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 dreamer’s look. You must not dream. It is only sick people who dream. (She strikes the Page with her fan)

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?

Second Nazarene He is in every place, my lord, but it is hard to find Him.

First Nazarene It is said that He is now in Samaria.°

A Jew It is easy to see that this is not Messias, if He is in Samaria. It is not to the Samaritans that Messias shall come. The Samaritans are accursed. They bring no offerings to the Temple.

Second Nazarene He left Samaria a few days since. I think that at the present moment He is in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem.

First Nazarene No; He is not there. I have just come from Jerusalem. For two months they have had no tidings of Him.

Herod No matter! But let them find Him, and tell Him, thus saith Herod the King, ‘I will not suffer Thee to raise the dead.’ To change water into wine, to heal the lepers and the blind.…He may do these things if He will. I say nothing against these things. In truth I hold it a kindly deed to heal a leper. But no man shall raise the dead.…It would be terrible if the dead came back.

The Voice of Iokanaan Ah! The wanton one! The harlot! Ah! the daughter of Babylon with her golden eyes and her gilded eyelids! Thus saith the Lord God, Let there come up against her a multitude of men. Let the people take stones and stone her.…

Herodias Command him to be silent!

The Voice of Iokanaan Let the captains of the hosts pierce her with their swords, let them crush her beneath their shields.