When Zarah, trembling and pale, after her interview with Lycidas, fled to the apartment of Hadassah, she left her water-jar behind her at the spring. The sight of her grandmother, stretched on her low couch, with her eyes closed, and her lips parched1 and dry, recalled to the remembrance of the poor young maiden2 the errand for which she had quitted her side.
"The water! the water!" exclaimed Zarah, striking her brow. "She must have it. But oh! I dare not--I dare not go back; for nothing on earth could I go through that terrible struggle again!"
As Zarah stood on the threshold, in a state of painful indecision, to her great relief she heard the voice of Anna below, and called to her to bring up the jar of water which she would find at the fountain. Anna quickly obeyed, and came up the stairs laden3, not only with the cooling fluid, but with ripe fruit and vegetables, which she had brought from Jerusalem--the white mulberry and the nebeb, with early figs4, cucumbers, and a melon.
Very grateful was the supply to Hadassah; but more refreshing5 by far than the draught6 of cold water were the tidings which Anna had brought from the city. The Jewess was full of eagerness to a impart her glorious news.
"I saw them myself--Giorgias and his horsemen--jaded, crestfallen7, as they rode through the streets," cried Anna. "I marvel8 that they dared show their faces: they had not so much as crossed weapons with our conquering heroes!"
"Or they had not lived to tell the tale," exclaimed Hadassah, to whom the news of the victory at Emmaus seemed to give new energy and life.
"We dared not clap our hands and shout," continued the Jewish servant; "but there is not a Hebrew child that is not wild with joy. We blessed the name of Maccabeus, though we could only breathe it in whispers."
"But a day is coming when the welkin shall ring with that name, and the walls of Jerusalem echo back the sound," cried Hadassah. "Oh, my child!" she continued, glancing joyfully9 at Zarah, "there will be a thankful celebration of the Passover to-morrow. The Lord is giving deliverance to His chosen, even as He once did from the power of the haughty10 Pharaoh."
"It must be a very quiet keeping of the Feast," observed Anna, shaking her head. "It is said that King Antiochus is raging like a bear robbed of her whelps at the flight of Nicanor and the disgraceful retreat of Giorgias. A courier has ridden off, post-haste, bearer of despatches from the king to Lycias, the regent of the western provinces."
"Is it known what the despatches contain?" asked Hadassah.
"It is reported in the city," said Anna, "that Lycias is to raise a more mighty11 and terrible army than any that has swept the country before--more mighty than those led by Apollonius, Seron, or Nicanor. King Antiochus has sworn by all his false gods that he will destroy the Asmoneans root and branch."
"What God hath planted, who shall root up? what God prospers12, who shall destroy?" cried Hadassah. "Thinks Antiochus Epiphanes that he hath power to strive against the Lord?"
"He has terrible power to use against man," said Anna, who had a less courageous13 spirit than her mistress. "Sharper measures than ever, it is said, are to be taken to put down our secret worship. Woe14 unto them who are found keeping the Passover to-morrow! It will be done unto them, as it was done to Solomona and her sons."
"Would that God would give me strength to attend the holy Feast!" cried Hadassah, on whom the idea of danger following its celebration appeared to act as a stimulant15; "no fear of man should keep me away. But He who withholds16 the power accepts the will of His servant."
"I will go with my uncle Abishai," said Zarah.
"To rejoice and give thanks," cried Hadassah.
But Zarah's sinking heart could not respond to any accents of joy. She bowed her head on he clasped hands, and faintly murmured,--
"To pray for you, for myself, and--"
No human ear could catch the word which pale lips inaudibly framed.
"Go to our young Greek guest, Anna," Hadassah. "Bear to him some of this ripe, cooling fruit, and tell him of the triumphs of Judas. Though Lycidas be but a heathen," she added, as her handmaiden quitted the apartment to do her bidding, "he has a soul to admire, if he cannot emulate17, the lofty deeds of our heroes."
In a brief space of time Anna returned to the upper room, with alarm and surprise depicted18 on her face.
"I can nowhere find the Greek lord," she exclaimed. "He has made his escape from the house. There is nothing left but his mantle19, and that had fallen near the spring."
Hadassah glanced inquiringly at Zarah. But the maiden betrayed no surprise, uttered no word. She only trembled a little, as if from cold; for the sultry heat of Nisan seemed to her suddenly to have changed to the chill of winter. Hadassah made little observation on the flight of Lycidas until Anna had again quitted the apartment, when the widow lady said abruptly,--
"It was strange to leave without a word of farewell, a word of thanks, after having been for months treated as a guest, almost as a son!"
Zarah, with her cold, nervous fingers, was unconsciously engaged in tearing the edge of her veil into a fringe.
"If I were not uneasy regarding the safety of Abishai," resumed Hadassah--
But here, for the first time in her life, Zarah, with an appearance of impatience21, interrupted the speech of her revered22 relative.
"Have no fear for Abishai," cried the maiden, raising her head, and throwing back the long tresses which, from her drooping23 position, had fallen over her pallid24 face. "Have no fear for Abishai," she repeated. "The Greek will never repay your generous hospitality by revenging his private injuries upon your son. I can answer for his forbearance."
"You are right, my child," said Hadassah, tenderly. "I did Lycidas a wrong by expressing a doubt. Abishai is secure in his silence; and, such being the case, I believe--nay, I feel assured--that, it is better that we harbour the stranger here no longer. I am thankful that Lycidas has left us though his manner of departing seem somewhat churlish."
Was Zarah thankful also? Perhaps she was, though a miserable25 void seemed to be left in young heart, which she felt that nothing could ever fill up. More an orphan26 than the fatherless and motherless, more desolate27 than the widow, loving and beloved, yet--save for one sick and aged20 woman--alone in the world, it seemed to Zarah that a slight tie bound her to life, and that even that tie was gradually breaking. On the eve of that day of sore trial, the spring behind the dwelling28 had quite dried up: not a single drop gushed29 forth30 from the hill to revive the fading oleanders.
Just before sunset a laden mule31 was driven to the door of Hadassah's humble32 retreat. It was led by Joab, a Jew who had in former years been servant to the lady, and who had been one of those who had bravely assisted in digging the grave of the martyrs33. His presence, therefore, in that unfrequented spot excited no alarm.
"Anna," said he, addressing the handmaid who stood in the doorway34 (for he knew her by name), "help me to unload my mule; and do you bear what I bring to your mistress."
"From whence comes all this?" asked Anna, with no small curiosity.
"I met to-day," replied Joab, "the same stranger whom we caught lurking35 amidst the olives on the night of the burial of Solomona--(that was nigh being his last night upon earth!) He looked ghastly, as if himself new risen from the grave, and scarcely able to drag his steps along. I helped to raise him on my mule, and it bore him to a house in the city which he mentioned. I doubt whether the Gentile recognized me--his mind seemed to be strangely wandering--till I asked him where he had been since we had met by moonlight under a tree; and then he started, and looked fixedly36 into my face. He knew me, and did not forget that I had been one to spare his life by stepping over the spear," continued the muleteer, with a grim smile. "The Gentile is not ungrateful. I suppose that he remembered that he owed a debt in another quarter also, for he bade me return in a few hours; and when I did so, charged me to bear these things to the dwelling of the Lady Hadassah--ay, and gave me this purse of silver for her handmaid."
"The Lord Lycidas has a noble heart! Would that he were a son of Abraham!" exclaimed the delighted Anna, as she received the gift of the Greek. With mingled37 curiosity and pleasure Anna then carried up what Joab had brought to the housetop, on which the Hebrew ladies were then sitting, for the sake of the cooling breeze of even. At the bidding of Hadassah, Anna removed the outer wrappings which enclosed what Lycidas had sent, and drew forth a store of goodly gifts, selected with exquisite38 taste--graceful ornaments39, embroidery40 in gold, the lamp of delicate workmanship, the mirror of polished steel. Anna could not forbear uttering exclamations41 of admiration42; but Hadassah and her grand-daughter looked on in grave silence, until a scroll43 was handed to the former, which she opened and read aloud.
"With these worthless tokens of remembrance, accept the deep gratitude44 of one who has learned in a few too brief months under your roof more than he could elsewhere have learned in a life-time, of the loftiness of faith and the heroism45 of virtue46."
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1
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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figs
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| figures 数字，图形，外形 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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prospers
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| v.成功，兴旺( prosper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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withholds
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| v.扣留( withhold的第三人称单数 )；拒绝给予；抑制（某事物）；制止 | |
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emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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33
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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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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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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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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41
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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42
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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43
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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44
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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45
heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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46
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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