It may be all very well for Him to heal the sick, but the worst of it is He doeth it on the Sabbath. That is bad, bad! And then, His friends are not well chosen. Circumspect people, naturally, are not disposed to mix with Him. For how can one trust a man who sitteth at meat with publicans and sinners? And, then, He is always at weddings and feasts. Ah! No, no. JOHN At feasts? JOSAPHAT Master, these are little people. They understand not the wisdom of cunning speech. JOHN The great should carry the little with them, the wise should master these simple intellects. That he hath not done.... And what is it He teacheth? FIRST GALILEAN Ah, what does He teach? All sorts of folly. For instance, that we should love our enemies. JOHN Love our enemies? FIRST GALILEAN And bless them that curse us ... and pray for them that persecute us. JOHN Pray for them that persecute us? FIRST GALILEAN Yes; and more nonsense of the kind. Also that---- CALL [_From the roof of the Temple._] It groweth light towards Hebron. JOHN [_Eagerly._] Why dost thou not proceed? FIRST GALILEAN [_Rising._] It is now time for morning prayer. CALL [_More distant._] It groweth light towards Hebron. [_All stand up and begin to pray, their faces turned towards the Temple._] CALL [_Quite distant._] It groweth light towards Hebron. JOHN [_Baffled and tormented._] Towards Hebron it groweth light. SCENE XII [_The great gates are slowly opened, displaying marble walls, mounting in terraces, behind which are two more gates. The Temple-building itself is almost completely hidden by smoke from the great lighted sacrificial altar, which bounds the perspective. From the mountains behind the Temple are heard the long-drawn notes of the silver trumpets. People begin to stream up._] MATTHIAS [_Has gone to Josaphat's side and speaks to him privately, then turns to John, who stands alone on the left._] Master, the people are flocking to the Temple.... In a few moments the Tetrarch will certainly be there too, with the woman. Wilt thou not step among them, that they may know their leader? JOHN The image of my King shining in the radiance of the cherubim. Where is it? Where is the rainbow of seven colours that was round His head? Seven torches burned by His throne. I see them no more! SCENE XIII _The same. Manassa._ MANASSA [_Hurrying up from left._] Matthias, Josaphat, where is the master? JOSAPHAT Herod has come forth from his door? MANASSA [_Assents._] JOSAPHAT With the woman? MANASSA With the woman. JOSAPHAT Master [_as he heeds not_], Master---- JOHN What is it? JOSAPHAT Herod is on the way. JOHN Who is Herod? JOSAPHAT [_Buries his face in his hands._] MATTHIAS [_To Manassa._] Had he the Roman soldiers with him? MANASSA Only his servants are with him. MATTHIAS Hearest thou, master? He is delivered into our hands.