Jeremiah Part 64

Your words have brought me new courage, Jeremiah.

JEREMIAH

[Paying no heed, but gradually awakening from his trance and looking round with alarm] Where are they to whom I spake? Surely I talked with messengers from King Nebuchadnezzar? Have I been dreaming? Methought there were three men, richly appareled.

THE ELDER

They fled before the lightnings of your glance.

ANOTHER

Your anger smote them like a sword.

JEREMIAH

[Still confused] What did I say? My mind is dark, and yet I seem to recall something. What did I say? Why do you all look at me yearningly?

Why do you crowd round me? You looked at me with horror in your faces, but now ... What has happened to me, and what has happened to you?

THE ELDER

Man of G.o.d, man into whose heart the fire of G.o.d has pa.s.sed, this light streams from you. Mightily have you prophesied to us.

A MAN

You have freed my soul from its anguish.

A WOMAN

You have feasted my heart on manna.

THE WOUNDED MAN

Look at me. I can get up. I can walk. The pain has gone. Your words have called me back from death.

VOICES

A miracle.--A miracle like those of Elijah.--Raising from the dead.--Let us bow before G.o.d's messenger.--A miracle.--A miracle.

JEREMIAH

[Gently] Nay, brothers, shame me not by your praises. I have no part in what has befallen. A miracle has there doubtless been, but it has been wrought on me, not by me. I cursed G.o.d, and he has blessed me; I fled from him, and he has found me. None can escape his love, nor can anyone overcome his power. He has vanquished me, my brothers; and nothing is sweeter than to be vanquished by G.o.d.

THE ELDER

[Ecstatically] Jeremiah, Jeremiah, may G.o.d do by all of us even as he has done by you.

JEREMIAH

Alas, that I knew not the Lord till so late! Alas, that I found you so late, my brothers! Dark lies the city, and dark our fate; but wonderful is life, holy the world wherein we dwell. O earth which I have despised, be gentle to me as I kneel; G.o.d, whom but now I renounced, be gracious to my prayer! [He kneels]

I thank thee, O Lord, for thy gentleness toward me, When I, froward and fierce, did thy service abjure.

For that thou whom I cursed didst with blessings reward me, My heart will be grateful while life doth endure.

In life I will praise thee, in death I will praise.

With the bread of thy word thou dost nourish my days.

Let me bless thee for filling my soul with thy breath, With that spirit of love which is stronger than death.

Let me bless thee for this, that harshly thou dravest Me forth from thy face; that sorrow thou gavest To me and to others. Nay, sorrow I bless, For when men keep aloof, lo, the touch of distress Makes them know they are kin. But the sorrows G.o.d sendeth Are the firstfruits of storm, which in suns.h.i.+ne oft endeth.

I bless thee then, G.o.d, on life's journey the guide, Whom all seek to escape, but from whom none can hide, For the lowliest ever thy grace can best win, And the sinner thy love, yea, because of his sin!

Blessed the man who can lose self in G.o.d!

Blessed the man who is chosen of G.o.d!

Blessed the heaven, in music ensphered, Blessed the world, as thy mirror endeared!

Blest the stars which s.h.i.+ne peacefully, far above strife, Blest the quiet of death--blest the turmoil of life!

BARUCH

[Throwing himself on his knees before JEREMIAH] Jeremiah, my master, Jeremiah! Let not thy word s.h.i.+ne upon us alone. Many are waiting in the marketplace, their souls full of fear. Give courage to the despairing.

Fill the thirsty with the waters of life.

THE ELDER

Yea, strengthen the knees of the tottering. Console the afflicted!

VOICES

Go forth to our brothers.--To them, as to us, bring solace.--Give them the message.--The promise.

JEREMIAH

[Rising] So be it, brothers, lead me to them. I have been comforted of G.o.d, and now will I comfort others. Let us go forth, that we may build again the temple in the hearts of the hopeless, may build there the everlasting Jerusalem. [He strides out through the door]

THE OTHERS

[Surrounding him, some leading the way, while all the voices mingle in exaltation] Jerusalem.--Jerusalem the undying.--Prophesy!--On, G.o.d's master-builder.--Jerusalem endureth for ever!

THE EVERLASTING ROAD

SCENE NINE

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity. JEREMIAH XXIX, 11-14.

SCENE NINE