John the Baptist: A Play Part 4

HADIDJA

Speak, Miriam!

JOHN

What else hast thou to say, Miriam?

MIRIAM

Master, at this very hour, messengers are pa.s.sing to and fro between Herodias and the Temple. The Princess desireth that the High Priest shall meet them at the second gate, where the men and women separate, to bless her----

JOHN

Enough! Go home, all of you. I wish to be alone. To-morrow ye will see me at Jerusalem. [_Horror amongst the people._]

ONE OF THE CROWD

Rabbi, wilt thou be responsible for thy enemies?

OTHERS

Reflect, Rabbi! The Pharisees will trap thee. The priests will condemn thee.

JOHN

I am the son of a priest. I will speak priestly words to those who countenance this infamous crime. I will speak to them in the name of Him Who cometh, for Whom I prepare the way. Go! [_As they appear unwilling and hesitate._] Go! [_The curtain falls._]

FIRST ACT

FIRST ACT

_Square in front of the Palace of Herod--The guardroom of the Roman soldiers is to the right of the Palace in the foreground, with benches before the door--To the right of centre is the chief entrance--Steps in background, which lead to the top of a hill--Behind, separated by an invisible valley, is a view of rising ma.s.ses of house-tops belonging to another part of the town--A narrow street to the left of centre, and another street in foreground, which may be taken as a continuation of the one that runs to right of guard-room--In it is the shop of the woollen merchant_ Eliakim--_At its right corner the shop of the fruit-seller_ Pasur, _with wares exhibited--A fountain with seats round it, near the middle of the stage._

SCENE I

_Eliakim, Pasur. First, second, third common soldiers._

PASUR

[_As he comes forward glances anxiously at the soldiers, who sit in front of guard-room._] Neighbour, neighbour, dost thou not hear me?

ELIAKIM

[_Sitting outside his shop reading a parchment_] It is written that whosover disturbeth a man when he is reading the law shall forfeit his life.

PASUR

Thou readest the law?

ELIAKIM

Knowest thou not that I read the law day and night?

PASUR

Forgive me, neighbour; accuse me not. I sinned out of ignorance.... I was in fear of the soldiers who are quartered yonder ... but I am going in. [_Slinks back to his shop._]

FIRST SOLDIER

[_To the second who sharpens his sword._] Marcus, wherefore handiest thou thy blade with such terrific zeal? There is naught to hew down in there. These d.a.m.ned Judeans have had enough. They'll rebel no more.

SECOND SOLDIER

Who can tell? Since that woman entered there yesterday, my nostrils have scented bloodshed. Everything is upside down in Herod's house, and your so-called princes are ticklish subjects.

FIRST SOLDIER

Here in Judea they have none; so we are masters.

SECOND SOLDIER

We are masters everywhere, with or without a Herod.

FIRST SOLDIER

What brings the Tetrarch of Galilee to Jerusalem?

SECOND SOLDIER

Yes, well mayest thou ask! Yet he cometh twice or thrice in the year to rub his nose on the fleeces of the Temple, and then away he goes again.

G.o.d requires it of him, so they say. A crazy people!

FIRST SOLDIER

And we must stand by as guard of honour. A nice business for a Roman citizen!

SCENE II

_The same, Hadidja and two other maids_ (_with jugs on their heads, come out of the Palace and go to the well, where they draw water_).

SECOND SOLDIER