CHAPTER XIV
If the reader will return now to the repast of the wise men attheir meeting in the desert, he will understand the preparationsfor the supper in Ilderim's tent. The differences were chiefly suchas were incident to ampler means and better service.
Three rugs were spread on the carpet within the space so nearlyenclosed by the divan; a table not more than a foot in height wasbrought and set within the same place, and covered with a cloth.Off to one side a portable earthenware oven was established underthe presidency of a woman whose duty it was to keep the company inbread, or, more precisely, in hot cakes of flour from the handmillsgrinding with constant sound in a neighboring tent.
Meanwhile Balthasar was conducted to the divan, where Ilderimand Ben-Hur received him standing. A loose black gown coveredhis person; his step was feeble, and his whole movement slowand cautious, apparently dependent upon a long staff and thearm of a servant.
"Peace to you, my friend," said Ilderim, respectfully. "Peace andwelcome."
The Egyptian raised his head and replied, "And to thee, good sheik--tothee and thine, peace and the blessing of the One God--God the trueand loving."
The manner was gentle and devout, and impressed Ben-Hur with a feelingof awe; besides which the blessing included in the answering salutationhad been partly addressed to him, and while that part was being spoken,the eyes of the aged guest, hollow yet luminous, rested upon hisface long enough to stir an emotion new and mysterious, and sostrong that he again and again during the repast scanned the muchwrinkled and bloodless face for its meaning; but always there wasthe expression bland, placid, and trustful as a child's. A littlelater he found that expression habitual.
"This is he, O Balthasar," said the sheik, laying his hand onBen-Hur's arm, "who will break bread with us this evening."
The Egyptian glanced at the young man, and looked again surprisedand doubting; seeing which the sheik continued, "I have promisedhim my horses for trial to-morrow; and if all goes well, he willdrive them in the Circus."
Balthasar continued his gaze.
"He came well recommended," Ilderim pursued, much puzzled. "Youmay know him as the son of Arrius, who was a noble Roman sailor,though"--the sheik hesitated, then resumed, with a laugh--"thoughhe declares himself an Israelite of the tribe of Judah; and, by thesplendor of God, I believe that he tells me!"
Balthasar could no longer withhold explanation.
"To-day, O most generous sheik, my life was in peril, and wouldhave been lost had not a youth, the counterpart of this one--if,indeed, he be not the very same--intervened when all others fled,and saved me." Then he addressed Ben-Hur directly, "Art thou nothe?"
"I cannot answer so far," Ben-Hur replied, with modest deference."I am he who stopped the horses of the insolent Roman when they wererushing upon thy camel at the Fountain of Castalia. Thy daughter lefta cup with me."
From the bosom of his tunic he produced the cup, and gave it toBalthasar.
A glow lighted the faded countenance of the Egyptian.
"The Lord sent thee to me at the Fountain to-day," he said, in atremulous voice, stretching his hand towards Ben-Hur; "and hesends thee to me now. I give him thanks; and praise him thou,for of his favor I have wherewith to give thee great reward,and I will. The cup is thine; keep it."
Ben-Hur took back the gift, and Balthasar, seeing the inquiryupon Ilderim's face, related the occurrence at the Fountain.
"What!" said the sheik to Ben-Hur. "Thou saidst nothing of thisto me, when better recommendation thou couldst not have brought.Am I not an Arab, and sheik of my tribe of tens of thousands? Andis not he my guest? And is it not in my guest-bond that the goodor evil thou dost him is good or evil done to me? Whither shouldstthou go for reward but here? And whose the hand to give it but mine?"
His voice at the end of the speech rose to cutting shrillness.
"Good sheik, spare me, I pray. I came not for reward, great orsmall; and that I may be acquitted of the thought, I say thehelp I gave this excellent man would have been given as wellto thy humblest servant."
"But he is my friend, my guest--not my servant; and seest thounot in the difference the favor of Fortune?" Then to Balthasarthe sheik subjoined, "Ah, by the splendor of God! I tell theeagain he is not a Roman."
With that he turned away, and gave attention to the servants,whose preparations for the supper were about complete.
The reader who recollects the history of Balthasar as given byhimself at the meeting in the desert will understand the effectof Ben-Hur's assertion of disinterestedness upon that worthy.In his devotion to men there had been, it will be remembered,no distinctions; while the redemption which had been promised himin the way of reward--the redemption for which he was waiting--wasuniversal. To him, therefore, the assertion sounded somewhat likean echo of himself. He took a step nearer Ben-Hur, and spoke tohim in the childlike way.
"How did the sheik say I should call you? It was a Roman name,I think."
"Arrius, the son of Arrius."
"Yet thou art not a Roman?"
"All my people were Jews."
"Were, saidst thou? Are they not living?"
The question was subtle as well as simple; but Ilderim savedBen-Hur from reply.
"Come," he said to them, "the meal is ready."
Ben-Hur gave his arm to Balthasar, and conducted him to the table,where shortly they were all seated on their rugs Eastern fashion.The lavers were brought them, and they washed and dried their hands;then the sheik made a sign, the servants stopped, and the voice ofthe Egyptian arose tremulous with holy feeling.
"Father of All--God! What we have is of thee; take our thanks,and bless us, that we may continue to do thy will."
It was the grace the good man had said simultaneously with hisbrethren Gaspar the Greek and Melchior the Hindoo, the utterancein diverse tongues out of which had come the miracle attestingthe Divine Presence at the meal in the desert years before.
The table to which they immediately addressed themselves was, as maybe thought, rich in the substantials and delicacies favorite in theEast--in cakes hot from the oven, vegetables from the gardens,meats singly, compounds of meats and vegetables, milk of kine,and honey and butter--all eaten or drunk, it should be remarked,without any of the modern accessories--knives, forks, spoons,cups, or plates; and in this part of the repast but little wassaid, for they were hungry. But when the dessert was in course itwas otherwise. They laved their hands again, had the lap-clothsshaken out, and with a renewed table and the sharp edge of theirappetites gone they were disposed to talk and listen.
With such a company--an Arab, a Jew, and an Egyptian, all believersalike in one God--there could be at that age but one subject ofconversation; and of the three, which should be speaker but he towhom the Deity had been so nearly a personal appearance, who hadseen him in a star, had heard his voice in direction, had been ledso far and so miraculously by his Spirit? And of what should hetalk but that of which he had been called to testify?