Cleon saluted and withdrew.
The funeral ceremonies were performed with an impressive solemnity. The stone which closed the entrance to the family tomb of the house of Asmon had been rolled away, and the dead body was placed in the niche which had been long ago prepared for its reception. Only the sons of Mattathias and a few [pg 178]of their best trusted counsellors and lieutenants entered the cave; the rest of the multitude stood without, waiting in profound silence till they should be told that the old warrior had been laid in his last resting-place.
When the cave had been closed again John, as the eldest son of the deceased, spoke a few words to the army.
“We have buried our dead,” he said, “out of our sight; but his memory lives and will live among us. Let us be true and faithful as he was, that we may be with him when he shall rise again at the last day, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the supper of the people of God. Meanwhile let us follow and obey him whom with his last breath he named as his successor. Long live Judas, son of Mattathias, son of Asmon, the captain of the host of the Lord!”
And all the army shouted their approval.
Cleon had followed up his courtesies by an invitation addressed to Judas and his principal officers, in which he begged the honour of their company at a meal. Judas declined the invitation, but intimated that he would gladly purchase a supply of corn. The commissioner, well aware that his guests could take by force anything that was refused to them, at once acceded to the request, and Micah was selected, on account of his familiarity with the Greek language, to conduct the transaction.
The details of the business arranged with the commissioner’s secretary, Micah received a message from the great man himself, begging for the pleasure of an interview.
“What!” cried Cleon, affecting a surprise which he did not really feel, “is this my old friend Menander whom I see?”
“My name is Micah,” said the Jew, not without a feeling of disgust and shame as his mind reverted to the past.
“As you please,” said Cleon. “By whatever name you may please to call yourself, I hope that we shall always be good friends. But tell me, what is the meaning of this disguise?”