SCENE XI
The same. Josaphat, Matthias. [From the left.]
MATTHIAS
See, he is there!
JOSAPHAT
Rabbi, forgive us for following thee hither----
JOHN
It is not yet dawn.... At this hour ye have nothing to claim from me----
MATTHIAS
But, remember Herod----
JOHN
Why stir ye up so much dust? This puny Herod, who runs after women, is not my business.
JOSAPHAT AND MATTHIAS
[Exchange dismayed glances.]
JOHN
Go, find me Galileans! Wake those who sleep on the steps, ransack the houses if necessary. Only bring me Galileans, that I may question them.
SECOND GALILEAN
Hearest thou? Some one standeth there, clamouring for Galileans!
FIRST GALILEAN
I thought I dreamt it. Thou, who wilt not let us sleep, what dost thou want with us Galileans?
JOHN
Stand up and come to me!
SECOND GALILEAN
Goest thou?
FIRST GALILEAN
He must be great in Israel, otherwise he would not command.
SECOND GALILEAN
Yes, yes; thou art right. [They both stand up.]
JOSAPHAT
Rabbi----[John signs to him with his hand to be silent.]
FIRST GALILEAN
Now, here we are.
JOHN
Who are ye? Whence do ye come?
FIRST GALILEAN
We are fishermen from the Sea of Galilee. My name is Ram, and that is my brother-in-law, and he is called Abia. And we both fish with the same net. Is it not so?
SECOND GALILEAN
Yes; we both fish with the same net.
JOHN
And tell me, ye two men, have ye ever heard of a prophet that teacheth in Galilee?
FIRST GALILEAN
A prophet! Hast thou heard of a prophet, Abia?
SECOND GALILEAN
I have heard of no prophet.
JOHN
Not ... of one who saith ... He is the Son of God?
FIRST GALILEAN
Ah, thou meanest Jesus of Nazareth?
JOHN
[In great agitation, scarcely audible.] Jesus of Nazareth!
JOSAPHAT AND MATTHIAS.
[Awed.] Jesus of Nazareth!
JOHN
Thou spakest His name first. Fear sealed my lips. But now thou hast said it. Yes, I mean Him.
FIRST GALILEAN
Yes ... I know His father well. He is an honest carpenter, and very pious too. He well deserves that his son should be a joy to him.
JOHN
Tell me more of Him.
FIRST GALILEAN
He put up a bedstead for a friend of mine.
JOHN
Tell me of the son.
FIRST GALILEAN
Ah, the son. Well, Abia, what shall we say of the son?
SECOND GALILEAN
Aye, what shall we say of the son?
JOHN
Hast thou ever seen Him?
FIRST GALILEAN
Oh, yes.
JOHN
Thou hast seen Him?
FIRST GALILEAN
Many a time ... from my ship. For He carries on His work on the shore. And there is always a great gathering along the banks, is there not, Abia?
SECOND GALILEAN
Yes, the banks are always quite black with people. And the fish take notice of it. That is not good for our trade.
FIRST GALILEAN
They say that He works miracles. I once met a man myself who had been blind till his--I forget what year--and he maintained that he was made to see again by spittle from His mouth ... It may be possible--but----[Laughs stupidly.]
JOHN
[To Josaphat.] Have not many said of me, that I work miracles?
JOSAPHAT
Many say it, but we know it, Rabbi.
JOHN
Indeed? I have seen no miracle but the power ... and no one to whom it hath happened, save the weak. But speak on, man.
FIRST GALILEAN
It may be all very well for Him to heal the sick, but the worst of it is He doeth it on the Sabbath. That is bad, bad! And then, His friends are not well chosen. Circumspect people, naturally, are not disposed to mix with Him. For how can one trust a man who sitteth at meat with publicans and sinners? And, then, He is always at weddings and feasts. Ah! No, no.
JOHN
At feasts?
JOSAPHAT
Master, these are little people. They understand not the wisdom of cunning speech.
JOHN
The great should carry the little with them, the wise should master these simple intellects. That he hath not done.... And what is it He teacheth?
FIRST GALILEAN
Ah, what does He teach? All sorts of folly. For instance, that we should love our enemies.
JOHN
Love our enemies?
FIRST GALILEAN
And bless them that curse us ... and pray for them that persecute us.
JOHN
Pray for them that persecute us?
FIRST GALILEAN
Yes; and more nonsense of the kind. Also that----
CALL
[From the roof of the Temple.] It groweth light towards Hebron.
JOHN
[Eagerly.] Why dost thou not proceed?
FIRST GALILEAN
[Rising.] It is now time for morning prayer.
CALL
[More distant.] It groweth light towards Hebron. [All stand up and begin to pray, their faces turned towards the Temple.]
CALL
[Quite distant.] It groweth light towards Hebron.
JOHN
[Baffled and tormented.] Towards Hebron it groweth light.