"A LITTLE WHILE."
It was toward the morning of a new day that one came knocking loudly at
the door of the house of Ben Ezra.
"What wilt thou?" asked the porter, partly opening the door and looking
forth.
"Tell thou to those who are within," was responded, "that the Romans
and the chief priests have taken the prophet of Galilee by force. He is
now at the palace of the procurator and a great multitude gathereth. I
am a kinsman of Isaac, the aged."
Several were within hearing and the message passed quickly throughout
the house. There was then hurried girding of robes and putting on of
sandals.
"We will go forth," said Ben Ezra. "I would see what this thing
meaneth. He hath done nothing for which he might be taken, either under
the law of the Jews or the law of the Romans."
Some said one thing and some another, and so it was over the entire
city, for great was the tumult which was arising in Jerusalem. It
was said that Jesus had been arrested in the night upon the Mount of
Olives, beyond the brook Kidron, after he had eaten the Passover in
the city with his disciples. Neither he nor they had fought save for a
blow or two, and no man had been slain. Jesus had been taken before the
high priest and before Herod, the tetrarch, and before the procurator,
by whom he was now to be judged, the others not having due authority.
The tetrarch was in the city at this season by reason of the Passover,
although it was known that he was at enmity with Pontius the Spearman.
There were many rumors, nor was it easy to determine what report to
believe, but when Ben Ezra and Isaac and their company came to the
palace of the procurator they saw a strange matter. Outside of the
palace was a place which was called the Pavement, and to this, and
not into the house, the strictest Jews might advance and not become
unclean, to be afterward unfitted for the Passover worship in the
temple. Out of this place had been brought a throne chair of the
procurator, and in it he now was seated for judgment, surrounded
by armed legionaries and men of high degree, as if some matter of
importance called for his decision.
Before him, as one who is accused of some crime and is awaiting
decision, stood Jesus of Nazareth, but not as any had ever before seen
him. He had been both stripped and scourged, and the soldiers of the
procurator, besides beating and mocking him, had derisively arrayed him
in a purple robe of royalty; but the crown which they had put upon his
head was a torture crown, plaited of thorn-tree twigs.
The procurator himself now spoke, not to the prisoner before him, but
to the surging mob of Jews upon the Pavement and in the street.
"Behold the man!" he said.
Then arose an angry roar of many voices, among which the loudest words
were:
"Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!"
"Take him yourselves and crucify him," said the procurator, "for I find
no crime in him."
Then said one to Ben Ezra: "Already he hath been tried and condemned
before Herod, the king. Also he hath been well examined and scourged
duly by the procurator. Let him die!"
There were many who responded in divers forms of speech to the
utterance of the procurator, but a ruler among the Jews shouted loudly:
"We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself
the Son of God."
When Pontius heard that he arose and went into the palace for a little
space, taking the prisoner with him. What further examination was made
thus in private the multitude knew not, but when again the procurator
came forth, having Jesus brought also, he said to the Jews:
"Which of these twain shall I release unto you, Bar Abbas, the robber,
or Jesus who is called the Christ, the King of the Jews?"
But they all answered him with shouts of "Bar Abbas!" for among the
rabble were many priests and scribes who were stirring them up to do
this thing. Other things were said, both by the procurator and the
accusers, but it seemed that he would willingly have refrained from
doing any further violence to this man.
"Behold your king!" he said, at last.
"Away with him! Crucify! Crucify!" came back the tumult of fierce
voices.
"Shall I crucify your king?" he asked.
"We have no king but Cæsar," responded one, and another added: "If thou
spare him, thou art no friend of Cæsar."
Then a servant of the procurator brought out to him a basin of water,
and in this he washed his hands, saying to them: "I am innocent of the
blood of this righteous person. See ye to it."
"His blood be upon us and upon our children!" roared the mob.
Then Pontius reentered the palace and the soldiers led away the
prisoner, for his crucifixion had been commanded, and there is never
any great delay in the performance of a Roman execution.
"Let us follow, O Isaac," said Ben Ezra.
In the shadow behind him stood Miriam. "I also will follow with you,"
she said, "for Jesus of Nazareth is my King."
Within the palace shortly after this, and in the small chamber near the
hall of judgment, stood twain who seemed to be having earnest words
with one another.
"O Caius, my friend," said the procurator, gloomily, "am I not in a
strait place this day? I have heard thee. Gladly would I grant any
request of thine, as thou knowest. I may not hear thee as to this King
of the Jews. As to thy gladiator, I would give him back to thee if it
were possible, but his evil deeds are too many. Without warrant or
command he slew my slave dealer in the valley of Hinnom. He slew the
master of the games who was over him, and with him also three slaves
and the Jew merchant Abbas. Moreover, I have word from the proconsul
of Spain that Saxon pirates under this Ulric the Jarl destroyed two of
Cæsar's triremes in the British seas. More things than these are justly
charged to his account. What say est thou?"
"Thou art justified," said Caius, reluctantly. "I may urge thee no
more. But I would gladly have saved him. This matter of Jesus of
Nazareth would indeed be brought against thee before Cæsar. It is well
for thee that thou art at peace with Herod, the fox."
"I did indeed strive to save the Galilean rabbi," said Pontius. "I
will tell thee a thing. My own wife had a dream concerning him and she
warned me not to condemn him as of myself. To me, also, he declared
himself to be of the gods. I meddle not with them, for little do we
know of the gods. But I have this to ask of thee, that thou wilt be my
witness of this crucifixion, that I may truly know of whatever shall
there occur."
"That will I do!" exclaimed Caius. "I also would see how he dieth, for
I have heard many strange things. It would be a rare thing to see a
god upon a cross. Where, now, will be his kingdom and who shall do him
reverence? I know not, surely, that it was indeed through him that I
am healed of my hurt. So say a great many others who are cured. Their
evils have departed from them, they know not how. We do know that no
man hath such power as this."
"How did he deal with thee?" asked Pontius.
"Not at all," replied the centurion. "I stood at a distance when he
looked upon me, and I felt the blood changing in my veins. He did not
touch me. How, then, was the healing?"
"This is wonderful," said the procurator. "I will hear thee again about
that matter. Go, now, I pray thee. With him and with thy Saxon there
will also be crucified a strong rebel from the Lebanon who was captured
in Judea. Upon his hands is the blood of many. For this consent of
thine I thank thee."
During this time a long procession, accompanied and followed by a
mixed and growing multitude, was passing slowly through the streets
of Jerusalem. At its head, although many marched on in advance, were
a quaternion of legionaries and their officer. Close by these were
functionaries of the high priest and rulers of the Jews, with zealous
scribes and Pharisees and officers from the household of Herod, the
tetrarch. Next in the procession walked three who bore upon their
shoulders heavy beams of wood. All three were suffering from the
lacerations of the Roman scourge, and one was so far weakened that he
fell under his burden.
"Bring me hither that huge Jew!" said the Roman officer in command.
"I bring him," quickly replied a soldier. "He saith that he is one
Simon of Cyrene."
"Let him carry the cross for Jesus of Nazareth," said the officer. "We
may not be delayed. Scourge him forward!"
So again the procession moved on toward the place of execution.
Upon the bosom of each of the condemned ones, to be afterward affixed
over his head upon his wood of torment, swung a wooden tablet inscribed
with his name and with his crime. Of these tablets the first was
written in Latin only, and it told of the rebel of the Lebanon. Upon
the second was written:
"ULRIC, THE SAXON MURDERER."
Upon the third, a larger tablet, was inscribed, in Latin and in Greek
and in Hebrew:
"THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Of this rather than of the others the rabble shouted mockeries as they
read, for here, they said, was a king upon his way to die as a common
malefactor, and for him there was no salvation.
Silent was Ulric the Jarl, even when his eyes met those of Caius of
Thessalonica, but the centurion drew near to him and said:
"O jarl of the Saxons, I did what I could, but it was beyond my
power to rescue thee. Thy sword hath fallen upon too many and thy
condemnation is just."
No answer made Ulric, and the centurion turned away his horse.
The gate had been passed and now the low hill of Calvary, or Golgotha,
was at hand. The multitude grew as the rising tide of the sea, for all
Jerusalem was stirred by this affair and the prophet of Galilee had
friends as well as enemies, and many who came were weeping bitterly.
"In a strange manner," thought the jarl, "have the valkyrias come for
me and for him. Where, now, is his father, that he hath thus deserted
his son in such a place? Are the Romans more powerful than the gods?
It is but little that we must die. Shortly I shall be in Valhalla, and
I think Hilda will come to meet me at some place that is appointed.
There, also, I will wait for Miriam until she shall come. I am glad
that I have smitten down her enemies, giving my life for hers, and that
I have made provision for her welfare."
The summit of the hill was level, and here a space was kept clear that
the multitude might not hinder by pressing. Here were three holes in
the earth already dug to receive the long timbers after the crosspieces
and the victims should be spiked upon them.
The raiment of the condemned was the execution fee of the Roman
soldiers, and there was a stripping done, but the tunic of Jesus was
gambled for by them because it was of one piece, to be spoiled by
dividing.
The three crosses now lay upon the sand and Ulric looked earnestly upon
them, for a strong and sudden memory came into his mind.
"The token of Hilda!" he exclaimed, but in a whisper, hoarse with pain.
"These are but as the runes that she showed me upon the sandy beach
of the North coast before I sailed thence in _The Sword_. Now know I
that my voyage is ended, and I die, as she said, by the hands of the
soldiers of Cæsar. But I had not thought of such a death as this!"
First of all did the soldiers seize rudely upon Jesus, scoffing at
him, and terrible was the swiftly performed work of the driving of the
spikes, but there was not heard by any a cry of pain.
"Brave is he!" thought Ulric. "I also will hold my peace."
Firm, also, was the courage of the rebel Jew from the Lebanon, and the
multitude wondered greatly at the fortitude of these who suffered this
horror silently.
One by one did the soldiers and their helpers lift the crosses, fixing
them firmly in the earth, and a loud shouting of the rabble arose at
the lifting, but there was also weeping and wailing and beating of
breasts among the multitude.
At the foot of the cross of Jesus now knelt women and men to whom he
spoke, and he also uttered words to some who were not so near.
In front of the cross whereon the jarl was nailed there came for a
moment a veiled one, putting aside her veil and gazing wistfully into
his face.
"O my beloved, thou!" she exclaimed.
"Miriam! Loved one!" he groaned, being in great agony, "tarry not here!
Look not upon me! Thine eyes are more than I may bear! Go to thy house!"
Her lips parted and she strove to speak, but a great tremor shook her,
and no voice came from her lips except a low, hard cry, having in it
what seemed the name of her god. Then turned she away and she had
fallen but that the arm of Ben Ezra went quickly around her, and he
compelled her to go away a little space that she might kneel and wait.
Time passeth slowly to one who hangeth upon a cross, desiring the
coming of the end. The sun beat down hotly. The multitude came and
went, and all the open space, to the highway and beyond, was a dense
throng.
"I heard him," thought Ulric. "He hath spoken to his father more than
once. If I speak to the gods, are they now near enough to hear me? I
think not; but I shall see them shortly."
The man upon the third cross turned now in his writhing and he said to
Jesus:
"Art not thou the Christ? Save thyself and us!"
Jesus answered not, but the jarl cried out:
"Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And
we, indeed, justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but
this man hath done nothing amiss." Then he said to the Christ: "Jesus,
remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom!"
Unto him did Jesus make answer: "Verily I say unto thee, This day shalt
thou be with me in the Garden."
Then followed a stillness, but the jarl thought of the word which was
given him. "I knew not of this garden. There it is that I am to be with
him and with the gods. There, also, I shall see Hilda, and Miriam will
dwell with me in the garden. It is enough! I am content!"
Great was the cruelty of the Jews and of the rabble, and the hatred of
some for Jesus was exhibited in mocking speeches. It was as if they
took pleasure in the tokens of his sufferings.
It was now afternoon, and for some time Jesus had been silent, but
suddenly and with a loud voice he cried out:
"My God! my God! Why hast thou forsaken me?"
To that utterance the Jews replied in a manner which Ulric did not
understand, but again Jesus cried out, saying:
"I thirst!"
A horrible thirst cometh upon those who are crucified, and a drink of
vinegar and myrrh with other bitterness is always provided for them by
some who are merciful. One ran and took a sponge, soaking it with this
provision, and lifted it upon a reed to the lips which were burning.
At that moment Jesus uttered an exceedingly great voice of pain, and
instantly it was seen that his soul had departed from his body. He was
dead.
"Would that I were as he!" thought the jarl, "that I might be free of
this agony and pass on to Valhalla and into this garden to which Jesus
hath gone before me!"
The multitude were not gazing as before upon these who were crucified,
for now the light of the sun was withdrawn and a great gloom was over
all things. The earth quaked under their feet. Great rocks were rended.
Fear fell upon men and women, and with one accord they fled away
toward the city, beating their breasts and mourning.
Caius of Thessalonica stood watching these things, and other Romans
with him. "Certainly," he exclaimed, "this was a righteous man. Truly
this was the Son of God!"
But the Jews had taken thought beforehand for yet another matter. The
next day would be their Sabbath, a holy day, and by their law it was
not well for one to be left upon a cross over the Sabbath. Therefore
they had obtained from the procurator an order that the deaths of
these three might be hastened by the breaking of their bones. For this
business came soldiers with clubs, but they struck not any limb of
Jesus, who was already dead.
"I have no mark of a spear," thought Ulric. "It is not well. I die
without any wound except of these spikes."
Near to him then were these soldiers, but he saw one of them thrust a
pilum blade into the side of Jesus, making a wound from which poured
both blood and water. Quickly, now, came merciful relief to the two
others, for the soldiers made an end.
Afterward were all the bodies taken down from the crosses, as was
required by the law of the religion of the Jews, and the friends of any
man were permitted to do their will concerning him.
The sun had long since set, and the darkness was over the earth, when
a little company of men and women entered the door of the house of Ben
Ezra.
"O Miriam, my daughter," said Isaac, the aged, when they were within,
"thou mayest mourn, but be thou comforted. We have buried him in my
own tomb. And didst thou not hear what was said to him by Jesus of
Nazareth? In him do I now believe. He is God!"
"O my beloved!" wailed Miriam, and she said no more for weeping.
"Miriam," continued Ben Ezra, "I also believe; trust thou, concerning
thy husband, that it is well with him!"
"Ye are my friends," said Miriam. "I heard the saying, faintly and far.
They are at this hour in the garden, do you say? But I am here and I
am alone, for my love hath been taken from me. Nevertheless, I will be
patient. It is but for a little while; a little while!"
THE END.
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Transcriber's Note:
Italics are indicated by _underscores_.
Bolds are indicated by =equal signs=.
Small capitals have been rendered in full capitals.
A number of minor spelling errors have been corrected without note.