incredible that he can undertakeanything so idiotic. What kind of a man will he make, who cannot evenbear to see a lily destroyed? How would it turn out if such a one had togo to war? What would he do if they ordered him to burn a house filledwith women and children, or to sink a ship with all souls on board?"
Again he thought of the old prophecy, and he began to fear that the timehad actually come for its fulfilment. "Since a child like this is here,"thought he, "perhaps this awful time is very close at hand. Already,peace prevails over the whole earth; and surely the day of war willnevermore dawn. From this time forth, all peoples will be of the samemind as this child: they will be afraid to injure one another, yea, theywill not have the heart even to crush a bee or a flower! No great deedswill be done, no glorious battles won, and no brilliant triumvirate willmarch up to the Capitol. Nothing more will happen that a brave man couldlong for."
And the soldier--who all the while hoped he would soon live through newwars and longed, through daring feats, to raise himself to power andriches--felt so exasperated with the little three-year-old that heraised his spear threateningly the next time the child ran past.
Another day it was neither the bees nor the lilies the little one soughtto protect, but he undertook something which struck the soldier as beingmuch more needless and thankless.
It was a fearfully hot day, and the sunrays fell upon the soldier'shelmet and armor and heated them until he felt as if he wore a suit offire. To the passers-by it looked as if he must suffer tortures from theheat. His bloodshot eyes were ready to burst from their sockets, and hislips were dry and shriveled. But as he was inured to the burning heat ofAfrican deserts, he thought this a mere trifle, and it didn't occur tohim to move from his accustomed place. On the contrary, he took pleasurein showing the passers-by that he was so strong and hardy and did notneed to seek shelter from the sun.
While he stood thus, and let himself be nearly broiled alive, the littleboy who was wont to play in the meadow came suddenly up to him. He knewvery well that the soldier was not one of his friends and so he wasalways careful not to come within reach of his spear; but now he ran upto him, and regarded him long and carefully; then he hurried as fast ashe could towards the road. When he came back, he held both hands like abowl, and carried in this way a few drops of water.
"Mayhap this infant has taken it upon himself to run and fetch water forme," thought the soldier. "He is certainly wanting in common sense.Should not a Roman soldier be able to stand a little heat! What need forthat youngster to run around and help those who require no help! I don'twant his compassion. I wish he and all like him were out of the world!"
The little one came walking very slowly. He held his fingers closetogether, so that nothing should be spilled or wasted. All the while, ashe was nearing the soldier, he kept his eyes anxiously fixed upon thelittle water which he brought with him, and did not see that the manstood there frowning, with a forbidding look in his eye. Then the childcame up to the soldier and offered him the water.
On the way his heavy blond curls had tumbled down over his forehead andeyes. He shook his head several times to get the hair out of his eyes,so that he could look up. When he succeeded at last, and becameconscious of the hard expression on the soldier's face, he was notfrightened, but stood still and begged him, with a bewitching smile, totaste of the water which he had brought with him. But the soldier feltno desire to accept a kindness from the child, whom he regarded as hisenemy. He did not look down into his pretty face, but stood rigid andimmovable, and showed no sign that he understood what the child wishedto do for him.
Nor could the child understand that the man wished to repel him. Hesmiled all the while just as confidently, raised himself on the tips ofhis toes, and stretched his hands as high as he could that the bigsoldier might more easily get at the water.
The soldier felt so insulted because a mere child wished to help himthat he gripped his spear to drive the little one away.
But just at that moment the extreme heat and sunshine beat down upon thesoldier with such intensity that he saw red flames dance before his eyesand felt his brains melt within his head. He feared the sun would killhim, if he could not find instant relief.
Beside himself with terror at the danger hovering over him, the soldierthrew his spear on the ground, seized the child with both hands, liftedhim up, and absorbed as much as he could of the water which the littleone held in his hands.
Only a few drops touched his tongue, but more was not needed. As soon ashe had tasted of the water, a delicious coolness surged through hisbody, and he felt no more that the helmet and armor burnt and oppressedhim. The sunrays had lost their deadly power. His dry lips became softand moist again, and red flames no longer danced before his eyes.
Before he had time to realize all this, he had already put down thechild, who ran back to the meadow to play. Astonished, the soldier beganto say to himself: "What kind of water was this that the child gave me?It was a glorious drink! I must really show him my gratitude."
But inasmuch as he hated the little one, he soon dismissed this idea."It is only a child," thought he, "and does not know why he acts in thisway or that way. He plays only the play that pleases him best. Does heperhaps receive any gratitude from the bees or the lilies? On thatyoungster's account I need give myself no trouble. He doesn't even knowthat he has succored me."
The soldier felt, if possible, even more exasperated with the child amoment later, when he saw the commander of the Roman soldiers, who wereencamped in Bethlehem, come out through the gate. "Just see what a riskI have run through that little one's rash behavior!" thought he. "If bychance Voltigius had come a moment earlier, he would have seen mestanding with a child in my arms."
Meanwhile, the Commander walked straight up to the soldier and asked himif they might speak together there without danger of being overheard. Hehad a secret to impart to him. "If we move ten paces from the gate,"replied the soldier, "no one can hear us."
"You know," said the Commander, "that King Herod, time and again, hastried to get possession of a child that is growing up here in Bethlehem.His soothsayers and priests have told him that this child shall ascendhis throne. Moreover, they have predicted that the new King willinaugurate a thousand-year reign of peace and holiness. You understand,of course, that Herod would willingly make him--Harmless!"
"I understand!" said the soldier eagerly. "But that ought to be theeasiest thing in the world."
"It would certainly be very easy," said the Commander, "if the King onlyknew which one of all the children here in Bethlehem is The One."
The soldier knit his brows. "It is a pity his soothsayers can notenlighten him about this," said he.
"But now Herod has hit upon a ruse, whereby he believes he can make theyoung Peace-Prince harmless," continued the Commander. "He promises ahandsome gift to each and all who will help him."
"Whatsoever Voltigius commands shall be carried out, even without moneyor gifts," said the soldier.
"I thank you," replied the Commander. "Listen, now, to the King's plan!He intends to celebrate the birthday of his youngest son by arranging afestival, to which all male children in Bethlehem, who are between theages of two and three years, shall be bidden, together with theirmothers. And during this festival----" He checked himself suddenly, andlaughed when he saw the look of disgust on the soldier's face.
"My friend," he continued, "you need not fear that Herod thinks of usingus as child-nurses. Now bend your ear to my mouth, and I'll confide toyou his design."
The Commander whispered long with the soldier, and when he had disclosedall, he said:
"I need hardly tell you that absolute silence is imperative, lest thewhole undertaking miscarry."
"You know, Voltigius, that you can rely on me," said the soldier.
When the Commander had gone and the soldier once more stood alone at hispost, he looked around for the child. The little one played all thewhile among the flowers, and the soldier caught himself thinking thatthe boy swayed above them as lig
ht and attractive as a butterfly.
Suddenly he began to laugh. "True," said he, "I shall not have to vexmyself very long over this child. He shall be bidden to the feast ofHerod this evening."
He remained at his post all that day, until the even was come, and itwas time to close the city gate for the night.
When this was done, he wandered through narrow and dark streets, to asplendid palace which Herod owned in Bethlehem.
In the center of this immense palace was a large stone-paved courtencircled by buildings, around which ran three open galleries, one abovethe other. The King had ordered that the festival for the Bethlehemchildren should be held on the uppermost of these galleries.
This gallery, by the King's express command, was transformed so that