You have called us, David, and we have come. We have long waited silently for your merciful call, and now your call has reached the remotest boundaries of the earth. The roads have become black with people; the deserted roads have come to life and the narrow paths are filled with footsteps, and they will soon become highways--and even as the blood that is in the body all rushes to the heart, so all the poor on earth will come to you alone. Welcome to you, our master David--the people are bowing before you with their life and the earth. DAVID. _Tormented._ What do you want? WANDERER. _Softly._ Righteousness. DAVID. What do you want? ALL. Righteousness. _Expectation._ DAVID. _With sudden hope._ Tell me, Nullius, tell me: Is righteousness a miracle? ANATHEMA. _Bitterly._ There are the blind--they are innocent. There are the dead--and they are also innocent. The earth is bowing before you with its graves, and it greets you with darkness. Perform a miracle. DAVID. A miracle? Again a miracle? WANDERER. _Suspiciously and sternly._ And the people do not want you to speak with him whose name we dare not utter. He is an enemy of mankind, and at night, when you were asleep, he carried you off to this mountain--but it did not occur to him to carry off the heart of the people; and, beating unceasingly, this heart has brought us to you. ANATHEMA. _Audaciously._ It seems that I am superfluous here. DAVID. No, no. Do not forsake me, Nullius. _Tormented._ Begone, begone from here! You are tempting God--I do not know you. Begone.... Begone! ANATHEMA. Begone! VOICES. _Frightened._ David is angry. What shall we do? The master is angry. David is angry. OLD MAN. Call Sarah. WOMAN. Call Sarah. Sarah! VOICES. Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!... DAVID. _Horror-stricken._ Do you hear? They are calling. JOYOUS VOICE. Sarah is coming. _The mob grows bolder._ KHESSIN. _Bowing several times._ It is I, David,--I. Peace be with you, our master David. SONKA. _Smiling and bowing._ Peace be with you. Peace be with you, David. _David turns aside and covers his face with his hands._ ANATHEMA. _Indifferently._ Begone! _General confusion; interrupted smiles, muffled groans. Sarah, led respectfully by the arms, advances to David. Nearing him, she walks alone._ ANATHEMA. Turn around, David.... Sarah is here. SARAH.