The Coming of the King

dom of mankind, there lived my people and there lived I save when to gain knowledge I attended the schools of Greece. Fields had my people where the vine hung purple as the sky at mid

ly wrought bracelets and around

sed. Dark was her hair and soft like smoke in the evening, and her eyes shone like stars on the bosom of the sea. Blue as the summer sky were the veins that lay like tender lace over her virgin bosom. Her breath was fragrant

took refuge in a walled city. Soon we were surrounded by a forest of glittering spears. I was an archer on the wall, and we showered the brutes that hid under the bristling steel. But their shields made a phalanx which did toss back our arrows as a bull tosses stubble.

great tree near by the tent where a Roman chieftain did collect spoil. Of the lithe of limb who were taken captive, some were to be made gladiators, but the fierce screams of others of my countrymen, mingled with Roman curses, told of a more ignominious fate than the arena. For this was I marked. Fierce was the passion of my bosom t

which did hide the maiden. Swift were my words as the falcon flies and gleaming was my blade in my hand ere the words did pass my lips. And swift as light falls, bared she her bosom, and here, on the spot where we had dreamed a little head would lie which should be ours, I drove the keen blade in deep-deep drove I the blade, kissing her lips. And she did laugh-laugh like a happy child and press her lips t

ut never shall the hand of Rome pollute her whom I loved! Never shall the feverish lips of thy foul lust stain her sweet breathing!' Again did the chieftain smite me across the head, and darkness came. When I awoke blood was there from a third wound, yea, most noble mistress, that wound which did rob me of man's most sacred possession. Yet again did I laugh in the face of Rom

story, Claudia had shown much interest. "

ely lictors. Proud was he in purple robe and crown of laurel and he smiled as the trumpet tones of the heralds rang out and the populace shouted praise in thunderous tones. With the captives and the spoils of war came I, chained, and the rabble did shout in my face. So also did my heart shout. For far from the marble courts and gilded palaces that

hast been cruelly r

robbed of that which

? What is the wisdo

heir holdings. Down from the mountains hath the wind raged and hath fought me for my mantle, which ever I hel

observed. What m

What the wind can not do with loud battling, the sun doeth in silence. What the sw

ut how doth this put a l

n the bruised and beaten and scarred who toil and starve that idlers may gor

her strings of ornaments. Pausing before him she said, "As the tide is greater than the storm; as the sun is greater than the win

Jew that teachet

this from hi

ve as the centurion's slave

els swinging from her shoulders lay on his arm

ght," and the sad eyes of t

e, it is my command. Go thou daily to t

ave of Rome to enter

, but there are n

walls hides the arm of Rome. Into one court thou art permitted to go. Here if

With rejoicing will I go and come aga

tandest thou? Go now. Bring wreaths of flowers. Thy