STAGE B AND AISLE I
From the right of HEROD’S Gate sounds the tolling of bells—from the left, the clangor of swords.
During this, HEROD comes forth and stands on his dais. There, in shifting light and darkness, Helmeted Men with swords hurry to him, confer in pantomime and depart.
Then, as HEROD stands looking down from his height, there passes below him a Procession of Outcasts, which—moving from Aisle II to Aisle I—passes on along Aisle I toward the Place of the Tree. When the last of this dirgeful Pageant has gone by him, HEROD returns in darkness within the gate.
The Procession of Outcasts is accompanied by FOUR MASKED FIGURES in symbolic garb, and consists of the Followers of these, walking before and after a stretcher, borne at the middle of the Pageant. First of the Four is a Female Figure, SONG, who leads the Procession, looking upward; last, is a Male Figure, POVERTY, bowed in stature. The other two Male Figures walk at the head and foot of the stretcher, the first being SORROW, staring before him, the second one—DEATH, who bears a muffled babe in his arms, lulling it, with a calm smile.
Outcasts
On the stretcher a Poor Man lies wounded—a PEDLAR, with his pack for a head-rest. He wears a red jerkin and great boots and a workman’s cap. His beard is brown. His face is pale, his side bandaged. In one hand he holds a broken sword. The Man is CLAUS, whose Wife, RUTH, walks beside him, in peasant garb. At his other side walk two small tattered Figures—a BOY and a GIRL, their children.
As all pass slowly onward, the Outcasts chant their song-dirge, out of which rises momentarily, first, the Voice of RUTH, then of CLAUS, while at times Full Chorus gives deeper volume to the singing. Rhythms of tolled bells and of clanging swords accompany the two Semi-Choruses.