Not so with Ben-Hur; his spirit had its emotions from the teachings of the first lawgiver, not the last and greatest one.

He had dealt punishment, not wrong, to Messala.
By permission of the Lord, he had triumphed; and he derived faith from the circumstance--faith the source of all rational strength, especially strength in peril.
Nor did the influence stop there.

The new life was made appear to him a mission just begun, and holy as the King to come was holy, and certain as the coming of the King was certain--a mission in which force was lawful if only because it was unavoidable.
Should he, on the very threshold of such an errand, be afraid?
He undid the sash around his waist, and, baring his head and casting off his white Jewish gown, stood forth in an undertunic not unlike those of the enemy, and was ready, body and mind.

Folding his arms, he placed his back against the pillar, and calmly waited.
The examination of the statue was brief.

Directly the Northman turned, and said something in the unknown tongue; then both looked at Ben-Hur.
A few more words, and they advanced towards him.
"Who are you ?" he asked, in Latin.
The Northman fetched a smile which did not relieve his face of its brutalism, and answered, "Barbarians." "This is the palace of Idernee.