Sithron, the star-stricken

Front matter

3 1924 013 484 922

Cornell University Library

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Chapter I

I Of the Astrologer Zelopholek. 2 His nightly studies of the stars. 3 Of his loving wife Mehetabel, and their child. 4 How the boy shall be named. 5 Death of Mehetabel. 6 The boy Sithron watcheth the stars by the side of his

father, -who wisheth to teach him astrology. 7 But Stthron

followeth after vain imaginings.

ATow while Saul was King of Israel, but engaged in his last wars with the Philistines, there dwelt an astrologer in the City of Hebron, whose name was Zelopholek.

2 And this man was in great repute as an astrologer, so that he was held in estimation throughout a considerable part of the land of Judah.

3 And in the City of El-Kalil, so called by the Arabs, or Kirjath-arba, or Carioth-arba, which was afterwards called Hebron, there was no soothsayer by the stars equal unto him,

4 And Zelopholek was very poor; for although men of substance came to visit him,

B even from distant parts, they did not give him money or jewels or raiment, for they considered that he could surely obtain such things, if he needed them, by consulting the stars.

5 And Zelopholek would not gainsay this opinion lest it should injure his reputation, for he was of a proud spirit.

6 So he, and his wife Mehetabel, were sometimes without the means of obtaining sufficient food.

7 But Mehetabel was a loving wife, and never complained of anything ; for they loved each other greatly.

8 And she bare him a son, whom Zelopholek proposed to call Nejmeh Safiyeh, which in the Arabic signifieth Clear Star, as a record of a new star which he had discovered on the morning of the birth of the child.

9 But Mehetabel, being told by her husband that this Arabian name often signifieth a girl child, preferred that he should choose another ; and Zelopholek then chose Bar-Kochbah, or Son of Stars, while the other name should also live in their thoughts.

10 And from this name also Mehetabel turned aside, thinking it might lead the child into ambition and sorrow ;

1 1 The more so, when Zelopholek told her

THE STAR-STRICKEN.

he foresaw that name would be great in future ages.

1 2 And Mehetabel asked thaf the boy's name should be Sithron, because that she had concealed him from her husband, and made her pregnancy a mystery as long as she could, on account of their poverty.

1 3 So the child was called Sithron ; but they would ever hold in memory the other two names which Zelopholek had first proposed.

14 Now Mehetabel had long been accustbmed to sit on the house-top all night, and during the time before dawn, by the side of her husband, watching the stars with him, and listening to his words ;

15 But not having had enough food during a time of cold weather, she fell sick, and soon afterwards died.

16 And Zelopholek mourned for her exceedingly.

17 Now the boy Sithron, when he came to be of sufficient years to understand, was accustomed to sit at his father's feet on the house-top, watching the stars;

18 And great were the pains Zelopholek bestowed upon the boy, to teach him to become in course of years, a great astrologer like unto himself.

B 2

19 But the bright mind of Sithron, after a time, fled away from his father's teachings, and went astray in vain imaginings among his stars, and among other fields of stars.

Chapter II

I Of the ioy Sithron. 2 He ceaseth to listen to hk father' s words at night, for his thoughts are not those of astrologers. 3 He even imagineth that some of the larger stars may be worlds. /^ At length he maketh confession to his father.

IVTow the youth Sithron was of a grave and comely aspect ; one who spake little, but he was of a loving heart ; ,

2 And for that he was very fair, and of a gentle and modest mien, some of the neighbours, who chanced to have heard the name that, his father first proposed to give him, declared that indeed he ought to have been a girl rather than a boy, and to have had the name of Nejmeh Safiyeh;

3 Hearing which, Sithron would retire with troubled blushes, but without words.

4 Now the youth, continuing to sit at his father's feet on the house-top at night, tried to listen to his words, yet often he only heard that Zelopholek was speaking, without truly hearing his father's words :

THE STAR-STRICKEN.

5 For his thoughts strayed away beyond the stars that could be seen, and among stars that he fancied might be shining far beyond his sight.

6 And oft-times he said unto himself, not daring to speak this aloud to his father, Peradventure some of the largest of those stars may be small bodies of shining earth, in some sort like unto this earth upon which we live, only brighter ?

7 Moreover, it may be possible they have living creatures upon them, of some sort ; nay, peradventure, even men and women of some sort, or even angels of some sort and degree ?

8 For who shall put a limit to the power and wisdom of the Creator of All Things ; and who can understand the extent and wonder of His designs ?

9 And may it not even be possible that several of the largest and brightest of the stars are like unto small suns, and give light unto very small worlds which we cannot see at all, by reason of their smallness and their distance?

lo But nothing of all this foolishness did Sithron dare to speak aloud to his father ; but he grieved that Mehetabel, his mother, was dead, because he thought that he could have •told her of these troubles in his mind.

II He marvelled much that Zelopholek never spake of the moon, but as the pale and changeful sister of the sun ,- so Sithron considered the moon only as a softer lamp for the night, or as a dream of the Sun.

12 Now Zelopholek, being accustomed to the silent habit of his sbn, had for several years supposed that the youth was ever attentive to his nightly teachings of astrology ;

13 And he often looked upon him with proud and loving eyes, as one who would be his successor in the City of Hebron, and in the suburbs and villages round about, as the greatest astrologer of his generation.

14 But one night, when the heavens were more full of large and brilliant stars, and more numerous in all the lesser stars, and the little specks that were sparkling in the hour before day-break, it came to pass that the mouth of Sithron was opened, and he told his father, Zelopholek, all that had long been like a dazzling vision in his brain, and a great trouble in his heart ;

1 5 But also a triumph, only for the fear he had of his father's displeasure.

16 And Zelopholek was amazed, and also troubled at what he heard from the mouth of his son. '

17 Also he was disappointed, even unto bitterness.

THE STAR-STRICKEN.

1 8 Moreover, he was afraid lest the mind of Sithron had broken loose from all reason.

19 Also he was afraid that the neighbours, and people round about, should know of these strange wonderings and childish fancies, and that it might come to the ears of the priests of Hebron, who might incite the people to stone Sithron, as one who had a wicked mind, and a spirit that was born of darkness, and of lights that were evil.

20 So he ordered his son to be silent as to all those things which he had now confessed unto him.

CHAPTER m.

I Zelopholek knoweth that he is about to die. 2 He therefore placeth Sithron with a carpenter, to learn that trade. 3 But Sithron hath no mind for such work. 4 Zelophol^ becometh blind, and placeth his son with Azur Jarab, a tanner. 5 Sithron hath no mind for that work, yet striveth notwithstanding to learn it. 6 But he spoileth the skins. 7 Azur Jarab beateth him often, and cruelly. 8 Sithron sueth for pardon, but Aiur Jarab continueth to beat him, and insulteth the memory of Mehetabel, his mother.

Tn his old age, and his poverty and distress of mind at the dangerous childishness of the mind of his son, Zelopholek gave way in his strength, and prepared to die.

2 He therefore placed Sithron with a carpenter named Shuthelah, who was a neighbour, so that his son might learn that trade, whereby to gain a living.

3 And Sithron did as best he could, which was very ill, so that he spoiled things instead of learning to make things ;

4 For the youth had no mind for that work.

5 So Shuthelah took him back to Zelopholek with kind words and much regretfulness.

6 And he said that the youth was not altogether to be blamed, as he had been taught from a child to sit upon the house-top at night, and he would still continue this, whereby his eyes could not be properly watchful for work by day.

7 Zelopholek spake not of this to Sithron, but wept much in secret, so that he found that he was about to become blind.

8 And being anxious that his son should learn to do something whereby to gain his bread, Zelopholek placed him with Azur Jarab, a tanner, who was a wealthy and skilful man in that trade.

9 Very soon after this Zelopholek became quite blind :

lo And he lived alone, having no wife or son to help him.

1 1 But sometimes one or other of his neigh-

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hours, remembering how great had been his repute as an astrologer and soothsayer of future events, would bring him bread and water.

12 If any one spake unto him in a compassionate voice, Zelopholek would say, that he needed it not ; he was very happy.

13 If a mess of meat were offered to him, he would put it gently aside, saying that he fed upon light.

14 And a neighbour, with an unkind 'tongue, said that he well believed those words, as one could almost see through him :

15 Which saying having been told to Zelopholek, the blind astrologer smiled, saying, that man was a wise man, of great discerning.

16 Now Sithron was slow at learning what he was told to do, by Azur Jarab, the tanner, for he had no mind for that work.

17 He liked the trade of carpentry better; but he disliked both trades, being unable to keep his thoughts upon what he was doing.

18 He was continually thinking of the nightly wonders in the heavens, and how much might be there of which no prophet, even the greatest of their prophets, had ever yet spoken.

19 Neither had any other man dared to speak of such fancies,

20 So the youth sometimes spoiled skins of some value, brought from distant lands; and Azur Jarab often beat him cruelly with a stick, or with a knotted leathern thong.

21 Now Sithron, enduring this as best he could, without cries, yet with many tears, for he knew he had been doing wrong, besought his master's forgiveness.

22 And one day Sithron said, O sir, I pray you believe that I have never done thee these injuries by a careless hand, or by a careless mind, but because my thoughts are always wandering away in the far regions of the nightly heavens, even where the eyes of Zelopholek, my father, ever dwelt ; and also the eyes of Mehetabel, my mother, who is dead :

23 Yea, and in regions far beyond those fields of brightness which they both contemplated so constantly.

24 And speaking thus, the youth fell on his knees, weeping bitterly, and he promised to strive and satisfy Azur Jarab, his master, with better care and usefulness.

25 But Azur Jarab, hearing the youth say those things about the regions beyond the stars, continued to beat him with the leathern thong, though the youth humbled himself before him, with no further speech.

26 And Azur Jarab said, I do not think thou

THE STAR-STRICKEN.

can'st ever do any better, being born of a fool for a mother ;

27 For if Zelopholek was truly thy father, which some folk doubt, then Mehetabel, thy mother, could have had no more sense than the fowls of the air or the beasts of the field.

28 Now when Azur Jarab said this, Sithron ceased weeping, and rose up from his knees ;

29 And he took an earthen water vessel that was near his hand, and cast it at Azur Jarab.

30 And the earthen vessel smote the tanner upon the forehead, so that he was bruised, and he staggered back some paces.

31 And Azur Jarab, recovering himself, drove the youth before him with fury.

32 And he thrust Sithron out of the house, being an injured man, and followed him with many curses.

Chapter IV

I A priest of Hebron, desireth to lay hands upon Sithron. 2 Sithron reiurneth in distress to his father. 3 Heflndeth Zelopholek asleep on the top of the house. ' 4 Certain men of substance raise a monument. 5 The neighbours warn Sithron of the intentions of the priest. 5 Sithron, as one going mad, wandereth towards the distant hills and pastures.

\Tow a certain priest of the city of Hebron, having beerl told of some strange things concerning the son of Zelophblek, took counsel with another priest as to what they should do.

2 But they disagreed as to whether the son of the astrologer should first be laid hands on, or whether Zelopholek, his father, should first be brought before the High Priest.

3 And while this dispute was continued, Sithron returned to his father's house.

4 He stood a long time at the door, fearing to open it, for he trembled to meet the face of his father, after this second and far worse end of his apprenticeship.

5 And something beside, though he knew not what, made him tremble when he entered, though there was no one in the room.

6 And this feeling increased as he slowly, and with trembling steps went up the stairs.

7 It was early in the evening, and no stars were yet risen ; but he found his father lying on the top of the house, in a deep sleep.

8 And Sithron bent low to look at him, and then knelt down beside him for a while.

9 And he then threw himself upon the body of Zelopholek, for he felt that the cold sleep of his father was the sleep of death.

10 And Sithron remained by the side of his father all that night.

1 1 And when the morning was come, some of the neighbours, seeing the door of the house was wide open, and no one within, entered and took Sithron away, trying to comfort him.

12 So they buried Zelopholek ; and his son mourned for him, fasting and praying, and unwilHng to take comfort.

13 But before the astrologer was buried, many men of substance mourned for him, and caused his body to be anointed with precious ointment ; and they prepared to erect a high moument to his memory.

14 For his son, they could do nothing, seeing he could do nothing for himself.

1 5 So Sithron went wandering about the city, and was well nigh starved but that some of the neighbours were charitable towards him.

16 For although they knew, from his wild talk from time to time about the stars, that he had gone mad by following his father's work too early, and that he was no better than a fool, or one that was well-nigh an idiot, yet some people were attracted by his face, by the gentle sadness of his manner, and the sweet despair of the tones of his voice.

1 7 But besides his thoughts as to the stars, the mind of Sithron of late became perplexed and pained over many things he had been taught to believe by the priests of Hebron.

1 8 Also by many things derived from the early prophets, and holy warriors, and conquerors, and priests of the children of Israel.

19 Now the cause of his inward rebellion to the great prophets and leaders of his people, and also of his seeming foolishness, and the seeming idiotcy as of one lost to the world, was this :

20 His mind was unable to reconcile the unmeasurable greatness of the works of God, out of and beyond the earth, with the littleness of the mind attributed to God in the earth, as taught by the prophets, and leaders, and priesthood of his country.

21 So his brain being strong in thought, but not strong enough to bear the weight and mixture of his thoughts, he began to be really as one going mad.

2 2 Look at this young fellow, said the people in the streets, and listen to the things he saith to himself at times, and even to others. He is star-stricken. Instead of staring up at the heavens by night, he should try his hand at earning his bread during the day by staring down at the earth of a garden or a field.

23 But the scoffs of the people did no good, neither could they do any harm to one so lost to the earth as Sithron, the son of stars, or, as

Biaf-Kochbah signifieth in Hebrew, one lost among the lights of heaven.

24 And ^ the star-stricken youth, without knowing or caring whither he went, strayed out of the city, and away beyond the suburbs, among vines, and fir trees, and olive grovesj and stunted oaks, till he came among the lonely fields and pastoral hills, some leagues away from the city.