_VERUS, MARY MAGDALENE and nearly ALL THE CHARACTERS of_ SCENE III
VERUS
Come in, come in, you have nothing to fear!... (_They ENTER, timidly._)
Are you all there?... There seem to be fewer of you.... Where are the
others gone?...
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA
Sir, some of them fear lest the night....
VERUS
I understand; they were afraid.... Their love and their faith do not
take any risk of blows.... However, these will do.... Do you see that
woman?... I came to offer to save your master. She had only to say
yes. She has said no. She orders his death. He will therefore die at
sunrise.
(_Sensation in the crowd._)
NICODEMUS
What is he saying, Magdalene?...
(_MARY MAGDALENE does not reply._)
VERUS
Ask her, you will learn....
NICODEMUS
Magdalene, is it true?...
(_MARY MAGDALENE remains silent._)
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA
But come, answer!... What is the matter with you?...
VERUS
She is at the same time betraying and destroying all those who followed
the tempter. I have spoken. Farewell. Look to yourselves. (_He turns
to the door._)
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA (_stopping him and beseeching him_)
Sir, I beg of you, do not go away like this.... She is mistaken, you
will see.... There is some terrible misunderstanding.... Magdalene,
come, what is he saying, what do you say?... Why, it is impossible!...
What has happened?...
_SEVERAL SICK MEN and BEGGARS (surrounding MAGDALENE, who remains
motionless, gazing blindly into the distance_)
Magdalene! Magdalene....
A HUNCHBACK
She also has sold him!... She was with the Iscariot!...
MARTHA (_putting her arms around MAGDALENE’S neck_)
Magdalene!... Listen to me!... You used to love me.... What has come to
you?... Tell me it is not true.... You have not heard....
MARY CLEOPHAS (_putting her hand on MAGDALENE’S shoulder_)
Magdalene, Magdalene!... No, it is impossible.... You cannot have
forgotten....
A POOR MAN
How much did you receive?...
A MAN CURED BY A MIRACLE
Yes, how much?... Where is the money?...
ANOTHER
Give back the gold! Give back the gold!... Search her!...
MARY SALOME
Magdalene! Magdalene!... She is mad!...
A VAGRANT
Harlot!... Soldiers’ wench!...
ANOTHER
Strumpet! Strumpet! Strumpet!
A MAN CURED BY A MIRACLE
The seven devils whom he cast out have entered her body again!...
ANOTHER
She has sold us like a herd of oxen!...
A SICK MAN
We shall all have to suffer!...
ANOTHER
Yes, but not before she does!...
THE MAN WHOSE HAND WAS WITHERED
She shall not go from here until....
A PALSIED MAN
In any case, she shall not go hence alive, take my word for it!...
(_Almost ALL, shouting, gesticulating, threatening, with clenched
fists, crowd round MAGDALENE, who remains motionless and dumb._)
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA (_intervening_)
Come, come, do not forget who you are, where you are nor in whose name
you are speaking. (_To VERUS_) Sir, I beg of you, a little patience....
I am a just and reasonable man; and everything will be explained....
Listen, Magdalene, I am speaking to you in his name.... There is still
time to say yes.... I am speaking as a father....
(_MAGDALENE maintains her motionless silence._)
THE HUNCHBACK
You see!... She has received the price!...
(_An explosion of hatred. ALL surround her more closely. The
cries, the threats, the imprecations, the entreaties, the moans
are redoubled. Suddenly, in the street, rises a tumult which
drowns that in the Supper-room. It is the shouting of an angry
crowd approaching swiftly, the sound of arms and horses. The
uproar in the room is at once lulled. ALL listen, anxiously._)
A MAN CURED BY A MIRACLE
The Romans!... The soldiers!... They are coming to arrest us!... She
has betrayed us!... Let us fly!... This way, this way!...
(_ALL lose their heads. Some run wildly round the room, seeking
for an outlet._)
A VAGRANT
No, no!... Do not go out!... There is only one door!... We cannot
escape!... They would discover us!...
A MAN CURED BY A MIRACLE
Be silent!... Hide yourselves!...
A CRIPPLE
Why do you not put out the lamps?... They will see the lights!...
Quick! Quick! Put out the lamps!...
(_The lamps are put out._)
ANOTHER
Do not go to the windows!... Do not show yourselves at the windows!...
Lie down along the walls!...
VERUS
It is a noble spectacle and I long to see it out....
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA (_going up to VERUS_)
Sir, do not ruin them.... They are weak and poor.... Almost all of them
are sick.... They know not what they do.... Have pity on men and do not
judge them....
(_The shouts--“Crucify him! Crucify him!... Tempter! Tempter!...
Galilean! Nazarene!... He would destroy the Temple!... He would
destroy the Law!... Blasphemer!... Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify him!”--are redoubled in the street and are now heard
outside the house itself. The red light of the torches is cast
into the room. THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO steals up to one of the
windows and looks out._)
A PANIC-STRICKEN VOICE
Do not go to the windows!...
A LAME MAN (_going to another window_)
What is happening?...
THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO
It is he!...
(_Several PERSONS, irresistibly attracted, climb up to the
windows and look into the street, with infinite caution.
Occasionally ONE of them turns to those who remain at the back
of the room, to tell them what he sees._)
ONE OF THOSE AT THE WINDOWS
There are soldiers all around him!... There is a crowd of them!...
ANOTHER
He is coming! He is coming this way!... His hands are bound!... They
are striking him!...
ANOTHER
He is weeping!... His eyes are bleeding!...
ANOTHER
They are taking him to Pilate!... There are Peter and John, hiding
themselves!...
ANOTHER
The blood is dripping on his feet!...
ANOTHER
He cannot walk any farther!... He staggers! He staggers!...
VERUS (_to MAGDALENE, who has not moved and who stands against a
column, in the middle of the room, staring before her, without
turning towards the windows_)
Magdalene!...
(_In the street, suddenly, the tumult falls, as a huge, heavy
object might fall. A wonderful silence._)
A VOICE (_in the room_)
What is it?...
THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO (_at the window_)
He falls!... He has fallen!... He is looking at the house!...
VERUS
Magdalene, I still promise you....
MARY MAGDALENE (_without stirring, without looking at VERUS,
without anger, simply, in a voice from another life, full of
peace, full of divine clarity and certainty_)
Go!...
THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO (_at the window_)
He rises to his feet!... They drag him along!...
(_The tumult, the shouts of “Crucify him!” are resumed and
redoubled in the street. VERUS GOES OUT slowly, with his eyes
on MAGDALENE, who remains motionless, as though in ecstasy and
all illumined with the light of the departing torches._)
CURTAIN
Transcriber's Notes
The following changes have been made to the text as printed:
1. A close-bracket ")" has been inserted after "_to receive_ MARY
MAGDALENE" on Page 17.
2. Two instances of punctuation after the speaker's name "MAGDALENE"
have been removed (Page 48, Page 59).
3. "THE SAME" (below "SCENE II" on Page 74) has been placed in upright
capitals rather than italics.
4. "Judea" (Page 104) has been changed to "Judæa".
5. Indentation and justification of stage directions have been made more
consistent.