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Title: Anathema: A Tragedy in Seven Scenes
Author: Andreyev, Leonid
Language: English
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ANATHEMA
_A Tragedy in Seven Scenes_
BY
LEONID ANDREYEV
AUTHORIZED TRANSLATION BY
HERMAN BERNSTEIN
New York
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
1910
"_I myself shall bring them bread and milk....
Children are so tender.... They need so little;
they eat a little crust of bread and they have
enough, they drink a cup of milk and they know no
thirst any longer. Then they sing...._"--DAVID
LUIZER.
_To_
NATHAN STRAUS
WHO SO GENEROUSLY SAVED THE LIVES OF
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
THE TRANSLATION OF THIS WORK
IS HEARTILY DEDICATED
BY
HERMAN BERNSTEIN
CHARACTERS
GUARDIAN OF THE ENTRANCES
ANATHEMA
DAVID LEIZER
SARAH, _his wife_
NAUM} _their children_
ROSA}
IVAN BEZKRAINY}
SONKA ZITRON } _tradespeople_
PURIKES
DANCING-MASTER
YOUNG MAN
PALE MAN
ORGAN-GRINDER
WANDERER
ABRAHAM KHESSIN
WEEPING WOMAN
WOMAN WITH CHILD IN HER ARMS
DRUNKARD
SONKA'S LITTLE GIRL
LEIBKE
_Musicians, Blind People, Crowd_
ANATHEMA
PROLOGUE.
_The scene represents a wild, deserted place, the slope of a mountain
rising to infinite heights. In the rear of the stage, halfway up the
mountain, huge iron gates, tightly closed, indicate the boundary of
the world as we conceive it. Beyond the iron gates, which oppress the
earth with their enormous weight, in silence and in mystery, dwells the
Beginning of every being, the Supreme Wisdom of the universe._
_At the foot of the Gates stands Someone guarding the entrances,
leaning upon a long sword, perfectly motionless. Garbed in wide
clothes, which are like stone in the motionlessness of their folds and
creases, He hides His face beneath a dark cover, and is Himself the
greatest of mysteries. Standing on the boundary separating two worlds,
he is dual in his make-up;--in appearance a man, in reality a spirit.
An arbitrator between two worlds, He is like unto a huge shield, which
gathers all bolts,--all looks, all entreaties, all expectations,
reproaches, and curses. The bearer of two elements, He wraps his speech
in silence, which is like the silence of the iron gates, and sometimes
in human words._
_Amidst the rocks, looking around on all sides strangely and shyly,
appears Anathema, someone accursed. Clinging to the grey rocks,
himself grey, cautious and flexible, like a serpent seeking a hole,
he goes stealthily and quietly to the Guardian of the Entrances,
desiring to strike him with an unexpected blow. But he is frightened
by his own audacity and, jumping to his feet, laughs defiantly and
maliciously. Then he sits down on a rock, with an air of freedom and
independence, and throws small cobblestones at the feet of the Guardian
of the Entrances;--cunning, he conceals his fear beneath the mask of
raillery and slight audacity. In the faint, grey, almost colorless
light, the head of the accursed one seems enormous; especially large
is his high forehead, which is furrowed by wrinkles of fruitless
reflections and unsolvable eternal problems. Anathema's thin beard is
perfectly grey; his hair, once jet black, is also greyish, rising on
his head in disordered tufts. Restless in his movements, he is vainly
trying to conceal his alarm and his purposeless haste, which are
forever devouring him. Endeavoring to emulate the proud stillness of
the Guardian of the Entrances, he grows quiet for an instant in the
pose of proud majesty, but the very next moment, in painful quest after
the eternally elusive, he wriggles in mute spasms, like a worm under
foot. And in his questions he is rapid and impetuous like a whirlwind,
drawing strength and fury in his mad whirl...._
* * * * *
ANATHEMA.
You are still here on guard? And I thought you were away,--even a
chained dog has his moments of rest or sleep, even though the whole
world be his kennel and Eternity his master! Is Eternity afraid of
thieves? But do not be angry. I have come to you as a good friend and
I implore humbly: Open the heavy Gates for an instant and allow me to
have a glimpse of Eternity. You dare not? But perhaps the mighty gates
have cracked from age, and the unfortunate, honest Anathema could peep
into the narrow cleft, without disturbing any one,--show me it with a
sign. Softly, on my belly, will I crawl over, I will glance at it and
crawl back,--and He will not know. But I shall know and become a God,
become a God, a God! I have so long wanted to become a God--and would I
be a poor God? Look!
_He assumes a haughty pose, but immediately bursts into laughter. Then
he sits down calmly on a flat rock and, folding his legs under him,
takes out dice. He mutters something to himself, yet loud enough to be
heard by the Guardian of the Entrances._
If you don't want to you need not do it,--I shall not fight with you.
Have I come here for that purpose? I simply roamed about the world and
came here by mere accident--I have nothing to do, so I roam about. And
now I am going to throw dice. If He were not so serious, I would have
invited Him, too,--but He is too proud, too proud, and He does not
understand the pleasure of the game. Six, eight, twenty--correct! It's
always correct when the Devil plays, even when he plays honestly....
David Leizer ... David Leizer ...
_Turning to the Guardian of the Entrances, he
speaks freely._
Do you know David Leizer? You surely do not know him. He is a sick and
foolish old Jew, whom no one knows, and even your Master has forgotten
about him. So says David Leizer, and I cannot help believing him--he is
a foolish, but honest man. He is the man I have won just now with my
dice--you saw it: six, eight, twenty.... One day I met David Leizer by
the seashore, when he was questioning what the waves were complaining
of; and I liked him. He is a foolish, but honest man, and if he should
be well tarred and lighted, he would make a brilliant torch for my
feast.
_Chatting with feigned ease, he steps over softly
to the rock nearest the Guardian._
No one knows David Leizer, but I shall make him famous, I shall make
him mighty and great--it is very possible that I shall even make him
immortal! You do not believe me? No one believes the wise Anathema,
even when he speaks the truth--and who loves the truth more than
Anathema does? Perhaps you? You silent dog, you who have stolen the
truth from the world, you who have barred the entrances with iron!...
_He rushes furiously toward the Guardian of the
Entrances, but retreats from the stern, motionless
Guardian, with a shriek of horror and pain. And he
speaks plaintively, falling with his grey chest
upon the grey rock._
Oh, the Devil's hair is grey! Weep, you who have grown fond of
Anathema! Wail and grieve, you who are striving toward Truth, who are
honoring wisdom--Anathema's hair is grey! Who will help the son of
Dawn? He is alone in the universe. Wherefore, O Great One, have you
frightened the fearless Anathema--he did not intend to strike you, he
only wanted to approach you. May I come over to you? Tell me.
_The Guardian of the Entrances is silent, but to
Anathema it seems that he hears something in the
silence. Outstretching his serpentine neck, he
shouts passionately_.
Louder! Louder! Are you silent, or did you speak? I do not understand.
The accursed one has a sensitive ear and discerns the shades of certain
words in your silence; he feels a vague movement of thoughts in your
motionlessness,--but he does not understand. Did you speak or are you
silent? Did you say: "Come," or did it only sound so to me?
THE GUARDIAN.
Come.
ANATHEMA.
You said it, but I dare not come up to you.
GUARDIAN.
Come.
ANATHEMA.
I am afraid.
_He advances toward the Guardian irresolutely,
in zigzag movements; lies down on his belly and
crawls, wailing with longing and fear._
Oh, I the prince of darkness, wise and powerful, and yet you see--I am
crawling on my belly like a dog. And I am doing it because I love you,
I want to kiss the hem of your cloak. But why does my old heart ache
so much? Tell me, Omniscient.
GUARDIAN.
The accursed one has no heart.
ANATHEMA.
_Advancing._
Yes, yes. The accursed has no heart, his chest is mute and motionless
like the grey rock which does not breathe. Oh, if Anathema had a heart,
you would have destroyed him long ago by his sufferings, even as you
destroy the foolish man. But Anathema has a mind that is searching for
the Truth, unprotected against your blows--spare it.... Here I am at
your feet, reveal your face to me. Only for an instant, as brief as the
flash of lightning,--reveal your face to me.
_He cringes servilely at the feet of the Guardian, not daring, however,
to touch his cloak. He is vainly endeavoring to lower his eyes, which
are quick and searching, sharp, flashing like coals beneath grey
ashes. The Guardian is silent and Anathema continues his fruitless and
persistent entreaties._
Do you not want to do it? Then call the name of Him who is beyond the
Gates. Call it in a soft voice, and no one will hear it; only I will
know it, the wise Anathema, longing for Truth. Is it not true that
it consists of seven letters? Or of six? Or of one? Tell me. Only one
letter--and you will save the accursed one from eternal tortures, and
the earth, which I am tearing with my nails, will bless you. You may
say it softly, softly, you may only breathe it, and I shall understand
it, and I shall bless you.... Tell me.
_The Guardian is silent, and Anathema, after some
hesitation, full of fury, crawls away slowly,
growing holder with every step._
It is not true that I love you.... It is not true that I wanted to kiss
the hem of your cloak.... I feel sorry for you, if you believed me....
I simply have nothing to do, so I roam about in the world.... I have
nothing to do, so I question the passers-by about this and that,--about
things I know myself.... I know everything!
_He rises, shakes himself like a dog that has just
come out of the water, and choosing the highest
rock, stands up there in a haughty, actorlike pose._
I know everything. With my wisdom I have penetrated the meaning of all
things, the laws of numbers are known to me, and the book of Fates is
open to me. At one glance I embrace life, I am the axis in the circle
of time, which whirls rapidly. I am great, I am mighty, I am immortal,
and man is in my power. Who will dare struggle with the Devil? The
strong, I kill, and the weak I force to whirl about in an intoxicating
dance, a mad dance, a devilish dance. I have poisoned all the sources
of life, on all its roads I have built ambuscades.... Do you hear the
voice of those who curse? The voice of those who are exhausted under
the burden of evil? Of those who dare in vain? Of those who long
endlessly and terribly?
GUARDIAN.
I do.
ANATHEMA.
_Laughing._
The name! Call the name! Illumine the way for the Devil and for man.
All in the world want goodness, but know not where to find it; all in
the world want fife, but meet only death. The name! Call the name of
goodness, call the name of eternal life. I am waiting!
GUARDIAN.
There is no name for that which you ask, Anathema. There is no number
by which to count, no measure by which to measure, no scales by which
to weigh that which you ask, Anathema. Every one who has said the word,
Love, has lied. Every one who has said the word, Wisdom,--has lied. And
even he who has uttered the word, God,--has lied with the greatest and
most terrible lie. For there is no number, no measure, no scale, no
name for that which you ask, Anathema.
ANATHEMA.
Where shall I go? Tell me.
GUARDIAN.
Where you are going.
ANATHEMA.
What shall I do? Tell me.
GUARDIAN.
What you are doing.
ANATHEMA.
You speak through silence--can I understand the language of your
silence? Tell me.
GUARDIAN.
No. Never. My face is open, but you see it not. My speech is loud,
but you hear it not. My commands are clear, but you know them not,
Anathema. And you shall never see, and you shall never hear, and you
shall never know, Anathema, unfortunate spirit, deathless in numbers,
eternally alive in measures and in weights, but as yet unborn to life.
ANATHEMA.
_Tormented._
Never?
GUARDIAN.
Never.
_Anathema leaps down from the rocks, and tosses about madly, devoured
by grief. Clinging to the rocks, he embraces them tenderly and then
pushes them away angrily; he moans bitterly. He turns his face to West
and East, to North and South of the earth, flourishing his arms, as
if calling the earth to wrath and vengeance. But the grey rocks are
silent, West and East are silent, North and South are silent, and in
stern motionlessness, heavily leaning on his sword, stands the Guardian
of the Entrances._
ANATHEMA.
Rise, O Earth! Rise, O Earth, and gird your sword, O man. There will be
no peace between you and Heaven; the earth is becoming the abode of
darkness and death, and the Prince of Darkness ascends to his throne
upon it--from now on and forever. I am going to you, David. I will hurl
your sad life towards the proud heaven like a stone from a sling--and
the foundations of the high heavens will tremble. My slave, David! With
your lips I will proclaim the truth about the fate of man.
_He turns to the Guardian of the Entrances._
And you!...
_He becomes silent, bashfully, confused by the
Silence. He stretches himself lazily, as from
tediousness, and mutters in a voice loud enough to
be heard by the Guardian of the Entrances._
But am I not roaming about, because I have nothing to do? I have been
here, and now I shall go there. Are there not plenty of roads for the
gay Anathema, who is fond of healthy laughter and a carefree jest?
Six.... That means that I bring to David a fortune which he does not
expect.... Eight.... That means that David Leizer is healing the sick
and reviving the dead. Twenty.... Correct! That means ... That means
that David and I come to express our gratitude. David Leizer, the
great, the powerful, the immortal David Leizer and I.... I am going.
_Anathema departs._
_Silence. The rocks are silent; the mute Gates,
pressing the earth with their enormous weight, are
silent; the Guardian, petrified, is silent._
_Silence. But did not Anathema's footsteps awaken
an alarming, resounding echo? One, two--some heavy
steps are heard coming. It is like one footstep,
but many people are coming; they are silent, but
the silence is already quivering. A momentary
confusion of sounds, of helplessness and tremulous
outbursts, and suddenly the silence breaks out in
high yellow flames of fire: somewhere below, in
the invisible distance, on earth, long trumpets,
carried by hands uplifted high, are blaring in
rebellious, brasslike tones,--their defiant cry of
revolt is turned both to earth and to Heaven._
_One, two,--now it is clear that a crowd is moving;
its monstrous voice, its blended and separate sobs,
its noisy and stormy speech is heard; and below,
in the labyrinth from broken and dark passages,
the first distinct sound rings out: "Da-a-vid!" It
grows more distinct, rises higher, and now it soars
overhead_-_on the wings of this brass fanfare,
above the heavy stamping of the marching feet._
_"Da-a-vid! Da-a-a-vid! Da-a-a-vid!"_
_The sounds blend harmoniously. They become the
song of millions of people. The trumpets are
blaring, exhausted; they call hoarsely with their
brass voices--_
_Does the Guardian of the Entrances hear them? The
grey rocks are covered with moans; passionate sobs
rise to His feet, but the Guardian is motionless,
the Guardian is speechless, and the iron Gates are
mute._
_The abyss crashes._
_With one blow, as if splitting the earth, a brass
roar and shout breaks forth,--and out of the
fragments, like a spring from a rock that is split
by lightning, a soft, harmonious, bright melody
comes forth._
_Then it dies out._
_Silence. Immobility. Expectation, expectation,
expectation._
CURTAIN
ACT ONE
_The south of Russia. A hot summer midday. A wide road near the end
of a large, thickly populated city. Starting from the left corner of
the stage, the road crosses it diagonally, turning in the rear of the
stage to the right. Two high stone posts, of ancient construction,
dilapidated and slightly bent, indicate the boundary of the city. On
the side of the city line, at the right post, there is a deserted,
once yellow sentry-box, the plaster fallen of in spots and the windows
tightly boarded and nailed up. On the sides of the road there are
several small shops made of cheap wood, separated from one another
by narrow passages--in the desperate and ineffectual struggle for
existence the little shops seem to be clambering stupidly upon one
another. The people are dealing in all sorts of merchandise: candies,
sunflower seeds, cheap sausages, herrings; each shop has a small,
dirty counter, through which a pipe with two faucets stands out
prominently--one of them for soda-water, at a penny a glass,--the other
for seltzer. One of the little shops belongs to David Leizer; the
others--to the Greek Purikes, to the young Jewess Sonka Zitron, and to
the Russian, Ivan Bezkrainy, who, in addition to his business, mends
shoes and rubbers; he is the only one who has "real noblemen's" cider
for sale._
_The sun is burning mercilessly and the few small trees, with their
leaves curled up from the heat, are pining for rain; the dusty road is
deserted. Beyond the posts, where the road is turning toward the right,
there is a high precipice--the dust-covered tops of trees are seen here
and there in the descending distance. And embracing the entire horizon,
the sea has stretched itself in a smoky blue strip, sleeping peacefully
in the heat and glare of the sun._
_Sarah, David Leizer's wife, an old Jewess, exhausted by life, is
seated in front of her little shop. She is mending some rags and is
chatting languidly with the other shopkeepers._
SARAH.
No one is buying anything. No one is drinking any soda-water; no one is
buying any sunflower seeds or any fine candies which melt in the mouth.
PURIKES.
_Like an echo._
No one is buying anything.
SARAH.
One might think that all the people have died so as not to buy
anything. One might think that we remained alone with our stores in
the whole world--we alone in the whole world.
PURIKES.
_Like an echo._
We alone.
BEZKRAINY.
The sun has burnt all the customers--only the shopkeepers remained.
_Silence. The soft sobbing of Sonka is heard._
BEZKRAINY.
Sonka, yesterday you bought a chicken. Did you kill or rob anybody that
you can afford to buy chickens? And if you are so rich and you hide
your money, why do you deal here and hinder us from making a living?
PURIKES.
_Like an echo._
And hinder us from making a living?
BEZKRAINY.
Sonka, I am asking you,--is it true that you bought a chicken
yesterday? Don't lie, I know it from trustworthy people.
_Sonka maintains silence, weeping._
SARAH.
When a Jew buys a chicken, it is because either the Jew is sick or the
chicken is sick. Sonka Zitron's son is dying; yesterday he commenced
to die and to-day he will end it--the boy is tenacious and he is dying
slowly.
BEZKRAINY.
Why did she come here if her son is dying?
SARAH.
Because it is necessary to trade.
PURIKES.
It is necessary to trade.
_Sonka is weeping._
SARAH.
Yesterday we ate nothing, we waited for to-day; and to-day we will eat
nothing, waiting that to-morrow will bring us customers and happiness.
Happiness! Who knows what is happiness? All people are equal before
God, and yet one sells two cents' worth, while another sells thirty
cents' worth. And one always two cents' worth, while the other always
thirty cents' worth, and no one knows why happiness is given to a
person.
BEZKRAINY.
I used to sell thirty cents' worth, and now I sell only two cents'
worth. At that time I had no "noblemen's" cider, and now I have it, and
yet I sell only two cents' worth now. Luck is changeable!
PURIKES.
Luck is changeable.
SARAH.
Yesterday my son Naum came and asked me: "Mother, where is father?" So
I said to him: "What for do you want to know where father is? David
Leizer, your father, is a sick, unfortunate man, who is going to die
soon; and he goes to the seashore to commune in solitude with God about
his fate. Don't disturb your father, he is going to die soon--you had
better tell me what you want to say." And Naum answered: "I will tell
you, mother,--I am beginning to die!" That is what Naum answered. When
David Leizer, my old husband, came home, I said to him: "You are still
steadfast in your uprightness! Blaspheme God and die! For your son Naum
is already beginning to die."
_Sonka is weeping more loudly._
PURIKES.
_Suddenly looks around, frightened._
But what--But what if people should stop buying things altogether?
SARAH.
_Frightened._
What do you mean?
PURIKES.
_With ever growing fear._
What if people should suddenly stop buying things altogether? What are
we to do then?
BEZKRAINY.
_With alarm._
How is it possible that people should stop buying things altogether?
That's impossible!
SARAH.
That's impossible.
PURIKES.
It is possible. Suddenly everybody may stop buying things.
_All are seized with horror; even Sonka stops
weeping, and pale-faced, she surveys the deserted
road with her frightened, dark eyes. The sun is
burning mercilessly. Anathema appears in the
distance, at the turn of the road._
SARAH.
A customer!
PURIKES.
A customer!
SONKA.
A customer! A customer!
_She cries again. Anathema comes nearer to them.
Notwithstanding the heat, he wears a black coat
of fine cloth, a black silk hat, black gloves;
only his necktie is white, lending a solemn air to
his costume. He is tall, and, though grey-haired,
straight and stately. The face of the accursed one
is of a swarthy-grey color; his features are stern
and of peculiar beauty. When Anathema takes off his
hat, his enormous forehead is revealed, furrowed
by wrinkles. His head is unusually large and his
greyish black hair is dishevelled. Anathema's neck
is wiry and strong, but it is rather thin and long,
and in his nervous contortions he carries his head
like a heavy weight, giving it the appearance
of strange inquisitiveness, restlessness and
malignity._
SARAH.
Do you want perhaps a glass of soda-water, sir? It is as hot as in
Hell, and if you don't drink, you may die of a sunstroke.
BEZKRAINY.
Real noblemen's cider!
PURIKES.
Violet soda! My God, violet soda!
SARAH.
Soda, seltzer!
BEZKRAINY.
Don't drink her soda-water. From her water rats are dying and roaches
stand up on their hind legs.
SARAH.
Ivan, aren't you ashamed to take away a customer? I am not saying
anything about your noblemen's cider, which is fit only for mad dogs to
drink.
PURIKES.
_Joyously._
A customer! A customer! Please don't buy anything from me, you needn't
buy anything from me,--all I want is to look at you. Sonka, do you see?
A buyer!
SONKA.
I don't see anything. I can't see.
_Anathema lifts his hatband bows to all kindly._
ANATHEMA.
Thank you. I will drink a glass of soda-water with pleasure, and
perhaps even a glass of your noblemen's cider. But I should like to
know where David Leizer's business place is.
SARAH.
_Surprised._
It is here. Do you want David? I am his wife, Sarah.
ANATHEMA.
Yes, madam Leizer, I want to see David, David Leizer.
SARAH.
_Suspiciously._
You have come with bad news: David has no friends that wear clothes of
such fine cloth as you wear. If that is so, you had better go away.
David is not here, and I will not tell you where he is.
ANATHEMA.
_Heartily._
Oh, no, madam, don't be uneasy; I am not bringing you any bad news. But
how pleasant it is to see such love.--Do you love your husband very
much, madam Leizer? He must be a very strong and healthy man, earning
much money.
SARAH.
_Frowning._
No, he is sick and old and unable to work. But he has not sinned
against God or man in any way, and even his enemies dare not say
anything bad about him. Here is some seltzer, sir, it is better than
soda. And if you are not afraid of the heat, I would ask you to sit
down and wait a while; David will soon be here.
ANATHEMA.
_Sitting down._
Yes, I have heard many good things about your husband, but I did not
know that he was so feeble and old. Have you any children, madam Leizer?
SARAH.
We had six, but the first four died....
ANATHEMA.
_Nods his head compassionately._
SARAH.
Yes, we lived miserably, sir. And we have only two left. Our son Naum....
BEZKRAINY.
A good-for-nothing, who makes believe that he is sick and saunters
about the city all day long.
SARAH.
Stop, Ivan, aren't you ashamed to slander honest people? Naum is going
around because he has to get credit. Then, sir, we have a daughter,
and her name is Rosa. But unfortunately she is too beautiful, too
beautiful, sir. Happiness what is happiness? One person dies of
smallpox, while another person needs smallpox, but it would not come,
and the face is as pure as a flower leaf.
ANATHEMA.
_Feigning amazement._
Why are you so sorry about it? Beauty is a gift from God, which He has
bestowed upon man, whom he has thus elevated and brought nearer to
Himself.
SARAH.
Who knows? It may be a gift from God, and it may be a gift from
somebody else of whom I would not speak. But there is one thing I do
not know; why has a man beautiful eyes, if he must hide them? Why has
he a white face, if he must cover it with soot and filth? Beauty is a
too dangerous treasure, for it is easier to hide money from a robber,
than beauty from a wicked man. (_Suspiciously._) Did you come perhaps
to see Rosa? Then you better go away,--Rosa is not here, and I will not
tell you where she is.
PURIKES.
A buyer. Sarah, look, a buyer is here.
SARAH.
Yes, yes, Purikes. But he will not buy that which he has come for, and
he will not find that which he is seeking.
_Anathema smiles good-naturedly and listens
attentively to the conversation; every time some
one begins to speak, he stretches his neck and
turns his head to the speaker, holding it slightly
bent on one side. He makes grimaces like an
actor, expressing now amazement, now sorrow or
indignation. He laughs, inappropriately, thereby
frightening and surprising the people._
BEZKRAINY.
Sarah, you are making a mistake in valuing your goods too highly and
not selling when people are ready to buy. Every article loses its value
if you keep it too long.
SARAH
_Tearfully._
What a wicked man you are, Ivan. I gave you credit for ten copecks, and
you are forever slandering us.
BEZKRAINY.
Don't pay any attention to me, Sarah,--I am wicked because I am hungry.
You, sir, in that black coat, go away: Sarah is an honest woman and she
will not sell her daughter to you, even if you offered her a million.
SARAH.
_Hotly._
That's right, Ivan, thank you. But who told you, sir, that our Rosa is
beautiful? It is not true--don't laugh, it isn't true, she is as ugly
as deadly sin. She is as filthy as a dog that has just crawled out of
the coal-hole of a ship; her face is furrowed by smallpox and it looks
like a field where people dig lime and sand; there is on her right eye
a cataract as large as on an old horse. Look at her hair--it is like
faded wool, half torn away by birds; and when she walks, she stoops,--I
swear to you, she stoops when she walks! If you take her, everybody
will laugh at you, everybody will spit at you, the street urchins will
give you no rest....
ANATHEMA.
_Surprised._
But, madam Leizer, I have heard--
SARAH.
_Sorrowfully._
You have heard nothing! I swear to you, you have heard nothing.
ANATHEMA.
But you yourself--
SARAH.
_Imploringly._
Have I said anything? My God, women are so talkative, sir; and they
love their children so dearly that they always consider them beautiful.
Rosa--beautiful! (_Laughs._) Just think of it, Purikes,--Rosa is
beautiful!
_She laughs. Rosa comes over from the direction of
the city. Her hair is disheveled, almost covering
her black, flashing eyes; her face is smeared with
something black, and she is dressed wretchedly.
She walks with a youthful and stately gait, but on
noticing the strange man, she stoops like an old
woman._
SARAH.
Here, here is Rosa; look, sir! My God, how ugly she is. David cries
every time he sees her.
ROSA.
_Offended, straightens herself._
There are uglier women than I am.
SARAH.
_Persuasively._
What are you saying, Rosa? There is no uglier girl than you in the
whole world. (_Whispers entreatingly._) Hide your beauty, Rosa. A
robber has come, Rosa,--hide your beauty! At night I will wash your
face myself, I will comb your braids myself, and you will be as
beautiful as a heavenly angel, and we will all pray to you. A robber
has come, Rosa. (_Aloud._) Did they throw stones at you again?
ROSA.
_Hoarsely._
Yes, they did.
SARAH.
And the dogs attacked you, too?
ROSA.
Yes, they did.--
SARAH.
So you see, sir? Even the dogs!
ANATHEMA.
_In a friendly tone._
Yes, it seems that I have made a mistake. To my regret, your daughter
is really not pretty and it is painful to look at her.
SARAH.
Of course, there are uglier girls than she is, but--Go, Rosochka, go
over there, take your work--What is there for a poor and ugly girl to
do but work? Go, my poor Rosochka, go.
_Rosa takes some rags to mend and disappears behind
the counter. Silence._
ANATHEMA.
Is it long since you have this store, madam Leizer?
SARAH.
_Calmed down._
Thirty years already, ever since David became sick. A misfortune
happened to him when he served in the army,--he was trampled by horses
and they crushed his chest.
ANATHEMA.
Was David a soldier?
BEZKRAINY.
_Interposing._
David had an older brother, and he was a scoundrel, and his name was
Moses.
SARAH.
_With a sigh._
And his name was Moses.
BEZKRAINY.
And when the time came for Moses to serve in the army, he ran off on an
Italian steamer. And David was taken in his place.
SARAH.
_With a sigh._
David was taken.
ANATHEMA.
What injustice!
BEZKRAINY.
Have you ever met justice in the world?
ANATHEMA.
Of course I have. You are no doubt an unfortunate man, and everything
appears to you in dark colors. But you will see, you will soon see,
that justice does exist. (_Freely._) The devil take it, I have nothing
to do, so I always roam about the world, and I have not seen anything
so plentiful as justice. How shall I say it, madam Leizer? There is
more justice on earth than fleas on a good dog.
SARAH.
_Smiling._
But what if it is just as hard to catch justice as
to catch fleas....
BEZKRAINY.
And what if it bites just as the fleas do?
_All laugh. From the side of the city appears an
organ-grinder, exhausted, half-blinded from dust
and perspiration. He wants to pass by, but suddenly
he pauses in despair, and begins to play a terrible
tune._
SARAH.
Pass on, please, pass on. We need no music.
ORGAN-GRINDER.
_Playing._
Neither do I need it.
SARAH.
We have nothing to give you. Pass on.
ORGAN-GRINDER.
_Playing._
Then I will die to the strains of music.
ANATHEMA.
_Generously._
Please, madam Leizer, give him something to eat and water--I will pay
for everything.
SARAH.
What a kind-hearted man you are. Go, musician, eat and drink. But for
the water I will not take anything from you--let the water be mine.
_The organ-grinder sits down and eats ravenously._
ANATHEMA.
_Friendly._
Is it long you have been roaming over the world, musician?
ORGAN-GRINDER.
_Morosely,_
I used to have a monkey before--music and a monkey. The monkey was
eaten up by the fleas, and my music box started to screech, and I am
looking for a tree on which to hang myself. That is all.
_A little girl runs in. She looks curiously at the
organ-grinder, then turns to Sonka._
LITTLE GIRL.
Sonka, Ruzya died.
SONKA.
Already?
LITTLE GIRL.
Yes, he died. May I take some seeds?
SONKA.
_Closing her store._
You may. Sarah, if a customer comes, tell him that I will attend to
business to-morrow again, otherwise he may think that my store is
closed for good. Have you heard it? Ruzya died.
SARAH.
Already?
LITTLE GIRL.
Yes, he died. Is the musician going to play?
_Anathema whispers to Sarah and puts something into
her hand._
SARAH.
Sonka, here is a rouble for you; you see, a rouble?
BEZKRAINY.
There is luck! Yesterday a chicken, to-day a rouble. Take it, Sonka.
_All look greedily upon the rouble. Sonka and the
little girl go out._
SARAH.
You are very rich, sir.
ANATHEMA.
_With self-satisfaction._
Yes. I have a large practice--I am a lawyer.
SARAH.
_Quickly._
David has no debts.
ANATHEMA.
Oh, I haven't come for that at all, madam Leizer. When you know me
better, you will see that I bring, but do not take, that I make gifts,
but do not take them back.
SARAH.
_With fear._
Do you come from God?
ANATHEMA.
It would be too much honor for me and for you, madam Leizer, if I came
from God. No, I have come of my own accord.
_Naum comes over, looks at the customer with
amazement, and sits down, exhausted, upon a rock.
Naum is a tall, thin young man, with a narrow chest
and a large, pale nose. He looks around on all
sides._
NAUM.
Where is Rosa?
SARAH.
_In a whisper._
Not so loud,--she is there. (_Aloud._) Well, hew was it, Naum? Did you
get any credit?
NAUM.
_Slowly._
No, mother, I did not get any credit. I am beginning to die,
mother,--everybody feels hot, while I am very cold; and I am
perspiring, but my perspiration is cold. I met Sonka--Ruzya died
already.
SARAH.
You will live yet, Naum, you will live yet.
NAUM.
_Slowly._
Yes, I will live yet. Why isn't father coming? It is time for him to be
here.
SARAH.
Clean a herring, Rosa. This gentleman is waiting for David a long time
already, and David isn't here.
NAUM.
What does he want?
SARAH.
I don't know, Naum. Since he came, I suppose it was necessary.
_Silence._
NAUM.
Mother, I am not going for credit any more. I will go with father to
the sea. The time has come when I must go and ask God about my fate.
SARAH.
Do not ask Him, Naum, do not ask.
NAUM.
I will ask Him.
SARAH.
_Entreatingly._
Don't do it, Naum, don't ask.
ANATHEMA.
Why not, madam Leizer? Do you fear that God will give him a bad answer?
You should have more faith, madam Leizer. If David heard you, he would
not approve your words.
ORGAN-GRINDER.
_Raising his head._
Is it you, young man, who wants to speak to God?
NAUM.
Yes, it is I. Every man can speak with God.
ORGAN-GRINDER.
Do you think so? Then ask for a new organ. Tell Him that this one is
screeching.
ANATHEMA.
_Compassionately._
He might add that the monkey was eaten up by the fleas--that he needs a
new monkey.
_He laughs. All look at him in perplexity; the
organ-grinder rises and takes up his organ
silently._
SARAH.
What do you want to do, musician?
ORGAN-GRINDER.
I want to play.
SARAH.
What for? We don't need any music.
ORGAN-GRINDER.
I must thank you for your kindness.
_He plays something weird: the organ screeches,
breaks off, wheezes. Anathema, with eyes lifted
dreamily to the sky, keeps time with his hand, and
whistles._
SARAH.
My God, how badly it sounds.
ANATHEMA.
This, madam Leizer (_whistles_),--this is called the world harmony.
_The conversation dies away for some time: only
the screeching of the organ and the whistling
of Anathema are heard. The sun is still shining
mercilessly._
ANATHEMA.
I have nothing to do, so I wander over the world.
_He is carried away by the playing of the organ. Suddenly the organ
breaks off with a screech, which rings in the ears for a long time, and
Anathema remains as petrified with uplifted hand._
ANATHEMA.
_Perplexedly._
Does it always end like this?
ORGAN-GRINDER.
Sometimes even worse. Good-by.
ANATHEMA.
_Feeling his vest pocket._
No, no, you mustn't go away like that.... You have afforded us genuine
pleasure, and I do not want you to hang yourself. Here is some change
for you, and live on.
SARAH.
_Pleasantly surprised._
Who could ever think, by looking at your face, that you are such a
cheerful and kind-hearted man?
ANATHEMA.
_Flattered._
Oh, do not embarrass me with your praise, madam Leizer. Why shouldn't
I help a poor man who would otherwise hang himself! The life of man is
a precious thing, madam Leizer,--and I always carry change with me....
But isn't that venerable man I see there David Leizer?
_He looks in the direction where the road turns to
the right._
SARAH.
_Also looking at the road._
Yes, that is David.
_All wait silently. On the dust-covered road
appears David Leizer, walking slowly. He is tall,
bony, with long, grey locks and a grey beard; on
his head he wears a high, black cap; in his hand a
staff with which he seems to measure the road. He
looks down from under his heavy eyebrows; and thus,
without lifting his eyes, he advances slowly and
seriously to the people, and stops, leaning upon
the staff with both hands._
SARAH.
_Rising respectfully._
Where were you, David?
DAVID.
_Not lifting his eyes._
I was by the sea.
SARAH.
What did you do there, David?
DAVID.
I looked at the waves, Sarah, and asked them whence they came and
whither they were going. I was thinking of life, Sarah--whence it came
and whither it is going....
SARAH.
What did the waves tell you, David?
DAVID.
They did not tell me anything, Sarah.... They come and go away again,
and the man by the sea is waiting in vain for an answer from the sea.
SARAH.
With whom did you speak, David?
DAVID.
I spoke with God, Sarah. I asked Him about the fate of David Leizer,
the poor Jew who is going to die soon.
SARAH.
_With emotion._
And what did God tell you?
_David is silent, his eyes lowered._
SARAH.
Our son Naum also wants to go with you to the sea and ask about his
fate.
DAVID.
_Lifting his eyes._
Is Naum going to die soon?
NAUM.
Yes, father,--I have already commenced to die.
ANATHEMA.
But, pardon me, gentlemen.... Why should you speak of death, since I
have brought you life and happiness?
DAVID.
_Turning his head to him._
Do you come from God? Sarah, who is he who dares to speak like this?
SARAH.
I don't know. He has been waiting for you a long time.
ANATHEMA.
_Bustling about joyously._
Oh, ladies and gentlemen, smile. Attention for one minute and I will
make you all laugh. Attention, gentlemen. Attention!
_All look with tense attention at Anathema's mouth._
ANATHEMA.
_Taking out a paper, solemnly._
Are you not David Leizer, the son of Abraham Leizer?
LEIZER.
_Frightened._
Well, yes, I am. But there may be another David Leizer. I don't
know--ask the people.
ANATHEMA.
_Interrupting him with a gesture._
Didn't you have a brother, Moses Leizer, who fled to America
thirty-five years ago on the Italian steamship _Fortuna?_
ALL.
Yes, he did.
DAVID.
But I did not know that he was in America.
ANATHEMA.
David Leizer, your brother Moses died!
_Silence._
DAVID.
I have long forgiven him.
ANATHEMA.
And before he died he bequeathed all his fortune, amounting to two
million dollars (_to the people surrounding him_), which means four
million roubles,--to you, David Leizer.
_A deep sigh goes through the crowd and all seem as
petrified._
ANATHEMA.
_Outstretching the paper._
Here is the document, you see--the seal.
DAVID.
_Pushing the paper aside._
No, don't! Don't do that! You were not sent by God. God would not make
sport of man in this way.
ANATHEMA.
_Heartily._
This is not a jest. Upon my honor, it is the truth,--four millions.
Allow me to be the first to congratulate you and to shake your honest
hand warmly. (_Takes David Leizer's hand and shakes it._) Well, madam
Leizer, what have I brought you? And what will you say now? Is your
daughter Rosa beautiful now or is she ugly? Aha! Are you going to die
so soon, Naum? Aha! (_Tearfully_.) That's what I have brought you,
people, and now permit me to step aside--and not to disturb you--
_Lifts a handkerchief to his eyes and steps aside,
apparently agitated._
SARAH.
_Wildly._
Rosa!
ROSA.
_Also wildly._
What is it, mamma?
SARAH.
Wash your face! Wash your face, Rosa! My God, quicker, quicker,--wash
your face!
_As though insane, she drags Rosa, washes her,
splashing the water with trembling hands. Naum
clings to his father's arm, hanging on to it, as
though he is about to lose consciousness._
DAVID.
Take back your paper! (_Firmly._) Take back your paper!
SARAH.
Have you lost your mind, David? Don't listen to him. Wash yourself,
Rosochka, wash yourself! Let all the people see your beauty!
NAUM.
_Seizing the paper._
It is ours, father. Father,--this is how God has answered you. Look at
mother, look at Rosa--look at me: I was already commencing to die.
PURIKES.
_Shouts._
Ai, Ai, look out, they'll tear the paper. Ai, Ai, take away the paper
from them, quick!
_Naum cries, Rosa, radiantly beautiful, her hair
wet, but no longer covering her eyes, comes over to
her father, laughing._
ROSA.
It is I, father! It is I! It is--I!
SARAH.
_Wildly._
Where were you, Rosa?
ROSA.
I wasn't--I've just been born, mamma!
SARAH.
See, David, see--a human being has just been born! Oh, look at her,
every one of you! Oh, open the doors of your vision, throw open the
gates of your eyes--look at her, every one of you!
_Suddenly David realizes the meaning of what has
happened. He throws his cap from his head, tears
his clothing, which seems to suffocate him, and
pushing everybody aside, rushes to Anathema._
DAVID.
_Sternly._
Why have you brought this?
ANATHEMA.
_Meekly._
But, pardon me, Mr. Leizer, I am only a lawyer. I am sincerely glad.
DAVID.
Why have you brought this?
_He pushes Anathema aside, and reeling, goes to the
road. Suddenly he stops, turns around and shouts,
flourishing his hands._
DAVID.
I Drive him away--that is the Devil. Do you think he brought me four
million roubles? No, he brought me four million insults. Four million
mockeries he hurled upon the head of David ... Four oceans of bitter
tears have I shed over life, my sighs were four winds of the earth,
my four children were devoured by hunger and diseases--and now, when
I must die, he brings me four millions. Will they return to me my
youth which I passed in privation, oppressed with grief, wrapped with
sorrows, crowned with anguish? Will they repay me for one day of my
starvation, one tear that fell upon a rock, one insult hurled at my
face? Four million curses--that's what your four million roubles
are--oh, Hannah, oh, Benjamin, and Raphael, and my little Moishe,--you,
my little birdies, who died of hunger upon the naked branches of
winter--what will you say if your father should touch this money? No, I
don't need any money. I am telling you--I, an old Jew, dying of hunger.
I don't need any money. I don't see God in this. But I shall go to Him,
I shall tell Him: What are you doing with David?--I am going.
_Goes away, brandishing his hands._
SARAH.
_Crying._
David, come back, come back.
PURIKES.
_In despair._
The paper, pick up the paper.
ANATHEMA.
_Turns around._
Calm yourself, madam Leizer, he will come back. It is always thus at
first. I have wandered a great deal over the world and I know it. The
blood rushes to the head, the feet begin to quiver, and man curses.
That's nonsense!
ROSA.
What a crooked mirror, mother!
NAUM.
_Cries._
Mamma, where is father going? I want to live.
ANATHEMA.
Throw away that piece of glass, Rosa. Mankind will reflect your beauty,
the world will reflect your beauty--you will see yourself in the
world.... Ah, you are still here, musician. Play something for us,
please. Such a holiday must not pass without music!
ORGAN-GRINDER.
Shall I play the same?
ANATHEMA.
The same.
_The organ wails and wheezes. Anathema whistles
furiously, waving his hands, as though blessing
everybody with the music and the whistling._
CURTAIN.
ACT TWO.
_David Leizer lives richly. At the urgent request of his wife and his
children he has hired a rich villa, by the sea-shore, engaged numerous
servants, bought horses and carriages. Anathema, under the pretext that
he had grown tired of his law practice, remained with David as his
private secretary. Rosa is taking lessons in languages and deportment.
Naum, who has grown very sick, near to death, is learning how to dance.
The money has not yet arrived from America, but to David Leizer, the
millionaire, a large credit has been extended._
_The stage represents a rich parlor, white marble here and there, with
large Italian windows and a door leading to a veranda. It is midday.
Beyond the open windows, semi-tropical plants are visible, and the deep
blue sea in the distance; through one of the windows, a view of the
city is seen._
_David Leizer is seated by the table, greatly depressed. A short
distance away, on a divan, Sarah is seated, dressed richly, but without
taste; she watches Naum learning how to dance. Naum is very pale, he
coughs and almost falls from weakness, especially when, according to
the rules of the dance, he must stand on one foot; but he is studying
diligently! He is dressed rather richly, but his bright-colored vest
and necktie spoil the elegance of his appearance. Near Naum, the
dancing-master, with a fiddle and how, is hustling about, balancing
himself, rising up and down. He is a man of unusual refinement and
grace; he wears a white vest, patent-leather slippers, and a smoking
jacket. And Anathema, standing at the veranda door, looks upon all this
with an air of sadness and reproach._
DANCING-MASTER.
One--two--three; one--two--three.
SARAH.
Look, David, see how successful our Naum is in his dancing. I could not
hop like that for anything? poor boy!
DAVID.
I see.
DANCING-MASTER.
Monsieur Naum is very talented. Please, one-two--three;
one--two--three. Pardon me, pardon me, this isn't exactly right. You
must make the step more precise, neatly rounding the motion of the
right foot. This way--this way.
_Shows him how to do it._
Madam Leizer, dancing is quite like mathematics, a circle is necessary.
SARAH.
Do you hear, David?
DAVID.
I hear.
DANCING-MASTER.
Please, monsieur Naum. One--two--three.
_Plays on his violin._
NAUM.
_Out of breath._
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
_He turns around, and then, suddenly, almost falls
down. He stops. His face is exhausted, deathly
pale; he is seized with a fit of coughing. Then he
resumes dancing._
NAUM,
One, two, three.
DANCING-MASTER.
That's the way, that's the way, monsieur Naum. Please, more neatly!
More neatly, please! One, two, three.
_He plays. Anathema walks over to Sarah cautiously
and says in a low voice, yet loud enough to be
heard by David:_
ANATHEMA.
Madam Leizer, does it not seem to you that Naum is rather tired? This
dancing-master knows no mercy.
DAVID.
_Turning around._
Yes, it is enough. Sarah, you are willing to torture the boy.
SARAH.
_Confusedly._
What have I to do with it, David? Don't I see that he is tired, but he
wants to dance? Naum, Naum!
DAVID.
Enough, Naum! Take a rest.
NAUM.
_Out of breath._
I want to dance.
_Stops and stamps his foot hysterically._
Why am I not allowed to dance? Or do you all want me to die soon?
SARAH.
You will live yet, Naum. You will live yet.
NAUM.
_Almost crying._
Why don't they allow me to dance? I want to dance. I have looked for
credit long enough, I want to amuse myself. Am I an old man to be in
bed and cough there? Cough! Cough!
_He coughs and cries simultaneously. Anathema
whispers something to the dancing-master, who
expresses compassion, nods his head, and prepares
to go._
DANCING-MASTER.
Until to-morrow, monsieur Naum. I am afraid that our lesson was a
little too long.
NAUM.
To-morrow--don't fail to come to-morrow. Do you hear? I want to dance.
_The dancing-master goes out, bowing. Naum follows
him._
NAUM.
To-morrow, without fail. Do you hear? Without fail.
_They go out._
ANATHEMA.
What are you thinking of, David? Allow me to be not only your private
secretary--although I am proud of this honor--but also your friend.
Since the time when you received the money you are oppressed by a dark
sorrow, and it pains me to look at you.
DAVID.
What is there that I should rejoice over, Nullius?
SARAH.
And Rosa? Do not sin against God, David! Do not our eyes rest upon her
beauty and youth? Before even the silent moon dared not look at her,
one star dared not whisper about her to any other star,--while now she
is riding about in a carriage, and everybody looks at her, and horsemen
gallop after her. Just think of it, Nullius, horsemen gallop after her!
DAVID.
And Naum?
SARAH.
What about Naum? He has long been ill, you know it, and death upon a
soft bed is not worse than death upon the pavement. And perhaps he
will live yet, he will live yet (_cries._) David, Abraham Khessin and
Sonka's girl are waiting for you in the yard.
DAVID.
_Morosely._
What do they want, money? Sarah, give them a few pennies and let them
go.
SARAH.
In the end they will draw out all the money we have, Nullius. I have
given to Khessin twice already. He is like sand,--no matter how much
water you pour into it, it is always dry and greedy.
DAVID.
Nonsense! we have too much money, Sarah. But it pains me to look at the
people, Nullius. Since the time when you brought us this fortune--
ANATHEMA.
Which you earned by your sufferings, Leizer.
DAVID.
Since that time, the people have changed so much for the worse. You
like to have the people bow to you very low, Nullius? I do not like
it--human beings are not dogs that they should crawl on their bellies.
And you like to have the people tell you, Nullius, that you are the
wisest, the most magnanimous, the best of all living beings--whereas
you are only an ordinary old Jew, like many another Jew. I do not
like it, Nullius,--for the sons of the God of truth and mercy it is
unbecoming to lie, even while dying of the cruelties of truth.
ANATHEMA.
_Thoughtfully._
Riches are a terrible power, Leizer. No one asks you where your money
came from; they see your might and they worship it.
DAVID.
Might? And Naum? And I, Nullius? Can I buy for all the money even a
single day of health and life?
ANATHEMA.
You look considerably fresher now.
DAVID.
_Smiling gloomily._
Yes? Should I, perhaps, also engage a dancing-master? What do you
advise me, Nullius?
SARAH.
Don't forget Rosa, father. Is it not a great sin against God to hide
the beauty of the face? It is given as a joy and a pleasure to the
eyes; God Himself reveals His beauty in a beautiful face, and did we
not lift our hands against God Himself when we stained our Rosa's face
with coal and soot, when we made her terrible and sorrowful to look
upon?
DAVID.
Beauty is withering. Everything is dying, Sarah.
SARAH.
But the lily also withers, and the narcissus dies, the petals of the
yellow rose fall apart--would you, David, trample all flowers under
foot and heap abuse upon the yellow rose? Do not doubt, David,--the
God of righteousness has given you riches--will you who were so firm in
misfortune that you did not blaspheme God even once--will you grow weak
in your happiness?
ANATHEMA.
You are perfectly right, madam Leizer. Rosa has so many suitors that
all she needs is to choose.
DAVID.
_Rising angrily._
I will not give Rosa to any of them.
SARAH.
Why not, David?
DAVID.
I will not give Rosa to any of them. They are like dogs that want to
eat out of the golden bowl--I will drive the dogs away.
_Enter Rosa. She is dressed richly, but simply. She
is somewhat pale and fatigued, but very beautiful.
She tries to speak and to move gracefully, but at
times she forgets herself and becomes rude and
vociferous. She feds tormented by this. Rosa is
accompanied by two horsemen. The older man is very
pale and he frowns angrily. Naum clings to Rosa, as
though seeking protection in her youth, strength,
and beauty, and he walks faintly after her._
DAVID.
_In a rather loud voice._
Sarah, here are the suitors.
SARAH.
_Waving her hand._
Oh, be silent, David.
ROSA.
_Kissing her mother carelessly._
How tired I am, mamma. Good afternoon, father.
SARAH.
Take care of yourself, Rosochka; you mustn't study so much.
_To the older of the two cavaliers._
Please tell her that she mustn't work so hard--what does she need to
work for now?
YOUNG RIDER.
_In a low voice._
People should pray before your daughter, madam Leizer. Soon a temple
will be erected in her honor.
OLDER RIDER.
_Smiling._
And near the temple, a cemetery. Madam Leizer, there are always
cemeteries near the temples.
ROSA.
Good-by. I am tired. If you are disengaged, come in to-morrow
morning--I may go out with you again.
OLDER RIDER.
_Shrugging his shoulders._
Disengaged? Oh, yes, of course, we are entirely free.
_Harshly._
Good-by.
YOUNG RIDER.
_With a sigh._
Good-by.
_They go out._
SARAH.
_Uneasily._
Rosochka, I think you have offended him. Why did you do it?
ROSA.
That doesn't matter, mamma.
ANATHEMA.
_To David._
These are not suitors, David.
_David laughs morosely. Anathema runs over to Rosa
and offers her his arm. He leads her, half-dancing,
merrily whistling the same tune that the organ had
played._
ANATHEMA.
Oh, Rosa, were it not for my age (_whistles_) and not for my illness
(_whistles_), I would be the first to ask your hand.
ROSA.
_Laughing haughtily._
Better illness than death.
DAVID.
You are a very gay man, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
_Whistling._
The absence of wealth and, then, a clear conscience, David, a clear
conscience. I have nothing to do, so I walk arm in arm with Rosa. You
spoke of death, Rosa?
ROSA.
Yes.
ANATHEMA.
_Stopping._
You are indeed beautiful, Rosa.
_Thoughtfully._
And what if.... If.... But no; duty above all. Listen to me, Rosa:
don't give yourself away to any one less than a prince, even though the
prince of darkness.
NAUM.
Rosochka, why did you go away from me? I feel cold when you do not hold
my hand. Hold my hand, Rosochka.
ROSA.
_Hesitating._
But I must go to change my dress, Naum.
NAUM.
I will accompany you as far as your room. You know, I danced again
to-day and danced very well. I am not so short of breath now any longer.
_With a feeling of adoration and slight envy._
How beautiful you are, Rosochka!
SARAH.
Wait, Rosochka, I will comb your hair myself. Will you allow me?
ROSA.
You do it very badly, mamma; you kiss it more than you comb it--my hair
gets entangled from your kisses.
DAVID.
Is that how you answer your mother, Rosa?
ROSA.
_Stopping._
Why do you despise my beauty, father?
DAVID.
Before, I used to love your beauty, Rosa.
SARAH.
_With indignation._
What did you say, David?
DAVID.
Yes, Sarah. I love the pearl when it is on the bottom of the sea; but
after it is taken out of the sea, it becomes blood--and then I do not
like pearls, Sarah.
ROSA.
Why do you despise my beauty, father? Do you know what another girl in
my place would have done? She would have lost her mind and would have
whirled about on earth like a dog that swallowed a pin. But what am I
doing? I am studying, father. I am studying by day and night, father.
_In great agitation._
I don't know anything. I don't know how to speak, I don't even know how
to walk--I stoop, I stoop as I walk.
SARAH.
That isn't true, Rosa.
ROSA.
_Agitated._
Here I have forgotten myself for a while, and I am shouting, I am
croaking hoarsely, like a crow that has caught cold. I want to be
beautiful--that's what I was born for. You laugh? It is in vain. Do you
know that your daughter will be a duchess, a princess? I want to add a
scepter to my crown!
ANATHEMA.
Oho!
_All three go out. David jumps from his seat angrily and paces the room
quickly._
DAVID.
What a comedy, Nullius! Yesterday she begged Heaven for a herring,
and to-day a crown is not enough for her. To-morrow she will take the
throne away from Satan and will sit upon it, Nullius, and she will sit
firmly! What a comedy!
_Anathema has changed the expression of his face;
he is stern and morose._
ANATHEMA.
No, David Leizer, it is a tragedy.
DAVID.
'Tis a comedy, Nullius, a comedy. Don't you hear the laughter of Satan
in all this?
_Pointing at the door._
You saw a corpse dancing--I see it every morning.
ANATHEMA.
Is Naum so dangerously ill?
DAVID.
Dangerously ill? Three physicians, three serious gentlemen, examined
him yesterday and told me quietly that in a month from now Naum will
die, that he is already more than half a corpse. And every morning
I see in this white marble parlor a corpse jumping to the tune of
music--is it not a dream, Nullius? Is it not the laughter of Satan?
ANATHEMA.
And what did they say about your health, David?
DAVID.
I did not ask them. I don't want them to tell me. You may also jump to
the tune of music, David. How would you like it, Nullius: two corpses
dancing in a white marble hall?
_He laughs bitterly._
ANATHEMA.
You frighten me, my friend. What is going on within your soul?
DAVID.
Do not touch my soul, Nullius--there is horror in it!
_Clasps his head._
Oh! what shall I do? What shall I do? I am alone in the whole world.
ANATHEMA.
What ails you, David? Calm yourself.
DAVID.
_Stopping before Anathema, horror-stricken._
Death, Nullius, death! You have brought us death. Was I not mute before
the face of Death? Did I not wait for it as for a friend? But here
you have brought us riches--and I want to dance. I want to dance,
yet death clutches at my heart; I want to eat, for hunger has entered
my very bones,--but my old stomach refuses to accept any food; I want
to laugh, but my face is sobbing, my eyes are weeping, and my soul is
crying with mortal fear. Hunger has crept into my bones, and poison is
already in my blood--there is no salvation for me; Death has overtaken
me.
ANATHEMA.
_Significantly._
The poor are waiting for you, David.
DAVID.
What matters it?
ANATHEMA.
The poor are waiting for you, David.
DAVID.
The poor are always waiting.
ANATHEMA.
_Sternly._
Now I see that you are really lost, David. God has forsaken you.
_David stops and looks at him, surprised and angry.
Anathema, with head thrown back haughtily, meets
his look calmly and sternly. Silence._
DAVID.
You say this to me, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Yes, I say this to you, David Leizer. Beware, David Leizer, you are in
Satan's hands.
DAVID.
_Terrified._
Nullius, my friend, you frighten me. What have I done to deserve
your anger and these cruel, terrible words of yours? You have always
treated me and my children so kindly.... Your hair is just as grey
as mine, in your face I have long observed a hidden grief, and--I
respect you, Nullius! Why are you silent? A terrible fire is burning
in your eyes.--Who are you, Nullius? But you are silent.--No, no, do
not lower your eyes, I am even more terrified when they are lowered,
for then upon your brow appear fiery letters of some vague--of some
terrible--fatal truth.
ANATHEMA.
_Tenderly._
David!
DAVID.
_Joyously._
You have started to speak, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Be silent and listen to me. From madness I will bring you back to
wisdom, from death to life.
DAVID.
I am silent and I am listening.
ANATHEMA.
Your madness consists of this, David Leizer,--you have sought for God
all your life, and when God came to you, you said: "I do not know You."
Your death consists of this, David Leizer,--blinded by misfortunes,
like a horse that is turning around in the darkness, you failed to
notice the people and you remained in their midst alone, with your
illness and your riches. There in the yard Life is waiting for you--and
you, blind man, you close the door against it. Dance, David, dance,--
Death has lifted the bow and is waiting for you. Be more graceful,
David Leizer, more graceful; round out your steps more neatly!
DAVID.
What do you want of me?
ANATHEMA.
Return to God that which God has given to you.
DAVID.
_Darkly._
Has God given me anything?
ANATHEMA.
Every rouble in your pocket is a knife which you thrust into the heart
of the hungry. Distribute your fortune to the poor, give bread to the
hungry, and you will conquer Death.
DAVID.
No one gave a crust of bread to David when he was hungry. By satisfying
their hunger, will I still the hunger that is in my bones?
ANATHEMA.
In them your own hunger will be stilled.
DAVID.
Shall I get back my health and my strength?
ANATHEMA.
In them you will be strong.
DAVID.
Shall I drive out death, already in my blood, which is as thin as
water, which is already in my veins, that have become hard like
dried-up cords? Shall I recover life?
ANATHEMA.
By their life you will prolong your life. Now you have but one heart,
David,--but then you will have a million hearts.
DAVID.
But I shall die!
ANATHEMA.
No, you will be immortal!
_David retreats in horror._
DAVID.
Your lips have uttered a terrible word. Who are you that you dare
promise immortality? Are not life and death in the hand of God?
ANATHEMA.
God said: Reestablish life through life.
DAVID.
But people are wicked and vicious, and the hungry one is nearer to God
than the well-fed.
ANATHEMA.
Remember Hannah and Benjamin....
DAVID.
Be silent!
ANATHEMA.
Remember Raphael and little Moishe....
DAVID.
_Grief-stricken._
Be silent, be silent!
ANATHEMA.
Remember your little birds who died upon the cold branches of winter--
_David cries Utterly._
ANATHEMA.
When the lark sings in the blue sky, will you say to it: "Be silent,
little bird, God does not need your song"--And will you not give a
kernel to it when it is hungry? And will you not cover it upon your
breast when it is cold, that it may feel warm and save its voice for
Spring? Who are you, then, unfortunate man, who has no pity on birds
and who turns children out into the storm? Remember how your little
Moishe died. Remember, David, and say: "The people are vicious, wicked,
and unworthy of my kindness!"
_David bends his knees as under a heavy weight and
lifts his hands, as though warding off from his
head a blow from the sky. He speaks hoarsely._
DAVID.
Adenoi! Adenoi!
_Anathema, with arms folded on his breast, looks at
him in silence._
DAVID.
Mercy! Mercy!
ANATHEMA.
_Quickly._
David, the poor are waiting for you. They will go away soon.
DAVID.
No, no!
ANATHEMA.
The poor are always waiting, but they grow tired of waiting and they go
away.
DAVID.
They will not go away from me. Oh, Nullius, Nullius!... Oh, wise
Nullius! Oh, foolish Nullius! Is it possible that you did not
understand that I have long been waiting for the poor and that their
voice is in my ears and in my heart? When wheels are riding along a
dust-covered road, on which rain had just fallen, they think as they
turn and leave a trace: Here we are making a road. But the road was
there before, Nullius, the road was there before!
_Gayly._
Call the poor over to me.
ANATHEMA.
Consider, David, whom you are calling.
_Darkly._
Do not deceive me, David.
DAVID
I have never deceived any one, Nullius.
_Resolutely and majestically._
You spoke and I was silent, and I listened; now be silent and listen to
me: I have given my soul not to man but to God, and His power is over
me. And I command you: Call my wife Sarah over here, and my children
Naum and Rosa, and all the people in my household, whoever they may be.
ANATHEMA.
_Obediently._
I shall call them.
DAVID.
And call the poor who are waiting for me in the yard. And when you go
out on the street, see whether there are any poor people waiting for
me, and if you see them, call them also. For my lips are burning with
their thirst, their hunger torments my body with insatiable hunger, and
I am hastening to announce to the people my last, unchangeable will.
Go!
ANATHEMA.
_Obediently._
Your will is upon me.
_Anathema goes to the door. Silence._
DAVID.
The spirit of God has come over me. Adenoi. Adenoi.... Who was the
terrible one that spoke through the voice of old Nullius, when he spoke
about my little children who died? Only an arrow out of the bow of
the Omniscient strikes the very heart with such good aim. My little
birds.... Verily, You have saved me upon the edge of the abyss, and You
have torn my spirit away from the clutches of the Devil. He who looks
straight at the sun may grow blind, but with the lapse of time the
light may come back to the revived eyes; but he who looks into darkness
grows blind forever. My little birds....
_Suddenly he laughs softly and joyously, and he
whispers._
I myself shall bring them bread and milk, I shall hide myself behind
the bed-curtain that they should not see me--children are so tender
and easily frightened and they are afraid of unfamiliar people; and I
have such a terrible beard. (_Laughs._) I shall hide myself behind the
bed-curtain and will watch how the children are eating. They need so
little; they eat a little crust of bread and they have enough; they
drink a cup of milk and they know no thirst any longer. Then they
sing--But how strange! does not the night pass away when the sun comes?
do not the waves, at the end of the storm, lie down calmly and quietly
like lambs resting in the pasture? Whence came the alarm, the slight
confusion, and the fear? Shades of unknown woes are passing over my
soul and soaring noiselessly over my thoughts. Ah, if I remained poor,
if I remained unknown, under the shade of the fence where the refuse is
cast away! You have lifted me to the peak of the mountain and You show
my old, sorrowful face to the world. But such is Your will. You will
command--and the lamb will become a lion; You will command--and the
furious lion will stretch out her powerful breasts to her little ones;
You will command--and David Leizer, who has grown white in shade, will
fearlessly rise to the sun. Adenoi! Adenoi!
_Sarah, Naum, and Rosa enter, alarmed._
SARAH.
David, what is it you have called us for? And why was your Nullius so
strict when he told us of your command? We have not sinned against
you, and if we have sinned, investigate it, but do not look at us so
sternly.
ROSA.
May I sit down?
DAVID.
Be silent and wait. All those whom I have called are not here yet. Be
seated, Rosa, if you are tired, but when the time comes, rise. You,
too, may sit down, Naum.
_The servants enter irresolutely; a lackey,
resembling an English Minister; a chamber-maid; a
cook; a gardener; a dish-washer, and others. They
move about in confusion. Soon about fifteen or
twenty poor people enter, in groups. Among them
are: Abraham Khessin, an old man; Sonka's girl;
Joseph Kritsky, Sarah Lepke, and several other
Jews and Jewesses. But there are also Greeks, and
Little Russians, and Russians and other paupers
whose nationality has been lost in rags and filth;
two drunkards. Purikes, Ivan Bezkrainy, and the
Organ-grinder, with the same outworn instrument,
are also here. But Anathema is still away._
DAVID.
Please, please. Come in more boldly, don't stop at the
threshold,--others are coming behind you. But it would be well if you
wiped your feet first; this rich house is not mine, and I must return
it as clean as when I took it.
KHESSIN.
We have not yet learned how to walk on rugs, and we have not yet any
patent leather shoes, as your son Naum has. How do you do, David
Leizer? Peace be upon your house.
DAVID.
Peace unto you, too, Abraham. But why do you call me David Leizer, when
you used to call me simply David before?
KHESSIN.
You are now such a mighty man, David Leizer. Yes, I used to call you
merely David before, but here I was waiting for you in the yard, and
the longer I waited, the longer your name grew, Mr. David Leizer.
DAVID.
You are right, Abraham: when the sun sets, the shadows become longer,
and when a man becomes smaller, his name grows longer. But wait
another while, Abraham.
LACKEY.
_To drunkard._
You better move away from me.
DRUNKARD.
Keep quiet, fool! You are a servant here, while we are the guests.
LACKEY.
Ruffian! You aren't in a car here, that you spit on the floor.
DRUNKARD.
Mr. Leizer, a certain man, who looked like an old devil, caught me by
the collar and said: "David Leizer, who received an inheritance, is
calling you." I asked him, "What for?" So he answered: "David wants to
make you his heir," and he began to laugh. And now that I came here,
your servant is chasing me away.
DAVID.
_Smiling._
Nullius is a gay man and he never misses an opportunity for jesting.
But you are my guest, and I ask you to wait.
SARAH.
_After some hesitancy._
Well, how is your business getting along, Ivan? You have fewer
competitors now.
BEZKRAINY.
It's bad, Sarah; we have no customers.
PURIKES.
_Like an echo._
No customers.
SARAH.
_Compassionately._
Ai--Ai--Ai! It's bad, if there are no customers.
ROSA.
Don't speak, mamma. Do you want, perhaps, to smear my face again with
soot?
_Pushing several paupers into the door, Anathema
enters, apparently fatigued._
ANATHEMA.
Well, David, meanwhile receive these. Your millions frighten the poor,
and nobody wanted to follow me, thinking that some deception is hidden
here.
DRUNKARD.
This is the man who caught me by the collar.
ANATHEMA.
Ah, is that you? How do you do? How do you do?
DAVID.
Thank you, Nullius. Now take ink and paper and sit down near me, by the
table; bring me my old counting-board.... As everything I am about to
say is very important, I ask you to write it correctly and to make no
errors--we shall give an account of every word before God. I ask you
all to rise and listen attentively, striving to understand the great
words which I am about to utter.
_Sternly._
Rise, Rosa.
SARAH.
God, have mercy on us! What are you going to do, David?
DAVID.
Be silent, Sarah. You will come with me.
ANATHEMA.
Ready.
_All listen, standing._
DAVID.
_Solemnly._
Upon the death of my brother, Moses Leizer, I received an inheritance
(_on the counting-board_) of two million dollars.
ANATHEMA.
_Nervously, lifting four fingers._
Which means four million roubles.
DAVID.
_Sternly._
Do not interrupt me, Nullius. Yes, it does mean four million roubles.
And now, submitting to the voice of my conscience and the command of
God, and also in memory of my children, Hannah, Benjamin, Raphael, and
Moses, who died of hunger and disease in their childhood....
_He lowers his head and weeps bitterly. Sarah also
cries bitterly._
SARAH.
Oh, my little Moishe! David, David, our little Moishe is dead.
DAVID.
_Wiping his eyes with a large red handkerchief._
Be silent, Sarah. What was I going to say to them, Nullius?... Well,
write, Nullius, write. I know.
_Firmly._
I have resolved, in accordance with the command of God, who is Truth
and Mercy, to distribute all my possessions to the poor. Am I speaking
properly, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
I hear God in your words.
_At first no one believes David; but soon joyous
doubts and unexpected fear come over them. As
though in sleep the people repeat: "Four millions,
four millions!" and they hide their faces with
their hands. The Organ-grinder comes forward._
ORGAN-GRINDER.
_Morosely._
Will you buy me a new organ, David?
ANATHEMA.
Hush, musician! Back!
ORGAN-GRINDER.
_Retreating._
I want also a new monkey.
DAVID.
Let your hearts rejoice, O unfortunate people, and with a smile on your
lips answer the mercy of Heaven. Go from here to the city, like heralds
of happiness,--go through all its streets and squares, and shout
everywhere: "David Leizer, the old Jew, who is to die soon, received
an inheritance and now distributes it among the poor." And if you will
see a man weeping, and a child whose face is bloodless and whose eyes
are dim, and a woman whose breasts are shrunken like those of an old
goat,--tell them also: "Go, David is calling you." Do I speak properly,
Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Yes, yes. But have you called all those who should be called?
DAVID.
And if you should see an intoxicated man slumbering amidst his
vomitings, wake him and tell him: "Go, David is calling you." And if
you should see a thief thrashed in the market-place by those he had
robbed, call him also, with words of kindness, yet firm enough to be
regarded as a command: "Go, David is calling you." And if you should
see people who in their misery have become irritated and furious and
who are beating one another with sticks and bits of brick, announce to
them also in words of peace: "Go, David is calling you." And if you
should see a bashful man, who while walking in the wide street lowers
his eyes before the eyes of others, but who stares greedily when no
one looks at him, tell him also in a low voice, without offending his
pride: "Are you not looking for David? Go, he has long been waiting for
you." And if in the evening, when the Devil sows the seeds of night
over the earth, you should see a woman, hideously painted, just as the
heathen paint the bodies of their dead, and who stares boldly, for she
has lost all shame, and who lifts her shoulders, for fear of a blow,
tell her also: "Go, David is calling you." Do I speak properly, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Yes, David. But have you called all who should be called?
DAVID.
And whatever form of aversion or fear poverty may assume, and in
whatever colors misery may paint itself, and by whatever words
suffering may fence itself around, rouse with a loud call those who
are fatigued, in words of life return life to those who are dying! Do
not trust the silence and the darkness if they obstruct your way like
a wall: Shout more loudly into the silence and the darkness, for there
dwells unspeakable horror.
ANATHEMA.
That's right, David, that's right! I see how your spirit climbs to the
peak of the mountain and how you knock loudly at the iron gates of
eternity: Open! I love you, David, I kiss your hand, David,--like a dog
I am ready to crawl before you and to obey your commandments. Call,
David, call! Rise, O earth! North and South, East and West, I command
you, by the will of David, my master, answer the call of him who calls
you, and stop at his feet like four oceans of tears. Call, David, call!
DAVID.
_Lifting his hands._
North and South....
ANATHEMA.
East and West....
DAVID.
David is calling you all.
ANATHEMA.
David is calling you all.
_Confusion, tears, laughter,--for all believe him
now. Anathema kisses David's hand, springing about
delightedly. He drags the Organ-grinder by the
collar to the center._
ANATHEMA.
Look, David, here's a musician!
_Laughs and shakes the Organ-grinder._
So you don't want your old music, eh? You need a new monkey, eh?
Perhaps you will ask for a powder that destroys the fleas? Ask; we
shall give you everything.
DAVID.
Be quiet, Nullius, be quiet. We must work. You are an expert at
counting, Nullius, are you not?
ANATHEMA.
I? Oh, Rabbi David! I am myself Numbers, I am myself--Measures and
Weights.
DAVID.
Be seated, then; write and count. But there is one more thing, my dear
children: I am an old Jew, who can divide a piece of garlic into ten
portions. I know not only the need of man, but I saw also how a roach
was starving--yes,--I saw also how small children died of hunger....
_Lowers his head and heaves a deep sigh._
Therefore do not deceive me, and remember that there is a number and a
measure for everything. And where ten copecks are needed, do not ask
for twenty, and where one measure of grain is needed, do not ask for
two, for what is superfluous for one is always essential to another.
Like brothers having one mother whose breasts are full but are quickly
exhausted, do not abuse one another, and do not offend the generous but
careful mother.... You may begin. Nullius, is everything ready?
ANATHEMA.
You may begin. I am waiting, David.
DAVID.
Stand in line, then, I beg you. I have not received the money yet; it
is still in America, but I shall write down exactly how much each one
of you is to get according to his need.
SARAH.
David, David, what are you doing with us? Look at Rosa, look at poor
Naum.
_Naum is dumfounded--he wants to say something, but
is unable; he clutches the air with outstretched
fingers. A little distance away from him, alone in
her youth, strength, and beauty, amidst all these
poor people, with emaciated faces and flat breasts,
stands Rosa, who looks at her father defiantly._
ROSA.
Are we less your children than these who have been picked up in the
street? And are we not brother and sister to those who died?
DAVID.
Rosa is right, mother,--everybody will get the proper share.
ROSA.
Yes? But do you know, father, what is the proper share for everybody?
_She laughs bitterly and wants to go away._
DAVID.
_Gently and sadly._
Stay here, Rosa!
ROSA.
I have nothing to do here. I have heard you call everybody.... Oh, you
called very loudly! ... But did you call the beautiful? I have nothing
to do here.
_Goes out._
SARAH.
_Rising irresolutely._
Rosochka!...
DAVID.
_As gently as before, with a smile._
Stay here, mother. Where will you go? You will come with me.
_Naum makes a few steps after Rosa, then he returns
and sits down near Sarah._
DAVID.
Ready, Nullius? Come over, then, honorable man, you who stand first in
the line.
KHESSIN.
_Advancing._
Here I am, David.
DAVID.
What is your name?
KHESSIN.
My name is Abraham Khessin.... But have you forgotten my name? You and
I played together when we were children.
DAVID.
Hush! It is necessary for the sake of maintaining order, Abraham. Write
the name clearly, Nullius. This is the first who waited for me and upon
whom the will of my God has manifested itself.
ANATHEMA.
_Writes carefully._
Number one.... I'll rule the paper later, David. Number one: Abraham
Khessin....
NAUM.
_In a low voice._
Mamma, I will not dance any more.
CURTAIN.
ACT THREE
_The same dust-covered road, with the bent posts and the old, deserted
sentinel-box; the same little shops. The sun is burning as mercilessly
as when Anathema first appeared there._
_A large number of poor people are gathered there to welcome David
Leizer, who had distributed his fortune among the poor. The air is
rent by shouting, motion, and merry bustling. Purikes, Bezkrainy, and
Sonka, happy now, and proud of their shops, are doing a brisk business
in soda-water and candies. Sarah Leizer is sitting as before near her
little shop, dressed neatly but poorly._
_A solemn welcome is arranged for David and Anathema, who had gone to
the seashore. All the little shops, even the posts and the deserted
sentinel-box, are decorated with parti-colored rags and with branches
of trees; on the right side of the road, upon the scorched grass,
an orchestra is preparing to meet David--several Jews with various
instruments, among which there are: a good violin, cymbals, a broken
brass trumpet, and even a drum, slightly broken. The members of
the orchestra are scolding one another criticizing each other's
instruments._
_There are a number of children in the crowd. Also, little babes in
arms. Abraham Khessin and those who were in line when David started to
distribute his money are there; a little distance away from the crowd
stands the stern organ-grinder, with his organ._
YOUNG JEW.
_Blowing his crushed trumpet._
But why does it play only on one side? Such a good trumpet.
VIOLINIST.
_Agitated._
What do you want to do with me? How can you welcome David Leizer with
such a trumpet? You might as well have brought along a cat and pulled
her by the tail, and think that David would call you his son?
YOUNG JEW.
_Obstinately._
It's a good trumpet. My father played it when he was in the army, and
everybody was thankful to him.
VIOLINIST.
Your father played it, but who sat upon it? Why is it so crushed? How
can you welcome David Leizer with such a crushed trumpet?
YOUNG JEW.
_With tears._
It's a very good trumpet.
VIOLINIST.
_To a clean-shaven old man._
Is that your drum? Tell me, do you seriously believe that this is a
drum? Have you ever seen another drum with a hole big enough for a dog
to crawl through?
KHESSIN.
Don't get excited, Leibke. You are a very talented man, and your music
will be fine, and David Leizer will be greatly moved by it.
VIOLINIST.
But I can't bear it. You are a very honorable man, Abraham Khessin, you
have lived long in the world, but have you ever seen such a big hole in
a drum?
KHESSIN.
No, Leibke, I haven't seen such a big hole, but that is not at all
important. David Leizer was a multimillionaire, he had twenty million
roubles, but he is unspoiled and humble, and your love will afford
him joy. Does the soul need a drum to be able to express its love?
I see here people who have neither drums nor trumpets, and who weep
for happiness--their tears are noiseless like the dew.--Rise higher,
Leibke, rise a little higher to the sky, and you will not hear any
drums there, but therefore you will hear the tears falling.
OLD MAN.
You mustn't quarrel and darken the days of bright happiness,--that
would be disagreeable to David.
_A Wanderer is listening to their conversation;
his face is stern and swarthy. His hair and his
clothes are covered with dust. He is guarded in his
movements, but his eyes, lustreless, stare ahead
fixedly, like open windows at night._
WANDERER.
He has brought peace and happiness on earth, and the whole world knows
of him already. I have come from distant places, where the people are
different from you, and where the customs are different from yours, and
only in their suffering and their misery they are your brethren. And
there they know already about David Leizer, who distributes bread and
happiness, and they bless his name.
KHESSIN.
Do you hear, Sarah?
_Wiping his eyes._
It is of your husband they are speaking, of David Leizer.
SARAH.
I hear, Abraham, I hear everything. But I hear no longer the voice of
Naum who died; I hear no longer the voice of Rosa. Old man, you have
wandered much over the world, and you know even the people that do not
resemble us,--have you not met on the road a beautiful girl, the most
beautiful of all girls on earth?
BEZKRAINY.
She had a daughter, Rosa, a beautiful girl, she ran away from home
because she would not give up her share to the poor. Did she take much
money along with her, Sarah?
SARAH.
Can there be such a thing as too much money for Rosa? You may as well
say that there are too many diamonds in the Czar's crown and too many
rays in the sun.
WANDERER.
No, I have not seen your daughter: I am traveling along the highways,
and there you can see neither the rich nor the beautiful.
SARAH.
But perhaps you have seen people gathered, talking enthusiastically
about a certain beautiful girl? That is my daughter, old man.
WANDERER.
No, I have not seen such people. But I have seen other people gathered,
speaking about David Leizer, who is distributing bread and happiness.
Is it true that your David has healed a woman who was suffering from an
incurable disease and was already dying?
KHESSIN.
_Smiling._
No, that is not true.
WANDERER.
Is it true that David restored sight to a man who was blind from the
day of his birth?
KHESSIN.
_Shaking his head._
No, that is not true. Some one has been deceiving the people who do
not resemble us. Only God can perform miracles--David Leizer is only a
kind-hearted and worthy man, such as all men who have not forgotten God
should be.
PURIKES.
It is not true, Abraham Khessin. David is not an ordinary man, and he
possesses a superhuman power. I know it.
_The crowd that surrounded them is eagerly
listening to Purikes._
PURIKES.
I saw with my own eyes, how the one we regarded as a customer came upon
the deserted, sunny road, but he was not a customer. I saw with my own
eyes how he touched David with his hand, and David started to speak so
terribly that I could not listen to him. Do you remember it, Ivan?
BEZKRAINY.
That's true. David is not an ordinary man.
SONKA.
Does an ordinary man throw money at people, like stones at a dog? Does
an ordinary man go to weep over the grave of another's child, whom he
did not bring forth, whom he did not fondle, and whom he did not bury
when death came?
WOMAN.
_With child in her arms._
David is not an ordinary man. Who ever saw an ordinary man who was
more a mother to a child than his own mother? Who hides behind the
bed-curtain and watches how other people's children are eating, and who
weeps for joy at the sight of them? Of whom even the tiniest children
are not afraid, and they play with his venerable beard as with the
beard of their grandfather? Did not the stupid little Rubin tear out a
tuft of grey hair from David Leizer's venerable beard? Did David grow
angry? Did he cry out for pain, did he stamp his feet? No, he began to
laugh as if overcome with happiness, and he cried as though for joy.
DRUNKARD.
David is not an ordinary man. He is a queer fellow. I said to him:
"Why do you give me money? It is true, I am barefooted and unwashed,
but do not think that I will buy boots and soap for the money you give
me. I'll spend it on drink in the nearest dram-shop." That's what I
had to tell him, for although I am a drunkard, I am an honest man. And
the queer David answered me jestingly, like a good-natured lunatic:
"Semyon, if it pleases you to drink, please drink,--I have not come to
teach the people but to bring them joy."
OLD JEW.
There are many teachers, but there is none to bring them joy. May God
bless David who brings joy to mankind.
BEZKRAINY.
_To the drunkard._
So you didn't buy any boots, did you?
DRUNKARD.
No, I am an honest man.
VIOLINIST.
_In despair._
Well, tell me all, you who have any conscience: Is this the kind of
music that should greet him who brings joy to mankind? I am ashamed
that I have gotten together such a poor orchestra, and I would rather
die than disgrace myself before David.
SARAH.
_To the organ-grinder._
Will you also play? You have such a fine organ now that even angels
might dance to your music.
ORGAN-GRINDER.
I will.
SARAH.
But why have you no monkey?
ORGAN-GRINDER.
I couldn't find a good monkey. All the monkeys I have seen are either
old, or mean, or altogether untalented, and are even unable to catch
fleas. The fleas have already destroyed one of my monkeys, and I don't
want another monkey destroyed that way. A monkey needs talent, just
like a man,--it isn't enough to have a tail, even to be a monkey.
_The wanderer is questioning Khessin in a low
voice._
WANDERER.
Tell me the truth, Jew: I was sent here by my people, and I walked
many miles on my old legs, under the mercilessly scorching sun, for
the purpose of learning the truth. Who is this David who brings joy to
mankind. Let it be as you say that he does not heal the sick....
KHESSIN.
It is a sin and an offence against God to think that a human being can
heal.
WANDERER.
Be it so. But is it not true that Leizer wants to build an enormous
palace of white stone and blue glass and gather together all the poor
of the world there?
KHESSIN.
_In embarrassment._
I do not know. Is it possible to build such a large palace?
WANDERER.
_With conviction._
It is possible. Is it true that he wants to take away the power from
the rich and bestow it upon the poor? (_In a whisper._) And to take the
power from those who rule, the might from those who are in command,
and distribute it among all the people on earth, giving an equal share
to each of them?
KHESSIN.
I do not know
_Timidly._
You frighten me, old man.
WANDERER.
_Looking around cautiously._
And is it true that he has already sent heralds to the black people
that they, too, shall prepare themselves to accept the new kingdom, for
he wants to bestow the power equally upon the black as upon the white,
giving to each one according to his desire.
(_In a mysterious whisper._)
In accordance with justice.
_On the road appears David Leizer, walking slowly;
in his right hand, a staff; Anathema is holding
his left arm reverently. There is agitation and
confusion among the waiting crowd: the musicians
rush for their instruments; the women pick up their
children quickly. They shout: "He's coming! He's
coming!" They call: "Moishe, Petya, Sarah!"_
WANDERER.
And is it true....
KHESSIN.
Ask him. Here he is coming.
_Noticing the crowd, Anathema stops David, who is
absorbed in thought, and he points triumphantly
to the people. Thus they stand for some time:
David with his grey head thrown back, and Anathema
clinging close to him. Anathema whispers something
in David's ear and keeps on pointing with his left
hand. Leibke, bustling about desperately, gets
his orchestra together and they begin to play a
lively wild tune which is as discordant as the
fluttering parti-colored rags. Shouting, laughter,
the children are rushing forward, some one is
crying; many people are outstretching their hands
prayerfully to David. Then David moves forward
amidst this chaos of lively sounds. The crowd makes
room for him to pass; many throw branches and twigs
on the ground and spread their clothes before him;
women tear of their head-dress and throw it at
his feet on the dusty road. Thus he walks over to
Sarah, who rises and welcomes him together with the
other women. The music stops. But David is silent.
Confusion._
KHESSIN.
Why are you silent, David? The people you have made happy are greeting
you and spreading their clothing before you on the ground, for their
love is great and their hearts cannot comprise all their joy. Say a
word to them--they are waiting.
_David remains standing, with lowered eyes; with
both hands he is leaning on his staff; his face is
stern and serious. Anathema looks at him, over his
shoulder, with alarm._
ANATHEMA.
They are waiting for you, David. Say unto them a word of joy and calm
their love.
_David is silent._
WOMAN.
Why are you silent, David? You frighten us. Are you not the David who
brings joy to mankind?
ANATHEMA.
_Impatiently._
Speak, David. Their agitated ears are waiting for a word of joy and by
your silence, which is like the dumbness of the rock, you crush their
soul to the earth. Speak!
DAVID.
_Lifting his eyes and surveying the crowd sternly._
Wherefore these honors and the noise of voices, and the music which
plays so loudly? To whom do you render honors worthy of a prince or of
one who has performed a great deed? Is it before me, before a poor old
man who must die soon, that you spread out your clothes upon the ground?
What have I done to deserve your delight and exultation, to force tears
of senseless joy from your eyes? I gave you money and bread--but that
was the money of the Uppermost, it came from Him and went back to Him
through you. The only thing I have done was not to hide the money like
a thief, I did not become a plunderer, like those who have forgotten
God. Do I speak properly, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
No, David, no. Your speech is not worthy of a wise man and it does not
come forth from the lips of a humble man.
OLD MAN.
Bread without love is like grass without salt,--the stomach may
be filled, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and a bitter
recollection.
DAVID.
Have I forgotten anything, Nullius? Remind me, my friend: I am old and
my eyesight is poor, but do I not see musicians there, Nullius? Tell
me! Do I not see flags as red as the tongues of crows over my head?
Tell me, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
You have forgotten the people, David. You do not see the children,
David Leizer.
DAVID.
The children?
_The women, weeping, hold out their children to
David._
VOICES.
"Bless my son, David!" ... "Touch my little girl with your hand,
David." "Bless." ... "Touch her with your hand." ...
DAVID.
_Raising his hands heavenward._
Oh, Hannah, oh, Benjamin, oh, Raphael, and my little Moishe!...
_Looks down, outstretching his arms to the
children._
DAVID.
Oh, my little birds who died on the naked branches of the winter!...
Oh, children, my children, little children, tiny children!...
Well, Nullius, am I not weeping? Am I not weeping, Nullius? Well,
let everybody weep. Let the musicians play, Nullius--I understand
everything now. Oh, children, little children, I gave you all, I gave
you my old heart, I gave you my sorrow and my joy--Did I not give them
all my soul, Nullius?
_Crying and laughing through tears._
You have again wrenched my soul from the jaws of sin, Nullius. On the
day of rejoicing I appeared mournful before the people, on the day of
the people's exultation I did not raise my eyes to Heaven, but lowered
them to the ground,--bad old man that I am. Whom did I want to deceive
with my insincerity? Do I not live by day and night in raptures of
joy, and do I not draw love and happiness with full hands? Why have I
feigned sadness?... I do not know your name, woman; give me your child,
the one that is laughing when everybody is crying, because he alone is
sensible.
_Smiling through tears._
Or are you perhaps afraid that I will steal it like a gypsy?
_The woman kneels and holds out her child._
WOMAN.
Take it, David! Everything belongs to you,--we and our children.
SECOND WOMAN.
Take mine, too, David!
THIRD WOMAN.
Mine, mine!
DAVID.
_Takes the child and presses it to his breast,
covering it with his grey beard._
Hush!... It's my beard! Oh, what a terrible beard! But never fear, my
little one, press to me more closely and laugh--you are the wisest of
all. Sarah, my wife, come over here.
SARAH.
_Weeping._
I am here.
DAVID.
Let us step aside for a while. Woman, I will return the child to you,
I will only hold it for a while.... Come, Sarah, let us step aside.
Before you I am not ashamed to cry, be they tears of sorrow or tears
of joy.
_They step aside and cry softly. Only their
stooping backs are seen, and David's red
handkerchief with which he wipes his eyes, and the
tear-stained face of the child._
VOICES.
Hush! hush! They are crying. Don't disturb their crying. Hush! hush!
_Anathema, on tiptoe, whispers: "Hush, hush!" Then
he goes over to the musicians and speaks to them in
a low voice, conducting with his hand. Little by
little the noise grows louder. Bezkrainy, Purikes,
and Sonka are waiting, holding filled glasses in
their hands._
DAVID.
_Returns and wipes his eyes with his kerchief._
Here is your child, woman. We don't like him at all, do we, Sarah?
SARAH.
_Weeping._
We have no children any longer, David.
DAVID.
_Smiling._
No, no, Sarah! But are not all the children in the world our children?
He has no children who has three, six, or even twelve, but not he who
knows not their number.
SONKA.
Drink a glass of soda-water, honorable David Leizer--it is your water.
PURIKES.
Drink a glass of mine, David,--this will bring me customers.
BEZKRAINY.
Drink a glass of noblemen's cider, David. Now it is real noblemen's
cider. I can say it frankly; with your money everything is becoming
real.
SARAH.
_Through tears._
I have always told you that your cider was bad, Ivan. And now, when it
is real cider, you do not offer it to me.
BEZKRAINY.
Oh, Sarah....
DAVID.
She is jesting, Ivan. Thank you, but I cannot drink so much,--I will
taste everybody's. It's very, very good water, Sonka. You have
discovered the secret and you will soon grow rich.
SONKA.
I put a little more soda into the water, David.
WANDERER.
_To Anathema, in a law voice._
Is it true--you are a close friend of David Leizer's, and you can tell
it to me--is it true that he wants to build--
ANATHEMA.
Why so loud? Let us step aside.
_They speak in a whisper. Anathema shakes his head
negatively. He is truthful. He smiles and pats the
old man on the shoulder. The old man evidently does
not believe him. Then Anathema gradually leads the
musicians away, also the Organ-grinder and the
people beyond the stone pillars. Only the sound of
their voices, their exclamations, their laughter
are heard. A few remain and speak with David
reverently._
KHESSIN.
Is it true, David, that you and Sarah are going to Jerusalem, to the
Holy City, of which we can only dream?
DAVID.
Yes, it is true, Abraham. Although I am stronger now and I feel no
longer any pain in my chest--
KHESSIN.
But that is a miracle, David!
DAVID.
Joy restores health, Abraham, and the serving of God strengthens a man.
But after all, Sarah and I cannot live much longer, and we should like
to rest our eyes upon the wonderful beauty of God's land. But why do
you address me as a stranger, old friend? Have you not yet forgiven me?
KHESSIN.
_Frightened._
Oh, do not say that, David! If you were to tell me: Call me "thou" or
kill yourself, I would rather kill myself, but would not say "thou" to
you. You are not an ordinary man, David.
DAVID.
I am not an ordinary man. I am a happy man. But where is the gay man
Nullius? I don't see him. I suppose he is preparing some prank or
another--I know him. There is a man who does not darken the face of the
earth with gloom, Abraham, who is never averse to laughter, which is to
life like dew upon grass, and which sparkles in many colors in the rays
of the sun. Of course he is playing his pranks; do you hear?
_Music is playing beyond the pillars; the organ,
together with the orchestra, is playing the
same tune it had played before. The sounds are
discordant, somewhat wild, but strangely gay.
Together with the music the crowd appears in a
solemn procession. At the head of the procession,
side by side with the Organ-grinder, walks
Anathema, as if dancing. He carries the organ on a
strap and turns the handle with one hand, keeping
time with the other hand, whistling shrilly, and
casting glances on all sides and skyward. The
musicians and the poor, now gay, follow him.
On passing David, Anathema bends his head toward him
and keeps on playing and whistling. David, smiling,
nods his head and adjusts his grey, long beard. The
procession disappears._
SARAH.
_With emotion._
What beautiful music! How fine, how solemn, David! David, is all this
for you?
DAVID.
For us, Sarah.
SARAH.
What am I? I can only love our children. But you, but you--
_With certain fear._
You are not an ordinary man, David.
DAVID.
_Smiling._
So, so.... Well, what am I, then,--a governor?
Or, perhaps, a general?
SARAH.
Do not make light of this, David. You are not an ordinary man.
_The Wanderer, who stood near by all the time and
saw the solemn procession, now listens to Sarah's
words and nods his head. Anathema, gay, somewhat
out of breath, appears._
ANATHEMA.
How was it, David? I think it was not bad. They marched very
well--better than I expected. Only that stupid trumpet.
_Dancing, he passes David again, whistling. Then he
bursts into laughter._
DAVID.
_Good-naturedly._
Yes, Nullius. The music was very good. I never before heard such fine
music. I thank you, Nullius,--you have afforded great pleasure to the
people by your gayety.
ANATHEMA.
_To the Wanderer._
Did you like it, old man?
WANDERER.
I liked it fairly well. But what will happen when all the nations on
earth will bend at the feet of David Leizer?
ANATHEMA.
_Astonished._
What is he saying, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Oh, David, it is very touching: the people are in love with you, even
as a bride is in love with the bridegroom. This wonderful man, who has
come thousands of miles--
WANDERER.
More.
ANATHEMA.
Asked me: "Does David Leizer perform miracles?" Well,... I laughed, I
laughed.
KHESSIN.
He asked me, too, but to me it was not laughable. The ear of him who
waits is keen,--even the stones seem to sing to him.
WANDERER.
Only the footsteps of the blind are short, but their thoughts are long.
_He steps aside and, watches David. It is near
sunset and the earth is in the embrace of shadows.
Abraham Khessin bids David farewell and goes away.
The shopkeepers prepare to close their shops.
Silence and peace._
ANATHEMA.
_Breathing with difficulty._
At last. We have worked quite hard, David--the trumpet alone (_closes
his ears_)--what is that worth? (_Candidly_) My misfortune is that my
ear is keen, unbearably sharp, almost--yes, almost like that of a dog.
If I hear--
DAVID.
I am very tired, Nullius, and I want to rest. I do not feel like seeing
any more people to-day, and you will not be offended, my old friend--
ANATHEMA.
I understand. I will only escort you to your palace.
DAVID.
Yes, yes, to my palace. According to my contract, I am king for six
months more. Come, Sarah,--with you alone I want to pass the remainder
of this great day in peace and joy.
SARAH.
You are not an ordinary man, David. How did you guess my desire?
_They go away towards the pillars. David pauses,
looks back, and says, leaning upon Sarah's
shoulder:_
DAVID.
Look, Sarah; this is the place where our life has passed--how sad and
poor it is, Sarah, and it breathes of the homelessness of the desert.
But was not it here, Sarah, that I learned the great truth concerning
the fate of man? I was poor, alone, and near death, a foolish old man,
seeking an answer from the waves. But now people have come--Am I alone
now? Am I poor and near death? Listen to me, Nullius; there is no death
for man. What death is there? What is death? Who was the mournful one
that invented this strange word--Death?--Perhaps it does exist, I do
not know--but I, Nullius--I am immortal.
_As though struck, he lends down, but lifts his
arms upward._
Oh, how terrible it is: I am immortal! Where is the end of the sky?
I have lost it. I am immortal! Oh, the breast of man aches from
immortality, and his joy bums him like a fire. Where is the end of
man?--I am immortal. Adenoi! Adenoi! Blessed be the mysterious name of
Him who has given immortality to man, forever and aye.
ANATHEMA.
_Hastily._
The name! The name! Do you know the name? You have deceived me.
DAVID.
_Not listening to him._
I give the spirit of man over to the boundless space of Time. May it
five immortally, in the immortality of fire. May it live immortally in
the immortality of light, which is life. And may darkness stop before
the dwelling of immortal light. I am happy, I am immortal--O my God!
ANATHEMA.
_Ecstatically._
It is a lie! Oh, how long yet will I listen to this foolish man? North
and South, East and West, I am calling you. Quicker, come here, to the
aid of the Devil! Rush over here in four oceans of tears and bury man
in your abyss. Come here! This way!
_No one heeds Anathema's sobs, neither David,
radiant with the ecstasy of immortality, nor Sarah,
nor the other people, who listen attentively to
David. Anathema moves restlessly about, alone,
cursing. A shrill voice is heard; a woman, terribly
painted, rushes in from the road. Her clothes are
torn, and her beautiful face is disfigured. She
screams and sobs and calls wildly._
WOMAN.
My God! Where is David, who is distributing his fortune? Two days and
two nights, two days and two nights, I have been looking for him all
over the city, but the houses are silent and the people are laughing.
Tell me, kind people, have you not seen David, who brings joy to the
people? Do not look upon my open bosom--a wicked man tore my clothes
and scratched my face. Oh, do not look upon my open bosom: it never
knew the happiness of feeding innocent lips.
WANDERER.
David is here.
WOMAN.
_Falling on her knees._
David is here? Oh, have pity on me, people! do not deceive me; I am
blinded by deceit, and falsehoods have made me deaf. Do I hear right?
Is David here?
BEZKRAINY.
Yes, there he stands. But you are too late--he has already distributed
all his fortune.
PURINES.
He has already distributed all his fortune. WOMAN.
What are you doing to me, people? Two days and two nights I have been
looking for him--the people deceived me, and now I am too late. I
will die on the way now--I have nowhere else to go.
_Tearfully, flings herself about on the
dust-covered road._
ANATHEMA.
It seems that somebody has come to you, David.
DAVID.
_Advancing._
What does this woman wish?
WOMAN.
_Without lifting her head._
Are you David, who has brought joy to mankind?
WANDERER.
Yes, it is he.
DAVID.
Yes, it is I.
WOMAN.
_Without lifting her head._
I do not dare glance at you. You must be like the sun.
_Gently and trustfully._
Oh, David, how long I have been looking for you!... The people kept
deceiving me all the time. They told me that you went away, that you do
not exist at all, and that you never existed. One man said to me that
he was David, and he seemed to be kind, but he treated me like a robber.
DAVID.
Rise!
WOMAN.
Permit me to rest here, at your feet. Like a bird that has crossed the
sea, I am beaten by the rain, I am exhausted by the storms, I am tired
to death.
_Weeps; continues trustfully._
Now I am calm, now I am happy: I am at the feet of David, who has
brought joy to mankind.
DAVID.
_Irresolutely._
But you have come too late, woman. I have already given away everything
I had, and I have nothing left.
ANATHEMA.
Yes. We have distributed all the money. Go home, woman,--we have
nothing left. We feel sorry for you, but you are too late. Do you
understand? You are too late,--only this morning we gave away the last
penny.
DAVID.
Don't be so cruel, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
But it is the truth, David.
WOMAN.
_Doubtingly._
That is impossible!
_Lifting her eyes._
Are you David? How kind-hearted you are. Did you say that I am too
late? No, he said it--his face is mean. David, please give me some
money and save me. I am tired to death. And your name is Sarah? You are
his wife? I have heard about you, too.
_Crawls over to her and kisses her dress._
WOMAN.
Plead for me, Sarah.
SARAH.
_Weeping._
Give her some money, David. Get up, my dear; it is very dusty here--you
have such beautiful black hair. Sit down here, and rest yourself. David
will soon give you money.
_Lifts the woman and seats her near herself upon a
rock, and caresses her._
DAVID.
What shall I do?
_Confusedly; wiping his face with a red kerchief._
What shall I do, Nullius? You are such a wise man,--help me.
ANATHEMA.
_Outstretching his arms._
By God, I do not know. Here is the list--we have not a cent, and I am
an honest lawyer, not a counterfeiter. I can't bring you every day an
inheritance from America.
_Whistles._
I have nothing to do, so I roam about the world.
DAVID.
_Indignantly._
That is cruel, Nullius. I did not expect it from you. But what shall I
do? what shall I do?
_Anathema shrugs his shoulders._
SARAH.
Sit here, my dear; I will come back soon. David, let us step aside; I
must tell you something.
_They step aside and whisper._
ANATHEMA.
Did they beat you hard, woman? Evidently the man who was beating you
was not skillful--he did not knock your eyes out, as he wanted to do.
WOMAN.
_Covering her face with her hair._
Do not look upon me!
SARAH.
Nullius, come over here.
ANATHEMA.
_Goes to her._
Here I am, madam Leizer.
DAVID.
_In a low voice._
How much money have we for our journey to Jerusalem?
ANATHEMA.
Three hundred roubles.
DAVID.
Give it to the woman.
_Smiling and crying._
Sarah does not want to go to Jerusalem. She wants to continue in
business here until death comes. What a foolish woman, Nullius, isn't
she?
_Cries restrainedly._
SARAH.
Does that cause you much pain, David? Were you so eager to go?
DAVID.
What a foolish woman, Nullius. She does not understand that I also want
to remain in business here.
_Cries._
ANATHEMA.
_Moved._
You are not an ordinary man, David.
DAVID.
It was my dream, Nullius, to die in the Holy City and to join my dust
to the dust of the righteous people buried there. But (_he smiles_) is
not the ground everywhere kind to its dead? Give the money to the poor
woman. Well, Sarah, how shall it be? We must open a store and learn
from Sonka how to make good soda-water.
ANATHEMA.
_Triumphantly._
Woman, David, who has brought joy to mankind, gives you money and
happiness.
BEZKRAINY.
_To Sonka._
I told you that he has not distributed all his money. He has millions.
WANDERER.
_Listening._
That's right. How could David give away everything? He only started to
give away.
_The woman thanks David and Sarah; he places his
hands upon her head, as though blessing her. Behind
him, from the side of the field, something grey
appears, dust-covered, moving slowly. They move
silently, and it is hard to discern at first that
they are human beings. The grey dust has equalized
them--their distress and their suffering have made
them brethren. There is something alarming in their
dull, inflexible movement--and the people look upon
them uneasily._
BEZKRAINY.
Who is coming there on the road?
SONKA.
Something grey is crawling along the road. If they are human beings,
they do not look like human beings.
PURIKES.
Oh, I am afraid for David. He stands with his back toward them, and
does not see them. And they are coming like blind people.
SONKA.
They will soon crush him. David, David, turn around and look.
ANATHEMA.
It is too late, Sonka,--David can't hear you now.
PURIKES.
But who is that? I am afraid of them.
WANDERER.
These are our people! These are blind people from our land,--they have
come to David for their eyesight.
_Loudly._
Stop, stop! you have reached your destination. David is in your midst.
_The blind, almost crushing the frightened David,
pause and seek him with their fingers._
THE BLIND.
Where is David? Help us to find David. Where is David, who brings joy
to mankind? He is here. I feel him already with my fingers. Are you
David? Where is David? Where is David? Are you David?
DAVID.
_Frightened voices come out of the darkness._
It is I--I am David Leizer. What is it you wish of me?
SARAH.
_Weeping._
David! David!
I don't see you.
David, David, where are you?
THE BLIND.
_Closing in around him._
Here is David. Are you David?
CURTAIN.
ACT FOUR
_A large, high, somewhat dark room--David's study in the rich villa
where he spends his last days. Two large windows in the room: one
overlooking the road to the city; the other, on the left, overlooking
the garden. Near this window, a large writing-table, covered with
papers in disorder--sheets of paper of various sizes, and large
books. Under the table, and near it, paper torn into small bits. A
large Bible, bound in old leather, lies on the floor, open, with its
back upward, resembling the roof of a house which is falling apart.
Notwithstanding the heal, there is a fire in the fireplace. David
Leizer feels cold and feverish._
_It is growing dark. Through the lowered blinds, faint sunlight
comes in, but it is already dark in the room. Only the small lamp on
the table brings out into bold relief the white heads of David and
Anathema._
_David is sitting by the table. His hair and beard, unkempt for some
time, lend him a savage and terrible appearance; his face is emaciated,
his eyes are wide open; clasping his head with both hands, he stares
fixedly through his large spectacles, examines a paper, throws it
aside, takes up another paper, and nervously turns the leaves of a
heavy volume._
_Anathema stands near him, holding the back of his arm-chair. He is
motionless, thoughtful, and stern._
_The windows are closed, but through the dosed windows comes the
muffled noise of many voices. It increases slowly, wavering in force
and impassionateness. Those who had been called by David are now
besieging his house. Silence._
DAVID.
It has crumbled away into dust; Nullius! The mountain that reached the
sky has split into rocks, the rocks have turned into dust, and the
wind has carried the dust away. Where is the mountain, Nullius? Where
are the millions which you brought me? Here I have been looking for an
hour through my papers for one copeck, only one copeck, that I may give
it to him who asks for it, but I cannot find it. What is lying around
there?
ANATHEMA.
The Bible.
DAVID.
No, no, I mean there, among the papers. Let me have it. I think it is
an account I haven't examined yet. That would be good luck, Nullius!
_Stares intently._
No, it is all crossed out here. Look, Nullius, look! A hundred, then
fifty, then twenty,--and then one copeck. But I cannot take this copeck
away from him, can I?
ANATHEMA.
Six, eight, twenty,--correct.
DAVID.
No, no, Nullius,--one hundred, fifty--twenty,--one copeck. It has all
melted away, it slipped through my fingers like water. And the fingers
are dry already--and I feel cold, Nullius!
ANATHEMA.
It is warm here.
DAVID.
I say it is cold here, Nullius. Throw some logs of wood into the
fireplace.... No, wait. How much does a log cost? Oh, it costs a great
deal; put it away, Nullius,--this accursed fire is devouring wood
so quickly, as though it did not know that every log of wood is--a
life. Wait, Nullius.... You have a splendid memory, you never forget
anything, like a book--don't you remember how much I designated for
Abraham Khessin?
ANATHEMA.
At first, five hundred.
DAVID.
Yes, yes, Nullius, of course,--he is an old friend of mine; we used to
play together. And for a friend five hundred is not much at all. Of
course, he is an old friend of mine, and I must have pitied him and
left to him more than to the others in the end--for our friendship is
such a tender feeling, Nullius. But it is bad if a man wrongs strangers
and distant people on account of a friend--for they have no friends or
protection. And we will cut down Abraham Khessin's allowance, we will
cut it down just a little bit....
_With fear._
Tell me, how much have I now allowed for Abraham?
ANATHEMA.
One copeck.
DAVID.
Impossible! Tell me that you have made an error! Have pity on me, and
tell me that you have made an error, Nullius! It cannot be--Abraham
is my friend--we used to play together. Do you understand what it
means when children play together, and then they grow up and they have
grey beards, and they smile together at the past? You have also a grey
beard, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Yes, my beard is grey. You allowed one copeck for Khessin.
DAVID.
_Takes Anathema by the arm; in a whisper._
But she said that her child would die, Nullius,--that he is dying
already. Understand me, my old friend, I must have money. You are such
a fine man, you are (_pats his arm_) such a kind man, you remember
everything, like a book,--search a little more.
ANATHEMA.
Bethink yourself, David; your reason is betraying you. It is already
two days that you have been sitting here at this table, looking for
that which is no more. Go out to the people who are waiting for you,
tell them that you have nothing left, and dismiss them.
_Angrily._
DAVID.
But did I not go out ten times already to the people and did I not
tell them that I have nothing left? Did a single one of them go away?
They stand and wait there, and they are firm in their misery, like a
rock, obstinate like the child at the mother's breast. Does a child ask
whether there is milk in the mother's breast? When I speak, they are
silent and they listen to me like reasonable people; but when I become
silent, the spirit of despair and want seizes upon them and wails in a
thousand voices. Did I not give everything away to them, Nullius? Did
I not cry out all my tears? Did I not give them away all the blood of
my heart? What are they waiting for, Nullius? What do they want of the
poor Jew, who has already exhausted his life?...
ANATHEMA.
They are waiting for a miracle, David.
DAVID.
_Rising, with fear._
Be silent, Nullius, be silent,--you are tempting God. Who am I that I
should perform miracles? Bethink yourself, Nullius. Can I make two
copecks of one? Can I come over to the mountains and say: "Mountains
of the earth, turn into mountains of bread and satisfy the hunger of
the hungry"? Can I come over to the ocean and say: "Sea of water as
salty as tears, turn into a sea of milk and honey and quench the thirst
of the thirsty"? Think of it, Nullius!
ANATHEMA.
Did you see the blind?
DAVID.
Only once did I dare lift my eyes,--but I saw strange, grey people,
into whose eyes some one had spat something white, and they feel the
air as if it were a danger, and they fear the earth as though it were a
horror. What do they want, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Did you see the sick and the maimed, with organs of the body
missing,--did you see them crawl on the ground? Out of the pores of the
earth they come like a perspiration of blood--the earth is of them.
DAVID.
Be silent, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Did you see people who are devoured by their conscience: their face is
dark, as though scorched by fire, and their eyes are surrounded with
white rings, and they run about in a circle like mad horses? Did you
see people who look straight ahead, and in their hands they hold long
staffs for measuring the road? These are the people searching after
truth.
DAVID.
I dared not look any further.
ANATHEMA.
Did you hear the voice of the earth, David?
_Enter Sarah; she advances to David timidly._
DAVID.
Is that you, Sarah? Shut the door tightly, do not leave a crevice
behind you. What is it you wish, Sarah?
SARAH.
_With fear and faith._
Are you not entirely prepared yet, David? Make haste and go out to the
people: they are tired of waiting and many of them fear death. Dismiss
these, for others are coming, David, and soon there will be no place
for a man to stand. The water has already given out in the fountains
and they are not bringing any bread from the city, as you have ordered,
David.
DAVID.
_Uplifting his hands; horrified._
Awaken, Sarah, sleep has enmeshed you in nets of cunning and your heart
is poisoned with the madness of love. It is I, David!...
_With fear._
And I did not command to bring bread.
SARAH.
If you are not quite ready, David, they can wait. But order lamps
lighted and give bedding for the women and the children,--for night
will soon set in and the earth will grow cold. And order them to give
milk to the children--they are starved. There, in the distance, we have
heard the sound of innumerable footsteps: are those not herds of cows
and goats, full of milk, driven here at your command?
DAVID.
_Hoarsely._
Oh, my God, my God!...
ANATHEMA.
_In a low voice, to Sarah._
Go away, Sarah: David is praying. Do not disturb his prayer.
_Sarah goes away timidly and cautiously._
DAVID.
Mercy! Mercy!
_The noise outside the windows subsides. Suddenly
it is heard again: Sarah had notified them that
they must wait._
DAVID.
Mercy! Mercy!
ANATHEMA.
_In a commanding tone._
David be a man in the face of the great fear. Did you not call them here? Did
you not call loudly, in a voice of love, to the silence and the
darkness where unspeakable horror dwells? And now they have come to
you--North and South, East and West, and like four oceans of tears they
have stretched themselves at your feet. Rise, David!
DAVID.
What shall I do, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Tell them the truth.
DAVID.
What shall I do, Nullius? Shall I perhaps take a rope and, hanging it
upon a tree, strangle myself like the one who had once betrayed? Am
I, perhaps, a traitor, having called them and not given anything to
them, and loving them in order to destroy them? Oh, how my heart is
aching!... Oh, how my heart is aching, Nullius! Oh, I feel as cold as
the ground that is covered with ice, and within it there is heat and
white flame. Oh, Nullius, have you seen the white flame on which the
moon turns dark and the sun burns like yellow straw?
_He tosses about._
Hide me, Nullius. Is there not a dark room, where the light does
not penetrate? are there not strong walls through which I would not
hear these voices? Whither are they calling me? I am a sick old man, I
cannot endure and suffer so long--I myself had small children, and did
they not die? What were their names, Nullius? I have forgotten. Who is
it they call David, the man who has brought joy to mankind?
ANATHEMA.
That was your name, David Leizer. You are deceived, Leizer. You are
deceived even as I am deceived!
DAVID.
_With entreaty._
Protect me, Nullius. Go out to them and tell them aloud, so they
all can hear: "David Leizer is a sick old man, and he has nothing
left." They will listen to you, Nullius,--you have such a respectful
appearance,--and they will return to their homes.
ANATHEMA.
Yes, yes, David. You see the truth already, and you will soon proclaim
it to the people. Ha, ha! Who said that David Leizer could perform
miracles?
DAVID.
_Folding his arms._
Yes, yes, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Who dares demand miracles of Leizer? Is he not a sick old man,--mortal
like all the rest?
DAVID.
Yes, yes, Nullius,--a man.
ANATHEMA.
Did not love deceive Leizer? It said to him: "I shall do
everything,"--and it raised only dust on the road like the blind wind
from behind a corner, which bursts in noisily and lies down quietly,
which blinds the eyes and stirs up the dust. Let us go, then, to Him
who gave love to David, and ask Him: "Wherefore did you deceive our
brother David?"
DAVID.
Yes, yes, Nullius! Of what good is love to man if it is powerless? Of
what good is life if there is no immortality?
ANATHEMA.
_Rapidly._
Go out and tell this to them,--they will listen to you. They will lift
their voice to Heaven--and we shall hear the answer of Heaven, David!
Tell them the truth and you will stir up the earth.
DAVID.
I am going, Nullius. And I will tell them the truth--I have never lied.
Open the doors, Nullius.
_Anathema quickly throws the door open and
respectfully allows David to pass to the balcony.
David walks slowly, with an air of importance. Then
Anathema closes the door behind David. The noise
suddenly subsides, a deathlike silence sets in, and
David's quivering voice is heard faintly. Anathema
dances about the room in a fit of ecstasy._
ANATHEMA.
Ah! you would not listen to me,--now listen to them. Ah! you forced me
to crawl on my belly like a dog. You would not permit me to glimpse
even through a crevice!... You laughed at me in your silence!... You
tortured me by your motionlessness. Listen, then, and answer, if you
can. It is not the Devil who speaks to you, it is not the son of Dawn
who raises his voice,--it is man, it is your favorite son, your care,
your love, your tenderness, and your proud hope, that is wriggling
under your foot like a worm. Well? You are silent? Lie to him by your
thunder, deceive him with your lightning,--how dares he look into the
heavens? Let him, like Anathema?
_Wailing._
The poor, offended Anathema, who is crawling on his belly like a dog....
_Furiously._
Let man crawl back again to his dark hole, let him decay in silence,
bury himself in gloom, where unspeakable horror dwells.
_A myriad-voiced sound is heard from outside the
windows._
ANATHEMA.
Do you hear?
_Sarcastically._
It is not I. It is they. Six, eight, twenty-correct. It is always
correct with the Devil....
_The door opens and David, horror-stricken, runs
in. A shout is heard behind him. David closes the
door and holds it with his shoulder._
DAVID.
Help, Nullius! They will soon break in--the door is not strong; they
will break it.
ANATHEMA.
What do they say?
DAVID.
They do not believe me, Nullius. They ask for a miracle. But do the
dead also shout?--I saw the dead they have brought here.
ANATHEMA.
_Furiously._
Then lie to them, Jew!
_David goes away from, the door and says
mysteriously, with confusion and fear:_
DAVID.
Do you know, Nullius, something is going on within me,--I have
nothing,--but here I went out to them, I saw them and suddenly I felt
that it is not true--I do have something. And I spoke, but I did not
believe it myself; I spoke, and yet I felt that I stood with them and
shouted against myself, and demanded angrily.... With my lips I declare
that I have nothing,'and with my heart I promise them, and with my
eyes I cry out, Yes, yes, yes! What shall I do, Nullius? Tell me, are
you sure that I have nothing?
_Anathema smiles. Sarah's_, _voice is heard behind
the door on the right; a knock at the door._
SARAH.
Let me in, David.
DAVID.
Do not open the door, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
It is your wife, Sarah.
_He opens the door. Sarah enters, leading by the
hand a pale-faced woman who is carrying something
in her arms._
SARAH.
_Meekly._
Forgive me, David. But this woman says that she cannot wait any more.
She says that if you delay any longer, she will not recognize her child
when he is revived. If it is necessary for you to know his name, it is
Moishe, little Moishe. He is a dark little one,--I looked at him.
WOMAN.
_Falling down on her knees._
Forgive me, David, for breaking the line and not waiting for my turn.
But there are those who died but a little while ago, while I am
carrying him already three days and three nights on my breast. Perhaps
it is necessary for you to take a look at him? Then I will uncover
him--I am not deceiving you, David.
SARAH.
I have looked at him already, David. She let me hold him awhile. She is
very tired, David.
_David retreats slowly, the palms of his hands
outstretched forward. He moves thus until he
reaches the wall._
DAVID.
Mercy! Mercy!
_Both women wait patiently._
DAVID.
What shall I do? I am fainting, O God! Nullius, tell them that I do not
resurrect the dead!
WOMAN.
I implore you, David! Do I ask you to restore life to an old man who
has lived long and who has deserved death for his evil deeds? Do I
not understand whom it is possible to resurrect and whom it is not
possible to resurrect? But perhaps it is hard for you because he is
dead so long. I did not know this,--forgive me. And when he was dying,
I promised him: "Moishe, do not be afraid to die--David, who brings joy
to mankind, will restore your little life to you."
DAVID.
Show him to me.
_Looks at him, shaking his head, and weeps, wiping
his eyes with his red kerchief. Sarah looks at him
confidently, leaning on his shoulder._
SARAH.
How old was he?
WOMAN.
Two years, going on the third.
_David turns his tear-stained face to Anathema and
says in a strange voice:_
DAVID.
Shall I make an attempt, perhaps, Nullius?
_Suddenly he bends down and cries hoarsely:_
Adenoi!... Adenoi!... Begone! Begone! The Devil has sent you here. Tell
them, Nullius, that I do not resurrect the dead. They have come to
mock me! Look, they are both laughing there. Begone! Begone!
ANATHEMA.
_In a low voice, to Sarah._
Go away, Sarah, and lead the woman away. David is not quite ready yet.
SARAH.
_In a whisper._
I will take her to my room. Later you may tell David that she is there.
_To the woman._
Come, woman,--David is not quite ready yet.
_They go out. David, exhausted, sits down in an
arm-chair and lowers his grey head. He reads
something softly._
ANATHEMA.
They have gone, David. Do you hear? They have gone away.
DAVID.
Nullius, did you see? It was a dead child. Moishe.... Yes, yes, Moishe,
a dark little one; we looked at him.... (_Loudly, in despair._) What
shall I do? Teach me, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
_Quickly._
Flee!
_Listens to what is going on outside the window,
nods his head affirmatively, and advances to David
cautiously, like a conspirator; David waits for
him, with his arms folded as in prayer, a confident
smile on his lips. His back is bent, and he
frequently takes his red kerchief from his pocket,
but does not know what to do with it._
ANATHEMA.
_In a whisper._
We must flee, David, flee!
DAVID.
_Joyously._
Yes, yes, Nullius,--we must flee.
ANATHEMA.
I shall hide you in a dark room which no one knows of; when they fall
asleep, tired of waiting and hungry, I shall lead you through the
sleeping people--and will save you.
DAVID.
_Joyously._
Yes, yes, save me.
ANATHEMA.
And they will be waiting! In their sleep they will, wait and dream
dreams of great expectations--and you will not be here any longer!
DAVID.
_Nodding his head joyously._
And I shall not be here any longer, Nullius! And I shall have fled
already, Nullius!
_Laughs._
ANATHEMA.
_Laughing._
And you will not be here any longer! You will have fled! Let them speak
to Heaven then.
_They look at each other and laugh._
ANATHEMA.
_In a friendly tone._
Wait for me, David. I shall go out at once and see whether the house is
still surrounded. They are such madmen!
DAVID.
Yes, yes, look. They are such madmen! Meanwhile I shall prepare myself,
Nullius.... But I ask you, do not leave me here all alone for a long
time.
_Anathema goes out. David goes cautiously on tiptoe
to the window and wants to look out, but he dares
not; he goes to the table and is frightened by the
scattered sheets of paper; he moves cautiously
to the corner where his clothes are. He dresses
hastily, mixing up his clothes. For a long time he
does not know what to do with his beard; suddenly
he pushes it under his coat and hides it with his
collar._
DAVID.
_Muttering._
Yes, yes. I must hide my beard. All the children know my beard.... But
why did they not tear it out? Yes, yes, my beard.... But what a black
coat! It does not matter, you will hide it. That's the way. Rosa had a
mirror.... But Rosa ran away, and Naum also died, and Sarah--oh, but
why does not Nullius come? Does he not hear how they are shouting?...
_A knock on the door._
DAVID.
_Frightened._
Who is there? David Leizer is not here.
ANATHEMA.
It is I, David; let me in.
_Anathema enters._
DAVID.
Well, Nullius,--it is possible to recognize me now, is it not?
ANATHEMA.
Very good, David. But I don't know how we can get out. Sarah has
filled the house with guests: in every room the blind and the maimed
are waiting for you with a pleasant smile; there are also dead people
there, David. Your Sarah is a splendid woman, but she is too much of
a hostess, David, and she intends to build up a fine household on
miracles.
DAVID.
But she must not do it, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Many people are already sleeping at your doors, smiling in their
dreams,--self-confident, lucky people, who have managed to outstrip
the others.... And in the garden and in the yard....
DAVID.
_With fear._
What is there in the yard?...
ANATHEMA.
Not so loud, David. Look and listen.
_He puts out the light in the room and draws aside
the draperies; the windows are lit up with a red
light; it is dark in the room, but David's head,
and the paper on the floor, are tinted a pale
crimson hue._
DAVID.
_Frightened, in a whisper._
Where does this fire come from, Nullius? I am afraid.
ANATHEMA.
_Also in a whisper._
'Tis a cold night, and they have started bonfires. Sarah told them that
they would have to wait a long time yet, so they have taken precautions.
DAVID.
Where did they get the wood?
ANATHEMA.
They broke certain things. Sarah told them that you ordered them to
start bonfires, and they are humbly burning whatever wood they find....
And there, David, farther away....
DAVID.
_In despair._
What is it, Nullius? What else can there be, there yonder?...
ANATHEMA.
I do not know, David. But from the upper window, which was wide open,
I heard something like the roaring of the ocean when the rocks tremble
with pain from the beating of the breakers; it was as though the
roaring of brass trumpets that I heard, David,--they are shouting to
the sky and to you, and they are calling you.... Do you hear?
_In the muffled noise and chaos of sounds, ring out
the sounds: Da-vid! Da-vid! Da-vid!_
DAVID.
I hear my name. Who is calling? What do they want?
ANATHEMA.
I don't know. Perhaps they want to crown you as their king.
DAVID.
Me?
ANATHEMA.
You, David Leizer. Perhaps they are bringing you might and power--and
the power of performing miracles--do you not want perhaps to become a
God, David? Look and listen.
_He throws the windows wide open. The sounds of
the voices calling "Da-vid, Da-vid, Da-vid!"
grow louder and are mingled with the blowing of
trumpets._
_David at first moves to the wall, then he slowly
advances to the window. He straightens himself,
looks out of the window, and pushing Anathema
aside, outstretches his arms to the poor of the
earth._
DAVID.
_Calling._
Come this way! Come here! To me! I am here! I am with you!
ANATHEMA.
_Astonished._
What? You are calling them? You--are--calling--them? Bethink yourself,
Leizer!
DAVID.
_Angrily._
Be silent! you do not understand me! We are all human beings and we
shall go together.
_Enthusiastically._
And we shall go together! Come here, brethren, come! Look,
Nullius,--they have lifted their heads, they are looking, they hear me.
This way! this way!
ANATHEMA.
Will you perform miracles?
DAVID.
_Angrily._
Be silent--you are a stranger. You speak as an enemy of God and
mankind. You know neither pity nor compassion. We are tired, we are
exhausted,--even the dead have grown tired of waiting. Come here--and
we shall go together. This way!
ANATHEMA.
_Looking at David._
Are not the blind showing the way to them?
DAVID.
Who needs eyesight if not the blind? This way, blind!
ANATHEMA.
Are not the lame making the road and swallowing the dust there?
DAVID.
Who needs the road if not the lame? This way, maimed!
ANATHEMA.
Are they not carrying the dead on the stretchers, swaying with measured
steps? Look, David, and dare to say: "Come this way, to me. I am he who
resurrects the dead!"
DAVID.
_Tormented._
You know no love, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
"I am he who restores sight to the blind"--
_Loudly, through the window._
This way! Nations of the earth, seeking God,--come together, at the
feet of David--he is here!
DAVID.
Not so loud.
ANATHEMA.
Eh, this way! Suffering mothers,--fathers who have lost their reason in
grief,--brothers and sisters who devour one another in the convulsions
of hunger--come this way, to David, who has brought joy to mankind!
DAVID.
_Seizing him by the shoulder._
You have lost your mind, Nullius. They may hear you and may break into
the house.... What are you doing, Nullius? Be more cautious.
ANATHEMA.
_Shouting._
David is calling you!
DAVID.
_Dragging him away from the window forcibly._
Be silent! I'll choke you if you utter another word. You dog!
ANATHEMA.
_Releasing himself._
You are as foolish as a human being. When I call you to flee from here,
you curse me. When I call you to love--you want to choke me.
_With contempt._
Man!
DAVID.
_Enfeebled._
Oh, do not ruin me, Nullius. Oh, forgive me if I have angered you,
foolish old man that I am, with a memory that fails me. But I cannot--I
cannot perform any miracles!
ANATHEMA.
Let us flee from here.
DAVID.
Yes, yes, let us flee.
_Irresolutely._
But where? Where do you want to lead me, Nullius? Is there a place on
earth where God is not present?
ANATHEMA.
I shall lead you to God.
DAVID.
No, I don't want to go to Him. What will God tell me? And what shall I
answer Him? Be considerate, Nullius. Can I say anything in answer to
God now?
ANATHEMA.
I shall lead you to the desert. We shall leave here these wicked and
vicious people, who are seized with the itch of suffering and who break
down posts and fences like hogs that scratch themselves.
DAVID.
_Irresolutely._
But they are human beings, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Renounce them, and, pure, stand up in the desert before the face
of God. Let the rock be your bed, let the howling jackal become
your friend, let only the sky and the sand hear the penitent moans
of David--not a single stain of another's sin shall come upon the
pure snow of his soul. He who remains with lepers becomes a leper
himself--only in solitude will you see God. To the desert, David, to
the desert!
DAVID.
I shall pray.
ANATHEMA.
You will pray.
DAVID.
I shall exhaust my body with fasting.
ANATHEMA.
You will exhaust your body with fasting.
DAVID.
I shall cover my head with ashes.
ANATHEMA.
What for? Unfortunate people do that. But you will be happy, David, in
your sinlessness. To the desert, David, to the desert!
DAVID.
To the desert, Nullius, to the desert!
ANATHEMA.
_Quickly._
Let us run. There is a cellar here of which no one knows. There are old
barrels there, and there is the smell of wine. I shall hide you. And
when they fall asleep--
DAVID.
To the desert! To the desert!
_They rush out quickly. Disorder and silence in the
room.. Through the open window soon comes in the
noise of voices and of brass trumpets, moans and
sobs of the mob,--"Da-a-a-vid!"_
_And with its pages bent under it, like a house
that is falling apart, lies the Bible, with its
back upward._
SLOW CURTAIN.
ACT FIVE.
_On the right, upon the slope of a mountain, a dilapidated stone fence.
On the left, the sea is seen. Beyond the fence, a deserted garden;
among the trees two tall cypress trees stand out prominently. The sea
is dark. It is before a storm. The sky is overcast with heavy clouds,
which are driven rapidly by the wind._
_As the curtain goes up no one is on the stage; then Anathema climbs
over the fence and assists David over the fence. David is very weak and
moves with difficulty. Their dark clothes are covered with mud and torn
in places. Both have lost their hats on the way._
ANATHEMA.
Quicker, quicker, David! They are pursuing us. In this dark garden,
where it is so quiet, I heard a roaring in the distance, on that
side,--as though there were another sea there. Quicker, David!
DAVID.
I can't, Nullius. Put me down here that I may die.
ANATHEMA.
Put your foot here, on this rock. Take care.
DAVID.
Before my eyes are paths which turn and turn and lead to the wall. Then
there are more walls, Nullius, and this dark ditch where a bloated dead
horse is lying. Where are we, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
We are at the sea. We shall take a boat from the fishermen and trust
ourselves to the waves--You will sooner find mercy with the senseless
waves, David, than with the maddened people.
DAVID.
Yes, it is better to die.
_He lies down by the fence._
I am fifty-eight years old, Nullius, and I must have a rest.... But who
was the man that met us on the highway and was so greatly overjoyed,
and ran off shouting: "Here is David, who has brought joy to mankind?
How does he know me? I had never seen him before.
ANATHEMA.
_As if surveying the shore._
Your fame is great, David.... Strange, I do not find any path leading
downward.
DAVID.
_Shutting his eyes._
The cypress trees have turned dark--there will be a storm to-night,
Nullius. We should have remained at the stone pit: it was dark and
quiet there, and I slept like a man with clear conscience.
_Grumbling._
But why are you silent, Nullius? Or am I to speak all alone, as if I
were already in the desert?
NULLIUS.
I am searching.
DAVID.
_With dissatisfaction._
What else is there to search for? We have searched enough to-day, and
we jumped like trained dogs. I felt ashamed, Nullius, when I climbed
the fences like a little boy stealing apples. You had better come over
here and tell me something about your wanderings. I am too tired to
sleep.
ANATHEMA.
You'll not be able to sleep, David.
_Advancing._
There is no way down to the sea.
DAVID.
What of it? Look for it elsewhere.
ANATHEMA.
_Outstretching his hand in the direction of the
city._
Look, David; what is that white line there in the distance?
DAVID.
_Lifting his head._
I don't see it.
ANATHEMA.
It is the city which is awaiting you. Now listen. What is that noise in
the distance?
DAVID.
_Listening._
That--of course, Nullius, that is the echo of the waves of the sea.
ANATHEMA.
No. It is the voice of the people, who will come here soon and will
demand miracles from you, and will offer you the kingdom of the poor on
earth. When we were hiding in the rocks, I heard two men speak as they
hastened to the city: they said that you had been carried away by some
evil one and that it was necessary to rescue you from that evil one and
offer you the kingdom.
DAVID.
Am I not a sick old Jew? Am I a piece of gold that I should be stolen?
Leave me alone, Nullius; you are raving like the other people.... I am
sleepy.
ANATHEMA.
_Impatiently._
But they are coming this way.
DAVID.
Let them come. You will tell them that David is sleeping and that he
does not want to perform miracles.
_He prepares himself for sleep._
ANATHEMA.
Bethink yourself, David.
DAVID.
_Stubbornly._
He does not want to perform any miracles. Good night, Nullius. I am old
and I do not like to talk nonsense.
ANATHEMA.
David!
_David does not answer; he falls asleep, his hands
folded under his head._
ANATHEMA.
Awaken, David! the people have come here.
_Pushes him angrily._
Get up, I say. You make believe that you are asleep--I don't believe
you. Do you hear?
_Through his teeth._
You've fallen asleep--damned flesh!
_Steps aside and listens._
ANATHEMA.
Ha, ha! They are coming.... They are coming.... And their king is
sleeping! They are coming--and their miracle-worker is sleeping the
sleep of the horse which draws water. They are carrying a crown and
death--and their victim and master is catching the wind with an open
mouth, smacking his lips for pleasure. O miserable race! There is
treachery in your bones, betrayal in your blood, and falsehood in your
heart! It is better to rely upon flowing waters, to walk upon the waves
as upon a bridge; it is better to lean upon the air as upon a rock,
than to trust one's haughty anger and bitter dreams to a traitor.
_Goes over to David and pushes him rudely._
Get up! Get up, David,--Sarah is here, Sarah, Sarah!
DAVID.
_Awakening._
Are you here, Sarah? I'll be up soon; I am very tired, Sarah.... What
is this? You, Nullius? Where is Sarah? Didn't she call me just now? How
tired I am! how tired I am, Nullius!
ANATHEMA.
Sarah is coming. Sarah is carrying an infant.
DAVID.
What infant? We have no small children. Our children--
_Half rises, looks around, frightened._
What is that, Nullius? who is crying there?
ANATHEMA.
Sarah is carrying a dead child. You must resurrect the dead child,
David. He is dark, and his name is Moishe--Moishe--Moishe!
DAVID.
_Rising._
We must flee, Nullius. We must flee. But where is the road? Where have
you led me to?
_Seizes Anathema by the arm._
Listen how they are shouting. They are coming this way, to me--oh, save
me, Nullius!
ANATHEMA.
There is no way.
_Holding David._
There is an abyss.
DAVID.
What shall I do, Nullius? Shall I, mayhap, hurl myself down and dash my
head against the rocks? But am I a wicked wretch that I should come to
God without His calling me? Oh, if God only called me--faster than an
arrow would my old soul rush to Him....
_Listens._
They are shouting. They are calling ... calling? Step aside, Nullius; I
want to pray.
ANATHEMA.
_Steps aside._
But make haste, David; they are near.
DAVID.
Do you hear? They are coming. I love them, but my love is bitterer than
hatred, and it is as powerless as indifference. Kill me, and meet them
yourself. Kill me--and meet them with mercy, with love. Fertilize the
hungry earth with my body and grow bread upon it, drown sorrow with my
soul and grow laughter upon it. And joy, O Lord, joy for mankind....
_The approach of an enormous mob is heard._
ANATHEMA.
_Advancing._
Quicker, David, quicker,--they are approaching.
DAVID.
One moment, one moment.
_In despair._
Joy ... What else? Only one word--only one word--but I have forgotten
it.
_Weeping._
Oh, what a great number of words there are, but one is missing.... But,
perhaps, you need no words at all?
ANATHEMA.
Only one word is missing? How strange! It seems that they have found
their word--do you hear them wailing? "Da-a-vid! Da-a-vid!"
Rise, David, and meet them proudly; it seems they are beginning to mock
you.
_David rises. Some one rushes in ahead of the mob,
shouting joyously: "David!" and runs back. The sea
looks in one place as though stained with blood._
DAVID.
_Retreating a step._
I am afraid, Nullius. This is the same one we met on the road, with a
red little beard.... I fear him, Nullius.
ANATHEMA.
Meet them proudly. Strike them with the truth, David,--with the truth!
DAVID.
But do not leave me alone, Nullius, or I shall forget again where the
truth is.
_People appear on the fence. They are exhausted,
mud-covered, like David. They seem to be blind yet
their faces are radiant with joy, and they keep
exclaiming: "Da-vid! Da-vid!"_
DAVID.
_Outstretching his arms._
Back--
_They do not listen to him and keep climbing the
fence, wailing._
ANATHEMA.
_Audaciously._
Where are you going? Back--back, you were told.
_The people in the front rank pause in fear._
VOICES.
Stop! Stop! Who's that? That's David. No, that's the robber. The one
who has carried him off. The robber.
A RESTLESS MAN.
Silence! Silence! David wishes to speak. Listen to David.
_They become silent; but in the distance people are
still shouting: "Da-vid!"_
DAVID.
What is it you want? Yes, it is I, David Leizer, a Jew from the same
city that you come from. Why do you pursue me like a thief and frighten
me like a robber with your shouting?
ANATHEMA.
_Audaciously._
What do you want? Go away from here. My friend David Leizer does not
want to see you.
DAVID.
Yes. Let me die here, for death is already approaching my heart; go
home to your wives and your children. I cannot ease your sufferings in
any way,--go. Do I speak properly, Nullius?
ANATHEMA.
Yes, David.
THE RESTLESS MAN.
Our wives are here and our children are here. Here they stand, waiting
for your word of kindness, David,--you who have brought joy to mankind!
I have no strength left in me and I have nothing to say. Go.
WOMAN.
Move forward a little, Rubin, and bow to our master David. You probably
remember him, David? Bow to him once more, Rubin.
_The boy bows timidly and hides in the crowd again.
Laughter._
OLD MAN.
_Smiling._
He is afraid of you, David. Don't be afraid, boy.
_Milled laughter. The Wanderer comes forward._
WANDERER.
You have called us, David, and we have come. We have long waited
silently for your merciful call, and now your call has reached the
remotest boundaries of the earth. The roads have become black with
people; the deserted roads have come to life and the narrow paths are
filled with footsteps, and they will soon become highways--and even as
the blood that is in the body all rushes to the heart, so all the poor
on earth will come to you alone. Welcome to you, our master David--the
people are bowing before you with their life and the earth.
DAVID.
_Tormented._
What do you want?
WANDERER.
_Softly._
Righteousness.
DAVID.
What do you want?
ALL.
Righteousness.
_Expectation._
DAVID.
_With sudden hope._
Tell me, Nullius, tell me: Is righteousness a miracle?
ANATHEMA.
_Bitterly._
There are the blind--they are innocent. There are the dead--and they
are also innocent. The earth is bowing before you with its graves, and
it greets you with darkness. Perform a miracle.
DAVID.
A miracle? Again a miracle?
WANDERER.
_Suspiciously and sternly._
And the people do not want you to speak with him whose name we dare not
utter. He is an enemy of mankind, and at night, when you were asleep,
he carried you off to this mountain--but it did not occur to him to
carry off the heart of the people; and, beating unceasingly, this heart
has brought us to you.
ANATHEMA.
_Audaciously._
It seems that I am superfluous here.
DAVID.
No, no. Do not forsake me, Nullius.
_Tormented._
Begone, begone from here! You are tempting God--I do not know you.
Begone.... Begone!
ANATHEMA.
Begone!
VOICES.
_Frightened._
David is angry. What shall we do? The master is angry. David is angry.
OLD MAN.
Call Sarah.
WOMAN.
Call Sarah. Sarah!
VOICES.
Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!...
DAVID.
_Horror-stricken._
Do you hear? They are calling.
JOYOUS VOICE.
Sarah is coming.
_The mob grows bolder._
KHESSIN.
_Bowing several times._
It is I, David,--I. Peace be with you, our master David.
SONKA.
_Smiling and bowing._
Peace be with you. Peace be with you, David.
_David turns aside and covers his face with his
hands._
ANATHEMA.
_Indifferently._
Begone!
_General confusion; interrupted smiles, muffled
groans. Sarah, led respectfully by the arms,
advances to David. Nearing him, she walks alone._
ANATHEMA.
Turn around, David.... Sarah is here.
SARAH.
Peace be with you, David. Forgive me for disturbing you, but the
people have asked me to speak with you and to find out when you intend
to return home to your palace. And they have also asked you to make
haste, David, for many have died already of unbearable sufferings--and
the dead have already grown tired of waiting. And many have already
lost their reason from their unbearable sufferings, and they will
soon commence to murder; if you will not make haste, David, all the
people will become enemies--and it will be hard for you to establish a
kingdom upon the dead earth.
_Bitter wailings in the distance: "Da-vid! Da-vid!
Da-vid!"_
DAVID.
_With restraint._
Go away, Sarah.
SARAH.
_Humbly._
Your clothes are torn, David, and I fear that there are wounds upon
your body. What ails you? Why do you not rejoice with us?
DAVID.
_Weeping._
Oh, Sarah, Sarah! What are you doing with me? Consider,
Sarah,--consider you all. Have I not given everything away to you? I
have nothing left. Have pity on me even as I had pity on you,--and kill
my unnecessary body with stones. I love you--and words of anger are
powerless upon my lips, and wrath upon loving lips does not frighten
you--have pity on me. I have nothing more. I have a little blood in
my veins, but would I not give away the last drop of it, if I could
only quench your bitter thirst? Like a sponge I would have squeezed my
heart between the palms of my hands--and the cunning heart, so greedy
for life, would not dare hide a single drop....
_Be tears his clothes and scratches his chest with
his nails._
Here my blood is flowing--my blood is flowing? has a single one of
you smiled a smile of joy? Here I am tearing the hair of my beard and
I fling the grey locks--I fling them at your feet--has a single dead
person risen? Here I spit into your eyes--will one blind man regain his
sight? Here I bite the rocks--the rocks--like a mad beast--will one
hungry person be satiated? Here I hurl myself at you--
_Be makes several quick steps, and the crowd
retreats in horror._
ANATHEMA.
That's right, David! Strike them!
SARAH.
_Retreating._
Oh, do not punish us, David.
WANDERER.
_To the crowd._
He obeys the one who carried him off. He says: I shall not give
anything to the people. He spits and says he spits into the eyes of the
people....
_Cries of horror and growing malice. But in the
distance there are still prayerful wailings:
"Da-vid! Da-vid! Da-vid!"_
SOMEONE.
He dares not spit at the people. We have done him no wrong.
ANOTHER VOICE.
I saw it, I saw it. He lifted stones. Defend yourselves.
ANATHEMA.
Be on your guard; they will soon throw stones at you. They are beasts.
WANDERER.
_To David._
You have deceived us, you Jew.
SARAH.
Do not dare speak like this.
KHESSIN.
_Seizes the Wanderer by the chest._
Another word and I shall choke you.
DAVID.
_Shouting._
I have not deceived any one. I have given everything away and have
nothing left.
ANATHEMA.
Do you hear, fools? David has nothing.
_Laughs._
Nothing. Am I not telling the truth, David?
WANDERER.
Do you hear? He has nothing. Why, then, did he call us? He has deceived
us. He has deceived us.
KHESSIN.
_Perplexed._
But that is true, Sarah; he himself says that he has nothing.
SARAH.
Do not mind David. He is ill. He is tired. He will give us everything.
WANDERER.
_With sorrow and anger._
How could you do that, David? What have you done with the people,
accursed one?
RESTLESS MAN.
Listen what David, who has brought joy to mankind, has done to me. He
promised me ten roubles, and then took it back and gave me one copeck,
and I thought that the copeck was not really a copeck--I went to a
store with it and demanded a great deal, but they laughed and chased me
away as a thief. You are the thief. You are the robber; you have left
my children without milk. Here is your copeck.
_Throws the copeck at David's feet. Many other
people follow his example._
SARAH.
_Defending David._
Do not dare offend David.
_David weeps silently, his face covered with his
hands._
ANGRY MAN.
Traitor! He raised the dead out of their graves in order to make sport
of them. Strike him with stones.
_Bends down to lift a stone. A strong wind rises;
in the distance thunder-peals resound. The mob is
horror-stricken._
DAVID.
_Raising his head and baring his chest._
Stone me--I am a traitor!
_Louder thunder-peals. Anathema laughs merrily._
WANDERER.
Traitor! Stone him! He has deceived us! He has betrayed us! He has lied
to us!
_Confusion. They advance towards David, lifting
stones; some flee, sobbing._
DAVID.
Take me. I am going to you.
ANATHEMA.
Where? They will kill you!
DAVID.
You are my enemy. Leave me.
_Releases himself from his grasp._
WANDERER.
_Raising a stone above his head._
Back! Satan!
ANATHEMA.
_Hastily._
Curse them, David. They will soon put you to death. Quick!
_David lifts his arms and sinks down, struck by
a stone. Almost in silence, grumbling, they hurl
stones upon his motionless body. Thunder-peals.
Anathema is laughing. Suddenly a woman screams.
Then another. All are shouting. The mob runs away.
The last one lifts a stone to throw it on David's
head, but looks around and finding himself alone,
lets the stone fall out of his hand and runs away
with a wild outcry._
ANATHEMA.
_Swaying himself in every direction, he leaps upon
a rock, jumps down, then up again._
Ah, you have triumphed, David!
_Laughter._
Look! Look how the herd you have cursed is fleeing. Ha, ha! They are
falling from the rocks. Ha, ha! They are hurling themselves into
the sea. Ha! They are trampling children under their feet. Look,
David,--they are trampling upon children. You have done it. Great and
mighty David Leizer! Favorite son of God! You have done it. Ha, ha, ha!
_He whirls around, madly laughing._
Ah, where shall I go with my joy? Ah, where shall I go with my tidings?
the earth is too small for it! East and West! North and South! Look
and listen. David, who has brought joy to mankind, is put to death by
mankind and by God. And upon his ill-smelling corpse I--Anathema--will
put my foot.
_To heaven._
Do you hear? Answer, if you can.
_He tramples upon David's body. Then a groan is
heard, and David's grey, blood-stained head lifts
itself, quivering strangely._
ANATHEMA.
_Retreating._
You are still alive? You have lied even this time.
DAVID.
_Crawls._
I am coming to you. Wait for me, Sarah. One moment.
ANATHEMA.
_Bending over, examines David._
You are crawling? Like myself? Like a dog? After them?
DAVID.
_In the agony of death._
Oh, I cannot reach them. Carry me, Nullius. Do I say that it is not
necessary to stone me? Oh, let them stone me. Carry me, Nullius. I
shall lie down quietly on the threshold, I shall only look through the
crevice and see how the little children are eating.... Oh, my beard....
Oh, my terrible beard.... Oh, don't be afraid, my little one,--you
alone are laughing. My little children, my tiny little children....
ANATHEMA.
_Stamping his foot._
You are mistaken, David. You are dead. And your children are dead. The
earth is dead--dead--dead. Look.
_David rises with difficulty and looks into the
distance, his weak hands outstretched._
DAVID.
I see, Nullius. My old friend--my old friend, stay here, I beg you--and
I shall go to them. Do you know, Nullius....
_Confused._
I think that I found a copeck....
_Laughs quietly._
I told you, Nullius, to examine that paper. Abraham Khessin, my friend--
_Firmly._
Abraham Khessin is my friend....
_He sinks down and dies._
_Thunder in the distance. It is dark; the sun, red,
is seen on the horizon, near the water. It sets._
ANATHEMA.
_Bending over him._
Is it true this time? Are you dead? Or do you He again? No--it is an
honest death now. Let me have your fist. Open it. You don't want to?
But I am stronger than you.
_Rises and examines what David had in his hand._
A copeck!
_Throws it down with contempt. Pushes David with
his foot._
Farewell, fool. To-morrow people will find your body here and will bury
you with pomp, according to the custom of the people. Kind-hearted
murderers, they love those they kill. And out of the rocks with which
they stoned you for your love, they will erect a tall, crooked, and
stupid tombstone. And in order to enliven the stupid, dead pile of
stone, they will put me on the top.
_He laughs. Then he suddenly breaks of his laughter
and assumes a haughty pose._
Who shall wrench the victory from the hands of Anathema? The strong I
kill, the weak I force to whirl about in an intoxicating dance--a mad
dance--a devilish dance.
_He strikes the ground with his foot._
Be subdued, O earth, and bring me your gifts humbly! Kill, burn,
betray, O man, in the name of your master! I steer my boat over a sea
of blood which smells so sweetly,--and my sails are burning red--
_To heaven._
To you, for an answer! Not as a dog crawling on his belly, but as a
distinguished guest, as the reigning prince of the earth, I shall come
sailing to your mute shores.
_Majestically._
Be prepared. I shall demand an exact answer. Ha, ha, ha!
_Disappears in the darkness, bursting into
laughter._
CURTAIN.
EPILOGUE.
_Nothing has happened; nothing has changed. As before, the earth is
weighted down by the heavy iron Gates, closed from time immemorial,
beyond which dwells in silence and in mystery the Beginning of every
being, the Supreme Wisdom of the universe. And the Guardian of the
Entrances is just as silent and as sternly motionless as before.
Nothing has happened; nothing has changed._
_The grey light, as grey as the rocks, is terrible; the place is
terrible, but Anathema likes it. And he appears again; but he does
not crawl on his belly like a dog; nor does he hide himself beyond
the rocks like a thief. Like a conqueror, he is trying to seal his
victory by his haughty gait, by the importance of his slow movements.
But as the Devil can never be truthful, and as there are no bounds
to his doubts, he brings his duality even into this: He walks like
a conqueror, yet he is afraid; he throws his head back high like a
sovereign, and yet he laughs at his exaggerated self-importance; a
gloomy and malicious clown, he longs for greatness; and forced to
laugh, he despises laughter._
_Thus, assuming important airs beyond measure, he goes up to the
middle of the mountain and waits there in a haughty pose. But his
uncertain importance is devoured by the silence, even as dry wood is
devoured by fire--and he begins to hurry, without holding out the
pause, like a poor musician, striving to conceal himself and his doubts
and his odious fear in a vast deal of jests, in loud shouting and in
rapid gestures. He stamps his foot and shouts in a voice of assumed
sternness._
ANATHEMA.
Why are there no trumpets here? Why no celebration? Why are these old
and rusty gates closed? And why does no one hand me the keys? Is it
proper in decent circles to meet thus an eminent guest, the reigning
prince of the earth, which is friendly to us? Only the doorkeeper is
here, apparently asleep, and no one else. It is bad--bad!
_He bursts into laughter, and stretching himself wearily, sits down
upon a rock. He speaks humbly and with an air of fatigue._
But I am not vainglorious. Trumpets, flowers, and shouting--all this is
useless! I myself heard at one time how the people trumpeted glory for
David Leizer, but what has come of it?
_He heaves a sigh._
It is sad to think of it.
_He whistles mournfully._
You have surely heard of the misfortune that has come upon my friend
David Leizer? I remember when I last chatted with you,--you did
not know this name then.... But do you know it now? It is a name to
be proud of! When I left the earth, the entire earth in a million
of hungry throats called this glorious name, shouting: "David is a
deceiver! David is a traitor! David is a liar!" Then it seemed to me
that some of the people reproached also another one--for my honest
friend, who died an untimely death, did not act so incautiously in his
own name.
_The Guardian is silent. And Anathema shouts now
with an air of real triumph, breathing malice._
The name! Call the name of him who has ruined David and thousands of
people! I, Anathema, have no heart, my eyes have dried up from the fire
of Hell, and there are no tears in them, but if the tears were there I
would have given them all to David. I have no heart, but there was an
instant when something five trembled in my chest, and I was frightened:
I wondered whether a heart could be born. I saw how David was perishing
and thousands of people with him, I saw how his spirit, grown dark,
curled up piteously like a dead worm in the sun, was hurled down into
the abyss of non-existence, into my abode of darkness and death....
Tell me, are you not the one who has ruined David?
GUARDIAN OF THE ENTRANCES.
David has attained immortality, and he lives forever in the
deathlessness of fire. David has attained immortality, and he fives
forever in the deathlessness of fight, which is fife.
_Dumfounded, Anathema falls to the ground and lies
motionless for an instant. Then he lifts his head,
which is as angry as that of a serpent. He rises
and speaks with the calm of boundless wrath._
ANATHEMA.
You fie! Forgive me my daring, but you fie. Surely your power is
immense--and you can give immortality to a dead worm that has turned
black from the sun. But would that be just? Or do the numbers fie to
which you, too, must submit? Or do all the scales fie, and is all your
world nothing but one fie,--a cruel and mad game of laws, a malicious
laugh of a despot at the dumbness and submissiveness of the slave?
_He speaks gloomily, in the grief of deathless
blindness._
ANATHEMA.
I am tired of searching. I have grown tired of life, of aimless
tortures--of the quest after the ever elusive. Give me death, but do
not torment me with ignorance; answer me honestly, even as I am honest
in my uprising as a slave. Did not David love? Answer. Did not David
give his soul away? Answer. And did they not stone David, who had given
his soul away? Answer.
GUARDIAN.
Yes. They stoned David, who had given his soul away.
ANATHEMA.
_Smiling darkly._
Now you are honest and you answer me with modesty. Without having
stilled the hunger of the hungry, without having restored sight
to the blind, without having brought to life those who had died
innocently,--having stirred up dissension and dispute and cruel
bloodshed, for the people have already risen against one another and
are committing violence, murder, and plunder in the name of David,--did
not David manifest the powerlessness of love, and did he not create a
great evil which could be numbered and weighed?
GUARDIAN.
Yes. David has done that which you say; and the people have done that
of which you accuse them. And the numbers do not lie, and the scales
are correct, and every measure is what it is.
ANATHEMA.
_Triumphantly._
You say that!
GUARDIAN.
But that which you do not know, Anathema, is not measured with a
measure, and is not calculated in numbers, and is not weighed on
scales. Light has no boundaries, nor is there any boundary for the
glow of fire--there is a red fire, and there is a yellow fire, and
there is a white fire, in which the sun bums like a yellow straw,--and
there is still another unknown fire, whose name no one knows--for
there is no limit to the glow of fire. Having died in numbers, having
died in measures and in weights, David has attained immortality in the
deathlessness of fire.
ANATHEMA,
You lie again!
_He flings himself about on the ground in despair._
ANATHEMA.
Oh, who will help the honest Anathema? He is being deceived eternally.
Oh, who will help the unfortunate Anathema? His immortality is
deception. Oh, weep, you who have grown fond of the Devil; wail and
grieve, you who strive for truth, who honor wisdom,--Anathema is being
deceived eternally. When I win, he takes it away from me. When I come
out victorious, he fetters the conqueror in chains, he pricks out the
eyes of the ruler, and to the haughty he gives the traits of a dog, a
wagging and quivering tail. David, David, I was a friend to you,--tell
him that he lies.
_He puts his head down on his outstretched arms,
like a dog, and wails bitterly._
Where is the truth? Where is the truth? Where is the truth? Was it not
crushed with stones? Is it not lying in the ditch together with the
carrion? Oh, the light has died out from the world! Oh, the world has
no eyes!... he crows have pecked them out.... Where is the truth? Where
is the truth? Where is the truth?
_Plaintively._
Tell me, will Anathema ever learn the truth?
GUARDIAN.
No.
ANATHEMA.
Tell me, will Anathema ever see the gates open? Shall I ever see your
face?
GUARDIAN.
No. Never. My face is open, but you see it not. My speech is loud,
but you hear it not. My commands are clear, but you know them not,
Anathema. And you will never see, and you will never hear, and you will
never know, Anathema, unfortunate spirit, deathless in numbers, ever
alive in measure and in weight, but as yet unborn to life.
_Anathema leaps to his feet._
ANATHEMA.
You lie,--silent dog, you who have robbed the world of the truth, you
who have barred the entrances with iron! Farewell; I like a fair game,
and I pay when I lose. And if you will not pay, I shall cry before the
whole universe: "Help! I have been robbed!"
_He bursts into laughter. Whistling, he retreats
a few steps, and turns around. He speaks
unconcernedly._
ANATHEMA.
I have nothing to do, so I roam about the world. Do you know where I
am going now? I shall go to the grave of David Leizer. Like a grieving
widow, like the son of a father who had been murdered from behind the
corner by a traitor's blow,--I shall sit down on David Leizer's grave
and shall weep so bitterly, and cry so loudly, and call so terribly,
that not one honest soul will remain that would not curse the murderer.
Insane from grief, I shall point to the right and to the left.... Was
not this the one who killed him? Did not that one assist in the bloody
crime? Did not that one betray? I shall cry so bitterly, I shall accuse
so sternly, that all on earth will become murderers and hangmen, in
the name of Leizer, in the name of David Leizer, in the name of David,
who brought joy to mankind! And when from the heap of corpses, of
filthy, foulsmelling, and disgusting corpses I shall announce to the
people that you are the one who killed David and the people,--they will
believe me.
_Bursts into laughter._
For you have such a bad reputation--of a liar, a deceiver, a murderer.
Good-by.
_He goes off laughing. His laughter resounds once
more from the depths. And then everything relapses
into silence._
CURTAIN.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Anathema: A Tragedy in Seven Scenes" ***
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