84.1 It is a very clear summer dawn. Rather than dawn, it is early morning, because the sun is already above the horizon and is rising higher and higher smiling at the smiling earth. Every stem is sparkling with dew. All the night stars seem to have turned into gold and gem dust for all the stems and all the leaves; even for the stones strewn on the ground, the silicious chips of which, wet with dew, seem diamond powder or gold dust.
Jesus and Simon are walking along a little road which departs from the main one at a sharp angle like a V. They are going towards magnificent orchards and fields of flax as tall as a man, almost ready to be cut. Other fields, farther away, show only large bright red spots of poppies amongst the yellow stubble.
«We are already in the property of my friend. You can see, Master, that the distance was within the prescription of the Law. I would never take the liberty of deceiving You. Behind that apple-orchard there is the garden wall and the house. I made You come along this short cut to be within the prescribed mile.»
«Your friend is very wealthy!»
«Yes, very. But he is not happy. He owns property elsewhere.»
«Is he a Pharisee?»
«His father was not. He… is very observant. I told You: a true Israelite.»
They walk a little farther. There is a high wall, and beyond it, trees and trees, with the house just emerging through them. There is a rise in the ground here, which, however, does not allow one to see the garden, so vast that we would call it a park.
They go round the corner. The wall runs level and from its top entwined branches of roses and sweet smelling jasmins hang, splendid in their dewy corollas.
84.2 There is the heavy wrought-iron gate. Simon knocks with the heavy bronze knocker.