ABIMELECH

Well, be hungry! We are shedding our blood for you. The city must be our first care. [Trying to hearten them up he exclaims] Jerusalem for ever!

A VOICE

[Half-heartedly] Jerusalem for ever!

THE STRIDENT VOICE

Who or what is Jerusalem? Has Jerusalem a stomach? Has Jerusalem blood?

The stones and the walls are not Jerusalem. We are Jerusalem.

VOICES

Yes, we are Jerusalem.--Give us life.--Give us food.--Feed our children.--What is Jerusalem to me? I want bread.

ABIMELECH

[Stamping fiercely] Be silent, all. Back to your homes. Why do you loiter in the marketplace? Do you not know that we are at war?

A WOMAN

Why are we at war?

VOICES

Yes, why?--Why are we at war?--Let us make peace.--Peace.--Peace.--Bread.

THE STRIDENT VOICE

Was it not well with us under Nebuchadnezzar? Was not his yoke light?

Were not our days pleasant?

VOICES

Yea, yea.--Peace with Nebuchadnezzar.--End the war.--Down with the war.--A curse on him who began the war.

A WOMAN

It was Zedekiah's doing. He wanted war to help his friends the Egyptians.

VOICES

Yes, he has betrayed us.--While we suffer, he lies at ease among his wives.

ABIMELECH

Who dares to slander the Lord's anointed? He is ever in the forefront of the battle.

THE STRIDENT VOICE

It is false.

ABIMELECH

Who says it is false? Let him stand forth and face my sword. Who says it? [The crowd is silent] Beware of slanderers! Now then, off home with you. Let those who can fight, man the walls.

VOICES

[From the back] Nahum, Nahum! Here he comes. [The crowd surges round NAHUM] Nahum, good Nahum.--Give us bread.--Bread.--Bread.--You will treat us fairly.--Help us.--Good Nahum.

NAHUM

[Elbowing his way through the press] Let me pa.s.s!

THE CROWD

[Follows him up the steps] Nahum! Nahum!

ABIMELECH

Back! Stand back.

[The soldiers raise their spears, and the crowd shrinks away to the foot of the steps]

NAHUM

What would ye?

A VOICE

Open the storehouses.

NAHUM

The storehouses are empty. Each of you has a loaf every day. That must suffice.

VOICES

I have had no loaf.--Nor I.--Open the storehouses.

NAHUM

I tell you they are empty.

THE STRIDENT VOICE

Let us see for ourselves.