JOHN
Why comest thou not nearer?
THE BOY
We are afraid of thee, Rabbi.
JOHN
[Smiling.] Why are you afraid?
THE BOY
I do not know.
JOSAPHAT
Forgive him, Rabbi ... he ...
JOHN
Josaphat, wilt thou entrust them to me for a few minutes?
JOSAPHAT
[Bows his head, signs to Amarja, and goes away with him to the right.]
SCENE III
John, Jael, the children.
JOHN
Thy eyes have a sad look, Jael. Is thy heart troubled?
JAEL
Kneel down, Baruch, my son. Kneel down, both.
THE BOY
[Half crying.] Mother!
JOHN
What is it, Jael?
JAEL
[To the children.] Say: Prithee, Rabbi?
THE CHILDREN
Prithee, Rabbi.
JAEL
And this little one prayeth, too, though not old enough to pray....
JOHN
For what?
JAEL
That thou wouldest give them back their father; for see, they have no bread.
JOHN
[Lifting the children from their knees.] Just now we ate of the lamb in thy house, and thou sayest "we have no bread"?
JAEL
I do not speak of to-day; to-day the poorest have something to eat. Thou art truly a great prophet, Rabbi, and thou givest much to the people; but from us--from me and these little children--thou takest away all that we have.
JOHN
How could I do that, Jael?
JAEL
See; for a long time my husband goeth out every night to thee in the wilderness, and then the tools lie there idle, and we starve. But willingly would we starve and die of hunger for him, if thou hadst not estranged his heart from us, and stolen his love for thyself.
JOHN
Art thou, too, one of those who say, Greater than the law and sacrifice is love?
JAEL
[Anxiously.] I did not say that, Rabbi.... Thou wouldst not get me into trouble with the priests?
JOHN
But thou thinkst so in thy heart!
JAEL
Rabbi!
JOHN
Hadst thou come to me in my wilderness, I would have shown thee the way to One Who shall bring food to the hungry. Here, I am powerless. Go; I have nothing to do with thee!
JAEL
[Goes with the children to the door,]
JOHN
[Makes a movement as if he would call her back.]
JAEL
Rabbi!
JOHN
[Shakes his head.]
[Exit Jael, with the children.]
SCENE IV
John, Josaphat, Amarja.
JOHN
Josaphat, how long have I known thee?
JOSAPHAT
It is two years since I came to thy baptism.
JOHN
And since, thou hast been often?
JOSAPHAT
Have I not always been with thee, Rabbi?
JOHN
I never knew that thou wast a cobbler ... and that thy children cried for bread! It seems to me that I do not know thee even yet, Josaphat.
JOSAPHAT
Thou knowest what is best in me, for thou hast given it to me!
JOHN
So, then, I know myself alone. And of thee, too, Amarja, I know no more.... Only this I know. [Gazing into vacancy.] I am sent---- [Breaks off.]
JOSAPHAT
Rabbi!
JOHN
Some one hath said to me that I knew ye not; one of those who have the word "love" on their tongues.... And I am inclined to believe her.... But even if I have known you, I have not desired to love you, but rather to judge you in the name of---- In whose name? Know ye the rest?
JOSAPHAT
In the name of Him Who shall come. So thou hast taught us, master.
JOHN
Sooner would I talk to these black walls, that they might perhaps fall; sooner to thy hungry children, that my words might fill them. But the belief that looketh up to me, transfigured because it believeth.... That hurts me.
AMARJA
[Low to Josaphat.] It is now the second hour. Wilt thou not mention Herod to him?
JOHN
[As Josaphat comes nearer to him.] I sent the youngest of you to search for the Galilean. Where is he?
JOSAPHAT
He has not yet come back, master.
JOHN
May be he has lost the way.
JOSAPHAT
I told him where to come to, master.
JOHN
I want the Galilean.... Ye shall procure me the Galilean.... See ye not that my strength rests in my King ... Even if I serve Him like an unworthy vessel ... I serve Him according to my measure.... I have borne witness to Him.... Is that not true?
JOSAPHAT
Thou hast borne witness, indeed, Rabbi.
JOHN
But the testimony hath grown up in my soul. When He comes, will He bear it out?
JOSAPHAT
He will, master; for God sendeth Him.
JOHN
Else my soul hath not known Him, even as it hath not known you. Have ye no news of Manassa? Go and keep watch outside, that he doth not miss the house.
JOSAPHAT
That will be he! [Goes to open the door.]
SCENE V
The same. Matthias.
JOSAPHAT
Thou, Matthias? Hast thou not seen Manassa?
MATTHIAS
No. Rabbi, I come to thee in the night because of Herod.
JOHN
Because of Herod? [Seats himself with head turned away.]
MATTHIAS
I sent spies to the Palace up till the time of the Passover Feast. The priests were coming to and fro. What their business was no one knows. And if he cometh now to the morning sacrifice at eight of the clock, as is his custom on high festivals ... and comes with that woman ... flaunting his sin in the face of the people.... Rabbi, speak! What then?
JOHN
[Does not answer,]
AMARJA
He hears thee not.
JOSAPHAT.
He is thinking of the Galilean.
JOHN
I heard some one here speak of sin. Know ye in what raiment sin clothes itself gorgeously when it goeth abroad among the people? Say courtliness, say hate, say what ye will, and I shall laugh at you. Hear, and mark well. They call it love. Everything that is small, and stoops because it is small, that throws crumbs from its table in order not to throw bread; that covers up graves that they may stink secretly; that hews off the thumb of the left hand that it may have nothing to say to the thumb of the right; take care; all that is called love. And they call it love when in spring the ass brays and the dogs whine; when a woman herself gathers together the stones whereon to rest with her lover in the evening, stones which in the morning the people will hurl at her, and the woman speaketh: "See beloved, how sweet is our couch." ... They call this love.
MATTHIAS
[After exchanging a look with Josaphat.] Rabbi, forgive us, but the people are waiting for thee. The many who desert their beds, expectant of the morrow, think only of one thing--judgment! The judgment of Herod.
JOHN
Judgment of Herod--well.
JOSAPHAT
And thou shalt judge him. No one else but thou?
JOHN
I shall judge him.
MATTHIAS.
Him and the woman?
JOHN
Him and the woman. Did ye doubt?
MATTHIAS
If we did, forgive.
AMARJA
But suppose he comes without the woman. What would happen then?
JOHN
Ye ask so much. Ye and your questions become wearisome. Hark! There is Manassa. [Josaphat opens.]
SCENE VI
The former. Miriam.
JOHN
Miriam, thou? What desirest thou of me?
MIRIAM
[Breathless.] I flew from the Palace.... The guards have chased me.... Perhaps what I know ... may be of use to thee.
JOSAPHAT
Speak, Miriam!
MIRIAM
If the master will hear. With ye others I have nothing to do.
JOHN
I will listen, Miriam.
MIRIAM
A rumour has reached the Tetrarch that the people are plotting evil against him. He would on that account hide the woman, but she will not be hid. She will defy the master, because he hath offended her. An order is just gone forth for all the servants of the house to arm themselves and line the road. Even during the night, so that the procession shall pass to the Temple ere the great crowd assembleth. Thus they think to escape the people's wrath and thine, master.
THE DISCIPLES
That shall not come to pass; verily it shall not.
JOSAPHAT
Hast thou learned, Miriam, by which of the outer gates they go to the Temple?
MIRIAM
By the Susan Gate. I heard the servants say, as I crept by.
JOSAPHAT
And will the Roman soldiers be amongst them?
MIRIAM
That I did not hear.
JOSAPHAT
For if the Romans accompany them, we must wait behind the second gate; there where no heathen may penetrate at the cost of his head.
MATTHIAS
On the other hand, they can there be saved by the priests.
JOSAPHAT
Certainly, there the priests---- Master, what is thy counsel?
JOHN
I counsel you to go forth into the streets, and to seek right and left. I would learn from that Galilean what counsel I ought to give you.
MATTHIAS
Canst thou understand him?
JOSAPHAT
I would liefer not understand him.
[Exeunt Josaphat, Matthias, and Amarja.]
SCENE VII
John, Miriam.
MIRIAM
[Shrinks against the wall near the door and looks shyly across at John, who broods with his back turned to her.]
JOHN
[Suddenly noticing her.] Thou, Miriam, art still here?
MIRIAM
Forgive me, master. I am a little afraid; for if I go homewards the guards at the gate will seize me.
JOHN
But thou camest to me in the wilderness at night?
MIRIAM
Then no one knew with whom I associated, master.
JOHN
Who art thou? Tell me about thyself. Who is thy father?
MIRIAM
I have no father--and no mother. The country is full of orphans like me. There are far too many. I have never asked anyone why.
JOHN
And why didst thou go to the Palace as serving maid?
MIRIAM
They say that I once sat and played with pebbles on the threshold. And when evening came, they took me in. Since then I have belonged to the Palace, and know no better.
JOHN
Thou servest me with zeal, Miriam. Why dost thou serve me?
MIRIAM
I know not why.
JOHN
And thou servest me to no purpose--knowest thou that?
MIRIAM
[Bows her head.]
JOHN
Will they not punish thee?
MIRIAM
[With a shudder.] They will ... I....
JOHN
Speak!
MIRIAM
Master, what does it matter?
JOHN
Miriam, is it also He Who shall come that thou servest?
MIRIAM
I cannot tell, master. When I see thee, I feel a longing for Him.... But if thou speakest to me of Him, I see only thee.
JOHN
Ye children of men ... there is a rushing as of many waters in your souls.... Clear and muddy ... I shall gather all together in one great river, and I feel as if I should drown therein.
MIRIAM
Master, now I must go. Whether or no I served thee to no purpose, be gracious. Praise me, master.
JOHN
I see thee sitting on the threshold again ... playing with thy life, and thou excitest my pity. ... Go, maid! Go, child! and [He listens.]
MIRIAM
Master!
SCENE VIII
The former. Josaphat, Matthias, Amarja, Manassa.
JOHN
[Going forward to him.] Where is the Galilean?
MANASSA
I have sought Him, master, from the hour thou sentest me till past midnight. I have not rested nor tasted a crumb.
JOHN
The Galilean? Hast thou found Him?
MANASSA
I found him. He lay stretched out on the stones in charge of the soldiers, and near him, in chains, was his murderer.
AMARJA
Who, on the holy eve of the Passover----?
MANASSA
They called him David the Zealot. The Galileans blaspheme God, he hath said, and therefore must this one die.
JOSAPHAT
It is true; he did blaspheme God.
MATTHIAS
He blasphemed God!
JOHN
But I say unto you ... To him it was not blasphemy. To him it was worship. Methinks more such men will come out of Galilee. For there is an uprising there.... Tell me, Josaphat, do not many pilgrims sleep on the stones at night, nigh the doors of the Temple?
JOSAPHAT
Yes, Rabbi. On starry nights, like these, many a one wraps himself in his blanket and tarries by the House of the Lord.
JOHN
[In sudden decision.] It is well. [Exit.
MATTHIAS
Rabbi!
AMARJA
Hath he deserted us?
JOSAPHAT
Be not troubled! Thou, Amarja, wake our friends. Thou, Manassa, bring us tidings from the Palace. We two will follow the master. Meet us at the Susan Gate, at the place where the old beggar-woman sits. Come! [Exeunt the men.]
MIRIAM
[Who has stood unheeded, goes out with bowed head.]
CHANGE OF SCENE
A stone square before the open gate of the Temple called the Susan Gate. The front of the stage is enclosed by the circuit of the outer wall. In the centre more than half the breadth of the stage is taken up by the massive doors of the gate, to which steps lead. It is night. The fire of the great sacrificial altar is reflected from the background on the walls, and fills the foreground with red, uncertain flickering glow.
SCENE X
Pilgrims (men and women) lie in their blankets, scattered about the steps and on the stones which fill the space on left side. Among them the First Galilean and Second Galilean. To the right of the path which leads outside the wall of the Temple, across the stage, lies Mesulemeth. (In a little while enter John from left.)
JOHN
[Looks round searchingly, and pauses before a pilgrim who is sleeping on the steps.] Pilgrim, awake!
PILGRIM
It is not yet day. Why dost thou wake me?
JOHN
Whence comest thou? Art thou a Galilean?
PILGRIM
I come from Gaza on the south-east coast. Let me sleep.
SECOND GALILEAN
[To first.] Didst hear? Some one there is talking of Galileans.
FIRST GALILEAN
Sleep, and let them talk.
JOHN
[Walks on, and then pauses in front of Mesulemeth.] Thou who liest here by the way, be thou man or woman, wake up!
MESULEMETH
Why dost thou not step over me, as every one does in Jerusalem?
JOHN
Dost thou lie here always in the road?
MESULEMETH
I lie here always. For I must be at the Temple. Day and night I must be at the Temple.
JOHN
Art thou not greedy for alms?
MESULEMETH
[Shaking her head.] The little I want, the pilgrims give me. But hast thou never heard of Hannah, the prophetess?
JOHN
I have heard speak of her, when I was a child.
MESULEMETH
Well, this is her place. Here she sat and waited for the Messiah, forty years long. When she died she left the place to me ... And now I sit and wait till He comes again.
JOHN
Comes again? Hath He then been already?
MESULEMETH
Certainly He hath.
JOHN
[In deep emotion.] He came? Came even to thee?
MESULEMETH
To me? No. If He had come to me, I should have been at rest long ago. But Hannah ... She saw Him when He came.
JOHN
Woman! I implore thee ... Speak, tell me, how did He come?
MESULEMETH
Then sit down here beside me, so that I may speak low.... Once a little lad was brought to the Temple by his mother, to be circumcised. And there was one called Simeon who, when he saw this boy-babe, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and said, "Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, for his eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared for all nations." ... And Hannah heard this, and she came up to them and recognised Him?
JOHN
How did she recognise Him?
MESULEMETH
Did I not tell thee that she was a prophetess? Otherwise she might not have recognised Him. But as it was, she praised the Lord, and laid herself down and died. So now I sit where she sat, and wait for Him to come again.
JOHN
Verily, He must come again; and dost thou know, woman, how He will come? As the Lord of Hosts, arrayed in golden armour, with His sword drawn above His head, so He will come to save His people Israel. He will trample His enemies under His horse's hoofs, but the youth of Israel shall greet Him with hosannas and jubilation. See, woman, that is how He will come!
MESULEMETH
[Anxiously.] Who art thou, stranger? Dost thou imagine thyself to be the prophet of anyone?
JOHN
It matters not who I am, if thou art prepared for my message.
MESULEMETH
Thou canst take thy message further. I will not have it.
JOHN
What! Thou wilt not have the Messiah?
MESULEMETH
Not that one. I will not have that one. For many have come in golden armour, and have drawn their sword, and then Israel hath bled after, like a sacrificial ox. He shall be no king! No! When kings come, they come to kings! No one hath come, as yet to us, the poor---- Go away, stranger, lest thou snatch from me my crumb of hope. Begone, thou art a false prophet!... Go, let me lie on the road! [She sinks back.]