John the Baptist: A Play

_Herod, John. The Gaoler. A Guard._

Herod. Tell me, how should one address thee when one would show thee respect? Thou thinkest that I mock thee? But knowest thou that in reality I am indebted to thee? The people's meditated attack was not hidden from me, and yet I came without the escort of warriors which Rome sent for my protection. Thou heldest me in the hollow of thy hand, as thou heldest the stone. Say, why didst thou let it fall? Why hast thou spared me?

John. Sire, even if I spoke thou wouldst not understand me.

Herod. That is defiance, which I cannot praise. In chains it is easy to be defiant. Take off his chains and go. [_The Gaoler obeys. Exit with the guard._] Now, as a free man, revile me. Art thou a preacher of repentance? If so, preach to me!

John. Sire, thou wouldst not understand me.

Herod. So thou saidst before. Think of something new. Here in Galilee I am inclined to be mild and tolerant of goodness. I am told that thou hatest the Pharisees. I hate them too. I am told that thou hatest the priests. I love them not. I am told that thou hatest the Romans. I---- Say, why didst thou spare me?

John. Sire, my heart failed me.

Herod. Failed thee! Before me, whom thou callest "the little"! Art thou flattering me because I have loosened thee from thy chains?

John. Thou hast not laid me in chains, and canst not loosen me from them.

Herod. What ... and yet I made thee falter?

John. It was Another who threw thee in my way.... And so my heart failed me.

Herod. Tell me, Baptist--I call thee by the name I have heard people speak of thee by, and I hope thou wilt not be angry--tell me, Who is that King of the Jews whose image thou danglest before the people?... See, the guards are gone, and thy confidence shall be rewarded. Tell me, who is it?

John. Sire, I know not.

Herod. And so thou deniest thy own creature?

John. What is my own I deny.

Herod. Ha, ha, ha! I have half a mind to summon my little Greek that he may go to school under thee. Listen [_in a low voice_], I too have heard of a King of the Jews who will come with a sword drawn above his head, and he will spare no one who doth not serve him at the right moment.

John. [_Eagerly._] Who is it, of whom thou speakest?

Herod. Master, I do not know. Thou seest thus that I too have a burden of secret anxiety oppressing me, and await the sunrise.... But let me speak with thee seriously, Baptist. Thou hurlest thy arrows of reproach at me on account of the woman I stole.... I could almost pity thee for that. Thou, a great man, mightst have chosen a greater subject than a woman. And knowest thou every day she sharpens those arrows herself for me?... But enough of that. The smiths say that good metal rings true even when it is cracked, and thou ringest true. How dost thou manage it?... I pray thee teach me the way.... What, silent again?

John. Methinks I know you now, ye smiling scoffers. Ye grow fat on the wit of the market-places; but hunger seizes you, and ye then lift your eyes to the earnest ones, walking on the mountain-tops.

Herod. By Bacchus, there lurks some truth in that. But it's not good walking on the mountain-tops. We wait to see you fall; then we shall not smile, but laugh.

John. But I say unto thee, Sire, thou wilt not laugh. He Who cometh requireth me not. That is why He cast me down.... Gaze into His eyes when He comes, and thou wilt not laugh, even at me.

Herod. It seems to me thy reasoning is poor, and revolves in a circle.... And yet there is something that attracts me to thee. Baptist, thou hast so long been my enemy, couldst thou not possibly be my friend?

John. Sire, meseemeth that to be nobody's enemy and nobody's friend is the right of the lonely. It is their all. Let me keep it.

Herod. Yet I do not give thee up as lost. If thou wert so minded we might pursue the same paths for a spell.

John. Whither, Sire?

Herod. Whither? Upwards!

John. For thee there is no upwards. Thou bearest the times that are and were before thee, like an ulcerous evil, on thy body. Burnest thou not from all their poisonous lusts? Art thou not weighted by their unholy desires? And thou wouldst mount to the heights. Stay in the market-place and smile.

Herod. Baptist, take care. Thy chains lie not far off.

John. Let me be chained, Sire; I ask for nothing better.

Herod. [_Gnashing his teeth._] Truly thou art ruled by a broken spirit. [_After a little reflection._] Yet tell me, Baptist, when that other cometh, that other----Say, was it in His Name that thou didst not throw the stone at me?

John. [_Confused._] Sire, what dost thou ask?

Herod. Was it in His Name? For if so, thy Jewish king shall not rob my nights of sleep. Ha! ha! Here, gaoler! [_The gaoler comes._] The prisoner shall go in and out as he pleaseth, for he is not dangerous.

Gaoler. [_Dumfounded, then in a low voice._] Sire, how shall my life be safe, if----

Herod. And his disciples, who loiter about the gates. Let them in and out as often as he wishes.... Now, did this God's people ever know a more clement master than I? [_Laughing, walks away._]