Look! Look how the herd you have cursed is fleeing. Ha, ha! They are falling from the rocks. Ha, ha! They are hurling themselves into the sea. Ha! They are trampling children under their feet. Look, David,--they are trampling upon children. You have done it. Great and mighty David Leizer! Favorite son of God! You have done it. Ha, ha, ha! _He whirls around, madly laughing._ Ah, where shall I go with my joy? Ah, where shall I go with my tidings? the earth is too small for it! East and West! North and South! Look and listen. David, who has brought joy to mankind, is put to death by mankind and by God. And upon his ill-smelling corpse I--Anathema--will put my foot. _To heaven._ Do you hear? Answer, if you can. _He tramples upon David's body. Then a groan is heard, and David's grey, blood-stained head lifts itself, quivering strangely._ ANATHEMA. _Retreating._ You are still alive? You have lied even this time. DAVID. _Crawls._ I am coming to you. Wait for me, Sarah. One moment. ANATHEMA. _Bending over, examines David._ You are crawling? Like myself? Like a dog? After them? DAVID. _In the agony of death._ Oh, I cannot reach them. Carry me, Nullius. Do I say that it is not necessary to stone me? Oh, let them stone me. Carry me, Nullius. I shall lie down quietly on the threshold, I shall only look through the crevice and see how the little children are eating.... Oh, my beard.... Oh, my terrible beard.... Oh, don't be afraid, my little one,--you alone are laughing. My little children, my tiny little children.... ANATHEMA. _Stamping his foot._ You are mistaken, David. You are dead. And your children are dead. The earth is dead--dead--dead. Look. _David rises with difficulty and looks into the distance, his weak hands outstretched._ DAVID. I see, Nullius. My old friend--my old friend, stay here, I beg you--and I shall go to them. Do you know, Nullius.... _Confused._ I think that I found a copeck.... _Laughs quietly._ I told you, Nullius, to examine that paper. Abraham Khessin, my friend-- _Firmly._ Abraham Khessin is my friend.... _He sinks down and dies._ _Thunder in the distance. It is dark; the sun, red, is seen on the horizon, near the water. It sets._ ANATHEMA. _Bending over him._ Is it true this time? Are you dead? Or do you He again? No--it is an honest death now. Let me have your fist. Open it. You don't want to? But I am stronger than you. _Rises and examines what David had in his hand._ A copeck! _Throws it down with contempt. Pushes David with his foot._