John the Baptist: A Play

Fool that thou art! Thou art afraid of thy companions in misery and suffering. The same need as thine brings them hither; the same hope leads them on to the heights.

I am Manassa, the son of Jeruel, and my father was sick and blind; and I lived with him on the road to Gibeon, close by the well which is never dry. And men came unto me who sai...

Master, chide us not for having lingered. We paused by Herod's Palace, which, as a rule, is dark and deserted. We saw rosy lights kindled, and the pillars garlanded with flowers...

Forgive me, neighbour; accuse me not. I sinned out of ignorance.... I was in fear of the soldiers who are quartered yonder ... but I am going in. [_Slinks back to his shop._]

If only there were no foreigners! I, for my part, take not kindly to these Asiatics. They wash all day long, and yet stink in spite of it.... Ha! yesterday a Syrian sweetheart m...

This will be a sorry Passover for us tradesmen. See all this fine stock which I have laid in. There is the sacred pomegranate wood, whereon to roast the lamb. Here are the sweet...

Thou art a righteous man and knowest the law. Give me advice, and thou shalt have my thanks. My poor wife has hurt her foot while working in the fields. It is burning and swolle...

Thou speakest like one in his sleep! If there is a man in Jerusalem safe and untouched by the curse of the Romans, it is he. He standeth in the market-place and preacheth; he st...

Look at them! Must this not appear a mad mockery in the sight of the Lord? Who that follows the straight path laid down by the law, after the manner of God-fearing men, can have...

I have awakened the slumbering conscience, scourged and roused the idle, shown the erring the right road. One great burst of indignation against Herod now flames towards heaven....

Many reports of miracles worked by thee have come to our ears. Some say thou art Elias; and others, even greater than he. We are willing to believe this, even if thou performest...

See! Look around thee. Behold these pilgrims! They come with their knapsacks from far distant lands: from Egypt, from Euphrates, and Syria, and from the accursed city of Rome it...

_The same. Herod, Herodias, Salome and their train appear above in the background. The company of soldiers, with their officers, have posted themselves at the Palace gates. In s...

_Hall in Roman style of architecture in Herod 's Palace--On the right side, a balcony upheld by pillars, which extends the whole depth of the stage, and to which a fight of step...

Ah, here it is light, and one can see oneself reflected in the walls. Do you know why we have been suddenly mewed up in the apartments above? Yesterday we were allowed to wander...

That question thou oughtst not to ask me. My father was one of those men who never knew what weariness was. So his son, likewise, parts company with his pillow betimes, and----...

[_Feeling his tone of contempt._] I have had no roof over my head for three nights. Like a tramp I have wandered in the dust of the roads. My serving-women one by one deserted m...

[_Steps softly to the balustrade and gazes down on John, seeks in her breast for a flower, and not finding one turns back to Maecha._] Give me those thou wearest in thy girdle....

I respect thy faith, prophet, and so would speak to thee in a friendly spirit.... People have told me of a man who keeps far away from human dwellings, and only descends now and...

_A room in Josaphat's house. In the background a door, which leads into the street. Near it a barred window. On the left side is a door to another living room. A door also on th...

Thank him, Amarja, for eating with us. [_While John seats himself, he says, sotto voce, to Amarja_] Come! [_Observes Jael, who has been standing at the door unnoticed._] Jael, t...

I do not speak of to-day; to-day the poorest have something to eat. Thou art truly a great prophet, Rabbi, and thou givest much to the people; but from us--from me and these lit...

Some one hath said to me that I knew ye not; one of those who have the word "love" on their tongues.... And I am inclined to believe her.... But even if I have known you, I have...

I sent spies to the Palace up till the time of the Passover Feast. The priests were coming to and fro. What their business was no one knows. And if he cometh now to the morning...

A rumour has reached the Tetrarch that the people are plotting evil against him. He would on that account hide the woman, but she will not be hid. She will defy the master, beca...

They say that I once sat and played with pebbles on the threshold. And when evening came, they took me in. Since then I have belonged to the Palace, and know no better.

But I say unto you ... To him it was not blasphemy. To him it was worship. Methinks more such men will come out of Galilee. For there is an uprising there.... Tell me, Josaphat,...

_Pilgrims_ (_men and women_) _lie in their blankets, scattered about the steps and on the stones which fill the space on left side. Among them the First Galilean and Second Gali...

We are fishermen from the Sea of Galilee. My name is Ram, and that is my brother-in-law, and he is called Abia. And we both fish with the same net. Is it not so?

[_The great gates are slowly opened, displaying marble walls, mounting in terraces, behind which are two more gates. The Temple-building itself is almost completely hidden by sm...

_A town in Galilee.... The stage represents a grass-grown prison-yard which, on the right side, is adjacent to the gardens of a Herodian Palace, divided from them by a low wall,...

Yes; he has been here the last three days, Princess. They brought him at the end of the same cavalcade which brought thee. He lieth now safe with the salamanders and scorpions....

To speak candidly, friends, I do not lay hands on sages and fools willingly; for one can never know whether the executioner holds up the head of a sage or a fool.

[_Rising._] No, but thou must indeed ask my mother, Sire. I am still far too ignorant; I know not what a maiden ought to do. Only what I would like to do. I know that well enough.

Tell me, how should one address thee when one would show thee respect? Thou thinkest that I mock thee? But knowest thou that in reality I am indebted to thee? The people's medit...

See, I am pious by nature, and I have a longing for salvation.... What thou givest to the humblest by the highway, give also to me. Let me sit at thy feet. I will be pious. Yea,...

Rabbi, thou shouldst be the way that all the erring follow. Thou shouldst strengthen weak knees and mould trembling hands to the sword's hilt. Thy work was wrath, Rabbi, but tho...

[_Sitting down on a stone._] So seat yourselves with me. Night draweth nigh, and I am weary. Hearken! It was even as if I heard a beating of wings above me. Did ye hear nothing?

Sire, thou needest have no anxiety about food and drink. Something customary is best for jaded palates. Therefore I chartered the cook of Vitellius. But for the other part of th...

I vow, love, that I ask this only for the sake of the Roman. And how should I ever have conceived the idea had it not been for thy half-promises and suggestion of its possibilit...

Listen to me, thou sharpwits. A carpet of Indian wool will be spread here, there the Prince will sit with the foreign guests.... Let not thy foot touch the stone, raise not thy...

Welcome to my table, exalted Vitellius, who bringest on the soles of thy feet the sacred soil of Rome into my poor dwelling. Welcome to you also, ye who follow him, according to...

Pardon, noble Vitellius. The custom of the East, over which thou reignest so gloriously, doth not permit of my sitting beside thee at table. Yet we know how to entertain even wh...

To whom hast thou sent these messengers?... Thou art silent.... As I said before. I am from my heart sorry. So much might have been made of thee.... Still ... [_He shrugs his sh...

Two of his friends who were with him yesterday, the same thou sawest outside the gate, have come back, and learning that his life is now in jeopardy--thy servant hath told me, a...

And many people were gathered about him resting in the olive gardens, and praised the Lord for the miracle which had been done to them at that hour. And behold there was a light...

[_Has crossed over the stage and goes stealthily to the door on left. In great curiosity she draws back the curtain, and after gazing eagerly through it, reels backwards into th...

Sire, the people will not be restrained. Men and women in holiday raiment fill the streets and crowd on the roofs. They carry palms in their hands, and sing and shout for joy.

[_The curtains are drawn aside. One sees the roofs crowded with women waving palms. Others, with palms in their hands, climb the hilly street below. The shouting swells in volum...