Jerusalem, and her express sanction, and even her joyful confession
that Aleph was a very welcome substitute for even so good a Cæsar as
Germanicus) a formal betrothal took place; and all Alexandria took
to busily talking over the gracious ceremonial. Now they understood
why Germanicus had been respectfully declined. The ground had been
pre-empted. Another prince had spoken, and spoken in person. “And no
wonder,” said they, “that he was successful; for never did we set eyes
on a goodlier person or a princelier.” So Alexandria was in excellent
humor; and for once all the five quarters of the city ceased their mutual
wrangling and railing and consented to say the same complimentary things.
Even the elders of the Diapleuston who so much wanted to see a second
Esther on the imperial throne were by this time ready to allow that
Rachel had chosen very happily for herself, if not for the Jewish public.
They offered congratulations. They sent in rich presents—especially
Ben Simeon, who, from the first, had been so drawn to Aleph, and was
now in charge as consignee in the place of Malus. But the richest and
most valued presents that Rachel received on that auspicious day were
two—from opposite quarters. One was a copy from the Septuagint of all
the Messianic prophecies in their order, beautifully done on vellum
margined with jewels—this came from Aleph. The other came from Flaccus,
in the name of his son Sextus, and was no less than the Setian palace
on the Nile which has had so conspicuous a place in this narrative.
Some damage had been done to it by Draco and his band in their orgies
and final rummage for concealed treasure: but he had been so thoroughly
frightened by what he had done to Sextus, as well as by the escape of
Aleph and the numerous foot-prints found about the premises early the
next morning, that his search was very hasty and ended in the whole gang
betaking themselves precipitately to the desert—to the great misfortune
of the desert and travelers, but without much damage to the stronghold
they had left. It was soon put in prime condition by Flaccus, and then,
in an elaborate communication, presented to Seti for Rachel and Aleph as
an “Egyptian home to which his excellency hoped they would very often
return.” It was a question in the mind of Seti whether a man could give
what does not belong to him; but this question, wise man that he was, he
kept to himself, and was very glad to have the ancient heirloom come back
in any way into his family.
And these were the ulterior arrangements. Cimon and Aleph would return
home at once by way of Palestine, with the hope of falling in with the
Messiah ere his return heavenward. Then, as soon as possible, Aleph
would come again with his father’s formal sanction to claim his bride;
and then her father and mother and dear mother-father would take a long
vacation and accompany her and Miriam (henceforth inseparable) to their
new home. Alexander even went so far as to intimate that, mindful of
the uncertainty of the imperial favor and of the Jewish position in
Alexandria, he was thinking seriously of transferring the bulk of his
fortune to a safer region; and to facilitate this had already arranged
to open a branch banking house at Ecbatana, where converged many routes
of commercial travel. By all means do this, O great financier, and
tarry not in the doing; for the times in the west are threatening, and
Rome is a volcano that may at any moment send streams of lava farther
than Alexandria. Plant thy family and fortunes amid the safe Chaldean
mountains, hard by the tombs of Daniel and Esther in Eden; and, looking
calmly forth from your impregnable observatory, see distant Cæsars rise
and fall, see distant legions march and counter-march, and, above all,
see the friendly star that offers to guide your faith and gifts to Jesus
the King. Then push out the antennæ of commerce vigorously into all
lands, and gather the spoils of peace wherewith to decorate the Prince of
peace. It is your mission. You have a genius for honorable money-making.
Use it vigorously. It is as sacred as a genius for eloquence, or a genius
for science.
* * * * *
A brilliant caravan files through the gate of Canopus. Our friends are
moving homeward. They came by the way the Magian fathers returned;
they are returning by the way those fathers came. They have just said
farewells to Shaphan and Nathan: a little before they had said still more
tender ones at the palace of Alexander. Flaccus had insisted on sending
with them an escort of cavalry as far as the frontier; and Alexander,
and Seti, and Cornelius at the head of a large delegation from the
University, will go with them a day’s journey.
_We_ will not go with them even that distance, though we would be glad
to do so; but will say our farewells and godspeeds just here before the
khan where Shaphan and Nathan once reluctantly parted with the Divine
Child. Our parting, too, is reluctant. We are vastly sorry, O wise men
of the East, to say good-bye to you, though it be for only a few moons.
It is not often that such as you have crossed our path, or any path. But
partings must be; and so, comforting ourselves with the expectation of
seeing you again when all Alexandria is ablaze with that rare thing, a
royal marriage made in Heaven, we gather courage to say ADIEU! May the
Father above prosper your way to the father below. We foresee that He
will. You and yours are well mounted; and though only Aleph has a Parthia
beneath him, there can be but a few days of travel between you and the
Messiah. The longings of your hearts will be gratified. You will reach
Galilee in season. There, on a certain mountain, with more than five
hundred fellow disciples, you will see with your own eyes Him in whom you
have blessedly believed without seeing; will be welcomed by Him for the
fathers’ sake as well as for your own; will perhaps see some of the “many
other signs which are not written in this book”; and, finally, in the
early morning, as you resume your journey and are taking a look backward
on the city of so many sacred memories, you will see over the Mount of
Olives a human form slowly rising through the air with outstretched hands
of benediction. The son of Daniel will need no interpreter. Behold the
Heavenly King going to his home even as you are going to yours! And you
will worship and go on your way rejoicing; bearing to your Chaldean home
such news that all its silver trumpets will sound as it exclaims:
THANK GOD! YE, TOO, HAVE BEEN STAR-LED PILGRIMS.
When forth the Tribes to Canaan went,
In travel long and sore,
What guide had they along the way,
Save cloud that went before—
Save cloud that _goes_ before,
And goeth evermore?
And when the Wise Men of the East
A pilgrim banner bore,
What guide had they along the way,
Save star that shone before—
Save star that _shines_ before,
And shineth evermore?
And when the Wise Men of the West,
Wise in a saving lore,
Set forth through wilds to find the Child
And win the Golden Shore,
That shineth evermore,
And moveth nevermore;
Some cloud from God will surely go
Their doubtful steps before,
All through the light—and through the night
Some star its beams shall pour,
Some star their path explore—
Guide faileth nevermore.
Who to the Lord his way commends
Shall never lose his way,
But ever find the Lord is kind
To lead from dark to day:
Shall even find the Lord doth know
A way so kind that e’en the blind
Straight to his mark can go—
At least _His_ mark, which, kinder far,
The daily cloud and nightly star
Go seeking evermore,
And missing nevermore.