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CHAPTER XIV
And Marco Polo was brought into the presence. And among all
assembled there you could hear a pin drop.
At the north end of the great hall sat the Khan himself, and Marco
Polo nearly dropped with surprise; for where he expected a great,
magnificent figure of a man, with majesty shining from his eyes,
he saw only a pleasant, bearded man, not quarter so well dressed
as the meanest servant on the room, and a fine, welcoming smile in
his face. His throne was elevated so that his feet were on the
level of the heads of the kinsmen of the Blood Royal beneath him,
and they in silk and ermine and fine brocades and jewels. And
beneath these were the barons and dukes and knights. And beneath
these were the captains of the fighting men, three thousand and three.
And beneath these were the musicians and the sorcerers. And behind
Kubla Khan, very big, very erect, stood his three great servants,
the Keeper of the Hunting Leopards, the Keeper of the Speaking Drums,
and the Keeper of the Khan's Swords.
And beside Kubla Khan, on a little throne, sat Golden Bells. . .
And it was the sight of her more than the sight of the great assembly
that dumbed the words in his mouth. And Kubla was smiling at him,
and she was smiling, too.
And Kubla saw there was something wrong with him, that there was
embarrassment on him and he rose from his: throne.
"There is welcome for you here, Marco Polo, and no enmity. There
is interest, in and eagerness for your message. There is none here
will criticize you or make it hard for you. Let there be no shame
on you in speaking before so many people. Say what you have to say
as if there were nobody here, if that will help you, barring myself
and the little daughter beside me. . ."
"O Emperor," the words came back to Marco Polo, "and ye, great
princes, dukes, and marquises, counts, knights, and burgesses,
and people of all degrees who desire the light of the world,
grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from the
Lord Jesus Christ!
"The message I have to give you, I shall give in the words of Him,
Whose perfect message it is:
"'Beati pauperes spiritu, -- Blessed are the poor in spirit.
"'Quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum, -- for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
"'Beati mites, -- Blessed are the meek. . .'"
And Marco Polo went on and quoted for them the words that were spoken
on the Mount in Galilee. And they listened to him with great civility
and attention. And little Golden Bells leaned forward, with her chin
on her hands, and Kubla leaned back in his throne, with his eyes half
closed.
"'But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil, but whoever shall smite
thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.'" And at this
the great Khan looked up puzzled, and a movement went through the
fighting men in the hall. But wee Golden Bells never budged a minute,
and Marco Polo went on:
"'Et factum est; cum consummasset Jesus verba haec, -- And it came to
pass when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished
at his doctrine.'
"I shall now tell you of the life and death of the Lord Jesus. . ."
He told them of the birth in Bethlehem, and of the teaching on the
hills, and the poets nodded their heads; and he told them of the
cleansing of the lepers and of the casting out of devils and the
raising of Lazarus from the dead, and the magicians wondered; and
he told them of the betrayal by Judas with a kiss, and the
captains-at-arms shuffled in their seats; and he told them of the
scourging, and of the crowning with thorns, and the great Khan
snicked his dagger in and out of the sheath. And a mist of tears
came into the eyes of Golden Bells.
And he told them of the crucifixion between two thieves, and a great
oath ripped from the beard of Kubla Khan, and the silver tears ran
from the eyes of Golden Bells.
"'And on the third day He arose from the dead. . .'"
And a great shout came from the throat of Kubla Khan, and he stood up.
"He arose from among the dead men, I'll warrant; He showed himself
to the Roman Pilate in all His power and majesty -- "
"No," said Marco Palo.
"Then He showed himself to the thousands who had seen him die upon
the gallows tree!"
"No," said Marco Polo.
"Who saw Him, then?"
"His twelve Apostles and they in a little room!"
And Kubla Khan sat down suddenly and said no more. There was a
moment's murmur of wonder among the assembly, and then silence.
And Marco's heart fell. And he was aware of two things, of the
great politeness of the Chinese people and of Golden Bell's pitying
eyes. . .
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