And Marco Polo was brought into the presence. And among all assembled
there you could hear a pin drop.
At the north end of the great hall sat the Khan himself, and Marco Polo
nearly dropped with surprise; for where he expected a great,
magnificent figure of a man, with majesty shining from his eyes, he saw
only a pleasant, bearded man, not quarter so well dressed as the
meanest servant on the room, and a fine, welcoming smile in his face.
His throne was elevated so that his feet were on the level of the heads
of the kinsmen of the Blood Royal beneath him, and they in silk and
ermine and fine brocades and jewels. And beneath these were the barons
and dukes and knights. And beneath these were the captains of the
fighting men, three thousand and three. And beneath these were the
musicians and the sorcerers. And behind Kubla Khan, very big, very
erect, stood his three great servants, the Keeper of the Hunting
Leopards, the Keeper of the Speaking Drums, and the Keeper of the
Khan's Swords.
And beside Kubla Khan, on a little throne, sat Golden Bells... And it
was the sight of her more than the sight of the great assembly that
dumbed the words in his mouth. And Kubla was smiling at him, and she
was smiling, too.
And Kubla saw there was something wrong with him, that there was
embarrassment on him and he rose from his: throne.
"There is welcome for you here, Marco Polo, and no enmity. There is
interest, in and eagerness for your message. There is none here will
criticize you or make it hard for you. Let there be no shame on you in
speaking before so many people. Say what you have to say as if there
were nobody here, if that will help you, barring myself and the little
daughter beside me..."
"O Emperor," the words came back to Marco Polo, "and ye, great princes,
dukes, and marquises, counts, knights, and burgesses, and people of all
degrees who desire the light of the world, grace be to you and peace,
from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ!
"The message I have to give you, I shall give in the words of Him,
Whose perfect message it is:
"'Beati pauperes spiritu,--Blessed are the poor in spirit.
"'Quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum,--for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
"'Beati mites,--Blessed are the meek...'"
And Marco Polo went on and quoted for them the words that were spoken
on the Mount in Galilee. And they listened to him with great civility
and attention. And little Golden Bells leaned forward, with her chin
on her hands, and Kubla leaned back in his throne, with his eyes half
closed.
"'But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil, but whoever shall smite
thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.'" And at this the
great Khan looked up puzzled, and a movement went through the fighting
men in the hall. But wee Golden Bells never budged a minute, and Marco
Polo went on:
"'Et factum est; cum consummasset Jesus verba haec,--And it came to
pass when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at
his doctrine.'
"I shall now tell you of the life and death of the Lord Jesus..."
He told them of the birth in Bethlehem, and of the teaching on the
hills, and the poets nodded their heads; and he told them of the
cleansing of the lepers and of the casting out of devils and the
raising of Lazarus from the dead, and the magicians wondered; and he
told them of the betrayal by Judas with a kiss, and the
captains-at-arms shuffled in their seats; and he told them of the
scourging, and of the crowning with thorns, and the great Khan snicked
his dagger in and out of the sheath. And a mist of tears came into the
eyes of Golden Bells.
And he told them of the crucifixion between two thieves, and a great
oath ripped from the beard of Kubla Khan, and the silver tears ran from
the eyes of Golden Bells.
"'And on the third day He arose from the dead...'"
And a great shout came from the throat of Kubla Khan, and he stood up.
"He arose from among the dead men, I'll warrant; He showed himself to
the Roman Pilate in all His power and majesty--"
"No," said Marco Palo.
"Then He showed himself to the thousands who had seen him die upon the
gallows tree!"
"No," said Marco Polo.
"Who saw Him, then?"
"His twelve Apostles and they in a little room!"
And Kubla Khan sat down suddenly and said no more. There was a
moment's murmur of wonder among the assembly, and then silence. And
Marco's heart fell. And he was aware of two things, of the great
politeness of the Chinese people and of Golden Bell's pitying eyes...