PERSONS OF THE PROLOGUE. ARCHANGELS. CHERUBIM. SERAPHIM. ALL THE HEAVENLY HOST. A VOICE. JOHN BAPTIST. SALOME. CHORUS OF MORTALS, CHORUS OF SPIRITS, PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. HERODIAS. SALOME, daughter of Herodias. HEROD. ANTONIUS, father of Salome. SEXTUS, lover of Salome. AN AGED JEW. A STRANGER. FIRST LORD. viii PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. SECOND LORD. FIRST CAPTAIN. SECOND CAPTAIN, FIRST COURTIER. SECOND COURTIER, A VOICE. PRINCE OF THE POWERS OF THE AIR. A VOICE FROM THE FAR HEIGHTS. PRINCE OF THE POWERS OF THE DEPTHS, CHORUS, ROMANS AND JEWS. SEMI-CHORUS, ROMANS, SEMI-CHORUS, JEWS. OFFICERS, COURTIERS, ATTENDANTS, ETC, SCENE:-Jerusalem. TIME-The night in which John the Baptist was beheaded. DURATION OF ACTION :-From sunset to sunrise. HERODIAS. PROLOGUE. A DUNGEON. JOHN BAPTIST in a trance; Heaven opened; the heavenly host gathered before the throne. ALL THE HEAVENLY HOST. LIGHT invisible; Light-giving Darkness inscrutable; Source unprovided, Source all-receiving; Boundless Duration which, yearless, enduring not still is; Sternness unwavering, limitless; infinite, movable Tender ness; Omnipresent and sleepless Benevolence; Vengeance asleep omnipresent; Ever creating and restless Creator, from finished creation resting forever; Justice that seeth not, feeleth not; feeling for all and all-seeing Pity; Hidden and fathomless Mystery, mysteries hidden re vealing; B Measureless Grace all-pervading; Charity all-centring; Love invincible, all-overcoming; Holiness, Holiness, Holiness; Father of Christus, Glory, majesty, victory and honour be unto Thee Amen. A VOICE. He hath gone to the vineyard alone; is there no one to help? ARCHANGELS. There is none; He must gather alone. VOICE. He treadeth the wine-press alone; is there no one to help? ARCHANGELS. There is none; He must tread it alone. VOICE. The Dragon assaileth Him alone; is there no one to help? ARCHANGELS. There is none; He must conquer alone, VOICE. Grief's archers sore press Him alone; is there no one to help? ARCHANGELS. There is none; He must pierced be alone. |