Jeremiah Part 57

Touch him not. He is my brother. I bore him hither from the walls. [She kneels beside him] Dear, I implore you to stifle your cries. I will fetch you some water. Take my kerchief and m.u.f.fle your mouth in it.

[The wounded man does so. His cries fall to a whisper. The others, most of whom have stood up in their excitement, settle down again]

A VOICE

Go on reading, Pinchas. G.o.d's word consoles us.

ANOTHER VOICE

Go on reading about the promise.

OTHER VOICES

Yes, read us about the Messiah; about the rod that shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse.--Read about the saviour.--Our hearts are thirsting after the dew of the word.

[THE ELDER takes up the roll once more, and is about to resume his reading, when there comes a knocking. All start]

A WOMAN

[Alarmed] Someone knocks!

THE OTHERS

They are there!--They have tracked us.

A MAN

It is not on the outer door, but from the secret entrance, which is known to our own folk alone. Open!

THE WOMEN

No! No, there are traitors among us. Let be!

THE ELDER

Silence! [He cautiously approaches a door hidden among b.u.t.tresses] Who is there?

VOICE

[From without] Zephaniah!

THE ELDER

It is Zephaniah, my son-in-law, whom we sent forth for news.

[He draws back the bolt, and a man enters, helmeted and garbed like a Chaldean. All rush towards him, JEREMIAH alone remaining motionless]

VOICES

What has happened?--Have you seen Neter, my son? Tebiah, my wife?--Have they burned down my house?--Where is the king?--What has happened to the temple? Do you know anything about my husband, Ishmael?--What is happening outside?

THE ELDER

Be silent all. Let Zephaniah speak, for he has seen the daylight and the city.

ZEPHANIAH

Better to sit in darkness than to see what I have seen; better still to weep oneself blind; even better were it to sleep among the roots of the trees and in the bowels of the earth. David's city has become a city of the dead; the citadel of Solomon is utterly destroyed.

ALL

Alas, alas, for Jerusalem.

ZEPHANIAH

The corpses of our brothers lie like dung in the streets. The Chaldeans are stripping the bodies of the slain; they have rifled the tombs of the kings of Judah; and for the purple vesture of Solomon they have cast lots; they have seized the bread from the holy table; and they have stolen the golden candlesticks from the walls.

THE ELDER

[Rending his garments] I can live no longer! Could I but tear my bowels as I tear my raiment.

VOICES

Where is the power of G.o.d?--The covenant.--The promise.--Where are our leaders?--Jerusalem is lost.--My husband?--Whom have you seen?--What has become of Nahum?--What has become of ...

ZEPHANIAH

For many do you ask, and I can give but one answer for them all. Of the n.o.bles of Judah, not one now looketh on the light of day.

VOICES

All slain? All?--Impossible!--Aboda.s.sar?--Jehoiachin?--Heda.s.sar?--Imre?

--Nahum?

ZEPHANIAH

Ask me no more. Their troubles are over, and they are with G.o.d.

VOICES

Nahum too?--The king's sons?--My brother-in-law Absalom?

ZEPHANIAH

None are left alive. Those who fell not at the wall were slain afterwards by Nebuchadnezzar's officers. Zedekiah alone remains.

VOICES