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fighting men all； who pressed us back upon the Huns。 It was a
crushage of the peoples for lack of room； and we taught the Romans
what fighting was； although in truth we were no less well taught by
them。
But always I remembered the sun of the south…land that I had
glimpsed in the ships of Agard； and it was my fate； caught in this
south drift of the Teutons； to be captured by the Romans and be
brought back to the sea which I had not seen since I was lost away
from the East Angles。 I was made a sweep…slave in the galleys； and
it was as a sweep…slave that at last I came to Rome。
All the story is too long of how I became a free…man； a citizen； and
a soldier； and of how； when I was thirty； I journeyed to Alexandria；
and from Alexandria to Jerusalem。 Yet what I have told from the
time when I was baptized in the mead…pot of Tostig Lodbrog I have
been compelled to tell in order that you may understand what manner
of man rode in through the Jaffa Gate and drew all eyes upon him。
Well might they look。 They were small breeds； lighter…boned and
lighter…thewed； these Romans and Jews； and a blonde like me they had
never gazed upon。 All along the narrow streets they gave before me
but stood to stare wide…eyed at this yellow man from the north； or
from God knew where so far as they knew aught of the matter。
Practically all Pilate's troops were auxiliaries； save for a handful
of Romans about the palace and the twenty Romans who rode with me。
Often enough have I found the auxiliaries good soldiers； but never
so steadily dependable as the Romans。 In truth they were better
fighting men the year round than were we men of the North； who
fought in great moods and sulked in great moods。 The Roman was
invariably steady and dependable。
There was a woman from the court of Antipas； who was a friend of
Pilate's wife and whom I met at Pilate's the night of my arrival。 I
shall call her Miriam； for Miriam was the name I loved her by。 If
it were merely difficult to describe the charm of women； I would
describe Miriam。 But how describe emotion in words？ The charm of
woman is wordless。 It is different from perception that culminates
in reason； for it arises in sensation and culminates in emotion；
which； be it admitted； is nothing else than super…sensation。
In general； any woman has fundamental charm for any man。 When this
charm becomes particular； then we call it love。 Miriam had this
particular charm for me。 Verily I was co…partner in her charm。
Half of it was my own man's life in me that leapt and met her wide…
armed and made in me all that she was desirable plus all my desire
of her。
Miriam was a grand woman。 I use the term advisedly。 She was fine…
bodied； commanding； over and above the average Jewish woman in
stature and in line。 She was an aristocrat in social caste； she was
an aristocrat by nature。 All her ways were large ways； generous
ways。 She had brain； she had wit； and； above all； she had
womanliness。 As you shall see； it was her womanliness that betrayed
her and me in they end。 Brunette； olive…skinned； oval…faced； her
hair was blue…black with its blackness and her eyes were twin wells
of black。 Never were more pronounced types of blonde and brunette
in man and woman met than in us。
And we met on the instant。 There was no self…discussion； no
waiting； wavering； to make certain。 She was mine the moment I
looked upon her。 And by the same token she knew that I belonged to
her above all men。 I strode to her。 She half…lifted from her couch
as if drawn upward to me。 And then we looked with all our eyes；
blue eyes and black； until Pilate's wife； a thin； tense； overwrought
woman； laughed nervously。 And while I bowed to the wife and gave
greeting； I thought I saw Pilate give Miriam a significant glance；
as if to say； 〃Is he not all I promised？〃 For he had had word of my
coming from Sulpicius Quirinius； the legate of Syria。 As well had
Pilate and I been known to each other before ever he journeyed out
to be procurator over the Semitic volcano of Jerusalem。
Much talk we had that night； especially Pilate； who spoke in detail
of the local situation； and who seemed lonely and desirous to share
his anxieties with some one and even to bid for counsel。 Pilate was
of the solid type of Roman； with sufficient imagination
intelligently to enforce the iron policy of Rome； and not unduly
excitable under stress。
But on this night it was plain that he was worried。 The Jews had
got on his nerves。 They were too volcanic； spasmodic； eruptive。
And further； they were subtle。 The Romans had a straight；
forthright way of going about anything。 The Jews never approached
anything directly； save backwards； when they were driven by
compulsion。 Left to themselves； they always approached by
indirection。 Pilate's irritation was due； as he explained； to the
fact that the Jews were ever intriguing to make him； and through him
Rome； the catspaw in the matter of their religious dissensions。 As
was well known to me； Rome did not interfere with the religious
notions of its conquered peoples； but the Jews were for ever
confusing the issues and giving a political cast to purely
unpolitical events。
Pilate waxed eloquent over the diverse sects and the fanatic
uprisings and riotings that were continually occurring
〃Lodbrog；〃 he said； 〃one can never tell what little summer cloud of
their hatching may turn into a thunder…storm roaring and rattling
about one's ears。 I am here to keep order and quiet。 Despite me
they make the place a hornets' nest。 Far rather would I govern
Scythians or savage Britons than these people who are never at peace
about God。 Right now there is a man up to the north； a fisherman
turned preacher； and miracle…worker； who as well as not may soon
have all the country by the ears and my recall on its way from
Rome。〃
This was the first I had heard of the man called Jesus； and I little
remarked it at the time。 Not until afterward did I remember him；
when the little summer cloud had become a full…fledged thunderstorm。
〃I have had report of him；〃 Pilate went on。 〃He is not political。
There is no doubt of that。 But trust Caiaphas； and Hanan behind
Caiaphas； to make of this fisherman a political thorn with which to
prick Rome and ruin me。〃
〃This Caiaphas； I have heard of him as high priest； then who is this
Hanan？〃 I asked。
〃The real high priest； a cunning fox；〃 Pilate explained。 〃Caiaphas
was appointed by Gratus； but Caiaphas is the shadow and the
mouthpiece of Hanan。〃
〃They have never forgiven you that little matter of the votive
shields；〃 Miriam teased。
Whereupon； as a man will when his sore place is touched； Pilate
launched upon the episode； which had been an episode； no more； at
the beginning； but which had nearly destroyed him。 In all innocence
before his palace he had affixed two shields with votive
inscriptions。 Ere the consequent storm that burst on his head had
passed the Jews had written their complaints to Tiberius； who
approved them and reprimanded Pilate。 I was glad； a little later；
when I could have talk with Miriam。 Pilate's wife had found
opportunity to tell me about her。 She was of old royal stock。 Her
sister was wife of Philip； tetrarch of Gaulonitis and Batanaea。 Now
this Philip was brother to Antipas； tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea；
and both were sons of Herod； called by the Jews the 〃Great。〃
Miriam； as I understood； was at home in the courts of both
tetrarchs； being herself of the blood。 Also； when a girl； she had
been betrothed to Archelaus at the time he was ethnarch of
Jerusalem。 She had a goodly fortune in her own right； so that
marriage had not been compulsory。 To boot； she had a will of her
own； and was doubtless hard to please in so important a matter as
husbands。
It must have been in the very air we breathed； for in no time Miriam
and I were at it on the subject of religion。 Truly； the Jews of
that day battened on religion as did we on fighting and feasting。
For all my stay in that country there was never a moment when my
wits were not buzzing with the endless discussions of life and
death； law； and God。 Now Pilate believed neither in gods； nor
devils； nor anything。 Death； to him； was the blackness of unbroken
sleep； and yet； during his years in Jerusalem； he was ever vexed
with the inescapable fuss and fury of things religious。 Why； I had
a horse…boy on my trip into Idumaea； a wretched creature that could
never learn to saddle and who yet could talk； and most learnedly；
without breath； from nightfall to sunrise； on the hair…splitting
differences in the teachings of all the rabbis from Shemaiah to
Gamaliel。
But to return to Miriam。
〃You believe you are immortal；〃 she was soon challenging me。 〃Then
why do you fear to talk about it？〃
〃Why burden my mind with thoughts about certainties？〃 I countered。