Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/290

Rh all he knew of the time of its happening. If it were at hand, the campaign with Maxentius should be abandoned; and he would go and set about organizing and arming the tribes, that Israel might be ready when the great day of the restoration began to break.

Now, as we have seen, from Balthasar himself Ben-Hur had the marvellous story. Was he satisfied?

There was a shadow upon him deeper than that of the cluster of palms—the shadow of a great uncertainty, which—take note, O reader! which pertained more to the kingdom than the king.

&quot;What of this kingdom? And what is it to be?&quot; Ben-Hur asked himself in thought.

Thus early arose the questions which were to follow the Child to his end, and survive him on earth—incomprehensible in his day, a dispute in this—an enigma to all who do not or cannot understand that every man is two in one—a deathless Soul and a mortal Body.

&quot;What is it to be!&quot; he asked.

For us, O reader, the Child himself has answered; but for Ben-Hur there were only the words of Balthasar, &quot;On the earth, yet not of it—not for men, but for their souls—a dominion, nevertheless, of unimaginable glory.&quot;

What wonder the hapless youth found the phrases but the darkening of a riddle?

&quot;The hand of man is not in it,&quot; he said, despairingly. &quot;Nor has the king of such a kingdom use for men; neither toilers, nor councillors, nor soldiers. The earth must die, or be made anew, and for government new principles must be discovered—something besides armed hands—something in place of Force. But what?

Again, O reader !

That which we will not see, he could not. The power there is in Love had not yet occurred to any man; much less had one come saying directly that for government and its objects—peace and order—Love is better and mightier than Force.

In the midst of his reverie a hand was laid upon his shoulder.

&quot;I have a word to say, O son of Arrius,&quot; said Ilderim,