Herodias by Gustave Flaubert Read Free Book Online

face was almost as pale as his linen robe, but he addressed the Pharisees boldly, saying: "That is a lie! Jesus has performed miracles!"
    Antipas expressed a long-cherished desire to see the man Jesus perform some of his so-called miracles. "You should have brought him with you," he said to the last speaker, who was still standing. "Tell us what you know about him," he commanded.
    Then the stranger said that he himself, whose name was Jacob, having a daughter who was very ill, had gone to Capernaum to implore the Master to heal his child. The Master had answered him, saying: "Return to thy home: she is healed!" And he had found his daughter standing at the threshold of his house, having risen from her couch when the gnomon had marked the third hour, the same moment when he had made his supplication to Jesus.
    The Pharisees admitted that certain mysterious arts and powerful herbs existed that would heal the sick. It was said that the marvellous plant known as "baaras" grew even in Machaerus, the power of which rendered its consumer invulnerable against all attacks; but to cure disease without seeing or touching the afflicted person was clearly impossible, unless, indeed, the man Jesus called in the assistance of evil spirits.
    The friends of Antipas and the men from Galilee nodded wisely, saying: "It is evident that he is aided by demons of some sort!"
    Jacob, standing between their table and that of the priests, maintained a silence at once lofty and respectful.
    Several voices exclaimed: "Prove his power to us!"
    Jacob leaned over the priests' table, and said slowly, in a half- suppressed tone, as if awe-struck by his own words:
    "Know ye not, then, that He is the Messiah?"
    The priests stared at one another, and Vitellius demanded the meaning of the word. His interpreter paused a moment before translating it. Then he said that Messiah was the name to be given to one who was to come, bringing the enjoyment of all blessings, and giving them domination over all the peoples of the earth. Certain persons believed that there were to be two Messiahs; one would be vanquished by Gog and Magog, the demons of the North; but the other would exterminate the Prince of Evil; and for centuries the coming of this Saviour of mankind had been expected at any moment.
    At this, the priests began to talk in low tones among themselves. Eleazar addressed Jacob, saying that it had always been understood that the Messiah would be a son of David, not of a carpenter; and that he would confirm the law, whereas this Nazarene attacked it. Furthermore, as a still stronger argument against the pretender, it had been promised that the Messiah should be preceded by Elias.
    "But Elias has come!" Jacob answered.
    "Elias! Elias!" was repeated from one end of the banqueting-hall to the other.
    In imagination, all fancied that they could see an old man, a flight of ravens above his head, standing before an altar, which a flash of lightning illumined, revealing the idolatrous priests that were thrown into the torrent; and the women, sitting in the galleries, thought of the widow of Sarepta.
    Jacob then declared that he knew Elias; that he had seen him, and that many of the guests there assembled had seen him!
    "His name!" was the cry from all lips.
    "Iaokanann!"
    Antipas fell back in his chair as if a heavy blow had struck him on the breast. The Sadducees rose from their seats and rushed towards Jacob. Eleazar raised his voice to a shout in order to make himself heard. When order was finally restored, he draped his mantle about his shoulders, and, with the air of a judge, proceeded to put questions to Jacob.
    "Since the prophet is dead--" he began.
    Murmurs interrupted him. Many persons believed that Elias was not dead, but had only disappeared.
    Eleazar rebuked those who had interrupted him; and continuing, asked:
    "And dost thou believe that he has indeed come to life again?"
    "Why should I not believe it?" Jacob replied.
    The Sadducees shrugged their shoulders.