"A spy! a traitor1! cut him down--hew him to pieces!" such were the cries, not loud but terrible, that, as thunder on flash, followed that exclamation2 from Zarah. Cold steel gleamed in the moonlight; Lycidas, who had scarcely before thought of his own personal danger, found himself in a moment surrounded by a furious band with weapons upraised to take his life. With the instinct of self-preservation the young Athenian sprang forwards, clasped the knees of the leader, and exclaimed, "No spy--no Syrian--no foe3! as ye would find mercy in the hour of death, only hear me!" Then, ashamed at having been betrayed into showing what might look like cowardly fear, the Greek stood erect4, but gasping5, expecting that ere he could draw another breath he should feel the dagger6 in his side, or the sword at his throat.
"Hold--let him speak ere he die!" cried the leader; and, at his gesture of command, uplifted blades were arrested in air, and like leopards7 crouching8 in act to spring, the Hebrews surrounded their prisoner, to prevent the possibility of his making his escape.
"What would you say in your defence, young man?" asked the leader, in tones calm and stern. "Can you deny that you have been present as a spy at a scene to have witnessed which places the lives of all here assembled in your hands?"
"I am a Greek, an Athenian," said Lycidas, who had recovered his self-possession, and who intuitively felt that he was at the mercy of one who might be sternly just, but who would not be wantonly cruel. "I am here, but not as a spy--not to look with prying9 eyes upon your solemn and sacred rites10. Led by chance to this spot, sleep overtook me under this tree. I would forfeit11 my right hand, nay12, my life, rather than betray one engaged in the noble act which I have accidentally witnessed tonight."
"Will you hear him, the heathen dog, the son of Belial, the lying Gentile!" yelled out Abishai, his gleaming white teeth and flashing eyes giving to him an almost wolf-like ferocity of aspect, that well accorded with his cry for blood. "He was present--I know it--when our martyred brethren were slain14; ay, he looked on their dying pangs15!--tear him to pieces--set your heel on his neck--he has rejoiced at the slaughter16 of the just."
"No!" cried Lycidas with vehemence17; "I call to witness the--"
"Stop his blaspheming tongue with the steel!" exclaimed Abishai furiously; "let him not profane18 our ears with the names of the demons19 whom he worships. Cut him off from the face of the earth--that grave will hold one body more--the blood of our brethren cries out for vengeance20!"
Several voices echoed the fierce appeal, but amongst the wild cries for revenge, the ear of Lycidas, and the ear of the leader also, caught the maiden's faint exclamation, "Oh, Judas, have mercy! spare him!"
Still the extended hand of the chief alone kept back the fierce band who would have cut down their defenceless victim. But there was painful doubt on the brow of the leader; not that he was influenced by the demand for blood from Abishai and his fierce companions, but that he was aware of the extreme risk of setting the captive free. Lycidas felt that his fate hung on the lips of that calm princely man, and was almost satisfied that so it should be; a thought rose in the mind of the Greek, "If I must die, let it be by his hand."
"Stranger," began the son of Mattathias, and at the sound of his voice the tumult21 was hushed, and all stood silent to listen; "I doubt not your word, I thirst not for your blood--were my own life only at stake, not a hair of your head should be harmed. But on your silence as to what you have seen this night depends the safety of all here assembled, even of these daughters of Zion, for the tyrant22 spares not our women. We have no power to detain in captivity--we have but one way of ensuring silence; would you yourself--with the grave of those martyrs23 before you--be able to reproach us with cruelty should we decide on taking that way?"
Lycidas met without blenching24 the calm sad eyes of the speaker, but he could not answer the question. He knew that under like circumstances neither Syrian nor Greek would feel hesitation25 before, or remorse26 after, what would be deemed a stern deed of necessity. The eloquent27 lips of the poet had no power to plead now for life.
"Why waste words!" exclaimed fierce Abishai; "why do you hesitate, Judas? One would scarce deem you to be the descendant of that Phineas who won deathless fame by smiting28 Zimri and Cosbi through with a dart29. 'Thine eye shall not pity, nor thine hand spare.' Guilt30 lies on your head if you let Agag go. Was not the Canaanite to be rooted out of the land? Who dare bid us draw back when the Lord hath delivered the prey31 to our swords?"
"I dare--I do," cried Hadassah, advancing with dignity to the edge of the grove32 which separated her and her grand-daughter Zarah from the Hebrew men and their captive. "Shame on you, Abishai, man of blood. Yea, though you be the husband of my dead daughter, I repeat, shame on you to bring the name of the Lord to sanction your own thirst for vengeance! Hear me, son of Mattathias; ye men of Judah, hear me. The Merciful bids me speak, and I cannot refrain from speaking the words which He puts into my mouth."
The matron was evidently regarded with reverence33 by those who were present. Judas was related to her by blood, Abishai by marriage; two of the other five Hebrews had been her servants in her more prosperous days. But it was chiefly the dignity of Hadassah's character that gave weight to her speech; the widowed lady was regarded in Jerusalem almost as a prophetess, as one endued34 with wisdom from on high. Her pleading might not be effectual, but would at least be listened to with respect.
"The Canaanite was swept from the land," said Hadassah; "Zeba and Zalmunna were slain; Cosbi and Zimri were smitten35 through with a dart; but these were sinners whose cup of iniquity36 was full, and the swords of Israel executed God's righteous vengeance upon them, even as the waves of the sea overwhelmed Pharaoh, or the flood a world of transgressors. But the God of justice is the God also of mercy, slow to anger and plenteous in goodness. He calleth vengeance--though His work--His strange work (Isa. xxviii. 21). He hath given command, by His servant the Preacher, If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink (Prov. xxv. 21). Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth; and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth" (Prov. xxiv. 17).
"An enemy born of the house of Israel, not a vile37 Gentile," muttered one of the men who were present.
"Is the Lord the Maker38 only of the Jew; made He not the Gentile also?" cried Hadassah. "Thou shalt not oppress a stranger, saith the Lord, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt (Ex. xxiii. 9). Did not Hobab the Midianite dwell among the people of Israel; was not Achior the Ammonite welcomed by the elders of Bethura; was not the blood of the Hittite required at the hand of David, and Ittai the Gittite found faithful when Israelites fell away from their king? God said of Cyrus the Persian, He is my shepherd (Isa. xliv. 28), and Alexander of Macedon was suffered to offer sacrifices to the Lord God of Jacob. Yea, hath not Isaiah the prophet declared that He, the Holy One, the Messiah, for whose coming we look, shall bring forth39 judgment40 to the Gentiles (Isa. xlii. 1), shall be a light of the Gentiles (Isa. xlii. 6), that He will lift up His hand to the Gentiles (Isa. xlix. 22), so that their kings shall be nursing-fathers, and their queens nursing-mothers to His people (Isa. xlix. 23)? Ay, a time is coming--may it speedily come!--when the idols41 He shall utterly43 abolish (Isa. ii. 18), when the Lord's house shall be established, and all nations shall flow unto it (Isa. ii. 2), when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. ii. 14).
The noble features of the aged13 matron kindled44 as with inspiration, and as she raised her hand towards heaven, she seemed to call the Deity45 to confirm His glorious promises of mercy to the people yet walking in darkness.
A confused murmur46 rose amongst the listeners; if Hadassah's appeal had impressed some, it had stirred up in others the fierce jealousy47 which made so many Jews unwilling48 that the Gentiles should ever share the privileges of Abraham's race. The captive's life hung upon a slender thread, and he knew it.
"Hadassah," said the chief, addressing the widow with respect, "do you then require that we should trust this stranger, when--if he prove false--so many Hebrew lives will be the forfeit of confidence misplaced?"
"I require that you should trust Him who hath said, Thou shalt do no murder; who hath ordained49 that whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. We show little faith when we think to find safety in transgressing50 the law of our God."
Again rose a fierce, angry murmur. Lycidas heard the words, "folly51, madness, tempting52 Providence," mingled53 with imprecations on "dogs of heathen," "idolaters," "the polluted, the worshippers of graven images."
Judas laid hold on his javelin54, which he had placed against the trunk of the olive when he had exchanged the weapon for the spade. The heart of Lycidas throbbed55 faster, he read his own death-warrant in the movement, but he braced56 his spirit to fall bravely, as became a fellow-citizen of Miltiades. Again there was profound silence, all awaiting what should follow that simple action of the leader.
"Time passes, every minute that we linger here is fraught57 with peril58, our decision must be prompt," said Judas, and he motioned to Hadassah and Zarah to join the company of men on the side of the grave nearest to the stem of the tree. When they had done so, the son of Mattathias cast his javelin down on the ground. "Let those who would let the captive go free, those who would trust his gratitude59 and honour, pass over my javelin," cried Judas. "If the greater number cross it, we spare; if they remain here, we slay60. Are you content?" he inquired.
There was a murmured "Content" from most of those present. The chief then turned his glance on Lycidas, and with stern courtesy repeated his question to the Greek. The young captive bowed his head, folded his arms, and answered "Content."
"The women shall not vote!" exclaimed Abishai. "They shall vote," said the chief, with decision; "their peril is equal to ours, and so shall their privilege be."
It was with strangely mingled emotions that Lycidas beheld61, as it were, the balance raised, one of the scales of which was weighted with his freedom and life! Fear was scarcely the predominating feeling. A cloud for a few moments darkened the face of the moon, but through the shadow he could see the stately dark figure of Hadassah as she crossed over the javelin, and the flutter of Zarah's white veil. As the silver orb62 emerged from the cloud, the women were followed by the two Hebrews who had once been servants to Hadassah.
"Four on that side--five on this--he dies!" cried Abishai eagerly; but even as the exclamation was on his lips, Judas with a bound sprang over the javelin, and stood at the side of Zarah.
"He lives--the Merciful be praised!" cried Hadassah. Abishai, with a muttered curse, thrust back his thirsty blade into its sheath.
"Captive, depart in peace," said the son of Mattathias; "but ere you quit this spot, solemnly vow63 silence as to what you have witnessed here."
Lycidas instantly obeyed. "May I share the torments64 of those whose grave--but for your mercy--I should have shared, if I ever prove false to my oath," cried the Greek.
The chief waved his hand to bid him depart, and leave the Hebrews to complete the solemn work which his appearance had interrupted.
Lycidas, however, showed no haste to escape. He glanced towards Hadassah and Zarah. "May I not speak my gratitude," he began, advancing one step towards them; but the widow by a gesture forbade his nearer approach.
"Live your gratitude, speak it not, stranger," said she. "If ever you see son or daughter of Abraham in peril, remember this night; if ever your enemy stand defenceless before you, remember this night. And when next you would bow down before an idol42, and pray--as your people pray--to the deaf wood and the senseless stone, pause and reflect first upon what you have learned on this sacred spot of the faith of the Hebrews," Hadassah pointed65 to the open grave as she spoke66, "how it can nerve the weak to suffer, and induce the strong to spare!"
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1
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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leopards
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| n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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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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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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24
blenching
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| v.（因惊吓而）退缩，惊悸( blench的现在分词 )；（使）变白，（使）变苍白 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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endued
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| v.授予，赋予（特性、才能等）( endue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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transgressing
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| v.超越( transgress的现在分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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56
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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