By your road. Farewell. [He disappears over the parapet]
[Leaning forward] Whither, Baruch, whither? Stay, they will seize you. Already the spies of Chaldea block every road. Baruch, stand by me in this hour. Baruch, Baruch!
[Running in] Who calls there in the night? What is afoot?
[Standing up] I call, I call; but no one heeds me.
Still you, is it? What are you doing here? I thought I saw a shadow pass down the wall. Are you alone?
[Slowly, with heavy steps, JEREMIAH passes towards the town. The sentry stares after him until he is swallowed up in the gloom. Then the soldier resumes his march to and fro in the moonlight. Nothing is heard save his footsteps on the flagstones, until from a distance the challenge: "_Samson guard us_", "_Samson guard us_", begins to pass once more round the walls]
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief. ISAIAH LIII, 10.
The small bed-chamber where JEREMIAH'S MOTHER lies ill. Doorways and windows are covered with curtains to exclude light and sound. The interior is so dark that the figures of those in the chamber are barely visible. The white bed-furniture is conspicuous in the gloom. Close to the bed stands AHAB, the elderly servingman.
[A female relative, coming from without, cautiously draws aside the curtain over the doorway] Ahab!
Speak low! Tread softly! Her sleep is light as thistle-down. A breath will scatter it.
Well for one who can still sleep, when the gates of the city are being assailed.
Not a word of the matter. Not a word of the enemy. As you love her, spare her.
What do you mean? What must I not speak of?
Not a word of our troubles. She knows naught of Jerusalem's evil plight.
I don't understand. She does not know that the town is besieged?
Why should we tell her what is impending? The very thought would kill her.
[Greatly astonished] She does not know that Ashur is upon us? Is there still a living being within the walls who remains ignorant of our misery? How has this miracle been wrought? Are her senses closed? Is she deaf to the hosannas? Does she think we are at peace when the battering rams thunder against the walls?
Her senses are dulled. Such noises as she hears seem the noises of a dream. I have closed the entries, shutting out sound and light.