JOHN
[To himself.] False prophet!
SCENE XI
The same. Josaphat, Matthias. [From the left.]
MATTHIAS
See, he is there!
JOSAPHAT
Rabbi, forgive us for following thee hither----
JOHN
It is not yet dawn.... At this hour ye have nothing to claim from me----
MATTHIAS
But, remember Herod----
JOHN
Why stir ye up so much dust? This puny Herod, who runs after women, is not my business.
JOSAPHAT AND MATTHIAS
[Exchange dismayed glances.]
JOHN
Go, find me Galileans! Wake those who sleep on the steps, ransack the houses if necessary. Only bring me Galileans, that I may question them.
SECOND GALILEAN
Hearest thou? Some one standeth there, clamouring for Galileans!
FIRST GALILEAN
I thought I dreamt it. Thou, who wilt not let us sleep, what dost thou want with us Galileans?
JOHN
Stand up and come to me!
SECOND GALILEAN
Goest thou?
FIRST GALILEAN
He must be great in Israel, otherwise he would not command.
SECOND GALILEAN
Yes, yes; thou art right. [They both stand up.]
JOSAPHAT
Rabbi----[John signs to him with his hand to be silent.]
FIRST GALILEAN
Now, here we are.
JOHN
Who are ye? Whence do ye come?
FIRST GALILEAN
We are fishermen from the Sea of Galilee. My name is Ram, and that is my brother-in-law, and he is called Abia. And we both fish with the same net. Is it not so?
SECOND GALILEAN
Yes; we both fish with the same net.
JOHN
And tell me, ye two men, have ye ever heard of a prophet that teacheth in Galilee?
FIRST GALILEAN
A prophet! Hast thou heard of a prophet, Abia?
SECOND GALILEAN
I have heard of no prophet.
JOHN
Not ... of one who saith ... He is the Son of God?
FIRST GALILEAN
Ah, thou meanest Jesus of Nazareth?
JOHN
[In great agitation, scarcely audible.] Jesus of Nazareth!
JOSAPHAT AND MATTHIAS.
[Awed.] Jesus of Nazareth!
JOHN
Thou spakest His name first. Fear sealed my lips. But now thou hast said it. Yes, I mean Him.
FIRST GALILEAN
Yes ... I know His father well. He is an honest carpenter, and very pious too. He well deserves that his son should be a joy to him.
JOHN
Tell me more of Him.
FIRST GALILEAN
He put up a bedstead for a friend of mine.
JOHN
Tell me of the son.
FIRST GALILEAN
Ah, the son. Well, Abia, what shall we say of the son?
SECOND GALILEAN
Aye, what shall we say of the son?
JOHN
Hast thou ever seen Him?
FIRST GALILEAN
Oh, yes.
JOHN
Thou hast seen Him?
FIRST GALILEAN
Many a time ... from my ship. For He carries on His work on the shore. And there is always a great gathering along the banks, is there not, Abia?
SECOND GALILEAN
Yes, the banks are always quite black with people. And the fish take notice of it. That is not good for our trade.
FIRST GALILEAN
They say that He works miracles. I once met a man myself who had been blind till his--I forget what year--and he maintained that he was made to see again by spittle from His mouth ... It may be possible--but----[Laughs stupidly.]
JOHN
[To Josaphat.] Have not many said of me, that I work miracles?
JOSAPHAT
Many say it, but we know it, Rabbi.
JOHN
Indeed? I have seen no miracle but the power ... and no one to whom it hath happened, save the weak. But speak on, man.
FIRST GALILEAN
It may be all very well for Him to heal the sick, but the worst of it is He doeth it on the Sabbath. That is bad, bad! And then, His friends are not well chosen. Circumspect people, naturally, are not disposed to mix with Him. For how can one trust a man who sitteth at meat with publicans and sinners? And, then, He is always at weddings and feasts. Ah! No, no.
JOHN
At feasts?
JOSAPHAT
Master, these are little people. They understand not the wisdom of cunning speech.
JOHN
The great should carry the little with them, the wise should master these simple intellects. That he hath not done.... And what is it He teacheth?
FIRST GALILEAN
Ah, what does He teach? All sorts of folly. For instance, that we should love our enemies.
JOHN
Love our enemies?
FIRST GALILEAN
And bless them that curse us ... and pray for them that persecute us.
JOHN
Pray for them that persecute us?
FIRST GALILEAN
Yes; and more nonsense of the kind. Also that----
CALL
[From the roof of the Temple.] It groweth light towards Hebron.
JOHN
[Eagerly.] Why dost thou not proceed?
FIRST GALILEAN
[Rising.] It is now time for morning prayer.
CALL
[More distant.] It groweth light towards Hebron. [All stand up and begin to pray, their faces turned towards the Temple.]
CALL
[Quite distant.] It groweth light towards Hebron.
JOHN
[Baffled and tormented.] Towards Hebron it groweth light.
SCENE XII
[The great gates are slowly opened, displaying marble walls, mounting in terraces, behind which are two more gates. The Temple-building itself is almost completely hidden by smoke from the great lighted sacrificial altar, which bounds the perspective. From the mountains behind the Temple are heard the long-drawn notes of the silver trumpets. People begin to stream up.]
MATTHIAS
[Has gone to Josaphat's side and speaks to him privately, then turns to John, who stands alone on the left.] Master, the people are flocking to the Temple.... In a few moments the Tetrarch will certainly be there too, with the woman. Wilt thou not step among them, that they may know their leader?
JOHN
The image of my King shining in the radiance of the cherubim. Where is it? Where is the rainbow of seven colours that was round His head? Seven torches burned by His throne. I see them no more!
SCENE XIII
The same. Manassa.
MANASSA
[Hurrying up from left.] Matthias, Josaphat, where is the master?
JOSAPHAT
Herod has come forth from his door?
MANASSA
[Assents.]
JOSAPHAT
With the woman?
MANASSA
With the woman.
JOSAPHAT
Master [as he heeds not], Master----
JOHN
What is it?
JOSAPHAT
Herod is on the way.
JOHN
Who is Herod?
JOSAPHAT
[Buries his face in his hands.]
MATTHIAS
[To Manassa.] Had he the Roman soldiers with him?
MANASSA
Only his servants are with him.
MATTHIAS
Hearest thou, master? He is delivered into our hands.
SCENE XIV
The same. Amarja; with a fresh crowd of people.
AMARJA
[Calling.] John, where is John?
JOSAPHAT
[With resolution.] Here is John.
THE PEOPLE
[Hear and murmur, joyously.] See, there is John!
JOSAPHAT
Hear all of you! Go not past; and thou over there mayest speak. The master will listen unto thee.
AMARJA
Herod is coming to the Temple, wearing princely robes. At his side, sparkling with precious stones, walks the courtezan.
THE PEOPLE
[Break out into cries of anger.]
JOSAPHAT
Master, thy hour is come; mount the steps and speak to them!
THE PEOPLE
[Pressing round.] John, speak--Rabbi, speak--What shall we do?
JOSAPHAT
Keep back! He will speak to you. [Sotto voce.] Mount the steps!
JOHN
[Walks as if in a dream towards the steps.]
THE PEOPLE
[Murmuring.] See! He sways. What aileth him?
JOSAPHAT
Make haste. Speak!
CALL
Here is Herod. Here cometh Herod!
THE PEOPLE
Stone him! Stone the courtezan!
OTHERS
Look at John! Do what John does, else are ye lost.
SCENE XV
The same. Herod, Herodias, with train from right.
JOHN
[John has mounted the steps and stands in the middle of the threshold.]
HEROD
[Pale, but smiling.] Hearest thou what they cry?
HERODIAS
Have him seized, else it means death to you and to me.
THE PEOPLE
[Are silent and tense in expectation. Most of them have picked up stones.]
JOSAPHAT
[Who stands to the left of John on a lower step, hands him a stone, and says in a low voice.] Take this stone! [More urgently.] Take this stone!
JOHN
[Takes the stone.]
HEROD
Thou on the steps. Knowest thou me not?
JOSAPHAT
[Whispers.] Hurl the stone!
JOHN
[Firmly.] In the name of Him [He is about to throw the stone, then pauses, half-questioning, half-swooning.] ... Who ... commands me ... to love thee----[A low moaning runs through the people.]
TWO SERVANTS
[Have approached John. They seize him and push him down from the Temple steps.]
HEROD AND HERODIAS
[Walk up.]
THE PEOPLE
Woe to us! He too hath forsaken us. Woe, woe!
JOSAPHAT
[To John, who is pinioned by the servants.] Master, what hast thou done to us?
THE PEOPLE
Woe! Woe!
[The curtain falls.]
FOURTH ACT
FOURTH ACT
A town in Galilee.... The stage represents a grass-grown prison-yard which, on the right side, is adjacent to the gardens of a Herodian Palace, divided from them by a low wall, which continues in a right-hand direction to the centre of background. On the left side of background a higher wall, and entrance with heavy doors. To the left, the clumsy pile of the prison buildings and a door. In the garden wall is a gate, over which hangs the green foliage of the garden beyond, which bounds the right side of background. On the right is a semi-circular shaped marble seat with back; on left, stones covered with moss.
SCENE I
Gaoler, Abi.
ABI
[With head thrust over the garden wall.] Master Gaoler, dost thou not hear?
GAOLER
What wilt thou?
ABI
A ball went over the wall. Hast thou seen it?
GAOLER
No.
ABI
Please look for it, and throw it back.
GAOLER
Look for it thyself.
ABI
How can I, unless thou openest the gate.
GAOLER
I may not open it. Let me be.
ABI
Listen, Gaoler. The ball belongs to Salome, our young Princess. If thou art not obliging, beware!
GAOLER
Oh, if it belongs to the young Princess----[Opens the gate.]
SCENE II
The Gaoler, Abi, Maecha, and later, Salome.
ABI
[Calls back, laughing.] Mistress, the door is open.
GAOLER
Is that the young Princess, who is daughter of his new wife?
ABI
[Nods.]
SALOME
[Appears in the gateway.]
GAOLER
Princess, if ever thou comest through again, be sure to laugh, as to-day. For this gate is full of danger for Herod's children.
SALOME
What does it do to Herod's children, thy gate?
GAOLER
The two sons of Herod the Great came through this gate before they were sentenced, and through this gate----
MAECHA
Stop!...
SALOME
Let him alone, Maecha! His wisdom has taken a holiday. Hast thou no livelier stories, old man?
GAOLER
What sort dost thou mean, young Princess?
SALOME
Stories of yesterday. Stories that have not yet come to an end--stories that are as young [stretches herself] as we are.
GAOLER
Ah, I knew; but----
SALOME
But? Tell me, hast thou a new prisoner?
GAOLER
Yes.
SALOME
What has he done?
GAOLER
[Maliciously.] He stole hens, young Princess.
SALOME
See to it that thou dost not steal my time!
ABI
[Softly to him.] With her there is no jesting.
GAOLER
Princess, forgive.... I did not know.... Thou meanest, perhaps, John?
SALOME
Which John?
GAOLER
The one they call the Baptist--the Prophet from Judea, who----
SALOME
So he is here?
GAOLER
Yes; he has been here the last three days, Princess. They brought him at the end of the same cavalcade which brought thee. He lieth now safe with the salamanders and scorpions. They say he stirred up rebellion in Jerusalem, and therefore----
SALOME
I wish to see John. Bring him here!
GAOLER
[Horrified.] Princess, that cannot be.
SALOME
I wish it! Hast thou not heard? I wish it!
GAOLER
Princess, I opened this gate for thee because thou hadst lost a plaything. Shall I now, instead of thy plaything, lose this old head?
MAECHA
Mistress, the Tetrarch is coming.
SALOME
[Veiling herself.] Hide yourselves! [She stoops behind the seat; the maidens slip into the bushes.]
[In the gateway Herod and his attendants.]
SCENE III
The same. Herod, Merokles, Jabad, Gabalos.
HEROD
Gaoler!
GAOLER
Sire.
HEROD
Who are the three men who linger about the door? They look morose, and did not salute me.
GAOLER
Sire, those are the remnant of the crew which followed John, they say, from Jerusalem. For eight days and eight nights they followed him.
HEROD
The remnant, sayest thou? Where are the rest?
GAOLER
They lie somewhere by the wayside, Sire, and die of thirst, unless the ravens give them to drink.
HEROD
Drive them away!
GAOLER
Sire, we have hunted them off several times; but they always come back.
HEROD
So, let them be.
MEROKLES
See, how mild is our ruler! He doth not order them to be cut in pieces.
JABAD
Hail to our Ruler! [The two others join in.]
HEROD
To speak candidly, friends, I do not lay hands on sages and fools willingly; for one can never know whether the executioner holds up the head of a sage or a fool.
GABALOS
Thou canst do no wrong, Sire; for thou art wise, all-wise!
HEROD
When I order thee to be beheaded, I shall not be wrong; for thou art a fool, a complete fool. [Nearing the seat.] Bring me----[Observes Salome, who, listening, has raised her head a little above the edge of the seat, then quickly dives down again.] I beg you to retire, and await me without the gate.
[Exeunt Gabalos, Merokles, Jabad.]
SCENE IV
Herod, Salome. Also Abi and Maecha, hidden.
HEROD
Tell me, thou veiled one, art thou not Salome, my wife's daughter?