NotfarfromherewasanichewheretheyusedtopreserveapieceoftheTrueCross，butitisgone，now。Thispieceofthecrosswasdiscoveredinthesixteenthcentury。TheLatinpriestssayitwasstolenaway，longago，bypriestsofanothersect。Thatseemslikeahardstatementtomake，butweknowverywellthatitwasstolen，becausewehaveseenitourselvesinseveralofthecathedralsofItalyandFrance。
ButtherelicthattouchedusmostwastheplainoldswordofthatstoutCrusader，GodfreyofBulloigne——KingGodfreyofJerusalem。NobladeinChristendomwieldssuchenchantmentasthis——nobladeofallthatrustintheancestralhallsofEuropeisabletoinvokesuchvisionsofromanceinthebrainofhimwholooksuponit——nonethatcanprateofsuchchivalricdeedsortellsuchbravetalesofthewarriordaysofold。ItstirswithinamaneverymemoryoftheHolyWarsthathasbeensleepinginhisbrainforyears，andpeopleshisthoughtswithmail—cladimages，withmarchingarmies，withbattlesandwithsieges。ItspeakstohimofBaldwin，andTancred，theprincelySaladin，andgreatRichardoftheLionHeart。Itwaswithjustsuchbladesasthesethatthesesplendidheroesofromanceusedtosegregateaman，sotospeak，andleavethehalfofhimtofallonewayandtheotherhalftheother。ThisveryswordhasclovenhundredsofSaracenKnightsfromcrowntochininthoseoldtimeswhenGodfreywieldedit。Itwasenchanted，then，byageniusthatwasunderthecommandofKingSolomon。Whendangerapproacheditsmaster\'stentitalwaysstrucktheshieldandclangedoutafiercealarmuponthestartledearofnight。Intimesofdonbt，orinfogordarkness，ifitweredrawnfromitssheathitwonldpointinstantlytowardthefoe，andthusrevealtheway——anditwouldalsoattempttostartafterthemofitsownaccord。AChristiancouldnotbesodisguisedthatitwouldnotknowhimandrefusetohurthim——noraMoslemsodisguisedthatitwouldnotleapfromitsscabbardandtakehislife。ThesestatementsareallwellauthenticatedinmanylegendsthatareamongthemosttrustworthylegendsthegoodoldCatholicmonkspreserve。IcanneverforgetoldGodfrey\'ssword，now。ItrieditonaMoslem，andclovehimintwainlikeadoughnut。ThespiritofGrimeswasuponme，andifIhadhadagraveyardIwouldhavedestroyedalltheinfidelsinJerusalem。Iwipedthebloodofftheoldswordandhandeditbacktothepriest——IdidnotwantthefreshgoretoobliteratethosesacredspotsthatcrimsoneditsbrightnessonedaysixhundredyearsagoandthusgaveGodfreywarningthatbeforethesunwentdownhisjourneyoflifewouldend。
StillmovingthroughthegloomoftheChurchoftheHolySepulchrewecametoasmallchapel，hewnoutoftherock——aplacewhichhasbeenknownas\"ThePrisonofOurLord\"formanycenturies。TraditionsaysthatheretheSaviourwasconfinedjustpreviouslytothecrucifixion。Underanaltarbythedoorwasapairofstonestocksforhumanlegs。Thesethingsarecalledthe\"BondsofChrist，\"andtheusetheywereonceputtohasgiventhemthenametheynowbear。
TheGreekChapelisthemostroomy，therichestandtheshowiestchapelintheChurchoftheHolySepulchre。Itsaltar，likethatofalltheGreekchurches，isaloftyscreenthatextendsclearacrossthechapel，andisgorgeouswithgildingandpictures。Thenumerouslampsthathangbeforeitareofgoldandsilver，andcostgreatsums。
Butthefeatureoftheplaceisashortcolumnthatrisesfromthemiddleofthemarblepavementofthechapel，andmarkstheexactcentreoftheearth。Themostreliabletraditionstellusthatthiswasknowntobetheearth\'scentre，agesago，andthatwhenChristwasuponearthhesetalldoubtsuponthesubjectatrestforever，bystatingwithhisownlipsthatthetraditionwascorrect。Remember，Hesaidthatthatparticularcolumnstooduponthecentreoftheworld。Ifthecentreoftheworldchanges，thecolumnchangesitspositionaccord—ingly。Thiscolumnhasmovedthreedifferenttimesofitsownaccord。Thisisbecause，ingreatconvulsionsofnature，atthreedifferenttimes，massesoftheearth——wholerangesofmountains，probably——haveflownoffintospace，thuslesseningthediameteroftheearth，andchangingtheexactlocalityofitscentrebyapointortwo。Thisisaverycuriousandinterestingcircumstance，andisawitheringrebuketothosephilosopherswhowouldmakeusbelievethatitisnotpossibleforanyportionoftheearthtoflyoffintospace。
Tosatisfyhimselfthatthisspotwasreallythecentreoftheearth，ascepticoncepaidwellfortheprivilegeofascendingtothedomeofthechurchtoseeifthesungavehimashadowatnoon。Hecamedownperfectlyconvinced。Thedaywasveryclondyandthesunthrewnoshadowsatall;
butthemanwassatisfiedthatifthesunhadcomeoutandmadeshadowsitcouldnothavemadeanyforhim。Proofslikethesearenottobesetasidebytheidletonguesofcavilers。Tosuchasarenotbigoted，andarewillingtobeconvinced，theycarryaconvictionthatnothingcanevershake。
IfevengreaterproofsthanthoseIhavementionedarewanted，tosatisfytheheadstrongandthefoolishthatthisisthegenuinecentreoftheearth，theyarehere。ThegreatestofthemliesinthefactthatfromunderthisverycolumnwastakenthedustfromwhichAdamwasmade。Thiscansurelyberegardedinthelightofasettler。Itisnotlikelythattheoriginalfirstmanwouldhavebeenmadefromaninferiorqualityofearthwhenitwasentirelyconvenienttogetfirstqualityfromtheworld\'scentre。
Thiswillstrikeanyreflectingmindforcibly。ThatAdamwasformedofdirtprocuredinthisveryspotisamplyprovenbythefactthatinsixthousandyearsnomanhaseverbeenabletoprovethatthedirtwasnotprocuredherewhereofhewasmade。
Itisasingularcircumstancethatrightundertheroofofthissamegreatchurch，andnotfarawayfromthatillustriouscolumn，Adamhimself，thefatherofthehumanrace，liesburied。Thereisnoquestionthatheisactuallyburiedinthegravewhichispointedoutashis——therecanbenone——becauseithasneveryetbeenproventhatthatgraveisnotthegraveinwhichheisburied。
ThetombofAdam！Howtouchingitwas，hereinalandofstrangers，farawayfromhome，andfriends，andallwhocaredforme，thustodiscoverthegraveofabloodrelation。True，adistantone，butstillarelation。
Theunerringinstinctofnaturethrilleditsrecognition。Thefountainofmyfilialaflfectionwasstirredtoitsprofoundestdepths，andIgavewaytotumultuousemotion。Ileaneduponapillarandburstintotears。
Ideemitnoshametohaveweptoverthegraveofmypoordeadrelative。
Lethimwhowouldsneeratmyemotionclosethisvolumehere，forhewillfindlittletohistasteinmyjourneyingsthroughHolyLand。Nobleoldman——hedidnotlivetoseeme——hedidnotlivetoseehischild。AndI——I——alas，Ididnotlivetoseehim。Weigheddownbysorrowanddisappointment，hediedbeforeIwasborn——sixthousandbriefsummersbeforeIwasborn。Butletustrytobearitwithfortitude。Letustrustthatheisbetteroffwhereheis。Letustakecomfortinthethoughtthathislossisoureternalgain。
ThenextplacetheguidetookustointheholychurchwasanaltardedicatedtotheRomansoldierwhowasofthemilitaryguardthatattendedattheCrucifixiontokeeporder，andwho——whenthevailoftheTemplewasrentintheawfuldarknessthatfollowed;whentherockofGolgothawassplitasunderbyanearthquake;whentheartilleryofheaventhundered，andinthebalefulglareofthelightningstheshroudeddeadflittedaboutthestreetsofJerusalem——shookwithfearandsaid，\"SurelythiswastheSonofGod！\"Wherethisaltarstandsnow，thatRomansoldierstoodthen，infullviewofthecrucifiedSaviour——infullsightandhearingofallthemarvelsthatweretranspiringfarandwideaboutthecircumferenceoftheHillofCalvary。Andinthisself—samespotthepriestsoftheTemplebeheadedhimforthoseblasphemouswordshehadspoken。
Inthisaltartheyusedtokeeponeofthemostcuriousrelicsthathumaneyeseverlookedupon——athingthathadpowertofascinatethebeholderinsomemysteriouswayandkeephimgazingforhourstogether。
ItwasnothinglessthanthecopperplatePilateputupontheSaviour\'scross，anduponwhichhewrote，\"THISISTHEKINGOFTHEJEWS。\"IthinkSt。Helena，themotherofConstantine，foundthiswonderfulmementowhenshewashereinthethirdcentury。ShetraveledalloverPalestine，andwasalwaysfortunate。WheneverthegoodoldenthusiastfoundathingmentionedinherBible，OldorNew，shewouldgoandsearchforthatthing，andneverstopuntilshefoundit。IfitwasAdam，shewouldfindAdam;ifitwastheArk，shewouldfindtheArk;ifitwasGoliath，orJoshua，shewouldfindthem。ShefoundtheinscriptionherethatIwasspeakingof，Ithink。Shefounditinthisveryspot，closetowherethemartyredRomansoldierstood。ThatcopperplateisinoneofthechurchesinRome，now。
Anyonecanseeitthere。Theinscriptionisverydistinct。
WepassedalongafewstepsandsawthealtarbuiltovertheveryspotwherethegoodCatholicpriestssaythesoldiersdividedtheraimentoftheSaviour。
Thenwewentdownintoacavernwhichcavilerssaywasonceacistern。
Itisachapel，now，however——theChapelofSt。Helena。Itisfifty—onefeetlongbyforty—threewide。InitisamarblechairwhichHelenausedtositinwhileshesuperintendedherworkmenwhentheyweredigginganddelvingfortheTrueCross。InthisplaceisanaltardedicatedtoSt。
Dimas，thepenitentthief。Anewbronzestatueishere——astatueofSt。
Helena。ItremindedusofpoorMaximilian，solatelyshot。HepresentedittothischapelwhenhewasabouttoleaveforhisthroneinMexico。
Fromthecisternwedescendedtwelvestepsintoalargeroughly—shapedgrotto，carvedwhollyoutofthelivingrock。HelenablasteditoutwhenshewassearchingforthetrueCross。Shehadalaboriouspieceofwork，here，butitwasrichlyrewarded。Outofthisplaceshegotthecrownofthorns，thenailsofthecross，thetrueCrossitself，andthecrossofthepenitentthief。Whenshethoughtshehadfoundeverythingandwasabouttostop，shewastoldinadreamtocontinueadaylonger。Itwasveryfortunate。Shedidso，andfoundthecrossoftheotherthief。
ThewallsandroofofthisgrottostillweepbittertearsinmemoryoftheeventthattranspiredonCalvary，anddevoutpilgrimsgroanandsobwhenthesesadtearsfalluponthemfromthedrippingrock。Themonkscallthisapartmentthe\"ChapeloftheInventionoftheCross\"——anamewhichisunfortunate，becauseitleadstheignoranttoimaginethatatacitacknowledgmentisthusmadethatthetraditionthatHelenafoundthetrueCrosshereisafiction——aninvention。Itisahappinesstoknow，however，thatintelligentpeopledonotdoubtthestoryinanyofitsparticulars。
PriestsofanyofthechapelsanddenominationsintheChurchoftheHolySepulchrecanvisitthissacredgrottotoweepandprayandworshipthegentleRedeemer。Twodifferentcongregationsarenotallowedtoenteratthesametime，however，becausetheyalwaysfight。
StillmarchingthroughthevenerableChurchoftheHolySepulchre，amongchantingpriestsincoarselongrobesandsandals;pilgrimsofallcolorsandmanynationalities，inallsortsofstrangecostumes;underduskyarchesandbydingypiersandcolumns;throughasombrecathedralgloomfreightedwithsmokeandincense，andfaintlystarredwithscoresofcandlesthatappearedsuddenlyandassuddenlydisappeared，ordriftedmysteriouslyhitherandthitheraboutthedistantaisleslikeghostlyjack—o\'—lanterns——wecameatlasttoasmallchapelwhichiscalledthe\"ChapeloftheMocking。\"Underthealtarwasafragmentofamarblecolumn;thiswastheseatChristsatonwhenhewasreviled，andmockinglymadeKing，crownedwithacrownofthornsandsceptredwithareed。Itwasherethattheyblindfoldedhimandstruckhim，andsaidinderision，\"Prophesywhoitisthatsmotethee。\"Thetraditionthatthisistheidenticalspotofthemockingisaveryancientone。TheguidesaidthatSaewulfwasthefirsttomentionit。IdonotknowSaewulf，butstill，Icannotwellrefusetoreceivehisevidence——noneofuscan。
TheyshoweduswherethegreatGodfreyandhisbrotherBaldwin，thefirstChristianKingsofJerusalem，oncelayburiedbythatsacredsepulchretheyhadfoughtsolongandsovaliantlytowrestfromthehandsoftheinfidel。Butthenichesthathadcontainedtheashesoftheserenownedcrusaderswereempty。Eventhecoveringsoftheirtombsweregone——destroyedbydevoutmembersoftheGreekChurch，becauseGodfreyandBaldwinwereLatinprinces，andhadbeenrearedinaChristianfaithwhosecreeddifferedinsomeunimportantrespectsfromtheirs。
Wepassedon，andhaltedbeforethetombofMelchisedek！YouwillrememberMelchisedek，nodoubt;hewastheKingwhocameoutandleviedatributeonAbrahamthetimethathepursuedLot\'scaptorstoDan，andtookalltheirpropertyfromthem。Thatwasaboutfourthousandyearsago，andMelchisedekdiedshortlyafterward。However，histombisinagoodstateofpreservation。
WhenoneenterstheChurchoftheHolySepulchre，theSepulchreitselfisthefirstthinghedesirestosee，andreallyisalmostthefirstthinghedoessee。ThenextthinghehasastrongyearningtoseeisthespotwheretheSaviourwascrucified。Butthistheyexhibitlast。Itisthecrowninggloryoftheplace。OneisgraveandthoughtfulwhenhestandsinthelittleTomboftheSaviour——hecouldnotwellbeotherwiseinsuchaplace——buthehasnottheslightestpossiblebeliefthatevertheLordlaythere，andsotheinteresthefeelsinthespotisvery，verygreatlymarredbythatreflection。HelooksattheplacewhereMarystood，inanotherpartofthechurch，andwhereJohnstood，andMaryMagdalen;
wherethemobderidedtheLord;wheretheangelsat;wherethecrownofthornswasfound，andthetrueCross;wheretherisenSaviourappeared——helooksatalltheseplaceswithinterest，butwiththesameconvictionhefeltinthecaseoftheSepulchre，thatthereisnothinggenuineaboutthem，andthattheyareimaginaryholyplacescreatedbythemonks。ButtheplaceoftheCrucifixionaffectshimdifferently。HefullybelievesthatheislookingupontheveryspotwheretheSaviorgaveuphislife。
HeremembersthatChristwasverycelebrated，longbeforehecametoJerusalem;
heknowsthathisfamewassogreatthatcrowdsfollowedhimallthetime;
heisawarethathisentryintothecityproducedastirringsensation，andthathisreceptionwasakindofovation;hecannotoverlookthefactthatwhenhewascrucifiedtherewereverymanyinJerusalemwhobelievedthathewasthetrueSonofGod。Topubliclyexecutesuchapersonagewassufficientinitselftomakethelocalityoftheexecutionamemorableplaceforages;addedtothis，thestorm，thedarkness，theearthquake，therendingofthevailoftheTemple，andtheuntimelywakingofthedead，wereeventscalculatedtofixtheexecutionandthesceneofitinthememoryofeventhemostthoughtlesswitness。Fatherswouldtelltheirsonsaboutthestrangeaffair，andpointoutthespot;thesonswouldtransmitthestorytotheirchildren，andthusaperiodofthreehundredyearswouldeasilybespanned*——atwhichtimeHelenacameandbuiltachurchuponCalvarytocommemoratethedeathandburialoftheLordandpreservethesacredplaceinthememoriesofmen;sincethattimetherehasalwaysbeenachurchthere。ItisnotpossiblethattherecanbeanymistakeaboutthelocalityoftheCrucifixion。NothalfadozenpersonsknewwheretheyburiedtheSaviour，perhaps，andaburialisnotastartlingevent，anyhow;therefore，wecanbepardonedforunbeliefintheSepulchre，butnotintheplaceoftheCrucifixion。FivehundredyearshencetherewillbenovestigeofBunkerHillMonumentleft，butAmericawillstillknowwherethebattlewasfoughtandwhereWarrenfell。ThecrucifixionofChristwastoonotableaneventinJerusalem，andtheHillofCalvarymadetoocelebratedbyit，tobeforgottenintheshortspaceofthreehundredyears。
Iclimbedthestairwayinthechurchwhichbringsonetothetopofthesmallinclosedpinnacleofrock，andlookedupontheplacewherethetruecrossoncestood，withafarmoreabsorbinginterestthanIhadeverfeltinanythingearthlybefore。Icouldnotbelievethatthethreeholesinthetopoftherockweretheactualonesthecrossesstoodin，butIfeltsatisfiedthatthosecrosseshadstoodsoneartheplacenowoccupiedbythem，thatthefewfeetofpossibledifferencewereamatterofnoconsequence。*ThethoughtisMr。Prime\'s，notmine，andisfullofgoodsense。Iborroweditfromhis\"TentLife。\"——M。T。WhenonestandswheretheSaviourwascrucified，hefindsitallhecandotokeepitstrictlybeforehismindthatChristwasnotcrucifiedinaCatholicChurch。Hemustremindhimselfeverynowandthenthatthegreateventtranspiredintheopenair，andnotinagloomy，candle—lightedcellinalittlecornerofavastchurch，up—stairs——asmallcellallbejeweledandbespangledwithflashyornamentation，inexecrabletaste。
Underamarblealtarlikeatable，isacircularholeinthemarblefloor，correspondingwiththeonejustunderitinwhichthetrueCrossstood。Thefirstthingeveryonedoesistokneeldownandtakeacandleandexaminethishole。Hedoesthisstrangeprospectingwithanamountofgravitythatcanneverbeestimatedorappreciatedbyamanwhohasnotseentheoperation。ThenheholdshiscandlebeforearichlyengravedpictureoftheSaviour，doneonamessyslabofgold，andwonderfullyrayedandstarredwithdiamonds，whichhangsabovetheholewithinthealtar，andhissolemnitychangestolivelyadmiration。HerisesandfacesthefinelywroughtfiguresoftheSaviourandthemalefactorsupliftedupontheircrossesbehindthealtar，andbrightwithametalliclustreofmanycolors。HeturnsnexttothefiguresclosetothemoftheVirginandMaryMagdalen;nexttotheriftinthelivingrockmadebytheearthquakeatthetimeoftheCrucifixion，andanextensionofwhichhehadseenbeforeinthewallofoneofthegrottoesbelow;helooksnextattheshow—casewithafigureoftheVirgininit，andisamazedattheprincelyfortuneinpreciousgemsandjewelrythathangssothicklyabouttheformastohideitlikeagarmentalmost。AllabouttheapartmentthegaudytrappingsoftheGreekChurchoffendtheeyeandkeepthemindontheracktorememberthatthisisthePlaceoftheCruci—fixion——Golgotha——theMountofCalvary。Andthelastthinghelooksatisthatwhichwasalsothefirst——theplacewherethetrueCrossstood。Thatwillchainhimtothespotandcompelhimtolookoncemore，andonceagain，afterhehassatisfiedallcuriosityandlostallinterestconcerningtheothermatterspertainingtothelocality。
AndsoIclosemychapterontheChurchoftheHolySepulchre——themostsacredlocalityonearthtomillionsandmillionsofmen，andwomen，andchildren，thenobleandthehumble，bondandfree。Initshistoryfromthefirst，andinitstremendousassociations，itisthemostillustriousedificeinChristendom。Withallitsclap—trapside—showsandunseemlyimposturesofeverykind，itisstillgrand，reverend，venerable——foragoddiedthere;forfifteenhundredyearsitsshrineshavebeenwetwiththetearsofpilgrimsfromtheearth\'sremotestconfines;formorethantwohundred，themostgallantknightsthateverwieldedswordwastedtheirlivesawayinastruggletoseizeitandholditsacredfrominfidelpollution。
Eveninourowndayawar，thatcostmillionsoftreasureandriversofblood，wasfoughtbecausetworivalnationsclaimedthesolerighttoputanewdomeuponit。HistoryisfullofthisoldChurchoftheHolySepulchre——fullofbloodthatwasshedbecauseoftherespectandthevenerationinwhichmenheldthelastresting—placeofthemeekandlowly，themildandgentle，PrinceofPeace！
Chapter54
Wewerestandinginanarrowstreet，bytheTowerofAntonio。\"Onthesestonesthatarecrumblingaway，\"theguidesaid，\"theSavioursatandrestedbeforetakingupthecross。ThisisthebeginningoftheSorrowfulWay，ortheWayofGrief。\"Thepartytooknoteofthesacredspot，andmovedon。Wepassedunderthe\"EcceHomoArch，\"andsawtheverywindowfromwhichPilate\'swifewarnedherhusbandtohavenothingtodowiththepersecutionoftheJustMan。Thiswindowisinanexcellentstateofpreservation，consideringitsgreatage。TheyshoweduswhereJesusrestedthesecondtime，andwherethemobrefusedtogivehimup，andsaid，\"Lethisbloodbeuponourheads，anduponourchildren\'schildrenforever。\"TheFrenchCatholicsarebuildingachurchonthisspot，andwiththeirusualvenerationforhistoricalrelics，areincorporatingintothenewsuchscrapsofancientwallsastheyhavefoundthere。Furtheron，wesawthespotwherethefaintingSaviourfellundertheweightofhiscross。Agreatgranitecolumnofsomeancienttemplelaythereatthetime，andtheheavycrossstruckitsuchablowthatitbrokeintwointhemiddle。Suchwastheguide\'sstorywhenhehaltedusbeforethebrokencolumn。
Wecrossedastreet，andcamepresentlytotheformerresidenceofSt。
Veronica。WhentheSaviourpassedthere，shecameout，fullofwomanlycompassion，andspokepityingwordstohim，undauntedbythehootingsandthethreateningsofthemob，andwipedtheperspirationfromhisfacewithherhandkerchief。WehadheardsomuchofSt。Veronica，andseenherpicturebysomanymasters，thatitwaslikemeetinganoldfriendunexpectedlytocomeuponherancienthomeinJerusalem。Thestrangestthingabouttheincidentthathasmadehernamesofamous，is，thatwhenshewipedtheperspirationaway，theprintoftheSaviour\'sfaceremaineduponthehandkerchief，aperfectportrait，andsoremainsuntothisday。Weknewthis，becausewesawthishandkerchiefinacathedralinParis，inanotherinSpain，andintwoothersinItaly。IntheMilancathedralitcostsfivefrancstoseeit，andatSt。Peter\'s，atRome，itisalmostimpossibletoseeitatanyprice。NotraditionissoamplyverifiedasthisofSt。Veronicaandherhandkerchief。
Atthenextcornerwesawadeepindentioninthehardstonemasonryofthecornerofahouse，butmighthavegoneheedlesslybyitbutthattheguidesaiditwasmadebytheelbowoftheSaviour，whostumbledhereandfell。Presentlywecametojustsuchanotherindentioninastonewall。
TheguidesaidtheSaviourfellhere，also，andmadethisdepressionwithhiselbow。
TherewereotherplaceswheretheLordfell，andotherswhereherested;
butoneofthemostcuriouslandmarksofancienthistorywefoundonthismorningwalkthroughthecrookedlanesthatleadtowardCalvary，wasacertainstonebuiltintoahouse——astonethatwassoseamedandscarredthatitboreasortofgrotesqueresemblancetothehumanface。Theprojectionsthatansweredforcheekswerewornsmoothbythepassionatekissesofgenerationsofpilgrimsfromdistantlands。Weasked\"Why？\"Theguidesaiditwasbecausethiswasoneof\"theverystonesofJerusalem\"thatChristmentionedwhenhewasreprovedforpermittingthepeopletocry\"Hosannah！\"whenhemadehismemorableentryintothecityuponanass。Oneofthepilgrimssaid，\"Butthereisnoevidencethatthestonesdidcryout——ChristsaidthatifthepeoplestoppedfromshoutingHosannah，theverystoneswoulddoit。\"Theguidewasperfectlyserene。Hesaid，calmly，\"Thisisoneofthestonesthatwouldhavecriedout。\"Itwasoflittleusetotrytoshakethisfellow\'ssimplefaith——itwaseasytoseethat。
Andsowecameatlasttoanotherwonder，ofdeepandabidinginterest——theveritablehousewheretheunhappywretchoncelivedwhohasbeencelebratedinsongandstoryformorethaneighteenhundredyearsastheWanderingJew。OnthememorabledayoftheCrucifixionhestoodinthisolddoorwaywithhisarmsakimbo，lookingoutuponthestrugglingmobthatwasapproaching，andwhenthewearySaviourwouldhavesatdownandrestedhimamoment，pushedhimrudelyawayandsaid，\"Moveon！\"TheLordsaid，\"Moveon，thou，likewise，\"andthecommandhasneverbeenrevokedfromthatdaytothis。Allmenknowhowthatthemiscreantuponwhoseheadthatjustcursefellhasroamedupanddownthewideworld，foragesandages，seekingrestandneverfindingit——courtingdeathbutalwaysinvain——longingtostop，incity，inwilderness，indesertsolitudes，yethearingalwaysthatrelentlesswarningtomarch——marchon！Theysay——dothesehoarytraditions——thatwhenTitussackedJerusalemandslaughteredelevenhundredthousandJewsinherstreetsandbyways，theWanderingJewwasseenalwaysinthethickestofthefight，andthatwhenbattleaxesgleamedintheair，hebowedhisheadbeneaththem;whenswordsflashedtheirdeadlylightnings，hesprangintheirway;hebaredhisbreasttowhizzingjavelins，tohissingarrows，toanyandtoeveryweaponthatpromiseddeathandforgetfulness，andrest。Butitwasuseless——hewalkedforthoutofthecarnagewithoutawound。AnditissaidthatfivehundredyearsafterwardhefollowedMahometwhenhecarrieddestructiontothecitiesofArabia，andthenturnedagainsthim，hopinginthiswaytowinthedeathofatraitor。Hiscalculationswerewrongagain。Noquarterwasgiventoanylivingcreaturebutone，andthatwastheonlyoneofallthehostthatdidnotwantit。Hesoughtdeathfivehundredyearslater，inthewarsoftheCrusades，andofferedhimselftofamineandpestilenceatAscalon。
Heescapedagain——hecouldnotdie。Theserepeatedannoyancescouldhaveatlastbutoneeffect——theyshookhisconfidence。SincethentheWanderingJewhascarriedonakindofdesultorytoyingwiththemostpromisingoftheaidsandimplementsofdestruction，butwithsmallhope，asageneralthing。Hehasspeculatedsomeincholeraandrailroads，andhastakenalmostalivelyinterestininfernalmachinesandpatentmedicines。Heisold，now，andgrave，asbecomesanagelikehis;heindulgesinnolightamusementssavethathegoessometimestoexecutions，andisfondoffunerals。
Thereisonethinghecannotavoid;gowherehewillabouttheworld，hemustneverfailtoreportinJerusalemeveryfiftiethyear。OnlyayearortwoagohewashereforthethirtyseventhtimesinceJesuswascrucifiedonCalvary。Theysaythatmanyoldpeople，whoareherenow，sawhimthen，andhadseenhimbefore。Helooksalwaysthesame——old，andwithered，andholloweyed，andlistless，savethatthereisabouthimsomethingwhichseemstosuggestthatheislookingforsomeone，expectingsomeone——thefriendsofhisyouth，perhaps。Butthemostofthemaredead，now。Healwayspokesabouttheoldstreetslookinglonesome，makinghismarkonawallhereandthere，andeyeingtheoldestbuildingswithasortoffriendlyhalfinterest;andheshedsafewtearsatthethresholdofhisancientdwelling，andbitter，bittertearstheyare。Thenhecollectshisrentandleavesagain。HehasbeenseenstandingneartheChurchoftheHolySepulchreonmanyastarlightnight，forhehascherishedanideaformanycenturiesthatifhecouldonlyenterthere，hecouldrest。Butwhenheapproaches，thedoorsslamtowithacrash，theearthtrembles，andallthelightsinJerusalemburnaghastlyblue！Hedoesthiseveryfiftyyears，justthesame。Itishopeless，butthenitishardtobreakhabitsonehasbeeneighteenhundredyearsaccustomedto。Theoldtouristisfarawayonhiswanderings，now。Howhemustsmiletoseeapackofblockheadslikeus，gallopingabouttheworld，andlookingwise，andimaginingwearefindingoutagooddealaboutit！Hemusthaveaconsumingcontemptfortheignorant，complacentassesthatgoskurryingabouttheworldintheserailroadingdaysandcallittraveling。
WhentheguidepointedoutwheretheWanderingJewhadlefthisfamiliarmarkuponawall，Iwasfilledwithastonishment。Itread:\"ST。——1860
——X。\"
AllIhaverevealedabouttheWanderingJewcanbeamplyprovenbyreferencetoourguide。
ThemightyMosqueofOmar，andthepavedcourtaroundit，occupyafourthpartofJerusalem。TheyareuponMountMoriah，whereKingSolomon\'sTemplestood。ThisMosqueistheholiestplacetheMohammedanknows，outsideofMecca。Uptowithinayearortwopast，noChristiancouldgainadmissiontoitoritscourtforloveormoney。Buttheprohibitionhasbeenremoved，andweenteredfreelyforbucksheesh。
IneednotspeakofthewonderfulbeautyandtheexquisitegraceandsymmetrythathavemadethisMosquesocelebrated——becauseIdidnotseethem。Onecannotseesuchthingsataninstantglance——onefrequentlyonlyfindsouthowreallybeautifulareallybeautifulwomanisafterconsiderableacquaintancewithher;andtheruleappliestoNiagaraFalls，tomajesticmountainsandtomosques——especiallytomosques。
ThegreatfeatureoftheMosqueofOmaristheprodigiousrockinthecentreofitsrotunda。ItwasuponthisrockthatAbrahamcamesonearofferinguphissonIsaac——this，atleast，isauthenticitisverymuchmoretobereliedonthanmostofthetraditions，atanyrate。
Onthisrock，also，theangelstoodandthreatenedJerusalem，andDavidpersuadedhimtosparethecity。Mahometwaswellacquaintedwiththisstone。Fromitheascendedtoheaven。Thestonetriedtofollowhim，andiftheangelGabrielhadnothappenedbythemerestgoodlucktobetheretoseizeit，itwouldhavedoneit。VeryfewpeoplehaveagriplikeGabriel——theprintsofhismonstrousfingers，twoinchesdeep，aretobeseeninthatrocktoday。
Thisrock，largeasitis，issuspendedintheair。Itdoesnottouchanythingatall。Theguidesaidso。Thisisverywonderful。IntheplaceonitwhereMahometstood，helefthisfootprintsinthesolidstone。
Ishouldjudgethatheworeabouteighteens。ButwhatIwasgoingtosay，whenIspokeoftherockbeingsuspended，was，thatinthefloorofthecavernunderittheyshowedusaslabwhichtheysaidcoveredaholewhichwasathingofextraordinaryinteresttoallMohammedans，becausethatholeleadsdowntoperdition，andeverysoulthatistransferredfromthencetoHeavenmustpassupthroughthisorifice。Mahometstandsthereandliftsthemoutbythehair。AllMohammedansshavetheirheads，buttheyarecarefultoleavealockofhairfortheProphettotakeholdof。OurguideobservedthatagoodMohammedanwouldconsiderhimselfdoomedtostaywiththedamnedforeverifheweretolosehisscalplockanddiebeforeitgrewagain。
ThemostofthemthatIhaveseenoughttostaywiththedamned，anyhow，withoutreferencetohowtheywerebarbered。
Forseveralagesnowomanhasbeenallowedtoenterthecavernwherethatimportantholeis。Thereasonisthatoneofthesexwasoncecaughtthereblabbingeverythingsheknewaboutwhatwasgoingonaboveground，totherapscallionsintheinfernalregionsdownbelow。Shecarriedhergossipingtosuchanextremethatnothingcouldbekeptprivate——nothingcouldbedoneorsaidonearthbuteverybodyinperditionknewallaboutitbeforethesunwentdown。Itwasabouttimetosuppressthiswoman\'stelegraph，anditwaspromptlydone。Herbreathsubsidedaboutthesametime。