13. CHAPTER XIII.
THE START.
ABOUT three o'clock, speaking in modern style, the programme was
concluded except the chariot-race. The editor, wisely considerate of
the comfort of the people, chose that time for a recess. At once the
vomitoria were thrown open, and all who could hastened to the
portico outside where the restaurateurs had their quarters. Those
who remained yawned, talked, gossiped, consulted their tablets, and,
all distinctions else forgotten, merged into but two classes-the
winners, who were happy, and the losers, who were grim and captious.
Now, however, a third class of spectators, composed of citizens
who desired only to witness the chariot-race, availed themselves of
the recess to come in and take their reserved seats; by so doing
they thought to attract the least attention and give the least
offence. Among these were Simonides and his party, whose places were
in the vicinity of the main entrance on the north side, opposite the
consul.
As the four stout servants carried the merchant in his chair up
the aisle, curiosity was much excited. Presently some one called his
name. Those about caught it and passed it on along the benches to
the west; and there was hurried climbing on seats to get sight of
the man about whom common report had coined and put in circulation a
romance so mixed of good fortune and bad that the like had never
been known or heard of before.
Ilderim was also recognized and warmly greeted; but nobody knew
Balthasar or the two women who followed him closely veiled.
The people made way for the party respectfully, and the ushers
seated them in easy speaking distance of each other down by the
balustrade overlooking the arena. In providence of comfort, they sat
upon cushions and had stools for foot-rests.
The women were Iras and Esther.
Upon being seated, the latter cast a frightened look over the
Circus, and drew the veil closer about her face; while the Egyptian,
letting her veil fall upon her shoulders, gave herself to view, and
gazed at the scene with the seeming unconsciousness of being stared
at, which, in a woman, is usually the result of long social habitude.
The new-comers generally were yet making their first examination
of the great spectacle, beginning with the consul and his
attendants, when some workmen ran in and commenced to stretch a
chalked rope across the arena from balcony to balcony in front of
the pillars of the first goal.
About the same time, also, six men came in through the Porta
Pompae and took post, one in front of each occupied stall; whereat
there was a prolonged hum of voices in every quarter.
"See, see! The green goes to number four on the right; the
Athenian is there."
"And Messala-yes, he is number two."
"The Corinthian-"
"Watch the white! See, he crosses over-he stops; number one it
is-number one on the left."
"No, the black stops there, and the white at number two."
"So it is."
These gate-keepers, it should be understood, were dressed in
tunics coloured like those of the competing charioteers; so, when they
took their stations, everybody knew the particular stall in which
his favourite was that moment waiting.
"Did you ever see Messala?" the Egyptian asked Esther.
The Jewess shuddered as she answered no. If not her father's
enemy, the Roman was Ben-Hur's.
"He is beautiful as Apollo."
As Iras spoke, her large eyes brightened and she shook her
jewelled fan. Esther looked at her with the thought, "Is he, then,
so much handsomer than Ben-Hur?" Next moment she heard Ilderim say
to her father, "Yes, his stall is number two on the left of the
Porta Pompae;" and, thinking it was of Ben-Hur he spoke, her eyes
turned that way. Taking but the briefest glance at the wattled face of
the gate, she drew the veil close and muttered a little prayer.
Presently Sanballat came to the party.
"I am just from the stalls, O sheik," he said, bowing gravely to
Ilderim, who began combing his beard, while his eyes glittered with
eager inquiry. "The horses are in perfect condition."
Ilderim replied simply, "If they are beaten, I pray it be by some
other than Messala."
Turning then to Simonides, Sanballat drew out a tablet, saying, "I
bring you also something of interest. I reported, you will remember,
the wager concluded with Messala last night, and stated that I left
another which, if taken, was to be delivered to me in writing to-day
before the race began. Here it is."
Simonides took the tablet and read the memorandum carefully.
"Yes," he said, "their emissary came to ask me if you had so much
money with me. Keep the tablet close. If you lose, you know where to
come; if you win"-his face knit hard-"if you win-ah, friend, see to
it! See the signers escape not; hold them to the last shekel. That
is what they would with us."
"Trust me," replied the purveyor.
"Will you not sit with us?" asked Simonides.
"You are very good," the other returned; "but if I leave the consul,
young Rome yonder will boil over. Peace to you; peace to all."
At length the recess came to an end.
The trumpeters blew a call at which the absentees rushed back to
their places. At the same time, some attendants appeared in the arena,
and, climbing upon the division wall, went to an entablature near
the second goal at the west end, and placed upon it seven wooden
balls; then returning to the first goal, upon an entablature there
they set up seven other pieces of wood hewn to represent dolphins.
"What shall they do with the balls and fishes, O sheik?" asked
Balthasar.
"Hast thou never attended a race?"
"Never before; and hardly know I why I am here."
"Well, they are to keep the count. At the end of each round run thou
shalt see one ball and one fish taken down."
The preparations were now complete, and presently a trumpeter in
gaudy uniform arose by the editor, ready to blow the signal of
commencement promptly at his order. Straightway the stir of the people
and the hum of their conversation died away. Every face near-by, and
every face in the lessening perspective, turned to the east, as all
eyes settled upon the gates of the six stalls which shut in the
competitors.
The unusual flush upon his face gave proof that even Simonides had
caught the universal excitement. Ilderim pulled his beard fast and
furious.
"Look now for the Roman," said the fair Egyptian to Esther, who
did not hear her, for, with close-drawn veil and beating heart, she
sat watching for Ben-Hur.
The structure containing the stalls, it should be observed, was in
form of the segment of a circle, retired on the right so that its
central point was projected forward, and midway the course, on the
starting side of the first goal. Every stall, consequently, was
equally distant from the starting-line or chalked rope above
mentioned.
The trumpet sounded short and sharp; whereupon the starters, one for
each chariot, leaped down from behind the pillars of the goal, ready
to give assistance if any of the fours proved unmanageable.
Again the trumpet blew, and simultaneously the gate-keepers threw
the stalls open.
First appeared the mounted attendants of the charioteers, five in
all, Ben-Hur having rejected the service. The chalked line was lowered
to let them pass, then raised again. They were beautifully mounted,
yet scarcely observed as they rode forward; for all the time the
trampling of eager horses, and the voices of drivers scarcely less
eager, were heard behind in the stalls, so that one might not look
away an instant from the gaping doors.
The chalked line up again, the gate-keepers called their men;
instantly the ushers on the balcony waved their hands, and shouted
with all their strength, "Down! down!"
As well have whistled to stay a storm.
Forth from each stall, like missiles in a volley from so many
great guns, rushed the six fours; and up the vast assemblage arose,
electrified and irrepressible, and, leaping upon the benches, filled
the Circus and the air above it with yells and screams. This was the
time for which they had so patiently waited!-this the moment of
supreme interest treasured up in talk and dreams since the
proclamation of the games!
"He is come-there-look!" cried Iras, pointing to Messala.
"I see him," answered Esther, looking at Ben-Hur.
The veil was withdrawn. For an instant the little Jewess was
brave. An idea of the joy there is in doing an heroic deed under the
eyes of a multitude came to her, and she understood ever after how, at
such times, the souls of men, in the frenzy of performance, laugh at
death or forget it utterly.
The competitors were now under view from nearly every part of the
Circus, yet the race was not begun; they had first to make the chalked
line successfully.
The line was stretched for the purpose of equalizing the start. If
it were dashed upon, discomfiture of man and horses might be
apprehended; on the other hand, to approach it timidly was to incur
the hazard of being thrown behind in the beginning of the race; and
that was certain forfeit of the great advantage always striven for-the position next the division wall on the inner line of the course.
This trial, its perils and consequences, the spectators knew
thoroughly; and if the opinion of old Nestor, uttered what time he
handed the reins to his son, were true-
"It is not strength, but art, obtained the prize,
And to be swift is less than to be wise,"
all on the benches might well look for warning of the winner to be now
given, justifying the interest with which they breathlessly watched
for the result.
The arena swam in a dazzle of light; yet each driver looked first
thing for the rope, then for the coveted inner line. So, all six
aiming at the same point and speeding furiously, a collision seemed
inevitable; nor that merely. What if the editor, at the last moment,
dissatisfied with the start, should withhold the signal to drop the
rope? Or if he should not give it in time?
The crossing was about two hundred and fifty feet in width. Quick
the eye, steady the hand, unerring the judgment required. If now one
look away! or his mind wander! or a rein slip! And what attraction
in the ensemble of the thousands over the spreading balcony!
Calculating upon the natural impulse to give one glance-just one-in sooth of curiosity or vanity, malice might be there with an
artifice; while friendship and love, did they serve the same result,
might be as deadly as malice.
The divine last touch in perfecting the beautiful is animation.
Can we accept the saying, then these latter days, so tame in pastime
and dull in sports, have scarcely anything to compare to the spectacle
offered by the six contestants. Let the reader try to fancy it; let
him first look down upon the arena, and see it glistening in its frame
of dull-grey granite walls; let him then, in this perfect field, see
the chariots, light of wheel, very graceful, and ornate as paint and
burnishing can make them-Messala's rich with ivory and gold; let
him see the drivers, erect and statuesque, undisturbed by the motion
of the cars, their limbs naked, and fresh and ruddy with the healthful
polish of the baths-in their right hands goads, suggestive of torture
dreadful to the thought-in their left hands, held in careful
separation, and high, that they may not interfere with view of the
steeds, the reins passing taut from the fore ends of the
carriage-poles; let him see the fours, chosen for beauty as well as
speed; let him see them in magnificent action, their masters not
more conscious of the situation and all that is asked and hoped from
them-their heads tossing, nostrils in play, now distent, now
contracted-limbs too dainty for the sand which they touch but to
spurn-limbs slender, yet with impact crushing as hammers-every
muscle of the rounded bodies instinct with glorious life, swelling,
diminishing, justifying the world in taking from them its ultimate
measure of force; finally, along with chariots, drivers, horses, let
the reader see the accompanying shadows fly; and, with such
distinctness as the picture comes, he may share the satisfaction and
deeper pleasure of those to whom it was a thrilling fact, not a feeble
fancy. Every age has its plenty of sorrows; heaven help where there
are no pleasures!
The competitors having started each on the shortest line for the
position next the wall, yielding would be like giving up the race; and
who dared yield? It is not in common nature to change a purpose in
mid-career; and the cries of encouragement from the balcony were
indistinguishable and indescribable: a roar which had the same
effect upon all the drivers.
The fours neared the rope together. Then the trumpeter by the
editor's side blew a signal vigorously. Twenty feet away it was not
heard. Seeing the action, however, the judges dropped the rope, and
not an instant too soon, for the hoof of one of Messala's horses
struck it as it fell. Nothing daunted, the Roman shook out his long
lash, loosed the reins, leaned forward, and, with a triumphant
shout, took the wall.
"Jove with us! Jove with us!" yelled all the Roman faction, in a
frenzy of delight.
As Messala turned in, the bronze lion's head at the end of his
axle caught the fore-leg of the Athenian's right-hand trace-mate,
flinging the brute over against its yoke-fellow. Both staggered,
struggled, and lost their headway. The ushers had their will, at least
in part. The thousands held their breath with horror; only up where
the consul sat was there shouting.
"Jove with us!" screamed Drusus, frantically.
"He wins! Jove with us!" answered his associates, seeing Messala
speed on.
Tablet in hand, Sanballat turned to them; a crash from the course
below stopped his speech, and he could not but look that way.
Messala having passed, the Corinthian was the only contestant on the
Athenian's right, and to that side the latter tried to turn his broken
four; and then, as ill-fortune would have it, the wheel of the
Byzantine, who was next on the left, struck the tail-piece of his
chariot, knocking his feet from under him. There was a crash, a scream
of rage and fear, and the unfortunate Cleanthes fell under the hoofs
of his own steeds: a terrible sight, against which Esther covered
her eyes.
On swept the Corinthian, on the Byzantine, on the Sidonian.
Sanballat looked for Ben-Hur, and turned again to Drusus and his
coterie.
"A hundred sestertii on the Jew!" he cried.
"Taken!" answered Drusus.
"Another hundred on the Jew!" shouted Sanballat.
Nobody appeared to hear him. He called again; the situation below
was too absorbing, and they were too busy shouting, "Messala! Messala!
Jove with us!"
When the Jewess ventured to look again, a party of workmen were
removing the horses and broken car; another party were taking off
the man himself; and every bench upon which there was a Greek was
vocal with execrations and prayers for vengeance. Suddenly she dropped
her hands; Ben-Hur, unhurt, was to the front, coursing freely
forward along with the Roman! Behind them, in a group, followed the
Sidonian, the Corinthian, and the Byzantine.
The race was on; the souls of the racers were in it; over them
bent the myriads.