PROCULA. A cry, no spoken word But crying, and a horror, and a sense Of one poor man's naked intelligence, Pitted against the world and being crushed. Then, waking, there was noise; a rabble rushed Following this Jesus here, crying for blood, Like beasts half-reptile in a jungle mud. And all the horror threatening in the dim, In what I dreamed of, seemed to threaten him.... So in my terror I sent word to you, Begging you dearly to have nought to do With that wise man. PILATE. I grant he says wise things. Too wise by half, and too much wisdom brings Trouble, I find. It disagrees with men. We must protect him from his wisdom then. PROCULA. What have you done to him? PILATE. Made it more hard For him to wrangle in the Temple yard Henceforth, I hope. _Enter_ LONGINUS. PROCULA. You have not punished him? PILATE. Warned him. LONGINUS. The envoy from the Sanhedrim Is here, my lord. PILATE. Go. I must see him. Stay. You and your women, keep within to-day. It is the Jewish Feast and blood runs high Against us Romans when the zealots cry Songs of their old Deliverance through the land. Stay, yet. Lord Herod says that he has planned To visit us to-night, have all prepared. PROCULA. I would have gone to Herod had I dared, To plead for this man Jesus. All shall be Made ready. Dear, my dream oppresses me. [_Exit._ PILATE. It is this earthquake weather: it will end After a shock. Farewell. _Enter_ CHIEF CITIZEN. CHIEF CIT. Hail, Lord and friend. I come about a man in bonds with you, One Jesus, leader of a perverse crew That haunts the Temple. PILATE. Yes, the man is here. CHIEF CIT. Charged with sedition? PILATE. It did not appear That he had been seditious. It was proved That he had mocked at rites which people loved. No more than that. I have just dealt with him. You wish to see him? CH. CIT. No, the Sanhedrim Send me to tell you of his proved intent. You know how, not long since, a prophet went Through all Judæa turning people's brains With talk of One coming to loose their chains? PILATE. John the Baptiser whom old Herod killed. CH. CIT. The Jews expect that word to be fulfilled, They think that One will come. This Jesus claims To be that Man, Son of the Name of Names, The Anointed King who will arise and seize Israel from Rome and you. Such claims as these Might be held mad in other times than ours. PILATE. He is not mad. CH. CIT. But when rebellion lowers As now, from every hamlet, every farm, One word so uttered does unreckoned harm. PILATE. How do you know this? CH. CIT. From a man, his friend, Frightened by thought of where such claims would end. There had been rumors, yet we only heard The fact but now. We send you instant word.