Who art thou, that like a kennelled hound, thou bitest at my shanks? _I_ took the law from you? My soul hath wrestled with the law till it is weary; my forehead beat against its walls till it bled! But now ye have opened your mouths wide that salvation should slip down them like sweet crumbs. Ye gazed up at me so long as I stood erect, and now shrink away like cowards from my fall. I have not fallen for myself, I fell for you. To you it was a compulsion and a matter of watching. To me it was voluntary, and a combat at the sword's point.... Look at me! Twice to-day I have been face to face with the world's sin. But it seemed to me almost fair, for I have yet to meet the worst. Thou art a renegade! Thou hast ever been a renegade, and renegades will ye be to all eternity, ye men of universal utility, who manure your acres with the blood of those who have died for you! Go! I am weary of you! JOSAPHAT I am going, Rabbi, whither Matthias hath gone before me, to Jesus of Nazareth. JOHN [_Startled and moved._] To Jesus of Nazareth? JOSAPHAT [_Turns silently to go out._] [_Exit._ SCENE VIII _Manassa, Amarja, John._ JOHN How Amarja, and how Manassa? Those whom I trusted the most have forsaken me, and ye are still here! AMARJA Rabbi, I was at all times the least among thy disciples. What should I be worth if I were not faithful? MANASSA And to me, Rabbi, thou hast given a hope. JOHN Yet he is gone to Jesus of Nazareth. Be ye not fools. Go with him. MANASSA Let us be fools, Rabbi. JOHN [_Sitting down on a stone._] So seat yourselves with me. Night draweth nigh, and I am weary. Hearken! It was even as if I heard a beating of wings above me. Did ye hear nothing? AMARJA Nothing, Rabbi. JOHN The womb of my soul is opened. I am ready for the blessing from on high. Is there not a whispering, roundabout? Heard ye nothing? MANASSA Nothing, Rabbi. JOHN There is a light shining over yonder mountains. Lovely is that light, and within me dawns the meaning of a contradiction. Who alone can deliver the world? To obtain it as a gift is to stretch forth your hands for the unobtainable.... We are in Galilee, know ye, where He now teacheth, this Jesus of Nazareth! AMARJA We heard in the streets that He was not far off. He tarries on the sea-coast. MANASSA And they say He may perhaps come into the town. JOHN Mayhap. Yet only mayhap! And my time is over. I must make haste, lest I die. Will ye do me a service? AMARJA, MANASSA Rabbi, command us! JOHN Get ye up and go unto Him. AMARJA, MANASSA To Him? JOHN [_Nods._] And wheresoever ye find Him, speak to Him. Ask: "Art Thou He Who cometh, or shall we wait for another?" So ask Him, and when He hath answered, come back--quickly--for my longing for Him is very great. I believe I could not die ere ye returned. AMARJA Master, we will not pause or rest. JOHN