SCENE III

THE SAME, LUCIUS VERUS

MARY MAGDALENE (_running to VERUS with outstretched arms_)

It is you, my Verus, it is indeed you!... An eye that looks me in the face, a sword, shoulders, hands that do not tremble!... Come! Come! What are we to do?... Have you seen him?... Where are we going?... How can we help him?... How many men do you need?... Where are yours? He is not only innocent, as you well know, he is so pure, he stands so high that the thoughts of men cannot reach him.... In his goodness he is bearing everything for the sins of the world; but we will not have him sacrifice himself for us.... A single glance from his eyes, a single word from his mouth, are worth all the lives of all other men....

VERUS (_icily_)

Is this indeed the place where I was to meet you?... Who are these ... these men ... surrounding you?...

MARY MAGDALENE

They can be trusted.... They love him as well as he loved them; but they want a leader.... They were waiting for you.... They will follow you everywhere....

VERUS (_ironically_)

I have not come to command this ... foreign ... troop.... I do not know what you mean. There is some misunderstanding; and we should not, I think, explain it here, before so many witnesses....

MARY MAGDALENE

You are right.... (_To the others_) Leave us.... I will call you when the time comes for action....

(_ALL GO OUT, except MARY MAGDALENE and LUCIUS VERUS._)