THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES *> BEN-BEOK. A HISTORICAL . Di TWO DIVISIONS. PART I. LUNAR INTAGLIOS. THE MAN IN THE MOON, A COUNTERPART OF WALLACE'S " BEN HUR." PART II. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. THE WANDERING GENTILE A COMPANION ROMANCE TO SUE'S " WANDERING JEW." H. M. L-BIEN, Author of "Oriental Legends," "Feast of Lights," "Samson," "Purim," etc. VlCKSBURG, MlSS. SECOND REVISED AND IMPROVED EDITION. BALTIMORE : PRESS OF THE FRIEDENWALU, Co. 1892. COPYRIGHTED, 1891, BY H. M. BIEH. TALI, BIGHTS BESEBVEP "* P5 PBEPACE. Die WeltgescJiichte ist das Weltgericht." The history of civilization, culminating in the successful establishment of the Republic of the United States of America with her immense possi bilities, is as important as it is interesting. To the investigator of human nature it becomes patent that during all the past ages powerful agen cies have been systematically working to suppress the rights and liberties of the people; upholding serfdom and superstition for the benefit of a few privileged classes. Well may these persecutors and haters of man be called as a unit " The Anti-Messiah," whose story under the name of "BEN-BEOR" a well-known biblical character, " BALAAM BEN-BEOR" (see Num bers xxii. 5-O. T.) is represented in the following pages. Incidentally interwoven with the ultimate over throw of the "foul conspirator" are the fate and leading events of that strange remnant of nations, " the Jews." This story will relate the important part played by them, even in their humiliation, as a mysteriously divine power to help on the slow but sure progress of the steadily coming ideal millennium, 1.752-184 Vi PREFACE. "when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into priming-hooks." Volumes have been written as history proper, of continuous data and events. To such the author of this story is largely indebted for the groundwork material wrought into this novel. The sources from whence this information had to be garnered are too numerous for giving credit by name in each instance. Sincere thanks are hereby tendered to one and all. But the reading masses at this time do not take kindly to the bulky literature of the student ; preferring to be taught en passant, in more interesting and lighter ways, by books clothed in the attractive garb of romance, introducing into them the important records of the past. A large number of original historical documents, attainable to professional research only, are embodied in the following work. Such an effort is attempted in this novel. The book is divided into two parts, each one rep resenting the mysterious person, the "Anti-Messiah," around which the interest of the events to be related centers and is carried along. These are subdivided into smaller episodes, each complete in itself, and yet so connected as to form one unique whole. May the humble trial of this peculiar authorship find ardent friends and lenient critics. Such is the fervent hope and wish of Yours devotedly, THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. PART I. THE MAN IN THE MOON. LUNAR INTAGLIOS. PAOX THE FINDING OF THE MANUSCRIPT. By_the Editor and Publisher 3 THE FALLING OF THE AEROLITE 4 INTAGLIO I. ON TO THE MOON 7 INTAGLIO II. THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION ...... 12 INTAGLIO III. THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT . . 15 INTAGLIO IV. MALKAH LEVANAH : Section I. Her Mortal Youth. Sec. II. The Finding of Moses. Sec. III. Balack and Balaam. Sec. IV. The Wise Man of the East. Sec. V. In Captivity. Sec. VI. The Blessing and the Curse. Sec. VII. The Intoxicating Cup. Sec. VIII. After Death Spirit Life . . 25 INTAGLIO V. THE PRISONER'S EVIDENCE 52 INTAGLIO VI. THE RECORD BY THE CHIEF SCRIBE . . 57 INTAGLIO VII. HARROWING SIGHTS ON EARTH ... 59 INTAGLIO VIII. REVOLUTION 62 ADDENDUM I. By the Editor and Publisher .... 65 PART II. THE WANDERING GENTILE. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. PHANTASMAGORIA I. PECULIAR HALLUCINATIONS . . 71 PHANTASMAGORIA II. TITUS AND BERENICE 80 PHANTASMAGORIA III. SIMON BAR GIORA 91 Viil CONTENTS. PASX PHANTASMAGORIA IV. BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYB- DIS 99 PHANTASMAGOEIA V. A WOMAN SPUENED 108 PHANTASMAGORIA VI. THE RAPE OF THE TABLETS . . 116 PHANTASMAGORIA VII. PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY . . 120 PHANTASMAGORIA VIII. PESTILENCE AND FIRE IN ROME 128 PHANTASMAGORIA IX. A PSEUDO-MOSES 140 PHANTASMAGORIA X. MAHOMET v. JUDAISM 159 PHANTASMAGORIA XI. THE LAST OF THE KHAZARS . 175 PHANTASMAGORIA XII. PETER THE HERMIT 190 PHANTASMAGORIA XIII. THE FIRST CRUSADE .... 205 PHANTASMAGORIA XIV. THE ORIGIN OP THE BLOOD ACCUSATION 221 PHANTASMAGORIA XV. BLACK BARTHEL 229 PHANTASMAGORIA XVI. THE FLAGELLANTS 236 Section I. How Strasburg Became Free. Sec. II. The Pestilence. Sec. III. The False Accusa tion. Sec. IV. Foiled Again. Sec. V. The Torture. Sec. VI. The Flagellants at Stras burg. Sec." VII. Retribution. PHANTASMAGORIA XVII. TOMASO TORQUEMADA . . . 273 Section I. A Retrospect. Sec. II. Mediaeval Profundity. Sec. III. A Momentous AVed- * ding. Sec. IV. Misericordia et Justitia. Sec. V. The Fortune of Hope Blasted. Sec. VI. A Grand Auto da F6. Sec. VII. A Frus trated Complot. Sec. VIII. The Expulsion of the Jews. Sec. IX. The Dawn of Light Afar. Sec. X. Tomaso Torquemada. PHANTASMAGORIA XVIII. THE ART OF ARTS .... 334 PHANTASMAGORIA XIX. THE FIGHT AGAINST THE TALMUD 347 Section I. Dominicans and Franciscans. Sec. II. Joseph Pfefferkorn. Sec III. The M'Shumet at Work. Sec. IV. The Abbess of Clarissa. CONTENTS. IX PAGX Sec. V. In Camp. Sec. VI. The First Effort. Sec. VII. Before the Archbishop. Sec. VIII. Johannes Reuchlin. Sec. IX. A Short Arm istice. Sec. X. Signed, Sealed and Delivered. Sec. XL Aftermath. PHANTASMAGORIA XX. THE REFORMATION 389 Section I. A Change of Base. Sec. II. Johan nes Tetzel. Sec. III. The Fiat Goes Forth. Sec. IV. The Lull Before the Storm. Sec. V. The Rebel Thomas Munzer. Sec. VI. The Nuns of Nimptsch. Sec. VII. Creed-making and its Results. PHANTASMAGORIA XXI. SABBATHAI ZEVI 435 Section L Beautiful Esther. Sec. II. Scien tists and Literati. Sec. III. Sabbathai Zevi. Sec. IV. The Affianced of the Messiah. PHANTASMAGORIA XXII. THE CLIMAX ; FREEDOM TRIUMPHANT 478 Section L A Resume. Sec. II. The Coming Crisis. Sec. III. Westward Ho ! Sec. IV. A Great Conclave. Sec. V. The Phantom of the Sea. Sec. VI. The Declaration of Inde pendence. Sec. VII. The Recluse of the Mountains. Addendum II. Missing Links Found. Sec. VIII. The Last Episode : Rabbi Perez Mendes' Story. INDEX OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. List of Christian Sects at the time of Mahomet . . - 162 Letter of Rabbi Ibn Shaprut to Joseph, last King of the Khazars 178 Answer thereto 179 Authentic references of Explosives used before the invention of Gunpowder 232 Objections by the sacred Junta of Salamanca to the plans of Columbus 281 The Guiding Eules of the Inquisition 298 Formula of Indulgences by Johannes Tetzel .... 394 Letter of Absolution 397 Martin Luther's Opinion on the Jews 403 Summons of Emperor Charles for Luther's appearance before tbe Diet of Worms 407 The Heroes of the Golden Age ..... 447 The great Anathema against Spinoza 455 The Stamp Act 490 The Tea Tax 494 Enacting Clause of the Declaration of Independence 515 And many others. OPINIONS BY EMINENT AMERICAN CRITICS. [FOR REVIEWS OF THE PRESS SEE THE END OF THIS BOOK.] An autograph letter from BARON MAURICE DE HlRSCH. Paris, 2 Rue de 1'Elysee, 6 Jan., 1892. Dear Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of " Ben-Beor," the most valuable book which you have so kindly and courteously dedicated to me. In the middle of my very numerous occupations I had but time to glance it over, and I anticipate by what I could see, all the pleasure that I shall find in reading it at leisure. I particularly wish to tell you how I have felt your attention to me by sending you my very best thanks. Yours very sincerely, BARON MAURICE DE HIRSCH. From an eminent Unitarian Divine. Sheffield, Ills., June 22, 1892. Rev. Dr. Bien, Vicksburg, Miss. My brother ! (for such I trust you will allow me to call you, though we are personally strangers), I have just been reading your book " Ben-Beor." I liked it so well that I have taken this liberty of addressing you, for I felt, somehow, that it was but your due that real merit should be acknowledged. You have in a well connected story put together the important events of history connected not only with the people of Israel, but of the advance by the world toward freedom. I consider that the world of which we are a part, is striving to realize in itself the ideal of liberty, fraternity and self-government, and every true step of progress is in that direction. I am sure your book will help thoughtful minds and be an efficient aid as they are considering steps of duty and principle. But I do not propose to weary you with a long letter simply because you have given me pleasure in the reading of your work. I am fraternally yours, JAMES O. M. HEWITT, Minister of the Unitarian Church, Sheffield, Ills, From the highest member of the Masonic Fraternity in the South. Charleston, July i, 1892. Mr. Henry Solomon, City. Dear Cousin: Dr. Bien has recently pub lished a very remarkable book entitled " Ben-Beor," and I have derived great pleasure and edification from its perusal. It is an epitome of the persecu tions of our race from Pharaoh to the present Auto crat of Russia, and its pages exhibit scholastic lore of the highest character. I commend Bro. Bien to your courtesey and atten tion, and will be much gratified if you will aid him in the sale of his book. Yours affectionately, NATHANIAL LEVIN. From the /?. R. the Episcopal Bishop, DR. HUGH MILLER THOMPSON, Jackson, Miss. Jackson, Miss., Aug. 4. 1802. The Rev. Dr. Bien. ' Dear Sir: With great interest I have read your book " Ben-Beor." The imagination displayed is not surpassed by Jules Verne's best work, and the learning sweeps the circle of human history. The purpose underlying the work seems to me to deserve the commendation of all good men. I am very truly yours, HUGH MILLER THOMPSON. From the -venerable Pastor of the Episcopal Christ Church, the REV. DR. 11. SANSOME. Vickburg, Miss., Feby. 8, 1892. My dear Dr. Bien. I have just finished reading "Ben-Beor" and I drop you a line to say how charmed I have been with the book. To me it had all the fascination of a novel, and I soon found myself so deeply interested that I was unwilling to lay it down until I had com pleted it. I congratulate you upon your interesting and instructive work ; for while it exhibits the bitter hate and cruel persecutions of God's ancient covenant people, at the same time it weaves into the story many valuable historical features which show the profound erudition and extensive researches of its reverend author. I am, dear Dr., Very truly yours, H. SANSOME. From a celebrated Critic in Washington, D. C. " Ben-Beor." By Rabbi H. M. Bien, of Vicks- burg, Miss. A wonderful book has appeared, not only in the interests of Israel, but a contribution to the liberal and enlightened theology of the day. Not perhaps so attractive to the average reader as " Ben Hur,'' but a book that appeals to the more scholarly and thoughtful masses of humanity. It will reach these first as it were a grand centre, and from this centre go out in larger and larger circles until it takes in all the little and minor sub-circles and thereby help advance the grand lines of all classes of society, high and low, rich and poor, surely con tributing to the fulfilment of the ancient prophecies of peace on earth and good-will towards men. Success to the labors of the author, who has shown so much zeal in a noble cause. ISAAC P. NOYES. WASHINGTON, D. C., Ftbruary nth, iSqz. From the Superintendent of Public Education, Warren Co., Miss. Vicksburg, Feb. 14, 1892. My dear Dr. Bien. I do not know which to admire more, your patience and industry when searching among the musty records of the past for your subject, or your extra ordinary imagination shown in embellishing the ficti tious facts of your beautiful story, " Ben-Beor." Yours very truly, H. T. MOORE. From the celebrated Correspondent of the New Orleans Times- Democrat. Montgomery, Ala., July 20, 1892. My dear Mr. Bien: Your interesting book, " Ben-Beor," has been read and re-read by me quite often of late. Permit me to congratulate you as the author of that great book, which ought to be read by everybody. It is truly a most instructive and beautifully conceived work. Yours very respectfully, ALBERT STRASSBURGER. Richmond, Va., Feb. 15, 1892. My dear Mr. Kaufman. Permit me to express to you the great pleasure and profit I derived from the perusal of the book " Ben-Beor," by Dr. H. M. Bien, of Vicksburg, Miss. It is a novel and a history fascinatingly woven to gether and containing a vast fund of valuable inform ation. It is a noble commentary on the history of humankind. Should my feeble word be of any assistance to you in presenting its merits to others, I shall be happy to be of aid to you. Very truly yours, EDWARD N." CALISH, Rabbi Beth Ahaba. From the Hon. Supreme Court Judge in the State of Louisiana. Bastrop, La., March 2, 1892. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg, Miss. My dear Sir: Enclosed find my check for $2.00 for your book " Ben-Beor." Your work cannot be excelled as a truthful and beautiful, and withal impar tial, presentation of the manifold trials of your co religionists. I have derived from its perusal not only pleasure but great profit. Yours truly, S. T. BAIRD, Judge 6(A Ind. Dist., State of La. From the President of Vicksburg Bank, Gen. E. S. Butts. OFFICE OF VICKSDURG BANK, VICKSBURG, Miss., Jan. nth, 1892. Dr. H. M. Bien, City. Dear Sir: The perusal of your book " Ben-Beor " has been to me a source of intense interest and great historical information. Our fellow-citizens of Vicksburg should be proud of having in their midst a gentleman of your learning and ability, and I have no doubt that the work which you have so ably written will find a place in the libraries of all the land, and will perpetuate your name among the best authors of the English lan guage. With distinguished regard I have the honor to sign myself Your friend, EDWARD S. BUTTS. CHATTANOOGA, Dec. 28, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg. Dear Sir: I find your book very interesting. I hope you will have the success you deserve. Very truly yours, S. ROSENTHAL. 6 LAW OFFICE OF GOODHART & PHILLIPS, NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien. My dear Doctor: Your book, Ben-Beor, I can assure you I enjoyed with a great deal of pleasurable interest and am quite pleased to have the volume in my library. Believe me, Very truly yours, MORRIS GOODHART. VlCKSBURG, MlSS., Nov. 26(/l, 1891. To my Friends: Dr. H. M. Bien, of Vicksburg, is the author of a historical novel which he is presenting to the public. A book of general and curious lore, valuable to the student, philosopher or statesman, beside affording an intensely interesting story for those who may merely read for entertainment. Any courtesies and encouragement extended the Doctor will be greatly appreciated by his many friends in Vicksburg, and especially by Yours very truly, J. M. GIBSON, District Attorney. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Nov. igth, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien. Esteemed Sir: Allow me to congratulate you upon your pronounced success as an author. Your " Ben-Beor " has already found a home in my library. If I can be of any service to you in the sale of your book, please do not hesitate to let me know, as I could procure an agent for you in this city. State your rates to agents, etc., for there is no reason why this work should not grace every household. Wish ing you all success, I remain, Very respectfully, REV. DR. M. MESSING. From the Hon. Mayor of Sherman, Tex. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT THE CITY OF SHERMAN, SHERMAN, TEXAS, Dec. n, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg, Miss. My dear Sir : I must say your book is very inter esting, and I value it highly. With best wishes for your success, I remain, Your obedient servant, JAKE W. LEVY. OFFICE OF J. LIPSTATE & Co., TYLER, TEXAS, Nov. 9, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg. I have derived much pleasure and information from the perusal of the work. Yours truly, J. LIPSTATE. OFFICE OF T. FREED & Co., CAMERON, TEXAS, Dec. i^th, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg, Miss. Dear Sir: I am well pleased with the book, and think it will class with the best literature of the day. Please let me know your inducements for agents in selling. Very respectfully, Louis A. FREED. BANKING HOUSE OF STEINER BROTHERS, BIRMINGHAM, ALA., Dec. 26, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg, Miss. Dear Doctor: I enjoyed your book hugely, and find it one of the best books giving a history of civilization I have ever read. You deserve a great deal of credit, and you should have a great deal of success. I beg to remain with assurances of respect and esteem, Yours very friendly, B. STEINER. 8 OFFICE NATIONAL LIFE ASSOCIATION, OF HARTFORD, CONN., BIRMINGHAM, ALA., Dec. 26, 1891. Dr. H. M. Bien, Vicksburg, Miss. My dear Friend: Allow me to extend to you my sincerest congratulation. I read your book, Ben- Beor, and re-read it and confess that it grew in interest every time. Have recommended it to a number of my personal friends. It is well written, pure and choice in diction and grand in its concep tion. I trust that it will be a means of adequately rewarding you for your labor. With kind regards and sincere wishes, Your friend, MAURICE EISENBERG. SOUTHWESTERN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. NEW ORLEANS, LA., Nov. 2 looking up from its deep recesses, it appears as though there had once been a narrow chasm, but by some mighty eruptive disturbance, sending huge masses downward, the rocks had met at the top, and partly filling the opening, left but a treacher ous footpath through it all. Here, towards the end of the summer in the year 1776, a strange event transpired. It is midnight. A dense darkness prevails. Ever since noon, heavy, ominous clouds have hung over this region. Sud denly the storm bursts forth in all its fury. A tor nado of wind drives the rain in sheets over the drenched ground. Incessant flashes of lightning cross the skies. Amidst the uninterrupted roll of thunder can be heard the fall of majestic oaks, snapped like saplings by the storm. Far away on the horizon, amidst the screeching and howling of the elements, a spark of fire ap pears. As it circles nearer and nearer it increases in size and luminosity. It lights up the murky sky for miles. At its swift approach the revolt of na ture increases, as if to herald the nearing of the startling phenomenon. On comes the ball of fire, increasing in intensity. A train of sparks, looking as if millions of stars had been hurled from above, accompanies the flaming stranger. The place from which I, " The Recluse of the Mountains," had intently observed this atmospheric commotion, is the entrance of the cave, at the foot of this declivity, where I now dwell. Terrified, I fly to my subterranean abode. The celestial visitor of midnight strikes the earth with a deafening crash, right at my door, thereby making a prisoner of me walled in, as it were, in the bowels of the earth. In my consternation, I did not at first com prehend my horrible situation; but the intense 6 BEN BEOR. heat of the monster-meteor, as I now saw the fiery body to be, soon brought me to my senses. "What am I to do ? aged and feeble, with no other tools than yonder spade and hammer! Should I be spared a fearful death by being roasted alive, my provisions will soon give out and I must die of starvation. Was ever man so terribly situated? Thick beads of perspiration drip from my fore head. In my frenzied despair I snatch the ham mer. Scarcely knowing what I do, I approach the boulder, and with all the power left in my withered arms, strike. Am I awake, or is all this a dream 3 As if by magic, the monster which holds me im prisoned falls to pieces. In my joy at being re leased from my awful predicament, I did not at first notice that the aerolite had broken into long, even slabs. As soon, however, as I became aware of it, irrepressible curiosity took possession of me. I approach the debris and examine the plates by their own light. They are red-hot. One of them lies with its inside surface turned directly towards me. I can scarcely believe my eyes : it is covered from top to bottom with writing characters which I recognize to be Hebrew. I now proceed with great caution to make egress and ingress pos sible. It is daylight when, with my few utensils, I succeed in removing the obstacles out of my way by carefully drawing them inside of my cave. Spread out as the parts lay there, it took several days before they cooled sufficiently to be easily handled. All were numbered, and therefore easily arranged in consecutive order. I am impatient to commence the work of trans lating the strange inscriptions into the English language. Once perfectly familiar with the vernac ular of the Scriptures, it is years since I had occa sion to use it. I must obtain the necessary books LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 7 to refresh my memory. This is a difficult task. Procuring a trusty messenger, one who had done errands for me before, I gave him written instruc tions and despatched him to the city. When at last he returned, he brought some old, worm-eaten tomes a Hebrew Pentateuch, grammar and dic tionary. And now there commenced for me the absorbing study of the intricacies and irregularities of the Oriental tongue. The worry with these, and my impatience to unravel the mysteries on the plates, were so engrossing that I forgot everything else yea, as it will be shown in the sequel, my own identity. It became a mania, a perfect hallu cination, straining the tension of my mind to its utmost. At the expiration of a long time I cannot now tell the number of weeks and months I felt com petent to commence my ardent labors. From the very start, the story therein revealed became so en trancing, so absorbing that I did not rest until the whole record on the meteor was completely translated. The precious sheets, which came to me so strangely, are certainly the hugest intaglios in existence, and embody, as I shall give it here, the full history of that mystic person called "THE MAN IN THE MOON." INTAGLIO THE FIEST. ON, TO THE MOON. Herewith is submitted an account of events which recently transpired here, on the Moon ; inclusive of authentic testimony relating thereto ; inscribed by duly authorized experts, upon plates of jasper, in my native tongue, the holy Hebrew language. 8 BEN BEOR. These were delivered to me, the Prophet Elijah, after being collected with greatest care by the offi cial scribes, on command of their royal master. The leaves of stone, now carefully cemented to gether, I shall send earthward through space, from this planet, the Moon; trusting that they may safely reach at the appointed time my native globe. May it then be vouchsafed that some sa gacious and learned person find them. Such a one will discover that the apparently solid block con sists of finely divided slabs, on which he may read a full account of a fierce and most terrific rebel lion, suppressed by me, which threatened to destroy and perhaps utterly annihilate this lunar hemi sphere, and also, as seemed most likely, of a large portion of the inhabited earth and stellar worlds. These celestial annals will constitute an eternal warning to all ambitious malefactors and wicked, crafty schemers ; teaching them the supreme les son that a higher Power forever rules and watches over the destinies of the universe, which no auda cious interference may thwart or ungodly opposi tion can annul. Know then that the fiery chariot in which I was so mysteriously and miraculously translated from the abode of human mortals, a detailed account of which is given in sacred scripture (2 Kings ii. 11), rose from my Palestinian father land, steadily and with measureless velocity, through the endless spheres. The wonderful ve hicle must have appeared to my astounded dis ciples like a flaming monster. Propelled by the power of two enormous wings, it carried me up ward with ease and comfort. I lost all knowledge of time and space, and ceased to feel the wants and necessities of my former nature. Thus I drifted along, experiencing the most delightful sensations. LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 9 Many, many years of mundane reckoning must have elapsed, when at last I came in sight of a luminous heavenly body. Nearer and nearer I approached. As the distance decreased, views, gorgeous in beauty and splendor, appeared on this orb. I could distinguish mountains, lit up on their tops with a sheen of silver, rubies and roses. Shortly after, oceans, lakes and rivers came in sight, forming indescribable combinations of brilli ant colors. V alleys came into view, where grew trees, the grandeur of whose foliage exceeded any thing I had ever seen. I soon also beheld plains studded with a luxuriant growth of vegetation and flowers, beautiful beyond all mortal imagination, and whose perfumes, superlatively sweet and exhila rating, already reached me. Amidst these I sighted a colossal, seemingly endless semicircle of heaven- towering buildings, whose roofs and spires glistened in the morning sun like columns of porphyry studded with diamonds and sapphires. From my yet dizzy height I saw a public square extending for miles. This was black in many places with stirring, fiercely fighting, wildly gesticulating crea tures. As I came still nearer I noticed that their furious combat abruptly ceased. I perceived also that the contestants resembled my own kind, but were of a ghastly, fierce and combative nature. At last my chariot landed right in the centre of the circle. One army of the heaving, shouting multi tude made ready to throw itself frantically upon my person, when he who seemed to be leader of the other party of warriors, exercising all his authority and energy, protected me from them. 1 alighted from my chariot, and as I set my feet on the apparently solid ground, I felt a peculiar re bounding sensation at every step. It seemed as if I was carried involuntarily forward. However, 10 BEN BEOR. there was no time granted me for any special observation. The august leader, after a short con sultation, advanced with his followers, close to where I had halted. By an instantaneous inspira tion I, according to our Oriental fashion, bowed myself repeatedly and deeply to the ground. Imi tating my example, he and his host also, and in the same manner, made obeisances. Imagine my great astonishment when their chief addressed to me, in correct and fluent biblical Hebrew, the following greeting : " Hail, illustrious messenger of the Lord ! Wel come to the Moon ! Thy coming has been foretold in our annals and traditions. The Holy One be glorified, that He hath vouchsafed to let us behold thee face to face. Know then, we have long awaited thee. At no time could thy arrival among the children of the * Levanah ' (Moon) have been more opportune and welcome than on this day, for we are in great need, trouble and anxiety. Often have we cried out unto the Lord for mercy and aid, and have lifted up our eyes unto the endless heights whence shall come our help. Blessed be thy coming among us, and may be blessed thy dwelling in our midst !" These words sounded to me, not like human speech, but like the notes from a trumpet. As soon as he had concluded, his attendants, from be neath their magnificent garbs, produced small, opa line instruments, and placing them to their lips, they brought forth such strains of melodious music as never before had greeted human ears. Then marching ahead, their chief placed his arm in mine and led me triumphantly into a magnifi cent edifice which stood conspicuously out in gran deur and beauty from all the rest. Close as he was to me, I could not feel his touch ; but by some LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 11 unknown influence I was impelled forward with a motion which resembled the modulated heaving to and fro of a well-trained camel. We soon en tered the portals of the gorgeous palace of him whom I learned to be titled " Melech Halvanah." The whole imperial establishment, with its fabu lous wealth, comfort, and a countless retinue of ser vants, was placed at my disposal. The chief then informed me that he and his people considered me of divine authority, and that as such I was now constituted their highest judicial tribune. Oral and documentary evidence would at the earliest possible moment be brought before me. This ap pertained to a stirring and ominous event a revo lution now agitating all the lunar inhabitants. I was to finally adjudge the transgressors. A sovereign proclamation was at once issued to every part of the satellite, for the purpose of im mediately assembling the inhabitants, to give testi mony and hear judgment. It was now night. A semi-darkness, which fol lows gradually the brilliancy of a long day, bring ing out in magnificent splendor all the visible constellations of the horizon. As I stand in one of the huge porticoes of this palace, gazing heaven wards, I behold with amazement what I believe to be the earth. Resembling a gigantic ball of polished steel, it sweeps through the spheres in majestic grandeur. But most bewildering and overwhelming is the appearance in that section of the sky where the sun has lately disappeared. There, at this instant, the sky is lit up like an iri descent crown, from which extend longer or shorter volumes of rays, now one-colored, blending white; now in all the brilliant hues and tints of a rain bow, enveloping the gorgeous landscape in a sheen and halo of supreme glory. 1 BEN BEOR. INTAGLIO THE SECOKD. THE KOYAL PROCLAMATION. We, Meleeh and Malkah, King and Queen of the Moon, with strange and deeply apprehensive emotions for which our speech yields no fitting ex pression, issue this our sacred and regal proclama tion, for the purpose of exposing the causes of the revolutionary state in our realm : We command that from the ranks of our im perial scribes a number of the most distinguished for diction, erudition and skill be hereby commis sioned to indite upon imperishable material, at the will and pleasure of our Messianic messenger, sent to us by the Father of the universe, the full text of this our sovereign mandate, together with such testimony and evidence as will be given by the chiefs and sages of our people, relative to our present condition. Let our confidential counselors and advisers appear and fully relate the awful events which have resulted in the present danger ous attitude among our subjects. To this time, before the thoughts of our people were disturbed by non-lunar agitations and agita tors, ours was a condition without grief, sorrow or envy. Here we are placed on probation, to re deem ourselves gradually, and be re-accepted by the great Father, whom in our existence in a former life we had offended. From time immemo rial, all who have been privileged to rise to this preliminary state of atonement have steadily and conscientiously labored to attain the object of their ultimate reconciliation with our Creator. This task of merciful redemption continued until woe to the hour! a person crafty, skilful, learned and unregenerated came among us. Disappointed am bition and jealous passion were rekindled in him LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 13 soon after his arrival. Traitor and rebel, lie inces santly has tried to seduce our unwary people into his wicked schemes. The first evidence of his retrogression was by his inventing and constructing a huge eye-tube, with great magnifying power. He must have learned this art from the ''astrologers of earth," perverting the beneficent use of ad vanced science there, to his own selfish plans and objects here. For this purpose he utilized the crystallized rocks of our mountains. On one of the highest eminences which tower over this city he had erected his observatory, and from there learned whatever transpires on earth, communicat ing industriously the guilty knowledge to the eager, listening and excited people. Permission to erect these buildings had been obtained by false and hypocritical representations. The vacillating multitude had been continually informed, for a revolutionary purpose, which he had most cun ningly devised, of whatever was going on over yonder on the mundane sphere, in whose wake our lunar globe follows. A great many of you, our people, were thus led astray by this arch-fiend, who schemed to use you for vengeance on your sover eigns. Your sleeping passions awakened, and your curiosity inflamed, you gloat greedily on all the folly, sin and crime transpiring continually on our terrestrial neighbor. By this wicked waste of your energies, your dormant mortal vices have been re-aroused, and these have caused among us a perilous state of revolutionary commotion. With the ordinary means at our command, we can no longer control the mutiny. Newcomers continu ally arriving, as heretofore, shadow-creatures like ourselves, yet in the lowest state of spiritual de velopment, instead of falling into line to work out by slow degrees the task of regaining their lost 14 BEN BEOR. perfection, now join blindly our ungovernable, re bellious subjects. Worse than this, the same scheming brain which produced that ill-omened eye- tube has lately discovered and mixed chemicals of the most terrific explosive power. We were in duty bound to forc ibly seize and confiscate them. Experiments made in our presence prove conclusively that with a sufficient quantity of this new, hitherto unknown compound, a large portion of the visible universe might be blown into atoms. We have caused this dangerous person to be held in solitary confine ment. A large quantity of the terrible substance which he manufactured has been carefully con cealed, and the place of its storage watched day and night by trusty servants. The knowledge of the existence of this murderous mixture has gotten abroad, and. even now you, our unruly people, are plotting to gain possession of it and thereby over throw our power. This accomplished, you mean then to destroy the largest portion of our planetary neighbors, and making slaves of the rest, appropri ate to yourselves all their possessions. In our sacred annals and by long tradition it has been foretold that such an inevitable crisis must surely come upon us, but that in the hour of greatest peril a sublunar messenger, sent direct by Providence, would avert a crime, the commission of which would forever doom us to eternal damna tion. The prophecy is now fulfilled ! In the very hour of our greatest need, when the combat for our overthrow is upon us, the divine ambassador of the Lord hath arrived ! We therefore, by the power vested in us, as your King and Queen, command that all our subjects, inclusive of our chiefs and counselors, shall forth with appear before the great Prophet in the public LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 15 square before our palace, with such evidence, testi mony and annals as shall enable him fairly and impartially to pronounce judgment. So that his will, as the will of the All-Father, be done ! Signed, sealed and promulgated in this first period of the heavenly messenger's arrival. MELECH HALVANAH, MALKAH L'VANAH. INTAGLIO THE THIRD. THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT. In obedience to and conformity with your royal mandate and proclamation, O gracious Melech and Malkah, and for the people and counselors of state here assembled, and with delight and satisfaction, no less than great apprehension, I, the Prime Minister of State, appear before thee, divine mes senger of the Lord, in my own behalf as well as that of my associates and fellow-officers. I hope and pray that thy auspicious presence among us may be the signal for allaying the fearful disturb ances now threatening this realm. May it restore to our good and benignant rulers and their turbu lent subjects the beneficent peace, harmony and good-will which have existed here beyond the memory of the oldest generation, but which now are greatly endangered. I came to this sphere from a dark abode, where 1 had been consigned to atone for my cruelty and a despotic exercise of power, in life on earth, the maledicted king, Rameses of Egypt, who enslaved a free people. After an immeasurable time of purification, by untold terrible sufferings below, I rose at last to the ameliorated condition vouchsafed 16 BEN BEOR. to the repentant offenders on this moon-sphere. Here I was elevated by degrees to the exalted office of Counselor of State. Cheerfully do I now come forward to testify as to what I know authori tatively concerning the subject at issue. Fore most I bear witness, that during the long period in which I have been attached to this court, my beloved, worshipped sovereigns have, by their mild rules, regulations and best of laws, created a gov ernment the like of which can be found only among the angels who throng around the throne of the Lord. The freest exercise of liberty, secured by the participation of all classes in devising and framing the codes of legislation, produces that happy state of affairs which brings about mutual good-will between rulers and subjects. Nowhere is there any cause for discontent. All have the blessed privilege of living in frater nal relations, enjoying universal equality and free dom, and the possible advance and elevation of the individual. In fact, the reigning powers are simply executive chiefs. They share responsibility and labors with trusted and well-proven ministers. The only right reserved to them exclusively is to declare inoperative any ordinance which without mature consideration has been enacted. The great underlying principle of our govern ment consists in steadily advancing all classes as signed to this sphere to the once lost favor of our Maker. The pardoning power is vested as a pre rogative in the throne. It happens seldom, and in only isolated cases, that a turbulent spirit, under rash impulses, becomes refractory and liable to legal penalties. The high privileges of their majesties may then forgive freely and generously, restoring the erring to their former condition, if the offender truly repents and petitions for pardon. LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 17 We have three classes of inhabitants. First, the Newcomers, arriving, no one knows whence, regularly and steadily increasing the sum-total of our population. Emerging in a low state of re habilitation of grace, they are assigned to such public works as are in progress of construction at their arrival. Males and females are employed in accordance with their capacities and inclinations. They receive from the general store-houses, everything necessary for subsistence and comfort. At no time are they required to labor to over-exer tion. The greater portion of their existence is spent under carefully selected tutors, who watch over their mental improvement. No inconsider able attention is paid to innocent and exhilarating amusements. They choose their own officers and chiefs, who maintain order, regularity and industry among the ranks, keep the records of individuals as to behavior, progress, and increased spiritual ad vance, and represent this class also in the differ ent councils of our nation. At the end of stated epochs, those who by faithful discharge of duty and general good conduct have reached the point of promotion are, amidst great festivities and joy ous jubilations, advanced to the Second Class. This consists of subjects who, after long and careful training, by which they have attained skill, taste and refinement, are permitted, according to talents and natural gifts, to participate in the designing and execution of the higher works of art, or in the study and advancement of the sciences and all branches of learning. BeforS one can advance to this department he must evince and prove the ut most exactitude for any work, the finest sensibili ties in deportment, and the very highest ambition to excel. Sluggards, drones and shirks, after cau tion and reprimands, are consigned again to their 18 BEN BEOR. former grade. In this second class the work is regularly alternated with intelligent amusement, consisting of musical and dramatic feasts, together with games which tax the ingenuity of the mind. This department also selects from its best and most favored members such officers as are required to preserve discipline, order and decorum, and for representation in the national councils. A great but honest and good-natured rivalry ex ists among the aspirants for such places. It is an absolute condition to have held some such post of honor before any member has a claim for being elevated into the Third Class. Advancement to this order occurs only at remote periods, requiring special proclamation from the reigning sovereigns. Trying ordeals and the approval of every member already inscribed on the rolls here are the condi tions for admission. Purity, unselfishness, justice and righteousness, as indispensable qualifications for every member in this exalted sphere, preclude the exercise of prejudice or wrong towards those whom they are as anxious to welcome as the ap plicants are to be admitted. This circle of the elect occupies itself mainly with devising and over seeing the educational, social, moral and devotional institutes and the general welfare of the whole community. Every one here must contribute works of knowledge, wisdom and truth on the loftiest plans of piety and moral goodness. They select from their number several dignitary officers: First, a Counselor of State, who holds the highest rank in all public deliberations and presides over the regular meetings of the representative common legislature. Why thy humble servant ever was chosen to this honor, I cannot account for. Over ruling Providence at last must have accepted my remorse and repentance, and granted forgiveness to LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 19 this extent to one who had spent a mortal life in error, cruelty and crime. Next, co-ordinate with my lofty office, are these thy servants who stand here by my side : the High Priest of morals and religion ; the great Purveyor of common comforts ; the Administrator of law and justice; the Head Warden of public property, and the Captain-Gen eral of the regal guards ; each one with distinct and precisely defined duties and obligations. My report would be totally incomplete were I not fully to explain the glorious tasks and fate which thus far have always awaited those of our number who are chosen as our sovereigns. His Majesty " the Melech " is always selected by a necessary unanimous vote from the ranks of the high coun cil, and this choice must be approved by all the classes. "When so confirmed, his consort, if he have one if not, he must select and take one by right of her conjugal alliance, shares with him all the duties and honors of the throne, and becomes thereby " the Malkah." As soon as they are crowned which is done amidst the prayers and jubilees of the whole nation, attended by long feasts of rejoicing they devote themselves thence forth to the most scrupulous, faithful and zealous discharge of their regal duties and prerogatives. At last, in due course of time, arrives the final mysterious translation of these monarchs, and with them such officers and members from the third class who are deemed worthy, to the blissful realm of the purified, re-accepted host of salvation whether to some other celestial sphere for higher and final approbation, or direct to the throne of the Redeemed, we are not permitted to know. As the period of this august event approaches, unwonted heavenly signs appear. The constellations of the stars shine brighter; the earth glows more brilli- 20 BEN BEOR. antly, and the corona of the sun, where that mighty world moves, increases in caloric and lumi nous force. With tears and wailing begins the leave-taking. Those so beloved, so endeared, so cherished and revered by their fellow-dwellers on this orb will soon be gone. Yet it is the climax, end and object of our temporary residence here, and this consideration reconciles us to the sad farewell with our friends. Soon the heavenly spheres send forth strains of triumphal music; showers of light and fire blaze forth suddenly. Then impenetrable darkness; and when this is gradually lifted, the selected are with us no longer. Forthwith their successors are chosen, the sovereigns crowned, and the new officers installed to their places of duty. Mourning and weeping are changed into a season of rejoicing and jubilees, and everything soon pro ceeds in its usual course. Authorized by these my beloved coadjutors, I will, on the basis of the information thus far con veyed by my testimony, add such further evidence in our cause as may be deemed necessary for thee, great prophet, to fully understand and adjudge the great disturbance by which our realm has lately been thrown into confusion, imminent dan- ter, and apprehended destruction. To this will nally be added a full statement by my fondly loved sister, our adored Malkah. She is in ex clusive charge of the most important department of '* Supervision of Domestic Life." In her posses sion is information which will throw full light on the perplexing affairs now dominant among us. Thou wilt next deign to have brought before thee the wondrous prisoner of state, the cunning de signer of the fatal magnifying lenses and crafty inventor of the infernal explosive, by means and power of which he has become the origin and cause of all our troubles. LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 21 Lend thine ear then patiently to the recitals in behalf of my compeers, who have entreated me to make for them the following reports and give special information concerning the sad changes in our former condition. O, benign ambassador of the Lord ! behold to what our recent placidity of governmental affairs has been brought, since that accursed mechanician has arrived among us. Successfully arousing the discontent of our people, he has made great numbers mutinous by ridiculing their submissive obedience to the estab lished order of our laws. Watching from the ob servatory, he would explain to his followers what he saw going on among the race of humanity upon yonder terrestrial globe. It is certainly astonish ing how the instrument placed in the tower will bring to view, in clearest detail, even small objects millions of miles away. This is unquestionably due to the peculiar properties of a brilliant quartz abundantly found in our mountains. By an easy manipulation, these pebbles are readily ground into disks and finely polished. Through this process they attain enormous sight-power, which this person has greatly increased by arranging several of such glasses in an immense longitudinal tube. If it be thy pleasure, at the conclusion of hearing our testimony, thou may'st convince thyself of all with thine own eyes. From this source the villain tells his eager listeners of battles raging on earth between different sections. Riders on strange quadrupeds, he tells them, fly from place to place. Chariots resembling the one in which thou hast made thy appearance among us, are driven in end less numbers hither and thither. Hosts of people, armed with fearful-looking weapons, march against one another. Cities, towns and hamlets go up in fire. Now one is declared victorious, and then the other. 22 BEN BEOR. The conquerors carry those not slain, loaded in chains after them, possessing themselves of their females, whom they make their wives or concu bines. They despoil the countries so conquered of everything valuable, and take the lands. I myself have looked through that tube and observed this to be the fact. Even thou, in thy supernatural character, wilt find it difficult to realize the over whelming extent of the havoc and butchery which thou shalt behold when making observations through that instrument. By hearing continued recitals of such wild events, our people are aroused to passions beyond control. The triumph of glitter and glory ; the wallowing in sensual pleasures ; the heaping up of treasures and possessions of riches by one party at the expense of another ; the deeds of crime and sanguinary vengeance perpe trated, and enjoyed with ghoulish glee; the feast ing and revelry in the gorgeous halls, attended by mad music and lascivious dances; the frailty and debauchery of women and the unscrupulousness and folly of men such are the pictures continually portrayed before the eyes of our lunar inhabitants. Then he has fired their imaginations by holding out a possibility, through his scientific inventions, of leaving our present abode on the moon and tak ing forcible possession of the earth, with all its wealth and pleasures. " Too long," he exclaimed to the deluded shadow-creatures, "has this orb, like unto a wind-blown cloud, followed obedi ently her planetary sister. "We will teach, with fearful lessons, our arrogant lord and master that the time has come for us to command and others to obey." Thus envy, jealousy and savage anger are raised to fever-heat. Numbers from all classes have been enticed away from us. They no longer content themselves with the quiet life to which LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 23 they heretofore have been accustomed. Labor is abandoned. Various excuses for quitting work are put forth. Hours are too long reward is too small conditions are too hard. All crave to be masters none will serve. Fanatical dreamers stir up those who were heretofore docile. Such, who formerly took pride in their handiwork, now rave against hated situations. Educational efforts are laughed at as effeminating. Teachers, no less infat uated by folly and false principles than their pupils, invent and propagate theories by which the whole structure of our society ultimately must be ruined and shattered. Everywhere the spirit of in subordination and revolt becomes visible, and vio lent outbreaks may be expected at any moment. It is impossible at present to know whom to trust or whom to suspect. All boundaries of respect, loyalty and affection, are effaced. Remonstrances with the masses and chiefs are in vain. Warnings that they, by destroying the free and liberal govern ment under which we live and have so splendidly prospered, will soon relegate them to the fearful, black abode of chaos, suffering, vassalage and tor ments, are not heeded. But our crowning misfor tune comes from certain secret associations and so cieties which have sprung up among us. Their members, by a most cunning policy, are pledged with awful oaths never to reveal their objects and doings. Here, villainous and shocking plots are propagated, under the direction and guidance of unprincipled, degenerated and wily officers. Had these organizations been directed to proper and noble purposes, they might have become powerful agencies for good. Perverted as they are, they have developed into most destructive means. Especially injurious has all this perversion been to our spiritual affairs, in this, that while here- 24 BEN BEOR. tofore we were one people in the worship and adoration of our "All-Father," we acknowledged in Him the one, great, omnipotent Power who directs, governs and loves every creature ; He who punishes sin, but in mercy never forsakes the sin ner altogether: in this simple faith we had no doubts, no controversies. It formed the only stan dard by which all were admitted; every action was adjusted by this scale; it guided us to purity of thought, and raised us in our moral conceptions of truth, with the inspiring hope of final redemp tion ; but now, all is in a condition of upheaval and commotion in imitation of the fierce struggles which prevail on earth concerning creeds and faiths. They know of the splendor of temples, whose altars drip with the blood of human sacrifices, dedicated to all kinds of silly idols. They then are told of Mount Zion, on whose eminence an edifice rears its domes and towers heavenward, dedicated to the service of the One great Jehovah ; while His priests now revel in debauchery, and vie with each other in efforts for domineering power. They are cunningly made aware of the fact that there are hosts of men who neither believe in a God nor have hopes, faiths or loves, and yet pretend to be happy and content, by their maxim, " Live to-day and die to-morrow." And while our deluded subjects should know better from their former experiences, yet all these representations have so beclouded their minds and consciences that they now make new religions and imitate all the grotesque and ludicrous performances which they know exist on earth. In all of this we have a clear demonstration of what the example, teachings and influence of one LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 25 bold, bad man may do. These so unfortunate complications, with others such as will be brought to thy knowledge, have produced a crazed and anomalous condition of our people, manifested by the insane and unaccountable purpose to storm the citadel where is stored the terrible explosive, and possessing themselves of the chemicals, liberate the rebel who manufactured it, and under his leader ship blow up the earth. Such an attempt was in progress at the moment of thy arrival, at the instant of our great need. May the will of God be" done ! Selah. INTAGLIO THE FOURTH. MALKAH LEVANAH. Section I. Her Mortal Youth. I, Malkah Levanah, on whose brow sleeps im perial honor, stand now before Messiah's mystic messenger with lips unsealed by the hand of con fession. Obedient to the mandate which says to my spirit : " Roll back the ages of silence, unwind the shrouds of centuries, exhume a dead life from the embrace of time," I unloose my thoughts like white- winged doves over the wild waters of memory. The tree of eternity has borne the blossoms of repeated centuries since the beginning and end of my earthly existence, when the spirit which now reigns " Queen of the Moon " wore that wan, throbbing mantle of flesh, endowed with so se ductive a fairness that it won for its hapless posses sor wild worship, wedded to wilder woe. Now, after the lapse of long ages, as I recall the dew-gemmed hours of my youth on earth, strange, sweet emo tions bud into my consciousness like flowers spring- 26 BEN BEOR. ing up on a grave ; and as with faltering grasp I unwrap the winding-sheets of long eras of silence, endless recollections assail me, as the pungent odors from the yellow linen of a mummy. While on earth I was no stranger to thy people, O august ambassador of the Lord! and believe that even now the chosen descendants of Father Abraham hold me in grateful and loving remem brance as the only daughter of the great Pharaoh. "Merris," the dove-eyed, the brilliant, the beauti ful, was the pride of the palace, the pet of the people. When as a little child I played in the royal gardens with my beloved brother Kameses, obsequious servants followed every footstep, antici pating my slightest wish. Did my glance, travers ing the path of the gorgeous butterfly, rest for one instant on a flower, its bloom lay instantly in my hand ; if, charmed for the moment by the sweet chorus of the singing birds, I turned a listening ear, the cages were opened for my childish fingers to fondle the tame singers. I smiled on a fruit and in a twinkling it lay before me, mirrored on a plate of crystal or gold. In a word, I, the king's proud daughter, was surfeited with admiration, attention and love. Surrounded by every gorgeous element which could assist in developing an innate love for all that was beautiful and sublime, my childhood passed, and the dawn of womanhood found me proud, ambitious, hopeful, impassioned, and brim ming over with all the exalted emotions of fervid youth. Steeped in music, poetry and art, yet with insatiate thirst I sought to drink from every fount of knowledge ; bent eagerly over the papyri, all musty with yellowed hieroglyphics of ancient seers; watched with flashing eyes the wheeling stars in their strange courses, striving to wrest from those far-off lips their secrets, and passionately LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 27 yearned with an envious heart for the burning gift of prophecy. As the king's petted daughter I queened it in the grand imperial palaces, my royal influences oft swaying the throne itself, and my universal eru dition even gaining me admittance to the secret councils, when wise men of the nations met in veiled conclave at the bidding of my Pharaonic sire. Poets penned my praise, the magi hung over my haughty head, predicting certain glories of coming honors, and princes bowed at my shrine, devoted slaves, eager to win the marriage-ring. But with joyous pulses yet unquickened by the glowing influences of love, I proudly withdrew from every aspirant and reveled in the wild sweetness of my maiden liberty. Ah! that fateful moment the richest and most eventful in a woman's life had not yet arrived, when the angel of passion would descend to trouble the pure waters of my tranquil spirit. Section II. Finding of Moses. One balmy morning, when the whole exquisite land lay palpitating beneath the sun's hot kisses, surrounded by my maidens of honor a crown- diamond encircled by sparkling jewels I sought, as is the custom of Egypt's women, the limpid waves of the holy Nile for my matin ablutions. Poised on the velvet bank, one foot teasing the rippling waters and blushing to view my nude re flection broken in the pure mirror of the stream at a spot where rushes, gigantic lotus, leaves and blooms hid me from intrusive eyes like a lace- webbed mantle hark ! a musical note smites rny ear a gurgle, a coo, the sweet soft sounds of baby laughter, and in one moment more a vision drifted 28 BEN BEOR. on my gaze which filled me with womanly rapture, apprehension and tremor. Cradled amidst the emerald papyrus- stalks and pillowed on softest mosses, lay in a well-woven cusket of impervious matting a tiny infant, of beauty so marvelous that its pure soul seemed to permeate its faultless form like a reflex of light shining through a rose-colored shell. One of my maids was at once beckoned to my aid ; she quickly waded to the spot where the little waif was rocked by the waters and brought the infant to me. In a burst of delight I lifted the lovely babe to my bosom and pressed my lips again and again to its coral-tinted, smiling mouth. " It is mine ! " I cried ; " a gift not only from the exalted river, but from death itself. This little life which Isis has granted me the happy chance to save, shall henceforth be my care. Be his name called most fittingly ' the gift of the waters ' ' Osarsiph ' in our native Egyptian tongue, ' Moses' in the Chal- dee language." It is useless to tell thee this well-known history of thy Hebrew people, were it not that sequels bear ing directly upon my earth-life became connected therewith which never have been revealed to the outside world, being kept undisclosed in the sacred archives of our priests. In vain my prudent at tendants endeavored to check my transport by re minding me of my father's late decree. By this the unfortunate descendants of the Hebrew Patri arch Jacob were doomed, as the feared and shunned slaves of our nation ; to which had been added that every new-born male child should be killed by the hands of its own mother. No doubt this darling foundling was one of these Hebrew children, placed in the bulrushes by maternal love, stronger than kings and princes, with the hope that her beautiful offspring might be rescued by some providential power. LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 29 " Nevertheless shall I keep him ! " I reiterated, sealing the vow with many lingering kisses ; and as his little dimpled hands fluttered on my breast, the heart beneath throbbed strong and warm with the firm impulses for his preservation and defense. Not until long afterwards did I know that the joy ous eyes which watched me through the thickets and the burst of thanksgiving that arose to the common Father of all belonged to " Miriam," an elder sister of my adopted son, who had placed her self there in agonized watchfulness to see what would become of her loved little brother. Approaching, she asked : " Shall I bring thee a nurse for the little one?" I quickly consented, and she presently returned with a finely-developed matron, into whose care I gave the infant. As I laid the babe in her trembling arms and he cradled his sweet head on her bosom, the secret re vealed itself to me. The woman, who gave her name as " Jochebet," was declared, louder than thunder-tones could proclaim it, saluted by those dimpling, speechless, milky lips, the mother of that baby boy. Preserved from the savage mercilessness of man and the unconscious cruelty of the waters, the young Moses was restored to the cradle which nature had ordained for him, the tender keeping of his own maternal parent. When after a year the little treasure, plump, healthy and of wonderful growth, was returned to me at the palace, the king, with a brief reproof softened by a doting, paternal smile, excused my temerity, and the gift of the sacred Nile was left to thrive under my guarding eyes at the imperial court. Section III. Balack and Balaam. Chief among the many passions which by turns swayed my mind and filled my youthful hours of 30 BEN BEOB. leisure was the graceful art of sculpture, for which the Egyptians were already justly famous. With the warm enthusiasm which distinguishes the pur suits of the young, I spent hours over my art attempts, guided and directed by the most able and accomplished masters. Just at this time, when my interest in art was most warmly aroused, the royal prince "Balack," who was also a young sculptor, came to my father's palace from the dis tant land of Moab. He was accompanied by "Balaam ben Beor," one older than himself, en dowed with great wisdom, learning and skill in the sciences which made him the superior of all the priests and magi of our land. Both brought such credentials which opened for them the golden portals of highest honors. The strangers were received with distinctions accorded to princely visitors. Attracted by mutual tastes, small marvel that the youthful Balack, always accompanied by his ambassador, the ever-watchful Balaam, soon learned to linger in the lofty studio of the young princess, who with all her pride speedily enrolled herself as his pupil. Still does his image flash out from the ashes of time, like a spark of immortal fire which death itself cannot quench. Still can I recall him as I first saw him, glowing with the strength of early manhood and crowned with the bloom of youth. Majesty dwelt in his gestures, eternal promise thrilled in his glance, and genius was en throned upon, his brow. In the crucible of his daily companionship, by that mysterious alchemy which must surely continue to exist even in the vast laboratory of the "forever," each dull and leaden minute was transmuted into gold, and the hours furnished precious links of inexpressible brilliancy to bind our souls together. The realiza tion which this long trance of communion por- LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 31 tended to my heart did not at once burst upon my inexperienced consciousness. Learned in the mys tic signs of the zodiac, I could trace the sparkling pathway of stars and understand the meaning of their wanderings, but the strange and weird signs of the passion of passions, though traced in the horoscope of my own soul, were beautiful but bewildering figures which my dazzled visions failed to interpret. Picture a violet sky wrapped in the palpitating darkness of the night. On the ame thystine rim of the horizon lies in hiding the mys terious principle of light, destined to dissipate the sleeping shadows from the sky's soft bosom and thrill it with the burning rapture of dawn. A delicate pearly color steals timidly in the far-away east. A roseate radiance lays hesitating hands on the sombre garments of night. Softly and gradu ally the sable veil melts away and the snowy corona of dawn is revealed. The light trembles and flashes. A slow illumination of crimson and gold shines through her half-awakened eyelids. Opaline glimmers of milk and flame tremble through her lifting lashes. Gradually does the rose-flush deepen on her blushing cheeks, does she open wide her violet eyes; then, shivering beneath the ecstatic kiss of light, she throws herself into the passionate arms of morn. Is this a faint image of the rise and growth of divine love enkindled in my soul ? I have said it ! Wrapped in the indecipherable mantle of the unknown did my beloved come to me, and in secret did we kneel at the passion-draped altar of devotion and drink the sacred cup of earth's sweetest but most dangerous potion. It was not long ere the most auspicious moment in my maiden life approached. One balmy morning Balack and myself were engaged in finishing an 32 BEN BEOR. ideal group of alabaster, which we had planned and executed together. Balaam had been sum moned to an audience with the king, and for the first time we found ourselves alone. While en gaged in this artistic employment, our hands and then our eyes met, and I felt as if a spark of light ning had suddenly shot to the centre of my heart. Then he knelt at my feet, and with the most im passioned words avowed that he loved me that I must be his own pleading, as if for life, but for one word of approval, of reciprocation of his pas sion. It seemed as if I had lost the power of speech and motion. Seeing me thus, he sprang to his feet, pressed me in his arms and imprinted upon my unresisting lips, which never before had been touched by stranger, most enrapturing, never-to- be-forgotten kisses. O happiness ! O most exalted joy that I experienced in that moment ! I could not but return the pressure of his hand and answer a faint "yes." In this situation we were surprised by the com ing of the old companion of my lover, who had entered silently and unobserved. The flashing, angry eyes of this unwelcome intruder boded naught but evil. Placing his arm in that of his master and urging immediate and pressing affairs of state, they left me. Too late, alas ! I found that I had enkindled a most unholy passion in the breast of this wicked old man, who in his furious jealousy would prove henceforth my most bitter enemy. By fraudulent despatches, which the scheming monster no doubt held in readiness for any case of emergency, he made my lover's instant departure a necessity. Who can describe the anguish which over whelmed us when the terrible moment of parting arrived? Then I had to learn, and to realize the LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 33 stern lesson, that it is man's part to do and woman's to suffer. Clasped in the heaven of his embrace, I nevertheless trembled on the very verge of despair by this sudden separation. To my lacerated heart he sought to apply the sweet bairn of soothing words and promises. It was a tearful, agonizing moment, with the only consoling ray in the waver ing darkness of that hour hope for an early and permanent reunion. Blind mortals that we were ! In his over-anxi ety for my welfare and a desire to. keep in direct communion with me, he had, at the urgent request of my father, consented to leave Ben Beor behind. I submitted to his protection. Enchanted by his profound learning and wonderful eloquence, King Pharaoh had become so infatuated with the aged hypocrite as to overwhelm him with honors, be stowing upon him the noble title " The Wise Man of the East," making him the associate of Jethro, the high-priest of Midian, and Job, the sage from the land of Uz. These three now constituted the chief counselors of the land. It had been given out by the intriguing, wily schemer, that on ac count of the long absence of Balack from his realms, a violent revolution had broken out in the kingdom of Moab, which required the immediate attention of the young prince. As a compensation for retaining Balaam, King Pharaoh furnished his princely visitor with a large retinue of valiant charioteers and servants, con cluding on his departure an alliance and treaty of peace and eternal friendship. After the idol of my heart had left, the mount ing billows of my life sank to their old level, as the tides of despairing sorrow subsided. Time, the great harvester, went his tireless way. The sheaves of days, weeks and months were bound up 34 BEN BEOH. and laid away in the eternal granary. A year rolled round, but still no word of tenderness from my absent lover winged its way to my waiting soul. Section IV. "The Wise Man of the East." At my age, the buoyancy of youth, with the fer vor and zeal attending the various occupations into which I plunged with greater assiduity than ever, helped rne to bear with patience and fortitude my heart-hunger, and pass the time trying to forget my troubles. In this I was greatly comforted by little Moses, my cherished water-waif, who had grown in strength and beauty. Words of childish wisdom fell like pearls from his lips, and even my kingly father with unwonted tenderness bent low his ear when the rosy mouth of the toddler parted. Once when the court was robed in its richest for the annual assembling of "The Three Wise Men," it happened that little Moses found access to the hall where the royal council was in progress, and with the innocent freedom of a privileged favorite climbed on the knees of the king, who petted and caressed him. Rising upon his tiny feet, he laugh ingly kissed the sovereign and playfully snatched the crown from the head of the king. Cooing with childish glee, he pressed the glittering circle upon his own ebony curls. Great was the dismay at this babyish prank, and mutterings deep and loud rolled through the assembly. This appropri ation of the crown was construed by Balaam, the First Wise Man, as a prophetic omen of coming treason by the offspring of the enslaved Hebrews. Balaam did not hesitate to assert that in course of years this infant would sting. the bosom which had warmed him, and attempt to dispossess the LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 35 Pharaohs of their throne. As a remedy for this possible future emergency he advised that the boy should be put to death ; but before any irrevocable step was taken he requested that I be summoned to the council and allowed a hearing. This was accordingly done. Robed as befitted the imperial daughter, having been informed of what had hap pened, I stepped into the chamber of their deliber ations. Soon I found myself pleading with all the passionate fervor of a woman's nature in behalf of the dear innocent. I was listened to with pro found attention, especially by Balaam, who seemed to transfix me with his flashing eyes, unremittingly riveted upon my person. Yet my pleading seemed in vain. " Give him a test ! " cried Balaam. " Place be fore him two of the holy vessels of Apis. Fill one with glittering gold, the other with live coals. If he snatch at the fire he is but as other children, frolicsome, inquisitive and guileless. If he grasp the gold, construe it as you must ! " The vessels were brought and placed before the child, who wae held in the arms of Balaam. With a little cry of surprised pleasure the babe plunged his dimpled hands into the glowing coals and carried them to his mouth. With his first wild shriek of pain I snatched him to my heart. His tongue, lips and fingers had been badly blistered. The test being made, Ben Beor smilingly counseled that the pre vious sentence be revoked. So badly burned was the boy's mouth that ever afterwards he was heavy of speech. Then in my trembling arms I carried him back to my chambers, calling in the best healers of the realm, and having him not only nursed back to health, but also so guarded and watched that no similar accidents might befall him. I meanwhile 36 BEN BEOR. provided for the ideal education of the child. So surely did I contrive my plans for this that they could not fail, no matter what future mishaps should come to his foster-mother. It was my highest ambition to have him brought up as a statesman, a profound lawgiver, a student in the intricate lore and mysteries of Egyptian priest craft, inclusive of all the wisdom, knowledge, tradi tions and religion of his Hebrew people, the renown of which had often reached my ears. Es pecially was I infatuated with their religions faith, which substituted for an endless number of gods and goddesses in creatures often repulsive and ob noxious, the worship of One sole Deity, unseen and unknowable, almighty, omniscient and all-merciful. What a sublime contrast to our adoration of cow, crocodile, ichneumon, and the thousand other things declared sacred by our priests ! In order to accomplish my scheme I summoned some of the foremost of our " magi " and " chard n- mim," and after consulting with Amratn, the father of my beloved Moses, had several learned Israelites, renowned for their knowledge and piety, constituted a commission to take charge of the future physical and mental development of my adopted son. Placing at their disposal a large share of my individual fortune, inherited from my revered mother, I bound them by the most sacred oaths to be true, faithful and loyal to their duties, and then surrendered to them, with tears and end less kisses, the now five-year-old Moses. Well it was that I had made these timely provi sions ; for, alas ! I was soon to be involved in dire and unforeseen distress. Balaam, by having been the means of saving my protege, fancying now to have changed thereby my indifference towards him, pursued me with passionate protestations of love LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 37 and amatory addresses, at the same time threaten ing that if I refused to listen to the promptings of his burning heart he would reveal to the king my clandestine engagement to a foreigner, an un pardonable crime in the eyes of all Egyptians. Notwithstanding the awful prospect of being con signed to a living tomb as a priestess in one of the temples, I answered his passion with indifference And his ever-increasing advances with lofty scorn. But his stubborn and wily nature disdained the in dignity of repulse. One night, with the ignoble assistance of traitorous servants, he with dexterous cunning abducted me in such a manner that no traces or trailing suspicions of his villainous action were left behind. With one clamorous voice did the nation bewail its lost princess, and no effort was spared to dis cover what had become of her. No one was more assiduous in loud mourning and in extension of the most lavish sympathy, even to shedding of copious tears with the inconsolable king, than my unscru pulous kidnapper. In alliance with some well- paid priests, he concocted and spread the report that I had been wooed and won by a god who had found me fair among the daughters of men. By his artful manipulations he shortly presented the per emptory order of immediate recall by his sovereign. Greatly regretted and highly honored by splendid gifts, he was permitted to depart. Section V. In Captivity. After days and nights of constant travel, made comfortable to me by every possible device, and during which I received all the deference due to a princess from the well-chosen attendants, our cara van arrived at last in the mountain-fastnesses of 38 BEN BEOR. Moab. Here, in apartments scarcely less magnifi cent than my own at home, I was kept in gilded confinement. Soon Balaam arrived, and now be gan a constant persecution from him who knew me to be entirely in his power. Persuasion and threats were incessantly employed to wrench from me consent to become his wife. Nay! once, when inflamed by anger and lust he dared the attempt of violently taking hold of my person, I snatched a pearl -handled dagger from his belt, and swore that I would bury it either in my heart or his own if he did not instantly unhand me. From the glisten ing of my eyes and the convulsive strength with which he saw me bracing myself for the fatal blow, he knew that I would be true to my word. Never again was I subjected by him to a like in dignity. My days and nights were passed in tearful la mentations. But what had become of my lost lover? On reaching his kingdom he found indeed truth in the report of his cunning confidential ad viser. The people had revolted against the tyran nical rule of his father, deposed him and proclaimed the son, if he would return at once, successor to the throne. Immediately on his arrival he was borne in triumph to the palace, and amidst great rejoicing and popular jubilees crowned and in stalled as sovereign of the realm. Under his wise, yet strong rule the provinces soon quieted down, the empire flourished, and everything seemed pros perous. Balaam, who resided a considerable dis tance from the capital, was appointed chief minis ter and royal adviser, and I, though kept in strict seclusion, often heard from my attendants, who soon learned to love and pity me, exalted accounts of the glory and renown of the young king of this realm. The slaves of my immediate service were LUXAR INTAGLIOS. 39 told that their charge was a mad prisoner who la bored under the hallucination that she was a stolen princess. A long and weary time passed. I might have grown reconciled to my cruel fate but for the ever-repeated visits and never-ceasing, repulsive and persistent professions of love by my unyielding captor. After a while the new ruler of Moab with his retinue of courtiers came often to visit Balaam, the favorite of the realm. On one of these occasions the young king in passing through the halls of the castle casually came near my apartments. 1 heard one of my servants no doubt in compassion of my sad fate remark to him : " Here we keep a beautiful lady detained be cause of her dethroned reason." Actuated un questionably by curiosity, the royal visitor com manded the portals to be opened. The key forth with turned in the lock. Mechanically I rose from my seat and lifted my eyes. I recognized him, and with a cry that re-echoed in the marble walls of my prison I fell senseless to the floor. He too knew me again. Kneeling before my pros trate form, his efforts to restore me to consciousness were at length successful. This then was Balack, my adored lover ! The great, the true, the brave and all-powerful king! And I was and remained the choice of his fervent, burning affection. We were indeed supremely happy ! And Balaam? Tangled so unexpectedly in a web of fearful guilt from which there was no es cape, he confessed all, and throwing himself on his knees, he appealed for mercy to his outraged and deeply-injured sovereign. I, yes I, reminded his Majesty that it was the province of the mighty to show forbearance, despite the fearful crime of abduc tion and detention, and succeeded, by the plenitude of his love for me, in softening his anger and 40 BEN BEOR. obtaining pardon for the offender. The apparently crushed and repentant criminal cried out, as if in despair, that his sin sprang from the uncontrollable excess of an unfortunate but sincere passion. Ar rangements were soon perfected for our immediate departure. - When left for a moment alone, Balaam found the opportunity to have access to my presence and exclaim : " Revenge on thee and thine ! Revenge on whatever thou lovest and cherishest ! Deep, ex quisite, unfathomable revenge of a foiled lover and a disgraced man ! " I derisively smiled, and com manded him to leave or I would instantly inform his Majesty of this new outrage. And he left, but with such fierce and terrible gesticulation as made me tremble. I did not see him again till after many years, when, as the sequel will show, I was to feel his malignant vengeance. Everything being ready, we started on our return to the imperial residence. On the road I learned from my betrothed that immediately when he arrived home, even amidst the momentous affairs of state, he had despatched trusted messengers to the Egyptian court. These returning, reported that I had mysteriously gone to the gods, which means in Oriental language to have paid the debt of nature by death ; that my aged father followed me to the tomb, grief-stricken and despairing ; and that the whole land was in a state of turmoil and revolt, caused by the unbearable tyranny of the new king, Rameses, my own brother. An invasion of foreign tribes had followed, and that then occurred the snc- cesssful liberation and flight from Egypt of the Hebrew slaves, under the leadership of a most re markable and wonderful hero. Upon ^our arrival at the capital, the necessary preparations completed, amidst the greatest mag- LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 41 nificence and pompous ceremonies, in presence of the people from near and far, our nuptial ceremo nies were performed and two loving hearts were joined. Years passed in the utmost marital felicity. But as there is no perfect happiness vouchsafed in the sub-lunar world, ours was marred by the absence of children in our household. We were growing old silvery threads appeared in my glossy hair yet never a word of complaint or murmuring fassed the lips of my ever-faithful husband, though could at times detect in him the sad conscious ness that there was no heir to his throne. An Eastern woman only can measure the blighting misfortune of being barren, children being con sidered the highest blessing of domestic life. One day messengers mounted upon swift steeds, so celebrated among the Bedouin tribes, brought the surprising and unexpected news that an endless host of the fugitive Hebrews in their invincible might were successfully and miraculously crossing the uninhabitable " Sahara Petrese." They had reached the borders of Moab. A hasty council consisting of the bravest and most skillful and sturdy Ishmaelite chiefs was summoned. They quickly assembled. After due deliberation it was agreed that our warriors were no match for the well-trained Israelitish hosts, unless some super natural intervention could be called to our aid to help us fight the invaders. Then the king and the magnates of the realm bethought themselves of Ba laam. It was resolved that it became necessary, before venturing upon a life-and-death combat with the Hebrews, to invoke him to come and hurl against this dreadful host, Heaven's most awful curses. An embassy of some of the foremost chiefs, loaded with costly presents, was despatched 42 BEN BEOR. to him with the royal invitation to appear forth with and pronounce the potent maledictions. Section VI. The Blessing and the Curse. The old schemer in his mountain-retreat had long abided his chance. Under some sanctimoni ous pretense he at first utterly refused the king's behest. A second and more distinguished party, with still more precious and rich gifts, was sent to him. Reserving for himself the right " whether to bless or to curse," he at last consented to come, and on his arrival at the palace was received with more than princely distinction. While the grand preparation of bringing oblations and sacrifices to our god, " Baal-Peor," was under way, it happened that he casually met me for an instant alone. " I shall not curse, but bless thy Moses ! " he ejaculated, with the blandest and most insinuating voice and mien, but with such a leer that it made me invol untarily shudder. " Moses my Moses ! " how the name tugged at my heart and brought back a flood of the most tender and affectionate recollections ! So my long secretly-cherished forebodings at last were confirmed. It was my foster-son, my water-waif, who had grown up to accomplish the liberty of his people, and who now was leading them past our borders, to that promised land of which I had heard so much in my maidenhood, as contained iu the Israelitish traditions. Sad decree of fate ! Here was my own wor shipped husband now in deadly array against the hero of my youth and his nation. I dared not even breathe a word in their favor, the people of my adopted country hating them so fiercely. And yet, how I hungered and longed to speed to him, to see the splendidly matured manhood, to press LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 43 him if only once again to my breast and, like a tender mother, kiss him on his godlike browl I resolved at last to wait patiently and see whether I could not intercede for him favorably with my august husband. Alas! the sore turn affairs shortly took ! Balaam, true to his secret words, could not by any means at command of Moab be induced to curse Israel. On the contrary, at seven altars erected by his request he pronounced the most vol uble and prophetic benedictions over the wide spread tents of Jacob, now erected at the foot of our hills, in words as eloquent as ever fell from the lips of heaven-inspired poet. They have been preserved among the books of your sacred writ ings. No one, the king and myself included, could understand then the inexplicable policy of the old, immovable seer. Too soon, however, his terribly wicked designs were made manifest. When the hypocritical jest was over a secret conclave met, during which my husband and his companions deemed themselves alone and unobserved. I had found means to see and hear all that passed. How shall I now find words to relate the harrowing ex perience ! After hurling the most bitter and blasphemous scorn upon their reliance to be shielded and pro tected by the shadow of empty words, either curse or blessing, Balaam proceeded to show in clear-cut phrases what he had learned of the object and aim of Moses, his plans and mission. With an irresist ible logic he demonstrated to his eager hearers that the code of laws which the Hebrew leader, like one inspired from heaven, had devised for the government and life of his people, would ultimately lead to universal freedom and happiness of the individual man, as well as to their multiples, the 44 BEN BEOR. nations of this world. But while by this gigantic civilizing process the lower masses were raised un til they reached such guerdon, the privileged castes and classes would be utterly merged into the com mon lot. This should not be ! Master and slaves ! is the watchword by which the thrones and altars sustain and perpetuate their superiority over the herd of humanity. Henceforth it is Balaam against Moses! War eternal unto death between " Baal-Peor " and " Jehovah ! " The problem is solved," he cried, " by employing in the service of the high, ruling classes the passionate instincts which govern the lower man, and forthwith we will try their efficacy in this our struggle with those Is raelites. Listen then to what are my plans and purposes: These Hebrews are stronger and by far more numerous than we; therefore we must weaken and decimate them. There is but one way at present to achieve this. By their hot oriental nature they are blindly susceptible to the blandish ments and wiles of the fair sex. Command therefore, O king, forthwith that all our depraved and loose women approach their neighborhood ; that they use their charms and smiles to en snare them in their meshes ; but let them be in structed never to grant favor or kindness to their victims except they first seduce them to bend their knees and worship our idol Baal-Peor with all the rites and ceremonies which that service implies ! " Such a hilarious, approving uproar this cunning proposition evoked among his amazed hearers, that for some time the deafening shouts prevented the king expressing his full assent to the measure, de claring that with the coming morning his edicts should go forth to set the plan into execution. When the royal declaration had restored quiet, Balaam continued : " But even the fullest success LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 45 of this scheme will give to the old condition of things temporary relief only. Were we able to kill every one of these accursed Semites, yet the spirit, this giant mind of their leader has evoked, is abroad, and the truths which he has taught cannot be crushed. Unless an antidote be found, fare well to privileged castes, farewell to monarchs, princes and nobility, and farewell to priesthood ! Thanks to the gods ! 1 have found this also. Let my servants bring forth the filled urns of ' the Spirits of Life,' which I have brought with me to exhibit the powers of the same before you. Until they come [two slaves had started to do his bid ding] let me say that I am experimenting with an other force to aid us, by which, whenever I shall complete it for use, the masses which we now fear will overpower us by numbers, if it comes to a con flict, we then will be able to destroy whole hosts of them as if by unseen hands. Thus far the explosive force to be discovered by the combina tion of chemicals is not attained, or I would have shattered the armies of our invaders to atoms; yet I am sanguine that by continued trials I shall ulti mately succeed." Section VII. The Intoxicating Cup. Here the servants returned, bearing each upon his shoulders two well-sealed urns, and placed these before their master. Golden cups were brought forth and filled with the sparkling fluid. Its insidious strength had been made palatable by some aromatic flavor. Goblet after goblet was emptied by every one of the company, and like a magic potion it revealed its intoxicating influence upon the unsatiated imbibers. As they grew wildly excited, Balaam once more rose to his feet and 46 BEN BEOR. addressed the king: "My sire," he exclaimed, "all our work will be vain and fruitless unless I have thy immediate co-operation. It is a hard sacrifice which I must ask, but if thou art not willing to make it we may as well at once surrender to our enemies. I have positive knowledge that the queen is in greatest sympathy with the Hebrews. It was she who rescued their Moses, when an infant, from death in the waters ; it was through her influ ence that he was initiated into the lore and mys teries of the priests; and it will be she who next betrays every movement we shall make. Thou either wilt be privy to their treason, or place her 'in such seclusion and under such surveillance as to prevent her sending aid to the enemy." At this the king grew violent ; his eyes glared like those of a madman ; his han'ds clutched at the empty air, and with a voice thick and broken with fearful oaths and imprecations he swore that no wife of his should thus betray him and Moab ; that the queen be placed at sunrise in the tower of the castle, and there remain under guard, day and night, until all danger should be over. Never before had I seen^my husband so fierce, so wildly aroused, so brutally angered, so full of pas sion and excitement. I felt sick at heart; all grew dark before my eyes I fainted and fell to the floor. What happened then I do not know. When I awoke to consciousness I found myself in a dun geon-like room, the existence of which I "never be fore had known. I heard the heavy tread of the fuardsman, pacing up and down before the door, n spite of my tears, my screams, my utmost despair, I was kept here for several days without being per mitted to see a living person. Food and water were given me through an orifice which opened and shut as if by magic. Light, dim and gloomy, LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 47 fell from the high ceiling above. All needed comforts were amply provided. But, oh ! how the time dragged ; how lonely, how miserably the eternity of hours passed ; what fearful thoughts crowded upon my mind ; how often did I clutch at the dagger secreted in my bosom, intending with a blow to end my despair and existence. Yet at the decisive moment courage failed me. Hope against hope renewed in me the instinctive desire for life. At last after several days I do not know how many, for I had not the power to keep track of time the door opened. It was towards evening. Then entered Balaam, leading in Balack. heaven ! what a change the short period had wrought upon my hapless husband ! Once so beautiful, haughty, brave, proud and manly I saw at a glance that he was not even the shadow of himself. Reeling and idiotic, he staggered to my couch and fell down upon it like an inanimate log. I threw myself on my knees before him ; 1 kissed and caressed him, called him loudly by every endearing expression of which he used to be so fond ; I took his hands, wet them with my tears, and pressed them to my heart. Alas ! alas ! alas! he knew me not he recognized me no longer. As I turned my face, Balaam with folded arms and the most fiendish look stood before me. His words came slowly and deliberately, every one cutting into my agonized soul. Then he said : u Behold my work ! Behold the dire vengeance of a despised lover! The drink which I have brewed in my seething caldron has done its dire and appointed work, as it shall do it henceforth forever. Veiled at the beginning of its use with the sweet ness of a mild and undivined influence over heart and brain, as the appetite grows it punishes the abuse gradually but unfailingly with the torments 48 BEN BEOR. of hell. Look yonder, lady, how it changes the calm and equable intelligence into swinish depravity, ac companied by boiling fever-dreams, causing the drunkard's frenzy and madness, terminating ulti mately in the most horrible of all catastrophes con vulsive death. Thanks to my genius, these ravages, now started, will go on through the years of eter nity! Thanks to my thirst to be revenged on fickle woman, the whole sex shall forever be punished most sorely for the torments of thwarted affection inflicted upon me by a woman." At this moment the king awoke from his death like stupor. With one desperate effort he sprang to his feet. In an instant he had hold of Balaam with a wild beast's fury. All his motions were spasmodic ; his disheveled hair rose on end ; his eyes protruded far out of their sockets. He held his adversary tightly clutched by the throat and would certainly have strangled him, when all of a sudden the combat ceased. The arms fell limp to his side. He staggered back ; fell to the floor lifeless, dead dead a corpse ! The awful struggle ended, we both stood over the inanimate form, I in utter consternation and bewilderment, he in the glee of a ghoul feasting on the ravages of murder. Presently he spoke : "Now all obstacles are conquered. Now thou shalt be mine, willing or not ! Thou art my love, my wife ! Here I will clasp thee to my breast ! " As he made ready to spring towards me, I drew the dagger hidden in my bosom. It glistened in my hand. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped back. I bent forward toward him. How I may have looked in that instant I cannot tell, but I saw him shudder. Then I launched a most fearful curse on his head. The awful words came to me like the rush of a cataract. I well remember the last: LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 49 " Be accursed by men and women, By little children's cry ! Accursed by widows and orphans, Accursed forever and aye ! " How he winced and cringed as I now stood over him ! Then, as if to strengthen myself for the fatal deed, leaning backwards, I plunged the steel with one decisive blow into my own heart, and instantly a gush of blood streamed right into his blanched face. Falling to the ground, I lay dying beside my husband. Before I expired, however, I saw with my already failing eyes the door opening. I heard the maddening cry : " The foe, the foe ! Fly before the Hebrews! Fly, fly, fly!" As I directed a last glance towards the entrance, even with my ebbing life, behold ! there stood he Moses ! I knew him my own, my Moses ! Around his head a sheen of glory, a flood of light. One last, lingering look I cast upon the idol of my youth. Then all grew dark, all was over. Section VIII. After Death. Spirit Life. Thus ended my earthly career. My spirit-life is quickly told. Aside from the common frailties of human nature, prone to sin and error, I had thrown my mortal life into the face of Him who gave it ; and although there were great and palliating excuses, stern justice demanded purification and atonement. It commenced with an incomputable period of a blank, from which I, like one dazed, gradually and by slow advancement returned to the consciousness of personal self. Let me pass a veil over the struggles of a soul yearning and rising upwards, constantly and zealously climbing by most minute progress towards the eternal height of perfection. If sin committed under the 50 BEN BEOR. irresistible force of fate caused me the terror-inspir ing, trembling experience, O merciful Heaven ! what must it be to the common suicide, who, with out even a justification like mine, perhaps in a mo ment of despondency, seeks exit from momentary troubles and rushes in revolt toward the eternal doom of despair ? Was it not part of my chastise ment to view constantly beneath me abyss beneath abyss, seeing there the withering, writhing forms, hearing the piercing, despondent cries of remorse and penance ? At last these grew fainter and fainter, to my supreme relief, as I felt myself borne upward higher and higher, till finally they ceased altogether. At a certain stage of my advance from darkness toward light I became conscious of other shadow- forms, companions struggling alongside of me to regain their lost goal. The perception of one especially was at first like a far, far-off strain of harmony a vibration of attractive potency. What intense gratitude then concentrated in all my being at the thought that I was no longer alone in efforts to rise upwards; that perhaps a kindred soul shared sympathetically the regaining process nearing our lost ideal ! " O God ! O Father of mercy ! Might it be possible could it be vouchsafed to my poor quivering spirit! this to be him 1 my earth-love ! twined together in our hearts below, now to be destined here above as it were hand in hand, once again to be united and to work out together soon, soon, soon, that part of our celestial trial which ultimately shall bring us before the mercy-seat of the all-loving One, re stored and re-accepted by His infinite grace ! " This feeling, this depthless yearning, grew intenser and, as it grew, my neighbor-soul, no doubt at tracted strongly by a corresponding sympathy, came LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 51 nearer and nearer and its presence clearer to my jubilant perception. Ages must have passed iii closing up the distance of this mutual approach. Floating amidst the immeasurable spheres of an endless horizon, like a sailor who descries land after being driven by adverse storms on his protracted voyage, there appeared now in the far distance an ever-growing and increasing luminous globe, whence I and, as I was surely cognizant, my companions drifted with great velocity. Soon I recognized the soft blue, pale light to be the adored " Levanah," the beautiful Moon I had so often gazed at in wonderment and delight during the earth's starry nights of my mundane existence. Gradually a change in my immediate surround ings, which began almost imperceptibly, took place. From the misty nothingness in which I floated thus far I had entered the mild, soothing, lacteal atmosphere of the new heavenly orb to which I now approached. Closer I came to it and ever closer, until at last my ethereal being landed amidst an immense multitude of shadow- creatures, who had assembled as it seemed for my reception. But I came not alone ! With me in the same instant my mysterious fellow-spirit was there also. We recognized each other simultaneously Balack and Merris once again reunited ! Ex ulting joy, heavenly exaltation rescued, saved, redeemed ! It was nothing like the carnal, earthly bliss with which lover meets the beloved, but the rapturous, celestial emotion, no doubt thrilling through Seraph and Cherub when kneeling at the throne of the Eternal, chanting their " Glorias " and "Hallelujahs." Entwined in each other's spiritual essence, presently a voice, as if coming from Above, proclaimed: "Work out here your final salvation by goodness, holy unselfishness, love and 52 BEN BEOR. truth! " Happiness of happiness! we were parted no more, but allowed in the tasks assigned us here to labor contentedly and joyfully, from the lowliest and most modest station, bravely, untired ; cheer fully, in our purified soul-companionship, through all the weary stages of our probation and re-eleva tion, until at last we have reached the highest pinnacle as "Melech " and "Malkah," patiently and prayerfully devout, awaiting the blessed hour of our further translation to the sanctified realms, of which we as yet are not permitted to know or may not realize. This ends my evidence and story. But now when near the fulfilment of our fondest and sweetest hopes, unexpected and unprecedented troubles and commotions, caused by the appear ance here of my sub-lunar tormentor Balaam ben Beor, have arisen and threaten new and immeasur able calamities, sorrows and misfortunes. In this great emergency, next to our unbounded trust and confidence in our great heavenly Father, we throw ourselves upon thy protecting care and guidance, O great messianic ambassador! Help us, heal us, save us! So be it the will of our God, our Rock and Redeemer ! INTAGLIO THE FIFTH. THE PKISONER'S EVIDENCE. When the "Malkah" had finished her beautiful and pathetic story, we adjourned the meeting to the -heights where had been erected the observa tory. The way thither led first through a long row of palisades, at the end of which it continued through grand avenues of towering trees, loaded LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 53 with a rich golden harvest of most luscious-looking fruit. The Prophet, the Melech, and Malkah led the way. The crowd followed. Upon reaching the plateau we found everything arranged for our reception. At the foot of the scaffolding on which the gigantic eye-tube rested was erected a platform for the accommodation of the august persons who were to continue the hearing of the testimony. As far as the eye could reach the space was crowded with the shadow-people, assembled by the proclama tion of the king. Soon everything was in readiness. A host of military men appeared with the prisoner of state. He was bound and shackled. They dragged him to this elevated point on the mount ains of the Moon. As he now stood before us he began to speak : " Forced hither before thee, all-potent stranger, by the shadow-soldiery, serving under command of the despised Melech, I am to make confession of the part which I have acted in the present mutin ous state on this Moon. Deformed and crippled by long imprisonment, yet could I have defied them all, and with the strength of these arms have put them to rout, were it not that unaccountable restraints have paralyzed my strength. These fools believe that their adamantine chains placed upon my wrists confine me to their will. Look! the spell has left me! I shatter them to atoms and stand free and disenthralled before thee! And yet with the power of a host, the overawing glances of thine eyes leave me powerless as a reed before the wind. Deign then to listen to my tale, but know I ask neither for sympathy, pity nor for giveness. In two worlds, defiant, malignant, and destructive have I raged. Now I feel tired and worn out even amidst the luxurious revel of my latest achievements. When thou hast heard me to 54 BEN BEOR. the end, grant me the only boon which I yet crave entire and final annihilation. While living in the terrestrial world below I was one of the great magi, who by indomitable will, exhaustless patience and never-ceasing thirst for knowledge attained to the mysteries of profoundest lore, and fathomed the depths of the occult sciences to such degree that I could understand the secrets hidden from most other minds. I was able to manipulate the secret laws of mechanics and chemistry. Alas! instead of employing the genius of my soul in the service and for the benefit of my kind, I used it exclusively for my personal aggrandizement ; and while I might have become the blessed benefactor of men, and God's instrument for the advancement of everything true, noble and good, I chose to pervert my talents for the benefit of accursed and hateful promulgators of priest-craft and tyranny, becoming the vile means for debasing and debauching suffer ing humanity. Nor did I escape the certain law of cause and effect. Instead of realizing my schemes and dreams for sway and rule, I reaped the malignity and hatred of those who suffered by the pernicious results of my labors, and the vilest ingratitude of all for whose benefit 1 delved and toiled in realms where but few of the selected chosen had been able to enter. They simply used me as their tool, to be thrown aside and cast away as soon as their purposes were attained. Too late I realized the value of favors from the great. Disenchanted and disappointed, yet might my career have been different but for the blighting discovery that one who owed to me the preservation of his throne, sceptre and crown had robbed and despoiled me of that one irretrievable treasure, an idolized and madly-worshipped woman. While ceaselessly engaged in my laboratory and LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 55 among rny books and manuscripts, over problems by which successfully to hold in check his ever-re bellious subjects, he took from me the only being to whom my soul was wedded and who I fancied should become my wife. True, she objected to this even when absolutely in my power. It was neces sary, therefore, unscrupulously to kidnap her from parent and friends. This is not an unusual procedure in our Oriental fashion, when one wishes to possess himself of some obstinate maiden. Yet when she at last to all appearances received my wooing complacently, she took the first occasion to betray me I never learned how. She met my pretended friend and patron. They had previously been acquainted and indulged in some foolish flirtations. He carried her away and actually married her. I swore ven geance ! vengeance to the whole race of mortals! And faithfully, too faithfnlly have I kept my oath. Goaded on by rage and desperation, I set free a demon in that nether world which, under guise of pleasure and exhilaration, has proved, and forever will prove, the veriest instrument of perdition "Intoxicating Drink"! The evil results of my malign calcu lations exceeded my most sanguine expectation. Satan incarnate must have lent me the inspiration for the accomplishment of this fell work. I have had the satisfaction of seeing its first effects. My false friend, on whom I maliciously practised to ascertain its fatal results, went mad. Meanwhile it besotted no less his whole realm. Onward and irresistible it rolls now through all climes and zones, overwhelming all conditions and spheres, high and low, poor and rich, the ignorant and wise, the young and old. Such is the fearful, horrible revenge of one spurned and betrayed in love ! Though I have quaffed the exquisite sweetness of my vengeance to 56 BEN BEOR. the very dregs, yet retribution, keen, sharp and quick, with hollow-eyed torments, has followed in the wake of my footsteps. As if to verify an old adage, " Wherewith one sinneth, therewith shall he be punished," I myself became the victim of my lately invented beverage. My mortal career ended with* that frightful and stupendous finale reserved for all drunkards the dread disease, a species of terrible delirium. Spare me the recital of the shud dering torments which awaited me after I had shuffled oif the mortal coil. Suffice it to say that for ages which seemed like eternities, amidst the most excruciating remorse, consuming horrors and the pangs of true repentance, at last there was vouchsafed to me, as I fervently hoped, a proba tionary respite, by being permitted to enter on this shadow-world. Alas and alas! the torments which I hitherto had endured were trifles compared to the trials that awaited me. Scarcely had I entered here what must I behold ! Yonder villain who had betrayed me; this woman who had spurned my love here they are in the enjoyment of perfect conjugal bliss; honored, loved* and distinguished, as falls but to the envied share of even the most fortunate ; governing and ruling the whole realm of this Moon as the "Melech" and "Malkah." Then 1 learned by experience that there is some thing more bitter than death: something more ter rible than the sufferings of the infernal regions Jealousy and Hatred ! At once anew awoke my old passion. No matter what thereafter be my fate, no care what troubles should linger for me in the future, once more I panted fiercely for revenge to deal out destruction and calamity to my rival and his doting bride. I have accomplished it. Yerily 1 have succeeded ! All here is now ferment, confusion and anarchy. How I revel in LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 57 the coming chaos ! I see it all, as it were, already. My work is done, and now I am content. I have lost all sense of fear or terror. Come what may, I am prepared. There is but one wish left me, one craving yet to be achieved. Grant it if thou hast power; deny it if thon seest fit annihilation utter, absolute, final, moral and physical dissolution. But do thou thy worst, I defy thee and our Maker ! " INTAGLIO THE SIXTH. THE RECORD OF THE CHIEF SCRIBE. Appalled and astounded did we stand, all who were present at the awful, blasphemous recital of our state prisoner. Consternation was visible oil every face, depicting a unanimous feeling. The question no doubt prevailed in many breasts: " What if there is no power to neutralize the revolting viciousness of this malignant monster?" There he stood, defiant and bold, quivering and panting from the excitement and the extraordinary exertion. The holy prophet alone appeared calm and wonder fully composed. Stern and resolute as his features remained, yet there was something sublimely sad and benignant in his eyes. With a sway of the hand he motioned me to his side, and broke the oppressive silence by the command : " Write ! Write down the judgment of this wretched being. I shall now dic tate to thee his sentence : (< There is no annihilation in the code of the Creator! Even a fiend like this criminal can not be blotted from the record of final mercy. But extraordinary baseness requires special remedies. Listen, then, to thy doom, unalterable and irrevoc able: 58 BEN BEOR. " Before thou, Ben-Beor, wilt be permitted to start anew on thy spiritual purification * in the depths and despair of Sheol ; and before thou mayst thereafter recommence probation for atonement and reconciliation with the All-Merciful : "Back to earth thou hereby art consigned. There thou must wander in thy human body from generation to generation, without rest or quiet. Driven by an irresistible impulse, from place to place, from zone to zone, there, thou rebel, fiend and seducer, shalt witness the baneful results of thy accursed work. Rivers of blood and streams of tears continually flowing in every quarter of the globe, shall remind thee of thy wickedness and crimes. Every felon of note shall become thy special agent! The ignorant, brutal and debased shall at all times be thy followers! But thy veriest suc cesses, evil though these be, shall yet be the certain overthrow of sin. For every step of retrogression which thou shalt behold must witness still the glo rious, steady march of peace, progress, tolerance and liberty. And to the sworn foes of thy implac able wrath, the chosen people of Israel, though they will undergo martyrdom by the hands of blind hatred, yet to them is assigned the eternal mission to bring about exalted salvation, the kingdom of God. Thy worst punishment shall come by the power through which other men find happiness in their mortal lives: Forever the rapturous beauty of Merris, thy first love, reproduced in some female form, during the ages to come, shall prove thy liv ing torment. Creep on, miserable wretch, until the measure of retribution for thy iniquity shall be full! The time at last will come when thou shalt stray to a country as yet unknown and undis covered. In the morning-light of universal Free dom and religious Tolerance will there arise a new LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 59 nation. Then the malediction that rests upon thee shall be changed into blessing. Then at last shall the hour strike when in the solitude of cave-life ' a Recluse in the wild Mountains ' thou shalt once more be permitted by God's never-ending mercy, to die ! "And as a token and sign that this, my judgment, is approved and accepted on High, I again, as once when standing on Mount Carmel in presence of the Baal prophets, invoke the Lord to send fire from Heaven, that these people may know that Thou, Lord, art God." Barely had the words left the upturned face when the whole firmament was lit up amazingly with sheets of fire, and bolts of lightning flew hither and thither. Amidst the terrible commotion of nature, suddenly the prophet stretched forth his hands, grasping with unexpected force the struggling, cringing culprit, lifted him high in the air, and hurled him whirling into space, where he disap peared with the most terrible screams, that grew fainter and fainter as he was lost gradually to sight. Every one of us fell on our knees, with one accord exclaiming : " The Lord alone is the true God ! The Lord alone is the true God ! " INTAGLIO THE SEVENTH. HARROWING SIGHTS ON EARTH. Agreeably to the instructions of my superiors, I, the Second Scribe, have caused the placing at the disposal of our divine Messenger the large and powerful eye-tube. As soon as it was set in proper position by the operators he immediately proceeded to make use thereof, and I was com- 60 BEN BEOR. manded to record faithfully his observations. I watched him with great attention. After a short interval his eyes became accustomed to look through the tube. I noticed with deep sympathy the extremely painful changes which took place on his countenance. Such expressions of dismay and horror were depicted on his strongly-marked Ori ental features as to make me apprehensive that he would fall fainting at any moment. Several times he attempted to speak ; the power failed him and nothing issued from his convulsed lips but broken ejaculations of grief, while tears rolled in long streams over his swarthy face. His hands, and in fact his whole body, were in a tremor, and we could see that it took all his brave strength to remain upright and maintain his position. After repeated futile efforts, he at length essayed, in tones most like a broken whisper, to command, " Write ! " Then again a distressingly long pause ensued, when at last he dictated as follows : " O bitter, woful hour! Why was I not spared this excruciating sight that harrows my soul and will break my tormented heart? My loved city of Judah, revered temple of the Lord, invaded by the cruel foreign enemy ! Nebuchadnezzar, with his hosts of Babylonian cohorts, has come for their de struction. Through the streets of doomed Jerusa lem rave her own sons with sword in hand, in de spair defending their refuge places. The marble pavements flow with the blood and tears of her children ; hunger stalks through her avenues with hollow, glaring eyes. Yonder I see a woman she kills her child, butchers her own offspring ; there there she roasts the tender corpse at the hearth of her own house ! Dreadful, too dreadful ! she de vours with starving greed the fruit of her mater nity. The Hebrew soldiers now passing by, look- LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 61 ing through the open door, stand back aghast. An aged priest totters forth. He can go no farther. Exhausted by want, he rests himself on the thresh old, and, shocked at the frightful view before him, lie sinks to the ground, gasps and dies. Fight ing and bloodshed are everywhere. The invader thunders with terrible siege-armaments against the walls of the city. Still the brave defenders hold out courageously to the last. The famishing troops, almost too weak to stand up, how yet they fight for their loved, revered Temple ! Lo, over yonder a breach is effected near one of the pillars of the East. A tower falls. One of the heathen command ers, the bold Nebusaradan, springs upon the rain- parts; his soldiers follow and press close after him. They overwhelm the city and enter the temple. The priests of the Lord are slain, the nobles of the land loaded with chains. Horror and consternation stalk madly through the streets. King Zedekiah, the weak, vacillating monarch of the Hebrews, is a fugitive; he arid a few followers have fled for their lives, bent upon reaching the river Jordan. Now his pursuers overtake and blind him ; he is a captive. Presently the city is on fire, the holy edifice is in flames. Upon the ruins of the desolated scene cowers the grief-stricken prophet Jeremiah and wails his sad lamentations. His venerable face is turned up to heaven. With quivering voice he be moans the wrath of the Lord, poured upon his hapless people. Oh, that I might join him in his woe ! that I might add the sorrow of my grief- stricken heart to his! Lord ! Thy temple destroyed ; Thy city in ashes; Thy children dispersed, fleeing or slain ! It is too much, too much ! Mercy, Father, mercy ! " With these ejaculations the holy prophet fell unconscious to the ground. Awe-struck and terri- 62 BEN BBOR. fied, we all stood around him in utter conster nation. But his swoon lasted only for a few mo ments. Presently he springs to his feet and, as if to efface and make us forget his mortal weakness, with thundering voice he cries out: "I hear the maddened foe coming ! The frenzied shadow-hosts are upon us ! Instantly they will be here ! Prepare prepare ! The supreme catastrophe is at hand ! The Lord Himself is nigh in judgment ! " INTAGLIO THE EIGHTH. REVOLUTION. While the momentous events related by my prede cessor, the Second Scribe, were transpiring in the vestibule before the observatory, others of even more ponderous importance took place in the sub- planetary domain, which I, the. Third Secretary, was to write down. At all hours of the long night the shadow-inhabi tants had, with even more than usual alertness, exercised their watchful espionage on the terres trial doings below them. Affairs of extraordinary interest seem to go on there. With the smaller eye-tubes which they had constructed for them selves, by aid of Balaam, they with uninterrupted steadiness make observations in one direction and seemingly upon one point. Suddenly this is changed. A cry of horror issues from the camp. A human figure is seen hurled with giant's force over the moon. With immeasurable velocity the liv ing object, twirling over and over and ejaculating the most fearful and piercing cries, revolves downward through space. Now the amazed spec tators, bewildered at the startling nature of this LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 63 unexpected revelation, were secretly joined by a body of treacherous guards, who long since were disaffected. This revolutionary crowd speeds along the densely packed avenues and makes known the summary judgment which has been visited by the stranger who so unexpectedly assumed power and authority. The wildest commotion breaks forth among the frenzied hosts, who had thus far looked upon the so terribly chastised monster as their most effectual ally and prospective leader. Soon it becomes known also that their new military adjuncts are in possession of the secret storage place of the lately invented combustibles, and by one accord they are placed as leading chiefs to guide the now passion-intoxicated masses to the ominous stores. Firebrands and torches of all kinds are quickly pro cured, and the wild hordes, unbridled and unre strained, like fiends let loose, storm away towards the thus far hidden receptacles, bent upon demoli tion and destruction. It is at this terrific moment the sun had just arisen and brought us daylight ere they had time to carry out their diabolical in tentions when the prophet Elijah cried out : "Pre pare! prepare ! the supreme catastrophe is at hand ! The Lord Himself is nigh in judgment !" Then I am required by him to chronicle upon the last plate, the following final occurrences as they transpire before our eyes ; An immense hand becomes visible, moved by a correspondingly sized arm. It is stretched forth and lights the fuse which leads to the fire-laden magazines. Turning toward the approaching furi ous mob, with one sweep it hurls them towards the now suddenly opening tremendous craters, from whence the lurid flames reveal the indescribable terrors of the other side of the moon. As if driven by an irresistible impulse, in fearful stampede the 64 BEN BEOR. entire host of rebels fly headlong thither and dis appear, howling, screeching and screaming. I see the ignited fuse eating its way slowly towards the underground quartz-hewn chambers of the regal palace. The holy prophet, like a spirit, determined and inspired, places himself at the outermost point of the craters. The fiery chariot in which he came approaches towards us. Melech, Malkah, and all ministers and scribes, are impelled to mount the mysterious vehicle. I remain to the last, still recording. Already the catastrophe of explosion has com menced. Mountains are hurled upon mountains; crevices beyond sight in huge extent open every where ; basins of immeasurable magnitude become visible ; all the elements seem to have broken loose ; shattered and chaotic lies everything ; oceans of fire and seas of flame rush forth belching and thun dering from every direction. Amidst all this I sec the man of God, grown like unto a giant form, stand unmoved and firm. Now I am impelled to move towards my companions. Night is coming on thick, impenetrable night. We move upwards towards heaven. The prophet commands me to write this last sentence : "Behold I will send to you the prophet Elijah be fore the great and awful day of the Lord cometh. And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. "Pen dbo vfhikysi es Jw-orez cherem." : bin Nn riN n wi NISK s LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 65 ADDENDUM I. A foot-note from the Recluse explains here that he remembers these to be the very last words of the Old Testament (Malachi iii. 24), and that he is unable to decipher intelligently the final sentences appending them to his manuscripts, they having, as he expresses it, no doubt reference to the desti nies of that mystic being who shows his face and figure nightly when the Levanah is full, and then reveals on her surface the outlines of THE MAN IN THE MOON. The most curious part of this quaint recital ap pears in the fact that the Recluse, during the absorbing task of deciphering the inscriptions on the Intaglios, has entirely forgotten his identity and intimate connection with the record of the aerolite. This, however, will not appear anoma lous, when considering the severe strain on the already over-excited mental faculties of so aged a person. The cataclysm of the destruction of the moon's visible surface and " the story of the man " showing himself nightly on the luminary, as she walks full through the horizon, closes the translation of the Semitic inscriptions. But a large mass of manuscript is appended, forming the subject of the second roll, the contents of which are of equal interest with the translations. It contains the memoirs of that singular cave- dweller who withdrew from human society to end his life here in the untrodden solitude. The incidents related must have required sound, sober thought. The story told is of lucid, logical progression. The characters delineated are penned with deep penetration into human nature. The language used, although in its idiomatic and pecu- 66 BEN BEOR. liar construction, reveals the foreigner, who has acquired it by study, never tantamount to the ease and fluency of those to the manner born ; yet it is terse, nervous, and at times even eloquent, showing the skilled hand of fair experience. Were it not for these cumulated facts the whole might be looked upon as the wild hallucination of a mind disor dered by the isolated life and peculiar surroundings of the eccentric author. Without further comment they are hereby sub mitted to the candid and unprejudiced perusal of the reader. If they achieve no more than to while away pleasantly a lonesome hour of leisure, they have then attained some object ; but they perhaps casually will do more. It is said in some ancient writing, that he who makes two blades of grass grow where before was but one, is a benefactor of our kind. Maybe some thought is awakened, some kindlier feeling aroused, some prejudice dispelled, and the great brotherhood recognized, which en twines all humanity this great principle so often clouded and obscured by the machinations of those who rule and batten on the ignorance and super stitions of the misguided masses. Therefore this quaint autobiography, entitled in juxtaposition to some other well-known story, The Wandering Gen tile, must not be withheld from the intelligent world. The whole plot has reference to an incessant feud, carried on through all the eras of the past, between two fierce opponents, their respective causes and hosts of followers, with ever alternating results. It is the deathly struggle between Moses and kindred Liberators, and Ben Beor, the Anti-Messiah ; and incidentally of "Moabite" against "Hebrew." In many instances the poor harassed Jew is brought near to the verge of gasping out, seem ingly, his last breath. But at the very lowest stage LUNAR INTAGLIOS. 67 of his despair and when near annihilation, again and again, as if by some miraculous power, he rouses himself and renews the combat with re-ani mated courage, enabling him to patiently suffer, endure and struggle on for existence and fulfilment of a mission. There is a tradition, not embodied in the pages of the shadow-author, which may have reference to these historical affairs, and throw light upon the origin of a quaint orthodox ceremony yet faith fully practised by conservative Israelites. It re sembles in its nature the rallying cry of a soldier who in defeat prepares once again to meet the enemy. Lifting up his eyes to the starry sky whenever the nocturnal sickle of light reappears as new moon on the horizon, the patient martyr of Palestinian origin bends his head in devout prayer to sanctify himself by that glorious phenomenon, filled with fresh hope, trust and returning vigor to carry on the task given, as he solemnly vows, by Him who of yore had made this strange pre diction : " Behold, i will send to you the prophet Elijah before the great and awful day of the Lord cometh." Then the one who thus prayeth springs bodily upward as high as his physical strength will permit, and exclaims the words from his old ritual : "As little as I can reach thee, O Levanah, so little may, by aid of Heaven, my enemies be permitted to prevail over me 1 " This supplementary story is then presented as a singular reminder of the old legend, the" Wander ing Jew" No less startling and romantic, but by far more consonant with and responsive to the natural sequence and order in the harmony of events, it forms a fair commentary to the annals of bygone ages. Respectfully submitted, THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER. PART II. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. BEN-BEOR, THE WANDERING GENTILE. BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF THE RECLUSE OF THE MOUNTAINS. A Sequel to the Story of " TJie Man in the Moon." (69) PHANTASMAGORIA I. PECULIAR HALLUCINATIONS. The following pages, written by me, " the Recluse of the Mountains," relate to my late experiences while a solitary dweller in this cave, and to the auspicious events constituting the history of my previous career. They were commenced on the night of the 10th of September, 1780 A. D., ushering in the first day of the seventh month Tishri, the Jewish New Year, 5540 A. M. With the last stroke of twelve from my old Schwarzwald clock, which hangs on the eastern wall of my secluded habitation, I threw down the quill which I had plied incessantly since early morning. My self-imposed task was done at last. The final sen tence on the Aerolite containing the wonderful story of "-The Man in the Moon," which fell from heaven at my door, is transcribed from the Hebrew characters into the English language. The whole narrative told therein is before me. There I sat, with my poor throbbing head, white from age, like the glistening stalactites which surrounded rne, rest ing in my thin, emaciated hands. Nothing dis turbed the nocturnal quiet, except now and then the monotonous chirping of crickets or the far-away dis mal hooting of owls. Irresistibly, a strange, unac countable feeling crept over me. Now that this phenomenal work is completed, I arm impelled to record what I feel, and what I remember of my past life. I am under a spell of sadness and mental (71) 72 BEN BEOR. depression which is almost overpowering. In this melancholy mood, the whole story on the Intaglios involuntarily passes before my excited vision. Scene after scene, as if imbued with life and assuming realistic existence, rolls in quick succession before my eyes. Staring, almost frenzied, at the passing shadow-pictures, I first am as tonished, then startled, by a gradually growing revelation started like an infinitesimal speck on a far-away horizon. The strange vision expands by degrees into shape and form, as it draws nearer and nearer, until at last its giant proportions rage over the world like a destructive storm. An invisible hand draws slowly but steadily the veil from my recollections, which seem to have been dormant. The clouds part, and the sky in the far-away dis tance becomes light. Little by little it dawns upon my dumbfounded mind that I, hapless being, have been interwoven with the web and woof of these conglomerated annals ; that I have been an actor nay, a chief actor an incessant participant and eye-witness to the astounding events, the record of which fell at my door from heaven. Am I de mented ? Are these my hands ? Is this my breast in which the staggered heart beats and palpitates as if it would break through its prison-house ? Is this my fever-burning head, in which the brain on fire seeks to burst the adamantine seams of my water-dripping brow? Horrible! horrible! No other mortal was ever compelled to undergo the terrors and consternation which are now upon me. I see it all, I see it all! Great God ! have I, Thy miserable creature, been spared for this ? Was stagnant life preserved to be suddenly again ani mated into the vortex of existence, to realize this dire, this overwhelming knowledge ? My whole body quivers in anguish ; while my white hair HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 73 rises on end, clutched by my bony, convulsive hands. Springing to my feet, I stand erect, gloat ing upon the apparition before me. Century after century rolls with blood-begrimed records, in huge cylinder-forms, before my face. Every where my name ! Everywhere my likeness ! In a thousand different shapes, but my name, my person ! Out with the terrible fact ! out with the staggering truth : " 1 am Balaam, the ever-living Moabite ! " Now I know it ; now I realize it ! I am indeed that execrated being, hurled back from the rnoon to the earth by the hands of the prophet Elijah ! As I came down headlong, vaulting through the measureless space, I recorded in my brain and heart a fearful oath, at which the universe must have shuddered. I vowed in my Hind wrath that from the moment when my feet should touch the ground of mother earth, for my doom as " the Wandering Gentile" I would forever prove the hunting, cursing, sworn, maledicted, fell destroyer of Peace, Liberty and Right. My sole purpose in the mundane world should be henceforth to arraign the thrones and churches against the people, crush ing Truth, Freedom and Law. In this I mean to employ all the evil agencies and passions to which the gross, low nature of man is heir, combating with all the powers of hell the progress of civiliza tion. Such shall be the unremitting task and revenge through coming ages, of him who forever must be known as " BEN BEOK, THE ANTI-MESSIAH ! " When I realized the truth of what seemed at first a fearful hallucination I fell prostrate to the ground. How long I lay unconscious there 1 can not tell. But at last reason returned. I then rose staggering to my feet, approaching the table. The first thing which I noticed, to my utter dismay, 74 BEN BEOR. was that the clock which I during all these periods had so assiduously kept going, stood still ; the hands showed midnight. Now I had lost the means of knowing time. It was, however, night outside, yet. I had grown calm and collected ; but the recollec tions of a few hours previous were upon me still. Feeble and debilitated as I felt, my efforts to rise at last succeeded. As I leaned for support upon the table, my eyes were mechanically directed to the inkstand, pens and paper. I tried to arrange in some order the blank leaves which were scattered about, but I was so weary and sleepy it seemed almost impossible for me to collect them. I am perfectly sure that all I did then was to draw the rustic chair to where I stood, and dropping into it, fall away into deep slumber. I would be willing now to swear that I never touched a pen. Suddenly I was aroused by a faint knocking at the entrance of my cavern. In the first glow of a chill Sep tember morn, as darkness seemed to wrestle with light for supremacy, there stood a tall, erect form, draped in white, shroud-like garments. In his right arm he held a scroll, such a one as I had some times seen when 1 visited a Jewish synagogue ; it is called " Sefer Hatorah." In his left hand, that hung carelessly by his side, he grasped a peculiarly shaped ram's horn. These things struck me first; then I looked at the face. Semi-dark as it was every where as yet, I riveted my eyes upon the features ; they became lit up gradually unto brilliancy. The whole head was soon radiant with a halo of light. It was a beautiful face dignified, almost austere, yet complacent and beaming with mildness and benevolence. The most conspicuous characteristic of it was the long silver- white hair and beard, speak ing of old age ; with wonderfully preserved youthful and healthy features, and without a wrinkle or HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 75 a line, revealing strong and buoyant virility en tirely unlocked for at such time of life. Where had I seen this countenance before ? He certainly was no stranger. Then it occurred to me, as if by a stroke of lightning clearing for an instant the dark enveloping my memory, it was the same person whom I had beheld at the horrible instant when I was hurled from the moon earthward the iden tical individual who then and there had pronounced my doom and judgment the prophet Elijah ! So here he comes again to taunt me, the irrepressible foe who has followed me throughout my whole long, cursed life's career, ever thwarting my plans, ever warding off the final blow from my hands, ever defying my strongest efforts, part and parcel of my task of vengeance: "To drive from the face of the earth the Israelites, his people^ whom he vaunted to have ~been selected as 'God chosen' for the pro mulgation of the law, embodied in that book of inspired revelation called the Torah." There he stands again, as if to show me by contrast that I have grown aged, feeble, debilitated and impotent, and he, though venerable in appearance, yet strong, full of vigor, powerful and almost rejuvenated. But I will show the impertinent intruder that I yet have strength in these arms, that my rage nerves my muscles with former giant strength, that I yet can be agile and quick ! I made one strong effort and sprang toward him, intent to throttle him if my fingers should get at his throat. Alas! my con tentions with him, my counter-wanderer, are all futile. As I leaped to approach him he set the horn in his left hand to his mouth, blows one long, quivering blast, which with a thousand echoes re verberated from the mountains, and then is gone, the vision disappearing as if in the air. Slowly, and dismayed, I creep back to my seat. My eyes 76 BEN BEOR. fall now upon the top sheet of my pile of writ ing paper. I can barely trust my senses. It is covered with this story and some of those infernal Hebrew characters which had so worried me to translate during the last years. What does it all mean ? I never had traced them. Curiosity and excitement hastened my will and I set to work to transcribe the Bible verse. I see it at a glance they are the self-same Chaldaic words which a finger of fire traced on the walls of the Babylonian king Belshazzar ! Do they forebode, too, my miserable doom ? " M'ne ": The Lord hath numbered thy power and hath made an end of it. " T'kel ": Thou hast been weighed in the bal ance and been found wanting. (Daniel v. 25.) Why just now this strange coincidence? Is this another taunt from my arch-enemy? or is it yes, it must be so it is a supernatural warning the conviction grows upon me my blasted career draws to an end, my work is nearly done ! The ages of my anti-messianic mission have passed by. I feel now an irresistible instinct to write to record in full the annals of my abortive efforts. I have been during the past the right hand and mainstay of the thrones and churches, to combat the inalienable rights and liberty of the people. I knew that this was a fight for life or death against the race who carried as their strongest and, as is now proved, in vincible weapon, the Mosaic law. Had it been possible for me to annihilate those people, or that Book, or both, the living, ever-spreading repre sentative embodiment of One God, One Law, One Liberated Humanity the tyrant master would have kept his slave, nobility and caste would have ruled the serfs, priestcraft would have swayed over ' reason and truth. The struggle has been in vain. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 77 These people live ; that Book lives ! Here upon this soil of America I had determined abroad, from whence I came, to make one more last onslaught. The Jews, who came here to find refuge from me, their old tormentor, soon would, as I hoped, forsake the laws and traditions of their ancestry. Specu lating upon this when far away, I fancied that by insidious strides they at last would voluntarily sur render the stronghold of power, their Bible. With this great advantage I reasonably calculated to work their ultimate ruin on this continent. I had planned also to bring the land back under the heels of some conquering tyrant who, with aid of the fanatical church, would re-establish the old despotic order of things. Vain rebel that I am against the over-ruling, all-guiding decrees of Providence, God the One ! Never before in the history of man was the holy-titled Book in the hands of such multi tudes ; never has it been read, studied, understood, loved and revered to the immeasurable extent by any other nation like this American. Where it formerly was but in the possession of the Israelites, a few monks, prelates and students of the Christians, here it has spread into every house, hut and tent. The millions stand around it like bulwarks and guard its tenets, laws and principles as if their very existence depended upon its safety. Directly ema nating from the core of its teachings, Freedom, under panoply of the whole power of a new gov ernment, is arrayed to end on this continent the last vestige of despotism. Having spilled the blood of her sons like water; poured out with unstinted hands her treasures ; victory everywhere perches upon her banners. I foresee it all now Monarchy is doomed ! Right, Truth and Tolerance will pre- -ygil I When these facts shall be officially promul gated, I, Balaam Ben Beor, must and let me say it, thank God will gladly die! 78 BEN BEOR. The measureless extent of my various crimes may be perhaps to some degree assuaged now, by correcting with all the force I still possess a terrible misunderstanding assiduously fostered and cun ningly disseminated by myself and my countless guilty emissaries. These were and are, often even more than their principal, zealous to work all over this globe. Our foul stratagem consisted and is as yet strenuously maintained in the most embittering policy, that during all these long and weary ages it has been the " Christian Keligion " which acted and acts as the persistent, never-to-be-reconciled persecutor among its own sects and of the Hebrew people. This calumny has been industriously used, especially when the great masses by our schemes wallowed in ignorance and were fired by fanaticism. But let it be here promulgated as an incontrovert ible fact, which the wider it may be known the more it will help the efficacy of my penance : " That never since the advent of Him of ' Naza reth] who, if the story of his life as reported in the New Testament is correct, was himself a scion of the house of Judah, and the lowliest member of the race ; never played treason or acted cruel and un charitable to his brethren. He, on the contrary, in his words and professions, was the most loving, humble, humane, sympathetic and most worldly poor. Never since his coming, unto this day, has a true follower, an honest, conscientious member of his church and her ideal mission, raised arm or tongue for deed or word in persecution, hatred or malignity against any other creed or race. On the contrary, these loved humanity as all children of the same Father, rejoiced in their well-being* com miserated their suffering, and charitably lent a helping hand wherever it was needed. In this sense and throughout their virtuous and faithful life, HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 79 they aimed to prove to all doubters that indeed in Jesus the Redeemer had appeared" Alas ! it will now take a long time before the world shall realize that it has been exclusively "the Ben Beor," the Anti-Messiah and his cohorts, who, under all kinds of successful disguises, have taken on mostly the garb of cant in close imitation of religion. We raged on earth with fire, sword, death, destruction, and tears, under diiferent names, titles and pretentions. Combining together the interest and policies of the State and Church, and in the name of one or the other, we sowed the seeds of hatred and contentions, causing wars, emeutes and bloody revolts ; doing the work of Satan, so as to make him ultimately the primate of this globe, neutralizing, effectually combatting and thwarting the work of Moses the Teacher and Jesus the Reformer. What masks, agencies, passions, vices and crimes were employed, and the part I played in these monstrous revels of shame, sin and death, form the material of the work which I now feel impelled, as if by an uncontrollable frenzy, to collect from the tablets of my vivified memory. Even while engaged in these thoughts, prelimi nary to the task, a wonderful phenomenon makes itself vividly perceptible to my strangely agitated soul. Take whatever period I will in the long record which I propose to perpetuate, and instantly I behold the long bygone scenes in every detail, like living pictures in brilliant colors, somewhat in the shape of panoramic views. These rise on yonder towering wall of this cave, which in ala baster whiteness faces me from where I am seated. Occurrences, acts, faces, drapery and every inci dent connected with any of these affairs, are brought out distinctly and realistically, to such an 80 BEN BEOR. extent that I almost fancy that I were living over again that special part of my history upon which momentarily I have fixed the focus of my brain, in order to pen its records under the auspicious and impressive title of " Phantasmagoria." This will cause my writing to become true facsimiles of the tableaux-vivants, which rise instantaneously at the command of my spiritual vision. When soon hereafter the annals of my poisonous instrumentalities for the havoc which I have made during the many centuries since I returned from the moon to this earth, shall be completed, may then the almighty and all-merciful Lord pardon to some redeemable degree the quivering, despairing soul of the shadow-author. BALAAM BEN BEOR, The Wandering Gentile and Anti-Messiah. PHANTASMAGORIA II. TITUS AND BERENICE. * Hurled through eternal space, ever conscious of my doom the malediction of the Anti-Messiah after the lapse of six centuries I landed at last on earth. Was it accident or a well-planned design ? My feet touched the ground near Mount Moriah, at the period when, for the second time, the temple of the Lord was threatened with destruction, and the land of His chosen people invaded by a most pow erful foreign foe, the Roman Emperor Vespasian, represented by his son, the august Titus. The siege of Jerusalem had lasted for months. In spite of every attack, the intrepid, beleaguered Hebrews held out undauntedly against their assailants. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 81 These were about to abandon an effort so costly in life and treasure. A council of war had just been concluded, and several of the wearied commanders spoke in favor of withdrawing from a place which was visibly under the protection of God. But Titus would not listen to such a proposition. A last desperate and concentrated attack upon the walls of the temple was resolved upon for the next day, the fatal ninth of "Av." At this juncture I joined the Romans, and was intrusted with command of some troops, in consequence of my profession of bitterest hatred against the Jews and the avowed raging thirst for vengeance to be visited upon the whole nation. Near evening of the next day my chance came. A sally from the temple had been risked by the reckless Hebrews; but after desperately fighting for a short time they were overthrown and forced precipitately to retreat. Great confusion ensued. Amidst this I, at the head of my small command, succeeded in scaling the ramparts of the citadel on the western side of the temple. With crazy eagerness I leaped down into the inner court. Recovering instantly from the stunning fall, to the consternation of a few priests just offering their vesper oblations I hastened to the altar where the sacred fire was briskly burning, snatched a brand from the heap, and running with it hither and thither, ignited the gold-brocaded draperies which hung everywhere in the immense edifice. In this I was now assiduously aided by my followers. Quicker than one may tell it, the whole imposing interior was a sea of conflagra tion. All now became consternation among the surprised defenders, who with fearful, piercing cries ran about in utmost confusion. Amidst this havoc I directed my eyes to where the silver ball in the now blood-tinted sky walked 82 BEN BEOR. majestically through the fantastic clouds. There I plainly beheld the man who had so effectually hurled me back to earth from my former lunar abode. Every thought of mine was elated by the consummate vengeance which I had wrought upon him, my persecutor. Forward I sprang to the " Bihma" at the extreme eastern wall ever forward until I reached the Holiest of Holy, where never before Gentile had entered. Near the consecrated shrine, a grandiose semicircle of preciously clothed scrolls of the law shone in the brilliancy of the lights from the golden, seven-armed candlestick. Rushing to the parchments with the fury of a madman, I tore from these witnesses of the Lord's bounty to Israel the mantles in which they were draped, and casting one after another from their resting-places, unrolled and trampled upon them until the whole collection lay in one confused mass at my feet. The uproar of destruction from within the edifice accompanied my frenzied acts of vengeance. Then I started forth again to where the monstrous fire-fiend wrought in horrible splendor his unparalleled scenes of sublime terror. Now, with the laughter of a demon I sprang ahead to a point where the raging element seemed to have concentrated its awful force. At this instant I saw Emperor Titus, with his mistress Berenice, the royal daughter of the Maccabeans, rush in through the now open " Golden Gate." He looked haggard and disappointed. Coming near where I stood, he cried out in almost unearthly tones : Save the Temple ! Stay the fire ! " He might as well have commanded that the light of the Levanah shining over us be extin guished. The Roman cohorts, assisted by their foreign barbarian allies, were perfectly uncontrol- able. Actuated, however, by a momentary impulse, eager to show my zeal to serve my new master, 1 HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 83 threw myself headlong into the vortex of the fire. The last I heard now was the voice of a woman imploring that I should be saved. Three of my men, in defiance of deathly danger, sprang after me and dragged me back. Singed, scorched and blist ered, I was barely the semblance of a man. While my rescuers, though greatly injured themselves, at once prepared a litter upon which to carry me away, I raised my tortured eyelids. Oh, rapturous oh, overwhelming sight ! 1 beheld, not Berenice but Merris, my loved, my fatal idol as near alike to the daughter of Pharaoh as is one drop of spring- water to another. I squirmed and trembled under the agonizing vision, making faint eiforts to raise myself. Then her eyes fell upon my distorted, terror-inspiring form. She nigh fainted, and would have fallen had she not been caught in the arms of her consort, who bore her to the only place of safety the shrine where I so lately had been busy with my vandal, sacrilegious work. I now became un conscious. When I recovered I found myself sheltered in the Roman camp, attended by their best physicians. My attendants and visitors related to me there after the harrowing incidents as they occurred hour after hour and day after day, surpassing the wildest imagination in ferocity, cruelty and unprecedented persecutions. The whole land was as one char nel-house. They told me that nearly one million men, the entire defensive force of these people, lay as festering corpses on the highways; that those not killed were sold in the public markets as slaves. Loaded with chains, they were taken captives to every quarter of the empire. How full was the punishment of this cursed race ! Had I not with my own hands destroyed beyond restoration every copy of their holy books ? Not one, as far as I 84 BEN BEOR. knew, escaped the greedy flames. How I gloated over the fullness of my well-accomplished work of the most complete destruction ! Was my self- imposed mission on earth already realized ? Lying there in my comfortable quarters, all suffering and pangs were assuaged and recovery hastened by the f ratifying consciousness of the fearful havoc which had so successfully wrought upon him who had judged me so sternly above, and upon my mundane adversaries here below. Now I was satisfied that the future historian would write upon this eventful epoch of Rome's victory, " Perditas Judaica 1 " Alas ! how often ever after have I flattered my vain hopes with this self-same delusion ! On no other ground can I explain or account for the distinguished and continued care and attention which were bestowed upon me by direction and command of the general-in-chief, than by a mistake under which he and his mistress labored. They believed that the injuries which I had received were in direct consequence of my efforts in obedi ence to the command of Titus to save the temple by extinguishing the flames. It seems that the lady in her great pity had taken me under hen special protection and care. Repeated inquiries were made from headquarters concerning the progress of my health, accom panied by orders to my attendants that nothing which would hasten my recovery was to be left undone, so that as soon as possible I might be taken to the imperial city of Rome. After a week's careful nursing I was deemed well enough to depart. A princely conveyance appeared at the door of my lodgings. Careful porters started with me for the first day's journey Westward. The officer in charge had been instructed to proceed slowly and make but short daily distances. Towards HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 85 noon on the first day of our travel, we arrived at the little city of Hodin. Here we halted for the night. In advance there had been prepared the best quarters to be found, and I was carried into a house which belonged, as I was told, to a favorite of the emperor, the distinguished Hebrew .Rabbi Jochanan ben Sakkai. For some eminent service, he, after having been carried in a coffin, shamming death, from beleaguered Jerusalem, was permitted to settle here with a colony of his students. Thence started the fatal nucleus of my future fate, a school for the maintenance and propagation of the " Law of Moses." Imagine my chagrin and disappoint ment when I must see, on passing through the hall of my hostelry, any number of those hated scrolls lying before the youths seated at the feet of their master, listening with glowing zeal to his enthusi astic words. Stung to the soul by finding so soon and so unexpectedly foiled and shattered my fond belief of having destroyed those cursed parchments beyond recovery, gladly would I have set the torch to this house during the short interval that I was destined to dwell here. But I was not left unattended during all this time for a single moment ; nor dared I propose any such plan to one of my company; for there is in the mind of these Eeople, in the whole catalogue of crimes none more ated and despised than an oifense against hospi tality. Lying awake long into the night, ponder ing upon the probable consequences which this untoward discovery might have upon the future of the Jews and my own mission, I at last consoled myself with the reflection the most delusive per haps in all my career that such an insignificant remnant of former glory and power would shrivel from its trivial proportion into nothingness and be swallowed up and lost amidst the huge calami- 86 BEN BEOE. ties now striding rampant over all Palestine. Who could have surmised that in such an insignificant dwelling, under this frail roof, the seed was being planted that would grow and ripen, through which the fall of the temple and the cruel disper sion of the Hebrews should become but links in the great chain whereby ultimately would be spanned the whole religious world ? And yet, history has so proved it 1 At last, after long hours, I fell into a short, troubled sleep, to be awakened at day break, when we started on our further travel towards the imperial city. After many eventless days had passed we saw at last, far away, the domes and spires of our destination. Here we met Titus, the victorious conqueror of the East, returning home with his all-successful army and the spoils and captives of a hundred battles. It was a spec tacle baffling description. A triumphal entry of troops into the Eternal City soon took place. First came, in wild and fantastic procession, mounted on the swift horses of Arabia, the finely formed Bedouins, in charge of an apparently end less train of cages, containing the most splendid and select specimens of all the brute creation to be found in the Saharan and Nubian deserts and the jungles of Asia and Africa. Amidst the roar, the howl and piercing noise of these sounded forth the shrill tones of the reed-pipes of trainers, an swered, as it were, by the numerous and various voices of feathered tribes, the birds forming a rainbow of colors as they hopped and frisked to and fro in their finely braided metallic houses on top of the cages of the quadrupeds. Neither gold, labor nor cunning had been spared to collect this match less menagerie, destined for the museums and the gladiatorial arena of the capital. Then came a troop of hunters, seated on small but wiry ponies. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 87 All the riders had silver bugles, and the wild blasts from a thousand instruments sounding forth were heard for miles. Next paraded the Teutonic cohorts, men broad-chested and tall like giants, their blonde hair forming a strange contrast with their sunburnt skins. For miles and miles away stretched the line, borne upon the clumsy, heavy-maned horses of the North. Then followed, in brilliant array of well-polished steel breast-shields and helmets, the Egyptian and Macedonian charioteers, their ani mals drawing the terror-inspiring engines of war ; they were divided in separate columns, each of which was headed by a band of trumpeters, leading with the blare of their instruments the dance-like march of this part of the army. Now followed a section of the imperial body-guards, caparisoned most gorgeously, their crimson-velvet cloaks falling in graceful folds over their feet as they appeared like statues upon fiery chargers. Their large brows, aquiline noses, brilliant eyes and haughty mien de clared in every feature the proud Romans. Each one had a battle-ax fastened to the pommel of his gold-embroidered saddle, and bore a halberd in his right hand. These were succeeded by the most wonderful train of artistic representations of the carver, chiseler and painter ; rich combinations of costly woods, ivory, silver and gold in every im aginable form and size, representing the historical occurrences of the East, delineating the wars, vic tories and triumphs of .Rome. Between each sec tion of these trophied reminiscences, singers and musicians vied with each other, telling in verse and rhythm the story of their glory. These passed, and then came in seemingly end less array the treasure-laden vehicles, carrying the spoils of war ; elephants and camels in charge of dusky Moors brilliantly arrayed, bearing priceless 88 BEN BEOR. gems of despoiled nations. The last of the wagons contained the golden vessels, solid shew-table, seven- armed candlestick, and the glistening " Tablets of the Law" immense geological specimens of diamond-like lustrous double plates, in which were cut, as it is said " by the finger of the Lord," from one side to the other, the letters forming the world-renowned Decalogue ; through the quaint openings of which the morning sun played with a wreath of rays, crowning them with a shield of colors and light of inexpressible beauty and mag nificence. If I could but have laid my hands for eternal destruction upon this one all-peerless pos session 1 At the sight of it I felt sick at heart, and inwardly vowed that if it came within the reach of possibilities I would, at some near time and at any risk, get hold of this concentrated essence of Mosaic wisdom, the foundation of Jewish legis lation, and utterly destroy it. While such burning thoughts were yet astir in my covetous bosom this pageant had passed. Another appeared, coming as if to create the most marked contrast with all the splendor and wealth of the previous procession. Upon a rude platform, drawn by four sturdy mules, guarded on each side by a detachment of swarthy spearsmen, loaded down in chains, with a rope around his massive neck, cowered the gigantic form of the most illustrious among the Hebrew captives, the renowned hero of the siege of Jerusalem one who had been a terrible host in himself against the invaders the dreaded Simon bar Giora. Ac cording to the irrevocable rite of Roman Triumphals he is the chosen sacrifice. The sad strains of a dead- march from a powerful band of brass instruments rend the air as he passes out of sight. Silver trumpets, however, take up the mournful chords and change them with wonderful transposition into HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 89 jubilant fanfares. Next, two brilliantly arrayed open coaches, each drawn by four horses, make their appearance. One contains the young emperor's favorite, his Hebrew ally, the historian Flavius Josephus, with three of his intimate friends and rela tives by his side ; the other is occupied by the pusil lanimous Jewish courtier-prince, Agrippa, brother of the royal Berenice. Then cantered into sight, preceded and followed by a line of chosen body guards, the young emperor Titus, riding a coal- black charger, and on a milk-white steed at his side the queenly daughter of Judea, the matchless princess Berenice. Far behind them loomed up the endless native and foreign legions, guarding between them the unfortunate Jewish captives, men, women and children, loaded with chains, most pitiful to behold in their despair and misery, com puted to have exceeded one hundred thousand per sons. Finally came the rabble and the usual hangers- on of an army returning victorious from a foreign land. All this vast multitude now arrived on the plain, stretching picturesquely away to where stood the temple of isis. With the words of com mand by superior officers, as if by magic, pres ently an orderly, well-planned encampment dis closed itself. The imperial pair, as they passed us, sent one of their servants, bidding my officer to fall in line behind them. As they dismounted and ascended the stairs to the holy dais, they were greeted by the father-emperor Vespasian and his younger son Domitian, the senate and the venerable priests of the goddess. Then sire and son met in most affec tionate embrace. Such a shout of joy and exultation arose from the soldiers and the assembled people as was never before heard by mortal ears. I had remained at the foot of the extensive platform and 90 BEN BEOR. from there could see, hear and watch the en suing solemn ceremonies and usages preceding always the triumphal entry of an emperor into the Eternal City. But amidst all these pompous ob servances, the magnificent music, the galaxy of vestals, the priests in their silver-brocaded robes with the sacred paraphernalia, the orations and prayers attending the auspicious festivities of the day, my eyes were fixed solely upon one object, the queenly and exceedingly beautiful woman who stood between the two sons of the old emperor Vespasian, the Jewess matchless in grace and dig nity. Wavy hair, raven black, held together on the finely poised head by a tiara of gold studded with glittering sapphires and diamonds; lustrous, large eyes fringed with long lashes and laughing with fire and brilliancy ; finely-traced lines of an aquiline nose, coraline lips, round chin, fully-developed bust, showing like alabaster from the neck down to where priceless lace covered the swelling bosom ; a figure grand and majestic, draped in a wealth of silk and velvets; silver sandals disclosing abnormally small feet, hands exquisitely white and moulded as if by a master-sculptor, sparkling with an untold wealth of priceless gems such was the princess Berenice. No wonder the ardent Titus, fascinated by all this loveliness and beauty, had pledged his troth to her, by which, on his ascension to the throne, she was to share the sovereignty of the civilized world. Amidst all the jubilation I, keenly watching, noticed the old emperor and his youngest son re peatedly cast malignant glances at the beautiful object of my feverish attention. The imperial party at last entered their circular golden carriage, and the procession took up its march along the Yia Sacra. Lost in strange speculations concerning Merris, HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 91 my Egyptian ideal, re-embodied in the radiant, florious Hebrew woman, I was suddenly awakened y a mounted guard approaching my conveyance. Unrolling a large scroll bearing the imperial seal, he conveyed to me the message that it had pleased the young emperor to honor me with the high com mission of proceeding forthwith, in advance of the procession, to the Capitoline hill with the doomed captive Simon bar Giora, and proclaiming to him the sentence of death, see him scourged according to the prescribed rites, and thrown down the declivity unto destruction. This done, to bring the news to the waiting emperors and populace. For this purpose I was now comfortably placed on the platform beside the prisoner, and saluting him with the well-known greeting of "Salam alichum," by which he took me to be a compatriot, and having smilingly responded with the usual " Alichnm Salam," we rode together the long distance to the hill. Conversing with him cordially in the Hebrew language, I soon succeeded in gaining his confidence and in extracting from him the story of his event ful life. PHANTASMAGORIA III. SIMON BAR GIORA. During the last days of my stay near Jerusalem, while the appalling struggle raged over Palestine, 1 had heard much of the noble character of the doomed prisoner. I now sought to obtain the true facts concerning the life and deeds of this hapless Simon bar Giora, and here they are as told me by himself. He said : " Born and bred at Gerasa in Palestine, among 92 BEN BEOR the shepherds who roamed with their cattle and flocks over the wide hills and vales which surround this ancient city of East Arabia, at an early age I imbibed from this class the rude spirit of inde pendence and rugged freedom. I soon exercised a kind of leadership among my companions. When the war with the Romans broke out and news reached us how sorely our people were pressed by the invader, a large number of us resolved to go to their aid. Leaving our herds in charge of the old men, about ten thousand of us gathered, and having elected me their chieftain, an army was organized. " Treasures flowed in upon us from all sides. A large number of slaves were held by the people in this district. These by proclamation were now freed on condition that they would join our troops. They gladly complied, thereby swelling our num bers to over twenty thousand. With the assistance of officers and lieutenants appointed by me, I set to work day and night to train our men in the use of arms and the strictest discipline of soldiers. "By good fortune, there were among the slaves, foreigners who had been sold here as prisoners. These old veterans were familiar with tactics and military science. Placing my troops, ignorant of such requirements, entirely in their charge, by inces sant work they were soon in good condition, ready to take the field. I had thus an efficient and obedi ent corps of soldiers, as brave as ever assembled for the defense of homes, altars and firesides. Finding myself then at the head of such an immense body of faithful and well-drilled men, all my dormant powers of pride, ambition and patriotism were aroused in fiercest strength, and I vowed to myself that I would liberate my people of Israel from their enemies, or perish in the attempt. I did not know the fearful task I had undertaken. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 93 Alas ! too soon did I learn that our worst ad versaries were not the foreign invaders. Among certain ranks of other troops our leaders were arrayed against one another in deathly strifes and contentions, several sects and clans contending among themselves for supreme power. Treason stalked over the land, and selfish, faint-hearted, pusillanimous cowards were headed by Flavius Josephus. He might have stayed the downfall of the nation, but deserted to the enemy, and for prospec tive favors betrayed the secrets of our strength and the points of our weaknesses to his newly acquired friends. Nay, all these left behind in their accursed course, secret allies, who by mutual understanding sent into the camp of the enemy, instead of deadly arrows, papyrus-slips which contained information of every move planned in our lines. It is un necessary to enumerate all the dangerous exploits which fell to my share. They are now part of the history of our unfortunate nation. One phase in my trying career will illustrate the cruel difficulties and unpardonable repulses which I suffered at the hands of some would-be leaders. From reports which I had received by trusty spies I knew that concentrated attacks with all the available power of the Romans would shortly be made upon sorely harassed Jerusalem. I thought it therefore im peratively necessary to leave my secure stronghold in the citadel of Mesada and by hurried marches proceed to the capital. Arrived there, the several parties in command, although raging against one another like bloodthirsty tigers, fearing that they might lose some of their power, united in refusing me and my legions admittance to the city. Nay, they concocted and carried out the plot of cap turing my wife, whom I had left with friends at Mesada. Speculating upon the love which I bore 94 BEN BEOR. her, this my weak spot being known among my adherents and foes, a deputation was sent from the city with the message that we must immediately surrender and deliver up our arms, or, refusing, her life and that of her attendants should pay the for feit of my obstinacy. This made me furious! In my rage I raised my battle-ax and smote their leader to death, then hacking off the hands of the rest I sent them back, vowing that if but a hair of the head of my spouse or that of any of her friends were touched I would break down the walls of the city, and spare neither age nor sex until I should be fully avenged. " The sight of the dead leader and his mutilated companions quickly changed the boisterous rejoic ings of the wily commanders over their victory upon a few weak, resistless women, into bitter la mentations and despair, and despite the remon strances of traitors, hirelings in the service of the foreign besiegers, the captive females were per mitted to depart in peace, and a safety-guard given to securely conduct the glad prisoners into our encampment. Never again did these scheming leaders trifle with my anger. On the contrary, it chanced very soon thereafter that the populace, be coming disgusted with and mortally afraid of their overbearing and tyrannical military rulers, their high-priest Matthias, with a princely escort, issued forth in procession from the Golden Gate, came to my tent and besought me to follow him with my soldiers into the terribly afflicted city. We entered amidst great rejoicings and were received with open arms by large numbers. " I set myself to work without delay for the de fense of the strongholds and the reunion of the fierce factions who tore asunder the best strength of the people. In this, however, I was continually HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 95 thwarted and foiled by the unceasing machinations of the traitors, who would gladly have welcomed Titus and his troops into the holy tabernacle. When the Hebrews, despite their dissensions, showed themselves so bravely determined to defend their possessions or die in the combat, the miserable renegades who fawned and flattered around our Roman tormentors betrayed to the enemy the last secret which they thus far had inviolably kept, the subterranean passageways by which the country folks supplied overpeopled Jerusalem with food for men and beasts. These tunnels were, after the most bloody struggle of the whole war, taken pos session of by our assailants, and in consequence thereof fearful and abject famine fell upon us all. We could have fought hosts and withstood the bat tering rams, but hunger and the terrible sight of the starving and famishing women and children soon unmanned the strongest and the bravest. Such was the work of the miscreant Josephus and his tribe of renegades who stigmatized rne with the title of a tyrant. Then came the fire which consumed the temple and the city. The strongest minds lost heart. God seemed to have everywhere forsaken our people. His hand lay crushingly upon us. Yet I did not even then despair. Quickly I sum moned together my followers. We made our way first to the lower chambers of the temple. Here we supplied ourselves with stonecutters' tools, and appropriated from the magazines such stores of food-sustenance as had been laid up for times of greatest need. I led the way to a subterranean passageway yet undiscovered by the enemy, calcu lating that we might cut an outlet to the oppo site side of the temple and city, and from new strongholds renew the battles for our national existence. All was not lost if this plan succeeded. 96 BEN BEOR. We soon reached the end of the underground exca vations, and then the men set to work to quarry out the rest of the way. Our provisions, however, had to be carefully husbanded, and supplies dis tributed in scant measure. The nature of the rock revealed itself at an early date to be beyond our strength, and, to my horror, the laborers, utterly fatigued, threw down their tools and declared that it was beyond the power of human strength and endurance to proceed further with a work that showed such infinitesimal results. Hope, faith and the last vestige of enthusiasm had ebbed away I had reached the end of my resources. I determined upon one last effort, which offered but the faintest ground for success. In one of the recesses of the lower caverns I had found secreted the white linen garments and the velvet purple cloak of the high- priest. Attired in these, I proposed to appear sud denly amorg the superstitious foreign guards who watched over the ruins of the holy edifice. My followers were to keep close to me, and when they saw the scared victors take to flight, fall upon them and fight their way out of the city to places of safety. I played my part well. As I emerged so suddenly and unexpectedly from out of the earth, the surprised Komans hastily took to their heels. Alas! my men, discouraged and despairing, had stayed behind, only to be slaughtered like sheep, when the fugitives, recovering from their scare, seeing that no one followed, returned and took me prisoner. " Yet I would not reveal to this common rabble who their captive was, but demanded the presence of their commander. He was sent for immediately and came in great haste. I recognized him as the most implacable and bloodthirsty of any tyrant who ever bore semblance to a human HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 97 being the thrice-accursed murderer and villain, Rufus, surnamed by the Hebrews ' the Terrible.' 1 disclosed to him my name and defied him to do his worst. I was stripped of my priestly vestments, leaving me barely enough of dress to hide my nakedness; loaded down with chains and thrown into a deep and dark dungeon. I knew well what was to be my fate, and utterly callous of what was to come, resigned myself uncomplainingly to the future. Thou knowest the rest." Here he stopped. During the recital, the swarthy face of this giant-like person was suifused with tears, no doubt the first he had wept since his childhood. By this time we had arrived at our destination ; the weary team came to a halt, and two lictors in readiness, before a great multi tude, shoutingly took possession of the unfortunate captive. They subjected him in my presence, bound as he was hand and foot, to the most cruel flagellation, scourging and torments. The blood trickled over his naked back and chest, but not a muscle stirred ; not a sign of pain showed itself in mien or gesture of this brave soldier. He smiled contemptuously through it all. At last, when they fancied that his strength had succumbed to their torture, the two officers loosened the shackles on his arms, previous to the fearful plunge over the precipice which was soon to send him to his de struction. Instantly, when he felt himself thus partly freed, and before I even could execute my official commission to read to him the death-war rant, with one mighty eifort he grasped his tor mentors, and, crying out like Samson of old, " With mine enemies will I die this day ! " he made of his own accord the fearful plunge with them into eternity. Not a sound was heard but the thump ing of the bodies against the crags and rocks as the 98 BEN BEOR. dead bodies fell to the never-explored bottom. Long before I reached the "Arch Triumphal," in scribed with the ominous words, " Judea capta," where the emperors and people were awaiting my arrival, the shouts of the masses had proclaimed the final consummation of the death-sentence on their illustrious victim. The imperial procession set itself again into motion towards the capitol, for the final rites of the glorious Triumphal. The broad thoroughfare over which our march now proceeded was a blaze of most costly and tasteful decorations; all balustrades and windows were ornamented with flags, pennons and patriotic designs of the richest material, and the street, inclusive of every avail able place where the procession could be seen, was lined with men, women and children in holiday attire. They shouted themselves hoarse with the ever-repeated acclamations: "Viva Emperores, viva Titus; deliciae humani generis" I was, however, much astonished at the many signs of public disfavor and indignation which were manifested towards Berenice. Frequently some- group, more bold and aggressive than their companions, would point their lingers at her, and, just loud enough to be heard, cynically and sarcas tically drawl out the words of a double meaning, " Judea capta," which meant here unmistakably " the Jewess captured." All this must have been very distressing to her, and, being in close prox imity, I saw, even while she smiled defiance at her tormentors, tears standing in her beautiful eyes. At last we reached the capitol. Here the sacerdotal ceremonies were completed. The emperors seated themselves in the celebrated throne-chairs of ivory and gold. While the priests passed before them into the temple of Jupiter, where they brought the sacrifices of a thousand oxen ; the orators, poets and HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 99 singers recited their heroes' deeds of valor and glory. The sun set in unspeakable beauty and grandeur beyond the flaming Apenniniau hills, when the two emperors rose, prayerfully invoked the blessing of the gods upon all their subjects, and finally withdrew to the night's banquets and revelry in their palaces. Immediately thereafter the immense crowd dis^ persed; those exhausted from the fatigues of the long day wending their way homeward ; others who had saved their strength, or were naturally able to undergo more physical strain, to the festivities which had been provided at public expense in every quarter of the city, or repairing to the theatres and numerous shows. These costly celebrations con tinued for three days, officials vieing with private parties to make this one of the most memorable events in the annals of Rome. PHANTASMAGORIA IV. BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHAKYBDIS. There had been assigned to me and my servitors most comfortable and princely quarters near the Quirinal palace. Here I remained in retire ment for several days, partly to recuperate from the fatigues of the previous long journey and the excitement attending the " Triumphal," and partly for the purpose of undergoing medical treat ment, which soon restored my health and removed every vestige which the casualties of the fire at the Temple had left upon my body. Not a trace, not a mark remained by which I could be reminded of the severe injuries I had sustained, 100 BEN BEOR. but, on the contrary, the repeated soothing oint ments and the powerful restorative baths caused my whole frame to glow with health and my appearance to become youthful. Congratulating myself upon these gratifying experiences, I soon discovered that still greater sur prises were in store for me. One morning I found a mysterious note upon my table, inviting me urgently to an early and confidential interview with the princess Berenice. What could this woman possibly want with me? There was no earthly likelihood that she had the faintest idea of my blind affection for her. While pondering over this unexpected enigma, an imperial page summoned me to the presence of Vespasian. Here was a dilemma ! Whom should I see first ? Following my individual inclination, I appointed the time for an audience with the great monarch at a later hour and dismissed the messenger. After careful preparations as to my personal appearance, I repaired immediately to the residence of the lady. Here I must have been expected, for I was shown at once to her presence. As I entered I saw the magnificent splendor of the royal cham bers, in all more like a dream than a reality. Re posing upon one of those peculiar Eastern couches which seemed to form a rich frame to a celestial portrait, pensive and sad as if just awakening from deeply troublesome reflections, was the lovely Bere nice. I knelt before her, and raising the hand which hung languidly by her side, I kissed the rose ate tips of her fingers. Never will I forget the rapture which thrilled me as my lips came for one glorious moment into this slight carnal contact with the to me angelic being. She smilingly bade me welcome and motioned HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 101 me to a seat. Then she spoke : " Be not aston ished that I have called thee to me. From the zeal and devotion which thou hast shown to thy superiors in the hour of great peril and at risk of thy life, I have been filled with the utmost confi dence in thy fidelity and strength of character. And now that I need a trusty agent on a very im portant and difficult enterprise, my choice naturally has fallen upon one whom I have found to be most reliable. It now depends upon thee to decide whether thou wilt accept the post for which I have singled thee out." " Speak, adored being ! " I replied, " and all my life, every thought of my soul and every pulsation of my heart shall be devoted to thy behests ! " She appeared somewhat astonished at the warmth of my language, but with one of those bewitch ing glances which Hebrew women know how to employ when they wish to fasten their influence upon a man, she continued : " It is well known throughout all Rome that our young emperor in his great affection has pledged me his troth, and as soon as he ascends his father's throne will make me his wedded wife. Yet reasons which I well understand and which, as I believe, consist partly in the hatred a'gainst my valiant but unfortunate race their conquest having cost so many precious lives and countless treasure have caused father, brother and friends to look upon the foreign favor ite with antipathy and displeasure. On that ac count I am greatly afraid of obstacles which might be thrown in the way of the final consummation of our connubial union. I believe that with judicious management and carefully arranged measures all these great difficulties can be overcome. My be trothed will and can best manage the obstinacy of his family. Occasion may offer, too, by which a 102 BEN BEOR. confidential friend, one like thee, whom I have selected for this purpose, might aid his efforts. But thy service is needed mainly to pacify the people and, if possible, change their dislike of me into genuine love and confidence. They owe me a great debt of gratitude, for it has been my sole aim and object, since I have been betrothed to the prince, to so influence and modify the harsh and brutal ten dencies of his character as to change them into noble, good and lovable traits. I have no doubt when the time comes that he shall wield the sceptre of the world, he will more than deserve the flatter ing name already bestowed upon him, ' The Delight of Humanity.' Thou mayest help me in my great emergency. Eternal friendship, with any other favor in my power which thou mayest ask, shall be thy reward. She held out her hand to me in the depth of her feeling, and as a token of my assent to her wishes, as is the usage of Oriental people, I was to gently bring it to my lips and bow myself to the earth. Instead of this I, however, grasped it vehemently and impressed upon it most passionate, ardent kisses. Then on my knees I vowed the most faithful and devoted service and attachment, plac ing my whole life and being at her command. " Spare neither efforts nor treasures in this task," she cried out. " My wealth is inexhaustible ; in my name bestow it in charity and relief wherever it may be needed. Assure all the people that it is my anxiety and highest aim to make them prosper ous, happy and content. Men must be of stone if they will withstand such kindness and good-will. Go, my friend, and report to me from time to time the progress made in this undertaking, and may Divine Providence prosper and speed thee ! " With these words I was dismissed. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA 103 Laboring under the most conflicting emotions, 1 reached my home. I threw myself wearily upon my couch. Was I then to become the veritable instrument by which this union, so repug nant to me, should be consummated? Was I to be the means by which this man, whom I so jealously hated, should rob me of her whom I madly adored ? Never ! no, never ! And yet I had most solemnly promised had made myself an abject slave in her service, and for this very object. Raps at my door brought me to a repression of my feelings. A servant announced that the hour for the audience with the old emperor was at hand ; so I proceeded to the palace. Ushered into the presence of the mighty Yespasian, I found him alone, pacing up and down the stately hall. He seemed to be greatly agitated, and did not notice me on entering. At last he saw me, and smilingly approaching, spoke : " So thou hast come ? Sit here by me and listen to what I have to communicate to thee." He himself wheeled some chairs to the centre of the apart ment, and occupying one, pointed me to the other. Hesitating to accept- a condescension which at this all-powerful court is of the very highest favor, he impatiently motioned me to the seat. Then he said : " The relations which I desire to establish now between us will be of the most con fidential and friendly nature, and whenever we meet alone, as often no doubt we shall, let all needless formalities cease. My august son has informed me of thy fidelity, unselfishness, and dauntless courage in the face of death. I need now the services of an upright confederate in a very diffi cult and greatly important affair. For this I have selected thee, and if thou consent, matters of state will be entrusted to thy care, the successful solu tion of which will entitle thee to my lasting grati- 104 BEN BEOR. tude. All the world knows of the tender relations existing between my son Titus and that wily Hebrew woman Berenice. I have reliable infor mation that, infatuated as he is with her, it was mutually understood between them that on his coming to my throne he will formally make her empress. This must never be! No offspring of the hated Semitic race shall, with my consent, hold such an elevated station among the proudest lineage of the very gods. True, I might interpose my imperative command as parent and emperor and forbid the obnoxious misalliance. But for reasons delicate yet powerful I prefer not to avail myself of this prerogative, especially as there are other equally potent means by which my object may be achieved. The Roman people are already indignant that this foreign female dare raise her haughty eyes to the crown of the Caesars. Let this aversion be stimulated and extended. While my son might, with the characteristic traits of our family, defy paternal authority, yet he will bend before the force of public indignation. Be thou the instrument to carry out this my cherished plan. Achieve it, and there shall be no honor or favor in my gift which thou mayest not ask and receive." Even while he was speaking, thoughts, like flashes of lightning, crossed my brain, as to the policy which I was to pursue between the two high patrons. I therefore was readily prepared to make answer. " O, Emperor," I proceeded to say, " the task assigned to me, complimentary and flattering as it must be to my modest abilities and integrity, is at once arduous and expensive, requiring for its successful execution thy fullest confidence and unstinted treasures. But, most of all, it seems requisite to me that even the slightest appearance HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 105 of an intrigue between us should be avoided. This scarcely could be done were it noticed that the emperor had frequent intercourse with his humble subject. Communications, for this reason, ought to be strictly secret; should be made in writing, and transmitted by an unsuspected party. Will my gracious sovereign approve of these my views in accepting my services ? I think I shall be able to carry out in reasonable length of time the desired mission. Make it, therefore, thy pleasure, sire, to find ways and means by which we may unobtrusively communicate together, whereby we silently, but effectually, shall attain our object." " Be it so, my valued friend," re sponded the emperor, " and whatever wealth or influence thou mayest require shall be at thy com mand. The details concerning our intercommun ion will be imparted to thee as soon as I shall have time to perfect the same. And be once again assured, on the day when the hated woman leaves Rome forever, thy fortune, as far as I can build it, shall be made." Then we parted. At my abode, new perplexities awaited my coming. A man, covered in cloak and hood so as not to be recognizable, was walking impa tiently up and down the rooms. As soon as I entered he threw off his disguise and approached me. " So at last thou hast come ! it seemed an eternity while I waited for thy return. Never before has Titus been compelled to so exercise patience. But deeming it of first importance to meet thee, my friend, all my feelings of displeasure are vanished since thou art here, and an interview, upon which I lay great importance, may be had between us. Waive all ceremonial, approach, let us be seated, and then come without delay to an understanding." 106 BEN BEOR. With these words he threw himself upon a couch and motioned me to take a seat beside him. After making humble obeisance I did as bidden. He spoke, repressing, as could be easily noticed, for the time being, the real object of his presence. " The government has been greatly troubled," he said, "in disposing of the immense number of captives which we have brought home from the wars. Common humanity forbids their starvation, yet their support will prove an unbearable expense to the state. So the senate has this day resolved on a great public building, the Coliseum, the erec tion of which has long been planned, and in the execution of this our Jewish prisoners will be used, thereby earning their support. Believing that from former experiences among this turbulent ele ment thou knowest well and understandest their nature and character, I had thee appointed chief superintendent of this enterprise, with full power to act, and with the emoluments due to such respon sible station. Very little actual work is expected, as this will be done by subordinates ; but there is a head needed for the undertaking. This office is one more of honor than of labor. I deem it good fortune to be the first bearer of this pleasant mes sage, and while congratulating thee, my friend, sincerely on this distinguished appointment, would in return ask some kind personal service which thou canst render me." I knew from the expression of his features that the real object of his presence would now be dis closed. He then continued : " Berenice, my betrothed, has informed me of the interview which she had with thee this day. I approve highly of its tenor and join warmly in its object. I know also of thy audience with my im perial father, and can readily imagine its purport, HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 107 and the perplexing situation in which a loyal subject is placed by being connected with such clashing interests. Now that thou hast been made the confidant of those two high contracting parties, a solution of all the difficulties may be reached by taking into counsel the third and perhaps most important personage. Believing to have some strong claim to thy kind consideration, as the whole matter concerns but me, and as the political cause in which thou art so peculiarly enlisted might, by one precipitate action, crumble under thy i'eet, irretrievably ruining thee and compro mising and embarrassing all parties, promise me solemnly and on thy honor that thou actually wilt do nothing for either party, while apparently humoring the schemes and conceits of both. In defense of this questionable attitude in which my commands place thee, let me express my well- matured conviction that private interests of so delicate and tender a nature are always best left to their own development. The natural course of events shapes results to greatest advantage by the non-interference of outside agencies. Trusting that thou wilt understand and coincide with me, give me thy hand as token of approval and accept ance of this my imperial will and behest." This was indeed relief from the confounded position in which I had been so unnaturally forced. It cut the " Gordian knot " of my perplexities with one stroke. I therefore readily grasped the proifered hand, vowing, for the third time this day, compliance and obedience in a cause so near to my heart, that threatened to engulf my future presence in Rome in untold difficulties. The young Caesar departed as he had come, in his disguise, unnoticed and undetected, leaving me relieved from my awkward engagements, but with 108 BEN BEOR. long and deep reflections upon the transitions of mundane affairs. I must add here that I found no difficulty in readily disposing of the immense sums of money trusted to my keeping at the hands of .the confiding woman, and that it took no additional stimulus to increase the hatred and aversion of the populace against her and her ambitious motives. My confi dential relations with Vespasian, Titus and Berenice remained undisturbed. PHANTASMAGORIA V. A WOMAN SPURNED. The official work which the appointment as superintendent of public works demanded of me was of the slightest character, making my position nearly a sinecure. The chief labor was performed by subordinates, requiring of me nothing more than occasionally the signing of my name to the rolls. I had therefore all the leisure which my schemes and experiments required. Loaded with favors from the high persons who thought me actively engaged in their service, I virtually did but enough to keep up an appearance of zeal and industry in the advancement of their several plots. But I remained not idle concerning my own machinations. It is well known that the ancient city of Rome was tunneled by subterranean cloacae, broad road ways arched and columned, forming an under ground town. Here and there, where the corners of streets met, the extensive spaces were used for large squares, which no doubt had been designed by the architect who planned these catacomb-like HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 109 vaults for some public object, either as keeps for prisoners, or magazines where to preserve large stores of provisions in times of war. I was aware of the existence of these structures, and soon found out that the "domus" such is the name of the residences of the patricians in which I dwelt stood directly over one of these squares. There I very soon assembled some of the roughest elements of the lowest strata of humanity to be found in the city. These, by the glaring red light of pine-torches, worked day and night in the production of large quantities of the as yet unknown intoxicant. As soon as ready, I used it first for some physiological experiments to ascertain its effects upon the differ ent nationalities congregated in our cosmopolitan metropolis. I tried it first on the miserable creatures who produced it. They were mostly natives of the immediate Campagna. Vile and brutal as their rearing in ignorance and vice had made them, when the stimulating fire of drink coursed through their brains and blood they became actually ferocious. Such reckless, base and foolish scenes as I beheld among them ; such cruel selfishness as was soon developed ; such swinish passions as came into broad existence; such sanguinary thirst which without restraint agitated the whole crew, changed human beings into demons. To all appearances amidst the sharp lights and shadows, it seemed a veritable pandemonium. Next 1 slyly caused its use among the Teutonic cohorts who were gathered in and around the city. They did not take kindly to it. Having brought with them from the German lands a drink of their own, they ingeniously brewed this here from bar ley and hops. No doubt in fermentation it devel oped a small percentage of my own distillation. 110 BEN BEOR. They frequently used this exhilarating beverage, which they boasted that their god " Gambrinus " had invented for them, and proved wary against the introduction of a new and unknown liquor. "When, however, my concoction found its way to the stomachs of the sturdy sons of Teutonia, it changed their whole character. From cool, lym phatic, earnest, deliberate and quiet people, brave in the extreme, they became quarrelsome, drowsy, sullen and indifferent louts, whom neither pleas ure nor danger could stir from their lethargy. The officers who were acquainted with these my de based victims quickly caused a medical investiga tion, thinking that a new and dreadful disease had broken out among their soldiery. I next practised among the Anglo-Saxons and Celts, who had been brought from Britannia, after its conquest, as allies of the Roman army. They readily and greedily partook of the potion, and such was the effect upon the seduced victims as to almost reverse all the noble and fine qualities in herent in their nature. From genial, jovial, good- natured and fearless companions, they became brawling, boisterous and reckless drunkards, never satiated, ever craving for more, losing all self-con trol, all self-respect, at times blindly combative, boisterously furious when there was no enemy, then again cowardly whining and abjectly demure, even in the face of the foe. My attention was next directed to the native soldiers of this sunny land. They had never par taken of anything stronger than the compressed juice of their grapes. Generally jovial, proud, self- contained and confiding to a fault, after the first taste of the intoxicating fire-water they soon be came utterly unmanned and disorganized, maud lin and whimsical, momentarily changing from- HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. Ill one extreme of passion to the other, exhibiting themselves through the whole scale .of meanness, depravity and abandon, no traces of which could previously be found in their mental composition. The use of the debasing liquid spread rapidly through all classes and grades of society. Dram shops sprang up in every nook and corner of the seven hills, with such fearful effect as to become so notorious and widespread that the authorities felt called upon to use .stringent and powerful meas ures for their suppression. Vain efforts forever ! to try chaining the devil when he has once broken his bonds. The last of these hellish experiments I had re served for the captive Jews, now working and groaning under my direct and uncompromising tyranny, on the walls of the Coliseum. What kept up their hope and courage under the most ex hausting and trying travail was impossible to un derstand. Still they toiled and labored, mumbling in faint but ever sad melody the words of a song commencing : " By the waters of Babylon, We hung our harps and wept." Here I had promised myself the richest and most prolific harvest. Why should not these desperately goaded slaves readily avail themselves of the freely proffered means of sinking all their trials, hard ships and degradations into oblivion by imbibing the luring, sparkling draught that came to them freely and without expense? But to my utter amazement they would have none of it, would not touch the tempting cup. A law of theirs forbade strictly the use of any made drink not produced by their own hands. Wine of their vin tage was generally used only for sacred purposes 112 BEN BEOR. or on festive occasions, for marriage feasts, natal celebrations and public rejoicings. In such in stances, the language of their wise king, Solomon, proved true, " it gladdens the heart." With the Jews, unlike any other race, if they partook of wine to excess, the effect was manifested in good- natured wit, singing of songs, declaiming of rhap sodical speeches, and finally of a peaceful departure for home. I succeeded in making a few recreants and apostates partake of my nostrum. Their vitals being unaccustomed to the strength of this drink, they became deathly sick, and were borne to the hospitals amidst the jeers and derision of their co-religionists. Then I had recourse to stratagem, mixing small quantities of the liquor with their food ; but they detected its taste, and preferring to go hungry, would not partake of the obnoxious meals. Worst of all I fared with the members of a new sect, the Nazarenes. With a velocity unparalleled in history, they had increased from a comparatively small number to an immense host. Their plain, simple and modest life of absti nence and morality had even attracted converts from the Latins, and it had become necessary for the emperor to issue an edict forbidding the joining of their church. True to their name of Na'zarenes, which means " Abstainers," it was one of the chief articles of their creed never to drink aught but water. These wretches, even in their humiliation and downfallen abject dependency, proved equal to the Jews in hampering my work and resisting its progress. Meanwhile, affairs of state transpired which materially affected my career. Yespasian had suddenly died. Seeking rest from labor in his old age, he retired to the Campagna. Common report declared that he was suddenlv seized with a fatal HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 113 malady. Whispered reports, which I am not pre pared to confirm or contradict, were abroad that he was in the way of his two sons and had lived long enough. Titus was immediately crowned suc cessor and ascended the throne of his father. The coronation ceremonial over, all Rome was in sul len agitation, fearing his marriage to the detested Jewess. My surprise was intense when, three days after being made emperor, I was summoned to the young Caesar and received at his hands the com mission to repair to the abode of the impatiently- waiting Berenice, with the irrevocable imperial command that she at once leave Rome, in confirm ation of which I was furnished with the written edict of banishment for herself and brother, Agrippa. Special oral instruction directed me on no consid eration to permit her to see Titus. Never before had I witnessed such a display of woe, despair, wrath and anger as transpired before my eyes upon the execution of my cruel, heartless errand. At first she refused to believe until I showed her the mandate with the great seal of state. Then she appeared stunned her breath came hard and heavy, but she did not faint, her feelings were too violent for this. Making ready in haste, she cried out : " I will see the traitor the monster face to face ! " When I explained to her now that the emperor on no condition would have any further communication with her, she broke out in passionate weeping and sobbing. Then she turned violently upon me and exclaimed : " Dastard whom I had nursed as a devoted friend, this is all thy consummate, infernal work !" I fell on my knees before her, vowing by all in heaven and on earth that I had been but the instrument, selected only an hour before, to convey the hateful message. I implored her not to misjudge my 114 BEN BEOR. devotion and fidelity to her cause, protesting my utter incapacity to even in thought do or permit a wrong towards one so good and beautiful. Rising to rny feet, I continued : " Listen, lady the most wronged, the most injured who ever lived listen to my words. Thou art now free from any duty or affection for one who has spurned thee. All feelings of love or devotion ought to be changed in thy bosom to hatred and thirst for revenge. Let me avow it here let me now plead in my own behalf. Since I saw thee in the burning ruins of the Lord's temple, I have loved, worshipped, adored thee! Before this treachery of that base man transpired, 1 rather would have died than own these words to thee. Give me thy sympathy, turn thy royal heart and hands to me, and thou shalt have the most terrible and exquisite revenge that ever has satiated a revolted human soul ! " She stood at first dazed, as if unable to connect or understand these words. Then their meaning seemed slowly to dawn upon her comprehension. Presently she raised herself to full height, and, like a roused tigress, threw the weight of her whole power upon me. With the nails of her cramped fingers she tried to get at my eyes, screeching so fiercely that it must have sounded near and far. In her spasmodic strength she would have certainly thrown me to the floor but for my superhuman force, by which I hurled her from me. At the entrance of aroused servants, amidst a great noise and commotion, I essayed to escape and reach safety in flight. The unfortunate woman took her departure that same day for her Palestinian home; but she never reached it. Her disappointments, sufferings and trials were too heavy to bear. She died on the road no doubt of a broken heart, and her exiled HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 115 brother brought an unsightly coffin only to Jeru salem, where he, too, shortly died, unknown and unwept, both finding a resting-place in the tombs of their Maccabean ancestors. Naturally, the report which I made to the mon arch was colored in my favor, raising me in his opinion and esteem. I exhibited myself as a martyr to the ferocity of the victim who was sacri ficed to the pride and prejudice of his subjects. As soon as the sad ending of the love affair became publicly known, Titus was lauded to the very skies. Henceforth he appeared entirely changed in character and disposition. From a profligate, careless spendthrift, and an easy-going, wilful and obstinate despot, he now became, to the admiration of the world, a thoughtful, earnest and patriotic ruler and statesman ; concerned exclusively with the welfare of his realm, constantly engaged in deeds of benevolence and acts of munificent gener osity. And she, the Jewess who had thus influenced and moulded his coarse nature, who had trans formed the very grossness and brutality of his being abandoned, banished and dead, a very epi tome of her race as it was in the past, and as it shall become, by my agency, in the future. True, often when I came into the young emperor's pres ence, having been appointed a confidential adviser, I found him groaning and in tears. The excruci ating pangs which he in his remorse must have suffered in the solitude of his apparently never- ceasing anguish, made his private life an eating cancer on his heart and soul. There is a Jewish legend concerning him that perhaps fully illus trates his terrible mental condition. It says that shortly after the beginning of his reign a gnat found its way into his brain, on which it fed until it grew in proportions to the size of a dove, and, 116 BEN BEOR. consuming that organ, killed him. Alas ! this destructive insect is but a symbol of the bitter reproaches of his conscience, as I ween, which tor mented him awake by day and asleep by night. Never was wronged woman more completely and tragically avenged than was this Berenice, in the silent but ever-living repentance of her betrayer, the emperor Titus. PHANTASMAGORIA YI. THE KAPE OF THE TABLETS. In vain had I tried all this time to find out what had become of and where were stored the holy ves sels from the temple of Jerusalem. Most of the other booty brought back from the Eastern war had been deposited in the public museums. Search ing among these, not a single one of the Jewish treasures could I discover. Especially concerned was I about the Sinaitic Decalogue. At last I learned that Josephus, who now greatly rose in favor with the emperor, had declared these tablets endowed with certain mystic powers by the great God of the Hebrews, Jahveh. They had therefore been made objects of utmost care by the supersti tious monarch. Kept in some sacred hiding-place at the palace, they were guarded by soldiers day and night. During my wanderings through the exten sive and magnificent halls, I discovered an apart ment, entirely constructed of iron and flint-rock. At the entrance to this two soldiers paced up and down continually. I suspected that here was the receptacle of the objects of my anxious search. How to find means to gain admittance to the well- secured and constantly-watched premises was now HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 117 my next concern. I saw no other way than to make friends with the men who were placed in charge of the apartment. I soon learned that the household troops exclusively had been commis sioned for this duty. Alternately every six hours the guards were changed. I commenced leisurely to associate with the officers. They easily fell into my snares. Soon I knew every man of the corps, and by patient and persevering observation was enabled to find the rotation in which they were placed on duty. I singled out one couple, appar ently more good-natured than the rest, and became very friendly with them. One afternoon, while they were guarding the place, their attention being diverted by a grotesque procession passing the palace, an affair which I had at my expense previously provided for this very purpose, I suc ceeded in making a hasty but efficient impression in wax of the huge lock, a clumsy but ingenious contrivance working bolts with a set of pins, by which they held the portals to the crypt. From this impression one of the best experts in the city made a key, which I determined to try on the lock at the first opportunity. I found out that my two boon companions, in whom I had created an insa tiate appetite for my drink, were the guards from midnight to morning between the 21st and 22d of August. How impatiently I waited for that night ! It came at last. In the darkness I visited my friends, and found them but too ready to be sociable. I had brought with me a large jug, one of those glazed, light terra-cotta specimens for which the Roman potters were so famous. Their greedy eyes spoke of the impatience to have it opened for a taste of its contents. With ever-renewed gulps from the tempting vessel, there was nothing under heaven which they were not eager to pledge. Amidst 118 BEN BEOR. the most ridiculous antics and gestures they be came maudlin drunk. Yet I continued to ply them with the stuff until they fell away unconscious. All was now safe. Cautiously I approached the crypt. Trembling and with some misgivings I inserted the key in the ]ock. Would it fit ? I turned it and heard the bolts move in the sockets, gave one pull and the door stood open. I entered and glanced around. By the dim light 1 espied the temple treasures, and among them my long-wished-for prize, and lifted this from its resting-place. It was much heavier than I had calculated ; but nothing daunted, 1 took it in my arms, and locking the doors behind me, soon reached the dark street. Wrapping my mantle around the tablets, I got away in safety. I stored the prize thus stolen into a war chariot held ready for this purpose, and started in haste for the place which I had previously selected for its burial. Through the Campagna, past towns and hamlets, never resting, until at last I reached the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Then I lifted my burden and climbed up to the raging crater. Here I arrived at the next midnight. I braced myself for the last effort, and hurled the hated thing into a seething, boiling grave. With an awful curse I ex claimed : " May ye lie there forgotten until the yawn of the last day of this globe shall open your caldron doors ! " A thrill of joy passed through me as I danced in glee where 1 stood. The moon, struggling with the thick, dark clouds, showed her face. As I looked scornfully and laughingly up ward, suddenly the ground under my feet com menced to sway and heave. The hills surrounding the neighborhood began to rise and fall as if moved by some supernatural giant-power. The whole uni verse seemed in frenzied commotion. A lurid col- HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 119 umn of fire and pillars of ashes burst from the crater and swept the horizon. The most awful lightning, and the deafening, screeching, howling, incessant roll of thunder followed. An avalanche of red-hot globular monsters exploded like fulminated flames with the roar and crash of a thousand cataracts, while repeated shocks twisted and turned the earth beneath my feet. Then all became still for an instant, and to my horror I beheld rise from the depths of the volcano, higher and higher, the buried tablets, enveloped in the most gloriously brilliant light. As if borne by the scorching hot air, they gradually lifted themselves until they actually stood perpendicularly upright. Remaining in this position for a moment, which seemed to me eternity, with a force which threw me prostrate near the verge of the boiling orifice, they exploded in mid-air like a brilliant meteor, and were shattered into millions of atoms, flying far out into incalculable distances to all quarters of the globe, borne by the hurricane which now ensued, to all lands and countries. I fled like a madman, never halting till* I reached Rome. I found that I had been preceded by a mounted messenger, who bore the awful tidings of the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The country people from all directions were rushing through the streets, looking more like ghosts than human beings. They had been terrified by the harrowing convulsions of the earth, which were felt even in Kome and still continued at irregular intervals. The uncer tainty of the extent of the terrible destruction, and the continual incoming reports from the scenes of the unparalleled disaster, increased greatly the ever-spreading consternation. It was then and there that the elder Pliny, one of the most cele brated authors of this era, in his attempt to bring 120 BEN BEOK. relief from his ship to the stricken people, perished in his efforts. Weeks passed before the awed and superstitious inhabitants, native and foreign, from the country and city, were pacified and fell back into their ordinary course of life. During this catastrophe the emperor distinguished himself majestically. He was everywhere. Reassuring the people with kind and encouraging words, his replete treasury was opened to better the condition of the poor and suffering as never had been done before, so that many declared the terrible disas ter had come as a blessing in disguise. The first stunning excitement in the capital having somewhat subsided, Titus, with his train, departed for the stricken district, sheltering those who had fled in dismay to the mountains, caring for the sick and destitute and having the uncounted dead de cently buried. Often, in danger of his own life, pass ing through the yet smoking debris and scoria, he seemed inexhaustible in resource and strength. Ameliorating the pitiful condition of the helpless and despairing, encouraging here, rousing there, until at last some semblance of order out of the terrible chaos was established. The urgent appeals of the senate made now his return to Rome im perative. I had followed him in his journeys, and was often astonished at the genuine valor and boundless benevolence of this man, who thus proved his indisputable claim to the glorious title given him by his subjects. PHANTASMAGORIA VII. PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY. One of the chief causes actuating the immediate return of Titus to Rome was a message sent by the authorities, the contents of which conveyed HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 121 tidings of great importance to the state. A new secret society had been discovered among the Pal estinian captives, calling themselves the " Ebi- onites" "the Paupers," from the fact that they permitted none of their members to possess worldly goods. On entering the order, whatever was owned by a member was surrendered to the common fund, from which sustenance, habiliments and shelter were provided for all. Seven commissioners, called " Presbyters," elected by the community for this pur pose, were charged with this duty. The simplest and plainest of everything was provided, and all differences between poor and rich disappeared in this strange fraternity. In their religion they ad hered strictly to the Mosaic law, with the addition of accepting "Jesus of Nazareth" as their ideal Messiah, who had come into this world like Moses of old to redeem mankind from the bondage of material and spiritual slavery. Their creed was " One God, One law, and One humanity." They lived a simple, unostentatious life, praying often and fervently, singing psalms, and avowing them selves loyal subjects to any government under which they lived. At meal-times they assembled together, pronounced the blessing over the wine, all drank from the same cup, broke the bread in memorial of their Saviour's last hour, and men and women indiscriminately kissed one another as a sign of their fraternal union. They believed that some of their members were specially chosen by superior spirituality, intrusted with the office of dispensing baptism to newly accepted members, and to the older ones at stated seasons. Often these select ones in their enthu siasm prophesied of the early coming of the kingdom of God. They did wonders in the healing of the sick, and proclaimed themselves endowed 122 BEN BEOR. with the Holy Spirit. These few chosen acted as spiritual guides, and were called " Deacons." The early restoration of the Hebrew government and the rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem in all its former glory and lustre formed the acme of their religious expectations, to be fulfilled by the eccle siastical influence of their adored Messiah, who had come and died to accomplish this Divine purpose. As they observed the Seventh-day Sabbath, the Abrahamitic rite, the biblical feasts, and the laws concerning the clean and unclean meats, inclusive of all other Mosaic institutions, they were looked upon by their Jewish compatriots as co-religionists, and were regarded as such by the Gentiles. Dur ing the late fearful casualty many Gentiles died of abject terror and prostrating apprehensions, others went stark rnad; but fortitude, resignation and quiet distinguished these early Christians, openly declaring trust in their God, who, though angry with the wickedness and sins of the world, would protect and shield His own. The chief management of the association was entrusted to a venerable patriarch, an adherent to and a follower of the apostle James surnamed u the Lesser." The motto of James was the password of his already , widely disseminated gospel, by which he, in contra distinction to all other of the disciples, stands out most prominently the more so for being own brother of Him who died on the cross as a martyr at the hands of Pontius Pilatus, for openly de claring himself " King of the Jews." This pass word, now so strenuously enacted by the Roman patriarch, consisted in the principle of " Deeds, not Creeds," or, as expressed in the gospel text, " Prove yourselves Doers of the word, and not Hearers only." Now, the equanimity and serenity of this band HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 123 of captives during the harrowing hours of wild commotion presented itself so conspicuously to the disorganized and scared crowd of Gentiles, that they flocked by the thousands to the doors of the for eigners and pitifully pleaded to be accepted as proselytes to the new religion of Judeo-Christians. This move threatened to decimate the worship of Jupiter and the hosts of deities, whose priests and multifarious servants lived entirely from the sacri fices and pious gifts brought by the multitudes of the Pagans. Bitter and clamorous complaints had been made by the united hierarchy of the heathens, representing that in the revolution against and dis respect for the gods the greatest danger threatened the state partly from the celestial anger which would surely and fatally avenge the unprecedented heresy, partly by the political and social disaffec tion of the plebeians, who, by dint of their enormous numbers, might in their intoxicated enthusiasm overthrow the entire order of civil affairs. After lengthy consultations, two of the most influential and best-informed senators were therefore deputized as ambassadors to the absent emperor, to inform him of the impending crisis, and prevail upon the all- trusted monarch to return without delay to the capital, and forthwith suppress the as yet incipient revolution. On our way homeward he imparted to me the causes of the newly arisen emergency, asking my judgment as to the proper means of mastering the certainly difficult situation. I knew the secret temper of his feelings concerning his Hebrew cap tives, emanating from the never-dying love he held for the absent Berenice, which had grown and increased in strength until it became a kind of ex alted Platonic idealism, permeating every trait of his lately developed character. I felt that advice of 124 BEN BEOR. destructive despotism was out of the question. This was the more impossible, as interfering with the religious affairs of so many divergent nations lately conquered was not the policy of the Romans. After mature and deep reflection we came to the conclusion that the old Pharaonic plan of cunning was the most advisable. Foremost, it became necessary to obtain correct information as to their secret doings. For this purpose I proposed be coming a member of their society, which was not a difficult task, being known among all the captives as belonging to the Semites. When once among them, we could bide our time for devising necessary schemes for neutralizing any mischief which they might contemplate. I, however, advocated the immediate putting into effect of two measures: The first one was to levy a small per capita tax on every believer in Mosaism, with a proviso of one much larger for every Gentile proselyte who joined that faith. The sums thus raised were to be distributed among the different temples, in order to quiet the clamor of the caviling priests. The second and more important one consisted in effecting, if possible, a total separation of the old and new Jewish sects, and then playing oft' one against the other on the old principle, divide et impera. Titus highly approved and lauded the wisdom of my views, and immediately on our arrival home issued the decree of the " Jew tax," and authorized me to proceed at the earliest and most convenient time to the execu tion of the second part of my proposal. I found no difficulty in passing the ordeals by which I became a full-fledged member on the rolls of the sacred conclave, and soon, with the usual zeal of new converts and my well-known high standing at court, succeeded in attaining to the front rank in their midst. Considered then aa a HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 125 very great acquisition, I was further looked upon as a God-send in the hour of their new trials. Im pecunious as they were, the hateful demand made upon them by the new ordinance became a loathed oppression, and I was besought to use my great influence with the authorities and have the man date repealed. Loud was the joy, and increased the strong hold I had already on their confidence, when I soon brought the news that our gracious Caesar, though unable to recall the late law, would, out of his own coffers, defray the sums necessary to liquidate the tax as far as it concerned my new Jewish friends. At this time an event transpired which accom plished my second great purpose, totally and for ever severing the connection racial, national and religious between Jew and Christian, thereby laying the foundation of all the future develop ments which have proved so fatal and sore to both sides, but especially the proud, unbending, yet ever-surviving children of Israel. There came to the suburbs of the city no one could tell whence a stranger, making his home with one of the many Pariah families who dwelt there in poverty and abandon. The paterfamilias, who was known by the name of "Manilus the Unterrified," was one of those rough, picturesque lazzaroni who live by begging, stealing or robbery, never having indulged in the luxury of an honest day's work. Priscilla, his wife, a captive from the British Isles, in remark able contrast, represented one of those peculiar young Northern beauties whose rags and squalor hide a countenance and character to have made her a ravishing model for any master artist from which to paint an inspired conception of an Ari adne or Helen. Petite in stature and delicate in form ; glowing with health and youth, her com- 126 BEN BEOE. plexion was of that peculiar transparent color, suffused with the tints of roses, which lends such a magnetic charm to this type of females. "With a wild wealth of curly hair, golden brown ; the Gre cian profile, so rare in this part of the continent ; forehead and finely chiseled nose, forming almost a straight line ; unusually long eyelashes, under which, as if to make the contrast complete, glinted the most sad, liquid, viplet-blue orbs that ever rivaled the deep azure of the Italian sky how even this brute, her husband, could find the heart, when coining home at eve in besotted condition, to deal blows and kicks upon so inoffensive a creature, often while nursing and holding that cherub-like girl-baby to her breast, a miniature copy of the patient and cruelly suffering maternal parent, is in explicable, except on the theory that devil and angel often must consort. One day towards night fall he came home in a quarrelsome mood. With out provocation he raised his cowardly arm for a chance blow which might either have killed or disfigured her for life. The beastly stroke was arrested by a hand, holding the assailant's arm as if in a vise. The surprised coward drew himself up to his full height, and seeing that he who held him was a stranger, foaming at his mouth from sheer wrath, he drew a glistening stiletto from his breast with his free hand and made a vicious lunge at the intruder. To his surprise and dismay, that arm was also caught by a grip which made any further motion impossible. No matter how he struggled, wriggled and tried to get away from his unexpected opponent, he was held by an irresistible power, which brought him. panting and trembling upon his knees. Then the stranger cast his piercing eyes upon the quivering villain and spoke : " Too long hast thou tried the HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 127 patience of Heaven in the treatment of this thy wife and child ! Now repent ! Repeat the words of prayer after me which I shall now command, or this instant shalt thou die!" The woman, too, had fallen on her knees. The semi-darkness, which hid the group in the dismal room, seemed illuminated suddenly by a strange influx of rays which the set ting sun shed from the carminated horizon. Still holding the subdued bandit in his grasp, the de fender of the wife continued : " I am one of the disciples of Christ, Him who has come into this world to save the sinner and protect the weak against the strong. Now let us pray ! " Then in tones clear as a silver bell, he spoke these grand, eloquent, sublime yet simple words: " Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name ; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us ; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen." Having finished, he relinquished the hold on the arms of his conquered antagonist. Large tears rolled over the now metamorphosed features of Manilus, changed from the brutal to an almost saint-like expression. The woman and child were in hie arms. Such was the heroic work of the lately elected Bishop Cecil Rom anus, the third suc cessor of Peter the Apostle among the Gentiles. By strange persuasive eloquence, piety, love and sympathy which this high priest of the new Church exercised, accompanied by an earnest zeal and enthusiasm, in a very short time, from hitherto small and insignificant numbers, a powerful and numerous congregation of Heathen -Christians sprang into active life. They differed diametrically 128 BEN BEOR. from their Jewish-Christian brethren, especially in declaring that the covenant of the old dispen sation with the coming of the Messiah was abolished ; that all the Mosaic ceremonials were no longer in force no longer obligatory on the children of man, whose safety and salvation rested exclusively in their Belief in the Trinity of the Godhead, and not in their works. Two such divergent sects, antagonizing as they soon must one another, and both to the parent-reli gion, the Jews, from which they sprang, I was satis fied would so press against themselves that they could not live in peace together. On my making report to the Emperor of the state of affairs concern ing these things, we agreed that no immediate steps by the government were required to hold all three factions in check; they would, in the combat which must ensue shortly among their own ranks, neu tralize any danger to the state or the altars of the gods. But while our prognostication proved true for the present, ultimately, as their history will demonstrate, the Roman temples and the Ebionite synagogues were swallowed up entirely by the rapidly-spreading Catholic-Christians. The stiff- necked, never-subduable Jews, quite contrary to my plans and fondest expectations, however, kept themselves isolated ; they survived, a remnant of patience and endurance, to live on through the coming ages. PHANTASMAGORIA VIII. PESTILENCE AND FIRE IN ROME. No one except an eye-witness could even ap proximately measure the depth of degradation and infamy to which the Gentile population of the HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 129 " mistress of the world " had fallen. From the lowest to the highest circles, depravity, lust and rapine reigned supreme throughout the arteries of this immense colossus of accumulated nationalities and races, who, to the existing stock of native wick edness, brought each a plentiful supply of the abnormal vices of their own countries. Under the authority and as the rites of their several religions they practised the most abhorrent vices. Every carnal indulgence which an unlicensed imagination could conjure up from the depths of infamy; every gourmandine appetite that the most ingenious in vention of a depraved taste might gratify; every stimulating luxury that might tickle the lascivious temper of the idle and over- wealthy patricians in shuddering contrast with the hunger, squalor and ferocious disposition of the unkempt plebeians, produced a state of affairs in this strangely mixed body-politic which in a very short period culmi nated in its terrible crash and final downfall. Rome, who in her wanton power had written with fire and sword the fiat upon the records of a thou sand perished empires, sank by her own innate human weakness and crimes. One of the worst features in the catalogue of this nation's sins was the necessity of providing, at public expense, those debasing, sanguinary games and pastimes of the arena, those gladiatorial com bats between men and beasts which formed the all-engrossing diversion of the high and low. Such a feast of unspeakably revolting barbarity, decked with all the pomp and paraphernalia of outside show, took place at the opening of the Coliseum, the vastest structure of its kind ever erected by human hands, every stone of which was cemented by the blood and tears of the Hebrew captives who had completed it in the beginning of the year 80 A. D. 130 BEN BEOR. The immense and unique edifice covered five acres of ground, and had, besides the spacious im perial and government boxes, and the " sequestrse " for the gladiators and beasts, a seating capacity of 80,000 spectators. To celebrate worthily its in augural, prior to throwing it open for the public use, three days of unprecedented arena festivities had been provided, irrespective of expense and labor. The most extensive preparations had been made under the direction 01 Titus himself, for the grandest displays ever witnessed by even so fastidi ous a people as the pampered Romans. The first day was set aside for fights and the combats between the ferocious brutes of the na tional museum. Early dawn saw the eager crowds, amidst the unceasing strains of martial music, wending their way towards the many-colored, draped, bannered and festooned auditorium, where walls, posts and pillars glistened and glinted with frescoes, portraits, battle-scenes and landscapes. Promptly at noon, jubilant shouts of the populace within and without announced the arrival of the sovereign, his train and followers. The stupendous audience stood on their feet, shouting themselves hoarse with acclamations of joy and excitement. As soon as he had reached the magnificent throne provided for him on the elevated dais, I stepped forth from tlfe alcove where I had awaited his coming, and kneeling, presented the golden key, studded with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, in token of having accomplished the greatest architectural work of this or any previous age. He graciously and smilingly accepted the gift. Amid the tumultuous acclamations from the audi torium, the orator and poet of the day now stepped forth. With a long harangue in prose and verse, which could not be understood six feet from HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 131 where he see-sawed with wild and grotesque ges tures, he at last concluded, to the endless relief of all, gathered the folds of his purple toga, and sat down, no doubt the most self-satisfied mortal on earth. The bugles now gave the signals for the real opening of this day's sport. Then the doors of the cells where the ravenous beasts had been hungering for days, were opened in rotation as they were wanted, to tear each other to pieces, or to exercise their murderous strength upon some hapless human victims, who had been doomed to the horrible fate of encountering the teeth and claws of the bears, lions, tigers and panthers. It is not my purpose to describe in detail these bar barous pastimes, in which the coarse Roman taste found such delight, amusement and enthusiasm; nor will I dilate upon the second day's proceed ings, consisting of the races on foot, horseback and chariots. Even the third day, with its gladiatorial and athletic exercises, in their various forms and inhumanities, engages my attention only so far as concerns the very last act in this dramatic folly. It brings before us the moment near sunset, when the last herald, with a long call from his silver trumpet, demands attention, proclaiming in the name of all the gods the challenge to the Infidels, the Gnostics, the Christians and the Jews, to pro duce and bring forth a champion for their cause against the Gentile representative, who now was ready to enter the field in defense of the sacred rights of Polytheism. Then he withdrew ; but scarcely had he disappeared when there stepped forward a mon strous fellow, a very giant in all proportions. His large, round head, shorn of hair, sat square upon the ponderous neck, growing from a chest as broad and powerful as that of a lion. His bare arms dis played muscles like cords. The whole form rested 132 BEN BEOR. upon the most massive legs and feet. Barely had he taken position in the centre of the arena, when there sprang from the audience Manilus, the late convert to Christianity. With a voice that rang through the whole assembly he cried out : " Woe to Rome the wicked ! Woe to the hea thens and the sinners ! Woe to the foes of Jehovah and His anointed Messiah ! " By this time he had reached near the spot where his imposing adversary had taken position. Then he exclaimed in stentorian tones : " Thou, like Goliah of the Philistines, comest to me with thy strength and thy boasts ! but I come in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies which thou hast defied ! This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand ; and 1 will smite thee, and take thy head from off thee ; and I will give the carcasses of the armies of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the world may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saveth not with spear or sword, for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands." No one could help but compare the appearance of the antagonistic parties. The new-comer looked like a dwarf alongside of his adversary. Suddenly they threw themselves in fury one upon the other. Everybody thought that surely in the fierce en counter the big one would at the very first effort have crushed his insignificant-looking adversary. But with a subtlety entirely unexpected the Chris tian eluded the terrible weight that was to fell him, and turning quickly, with a powerful rush upon the back of his enemy, the giant was brought with a crash to the ground. Then, like a streak of lightning, Manilus, HISTORICAL. PHANTASMAGORIA. 133 drawing a large knife from his bosom, jumped upon the prostrate form, and with repeated blows left the fallen colossus dead at his feet. Then ensued a scene of tumult, uproar and con sternation, accompanied by cries of frenzy and de spair. Had it not been for the high barriers and the strong guards, the masses would have leaped to where this singular combat was enacted, and no doubt have torn the victor to pieces. But an oc currence took place at this instant which made unnecessary any further efforts in this direction. A well-directed lance thrown by one of the guards smote the conqueror in his breast, and with the repeated cry, " Woe to Rome ! Woe to the hea thens ! Woe to the sinners! Woe to the foes of Jehovah and his anointed Messiah !" Manilus sank expiring upon the dead body of his huge chal lenger. Now the portals that led to the inner circle of the combatants were thrown open, and the disap pointed, chagrined and humiliated spectators rushed in to where the corpses of the two gladi ators lay. Those who pushed forward noticed with surprise that both bodies were covered from head to foot with red, angry-looking pustules and spots, emitting a peculiar odor which could not possibly be ascribed to any putrefaction, since death had barely set in. The attention of a medical man being called to this strange phenomenon, he pres ently cried out: "The Pestilence! the Pestilence! Fly, people, for your lives ! let none come near ! let none approach or touch!" As the dismayed multitude fled in every direction, many heard the plaintive voice of a beautiful woman with a babe on her arm, who stood near the entrance of the door, sounding like the lament of doom " Woe to Rome ! AVoe to the heathens ! Woe to the foes of Jehovah and His anointed Messiah ! " 134 BEN BEOR. This was the now widowed Priscilla and her orphaned daughter. By the next day the horrible disease made its appearance in several quarters of the city, the sanitary condition of which was in an awful state. True, where the Patricians had their palaces and mansions on the broad and magnificent avenues and streets, all was scrupulously clean and bright. But the byways and alleys, their " angi-portus," inclusive of almost all that lay in the suburbs and around the river Tiber, were like so many sinks and cesspools of filth and dirt. The terribly con tagious germs of the awful " Black Death " had, no doubt, been brought here and introduced by some of the Asiatic prisoners of war, who still continued to come, and who had been only lately brought in ; its fatal harvest becoming quickly and malignantly ripe. So indifferent had the selfish people become to the affairs of a next-door neighbor, or even an inmate of their own dwellings, that the news of the first victims of the dread disease passed by unheeded and unnoticed. But when the killing invader spread its presence, grinning hither and thither with a convulsive omnipresence ; when the fearful clutch no longer fastened alone on the poor and vulgar, but rushed upon the aristocracy also, deluded by the vain security that wealth was proof against contagion ; when the bloated, fester ing corpses suddenly multiplied among the opulent and startled nobility, then the authorities, with an unparalleled activity, roused themselves to the most stringent and sweeping measures for the relief of the stricken inhabitants and the arrest of further incursions of the malignant malady. Yain were the efforts of frail humanity against the destructive agency of nature, once let loose upon its calamitous career. All precautionary HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 135 efforts became futile against the mad onslaught of the pestilence. Yellow flags were ordered hoisted from every dwelling where entered the epidemic. In a few days every street looked as if curtained with these sombre emblems of terror; but soon there were neither hands to display such nor material from which to make them. The dead could no longer be decently buried. Lamentations and tears ceased ; callousness and indifference took the place of sympathy and benevolence. Medical science stood appalled and helpless. Pa gan religion, in prosperity so boastful, now stood mute and wan, her ministers fleeing to safe dis tances, or were engulfed in the common lot, perish ing by the scores. Whoever could get away from the carnival of destruction went precipitately often to perish at a little distance, after having but started. In the ever-increasing exodus, many carried with them the already distinguishable symptoms of the certain contagion. Soon parents forsook their children, husbands their wives ; all the bonds of love, devotion, friend ship, and interests of any nature, ceased to exist. Houses became empty ; the marts and stores stood forsaken and deserted, for there was no one to sell or to buy. Large numbers of those who had escaped the pestilence became mad with fear and apprehen sion, and ran through the streets wildly gesticulat ing and shouting. The military, who suffered no less than the civilians, had to be commissioned for burial at night of the ever-swelling thousands of festering victims. Graves could no longer be dug, but bodies were thrown into the river. The very atmosphere became thick and loathsome, and it seemed as if the process of extermination would 136 BEN BEOR. never cease until the last subject for its hold had been stricken. These were mournful and yet glorious days for Titus. Day after day, night after night, in unceasing vigils, he exerted all his power and strength to combat the calamity. With super human efforts he tried to rally the people, help the needy, console the despairing, encourage the weak, grapple with the destroyer, restore order, re-estab lish law and security. Invulnerable himself to the disease, while coming in contact with its lowest and most malignant types, I verily believe he would have gladly laid down his life to stay its ravages. Wonderful to say, the Jews and Ebionites en joyed to a large extent great immunity from the havoc of the pestilence. No doubt their strict adher ence to the Mosaic dietary laws, the enforcement of cleanliness, purity and temperance as religious rites, their abstinence from the forbidden meat of swine ; then the scrupulous care of the sick, and the conscientious attention paid by special appointed committees for the immediate burial of any dead ; the never-to-be-extinguished sympathetic " helping hand," which, from motives of charitable dispo sition, is ever and under all circumstances ex tended to a needy or suffering Hebrew ; their forced absence from the crowds, they not being permitted to attend the public shows; all these reasons may well account for the phenomenal freedom from danger in their camps. Since the completion of the Coliseum they had been permitted rest and recuperation from physical exertion. Their ranks had been swelled by the addition of visitors from the Holy Land, whence, by permission of the gov ernor, they came in search of their kin-people, bring ing such relief as money and nursing would provide. Long before the destruction of Jerusalem there had been a prosperous and highly respected colony of these HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 137 peculiar people in Rome ; and while they apparently kept aloof from their unfortunate brethren, yet under the leadership of Josephus to his credit it must be said their good offices and powerful help in a quiet and unostentatious way were extended to many. The Christians, followers of Peter, suffered to even a less extent. Largely drawn from the rank and file of the Gentiles, they continued, irrespective of the new creed, their associations with former friends ; and while openly exposed to the epidemic, yet they strove like angels of mercy in the lowest huts and dens against the raging calamity. Priscilla especi ally, with her beautiful babe always near, served them as an example. Forgetful of risk and danger, she could be seen attending the stricken ones, de voted and loving as only an enthusiastically inspired woman may, laboring with relentless efforts at all hours of day and night. Her sweet smiles, her re assuring words, her kind works, even to the meanest, acted like soothing and powerful medicaments, and often succeeded in snatching some poor friendless being from the very jaws of the destroyer. To the astonishment of her acquaintances and the people with whom she came in contact, she seemed to bear a charmed life, remaining rosy, fresh, and active. Once the Emperor met her engaged in those self- imposed holy duties, and on being told who and what she was, in the presence of all his retinue, kissed the little woman on her forehead, and caused immediately large sums and voluntary helpers to be placed at her disposal. O the blessings and the tears that were showered upon the Nazarenes with their giant hearts ! No wonder that such converts drew fresh disciples to the baptismal font of the ever- spreading new faith. Still the number of the dead increased with fearful rapidity; they already ex ceeded one hundred thousand. At this time, when 138 BEN BEOft. every gate of the fortifications surrounding the seven hills had been thrown open, and no surveil lance was kept over the departing fugitives, large numbers of the Palestinian captives mingled with the fleeing, and all who could, got away, there being no one to hinder or gainsay their leaving. In fact, most people who had anything to do with them were glad to get rid of the encumbrance. After a short period the Jew-quarter was almost entirely emptied. My birds had flown, and in spite of every exertion which I then could make I failed to find their destination. All I did ascertain was, they did not return to their fatherland, but moved on further Westward. When the mortuary misery had reached its greatest bounds, one of the most trusted medical counselors suggested the advisability of purifying the contaminated atmosphere, by building huge fires all over the city and its precincts. This was put into immediate execution. Either that the remedy was really efficacious, or that the energy and attention of the masses were diverted from the source of danger and directed to some absorbing occupation, by which they attained new hope and raised a spark of latent vitality, the measure acted like a charm. The burial rates diminished, convalescent patients appeared on the highways and byways, feasting their eyes on the columns of flame and smoke everywhere rising sky wards and causing the landscape to appear like a sea of fire. As if the cup of appalling woe was to be drained to the dregs by the doomed capital, on the third day of these fire-displays, towards evening, the caloric heat generated in one of the central quarters became so intense that it ignited a wooden struc ture in the middle of the block of residences. The flames spread with fearful rapidity, defying all HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 139 efforts to stay the conflagration. At midnight the leaping tongues of the merciless fiend lit up the heavens from a thousand structures; the cries and shrieks from the now houseless people mingled with the roar and the noise of the ever-spreading flames and the crash and thunder of the falling buildings. For three days it seemed as if chaos were come again. It was difficult to reach the water of the river; it was still more difficult to get people to bring it. Only the merest apologies of organized help existed. It appeared as if all the enraged elements had combined and were let loose upon doomed Rome. On the fourth day the whole district was con sumed, and the very want of further inflammable material stayed at last the terrible calamity. But oh what a sight ! what an experience ! Uncounted people, just out of the jaws of the pestilence, now hungry, naked, unsheltered and unprovided ! Many envied the fate of those who had been thrown in the charnel-heaps or who were committed to the Tiber, to float down as food for the fishes of the Adriatic. Again the hard-tried Emperor came to the rescue. Every available tent of the military was erected near the walls of the city, for the shelter of his desol ate subjects. A fleet with provisions from Arabia opportunely arrived that day at the landings, and the Emperor from his own exchequer purchased the food and had rations issued to the famishing. No one was allowed to suffer if it could be helped. He sent word to those who had lost their all to keep good courage; that he would at his own expense re-erect every building demolished, and from per sonal resources make good every loss sustained. In proof of the truth of his promises a public committee was at once appointed by him, and millions upon millions of gold placed at their disposal for use and distribution. 140 BEN BEOR. Wretched Emperor! he should never see the reali zation and accomplishment of these, his unprece dented humanitarian designs. Exhausted by the heartrending trials which beset his afflicted subjects during the short term of his auspicious reign, he was assailed by burning fever, and hoping to find rest and restoration at the quiet retreat of his villa in the Carnpagna the same place where his father Yespasian, before him, had spent the last days of a troubled life he repaired thither. Addicted passionately to the use of the bath, against the advice of his medical men, he greatly increased the danger of his malady, when, by counsel of his wily brother, he at last had resort to an immersion in a tub of snow. He expired in great agony on the 13th day of September, 81 A. D., worshipped by a weeping people and exalted in history as one of the grandest sovereigns of his realm. But the picture and fate of poor, forsaken Berenice are said to have haunted him to the last. PHANTASMAGORIA IX. A PSEUDO-MOSES. My mission in Rome was ended. The successor to the throne, Domitian, younger and only brother of Titus, was in every point of character the oppo site of his predecessor. Coarse and mean in dispo sition, crafty and vulgar by nature, licentious and" tyrannical, selfish and low, he belonged to those abnormities of human nature who appear from time to time, a curse of their race. Distrustful and jealous, when he saw me in favor with his father and brother he had no friendship for me. It was time, too, that I should look after HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 141 and trace my escaped Jewish adversaries and learn what had become of the fugitives. From information obtained without difficulty, I persuaded myself that the miserable remnant left in Palestine had ceased to be a factor in the future of the Hebrews. The backbone of their nationality seemed to be broken forever. If, ip their desperation and blind fury, under the heels of their oppressing foreign governors, they undertook to throw off the yoke of slavery, they became utterly impotent, and even more aggravating to their enemies. This was notably the case in a widespread revolt under " Bar Chochba," in the city of Betar, which cost the lives of nearly a half million Jews, without achieving any results. The sages and teachers frittered their time away with disputations among themselves, and in the col lection of the trite and effete traditions of their an cestors, gathering and arranging material for book- making. They boasted that already the first vol umes of "Oral law decisions" were ready for publi cation. This proved afterward true, in the appear ance of certain volumes called the " Mishnah," and in its further extension, many years later, in the wild vagaries of the " Talmud," or " Gamarah." In my short-sightedness I could see in these literary labors nothing but a useless waste of energy. At taching to such brain-work not the first value, I considered further attention to the Palestinian por tion of my Mosaic foes unnecessary. I disdained to smite a lot of caviling rabbins, with their puerile and insignificant disputes and dissertations. Had I but intimated to the new sovereign any idea of treason attempted by the schools of Jabne and Pompedita, where the Sanhedrins wasted time in " Halacha " law decisions and "Agada " le gends and fables one crushing blow from Rome would have extinguished their existence. But no ; 142 BEN BEOR. they might argue and write to their hearts' content, if I could reach the new and powerful colonies which must have started somewhere, and which I was determined to discover in their unknown re treats. So I departed on my errand to search the continent for the fugitives from Rome. In all my long and extensive peregrinations I never lost sight of the main task which I had set for myself. With such avowed purpose I found easy access to the potentates, the aristocracy and churchmen, all of whom were eager to introduce me to one another. This facilitated the dissemination of the intoxicating drink, with the aid of which I hoped to achieve great results. And indeed it sel dom failed. The peasants and tradesmen, groaning under the weight of abject dependence and poverty; the soldiers, with their natural dissoluteness all became easy victims of my beverage. Liquor-dis pensing shops were soon iound in every Cisalpine land. Here assembled all classes of the population. Quarreling, disputing and gambling, they sank to the vilest, meanest and most impoverished revelers, seeking to forget their suffering and hard-tried fami lies at home. Here they stayed till late into the night, and often committed excesses which brought them to the prisons, or they became guilty of crimes which led them to the block of the hangman. Under such influences, in a few generations, these mobs were prepared for the outrageous work in store for them, to be continually used as blind tools by the thrones and altars. The greatest suffering was reserved for women. At all times they intuitively shrank from me, spurned my affections, had sub jected my feelings to the keenest and most torturing disappointments. Now I determined, if possible, no more to be won by soft smiles and blandish ments, but to be avenged upon the whole sex for HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 143 the faults of a few of its number. I could, how ever, as a rule, tempt no female to partake of the intoxicant. When now and then I succeeded in be guiling one into its use, she made such a disgusting, abhorrent spectacle of herself by far more repul sive than any man that she became a warning example to all her sisters. For over three centuries, while the whole civil ized world was re-shaped and re-moulded, I wan dered from land to land, without being able to find a trace of my long-lost Hebrew captives. True, in the city of Prague and, farther northward, the town of Worms, and several places under Teutonic rule, small colonies of Israelites existed. These had, however, come here directly from Palestine, long before the destruction of Jerusalem. Though thrifty and wealthy, importing overland highly-prized Ori ental products, and exporting to the East in ex change tin, jewels and gold, yet they consisted of but comparatively few families, living peaceably and sociably with their rude neighbors. Wandering thus north, south, east and west, over the whole continent, making myself acquainted with the principalities for use hereafter, I reached at last the British Isles. These I included in the dark future which I was preparing for all countries dur ing the now approaching Mediaeval ages. Spite the most scrutinizing search, nothing whatever could I learn of those mysteriously-disappeared Hebrews. Resting one evening near London, on the banks of the river Thames, the drunken antics of some sailors on a foreign ship, making ready for her voy age, attracted my attention. I saw a dusky-looking traveller, with a lady lean ing on his arm, step upon the plank which led to the boat. Slowly and carefully he led the way, supporting the woman in his charge. When he 144 BEN BEOR. was half-way up the narrow gangway, being then immediately over the tossing water, a brawny, un couth fellow, in blind haste, running from the ship, jostled against the newcomers. The lady lost her balance and, with a piercing scream, fell into the river. It took me but a moment to rush to the brink, spring after and rescue her from an untimely death. With the aid of her companion and others who hastened to our assistance, we were soon safely on board the ship. When the excitement caused by this sudden ac cident was over, I learned that in a few hours the craft would sail for the island of Crete ; that the person who had lately come, and whose wife had met with the serious mishap, was the owner of the boat, now bound for her return trip home to " Me- galocastron," the capital of the little state. He told me, what I had already surmised from his features and peculiar gait, that he was a Jew chief of the different congregations living in the several Levan tine towns, who had escaped from Roman rule years ago, there had colonized, and who were now prosperous and of great commercial power. He had been to England to perfect mercantile connec tions for himself and brethren and had been emi nently successful, but for the late accident, which nearly proved so fatal to his lately wedded spouse, in whom was centred all his love and happiness. Their expressions of gratitude were oppressively profuse, and nothing would do but that I accept their hospitality and accompany them to the far- off home. Here, then, by the merest chance, I found a clue to the whereabouts of my long-searched- for truants, and it took but little persuasion for me to accept the cordial invitation. An hour later I had my effects aboard, when towards evening the anchors were lifted, and with full sails we passed HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 145 down the river into the canal towards the open sea. The narrow sphere of one of these old Phoenician boats is most conducive to confidential relations. The slow progress, the monotony of confinement on the small deck or in the coffin-like cabins ; the ab sence of all interesting employment save the watch ing of the sky and water ; even the meals, with their very few varying courses, and the limited com pany all tend to draw the few passengers closely together, and soon each became acquainted with the past history of the others. Thus I early was in pos session of the life-stories of my host and hostess. The latter especially was highly interesting to me. She proved to be of the most piquant-and contradictory character and disposition. Tall and commanding in stature, a perfect type of Eastern women ; face dusky, with lustrous eyes ; long, black hair, broad forehead and swan-like neck ; an exquisitely moulded nose, and lips upon which continually rested a sarcastic smile, she was a beauty so brilliant as to make me think of the Queen of Sheba, of whom even so wise a king as Solomon became enamoured. But what struck me most after a nearer acquaint ance was her peculiar disposition : one moment sad and pensive, the next exultant and gay; this instant frowning, weeping and fretting ; the very next, without cause or reason for such a change, laughing, hilarious and jovial. And all this with a mind so unbending and domineering as must make living with her for any length of time a source of aggravation and ceaseless worry. She had been married to her husband by her highly respected but po^r parents, according to the fashion of the Orient, without ever before having known him. The old folks, now dead, were not Hebrews, but belonged to a numerous claps of intelligent natives who had become proselytes to the covenant of Abraham. The 146 BEN BEOR. husband of this strange woman was one of those grand specimens of manhood, in form as well as dis position, reminding one of the patriarchs of old. With unlimited wealth, generous, highly bred and cultured, infatuated by her beauty and vivacious- ness, he doted upon his queenly wife, despite her peculiarities and waywardness. But she soon hated him for his riches; hated him for his generosity; hated him for his indulgence and patience towards her ; she hated him most, however, for his religion and all that belonged to it, especially for its cere monial life, to which she must conform. She there fore made his whole existence one continued source of trouble and misery. The present journey having become necessary, notwithstanding remonstrances and urgent appeals, she insisted upon accompanying him on his travels, full of inconveniences and dangers. Arrived at his destination, she left him no rest day or night, insisting upon immediate return home; so he must hasten and overwork himself to com plete the pending negotiations. At last these were finished and their departure undertaken. We have seen how, at the very start, she nearly lost her life. Now he fell sick from over -exertion and lay in the cabin, nursed almost exclusively by a servant, while she on deck in any company gave her prankish mood full sway. Far from being jealous, yet he grievously felt the conjugal neglect, and when once chiding her reproachfully for such indifference, she pounced upon him with a volley of harsh words, accusing him of shamming illness. Soon after wards, when I had occasion to go to his couch, I found him in tears. From henceforth the symptoms of his disease became more serious and alarming, and now with equal contrariness she became franti cally solicitous, and would not leave him for a moment. With her crying and lamentations she HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 147 worried everybody around her, and with bitter accu sations blamed herself as the cause of his suffering. Thus passed a few dreary days. One morning it became evident that his end was nigh, and that but a few hours would elapse before his final dissolution. He called us all around him, placed a large sealed package his last will and testament in the hands of his wife, telling her with faint words that this document made her his sole heir, with the excep tion of the good ship, bequeathed to the faithful captain, who was also a pious old Hebrew. Then placing his wife in my charge, and breathing the last words of an expiring Israelite, his struggles were over he was dead ! The weather being excessively warm, it was im possible to keep the body, so it was wrapped in a winding-sheet of bissus. We buried the corpse that same evening in the bosom of the Mediterranean, where we now were on our way homeward. Nothing conceivable to my mind is more sad and mournful than such a burial at sea; and this seemed especially so. The gray -haired captain, as he assisted in letting the body down, mumbled over it a few Hebrew words of prayer. He shook like one in a fever, and big tears rolled down his swarthy face. Miranda, the wife, like one crazed, swayed to and fro, tore her hair, smote her bosom and made attempts to throw herself after the corpse into the high-tossing waves. I caught her and she fell fainting into my arms. We carried her limp and seemingly lifeless to the cabin. Here, however, she recovered very soon. Lying motionless on a couch, staring into vacancy, we thought it best to leave her with her sorrow in the care of an old nurse, a faithful attendant during this journey. When a few hours later I came back to console her, what was my surprise to find the widow sitting 148 BEN BEOR. up, so deeply engrossed in reading the contents of the now open and unsealed package, that at first she had not even noticed my entrance. " Mine all mine!" she exclaimed in a jubilant tone. " Money almost uncounted, treasures without end ! all mine without let or hindrance, with no one to domineer, none to grudge or direct." Hand ing me a packet, she said : " Take this and see if it is of any use to you, for it is of none to me. You will find therein the result of this voyage, a full account of our people at home and their new con nections with the merchants and traders of Britain." Among this bundle of documents I indeed after wards found all those things for which I was so fervently searching, fully set forth. I found the numbers and wealth of the people who had been divided into several congregations, or " Kehilahs," as they called them ; a short but comprehensive his tory of the settlements since their departure from Rome; their hopes and aspirations at home and abroad; and finally, the conception, execution and results of this mission by their chief, " the Parnass," as he was titled in these writings. Nothing more precious could have been bestowed upon me! From these documents I also learned of a strange delusion with which these Hebrews were filled, concerning the early coming of a personal Messiah who would lead them back to Palestine and restore the temple in Jerusalem, as promised them by the ancient prophets. So wild were their imaginings in this respect that their authorities felt themselves constrained to send to one of the leading members of the Sanhe- drin of Persia, the renowned and princely Rabbi Ashi, the celebrated father of the Babylonian Talmud, who, with all the influence of his eloquence and authority, warned the people from entertaining and fostering such evil-boding vagaries. This HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 149 knowledge determined the line of my future policy. Upon my arrival among them I. resolved to try the role of a " Pseudo-Moses," in order to entice these benighted Jews into my calamitous plots, which should lead to their utter destruction. To return, however, to the bereft young widow. During our interview she showed her most curious nature. First it was a bitter lamentation, gar nished with an abundance of tears, bewailing her apparently irretrievable loss ; then she would sud denly stop and appeal to me as the savior of her life, and beg that I remain her true friend; that I must stand by her as a protector and guardian against her co-religionists, who always had disliked the not over-scrupulous convert since she became the wife of their leader. They had planned that he should marry some daughter of theirs, a girl whom she cordially hated and despised. They would make every possible effort now to get possession of the wife's inheritance, and she implicitly trusted to me, so good, so kind and generous, to espouse her cause in the hour of need. She declared that it was an act of God's providence to find a faithful and dear companion, and that there was nothing in her power and gift which she would not gladly sacrifice to reward me for the great troubles and cares which the confidential and important trust would certainly cause me. As she was speaking thus she became more and more excited, her face flushed, and the pressure of her hands, which held mine, increased with the warmth of her passionate recital. One needed but little knowledge of human nature to divine the drift of the whole performance, and it filled me with such feelings of disgust and aversion that I loathed these advances even while she spoke. And yet I would not estrange her from me, it being patent that I must hold this woman completely in 150 BEN BEOR. my power, to be used as a great instrument in my future schemes. So, promising faithful performance of everything asked of me, and speaking words of consolation and comfort to her, now that her maid entered, we parted the best of friends. Before morning I had read the documents and, guided by their contents, laid out the plan which I intended to pursue on my landing at the island of Crete. The foremost diffi culty which presented itself to my mind was how to keep this woman devotedly attached to me, without revealing the intense antipathy I felt for her person. Like an inspiration it struck rne that it would be best for this purpose to assume without delay my role of "Messiah," and by filling her with feelings of reverence and holy awe for my individuality, keep her at a proper distance. When next I saw the widow she was seated under a canopy near the cabin of the boat, erected with great skill, beautifully ornamented. "Such a won derful dream I had last night ! " she excitedly broke forth upon seeing me. These people place great value on dreams. I had to take a seat close by her side. Then she began : " I saw, while asleep, my late de parted husband standing as an angel before the throne of the Lord, surrounded by all the heavenly hosts, while a mighty chorus chanted, ' The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the councilor from between his feet, until he cometh of Shiloh, and to him shall the nations gather/ Then I saw you, dear friend, rise from out their midst in a giant's form, robed in celestial garments of a seer and prophet, and the whole assembly cried out as with one voice, ' It is he who has come from Shiloh ! To him shall the nations gather! '" As she concluded I rose, and throwing aside the mantle with which I had covered my inner garb, HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 151 stood before her in the identical robes she had described, and in which I had clothed myself pre paratory to the announcement which I had designed to make to her in this very hour. I saw her tremble from head to foot and her face grow pale. " Who art thou," I heard her exclaim, in a quivering, startled voice, " that cometh to me like the realization of a supernatural vision?" Straightening myself up to my full height, I replied, " Be it then revealed to thee, woman I am Moses, he who released our people once from the bondage of Egypt, now com missioned to return to earth and once again gather them and lead them back to their fathers' lost inheritance, that they may re-erect the fallen temple for the glory and worship of the Lord." At this she knelt before me and gave forth such cries of joy and amazement that every one on board of the ship came running towards us. To them she told the miraculous story of her dream and my revelation. They too, every one of them, fell on their faces, exclaiming until it echoed throughout the ship far over the waters, "Lo we have seen the Messiah! God be praised! glorified be the Lord of hosts Zabaoth ! " During the remainder of the journey, which lasted another week, I was treated with such veneration, deference and distinction as amounted to worship. Three times each day we prayed together, and with implorations of fiery zeal and cant, of which I was an elocutionary master, I raised their state of mind to enthusiastic frenzy. I appointed the woman, by solemnly laying hands upon her head, as my sanctified prophetess. With similar ceremonies the aged captain was made my chief executive. The remainder of the crew and attend ants were my lieutenants and body servitors. Within twenty-four hours they prepared at my com mand complete outfits of white garments, in which 152 BEN BEOR. they henceforth clothed themselves, looking like a company of spirits. An immense banner was made from white linen, fringed with gold. On the centre of this, embroidered by the skilled hands of Miranda, who had forgotten all else in her slavish devotion to me, were the pompous words : " The Messiah hath come ! " This flag was hoisted on our mast, no doubt to the bewilderment and astonishment of every pass ing craft, quite a number of which we now met almost hourly. Other smaller ensigns of the same pattern were prepared, to be carried hereafter by each of us. The same words which adorned our banner were employed by every one on board as salutation, so that whenever one passed another they cried out, " The Messiah hath come ! " The next thing which engaged my attention was how to proceed on landing at the port of our destina tion. I planned that as soon as our anchor was dropped we would form a procession, and then move through the main street, which led to the syna gogue, greeting every one whom we should meet with the ominous words of our holy salute. I drilled my converts daily in this exercise, until all was arranged and understood to perfection. At last we entered the harbor, the only one of the island. Here was a very busy day ; a large crowd of people were engaged in bringing and taking away merchandise. As soon as we had dropped anchor we assembled on deck, each waving a streamer with our watchword emblazoned thereon, and shouting " The Messiah hath come ! " The strange proceedings and peculiar exclama tions soon attracted a great number of people, who wondered what this all was about. We swerved neither to the right nor to the left, but with every pomp our small numbers were capable of, forthwith started in the order and manner which I had pre- HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 153 arranged. Miranda led the train ; the captain, with me, marched next, and then the balance closed up the procession. Long before we had reached the temple, report had spread throughout the city that the " Parnass ship " had returned, and of the strange proceedings by his wife and her followers, while the husband nowhere was seen. When we arrived at the steps of the edifice, after a long and slow march, all Israel was assembled to receive us. Then we mounted the platform before the portal, and here I addressed the assembly. From time to time my sentences were interrupted by my adherents with their watchword, which was soon taken up by the masses as they became first interested and then heated to boundless enthusiasm. " Chosen children of Is rael, your merciful God at last has compassion on your dispersion and suffering. Like in days of old when Henoch walked before the Lord and he was no more, for ' God took him,' so He has called home in death at sea your beloved * Parnass ' and leader. But He has deputed me, the prophet Moses, from the right hand of His throne, to descend among His people and deliver them again, as of yore, from the bondage of their oppressors. So shall the words of the prophet* be fulfilled which say, 'From the North shall come your Redeemer!' And as it is further written, ' Behold, I will send to you the prophet Elijah, before the great and awful day of the Lord cometh.' Recognize, then, in this young woman the anointed messenger from on High, to be with me as Aaron was when your fathers walked out, free from the land of slavery. Now go ye as your ancestors did at Mount Sinai, and obey my words : ' Sanctify the people to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, which be white as mine and these, and be ye ready against the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come 154 BEN BEOR. down in the sight of all the people from the moun tain.' (Ex. xix. 10, 11.) Now do ye this : go and pray and fast for these two days, as I and mine shall do ; divest yourselves of all your sins and earthly cares have neither worldly goods nor possessions any longer, but leave all dross to your enemies ; assemble at a place near the sea, which I shall appoint, when, at my command, the waters will part and you shall walk over as on dry land. And bring there, by your special messengers, all Israel dwelling on the island, so that the people be assembled on the third day at early morning. Then shall ye see the glory of your God, ' for the Lord will fight for you, but ye shall be still ! ' " (Ex. xiv. 14.) Hereupon the multitude raised one simultaneous wild cry " The Messiah hath come ! the Messiah hath come ! And all the Lord hath spoken we will do and obey ! " Then I bestowed upon them the blessing of the high-priest, and called upon all to disperse and go to their homes to prepare for the awful event that was to come. But they formed themselves now into various groups. These I watched with the keenest interest. Everybody argued or was argued with, and with such animated excitement and gesticulation as only these Semitic people are capable of. Here a rabbi, with long double-pointed white beard, a skull-cap upon his flowing hair, forming ringlets on each side of his forehead, addressed a crowd of elders, emphasizing every sentence by pounding the long staff in his right hand heavily on the ground. Yon der was another circle, presided over by a hunchback giant who while speaking waved his arms up and down like poles, vociferating in the most fantastical manner. In one corner a lot of younger people stood huddled together and listened to the enthusi astic harangue of a fine-looking girl, whose wealth of raven black locks flowed in the wind. She HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 155 seemed to receive assent to all her assertions, by the continual nods and shaking of heads from the hear ers. The most vivid and picturesque scene, how ever, ensued as there issued forth from out of one of the crowds an aged man, who I afterwards learned was a universally known retired merchant, respected, revered, and almost implicitly trusted in worldly and spiritual affairs, having lived here three score and ten years, distinguished for his kindness, charity, good-humor and clear judgment. He was known everywhere, even by the little children, as " Old Father Selig." Getting down on his knees, he cried out at the top of his trembling voice : " Blessed be the Holy One, the Sovereign of the universe, who has preserved me and let me see this great and glo rious day, now that I am sure that my Redeemer iiveth!" Amidst the wildest rejoicings and accla mations of the multitude he ascended to where we stood, took the large flag which Miranda held, kissed her and me on the forehead, then led the way, and beckoning us to follow, made the air ring with the incessant exclamation, which was repeated by every one, " The Messiah hath come ! " We fol lowed him, as did the whole crowd, forming a tri umphal procession leading us to the palace-like mansion of the Parnass, where all from the ship took up their residence, becoming the welcome guests of our hostess. Only one man, middle-aged, bald- headed, small, but wiry in appearance, with failing health written in every feature, going by the name of "Horeb," known as a mathematical factotum, an everlasting cynical doubter and grumbler, had warned the people of the assemblage against delu sions and impositions ; had tried to make his voice heard, in vain, cautioning against surprises and over-confidence. But he was unable to reach the ears of the sanguine, madly roused Hebrews, and 156 BEN BEOR. was seen to move away in the opposite direction from that which we took, shaking, his head and wringing his hands. Unperceived I watched him closely, being to me the exemplification of the voice in the wilderness, the picture of truth so often crushed and smothered among the blind mortals of this earth by folly, falsehood and pretentious error. Next day I sent out the prophetess, the captain and the rest of our company, presumably to see that my orders for fasting and praying were strictly fol lowed. They had to work with all their influence and persuasion to undo the mischief wrought by Horeb, the singular individual, who gained many followers among the more sober and calculating of his mercantile co-religionists. He found pow erful allies, too, among friendly and well-meaning Christians and Gentiles, who lived here in large numbers, and who were perfectly overwhelmed by the strange infatuation of their Mosaic neighbors. But this availed nothing in the end. I searched next day over the suburbs of the city, and at last found a spot most excellently suited for my purpose. It was a fine promontory, sloping gradually into the sea, with an immense plateau on top. I gave it at once the name of " Jew-hill," which it has retained unto all times. Thither I led, on the third day, at sunrise, the whole concourse of the Hebrew people, who had come from near and far, summoned by the messengers. Every one appeared in white, shroud- like garments. I could not count them, there were so many. They certainly numbered closely on one hundred thousand. How my eyes feasted on the doomed multitude! Their old friend Selig led the van, bearing our waving banner. When all had come to a halt, standing on the topmost height, the prophetess by my side, I addressed them in these words : " Children of God Zabaoth ! Behold before HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 157 you the waters, as your ancestors saw the waves of the Red Sea. This day shall once again be mani fested the Lord and His omnipotent power. 'Israel shall inherit anew the land of promise where milk and honey flows. Therefore follow ye now as your fathers of old did when I led them dry-shod through the briny deep. 'Messiah hath come!' and as you see me reach yonder boulders midway down this hill, follow your prophetess and hurry into the waves, which will part to your right and to your left, that you may with me reach on dry ground the blessed land of Palestine. Whosoever feareth the Lord, obey me!" Then I hastened to reach the ap pointed spot. With a cry of jubilee, Miranda at the head of all the people followed, shouting the everlasting refrain, "The Messiah hath come!" Reaching the waters they plunged in, those in front crowded on by those in the rear, only to be swallowed up in the foaming flood by the thousands. Miranda was the first to drown, followed by the old captain and his crew. I had screened myself beneath a cavity among the rocks against the irresistible im petus of the headlong rush, reappearing as all the crazed followers had passed, and feasting my eyes on the unbounded havoc of the masses, gurgling with death in the ocean. Now I rose on top of the highest boulder, screeching out in satanic triumph : " The Messiah hath come ! the Messiah hath come ! " It never has been ascertained how many of my enemies perished that day. Great numbers, how ever, to my infinite regret, were saved by the humane and merciful sailors, who bravely rushed in among the drowning, and at risk of their own lives, rescued them by heroic efforts. I had just time, amidst the terror and unbounded consternation, to divest myself of my assumed priestly garments and disappear from bight and action. How I laughed at my friend, 158 BEN BEOR. the Grecian philosopher and statesman, Socrates, who declared in his ecclesiastic writings that it was a demon from hell who so fearfully beguiled those benighted Jews into perdition, under the crazy notion that " The Messiah had come!" Notwithstanding the cruel havoc wrought by the events told here, my object to destroy these prosper ous colonies of Jews was only partially attained, Out of this very aifair grew the germ for greater and much more difficult events in a near future. The Christian boatmen, saving large numbers, were congregated here partly by their business, partly by a curiosity to be present and witness the miracle which was to occur, the news of which had traveled all over the island. So humanely were these victims of blind enthusiasm treated by the Nazarenes, and so kindly cared for were the now impoverished and despairing survivors, that a great number of Jews abj ured their faith and were baptized in the new church. Very few of those who remained faithful abided in their old homes. The bitter recollections of the awful deception which they had experienced drove them, with the wandering staff in hand, into further exile. Most of these crossed the sea to a far-away land, beyond the wilderness of Petrea, where in a beautiful section of Arabia they founded new col onies. Soon they established for themselves an independent and prosperous government, and wero joined by a host of their fugitive, persecuted breth ren from other lands. There I shall meet them again at some future time, hoping to be done with them forever. HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 159 PHANTASMAGORIA X. MAHOMET VS. JUDAISM. If ever there was a paradisical region on the habitable globe, it exists in that part of the Orient which is most aptly called "Arabia felix," the happy land of Arabia. Nature, foremost of all, has showered upon the country her most bountiful blessings. The earth is fertile, and produces with out much effort from man her precious gifts, both of need and luxury. The climate is comparatively mild. The annual rains provide sufficient humidity to keep the ground moist and arable. The labor in the fields is as light and pleasant as that of a garden. The lush g*ass of the meadows never fails the herdsman, as can readily be seen by the sleek cattle, the excellently conditioned camels, and the fine horses the pride, boast and love of the natives. Here grow those wonderful, mighty palm-trees, the date-fruit of which is the principal food of the people. A hand lifted against any of these giant trees equals an affront to man, and to wantonly cut one down is regarded as murder. The social and political condition of the inhabitants used to be patriarchal, the head of the house being its absolute ruler. At the entrance of his tent he planted a pen non, and on it hung the protective scimiter. Who soever entered here and broke the bread of hospitality was sacred as a guest, though he were to be found afterward the death-enemy of the family. Complete tolerance formed the absolute rule in religious mat ters. There lived here a host of fire-worshipping Gentiles, nearly equaled in numbers by the strictly ceremonious Jews, and a smaller colony of Christians. With the exception that everybody attended his own peculiar worship under liberal-minded ecclesiastics. 160 BEN BEOR. and followed the rules and rites of creed and faith, in public and private intercourse, no other distinction was known. Equally patriotic, these people were always united in the defense of their common country, harassed and often assailed by warlike, barbarous neighbors. Friendship, love, sympathy and mutual helpfulness distinguished the communities, and not unfrequent intermarriages between all the sects aided in main taining the good feeling and fraternal relations be tween otherwise incongruous neighbors. Such model conditions existed and were concentrated in the strongly fortified city of Kha'ibar and its dependent territory. A citadel had been erected here at immense ex pense by the united efforts of the citizens, who con sidered the place impregnable against any assault from without. This was strengthened by a number of smaller fortifications extending all over the suburbs. Here was settled now a large colony of Hebrews, who claimed that Moses, after the passage through the Red Sea, sent an army against the Amalekites inhabiting Midian, some of whom remained after the war in this invincible stronghold. There was, however, a tradition amongst a large number of other Israelites, that their ancestors took refuge here, posterior to the ignominious betrayal at the Island of Crete by a pretended Messiah, the " Pseudo- Moses." Generations had passed since that event, but the memory of the disaster and the vile treachery of the mysterious impostor was kept alive, being told from father to son and descanted upon as one of the mys terious visitations of angry heaven against a sinful race. For several centuries I, Ben Beor, had not con- HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 161 cerned myself about these people. I knew from the habits of the natives that their tastes were entirely abstemious, and my great and powerful ally, "Intoxicating drink," would avail me nothing in these regions. Other instrumentalities must be employed in order to break up the threatening, if yet incipient, power which flourished in a most con genial soil. I had during the past centuries care fully watched, guarded and guided the development and growth of maturing Christianity on the conti nent, and was advised lately of an entirely new and unexpected factor which had arisen in the East, well calculated to further and strengthen my cynical de signs. This was one of the most phenomenal heroes of the Orient the prophet Mahomet and his still more unprecedented religion, Islamism. Of low and humble origin, most favorable circum stances conspired to carry this man on the swell- waves of fortune to the highest pinnacle of fame, influence and wealth ; and by even more rapid rushes prospered the new faith which he originated and propagated. The career of both the man and his cause seems like a tornado, arising just in time to sweep everything before it. Reaching the zenith of afflu ence by the bestowal of princely gifts from relatives and friends, the exalted ecstasy and enthusiasm of his spiritual aspirations fitted most opportunely the exigencies of his peculiar surroundings. The religion of the natives was a mixture of materialism and fanatic superstition, resting on no other foundation than tribal usage and legendary transmissions, ready to be overthrown and to crum ble to pieces by the first fierce shock which should come irom a sagacious and trusted hand. Judaism was at no time aggressively missionary. It could not accomplish this revolution. Its abstract prin- 162 BEN BEOR. ciple of " One invisible God, with no personal rep resentatives on earth," and its high code of morality, law and equitable justice, were beyond the grasp and understanding of the heathen. Its unelastic cere monial, entirely antagonistic to the free and un hampered mode of life among the children of the sun, made it impossible that the Mosaic belief should ever become a sweeping substitute for their religious cravings. Much less, however, was Christianity, at its state in those times, suited to the Arabians, whose dual deity, "Vishnu" and " Shi va "- Light and Darkness proved already too much for them ; so it was not likely that a Trinity of the Godhead should find favor in their eyes. The incarnated divinity of the Messiah an immaculate conception ; a theory of salvation by faith, such complex and supernatural dogmas were entirely beyond the comprehension of those simple people. The followers of Christ in their midst, as they learned without difficulty, were divided also to extremes among themselves, even in the cardinal principles of faith. To comprehend this baneful state of sectarianism among the Christians at this early period, an enumeration of a few of the leading sects will give an idea of their segregations. There were: The " Sabellians," so called from Sabellius, a Libyan priest of the third century, who believed in the unity of God, and that the Trinity expressed but three different states or relations, all forming but one substance, as man consists of body and soul. The "Arians," from Arius, an ecclesiastic of Alex andria in the fourth century. These affirmed Christ to be the Son of God, but distinct from Him and inferior to Him. They denied the Holy Ghost to be God. The " Nestorians," from Nestorius, bishop oi HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 163 Constantinople in the fifth century, maintained that Christ had two distinct natures divine and human; that Mary was only his mother, and Jesus a man, and that it was an abomination to style her, as was the custom of the Church, the mother of God. The " Monophysites " maintained the single nature of Christ. They affirmed that he was combined of God and man, so mingled and united as to be but of one nature. The " Eutychians," from Eutyches, abbot of a convent in Constantinople in the fifth century. These were a branch of the former, expressly opposed to the Nestorians. They denied the double nature of Christ, declaring that he was entirely God previous to the incarnation, and .entirely man during incar nation. The " Jacobites," from Jacobus, bishop of Edessa in Syria, in the sixth century, were a very numerous branch of the Monophysites, varying but little from the Eutychians. The " Mariamites," worshipping the Trinity and regarding the Virgin Mary also as a god. The " Collyridians," composed chiefly of females. They worshipped the Virgin Mary as a divinity, and made offerings to her of a twisted cake called "collyris." The " Nazaraeans " were a sect of Jewish Chris tians who considered Christ the Messiah, as born of a virgin by the Holy Ghost, and possessing something of a divine nature, but they conformed in all other respects to the Mosaic law. The " Ebionites," from Ebion, a converted Jew who lived in the first century, were also a sect of Judaizing Christians. They believed Christ to have been a pure man, one of the greatest prophets, but denied that he had any existence previous to his birth. 164 BEN BEOR. There were many other divisions, such as the " Corinthians," " Maronites," and " Marcionites," who took their names from pious and zealous lead ers. There were also the "Docetes" and "Gnos tics," subdivided into various branches, with subtle enthusiasts for their heads. Some of these asserted the immaculate purity of the Virgin Mary; the "Docetes" asserted that Jesus was of a nature entirely divine, that a phantom, a mere form without substance, was crucified, and that the crucifixion, as well as resurrection, were deceptive mystical exhi bitions for the benefit of the human race. The " Carpocratians," " Basilidians," and " Valen- tinians," named after the Egyptian controversialists, contended that Christ was merely a wise and virtuous mortal, the son of Joseph and Mary, selected to reform and instruct mankind, but that a divine nature was imparted to him at the maturity of his age. True, all these schisms were later on declared heretical, but at this time were in full sway and agitated fiercely in the Church. Mahomet, with a zeal and aptitude unparalleled, had himself instructed by learned Hebrews and Christians amply as to their tenets before he declared his mission, and collated from all these divers prin ciples what he considered with great shrewdness and wisdom best and most fitted for the people whom he intended to convert. At the head of his holy book called the Koran, composed, collated and delivered at various epochs of his stirring career, stood the plain and by his countrymen easily understood and readily accepted dogma : "There is but one God ! and Mahomet is his prophet ! " " La illaha il Allah ! Mahomet resoul Allah ! " HISTORICAL, PHANTASMAGORIA. 165 The best and choicest of the Old and New Testa ments and the Talmud were selected by him for a moral and ethical code, adapting these to the lan guage and mode of thought of Arabians, and adding thereto such customs and ceremonies as he might cull from observances already existing, and which were deeply ingrafted in the life of his people. He also changed the seat of highest Divine residence from Jerusalem to Mecca, and enjoined annual pil grimages to this new sanctuary. Almost fhe entire dietary ordinances, especially abstinence from the meat of swine, were adopted from the Mosaic law. The drinking of wine was forbidden. The Abra- hamitic rite, performed at the age of thirteen years, was already in general observance. Under these anomalous conditions, the founder of this new faith, with his impetuosity and exceptional good fortune, would have swept the entire Gentile world before him, had he not been checked to some extent by a great obstacle. This consisted in the fierce opposition of the Jews, who exerted an exten sive influence over the country. Added to this was a dark flaw in the moral character of the prophet, consisting of an insatiable concupiscence, amounting to mania. No young and comely woman could with any safety to her chastity approach the lecherous libertine without falling a sacrifice to his lust. He and his army of followers in the course of an exciting career brought up at last before the nearly impregnable fortress of Kha'ibar. He had pub licly vowed that her walls should be razed to the level of the ground, that her large Hebrew popula tion should either accept the religion of Islam or be exterminated; but most of all, that the renowned Jewish beauty, Zainab, whose fame for comeliness and grace filled all the East, should be added to his victories over the female world. She had been 166 BEN BEOR. chosen for her beauty, grace and comely modesty as first maid of honor to the queen of the small empire, Safiaya, the wife of the king, Ibu al Rabi. This queen, young and fair herself, had a most envious and ambitious disposition, which manifested itaelf by cruel treatment of her fair attendant, in whom she saw a powerful rival in the eyes of the men, with whom she managed to have at all times some love intrigue, despite of her nativity, in which such follies were strangers, degrading her high position as first lady of the land. The indulgent husband, as usual, occupied as he was with the great cares of the realm, learned last of her shortcomings, although they were the subject of public gossip. Especially was the queen jealous of her maid's betrothed. Early in life Zainab had been engaged according to Israelitish custom, and was shortly to be wedded to her distant relative Marhab. This distinguished and remarkable man had become the wealthiest as well as the most powerful of all his tribe. Of a giant stature, sym metrically formed; a round, finely-shaped head covered with long dark hair; a broad forehead; somewhat small, coal-black piercing eyes; an aquiline nose, a full and smiling mouth, immense chest and shoulders, long powerful arms on which the veins and muscles stood out like cords such was the imposing appearance of this modern Hebrew Samson, the renowned leader and chief of the defenders in and about the citadel, now besieged by the Mahom etans. Their great prophet, roused to frenzy by a defeat which he had sustained at the hands of the citizens in holy Mecca, who refused admittance to him and his followers on their annual pilgrimage to the sacred shrine, the Ca-aba, determined to vent his anger upon the Jews. These had ever opposed him in his progress. He charged that they were instrumental in causing his defeat and humiliation, HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 167 which greatly dampened and checked the ardor of his disciples. Besides this, Kha'ibar had become a place of refuge for many enemies, who made them selves obnoxious to his ambition. Therefore had he vowed that the city must fall. In the beginning of the seventh year of his first flight from Mecca, July 16, 622 A. D., from which period the Mussul- men count the advent of the new religion, and which is called " The Hegira," the resentful expe dition started against the far-off country, which lay one week's journey north-eastward from the camp. The invading army was small but select, twelve hundred foot-soldiers and two hundred horse. With these were the brave division-leaders, Abu Becker, Omar, and quite a number of select officers known to be steadfast and reliable. Before they departed I had joined their religion and army. Presenting powerful credentials from many of the most celebrated crowned heads of Europe, I was received by the Prophet with open arms, con verted publicly amidst great pomp and ceremonies to the faith ; received the name of Ali among the Orientals, and as a special honor was invested with the command of one of the principal divisions of the army. Using every means at my command with the utmost liberality, especially during the long, hot and dry journey toward our destination, I cunningly provided comforts for the much-suffering troops, and became soon a great favorite and a powerful leader, securing no less by tact than by guile the friendship and personal confidence of Mahomet, who repeatedly culled me to his council of war and intrusted me with his plans and future prospects. At length we entered the fertile territory of our foes. Then we began the campaign by jiss:iiliu^ the inferior castles with which the country was studded. Many of these surrendered without a 168 BEN BEOE. struggle. The spoils being considered " gifts from Allah/' were appropriated by the Prophet. Places of more strength and defended with stouter hearts were taken by storm. Soon we reached Khai'bar, facing the apparently impregnable citadel called Al Kamus. It was built according to the best known methods of fortifications, stood upon the pinnacle of a steep rock, and had been garrisoned by trusted defenders. Such confidence \vas placed in the reputed strength of the place that the king, Ibu al Rabi, had deposited here in secreted recesses an immense treasure. One fine autumn morning, when all nature breathed peace, ripe plenty and spiritual content ment, we came in sight of the strong and frowning walls. On beholding the towering obstacles in our way, all the fierce passions and the fiery hatred of Mahomet's soul broke forth. In front of us there lay scattered a number of boulders. Springing upon one of the largest of these, the prophet threw himself upon his face ; his two standard-bearers, one with the image of the Sun, the other with the Black Eagle, stood by his side. Then on his knees he uttered in most vehement tones and gestures this prayer : " O Allah ! Lord of the seven heavens and of all things which they cover ; Lord of the seven earths and all which they sustain ; Lord of the evil spirits and of all whom they lead astray; Lord of the winds and of all whom they scatter and disperse: we sup plicate Thee to deliver into our hands this city and all that it contains and the riches of all its lands. To Thee we look for aid against this people and against all the perils by which we are environed." Now raising himself erect he exclaimed: "This stone upon which I stand shall be holy for all times to come, equal to the Ka-aba of Mecca. Its name be known as the Mansela. Let the faithful, while HISTORICAL PHANTASMAGORIA. 169 we dwell here, make daily seven circuits around it. If we conquer- 1 - as we shall a mosque is to be erected on this spot, a splendid memorial for having supported the feet of the Prophet, and be it forever a sacred object of veneration to all pious believers in Al Koran." Amidst deafening huzzahs and shouts of "Allah-il Alla-ha ! " the siege immediately commenced. Ma homet was everywhere; but at first neither his undaunted courage nor that of the army availed much. They had as yet no great experience in the attack of fortified places, especially when defended, as was this, by brave and skilled warriors, stubbornly resisting all efforts for advantage. Worst of all, the assailing troops suffered much from want of pro visions, since they had brought with them no great quantity of supplies. The Jews on the approach of their foes had laid waste the level country and destroyed everything that could afford food or shelter around their capital. Trenches were immediately dug, the work going on day and night. Battering rams were constructed with infinite labor and trouble, which as soon as in position played incessantly upon the walls. A breach at last was effected, but every attempt to scale the fortifications and enter was repelled with bloody sacrifices. Abu Becker led one assault ; he had been intrusted with the standard of the Prophet. In spite of every brave effort, which continued for hours, his storming party was defeated and he was compelled to retreat. Omar fought all next day, with the same result and still greater losses. Dis may and faintheartedness spread in the ranks, and many counseled the abandonment of the fatal efforts. Now I, who had thus far kept myself in the back ground, saw that my chance had come, and stepped boldly before the chief. "Intrust me with one 170 BEN BEOR. fair trial," I cried, " and my head may pay the for feit if we do not overcome these accursed Hebrew sons of Belial." I was clad that day in a scarlet vest, over which was buckled a cuirass of steel. With robust and square form, speaking of prodigious strength, a healthy florid countenance, surrounded by a bushy beard, and eyes all glittering with zeal and fire, I must have made an imposing impression upon my chief. He, looking proudly and confidingly upon my stalwart person, took from the belt his own renowned scimeter, named the " Dhu'l-Fakar," and handed it to me with the sacred banner of the golden Sun.