Zedekiah has forsaken us.—Where is he?—Why does he not come to our help?—He has fled.

Jeremiah

[Vehemently] It is not true.

Voices

It is true.—They led us into this war.—They have sacrificed us.—We wanted peace.—Let us have peace.

Jeremiah

Tardily comes your longing for peace. Why do ye put your transgressions on the king’s shoulders? Ye clamored for war.

The Crowd

No, not I.—No, not I.—It was the king.—Not I.—Not one of us.

Jeremiah