Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Arrius questions the ship’s various officers about his new command and their mission before taking a personal inspection. A description of the ship’s layout follows, as well as of the misery endured by the rowers. As Arrius looks over the rowers from his seat, Ben-Hur catches his attention. He appreciates Ben-Hur’s physical form and is surprised when he realizes his youth and Jewish heritage. Ben-Hur notices Arrius staring and takes it as hostile until Arrius smiles at him.

Arrius asks the rowing-master about Ben-Hur. He confirms that Ben-Hur is Jewish and adds that he is the ship’s best rower. Arrius sends for Ben-Hur and questions him. During the interview, it is revealed that Arrius knew Ben-Hur’s father. Arrius is stunned; he had thought that the family had all been destroyed. Ben-Hur breaks down weeping and begs Arrius for news of his family. Arrius asks him if he is guilty, and Ben-Hur swears to Jehovah that he is not and explains the circumstances of the accident and his subsequent arrest. Arrius is nearly convinced that Ben-Hur is telling the truth. Even so, he deems it better to wait and try to find out more before liberating Ben-Hur. Arrius asks Ben-Hur what he would do if he were free. He responds that he would not rest until he had found his family. When Arrius clarifies that he was asking what Ben-Hur would like to do professionally, Ben-Hur responds that he would be a soldier.

Arrius’s flagship joins the fleet in the Aegean and begins sailing north toward the Bosphorus. Arrius deduces that the pirates will probably sail down the short channel separating the island of Euboea from mainland Greece. The Roman fleet splits, with one half sailing north up the channel and the other hastening to come down from the northern opening to bottle the pirates in. Ben-Hur, in the meantime, is inflamed by his newfound hope and struggles to put it out of his mind. He observes first the marines and then Arrius donning their armor for battle, but there is no chance of escape because all the enslaved people in the galley are chained to their ships. Arrius, however, gives a special order that Ben-Hur not be shackled.

The crew go to their stations and prepare the ship for battle. Because the rowers are always kept below decks, Ben-Hur cannot see the course of battle. After a time, the ship comes to a sudden stop and is boarded. In the confusion, Ben-Hur considers escaping, but as a fugitive, he knows that Rome will always hunt for him. Instead, he resolves to ensure that Arrius survives so that he may be granted his freedom. The ship is rammed and breaks apart around Ben-Hur, who manages to find a plank to float on. Ben-Hur tries to paddle away from the battle and spots a man just under the surface. He hauls the man up to the surface and finds that it is Arrius. The battle continues through the night; when it is finally over, Ben-Hur has no way of knowing who has won and worries that Arrius will die if not rescued soon.

Arrius recovers from his near drowning and promises to release Ben-Hur from slavery. A ship approaches and, because it does not seem to be flying any flags, Arrius believes it is a pirate ship and asks Ben-Hur to drown him if it is. Ben-Hur refuses. Arrius reproaches him, but Ben-Hur insists that killing him would be against God’s law. The approaching ship turns out to be Roman, and the two are rescued and taken back to Misenum. There, Arrius introduces Ben-Hur as his adopted son and heir.