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 Copy 1 
 
 AVID 
 
 OF M ODIN 
 
 
 A CHANUKAH PLAY 
 
 BY 
 
 JACOB J. LEIBSON 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
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DAVID OF 
 
 A Chanukah Pla.y 
 
 y His sons. 
 
 CAST OF CHARACTERS. 
 
 Deborah : A widow of Modin. 
 
 David: Her son. 
 
 Miriam : Her daughter. 
 
 Abraham : A servant in the house- 
 hold of Deborah. 
 
 Mattathias : The Asmonean. 
 
 Judas : ^ 
 
 John : j 
 
 Eleazar : 
 
 Simeon : 
 
 Jonathan : 
 
 Apollonius: Commander of Syri- 
 an host. 
 
 Alnashar: Aide to Apollonius. 
 
 AzARiAs: A Jewish traitor. 
 
 Soldiers, slaves, etc. 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 [Scene : Dwelling of Deborah. Mir- 
 iam on couch to the right. Deborah 
 
 seated at table on the left. Before 
 
 her are soldiers' garments, helmet, 
 
 shield, and sword. Striking on 
 
 shield heard three times without. 
 
 Miriam starts up suddenly.] 
 
 Miriam: O David! Mother! What 
 was that? 
 
 Deborah : My child, thou hast been 
 dreaming. That was nothing but the 
 sentinel striking thrice on his shield 
 to signify that all is well. 
 
 Miriam : But David — where has he 
 gone? 'Twas but a moment ago that 
 I saw him face to face, as plainly as 
 I see thee now. 
 
 Deborah: David? My child, what 
 makes thee think of David now? 
 Twas two years ago, when last I 
 saw my only son, and he has not been 
 
 Copyright, 1903, by 
 
 here since. Ah ! God only knows 
 whether I shall ever behold his face 
 again. Dost remember, Miriam, how 
 thy brother asked me leave to go to 
 Jerusalem, and how he started with 
 his harp, one early morning, to glad- 
 den the holy citv with his song? How 
 all the people were sad, because 
 David of Modin had left them to go 
 to Jerusalem. Let us hope he is there 
 in safety now. Let us pray that he 
 has not fallen before the enemies 
 of the Lord, who have defiled the holy 
 city. Who knows? Perhaps he is 
 now with the God of his fathers. 
 
 Miriam : Then it is all a dream. 
 
 Deborah : How strange, my child, 
 that thou too, shouldst have been 
 thinking of him now ! But a moment 
 ago I sent for the sword and shield 
 of thy father. His helmet and robes 
 are there too, and I was just thinking 
 how my David would look, fighting 
 for his God and his country. O 
 David, where art thou? But tell me, 
 dearest Miriam, how did he appear 
 to thee? Art thou sure it was thy 
 brother? Tell me, was his face joy- 
 ful or sad? 
 
 Miriam : O mother, it was none 
 other than he. I am sure, for 1 saw 
 him thrice. At first he appeared to 
 me, carrying his harp on his back. 
 I noticed that its strings were rent 
 asunder, and that his face was sad. 
 He seemed to regard me with a pitiful 
 smile, and I advanced to take his hand, 
 to speak to him words of solace, when 
 
 Bloch Publishing Co. 
 
lo! he suddenly changed, and I no 
 longer beheld my brother, the min- 
 strel, before me. In his place stood 
 one with smiling face. On his head 
 stood out the long ears of a jester. 
 No harp could I see, but still it was 
 David, for looking again, I saw the 
 scar which he had received in his 
 youth. The smile that played around 
 his lips was not in his eyes, for gazing 
 into them I seemed to look into his 
 very soul, which was sad. Again he 
 suddenly changed. This time I could 
 see him better than ever. It seemed 
 that he had never appeared so plainly 
 to me before. He stood on an emi- 
 nence, with sword in hand, and once 
 more his harp was with him. He 
 beckoned me to go to him. I did 
 so, but, alas ! as I stretched forth my 
 arm, he suddenly vanished. The 
 sound of battle rang in my ears, and 
 — I awoke. 
 
 Deborah : Surely, my child, there 
 is some meaning behind it all. Per- 
 haps we have not hoped in vain. Some 
 day, by the will of God, we may see 
 him again, and if so, may it be as 
 in thy last vision — with sword in 
 hand. O, had the Lord but blessed 
 me with ten sons ! How happy I 
 should be to send them to battle 
 against the enemies of Israel! Hap- 
 piest of women is the mother of the 
 Maccabees, who so nobly defended 
 our country and our religion. 
 
 Miriam : Yes mother, the camp of 
 Mattathias is in need of such men 
 as our David, and — (Enter Abraham, 
 bowing. ) Abraham ! What is it ? Is 
 there any one without? 
 
 Abraham: Ay. There are three 
 men without, two of them sentinels, 
 
 having in their charge a spy, a man 
 who has just come down from Jerusa- 
 lem, and is suspected of being an 
 enemy to our cause. He asserts that 
 he is a native of Modin. At least, 
 so they tell me, and they have brought 
 him here to see whether he speaks 
 the truth. As I am newly in thy 
 service, I do not know him, for he 
 claims to be thy absent son David. 
 
 Deborah and Miriam: David! 
 
 Deborah : Tell me, Abraham, does 
 he bear a scar on his forehead ? 
 
 Abraham : Ay, near the left tem- 
 ple. 
 
 Deborah : Then it is he. Bring 
 him to me at once. O Miriam, thy 
 dream has come true! 
 
 (Enter David betzveen two sentinels, 
 who fall back as he rushes into his 
 mother's arms.) 
 
 David: Mother! Miriam! (Takes 
 his sister's hand.) 
 
 Deborah : My son, I feared thou 
 wert no more, and nov/ I see thee be- 
 fore me. O merciful God! He, who 
 left me when but a stripling, has re- 
 turned in the full strength of years. 
 How oowerfully thou art built, my 
 beloved! What brawny arms! 
 
 David: Yes, mother, the Lord has 
 been kind to me. He has saved me 
 from the fate that befell so many in 
 Jerusalem, and has blessed me with 
 a strong arm to avenge those poor 
 unfortunates. It is better fitted now 
 to wield the sword, than to sweep the 
 strings of the harp, which I have 
 vowed never to touch until the holy 
 city be restored to its former glory, 
 and the base enemy be driven from 
 before the shrine. Where once all 
 was sacred, they have builded temples 
 
of worship to their idols, and altars 
 to the tyrant Antiochus. My right 
 arm has smitten the unfaithful, who 
 dared worship at their shrines. Many 
 true hearted sons of Israel rose up 
 in arms and destroyed the profaned 
 altars. And I and some others were 
 forced to flee the city. 
 
 Deborah : The Lord has been 
 merciful in guiding thee safely to 
 Modin. 
 
 David : O mother, all along the way 
 mine eyes were a witness to the evil 
 work of the enemy. Nothing but 
 fire and blood greeted my sight dur- 
 ing the past few weeks. Even now, 
 as I wended my way to Modin, I re- 
 ceived word of a terrible disaster. A 
 thousand of our people have been 
 cruelly slain in the wilderness, in cold 
 blood, because they would not defile 
 their Sabbath by resisting the enemy 
 on that day. I can bear it no longer, 
 and that is why I am here, for I came 
 to join the camp of the Maccabees. 
 Mother, dear mother, I know thou 
 wilt not restrain me from so just a 
 cause. 
 
 Deborah : My son, there is no 
 greater pleasure in store for the heart 
 of a true mother in Israel. But a 
 while ago I pictured to myself how 
 thou wouldst look in the martial garb 
 of thy father. See, there lie his hel- 
 met and his sword. Take them. The 
 Lord in his goodness has answered 
 the fondest wishes of my heart in 
 restoring thee to me, and now, dear 
 son, thou mayest go to fight in His 
 name. Yonder is the camp of the 
 Maccabees. On those noble heights 
 they defy the base enemy. Go! And, 
 if it please tlie Lord, thou wilt return 
 
 to me in victory. If not, I shall re- 
 member that it is the will of Him, 
 who rules beyond the clouds. 
 Curtain. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 [The camp of the Maccabees. Mat- 
 tathias and his five sons. Soldiers. 
 Man on the ground before Mat- 
 tathias.] 
 
 Mattathias (turning to Judas) : 
 Judas, what sayest thou shall be done 
 with the culprit? It is almost a pity 
 to put one like him to death, for he 
 seems an able youth. 
 
 Judas : Ay, father, but consider, is 
 he not a spy ? Has he not taken steps 
 to bring about our ruin, even risking 
 his own life in the attempt to destroy 
 our whole camp? What is the fate 
 of all spies but death, and what other 
 fate does he deserve? 
 
 Mattathias : Thou sayest truly, 
 my son. And yet it is not every sol- 
 dier in the camp of ApoUonius, who 
 would undertake what this one has. 
 And remembei* how bravely he bore 
 himself when captured. I warrant me 
 that without thy opportune arrival, 
 he would have beaten our soldiers oflF. 
 I cannot help but admire such bravery, 
 and if it be possible, nothing would 
 please me more than to spare his life. 
 What say thy brothers on the matter? 
 Speak, Jonathan and Simeon. What 
 are your thoughts, John and Eleazar? 
 
 John : Thy words, father, appear 
 reasonable to me. This man should, 
 if possible, be spared. But remember, 
 father, he left the camp of ApoUonius 
 to bring about our destruction. How 
 would his commander treat one of the 
 
Maccabees, if chance should ever 
 throw him into his power ? 
 
 Simeon: My brother, I fear, is 
 somewhat blinded by his hatred to- 
 ward the enemy. What would we 
 gain by the death of the culprit? He 
 is in our power, and can do us no 
 harm. While he lives he may do us 
 good, for we can, perhaps, obtain 
 from him valuable information. 
 
 (All nod in approbation.) 
 
 Mattathias : Well spoken, my son. 
 His tongue will, perhaps, save his 
 life. We shall now see whether our 
 captive will break his silence. (Turn- 
 ing to spy, and touching him with his 
 sword) Up ! (Spy rises and faces 
 Mattathias. ) 
 
 Mattathias : It were a pity to de- 
 stroy thy life, my man, if it can pos- 
 sibly be spared. But whether thou 
 livest or diest, rests now entirely with 
 thee. 
 
 Spy: With me? 
 
 Mattathias : Listen, and thou 
 shalt see how. A few days ago I 
 receiv^ed word of the whereabouts of 
 the enemy's camp. As yet I have sent 
 no spy to learn its strength. There 
 are two things which I desire to know, 
 and these things I can obtain from 
 thee, l^irst, I desire to know, whether 
 Apollonius intends to attack us soon. 
 Then I wish to have a plan of the 
 camp, so that I may send one of my 
 men thither. 
 
 Spy: 'T am thy captive. I must 
 bow to thy will. 
 
 Mattathias: Then speak! 
 
 Spy: It is the intention of Apol- 
 lonius to fall upon thee in about a 
 fortnight. Early in the morning, he 
 expects to surprise thy camp and de- 
 
 molish it completely. His plans are 
 all made, though he has not yet de- 
 cided upon the day. As to our camp, 
 it is situated in a valley that is well 
 guarded by sentinels, who hold all 
 entrances to the neighborhood. Thou 
 wilt find no difficulty, however, in 
 passing our frontier lines on giving 
 the countersign, which is ''Apol- 
 lonius, the Conqueror." Once within 
 the lines, it is easy to obtain access 
 to the tent of Apollonius by applying 
 as a servant to his Excellency. 
 
 Mattathias : 'Tis well. But re- 
 member, if thy words prove false, 
 thou shalt forfeit thv life. (Turning 
 to Judas.) Bring David to me. (To 
 spy.) I shall send into thy camp one 
 whom I value highly, for a braver lad 
 the entire Syrian host does not con- 
 tain. If thy story prove untrue, and 
 they touch but a hair of his head as a 
 consequence, remember — thou art in 
 the hands of the Maccabees! 
 
 Spy: Would that I could feel as 
 safe on the field of battle. 
 
 (Enter Daznd and Judas.) 
 
 Mattathias: Ah, David. I have 
 an errand for thee, my lad, but it is 
 a dangerous one. Thou art to go into 
 the camp of the enemy, and learn 
 when they are to attack us. Judas 
 will instruct thee further. But, be- 
 fore thou goest, take this, a half of a 
 drachma, broken by my sword. The 
 other portion I hold. When the enemy 
 is ready to fall upon us, contrive to 
 send me thy portion the day before, 
 and if it match the portion I have, I 
 will know it to be a signal from thee 
 that the enemy is about to attack us. 
 And now go. (Exit David.) As for 
 him (indicating spy), guard him well. 
 
His fate hangs upon the words he 
 has uttered. {Spy led out R.) 
 
 (Enter soldier in haste L.) 
 
 Mattathias: What now, Reuben? 
 
 Soldier: O Mattathias! We have 
 just discovered that one of our men 
 has deserted. Azarias has gone off 
 to join the Syrian host. 
 
 Mattathias: What! A traitor in 
 Israel ? Go, seek him at once. Spare 
 no effort to bring him back into the 
 camp which he would disgrace. Go 
 Judas! Simeon! John! Eleazar and 
 Jonathan! Let him not escape us. 
 Ten talents of silver to the man who 
 brings him back, dead or alive. 
 Curtain. 
 
 SCENE 2. 
 
 [Tent of Apollonius. Apollonius re- 
 clining on divan. Fool sitting on 
 the floor in foreground. Alnashar. 
 Soldiers and slaves.] 
 Alnashar: Yes, your Excellency, 
 there is no use in delaying the attack 
 any longer. The Jews are very weak, 
 and but few in number. We can 
 easily destroy them and have done 
 with them for ever. 
 
 Apollonius: So we can, indeed, 
 and that with but a handful of men. I 
 really think it unnecessary for more 
 than a few chosen ones to make the 
 attack. It would be flattering to them, 
 to be sure, if the entire Syrian host 
 were to march against a handful of 
 Jews. Should the rogues be fortunate 
 enough to repel our band, it will then 
 be ample time to think seriously of 
 them. In the meanwhile, hast thou 
 made preparation for our return, and 
 for the proper conveyance of the cap- 
 tives ? 
 
 Alnashar : All is in readiness, your 
 
 Excellency. We await but the order 
 to attack. Our swords are thirsting 
 for Jewish blood, and I know my 
 hand, for one, is itching for the spoils. 
 Apollonius : Didst thou say thirst- 
 ing for Jewish blood? I have a blade 
 here that shall drink most unsparingly. 
 See, this sword I reserve for Judas 
 Maccabseus himself. Him I shall be 
 courteous enough to slay with a gold- 
 tipped blade. Such handles of inlaid 
 ivory and pearl are not to be found 
 in every camp. It is almost a pity 
 to stain it with the caitiff's blood- 
 No, I'll not. For him I'll have in 
 store a more deserving fate. He shall 
 share the lot of the women and chil- 
 dren; but only at first. Then, when 
 I have dragged him a captive in 
 chains, from the Euphrates to the 
 Nile, I'll permit one of my slaves to 
 dispatch him. There are chains 
 enough in the camp of Apollonius for 
 the Maccabees and their entire band. 
 {Turning to soldier.) Bring me of the 
 fetters that lie without. {Exit sol- 
 dier.) We'll see by to-morrow 
 whether these fellows in chains will 
 be as cheerful and as defiant as they 
 are in the mountains. {Enter soldier 
 with chains.) I warrant thee there will 
 be quite a change in the atmosphere. 
 {To fool.) Come, fool, what sayest 
 thou to these shackels? What think- 
 est thou, eh ? Will the lion of Modin 
 roar when we twist his tad? Speak 
 and mark that thy words be witty. 
 
 Fool: Your Excellency, from what 
 I have heard of this Judas, le is a 
 lion — in the fight, but an eel in fetters. 
 I fear me you will find him a slippery 
 article indeed. And as for twisting" 
 the lion's tail — rather your Excel- 
 lency than I. 
 
Apollonius (Angrily): Knave, 
 What knowest thou of this Judas, and 
 of eels? 
 
 Fool: Naught but what hath 
 reached these ears of mine, your 
 Excellency. 
 
 Apollonius : Those ears ? And, 
 pray, what have long ears like thine 
 to do with such rumors? I fear me, 
 thou hast been meddling out of thy 
 profession. (To Alnashar.) Where 
 didst thou say this knave was found? 
 
 Alnashar: Outside of the camp, 
 your Excellency. He expressed a de- 
 sire to serve thee, and hearing that 
 thou wert in need of a jester, he volun- 
 teered to play the fool. 
 
 Apollonius: Then he has not al- 
 ways been a fool. {To fool.) Knave! 
 {seeing the scar). But how comest 
 thou by that scar over thy temple? 
 Hast seen fighting? 
 
 Fool: Your Excellency, fools are 
 born, not made. That scar I received 
 in a scuffle, but not by the sword. It 
 chanced one day, that a wise thought 
 had gone astray, and straggling to- 
 ward my poor brain, attempted to 
 enter my head, not knowing the densi- 
 ty of my skull. The thought strug- 
 gled to get in. My skull sought to 
 keep it out, and as a result of the 
 conflict, I bear the scar to witness. 
 
 Apollonius : Ah ! well said again. 
 Truly, knave, thy wit hath proved thy 
 salvation this time, for I was about 
 to order thee to be hung up by the 
 heels, and not a morsel of food 
 wouldst thou have had the entire day. 
 
 Fool : O your Excellency ! Hung 
 by the heels? 
 
 Apollonius : Yes, with thy head 
 down. To a fool it matters little 
 
 whether his feet be in the place of 
 his head, or his head in place of his 
 feet. 
 
 Fool : In that case, your Excellency, 
 it would also matter little, whether I 
 partake of food or not. 
 
 Apollonius: And why? 
 
 Fool: 'Tis plain, your Excellency, 
 that my stomach would then be far 
 above my thoughts. 
 
 Apollonius: Ah! Well said again. 
 That was a clever one. Come, thou 
 must have thy reward for this. Ask, 
 and it shall be granted. But, rem<3m- 
 ber, ask thou wisely, though boldly. 
 
 Fool : For myself, your Excellency, 
 I have nothing to ask. But, knowing 
 how sad will be the fate of those who 
 are unfortunate to be your enemies, 
 it is for them that I would make a 
 little request. And that is, to send 
 them by your messenger 
 
 Apollonius : Ah ! That reminds 
 me. Alnashar, you are to go to the 
 camp of the caitiffs at once, to deliver 
 a message, giving them their last 
 chance to surrender. {To fool.) But 
 knave, what wouldst thou with my 
 messenqfer? 
 
 Fool : Your Excellency, with thy 
 permission and that oi the noble 
 Alnashar, I desire to send to the Jew- 
 ish band this broken drachma — 'tis all 
 I have in the world — as a token of 
 my sympathy. 
 
 Apollonius: Verily, a foolish re- 
 quest, and harmless withal. (To 
 Alnashar.) Alnashar, take the coin. 
 And now, knave, have done with thee. 
 Away. {Fool bows himself toward 
 the door.) No — stay a while. I am 
 weary, and need more recreation. 
 Canst perhaps entertain me in some 
 
other fashion? Dost play the harp? 
 
 Fool: The harp! I have taken a 
 vow, that these hands of mine shall 
 never sweep its strings until — (paus- 
 ing suddenly) until — 
 
 Apollonius: Until what? 
 
 Fool : Until I learn how to play. 
 
 Apollonius: What! another jest? 
 Enough for to-day. Away with thee ! 
 (Exit fool.) (To Alnashar.) And 
 now for the message. Tell Judas 
 that I give him three days' time in 
 which to decide. If, at the end of 
 three days, he does not surrender, I 
 will destroy the camp and put to the 
 sword every man, woman and child. 
 That will put him off the track. Little 
 will he think then that in the morning 
 we are going to attack him. And 
 mind — don't fail to deliver the fool's 
 message. I warrant thee it will stir 
 up their anger not a little to receive 
 the sympathy of a fool. But stay — 
 where is Azarias? (To soldier.) 
 Tell Azarias to come hither. He 
 knows the Jewish camp well. 'Tis 
 but a few days since he left the Mac- 
 cabees to join our camp, and he can 
 be of great service to us. Under his 
 direction I shall make the attack, and 
 under his guidance, I have no doubt, 
 thou wilt reach the place in safety. 
 
 (Enter Azarias and soldier. ) 
 
 Azarias: Your Excellency. 
 
 Apollonius : Azarias, Alnashar is 
 to go into the camp of the Maccabees, 
 bearing a message from me, and I 
 have chosen thee to guide him. Thou 
 knowest the roads well. 
 
 Azarias : Yes, your Excellency. 
 There is but one narrow and danger- 
 ous pass that leads to the camp, and 
 if we make haste, we can return be- 
 fore night. 
 
 Apollonius: Then go at once 
 (Exit Alnashar. Azarias remains.) 
 Why dost thou linger? 
 
 Azarias: Your Excellency, 1 have 
 something to tell thee. As I was 
 coming to thy door, there came from 
 within this tent a man whom I sus- 
 pect as 
 
 Apollonius: What! A spy in this 
 camp ? Name him. 
 
 Azarias : I am not certain, your 
 Excellency. But I fear there is an 
 enemy here in the guise of a fool. 
 
 Apollonius: What! My fool? 
 
 Azarias : Yes, your Excellency. It 
 seems that I have seen him somewhere 
 before. I am not certain just where, 
 for it is rather difficult to recognize 
 one in such a garb. But that scar on 
 his temple looks familiar. 
 
 Apollonius : Nonsense. It is mere 
 fancy on your part. He is nothing 
 but a harmless fool, and has proven 
 himself such. Would that all mine 
 enemies were as harmless as he. Now, 
 leave me. Alnashar is awaiting thee. 
 Hasten upon thine errand, and do not 
 fail to return before night. To-mor- 
 row, at sunrise, we shall be ready. 
 And now, I must go to prepare for the 
 attack. (Exit R., Azarias exit L.) 
 Curtain. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 scene I. 
 [The tent of Judas Maccabaeus. Judas, 
 
 Jonathan, soldiers.] 
 
 Judas: What news of the traitor, 
 brother Jonathan? 
 
 Jonathan: None, brother Judas. 
 He is gone. We have searched every 
 piece of ground in the direction of 
 the enemy's camp, but found no trace 
 of him. I fear we were too late. He 
 
had too great a start and must have 
 been with the enemy, when the news 
 of his desertion reached us. We 
 looked and looked for days, but in 
 vain. (Enter John.) 
 
 Judas: Here is John. I see thou, 
 too, hast found no trace of him. 
 
 John: None whatever, brother 
 Judas, nor have our brothers, Elea- 
 zar and Simeon. They, too, have re- 
 turned without the traitor. 
 
 Judas: Ah! 'Tis a pity, The 
 coward should have been brought to 
 me. Oh! If I only have the good 
 fortune to meet him in battle ! (Enter 
 soldier.) 
 
 Soldier: A messenger has arrived 
 from the camp of ApoUonius and de- 
 sires to enter. 
 
 Judas : Bring him in. (Exit sol- 
 dier.) No doubt some insolent mes- 
 sage from the haughty ApoUonius. 
 
 (Enter Alnashar, blindfolded, be- 
 tween two soldiers.) 
 
 Judas: Remove the bandage. 
 (Bandage raised.) And now, what is 
 thy pleasure, Syrian? 
 
 Alnashar : I come to deliver a mes- 
 sage from my master, ApoUonius. 
 Judas: Speak. 
 
 Alnashar : The noble ApoUonius 
 has sent me thither to ask thee to 
 surrender. He gives the MaCcabees 
 three days' grace. If, at the end of 
 that time, thou refusest to capitulate 
 as prisoners of war, and to become 
 slaves to his majesty, Antiochus, 
 ApoUonius will attack the camp and 
 put every man, woman and child to 
 the sword. 
 
 Judas (with a sneer) : Is that all? 
 
 Alnashar: That is all, and I can 
 
 assure thee that none will be spared. 
 
 Thou needest expect no mercy, for 
 there is not a grain of sympathy for 
 the Maccabees in our ranks. Stay — 
 yes, I had almost forgotten. There is 
 one, who has shown some feeling for 
 you all, and he is no other than the 
 jester of ApoUonius, who sends a 
 fool's offering in the shape of a coin. 
 All (zvith significant glances) : A 
 coin! 
 
 Alnashar (fumbling in his girdle 
 for it) : Yes, a coin. I had it but a 
 while ago. Ah ! Here it is. See, it is 
 but a broken one at that. 
 
 Judas: (hastily seizing the coin): 
 Tis well. Tell thy master, that Judas 
 thanks him most heartily for allow- 
 ing some sympathy, even if it be only 
 that of a fool. Tell him that we all 
 thank him for it, and that we appreci- 
 ate it fully. As for his empty threat 
 to put us all to the sword, tell him 
 the Maccabees will consider it a 
 pleasure to meet him on the field of 
 battle. Then it will be seen with 
 whom it rests to be lavish of mercv. 
 Alnashar: Then thou dost not 
 comply? Wilt still hold out? 
 
 Judas : Comply ? Never ! And now 
 not another word. Go. 
 
 (Aln., blindfolded again, is led out 
 by two soldiers.) 
 
 Judas (turning to brothers) : See! 
 David still lives. It is from him — the 
 fool of ApoUonius. (Takes the other 
 part from girdle and matches it.) Yes. 
 It is from David, for the part fits. 
 
 Jonathan : Then ApoUonius will 
 attack us to-morrow. 
 
 Judas: Yes, early in the morning, 
 and the wretch sent word that he gives 
 us three days' time. We must act 
 at once. Go, brother Jonathan. Give 
 
 lO 
 
word that John and Simeon are to 
 guard the rear of the camp with their 
 men, whilst thou and Eleazar repair 
 to the sides, and stand ready to meet 
 the enemy at sunrise. {To soldiers.) 
 Go, my men, make haste. I ' ill pro- 
 tect the frontier with my chosen band. 
 Quickly, there is not a moment to be 
 lost. 
 
 Curtain. 
 
 SCENE 2. 
 
 [Syrian soldiers seen running, some 
 of them exclaiming: "Run for your 
 lives! Run! The Jews are behind 
 us !" etc. Among them is Azarias, 
 who comes staggering on the scene. 
 Soldiers hurrying by shout : "Run 
 for thy Hfe, Azarias!"] 
 
 Azarias: Not another step will I 
 go to-day. (Seats himself on rock.^ 
 Run, indeed. Well, all the good run- 
 ning will do them. For my part, I'd 
 just as lief die here as die running 
 I've run enough to-day, and I don't 
 care if Judas Maccabseus himself 
 comes after me. I won't budge another 
 inch. Oh {shaking his head dole- 
 fully) all this comes from not taking 
 my advice. I told Apollonius we 
 could expect nothing good from that 
 fool. A harmless fool, he called him. 
 {Sarcastically.) Harmless. He 
 
 wished that all his enemies were as 
 harmless. Well, they are. I have 
 never, in all my life, seen a harmless 
 man do so much damage in one day. 
 
 {Enter Aln. running. He stops on 
 seeing Az.) 
 
 Alnashar: Azarias! In the name 
 of the great Antiochus, what art thou 
 doing here? Why dost thou not run 
 for thy Hfe? 
 
 Azarias: Doing? Why, I'm doing 
 
 the same thing here, that I'd be do- 
 ing there. {Pointing in direction in 
 which soldiers ran.) It's just as near 
 to heaven here as it is there. There's 
 no use in trying to run away from 
 death, especially when death is work- 
 ing for the Maccabees. Oh, it's all 
 up. We're done for — surrounded on 
 every side, and thou mayest as well 
 keep me company to the golden shore 
 when the time comes. 
 
 Alnashar: Why, what dost thou 
 mean? 
 
 Azarias: Mean? What can I 
 mean? Canst not see how badly 
 beaten we are, not the least chance to 
 escape? And it's all because Apol- 
 lonius wouldn't listen to me. 
 
 Alnashar: Come, come. Don't 
 try to lay the blame on anybody. It's 
 neither thou, nor I, nor Apollonius, 
 who is at fault. It's merely the strong 
 arm of Judas Maccabaeus and his 
 brothers. My! But I never saw such 
 action in all my days. They made us 
 fly like chaff before the wind. I do 
 assure thee that if I had had any idea 
 of what fighters these Maccabees 
 were, I would have stayed at home. 
 But what's the use of worrying? It's 
 all over and poor Apollonius! That 
 gold-tipped sword of his, which 
 seemed so thirsty for blood, has had 
 its fill — but not of Jewish blood. 
 Judas Maccabseus has been keeping it 
 at work pretty busily with his power- 
 ful arm, and Apollonius ought to be 
 glad he's no longer alive to see what a 
 wreck his army has become. There's 
 no use of worrying, I say. Come, 
 brace up, Azarias. Thou seemest 
 blue. All isn't lost yet. Look here. 
 {Holds out flask.) Here's my last re- 
 
 II 
 
sort — a good friend in need, I can tell 
 thee. I'm just going to take a drop 
 to cheer me up, and drown my sor- 
 rows. (Drinks.) Here (offers it to 
 Asanas.) It's good stuff. Excellent 
 wine of ten years' vintage. 
 
 AzARiAS (ignoring the offer and 
 holding his head down) : I told him, 
 but he wouldn't heed my words. 
 Thought he knew it all. When I told 
 him that fool looked suspicious, he 
 said he was harmless. And I have 
 never seen a harmless man fight like 
 thai in all my life. 
 
 (Alnashar, looking toward the left, 
 suddenly gets scared, drops his -flask, 
 and quietly sneaks away, leaving Asa- 
 rias alone, who continues without 
 looking up) : 
 
 I tell thee, Alnashar, I have never 
 liked the looks of that fool. 
 
 (Enter fool running. He stops on 
 seeing Azarias; quietly steals up he- 
 hind him, and stands over him with 
 drawn sword.) O, if I could only 
 fight the battle over again ! If I only 
 had my sword, / know what I'd do. 
 This arm (holding it out before him) 
 would do the work. There's only 
 one man whom I'd wallop (shaking 
 his fist) and I tell thee if I ever laid 
 this on that fool (looks up, and seeing 
 the fool, falls off the rock with sur- 
 prise and fright. Begins rolling about 
 the ground.) I — I — oh — I — please 
 don't — I — I — didn't meant it — I was 
 only 
 
 Fool: Silence, knave. Arise! 
 (Azarias arises.) And so we have 
 the traitor, at last. Come, Azarias, 
 where is thy sword? Where is thy 
 army? And Apollonius, my master? 
 Ha! Ha! What has become of him? 
 Speak, why art thou silent? 
 
 (More soldiers arrive on the scene. 
 Enter Judas, followed by soldiers,) 
 
 David: Yes, I found him sitting 
 here all alone, telling himself a story. 
 It was all about Azarias, too. Azarias 
 was telling Azarias what Azarias 
 would do, if Azarias could only fight 
 the battle over again. 
 
 (Enter Jezvish soldier, crying) : 
 "Here he is. Here is David." (Seeing 
 Azarias.) "What? Azarias! Aza- 
 rias, the traitor!" 
 
 Judas : David ! We have been seek- 
 ing thee, fearing that something had 
 befallen. Whom have we here? 
 Azarias! Ah, traitor! So it is thou, 
 who hast required the attention of 
 David. I fear he has been wasting 
 time with thee. Better would he have 
 done, had he slain thee at once, for 
 death should be the punishment of one 
 who raises his hand in strife against 
 his own people. 
 
 (Enter Eleasar and Jonathan, 
 bringing in Alnashar bound.) Pray, 
 whom have we here, brothers? 
 
 Jonathan : This, if thou remember, 
 brother Judas, is the messenger, who 
 dared to utter insolent words in our 
 camp. 
 
 Eleazar : We found him running, 
 for he knew of thy approach, and that 
 is how we learned that you were all 
 here. 
 
 Judas : Here is a fitting companion 
 for him. Let them both be bound 
 together and marched to our camp. 
 And now, what news of the enemy in 
 that direction? 
 
 Eleazar : There is no news, brother 
 Judas, for there is no enemy. Be- 
 sides a few carcasses of elephants, 
 there are but the remains of the slain 
 Syrian host scattered here and there. 
 
 12 
 
Judas : Then our victory is com- 
 plete. The Lord has been with us, 
 and the cause of the Maccabees has 
 triumphed again. (Praying) : O Lord, 
 Thou who hast smitten the enemies of 
 Israel in Egypt, who hast deHvered 
 the army of the Phihstines into the 
 hands of Saul and David, who hast 
 put down the enemies of thy people. 
 Thou hast once more smitten the 
 enemy with Thy right hand. Blessed 
 art Thou, O Savior of Israel. Let all 
 that know Thy name praise thee with 
 thanksgiving and song. 
 Curtain. 
 
 ACT III. 
 [Alnashar and Azarias, bound to- 
 gether, sitting on the ground.] 
 Alnashar: Well, we're in a nice 
 fix now, and I wonder how much 
 longer this sort of thing is going to 
 last. 
 
 Azarias: O, don't mention it. Fm 
 sick and tired. Every time I think of 
 it I get the blues. O, if I could only 
 get loose. To be dragged around 
 like this, day after day, week after 
 week, and month after month, is 
 enough to make anybody disgusted 
 with life. 
 
 Alnashar : O, there's no kick com- 
 ing from thee. Be glad thou'rt alive. 
 Why, thou never didst expect to live 
 anothe*- «^ay ! 
 
 Azarias: I didn't. It's true. But 
 that's no reason why thou shouldst 
 have run away and left me when thou 
 sawest that fool coming. I tell thee, 
 if I had only been sure that he was 
 David of Modin, when he played the 
 fool in the camp of poor Apollonius, 
 he'd never have lived to stand over me 
 
 with sword in hand, I tell thee that. 
 
 Alnashar : Now, look here. Thou 
 hast lost nothing, after all, by re- 
 maining and I didn't gain anything by 
 running away. They caught me any- 
 how. 
 
 Azarias: So they did, and they at- 
 tached thee to me. 
 
 Alnashar: Well, I don't like this 
 partnership any more than thou, but 
 as long as we're together we may as 
 well be cheerful and make the best 
 of it. Come, let's walk around a bit. 
 I'm beginning to feel stiff in the limbs. 
 
 Azarias : No ! Sit where you are. 
 I'm tired. 
 
 Alnashar: There thou art again. 
 Every time I want to walk, thou desir- 
 est to rest, and every time I want to 
 sit down, thou gettest a notion to go 
 strutting about. Now, please under- 
 stand that half of these chains are 
 mine, and I've got as much to say as 
 thou hast. So there. (Jumps up, 
 dragging Az. with him.) 
 
 Azarias: See here. Dost forget 
 that the other half belong to me ? As 
 far as I'm concerned, thou canst have 
 my share of the chains, too. But thou 
 needest not have thy way all the time. 
 
 Alnashar: Come, now, Azarias. 
 Let us not quarrel. We ought to sym- 
 pathize with each other. Here we are 
 left alone, while they are fighting on 
 all sides of us. We're doomed to sit 
 quietly and watch them cut our armies 
 all to pieces. I wonder how to-day's 
 battle will end. Perhaps Lysias will 
 put an end to these Maccabees, and 
 then we'll be free. 
 
 Azarias: Thou wonderest. Well, 
 there's no more possibility of the Mac- 
 cabees losing this battle than that 
 
 13 
 
Apollonius will come to life again. 
 Why, Lysias doesn't stand any more 
 chance than a fly. See! There go 
 his soldiers, scattering for dear life. 
 Why, their own elephants are tram- 
 pling them under foot. Another vic- 
 tory for Judas and his band. 
 
 Alnashar: Yes, and this time I'm 
 afraid they'll get Jerusalem back. See ! 
 They're coming this way, marching 
 triumphantly. Good-bye to all our 
 hopes. Lysias is defeated. No lib- 
 erty for us. We'll have to be their 
 slaves, go with them to Jerusalem and 
 do all the dirty work. 
 
 AzARiAS: Well, we won't be the 
 only ones, that's certain. I can see 
 that by the number of captives they're 
 bringing with them. 
 
 (Cries of ''Judas Maccabaeus! Long 
 live the Maccabees!" Soldiers march 
 in with captives. Judas and brothers, 
 David. Cries of ''Judas! Long live 
 Judas Maccabaeus!") 
 
 Judas: My friends, ye who have 
 fought so nobly to-day, do me great 
 honor, more than I deserve, I fear. 
 
 The God of Israel has been with us 
 to-day, and has spread havoc among 
 our enemies. This victory is due to 
 you all, as well as to me. But let us 
 not forget one who has done so much 
 for us, and who has always been 
 among the foremost in our battles. 
 Let us ever remember that we owe 
 much of our victory to that brave 
 youth, David of Modin. 
 
 {Cries of "Long live David! David 
 of Modin!") 
 
 And now there remains but one 
 thing more for us to do. Our enemies 
 are driven before us. They, who have 
 opposed the children of Israel, and 
 have destroyed our Temple, fear us. 
 The host of the tyrant Antiochus are 
 no more. Let us complete the good 
 work. Our Temple remains desecrated. 
 The city of Jerusalem waits to receive 
 us. The days when its enemies dwelt 
 therein are gone. Let us now advance 
 and build up the holy city once more. 
 Let us march on to Jerusalem. 
 
 {Cries of "To Jerusalem! On to 
 Jerusalem!") 
 
 KlxXDLlNG THE CHANUKAH LIGHTS. 
 
 (From a 17th Century illustration.) 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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