Death to traitors! Vengeance on Ashur!
Pashur
God has struck him down.
Hananiah
God’s thunderbolt has fallen on the liar.
The Crowd
[After its brief pause of consternation, begins to flow into the porch of pillars of the palace] To the king.—Let Israel rule the nations.—War.—War against Ashur.—Down with the traitors.—To the king.—God is on our side.—Down with Ashur.—Freedom.—Freedom. [Rejoicing they stream into the palace]
[Jeremiah still lies in a swoon at the base of the steps, none heeding him. The crowd passes over him in a flood, leaving him like jetsam among the stones. Baruch, who, in his bewilderment, was swept along by the mob, has struggled back from among them. Slowly, as if driven by an inner force, he comes down to the swooning man, bends over him, feels his brow, and listens for his breath]
Baruch
Jeremiah, speak, Jeremiah, if you are still alive. [He raises Jeremiah into a sitting posture]