Jeremiah Part 42

[In consternation] He would look upon the holy of holies! Terrible is the request.

PASHUR

Unbounded is the insolence of the heathen ruler! Dismiss his messenger, Lord King. Send back the envoy.

HANANIAH

Send back the envoy. Never must such a thing be.

NAHUM

Be not too hasty, O King. In our hands lies the welfare of the nation.

ABIMELECH

A thousand deaths were better than this shame.

PASHUR

I will face death with you, will perish in the midst of your warriors.

HANANIAH

[Savagely] Dismiss the envoy. Rather death than this sacrilege.

IMRE

Ye talk lightly of dying. Bethink ye that your pride means seventy thousand deaths.

PASHUR

Would you profane G.o.d's holy of holies?

IMRE

Life is part of G.o.d's holiness. G.o.d himself is life.

HANANIAH

It would be an everlasting disgrace could the heathen look on the face of Jehovah.

NAHUM

Let our foes exult; let our pride be humbled. So be it, if the city outlast our pride and our lives. King Zedekiah, save Jerusalem!

HANANIAH

Nay, dismiss the envoy.

ZEDEKIAH

I am naught but the hand holding the scales. I stand aloof from your decision. Make up your minds. Count your votes. Speed ye, that the matter may be settled for good or for ill.

IMRE

I am the oldest among you. My word is, let us comply with Nebuchadnezzar's demands.

HANANIAH

Let us refuse. G.o.d will help us. Let us refuse.

PASHUR

I will not chaffer with G.o.d's majesty. Never will I consent to such impiety.

NAHUM

Let G.o.d's city stand for ever. Accept the terms.

ZEDEKIAH

What sayest thou, Abimelech?

ABIMELECH

Not for me to advise thee, King Zedekiah. Not for me, who am but thy servant and thy sword. By yes and by no, in life and in death, do I stand by thy decision.

ZEDEKIAH

Two votes against two, and in my own mind there are voices twain!

Conflict without; conflict within. I hold aloof, leaving it to you to direct my will. You cast it back to me like seadrift, and, trembling, I am still constrained to decide. Have I, indeed, to throw these dreadful dice?

PASHUR

G.o.d will give thee light.

ZEDEKIAH

Ah, would he but speak to me. Happy our forefathers to whom he appeared in a cloud. I stretch forth my hands towards him, but still for me the voice of heaven is dumb. I grope in the darkness, finding I know not what. Pray for me that I may be rightly guided.

NAHUM

Thou hast our love, O King.

ZEDEKIAH

Time presses. Ere the night is spent I must say yes or no; where perchance no is yes, and yes is no. G.o.d give me light. [He rises to his feet and all rise with him] Leave me to myself. The cleavage among you increases my own indecision. I shall act as my heart dictates, and it may well be that ere ye reach home I shall have made my choice, for my soul travaileth. Pray, friends, pray, that my choice may be the best for Israel. Pray for me, pray for Jerusalem.