Chapter 9 Eight

HERODIAS: Silence them.I was very tired of hearing it. Herod: But I have heard that that John is your prophet Elijah. Jews: Impossible.It was more than three hundred years ago that the prophet Elijah lived. Herod: Some say this man is the prophet Elijah. Nazarene: I am sure he is the prophet Elijah. Jew: No, he cannot be the prophet Elijah. John's voice: The day has come, the day of the coming of the Lord has come, and I heard him preach at the top of the mountain, at his feet, the Savior of the world. Herod: What does he mean?Savior of the world? Tigellinus: That's Caesar's title.

Herod: But Caesar did not come to the kingdom of Judah.I just received a letter from Rome yesterday.They don't care about things here.And you, Tigellinus, who were in Rome last winter, did you hear any news of this? Tigellinus: My lord, I have not heard of it at all.I just explain the title.That was one of the titles Nishizawa used. Herod: Caesar will not come here.He has gout.His feet are said to be as thick as an elephant.In addition, there are affairs of the territories.As soon as he left the city of Rome, he lost Rome forever.He won't be here.Nevertheless, Caesar is our master, and he can come here as he pleases.Although, I don't think he will come.

First Nazarene: What the prophet said has nothing to do with Caesar, Your Majesty. Herod: Nothing to do with Caesar? First Nazarene: None, Your Majesty. Herod: Then who is he referring to? First Nazarene: Refers to the coming Messiah. Jews: The Messiah has not come. The First Nazarene: He has come, and He works miracles everywhere. Herodias: Oh!Ah!miracle!I don't believe in miracles.I've seen too many of them. [To attendant] Bring the fan! The First Nazarene: This man worked true miracles.So, in a small town wedding in Galilee, He turned water into wine.Many people in attendance mentioned this to me.He also healed two lepers who were sitting at the gate of Capernaum, by simply touching them with his hands.

Second Nazarene: No, he healed a blind man in Capernaum. First Nazarene: No; they are lepers.But He also healed the blind, and He also sat on the top of a mountain and talked with angels. Sadducees: Angels do not exist. Pharisee: Angels exist, but I don't believe this man can talk to them. First Nazarene: He was seen talking to angels by many. Sadducee: That's not an angel. Herodias: This crowd is too noisy!They are ridiculous! [to the attendant] Hello!My fan! [Waiting to hand the fan to her] You have the vision of a dreamer; you should no longer dream.Only sick people dream. [She beats the page with her fan. 〕

Second Nazarene: And the miracle of the daughter of Jairus. First Nazarene: Yes, that's for sure.No one can refute. Herodias: These people are mad.They have seen too much moonlight.Order them to shut up. Herod: What About the Miracle of Jairus' Daughter? First Nazarene: Jairus' daughter dies.He raised her from the dead. Herod: He brought her back to life? First Nazarene: Yes, Your Majesty.He raised the dead. Herod: I don't want him to do that.I forbid him to do so.I do not allow anyone to be resurrected.This man must be found and told that I forbid him to raise the dead.Where is this person now?

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 Savior of the world. -37- HEROD What does that mean? The Savior 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 concerned this matter. And you, Tigellinus, who were at Rome during the winter, you heard nothing concerned this matter, did you? TIGELLINUS Sire, I heard nothing concerned 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. 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, sir. -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, sir; 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?