Volume 2

John Preaching Before Herod
165
satisfy himself of the truth of what had been told him. But
anxious to attract no attention, he was dressed simply, like
John's disciples with whom he identified himself.
Herod alighted at the old castle on the hill and sat during
John's instruction upon the graded terrace in front.
His wife, surrounded by her guards and attendants, sat on
cushions under an awning. John was preaching in a loud
voice and at that moment crying out to the people that
they should not be scandalized at Herod's second union,
that they should honor him without imitating him. These
words pleased Herod at first, though on second thought
they irritated him. The force with which John spoke was
indescribable. His voice was like thunder, and yet sweet
and intelligible. He seemed to be exerting hinlself for the
last time. He had already warned his disciples that his
days were drawing to a close, but that they should not
abandon him, they should visit him when in prison. For
three days he had neither eaten nor drunk. The whole
tinle had been spent in teaching, proclaiming aloud his
testimony to Jesus, and in rebuking Herod for his adultery.
The disciples implored him to discontinue and take a
little nourishment, but he listened not; he was wholly
under the spirit of inspiration.
The view from the height upon which John taught was
uncommonly beautiful. One could see off in the distance
the Jordan, the cities lying around, fields, and orchards.
There must have been here in days gone by a great building,
for I could still see stone arches like those of bridges,
overgrown with thick green moss. Two of the towers of
the castle at which Herod stopped, had been lately
restored and it was in them that he lodged. This region
was rich in springs and the baths were kept in perfect
order. The water that supplied them was brought through
a skillfully constructed, vaulted canal from the hill upon
whose summit John taught. The baptismal pool was oval
in form and encircled by three beautiful green terraces