But they are stiff and cold, and the maiden, the mysterious rose, of whom a prophet sang, 'All nations shall call thee blessed!' she chose the Spring." That was the story Joseph told, Joseph whose beard was white as the ice-flowers.

Mary listened to the tale and was silent.
On the third day the royal city lay before our wanderers.

Magnificent it stood on the hill-top with the domes and pinnacles of its temples.
At that time Herod, king of the Jews, sat on the throne and imagined that he ruled.

But he only ruled in so far as the strangers allowed him to rule.

The town which had once been the pride of the chosen people, now swarmed with Roman warriors, who filled the streets with noise and unruly conduct.