Jeremiah Part 34

[Overwhelmed] Ever accursed, Ever rejected, Thrust forth from home, Unfriended to roam.

G.o.d, G.o.d, it is hard to bear men thy word!

[AHAB and JOCHEBED pay the last duties to the dead, pressing down the eyelids, and wrapping the body in a shroud. AHAB goes to the pitchers and sprinkles water on the ground. No sound but their solemn paces can be heard. JEREMIAH stares before him in stupor. Silence prevails for a time, full of the mystery of death. Then a clamor is heard without.

There is a vehement knocking at the door]

AHAB

Who knocks?

JOCHEBED

There is a turbulent crowd without.

AHAB

They a.s.sail the door as if they were enemies. You had better open.

JOCHEBED

Hark to the savages, they have burst in the door.

[The sound of splintering wood is heard. Then hasty footsteps. ZEBULON, PASHUR, HANANIAH, the FIRST SENTRY, and many others, rush in]

ZEBULON

He must be here.

A BOY

I saw him go in.

VOICES

So did I.--He slipped in an hour back.--I was on watch as you ordered.--I saw him too.

AHAB

Whom do you seek?

PASHUR

Deliver him up--the man you are hiding.

ZEBULON

We will have blood for blood.

AHAB

What mean ye by breaking in here? Away, rabble.

PASHUR

[Catching sight of the corpse, raises his hands and speaks reverently]

Praise to the eternal judge. May he be merciful to the just. [Turning away he pa.s.ses into the background]

THE OTHERS

[Suddenly stilled, murmur] Praise to the eternal judge.

ONE SPEAKS

[Gently] Who has died?

AHAB

One from whom G.o.d had hidden the light of his countenance. One full of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. One whose bitterest affliction was that she gave birth to the enemy of her nation.

ANOTHER SPEAKS

Jeremiah!

ZEBULON

It is Jeremiah whom we seek. Where is Jeremiah?

JEREMIAH

[Comes forward, speaking loudly in grief and indignation] Who seeks Jeremiah? Who still desires to rain curses on me? Let him come, let him curse. I am the mark for all the curses in the world.

ZEBULON

It is I, wretch, who come to curse you, I, Zebulon, father of Baruch, whom you have led astray. Where is my son?

JEREMIAH

[Tonelessly] How should I know? Am I your son's keeper?

HANANIAH

This man makes a charge against you. Answer, Jeremiah.

JEREMIAH

He, too, makes a charge. Should I begin to bring charges I should speak from now till midnight.

VOICES

He answers not.--He talks at random, evading the charge.--Pashur, Hananiah, make an end.--Pa.s.s judgment upon him.