[Shrinking with alarm, and then recovering himself] Who speaks?
Close his mouth.--Away with him.--He is mad.
Nay, bring him hither. I wish to see him. I wish to see that he who spoke was a living man. Terrible was the sound of his voice. It seemed to me as if the stones of Jerusalem were uttering lamentations, as if the words issued from the very walls.
[The two sentries hasten away into the darkness]
Suffer not thyself to be misled, Lord. Many in the city have been bought with Chaldean gold.
Heed him not.--Hurl him from the wall.--Hold no converse with a coward.
[JEREMIAH and BARUCH are brought into the light by the sentries, and JEREMIAH is thrust forward to the king]
This is he who spoke the words of shame. He was railing in like fashion, Lord, just before thou camest.
There has been talk of one going up and down the city and foretelling disaster to the people. Is this the man?
It is he.--Jeremiah.--Curses light on him.--He foretells disaster.--Poisons men's hearts.--Bears false witness.
Nay, he is God's messenger and utters words of truth. I testify for him.
Who are you to testify?--You are no more than a boy.--Heed him not.--Such vipers should be crushed.
Silence. Take the young man away, for I need no testimony.
Draw nearer, Jeremiah. Art thou he who leadest Israel astray?
Israel is verily astray, but not by my leadership.
I know thy voice. My heart tells me that I have heard thee speak, but never before have I seen thy face. Was it thou who criedst aloud for peace at the portal of the palace?
Many voices assailed my ears in that hour, but when I had returned home at nightfall and lay sleepless on my couch, it was thy call which dinned in my ears.
God's will was that thou shouldst hearken. Woe unto thee that thou heardest not. Had it been otherwise there would be sleep on thy lids and peace in Israel.
[To JEREMIAH] What make you here on the wall at night? Would you go over to the Chaldeans? [To the king] Have him seized, for his behavior is suspicious.
His mother is on her deathbed, for his words have broken her heart. But he shuns the house, comes here by night, and would parley with the enemy.
He is a traitor.--Heed him not.--Cast him into prison.
Be silent, all. My soul is not so weak that I can be swayed by the words of chatterers. Fear not, Jeremiah, I heard thy voice on the day when we decided upon war. It resounded in my heart, for a word of peace is the word of God. But the past is past. War now rages between Ashur and Israel. Words no longer avail. I cannot stop the war at will.