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and powerful than the sword； but impossible to grasp； was maddening！
Herodias strode to and fro upon the terrace； white with rage； unable
to find words to express the emotions that choked her。
She had a haunting fear that the tetrarch might listen to public
opinion after a time； and persuade himself it was his duty to
repudiate her。 Then； indeed； all would be lost！ Since early youth she
had cherished a dream that some day she would rule over a great
empire。 As an important step towards attaining this ambition； she had
deserted Philip； her first husband； and married the tetrarch； who now
she thought had duped her。
〃Ah！ I found a powerful support； indeed； when I entered thy family！〃
she sneered。
〃It is at least the equal of thine；〃 Antipas replied。
Herodias felt the blood of the kings and priests； her ancestors；
boiling in her veins。
〃Thy grandfather was a servile attendant upon the temple of Ascalon！〃
she went on； with fury。 〃Thy other ancestors were shepherds； bandits；
conductors of caravans； a horde of slaves offered as tribute to King
David！ My forefathers were the conquerors of thine！ The first of the
Maccabees drove thy people out of Hebron； Hyrcanus forced them to be
circumcised！〃 Then； with all the contempt of the patrician for the
plebeian； the hatred of Jacob for Esau； she reproached him for his
indifference towards palpable outrages to his dignity； his weakness
regarding the Phoenicians； who had been false to him； and his cowardly
attitude towards the people who detested and insulted herself。
〃But thou art like them！〃 she cried； 〃Dost regret the loss of the Arab
girl who danced upon these very pavements？ Take her back！ Go and live
with herin her tent！ Eat her bread； baked in the ashes！ Drink
curdled sheep's…milk！ Kiss her dark cheeksand forget me！〃
The tetrarch had already forgotten her presence； it appeared。 He paid
no further heed to her anger； but looked intently at a young girl who
had just stepped out upon the balcony of a house not far away。 At her
side stood an elderly female slave； who held over the girl's head a
kind of parasol with a handle made of long； slender reeds。 In the
middle of the rug spread upon the floor of the balcony stood a large
open travelling…hamper or basket； and girdles； veils； head…dresses；
and gold and silver ornaments were scattered about in confusion。 At
intervals the young girl took one object or another in her hands； and
held it up admiringly。 She was dressed in the costume of the Roman
ladies； with a flowing tunic and a peplum ornamented with tassels of
emeralds； and blue silken bands confined her hair； which seemed almost
too luxuriant； since from time to time she raised a small hand to push
back the heavy masses。 The parasol half hid the maiden from the gaze
of Antipas； but now and then he caught a glimpse of her delicate neck；
her large eyes； or a fleeting smile upon her small mouth。 He noted
that her figure swayed about with a singularly elastic grace and
elegance。 He leaned forward； his eyes kindled； his breath quickened。
All this was not lost upon Herodias； who watched him narrowly。
〃Who is that maiden？〃 the tetrarch asked at last。
Herodias replied that she did not know； and her fierce demeanour
suddenly changed to one of gentleness and amiability。
At the entrance to the castle the tetrarch was awaited by several
Galileans； the master of the scribes； the chief of the land stewards；
the manager of the salt mines； and a Jew from Babylon； commanding his
troops of horse。 As the tetrarch approached the group； he was greeted
with respectful enthusiasm。 Acknowledging the acclamations with a
grave salute； he entered the castle。
As he proceeded along one of the corridors； Phanuel suddenly sprang
from a corner and intercepted him。
〃What！ Art thou still here？〃 said the tetrarch in displeasure。 〃Thou
seekest Iaokanann； no doubt。〃
〃And thyself； my lord。 I have something of great importance to tell
thee。〃
At a sign from Antipas； the Essene followed him into a somewhat dark
and gloomy room。
The daylight came faintly through a grated window。 The walls were of a
deep shade of crimson； so dark as to look almost black。 At one end of
the room stood an ebony bed； ornamented with bands of leather。 A
shield of gold； hanging at the head of the bed； shone like a sun in
the obscurity of the apartment。 Antipas crossed over to the couch and
threw himself upon it in a half…reclining attitude； while Phanuel
remained standing before him。 Suddenly he raised one hand； and
striking a commanding attitude said：
〃At times； my lord； the Most High sends a message to the people
through one of His sons。 Iaokanann is one of these。 If thou oppress
him； thou shalt be punished！〃
〃But it is he that persecutes me！〃 exclaimed Antipas。 〃He asked me to
do a thing that was impossible。 Since then he has done nothing but
revile me。 And I was not severe with him when he began his abuse of
me。 But he had the hardihood to send various men from Machaerus to
spread dissension and discontent throughout my domain。 A curse upon
him！ Since he attacks me； I shall defend myself。〃
〃Without doubt； he has expressed his anger with too much violence；〃
Phanuel replied calmly。 〃But do not heed that further。 He must be set
free。〃
〃One does not let loose a furious animal；〃 said the tetrarch。
〃Have no fear of him now；〃 was the quick reply。 〃He will go straight
to the Arabs； the Gauls； and the Scythians。 His work must be extended
to the uttermost ends of the earth。〃
For a moment Antipas appeared lost in thought； as one who sees a
vision。 Then he said：
〃His power over men is indeed great。 In spite of myself； I admire
him！〃
〃Then set him free！〃
But the tetrarch shook his head。 He feared Herodias； Mannaeus； and
unknown dangers。
Phanuel tried to persuade him； promising； as a guaranty of the honesty
of his projects； the submission of the Essenians to the King。 These
poor people； clad only in linen； untameable in spite of severe
treatment； endowed with the power to divine the future by reading the
stars； had succeeded in commanding a certain degree of respect。
〃What is the important matter thou wouldst communicate to me？〃 Antipas
inquired； with sudden recollection。
Before Phanuel could reply； a Negro entered the room in great haste。
He was covered with dust； and panted so violently that he could
scarcely utter the single word：
〃Vitellus！〃
〃Has he arrived？〃 asked the tetrarch。
〃I have seen him； my lord。 Within three hours he will be here。〃
Throughout the palace； doors were opening and closing and portieres
were swaying as if in a high wind； with the coming and going of many
persons； there was a murmur of voices； sounds of the moving of heavy
furniture could be heard； and the rattle of silver plates and dishes。
From the highest tower a loud blast upon a conch summoned from far and
near all the slaves belonging to the castle。
CHAPTER II
The ramparts were thronged with people when at last Vitellius entered
the castle gates； leaning on the arm of his interpreter。 Behind them
came an imposing red litter； decorated with plumes and mirrors。 The
proconsul wore a toga ornamented with the laticlave； a broad purple
band extending down the front of the garment； indicating his rank； and
his feet were encased in the kind of buskins worn by consuls。 A guard
of lictors surrounded him。 Against the wall they placed their twelve
fascesa bundle of sticks with an axe in the centre。 And the populace
trembled before the insignia of Roman majesty。
The gorgeous litter； borne by eight men； came to a halt。 From it
descended a youth。 He wore many pearls upon his fingers； but he had a
protruding abdomen and his face was covered with pimples。 A cup of
aromatic wine was offered to him。 He drank it； and asked for a second
draught。
The tetrarch had fallen upon his kne