The venerable men in front of the portico faced about aghast.

The common people in the rear at first pushed forward; in the centre, the effort was to get out; and for a short time the pressure of opposing forces was terrible.

A thousand voices made inquiry, raised all at once; as no one had time to answer, the surprise speedily became a panic.
Ben-Hur kept his senses.
"You cannot see ?" he said to one of the Galileans.
"No." "I will raise you up." He caught the man about the middle, and lifted him bodily.
"What is it ?" "I see now," said the man.

"There are some armed with clubs, and they are beating the people.

They are dressed like Jews." "Who are they ?" "Romans, as the Lord liveth! Romans in disguise.