John the Baptist: A Play

_John, Jael, the children._

John. Thy eyes have a sad look, Jael. Is thy heart troubled?

Jael. Kneel down, Baruch, my son. Kneel down, both.

The Boy. [_Half crying._] Mother!

John. What is it, Jael?

Jael. [_To the children._] Say: Prithee, Rabbi?

THE CHILDREN

Prithee, Rabbi.

Jael. And this little one prayeth, too, though not old enough to pray....

John. For what?

Jael. That thou wouldest give them back their father; for see, they have no bread.

John. [_Lifting the children from their knees._] Just now we ate of the lamb in thy house, and thou sayest "we have no bread"?

Jael. 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 little children--thou takest away all that we have.

John. How could I do that, Jael?

Jael. See; for a long time my husband goeth out every night to thee in the wilderness, and then the tools lie there idle, and we starve. But willingly would we starve and die of hunger for him, if thou hadst not estranged his heart from us, and stolen his love for thyself.

John. Art thou, too, one of those who say, Greater than the law and sacrifice is love?

Jael. [_Anxiously._] I did not say that, Rabbi.... Thou wouldst not get me into trouble with the priests?

John. But thou thinkst so in thy heart!

Jael. Rabbi!

John. Hadst thou come to me in my wilderness, I would have shown thee the way to One Who shall bring food to the hungry. Here, I am powerless. Go; I have nothing to do with thee!

Jael. [_Goes with the children to the door,_]

John. [_Makes a movement as if he would call her back._]

Jael. Rabbi!

John. [_Shakes his head._]

[_Exit Jael, with the children._]