Fred Niblo

“ Is there no God left in Israel?"
"I am strengthened, O Lord, and I will live—live to fight for the King when he comes!"
And so, for the first time, Judah and the Son of Mary met—and parted.
The vengeful arm of Rome had reached forth to Simonides—
"Speak dog! Where are the Hur moneys hidden? Gratus will have them if he cracks every bone in your stubborn skin!"
Then for a time the name of Hur was forgotten. Roman legions tramped the land and Roman galleys swept the seas—
—Stately and beautiful; but under the beauty, deep-locked in the heart of each ship, a hell of human woe
"He is dead! ”

“ I pray you be seated."
"Surely we are not strangers—have we not met before?"
"To forget so easily is scarce a tribute to me!"
"—Your face I never could forget. It is the time and place have slipped me."
"I am told you are Simonides——once steward to the House of Hur."
"And what concern is that of yours? Who are you to question me?"
"I am Judah, Ben-Hur!"
"Know you not that Ben-Hur died in the galleys, a galley-slave—and that he was the last of the Hurs?"
"What to you mean? Speak! My mother and sister——"
"The women of Hur are dead! ”

“ And in that same hour Ben-Hur, saddle-weary and travel-worn, came again to the city of his fathers——
"Get you immediate news of the Nazarene from his followers. I go to my father's house to wait for Simonides."
"Mother!"
"Not a sound! He belongs to the living—we to the dead!"
"In all the world I have no one left but you, beloved."
"They have seized the King! The mob howls——only the legions can save him!" ”

“ Judah, Ben-Hur!"
"How strange it is after all these years to see you a Roman officer! How splendid you look!"
"My mother and sister will be rejoiced to see you. I pray you come!"
"In the past this house was as your own, Messala. Continue to regard it so."
"Do you remember my sister, Tirzah, whom you delighted to tease?"
"Another to greet you, Messala—Amrah, who used to make you sweets!"
"You have not changed, Lord Messala——you were always bold and handsome."
"It is good to have you back, Messala——a Roman who understands my people——"
"Rome rules the peoples she has conquered. ”

“ If the law allowed I would free you, Simonides."
"My bondage is easy since you have let the world——even my daughter—believe me free. I am content."
Esther, Simonides' daughter, on her first visit to Jerusalem—
The young prince—Judah, Ben-Hur.
"The pigeon—I would know if his wing mends. May I not come to inquire?"
"—It is a far journey—to Antioch."
"Not too far for me—some day!"
"Save you excuses. It is way of your race to walk backwards!"
"I seek the Roman officer Messala—my friend."
"Messala!"
"Your past has come to life—a Jew claims you for friend!" ”

“ He needs no armies!"
Antioch! The Rome of the East! Colorful, pagan, famed for its games.
On the outskirts of the city the Sheik Ilderim, known throughout the East for his fiery racing Arabs, had pitched his tents——
"He should drive goats—not horses!"
"Curse him! Tomorrow the races and he has killed himself. Was ever such a fool!"
Now there was one in the heart of the city, body broken by Roman torture, who cared nothing for Roman games——
—A merchant prince known as the Miser of Antioch. ”

“ Far to the Southward—three wise men bent on a strange and holy quest.
And in the even Mary and Joseph came unto Bethlehem——but there was no room for them in the inn.
"Nay, other wives must sleep beneath the stars tonight. Is your wife better than her sisters?" ”

“ He can save you! All Jerusalem is ringing with his miracles!"
"He has even raised the dead!"
And so Pilate delivered Jesus to the mob.
SENATUS [-POPULUSQUE...]
In the thousands that looked on—Romans Jews, Greeks, Arabs, Syrians, Easterners. It seemed the whole world wad represented along that tragic way.
"O King, two legions of fighting men are coming! Each blow to you will be avenged a thousandfold!"
And a voice came to him saying:
"My Kingdom is not of this world. ”