of becoming strong and daring, they have become indolent and cowardly.  And now that I wish to use this army to free Judaea from the yoke of the Romans, they laugh in my face and answer me with words I once taught them.  We have only this life, they cry, and we will not risk it any more.  And when I ask, ‘Not even for freedom?’ they reply, ’Not even for freedom, because what is the use of freedom to us if we are slain.’  Indolent beasts! they lack enthusiasm.  And now I find you.  You are a master of oratory.  You say that you will conquer with the spirit.  Come with me!  Descend into the valley and inspire them with ardour.  The legions are ours, our weapons are of perfect temper, nothing is wanting but fire, and that you have.  The king must be allied with the zealot, otherwise the kingdom cannot be conquered.  Come down with me.  Tell them that you are the prophet.  Incite them against Jerusalem, and exclaim:  ‘It is God’s will!’ If only fire can be made to burn within them, they will march like the very devil, overcome the foreigners, and you will instruct them in Solomon’s Temple about the Messiah.  You can tell them that he is coming, or that you yourself are he, just as you please.  Then, according to your desire, you can establish your kingdom, and all the glory of the world will lie at your feet as at those of a god.  Come, prophet, you give me the word, and I’ll give you the sword!”

“Begone, you tempter of hell!” exclaimed Jesus and his eye shot forth a ray of light that the other could not bear.

And then Jesus was once more alone among the rocks, under the open sky.

It was under the sacred sky of the desert where his Father came down to him that his spirit became quite free—­his heart more animated, glowing with love.  And thus was Jesus perfected.  Leaving the desert, he then sought out the fertile land; he sought out men.

His earthly task stood clear and fixed before him.

CHAPTER XIII

The Lake of Gennesaret, also called the Sea of Galilee, lies to the east of Nazareth, where the land makes a gradual descent, and where, among the hills and the fertile plains, pleasant villages are situated.  The mountains of Naphtali, which in some places rise up steeply from its banks, were clothed with herbage in the days of David.  But gradually, as stranger peoples cultivated them, fertility descended to the hills and valleys.

Near where the Jordan flows into the sea, on the left of the river under the sandy cliffs of Bethsaida, a small cedar forest, the seeds of which may have been blown thither from Lebanon, grows close down to the shore of the lake.  A fisher-boat, rocking in the shade on the dark waters, was tied to one of the trees.  The holes in it were stuffed with seaweed, the beams fastened with olive twigs.  Two tall poles crossed were intended for the sail, which now lay spread out in the boat because the boatman was sleeping on it.  The brown stuff, made of camel’s hair, was the man’s most valuable possession.  On the water it caught the wind for him, on land it served as a cloak, if he slept it formed his bed.