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THE DOORKEEPER
[Pushing back the foremost among the mob] Away with you! The king's orders are that everyone shall have a loaf at daybreak. Then the storehouses are to be closed.
A VOICE
I got no loaf.
OTHER VOICES
Nor I, nor I.
A WOMAN
You could hardly see mine; and I have a child at the breast. Justice!
A SECOND
Mine was full of sand and gravel.
A THIRD
They are not the same loaves we used to get. We are being cheated.
Justice!
THE DOORKEEPER
Nahum treats you all alike. He is perfectly fair.
A VOICE
Where is he?
OTHER VOICES
Where is he? We want to see him.--Let him show himself.--We will talk to him.--He is a thief.--Where is he?
ANOTHER VOICE
[Shouting stridently] He sits at home and fattens up his own household.
They bake cake for themselves.
A SECOND VOICE
Yes, the rich have h.o.a.rded all they need.
VOICES
While we go hungry.--Bread for the poor.--Bread, bread.
THE STRIDENT VOICE
The king has golden dishes filled with dainties. In the palace they would rather throw their leavings to the dogs than feed our children.
A VOICE
I don't believe that.
OTHER VOICES
Yes.--Yes.--I have seen them do it.--My sister says they do.--Where is Nahum?--Give us bread.
[Gradually the voices fuse into a single shout for bread. The mob thronging the steps grows more threatening. Some of those in the front ranks are about to seize the doorkeeper, while others continue to beat on the closed door. The doorkeeper blows a trumpet]
ABIMELECH
[Hastening from the palace, attended by a number of soldiers] Away with you. Push them back. Down the steps. Clear the entrance to the palace.
[The soldiers use the hafts of their spears freely, and the mob yields ground, panicstricken]
VOICES
He struck me.--They are killing us.--Where is my child?--Help.--Help!
[The crowd forms again at the foot of the steps, and faces ABIMELECH angrily]
ABIMELECH
Are you all mad? The enemy is attacking us. Since dawn I have been on the ramparts to marshal the defence, and you meanwhile are raising a tumult at our backs. What would ye, rabble?
VOICES
Bread.--We are hungry.--Bread.--Our children have nothing to eat.
ABIMELECH
Everyone has had his loaf.
VOICES
Not I.--They left me out.--Not enough.
ABIMELECH
The town is besieged. You must make the most of what you have. We are at war.
VOICES
There is not enough bread.--We are hungry.
