 | VII. Julian, or Scenes in Judea |  |
7. VII.
I awoke, my mother, not in Rome, though
my dreams had carried me there, and placed
me at your side, vainly attempting to win away
your attention from the book of the prophets,
which according to your wont, in the morning's
prime, you were diligently pondering. It was
the rebuke of your sometimes severe countenance
at an impertinent jest of mine, that broke
my slumbers. Slowly the mists of the night
drew away and left me in the full consciousness
of my position. My eyes fell upon unaccustomed
objects; the open casement held up
before me a distant prospect of stream and plain,
hill and tower, such as I never before had seen;
the song of birds, whose strains were new and
strange, voices of laborers or of the servants of
the household calling to each other in the Syriac
tongue, — not even yet an agreeable melody, —
met my ear; these, and other sights and sounds
by degrees informed me that I had been sleeping
neither in Italy nor Rome, but was still a sojourner
in the barbarous clime of the further
deserts. In that sense of utter feebleness of
the will with which we first wake in the morning,
it seemed to me, that I would renounce all
knowledge of other places and people, for the
sake of being once more in Rome. I cared not
for Onias, Judith, Judea, nor the whole East,
in comparison with Rome and thee. But action,
and the bath, and the fresh air of the
housetop, soon scattered these worse than
dreams, and restored me to my manhood.
In a part of the dwelling not far from where
I had slept, I found Onias and Judith, with
others of their large household, awaiting me at
a table well covered with bread, fruits, wines,
and dainties unknown to the vocabulary of Roman
art. Thy stern and contemplative brother
saluted me, methought, with no very encouraging
fervor, but very much as if he were
addressing a new comer as little welcome as
expected. But this I regarded not, for I
knew, that so soon as his dreamy thoughts could
be gathered together, some from Jerusalem,
some from Galilee, and some from Rome, he
would comprehend who I was, and I should be
dealt with accordingly. From Judith my greeting
was quite otherwise. She hastened to meet
me as I entered, and by the natural ardor of
her manner, and the glow of her most expressive
but another home. Indeed, my mother, thy
niece is very beautiful. Shall I speak of Rebecca,
or Ruth, or Rachel, or Judith of old?
Rebecca at the well, with our great father Isaac,
as tradition paints her, was not to be placed by
the side of Judith, the daughter of Onias, when
she rose from her embroidered couch and gave me
the salute of peace, and then proffered me the
refreshments of the loaded board. I believe I
only gazed at her in return, and gave as many
signs of distraction as Onias himself; for before
I had fully recovered myself, I heard from one
who was near, “Can it be that Rome hath no
women?” Those few words, not intended to
reach my ear, brought me to myself, and gave
a new direction to my eyes, and unloosed my
tongue. There was then no want either of
food for discourse, or of disposition to engage
in it, save on the part of thy brother, who during
the whole repast spake never a word, unless
it were in reply to questions urgently pressed
upon him, and those relating to the matters immediately
before us.
No sooner were our duties discharged towards
both ourselves and the substantial dishes that
had been set for our refreshment, than, Judith
leading the way, we turned from the apartment
where we had been sitting, and were conducted
along the side of the house that overlooks the
Jordan and the vineyards which lie along his
banks. The single terebinth of a giant
size, of which I have already made mention,
stood near this portico and spread its broad
arms so far, that some of them reached and
cast a grateful shade over the spot where
we sat, defending our eyes agreeably against
the rays of a bright summer sun. The dwelling
of Onias, I could now observe to be
even more extensive than in the twilight of the
preceding evening I had supposed; and to be
composed of parts varying greatly in their
forms, giving signs of having been built at
periods remote from each other, and by those
who paid no regard to any other rule than to indulge
each his own particular fancy in what
he added or altered. As I have said the building
is low and of but a single story; yet its lowness
is in seeming only, owing to the large
space which it covers. The rooms within
are lofty, and the portico where we sat — of
Roman construction and order — is of a height
not less than that which adorns the house of
Drusus on the Palatine. I was not surprised
to find Roman architecture here beyond the
Jordan; for since the power of the Herods has
been felt in Judea, there is scarce a considerable
so that to behold their forms as I travelled
through the country lifting themselves up
on every side, overtopping and outshining the
native buildings, it truly seemed to me that I
was in Italy rather than elsewhere. Sebaste,
Tiberias, Gamala, Cæsarea, and Herodium not
far from Machærus toward the Dead Sea, are
all Roman or Greek. The older portions of
the dwelling of thy brother are neither Greek nor
Roman, but in a much earlier manner. They
are built of huge stones rudely put together, but
in a manner to defy the power of time to disjoint
or cast them down; of the same manner and
form with those, which are found in all the
country stretching to the east of the Perea and
Trachonitis, but by whom and in what age
erected no history relates. They appear, travellers
report, to be rather the work of Titans
than of men, and have served for the dwellings
of successive generations.
Those parts of thy brother's house, which
are the work of more modern times, bear small
resemblance to each other or to the original and
older portions, but spread themselves out in every
various direction and form, agreeing only in the
same general elevation; to this, however, there
is the exception of a single broad tower rising to
such a height as to overlook the whole region
the front which faces towards the south, resembling
that in which we were now sitting,
but of less extent. A large space as an inner court
is enclosed by the sides of the building, where
a fountain plays, and over which is often drawn
during the hot days of summer an awning of
cloth upon a frame prepared for it, as a protection
from the heat and as yielding an agreeable
shade. It is without difficulty partially broken
up, or removed, when either more of light, or
air, or warmth is desired, or when it becomes
needful either to raise objects from the court
below to the roof above, or to lower them down.
The proper ascent to the roof is by stairs from
within the dwelling; yet it can also be ascended
from without.
“You are pleased, as I judge by the direction
of your eye,” said Judith when we were seated,
“with these proofs of a Roman taste. They
cause you to feel as if you had wandered but a
little way from home, and were not quite
among either strangers or barbarians. Of your
family we have scarce heard anything more,
than that you have adopted the Roman religion
with Roman customs.”
“You have rightly judged,” I answered,
“that I am pleased with these signs of Roman
taste in this noble Portico, as well as in many
would have common to all, and by no means confined
to one people or one faith. It is no good
reason because Judea holds one form of religion,
in which she excels other nations, that she
should reject forms of art in which others excel
her. Do you not think so?”
“I do indeed,” Judith replied. “Nations are
more likely to live in harmony the more they
can innocently adopt of each other's customs,
as well as the more they can see of each other.
And so thought our ancestor, Alexander, to
whom we owe most of these modern additions,
but so thinks not Onias, the son of Alexander.”
In saying which Judith raised her eyes from the
embroidery on which she was employed and
turned them on her father.
“Verily I do not;” rejoined Onias. “This
worship of everything Roman is the new idolatry,
which not less than that of old, into which
our rebellious forefathers were ever falling,
shows us false to our true descent, unworthy of
our name and faith, rebels against God, and if
we repent not, destined quickly to perish. We
are one half of us pagans, heathen, Romans,
Greeks, everything, in Jews' clothing. The
last offence is, to be ashamed of what God hath
made us, and that the Jew is. Surely God's
judgments will overtake and overwhelm us.
— was a good man, yet nevertheless a worshipper
of idols not less than Ephraim. In this, at
least, may I be permitted to boast, that my
hatred burns toward all but Judea. Julian, I
rejoice to tell thee, my daughter, is better than
by your first words you have taken him for; he
has in part at least renounced the false faith in
which he was nurtured, and returned to that of
his Fathers. Born a Jew, but living thereafter
and believing as a gentile, he has now, since
his foot has touched the soil of Judea, and
his eye seen her dishonor and her wrongs,
turned back to what he was when his only
learning was such as fell upon his ear, as he
sat an infant upon the knees of Naomi. If my
ear deceived me not, thy cousin last evening
gave thee in part a history of his life.”
“He spoke,” said Judith, “of Cæsarea, of
Anna and Philip, and of his adventures in their
behalf; but of his faith I could gather but little.
It is in truth a greater joy than I looked for to
greet him not only as one of the household of
Alexander, but also of that of Abraham and
Moses.”
I then for the satisfaction of the fair Judith
imparted to her much of what I had already,
on our journey thither, related to thy brother,
concerning the earlier part of my life and the
She heard with deep attention, her hands
often ceasing from their employment and her
countenance turned towards me, showing her
too much engaged in what was said to bethink
herself, whether she were listening to any other
than a familiar and long accustomed voice. I
wished my story longer for the sake of such a
hearer. In the manner in which she yields to
nature in the ardent expression of her countenance,
being governed by no other power
than her own feelings, Judith reminds me of
Anna; but while Anna was too much swayed
by others, Judith is mistress of herself, and with
all her passion shows a firmness which could
not be turned from any path she deemed right.
So at least I judge now after so brief an acquaintance.
When I had ended, Judith said, “I praise
God, Julian, that he has brought you back
safe amongst your own people, and to his own
service. But then, I at least will tell you,
what from your narrative you seem not to have
learned at Cæsarea, that though Judea is trodden
upon and oppressed, as you yourself have
witnessed, it is not in her innocence that this
has happened. She is not guiltless before God.
Think not that she suffers but for her iniquities.
It is these that have brought her so low, blotted
caused that for these many centuries no prophet
of God hath come as of old to instruct and hear
us. Wickedness is in the land. They who sit
in Moses' seat are usurpers. The law is honored
by the lips but broken in the life. Cunning
men have put their own conceits in the
place of the word of God, and pass them off
upon the people for his own truth. Through
the multitude of such interpretations and the
impudence of the priests the law is set aside
and of no effect. It is not, Julian, deliverance
from Rome alone that can heal our diseases. An
Egyptian bondage (and ours is lighter) were
not to be deplored like this great corruption of
the heart. We need a physician of the soul
who shall thoroughly purge it, and make it a
dwelling cleansed of every foul thing, a habitation
meet for the spirit of God. Freedom
from Roman Power could not do this. Alas!
I fear it would but swell our pride the more,
and remove farther off than ever the day when
God shall visit his people. Till he shall see
signs of repentance he will never come, never.
Jordan would sooner flow back to his springs.”
As Judith said these things tears stood in her
eyes, which were lifted from her work, and
fixed upon the flowing river as it wound along
gleaming in the sunshine.
Onias, who had been pacing to and fro along
the portico, now paused before his daughter and
said;
“Judith, Judith, thou art ever too exacting
toward our unhappy land. Thou judgest her
hardly. Her sins are manifold in truth, but
still are we not of the seed of Abraham? and
who then is like unto us? who shall ever rise
into our seat? whom doth Jehovah honor but
us, and for whom as for us are the ages waiting
to bring forth their treasures? shall not the
promises of God be made good? Moreover,
what causeth the sin that is and for which the
land mourneth, but this thrice cursed power of
the gentile over us? While the idolater is in
the land and its ruler, will not the people as of
old bow down and worship the images that be
everywhere set up? First, my daughter, first of
all must the oppressor be smitten, and the oppressed
made free; then shall the seed have been
destroyed that brings forth this harvest of iniquity.
Then shall righteousness find space
and soil to grow, and the gentile shall not be
here to cause blasting and mildew —.”
A maid servant here quickly entered and said
that a messenger from Machærus was just
arrived in haste inquiring for Onias. Thy
brother at this started, and with precipitation
passed into the house following the servant.
Judith; but perceiving that her mind was now
frequently withdrawn as if possessed by other
thoughts, I too departed and bent my way toward
the deep shades, which not far before us I
beheld covering a slight elevation on the hither
bank of the river. “Beneath those shades,” said
Judith as I went, “you will find a calm and cool
retreat, where, when as now the sun blazes with
unusual heat, we sometimes pass the noonday
hours. A simple structure stands beneath those
trees, hidden now from our sight which overlooks
the river and the vineyards. I commend you to its
pleasant seats.” Saying these things she passed
into the house, while I pursued my way to the
vineyards on the banks, and the retreat to which
Judith had commended me.
Passing in my way through gardens, olive
grounds, and vineyards, I came at length to the
spot at which I aimed, distant at least half a
Roman mile from the house. The building,
hardly to be seen till approached very near, I
found to be of a circular form overrun with
vines, which climbing up the columns to the
roof then hung down in a confusion of polished
leaves, bright berries, flowers, and fruit. A few
gray rocks here and there breaking through the
ground rendered the ascent on the side toward
the river difficult, the more as among them
to their will, untouched by the hand of art.
From the entrance, open toward the south, the
eye fell first upon the slope of meadow and
vineyard along the nearer bank; then upon the
sacred stream as it wound slowly away and was
hidden at length by overhanging foliage, and
last upon a remote prospect of hill and wood,
mountain and desert, even as far as the borders
of the Dead Sea, till the warm haze of
those regions shut in the scene and mingled the
heavens and the earth together. I was not unwilling
to enter where there was held out so
rich a promise of rest and seclusion. Couches of
many inviting forms standing around tempted
to repose, of which, to say the truth, notwithstanding
the sleep of a long night, I still had
need. Here then I passed the morning and
midday hours, now gazing forth upon the new
scenes before me, and wondering what my
course should be, and now watching the labors of
the distant husbandman as he gathered in the
last returns of the harvest; sometimes buried in
musings which, beginning in somewhat bright as
morning, ended as is their wont in sleep; sometimes
satisfying at once both hunger and thirst
with the grapes which ministering hands had
heaped upon the table; and sometimes in
writing to thee, my mother, to thee whose image
all else above or below, real or unreal. No step
intruded on my privacy, no sound disturbed my
slumbers or my musings, save that of the bee
as he flew from flower to fruit, or from fruit to
flower, or of insects and birds, as half asleep
they sent forth now and then a drowsy note,
showing that they as well as I were tasting
the joys of a perfect repose. Thus I either sat
or lay, until the sun sinking behind the hills,
and the growing coolness of the air, warned me
of the hour of the evening repast; for here as
with us the principal meal is at the close of day,
when the heat hath subsided and its labor is
done.
Many days like this, only varied with such
changes as you, my mother, will readily imagine,
now passed away. Instructed by Judith,
I made myself familiar with Beth-Harem and the
surrounding regions, visiting with her, or alone,
all such objects and places as were worthy to
be seen, either for their present interest and beauty,
or for their connexion with the early history
of our people. In these brief journeyings I
saw and discoursed with many of the inhabitants
of these parts of Judea, in every condition
of life. Among all I discovered a temper of
dissatisfaction, and undefined desires and expectations
of somewhat soon to be unfolded of advantage
is to arise, they are sure, who shall fulfil in his
person and his deeds, and the power of his dominion,
all that seems to them foretold by their
prophets. They have been much stirred by
the sudden appearance of this John of Hebron
on the banks and in the wildernesses of Jordan;
but they do not see in him the signs of that
power whose approach they are expecting,
though they hold him to be one sent of God.
We all desire to hear and know more of him.
But, as we learn, he is now in upper Galilee.
Onias has been absent many days, insomuch
that Judith wonders greatly thereat.
No more, my mother, at present. Name me
with affection to our neighbors and friends, and
especially to Hirpinus and Lucretius, who are
returned, as I have heard, suddenly to Rome.
Thou shalt soon hear again. Farewell.
| VII. Julian, or Scenes in Judea | |