John the Baptist: A Play Part 28

Master!

SCENE VIII

_The former. Josaphat, Matthias, Amarja, Mana.s.sa._

JOHN

[_Going forward to him._] Where is the Galilean?

MANa.s.sA

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?

MANa.s.sA

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 Pa.s.sover----?

MANa.s.sA

They called him David the Zealot. The Galileans blaspheme G.o.d, he hath said, and therefore must this one die.

JOSAPHAT

It is true; he did blaspheme G.o.d.

MATTHIAS

He blasphemed G.o.d!

JOHN

But I say unto you ... To him it was not blasphemy. To him it was wors.h.i.+p. 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, Mana.s.sa, 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 ma.s.sive 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 s.p.a.ce 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