C H O R U S

And you--Are you a Galilean also?
Did I see you in the garden, sleeping?
Or in a corner of the church, shaking hands?
Come out here by the fire, and warm yourself;
bask in the glow of the world, and let us see your face.

A C T T W O

(The lights go out on the CHORUS and come up on the next scene, a room in the Praetorium, the governor's fortress. There is a low wall, about waist high, extending from the wings of stage right about a third of the way into the room. The wall has two military cloaks draped over it.

SECUNDUS is discovered bent over behind the wall, apparently taking someone's pulse. He has a cat-o-nine-tails in his hand.)

Sec: No, I see that you are still alive, my friend, after all. For a moment, I thought you had cheated us; but it seems as if you will be here for a while to remember the garden last night. A pity we have to let you go. Still, it has its compensations; they can give you the death penalty, but they cannot enforce it--and I imagine that gives your priests ecstasies of satisfaction. (Enter LONGINUS) SECUNDUS continues, without seeing him) Yes, and they will be doubly overjoyed when they see you back out there preaching, or whatever it is you do. . . . Not immediately, though; you will spend a week or two contemplating our hospitality.

Long: What are you doing? Who are you speaking to?

Sec: (Straightening up, picking up a rag to wipe his face, hanging up the whip, and putting on one of the cloaks) Oh, nothing much. I was speaking to the one down there. He is taking a little rest right now, after our conversation. He did not have much sleep last night, and I was merely letting him know he was not the only one. How is the crowd behaving?

Long: Ugly. They cannot make up their minds whether they want us to let him go or put him to death. Frankly, I wish the Governor had chosen another time for a confrontation between us and their Law. But I suppose he has his reasons.

Sec: Of course he does. That is exactly what they were counting upon: that on a festival like this, he would be too frightened to do anything but just what they wanted. Let them succeed in this, and they will lord it over us every time the rabble collect in this filthy hole they call a city.

Long: I suppose . . . . But it is a treacherous swamp we are in. I suppose that is why he did not simply let him go, even though he thought he was innocent. He wants to show that we do respect their Law, but they cannot use it to just make us do whatever they please. If he goes too far either way, there will be a bloodbath. I hope we have the men for it.

Sec: Look at you! Worried about a little thing like a bloodbath, when all our men are itching for a good wash!

You know, Longinus, you asked me once why I was not at least a centurion, if I'm of Patrician rank. Well this is why. Here are you, pondering ways of using the army to keep the peace, of all things, and all I have to do is exercise my arm a little every now and then (He looks at the whip.) and contemplate the pleasure of taking auspices out of Hebrew guts--and if I die doing it, I die happy. And you probably will not even have a chance to fight; and if we should happen to lose--which we will not, since the odds are only three hundred to one or so--you would not live any longer than anyone else, or die as quickly.

Long: Well, someone has to do it.

Sec: Oh, do not misunderstand; I admit that, and I admire your sense of responsibility. I really do. I just do not share it. But I have sense enough to know that if Rome were peopled by men like me, there would not be a Rome. Luckily for us, however, your type is still plentiful, and the rest of us can take paid vacations in exotic places like Judea, and learn to appreciate how lucky we are when we get back under the shadow of the coliseum.

Long: (Pacing back and forth, thinking, not paying attention.) Well, I think I have done everything that could be done. There are men stationed all through the crowd; and if they start something, we can cut it into six sectors in a matter of minutes, and force them out through different gates, and then they will be no problem.

Now. What about this one? (Indicating what is behind the wall.)

Sec: Oh, he is all right. I merely got a little carried away there for a while, that is all. It seems that with certain people I tend to lose count once I have established a rhythm.

Long: (Looking behind the wall) Great Pollux! You did not leave much of him!

Sec: Well, he was a bit special, you understand. It was the first time in my life I was ever intimidated by a Jew, and I wanted to teach him a little respect for his betters.

Long: That episode last night must have left quite an impression on you.

Sec: I can joke about it; but just between you and me, I did not enjoy it.

Long: I did not realize that, or I would never have let you do the whipping. It is not good for a man to feel one way or the other about someone he is torturing.

Sec: Oh, I know not. It took a weight off my mind.

Long: And put blood all over his back.

Sec: Oh, come now. I did not draw that much blood.

Long: I would hate to see what you call "much," then. I hope he will be able to stand up when we send him out of here, and stay alive long enough for everyone to be out of this town before he dies. I never saw anything like it; they are all wild about him, but half of them want his head and the other half are ready to dress him in purple.

Sec: Fear not; he will recover. You know me; I would not kill a man and spoil his appreciation of my handiwork. And perhaps when we let him go, half of them will begin killing the other half, and we will have our little bloodbath without any trouble on our part. We can just lend a helping hand here and there when things begin to get slack.

Long: What do you have against the Jews anyway, Secundus?

Sec: You mean apart from their appearance, their manners, their stupidity, and their self-righteousness?

Long: You know what I mean. You do not have the normal Roman attitude toward them.

Sec: More is the pity. But you see, the rest of you Romans have not been as well educated as I have. I received a beautiful lesson on the Jewish character the very first month after I arrived here. I never told you I had a brother, did I?

Long: No.

Sec: Well I did, but I do not speak of him much, because it is hard for me to keep from being serious when I do, and I lose my character as the devil-may-care adventurer that I have so carefully cultivated. But you asked for it.

He was a good lad, a couple of years younger than I, and he had one of those Roman senses of responsibility of yours. In fact, if he had lived long enough, I would be talking to him today instead of you--or maybe he would be up there on the balcony listening to the priests and giving orders to all of us.

But be that as it may, the only reason I joined the army was to make sure he did not make too much of a hero of himself; I could tease him out of doing stupid things.

In any case, the first thing that happened when we arrived was that battle on the Plain of Megiddo. He was a centurion, and was right in front--which is another reason that being a centurion does not have a great appeal to me--and he was one of the first ones to fall. No problem with that; glory and all that sort of thing, which was what he was looking for. It happens to the best of us.

But then when it was all over and we were picking up the dead and wounded, I found his body.

Some one of those beloved Jews had stopped everything in the middle of the fight and taken time to decorate his body all over with a dagger.

Now that was not necessary at all. War is war, and to whoever can get them belong the spoils--and he did have a handsome set of armor, which was missing, of course. And that I can understand also.

But not the other thing; that was taking the heat of battle just a little too seriously for my taste. So I decided that if they liked the Romans all that much, who was I to deprive them of the pleasure of my company?

Long: I see . . . .That explains why you are still here.

Sec: That, and the fact that I thought it might be interesting if I could track down the armor. I did find the shield in a little shop about a year ago; and in my quiet way I made sure that no one found the pieces of the shopkeeper. But he did no't remember who he bought it from, in spite of the fact that I was a little . . . persistent . . .on that point.

Long: I can imagine.

Sec: Oh, I hope not. I sincerely hope not. You are not yet that depraved. I still keep looking for the greaves and the helmet, of course, and perhaps some day I will find them.

And meantime, I get a chance every so often (With a glance behind the wall) to lend a Jew or two a helping hand.

Long: Well, I appreciate your point of view, I suppose; but I think that for your sake you will have a few less chances while I'm in command.

Sec: I had a feeling I should have kept my mouth shut. Well, I suppose I will simply have to make the most of what comes my way.

Long: I mean it, Secundus. I have seen hate like yours eat people up until they do all kinds of crazy things. We lose good soldiers that way. Soldiers have to think.

Sec: Ah. Longinus, but you' have never seen hatred when it is as refined and exquisite as mine is. If I were to let it eat me up, then they would win a victory over me, would they not? So in general I merely cultivate an air of having them beneath my notice; but when an opportunity offers, I am ready.

I have two minds; the deep one nobody sees, and the charming, sophisticated self you have all come to know and love.

Long: Well, have it your way, then.

(MARCUS enters, unnoticed, during the following speech.)

Sec: Oh, I will, never fear. Even if I wanted to change, I could not; the image of my brother would haunt me. No, I fear that the day I see anything good in any Jew will be the day my brother gets up from his grave and kneels to one of them.

Long: (Seeing MARCUS) What is it, Marcus?

Mar: A message, Master, for the governor from his wife.

Long: I will take it up. Where is it?

Mar: She wrote nothing, Master. She simply said to tell him to have nothing to do with that Nazarene. He is innocent, she said, and she had a frightening dream about him.

Long: That is all?

Mar: Yes, Master. She seemed very concerned about the dream part.

Long: \very well; I suppose he should be told. What a life! Now we make policy by women's dreams! (He leaves)

Sec: How is it going outside? Have you heard anything?

Mar: They are becoming very stirred up about this man. I could hardly shoulder my way through to get here.

Sec: Marcus, will you do me a favor?

Mar: That depends on what it is.

Sec: I really hate to deprive you of the pleasure, but if there is a fight and Longinus sends you out, will you trade places with me for a while? I have a feeling he is going to keep me in here, and I need some action.

Mar: Very well, if you wish.

Sec: I will be back before he notices. You will not get into trouble.

Mar: Why should I get into trouble for that?

Sec: You will not, so never mind why.

Mar: Very well. It will not be long before it starts. The high priest has all his men down there trying to make everybody yell for his head. Where is he, by the way?

Sec:(Points behind the wall.) Down there. He looks as if he is about to come to.

Mar: (Looks) Huh! If they could see their king now!

Sec: Their king?

Mar: Oh, did you not know? Half of them out there claim he is a descendant of their kings or something, and they want him released so he can take over. They would have got what they wanted, too, except that the Governor had him whipped first; and so the high priests's men say that this means that the Governor really thinks he is guilty. It is a mess.

But after what you did to him, he will not be taking over anything for a good long while.

Sec: Well, I try to do my duty with a will. But I had no idea I was performing such a noble service for a king! The King of the Jews! My, my! I wish I had known; an honor like this comes once in a lifetime, and calls for more imagination than my humble efforts up to now. . . .

But we cannot really whip him any more; it would kill him, and we would not want to kill the King of the Jews! No, not kill him.

Still, it would be a pity to let him go out there incognito; we ought to do something to show his loyal subjects that we have a due and fitting respect for his august majesty. . . .

I think, Marcus, that I feel an idea beginning to blossom! This is too good an opportunity to let slip by!

(He goes to the wings, and calls) Hello, in there! Come in here for a moment!

(Enter members of the CHORUS, dressed as Roman soldiers. As they enter, they make various remarks, such as "What is it? What do you want? What is happening?" etc. )

Sec: Listen. You may not be aware of it, but we have been favored by a visit from royalty! The people out there are calling this magnificent specimen of humanity the King of the Jews! (Various expressions from the men.) Is that not amazing? And he never breathed a word to let us know! (More expressions.)

Oh, look; he is beginning to wake from the royal nap. Is that not sweet? (More remarks) Be careful, now; we do not want to startle him out of his slumbers with our rowdy noise; he will not be used to rough company, and we want to show him that Rome knows how to treat a king. ("What are you speaking of? What do you mean?" etc.)

You see, when I heard the news about what we have here I though that the reason we know not that he is a king is that he has no crown. Now that is a pity--I mean, how can anyone know a man is a king if he has no crown? And I know not where he lives, so I could not go home and fetch the one he forgot, so I looked around to see if I could find a substitute. (He goes over to the side to a pile of thorn-sticks, and starts weaving them into a kind of cap.)

Do you get the idea? (Expressions like "Yes!" "I see!," etc.)

Soldier: There is a broken piece of wall out back that would be perfect for a throne. I sat on it once, and Ouch! (He walks around holding his posterior. Everyone laughs.)

Another: (Picking up a stick) I found a scepter! Perhaps we could use it as a fan, also, lest his head grow hot. (Demonstrates by hitting himself on the head. More laughter.)

Sec: Now that is what I call imagination. Let us go. (A couple of them reach down behind the wall and start to drag the hidden body offstage.)

Mar: Half a moment! Half a moment! Be sure you do not kill him, because the Governor wants him released, and I can tell you that if he dies, we'll all be in trouble, and I mean trouble!

Sec: Now do you not worry your little head, Marcus. We are merely going to pay our respects, nothing more. Why, he will probably still be able even to stand up afterwards, will he not, men? And he will wear his crown proudly for the rest of his life!

(Making various remarks, they go out, including MARCUS. SECUNDUS is about to follow when he notices the cloak draped over the wall.)

Sec: Hm. . . . But what is a king, after all, without a royal robe?

(He takes the cloak and leaves. There is a silence for a few seconds.)

Chorus Offstage

Hail, King of the Jews!
Hail, greater than Caesar!
Your reign extends from sun to sun
and even to the spheres of heaven!
We praise you, we bless you,
we worship you, we glorify you!
We give you thanks for your great glory.

See how we worship the King of Kings!
See how mankind acknowledges its subjection!
See how we wipe his blood upon our hands
and smear it on the face of the Lord's Anointed!
Let it be proclaimed forever
as a memorial to our piety!
Shout it from the housetops, Declare it from the highest mountain
That we Gentiles are the first to call him King!

(LONGINUS enters at this point, says "Secundus?" and looks around, then offstage, and says "Oh, no!" as the CHORUS continues)

King over all of us, King of the world,
King of the heroes, King of the gods!
And this is our worship, this is our tribute.
Thus do we and all our children treat our Lord;
thus do we do to the God who dwells among us!

Long: Stop! Enough! The Governor wants that man up on the balcony to show the people! Secundus, I could kill you! This is your doing. Very well, you take him up, then--take him up dressed thus, and if the Governor asks how he came to be that condition, you will tell him you did it and take the consequences! And if you start a riot when they see him in that fool's costume, all our blood is on your head! Now take him out of there!

(Shuffling noises offstage, but not talking. LONGINUS leans on the wall with his head in his hands for a few minutes. Enter JOAB, without a cloak.)

Joab: Oh. Excuse me, Master.

Long: (Irritably) Yes? What is it now?

Joab: Nothing, Master. I was merely seeking something.

Long: Where is your cloak, soldier?

Joab That is what I was seeking, Master.

Long: Did you not hang it in the cloak room?

Joab: Well, Master, I was merely going down to the bin to get the wood out for the crosses, and I thought I would be gone only a few moments, and--

Long: And so rather than go all the way up to the cloak room, you simply threw it down somewhere, and now you cannot find it. How many times do I have to tell you people that leaving your things scattered everywhere not only makes the barracks look like a stable for camels, but things get stolen thus. You will probably find your cloak in some shop in the Valley of Hinnom, and it will take you half a month's pay to redeem it.

Oh, what is the use? . . . But I want you in a cloak tomorrow when we go out on review--if there is a tomorrow.

Joab: Yes, Master. It was my fault, Master.

Long: There are reasons for our regulations, Joab.

Joab: I know, Master.

Long: Well, let that--oh, forget it. What I need is some sleep. If you are lucky it may be still in the barracks. Where do you think you left it?

Joab: I thought it would be here, Master. I could swear I took it off in this room; I was here when Demetrius asked me to see about the wood.

Long: Well, it looks hopeless; it is not here now. But I will keep my eyes open, and if I happen to see it, I will let you know. Nobody can leave here today, so it is probably still hereabouts.

Joab: Yes, Master (He starts to leave.)

Long: Joab?

Joab: Yes, Master?

Long: How many crucifixions are scheduled for today?

Joab: Three, Master. There is that Cappadocian we caught in the barracks, and that thief the Pharisees handed over to us, and then there is Barabbas.

Long: Barabbas? Oh, that one. I suppose I will have to start thinking about that now. If we have an insurgent to crucify, it will to be a problem taking him through the crowd up to Golgotha. We ought to have the crucifixions right here.

Joab: That would be worse, Master.

Long: Oh, I know, I know. I have nothing anything against your religion, Joab, but it causes us much trouble.

Joab Some of us appreciate that and respect you for it, Master. We have been occupied by somebody or other for the past couple of hundred years, and you are the first to let us worship according to our consciences.

Long: That is the Roman way, Joab; and that is why we have empire over the whole world. We realize how important religion is to a people, and as long as it is no threat to us, we let them keep it. But it is not simply a practical matter; but part of our character.

Joab: That is part of why I am here, Master.

Long: I know; that is what you said when we accepted you--and I think you really are loyal. I think it a good thing, also, to have a few volunteers from the country in the army--when one can find them. Of course, it is dangerous, and we have to keep an eye on you.

Joab: I understand, Master.

Long: But it shows we are not complete monsters. I think we have a civilizing influence.

Joab: Yes, Master.

Long: You have your doubts, eh? Well, based on what has been happening here today, I can see why you would. You know, one of the reasons I think you are loyal is that you are so transparent; if ever a face was a mirror of a soul, yours is, in spite of that beard--or you are the best actor this side of Athens.

Joab: Thank you, Master.

Long: For what? For calling you guileless, or such a good actor? Forget it. You are a good man, Joab.

Joab: I try to be, Master.

Long: (With mock anger) Then do not go leaving your things around, you hear?

Joab: Yes, Master.

Long: Now begone, and find that cloak of yours.

Joab: Yes, Master. (Again turns to leave)

Long: Joab?

Joab: Yes, Master?

Long: I should not say this, but I will anyway; I have been more or less working up to it, and I refuse to to let the opportunity slip by. Joab, I want to apologize to you on behalf of the Romans, but for myself also.

Joab: Apologize, Master?

Long: I saw how you felt about that man we captured last night. And I was present when the Governor questioned him this morning, and I think I know why you felt thus. He is a very impressive man, Joab; calm and dignified, even though he knew his life was at stake.

I saw his monomania, too, I think, that in other circumstances would have made him the subject of a great tragedy. The Governor had heard that he was supposed to be a King, and he asked him about it; and he answered that he was a King, but not in this world. Of course, it was a mistake to say even that much, because the Governor was trying to free him and he did claim to be a King of some sort, which made it complicated. You could see he realized that it might lead to his being killed, but like all you Jews, he held fast to what he believed was the truth. He was very noble about it, and respectful of the Governor; but he was willing to die for what he believed.

Joab: He was a great man in many ways, Master--in practically every way but that one. If only he could forget about that!

Long: But he never will, Joab; it's the fatal flaw. But it may not be fatal yet, though. The Governor sent him down here to be whipped because he made that statement, but he plans to let him go.

Joab: I know.

Long: Well, here is why I want to apologize. When he was sent down, he was my responsibility, and I would never have let this happen to him had I but known what was happening--but I should have known what might happen; I should have suspected it.

Joab: What? did they kill him?

Long: No. . . . I know not but what it might have been better if they had, now. No, but they learned somehow that he was supposed to be a King, and they made a crown and dressed him like a-A moment! Half a moment! You say you left your cloak in here?

Joab: Yes, Master.

Long: I know where it is. You will have it back.

Joab: You mean--Who did it? I will kill him!

Long: You will do nothing whatever! I will take care of it! I want no fighting among my men, especially now! You swear to me by that god of yours that you will take no vengeance on anybody for what's been done here today.

Joab: But--

Long: Either that, or you're out of the army, as if now. I am not going to be worried about this; I have enough on my mind as it is.

Joab: (After a pause, reluctantly) I swear by the Lord God Almighty that I will not take vengeance on anyone for anything that is done today.

Long: No, no. Not simply by any god; I want the one you believe in. Put his name in.

Joab: But he has no name, Master. That is, he has one, but we never pronounce it.

Long: Say it!

(SECUNDUS enters toward the end of the following speech.)

Joab: Sir, you could cut out my tongue! I swore by the Lord God, and that is the only god there is. I'm not trying to--

Sec: Well, Longinus, it worked out better than we could have dared to hope. As soon as they saw their King, they all publicly admitted that they had no King but Caesar, and now--

Long: Secundus!

Sec: What?

Long: I will take your word for it, Joab; but if you are lying and anything happens, you die--and not only you, but I will decimate your people!

Now you! I don't know why I did not let him kill you, as you so richly deserve! I could kill you myself! Listen to me. You will give this man back his cloak, and by tomorrow you will see to it that it has not the slightest bloodstain or mark on it, or you will buy him a brand-new one of the first and finest quality. I intend to inspect that cloak tomorrow, and if there is the slightest defect in it, whether by your antics today or for any other reason, you will find yourself back there (points behind the wall) and I will hand Joab the whip myself!

Joab: I could not do it, Master! I swore--

Long: You can shut your mouth and you can take orders! If you have no consideration for the Jews, the least you could do would be to use your common sense! It is nothing but luck that kept that little game of yours from causing a riot and getting half of us killed--and on top of that to use his cloak! If I had not been here, you would be dead now, and our own men would be fighting each other!

Sec: Longinus, I did not--

Long: Master!

Sec: Master.

Long: The price I pay for making friends! Keep your excuses. I will not let this go, Secundus, but I am not going to decide anything now, until I calm down. . . . And after what I just told you before!

Well.

Very well, now what are we supposed to do with that man?

Sec: He is to take Barabbas's place-Master--to be crucified this noon.

Long: What? Then what do we do with Barabbas?

Sec: They are freeing him now.

Long: Freeing him!

Sec: It is the festival, and the people asked for him.

Long: And after we spent three months tracking him down!

Sec: Governor's orders, Master. He was not exactly overjoyed about it either.

Long: (Holds his head and takes several deep breaths.) Very well. What is the crowd doing?

Sec: Milling about aimlessly and screaming and shouting. They know not what to make of it.

Long: They are not the only ones. Nonetheless, Pollux seems to have intervened for us. Still, I had best go out on that crucifixion detail myself; it might be complicated. I will put Demetrius in charge of the garrison here, and station men all through the crowd on the route. But I want to keep my eyes on you two for a while also. You will come out with me.

Joab, did you say that one of the prisoners was a Cappadocian?

Joab: Yes, Master.

Long: Well, ordinarily, I would let you have him; but I am not going to give Secundus the satisfaction of crucifying a Jew today of all days, and so you will take the Cappadocian, Secundus. And you can demonstrate your loyalty to Rome, Joab, by taking that other man--not the King, he is mine. And if you two can behave decently to each other, we might be able to salvage something from this miserable day.

Joab and Secundus: Yes, Master.

Long: I think I will put Marcus as a general guard to come along with us; he will know what we are dealing with.

Very well, we have work to do. Where is the King?

(The lights go out on the acting area.)