The Golden Legend Part 13

_Rachel._ O wicked king! O cruel speed!

To do this most unrighteous deed!

My children all are slain!

_Herod._ Ho seneschal! another cup!

With wine of Sorek fill it up!

I would a b.u.mper drain!

_Rahab._ May maledictions fall and blast Thyself and lineage, to the last Of all thy kith and kin!

_Herod._ Another goblet! quick! and stir Pomegranate juice and drops of myrrh And calamus therein!

_Soldiers (in the street)_. Give up thy child into our hands!

It is King Herod who commands That he should thus be slain!

_The Nurse Medusa._ O monstrous men! What have ye done!

It is King Herod's only son That ye have cleft in twain!

_Herod._ Ah, luckless day! What words of fear Are these that smite upon my ear With such a doleful sound!

What torments rack my heart and head!

Would I were dead! would I were dead, And buried in the ground!

(_He falls down and writhes as though eaten by worms.

h.e.l.l opens, and_ SATAN _and_ ASTAROTH _come forth, and drag him down._)

VII. JESUS AT PLAY WITH HIS SCHOOLMATES.

_Jesus._ The shower is over. Let us play, And make some sparrows out of clay, Down by the river's side.

_Judas._ See, how the stream has overflowed Its banks, and o'er the meadow road Is spreading far and wide!

(_They draw water out of the river by channels, and form little pools_ JESUS _makes twelve sparrows of clay, and the other boys do the same._)

_Jesus._ Look! look! how prettily I make These little sparrows by the lake Bend down their necks and drink!

Now will I make them sing and soar So far, they shall return no more Into this river's brink.

_Judas._ That canst thou not! They are but clay, They cannot sing, nor fly away Above the meadow lands!

_Jesus._ Fly, fly! ye sparrows! you are free!

And while you live, remember me, Who made you with my hands.

(_Here_ JESUS _shall clap his hands, and the sparrows shall fly away, chirruping._)

_Judas._ Thou art a sorcerer, I know; Oft has my mother told me so, I will not play with thee!

(_He strikes_ JESUS _on the right side._)

_Jesus._ Ah, Judas! thou has smote my side, And when I shall be crucified, There shall I pierced be!

(_Here_ JOSEPH _shall come in, and say:_)

_Joseph._ Ye wicked boys! why do ye play, And break the holy Sabbath day?

What, think ye, will your mothers say To see you in such plight!

In such a sweat and such a heat, With all that mud-upon your feet!

There's not a beggar in the street Makes such a sorry sight!

VIII. THE VILLAGE SCHOOL.

_The_ RABBI BEN ISRAEL, _with a long beard, sitting on a high stool, with a rod in his hand._

_Rabbi._ I am the Rabbi Ben Israel, Throughout this village known full well, And, as my scholars all will tell, Learned in things divine; The Kabala and Talmud h.o.a.r Than all the prophets prize I more, For water is all Bible lore, But Mishna is strong wine.

My fame extends from West to East, And always, at the Purim feast, I am as drunk as any beast That wallows in his sty; The wine it so elateth me, That I no difference can see Between "Accursed Haman be!"

And "Blessed be Mordecai!"

Come hither, Judas Iscariot.

Say, if thy lesson thou hast got From the Rabbinical Book or not.

Why howl the dogs at night?

_Judas._ In the Rabbinical Book, it saith The dogs howl, when with icy breath Great Sammael, the Angel of Death, Takes through the town his flight!

_Rabbi._ Well, boy! now say, if thou art wise, When the Angel of Death, who is full of eyes, Comes where a sick man dying lies, What doth he to the wight?

_Judas._ He stands beside him, dark and tall, Holding a sword, from which doth fall Into his mouth a drop of gall, And so he turneth white.

_Rabbi._ And now, my Judas, say to me What the great Voices Four may be, That quite across the world do flee, And are not heard by men?

_Judas._ The Voice of the Sun in heaven's dome, The Voice of the Murmuring of Rome, The Voice of a Soul that goeth home, And the Angel of the Rain!

_Rabbi._ Well have ye answered every one Now little Jesus, the carpenter's son, Let us see how thy task is done.

Canst thou thy letters say?

_Jesus._ Aleph.

_Rabbi._ What next? Do not stop yet!

Go on with all the alphabet.

Come, Aleph, Beth; dost thou forget?

c.o.c.k's soul! thou'dst rather play!

_Jesus._ What Aleph means I fain would know, Before I any farther go!

_Rabbi._ O, by Saint Peter! wouldst thou so?

Come hither, boy, to me.