John the Baptist: A Play

_The same. Matthias._

Josaphat. Thou, Matthias? Hast thou not seen Manassa?

Matthias. No. Rabbi, I come to thee in the night because of Herod.

John. Because of Herod? [_Seats himself with head turned away._]

Matthias. I sent spies to the Palace up till the time of the Passover Feast. The priests were coming to and fro. What their business was no one knows. And if he cometh now to the morning sacrifice at eight of the clock, as is his custom on high festivals ... and comes with that woman ... flaunting his sin in the face of the people.... Rabbi, speak! What then?

John. [_Does not answer,_]

Amarja. He hears thee not.

Josaphat. He is thinking of the Galilean.

John. I heard some one here speak of sin. Know ye in what raiment sin clothes itself gorgeously when it goeth abroad among the people? Say courtliness, say hate, say what ye will, and I shall laugh at you. Hear, and mark well. They call it love. Everything that is small, and stoops because it is small, that throws crumbs from its table in order not to throw bread; that covers up graves that they may stink secretly; that hews off the thumb of the left hand that it may have nothing to say to the thumb of the right; take care; all that is called love. And they call it love when in spring the ass brays and the dogs whine; when a woman herself gathers together the stones whereon to rest with her lover in the evening, stones which in the morning the people will hurl at her, and the woman speaketh: "See beloved, how sweet is our couch." ... They call this love.

Matthias. [_After exchanging a look with Josaphat._] Rabbi, forgive us, but the people are waiting for thee. The many who desert their beds, expectant of the morrow, think only of one thing--judgment! The judgment of Herod.

John. Judgment of Herod--well.

Josaphat. And thou shalt judge him. No one else but thou?

John. I shall judge him.

Matthias. Him and the woman?

John. Him and the woman. Did ye doubt?

Matthias. If we did, forgive.

Amarja. But suppose he comes without the woman. What would happen then?

John. Ye ask so much. Ye and your questions become wearisome. Hark! There is Manassa. [_Josaphat opens._]