Sir, do not ruin them.... They are weak and poor.... Almost all of them are sick.... They know not what they do.... Have pity on men and do not judge them.... (_The shouts--“Crucify him! Crucify him!... Tempter! Tempter!... Galilean! Nazarene!... He would destroy the Temple!... He would destroy the Law!... Blasphemer!... Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!”--are redoubled in the street and are now heard outside the house itself. The red light of the torches is cast into the room. THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO steals up to one of the windows and looks out._) A PANIC-STRICKEN VOICE Do not go to the windows!... A LAME MAN (_going to another window_) What is happening?... THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO It is he!... (_Several PERSONS, irresistibly attracted, climb up to the windows and look into the street, with infinite caution. Occasionally ONE of them turns to those who remain at the back of the room, to tell them what he sees._) ONE OF THOSE AT THE WINDOWS There are soldiers all around him!... There is a crowd of them!... ANOTHER He is coming! He is coming this way!... His hands are bound!... They are striking him!... ANOTHER He is weeping!... His eyes are bleeding!... ANOTHER They are taking him to Pilate!... There are Peter and John, hiding themselves!... ANOTHER The blood is dripping on his feet!... ANOTHER He cannot walk any farther!... He staggers! He staggers!... VERUS (_to MAGDALENE, who has not moved and who stands against a column, in the middle of the room, staring before her, without turning towards the windows_) Magdalene!... (_In the street, suddenly, the tumult falls, as a huge, heavy object might fall. A wonderful silence._) A VOICE (_in the room_) What is it?... THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO (_at the window_) He falls!... He has fallen!... He is looking at the house!... VERUS Magdalene, I still promise you.... MARY MAGDALENE (_without stirring, without looking at VERUS, without anger, simply, in a voice from another life, full of peace, full of divine clarity and certainty_) Go!... THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO (_at the window_) He rises to his feet!... They drag him along!... (_The tumult, the shouts of “Crucify him!” are resumed and redoubled in the street. VERUS GOES OUT slowly, with his eyes on MAGDALENE, who remains motionless, as though in ecstasy and all illumined with the light of the departing torches._) CURTAIN Transcriber's Notes The following changes have been made to the text as printed: 1. A close-bracket ")" has been inserted after "_to receive_ MARY MAGDALENE" on Page 17. 2. Two instances of punctuation after the speaker's name "MAGDALENE" have been removed (Page 48, Page 59). 3. "THE SAME" (below "SCENE II" on Page 74) has been placed in upright capitals rather than italics. 4. "Judea" (Page 104) has been changed to "Judæa".