(_At that moment, cries, at first scattered, rise among the invisible crowd behind the hedge. A few words are distinguishable: “It Is the Roman woman! The Roman woman!... The adulteress!... Shame!... Shame! Shame!... Magdalene!... The strumpet!... Drive her away, drive her away!...” Immediately afterwards, these cries are lost in a violent and formidable shout of reprobation, in which only a few resounding words are, with difficulty, perceived: “Shame! Shame!... Stone her! Stone her!... Death! Death!... Stone her!” etc. All this is accompanied by a noise of flight, of hurrying footsteps, of sticks and pebbles clashing, of broken branches, etc._) SILANUS They have seen her!... VERUS But what is happening?... Is it she whom they are attacking?... SILANUS It is what I feared.... We must take care.... VERUS (_rushing to the bottom of the garden_) This way!... Follow me!... Appius, Cœlius, your swords!... (_At the moment when he rushes down, the laurel-hedge is burst through in every part by the yelling and gesticulating crowd pursuing MARY MAGDALENE. She makes a frenzied attempt to reach the terrace. VERUS and his two friends run towards her, to try to protect her against the invading multitude. Stones fly. VERUS, standing in front of the others, brandishes his bare sword. Just as the fighting is about to begin, when already branches are broken, a statue overturned and so forth, suddenly a loud call of the supernatural voice rings under the nearer olive-trees. All cease, struck with stupor. A word of command is passed from mouth to mouth: “Silence! Silence!... Listen! Listen!... He is speaking! He is going to speak!... The Master has made a sign!... Listen! Listen!...” Then, in the silence thus suddenly produced, the divine voice rises, calm, august, profound and irresistible._) THE VOICE He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her!... (_The stones are heard to drop to the ground. The crowd sways to and fro, abashed, and disappears gradually, in silence, through the hedge. VERUS comes forward to support MARY MAGDALENE, who has stopped and is standing erect and motionless in the middle of the walk. She rejects the proffered aid, with a harsh and fierce gesture, and, staring in front of her, alone among the others, who look at her without understanding, slowly she climbs the steps of the terrace._) CURTAIN ACT II (_The Tablinum [or large room behind the Atrium] of MARY MAGDALENE’S villa at Bethany. At the back, leading one into the other, the Atrium and a long vestibule with marble columns._) SCENE I MARY MAGDALENE, LUCIUS VERUS (_Enter LUCIUS VERUS. MARY MAGDALENE runs up to him and throws herself into his arms._) MARY MAGDALENE