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at the threshold of a kind of grotto； somewhat larger than the other
subterranean cells。
An arched window at the back of this chamber gave directly upon a
precipice； which formed a defence for one side of the castle。 A
honeysuckle vine； cramped by the low…studded ceiling； blossomed
bravely。 The sound of a running stream could be heard distinctly。 In
this place was a great number of beautiful white horses； perhaps a
hundred。 They were eating barley from a plank placed on a level with
their mouths。 Their manes had been coloured a deep blue； their hoofs
were wrapped in coverings of woven grass； and the hair between their
ears was puffed out like a peruke。 As they stood quietly eating； they
switched their tails gently to and fro。 The proconsul regarded them in
silent admiration。
They were indeed wonderful animals； supple as serpents； light as
birds。 They were trained to gallop rapidly； following the arrow of the
rider； and dash into the midst of a group of the enemy； overturning
men and biting them savagely as they fell。 They were sure…footed among
rocky passes； and would jump fearlessly over yawning chasms； and；
while ready to gallop across the plains a whole day without tiring；
they would stop instantly at the command of the rider。
As soon as Jacim entered their quarters； they trotted up to him； as
sheep crowd around the shepherd； and； thrusting forward their sleek
necks； they looked at him with a gaze like that of inquiring children。
From force of habit； he emitted a raucous cry； which excited them；
they pranced about； impatient at their confinement and longing to run。
Antipas； fearing that if Vitellius knew of the existence of these
creatures； he would take them away； had shut them up in this place；
made especially to accommodate animals in case of siege。
〃This close confinement cannot be good for them；〃 said Vitellius； 〃and
there is a risk of losing them by keeping them here。 Make an inventory
of their number； Sisenna。〃
The publican drew a writing…tablet from the folds of his robe； counted
the horses； and recorded the number carefully。
It was the habit of the agents of the fiscal companies to corrupt the
governors in order to pillage the provinces。 Sisenna was among the
most flourishing of these agents； and was seen everywhere with his
claw…like fingers and his eyelids continually blinking。
After a time the party returned to the court。 Heavy； round bronze
lids； sunk in the stones of the pavement； covered the cisterns of the
palace。 Vitellius noticed that one of these was larger than the
others； and that when struck by his foot it had not their sonority。 He
struck them all； one after another； then stamped upon the ground and
shouted：
〃I have found it！ I have found the buried treasure of Herod！〃
Searching for buried treasure was a veritable mania among the Romans。
The tetrarch swore that no treasure was hidden in that spot。
〃What is concealed there； then？〃 the proconsul demanded。
〃Nothingthat is； only a mana prisoner。〃
〃Show him to me！〃
The tetrarch hesitated to obey； fearing that the Jews would discover
his secret。 His reluctance to lift the cover made Vitellius impatient。
〃Break it in！〃 he cried to his lictors。 Mannaeus heard the command；
and； seeing a lictor step forward armed with a hatchet； he feared that
the man intended to behead Iaokanann。 He stayed the hand of the lictor
after the first blow； and then slipped between the heavy lid and the
pavement a kind of hook。 He braced his long； lean arms； raised the
cover slowly； and in a moment it lay flat upon the stones。 The
bystanders admired the strength of the old man。
Under the bronze lid was a wooden trap…door of the same size。 At a
blow of the fist it folded back； allowing a wide hole to be seen； the
mouth of an immense pit； with a flight of winding steps leading down
into the darkness。 Those that bent over to peer into the cavern beheld
a vague and terrifying shape in its depths。
This proved to be a human being； lying on the ground。 His long locks
hung over a camel's…hair robe that covered his shoulders。 Slowly he
rose to his feet。 His head touched a grating embedded in the wall； and
as he moved about he disappeared； from time to time； in the shadows of
his dungeon。
The rich tiaras of the Romans sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight；
and their glittering sword…hilts threw out glancing golden rays。 The
doves； flying from their cotes； circled above the heads of the
multitude。 It was the hour when Mannaeus was accustomed to feed them。
But now he crouched beside the tetrarch； who stood near Vitellius。 The
Galileans； the priests； and the soldiers formed a group behind them；
all were silent； waiting with painful anticipation for what might
happen。
A deep groan； hollow and startling； rose from the pit。
Herodias heard it from the farther end of the palace。 Drawn by an
irresistible though terrible fascination； she made her way through the
throng； and； reaching Mannaeus； she leant one hand on his shoulder and
bent over to listen。
The hollow voice rose again from the depths of the earth。
〃Woe to thee； Sadducees and Pharisees！ Thy voices are like the
tinkling of cymbals！ O race of vipers； bursting with pride！〃
The voice of Iaokanann was recognised。 His name was whispered about。
Spectators from a distance pressed closer to the open pit。
〃Woe to thee； O people！ Woe to the traitors of Judah； and to the
drunkards of Ephraim； who dwelt in the fertile valleys and stagger
with the fumes of wine！
〃May they disappear like running water； like the slug that sinks into
the sand as it moves； like an abortion that never sees the light！
〃And thou too； Moab！ hide thyself in the midst of the cypress； like
the sparrow； in caverns； like the wild hare！ The gates of the fortress
shall be crushed more easily than nut…shells； the walls shall crumble；
cities shall burn； and the scourge of God shall not cease！ He shall
cause your bodies to be bathed in your own blood； like wool in the
dyer's vat。 He shall rend you； as with a harrow； He shall scatter the
remains of your bodies from the tops of the mountains！〃
Of which conqueror was he speaking？ Was it Vitellius？ Only the Romans
could bring about such an extermination。 The people began to cry out：
〃Enough！ enough！ let him speak no more！〃
But the prisoner continued in louder tones：
〃Beside the corpses of their mothers； thy little ones shall drag
themselves over the ashes of the burned cities。 At night men will
creep from their hiding…places to seek a bit of food among the ruins；
even at the risk of being cut down with the sword。 Jackals shall pick
thy bones in the public places； where at eventide the fathers were
wont to gather。 At the bidding of Gentiles； thy maidens shall be
forced to cease their lamentations and to make music upon the zither；
and the bravest of thy sons shall learn to bend their backs； chafed
with heav