希羅底︰讓他們閉口。我聽得十分厭煩。
希律王︰但我聽人說，那位約翰就是你們的先知伊萊賈。
猶太人︰不可能。先知伊萊賈在世的時候，距今已超過三百年了。
希律王︰有些人說這個人就是先知伊萊賈。
拿撒勒人︰我確信他就是先知伊萊賈。
猶太人︰不，他不可能是先知伊萊賈。
約翰的聲音︰那個日子來臨了，主降臨的日子到了，我在山頂，在祂的腳下聽見他的傳道，祂是世界的救主。
希律王︰他指的是什麼？世界的救主？
提格利奴斯︰那是西澤的稱號。
希律王︰但西澤並不到猶太王國來。昨天我才收到羅馬方面的來信。他們不在意這邊的事情。而你，提格利奴斯，去年冬天你待在羅馬，你聽到這方面的消息嗎？
提格利奴斯︰陛下，我完全未曾聽說。我只解釋這個稱號。那是西澤所用的頭銜之一。
希律王︰西澤不會來這兒。他患有痛風。據說他的腳與大像一般粗。此外還有各領地的事務。他一離開羅馬城，就永遠失去了羅馬。他不會來這兒的。儘管如此，西澤是我們的主人，他可以隨心所欲來這兒。雖然，我並不認為他會來。
第一拿撒勒人︰先知所說的話與西澤無關，陛下。
希律王︰與西澤無關？
第一拿撒勒人︰無關，陛下。
希律王︰那他所指的是誰？
第一拿撒勒人︰指的是即將來到的彌賽亞。
猶太人︰彌賽亞沒有來。
第一拿撒勒人︰祂已經來了，祂在各地行神蹟。
希羅底︰呵！呵！神蹟！我不信神蹟。我看過太多了。 〔向侍從〕扇子拿來！
第一拿撒勒人︰這人行真的神蹟。於是，在加利利的小鎮婚禮中，祂將水變成了酒。許多出席的人都對我提過這件事。另外祂還治好了兩個坐在迦百農(Capernaum)門前的痲瘋病人，祂只不過用手碰觸了他們。
第二拿撒勒人︰不，祂在迦百農治好的是盲人。
第一拿撒勒人︰不；他們是痲瘋病人。但祂也治好了盲人，另外祂還坐在山頂上與天使交談。
撒都該人︰天使並不存在。
法利賽人︰天使存在，但我不相信這個人能和他們交談。
第一拿撒勒人︰有非常多人見到祂與天使交談。
撒都該人︰那不是天使。
希羅底︰這群人太嘈雜了！他們太荒唐了！ 〔向侍從〕餵！我的扇子！ 〔待從交扇子給她〕你有夢想家的眼光；你不應再作夢。只有生病的人才作夢。 〔她用扇子敲打侍從。 〕
第二拿撒勒人︰還有睚魯(Jairus)女兒的神蹟。
第一拿撒勒人︰是，那是確定的。無人能反駁。
希羅底︰這些人瘋了。他們看了太多月光。命令他們閉嘴。
希律王︰睚魯女兒的神蹟是怎麼回事？
第一拿撒勒人︰睚魯的女兒死了。祂令她從死裡復活。
希律王︰祂令她復活？
第一拿撒勒人︰是的，陛下。祂讓死人復活。
希律王︰我不希望祂這樣做。我禁止祂這樣做。我不允許任何人復活。必須找到這個人，告訴祂，我禁止祂讓死人復活。這個人現在何處？
HERODIAS
Make them be silent. They weary me.
HEROD
But I have heard it said that Iokanaan is in very truth your prophet Elias.
THE JEW
That cannot be. It is more than three hundred years since the days of the prophet Elias.
HEROD
There be some who say that this man is Elias the prophet.
A NAZARENE
I am sure that he is Elias the prophet.
THE JEW
Nay, but he is not Elias the prophet.
THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN
Behold the day is at hand, the day of the Lord, and I hear upon the mountains the feet of Him who shall be the Saviour of the world.
-37-
HEROD
What does that mean? The Saviour of the world?
TIGELLINUS
It is a title that C?sar adopts.
HEROD
But C?sar is not coming into Jud?a. Only yesterday I received letters from Rome. They contained nothing concerning this matter. And you, Tigellinus, who were at Rome during the winter, you heard nothing concerning this matter, did you?
TIGELLINUS
Sire, I heard nothing concerning the matter. I was but explaining the title. It is one of C?sars titles.
HEROD
But C?sar cannot come. He is too gouty. They say that his feet are like the feet of an elephant. Also there are reasons of state. He who leaves Rome loses Rome. He will not come. Howbeit, C?sar is lord, he will come if such be his pleasure. Nevertheless, I think he will not come.
FIRST NAZARENE
It was not concerning C?sar that the prophet spake these words, sire.
-38-
HEROD
How? -- it was not concerning C?sar?
FIRST NAZARENE
No, my lord.
HEROD
Concerning whom then did he speak?
FIRST NAZARENE
Concerning Messias, who hath come.
A JEW
Messias hath not come.
FIRST NAZARENE
He hath come, and everywhere He worketh miracles!
HERODIAS
Ho! ho! miracles! I do not believe in miracles. I have seen too many. [To the Page.]
My fan.
FIRST NAZARENE
This Man worketh true miracles. Thus, at a marriage which took place in a little town of Galilee, a town of some importance, He changed water into wine. Certain persons who were present related it to me. Also He healed two lepers that
-39-
were seated before the Gate of Capernaum simply by touching them.
SECOND NAZARENE
Nay; it was two blind men that He healed at Capernaum.
FIRST NAZARENE
Nay; they were lepers. But He hath healed blind people also, and He was seen on a mountain talking with angels.
A SADDUCEE
Angels do not exist.
A PHARISEE
Angels exist, but I do not believe that this Man has talked with them.
FIRST NAZARENE
He was seen by a great multitude of people talking with angels.
HERODIAS
How these men weary me! They are ridiculous! They are altogether ridiculous! [To the Page.]
Well! my fan? [The Page gives her the fan.]
You have a dreamers look. You must not dream. It is only sick people who dream. [She strikes the Page with her fan.]
-40-
SECOND NAZARENE
There is also the miracle of the daughter of Jairus.
FIRST NAZARENE
Yea, that is sure. No man can gainsay it.
HERODIAS
Those men are mad. They have looked too long on the moon. Command them to be silent.
HEROD
What is this miracle of the daughter of Jairus?
FIRST NAZARENE
The daughter of Jairus was dead. This Man raised her from the dead.
HEROD
How! He raises people from the dead?
FIRST NAZARENE
Yea, sire; He raiseth the dead.
HEROD
I do not wish Him to do that. I forbid Him to do that. I suffer no man to raise the dead. This Man must be found and told that I forbid Him to raise the dead. Where is this Man at present?