Anathema A Tragedy in Seven Scenes 19

Anathema A Tragedy in Seven Scenes 19

ANATHEMA.

 

Oh, David, it is very touching: the people are in love with you, even

as a bride is in love with the bridegroom. This wonderful man, who has

come thousands of miles--

 

WANDERER.

 

More.

 

ANATHEMA.

 

Asked me: "Does David Leizer perform miracles?" Well,... I laughed, I

laughed.

 

KHESSIN.

 

He asked me, too, but to me it was not laughable. The ear of him who

waits is keen,--even the stones seem to sing to him.

 

WANDERER.

 

Only the footsteps of the blind are short, but their thoughts are long.

 

_He steps aside and, watches David. It is near

sunset and the earth is in the embrace of shadows.

Abraham Khessin bids David farewell and goes away.

The shopkeepers prepare to close their shops.

Silence and peace._

 

ANATHEMA.

 

_Breathing with difficulty._

 

At last. We have worked quite hard, David--the trumpet alone (_closes

his ears_)--what is that worth? (_Candidly_) My misfortune is that my

ear is keen, unbearably sharp, almost--yes, almost like that of a dog.

If I hear--

 

DAVID.

 

I am very tired, Nullius, and I want to rest. I do not feel like seeing

any more people to-day, and you will not be offended, my old friend--

 

ANATHEMA.

 

I understand. I will only escort you to your palace.

 

DAVID.

 

Yes, yes, to my palace. According to my contract, I am king for six

months more. Come, Sarah,--with you alone I want to pass the remainder

of this great day in peace and joy.

 

SARAH.

 

You are not an ordinary man, David. How did you guess my desire?

 

_They go away towards the pillars. David pauses,

looks back, and says, leaning upon Sarah's

shoulder:_

 

DAVID.

 

Look, Sarah; this is the place where our life has passed--how sad and

poor it is, Sarah, and it breathes of the homelessness of the desert.

But was not it here, Sarah, that I learned the great truth concerning

the fate of man? I was poor, alone, and near death, a foolish old man,

seeking an answer from the waves. But now people have come--Am I alone

now? Am I poor and near death? Listen to me, Nullius; there is no death

for man. What death is there? What is death? Who was the mournful one

that invented this strange word--Death?--Perhaps it does exist, I do

not know--but I, Nullius--I am immortal.

 

_As though struck, he lends down, but lifts his

arms upward._

 

Oh, how terrible it is: I am immortal! Where is the end of the sky?

I have lost it. I am immortal! Oh, the breast of man aches from

immortality, and his joy bums him like a fire. Where is the end of

man?--I am immortal. Adenoi! Adenoi! Blessed be the mysterious name of

Him who has given immortality to man, forever and aye.

 

ANATHEMA.

 

_Hastily._

 

The name! The name! Do you know the name? You have deceived me.

 

DAVID.

 

_Not listening to him._

 

I give the spirit of man over to the boundless space of Time. May it

five immortally, in the immortality of fire. May it live immortally in

the immortality of light, which is life. And may darkness stop before

the dwelling of immortal light. I am happy, I am immortal--O my God!

 

ANATHEMA.

 

_Ecstatically._

 

It is a lie! Oh, how long yet will I listen to this foolish man? North

and South, East and West, I am calling you. Quicker, come here, to the

aid of the Devil! Rush over here in four oceans of tears and bury man

in your abyss. Come here! This way!

 

_No one heeds Anathema's sobs, neither David,

radiant with the ecstasy of immortality, nor Sarah,

nor the other people, who listen attentively to

David. Anathema moves restlessly about, alone,

cursing. A shrill voice is heard; a woman, terribly

painted, rushes in from the road. Her clothes are

torn, and her beautiful face is disfigured. She

screams and sobs and calls wildly._

 

WOMAN.

 

My God! Where is David, who is distributing his fortune? Two days and

two nights, two days and two nights, I have been looking for him all

over the city, but the houses are silent and the people are laughing.

Tell me, kind people, have you not seen David, who brings joy to the

people? Do not look upon my open bosom--a wicked man tore my clothes

and scratched my face. Oh, do not look upon my open bosom: it never

knew the happiness of feeding innocent lips.

 

WANDERER.

 

David is here.

 

WOMAN.

 

_Falling on her knees._

 

David is here? Oh, have pity on me, people! do not deceive me; I am

blinded by deceit, and falsehoods have made me deaf. Do I hear right?

Is David here?

 

BEZKRAINY.

 

Yes, there he stands. But you are too late--he has already distributed

all his fortune.

 

PURINES.

 

He has already distributed all his fortune. WOMAN.

 

What are you doing to me, people? Two days and two nights I have been

looking for him--the people deceived me, and now I am too late. I

will die on the way now--I have nowhere else to go.

 

_Tearfully, flings herself about on the

dust-covered road._

 

ANATHEMA.

 

It seems that somebody has come to you, David.

 

DAVID.

 

_Advancing._

 

What does this woman wish?

 

WOMAN.

 

_Without lifting her head._

 

Are you David, who has brought joy to mankind?

 

WANDERER.

 

Yes, it is he.

 

DAVID.

 

Yes, it is I.

 

WOMAN.

 

_Without lifting her head._

 

I do not dare glance at you. You must be like the sun.

 

_Gently and trustfully._

 

Oh, David, how long I have been looking for you!... The people kept

deceiving me all the time. They told me that you went away, that you do

not exist at all, and that you never existed. One man said to me that

he was David, and he seemed to be kind, but he treated me like a robber.

 

DAVID.

 

Rise!

 

WOMAN.

 

Permit me to rest here, at your feet. Like a bird that has crossed the

sea, I am beaten by the rain, I am exhausted by the storms, I am tired to death.