WICKED JUDGE (_with a sweep of his hand_): No more! No more, I say! I will hear no more. Am I not judge in the king, his place? (_Points at_ FIRST WOMAN _sternly._) _You_ say yonder woman's child died in the night-time, and she wants yours. (_Points at_ SECOND WOMAN.) _You_ say--stop sniveling--(SECOND WOMAN _shrinks away from him._) You say 'twas _her_ child died and that she hath stolen _your_ child. _I_ say, if you had minded your brats properly, there would not be this to-do. (_A pause._) What were you doing when one of you stole the other's child? Gadding about the streets? Eh? SECOND WOMAN: O sir, sir, she stole him while I slept. FIRST WOMAN: Most gracious Judge, I did not steal. SECOND WOMAN (_turning on her_): But thou did'st! WICKED JUDGE: O you women! Lo, all the troubles of this kingdom flow from this, that women do not properly observe the affairs of their households. As King Solomon remarks, with rather more wisdom than he usually manifests, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" BOTH WOMEN (_together_): Sir! Most gracious Judge! Only hear me-- WICKED JUDGE (_crashing his fist down_): Silence! _Silence!!_ (_To_ SECOND WOMAN.) Where are your witnesses? (SECOND WOMAN _makes an imploring and hopeless gesture._) WICKED JUDGE (_fiercely_): What? No witnesses? Be off! Be off, I say. (_He waves both women away; then his voice changes._) Stay, wait--I had forgot. I must--er--consider the welfare of the infant. (_To_ SECOND WOMAN.) It may be _thou_ wouldest be the better guardian. Hast thou the means to feed and clothe the child, and--er--pay all needful fees? SECOND WOMAN: I am poor, but, sir, I am the mother. WICKED JUDGE: Pshaw! Pshaw! (_Turns to_ FIRST WOMAN.) And thou? FIRST WOMAN (_producing gold pieces_): I have these bits of gold. (_Her voice takes a mocking inflection._) Most gracious Judge, it may be thou, of thy great kindliness, wilt guard the gold for me, for I, alas, am but a weakling woman, and my child needs all my care. WICKED JUDGE (_pocketing gold_): Ah, yea, yea, thou art indeed the rightful mother. (_Raises his eyes to heaven._) More is a child to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold. I will indeed look after thy gold for thee. Now get ye gone. (_Turns crossly to_ SECOND WOMAN.) And count thyself lucky that I do not call the guard, and have thee cast into prison for bearing lying witness. (A BOY _rushes in, shouting as he runs._) BOY: Ohé! Ohé! King Solomon, he entereth now the city. He cometh here to offer sacrifice; the children dance before him. Ohé! Ohé! (_He runs out._) WICKED JUDGE (_gathers up his rolls of parchment, shrugging_): I will not bow before him, I! And he but a beardless youth! (_Passes out._) (_The_ SECOND WOMAN _crouches low, weeping and praying_; FIRST WOMAN _regards her._)