The Ghetto Part 26

SACHEL.

Yes, speak on, and speak your soul to them! They need not think to thwart this marriage! Let them beware!

AARON.

[_Surprised._] What's this about?

RAFAEL.

 

It's about my soul--my soul that leaps its bounds at last--my soul that speaks from the heart of a man! [_A pa.s.ser-by at the back stops to listen._] My soul that dwelt in the wilderness--a rumbling, roaring, raging, lying, sweating wilderness of traffic in the things of earth--my soul in the wilderness crying in vain, in vain, for the love of another soul like mine. Is it not so, Rebecca?

AARON.

Hear, hear!

REBECCA.

Let me go, father!

RAFAEL.

Let _me_ go, father; let _me_ go! I would not be slain on the altar, father! The knife is in my fles.h.!.+ This is the blood of my heart! O G.o.d, crieth my soul in vain? Where--where is the angel that shall stay my father's hand?

[_A crowd slowly gathers._

AARON.

Masterly! Masterly! Here she is! What an auctioneer he would make!

RAFAEL.

What an auctioneer I should make! Ah! [_He runs and stands on the synagogue steps._] My father bids me sell my soul! Shall I sell it cheap--my soul and my heart's blood? Shall it be knocked down to the solitary thirsty first who bids? I, to whom the stench of avarice is the breath of morning and night--I, who have seen a man sell his soul on the scales----

SACHEL.

What does he mean by that?

RAFAEL.

I--to be knocked down for two pink lips and a banknote! See--my red heart's blood! See--see--see! And you would have me sell it for ten thousand pieces of silver! And I say no! no! no!

AARON.

He wants more! Oh! I will not give it, do you hear? It is an insult to ask more--an insult to my daughter!

REBECCA.

Father, come away!

ESTHER.

Sachel, come home!

SACHEL.

Let me be! What does he want? What does he mean?

AARON.

Ha, ha! he wants more!

RAFAEL.

I want more! The sale shall be public! [_The crowd thickens._] I will have my price. Who bids more? Who bids? What do you bid, my girl?

REBECCA.

Nothing--nothing--I---- [_Exit._

RAFAEL.

She bids all she has, and yet I will not take it! More--more--who bids me more?

AARON.

Ha, ha! ten million guilders, idiot!

_Enter ROSA, at the back._

RAFAEL.

He bids ten million guilders, and that is still too small. You bid nothing but money, money; have you nothing else? Who comes? Who bids? Who bids? See, see--[_He points to ROSA, who has worked forward, pressed by the crowd._] Another bidder! Another bidder! The angel--the angel come to stay my father's hand!

[_ESTHER and others turn fiercely on ROSA._

ROSA.

[_Panic-stricken, pressed by the crowd._] Rafael! Rafael!

SACHEL.

It's Rosa! It's Rosa!

RAFAEL.

Rosa, Rosa, what do you bid? They bid money, nothing but money; and you--you----

ROSA.