The Hammer: A Story of the Maccabean Times — John Shaqi
The Hammer: A Story of the Maccabean TimesChurch, Alfred John
History
The Hammer: A Story of the Maccabean Times
Church, Alfred John
Jewish fiction; Jews -- History -- To 70 A.D. -- Fiction; Maccabees -- Fiction
The high priest was represented by his kinsman Phinehas—who had found a
substitute for his unfashionable name in Phineus—by Menander, who has been
already mentioned, and by two Greeks, of whom our acquaintance Cleon was
one. Josedech and his companions willingly left the management of affairs
in the hands of the new arrivals, and retired from the scene. Leaping from
his horse, Phinehas, or Phineus, prostrated himself in Eastern fashion at
the feet of Antiochus, and his companions followed his example, while the
escort of cavalry saluted. “Rise,” said Antiochus, whose good humour began
to return when he found himself treated with what he conceived to be
proper respect. He even condescended to reach out his royal hand, and
assist the envoy to recover his feet. Phineus proceeded to deliver an
address of welcome which was certainly not wanting in florid compliment.
It might even have been called profane, for Antiochus was described not
only as magnificent, illustrious, victorious (to mention a few only of the
speaker’s exuberant supply of epithets), but even as divine. The speech
ended, an attendant presented a richly-chased casket of gold, filled with
coins, fresh from the Syrian mint, and bearing the features and
superscription of Antiochus himself. The King received it with something
like _empressement_, and after speaking a few words of thanks, passed it
to his treasurer. At the same time he took a bag of silver from one of his
attendants, and condescended to scatter some of the pieces among the crowd
that lined the quays, with his royal hands. As may be supposed, a vigorous
scramble ensued, and not a few of the spectators were tumbled over the
edge into the shallow water below. Others jumped in of their own accord
after some of the pieces which had fallen short. A general burst of
laughter was the result, and the situation lost the gravity which had been
so alarming a few minutes before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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