If I accept, and enter upon the course, farewell peace, and the hopes which cluster around it.

The doors I might enter and the gates of quiet life will shut behind me, never to open again, for Rome keeps them all; and her outlawry will follow me, and her hunters; and in the tombs near cities and the dismal caverns of remotest hills, I must eat my crust and take my rest." The speech was broken by a sob.

All turned to Esther, who hid her face upon her father's shoulder.
"I did not think of you, Esther," said Simonides, gently, for he was himself deeply moved.
"It is well enough, Simonides," said Ben-Hur.

"A man bears a hard doom better, knowing there is pity for him.

Let me go on." They gave him ear again.
"I was about to say," he continued, "I have no choice, but take the part you assign me; and as remaining here is to meet an ignoble death, I will to the work at once." "Shall we have writings ?" asked Simonides, moved by his habit of business.
"I rest upon your word," said Ben-Hur.
"And I," Ilderim answered.
Thus simply was effected the treaty which was to alter Ben-Hur's life.