"And have you a sister in Rome?"
"I have a sister, but know not where she may be. Cyran the Beloved, so my mother called her."
Then Vergilius told his companion how he had won her from the son of Herod and left her in the keeping of Arria. David wept as he listened.
When the tale was finished he spoke bitterly: ""Twas she--the Beloved.
My father was put to death, his property seized, his wife and children dragged to captivity. My heart is faint with sorrow. G.o.d! I weary of thy slowness.
"Send, quickly send the new king, whose arrows shall fly as the lightning Making the mighty afraid and the proud to bow low and the wicked to tremble."
For a moment they rode in silence. David was first to speak.
"Forgive me," said he, with fear of his imprudence. "My tongue has gone too far. I am true to Herod, being his debtor, for he gave me freedom. But I am of the house of David."
"Fear not," said Vergilius. "Never shall I betray the broken hearted.
I give you friendship."
"And I give you grat.i.tude," was the answer of the Jew.
"I am as a child here in Judea and seek understanding. You shall be my teacher."
For a time neither spoke; soon David asked: "Will you tell me of her my sister is now serving?"
"Of all the daughters of Rome she is n.o.blest. We love each other. Ah, friend! "Tis a wonder--this great love. My tongue halts when I think of it."
He paused, in meditation.
"I have heard much of it here in Judea--a love that exalts the soul,"
said David.
"And changes the heart of man with all that is in it. My love has filled me with a tender feeling for all women; it has made me to hate injustice and even to complain of the G.o.ds."
"To complain of the G.o.ds!" said David, turning and looking into the face of his friend.
"It does seem to me they set a bad example and are too childish for the work they have to do, but still--still I bow before them."
"I do not understand you," said David.
"They are given to spite, anger, vanity, l.u.s.t, revenge, and idleness.
Caesar is greater than they. He has learned self-control. And this new king of your faith, who, you tell me, is to conquer the world--he is no better."
"And why think you so?"
"He is to conquer the world. Good sir, it has been conquered--how many times! He shall make the mighty afraid--have they not often trembled with fear and perished by the sword? He shall fling arrows of just revenge, as if our old earth were not already soaked in the blood of the wicked. Ah, my David, I wonder not you long for a king of the sword and the arrow. Revenge is ever the dream of the oppressed. But I have dreamed of a greater king."
"Tell me who?"
"He would be like this love in me," said Vergilius. "If it were to go abroad--if it were only to find the hearts of the mighty--what, think you, would happen?"
"Ay, if it were to go from friend to friend and from neighbor to neighbor," said the young Jew, "it would indeed conquer the world."
"And there would be neither war nor injustice."
"Tell me," said David. "Are there many lovers like you in Rome?"
"Some half a score that I have heard of, and I doubt not there be many."
""Tis the candle of the Lord--the preparation of the heart of man,"
said David. "I do believe his arrow shall be that of love."
"This feeling in me has kindled a great desire," said Vergilius. "I burn for knowledge."
Then said the young Jew: "Let us find my kinsman, Zacharias--a priest of holy life and great learning. Through his aged wife a miracle has been accomplished. I learn that she has given birth, and many have journeyed far to see the child. There be some who say that he is, indeed, the king of promise, albeit I have no such opinion."
"Why?"
"There shall be signs in the deep of the heavens, and we have not seen them."
"Where may we find the priest?"
"In the village of Ain Karim, yonder."
They could see its low dwellings and the dome of its synagogue. The Roman halted near the abode of Zacharias, while David took their followers to the inn. Suddenly the young Roman saw an aged priest approaching with a child in his arms.
"I have a message for you," said the man of G.o.d, stopping near the Roman officer.
"And I seek it," said Vergilius, looking at the long, gray beard of the venerable priest.
"It is borne in upon me to say to you that the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
"Tell me of the king," said Vergilius. "I do thirst for knowledge."
"He shall be the prince of peace."
Vergilius looked thoughtfully at the old priest, who now sat down as if weary.
"And he shall conquer with the sword?"
"Nay, but as it is written, "he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.""
Now the Roman was alert to hear. His ideal, which had taken form at the altar of peace and grown with his love, was being set up before him.
"But the nations are stubborn," said he. "Tell me, O wise and learned man, how shall he subdue them?"
"By the love of G.o.d, almighty and ever-lasting."
"G.o.d, almighty and everlasting," said Vergilius. "I know him not."