John the Baptist: A Play

_The same. Josaphat, Matthias_. [_From the left._]

Matthias. See, he is there!

Josaphat. Rabbi, forgive us for following thee hither----

John. It is not yet dawn.... At this hour ye have nothing to claim from me----

Matthias. But, remember Herod----

John. Why stir ye up so much dust? This puny Herod, who runs after women, is not my business.

JOSAPHAT AND MATTHIAS

[_Exchange dismayed glances._]

John. Go, find me Galileans! Wake those who sleep on the steps, ransack the houses if necessary. Only bring me Galileans, that I may question them.

Second Galilean. Hearest thou? Some one standeth there, clamouring for Galileans!

First Galilean. I thought I dreamt it. Thou, who wilt not let us sleep, what dost thou want with us Galileans?

John. Stand up and come to me!

Second Galilean. Goest thou?

First Galilean. He must be great in Israel, otherwise he would not command.

Second Galilean. Yes, yes; thou art right. [_They both stand up._]

Josaphat. Rabbi----[_John signs to him with his hand to be silent._]

First Galilean. Now, here we are.

John. Who are ye? Whence do ye come?

First Galilean. 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?

Second Galilean. Yes; we both fish with the same net.

John. And tell me, ye two men, have ye ever heard of a prophet that teacheth in Galilee?

First Galilean. A prophet! Hast thou heard of a prophet, Abia?

Second Galilean. I have heard of no prophet.

John. Not ... of one who saith ... He is the Son of God?

First Galilean. Ah, thou meanest Jesus of Nazareth?

John. [_In great agitation, scarcely audible._] Jesus of Nazareth!

JOSAPHAT AND MATTHIAS.

[_Awed._] Jesus of Nazareth!

John. Thou spakest His name first. Fear sealed my lips. But now thou hast said it. Yes, I mean Him.

First Galilean. Yes ... I know His father well. He is an honest carpenter, and very pious too. He well deserves that his son should be a joy to him.

John. Tell me more of Him.

First Galilean. He put up a bedstead for a friend of mine.

John. Tell me of the son.

First Galilean. Ah, the son. Well, Abia, what shall we say of the son?

Second Galilean. Aye, what shall we say of the son?

John. Hast thou ever seen Him?

First Galilean. Oh, yes.

John. Thou hast seen Him?

First Galilean. Many a time ... from my ship. For He carries on His work on the shore. And there is always a great gathering along the banks, is there not, Abia?

Second Galilean. Yes, the banks are always quite black with people. And the fish take notice of it. That is not good for our trade.

First Galilean. They say that He works miracles. I once met a man myself who had been blind till his--I forget what year--and he maintained that he was made to see again by spittle from His mouth ... It may be possible--but----[_Laughs stupidly._]

John. [_To Josaphat._] Have not many said of me, that I work miracles?

Josaphat. Many say it, but we know it, Rabbi.

John. Indeed? I have seen no miracle but the power ... and no one to whom it hath happened, save the weak. But speak on, man.

First Galilean. It may be all very well for Him to heal the sick, but the worst of it is He doeth it on the Sabbath. That is bad, bad! And then, His friends are not well chosen. Circumspect people, naturally, are not disposed to mix with Him. For how can one trust a man who sitteth at meat with publicans and sinners? And, then, He is always at weddings and feasts. Ah! No, no.

John. At feasts?

Josaphat. Master, these are little people. They understand not the wisdom of cunning speech.

John. The great should carry the little with them, the wise should master these simple intellects. That he hath not done.... And what is it He teacheth?

First Galilean. Ah, what does He teach? All sorts of folly. For instance, that we should love our enemies.

John. Love our enemies?

First Galilean. And bless them that curse us ... and pray for them that persecute us.

John. Pray for them that persecute us?

First Galilean. Yes; and more nonsense of the kind. Also that----

Call. [_From the roof of the Temple._] It groweth light towards Hebron.

John. [_Eagerly._] Why dost thou not proceed?

First Galilean. [_Rising._] It is now time for morning prayer.

Call. [_More distant._] It groweth light towards Hebron. [_All stand up and begin to pray, their faces turned towards the Temple._]

Call. [_Quite distant._] It groweth light towards Hebron.

John. [_Baffled and tormented._] Towards Hebron it groweth light.