The light which streamed in from the single window high up in the massive wall revealed a square room, ceiled and paved with stone. It was empty save for an oaken table, behind which in a high-backed chair sat an old man of severe and reverend aspect. On either side of him stood two officers of the temple police, motionless as statues and armed with long spear-pointed1 staves. All this Anat, who was the first of the women to pass into the chamber2, saw with a single timid glance. She shrank back before the stern eyes of the man in the chair, and reaching out one manacled hand touched the robe of Mary, who was just behind her. The mother of Jesus took the little trembling hand and held it firmly.
Saul advanced to the table and laid upon it a slip of parchment, at the same time whispering a few words into the ear of the old man, who frowned slightly and nodded once or twice as his eye passed slowly from one to the other of the four prisoners.
"Where is the man John?" he demanded suddenly.
No one answered.
"Can ye not speak?" he cried, striking the table with his clenched3 fist, "or hath it come to pass that your scurrilous4 tongues are already withered5 in your mouths?"
"If thou art questioning me," said Seth calmly, "I wot not where the apostle is; he went forth6 on some errand of mercy early this morning, leaving me in charge of the house. We be law-abiding citizens, dwelling7 in a law-abiding city, wherefore hath it come to pass that we are thus dragged through the streets in chains?"
"That shalt thou shortly hear," replied Annas grimly. "Hast thou examined these prisoners?" he asked, turning to Saul.
"I examined them briefly8 before making the arrests, according to my custom," answered Saul. "For I would not that I transgress9 the law in this work of purging10 the holy city of them that blaspheme. I found all of these prisoners obstinate11 and stiff-necked, unwilling12 to renounce13 their sins and to make confession14 of their unrighteousness, therefore I have brought them before thee for further examination and sentence."
"This being so, the law must take its course with them," said Annas sternly. "Do thou, Mary of Nazareth, stand forth. Remove the veil from off thy face."
With a firm step the mother of Jesus advanced and stood before the table; she threw back the shrouding15 mantle16, her beautiful, pallid17 face shining forth as if illumined with a strange inward radiance.
Annas looked at her for an instant, then he dropped his eyes and fell to turning over the parchments which lay before him.
"Art thou the mother of the Man of Nazareth?"
"I am."
"Thou didst teach him to believe unholy and blasphemous19 things regarding himself when he was a child," said Annas, still looking down at the table; "therefore did he continue to delude20 himself and others when he was grown, and at the last perished miserably21 on the accursed tree. Hath not God punished thee sufficiently22 for thy presumptuous23 sin that thou dost still persist in pretending that thy son is the Messiah of Israel?"
"He is the Messiah of Israel," said Mary, her deep eyes shining. "Wherefore my soul doth magnify the Lord, for he hath regarded the low estate of his hand-maiden; behold24 from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. He is the Messiah of Israel, but he is also much more, he is the Prince of Peace, the Saviour25 of the world. For the Lord hath shewed strength with his arm, he hath scattered26 the proud in the imaginations of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty27 from their seat, and exalted28 them of low degree. And God hath delivered his holy child Jesus from death and from the power of the grave, and hath set him down at the right hand of power for ever more."
"Daughter of Abraham," said Annas, lifting his shaking hand, "thou hast blasphemed. Thou knowest the penalty."
"Father," cried an agonized29 voice, "forbear this last awful sin, lest God smite30 thee in his wrath31 and consume thee to ashes!"
At the sound of this voice the face of Annas changed. He rose to his feet and stared for a moment at the shrouded32 figure which knelt before him.
"Who--who is it that speaks to me?" he said, and his voice trembled.
"It is I--thine own daughter, Anna; dost thou not know me? I beseech33 thee by the mercies of Jehovah that thou raise not thy hand against the mother of the Christ."
"Woman, I know thee not. Get thee up and stand back. Out of thine own mouth art thou already condemned35."
"I care not for myself--death were welcome. But take heed36 to thyself, I beseech thee, before thou layest violent hands upon this holy woman."
Annas laughed contemptuously. "Have we not crucified the carpenter?" he said, "and are unscathed; is the mother of the carpenter more exalted? Nay37, we shall deal with her after the law; the law is just."
At this Seth started forward. "Prate38 not of the law who art a murderer!" he said in a choked voice. "The man Jesus was guiltless and ye did condemn34 him. Guiltless also are these women; release them, but do with me as thou wilt39--the servant is not greater than his lord."
Annas trembled with rage. He essayed to speak, but the words died on his lips.
"Now seest thou what manner of perverse40 and pestilent apostates41 these are," said Saul. "Furthermore, the man is an alien. There is no need that we continue to argue this matter with them. Israel is ever merciful and just, according to the commands of Jehovah, therefore let them be publicly scourged42 without the gates; if the stripes be wholesome43 to bring them back to their right minds and to a knowledge of the truth, well. They will then confess right gladly that the man of Nazareth and all his works are of the devil. After this shall a blood offering be made for them; so shall they be cleansed44 from their iniquities45. But and if they will not so confess, let their sin abide46 upon them; let them die the death appointed in the law of Moses for such as are blasphemers."
"Justice and mercy are in the words of thy mouth," said Annas slowly. Then he turned to the prisoners: "Forty stripes save one shall be laid upon each and every one of you to-morrow at about this hour, according to the magnitude of your offences and the law of Moses, who thus appointed it for the peace of Israel. Afterward--if ye will not confess--ye shall die the appointed death."
"Mercy--have mercy!" cried Anna, laying hold of his robe. "We cannot but believe the things which we have seen and heard. Nay, thou wouldst thyself believe if the Lord should reveal himself to thee."
Annas drew away with a gesture of abhorrence47. "Unhand me, woman," he said sternly. "Satan hath blinded thee to the truth; I will pray for thee that thou be undeceived at the last. Take them away."
"Thrust these blasphemers into the inner prison," commanded Saul a half-hour later, "and remember that thou answerest for them with thine own life. Come not to me on the morrow with any whining48 tale of angel or devil, and think thus to excuse thyself for their escape. Let them be missing at the third hour to-morrow, and thou thyself shalt suffer in thine own body the penalty to which these are condemned. Thou hast heard."
The chief jailer shrugged49 his shoulders. "I have heard, my lord. This night at every watch will I inspect the prisoners. But I pray thee send also additional guards, for life is precious to me, and I have not forgotten what hath happened more than once when these Nazarenes have been imprisoned50; peradventure the man himself might appear."
"Coward!" growled51 Saul. "The man hath perished off the face of the earth, so likewise shall perish all who believe on him. If thou art one of these, room shall be made for thee within."
"Nay, my lord, nay," cried the jailer trembling. "I do not believe--I swear it; but there have been strange things of late, and the devil himself hath powers----"
"I will send a guard," interrupted Saul shortly. "Hold thy peace and do thy duty, and all shall be well with thee. Admit no one."
The chief jailer bowed himself almost to the ground before the Pharisee, whose renown52 had by this time spread throughout Jerusalem, and in whose presence the temple officials from the highest unto the lowest trembled. "I will admit no one," he said, and he again made obeisance53 as Saul strode through the prison gate.
"Lock the gate and double bar it," he cried irritably54 to the guard. "Then stand there for your lives; if these prisoners get away, and I have to die for it, be sure that not one of you shall escape. Thrust the man into the stocks," he added to the turnkey, who stood at his elbow; "as for the women, chain them to the floor. I will come after a little and look to them. Food? No; let them fast. Give them water."
In the inner prison, where the darkness seemed only the more intense because of the feeble rays of daylight which struggled through the little square of grating above the door, were the four who were condemned to death. The young man Seth made fast in the stocks, the three women chained to heavy rings which were riveted55 into the stone floor.
"Dost think that He will deliver us?" whispered Anat, laying hold of the robe of Mary and pressing it to her lips.
"He will deliver us, beloved, in his own best way," answered Mary tenderly. "If the way lie through the dark valley, then will the end thereof be only the more glorious."
"But the scourging--the shame, how--how shall we endure it?" wailed56 Anat piteously.
"He also endured--being divine," said Mary, her voice trembling; "and shall we who are but mortal shrink back? Think not of the morrow, save as thou dost think that to-morrow we shall stand before Him in clothing of immortality57."
"But if we fail, deny him?" faltered58 Anat. "I know not my own heart--whether I can endure unto the end."
"He will give thee grace when the need comes. Wouldst thou at this moment deny him?"
"No--ah, no."
"Neither wilt thou deny him on the morrow. He giveth his strength in due season, and to-morrow is in his hand."
As for Anna, the wife of Caiaphas, she sat silent, her head bowed upon her knees. Mary thought that perhaps she slept, and in her tender heart she hoped that this was so.
Every hour the chief jailer flashed the light of his torch into their prison. "Where now is he that delivereth?" he cried tauntingly59. And again, "If angels visit thee during the night watches cry aloud, for I have sworn by my life to deliver thy bodies to judgment60 on the morrow." Being insensible--as indeed are most mortals to celestial61 sights and sounds--he did not perceive that the whole place was filled with the airs of heaven and with the rustling62 of angelic pinions63.
At midnight the drowsy64 guards were awakened65 by a loud knocking upon the outer gate of the prison.
"Open!" cried a voice. "Open at once, in the name of the Sanhedrim." The governor of the prison looked out, and beholding66 by the light of the lantern that it was Caleb himself who knocked, he opened cautiously and admitted him.
"I have orders," said Caleb, "to speak a word in private with one of the women who are in ward18 here; this is the token of my authority," and he displayed before the eyes of the chief jailer the signet ring of Annas.
"But the Pharisee Saul--" began the jailer.
Caleb waved his hand impatiently. "Fetch the woman out to me and at once," he said.
"They are chained to the floor," grumbled67 the jailer, "and I will not fetch out any one of them, were it by the order of Herod himself. Go thou in."
So Caleb went into the prison, the jailer following close upon his heels. "Which is the woman called Anna?" he said. "I have here a message for her."
And when the daughter of Annas had been pointed out to him, he thrust into her hand a packet. "Use what is within to save the honor of thy house," he whispered. "It is sent thee in mercy by the hand of Annas." Then he turned swiftly and went out.
Anna opened the packet, a vague hope stirring at her heart; but she shrank back with a shiver as the flash of the departing light fell upon the blade of a dagger68.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
scurrilous
|
|
| adj.下流的，恶意诽谤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
transgress
|
|
| vt.违反，逾越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
purging
|
|
| 清洗； 清除； 净化； 洗炉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
obstinate
|
|
| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
renounce
|
|
| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
shrouding
|
|
| n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pallid
|
|
| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
blasphemous
|
|
| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
delude
|
|
| vt.欺骗；哄骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
miserably
|
|
| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
presumptuous
|
|
| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
saviour
|
|
| n.拯救者，救星 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
agonized
|
|
| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
smite
|
|
| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
shrouded
|
|
| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
beseech
|
|
| v.祈求，恳求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
condemn
|
|
| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
prate
|
|
| v.瞎扯，胡说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
wilt
|
|
| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
perverse
|
|
| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
apostates
|
|
| n.放弃原来信仰的人( apostate的名词复数 )；叛教者；脱党者；反叛者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
42
scourged
|
|
| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
wholesome
|
|
| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
cleansed
|
|
| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
iniquities
|
|
| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
abide
|
|
| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
abhorrence
|
|
| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
whining
|
|
| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
imprisoned
|
|
| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
growled
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
renown
|
|
| n.声誉，名望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
obeisance
|
|
| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
irritably
|
|
| ad.易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
riveted
|
|
| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
wailed
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
immortality
|
|
| n.不死，不朽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
tauntingly
|
|
| 嘲笑地，辱骂地； 嘲骂地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
60
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
celestial
|
|
| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
rustling
|
|
| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
pinions
|
|
| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
drowsy
|
|
| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
beholding
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |