Chapter I: Front Matter

Ben-Hur

A Tale of the Christ

by Lew Wallace

to THE WIFE OF MY YOUTH who still abides with me

Contents

BOOK FIRST I. Into the Desert II. Meeting of the Wise Men III. The Athenian Speaks—Faith IV. Speech of the Hindoo—Love V. The Egyptian’s Story—Good Works VI. The Joppa Gate VII. Typical Characters at the Joppa Gate VIII. Joseph and Mary Going to Bethlehem IX. The Cave at Bethlehem X. The Light in the Sky XI. Christ is Born XII. The Wise Men Arrive at Jerusalem XIII. The Witnesses before Herod XIV. The Wise Men Find the Child

BOOK SECOND I. Jerusalem under the Romans II. Ben-Hur and Messala III. A Judean Home IV. The Strange Things Ben-Hur Wants to Know V. Rome and Israel—A Comparison VI. The Accident to Gratus VII. A Galley Slave

BOOK THIRD I. Quintus Arrius Goes to Sea II. At the Oar III. Arrius and Ben-Hur on Deck IV. “No. 60” V. The Sea Fight VI. Arrius Adopts Ben-Hur

BOOK FOURTH I. Ben-Hur Returns East II. On the Orontes III. The Demand on Simonides IV. Simonides and Esther V. The Grove of Daphne VI. The Mulberries of Daphne VII. The Stadium in the Grove VIII. The Fountain of Castalia IX. The Chariot Race Discussed X. Ben-Hur Hears of Christ XI. The Wise Servant and his Daughter XII. A Roman Orgie XIII. A Driver for Ilderim’s Arabs XIV. The Dowar in the Orchard or Palms XV. Balthasar Impresses Ben-Hur XVI. Christ is Coming—Balthasar XVII. The Kingdom—Spiritual or Political?

BOOK FIFTH I. Messala Doffs his Chaplet II. Ilderim’s Arabs under the Yoke III. The Arts of Cleopatra IV. Messala on Guard V. Ilderim and Ben-Hur Deliberate VI. Training the Four VII. Simonides Renders Account VIII. Spiritual or Political?—Simonides Argues IX. Esther and Ben-Hur X. Posted for the Race XI. Making the Wagers XII. The Circus XIII. The Start XIV. The Race XV. The Invitation of Iras XVI. In the Palace of Idernee

BOOK SIXTH I. The Tower of Antonia—Cell No. VI. II. The Lepers III. Jerusalem Again IV. Ben-Hur at his Father’s Gate V. The Tomb Above the King’s Garden VI. A Trick of Pilate’s—The Combat

BOOK SEVENTH I. Jerusalem Goes out to a Prophet II. Nooning by the Pool—Iras III. The Life of a Soul IV. Ben-Hur Keeps Watch with Iras V. At Bethabara

BOOK EIGHTH I. Guests in the House of Hur II. Ben-Hur Tells of the Nazarene III. The Lepers Leave their Tomb IV. The Miracle V. Pilgrims to the Passover VI. A Serpent of the Nile VII. Ben-Hur Returns to Esther VIII. Gethsemane—“Whom Seek Ye?” IX. The Going to Calvary X. The Crucifixion

BOOK FIRST