Jeremiah Part 33

Swear to me, swear, That it is not true.

Swear to me, swear, That no danger threatens Israel.

Swear to me, swear, That no enemy shall disturb my last rest, That my burial place shall be Zion.

JEREMIAH

So shall it be. G.o.d will be gracious to us in death as in life.

THE MOTHER

Jeremiah, Do I wander in mind?

Is the foe at the gates?

Or is our world filled with peace?

[JEREMIAH struggles vainly for words]

AHAB

[Breaking in on his hesitation] Deceive her, speak ere she pa.s.ses.

Can you not see How the darkness shadows her face, As the angel of death hovers nigh?

Speak, and chase the terror from her soul.

JOCHEBED

Speak, or it will be too late.

A word, only one word, So that she may die in peace.

JEREMIAH

[Still struggling with contending pa.s.sions] I cannot, I cannot.

There is one grips my throat, Holds my soul in his grasp.

THE MOTHER

He is silent.

It must then be true That G.o.d has smitten his own people: May the day perish wherein I was born!

Alas, the darkness gains on me.

Fire ravages the land.

I burn. Bear me forth.

AHAB

[Interrupting, to JEREMIAH] A word, only one word.

JEREMIAH

[Choking, as if strangled] No such word can I utter.

G.o.d's hand grips my throat; G.o.d's hand grasps my soul.

Ah, cruel one, free me ...

THE MOTHER

[With a wild cry] Lost, all is lost.

I burn.

The city ... the temple ... G.o.d falls.

G.o.d has fallen!

The flames of Gehenna strike home to my heart.

Jerusalem!

[She collapses suddenly. There is silence]

[AHAB and JOCHEBED move in alarm to the bedside and bend over the dead woman]

JEREMIAH

[His voice bursting forth as when a fountain is unsealed]

It is false!

I lied, I lied!

Eternal the days of Jerusalem.

Ne'er shall an enemy circle our wall, David's city be taken, Jerusalem fall.

O Mother, once again give ear.

I swear it, look you, I solemnly swear, Eternal the days of Jerusalem!

AHAB

[Fiercely] Away!

Your oaths will not waken her!

Leave her in peace!

JEREMIAH

She must hear me before 'tis too late.

AHAB

[Bitterly] As you say, 'tis too late.

Away from the room.

Your cries will not waken her, Nor your lies break her sleep.

While she lived you were silent, Unfeeling as stone.

Idle dreamer and outcast, Hence, get you begone!

JOCHEBED

Away, rejected of men, Scorn of the just, Away from the house.

Why, ah why, Did she readmit you?

Away, man accurst, Break not the calm Of the death which you wrought.

JEREMIAH