The Coming of the King | Page 9

against the other. Then did they tremble without
touch of hand and did wrap themselves in a knot and struggle together
until they did burst asunder. And from that which was hidden therein
came forth the hind foot of a hare."
"The meaning thereof?" and Antipas waited.
"That which be hidden is no Roman. That which hideth it shall meet
death by strangulation. Then shall that which hath been swallowed
come forth to run a swift race."
Antipas reflected a moment. His anger was leaving him, but the tips of
his teeth were not yet showing.
Zador Ben Amon turned to his cloak and from a wallet took out three
leather cases, two of which he opened and placed on the table. The first
contained a ring, the second a frontlet. "Of so excellent a nature hath
been thy entertainment," said the Jew, "thou makest me to forget my
gifts," and taking up the frontlet he handed it to Antipas. "This is a gift
for the High Priest. Look thou at the filigree work around the amethyst,
and the hyacinth color of the ribbon."
Antipas took it and Zador noticed that his fingers seemed to stick as he
relinquished his hold.
"And this," Zador took the ring, "hath been made by workers of rare
skill. Its jaspers came from far India. This is for Herod Antipas from

his friend Zador Ben Amon," and he handed it to Herod.
The keen edge of the sharp teeth now came into view for a smile of
long duration. When the ring had been duly admired, Antipas glanced
at the third leather case. Zador opened it and drew forth an anklet
which Antipas reached for. Slipping it over the fingers of his hand he
held it up, and after examining its jewels, he shook it until it tinkled,
and enjoyed it as a child enjoys a toy. When he had played with it a few
moments he lifted his eyes to the Jew and studied him. "Thy desire is
buried well under thy itch for gain," he said. "Yet do I now remember
the eye of the money-changer when he spoke of the naked virgins."
"Is a money-changer not as other men?"
"With his two eyes ever set on gold and his ten fingers ever counting
treasure, what eye or finger touch hath he left for woman? Is this for the
profit of thy purse or the pleasure of the flesh?"
"It is a betrothal gift."
"Thou sayest! Beware an Asmonean princess!" and Antipas smiled
broadly.
"A princess of Israel she is. I saw her in the shop of a Jerusalem silk
dealer named Joel who will wed her sister. Her hair is fine as webs
spun at night. She hath arms and a bosom her veil did but half conceal.
So was I stirred into loving her. Her brother liveth at Bethany where
she too abides and there have I been. Fair she is and not upper-minded,
and I go to make her my betrothed."
"And doth this fit?" Taking the circlet from his fingers Antipas put it on
his wrist and shoved it as far up on his hair-grown arm as it would go.
He then placed his broad hand on the table and gave an imitation of a
woman walking. Both men roared with laughter as the hairy leg
skipped and danced and hobbled while the bangles tinkled merrily.
"Thou art a keen Jew, my friend," Antipas said. "Thou tellest not the
name of the woman. If she shall scorn thy gift then canst thou give it to

another for, ever there are women whose softness can be thine for a
jeweled trinket." And with a broad showing of sharp teeth, Herod
Antipas removed the anklet from his arm and handed it back to Zador
Ben Amon.
CHAPTER III
UNDER THE FOX'S NOSE
Behind the well guarded doors of a mud plastered house not far from
the shores of Genassaret, a small company of Galilean peasants and
fishermen had gathered to meet a kurios[1] from a Phoenician
thiasos,[2] who was making a pilgrimage to gather information and
organize societies. When introduced to the little group, the kurios said,
"I see the table spread for the supper. Around such a table have I sat in
Greece and Asia Minor as well as in Italy. Great is its power of
breaking down the hatred between races and of making strong the spirit
of the Brotherhood. In every land, though customs are not the same and
the tongues are strange, yet do those who enter in know the bath of
acceptance; the common table; the common treasury; love of the living;
care for the dead; hope for the future; worship of a divinity and belief
that a Savior cometh. Long hath it come to the ears