Jeremiah. I shall be near thee, Zedekiah my brother. The prophet is leaving, when the king recalls him.
Zedekiah. Death is upon me, and I see thee for the last time. Thou hast cursed me, Jeremiah. Bless me, now, ere we part.
Jeremiah. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee in all thy ways. May the light of His countenance shine upon thee, and may He give thee peace.
Zedekiah (as in a dream). May He give us peace.
SCENE SEVEN
The Supreme Affliction.
The following morning, in the great square before the temple. The famished crowd clamours for bread, prepares to attack the palace, threatens Nahum the forestaller. Abimelech, to rescue him, sends soldiers to the attack. Amid the riot, a voice is heard crying that the enemy has forced one of the gates. The people utter wails of terror, cursing king, priests, and prophets. Their thoughts fly to Jeremiah, who alone foretold the truth. He is their only hope. They break into his prison, and bring him forth, in triumph, shouting: "Saint! Master! Samuel! Elijah!... Save us!"—Jeremiah, heavy-hearted, does not at first understand. When he hears them accuse the king of having sold the people, he exclaims, "It is false!"
The Crowd. They have sacrificed us. We wanted peace.
Jeremiah. Too late!... Why do you put your transgressions on the king's shoulders? You wanted war.
The Crowd. No!... Not I!... No!... Not I!... It was the king!... Not I!... Not one of us!