Chapter 1

seated before the fire. The Jew, bent, gaunt and gray-bearded, stands to one side, unrecognized, muttering to himself indistinctly. He has evidently just entered, for the melted snow still gleams from his clothing. The company disregard him, conversing among themselves.]

A SOLDIER. Now, by Our Lady, 'tis a raw cold night-- I mind me when on such a night I lay Unsheltered in the trenches facing Mons In Flanders.

A MERCHANT. Hem! Sir Longbeard tells a tale. List, all!

THE SOLDIER. By Holy mass--

THE MERCHANT. Ho! Hear the oaths! They 're thick as--

THE SOLDIER. Hark ye! Hush thy meddling tongue!

A PEASANT. A quarrel! Mark them!

A MONK. Shame! On such a night When angels fill the air, and voices sweet, Mysterious, sing their golden songs of peace-- On this glad night to quarrel?

THE SOLDIER. Why, to-night--

THE MONK. On such a night was Christ, our Saviour, born, While all the earth was wrapped in sacred peace. This is the holy eve, and on the morrow, With solemn chant we shall observe the birth Of that sweet Christ-child whom we worship all.

THE SOLDIER. Then I'll not quarrel--my hand upon it. There.

THE MERCHANT. Nor I. And here's my hand, good soldier. There.

[The company is silent for a moment, while the wind moans in the great chimney.]

THE MERCHANT [crossing himself]. Hark to the wind. Meseemeth that it wails Like some lost soul.

THE SOLDIER. Some say it is the soul Of that accursed Jew who crossed our Lord When he was on his way to Calvary, And was condemned to wander ever more Until the Christ a second time should come.

[The faces grow solemn, in the fire-light, and the voices are lowered.]

THE MONK. The Jew! Oft have men seen him bent and worn, When darkness fills the earth, still wandering, Still living out his curse.

THE PEASANT. List! Hear ye not?

THE SOLDIER. Again that mournful wailing of the wind.

THE PEASANT. How came he by the curse?

THE MONK. Know, when our Lord, Full weary, bore his cross to Calvary, He paused a moment, resting, but this Jew, Ahasuerus--cursed be the name-- Reviled the Saviour, and commanded him To move away. Whereon our blessed Lord: "Because thou grudgest me a moment's rest Unresting shalt thou wander o'er the earth Until I come."

THE SOLDIER. Ah, would I had been there-- The cursed Jew! An arrow through his heart Had stopped his babbling!

THE PEASANT. And had I been there, He would have felt the weight of my great fist Ere he had spoken twice.

[The Jew mutters indistinctly to himself in his corner.]

THE MERCHANT [in a low voice]. Dost hear the man? Old gray-beard murmurs.

THE SOLDIER. How! Is he a Jew?

THE MERCHANT. See how he cowers when we look at him.

THE MONK. He is no Jew. On this thrice-blessed night No Jew would dare seek shelter in Christ's house.

THE PEASANT. Yet they are daring--and men tell strange tales Of bloody rites which they perform apart.

THE SOLDIER. May God's high curse rest on their scattered race!

[The Jew flashes a quick glance upon them, and then looks down again. An unusually strong gust of wind sweeps through the hall, and strange moanings are heard in the chimney.]

THE PEASANT. Lost souls! Oh, Mother of Christ!

THE MERCHANT. They wail in pain.

THE MONK [making the sign of the cross]. 'Tis but the wind--or on this night mayhap We hear the noise of vast angelic hosts That sob to see our Saviour come to earth, A simple Babe, to suffer and to die-- So brother Anselm tells.

THE SOLDIER. And what knows he Of angels' doings?

THE MONK [terrified.] Still! Thou impious man! Hast thou not heard the fame of Anselm's name? A very saint on earth, his eyes behold Things hidden from mankind; his face doth glow All radiant from his visions.

THE SOLDIER. Wretch that I am! Ah, woe is me to speak thus of God's saint.

[The deep-toned monastery bell rings.]

THE MONK. Come, follow me. Below us in the crypt The pious brethren this night have set forth The sacred mystery of Jesus' birth; Shalt see the very manger where he lay. Make haste and come.

[The company arise and pass out, all save the Jew. The monk, last, stares at the gaunt figure a moment, opens his lips to speak, then shakes his head and departs.]