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has not seemed good to the God of wisdom to reward my search
so soon and so easily。 The one whom I seek has gone before
me； and now I must follow the King to Egypt。〃
The young mother laid the baby in its cradle； and rose to
minister to the wants of the strange guest that fate had
brought into her house。 She set food before him； the plain
fare of peasants； but willingly offered； and therefore full of
refreshment for the soul as well as for the body。 Artaban
accepted it gratefully； and； as he ate； the child fell into a
happy slumber； and murmured sweetly in its dreams； and a great
peace filled the room。
But suddenly there came the noise of a wild confusion in
the streets of the village； a shrieking and wailing of women's
voices； a clangour of brazen trumpets and a clashing of
swords； and a desperate cry： 〃The soldiers！ the soldiers of
Herod！ They are killing our children。〃
The young mother's face grew white with terror。 She
clasped her child to her bosom； and crouched motionless in the
darkest corner of the room； covering him with the folds of her
robe； lest he should wake and cry。
But Artaban went quickly and stood in the doorway of the
house。 His broad shoulders filled the portal from side to
side； and the peak of his white cap all but touched the
lintel。
The soldiers came hurrying down the street with bloody
hands and dripping swords。 At the sight of the stranger in
his imposing dress they hesitated with surprise。 The captain
of the band approached the threshold to thrust him aside。 But
Artaban did not stir。 His face was as calm as though he were
watching the stars； and in his eyes there burned that steady
radiance before which even the half…tamed hunting leopard
shrinks； and the bloodhound pauses in his leap。 He held the
soldier silently for an instant； and then said in a low voice：
〃I am all alone in this place； and I am waiting to give
this jewel to the prudent captain who will leave me in peace。〃
He showed the ruby； glistening in the hollow of his hand
like a great drop of blood。
The captain was amazed at the splendour of the gem。 The
pupils of his eyes expanded with desire； and the hard lines of
greed wrinkled around his lips。 He stretched out his hand and
took the ruby。
〃March on！〃 he cried to his men； 〃there is no child here。
The house is empty。〃
The clamor and the clang of arms passed down the street
as the headlong fury of the chase sweeps by the secret covert
where the trembling deer is hidden。 Artaban re…entered the
cottage。 He turned his face to the east and prayed：
〃God of truth； forgive my sin！ I have said the thing that
is not； to save the life of a child。 And two of my gifts are
gone。 I have spent for man that which was meant for God。
Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King？〃
But the voice of the woman； weeping for joy in the shadow
behind him； said very gently：
〃Because thou hast saved the life of my little one； may
the Lord bless thee and keep thee； the Lord make His face to
shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee； the Lord lift up
His countenance upon thee and give thee peace。〃
IV
Again there was a silence in the Hall of Dreams； deeper and
more mysterious than the first interval； and I understood that
the years of Artaban were flowing very swiftly under the
stillness； and I caught only a glimpse； here and there； of the
river of his life shining through the mist that concealed its
course。
I saw him moving among the throngs of men in populous
Egypt； seeking everywhere for traces of the household that had
come down from Bethlehem； and finding them under the spreading
sycamore…trees of Heliopolis； and beneath the walls of the
Roman fortress of New Babylon beside the Niletraces so faint
and dim that they vanished before him continually； as
footprints on the wet river…sand glisten for a moment with
moisture and then disappear。
I saw him again at the foot of the pyramids； which lifted
their sharp points into the intense saffron glow of the sunset
sky； changeless monuments of the perishable glory and the
imperishable hope of man。 He looked up into the face of the
crouching Sphinx and vainly tried to read the meaning of the
calm eyes and smiling mouth。 Was it； indeed； the mockery of
all effort and all aspiration； as Tigranes had saidthe cruel
jest of a riddle that has no answer； a search that never can
succeed？ Or was there a touch of pity and encouragement in
that inscrutable smilea promise that even the defeated
should attain a victory； and the disappointed should discover a
prize； and the ignorant should be made wise； and the blind should
see； and the wandering should come into the haven at last？
I saw him again in an obscure house of Alexandria； taking
counsel with a Hebrew rabbi。 The venerable man； bending over
the rolls of parchment on which the prophecies of Israel were
written； read aloud the pathetic words which foretold the
sufferings of the promised Messiahthe despised and rejected
of men； the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief。
〃And remember； my son；〃 said he； fixing his eyes upon the
face of Artaban； 〃the King whom thou seekest is not to be
found in a palace； nor among the rich and powerful。 If the
light of the world and the glory of Israel had been appointed
to come with the greatness of earthly splendour； it must have
appeared long ago。 For no son of Abraham will ever again
rival the power which Joseph had in the palaces of Egypt； or
the magnificence of Solomon throned between the lions in
Jerusalem。 But the light for which the world is waiting is a new
light； the glory that shall rise out of patient and triumphant
suffering。 And the kingdom which is to be established forever is
a new kingdom； the royalty of unconquerable love。
〃I do not know how this shall come to pass； nor how the
turbulent kings and peoples of earth shall be brought to
acknowledge the Messiah and pay homage to him。 But this I
know。 Those who seek him will do well to look among the poor
and the lowly； the sorrowful and the oppressed。〃
So I saw the Other Wise Man again and again； travelling
from place to place； and searching among the people of the
dispersion； with whom the little family from Bethlehem might；
perhaps； have found a refuge。 He passed through countries
where famine lay heavy upon the land； and the poor were crying
for bread。 He made his dwelling in plague…stricken cities
where the sick were languishing in the bitter companionship of
helpless misery。 He visited the oppressed and the afflicted
in the gloom of subterranean prisons； and the crowded
wretchedness of slave…markets； and the weary toil of
galley…ships。 In all this populous and intricate world of
anguish； though he found none to worship； he found many to help。
He fed the hungry； and clothed the naked； and healed the sick；
and comforted the captive； and his years passed more swiftly than
the weaver's shuttle that flashes back and forth through the loom
while the web grows and the pattern is completed。
It seemed almost as if he had forgotten his quest。 But
once I saw him for a moment as he stood alone at sunrise；
waiting at the gate of a Roman p