John the Baptist: A Play
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John the Baptist - Hermann Sudermann
Hermann Sudermann
John the Baptist
A Play
Published by Good Press, 2022
goodpress@okpublishing.info
EAN 4064066142926
Table of Contents
TRANSLATED BY BEATRICE MARSHALL
PRELUDE
PRELUDE
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
FIRST ACT
FIRST ACT
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
SCENE V
SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SCENE VII
SCENE VIII
SCENE IX
SCENE X
SCENE XII
SECOND ACT
SECOND ACT
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
SCENE V
SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SCENE VIII
SCENE IX
SCENE X
THIRD ACT
THIRD ACT
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
SCENE V
SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SCENE VIII
CHANGE OF SCENE
SCENE X
SCENE XI
SCENE XII
SCENE XIII
SCENE XIV
SCENE XV
FOURTH ACT
FOURTH ACT
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
SCENE V
SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SCENE VIII
FIFTH ACT
FIFTH ACT
SCENE I
SCENE II
SCENE III
SCENE IV
SCENE V
SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SCENE VIII
SCENE IX
SCENE X
SCENE XI
FINIS
TRANSLATED BY
BEATRICE MARSHALL
Table of Contents
LONDON
JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD VIGO STREET W.
NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY MCMIX
WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PRINTERS, PLYMOUTH
Time of Action. The Year 29 after Christ.
Scene of Action. During the Prelude a rocky wilderness near Jerusalem.
In the First, Second, and Third Acts. Jerusalem.
In the Fourth and Fifth Acts. A town of Galilee.
PRELUDE
Table of Contents
PRELUDE
Table of Contents
Wild, rocky scenery in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem.... Night--The moon shining dimly through jagged clouds.... In the distance is seen the fire of the great sacrificial altar, burning on the horizon.
SCENE I
Table of Contents
Dark shadows flit in groups across the background from right to left.
MIRIAM
Hadidja, I am afraid!
HADIDJA
Come!
MIRIAM
I am afraid. Seest thou not those gliding shadows? Their feet scarce touch the stones, and their flesh is like the shadow of the night-wind.
HADIDJA
Fool that thou art! Thou art afraid of thy companions in misery and suffering. The same need as thine brings them hither; the same hope leads them on to the heights.
MIRIAM
Do they also wish to go to him?
HADIDJA
Every one wishes to go to him. Is there a light in Israel which doth not irradiate from his hand? Is there water for the thirsty which doth not flow from him? Streams of sweet water gush forth from these dead stones, and his voice is born out of silence.
MIRIAM
But I am afraid of him. Why dwelleth he among the terrors of the desert? Why flieth he from the paths of the joyous, and shunneth the suffering?
HADIDJA
The joyous need him not. The suffering will find their way to him.
MIRIAM
Look, Hadidja! There is the glow of fire yonder above Jerusalem. The Romans are burning down our houses, and yet we tarry here!
HADIDJA
What! Dost thou not know that is the great altar on which, day and night, the priests offer up a tenth part of the sweat of our brows?
MIRIAM
[In horrified amazement.] And would he let the great altar fall too?
HADIDJA
I know not. But what he willeth is best. See--who is coming?
SCENE II
Table of Contents
The same; two men, half carrying, half dragging a paralytic who moans.
FIRST MAN
Women, say, have ye met the great Rabbi whom men call the Baptist?
HADIDJA
We also are seeking the Baptist.
[The Paralytic, moaning.] Put me down; let me die!
FIRST MAN
We have carried this palsied man here in our arms, and they are weary, and he whom we hoped to find is not here.
THE PARALYTIC
[With a groan.] I shall die!
MANASSA'S VOICE
[Crying aloud from the right.] John! John!
MANASSA
[Rushing on the scene.] John, where art thou, John? I cry unto thee in my distress. Have mercy; let me behold thee, John!
MIRIAM
[Pointing to the left.] Look! A crowd of people are drawing near. They go before him.
HADIDJA
Kneel; for it is he.
SCENE III
Table of Contents
The same. John, behind him a number of men and women, among them Amarja.
JOHN
Whose wretchedness is so great that he wails aloud, and forgets that grief should be silent?
MANASSA
[Kneeling before him.] Rabbi, mighty Rabbi. If thou art he of whom men are talking in the streets of Jerusalem, help me, save me!
JOHN
Stand up and speak.
MANASSA
I am Manassa, the son of Jeruel, and my father was sick and blind; and I lived with him on the road to Gibeon, close by the well which is never dry. And men came unto me who said, It is the will of the Lord our God that ye refuse to pay tribute to the Romans,
and I refused to pay the Romans tribute. Then have the soldiers fallen on me and burned my house, and my young wife hath perished in the flames, and my father, who was blind. And I am now left alone and desolate. Help me, Rabbi! Help!
JOHN
Am I lord over Life and Death that I can make thy father, wife, and child alive again? Can I build up thy house once more out of its ashes? What dost thou ask of me?
MANASSA
Then cursed be those who----
JOHN
Stop! Cursings enough hang over us. Israel is loaded with them, like the autumn boughs with ripe grapes. Wherefore dost thou lament? Look before, instead of behind. If thou canst not withhold thy lamentations, put a gag between thy teeth; for prayer should be silent, and longing and patience without sound.
MANASSA
How shall that help me, Rabbi, in my loneliness and desolation?
JOHN
Thou speakest sinfully. Is He not with thee?
MANASSA
Rabbi! Who?
AMARJA
Hearken! He hath not heard the news of Him Who cometh!
JOHN
Know'st thou not that soon there will be rejoicing in Israel? Bridal garments and music of cymbals! Know'st thou not that there will be no more sorrow in Israel? Therefore wipe the foam from thy lips and sanctify thyself.
ALL
Sanctify thyself!
MANASSA
No more sorrow. No more suffering! Rabbi, say that I may stay with thee?
JOHN
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