Class 
 
 35"0 5- 
 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
/ 
 
 THE KING'S 
 CUPBEARER 
 
 AN HISTORICAL, MORALITY PLAY 
 
 IN TWELVE CANTICLES 
 BY 
 
 AGNES CHALMERS 
 it 
 
 Published by 
 
 THE CRESCENT PUBLISHERS, 
 
 Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
 
 U. S. A. 
 
 Copyright, 1919, by Agnes Chalmers 
 Grand Rapids, Michigan 
 
 sep 26 lata 
 
h 
 
 \ 
 
 This booh is offered as an American's 
 expression of gratitude to the King of 
 Great Britain and Ireland and his valiant 
 armies through whose unselfed service 
 Jerusalem was restored December 9, 
 1917, to the civilized world. 
 
 52679 
 
AN EXPLANATION OF THE WRITING 
 OF THIS PLAY 
 
 THE POET AND HIS SONGS 
 
 As the birds come in Spring 
 We know not from where; 
 
 As the stars come at evening 
 From depths of the air; 
 
 As the rain comes from the cloud 
 And the brook from the ground 
 As suddenly, low or loud, 
 Out of silence a sound; 
 
 As the grapes come to the vine 
 
 The fruit to the tree; 
 As the wind comes to ,the pine 
 
 And the tide to the sea; 
 
 As comes the white sails of ships 
 
 O'er the ocean's verge; 
 As comes the smile to the lips, 
 
 The foam to the surge; 
 
So come to the Poet his songs, 
 
 All hitherward blown 
 
 From the misty realm that belongs 
 
 To the vast unknown. 
 
 ******** 
 
 For voices pursue him by day 
 
 And haunt him by night, 
 And he listens and needs must obey, 
 
 When the Angel says : "Write !" 
 
 — Longfellow. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 This play is designed to give to the world 
 a simple lesson in honest building. No more 
 appropriate words of introduction could be 
 offered than Montaigne has given in describ- 
 ing the value of the honest motive which 
 should accompany all constructive work. 
 " Tis an exact life," writes Montaigne, "that 
 maintains itself in due order in private. 
 Every one may juggle his part, and represent 
 an honest man upon the stage; but within, 
 and in his own bosom, where all may do as 
 they list, where all is concealed, to be reg- 
 ular — there's the point. The next degree is 
 to be so in his house, and in his ordinary 
 actions, for which we are accountable to 
 none, and where there is no study nor arti- 
 fice. And therefore Bias, setting forth the 
 excellent state of a private family, says: 
 'of which the master is the same within, by 
 his own virtue and temper, that he is abroad, 
 for fear of the laws and report of men.' And 
 it was a worthy saying of Julius Drusus, 
 to the masons who offered him for three 
 
thousand crowns to put his house in such a 
 posture that his neighbors should no longer 
 have the same inspection into it as before: 
 'I will give you/ said he, 'six thousand to 
 make it so that everybody may see into every 
 room/ " 
 
 If this play furnishes an opportunity to 
 look more closely into our dwellings, and if, 
 even in a degree, it enables "everybody" to 
 "see into every room," "The King's Cup- 
 bearer" shall thus have aided — somewhat — 
 in the ultimate liberation of the human race. 
 
 Agnes Chalmers 
 
 Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
 Thanksgiving, 1916. 
 
THE CAST 
 
 Canticle I 
 (In the order of their appearance) 
 Hanani, brother of Nehemiah 
 Messenger 
 Second Messenger 
 Nehemiah, the King's cupbearer 
 Artaxerxes, King of Babylon 
 
 (Military Aid) 
 Sight — Intuition 
 Touch — Gratitude 
 Taste — Patience 
 Smell — Charity 
 Hearing — Wakefulness 
 
 Canticle II 
 (Previous Characters) 
 
 Canticle III 
 Eliashib, the High Priest 
 Several Priests 
 Men of Jericho 
 Zaccur 
 
 Sons of Hassenaah 
 Meremotii, Meshullam, and Zadok 
 Several Tekoites 
 Jehoiada and Meshullam 
 Melatiah and Jabon 
 Uzziel and Haraniah 
 Repaiah, Jedaiah, and Hattush 
 
THE CAST (continued) 
 
 Malchijah and Hashub 
 
 Shallum 
 
 Daughters of Shallum 
 
 Hanun 
 
 Malchiah 
 
 Rehum, Hashabiah, Bavia, and Ezer 
 
 Baruch 
 
 Meremoth 
 
 Benjamin and Hashub 
 
 Binnui and Palal 
 
 The Nethinims and Tekoites 
 
 Priests 
 
 Zadok and Shemaiah 
 
 Hananiah, Hanum, and Meshullam 
 
 Goldsmiths and Merchants 
 
 Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
 
 Canticle IV 
 
 Sanballat 
 
 First Messenger 
 
 Sensuality 
 
 Geshem 
 
 Second Messenger 
 
 Shame 
 
 Sleep 
 
THE CAST (continued) 
 
 Canticle V 
 (Previous Characters) 
 Canticle VI 
 Groups of Jews 
 Shemaiah 
 Wife of Shemaiah 
 Hashub 
 Binnui 
 Previous Characters 
 
 Canticle VII 
 Pride of Achievement 
 Human Recognition 
 Shiftlessness 
 Self-Pity 
 Human Will 
 Personality 
 Ease 
 Jealousy 
 Idolatry 
 
 Self-Righteousness 
 Hurry 
 Persecution 
 Enemy 
 Love of Money 
 
 Canticle VIII 
 Human Birth 
 Maturity 
 
THE CAST (continued) 
 
 Discouragement 
 Death 
 Desire-to-be- Alone 
 
 Canticle IX 
 Imps 
 
 Ezra, the Scribe 
 Tobiah 
 Previous Characters 
 
 Canticle X 
 (Previous Characters) 
 New Cupbearer 
 
 Canticles XI and XII 
 (Previous Characters) 
 
 10 
 
THE KING'S CUPBEARER 
 
 Historical Sketch 
 
 The word, Nehemiah, is derived from the 
 Hebrew, nek-hem-yaw, meaning "comforted 
 of God." The word, Jerusalem, is from the 
 Hebrew, yer-oo-shaw-lame, meaning founded 
 peacefully, or, habitation of peace. "To be 
 safe in mind, body and estate," one authority 
 adds in defining Jerusalem. 
 
 Nehemiah, the Jewish patriot, was Cup- 
 bearer in the royal palace of Shushan during 
 the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus. Dur- 
 ing Nehemiah's term of service in the Per- 
 sian Court, word came of the unfortunate 
 condition of the children of Israel, the rem- 
 nant, or returned colony, who dwelt unpro- 
 tected in the unfortified city of Jerusalem. 
 In this connection, it is of interest to recall 
 that in the year 588 B. C, Nebuzaradan, a 
 lieutenant under Nebuchadnezzer, razed to 
 the ground the city of Jerusalem, its Temple 
 and protecting walls. Moses had earlier pre- 
 dicted that, if in the land of their captivity 
 the children of Israel repented of their evil, 
 
the Holy City would again be restored to 
 them and that they would then be able to re- 
 joice in peace and safety within the pro- 
 tection of its rebuilt fortifications. 
 
 Nehemiah's sincere concern for the wel- 
 fare of the captive Jews within the devas- 
 tated "City of David" led him earnestly to 
 request the King to give him a commission 
 to go to Jerusalem and repair the demolished 
 walls of the city. Having obtained this royal 
 commission, the King's Cupbearer left the 
 Persian Court, accompanied by a military es- 
 cort, and reached Jerusalem B. C. 444, re- 
 maining there until B. C. 432. 
 
 During the first fifty-two days of the 
 Prince's sojourn in Jerusalem, he rebuilt the 
 city's wall, and although he was beset on 
 all sides with discouragements and doubts, 
 he faithfully continued his work until the 
 fortifications were finished. During the proc- 
 ess of the work on the walls, Nehemiah was 
 persecuted unceasingly by the jealous gov- 
 ernors of Samaria and the Plain region, San- 
 ballat and Geshem and their accomplice, To- 
 biah. In order to defeat the purpose of his 
 scheming enemies, Nehemiah set a watch 
 "against them day and night." He supplied 
 his workers with both tools and weapons so 
 that they might work with one hand and 
 
 12 
 
with the other fight against the foe. 
 
 This earnest Prince not only bore the 
 mockery and abuse of those outside of the 
 city but he likewise endured the condemna- 
 tion of his own workmen who rebelled 
 against the heavy tithes and cruel oppression 
 of their rulers and nobles. 
 
 After the completion of the wall, the peo- 
 ple joyously realized that they truly under- 
 stood for the first time the Law, when they 
 heard the Bible read by Ezra, the Scribe. 
 
 Although a solemn covenant had been 
 made to "walk in God's law" by observing 
 brotherly love, supporting the Temple, and 
 avoiding inter-marriages with the heathen, 
 after Nehemiah was called back to Babylon, 
 all of these sacred vows were broken. In 
 this connection it is interesting to note that 
 historians give two views of this absence of 
 Nehemiah from Jerusalem. Some writers are 
 of the opinion that Nehemiah was called back 
 to Babylon for punishment because of the ac- 
 cusatory letters Sanballat and Geshem sent 
 to Artaxerxes regarding the Cupbearer's de- 
 sire, or ambition, rather, to become King of 
 Jerusalem. Some writers are of the opinion 
 that Nehemiah returned to the Persian Court 
 in fulfillment of the promise he gave before 
 
 13 
 
leaving Jerusalem. The view is here taken 
 that Nehemiah was punished as a convict 
 slave, doomed to hard labor in the quarries 
 of Persia during his nine years' absence at 
 the Court of Artaxerxes. 
 
 The Smith-Peloubet Dictionary of the 
 Bible states that "various stratagems" were 
 "resorted to to get Nehemiah away from Jer- 
 usalem, and if possible to take his life; but 
 that which most nearly succeeded was the 
 attempt to bring him into suspicion with the 
 king of Persia, as if he intended to set him- 
 self up as an independent king as soon as 
 the walls were completed. The artful letter 
 of Sanballat so far wrought upon Artaxerxes 
 that he issued a decree stopping the work till 
 further orders." 
 
 After a nine years' sojourn at the Court of 
 Artaxerxes, Nehemiah again returned to Je- 
 rusalem. He vigorously ejected Eliashib and 
 Tobiah from the Temple because of their at- 
 tempt personally to own the Church which 
 is destined to serve impersonally all mankind. 
 This royal Cupbearer enforced the separa- 
 tion of the mixed tribes from Israel, arranged 
 for the reward of the singers and the Le- 
 vites who had actually performed the work 
 of reconstruction, and made provision for the 
 
 14 
 
perpetual care and support of the Temple. 
 
 In all these ways, Nehemiah, "The King's 
 Cupbearer," acted much as all others act to- 
 day whose desire is to build rather than to 
 destroy. He knew that the practical and the 
 ideal, the male and the female, must be for- 
 ever united in the individual consciousness. 
 
 Possibly history will not bear out the li- 
 cense taken when the daughters* of Shallum 
 are made to appear as actual workers on 
 the walls of Jerusalem. The appearance of 
 the daughters of Shallum as builders; and 
 the five women, representing Intuition, Grat- 
 itude, Patience. Charity, and Wakefulness co- 
 incides with the tender womanly traits "The 
 King's Cupbearer" manifested in all the lov- 
 ing, motherly care he showed at all times 
 for the welfare of the children of Israel. In 
 his consistent desire to rebuild the waste 
 walls of Jerusalem, and thus safeguard the 
 remnant of the house of Israel, Nehemiah 
 was, in reality, re-establishing for all time 
 that quality of thought which Bernard Shaw 
 designates as "an eternal womanly principle 
 in the universe." Nehemiah's fearless de- 
 nunciation of crafty malice in his fight 
 against the governors of the Plain shows 
 forth the courageous masculine traits of this 
 Prince's noble character. Nehemiah fully 
 
 15 
 
realized that strength and courage, patience 
 and intuition must be truly manifested by 
 one who would become an honest, construc- 
 tive builder, and therefore stood earnestly by 
 his work day by day. 
 
 Note : "The Popular and Critical Bible En- 
 cyclopedia" states — "We should 
 naturally have expected the names 
 of great religious teachers like Isa- 
 iah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc., to be 
 associated with some of the 
 Psalms, and the fact that such is 
 not the case tends to show that 
 these hymns were either composed 
 by members of the guilds of temple 
 singers for the worship in the sec- 
 ond temple, or that they were 
 gathered by these priestly musi- 
 cians after coming to expression 
 here and there among the people." 
 In quoting the Psalms in this 
 play, it is with the thought that 
 possibly some of these constructive 
 songs of gratitude came into being 
 when the waste walls of Jerusalem 
 were rebuilt as a protection to the 
 city and its temple. 
 
 16 
 
No more fitting tribute was ever given than 
 that which history has recorded of Nehe- 
 miah, "The King's Cupbearer:" "His char- 
 acter seems almost without a blemish." 
 
 17 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 Description : Two Prologue speakers, Sight 
 and Intuition, appear be- 
 fore a curtain which por- 
 trays two parallel paths 
 winding up a mountain side. 
 
 I One path is the way of hu- 
 
 man experience, the other 
 typifies the way of spiritual 
 
 » discernment. The one path 
 
 is beset with obstacles; the 
 other winds upward with- 
 out obstruction. Both paths 
 converge in the distance. 
 (The Prologue is spoken by 
 Sight, a man; and by Intu- 
 ition, a woman.) 
 
 Sight 
 My friends, you know him well, this man of 
 
 good 
 Who speaks to you tonight. Across the way, 
 Perchance he dwells from you. Earth's 
 
 brotherhood 
 Comprises such as he. Yea, day by day, 
 You meet him in the street, — the man who 
 
 goes 
 
About his daily toil with hope and cheer, 
 A loving worker, he who always knows 
 The joy of building rightly in his task, — 
 This is "The King's Cupbearer." None may 
 
 -ask 
 To know a nobler one than he who serves 
 Mankind with just the duty of each hour. — 
 This is "The King's Cupbearer" who deserves 
 The merit Love bestows. Truth's strength 
 
 and pow'r 
 Be with each royal Cupbearer we meet, 
 And pass to-day, upon life's surging street. 
 
 Intuition 
 We may be King's Cupbearer, 
 As we go on our way, 
 Serving the wine of heav'n, 
 Loving all faithfully. 
 The cup Love gives is patience; 
 The wine, Truth understood. 
 The King is Our God in heav'n, 
 Guarding earth's brotherhood. 
 Jerusalem is knowing 
 Man is nor bond, nor free ; 
 Blest City, ever sowing 
 Seeds of true liberty. 
 The wall we build is patience, 
 Protecting men from wrong. 
 The temple, Church about us ; 
 Love's anthem, — work and song. 
 
 20 
 
The new birth comes through proving 
 Man is complete to-day. 
 Watching and ever loving 
 Lead to eternal day. 
 Sanballat is sin's malice, 
 The curse of peace and good ; 
 Geshem,. hate's poison chalice, 
 Drugging all those who stood 
 Bravely through storm and sunlight, 
 Ever through peace and war, 
 Staunchly at dawn or midnight, 
 Casting sin's curse afar; 
 But ever God in heav'n 
 Destroys the hand of fear, 
 He who would stand is giv'n 
 Strength to endure and bear. 
 Dear Friends, may we be watchful 
 To aid all on our way, — 
 To build and to destroy not, 
 Blest King, we watch and pray. 
 
 ("Sight and Intuition turn and walk some 
 distance together. They finally separate, 
 each to take a different path. Sight takes 
 the rough path of human experience; In- 
 tuition, the clear way of spiritual dis- 
 cernment. In the dim distance, it may be 
 seen that these two paths converge.) 
 
CANTICLE I 
 
 Repentance, Doubt and Resolve 
 
 Description : The scene is a richly appointed 
 room in Shushan, the pal- 
 ace, at the Persian Court of 
 King Artaxerxes, in the 
 year UU5 B. C. The hang- 
 ings of the room are of 
 white, green, and blue, fas- 
 tened with cords of fine 
 linen and purple to silver 
 rings and pillars of marble. 
 The several beds in the spa- 
 cious room are draped in 
 gold and silver. The floor 
 is a pavement of red, and 
 blue, and white, and black 
 marble. 
 
 Discovered : When the curtain divides, sev- 
 eral messengers are discov- 
 ered standing in the center 
 of the room talking to Ha- 
 NANl. They are engaged in 
 earnest discussion. 
 Hanani 
 (sadly) 
 
 There is no hope ; the eity desolate 
 
 Now stands. 
 
 23 
 
Messenger l 
 
 Doth not one heed its direful fate? 
 Hanani 
 (wearily) 
 No one repairs the city's shattered walls! 
 
 Second Messenger 
 Is no one mindful lest its fortress falls? 
 
 Hanani 
 The world has not awakened yet to see 
 There is nor Greek, nor Gentile, bond nor 
 free. 
 
 Third Messenger 
 
 Jerusalem is lost, yea, cast aside! 
 
 Hanani 
 
 (despairingly) 
 
 The city which hath been adorned, the bride 
 
 Of Life eternal ! 
 
 (As these words are spoken, a stream of 
 moonlight floods the room. Nehemiah 
 is heard praying outside. The words are 
 distinctly heard, although the speaker is 
 not seen.) 
 
 Nehemiah's Words 
 "I beseech thee, Lord God of heaven, 
 That keepeth covenant and mercy 
 For them that love him and observe his com- 
 mandments ; 
 Let thine ear now be attentive, 
 And thine eyes open, 
 
 24 
 
That thou mayest hear the prayer of thy 
 
 servant, 
 Which I pray before thee now, day and night, 
 For the children of Israel, thy servants, 
 And confess the sins of the children of Israel 
 Which we have sinned against thee; both I 
 ( The curtains at rear part, and Nehemiah 
 slotvly enters. He is a very tall, dark man, 
 wearing heavy black beard, without mus- 
 tache. He is dressed in the robes of a 
 royal cupbearer, olive green satin gar- 
 ment ivith conventional design of' em- 
 broidery, and a wide shoulder sash of 
 royal purple.) 
 And my fathers house have sinned." 
 
 (Nehemiah I: 5, 6.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (earnestly addressing Hanani,) 
 The Jews which have escaped, tell me, I pray, 
 If they, left of captivity, are safe? 
 Hanani 
 (to Nehemiah,) 
 They are in dire affliction, day by day, — 
 In great reproach; the walls are broken 
 
 down; 
 Jerusalem in hazard stands ; its gates 
 Are burning. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (sitting down and weeping — to himself) 
 
 25 
 
Before the God of heaven, grant my renown 
 
 May come, alone, through building up these 
 walls. 
 
 Yea, every other task of mine must wait. 
 
 ("King Artaxerxes and the Queen enter, fol- 
 lowed by a train of courtiers.) 
 
 (The King and Queen ascend a miniature 
 
 throne) 
 
 The King 
 
 Were it not pity, Cupbearer, that thou 
 
 Shouldst seek to go about this thankless 
 task? 
 
 The captives in Jerusalem art now 
 
 Endangered. 
 
 If any grievous plague hath heav'n 
 
 Through centuries it hath been freely giv'n 
 
 To waste Jerusalem. 
 
 (Nehemiah bows his head. He makes no an- 
 swer. The King summons messengers 
 and gives orders for a seven-day feast. 
 Enter several messengers who offer all 
 drink in various shaped vessels of gold. 
 Royal wine is served in abundance. Ne- 
 hemiah approaches the King's throne 
 and silently kneels. He then arises and 
 leaves the stage, L. During the festivities 
 of wine drinking, in which all join save the 
 King and Queen, Nehemiah again en- 
 ters, bearing two jewelled cups of wine, 
 
brimming full. He presents these to the 
 King and Queen.) 
 
 (to NehemiahJ 
 Thou art not sick 
 
 Answer me, is this but sorrow of thine heart? 
 Nehemiah 
 (kneeling and kisHng King's hand) 
 0, King, live thou forever: 
 (sadly) 
 If I had 
 The gift of tongues, I might then tell to thee 
 The plight of those who in captivity 
 Now wait within Jerusalem. The place 
 Of all my fathers' sepulchres lies waste; 
 The very gates are now consumed with fire. 
 
 The King 
 (according Nehemiah permission to arise, 
 
 Nehemiah stands before the King) 
 For what doth thou then make request? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (with hand uplifted, addressing the King,) 
 
 Higher 
 Than heav'n, let this, my prayer, ascend. 
 I pray thee, King, 
 
 Send me, that I may wisely build and mend 
 Those broken walls. 
 
 (The King turns and addresses the Queen, 
 who is seated beside him on the raised 
 dias.) 
 
 27 
 
The King 
 
 (questioningly) 
 How long his absence, Queen? When shall 
 
 we sing 
 Of his return? 
 
 (Both King and Queen drain to the dregs 
 the cups Nehemiah has brought. They 
 return the empty cups to the Cupbearer, 
 who places them on table, R. Nehemiah 
 again stands before the King and 
 Queen.,) 
 
 The Queen 
 (to the King; 
 We shall not miss him 
 (kindly glancing toward Nehemiah,) 
 if he can rebuild 
 Those walls that lieth desolate. Stilled 
 Shall our sorrow be till he return. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Stepping forward and kissing the hands of 
 the King and Queen, as he kneels before 
 them) 
 I set a time to come ; it shall be when 
 The waste walls of my thought are built. 
 
 Yea, then 
 I shall return. Forget not that I go 
 Forth but to struggle with one deadly foe — 
 Destructive self — the self that rends, indeed, 
 All else save its own whims. 
 
 28 
 
King, I may need letters to governors. 
 (King gives Nehemtah permission to arise. 
 As Nehemiah rises, the King hastily 
 whispers directions to scribes regarding 
 letters. The scribes withdraw to one side 
 and take from drawer documents which 
 they present to the King.) 
 The King 
 (receiving the papers and handing them to 
 the Queen) 
 (to Nehemiah,) 
 My son, go forth, 
 
 And prove to all the world the mighty worth 
 Of building rightly. 
 
 The Queen 
 God bless these messages,, and grant the way 
 Is opened through each word to higher way 
 Of peace. 
 
 (hands letters to the King,) 
 The King 
 (Beckoning to five men in military garb, who 
 are waiting quietly at one side. The men 
 approach the King, give military salute, 
 and kneel.) 
 
 (to Nehemiah; 
 I summon officers to go with thee, — 
 This military aid 
 
 (pointing to men and giving them the signal 
 to arise. They all arise.) 
 
 29 
 
God grant they be 
 Faithful to service, willing to obey, 
 And ever watchful lest thou falPst the prey 
 Of foe. 
 
 Sight 
 (Stepping forward and warmly shaking 
 hands with Nehemiah, peering into his 
 face and looking everywhere about.) 
 Ah, look ! My name is Sight. I'll try 
 To see for thee. 
 
 Hearing 
 (listening — to Nehemiah,) 
 Hark! I am Hearing. I 
 Will hear for thee. 
 
 Touch 
 
 (touching everything and bowing 
 
 — to Nehemiah; 
 
 My name is Touch. I do 
 Discern all things. 
 
 Taste 
 (tasting wine, proudly— to Nehemiah) 
 My name is Taste. I, too, 
 Teach thee discernment and delight, — a taste 
 Of better things. 
 
 Smell 
 (sniffing the air — to Nehemiah) 
 My name is Smell. 
 
 (with importance) 
 
 30 
 
I waste 
 All time on niceties. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (sizing up the men, disapprovingly) 
 Are these, my King, 
 The best thou hast? 
 
 The King 
 (to Nehemiah, eager to explain) 
 They are trained. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (disapprovingly — to King) 
 I would fling 
 Their training all aside if I might be 
 Protected by my better self. 
 The King 
 (regarding the five men sadly 
 — to Nehemiah) 
 
 I know 
 (shaking his head) 
 Just what thou fear'st, and, yet, no earthly 
 
 foe 
 Is conquered without them. 
 Nehemiah 
 (as if he ivould reject the aid of the men) 
 And, yet, to me 
 
 These soldiers stand for trained hypocrisy. 
 (Nehemiah draws back from the five men 
 who crowd about him. They endeavor to 
 stand as his body guard.) 
 
 si 
 
No conquest save the conquest over each 
 And every one of them! 
 
 (sadly regarding the five men) 
 
 No vict'ry won 
 Save by self's transformation! 
 (to the five men) 
 
 Friends, to reach 
 My better self, I must discard, indeed. 
 All that thou cherisheth. 
 
 The King 
 (in a quandary — to himself) 
 I am perplexed ! 
 
 The Queen 
 (eagerly, to King) 
 
 King, grant that I may say 
 One word of peace. 
 
 (indicating the five men) 
 
 These men in higher form 
 Have oft appeared to keep our Court from 
 harm. 
 
 (to Nehemiah, with deep conviction) 
 They can protect thee; if thou wouldst but 
 
 see 
 Their true selves, they will help to set thee 
 free. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to King and Queen) 
 If they 
 
 (indicating five men) 
 
 32 
 
have higher form, blest Queen and King, 
 I trust them, then, to guard from suffering 
 Thy servant. 
 
 (bowing and indicating himself) 
 
 Sight 
 
 (proudly, to Nehemiah) 
 
 I have been trained everywhere 
 To gain my present worth. I go, my friend, 
 With thee. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (again shrinking back from the five men as 
 
 if he could not go with them — to Sight) 
 Thou speakest proudly, Sir, I dare 
 Not enter with thee in this task I do. 
 • Sight 
 (eagerly to Nehemiah) 
 If I should reach a greater height, renew 
 My better self, wouldst thou then go with 
 me? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Sight) 
 Assured, indeed, that I could never see 
 Aught but the real through thee, I, then, 
 
 shouldst go 
 With thee, Sir Sight, to conquer alien foe. 
 Sight 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 Then I shall stay with thee, for thou may'st 
 need 
 
My presence as thou conquer'st form and 
 creed. 
 
 Hearing 
 
 (stepping forward, convincingly 
 
 — to Nehemiah) 
 
 Have I not heard for thee in days long past ? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (peering long into Hearing's face, as if rec- 
 ognizing an undesirable acquaintance) 
 Yea, oft'times heard; I've oft'times wished 
 
 thou had'st 
 Not heard 
 
 (covering his ears with his hands as if to 
 shut out unpleasant sounds) 
 
 The jarring noises of the fast 
 Revolving centuries ! 
 
 (as if brushing all noise aside) 
 
 Would, I might cast 
 Their shrieking woes aside! 
 (weeps) 
 Hearing 
 (pleadingly, to Nehemiah) 
 
 Friend, truly, I 
 Will stand for perfect hearing; I will try 
 To put down self. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (testingly—-to Hearing) 
 
 Nor hear of foe nor friend 
 Aught but the best? 
 
 34 
 
(Hearing nods assent) 
 
 Then, come! 
 Touch 
 (stepping forward and addres- 
 sing Nehemiah) 
 
 I, too, wouldst lend 
 Thee faithful service. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Touch) 
 Yea, I know that thou 
 Hast wrought good oft'times, yet thy judg- 
 ments now 
 Are biased. 
 
 Touch 
 
 (proudly, to Nehemiah) 
 
 I, friend, am trained to serve. Trust me! 
 
 Smell 
 
 (advancing and addressing Nehemiah) 
 
 And I will warn thee when thou need'st to be 
 
 On guard 
 
 Taste 
 (hastily, to Nehemiah) 
 I gladly tell thee what is good. 
 Nehemiah 
 (looking at the five men, sadly) 
 And yet, not one of you have understood! 
 All 
 (incredulously) 
 Not one of us has understood? 
 
 35 
 
(to the five men) 
 
 Not one 
 Was ever credited with vict'ry won, — 
 Not in thy present forms. 'Tis very true 
 Thou art well trained to serve; yea, there 
 
 are few 
 Thine equals ! Still, thou art so incomplete 
 I dare not go with thee! 
 
 (drawing back) 
 
 I dare not meet 
 — With just thine aid, alone, — I dare not go — 
 With thee alone — to conquer self, the foe 
 That doth resist the longest. 
 (loudly) 
 Men, awake 
 Thy better selves. 
 
 The King 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 Our Queen says they have better selves. 
 (indicating men) 
 I know 
 She truly speaks; thou may'st safely go 
 With these five, well-trained men. 
 The Queen 
 (indicating men) 
 
 They always take 
 On higher forms whenever the command 
 Is giv'n. 
 
 S6 
 
The Five Men 
 (together) 
 We offer as a pledge our hand, 
 
 (all extend hand to Nehemiah) 
 In honor; if thou need'st us, 
 
 Thou shalt see 
 We will be present, friend, to set thee free 
 From self. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to five men) 
 Dear friends, I trust thee as we go 
 Forth to redeem all captives from the foe 
 Of self. 
 
 (instructing the men) 
 Mark, God's own word each man must speak ! 
 Remember well, the fall'n and the weak 
 Look up in pray'r to us. God grant we may 
 Judge righteous judgment. 
 
 (with bowed head) 
 
 Let us watch and pray 
 For wisdom. 
 
 The Five Men 
 (together) 
 Let us ever faithful be! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to all) 
 'Til Israel's remnant shall be truly free. 
 
 (to the five) 
 Speak up, my men, and tell me, dost thou 
 
 37 
 
know 
 That good must aid us daily as we go 
 Forth to our tasks? 
 
 (to King and Queen) 
 
 I go, blest King and Queen, 
 With these, 
 
 (indicating men) 
 thy messengers. Grant they redeem 
 My self from sin and fear until I see 
 I am nor Greek, nor Gentile, bond nor free, 
 Nor male, nor female, in the task I do. 
 
 (joyously) 
 We shall redeem the remnant. Captive Jew 
 Shall be set free ! Now I may go, indeed, 
 (gathering men closely to him) 
 
 with these. 
 Our Father knows our every need. 
 The King 
 (handing the letters to Nehemiah) 
 Go forth, thou Cupbearer of earthly King, 
 Go forth, and let the world in gladness ring 
 With all thine overcomings. 
 
 May these 
 ( indicating letters ) 
 Bring thee peace. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (with firm resolve) 
 The city of my fathers' sepulchres must be 
 rebuilt! 
 
 88 
 
It of t'times seems a struggle to begin 
 
 To cleanse one's thought from cursed fear 
 
 and sin. 
 I long to go, and yet, 
 
 (as if weakening in his resolve) 
 
 I am afraid. 
 (with firmness) 
 Ah, no, God hath made all things that were 
 
 made, 
 And called them "good" and "very good." 
 
 Blest King, 
 I go 
 
 (resolutely) 
 
 to conquer sin and suffering. 
 (Nehemiah steps forward and kneels a mo- 
 ment before the King and Queen for a 
 blessing.) 
 
 The King and Queen 
 (together to Nehemiah) 
 Our blessing, Son, the Court of Persia gives 
 Thee full commission. Go! Earth's captive 
 lives ! 
 (King and Queen give command for 
 Nehemiah to rise) 
 Nehemiah 
 (Rising, to All as if in prayer, with hands 
 outstretched. The five men stand close 
 to Nehemiah while the King and Queen 
 and Court listen with bowed heads.) 
 
"O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear 
 Be attentive to the pray'r of thy servant, 
 And to the pray'r of thy servants who desire 
 To fear thy name ; and prosper, I pray thee, 
 Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy 
 In the sight of this man ; 
 
 (indicating King) 
 For I was 'The King's Cupbearer/ " 
 
 (Nehemiahlrll.) 
 
 40 
 
CANTICLE II 
 The Transfiguration of Encouragement 
 
 Description: The scene shows the moon, 
 under a half cloud, shed- 
 ding light upon the waste 
 walls of Jerusalem. The 
 scene is laid in a valley. 
 The dragon well is near and 
 the dung port. A brook 
 runs close by. A most dis- 
 consolate aspect. The gates 
 of the wall have all been 
 consumed with fire. 
 
 Discovered: Nehemiah and the five men, 
 Sight, Touch, Taste, 
 Smell, Hearing, are stand- 
 ing together, viewing with 
 cheerful countenances the 
 most disconsolate of places, 
 — Jerusalem's devastated 
 walls. They walk together, 
 as if on a tour of inspection, 
 until they come to the gate 
 of the fountain and the 
 1 King's pool. A beast passes 
 
 under this gate. 
 
Nehemiah 
 (to Sight) 
 "Ye see the distress that we are in, 
 How Jerusalem lieth waste, 
 And the gates thereof are burned with fire; 
 Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusa- 
 lem, 
 That we be no more a reproach." 
 
 (Nehemiah 2:17.) 
 E'en through this dire distress, I seem to be 
 Encouraged to press on and set men free. 
 Sight 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 The hand of God hath dealt so well with thee. 
 The King's, words bless us. With sincerity 
 We go about this task. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to the five men) 
 
 Come, let us rise 
 And build these walls aright. 
 Touch 
 (joyously, to Nehemiah) 
 
 Let us surprise 
 The rulers, priests, and nobles with a wall 
 That never can be shattered, never fall. 
 Taste 
 (to all) 
 We are despised, yea, laughed to scorn, and, 
 yet, 
 
 42 
 
We, too, may build what multitudes forget 
 Not, nor despise. 
 
 Smell 
 Let us build high — 
 
 High unto heav'n, that he who passeth by 
 May mark the remnant now is safe, indeed, 
 Within these walls. 
 
 Hearing 
 Where never form, nor creed 
 May enter. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 {approvingly to all) 
 
 Thou hast grown wise, my friends; yea, 
 
 thou dost speak 
 Words of true wisdom. All the lonely, weak 
 And weary ones of earth shall be redeemed. 
 Thou art much nobler than thou e'er hast 
 
 seemed. 
 I say again, thou hast grown wise ; and high 
 Above thy former selves. 
 Sight 
 (meekly, to Nehemiah) 
 
 And, if we try 
 We may grow higher in this thing we do. 
 
 Hearing 
 We may put off the old man for the new. 
 Nehemiah 
 (to all) 
 My men, I see a change in thee. 
 
 43 
 
The Five Men 
 (together) 
 
 'Tis true ! 
 Nehemiah 
 (to all) 
 My friends, I doubted thee, but now I see 
 Thou, trained in things of God, may set men 
 
 free 
 From self. 
 
 The Five Men 
 (together) 
 'Tis true, we, trained in things of good, 
 Free thee and ail earth's weary brotherhood. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 Then I must trust thy better selves, indeed, 
 In all this reconstruction. Friends, we need 
 To stand together. 
 
 The Five Men 
 (together) 
 Friend, nor lust, nor greed 
 Shall turn us back. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 • (to all) 
 These broken walls shall be 
 Redeemed — this is God's work for thee and 
 
 me; 
 And, as we work, God's truth shall bring to 
 
 light 
 Our better selves. 
 
 44 
 
The Five Men 
 (together) 
 God give us grace and might! 
 Nehemiah 
 (with hands outstretched— to the jive) 
 Remember well, ye men, that which I say 
 The God in heav'n always points the way 
 Of him who builds for others. 
 The Five Men 
 (together) 
 
 He doeth. well! 
 Nehemiah 
 (to all) 
 And yet he may not ever boast nor tell 
 Of what he builds. Ye have no portion, right, 
 Within Jerusalem. No fearful right 
 Of ownership may enter in thy work. 
 Come, let us build. 
 
 The Five Men 
 
 (together) 
 Let not one of us shirk 
 Our duty. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to all) 
 
 I, Cupbearer, lead thee forth. 
 
 The Five Men 
 
 (earnestly) 
 
 0, may our work alone speak of our worth. 
 
 (At this moment, the appearance of the men 
 
 45 
 
changes. The dark garments they are 
 wearing fall to the ground, showing 
 bright, soft robes of ethereal nature. The 
 men take on the forms of women as they 
 stand in the moonlight, which has now 
 become bright) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (beholding all with radiant countenance) 
 
 Ah, I have thought that thou wert men. I 
 
 see 
 The woman in thee now! 
 
 (peering into their faces) 
 (to Sight) 
 Thou, Sight, art Intuition in disguise, — 
 No wonder that thou hast discerning eyes. 
 
 (to Touch) 
 And, thou, Touch, art blest Gratitude. 'Tis 
 
 well 
 Thou know'st events before the world can 
 
 tell 
 They have begun : yea, friend, through grat- 
 titude ! 
 
 (to Taste) 
 Beloved Patience, thou art woman, too, 
 And male, as well; thou dost, indeed, renew 
 The youth of those who follow thee aright. 
 
 (to Smell) 
 Dear Charity, thou lead'st to day. 
 
 46 
 
{to Hearing) 
 
 And thou, dear Wakefulness, forever true 
 
 To highest good are thou. I scarcely knew 
 
 That thou wert male and female. 
 
 (looking closely) 
 
 Ah, I see 
 The woman in thee now. 
 Friends, this is well, for thou wilt need to be 
 Both male and female in this task ye do, — 
 Complete and satisfied. Each captive Jew, 
 When wakened, shall behold nor bond nor 
 
 free 
 Is he, indeed. The courage of the male 
 Is his, and woman's gentle tenderness; 
 Complete and satisfied, he cannot fail. 
 Yea, Israel's captives, still, shall richly bless 
 All men. They shall behold God's husbandry ; 
 Wedded to Truth, all men shall then be free. 
 Oft'times, my friends, a task at first seems 
 
 light, 
 Though it loom large, indeed, to finite sight. 
 Be not fair weather friends. Stay thou and 
 
 fight 
 When fall discouragement and darkest 
 
 night, — 
 Through fiercest battle stay and win, — for 
 
 right. 
 "The God of heav'n, he will prosper us." 
 
 47 
 
CANTICLE III 
 
 Honest Daily Needs 
 
 Description: A morning scene, showing a 
 vast army of men ready for 
 work on the waste walls of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 Discovered : Eager groups of men carrying 
 tools. 
 
 Eliashib (the High Priest) 
 (beckoning to several priests) 
 Come, brethren, let us build this sheep gate 
 well. 
 
 Several Priests 
 
 (together) 
 
 And sanctify it to the Lord of Hosts. 
 
 Men of Jericho 
 
 (building and speaking together) 
 
 What we have builded, future ages tell. 
 
 Zaccur 
 Not one stroke of our hammers can be lost. 
 
 Sons of Hassenaah 
 
 (working at fish gate) 
 We lay the beams thereof; the doors are set; 
 The locks thereof, the bars thereof are fast. 
 
 48 
 
Meremoth, Meshullam, and Zadok 
 (together) 
 We work that no one ever can forget. 
 
 Several Tekoites 
 And we that peace and truth forever last. 
 Jehoiada and Meshullam 
 (working together at the old gate) 
 We lay each beam thereof, and set each door. 
 Melatiah and Jabon 
 (together) 
 We work nor ask for any blessing more. 
 Uzziel and Hananiah 
 (working on the broad wall) 
 The broad wall must be perfect, too, that we 
 May see them safe in their captivity. 
 Repaiah, Jedaiah, and Hattush 
 (working) 
 May see them safe, and who are they? 
 Malchijah and Hashub 
 (repairing the tower of the furnaces) 
 Each vagrant thought that hath become the 
 
 prey 
 Of self. 
 
 Shallum 
 
 (the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, 
 
 working with his daughters) 
 
 I came here with my daughters, they who 
 
 rule 
 And work with me. Each one with her own 
 
 49 
 
tool 
 is building; 
 
 (the women drive nails) 
 Daughters of Shallum 
 (together) 
 We came that all may see 
 The titter helplessness, futility, 
 Of those who come disguised as women, when 
 The news of reconstruction reaches men. 
 Hanum 
 (repairing the valley gate) 
 Sanballat and Geshem, the ones you fear, 
 Daughters of Shallum? 
 
 Daughters of Shallum 
 (together) 
 Not if we keep on building, tier on tier* 
 
 Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
 The ones we fear, — and yet we cannot fear 
 For God is God, alone, and he is All — 
 Is just the cursed falsehoods that would tear 
 One's true self from its union now with good. 
 MalChijah 
 Ah, yes ! One must abide 
 Forever at one's work in peace to know 
 God's law aright. To conquer self, the foe 
 Of progress, one must build high unto heav'n 
 F'en for another's good; such is the leav'n 
 Of understanding, wisdom, power, might, — 
 All those who sit in darkness see this light. 
 
 50 
 
Malchiah 
 (building the dung gate) 
 There is so much to cleanse from every 
 
 thought, 
 I build the dung gate. All that I have 
 
 wrought 
 Endures forever. 
 
 Shallum 
 (repairing the gate to the fountain) 
 I set the doors of this, the fountain gate. 
 God's messengers may enter, but the fate 
 Of those who come to rob is fixed, indeed. 
 No one may enter here with form or creed. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (repairing the place over against the se- 
 pulchre of David) 
 My friends, Sanballat hears we build this 
 
 wall; 
 The news has spread to him. "Ah, it shall 
 
 fall!"— 
 This is his dire foreboding. We abide 
 Forever at this task until we know 
 Those in captivity are saved from foe. 
 Rehum, Hashabiah, Bavai, and Ezer 
 (repairing near the turning of the wall) 
 Never was work more welcome hour by 
 hour, — 
 
 Baruch 
 Welcome, because it proves there is one 
 
 51 
 
pow r. 
 
 Meremoth 
 
 {working at door — to the priests, 
 
 the' men of the Plain) 
 
 Courage, my friends, bear up, each day must 
 
 bring 
 Its own reward. 
 
 Benjamin and I-Iashub 
 {working together) 
 Friends, let our hammers ring 
 
 {all hammering together) 
 In glad applause. 
 
 {joyous, ringing music) 
 
 Binnui and Palal 
 {hammering together) 
 No enemy can ever turn us back, 
 
 The Nethinims and Tekoites 
 {ivorking together) 
 Those who would build for good can never 
 lack. 
 
 The Priests 
 {repairing near the horse gate) 
 In learning meekness here, we may well find 
 No man upon this earth shall e'er unbind 
 Our work. 
 
 Zadok and Shemaiah 
 {working together') 
 If we toil on with love, we may renew 
 The waste walls with the fortified. 
 
 52 , ; 
 
Hananiah, Hanun and Meshullam 
 (together) 
 
 We knew 
 Those shattered walls would one day be re- 
 deemed ! 
 Malchiah (the goldsmith's son) 
 This broken shaft, it must be strongly- 
 beamed. 
 
 Goldsmiths and Merchants 
 (working together) 
 Courage, my friends. Together we build well. 
 (Their tools fall. Ringing noises. The eld- 
 est daughter of Shallum slips behind 
 each worker and, picking up fallen tools, 
 restores them to owners.) 
 Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
 (handing tools to men) 
 Here is thine hammer, friend; 
 (to another) 
 
 thy trowel fell. 
 Nehemiah 
 (to all) 
 Beware, my friends, one cometh in disguise, 
 A messenger of foes. Keep well thine eyes 
 Upon thy work. 
 (passing to another and addressing him) 
 Courage, my friend, work on, 
 Until each task of thine is fitly done. 
 (to another, encouragingly) 
 
Work, till each task of thine is fitly done. 
 (Pausing behind a worker and regarding his 
 
 work and tools approvingly.) 
 Be not afraid of thy salvation, friend ; 
 Thy tools are clean, thy hands are true, 
 The nail which thine hands doth send 
 Strikes straight to the mark. 
 This thing ye do is a blessing to all mankind. 
 Thy work is a daily psalm of praise. 
 In work thou canst ever find 
 Love's home and Church, and universe, 
 Messiah's blest heav'n, Mind. 
 
 (Passing to another worker.) 
 I, Nehemiah, urge thee on, these walls of 
 
 thought 
 Shall be constructed. All that thou hast 
 
 wrought 
 Must ever stand. 
 
 (To another group.) 
 Work as one man, work on, 
 Until mankind is saved, earth's battle won. 
 
 (To all, as if in prayer.) 
 "Be not ye afraid of them; remember the 
 
 Lord, — 
 And fight for your brethren, your sons, and 
 
 your daughters, 
 Your wives, and your houses." 
 
 (Nehemiah 4:14.) 
 
 54 
 
For I am Nehemiah, "The King's Cup- 
 bearer." 
 And God, alone, is King of all the Earth. 
 
 55 
 
CANTICLE IV 
 
 Jealousy and Dark Forebodings 
 
 Description: A village of the Plain, repre- 
 senting a low order of 
 thought. Everything in 
 chaos. Rubbish of expen- 
 sive materials heaped 
 about, showing carelessness 
 and sloth. The heat of the 
 day. 
 
 Discovered: Sanballat, governor of the 
 Plain, is entering. He is an 
 idol worshiper and carries 
 with him a ghastly idol 
 which he places with fool- 
 ish awe on a high pedestal. 
 He is a short, very heavy 
 man, gaudily overdressed in 
 ornate colored satin robes 
 and much jewelry. 
 Sanballat 
 
 (with sinister smile to the messenger who 
 enters with him at L.) 
 
 So they rebuild those walls — poor, foolish 
 Jews? 
 
 (Laughs a loud, derisive laugh, which is 
 
 56 
 
really no laugh at all but merely an ani- 
 mal ejaculation,) 
 Bring Geshem here, at once ! 
 ( With imperial wave of large, over-decorated 
 hand to Messenger) 
 Messenger 
 (to Sanballat) 
 Aye, Sir, I 
 Do thy bidding. 
 
 (exit Messenger) 
 (Enter Sensuality at L. A woman of de- 
 ceitful expression. One who has reached 
 maturity, but still looks artificially young. 
 She is dressed in flaming red velvet and 
 wears many jewels.) 
 
 Sanballat 
 (walking across to the woman and chucking 
 
 her rudely under the chin) 
 Sweet lass, thy name? 
 
 Sensuality 
 (simpering foolishly into Sanballat* s face) 
 My name, Sir, is Sensuality. 
 I keep mankind in grim captivity. 
 
 Sanballat 
 (eagerly grasping her hands until the 
 woman fairly winces under the crushing 
 handclasp) 
 Hold, woman, I have work for thee to do ; 
 Thou shalt destroy each foolish, working 
 
 57 
 
Jew. 
 Strange how I always find the help I need 
 To aid me in the sowing of sin's seed ! 
 
 (Sanballat and the woman, Sensuality, 
 dance briskly about and, at the same time, 
 laugh loudly and wickedly. They plot to- 
 gether. Enter several messengers. Sen- 
 suality breaks away from Sanballat 
 and, as if giving him an exhibition of 
 her frivolity, she slips quietly from one 
 messenger to another, leering wickedly 
 into each face, while she hums- a foolish, 
 sentimental love song. As she is singing, 
 Geshem, enters, L, He is a tall, heavy-set 
 man, wearing the costly trappings of a 
 ruler, Sanballat and Geshem regard 
 the woman approvingly as she sings. 
 There are no words to the woman's song. 
 Clashing, unrefined medley.) 
 
 Geshem 
 (after Sensuality has ceased dancing, turns 
 
 angrily to Sanballat and almost howls) 
 Why have ye sent for me, Sanballat, pray? 
 I am a Governor! 
 
 (With vast importance, while he struts 
 
 about nervously.) 
 
 This busy day. 
 I, too, have much to see to, much to do. 
 
 58 
 
Sanballat 
 
 (in low tone) 
 
 Didst thou not hear how every captive Jew 
 
 Strives to rebuild the walls that lieth waste — 
 
 The waste walls of Jerusalem? Make haste 
 
 And give a plan to outwit all this task. 
 
 Geshem 
 
 (pondering) 
 
 A plan ? 'Tis simple ! Let me think, I ask, 
 
 One moment. 
 
 (Thinks and rubs his forehead.) 
 Sensuality 
 (interrupting) 
 Let me go to them, I pray. 
 Each man shall bow to me. Yea, I will stay 
 The hands of those who work, through flat- 
 tery. 
 
 (Sanballat and Geshem laugh loudly.) 
 
 Sanballat 
 
 (delightedly) 
 
 Poor foolish wench, thy wit is not half bad. 
 
 Our messengers will go with thee, 
 
 (Summons messengers, who flock 
 about Sensuality.) 
 
 And had 
 We other emissaries — if we know 
 Geshem 
 (Interrupting) 
 
 Each Jew 
 
 59 
 
Must be restrained from work. 
 Sensuality 
 (thinking) 
 If we know of any others, they should go. 
 
 (to Sanballat and Geshem) 
 Dear Sirs, I pray thee, let me bring 
 My sisters. Each has way 
 Of evil fully learned. 
 
 Sanballat 
 (interested) 
 Thy sisters? Give each name, 
 And I will judge. 
 
 Sensuality 
 (proudly) 
 The younger one is Shame. 
 The elder one is quiet, she is Sleep. 
 There are but three of us, yet we can keep 
 Each Jew from toiling further on his task. 
 Sanballat 
 (to Messenger) 
 Bring hither her 
 
 (indicating Sensuality) 
 
 two sisters. 
 Sensuality 
 (to Messenger) 
 
 Say, I ask 
 Them to come quickly. We have work this 
 
 hour 
 That will require united strength and power. 
 
 60 
 
(Messenger departs quickly at L.) 
 
 Geshem 
 
 (turning to servant at his side) 
 
 Go thou and tell those Jews who toil, that we 
 
 Desire to see them in this village here; 
 
 Tell them that we can help them, set them 
 
 free; 
 That we would talk with them. Tell them to 
 
 fear 
 Not to come hither. 
 
 Sanballat 
 {to servant at his side) 
 
 Tell the Jews the Plain 
 Is waiting for them; that the ripened grain 
 And fruit of all our kingdom wait. Ah me, 
 Why should they for those in captivity 
 Still toil? 
 
 Both Servants 
 (together) 
 We go, Sirs. 
 
 Geshem 
 (to servants) 
 Wait until the three 
 
 Sisters of sin may likewise go with thee. 
 (Enter Shame and Sleep. They quickly em- 
 brace Sensuality. Shame is dressed in 
 deep black and walks with bowed head 
 as if fearing to look up. Sleep keeps her 
 eyes closed. She is dressed in a shadowy, 
 
 61 
 
vapory-like gown.) 
 
 (to Shame) 
 What canst thou do, thou sad-eyed woman, 
 here? 
 
 Shame 
 I follow Sensuality. Men fear 
 My very name. I am Disease, the curse 
 Of sin unfettered. Couldst thou summon 
 
 worse 
 Than I? 
 
 Geshem 
 (£0 Sleep) 
 And thou, frail shadow, canst thou, too, 
 Do ought to hinder any working Jew? 
 Sleep 
 (raising languid eyes) 
 My name is Sleep, and after men have well 
 Been bound in chains by her, 
 
 (pointing to Sensuality) 
 
 and her, 
 
 (indicating Shame) 
 
 I tell 
 My story to them, promising that I 
 Will bring forgetfulness. I close each eye 
 Of him who listens to me, and I claim 
 To be a blessing, but my very shame 
 Is covered. I am Inactivity. 
 My other names are Death, Inanity. 
 
 62 
 
Sanballat 
 (laughing loudly) 
 Ha, Ha, I see, He, He, Ha, Ha, I see! 
 
 (Waving them on.) 
 Go forth, ye messengers and ladies fair, 
 And speak to those poor working Jews o'er 
 
 there. 
 Bring them to us, or cause them to desist 
 From working. 
 
 (Patting Sleep on shoulder.) 
 
 Tis true, my dear, they cannot thee resist! 
 
 Sanballat and Geshem 
 
 (together) 
 
 Go forth, go forth, go forth, 
 
 Bind them, hold them, and drive them quickly 
 
 here, 
 Through flattery, or shame, or sleep, or fear. 
 Go forth, go forth, go forth. 
 
 63 
 
CANTICLE V 
 A Struggle With Self 
 Description : Same as in Canticle HI except 
 the walls are nearly re- 
 paired. 
 Discovered: Nehemiah and all the work- 
 ers at their tasks on the 
 walls, 
 (enter First Messenger) 
 First Messenger 
 My Lord, Sanballat, Governor of Plain, 
 Hath sent me to thee. He would once again 
 Hold counsel with Cupbearer of the King. 
 (Endeavoring to lead Nehemiah away.) 
 (Nehemiah draws back as if refusing to go.) 
 Sanballat, sir, 
 
 (insistently) 
 
 has counselled me to bring 
 Thee to him that thou may'st together talk 
 These matters over. 
 
 (Nehemiah draws back.) 
 
 No, thou need'st not walk. 
 I have Sanballat's chariot. 
 (All workers stop working on the walls and 
 listen to the conversation between Nehe- 
 miah and the messenger.) 
 Nehemiah 
 But I am doing here a great work. Answer 
 why 
 
 64 
 
This work should cease, the while I go to talk 
 With them? 
 
 (Turning back to his work.) 
 Tell them I shall ne'er walk 
 Nor ride to them. This good work must not 
 
 cease ! 
 (A second messenger hurriedly enters, L.) 
 
 Second Messenger 
 (as if pointing to the Plain — to Nehemiah) 
 I bear a message, too; I bring thee peace, 
 From Geshem, Governor, my Lord ; 
 And he hath sent me forth to bring this word 
 To thee. Come down, he begs of thee to-day, 
 And talk this good work over, and the way 
 Of progress. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (firmly) 
 Sir, no work was ever done 
 Through useless talk. 
 
 'Tis better, one by one, 
 That we should learn to work, and not to say 
 How we have worked. I cannot come today, 
 Nor any other time. 
 
 (Turns back to his work; all begin ham- 
 mering together) 
 (Enter Sensuality. She goes straight to Ne- 
 hemiah, and through pantomime, at- 
 tempts vainly to entice him with her 
 eyes. Nehemiah looks aways from her 
 
 65 
 
and continues his work. She next tries 
 to hold his face close to hers. He eludes 
 her attempted embraces. Discouraged at 
 Nehemiah's repulses, she then goes to 
 the other men. One by one they drop 
 their tools and half return her caresses. 
 Nehemiah alone repulses Sensuality 
 each time she returns to him. He con- 
 tinues his work. Not a word is spoken. 
 Every time one of the workers drops his 
 tools because of Sensuality's caresses, 
 the daughters of Shallum appear and re- 
 store them to the idle hands.) 
 
 Sensuality 
 .. (in final attempt to gain Nehemiah's 
 attention) 
 Come, 
 
 (whispering) 
 
 Come with me, 
 I will give thee ease 
 And joy and gladness. 
 Wouldst thou not for these 
 Lay down this heavy anvil? 
 
 (pointing to tool) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (firmly) 
 
 No, for I, Cupbearer of the King, must ever 
 
 try 
 To do my best. 
 
Sensuality 
 (Gently stroking Nehemiah's hands.) 
 
 Thou art so brave, my dear. 
 
 It is thy bravery I love. 
 
 (Still caressing his hands.) 
 
 These wondrous hands ! How they have 
 wrought ! 
 
 Ah, do not fear 
 
 My fond caresses. 
 
 (Nehemiah brushes her aside and quickly 
 begins work on the walls. Sensuality, 
 seeing that it is useless to try to win Ne- 
 hemiah, softly steals again to the other 
 men, who are watching her with jealous 
 glances. Nehemiah works on. Sensu- 
 ality flits from one to another and casts 
 her spell over each of them in turn. They 
 rapturously return her caresses. Seeing 
 that she has all of the workers, except 
 Nehemiah, in her power, Sensuality 
 quickly summons Shame and Sleep, who 
 are standing quietly at L.) 
 Shame 
 
 (to one of the workers who has been holding 
 Sensuality in his arms) 
 
 My name is Sister Shame. Each working Jew 
 
 Shall be inactive. Yea, let me renew 
 
 My boast. Not one shall work, for I 
 
 67 
 
Shall make each one afraid. Each man shall 
 
 try- 
 To shake me off ! 
 
 (She hovers like a cloud over the tired work- 
 ers; with one hand she summons Sleep.) 
 
 Come, Sleep; come, Sister Sleep, 
 
 My work is finished! 
 
 (The hands of the men drop listlessly.) 
 
 Now I pray thee keep 
 
 These hands from toiling, and these eyes 
 from light. 
 
 My work is finished ! 
 
 (The men drop their heads in shame.) 
 
 Lead to blackest night 
 
 These earnest Jews. 
 
 (Sleep approaches the men. They reach out 
 their arms to her as if begging her to 
 eome to them. They yawn stupidly and 
 sigh.) 
 
 Sleep 
 (surprised) 
 
 I — I have naught to do! 
 
 Shame, Sensuality, hath bound each Jew! 
 
 (They all nod their heads in sleep except the 
 daughters of Shallum and Nehemiah, 
 who work diligently on. The eldest daugh- 
 ter of Shallum approaches Nehemiah. 
 He is so busily engaged in work that he 
 has not noticed the sleeping tpilers.) 
 
 68 
 
(to Nehemiah) 
 The Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 Cupbearer, awake those stupid Jews who 
 sleep! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (regarding the sleepers) 
 Our God shall fight for us. 
 Yea, He shall keep 
 Our hands from idleness. 
 
 (to Daughters of Shallum) 
 The trumpet sound! 
 
 (Loud blowing of trumpet.) 
 
 They shall awake ! 
 (Men begin to awaken.) 
 Their better selves when found 
 Shall keep them. Daughters, tell them they 
 
 shall be 
 
 Both male and female, joyous, sinless, free. 
 
 (Daughters of Shallum go quickly and 
 
 awaken the men more fully, merely by 
 
 placing the workers' own discarded 
 
 weapons and tools in their listless hands.) 
 
 (All the men arise, look about in startled 
 
 manner and continue the work quietly. 
 
 With a spear in one hand and a weapon 
 
 in the other, each daughter of Shallum 
 
 stands back of every group of men as a 
 
 faithful guard.) 
 
Tell them, 
 
 (to Daughters of Shallum) 
 I pray thee, each with servant may 
 At night lodge in Jerusalem. The way 
 Grows brighter ; toilers, we are not afraid. 
 God hath made "good" all things that He 
 
 hath made. 
 (Nehemiah rises suddenly, as if with in- 
 spiration, and seizes first one messenger 
 and then another. He roughly shakes 
 each, in turn, and tears off outer gar- 
 ment) 
 This messenger 
 
 (indicating Sanballat's messenger) 
 
 that we have dreaded, see, 
 Is Intuition in disguise; was she 
 Not Sight? 
 
 Intuition 
 The ills we deem dark woes may be, 
 When overcome, a guide to lead to light. 
 Nehemiah 
 (shaking second messenger until outer 
 covering falls) 
 And this one, well thou know'st, was one time 
 Taste. 
 
 Patience 
 And now my name is Patience. 
 Nehemiah 
 
 Thou, alas, 
 
 70 
 
Art messenger who teaches us to waste 
 No time in murmuring. 
 
 Patience 
 (as if holding aloft a cup) 
 
 Taste of life's cup, 
 Of grief or joy, let not this chalice pass! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Looking Sensuality squarely in the eye; 
 her outer garment falls, revealing a beau- 
 tiful woman.) 
 Ah, thou art Gratitude! Thou troubl'st me 
 So long to-day as Touch! This is the curse 
 Of all earth's curses, mankind fears as worse 
 Than Death. The touch of Touch brings 
 
 bitter woe 
 Because it claims to hold, caress, and go 
 From life to death. 
 
 Gratitude 
 Yea, I am Gratitude! 
 I best express myself by giving much 
 To all mankind. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (pondering) 
 
 So thou wert one time Touch! 
 
 Can this be why, in future years, there is 
 
 Destined to come a King to earth ? — and this 
 
 Shall be his message : Gratitude and Peace ! 
 
 71 
 
(as if prophesying) 
 Yea, he will raise the dead with words like 
 
 these : 
 "Father, I thank Thee!" Men shall even 
 
 know 
 The garment's hem he wears shall heal their 
 
 woe. 
 If they but reach out for the Truth, they 
 
 shall 
 Be freed forever from the galling thrall 
 Of sensuality, which comes to bind 
 Mankind with touch of finite love. 
 (to all) 
 
 We find 
 Our freedom, friends, forever as we give 
 Our all of gratitude that men may live. 
 Egyptian darkness, sensuality, 
 The touch of finite self, — from these, be free, 
 
 (eagerly to Gratitude) 
 Mankind ! Blest Gratitude, no name like thine 
 Hath ever turned earth's water into wine! 
 
 (To Shame, as outer garment falls.) 
 Ah, thou wert Smell ! 
 
 Charity 
 But now I come to bless 
 Earth in the robes of Charity. 
 Nehemiah 
 
 Tis true 
 Thou dost not scent sin's scandal, nor confess 
 
 72 
 
To curious interest in an old or new 
 
 Recital of men's weaknesses. Thou art 
 
 The friend of all. 
 
 (For a long time, Nehemiah regards Sleep. 
 She does not change. Sleep constantly 
 eludes the Cupbearer's steadfast, search- 
 ing look. While Nehemiah is actually 
 trying to "see through" Sleep, and Sleep 
 is trying to evade the Prophet, Hearing, 
 now Wakefulness, dressed in loose, 
 flowing white garments, slips quietly into 
 the room, and takes her place with the 
 other four guards at Nehemiah's side. 
 Sleep, beholding Wakefulness* appear- 
 ance, shudders and makes quick exit. Ne- 
 hemiah, turning, beholds WAKEFULNESS, 
 and embraces her lovingly.) 
 
 Brave Wakefulness, my friend! 
 
 Thou art the friend of friends which God 
 doth send! 
 
 Wakefulness 
 (reassuringly, to Nehemiah) 
 
 Blest Cupbearer, I come to-day to hear 
 
 For thee. There is nor pain, nor any fear! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (gratefully, regarding the five women) 
 
 Ah, this one here 
 
 (holding Wakefulness' hand) 
 
 is friend, indeed, — 'tis she, 
 
 73 
 
True Wakefulness, come to us now that we 
 May keep awake and set our brethren free. 
 (At this moment, heavy-eyed Sleep appears 
 again, L. She yawns stupidly; seems 
 about to enter but is apparently afraid 
 of Wakefulness.) 
 
 Wakefulness 
 (pointing derisively at Sleep, who cowers to 
 the ground and almost creeps out of sight) 
 Sleep hath no better self. She hath a need 
 To hide herself! Death is her cruel creed. 
 My friend, 
 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 there yet are days of grief and woe 
 When death, or sleep, will try to make thee 
 
 go 
 As fettered slave to hell — but thou shalt see 
 The world's great need of immortality, 
 And, seeing this, thou shalt, indeed, be free ! 
 Nehemiah 
 (to all) 
 Half of thee hold'st the spears 
 (to the women) 
 Until each star in highest heav'n appears. 
 While half shall work. 
 
 (To the men. They all return joyously 
 to their work on the wall.) 
 
 The way 
 Grows ever brighter to us. Father, pray 
 
 74 
 
That none of us may falter, till we see 
 Man is both male and female, deathless, free. 
 
 (As if in prophecy.) 
 I see on earth, in long, long years to come, 
 Half of thee shalt, indeed, protect the home ; 
 While half shall win earth's peace— this is 
 
 God's will! 
 The home thou shalt protect is consciousness ; 
 The wakefulness all men express shall bless 
 This earth-home with true, patient tender- 
 ness. 
 The intuition of our God shall be 
 Made manifest ! Blest gratitude shall free 
 Earth's fettered ones ; and charity shall stand 
 Prepared to lend to all a helping hand. 
 There shall be no more war, nor hate, nor 
 
 strife 
 Within earth's home in heav'n,— this is 
 Life! 
 
 n 
 
CANTICLE VI 
 
 A Struggle With Poverty and Greed 
 
 Description: The scene is again as in Can- 
 ticles HI and V, the partly 
 constructed walls of Jeru- 
 salem. About six weeks 
 later in time than Canticle 
 V. 
 
 Discovered: Groups of discontented Jews 
 standing about engaged in 
 angry conversation. Groups 
 of anxious women and fret- 
 ful children. The women 
 wearily shift baskets of 
 corn and wine from their 
 arms to their heads. They 
 sigh disconsolately.) 
 
 Shemaiah 
 (discontentedly) 
 We, our sons and daughters, many are! 
 That we may live, we take up corn and wine. 
 Yea, we have borrowed money from afar 
 That this work might proceed. 
 Indeed, our fine 
 Of tax is great ! 
 
 Wife of Shemaiah 
 (sullenly) 
 
 76 
 
Why should this work go on, when, day by 
 
 day, 
 Our debt grows larger? 
 
 Meshullam 
 (kicking at wall) 
 
 We have naught to pay ! 
 (Groups of angry men walk about and kick at 
 wall as if they would destroy it.) 
 
 We have encumbered vineyards, — 
 all our lands! 
 
 Meremoth 
 (fiercely) 
 And this is all we have! 
 
 (Pointing derisively at wall.) 
 
 My very hands 
 Are wearied. 
 
 Bavai 
 (peevishly) 
 I mortgaged all my lands— I 
 Have naught more. 
 
 Wife of Bavai 
 (weeping) 
 I know it! 
 
 (rocking back and forth) 
 
 I know it! Ah, 
 I weep and sigh 
 But no one cares. 
 
 Binnui 
 Yet our flesh is exactly as the flesh 
 
Of our own brethren, our children, too, 
 And their children. Would we them enmesh, 
 Our sons and daughters, into bondage? 
 (Angrily approaches Nehemiah, who 
 alone continues to build.) 
 
 Jew, 
 Speak up ! Some are already bought 
 With no power to redeem 
 (savagely) 
 
 and thou hast wrought 
 This mischief ! 
 
 (At one side, an auctioneer is asking for bids 
 on the children. The rulers make va- 
 rious offers.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (rising slowly from his work and towering 
 
 above all) 
 
 Not as they seem 
 Are countless ills to-day. 
 (Turns to messenger and summons nobles 
 and rulers who are engaged in bidding on 
 children. They crowd about Nehemiah.) 
 Men, I pray, 
 Listen, and find at once a better way 
 To meet each need. Thou dost exact in whole 
 Usury of thy brethren, and thy toll 
 Is death. Our brethren, the Jews redeemed 
 
 shall be, 
 Not in some far-off time, but now and here. 
 
 78 
 
They, sold unto the heathen, shall be free 
 From cursed debt, disease, and human fear. 
 (Shaking his clenched fists into the 
 faces of the rulers.) 
 And wouldst thou even sell thy brethren 
 For stupid ease? Quick, answer me, my men! 
 {There is a long silence. The rulers and 
 nobles stand with bowed heads, as if 
 ashamed.) 
 Shall they be sold for us ; canst thou not say 
 A word — not even one? There is none, nay 
 Not one to e'er condone this usury. 
 
 (All men stand with heads lowered.) 
 (Nehemiah walks back to the wall as if his 
 words to the rulers were finished; he 
 picks up an anvil and gives a few ringing 
 strokes, and then suddenly faces about 
 and paces his way back to the silent m,en.) 
 "It is not good that ye do ; ought ye not 
 To walk in the fear of our God, because of 
 The reproach of the heathen, our enemies? 
 I likewise, and my brethren, and my serv- 
 ants, 
 Might exact of them money and corn; 
 I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 
 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, 
 Their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, 
 And their houses, also the hundredth part 
 
 79 
 
Of the money, and of the corn, the wine, 
 And of the oil, that ye exact of them" 
 
 (Nehemiah 5 :9, 10, 11.) 
 (A long silence. The women are standing 
 beside the riders with baskets of corn and 
 wine half extended to them. The rulers 
 reach out their hands to receive the bas- 
 kets, but as they listen to Nehemiah's 
 words, their empty hands drop back to 
 their sides.) 
 
 Shallum 
 (speaking for all) 
 "We will restore them, and will require 
 
 nothing of them ; 
 So will we do as thou sayest." 
 
 (Nehemiah 5:12.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to messenger) 
 Go, call the priests, an oath we'll take of this 
 That they should do according to their 
 promise. 
 
 (Shakes lap as if emptying it of 
 
 something.) 
 
 "So God shake out every man from his house, 
 
 And from his labour, that performeth not 
 
 this promise, 
 Even thus be he shaken out and emptied." 
 
 (Nehemiah 5:13.) 
 
All 
 (together) 
 Amen ! Praise the Lord ! God be praised ! 
 Nehemiah 
 (with hand uplifted) 
 At my table now I entertain 
 One hundred-fifty Jews : 
 The fruit and grain 
 
 Of governors we eat not. Think of me, 
 O, Lord, Thou God of good, Grant that I be 
 A faithful servant till this wall shall stand 
 A v/orthy tribute to our Father's hand. 
 "Think upon me, my God, for good, 
 According to all that I have done 
 For this people" — (Nehemiah 5:19.) 
 CANTICLE VII 
 A Desperate Struggle With Self 
 Description: Showing walls completed ex- 
 
 cept doors. 
 Discovered: Nehemiah stands alone look- 
 ing at the opening where 
 doors should be. 
 (Enter Pride of Achievement, a messenger 
 from Sanballat. Pride says nothing. 
 He struts about looking at wall. Whistles 
 proudly.) 
 
 Pride 
 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 Splendid work ! Marvelous ! Indeed, I won- 
 
 81 
 
der, friend, 
 At all thou and these Jews have done. Pray 
 
 lend 
 An ear. My governor, Sanballat, sends thee 
 
 peace 
 And joy. He would, himself, convey to thee 
 
 these greetings. 
 
 (looking at wall) 
 
 Wondrous! My friend, 
 
 didst thou do all, 
 Thou and these Jews ? It seems, indeed, this 
 
 wall 
 Is built to stand. I marvel at thy might, 
 Thy wondrous skill in building this aright! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (For a moment, he listens eagerly. A dazed, 
 
 stupid expression steals across his face. 
 
 With a gesture, as if pushing the words 
 
 of Pride away from him, he speaks slowly 
 
 — to himself.) 
 "0 God, Thou art my God ; early will I seek 
 
 thee; 
 My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth 
 
 for Thee, 
 
 To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have 
 
 seen Thee 
 
 In the sanctuary 
 
 When I remember Thee upon my bed, 
 
 And meditate on Thee in the night watches. 
 
Because Thou hast been my help, 
 Therefore in the shadow of Thy wings 
 Will I rejoice." (Ps. 63:1-7.) 
 
 {Enter a driver and golden chariot; a richly 
 
 trapped beast. A footman and messenger 
 
 are close at hand.) 
 
 Messenger 
 
 {to Pride) 
 My lord, I wait; and art thou ready quite? 
 If so, we'll journey onward, e'er 'tis night. 
 Pride 
 {pleadingly to Nehemiah) 
 Come down with me. Sanballat waits to hear 
 Thy mighty conquest over sin and fear. 
 Come with me, friend. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 {resolutely) 
 "I am doing a great work, 
 So that I cannot come down; 
 Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 
 And — come — down — to — you ?" 
 
 (Nehemiah 6:3.) 
 Pride 
 
 {insisting) 
 They wait for thee at Ono. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 Let them wait ! I have a work. Yea, I know 
 It must continue. 
 
Pride 
 (pointing to wall) 
 
 To tell them of this dost thou refuse to go? 
 
 Come with me to the village of Ono. 
 Nehemiah 
 
 "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot 
 come down; 
 
 Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 
 
 And come down to you?" 
 
 (Nehemiah 6:3.) 
 
 (The driver slowly turns the chariot around; 
 the footman, the messenger and Pride 
 follow. They exeunt while Nehemiah 
 sloivly repeats:) 
 
 "Why should the work cease, whilst I leave 
 it, 
 
 And come down to you?" 
 
 (Four men enter carrying mortar-trough; 
 after placing it, they exeunt.) 
 
 (Nehemiah turns back to the contemplation 
 of the ivork on the wall. Prejudice, a 
 messenger from Sanballat, enters, al- 
 most creeps about, and whispers as if 
 frightened. Goes up to mortar which Ne- 
 hemiah is mixing, and looks at it fear- 
 fully.) 
 
 Some one has mixed this mortar wrong, my 
 friend, 
 
 Sh — what have I said. I did not mean to tell 
 
 84 
 
That shameful plot. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 A plot ye say? Pray lend 
 Assistance in unraveling it. 
 (Nehemiah ceases his work and appears to 
 be much disturbed.) 
 Prejudice 
 Meshullam, Zadok, Ezra, ah, for shame 
 I should not speak of this ! I would not say 
 One word to turn thee from thy friendships, 
 
 nay, 
 Not one word ; but (whispering) , 'twas Shal- 
 
 lum said to me 
 That ye were hard task-master! Ah, I see 
 I have been wrong in telling this. 
 (As if repentant.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (continuing his mixing of mortar) 
 Alas, thy name 
 Is prejudice*! (pointing to exit) Go! Thou 
 
 may'st pass 
 Forever from my sight ! Thou canst not tell 
 The light from darkness. Go, the gates of 
 
 hell 
 Swing back for such as thee. 
 
 (Prejudice, muttering, starts to leave.) 
 Prejudice 
 
 I wouldst not turn 
 Thee e'er against a brother, but, I yearn 
 
 * When Nehemiah perceives that evil is impersonal, the 
 word typifying evil is not capitalized. 
 85 
 
To tell thee how Hanani says that thou 
 Sh — art basely wrong — Sh, what have I 
 
 spoken now? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (dropping his mortar mixer, he places hands 
 
 over ears so that he cannot hear) 
 Of all the messengers Sanballat prides, 
 Thou art the falsest one, — yea, thou ! Death 
 
 hides 
 Behind thy muttered murmurings! Go now 
 From me — Ah, never more shalt thou 
 Deceive me, crafty, whispering abuse, 
 Thy name is prejudice, and I refuse 
 To listen to thee, coward! Whispering, 
 Go back to hades whence thy lispings spring. 
 I shall rely on God to tell me all 
 About my fellow-man. (lifting eyes) 
 
 On Him I call 
 For righteous judgment! God, alone, is 
 
 good, 
 And, in His sight, man now is understood! 
 One day, a singer comes to earth to say : 
 "Our feet shall stand" within Jerusalem 
 Where human prejudice hath no more sway. 
 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." 
 
 (Psalms 122:6.) 
 (Exit Prejudice.) 
 (Human Recognition, a messenger from 
 
 86 
 
Geshem enters, unobserved, and stands 
 close to Nehemiah's side while he 
 works.) 
 
 Human Recognition 
 My name is Human Recognition, friend. 
 I never hesitate gladly to lend 
 My aid. Geshem commissions me to say 
 He would reward thee for thy work to-day — 
 Yea, he will lavish all that thou wouldst ask 
 For having carried through this wondrous 
 
 task. 
 Come down to Ono, village of the Plain. 
 And he will give thee lands of ripened grain. 
 I gladly lend my name to every one 
 Because my title is so justly won. 
 Cupbearer, if it be to thee the same 
 We will be going now. 
 
 (Taking Nehemiah by the arm.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (as if brushing aside a troublesome viper) 
 
 Why go with thee ? 
 
 Human Recognition 
 
 To get thy full reward. Friend, thou shalt be 
 
 A ruler. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (firmly) 
 I have reward. None can tell 
 Save God alone, my recompense, how well 
 I am repaid. 
 
 87 
 
Human Recognition 
 But it is fully right 
 
 That governors should tell thee of thy might 
 And wisdom. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (hands raised to heaven) 
 
 'Tut not your trust in princes, nor in the son 
 
 of man, in whom there is no help. 
 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his 
 
 earth ; 
 In that very day his thoughts perish. 
 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for 
 
 his help, 
 Whose hope is in the Lord his God ; 
 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and 
 all that therein is; which keepeth truth 
 forever." (Ps. 146:3-6.) 
 
 (About the middle of the Psalm, Geshem's 
 messenger, Human Recognition, slowly 
 departs. Nehemiah, alone, again turns 
 to view the wall.) 
 
 Shiftlessness 
 (sauntering in, walks up to the mortar and 
 
 looks at it sneeringly — to Nehemiah) 
 What is this ? Ah, mortar ? Then why mind 
 Mixing this so? 
 (Nehemiah is carefully placing in the lime.) 
 
 Cast it in ! 
 (Knocks Nehemiah's elbow so that the lime 
 
 88 
 
slips carelessly in. Laughs.) 
 Cast it in! 
 
 This will last after thou art dead and gone. 
 Cast it in ! 
 
 (jostling shovel) 
 
 Cast it in, why stand alone 
 For such exactness? 
 
 (Nehemiah, saying nothing, goes to the wall 
 and carefully measures the opening of a 
 gate. Shiftlessness follows him and 
 jeers at him.) 
 
 Never mind measuring; 
 Cast it in. 
 
 (Nehemiah picks up the heavy gate which 
 belongs in the opening.) 
 
 Who cares how it fits? 
 Ah, bring 
 Thy talents to the things that count,— this 
 
 gate 
 Is merely iron ! It can have no fate — 
 'Tis lifeless metal! Though it fit not, why 
 Shouldst thou then care ? Why shouldst thou 
 
 even try? 
 (Shiftlessness saunters about; carelessly 
 knocks down one gate after another and 
 kicks each about. Crashing noises.) 
 Nehemiah 
 Ah, shiftlessness, we two have met before. 
 Thou may'st leave! 
 
 89 
 
(points to exit) 
 
 I would not listen more 
 To all thy foolish prattle. 
 
 (pushing him away) 
 
 I am here 
 To do my best. Thou canst not interfere. 
 Of all the messengers that Geshem sent 
 Thou art the one whose crookedness hath bent 
 Men from the line of rectitude. Thy ways 
 Are not God's ways. For this, let Him be 
 praised ! 
 
 (exit Shiftlessness) 
 (A woman, dressed in many dull colors, en- 
 ters. She is Self-Pity. She slowly ap- 
 proaches Nehemiah, and raising his cal- 
 loused hands, looks at them, and shakes 
 her head pityingly.) 
 
 Self-Pity 
 I cannot give my name. I came from one 
 Who tells me of the marvels thou hast done. 
 And not one Jew hath praised thee ! 
 (She takes Nehemiah's hands very tenderly 
 in her own and gently rubs her hands 
 over them, as if feeling their callouses.) 
 Poor hands, true, 
 Toiled long, in vain, for not one grateful Jew 
 Hath stayed to bless thee ! Tobiah says that 
 
 he 
 Would give thee his thanks in sincerity. 
 
 90 
 
Poor hands! Poor hands! 
 
 (She continues to rub them gently. For a 
 moment, Nehemiah almost weeps. He 
 quickly recovers himself, and snatches his 
 hands away.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (peering into woman* s face) 
 
 What is thy name? Where have we met be- 
 fore? 
 
 Thou hast annoyed me much in days of yore ! 
 
 "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot 
 come down. 
 
 Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 
 
 And — come — down — to — you ?" 
 Self-Pity 
 
 But thou shouldst have reward. Thou toil'st 
 but they, 
 
 Those Jews (scornfully) are neither grateful 
 nor obey 
 
 Thy word. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (almost assents, but quickly turning away 
 from the woman for a moment, regards 
 his work on the wall. Again turning to 
 the woman.) 
 
 What is thy name? Where have we met be- 
 fore? 
 
 Thou hast annoyed me much in days of yore. 
 
 (Turning again to the wall, and disregarding 
 
 91 
 
the woman, he begins measuring, as he 
 intones these words from Psalm 78:) 
 "Give ear, My people, to My law; 
 Incline your ears to the words of My mouth. 
 I will open My mouth in a parable : 
 I will utter dark sayings of old : 
 That the generations to come might know 
 
 them, 
 Even the children which should be born ; 
 Who should arise and declare them to their 
 
 children." 
 (In the midst of the intonation of this Psalm, 
 Self-Pity, weeping bitterly, stands be- 
 fore Nehemiah.) 
 
 Self-Pity 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 I am Self-Pity. I did not intend 
 To give my name. I came disguised as friend. 
 
 (weeping) 
 But I am deadly foe. Yea, oft before 
 I have annoyed thee in the days of yore. 
 (Weeping bitterly, Self-Pity exits.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (kneeling) 
 God be praised ! Magnify His holy name ! 
 Once more, Thy servant is redeemed from 
 
 shame. 
 (Enter a wondrously beautiful woman. She 
 is Personal Attraction. Nehemiah is 
 
 92 
 
working earnestly when she enters, but 
 he immediately becomes excited and 
 confused. It is evident that he is 
 doing poor work. All the time he looks 
 admiringly at the woman. He drops his 
 tools; the gate he is hammering into place 
 crashes to the ground and, in its fall, 
 tears a part of the wall away. Neither 
 Nehemiah nor the woman speak. As if 
 delighting in her conquest and Nehemi- 
 ah's failure to work intelligently, the 
 woman smiles joyously and exits. With 
 a disappointed expression, and looking 
 ever toward the door whence Per- 
 sonal Attraction had departed, Nehe- 
 miah wearily takes up his work. Enter 
 the five senses — Sight, Touch, Taste, 
 Smell, Hearing. The five men stand 
 near Nehemiah as if to encourage 
 him to continue his work. Again the 
 woman, Personal Attraction, appears. 
 She is more beautiful than ever in a robe 
 of shimmering material. Nehemiah 
 gasps delightedly when he sees the 
 woman. He tries to return to his work, 
 but it is plain that his work disgusts him, 
 and that he has eyes only for the beau- 
 tiful creature who stands near him. The 
 woman, seeing Nehemiah's displeasure 
 
 93 
 
with his work, laughs joyously and de- 
 parts. The five corporeal senses look 
 heavenward as if in prayer. Again the 
 tvoman enters. She is even more beautiful 
 than before, having thrown a rope of won- 
 drous jewels about her neck and a fleecy, 
 silken shawl upon her head. When 
 Nehemiah sees her enter, he ceases work 
 entirely and looks unceasingly at the 
 woman. He sits down on a pile of build- 
 ing material. The five senses bring him, 
 first a hammer, then a trowel, then a joist. 
 They try to encourage him to go on with 
 his work but he refuses. He does nothing 
 except to stare admiringly at Personal 
 Attraction. Finally, Nehemiah gives 
 one quick glance heavenward as if in 
 prayer. At once the spell of mesmeric 
 attraction is broken. In a moment's time, 
 the gleaming robes fall at the woman's 
 feet, showing an ugly creature dressed in 
 sack-cloth. The five senses change 
 again to beautiful women. Nehe- 
 miah rises quickly from his reclining po- 
 sition and with eager joy begins his work. 
 He intelligently repairs the large gap in 
 the wall caused by Personal Attrac- 
 tion's first appearance. Personal At- 
 traction, now in sack-cloth, ugly and old, 
 
 94 
 
tries to keep Nehemiah from working. 
 
 She goes to him, attempts to seize his 
 
 hands and hold him with her gaze, but 
 
 her efforts are all in vain. Joyously 
 
 Nehemiah continues to work.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to the woman) 
 God be praised ! I know thy heinous name, — 
 Tis personal attraction, lust and shame ! 
 Whene'er thou comest first, clad in the flesh 
 Of costly, vain attraction ye enmesh 
 Thy victims, well thou keepest them from 
 
 gain 
 Of true salvation through thy crafty, vain 
 
 attentions. 
 The second time thou com'st, men loathe their 
 
 work; 
 Their days become a useless drag ; they shirk 
 
 all honest duty. 
 The third time thou dost come, men cease 
 
 their toil, — 
 Thou bind'st upon them fetters, coil on coil. 
 The world of useful joy would pass away, 
 If thou, poor foolish virgin, hadst thy say; 
 But as men lift their eyes to heav'n and pray 
 The joy of work comes forth into the light, — 
 And thou art then a monster in their sight! 
 Go from me, woman, never, never more 
 Shalt thou appear to darken my own door 
 
 95 
 
Of thought. My daily work is all I need ; 
 My work is my attraction and my meed 
 Of joy and peace and happiness and rest! 
 
 (as he pushes the woman away) 
 Woman, for me, my work is ever best. 
 
 (The woman, weeping bitterly, exits.) 
 (Nehemiah continues his work. The five 
 senses now changed into the women, 
 Gratitude, Patience, Charity, Wake- 
 fulness and Intuition, with hands 
 raised as if blessing Nehemiah, all 
 leave.) 
 (Enter Human Will. At first sight, he ap- 
 pears to be a very small man, but he in- 
 creases constantly in size as he speaks. 
 Human Will is accompanied by his son, 
 Dishonesty, and his daughter, Greed. 
 Dishonesty is very cowardly in appear- 
 ance. Greed is large and florid.) 
 Human Will 
 (breathlessly to Nehemiah) 
 This will not do! Come, come with me, my 
 
 friend, 
 Thou must come now. I say so. Wherefore 
 
 bend 
 Thy back in labor when I summon thee? 
 
 (Nehemiah is fitting a gate in place.) 
 Not there! Not there! 
 
 (Indicating disapproval of placing gate 
 
in that opening,) 
 Come with me now. Why be 
 So earnest? 
 
 (Human Will takes Nehemiah by the 
 shoulder and pushes him about.) 
 
 Go there ! 
 (pushing him to another place) 
 
 Go on (pushing him) Go! 
 I said there! (angrily) Not there! There! 
 
 There! No, 
 Not there! 
 (Pushing Nehemiah about, Human Will 
 
 appears to be utterly exhausted.) 
 Not there! (wearily) I said so! (Very 
 
 wearily) I — said — so. 
 (Dishonesty is attempting to displace good 
 building material with defective timbers; 
 good stones with mere lumps of sand 
 which fairly crumble away. Greed has- 
 tens about and picks up bolts, nails, tools 
 and many other valuables and hides them 
 in her flowing sleeves.) 
 Nehemiah 
 Mark thy dishonest children, mark the greed 
 
 (pointing to Greed) 
 And avarice of her, and mark the need 
 Thy son, Dishonesty, hath now to go 
 With wiser vision or — 
 
 (Dishonesty stumbles and falls ) 
 
 97 
 
Human Will 
 (turning to his children) 
 Ah, I did not know 
 
 She (pointing to Greed) was a thief, a rob- 
 ber; ah, me! 
 And he (pointing to Dishonesty) deceitful, 
 crafty, tell me, can it be? 
 (Dishonesty picks himself up. Human 
 Will weeps.) 
 Nehemiah 
 Thy name is human will. Should I not know 
 Thy falsity? Hast thou not led me on 
 O'er crag and fen of self, in days long gone? 
 I know thy name. 
 
 (Human Will still weeps bitterly. His two 
 children steal quietly from the stage.) 
 I know the weariness 
 Of thy poor counsels ; yea, thy faithlessness ! 
 Of all his messengers, Sanballat's curse 
 Hath never made of villany, a worse 
 Than thou. I know thee, human will; I 
 
 know — — 
 I know thy wretched leadings — Go, Go, Go! 
 (Human Will continues to weep, pleadingly 
 
 and with false meekness, to NehemiahJ 
 I shall abide with thee, here, here, now, now, 
 Until thou goest with me, thou, thou, thou, 
 thou! 
 
 98 
 
(with feigned gentleness) 
 I do not want my way ; come, thou, with me. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 False meekness, human will, thou dost as- 
 sume, 
 Since in thy scheming heart thou hast but 
 
 room 
 For self. Father, thy will be done! 
 (At these words, Human Will falls at 
 Nehemiah's feet) 
 
 With Thee, 
 I go where Truth directs. Yea, I am free 
 To go where Love commands ! There dwell - 
 
 ethl, 
 As God's own image. 
 
 Human Will 
 (looking up from the ground) 
 
 Come with me. Oh, why 
 Not go? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (resolutely) 
 
 I go where God directs the way. 
 
 No human will can have the power to say 
 
 Where I should go, or where my work shall 
 
 be; 
 The God in heav'n, alone, instructeth me. 
 (Human Will appears to completely flatten 
 out on the ground at Nehemiah's feet. 
 He is wholly exhausted and, in his ex- 
 
haustion, his tongue protrudes as if he 
 
 were fairly eating the dust of the earth,) 
 
 Thou art sin's serpent, doomed to eat the dust 
 
 (Human Will is creeping away) 
 Of cannot, do not, shall, and will, and must. 
 
 Human Will 
 (muttering to himself as he creeps away) 
 I shall, I will, I can, I must now go 
 Back to perdition, human will and woe. 
 Nehemiah 
 (as if prophesying) 
 One comes in future days to do God's will. 
 (As if beholding someone present, radiantly.) 
 He stills earth's tempests with Love's "Peace, 
 
 be still!" 
 (As these last words are spoken, Human 
 
 Will, silenced, exits by creeping away.) 
 (Enter Personality. He is a very large, 
 clumsy, awkward, pompous man. He is 
 constantly tripping as if over himself and 
 falling. He stands before Nehemiah, who 
 is working, and suddenly falls before him. 
 Nehemiah in turn stumbles over Per- 
 sonality, but does not fall. Each time 
 Nehemiah stumbles and makes a mis- 
 step, some of his good work is over- 
 turned.) 
 
 Personality 
 Here am I ! See me ! Here am I ! See me ! 
 
 100 
 
Here am I ! Can it be, can it be 
 Thou dost not see me? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (stumbling over Personality, but not 
 
 falling) 
 
 I detected thee ! 
 (Personality repeatedly places himself in 
 Nehemiah's way, but each time the Cup- 
 bearer sees the impostor and quickly steps 
 aside to avoid falling over him,) 
 Personality 
 Why step aside for me? Thou art afraid! 
 (exultingly) 
 Nehemiah 
 (firmly) 
 Ah, no, God made all things that were made ! 
 
 Personality 
 God? I (indicating himself) am creator, I 
 
 am wondrous, I 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (interrupting) 
 Thou'rt false from the beginning, yea, sin's 
 lie! 
 
 Personality 
 Thou callest me false, then I shall go. Not 
 
 here 
 May I remain ! I must have awe and fear ! 
 (Personality, much offended, rises majes- 
 tically and exits) 
 
 101 
 
(Enter Human Ease, a large, very fleshy 
 woman. She goes straight to the gate 
 Nehemiah is working on, and reclines 
 wearily upon it. She sighs.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to the woman) 
 Begone ! 
 
 (Human Ease sighs and rests more easily 
 on the gate.) 
 Begone ! 
 (Human Ease sighs wearily and refuses to 
 
 move.) 
 What (peering into the woman' s face) is thy 
 name, pray tell? 
 
 Human Ease 
 My name is Human Ease. 
 
 (Nehemiah tries to move her.) 
 With me 'tis well, 
 Why should I move? I like it here — to rest 
 Is my one business, — that is ever best ! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Laughs long and joyously. Continues to 
 work while he laughs happily. Ease 
 sighs, and sighs, and looks disturbed over 
 Nehemiah's laughter.) 
 Human Ease 
 Why dost thou work and laugh? Why work? 
 
 Alas! 
 (She rises wearily from her couch of build- 
 
 102 
 
ing material and appears much annoyed as 
 Nehemiah continues to work and laugh.) 
 I cannot live with work! 
 
 (Brushing wearily past Nehemiah.) 
 Knave, let me pass! 
 (exit Human Ease) 
 (Enter JEALOUSY. She is a deceitful looking 
 woman with face wreathed in vain smiles. 
 She approaches Nehemiah and looks 
 with sinister smiles at his work.) 
 Jealousy 
 Why this is Nehemiah? (with surprise) 
 
 Long ago 
 I knew thee. We were friends, dost thou 
 
 recall 
 Those days in Babylon ? I little knew 
 That thou wouldst prove a master over all 
 This mighty work! 
 
 (Smiling with pained expression.) 
 No one is more rejoiced than I am, friend, 
 At all thy progress! 
 (As if trying to convince herself of her joy.) 
 
 Ah, I am so glad 
 Thou dost so well, my friend; and if I had 
 My way, I would confer on thee all good ! 
 I am not jealous, — all is understood 
 With me. No one could wish thee more than I 
 Of great success ! 
 
 (As if determined he would believe her.) 
 
 103 
 
So glad — so glad, friend! Why 
 This vast success ? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (not looking up from his work) 
 
 I know thy voice ! Thy face I have not seen ! 
 
 Thy words spell J-e-a-1-o-u-s-y. I have not 
 
 been 
 Deceived by all thou say'st of my success, — 
 I know full well, thou lovest me no less 
 Than this work I would do. Go from me, go, 
 Admiring jealousy. Thou canst not know 
 The purpose of my days. Why shouldst thou 
 
 tell 
 Me pleasing nothings of my work, when hell 
 Is where ye wish to drag me? 
 
 (Lifting his eyes in prayer.) 
 
 Ah, 'tis true 
 "Of mine own self, I do no thing," one prays, 
 In future years : 
 
 (as if in prophesy) 
 
 "Yea, I forever do 
 (Jealousy with poisoned, admiring glances 
 
 exits) 
 That which the Father does;" indeed, God's 
 
 ways 
 Are higher than my thoughts. 
 (Raising high his hands as if he were fairly 
 lifted up from the earth) 
 
 Father, thanks, praise! 
 
 104 
 
(Nehemiah turns again to the wall An of- 
 ficious woman enters and approaches him. 
 She wears a very anxious expression. She 
 is Idolatry.) 
 
 Idolatry 
 (looking longingly at Nehemiah. He turns 
 away from her with expression of annoy- 
 ance and hatred. Nehemiah drops a tool. 
 Idolatry picks it up and at the same time 
 breaks a very valuable tool which is close 
 at hand. Nehemiah angrily pushes the 
 woman aside. Idolatry quickly measures 
 a gate for him with no degree of exact- 
 ness.) 
 I idolize thee, friend. This work ye do 
 I would do for thee. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (much annoyed — to Idolatry) 
 No! (pushing her roughly aside). Vain, vain 
 Idolatry. Speak not to me again. 
 (Nehemiah continues working, but at every 
 turn Idolatry interrupts his efforts with 
 over-solicitous attention. Firmly, to Ne- 
 hemiah.) 
 I shall not give thee up! Thy angry pride 
 
 At my attentions 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (interrupting) 
 Go from me! (angrily). This wide 
 
 105 
 
World surely furnisheth enough of space 
 So that I never need to see thy face ! 
 I loathe thee! I despise thee, fiendish curse! 
 Of all sin's leeches, none was ever worse! 
 Idolatry 
 (pleased at curses, smiling) 
 I idolize thee! Nothing thou canst say 
 Shall ever turn my love for thee away. 
 Nehemiah 
 (scornfully) 
 Thy love for me ! Thou hind'r'st all I do ! 
 Thy love for me ! No word of this is true ! 
 Thy useless, harmful hindrances I hate! 
 
 Idolatry 
 Ah, I am used to curses. Yea, I wait 
 
 For thy attentions 
 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 (interrupting) 
 
 My attentions! No! 
 Thou shalt have none from me — thou woman, 
 
 go! 
 (Idolatry brings a heavy mantle and wraps 
 it closely about Nehemiah so that he can- 
 not lift his hands to his work. With great 
 effort, he casts the cloak aside.) 
 Idolatry 
 (trying again to wrap the mantle about Ne- 
 hemiah, who continues to cast it aside) 
 Ah, it is cold, my friend, and thou shalt be 
 
 106 
 
Forever blessed and comforted by me. 
 I am Idolatry, close Family Tie, 
 I shall not leave thee, dear, till thou shalt die. 
 I am the finite love of those who fear 
 For thee. I shall be ever, ever near. 
 (throwing her arms closely about Nehe- 
 miah's neck, she clings tenaciously to him) 
 Thee all thy life. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (with agonized expression, lifs his eyes to 
 heaven in prayer. He does not lift a hand 
 to shake the woman from him, although 
 he shows in every expression his longing 
 to be free from her.) 
 
 There is one God, above, 
 Father, I thank Thee that Thy law is love. 
 I thank Thee, Father! 
 
 (Idolatry loosens her arms from Nehemi- 
 ah's neck. With surprise, to Nehemiah) 
 
 Have I heard aright? 
 Thou used to curse me, now within my sight 
 Thou giv'st thanks ! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (unconscious of Idolatry) 
 Father of love, I thank Thee! 
 Idolatry 
 (as if determined to win Nehemiah's at- 
 tentions. Peering into his face) 
 Dear, dost thou see me, too ? 
 
 107 
 
Give me thy curses, love, pray do, pray do ! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (refusing to see Idolatry) 
 
 Who is so great a God as the One good? 
 
 With Him, alone, all things are understood! 
 
 Idolatry 
 
 (desperately) 
 
 Hast thou no curse to give me, dear? My life 
 
 Is nourished with vain curses, idle strife. 
 
 (pleadingly) 
 Give me abuse! Hatred my portion is 
 Since time began, and, ah, I feed on this ! 
 Nehemiah 
 (looking heavenward) 
 Who is so great a God as God in heav'n? 
 Idolatry 
 (beseechingly) 
 I need thy curses, dear, let them be giv'n 
 That I may live! Idolatry, indeed, 
 Feasts on harsh words. Scorn is her hourly 
 need. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (patiently, looking heavenward) 
 
 Who is so great a God as God above, 
 
 E'en though I dwell in hell, God still is Love. 
 
 Idolatry 
 
 (clinging closely to NEHEMIAH ) 
 
 Ah, I am sure thou need'st me. Dear, I know 
 
 108 
 
That I must follow thee where thou wouldst 
 go! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 I thank Thee, I can see but God's own ways. 
 
 For all Life gives me, may I offer praise ! 
 
 Idolatry 
 
 (weeping) 
 
 Thou praiseth me? (sadly) Alas! Praise 
 
 me? Me? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (firmly) 
 
 That which God gives me brings nor curse, 
 
 nor shame. 
 For all God sends me, may I praise His name. 
 Idolatry 
 (weeping bitterly, leaving) 
 Base, cruel world, that will not grant me all 
 The curses and abuse for which I call. 
 I crave for these ! When kindness comes I go 
 Back to idolatry, and hell, and woe. 
 (weeping bitterly, exits) 
 Nehemiah 
 (with bowed head, as if in deep thought) 
 A teacher came to earth, and said that we, 
 Earth's toilers, have one God and thus are 
 
 free; 
 Thou shalt have no more gods than One, 
 saith he. 
 (Looking up as if wondering where 
 
 109 
 
Idolatry had gone.) 
 Idolatry is gone! I murmured much 
 At her attentions ! Ah, I loathed her touch ! 
 (Idolatry hearing these last words, again 
 steps forward to enter. Enter the five 
 women, Intuition, Patience, Grati- 
 tude, Charity and Wakefulness. They 
 stand about Nehemiah.) 
 (Addressing the five women. Idolatry 
 quickly drops back from entrance.) 
 Now I can see that kindness changed to wine, 
 Earth's water. God be praised! let not 
 
 mine 
 Iniquities be called to mind! In deed 
 And word, let me be thankful that Love's 
 
 creed 
 Is never murmuring, nor vain abuse. 
 0, may I have one God, and rightly choose 
 Whom I shall serve. One God is All-in-all, 
 And God is Love! Father, on Thee I call 
 To save me from each hind'ring thought of 
 
 fear. 
 There shall be no more pain ; no, nor one tear 
 Of woe, as we remember God's great love 
 Meets every need in earth and heav'n above. 
 (The five women smile approvingly ; they 
 
 exeunt.) 
 (A quiet woman enters and approaches Ne- 
 hemiah. She is Self-Righteousness. 
 
 no 
 
With pious expression — to Nehemiah.) 
 Self-Righteousness 
 I am one who comes to thee, my friend, 
 To tell thee I have never seen thee bend 
 To evil. All these Jews, a crooked set, 
 Have wrought, indeed, but now they would 
 
 forget 
 The need of further toil. Just thou, just 
 
 thou, 
 Art worthy ! Dost thou not see ? 
 (Nehemiah listens with pleased expression) 
 
 Now, ah, now, 
 Thou canst! 
 
 (clapping her hands for joy) 
 Come, then, Sanballat sends the word, 
 And Geshem, and Tobiah, — they have heard 
 How selflessly thou toil'st, and they would see 
 Thee well rewarded for thy industry. 
 (Nehemiah leans his arm heavily upon 
 Self-Righteousness' shoulder, and slow- 
 ly walks with her to exit His feet drag 
 as if he were very weary. Not a word 
 is spoken.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (low voice) 
 
 Yes, yes, 'tis true. I toil alone, 'tis true. 
 
 The world's great burdens fall upon a few! 
 
 (Just as he is about to exit with Self- 
 
 Righteousness, Nehemiah slowly steps 
 
 111 
 
back and takes his arm from her shoul- 
 der. He looks her searchingly in the 
 face.) 
 Thou hast not told thy name! Thy face is 
 
 scarred 
 With many marks, as if thou long hast 
 
 warred ! 
 "I am doing (slowly) a great work (slowly) 
 
 so that 
 I cannot come down. 
 
 (turns toward wall) 
 Why should the work cease 
 (he picks up his tools and begins to measure 
 the door openings) 
 
 whilst I leave it 
 and come down to you?" 
 (Self-Righteousness turns dejectedly and 
 walks toward exit. Nehemiah begins 
 hammering loudly at gates.) 
 Self-Righteousness 
 (at exit) 
 (addressed pleadingly to Nehemiah, who re- 
 
 gards her disapprovingly) 
 We have been friends in days long passed 
 
 away. 
 Self-Righteousness, dost thou remember, 
 
 pray, 
 How kind a friend I have been unto thee? 
 
 112 
 
(pleadingly) 
 Why dost thou, then, refuse to go with me? 
 (Exit Self-Righteousness. Nehemiah con- 
 tinues his work on the walls. HURRY 
 comes in running. Dashes about stage, 
 breathing excitedly. Rushes up to Nehe- 
 miah, and knocks over the gate which he 
 slowly and carefully is fitting into place.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (looking curiously at Hurry as he is dashing 
 
 madly about from one thing to another) 
 There is no need for hurry. Ah, I know 
 Thy name. 'Tis hurry, worry, lack of time ! 
 There is, indeed, no reason, no, nor rhyme 
 In thy existence. If thou wouldst not waste 
 Thy days, remember, hurry hinders haste. 
 Hurry 
 (grabbing Nehemiah by the arm and 
 pushing him around) 
 Ah, friend, the time is short. This wall 
 
 should go 
 Up much more quickly! Thou art slow, so 
 
 slow. 
 Clamp that gate into place! 
 (Seizes gate, it crashes from Nehemiah'S 
 hand and drops down upon other clashing 
 irons.) 
 
 Stand back, thou knave, 
 Canst thou not see the hours we might save ? 
 
 113 
 
Quick, bring that mortar ! And that trowel 
 
 now! 
 (Harsh commanding tone. Nehemiah does 
 
 not obey the orders.) 
 Thou fool, thou knave, why falter? Quick! 
 
 But thou 
 Art slow! 
 
 (Hurry rushes about smashing everything) 
 Nehemiah 
 (calmly) 
 I do not thy dictations heed. God's ways 
 Are higher than thy ways. My loving praise 
 Goes to the Father who now leadeth me 
 Beside still waters of tranquillity. 
 Of all the messengers Sanballat had 
 Thou art the one that make the men least 
 
 glad,— 
 For thou art ignorance which never once 
 Hath wrought one thing except, — to act the 
 
 dunce. 
 Thou canst not curse my work, nor interfere 
 With my sure progress heavenward. The 
 
 way 
 Of true advancement is to wait and pray. 
 The one who hastens on shall know calm 
 
 poise, 
 While hurry retrogrades with deafening 
 
 noise. 
 The one who acts is always gentle, still; 
 
 114 
 
While hurry, doing nothing, tries to fill 
 
 The world with the importance of its ways. 
 
 (Raising his eyes to heaven as if in prayer 
 while Hurry rushes from the scene.) 
 
 Father, thy active quietness, I praise! 
 
 (A small man, Persecution, carrying a whip 
 of many cords, enters. He appears proud 
 of himself. He glides craftily here and 
 there and everywhere. Nehemiah, not 
 observing Persecution's entrance, con- 
 tinues his work. Persecution wickedly 
 looks at Nehemiah as he works and gives 
 him a fearful lash with the whip on his 
 back. The Cupbearer, startled, looks up 
 with pained expression. Enter Self-Pity 
 and Self-Righteousness. They say 
 nothing, but stand solicitously at Ne- 
 hemiah's side. Nehemiah, taking a 
 few steps, observes Persecution standing 
 prominently before him, and immediately 
 the Cupbearer's expression of suffering 
 changes to a look of vain relief.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Persecution) 
 
 Ah ha, I see thee now, thou gav'st the blow 
 
 That turned me from my work ! I know thy 
 name, — 
 
 Tis Persecution. Yea, I surely know 
 
 115 
 
That thou hast caused me all this grief and 
 
 shame ! 
 (As Nehemiah weeps, Persecution, step- 
 ping out into a more prominent position, 
 appears to be most happy.) 
 Persecution 
 (proudly, to Nehemiah) 
 Ah, yes, I struck the blow at thee, my friend, 
 My name is Persecution ; many fear 
 The grief and ravages I daily send 
 To those whose mission is to conquer here. 
 
 (proudly) 
 I struck the blow! 
 
 (strutting about as if pleased 
 with himself) 
 Nehemiah 
 (turning sadly to his work 
 —to himself) 
 He struck the blow ! Ah, me, 
 When shall I from the curse of self be free? 
 (These words are said discontentedly as if 
 dissatisfied with himself and the whole 
 world. Persecution, turning quickly, 
 strikes the Cupbearer a stinging blow, 
 this time over the head.) 
 'Twas thou, 
 
 (turning defiantly toward Self-Pity ) 
 self-pity, who hath done this thing! 
 I shall not take thy curses ! Suffering 
 
 116 
 
(lashes Nehemiah cruelly over the head) 
 Is not my portion ! 
 
 (again Persecution steals up behind and 
 lashes Nehemiah cruelly over the head) 
 
 Persecution 
 (appearing boldly before Nehemiah) 
 
 No, No, 'twas I who lashed thee, — 
 My name is Persecution. 
 
 (pleadingly) 
 
 Call me so, 
 And credit me with all I do ! 
 Nehemiah 
 (turns to his work. Again Persecution 
 strikes a stinging blow) 
 
 I know 
 This cruel blow came from self-righteous- 
 ness! 
 
 (Turns defiantly toward Self- 
 
 Righteousness.) 
 
 Persecution 
 
 (as if offended) 
 
 Ah, no, it did not! I, to thee, profess, 
 
 I struck the blow! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Persecution) 
 I scorn, indeed, each word thou sayest, 
 
 knave ! 
 And call thee not by name that thou wouldst 
 crave. 
 
 117 
 
Persecution 
 (eagerly) 
 'Twas Persecution struck the blow, I, I, 
 My name is Persecution, why, 0, why 
 Not credit me with all I do? Why pray? 
 Nehemiah 
 (firmly) 
 I scorn, indeed, each word thou sayest; nay, 
 I need not thee believe ! I shall not say 
 Thy name. 
 
 Persecution 
 (angrily) 
 I go! I shall not stay,-— not here! 
 Unless thou call'st me Persecution, Fear! 
 I like my name; no other one, alas, 
 Becometh me. 
 
 (Brushing with disgust past Nehemiah, 
 Persecution takes Self-Pity, and Self- 
 Righteousness, each, by the arm, and 
 leads them away.) 
 Knave, traitor, let me pass! 
 (Persecution, Self-Pity and Self-Right- 
 eousness walk defiantly together to en- 
 trance. They exeunt.) 
 (Enter Enemy. He has almost the exact ap- 
 pearance of Nehemiah, except his care- 
 less, insincere manner. He creeps stealth- 
 ily about and wickedly tries to undermine 
 all of Nehemiah's work. Several loud 
 
 113 
 
reports indicate that powder explosions 
 are going on.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 Thou cursed fool! Thou Enemy of mine, 
 
 {trying to push Enemy away) 
 Why dost thou come to ruin all my days — 
 Thou, hypocrite, thou traitor, coward, knave, 
 I loathe thy very face! 
 
 Enemy 
 
 Hold, sir. Pray save 
 Thy curses! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 Curses? 
 (as if questioning himself) 
 
 Curses? What are they 
 To drive this Enemy of mine away? 
 
 (looking closely at Enemy) 
 Where have I seen that face, that cruel 
 
 smile ? 
 (seizing Enemy and shaking him vigorously) 
 I know thee now. 
 
 (rubbing his eyes) 
 
 Blinded was I a while 
 To whom thou wert. Thou hast my very face 
 With fear's contortions. 
 
 (Enemy makes ugly grimaces) 
 (Nehemiah's hands raised as if in prayer) 
 Give me strength and grace, 
 Father, ever to know my enemy 
 
 119 
 
Is but the fear of self mine own eyes see. 
 Ah, enemy, 
 
 (to Enemy) 
 I truly know that thou 
 Hath counterfeited me. Go! Now, now, 
 Now! 
 
 (exit Enemy) 
 (Enter a shrunken, fearful man; he appears 
 to be annoyed over everything. He is 
 Love of Money.) 
 
 Love of Money 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 Here, listen to me ! I have much to say 
 For thine own good. I have a wondrous plan 
 For earning money quickly, and a man 
 Like thee would do so well, so well for me! 
 Come with me, I can truly make thee free. 
 
 (eagerly) 
 I have an income I will give to thee, 
 Gold in abundance, so thou need'st not be 
 Fettered by weary toil. Activity 
 And thou shalt part. Until ye die, indeed, 
 Thou shalt have money for each daily need. 
 (The little man walks nervously about as he 
 speaks. He is constantly taking papers 
 and gold from his pockets that he may 
 figure up the total of his wealth. He ap- 
 pears disturbed over the process, ill-aU 
 ease with himself and the world.) 
 
 120 
 
There is so much to gain, — notes, bonds, 
 yea, all 
 
 Of lands and houses, mortgages! 
 (eagerly) 
 
 I call 
 
 On thee to help me with this mighty work. 
 
 (Love of Money takes Nehemiah command- 
 ingly by the arm as if he would lead him 
 away. Nehemiah draws back.) 
 
 What, wouldst thou fail me, wouldst thou 
 even shirk 
 
 The duty each wouldst grasp to earn — to 
 earn — ? 
 
 (Love of Money takes quantities of gold from 
 apparently inexhaustible pockets and 
 heaps the treasure, alluringly, about Ne- 
 hemiah's feet Nehemiah makes as 
 if he would turn away from the gold, 
 but is almost unable to do so.) 
 
 Dost thou shrink back, dost thou not yearn, 
 not yearn 
 
 For this? 
 
 (pointing to heaps of gold) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (hesitatingly, addressing himself) 
 
 This mortar, and these joists, I know 
 
 Must yet be paid for ! 
 
 (As if half reaching out for the money. 
 Darkness falls as Nehemiah is struggling 
 
 121 
 
over the heap of gold.) 
 
 To pay (hesitatingly) as I go, 
 Is all I ask! 
 
 (as if justifying himself) 
 
 God knows, God knows, this gold 
 Hath no attraction for me, but I hold 
 It precious — just — to — meet 
 
 (as if trying to convince himself) 
 
 my daily need. 
 (Daily Human Needs, come flocking in, 
 Do.rkness creeps on. Nehemiah hesitat- 
 ingly reaches out his hands to the gold. 
 While the darkness deepens, he may be 
 seen walking in the shadows away from 
 the gold, and, as he walks, he prays. 
 Love of Money snatches up the coin and 
 carries it to a position near the entrance. 
 At this moment, the scene again becomes 
 as bright as morning.) 
 One comes in future years whose every deed 
 Shall prove the Father's infinite supply 
 (Love of Money beckons alluringly 
 to Nehemiah) 
 Both meet each hourly need ; then, why 
 
 should I 
 E'er falter in this work when God, alone, 
 Doth pay for every joist and beam and stone? 
 (Nehemiah stands as if in prayer. A flock 
 of creditors, representing, collectively, 
 
 122 
 
Daily Human Needs, come hastening in 
 presenting their bills for payment. Be- 
 holding Love of Money with his heaps of 
 gold standing at entrance, the creditors 
 believe him to be Nehemiah's steward; 
 and, quickly depositing their bills, they 
 snatch up Love of Money's money and 
 depart, each one saying as he leaves: 
 "Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy 
 brother; usury of money — usury of any- 
 thing that is lent upon usury" 
 
 (Deut. 23:19.) 
 Love of Money 
 (beholding that his riches have suddenly dis- 
 appeared, despairingly to Nehemiah) 
 'Twas mine, 'twas mine, 'twas mine, and now 
 
 'tis lost — 
 Think of the endless toil it cost, it cost! 
 (Weeps bitterly while looking where his 
 heaps of gold had been.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (compassionately) 
 Poor love of money, thou art richer now 
 Than thou hast ever been. 
 
 (Love of Money shakes his head.) 
 Yea, now ; yea, thou ! 
 Thou, hast, indeed, no money now to love, 
 Yet God hath riches that ye dream not of. 
 (Going with tender compassion to LOVE OF 
 
 123 
 
Money and embracing him.) 
 Dear outcast, let me even call thee, friend 
 Let this be thy new name, and let me lend 
 Thee all I have, — a thought, a word of cheer. 
 Friend, may Love bless thee on thy journeys 
 
 here. 
 Robbed of the useless dross thou hadst, I see 
 
 (peering closely into his eyes) 
 Thine eyes are bright with immortality. 
 Such are thy riches, gold, — the light of youth, 
 (Love op Money straightens up; appears 
 
 youthful and happy.) 
 Love in abundance, yea, the gain of Truth. 
 Ah, friend, the harvests mortals daily glean 
 From their earth's losses ! None hath surely 
 
 seen 
 More wondrous wealth than this! My 
 
 friend, my friend, 
 Thou hast lost all, and, yet, hath all to lend ! 
 (Nehemiah and his Friend shake hands. 
 
 Exit the Friend, formerly LOVE OF 
 
 Money. Nehemiah steps forward — with 
 
 hands outstretched.) 
 Ah, World, when Love of Money comes, the 
 
 light 
 Of heav'n fades, and falls the darkest night 
 Of self. When Love of Money goes, the way 
 Grows ever brighter till effulgent day 
 
 124 
 
Of Truth hath dawned. Then, never human 
 need 
 
 Shall reach us, since the Father hath, indeed, 
 
 Met every one abundantly! Ah, World, 
 
 For centuries thou shalt be cast, yea, hurled 
 
 Within the maelstrom of earth's search for 
 dross. 
 
 From self thou shalt be cleansed, till human 
 loss 
 
 Nor gain shall mar thy journeyings. Ah, 
 World, 
 
 (as if in prophecy) 
 
 Thou shalt have all ! God's ensign, then, un- 
 furled 
 
 Shall make of thee one nation, strong and 
 free, 
 
 Provisioned with Truth's immortality. 
 
 125 
 
CANTICLE VIII. 
 
 Description : Same as Canticle VII. Morn- 
 ing scene. Over-bright sun 
 typifying unrest. Enter 
 twelve very small children. 
 They quarrel incessantly 
 among themselves. They 
 constantly get in Nehemi- 
 AH's way and howl angrily 
 over the least provocation. 
 Collectively they represent 
 Human Birth. 
 
 Discovered: Twelve noisy children troop- 
 ing in. 
 
 Human Birth (First Small Child) 
 (stubbing toe on building material and howl- 
 ing bitterly) 
 Oh, my, oh, my, oh, my, my toe ! 
 
 (sitting down and holding toe in hands) 
 
 my toe ! 
 (All of the children crowd noisily about the 
 injured one. Some of them laugh mis- 
 chievously. Some of them push and 
 crowd and knock each other over. Some 
 whine. Some cry for fear. Some laugh 
 loudly. The uproar is terrific as one child 
 
 126 
 
pushes another and shrieks: "Leave me 
 alone!" and another shouts: "Coward!" 
 Suddenly someone throws bright colored 
 baubles in the midst of the children. To- 
 gether they roar hoarsely: "Good, good, 
 good, good!" The baubles quickly vanish 
 as the children reach put for them. Chil- 
 dren all howl as baubles vanish.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (tenderly, to children) 
 Where have I seen before such human woe? 
 Where have I seen such poor untempered zest 
 O'er life's vain baubles which but live at best 
 One moment? 
 
 (as if remembering) 
 Ah, I recall, in days long gone, 
 I, too, believed myself a child who grew 
 As others bade me. 
 
 Human Birth (Second Small Child) 
 (accusing all the children) 
 He knew, he, he knew! 
 
 Human Birth (Third Small Child) 
 (snatching something from another child) 
 He took that! 
 
 Human Birth (Fourth Small Child) 
 It's mine! 
 
 Human Birth (Fifth Small Child) 
 I tell ye, it's mine ! (sobbing) 
 
 127 
 
Human Birth (Sixth Small Child) 
 It's mine. 
 
 Human Birth (Seventh Small Child) 
 I had it first! 
 
 Human Birth (Eighth Small Child) 
 I did! 
 
 Human Birth (Ninth Small Child) 
 He took it ! 
 
 Human Birth (Tenth Small Child) 
 It's mine. 
 
 Human Birth (Eleventh Small Child) 
 She stole it! 
 
 Human Birth (Twelfth Small Child) 
 He did! Shame! Coward! 
 
 Human Birth (First Small Child) 
 (trying to protect a child) 
 Leave him alone, he's my brother. 
 
 (Indicating child and pushing tormentor 
 aside scornfully.) 
 
 You! You! 
 Nehemiah 
 The words of God may now be understood. 
 (beholding the quarreling of children) 
 I credit not mine eyes. This is not true. 
 (Raising hand as if stilling a tempest. The 
 children immediately become quiet and 
 listen.) 
 Love knows no human birth, self's devious 
 ways 
 
 128 
 
Of f retf ulness, and fear, and shouts of praise ! 
 Naught can deny that God is Father of 
 All men and that He doth create through 
 love! 
 (Compassionately to the children.) 
 Dear children, how I love thee, waifs of 
 
 earth, 
 God will reveal to thee thine own new birth ! 
 
 (as if in prohpecy) 
 To-day, the tribes of Israel shall come, 
 Yea, twelve of them, to lead thee safely home, 
 Beside still waters, where man hath not age 
 Nor youth ! 
 (The children, as if in prayer, clasp their 
 hands and look up to heaven.) 
 Come, tribes of Israel, come here! 
 (Enter twelve Israelites, six men and six 
 women. There is a hushed silence while 
 each one takes a child gently by the 
 hand.) 
 
 All the Children 
 
 (together) 
 
 How glad we are! There is naught now to 
 
 fear! 
 (Each of the twelve children, led by a rep- 
 resentative of the twelve tribes of Israel, 
 passes by Nehemiah. The Cupbearer 
 tenderly places his hand on each child as 
 if giving a blessing.) 
 
 129 
 
Nehemiah 
 Thou shalt be safely led o'er moor and fen, 
 And shouldst thou stumble thou shalt rise 
 again. 
 
 (lovingly to children) 
 These Tribes of Israel shall guard and tell 
 Thee how to go. Dear children, all is well ! 
 Truth's peace be ever with thee on thy way 
 To Life, eternal, and effulgent day, 
 Where man is neither old nor young — where 
 
 he 
 Dwells as God's image through eternity. 
 (The children and Twelve Tribes of Israel 
 quietly pass from the stage.) 
 
 (Brightness of noon-day. Ex- 
 cessive heat, denoting weari- 
 ness.) 
 (Enter Maturity, a man who appears to 
 be fast growing old.) 
 Maturity 
 (fearfully to Nehemiah) 
 I fear for thee ! Thou art not well, alas ! 
 Why shouldst thou work, my friend, thy 
 
 youth will pass 
 From thee ! 
 
 (peering into Nehemiah's face) 
 
 Or, hath it gone, indeed, — 
 The while thou toilest over work's dead 
 creed? 
 
 130 
 
I am afraid for thee, thou troubPst me! 
 This heat is very great ! Alas, my friend, 
 I fear for thee — I do so long to send 
 Thee to thy rest in bed of ease, to-day, 
 Where thou couldst sleep earth's stupid 
 hours away. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (scornfully) 
 I know this argument, maturity — 
 This cursed falsity, this cruel fear — 
 This baseless nothing cannot enter here. 
 Man is forever young, forever old, 
 Forever childlike — God's law hath foretold ! 
 
 (Pushes Maturity beyond exit.) 
 (Enter a dark, sinister-looking man with 
 long, flowing robes. He carries a large 
 black sack over his shoulder. His robes 
 fly about as if blown by the wind. He 
 is Discouragement.) 
 
 (Night falls. Extremely cold 
 and desolate.) 
 Discouragement 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 What, alone! Where are the lazy Jews to- 
 day? 
 Thou workest here so long, and wherefore, 
 
 pray? 
 Thou hast, indeed, no portion when 'tis done. 
 
 131 
 
(Nehemiah drops his hammer, rubs his 
 
 forehead and listens.) 
 
 I often wonder why thou shouldst do 
 
 This useless work and slay thyself ! Tis true 
 
 No Jew will thank thee. Come, and rest, my 
 
 friend. 
 A chariot awaits without. Just lend 
 Thy time to us a while, and thou shalt be 
 Repaid, indeed, for thy sincerity. 
 Here no one knows. 
 
 (Nehemiah sadly assents.) 
 Yea, no one cares ! 
 
 (Nehemiah agrees) 
 
 I see 
 Thou art well-nigh discouraged. 
 
 (Nehemiah leans dejectedly against the 
 wall.) 
 Come with me ! 
 (Nehemiah takes a few steps toward Dis- 
 couragement and draws back.) 
 I journey incognito and 'tis well — 
 I am of noble birth. Come, I will tell 
 Thee of thy portion, sleep ; thy sacred right 
 To take the easy way of work. Dark night 
 Enfolds thee in oblivion, my friend. 
 (Long arms, with flowing sleeves, held high 
 
 over Nehemiah's head.) 
 Trust all to me, trust all, and I will send 
 Thy soul to hell (eagerly) and there my par- 
 
 132 
 
ent, Death, 
 
 Will rob thee of thine all,— thy very breath! 
 
 (Takes from the sack thrown over his shoul- 
 der a handful of seeds, and scatters them 
 about. As seeds fall, loud, harsh noises 
 are heard.) 
 
 This is my grain, — seeds of dismay. Why 
 stand 
 
 Beside that wall in danger? 
 
 (Fearful noises as seeds fall. Nehemiah, 
 frightened, drops tools from his hands.) 
 From thine hand 
 (indicating tools) 
 
 They fall ! Come, let us in God's house now 
 meet, 
 
 Within the temple. Fear would slay thee! 
 
 (Loud reports of hail and sleet. Flashes of 
 lightning. Stage becomes like blackest 
 night. Evil imps, small of stature, whisk 
 about everywhere. They tug at Nehe- 
 miah's garments, bearing him almost to 
 the ground, hang about his neck, whisper 
 in his ear and mock him.) 
 
 Sleet, 
 
 Hail, and lightning, — in the night they come. 
 
 (Discouragement steps forward and takes 
 Nehemiah's hand as if to lead him from 
 danger.) 
 
 133 
 
Come with me, friend, and I will lead thee 
 
 home — 
 Straight to our safe abiding place in hell. 
 Come with me, and my parent, Death, will 
 
 tell 
 Thee of thy greatness ! 
 (Nehemiah goes with him a few steps. The 
 hail, thunder, and lightning cease and 
 imps drop down behind heaps of building 
 material. A false, convenient peace 
 seems to settle down.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (with a start, as if awakening) 
 To— tell— of me— me? 
 
 Discouragement 
 (quickly as if correcting his words) 
 To let thee tell of all the work that thou 
 Hast wrought upon these walls. Come with 
 me, now! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (drawing back) 
 To speak of one's own self is at a loss ! 
 God bears true witness here ! Why should I 
 
 cross 
 The barriers of hell to talk with thee 
 And Death about myself? I must be free ! 
 Discouragement 
 (still pleading) 
 How still it is, — so quiet now! Ah, see, 
 
 134 
 
Thou may'st have peace if thou wilt come 
 with me. 
 
 (Nehemiah draws himself up to his full 
 height, 'and towers above DISCOURAGE- 
 MENT who appears to shrivel away almost 
 to nothing.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Discouragement) 
 
 I ask, should such a man as I then flee? 
 
 (Steps with firm strides to wall and, seizing 
 huge gates, clamps them into place. Dis- 
 couragement partially rises again and 
 begins once more to scatter seeds but the 
 sounds are very faint and soon die away. 
 In low, weak voice Discouragement tries 
 to argue with Nehemiah, who continues 
 his work.) 
 
 Discouragement 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 Come — Come — (very faint, — hail — thunder 
 — lightning — ) 
 
 (very low voice) Come — come home — 
 
 Home — ( very low ) — home — home — hell — 
 home — 
 
 Home — home — hell — home — home. 
 
 (Nehemiah rises to full height beside the 
 nearly finished wall. One of the few last 
 gates is clamped into place. He pays no 
 heed to the whisperings of DISCOURAGE- 
 
 135 
 
ment but joyously continues his task.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to himself — proudly) 
 
 'Tis nearly finished! (sigh of relief) Ah! I 
 
 have done well, 
 To stand against my enemies and foes. 
 How well I wrought, the future ages tell, 
 How well I stood, the God in heaven knows! 
 (As Nehemiah speaks of himself, one of the 
 smallest and most persistent of imps 
 perches on a pile of building material, 
 and just as Nehemiah finishes these 
 words, the imp tries to press a dark, green 
 vial between his lips.) 
 Imp 
 (pressing vial to Nehemiah's lips) 
 Taste, taste it, friend, 'tis very, very sweet. 
 Nehemiah 
 (struggling to get away) 
 Why should I taste it? 
 (as he speaks, the Imp quickly pours some of 
 its contents down his throat?) 
 Imp 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 Because 'tis truly meet 
 That thou shouldst know all woe. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 This (striking vial from his mouth) taste 
 (tasting), it is — 
 
 136 
 
Like cursed poison ! 
 
 (As he begins to moan, Death enters dressed 
 in black flowing robe; he is very old and 
 bent.) 
 
 Death 
 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 Did some one call? Is this 
 
 The place where I am wanted? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to Death) 
 
 No one called. 
 No, not wanted! (angrily) 
 Death 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 I heard a moan, my name, 
 Another name for Death; in fact, some know 
 No other name for Death but uttered woe! 
 (Death steals across the stage and takes 
 both of Nehemiah's hands. The Imps 
 smile wickedly at Nehemiah while Dis- 
 couragement scatters seeds of discord. 
 Loud noises, hail, thunder. Flashes of 
 lightning. It is still very dark.) 
 Thy hands are cold, my friend, just let me 
 
 hold 
 Them close! They are so very, very cold. 
 (Nehemiah shudders as if overcome with 
 cold. Enter Sight, Hearing, Touch, 
 Taste, Smell, and quietly take their 
 
 137 
 
places at his side. They appear power- 
 less to act.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to the five men, as he sinks down upon a 
 
 pile of building material) 
 I see, and smell, and taste, and touch, and 
 
 hear, 
 And, yet, I almost yield to cursed fear. 
 
 (calling loudly) 
 Come Intuition, Patience, Gratitude, 
 
 (as if in a death struggle) 
 Charity, Wakefulness hath understood! 
 (Looking appealingly toward five men. 
 All senses change forms at once to those of 
 women.) 
 Gratitude 
 (Kneeling down and speaking clearly into 
 Nehemiah's right ear, while Death con- 
 tinues to whine in his left ear. Nehe- 
 miah's face undergoes a mighty change 
 and struggle. The right side of his face, 
 while Gratitude is speaking, seems to be 
 freed from pain. The left side twitches 
 nervously as if in great pain. While 
 Gratitude speaks, the scene is bright and 
 warm.) 
 Thou asked for just one day of gratitude, 
 For vict'ry over cares, diseases, fears. 
 I heard thee praising God, friend, as I stood 
 
 138 
 
Beside thee in thy work ! A thousand years 
 Of blessings daily come to one who prays 
 Rejoicingly, and thanks God for His ways. 
 Thou needst not fear this monster, death, 
 
 for he 
 Is stupid sleep, weak inactivity. 
 
 (Gratitude rises and steps aside) 
 
 Death 
 
 {whispering whiningly in Nehemiah's left 
 
 ear; scene changes to dark, cold night) 
 How dark the night ! I am unloved and old ! 
 My happiness is past ! How very cold 
 This place is! In the yesterdays, I had 
 So many joys to make me very glad. 
 I loved the past! This present hour, I hate! 
 I want to die! Why stay here? Wherefore 
 
 wait 
 For joy within the world, when joy is gone? 
 While others have glad days, I mourn alone! 
 
 Intuition 
 (kneeling, speaks clearly into Nehemiah's 
 
 right ear. Bright light) 
 Death is the myth of myths. Human despair 
 And fretfulness its creed. Beset with care, 
 Death's other self is age, old age, that lends 
 Nor gives joys of to-day. Death's yesterday 
 
 now sends 
 It to its doom. 
 
 139 
 
Nehemiah 
 
 (With doubt, to Intuition; looking fearfully 
 
 toward Death.) 
 
 Thou speak'st as if, indeed, 
 
 Death were not someone! Why say'st: "Its 
 
 creed 
 Is fretfulness?" 
 Is Death not someone, then ? 
 Intuition 
 (Bright scene.) 
 Death is a counterfeit. Time and again 
 It comes to speak to us, as person, when 
 It is not person, place, nor anything! 
 (Death continues to whine incoherently into 
 Nehemiah's left ear. Nehemiah winces 
 as if in pain. Intuition rises and steps 
 aside. The scene again becomes dark.) 
 Nehemiah 
 Alas! Alas! This cruel suffering! 
 Death 
 (exultingly) 
 Ah me, ah me, in Babylon, my friend, 
 Thou didst have joy as Cupbearer. Why lend 
 Thy self to those who have no thought for 
 
 thee? 
 None loves nor pities thee! None cares to 
 
 see 
 Thee now! I know, for I am old, so old! 
 My name is Death, Old Age. Ah, I have told 
 
 140 
 
Thee mournful facts! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (as if weakening) 
 
 I know! Yea, I grow old! 
 My happiness is past ! Friends turn away ! 
 It was not thus, alas, in former day ! 
 Ah, these are mournful facts which Death 
 hath told. 
 
 Patience 
 (speaking clearly in Nehemiah's right ear. 
 
 Light) 
 Thou shalt prove faithful, friend, patient, 
 
 and kind, 
 Thou shalt be grateful still to work and give ! 
 — This is the good no man can e'er unbind, — 
 Thou shalt be patient that all men may live. 
 Thou needst not fear this monster, death. 
 Rise, see, 
 
 Tis stupid sleep, weak inactivity. 
 Death 
 (to Nehemiah 
 Night scene.) 
 The ones who built with thee, thy very own, 
 Hath turned away from thee ; and now, alone, 
 Thou faceth the end of all! Is there worse 
 Than just to have as heritage Death's curse? 
 Why have they turned from thee, those shift- 
 less men, 
 To let thee die alone, unloved? Ah, when 
 
 141 
 
Shall we poor mortals wake to sadly see 
 We have no portion save disloyalty? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 Must we poor mortals wake to sadly see 
 We have no portion save disloyalty? 
 Why do I mutter words Death speaks to me? 
 May I not voice the Truth that sets men free 1 
 Why doth it seem all friends have turned 
 
 away? 
 Is God not God in heav'n, eternally? 
 This work of mine, could it have been for 
 
 naught, — 
 Why do I speak of self, what I have wrought? 
 Charity 
 (comes quietly forward and kneels close 
 to Nehemiah 
 Bright scene.) 
 To speak forever, friend, of God's great good 
 Is loving charity; Well understood 
 Is man's true character when God is claimed 
 As his Creator, — none is cursed nor blamed. 
 This work upon this wall is not of men, — 
 None shall subtract nor add to it again. 
 Thou needst not fear thy work shall pass 
 
 away 
 — And this is Life— o'er work death hath no 
 
 sway 
 (Death binds Nehemiah with heavy, cold 
 
 142 
 
chains. Nehemiah groans and breathes 
 heavily.) 
 
 (shuddering) 
 Nehemiah 
 How cold, alas, how very, very cold 
 These chains are! 
 
 Wakefulness 
 (Light.) 
 Yet they cannot ever hold 
 Thee from thy work. Thou shalt arise and 
 
 go, 
 As victor over sin and fear and woe. 
 Death hath no power to bind the one who, 
 
 freed 
 From self, goes forth to meet another's need. 
 (Nehemiah continues to breathe heavily. He 
 appears to be in a death struggle. Death 
 exults over every groan.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (gaspingly) 
 Self! Self! Self! 
 Self! — From self may I then go? 
 Pain! Self! Fear! 
 Death! Want! Woe! 
 
 Death 
 (exultingly as Nehemiah's breath becomes 
 
 fainter) 
 Ah, this is death! I saw it long ago, — 
 This closing off of breath ! I know ! I know ! 
 
 143 
 
Thou saw'st my mother breathe her last and 
 
 go; 
 Thy father, too, ye saw it long ago. 
 Ah, this is death ! 
 It is the separation which I fear. 
 Thou shalt be far away from here, from here. 
 Thy hands are cold! 
 
 (Holds Nehemiah's hands.) 
 
 Yea, very cold, alas. 
 I fear for thee. Thou know'st that I shall pass 
 Death's boundaries. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Rising tviih a struggle, gaspingly.) 
 Why dost thou speak of thee 
 And me as ever one? 
 
 Death 
 Ah, wouldst thou see 
 Death's mysteries? 
 
 (As if explainng a puzzle.) 
 
 I would confound, confuse 
 Thy name with mine, so that if thou wouldst 
 
 choose 
 Thine own, thou shalt, indeed, draw forth 
 
 my name, 
 Fast intertwined with thine. This is Death's 
 
 game 
 Of self, — a wicked prattle 'tis, indeed, 
 To speak thy name and mine together so. 
 Yea, Babylon confounded is my creed. 
 
Thine heritage and mine are self and woe. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (shuddering) 
 
 A tiny speck before my eye appears. 
 
 It blots out all the world ! Death, all thy fears 
 
 Are come to pass! 
 
 (Small black speck dances before Death's 
 and Nehemiah's eyes. A dark and 
 dreadful cloud, zigzag flashes of lightning. 
 A dense, dark mist, spreading itself like a 
 heavy cloud settles over all. Shrieks of 
 women, screams of children, the shouts of 
 men, some screaming, u O, let me die!"; 
 some begging, "O, let me die!" ; children 
 crying, "O, ivhy must I die!" Many hands 
 lifted through the clouds of human war- 
 fare as if reaching out vainly for help. 
 Nehemiah, with a mighty struggle, 
 raises himself on his elbow, and beholds 
 the death struggle of a world. The ex- 
 pression of his face changes quickly from 
 intense fear to tender compassion. He 
 reaches out both hands as if he would 
 grasp the hands of those extended through 
 the dark clouds and mist. Nehemiah, 
 with wondrous strength, rises to his feet 
 and lifts his eyes to heaven.) 
 
 Self is the speck that now 
 
 Doth dance before my sight ! 
 
 145 
 
I ask, canst thou 
 
 (As if speaking to All.) 
 Not see this speck wouldst shut out all the 
 
 light 
 Of good ? Father, I lift mine eyes to thee ! 
 
 (speck disappears) 
 The speck of self is vanished ! I am free ! 
 I stand a freed man now ! I, strong and well, 
 Health, joy and peace, for all mankind fore- 
 tell! 
 Is all mankind involved in Death's dire woe ; 
 Must they through endless night of fear then 
 
 go? 
 The world, itself, is perishing, and I 
 Am crushed and buried in the heap ! Ah, 
 
 why 
 Should they 
 
 (with compassion) 
 not rise this moment, now, and be 
 Transformed from death to immortality? 
 
 (in earnest prayer) 
 God save mankind, this hour! Father, their 
 
 need 
 Is more than mine! I pray, may they be 
 freed ! 
 
 (as if in prophecy) 
 The shepherds, keeping watch, shall see the 
 light 
 
 146 
 
Of one brave star of Love. Yea, though dark 
 
 night 
 Of fear may settle o'er the world, they see 
 The star of Truth's new birth that makes 
 
 men free! 
 (A bright star shines clearly down through 
 the night of darkness and dispels the 
 gloom. The hands reaching out for help 
 vanish in the light.) 
 The star that images God's wondrous might 
 Of health, and holiness, and endless right. 
 Death 
 (as if disheartened) 
 Thou prayest for the world? Alas, in vain 
 I wait for thee ! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Death) 
 Thy loss becomes earth's gain! 
 Death's dream is false ! (triumphantly) An- 
 other comes to say: 
 "Where is thy sting?" and where, grave, is 
 
 thy way 
 Of victory? 
 (Death sinks to the floor and falls into a 
 
 dead sleep. Nehemiah laughs joyously.) 
 Death takes the form of sleep. 
 This is the one disguise that death wouldst 
 keep. 
 
 147 
 
(Nekemiah calls messengers; 
 
 two men enter.) 
 
 Come, Messengers, and carry out this form 
 
 Of death. Disguised as sleep, death seeks to 
 
 harm 
 All men. Self, self alone! Death's very- 
 curse 
 Is finite fear of self — could there be worse? 
 Death is nor person, place, nor anything — 
 Its one disguise is self and suffering. 
 (The messengers carry Death from the 
 stage. Nehemiah turns back to his work 
 on the wall. Discouragement creeps up 
 behind him.) 
 "lis finished, as our enemies shall see. 
 My God, think thou upon them, those who 
 
 cursed 
 Our labor ! Not for once, not once, I durst 
 Not think of them! 
 
 Discouragement 
 
 (trying to peer into Nehemiah's 
 
 face; whispering) 
 
 Come, we will talk of thee. Come, hell, come, 
 
 home! 
 Come, let us ponder thy life's martyrdom! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Discouragement looks about and beckons 
 as if to unseen allies. All of the evil mes- 
 sengers previously appearing in this 
 
 148 
 
scene hasten in, bearing flaming vials of 
 boiling oil and pitch, Nehemiah is fairly 
 flooded with this scorching hot fluid which 
 is poured in floods over the walls. For a 
 time Nehemiah appears besmirched with 
 a hideous coat of pitch,) 
 
 Besire-to-be-Alone 
 We are Desire-to-be-Alone, sin's throng 
 Of evil messengers — we are pride's strong 
 Desire to think of self for good or ill; 
 Desire to be alone is our one will! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 To think of one's own self is at a loss. 
 God's secret place is here! I bear no cross. 
 I know thee, troops of persons, places, 
 
 things, — 
 Thou art desire-to-be-alone which brings 
 These barriers of hell to me and thee. 
 Though multitudes are with me, I am free! 
 Desire to share, desire to do and give, 
 Desire to lend myself that men may live; 
 This, then, is joyous rest, — home, heaven, all. 
 Desire to be with men, to heed the call 
 Of all mankind, — yea, each desire to be 
 With others brings life, immortality. 
 (As these last words are spoken, the coat of 
 pitch which previously enveloped Ne- 
 hemiah rolls off, leaving him with 
 
 149 
 
cleansed, glorified countenance. Evil mes- 
 sengers depart.) 
 (Nehemiah works on undaunted, clamping 
 the last gate into place, and hammering 
 joyously while all of his helpers, includ- 
 ing the daughters of Shallum, come 
 thronging in. Nehemiah, turning sud- 
 denly, beholds Discouragement, who still 
 hides behind him.) 
 
 All 
 We come to bring thee courage, friend. We 
 
 know 
 Thou hast withstood the battery of foe. 
 (Nehemiah looks Discouragement unflinch- 
 ingly in the eye — to Discouragement) 
 Ha ! After death hath fall'n, for very shame, 
 Ye follow me, — discouragement, — 
 (derisively) 
 
 no name! 
 (Discouragement trembles for fear as he 
 sees the company which comes to encour- 
 age Nehemiah. When he hears his name 
 called, he cowers back toward the exit.) 
 Discouragement 
 (shrinking away) 
 The lie hath turned upon me, now I go 
 Back to discouragement, and hell, and woe ! 
 
 150 
 
(Exit Discouragement, in shriveled, shrink- 
 ing form. All laugh joyously as he fades 
 away.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to All) 
 
 This work is wrought of God. Yea, He, alone, 
 
 Hath surely built this wall, stone upon stone. 
 
 (The five women stand closely about him; 
 
 a star shines brightly over all.) 
 
 151 
 
CANTICLE IX 
 
 Sabbath Rest, Followed by Evil's 
 Accusations 
 
 Description : Showing completed walls. The 
 bright light of a Sabbath 
 
 morning shines over all. 
 
 Discovered: A vast company of men, 
 ivomen, and children, sing- 
 ing praises for the comple- 
 tion of the walls. 
 
 All 
 
 (singing together) 
 
 "0 give thanks unto the Lord : for He is good ; 
 
 for His mercy endureth forever. 
 give thanks unto the God of gods ; for His 
 mercy endureth forever. 
 
 give thanks to the Lord of lords; for His 
 
 mercy endureth forever. 
 To Him who alone doeth great wonders; for 
 His mercy endureth forever." 
 
 (Ps. 136:1-4.) 
 
 (Enter Nehemiah with Hanani 
 
 and Hananiah) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to Hanani and Hananiah) 
 
 1 give thee charge over Jerusalem, — 
 The while I depart to my lord, the King. 
 
 152 
 
Let thy singers sing a glad anthem; 
 Everyone faithful let him praise and sing : 
 Glory to God on High! 
 
 Hanani 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 I take thy charge. 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Hananiah) 
 "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened 
 
 until the sun be hot; 
 And while they stand by, 
 Let them shut the doors, and bar them : 
 And appoint watches of the inhabitants of 
 
 Jerusalem ; 
 Every one in his watch, 
 And every one to be over against his house." 
 Thou art a captain, commanded to keep 
 Watch over Israel ; faint not nor sleep. 
 All 
 (intoning) 
 (addressed to Ezra, the Scribe) 
 Bring the' Book of the Law of Moses 
 Which the Lord hath commanded to Israel. 
 Bring the Book. Let its pages tell 
 The words of the Law, which the Lord, our 
 
 God 
 Hath commanded to Israel. 
 (Ezra, the priest, brings the Book of the Law 
 before the men and women; and reads 
 
 153 
 
therein before the water gate. He stands 
 
 upon a pulpit of wood. Beside him stand 
 
 several men.) 
 
 Ezra 
 (reading from parchment Bible) 
 "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; 
 Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of 
 
 heavens, 
 With all their host, the earth, and all the 
 
 things that are therein, 
 The seas, and all that is therein, 
 And Thou preserveth them all; 
 And the host of heaven worshippeth Thee. 
 Thou are the Lord the God, who didst choose 
 
 Abram, 
 And broughtest him forth out of Ur of the 
 
 Chaldees, 
 And gavest him the name of Abraham; 
 And didst see the affliction of our fathers 
 
 in Egypt, 
 And heardest their cry by the Red sea ; 
 And shewedst signs and wonders upon 
 
 Pharaoh, 
 And on all his servants, and on all the people 
 
 of his land ; for Thou knewest 
 That they dealt proudly against them. 
 And Thou did'st divide the sea before them, 
 
 so 
 That they went through the midst of the sea 
 
 154 
 
on the dry land." 
 
 (The people weep as the Law is read.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to All) 
 This day is holy unto the Lord your God ; 
 Mourn not, nor weep. 
 Mourn not, nor weep. 
 Go thy way (to the people who still weep) 
 
 — eat the fat, and drink the sweet, 
 And send portions unto them for whom 
 
 nothing is prepared; 
 For this day is holy unto our God ; 
 Neither be ye sorry; 
 For the joy of the Lord is thy strength. 
 The Levites 
 (on either side of Ezra) 
 "Hold thy peace for the day is holy ; 
 Neither be ye grieved." 
 (The people who have prostrated themselves 
 rise with olive branches, and pine 
 branches, and myrtle branches, and palms, 
 and branches of thick trees, and sing to- 
 gether.) 
 
 All 
 (singing together) 
 This day is a day of gladness, 
 For we have comprehended 
 The words of the law which were read to us, 
 Lord thy name we bless. 
 
 155 
 
(exeunt singers) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Hanani) 
 I appoint thee keeper of this wall, 
 And all Jerusalem. Pray, 
 Let not vain pride, nor power nor human 
 
 sway 
 Cause one stone e'er to fall. 
 
 (to Eliashib, a relative of Tobiah, 
 pointing to temple) 
 Watch o'er yon temple wisely. Israel 
 Shall be redeemed. God keep thee! All is 
 
 well! 
 To-day I return to my lord, the King 
 Of Babylon. Indeed, I go to bring 
 Him homage, gratitude, and loyalty. 
 
 All 
 May peace and joy and health, be e'er with 
 
 thee! 
 (As the last words are spoken in farewell, 
 enter two messengers from Artaxerxes, 
 the King. All exeunt save Nehemiah.) 
 First Messenger 
 (hastily to Nehemiah) 
 A letter to thee, Sir, thy lord, the King, 
 Commissioned me to come, quickly to bring 
 This message. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Taking letter, reads it as if not understand- 
 
 156 
 
ing its contents. He continues to read, as 
 if puzzled.) 
 
 I was going there — to-day — 
 To Persia — I seek to be a king? (reading) 
 
 May 
 I be punished if 'tis true, — I seek, — I 
 (reading)To be a king? (puzzled) Of what 
 
 and wherefore? Why 
 Should I be king when there is One, alone, — 
 The God in heaven? (reading) "And thou 
 
 must well atone 
 For all thy vanity. I trusted thee 
 And now thou, traitor-like (reading) , 
 
 would'st pillage me 
 Of mine own kingdom. Thou must surely be 
 An ingrate, so Sanballat says, and he 
 Hath proof whereof he speaks. I know no 
 
 way 
 Save punishment to curb thy wicked sway." 
 
 Second Messenger 
 (while First Messenger steps to Nehemi- 
 
 ah's side and both bind him with chains) 
 We take thee prisoner. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Messengers) 
 
 I was to come 
 Of myself as King's Cupbearer, (pondering) 
 
 My home 
 Is not an earthly kingdom. God is good, 
 
 157 
 
And He, indeed, hath surely understood. 
 This work upon the walls, canst thou not 
 
 see 
 
 (pointing with chained hand to wall) 
 Was truly mine own kingdom ! Just to free 
 Another from the curse of poverty 
 And sin and fear, my friends, is all I ask 
 Of earthly kingdom, — just my daily task. 
 (Exit Nehemiah bound with chains between 
 the two messengers.) 
 
 CANTICLE X 
 Description: A vast underground rock 
 quarry. Blinding smoke 
 from the blasting. Deso- 
 late, weird surroundings. 
 Discovered: Several slaves and overseer 
 silently at work crushing 
 stones. They each groan 
 under the desperate burden 
 of the work. Sanballat 
 and Geshem stand at one 
 side and watch the workers 
 with sinister glee. 
 Time: Several years later. 
 (Enter Nehemiah. He is carrying heavy 
 blasting materials. He lays down his bur- 
 den and begins hewing out the largest of 
 the rocks. As he works, just above him 
 
 158 
 
appears a wondrous picture of the Pyra- 
 mids. Nehemiah glances up from his 
 work but, at the same time, renews his 
 blows on the rock, vbhich yields easily. 
 He beholds the picture just above him and 
 smiles approvingly as he notes the unfold- 
 ment of the world's history in the appear- 
 ing of these massive Egyptian structures. 
 Again Nehemiah glimpses the completed 
 Temple and walls of Jerusalem. A won- 
 drous city lies beyond. His work upon 
 the stones is easily accomplished. Finally, 
 a vision of the Statue of Liberty appears 
 at the entrance to earth's Promised 
 Land. For a brief moment, Nehemiah 
 extends both hands as if in joyous greet- 
 ing to the womanly traits of love and ten- 
 derness, typified in this statue which must 
 eventually spiritualize the universe; and 
 as he reaches out his hands, the very 
 stones about him fall of themselves to 
 pieces as if made ready for use without 
 human effort. All about Nehemiah, the 
 other slaves who behold no vision, are 
 moaning bitterly over their tasks. San- 
 ballat, Geshem, and Tobiah discern Ne- 
 hemiah's joy and work. Together they 
 plan to further punish Nehemiah. Dur- 
 ing this scene, no word is spoken.) 
 
 159 
 
CANTICLE XI 
 
 "There Is Nothing Covered, That Shall 
 Not Be Revealed" 
 
 Description: Same as Canticle I. The Per- 
 sian Court. 
 
 Discovered: King Artaxerxes and Queen 
 on throne. Royal festivities. 
 A strange Cupbearer is 
 serving wine. 
 
 Time : Nine years later than Canticle 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The King 
 (to Messenger) 
 And so Sanballat comes to us to-day? 
 
 Messenger 
 (to King) 
 Blest King, Sanballat comes, and Geshem, 
 too. 
 
 The King 
 
 (observing the new Cupbearer as he goes 
 about his task serving wine — to Messen- 
 ger) 
 
 Tell me, how is my Cupbearer of time long 
 past? 
 
 160 
 
Messenger 
 (to King) 
 Nehemiah? 
 
 King and Queen 
 (eagerly, together) 
 Nehemiah. 
 
 Messenger 
 Tis true to watch and pray 
 And work, is all he ever seeks to do. 
 
 The King 
 Some one has said his peace and joy e'er last. 
 
 Messenger 
 Tis very true ; the hardest, roughest task 
 Is not too much, indeed, for him to ask 
 To do. 
 
 The King 
 
 Where is he working now, my son? 
 
 Messenger 
 
 (to King) 
 
 He toils within thy quarries, till the sun 
 
 Sinks low. Thou dost, blest King of Persia, 
 
 know 
 That he was doomed with convict-slaves to 
 
 give 
 His days to crushing stones, that he might 
 
 live, 
 Or merely might exist through days of woe, — 
 This was his punishment, my Lord and King. 
 Because Sanballat said he sought to bring 
 
 161 
 
Himself to higher power, — to rule, perchance, 
 Within Jerusalem. 
 
 The King 
 (pondering) 
 
 He has had chance 
 To murmur (thinking deeply) Yea, I know 
 
 that he was sent 
 To toil on yonder pile of stones, till bent 
 And old he should become. 
 
 (As if arousing to new interest.) 
 
 Does he complain ? 
 
 Messenger 
 
 Not at his work! He holds as richest gain 
 
 A task that takes all courage. There are 
 
 days 
 When those who watch him toil say that he 
 
 prays 
 Unceasingly. 
 
 The King 
 What is his prayer? 
 
 Messenger 
 That fortified Jerusalem may stand. 
 
 The King 
 Would he return? 
 
 Messenger 
 Of this he does not pray. He ofttimes says 
 With deepest love, that God in His own ways 
 Must keep Jerusalem — shall guard it well- 
 That God is King, alone. 
 
 162 
 
The King 
 And does he tell 
 Of his own wondrous work upon the wall? 
 
 Messenger 
 Not once. He always prays no stone may 
 
 fall. 
 (Enter Sanballat and Geshem with sev- 
 eral attendants. They all kneel before the 
 King and Queen. The King gives them 
 all permission to arise.) 
 The King 
 (to Sanballat and Geshem) 
 Governors, thy wishes? 
 
 Sanballat 
 
 We came to say 
 The punishment thou gav'st still does not 
 
 stay 
 His joy. 
 
 The King 
 What meanest thou? Speak on. 
 
 Sanballat 
 Nine years ago, we came and told thee, King, 
 Of one knave Nehemiah. We would bring 
 Thee safety, King, again to-day. Ye gave 
 A punishment to him, nine years ago 
 Because he sought to make himself a knave 
 In trying to be king. I told thee this, 
 I come once more to tell thee, thou shouldst 
 know 
 
 163 
 
He truly seems to love the task that thou 
 Hast given him for punishment, and now 
 It would seem wise to change his work again, 
 And give him duties that would cause him 
 pain. 
 
 The King 
 
 (incredulously) 
 
 Thou sayest he loves his toil as felon slave? 
 
 Geshem 
 
 (to King) 
 
 He truly does! Ha, ha, (scornfully) he is a 
 
 knave. 
 
 The King 
 
 (thoughtfully) 
 
 What shall I give him, then, to do that he 
 
 May still be punished for disloyalty? 
 
 Sanballat 
 
 (wickedly) 
 
 It may seem strange, indeed, to thee, blest 
 
 King, 
 But I have thought it would be suffering 
 For him, if thou wouldst bring him unto 
 
 thee, 
 Within thy court, and offer fealty 
 And homage to him, give him ease and gain. 
 I know him well! (chuckling) I'm sure, to 
 
 him, 'twere pain 
 To idle festive hours away in ease. 
 I surely know, he would not relish these 
 
 164 
 
Gay feasting days of Court life. Ah, I know 
 To him it would be misery and woe. 
 The King 
 (doubtfully) 
 To him it would be misery and woe? 
 Sanballat 
 (with decision) 
 To him, it would be misery and woe. 
 The King 
 (to Court Messengers) 
 Bring Nehemiah, and each convict slave 
 Who toils on yonder pile. It is the hour 
 Of day when each is coming from his work. 
 Geshem 
 (delightedly) 
 Ah, we shall see again that fool and knave 
 Who loves his labor. King, increase thy 
 
 power, 
 And give him work that he will loathe and 
 
 shirk, — 
 Give Nehemiah work that he will hate ! 
 Sanballat 
 (to King) 
 'Twould be just punishment. Why longer 
 
 wait? 
 (Enter Messengers and several galley slaves, 
 including the overseer of the squad of 
 toilers.) 
 
 165 
 
Messenger 
 
 (to King) 
 
 Thy subjects, King of Persia, now are here. 
 
 (pointing to slaves) 
 
 Overseer 
 (explaining to King) 
 Save Nehemiah; he had work o'er there, 
 Upon yon pile of stones. He ever stays 
 Long past the hours of all his working days. 
 I say, "Enough's enough!" We toil all day, 
 Yea, thirteen hours, — more than this time, 
 
 I say 
 We cannot serve ! The hours are very long 
 Except for — 
 
 (smiling tenderly with loving, parental ex- 
 pression as he thinks of Nehemiah) 
 
 him who always works with song 
 Upon his lips. For him, the day is ever very 
 
 brief ; 
 But for the rest of us, 
 
 (with wave of hand he indicates the 
 slaves about him) 
 
 King, our grief 
 Is very great! 
 
 The King 
 (addressing the other slaves) 
 My men, and what say'st thou? 
 
 166 
 
Men 
 (almost moaning) 
 King, for the rest of us, our misery- 
 Is very great. 
 
 Sanballat 
 (eagerly) 
 I told thee so, my King ! 
 This Nehemiah should have suffering, 
 Deep suffering, and pain, and want, and woe ! 
 Geshem 
 (to King) 
 This man who sought to be a King should 
 
 know 
 The pangs of hell. His work should day by 
 
 day 
 Be weary burden wearing life away. 
 The King 
 (to Messenger) 
 Bring Nehemiah, tell him I send word 
 For him to come at once, — let this be heard. 
 (exit Messenger hastily) 
 (to Sanballat and Geshem with tone 
 indicating doubt) 
 I took thy oaths, my Governors, the day 
 I sent him to yon stone pile. Now the way 
 Grows complicated. What am I to do 
 To punish him? It may, indeed, be true 
 He hath not yet atoned ; and, yet, I trust, 
 We have judged righteous judgment. Ah, 
 
 167 
 
we must 
 Ask Nehemiah's God this time to tell 
 Just what is right to do, — that which is well. 
 (The King bows his head a moment, as if in 
 prayer. The Queen, also, bows her head 
 reverently. Sanballat and Geshem 
 shift from one foot to another, clear their 
 throats, and appear annoyed.) 
 Sanballat 
 (anxiously interrupting, to King) 
 The question is a simple one. I know 
 An easy life at Court would bring him woe. 
 (enter Nehemiah) 
 Nehemiah 
 (he has grown older yet more radiant; he is 
 dressed as a rough workman) 
 (joyously) 
 King, hast thou sent for me to come, I pray? 
 
 The King 
 (Appears deeply moved. The Queen looks 
 at Nehemiah with the tender expression 
 of a mother.) 
 Yea, Prince, (pauses as if embarrassed) I 
 sent for thee — (hesitatingly) for thee — 
 to say 
 That thou shalt live in ease within my sight, 
 As royal Cupbearer. Thou may'st begin 
 To choose thine own attendants. Bring the 
 ring 
 
 168 
 
And royal robe (to attendant) . 
 
 (Attendant brings at once a costly satin robe 
 of many colors and places the garment 
 tenderly in Nehemjah's hands. Nehe- 
 MIAH drops the robe quickly to the ground 
 and covers his face with his hands as if 
 grieved.) 
 
 Thou shalt have riches, honor, power, might. 
 
 (Nehemiah picks the robe up from the floor 
 as if fulfilling a duty. He shudders as his 
 rough hands touch the soft satin.) 
 
 Why speakest thou not to me? Hast thou 
 naught 
 
 To say, thou menial slave, with ransom 
 bought 
 
 And paid for by thy King? Wouldst thou 
 not come 
 
 And serve as Cupbearer within my home 
 
 And court? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to King while he looks longingly toward 
 the Overseer) 
 
 King, there is much to do, as he (indicating 
 Overseer) can tell. 
 
 I should not leave my work. 'Twould not be 
 well 
 
 With thee (to Overseer) and all thy men 
 
 (turning to slaves) 
 
 (Nehemiah, still holding the costly robe, 
 
 169 
 
stands among the toilers. Unthinkingly, 
 
 he begins stroking the soft satin garment. 
 
 His hands, rough with toil, catch harshly 
 
 on the soft satin. He shudders. To King.) 
 Blest King, my very hands are hardened now 
 To toil, — to roughest work. Why should I 
 
 cease 
 My labors? There are those to serve, I vow, 
 Much fitter, in this Court. Pray, call on 
 
 these, 
 And let me go. Blest King, (pleadingly) 
 
 they're needing me, 
 These men (indicating slaves) are not so 
 
 strong as I. 
 
 Ah, see 
 
 My brawny arms ! (bares his muscular arms) 
 
 The Overseer 
 
 (to King) 
 
 My King, one word, 
 
 When he (indicating Nehemiah) first came 
 
 to me, I, too, had heard 
 How he bad sought to be a king o'er there, 
 Within Jerusalem. I took great care 
 To make his punishment full hard, King. 
 I heaped upon him curses ! Suffering 
 Became his daily portion ! Yea, I know 
 He had full measure in his meed of woe. 
 I hated him! And why? — I cannot tell, — 
 I longed to see him suffer pangs of hell. 
 
 170 
 
Queen and King 
 (eagerly t as if suffering) 
 And did he suffer? 
 
 Overseer 
 At first, there were days 
 When all his stones seemed mountains. 
 
 Bitter ways, 
 My King, belong unto the felon-slave. 
 Well doth he pay for all the hours he gave 
 To sin. 
 
 The King 
 (to Overseer) 
 And this man (indicating Nehemiah), did 
 he murmur much? 
 
 Overseer 
 (to King) 
 Ah, no, my King, I never have seen such 
 As he ! With every stone he toiled to break, 
 It fairly seemed, he did arise, awake, 
 To higher things ! My King, I cannot lend 
 Him even unto thee — he is our friend ! 
 (the Overseer and slaves crowd lovingly 
 
 about Nehemiah) 
 (Startled) Ah, what have I said? Shall I be 
 
 punished more? 
 I told the truth but did not think before 
 I spoke ! 
 
 King 
 (to all — with firmness) 
 
 171 
 
But I have spoken, and my word 
 
 Is first and last our law, — it must be heard! 
 
 Sanballat) 
 
 (laughing wickedly, — to Geshem) 
 
 His (indicating Nehemiah) happy days, I 
 
 know, are truly past, 
 We have accomplished all we wish at last ! 
 King 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 Speak up, and tell me — what hast thou to 
 
 say 
 About thy work? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to King) 
 My King, just now, the way 
 Is very bright for me, upon yon pile 
 Of stones ; if I might work there for a while 
 
 (pleadingly) 
 I know that I might help these men (indica- 
 ting slaves). I stand 
 Ready to serve, my King (pleadingly). We 
 
 have had good 
 Days yonder ! (As if pointing to stone pile.) 
 
 If one only understood! (earnestly) 
 (Regretfully) If I should — come — (slowly) 
 
 — to thee — I know — that — I — 
 Can do no more than come, alas, and try 
 To serve thee well. (As if convincing himself 
 of a duty.) 
 
 172 
 
King 
 Hast thou forgotten, pray 
 Doth memory recall that long past day 
 Thou wrought upon the towering walls that 
 
 stand 
 About Jerusalem? 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (joyoitsly) 
 Ah, King, my hand 
 Still builds those walls. 
 King 
 (startled) 
 Thy hand still builds those walls? 
 Nehemiah 
 (to King) 
 Ah, yes, blest King, and not a stone e'er falls. 
 Each rock I crush o'er there, it is, indeed, 
 For these redeemed captives. Yea, their 
 
 need 
 Is yet my prayer, King. 
 King 
 (eagerly) 
 
 And wouldst thou go 
 To view those walls again? Speak, let me 
 
 know! 
 
 (Leans forward eagerly. Nehemiah kneels 
 
 at feet of King.) 
 
 Sanballat and Geshem 
 
 (afraid) 
 
 173 
 
King, why speakest thou so? Art thou, then, 
 
 mad? 
 This is his wish to go, — his prayer, ah, had — 
 We our own way — 
 
 King 
 ( interrupting, firmly ) 
 Hold, fools! I listened once 
 To all thou hadst to say. I, too, was dunce 
 And knave, indeed, to heed thy foolish lies! 
 This man, (bending forward, as he tenderly 
 places his hand on Nehemiah's bowed 
 head) is Prince, indeed; yea, he may rise 
 And go again to view those walls. His creed 
 Of kingship is to meet each human need 
 With love. He truly was a king o'er there, 
 E'en at Jerusalem, and monarch where 
 Those felon-slaves were toiling day by day. 
 To be a king is just to watch and pray! 
 I see it now, yea, all is very plain; 
 He seeks no earthly kingship. No, nor gain 
 Is there for him in title when he knows 
 The joy of daily work where'er he goes. 
 (Summons messengers and whispers direc- 
 tions. They chain Sanballat and Ge- 
 shem together. They are roughly dragged 
 from the stage.) 
 
 (To Sanballat and Geshem) 
 Go forth from me! Thy faces nevermore 
 Shall look on mine ! Go forth, the open door 
 
 174 
 
Of hades waits for every cursed lie 
 
 That would besmirch true manhood. They 
 
 shall die, — 
 These falsehoods, every one, but man is free, 
 Born of one true Creator, God, is he! 
 Such is the teaching of his ministry; {indi- 
 cating Nehemiah.) 
 Thou shalt be punished. All that thou hast 
 
 said, 
 Each idle word thou uttered stand'st as curse 
 Of wrong before thee. Yea, thou shalt be fed 
 By jealousy. Ah, could'st thou suffer worse? 
 (Sanballat and Geshem with heads bowed 
 
 in shame depart. They are bound between 
 
 two messengers.) 
 {To Nehemiah, waving him permission to 
 
 arise.) 
 To-morrow, thou and I, and all these men, 
 
 {indicating slaves) 
 With our blest Queen, and Court, shall go 
 
 again 
 To see Jerusalem. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to King; 
 
 {gratefully) 
 
 Blest King, our gain 
 Shall be to find those walls still strongly 
 
 stand, — 
 This is our kingdom, Sire. 
 
 175 
 
King 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 I pledge my hand 
 That I regret those long and bitter days 
 That thou hast toiled on pile of stones. The 
 
 ways 
 Of blind revenge are hard, indeed, to bear. 
 
 (Weeps.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 My King, I pray thee, do not have a care 
 For those days; they were sweet, indeed, to 
 
 me, — 
 Those blessed hours I knew that I might be 
 A friend to all I wrought with. Even, then, 
 As slaves condemned, we still were friends 
 
 and — men. 
 Jerusalem ! (Extending his arms as if to an 
 
 invisible City.) I see thy walls again, 
 Rising about me. Father, (eyes raised to 
 
 heaven) I am blest 
 With all thine hand hath given me! I pray 
 To thank Thee ever on my homeward way. 
 Jerusalem, I saw thy walls arise 
 Above yon pile of stones ! King, my surprise 
 Was very great when I, awake, didst see 
 The heavenly city come to set me free 
 From all my weary toil and suffering! 
 Ah, thou shalt see Jerusalem, my King! 
 The new Jerusalem, with walls built high, — 
 
 176 
 
High unto heaven that he who passeth by 
 May see the captive now is safe, indeed, 
 Within the city, coming down from heaven, 
 The city, founded peaceably, and given 
 To Love and Life and joy and work; yea, 
 
 these 
 Are its foundation stones. The God of peace 
 Hath built Jerusalem! And, over all, 
 The Father watcheth tenderly! The wall 
 Of his protecting love stands strong and true 
 About the remnant ! Israel's captive Jew 
 Hath been redeemed! He is not bond, nor 
 
 free, 
 Nor male, nor female, Jew, nor Greek is he ! 
 Messiah's hope shall free! Ah, we shall see 
 
 (to all, as if prophesying) 
 Jerusalem ! Father, thanks be to Thee. 
 
 177 
 
CANTICLE XII. 
 
 Casting Out Selfishness, Lethargy, and 
 Idolatry. Salvation. 
 
 Description: Same as Canticle VIII. 
 
 Discovered : All the people gathered before 
 the walls at mid-day. 
 
 Time: Ten days later. 
 
 All 
 (intoning) 
 
 "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness 
 thereof ; 
 
 The world, and they that dwell therein. 
 
 For he hath founded it upon the seas, 
 
 And established it upon the floods. 
 
 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 
 
 And who shall stand in his holy place? 
 
 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ; 
 
 Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 
 
 And hath not sworn deceitfully. 
 
 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, 
 
 And righteousness from the God of his sal- 
 vation. 
 
 Lift up your heads, ye gates; 
 
 And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: 
 
 And the King of glory will come in. 
 
 Who is the King of glory? 
 
 The Lord strong and mighty, 
 
 The Lord mighty in battle. 
 
 Lift up your heads, ye gates ; 
 
 173 
 
Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: 
 
 And the King of glory shall come in. 
 
 Who is the King of glory? 
 
 The Lord of hosts, 
 
 He is the King of glory." (Psalm 24.) 
 Ezra 
 
 (Reading, before the people, from Isaiah 
 52:1.) 
 
 "Awake, awake ; put on thy strength, Zion ; 
 
 put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, 
 
 the holy city; for henceforth there shall no 
 
 more come into thee the uncircumcised and 
 
 the unclean." 
 
 (Closes the book, and turning, looks intently 
 at the temple. All the people look toward 
 the temple. Eliashib is seen running up 
 and down the steps of the temple carry- 
 ing armsful of Tobiah's personal belong- 
 ings, such as robes, caps, shoes, etc. Some 
 of these belongings he occasionally drops, 
 and they are carelessly strewn about the 
 temple steps. ) 
 
 (Turning about and addressing the people.) 
 
 Our friend, Cupbearer of the King, returns 
 to-day. 
 
 All 
 (shouting gladly) 
 
 Ah ha, he comes — he comes — the way 
 
 Of peace is Nehemiah's. 
 
 179 
 
(Eliashib is busied in the door of the 
 
 temple with his own personal work.) 
 
 Ezra 
 
 (disapprovingly to Eliashib) 
 
 A good word 
 Hast thou to say to him? 
 Eliashib 
 (carelessly to Ezra) 
 Yea, I have wrought 
 
 Within this temple, just as he has taught. 
 Ezra 
 (to Eliashib) 
 For thyself, alone, hast wrought? 
 Eliashib 
 (to Ezra) 
 At times, 'tis true. 
 All work may not be given for Greek and 
 
 Jew. 
 (Hanani and Hananiah are sleeping 
 soundly at one end of the porch of the 
 temple. Sleep, in dull colors, is watching 
 jealously over them.) 
 Ezra 
 (pointing derisively toward the sleepers) 
 Yet they were truly left in charge! Yon 
 
 temple wall 
 They have not guarded. Sleep on, should 
 
 they fall, 
 Would they awake? (The sleepers, breath- 
 
 180 
 
ing heavily, move, in their sleep, over 
 very near the edge of the porch.) Ah, 
 lethargy, I know 
 
 Of none more deadly enemy and foe ! (point- 
 ing toward sleepers) 
 
 Nor home, nor church thou guardest when 
 with sleep 
 
 Thine eyes are heavy. A still small voice 
 will come, 
 
 And sadly say: "Couldst thou not watch 
 one hour, 
 
 And keep a loving guard o'er church and 
 home?" 
 
 (A loud blare of trumpets is heard without. 
 Enter chariots and drivers, Court attend- 
 ants, King Artaxerxes and Queen, for- 
 mer slaves dressed as nobles. Nehemiah 
 enters last, accompanied by the five beau- 
 tiful women, Intuition, Gratitude, Pa- 
 tience, Charity, and Wakefulness.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (to All) 
 
 Greeting, my friends. (All bow reverently.) 
 
 The walls (examining walls carefully) still 
 stand, I see. 
 
 I thank thee for thy true fidelity! (Again 
 bows to all.) 
 
 (At this moment, Eliashib emerges from 
 the temple, carrying softest of down pil- 
 
 181 
 
lows, images, robes, and many personal 
 belongings. Nehemiah discerns this pro- 
 ceeding, and bounding up the steps of the 
 temple, seizes Eliashib, and shakes him 
 energetically) . 
 
 So thou (scornfully) 
 Hast prepared for thee a great chamber, 
 Where aforetime our fathers laid their meat 
 
 offerings, 
 The frankincense, and the vessels, and the 
 
 tithes of the corn, 
 The new wine and the oil, which was com- 
 manded to be given to the Levites, and 
 the singers, and the porters ; 
 And the offerings of the priests? 
 (turning to the King) 
 Artaxerxes. king of Babylon, 
 Thou bearest witness, in all this time, 
 I was not at Jerusalem. 
 
 The King 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 I bear witness, Nehemiah, my Cupbearer. 
 Nehemiah 
 (to Queen) 
 0, thou noble Queen of Babylon, 
 Thou bearest witness, in all this time, 
 I was not at Jerusalem. 
 Queen 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 
 182 
 
I bear witness, Nehemiah, King's Cupbearer. 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 (to Court) 
 
 Worthy Court of Artaxerxes Longimanus, 
 
 and the Queen of Babylon, 
 Thou bearest witness, in all this time, 
 I was not at Jerusalem. 
 
 The Court 
 (together) 
 We bear witness with our King and Queen. 
 Nehemiah 
 (sadly) 
 To-day I have found the temple profaned ; 
 They have entered as thieves in God's sight. 
 (Tobiah, hearing the conversation without, 
 comes to the door of the temple, and 
 yawns as if awakened from a long sleep,) 
 For themselves 
 
 (Pointing derisively to Eliashib and 
 Tobiah.) 
 they have wrought, but naught have 
 they gained 
 For God is the Lord of right. 
 For themselves they have wrought, but 
 
 naught have they gained, 
 For our God is the Lord of right. 
 (Nehemiah enters the temple, and return- 
 ing again to the door, casts out, far be- 
 yond the wall, the household stuff of Eli- 
 
 183 
 
ashib and Tobiah. Both men steal to 
 one side of the stage. Nehemiah com- 
 mands servants to come with water for 
 cleansing. During this process, the sing- 
 ers flee from the stage, every one return- 
 ing to his own field.) 
 
 (to the King) 
 I perceive that the portions of the Levites 
 Have not been given them. (Looking about 
 
 where the singers stood.) 
 For the Levites and the singers that did the 
 
 work 
 Are fled every one to his field. 
 (Addressing the rulers, and pointing toward 
 
 the empty temple.) 
 Why is the house of God forsaken? 
 (Bows his head and weeps.) 
 Rulers 
 (nonplussed) 
 Why is the house of God forsaken? 
 Nehemiah 
 (to rulers) 
 Is it not that they who would own this sacred 
 place (points derisively to Eliashib and 
 Tobiah who are seeking to hide) 
 Have driven those who work without, and 
 
 they 
 Would own outright all goodness and all 
 grace, 
 
 184 
 
As if they could be purchased? Let them 
 
 pay 
 The price of sorrow ! 
 
 (Drives Eliashib and Tobiah away. They 
 leave sorrowfully, carrying quantities of 
 personal belongings.) 
 Rulers 
 (repeating with emphasis) 
 
 Let them pay 
 The price of sorrow! 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (Observing Hanani and Hananiah, sleep- 
 ing, while Sleep watchfully guards them.) 
 Why is mankind so loath to keep awake? 
 Is God not good to think of? Why, then, 
 
 sleep 
 Away one's precious hours? Arise, and shake 
 (goes to edge of porch and gives men 
 vigorous shaking) 
 This cursed lethargy aside. Yea, keep 
 The faith, and thou shalt richly bless, indeed, 
 All men, if wakefulness be thy one creed. 
 (Both men wake. Exit Sleep very quietly.) 
 
 (to Messenger) 
 Call all Judah, (gladly) let them bring 
 The tithe of corn and new wine, 
 And oil to fill our empty treasuries ; 
 Let them gather the fruit from the field and 
 vine, 
 
 185 
 
That our God in heaven we please ! 
 
 (Exit Messenger.) 
 (Nehemiah singles out Shemaiah, the 
 
 priest, Zadok, the Scribe, and Pedaiah 
 
 of the Levites, and Hanan, and summons 
 
 them about him,) 
 Thou hast been faithful, for thou 
 Hast distributed unto thy brethren. 
 (Enter men and women and children. They 
 
 are all carrying baskets of corn and wine 
 
 and oil.) 
 
 All 
 We come, blest Nehemiah, here to-day 
 To praise the King of kings and watch and 
 
 pray. 
 (Enter men with ware, selling fish. They go 
 
 directly to the nobles and give them their 
 
 earnings.) 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (to the Nobles) 
 "What evil thing is this that ye do, 
 And profane the Sabbath day?" 
 (Nobles quickly cast coins to the ground. 
 
 Darkness seems to creep on suddenly, as 
 
 if a storm were rising. The gates are 
 
 open. Nehemiah gives orders that they 
 
 shall be closed.) 
 Let all the gates be shut this night, 
 And opened not till after the Sabbath day. 
 
 186 
 
All 
 (together) 
 Let all the gates be shut! 
 (The iron gates swing forcefully shut, and as 
 they close the setting sun shines forth 
 with ivondrous splendor.) 
 Nehemiah 
 (firmly to those who sell fish) 
 Why lodg'st thou about the wall ? What right 
 Hast thou to profane the Sabbath day? 
 There remaineth a rest, a Sabbath rest, 
 A quiet hour of meekness truly blest 
 When we work for God alone. 
 (The fishmongers cast their baskets aside 
 
 and earnestly listen to Nehemiah.) 
 (Enter several young men talking to young 
 women of foreign birth. The women have 
 low, degraded appearance. They are all 
 intoxicated. Loud, coarse jesting and vul- 
 gar caressing.) 
 
 The Young Men 
 (to Nehemiah) 
 Nehemiah, (laughing boisterously) our 
 wives of foreign birth ! 
 Nehemiah 
 (sadly) 
 And thou, now (to several) 
 Wouldst wed strange wives? (To another 
 young man) and thou (to another) and 
 
 187 
 
thou? 
 
 Strange fancies have we when we seek our 
 own, 
 
 And not another's good. None can atone 
 
 For wrong; forever it is cast without, 
 
 With "dogs, and sorcerers," with creeds and 
 doubts ! 
 
 Strange wives, strange creeds, strange gods, 
 strange idle prayers, 
 
 Strange deprivations, strange diseases, 
 cares ! 
 
 (The women of strange birth slip quietly 
 from the stage. The daughters of Shal- 
 LUM silently take their places. The peo- 
 ple with baskets of corn and wine and oil 
 on their arms sing together.) 
 All 
 
 (The people walk in groups on the tower- 
 ing heights of the walls. See J. James 
 Tissot's Bible illustration, u The Proces- 
 sion on the Walls of Jerusalem" p. 544. 
 They read as they walk. Each one holds 
 two books of the Law, one in the right 
 hand and one in the left. The last rays 
 of the setting sun shine softly over the 
 procession of singers.) 
 
 (Singing together.) 
 
 "Create in me a clean heart, God ; 
 
 And renew a right spirit within me. 
 
 188 
 
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation ; 
 And uphold me with a willing spirit. 
 Thou delightest not in sacrifice; 
 Thou hast no pleasure in burnt offerings. 
 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : 
 A broken and a contrite heart, God, Thou 
 
 wilt not despise. 
 Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion : 
 Built Thou the walls of Jerusalem. 
 Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem." 
 
 Nehemiah 
 (hands uplifted to heaven — to the men and 
 
 women on the heights of the walls) 
 "Remember me, my God, concerning this, 
 And wipe not out my good deeds that I have 
 
 done 
 For the house of my God, and for the offices 
 
 thereof — 
 Remember me, my God, for good." 
 For I, as the King's Cupbearer, 
 Bring peace and joy to earth. 
 Yea, I, as the King's Cupbearer, 
 Herald mankind's new birth. 
 I phophesy peace, salvation. 
 Jerusalem, saved, begins 
 To mould the world in one nation 
 And cleanse earth's temple of sins — 
 Sins that have stirred through malice 
 Earth's nations to war and hate. 
 
Jerusalem holds the chalice 
 
 Of love at her heavenly gate. 
 
 Within Jerusalem, all men shall be 
 
 Both male and female, sinless, deathless, free. 
 
 (The five beautiful women standing on the 
 highest point of the walls look tenderly 
 down to Nehemiah. They typify col- 
 lectively that which, according to the Sha- 
 vian quotation previously given, repre- 
 sents an "eternal womanly principle in 
 the universe." As these women walk 
 upon the walls, they are intently reading 
 two books of the Laiv which they hold 
 aloft in either hand before them. Bril- 
 liant rays of the setting sun light up 
 the pages of the open books.) 
 
 "Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is com- 
 pact together ; 
 
 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the 
 Lord, 
 
 Unto the testimony of Israel, 
 
 To give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 
 
 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : 
 
 They shall prosper that love thee." 
 
 (Psalm 122.) 
 
 The End. 
 
 190 
 
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