BARUCH

Shall only the cautious elders speak, none but the aged give counsel, that Israel may grow old before her time and G.o.d's word decay in our hearts? The moment is ours, and it is for us to take revenge. You have abased yourselves, and we will lift ourselves up; you have faltered, but we will bring fruition; you had peace, and we want war.

ZEBULON

What do you know of war? We, the fathers, have known war. In books war is great, but in reality war is a destroyer, a ravisher of life.

BARUCH

I fear not war. Let us have done with slavery!

A VOICE

Zedekiah hath sworn an oath of peace.

VOICES

The oath matters nothing.--Let him break his oath.--No oath need be kept with the heathen.

OTHER VOICES

[Exultant, coming from the street] Abimelech!--Hail Abimelech!--Abimelech, our leader!

[Groups crowd round ABIMELECH, the general, and acclaim him]

VOICES

Abimelech!--Is it true that Egypt offers an alliance? Draw your sword.--Up, march against Ashur.--Gather Israel's forces.--We are ready.--We are ready.

ABIMELECH

[Speaks to the crowd from the top of the steps] Make ready, people of Jerusalem, for the hour of freedom is at hand.

[The crowd shouts exultantly]

Pharaoh-Necho has offered us the help of his armies. He wishes us to join him in breaking the might of Ashur, and we shall do it, people of Jerusalem.

THE CROWD

On against Ashur.--War with Chaldea.--Hail Abimelech!

A WARRIOR

We shall drive them before us like sheep. They have grown soft in the houses of the women, and their king has never worn harness.

A VOICE

That is false.

THE WARRIOR

Who says it is false?

THE VOICE

I say so. I have been in Babylon and I have seen Nebuchadnezzar. He is a mighty man of valor, and his soldiers have no equals.

VOICES

Wretch, you praise our foes.--He is sold to the enemy.--His wife is a Chaldean.--She has gone a-whoring with all the men of Babylon.--Traitor!

THE WARRIOR

[Approaching the speaker] Do you mean to say that we cannot beat them?

THE VOICE

I say that the Chaldeans are mighty men.

THE WARRIOR

[Pressing closer] Look upon my fist, and say once more that they are better than the men of Israel.

VOICES

Say it again.--Tear him to pieces.--Traitor.--Traitor.

THE SPEAKER

[Encircled by a threatening mob, loses courage] I did not say that. All I meant to say was that they are many in number.

ABIMELECH

Always have our foes been many, and always have we laid them low.

VOICES

Who can stand against us?--We have overthrown all our enemies.--None can withstand us.--Death to him who despises our power.

[Messengers hasten from the palace]

THE CROWD

[Thronging round them] Whither so fast?--What news do you bear?--Whom do you seek?--What's afoot?

A MESSENGER

The king has summoned the council.