John the Baptist: A Play

_The former. Miriam._

John. Miriam, thou? What desirest thou of me?

Miriam. [_Breathless._] I flew from the Palace.... The guards have chased me.... Perhaps what I know ... may be of use to thee.

Josaphat. Speak, Miriam!

Miriam. If the master will hear. With ye others I have nothing to do.

John. I will listen, Miriam.

Miriam. A rumour has reached the Tetrarch that the people are plotting evil against him. He would on that account hide the woman, but she will not be hid. She will defy the master, because he hath offended her. An order is just gone forth for all the servants of the house to arm themselves and line the road. Even during the night, so that the procession shall pass to the Temple ere the great crowd assembleth. Thus they think to escape the people's wrath and thine, master.

THE DISCIPLES

That shall not come to pass; verily it shall not.

Josaphat. Hast thou learned, Miriam, by which of the outer gates they go to the Temple?

Miriam. By the Susan Gate. I heard the servants say, as I crept by.

Josaphat. And will the Roman soldiers be amongst them?

Miriam. That I did not hear.

Josaphat. For if the Romans accompany them, we must wait behind the second gate; there where no heathen may penetrate at the cost of his head.

Matthias. On the other hand, they can there be saved by the priests.

Josaphat. Certainly, there the priests---- Master, what is thy counsel?

John. I counsel you to go forth into the streets, and to seek right and left. I would learn from that Galilean what counsel I ought to give you.

Matthias. Canst thou understand him?

Josaphat. I would liefer not understand him.

[_Exeunt Josaphat, Matthias, and Amarja._]