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oes to it voluntarily； what shall another do？〃 Nor less did Ben…Hur see the failure of the scheme he had built upon the fidelity of the Galileans； their desertion； in fact； left nothing more of it。 But how singular it should happen that morning of all others！ A dread seized him。 It was possible his scheming； and labor； and expenditure of treasure might have been but blasphemous contention with God。 When he picked up the reins and said； 〃Let us go； brethren；〃 all before him was uncertainty。 The faculty of resolving quickly； without which one cannot be a hero in the midst of stirring scenes； was numb within him。
〃Let us go； brethren； let us to Golgotha。〃
They passed through excited crowds of people going south； like themselves。 All the country north of the city seemed aroused and in motion。
Hearing that the procession with the condemned might be met with somewhere near the great white towers left by Herod； the three friends rode thither； passing round southeast of Akra。 In the valley below the Pool of Hezekiah； passage…way against the multitude became impossible； and they were compelled to dismount； and take shelter behind the corner of a house and wait。
The waiting was as if they were on a river bank； watching a flood go by； for such the people seemed。
There are certain chapters in the First Book of this story which were written to give the reader an idea of the composition of the Jewish nationality as it was in the time of Christ。 They were also written in anticipation of this hour and scene； so that he who has read them with attention can now see all Ben…Hur saw of the going to the crucifixiona rare and wonderful sight！
Half an houran hourthe flood surged by Ben…Hur and his companions； within arm's reach； incessant； undiminished。 At the end of that time he could have said； 〃I have seen all the castes of Jerusalem； all the sects of Judea； all the tribes of Israel； and all the nationalities of earth represented by them。〃 The Libyan Jew went by； and the Jew of Egypt； and the Jew from the Rhine； in short； Jews from all East countries and all West countries； and all islands within commercial connection； they went by on foot； on horseback； on camels； in litters and chariots； and with an infinite variety of costumes； yet with the same marvellous similitude of features which to…day particularizes the children of Israel； tried as they have been by climates and modes of life； they went by speaking all known tongues； for by that means only were they distinguishable group from group； they went by in hasteeager； anxious； crowdingall to behold one poor Nazarene die； a felon between felons。
These were the many； but they were not all。
Borne along with the stream were thousands not Jewsthousands hating and despising themGreeks； Romans； Arabs； Syrians； Africans； Egyptians； Easterns。 So that； studying the mass； it seemed the whole world was to be represented； and； in that sense； present at the crucifixion。
The going was singularly quiet。 A hoof…stroke upon a rock； the glide and rattle of revolving wheels； voices in conversation； and now and then a calling voice； were all the sounds heard above the rustle of the mighty movement。 Yet was there upon every countenance the look with which men make haste to see some dreadful sight； some sudden wreck； or ruin； or calamity of war。 And by such signs Ben…Hur judged that these were the strangers in the city come up to the Passover； who had had no part in the trial of the Nazarene； and might be his friends。
At length； from the direction of the great towers； Ben…Hur heard； at first faint in the distance； a shouting of many men。
〃Hark！ they are coming now；〃 said one of his friends。
The people in the street halted to hear； but as the cry rang on over their heads； they looked at each other； and in shuddering silence moved along。
The shouting drew nearer each moment； and the air was already full of it and trembling； when Ben…Hur saw the servants of Simonides coming with their master in his chair； and Esther walking by his side； a covered litter was next behind them。
〃Peace to you； O Simonidesand to you； Esther；〃 said Ben…Hur； meeting them。 〃If you are for Golgotha； stay until the procession passes； I will then go with you。 There is room to turn in by the house here。〃
The merchant's large head rested heavily upon his breast； rousing himself； he answered； 〃Speak to Balthasar； his pleasure will be mine。 He is in the litter。〃
Ben…Hur hastened to draw aside the curtain。 The Egyptian was lying within； his wan face so pinched as to appear like a dead man's。 The proposal was submitted to him。
〃Can we see him？〃 he inquired； faintly。
〃The Nazarene？ yes； he must pass within a few feet of us。〃
〃Dear Lord！〃 the old man cried； fervently。 〃Once more； once more！ Oh； it is a dreadful day for the world！〃
Shortly the whole party were in waiting under shelter of the house。 They said but little； afraid； probably； to trust their thoughts to each other； everything was uncertain； and nothing so much so as opinions。 Balthasar drew himself feebly from the litter； and stood supported by a servant； Esther and Ben…Hur kept Simonides company。
Meantime the flood poured along； if anything； more densely than before； and the shouting came nearer； shrill up in the air； hoarse along the earth； and cruel。 At last the procession was up。
〃See！〃 said Ben…Hur； bitterly； 〃that which cometh now is Jerusalem。〃
The advance was in possession of an army of boys； hooting and screaming； 〃The King of the Jews！ Room； room for the King of the Jews！〃
Simonides watched them as they whirled and danced along； like a cloud of summer insects； and said； gravely； 〃When these come to their inheritance； son of Hur； alas for the city of Solomon！〃
A band of legionaries fully armed followed next； marching in sturdy indifference； the glory of burnished brass about them the while。
Then came the NAZARENE！
He was nearly dead。 Every few steps he staggered as if he would fall。 A stained gown badly torn hung from his shoulders over a seamless undertunic。 His bare feet left red splotches upon the stones。 An inscription on a board was tied to his neck。 A crown of thorns had been crushed hard down upon his head； making cruel wounds from which streams of blood； now dry and blackened； had run over his face and neck。 The long hair； tangled in the thorns； was clotted thick。 The skin； where it could be seen； was ghastly white。 His hands were tied before him。 Back somewhere in the city he had fallen exhausted under the transverse beam of his cross； which； as a condemned person； custom required him to bear to the place of execution； now a countryman carried the burden in his stead。 Four soldiers went with him as a guard against the mob； who sometimes； nevertheless； broke through； and struck him with sticks； and spit upon him。 Yet no sound escaped him； neither remonstrance nor groan； nor did he look up until he was nearly in front of the house sheltering Ben…Hur and his friends； all of whom were moved with quick compassion。 Esther clung to her father； and he； strong of will as he was； trembled。 Balthasar fell down speechless。 Even Ben…Hur cried out； 〃O my God！ my God！〃 Then； as if he divined their feelings or heard t