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
As it chanced their ship was not ready, so they camped on the outskirts
of Paleotyrus, and by a strange accident in that very garden which had
been the property of Benoni. This place they reached after sunset one
evening and set up their tents, that of Miriam and the old slave-woman
being placed on the seashore next to the tent of her protector. This
night she slept well, and being awakened at the dawn by the murmur of
the sea among the rocks, went to the door of the tent and looked out.
All the camp was sleeping, for here they had no enemy to fear, and a
great calm lay upon the sea and land. Presently the mist lifted and the
rays of the rising sun poured across the blue ocean and its gray,
bordering coast.
With that returning light, as it happened, the light returned also into
Miriam’s darkened mind. She became aware that this scene was familiar;
she recognised the outlines of the proud and ancient island town. More,
she remembered that garden; yes, there assuredly was the palm-tree
beneath which she had often sat, and there the rock, under whose shadow
grew white lilies, where she had rested with Nehushta when the Roman
captain brought her the letter and the gifts from Marcus. Instinctively
Miriam put her hand to her neck. About it still hung the collar of
pearls, and on the pearls the ring which the slave-woman had found in
her hair and tied there for safety. She took off the ring and placed it
back upon her finger. Then she walked to the rock, sat down and tried
to think. But for this, as yet her mind was not strong enough, for
there rose up in it vision after vision of blood and fire, which
crushed and overwhelmed her. All that went before the siege was clear,
the rest one red confusion.
While she sat thus the Roman captain hobbled from his pavilion, resting
on a crutch, for his leg was still lame and shrivelled. First he went
to Miriam’s tent to inquire after her of the old woman, as was his
custom at the daybreak, then, learning that she had gone out of it,
looked round for her. Presently he perceived her sitting in the shade
of the rock gazing at the sea, and followed to join her.
“Good morning to you, daughter,” he said. “How have you slept after
your long journey?” and paused, expecting to be answered with some
babbling, gentle nonsense such as flowed from Miriam’s lips in her
illness. But instead of this she rose and stood before him looking
confused. Then she replied:
“Sir, I thank you, I have slept well; but tell me, is not yonder town
Tyre, and is not this the garden of my grandfather, Benoni, where I
used to wander? Nay, how can it be? So long has passed since I walked
in this garden, and so many things have happened—terrible, terrible
things which I cannot remember,” and she hid her eyes in her hand and
moaned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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