herodias-第4章

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them　were　necessary　to　defend　the　place　against　brigands　and

marauders；　especially　the　Arabs。　Many　of　the　objects　in　the　vault　had

been　the　property　of　his　father；　and　he　had　allowed　them　to　remain

untouched。　As　he　spoke；　he　managed　to　get　in　advance　of　the　proconsul

and　preceded　him　along　the　corridors　with　rapid　steps。　Presently　he

halted　and　stood　close　against　the　wall　as　the　party　came　up；　he　spoke

quickly；　standing　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　so　that　his　voluminous

mantle　covered　a　wide　space　of　the　wall　behind　him。　But　just　above　his

head　the　top　of　a　door　was　visible。　Vitellius　remarked　it　instantly；

and　demanded　to　know　what　it　concealed。



The　tetrarch　explained　that　the　door　was　fastened；　and　that　none　could

open　it　save　the　Babylonian；　Jacim。



〃Summon　him；　then！〃　was　the　command。



A　slave　was　sent　to　find　Jacim；　while　the　group　awaited　his　coming。



The　father　of　Jacim　had　come　from　the　banks　of　the　Euphrates　to　offer

his　services；　as　well　as　those　of　five　hundred　horsemen；　in　the

defence　of　the　eastern　frontier。　After　the　division　of　the　kingdom；

Jacim　had　lived　for　a　time　with　Philip；　and　was　now　in　the　service　of

Antipas。



Presently　he　appeared　among　the　vaults；　carrying　an　archer's　bow　on

his　shoulder　and　a　whip　in　his　hand。　Cords　of　many　colours　were　lashed

tightly　about　his　knotted　legs；　his　massive　arms　were　thrust　through　a

sleeveless　tunic；　and　a　fur　cap　shaded　his　face。　His　chin　was　covered

with　a　heavy；　curling　beard。



He　appeared　not　to　comprehend　what　the　interpreter　said　to　him　at

first。　But　Vitellius　threw　a　meaning　glance　at　Antipas；　who　quickly

made　the　Babylonian　understand　the　command　of　the　proconsul。　Jacim

immediately　laid　both　his　hands　against　the　door；　giving　it　a　powerful

shove；　whereupon　it　quietly　slid　out　of　sight　into　the　wall。



A　wave　of　hot　air　surged　from　the　depths　of　the　cavern。　A　winding　path

descended　and　turned　abruptly。　The　group　followed　it；　and　soon　arrived

at　the　threshold　of　a　kind　of　grotto；　somewhat　larger　than　the　other

subterranean　cells。



An　arched　window　at　the　back　of　this　chamber　gave　directly　upon　a

precipice；　which　formed　a　defence　for　one　side　of　the　castle。　A

honeysuckle　vine；　cramped　by　the　low…studded　ceiling；　blossomed

bravely。　The　sound　of　a　running　stream　could　be　heard　distinctly。　In

this　place　was　a　great　number　of　beautiful　white　horses；　perhaps　a

hundred。　They　were　eating　barley　from　a　plank　placed　on　a　level　with

their　mouths。　Their　manes　had　been　coloured　a　deep　blue；　their　hoofs

were　wrapped　in　coverings　of　woven　grass；　and　the　hair　between　their

ears　was　puffed　out　like　a　peruke。　As　they　stood　quietly　eating；　they

switched　their　tails　gently　to　and　fro。　The　proconsul　regarded　them　in

silent　admiration。



They　were　indeed　wonderful　animals；　supple　as　serpents；　light　as

birds。　They　were　trained　to　gallop　rapidly；　following　the　arrow　of　the

rider；　and　dash　into　the　midst　of　a　group　of　the　enemy；　overturning

men　and　biting　them　savagely　as　they　fell。　They　were　sure…footed　among

rocky　passes；　and　would　jump　fearlessly　over　yawning　chasms；　and；

while　ready　to　gallop　across　the　plains　a　whole　day　without　tiring；

they　would　stop　instantly　at　the　command　of　the　rider。



As　soon　as　Jacim　entered　their　quarters；　they　trotted　up　to　him；　as

sheep　crowd　around　the　shepherd；　and；　thrusting　forward　their　sleek

necks；　they　looked　at　him　with　a　gaze　like　that　of　inquiring　children。

From　force　of　habit；　he　emitted　a　raucous　cry；　which　excited　them；

they　pranced　about；　impatient　at　their　confinement　and　longing　to　run。



Antipas；　fearing　that　if　Vitellius　knew　of　the　existence　of　these

creatures；　he　would　take　them　away；　had　shut　them　up　in　this　place；

made　especially　to　accommodate　animals　in　case　of　siege。



〃This　close　confinement　cannot　be　good　for　them；〃　said　Vitellius；　〃and

there　is　a　risk　of　losing　them　by　keeping　them　here。　Make　an　inventory

of　their　number；　Sisenna。〃



The　publican　drew　a　writing…tablet　from　the　folds　of　his　robe；　counted

the　horses；　and　recorded　the　number　carefully。



It　was　the　habit　of　the　agents　of　the　fiscal　companies　to　corrupt　the

governors　in　order　to　pillage　the　provinces。　Sisenna　was　among　the

most　flourishing　of　these　agents；　and　was　seen　everywhere　with　his

claw…like　fingers　and　his　eyelids　continually　blinking。



After　a　time　the　party　returned　to　the　court。　Heavy；　round　bronze

lids；　sunk　in　the　stones　of　the　pavement；　covered　the　cisterns　of　the

palace。　Vitellius　noticed　that　one　of　these　was　larger　than　the

others；　and　that　when　struck　by　his　foot　it　had　not　their　sonority。　He

struck　them　all；　one　after　another；　then　stamped　upon　the　ground　and

shouted：



〃I　have　found　it！　I　have　found　the　buried　treasure　of　Herod！〃



Searching　for　buried　treasure　was　a　veritable　mania　among　the　Romans。



The　tetrarch　swore　that　no　treasure　was　hidden　in　that　spot。



〃What　is　concealed　there；　then？〃　the　proconsul　demanded。



〃Nothingthat　is；　only　a　mana　prisoner。〃



〃Show　him　to　me！〃



The　tetrarch　hesitated　to　obey；　fearing　that　the　Jews　would　discover

his　secret。　His　reluctance　to　lift　the　cover　made　Vitellius　impatient。



〃Break　it　in！〃　he　cried　to　his　lictors。　Mannaeus　heard　the　command；

and；　seeing　a　lictor　step　forward　armed　with　a　hatchet；　he　feared　that

the　man　intended　to　behead　Iaokanann。　He　stayed　the　hand　of　the　lictor

after　the　first　blow；　and　then　slipped　between　the　heavy　lid　and　the

pavement　a　kind　of　hook。　He　braced　his　long；　lean　arms；　raised　the

cover　slowly；　and　in　a　moment　it　lay　flat　upon　the　stones。　The

bystanders　admired　the　strength　of　the　old　man。



Under　the　bronze　lid　was　a　wooden　trap…door　of　the　same　size。　At　a

blow　of　the　fist　it　folded　back；　allowing　a　wide　hole　to　be　seen；　the

mouth　of　an　immense　pit；　with　a　flight　of　winding　steps　leading　down

into　the　darkness。　Those　that　bent　over　to　peer　into　the　cavern　beheld

a　vague　and　terrifying　shape　in　its　depths。



This　proved　to　be　a　human　being；　lying　on　the　ground。　His　long　locks

hung　over　a　camel's…hair　robe　that　covered　his　shoulders。　Slowly　he

rose　to　his　feet。　His　head　touched　a　grating　embedded　in　the　wall；　and

as　he　moved　about　he　disappeared；　from　time　to　time；　in　the　shadows　of

his　dungeon。



The　rich　tiaras　of　the　Romans　sparkled　brilliantly　in　the　sunlight；

and　their　glittering　sword…hilts　threw　out　glancing　golden　rays。　The

doves；　flying　from　their　cotes；　circled　above　the　heads　of　the

multitude。　It　was　the　hour　when　Mannaeus　was　accustomed　to　feed　them。

But　now　he　crouched　beside　the　tetrarch；　who　stood　near　Vitellius。　The

Galileans；　the　priests；　and　the　soldiers　formed　a　group　behind　them；

all　were　silent；　waiting　with　painful　anticipation　for　what　might

happen。



A　deep　groan；　hollow　and　startling；　rose　from　the　pit。



Herodias　heard　it　from　the　farther　end　of　the　palace。　Drawn　by　an

irresistible　though　terrible　fascination；　she　made　her　way　through　the

throng；　and；　reaching　Mannaeus；　she　leant　one　hand　on　his　shoulder　and

bent　over　to　listen。



The　hollow　voice　rose　again　from　the　depths　of　the　earth。



〃Woe　to　thee；　Sadducees　and　Pharisees！　Thy　voices　are　like　the

tinkling　of　cymbals！　O　race　of　vipers；　bursting　with　pride！〃



The　voice　of　Iaokanann　was　recognised。　His　name　was　whispered　about。

Spectators　from　a　distance　pressed　closer　to　the　open　pit。



〃Woe　to　thee；　O　people！　Woe　to　the　traitors　of　Judah；　and　to　the

drunkards　of　Ephraim；　who　dwelt　in　the　fertile　valleys　and　stagger

with　the　fumes　of　wine！



〃May　they　disappear　like　running　water；　like　the　slug　that　sinks　into

the　sand　as　it　moves；　like　an　abortion　that　never　sees　the　light！



〃And　thou　too；　Moab！　hide　thyself　in　the　midst　of　the　cypress；　like

the　sparrow；　in　caverns；　like　the　wild　hare！　The　gates　of　the　fortress

shall　be　crushed　more　easily　than　nut…shells；　the　walls　shall　crumble；

cities　shall　burn；　and　the　scourge　of　God　shall　not　cease！　He　shall

cause　your　bodies　to　be　bathed　in　your　own　blood；　like　wool　in　the

dyer's　vat。　He　shall　rend　you；　as　with　a　harrow；　He　shall　scatter　the

remains　of　your　bodies　from　the　tops　of　the　mountains！〃



Of　which　conqueror　was　he　speaking？　Was　it　Vitellius？　Only　the　Romans

could　bring　about　such　an　extermination。　The　people　began　to　cry　out：

〃Enough！　enough！　let　him　speak　no　more！〃



But　the　prisoner　continued　in　louder　tones：



〃Beside　the　corpses　of　their　mothers；　thy　little　ones　shall　drag

themselves　over　the　ashes　of　the　burned　cities。　At　night　men　will

creep　from　their　hiding…places　to　seek　a　bit　of　food　among　the　ruins；

even　at　the　risk　of　being　cut　down　with　the　sword。　Jackals　shall　pick

thy　bones　in　the　public　places；　where　at　eventide　the　fathers　were

wont　to　gather。　At　the　bidding　of　Gentiles；　thy　maidens　shall　be

forced　to　cease　their　lamentations　and　to　make　music　upon　the　zither；

and　the　bravest　of　thy　sons　shall　learn　to　bend　their　backs；　chafed

with　heavy　burdens。〃



The　listeners　remembered　the　days　of　exile；　and　all　the　misfortunes

and　catastrophes　of　the　past。　These　words　were　like　the　anathemas　of

the　ancient　prophets。　The　captive　thundered　them　forth　like　bolts　from

heaven。



Presently　his　voice　became　almost　as　sweet　and　harmonious　as　if　he

were　uttering　a　chant。　He　spoke　of　the　world's　redemption　from　sin　and

sorrow；　of　the　glories　of　heaven；　of　gold　in　place　of　clay；　of　the

desert　blossoming　like　the　rose。　〃That　which　is　now　worth　sixty　pieces

of　silver　will　not　cost　a　single　obol。　Fountains　of　milk　shall　spring

from　the　rocks；　men　shall　sleep；　well　satisfied；　among　the　wine…

presses。　The　people　shall　prostrate　themselves　before　Thee；　and　Thy

reign　shall　be　eternal；　O　Son　of　David！〃



The　tetrarch　suddenly　recoiled　from　the　opening　of　the　pit；　the

mention　of　the　existence　of　a　son　of　David　seemed　to　him　like　a　menace

to　himself。



Iaokanann　then　poured　forth　invectives　against　him　for　presuming　to

aspire　to　royalty。



〃There　is　no　other　king　than　the　Eternal　God！〃　he　cried；　and　he　cursed

Antipas　for　his　luxurious　gardens；　his　statues；　his　furniture　of

carved　ivory　and　precious　woods；　comparing　him　to　the　impious　Ahab。



Antipas　broke　the　slender　cord　attached　to　the　royal　seal　that　he　wore

around　his　neck；　and　throwing　the　seal　into　the　pit；　he　commanded　his

prisoner　to　be　silent。



But　Iaokanann　replied：　〃I　shall　cry　aloud　like　a　savage　bear；　like　the

wild　ass；　like　a　woman　in　travail！　The　punishment　of　heaven　has

already　visited　itself　upon　thy　incest！　May　God　inflict　thee　with　the

sterility　of　mules！〃



At　these　words；　a　sound　of　suppressed　laughter　arose　here　and　there

among　the　listeners。



Vitellius　had　remained　close　to　the　opening　of　the　dungeon　while

Iaokanann　was　speaking。　His　interpreter；　in　impassive　tones；

translated　into　the　Roman　tongue　all　the　threats　and　invectives　that

rolled　up　from　the　depths　of　the　gloomy　prison。