already soaked in the blood of
the wicked. Ah, my David, I wonder not you long for a king of the
sword and the arrow. Revenge is ever the dream of the oppressed. But
I have dreamed of a greater king."

"Tell me who?"

"He would be like this love in me," said Vergilius. "If it were to go
abroad--if it were only to find the hearts of the mighty--what, think
you, would happen?"

"Ay, if it were to go from friend to friend and from neighbor to
neighbor," said the young Jew, "it would indeed conquer the world."

"And there would be neither war nor injustice."

"Tell me," said David. "Are there many lovers like you in Rome?"

"Some half a score that I have heard of, and I doubt not there be many."

"'Tis the candle of the Lord--the preparation of the heart of man,"
said David. "I do believe his arrow shall be that of love."

"This feeling in me has kindled a great desire," said Vergilius. "I
burn for knowledge."

Then said the young Jew: "Let us find my kinsman, Zacharias--a priest
of holy life and great learning. Through his aged wife a miracle has
been accomplished. I learn that she has given birth, and many have
journeyed far to see the child. There be some who say that he is,
indeed, the king of promise, albeit I have no such opinion."

"Why?"

"There shall be signs in the deep of the heavens, and we have not seen
them."

"Where may we find the priest?"

"In the village of Ain Karim, yonder."

They could see its low dwellings and the dome of its synagogue. The
Roman halted near the abode of Zacharias, while David took their
followers to the inn. Suddenly the young Roman saw an aged priest
approaching with a child in his arms.

"I have a message for you," said the man of God, stopping near the
Roman officer.

"And I seek it," said Vergilius, looking at the long, gray beard of the
venerable priest.

"It is borne in upon me to say to you that the kingdom of heaven is at
hand."

"Tell me of the king," said Vergilius. "I do thirst for knowledge."

"He shall be the prince of peace."

Vergilius looked thoughtfully at the old priest, who now sat down as if
weary.

"And he shall conquer with the sword?"

"Nay, but as it is written, 'he shall judge among the nations and shall
rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'"

Now the Roman was