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Page 9 of 16

ACT TWO

Scene 1 (cont'd)



(Faint but growing sounds of disturbance from outside the court)
JESUS
I came, and I was sent to preach the truth;
And men who love the truth will hearken to me.
PILATE
The gods, ‘tis said, speak true. Can any man,
Philosopher, king or prophet, / can’st thou say
What IS truth?


(Uproar outside comes to a climax during the latter part of this dialogue; Jews burst in despite the resistance of soldiers)
PILATE
How dare ye burst unsummoned into court?
MOB
The prisoner is ours. We want his death!
PILATE
I find no cause in him, no crime against the state.
CAIPHAS
His preaching disturbs our simple country folk
From Galilee, by Jordan’s banks, the coastal towns,
Even in the Temple of Shalomon.
PILATE
Is he a Galilean?
CAIPHAS
A Nazarene, an upstart carpenter, he made rude ploughs
And mended yokes.
ANNAS
The man’s an ill-bred rogue,
An outcast from his native synagogue.
PILATE
The land of Galilee is subject to King Herod
Whose right is authorised by Roman treaty
To punish crimes. Good fortune
And the Pasch have brought him to Jerusalem;
To whom in equity I leave this case.
CAIPHAS
But in Jerusalem thy voice is law.
PILATE
As king approved by Rome, to Herod falls
The right to judge would-be pretenders to his throne.
This is my pleasure; this my final verdict.



(Reluctantly and murmuring the Jews begin to leave)
PILATE
(Musing) What is he – prophet, felon, simpleton?
Or scapegoat for those envy-stricken priests?
LONGINUS
I could not help but mark his countenance,
Serene, impressive, unafraid, despite
The mob’s hysteric passion.
PILATE
Barca, go
Bring swift report what judgment Herod makes.



( EXIT Barca)
PILATE
Deceit is second nature to these priests.
Their lips belie their hearts. Their jealous spite
Is masquerading as pure zeal for Rome.
SPURIUS
The thing’s a trick, deep-counselled, well-devised
To test what strength upholds our government.
Yet Pilate leans on Herod’s competence!
What boots a single life to safeguard peace?
PILATE
The strength of government lies not in swords
But in diplomacy.



(CLAUDIA rushes in excitedly)
CLAUDIA
(throwing herself into Pilate’s arms)
Pontius, my lord, my love!
PILATE
Dearest wife, what ails thee, what great fear
Has gripped thy heart and drained thy cheeks so pale?
CLAUDIA
Thou art my fear, dear Pontius, and for thee
I have rushed distraught, a wonder to your guards.
PILATE
(lightly) Calpurnia would never so behave
Nor lose her matron’s grace in sight of men.
CLAUDIA
Misplaced is flippant banter. I this night
Have suffered agonies on thy behalf.
PILATE
But I’m unhurt, unmenaced, unassailed
CLAUDIA
It was a dream, a vision from above,
A warning voice in solemn accents toned,
Enjoining thee to keep thy hands unstained
Unspotted by the blood of this just man;
Else bear the curse of mankind’s bitter breath
In litanies re-echoed for all time
PILATE
Dispel these images of sleep, these ghostly fears.
They come too late.
CLAUDIA
So you have not condemned him?
PILATE
The charge was baseless, a trivial pretence,
A thing of words, some village superstition.
King Herod holds the prisoner and will not fail
To judge him innocent.
CLAUDIA
Forgive me, lord,
My doubting heart, my love inspired my fear.
PILATE
Did not Artemius speak in prophecy
Of golden days illuminating our course?
(lending her his arm)
Come, let my strength support thy frightened steps,
With words of love I’ll rout thy nightmare dreams.


(EXEUNT Pilate and Claudia)


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