The Coming of the King

skill of Herod the Great and his almost inconceivable expenditure of gold. Had Pilate built it for himself it could not have been more to his liking, containing as it did apart

leaming pillars that reached to a ceiling of great height were entwined with carved ivy and vine branches. There were couches, one of bronze ornamented with tortoise shell and gold, the cushions of which were Gallic wool dyed purple; another near it was of ivory and gold and across it was thrown a wolf sk

e on hand, for Rome sent many visitors annually to Jerusalem. Claudia, wife of the Procurator, herself enjoyed the impressive crowds that gorged the great city and was out sight-seeing daily. On the third day before the

ak, Zenobe," she said, uncovering a splendid gown heavy with spangles of silver and rare lace, "and bring back the jewels that h

for Pilate doth Claudia dress her h

ughing, "for Pilate dot

court of Caesar have

s the gods envy. But s

been handed down to he

nd her mot

e handed to Claudia with a key. From it ornaments and

bands and make my thr

y hair, twine it thick

on the wolf skin couc

ornamented her body,

bodies bare save for strings of golden nuggets; Arabians swinging on crimson decked camels; chieftains from Assyria whose purple cloth was gay with blue and yellow stones; Scyth

ales are about," Ze

es hast t

at the dead are

ndeed-too strange

e from a Rom

centurio

ick unto death, was rest

e this wond

t more, but the centuri

ot thou t

rred eunuch,

eunuch? And where

ot save h

u my eunu

ntime Margara finished her work of hair dress

the shining mosaic floor when Zenobe returned followed by a large and finely shaped slave with a scarred face. His swarthy body was scanti

gazed upon the surging crowds. Saw I all manner of mankind from infants to giants, black, brown, red and Roman, and of every kin

worker is Jes

r his name. When

e liveth the centur

somewhere I know not of.

chanced to be in thy palac

nt the

The Jew did turn death to life. To turn mourning

oy. A glad mission. Hast

on's slave d

ha

his king surpassing that of every nation, and wisdom had he so that among the wise of all the earth none had such wisdom. Also, had this great people seers and prophets from whose eyes the veil of time was lifted so that clear as noonday did their vision behold that which was to be. And, lo, most noble mistress, out of the

eth his king

hose sore wounded. It would let men be free, as Rome doth not. Such a

me? Fear'st thou n

the lips of a crying child. And on my back, most noble mistress, thou mightest hide thy white fingers in the welts cut by the stinging thong. And seest thou my arm? Here is flesh cooked sere as the shell of a tortoise. Thus have blade and thong and branding iron of Rome marked me with wounds and commanded my lips to silence. Yet have these scars each one a thousand silent tongues crying ever 'Hate! Hate! Hate!' But here," and he threw back

ie snugly near thy heart," she said. "Thou art a strange scarred eunuc

tory, most no

story? I have thought so s

at my lips might tell i

the scar thy late-bou

me before Pilate