[Springing forward to block the entry to the porch of pillars] Keep the peace, keep the peace; you are murdering Jerusalem.

BARUCH

[Drawing his sword] Here's for him who still speaks of peace.

HANANIAH

Cut him down!

PASHUR

Down with the traitor!

JEREMIAH

Help me, friends of G.o.d; help me to save Jerusalem.

BARUCH

For the last time! Let us pa.s.s in to the king. [He endeavors to push JEREMIAH aside]

JEREMIAH

[Resists and shouts at the top of his voice] No step will I yield to folly! Peace! G.o.d's peace be upon Israel.

[BARUCH cuts him down, and JEREMIAH falls bleeding to the foot of the steps]

THE CROWD

[Scattering in horror] Murder.--They have killed him.--Murder.--Who is it?--Jeremiah.--They have killed him.--Woe.--Why use force?--Why kill the prophets?--Justice has been dealt on the liar.--To the king, to the king!

[BARUCH stands thunderstruck with lowered sword]

HANANIAH

[Shouts exultantly] May such be the fate of all faint-hearts, all slaves of Chaldea, all hirelings of Ashur! To the palace, to the king. Save Israel, deliver Jerusalem.

ABIMELECH

Death to traitors! Vengeance on Ashur!

PASHUR

G.o.d has struck him down.

HANANIAH

G.o.d's thunderbolt has fallen on the liar.

THE CROWD

[After its brief pause of consternation, begins to flow into the porch of pillars of the palace] To the king.--Let Israel rule the nations.--War.--War against Ashur.--Down with the traitors.--To the king.--G.o.d is on our side.--Down with Ashur.--Freedom.--Freedom.

[Rejoicing they stream into the palace]

[JEREMIAH still lies in a swoon at the base of the steps, none heeding him. The crowd pa.s.ses over him in a flood, leaving him like jetsam among the stones. BARUCH, who, in his bewilderment, was swept along by the mob, has struggled back from among them. Slowly, as if driven by an inner force, he comes down to the swooning man, bends over him, feels his brow, and listens for his breath]

BARUCH

Jeremiah, speak, Jeremiah, if you are still alive. [He raises JEREMIAH into a sitting posture]

JEREMIAH

[His eyes still closed, not yet himself, speaks hesitatingly] The fiery cloud has fallen. Fire is raging through the town. Woe is me!

BARUCH

Keep still a moment, that I may wipe the blood from your eyes.

JEREMIAH

Away! Your face was full of hatred towards me. Your eyes flashed fiercely. Was it not you who struck me down?

BARUCH

I indeed it was who drew sword upon you in anger, but the blade turned in my hand so that I struck you with the flat only. I rejoice thereat, for I drew upon an unarmed man. I will pay blood-money. Let me staunch your wound.

JEREMIAH

Let the blood flow. Would that mine alone were to flow in Jerusalem.

[Half rising] What has become of the crowd? The marketplace is empty.

Have they gone to the palace, gone to force war upon the king? Where are they?

BARUCH

Compose yourself ...

JEREMIAH

They have gone. It is too late. Curse upon you for that you felled me to the ground. More, far more, than me have you slain. Not my blood alone has been shed, but the blood of all Israel. Through you, Zion has been broken and destroyed. You have killed the watchman, and they are raging in the holy places of the Lord. Let me rise. Avaunt, murderer of Israel!

BARUCH

What do you wish to do?

JEREMIAH

[In febrile excitement] Help me, help me to my feet. You struck me down, so now you must help me. Perhaps there is still time. [Distant shouts are heard from the palace] Their jubilation means death; their joy means destruction. Too late! Too late! For Jerusalem's sake I must give warning. Your aid! I must go to him. The hour calls. [He struggles to his feet]