Act III

Again a Chorale is sung. This stops at the end; and after a pause the u Stabat Mater 99 begins. The curtain rises at beginning of second verse.

vf// « before. But table is covered again with white cloth; and the two candles are burning one at each end of table. The chair is raised on little platform. Sam. is still kneeling by table, his face hidden, as if he slept. The sky is streaked with sunset, and the empty crosses are seen against it.

[Enter Achaz. He looks worn. He carries a bundle of white clothes and a rope. He throws them down. Sam. starts up.

Sam,

Why, master!

Achaz.

Yes, my lad, ’tis done; and I

Wearied and sick to death.

[He sinks down on stool to R. of table.

Sam. ( looking strangely at him).

My Lady comes?

Achaz.

Yes: presently.... Well, lad, what is it then?

Sam. [going forward and kneeling suddenly by him).

Master, I’ve prayed and wept and prayed again;

Till in dead weariness I swooned or slept;

Which ’twas I know not — yet indeed I know That God has whispered to me —

Achaz ( leaning forward).

Why, my lad,

You’re all a-sweat and shaking!

Sam.

Ah, but no blood

I’ve sweated like my Lord!

Achaz ( conciliatory ).

Come, tell me then

What God has whispered to you.

Sam. [earnestly).

Sir: this day

Since sunrise — that strange sunrise after noon,

That swept the Night of Sin — that three hours’ Night — From off men’s souls — I’ve striven to understand Not why my Lord was slain, for that I think I know; but why His Mother agonised Beside Him; why she stood there by His Cross Pierced with a sword as sharp as any nail —

Why, why she suffered so, whom God had made So tender to all pain —

Achaz [amazed).

Why, lad! —

Sam.

And how

She bore so nobly that which tortured her —

A very Queen of men for gallantry.

[ Lifting his eyes.

Sir, see you not that God designed her pain,

That she might be a Mother, by her pangs,

Of all Eve’s children? Not her Son alone Is born of her; but henceforth all that see The light of earth, can claim the light of heaven Through Mary’s eyes that saw her only Son Nailed to the Cross. ’Tis us she bore to-day With tenfold Mother’s pangs.... Did He not say One word as there He hung —?

Achaz [starting).

Why, lad: He said Indeed, to that disciple who was there,

“ Behold thy Mother! ”

Sam. [rising suddenly).

Did I not tell you so?

Did I not say — [Stopsy turns his eyes.) Sir! what a heavy step Comes up the stair!

[Achaz rises: both look to door (R.). Some man that surely bears

A cross not of God’s making. _He moves to door.

Achaz [preventing him).

Hush! be still....

\Enter (R.) Peter. He is in a white tunic coming to below his knees, with a yellow mantle. He is baldy with a square white beard: and has two keys at his girdle. He has one hand half over his eyes. He stumbles forward, miserably, moaning: sinks down at centre of table: lifts the fringe of the cloth, and kisses it. He continues to kneel \ turning a little to audience.

Sntev Peter*.

Peter.

Ah! Lord! come back! Lord! But one word to me

To wipe away the sorrow of those Eyes

That looked on me — on me, who, once He said,

[i Gesture with both hands.

Should be the very Rock — those Eyes that shone There in the firelight, in the court: those Eyes That looked on me, here in this very room,

As I cried in my madness, “Should I die With Thee, yet will I not deny Thee.”

Achaz.

Sir!

Peter [hearing nothing ).

Those Eyes

That ever sought mine! As a trusting friend Looks on his friend, my Lord so looked on me.

Achaz.

Sir, what is this? [ He advances as if to lift him.

Peter [with fierce gesture).

Stand back: stand back, I say — [He rises. Coward and braggart; traitor and liar am I That swore and ruffled — and when trial came Forgot all save myself — denied my Friend,

Swore that I knew Him not! because a maid Laughed at me; swore I knew Him not. Stand back, Lest that you be defiled!

Achaz.

Peter.

Nay, I say

I am not fit to mix with men.

[ Passes hand over his Those Eyes

Haunt and torment me. When I wake or sleep They burn before me. Eyes all blood and tears Lit by the fire that burned in the wide court And burns in hell, I think.

Achaz.

Sir, but He said,

That if a brother sins and turns again Even to seventy-times seven —

Peter [fiercely ).

But how can I

Turn to the Lord I left?

Sam. [suddenly).

Then turn to her

The Mother of us all. Can she forget Who bears a child, the pain that once she bore? And for that pain’s sake not forgive —

Peter [amazed).

Why, lad,

What Mother is there such as this?

Sam.

Why she

Who comes but now from laying her Son to rest As once she laid Him in the manger.

Peter ( violently agitated).

Boy,

You’re mad! She comes, you say! Think you that I Can bear to see His Eyes in hers — those Eyes That scorch my soul with pain.

Sam. ( entreatingly ).

Sir.

Peter ( running quickly towards door).

Let me go!

Sam. ( preventing him).

Sir; listen. But last night there came a man; Despair reigned in his face, as in your own.

He too came back to see the place where he Betrayed his Master. At his girdle hung No keys of promise, but a rope of death —

And Death Eternal. When she looked on him —

Peter.

Who?

Sam.

Why, the Mother of our Lord and us Whom she has borne with pangs to-day —

Peter.

No more!

["' dashes towards doory avoiding Achaz ana Sam. As he reaches ity it opens: he recoils. Enter Mary, on the arm of John, who supports her tenderly. She is deathly pale. Behind comes the Magd., with bowed head, carrying vases. There is a moment of silence. Then Mary lifts her eyes. Again a moment of silence. Then Peter throws himself on his knees.

Peter.

Ah! Lady! Lady! By those Eyes of Love That looked on you, while yet a little child He lay within your arms! Ah! By those Eyes That turned to you in dying! By those Eyes You closed just now — have pity! Say one word Of pardon in your Son’s name — ere I go And hide myself again. I — Peter — I —

Who dared not face the laughter of a maid Entreat the pity of another Maid!

I — Peter — I — who left the Son in shame Turn to the Mother — Lady — for Jesu’s sake!

[He throws himself flat. She releases John’s arm; stoops, takes him by the arm: he rises to his knees, amazed, with raised hands. She lays one hand on his head: and then slowly kisses him on the forehead. He cries outy Ah! seizes her mantle, kisses its fringe. She passes ony on John’s army round table to chair: seats herself with John behind: then lifts her head and looks at John and then at door, with slight gesture. Magd. goes round to her other side and kneelsy after placing vases on table.

John.

Peter: our Mother bids you keep the door Until her Son comes back to ratify That office. Let none enter, only those That bear the Instruments — the Nails, the Spear, And all things of His Passion —

Peter ( still kneeling ).

John!

John.

I say

That is her wish. That he to whom our Lord Gave once commission high to keep the door Of heaven itself, should keep meanwhile on earth This little realm of His.

[Peter rises and goes to door. John continues to Achaz.

Sir; from the Tomb

They come who bear the precious Instruments.

Our Mother begs your leave that they lie here Until the morning.

Achaz.

Sir; my house is hers

[Mary bows to him. And all that dwell in it. [To Sam.] Boy, keep the door

That opens on the street.

[Sam goes to doory bowing to Mary, As he reaches it, Peter opens it: and closes it after him.

Sir: by your leave.

[He takes from behind the table (L.) two napkins; comes upy bows to Mary, spreads one napkin before her, and lays the other at her side. As he finishes, Peter, who has opened the door a little, turns to table.

Peter.

Lady, he comes who laid our Lord to rest.

Is it your will — [Mary bows.

[Enter Joseph of Arimathjea bearing the Cupy veiled. He bows at the doory goes

E up, places Cup on table before Mary: genuflects and exit again, after bowing (R.). Mary takes covering off' Cup; lifts it, kisses it; makes sign of cross with it: all bow heads: replaces it to her right. enter Joseph with covered tray. He carries his head low. He brings it up to Mary, and places it on table. She lifts off the covering and stands up. Then she kneels, and all kneel with her. Then she alone stands, and lifts first the nails, turning them from side to side: then the crown of thorns. She kisses eachy and replaces: and sits: the rest remain kneeling in places; except Peter, who turns to the door; and then back.

Peter [agitated).

Lady, a soldier comes... He bears with him a lance. He bids me say —

[Mary starts: lifts her hand in gesture. Peter opens the door. Enter Longinus. Peter kneels. John starts up.

John (agitated).

Captain — that lance —

Longin. (standing by door).

Lady, ’twas with this lance —

Ah!

Magd. (crying out). Longin.

With this lance I pierced the side of Him Who was your Son — of Him who in the hour

Of death itself cried out so mightily;

That I who heard Him — I, who many men Have done to death, knew then that He who died.

Was more than man. [ He bows his head and kisses lance.

Thus I salute this lance

That brought forth Blood and Water from His side.

[He brings lance forward. It is about five feet long. As he carries it those kneeling lift their hands, all except Mary, who stands motionless. John sinks on his knees. Longin. presents the lance to Mary, who takes it, kisses it, and, with him, lays it on table before the candles. Longin. stands aside (R.): bows: and is about to turn to go out, when Peter rises from his knees, opens door wide, and falls again on his knees. Enter Veronica, with Sam. behind her. Sam. closes door and kneels. Veronica, carrying the napkin, unfolds it, and shows it slowly from side to side. It is printed with three impressions of Christ* s Face: the centre one being the clearest. Mary kneels, stretching out her hands.

[Then V ERONICA advances slowly, still extending handkerchief and comes up to Mary, who rises and takes it; kisses it; reverses it. All lift their hands, and then sink forward.

[M usic on strings and voices begins. “ Stabat Mater ft very softly, as Mary lifts the Vernacle. As she holds it she speaks, very quietly at first; but her voice rises — slightly, until last line.

Sirs, see the image of my Son Himself Whom once I bore in little Bethlehem.

See how your sins have marred Him; see the tears;

The wounds of thorn and blow. Behold and see If there be any sorrow like to His,

You that pass by! Weep for those sins; and see That by good penance and His Precious Blood All shall be done away when forth He comes To meet us all again on Easter Day;

And we be comforted, my Son and I.

[Her voice breaks in last line.

[The curtain comes down. Music continues louder. Then curtain rises again; and a tableau is presented. Mary stands supporting a great cross, with her head bowed against it. The Magd. is kneeling at its foot: her face hidden, as in pictures. Joseph stands half behind Mary as if to support her. John is on other side from Mary, as in a Rood-group. Longin. kneels (L.) face towards cross, his head bowed. Peter stands (R.) looking towards crossy holding his keys. Achaz stands right forward (L.), and Sam. kneels beside him. Achaz’s hand is on Sam/s head. The “ Stabat Materf which has continued during pausey begins at last verse but one as curtain goes up: and at last line of last verse curtain comes down again. The “Amen” is sung after fall of curtain.