The enforced hastiness of Zarah's departure rendered it perhaps less painful than it would otherwise have been. Zarah had little time to indulge in tender regrets on leaving a spot which memory still peopled with loved forms, giving a life to lifeless objects, making the table at which Hadassah had sat so often, the wheel at which she had spun1, the plants that she had nurtured2, things too precious to be parted from without a pang3. There was little which Zarah could take with her in a litter; save the parchments, some articles of dress and her few jewels, all must be left behind.
Yet at this time of peril4, while the wound inflicted5 by bereavement6 was yet unhealed, Zarah felt a spring of happiness which she had believed could never flow again, rising within her young heart. "Lycidas is an adopted son of Abraham! Lycidas, one of God's chosen people!" That thought sufficed to make Zarah's soft eyes bright and her step buoyant, to flood her spirit with hope and delight. Not that Zarah forgot Hadassah in her new sense of happiness; on the contrary, the memory of the sainted dead was linked with each thought of joy, and served to make it more holy.
"How Hadassah would have praised and blessed God for this!" reflected Zarah. "Her words were the seeds of truth which fell on the richest of soils, where the harvest now gladdens her child. It was she who first saved the precious life of my Lycidas, and then led his yet more precious soul to the Fount of Salvation7! Had Lycidas never listened to the voice of my mother, he had been an idolater still!"
It was with more of pleasure than of apprehension8 that Zarah, timid as was her nature, anticipated the journey before her. Lycidas was to be her protector, Lycidas would be near her, his presence seemed to bring with it safety and joy.
"And may it not be thus with all the future journey of life?" whispered hope to the maiden9. "Will Judas Maccabeus make any very strong opposition10 to the union of his kinswoman to a proselyte, when he finds that her happiness is involved in it, and that Lycidas will be a gallant11 defender12 of the faith which he has adopted as his own?" Zarah felt some anxiety and doubt upon this question, but nothing approaching to despair. The maiden had little idea of the intensity13 of the affection concentrated upon herself by one who was wont14 to restrain outward expression of his feelings; she feared that Judas might be offended and displeased15, but never imagined that she had the power of making him wretched. Was such a mighty16 hero, such an exalted17 leader, likely to care for the heart of a simple girl? Love was a weakness to which Zarah deemed that so calm and lofty a being as Maccabeus could scarce condescend18. But is the forest oak less strong and majestic19 because spring drapes its branches with thousands of blossoms, or are those blossoms less truly flowers because their hue20 is too like that of the foliage21 to strike a careless beholder22? Maccabeus, with his thoughtful reserved disposition23, would as little have talked of his affection for Zarah as he would of the pulsations of his heart; but both were a part of his nature, a necessity of his existence.
Joab was punctual to his appointment. An hour after dark the clatter24 of horses' hoofs25 was heard on the lonely hill-path which led to the house of Hadassah. Anna cautiously unclosed the door, peering forth26 anxiously to see whether those who came were friends or foes27.
"It is my Lord Lycidas!" she joyfully28 exclaimed, as the horseman who rode in front drew his rein29 at the door.
The Athenian found Zarah and her attendant ready to start, and in a few minutes the two were seated in the horse-litter conducted by Joab, the crimson30 curtains were drawn31, and the travellers departed from the lonely habitation upon their perilous32 journey.
The weather at this advanced season was cold, almost frosty, at night; but Lycidas was glad of the cessation of the heavy rains which had, as usual, heralded33 the approach of winter. The night was cloudless and clear, the azure34 vault35 was spangled with stars.
After some windings36 amongst the hills, the party entered the long valley of Rephaim, rich with corn-fields, vineyards, and orchards37. The corn had long since been garnered38, the grapes had been gathered, but the fig-trees were still laden39 with fruit. Zarah noticed little of the scenery around her, though brilliant star-light rendered it faintly visible. The rough motion of the litter over rocky roads precluded40 conversation, even had Zarah been disposed to enter into it with her attendant. The rocking of the litter rather invited sleep, and after the maiden had been for about an hour and a half slowly pursuing her journey, drowsiness41 was stealing over her, when she was startled by a sudden shock, which, though not violent, was sufficient somewhat to alarm, and thoroughly42 to arouse her.
"Has anything happened?" asked the maiden, partly drawing back one of the crimson curtains of her litter. Lycidas had dismounted, and was at her side in a moment.
"It is a trifling43 matter," he said; "be not alarmed, dear lady. One of the thongs45 has given way; Joab will speedily set all to rights; I only regret the delay."
"Where are we now?" asked Zarah.
"Close to the village of Bethlehem," was the Athenian's reply.
"Ah! I must look upon Bethlehem again!" cried Zarah with emotion, drawing the curtain further back, so as to obtain a wider view of the dim landscape of swelling46 hills and soft pastures. "My loved mother Hadassah was wont to bring me every year to this place; she called its stones the Memorial of the Past, and the Cradle of the Future."
"I know that Bethlehem is a place of great historical interest," observed Lycidas, glancing around; "it was here that David, the anointed shepherd, watched his flock, and encountered the lion and the bear. And it was here that the gentle Ruth gleaned47 barley48 amongst the reapers49 of Boaz." The young Greek was well pleased to show his recently-acquired knowledge of sacred story.
"Yes; my mother was wont to point out to me the very spots where events took place which must ever render them dear to the Hebrews," observed Zarah. "But Hadassah always said that the chief interest of Bethlehem lies in the future rather than in the past. It is here," Zarah reverentially lowered her voice as she went on--"it is here that Messiah the Prince shall be born, as has been revealed to us by a prophet."
"One would scarcely deem this village to be a place likely to be so honoured," observed Lycidas.
"Ah! you remind me of what my dear mother once said in reply to words of mine, spoken several years ago, when I was very young," said Zarah. "'It will be a long time before the Prince can come,' I observed, 'for I have looked on every side, and cannot see so much as the first stone laid of the palace in which He will be born.'--'Think you, child,' said Hadassah, 'that a building ten thousand times more splendid than that raised by Solomon would add a whit50 to His glory? The presence of the king makes the palace, though it should be but a cave. Does it increase the value of the diamond if the earth in which it lies embedded51 show a few spangles of gold dust?'--I have never forgotten that gentle reproof," continued Zarah, "and it makes me look with something of reverence52 even on such a building as that mean inn which we see yonder, for who can say that the Prince of Peace may not be born even in a place so lowly!"
As Joab was still occupied in repairing the thong44, Lycidas, standing53 bridle54 in hand beside Zarah's litter, went on with the conversation.
"The mind of Hadassah," he observed, "seemed especially to dwell upon humiliation55, suffering and sacrifice in connection with the mysterious Being for whose advent56 she looked--we all look. If her view be correct, it may be possible that not only the death, but the earthly life of the Messiah may be one long sacrifice from the cradle to the grave."
The conversation then turned to themes less lofty, till Joab had succeeded in effecting the slight needful repairs. Lycidas then remounted his horse, and the party resuming their journey, Bethlehem was soon left behind them.
It is unnecessary to describe that night-journey, or tell how Lycidas and his companions passed the site of King Solomon's pleasure-grounds, his "gardens, and orchards and pools of water;" or how the road then led over the succession of barren hills which extend southward as far as Hebron. Travelling was slow and tedious, the road rough, and the horses grew weary. Lycidas was too anxious to place his charge in safety, to permit of a halt for refreshment57 and rest on the way. The Greek's uneasiness on Zarah's account was increased as, towards dawn, they met parties of peasants fleeing, as they said, from the Syrians, who, like a vast cloud of locusts58, were carrying devastation59 through the land. Lycidas felt that danger was on all sides; he knew not whether to advance or to retreat; responsibility weighed heavily upon him, and he almost envied the stolid60 composure with which the hardy61 Joab trudged62 on his weary way. The Athenian would not disturb the serenity63 of Zarah's mind by imparting to her the anxious cares which perplexed64 his own. Lycidas was touched by the implicit65 confidence placed by the gentle girl in his power to protect and guide her; and he was thankful that while with him eye, ear, brain, were strained to the utmost to detect the most remote approach of danger, the weary Zarah in her litter was able to enjoy the refreshment of sleep.
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1
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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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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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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garnered
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| v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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precluded
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| v.阻止( preclude的过去式和过去分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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42
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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44
thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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47
gleaned
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| v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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reapers
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| n.收割者，收获者( reaper的名词复数 )；收割机 | |
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50
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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52
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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53
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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55
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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56
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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58
locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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59
devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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60
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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61
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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