 | Judas Iscariot |  |
SCENE II.
Interior of the Temple of Jerusalem. Outer Courts and Eastern Gate visible, with the Mount of Olives in the distance.Enter Caiaphas, Annas, and an Elder.
Elder.
I was among the crowd, and near unto the officers
and soldiers, noting all things even as ye had
desired me, but taking no active part therein.
And I say again, thus did the soldiers.
Annas.
Stepped they backward many paces?
Elder.
They retired from before Jesus, and fell down
upon the earth, as if they had suddenly beheld the
glory of a great light.
Caia.
Thou speakest as if he had wrought upon their
spirits; but have we not proof that his followers
were armed, and did battle for him. Verily, my
servant Malchus had been cleft in twain, but that
the sword of his assailant glanced aside in his fury.
Elder.
He that smote him, Jesus reproved.
Annas.
Then came the soldiers once more to seize him,
and sayest thou he offered no resistance?
Elder.
They were troubled at the sight of him; but he
gave himself up to be bound. Had he raised his
hand, or prophesied, so would they all again have
fallen to the earth. But he gave himself peacefully
into their charge.
Caia.
How knowest thou what more the soldiers had done
if he had resisted them? Shall men of good
estate be permitted to speak with a foolish tongue?
It hath been told me that certain pharisees sent to
Jesus, ere this, to warn him that he should escape!
Shall the disease spread so deep and climb so high,
and the heavens put on no blackness? Howbeit
he is now secured, and condemned to death,
and an end hath come to all his blasphemies, and
to the evil he hath sent abroad into men's spirits.
In good season hath it all ended.
Caia.
Therefore have we devised the extremity of all disgrace
to attend upon the manner of his death; by
crucifixion and by the companionship of thieves, so
that no disciples shall go forth in future without
fear of stoning, and no man utter the name of Jesus
without shame and scorn.
Annas.
Who is he that cometh yonder up the steps of
the court, profaning the Temple?
Elder.
Peradventure one of the artificers or labourers, who
work in the outer buildings.
Annas.
A bibber of wine!—for, see how he rusheth and
reeleth forward! His presence here is death by
the law!
Elder.
Hath he fallen upon the lowermost steps, that ye
see him not again?
Annas.
His head riseth above the upper pavement!
Caia.
Wherefore cometh he? Hath he also a sword?
Annas.
He hath not put off his shoes!
Elder.
Behold, his garments are rent!—he hath a ragged
tawny beard—his eyes are red with blood—and his
mouth is wide open, that uttereth no sound!
Enter Judas wildly.
Caia.
Whom seekest thou? Darest thou affront the High
Priest!
Annas.
Knowest thou the man?
Caia.
I know him. This is he who betrayed Jesus to
justice for thirty pieces of silver.
Elder.
Speak, profaner of the Temple!
Judas.
I have sinned!—I have betrayed innocent blood!
Caia.
What is that to us? See thou to that!
(Judas staggers on one side towards the altar.)
Elder.
His eyes glare—the foam gusheth through his
teeth!
Caia.
Behold what he doeth! Behold, he graspeth the
golden horns of the altar!
Elder.
He hath a horror that riseth up amidst his hair:—
wrath and madness are bursting out of his mouth!
Give him more pieces—give him pieces of gold,
and let him go his ways!
Caia.
He thrusteth one hand into his breast to tear out
his heart! See that he pollute not the Temple!—
have a care of God's holy place, and of God's
anointed ministers!
Annas.
He hath a demon!
[Judas dashes a handful of silver pieces upon the pavement, and rushes away out of sight.
(Scene closes.)
| Judas Iscariot | |