Jeremiah Part 7

VOICES

War.--He decides for war.--War.

ABIMELECH

Whom has he summoned?

THE MESSENGER

Imre, the oldest burgher; Nahum, the steward. To you also the summons goes forth.

ABIMELECH

Waverers and wiseacres are to be my fellow councilors; men who weigh their words overmuch and shrink from deeds. But I have my sword with me, and I will cast it from me if I may not draw it against Ashur. Yours is the hour, people of Jerusalem; I fight in your behalf.

THE CROWD

Hail Abimelech.--Hail Abimelech, hail soldier of G.o.d.--Hail!

[ABIMELECH hastens into the palace]

BARUCH

Follow him, follow him! The king shall hear our voices. Let us thunder our will beneath the windows of his palace.

ZEBULON

I shall disown you if you do not hold your peace. The king has summoned a council, and there must be no clamor to disturb its deliberations.

BARUCH

He shall not deliberate. Let him decide! Let him decide for war! We are all for war.

VOICES

Yes, all of us.--All of us.--Shout that the king may hear us.

A VOICE

Nay, I am not for war, I am not for war.

VOICES

Silence.--Traitor.--Another spy.--Who are you?--Down with him.--Who are you?

THE SPEAKER

I am a peasant, and in peace only will my land bear fruit. War comes trampling across my fields. No war for me, I am against it.

BARUCH

[Savagely] Shame upon you! May you rot amid your fields and be choked with your fruits! Cursed be he whose courage is measured by his gains, and cursed be he who values his own pitiful life more than the welfare of his country! Israel is our land for tillage. We will manure it with our blood. Are we not happy, brothers, to die for the one G.o.d?

THE PEASANT

Die, then, and let me live. I love the land. This, too, is G.o.d's, and he has given it to me for my own.

BARUCH

Nothing is given to us for our own. We hold everything in trust from the living G.o.d, and must restore everything when the call comes. Now has the call sounded; let us hearken to it gladly. The signs are fulfilled.

Where are they who should reveal his words? Where are they who disclose his spirit, who can spur on the slothful and make the deaf hear? Where are the priests, and where the prophets? Why are their voices silent at this hour in Jerusalem?

VOICES

Yes.--The prophets.--Where are the priests?

BARUCH

To the temple! Nothing must be done without G.o.d's word! Let the men of G.o.d decide.

VOICES

Yes, where are our shepherds? In them is the truth.--Hananiah--Pashur-- where are they? Open the temple.--Open the gates.--Hananiah.--Pashur.

[Some of the crowd race up the steps and knock upon the brazen gates.

The gates open and HANANIAH appears. He is received with fierce acclamations]

BARUCH

Hananiah, messenger of G.o.d, the people thirst for your speech. Let your words pour forth to kindle our hearts, to make fruitful our wrath, and to direct our aim. The fate of Jerusalem is in your hands.

THE CROWD

Pour forth G.o.d's word over us.--Reveal the promise.--Say, shall we fight?--Let us know G.o.d's will.--Teach the people, messenger of the Lord, teach the king.--Give utterance to the promise.--Look upon our weakness.--Awaken our courage.

HANANIAH

[Standing before the threshold of the temple, speaks with strong emotion] Blessed your questions, blessed your voices, blessed are you, people of Jerusalem, who at length hearken to the cry. For sleep had fallen upon you, Jerusalem; you had been pa.s.sive in the chains of slavery. The nations have been marching over you as over a drunken man; they have been spitting upon your garments; they have mocked your nakedness. But a call has summoned the sleepers; a message has roused the dreamers; and I will testify to you, now that G.o.d has awakened you.

THE CROWD

[Breaking into fanatical cries] Listen to him!--We are awakened!--It is true that we have been sleeping.--Tell us, master, is it time?--Say, has the hour struck?

HANANIAH

How long will you refrain from deeds, now that G.o.d hath awakened you?

How long will you remain pa.s.sive, now that the Lord hath summoned you?

G.o.d is athirst, for his pitchers are empty; G.o.d is anhungered, for his altars are broken; G.o.d is cold, for the hangings of the temple have been stolen; G.o.d suffers, for the priests of Baal and the servants of Ashtaroth heap scorn upon him! Cast off the yoke, break your chains, raise hosannas, unsheathe your swords. G.o.d has awakened you; fight for the Lord!