So the Essene messengers
went back to Jerusalem, and the Christian elders prayed with her, and
having blessed her and consigned her to the care of the Most High and
His Son, their Lord, departed to Pella, where, as it was fated, through
all those dreadful times not a hair of their heads was touched.
When she had parted from them, Miriam sought out her grandfather, whom
she found pacing his chamber with a troubled air.
"Why do you look so sad, Miriam?" he asked. "Have some of your friends
warned you that new sorrows are afoot?"
"Yes, grandfather," and she told him all.
"I do not believe them," he said passionately. "Say, do you? Where is
their authority? I tell you that we shall triumph. Vespasian is now
Emperor in Rome, and there will forget this little land; and the rest,
those enemies who are of our own house and those without it, we will
conquer and kill. The Messiah will come, the true Messiah. Many signs
and wonders declare that he is at hand. Ay! I myself have had a vision
concerning him. He will come, and he will conquer, and Jerusalem shall
be great and free and see her desire upon her enemies. I ask--where is
your authority for these croakings?"
Miriam drew a roll from her robe and read: "But when ye see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.
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