Jeremiah Part 36

[Shrinking from their touch] Touch me not. Better, far better is darkness, for the hour is at hand in Israel when the living will envy the dead, and when those that wake will envy the sleepers. My heart yearns for silence; my soul is consumed with longing that I may become brother to the dead. Make way, I will bury myself, that I may deliver myself from the world, and Israel of my presence. [He folds his arms and moves towards the doorway. The others begin to follow him hesitatingly]

HANANIAH

[Bursting in on the silence with an exultant cry] Rejoice, Zion, for broken is the song of thy destruction, rent are the lips of thy slanderer. Rejoice, Zion, for eternal is thy springtime. Jerusalem endureth for ever!

[JEREMIAH turns fiercely, raising his arms as if about to rebuke HANANIAH. His eyes flash fire. Those at his heels draw back in alarm, as from a wild beast at bay. But JEREMIAH controls himself. His arms sink to his sides, and the fierce expression vanishes from his countenance.

With a last look at the dead form of his mother, he regains composure.

Covering his face, he walks forth alone, like one carrying a heavy burden. The rest follow in disorder. Last of all walks PASHUR, deep in thought. AHAB and JOCHEBED are left, looking at one another uneasily.

AHAB takes a linen sheet and spreads it reverently over the body]

VOICES IN THE NIGHT

SCENE SIX

Evening cometh and the shadows lengthen. JEREMIAH, VI, 4.

SCENE SIX

KING ZEDEKIAH'S bed-chamber, large and stately. It is dimly lighted, so that details are scarcely visible. What light there is comes from a lamp hanging in a golden bowl, and from the soft moonbeams which stream in through the cas.e.m.e.nt. This is widely open and commands a view of the town. In the foreground stands a large table surrounded by broad seats.

The curtained bed occupies the center of the background. ZEDEKIAH is standing motionless at the window, looking down on the moonlit city.

JOAB, a young spearman, enters, and stands respectfully waiting for the king to notice him. ZEDEKIAH pays no heed, but continues to gaze out of the window.

THE LAD

[After a pause ventures to speak] My Lord King! [ZEDEKIAH turns with a start] It is midnight, O King. This is the hour at which thou orderedst me to summon the council.

ZEDEKIAH

Are they all here?

THE LAD

All, at thy command.

ZEDEKIAH

Have they come unseen by the people and by the palace servants?

THE LAD

Unseen, Lord King. By secret ways I led them hither.

ZEDEKIAH

Where is the spy? Hast thou kept him apart?

THE LAD

He tarries with the doorkeepers.

ZEDEKIAH

Let him tarry. Summon the council.

[THE LAD bows, and disappears through the doorway]

ZEDEKIAH

[Strides to and fro, and then returns to the window. He soliloquizes]

Never have I seen the stars s.h.i.+ne so brightly. They stand confusedly in rows, like letters on the dark background of heaven, a writing which no man can read. In Babylon, they say, are interpreters and priests who serve the stars, conversing with them by night. Other kings can talk with their G.o.ds; they have shrines on their towers where they can learn the will of heaven when their hearts are troubled. Why have I no soothsayers who can tell the future? It is terrible to be the servant of a G.o.d who is always silent; whom no one has ever seen! [A pause while he contemplates the city] They are all asleep, those over whom I rule; they rest beside their wives or beside their weapons; in me is centered their need and their wakefulness. I must counsel others, but who shall counsel me? I must lead others, but who shall lead me? I am exalted over others, but over me is exalted one whom I cannot see. Below is sleep; above is silence.

[THE LAD draws aside the curtain; and the five councilors enter noiselessly. They are PASHUR, the high priest; HANANIAH, the prophet; IMRE, the oldest burgher; ABIMELECH, the general; NAHUM, the steward.

ZEDEKIAH turns to receive them. They bow]

ZEDEKIAH

I summoned you by night that our talk might be private. I demand from you a pledge of secrecy. Lay your hands within the priest's hands; he will answer for you to the Most High. [Silently they raise their hands in adjuration, and each in turn lays his hand in PASHUR'S] I swear by Almighty G.o.d that I will show no anger against any who opposes me. [He lays his hand in PASHUR'S] Now let us take counsel. [He waves them towards the table, and all take their seats] We are in the eleventh month of the siege. The vines are green once more. Nebuchadnezzar has been unable to take Jerusalem, but we on our part have not been able to force him to raise the siege. His sword against us beats the water, but so likewise does ours beat the water against him. We have left nothing undone that might bring aid. I have sent envoys to the king of the Medes; I have sent to the princes of the east, asking their help against Ashur. The missions were fruitless. We stand alone.

HANANIAH

[Fiercely] G.o.d is on our side.

[The others say nothing]

ZEDEKIAH

[Quietly] G.o.d is on our side. He has set up his tabernacle upon this hill, and my own roof stands in the shadow of his holy house. But G.o.d sends trials upon his own people. Those who swore faith to us, betrayed us; the Egyptians abandoned us; we are alone. Let us take counsel together, how to fight out our quarrel with Nebuchadnezzar, or whether we can find a means to end it.

HANANIAH

Let us pray to G.o.d for a miracle. Let our hearts overflow with prayer, our altars smoke with sacrifices. What we have done once hitherto, let us now do twice over.

NAHUM

There is nothing left to sacrifice, neither bulls nor rams.

HANANIAH

It is false. I have heard the lowing of the cattle which you refuse to deliver up to the sacrifice.