shining　flutter　of　innumerable　wings　and　shrill　cries　of
  surprise。
  He　traversed　the　fertile　fields　of　Concabar；　where　the
  dust　from　the　threshing…floors　filled　the　air　with　a　golden
  mist；　half　hiding　the　huge　temple　of　Astarte　with　its　four
  hundred　pillars。
  At　Baghistan；　among　the　rich　gardens　watered　by　fountains
  from　the　rock；　he　looked　up　at　the　mountain　thrusting　its
  immense　rugged　brow　out　over　the　road；　and　saw　the　figure　of
  King　Darius　trampling　upon　his　fallen　foes；　and　the　proud　list
  of　his　wars　and　conquests　graven　high　upon　the　face　of　the
  eternal　cliff。
  Over　many　a　cold　and　desolate　pass；　crawling　painfully
  across　the　wind…swept　shoulders　of　the　hills；　down　many　a
  black　mountain…gorge；　where　the　river　roared　and　raced　before
  him　like　a　savage　guide；　across　many　a　smiling　vale；　with
  terraces　of　yellow　limestone　full　of　vines　and　fruit…trees；
  through　the　oak…groves　of　Carine　and　the　dark　Gates　of　Zagros；
  walled　in　by　precipices；　into　the　ancient　city　of　Chala；　where
  the　people　of　Samaria　had　been　kept　in　captivity　long　ago；　and
  out　again　by　the　mighty　portal；　riven　through　the　encircling
  hills；　where　he　saw　the　image　of　the　High　Priest　of　the　Magi
  sculptured　on　the　wall　of　rock；　with　hand　uplifted　as　if　to　bless
  the　centuries　of　pilgrims；　past　the　entrance　of　the　narrow
  defile；　filled　from　end　to　end　with　orchards　of　peaches　and　figs；
  through　which　the　river　Gyndes　foamed　down　to　meet　him；　over
  the　broad　rice…fields；　where　the　autumnal　vapours　spread　their
  deathly　mists；　following　along　the　course　of　the　river；　under
  tremulous　shadows　of　poplar　and　tamarind；　among　the　lower
  hills；　and　out　upon　the　flat　plain；　where　the　road　ran
  straight　as　an　arrow　through　the　stubble…fields　and　parched
  meadows；　past　the　city　of　Ctesiphon；　where　the　Parthian
  emperors　reigned；　and　the　vast　metropolis　of　Seleucia　which
  Alexander　built；　across　the　swirling　floods　of　Tigris　and　the
  many　channels　of　Euphrates；　flowing　yellow　through　the
  corn…landsArtaban　pressed　onward　until　he　arrived；　at
  nightfall　on　the　tenth　day；　beneath　the　shattered　walls　of
  populous　Babylon。
  Vasda　was　almost　spent；　and　Artaban　would　gladly　have
  turned　into　the　city　to　find　rest　and　refreshment　for　himself
  and　for　her。　　But　he　knew　that　it　was　three　hours'　journey　yet
  to　the　Temple　of　the　Seven　Spheres；　and　he　must　reach　the
  place　by　midnight　if　he　would　find　his　comrades　waiting。　　So
  he　did　not　halt；　but　rode　steadily　across　the　stubble…fields。
  A　grove　of　date…palms　made　an　island　of　gloom　in　the　pale
  yellow　sea。　　As　she　passed　into　the　shadow　Vasda　slackened　her
  pace；　and　began　to　pick　her　way　more　carefully。
  Near　the　farther　end　of　the　darkness　an　access　of　caution
  seemed　to　fall　upon　her。　　She　scented　some　danger　or
  difficulty；　it　was　not　in　her　heart　to　fly　from　itonly　to　be
  prepared　for　it；　and　to　meet　it　wisely；　as　a　good　horse　should
  do。　　The　grove　was　close　and　silent　as　the　tomb；　not　a　leaf
  rustled；　not　a　bird　sang。
  She　felt　her　steps　before　her　delicately；　carrying　her
  head　low；　and　sighing　now　and　then　with　apprehension。　　At　last
  she　gave　a　quick　breath　of　anxiety　and　dismay；　and　stood
  stock…still；　quivering　in　every　muscle；　before　a　dark　object　in
  the　shadow　of　the　last　palm…tree。
  Artaban　dismounted。　　The　dim　starlight　revealed　the　form
  of　a　man　lying　across　the　road。　　His　humble　dress　and　the
  outline　of　his　haggard　face　showed　that　he　was　probably　one　of
  the　Hebrews　who　still　dwelt　in　great　numbers　around　the　city。
  His　pallid　skin；　dry　and　yellow　as　parchment；　bore　the　mark　of
  the　deadly　fever　which　ravaged　the　marsh…lands　in　autumn。　　The
  chill　of　death　was　in　his　lean　hand；　and；　as　Artaban　released
  it；　the　arm　fell　back　inertly　upon　the　motionless　breast。
  He　turned　away　with　a　thought　of　pity；　leaving　the　body　to
  that　strange　burial　which　the　Magians　deemed　most　fittingthe
  funeral　of　the　desert；　from　which　the　kites　and　vultures　rise
  on　dark　wings；　and　the　beasts　of　prey　slink　furtively　away。
  When　they　are　gone　there　is　only　a　heap　of　white　bones　on　the
  sand。
  But；　as　he　turned；　a　long；　faint；　ghostly　sigh　came　from
  the　man's　lips。　　The　bony　fingers　gripped　the　hem　of　the
  Magian's　robe　and　held　him　fast。
  Artaban's　heart　leaped　to　his　throat；　not　with　fear；　but
  with　a　dumb　resentment　at　the　importunity　of　this　blind　delay。
  How　could　he　stay　here　in　the　darkness　to　minister　to　a
  dying　stranger？　　What　claim　had　this　unknown　fragment　of　human
  life　upon　his　compassion　or　his　service？　　If　he　lingered　but
  for　an　hour　he　could　hardly　reach　Borsippa　at　the　appointed
  time。　　His　companions　would　think　he　had　given　up　the　journey。
  They　would　go　without　him。　　He　would　lose　his　quest。
  But　if　he　went　on　now；　the　man　would　surely　die。　　If
  Artaban　stayed；　life　might　be　restored。　　His　spirit　throbbed
  and　fluttered　with　the　urgency　of　the　crisis。　　Should　he　risk
  the　great　reward　of　his　faith　for　the　sake　of　a　single　deed　of
  charity？　　Should　he　turn　aside；　if　only　for　a　moment；　from　the
  following　of　the　star；　to　give　a　cup　of　cold　water　to　a　poor；
  perishing　Hebrew？
  〃God　of　truth　and　purity；〃　he　prayed；　〃direct　me　in　the
  holy　path；　the　way　of　wisdom　which　Thou　only　knowest。〃
  Then　he　turned　back　to　the　sick　man。　　Loosening
  the　grasp　of　his　hand；　he　carried　him　to　a　little　mound　at　the
  foot　of　the　palm…tree。
  He　unbound　the　thick　folds　of　the　turban　and　opened　the
  garment　above　the　sunken　breast。　　He　brought　water　from　one　of
  the　small　canals　near　by；　and　moistened　the　sufferer's　brow
  and　mouth。　　He　mingled　a　draught　of　one　of　those　simple　but
  potent　remedies　which　he　carried　always　in　his　girdlefor　the
  Magians　were　physicians　as　well　as　astrologersand　poured　it
  slowly　between　the　colourless　lips。　　Hour　after　hour　he
  laboured　as　only　a　skilful　healer　of　disease　can　do。　　At　last
  the　man's　strength　returned；　he　sat　up　and　looked　about　him。
  〃Who　art　thou？〃　he　said；　in　the　rude　dialect　of　the
  country；　〃and　why　hast　thou　sought　me　here　to　bring　back　my
  life？〃
  〃I　am　Artaban　the　Magian；　of　the　city　of　Ecbatana；　and　I
  am　going　to　Jerusalem　in　search　of　one　who　is　to　be　born　King
  of　the　Jews；　a　great　Prince　and　Deliverer　of　all　men。　　I　dare
  not　delay　any　longer　upon　my　journey；　for　the　caravan　that　has
  waited　for　me　may　depart　without　me。　　But　see；　here　is　all　that　I
  have　left　of　bread　and　wine；　and　here　is　a　potion　of　healing
  herbs。　　When　thy　strength　is　restored　thou　canst　find　the
  dwellings　of　the　Hebrews　among　the　houses　of　Babylon。〃
  The　Jew　raised　his　trembling　hand　solemnly　to　heaven。
  〃Now　may　the　God　of　Abraham　and　Isaac　and　Jacob　bless　and
  prosper　the　journey　of　the　merciful；　and　bring　him　in　peace　to
  his　desired　haven。　　Stay！　　I　have　nothing　to　give　thee　in
  returnonly　this：　that　I　can　tell　thee　where　the　Messiah　must
  be　sought。　　For　our　prophets　have　said　that　he　should　be　born
  not　in　Jerusalem；　but　in　Bethlehem　of　Judah。　　May　the　Lord
  bring　thee　in　safety　to　that　place；　because　thou　hast　had　pity
  upon　the　sick。〃
  It　was　already　long　past　midnight。　　Artaban　rode　in　haste；
  and　Vasda；　restored　by　the　brief　rest；　ran　eagerly　through　the
  silent　plain　and　swam　the　channels　of　the　river。　　She　put
  forth　the　remnant　of　her　strength；　and　fled　over　the　ground
  like　a　gazelle。
  But　the　first　beam　of　the　rising　sun　sent　a　long　shadow　before
  her　as　she　entered　upon　the　final　stadium　of　the　journey；　and　the
  eyes　of　Artaban；　anxiously　scanning　the　great　mound　of　Nimrod　and
  the　Temple　of　the　Seven　Spheres；　could　discern　no　trace　of　his
  friends。
  The　many…coloured　terraces　of　black　and　orange　and　red　and
  yellow　and　green　and　blue　and　white；　shattered　by　the
  convulsions　of　nature；　and　crumbling　under　the　repeated　blows
  of　human　violence；　still　glittered　like　a　ruined　rainbow　in
  the　morning　light。
  Artaban　rode　swiftly　around　the　hill。　　He　dismounted　and
  climbed　to　the　highest　terrace；　looking　out　toward　the　west。
  The　huge　desolation　of　the　marshes　stretched　away　to　the
  horizon　and　the　border　of　the　desert。　　Bitterns　stood　by　the
  stagnant　pools　and　jackals　skulked　through　the　low　bushes；　but
  there　was　no　sign　of　the　caravan　of　the　Wise　Men；　far　or　near。
  At　the　edge　of　the　terrace　he　saw　a　little　cairn　of　broken
  bricks；　and　under　them　a　piece　of　papyrus。　　He　caught　it　up
  and　read：　　〃We　have　waited　past　the　midnight；　and　can　delay　no
  longer。　　We　go　to　find　the　King。　　Follow　us　across　the　desert。〃
  Artaban　sat　down　upon　the　ground　and　covered　his　head　in
  despair。
  〃How　can　I　cross　the　desert；〃　said　he；　〃with　no　food　and
  with　a　spent　horse？　　I　must　return　to　Babylon；　sell　my
  sapphire；　and　buy　a　train　of　camels；　and　provision　for　the
  journey。　　I　may　never　overtake　my　friends。　　Only　God　the
  merciful　knows　whether　I　shall　not　lose　the　sight　of　the　King
  because　I　tarried　to　show　mercy。〃
  III
  There　was　a　silence　in　the　Hall　of　Dreams；　where　I　was
  listening　to　the　story　of　the　Other　Wise　Man。　　Through　this
  silence　I　saw；　but　very　dimly；　his　figure　passing　over　the
  dreary　undulations　of　the　desert；　high　upon　the　back　of　his
  camel；　rocking　steadily　onward　like　a　ship　over　the　waves。
  The　land　of　death　spread　its　cruel　net　around　him。　　The
  stony　waste　bore　no　fruit　but　briers　and　thorns。　　The　dark
  le