Let me be. Make room. My message is for the king.

VOICES

Don't be so churlish.--Let us hear one word at least.--Has he fled?--Tell us the news.--Let the man alone.--His business is with the king.--Just a word.

THE MESSENGER

[Breaking loose] Let me be, let me be. You will learn soon enough. My message is urgent, and for the king. [Exit messenger.]

VOICES

What did he say? The message was urgent.--What did he say?

A VOICE

He said we should soon hear, but that he must go to the king at once.

ANOTHER VOICE

That is good news.

A THIRD VOICE

Wherefore good?

THE SECOND VOICE

Would the bearer of evil tidings be in so desperate a hurry?

VOICES

True, true.--The king will pay him a silver shekel for every word.--He is eager to earn the messenger's guerdon.--He brings tidings of victory.--Victory!--Good news.--Victory!

SOME NEWCOMERS

What has happened? Why are you shouting?

VOICES

Victory!--Victory!--A messenger has come.--He brings tidings of victory.--Nebuchadnezzar is beaten.--A great and glorious victory.--G.o.d be praised.--Alleluia! The news is certain.--Victory.--Victory!

A VOICE

It must be a mighty victory.

A SECOND VOICE

Were it otherwise he would not have been so secret.

A THIRD VOICE

They grudge us the news.

A NEWCOMER

[Pressing forward] Is it true? Is Nebuchadnezzar slain? So the word runs from street to street.

VOICES

Yes, slain is the oppressor.--Nay, the news is not yet confirmed.--But the messenger said so; he told us that Nebuchadnezzar had been killed in his tent.--Myriads of the enemy have fallen with him, G.o.d be thanked.--The oppressor is slain.--Alleluia!

AN OLD MAN

But all that the messenger said was ...

VOICES

He told us of the victory.--Why are you still in doubt?--I wish we could exterminate these faint-hearts.--I heard it myself.--So did I.--So did I.--The messenger said that Nebuchadnezzar had been killed in his tent.--No, he never said that.--Yes.--No.--But undoubtedly he brought tidings of victory.--Israel is free.--Free!

THE OLD MAN

I tell you I was standing quite close to him. I could hear every word he said.

VOICES

Your ears and your heart are deafened.--These kill-joys should themselves be killed.--Let us don our festal attire.--Out of the way, chatterbox.

A VOICE

Hananiah was a true prophet. Wise were we to heed his words, and not to hearken to those who declared that the temple would fall ...

ANOTHER VOICE

Who said that Ashur would lay Zion low ...

A THIRD VOICE

Who said that our maids would be ravished by the Chaldeans ...

FIRST VOICE

To the temple, to the temple. Let us give thanks there to G.o.d, and to Hananiah, his prophet!

VOICES

No, let us wait here, for the king will come soon.--Who said so?--Kings always appear in public after a victory.--The king will go to the temple.--The king must be the first to offer a sacrifice.--All right, let us stay here.--Let us send for drums and cymbals to celebrate the victory.--We will dance like David before the ark.--G.o.d is once more showing his love for Jerusalem.--Fetch the dancers.--Summon the women.--Call the trumpeters and the lute-players.--Let us make merry and give praise to the king of kings.

[The crowd sways to and fro joyfully, in movements like those of a troubled sea. Groups form, dissolve, and reform. The general mood is one of expectation and impatience. JEREMIAH and BARUCH enter from a side street, and endeavor to make their way through the press]