“And there would be neither war nor injustice.”

“Tell me,” said David.  “Are there many lovers like you in Rome?”

“Some half a score that I have heard of, and I doubt not there be many.”

“’Tis the candle of the Lord—­the preparation of the heart of man,” said David.  “I do believe his arrow shall be that of love.”

“This feeling in me has kindled a great desire,” said Vergilius.  “I burn for knowledge.”

Then said the young Jew:  “Let us find my kinsman, Zacharias—­a priest of holy life and great learning.  Through his aged wife a miracle has been accomplished.  I learn that she has given birth, and many have journeyed far to see the child.  There be some who say that he is, indeed, the king of promise, albeit I have no such opinion.”

“Why?”

“There shall be signs in the deep of the heavens, and we have not seen them.”

“Where may we find the priest?”

“In the village of Ain Karim, yonder.”

They could see its low dwellings and the dome of its synagogue.  The Roman halted near the abode of Zacharias, while David took their followers to the inn.  Suddenly the young Roman saw an aged priest approaching with a child in his arms.

“I have a message for you,” said the man of God, stopping near the Roman officer.

“And I seek it,” said Vergilius, looking at the long, gray beard of the venerable priest.

“It is borne in upon me to say to you that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

“Tell me of the king,” said Vergilius.  “I do thirst for knowledge.”

“He shall be the prince of peace.”

Vergilius looked thoughtfully at the old priest, who now sat down as if weary.

“And he shall conquer with the sword?”

“Nay, but as it is written, ’he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’”

Now the Roman was alert to hear.  His ideal, which had taken form at the altar of peace and grown with his love, was being set up before him.

“But the nations are stubborn,” said he.  “Tell me, O wise and learned man, how shall he subdue them?”

“By the love of God, almighty and ever-lasting.”

“God, almighty and everlasting,” said Vergilius.  “I know him not.”

“I do but defile myself to speak with you, worshipper of idols,” sternly spake the priest.  “And yet I am constrained to instruct you.  Listen—­there is a power which even Rome has not been able to conquer.  Know you what power it is?”

The young tribune was recounting the peoples of the earth, when Zacharias continued: 

“’Tis the God of the Jews.  Rome has conquered his people, but mark how he stands.  And what is there of wrong that his law cannot remedy?  Tell me, is there no injustice in your land?”