Kristuslegender. English

by Selma Lagerlöf

theair as usual, but lingered over roads and fields. And this beautifulday, with its faint mist and hushed winds, which reminded one of Night'srest and calm, seemed to communicate to the hastening crowds somewhat ofitself, so that they went forward happy--yet with solemnity--singing insubdued voices ancient hymns, or playing upon peculiar old-fashionedinstruments, from which came tones like the buzzing of gnats, orgrasshoppers' piping.

  When old Faustina rode forward among all the people, she became infectedwith their joy and excitement. She prodded her horse to quicker speed,as she said to a young Roman who rode beside her: "I dreamt last nightthat I saw Tiberius, and he implored me not to postpone the journey, butto ride to Jerusalem to-day. It appears as if the gods had wished tosend me a warning not to neglect to go there this beautiful morning."

  Just as she said this, she came to the top of a long mountain ridge, andthere she was obliged to halt. Before her lay a large, deepvalley-basin, surrounded by pretty hills, and from the dark, shadowydepths of the vale rose the massive mountain which held on its head thecity of Jerusalem.

  But the narrow mountain city, with its walls and towers, which lay likea jeweled coronet upon the cliff's smooth height, was this day magnifieda thousand-fold. All the hills which encircled the valley were bedeckedwith gay tents, and with a swarm of human beings.

  It was evident to Faustina that all the inhabitants were on their way toJerusalem to celebrate some great holiday. Those from a distance hadalready come, and had managed to put their tents in order. On the otherhand, those who lived near the city were still on their way. Along allthe shining rock-heights one saw them come streaming in like an unbrokensea of white robes, of songs, of holiday cheer.

  For some time the old woman surveyed these seething throngs of peopleand the long rows of tent-poles. Thereupon she said to the young Romanwho rode beside her:

  "Verily, Sulpicius, the whole nation must have come to Jerusalem."

  "It really appears like it," replied the Roman, who had been chosen byTiberius to accompany Faustina because he had, during a number of years,lived in Judea. "They celebrate now the great Spring Festival, and atthis time all the people, both old and young, come to Jerusalem."

  Faustina reflected a moment. "I am glad that we came to this city on theday that the people celebrate their festival," said she. "It can notsignify anything else than that the gods protect our journey. Do youthink it likely that he whom we seek, the Prophet of Nazareth, has alsocome to Jerusalem to participate in the festivities?"

  "You are surely right, Faustina," said the Roman. "He must be here inJerusalem. This is indeed a decree of the gods. Strong and vigorousthough you be, you may consider yourself fortunate if you escape makingthe long and troublesome journey up to Galilee."

  At once he rode over to a couple of wayfarers and asked them if theythought the Prophet of Nazareth was in Jerusalem.

  "We have seen him here every day at this season," answered one. "Surelyhe must be here even this year, for he is a holy and righteous man."

  A woman stretched forth her hand and pointed towards a hill, which layeast of the city. "Do you see the foot of that mountain, which iscovered with olive trees?" she said. "It is there that the Galileansusually raise their tents, and there you will get the most reliableinformation about him whom you seek."

  They journeyed farther, and traveled on a winding path all the way downto the bottom of the valley, and then they began to ride up towardZion's hill, to reach the city on its heights. The woman who had spokenwent along the same way.

  The steep ascending road was encompassed here by low walls, and uponthese countless beggars and cripples sat or lolled. "Look," said thewoman who had spoken, pointing to one of the beggars who sat on thewall, "there is a Galilean! I recollect that I have seen him among theProphet's disciples. He can tell you where you will find him you seek."

  Faustina and Sulpicius rode up to the man who had been pointed out toher. He was a poor old man with a heavy iron-gray beard. His face wasbronzed by heat and sunshine. He asked no alms; on the contrary, he wasso engrossed in anxious thought that he did not even glance at thepassers-by.

  Nor did he hear that Sulpicius addressed him, and the latter had torepeat his question several times.

  "My friend, I've been told that you are a Galilean. I beg you,therefore, to tell me where I shall find the Prophet from Nazareth!"

  The Galilean gave a sudden start and looked around him, confused. Butwhen he finally comprehended what was wanted of him, he was seized withrage mixed with terror. "What are you talking about?" he burst out. "Whydo you ask me about that man? I know nothing of him. I'm not aGalilean."

  The Hebrew woman now joined in the conversation. "Still I have seen youin his company," she protested. "Do not fear, but tell this noble Romanlady, who is the Emperor's friend, where she is most likely to findhim."

  But the terrified disciple grew more and more irascible. "Have all thepeople gone mad to-day?" said he. "Are they possessed by an evil spirit,since they come again and again and ask me about that man? Why will noone believe me when I say that I do not know the Prophet? I do not comefrom his country. I have never seen him."

  His irritability attracted attention, and a couple of beggars who sat onthe wall beside him also began to dispute his word.

  "Certainly you were among his disciples," said one. "We all know thatyou came with him from Galilee."

  Then the man raised his arms toward heaven and cried: "I could notendure it in Jerusalem to-day on that man's account, and now they willnot even leave me in peace out here among the beggars! Why don't youbelieve me when I say to you that I have never seen him?"

  Faustina turned away with a shrug. "Let us go farther!" said she. "Theman is mad. From him we will learn nothing."

  They went farther up the mountain. Faustina was not more than two stepsfrom the city gate, when the Hebrew woman who had wished to help herfind the Prophet called to her to be careful. She pulled in her reinsand saw that a man lay in the road, just in front of the horse's feet,where the crush was greatest. It was a miracle that he had not alreadybeen trampled to death by animals or people.

  The man lay upon his back and stared upward with lusterless eyes. He didnot move, although the camels placed their heavy feet close beside him.He was poorly clad, and besides he was covered with dust and dirt. Infact, he had thrown so much gravel over himself that it looked as if hetried to hide himself, to be more easily over-ridden and trampled down.

  "What does this mean? Why does this man lie here on the road?" askedFaustina.

  Instantly the man began shouting to the passers-by:

  "In mercy, brothers and sisters, drive your horses and camels over me!Do not turn aside for me! Trample me to dust! I have betrayed innocentblood. Trample me to dust!"

  Sulpicius caught Faustina's horse by the bridle and turned it to oneside. "It is a sinner who wants to do penance," said he. "Do not letthis delay your journey. These people are peculiar and one must let themfollow their own bent."

  The man in the road continued to shout: "Set your heels on my heart! Letthe camels crush my breast and the asses dig their hoofs into my eyes!"

  But Faustina seemed loath to ride past the miserable man without tryingto make him rise. She remained all the while beside him.

  The Hebrew woman who had wished to serve her once before, pushed her wayforward again. "This man also belonged to the Prophet's disciples," saidshe. "Do you wish me to ask him about his Master?"

  Faustina nodded affirmatively, and the woman bent down over the man.

  "What have you Galileans done this day with your Master?" she asked. "Imeet you scattered on highways and byways, but him I see nowhere."

  But when she questioned in this manner, the man who lay in the dust roseto his knees. "What evil spirit hath possessed you to ask me about him?"he said, in a voice that was filled with despair. "You see, surely, thatI have lain down in the road to be trampled to death. Is not that enoughfor you? Shall you come also and ask me what I have done with him?"
r />   When she repeated the question, the man staggered to his feet and putboth hands to his ears.

  "Woe unto you, that you can not let me die in peace!" he cried. Heforced his way through the crowds that thronged in front of the gate,and rushed away shrieking with terror, while his torn robe flutteredaround him like dark wings.

  "It appears to me as though we had come to a nation of madmen," saidFaustina, when she saw the man flee. She had become depressed by seeingthese disciples of the Prophet. Could the man who numbered such foolsamong his followers do anything for the Emperor?

  Even the Hebrew woman looked distressed, and she said very earnestly toFaustina: "Mistress, delay not in your search for him whom