Announce us to your mistress. HADIDJA Our mistress, priests, is gone forth to meet the Tetrarch Herod, to receive him at the gates. FIRST PRIEST When will she return? HADIDJA That we cannot say, priests; it depends on the coming of the Prince. FIRST PRIEST Do you desire our blessing? HADIDJA No! [_She vanishes with the other maids into the interior of the Palace._] BOTH PRIESTS [_Look discomposed._] FIRST PRIEST [_Observing Eliakim and Pasur sitting in front of their doors, raises his hands unctuously._] Blessed be ye who---- ELIAKIM No one asked thy blessing! BOTH PRIESTS [_Regard each other in dismay._] SECOND PRIEST [_Furiously._] These again are of the school of the Pharisees! FIRST PRIEST We hold the Temple. They shall yet be our servants. Come! [_Exeunt both priests._] SCENE IV PASUR [_Drawing near humbly._] Forgive me, neighbour, but now thou no longer readest in the law? ELIAKIM No. PASUR This will be a sorry Passover for us tradesmen. See all this fine stock which I have laid in. There is the sacred pomegranate wood, whereon to roast the lamb. Here are the sweet herbs, with which to prepare the holy broth, and here are the bitter roots, the garlic, cresses, and bay leaves, all according to the precept. In six, or at latest seven hours the feast begins, and I shall be left stranded with my whole stock on hand. Oh, woe is me! Woe is me! ELIAKIM Well, have I not also superior and holy wares for sale? There are stuffs of the very finest quality. Beautiful tassels of white and hyacinth-blue wool. And are not my Tephillims the most beautiful ever worn by a son of Abraham at morning prayer? Nay, Abraham himself never wore a finer Tephillim. I believe I have eighteen dozen or more. But one should take no thought of bodily raiment, but read the Scriptures. So it is written. PASUR But, neighbour, the man who deals in vegetables does not find it so easy to be righteous in the sight of the Lord. Thy woollen goods will keep till Herod is gone again with his new wife. ELIAKIM [_Shakes his fist at the Palace._] It's a shame, a crying shame! PASUR Yes; once this was always a good spot for business, but now grass groweth in front of the Palace. ELIAKIM Only _priests_ go in and out. SCENE V _The same. A citizen of Jerusalem_ [_who comes to fill his pitcher at the fountain_]. CITIZEN [_Distressfully._] Neighbour, dear neighbour! ELIAKIM What is thy trouble? CITIZEN Thou art a righteous man and knowest the law. Give me advice, and thou shalt have my thanks. My poor wife has hurt her foot while working in the fields. It is burning and swollen, and I bathe it with cold water from the fountain, which does it good. But in a short time beginneth the feast. May I continue with the bathing then? ELIAKIM Sabbath breaking. Thou wilt be guilty, and deserve death. THE CITIZEN Oh, Lord eternal! ELIAKIM