"'Tis worse even than when the man himself was alive; but what can we do?"
"Shorn of our powers as we be, what indeed? But shall we then sit quietly down and allow these men to snatch from us the little that remains3?" Annas arose from his place as he spoke4 and opening a small receptacle of carved ivory, removed from it a roll of parchment. "Let us now consider this matter between ourselves; later it must be presented before the council, but I tell you plainly that in the council itself there be them that are of two minds. I have written here," he continued, "the names of them that are principally concerned in the present disturbances5; let these be either slain7 or forced into banishment8, and the thousands who now claim to believe will quickly lose their fervor--which is after all simply a frenzy9 of excitement, skilfully10 produced by these apt pupils of the man from Galilee."
He was deliberately11 unrolling the parchment as he spoke. "I have prepared this list after most careful inquiry12 and investigation," he went on, looking keenly from one to the other of the two attentive13 faces before him. "To thee, Saul of Tarsus, this information should prove most useful. Other names may be added from time to time as shall appear necessary, but at present I have set down only some seventeen names, including the twelve who companied with the Nazarene. These are now I am told known as apostles; and it is they who are the principal inciters of the unseemly gatherings14 which daily take place within the confines of our Holy Temple, and which as yet we have not been able to put a stop to. To our shame be it said!"
"The names! the names!" cried Caiaphas impatiently; "read them, I pray thee, without further delay."
Annas frowned. "Thou art zealous15 in the cause, my son," he said with a warning gesture. "I commend thy diligence; would that all the Sanhedrim were of like mind with thyself. The names of the twelve who must be crushed at any cost are as follows:
"The first is Simon, also called Peter--without question the most dangerous of them all, in that he is absolutely unbridled of tongue and apparently17 without fear of God or man. He is an ignorant fellow, having been taken from his fishing boat on Gennesaret by the Nazarene, as one well fitted to become his disciple18."
"Was he not the one who declared with curses that he never knew the Nazarene, on the night when the man was so cleverly given over to us by that other follower19 of his, Judas?" said Caiaphas.
"Thou art in the right, my son," replied Annas, stroking his beard thoughtfully, "though I had entirely20 forgotten the circumstance; indeed all of his followers21 forsook22 the man and fled at the time of his arrest."
"Didst thou say that this Peter denied his Master?" asked Saul.
"He not only denied knowing him, but cursed and blasphemed foully24 in the faces of them that inquired of him concerning the matter, and that without provocation25, since there was no effort made to molest26 the followers of the Nazarene, it being deemed sufficient by us at the time to put an end to the man himself--a mistake in judgment27 which we are like to repent28 bitterly."
"Then the man is a coward!" exclaimed Saul contemptuously, "a loud-mouthed braggart29; doubtless a Roman scourging30 will suffice to close his mouth for the future."
"The suggestion is a good one," said Annas approvingly, "it can be brought about with ease; though for myself I am in favor of measures which shall entirely rid our city of the whole, blasphemous31 brood. The second name I have set down is that of John, he is always to be found with the man Peter, of whom we have just been speaking. He is, in his way, quite as dangerous, since in common with the other he possesses some means of deluding32 the multitudes into supposing that he hath healing power."
"There is a way provided by the law for dealing33 with such as have familiar spirits and by means of them work deeds of darkness," growled34 Caiaphas.
"Quite right," assented35 Annas, "we shall come to that presently; of the others I need say nothing except that they follow the same practices as the first two named, and are occupied night and day in spreading the pernicious teachings of what they are pleased to call the good tidings. I will name them in order, commencing at the beginning once more. Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, brother of the same; John and James, sons of Zebedee; Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, a tax gatherer; James Ben Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddeus; another Simon, who is a Canaanite, and Matthias, whom I find they have chosen to take the place of the man Judas, who served us well and cheaply you will remember in the capture of the Nazarene, but committed the incredible folly36 of hanging himself immediately afterward38; a pity, since we might have found him useful now. To these twelve names I have also added Mary, the mother of the Nazarene, she had best be made an example of, together with some of the other women, who consort39 with the men and brew40 mischief41 among them as only women are able."
Caiaphas started up. "Thou hast rightly said," he cried in a hoarse42 shaking voice, "the devil led captive the first woman, and they all do follow him to this day if he but put on the guise43 of a fair youth. I pray thee to add yet another name, the name of Stephen. Murderer and thief! I will kill him with my hands--I hate him--I----"
"My son," said Annas soothingly44, "thou must not over-agitate thyself; thy zeal16 for the holy temple hath quite caused thee to overlook the frailty45 of thy body, weakened by recent illness. The name Stephen is also written here, since I found that he was capable of leading away much people after him. He hath a nimble tongue and a fair countenance46, together with a knowledge of the lower Gentile class from which he also hath sprung, being, as his name indicates, of Greek parentage."
"He is the son of a murderous thief," shrieked47 Caiaphas, "and I will have his blood. I----"
"Assuredly; all whose names are written here are under sentence of death," said Annas, laying a warning hand on the speaker's arm; "but I pray thee, attend me while I finish the reading of the parchment, after that must we take immediate37 action. I have here further set down for your consideration the apostates49, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimath?a, formerly50 members of the Sanhedrim, but now delivered over unto ungodly lusts51 and blasphemies52 in the company of the Galileans. Of Joseph it is further known that he openly begged the body of the Nazarene from Pilate and made a great ado over its sepulture, buying spices and fine linen53 as if for a rich man, and laying the fruit of the accursed tree in his own new tomb, from whence it also disappeared on the third day through the further machinations of these same apostles."
"I once knew Joseph of Arimath?a," remarked Saul thoughtfully; "he was a fair-minded man, I will speak with him concerning the matter----"
"Not so, my son!" cried Annas hastily. "I forbid it in the name of the holy council; it is not meet for one that is sanctified to the service of Jehovah to consort with them over whom Satan hath gotten the victory. But hold! I hear some one at the door; it may be news of some fresh disturbance6, I ordered the captain of the temple police to bring me word should such occur. Enter, I pray thee, Caleb. What is it that hath befallen?"
"A great tumult54, my good lords," said the man, bowing himself reverently55 before them. "The men have wrought56 many wonderful cures upon the halt, the maimed, and the blind; the whole city is at the doors to see them. They are bringing out their sick and laying them on the stones of the street, crying out that if only the shadow of Peter fall on them they shall be healed."
"This is monstrous57!" cried Annas, starting up. "Do thou, Saul of Tarsus, go with this man and see to it that these fellows are put in hold; their shadows will go with them. Thrust them into the common prison, and let the jailer look to it that they escape not. Take with thee a sufficient number for thy security, and accomplish the matter quietly but with all speed. To-morrow we will consider their case."
Saul of Tarsus was already girding himself. "Thy commands, my lord, shall be obeyed," he said, bending his haughty58 head, "and I rejoice that I am counted worthy59 to be of service in bringing to naught60 these workers of iniquity61. If it meets with thy approval I shall also put in hold any others whom I shall find engaged in this blasphemous wickedness."
"Go forth62, my son," quoth Annas, rolling up his eyes, and spreading abroad his jewelled fingers, "and take with thee a High-Priestly blessing63, may it enable thee to prevail gloriously. Deal with the men as thou wilt64; only remember that we must be prudent65, and that too great zeal in the beginning oftentimes cripples an enterprise which would otherwise have grown mighty66 and irresistible67, therefore temper thy burning zeal with all caution and diligence as befits a truly wise man." He rubbed his hands together with an air of satisfaction as the door closed after the young Pharisee. "A most admirable man for the occasion!" he exclaimed, turning to Caiaphas. "Most admirable! Full of courage, full of determination, withal easy to be controlled; but I would not that he talk much of the matter with any other save ourselves. If he should hear the talk of Nicodemus, Joseph, or Barsabas, I fear me that he might receive an impetus68 in the wrong direction; and once started, there would be no halfway69 measures with him. He would speedily develop into another Peter on our hands."
"Dost thou in truth believe that these men are of the devil?"
Annas started, the self-satisfied smile faded; he looked sharply into the worn face before him, at the eyes with their feverish70 glitter, at the thin, nerveless hands, at the bowed shoulders; then he frowned.
"Thou had best go to thy chamber71--" he began irritably72, but Caiaphas checked him with an impatient gesture.
"Prate73 not to me of my chamber! I am sick, yes, but it is a sickness of the soul. Thou dost not know all, I have not told thee; but hear now that my son, my son David, was crucified as a thief at the right hand of the Nazarene." His voice rose almost to a shriek48 at the last word and he tore at his hair as one in uncontrollable agony.
Annas started to his feet. "Thou art mad!" he cried. "For God's sake, do not shriek forth such foul23 ravings, lest it come to the ears of them without."
"Nay74, I am not mad," said Caiaphas. "If I were mad, I might sometimes forget. Thou knowest how we lost him," he continued, sinking his voice to a husky whisper. "He was stolen by a thief who bred him to his own damnable trade, and who also was crucified. This Stephen, who preaches to the people of the Nazarene, is his son. It was Stephen who taught the woman who was my wife to believe that the Nazarene was the Messiah of Israel. What if it were true! My God, if it were true!"
"Fool!" cried Annas, clenching75 his hands. "Breathe to another human soul what thou hast told me and I will thrust thee into a dungeon76 where thou shalt cool thy hot brain to eternity77. Wilt thou drag our ancient name in the foul mud of the streets and make it a by-word and a hissing78? This fellow Stephen shall die, and that speedily; now look to it that thy tongue is forevermore silent in the matter! Dost thou hear me?"
Caiaphas cowered79 beneath the murderous eyes of the old man. "It shall be as thou hast said," he faltered80 weakly. Then he burst into a passion of sobbing81 like a sick child.
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收听单词发音
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1
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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2
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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4
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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5
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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7
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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8
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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10
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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11
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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12
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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13
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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14
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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15
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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16
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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17
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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18
disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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19
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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20
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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22
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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23
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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24
foully
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| ad.卑鄙地 | |
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25
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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26
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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27
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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28
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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29
braggart
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| n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的 | |
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30
scourging
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| 鞭打( scourge的现在分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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31
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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32
deluding
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的现在分词 ) | |
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33
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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34
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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35
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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37
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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39
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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40
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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41
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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42
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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43
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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44
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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45
frailty
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| n.脆弱；意志薄弱 | |
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46
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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47
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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49
apostates
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| n.放弃原来信仰的人( apostate的名词复数 )；叛教者；脱党者；反叛者 | |
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50
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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51
lusts
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| 贪求（lust的第三人称单数形式） | |
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52
blasphemies
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| n.对上帝的亵渎，亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 )；侮慢的言词（或行为） | |
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53
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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54
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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55
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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56
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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57
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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58
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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59
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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60
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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61
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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62
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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63
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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64
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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65
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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66
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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67
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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68
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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69
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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70
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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71
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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72
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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73
prate
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| v.瞎扯，胡说 | |
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74
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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75
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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76
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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77
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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78
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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79
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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80
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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81
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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