Jeremiah Part 50

THE DOORKEEPER

[Pus.h.i.+ng back the foremost among the mob] Away with you! The king's orders are that everyone shall have a loaf at daybreak. Then the storehouses are to be closed.

A VOICE

I got no loaf.

OTHER VOICES

Nor I, nor I.

A WOMAN

You could hardly see mine; and I have a child at the breast. Justice!

A SECOND

Mine was full of sand and gravel.

A THIRD

They are not the same loaves we used to get. We are being cheated.

Justice!

THE DOORKEEPER

Nahum treats you all alike. He is perfectly fair.

A VOICE

Where is he?

OTHER VOICES

Where is he? We want to see him.--Let him show himself.--We will talk to him.--He is a thief.--Where is he?

ANOTHER VOICE

[Shouting stridently] He sits at home and fattens up his own household.

They bake cake for themselves.

A SECOND VOICE

Yes, the rich have h.o.a.rded all they need.

VOICES

While we go hungry.--Bread for the poor.--Bread, bread.

THE STRIDENT VOICE

The king has golden dishes filled with dainties. In the palace they would rather throw their leavings to the dogs than feed our children.

A VOICE

I don't believe that.

OTHER VOICES

Yes.--Yes.--I have seen them do it.--My sister says they do.--Where is Nahum?--Give us bread.

[Gradually the voices fuse into a single shout for bread. The mob thronging the steps grows more threatening. Some of those in the front ranks are about to seize the doorkeeper, while others continue to beat on the closed door. The doorkeeper blows a trumpet]

ABIMELECH

[Hastening from the palace, attended by a number of soldiers] Away with you. Push them back. Down the steps. Clear the entrance to the palace.

[The soldiers use the hafts of their spears freely, and the mob yields ground, panicstricken]

VOICES

He struck me.--They are killing us.--Where is my child?--Help.--Help!

[The crowd forms again at the foot of the steps, and faces ABIMELECH angrily]

ABIMELECH

Are you all mad? The enemy is attacking us. Since dawn I have been on the ramparts to marshal the defence, and you meanwhile are raising a tumult at our backs. What would ye, rabble?

VOICES

Bread.--We are hungry.--Bread.--Our children have nothing to eat.

ABIMELECH

Everyone has had his loaf.

VOICES

Not I.--They left me out.--Not enough.

ABIMELECH

The town is besieged. You must make the most of what you have. We are at war.

VOICES

There is not enough bread.--We are hungry.