Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/333

Rh &quot;A man with six hundred talents is indeed rich, and may do what he pleases; but, rarer than the money, more priceless than the property, is the mind which amassed the wealth, and the heart it could not corrupt when amassed. O Simonides—and thou, fair Esther—fear not. Sheik Ilderim here shall be witness that in the same moment ye were declared my servants, that moment I declared ye free; and what I declare, that will I put in writing. Is it not enough? Can I do more?&quot;

&quot;Son of Hur,&quot; said Simonides, &quot;verily thou dost make servitude lightsome. I was wrong; there are some things thou canst not do: thou canst not make us free in law. I am thy servant forever, because I went to the door with thy father one day, and in my ear the awl-marks yet abide.&quot;

&quot;Did my father that?&quot;

&quot;Judge him not,&quot; cried Simonides, quickly. &quot;He accepted me a servant of that class because I prayed him to do so. I never repented the step. It was the price I paid for Rachel, the mother of my child here; for Rachel, who would not be my wife unless I became what she was.&quot;

&quot;Was she a servant forever?&quot;

&quot;Even so.&quot;

Ben-Hur walked the floor in pain of impotent wish.

&quot;I was rich before,&quot; he said, stopping suddenly. &quot;I was rich with the gifts of the generous Arrius; now comes this greater fortune, and the mind which achieved it. Is there not a purpose of God in it all? Counsel me, O Simonides! Help me to see the right and do it. Help me to be worthy my name, and what thou art in law to me, that will I be to thee in fact and deed. I will be thy servant forever.&quot;

Simonides face actually glowed.

&quot;O son of my dead master! I will do better than help; I will serve thee with all my might of mind and heart. Body, I have not; it perished in thy cause; but with mind and heart I will serve thee. I swear it, by the altar of our God, and the gifts upon the altar! Only make me formally what I have assumed to be.&quot;

&quot;Name it,&quot; said Ben-Hur, eagerly.