Jeremiah Part 17

He still doubts! Weep, prophet, weep!

SECOND SPEAKER

I will cry it aloud in your ears; dead is Nebuchadnezzar; overthrown are his chariots; scattered are his armies. Israel is saved.

JEREMIAH

[Remains motionless for a moment. Then he spreads his arms wide, drawing a deep breath of joyful relief. Dropping his arms, he speaks fast and almost exultantly] Blessed be G.o.d. I thank thee, all-good, that thou hast brought my dreams to shame, that thou hast saved Jerusalem. Better, a.s.suredly that I should be fooled by my illusions than that the city should be laid waste by the foe. Blessings upon G.o.d's name.

FIRST SPEAKER

Yea, all-knower, G.o.d is more merciful than you; he loves us and gladdens our hearts.

SECOND SPEAKER

What will your next revelation be? Into which corner will you creep, mole? Whom will you now lead astray?

THIRD SPEAKER

Whom will you now deceive, deceiver?

A FOURTH SPEAKER

[With feigned anger, to the others] How irreverently you speak to the messenger of the Lord! Let us kiss the hem of his garment; let us pay honor to his visions!

VOICES

[Mingled with laughter] Prophesy to us Elijah.--Instruct us further, all-knower.--Happy the man who puts his trust in Jeremiah.--Where did you pick up that fledgling that chirps at your heels?--Prophesy, Jeremiah; prophesy disaster; mountains of disaster.

JEREMIAH

[Suddenly breaking forth into speech] A miracle has happened, people of Jerusalem, a miracle which delivers you from death, and instead of trembling with fear, you make merry. Hardly an hour ago, you were racked with anxiety; your hearts are still quaking, and yet you are already beginning to give tongue. Woe unto you, that your first cry, when the cord is loosed from your necks, should be one of folly and presumption.

BARUCH

Speak not with them. Folly alone holds converse with fools.

SECOND SPEAKER

Stop your ears as you may, I will cry aloud in my joy: "The victory is ours, the victory is ours!"

JEREMIAH

[Addressing one of them] Where have you conquered? Whom have you defeated, that you should strut in the marketplace? There is no blood on your sword. [To another] Show the scar of the wound you received at the battle front! You have all been about your business in the city, have all lain in safety beside your wives at night. What have you and such as you to do with the victory of the Egyptians, with the deeds of foreign fighters? Bow your knees humbly, for the victory is not your work.

VOICES

Egypt's victory is Israel's victory.--We are Israel.--His very rage shows that the victory is ours.

JEREMIAH

But it is not yours, nor yours, nor yours, you who now swell with pride, battening on the deeds of others. The soldiers have won the victory, not you! Meekly went they forth, to deal death and to suffer it; their backs were bent beneath the weight of their weapons; the shadow of death fell across their path, and all but the strongest fainted by the way. Where they ploughed with naked limbs, you would fain harvest pride. Abandoned wretches, you crave to quench your thirst with their blood. Alas that they have conquered for you and your hateful arrogance!

VOICES

Alas that they have conquered, did you hear him? Let us rend our garments, for that we have conquered. Let us strew ashes on our heads, for that Nebuchadnezzar is slain.

JEREMIAH

[His wrath blazing up] Verily, O people, to be among you is to dwell among scorpions; but I say unto you that your laughter shall wither more quickly than the blossoms of the vine. G.o.d has been gracious to you.

Again has he saved Jerusalem; yet not for your laughter, but for the sake of those who are humble in spirit. You will not acknowledge him in his gentleness, men of evil. So be it; ere long shall you acknowledge him in his wrath. Like a curtain shall he rend your laughter asunder, and in your terror your eyes shall become fixed like stones. Your joy then must you put behind you, Jerusalem, for the hour of retribution is at hand, and terrible is the doom that awaits you.

VOICES

The walls shall crumble.--The virgins shall weep.--We have heard it all before.--Zion shall perish.--Jeremiah, Jeremiah, you alone are wise among fools.--To him our rejoicing is bitter as gall.--Do you hear the cracking of the walls?

JEREMIAH

Do you scorn the messenger of doom? But the avenger is at hand, who shall purge you of your accursed pride; drawn is the sword which shall hew away your presumption; the bearer of evil tidings is afoot; he is running, he is running; his swift footsteps lead towards Jerusalem.

Already he is at hand, the messenger of fear, the messenger of terror; his words will fall on you like the blows of a hammer; even now he is entering the gate.

VOICES

Go home, Jeremiah.--Sate yourself with your own venom, and do not vomit it forth upon our joy.

A VOICE

[In the background] A messenger! He is coming from Moria gate.

THE CROWD

[Again rus.h.i.+ng in the direction of the voice] A messenger? Where is he?

He brings further news of the victory.

JEREMIAH

[Trembling with fear] The messenger! The messenger!

A VOICE

He runs. .h.i.therward from the gate, and he reels like a drunken man from weariness.

VOICES

Where is he?--Here he comes. [MESSENGER enters. The crowd surrounds him as he tries to hasten to the palace and sinks to the ground exhausted]

Hail you who bring tidings of victory.--Hail.--Tell us your news.

THE MESSENGER