The gods fight with you now, invisible shapes Rush forward with you. See how cloud-like armies Redden the air. Lead them and seize him. [_There is a pause, then she retreats slowly from the entrance, and SIMON re-enters stepping slowly backward as though dazzled by a vision. As he reaches the middle of the garden a wonderful voice is heard proceeding from the direction in which he looks._] THE VOICE Put up the sword. For they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. [_The sword falls from SIMON’S hand._] THE VOICE Do not resist evil. [_There is a moment’s pause and then a CENTURION enters from the right and goes menacingly up to SIMON._] THE CENTURION Who are you that you rush against legionaries? Have you an army that you come against us? Are you a madman? Are you also one of his followers? SIMON [_Slowly._] I am his follower. [_PROCULA, wailing, rushes into her house._] THE CENTURION [_Turning and calling to someone off right._] Ho, Longinus, come; here is another. [_To SIMON._] What is your name and place? SIMON Simon, a man of Cyrene. [_LONGINUS enters from the right accompanied by several other legionaries._] LONGINUS [_To the CENTURION._] The Nazarene has fallen. The cross crushes him. He can go no further. THE CENTURION Here’s one to bear it, bring it in the garden. [_LONGINUS goes out right. The CENTURION and legionaries surround SIMON and strip him of his outer garments. When they have done so the MOCKER WITH THE SCOURGE enters from the right waving the scourge threateningly, looking off as he enters. He turns and dances about SIMON._] THE MOCKER WITH THE SCOURGE Prophesy, prophesy. Who is it now that strikes you? Turn the other cheek. [_The mocker strikes SIMON. With a powerful movement SIMON seizes the mocker, hurls him to the ground and snatching his sword which the soldiers have placed upon a bench he clears a space about him and starts again toward the right entrance._] THE VOICE Overcome evil with good. Forgive your enemy. [_SIMON bows his head, then extends the hilt of his sword to a soldier who takes it and strikes him with the flat of the blade. SIMON submits, dumbly, with bowed head, to this and to the MOCKER WITH THE SCOURGE who rises painfully from the ground and again strikes him viciously._] THE MOCKER WITH THE SCOURGE Turn the other cheek. [_He takes a rope from his girdle and making a noose in it puts the noose over SIMON’S head and dances about him holding the rope’s end. THE MOCKER WITH THE ROBE enters from the right._] THE MOCKER WITH THE ROBE Here is the scarlet robe, it fell from the King’s shoulders, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Of such are the Kingdom of Heaven. [_He places the robe on SIMON._] Hail to the new king, Simon of Cyrene, King of the Africans, with his Master’s robe.