Ye would hear his name? Listen to the wind whispering among the rocks, mark well what it saith ere it vanisheth. So His name, heard first here and then there, passed by my ear. I am waiting with prayer and anxiety to hear it again. Therefore I say unto you, Question me not further, lest it melt away like a dream when the cock croweth. AMARJA Yet give us withal some guidance. Whence came He to thee--He---- JOHN The wind which wafted Him to me blew from Galilee. ALL From Galilee! ONE Is then the Messiah the Galileans', the fisheaters'? ANOTHER He shall come to us Judæans! Up, and let us seek Him! ALL Aye, let us seek Him! JOHN Think ye that He will permit Himself to be found by you? Ye miserable creatures full of mutiny and revolt! Who are ye that ye should alter the course of the world's history by a hair's breadth? When the time for His harvest is ripe, then He shall appear to you of His own free will in glory as the Lord of Hosts. The four cherubim shall ride before Him on caparisoned horses, with flaming sickles in their hands.... Whatsoever hath been planted in sin and hath grown up rankly, that shall be mown down, root and branch; whatsoever hath reared itself against Him shall be trampled upon. Therefore, ye men of Israel, root up the weeds that flourish and encumber your bodies, so that ye do not rot, and in your corruption are not swept away with your polluters when _He_ draweth near with the seven-coloured rainbow about His head. He Who shall come must come [_reflectively_], must come! ONE OF THE CROWD Rabbi, we have repented of our sins. We pray day and night, and our bodies are emaciated from fasting. Say, what more can we do? SCENE IV _The same. Josaphat. Matthias._ JOHN Josaphat, so thou art here. And thou, Matthias. JOSAPHAT Master, chide us not for having lingered. We paused by Herod's Palace, which, as a rule, is dark and deserted. We saw rosy lights kindled, and the pillars garlanded with flowers. Fresh ignominy shall befall Israel, more deadly sin weigh upon her, if thou, Rabbi, comest not to the rescue. JOHN Speak out! JOSAPHAT Herod hath not come out of Galilee, as every year before, for the Passover. He is not expected till to-morrow. Another guest hath arrived. The wife of Philip, Herod's brother, hath deserted him, and taken with her Salome, Philip's daughter. The guest at the Palace is called Herodias, and to-morrow the marriage feast is to be celebrated. JOHN Between Herod and the wife of his own brother? JOSAPHAT Thou sayest right, Rabbi. JOHN No! No! Whoever hath told thee this informed thee falsely. His lips were shameless, and his soul lied. AMARJA Pardon, Rabbi; there are maids here belonging to the Palace.... Question them. JOHN Hadidja, I know thee. Speak! HADIDJA