KING OF THE JEWS
"Jove, but my eyes are tired! Since the third watch hath my service
been required, yet am I feverish to see the end of this matter. Look!
Yonder housetops are black with men, eager-eyed, and the streets are
swarmed with early risers running hither and thither like ants much
stirred up. When did ever the morning sun shine on such a scene?"
"Where is he now, this enemy of our Tiberius that hath thus stirred up
the populace?"
"To the barracks of the Tower of Antonio they have taken him for the
_flagellum horrible_."
"And will they be long in laying open the flesh of his back?"
"Nay, for twelve brawny armed and deaf to the cries of pity will lay on
the scourge. Soon will he be brought again before Pilate." The
speaker was a scribe in the palace of Herod the Great. With two Romans
visiting in Jerusalem, he stood on the steps of the Praetorium looking
out over the open court which united its two colossal wings.
"Didst thou see the mighty procession which heralded the new King?"
asked one of the visitors.
"Yea, by the gods it was a great outpouring! Peoples from all nations
of the earth were there to bear back the news that one had arisen to
take the throne of Caesar. And well hath the time been chosen for
revolt when the city is gorged with strangers, and the flower of Rome's
legions in Palestine, is called to Syria. Of him who betrayed the
Galilean revolutionist and hatched the plot for his deliverance, Rome
should make a divinity."
"A betrayer was there?"
"Yea, a betrayer and a plot else those pious dogs of the Sanhedrin had
not yet laid hands on him who stirred the people, for by day his
followers, who were many, kept near him, and by night hath he cunningly
concealed himself. Cowards and curs are these Jews whose faces are
solemn and whose prayers are long. Rome shows her hand in the open.
But these move under dark cloaks of piety, spin webs and heap up much
spoil."
"Hast thou seen this stirrer up of strife?"
"Yea, and heard his speech. Daily he taught in the Temple and though
he is called a Galilean peasant, he hath much knowledge. A strange
people were those of his race, and strange were the kings that once sat
on their thrones, for out of the Galilean's mouth their law allowed no
usury, left fruit on the vine for the poor, and turned vast estates
back to be redistributed. Aye, this stirrer up of sedition makes much
of the poor. Perchance hunger hath gnawed at his own vitals. By
traffic in 'traditions' and sacrifices have their priests grown rich
filching from the poor. For this did the Galilean call them a den of
thieves and curse and beat them, and for this gained he their hatred.
Yet they did not dare lay hands on him openly for fear of the populace.
Yesternight his hiding-place was learned. At midnight as his followers
lay sleeping on the hills outside the city, a body of armed men with
the midnight guard of the Temple, crossed Kedron and found the revolter
at an old olive farm. Then was he brought before the Sanhedrin--sly
foxes, evil beasts--for by their own law it is not lawful to hold
council until sunrise. But fearing lest his followers should rescue
him if daylight found him uncondemned, even at the cock crowing was he
led before Caiaphas. Then was he led before Pilate. By Pilate was he
sent to Herod. A raw joke, this that Pilate did poke at Herod in the
face of much people."
"Doth Pilate not love the Tetrarch of Galilee?"
"Nay, and yet more than Herod doth love him. The father of Herod, he
who was called the Great, was crowned a king by the Senate at Rome.
Yet did Pilate fall heir to the glory thereof and the hurt hath worked
on Herod like a running sore. Yet must his lips be ever sealed. Now
hath Pilate sent one accused to this man, knowing that he hath no power
of life and death under the Roman law in Jerusalem. But if he had, yet
would the joke be a raw one, for is not the following of the Galilean
from the province of Herod? With what wisdom could he lift his arm
against the chosen one of so great and zealous a following? So Herod
did send the accused back to Pilate and while the man passed back and
forth, the mob gathered and those pious murderers from the Temple, like
worms of corruption, worked in and out among the mob whispering,
'Traitor! Traitor! Treason! Revolt!' throwing into the face of
Pilate that he is no friend of Caesar if this one be not crucified.
Then gave Pilate the rebel to the flayers. Next comes the cross."
"So shall ever perish those who espouse the cause of the poor. None
but a fool dreams crowns come to the poor. What reason hath this man
who would be king, for befriending the poor? Hath he a reason?"
"Aye. He teacheth of that which he doth call 'Liberty.' By his way
there would be no more slave, but all masters."
"Strange--passing strange! How then if there is no _articulata
implementa_, could there be Roman property? And who would pay for the
circus?"
"I know not. But the arm of Caesar will see that no chance is given
this wild teaching of liberty. Not since Sparticus lifted the sword to
get freedom for his kind has the head of our Caesar rested on an easy
pillow. Revolt and insurrection rumble in the hearts of the slave and
the poor rabble, as still fire smolders in the heart of Vesuvius. Like
a brand in a dry corn field will this revolt grow into insurrection
unless it is put down. The arm of Rome is sufficient--but see! The
mob parts! They are coming from the scourge with him who is to be
crucified. The death warrant hath been already written."
"Dost write death warrants for all crucified ones?"
"Nay, no more than for flies or vermin, else the earth would be running
over with warrants. But a stirrer up of sedition, this is the one
crime that Rome doth not forgive. Look! Yonder he comes! Lo, he
weareth a gaudy robe. His face is pale from loss of blood. Look you!
It drips from under the gaudy robe and follows his feet in plotches
which stain the mosaic. The thongs must have cut deep. Ha! ha! He
weareth a crown--a crown for a King--a crown of prickly thorns. It
hath left its mark on his forehead, and across one cheek there lieth a
purple stripe!"
"Listen--they are calling '_Staurosate_! _Staurosate_!' Like demons
do they yell as he is being led before Pilate."
"Canst see?"
"Yea. Pilate doth have him mount the steps so that the mob may see
him. Look you; what manner of man is he, who moveth like a conqueror
among those shouting his praises? There is majesty in the tread of the
feet that leave a trail of blood! And look! Across his breast doth he
fold his arms; he lifteth his head; he looketh out over the multitude
as Julius Caesar might look upon a handful of chained slaves who had
breathed against his power invincible. Why hath this Galilean this
majestic presence? See thou--it doth impress the mob until their
tongues stop wagging and the buzz dieth to the stillness of the dead.
Look--look! The Procurator ariseth. He is full robed! And about to
speak!"
Pontius Pilate moved himself so that the hungry mob, awed for the
moment into silence by the sight of one condemned, might look upon the
voice of power back of the Judgment Hall and Tower of Antonio. When
every eye had turned from the royal-robed figure looking out on the mob
with god-like calm, Pilate himself turned his eyes from the solitary
man to the multitude and after prolonging the silence a moment said,
"_Ecce homo_!"
For the spell of a few short breaths, as if something heavy hung over
the heads of the gaping crowd, the silence lasted. Then from a dozen
sources, like the fierce yelping of the pack came the cry,
'_Staurosate_! Crucify him!"
"Hear! Hear!" exclaimed the scribe to his visitor, "those curs of long
prayers and dangling frontlet do much loyal shouting for Caesar whom in
their hearts they curse. Neither for Caesar care they, neither for
their Temple, but for the favor of Caesar and the gold of the Temple
will they swear lies and lick the hand of power. But let me turn aside
for a brief spell to deliver up the superscription that Pilate hath
commanded be fastened on the cross above the thorn-cut brow of him who
would be king. Look you--read: '_Jesus Nasarenus, Rex Judaeorum_.'"
The scribe and his visitors laughed heartily. "And lest among the
multitude that hath heard of a new king, there are those unfamiliar
with our own tongue, Pilate hath given command that the superscription
be written in Greek and in the ancient letters of the Jews' own Law.
Also I would put the seal on the death sentence. Wouldst thou see this
too?"
"Yea, for not before hath it been given my eyes to read the death
sentence of a 'King.'"
The scribe spread a fresh parchment[1] on the table and the Romans bent
over it to read. "Yet a moment!" the scribe called to the men at the
table. "Something strange is happening--look! Pilate is washing his
hands in a basin! What hath so defiled them that ablution doth take
place in the eyes of the shouting mob?"
"A mystery--yea. But look you--aye, look you! To mystery is added yet
more mystery! Herod the Tetrarch doth approach Pilate. He smileth
until the rising light doth sparkle on his teeth. He holdeth forth his
hand! Will the Procurator whose hands are yet wet from their strange
cleansing give him greeting? Look you! Steady thine eyes for a rare
sight. He doth not hesitate! Now is the hand of Pontius Pilate
gripped together with that of Herod Antipas. By Castor and Pollux--by
Jove himself a rare fellowship hath been born of this tempest. What
next?" and laughing, the Romans turned back to the death sentence.
[1] The original of what is accepted as Pilate's sentence was
discovered about the year 1380 in an iron tube among the marble ruins
of a temple in the city of Aquila, Italy, written in Hebrew characters
on parchment. It is now in the custody of the Keeper of the Royal and
General Archives of Simancus, Spain. The following is the translation
from the original parchment:
In the year 17 of Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome and of all the
world, unconquerable monarch: In the CXXI Olympiad; in the XXIV Illiad
and of the creation of the world according to the number and count of
the Hebrews, four times 1157; of the propagation of the Roman Empire,
the year 73; of the deliverance from slavery to Babylon the year 430;
and the restitution of the Holy Empire, the year 497. Lucius Marius
Sauricus being Consuls of Rome and Pontiff, Proconsuls of the
unconquerable Tiberius; Public Governor of Judea, Regent and Governor
of the City of Jerusalem, Flavius IV; its graceful president Pontius
Pilate; Regent of Lower Galilee, Herod Antipas; Pontiff of the High
Priesthood--Caiaphas; Ales Maelo, Master of the Temple; Rababan Ambe,
Centurion of the Consuls and of the City of Jerusalem. Quintas
Cornelius Sublimius and Setus Pompilius Rufus, on the 25th, I Pontius
Pilate, representative of the Roman Empire, in the Palace of Larchi,
our residence, judge, condemn and sentence to death, Jesus, called
Christ, the Nazarene, of the multitude of Galilee, a man seditious of
the Mosaic Law, against the Great Emperor Tiberius Caesar, I determine
and pronounce by reason of the explained, that he shall suffer death
nailed to the cross, according to the usage of criminals, because
having congregated many men, rich and poor, he hath not ceased to stir
up tumults throughout Galilee, pretending to be the Son of God, and
King of Israel, threatening the ruin of Jerusalem and the Holy Empire,
and denying the tribute to Caesar; having the boldness to enter with
palms of triumph and accompanied by a multitude as King within the City
of Jerusalem in the Sacred Temple.
I therefore command my Centurion, Quintas Cornelius, that he conduct
publicly through the City of Jerusalem this Jesus Christ and that he be
tied and flogged, dressed in purple and crowned with prickly thorns,
with his own cross on his shoulders, so that he may serve as an example
to malefactors; and to take with him two homicidal thieves; all of whom
shall leave by the Giarancola Gate, designed to-day Antonia, and will
proceed to the mount of the wicked, called Calvary, where crucified and
dead, the body shall remain on the cross so that it may be a spectacle
and example to all criminals, and on said cross there shall be the
inscription in three languages, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, in Hebrew
'Jesu Aloi Alisidin'; in Greek 'Iesous Nazarenos Basileus ion
Iouoaion'; in Latin 'Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum.' We likewise
command that no one of whatever class he may be, shall attempt
imprudently to impede this justice by us commanded, administered and
followed with all rigor, according to the decrees and laws of the Roman
and Hebrews, under penalty which those incur who rebel against the
Empire."
[Transcriber's note: The Greek phrase in the above footnote was
transliterated as follows:
Iesous: Iota, eta, sigma, omicron, (rough breathing mark) upsilon,
final sigma.
Nazarenos: Nu, alpha, zeta, alpha, rho, eta, (rough breathing mark)
omicron, final sigma.
Basileus: Beta, alpha, sigma, iota, lambda, epsilon, (soft breathing
mark) upsilon, final sigma.
ion: iota, omega, nu.
Iouoaion: (soft breathing mark) Iota, omicron, upsilon, (soft breathing
mark) omicron, alpha, iota, omega, nu.]