Good Simonides, the desires that make other men mad--riches, power, even kingships offered out of great love by a great people--move this one not at all.
What say you ?" The merchant's chin was low upon his breast; raising his head, he replied, resolutely, "The Lord liveth, and so do the words of the prophets.

Time is in the green yet; let to-morrow answer." "Be it so," said Balthasar, smiling.
And Ben-Hur said, "Be it so." Then he went on: "But I have not yet done.

From these things, not too great to be above suspicion by such as did not see them in performance as I did, let me carry you now to others infinitely greater, acknowledged since the world began to be past the power of man.

Tell me, has any one to your knowledge ever reached out and taken from Death what Death has made his own?
Who ever gave again the breath of a life lost?
Who but--" "God!" said Balthasar, reverently.
Ben-Hur bowed.
"O wise Egyptian! I may not refuse the name you lend me.

What would you--or you, Simonides--what would you either or both have said had you seen as I did, a man, with few words and no ceremony, without effort more than a mother's when she speaks to wake her child asleep, undo the work of Death?
It was down at Nain.