University of Virginia Library

ACT I

Scene I

A silent wintry night on the seashore of Smyrna; at the back the dark flow of the sea. Rabbis stand together in their dark turbans; at a little distance Abraham Rubio squats on the sand.
Rabbis
(speaking among themselves).
The sea is cold.
The sea is very cold.
The sea is starry.
Like wounds upon the sea are the large stars.

Rubio.

And our young Rabbi is down in the
winter-sea—cold as death; if this bath is purification,
Abraham Rubio will be unclean till the day
of the promise. How Sabbataï must shiver!

Rabbis
(among themselves).
Hush, hush, the stars are shivering as they shine,
Hush, we are shivering.
It is very cold.
It is cold, and yet the stars are gay at heart.
Do you not feel them gay, as maidens shake
On the verges of a dance, on the shores of music,
That has not touched their ears to stir their feet?
We are waiting, and the sea and stars are waiting,
The Heavens, the Earth, the people of our God,
Who made the Heavens and Earth and chose our tribes.
We wait—O God, how long we wait—we wait!

Primo.
Why should ye hope this dreamy Cabalist,
This self-tormentor, with the ardent lips,
And eyes wrapped in their secrecy as clearly
As summer's crystal blueness, will arise
And make avowal he is born of God?

Rabbis.
We wait.
The sea is waiting and the stars.
We all are ready and the night grows deep.
You see him?
Do you see the Sainted?
Yonder,
Clean arrows of the stars shoot round a darkness
That should be he, tranquil and set with waves.

Rubio.

What a patience! His entrails must be
cold as the belly of a corpse in its new grave:
mine starve at the thought.

Primo.
Why should he break his silence? Sabbataï
Is silent ever, and he will not speak.

Rabbis.
He will.
The stars have told us,
The sea has told us,
The Heavens—the Earth,
Our hearts.

Rubio.

What do I do here? The city is gone away
from life into sleep. It is deaf. Minarets and
cypresses are tipped with snow, the Acropolis lies
under a roof of snow; I should lie under my
Syrian rug, if I were not too much of a beggar to
own one. God of Israel, we are all beggars here,
we are all hungry and cold! Have mercy, have
mercy—feed Thou our emptiness!

Rabbis.
The sea is icier than the snow.
The stars are whiter.
He is gone from sight, he has closed himself away.
No, no, he is there again.
He moves.
He is coming....
He comes up from the waters of the deep.
O everlasting Ocean!
See, he moves,
As rhythmic as a wave on toward the land,
Dripping the ocean from his head: the stars
Scatter their silver tresses round.
The stars,—
The stars are wild and rapturous.
He is coming....
It is silent.
The rams' horns
Are silent so from new moon to new moon.
The thunder of the sky
Is silent thus before its instant.
God,
We will be silent, for our hearts have voice
Waiting for breath breathed on them by thy Will!
[They make no sound, but as Sabbataï comes nearer they draw back.
We dare not....
We must move or cry.
O terror!
God moves upon the waters. Who abides
His coming?
On the shore he sets his feet.
The waving stars, the flame-haired Seraphim!
Beautiful is his coming;
Bare the star-rays
About his naked form ... the night's expansion!
Peace!
He is standing silent.
Heaven and Earth
And sea and stars and men are therefrom silent.
Oh!

[They hold their breath.
[Sabbataï seems to be drinking in power from the universe as he stands naked before them. At last over the shore and city is heard one cry.
Sabbataï.
Jhwh!

[There is a moment of panic as the forbidden name is spoken.
A Rabbi
(in the whisper of a death-chamber).
Who may speak the Name but one?

A Chorus.
Messiah!
Hail, Messiah!
Sent of God!
Born to his people!
Our Deliverance!
See, see, he stands before us.

Primo.
He has spoken,
The stars have heard the Name and did not fall,
The sea has heard it and the sea extends
Floating and calm; the night has heard and shines
Across its ragged cloud; we too have heard,
And live and shout our joy—out of our joy
We see and know God's Chosen.

Rabbis.
Sabbataï!
Our King, our Lord of Lords!
The true Messiah!
The King of all Kings, the Celestial Lion!
Who will redeem his people!
Who will gather
The remnant from the winds!
Our joy, our joy!
He is the true Messiah!
Sabbataï!
And without weapons he shall wage his war,
And quell the dragon with no weapon raised.

Rubio.

He will take away our reproach, he will fill
us with good things and gold will pertain to him.
Let us believe and we shall be princes.

Primo.
We must believe, for the sky stands; the sea,
And stars of heaven are white as snow about him
Who has joined heaven and earth
With the four sounds of God's mysterious Name,
Uniting the Creator and His World.
We must believe; it is not left to faith—
We have heard the Name and live, we have seen the night,
The host of heaven, the ocean and the shore
Secure while the intolerable touched
Voiceful each mortal substance. Let us pray
To God, our God, we be of His true Kingdom,
And of Messiah's Kingdom that begins.

[They lift their arms. From all the snowy minarets come voices.
The Muéddin.
God is great, there is no God but God,
Mohammed is God's prophet.

[Sabbataï, as if waking from a trance, shivers.
Sabbataï.
It is cold.

Rubio.
Prince, your entrails must be chilled in your belly.
The God of Jacob warm them!

Primo.
Holy One, let us go back with praises!
We have outstripped the dawn now thou art risen—
Our Sun that shineth. We are blest, we are saved.

(The Rabbis fall on their faces before him, but Rubio lifts up to him his gabardine and turban from under the stones of a rock.

Scene II

Smyrna. Evening.
The courtyard of Chelibi's house. In the midst, a fountain; to the right, a knot of cypress-trees; to the left, great rose-bushes; to the back, the chief wall of the house, white and pierced irregularly with windows, a door to the left hand in the wall. To the extreme left of the courtyard, an entrance into the street stands open. The courtyard is empty.
Lilith.
But he delays his coming, but our Lord
Delays his coming. Let us leave the cypress,
And cross you to the roses—by the archway
Let us make cluster, for our Lord delays.

[Lilith leads the Maidens towards the rose-bushes; they form a gleaming knot by the archway.
Ruth.
Let us in all things yield perpetual praise.

[She carefully trims her lamp and sits down low on a stone of the archway. From the house-door servants and slaves come forth, spreading flowers and carpets and dragging out wine-pots. Then a band of honourable men pace slowly behind the fountain and draw up in a phalanx before the cypresses. They are followed by Chelibi, the Master of the Feast, Samuel Primo, and Nathan of Gaza, who take up their stations round the fountain, among high purple flags and rushes in bloom. Poor Jews begin to enter from without, humbly inclining to the Master of the Feast. Then an old man approaches, receiving every mark of honour.
Chelibi.

Rabbi-physician, a welcome. We scarcely
hoped to see Nachmonides.

Nachmonides.

I am old and feeble; let me sit by

your fountain to freshen my weariness. I am
exceeding weak. By day and night such concourse
of suffering fills my ante-chambers I can eat but
one meal for day and night. I lie down, or my
sick would consult a corpse; on my back I
prescribe, I talk. When night falls my voice is
gone from me; but many poor mortals are in the
way of life and of its holiness—so God has His
praise.

Chelibi.

It is regretted by many of our nation that
you never converse with the healthy or with those
that would have instruction of your wisdom.

Nachmonides.

It would delight me—it would be a
great joy ...

[A litter is borne through the archway; the Maidens half rise, then, perceiving the procession is not yet, they sink down. An old Jew follows his son on the litter.
Old Jew.

Lay the boy down there, he will see
all.... Woe 's me!

[He sits his head between his knees, making low groans.
Chelibi.

Nachmonides would discourse of his
science—but there is too much pain! Well, you
have risen up, Nachmonides, from your couch
among your sufferers to greet the Bridegroom of
Israel.

Nachmonides.

True! I was eagerly constrained as
if my youth returned; yet I left my precincts full
of people. There is a patient of mine! Poor

boy, poor hopeless boy, he has felt the zeal! He
is come, as his physician is come. This Sabbataï
is a magician.

[Nachmonides raises himself up, dips a bowl in the fountain and goes over to the boy.

Moses, the evening is hot. Let me freshen your
lips.... For life!

Old Jew.

For a happy life! The lad will not open
his eyes.

Nachmonides.

He opens his teeth to the water.

Old Jew.

He awaits Messiah.

Nachmonides.

May his Rock keep him!

[He returns to the fountain.
Chelibi.

We are glad you are come to the Feast,
our good Nachmonides.

Nachmonides.

I am a believer in marriage, though
this marriage.... Your Queen is not a spotless
Queen, Master Secretary. She has roamed the
lands ...

Nathan
(tossing his head).

She has roved the lands
seeking him, our heart's need. It was foretold
her in a dream she should wed Messiah.

Primo.

She did not recognise Messiah in his majesty,
she passed by as he was giving alms to a beggar—
for the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

Nachmonides
(tapping Primo's hand).

But he
should have recognised her, Master Primo; he
should have discovered the spots beneath her gay
attire. We physicians have cognisance of health

and disease. He should have known this woman
that she was a sinner.

Rubio.

I am the beggar my Lord gave alms to.
Did I ask an alms? He knew me, he recognised
I was a beggar, and he gave me ...

Nathan.

We do not need your testimony. Hosanna
to him who fills the purse-bag is your testimony.

Rubio
(not heeding).

He knew I was a beggar and he
gave me what a beggar needs—a smile. Our lady
Zarah was passing, she was arrested by that smile.

Nachmonides.

Or did she stop to win another for
herself? We all know Zarah—she would pause
to admire the action and then dazzle the young
prophet with her eyes.

Rubio.

We all know Zarah—the beggar knows her;
she is a bounteous lady, well known to the city
since she landed, yet at times she has fared hard.
She has been stoned and had to shrink away to the
beggar's quarters. There Messiah found us.

Nachmonides.

And there he gave her an alms?

Rubio.

He gave her what a man gives a woman;
he gave her ...

Primo
(coughing).

It has been foretold that Messiah
shall marry a wife of whoredoms. So the Lord
commanded Hosea.

Nachmonides.

No precedents, Master Primo, no
precedents for a miracle. It is the unforeseen,
the undivined, the never-to-be-thought of ...

Rubio.

Look you—this wedding is no miracle, for
our pretty lady of Smyrna has her tricks; but

that Messiah should come down and say to me
‘Son, give me thy heart’ (glancing at Primo)
even
as it is written in the Scriptures ...

Primo.

You are a wine-bibber, you are a wine-bibber.
You are come here for the wine. Away with your
lewdness. You shall not profane our Courts.

[He strikes Rubio; there is a hubbub; again the Virgins rise, startled.
Voices.
We will put you out of the Synagogue.
You shall not escape us.
The Messiah calls Kings.

Rubio.
He calls beggars and harlots.

A Voice
(from the litter).

Peace, peace! I have
heard the Bridegroom's voice—peace!

Lilith.
Maidens, arise!
For he comes—the joy of our eyes!

Rubio.
I will greet him with cymbals that clash to the skies!
I will greet his bride, with the wild, free eyes,
Zarah, Zarah, the Queen!

Primo.
Queen of the South—this too is prophecy,
And every Scripture
Must be fulfilled, however it degrade
The prophet to fulfil it. Presently
I take my share in these indignities—
Zarah the Queen!

[But the slight hubbub of the hostile band is drowned by the thrilled voices of the Virgins as they crowd to the open, vacant archway.
Chorus.
We are waiting, we are waiting, for the Bridegroom—
He loveth me as he loveth none beside!

[They press through the archway singing— then the whole company follows them out. After an interval the cortège appears and Sabbataï enters with Zarah under a canopy: they passs through the courtyard and enter the door of the house; the crowd that follows remains in the courtyard. The door is shut.
Voices.
He must remain with us.
He is within.
It is to see his face....
Who shut the door?
We cannot breathe without him.

A Woman.
Deborah,
You are breathing roses.

Deborah.
But he is the rose,
The rose of Sharon and the lily's budding.

A Voice.
Who shut the door?

A Muted Chorus.
[They prostrate themselves and wail.

(Sabbataï issues with Zarah and their company. He meets the people with a smile and parted lips.
Sabbataï.
My own belovèd, but ye are my chosen;
This is the moment of my triumph—this!
I have heard your crying for me, my beloved,
Therefore I am your God. This is the sign!
So long I waited for the sign and knew not
If I were chosen of my God; ye call me,
I heard you at my marriage wail for me.
The hour is come.... Enter my Kingdom, enter,
Innumerable as the stars! I see you
As in a vision—every lifted heart
Is incense to me, as the glowing fields
Of tulips glow from heads innumerable.
I have created you
Simply as God createth the green herb.
Ye are my pleasure and my prophecy,
My Chosen; ye shall never doubt.
Bear witness,
I have lived with you, my multitude, and loved you,
On your many voices I have heard one speech;
I have heard you one by one—the sign
Of knowing you is in my heart. You have fed me,
From your homes and from your harbour and from your streets,
Buoying me up as the waves buoy a vessel,
Sustaining me. I choose you,
My lone, my sorrowful, for I am lonely;
I choose you, O ye poor, for I am rich;
I call you who have never heard a call,
Never suspected that God thought on you!
O aged, you must put away your age;
O young men, you must laugh long in your youth,
Without remembering it will pass and never
Will it pass from you. Ye are my disciples
Who love your youth and fear it not. Ye sons
Of God, ye giants, who behold how lovely
A woman is and tremble. Sons, despair not—
Deep in the sea I heard you; at my ear
I heard you, as the music of a shell.
Ye were my music ... I must have musicians,
They must be always with me.
Come, my dearest,
And I will make you strong. Such secrets
I heard from you. From the unfathomed sea
I heard them in my heart.
Your instruments!...
For speech is growing old.
[He takes a band of rather sheepish young men apart, touches their instruments and gives instructions for a dance. Suddenly he looks up from an instrument he is tuning and sees Zarah deserted, her Virgins listless about her.
Belovèd, come!
Eve, Judith, Ruth, Zarah—daughters,
Daughters of Zion, on my marriage-day
Desire hath reached deliverance.
Ye remember
How Zion sigheth in captivity....
But now her shroud is lifted from the garments
Of her delight; the ashes
Bedust no more the roses of her chaplet;
The bitter myrtles ring with chips of gold;
For she shall sigh no more.
Virgins and youths,
Ye shall rejoice. Come, Hillel, Absalom!
No more ye dance in parted bands, together
Ye dance ...
[He pauses in a hush of joy as the bands of youths and maidens unite in the dance.
The ryhthm breaks!...
O Zarah, see!
One riseth not, this cripple riseth not;
He is left out ...
[Sabbataï runs to the boy and lifts him by his hands.
Rise, for you must, dear lad!
How strong, how lithe!
[He joins the boy's hands with Rachel's; the old father falls flat on his face.
Now it is full—there is no dissonance.
[He gives his hands to Zarah.
Zarah—your face! How many summer days,
And lighting of the rose-light on the dawn,
Thou hast gathered for me in this moment's face.
Thou canst not speak ... hush, hush!
Move to the sound.

[He leads her to the dance.
Primo.
A miracle! Bear witness!
Summon the Master of the Feast, go, summon Chelibi.
A miracle! You saw, Nachmonides?

Nachmonides.

I am a doctor; this boy had not a
sound limb of his body. Sabbataï has made him
skip. Skip, Moses, skip! This Sabbataï, this
beautiful young man, has the breath of God moving
him, as in dream, to power. It is an adorable
nature! May the young Rabbi be Messiah indeed!
He shows us most continent faith toward
God, even God our Health. It rejoices me to see
his day.

Nathan.

A miracle—that is what imports us. A

miracle! He hath done wonders as the chosen of
God, foretold by the Ancient Script—En-Soph,
the Son of Heaven!

Nachmonides.

Peace, peace! Each acclamation
of the deed of faith does harm to the doer. Less
absolute becomes in the Creature his frankness
with God his Creator. Keep silence, as ye love
Sabbataï. (To the boy's father.)
Old man, watch
your son and weep for joy.

O Nathan Ghazati, you are young; the voice in
you is not that of the white-haired whose lips are as
old instruments mellow. Do not speak when the
lips move; do not speak till the heart has brooded
on the voice between its wings.

[Exit.
Nathan.

Does he think the mumblings of age transform
the world and proclaim power and empire?
Does the Son of Heaven want piping greybeards
to go before him?

Here is a miracle!

Primo.

It shall be written to every country of the
Jews' Dispersion. All shall rejoice.

[Chelibi advances.
Nathan.
Chelibi, O Saraph-Bashi, a miracle!

Chelibi.
That my house should be so honoured!

Primo
(catching Moses).
This impotent boy is dancing like Hillel.

Moses.
I am dancing, dancing; I am whole—I leap
Crag to crag, as David when he kept the sheep.
You shall not stay me.

Primo.
But the Master's fame.

Moses.
I yield my limbs—feel them, examine, show them,
Beckon!—but surely none will leave the dance!

Chelibi.

Ah, stripling, there is nothing men will not
flee from more quickly than their peculiar happiness.
They will leave it for misfortune, for an
accident, for any promise of a spectacle; they will
leave it for the dear misery each man craves to hug
to his bosom as his own; and for sake of a miracle
... were it only to see little worms in feathers,
they would cross the ocean.

Nathan
(in a shout).

A miracle, a miracle! Come
and behold!

Chelibi.
Look, look!

[The dance breaks up and a crowd gathers.
Old Jew
(stroking his son's feet).
I am his father, I am proud of him.
God gave him strength to dance at the Great Feast.

Primo.

It was Sabbataï that wrought the miracle,
you fool! Sabbataï is shown forth as Messiah. I
will write it to all lands. ‘Then shall the lame
leap as an hart’—Every Scripture fulfilled!

Voices.
A work of God!
Sabbataï is Messiah.
He heals diseases.
He will heal God's people.

A Sephardi.

These limbs are good as my son's—

the pride of the port, when he shoulders his figs—
Valorea's.

Another.
Come, let us see you caper.

[A break in the circle discovers Sabbataï and Zarah at rest under rose-trees.
Sabbataï
(as he fans her with a great fan of feathers).
They all desert Messiah.

Zarah.
All but Zarah—
She cannot; she is happy as a leaf
On the stream's journey; she is borne along.

[The dancers close round.
Enter a train of Ambassadors. Perplexed they pass to the group in the centre and bow to Moses
Ambassadors.
We come from many lands,
We come, gifts in our hands;
They are gifts from our lands—all lands
Are his; we are his bands,
And the chosen people he commands.

Moses
(in terror).
O Kings,
I am not the Messiah.

Primo.
From afar!
Take heed, good Smyrnites, it comes to pass,
Kings from afar!

[The Ambassadors have been gravely unpacking their perfumes and treasure. Rubio staggers to the group.
Primo.
But where is the Messiah?

Rubio.
Where is Messiah?—drinking, he is drunk;
I found him by the wine-jars.

[The Ambassadors give a little start and instinctively clutch at their rich vessels.
Primo.
By the wine-jars,
Drunken, but not with wine, but not as Noah ...

Nathan.
With wine of prophecy.

Primo
(low to Nathan).
But how it sways—
This throne on which they have exalted him!

[Sabbataï is borne forward on a throne. He carries the great fan of feathers. Zarah and the Virgins follow dancing. Sabbataï's kinsfolk are round him, acclaiming.
Kinsfolk.
Messiah, Messiah, we bow the knee!
At the sight of him our vision swims;
There is scent of gold about his limbs!
He is Messiah—and my cousin too!
Joseph, you drank the wine.... The wine is new.
Enthrone him, he is true,
Messiah! We smell the gold in him!
Gold as the Golden Seraphim
That covered the Ark is he,
And we are his kin and we
Shall have of his riches. See!
These gifts; we are all of his fold.
We shall do as he biddeth us. Behold,
It is lapis lazuli!

[They set down Sabbataï, enthroned.

---

175

Moses, fixing doubtful eyes on Sabbataï, hobbles back towards his litter.
Sabbataï
(greeting the Ambassadors with exultation).
Come to me, happy kings, come to me, brethren!
(To his Kinsfolk.)
And you too shall be kings, all kings, each one.
(To Ambassadors.)
You must be kings, you offer gifts—and these,
These must be kings, for they have greedy eyes
For incense and for gold. Good Rubio,
The Ambassadors are thirsty; they must drink.
Lade the young slaves with goblets. And meanwhile
I will distribute gifts. I am Messiah
Simply because my gifts transcend your gifts.
I have the sky, the stars to give.
[Glancing at the choir of Virgins.
The pearls
Of the midmost caverns—I can see the pearls
Each crescive in its shell.
[Restraining his Kinsfolk who are greedily handling the treasure of the Ambassadors.
No, no! my manners!
These, these are mine—this incense ...
[Rising and addressing the Ambassadors.
Greeks, Arabians—
Far-travelled people, who in rocks and caverns
And in thick-peopled cities have had token,
As the tokens of an earthquake in your hearts,
That ye should come to me—I have been with you
In prison and in sorrow. One by one
As if you were my flock I have succoured you.
I know you, some of you most faithful, some
Most ignorant. Some are there that believe
And some believe not.... Yea, it is not that;
My world, my starry multitudes, ye love me,
Ye have desired me from the ends of time.
Infinite is my love to you, the beating
Of my heart to own you all. From many lands
Ye bring me each the riches of your lands,
And the peculiar treasure ...
[Laying a vase of perfume beside him, after deeply snuffing it.
But this perfume
Is strange to me, as perfume should be strange,
A novelty as welcome as an old,
Delicious memory. Gems, carbuncles—
These all for me, my wearing and my glory.
(Smiling.)
No crown that I shall ever give away,
Or weary of, or lose. Unguents and herbs!
Where is Nachmonides?

[Primo hastily approaches Sabbataï and whispers.
Primo
(withdrawing).
Balms, lusty bundles
That carry life.

Sabbataï.
I cannot use them—healing
Is with me; I am Health. And here is gold!

[He shivers before a great block of gold.
Rubio.

Master, they will think you drunk if you
stare so excessively.

Sabbataï.
More wine, good Rubio—
More wine! Remove that block. Idolaters,
That is the golden calf and it will crush you
To atoms if you fall and worship it.
Now for my gifts! Elias Zevi, you,
First of my brethren, I name King of Kings;
You, Joseph Zevi ... it has slipped my brain
What you inherit ...
[The Ambassadors are now deeply drinking.
King of Judah's King!
And Isaac Silvera ...
[Putting his hand to his brow.
Ah, now it is all plain; in thee
I find the Soul of David and thy Kingdom
Is therefore Persia. England I appoint
To thee, Mokiah Gaspar, for no reason
But that thou art an ass—inspired
By stubbornness to thwart men from their doom.
It must be that ... the rest is in a vision
Of eagles and their young.

Nathan.
He prophesies!
All ears! Attention! It is prophecy
When animals grow wings—Leviathan
Wrinkles the waves and the ox turns himself
Slowly as if revolving on a wheel.

[He strains to hear more.
Sabbataï.
To Chelibi,
My well-beloved King Joash, Egypt, Egypt,
With Nile in perpetuity. For Nathan
Red-sanded Barbary.

Nathan
(prostrating himself).
Malka Kadisha, hail,
Most holy King, Messiah!

Sabbataï.
Jeroboam—
There is no place; it is the Vizirs now;
Smaller they get and smaller, till the last
Is of no size at all; but every king
Shall have a Vizir.... You are all content?

Rubio.

I am not content, Master; I am your beggar
and you have given me nothing.

[Sabbataï rises from his throne, gapes and lays a hand on Rubio's shoulder.
Sabbataï.
For you the whole
Of Lebanon, this Smyrna ... Turkey. All
The earth I will apportion.... But the people!
They too must have a kingdom—Paradise,
The Heaven, my kingdom. Lo,
This fan ... I waft it! Moses—ah, no rod!
A miracle of laughter—
Pure laughter to you all, pure divination!
Touch it, my people—the least waft
Of its feathers on your cheek and ye are saved.
Saved! The long faces widen into smiles....
Grave Rabbis, ye shall leap. My kingdom
Is come when ye shall tuck the scrolls of Law
Under your arms and dance. The synagogues
Must skip as the little hills.
My fan, my fan!
Old men, this fairy touch
To thrill your wrinkles! Mothers, no more care;
Your sons are glorious, and I am your son—
To each of you Messiah. Virgins, Virgins,
The butterflies light thus! ... Saved, saved, Rebecca!
Hillel ... ha, ha! ... and Primo ...
[There is a solemn, smiling tumult as the people sway up to the fan tipped toward them. Meanwhile the kings have fallen into violent quarrelling; in their heat they strike and hustle each other. One precious jar of ointment is shattered. The Ambassadors anxiously collect their treasure, protecting their offerings with their arms. Weary at last, Sabbataï turns to his empty throne; the long fan droops restlessly as he stands on the steps, struck by the sight of Zarah.
My beloved,
My kingdom! You are speechless as a rose.
How I can deck you!
Your eyes are set as jewels on this fabric.
How I can deck you!
[He holds out his hands to the Ambassadors who fill them with necklets and amulets.
The mines are shaking to unearth their gems,
And Araby and India. I groan!
I am a god, and a god must not worship.
[He slowly decks Zarah with pearl-ropes and with earrings, sighing.
But yet this perfect stillness; as a star
Drops in the lake this pearl is on your bosom.
I am now as I rose up from the sea,
And had no voice.... Wondering, I reached my kingdom.
(Turning to the Ambassadors.)
This is my Bride. She is prepared, adorned.
It is to me as she came down from heaven,
It is to me a miracle. Behold her!
This is the very city of our God—
The secret that I whisper ... this is Zion.
(To Nathan and Primo.)
Softly ... bring hither my disciples.... Fair!
How fair—my dove of the rocks' clefts!
Secret to me ... but manifest to these.

[In the growing dusk the band of young disciples is faintly seen; recognisable, Sabbataï stands apart as before a vision.