Volume 2

330
Life of Jesus Christ
three men to walk abreast.
The columns surrounding the little temple were connected
together by beautiful grates. The exterior was of
stone veined in different colors. The coils of the cupola
varied in degrees of whiteness from bottonl to top, the
upper ones of the purest white.
In the temple around this monunlent, the young girls
now celebrated Jephtias's feast. The maiden's statue held
a handkerchief to the eyes with one hand as if shedding
tears, while the other hanging listlessly at her side held a
flower or broken branch. The young girls' celebration
was conducted with order. Sometimes they stretched curtains
from the outer circle of the temple to the interior of
the monument and took their places in little groups apart
to pray and sigh and mourn in silence, their eyes fixed on
the statue. Sometimes they sang together in chorus, sometimes
in alternate choirs. Again, they passed two by two
before the statue, strewing flowers, adorning it with
wreaths and, as if to console Jephtias, chanting hymns on
the shortness of life. I remember the expressions: "Today
for me! Tomorrow for thee!" Then they sang the praises
of Jephtias's fortitude and resignation, lauding her highly
as the price of their victory. Then they mounted in
groups by the serpentine walk up to the top of the cupola
where they sang triunlphal songs. Sonle went up to the
roof of the exterior temple, looked out over the country
as if to catch a glimpse of the conquering hero, and pronounced
the fearful vow. The procession then returned
lamenting to the monument, mourned over the young
virgin, and consoled her on the privation of the privileges
of maternity. The exercises were interspersed with canticles
of thanksgiving to God and reflections upon His
justice, the various scenes being accompanied by very
touching pantomimes, expressive by turns of joy, grief,
and devotion. A grand entertainment was prepared for
the young girls in the temple. I saw thenl not reclining at