John the Baptist: A Play

_John, Josaphat, Manassa, Amarja._

John. [_Goes to the door, where the Gaoler is waiting._]

Gaoler. Wouldst thou see thy disciples now?

John. Bring them to me.

[_Manassa, Amarja hasten to him and kiss his garment. Josaphat hangs back._]

John. Matthias is not with you?

Josaphat. No.

John. What, Josaphat, thou who wast ever the nearest to me, hast thou no greeting to give?

Josaphat. [_Turns away._]

John. Well, then, what is it?

Josaphat. Rabbi, it is written ... One knife sharpens another, and one man another ... but thou hast made us blunt.

John. And thou hast come this long way to tell me that?

Josaphat. Rabbi, thou shouldst be the way that all the erring follow. Thou shouldst strengthen weak knees and mould trembling hands to the sword's hilt. Thy work was wrath, Rabbi, but thou hast made of it a sophistry and a weakness.

John. Thou art not to know what my work was. Had I known myself, I should not be here. Truly the time of my fall is come, when enemies sing my praises and friends speak ill of me. What would ye have me do? My end must be in solitude and silence.

Josaphat. Thy end, Rabbi, is no concern of ours. It is for Israel's end that I fear. Thou tookest the law from us. What hast thou given us instead?

John. Who art thou, that like a kennelled hound, thou bitest at my shanks? _I_ took the law from you? My soul hath wrestled with the law till it is weary; my forehead beat against its walls till it bled! But now ye have opened your mouths wide that salvation should slip down them like sweet crumbs. Ye gazed up at me so long as I stood erect, and now shrink away like cowards from my fall. I have not fallen for myself, I fell for you. To you it was a compulsion and a matter of watching. To me it was voluntary, and a combat at the sword's point.... Look at me! Twice to-day I have been face to face with the world's sin. But it seemed to me almost fair, for I have yet to meet the worst. Thou art a renegade! Thou hast ever been a renegade, and renegades will ye be to all eternity, ye men of universal utility, who manure your acres with the blood of those who have died for you! Go! I am weary of you!

Josaphat. I am going, Rabbi, whither Matthias hath gone before me, to Jesus of Nazareth.

John. [_Startled and moved._] To Jesus of Nazareth?

Josaphat. [_Turns silently to go out._] [_Exit._