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American Dramatists Series 
 
 TEMPTED IN ALL 
 POINTS 
 
 A HISTORICAL PLAY IN THREE 
 ACTS AND THREE VISIONS 
 
 RALPH HALL FERRIS 
 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith : Blessed are the 
 pure in heart; for they shall see GOD. 
 
 The Words of Jeshua bar-Joseph. 
 
 BOSTON: THE GORHAM PRESS 
 
 TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED 
 
Copyright, 1915, by Ralph Hall Ferris 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 THE GORHAM PRESS, BOSTON, U. S. A. 
 
WHEN THE HOLY THINGS OF LIFE 
 HAVE SHATTERED FOR YOU IN BIT 
 TER DISILLUSION * OR THE TASTE 
 OF LIFE HAS CLOYED UPON YOUR 
 TONGUE * OR ITS HARSH UNCER 
 TAINTIES HAVE MADE YOU FLIPPANT 
 OF TRUTH * * TAKE HEART * AND 
 LIFT UP YOUR EYES UPON HIM * 
 THE SON OF MAN * * WHO IN THE 
 FULNESS OF HIS MANHOOD HALLOW 
 ED ALL LIFE * IN THE COURAGE 
 OF HIS LIVING MADE LIFE TO TASTE 
 EVER FRESH * AND IN THE FEARLESS 
 NESS OF HIS DEATH MADE TRUTH 
 TO BE BOTH GREAT AND TRUE. 
 
 372221 
 
PEOPLE OF THE PLAY 
 
JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: ^hereunto shall I 
 liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting 
 in the marketplaces who call unto their fellows and 
 say : 
 
 We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; 
 We wailed, and ye did not mourn 
 
 The Words of Jeshua bar-Joseph 
 
PEOPLE OF THE PLAY 
 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH, a prophet of Galilee, by his 
 
 disciples called the Master . 
 JUDAS BAR-SYMEON, a noble of Kerioth-Judah, his 
 
 disciple. 
 SYMEON BAR- JONAH, a fisherman of Kapharnahum, 
 
 Galilee, another disciple. 
 JACOB BAR-ZEBEDIAH \brothers, Galilean fish- 
 
 JOCHANAN BAR-ZEBEDIAHJerraew, tWO disciples. 
 
 Eight Disciples, Galileans, who with the preceding 
 
 jour are known as The Twelve . 
 CAIAPHAS, high priest at Jerusalem. 
 ANNAS, a former highpriest, father-in-law to Caia- 
 
 phas. 
 
 AMRAPHEL, captain of the Temple Guards. 
 ^MILIANUS, captain of the Procurator s Guard. 
 MALACHI, a gardener of Paneas. 
 ZERUEL, an old man of Jerusalem. 
 RUTH BATH-ABIHU, niece to Annas. 
 ABIGAIL, her maid. 
 Hawker, Beggar, Priests, Levites, Pharisees, Temple 
 
 Guards, Men of Israel, Women of Israel. 
 
 In addition to the preceding the following People 
 
 appear in the Visional . 
 
 Voice from Heaven. 
 
 Dove. 
 
 Angels, Children, Outcasts of Society, Two Crimi 
 nals, Roman Centurion, Roman Soldiers, Other 
 Men, Other Women. 
 
ACT I 
 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
JESHUA BAR-JOSEPH saith: If any man would 
 come after me, let him deny himself and take up his 
 cross and follow me; for whosoever would save his 
 life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for 
 my sake shall save it. 
 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: There is nothing 
 covered up that shall not be uncovered, and hid, that 
 shall not be known. 
 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: Whosoever shall ac 
 knowledge the Son of Adam before men, him shall 
 the Son of Adam also acknowledge before the angels 
 of God; but whosover shall disown the Son of Adam 
 before men, him shall the Son of Adam also disown 
 before the angels of God. 
 
 The Words of Jeshua bar-Joseph 
 
ACT I 
 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 The Garden of the Strangers, a semi-public pleas 
 ure garden below Mount Hermon near Paneas, a 
 village otherwise known to the Romans as Philip s 
 Ccesarea; a fortnight or so before the Passover in the 
 sixteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, Emperor of 
 Rome. 
 
 The garden nestles in the shelter of a rocky moun 
 tain spur that closes it in on the left, and looks out 
 over a valley to the huge snow-capped shoulder of 
 Mount Hermon in the distance. Below Hermon 
 and nearer a sheer limestone cliff looks almost direct 
 ly into the garden, its brow just peering over the 
 thorn hedge in bloom that shuts the garden in from 
 the roadway. Fortunately the hedge has a wide 
 break in the center, flanked by acacias, disclosing the 
 dirt roadway and the bold cliff. Through this open 
 ing one can see that a small Greek temple stands al 
 most on the very edge of the latter. The cliff face 
 shows marks of disintegration, caused doubtless by 
 the numerous springs which break out in the cavern 
 at its foot, although, unless one stands on the road 
 way, the springs are invisible. 
 
 In the garden a sparkling spring breaks out of the 
 rude rock a little above the garden level and plashes 
 into a shallow pool with a subterranean outlet. A 
 small colonnaded pavilion or summer-house of stone 
 incloses the spring and pool. The floor of the pavil^ 
 II 
 
T 2 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 ion is of stone and slightly elevated above the garden 
 level, to which it leads by two or three stone steps. 
 On either side of the spring two stone benches are 
 roughly hewn out of the natural rock and a rude 
 stone table stands by the bench back of the spring 
 toward the roadway. Beds of tulips, lilies of the 
 valley and other flowers fill the space below the 
 pavilion on either side of the steps. Directly across 
 from the pavilion is the gardener s lodge, opening on 
 to the garden by a door and a latticed window. A 
 single step leads from the door to the garden level, 
 and a bed of various flowers graces the space beloiv 
 the window. Sycamores grow between the hedge 
 and lodge, and a cypress spreads its shade beneath the 
 pavilion and hedge, when there is sun. A bench may 
 be seen under the cypress facing toward the lodge. 
 An oleander may also be seen, rather more promi 
 nent, however, than the bench, since it stands just 
 this side of the lodge door. Grass grows between the 
 various flower beds and the hedge. 
 
 It is afternoon of a cloudy day, and one may notice 
 over the mountain a possibility of the sky clearing. 
 
 No person is seen in the garden; but before long 
 a roving eye will discover that the single step of the 
 lodge is not entirely unoccupied; for on it may be 
 seen a pair of worn sandals, probably left by some 
 one now within the lodge. The surmise is justified 
 by the slow opening of the lodge door inwards. As 
 it opens, Malachi appears. He is a typical Israelite 
 of the dull peasant class, slow, slightly stooped, full 
 bearded, gray in beard and hair, showing him to be 
 past middle age. He is bare-headed and barefoot, 
 and is clothed in the usual kethoneth, a sort of tunic, 
 
ACT I 13 
 
 of rough wool, gathered about the waist by a cord 
 girdle. What its original color was is not now dis- 
 cernible, but it might have been a brown stripe in 
 two or three shades. He is carrying a wicker basket 
 of dried fruits and a drinking cup. He slips his feet 
 into the sandals on the step, enters the garden, ex 
 amines the sky overhead and over the cliff, walks 
 leisurely to the pavilion and enters it. 
 
 At this point a woman s sweet clear voice begins 
 to sing off stage as if she were approaching from be 
 yond the lodge and continues to sing until her en 
 trance. At the sound of her voice Malachi looks up 
 with a fatherly smile, places the cup and basket on 
 the pavilion table, steps again into the garden and 
 passes toward the lodge, this time nearer the hedge. 
 He looks off through the sycamores, smiling as if 
 seen, and reenters the lodge, only to return imme 
 diately with a pruning knife and trowel, with which 
 he goes to the flower-bed this side of the pavilion 
 steps. With a deft movement he gathers the flowing 
 kethoneth between his legs and tucks the ends in his 
 girdle in front, thus presenting the appearance of 
 loose trousers formed from the skirts of the ketho 
 neth. He then kneels and busies himself with weed 
 ing. All this time the Voice has been singing the 
 words of a popular peasant ballad. 
 
 VOICE (sings off stage). 
 Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away ; 
 
 For lo the winter is past, 
 
 The rain is over and gone, 
 
 The flowers appear on the earth, 
 
 The time of the singing of birds is come, 
 And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in the land. 
 
i 4 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 Abigail enters under the sycamores. She is a 
 fresh, pretty and vivacious peasant girl not yet out 
 of her teens, well aware of her physical charms and 
 therefore instinctively something of a coquet, a little 
 sophisticated no doubt by service in the city, but not 
 yet artificial or insincere. Her dress, which is of 
 some simple bright-colored stuff that contrasts effec 
 tively with her dark hair and eyes, betrays by its 
 shortness her servile position and consequently re 
 veals small bare well formed ankles and light leather 
 sandals. A small cloth purse, suspended by a slight 
 cord around her neck, is concealed in the loose open 
 folds of her dress over her bosom. Her hair is loose 
 ly coiled on top of her head and contains a plain orna 
 ment or two. She stops singing at sight of her father. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Here you are! 
 
 MALACHI. Eh, you, daughter? 
 
 She runs to him behind and pats his cheek mother- 
 ingly. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Same old daddy! Don t you ever tire 
 of your beloved garden? Ugh, I couldn t live here 
 a month ! 
 
 She goes to the hedge opening and looks off toward 
 the cliff, as her father turns his head and looks after 
 her affectionately. He then resumes weeding. 
 
 MALACHI. You like Jerusalem so much then? 
 Mistress is good to you there? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh mistress Ruth knows how to have 
 a good time. (She sings.} 
 
 !Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south! 
 Blow upon my garden, 
 That its fragrance may flow out. 
 
ACT I 15 
 
 Let my beloved come into his garden 
 And eat his precious fruits. 
 
 Does the sun never shine here? See, the cliffs 
 still crumbling into the cave. I wonder how long it 
 will last. And then Pan s temple will fall. By the 
 way, mistress wishes some tulips. 
 
 MALACHI. Directly, daughter. 
 
 He begins to select and cut tulips. At the same 
 time Abigail comes toward the pavilion, stoops to 
 pick a lily of the valley, and her purse slips out of 
 her bosom and swings free. She catches it with her 
 left hand, picks the lily with her right, and stands 
 up, holding out the purse toward Malachi. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Look, daddy; a whole month s wages 
 today ! 
 
 She slips the purse into her bosom, puts the lily 
 in her hair, sings gaily and as she sings sits on the 
 pavilion steps. 
 
 ABIGAIL (sings). 
 
 1 am a rose of Sharon, 
 A lily of the valley. 
 
 MALACHI. Mistress will live here now? 
 
 ABIGAIL (laughs merrily). Here? Ha, ha! (She 
 spies the basket of fruit.) H m, wonder what she ll 
 do when she sees all the beggars running in here for 
 fruit. (She rises, enters the pavilion and takes a 
 fig.) That was a pretty story you told her yester 
 day about her father always keeping this garden open 
 to strangers. I warrant, though, she d stop it if she 
 were to stay here long. 
 
 MALACHI. Nonsense, Abigail; young mistress is 
 
16 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 too good to do that. 
 
 ABIGAIL. You don t know mistress. Pah, she 
 doesn t care a carob for the custom. It s only she 
 sees your heart is set on it that she lets you keep it up. 
 (She takes another fig and turns to come down into 
 the garden.) Lucky for you she s going back in a 
 day or two; else she might turn all the beggars and 
 worse out. 
 
 MALACHI. God forbid! The tulips are ready. 
 
 She steps down to him and pats him affectionately 
 on the cheek. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Same old daddy. To keep fruit here 
 for strangers, mostly beggars though, is your religion. 
 You re a wee bit old-fashioned. Why not come to 
 the City? Mistress needs another gardener: 
 
 She takes the flowers, crosses the garden to the 
 lodge and sitting on the step, munches the fig. Mal- 
 achi shakes his head slowly, goes to the other flower 
 bed beyond the pavilion step and begins weeding it. 
 
 MALACHI. This garden is good enough for me. 
 Why doesn t mistress stay here? 
 
 ABIGAIL. What s to do, who s to see here ? Jeru 
 salem s the world with its dinners and games. 
 
 MALACHI. Games? Surely mistress has nothing 
 to do with the games? 
 
 ABIGAIL (laughs). You don t know Jerusalem! 
 
 MALACHI. But Israelites don t go to heathen 
 games. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh, the rabbis rave against the heath 
 en customs Romans have introduced ; but the rest are 
 mostly glad, I think. Sometimes I almost wish our 
 
ACT I 17 
 
 gloomy religion had in it a little more of Pan. 
 
 MALACHI. You can say that, my daughter? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Why not? Old Herod was right in 
 building that temple to Pan. 
 
 She points to the temple on the cliff. 
 
 MALACHI. But he was an Idumean. 
 
 ABIGAIL. What of that? Of course, there isn t 
 any Pan. Still his is a merry religion. 
 
 MALACHI. Hush, child ; don t be corrupted by 
 Rome. Israel must hate his oppressors. 
 
 ABIGAIL. I wonder, does mistress hate them all? 
 
 MALACHI. Certainly she must, as a true daugh 
 ter of Israel. 
 
 ABIGAIL (laughs). A daughter of Israel, true 
 enough! You ought to approve of her. She keeps 
 up the tradition of hospitality to strangers, some 
 strangers at any rate, tra-la! 
 
 MALACHI. Eh, I don t follow you. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh daddy, you re so stupid! H m, 
 think I d better say nothing, might shock you, h m. 
 
 MALACHI. Eh-eh, you re not meaning anything 
 against mistress? Why shouldn t she receive stran 
 gers as her father did ? 
 
 ABIGAIL (looks up). Ah, we ll have sun after 
 all. (She rises.) But suppose the strangers are 
 Romans? 
 
 MALACHI. Romans? Ye-es, hospitality even to 
 them until the Day of Deliverance. 
 
 ABIGAIL. And, of course, hospitality isn t com 
 plete without breaking bread with them? 
 
18 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 MALACHI. Moses forbids. But food may be set 
 before them without sin. 
 
 ABIGAIL. But mistress and ^Emilianus 
 
 MALACHI. A Roman? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Captain of Pilate s guard. What if 
 they 
 
 MALACHI. You know that s impossible. 
 
 ABIGAIL (laughs). Impossible? But may be the 
 Roman and she don t tra-la-la-la ! 
 
 MALACHi(</ro/>s- his implements) . Enough, daugh 
 ter ; not another word against mistress ! You are mis 
 taken. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Daddy, don t be shocked! Let us say 
 it is a mistake. Yet why has she left Jerusalem 
 just at Passover time, do you think? 
 
 MALACHI. For the mountain air, she says. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh, the mountain air, is it? Then 
 she doesn t expect to see some one here? And it s 
 not ^Emilianus either. 
 
 MALACHI. I have heard enough, child ! 
 
 ABIGAIL. Don t get angry now, daddy dear; let 
 us say it s not so. Still, we do things differently in 
 Jerusalem. You ll see soon enough. 
 
 A Hawker enters along the roadway from the 
 right, as yet unperceived by the two in the garden. 
 He is the usual run of vagrant hawker, servile, im 
 pudent, ribald and talkative as the occasion serves. 
 He passes for young, that is, he is not so old but he 
 has a quick eye for a pretty ankle or a smiling mouth. 
 He wears a close-fitting turban of soiled white and 
 is clothed in a yellow-striped sarbalin, or flowing 
 
ACT I 19 
 
 breeches, the loose folds of which are gathered up at 
 present and tucked into his faded blue sash to facili 
 tate his progress. A soiled white sadin, or shirt, is 
 tucked into his breeches and over all he wears a soil 
 ed red simlah, a sort of military cloak. His feet are 
 bare except for rough leather sandals. On his back 
 he carries a pack that by reason of its dingy cover 
 ings suggests things within dear to a country 
 wench s heart, to whom the city lass is first cousin. 
 At first only his turban and pack may be seen over 
 the hedge bobbing along; but as father and daughter 
 continue to talk, he heaves into full sight at the open 
 ing and looks in. 
 
 MALACHI (shakes his head). I wish mistress 
 didn t need you in the City. 
 
 ABIGAIL. It s not so bad as that, daddy mine. 
 
 As she turns to go out under the sycamores, the 
 Hawker appears at the hedge opening and looks in 
 with an insolent humility that is lost on Malachi. 
 Strangely enough, he has not yet perceived Abigail. 
 She, hoiuever, turns back on hearing his voice, appre 
 ciates his insolence and looks on rather amusedly as 
 he speaks. 
 
 HAWKER. Good father, may a poor hawker rest 
 his worthless body in this noble garden? 
 
 While he fawns, Malachi rises deliberately, drops 
 the loose folds of his kethoneth and approaching ad 
 dresses him ceremoniously. 
 
 MALACHI. Come in, good stranger. Mistress 
 keeps this garden for such as you. 
 
 HAWKER. Thanks, good father; a thousand 
 blessings on your head! (He has already entered 
 
20 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 the garden briskly and approached the pavilion; but 
 as he puts his foot on the step he hesitates.) Is it 
 permitted ? 
 
 MALACHI. It is permitted; enter. 
 
 The Hawker enters the pavilion, leaving his san 
 dals on the step, casts off his pack with a sigh, drops 
 the folds of his sarbalin from the sash and sits down 
 luxuriously on the bench this side of the spring. His 
 roving eye lights on the fruit and he leans forward 
 eagerly to inspect it. Meanwhile Malachi follows 
 him into the pavilion, fills the drinking cup, takes 
 up the basket of fruit and offers both, while Abigail 
 comes to the center of the garden and watches. 
 
 MALACHI. Drink and refresh yourself with 
 these dates of Smyrna and these Damascene figs. 
 
 The Hawker drinks and greedily snatches up 
 some fruit. 
 
 MALACHI. Mistress gains merit of holiness by 
 your acceptance of her hospitality. 
 
 HAWKER. May she gain much merit! 
 
 ABIGAIL. Precious little you care for her merit, 
 you vagabond ! 
 
 HAWKER (surprised). Ah, she s a saucy wench! 
 Your daughter? 
 
 MALACHI. My daughter Abigail. 
 
 He replaces the basket and cup on the table, goes 
 down into the garden, gathers up the loose ends of 
 his kethoneth as before, and resumes weeding. 
 
 HAWKER (laughs). Pretty, too; her mistress 
 could be no fairer. Come, my lily among thorns; 
 see, trinkets and treasures to grace your beauty. 
 
ACT I 21 
 
 Abigail tosses her head scornfully, yet pleased in 
 spite of herself, and as he quickly opens his pack and 
 begins to display his wares, she is mollified and 
 comes reluctantly forward. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Pooh, worthless stuff, just trash ; what 
 do I want of it? 
 
 She enters the pavilion nevertheless and examines 
 the goods eagerly, before long laying the tulips on 
 the table so as to have both hands free. As he talks 
 he rapidly displays his stuffs. 
 
 HAWKER. But, my sweet, you needn t buy; 
 your smile is reward enough. Look, a necklace of 
 coral beads, admired and blessed by Caiaphas him 
 self. 
 
 ABIGAIL. What a romance! 
 
 HAWKER. But true. Let me slip it around 
 your throat. There, see how it lies snug and beauti 
 ful on the warm flesh. And this love charm, I 
 fasten it to the necklace. Ah, how happily it slips 
 into hiding! It will bring many lovers where it 
 lies, my dove. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Tut-tut. (She sings.) 
 
 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth ; 
 For his love is better than wine.* 
 
 MALACHI. If only she would marry! 
 
 HAWKER. She s young, good father; give her 
 time. What s this? Ah, earrings. There, put 
 them on you, little bells of silver under the pearl of 
 your ears. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Brass, you mean. 
 
 HAWKER. You grow more beautiful. Now, on 
 
22 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 with these bracelets, quick, to the elbow. 
 
 Abigail puts the bracelets on and turns her head 
 and arms in admiration. 
 
 HAWKER. Ah, here s the very thing! 
 
 He unfolds a shawl of fine texture. In her ex 
 citement she claps her hands, snatches it from him 
 and as she speaks she drapes it gracefully over her 
 head and shoulders. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh-oh-oh! Let me put it on, let me 
 put it on! 
 
 HAWKER. Put it on, my beauty. It came across 
 the deserts, from the weavers beyond Iran. Look, 
 the flash of gold melting into azure and purple! If 
 only the sun would come out now. Magic weavers 
 wove the rainbow in it, to deck the raven locks and 
 swan shoulders of some stealer of hearts. Good 
 father, is she not lovely to look at? 
 
 MALACHI. She is young and very fair. May 
 you ever be as fair at heart, my child. 
 
 ABIGAIL. But, of course, I cannot buy them. 
 (She starts to take them off ; then hesitates.) Still, 
 How much are they? 
 
 HAWKER. But a pittance, my darling; nothing 
 at all. I ll give them to you for a smile, and two 
 shekels. 
 
 ABIGAIL (ruefully). No, I can t afford it. How 
 ever, I ll give you one shekel. Is it a bargain? 
 
 HAWKER (fawns). Oh my mistress, you are 
 very good; you have a kind mistress, and I m a beg 
 gar, I have nothing! I am ruined at the price. But 
 you are so pretty in them, you must have them. Two 
 shekels? No? No? Give me just two shekels, 
 
ACT I 23 
 
 wanting one denar, and you can have them; but I 
 shall be beggared! 
 
 ABIGAIL. No, too much. 
 
 She begins to take the things off again. 
 
 HAWKER. No, no, don t take them off! Think 
 how pretty you look in them, no man can resist you. 
 No? You wont give me two shekels wanting one 
 denar? Only seven denars? No? 
 
 She takes out her purse from her bosom and opens 
 it. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Make it five denars and I ll 
 
 HAWKER. O father Abraham, I am ruined, I 
 am ruined! No, I can t do that! But they were 
 made for you, my almond blossom. Give me six 
 denars, ah me! and they are yours; but you ll rob 
 me! 
 
 ABIGAIL (laughs and pays him). Good, though 
 you re robbing me at that. Here s your smile. (She 
 drops him a mock curtsy and smiles.) I must to 
 mistress now. 
 
 She takes up the tulips she had left on the table 
 and steps down into the garden, while he packs up 
 and chatters gaily. 
 
 HAWKER. And tell her I have some fine silks 
 I ll bring tomorrow. My pretty, if you go to town 
 in that shawl, you ll have more men about you than 
 even the strange prophet in town today. 
 
 ABIGAIL. As if I have to go after them! 
 
 As she is crossing the garden toward the syca 
 mores, very distant shouts steal faintly into the gar 
 den, yet not so faint but they check her abruptly. 
 
24 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 ABIGAIL. What is that? 
 
 HAWKER. That s the prophet; Paneas town s 
 gone mad over him. 
 
 MALACHI. What prophet? who is he? 
 
 He has finished weeding and stands up, dropping 
 the folds of his kethoneth the while and slipping 
 the garden implements, knife and trowel, into his 
 girdle. 
 
 HAWKER. You haven t heard? The mad Gali 
 lean, teaching all sorts of nonsense. (The shouts 
 are repeated.) Hear them! 
 
 MALACHI. What about? 
 
 Abigail goes to the opening in the hedge and looks 
 off down the road to the right. By this time the 
 Hawker has tied up his pack and sits down for a bit 
 of gossip, the gardener joining him in the pavilion. 
 
 HAWKER. Oh, about some country or other, 
 where everybody loves everybody, friends and ene 
 mies alike, ho, ho! The only kind of enemy I love 
 is a pretty one, even if she robs me. 
 
 He wafts a kiss toward Abigail, who tosses her 
 head and laughs merrily. 
 
 MALACHI. A Galilean? Does he say what 
 country? 
 
 HAWKER. Oh, I don t know. He says his father 
 is king there, and is trying to get Israel to ac 
 cept his father s rule. Why, his father was a car 
 penter, they say, and is dead at that! He forgets 
 Rome, too, like enough. Much like a king s son he 
 is! Just a begging prophet, a little mad, with a 
 pack of women and fishermen in tow. 
 
ACT I 25 
 
 The distant shouts are again heard. They listen 
 until the shouts die away, when Malachi resumes 
 the discussion. 
 
 MALACHI. People don t follow beggars that way. 
 
 HAWKER. Perhaps not. They do say he s a sort 
 of sorcerer, makes sick folk well by looking at em. 
 Well, I never saw it happen. 
 
 He rises, gathers up the loose folds of his sarba- 
 lin, tucks them securely in his sash, shoulders the 
 pack with a grunt, descends into the garden, slipping 
 his feet into his sandals, and walks toward the hedge 
 opening, accompanied by Malachi. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Why, I ve heard of him! He s a 
 teacher or rabbi. One of his disciples is the prince 
 
 She checks herself quickly. 
 
 HAWKER. What s that, my pretty robber, about 
 a prince? Princes don t follow beggars. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh nothing; but I must tell mistress! 
 
 She goes out in considerable excitement under 
 the sycamores. 
 
 HAWKER. What did she mean? Does she know 
 this prophet? 
 
 MALACHI. Just servant s talk, probably. But 
 his name? 
 
 HAWKER. Calls himself the Son of Adam ; why, 
 nobody knows. They say his real name is Joshua 
 or Jeshua. I hear whispers in Galilee of a revolt 
 against Rome, and people do say maybe he ll start 
 it. Well, who knows? I m just a poor trader and 
 sell to who buys. Better come to the village today 
 and see the Master , as they call him. Peace to 
 
26 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 you, good father. 
 
 MALACHI. Peace to you, brother. 
 
 The Hawker goes out through the hedge opening 
 and along the road to the left. At the same time 
 Malachi reenters the lodge, apparently drops his 
 garden implements on the floor, since a distinct clat 
 ter is heard, and immediately returns with more 
 fruit. The shouts are heard again, this time louder 
 but still indistinct. He enters the pavilion, sets 
 the fruit in the basket and engages in wrinsing the 
 cup at the spring. While he is so engaged, he mut 
 ters once or twice and then exclaims. 
 
 MALACHI. How long, O Lord? How long? 
 Wilt thou be angry with thy people forever? 
 
 Hereupon Ruth bath-Abihu enters hastily under 
 the sycamores. Her dress, carriage, features and 
 manner prove her of Israel s aristocracy. She pos 
 sesses Judean culture and is evidently not unac 
 quainted with the arts and graces which Israel s con 
 queror has begun to introduce from Greece and 
 Rome. Haughty on occasion, she is frank and lik 
 able, withal a pure type of the fairer olive beauty 
 of cultured Judea, without doubt a thorough woman 
 of the world, but young enough to be still suscep 
 tible to the influence of romantic passion. Passion 
 ate unquestionably in figure and face, therefore su 
 perficially hard; but if the lines of the mouth are to 
 be trusted, in the last analysis weak; yet one for 
 whose favor men would fight, if only to sacrifice 
 her to their pleasure or ambition. For the rest, she 
 is old enough to be aware of life s disillusionment, 
 young enough not to believe it inevitable. 
 
 Her kethoneth, which fits her figure perhaps a 
 
ACT I 27 
 
 trifle more snugly than is usual with the women of 
 Israel, is of a rare rose-pink silk, edged with an ex 
 quisite embroidery in pale blue-and-gold thread, and 
 gathered at the waist by a broad gold belt or girdle, 
 set with clustered rubies. The open bosom of the 
 kethoneth reveals a low, close-fitting vest of rich 
 gold embroidery over rose. The bare white throat 
 and bosom, however, are partly concealed by a light 
 pink silk scarf, loosely held in place by a ruby -set 
 gold brooch. A gold band is visible just above the 
 elbow of her right arm, a gold bracelet shoivs on her 
 left wrist, dainty gold earrings depend from her 
 ears, and a small gold plate with a single large ruby 
 is fastened in her hair above the forehead. As she 
 moves, dainty pink gold-embroidered sandals peep 
 out from under her kethoneth, and it is evident that 
 she has left the house in a hurry, since she does not 
 wear the meil, a loose flowing robe indicative of 
 gentle origin. Still one sees that she had time 
 enough to snatch up an exquisite pink-and-white 
 cashmere shawl and drape it gracefully over her left 
 arm and head, the short loose end being held to her 
 bosom in her right hand. 
 
 RUTH. Malachi ! 
 
 MALACHI. Here I am, mistress. 
 
 He descends to the garden and approaches her 
 respectfully. 
 
 RUTH. There is a crowd of beggars shouting 
 down the road, Malachi, will pass the house present 
 ly. Go, watch the hedges; see they do not break 
 through. I have no alms for them, and I wish to 
 be undisturbed. I shall be here alone. 
 
 MALACHI. Very well, mistress; you shall be 
 
28 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 undisturbed. 
 
 He goes out under the sycamores. As she is cross 
 ing the garden toward the pavilion, the distant 
 shouts break out louder as if nearer. She comes to 
 an instant stop, her features harden with a look of 
 hatred, her fists are clenched instinctively, and she 
 trembles with suppressed emotion. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua goes by, and he does not know! 
 
 She stamps her foot in vexation; but as she be 
 comes aware of voices, she hastily composes herself, 
 enters the pavilion and sits on the bench the other 
 side of the spring. 
 
 VOICE (off stage). Your mistress is yonder? 
 
 MALACHI (off stage). Your mercy, sir; but 
 mistress will see no one today. 
 
 VOICE (off stage). No matter; she expects me. 
 
 MALACHI (off stage). But, sir; you I eh 
 eh 
 
 His voice trails away, as Judas bar-Symeon, of 
 Kerioth-Judah, enters quickly under the sycamores. 
 He must be twenty-five or twenty-eight years of 
 age, hardly more, tall, well built, commanding in 
 appearance, full bearded, his beard and hair striking 
 ly red, a handsome man. There is an honesty and 
 straightforwardness about his speech and bearing 
 that convince one of his comrnonsense, yet a fugitive 
 something that suggests the idealist and revolution 
 ary, and it takes little insight to see a possible con 
 flict between the two, the practical man and the 
 idealist, in which the former may be worsted. One 
 sees at once by a glance at his apparel that he belongs 
 to the nobility of Judea. His milk-over-blue free- 
 
ACT I 29 
 
 flowing silk kethoneth is gathered about his waist by 
 a blue-and-gold sash, with highly embroidered ends 
 showing over his right hip as he walks. Over this 
 kethoneth he wears the open full meil, or robe of 
 rank, in color a rich purple, with light purple lining 
 and a narrow facing at neck and down the front of 
 blue-and-gold thread over white. On his feet are 
 the usual leather sandals and on his head a close-fit 
 ting turban of white, with loose gold-embroidered 
 ends hanging behind to his shoulders. At the pres 
 ent moment he is pleasurably excited by anticipa 
 tion. He looks about eagerly and as he spies Ruth 
 in the pavilion, he crosses over toward her quickly. 
 
 JUDAS. Ruth! Found at last! 
 
 Malachi has followed him in and now looks anx 
 iously at his mistress. But as soon as he learns from 
 her reception of him that Judas was expected, he 
 withdraws quietly. In the meantime Ruth has 
 arisen and taken a step forward. 
 
 RUTH. You here so soon, Judas? 
 
 He runs up the pavilion steps and attempts to 
 embrace her. 
 
 JUDAS. My darling! 
 
 RUTH (resisting). No, no, Judas! 
 
 He gathers her happily in his arms and kisses her 
 several times between words. 
 
 JUDAS. Dearest! How happy again at last! 
 after eight months away from you! 
 
 RUTH (releases herself). Enough, Judas. So 
 Abigail found you? 
 
 JUDAS. At your very door, where else? But 
 are you not glad to see me? 
 
30 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 RUTH. Oh, I suppose so. (She recovers herself 
 quickly.) You came so suddenly, I can not yet 
 realize it s you! But, come, sit and tell me the 
 news. 
 
 She smiles at him and sits on the bench beyond 
 the spring. He comes as far as the table and stands 
 facing her. 
 
 JUDAS. What is the matter, dear? You are 
 changed. 
 
 RUTH. Eight months do change one. Oh, what 
 have I said? Don t look at me so! Come, sit by 
 me. Have I not come from Jerusalem just to see 
 you here, goose? 
 
 She pulls him to a seat beside her and pats his 
 hand playfully. 
 
 JUDAS. Then you have not changed? 
 
 RUTH (looks away). Why should I? Don t 
 be foolish; come, tell me about him. Has he really 
 decided on action? 
 
 JUDAS. Ruth, look at me! 
 
 She turns her face slowly to him and laughs ner 
 vously. 
 
 RUTH. You are as grave as a rabbi ; what is the 
 matter? 
 
 He looks at her silently for a few moments and 
 she drops her eyes. 
 
 JUDAS. Something has happened ; you are not 
 the same. 
 
 RUTH. Nonsense! I m here at your bidding, 
 when I might be having (looking up at him with a 
 roguish smile) a. much nicer time in Jerusalem, silly. 
 
ACT I 31 
 
 Isn t that enough? 
 
 JUDAS (relaxes). Forgive me, dear; you are 
 right. Am I forgiven? 
 
 RUTH (impulsively kisses him). You are this 
 time; but mind you, I am not really yours until 
 
 JUDAS. I know, darling. I would But my 
 news first. 
 
 RUTH. Yes; is he still set on his impossible 
 dreams ? 
 
 JUDAS. That; yet perhaps action, too. 
 
 RUTH. Ah ! 
 
 JUDAS. He has called a meeting of the Twelve 
 for this afternoon. It seems he intends to tell us of 
 some definite step he has in view; what, I can only 
 surmise. 
 
 RUTH. Shall you not miss it? Better come 
 back to me later with an account of it. 
 
 JUDAS (bitterly). What does it matter? I am 
 not one of his intimates. Usually any matter of 
 importance goes first to Symeon, Jacob and Jochanan. 
 So it makes little difference if I am late. 
 
 RUTH. Yet you ought to be there to know 
 everything. 
 
 JUDAS. Time enough for that, though; he must 
 dismiss the crowd first. Moreover, we are to meet 
 him somewhere along this road, it seems. 
 
 RUTH. So? Where? 
 
 JUDAS. Some garden hereabouts. The crowd 
 will know. But, Ruth, I am done with him. 
 
 RUTH (laughs). You re convinced then? 
 
 JUDAS. Thoroughly. When the Baptist was 
 
32 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 imprisoned, all Galilee looked to Jeshua to rescue 
 him. Instead, he talked about loving enemies and 
 turning the other cheek, idle fancies! Even the 
 Baptist from prison charged him with failure to 
 take a man s part. 
 
 RUTH. What then? 
 
 JUDAS. Just nothing, till Herod despatched the 
 Baptist and began to suspect Jeshua of being his suc 
 cessor. We urged him to organize his Galilean 
 following and do something. But he refused, said 
 his time had not come, and left Galilee in a hurry 
 for the mountains. A majority of his following left 
 him angrily, although a few of us went with him. 
 Why? I cannot explain it. His flight was sheer 
 cowardice, and yet 
 
 RUTH. Yes? 
 
 JUDAS. You know he never dresses as a prince 
 of the house of Judah (indicating his dress with a 
 sweep of both hands), just because he insists we 
 are all brothers of his. And after all, there is 
 something beautiful and alluring in his idea, his 
 life of the kingdom, fanciful as it is. I sometimes 
 wonder 
 
 RUTH. Not you, Judas! You r not weaken 
 ing? 
 
 JUDAS. No fear. Yet, if Israel could be free 
 under our own king and then did live his way, per 
 haps But why speak of it? Some such fancy may 
 have held us to him during the winter s wandering 
 in these mountains. Why I did not rally his dis 
 gruntled Galileans for a revolt instead of following 
 him, I do not understand. However, now he seems 
 
ACT I 33 
 
 set on returning to Galilee or even Judea 
 
 RUTH. And that means death for teaching 
 against the Law and the Tradition. 
 
 JUDAS. Unless he raises the standard of revolt 
 against Rome. That I now know he will never 
 do. So I must break with him for Israel s sake. 
 
 RUTH. Not yet; stay with him until he goes 
 south. The people seem to be coming back to 
 him. 
 
 JUDAS. It is strange. I called it cowardly, his 
 flight last fall; yet more have come to him from 
 Galilee than left him there. He draws them. 
 
 RUTH. Only because they still think he will 
 head a revolt, that s all. You could do the same. 
 You, too, are of David s line, more direct than his. 
 
 JUDAS. Granted. I wonder, though, if he has 
 not more of the kingly to him than I. He is so sure 
 of himself, the people come to him almost instinc 
 tively. And he holds them. 
 
 RUTH. You can do the same. 
 
 JUDAS. Perhaps. At any rate, he is heading 
 south, apparently. If his following continues to 
 grow, he will reach Jerusalem with a large army by 
 Passover. 
 
 RUTH. Is that his intention? 
 
 JUDAS. I think not; but I shall know shortly. 
 (He rises to go into the garden.) I must find him. 
 I shall be back before sunset. 
 
 RUTH (rises and detains him). But you do not 
 expect him to announce himself king? You know 
 he cannot be king. 
 
34 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 JUDAS. Not if he keeps to his dreams. As 
 though Israel could be restored without recourse to 
 arms! No, Israel s coming kingdom is the kingdom 
 of the sword. (He steps into the garden and she 
 follows, both walking slowly toward the sycamores.) 
 I could welcome even him as king 
 
 RUTH (starts). Judas! 
 
 JUDAS. if he d take the sword. What if he 
 be right in condemning us for making much of Law 
 and Tradition? That does not free Israel from 
 Rome; only the sword can do that. (The distant 
 shouts are heard again faintly, and he turns to go 
 out.) He dismisses them; I must go. 
 
 RUTH. Those shouts will be yours some day, 
 my king to be! Go now, and hear him announce 
 himself your king of love! Bah! Do nothing, 
 though, till you see me. I shall look for you later. 
 
 He turns as if to kiss her; but she skillfully avoids 
 him, and in his hurry he cannot follow her, but 
 starts to go out under the sycamores. 
 
 JUDAS. Till sunset, then. 
 
 RUTH. Till then. 
 
 He goes out. Her manner changes. Is there in 
 it a suggestion of hopeless weariness? or would one 
 say, self -disgust? At any rate she lingers aimlessly 
 under the sycamores and picks a lily of the valley 
 from the flower-bed near the lodge. A pause. Then 
 murmuring voices and footsteps on the roadway 
 break on the silence with instant effect on her at 
 titude; for she realizes that it must be Jeshua about 
 to pass by. Where the moment before she had seem- 
 ed to find the taste of life bitter, now a new flood of 
 
ACT I 35 
 
 life breaks over her. The lily of the valley, forgot 
 ten in her hand, drops neglected to the grass. She 
 quickly steps toward the hedge opening, presses her 
 hands to her breast and waits eagerly, as though 
 some deep-buried emotion of the past, though not 
 wholly of the past, had flooded to life at the realiza 
 tion of his approach. Then a revulsion of feeling, in 
 which hate and pride are evidently mingled, sweeps 
 over her; she stamps her foot, turns sharply and goes 
 out under the sycamores. 
 
 VOICE (off stage). The garden must be here, 
 somewhere; there s Pan s temple just opposite. 
 
 ANOTHER VOICE (off stage). Yes, and there s 
 an opening in the hedge, and acacias, too. 
 
 One is aware of several persons moving along the 
 roadway beyond the sycamores and hedge during 
 the preceding conversation. Now even before the 
 second speaker has quite finished speaking, he ap 
 pears at the opening and proves to be Jochanan bar- 
 Zebediah, immediately followed by Symeon bar- 
 Jonah and Jacob bar-Zebediah, then by Jeshua bar- 
 Joseph and one or two other Disciples of his. 
 
 Jochanan has scarcely attained manhood yet, 
 slight, handsome, etherial, in every look at his Mas 
 ter showing intense admiration and devotion, even 
 when disagreeing with him, somewhat inclined to 
 be boyish in manner. 
 
 Symeon is a little, wiry, scraggy-bearded, sharp- 
 faced man of thirty-five or so, distinctly showing 
 his fisherman origin in gait, stoop and knotted fin 
 gers. Not prepossessing at first glance, a second 
 glance arrests the attention, as if hidden fires burn 
 within. 
 
36 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 Jacob is a pudgy stout man of perhaps forty, rath 
 er pompous, prosaic and inclined to think himself 
 always in the right, an ass of that breed that is 
 right when right, but when wrong, hopeless. Since 
 such qualities make an admirable bishop, one sur 
 mises that the future has a bishopric in store for 
 him. 
 
 The eight other Disciples, who appear here and 
 a little later, are varying types of the Galilean 
 fisherman, peasant and townsman. With the ex 
 ception of Jochanan, Jacob and Levi, who show 
 their acquaintance with somewhat easier circum 
 stances than the rest in the better quality of their 
 dress and by wearing turbans and simlahs, the Dis 
 ciples are clothed in the usual kethoneth, sandals 
 and napkin folded over the head and held in place 
 by a coarse woolen cord, the loose ends of the nap 
 kin falling over the shoulders behind. These seven 
 also wear crude sheepskin jackets instead of the sim- 
 lah, an indication that the evenings in the moun 
 tains are still frosty. 
 
 Jeshua, a man of thirty or thereabout, while sug 
 gesting a peasant origin, is perceptibly superior to 
 his companions in culture, reserve and forcefulness, 
 such a one, in fact, as ancient Israel s peasant prince 
 may have been. His air of quiet repose is the calm 
 of a vigorous and masterful will, perfectly sure of 
 itself and therefore neither hurrying nor lagging in 
 effecting its ends. But what is still more striking 
 is the irresistible impression that this will is con 
 trolled by a deep sorrow for and understanding of 
 human weaknesses and aspirations, and one feels the 
 searching beauty of his look, forgetting his spare 
 
ACT I 37 
 
 beard and rather ordinary features. This ordinariness 
 of features is redeemed by the dark flowing locks, 
 rippling to his shoulders, in which one may occasion 
 ally see the glint of fire. Perhaps a trifle feminine, 
 with the eyes of a dreamer, one gains an increasing 
 impression of him as above all a master of men. His 
 dress, a white wool kethoneth faintly lined in blue, 
 a sash of the same, a light gray striped simlah, leath 
 er sandals and a white peasant napkin on his head, 
 speaks of a studied simplicity, as though he were fit 
 ted for gentle apparel, but refused to avail himself 
 of the right. 
 
 JOCHANAN (looks in). Master, this must be 
 the garden the fishwoman named, thorn hedge and 
 pavilion over spring. Do we enter here? 
 
 JESHUA. Inquire at the lodge. 
 
 He stops in the roadway while the others enter 
 the garden, Jochanan going to the lodge door and 
 knocking. At the same time Judas and one or two 
 other Disciples enter along the roadway from the 
 right. To these last he speaks. 
 
 JESHUA. Are the multitude safely past? 
 
 JUDAS. Philip and Levi have led them to the 
 bridge road and will be with us in a moment. 
 
 JESHUA. Good. Let us enter. 
 
 { The other Disciples enter the garden; but Judas 
 hesitates. 
 
 JUDAS. Here, Master? 
 
 JESHUA (motions him in). Here. 
 
 Judas looks hastily about, seems reassured, enters 
 the garden and walks toward the pavilion, but ap 
 pears ill at ease. At the same time Jeshua looks off 
 
38 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 down the roadway to the right, beckons as if to some 
 persons at a distance, and enters the garden just as 
 Malachi enters under the sycamores. 
 
 JESHUA. Peace be upon this house! This is the 
 Garden of the Strangers? 
 
 Malachi looks at him in growing wonder and sur 
 prised recognition. 
 
 MALACHI. The Master! In my mistress 
 name, welcome to the Garden, good sir! 
 
 JESHUA. Call me not good. There is only One 
 good; all are his children. By your mistress leave, 
 I would confer with these alone. My thanks to her 
 and peace. Will you? 
 
 MALACHI. Your servant. 
 
 He bows respectfully and goes out under the syca 
 mores. In the meantime the remaining Disciples of 
 the Twelve have entered along the road from the 
 right, the last of whom has just come to the opening 
 and speaks, pointing the while down the road. 
 
 PHILIP. Master, they are on the road to the 
 bridge below. They ask your speedy return. 
 
 JESHUA. In good time, Philip. Are we all pres 
 ent? 
 
 JACOB. We are, Master. 
 
 JESHUA. It is well. 
 
 He stands in front of the acacia at the right of the 
 opening, where he both commands a view of the gar 
 den and pavilion and by an easy turn may look out 
 upon the mountain and cliff at the back. The 
 Twelve arrange themselves conveniently about him 
 in the foreground and by the pavilion. Jochanan 
 
ACT I 39 
 
 sits on the lodge step. Jacob stands near and to the 
 left of his Master. Judas enters the pavilion, sits on 
 the bench back of the spring and helps himself to the 
 fruit. Two or three others follow him in and stand 
 near the table eating. One drinks. Symeon goes to 
 the bench under the cypress and sits with another 
 Disciple. The rest throw themselves comfortably 
 on the ground or sit on the pavilion steps. During 
 the ensuing the clouds gradually break over the 
 mountain and an occasional glint of sunshine 
 touches the snow-cap or even the cliff. While the 
 Disciples are thus disposing themselves, they con 
 verse casually. 
 
 A DISCIPLE. So we are out of the mountains at 
 last! 
 
 SYMEON. Yes; no more snow-storms and colds. 
 
 SECOND DISCIPLE. Figs, and dates, too! What 
 luck! 
 
 LEVI. Ah, there s the sun. 
 
 JOCHANAN. But a thunderstorm is brewing. 
 
 LEVI. No, it is clearing. 
 
 THIRD DISCIPLE. Well, do we sleep in town to 
 night ? 
 
 FIRST DISCIPLE. No, in yonder cave by the 
 river. 
 
 THIRD DISCIPLE. We might as well sit. 
 
 JACOB. The Master speaks. 
 
 JESHUA. My friends, you have suffered much 
 for my sake since you first came to me in Galilee. 
 At the first without question you accepted me as 
 your master when the people thronged me. Later, 
 
40 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 when I rebuked their mistaken zeal, many fell away 
 and went home ; but you stood fast and followed me 
 to these mountains, giving up home, kindred and 
 goods for my sake, and becoming outcasts of Israel. 
 Yet in all these months did you lack anything? 
 
 LEVI. Nothing, Master. 
 
 JESHUA. And yet, Levi, you sold everything 
 and gave to the poor, and became with the rest of 
 these but a beggar with me. Were you not afraid 
 of starving in the mountains? 
 
 LEVI. Then we were all afraid ; but 
 
 JESHUA. But the Father who clothes the field 
 with grass and cares for the hungry birds, he clothed 
 and fed you despite your lack of faith. You are no 
 longer afraid? 
 
 SYMEON. Not now! We will go with you any 
 where ! 
 
 JESHUA. So confident, Symeon? Can you bear 
 the truth? 
 
 SYMEON. But speak, Master; where? 
 
 JESHUA. To Jerusalem? 
 
 SEVERAL. To Jerusalem? 
 
 JESHUA. To Jerusalem. We start tomorrow. 
 
 JUDAS. Action at last! 
 
 He rises and goes toward the front of the pavil 
 ion, while the Disciples murmur among themselves 
 and some of them press nearer to Jeshua. 
 
 PHILIP. Jerusalem? That means through Gal 
 ilee. 
 
 SYMEON. Yes, and back to our families. 
 
 THOMAS. But secretly, because Herod is on the 
 
ACT I 41 
 
 lookout for the Master, aye and us, too. 
 
 PHILIP. It is a risk. 
 
 THOMAS. Of course, Master, you will be pre 
 pared to meet the rabbis and priests opposition? 
 You know their threat to arrest you in the name of 
 the Sanhedrin for teaching disregard of the Tradi 
 tions. Are we prepared to meet them without arms? 
 Master, arm us! 
 
 SEVERAL. Yes, yes ; arm us ! 
 
 THOMAS. You hear, Master. If the Baptist 
 had allowed arms to his disciples, Herod would not 
 have arrested or executed him. Think of the risk 
 we run! 
 
 JESHUA. So, Thomas? 
 
 JACOB. Yes, why not organize an army of your 
 Galileans? We Twelve can officer them under you. 
 Many others will join your standard in Galilee. 
 We can go secretly to Jerusalem for the Passover, 
 and at your word fall on Rome and free Israel. Shall 
 we? 
 
 JESHUA. To what end? Is this common talk? 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, many talk this way. Only 
 this morning I surprised a group grumbling at your 
 apparent indifference to Rome. I rebuked them, of 
 course. Nevertheless, I am glad you intend action 
 now. Otherwise May I speak? 
 
 JESHUA. What is it, Jochanan? 
 
 JOCHANAN. I fear some of them, perhaps many, 
 who do not know you as we do, will fall away again 
 unless you You remember what they said of your 
 refusal to help the Baptist? 
 
4* THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 JUDAS. How they jibed us: "Ho, ho! your 
 master is a second Ezekiel, without doubt ; calls him 
 self Son of Adam and talks of the restoration, and 
 how bravely he does nothing!" And, Master, you 
 did do nothing. 
 
 JESHUA. Ah! And what do they think of the 
 Son of Adam now? 
 
 PHILIP. Oh, they mostly say you are a prophet, 
 the Baptist s successor in some sort. Herod, too, 
 must think that, if what I heard the other day 
 from a traveler is to be believed. 
 
 FIRST DISCIPLE. What was that, Philip? 
 
 PHILIP. Some ridiculous story that Herod 
 thinks the Master is the Baptist come to life. 
 
 THIRD DISCIPLE. A likely story; no wonder 
 Herod is afraid. 
 
 LEVI. Some, I hear, think you are Elijah, be 
 cause you announce the restoration. 
 
 JACOB. Or the prophet Jeremiah, the keeper of 
 the ark. 
 
 JUDAS. But the rabbis say you are Beelzebub, 
 because demoniacs obey you. 
 
 JESHUA. Let be what others say; it matters 
 little. You, however, my disciples, you have been 
 with me many months; what do you say? 
 
 While the Disciples ponder the question and seek 
 to sum up their judgment of Jeshua, the sun breaks 
 through the clouds and floods the temple and cliff 
 in the distance. Quickly the light spreads across 
 the intervening valley and begins to shine in the gar 
 den through the trees. The light casts Jeshua in 
 bright relief , as he quietly watches the Twelve. 
 
ACT I 43 
 
 Judas starts and gazes at him fascinated. The oth 
 ers look at him in wondering silence. Then Symeon 
 starts to his feet in sudden astonishment. 
 
 SYMEON. Master, you , you , you are the 
 Messiah ! 
 
 The Twelve lean expectantly toward their Mas 
 ter with a sharp gasp of surprise. A moment of 
 tense but silent excitement ensues, during which a 
 look of terror passes over Judas standing motionless 
 and apart. Then the other Eleven spring tumul- 
 tuously to their feet and shout. 
 
 ELEVEN. Messiah! Hail to our King! The 
 kingdom of our God and of his Messiah is come! 
 Hail, Deliverer! 
 
 They kneel. Jeshua raises his hand in protest. 
 
 JESHUA. Enough! Stand! 
 
 The gathering clouds begin to blot out the sun 
 light over the mountain. Judas shakes himself as if 
 to cast off the spell and strives to look unconcerned, 
 while Jeshua takes a step toward Symeon. The rest 
 unconsciously fall back a step. 
 
 JESHUA. Blessed are you, Symeon bar- Jonah; 
 for you have received a revelation from the Father 
 without any word of man. You shall no longer 
 be Symeon, but Kephas the Rock; for upon you I 
 shall erect the everlasting kingdom of the Father 
 more securely than yonder temple stands upon the 
 crumbling cliff. Keep this revelation, and you will 
 triumph over death and hell, my Kephas. 
 
 SYMEON (greatly moved). Master, I cannot speak. 
 You are my King! I am yours to death! 
 
44 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 He kneels. Thereupon the others except Judas 
 kneel. 
 
 OTHER DISCIPLES. And I! And I! And I! 
 And I! 
 
 The shadow now covers the mountain, temple and 
 cliff and begins to sweep across the valley toward 
 the garden. 
 
 JESHUA. And you, Judas, my honest friend? 
 You do not speak. What think you of the Son of 
 Adam? Are these mistaken? 
 
 JUDAS (reluctantly, but doggedly). Master, what 
 can I say? The people follow you, now more 
 than ever. If you should declare yourself their king, 
 doubtless they would accept you. They are restive 
 under the Roman yoke. These declare you Mes 
 siah. Lift the sword against Rome and call the na 
 tion to arms. If you overthrow her rule, will you 
 not be our king? Why not the Messiah then? 
 What more can I say? Wield the Messiah s sword, 
 and you shall be the Messiah. Otherwise 
 
 JESHUA. Ah, the sword! 
 
 The shadow spreads over the garden and blots out 
 the sun. The Eleven surround him. 
 
 PHILIP. Come, Master; away to the multitude! 
 
 JACOB. You are David s son! 
 
 THOMAS. Declare yourself to them, and lead 
 us to Jerusalem and the kingdom! 
 
 SYMEON. On to Jerusalem! On to victory! 
 Hail to our Deliverer! 
 
 With Symeon in the lead the Eleven start a rush 
 out of the garden with shouts. Judas alone neither 
 
ACT I 45 
 
 moves nor speaks. 
 
 ELEVEN. The Messiah and his sword! The 
 Messiah and his sword ! 
 
 JESHUA (checks them). Kephas! Jochanan! 
 Levi ! Stop ! 
 
 They hesitate, stop, and turn toward him. 
 
 SYMEON. But, Master 
 
 JESHUA. Silence! Do you not yet understand? 
 Has all my teaching then come to this? Do you 
 not know me yet? 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, now have our eyes been 
 opened. How blind we were! But now we do 
 know, and we are glad ; for Israel s deliverance is at 
 hand. 
 
 JESHUA (sorrowfully). No, you have not yet 
 understood. This is not my hour. For the present 
 I forbid you to utter a word of this beyond our 
 circle. When my hour comes, But that will keep. 
 
 THOMAS. Is it possible you fear the people will 
 not believe you? 
 
 JUDAS. Rather, you are discreet, Master; for 
 how will you prove yourself the Messiah? Israel 
 awaits his Messiah from heaven, with the angels of 
 God, to strike down our enemies. How can you sat 
 isfy them? 
 
 SYMEON. Enough, Judas. Surely, Master, they 
 will believe you. Why this silence? Breathe the 
 word and the nation will rise to put you on David s 
 throne, and we shall come into our own ! 
 
 JESHUA. Not so, Kephas; this is not the Mes 
 siah s way. You think Israel s deliverance must 
 
46 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 come in the splendor of the nation s ancient wealth 
 and prosperity. Even so I believed until the day at 
 Jochanan s baptism the Father called me to declare 
 his purpose, and showed me that the way of redemp 
 tion is not a way of plenty, but of suffering. 
 
 JACOB. Not suffering, surely? 
 
 JESHUA. Just that. Is it not written, Man 
 shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of 
 God ? I know your thought. Did I not also once 
 expect the deliverance to come by the way of the 
 sword and universal dominion over the peoples of 
 the earth? Yet the Father taught me to look for 
 Israel s redemption, not in the victory of the sword, 
 but in Israel s loving trust. Is it not written, Thou 
 shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt 
 thou serve ? 
 
 THIRD DISCIPLE. Nevertheless, the first Joshua 
 used the sword. 
 
 JESHUA. True; but the Father chooses to es 
 tablish his kingdom now in another way. At first 
 I thought some signal act of his deliverance, as sav 
 ing me after a jump from the pinnacle of the 
 Temple, would convince the nation that his king 
 dom was at hand. But he schooled me to trust him 
 to reveal the kingdom in his own way. Is it not 
 written, Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to 
 the test ? Therefore you must trust him to reveal 
 me to the nation in his own way. And until then 
 you may not speak. 
 
 FOURTH DISCIPLE. Are we mistaken in him? 
 
 FIRST DISCIPLE. Aye, aye, is he a coward and 
 afraid? Is it worth following him further? Or 
 shall we leave him? 
 
ACT I 47 
 
 THIRD DISCIPLE. Hush! 
 
 JUDAS. Well have you answered, Master. No 
 precipitate declaration should be made, lest the 
 people fall away from you. Symeon is mistaken; 
 how can they yet know you to be the Messiah? 
 The rabbis affirm, on the authority of scripture, that 
 Elijah must first come. Till he appears, how can 
 they believe you ? 
 
 JESHUA. So? And scripture must be fulfilled. 
 But as a matter of fact Elijah has already come and 
 suffered at the hands of men. 
 
 SYMEON. He means the Baptist, Judas. 
 
 JESHUA. Similarly must the scripture be fulfill 
 ed that foretells the suffering and death of the Son 
 of Adam. 
 
 SYMEON. Suffering and death? That is not the 
 Messiah s way! 
 
 JESHUA (exalted). He was despised and re 
 jected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted 
 with grief, and we did esteem him stricken, smitten 
 of God and afflicted. 
 
 SYMEON. But Isaiah means Israel. 
 
 JESHUA. Nevertheless, the Son of Adam must 
 suffer many things and be rejected of men and pour 
 out his soul unto death. 
 
 SYMEON. Never, Master! You shall not talk 
 of death! The Messiah s way is victory and he 
 must come as king! 
 
 JESHUA. Out of my sight, Satan! 
 
 SYMEON (falls back in surprise). Master? 
 
 JESHUA. Not now are you speaking God s 
 
48 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 thoughts, but men s. You all think the same? Then 
 you do not know me. 
 
 They look at him in doubting silence. He turns 
 as if to go out at the opening in the hedge, when 
 Jacob detains him. 
 
 JACOB. Master, are you so indifferent to the 
 suffering of the nation and our shame? Does not 
 God hear the sighs and groans of his people? Will 
 not his Messiah deliver them from oppression? 
 
 JOCHANAN. Think, Master! Let us declare 
 you Messiah to those at the bridge and turn south. 
 Every city through which we pass and all the coun 
 tryside will pour out and increase your following, 
 as each little stream swells the Jordan, until, resist 
 less, like that river, you will sweep down upon the 
 Roman and drive him from Jerusalem. 
 
 JESHUA (shaking off detaining hands). And end 
 as the mighty Jordan ends, in a dead sea of fruit 
 less effort! I go to Jerusalem with such as choose 
 to go my way. If the Father wills to restore the 
 kingdom at this time, who can stay him? But if he 
 choose to deliver up the Son of Adam for the sins 
 of the people, think not the sword can thwart his 
 purpose. It may mean death for any to be known 
 as mine in Jerusalem; but as many as dare face 
 death, follow me! 
 
 He steps into the roadway and the Eleven press 
 after him. 
 
 ELEVEN. We follow! We follow! Command 
 us! 
 
 JESHUA. It is well. Go to the multitude and 
 await me at the bridge. But no word of this to any. 
 
ACT I 49 
 
 The Eleven go out with a rush along the road to 
 the right, while Judas, alone following slowly and 
 turning at the opening, finds himself confronting 
 his Master still standing in the roadway. 
 
 JUDAS. Master, do you tarry? 
 
 JESHUA. Nay, I go to the bridge. 
 
 Judas turns and goes out in seeming perplexity 
 along the road after the rest. Jeshua steps across 
 the roadway beyond the opening and looks off into 
 the valley. Immediately faint shouts arise in the far 
 distance, as if from the valley, where the waiting 
 crowd must have just caught a glimpse of him on 
 the roadway. He stands lost in meditation; then 
 exclaims. 
 
 JESHUA. I am glad, Father, that you have hid 
 den these things from the wise and prudent, and 
 have revealed them to babes; your way is the best. 
 
 The sky darkens with the approach of evening 
 and the increase of clouds, the evidence of a thun 
 derstorm brewing over the mountain. Very distant 
 thunder rumbles. As the thunder dies away, Ruth 
 enters under the sycamores, followed by Judas, and 
 begins to cross the garden. 
 
 RUTH. Come, we shall be undisturbed here. 
 
 Jeshua turns as he hears her voice, steps to the 
 opening and recognizes her. At sight of him she 
 is thrown into extreme agitation. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua! I did not know 
 
 JESHUA. Your pardon, Ruth. I was not aware 
 it was your hospitality my disciples and I had en 
 joyed in this garden. Yet it was a gracious service 
 you have unwittingly rendered, and we are grateful. 
 
50 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 Ruth has quickly regained control of herself and 
 speaks scornfully. 
 
 RUTH. I ask for no thanks from you ; your con 
 venience is of no moment to me. The night in Naz 
 areth you made your choice, that night has shut 
 every garden of mine to you. I am mistress here. 
 Go! 
 
 She sweeps across to the pavilion. He watches 
 her in silence until at the pavilion she turns in 
 pique that he has so far said nothing in reply. As 
 soon as she looks at him, however, he speaks to her 
 with exquisite sadness as if more for her than for 
 himself. 
 
 JESHUA. So be it; I have chosen. 
 
 Quietly he turns to go out by the road, when a 
 look of pain passes over her face, and with parted 
 lips she takes a half step toward him, only to check 
 herself and watch. In turning he discovers Judas, 
 who has pressed back among the trees as if to es 
 cape notice. 
 
 JESHUA. Judas? 
 
 JUDAS. Oh I eh Master, you still here? 
 Do you wish Shall I eh Ruth, I must 
 speak ! 
 
 RUTH (sharply). No, Judas! 
 
 At her exclamation Jeshua looks keenly at her, 
 and she in turn begins to show signs of returning 
 agitation. Then he looks back again at Judas. // 
 is evident that the relation between the two dawns 
 on him; for he turns to go out at the opening with 
 one last word of warning (or is it appeal?) to his 
 Disciple. 
 
ACT I 51 
 
 JESHUA. You know where to find me, Judas. 
 Remember the storm. 
 
 He goes out along the road to the right. 
 
 JUDAS (gloomily). So he knows. 
 
 He walks to the opening and looks off toward 
 the mountain, while she sits on the pavilion step. 
 
 RUTH. How could he? 
 
 The distant thunder rumbles again. 
 
 JUDAS. A storm is brewing over the mountain; 
 it will break before long. Perhaps it is just as well; 
 it were best oppose him in the open. 
 
 RUTH. To think he was here a moment ago! 
 Yet, had he known it was my garden, he would not 
 have come. Once it was otherwise. But that is 
 past. Was the conference here? 
 
 Judas begins to walk about restlessly in the gar 
 den. 
 
 JUDAS. Yes ; and he announced himself the Mes 
 siah. 
 
 RUTH (startled). The Messiah? Why, what do 
 you mean? 
 
 JUDAS. At least Symeon gave him the title, and 
 he did not refuse it. The others accepted it, too. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua the Messiah? A mere man the 
 redeemer of Israel? It cannot be! 
 
 JUDAS. I know not. The Messiah must fight; 
 but he goes to Jerusalem and will accept death with 
 out resistance. How can the Messiah die? And 
 yet 
 
 RUTH. No, no, Judas! 
 
 JUDAS. He stood there (pointing), and as he 
 
52 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 stood, he looked more than man. A light shone 
 about him and transfigured him. 
 
 Ruth chokes, gasps, puts both hands to her throat, 
 and stares terrifiedly at the spot Judas has pointed 
 to. 
 
 RUTH. A light transfigured him! Wh 
 what nonsense is this? 
 
 JUDAS. Oh, it was only the sun 
 
 RUTH. Yes, the sun; it must have been the sun, 
 the sun was shining a while ago, it was the sun, 
 Judas? 
 
 JUDAS. Of course. Yet, somehow, he was 
 different and kingly, too. 
 
 Ruth suddenly throws off the spell, rises and 
 walks toward the cypress. 
 
 RUTH. But you are kingly. And when you de 
 clare yourself king Not now, of course; I know 
 best ; you must wait. But when the times comes, the 
 people will recognize you as you are, David s son. 
 
 JUDAS. Then I shall draw the sword and free 
 Israel. 
 
 RUTH. You care so much for Israel, then ? 
 JUDAS. You think the same. 
 
 She sits on the bench under the cypress, for a 
 moment lost in a muse. 
 
 RUTH. Perhaps. A light shone about him! It 
 cannot be ! But now for our plan of action. Will 
 he announce his messianic pretensions to the people 
 at once! 
 
 JUDAS. No; he commanded us to keep it secret 
 RUTH. For how long? 
 
ACT I 53 
 
 JUDAS. He does not say. I fancy he intends to 
 wait until he arrives in Jerusalem at the Passover. 
 
 RUTH. You are sure? 
 
 JUDAS. At least, he definitely stated his objec 
 tive to be Jerusalem. 
 
 RUTH. With the sword? 
 
 JUDAS. He has refused the sword. 
 
 RUTH. Good! The announcement will fall 
 flat and his fickle Galileans will desert him. I see 
 clearly; you must stay with him till then. 
 
 JUDAS. That is out of the question; I cannot 
 pretend. 
 
 RUTH. Nonsense! You believe him dangerous 
 to Israel ? Surely you do ! Does he not teach against 
 the Law and the Tradition? That is blasphemy, 
 punishable with death. 
 
 JUDAS. Yes; but when have we punished blas 
 phemy that way? The important thing is Israel s 
 independence of Rome. 
 
 RUTH. But he will not fight. Is it right he 
 should raise expectations only to disappoint them? 
 If you break with him now, how many of his fol 
 lowers would come to you while they still believe in 
 him? You will simply divide forces, Rome will be 
 warned in time, and But you see the outcome. 
 
 JUDAS. Possibly. 
 
 RUTH. It s a certainty. But if you stay with 
 him In fact, I know through Uncle Annas the 
 Sanhedrin only wait a favorable opportunity to ar 
 rest him and get him out of the way. What better 
 time than when his following suddenly awakes to 
 
54 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 the fact that he does not intend to fight? This 
 must happen in Jerusalem; hardly sooner. Then 
 denounce him to the Sanhedrin as one who knows 
 him thoroughly. Do you doubt the people will turn 
 to you? And remember, you will have the San- 
 hedrin s favor. 
 
 JUDAS. Were I but sure the people would un 
 derstand. 
 
 RUTH. Always the people! 
 
 JUDAS (with sudden decision). Yes, I will stay 
 with him till then. 
 
 RUTH. You have only the Romans to fear. 
 
 JUDAS. Ah-h ! 
 
 RUTH. But they can be placated. 
 
 JUDAS (starts). Placated? Can Israel make 
 peace with the oppressor? No! Israel must drive 
 out the Romans. 
 
 RUTH. Perhaps, when the Messiah is really 
 come; not now. To talk of Rome s expulsion is 
 sheer folly. 
 
 She rises and steps toward him. 
 
 JUDAS (sharply). Ruth! 
 
 RUTH. It is true, nevertheless. Rome is too 
 strong for you. Israel s king, if we are ever to have 
 one, must recognize Rome as overlord. 
 
 JUDAS. Never! Israel has but one Lord. You 
 would betray us. 
 
 RUTH. Not so fast, Judas. The Sanhedrin is 
 wise. It is known to them that the emperor wearies 
 of the Judean procuratorship. It is expected he will 
 recall Pilate shortly and appoint a Herod as our 
 
ACT I 55 
 
 king. But Uncle Annas, Caiaphas and others real 
 ize that an Idumean will not be acceptable to Israel, 
 and they are planning to ask for a native king. If 
 you denounce Jeshua to them, whom else but you 
 could they name to the emperor for king, Prince 
 Judas of the house of David? 
 
 JUDAS (greatly perturbed). It cannot be! It 
 must be the sword and a free people. It cannot be 
 otherwise Yet yet, perhaps After all, that 
 way the Romans will leave us largely free. What 
 if - 
 
 RUTH. You will unite all Israel under one 
 Davidic rule. 
 
 JUDAS. And purge Samaria of our ancestral 
 foes! 
 
 RUTH. Lifting the sword against them. 
 
 JUDAS. And then, when we are one people, we 
 shall rise in our strength and laugh at Rome! 
 
 RUTH. But in the meantime, Rome shall be our 
 friend? 
 
 JUDAS (fiercely). Till then, yes! I accept your 
 plan ; yet how much simpler to take up the sword at 
 once. 
 
 RUTH. And lose everything. No, my way is 
 best. 
 
 JUDAS. And you will be mine! 
 
 RUTH (looks away). When you are king. 
 
 Distant thunder rumbles again, and faint light 
 ning quivers over the mountain. 
 
 JUDAS. I am content. Kiss me! 
 
 He approaches her eagerly; but she avoids him. 
 
56 THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 RUTH. No, Judas, no ! he still lives. 
 
 JUDAS (surprised). What has that to do with 
 it? 
 
 RUTH (violently). Oh, I hate him! I hate him! 
 I could tear him limb from limb and laugh to see 
 him writhe as the flesh quivers and bursts oh! 
 (pressing her hands quickly to her breast) though I 
 should die for it ! 
 
 The distant lightning and thunder increase. 
 
 JUDAS. Why, Ruth, this is madness! What 
 harm has he done you ? 
 
 RUTH. What harm has he done me? (She 
 laughs bitterly.) He has cursed my life. Oh, to 
 crush him underfoot! (She becomes aware of Judas 
 look of horror and approaches him piteously.) 
 Judas, you will denounce him, wont you? (As he 
 steps back, she follows, puts her arms around his 
 neck and pulls his head down.) Judas, you love 
 me, don t you? 
 
 The distant thunder growls an accompaniment to 
 the flickering lightning and a rising wind begins to 
 snatch at the leaves and branches. At the same time 
 Judas resists her for a moment more, and then sud 
 denly yields to her caress and kisses her passion 
 ately. 
 
 JUDAS. Ruth ! 
 
 RUTH (clings to him). You wont disappoint 
 me? 
 
 JUDAS (hoarsely). Is his death so much to you? 
 
 RUTH. Think, when he dies, you will be my 
 king! 
 
VISION I 57 
 
 JUDAS. My queen! 
 
 He kisses her again, and then she disengages her- 
 self. 
 
 RUTH. Enough. Now go before the storm. 
 
 JUDAS. Darling, till Jerusalem! 
 
 He gives her a last kiss, then goes out quickly 
 through the opening and along the roadway to the 
 right. For a while she stands stupefied, then with 
 growing horror exclaims. 
 
 RUTH. He said he was the Messiah! It cannot 
 be! 
 
 A blinding flash of lightning is followed by a 
 crash of thunder. She screams and runs out under 
 the sycamores. Heavy storm clouds roll in and 
 blot out the entire scene. Lightning flashes momen 
 tarily reveal the furiously driving clouds and thun 
 der cracks and roars. By degrees the storm lessens, 
 the lightning only flickers, the thunder reverberates 
 from greater distances, and slowly the whirling 
 clouds come to rest. 
 
 VISION I 
 
 Imperceptibly, the thunder turns into deep solemn 
 music that swells majestically and seems to fill all 
 space, the lightning fades into a gentle radiance that 
 glows steadily in the heart of the clouds and grad 
 ually spreads and illumines all, and the clouds melt 
 into an almost perfectly transparent luminous mist. 
 As the radiance increases, slowly through the mist 
 there comes to view a mountain top, terminating in a 
 broad flat rock. An irregular path leads down from 
 this rock toward the front and still going down turns 
 to the left and so out. Down the left slope, but 
 
5$ THE MESSIAH APPEARS 
 
 above the path, several irregular boulders screen the 
 path from view of the top. Down the right slope 
 a bramble cluster clings precariously to the rocky 
 soil. Here and there on the slopes appear patches 
 of turf. White luminous clouds hang over all. 
 
 On the mountain top, in the center of the radi 
 ance, Jeshua stands in glowing white, the radiance 
 streaming from him and throwing the mountain in 
 bright relief. He stands with face up-turned as if in 
 rapt contemplation of ineffable mysteries. Below 
 and a little in front of him three Disciples crouch in 
 wonder and expectation, Symeon, Jacob and Joch- 
 anan. At the left Judas lurks in the shadow of the 
 boulders and peers out at his Master in startled sur 
 prise, this yielding to agitated terror as the Vision 
 unfolds. Similarly at the right Ruth hides in the 
 shadow of the brambles and furtively gazes at Jesh 
 ua in a fascination that gradually turns to horror 
 with the progress of the Vision. 
 
 The music sinks to a low deep murmur, sugges 
 tive of infinite repose, with which, as the Vision de 
 velops, interweaves and mingles with increasing dis 
 tinctness, the throbbing motif of terror. 
 
 JOCHANAN. The Master communes alone. 
 
 SYMEON. He is the Messiah indeed! 
 
 JACOB. The King of Israel, our Deliverer! 
 
 JOCHANAN. And we behold his glory, glory as 
 of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and 
 truth! 
 
 JESHUA (exalted). My meat is to do the will 
 of him that sent me and bring his work to its com 
 pletion. 
 
VISION I 59 
 
 As he speaks, the luminous clouds sink lower over 
 him, a radiance of greater brilliancy pours down up 
 on him, and a Voice from Heaven, deep, vibrant, fill 
 ing all space as if bearing infinity in its tones, speaks. 
 
 VOICE FROM HEAVEN. Lift up your eyes upon 
 him whom I have chosen, my beloved Son, and hear 
 him! 
 
 At the sound of the Voice the three Disciples pros 
 trate themselves, Ruth looks at Jeshua in frozen hor 
 ror, and Judas starts in terror. As It ceases, he 
 slowly presses back and goes out along the path. 
 
 DISCIPLES. The Voice! The Voice! 
 
 VOICES (from above). Blessed are they that hear 
 the word of God and keep it. 
 
 RUTH (presses hands to breast and moans). The 
 light! No, no! it cannot be! 
 
 The clouds lift, the radiance dies out and Jeshua 
 turns to his Disciples. At the same time Ruth 
 starts, looks about hastily and goes out swiftly down 
 the right slope. The Disciples awake as if from a 
 trance and look about confusedly. Jeshua joins 
 them, and they arise. 
 
 SYMEON (incoherently). Master! We saw 
 There was a Voice! Moses and Elijah (looking 
 about in perplexity) were they not here? Was it a 
 revelation ? 
 
 JESHUA (steps to path). Come, let us go down 
 now. 
 
 The Vision fades into rolling clouds, across which 
 lightning still flickers, while the music dies away in 
 the faint reverberations of distant thunder. 
 
ACT II 
 THE MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
A certain man said: 1 will follow thee whitherso 
 ever thou goest. JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: The 
 foxes have holes and the birds of heaven nests; but 
 the Son of Adam hath not where to lay his head. 
 
 JESHUA BAR-JOSEPH saith: Woe unto you, law 
 yers! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be 
 borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with 
 one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the 
 tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 
 Woe unto you! for ye took away the key of knowl 
 edge; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that 
 were entering in ye hindered. 
 
 The Words of Jeshua bar- Joseph 
 
ACT II 
 THE MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 That portion of the Court of the Women in the 
 Temple at Jerusalem, which discloses the eastern 
 gate, known among Israelites as the Gate Beautiful, 
 with its portico; the first day of that week on the 
 sixth day of which the Passover will fall. 
 
 A massive masonry wall entirely fills the nearer 
 background, except where it is pierced at center by 
 a huge gateway and two windows. The gateway 
 rises above the level of the gallery and is closed by 
 two heavy hinged gates of Corinthian bronze, swing 
 ing out and back. Heavy metal bolts and bars 
 fasten these doors when closed. At present they 
 stand open and are not visible to the spectator who 
 may happen to stand within the Court of the 
 Women. The two windows are narrow, barred and 
 embrasured, and stand one on each side of the gate 
 way and under the gallery. This gallery, which is 
 a spacious one of ornamental stone, projects into the 
 Court of the Women from the masonry wall at a 
 height of some fifteen feet and is supported by marble 
 columns. A flight of stone steps, starting a little to 
 the left of the left window, rises along the wall 
 to a low platform further left, from which at right 
 angles to its former direction it rises forward to the 
 gallery and gives on it at the left. A similar flight 
 at the right of the right window gives on the gallery 
 at the right. A low balustrade extends along the 
 entire front of the gallery and more clearly marks 
 63 
 
64 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 the spacious bow into which the gallery bel 
 lies midway. Also a balustrade extends across the 
 upper opening of the gateway. Several benches are 
 placed at irregular intervals in the gallery. 
 
 Of the marble columns which uphold the gallery 
 six are visible, so placed that one has an unobstructed 
 view through the gateway and windows of the 
 distant background, although one may not at first 
 notice this background because of his absorption in 
 the details of the portico. A cursory glance shows 
 that the space beneath each flight of stairs is in 
 closed, presumably to form rooms, since a closed 
 door is visible under each flight. A stone bench 
 stands under each window. A small table h.as been 
 placed a little to the left and in front of the second 
 column from the left, and there is also a small chair, 
 in fact only a stool, to the left of the table. This 
 column is bracketed on its left side for the attach 
 ment of a horn-shaped money or collection box, al 
 though the box is not in place yet. A similar ar 
 rangement of table, chair and brackets may be seen 
 at the second column from the right. This portico 
 opens out on the spacious Court of the Women in 
 which the spectator presumably stands, and which 
 therefore extends for a great distance to the left 
 and right in front of the columns. 
 
 Beyond the inclosing wall of the Court of the 
 Women a narrow stone terrace extends, as may be 
 seen through the open gateway. This terrace leads 
 down into the great Court of the Gentiles by a 
 flight of broad steps; but since the level of this 
 Court is so much lower than the level of the Court 
 of the Women, it is entirely invisible from the in- 
 
ACT II 65 
 
 terior of the latter. However, in the distant back 
 ground can be seen quite plainly through the open 
 gateway the top of the outer inclosing wall of the 
 entire Temple area. Above and at a great distance 
 beyond this wall the tree-covered summit of Mount 
 Olivet fills the remote background. 
 
 It is late afternoon of a pleasant spring day at the 
 hour of the evening sacrifice. 
 
 It must be a little early for the sacrifice; for the 
 somnolent atmosphere of the Temple courts is 
 only accentuated by the snoring of a nondescript 
 Beggar, scantily clad in a once white loincloth and 
 sadin and lying asleep within the gateway, the only 
 living creature in sight. However, there are other 
 living creatures near, since the lowing of cattle, the 
 bleating of sheep, sounds of movements and mur 
 muring voices rise occasionally from the Court of 
 the Gentiles; but all sounds are faint as if coming 
 from some distance. 
 
 Just when one becomes convinced that sleep has 
 become permanent master of the Temple, a Temple 
 Guard enters leisurely at the right front on patrol 
 to the left and out. He takes two or three steps, 
 when another Temple Guard enters at the left front 
 on patrol to the right and out. There is nothing 
 characteristic of these and other Guards, who appear 
 later, except they are all stalwart young men, who 
 take their police duties lightly and appreciate the 
 fact that theirs is an idler s task. Each is clothed 
 in a salmon-colored kethoneth, with darker tinted 
 sash and turban and also leather sandals, while a 
 short sword is tucked in the sash at the left and a 
 broad-bladed spear is carried in the right hand. 
 
66 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 They draw near to pass. The First Guard stretches 
 his arms and yawns. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Ho, hum-m! Strange, nobody 
 is here yet. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. And nearly sacrifice time at 
 that. But 
 
 Very distant shouts are heard faintly. Both 
 Guards stop abruptly and turn toward the gate 
 way, listening. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Perhaps, that s the explanation. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Below Olivet? 
 
 FIRST GUARD. From the Kidron valley. Gone 
 to see some juggler, like enough. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Like enough. (He discovers 
 the Beggar and steps to him with a laugh.) I 
 can juggle, too; see! (He kicks the Beggar awake.) 
 Here, out you go ! 
 
 BEGGAR. Oh oh ow ! Mercy, my lord ! 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Out! it s prayer time; do your 
 begging below. Quick! 
 
 The Beggar has already sprung to his feet, and 
 now that he sees his assailant approach him again, 
 he runs out to the edge of the terrace and stands 
 ready to run down into the Court of the Gentiles, 
 should it become necessary. 
 
 BEGGAR. Hold on ; I m going. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Then go! (The distant shouts 
 are heard again faintly.) Go, join your shouting 
 brothers in the valley! 
 
 BEGGAR (listens). If it s he, there s better pick 
 ings there than here. 
 
ACT II 67 
 
 He begins to descend the steps into the lower 
 Court. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Who is that? 
 
 BEGGAR. That s for you to find out, ha! (As 
 he disappears down the steps f he flings back.) And 
 may your sons die, your wife be barren, and you 
 live to curse the day of your birth, swine s son ! 
 
 SECOND GUARD (wrathfully). Dare to come 
 back, field born! 
 
 The cackling laughter of the Beggar is heard, 
 while the Second Guard, still fuming, turns and 
 comes forward to join the First Guard who is now 
 standing just within the gateway and laughing good- 
 naturedly at his discomfiture. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Yes, laugh; but to what are 
 we coming with beggars making sport of Temple 
 servants? I wonder whom he meant? 
 
 FIRST GUARD. How should I know? Some 
 ball-tosser, or brewer of herbs, unless, perhaps 
 There is a rumor 
 
 Both have entered the portico while conversing. 
 This conversation is interrupted by the entrance of 
 a Levite from the room under the flight of stairs at 
 the left. He is a fat, smirking, oleaginous villain 
 that knows good food and smacks his lips over any 
 juicy bit of scandal. It is evident that he has come 
 up from the country and finds the unrestrained se 
 ductions of the large city congenial to his native in 
 stincts. A close familiarity with the material ele 
 ments of the Temple ritual seems to have deadened 
 his appreciation of its spiritual significance, and his 
 periodic absence from home with its wholesome re- 
 
68 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 straints has given his roving spirit abundant oppor 
 tunity for various exciting gratifications. As to ex 
 ternals, he is clothed in the usual white Levitical 
 kethoneth, bare of foot and bare of head. He carries 
 a large money-horn of copper, narrow at top and 
 flaring at bottom, as well as a money-bag, and goes 
 to the left table. As he begins to talk, he hangs 
 the money-horn on the brackets of the column near 
 his table, sits at the table, empties his money-bag on 
 it and arranges the coins in suitable piles, all the 
 while talking. 
 
 LEVITE. Gossiping? Some pretty wench, eh, 
 Ichabod ? She was a dainty one, the last you ah-h ! 
 . FIRST GUARD (laughs}. Ha, still thinking of 
 Rachel? 
 
 LEVITE (with mock blissfulness). The fragrance 
 of her breath, myrrh and aloes ! 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Fie, out upon you, Manasseh ! 
 And the Passover almost here! 
 
 LEVITE (lugubriously). True, most true! And 
 it s my course at the Temple this week and all 
 through Passover, too! Ah me! So sweet a bit of 
 woman flesh and here I must live two whole weeks 
 over the shambles. Will I ever get the smell of the 
 sacrifices out of my nose? Ugh, what a stench! 
 But she shall bathe in rosewater 
 
 From now on Men and Women come up the ter 
 race steps and enter the portico either singly or in 
 groups. They include the various types and classes 
 of Israel, their social position and personal fancy 
 dictating their apparel. The Women especially are 
 picturesque in bright colors. These latter ascend to 
 
ACT II 69 
 
 the gallery and there stand or sit, for the most part 
 idly gossiping. The Men either loiter in the portico 
 or pass through it and out in front of the columns 
 at the left and right. Now and then a worshiper 
 drops one or more coins in the money-horn with a 
 resounding clang, and occasionally both this Levite 
 and another who enters at this point are called upon 
 to make change. 
 
 This Second Levite, clothed in white as is the 
 former, enters from the room under the stairs at 
 the right, carrying a money-horn and money-bag. 
 He is a cadaverous looking scamp, apparently fond 
 of handling money. He hangs up his money-horn 
 on the brackets of the second column from the right, 
 sits at the table nearby and empties out his money 
 bag prepared for business. 
 
 Among the worshipers an occasional Pharisee 
 enters. He may be instantly recognized by his ar 
 rogance, proud silence and avoidance of contact with 
 others, as well as by the elaborate tassels on the 
 four corners of his simlah and by the leather phylac 
 tery bound to his forehead and another bound to his 
 upper left arm, concealed but evident by the leather 
 thong that wraps his left wrist and middle finger. 
 
 The arrival of the first worshipers does not, how 
 ever, interrupt the gossiping of the Guard and 
 Levite. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Ho, ho! my dainty Manasseh! 
 At least Chiefpriest Annas doesn t mind the smell of 
 cattle. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Huh, why should he? He gets 
 a fat rake-off from the cattle market in the outer 
 court. 
 
70 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 He waves his hand toward the Court of the Gen 
 tiles, from which arise again the lowing of cattle and 
 the bleating of sheep. The First Guard turns to go 
 out at the left in front of the columns, and as he 
 passes the First Levite, he speaks. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Pretty thing for an ex-high- 
 priest, that! Moses forbids trading in the Temple 
 area. 
 
 A Man has just dropped a coin into the First 
 Levite s money-horn, and as he goes out, joins with 
 the First Guard in conversation. 
 
 MAN. Yet it does save our having to bring ani 
 mals from town for the sacrifice. That is a clear 
 gain. 
 
 Both Man and Guard go out still talking. At 
 the same time the First Levite turns and addresses 
 the Second Levite. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Well, Aaron, just in time for 
 the crowd, I see. 
 
 The distant shouts are heard again somewhat 
 louder than before, as if the shouting crowd were 
 gradually coming nearer. The Second Guard, who 
 has been conversing quietly with the Second Levite, 
 turns quickly toward the terrace listening. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. What is that shouting? 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Wait! it seems I can They 
 are shouting Hosanna ! 
 
 He goes out on the terrace, turns to the right 
 and so goes out, his head just showing for an instant 
 through the narrow window as he passes it on the 
 other side. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE (mutters to himself). But it s 
 
ACT II 71 
 
 not the Feast of Tabernacles. 
 
 A group of Women come up the terrace steps 
 chatting and enter the gateway. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN. Did you ever see such a crowd ? 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Just escaped it, I say! 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. How they poured down Beth 
 any road and up the valley! You d think Passover 
 had begun. (She drops a coin in the First Levite s 
 money-horn.) Ho, Manasseh, burning incense on 
 a new altar I hear, ha, ha! Miriam hasn t seen 
 you in Bethlehem for It s over a month, eh, 
 Miriam ? 
 
 The Woman addressed is going up the stairs at 
 the left and speaks over her shoulder. 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Tch-tch; is it that long? I 
 hadn t noticed. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. But, Miriam, you see eh, eh 
 I the business of the Temple 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Oh much nicer, now that 
 you don t come. Come, Sarah. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. But, Miriam 
 
 SECOND WOMAN (laughs). Ha, ha! Look at 
 him squirm now, girls! Tut-tut, Manasseh; run 
 with that hussy for all I care. Good riddance, I 
 say! 
 
 The three Women enter the gallery by the left 
 flight and sit in the bow talking animatedly. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE (laughs). Wow but she got 
 you that time, ha, ha! 
 
 FIRST LEVITE (ruefully). That comes of going 
 with one too long. They re all alike. Go to em 
 
72 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 twice, and they cry if you don t stick to em right 
 along. Bah! Give me a change of diet. 
 
 Among the increasing number of worshipers en 
 tering the portico two Men now enter from the ter 
 race in earnest conversation, and as they talk, they 
 walk slowly forward and then go out at the right 
 in front of the columns still talking. 
 
 SECOND MAN. But I tell you, Bildad, the 
 people are right. 
 
 VOICES (very faint, off stage). Son of David, 
 hosanna ! 
 
 SECOND MAN. Hear them shouting! I care 
 not whether he is son of David or son of Satan, if 
 he will only lead us against Rome, damned infidels ! 
 What a chance he has with these crowds! 
 
 THIRD MAN. Oh, I m with you, Jonadab, in 
 hating the Romans, with their haughty eagle over 
 looking the Temple and their indecent theater and 
 games in our city. Herod and Rome together have 
 made Jerusalem more Greek than Jew. Even our 
 boys forego the Law to compete in the games. And 
 yet 
 
 SECOND MAN. I know your scruples; no pro 
 phet to show the way, no word of God 
 
 THIRD MAN. Of course, there was Jochanan 
 the Baptist, surely a prophet of God ; but he s gone. 
 At any rate, our Deliverer is to come suddenly, 
 chosen by the Ever Blessed One, not by the rabble. 
 
 SECOND MAN. Still, we must be rid of Rome s 
 polluting touch, somehow. 
 
 They go out talking. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. Hear that, Manasseh? Must 
 
ACT II 73 
 
 be that Galilean mountebank they re talking about. 
 What sport if he comes up here ! But as to Rome 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Just so, Aaron; Rome does 
 brighten life in town. What with her games and 
 By the way, didn t I see you Huh, what s that? 
 
 He turns impatiently to a Man who has just 
 shaken him by the shoulder to get his attention. 
 
 FOURTH MAN. Come, come; change me this 
 tetradrachm, and don t chatter all day! 
 
 FIRST LEVITE (looks up). Half-shekels, denars, 
 or pence? 
 
 FOURTH MAN. Denars and pence; do I give 
 half-shekels to the poor box? 
 
 FIRST LEVITE (makes change). No, I warrant; 
 nor even denars, your vineyard pays too well. 
 
 FOURTH MAN (counts change). Here, you have 
 kept out five pence. Exchange is only four. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Not today. The rate is up since 
 you cornered the wine market. 
 
 FOURTH MAN. Usurer! Well, no penny in 
 your horn today. 
 
 He stalks off disgustedly toward the right, drops 
 a coin in the Second Levite s money-horn with os 
 tentation, and goes out of the portico. The First 
 Levite laughs good-naturedly and turns to others 
 that demand his attention. In the meantime the 
 Women in the gallery give evidence that the sac 
 rifice is about to begin. They look and point for 
 ward through the Court of the Women presumably 
 into the Court of Israel within which the Temple 
 proper stands with its altar of sacrifice and other ap 
 purtenances. 
 
74 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 FOURTH WOMAN (in gallery). See, the priests 
 are casting lots for the sacrifice. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN (in gallery). It is high time. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Ho, Aaron, what was I saying? 
 Oh, the games! Didn t I see you there with the 
 beauty of Hazor last Second Day? Shame on you, 
 you rogue! How did you get her? 
 
 Confused shouts are heard again, this time as if 
 from no great distance away. The incoming wor 
 shipers on the terrace turn to look off back. Some 
 Women in the gallery move to the upper opening of 
 the gateway and look out into the Court of the 
 Gentiles. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. And methinks I saw you cast 
 ing eyes at well, you know with the Roman 
 captain. I say no more. But even if stories about 
 her are true, she s above you. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Think so ? She has been getting 
 reckless of late. I hear she is very much at home 
 to the captain. 
 
 The Women in the boiv of the gallery stop talk 
 ing as one indicates the conversation going on below, 
 and they lean over to listen. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. Perhaps. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. However, she ought to keep it 
 quiet, not flaunt the Roman conquest in our very 
 eyes. 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Fie on you for talking about 
 a priest s daughter! But (with a wise look) 
 wouldn t you like to know what cousin Abigail tells ? 
 Her maid, you know, ha, ha! 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. What s that, my pretty? 
 
ACT II 75 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Umh-umh. 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. Oh, we know. Last week 
 mistress Ruth 
 
 FIRST WOMAN. Mustn t name names here! 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. Pish ! everyone knows it s she ! 
 In Paneas town last week, a red-headed chap, a 
 noble, handsome too h m-m. 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. What do you say now, Aaron? 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. And Abigail has since seen 
 him with who d you think? the prophet Jeshua! 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. Yes, they do say that prophet 
 and his disciples go about with a pack of women that 
 are well, not exactly in polite society. 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. Ho, ho! hear him talk! 
 
 A faint tinkling of bells is heard in the distance 
 and continues to sound irregularly throughout the 
 following until the Fifth Woman speaks. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN (looks up). Sh-sh, there is Ca- 
 iaphas at last, selecting the lamb. How his bells 
 tinkle as he walks! 
 
 At this point among others four or five Men in 
 a group enter the portico from the terrace and pass 
 through toward the left front conversing. 
 
 FIFTH MAN. No! The measure of Rome s 
 wickedness is full. Let alone the ruin of our daugh 
 ters, the brutal murder of our sons for resisting her 
 abominations Think, even this holy Temple lies 
 polluted under the tread of our heathen lords! It 
 is, it must be the hour of rebellion! 
 
 SIXTH MAN. Only today neighbor Zeruel runs 
 to me, tears streaming down his eyes, broken, for 
 
76 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 his daughter gone! And she to be married after 
 Passover. When will our turn be? 
 
 SEVENTH MAN. But will the Galilean draw 
 the sword ? 
 
 SIXTH MAN. No one seems to know. Yet a 
 call to arms on Passover Day There will be a 
 hundred thousand men here and more. 
 
 FIFTH MAN. I hear thousands of Galileans fol 
 low him now. 
 
 SEVENTH MAN. And Pilate comes to Jerusa 
 lem tomorrow. Probably heard of this in Gaesarea 
 and means to forestall 
 
 Confused shouts arise again, as if coming from 
 without the Temple area, yet louder than before; 
 and an occasional phrase sounds out clearly. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Hosanna David in the 
 highest Hail 
 
 Confusion fills the gallery and portico. A few of 
 the Women stay in the gallery and look out through 
 the upper opening into the Court of the Gentiles. 
 The rest, however, and all the other worshipers, ex 
 cept a Pharisee who has just entered from the ter 
 race, gradually empty the portico and gallery, as they 
 go out upon the terrace and pass down into the 
 Court of the Gentiles. The faint tinkling of bells 
 which has sounded irregularly in the distance for 
 some time now dies away. Among the Women still 
 watching the preparations for the sacrifice one ex 
 claims as she leaps to her feet in excitement. 
 
 FIFTH WOMAN. Caiaphas is leaving the lamb! 
 
 FOURTH WOMAN. Must be coming to see 
 what s up. Come; we can see from the balcony. 
 
ACT II 77 
 
 They join the other Women at the upper opening 
 of the gateway and look out into the lower Court. 
 At the same time the Pharisee wrathfully avoids 
 contact with the out-rushing throng and presses 
 forward. 
 
 PHARISEE. Out of my way! Don t touch me! 
 What swine! 
 
 As he goes out at the left in front of the columns, 
 several Priests enter excitedly at the right in front 
 of the columns and hurry back to the gateway. They 
 are of various ages, and with scarcely an exception 
 are physically well cared for. They wear the usual 
 priestly linen kethoneth of pure white. This is gath 
 ered at the waist by a girdle of white, crimson, blue- 
 purple and red-purple intermixed. As they move 
 rapidly, the kethoneth flies open below the waist 
 and reveals the white mikhnesayim, a sort of linen 
 breeches. A white turban covers the head, but no 
 sandals grace their feet. The two Levites stand at 
 their tables. 
 
 FIRST PRIEST. Ho, guard ! guard ! Curse it, not 
 a one in sight! 
 
 SECOND PRIEST. Off to see the prophet, most 
 likely. 
 
 THIRD PRIEST. Prophet , huh! Fool, to stir 
 up the crowds with Pilate due here tomorow. 
 
 SECOND PRIEST. Another fanatical outburst to 
 involve us still more with Rome! 
 
 A Temple Guard enters along the terrace from 
 the right. 
 
 FIRST PRIEST. Here, guard; what riot is this 
 down by the East Gate? 
 
78 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 THIRD GUARD. But, father, there is a rumor 
 I know not Some prophet brings an army of 
 deliverance, they say. 
 
 THIRD PRIEST. Here is news, though! 
 
 For another Temple Guard comes running up 
 the terrace steps and bursts in on them panting. 
 
 FOURTH GUARD. Ho, priest! Quick! Jeshua 
 comes Galileans shout him king ! 
 
 FIRST PRIEST. King? Then may the Ever 
 Blessed One have mercy on us! Abiathar, to 
 Annas quick with the news! 
 
 The Second Priest goes out on the run at the 
 right in front of the columns. Confused shouts 
 and voices are heard as if coming from the Court 
 of the Gentiles and beyond. The First Guard 
 enters along the terrace from the left. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. To your posts, guards! 
 
 The Third and Fourth Guards go out along 
 the terrace toward the right and left respective 
 ly. At the same moment the clear insistent call of 
 a bugle rises and falls in the distance. Instantly 
 all in the gallery, portico and on the terrace start 
 in terror and a wailing cry rises from their lips. 
 
 SEVERAL. Rome! Rome! Rome! 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Hark! Rome awakes! Already 
 Captain ^Emilianus has doubled the watch at the 
 Antonia Gate. 
 
 THIRD PRIEST. Woe, woe! Now is our judg 
 ment come ! 
 
 Roman Sentries are seen through the gateway and 
 ivindows moving along the top of the outer wall 
 
ACT II 79 
 
 of the Temple area, manikin-size, and they con 
 tinue to patrol the wall to the end of the Act. One 
 of the Priests indicates the Sentries excitedly. 
 
 FOURTH PRIEST. Lo, our shame! Insolent 
 Rome treading our Temple wall! 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Woe! woe! How long, O 
 Lord? Woe! woe! 
 
 The wailing dies away. 
 
 FIRST PRIEST. The curse of the Most High rest 
 on the Galilean for this! Woe! 
 
 The sharp dying bleat of a lamb, coming appar 
 ently from no great distance, punctuates the tense 
 atmosphere and arouses the Priests to a realization 
 of their duty. They immediately desert the ter 
 race, reenter the portico and hurry out through the 
 Court of the Women, passing in front of the col 
 umns toward the right and left and converse as 
 they go. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. The lamb is slain! 
 
 FIRST PRIEST. The sacrifice! To our tasks! 
 
 They go out. The Levites resume their seats, 
 and several Women in the gallery come forward as 
 if to witness the sacrifice. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN. Poor thing! The blood Oh, 
 it s gasping for breath ! It s dead ! 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. What a lot of blood! 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Just wait until Passover, I 
 say, if you want to see blood run. Once I saw the 
 priests wading in it. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN (shudders). Brrh-h! 
 
 The portico and terrace are now completely de- 
 
8o MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 serted except that the two Levites keep to their tables 
 and the First Guard stands on the terrace a little 
 to the left of the gateway. Former Highpriest 
 Annas, Highpriest Caiaphas, Amraphel, Captain of 
 the Temple Guard, and several Temple Guards en 
 ter the portico from the right in front of the columns 
 and pass toiuard the gateway, pausing midway of 
 the portico. 
 
 Annas is a short, thin, sharp, imperious man, who 
 thoroughly knows his own mind and will not scruple 
 to attain his ends, whatever the sacrifice involved. 
 His voice is thin and cutting, and tends to rise dis 
 agreeably under excitement. He wears the usual 
 priestly kethoneth, mikhnesayim and turban of 
 white, but shows that he was once a highpriest by 
 the blue open and sleeved meil which he wears over 
 all. One may notice pomegranates embroidered in 
 gold thread on the hem of the meil. 
 
 Caiaphas is a large, rather benevolent looking fel 
 low with a chronic aversion to assuming responsibil 
 ity for any action, quite lethargic in fact. He 
 naturally turns to his father-in-law as the more 
 forceful and resourceful. He is in full highpriestly 
 vestments. As a priest he wears the white ketho 
 neth, turban and mikhnesayim, although the last 
 is invisible because of the encircling meil. This 
 meil, which the highpriest wears, although clear 
 blue, differs from that of Annas in that it is entirely 
 closed in front and has no sleeves, thus allowing the 
 white sleeves of the kethoneth to show. It differs 
 further in the fact that between the embroidered 
 pomegranates on the hem are attached dainty gold 
 bells that tinkle musically as he moves. Over his 
 
ACT II 81 
 
 rneil he wears an ephod, really a vest, of some rich 
 material in white, crimson, blue-purple and red- 
 purple, interwoven with gold thread. Onyx-stone 
 buckles clasp the ephod over each shoulder. Above 
 the ephod in front he wears the hoshen, or breast 
 plate, a square pocket or pouch of the same material 
 and colors as in the ephod. This is held in place 
 by two delicate gold chains depending from gold 
 rosettes under the onyx buckles on the shoulders and 
 attached to gold rings in the upper left and right 
 corners of it. The lower corners are also attached 
 to the ephod, but directly. Twelve stones in four 
 horizontal rows of three each are gold-set on the 
 breastplate, namely, red jasper, yellow serpentine, 
 white quartz, red garnet, blue lapis lazuli, green 
 jasper, yellow agate, red carnelian, purple amethyst, 
 yellow jasper, green felspar, and white-and-black 
 onyx, and one surmises, although one cannot read 
 at the distance, that the names of the Twelve Tribes 
 of Israel are engraved on these stones. On a gold 
 plate, attached to the turban and depending over 
 the forehead, are engraved the following letters, 
 
 Amraphel is a stocky, broad-shouldered soldier 
 with quick decisive ways and a booming voice. He 
 is dressed like the other Guards, except that the 
 material is richer, the turban more ornate and he 
 carries at his side a longer sword, but no spear. 
 
 ANNAS. Now, son! 
 
 CAIAPHAS. You, father; please? 
 
 ANNAS. You are highpriest. 
 
 CAIAPHAS. By Rome s appointment; but you 
 
82 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 by the law of the Most High. Command and we 
 obey. 
 
 ANNAS. Good; it is the hour of Heaven. Am- 
 raphel ? 
 
 AMRAPHEL. At your service, holy father. 
 
 ANNAS. We must prevent an uprising at all 
 costs. Call out the guards; double the number at 
 each outer gate, with orders to close in case of riot; 
 throw a double line of defense about the Temple 
 below the terrace; patrol the terrace; and hold the 
 rest in reserve in the Court of Israel. 
 
 AMRAPHEL (salutes). It is done. I go. (He 
 draws his sword with a flourish as he turns to the 
 Guards and shoots it back in its scabbard as he gives 
 the order.) Into the court below. Forward! 
 March! 
 
 The Guards march out on the terrace and go 
 down the steps into the Court of the Gentiles, 
 Amraphel accompanying them. The First Guard 
 salutes as he passes. The tramp of the Guards is 
 heard dying away in the distance during the follow 
 ing. 
 
 FOURTH WOMAN. See, Mattithiah is to sprinkle 
 the altar this time. 
 
 FIFTH WOMAN (laughs). Ha, clumsy beast! 
 He has spilled most of the blood on himself. 
 
 The Women laugh. 
 
 AMRAPHEL (off stage, booms). Left, wheel! 
 
 The tramp of the Guards dies away. 
 
 ANNAS. Guard ! 
 
 FIRST GUARD (salutes). Your servant, holy fa- 
 
ACT II 83 
 
 then 
 
 ANNAS. Is the Galilean armed? 
 
 FIRST GUARD. I think not, sir. A guard from 
 the East Gate says he is riding here on an ass, and 
 his Galileans are throwing their capes on the road 
 for him to pass over. Some are stripping the trees 
 of branches and waving them before him with 
 shouts of Hosanna . 
 
 CAIAPHAS. And I hear they call him king? 
 
 The tramp of the Guards sounds again as if 
 they are taking their places below the terrace in 
 the Court of the Gentiles. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Truly, sir; they call him son of 
 David . 
 
 ANNAS. Son of David? 
 
 AMRAPHEL (off stage, booms). Halt! 
 
 The tramping ceases. The shouting Voices are 
 once again heard, still at some distance, but more 
 distinctly than before. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). David Hosanna Son of 
 David in the highest Hail! 
 
 ANNAS. It is blasphemy! 
 
 Amraphel comes up the terrace steps and salutes, 
 and at the same time Guards enter along the ter 
 race and patrol. 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Holy father? 
 
 ANNAS. Speak ! 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Your commands are executed. Fur 
 ther, Captain yEmilianus has sent word to admit 
 none bearing arms on pain of Rome s displeasure and 
 action. I have so ordered the guards at the gates. 
 
84 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 Is it well? 
 
 ANNAS. It is well. You may go. 
 
 AMRAPHEL (salutes). Your servant, sir. 
 
 He goes out at the right in front of the columns. 
 
 CAIAPHAS. I must to the sacrifice now. 
 
 ANNAS. Go, son, and pray for Israel s redemp 
 tion this day. 
 
 The High priest goes out at the right in front of 
 the columns, his gold bells tinkling musically. Oc 
 casionally the faint tinkle of these bells sounds dur 
 ing the following to the end of the sacrifice. Annas 
 stands in the gateway and looks meditatively into 
 the Court of the Gentiles. The two Levites take 
 up their money from the tables, put it in their 
 money-bags and go out down the terrace steps. At 
 the same time a Woman or two come forward in 
 the gallery and join in conversation with the rest 
 who are watching the sacrifice. 
 
 SIXTH WOMAN. How deftly he strips off the 
 skin ! Like a coat, eh ? 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Josadek s had practice; see 
 how easily he guts and cuts it to pieces. Ten parts 
 and six priests to carry them! 
 
 Ruth enters along the terrace from the right and 
 comes to the gateway. One notes again with de 
 lighted surprise the subtile hauteur of manner that 
 ever and anon melts into pure womanliness, 
 and appreciates the rare distinction with which her 
 dress inevitably suggests her high social position. 
 This time she is clothed in a pure mother-of-pearl 
 silk kethoneth that is closed and betrays the grace 
 ful lines of her person. Over her busts a fine silk 
 
ACT II 85 
 
 braid or is it an embroidery? forms a double 
 loop and passes in a graceful diagonal curve down 
 each side, presumably meeting and crossing behind 
 at the waistline. From this point it slopes down 
 forward over the hips, meeting in front in a loop, 
 crossing and so sloping away on each side to the hem 
 of the kethoneth. Her white kethoneth alone does 
 not suggest her priestly connection, especially since 
 the women of priestly descent have no priestly du 
 ties or prerogatives. But one is instantly impressed 
 with her daring on discovering that the colors of the 
 braid as well as of her girdle are the most delicate 
 shades of the priestly colors, white, crimson, blue- 
 purple and red-purple. But apparently not content 
 with this suggestive approximation to the priestly 
 vestments, her open, sleeved and flowing meil is 
 a mother-of-pearl silk, shot with a faint tinge of 
 blue and lined with a circling gold thread meander 
 in its hem, as if she desired to indicate her connec 
 tion with the highpriestly family. A silk scarf is 
 held in place at her throat by a pearl brooch, pearl 
 pendants depend. from her ears, a pearl cluster decks 
 her hair, and a dainty silk shawl covers her left arm 
 and shoulder and passes over her head, a loose end 
 hanging over the right shoulder and forming a veil 
 which she may draw across her face if she choose. 
 Finally one may note the white silk slippers peeping 
 out from under her kethoneth as she moves. 
 
 RUTH. Uncle Annas! 
 
 He starts from his r every and a smile lights up his 
 face, an indication that she must be a favorite niece 
 of his. 
 
 ANNAS. Well, niece, so you are come to the 
 
86 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 Temple? I am glad. 
 
 RUTH. Yes, for the sacrifice. I pray for Israel. 
 
 ANNAS (looks at her quizzically). H m-m, some 
 thing recent, eh, girlie? 
 
 She laughs and both enter the portico. In the 
 meantime Abigail, who has already entered along 
 the terrace from the right as if in pursuit of her mis 
 tress, stops on the terrace to chat with a Guard who 
 happens to be passing. 
 
 ANNAS. But I have news for you. Jeshua has 
 put himself in our power this time. 
 
 RUTH. What? this madness outside? 
 
 ANNAS. Precisely. We must put him out of 
 the way, lest Rome put this riot to our charge. 
 
 RUTH. No fear; ^milianus knows and is ready 
 to arrest him, if necessary. 
 
 Confused shouts arise again in the distance. 
 
 ANNAS. You remind me, Ruth. Were it not 
 better to see less of this captain? Rumor links his 
 name with yours unpleasantly. 
 
 RUTH. What if people talk? You yourself 
 have said we must hold Rome friends until they give 
 us back the kingdom. 
 
 ANNAS. Nevertheless At least, be careful. 
 Already the people begin to suspect we are too 
 friendly to Rome. Don t irritate them too much. 
 After all, he is a heathen. Of course, it is not true 
 that you have broken bread with him ? 
 
 RUTH. So people are saying that, too? But 
 you wished to ask me something. 
 
 ANNAS. Yes, the disciple you mentioned last 
 
ACT II 87 
 
 night 
 
 RUTH. Stands ready to hand over his Master 
 quietly some night, when the people are away. 
 
 ANNAS. He will come to us? 
 
 RUTH. We may see him any moment here. In 
 fact, Jeshua and his crowd must be entering the 
 lower court already, from the sounds. Let us watch. 
 
 For confused noises have arisen, suggestive of a 
 multitude entering the Court of the Gentiles. Both 
 step out on the terrace and look down into the lower 
 Court. Abigail indicates them significantly and the 
 Guard with whom she has been chatting continues 
 his patrol. She laughs and descends the terrace steps 
 into the lower Court. Annas motions the First 
 Guard to patrol the portico and Court of the 
 Women. The latter enters the portico, goes out at 
 the right in front of the columns and occasionally 
 re enters, crosses and goes out. In the meantime 
 some Women in the gallery continue to mark the 
 progress of the sacrifice. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN. Yes, that s Mordecai washing 
 the pieces. 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. What clumsy big platters those 
 marble slabs are ! You know, they say no woman has 
 ever touched them. Do you think fire would come 
 out of them, if a woman should ever 
 
 No one will ever know what more she said or 
 would have said; for at this moment the heavy 
 tramping of many feet attracts the attention and 
 makes one wonder how many are entering the East 
 Gate into the Court of the Gentiles. All the Women 
 who are still in the gallery now look out at the upper 
 
88 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 opening, watching the occurrences in the Court of 
 the Gentiles. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Make way for him that 
 comes in the name of the Lord ! Make way ! Make 
 way! 
 
 ANNAS. It is your honor, blasphemer. But wait ! 
 
 RUTH (puts hands to breast convulsively). Jeshua 
 enters, and they receive him as king! But he cannot 
 be king, uncle, can he? Say he cannot! 
 
 ANNAS. No, child ; kings don t ride asses, only 
 peddlers and prophets! He lets them spread their 
 capes and shawls for the ass to walk over! That 
 is too much ! 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Hosanna to the son of David! 
 Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! 
 Blessed is the kingdom that comes, (a tremendous 
 shout) the kingdom of our father David! Hosanna 
 in the highest! 
 
 The restless tramp of feet and the confused mur 
 murs gradually die down. 
 
 RUTH. He motions for silence. He dismounts. 
 He looks around. Ah, he mustn t see me! 
 
 She starts back as if to escape notice from below, 
 when a child cries somewhere in the lower Court, 
 and the woman in Ruth leads her to look again into 
 the Court of the Gentiles. 
 
 RUTH. He is picking up the child and dusting 
 it off. How it reaches out to him! 
 
 The gurgling coo of a child rises from the Court. 
 
 ANNAS (grimly). Gentle and lowly. Can it 
 be? But no, that were blasphemy greater than all. 
 
ACT II 89 
 
 RUTH. What, uncle? 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Son of David, deliver us! 
 
 ANNAS. He makes no denial, and he came in 
 riding an ass. 
 
 RUTH. Yes, yes? 
 
 ANNAS. It is clear he intends blasphemy; for he 
 is acting out Zechariah s prophecy : 
 
 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion ; 
 Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! 
 Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, 
 Lowly and riding upon an ass. 
 
 This prophecy has the Messiah in view, and Jeshua 
 blasphemously pretends to be its fulfilment, accursed 
 fool! 
 
 RUTH (perturbed). No, not the Messiah! At 
 least not that! 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Hail, son of David! 
 
 ANOTHER VOICE (off stage). Sir, this is not 
 seemly. Rebuke your disciples. 
 
 JESHUA (off stage). Woe to you, scribes and 
 Pharisees, hypocrites, for shutting the kingdom of 
 heaven from men! You do not enter yourselves, 
 nor yet do you let them enter who would. Your 
 judgment shall be but the greater. 
 
 ANNAS. Accursed blasphemer! 
 
 JESHUA (off stage). And woe to you who traf 
 fic in cattle and coin in my Father s house that 
 you may make the greater gain ! Is it not written, 
 My house shall be called the house of prayer for all 
 nations? Yet you have turned it into a den of 
 robbers! Out, therefore, that a greater judgment 
 
90 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 fall not upon you! 
 
 ANNAS (starts in anger). My market! 
 
 VOICES (off stage). The son of David speaks! 
 Out you go, robbers! Hosanna! 
 
 OTHER VOICES (off stage). No, not us! We 
 are here by priestly warrant ouch oh oh ! ( The 
 tramp and snorting of cattle are heard.) Oh, my 
 oxen, my oxen ! Stop em ! Head em off ! Oh ! 
 (The bleating of sheep is heard.) Oh, my lambs, 
 my lambs! Have mercy, David! (The whirr of 
 pigeons is heard.) Oh, there go my doves! They 
 are flown! My doves! Woe s me Dare touch 
 my money (The clatter of overturned tables and 
 scattering coins is heard.) Father Abraham, I am 
 ruined! Out, beggar! Ouch! I am killed Not 
 one shekel, not one left! Woe! woe! The curse 
 of the Most High 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Hosanna! Blessed is the 
 kingdom that comes, the kingdom of our father 
 David ! Hosanna ! 
 
 During the confusion Amraphel enters the portico 
 from the left in front of the columns and calls. 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Holy father? 
 
 Annas turns at his voice, reenters the portico and 
 approaches him. 
 
 ANNAS. Speak, Amraphel. 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Shall we drive out this madman 
 and his Galileans? 
 
 ANNAS. God s curse blight him! But we can 
 not now, the people are too strong. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Son of David, deliver us! 
 
ACT II 91 
 
 ANNAS. You hear? We dare not yet. 
 
 AMRAPHEL. You pardon, sir; but they are un 
 armed. Give the word, and we will drive them out. 
 
 ANNAS. Nay, the people are with him today. 
 Join your reserves in the Court of Israel. 
 
 AMRAPHEL (salutes). Your servant, holy father. 
 
 He goes out the way he entered. At the same 
 time the two Levites come in frantically on the run 
 up the terrace steps and holding up their Jkethoneths 
 dash to their tables. 
 
 SECOND LEVITE. Quick, he comes! My shekels 
 before he comes! 
 
 FIRST LEVITE. He is mad, surely. Let us hide ! 
 
 Each hurriedly takes his money-horn from its 
 brackets, runs to his respective room under the gal 
 lery stairs, the money clattering noisily in the horn, 
 and goes out, shutting the door with a slam and the 
 sharp clang of a bolt shot to immediately afterwards. 
 At the same time Judas, dressed as before, comes up 
 the terrace steps, looks anxiously into the Court of 
 the Gentiles and then approaches Ruth. 
 
 JUDAS. I saw you here. Just a word before he 
 comes up. 
 
 She leads him into the portico. 
 
 RUTH. In here, then. What is it? 
 
 JUDAS. He declares himself the Messiah, but 
 will not take up arms. Now is the time. 
 
 Annas approaches them. 
 
 RUTH. Yes, now. Judas, this is Uncle Annas. 
 He understands; he will 
 
92 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 ANNAS. Your house and line are known to me, 
 Prince, the noblest in Judah. They were ever loyal 
 to Israel s Temple and Lord since the day great 
 David first freed Israel from the terror of Goliath. 
 It is meet, therefore, that you should come to us in 
 this emergency to maintain Israel s honor and glory 
 against the machinations of this mad blasphemer of 
 Galilee. I welcome you as our present deliverer; 
 and for this deliverance you shall hereafter receive 
 fitting recognition. No words now ; it is enough 
 you shall see me tonight at my house. 
 
 JUDAS. Expect me, holy father. That I may 
 succor Israel shall be my joy. 
 
 ANNAS. It is well. Tonight, then. 
 
 Judas hurriedly returns to the Court of the Gen 
 tiles. Men and Women begin to fill the portico and 
 gallery again, coming up from the lower Court. 
 Among these is Abigail. 
 
 ANNAS. The multitude becomes quiet. What 
 may it portend ? ( The faint tinkling of bells sounds 
 in the distance.} So, Caiaphas begins the sacrifice. 
 
 He goes out at the right in front of the portico 
 columns. One now perceives at frequent intervals, 
 in fact until the Chant, the sharp jerky tinkling of 
 the Highpriest s bells, each jerky tinkle being fol 
 lowed by a sharp sizzling noise as of fresh flesh burn 
 ing. Just now one hears for the first time this tinkle 
 of bells followed by a sound of sizzling. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Mistress, the sacrifice burns. Shall 
 you go up to the gallery? (The tinkle and sizzling 
 are heard again.) We ll miss it if we don t hurry. 
 
 Ruth turns as if to look once again into the Court 
 
ACT II 93 
 
 of the Gentiles, then ascends to the gallery by the 
 stairs at the right, goes to the front of the gallery 
 and leans meditatively on the balustrade. Her maid 
 follows her into the gallery and joins several Women 
 in the bow who are watching the sacrifice. The 
 First Guard resumes his post at the gateway and 
 then joins in the patrol of the terrace. In the mean 
 time the Women converse. 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. It s a wonder Caiaphas 
 doesn t lose his turban! See how he shakes! 
 
 The tinkle and sizzling are heard again. 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. Oh, he s in a hurry. 
 
 The tinkle and sizzling are heard again several 
 times in rapid succession. 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Faugh! Do you smell it? 
 Ugh! 
 
 ABIGAIL. Ho ho, Miriam ! Watching the sacri 
 fice? 
 
 The tinkle and sizzling are heard again, as the 
 Women turn at her voice, and some look over at 
 Ruth significantly. While the Second Woman 
 speaks again the tinkle and sizzling are heard for 
 the last time. 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Well, Abigail, just in time; 
 there goes the last piece of the sacrifice into the 
 fire. 
 
 ABIGAIL. And Maaseiah raises his silver trump 
 et, sh-sh! 
 
 A blare of trumpets is heard in the near distance. 
 At the sound some of the worshipers simply bow 
 the head, but the majority prostrate themselves to 
 ward the front. The tinkling of the bells dies away, 
 
94 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 and voices, presumably in the inner Court of Israel, 
 are raised in chanting the Psalm of the day to the 
 accompaniment of harps. 
 VOICES (off stage). 
 
 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 
 
 And who shall stand in his holy place? 
 
 He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, 
 
 That hath not lifted up his hands unto idols 
 
 And hath not sworn deceitfully. 
 
 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord 
 
 And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 
 
 The blare of trumpets is heard again, and the 
 worshipers bow or prostrate themselves as before. 
 Then the Chant is resumed to the accompaniment 
 of harps. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). 
 
 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, 
 
 And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, 
 
 And the King of Glory will come in. 
 
 Who is this King of Glory? 
 
 The Lord, strong and mighty, 
 
 The Lord, mighty in battle. 
 
 The blare of trumpets is heard again, and the 
 worshipers bow or prostrate themselves as before. 
 Then the Chant is resumed to the accompaniment 
 of harps. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). 
 
 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, 
 Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors, 
 And the King of Glory will come in. 
 Who is this King of Glory? 
 
ACT II 95 
 
 The Lord of hosts, 
 
 He is the King of Glory. 
 
 The blare of trumpets is heard again, and the 
 worshipers bow or prostrate themselves as before. 
 At the same moment Jeshua, dressed as before, 
 comes up the terrace steps and stands quietly look 
 ing in. As the worshipers rise to their feet, he raises 
 his hands in blessing. 
 
 JESHUA. Peace! 
 
 At his voice the worshipers in the portico turn 
 toward him and look at him as if fascinated. Ruth 
 starts and clutches at her heart. 
 
 RUTH. His voice! 
 
 During the ensuing she shows increasing agita 
 tion, due to conflicting emotions, perhaps the re 
 awakening of an ancient feeling, redoubled hate, 
 exasperation, who knowst Occasionally she sits and 
 then stands or moves restlessly about, but listening 
 intently all the while. 
 
 EIGHTH MAN. Is he the Messiah, think you? 
 
 NINTH MAN. How should I The rabbis say 
 the Messiah must appear so suddenly, in the 
 Temple at the hour of sacrifice. 
 
 EIGHTH MAN. I am trembling ; let us go ! 
 
 NINTH MAN. Sh, he speaks! 
 
 JESHUA (extends his arms). Come to me, all 
 you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give 
 you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of 
 me 
 
 Annas and several other Priests enter the portico 
 angrily from the left in front of the columns; but 
 
96 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 the sight of Jeshua seemingly quiets them, and they 
 come to a stop. 
 
 JESHUA. and you shall find rest unto your 
 souls. For my yoke draws without chafing my 
 burden which is light. 
 
 All feel the spell of his words and his presence. 
 Then Annas shakes himself free from the spell and 
 steps toward him angrily. 
 
 ANNAS. Enough, blasphemer! Who are you 
 to assume authority in the Temple and break up 
 our market ? Even were it an abuse the Law should 
 frown upon, say who has given you authority to 
 suppress it? 
 
 JESHUA. First, I ask you one thing. Answer 
 me, and I shall tell you my authority. 
 
 ANNAS. I am not here to answer your ques 
 tions. 
 
 Jeshua looks at him quietly until he fidgets and 
 partly yields to the spell, an unusual experience for 
 him, since he is not accustomed to acknowledging 
 any one his master. At last he speaks. 
 
 ANNAS. But, perhaps, we may have some sport. 
 Your question? 
 
 JESHUA. Is this. Jochanan s baptism, was it 
 of God, or of men? Answer! 
 
 ANNAS. Jochanan of God, or of men? 
 
 As he hesitates, a Woman carrying a Child ap 
 proaches Jeshua timidly. 
 
 SIXTH WOMAN. Master? 
 
 Annas apparently appreciates the opportunity 
 created by this Woman s interruption; for he quick- 
 
ACT II 97 
 
 ly withdraws a few steps and confers with the 
 Priests. At the same time Jeshua turns to the 
 Woman, smiles and reaches out his arms. She 
 springs toward him with a glad cry and presents the 
 Child. He takes it in his arms, looks at it fondly, 
 places a hand on its head, looks upward and his 
 lips move as if in blessing. He then gives it a kiss 
 and returns it to the Woman, who withdraws look 
 ing very happy. During this episode Annas hastily 
 consults with the Priests. 
 
 ANNAS. What can I say? Surely not "of God?" 
 
 FIFTH PRIEST. Not that; otherwise, he could 
 charge us with disobedience to the Ever Blessed 
 One, and so still further weaken our hold on the 
 people. 
 
 SIXTH PRIEST. But neither can we say "of 
 men," since the people have believed in Jochanan 
 as a true prophet. 
 
 ANNAS. And we dare not face their angry pro 
 tests now. 
 
 SEVENTH PRIEST. A most ticklish question! 
 We are in his hands. 
 
 Men and Women continue to press in from the 
 terrace and so force Jeshua into the portico. Most 
 of the occupants of the gallery gradually leave it 
 and crowd the steps at the left and right, listening 
 and watching. Annas approaches Jeshua. 
 
 ANNAS. Your question is absurd and needs no 
 answer. 
 
 JESHUA. Neither then need I indicate the 
 source of my authority. 
 
 Several persons laugh in appreciation of the re- 
 
9 8 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 tort. Annas casts an angry look at them, but holds 
 his ground for the nonce, refusing to acknowledge 
 defeat. Jeshua continues to speak, and the Priests 
 press around Annas as if to sustain him. 
 
 JESHUA. But what do you say to this? One 
 day a vintner came to his elder son and said: "Son, 
 go work today in the vineyard." His son answer 
 ed: "I will not." Yet later he thought better of 
 it and went. The vintner also said the same to his 
 younger son. Now this one answered: "I go, sir." 
 But he did not go. Which of these two did his 
 father s will? 
 
 PRIESTS. The elder, of course. 
 
 ANNAS (angrily). Silence, fools! 
 
 PEOPLE (on terrace). {Hail, son of David! De- 
 
 VOICES (off stage), jclare yourself! 
 
 Jeshua quiets them with a motion, and then ad 
 dresses the Priests with rising indignation. 
 
 JESHUA. So I say to you that these, yes, pub 
 licans and harlots too, are entering the kingdom of 
 God before you! For Jochanan came to you in the 
 way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. 
 But the publicans and harlots believed in him, while 
 you, although you saw it, refused to think better 
 of it afterwards and believe in him. Therefore 
 the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and 
 given to these! 
 
 Annas is about to make some angry retort when 
 Zeruel dashes up the terrace steps and bursts through 
 the crowd. He is a little old man, clothed in a 
 parti-colored kethoneth, which he clutches convul 
 sively and tears to shreds in a most pitiable frenzy. 
 
ACT II 99 
 
 ZERUEL. My God! my God! Let me through 
 to the altar! Out of my way! I come to vow 
 vengeance my God, let me pass! on the Roman 
 who has brought dishonor to my house! Oh, my 
 God! 
 
 He has pressed through the crowd into the pres 
 ence of Jeshua, who steps in front of him to stop 
 him, and a struggle ensues, frantic on the one side, 
 quiet and firm on the other. 
 
 JESHUA. Stand, Zeruel! 
 
 ZERUEL. Let me pass, man! 
 
 JESHUA. Zeruel! 
 
 ZERUEL. You, Master? 
 
 JESHUA. It is I, Zeruel. 
 
 Zeruel gives up the struggle, and in an agony 
 of despair beats his head, sobbing, with tears stream 
 ing down his cheeks. 
 
 ZERUEL. Master, she was such an innocent 
 child, the pride (choking) of her father s heart, oh 
 my God! Let me Oh, my soiled Tamar! I will 
 avenge Master, I must place my vow on the 
 altar. 
 
 He produces a money-bag from his girdle. 
 
 JESHUA. Not so, friend. I know and sorrow at 
 the great injury Cyprianus has done your daughter. 
 But while anger burns in your heart, the Father can 
 not hear your prayer. No, Zeruel; leave your gift 
 behind 
 
 During his words Zeruel looks at him, calms 
 down, hesitates as if struggling ^vith himself and 
 then with a sob drops the bag. 
 
ioo MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 ZERUEL. My daughter! 
 
 JESHUA. You have done well. Now go, seek 
 out him whom you call your enemy, and forgive 
 him. 
 
 ZERUEL (fiercely). Forgive Cyprianus? Never! 
 Let me go! 
 
 He struggles to break away from Jeshua s grasp, 
 reaching at the same time for his money-bag on the 
 pavement; but the latter s hold is too firm, and 
 slowly Zeruel is forced to face him. 
 
 JESHUA. Anger has no place in the Father s 
 kingdom. Go, forgive him first; then come, and at 
 the altar pray the Father to forgive you this anger. 
 For if you do not forgive another, how can the 
 Father forgive you? 
 
 Zeruel looks at him, then at the money-bag, and 
 groans bitterly. 
 
 ZERUEL. Master, it is a hard saying; who can 
 bear it? My daughter! 
 
 He chokes, then with a gesture of utter despair 
 breaks away and sobbingly goes out across the ter 
 race and down the terrace steps. Jeshua watches 
 him with deep sorrow, and sighs. Several mutter 
 and whisper among themselves, as a Pharisee ap 
 proaches Jeshua with mock respect. 
 
 SECOND PHARISEE. Rabbi, we know you arc 
 honest, that you yield to no man, that without 
 regard to any person you teach us the way of God. 
 Pray, teach us more! Ought we to pay Caesar s 
 tribute, or not? 
 
 FIFTH PRIEST (gleefully). For or against Rome, 
 eh ? Either way he s caught, ha ! 
 
ACT H jo: 
 
 THIRD PHARISEE. Yes, shall we give, or not 
 give? 
 
 JESHUA. So? Bring me a denar. 
 
 SECOND PHARISEE (gives him a coin). Here is 
 one. 
 
 JESHUA (takes it). First, whose stamp and title 
 has this denar of yours on it? 
 
 SECOND PHARISEE. Eh eh eh, Caesar s, of 
 course; but 
 
 JESHUA (gives back coin). Then give to Caesar 
 what is Caesar s, and to God what is God s! 
 
 SEVERAL (laugh). Ho, well said, Master! Ha 
 ha! Now, Pharisee That s right, slink away! 
 Ha, ha! Son of David, declare yourself! Hail! 
 
 VOICES (off stage). Hosanna! Kingdom of our 
 father David Down with Rome! The Messiah 
 and his sword! Hail! 
 
 Abigail returns to the gallery in search of her 
 mistress, and several Women follow. At the same 
 time Annas speaks to those about him. 
 
 ANNAS. Come away; no more questions. Be 
 elzebub rights for him today. But, false prophet 
 and blasphemer, we shall meet again, when your 
 deluded Galileans that now shout for you will shout 
 against you. Then show us how brave you are, 
 son of David ! Till then 
 
 JESHUA (raises hands). Peace! 
 
 Annas starts to speak, apparently thinks better of 
 it, and goes out muttering with the Priests at the 
 right in front of the columns. At the same time 
 Ruth exclaims bitterly. 
 
MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 RUTH. Peace? Ah God! 
 
 The night begins to jail, the sunset counter-glow 
 is seen in the eastern sky over distant Olivet, and 
 the moon, now nearly full, rises over the mountain. 
 Shortly the patrolling Guards appear and pass on 
 the terrace with torches, and the distant Roman Sen 
 tries on the outer wall carry lanterns. Also the 
 worshipers slowly withdraw from the gallery and 
 portico and go out, only a few of them staying for 
 the Benediction. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Come, mistress; it is almost night. 
 
 RUTH. Go, Abigail ; I must wait till he goes. 
 
 Abigail looks at her wonderingly and then goes 
 down and out through the portico and along the 
 terrace. At the same time the last two or three 
 Women in the gallery approach the front as they 
 move to go out. 
 
 THIRD WOMAN. What? The incense already 
 smokes on the golden altar! 
 
 SECOND WOMAN. Sh-sh! The priests come 
 out of the Holy place. 
 
 A blare of trumpets sounds in the near distance 
 as if coming from the inner Court of Israel. Such 
 worshipers as still remain either prostrate themselves 
 or simply bow the head. At the same time Jeshua 
 moves quietly to the terrace and looks down into the 
 Court of the Gentiles, while voices chant the Bene 
 diction to the accompaniment of harps. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). 
 Yahweh bless thee and keep thee; 
 Yahweh make his face to shine upon thee and be 
 gracious unto thee; 
 
ACT II 103 
 
 Yahweh lift up his countenance upon thee and give 
 thee peace. 
 
 PEOPLE. Peace be upon Israel! 
 
 The last of the worshipers quietly withdraw, 
 each looking at Jeshua respectfully or curiously in 
 passing, but not interrupting his silent meditation. 
 Ruth also slowly begins her descent from the gal 
 lery. 
 
 VOICES (off stage). He does not come! Will 
 we find him tomorrow? Why does he not declare 
 himself? There he is! Hail, son of David! 
 Hush ! he is praying. Come, let us go. 
 
 The Voices die away in indistinct murmurs and 
 for a brief while silence reigns. Then Jeshua, ap 
 parently under great emotional stress, speaks. 
 
 JESHUA. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the 
 prophets and stones them that are sent to her, how 
 often would I have gathered your children together, 
 as a hen gathers her brood under her wings! and 
 they would not come! Behold, your house is left 
 to you desolate. 
 
 With a groan he rouses himself from his medita 
 tion, turns for a last look into the Temple before 
 going, and is startled to discover Ruth in the portico. 
 She is no less shaken at the unexpected sight of him, 
 and stands uncertainly, in a struggle between pride 
 and desire to speak with him. Silently they look 
 at each other; then Jeshua bows his head and sor 
 rowfully turns as if to go out down the terrace 
 steps. Ruth realizes that if she is to speak with him, 
 she must make the advance, and in this realization 
 her pride melts and all her ancient feeling for him 
 
104 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 springs to life in the one word that softly and for 
 lornly bursts from her lips. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua! 
 
 He turns toward her reluctantly. 
 
 JESHUA. So you were here, too, Ruth? 
 
 RUTH (trembles and falters). I I couldn t 
 go ! I wanted to see you once more. Speak to me, 
 Jeshua? 
 
 She tries to step to him, but in an excess of weak 
 ness almost falls, and he runs to her and supports 
 her. 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth, you are ill! 
 
 RUTH. No, not ill; but Oh, Jeshua, what a 
 nightmare the past year has been! 
 
 She bursts out weeping on his breast. He gently 
 disengages himself and leads her to the bench under 
 the right window, where both sit, she retaining hold 
 of his hand. During this he has been speaking. 
 
 JESHUA. There; there, now! Take it gently, 
 Ruth. Ah, that s better. There, now! So it has 
 not been a happy year for you? 
 
 RUTH (laughs bitterly). As though after that 
 night I could ever be happy again! 
 
 JESHUA. That night. Yet it was a merry life, 
 yours this year, I hear. 
 
 RUTH. Oh yes, merry, ha ! (Anxiously.) What 
 have you heard? 
 
 JESHUA. Always guests and dinners and enter 
 tainments. Yet you did not forget? 
 
 RUTH (looks relieved). I could not forget. 
 JESHUA. The people call you happy. 
 
ACT II 105 
 
 RUTH. How could I be happy? 
 
 JESHUA. Then why all that gaiety? 
 
 RUTH. I wanted to forget. I thought, perhaps 
 you would be sorry you had lost me, and then 
 you would be unhappy, too, and Oh, I hated 
 you! 
 
 JESHUA. My child! 
 
 For a while neither speaks. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua? 
 
 JESHUA. Yes, Ruth. 
 
 RUTH. Is it too late yet? 
 
 JESHUA. Why ask? 
 
 RUTH (vehemently). But I do ask! You were 
 always so stubborn ; but tonight let us talk sensibly. 
 
 JESHUA. Sensibly? 
 
 RUTH. Yes, sensibly; you know what I mean. 
 At last I have you this once alone, and, and I must 
 talk plainly. Be reasonable just this once. Please? 
 
 She smiles at him as she speaks, and an answering 
 smile lights up his face. 
 
 JESHUA. You may speak. 
 
 RUTH (claps her hands). He smiles! A sign, 
 a sign ! 
 
 JESHUA. The same irrepressible girl of Naza 
 reth ! You have not changed so much. 
 
 RUTH (seriously). Yes and no. Outwardly, no; 
 but here, (placing her hand over her heart f con 
 vulsively) here Jeshua, did your heart ever ache 
 to breaking? 
 
 JESHUA (abstracted). Jerusalem my people 
 
106 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 sheep without a shepherd and they would not 
 come! (Collected.) I think so. 
 
 RUTH. Oh, I don t mean that sort of heart 
 ache ; I am speaking of a harder ache than that. 
 
 JESHUA. Harder? 
 
 RUTH. Oh, much! Here, give me your hand. 
 (She takes his hand in both of hers and presses it 
 close to her breast.) There; don t you feel it start 
 and quiver like some poor wild thing that was made 
 just to be happy, but is wounded to death? Oh, 
 oh! it hurts, it hurts, Jeshua! (He withdraws his 
 hand.) That has changed me. How could you do 
 it, Jeshua? How could you? How long ago it 
 seems now! Yet not three years ago I came to Naz 
 areth so gay, so carefree, and you called me the fair 
 est of all the daughters of Jerusalem. 
 
 JESHUA (musing). Jerusalem s fairest daughter. 
 
 RUTH (with a rippling laugh). He remembers! 
 And I laughed at you, because you did not know a 
 dozen daughters of Jerusalem, all told, extravagant 
 boy! 
 
 JESHUA. But you were going to talk to me 
 sensibly. 
 
 RUTH (pouts). Just like a man! Always keeps 
 to the point! But if you Now listen to me, 
 please. (She holds up her finger importantly.) 
 To think that here, where the great rabbis teach 
 their classes, right here in the Temple Courts, the 
 famous teacher of Galilee sits meekly and listens 
 gravely to an irrepressible girl! (She rises and makes 
 him a mock curtsey with a laugh.) I am honored! 
 (She sits.) If you are a good boy, I ll promise you 
 
ACT II 107 
 
 a short lesson, else 
 
 She laughs merrily and he smiles in return. 
 
 JESHUA. Will you never grow up, Ruth? 
 
 RUTH. Oh, I m very grown up. Let me count. 
 Seventeen the day you came into our garden with 
 the thorn roses, and one, two, three, not quite three 
 years since. That makes (counting on her fingers} 
 eighteen, nineteen, twenty! See, I was a woman 
 long, long ago! But a man Why, you are more 
 than thirty, and you are as innocent as a boy yet! 
 So I am really grown-up-er than you, and am go 
 ing to talk very seriously now. 
 
 JESHUA (laughs). And sensibly, too? 
 
 RUTH (nods her head). And sensibly, too. But 
 seriously, Jeshua; have you not been just a wee bit 
 foolish since you left Nazareth for that mad preach 
 er? 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth! 
 
 RUTH. No, please don t speak yet. My one 
 chance. (She presses her hand to her heart.) Oh! 
 I must speak now. 
 
 JESHUA. As you will. 
 
 RUTH. You were such a dreamer those days! 
 Sometimes I was angry, very angry, at you for 
 talking so much of Israel and Rome and the Mes 
 siah and your hope of immediate deliverance. I 
 began to hate you, not much, just a little, because it 
 hurt my pride that you talked so little of me. 
 
 He rises and begins to walk to and fro. She 
 looks at him anxiously. He turns to her. 
 
 JESHUA. You were always in my thoughts. 
 
io8 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 RUTH. Well, I was not aware of it. (Then 
 she seems to grasp the meaning of his words, and 
 her face lights up.) Is it true? Oh, I am so 
 happy! After all, I was in your heart all those 
 days! The hurt is going now, I think. (She 
 presses her hand to her breast.) How quietly and 
 happily it is running! (She rises, walks over to the 
 left window, and looks out meditatively.) How 
 furious I used to get at times and vow I would 
 never again see you. Yet somehow when the time 
 came to return to Jerusalem, I could not go, and 
 stayed on and on, and you wondered why I did not 
 go, stupid boy! You never guessed (softly) that 
 I I loved you! 
 
 JESHUA. Loved me? 
 
 RUTH (turns). You think it unwomanly of me 
 to say so; but I am past shame now. And I stayed 
 on day after day and you never said a word ! 
 
 JESHUA. So those were your thoughts when we 
 walked the woods and hills! 
 
 RUTH. And when I picked almond blossoms 
 and wreathed them in your hair, still you said noth 
 ing! 
 
 JESHUA. My child! 
 
 RUTH (in increasing agitation). And then the 
 hateful rumors from Judea made you restless, and 
 you wondered whether it was the hour of the king 
 dom and talked of going to see Jochanan the Bap 
 tist. I knew, if you went, I should lose you, and I 
 was jealous of the prophet that was taking you away, 
 jealous of your dreams, jealous of Israel, yes, and 
 often I even, I even wished there had never been 
 
ACT II 109 
 
 promised us a Messiah! 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth! 
 
 RUTH. You do not understand. With a man 
 love is an incident, a pleasant episode, a happy in 
 terlude, a plaything which he carelessly tosses aside 
 for his work, for a career, for some dreamy and im 
 possible ideal, what not? But a woman Love is 
 a fire that burns, a madness that possesses us utterly ! 
 For it we will sacrifice anything, everything! It is 
 our life; we cannot sacrifice it, else we die. So, in 
 my madness, if I even wished no Messiah had been 
 promised What deliverance could a Messiah bring 
 me, if I lost you? 
 
 JESHUA. Why talk of this now? 
 
 RUTH. We must. Then came the last evening 
 together. It was early spring. You had come to 
 tell your decision. 
 
 JESHUA. I found you under the sycamore. 
 
 RUTH. How long we sat looking into the val 
 ley, till the yellow moon peeped over the hill. 
 
 // has grown quite dark now, only the moon over 
 Olivet and a few stars giving light. The Sentries 
 still patrol the outer wall, and Temple Guards with 
 lighted torches cross on the terrace, go out and do 
 not appear again until the end of the Act. 
 
 JESHUA. You tried to dissuade me from going, 
 at least until Jerusalem had accepted Jochanan. 
 
 RUTH. And ever you spoke of your Call, you 
 must go! At last I grew angry and told you to 
 choose between him and me. 
 
 JESHUA. My call or your friendship, you said. 
 
i io MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 RUTH. I have never forgotten what happened 
 then. I had risen in anger. Then you stood up 
 and came to me without a word. You reached out 
 your two strong hands and took hold of my shoul 
 ders, and slowly, so slowly, began to draw me to 
 ward you. How my heart throbbed, and how your 
 fingers hurt, (laughing nervously) and how happy 
 I was! But just as I thought you would draw me 
 to your heart, you let go and took my face in your 
 hands. So I reached up and put my hands around 
 your neck. And all the while your grave eyes 
 burned into mine, and I thought you could see that 
 I that I loved you utterly. 
 
 JESHUA. Loved me! 
 
 RUTH. And I thought you loved me, too. 
 
 JESHUA. Your hair burned in the light, and 
 the wind blew a strand across your brow. 
 
 They have gradually moved out onto the terrace, 
 where Ruth points to Olivet bright in the moon 
 light. 
 
 RUTH. Look! Just such a night as this it was. 
 Oh, Jeshua! 
 
 She bursts into tears, as she quickly turns to him, 
 and forlornly reaches out her arms to him. He 
 tenderly supports her. For a while nothing is heard 
 but her quiet sobbing; then she looks up into his 
 face and smiles through her tears. 
 
 RUTH. This is so foolish of me. See, I m not 
 crying; I I I am just happy! 
 
 He reaches up one hand, presses her head back 
 so as to look in her face and gently brushes back 
 the hair from her forehead. 
 
ACT II in 
 
 RUTH. Just as it was that night! Just so you 
 brushed back the loose hair and bent your head over 
 me. Suddenly you pushed me away roughly, and 
 without a word you left me! And and you 
 never kissed me! Didn t you love me? 
 
 He draws away from her and looks out over 
 Olivet in silence. Then he turns to her. 
 
 JESHUA. I loved you too much. The Father 
 had laid his hand on me, and though I did not then 
 know all he required of me, I knew my life must 
 be wholly his, free from all natural ties, to do his 
 will only. Once I had put my hand to the plow, I 
 could not look back. 
 
 RUTH. And have you been happy in giving 
 me up? 
 
 JESHUA. No, Ruth. How could I with my 
 people under their burden of sorrow and sin? And 
 then I remembered you. 
 
 RUTH. Me? 
 
 JESHUA. How happy, if we could have worked 
 together! 
 
 RUTH. Together! 
 
 JESHUA. But it was not to be. You chose oth 
 erwise, and then at Jordan the Father separated me 
 to a service that could end only in death. 
 
 RUTH (vehemently). No, no, not death, now! 
 
 JESHUA. It was therefore necessary for me to 
 be free. Besides I thought you desired to forget. 
 
 RUTH. When a woman loves, she never forgets! 
 It is not too late yet. (She puts her arms around his 
 neck impulsively.) Come, give up this mad career! 
 
ii2 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 The people call you king; perhaps, Messiah. (He 
 tries to free himself, but she clings desperately.) 
 Will Rome tolerate a kingship ? At her request, the 
 Sanhedrin must hand you over, lest she destroy 
 them, too. It is madness to persist. Come, let us 
 go away and be happy together, Jeshua? Is Israel 
 so worth the saving, our happiness must be sacri 
 ficed? 
 
 JESHUA (frees himself). Ruth, it cannot be. 
 
 RUTH. Oh, I hate Jeshua, my heart, it 
 hurts! Don t leave me this way! Kiss me? 
 
 JESHUA (kisses her forehead). My child. 
 
 She pulls him frantically to her. 
 
 RUTH. No, my lips, my lips! 
 
 He gently but firmly puts her away. 
 
 JESHUA. No, Ruth; they are not mine. 
 
 RUTH. Wh-what do you mean? 
 
 He ?nakes no answer, and she looks at him ivith 
 %fOW>ing horror. 
 
 RUTH. Then, you you you know? 
 
 JESHUA. It is not mine to judge. 
 
 RUTH. Oh oh oh oh! you know! 
 
 She rushes into the portico, followed by him, 
 and throws herself in a paroxysm of weeping on the 
 bench on which they had both been sitting but a 
 short while before. 
 
 RUTH. My God, he knows! he knows! Why 
 did I ever do it? Oh-h-h-h! 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth. 
 
 RUTH. Go! How dare you 
 
ACT II 113 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth. 
 
 RUTH. How dare you follow me? I hate you! 
 I hate you! (She stands and stamps her foot.) I 
 hate you ! Go ! You shall die now ! 
 
 She watches him scornfully as he slowly and sor 
 rowfully looks at her. A pause. Then he turns 
 and goes out silently through the gateway and down 
 the terrace steps. Slowly she sinks to the bench 
 sobbing. 
 
 RUTH. O Jeshua! 
 
 Several Guards with lighted torches enter along 
 the terrace from the left. Immediately she starts 
 to her feet and composes herself. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. I thought I heard voices. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. I ll step in and see. (He 
 enters the portico and confronts her.) Your mercy, 
 mistress; it is past the hour of closing. 
 
 RUTH. Is Chiefpriest Annas still here? 
 
 SECOND GUARD. The Sanhedrin consults. 
 
 RUTH. Tell him to expect me this evening. 
 
 SECOND GUARD. Very well, mistress. 
 
 Ruth goes out through the gateway and down the 
 terrace steps. The Second Guard rejoins the others 
 on the terrace. They wait respectfully until she is 
 gone. Then they divide quickly into two squads 
 and push the gates shut. At the same time they talk. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. Now, boys, sharp! Steady there, 
 steady! Now, altogether, push. (They grunt as 
 the gates swing to.) The bolts! 
 
 SECOND GUARD. You saw him; what if he 
 should be king? 
 
ii4 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 A bolt is shot with a clang. 
 
 FIRST GUARD. The other bolt. (Another bolt 
 is shot with a clang.) Well, there would be lean 
 pickings here, then! 
 
 They laugh and go out along the terrace at the 
 right, the torches flashing through the window as 
 they pass. The last flicker of the torches vanishes 
 and the sound of steps dies away. Perfect silence 
 and darkness possess the scene, moon, mountain. 
 Court and portico yielding to them. 
 
 VISION II 
 
 Imperceptibly, the silence melts into low sweet 
 music like the distant murmur of flowing waters, 
 and the darkness turns into a faintly luminous mist. 
 The music and light increase. By degrees there 
 comes to view through the thinning mist the wall 
 and gateway of a glorious City. The wall is built 
 of translucent crystal, encrusted with gems of sur 
 passing luster, and surmounted by turrets and para 
 pet. A resplendent gateway of pure luminous pearl 
 pierces the wall midway. A pavement of pure gold 
 fills in the gateway and the area immediately in 
 front of it. Through this gateway appears a street 
 of pure gold, leading through an avenue of beauti 
 ful trees to a wonderful palace of crystalline gold 
 that glows as if it were the source of all light. A 
 throne of gold, inwrought with jewels, stands in 
 front and a little to the left of the gateway. It 
 is approached by steps of gold from both sides and 
 in front. A rainbow arch of rare transparency, in 
 which the colors quiver and flame, overspreads the 
 throne. A golden scepter in the form of a shepherd s 
 
VISION II 115 
 
 crook leans against the throne at the left. White 
 pebbles cover the foreground. 
 
 In the left foreground stands a throng of Men 
 and Women, all, with one exception, in pure white. 
 Prominent among these are the Twelve Disciples, 
 although Judas, who is in ordinary dress as in the 
 second Act, stands a little apart toward the left 
 front. In the right foreground is another throng 
 of Men and Women, but these, with one exception, 
 are in black. Among these are Caiaphas, whose 
 highpriestly vestments are black, Annas, and near 
 him toward the right front Ruth, who alone of these 
 is in ordinary dress as in the second Act. Occasion 
 ally a hostile look is turned toward her, apparently 
 because of her dress, and she clings to Annas as if 
 for protection. 
 
 Jeshua, appareled like a king in cloth of gold and 
 wearing a golden crown, enters through the gate 
 way. He is accompanied by the Outcasts of Society 
 in motley array, Beggars, Sinners, the Diseased and 
 the Crippled, and Children frolic about him and 
 hold his hands. The faces of the Outcasts are suf 
 fused with joy. Angels appear on the parapet and 
 turrets, those above the gateway with golden trump 
 ets, the others with harps. The former blow their 
 trumpets and cry. 
 
 ANGELS WITH TRUMPETS. Behold your King! 
 
 PEOPLE IN FRONT (prostrate themselves). Hail 
 to our King! Hallelujah! 
 
 The music now swells and bursts into a ringing 
 chant, which the Angels with harps sing to the ac 
 companiment of their harps. 
 
n6 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 ANGELS WITH HARPS. 
 Give the King thy judgments, O God, 
 Even thy righteousness to the King s son ; 
 That he may judge the people with righteousness, 
 And thy poor with justice. 
 
 The Angels with trumpets blow their trumpets, 
 and the People in front do obeisance. The chant 
 is resumed to the accompaniment of harps. 
 
 ANGELS WITH HARPS. 
 
 So shall he come down like rain on the mown grass, 
 As showers that water the earth. 
 In his days shall the righteous flourish, 
 And abundance of peace, throughout all genera 
 tions. 
 
 The Angels with trumpets blow their trumpets, 
 and the People in front do obesiance. The chant 
 is resumed to the accompaniment of harps. 
 
 ANGELS WITH HARPS. 
 
 But as for the wicked, the fire shall devour them; 
 The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath ; 
 He will make them as a fiery furnace in his anger. 
 
 During the chant Jeshua approaches the throne 
 and ascends it. The Children crowd around and 
 sit on the steps, while he reaches down and lifts up 
 a Crippled Boy who has difficulty in finding a seat. 
 As he sits down, he holds the Boy on his knee. With 
 his right hand he grasps the scepter. Toward the 
 end of the chant a pure white Dove circles down to 
 a seat on the throne just above him. As it settles, 
 the chant ends, the Angels with trumpets blow their 
 trumpets, and the People in front shout and do 
 obeisance. 
 
VISION II 117 
 
 PEOPLE IN FRONT. The Dove! the Dove! Hail 
 to our King! 
 
 The music sinks to a low sweet pulsing of joy. 
 For the first time Jeshua looks up, as he turns to 
 those in white standing in the left foreground. 
 
 PEOPLE IN WHITE. The Master himself! 
 
 JESHUA. Come, you blessed of my Father; enter 
 the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 
 of the world. For when I was hungry, it was you 
 fed me ; when I was thirsty, you quenched my thirst ; 
 when I came to you a stranger, you received me; 
 when in rags, you clothed me ; when I was sick, you 
 visited me; and when I was in prison, you came to 
 me. 
 
 PEOPLE IN WHITE. Lord, when did we see you 
 hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and quench 
 your thirst? And when did you come to us a 
 stranger, and we receive you? Or in rags, and 
 clothe you ? And when did we see you sick or in 
 prison, and come to you? 
 
 JESHUA. My friends, it was when you helped 
 some one of these brothers of mine, (indicating the 
 Outcasts and Children about him) the very least 
 of them, that you did it to me. 
 
 The Angels with trumpets blow their trumpets, 
 as he holds out his scepter to those in white. Im 
 mediately the other Angels begin a chant to the 
 accompaniment of harps. 
 
 ANGELS WITH HARPS. 
 
 This is the gate of the Lord , 
 Let the righteous enter therein! 
 
 During the chant and the following those in 
 
ii8 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 white pass before the throne, enter the gateway and 
 assemble in the street beyond. Judas lingers behind, 
 although several beckon him to accompany them. 
 He looks up only to see his Master looking at him 
 in sorrow, whereupon he drops his head and presses 
 back to the extreme left front. While this is taking 
 place, those in black are not inactive. 
 
 CAIAPHAS. They have been admitted for doing 
 alms. How much more we who have kept the 
 Temple. 
 
 ANNAS (scowls). Yet why this indignity of 
 clothing us in black? And his features are strange 
 ly familiar. If he would but turn 
 
 The People in black have crowded around Ruth, 
 and now speak angrily. 
 
 SEVERAL IN BLACK. Put her out! She is not 
 in black ! Aye, put her out ! You do not belong 
 with us! 
 
 RUTH (in a frenzy). No, not that! Not be 
 fore him! Oh! 
 
 They thrust her out into the central foreground, 
 where she cowers piteously, afraid to return and 
 afraid to go. 
 
 ANNAS. Be quiet! Ha! it is the false prophet! 
 
 For Jeshua has just turned his face toward the 
 People in black, and looks on them with sadness. 
 There is now perceptible the motif of infinite sor 
 row mingling increasingly in the music with the 
 prevailing motif of ineffable peace, while a third 
 motif of despair creeps in. Whenever Jeshua speaks, 
 one is aware of the motif of sorrow as if his sorrow 
 were an overwhelming burden; but by degrees the 
 
VISION II 119 
 
 third motif of terrified despair swells until at the 
 close of his last speech it becomes dominant. Yet 
 through it all one is aware of the motif of peace 
 curiously melting into these others and molding 
 them to its likeness as if the peace of infinity brooded 
 over all. Just now Jeshua speaks, but more in sor 
 row than anger as if heart-broken at the sentence 
 he must pronounce. 
 
 JESHUA. Depart from me, you who are guilty 
 of the wrath of God, 
 
 They start in amazement, and, as his meaning 
 becomes evident, terror seizes them and they cower. 
 
 JESHUA. into the everlasting fire prepared 
 for the devil and his ministers, 
 
 CAIAPHAS. But, Lord, are we not ministers of 
 the Temple of the Most High? 
 
 JESHUA. For I was hungry, and you did not 
 feed me; I was thirsty, and you did not quench 
 my thirst; I came to you a stranger, and you did 
 not receive me; in rags, and you did not clothe 
 me; sick and in prison, and you did not come to me. 
 
 PEOPLE IN BLACK. But, Lord, when did we 
 see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or 
 in rags, or sick, or in prison, and not minister 
 to you? 
 
 JESHUA. It was when you refused to help some 
 one of these brothers of mine, that you refused it 
 to me. 
 
 Those in black, with the exception of Annas, 
 moan in terror and prostrate themselves. 
 
 PEOPLE IN BLACK. Woe! woe! Have mercy 
 on us, Lord! Mercy! mercy! 
 
1 20 MESSIAH ENTERS JERUSALEM 
 
 ANNAS (stands defiantly). False prophet and 
 usurper of the throne of God, I bid you defiance! 
 
 A blinding flash of lightning strikes at his feet 
 with a terrific clap of thunder, and a chasm opens 
 separating those in black from the throne. Smoke 
 and fire issue, the ground slowly sinks away, and 
 they are engulfed in flames and darkness amid 
 groans and shrieks of terror. At the same moment 
 the City, throne, Angels, People in white, Children, 
 Outcasts and Jeshua dissolve into the darkness, only 
 the rainbow arch dimly shining through the clouds. 
 In the last lurid gleams Ruth and Judas are seen 
 fleeing away in terror. The angry jnutterings cease, 
 only the rainbow faintly gleams, and low sweet 
 music like the distant murmur of flowing waters 
 pulsates through space. Last of all the rainbow dis 
 solves and the music melts into silence. 
 
ACT III 
 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
A certain man said: I will follow thee, Lord; 
 but first suffer me to bid farewell to them at home. 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: No man putteth hand to 
 plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 
 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: There are eunuchs 
 that were born eunuchs from their mother s womb; 
 and there are eunuchs that were made eunuchs by 
 men; and there are eunuchs that made themselves 
 eunuchs for the kingdom of God s sake. 
 
 JESHUA BAR- JOSEPH saith: The Son of Adam 
 came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and 
 to give his life a ransom for many. 
 
 The Words of Jeshua bar-Joseph. 
 
ACT III 
 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 Gethsemane, an olive garden on the western slope 
 of Mount Olivet overlooking Jerusalem; the night 
 following the Fifth Day of the week on the morrow 
 of which the lamb is killed and prepared for the 
 Passover. 
 
 The rising slope of Olivet, which occupies the 
 entire background, leads down to a fairly level space 
 in the immediate foreground. A small grotto in 
 the slope opens on the level of the garden a little 
 toward the right and in front of any one who might 
 be looking into the garden from the Jerusalem side. 
 The irregular rock within and on both sides of this 
 cave forms natural shelves roughly suitable for sit 
 ting. Irregular paths straggle down the slope, one 
 from the right, the other from the left, and give on 
 the garden on either side of the cave. A little toward 
 the left in the garden is a circular stone oil-mill, in 
 which is to be seen resting the stone crushing-wheel 
 with its crude but stout axle beam. Back of the mill 
 is a primitive open shed with thatch roof, covering 
 a motley assortment of wicker baskets, firkins, ladles, 
 mats and the like. Olive trees cover the slope and 
 partly fill the garden, leaving only a clear space be 
 tween the shed, cave and mill. 
 
 Midnight draws on apace in the clear moonlight 
 that plays over the garden, the moon being presum 
 ably at the full although unseen. 
 
 Ruth enters the garden anxiously from the right 
 123 
 
124 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 front, immediately followed by her maid Abigail, 
 the latter betraying fear at each step. The former 
 is again clothed in a rose-pink silk kethoneth, as in 
 the first Act, girdle and all, except for the absence 
 of head jewelry and the dainty shawl. Instead, she 
 wears a meil and shawl of some dark red stuff that 
 in the darkness of the garden partly conceals her. 
 Her maid is likewise concealed in a simlah-like cape 
 of some dark material. Apparently both are anxious 
 to conceal their identity and escape undue notice. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Come back, mistress; this is fool 
 hardy ! 
 
 RUTH. Hush, Abigail. Ah, there is a cave! 
 This must be the place. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Anyway, it s a horrid place. Ugh- 
 h-h! I m creeping! 
 
 RUTH (comes to center). It is! There is the 
 oil-mill and shed. 
 
 Just then her maid grasps her arm, points to the 
 stuff under the shed and shudders. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Ugh, wh-what s that? Oh, it s a man! 
 
 RUTH. Fool! Only olive baskets. We are 
 safe enough with the moonlight. (She looks about 
 thoughtfully.) So this is the place where he spends 
 his nights. 
 
 ABIGAIL (looks fearfully at the cave). Oh, oh! 
 what s that? There! It s moving, oh-h! 
 
 A bat flies out of the cave and disappears among 
 the trees. 
 
 RUTH. Only a bat, see ! But hush ; he must not 
 hear us. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Mistress, come home? It s past mid 
 night and all Jerusalem is asleep. Come? 
 
ACT III 125 
 
 RUTH (abstracted). Jerusalem sleeps, and he 
 comes to pray. (A pause.) Abigail? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Yes, mistress. 
 
 RUTH. He ought to die, don t you think? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Yes, mistress; but don t talk of dying 
 here, ugh! 
 
 RUTH. But why should he die? 
 
 ABIGAIL. A disturber like him, why not? 
 
 RUTH. Yes, and yet 
 
 ABIGAIL. Mistress, is it permitted to say one 
 thing? 
 
 RUTH. What is it? 
 
 ABIGAIL. You wont take offense? 
 
 RUTH. No; speak. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Perhaps, I d better not. 
 
 RUTH. Come; what are you thinking of? 
 
 ABIGAIL. I was just thinking of you wont take 
 offense? no? of what Captain yEmilianus said. 
 
 RUTH. What yEmilianus says does not interest 
 me. Be brief. 
 
 ABIGAIL. He came again this that is, yesterday 
 afternoon, and asked for you. 
 
 RUTH. You sent him away, of course. 
 ABIGAIL. Ye-es, of course. 
 
 RUTH. And told him I would never see him 
 again ? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Yes; but he wouldn t leave at once, 
 and while I waited for him to go 
 
 RUTH. I told you to have him turned out, if 
 he refused to go. 
 
126 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 ABIGAIL. Yes, mistress. But (impulsively) he 
 thinks it is because you saw the prophet in the 
 Temple that you have since refused to see him. 
 
 RUTH (sternly). And how did he know we met 
 at the Temple ? Did you tell him ? 
 
 ABIGAIL. Well, maybe, I wasn t just discreet 
 and dropped a hint. 
 
 RUTH (sharply). Why will you But, per 
 haps it is just as well he knows. 
 
 ABIGAIL. And he thinks you are Oh, I am 
 afraid to say it! 
 
 RUTH. Come, out with it! I must know how 
 much you have talked with him. 
 
 ABIGAIL. It is nothing, really, mistress. 
 
 RUTH. No more evasions. Speak! 
 
 ABIGAIL (agitated, points toward left). Mis 
 tress, I hear some one moving over there! 
 
 RUTH. The wind, only. Speak! 
 
 ABIGAIL. No, it must be How can I tell you ? 
 
 RUTH (shakes her roughly). There is something 
 between you and ^milianus. Now speak! 
 
 ABIGAIL (falls to her knees). Mistress, I did 
 wrong, I know; but he is such a handsome man, 
 and, and he wants you and he says you are in 
 love with this prophet 
 
 RUTH (starts). In love! 
 
 ABIGAIL. And he begged to be allowed to see 
 you, and, and Oh, how can I tell you? 
 
 RUTH. Speak! 
 
 ABIGAIL. I c-couldn t get rid of him until I told 
 
ACT III 127 
 
 him th-that you were to be here tonight ! 
 
 RUTH. You told him that? You hussy! 
 
 She strikes Abigail, who rises and steps out of her 
 reach. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Mercy, mistress! 
 
 RUTH. Silence! Everything is spoiled by your 
 meddling, you fool! Stay and meet him. I go. 
 
 Ruth turns and starts to go out by the way they 
 both came, while her maid calls after her. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Mistress, don t leave me! Oh! 
 
 ^Emilianus, Captain of the Procurator s Guard, 
 enters the garden from the left front. Burly, dom 
 inating, decisive, one overlooks the fact of his small 
 stature. One can only guess at his age in the pale 
 light, and it is only a surmise that daylight would 
 reveal a coarse animal face, deeply lined by gnawing 
 ambition and brute passions. One regrets the lack 
 of light to see whether traces of a noble character 
 still remain; yet the impression lingers that he and 
 the darkness are familiars, understanding each other 
 thoroughly and uncomfortable when separated. For 
 the rest, he is evidently a Roman soldier who has 
 seen much service. He is completely wrapped in a 
 long military cloak of dark blue or gray as if to 
 render himself inconspicuous; but the line of his 
 sword shows through on the left, and his head is 
 bare as if he had slipped away from the palace when 
 chance offered. At present he is very much aware 
 that his quarry is near, and shows a consequent ex 
 citement. He sees the maid. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. You have prepared her? Where 
 is she? 
 
128 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 ABIGAIL. Quick; there she goes! 
 
 ^LMILIANUS. Good! Out, HOW ! 
 
 He gives her a coin, motions her off toward the 
 left with a wicked back jerk of the left hand, and 
 starts in pursuit of his quarry. Abigail lingers as 
 if afraid to go off alone. He calls. 
 
 ^MILIANUS. Ruth ! 
 
 Startled at his voice Ruth turns at the right of the 
 cave, and before she can recover herself and run off, 
 he intercepts. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. At last I find you! 
 
 RUTH. Let me pass! 
 
 He catches her roughly. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. So this is the way you reward 
 me? 
 
 RUTH. Let me go! 
 
 She struggles to free herself. He notices over his 
 shoulder that Abigail is still present and nods to her 
 commandingly to get out. She hesitates, smiles 
 knowingly at him, and then goes out at the left front 
 timidly. 
 
 RUTH. Abigail! Abigail! Help me, Abigail! 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. It is useless to call; she is already 
 gone. 
 
 RUTH. I might have known as much. You 
 ruffian ! 
 
 ^MILIANUS. Call me what you please, darling. 
 (He laughs.) We are alone, you see. 
 
 Ruth gives up despairing. 
 
 RUTH. Well, what is it you want? 
 
ACT III m 129 
 
 In the struggle he forces her to the mouth of the 
 cave and now releases her with a laugh and stands 
 insolently before her on guard. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Ah, that s better. We can ha 
 talk so much more comfortably, if you stay quiet. 
 
 RUTH. At least, be quick with your words. 
 
 yEMiLiANUS. Are you so anxious to be done with 
 me then? 
 
 RUTH. You doubt it? Oh, I hate you, I loathe 
 you, you with your smooth ways, for the ease with 
 which I yielded to you, for the very hours we have 
 spent together! Let me go! 
 
 She makes a sudden dash, but is intercepted. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Come, come, what s this you are 
 saying? 
 
 RUTH. I mean it every word. You think I 
 am afraid of what you may do to me here, ha! 
 As though this body counts for anything ! Nothing 
 you can do will harm me now. I have a deeper 
 hurt here, in my heart, in my soul. 
 
 She looks at him proudly as if expecting a laugh; 
 but he is silent and contemplates her curiously as if 
 a new thought has occurred to him. 
 
 RUTH. Why don t you laugh? You think I 
 have no soul. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. No, Ruth ; you misunderstand me. 
 I have done you a wrong. When you shut your 
 door against me five days ago Do you think it 
 was easy for me to brook the insult and then come 
 for you here? 
 
 RUTH. You do not understand. I despise my 
 self so utterly; but you? Oh-h, why was I born? 
 
130 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 She turns from him with loathing. 
 
 /EMILIANUS. Be calm, Ruth. 
 
 RUTH. Calm? Yes, despair is calm. To think, 
 not eight months ago I came to you an innocent 
 girl, holding a pure white soul in my hand to the 
 man I thought you were, and then 
 
 yEiviiLiANUS. Don t think of it now, Ruth. I 
 have something to say 
 
 RUTH. You seemed so noble and true, and then 
 in a mad moment I tore my soul to shreds in your 
 arms! Oh, the fault was not yours altogether; I 
 was reckless. But you, you found me in my mad 
 ness and with sweet words stole away my soul! 
 How utterly I despise you! Let me pass! 
 
 yEMiLiANUS (holds her back}. Hear me this 
 once and judge. You are right; I was despicable. 
 Wantonly, cruelly, I took advantage of your mad 
 ness, and all these past months have I held you 
 too lightly. But, Ruth, believe me, that is all past. 
 
 RUTH. Then why are you here? 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Just because it is past, dear. I 
 did not know how much you were to me until 
 you broke with me five days ago, and I cannot let 
 you go, I will not let you go out of my life. Per 
 haps, the old life is impossible now 
 
 He watches her to see the effect of his words. 
 She starts back with quick repugnance. 
 
 yEMiLiANUS. I see it is impossible. You are 
 worth more than that. Let me make reparation for 
 the past. 
 
 RUTH. Why talk so? You cannot move me. 
 You know the past is irretrievable. 
 
ACT III 131 
 
 Not irretrievable! Do you not 
 see, dearest, that I love you? 
 
 With a quick movement he tries to take her in 
 his arms and kiss her; but she thrusts both hands 
 in his face and presses herself free of his embrace. 
 
 RUTH. Don t touch me! You talk of love, ha! 
 With the same words you led me to My God, 
 why did I ever see you? How could I have been 
 so blind ? My God ! My God ! 
 
 She turns and sinks down sobbing on the rock 
 ledge at the left of the cave. He approaches, stoops 
 over her and touches her on the shoulder, and as she 
 shudders at his touch, he speaks. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Ruth, Ruth darling, you do not 
 understand. I did you a terrible wrong. But I 
 will make you my wife, dearest, if only you will let 
 me. 
 
 RUTH (still sobs). Please go! 
 
 ^.MILIANUS. Come to me, Ruth; let me make 
 reparation, wont you, dear? 
 
 RUTH (stills sobs). It is useless, please go! 
 
 /TIMILIANUS. Don t cry so! You hurt me. You 
 don t believe me? You think I am trying to de 
 ceive you again. Is it that, dear? My God, Ruth, 
 you don t believe me! (He walks agitatedly about, 
 clenching and unclenching his hands, while she still 
 sobs. After a while he approaches her.) I under 
 stand; you can judge me only by the past, and 
 Ruth, I did not know I could love you so much, I 
 cannot lose you! Tell me how to prove my love? 
 Tell me, dear? 
 
 RUTH. Leave me! 
 
132 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 Not leave you? Not that, Ruth; 
 anything but that ! 
 
 RUTH (rises and faces him). Just that. Leave 
 me! If your love is real, you know I can never see 
 you again. Do you think the wound of my soul 
 would heal in your presence? 
 
 yEMiLiANUS. Let me try to heal it, dear. 
 
 RUTH. How shall I know it is not this body 
 you want? No, it is impossible. If your love is 
 more than that, you can prove it only by leaving me 
 now forever. 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Not forever! Then is there no 
 chance of your loving me? 
 
 RUTH. Loving you? I do not hate you, I utter 
 ly despise you ! Not hell, nor heaven, nor God him 
 self could ever make me love you! (She stamps 
 her foot.) Go! 
 
 ^MILIANUS. Perhaps you are right. But al 
 though you despise me, I must, I will have you! I 
 will not leave you! 
 
 RUTH (scornfully). Then you do not love me. 
 
 ^MILIANUS. How you have changed since you 
 met that mad Galilean in the Temple! Ah, I see 
 it all; you are here to meet him! (She recoils.) 
 So you did not hate him after all, ha! Your hatred 
 was but a ruse, a blind. Fool that I am! The 
 guards at the gate said they were to arrest him here, 
 and you are come to keep tryst with him. Every 
 thing is plain; you have been unfaithful to me, you 
 wanton ! 
 
 RUTH (with bitter scorn). Yes, everything is 
 plain now. The love you but now protested so hot- 
 
ACT III 133 
 
 ly, what is it but Bah, you beast ! 
 
 yEMiLiANUS (takes a step toward her). You 
 wanton, now I will break you! 
 
 RUTH (with increasing scorn). Yes, wanton, 
 wanton ! But who made me a wanton, you coward ? 
 (He makes a threatening move.) Oh, I am not 
 afraid of you. You accuse me of loving him. Do 
 you suppose he would have any traffic with me? 
 He is as immeasurably above you as true love sur 
 passes what you feel toward me. Did he know 1 
 am here, (choking) he would not come. 
 
 Her manner completely changes. She falls to her 
 knees and brokenly pleads with him. The effect on 
 him is first surprise and astonishment, and then as 
 he involuntarily steps back from her, she follows 
 on her knees, while she speaks. 
 
 RUTH. Oh, vEmilianus, I will do anything you 
 want of me after tonight, if you will only leave me 
 here now! See, I ask you on my knees, ^Lmilianus! 
 I ll come to you on hands and knees, I ll be your 
 plaything, anything, and when you tire of me, I ll 
 let you kick me out of your house, and kiss your 
 foot as you do it, if you will go now! I am so 
 utterly worthless, what matters what becomes of 
 me after tonight ? Do what you will with me. 
 Only tonight; give me tonight, ^Emilianus? 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Tonight here with him? And 
 you love him ; how can I trust you ? 
 
 RUTH. I shall be yours after tonight, M- 
 milianus. Give me tonight? 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. You promise there will be nothing 
 between you? Yet how can I believe your promise? 
 
134 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 RUTH (with a despairing cry). My punishment 
 is just! You will not believe me. (She creeps 
 to him on her knees and clasps her hands to him.) 
 yEmilianus, believe me this once! There can be 
 nothing between us. He he he hates me, he 
 would not touch me, yEmilianus. Give me tonight, 
 only tonight? 
 
 ^EMILIANUS (grudgingly). Well, tonight then; 
 but tomorrow you shall be mine! Kiss me! 
 
 He seizes her roughly, lifts her to her feet and 
 tries to kiss her. She half yields to him and then 
 breaks away. 
 
 RUTH. No, no, I cannot, I cannot do it! Oh, 
 my God ! 
 
 ^EMILIANUS. Ruth ! 
 
 Baffled, he stands uncertainly watching her. She 
 has turned from him and stands in an attitude of 
 despair. A pause. Then with a struggle she com 
 poses herself, turns to him with forced merriment 
 and shakes a finger at him. 
 
 RUTH. Naughty boy! Not tonight, and to 
 morrow you shall have your reward! (She laughs 
 nervously.) I I just want to witness his arrest; 
 he he dies tomorrow, and the Temple guards 
 would be suspicious if they saw a Roman here. 
 (She forces a laugh.) Go now, there s a good boy! 
 
 ^MILIANUS. I cannot make you out; you have 
 been playing with me all this time, is that it? 
 
 She seemingly relents and gives him her hand, 
 which he kisses passionately. 
 
 RUTH. Foolish, you may kiss my hand for that! 
 
ACT III 135 
 
 Now go! 
 
 After kissing her hand, he looks at her puzzled, 
 hesitates and then goes out in doubt by the way he 
 came. Instantly a look of loathing covers her face, 
 and she disgustedly wipes off the spot where he 
 kissed her on the hand. 
 
 RUTH. So I have come to that! 
 
 She walks about uncertainly, sighs, sits on the 
 mill and sinks into an attitude of utter dejection. 
 After an interval Judas, dressed as before, enters 
 furtively down the slope from the left, comes down 
 the path quickly and looks about eagerly. 
 
 JUDAS (softly). Ruth! Ruth! 
 
 She gasps, looks around wildly for a hiding place, 
 half rises, sees she is discovered, and calms herself as 
 she stands. 
 
 JUDAS. Ah, there you are! 
 
 He comes down to her. 
 
 RUTH. But but I thought you were Why 
 are you here? 
 
 JUDAS. Oh, Abigail found me at the Kidron 
 bridge, said you were here. Is it not a risk, your 
 being here at this time ? What if he should find you 
 here? 
 
 RUTH. Trust me ; I shall hide up the slope and 
 watch what happens. They are to arrest him here? 
 
 JUDAS. Yes. But be careful ; I had much rather 
 you had not come. 
 
 RUTH. Is everything arranged? 
 
 JUDAS. Everything. A strong squad is at the 
 East Gate and will move as soon as I report he has 
 
136 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 crossed the Kidron. I shall, of course, bring them 
 here. The rest is simple. The Sanhedrin now sits 
 to expedite the formality of his condemnation imme 
 diately on his arrest and presentation to them ; Pilate 
 is warned ; and his execution will take place in the 
 morning. 
 
 RUTH. Against all precedent. Why not give 
 him the one day required by Law? 
 
 JUDAS. No precedent holds in the case of a 
 traitor. And think of it! Your uncle assures me 
 that no sooner has his death satisfied Rome of our 
 continued loyalty than the Sanhedrin will make the 
 proper approach to the emperor for our own king. 
 He has talked with ^Emilianus 
 
 RUTH. . Emilianus? 
 
 JUDAS. Yes; secretly. It develops that the em 
 peror is thoroughly dissatisfied with Pilate s admin 
 istration and expects to recall him shortly. I under 
 stand ^Emilianus desires the office and expects to 
 marry an Israelitess to secure our loyalty. 
 
 RUTH (startled). My God, so that is it! 
 
 JUDAS. Impossible, of course; no woman in 
 Israel would marry a Gentile. At any rate, Annas 
 hopes to obtain the appointment of a Davidic king 
 through his secret mission. He hints at suggesting 
 me 
 
 Confused voices rise from somewhere in the dis 
 tance murmuring, as if persons were approaching the 
 garden. He starts at the sound and Ruth also shows 
 quick agitation. 
 
 JUDAS. He, and the disciples! I must go. The 
 restoration of Israel is certain, and then you are 
 
ACT III 137 
 
 mine, darling! 
 
 He tries to kiss her, is repelled, shows surprise, 
 but before he can utter a word, persons move above 
 at the left back, and both run out hurriedly, Judas 
 at the left front and Ruth at the right front. Jeshua, 
 Symeon, Jacob and Jochanan, dressed as before, 
 enter above from the left and slowly come down the 
 path to the garden. One of them points to the oil- 
 mill. 
 
 JACOB. Master, the Gethsemane. Shall we re 
 turn now to the others? 
 
 JESHUA. Not yet; come. 
 
 They descend into the garden. 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, it is the fifth day since the 
 people led you with shout and song to the Temple, 
 and they grow restless. When shall you reestablish 
 the kingdom? 
 
 SYMEON. True, Master. They were ready, 
 still are, to receive you as their king. How easy 
 with all this Passover multitude to drive out the 
 Romans and be free again ! 
 
 JACOB. And many are asking whether you are 
 not the Messiah. But our lips are sealed, you have 
 not spoken. 
 
 JESHUA (wearily). Still the kingship and Rome s 
 overthrow ! 
 
 SYMEON. But the opportunity is slipping away. 
 Murmurs are sweeping the crowds: If he be the 
 Messiah, why does he not declare himself? 
 
 JOCHANAN. They begin to doubt and clamor 
 for some signal act of deliverance. Master, why 
 wait longer? 
 
138 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 SYMEON. Why let them fall away again? 
 
 JESHUA. So they are falling away? 
 
 JACOB. And the priests are becoming bolder. 
 I am afraid of I know not what; but some danger 
 threatens. I fear they are watching for a decline of 
 popular enthusiasm to set in before bringing you to 
 trial. We know they can do you no harm; you 
 are the Messiah. But 
 
 SYMEON. Why lose this chance? 
 
 JESHUA. It is then your united judgment there 
 be no further delay? 
 
 DISCIPLES. No further delay. 
 
 JESHUA. That the kingship be forthwith de 
 clared and the effort made to reestablish it? 
 
 DISCIPLES. At once. 
 
 JESHUA. That you be permitted to announce 
 me the Messiah publicly? 
 
 DISCIPLES. Publicly. 
 
 JESHUA. Otherwise, my people will desert me? 
 
 SYMEON. Master, each day the people have 
 crowded the Temple Courts to hear you teach, hop 
 ing you would declare yourself, and each night have 
 they withdrawn in greater disappointment and per 
 plexity. Some say you have deceived them. Is it 
 not time ? We believe in you ; doubt not our loyal 
 ty. If need be, we stand ready to die in your 
 cause. Why not raise the standard now? Delay 
 but increases the odds against you. Yes, can you 
 count on all of your Twelve ? Us three, of course ; 
 but Judas is gone 
 
 JESHUA. Judge not, lest you be brought to the 
 
ACT III 139 
 
 same judgment! 
 
 SYMEON. At least, is it not time to act now? 
 
 JESHUA (firmly}. So be it then. 
 
 The three start with joy at the announcement, 
 but are checked by a motion from him. 
 
 JESHUA. Even as I began my Father s work, 
 so must I end. It is written that the Son of Adam 
 must suffer many things, and be rejected of men, 
 and suffer death, that the kingdom of my Father 
 may come. Thus shall I fulfill his purpose. All 
 shall fall away from me. 
 
 DISCIPLES. Never! 
 
 JESHUA. For it is written: I shall smite the 
 shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 
 
 SYMEON. No, Master; though all others fall 
 away from you, I shall not fail you! 
 
 JESHUA (sorrowfully). Kephas, even you will 
 have denied me before dawn. 
 
 SYMEON. Never, Master! Even if I must die 
 with you God be my witness! I shall stand by 
 you! 
 
 JACOB. I, too, Master! 
 
 JOCHANAN. I, too! We will not let them take 
 you without resistance. Count on us all. 
 
 Jeshua sighs, looks at them silently, turns and 
 steps forward as if looking out over the City. They 
 watch him anxiously, but do not follow. A pause. 
 Then he speaks very tenderly. 
 
 JESHUA. Jerusalem, so peacefully asleep under 
 the paschal moon, if only you had understood, even 
 you, wherein your true peace lies! But your eyes 
 
HO THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 are closed! 
 
 He groans. Jochanan approaches him solicitously 
 and touches his arm. 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, your heart is heavy to 
 night! 
 
 JESHUA (turns). Jochanan, and you my friends, 
 you have been loyal friends to me hitherto. The 
 days we walked together in Galilee and by the Lake 
 and over the mountains, they were happy days, were 
 they not ? 
 
 JACOB. Master! 
 
 JESHUA. I know. We were all very happy to 
 gether. And you three, yes, all of you, gave up 
 everything, home, trade and kin, to keep with me. 
 Was it worth while? 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, you know! 
 
 JESHUA. We went forth without purse, knap 
 sack or sandals, dependent on others bounty. Yet 
 the Father did not forget you? 
 
 SYMEON (greatly moved). Master, we cannot 
 speak ! 
 
 Unperceived by the four in the garden, Ruth 
 enters above quietly at the extreme right and watch 
 es. She keeps herself hidden, but slowly works 
 down the slope and occasionally shows great emotion. 
 
 JESHUA. My heart is sorely troubled for you, 
 because I must leave you. No more shall you see 
 me. You will not forget? When I am taken from 
 you, you will still do my Father s will ? And when 
 any of you come together in behalf of my kingdom, 
 you will believe that I am there, too, working with 
 you? 
 
ACT III 141 
 
 SYMEON (groans). Master, we are yours, we 
 shall always be with you, you cannot be taken from 
 us! 
 
 JESHUA. Kephas! And when I am gone, many 
 will come with my name and lead some astray. It 
 will be a time of bitter conflict. Wars and rumors 
 of wars, nation risen against nation, kingdom against 
 kingdom, the earth laid waste, and you marked men, 
 the butt of all men s spleen, because of me. There 
 will come false Messiahs and false prophets, seeking 
 to lead even you astray. But keep your courage; 
 it is my Father s will. And afterward, the kingdom 
 shall come! Heaven and earth may pass, but my 
 word shall not pass. 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, when shall this be? 
 
 JESHUA. None knows that day but the Father 
 alone. Yet if it come in your generation I can 
 say no more! My heart is heavy for you. Leave 
 me for a little while. I shall call you soon. 
 
 They are troubled, and, leaving him behind, go 
 out silently up the slope toward the left and so out. 
 He watches them until they disappear, and then 
 sinks into a muse, from which he is aroused by the 
 choking sob of Ruth as she comes forward. He 
 takes a step back. 
 
 RUTH (approaches). Jeshua, don t go? 
 
 JESHUA. It were better so. 
 
 He steps slowly toward the left front and is on 
 the point of going out, Ruth still following. 
 
 RUTH. No, no, don t go! Oh-oh, my God, he 
 is gone! (She shrieks.) Jeshua! Jeshua! 
 
 She totters and partly falls on the mill, rises and 
 
142 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 is about to fall again, moaning. After a moment s 
 hesitation, he steps firmly to her, supports her as 
 she partly faints on his arm, leads her to the rock 
 ledge at the left of the cave, lets her down gently 
 to a sitting position and attempts to withdraw his 
 arm. She opens her eyes, stares wildly at him and 
 clings to his arm. 
 
 RUTH. No, no, no, Jeshua! 
 
 He withdraws his arm and steps back. She sinks 
 down, slipping off the rock, and coming to her knees, 
 she sobs. 
 
 RUTH. He he leaves me! Do you despise me 
 so, Jeshua? 
 
 JESHUA. It is better that I leave you now. Was 
 that your maid at the Kidron bridge? I will send 
 her to you. 
 
 He starts to go out at the left front. 
 
 RUTH (passionately). Then it is not true, what 
 they say of you, after all. The friend of sinners? 
 Bah! Go, hypocrite! 
 
 She has risen and points at him with scorn. He 
 turns and looks at her amazed. A pause. Then 
 she breaks down. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua! 
 
 She falls on the rock sobbing. He hesitates, evi 
 dently passes through a struggle, and comes to a de 
 cision; for he steps to her and rests his hand on her 
 head. 
 
 JESHUA. Forgive me, Ruth; I did not under 
 stand. 
 
 She breaks out afresh sobbing, reaches up to hit 
 
ACT III 143 
 
 hand and draws it down to her lips, kissing it. 
 
 RUTH. O Jeshua! 
 
 JESHUA. What is it, child? 
 
 She continues to sob. He sits on the rock to the 
 left of her and draws her hand between his two. 
 With a little cry she turns to him on her knees, 
 bows her head on his knee and weeps silently. He 
 gently places his right hand on her head and strokes 
 her hair. 
 
 JESHUA. There, my child; cry away. 
 
 A long pause intervenes in which her sobs dimin 
 ish. Then silence. Then she speaks, but without 
 looking up. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua? 
 
 JESHUA. Yes, Ruth? 
 
 RUTH. I m-must confess 
 
 JESHUA. It is not necessary; that is all past 
 now. Look at me, Ruth? 
 
 He tries to raise her head; but she resists. 
 
 RUTH. Not yet; I cannot yet. Let me talk this 
 way. But you must listen to me, and then you need 
 never see me again. I I shall keep out of your way. 
 So let me speak. 
 
 JESHUA. If you wish it, my child. 
 
 RUTH. I have always loved you, Jeshua, from 
 the day you ran through our hedge and found me 
 in tears because the thorns tore so. And I was so 
 angry you did not seem to notice. Th-then you 
 went from me after that prophet, and I wept all that 
 night and many nights afterwards. But you did not 
 come back, and I went to Jerusalem. There I sent 
 
144 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 Abigail to you to let you know I was in the City; 
 but you did not come to me. So when one day I heard 
 you had gone back to Galilee and were teaching 
 there Oh, I was angry because I saw you were 
 avoiding me. Why did you go? 
 
 JESHUA. Must we talk of this? (She nods.) 
 The Father called me. How could I give up my 
 mission ? 
 
 RUTH. Yet you did avoid me. And hate began 
 to burn and burn, until I I went mad, I think. At 
 least, one day he came along, and 
 
 JESHUA. Please? 
 
 RUTH. And I thought I would show you how 
 lightly I could consider what you so lightly threw 
 away. 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth! 
 
 RUTH. I I thought it would make you un 
 happy; but you did not seem to care. Then my 
 soul died in me, and I resolved to balk your mission 
 and thus force you to take thought of me. 
 
 JESHUA. Poor child! 
 
 RUTH. It was I that stirred up the priests 
 against you, I that had those rabbis sent to Kaphar- 
 nahum to catch you in your teaching, it was I that 
 How can I tell it? 
 
 JESHUA. Please, Ruth; is it necessary to go on? 
 
 RUTH (fiercely). You must know the worst. 
 I have even corrupted one of your disciples with the 
 promise of my love, and, and he has betrayed you, 
 oh-h! 
 
 JESHUA. Calm yourself, Ruth. 
 
ACT III H5 
 
 She looks at him in amazement. 
 
 RUTH. You are not surprised? You already 
 know? 
 
 JESHUA. I know. 
 
 RUTH. But it must not be! There is still time. 
 Give up this mad mission ; come away ; I will hide 
 you until it blows over, and then, then you can go 
 back to your old life. 
 
 JESHUA. And what then? What of Jerusalem, 
 what of my people, when I shall have deserted them ? 
 What can you give instead? 
 
 RUTH. N-nothing. Only it means death if 
 you persist, and I don t want you to die, Jeshua! 
 (She rises to her feet quickly.) How you must 
 hate me! Goodbye; let me go; I shall not bother 
 you again. Only, Jeshua, go from here before it 
 is too late! 
 
 She steps back, but cannot leave him. He rises. 
 
 JESHUA. It cannot be. Had you done nothing, 
 still must death have come from my people. My 
 death lies not at your door. Go in peace ! 
 
 She looks at him in wonder. 
 
 RUTH. Then you do not hate me? But 
 (despairingly) you must despise me. Oh, why did I 
 ever do it? 
 
 She turns hurriedly from him. 
 
 JESHUA. Ruth, I have never hated and I cannot 
 despise you. You have been very foolish; but it 
 is not too late. 
 
 RUTH (bitterly). Not too late? Can I annul 
 the results of my plot against you? Can I recall 
 
146 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 my lost innocence? Oh, Jeshua, shame overwhelms 
 me; I am past mercy! 
 
 JESHUA (steps to her). Ruth, come. (He draws 
 her to him and kisses her on the forehead.) I for 
 give you! 
 
 She lingers a moment, and then breaks away. 
 
 RUTH. No, I am not worthy! He forgives me! 
 My shame is complete! 
 
 She goes out sobbing at the right front. He looks 
 after her sorrowfully until she disappears, then 
 turns and with great emotion enters the cave and 
 kneels, praying brokenly. 
 
 JESHUA. Father, it is more than I can bear 
 None understands Must it be? You can do 
 everything, Father Take this cup from me 
 They are so weak How can I leave them yet? 
 Yet not what I will, only what you do, Father! 
 (He groans, goes up the slope toward the left and 
 looks off, shakes his head sorrowfully and returns, 
 looks about in agony and exclaims.) Alone! (He 
 reenters the cave overwhelmed, kneels and groans. 
 A pause. Then with growing triumph.) My 
 Father, if this cannot be except I drink it 
 Your will be done! 
 
 Faint music seems to fill the air, so faint that it 
 may be, probably is, but the whisper of the morning 
 wind awakening. He rises and steps forth from the 
 cave with face illumined. Again he goes up the 
 slope toward the left and out. 
 
 JESHUA (off stage). Asleep, Kephas? Could 
 you not watch with me one hour? 
 
 SYMEON (off stage). Master, we were weary, 
 
ACT III 147 
 
 and we fell asleep. 
 
 Jeshua reenters and comes down the path to the 
 garden, followed immediately by Symeon, Jacob 
 and Jochanan, who still show signs of having been 
 quickly aroused from sleep. As they converse, lights 
 begin to flash through the trees below at the left and 
 confused voices arise. At the same time the other 
 Disciples, except Judas, enter hurriedly down the 
 slope from the left and come to the garden, where 
 they gather together behind their Master. 
 
 JESHUA. It matters not now. The hour is 
 come; my betrayer approaches. 
 
 SYMEON. Your betrayer, Master? Who be 
 trays you? 
 
 They all gather about him. 
 
 JOCHANAN. Master, who comes? 
 
 JACOB. I thought I saw Temple Guards! 
 
 THOMAS. Shall we hide? 
 
 A VOICE (off stage). You are sure this is the 
 path? 
 
 SECOND VOICE (off stage). What if he knows? 
 Perhaps, they are armed. 
 
 THIRD VOICE (off stage). Come, think you, he 
 will give us the slip? 
 
 -JUDAS (off stage). Quick, this way! They are 
 not armed. Come! 
 
 Judas enters the garden at the left front, accom 
 panied by Amraphel and followed by Temple 
 Guards. Four of these carry blazing torches and 
 the rest carry spears. All wear short swords. They 
 quickly divide into two squads, one squad proceed- 
 
1 48 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 ing toward the right and drawing up facing Jeshua 
 and the Disciples, the other drawing up at the left 
 facing the first squad, with Jeshua and the Eleven 
 between. While this is taking place, Judas steps 
 quickly to Jeshua. 
 
 JOCHANAN (aghast). Judas! 
 
 OTHER DISCIPLES (murmur angrily). Traitor 
 ous prince ! The proud Judean betrays us ! We 
 are undone! 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Halt! Ground spears! 
 
 JUDAS. Master! 
 
 He kisses his Master and steps back. 
 
 JESHUA (sadly). Judas, is it for this you have 
 come? 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Seize him! 
 
 Four Guards leap forward from the left toward 
 Jeshua and the rest level spears. Several Disciples 
 surround him and intervene between him and the 
 advancing Guards. Symeon rushes at the foremost, 
 strikes him with his fist and snatches away his sword, 
 brandishing it. 
 
 SYMEON. For David and his kingdom ! To the 
 fray, men! 
 
 He strikes off the Guard s ear, who howls with 
 pain, claps his hand to his ear and jumps back. 
 Simultaneously Jeshua thrusts himself roughly 
 through the intervening Disciples, grasps Symeon 
 and pulls him back. 
 
 JESHUA. Desist! Put away the sword! Who 
 wields the sword dies by the sword ! The cup that 
 my Father has given me, shall I not drink it? 
 
ACT III 149 
 
 Symeon looks at him in horrified amazement. 
 
 SYMEON. Master, you wont fight, then? You 
 wont fight? (He throws up his hands and cries 
 out.) Duped! Duped at the last! 
 
 As the sword falls from his hand, he runs off up 
 the slope and goes out at the left. The other Dis 
 ciples waver, then gradually withdraw along the 
 path he has taken until at the arrest only Judas re 
 mains. At Symeon s flight the Guards laugh bois 
 terously. 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Silence! 
 
 JESHUA. Whom do you seek? 
 
 AMRAPHEL. Jeshua of Nazareth. 
 
 Jeshua takes a step toward him, and the Guards 
 fall back a pace. 
 
 JESHUA. I am he. So you come here with 
 swords and torches as if for a bandit! And yet for 
 the last five days I have stood in the Temple teach 
 ing, and you dared not touch me! But here I am. 
 
 AMRAPHEL (lays hand on him). Jeshua of Naz 
 areth, I arrest you in the name of the Sanhedrin, 
 who charge you, on the witness of Chiefpriest Annas 
 and Prince Judas, with blasphemy and sedition. ( To 
 the Guards.) Bind him! 
 
 They seize and bind him. At the same time Sym 
 eon reenters above at the left and cautiously comes 
 down the slope in contrition and trepidation. As 
 they begin to take Jeshua off, the Guards laugh and 
 go out at the left front, their captain accompanying 
 them. 
 
 GUARDS. Ha, ha! What a king! Hail, king! 
 Where is your court, ha, ha! We shall remedy 
 
150 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 that, Give you a crown and 
 
 The voices die away in the distance and the flash 
 ing torchlight disappears. Judas watches the depar 
 ture, then turns to see Symeon step down into the 
 garden and begin to follow out at the left front. 
 
 SYMEON (hisses). Traitor! 
 
 JUDAS (laughs bitterly). Brave Symeon, that 
 ran away, too! 
 
 SYMEON. But I will find him yet! 
 
 He goes out. Judas laughs uncomfortably and 
 turns in time to see Ruth enter from the right front. 
 He approaches her and speaks gladly. 
 
 JUDAS. Israel is saved, and the kingdom is sure! 
 Rejoice with me, Ruth! But, but you are silent? 
 Can you not rejoice with me? Come, tell me you 
 are satisfied? 
 
 He opens his arms to her, but she repels him. 
 
 RUTH. I am satisfied. Go! 
 
 JUDAS. What is the meaning of this? Is it 
 possible? My God, it cannot be, Ruth! Now 
 that your hate is satisfied, you discard me? No, you 
 are not so false! 
 
 RUTH (scornfully). Go! 
 
 He catches hold of her roughly and speaks pas 
 sionately. 
 
 JUDAS. I will not go; explain yourself! Why 
 this revulsion? Have I not done all you asked of 
 me? Have I no right to claim your promise now? 
 Speak! 
 
 RUTH (calmly). Not an hour ago I promised 
 to return to ^Emilianus. 
 
ACT III 151 
 
 He steps back dazed and looks at her In terror 
 as the full import of her words dawns on him. 
 She laughs bitterly. 
 
 RUTH. Now you understand. 
 
 JUDAS (rages). Understand? You return to 
 yEmilianus? Then the stories they tell are true, 
 and you are Oh, my God, my God, what have 
 I done? A wanton s will, and I thought to do 
 thine! But he shall not die! (He rushes wildly 
 toward the left front.) Ho, guards, guards! Re 
 lease him! (He checks himself.) But no, it is 
 too late. But you! Cower, you wanton! I can 
 not despise you; you are beneath the contempt of 
 the most abandoned, you who play with God s plans 
 to gratify your lust! 
 
 Ruth holds up her hands as if to ward off a blow. 
 
 RUTH. Don t! 
 
 JUDAS. To think that I loved you once, and 
 believed you pure, and thanked God he had given 
 me you to work with for the kingdom of Israel, 
 and all the while you were willing food to the 
 Roman, oh-h! 
 
 He strikes his head wildly. 
 
 RUTH. Don t! 
 
 JUDAS. So beautiful, too, yet using your body 
 to destroy him whom I have now betrayed! It 
 cannot be that the kingdom must come, as he says, 
 through humility and submission; the prophets 
 speak of a conquering king. And yet, Oh, God, 
 I am in a maze! he did stand just now like a 
 king. Could they have held him against his choice? 
 I know not; it is all dark. But this I know; the 
 
152 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 kingdom cannot come through lust. And I be 
 trayed him for a wanton s kiss! 
 
 Ruth falls back as if struck. 
 
 RUTH. Oh! 
 
 JUDAS (in a frenzy). Go to your paramour! 
 Wallow in your shame ! And God damn you both 
 and me! 
 
 He shrieks and rushes out wildly at the right 
 front. She breaks down weeping on the rock ledge 
 at the left of the cave. After a while her maid 
 enters anxiously at the left front. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Mistress, mistress! (She spies Ruth 
 and runs to her.) Mistress, what is it? 
 
 RUTH. Go away, Abigail; leave me! I must 
 be alone! 
 
 ABIGAIL (puts her arms about her). Come, 
 darling, what is it? Don t cry so! Did the prophet 
 hurt you? Sweet, let us go home? 
 
 She tries to lead her away; but Ruth resists. 
 
 RUTH. No, no, no, no! 
 
 Instead she pulls her maid to a seat beside her on 
 the rock and bursts out weeping on her bosom. 
 
 RUTH. Oh oh oh! They are taking him 
 away to his de-death, Abigail! And I can do noth 
 ing to stop it! But Oh! (clutching at her heart) 
 my heart, it hurts, oh! 
 
 ABIGAIL. Sh-sh, darling; don t get excited, dear! 
 
 RUTH (suddenly smiles through her tears). Abi 
 gail, I think I am going to die now. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Hush, mistress; it is blasphemy to talk 
 so! 
 
ACT III 153 
 
 RUTH (still smiles). You don t understand; I 
 am so happy ! 
 
 ABIGAIL. Sh-sh, mistress. Come, we must go 
 home, the moon is setting, see! 
 
 She points toward the front. At this point the 
 moonlight begins to fade and in its stead the first 
 gray light of dawn filters in. Then the faint rose 
 of dawn creeps over the unseen edge of Olivet and 
 touches the trees on the slope and in the garden. 
 
 RUTH. No, Abigail. And I promised to go back 
 to yEmilianus, if only he would leave me here to 
 night. 
 
 ABIGAIL. Oh, I m so glad! Then we shall see 
 him often! 
 
 RUTH. But I I cannot go back to him 
 
 ABIGAIL. Not go back? 
 
 RUTH (smiles). And then Jeshua came, and I 
 looked into his eyes! I was so afraid to look into 
 his eyes! I knew he would despise me, and I 
 could not endure seeing that! But, Abigail 
 
 ABIGAIL. Yes, dear? 
 
 RUTH. But instead I saw in his eyes that he 
 loves me! And then it was like a dream. How 
 happy I was! He leaned over me, and I felt his 
 breath in my hair, and then Oh! (clutching at 
 her heart) my heart is mad with happiness! How 
 it jumps, oh! Then his lips pressed my brow, and 
 he spoke. How gentle was his voice! I never knew 
 it was so gentle; it seemed like the voice of God! 
 He knew all I had done, and yet, he he forgave 
 me, Abigail! 
 
 ABIGAIL. What nonsense are you talking? (She 
 
154 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 rises.) Come, mistress, let us go home? 
 
 RUTH (holds her hand to her heart convulsively). 
 Oh! So you see I cannot live any more! (She 
 smiles.) I think he understands all. Abigail, what 
 if through such love as his, the kingdom should 
 come? (Suddenly she staggers to her feet and 
 points.) Look! .Jeshua on the cross! Jeshua, my 
 Lord! 
 
 As she sinks back into Abigail s arms, the ruddy 
 glow of dawn melts into a dense roseate mist that 
 blots out the entire scene, while gentle sobbing music 
 of exquisite melancholy swells and vibrates. 
 
 VISION III 
 
 By degrees the mist grows transparent and there 
 unfolds to view in a light of pure burning red the 
 bare knoll of a hill, over which hang heavy red 
 clouds. On this knoll stands a high cross, on which 
 hangs the bleeding figure of Jeshua, stript to the 
 loin-cloth. His head hangs as if in utter exhaus 
 tion, and he appears in pain. Over his head the 
 cross bears the legend, REX WDAIORUM. At 
 the left and right of this cross, but shorter than it, 
 are two other crosses, on which two Criminals hang, 
 also stript to the loin-cloth. They are coarse, rough, 
 muscular fellows, the one at the left perhaps more 
 brutish than the other. Three quaternions of Ro 
 man Soldiers guard the crosses and keep the Peo 
 ple back. A Roman Centurion patrols behind the 
 crosses, haughty and aloof. A surging crowd of 
 People throngs the slopes of the hill. Among these 
 are seen some Priests, Caiaphas and Annas. A little 
 to the right there is a small group apart, consisting 
 
VISION III 155 
 
 of weeping Women and three or four Disciples, 
 among these Jochanan supporting an aged Woman. 
 For a while the weeping of the Women is heard. 
 Then a mocking motif arises in the music and in 
 terweaves with the sobbing motif. One of the two 
 crucified Criminals, the one on the left, laughs. 
 
 CRIMINAL ON LEFT. Ho ho! So you are the 
 Messiah, they say, ha ha! Come, save yourself and 
 us, why not? Ha! 
 
 He laughs boisterously and some of the bystand 
 ers join in the laugh. During the laughing Symeon 
 enters shamefacedly from the left front and during 
 the following unobtrusively worms his ivay to the 
 silent group of Disciples and Women. They look 
 at him askance, and he stands a little apart, occasion 
 ally groaning in grief. In the meantime the other 
 Criminal, the one on the right, speaks angrily to 
 the first. 
 
 CRIMINAL ON RIGHT. Silence, you whoreson! 
 Are you not afraid of God, now that you too are 
 condemned to death? You and I, indeed, justly 
 enough ; for what have we not done ! But he has 
 done nothing wrong. (He turns his head toward 
 Jeshua.) Jeshua, bear me in mind when you come 
 to your kingdom ! 
 
 The First Criminal laughs mockingly. Jeshua 
 slowly lifts his head and looks at the Second 
 Criminal with a wan smile. 
 
 JESHUA. In truth, even now both you and I 
 are at the very threshold of Paradise! 
 
 Judas enters at the left front and stands gazing at 
 his dying Master in anguish and despair. Almost 
 
156 THE MESSIAH OVERCOMES 
 
 immediately Ruth enters distracted at the right 
 front. As soon as she catches a glimpse of Jeshua, 
 she screams and falls to the ground in a faint. In 
 the meantime the People mock. 
 
 PEOPLE. So ho! you will destroy our Temple 
 Ha, ha! Yes, so he said And build it up 
 again in three days! Magnificent! Why then, 
 save yourself! Come down from the cross! No? 
 Ha, ha! 
 
 CAIAPHAS. Ha, ha! he saved others, did he? At 
 any rate, himself he cannot save. 
 
 Several Priests laugh. Annas steps forth and 
 shouts jeeringly, his shrill voice causing several to 
 shudder. 
 
 ANNAS. Ho, King of Israel ! Come down 
 from the cross and we shall believe in you, David s 
 son! Ha! 
 
 PRIESTS. He trusts in God Calls himself 
 God s son Blasphemer! Then let God deliv 
 er him, if he will! What do you say? Ha, ha! 
 
 The mocking motif dies away, the sobbing motif 
 persists, and from this point on with increasing 
 strength the motif of victory appears and mingles 
 in the music. Ruth stirs with returning conscious 
 ness, moans and attempts to rise. At the same time 
 Jeshua lifts his eyes with an expression of sadness and 
 compassion. 
 
 JESHUA. Father, forgive them; they know not 
 what they do! 
 
 Ruth rises to her knees, stretches out her arms 
 and moans. 
 
 RUTH. Jeshua, my Lord! 
 
VISION III 157 
 
 The roseate mist thickens and by degrees blots 
 out everything but the central cross, on which the 
 figure of the dying Jeshua stands out alone dis 
 tinctly in the red glow. The overhanging clouds 
 sink lower and in them are faintly seen Angels 
 with harps. 
 
 JESHUA (still looks up). Father, into your hands 
 I commend my spirit ! 
 
 The Angels chant to the accompaniment of their 
 harps. 
 
 ANGELS. Worthy is the Lamb that is slain to 
 receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and 
 might, and honor, and glory, and blessing. For he 
 was slain, and did purchase with his own blood men 
 of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 
 and made them to be unto our God a kingdom and 
 priests. And they shall reign upon the earth. For 
 the kingdom of the world is become the kingdom 
 of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign 
 forever and ever. Hallelujah. 
 
 As the chant progresses, gradually the clouds, 
 Angels, cross and last of all Jeshua dissolve in the 
 darkening mist, while the chant grows ever fainter 
 as if from increasing heights. Imperceptibly it fades 
 into gentle music that suggests, even as it dies away 
 into it, the silence of ineffable peace, and the lessen 
 ing light yields to darkness. 
 
" " " 
 
 OVERDUE. 
 
 -fiortns 
 
 L.D 2l-lOOw-7, 33 
 
372221 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY