Hermann Sudermann

“ Thus have rebels ever spoken, and the end hath always been the cross and the gallows. Thou, whom men call the great prophet, listen to me! When the Lord redeemed His people the first time, how did He do it? Through the law. And when He redeemed them a second time, knowest thou how He did it? Through the law. So if we guard and watch this law, and let it expand by itself, swelling like an ear of corn, a thousand times into a thousandfold blessings, what is our object? Redemption, the hope which lives in all of us. Only we do not noise it abroad in the gutter and on the housetops. ”

“ Even before this booty was thine, thou hast betrayed it?
HERODIAS
I fancied that I heard thee crying out just now for a sword. [Smiling.] When thou art king, thou wilt, of course, kill all whom thou hast promised not to be king! That is the same thing as if thou hadst never promised it.
HEROD
[Staring at her.] Woman!
HERODIAS
Believest thou still that I hurried here only for the sake of a kiss?
HEROD
I shudder at thee. But even if the priests be won over, there remains the people, the hydra-headed; thou knowest not the people. ”

“ HEROD
To whom hast thou sent these messengers?... Thou art silent.... As I said before. I am from my heart sorry. So much might have been made of thee.... Still ... [He shrugs his shoulders.]
JOHN
[Holding out his arms distressed.] I beseech thee, Sire!
VITELLIUS
Did not I tell you? All kinds of people struggle to live, only the Roman understands how to die.
HEROD
Thou must ask the maiden, Baptist. Know that in her hands rests what chance thou hast of the thing called life.
SALOME
Master, now see'st thou how powerful I am? Now ask me! Ask me! ”

“ Thou shouldst strengthen weak knees and mould trembling hands to the sword's hilt. Thy work was wrath, Rabbi, but thou hast made of it a sophistry and a weakness.
JOHN
Thou art not to know what my work was. Had I known myself, I should not be here. Truly the time of my fall is come, when enemies sing my praises and friends speak ill of me. What would ye have me do? My end must be in solitude and silence.
JOSAPHAT
Thy end, Rabbi, is no concern of ours. It is for Israel's end that I fear. Thou tookest the law from us. What hast thou given us instead? ”

“ Marcellus (and other Romans of the Legate and suite) , Merokles, Gabalos, Jabad.
HEROD
Welcome to my table, exalted Vitellius, who bringest on the soles of thy feet the sacred soil of Rome into my poor dwelling. Welcome to you also, ye who follow him, according to Rome's command. She, our august mother, but ordereth what my soul desireth.
VITELLIUS
Thou hast my thanks, excellent prince.
HEROD
Repose now at thy pleasure, exalted one. [They lie on the couches.]
GABALOS
[Low.] Say, my brave Marcellus, how dost thou like this Jewish ear-wig?
MARCELLUS
It doth not find its way to our ears. ”

“ AMARJA
Nothing, Rabbi.
JOHN
The womb of my soul is opened. I am ready for the blessing from on high. Is there not a whispering, roundabout? Heard ye nothing?
MANASSA
Nothing, Rabbi.
JOHN
There is a light shining over yonder mountains. Lovely is that light, and within me dawns the meaning of a contradiction. Who alone can deliver the world? To obtain it as a gift is to stretch forth your hands for the unobtainable.... We are in Galilee, know ye, where He now teacheth, this Jesus of Nazareth! ”

“ Rabbi, wilt thou not bless us?
AMASAI
Yea, we, in short, who are a piece of the law ourselves. And we have never done this man any harm. If he is an enemy to us, it must be because he is an enemy to the law.
JOHN
Thou liest.
AMASAI
Good. If I lie, so teach me, great prophet, how thou keepest the law.
JOSAPHAT
[In a low voice.] Yes, Rabbi, explain! The people expect it.
JOHN
I have nothing to do with the law, of which ye and your like set up to be guardians and students. [Sensation among the people.]
JOSAPHAT
[Sotto voce.] Rabbi, think what thou art saying. Injure not thyself. ”

“ Tell me, how should one address thee when one would show thee respect? Thou thinkest that I mock thee? But knowest thou that in reality I am indebted to thee? The people's meditated attack was not hidden from me, and yet I came without the escort of warriors which Rome sent for my protection. Thou heldest me in the hollow of thy hand, as thou heldest the stone. Say, why didst thou let it fall? Why hast thou spared me?
JOHN
Sire, even if I spoke thou wouldst not understand me.
HEROD
That is defiance, which I cannot praise. In chains it is easy to be defiant. Take off his chains and go. ”

“ What is the man who smiles amiably in wrath? A coward?... What is the man, who has two faces? Insincere?... Who fawns on those in power. Servile? No; because the great Herod also did these things. But sometimes, when the blood throbbed to bursting in his veins, he snatched his sword from the sheath and slashed at friend and enemy alike who stood in his way ... till the blood of his victim washed him calm and cool again ... till the mighty at Rome experienced a thrill at such a display of strength.... ”

“ AMARJA
He hears thee not.
JOSAPHAT.
He is thinking of the Galilean.
JOHN
I heard some one here speak of sin. Know ye in what raiment sin clothes itself gorgeously when it goeth abroad among the people? Say courtliness, say hate, say what ye will, and I shall laugh at you. Hear, and mark well. They call it love. Everything that is small, and stoops because it is small, that throws crumbs from its table in order not to throw bread; that covers up graves that they may stink secretly; that hews off the thumb of the left hand that it may have nothing to say to the thumb of the right; take care ”

“ I am a poor man. Rome--who gave Herod's son, as if in mockery, the name of Herod--Rome has not left him much of his father's heritage. Yet enough is still his wherewith to thank thee. Speak, what wilt thou have? And by that God and Lord before whom we kneel in the dust, barefoot, at Jerusalem, I swear it shall be thine. ”

“ The stage has become half-filled with people, who gesticulate in excitement, looking up at Herod's Palace. Among them Hachmoni; later, the soldiers.
ELIAKIM
What is going on there? Hachmoni, thou shalt speak. What ails the people?
HACHMONI
Hast thou not heard? John is in the town!
ELIAKIM
There are many Johns.
HACHMONI
The Baptist, man!
ELIAKIM
The Baptist; enemy of the Priests and of the Pharisees; to whom every Rechabite hath sworn death. Is he caught at last?
HACHMONI
Thou speakest like one in his sleep! If there is a man in Jerusalem safe and untouched by the curse of the Romans, it is he. ”

“ But I say unto thee, Sire, thou wilt not laugh. He Who cometh requireth me not. That is why He cast me down.... Gaze into His eyes when He comes, and thou wilt not laugh, even at me.
HEROD
It seems to me thy reasoning is poor, and revolves in a circle.... And yet there is something that attracts me to thee. Baptist, thou hast so long been my enemy, couldst thou not possibly be my friend?
JOHN
Sire, meseemeth that to be nobody's enemy and nobody's friend is the right of the lonely. It is their all. Let me keep it. ”

“ That thou hast yet to prove, great prophet.
JOHN
Who are ye, ye men of worldly wisdom, that ye should look on the law as your special inheritance and possession? Here is an enslaved people crawling patiently on its belly beneath a scourge, oppressed by a heavy burden, and ye desire to tell it how it shall crawl. ”

“ Pardon us, great Prophet, that we have not yet been present at thy baptisms.
JOHN
Who are ye?
JOSAPHAT
[Whispering.] Be on your guard, Rabbi. They wear the wide hem of the Pharisees. Their brethren are high in the Council.
AMASAI
We are diligent scribes, simple men, to whom the study of the law hath brought more honour than we deserve.
JOHN
May be. But what do ye want with me?
AMASAI
Many reports of miracles worked by thee have come to our ears. Some say thou art Elias; and others, even greater than he. We are willing to believe this, even if thou performest not his miracles. ”

“ The shepherd may drive his flock through thorns or flowers. I pine for the wilderness, for my rocky fastnesses.
JOSAPHAT
[Dismayed.] Rabbi!
JOHN
I have awakened the slumbering conscience, scourged and roused the idle, shown the erring the right road. One great burst of indignation against Herod now flames towards heaven. So now they may let me go my way, or send their spies after me. But no priest has yet dared to stand in my path. It is well. My work in Jerusalem is at an end.
MATTHIAS
Not so, Rabbi. Thy work only beginneth. We have to face the Prince's entry. The people want a leader. ”

“ Thou art Captain in the Palace?
THE PALACE CAPTAIN
[Bows.]
HERODIAS
Go, set watches at every door. Who entereth goeth not out again.... And keep silent.
THE PALACE CAPTAIN
One has but to see thee to know that thou art the mistress.... How should I not be silent? [Goes to the door.]
SCENE IV The same. Herod, Gabalos, Merokles, Jabad. The Palace Captain [exit when the others enter] .
HEROD
Princess, after waiting even the space of a moment, a man will enjoy his favours to the full.... Therefore ... [Kisses her on brow and mouth.] Pardon!
HERODIAS
Thou hast rested; art refreshed? ”

“ JOHN
[Eagerly.] Who is it, of whom thou speakest?
HEROD
Master, I do not know. Thou seest thus that I too have a burden of secret anxiety oppressing me, and await the sunrise.... But let me speak with thee seriously, Baptist. Thou hurlest thy arrows of reproach at me on account of the woman I stole.... I could almost pity thee for that. Thou, a great man, mightst have chosen a greater subject than a woman. And knowest thou every day she sharpens those arrows herself for me?... But enough of that. The smiths say that good metal rings true even when it is cracked, and thou ringest true. ”

“ We approached thee as petitioners, and thou hast abused us. We will let that pass, presuming that thou hast a right thereto. The one of whom thou speakest as coming after thee has given thee the right. Is it not so? [Silence.] Behold, ye people of Israel, your prophet is silent. If it be not the Messiah, the Messiah of Whom he preaches in the wilderness, and even in the market-place, who hath given him the right to chide us? Where else hath he obtained his authority? Ye know what we are, God-fearing, upright men, that strive to obey the law in everything. ”

“ Princess, if ever thou comest through again, be sure to laugh, as to-day. For this gate is full of danger for Herod's children.
SALOME
What does it do to Herod's children, thy gate?
GAOLER
The two sons of Herod the Great came through this gate before they were sentenced, and through this gate----
MAECHA
Stop!...
SALOME
Let him alone, Maecha! His wisdom has taken a holiday. Hast thou no livelier stories, old man?
GAOLER
What sort dost thou mean, young Princess?
SALOME
Stories of yesterday. Stories that have not yet come to an end--stories that are as young [stretches herself] as we are. ”

“ Noble Merokles will declaim a new ode, I warrant. Our Libyan flute-players will have washed their brown legs in honour of the occasion. Sire, mistrust those legs even when washed. As I tell thee every day, we are sick of Judean morality. Judean morality is devouring us like the plague.
HEROD
Say, Gabalos, dost thou think that our Legate from Syria, before whom all the gaiety and colour of life doth shimmer, hath ever seen a young daughter of Princes dance at table? ”

“ Art thou going on the first day of the Passover to the Temple, at the Tetrarch's side?
HERODIAS
[Mastering her scorn with difficulty.] I perceive, thou great prophet, that thy wrath strains on its chain.... Before thou lettest it loose, permit me also to ask a question; for see, I am endeavouring to approach thee, and would gladly win thee. Wert thou not a riddle to me, I should not ask it. Yet truly no man is so curiously fashioned as not to cherish secret wishes in his heart. Every one hath said to himself: "This were my delight, and that my desire."
JOHN
I understand thee not. ”

“ Therefore she will let the budding bosom, from which the veil has never yet fallen, be exposed to thine and thy guests' lustful gaze. And for this sacrifice of unspeakable bitterness I ask nothing, for I am without wishes. One who can still hope shall ask. Salome shall ask.
HEROD
Salome ... I would rather it were so.
HERODIAS
And thou wilt grant what she asks?
HEROD
I know not. I will see. I will let myself be driven. For in combat with the strong that is the last resource of the weak. But take care whither thou drivest me.... Mistress! ”

“ I say unto Thee thou wilt thank the Lord thy God with shouts of joy for every hour of thy pain, for every inch of the road thou hast crawled along on inflamed knees, when thou beholdest Him for Whom our soul longeth and hopeth, for Whose coming we wait and watch by the roadside, looking towards the East. Therefore endure sevenfold suffering and groan no more.
THE PARALYTIC
Rabbi, thou hast done wonders for me. I feel no longer--I---- [He makes an effort to rise, but sinks back. His companions lead him away. He breathes more easily, laughing as he goes.] ”

“ Bring more flowers, and thy harp. Stay, Maecha, or I shall be afraid. [Exeunt the maids, except Maecha.] Thou fair savage, out of the wilderness of Judah! The fire of hate that flashes from thy eye shall not devour me! I will kindle another fire in it, lovely and languid like my dreams, when at night the perfume of the narcissi is wafted to my pillow. [The maids come back.] Give them here.... Roses ... two arms' full. [Hides her face in the flowers.] Now if I had narcissi, too! Nay, but tarry and sing the song which I taught you yesterday, the song which the dancers sang at Antioch. ”