Nothing is lost so long as life endures....
Mary Magdalene
Hush, I beseech you!... Leave me alone in his silence and his will.... Let me contemplate, let me listen to other things.... I do not yet love him as he would be loved!... In vain I raise my eyes to his heaven of light: I see only his death, his sorrows, his suffering ... his steadfast face, his eyes that lit up all he looked upon, his mouth that spoke unceasingly of happiness ... his feet which I have kissed, lifeless and icy cold!... Verus, Verus, have pity!... I cannot bear it, I cannot bear it! I am falling!... Do with me what you will!...
Verus (catching her in his arms)
Magdalene, Magdalene!... I knew....
Mary Magdalene (springing back at his touch)
No, you did not know! And it is not that!... There is something else!... There is another outlet!... Verus, Verus, come, you are not without feeling, you are not a monster, you will understand also.... It depends on you.... For me it is impossible.... There is a wall there defended by his angels.... I cannot pass it.... I must not think of it.... But you, you can do everything!... To think that you hold there, in that human hand of yours, the life of the God of Gods descended upon earth!... I know, I know, you do not believe it.... But you must at least believe in his innocence; and you know that he has done no evil.... He does not even know what evil is, since he is all goodness.... He has done nothing but heal, console and pray.... He has done nothing but breathe over men’s souls and flood them with happiness.... If only you knew him, if he had spoken to you, were it but once!... Because he is innocent and because you are just, because you have strength and because you are brave, you cannot deliver him defenceless to the executioners.... It would not be Roman, it would not even be manly....
Verus
Enough of this; and, as everything is useless, let him be treated as you have decided.... It is not I who am leading him to the torture....
Mary Magdalene (clinging to the garments of Verus, who takes a step to the door)