 | Judas Iscariot |  |
ACT I.
SCENE I.
A Public Walk in Jerusalem.A Pharisee is on his knees praying aloud at the corner of a street. A crowd gathered round.
Phar.
Not that the hand of man can be raised up,
Except as pre-ordained; not that one pulse
Can beat beyond the circle of its law,
One thought be called our own; but that our souls
Must struggle virtuously for virtue's sake,
Setting down all we gain as merely given,
Since God ordains free-will as part of fate.
Holy! thrice holy Law of Ancient Days!
Immortal life in ever-changing shapes
To some of us is promised—such as keep
The old traditions like a mirror bright,
Wherein we see the doctrines, rules, and forms,
And mystic truths, the which, if read aright,
Crown with pure sanctity the prostrate mind.
[Falls on his face.
[Exeunt crowd with murmurs of applause.
Scribe.
Our teaching—all!—opposing all our teaching!
2nd Phar.
And our high doctrine.
1st Phar.
(Rising.)
Speak ye not of Jesus?
2nd Phar.
Of him, beyond all men who yet have raised
Schisms, and false doctrines, and by arts misled
The ignorant people—the ungrateful blind ones,
Fond of wild parables flattering to their hopes
And laxity of life.
Scribe.
Reproved by us
In schools, and synagogues, and lecture halls,
Whene'er we teach; also reproved and warned
In all our books and writings—but in vain;
Him they still follow.
1st Phar.
I will pray against him
In all the public places, and denounce
His blasphemies against the ancient laws,
And our interpretation.
Scribe.
Lo! where comes
One of his followers!
2nd Phar.
A man whose face
Is full of pride—lacking all reverence. (Aside.)
I fain would tread him down.
Enter Judas.
Scribe.
He is well known.
1st Phar.
(To Judas.)
How cometh it to pass that thou
walkest abroad among holy men, and virtuous
people who obey the law and its expounders,—
thou thyself being a follower of false prophets, and
a believer of heresies and lies?
Scribe.
Dost thou also presume to teach, being thyself
untaught in all things but devilishness and the
hopes of fools!
2nd Phar.
Thou bearest the face of one who hath some
blasphemer.
Judas.
Rabbi, this is not so. I follow no heretic, but
one who hath a divine faith, and who teacheth it;
who hath no devils, but is a caster out of devils
from others; neither is he a fool, but rather a
teacher of heavenly wisdom. Wherefore he is no
blasphemer, neither have I cause for shame in the
face that I follow him. Pride rather, in the hope
of things which are to come.
[The Scribe and Pharisees confer apart.
Scribe.
He saith what he must say, being a servant of
this impostor.
1st Phar.
The pomegranate seed telleth what tree it fell
from; for it is like unto none other seed; so doth
this man betray his master's preaching.
2nd Phar.
(Loudly.)
He hath likewise an evil spirit and
a proud, of his own nature; else would he show
reverence in high places, and in due season.
Judas.
Masters, this do I constantly, though not here.
2nd Phar.
Where dost thou show reverence; before
whom, and in what places?
Judas.
In the presence of my Lord and Master Jesus,
who is Christ, and in the Temple of the True
Spirit.
Scribe.
Which temple callest thou the Temple of the
True Spirit?—is not the great Temple of Jerusalem
the temple of the True Spirit?
1st Phar.
Is it not?
Scribe.
(Aside to Pharisees.)
Let be—let be—now will
he utter blasphemy and so become amenable to
death by the law.
Judas.
All temples are of the True Spirit wherein the
truth is taught; and wheresoever Christ teacheth,
there will ye find the temple of the True Spirit.
Scribe.
He answereth cunningly, and by his lesson.
Judas.
(Aside.)
And it shall have dominion over all the
earth!
1st Phar.
Tell us now, and speak no longer with a double
tongue, wherefore followest thou this man Jesus?
The motives of his preaching, what are they but
perhaps to the highest place, even to that of the
High Priest of Jerusalem.
Scribe.
Or being mad, perchance he would be a High
Priest over all other High Priests.
2nd Phar.
Aspiring, moreover, in the summit of that
madness, to the throne of Judea.
1st Phar.
Thereto he leadeth an ungodly and a vicious
life, consorting with publicans and sinners, profaning
the sabbath with work, and declaring to
women of vicious courses that their sins are forgiven
them.
Scribe.
In secret he doeth many evil things. He is followed
by divers women, and by two or three in
especial.
Judas.
Openly; and in secret doth he nothing. This ye
know very well.
1st Phar.
We know it not as ye say. We believe otherwise
than ye say.
Scribe.
Behold the story this carpenter's son telleth of
his miraculous birth, whereby he seeketh to hide
the wickedness of her that bare him. Of his carpenter
father never maketh he mention, as though
he knew not the man, but exalteth himself into
the Son of God in a diviner sense than any of us
are sons of God!
1st Phar.
What manner of man is he who uttereth blasphemies
like these, and yet prevaileth over a multitude,
so that they kneel down and bless his feet,
and follow him whithersoever he listeth?
Judas.
They follow him because they believe in him; and
desert the teaching of the Scribes, and the austere
hypocrisy of the Pharisees, because they know
there is no truth in your hearts. Wherefore do
his followers multiply daily, while yours decrease.
1st Phar.
This folly runs too fast. It must be stopped.
Judas.
(Aside.)
Too fast!—oh far too patiently and slow,
else would none dare utter these things.
1st Phar.
The blossoms of the fig are secret and hidden
from the light, and evil thoughts ripen in darkness.
2nd Phar.
Thou hast speedily answered all our accusations
when we tell thee him thou followest goeth too fast,
and must come to his end, then speakest thou
nought.
Scribe.
His miracles, also, and the cures that he hath
wrought, what are they?
1st Phar.
Are they not the work of an unclean spirit?
—of devils, which defile us even in the hearing of
their deeds?
2nd Phar.
Let us to the baths—let us wash ourselves
and purify ourselves from all this wickedness.
[Exeunt Pharisees.
Judas.
(Aside.)
I would that Jesus could feel these taunts
even as I feel them, then would he command Beelzebub
with a legion of devils to seek abode in these
men's breasts, and with the struggle for more space
wherein to curse and to destroy, thereby torment
them terribly, and urge them to and fro as with a
fiery wind pent up. I would he did this at once,
and so enforced their belief in his power, and in his
mission upon earth.
Scribe.
Thou reasonest Judas upon our words, and taking
counsel with thyself, peradventure dost repent thee.
Wilt thou have wisdom, and wilt thou do a righteous
act?
Judas.
What act?
Scribe.
It were a virtuous thing to give this impostor into
the hands of the law. Verily, the reward would
be forthcoming.
Judas.
Go thy ways. I took thee for a buyer and seller
of lies, and am not deceived.
Scribe.
Art thou not that Judas who beareth the bag of
coin for Jesus and his followers; the treasurer of
the son of a Nazarene carpenter, yea and of his
fishermen? Art thou not he who putteth his private
hand into the common purse whensoever the vice of
thy blood calleth for food?—and now dost thou
seek to look virtuous, and take pride in an honest
palm? Verily thou art a weak knave who followeth
the footsteps of one who is mad with his own folly.
[Exit Scribe.
Would I were Christ!—or that the power he holds
So placidly, were given to my hand
For one short hour! Why moveth not his work
More rapidly and widely, since the time
Crieth aloud for it, and Misery sits
Wringing her hands at poor men's doors? The people
Oppressed by priests, and pharisees, and scribes,
Grievously hate them, and desert their teaching
To follow Jesus; yet he slowly walks
In dangerous places where we may be stoned,
Scourged, crucified, imprisoned, slain by the sword,
While meekly he pursueth still his way,
Secure, by reason of the Spirit of God
Which ever dwelleth in him. Martyrdom
Walks always by our side, sits by our bed,
And smileth on our hunger and scant robes.
But, if escaping, are we to grow old
In houseless journeys, toil, and penury;
Jeer'd, scoff'd at, and reviled from manhood's prime
Till our white beards touch close upon the grave,
And we drop in unhonoured? All the signs
And tokens of a season ripe for change,
Greater than man e'er dreamed of, fill the sky,
And the earth mutters underneath my feet
‘'Tis time! 'tis time!’ The overthrow and scattering
Of the old thrones, temples, and synagogues,
Halls of injustice, schools of ignorant scribes,
And palaces of pharisaic pride,
Whose owners preach humility—all hang
Upon the breath of Jesus. He passeth on
Teaching and healing, nor can I discern
One smile of secret consciousness that soon
All this shall end—and his true kingdom, come.
Somewhat he lacketh. He is great of soul,
For turbulent earth and its gross exigencies;
Strong in design, and magnanimity,
Forbearance, fortitude, and lovingness,
He lacketh still the vehement kingly will—
Will, bred of earth and all that it inherits—
To seize the mountain by its forest hair
And whirl it into dust. On that soft plain,
The Temple of his Father—the true Spirit—
Straightway might we erect, and not lie hid
In secret places, like forlorn wild beasts
Who dread the hunter's spear. Why doth he wait?
Would he were seized!—condemned to instant death—
Set on a brink, and all his hopes for man
Endangered by his fall—till these extremes
Drew violent lightning from him!—
How, if this
Were brought about?—The means, like portals wide
Are open. But the vacant passage teems!
And as I look on it—slowly there rise
Pale Forms, that gaze around!
They do not see me,
But only see the deed that's in my thought.
I will pass through ye, Ghosts!
They fade away.
(He pauses.)
Were't good with Jesus' followers I took counsel?
A strong deed prospereth best in company,
If all agree;—securest done alone.
[Exit.
SCENE II.
The Chamber of the High Priest in the Temple of Jerusalem.Caiaphas, the High Priest, seated in his chair, discoursing with Priests and Elders, seated on the marble floor. Nicodemus reclines thoughtfully on one side.
Caia.
And from this city where we preach, and rule,
Yea, from the highest altar, do they flock;
From Idumæa, and beyond the banks
Of Jordan, flock they, and from Galilee—
From Dan to Beersheba!
1st Priest.
Of a verity
Their reason hath departed.
Caia.
Multitudes
From Tyre and Sidon like great floods pour down
To hear him preach!
1st Elder.
The arch-impostor Jesus
Hath also wrought strange cures.
Caia.
Praying and teaching!
And followed for these things, as though pure oil,
Honey, and wine, and spices, came alone
From rocky Nazareth! Out of barrenness
Unnatural fires are kindled in their minds.
2nd Elder.
Great miracles too!
Caia.
Deceptions of the eye!
Nico.
Truly he looketh with a wondrous look
Whose quietness is like unto a lake
Of unknown depth, which lieth in the shade,
Yet hath a gleam as from some hidden light.
Caia.
Not of his look I spake, but of the eye
Of dazzled multitudes, who thought they saw
Thousands of loaves and fishes.
Also thought
That they did eat thereof.
Caia.
As men in dreams,
Or with confounded senses, objects see,
Colours and forms which are not, and can taste
Water as wine;—but these things have an end.
1st Priest.
And this were good.
2nd Priest.
Would it were come!
Nico.
How end?
Caia.
How, but with death! Already have we sent
To lay hands on him.
Nico.
Have a care in this:
The people love him with exceeding love.
Caia.
And others are suspected—men of note—
Who follow him in secret.
1st Priest.
He hath lures
For every sort of bird—baits for all fish.
1st Elder.
Therefore take counsel with your officers
That they act prudently.
Enter Scribe and Two Pharisees.
1st Phar.
O, Caiaphas!
Hear a new miracle. The dead hath risen
Again—with wonders greater than before!
Caia.
Where?
1st Priest.
Who hath wrought this?
1st Phar.
Lazarus, who was dead,
After four days' entombment—yea, 'tis true—
Hath come to life, and in his grave-clothes prayed
In silence—lifting up his corded hands!
Scribe.
Rabbi, it is not lawful.
Caia.
Who hath done this?
1st Phar.
Jesus!
(Priests and Elders murmur.)
2nd Phar.
But the officers and men we sent
And all his dealings with the other world
Will trouble us no more.
Scribe.
The fishermen—
Sinners and publicans—loose women—children—
And all the multitudes who left the schools
Of Hillel and Schammai, halls, synagogues,
Even to the Rabboni turning a deaf ear,
Will then come back each to his proper house;
And wisdom, learning, law, the priests, and God,
Again find reverence.
Enter a Centurion and two other Officers.
1st Priest.
Lo! our officers!
1st Phar.
Are these the rough men who went forth in steel,
Spears in their hands, and with a savage joy
To do our bidding?
2nd Priest.
Come ye thus alone?
Nico.
Something hath moved them.
Caia.
Why have ye not brought him?
Centur.
Never man spake like this man.
1st Offi.
We stood with the rest to listen, and the air
grew silent before his words. Our spears slipped
through our hands upon the ground; our swords
were as shadows upon the wall.
Centur.
When he approached us, we stood aside to let
him pass, and no one dared lay hands upon him.
Caia.
Are ye also deceived!
Scribe.
Behold the ignorance of these fellows, how it
maketh their knees tremble.
2nd Phar.
Have any of the rulers, or of the pharisees
believed in his teaching and his miracles?
Scribe.
Verily this people who knoweth not the law, is
cursed. And Jesus is he who leadeth them astray
from it.
Nico.
Doth our law judge any man before it hear him,
and know what he doeth?
(Rising.)
Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and
look, for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet!
[Exeunt all but Caiaphas, Priests, and Pharisees.
1st Priest.
Truly these things are very strange.
2nd Priest.
And besides, damnable. He saith that he
is the Son of God, which we know to be false; and
he also saith that he is the Son of Man, which we
may well doubt, for the acts which he doeth are
like unto the works of a child of Beelzebub.
1st Phar.
He doeth what he listeth, and all the people
who come near him believe in him.
2nd Priest.
Yea, even the Pharisee Nicodemus believeth
in him.
1st Priest.
Our officers and soldiers stand aside to let
him pass, bowing their heads to the ground when
they should raise their hands to smite him down;
and peradventure some of the scribes and elders
shall soon come to hearken unto his preaching.
Caia.
All they who hearken to it are accursed. Have a
care. I know a Levite, a rich man of Bethoran,
who in his youth was a singer in the tabernacle,
and afterwards a player upon the ten-stringed oshur;
and now he is a follower of Jesus! Wherefore may
everlasting fires sing and roar around him, and his
ears hear the cries of many demons cursing him
evermore. Let all who have held offices in the
temple or the tabernacle take heed—yea, let them
be exceeding watchful that their feet trip not.
2nd Priest.
But the officers and soldiers, O Caiaphas,
were men of weak mind.
1st Phar.
Unlike unto those who have walked in sacred
places and been accustomed to hear the ancient law
of Moses and the Prophets.
1st Priest.
And the Levite of Bethoran was as one who
is deaf; wherefore his ears received no wisdom in
his youth.
2nd Priest.
Some other means must be devised whereby
Jesus shall be stopped in his preaching.
2nd Phar.
If we let him alone, all men will believe on
both our place and nation.
Caia.
Ye know nothing at all; nor consider that it is expedient
for us that one man should die for the people,
and that the whole nation perish not.
2nd Priest.
Thou sayest wisely, O Caiaphas; there is
nothing but his death that shall serve us.
1st Priest.
And peradventure this righteous suggestion
shall be accounted a prophecy by the nations who
live after us.
Caia.
I would that it were so; but the sword lingereth.
Enter Judas.
1st Priest.
Thou also art one of those who follow Jesus;
and comest thou here before the High Priest!
2nd Priest.
To kneel and to repent thee of thy back-sliding
art thou here, else were thy life in much
peril.
Judas.
I would seek the High Priest, having a troubled
mind.
Caia.
Speak, for there is mercy in the great temple to such
as repent them truly.
Judas.
I have bethought me—
[he hesitates]
and in the
night have I resolved to do it.
Caia.
On what hast thou resolved?
Judas.
(Hesitating.)
Concerning that which I had
thought.
Caia.
Hast thou left the teaching of Jesus?
Judas.
I have left him.
1st Priest.
Peradventure thou comest here to hearken
unto the words of the High Priest, and how he
teacheth?
2nd Priest.
And to note the difference between the
twain—yea between the High Priest, in his chamber,
and the homeless Nazarene.
(Judas maketh a sign of assent.)
3rd Priest.
Verily thou dost well in this.
[Judas turneth aside, resting his head in his hands.
Caia.
It is not the season, Judas, to speak with thee of
divine things,—of things derived from our holy law
into the world, with a spirit all unused to righteousness,
and with feet that have not trod in sacred
places.
2nd Priest.
And worse than this, thy spirit hath
hearkened unto the councils of devils, and thy
feet have followed in their track.
Caia.
(To Priest.)
Let be.
(To Judas.)
Somewhat, however,
art thou capable of understanding; and of
earthly things, therefore, must thou first hear from
the elders and scribes; for though the scribes sit
in Moses' seat, yet do they look down compassionately
upon such as need human knowledge, and the
sciences thereof.
1st Priest.
And they will teach thee with true words.
Caia.
The mighty plain, and the rough level of the earth
we inhabit, this shalt thou learn, and also of the
waters which flow all round about it, wherein it
floateth, and of the clouds and heavens which enclose
the waters. And your heart shall treasure up
these words.
2nd Priest.
(In a low voice.)
And your heart shall treasure
up these words.
Judas.
(Aside.)
Shall I turn back now that I am so far?
Caia.
Of the heavens themselves,—the great sun that
rolleth round about the earth; and the moon,
which is of like size and distance, but of like shape
once only in her period, and then dwindleth away
even unto an harvest sickle, which is understood by
the records; and of the multitudes of stars, which
are marvellous in their ways, and the slowness of
their growth,—all this shalt thou be taught.
Priests.
(In a low tone.)
And your heart shall treasure
up these words.
Caia.
Of the boundaries of the earth shalt thou hear, and
of foreign countries, yea from Sephar to Ophir,
from the rocks of Caucasus, and from the lands
beyond Tarshish which are the edges of the earth.
Priests.
And your heart shall treasure up these words.
Caia.
Also the arts of trading and of commerce mayst
thou be taught; and warned in good season against
was wisdom in Solomon, who encouraged this, is
no longer held good for the people.
Priests.
And your heart shall treasure up these words.
Caia.
Of fishing and of carpentry need I not speak, nor
peradventure of agriculture and the tending upon
sheep; neither shall I speak of the rocks and
metals underneath the earth,—of its sands, and its
sparkling darkness many cubits downwards, until
arriving on the burning confines of the abyss of
hell. But when thou shalt arrive at this knowledge,
then shall begin thy instruction in the
divine law.
Priests.
Let your heart—
Judas.
(Raising his head.)
I come, O Caiaphas, to betray
Jesus unto thee, yea to give him into your hands.
Caia.
It is good.
1st Priest.
Thou speakest wisely, and with a repentant
heart.
3rd Priest.
Thy words, O Caiaphas, have prevailed over
him; over the teaching of the Nazarene hast thou
prevailed.
2nd Priest.
(To Judas.)
But is thy repentance true;
or dost thou come to act cunningly with us?
Caia.
Can this be so?
2nd Priest.
Wherefore dost thou come to betray Jesus
unto punishment? Hath he offended thee? Hath
he taken the bag out of thy hands?
1st Priest.
Or art thou needy, and seekest thou a reward?
Judas.
Thou sayest rightly. I would have thirty pieces
of silver for my reward.
Caia.
Let them be counted out before him. His spirit is
humbled by my words so that he speaketh with a
discreet tongue.
[Judas stands aside at one of the windows while the thirty pieces are counted out.
Scene closes.
SCENE III.
The Garden of Gethsemane.Enter Nicodemus and Claudia.
Clau.
This also have I heard.
Nico.
A divine man:
It is past all doubt. The lame, the blind, the sick,
Touch but his garment's hem, and they are healed.
Even the dead rise.
Clau.
And now Lazarus,
Who was entombed four days! The Spirit of God
Must surely dwell with Jesus.
Nico.
Old and young—
All he receiveth. Women in crowds, and children
Follow him. Little children in his arms
He foldeth up, and blesseth them.
Clau.
Canst thou bring me
Where I may see him?
Nico.
I will watch a time
For this; and speedily, since there is doubt
How long he tarry with us.
Clau.
Thou dost speak
Like one who sorroweth. If he depart
Out of Jerusalem, he will return
After his journey?
Nico.
He will not return.
(Exeunt.)
Enter Peter, John, James, and Judas.
Peter.
If his word move all hearts, where'er he goeth,
As doth the sun who looketh on the waves,
Call'st thou the light too slow? The divine word
Are they not quick to reach large multitudes,
Daily?
Judas.
But since our days are but a span,
Or we may suffer death by martyrdom,
For us it seemeth slow.
John.
No time is slow,
While love goes with it; wherefore our Lord's good time
Let us abide in full faith.
James.
What are we,
That we should question him?
Judas.
But while his power
Could silence their revilings and their taunts,
Set aside all their doctrines and harsh laws,
Wither their soldiers' hands—cast down their walls,
And in the place a mighty Temple erect
To the True Spirit—even to his Father, God—
Behold, instead, he wandereth by the way,
Even as an outcast, and the wicked sit
In the high places, as of old.
Peter.
Nay, Judas;
Not as of old, with all the future theirs—
For so it seemed—but as things doomed to die,
Since the bright star of Bethlehem arose.
John.
Their nights are numbered. Jesus can breathe one breath—
And all who now sit crowned shall fade in air,
While from the misty silence, to the sweetness
Of psaltery, dulcimer, and angel quire,
His own great Kingdom burneth into view!
Judas.
I say this to myself most constantly!
I know this—this I strongly feel.
John.
But when
He shall thus breathe his triumph, no man knoweth,—
Or it may be that first we must taste death;
Of the wrong-doers and the blind.
Judas.
My heart
Rebels against this suffering—seeing no end.
James.
When Jesus rules on earth, all pains will end.
John.
Lord, I am thine at all times, and my love
Being equal to my hope, I wait in peace.
Peter.
Shall we not meanwhile suffer cheerfully
All evils that may come?
Judas.
What need of evils?
Have we not known enough of these already;
And why should Jesus suffer them? My blood
Leaps up against it.
Peter.
Thou shouldst rather kneel
To Jesus, praying him to grant unto thee
The blessing of his patience.
John.
And the joy,
Serene and glorified, which comes to those
Who well believing in his future kingdom,
On earth—are not unmindful of the grave.
[Exeunt Peter, John, and James.
Judas.
They are deaf. Why not his kingdom now on earth?
The grave can better wait than we.
[He pauses.]
The air grows dark.— [Pauses.]
Time trembles in my heart.
I have besought them warily, and I find
My thought must be my act without their aid,
Or counsel.— [Pauses.]
Yonder dusky foliage moves!
There is no wind. I see the gleam of spears!
[Judas makes a sign, and Exit.
Enter two Centurions with armed Soldiers.
1st Cen.
He signalled us that we should follow him.
2nd Cen.
But not too closely.
Saw you not that bird
Of evil omen in the gloomy grove?
A Sol.
Master, this is a bad work.
1st Cen.
Follow now.
(Exeunt.)
Enter Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate.
Caia.
Thou being a just man, and also of great wisdom,
wilt surely consider the acts which he hath committed
how worthy they are of punishment at thy
hands?
Pilate.
I cannot rightly know what he hath done till I
have heard his accusers set it forth, and all those
that come to bear witness against him.
Caia.
Of these there will be great numbers; but the
manifold sins of which he is accused, and the blasphemies
he hath spoken, are they not already
known to thee?
Pilate.
I have not heard him blaspheme, nor must I
judge any of his sins beforehand, nor in private.
Caia.
Surely thou wilt condemn this man; or how shall
we be safe from others like unto him, and from
them that follow him!
Pilate.
They will all be exposed to the same law, therefore
take thou no fear of them.
Caia.
In all things, O Pilate, doth he interfere with the
priests, so that they feel it sorely, and must cry
aloud against it; and thou, being a pious man fearing
the gods of thy country, wilt assuredly condemn
those who make a mockery and scorn of the priests
of any holy faith, and its ceremonies, and traditions.
Pilate.
What hath he done against the Jewish priests?
Caia.
He hath taught the people that all men are brothers,
and should be equal; that no man should be master
and rabbi; and that he is greatest who serveth
most. What is this but evil speaking and false
doctrine, and lying and slandering? For do we
not very well know, O Pilate, that the people are
not the brothers of those who sit in high places,
nor have they any equality except among their
upon the earth, and high priests, and governors of
great dignity, and many slaves?—Why answerest
thou not a word? Besides these false doctrines
which he teacheth everywhere openly, he hath
wrought pretended miracles, or if not pretended he
hath had the aid of demons therein; and he hath
moreover gone about healing the sick. Lepers,
of each of the four kinds,—demoniacs, men and
women sick of fevers, and agues, hath he healed;
the blind, the lame, and others suffering palsy and
tephelim, and diseases of the reins, or suffering
grievously in the liver and spleen—not by anointing
with oil according to our sacred use, prescribed by
ancient traditions for all these diseases, but by
prayer and the laying on of hands! Of a surety
thou wilt visit all these acts with their just reward?
Pilate.
I will see justice done upon him.
[Sounds of tumult in a distant part of the garden.
Caia.
What is it?
Pilate.
The sentence must await the forms of law.
Caia.
The tumult that we hear, knowest thou what it
means?
Pilate.
I know not.
(Exit Pilate.)
Caia.
Yet shalt thou condemn him, unless he work a
miracle to save himself.
(Tumult increases.)
The
demons that minister unto him are of great strength.
Enter Scribe and Two Pharisees followed by James.
James.
Will ye return to your houses to feast and make
merry while this evil is committed? Will no man
turn aside to set free the Son of God?
Scribe.
Ha-ha! doth he need aid, and dost thou ask it
of us?
1st Phar.
What we do is righteousness, but he hath done
and spoken abominations.
Caia.
If he be the Son of God, let him set himself free.
Tumult near at hand.
They bear him to the house of Annas. If he
be as this man sayeth, let him command the house
of Annas that it fall down upon the heads of all
within, while he cometh out whole.
[Exit Caiaphas.
James.
O, Scribes and Pharisees, boasters and teachers of
virtuous things, how full of venom are your hearts!
Your words are as the hissing of serpents.
Scribe.
He hath taught thee that thou shouldst speak
slanderously after his own fashion.
2nd Phar.
But the tongue of the slanderer shall be
silenced. A coal of fire shall be put into his
mouth.
(Noise of many voices. A crowd passeth over between the trees at the back, with torches and with spears.
James.
They bear Him away!
Scribe.
As for thee, return to thy boat which rotteth on
the banks of the Galilean sea, and to thy nets which
are full of holes.
1st Phar.
See here!
Enter Judas.
Scribe.
This fellow had a stiff neck, and yet a pliant ear,
so that while he seemed to scorn my words he followed
after a wise direction.
1st Phar.
(To Judas.)
Thou shewest the true spirit of
thy master's preaching, having betrayed him to
the death of the slave, yea of the vilest thief.
2nd Phar.
I have seen the flying-serpent of the wilderness,
how he moved upon his belly through the
grass; how he darted through the air upon his
prey.
Scribe.
I stood upon an asp, and he turned and stung
the Son of God with a venomous tooth.
[Exeunt Scribe and Pharisees.
James.
Thou standest as a tree that the wind rendeth not,
but thou art surely rotted at the core because thou
hast done this thing.
M. Magd.
(To Judas.)
Can the shades of night hide
thee; can the thick trees cover thee up, so that our
curses reach thee not?
S. of Laz.
When the moon rises, whither wilt thou flee;
when the stars come out, what cavern shall be deep
enough for thee?
M. Magd.
Art thou indeed a man because of thy form;
can a beast of the field put on garments, and sit at
meat, and have speech, and salute with a kiss?
James.
Dost thou see this woman, the Mother of our
Lord; dost thou look upon her?
J. of Ar.
He turneth his head aside. He cannot endure
her face—
James.
Though her eyes gaze not on him, and her tongue
uttereth no word.
M. Magd.
(To Judas)
O that the lightning would run
shivering down upon thee!—that the black clouds
would open a deluge over thee!
J. of Ar.
Let us leave Judas to himself, for there can be
nothing more miserable on earth. Even Pity hides
her head, and is afraid. And such is his reward.
[Exeunt all except Judas.
Judas.
Wherefore be miserable? Why should I feel
Thus heavy and cast down? Reproachful words
Were certain—natural—and they will change
To praises and hosannas, when my deed
Shall justify itself, and the Messiah,
Compelled his power and terrors to reveal,
Shall burn to stubble all their armed hosts,
And sit enthroned. Then shall his followers, clad
In gorgeous raiment—seated in golden chairs,
The necks of enemies beneath their feet—
In ecstacy unspeakable, behold
Above the temple of Jerusalem
Aught else unseen; and while his chosen priests
Shall with exalted trumpets pierce the sky,
And Scribes and Pharisees, scorched with inward flames
Sink into heaps of ashes, will the name
Of Judas echo from an Angel's voice,
Crying, ‘Behold, the one ordained of heaven
To urge the great work of redemption on,
Commencing with Christ's kingdom upon earth!’
| Judas Iscariot | |