The Brook Kerith: A Syrian story, Page 3

  CHAP. III.

  He should not have interrupted the manifestations of joy at his returnwith: when may I go to Arimathea again? And his second question washardly less indiscreet: why did we leave Arimathea? His father answered:because it suited us to do so; and Joseph withdrew to Rachel who wasnever gruff with him. But despite her bias in favour of all he said anddid she reproved him, saying that he should not ask as soon as hereturned home when he was going away again. I am glad in a way, Granny,but there's no forest here. Dan left the room, and the boy would tellno more but burst into tears, asking what he had done to make Father soangry. Rachel could not tell him with safety, and Joseph, thinking thatperhaps something unpleasant had happened to his father in the forest (awolf may have bitten him there), spoke of the high rock on the nextoccasion and of the story of Jonathan and David that Azariah had read tohim. You will ask him to come here one night, Father, and translate itto you? Promise me that you will. But I can read Hebrew, Dan replied,and there is no reason for those wondering eyes. Thy Granny will tellthee. But, Father--Joseph stopped suddenly. It had come into his mind toask his father how it was that he had never read the story of Jonathanand David to him, but his interest in the matter dying suddenly, hesaid: to-morrow I begin my lessons, and Azariah tells me that I musthave a copy of the Scriptures for my very own use. Now where are thythoughts? In a barrel of salt fish? Father, do listen. I'd like to learnHebrew from bottom to top and from top to bottom and then sideways, soas to put the Scribes in Jerusalem to shame when you send me thither forthe Feast of the Passover. And thou'lt mind that my Scriptures be madeby the best Scribe in Galilee and on the best parchment, promise me,Father!

  Dan promised his son that no finer manuscript should be procurable inGalilee. But the making of this magnificent copy would delay for manymonths Joseph's instruction in Hebrew, and Joseph was so impatient tobegin that he lay awake that night and in the morning ransacked hisfather's rooms, laying hands on some quires of his father's Scriptures;and no sooner out of the house than a great fear fell upon him that hemight be robbed: the quires were hidden in his vest suddenly and hewalked on in confidence, also in a great seriousness, going his waymelancholy as a camel, his head turned from the many temptations thatthe way offered to him--the flower in the cactus hedge was one. Hepassed it without picking it, and further on he allowed a strangecrawling insect to go by without molestation, and feeling his mood to beexceptional he fell to thinking that his granny would laugh, were she tosee him.

  He was not, however, afraid of her laughing: women had no sense of theWord of God, he muttered. There were nests in the trees, but he kepthimself from looking, lest a nest might inspire him to climb for it. Butnobody could climb trees with several quires of Scriptures under hisarm. He would lose his grip and fall, or else the Scriptures would fall,and if a thief happened to be going by it would be easy for him to pickup the quires and away with them before it would be possible for Josephto slide down the tree and raise a hue and cry.

  The lanes through which his way took him were frequented by boys,ball-players every one of them, and at this time ball-playing was apassion with Joseph and he would steal away whenever he got a chance andspend a whole day in an alley with a number of little ragamuffins. Andif he were to meet the tribe, which was as likely as not at the nextturning, he must tell them that he was going to school and dared notstop. But they would jeer at him. He might give them his ball and inreturn they might not mock at him. He walked very quietly, hoping topass unobserved, but a boy was looking over the cactus hedge and calledto him, asking if he had brought a ball with him, for they had losttheirs. He threw his ball to him. But aren't you coming to play withus? Not to-day, Joseph answered. I'm on my way to school. Well,to-morrow? Not to-morrow. I may not play truant from learning, Josephanswered sententiously, walking away, leaving his former playmatesstaring after him without a word in their mouths. But by the next daythey had recovered their speech and cried out: the fishmonger's son isgoing by to his lessons and dare not play at ball. Azariah would whiphim if he did. One a little bolder than the rest dangled a piece of ropein his face saying: this is what you'd get if you stayed with us. He wasmoved to run after the boy and cuff him, but the quires under his armsrestrained him and he passed on, keeping a dignified silence. Soonthou'lt be reading to us in the synagogues! was the last jeer criedafter him that day, but for many a day he caught sight of a facegrinning at him through the hedge, and the way to his lessons becamehateful.

  As he showed no sign of anger, the persecution grew wearisome to thepersecutors, and soon after he discovered another way to Azariah. Butthis way was beset with women, whose sex impelled a yearning for thistall lithe boy with the gazelle-like eyes. Joseph was more inclined tothe welcome of the Greek poets and sculptors who stopped their mules andleaning from high saddles spoke to him, for he was now beginning tospeak Greek and it was pleasant to avail himself of the advantages ofthe road to chatter his Greek and to acquire new turns of phrases. Whynot? since it seemed to be the wish of these men to instruct him. Myvery model! a bearded man cried out one morning, and stopping his mulehe bent from the saddle towards Joseph and asked him many questions.Joseph told him that he was on his way to his lessons and that hepassed through this lane every morning. At these words the sculptor'seyes lighted up, for he had accepted Joseph's answer as a tryst, andwhen Joseph came through the lane next day he caught sight of thesculptor waiting for him and--flattered--Joseph entered intoconversation with him, resisting, however, the sculptor's repeatedinvitation that Joseph should come to sit to him--if not for a statue,for a bust at least. But a bust is a graven image, Joseph answered, andas the point was being debated a rich merchant came by, riding a whitehorse that curveted splendidly, and Joseph, who was interested in thehorse, referred the difficulty they were engaged in to the merchant.After some consideration of it he asked the meaning of the scrolls thatJoseph carried in his hand, feigning an interest in them and in Azariah.Who is he? he asked, and Joseph answered: a very learned man, my tutor,to whom I must be on my way. And with a pretty bow he left merchant andsculptor exchanging angry looks.

  But the sculptor knowing more of Joseph than the merchant--that he wouldbe passing through the lane on the morrow at the same time--and as theboy's beauty was of great importance to him, kept another tryst, waitingimpatiently, and as soon as Joseph appeared he began to beseech him tocome to Tiberias and pose in his studio for a statue he was carving,offering presents that would have shaken many determinations. But Josephwas as firm to-day as he was yesterday. I must be going on to my Hebrew,he said, and he left the sculptor cast away in dreams. He had not gonevery far, however, before he met the merchant, who happened to bepassing through the lane again, and seeing Joseph his eyes lighted upwith pleasure, and after speaking to him he dismounted from his mule andshowed him a beautiful engraved dagger which Joseph desired ardently;but a present so rich he did not care to accept, and hurried away, nordid he look back, so busy was he inventing reasons as he went for thedelay.

  I do not deny, Sir, that I'm past my time, but not by an hour; at mostby half an hour. Playing at ball again, and in the purlieus of theneighbourhood, against your father's instructions! Azariah said, hisface full of storm. No, Sir, I have put ball-playing out of my mind; orHebrew has put it out of my mind, and Greek too has had a say in thematter. The delay was caused by meeting a sculptor who asked me to posebefore him for a statue. And what was thy answer to him? That we wereforbidden by our laws to look upon graven images. And what answer did hegive to that very proper answer? Azariah asked, somewhat softened. Manyanswers, Sir, and among them was this one: that there was no need for meto look upon the statue he was carving. The answer that one might expectfrom a Greek, Azariah rapped out, one that sets me thinking that thereis more to be said against the Greek language than I cared to admit tothy father when last in argument with him on the subject. But, Sir, youwill not forbid me the reading of Menander for no better reason thanthat a Greek asked that he might carve a statue after me, for what am Ito
blame, since yourself said my answer was commendable? And in thesewords there was so plaintive an accent that Azariah's heart was touched,for he guessed that the diverting scene in which the slave arranges fora meeting between the lovers was in the boy's mind.

  At that moment their eyes went together to the tally on the wall, andpointing to it Joseph said it bore witness to the earnestness with whichhe had pursued his studies for the last six months, and Azariah wasforced to admit there was little to complain of in the past, but he hadnoticed that once a boy came late for his lessons his truancy becamecommon. Moreover, Sir, my time is of importance, Azariah declared, hishairy nostrils swelling at the thought of the half hour he had been keptwaiting. But may we finish Menander's comedy? Joseph asked, for he wascurious to learn if Moschion succeeded in obtaining his father's leaveto marry the girl he had put in the family way. The lovers' plan was toingratiate themselves with the father's concubine and to persuade her toget permission to rear and adopt the child. Yes, Joseph, the fatherrelents. But it would please me, Sir, to learn why he relents. AndJoseph promised that he would be for a whole year in advance of his timerather than behind it. He did not doubt that he would be able to keephis promise, for he had found a new way to Tiberias; a deserted way itseemed to be at first, and most propitious, without the temptations ofball-players, but as the season advanced the lane became infested byshowmen on their way to Tiberias: mummers, acrobats, jugglers,fortune-tellers, star-mongers, dealers in charms and amulets, and Josephwas tempted more than once to stop and speak with these random folk, butthe promise he had given Azariah was sufficiently powerful to inspire adread and a dislike of these, and to avoid them he sought for a thirdway to Tiberias and found one: a path through an orchard belonging to aneighbour who was glad to give him permission to pass through it everymorning, which he did, thereby making progress in his studies till oneday, by the stile over which his custom was to vault into the quietlane, he came suddenly upon what seemed to him like a small encampment:wayfarers of some sort he judged them to be, but of what sort he couldnot tell at first, there being some distance and the branches of anapple-tree between him and them.

  But as he came through the trees, he decided in his mind that they werethe servitude of some great man: varlets, hirelings or slaves. But hiseyes fell on their baskets and--deceived by the number and size ofthese--the thought crossed his mind that they might be poulterers ontheir way to Tiberias. But whatever their trade they had no right toencamp in the orchard, and he informed them politely that the orchardbelonged to friends of his, and that large and fierce dogs were looseabout the place. For his warning they thanked him, saying they'd makeoff at once; remarking as they made their preparations for going thatthey did not think they were doing any harm by coming into the orchard,having only crossed the stile to rest themselves.

  Going with poultry to Tiberias? Joseph said. Not with poultry, Sir, thevarlets answered. We are not poulterers, but cockers. Cockers! Josephrepeated, and on reading the blank look in his face they told him theywere the servants of a great Roman who had sent them in search offighting cocks; for a great main was going to be fought that day inTiberias. We are his cockers, a man said (he spoke with some slightauthority, the others seemed to be in his charge), and have been far insearch of these birds. He pointed to the baskets and asked Joseph if hewould care to see the cocks, and as if to awaken Joseph's curiosity hebegan to tell their pedigrees. That one, he said, is a Cilician and of abreed that has won thousands of shekels, and a bird in the basket nexthim is a Bythinian brown-red, the victor in many a main, and the birdsin the next three baskets are Cappadocian Duns, all of celebratedancestry, for our master will have none but the finest birds; and if youhappen to know of any good birds, price will not stand in the way of ourpurchasing them. Joseph answered that he had not heard of any, but if heshould--You'll not forget us, said a small meagre woman with blackshining eyes in a colourless face, drab as the long desert road she hadcome by. Joseph promised; and then a short thick-set man with mattedhair, and sore eyes that were always fixed on the ground, opened one ofthe baskets and took out a long lean bird, which he held in shiningfingers for Joseph's admiration. Listen to him, cried the woman in ahigh thin voice. Listen to him, for no one can set a cock a-sparringlike him. The servants consulted among themselves in a language Josephdid not understand, and then, as if they had come to an agreement amongthemselves, the foreman said, approaching Joseph and cringing a littlebefore him, that if the little master could assure them they would notbe disturbed by dogs, they would like to show him the cocks. A littleexercise, the man said, would be of advantage to the birds--to thosethat were not fighting that morning--he added, and the man whom thewoman nicknamed The Heeler, a nickname acquired from the dexterity withwhich he fitted the cock's heels with soft leather pads, said: you see,master, they may fight and buffet one another for a space withoutinjury.

  Joseph watched the birds advance and retire and pursue each other, andafter this exhibition they were put back into their baskets and coveredwith hay. So you are the Heeler? Joseph asked. The man grinned vacantly,and the woman answered for him. There is none like him in this countryfor fixing a pair of spurs, for cutting the tail and wings andshortening the hackle and the rump feathers. You see, young Master, thecomb is cut close so that there shall be no mark for t'other bird'sbill. And who knows but you'd like to see the spurs, Master. And sheshowed him spurs of two kinds, for there are cocks that fight betterwith long spurs and cocks that fight better with short. And how manydays does it take to train a cock? Joseph asked, and they began to tellhim that a fighting cock must be fed with bread and spring water, andhave his exercise--running and sparring--every day. It was the womanthat kept Joseph in chat, for the men were busy carrying the basketsover the stile and placing them in mule cars that were waiting in thelane. But, young Master, she said, if you've never seen a cock-fightcome with us, for a better one you'll never live to see. The best birdsin Western Asia will be in Tiberias to-day. Joseph did not answer thisinvitation at once, for he did not altogether like this woman nor hermanner of standing near to him, her black shining eyes fixed upon him.But he was like one infected, and could not escape from his desire tosee a cock-fight. He knew that Azariah would never forgive him forkeeping him waiting ... waiting for how long? he asked himself. Till hecares to wait no longer, his conscience answered him. He was going toget into great trouble, but he could not say no to the cockers, and hefollowed them, asking himself when he should escape from the evil spiritwhich--at their instigation, perhaps--had taken possession of him. Amoment after he was assuring himself that the folk he had fallen in withwere ignorant of everything but cockering, without knowledge ofwitchcraft, star-mongering or sortilege--the servants of some greatRoman, without doubt, which was sufficient assurance that though theymight be cock stealers on occasion they were not kidnappers. Besides, infrequented lanes and in Tiberias the stealing of a boy was out of thequestion, and after seeing one or two cocks killed he could return home,for he need not wait till the end. He could not help himself, he mustsee the great red and yellow bird strike his spur through the head ofhis adversary, as the Heeler told him he had never failed to do in manycombats. And he would not fail now, though he was two years old, whichis old for a fighting cock. You see, little Master, the woman said, theybe not as quick on their legs as they get older, nor are they as eagerto fight. To-day's battle will be his last--win or lose--and if heconies out alive at the end he'll go to the hens, which will be morefrolicsome than having spurs driven into his neck as happened threemonths gone by, but it didn't check his spirit, she continued, he killedhis bird and let off one great crowing before he toppled over: wethought he was gone, but I sucked his wound, bathed it with salt andwater, and you see he's none the worse to-day.

  At every turning of the lane the demon seemed to propel Joseph moreviolently, till at last he put Azariah out of his head and began to askhimself if he would be guilty of any great sin in going to see thecock-fight? Of any sin greater than that of following the custom
of theheathen? His father might be angry, but there'd be no particularatonement: a fast day, or some study of the law, no more, for he'd becareful not to raise his eyes to the gods and goddesses that beset thestreets and public places in Tiberias. And on this resolve he followedthe cockers into the city. He was glad to see that many statues stood onthe roofs of the buildings and so far away that no faces or limbs werevisible; but the statues in the streets were difficult to avoid seeing.Worst of all, the cock-fight that he thought would be fought in the openair had been arranged to happen in a great building--a theatre orcircus--he did not know which. Joseph had never seen so great a crowdbefore, and the servants he had come with pointed out to him theirmaster among a group of Romans. The Jews from Alexandria, he was told,came to these games, and this caused his conscience to quicken, for hehad heard his father speak of the Alexandrian Jews as heretics. Azariahdid not hold such orthodox views, but what his tutor's views were aboutcock-fighting Joseph did not know; and when he asked if he mightapproach the ring he was told that the circle about the ring was for theRomans and those whom they might invite, but he'd be able to see verywell from where he was.

  The Romans seemed to him an arrogant and proud people; and, conscious ofan innate hostility, he watched them as they leaned over the railingthat enclosed the fighting ring, talking among themselves, sometimes,however, deigning to call a Jew to join them. The Jews came to themobsequiously, hoping that the honour bestowed upon them did not escapenotice; and Joseph's ear caught servile phrases: young Sir, it isreported you've a bird that will smite down all comers, and, Sir, we canoffer you but a poor show of birds. Those at Rome----

  A sudden silence fell, which was broken by the falling of dice, andJoseph was told that the throw would decide which seven birds were tobegin.... We have won the throw, was whispered in his ear. We've theadvantage. But why it was an advantage to fight from the right ratherthan from the left Joseph was too excited to inquire, for the cocks hadjust been put into the ring or pit, and Joseph recognised the tall lankbird that the Heeler had taken out of his basket in the orchard. He'sfighting to-day with long spurs, he was told. But why does he fight theother bird--a yearling? he heard the woman ask; and he saw a black cockcrouch to meet the red in deadly fight. Must one die? he asked, but thecockers were too intent on the battle to answer his question. The birdsre-sparred and leaped aside, avoiding each other's rushes, and beforelong it became clear even to Joseph that their bird, though strongerthan the younger bird, did not spring as high or as easily. A good bird,he heard the servants say: there'll be a battle for it, my word, therewill, and our bird will win if the young one doesn't get his stroke inquickly; an old bird will tire out a young bird.... As these words werespoken, the black cock dashed in, and with a quick stroke sent his spurthrough the red bird's head. He's gone this time beyond thy care! Andtears came into Lydia's eyes. I'm sorry, I'd have liked to have seen himend his days happily among the hens, a-treading of them. Joseph felt hehad not rightly understood her, and when he inquired out her meaningfrom her, she told it with so repulsive a leer that he could not conquera sudden dislike. He moved away from her immediately and asked her nomore questions.

  More cocks were set to fight, and they fought to the death always: onlyonce did a cock turn tail and refuse to continue the combat. To persuadehim to be brave, the slave in charge placed him breast to breast withhis adversary, but despite all encouragement he turned tail and hidhimself in the netting. Now what will happen to him? Joseph asked. Firsthe'll be cut and then fattened for the spit or the gridiron, the Heeleranswered. Look, young Master, and turning his eyes whither the Heeler'sfinger pointed, Joseph saw the bird's owner sign to the slave that hewas to twist the bird's neck; which was done, and the poltroon went intoa basket by himself--he did not deserve to be with those that had beenslain in combat.

  The ring was now covered with blood and feathers, and two slaves camewith buckets of water and brushes to clean it, and while this office wasbeing performed many fell to drinking from flasks which their slaveshanded to them. The man who had told his slave to wring his cock's neckregretted that he had done so. The merited punishment would have beento hand the bird over to a large ape, that would have plucked the birdfeather by feather, examining each feather curiously before selectingthe next one; and he swore a great oath by Jupiter and then, as if toannoy the Jews, by Jehovah, that the next of his birds that refusedcombat should be served this way. Our master will not put us on thecross for so misjudging a bird's courage, Joseph heard the Heeler say;and Lydia sidled up against Joseph, and it was her thigh as much as thememory of the oaths he had heard uttered and that were being uttered andthat would be uttered again as soon as the fighting commenced that sethim thinking of Azariah scanning the tally on the wall--vowing that hewould teach him no more; but the tally, which Joseph knew well, showedthat he had not missed an hour for many months. But a whole day'sabsence was something more than any truancy he had ever indulged inbefore, and the only reason he could give for it would be theinacceptable one that the cockers had bidden a demon take possession ofhim.

  Another pair of cocks was already in the ring: two young birds trainedto the finest distinction, and they sparred so lustily that even theexperts could not predict the victor. But there was no heart in Josephfor more cock-fighting, and he viewed with disgust the mean vile facesthat leered at him while he thanked them for the occasion which he owedthem of overlooking so much fine sport. But they were a scurvy lot,viler than he had supposed, though he had suspected from the first thatthey were nurturing some trick against him. And he searched himself, forhe would willingly give them money to be rid of them. But how much willthey accept? he asked himself, as he searched his pockets ... his moneywas gone! Stolen, no doubt, but by whom? By the cockers standing aroundhim, quarrelling and railing at each other, levelling accusations rightand left--the Heeler wrangling with Lydia, saying it was she that hadasked the young penniless to come with them. A mercy it was that hedidn't call me a ragamuffin, Joseph said to himself. He was not withoutsome apprehension that they might detain him till a ransom was paid, andright glad to perceive himself free to go: having gotten his money theywished to be rid of him quietly; and he too, wishing to avoid attractingattention, slunk out of Tiberias without laying complaint before themagistrate.

  It was unlikely that his money would be found upon the thieves and hisfather would be very angry indeed if he were obliged to go to Tiberiasto bear witness to the truth of his story that his son, while on his wayto his tutor's--Joseph stopped to consider the eventualities, and heheard in imagination the tale unfolding. Azariah might be called! And ifhe were, he would tell he had been kept waiting all day, and the jealousneighbours would be glad to send round to commiserate with his father.It seemed to Joseph that he had escaped lightly with the loss of a fewshekels. But what reason should he give for coming home so late? He'dhave to say where he had spent the day. Azariah would tell of hisabsence from his lessons. Ah, if he had foreseen all these worries, hewouldn't have gone to Tiberias.... Should he say he had been out fishingon the lake? The fishers would not betray him, but they might; and hecould not bring himself to tell his father a lie. So did he argue withhimself as he walked, saying that he had not done worse than--But whathad happened at home? Something must have happened, for the gates wereopen. The gate-keeper, where was he? And his wonder increased as hereached the house, for all the servants seemed to be running to and fro.The Lord be praised for sending you back to us! they exclaimed. Youthought then that the Lord had taken me from you? Joseph asked, and theman replied that they had been searching for him all day--sendingmessengers hither and thither, and that in the afternoon a boat hadhoisted sail and put out for the fishing fleet, thinking that SimonPeter might be able to give tidings of Master Joseph. But why all thisfuss? Joseph said, because I come home a little later than usual. Yourfather, Master Joseph, is beside himself, and your grandmother--Josephleft the man with the end of the sentence on his tongue.

  So you've returned at last! his father cried on
seeing him, and began atonce to tell the anxiety he had suffered. Nor was Rachel without herword, and between their reproofs it was some time before Joseph began toapprehend the cause of the tumult: Azariah had laid a long complaint oftruancy! As to that, Joseph answered tartly, he has little to complainof. And he spoke of the pact between them, relating that seven or eightmonths before he had promised Azariah not to be past his time by fiveminutes. Look to his tally, Father: it will tell that I have kept myword for eight months and more and would have kept it for the yearif--Be mindful of what he is saying to thee, Dan. Look well to the tallybefore condemning, Rachel cried. Wouldst have it then, woman, Azariahlied to me? Not lied, but was carried beyond himself in a great heat ofpassion at being kept waiting, Rachel answered. He said that he enjoyedteaching thee, Joseph, God having granted thee a good intelligence andways of comprehension. But he couldn't abide seeing thee waste thy timeand his. We're willing and ready to hear about this absence and thecause of it, Dan interposed. So get on with the story: where hast thoubeen? Out with it, boy. Where hast thou been?

  The bare question could only be met by the bare answer: watching acock-fight in Tiberias; and to save his parents from muchmisunderstanding, he said he must begin at the beginning. Dan would haveliked a straight answer, but Rachel said the boy should be suffered totell his story his own way; and Joseph told a fine tale, the purport ofwhich was that he had sought for a by-way to Tiberias, the large lanesbeing beset by acrobats, zanies, circus riders and the like, and hadfound one through Argob orchard and had followed it daily withoutmeeting anyone for many months, but this morning as he came through thetrees he had caught sight of an encampment; some cockers on their way toTiberias, where a great main was to be fought. And it was the cocks ofPamphilia that had--He stopped, for the great change that had come overhis parents' faces set him wondering if his conduct was as shameful astheir faces seemed to affirm. He could not see that he had sinnedagainst the law by going to Tiberias, though he had associated himselfwith Gentiles and for a whole day ... he had eaten in their company, butnot of any forbidden meat. And while Joseph sought to mitigate hisoffence to himself, his father sat immersed in woe, his head in hishands. What calamity, he cried, has fallen on my house, and how have Isinned, O Lord, that punishment should fall upon me, and that my own sonshould be chosen to mete out my punishment? My house is riven fromrafter to foundation stone. But, Father, at most--It seemed useless toplead. He stood apart; his grandmother stood silent and grave, notunderstanding fully, and Joseph foresaw that he could not count uponher to side with him against his father. But if his father would onlytell him if he had sinned against the law, instead of rending hisgarments, he would do all the law commanded to obtain forgiveness. Wasthere, he asked, anything in the law against cock-fighting? or in thetraditions? It was a pastime of the heathen: he knew that, and had hopeda day of fasting might be suggested to him, but if this offence was moreserious than he had supposed he besought his father to say so. Tell me,Father, have I sinned against the law?

  The question seemed to exasperate his father who at last cried out: ofwhat value may be thy Hebrew studies and a knowledge of the language, ifthe law be not studied with Azariah? Does not the Book of Leviticus everlie open before thee? How has the law been affronted? The law given bythe Lord unto Moses. My own son asks me this. "And if a soul sin andhear the voice swearing and is a witness whether he has sinned or knownof it, if he did not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity." Wasthere no swearing at thy cock-fight? Plenty, I reckon. All day was spentlistening to swearing, hearing the name of the Lord taken in vain: aname we don't dare to pronounce ourselves. Joseph sat dumbfounded. SoAzariah never taught thee the law? All the time goes by wasted in thereading of Greek plays. We read Hebrew and speak it, Joseph answered,and it was your wish that I should learn Greek. And, Father, is thereany reason to worry over a loss of repute? For my sin will be known tonobody but God, unless told by thee, and thou'lt keep it secret. Or toldby Azariah, Dan answered moodily, who never teaches the law, but likesGreek plays better. Well, thou shalt hear the law from me to-night, forI can read Hebrew, not, belike, as well as Azariah, but I can readHebrew all the same. Mother, hand me down the Scriptures from the shelf.