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"That man," said my new friend, "is ever in a hurry; he is, you must be informed, Pilate's chief steward, and knows many things, if one could but get them out. But it is just so with all in this noisy place. I can scarce find a man who will allow me more than a few words, ere he must perforce be off to keep some appointment. It was not so in Athens. There, one could find a few who would give you an hour or so in the markets, or at the corner of a street, or at the bath. But here, great Jupiter, I surely deem that a pot of Tyrian dye, or a bale of Egyptian cotton is held to be of more value than would be a discourse from Plato, and a merchant more honored than a philosopher. But that Cataphilus, whom we just met, as I was saying, he has a master, and that master is Pilate, and Pilate has a master, who is Tiberius. Those despatches from Rome, I trow, give him some trouble. He stands, I doubt, on slippery ground. But this in your ear. We Greeks make use of him, but we esteem him not any more than you Jews. Now, my young Hebrew, we approach the market, and a sight it is, I assure you; there behold! That too was the work of Herod. Few things in Athens are finer."

It was a noble structure indeed; and the whole scene was imposing and grand, owing

both to the buildings and the crowds of people who thronged the streets and squares. We stood where we had paused, observing and admiring, till being too much jostled and incommoded by the swift moving currents of passengers, we withdrew a few paces to the steps of a portico, where we could see and converse without interruption. As we thus stood here, and Zeno enlarged with volubility upon the various objects before us, our attention was suddenly arrested by the loud tone of a voice commencing its prayers in the Hebrew tongue. I turned to the quarter whence the sound proceeded, and just within an arch of the Portico hardly separated from the street, there stood a Jew with face uplifted, and hands spread out, uttering at the top of his voice his noon-day prayers; his eyes were so turned up as to give him the appearance of one in an agony, and his voice seemed to come forth from the passages of his nose rather than from those of the mouth. So distorted was his whole countenance by the sanctimonious expression he had assumed, that I did not at first recognise my companion on board the vessel. But as soon as I had made the discovery, I asked the Greek, who the person might be who was so diligent 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 BenEzra, 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 eyes-of 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. Let us away. This voice puts to flight my philosophy."

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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 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

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uttered of the destruction of the building before a few more days should pass.

"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 much 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.

III.

THE 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,

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