The Coming of the King | Page 6

have the blessing of my mother
Rachael. Stand thou beyond the threshold lest thy presence pollute the
air."
"Thou wouldst be blessed?" and the soldier laughed. "I await beyond
the threshold," and pushing the other soldier in front of him, he stepped
outside and stood where he could watch the pile of fish nets, from
which came the sound of heavy breathing.
"My blessing," Sara whispered, "the bitter hemlock!"
With tears streaming down her withered cheeks while she muttered and
cursed, the aged woman fastened Sara's torn bodice, binding the deadly
herb within easy hand's reach.
CHAPTER II
AT TIBERIAS
A Tyrian merchant-ship manned by three galleys of oarsmen, turned its
high and proudly arched red and gold neck into the harbor of Tiberias.
After the manner of that master builder his father, Herod the Great, in
building Caesarea, Herod Antipas had built Tiberias as a home of
luxury for himself and a fitting tribute to the ruling Caesar. The great
semicircular harbor reared its colossal pillars in a mighty curve flanked
far out in the sea by massive towers of gray stone. On a hill rising
gradually from beyond the harbor stood the royal palace of Antipas, its
polished marble gleaming through the tops of palms and the lace-like
green of shittah trees. Against this background of pillared stone and

shining marble and living green was the shipping in the harbor. Hugged
against the dock near by was a load of silver from Tarshish. Near it was
a ship from Caprus bearing copper. A cargo of wine from Damascus
and a cargo of linen from Egypt rocked side by side; and a low boat
piled with shells of dye fish had just come into port from the far
Peloponnesus, while everywhere ships of different size and kind from
those centers of commercial activity, Tyre and Sidon, were changing
sails and dipping oars.
In the prow of the Tyrian merchant-ship stood Zador Ben Amon, by
race and faith a Jew; by political alignment a Sadducee; by occupation
an importer of precious stones, owner of a number of shops in
Jerusalem where cunning work was done in gold and ivory, and a
money-changer in the Temple. Zador Ben Amon was returning from a
prosperous trip that had taken him as far as Rome, and having business
with Herod Antipas had sent word of his visit to Tiberias. It was with a
smile he stroked his perfumed beard as he caught sight of an equipage
making its way to the water-front. A flock of goats and rams being
driven by Arabs across the wharf, scattered, and to both right and left
sailors and slaves made way for the driver of Herod's horses.
Black as ravens were the horses of Herod Antipas, and shiny as satin.
Their manes and tails hung in closely curled, glossy ringlets and their
heavy harness was thickly studded with polished gold buttons. The
glossy black hair of Antipas was also curled, and the crown-like
head-gear he wore was thickly studded with jewels, as was also the
richly gold embroidered border of his robe. In his ears he wore rings
which swung down against the upper edge of his curled and greased
beard.
The greeting between Antipas and the money-changer was cordial; and
before they went to the palace, Zador Ben Amon was driven about the
city to see the stadium, the new theatre, the streets and the underground
watercourses. And he was taken to the famous hot baths a mile down
the seaside, considered by Romans one of the great curiosities of the
world. It was in the feast room Zador made known his business, and yet,
not until some discussion of other matters had taken place, beginning

with a description of a Roman banquet at which the Jew had been a
guest.
"The table at which we sat was of citron wood from Mauritania, more
precious than gold. And it was covered with a plateau of massive silver
weighing five hundred pounds--five hundred pounds, mind you, chased
and carven. Dost thou marvel that I made friends with the Romans?"
"Thou art wise, Son of Amon," Antipas answered.
"After the feast, young slave girls strewed the mosaic with sawdust
dyed saffron and vermilion, mixed with sparkling powder, and naked
virgins danced--naked virgins!"
Herod Antipas rubbed his palms and smiled, showing the tips of several
sharp teeth.
"And the next day," continued the guest, "we went to the circus and
waved our ribbon-decked palms while half a score of combatants were
dragged to the spoilarium and carted through the Gate of Death. A
bloody sport, but they enjoy it, and gladiators are plenty. Gorgeous the
shows of Rome; like the waters of the Tiber doth her wine flow, and
her gold is like the stars for plenty."
"And the populace, doth