Chapter 13

A Street in the Judengasse. Several Jews pass across the stage, running and with gestures of distress.

JEWS. Woe, woe! the curse has fallen! [Exeunt.]

Enter other Jews.

1ST JEW. We are doomed. The fury of the Lord has smitten us. Oh that mine head were waters and mine eyes Fountains of tears! God has forsaken us. [They knock at the doors of the houses.]

2D JEW. What, Benjamin! Open the door to death! We all shall die at sunset! Menachem! Come forth! Come forth! Manasseh! Daniel! Ezra! [Jews appear at the windows.]

ONE CALLING FROM ABOVE. Neighbors, what wild alarm is this?

1ST JEW. Descend! Descend! Come with us to the house of prayer. Save himself whoso can! we all shall burn. [Men and women appear at the doors of the houses.]

ONE OF THE MEN AT THE DOOR. Beseech you brethren, calmly. Tell us all! Mine aged father lies at point of death Gasping within. Ye'll thrust him in his grave With boisterous clamor.

1ST JEW. Blessed is the man Whom the Lord calls unto Himself in peace! Susskind von Orb and Rabbi Jacob come From the tribunal where the vote is--Death To all our race.

SEVERAL VOICES. Woe! woe! God pity us!

1ST JEW. Hie ye within, and take a last farewell Of home, love, life--put on your festal robes. So wills the Rabbi, and come forth at once To pray till sunset in the Synagogue.

AN OLD MAN. O God! Is this the portion of mine age? Were my white hairs, my old bones spared for this? Oh cruel, cruel!

A YOUNG GIRL. I am too young to die. Save me, my father! To-morrow should have been The feast at Rachel's house. I longed for that, Counted the days, dreaded some trivial chance Might cross my pleasure--Lo, this horror comes!

A BRIDE. Oh love! oh thou just-tasted cup of joy Snatched from my lips! Shall we twain lie with death, Dark, silent, cold--whose every sense was tuned To happiness! Life was too beautiful-- That was the dream--how soon we are awake! Ah, we have that within our hearts defies Their fiercest flames. No end, no end, no end!

JEW. God with a mighty hand, a stretched-out arm, And poured-out fury, ruleth over us. The sword is furbished, sharp i' the slayer's hand. Cry out and howl, thou son of Israel! Thou shalt be fuel to the fire; thy blood Shall overflow the land, and thou no more Shalt be remembered--so the Lord hath spoken. [Exeunt omnes.]