What dost thou want with him? GAOLER Two of his friends who were with him yesterday, the same thou sawest outside the gate, have come back, and learning that his life is now in jeopardy--thy servant hath told me, and I have got everything ready--they became like creatures possessed, and implored me to lead them to him wheresoever he might be. HEROD Dost thou approve, Mighty Legate? VITELLIUS Dear friend, this is the most enjoyable entertainment that has ever been provided for me at meat. Let them come! Let them come! HEROD [_Signs._] GAOLER [_Retires behind curtain of door and beckons._] SCENE VIII _The same. Manassa. Amarja._ [_They seem at first as if they would rush to John, but overcome by shyness stand still._] JOHN What have ye to tell me? MANASSA Master! HEROD Speak louder, my good men! Unless ye let us participate in the news, I will have you carried off through separate doors. MANASSA May we, Master? JOHN Speak freely, for methinks we are alone together. MANASSA We took the road in all haste to Bethesda, and at break of day we found Him there. JOHN Ye found him there? MANASSA And many people were gathered about him resting in the olive gardens, and praised the Lord for the miracle which had been done to them at that hour. And behold there was a light in every eye, and in every mouth the music of thanksgiving. JOHN And He? How looked His countenance? What were His gestures? MANASSA Master, I know not. JOHN But ye saw Him? AMARJA Rabbi, thou mightest as well ask, What is the face of the sun, and what the gestures of light?... As we beheld His smile we sank to the ground, and in our souls was a great peace. JOHN And when ye had questioned Him, and He began to speak, tell me what was His manner of speech? Say; I stand here awaiting His wrath. AMARJA Rabbi.... He spoke to us like a brother. His speech was simple. MANASSA And it was beautiful ... like the voice of the wind which blows from the sea towards evening. AMARJA And this is what He spake. "Go and tell John what ye have seen and heard. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." JOHN The poor--He said the poor? MANASSA And when He prepared to come hither to this town with the people who were gathered about Him, we accompanied Him as far as the gate, and then hurried on before, according to thy wish. JOHN And said He nothing else to you? Reflect well. AMARJA Yes; yet one more thing. He said, "Blessed be he who hath not been offended at me." But this we could not understand. JOHN