Part 23 (2/2)
The Asmonean brothers frankly and cordially greeted the stranger whom they had seen for the first time in the thick of the conflict of the preceding day. The bandage round his temples, the sling which supported his left arm, were as credentials which the Athenian carried with him--a pa.s.sport to the favour and confidence of his new a.s.sociates in the field.
”You have leaped into fame with one bound, fair Greek!” cried Eleazar.
”You had reached the highest round of the ladder ere I could plant my foot on the lowest. I could fain envy you the honour you have won.”
Eleazar, accompanied by Simon, then pa.s.sed on into the presence of Maccabeus, while Lycidas pursued his way. The smile with which the young Hebrew had spoken was still on his lips when he entered the apartment in which the prince sat alone, but the first glance of Eleazar at Judas banished every trace of that smile.
”You are ill!” he exclaimed anxiously, as he looked on the almost ghastly countenance of his brother; ”you have received some deadly hurt!”
The chief replied in the negative by a slight movement of the head.
”The weight of responsibility, the lack of sleep, the exhaustion of yesterday's conflict, are sapping your strength,” observed Simon gravely. ”Judas, you are unfit to encounter the toils of the long march now before us.”
”I was never more ready--never more impatient for a march,” said Maccabeus, rising abruptly, for it seemed to him as if violent physical exertions alone could render life endurable.
”I marvel,” said Eleazar, ”if our graceful young proselyte will bear hards.h.i.+ps as bravely as he has proved that he can encounter danger.
Methinks he shows amongst our grim warriors as a marble column from Solomon's palace amongst the rough oaks that clothe the hill-side. If Lycidas is to be--”
”He is to be--the husband of Zarah,” interrupted Maccabeus. His voice sounded strange and harsh, and he turned away his face as he spoke.
”The husband of Zarah!” re-echoed Eleazar in amazement; ”why”--Simon's warning pressure on the young man's arm prevented his uttering more.
The brothers exchanged significant glances. That was the last time that the name of Zarah was ever breathed by either of them in the hearing of Maccabeus.
Zarah found that her residence in her new home would be but a brief one, and that she was likely to return to Jerusalem far sooner than she could have antic.i.p.ated when she had set out on her night journey so short a time before. Rachel--a woman who, though well stricken in years, had lost none of the energy and enthusiasm of youth--was filled with triumphant joy at the victory of Bethsura, and declared to Zarah her intention of starting for the city in advance of the army.
”I have a vow upon me--a solemn vow,” said the old Jewess to the maiden. ”Long have I mourned over the desolation of Zion; and I have promised to the Lord that if ever holy sacrifices should again be offered up in the Temple at Jerusalem, my heifer, my fair white heifer, should be the first peace-offering. I have vowed also to go up myself to the holy city, and make there with my own hands wafers anointed with oil, to eat with the sacrifice of thanksgiving. The time for keeping my vow has arrived. We will go up together, my daughter, and my bondsman shall drive the white heifer before us. My soul cannot depart in peace till I have looked upon the sanctuary in which my ancestors wors.h.i.+pped, and with a thankful heart have performed this my vow to the Lord.”
Zarah made no opposition to the wishes of her relative, which, indeed, coincided with her own. Arrangements for the proposed journey were speedily made. The horse-litter in which Zarah had travelled to Bethsura would avail for the accommodation of both the ladies on her return to the city. The faithful Joab would resume his office of attendant, and Anna join company with the handmaidens of Rachel. It was under joyful auspices that the travellers would set forth on their way to the city of David.
CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.
THE VICTOR'S RETURN.
Is there a more glorious, a more soul-stirring sight than that of a brave nation bursting from foreign bondage, casting from her the chains that bound and the sackcloth that covered her, rising victorious and free--free to wors.h.i.+p the one G.o.d in purity and truth? Even so, when the shadow of the eclipse is over, the moon bursts forth into brightness, to s.h.i.+ne again in beauty in the firmament of heaven.
It was thus with Jerusalem when Maccabeus and his followers went up to the holy city which they had delivered, through G.o.d's blessing on their arms. The town was in a delirium of joy, which there was now no need to conceal. The voice of thanksgiving and rejoicing was heard in every street; women wept for very happiness; and while the younger inhabitants made the walls ring with their shouts, the old men blessed G.o.d that they had been spared to see such a day. The advanced season forbade any profusion of flowers; but on every side palm branches were waving, doors and windows were decked with evergreens, and goodly boughs were strewed in the way. Every trace of heathenism was eagerly destroyed in the streets, and the very children fiercely trampled under foot the fragments of idol or altar.
Again was the song of Miriam heard, ”Sing ye unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously;” and women went forth with timbrels to welcome the warriors of Judah. Though it was the month of Casleu,[1] the sun shone with cheerful radiance and warmth, as if Nature herself shared in the general rejoicing.
Up Mount Zion they come, the brave, the true, the devout; they who through much tribulation have kept the faith; they who have never bowed the knee to idol, nor forsaken the covenant of G.o.d. Maccabeus is foremost now in glory as once in danger. Press ye to see him, children of Judah! shout to welcome him, sons of the free!
A group of matrons and maidens surrounded the entrance to the Temple.
Zarah and Rachel were amongst them.
”You should stand foremost, my daughter, to greet the conquerors,”
cried Rachel to her fair young companion, who was rather inclined to shrink back. ”The Asmonean blood flows in your veins; you are kinswoman to our prince; and you have yourself n.o.bly suffered persecution for the faith. What! tears in your eyes, maiden, on such a morning as this!”
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