Mary Magdalene: A Play in Three Acts

_THE SAME, LAZARUS. At the back of the vestibule, the SLAVES. Further away, imagined rather than perceived, the crowd of JEWS._

(_A great silence. LAZARUS advances slowly from the back of the vestibule. He looks neither to the right nor to the left. The SLAVES of the villa, who have hastened up among the last columns, form a group for a moment as though to block his way. But, at the approach of the man risen from the dead, who seems unaware of their presence, they fall back silently, one after the other. LAZARUS ENTERS by the back of the Atrium and stops on the threshold, which is raised by three steps. MARY MAGDALENE moves backwards to one of the columns in the foreground, against which she crushes herself, motionless. But VERUS, breaking the silence, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, goes up to LAZARUS._)

VERUS (_in a hectoring voice_)

Who are you?... (_LAZARUS does not reply._) You do not answer?... It is indeed easier to cover with silence what one dare not confess. But, if you have nothing to say, you have no business here. It is well for you that my pity is stronger than my indignation. Go!

(_A new and profound silence._)

LAZARUS (_in a voice that does not seem yet to have recovered its human note, to MAGDALENE_)

Come. The Master calls you.

(_MAGDALENE leaves the column against which she is leaning and takes four or five steps towards LAZARUS, as though walking in her sleep._)

VERUS (_barring the road_)

Where are you going?...

MARY MAGDALENE (_as though recovering consciousness with difficulty, in a stifled, hesitating voice, which she vainly tries to render firmer_)

Wherever he wishes....

Verus. No, not while I am here!...

MARY MAGDALENE (_throwing herself convulsively into VERUS’ arms_)

Verus!...

VERUS (_clasping her violently_)

Have no fear, Magdalene. Nothing can touch you in these arms which close round you. The madness of this land seems more contagious than its pestilence and more tenacious than its leprosy; but Roman reason does not waver, like the rest, at the first foul breath that issues from a tomb. We will cut this matter short. (_To LAZARUS_) You I will not touch with my sword. It shrinks from corpses, even when they walk and drive the trade which you do. It is for the slaves to show you the road back to the sepulchre.... Where are the slaves?... But, before going, look at this and tell your master that the woman whom he covets--by the gods, he lacks neither taste nor daring!--has sought a refuge in these arms, which will know how to defend her against his barbarous witchcraft and his childish spells. Above all, repeat to him what I am about to say: he will perhaps understand. His life, which will not be a long one, after what he has done, lies wholly in this hand which drives you hence. I have spoken. Go. She will not follow you....

MARY MAGDALENE (_struggling to escape from VERUS’ embrace, while, in the effort, her hair becomes loosened and falls over her shoulders_)

Yes!...

VERUS (_holding her back by force_)

What does this mean?... Then you wish to...? (_MAGDALENE nods her head._) I no longer understand.... Or rather I begin to understand too well.... You were at one.... And it was he whom you were awaiting with that impatience which seemed so sweet to me?... For who could be made to believe that the fairest, richest and proudest woman in all Judæa would thus, without a previous understanding, obey the first word, the first sign of the grotesque and repulsive messenger sent by one whom she had seen but once in her life!... It is too much.... I see, I know: go, since you love him!...

Mary Magdalene. No, no!... I love you, but he....

Verus. But he?...

MARY MAGDALENE (_sinking in sobs at VERUS’ feet_)

It is a different thing!...

Verus. It is well, stand up.... I do not keep you by force. But I could not have believed that you had come to this.... I have fallen into one of your Jewish traps. Do you see the crowd posted there, under the portico, spying upon its hostages?... I will not have Roman property defiled.... I bear you no grudge, Magdalene. Love, in me, is not extinguished in a moment; and I possess more constancy than woman.... I shall watch over you. I know now that, by destroying him, I can save her whom he wished to destroy. He does not suspect that he owes his life to me; for hitherto, from pity or indifference, I had held back the threats that were gathering over his head. But, since he himself comes to attack me in my happiness, I add to those threats all the weight of flouted love.... And, now, go with your guide from the tombs.... We shall meet again before long.

(_LAZARUS GOES OUT slowly through the vestibule. MAGDALENE, without a word, without a movement, without a look, GOES OUT after him, amid the profound, still silence of all present._)

APPIUS (_after a long pause_)

We have this day seen more than one thing that we had not seen before....

Silanus. It is true, Appius; and this is as surprising as the resurrection of a dead man....

CURTAIN