The Coming of the King

of oarsmen, turned its high and proudly arche

dually 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 sh

d 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 p

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 jewe

ts 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

it was covered with a plateau of massive silver weighing five hundred pounds-five hundred

Son of Amon,"

with sawdust dyed saffron and vermilion, mixed with spa

lms and smiled, showing the

nts were dragged to the spoilarium and carted through the Gate of Death. A bloody sport, but they enjoy it, and gladiators are

doth it not mutte

trembling lest they starve because of the delay of an Alexandrian corn ship. But what of the po

ssess souls," and Antipas showed

ins that set souls on fire

ntipas hath had a dance for his wife's sake." With th

ife?" Za

head of John-John Baptist, who for defiling the name of Antipas' wife had been put in a dungeon under the castle of Machaerus. Antipas is not cursed with poverty. Yet are there prices too

ey eat, drink and be merry while the Pharisees speak darkly of a

reat hope of a hereafter is ever alive.

t us to business for it meaneth more

rd with his eyes on the

rection be plotted against the throne of the Caesars, Rome hath a system of spies sufficient to hear a whisper in the bowels of the earth. It hath not been

t those who toil bind themselves together. Ever d

id Attica waste for a great season. Nor was it because they were not well enslaved. Naked did their men and women toil under the lash. Yet they became as one man and, at the word, rose as one man. And was it not in Macedonia at the gold mines of Pangaetus that another b

rp teeth with his lip and was lis

rs of stone and builders of ships, thy tent-makers and herdsmen

rt who had been standing there had gone out. "More wine!" Antipas shouted. "And keep thee by the cups," h

them hath Annas the greater portion. From the tax on all the world getteth Pilate his. From Galilean tax getteth Antipas his, but from the Temple getteth Annas his through the hands of Caiaphas. The tribute money from all the earth, the Sanctuary half shekel and the

thou art thyself a money-changer in the Tem

lawful profits else another get my place.

tipas leaned across the tabl

rusalem and Pilate of Rome-form a secret union for their profit and

fool," and Antipas st

Ben Amon asked, somewhat confused by the

as taken to the Roman Senate and made King of the Jews? Was it not the father of Antipas? Who builded Caesarea at the fountains of Jordan? Who builded the Temple, the arches, the monuments, the streets, the aqueducts, the walls, the towers and the Palace of Herod the Great, King of the Jews? Was it not Herod the Great, father of Antipas? And when he had died and the worms eaten him who was given command of the Tower of Antonio? Into whose hands was the Palace of Herod the Great given? Who is this Pilate-impostor of a Roman? Is he not the son of a heathen of Seville? Was not his father Marcus Pontius who deserted

the table shouting, "Hear, oh, Zador Ben Amon! not until the desire of Pilate be the desire of the son of Herod the Great shall Antipas and Pilate come together! Dost thou understand? Like fleas on a dog these secret societ

saw that he had done little less than insult h

usalem," he said quietly, moving nearer Antipas. "Like the mist of the m

the Tetrarch leaned forwa

st be

door had closed behind him, Zador's host with burning eyes whispered,

evil omens is the day marked for

ns? From

racle, did lift themselves one against the other. Then did they tremble without touch of hand and did wrap themselves in a knot

hereof?" and A

shall meet death by strangulation. Then shall that whi

ger was leaving him, but the tips

g, the second a frontlet. "Of so excellent a nature hath been thy entertainment," said the Jew, "thou makest me to forget my gifts," and taking up the front

ed that his fingers seemed to s

are skill. Its jaspers came from far India. This is for Herod An

Antipas reached for. Slipping it over the fingers of his hand he held it up, and after examining its jewels, he shook it until it tinkled, and enjoyed it as a child enjoys a toy. When he had played with it a

changer not

ting treasure, what eye or finger touch hath he left for woman? I

betroth

Asmonean princess!" an

ne as webs spun at night. She hath arms and a bosom her veil did but half conceal. So was I stirred into loving her. Her brother

s hair-grown arm as it would go. He then placed his broad hand on the table and gave an imitation of a woman walki

hen canst thou give it to another for, ever there are women whose softness can be thine for a jeweled trinket." And wi