Henry R. Plomer - "A Short History of English Printing, 1476 to 1898"

Hamlin Garland - "The Spirit of Sweetwater"

Joel Barlow - "The Columbiad"

Arthur J. Rees - "The Hand in the Dark"

Annual Bibliography of Commonwealth Literature 2007
This paper argues that discourses of love in Ghanaian market literature for youth offer a view into complex negotiations of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Deborah Durham's notion of youth as "social `shifters'" and Francis Nyamnjoh's conception of the "interconnectedness" of agency, I take Ghanaian market literature as one specific case of how African literature for youth foregrounds questions of continuity and change as African societies enter into increasingly complex global relations. In this literature for youth, received notions of love, often constructed out of impressions from American pop and hip hop music, carry new notions of agency that compete with existing "domesticated" forms. Authors like Ike Tandoh and Evelyn Tay employ discourses of love to offer youth alternative avenues for empowerment in a context of socio-economic disenfranchizement. In a creative process of "straddling", this writing both reveals and reproduces the contradictions that obtain in youth configurations of agency.

The Coming of the King

B >> Bernie Babcock >> The Coming of the King




"Thou dost not speak of Jesus of Nazareth?" Mary asked.

"Even of him," the aged woman answered.

"Art thou of his acquaintance?" Debora asked with interest.

"Even more, for was not the mother of her who bare Jesus even the
sister of my father?"

"Thy kinsman he is? Thou hast looked upon his face and heard the
wondrous voice that doth drive away fever?"

"Yea, have I seen and heard, both the son and his mother and father,
for twice did I visit under the roof of my cousin."

"His mother--what of her? Is she skilled in savoring rich sop?" Martha
asked.

"She hath not possessed the wherewithal to make rich sop, yet in her
veins runneth the blood of kings. Of the house of David hath she come."

"And where hath she been in hiding, this royal-blooded Jewess?" Huldah
asked.

"In the rude home of a Galilean peasant, for poverty hath been her lot.
Yea, in the stone feed-trough of a cattle shed was Jesus born because
his father had not the price of keep at the inn. A little lad at
Nazareth was he when I first saw him."

"A little lad," Mary repeated. "What manner of little lad was he?"

"Beside his mother's knee he heard stories of the brave and mighty of
Israel. He walked with his mother by the sea and in the fields. He
loved the fowls of the air, the hares and the foxes. And such
questions did he ask as no man hath wisdom to answer. While his mother
toiled he played with the children of the village. When they played
funeral right vigorously would he weep with the mourners. When they
played wedding with those who piped, piped he, and with those who
danced, danced he until his small garments, like wings, flew apace.
Mild was he and obedient, yet when his hand was lifted in wrath it did
strike hard. Once he did fight. Aye, and a good fight it was and over
the wall did he send with the speed of a wild ass and fierce blows, a
lad twice his size. His mother did bind his black eye in a fig leaf
poultice and tell him fighting were not good for little lads. I
remember yet his face as he did make answer, 'Woman, know'st thou not
our father David did smite a giant which did torment Jehovah's chosen
ones? Even so did I smite him who was plucking hair from the head of a
feeble child who could do naught but cry out. For this did I send him
over the wall, and no more will he do this evil thing when I am nigh.'"

"Blessings on him," laughed Debora, clapping her hands.

"My heart goeth out to such a lad," Mary said.

"What for?" Huldah asked. "For making bloody another lad's nose?"

"If so be that to bloody a nose is the only way to stay the hand of
oppression."

"And yet another time did I see him," Elizabeth continued. "At a
wedding in Cana, when he had grown to man's estate. Merry were the
guests with feasting and shouting when the wine did fall short. In an
outer room were some firkins which Jesus did order filled with water.
When the water was drawn out, it was wine."

"This is no sign of a prophet," Huldah answered quickly. "Ofttimes
have I with a cup of grape sirup well thickened, made a kid skin of
wine. What sign hath he given of being a prophet that hath not already
been given?"

"From the dungeon my John asked this question," Elizabeth answered
slowly. "After other things did Jesus say, 'Tell John I have come to
bring the gospel to the _poor_.'"

Huldah laughed heartily. Then she said, "Of a surety this is a sign no
prophet hath given. The poor? Who taketh account of the poor?
Poverty is a visitation of Jehovah. Ever have the poor been despised
and forsaken. Cursed be the lot of the poor--yea, thrice cursed!"

"Yea, cursed be the lot of the poor. Even was this the lot of Jesus of
Galilee. Oft was his food but dried locusts. Oft bore his thin
garments many patches. Oft was a heavy yoke put on the burden of his
childish shoulders. For this pitieth he the poor."

"Locusts for the belly; patches for the back; a yoke for the shoulders!
Shame on Israel that of this sort it would call a king--even from
Galilee where women labor in the field and men like cattle toil!" and
Huldah's lip curled with scorn.

"The toiler toileth that Herod may make great banquets. Pilate doth
ride in a golden chariot and Caesar feed men to tigers. When cometh
the King of the Jews, such will be done away with, for again will
slaves be set free and the Year of Jubilee proclaimed."

"A king must be a King--not a herder of sheep or a driver of oxen," was
Huldah's emphatic reply.

"Was not our glorious David a keeper of sheep before the crown was put
upon his head? Not whence he cometh, but the kind he is, doth decide
the quality of kings," Mary observed thoughtfully.




CHAPTER VI

HARD SAYINGS

The table was set for the evening meal in the home of Lazarus. Martha
was in the kitchen urging Eli to more speed in final preparations, and
Mary was arranging a bowl of vari-colored lilies on the table.
Entering the room Martha paused to look at her sister. "Mary," she
exclaimed, "thou dost spend time as though lilies made fit eating."

"Fit eating? Nay, but Zador Ben Amon doth sup with us to-night. From
the splendors of Rome hath he come. Shall we not set forth for him the
better splendors of lilies in all their glory? And should I not help
make joyful the coming of Joel who hath been away two weeks?"

"It is wine in the cup and meat well seasoned that doth delight the
heart of man."

"The perfume of flowers doth breathe of giving. So do they breathe of
love which doth ever give, until a woman giveth herself to be loved of
a man as thou art promised to Joel. How strange and holy a thing is
love!"

"Mayhap it is strange; mayhap is [Transcriber's note: it?] is holy.
But get thou the sop bowls. Joel and Lazarus are coming."

"Ha! ha! ha!" The laughing voice sounded just outside the door. "The
face of him was like--ha! ha!--it was like--like--" and again the words
ended in laughter.

"Like what was the face of him?" a second voice asked.

"A mild ass well beaten,--ha--ha!"

"Lazarus is in a merry mood to-day," Mary said to Martha.

"It taketh not much to gladden his heart," was Martha's answer, as the
two men entered the room. When Joel had kissed Martha and exchanged
greetings with Mary, she said to Lazarus, "Thou comest in good spirits,
my brother."

"Yea," replied Joel, "a bit of wit doth make him to bubble over like
sour wine in a kid skin, and thrice doth he bubble at wit from the lips
of a prophet."

"Is there a prophet given to wit?" Mary inquired.

"Nay, not to wit," Lazarus answered. "To wisdom he is given, yet in
his wisdom doth often sparkle wit."

"Who is this prophet that causeth thy pleasure?" Mary asked.

"Another Jesus--Jesus of Nazareth this one is."

"Is there none other at the Passover Feast than he to talk of?" was
Martha's question. "Naught have we heard from our guests to-day save
of him. Now again hear we more."

"Lazarus is much taken with his teachings which he calleth wisdom.
Methinks his sayings are hard, eh, Lazarus?"

"Yea, hard sayings," the master of the house replied seriously, as he
settled himself on the window couch. "Yet is there that within them
which giveth wine its flavor," and again he laughed.

"What was the saying that did please thee?" Mary asked.

"Knowest thou what the Law sayeth about graven images? Aye, to touch
one defileth a Jew. With fierce righteousness do those in authority
contend for observance of the letter of the law. Was not much blood
spilled when Pilate sought to put an image of Caesar in the Temple?
The Galilean Prophet oft setteth aside the Law. For this reason do the
Scribes and Pharisees seek to entangle him. Taking council, they did
say to him, 'What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to
Caesar, or not?' Hard by stood many with their ears well open. And
near at hand stood I. Upon him who spoke and those his followers, did
the Galilean look. Then did he say, 'Why tempt me, ye hypocrites?'
With these words did the countenances of his tempters grow long like
their beards and take on a grievous expression like a beast unjustly
berated. 'Show me the tribute money,' said he. With exceeding
quickness were their hands thrust into their pockets, while the eyes of
those who stood by watched close. As the Prophet of Galilee did take
on his palm the coins, the corners of his beard did twitch yet was his
voice grave as he said, 'Whose is this image and superscription?' With
one voice they did answer, 'Caesar's'--and by my most precious beard so
bore the coins the image of Tiberius! Dost thou get the flavor of the
situation? Breathing out fierce contention for the letter of the Law,
go they about with their wallets stuffed with images--stuffed with
images of Tiberius! Ha! ha! ha! Thou shouldst have seen their faces
when those who stood by to see them entrap the Galilean laughed at them
boisterously."

The story told by the young man ended in a hearty laugh, which was
entered into by the others.

"Did he make answer?" Mary asked.

"Aye. Listen now if thou wouldst hear wisdom. Giving their images
back to those who sought to entangle him, he said, 'Render unto Caesar
the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.'"

"Had they an answer?" It was Mary again who questioned.

"None save the face of them. It were enough--ha! ha!"

"Lazarus is much taken with this man," Martha observed. "Art thou,
too, gone after him, Joel?"

"Nay. I like him not. Far be it from the business of a Galilean
peasant to tell a merchant of Jerusalem that riches be a curse."

"And hath he said this to thee?" Martha inquired in astonishment.

"Yea, at the gate where my camel did stick and skin his nether
quarters."

Lazarus laughed again as he exclaimed, "Enough it were to make dry
bones shake! Such a sight! Tell it, Joel."

"Lazarus doth make light of matters sorely vexatious," Joel said
without smiling.

"What did happen, Joel?" and there was concern in Martha's question.

"My camel train bearing great stores of silks had come from Damascus.
The city gates were gorged with pilgrims so that my men did lead their
beasts to the far side of the city wall where the small gates are.
Here, when the camel would have walked under, he could not for the
bales of silk that did wedge against the stones. Then did we strip the
beasts, yet were their frames too large. Then did we get them on their
knees and while some did pull, others did push. I stood with those in
the rear and most mightily did I push until sweat did drop from my head
and much straining did rend my _kittuna_."

"Didst get the camel through?" Martha asked anxiously.

"Yea, save the patch of hide he did leave sticking on the stone walls."

"Thou shouldst have seen," Lazarus laughed, "thou shouldst have seen
thy Joel. Like a dog of the hills did he pant and like the swine of
the heathen did he grunt."

"Were there bystanders to witness thy sad plight?" Martha asked the
question of Joel.

"Yea, hard by stood a small company, one of them in the garment of a
Rabbi. Beholding the struggling he said, 'Verily, verily, it is easier
for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get
into Heaven.' Then did those about fasten searching eyes on me, and I
like him not."

"The truth doth fit close, friend Joel. Now to me did he also make a
hard speech, yet I like him the more for his plain speaking."

"And hast thou too had speech with the Galilean? Tell me, my brother?"
Mary asked.

"Lazarus would be his disciple," Joel remarked.

"Lazarus! Our brother? The son of a Sanhedrin Pharisee be the
disciple of a Galilean?" and there was consternation in the voice of
Martha.

"Thou hast spoken," he replied quietly, arranging himself more
comfortably on the couch. "The Law have I studied since the days of my
father. Hillel and Shammiah have I poured over and of Philo have I
sought knowledge. Yea, even of the heathen Socrates have I sought
knowledge. But, it is vain. The traditions of the Elders do weary me
for at last tradition is no more than tradition. What avails fierce
contentions over the ashes of the red heifer, the waving of willows or
the pouring of holy water? Whether the Sadducees or the Pharisees gain
the contention the burden remaineth the same. At times have I thought
of turning to the spade and apron and white robe of the Essenes where
there be no Aaronic priesthood or bloody sacrifice."

"But this Jesus--is he an Essene? Hast thou heard aught of his
teachings?"

"Yea, Mary. In the Temple doth he tell of a Kingdom where the Law
shall be less and justice and liberty more, a Kingdom of Brotherhood
which the sword bringeth not but which cometh as spring-time brings a
new earth. Wonderful did this teaching sound, and as I did drink it
in, turned he his face to me as if my lips had called him. And I did
know, even as his eye rested on mine, that I should love him, yea, as
if he were a brother. Again did I draw near as he did pass on
Solomon's porch, and again did his eyes find my face. Then did I ask
what I should do to be his disciple. 'Keep the commandments,' was his
answer. 'All these have I kept from my youth up,' I made answer. But
it were not enough."

"It should be enough. What more doth the Law require?" Joel asked.

"Yet," observed Mary thoughtfully, "there be no virtue in keeping the
Law which bids us not steal, so long as the belly is full of red wine
and rich mutton."

"Or in coveting thy neighbor's fat wife when a shapely Martha is
promised. Eh, Joel?" Lazarus questioned.

They all laughed. Joel's reply was, "Not virtue, nay. But where is
virtue in the hard sayings he did put to Lazarus?"

"A hard saying truly," Lazarus repeated. "He did bid me sell my
possessions and give to the poor."

"The Law doth not allow but a certain portion for the poor."

"Thou sayest truly, Mary. Yet him whose disciple I would be, says,
'Give all.'"

"Thy vineyards and wine presses?" and Martha's face was troubled.

"Thy olive orchard?" and Mary too expressed concern.

"Yea, and thy home and garden and fountain and thy chickens and lilies,
Mary," Joel answered quickly.

"An evil spirit doth work in his head," was Martha's observation.

"Why said he this to thee, my brother?" and Mary stood by Lazarus with
perplexed face.

"That I should love him more than all these."

"He doth require much love."

"Yea, verily, much love doth he require for much doth he give and
everything doth he make of love. Sorrowful I turned away. Yet will I
see him again. But, Mary--Martha--look thou at the western sky. Hast
thou made ready for our honored guest, Zador Ben Amon, who arriveth
shortly? Fortunate is he as those of the House of Annas since with the
money-changers hath the High Priest given him a place so that he hath
riches more abundant than us all. Since he hath been our guest before,
his heart hath become settled on Mary and of her hand hath he spoken to
me already."

"And thou wert not slow to say 'yes.'" There was joy in Martha's
question, though it was not a question.

"'The heart of a woman should go out to him whose wife she would be;
and the heart is not worn on the hand. Tell thy desire to Mary.' This
said I to Zador who seeks her hand."

"Listen!" exclaimed Martha.

The sound of wheels on the pebble strewn incline just outside, told the
approach of Zador Ben Amon.




CHAPTER VII

LOST--AN ANKLET

The face of Zador Ben Amon was divided into two halves, the upper of
which reached from the line of his black beard that ran straight under
his cheek-bones, to the lower edge of his elegant head covering.
Prominent in this half were the eyes of Zador Ben Amon, but whether
those of a wolf, a fox or a saved son of Israel, was a matter of
reciprocity depending on the kind and condition of profit-making at
hand. The lower portion of the money-changer's face was again divided
into two halves by a thin white line running from lip to chin; this
line was preserved by choice oils applied liberally to his beard hair.
The solidity of Zador Ben Amon, whether financial or otherwise, was
suggested by the broad back of his short body and in the square shape
of his feet, whose bones bulged in spite of the best of sandals. To
cover his broad back, Zador had a wonderful cloak of blue with a purple
stripe above the border where crimson pomegranates were embroidered.
With this cloak over his arm, for the season was getting too warm for
more back covering than the usual garment, with new hand-wrought silver
buckles on his sandals, a jaunty sash with deep knotted fringes, and
with hair and beard perfumed, he made his way to the home of Lazarus at
Bethany.

The wheels of his carriage had not yet turned from the door when Zador
Ben Amon was welcomed by Lazarus and bidden through the open door,
inside which stood Mary and Martha and Joel. His greeting to Martha
was brief. Toward Mary he advanced with smiling face, as if to embrace
her. "Nay?" he questioned as she drew back. "Didst not thy brother
tell thee I have decided to make thee my betrothed?"

"The words my brother spake I did not so understand," she replied,
stepping yet farther back from him.

"Then hath the pleasure been left for Zador, son of Amon, to tell Mary
of the House of Dates that he hath come to make her his betrothed and
hath brought her a fit gift."

"But I know thee not save as a friend of my brother Lazarus, nor dost
thou know me."

"And what needst thou to know save that I am among Israel's rich and
mighty and would take thee to wife? And what need I to know of thee
more than that thou art fair and a woman? Doth the hungry beast not
know its heart's desire? To thy brother have I spoken."

"And hath Lazarus given you knowledge that my heart is in his keeping?"
Mary asked.

"Hearts!" Zador exclaimed, laughing like one well fed. "Lazarus, thy
fair sister doth take hearts into account rather than shekels and
talents of gold."

"Perhaps there is wisdom in the words she speaketh when she saith you
know her not," and Lazarus smiled. "Seat thyself and make ready for a
better acquaintance."

"Thou speakest," Zador answered heartily, glancing toward the
window-seat. "But before thou layest my cloak aside would I show it to
the maidens. At a great price I secured this," and he held it toward
Martha and Mary.

"Its colors are most beautiful," Mary said.

Martha had slipped her hand inside the folds and was closely examining
the needlework.

"From hem to hem the pomegranates reach," Zador explained, noticing
Martha's interest. "Doth not the needlework far exceed that of
Israel's workers in fine thread?"

"The workmanship is wonderful. Yet here are loose stitches at the top
of the border."

Zador caught up the cloak hem and examined it with careful eye as he
said, "Thou knowest. On the morrow will it be mended. But now, since
Zador hath come to know that Mary and Martha delight in rich apparel,
let him tell them of garments that dazzle the eye for glory and riches."

"Robes of Rome?" Martha asked with keen interest

"Yea, as I saw them in banquet hall and amphitheatre."

When the guest's cloak had been carefully put aside and his feet
washed, the group gathered in the wide window-seat where he reclined,
to hear news from Rome. "Hath the fame of the garment of Lolilla
Pauline come to your ears?" he asked.

"Nay," answered Martha.

"Of seed pearls was it covered and over the pearls lay leaves of
emerald. Forty million sesterces did it cost. Thou holdest up thy
hands? Then will I tell thee of one that did cost fifty million
sesterces--the like of which eye hath not seen before. On a robe of
pearls sprinkled with diamonds, sat a peacock of great size so that his
head did rest on the shoulders of the wearer and the tail of the bird
did cover her back. And of rare jewels was this bird made; emeralds
and rubies and topaz and sapphire and amethyst and opals and jacinths,
set with such skill as to make the breast-plate of the High Priest a
bauble. What delighteth the heart of a woman more than rich wearing
apparel?" The question followed his description of the jewels and he
laughed heartily at Martha's expression of amazed delight.

"Yet another garment would I tell thee of, such a one as eye hath not
before seen." He stopped to laugh heartily. "A garment it also was of
many colors," and again he laughed. "In that which is filthy and cast
away do rag-pickers stir and strive. And when they have great stores
of that which is vile and useless, do they sew it together into a
garment and sell it for a pittance to a slave to cover his naked body.
Such a rag-picker's garment saw I. Such a sight--sold for such a
pittance."

"But might not the pittance paid for a rag-picker's garment be more to
the slave than fifty million sesterces to one whose toil earned not
even the first of them?" asked Mary.

"Ask me not questions about slaves, the rabble. Thou knowest they are
but broilers and vile."

"Perhaps," Mary answered thoughtfully, "if slaves and the rabble were
better fed they would broil less. Doth not Baba Metzia say 'When the
barley in the jar is finished, quarrels come thundering through the
house'?"

"Thou knowest nothing of slaves and the rabble, fair Mary. Never are
the poor content. Give them bran and vinegar and they want herbs.
Give them herbs and they want lentils. Give them lentils and they want
sop of mutton. And once sop-fed will they cry aloud for the mutton
itself. Cursed be the poor, by God. Let them be accursed." And the
money-changer nodded his head in approval of his speech.

"Yea, accursed be the poor," said Lazarus. "Yet it seemeth not so much
according to the curse of God as to the greed of man. To the rich
their riches come by inheritance as came mine. Or cometh riches by
great cunning and skill in taking from others."

"As cometh mine," Zador Ben Amon laughed, rubbing his hands and looking
from one to the other for approval. "And even now my palms grow hot
for that which shall come into them from my Temple booths at the
Passover. But how dost thou reason, Lazarus? If there are rich and
mighty must there not of necessity be the poor and weak?"

"Yea. Yet is this according to the Law of Moses? According to the Law
was not grain left in the corners for the gleaners? Was not stealing
and lying forbidden among Israelites? Was usury not forbidden under
great penalty? And was not the year of Jubilee proclaimed? Hath the
Law no meaning?"

"Like fire is the Law, a good servant but a bad master, my friend
Lazarus. But let us not talk of the Law but of the Great Feast.
Gorged with pilgrims from all the earth is Jerusalem and this year's
Temple business will exceed all bounds. Never did I see so many and
strange peoples."

"Even wonder workers--eh, Mary?" Joel said.

Zador Ben Amon looked toward Mary for an answer.

"He speaketh of Jesus of Nazareth, methinks," she replied.

"Who is he?" and he turned to Lazarus.

"A Galilean Rabbi."

"Galilee is not noted for furnishing Rabbis. Hath he been taught in
the Temple?"

"Nay. Yet in the Temple teacheth he such wisdom as hath not before
been taught by any Rabbi."

"And he works wonders," Martha added.

Zador Ben Amon laughed heartily. "Women believe all things," he said.
"There are no wonder workers but sorcerers. Even Eunus, who had the
whole Isle of Sicily bewitched, did spit out fire by first putting fire
in his mouth. So doeth this Jesus his wonders by Beelzebub--if indeed
he doeth them."

As the time for dining drew near, the scent of cooking meat reached the
nostrils of Zador. He sniffed and smiled approval, saying, "The savory
odor of thy well seasoned meat bringeth to mind the meat and wine of
the banquet at which the Roman noblewoman wore the blazing peacock."
Again Martha showed keen interest. "In myrrhine and jeweled vases were
the wines served and the nightingales' tongues on platters of pure
gold," and he watched for the effect of his words.

"Nightingales' tongues!" Mary exclaimed.

"Of a truth. It seemeth past reason that enough of meat so small
should be secured to banquet on. Yet when Rome would banquet, all
things are hers. Into far places goeth the fowler with his snare and
by the thousand are the fowls of the air sent in, to be burned, save
the tongues of them."

The eyes of Mary were fastened on the face of her guest in bewildered
amazement. "And you ate nightingales' tongues?" she again exclaimed.

"By the gold plate full. Savory beyond telling was the dish and my
appetite was at best."

The eyes of Mary turned from the face of Zador.

"Mary hath three unfeathered ones she spendeth much time feeding," Joel
remarked after a short silence. "She would have them grow large."

Zador looked at Mary, leaned his head against a pillow and laughed.
"And so our Mary would sup after the manner of Rome. Three
nightingales? The tongues of them all will not make a taste!"

A flush tinged Mary's face as she said, "Dost thou think I would
nourish the lives of nestlings to pluck from their throats their
tongues?" and she cast a straight glance at the reclining man.

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