I.N.R.I. - A prisoner's Story of the Cross by Peter Rosegger
page 42 of 318 (13%)
page 42 of 318 (13%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
star in the sky, he never ceased looking at it. And, lo! it too took
the road from east to west which all men traversed. What was there yonder in the sunset that all went towards it, on earth as in heaven? Could not one particular star swim against the stream? True, this new heavenly pilgrim took an unusual path; he leaned somewhat to the north of the barbarous folk. So the wise man of the east left the fragrant gardens of India and followed the star. On the road he was joined by two Oriental princes and their suites, who were also seeking they knew not what. And one night the three wise men saw in the heavens an extraordinary constellation, a group of stars hitherto unknown to any of them. [Illustration: Diagram of constellation of stars, using asterisks for the stars, spelling out "INRI".] They looked at the constellation for a long while, and Balthasar thought it was like writing. They brought all their wisdom to bear on it, but could not explain it, for all it shone so brightly. Did the gods mean to write some message? Who could understand it? An uncanny appearance, which no knowledge or faith could explain! The next night they did not see it, but the guiding star still went before them and yielded to no sun. One morning, just as day began to dawn, they rode through the streets of Jericho. A man was lying on his face in the road, and the Moor asked him why he lay in the dust. "I lie in the dust," answered the man of Judah, "because I must practise myself in humility in order not to become too proud. We have |
|