Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of JerusalemHaggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider)
History
Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem
Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider)
Historical fiction; Jerusalem -- History -- Fiction
Then, preceded by Caleb, they marched through the long cloisters,
passed an inner door, turned down more cloisters on the right, and,
following the base of the great wall, came to its beautiful centre
gate, Nicanor, that was adorned with gold and silver, and stood between
the Court of Women and the Court of Israel. Over this gateway was a
square building, fifty feet or more in height, containing store
chambers and places where the priests kept their instruments of music.
On its roof, which was flat, were three columns of marble, terminated
by gilded spikes. By the gate one of the Sanhedrim was waiting for
them, that same relentless judge, Simeon, who had ordered Miriam to be
searched.
“Has the woman confessed where she hid the Roman?” he asked of Caleb.
“No,” he answered, “she says that she knows nothing of any Roman.”
“Is it so, woman?”
“It is so, Rabbi.”
“Bring her up,” he went on sternly, and they passed through some stone
chambers to a place where there was a staircase with a door of
cedar-wood. The judge unlocked it, locking it again behind them, and
they climbed the stairs till they came to another little door of stone,
which, being opened, Miriam found herself on the roof of the gateway.
They led her to the centre pillar, to which was fastened an iron chain
about ten feet in length. Here Simeon commanded that her hands should
be bound behind her, which was done. Then he brought out of his robe a
scroll written in large letters, and tied it on to her breast. This was
the writing on the scroll:
_“Miriam, Nazarene and Traitress, is doomed here to die as God shall
appoint, before the face of her friends, the Romans.”_
Then followed several signatures of members of the Sanhedrim, including
that of her grandfather, Benoni, who had thus been forced to show the
triumph of patriotism over kinship.
This done the end of the chain was made fast round her middle and
riveted with a hammer in such fashion that she could not possibly
escape its grip. Then all being finished the men prepared to leave.
First, however, Simeon addressed her:
“Stay here, accursed traitress, till your bones fall piecemeal from
that chain,” he said, “stay, through storm and shine, through light and
darkness, while Roman and Jew alike make merry of your sufferings,
which, if my voice had been listened to, would have been shorter, but
more cruel. Daughter of Satan, go back to Satan and let the Son of the
carpenter save you if he can.”
“Spare to revile the maid,” broke in Caleb furiously, “for curses are
spears that fall on the heads of those that throw them.”
“Had I my will,” answered the Rabbi, “a spear should fall upon your
head, insolent, who dare to rebuke your elders. Begone before me, and
be sure of this, that if you strive to return here it shall be for the
last time. More is known about you, Caleb, than you think, and perhaps
you also would make friends among the Romans.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account