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    John the Baptist: A Play
    John the Baptist: A Play
    John the Baptist: A Play
    Ebook244 pages1 hour

    John the Baptist: A Play

    By Beatrice Marshall and Hermann Sudermann

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateNov 26, 2013
    John the Baptist: A Play

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      Book preview

      John the Baptist - Beatrice Marshall

      The Project Gutenberg EBook of John the Baptist: A Play, by Hermann Sudermann

      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

      almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or

      re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

      with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

      Title: John the Baptist: A Play

      Author: Hermann Sudermann

      Translator: Beatrice Marshall

      Release Date: November 20, 2010 [EBook #34383]

      Language: English

      *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN THE BAPTIST: A PLAY ***

      Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive

      Transcriber's Note: Page Scan Source:

      http://www.archive.org/details/johnbaptistplay00suderich

      JOHN THE BAPTIST

      JOHN THE BAPTIST

      A PLAY

      BY HERMANN SUDERMANN

      TRANSLATED BY

      BEATRICE MARSHALL

      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

      PRELUDE

      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

      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

      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

      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

      Mix with thy fellows over there and learn silence.

      MANASSA

      [Stammering.] Rabbi! [He withdraws.]

      JOHN

      I see not Josaphat among ye. Neither is Matthias here. Who hath tidings of them?

      AMARJA

      Rabbi, none hath seen them.

      JOHN

      Who is that lying on the ground groaning?

      THE PARALYTIC

      Master, I am a poor man, sick of a palsy and in great agony. If Thou canst not cure me, I must die!

      JOHN

      Die now! Now, when One is at hand Who bringeth relief for thy tumours and balm for thy sores? 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.]

      MURMUR OF PEOPLE

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