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er　it　was；　he　asked；　steadily；　〃Where　is　the　new　king？〃

〃That；　O　king；　is　what　we　would　ask。〃

〃You　bring　me　a　wondera　riddle　surpassing　any　of　Solomon's；〃　the　inquisitor　said　next。　〃As　you　see；　I　am　in　the　time　of　life　when　curiosity　is　as　ungovernable　as　it　was　in　childhood；　when　to　trifle　with　it　is　cruelty。　Tell　me　further；　and　I　will　honor　you　as　kings　honor　each　other。　Give　me　all　you　know　about　the　newly　born；　and　I　will　join　you　in　the　search　for　him；　and　when　we　have　found　him；　I　will　do　what　you　wish；　I　will　bring　him　to　Jerusalem；　and　train　him　in　kingcraft；　I　will　use　my　grace　with　Caesar　for　his　promotion　and　glory。　Jealousy　shall　not　come　between　us；　so　I　swear。　But　tell　me　first　how；　so　widely　separated　by　seas　and　deserts；　you　all　came　to　hear　of　him。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　truly；　O　king。〃

〃Speak　on；〃　said　Herod。

Balthasar　raised　himself　erect；　and　said；　solemnly；

〃There　is　an　Almighty　God。〃

Herod　was　visibly　startled。

〃He　bade　us　come　hither；　promising　that　we　should　find　the　Redeemer　of　the　World；　that　we　should　see　and　worship　him；　and　bear　witness　that　he　was　come；　and；　as　a　sign；　we　were　each　given　to　see　a　star。　His　Spirit　stayed　with　us。　O　king；　his　Spirit　is　with　us　now！〃

An　overpowering　feeling　seized　the　three。　The　Greek　with　difficulty　restrained　an　outcry。　Herod's　gaze　darted　quickly　from　one　to　the　other；　he　was　more　suspicious　and　dissatisfied　than　before。

〃You　are　mocking　me；〃　he　said。　〃If　not；　tell　me　more。　What　is　to　follow　the　coming　of　the　new　king？〃

〃The　salvation　of　men。〃

〃From　what？〃

〃Their　wickedness。〃

〃How？〃

〃By　the　divine　agenciesFaith；　Love；　and　Good　Works。〃

〃Then〃Herod　paused；　and　from　his　look　no　man　could　have　said　with　what　feeling　he　continued〃you　are　the　heralds　of　the　Christ。　Is　that　all？〃

Balthasar　bowed　low。

〃We　are　your　servants；　O　king。〃

The　monarch　touched　a　bell；　and　the　attendant　appeared。

〃Bring　the　gifts；〃　the　master　said。

The　attendant　went　out；　but　in　a　little　while　returned；　and；　kneeling　before　the　guests；　gave　to　each　one　an　outer　robe　or　mantle　of　scarlet　and　blue；　and　a　girdle　of　gold。　They　acknowledged　the　honors　with　Eastern　prostrations。

〃A　word　further；〃　said　Herod；　when　the　ceremony　was　ended。　〃To　the　officer　of　the　gate；　and　but　now　to　me；　you　spoke　of　seeing　a　star　in　the　east。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Balthasar；　〃his　star；　the　star　of　the　newly　born。〃

〃What　time　did　it　appear？〃

〃When　we　were　bidden　come　hither。〃

Herod　arose；　signifying　the　audience　was　over。　Stepping　from　the　throne　towards　them；　he　said；　with　all　graciousness；

〃If；　as　I　believe；　O　illustrious　men；　you　are　indeed　the　heralds　of　the　Christ　just　born；　know　that　I　have　this　night　consulted　those　wisest　in　things　Jewish；　and　they　say　with　one　voice　he　should　be　born　in　Bethlehem　of　Judea。　I　say　to　you；　go　thither；　go　and　search　diligently　for　the　young　child；　and　when　you　have　found　him　bring　me　word　again；　that　I　may　come　and　worship　him。　To　your　going　there　shall　be　no　let　or　hindrance。　Peace　be　with　you！〃

And；　folding　his　robe　about　him；　he　left　the　chamber。

Directly　the　guide　came；　and　led　them　back　to　the　street；　and　thence　to　the　khan；　at　the　portal　of　which　the　Greek　said；　impulsively；　〃Let　us　to　Bethlehem；　O　brethren；　as　the　king　has　advised。〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　the　Hindoo。　〃The　Spirit　burns　within　me。〃

〃Be　it　so；〃　said　Balthasar；　with　equal　warmth。　〃The　camels　are　ready。〃

They　gave　gifts　to　the　steward；　mounted　into　their　saddles；　received　directions　to　the　Joppa　Gate；　and　departed。　At　their　approach　the　great　valves　were　unbarred；　and　they　passed　out　into　the　open　country；　taking　the　road　so　lately　travelled　by　Joseph　and　Mary。　As　they　came　up　out　of　Hinnom；　on　the　plain　of　Rephaim；　a　light　appeared；　at　first　wide…spread　and　faint。　Their　pulses　fluttered　fast。　The　light　intensified　rapidly；　they　closed　their　eyes　against　its　burning　brilliance：　when　they　dared　look　again；　lo！　the　star；　perfect　as　any　in　the　heavens；　but　low　down　and　moving　slowly　before　them。　And　they　folded　their　hands；　and　shouted；　and　rejoiced　with　exceeding　great　joy。

〃God　is　with　us！　God　is　with　us！〃　they　repeated；　in　frequent　cheer；　all　the　way；　until　the　star；　rising　out　of　the　valley　beyond　Mar　Elias；　stood　still　over　a　house　up　on　the　slope　of　the　hill　near　the　town。




CHAPTER　XIV



It　was　now　the　beginning　of　the　third　watch；　and　at　Bethlehem　the　morning　was　breaking　over　the　mountains　in　the　east；　but　so　feebly　that　it　was　yet　night　in　the　valley。　The　watchman　on　the　roof　of　the　old　khan；　shivering　in　the　chilly　air；　was　listening　for　the　first　distinguishable　sounds　with　which　life；　awakening；　greets　the　dawn；　when　a　light　came　moving　up　the　hill　towards　the　house。　He　thought　it　a　torch　in　some　one's　hand；　next　moment　he　thought　it　a　meteor；　the　brilliance　grew；　however；　until　it　became　a　star。　Sore　afraid；　he　cried　out；　and　brought　everybody　within　the　walls　to　the　roof。　The　phenomenon；　in　eccentric　motion；　continued　to　approach；　the　rocks；　trees；　and　roadway　under　it　shone　as　in　a　glare　of　lightning；　directly　its　brightness　became　blinding。　The　more　timid　of　the　beholders　fell　upon　their　knees；　and　prayed；　with　their　faces　hidden；　the　boldest；　covering　their　eyes；　crouched；　and　now　and　then　snatched　glances　fearfully。　Afterwhile　the　khan　and　everything　thereabout　lay　under　the　intolerable　radiance。　Such　as　dared　look　beheld　the　star　standing　still　directly　over　the　house　in　front　of　the　cave　where　the　Child　had　been　born。

In　the　height　of　this　scene；　the　wise　men　came　up；　and　at　the　gate　dismounted　from　their　camels；　and　shouted　for　admission。　When　the　steward　so　far　mastered　his　terror　as　to　give　them　heed；　he　drew　the　bars　and　opened　to　them。　The　camels　looked　spectral　in　the　unnatural　light；　and；　besides　their　outlandishness；　there　were　in　the　faces　and　manner　of　the　three　visitors　an　eagerness　and　exaltation　which　still　further　excited　the　keeper's　fears　and　fancy；　he　fell　back；　and　for　a　time　could　not　answer　the　question　they　put　to　him。

〃Is　not　this　Bethlehem　of　Judea？〃

But　others　came；　and　by　their　presence　gave　him　assurance。

〃No；　this　is　but　the　khan；　the　town　lies　farther　on。〃

〃Is　there　not　here　a　child　newly　born？〃

The　bystanders　turned　to　each　other　marvelling；　though　some　of　them　answered；　〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃Show　us　to　him！〃　said　the　Greek；　impatiently。

〃Show　us　to　him！〃　cried　Balthasar；　breaking　through　his　gravity；　〃for　we　have　seen　his　star；　even　that　which　ye　behold　over　the　house；　and　are　come　to　worship　him。〃

The　Hindoo　clasped　his　hands；　exclaiming；　〃God　indeed　lives！　Make　haste；　make　haste！　The　Savior　is　found。　Blessed；　blessed　are　we　above　men！〃

The　people　from　the　roof　came　down　and　followed　the　strangers　as　they　were　taken　through　the　court　and　out　into　the　enclosure；　at　sight　of　the　star　yet　above　the　cave；　though　less　candescent　than　before；　some　turned　back　afraid；　the　greater　part　went　on。　As　the　strangers　neared　the　house；　the　orb　arose；　when　they　were　at　the　door；　it　was　high　up　overhead　vanishing；　when　they　entered；　it　went　out　lost　to　sight。　And　to　the　witnesses　of　what　then　took　place　came　a　conviction　that　there　was　a　divine　relation　between　the　star　and　the　strangers；　which　extended　also　to　at　least　some　of　the　occupants　of　the　cave。　When　the　door　was　opened；　they　crowded　in。

The　apartment　was　lighted　by　a　lantern　enough　to　enable　the　strangers　to　find　the　mother；　and　the　child　awake　in　her　lap。

〃Is　the　child　thine？〃　asked　Balthasar　of　Mary。

And　she　who　had　kept　all　the　things　in　the　least　affecting　the　little　one；　and　pondered　them　in　her　heart；　held　it　up　in　the　light；　saying；

〃He　is　my　son！〃

And　they　fell　down　and　worshipped　him。

They　saw　the　child　was　as　other　children：　about　its　head　was　neither　nimbus　nor　material　crown；　its　lips　opened　not　in　speech；　if　it　heard　their　expressions　of　joy；　their　invocations；　their　prayers；　it　made　no　sign　whatever；　but；　baby…like；　looked　longer　at　the　flame　in　the　lantern　than　at　them。

In　a　little　while　they　arose；　and；　returning　to　the　camels；　brought　gifts　of　gold；　frankincense；　and　myrrh；　and　laid　them　before　the　child；　abating　nothing　of　their　worshipful　speeches；　of　which　no　part　is　given；　for　the　thoughtful　know　that　the　pure　worship　of　the　pure　heart　was　then　what　it　is　now；　and　has　always　been；　an　inspired　song。

And　this　was　the　Savior　they　had　come　so　far　to　find！

Yet　they　worshipped　without　a　doubt。

Why？

Their　faith　rested　upon　the　signs　sent　them　by　him　whom　we　have　since　come　to　know　as　the　Father；　and　they　were　of　the　kind　to　whom　his　promises　were　so　all…sufficient　that　they　asked　nothing　about　his　ways。　Few　there　were　who　had　seen　the　signs　and　heard　the　promisesthe　Mother　and　Joseph；　the　shepherds；　and　the　Threeyet　they　all　believed　alike；　that　is　to　say；　in　this　period　of　the　plan　of　salvation；　God　was　all　and　the　Child　nothing。　But　look　forward；　O　reader！　A　time　will　come　when　the　signs　will　all　proceed　from　the　Son。　Happy　they　who　then　believe　in　him！

Let　us　wait　that　period。





BOOK　SECOND

　　〃There　is　a　fire　And　motion　of　the　soul　which　will　not　dwell　In　its　own　narrow　being；　but　aspire　Beyond　the　fitting　medium　of　desire；　And；　but　once　kindled；　quenchless　evermore；