Anathema A Tragedy in Seven Scenes 18

Anathema A Tragedy in Seven Scenes 18

Let us step aside for a while. Woman, I will return the child to you,

I will only hold it for a while.... Come, Sarah, let us step aside.

Before you I am not ashamed to cry, be they tears of sorrow or tears

of joy.

 

_They step aside and cry softly. Only their

stooping backs are seen, and David's red

handkerchief with which he wipes his eyes, and the

tear-stained face of the child._

 

VOICES.

 

Hush! hush! They are crying. Don't disturb their crying. Hush! hush!

 

_Anathema, on tiptoe, whispers: "Hush, hush!" Then

he goes over to the musicians and speaks to them in

a low voice, conducting with his hand. Little by

little the noise grows louder. Bezkrainy, Purikes,

and Sonka are waiting, holding filled glasses in

their hands._

 

DAVID.

 

_Returns and wipes his eyes with his kerchief._

 

Here is your child, woman. We don't like him at all, do we, Sarah?

 

SARAH.

 

_Weeping._

 

We have no children any longer, David.

 

DAVID.

 

_Smiling._

 

No, no, Sarah! But are not all the children in the world our children?

He has no children who has three, six, or even twelve, but not he who

knows not their number.

 

SONKA.

 

Drink a glass of soda-water, honorable David Leizer--it is your water.

 

PURIKES.

 

Drink a glass of mine, David,--this will bring me customers.

 

BEZKRAINY.

 

Drink a glass of noblemen's cider, David. Now it is real noblemen's

cider. I can say it frankly; with your money everything is becoming

real.

 

SARAH.

 

_Through tears._

 

I have always told you that your cider was bad, Ivan. And now, when it

is real cider, you do not offer it to me.

 

BEZKRAINY.

 

Oh, Sarah....

 

DAVID.

 

She is jesting, Ivan. Thank you, but I cannot drink so much,--I will

taste everybody's. It's very, very good water, Sonka. You have

discovered the secret and you will soon grow rich.

 

SONKA.

 

I put a little more soda into the water, David.

 

WANDERER.

 

_To Anathema, in a law voice._

 

Is it true--you are a close friend of David Leizer's, and you can tell

it to me--is it true that he wants to build--

 

ANATHEMA.

 

Why so loud? Let us step aside.

 

_They speak in a whisper. Anathema shakes his head

negatively. He is truthful. He smiles and pats the

old man on the shoulder. The old man evidently does

not believe him. Then Anathema gradually leads the

musicians away, also the Organ-grinder and the

people beyond the stone pillars. Only the sound of

their voices, their exclamations, their laughter

are heard. A few remain and speak with David

reverently._

 

KHESSIN.

 

Is it true, David, that you and Sarah are going to Jerusalem, to the

Holy City, of which we can only dream?

 

DAVID.

 

Yes, it is true, Abraham. Although I am stronger now and I feel no

longer any pain in my chest--

 

KHESSIN.

 

But that is a miracle, David!

 

DAVID.

 

Joy restores health, Abraham, and the serving of God strengthens a man.

But after all, Sarah and I cannot live much longer, and we should like

to rest our eyes upon the wonderful beauty of God's land. But why do

you address me as a stranger, old friend? Have you not yet forgiven me?

 

KHESSIN.

 

_Frightened._

 

Oh, do not say that, David! If you were to tell me: Call me "thou" or

kill yourself, I would rather kill myself, but would not say "thou" to

you. You are not an ordinary man, David.

 

DAVID.

 

I am not an ordinary man. I am a happy man. But where is the gay man

Nullius? I don't see him. I suppose he is preparing some prank or

another--I know him. There is a man who does not darken the face of the

earth with gloom, Abraham, who is never averse to laughter, which is to

life like dew upon grass, and which sparkles in many colors in the rays

of the sun. Of course he is playing his pranks; do you hear?

 

_Music is playing beyond the pillars; the organ,

together with the orchestra, is playing the

same tune it had played before. The sounds are

discordant, somewhat wild, but strangely gay.

Together with the music the crowd appears in a

solemn procession. At the head of the procession,

side by side with the Organ-grinder, walks

Anathema, as if dancing. He carries the organ on a

strap and turns the handle with one hand, keeping

time with the other hand, whistling shrilly, and

casting glances on all sides and skyward. The

musicians and the poor, now gay, follow him.

On passing David, Anathema bends his head toward him

and keeps on playing and whistling. David, smiling,

nods his head and adjusts his grey, long beard. The

procession disappears._

 

SARAH.

 

_With emotion._

 

What beautiful music! How fine, how solemn, David! David, is all this

for you?

 

DAVID.

 

For us, Sarah.

 

SARAH.

 

What am I? I can only love our children. But you, but you--

 

_With certain fear._

 

You are not an ordinary man, David.

 

DAVID.

 

_Smiling._

 

So, so.... Well, what am I, then,--a governor?

 

Or, perhaps, a general?

 

SARAH.

 

Do not make light of this, David. You are not an ordinary man.

 

_The Wanderer, who stood near by all the time and

saw the solemn procession, now listens to Sarah's

words and nods his head. Anathema, gay, somewhat

out of breath, appears._

 

ANATHEMA.

 

How was it, David? I think it was not bad. They marched very

well--better than I expected. Only that stupid trumpet.

 

_Dancing, he passes David again, whistling. Then he

bursts into laughter._

 

DAVID.

 

_Good-naturedly._

 

Yes, Nullius. The music was very good. I never before heard such fine

music. I thank you, Nullius,--you have afforded great pleasure to the

people by your gayety.

 

ANATHEMA.

 

_To the Wanderer._

 

Did you like it, old man?

 

WANDERER.

 

I liked it fairly well. But what will happen when all the nations on

earth will bend at the feet of David Leizer?

 

ANATHEMA.

 

_Astonished._

 

What is he saying, Nullius?