and noisy at his devotions. Zeno was amazed at my ignorance.

"What," said he, " hast thou been but a day in Cæsarea, and hast thou not heard of Ben-Ezra, the holiest Jew in all the city, the very head of the Pharisees, and with the common people of more sway than either Simon ́or Eleazer? Daily, as the shadow of yonder dial falls upon the sixth hour, may this trumpet tongue be heard in the market of Cæsarea; a proclamation of holy zeal to the fools who cannot see, though they have eyesof false and vain pretence to those who know how to use the eyes God has given them. See, his worshippers are gathering to listen. Such prayers never reach the gods. Perhaps it is not meant they should. They are answered in the effect they have upon these asses who are crowding round with their long ears erect. us away. This voice puts to flight my philosophy." So we passed on and mingled in the thickest of the throng of buyers and sellers-now in greater multitudes than usual, owing to the games. With almost all the affair of the synagogue was the subject of conjecture or dispute; and from very few did I hear a word of encouragement for the poor Jew. All sorts of opprobrious language was poured forth upon our unhappy people, and prophecies freely uttered of the destruction of the building before a few more days should pass.

Let

"You see how it is, my little Jew," cried Zeno, as we turned away from some of these, "there is no hope for you. The gods have decreed your defeat, and you are defeated. Better trouble thyself no more about it. Accompany me to the Amphitheatre to view the preparations that are going on, and leave your bewildered countrymen to Pilate. Be assured he will take care of them."

I made him comprehend at length, after repeated attempts to avert the flow of his Greek, that I was too interested in the fate of my countrymen and friends to be absent on such an occasion. He took leave of

me with reluctance, but not till he had learned where and with whom I dwelt, and had promised to bestow upon me more of his company.

I returned to the house of Sameas. Anna and her mother I found employed in domestic affairs; wherefore I withdrew to my apartment, and gave myself even a higher pleasure than their society could have imparted, by conversing through my pen with you, my mother. But the time has come when it behoves me to repair to the Hall of Pilate, that I may not lose what shall there take place between the Greek and the Jew before the Roman Judge.

CHAPTER III.

JULIAN AT CESAREA TO NAOMI IN ROME.

HALL OF JUDGMENT. DEPUTATION OF JEWS. - PILATE.-SYLLEUS THE HERODIAN. -THE BRIBE. GREEK SUBTILTY. PHILIP'S RASHNESS. THE TUMULT. THE GAMES HEROD. PROCLA THE WIFE OF PILATE. PILATE'S SEN

TENCE.

OF

THE

HE scene has passed; and I am again returned to my apartment and my tablets, to describe to you all that has happened.

The Hall of Judgment, as the Cæsareans term that building where the Roman Governor hears and judges those causes which come before him, stands not far from the palace of Herod, and, indeed, although it faces in an opposite direction, and is separated apparently from it, is yet connected with it by covered and secret passages, so that communication can be quickly made from one to the other. Pilate, they say here, being ever fearful lest some revenge, either public or private, should be taken upon him for his violences committed against communities or individuals, contrived these and divers other secret methods of escape from one building to another, and from one part of the city to another. The building is not, however, like the palace, of marble, and of the like elegance in its design and ornaments; it is, on the other hand, constructed of a dark and gloomy stone, and though grand in its form and proportions, cannot boast of what is properly termed beautiful. As I now drew near, I perceived that on all sides it was encompassed by crowds of people, waiting for the coming of the Jews, and what was to follow. The whole city seemed to have come together into one place. I was

apprehensive lest owing to the multitude I should find it impossible to force myself within the building; for it appeared to me certain, that if so many were without, the space within must be more than filled. I thought it hardly worth my while to proceed, and had paused, that I might, at least, perhaps, by remaining where I was, witness the approach of the Jews, and the manner in which they would be received by so great a concourse of citizens, when I was suddenly saluted by the philosopher Zeno, from whom I had been parted but for a short time. He had evidently, by too fast walking, lost his breath, for he could utter himself only, as it were, piecemeal a great evil to one whose usual speech is like the running of a wine cask.

"How now, my Jew of Rome," cried he; "how think you your friends are to come up with you at your rate of walking? He who ran for help from Athens to Lacedæmon-Phi-"

"Phidippides."

"Ah, that is it-Phidippides - Phidippides ran not so fast. It is well you halted as you did, else had you lost my salutation and my company."

"Your company," said I, "I fear still I must lose; for owing to the numbers who are pressing into this narrow space, and are already in advance of me, I have resolved to return whence I came, though I shall miss much that I had hoped to witness."

"Now shalt thou acknowledge, Jew," cried he, there is for once use and virtue in a Greek. Follow me; and though thou shalt not get on at the pace of Phidippides, we shall arrive soon enough. So lay hold of my gown and come on. There is not a blind alley, or a covered way, or a secret entrance in Cæsarea that's not known to me, which is one advantage that accrueth as a consequence of having nothing to do."

So saying, he lead the way, and threading his passage among the throngs, at length emerged into a byway

wholly clear of the populace. Passing through this, I perceived that we had approached very near to the rear of the principal building; then, by now descending, and again ascending, enveloped now in darkness, then suddenly coming again to the light, meeting and seeing but few, and those apparently officials of the place, who all smiled and nodded to my companion as knowing him well, we came forth, at length, upon the broad paved area of the chief entrance; when, ascending a magnificent flight of steps, crowded with others rapidly moving in the same direction, we soon stood within the walls of the Judgment Hall more properly so called, being the vast apartment in which Pilate sits to hear whatever causes may be brought before him. With the knowledge of one who is familiar with such places, Zeno, immediately upon gaining the floor, pointed to the spot where we could both hear and see to the greatest advantage, and which none as yet had seized upon. Whereupon we without delay secured it.

"These people," said Zeno, "though now apparently so quiet and peaceable, yet require not much to be said or done, to throw them into a ferment of passion, and mingle them in bitter fight. The Greeks have bound themselves together by oaths, not to forego their end if it can be gained by any means which are within their reach. They are too many for you Jews, even though you were all of one mind; but as I hear and know, you are divided into parties which are little less hostile toward each other, than any or all of you are toward the Greeks. This will make their victory easy. Pilate, too, is with them."

Zeno was interrupted in his talk, which flows otherwise with a perpetual stream, by the stir occasioned by the approach and entrance of the deputation of the Jews. Their priests came at their head, clothed in the usual garments of the service, followed by Sylleus and those of the Herodians who had been selected to accompany