Istar of Babylon: A Phantasy

by Margaret Horton Potter

  XXII

  AT THE GATE

  Istar went quietly over the plain towards the gate of Bel, by which shepurposed re-entering Babylon, intending to pass the night in some one ofthe temples, those refuges for all the outcast paupers of the GreatCity. As she went, she thought upon Cyrus the king and her talk withhim, and also of the prophecy that had been put into her mouth.

  When she left the conqueror's tent her mind had been at rest. She hadneither fear nor desire. But now, as she drew near the city gate, andcould hear, as from a great distance, sounds of life coming from therebit, or market, held outside Nimitti-Bel, she quickened withuneasiness and excitement. Coming nearer, she perceived that there was agreat gathering in the mart, and it seemed to her that, over the generalmurmur of buyers and venders, one single voice was speaking. She did notrecognize the tall, white-robed figure standing in the very centre ofthe throng, gesticulating as he spoke; nor could her ears distinguishany of his words. Quietly enough she came along her way, instinctivelyknowing that danger threatened her; while, in the square, Amraphel ofBel spoke to the gathering crowd of Babylonians and Jews, some of whomhe himself had brought, some of whom had been here in any case, all ofwhom were now waiting for the inevitable return of Istar to the city.

  It was in this wise that Amraphel addressed them:

  "Hear ye, men and women! Listen, and heed the word!" He paused, whilethe noise in the market-place grew gradually less. "Listen and heed, andobey my word!

  "Now comes there among you one from the camp of Kurush the conqueror,who, in shame of guilt, hath not been equalled in the Great City. Thewoman of Babylon, the witch, the disciple of Namtar the plague-demon;she by whose hand Nabonidus and Belshazzar both have fallen; she who forso long polluted the holy sanctuary of Istar; she who, in her namelesswrath, visits the city with the great death; she who hath lain for daysin the camp of the conqueror, vainly weaving her spells about hisdauntless heart; she who hath, in sacrilege, been called Istar ofBabylon, would now come once more among ye.

  "My people, will ye let her in among your dead in the city? Will yeagain receive her that hath wrought this infinite woe? Will ye not,rather, in the names of the great gods, drive her forth from the citygates with stones and scourges, as from your hearths by night youexorcise Namtar her companion?

  "Behold, there comes she among you, even now, black-veiled. In the nameof Bel, our god, I bid ye drive her from your presence here in Babilu!"

  Hardly comprehending at first the violent words of the high-priest, thepeople had listened open-mouthed. When, however, they understood thatshe whom he had designated as the incarnation of all evil was comingamong them from the camp of the Elamite, there was a quick struggle toreach the front rank of the crowd. As yet the Babylonians were moved bycuriosity rather than by wrath, for they were a slow people and notunreasonable. The Jews, however, as many as were there, were of adifferent temperament, and it was they that began, little by little, toraise that ominous, angry murmur that will quicken a mob to violencesooner than any speech of a professional anarch.

  Among the throng was Charmides the Greek, come out an hour before to buybarley for his house, and remaining to chat for a time with the cheerycountrymen that were unaffected by the depression of the city. Charmideshad heard the words of Amraphel with a natural sense of horror, and nowturned to look incredulously over the plain. There, fifty yards away,was she for whom he and Bazuzu had vainly sought since morning. Thereindeed was she, the tall, slight, black-clothed figure, advancing slowlytowards the gate. In obedience to a quick impulse, Charmides ran hastilyforth from the square and placed himself before her in her path. Theominous shouts of the mob behind him came clearly to his ears, but hepaid no heed to them. He was within five feet of her before Istarrecognized him from behind her heavy veil. Then immediately she spoke tohim, in the poor, cracked voice that contained not a trace of its formermelody.

  "Comest thou from the city to meet me, O Greek? Among so many, yet Ishall not lose my way."

  "Lady Istar, turn thou back. Turn away from the gate! Amraphel thereincites the mob to take thy life. Therefore be warned. Come thou withme. I will support you. We will enter the city later by another way."

  Istar stopped and hesitated a little. She lifted her eyes to look at thegreat throng in the rebit, and she could read their intent from theattitude they took. Then she turned again to Charmides, who would havetaken her about the body to help her on in her weakness.

  "Nay, Greek!" She started back from him. "Lay not thy hand upon me! Myvery flesh is accursed! Thou givest timely warning, yet I go up to meetthem that hate me. Have I not said the end is near? Seek not to hold theblessed freedom from me. Let us go up to meet them at the gate."

  Startled by the calm determination of her manner, Charmides could findno fitting remonstrance for her. Indeed, he knew at once that it wereuseless to attempt to combat her will. More, he felt it to beirreverent. Keeping, then, close at her side, hoping to shield her withhis own body from those in the market-place, he walked with her up thegradual ascent to the gate. At first their approach was watched withmurmurs of disapproval. The angry prejudice of the Jews was beginning toextend to the Babylonians also, and momentarily Charmides expected thefirst stone. But as she approached something in the bearing of theveiled woman stilled the voice of the mob. She was coming among themapparently without either fear or hesitation. It was perhaps herfearlessness that sent the little tremor of shame into the minds of mostof the company. Amraphel saw this almost instantly, and quickly set towork. There was a slight movement along the face of the mob, and whenIstar stood within fifteen feet of them she found herself confronted bya solid line of Jews that looked upon her with a cold impassivity thatforeboded an evil ending to this strange hour.

  Seeing that her way was barred, and by what immovable men, Istar finallyhalted. She looked about her from side to side, betraying for the firsttime a little uncertainty of manner. It was as if the guiding spiritthat had so far led her was suddenly gone; as if at last she was alone,unprotected, mentally and physically, before an inimical world. With alittle gesture of bewilderment she turned to the Greek at her side.

  "Charmides," she said, faintly, "what do they here? Why do they opposemy coming?"

  "Men of Babylon," shouted Charmides, commandingly, "open your ranks! Letthe Lady Istar pass through to the gate of Bel!"

  A low, sullen murmur of refusal rose from the men in the front line. Notone of them moved. There was not so much as a glance of encouragementfor Charmides in his hopeless championship of the woman. Neverthelessthe Greek cried again:

  "What right have ye to forbid that she enter the city?"

  Then came a voice from the midst of the throng, a strident voice, andone harsh with age, known too well both to Istar and to her protector."The witch of the plague shall enter no more into the city. Long enough,creature of Namtar, hast thou worked destruction among us. Let the demonthy master save thee from our wrath!" And with the last words a piece ofbroken brick was hurled from out of the throng, striking Istar upon theshoulder.

  Instantly Charmides sprang in front of her, but, violently trembling,she pushed him back. Quite alone, quite unprotected, she faced the mob,even advanced to them a step or two, while she asked, faintly:

  "What is this that ye call me? Servant of Namtar? Witch of the plague?"

  "Yea verily, wicked one!"

  "Witch!"

  "Sorceress!"

  "Murderess!"

  With the last word two or three more stones came towards her, one ofthem striking her upon the knee, another passing just over her head.

  Istar drew a long sigh, and for an instant she closed her world-wearyeyes. Thereafter, with a slighter movement than she had used beforeCyrus, she caused the veil to fall from her form, and stood exposed inall her pitiable plight before the pitiless mob that had gatheredagainst her.

  Instantly there came a chorus of wonderment and of repulsion, with whicha weak note of compassion was mingled. Charmides, who now saw her facefor the fir
st time since the morning after the massacre, started withhorror.

  "Behold, the mark of the plague is upon me. How then do ye call meservant of Namtar?" she said.

  "Sorceress! Beneath the veil thou hast transformed thyself! Take thytrue form!" cried Amraphel from the throng.

  At this accusation a howl of anger suddenly rolled over the childishmultitude. At last, almost by accident, they had been successfullyroused to fury against the helpless creature before them.

  "Thy true shape, witch!"

  "Thy true shape!"

  "Fly, if thou canst, from our wrath!"

  "Pray Namtar to save thee now!"

  And then, dropping articulate speech, the mob prepared themselves fortheir revenge against the demon's minion.

  Drops of sweat rolled down Istar's face. Faint for food and greatlysuffering from weariness, she swayed where she stood. Charmides,overcoming his repulsion, remembering her as she had once been in thedays of her great glory, threw his arm about her and supported her.

  "Dogs!" he cried, angrily, "the woman is weak and sick of the plague.Will ye still keep her from the city wherein she must rest?"

  "Shall we admit a murderess among us?" shouted one of the Jews,wrathfully.

  "Murderess? What creature have I slain?"

  "Dost thou deny the murder of thy husband, Belshazzar, on the night ofthe feast?" demanded Amraphel from the midst of the throng.

  "Belshazzar! My beloved!--_I?_" A great sob burst from the lips of thewoman. For a moment she could feel again about her the dying arms of himwhom she had loved more dearly than godhead. The tears flowed fast downher scarred cheeks. Before the wave of grief she bent her head low.

  "Behold, she confesses! She dares not deny! Murderess! Murderess!"

  The voice of the mob grew deafening; and now bricks and stones cameforth upon her in a shower. They struck her in many places, bruising herhead, her breast, her scantily clothed arms, her broken body. Under theblows she cowered like a wounded animal, uttering no sound.

  "Istar, Istar, come away with me! Fly! Here is death if we remain.Come!"

  Charmides seized hold of her while the missiles were striking them bothin great numbers. Then, taking her up bodily, the Greek turned and fledrapidly down the hill-slope in the direction of the nearest shelter, abroad palm-grove upon the river-bank. For a few moments Istar washelpless; but he found, to his immense relief, that they were notpursued. When at last they were beyond danger Istar shuddered and criedto be put down. He set her anxiously upon her feet and found that shecould walk.

  "If I had but wine to give thee!" he exclaimed, as he saw her weakness.

  "Nay, Charmides, thou hast saved and greatly helped me. I give theeblessing from the heart. And now thou must leave me, that I may go alonedown to the river. Fear not. None will accost me. I am well."

  The Greek would have protested against letting her go, but that he hadan unaccountable feeling that a higher force than hers was dominatingboth of them. Therefore, after a glance into her uplifted face, he fellupon his knees before her, and bent his head before the will of theAlmighty that was over them. And there, while the sunset shed its lightaround them like a halo, Istar turned away and went forth alone in thesunset light, to the grove of palms upon the bank of the quietly flowingEuphrates.