# Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Wallace)

BEN-HUR
BEN-HUR
A TALE OF THE CHRIST
BY
LEW. WALLACE
AUTHOR OF "THE FAIR GOD"
"Learn of the philosophers always to look for natural causes in all extraordinary events; and when such natural causes are wanting, recur to God"
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by
Harper & Brothers,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
All rights reserved
TO
THE WIFE OF MY YOUTH
WHO
STILL ABIDES WITH ME
"But this repetition of the old story is just the fairest charm of domestic discourse. If we can often repeat to ourselves sweet thoughts without ennui, why shall not another be suffered to awaken them within us still oftener."—Hesp.: Jean Paul F. Richter.
"See how from far upon the eastern road
The star-led wisards haste with odours sweet. ****** But peaceful was the night
Wherein the Prince of Light
 His reign of peace upon the earth began;
The winds with wonder whist
Smoothly the waters kist,
 Whispering new joys to the mild ocean— Who now hath quite forgot to rave,
While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave."
Christ's Nativity: The Hymn.—Milton.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
* BOOK FIRST.
* CHAPTERPAGE
* I.Into the Desert................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
* II.Meeting of the Wise Men................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13
* III.The Athenian Speaks—Faith................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
* IV.Speech of the Hindoo—Love................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21
* V.The Egyptian's Story—Good Works................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26
* VI.The Joppa Gate................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
* VII.Typical Characters at the Joppa Gate................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38
* VIII.Joseph and Mary Going to Bethlehem................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
* IX.The Cave at Bethlehem................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................48
* X.The Light in the Sky................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................57
* XI.Christ is Born................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58
* XII.The Wise Men Arrive at Jerusalem................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................65
* XIII.The Witnesses before Herod................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................68
* XIV.The Wise Men Find the Child................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................78
* BOOK SECOND.
* I.Jerusalem under the Romans................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................81
* II.Ben-Hur and Messala................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................84
* III.A Judean Home................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................94
* IV.The Strange Things Ben-Hur Wants to Know................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................100
* V.Rome and Israel—A comparison................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107
* VI.The Accident to Gratus................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................114
* VII.A Galley Slave................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................127
* BOOK THIRD.
* I.Qunitus Arrius Goes to Sea................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................131
* II.At the Oar................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................138
* III.Arrius and Ben-Hur on Deck................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................144
* IV."No. 60"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................152
* V.The Sea Fight................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................159
* VI.Arrius Adopts Ben-Hur................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................165
* BOOK FOURTH.
* I.Ben-Hur Returns East................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................172
* II.On the Orontes................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................176
* III.The Demand on Simonides................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................179
* IV.Simonides and Esther................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................189
* V.The Grove of Daphne................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................197
* VI.The Mulberries of Daphne................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................203
* VII.The Stadium in the Grove................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................209
* VIII.The Fountain of Castalia................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................215
* IX.The Chariot Race Discussed................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................222
* X.Ben-Hur Hears of Christ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................228
* XI.The Wise Servant and his Daughter................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................236
* XII.A Roman Orgie................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................245
* XIII.A Driver for Ilderim's Arabs................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................255
* XIV.The Dowar in the Orchard of Palms................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................264
* XV.Balthasar Impresses Ben-Hur................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................268
* XVI.Christ is Coming—Balthasar................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................274
* XVII.The Kingdom—Spiritual or Political?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................281
* BOOK FIFTH.
* I.Messala Doffs his Chaplet................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................288
* II.Ilderim's Arabs under the Yoke................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................292
* III.The Arts of Cleopatra................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................298
* IV.Messala on Guard................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................310
* V.Ilderim and Ben-Hur Deliberate................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................311
* VI.Training the Four................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................318
* VII.Simonides Renders Account................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................322
* VIII.Spritiual or Political?—Simonides Argues................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................328
* IX.Esther and Ben-Hur................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................339
* X.Posted for the Race................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................343
* XI.Making the Wagers................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................348
* XII.The Circus................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................355
* XIII.The Start................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................360
* XIV.The Race................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................368
* XV.The Inivitation of Iras................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................377
* XVI.In the Palace of Idernee................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................380
* BOOK SIXTH.
* I.The Tower of Antonia—Cell No. VI.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................391
* II.The Lepers................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................398
* III.Jerusalem Again................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................410
* IV.Ben-Hur at his Father's Gate................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................415
* V.The Tomb Above the King's Garden................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................422
* VI.A Trick of Pilate's—The Combat................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................430
* BOOK SEVENTH.
* I.Jerusalem Goes Out to a Prophet................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................441
* II.Nooning by the pool—Iras................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................444
* III.The Life of a Soul................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................450
* IV.Beh-Hur Keeps Watch with Iras................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................457
* V.At Bethabara................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................406
* BOOK EIGHTH.
* I.Guests in the House of Hur................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................475
* II.Ben-Hur Tells of the Nazarene................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................483
* III.The Lepers Leave their Tomb................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................490
* IV.The Miracle................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................499
* V.Pilgrims to the Passover................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................507
* VI.A Serpent of the Nile................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................510
* VII.Ben-Hur returns to Esther................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................522
* VIII.Gethsemane—"Whom Seek Ye?"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................525
* IX.The Going to Cavalry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................532
* X.The Crucifixion................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................541
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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