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 COPYRIGFIT DEPOSIT. 
 
SUSANNA 
 
 A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS 
 
 BY 
 
 WALTER JASPER 
 
 1908 
 
 Mayhew Publishing Co., 
 
 Boston 
 
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 i1 
 
 6^ 
 
 ' Two Copies nccdtTji 
 
 j APR 3 ij^oa 
 
 j O OP^ a.. 
 
 Copyright, 1908, 
 
 B Y 
 
 Walter Jasper 
 
^ 
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 JEHOIACHIN, King oj Israel. 
 
 SIMEON -^ 
 
 ICHABOT ! 
 
 AARON } Judges. 
 
 GEDALIAH I 
 
 NAPHTALI J 
 
 HILKIAH, Father to Susanna. 
 
 JOSEPH, A youth. 
 
 GAMLIEL, A pleader. 
 
 NAHUM I ^j^^^^ 
 
 NATHAN \^^'^''''- 
 
 EZEKIEL, A hnrper. 
 
 ABED ) 
 
 ENOCH > Men-ser-oants. 
 
 ABSALOM ) 
 
 SHALLUM I j.-y. 
 
 ISHUAH 1 ^''^'^'^ 
 
 SUSANNA, Wije to Jehoiachm. 
 
 ANNA, Her mother 
 
 ZILPAH \ ^ . . , ^ 
 oTTTjA 1 Frie^ids to Susanna. 
 
 SARA, A pleader. 
 
 BENJAMIN I ^^./^^^„ ofSusanno. 
 K All EL ) 
 
 People at Court. 
 The Scene is just outside of Babylon. 
 
A DRAMA 
 
 Act I. Scene i. 
 
 {Court of justice in (he palace outside oj Babylon allotted by 
 Nebuchadnezzar to Jehoiachin, the captive king of Israel.) 
 
 Gamliel: — Most righteous judges, I do here appear 
 
 To lodge complaint against the widow Ruth 
 For debt of moneys long since overdue. 
 Her pious spouse, ere he w?.s laid in rest, 
 (God rest him now!) ten golden shekels had 
 Of me at no usurious rate, as says 
 The law of Moses. I, thus far, though pressed, 
 Have waited patiently, but can no more. 
 The rich Chaldean crowding at my heel. 
 Wherefore I pray you, elders of our tribe, 
 Esteemed of captive Jew and Babylonian 
 Pacha, satrap, chief judge, and common folk, 
 And sheik and Bedouin shifting as the sands. 
 Bid Ahor's relict quickly summoned be 
 To stand account. 
 
 Ichabot: — Let her be hither brought, — 
 
 To-morrow. 
 
 Simeon: — Yea; to-morrow. 
 
 Sara: — O, revered 
 
 Upholders of our fathers' law, I have 
 Been wronged. Have pity: — Justice: — Sara is 
 My name. I live in the town close by the gate 
 Of the winged beast. My husband's brother has 
 Refused that which the Law commands. It is 
 So written in the Law — . 
 
2 SUSAN X A 
 
 ICHABOT: — To-morrow come. 
 
 And justice shall be meted unto you. 
 
 Simeon: — To-morrow, of a certainty. 
 
 1ST. :Max: — Give ear, 
 
 O judges! Lend — . 
 
 Ichabot; — To-morrow. 
 
 2ND Man: — Pitiful, 
 
 Kind elders, hark — . 
 
 Ichabot: — To-morrow. 
 
 Woman : — Mercy I I 
 
 Am ruined if — . 
 
 Ichabot and Simeon: — To-morrow. Let the hall 
 
 Be cleared. Grasp not my robe. To-morrow we 
 Shall hear you all. To-morrow. yExeuut). 
 
SUSAXXA 3 
 
 Scene 2. 
 
 (Street leading jrom Jehoiachin's graunds.) 
 
 Ichabot: Xahum: then Simeon. 
 
 Nahum: ^ Peace be with 
 
 You, elder. 
 
 Ichabot: — With you be peace. 
 
 Nahum:— The elders hold 
 
 A serious council: a most serious. 
 The King, being under the dismal influence 
 Of the priests of Bel — mav God confound their 
 
 foul 
 Intrigues! — has signed, 'tis said, a warrant for 
 The undoing of our highest ornaments; 
 To wit: the Heaven-inspired youths that hold 
 Responsible ofhces at the imperial court. 
 'Tis noised about he mil subject them to 
 Infernal tortures. There is need of plans, 
 Of drawing up of supplications, of 
 Immediate action. Come. Let's haste. 
 
 Ichabot : — I am 
 
 A little deaf. What did you say ? 
 
 Nahum {impatiently) : — The priests — 
 
 The intriguing priests of Bel — have plotted in 
 Their silver shrine unspeakable injuries 
 To our bravest youths. The king has given ear 
 To their evil machinations. Elder, 'tis 
 The gravest business we have had in years. 
 They are wolves. They will not rest till they 
 
 destroy 
 Our godly nation, root and branch. We must 
 
4 SUSANNA 
 
 Attempt to soften the angry king. Your tongue 
 Must speak for Israel. Come, Ichabot: 
 Delay is death. Come, let us go. God help 
 Us if we fail to do our uttermost. 
 
 Ichabot: — God help us, Nahum. You know how I have 
 lived 
 For Israel with my heart's blood. If my 
 Undoing would ease her yoke one bit, my life 
 Is at her call. But, ah! to-day, dear friend, 
 I am a broken reed. My tongue cleaves to 
 Its roof. I totter like a drunkard. I 
 Should be a laughing-stock and a useless drag. 
 God help us! 
 
 Nahum (shortly): — Yea, God help us! (Exit Ich.) 
 
 Simeon: — Stop me not, 
 
 Dear Nahum. I will soon be back. 
 
 Nahum: — Nay, friend, 
 
 I am on life and death. There is a foul 
 Iniquitous conspiracy. What think 
 You, elder? Shall we let the rotten race 
 Of intriguing priests wipe out the elect 
 Of God? Shall we continue to endure 
 Their mean cabal ? You know the king is strong 
 And weak: — and weakest where we're weak; 
 In wrath or danger a stiff iron rod, but bends 
 Like a scrannel straw to wheedling words. 
 He has been good to us — great thanks to him! — 
 Has set our lord Jehoiachin above 
 The other petty rulers, since he found 
 Him obedient and useful: made 
 Our Daniel, Hananiah, and the rest, 
 Head-men of Babvlon and officers 
 
SUSANNA S 
 
 In the palace : decked them with Chaldena names — 
 As if it were an honor — and put on them 
 The royal mantle and the turban. This, 
 Because they did what his wise men gave up: 
 Solved vexing dreams, made prophecies that were 
 Fulfilled: and governed so the state's affairs 
 That coffers overran and the capital 
 Grew marble where it had been brick, and breathed 
 In a haze of frankincense. — What, elder, shall 
 We now stand idly by and see our best, 
 Our wisest. Heaven-hallowed stript and flung 
 To a most fiendish death ? 
 Simeon: — Forgive me, friend. 
 
 I'm sore distraught. My head spins like a blind 
 Mad midge. Your words, I fear, were poured into 
 A hollow buzzing shell. What is't you said ? 
 
 Nahum (aside) : — 
 
 Jehovah grant me patience ! — Fix your thoughts, 
 Dear Simeon, I beseech : we need your sage 
 Advice in a narrow strait. The monstrous priests 
 Of Bel have tinkered in their silver shrine 
 A loathsome plot against our brethren who 
 Have gained the favor of the king. 'Tis said 
 That yesterday they left their bat-flown house — 
 A rainbow charnel-house, 'tis called by some — 
 And marched a rusty golden image through 
 The streets, and rent their clothes, and screeched 
 
 their god 
 Was wroth — was highly wroth — and came before 
 His majesty — drawn out in a long train 
 Of idlers and fanatics — bade him hand 
 Them certain infidels to do with as 
 Their god saw fit, or else, — fierce plagues, and fire 
 
6 SUSANNA 
 
 And sword, — and other threats : and then they 
 
 coaxed 
 And flattered: told him he was great and would 
 Be greater. And he, like wax, was melted by 
 The subtle flame. — O, elder, it will be 
 A dreadful fate, and we, deprived of our 
 Protectors if the Lord God will not vouchsafe 
 A miracle. Yet must we do our most 
 Ere vexing Him again with our complaints. — 
 The elders are quickly met to entreat the king, 
 But await your eloquent tongue, authority, 
 And power at the court. And you will come? 
 
 Simeon: — Friend, leave me for a space. I'm not myself. 
 I'll try to come. Make my excuses. Say 
 I am not well. I'll pray to God. We must 
 Rely on God. 
 
 Nahum {looks at him with contempt: shortly): — 
 Farewell. 
 
SUSANNA 7 
 
 Scene 3. 
 
 (Same street, farther down. The street is in direction op' 
 posite to Jehoiachin's house.) 
 
 Ichabot: Simeon {behind), 
 
 Ichabot: — Ah! how the sun 
 
 Beats on my aged head. The blood, like flames 
 Of pestilence, runs up and down my poor 
 Parched bones. O, could some calm Euphrates 
 
 lave 
 My burdened heart, dragged by the weight of Bel, 
 With the deep coolness of its scented stream! 
 Ah! she would pity me. — 
 
 Simeon: — Look, brother, why 
 
 Such haste ? 
 
 Ichabot : — Is it you, dear Simeon ? I did 
 
 Not know that you were there. How worn you 
 
 seem. 
 And pale! 'Twas a weary, dreary day. 
 
 Simeon: — Aye, so 
 
 It was: and long. (Pauses,) A burning sun, and 
 
 roads 
 Like alabaster. (With feigned eagerness,) Will 
 you take a walk ? 
 
 Ichabot : — Nay, I must home to taste the noonday meal. 
 I'm faint. 
 
 Simeon: — I, too. I'll see you on your way. 
 
 Ichabot : — Pray, trouble not yourself. You need repose 
 
8 SUSANNA 
 
 Simeon : — Tush, threescore years and ten can wait on 
 four. 
 Lean on my arm, friend Ichabot. We'll cross 
 To yonder side, under the tamarisks. 
 'Tis shadier there. Did Nahum speak to you ? 
 
 Ichabot: — Why, yes, he spoke to me. My soul is grieved, 
 And I would give my worn-out life and all 
 I have, and all I hope to have^ to save, 
 For Israel those precious youths. Alas, 
 The Lord with heavy trial proves us. 
 
 Simeon: — Yea, 
 
 With heavy, heavy trial. 
 
 Ichabot: — Nahum spoke 
 
 To you? 
 
 Simeon: — Why, yes, he spoke to me, and I 
 Am desolate. Such admirable youths! 
 Such brilliant minds! 
 
 Ichabot : — The elders still may bend 
 
 The royal purpose. There, there, Simeon, 
 You have a subject for your eloquence ! 
 O, how the priests will shrink in blank dismay, 
 Dragging their peevish idols on the ground ! 
 How will Jehovah triumph by your lips 
 On which, 'tis said, the wild bees swarm! 
 
 Simeon:— Nay, nay, 
 
 Dear Ichabot, you grossly flatter me. 
 After your practised tongue, who will hear mine ? 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
SUSANNA 9 
 
 Scene 4. 
 
 (Grove and garden adjoining house of Jehoiachin.) 
 
 Simeon: {then) Ichabot. 
 
 Simeon: — I'll wait to-day, praying to Heaven for 
 Complete success. I can no longer live, 
 If I must still be galled by the hot chain 
 That sears me to the quick. Susanna, thou 
 Wilt be the death of me. Why did'st thou not, 
 Like that frail flower from which thou hast thy 
 
 name, 
 Lie hid among the roots in Hilkiah's fields, 
 But must shoot up amidst the yellow shocks. 
 And overtop the waving corn, a white 
 And dazzling lily, stealing the strength of men ? — 
 What have I done that I should be thus crazed. 
 Not knowing if I sit, or stand, or sleep. 
 Or wake, or live, or dream? Is this, O Lord, 
 Thy punishment? When in the synagogue 
 Erected by Jehoiachin, the last 
 Of the blest line of David, and our king — 
 
 God, I would not harm him even in mind — 
 
 1 lay the taleth on my age-bowed back 
 
 And kiss the holy cord and beat my breast, 
 
 Is it for Thee, Jehovah, I am meek ? 
 
 Is it for Thee, in the early morning-light 
 
 I stare Jerusalem-w^ard with vacant eyes 
 
 Sinking the tfilin into my shrivelled arms, 
 
 And gritting out the sacred solemn words ? 
 
 O God, have mercy! Thou art just. {Listens.) 
 
 The gate 
 Is gently swinging wide. My heart stands still. 
 Can it be she ? O lucky chance ! {peers out further.) 
 
to SUSANNA 
 
 A man! 
 What can a man want at this time of day 
 In Jehoiachin's house-garden ? I cannot 
 Distinguish who he is. — Lo, how he slinks 
 From palm to palm like a lone ghost that fears 
 The mezuzeh. — Hold, I see his garment. — Why, 
 It's Ichabot! He moves with cautious steps. 
 What does he here ? Why creep — ? O, can it 
 
 be—? 
 O what a frightful thought throbs through my brain ! 
 Can he — the gray-haired Ichabot — can he. 
 The shrunken wretch, four-score and cheating now 
 The grave of every minute that he lives ! — 
 Can he — the shameless criminal! — be fired 
 With lust for the chaste Susanna, — as am I ? 
 He's drawing near. A plague on him ! — God 
 
 save 
 You, Ichabot. 
 
 Ichabot: — Who speaks? — O, Simeon! 
 
 Simeon: — Yes, Simeon. You seem involved in some 
 
 Dark search, friend Ichabot. Have you lost 
 your wits ? 
 
 Ichabot: — And you, friend Simeon, like an ambushed 
 thief. 
 You startled me. 
 
 Simeon: — Friend Ichabot I — let 
 
 Us not quarrel. 'Tis not seemly. You have made 
 A hasty meal. 
 
 Ichabot : — And you a hastier, 
 
 Friend Simeon, since I find you here before 
 Me. 
 
StrsANNA a 
 
 Simeon: — Nay, dear Ichabot, I had but dropped 
 
 Exhausted under the shady bough to rest 
 My shattered limbs. 
 
 Ichabot: — And I, dear Simeon, 
 
 Was screening my worn body from the heat. 
 
 Simeon: — I must go regulate some wordy suits 
 Presented yesterday. 
 
 Ichabot: — Aye, aye, dear Simeon, 
 
 "When duty calls, delay thou not," was wont 
 To say Ben Yezer. Peace be with you. 
 
 Simeon (not moving) : — Is 
 
 To-day not a festive day in Babylon ? 
 Meseems I saw far off toward the city-walls 
 A gorgeous band of burnished horsemen. — 
 
 Have 
 You seen Jehoiachin? 
 
 Ichabot: — Not I. 
 
 Simeon: — He dines 
 
 With the king? 
 
 Ichabot : — I know not. 
 
 Simeon: — Is Baruch, the scribe. 
 
 His honored guest and cherished of our race, 
 Within? 
 
 Ichabot: — I know not. 
 
 Simeon: — The darling Benjamin, 
 
 So like his God-kept sire, and Rahel, are 
 They too gone forth? 
 
 Ichabot: — I do not know. 
 
1^ SUSANNA 
 
 Simeon: — The dame 
 
 Susanna — . 
 
 Ichabot:— Who? 
 
 Simeon: — Susanna, the most chaste 
 
 Of Juda's daughters — . You are not quite well ? 
 
 Ichabot: — What makes you think so? Nay, I'm very 
 well. 
 It was a sudden sideache made me blanch. 
 
 Simeon: — I thought the ache were elsewhere, Ichabot. 
 
 Ichabot: — No, no. 
 
 Simeon : — Dear Ichabot, I am your friend. 
 
 I cannot see you suffer. Tell me all. 
 
 Ichabot: — No, no. 
 
 Simeon: — And it shall be with me as in 
 The tomb. 
 
 Ichabot : — Ah, me ! 
 
 Simeon: — Dear Ichabot, I, too, 
 
 Am tortured by a secret grief. It may 
 Be there is more in common in our woe 
 Than we suppose. Let us console ourselves 
 By sharing our sweet agony, and guard 
 An inviolate silence, whatsoe'er it be. 
 Do but speak out. 
 
 Ichabot: — Dear Simeon, we have 
 
 Been closest comrades up from youth: 
 Have bleared our eyes together o'er the Law; 
 Have warmed our sluggish wits by the bright fire 
 
SUSANNA 13 
 
 Of sages; conned by night and day, in heat 
 
 And cold, under the mournful poplars by 
 
 The river-brink, or in the soundless cells 
 
 Of wise Neharda, Toroh and Talmud, both 
 
 The Mishna and Gemara. If, as says 
 
 The learned rabbi, he increases life 
 
 Who adds to his knowledge of the Law, then we 
 
 Have surely earned our age. We are the most 
 
 Respected elders of our tribe, shining each 
 
 The more through the reflected light of each. 
 
 Our word is law. No one dare raise his voice 
 
 Against our simple nod. Therefore, dear friend 
 
 Since we to eternal secrecy are bound, 
 
 Tell me your care, for I am elder by 
 
 A tithe of my own years. Yea, faster than 
 
 The grave I'll keep your confidence. Yea, should 
 
 You purpose crimes unspeakable. Yea, should 
 
 You go so far as force your neighbor's wife. 
 
 Simeon: — Ah! Ichabot, my ears shrink from your words. 
 
 Ichabot: — But not from the unsaid thought. 
 
 Simeon: — Ah, Ichabot! 
 
 Ichabot: — Me, too, Susanna's beauty has defiled. 
 
 How wretched, maddened she has rendered me! 
 How like a beast the sight of her fair arms 
 And angel-face has made me, that I longed 
 For a beast's strength to crush her! I can bear 
 The rack no more. Let red Gehenna with 
 Its fearful torments burn me in live coals, 
 But I must quench the raging fire that seethes 
 In my long-tortured frame. — Now, Simeon, 
 Since we are wasted by the same disease, 
 And need the self-same medicine, let us 
 
H SUSANNA 
 
 Await Susanna at her bath, as we 
 
 Had singly done, and if the stars be true, 
 
 Beg, or compel her to our steadfast will. 
 
Act II. Scene i. 
 
 (Room in Jehoiachin^s house.) 
 
 Jehoiachin: Susanna. 
 
 Susanna: — Dear husband, why must you go forth to-day? 
 Can you not wait on the king another time? 
 His Majesty w^ill take a good excuse. 
 He has been kind to us. To-day, 'tis said, 
 He has a sudden spell. O, keep away 
 To-day! 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Be calm, little bird, be calm. Your 
 
 heart 
 Is panting like a captured thrush. There is 
 No danger, dear: at least, for me. I would 
 That I might know the same for others of 
 Our people. I must use what influence 
 I have with the king. — Nay, nay, dear love, you 
 
 should 
 Not tremble so. 
 
 Susanna: — O, you are great and good, 
 
 Jehoiachin, and wise and brave: forgive 
 Your foolish wife. Perhaps it is the air. 
 So humid, sultry, heavy, stifling, makes 
 My heart lie like a leaden weight in my 
 Perturbed breast. A nauseous sense of ill 
 Oppresses me. The priests — the plots — the 
 
 dark 
 Dread rumors half-unsaid — O husband, stay 
 Away! 
 
i6 SUSANNA 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Dear wife, the three young men most 
 
 loved 
 By Juda, and her brightest gem, are in 
 The toils of danger. Bel and his votaries 
 Have roused the king to jealous rage. Swift aid — 
 Entreaties, prayers, arguments — may save 
 Them : otherwise, they are in the hands of God 
 Alone. — And yet, perhaps my going would 
 Not serve them. It might more incense the king. 
 And then I should have a burden on my mind 
 More irksome than impresses the crystal head 
 Of the beard-braided dwarf in the throne-room : — 
 
 three 
 Stout columns of our faith, — O heavy weight! — 
 The whole imperial edifice, and you. 
 Dear wife, to crown the formidable load — 
 A broken lily. That, beloved, is more 
 Than I can bear. 
 
 Susanna: — Nay, laugh at me dear lord 
 
 And master. I deserve it. I — I am — 
 I am not cowardlv. I only love 
 You. 
 
 (Benjamin and Rahel rush in. Benjamin clasps mother: 
 Rahely father.) 
 
 Benjamin and Rahel: — Here you are! We have you 
 caught at last! 
 You could not escape us long. We're playing 
 
 hide- 
 And-seek. Guess where we've looked. 
 
 Susanna: — Guess where? O, I 
 
 Am sure you looked in the most unlikely place. 
 
SUSANNA 17 
 
 Benjamin : — Why, so we did, mamma. We peeped behind 
 The front-door benches first. Of course, you 
 
 were 
 Not there. Then into the court we came, and 
 
 stared 
 About. You were not there. Then Rahel said: 
 "Let's see if they're in the fountain." How I 
 
 laughed ! 
 It was so funny! In the fountain! Oh! 
 ''They couldn't be there," I said. ''They would 
 
 get wet.' ' 
 But she kept saying: "Look — let's look. The 
 
 man 
 That's in the fountain doesn't mind." So we 
 Went near, when all at once there came a spurt ! 
 And then — 
 
 Susanna: — And then? 
 
 Benjamin and Rahel : — And then we ran away ! 
 
 Rahel: — In the arches, papa. And then we slid along 
 
 The wall, and round the balcony — and here ! 
 (Hugs him,) 
 
 Susanna : — Come hither, Rahel dear. Let me brush back 
 Your hair. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — I go to the city now. What 
 
 shall 
 I bring for my darling children? 
 
 Rahel: — Dear mamma, 
 
 May I smell your perfume-box? What a pretty 
 
 chain ! 
 Is it gold? I'd like a perfume-box, papa, 
 
i8 SUSANNA 
 
 With a golden chain, and beryl-stones like eyes, 
 In the middle. 
 
 Susanna: — They are much too big for you, 
 
 Such toys as these, my child: or rather, you 
 Are much too small for them. Nay, do not pout. 
 Papa will fetch you something beautiful. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — And you, my son? 
 
 Benjamin: — I want a sword, papa: 
 
 A long, sharp sword, with an iron haft, to kill 
 The giants with. I'm going to be like my 
 Great-great-gran'ther, David. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Then you need a sling. 
 
 Benjamin: — Well, won't a sword be just as good, papa ? 
 I never tried a sling, I think I could 
 Do better with a sword. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Nay, nay, my son, 
 
 A sling on the side of God is a mighty sword. 
 Have you not noticed in the Sacred Books 
 How God has ever chosen to wield His might 
 Through insignificant means? You were with me 
 In the garden when the reverend Baruch read 
 Our glorious history. You glowed to hear 
 The triumph of Gideon, and murmured more 
 Than once that night, in sleep: ''The sword of the 
 
 Lord, 
 And of Gideon." What was it thrilled you so ? 
 Was it the battle? Nay, you've heard too oft 
 The deeds of war. It was, my son, the odds — 
 The fearful odds against your hero: how 
 He overcame the Midianites with jars, 
 And lamps, and trumpets. — Puny, too, 
 
SUSANNA 19 
 
 Was David our progenitor, ere he 
 
 Opposed Goliath: yet he slew him with 
 
 A pebble. — Thus the Lord loves to exert 
 
 His infinite power, putting a giant's strength 
 
 In a weakling's fist, and a host in a single man. 
 
 Therefore, my son, be valiant, righteous, like 
 
 Thy ancestor. Fear God. Prepare thy mind 
 
 To rule in His and David's name; that so 
 
 Our race may see at no far day the heir 
 
 Of Israel honoring his throne. 
 
 (Enter) Joseph: — My lord, 
 
 The elders wait. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Ah, Joseph, my right hand! 
 
 See, Joseph, see my little Benjamin. 
 You should have heard his martial ardour: how 
 He longs for David's place; and how he'd kill 
 The giants with a long sharp sword. — You'll 
 
 have 
 A skilful pupil some fine day. 
 
 Joseph:— And he, 
 
 A loyal subject. Would that God might let 
 
 Me plant his standard — if not yours — upon 
 
 The towers of Jerusalem. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — That still 
 
 May be. We live in hope. You will take care 
 Of him when I am gone, dear Joseph? 
 
 Joseph: — More 
 
 Than of my life. 
 
 Susanna: — You said there was no chance 
 
 Of danger, dear: why do you talk with such 
 
20 SUSANNA 
 
 Solemnity? O, do not go. Dissuade 
 Him, Joseph, please. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — If I wait longer, I 
 
 Shall stay, I fear. 
 
 Joseph : — Dear lady, it would be 
 
 My highest honor to preserve my lord 
 With my own blood so that you might not weep. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Nay, this is getting serious. 
 
 Susanna: — Come, come, 
 
 My children: let us watch papa upon 
 His horse. (Exeunt.) 
 
SUSANNA 21 
 
 Scene 2. 
 
 (Same. Enter Susanna, musing.) 
 
 Susanna: — Dear children and dear husband! Each 
 
 Is a royal wreath to Israel, — and a sad 
 Reminder. But to me they are my whole 
 Life's happiness. Was ever captive prince 
 Like Benjamin ? Was ever uncrowned king 
 Like Jehoiachin? Ah, husband, how my soul 
 Wells up in thankfulness and prayer to thee I 
 I feel that I could kiss the dust thou treadst. 
 I know not why I have been singled out 
 For such unending joy. — And yet, to-day, 
 I fear — I fear — I know not why. I must 
 Have some diversion. (Strikes bell.) 
 
 (Enter Dabira.) Bid Ezekiel 
 The harper come. (Exit Dabira.) 
 (Susanna seats herself on divan and begins to embroider.) 
 
 (Enter) Ezekiel: — The blessings of God on you, 
 My Lady, and your house, our race's hope. 
 Jehovah lend your days the fragrant strength 
 Of the branching cedar. 
 
 Susanna: — Father, be welcome. I 
 
 Am sad. A nameless dread oppresses me. 
 My lord is gone to court, and the minutes drag 
 Like hopeless caravans. I would be blithe. 
 Can merriness be bought with wishes? Then 
 How merry would I be ! — But failing that, 
 Sing me some low, sweet, wistful melody 
 To soothe the aching fulness of my soul. 
 
22 SUSANNA 
 
 EsEKiEL (strikes preliminary notes, then plays):- 
 
 I. 
 
 The sickles flashed and silent fell, 
 And Boaz' grain beneath the sun 
 
 In golden sheaves was laid. 
 The gleaners came ere the light had run, 
 And far behind, in the distance dun, 
 
 A weary, bending maid. 
 
 Her name was Ruth : she gleaned the grain 
 That the gleaners' eyes had sought in vain. 
 
 II. 
 
 And Boaz, standing on a knoll. 
 
 Asks who the maid is, what her name, 
 
 And why she gleans his fields: 
 And learning, threatens hea\7 blame 
 On him that in aught shall do her shame, 
 
 For his heart to pity yields. 
 
 And ever, like a shade in grief, 
 Sweet Ruth slow flits from sheaf to sheaf. 
 
 III. 
 
 Lord Boaz woke in the dead of night: 
 A something soft was at his feet: — 
 
 His hand lay on his hilt. 
 Then Ruth rose up and in accents sweet, 
 Said, ''Lord, thou gav'st me drink and meat: 
 
 Do with me as thou wilt." 
 
 No more shall Ruth with the gleaners plod: 
 S>ip hath reaped her reward at the hands of God. 
 
SUSANNA 23 
 
 Scene 3. 
 
 (^Marble- paved court of Jehoiachin^s house. Awning along 
 side oj house. Divans, benches.) 
 
 Susanna: Zilpah: Shua. 
 
 ZiLPAH : — We must not tarry long, Susanna. We go 
 With our husbands and the elders to the court 
 To plead for the young men's lives. Will you 
 not come? 
 
 Susanna : — I do not like the turmoil of the town. 
 The regular houses and monotonous streets 
 Invest my mind with dungeon-walls. Besides, 
 I have my children to look after. 
 
 Shua: — They 
 
 Will be well cared for by the maids. 
 
 Susanna (gently) : — Nay, dear, 
 
 You know no children of your own. 
 
 Shua (angrily): — And if 
 
 I don't, is it my fault ? I'm sure I've done 
 The best I could. (Calming down.) You have 
 
 a pretty taste 
 For earrings. 
 
 Susanna: — 'Twas my mother's mother's taste. 
 
 Zilpah: — The trouble these young men are in quite rends 
 My soul. They always were so modest, neat, 
 And exemplary. Susanna, you recall, 
 I trust, the day they parted from their kin? 
 It was a summer's day, — a day like this, — 
 And all their relatives and friends were drt 
 
24 SUSANNA 
 
 About them — an appealing, tearful dike. 
 
 The pompous eunuch in the center stood : 
 
 His shrill, sharp voice commanded, threatened, 
 
 begged. 
 At last, the smallest of them, Mishael, turned, 
 And saying, **We are ready,'* grasped the hands 
 Of Daniel and Azariah, called aloud, 
 *'Come, Hananiah, come," and trudged away. 
 
 Susanna: — I do indeed remember it. It was 
 A loss to us, and yet, a gain, if it 
 Be gain to dwell an honored captive. God 
 Will not forsake them. 
 
 Shua: — Daniel now is grown 
 
 A tall, spare stripling, sallow, and rather plain. 
 
 But O, such beautiful expression in 
 
 His countenance, like a seraph under the skin! 
 
 ZiLPAH : — He is a most extraordinary youth. 
 
 And stands in favor at the court. They say 
 He has prophetic vision and has told 
 Things wonderful to his Majesty. God grant 
 He be the saviour of our race. 
 
 Shua: — I would 
 
 Give much to have his heavenly eyes. The fire 
 That in them is would singe my lids more black 
 Than the cohel that tips them now. And yours, 
 Susanna, they would burn as black as mine. 
 Why don't you shade your lids? It would bring 
 
 out 
 That lovely, liquid blue. 
 
 Susanna: (smiling) — My husband says 
 
 He likes it as it is. 
 
bUSANNA 25 
 
 Zilpah: — Jehoiachin 
 
 Is in Babylon ? 
 
 Susanna: — He went but shortly. — O, 
 
 Dear Zilpah, do you think he is exposed 
 To harm? I am so frightened, for I am 
 Continually mindful of the past : 
 The long imprisonment and the horrid cell. 
 It seems that he has suffered his full due. 
 His crown and liberty are gone: what can 
 They take from him except — . Dear Zilpah, see, 
 I am a weakling, I can bear no pain. 
 The very thought o'erwhelms me. 
 
 Zilpah: — Dear, the king 
 
 Has naught against Jehoiachin, nay, shows 
 Him daily signs of grace. He wars not on 
 The weak. Why should he fear Jehoiachin? 
 Are not the impetuous years of Israel's lord 
 Deep-buried in the sweating prison-vault? 
 No more shall Israel close its massive gates 
 And bid defiance to the coming host: 
 No more Jerusalem in her hilly nest 
 Contain the brood of God : — at least, for long. 
 Jehoiachin may live in peace : he has passed 
 The age of deeds. 
 
 Susanna: — You know my husband not. 
 
 The blood of David never loses hope: 
 The youth of David never dies. Who was 
 It held the inner court until the men 
 All cried for peace ? Who was it gave to the foe 
 His mother and his kin that you might live ? 
 Who was it lost the light of day so long ? 
 Who is it now braves peril first ? Can man 
 
26 SUSANNA 
 
 Undo the will of God ? Did not the scroll 
 
 Seraiah, Baruch's brother, duly dropt 
 
 Into Euphrates as he promised to 
 
 The prophet, hold the doom of our prolonged 
 
 Captivity? No hand can free us yet : 
 
 But when the stated time is come, why then, 
 
 The power of a Jehoiachin will e'en 
 
 Suffice. 
 
 ZiLPAH : — You are in the right, my child. I spoke 
 In haste. It is Jerusalem cries out 
 In me. 
 
 Shua: — Dear Zilpah, we have overstaid. 
 
 If we would help the youths we must be gone. 
 I fear lest we be late at court. 
 
SUSANNA 27 
 
 Scene 4. 
 (In the house.) Susanna, Dabira. 
 
 Susanna: — Where are 
 
 The children? Benjamin's well occupied? 
 
 Dabira: — Yes, mistress. He is with his teacher, deep 
 In a new roll of parchment. 
 
 Susanna: — Rahel, what 
 
 Is she about? 
 
 Dabira: — She is with her nurse. 
 
 Susanna: — Her hair 
 
 Was badly done to-day. You should not pour 
 So much of the oil of cassia on it. — See 
 That you have things ready for a bath. I think 
 I'll bathe away this sluggish mood that robs 
 My spirits of their wonted cheerfulness. 
 
Act III. Scene I. 
 
 (Jehoiachin^s Garden.) 
 
 Susanna: Dabira: Judith. Simeon and Ichabot, 
 concealed. 
 
 Susanna: — These sturdy trees, like me, appear to feel 
 The slumberous effect of the piercing heat. 
 Their branches droop, and even the lofty palm 
 Looks crestfallen. Their pungent odors rise 
 From the thirsting ground in exhalations dense. 
 This poor young fig whose pith is tender yet, 
 And needing moisture, has a begging air. 
 Their wants are not so different from our own, 
 But they are far more helpless. What a still 
 And broad inviting glass the water spreads, 
 With glistening palm-leaves in the dark, cool 
 
 depths ! 
 I could almost plunge in just as I am. — 
 You, Judith, bring the soap and oil and cloths, 
 
 (Exit Judith.) 
 And you, Dabira, loose my hair while I 
 Sit on this bench. 
 
 Dabira: — The widow Sara stepped 
 
 In on her way from the court of justice and 
 Uncorked at me the bottle of her wrath. 
 Her words were like a flying sand-storm. 
 
 Susanna: — What 
 
 Was her complaint? 
 
SUSANNA 20 
 
 Dabira: — O, a most grievous wrong 
 
 Her husband's brother did her. He has twice 
 Refused to take his brother's place, as the Law 
 Commands. But she was angriest with the court, 
 The elders Simeon and Ichabot. 
 For they, instead of hearing out her plea 
 Postponed it till to-morrow. 
 
 Susanna: — I should not 
 
 Much blame them, poor old men. This weather 
 
 must 
 Fatigue them most severely. 
 
 Dabira; — All the plaints 
 
 Were put off till to-morrow. 
 
 Susanna:— Why, of course: 
 
 They have hurried off to Babylon to beg 
 The lives of our young men. It is a deed 
 That's worthy of them. 
 
 {Enter Judith with soapy etc) 
 
 Now, my maids, I shall 
 Not need you longer. There is nobody here ? 
 
 Dabira: — No, surely no, dear mistress. We have seen 
 None enter. At this hour the garden is 
 Deserted. 
 
 Susanna: — Well, very well. Do not forget 
 
 To lock the gate as you go out. Come when 
 I call. Meanwhile, prepare the house against 
 The coming of your master. 
 (Exeunt Dabira and Judith, Susanna sits on grass y loosen- 
 ing neck of dress.) 
 
 How placid and 
 Serene are the woods at noon! I cannot guess 
 
30 SUSANNA 
 
 Why men should like to live in towns. What street 
 Of stones can equal this lush grass ? What court 
 Can show the innocent life of this unsought 
 White lily ? Shua would give her lustrous eyes 
 To dwell in the shadow of the palace. Gems 
 And dresses, and glittering parades allure 
 Her: me, the quiet pulse-beat of these flow'rs 
 Repays for all that feverish tumult. 
 (Begins to unlace her sandals). 
 
 Where, 
 O where, I wonder, is Jehoiachin ? 
 Is he before the king or on his way 
 To me ? I fear I vexed him with my fears. 
 What a timorous child I am! 
 
 Simeon (whispering): — O ravishing foot! 
 
 lovely golden hair! What shall we do 
 If she should say us nay ? 
 
 Ichabot: — I've thought of that. 
 
 If she refuse to do our will, let her 
 Beware. We'll say we found her dandling a 
 Young blood. We'll threaten to take by force 
 
 that which 
 She will not give to overruling love. 
 We'll persecute her to the bitter end: 
 Make her a butt for the painted fingers of 
 The dirtiest harlot, and a loathsome sight 
 To Jehoiachin. 
 
 Simeon : — Ah ! poor Susanna ! Would 
 
 1 had never seen your face! O, why must I 
 To my long-waiting grave in most abhorred 
 Wrong-doing totter down? I wish we were 
 Well out of this nasty business, Ichabot. 
 
SUSANNA 31 
 
 If things should go against us, Ichabot; 
 
 If any of the servants should come in; 
 
 If Jehoiachin should catch us as we are : 
 
 O, think, dear Ichabot, of our awful fate ! 
 
 'Tis wonderful how my blood has chilled ! I could 
 
 Depart and never tempt her more. Is there 
 
 No way of escape ? 
 
 Ichabot: — Do you know, dear Simeon, 
 
 You're talking nonsense? No escape! Is't we 
 Should contemplate escape? No, 'tis not we. 
 Besides, the gate is locked; the servant has 
 The key, and if we wait, who will guard us from 
 Their glance ? You're frightened, Simeon. For 
 
 shame 1 
 "You're blood is chilled," you say. Will your 
 
 blood be chilled 
 When you see Susanna bathe ? 
 
 Susanna {starts and rises) : — My God ! I thought 
 
 I heard the bushes rustle. (Listens.) 
 
 No. 'Twas naught. 
 It was the snapping of a twig. 
 
 (Puts her hand to her bosom.) 
 
 I am 
 So frightened! I should die if anyone 
 Were here. I wish my maids would come. How 
 
 if — ? 
 But no. The gate is locked. Dabira has 
 The key. If I should call ? They are about 
 The house. My voice would not be heard. I'm 
 
 all 
 Of a tremble. No, I will not bathe. 
 
32 SUSANNA 
 
 ICHABOT (whispering): — Let us 
 
 Approach her now. 
 
 Simeon: — No, no, not yet. 
 
 Ichabot: — We must, or else 
 
 She will take fright. Go speak to her: and I 
 Will follow close behind. 
 
 Simeon: — No, no, dear friend. 
 
 I'll follow. Do you speak. The Lord forbid 
 That I should steal the birthright of your years. 
 
 Ichabot: — You are a coward, Simeon. You are — . 
 
 Susanna: — My God! My God! I hear men's voices. 
 {Sees Ichabot coming and puts hand over her face.) 
 
 O, 
 My God! My God! 
 
 Ichabot : — Susanna, be not afraid. 
 
 'Tis I. 'Tis Ichabot. 
 
 Susanna:— My God! My God! 
 
 Ichabot:— Dear lady, lift your head. 'Tis only I. 
 'Tis Ichabot. 
 
 Susanna: — O, elder, leave me: leave 
 
 Me, or I die. How came you here? Are you 
 
 not 
 In Babylon? 
 
 Simeon (approaching) : — What is't you say so low 
 And earnestly ? If you have secret plans, 
 I would be of them. 
 
 Susanna: — Simeon! How glad 
 
 I am to see you, reverend elder! I 
 
SUSANNA 33 
 
 Beseech you, elders, leave me. I am faint. 
 Do me no shame, dear elders. On my knees 
 I beg. I grovel at your feet. 
 
 Simeon (goes to raise her) : — Nay, we 
 
 Mean you no harm, Susanna. 
 
 Susanna (draws back): — Off, keep off! 
 
 No, no, keep off. I stifle. O my God! 
 My God! 
 (Sobs. — Sits on grass with jace on knees.) 
 
 Ichabot: — Susanna, listen. We would speak 
 
 With you. Are we so vile you will not look 
 At us? Nay, lift your darling eyes to our 
 Unsatiated gaze. Why should I hide 
 Things ? Have I done a crime ? If loving you 
 Is a crime, then I am the greatest criminal 
 On earth. May not a judge and elder love? 
 If any is to blame, it is not I. 
 Have I not kept for these last several years 
 The raging fire that wastes me from the light 
 Of day? When have I said a single word 
 To wound your delicate ears? Have you been 
 
 warned 
 By me that I was dying in the sight 
 Of you? that your lips opened but to pierce 
 Me with a poisoned dart? that the le?.st touch 
 Of your silken garment sent a fever in 
 Me ? that the criminal before me donned 
 A maddening mask of you? that each dry writ 
 And leg^l parchment read Susanna? Yet 
 Have I not ceased to strive against your sweet 
 And fatal influence. But what avails 
 It? 'Tis more strong than I, 
 
34 SUSANNA 
 
 Simeon: — Yes, 'tis more strong 
 
 Than we, Susanna. Pity us. Think of 
 Us kindly. That which God has made of us, 
 If 'tis to punish us, — though why, I know 
 Not : but his ways are dark, — can we avert 
 His sentence? Speak, O speak, Susanna. Lay 
 Your soft white hand upon us: make us whole. — 
 What ! Not a word ? A breath ? No moving of 
 Those rosy lips ? 
 
 Susanna {^noaning): — O leave me, leave me, le:ive 
 Me! 
 
 Ichabot: — Leave you? No. Attend, Susanna: we 
 Will tell our mind. We hither came with kind 
 Intentions toward you. Had you only shown 
 The slightest sympathy with our great pain. 
 Or hinted that we are not wholly scorned. 
 Or held out any hope, we should have gone 
 With blessings in our hearts. But now we will 
 Not rest content without the most complete 
 Requital of our love. Say, will you do 
 Our will ? — No answer ? — Yet once more : take 
 
 thought 
 Susanna, how you answer us. Know, too, 
 That silence is an answer. Will you do 
 Our will? 
 
 Simeon: — O answer, answer. It will be 
 A secret locked forever in our breasts. 
 
 Ichabot : — You will not answer. Listen, then. Think you 
 That having once resolved upon our course 
 We will be brooked ? There is no firmer hold 
 Than old men's constancy. The plan that we 
 Have forged is like a net: there is no way 
 
SUSANNA 35 
 
 To freedom but by quiet yielding. This 
 
 Is our intention: Simeon and I, 
 
 The two most honored elders of our race, 
 
 Whose word no man — nor woman — dare dispute, 
 
 Reposing in the heat of noon beneath 
 
 The palms in the farther corner of our lord 
 
 Jehoiachin's cool garden, soon became 
 
 Aware of merry voices, half-subdued, 
 
 And recognized that of Susanna. We, 
 
 Lest we should be intruding, rose, and walked 
 
 Among the trees; and through the branches saw 
 
 Susanna, and with her — a youth ! 
 
 Susanna: — My God 
 
 My God! Have you no pity on me? 
 
 Ichabot: — They 
 
 Struck horror to my soul. O base, ignoble deed! 
 The chaste Susanna, queen of Israel, 
 Reclined upon the grass, her hair let loose. 
 And in her milky arms was straining tight 
 A fondling youth. — Susanna, will you do 
 Our will ? 
 
 Susanna: — No. 
 
 Ichabot : — Here is a pretty picture to 
 
 Reflect upon. It will be handed down 
 In Baruch's records as "The trial of 
 Susanna, famed for chastity." In her 
 Own house, allotted to Jehoiachin 
 By the great king of Babylon, a court 
 Was held by the elders to decide the case 
 Against Susanna at the instance of 
 The two respected judges, Simeon 
 
36 SUSANNA 
 
 And Ichabot. She stood, with down-cast face, 
 A white-robed figure of Purity, while from 
 Her shrunk all honest people, some with head 
 Averted, some with pointing index; here, 
 A mother with her sucking child, her eyes 
 Enwrapped in the corner of her kerchief; there. 
 His garments rending for his faithless spouse, 
 Jehoiachin. 
 
 Susanna: — My husband! O, my God! 
 
 Ichabot: — We are not through, Susanna. We have more 
 To tell you. Shall we spread this ugly tale 
 For nothing ? Shall we leave you free to vaunt 
 Your immaculate chastity to your unsoiled, 
 Smooth conscience ? First, we mean to take from 
 
 you 
 By strength, what you will get no credit for, 
 Though having it, — therefore, a worthless good, 
 And not a good at all, — and then betray 
 You to the public scorn and bitter death. — 
 Will you do our will, Susanna? Think before 
 You speak. So doing, you shall save your life. 
 Your happiness, and your good name. — Will you 
 
 do 
 Our will ? 
 
 Susanna (on her knees): — 
 
 Just God who rul'st the universe: 
 
 O, Thou Who hast exalted Israel 
 
 From low estate, and chastened her arrogance. 
 
 Look down upon Thy handmdd that has served 
 
 Thee in a meek and loving spirit. Save, 
 
 O save me, Lord, from these, mine enemies. 
 
 Lo, I am straitened sore on everv side : 
 
SUSANNA 37 
 
 For if I do this thing — the very thought 
 Is death — I die : and since I will not, I 
 Lose life and honor at these old men's hands. 
 O Everlasting God, slay me, I pray, 
 Or, if not, send me aid, though death come too ! 
 
 Simeon: — Haste, Ichabot. Delay not. She will curse 
 
 Us yet. 
 
 Ichabot ; (grasping her) : — You must, Susanna, must. 
 Simeon ^ ^^ r o y 
 
 Susanna (struggling) : — O God ! 
 
 Unhand me! Help! Dabira! Judith! Help! 
 
38 SUSANNA 
 
 Scene 2. 
 
 (Between house and garden.) 
 
 Dabira: Judith. 
 
 Dabira : — Did you not hear a scream ? I thought I heard 
 A cry for help. I am so startled. Was 
 It not a cry for help ? 
 
 Judith: — Yes, yes. I'm sure 
 
 It was a cry for help. Where came it from ? 
 It seemed to me — . 
 
 Dabira: — Quick! Hark! — No, not again. 
 
 I must have been deceived. 
 
 Judith: — In the garden there: 
 
 'Twas in the garden, there. 
 
 Dabira: — Run for the key. 
 
 Run! Run! and call the men. Let them at once 
 Come hither. (Exit Judith). 
 
 O my mistress, O what has 
 Befallen you? My poor, dear mistress! Are 
 You in a faint? That cannot be. It was 
 A cry of fear. (Pounds on gate). 
 
 Have courage, mistress, we 
 Are coming — coming. Cour3,gel (Turns round.) 
 
 Hurry! Quick! 
 O Abed, Enoch, Absalom, quick, quick! 
 (Enter Judith^ Abed, Absalom.) 
 
 Absalom: — Where? Where? What is it? Where? 
 
 Abed: — Who's hurt? 
 
 Tell me who's hurt. Quick! Judith, give the key. 
 
SUSANNA 39 
 
 Absalom: — Hark, Abed. If it be marauders? If 
 It be armed 'men? 
 
 Dabira {snatching key) : — O cowards ! Cowards ! Let 
 
 Me have a club! You cowards! Cowards! While 
 You hesitate our mistress may be dead! 
 
 Absalom {snatching key) : — 
 
 Who is a coward? Hand the key! 
 {Opens gate, and all rush in.) 
 
 All: — We come, 
 
 mistress! Courage! 
 
 {They meet, at edge oj the trees, near gate, Simeon and Icha- 
 . bot, who hold Susanna between them.) 
 
 What! You, Simeon! 
 You, Ichabot! 
 
 Dabira: — You elders! You! What do 
 
 You here ? Why is't you hold my mistress ? Why 
 Is she so deathly pale? What have you done 
 To her? Speak! How do you come here at this 
 High hour of noon? 
 
 The Rest : — Speak, elders, speak. What is 
 
 The matter? O, dear mistress, speak! 
 
 Ichabot: — You see 
 
 Us in the garden of Jehoiachin ? 
 You will stand oath to that ? 
 
 Dabira: — What mean you, sirs? 
 
 1 fear there is some deviltry in this. 
 
 Ichabot: — You will stand oath to that? 
 
 Abed : — Yes, yes. But what — ? 
 
40 SUSANNA 
 
 Ichabot: — This is Susanna, is it not? 
 
 Judith: — Yes, yes, 
 
 But what—? 
 
 Ichabot: — We have her clasped between us. Will 
 You swear to that ? 
 
 Absalom: — Yes, yes. But what — ? 
 
 Simeon: — Clasped like 
 
 A prisoner, is it not? You'll swear to that? 
 
 Dabira: — Yes, like a prisoner: like a shiv'ring bird 
 In the cruel fowler's net; like a poor mute 
 Gazelle beseeching with her frightened eyes 
 Her iron murderers. Yes, we will swear 
 To that. 
 
 Ichabot: — 'Tis well. Now take her home. You'll hear 
 From us ere long. 
 
SUSANNA 41 
 
 Scene 3. 
 
 {Susanna's room. Susanna, on divan: Dabira, kneeling.) 
 
 Dabira: — O, my dear mistress, not 
 
 One little word? One little, little word 
 To old Dabira, who has loved and loves 
 You so? One solitary word? I shall 
 Go mad. O dearest mistress, ease my dread 
 Anxiety. You look so sad, forlorn, 
 And white. That I should live to see the day 
 Wherein my darling mistress, more beloved 
 Than child of my own flesh, should keep her fears. 
 Her woes from me ! O speak, my child, O speak ! 
 Just whisper in my ear. One tiny word. 
 Let not your heart in silence break! 
 
 Susanna {in dying voice): — You are 
 
 Too kind to me, Dabira, You are true. 
 I feel it in your soft caress. O, lay 
 Your cool brown hand upon my burning brow.^ — 
 Is my lord returned? 
 
 Dabira: — Not yet, dear mistress. 
 
 Susanna: — If 
 
 He come, tell him that I am ill. Tell him 
 I cannot see him now. No, no, I could 
 Not bear to see him now. Dabira, will 
 You meet him with the story of this day's 
 Occurrences ? 
 
 Dabira: — Unless you wish it, no. 
 
 Susanna :— No— . Yes—. No—. He will be fatigued 
 and hot, 
 
42 SUSANNA 
 
 And — maybe — irritable. One rude word, 
 However kindly meant, would kill me. No, 
 Let him be rested. Tell him all is well. 
 Say I am well, but weary. 
 
 Dabira: — Judith will 
 
 Go call my lord Hilkiah, and the one 
 You may confide in, since you will not trust 
 Your faithful servant — Lady Anna, your 
 Dear mother. 
 
 Susanna: — Yes, Dabira, bid them come. 
 
 Do not alarm them. 
 
 Dabira: — Judith, pray my lord 
 
 Hilkiah and the Lady Anna bend 
 Their gracious steps this way. {Exit Judith.) 
 
SUSA^[.NA 43 
 
 Scene 4. 
 
 (Room in J ehoiachhv' s house.) 
 
 Susanna: — then, Hilkiah and Anna. 
 
 Susanna: — What shall 
 
 I do? How shall I have the strength to greet 
 Their unsuspecting salutations? Will 
 They question me ? O God, what will they think ? 
 What will they, will they think? O, fortify 
 Me, God! I am so weary, weary of 
 This horrid life. But I must die. O Death, 
 I always figured thee a darker sort 
 Of angel; yet an angel. What a grim 
 And hideous aspect hast thou now! O Death, 
 Crowned black with infamy! O infamy! 
 Keep off from me thy sharpened claws. How 
 
 hard 
 It is to die! O God, how hard is it 
 To die, remembering former happiness! 
 {Enter Hilkiah and Anna.) 
 
 Hilkiah (kisses her) : — 
 
 God keep you, daughter. You have sent for us 
 And we have come, more as a pleasure than 
 Because we're bidden. 
 
 Susanna (kissing him, eagerly): — Father! Dear beloved, 
 And loving father! (Runs her hand through his hair) 
 
 How your silk becomes 
 You! 
 
 Anna (kissing her and taking her hands) : — 
 Child, God bless vou. 
 
44 SUSANNA 
 
 Hilkiah: — Not, my daughter, to 
 
 Detract from the joy the sight of your sweet fac^ 
 Affords us, may I ask if good my lord 
 Jehoiachin, the king of Juda, and 
 Our worthy son-in-law, is yet returned ? 
 
 Susanna : — Dear father, no, he's still away. 
 
 Hilkiah: — Aye, so? 
 
 'Tis said he has a regal influence 
 At Babylon. If aught can save the youths, 
 'Tis he. I love him. You are favored more, 
 My daughter than befalls most maidens. What 
 A happy lot is yours, Susanna! 
 
 Susanna : — Yes, 
 
 yes, dear father, I am happy. 
 
 Anna {taking Susanna's hands) : — Tell 
 
 Us all, my child. 
 
 Susanna: — Why mother, what do you mean? 
 
 1 do not understand. What all am I 
 To tell, dear mother? Why, what all? 
 
 Anna:— Nay, child, 
 
 You think to blind me. Have I eyes or not ? 
 Your father is a bat in daylight when 
 He strikes against a borrowed dignity 
 His childish pride : — it dazes him. 
 
 Hilkiah: — Nay, nay. 
 
 Dear wife, you misinterpret me. 
 
 Anna: — But I, 
 
 I left my vanity in the buried years. 
 Your happiness makes up my narrow world. — 
 
SUSANNA 45 
 
 "What all?" you ask. Your Judith comes to me 
 With swollen eyes, and says with quiv'ring lip: 
 "My lady prays you bend your gracious steps 
 Toward her." "What! Is Susanna ill?" T 
 
 cry. 
 "I think — . I do not know — ," supposes, — 
 
 stops — , 
 Begins again, and hesitates, looks round 
 Uneasily, and runs away. As soon 
 As I walk in the yard, the servants drop 
 Their guilty eyes, and separate, and close 
 Their plotting mouths. You, child, are hot and 
 
 cold 
 By turns: your hand is trembling like a leaf. 
 Nay, dearest, lay your head upon my breast, 
 And tell me all. 
 
 Susanna: — O, mother! 
 
 Hilkiah: — What! What's this? 
 
 Susanna weeping? Anna, wife, do you see? 
 Susanna's weeping! Why, my child, I am 
 Amazed! 
 
 Anna: — Hilkiah, will you take a turn 
 
 In the court ? There are some things that daugh- 
 ters tell 
 To their mothers only. 
 
 Hilkiah: — Israel's queen, — my child, — 
 
 Is weeping! (Exit.) 
 
 Anna: — Dear, come sit on the divan. 
 
 Now tell me all. 
 
 Susanna: — O, how shall I begin? 
 
 It is most fearful. O, it is — Nay, do 
 
46 SUSANNA 
 
 Not shake your head. 'Twould blast 
 Your ears. O, take a long, long look at me. 
 My days, alas, are numbered. 
 
 Anna: — How you talk! 
 
 You seem as if your best possession had 
 Been taken from you. I remember you 
 Were nervous and upset ere Rahel came. 
 
 Susanna: — No, no, dear mother, 'tis not that. No, no, 
 It is not that. 
 
 Anna: — Then what is it, dear child? 
 
 You put me out of patience. — Nay, dear heart. 
 Don't look at me so piteously. I was 
 x\brupt. Forgive me. Speak, my child. You fill 
 Me with vague fears. 
 
 Susanna: — I must compel myself. — 
 
 Dear mother, listen: Simeon — . 
 
 Anna: — Well, what 
 
 Of him? 
 
 Susanna: — And Ichabot. 
 
 Anna: — Thev are srood men. 
 
 I've known them long. 
 
 Susanna: — They met me in 
 
 The garden. 
 
 Anna : — There's no harm in that, is there ? 
 
 The garden's free to them. 
 
 Susanna: — I — I — was at 
 
 The bath. 
 
SUSANNA 47 
 
 Anna: — Ah! is it that? 'Tis that which grieves 
 You? 'Tis vexatious. I am sorry for't. 
 I wish it had not happened. Still, they are 
 Most reverend elders. It will rest with them. 
 Yes, yes, I'm sure they'll bear themselves in kind 
 And honorable style. — (doubtjully) H'm. Simeon — . 
 I fear — . You should have closed the gate. 
 
 Susanna: — The gate 
 
 Was locked. 
 
 Anna: — Was locked? I do not grasp — . 
 
 Susanna: — They came 
 
 And threatened me. They tried to force me to 
 Their will. They made most vile proposals : told 
 Me they would say they had seen me with a youth ; 
 Would brand me as a harlot — . 
 
 Anna: — O just God! 
 
 What do I hear? 
 
 Susanna: — And then they seized me, but 
 
 I screamed, and the servants came. 
 
 Anna: — My temples burst! 
 
 O God! such villainy! 
 
 {Enter Dahira). 
 
 Dabira: — My lord's returned. 
 
 He asks for you, dear mistress. 
 
 Susanna: — Tell him — tell — . 
 
 Anna: — We wait his lordship's pleasure. — Courage, child. 
 {Enter Jehoiachin: does not see Anna at first.) 
 
48 SUSANNA 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Ah ! here at least, at home, I find repose. 
 My darling wife! God bless you! 
 {Tries to kiss her.) 
 
 What! you shrink 
 From me? Why, — (kisses her) — what a marble 
 brow! 
 
 Anna: — Here is 
 
 One warmer. Our poor child is ill. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — I did 
 
 Not see you, mother. Is she ill, indeed ? 
 
 Anna : — You sigh as if all were not well. The youths, 
 Could you not help them ? They were noble lads, 
 As I remember them. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Alas, alas, 
 
 For our down-trodden race. The king was short 
 And obdurate. It did not please him to 
 Inquire our likings. He was satisfied 
 With the report the priests had laid before 
 Him. If he wished an image worshipped, we 
 His subjects, must obey. The youths had been 
 Unmindful of his dignity and of 
 The favor he had shown them. Hence, they must 
 Be taught. 
 
 Anna: — Alas, poor lads. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — You're pale as ash, 
 
 Susanna. Tell me, dear, what troubles you. 
 (Susanna tries to answer, and bursts into tears.) 
 
 Anna: — It is the heat, poor dear. We'll see to her. 
 (Exeunt Anna and Susanna.) 
 
SUSANNA 49 
 
 Jehoiachin: — If I knew not that she'd been ailing, I 
 Should fear some mystery, behind this strange 
 Outburst of tears. — Alas, O Israel, 
 Jehovah hath not ceased to punish thee. 
 O God, have pity on Thy chosen race. 
 
Act IV. Scene i . 
 
 {Court oj Justice.) 
 
 Simeon: Ichabot: Aaron: Gedaliah: Naphtali: Sara: — 
 
 OTHERS. 
 
 Aaron: — You say your name is Sara? 
 
 Sara: — That's the name 
 
 I'm known by, given by my father, though 
 My mother wished me called Rebecca, for — . 
 
 Gedaliah: — What is your plaint? 
 
 Sara: — I came here yesterday, 
 
 And yet again to-day, because I was 
 Dismissed without a hearing, yes, without 
 A single word by the elders, but I bear 
 No grudge, and hope you'll give me justice, since 
 I am a poor, lone woman — . 
 
 Naphtali : — To the point, 
 
 And quickly: speak. 
 
 Sara : — I will, if you will let 
 
 Me, righteous judges: I was just about 
 To say that I shall tell you what — O, pray. 
 Most reverend elders, do not turn me off: 
 Be not impatient. I will lay before 
 You what my grievance is. I had a man; 
 He was a man of men — . No, no: I have 
 A brother-in-law; he treats me shamefully. 
 Would you believe it, judges, when he knew 
 
SUSANNA 51 
 
 My husband long within the ground, did he 
 Not hide from me for weeks, though I tried all 
 I could do that he might fulfil the Law 
 By me, as is commanded? Finally, 
 I caught him slinking in his sister's house 
 One evening, and I spoke my mind to him, 
 And begged him do the right by me, but he 
 Reproached me; said that I was old, that I 
 Was over forty — Heavens, what a base 
 Calumniation ! — and that he with joy 
 Surrendered all his claim on me, nay, would 
 Bestow a little money on the stranger who 
 Should take me. Now, alas, what shall I do? 
 I know no stranger who — I mean — in short, 
 I pray you summon Reuben: threaten him: 
 Tell him the Law: that he must have me. 
 
 Aaron: — Go 
 
 To him again. You have our warrant. If 
 
 He shall persist in his refusal, say 
 
 That he must come before us, so the Law 
 
 Shall be performed, which reads: "Then shall 
 
 they stand 
 Before the elders, and his brother's wife 
 Shall loose the shoe from off his foot, and spit 
 Upon his face, and say: 'Thus shall be done 
 Unto that man that will not help build up 
 His brother's house:' and from this day his name 
 In Israel shall be 'the house of him 
 That hath his shoe loosed. ' " Such is our 
 decree. 
 (Simeon and Ichabol step dowm jrom judges^ bench and stand 
 in pleaders^ place.) 
 
52 SUSANNA 
 
 Ichabot: — Beloved colleagues, worthy judges, and 
 Most reverend elders, Simeon and I, 
 With highest faith in your well-won renown, 
 With admiration for your spotless truth, 
 And sympathy in your endeavors to 
 Preserve the primal whiteness of our folk, 
 For which our greatest legislator worked. 
 He, too, who died on Nebo, Moses, and 
 Let fall on Israel's elders, and on you 
 His wondrous mantle — we have prayed your kind 
 Attendance, that, as duty to our race 
 And to ourselves — O hard necessity ! — 
 So forces us, we might appear before 
 You, plaintiffs, much against our will in a 
 Most horrid and astounding case. We beg 
 You summon to your stern tribunal here, 
 Susanna, wife of our most honored lord, 
 Jehoiachin. 
 
 1ST man:— Susanna! What! He said 
 
 Susanna? 
 
 2ND. man: — Neighbor, did you hear? Did he 
 
 Not say Susanna must be haled before 
 The court ? 
 
 Woman: — Susanna? What means this? The chaste 
 
 And innocent Susanna? Here? She, here? 
 
 2ND man : — They say that something terrible took place 
 While we were in the city. 
 
 Woman:— It cannot be 
 
 That she did harm. — Susanna! 
 
SUSANNA 53 
 
 Aaron : - Silence ! Will 
 
 You not be still, you rabble ? — This is not 
 A jest, friend Ichabot ? 
 
 Ichabot: — It is no jest. 
 
 Simeon: — O, would it were a jest! 
 
 Aaron : — Then give the cause 
 
 And reason of your quest. We must know why 
 We act. 
 
 Ichabot: — You shall know that when she is here. 
 
 Gedaliah: — Nay, we must have a fitting pretext and 
 A just and full authority if we 
 Would lay a public censure on such high, 
 Distinguished heads. It is a serious 
 Affair. 
 
 Simeon: — And so is this. 
 
 Ichabot: — We, elders, are 
 
 Your colleagues and have read with diligence 
 The Law that we dispense. We hold ourselves 
 Responsible for what we do. 
 
 Aaron: — Do you 
 
 Insist upon't ? 
 
 Ichabot and Simeon: — We do insist upon't. 
 
 Aaron {to two bailiffs) : — 
 
 Then go command Susanna hither: 'tis 
 Our will. 
 
54 SUSANNA 
 
 Scene 2. 
 (Courtyard.) 
 {The hailijjs) Shallum and Ishuah, Dabira. 
 Shallum: — Where is your mistress? 
 
 Dabira: — Peace be with 
 
 You, Shallum, and with you, good Ishuah. 
 What's at the court to-day? 
 
 Ishuah: — Your mistress, where 
 
 Is she? We have a word to say to her. 
 
 Dabira: — Susanna ? 
 
 Shallum: — Yes. 
 
 Dabira: — She is not well. I'll give 
 
 Your message to her. 
 
 t>' 
 
 Shallum : — We must speak to her 
 
 Alone. Tell her that it is urgent. 
 
 Dabira: — I 
 
 Repeat, she is not well. 'Tis without doubt 
 Some unimportant thing: some woman seeks 
 Her intervention, maybe. She can see 
 Nobody now. 
 
 Ishuah: — She will see us. Do not 
 
 Delay us: 'tis the judges' will. 
 
 Dabira: — How? What? 
 
 The judges' will? 
 
 Sitallum: — Precisely. Now, my dear. 
 
 Make haste. 
 

 SUSANNA 
 
 Dabira: — 
 
 You cannot see her. 
 
 ISHUAH : — 
 
 But we must. 
 
 55 
 
 Dabira: — It is impossible. Another time 
 
 Will do as well. Make our excuses to 
 The elders. Let them know that she is ill. 
 She cannot be disturbed. 
 
 Shallum : — I say we wish 
 
 To see your mistress, do you hear? Go tell 
 Her we will brook no putting off. 
 
 Dabira:— You act 
 
 High-handed, sirs. Do you know of whom you 
 
 speak ? 
 We have, indeed, come to a pretty pass 
 When mean bumbailiffs raise their prison- throats 
 To threaten Israel's queen. — Ho, Judith, call 
 Our master. — He will hear you out. 
 {Enter Jehoiachin.) 
 
 My lord, 
 These persons wish an audience with you. (Exit.) 
 
 Jehoiachin: — You are the beadles ? 
 
 Shallum: — The humble servants of 
 
 My lord. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — What is your want? 
 
 Shallum : — My lord well knows 
 
 We can but do as we are bid. We have 
 Been sent — I fear my lord will blame us — . 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Speak 
 
 Right out. I like not sneaking ways. 
 
56 SUSANNA 
 
 Shallum: — Yet if 
 
 This anger you, my lord — . 
 
 Jehoiachin: — You are not far 
 
 From insolence, my man. Say what you have 
 To say, and then begone. 
 
 Shallum: — The judges have 
 
 Dispatched us to bring to court — I fear to speak — 
 The Lady Susanna. 
 
 Jehoiachin : — What ! What trifling is 
 
 This, knaves ? Who dares to summon Susanna so 
 Unceremoniously ? 
 
 Ishuah: — The judges bade 
 
 Us go. 'Twas at the instance of two of 
 Them — Simeon and Ichabot. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — It is 
 
 Most strange. They are my friends. They 
 
 should have known 
 To treat with me. What can they want of her? 
 The house is filled with mystery since my 
 Return. Can anything have happened in 
 Broad day, on yesterday ? — {to bailifjs) You 
 follow me. 
 
SUSA^NNA 57 
 
 Scene 3. 
 
 {Court.) As before: Jehoiachin. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Respected elders, what is this I hear? 
 You send your bailiffs to my house, and say 
 My wife Susanna must appear before 
 You. What is the ground of your demand? 
 
 There is 
 No thought of my position in the way 
 You execute your plans. 
 
 Aaron : — We pray your grace, 
 
 My lord: it is at elder Simeon's 
 And Ichabot's solicitation. 
 
 Ichabot: — We 
 
 My Lord Jehoiachin, in acting thus, 
 
 Have been impelled by no ignoble sense 
 
 Of frowardness, but by the holiest 
 
 Of bonds : our duty and unchanging love 
 
 For David's line and you, its highest, best, 
 
 Most kingly representative. We have 
 
 Good cause for gratitude toward you, and we 
 
 Will not forget it by allowing you 
 
 To be most shamefully deceived, betrayed. 
 
 And laughed at in the inner sanctum of 
 
 Your home. Would it not be the grossest lack 
 
 Of faith to throw a veil between a friend 
 
 And his most vile undoing, so that he 
 
 Shall be unwitting of the crime, his shame, 
 
 And the whisp'ring, sneering world behind ? 
 
 Could we 
 Again break bread at that man's table while 
 
58 , SUSANNA 
 
 We knew that someone at his elbow mocked 
 And made a sport of him ? Could we — ? 
 
 Jehoiachin: — My God, 
 
 You drive me mad! What do you mean? What 
 
 say 
 Your foul insinuations ? Speak. I'll have 
 It out of you. — O, Ichabot, I am 
 Unnerved. — You sent for Susanna, judges ? She 
 Shall come. (Exit.) 
 
SUSANNA 59 
 
 Scene 4. 
 (Susanna's Room.) Jehoiachin: Susanna. 
 Jehoiachin: — Susanna, come. 
 
 Susanna: — My God, you take 
 
 My strength from me. You look so black, so fierce, 
 My husband. 
 
 Jehoiachin:— Come. 
 
 Susanna: — O, I am faint. Your eyes, 
 
 Your cruel eyes have killed me! Do not stare 
 At me so wildly, dear. O, I have done 
 No harm. O, mercy, husband, lord! (jails at 
 his feet.) 
 
 My God! 
 My God! 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Susanna, come with me. 
 
 Susanna: — O where 
 
 Is it you lead me, dearest husband? Wait. 
 I'll tell you all. I am not guilty; no. 
 My God, you know I am not guilty. Wait, 
 Jehoiachin, dear husband : hear me swear 
 By all I hold most dear and precious, I 
 Am guiltless. O, I am not guilty. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Who 
 
 Said "guilty"? Guilty for what? I know no 
 
 guilt — 
 At present. Come. 
 
6o SUSANNA 
 
 Scene 5. 
 
 {Courtyard). Anna: Dabira: Judith. 
 
 Anna : — Dabira, Judith, where 
 
 Is Susanna? O, I've heard appalling news! 
 They say the bailiffs came to drag her by 
 Sheer force. They say the elders Simeon 
 And Ichabot — the aged villains — have 
 A dreadful tale to tell: the listeners 
 Stood all aghast at their significant 
 Insinuations. My brave-hearted child, 
 The Lord has put a heavy burden on 
 You, and the end is in His hands. 
 
 Judith:— If our 
 
 Dear Lady come to ill, then master, too. 
 Will have a share. His countenance was like 
 A wounded lion's as he crossed the yard. 
 
 Anna : — Say, where is he ? It was on his account 
 I came in such a hurry. O, if he 
 Has learned the charge — the wicked blasphemy ! 
 I fear for both. Quick, where is he? 
 
 Dabira: — He went 
 
 With our dear, drooping mistress to the court. 
 
 O, lady Anna, tell me what is this 
 
 Dread mystery. My queen is in the jaws 
 
 Of death, perhaps, and I am powerless 
 
 To aid her. I beseech you, lady, let 
 
 Me know, that I may help. 
 
 Anna: — Not now, my dear. 
 
 It is too horrid and too long. God bless 
 You for your loyalty. Yet you may be 
 
SUSANNA 6i 
 
 Of use; go, you and Judith and the rest, 
 And call together all our friends, those who 
 Were with Susanna yesterday, and those 
 Who may be powerful in speech. Be quick. 
 
62 SUSANNA 
 
 Scene 6. 
 
 {Court,) As PREVIOUSLY. Susanna: Dabira: Anna: 
 
 Judith. 
 
 Ichabot: — That which we are about to do demands 
 A warning word, O judges. There will be 
 Ascribed to us by the thoughtless, giddy crowd, 
 False motives, hidden hatred, and what not, — 
 As is to be expected. Our entire lives. 
 Replete with sanctity and honest deeds. 
 Will, in the heated moment, be forgot. 
 'Twill be forgot that Simeon and I, 
 Most hoary of the elders, have with sweat 
 Of intellect safeguarded steadfastly 
 The holy Laws and rites of Israel: 
 Have given up our gentler feelings to 
 The single purpose of our painful task 
 Of vigilance for God's commands: have been 
 The faithful, fasting shepherds of our flock. 
 All this will be forgot : yet are we strong 
 In our most sacred duty. What we say 
 Will stupefy you as it has stunned us. 
 Have we not pondered, Simeon, if we 
 Should loose the monstrous crime upon the world 
 Or let it silent gnaw our guilty hearts? 
 Alas, we have not long to live. A year 
 Or two can matter little — more or less. 
 We might have had a year or more of peace 
 Among our neighbors. 
 
 Simeon : — As you know full well, 
 
 O judges, we are not the ones to bring 
 A vain disgrace upon our tribe. Against 
 Such imputation stands our record. We 
 
SUSANNA 63 
 
 Rely for credence on our former deeds. 
 When, on that fateful day, the passes of 
 Jerusalem — O Holy place! — were filled 
 With mailed Chaldean cohorts, and the sun 
 Was gleaming on the thirsting swords and spears 
 And lifted battle-axes, and the foe 
 Had vowed our full destruction, were not we 
 The foremost envoys to the hostile king, 
 And bought you off with eloquence on no 
 Ignoble terms ? And later, when our lord 
 Jehoiachin — I do him reverence — 
 Was languishing in prison, whose appeals 
 Were weightier than ours ? And later, who 
 Instilled a love for the arts of peace with most 
 Persistency, and made our youth more sought 
 For than Chaldean seers, magicians, and 
 Astrologers? Was it not we? Nay, think 
 Not we are boasting. This is not the place 
 For trumpets. What we have recounted is 
 Not futile vaunting. 'Tis that you may know 
 We labor here for Israel. All, all 
 We do is for beloved Israel. 
 
 Ichabot: — We hasten to affright your ears. We pray 
 You, judges, bid Susanna, wife of lord 
 Jehoiachin, approach. 
 
 Aaron: — Approach, we say, 
 
 Susanna, wife of Lord Jehoiachin. 
 
 Susanna:— O, hold me, husband, or I fall. My knees 
 Sink under me. I cannot stand. O, I 
 Am wearied unto death! O God, destroy 
 Me where I am ! 
 
64 SUSANNA 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Dabira, here: bear up 
 
 Your mistress. — (Advancing.) Hark, you elders! 
 
 Have a care 
 To what you say. Remember whom you deal 
 With: she is queen of Juda, and my wife. 
 
 Ichabot: — There is a law in Israel that reads: 
 "Whoso shall falsely swear against a child 
 Of God shall suffer that which he meant for 
 His victim.' ' If we give false witness, then 
 Our punishment is — Death. 
 
 Aaron: — Such is the Law.— 
 
 Approach Susanna. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Come. 
 
 Simeon (tearing veil jrom Susanna's jace) : — This veil 
 I tear 
 From off her face, as is commanded, that 
 You all may see Susanna as she is. 
 
 Ichabot and Simeon (laying hands on Susanna'' s head) : — 
 We lay our hands upon Susanna's head 
 And swear that what we are about to state 
 Is solemn truth. 
 
 A^N A (advancing): — 'Tis false! It is a lie, 
 A vile malignant lie! O, judges, they, 
 They are the criminals. O judges, see 
 They do not blind you. 
 
 N APHTALi : — Silence ! Who dares speak 
 
 So rudely, ere the why and wherefore of 
 The matter is presented? 'Tis our will that all 
 Be hushed while Simeon and Ichabot 
 Set forth their case. 
 
SUSANNA 65 
 
 ICHABOT : — She is the mother of 
 
 Susanna, and her zeal we overlook 
 Indulgently. A mother's prejudice 
 Is no unlovely sight. Susanna has 
 Undoubtedly known how to place herself 
 In an unspotted light to Anna: we 
 Sincerely trust she may with as much ease 
 Establish her fair name before the court. 
 But ah! we fear the outcome. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Ichabot, 
 
 By God and our great friendship, pray, if you 
 Have any doubt, or judge you may have been 
 Mistaken, cease your prosecution : say 
 You are not sure: retract your hasty words, 
 And let this thing rest where it is. All this 
 Shall be forgotten. 
 
 Aaron: — Yes, dear Ichabot, 
 
 Reflection may turn to a different course 
 
 The stream of your suspicions. Do not bring 
 
 Irreparable woe on Israel. 
 
 Simeon: — Perhaps — 'tis possible — it may be we — . 
 
 Ichabot {quickly) : — 
 
 Alas! I would we had another choice. 
 
 How gladly we'd embrace it! Yet I can 
 
 Interpret in no favorable sense 
 
 That which we saw. If that be false which we 
 
 Consider true, and we be punished for 
 
 Our fatal vision, then let Israel 
 
 At least confess we died in thinking that 
 
 We served her. 
 
 Anna (halj-aloud) : — O, the deep and heartless rogues! 
 
66 SUSANNA 
 
 Ichabot: — This is our testimony, judges, told 
 
 In simple phrase: our colleague, Simeon, 
 
 And I, fatigued and withered by the heat. 
 
 Walked in the garden of Jehoiachin — 
 
 Which he, with customary kindness, put 
 
 At our disposal, — and sat down beneath 
 
 A palm in the farther corner. Soon, aware 
 
 Of merry voices, half-subdued, — the one 
 
 Was of Susanna, — we arose, lest we 
 
 Should be intruding, and, as we between 
 
 The trees passed onward, through the branches 
 
 saw 
 Susanna, and with her — a youth. 
 
 Woman : — The Lord 
 
 Preserve us! I am stricken dumb. I would 
 Believe that Heaven fell ere think my ears 
 Could hold such horror. 
 
 I ST MAN : — I had scarcely thought 
 
 It possible ! Alas, what a sorry thing 
 Is humankind! 
 
 Simeon : — They were enfolded in 
 
 A twining mass of golden tresses and 
 Fair milky arms. — Forbid I should tell more 
 Of what we saw. 'Twas dreadful! 
 
 Jehoiachin: — God! O God! 
 
 Susanna! O, my God! 
 
 x\nna: — The proofs! The proofs! 
 
 The proofs of what you say! 
 
 Ichabot : — Susanna's maids 
 
 Were there with some men-servants. Let them come 
 And testify. 
 
SUSANNA 67 
 
 Gedaliah: — They're here. The servants of 
 
 Jehoiachin, approach. — What is your name? 
 
 Dabira: — Dabira. 
 
 Gedaliah : — Yours ? 
 
 Absalom : — I'm Absalom. 
 
 Gedaliah : — And yours ? 
 
 Judith : — My name is Judith. 
 
 Gedaliah : — Yours is ? 
 
 Abed: — Abed, lord. 
 
 Naphtali: — You Judith, speak. 
 
 Judith: — Dabira, please you, called 
 
 Me. I was in the house. She heard a cry. 
 I heard it too. It came from the garden. I 
 Ran back to get the key and fetch the men. 
 We shouted to our mistress to be brave. 
 We rushed inside, and met those two. 
 They held my mistress in their arms. O, it 
 Was pitiful. She looked like death. 
 
 Naphtali {to Abed and Absalom): — And you? 
 
 Abed and Absalom: — 
 
 We saw the same. 'Twas terrible. 
 
 Naphtali {to Dabira): — And you? 
 
 Dabira: — I, too, I saw the same, O judges. But 
 For me it had a meaning. I, who know 
 Susanna in her every mood, who read 
 Her as you read the Holy Script, declare 
 She looked an injured, innocent, most pure, 
 And sainted martyr to her plighted faith. 
 
68 SUSANNA 
 
 IcHABOT : — You are a loyal servant. Would that each 
 In Israel had one such in his house! — 
 Yet note, O judges, even she in her 
 Commendable zeal cannot gainsay the stern, 
 Unhappy facts. 
 
 Dabira: — I know no facts except 
 
 What I saw at the gate. I said no more, and mean 
 
 No more. That which went on before we came, 
 
 You only, and my mistress, when she shall 
 
 Through loathing of the stigma you have put 
 
 Upon her name, in desperation part 
 
 Her burdened lips, — you only can reveal. 
 
 I doubt it will not honor you. 
 
 Anna:— I beg 
 
 Your kind indulgence, judges, that I may, 
 iVs best I can, in my poor child's behalf. 
 Request an answer from the accusers to 
 Some simple questions, which, if they shall lack 
 The legal flavor and formality. 
 You will, I trust, forgive, since this is my 
 First, terrible experience with Law. 
 
 Aaron: — You have permission. Lady Anna. Speak. 
 
 Anna: — How came you in the garden, Simeon, 
 While the gate was locked? 
 
 Simeon: — We had been there some time, 
 
 As we have said, ere we heard any noise. 
 The grounds, of course, were open to us. 
 
 Anna: — And 
 
 You had no warning of their presence till 
 "Aware of merry voices half-subdued"? 
 

 SUSANNA 69 
 
 Ichabot:- 
 
 -No. 
 
 Anna: — 
 
 'Tis most strange. The garden is not large. 
 
 Simeon: — 
 
 - We were at the farther end. 
 
 Ichabot: — We must have dozed. 
 
 The heat was soporific. 
 
 Anna: — O, you must 
 
 Have more than dozed. Dabira says they talked 
 In careless tones: and that Susanna called 
 Aloud to Judith. Nay, you must have slept. 
 
 Ichabot: — Perhaps we slept. There is no crime in that, 
 I hope? 
 
 Anna: — But that you should awake in the nick 
 
 Of time! 
 
 Ichabot : — It may be God awakened us 
 To punish what, if foul in anyone, 
 Is most abhorrent in fair Juda's queen. 
 
 Anna: — O hypocrites! O blasphemers! Can God 
 Endure such taking of His name in vain ? 
 
 Aaron: — Control your tongue, my lady. You are at 
 The bar of justice. We may judge; not you. 
 
 Anna: — I — I choke. But no. I will be calm. — Where 
 is 
 The youth you implicate? Say, where? 
 
 Ichabot : — My lady Anna, do you think we have 
 Him in our tunic? Can we hand him to 
 You, like an olive? You forget that we, 
 Alas, are but old men: gray, weakly men 
 
70 SUSANNA 
 
 Whom young and insolent scoundrels could twist 
 
 round 
 Their little fingers. If we have him not, 
 It is because we did not catch him. Nay, 
 We could not even see him well, for he, 
 Like a young, lusty jackal, whisked away 
 At our approach, and leaped the wall. 
 
 Aaron: — You saw 
 
 Him, surely: recognized him? Who is he? 
 
 Ichabot: — Alas! Who is he? Would we knew! I caught 
 A flying glimpse of him. He ran so fast, 
 The rascal. May be you, dear Simeon, 
 Identified him ? 
 
 Simeon: — 'Twas a glance I had of him. 
 
 I think that he was short. 
 
 Ichabot: — No, no. It seemed 
 
 To me that he was tall. 
 
 Simeon : — Had raven hair. 
 
 Ichabot : — A darkish brown. 
 
 Simeon : — I'd know him if I saw 
 
 Him. 
 
 Ichabot: — So should I. 
 
 Aaron: — H'm. — It is odd. — Most odd. 
 
 Gedaliah: — Most odd. 
 
 Naphtali: — Most odd. 
 
 Ichabot: — What, elders, what is odd? 
 
 Is it so odd that we should seek repose 
 
SUSANNA 71 
 
 In the garden ? That we should hear voices ? That 
 
 We should discover such iniquity? 
 
 Yes, it is odd. But is it odd that we, 
 
 Whose solid name defies corrosion, should 
 
 Attempt to rescue Isrrxl from the fate 
 
 Of Sodom and Gomorrah? Is it odd 
 
 That we should sacrifice our reverence 
 
 For Lord Jehoiachin, £,nd bring upon 
 
 His house unceasing grief? Is it odd 
 
 That we should stand before you, we whose place 
 
 Is at your side, and suffer vile reproach, 
 
 And doubting tones from you ? Tell me, is it 
 
 So odd? 
 
 Aaron: — Nay, Ichabot, you fly at a 
 
 Mere shadow. We by no means question what 
 You state. We only wish you might have been 
 More quick. 
 
 Simeon: — Ah! woe is us old gray-beards, friends. 
 
 You are old yourselves, and know that swiftness 
 
 flies 
 With years, and bodily prowess oozes with 
 The sap of youth. Thank God the intellect 
 And love for sanctity and virtue are 
 Intact. 
 
 Aaron: — Have you aught else to say? 
 
 Ichabot: — We have 
 
 No more to testify, unless it be 
 That we, not as accusers, but as friends 
 In sorrow, would implore your gentle breasts 
 To the utmost clemency. We heartily 
 Regret our sad compulsion. 
 
72 SUSANNA 
 
 Aaron:— What reply 
 
 Have you, Susanna, to the charge? 
 
 Anna:— O, speak. 
 
 My daughter! See, your life and honor hang 
 Upon your words. 
 
 Susanna: — What can I say to save 
 
 My name, O judges? What am I to do? 
 Have they not woven their monstrous tissue well ? 
 If I shall tell my innocence, who will 
 Believe me ? Has my husband not, — my chief 
 Support, and now my deep despair, — turned 
 From me ? I have no more hope except in God. 
 When, in the garden, they that would have done 
 Me harm, unfolded their unjust designs. 
 And prophesied that which they have now wrought, 
 I prayed to God to keep my honor and 
 There slay me, or to rescue me. He sent 
 Me aid. I look to Him for help. My life 
 Is in far higher hands than yours. 
 
 Aaron:— My child, 
 
 You start the tears to my long-tearless eyes. 
 You have the air of innocence. Do not 
 Lose heart. However this shall terminate. 
 Be sure Jehovah will breathe in the scale 
 Of justice. 
 
 Ichabot: — Yea, eternal truth and virtue, they 
 
 Shall ever triumph. 
 
 Aaron : — Is there any that 
 
 Would speak? 
 
 Nathan: — The crime, if 'twas committed, must 
 
 Receive its punishment. Yet who that knows 
 
SUSANNA 73 
 
 Susanna and but looks on her can doubt 
 Her purity? I prr.y you in the name 
 Of Juda's law-abiding citizens, 
 Act slowly, and with ripe reflection. 
 
 ZiLPAH : — I 
 
 Have known Susanna from a babe. There is 
 
 No purer soul in Israel. I've wa,tched 
 
 Her grow from lily-child to lily-maid. 
 
 The fcjrest flower in Juda, beautiful 
 
 Within as she is beautiful without: 
 
 A loving, most devoted daughter, wife 
 
 And mother. If you should pronounce her false 
 
 To womanhood, then who of us shall be 
 
 Secure in right? There is some error. Think 
 
 Upon it. Let not haste precipitate 
 
 You, judges, to irrevocable wrong. 
 
 Anna : — I am her mother. I have brought her up 
 
 In the ways of virtue: taught her what her sex 
 
 Should understand: marked out her duties, and 
 
 Bred in her a most lofty sense of feith 
 
 And honor. Never, as all know, has she 
 
 In the slightest failed. Until to-day she stood 
 
 Unchallenged in her purity. The wives 
 
 Of Israel all patterned after her, 
 
 And when a husband wished to scold his mate, 
 
 He said: "Susanna does not thus," or when 
 
 He praised her: "Thus would do Susanna.' ' Now 
 
 O judges, what are we to think ? Shall we 
 
 Decide that she, who held so long her life 
 
 Immaculate, has on a sudden snapped 
 
 The iron chains of habit for a whim, and done 
 
 What is repulsive to her nature and 
 
74 SUSANNA 
 
 Her training? What! Is conscience such a light 
 
 And fickle thing ? Our race would answer " No!' ' 
 
 Our breeding is a bar to our desires. 
 
 Yet what desires could my Susanna have? 
 
 Is she not queen of Israel and wife 
 
 Of the king of men, Jehoiachin, and graced 
 
 With lovely children? Will you rate her with 
 
 The common wenches, and imagine that 
 
 Susanna, in her triple sanctity, 
 
 Would yield a ready victim to a crude 
 
 And thoughtless passion? O, my judges, — for 
 
 In her you must judge me, — bethink yourselves 
 
 Of your own wives and daughters. Say, would you, 
 
 On evidence like that presented by 
 
 These wanton men convict your child to death ? 
 
 Aaron : — Be sure, my lady, we shall weigh with care 
 Each single circumstance and likelihood. — 
 If there is nothing else to hear, we will 
 Withdraw awhile to ponder well this most ' 
 Momentous case. 
 
 Jehoiachin : — I have one favor to 
 
 Request, O judges. 'Tis that if you find 
 
 A sentence adverse to Susanna, you 
 
 Will put the execution of it off 
 
 Till one short hour from sunset. It may be 
 
 That God within that space will send a sign. 
 
 Aaron: — So be it. {Exeunt judges.) 
 
 1ST man {whispering): — How lie your suspicions now, 
 Good neighbor ? Do you not admit her guilt ? 
 
 2ND MAN {whispering) : — 
 
 I see no guilt in her. 
 
SUSANNA 75 
 
 Woman (whispering) : — If innocence 
 
 Should don a human form she'd come as our 
 Susanna. — 'Tis a trumped-up trie: a vile 
 Deceit to cover their own lusts. Have you 
 No eyes for actions ? What ! You never saw 
 A criminal ? how abject some are, and 
 How bra,zen, others ? how the ones will lick 
 The dust from the judges' feet in hope to move 
 Them, while the others, in a panoply 
 Of righteous indignation, armed at all 
 The points, return the accusations with 
 A haughty firmness? I would lay my life 
 On that dear lady's innocence. Those two 
 Old men are the foulest — 
 
 2ND man: — Hush! 
 
 Woman:— I'll tell it—. 
 
 2ND man : — Hush 
 
 (Enter Benjamin and Rahel). 
 
 1ST man: — See, neighbors, see. 
 
 Woman: — O, the pretty dears! The poor, 
 
 Poor little darlings! 
 
 Benjamin: — Where is my mamma? 
 
 You, sir, where is my mother? 
 
 Rahel: — Here she is! 
 
 (dragging at Susannahs skirt.) 
 Mammal 
 
 Susanna (catching her and straining her to her breast) : — 
 My child! My child! 
 
76 SUSANNA 
 
 Benjamin: — You are so pale, 
 
 Mamma, and your eyes are red, as if you had 
 Been weeping. Come away from this great crowd. 
 
 Susanna: — Alas, my Benjamin, I must not go. 
 
 Benjamin: — O, there's papa. Papa, come home with us. 
 Mamma is ill. She must have quiet, as 
 I've often heard the servants say. 
 
 Susanna: — My child, 
 
 I shall have ample quiet soon. There is 
 A place that's hung with deepest silence. 
 
 Rahel : — Let 
 
 Us go there quickly. I am frightened by 
 These people. 
 
 Susanna: — O my children, shall I see 
 
 Your darling faces nevermore ? not feel 
 Your satin arms about my neck ? not hear 
 Your wondrous prattle? Nevermore? O God, 
 That I could only live for them! That I 
 Could be immured in some sealed house or cast 
 Upon a desert spot, far from the ken 
 Of cruel man, to live with them and for 
 Them. — But, alas, they would not come. They 
 
 will 
 Be poisoned toward me. They will curse me. O, 
 My God, to think that they will curse me! It 
 Is worse, O far, far worse than death! 
 {The children cry.) 
 
 Woman {sobbing): — O, it 
 
 Would melt a heart of stone! 
 
SUSANNA 7t 
 
 1ST man: — Poor lady! In 
 
 A moment we're unmade. I pity her 
 Though she be guilty. 
 
 Susanna: — Go, my loved ones, with 
 
 Dabira. — Benjamin, my darling son. 
 My little Benjamin, look at me long: 
 Say you'll remember me with kindness. I 
 Am innocent, my darling, of the crime 
 That they impute to me. O, Benjamin, 
 You do believe me, do you not ? O say 
 You do believe me. 
 
 Benjamin (sobbing, and throwing himself into her arms) : — 
 
 Mother! Mother! 
 
 Rahel {sobbing) : — O 
 
 Mamma ! 
 
 Dabira: — Come, dearies, come. {Exeunt Dabira and 
 children.) 
 {Enter judges and seat themselves.) 
 
 Aaron: — This is a most 
 
 Impressive, solemn duty that devolves 
 On us: a duty, sad enough and stern 
 When occupied with persons of a mean 
 Estate. How burdensome is it in this 
 Perplexing case! Who are the accusers? Two 
 Of Juda's highest names: two elders famed 
 For piety and learning: two of our 
 Respected colleagues: two untarnished posts 
 Of Israel's living temple. Who, the accused? 
 The noblest personage of the chosen race 
 Except our lord, the king: Susanna, wife 
 Of Jehoiachin. What is the crime alleged ? 
 
7S SUSANNA 
 
 The most abhorrent deed in the list of wrong: 
 
 Aduhery. This surely is a thing 
 
 To give us pause. And yet, if all were plain 
 
 Affirmative and negative, we might, 
 
 Though full of sorrow, render sentence with 
 
 Assurance. Here, however, she who is 
 
 Accused denies the accusation: and 
 
 Her word has always been a symbol of 
 
 The purest truth. But so has that of the 
 
 Accusers, Simeon and Ichabot. 
 
 That one is false, is evident. Shall we 
 
 Suspect the elders? Falsehood is indulged 
 
 In only when 'tis profitable. What 
 
 Advantage would the accusers have thereby? 
 
 Their dearest friend, Jehoiachin, is plunged 
 
 In grief: their race must bear the agony 
 
 Of losing in a day its honored queen 
 
 And those three godly youths in Babylon: 
 
 They stir up enemies both high and low. 
 
 For she is loved throughout the tribes : they bring 
 
 Themselves in ugly prominence. And all 
 
 For what ? For notoriety ? No, not 
 
 For that. For malice? It would scarcely seem 
 
 Presumable that they should choose a plan 
 
 So dangerous. For fear? Aye, it is said — 
 
 By the accused — that they anticipate 
 
 An accusation quite as dreadful and 
 
 More horrible in kind against themselves. 
 
 Such charge we cannot but refuse to dwell 
 
 Upon. It is preposterous. That two 
 
 Old men, in whom the flame of youth is long 
 
 Extinct, should so lose shame as to display 
 
 Their criminal desires, is most unheard 
 
SUSANNA )9 
 
 Of. ^Tis preposterous. We, therefore, your 
 Appointed judges, having one sole course 
 Of action left, must give our sentence as 
 The Law directs. Read, Naphtali, that which 
 Applies herein. 
 
 Naphtali {reads from parchment): — 
 
 ''If a man be found lying with a woman 
 married to a husband, then they shall both of 
 them die, both the man that lay with the woman, 
 and the woman: so shalt thou put evil from 
 Israel." 
 
 Aaron: — The youth, if he be found, 
 
 Shall die. Susanna, wife of Jehoiachin, 
 Shall die. It is our stern decree. 
 
 Susanna (murmuring) : — Shall die : 
 
 Shall die! O God! 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Susanna, come. 
 
 Susanna (falls at his feet : in low voice) : — My God ! 
 
Act V. Scene i. 
 
 {Room in Jehoiachin^s House.) 
 
 Jehoiachin. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — We are so strangely made. I know not if 
 I pity more her shame and suffering, 
 Or my own injured feelings. Poor, dear wife! 
 My heart is rent for you, and even were 
 You what they claim, I should find reasons for 
 You. Is it then so hard to justify 
 Our uncontrollable passions? Who, so strong 
 As to be master of them? They are born 
 With us: made part of us, unasked. They rule 
 Us at a certain age, in spite of all 
 We do. The mind may seem to govern us, 
 Yet in a twinkling is the blood inflamed, 
 And reason fails to operate. The laws 
 Of man, however frightful, never changed 
 The first great laws of nature : else, why should 
 The prophets be so full of warning ? — What 
 Must I now do? Be angry with her? How 
 Can I be angry? Has the sudden wrath 
 Of youth not left me? I am old and given to 
 Reflection. Yes, it would be cowardly 
 To hunt her to the grave. The grave, alas! 
 The slimy earth, the worms, the putrid airs, 
 Must they dismantle your fair frame? No, no. 
 My God ! How can I ever sleep again 
 To dream of that which was Susanna once? 
 You shall not go to death. I need you so, 
 
SUSANNA 8i 
 
 Susanna. I could nigh forgive you. I 
 
 Do love you, and I cannot hate you. — But 
 
 The people ! Ah ! the people and the Law — 
 
 'Tis they that press me. For myself I am 
 
 Inactive, and would so prefer to be: 
 
 For them I must do something. Something? 
 
 What? 
 No, I'll do nothing for their cursed laws. 
 I would not have such penalties: they are 
 Too barbarous; were made for the savage days 
 Of a young race. Besides, is she not, as 
 She answered, innocent ? Her looks alone 
 Would force conviction: and if not her looks, — 
 Her life. Ah! my Susanna, sweetest of 
 Companions, shalt thou die, without a word 
 Of pardon, shunned, repelled into the grave? 
 No, no, my poor, young wife, I love thee not 
 So vulgarly. I must support thee through 
 This ordeal. 
 
 {Enter Gamliel and Nahiim.) 
 
 Gamliel : — Your humble servant, lord 
 
 Jehoiachin. 
 
 Nahum: — My lord, with you be peace. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Be welcome, friends. 
 
 Nahum: — We grieve with vou O son 
 
 Of David. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — I thank you kindly. 
 
 Nahum : — I make bold 
 
 To speak. I cm your elder, am I not, 
 Jehoiachin ? 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Speak freely, Nahum. 
 
lb SUSANNA 
 
 Nahum: — We 
 
 Believe Susanna innocent. 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Dear friend, 
 
 I kiss you. O, you know not what a balm 
 You carry to my tortured mind. 
 
 Gamliel : — It is 
 
 A plot of Simeon's and Ichabot's. 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Have you the proofs ? 
 
 Nahum: — We have no proofs. We have 
 
 Suspicions only. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Then, alas, what can 
 
 We do? Facts, solid facts alone will count. 
 O, if you help me friends, you will do me 
 An unforgettable service, and our race 
 A holy kindness. Bend your fruitful mind, 
 
 Nahum, to this sacred task. My own 
 Refuses labor. 
 
 Nahum : — GamUel and I, 
 
 Discussing your sad plight, were quick agreed 
 That there is knavery beneath. 
 
 Gamliel: — As sure 
 
 As we are born: a wretched trick. What made 
 Them shut the court at once, as if they both 
 Had got a sudden sunstroke? Could they not 
 Have waited? Why were they so eager to 
 Depart? I am assured they knew that you 
 Were gone, or soon would be. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — What? Why— Perhaps— 
 
 1 never thought of that. 
 
SUSANNA ^ 
 
 Nahum:— What kept them here? 
 
 If you had heard them you would have beheved 
 
 There was no m?.n in Israel more pained 
 
 At our calamity. You should ha,ve seen 
 
 The heavy sighs they heaved : ''I'll pray to God,' ' 
 
 Quoth Simeon. "If my undoing would ease 
 
 Her yoke one bit, my Hfe is at her call," 
 
 Breathed Ichabot with anguish. Yet, when I 
 
 Insisted that they come: "My head spins like 
 
 A blind, mad midge," said Simeon. "I am," 
 
 Said Ichabot, "a broken reed." I was 
 
 Disgusted, and I felt that something must 
 
 Be doing. Both evaded me like thieves, — 
 
 Or worse. They were not going, — that I'm sure 
 
 Of, — toward the garden. How, then, came they 
 
 there 
 So soon? so opportunely? Must they not 
 Have doubled, like the foxes? 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Maybe it 
 
 Was chance. 
 
 Nahum : — How chance, Jehoiachin ? Do you 
 
 Defend them ? Will you let your lofty mind 
 Be trammeled by the common notions? Why, 
 Each man among us who possesses but 
 The rudiments of justice, swears there is 
 A plot. You know, Jehoiachin, that, just 
 As you remain for us the symbol of 
 Our high election, so Susanna is 
 The symbol of our purity. And we 
 Shall fight for her. What evidence is that 
 They offer? It is worthless, childish. Why, 
 The judges had no right to sentence her 
 On stuff so unsubstantial ! The surprise, 
 
84 SUSANNA 
 
 The haste of the accusers, the details 
 
 Confirmed by witnesses, and the seeming lack 
 
 Of motives hurried them to their decree. 
 
 "Wherefore should elders do this?" That is what 
 
 Decided them. As if old men must of 
 
 Necessity possess a different code 
 
 Of morals, and with colder blood, a set 
 
 Of motives different from youths'! Let us, 
 
 Jehoiachin, — I pray you for 
 
 Your sake, and hers, and ours, to whom she is 
 
 So dear, — let us demand postponement of 
 
 The sentence till the youth be caught. It is 
 
 Your right : and if you won't assert it, it 
 
 Is ours. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Dear Nahum, you put life in me. 
 
 {Enter Joseph, while Nahum continues. He hows gravely 
 to Jehoiachin). 
 
 Nahum: — The scoundrels! Is her word not gold? 
 
 They say " a youth.' ' What youth ? "I think 
 
 that he 
 Was short," says one. The other: "No, it seemed 
 To me that he was tall." "Had raven hair," 
 Conjectures Simeon. "A darkish brown," 
 Thinks Ichabot. A youth! A prodigy! 
 I'd like to see the youth! 
 
 Joseph {solemnly) : — Well, look upon 
 
 Him. 
 
 Nahum: — What! You, Joseph! 
 
 Gamliel: — You! 
 
 Jehoiachin:— You, Joseph! Why—! 
 
 My God ! — O, Joseph, how you scared me ! I 
 
SUSANNA 85 
 
 Forgot for a moment — that — you were with me 
 At Babylon. 
 
 Joseph {in same tone) : — I am the youth. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Nay, drop 
 
 The joke, dear Joseph. 'Tis repugnant to 
 Me. 
 
 Joseph (in same tone) : — 
 
 I reiterate, I am the youth. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — You're merry, Joseph. We are sad. It is 
 Not seemly. 
 
 Joseph: — My dear lord and master, hear 
 
 Me out. I was at Babylon with you: 
 Therefore, I was not in the garden. It 
 Is proved with ease. But they, old Simeon 
 And Ichabot, they do not know: at least, 
 I think they know not, — Listen, lord. Do not 
 Be angry. Say you'll hearken patiently. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Speak, Joseph. I am never stem with you. 
 Your words are words of wisdom. 
 
 Joseph: — You believe 
 
 That I would do my utmost to preserve 
 Your name unsullied? 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Surely, Joseph, yes. 
 
 Joseph: — That what I say has been most carefully 
 Deliberated ? 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Yes . 
 
 Joseph: — That I would blight 
 
 My being rather than obscure for one 
 Short moment your dear lady's fair repute ? 
 
86 SUSANNA 
 
 Jehoiachin: — I am on coals, dear Joseph. Quickly tell 
 Your plan. 
 
 Nahum: — O noble youth! I see the light! 
 
 Joseph : — You, Gamliel and elder Nahum, are 
 My witnesses ? 
 
 Gamliel and Nahum: — Yes, yes. 
 
 Joseph: — Then hear my scheme 
 
 I blush in the unfolding of it. Yet, 
 As true as God is o'er us, I intend 
 No harm, but only the salvation of 
 The purest soul in Israel. I do 
 Not stand alone in worship of our queen : 
 All that is good among us seconds me. 
 And if the worst should happen, I'm afraid 
 For Simeon and Ichabot. 
 
 Nahum {approvingly): — I, too. 
 
 Gamliel {approvingly) : — And I. 
 
 Joseph : — Now, if you ask delay, my lord, 
 
 It is quite possible the judges will 
 Refuse you, having rendered sentence once, 
 And yielded once to your request. Besides, 
 They would be loth to lose their influence 
 As men inspired by God. And Simeon 
 And Ichabot will surely fight against 
 The danger to themselves. They will produce 
 Fair reasons, till their fabricated youth 
 Appear — to stun them. 
 
 Nahum: — 'Tis a thought divine! 
 
 Gamliel: — They may deny that it is he. 
 
SUSANNA 87 
 
 Joseph: — It is 
 
 Scarce likely. I have questioned those who should 
 Have seen the youth — if there had been one. Some 
 Were near the garden at the time, yet saw- 
 None leave. If Lord Jehoiachin allow 
 Me, I will lay my plan before the chief 
 Of the judges, Aaron, and bring in the youth 
 With witnesses. It is the only way 
 To safety. The accusers will betray 
 Themselves. Pray, let me be the youth, my lord. 
 
 Jehoiachin : — Dear Joseph, your devotion overwhelms 
 Me. — But, no, no. — I cannot give consent. 
 There would be dark suspicions afterwards. 
 
 Joseph: — The elders know I was in Babylon. 
 
 Besides, my lord, I am betrothed. I must 
 Admit, it is my bride I fight for, too. 
 Who can be chaste, if not Susanna? 
 
 Jehoiachin: — She 
 
 Will scorn the expedient. 
 
 Joseph : — She need not know. 
 
 She will, *tis true, be tortured for a space — 
 A short, sharp moment. In a moment she 
 Will win her life and honor. 
 
 Jehoiachin:— Well — it might — 
 
 I can — I wish — . Well, Joseph, wait awhile. 
 I'll speak with Aaron. — No. — Be patient. — Let 
 Me think. — O, would Susanna could be saved 
 By other means! 
 
88 SUSANNA 
 
 Nahum : — Come, Joseph, let us to 
 
 Our holy work withdraw. 
 
 Joseph: — Have courage, lord. 
 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
SUSANNA 89 
 
 Scene 2. 
 
 (Room with window over the Court.) — Susanna. 
 
 (Benjamin and Rahel in the yard). 
 
 Susanna {at window): — 
 
 My life will set with the setting sun: and night 
 
 Will drop its sable mantle on my name. 
 
 These damask hangings and these cedar posts 
 
 Will carry mourning, and the rooms will lie 
 
 In muffled silence. Henceforth I shall be 
 
 A stranger to these soft divans and to 
 
 This furniture. The marble court sh?Jl no 
 
 More feel my steps, nor the shrubs my loving hand 
 
 I am an execration. O, my God! — 
 
 My children, see, they play within the yard 
 
 Oblivious of the world. How joyously 
 
 They talk and laugh and skip ^.bout. They will 
 
 Forget me in a week, a month. They'll miss 
 
 The usual kiss — so little to them and 
 
 To me so much — they'll speak in whispers for 
 
 A day, and cry themselves to sleep. And then, 
 
 A block of wood, a pebble, will absorb 
 
 Them more than I. And finally, they will 
 
 Be taught to hate me. O, my God! my God! — 
 
 And thou, Jehoiachin, what wilt thou do? 
 
 Thou wilt not curse me: no, thou art too great. 
 
 Thou wilt forbid all mention of thy young 
 
 And erring wife, and in thy brooding heart 
 
 Wilt pity her. O God, I can endure 
 
 All else, save only that ; save only that. 
 
 {Enter Dabira). 
 What ! Is't my husband ? 
 
90 SUSANNA 
 
 Dabira: — No, my dear, it is 
 
 My lady Shua. But my lord is working for 
 Your rescue, I'm persuaded. Nahum and 
 Some others were with him. — I have refused 
 Admission to the rest: yet Shua seems 
 So piteous and sorrowful that I 
 Had not the heart to turn her off. 
 
 Susanna: — Nay, I 
 
 Will see her. — {Exit Dabira). — O, my husband 
 
 still believes 
 In me! Great, good, and noble man! 
 
 Shua (rushes on Susanna'' s neck): — Forgive 
 
 Me, dear Susanna. I have need of your 
 Forgiveness. O, I have so wronged you! 
 
 Susanna: — Nay, 
 
 Dear Shua, you are suffering. What is 
 It, dear? 
 
 Shua: — How can I tell it ? 'Tis — O, it 
 
 Is — very foolish. Think of it. I have 
 Been — have been — O, Susanna, I have been 
 Long jealous of you. Yes, I have, my dear. 
 No, do not look incredulous. I am 
 A most remorseful sinner. I cannot 
 Let you depart — alas ! it is your plight 
 That has awakened better feelings in 
 Me, — I cannot support the dreadful thought 
 Of parting from you without pardon. I 
 Have envied you your high estate, your wealth, 
 Your jewels, and your children, and — O, most 
 Of all, your beauty and your virtue. I 
 Have grudged you these, Susanna. I am vain. 
 O, dear Susanna, I am but a child. 
 
SUSANNA 91 
 
 Forgive me. See how I have confidence 
 In your nobility and graciousness. 
 O, I should be most happy if I could 
 Die martyred for you. It would be so sweet 
 To have the future ages Unk my name 
 With yours, Susanna. O, my dear, forgive 
 Me. Pity me. 
 
 Susanna (embracing her) : — Dear Shua, you possess 
 A noble heart beneath your vanity. 
 Nay, you must pity me. 
 
 (Enter) Anna: — The Lord be praised, 
 
 My children! How tremendous is the Lord! 
 
 Shua: — Speak quickly, Anna. Is — ? 
 
 Anna: — Alas, not that; 
 
 Not yet. But there is hope. Yea, God has sent 
 A sign. The youths are free! 
 
 Susanna: — Are free! 
 
 Shua: — The youths 
 
 Are free! 
 
 Anna: — I was of the first to know it. From 
 
 The city came a man on horse, enwrapt 
 In a cloud of dust. ''The youths are free," he 
 
 cried. 
 "They have been cast in a burning furnace, and 
 They live. They live, and they are pardoned.' ' 
 
 Susanna and Shua: — Praised 
 
 Be God! 
 
 Anna: — Amen, my children. God be praised! 
 
 Susanna: — O, I am full of hopes, my mother. Kiss 
 
 Me, mother, Shua. God has shown His hand. 
 
9« SU5ANNA 
 
 (Enter) Dabira: — Dear mistress, you are summoned to 
 the court. 
 
 Anna: — My God, what caurk^e? 
 
 Susanna: — O, it is my 
 
 Salvation, mother. Come! 
 
SUSANNA 93 
 
 Scene 3. 
 
 {Court.) 
 
 Judges, etc.: Susanna: Jehoiachin: Shua: Nahum: 
 Joseph. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — The moment of 
 
 The execution of your sentence on 
 My wife, Susanna, being near, I now 
 Have to request, O judges, further grace. 
 I pray you wait awhile, until I shall 
 Be able — as I have high hopes to be — 
 To lay before you testimony that 
 Will free my wife from odium. 
 
 Aaron: — What is 
 
 The nature of the evidence? 
 
 Jehoiachin: — I can 
 
 Not tell it now. 
 
 Ichabot : — If you have proofs, my lord. 
 
 We pray you to present them. We will drop 
 The matter after sunset. It is too 
 Pernicious to our strength. We have endured 
 For Israel's honor more than our fair share. 
 We Ve done our duty : we are satisfied. 
 
 Aaron: — I do not see, my lord, that we can yield 
 
 To your entreaty. We have set a bound: 
 It was a special favor. Within an hour 
 Of sunset was the time. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — It is so short, 
 
 O judges. A few hours will surely prove 
 Her innocence. You will not wish to put 
 To death a guiltless person? Be not hard. 
 
94 SUSANNA 
 
 Ichabot: — The deeds of God require no dial. Lo, 
 He has, as Juda has just seen, displayed 
 His awful power. 
 
 Simeon: — If you, my lord, expect 
 
 A miracle, have no concern. Our God 
 Is just. 
 (A commotion takes place in the corner oj the court). 
 
 Aaron: — What is that noise ? 
 
 Gedaliah: — Ho, silence in 
 
 The court! 
 
 Naphtali: — You rabble, silence! 
 
 Nahum: — Bring this youth 
 
 Before the judges. 
 
 1ST man: — Joseph! 
 
 Anna: — Joseph! 
 
 Aaron:— What 
 
 Do you mean by this proceeding, Nahum? We 
 Permit no heedless insolence. We judge. 
 Be silent. 
 
 Nahum: — Since what time, O elders, have 
 
 You found me insolent? Like Ichabot 
 And Simeon, I do my duty. They, 
 As well as you, will thank me soon for my 
 Unheeding insolence. I claim the right 
 To speak. 'Tis relevant to that you have 
 In hand. 
 
 Aaron: — You have permission. 
 
 Nahum : — Elders, look 
 
 At Joseph. Should a guiltless man be so 
 
SUSANN|A 95 
 
 Confused? He is the favorite of our lord 
 Jehoiachin: the comrade of his joys 
 And sharer of his table. Let him hide 
 His face. I here accuse him as the youth 
 Who fled the grasp of Ichabot. 
 
 Woman: — Of all 
 
 Surprises! 
 
 Anna: — Water! quick! My child has swooned! 
 
 It is a lie! a lie! — Susanna! O, 
 My daughter! 
 
 Woman: — May the Heavens fall! 
 
 Shua:— No, no, 
 
 It is not true. It cannot be. It is 
 Another trap. — You, Nahum, you, I hate 
 You. Simeon and Ichabot, I could 
 With pleasure stone you. O you foul, foul crew! 
 
 1ST man: — Well, neighbor, did I not say rightly? She 
 Is deeper than she looks. It is a shame. 
 The milk-white innocent! And she, our queen! 
 Fie on her! 
 
 2ND man: — Hold your tongue! You have not seen 
 The end of this. 
 
 1ST man: — The harlot! 
 
 Aaron: — Silence! We 
 
 Will now proceed. 
 
 Nahum: — You recognize him, do 
 
 You not, friend Simeon? — A pretty youth! 
 
 Simeon: — Why, I — . O, yes — I — I — I know him. I 
 Believe he is the lad. 
 
g6 SUSANNA 
 
 Ichabot: — H'm. Joseph! Well, 
 
 I thought he looked familiar. Yes, I see 
 It now. I'd know that wealthy head, those slim. 
 And sloping shoulders an5nvhere. 'Tis he, 
 O judges. See, how in the final hour 
 Jehovah bears our statements out! Yes, I 
 Am sure 'tis he. 'Tis strange I should have been 
 Perplexed. 
 
 Simeon: — Yes, it is he. I'd swear to it. 
 
 His stooping baffled me. If it were not 
 For the repute in which he stands with lord 
 Jehoiachin, we should have laid suspicions on 
 Him at the very first. But then they would 
 Have said we had a spite. Thank God it came 
 Through other hands than ours. Yes, it is he. 
 
 Nahum: — What wall did you say he leaped ? 
 
 Simeon and Ichabot {looking at each other) : — What wall ? 
 
 Nahum: — My witness says it was — . 
 
 Ichabot: — 
 
 Your witness 
 
 It was - 
 
 -? 
 
 Nahum: — 
 
 He says it was — . 
 
 Simeon: — 
 
 It was—? 
 
 Aaron: — 
 
 Aye, which 
 
 One was it Simeon? 
 
 Simeon: — It was — . Why, sure. 
 
 It was the wall on the street. 
 
 Nahum: — On the street? 
 
 Ichabot: — He means 
 
 The one along the field. 
 
SUSANNA 97 
 
 N AHUM : — Along the field ? 
 
 Simeon: — I — . 
 
 Ichabot: — We — . 
 
 Simeon:— I said—. 
 
 2ND man: — He said! 
 
 Woman : — He said ! Ha ! Ha ! 
 
 He said! 
 
 Ichabot: — You shameless crowd! Will you be still! 
 And you, O judges, are you in conspiracy 
 Against our word? I say he is the youth. 
 I'm sure of it. Will you allow such doubt 
 Of your decree? I ask for justice. Put 
 An end to this most arrogant impudence. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — Once more, accusers, are you sure? 
 
 Ichabot: — My lord. — 
 
 But no: I scorn to cry against unjust 
 Assailants. I repeat that it was he. 
 
 Jehoiachin: — O judges, was such villpJny e'er known? 
 Look on your colleague Simeon: see how 
 He quakes. The aged knaves! They merit no 
 Consideration. — Ichabot, will you 
 Confess your treachery ? 
 
 Ichabot: — My lord, I'm at 
 
 A loss to understand you. I have done 
 No wrong. Prove what you can : then shall we talk. 
 I still insist that Joseph with your wife 
 Committed harlotry. 
 
 Jehoiachin : — You are as bold 
 
 A rascal at four-score as any in 
 
98 SUSANNA 
 
 The prime. We'll cut this matter short. It is 
 Disgusting. — Dearest Joseph, speak. 
 
 Joseph: — I pray 
 
 You, elders, pardon the deceit to which 
 
 We have been forced. It was a plan of mine 
 
 Which came to me from Him who is on high. 
 
 As soon as I had heard the danger to 
 
 The honor of our noblest house, I made 
 
 Inquiry of the circumstances, for 
 
 I always had undying faith in her 
 
 Who is the lily of our race. The search 
 
 Revealed to me two facts: that there had been 
 
 No leaping of the garden-wall, — no youth, — 
 
 And that the godly Simeon had once 
 
 Before made known his amorous desires 
 
 To lady Susanna. She through pity, had 
 
 At last consented to be silent. This 
 
 Was told to me by Anna. 
 
 Aaron & Jehoiachin: — Is this true? 
 
 Susanna: — Alas, my husband, it is true. He begged 
 So tearfully. He said it was a freak 
 Of his weary bi?jn. He said he had been ill. 
 How could I not have pity on his bowed 
 Gray head ? Forgive me, husband. 'Twas in your 
 Behalf I kept it secret. 
 
 Ickabot: (snarling): — These are tales 
 
 Of wondrous cleverness. O pretty tales! 
 
 Do you suppose they'll be believed? Just prove 
 
 Them! 
 
 Joseph: — Poor old men! To end their lives 
 
 So dismally! — I was at Babylon 
 
SUSANNA 99 
 
 While you would have me here. The elders all 
 Will testify to it. 
 
 Simeon: — At Babylon! 
 
 My God, have mercy on me! Elders, I 
 Confess. — O judges, mercy ! mercy ! Spare 
 My life, O God! I cannot die. I am 
 Too old — . O elders, see, I am too old 
 To die this death! 
 
 ICHABOT {dazed) : — At Babylon ! You say — 
 
 You were — at Babylon? My God! I did 
 Not think of that! 
 
 (There is silence for a moment). 
 
 Aaron: — There is no more to say? 
 
 Simeon: — O judges, — O my God! — I'm mad! — O God, 
 O God, O God! 
 
 Aaron: — You, take your hand away! — 
 
 Is there aught else to say? (pauses). There is 
 
 no more 
 To say. — Then render thanks to God, O ye 
 Of Israel, for His abounding love 
 And His exceeding mercy unto you. 
 Ye have beheld Him in a day uphold 
 Our dignity and honor: keep unhurt 
 In a burning furnace three most precious lives, 
 And here, preserve the guiltless and confound 
 The guilty in their wickedness. O praise 
 The Lord, ye tribes of Israel, Who made 
 The fire innocuous, and destroyed a web 
 Of cunning circumstance. — For these old men. 
 Their name shall be abhorred in Juda, and 
 A byword. Nor have we to judge them. They 
 
joo SUSANNA 
 
 Have judged themselves. The Law virhich Ichabot 
 Called down upon himself shall be fulfilled. — 
 Read Naphtali, the Law. 
 
 Naphtali {reads): — "If a false witness rise up against any 
 man to testify against him that which is wrong; 
 
 Then both the men, between whom the 
 controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before 
 the priests and judges which shall be in those days ; 
 And the judges shall make diligent inquisi- 
 tion: and, behold, if the witness be a false wit- 
 ness, and hath testified falsely aga.inst his brother; 
 Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought 
 to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put 
 the evil away from among you.' ' 
 
 Aaron: — That which they swore 
 
 Against their neighbor falsely, called for death. 
 Their doom is death. It is our stern decree. 
 
 Simeon {moaning) : — 
 
 My God! My God! 
 
 Woman: — The Lord be praised! 
 
 Shua:— O God 
 
 Is just ! Susanna's free ! 
 
 Anna:— My child! 
 
 Aaron: — Lead them 
 
 Away. 
 
 Susanna: — O God, I thank Thee. — Husband! 
 Bailiffs {dragging Simeon and Ichabot) : — Come ! 
 
O03 
 
V 
 
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