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Having thus the whole interior of the Circus under view at the moment of the sounding of the trumpets, let the reader next imagine the multitude seated and sunk to sudden silence, and motionless in its intensity of interest. Out of the Porta Pompae over in the east rises a sound mixed of voices and instruments harmonized.
There was a basement first, broken in the middle by a broad arched passage, called the Porta Pompae, over which, on an elevated tribunal magnificently decorated with insignia and legionary standards, the consul sat in the place of honor. On both sides of the passage the basement was divided into stalls termed carceres, each protected in front by massive gates swung to statuesque pilasters.
Sunt enim pompae istae omnes, et ceremoniae Papistisae, nihil aliud quam fuci meretricii, ad hoc excogitati, ut homines ad spiritualem scortationem alliciantur.
Next moment she heard Ilderim say to her father, "Yes, his stall is number two on the left of the Porta Pompae;" and, thinking it was of Ben-Hur he spoke, her eyes turned that way. Taking but the briefest glance at the wattled face of the gate, she drew the veil close and muttered a little prayer. Presently Sanballat came to the party.
Now if the reader, who is still supposed to be seated on the consular tribunal over the Porta Pompae, will look up from the ground arrangement of the interior, the first point to attract his notice will be the marking of the outer boundary-line of the course that is, a plain-faced, solid wall, fifteen or twenty feet in height, with a balustrade on its cope, like that over the carceres, or stalls, in the east.
"Ha, ha! thou ass of Antioch! Cease thy bray. Knowest thou not it was Messala betting on himself?" Such the reply. And so ran the controversy, not always good-natured. When at length the march was ended and the Porta Pompae received back the procession, Ben-Hur knew he had his prayer. The eyes of the East were upon his contest with Messala.
Boys are now hawking white ribbons along the streets; tomorrow every Arab and Jew in the city will wear them. In the Circus you will see the white fairly divide the galleries with the red." "The galleries but not the tribunal over the Porta Pompae." "No; the scarlet and gold will rule there.
About the same time, also, six men came in through the Porta Pompae and took post, one in front of each occupied stall; whereat there was a prolonged hum of voices in every quarter. "See, see! The green goes to number four on the right; the Athenian is there." "And Messala yes, he is in number two." "The Corinthian " "Watch the white!
I will be found with the consul in a seat over the Porta Pompae. Peace to you; peace to all." He bowed, and departed, careless of the shout of derision with which they pursued him out of the door. In the night the story of the prodigious wager flew along the streets and over the city; and Ben-Hur, lying with his four, was told of it, and also that Messala's whole fortune was on the hazard.
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