority, at least ostensibly, from theEmperor. It was playing a hazardous game, to receive power andinstructions from the Council at Jerusalem, and to use or suppress themaccording to the bearer's own political views and future intentions.
It was no easy task to hold his own against such men as Placidus, in thecontest of _finesse_, subtlety, and double-dealing; yet the Jew enteredupon his perilous career with a stren
uous energy, a cool calculatingaudacity, that was engraved in the very character of the man.
Another draught of the rich Lebanon wine served to improve theiracquaintance, and Eleazar, with considerable tact, drew from the Britonall the information he could obtain as to the habits and movements of hisantagonist the tribune, while he seemed but to be carrying on thecourteous conversation of a host with his guest. Esca's answers,notwithstanding that thoughts and eyes wandered frequently towardsMariamne, were frank and open like his disposition. He, too, entertainedno very cordial liking for Placidus, and experienced towards the tribunethat unconscious antipathy which the honest man so often feels for theknave.
Calchas, meanwhile, had returned to the perusal of his scroll, on whichhis brother cast occasional glances of unfeigned contempt, notwithstandingthat the reader was the person whom he most loved and respected on earth.Mariamne, moving about the apartment, looked covertly on the fair face andstately form of her preserver, approving much of what she saw; once theireyes met, and the Jewess blushed to her temples for very shame. So thetime passed quickly; the night stole on, the Lebanon was nearly finished,and Esca rose to bid his entertainers farewell.
"You have done me a rare service," said Eleazar, feeling in his breastwhile he spoke, and producing, from under his coarse garment, a jewel ofconsiderable value, "a service neither thanks nor guerdon can requite;yet, I pray you, keep this trinket in remembrance of the Jew and the Jew'sdaughter, who come of a people that forgive not an injury, and forget nota benefit."
The colour mounted to Esca's forehead, and an expression of pain, almostof anger, came into his face, while he replied--
"I have done nothing to merit either thanks or reward. It is no suchmatter to put a fat eunuch on his back, or to defend an unprotected womanin a town like this. Take back your jewel, I pray you. Any other man wouldhave done as much."
"It is not every man who could have interposed so effectually," repliedEleazar, with a glance of hearty approval at the thews and sinews of hisfriend, replacing the jewel meanwhile in his vestment, without the leastsign of displeasure at its being declined. He would have bestowed itfreely, no doubt, but if Esca did not want it, it would serve some otherpurpose: precious stones and gold would always fetch their value at Rome."At least you will let me give you a safe-conduct home," he added; "thenight is far advanced, and I should be loth that you should suffer wrongfor your interposition in our behalf."
Esca burst out laughing now. In the pride of his strength, it seemed soimpossible that he should require protection or assistance from anyone. Hesquared his large shoulders and drew himself to his full height.
"I should wish no better pastime," said he, "than a bout with a dozen ofthem! I, too, was brought up a warrior, in a land you have never heard of,many a long mile from Rome; a land fairer far than this, of green valleysand wooded hills, and noble rivers winding calmly towards the sea; a landwhere the oaks are lofty and the flowers are sweet, where the men arestrong and the women fair. I have followed the chase afoot from sunrise tosunset through many a summer's day. I have fronted the invader, sword inhand, ever since my arm was long enough to draw blade from sheath, or Ihad not been here now. You too are a soldier, I see it in your eye--you canbelieve that my limbs grow stiff, my spirits droop for lack of martialexercise. In faith, it seems to me that even a vulgar broil in the streetmakes my blood dance in my veins once more!"
Mariamne was listening with parted lips and shining eyes. She drank in allhe said of his distant home with its woodland scenery, its forest trees,its fragrant flowers, and, above all, its lovely women. She felt so kindlytowards this bold young stranger, exiled from kin and country, sheattributed her interest to pity and gratitude, nor could she helpwondering to find these sentiments so strong.
Calchas looked up from his studies.
"Fare thee well!" said he. "Take an old man's warning, and strike notunless it be in self-defence. Mark well the turning from the main streetto the Tiber, so shalt thou find thy way to our poor home again."
Esca promised faithfully to return, and fully intended to redeem hispromise.
"Another cup of wine," said Eleazar, emptying the leathern bottle into agolden vessel; "the sun of Italy cannot ripen such a vintage as this."
But the rich produce of the Lebanon was all too cloying for the healthypalate and the thirst of youth. Esca prayed for a draught of fair water,and Mariamne brought him the pitcher and gave him to drink with her ownhand. For the second time to-night their eyes met, and although they wereinstantly averted, the Briton felt that he was drinking from a cup moreintoxicating than all the wine-presses of Syria could produce--a cup thatmade him unconscious of the past as of the future, and only too keenlysensible of the present by its joy. He forgot that he was a barbarian, heforgot that he was a slave.
He forgot everything but Mariamne and her dark imploring trustful eyes.