John the Baptist: A Play Part 42

MANa.s.sA

And they say He may perhaps come into the town.

JOHN

Mayhap. Yet only mayhap! And my time is over. I must make haste, lest I die. Will ye do me a service?

AMARJA, MANa.s.sA

Rabbi, command us!

JOHN

Get ye up and go unto Him.

AMARJA, MANa.s.sA

To Him?

JOHN

[_Nods._] And wheresoever ye find Him, speak to Him. Ask: "Art Thou He Who cometh, or shall we wait for another?" So ask Him, and when He hath answered, come back--quickly--for my longing for Him is very great. I believe I could not die ere ye returned.

AMARJA

Master, we will not pause or rest.

JOHN

And ye will not forget my darkness in His radiance?

MANa.s.sA

Master, why makest thou us ashamed?

JOHN

Then, farewell.

MANa.s.sA, AMARJA

Farewell, Rabbi. [_They turn to go._]

JOHN

Go not thus; not yet. Let me clasp your hands, then ye are the least among my disciples, and [_in great emotion_] methinks I--I--love you.

[_The Curtain falls._]

FIFTH ACT

FIFTH ACT

_Hall in Herod's Palace. A row of pillars, raised by two steps, in the background, which lead to an open balcony with bal.u.s.trade. This can be shut off by curtains, which at first are thrown back. A street is supposed to run at the foot of the next storey. In the middle of the stage, raised on a dais, is a table, with couches ranged round it; flowers and ornaments. Doors to right and left._

SCENE I

_Servants moving about arranging pictures and flowers, Gabalos superintending them; afterwards, Herod._

A SERVANT

[_Announces from door on left._] Our governor!

HEROD

[_Following him._] Now, Gabalos, thou who hast washed in many waters, what has thy art provided? Thou knowest our guests are spoiled children.

GABALOS

Sire, thou needest have no anxiety about food and drink. Something customary is best for jaded palates. Therefore I chartered the cook of Vitellius. But for the other part of the entertainment the prospect is bad.

HEROD

[_Smiling._] Is that thy opinion?

GABALOS

n.o.ble Merokles will declaim a new ode, I warrant. Our Libyan flute-players will have washed their brown legs in honour of the occasion. Sire, mistrust those legs even when washed. As I tell thee every day, we are sick of Judean morality. Judean morality is devouring us like the plague.

HEROD

Say, Gabalos, dost thou think that our Legate from Syria, before whom all the gaiety and colour of life doth s.h.i.+mmer, hath ever seen a young daughter of Princes dance at table?

GABALOS

That would be grand, because it is something new.

SCENE II

_The same. Herodias_ [_from right_].