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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Ghetto, by Herman Heijermans, Translated
+by Chester Bailey Fernald
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Ghetto
+       A Drama in Four Acts
+
+
+Author: Herman Heijermans
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 2, 2011  [eBook #36307]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GHETTO***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Frank van Drogen, David E. Brown, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images
+generously made available by the Google Books Library Project
+(http://books.google.com/)
+
+
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      the the Google Books Library Project. See
+      http://books.google.com/books?vid=lIM54TlR8iUC&id
+
+
+
+
+
+THE GHETTO
+
+      *      *      *      *      *
+
+  Plays
+
+
+  THE PLAYS OF HENRIK IBSEN. Small 4to, cloth, 5s. each, or paper
+    covers, 1s, 6d. each.
+
+     JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN.
+     LITTLE EYOLF.
+    *THE MASTER BUILDER.
+    *HEDDA GABLER.
+
+      *_Also a limited Large Paper Edition, 21s. net._
+
+  BRAND: A Dramatic Poem in Five Acts. By HENRIK IBSEN. Translated in
+    the original metres by C. H. HERFORD. Small 4to, cloth, 7s. 6d.
+
+  THE PLAYS OF GERHART HAUPTMANN. Paper covers, 1s. 6d., or cloth, 2s.
+    6d. each.
+
+    *HANNELE.
+     LONELY LIVES.
+     THE WEAVERS.
+
+      *Also small 4to, with Portrait, 5s.
+
+  THE PRINCESS MALEINE, and THE INTRUDER. By MAURICE MAETERLINCK. With
+    an Introduction by HALL CAINE, and a Portrait of the Author. Small
+    4to, cloth, 5s.
+
+  THE FRUITS OF ENLIGHTENMENT: By Count LYOF TOLSTOY. With Introduction
+    by A. W. PINERO. Small 4to, with Portrait, 5s.
+
+  CYRANO DE BERGERAC. By EDMOND ROSTAND. Small 4to, 5s. Also, Popular
+    Edition, 16mo cloth, 2s. 6d.; paper, 1s. 6d.
+
+      LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN
+       21 BEDFORD STREET, W.C.
+
+      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+THE GHETTO
+
+A Drama in Four Acts
+
+Freely Adapted from the Dutch of
+HERMAN HEIJERMANS, JR.
+
+By
+CHESTER BAILEY FERNALD
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+London: William Heinemann
+MDCCCXCIX
+
+Copyright, 1899
+
+All rights, including Acting rights in the English Language, reserved
+
+Entered at the Library of Congress
+Washington, U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+_DRAMATIS PERSONĘ_
+
+
+  RAFAEL.
+  SACHEL.
+  AARON.
+  RABBI HAEZER.
+  SAMSON.
+  DANIEL.
+  MORDECAI.
+  ESTHER.
+  REBECCA.
+  ROSA.
+
+  _A Watchman. Inhabitants of The Ghetto._
+
+  _The action takes place in The Ghetto, Amsterdam, at the present time._
+
+  _The incidental music composed by Mr. N. CLIFFORD PAGE._
+
+
+
+
+_PREFACE_
+
+
+_In the not wholly grateful task of adapting this play to the present
+demands of the English and American stage, partly as those demands have
+been interpreted by others than me, numerous alterations have been
+thought necessary. I hope that this adaptation does not conceal the fact
+that Mr. Heijermans' original is a work of very admirable unity and
+force._
+
+      _CHESTER B. FERNALD._
+
+  _September, 1899._
+
+
+
+
+THE GHETTO
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST ACT
+
+  SCENE: _A street in the Ghetto in Amsterdam. On the left the shop of
+    SACHEL. Running down from the centre to the right, diagonally, the
+    wall of a canal; a bridge across the canal; a vista of the river and
+    the city at the back._
+
+
+    _Enter SAMSON and DANIEL._
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Have trade and traffic gone to bed for Sabbath?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Not till old Sachel shuts his shop. See, he sits there in the gloom
+  like a spider waiting in its web. He would keep open all night for two
+  cents.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  He's waiting for his son. What if the old man knew that Rafael spent
+  half his time composing music--music for which he gets nothing? He
+  would lock the door on Rafael to-night.
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Let him! The world shall hear from Rafael. Wait till we play his
+  music.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  But he still has time to devote to his father's Christian
+  servant-maid.
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Eh--you have noticed too? [_They look into the shop._] Ah, see her! I
+  say, she's the handsomest in Amsterdam--high or low! You had better be
+  careful what you say about her to Rafael.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  I am. When I spoke a trifle lightly of her, he offered to smash my
+  head with your 'cello.
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  And you apologized?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Not wanting it smashed.
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Meaning your head.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  No, meaning your 'cello. But I shall proceed with her. She is
+  unhappy--I think she needs _me_!
+
+    _Enter MORDECAI, with a piece of lace, by way of the bridge. He goes
+      into the shop._
+
+  I thought we had done with trade in this street. There goes an old
+  sheep to pawn his fleece. I say--bah!
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  So will the old sheep say "Bah!" when Sachel has shorn him. See the
+  old man feeling it over--they say he can tell brass from gold by the
+  touch of his talons.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  It is well the old man is blind; if he saw the look of disgust on the
+  girl's face--ay, she'd like to rush out in the air!
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  If she hates trade so, why does she stay in the Ghetto?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  She has nowhere else to go--she doesn't appear to want to get away.
+  Are they cursing each other over a copper? See the curl of her lip!
+  Look! look!
+
+      [_ROSA rushes out of the shop._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_As if stifling._] Oh! oh! they have no souls--there is not a soul
+  among them, save Rafael's!
+
+      [_She sees DANIEL and SAMSON._
+
+SAMSON.
+
+Good evening!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Coldly._] Good evening.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  It's a fine evening, isn't it?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  No, I suppose not. Is Rafael at home?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  No--he stays away, he is in love?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  With whom?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  With somebody--somebody. I read between the notes of his music. He's
+  fallen in love and he's put it all into music. [_Insinuatingly._] Do
+  you know who she is?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_She gets a broom and begins to sweep._] How should I, a Christian,
+  be so deep in his confidence?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  As deep in his confidence as need be. But do not trust him too much.
+  Ah--[_quasi-regretful_]--and I am his friend. But it is love that has
+  made a fool of me.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No, I should not lay it to the door of love.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  It _is_ love. If I could look into such eyes as yours, and my heart
+  not smoke like--like a burning haycock, then I should be more fool
+  than now.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  You could not be. With whom do you mean to insinuate that Rafael is
+  carrying on a love affair?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Oh, not you!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Oh! With whom, then?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  [_Whispering._] To-morrow, when you are alone----
+
+      [_He pauses, hearing SACHEL in the shop._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No, no!
+
+MORDECAI.
+
+  But----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No, no, no!
+
+    _Enter MORDECAI, followed by SACHEL._
+
+MORDECAI.
+
+  Half a guilder! Half a guilder! Oh! if it isn't worth four guilders,
+  it is worth nothing.
+
+      [_He begins to roll up his lace._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  If it is worth four guilders to you, keep it. H'm! Because I am blind,
+  cannot I feel with my fingers? No, it is tatters.
+
+MORDECAI.
+
+  It's beautiful. I leave it to any one.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  So do I. I leave it to Rosa; she's a Christian, she knows nothing
+  about trade. Rosa!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Coming to him._] Yes.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Am I not right? Is it not charity to offer him half a guilder for that
+  lace?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  [_Mischievously._] A beautiful piece of lace!
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  A splendid piece of lace; he could not have come honestly by that!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I have not summoned every idler in the street. Rosa!
+
+      [_Exeunt DANIEL and SAMSON._
+
+MORDECAI.
+
+  [_Whispering to ROSA._] My son is dead, how can I bury him without
+  money? It was his mother's--the only fragment I have left of hers----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I hear you; is he giving you something?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_In compassion._] It is not so badly worn; surely it is worth four
+  guilders!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You lie! I say you lie! Do you think you can make a fool of me--you
+  thieves! Ah, I know you are standing there, twisting your cheeks at
+  me! But you shall not rob me; no, no! Give me that! [_He takes the
+  lace and examines it with his fingers._] I knew it! It has been
+  patched--by some bag-maker. You minx--you hussy! Do I feed you that
+  you may rob me? Everybody lies to me--but they do not deceive me! I
+  will not give half a guilder--only thirty cents.
+
+MORDECAI.
+
+  Sachel! I must have _two_ guilders! He died in my arms. You have a
+  son--for pity's sake--for pity's sake!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Have you had pity on my eyes? You say this lace is whole; it is a lie.
+  You say your son is dead; that is a lie too, for all I know. I'll give
+  no more--no more.
+
+MORDECAI.
+
+  Oh! Oh! Give me that! You black-hearted miser. [_He snatches it._] You
+  are rich--you have known me for years--and you would let my son be
+  buried in the pauper's field! A curse on you! May your son _live_ to
+  hate you--desert you--disown you--curse you, as I do!
+
+      [_Exit MORDECAI._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Rosa! Run and offer him a guilder and a half! Run!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Mordecai! He will not stop! He's gone!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  With a curse! Could I be more cursed than I am? Come here. You have
+  driven the trade from my door.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Yes, you--you misbegotten wretch! Had you not whined and pleaded for
+  him, he would have taken a guilder. If you, too, had said, "Tatters!
+  nothing but tatters." Why did you not?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Because I will not lie for you!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I employ you to do my bidding! What are you doing now--idling, wasting
+  precious time? [_ROSA begins to sweep._] In the middle of last
+  night--were you up?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Ironically._] You will not lie for me! Why are you so disturbed
+  about it?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I am not disturbed.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I say you are. You are red in the face--I know it. Why were you up?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I was not up.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I heard you! I heard you, and you cannot deceive me. Did I not lie
+  awake until Rafael came home? It struck twelve as he went to his room.
+  It was not five minutes later when I hear steps along the hall--yes, I
+  can hear steps, though the shoes be off! I heard steps, and then your
+  door opened. Why do you stop? I heard your door open; what does it
+  mean?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Do you mean that--that some one came--some one opened my door?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Some one--some one! I mean you--you opened it--and you went
+  downstairs. Why? What were you doing while you thought I slept?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I did not leave my room.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  And she will not lie for me! If you are honest, why does your voice
+  tremble so? You were up, and why? If I miss anything;--do you want to
+  be turned into the streets? [_He hears the noise of a window opening._]
+  Who's that? Some fresh enemy? I cannot move but some one's hand is
+  raised against me! Enemies--enemies I cannot strike nor battle
+  with--because I cannot see!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I--I am not your enemy!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  How do I know? Have I ever looked into your eyes? Ay, if I could look
+  into them at this moment, God knows what I should find. You are not my
+  enemy! Why, then, were you up last night prowling about my house--at
+  midnight--when my son--when Rafael;--Rafael--? Come here! [_She comes
+  to him._] Your hand! Was it Rafael? Did Rafael--? No, no, my beautiful
+  boy--with such as you--an ugly, misshapen wench like you! [_Pause._]
+  Unless--unless they lied to me! Did not Esther sniff and say that you
+  were white and thin, when we rescued you from pauperdom--when you were
+  threatened with the streets--you thankless vagabond? They knew I would
+  not have had you else! Rafael said that "pretty" was no word for such
+  a face as yours; did he mean that you were beautiful;--did he mean
+  that? Your form--yes, your form! [_He passes his hand over her._] Hold
+  still! Do you fear an old blind wreck like me? Ay, you are like a
+  Madonna, damn you! Your face--hold still--your nose--[_he passes his
+  hand over her face_]--your brow--your chin;--they lied to me! You are
+  beautiful! It _was_ Rafael!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  What do you mean? I tell you I am not beautiful!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Are you ugly? Do you swear you are ugly?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  You cannot see the colour of my skin--you cannot see the rings under
+  my eyes.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You swear--do you swear you are not beautiful?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I may have been pretty once--but now----
+
+      [_She is silent._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Thoughtfully._] When she says that--h'm! H'm! No woman would deny
+  her beauty if she had it. No, no! H'm! Rafael--my beautiful boy; why,
+  I only mentioned it to frighten you!
+
+    _Enter ESTHER, over the bridge._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  What's the matter now--you troublesome old person?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  My sister--my compassionate sister! H'm! I know you're waiting,
+  watching my face from day to day for a sign of death.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  You silly old man, does any one put a pin in your way?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Any one? Every one! Has she not just driven away a customer because
+  she would not----
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  I don't want to hear about it!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  H'm! A little money--it is nothing! I have given my life for it--and
+  my eyes--my eyes! By God's right, do not the blessings of thrift
+  belong to me? And here I drag my gloomy, empty life away, with a son
+  who brings me nothing, a sister who watches me like a vulture and this
+  hussy who drives my customers to curse me!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Who do you think gave me this letter for you? Aaron.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Aaron! He hasn't been near us for years! What does he want? Read!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  When the Sabbath has already begun?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Well, what do we have this Christian for? Rosa!
+
+    _Enter ROSA._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Rosa, open this letter and read it.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Reading._] "I shall be at your house to-night, on a matter of
+  business.--AARON HEINE."      [_Exit ROSA._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Business? What business can he have with me?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  His daughter, I think. There was something in the way he spoke that
+  made me feel it!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  To marry his Rebecca to my son. H'm! I'll make him speak first. I'll
+  worry him! I'll make him sweat.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Rosa! Put up the shutters.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I will not trust her to put up the shutters.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  You never had a better servant in your house.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Fetches shutters and awkwardly adjusts them._] She is a Christian.
+  It is bad luck--it was wrong for us to take her in.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  You were glad enough to have her. Would a Jewess light your fire on
+  Sabbath--would a Jewess open your letters for you? Shall I send her
+  away?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Not yet.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  No. Because on Sabbath your feet would be cold and your letters would
+  lie unopened, even if you were not blind. I pity the girl; I have
+  heard that her father was a gentleman and died poor and in exile,
+  because he had given succour to the persecuted Jews.
+
+    _Enter ROSA._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Who can prove it? It is a good story to work upon our sympathies. They
+  cannot deceive me. I will have no sympathies.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  [_To ROSA._] Isn't it warm.
+
+      [_They look off over the river._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  But aren't those clouds beautiful? They are bringing a blessed rain;
+  but they lower as if they brought a pestilence.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  You call them beautiful? You know very well that we are speculating in
+  produce: if the drought keeps on the rich will have to pay dear for
+  their vegetables, and the poor won't have any; it will profit us
+  handsomely! And you only think of your own pleasure!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  It was only the beauty, the majesty of the clouds; they are massed
+  together like enemies ready to destroy us. But the poor; ah, I can see
+  the hand of God in those clouds!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Which God, Rosa?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  The God of all peoples, of all faiths--the God who knows no ceremony
+  but the way of living, and no creed but what He plants in the hearts
+  of every one.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  You are a strange sort of Christian! You talk like Rafael! [_Exit
+  ROSA, as if to avoid the subject._] I wonder if she ever talks with
+  Rafael! Sachel, I see Aaron!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I'll make him speak first.
+
+    _Enter AARON._
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_To SACHEL._] Good evening. [_No answer._] What's the matter with
+  you, old friend? I have a bit of business with you.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Good evening. Rather late for business, isn't it? Sit down.
+
+AARON.
+
+  It's never too late for business. It was never too early when we were
+  young--eh, Sachel? Do you remember forty years ago, when you and I and
+  Abram stood in line at two o'clock in the morning--to get the best
+  places at the sale? Poverty wasn't trumps then, as it is now.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  H'm! I fancy not with you, now.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What did you come about?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh? Well, I have something I think you'll want.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh? Why, some wool, I'll sell it cheap. Feel that! As soft as my
+  daughter's cheek!
+
+      [_Gives SACHEL a packet of wool._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Returning the packet._] I didn't think you'd have anything I wanted.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  No; it wouldn't interest us. Have some coffee, Rosa!
+
+AARON.
+
+  You think it is not good. You don't know! That wool was bought by my
+  daughter, Rebecca, and I'll back her judgment against any man's in the
+  Ghetto! [_Gives a little to SACHEL._] Feel that!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Breaking the fibres, and listening to the sound they make._] His
+  daughter! Cotton! More cotton! His daughter!
+
+AARON.
+
+  I will match her with your son, any day!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  My son is in no hurry to marry.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Marry? I meant as a judge of wool. You are the only one that's
+  thinking of marrying him. What's the matter--doesn't any girl's father
+  want him?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Picking the wool apart._] H'm!
+
+AARON.
+
+  There _is_ a keen demand for handsome young wives nowadays, judging from
+  the way my daughter is besieged.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Your daughter? You speak as if she had had an offer.
+
+    _Enter ROSA with the coffee._
+
+AARON.
+
+  H'm, _an_ offer! But I came here to talk about wool! If it were not
+  the Sabbath I would burn a little for you, and you could tell by the
+  smell there is not a shred of cotton in it!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Let the Christian burn it for us, then. Rosa, light that!
+
+      [_ROSA burns a little of the wool in the spirit lamp._
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Laughingly._] If you can smell cotton in that, then the sheep have
+  been eating cotton-seed, and it has sprouted through their shins. Do
+  you smell any cotton? Ah!
+
+      [_Exit ROSA._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No; because I have picked all the cotton out. Rubbish!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Have some coffee?
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Putting away packet of wool._] Oh, well, if you don't know a good
+  thing when you see it. Ah! Those cakes of yours, Esther; I remember
+  them, I remember them of old! Let me send my daughter to learn how to
+  make them, will you?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Certainly.
+
+AARON.
+
+  That's the only thing under the sky that my daughter can't do to
+  perfection. Well, how is that son of yours?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Where is he, you had better ask! Unless I stay up till midnight, I
+  never meet him.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Oh, well, a young fellow has to have his day I suppose.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Did I have my day? I was one of eight souls who crawled and starved in
+  a room half as big as my shop parlour. I have known hunger to gnaw at
+  my belly, till I cried myself to sleep, and dreamt that I was
+  disembowelled. And my grandmother died, and my little sister too, from
+  sheer want. Sheer want! At his age I could have bought and sold him
+  twice a day. The fellow is a worthless vagabond!
+
+AARON.
+
+  H'm. I suppose, if the truth be said, he _is_ a worthless vagabond!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You--what affair is it of yours? You would give half you have--and
+  that wouldn't be much--to have him in your household!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Ha! My daughter has no haste to wed.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Who said anything about wedding? It is you that seem to have the
+  subject on your mind.
+
+AARON.
+
+  With my girl? With Rebecca? You rely too much upon your son's good
+  looks and upon the lot of money he will have.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Who said he would have a lot of money? I am not dead yet.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Even so, your only child is not going empty-handed.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He will go empty-handed, by the Commandments, if he does not obey his
+  father! And, in any case, I have not slaved my eyes away that another
+  man's child may be fed.
+
+    _Enter REBECCA._
+
+AARON.
+
+  Still he must marry some day.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Marry whom? No girl who does not bring twelve thousand guilders shall
+  marry my son!
+
+      [_Exit ESTHER._
+
+      [_REBECCA pauses at the bridge unobserved and interested._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Aside._] They are getting on!
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Swelling with indignation._] Twelve thousand guilders! Twelve
+  thousand guilders! A snap of the finger! And is your son a prince? You
+  talk like an imbecile. Suppose some one was fool enough to give his
+  daughter such a dowry, what would you give your son?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Nothing! He has his share in the business--or will have.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Oh, you're enough to make a man jump into the sea!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Did I ask anything of you? Why should you jump into the sea?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh, what? Rebecca! How did _you_ happen to be here?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Ironically._] Yes, how did you happen to be here?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Why, didn't you _tell_ me----
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Waving her away._] We're talking business, Sachel and I!
+
+    _Enter ESTHER._
+
+  Esther, those cakes are wonderful!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Thanks! [_To REBECCA._] Look here. [_Showing a photograph--watching
+  her closely._] Rafael is a good-looking boy, isn't he?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Oh, you'd better let me have this! He wouldn't mind, would he? What a
+  fine likeness--but so sad!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  That's for some nice girl to take out of him.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Tapping the photograph._] And you'll let me----
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Have the picture? With pleasure! Have you seen Isaac's new warehouse?
+
+      [_Points up the canal. REBECCA retires to the bridge._
+
+  [_Sotto, to AARON._] I like your girl--she's remarkably discreet. When
+  she's married, you'll be lonely enough!
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Sotto._] And when she is married, Esther--[_meaningly_]--may I take
+  me a wife on the same day; one that can bake such cakes as those!
+  [_Aloud._] Esther, there is not another woman in Amsterdam that can
+  bake such cakes as those!
+
+      [_The two exchange meaning glances; they advance on SACHEL, as if
+        now in alliance._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Aside._] I don't believe it was about me!
+
+AARON.
+
+  But, outside of that, Rebecca is a wonderful housewife, and in the
+  shop--she brings me the trade!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  H'm! She'll never bring you a son-in-law! For you can't spare money to
+  give with her. You need it all in your business.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Do I? With my daughter there will go a trifle of eight thousand
+  guilders.      [_Pause._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Aside._] It _is_ about me. They are getting on!
+
+AARON.
+
+  And he thinks a girl will bring his son a matter of twelve thousand
+  guilders.
+
+    _Enter ROSA; she shows that she has been listening and is troubled._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Let my son tell me he is going to marry a girl with less than twelve
+  thousand! I would give him the choice of starvation. I would lock the
+  door on him.
+
+      [_ROSA sees the photograph in REBECCA'S hand._
+
+AARON.
+
+  Who's talking of your son? My daughter--Esther, just look at her--such
+  a figure, such a skin--such eyes! Esther, Esther, look at her walk!
+  Look at her walk!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Is Rafael at home?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Rafael and Rebecca--that would sound rather well!
+
+AARON.
+
+  My dear woman, I won't give twelve thousand guilders.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  And I won't give my son at less!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Your son? Did I ask you for your son? Did I?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Did I ask you for your daughter? What is she to me?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Aside._] Oh, they are really getting on!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Oh, my daughter! I wish your son were her equal! If _I_ had such a
+  son----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I don't want your advice! [_Rises._] You manage your own child. I'll
+  manage mine.      [_Starts for shop._
+
+AARON.
+
+  You will? You can't manage him. Where is he now? Dallying with some
+  wanton, for all you know! My God, one would think him a second Joseph!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Do you house him? Do you feed him? Does he trouble you? Speak well of
+  him, or go home!
+
+AARON.
+
+  I will go home!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Sit down! Now talk sense! It's a good match: you both know it's a good
+  match, and so--[_to REBECCA_]--have you seen the repairs to the old
+  bridge?
+
+      [_REBECCA moves farther away, leaving the photograph of RAFAEL on
+        the wall._
+
+  [_Lowering her voice._] They are both only children. And so, in any
+  case, the money will stay in the family. You let Sachel consider it.
+
+      [_ROSA takes the photograph of RAFAEL and hides it behind her._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Aside._] I wonder how Rafael will consider it?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  It costs nothing to consider it, but----
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  We'll see you to-morrow.
+
+AARON.
+
+  At my house--before service. Come on, Rebecca; I have arranged about
+  the wool. Good-night!      [_Exit._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Good-night!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Oh, where's my picture of Rafael? [_ROSA drops the photograph into the
+  canal._] It's gone!
+
+      [_She looks about for it._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  How could it have gone?
+
+      [_REBECCA sees it in the canal._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  It has fallen into the canal! It's ruined! [_Looks at ROSA._] I don't
+  understand. I don't understand!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Oh, well; Rafael has some others. I'll see Rafael. Good-night.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_To ROSA._] If the portrait dropped in where I left it, then it must
+  have floated against the current.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Fiercely, sotto._] It did go against the current.
+
+      [_Exit REBECCA._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Not a cent under twelve thousand.
+
+      [_ROSA, at the bridge, struggles with tears._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  We shall see!      [_Exit._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  So we shall. Why doesn't he come? His miserable selfishness. My God,
+  if anything has happened to him! He doesn't come. He might have been
+  set upon and robbed--beaten, killed, by some cursed ruffian beyond the
+  Ghetto. My God--I'm harsh--too harsh with him. I shall be chastened
+  for it. I was harsh to his mother; yes, I know--I know; I broke her
+  heart perhaps, and Rafael, poor boy----[_Stops, listens._] His step!
+  Yes; even--steady--he's in no distress. He's not worrying about _me_.
+  He'll come home to sleep and get more money--that's all. He's a
+  vagabond--a rascally vagabond!
+
+    _Enter ESTHER._
+
+    _Enter RAFAEL by the bridge._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Wearily._] Good evening. [_No answer._] Good evening! [_No answer._]
+
+      [_He exchanges guarded looks with ROSA. Exit ROSA._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  [_Contemptuously._] The gentleman says "Good evening!" This is his
+  lodging-house, where he does us the honour to sleep!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I know I am rather late. I hope you were not anxious about me, father.
+  Were you? Father! Oh--well!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Why should he answer you? What manner of son are you?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Where have you been all day?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I--what does it matter? I know--I promised to do some business for
+  you--but--there were other things--I forgot--I am sorry.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Oh, he's sorry.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I asked you where you idled all this day, and you evaded me.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I have been everywhere--and the day vanished while I was thinking.
+  Have you something to eat, aunt?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  We have finished eating.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  At this time of night! H'm!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Very well. I will see what I can find.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Oh, my Maker, how heavily thou visitest upon me! To be thus mocked by
+  a stranger within mine own house! If your poor dead mother knew how
+  you treated me!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Father, the rotten board that marked my mother's grave is falling to
+  pieces. And you can hardly find the spot for weeds--weeds!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Is that where you've been? Where else?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Far away--in my thoughts.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Another day--a whole precious day devoured by your drivelling
+  nonsense! Are you a son? Have you an old blind father? Oh, my
+  business, my splendid business, that I slaved and sweated out my
+  marrow for, dwindling, dwindling with every ticking of the clock! And
+  he wants me to buy a new headboard! I had better buy one for myself. I
+  had better be dead than not, with such a son.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Sachel! Sachel! You cry--for a son like that! He is not worth one
+  tear.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  God punishes me for all my sins. When he was a child I have stolen the
+  bread from my mouth for him, weeks at a time; and now I may burrow
+  alone in the dark for all he cares, chained to my door-post, chained
+  to wait till some one comes to deal with me--to rob and swindle and
+  mock me--because I am alone--and blind.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And the saddest is, it is not my doing, and I cannot help it.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Not his doing! Oh, my Maker! Can I keep him in irons and make him use
+  his eyes for me?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Father, between us matters cannot be improved--now nor ever!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Well, upon my word!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Why not? You have something you dare not tell. There is a woman in it.
+  You had forty guilders when you went away this morning. Have you a
+  cent of it left?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I gave it all to Mordecai to bury his son.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I do not believe it.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Father! For the little time that I remain here need we add more
+  bitterness to what exists?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What do you say?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I am going away.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What--what--what do you say?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I am going away!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Oh, oh, that crowns all! He can look into my dead eyes and threaten
+  this--without a quiver--without a qualm!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Ah, there was a time--there was a time, when I would have yielded any
+  sacrifice for you--when I was a boy and you had just gone blind, and
+  my heart was wrung with a pity for you that was a very pity in itself.
+  If I had seen tears in your poor sightless eyes, then my peace would
+  have been utterly destroyed; at the thought of having vexed you I
+  should have beaten my brow. And now it's gone--gone--and it won't come
+  back--it can't come back--because you robbed me of it.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I? I? What have _I_ done? And why do you go away?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  For reasons all of which I will not tell.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You dog! To leave your father--sick and blind, and on the road to
+  poverty! God shall curse you for it!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  No; God shall not! To live under this roof--to see, day in, day
+  out--nothing--nothing--but, no--no! There _are_ reasons, reasons
+  enough, Heaven be my judge!
+
+      [_Several musical instruments begin to tune up in the house where
+        DANIEL and SAMSON live._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Heaven will be your judge! There _are_ reasons--reasons you are
+  ashamed of--reasons you dare not tell!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  It is true! You have fouled my name, you have been in the mire, you
+  have committed some contemptible thing you are ashamed of! You are
+  running away, you dare not tell why!
+
+      [_RAFAEL throws over a chair; regains his composure._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Is it but three years ago that I was so ignorant, so raw, and so
+  fond of you? I had known you with the fire of life in your eyes, and
+  now it had gone; the light of your soul was as hidden in a dungeon,
+  because you were blind. Ah, how I suffered! I shut my eyes to
+  imagine it--darkness, black nothing; God's beautiful sky gone for
+  ever, as if you were in your coffin under ground! Awful! Awful! And
+  this, this was my father--my father, whom I loved and honoured, of
+  all the world!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Who asked your sympathy? Hold your tongue!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I honoured you because you asked the sympathy of no man. I
+  _honoured_ you. Shall I ever forget that Friday, when I stood alone
+  in the gloom of this warehouse, watching you, sorrowing over your
+  blindness, with tears in my eyes! You stood by the scales. They were
+  weighing out your merchandise; the man who had bought it stooped and
+  shifted the weights; and your creature Jacob read the figures out
+  and you wrote them down in great coarse scrawls--your grey head
+  bare, your face turned up to heaven. How I loved you--how I pitied
+  you! You bore yourself with such calm--such fortitude--as if, when
+  God had touched your eyes, He had whispered into your ears some
+  portion of the everlasting truth. No one saw me--I was back in the
+  shadow. And I started forward; I wanted to say, "Father--go in;
+  father, never labour again! Sit in your chair--rest always--while I
+  do your bidding--while I do everything!" But I did not say it. No! I
+  stopped; I slunk back into the deepest shadow like a criminal. I had
+  uttered a cry, but you and Jacob did not hear me. On the platform of
+  the scales, when your client stooped to balance them, I had seen a
+  foot go out--go out while your white face was turned in holy calm to
+  heaven--go out and press down--so that the scales read false--so
+  that the man who bought our goods was tricked and robbed--robbed of
+  the money we had not earned from him. And again I saw it, and again,
+  and again, father! And the man whose foot went out and did this
+  crime, the man who was stealing and stealing, time after time,
+  stealing his money, stealing my respect, my honour, my youth, before
+  my eyes--was it Jacob? No, it was you--you, my father--my father,
+  whom I loved and pitied, and they had trusted--because you were
+  blind!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Shame! That's a lie! Shame!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Turning to his father._] Is it a lie?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Hoarsely._] Let him go on. Let him go on.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And that afternoon I went with my father to the synagogue; I did not
+  pray, I could not speak. I only gazed at my father's face, waiting
+  to see it soften into some shade of doubt, of repentance, of
+  remorse. And the dead eyes faced up to the rafters where the sun
+  shone through--they faced up there with the same impassive
+  stare--the same holy calm, as when he stood with his foot on the
+  scales. Ah, when we walked home, how cold and pitiless the sky
+  looked down at me that winter day! We sat at our Sabbath table. He
+  complained that I was silent. He said prayers, he dipped the bread
+  in the salt. The lamplight shone on him, and I stared into his face,
+  and I saw nothing--nothing I had always thought I saw--and my heart
+  was ice; and he rose and stumbled over a stool and fell, and I
+  picked him up--and my heart was still ice. He was no longer blind to
+  me--he was nothing--nothing but a--ah no, no,--what's the
+  use--what's the use?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Hoarsely._] Have I been different from the others? Aaron, Levy,
+  Isaac, would they not have done the same? Is there any one who would
+  not take advantage of my eyes? No; business is business.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Business,--Aaron, Levy, Isaac! God, how I have despised them all my
+  life!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Oh, he would give overweight!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I will quarrel no more with you. When I am gone----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You are not going--you shall not go! [_Trembling._] I have nothing
+  in the world but you. Didn't I do it all for you? When I am dead the
+  money will be yours, and the blame sewed up in my shroud with me.
+  Can't you be content?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_After looking at him for a moment, hopelessly._] It is getting late.
+  I am tired. Let us go to bed, and to-morrow let us part friends.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  You eat something. Then you'll feel differently. H'm! He go away! I
+  shall call up Rosa!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Thanks, no. I could not eat now. Has she not done enough this
+  sweltering day?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Then I'm going to bed. No wonder, to be so irregular in your ways. You
+  were up last night. Couldn't you sleep?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I did not sleep until nearly morning.
+
+      [_Exit ESTHER. SACHEL goes to try the shutters._
+
+  Well, good-night, father. You won't answer? Well, good-night!
+  [_Music begins in the house at the back._] [_Aside._] They are
+  playing my music. Give me time--I will show you what is in my soul!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Aside._] The scales--that is not the only reason!
+
+    _Enter ROSA, who does not see SACHEL. She starts to go to RAFAEL.
+      SACHEL hears her._
+
+  Rosa, why are you not in bed? [_ROSA stops motionless, mute,
+  frightened._] Is that Rosa? [_He is suspicious._
+
+      [_They do not answer. Exit SACHEL into the house, evidently with a
+        purpose._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Rushing to RAFAEL._] Rafael! Rafael! Tell me the truth. Am I not
+  your wife? Don't you love me? Do you love some one else? Do you love
+  Aaron's daughter? They are planning to marry her to you. What does
+  it mean? [_He motions her to be silent._] Does it mean that you wish
+  it? No--no, it can't be that: you have said you were going away; but
+  you didn't tell them of me. Why? Why do you not tell them of
+  me?--soon enough you'll have to; and then--then you will have to
+  choose--choose between the rage of your father--between
+  disinheritance--poverty--the wrath of all the Ghetto, and me--only
+  me! Rafael, my life is in your hands. Love me--love me, Rafael!
+  Don't let me doubt you! [_He stops her mouth. Suddenly SACHEL opens
+  the window over the shop-door; he leans out, listens, hears nothing,
+  withdraws._] He's in my room--he's searching for me--he suspects
+  us--he has said so. He's coming down now; he's going to accuse us;
+  he's going to tell you to desert me--desert me or starve! Rafael,
+  what are you going to say? Rafael, what are you going to say?
+
+      [_He stops her mouth again; they look in through the door. A
+        pause._
+
+    _Enter SACHEL._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  She's not in the house! Rosa--where are you?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Whispering to RAFAEL._] Where? Where?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Quietly taking her in his arms._] Rosa is here, father.
+
+A WATCHMAN.
+
+  [_Heard in the distance._] Ten o'clock, and all's well! Ten o'clock,
+  and all's well!
+
+      [_SACHEL shakes his head._
+
+END OF THE FIRST ACT.
+
+
+
+
+THE SECOND ACT
+
+  SCENE: _A living room in the rear of SACHEL'S shop. A door at the
+    back opens into the street; at the left a staircase runs up over a
+    fireplace to a gallery which gives access to two rooms off the
+    stage._
+
+  _ROSA is discovered at the fireplace. ESTHER is at the dining-table,
+    which is set with the Sabbath-cloth. ESTHER crosses to a door at the
+    left._
+
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Sachel, your medicine!
+
+      [_ROSA brings a jug of hot water to the table; ESTHER prepares some
+        medicine with the water._
+
+    _Enter SACHEL._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  That girl--where is she?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  She's here.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Aside._] That's what Rafael said last night. Rosa! Go and water
+  the flowers in my window and pick off the dead leaves, and be sure
+  you give plenty of time to it.      [_Exit ROSA._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Well! Since when have you taken such an interest in flowers?
+
+      [_She goes upstairs._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I want to talk; I've been awake all night. This girl keeps lying to
+  me. Last night she had the effrontery to tell me--[_with
+  calculation_]--she told me she was considered beautiful!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  [_Not interested._] Well, she is beautiful!
+
+      [_Exit ESTHER._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  H'm! [_He thinks deeply; rises._] Rosa!
+
+    _Enter ROSA._
+
+  Last night you tried to make me think you were ugly;--you deceived
+  me. You are not a woman--you are a fiend come into my house--come in
+  out of the Christian world--to do what? What do you expect to do
+  here? Do you know you are in the heart of the Ghetto? What do you
+  expect to do in my house?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Nothing but what my God gives me the right to do!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Your God? I tell you the wall your God built against us still shuts
+  Him away from here! You came into my house to divide it against
+  itself. You have been getting too near my son. Do you think I don't
+  know? You've been trying to turn him against his religion, you've
+  been trying to turn him against me!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  If I have, then I have failed. Rafael loves you.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You say so? I ask no better proof that he hates me! You came into my
+  house to accomplish this, you vampire! Could you not have fastened
+  on someone else than Rafael? Who sent you here to find him? Did
+  your Christian God send you here?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Thinking of RAFAEL._] Yes, yes, my God did send me here--[_checks
+  herself_]--or else I should have starved.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Starve! Does a demon ever starve? Not while young men have hot
+  blood! Hah! It is well that I have found you out before this thing
+  has gone too far. Don't I know your damned tricks; _you_ wouldn't be
+  satisfied with a passing touch of his lips. You've got a brain--a
+  lying, scheming, devilish brain! You want his heart--you want his
+  soul! By God! [_He goes vigorously and opens the door, to the
+  street._] Do you know what I'm going to do? There's where we found
+  you--out there in the streets, without a friend, without a cent, and
+  your dead father----
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Sachel, my father helped your people!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Now let the Jews help his daughter! You've lied to me always! Shall
+  I believe this story of your father? I believe he was a demon like
+  you! I believe he was sent out of hell to steal away men's souls, as
+  you were. You've found something to fight when you've come across
+  me! Shall I feel a snake in my bosom and not cast it out? [_He
+  points to the door._] You--[_He checks himself; a pause._] Shut the
+  door! Go on with your work! [_Exit ROSA._] No, no, no--it won't do
+  to _tear_ him away from her. She is beautiful;--we must marry him to
+  Rebecca. Rebecca is handsome, Rebecca is rich, Rebecca is minx
+  enough. We must marry him to Rebecca if we can. If not, to some one
+  else--any one else, as soon as we can. But we must handle him with
+  care. Ah! I had better get the Rabbi to talk to him; the Rabbi has
+  tact. And, for the present, we must let Rosa be.
+
+    _Enter ESTHER. A knock on the door._
+
+  Aaron. Come in!
+
+    _Enter AARON._
+
+AARON.
+
+  Good morning!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Good morning!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Good morning!
+
+AARON.
+
+  I shouldn't have come, my friend, if I hadn't promised Esther. For
+  I've been thinking it over; and if there is any question of your son
+  marrying my daughter, I tell you I will give eight thousand guilders
+  and no more!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  All because I said "Good morning" to you. I have been considering
+  it. I am willing to talk with you. As you probably said in your
+  sleep last night, if you can get rid of your daughter without paying
+  more than ten thousand guilders, you'll be pretty well satisfied.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh--what?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Come on, it's time to start to the synagogue; we'll have a talk on the
+  way.
+
+AARON.
+
+  But, my dear sir, eight thousand----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No; as you said in your sleep--ten thousand!
+
+      [_Exeunt all._
+
+    _Enter SAMSON, cautiously._
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Rosa! Rosa! [_Aside._] A little show of modesty! Rosa! Nevertheless
+  she is listening at the other side of that door; she thinks I will
+  betray myself in some soliloquy. H'm! [_Loudly._] Ah--she's not
+  here; how the blood rushed to my heart, like the sea beating against
+  a rock, when I thought I should have two golden moments alone with
+  her! [_He stands on lowest cupboard shelf to be near her door, which
+  is upstairs._] But she's gone!--gone forth to air her beauty. Such
+  beauty! Such a face, such a form! Night after night she floats in my
+  dreams--[_he steps up one shelf nearer_]--for I love her so that I
+  have not slept a wink for weeks.
+
+    _Enter DANIEL, unobserved by SAMSON._
+
+  And if she were here I would tell her so! I could gratify her
+  tastes! For once her love is mine. [_He draws a bunch of keys from
+  his pocket._] She shall hear such music as this from morn till
+  night----
+
+      [_He jingles the keys._
+
+    _Enter ROSA._
+
+  One--two--three--four--five--five gold pieces! Did I come abroad
+  with only five? H'm! There are plenty more like these indoors--yes,
+  in doors! And here I stand perishing with my ardour. Nay, I feel
+  faint----
+
+      [_DANIEL bursts into loud laughter._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_To SAMSON._] You miserable cur! [_SAMSON descends sheepishly._] If
+  I were of your faith--if I were not a servitor, without a father,
+  without a brother, you would not dare! [_DANIEL laughs._] And
+  you--if you were a little better than he, you would have struck him!
+  What do you want here? Go!
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Look here, my girl, you need not be so virtuous when you talk to us!
+  We live next to you--our windows overlook yours--eh, Samson?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Don't you be unpleasant to this lady!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_To DANIEL._] What do you mean?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Lady! What do we mean? What's the difference? Rafael is a friend of
+  ours. We are most liberal--most charitable, eh, Samson?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael? Why do you speak of Rafael? What do you mean?
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Now you needn't bring Rafael into it, Daniel. I don't want any--any
+  misapprehension with Rafael.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  You shall have an understanding with him, you cowards--you vulgar
+  beasts! I shall tell him!
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  He'll tell you to hold your tongue. Are you his wife? No; you're a
+  Christian servant in his father's house; we know all about that, and
+  you'd better learn to take a joke.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  It was only a joke, you know--only a joke--(_with a forced laugh._)
+  [_ROSA'S anger increases._] Now don't you tell Rafael that I was
+  trying to get in his way!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  What do you mean? Get in his way? He would flick you over his shoulder
+  into the canal. I shall tell him!
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Don't--don't bring Rafael into it! Hasn't he enough on his mind
+  already?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Would anything so slight as you increase his burden? You cowards! You
+  both fear him! You _may_ fear him!
+
+    _Enter RAFAEL._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Hallo! News! news! I've seen Hanakoff--and Hanakoff
+  says--Hanakoff--what's the matter? What is the matter? Which of you
+  was it? Rosa, what did they do?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Pointing to SAMSON._] Let him speak.
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Why--why, she can't take a joke--that's all.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Oh, a joke. What was the joke? What was the joke?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Oh, everything is a joke. Don't we live across the street? Can two
+  people help putting their heads together once in a while? Well, of
+  course, if you--if she--if we--why, of course----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  What did they say?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  They said--they insinuated that--that----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I know what they said. You--I--[_He takes hold of them both._] Two
+  people can't help putting their heads together! If you will meet me
+  in some seclusion, my two good friends, I'll show you how two heads
+  can be so put together that two people shall see stars enough to
+  read their horoscopes. You shall read in those stars the name of
+  Rosa--Rosa who, God search my soul, is purer than the snows on the
+  crest of the Jungfrau. Quite properly--[_as he causes them to bend
+  low_]--quite properly, they bend in homage, Rosa! And Daniel here,
+  Daniel whom the starving lions would not taste--the story never
+  seemed to me so true as now--he says that what he said he did not
+  say, and can't remember what it was, and is most sorry that he said
+  it--and see--[_forces them_]--bends low. I thank you for your
+  courtesy. And Samson, he that slew the thousands with the jawbone
+  of an ass--which is his jawbone to this day--he's swallowing those
+  words he spoke, so eagerly that he chokes! Ha, ha! my ardent
+  friends! [_He turns them about ironically._] And must you go? Ah,
+  well! [_He pushes them towards the door._] If you insist--if you
+  insist--Good-bye! Good-bye! [_He throws them violently out._] [_Then
+  to ROSA._] I have seen Hanakoff; he is going to play my music
+  to-night; and if--Rosa--[_ROSA bursts into tears._] Rosa!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Go away from me!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  But why, Rosa----
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Let me be! You shall never touch me again! I hate you--I loathe
+  you--all of you!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  But have I not disposed of them! Is there anything else? My darling!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No, never again; never shall you lay your hand on me! I know what
+  lies before me now. I am your wife and you will not proclaim me. I
+  am your wife and they insult me, and you bundle them off without a
+  word such as I wanted, as if I were your mistress, who must not be
+  vexed! I know now; last night you soothed me over--you took me in
+  your arms before him; but he is blind--he did not understand--he
+  only suspected something foul; and so it will grow, until his
+  suspicion makes an open accusation; and then you will stand
+  revealed--you will shrink away from me--you will cry, "I have sinned
+  in the sight of the synagogue," and I shall be cast out of doors--a
+  broken plaything, a husk of yesterday!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Rosa! Rosa! Are you not my wife?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Your wife--here in the Ghetto--here among your people? No, to them I
+  am a Christian--to them I cannot be your wife--to them I am a
+  sacrilege--an insult in their teeth! Oh! as one who enters hell I
+  entered here--a steaming hell of avarice; not life--but a sickly
+  poisoned dream of gain, gain--always gain. I thought I saw a bright
+  light shining in this horrid place. I flew to you--I gave you my
+  soul--to find myself--ugh!--only----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Horror! that you should even think such things!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Think such things! You say you love me with all your heart--with all
+  your soul. How great is your soul that dares not the anger of a
+  father who is wrong?--a soul that fears poverty, disinheritance, the
+  hatred of the Ghetto? You fear that you would be cast off, that you
+  would suffer want and ridicule, that your father would never feed
+  you and clothe you again; and when that fear comes into your heart
+  what room is left for me? Love! Ugh! Ugh! What is _your_ love! The
+  love of the way that is easiest, the love of the son of honest
+  Sachel--the love of a Jew!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Slowly, sorrowfully._] And now _you_ say "Jew!" "Jew!" as they say
+  it in the streets, among the mob, when I go beyond the Ghetto. It
+  sounds strange from lips that I thought loved me; it sounds strange
+  from the daughter of your father! Such a man he was! When you and I
+  had our first long talks together, and you told me of the noble
+  deeds your father had done in behalf of the Jews, I couldn't help
+  loving you for his sake; and now you call me Jew! I _am_ a Jew.
+  Never forget that I am a Jew. I have married you; and when it is
+  known I shall have no standing among Jews. The orthodox will avoid
+  me as a pariah, and the mob of Jews will howl at me when I go into
+  the street. And I shall still be a Jew--proud of my race, proud of
+  its fortitude, of the great triumph which shall come to us Jews when
+  we have shaken off the material shell which hides our spirits, and
+  makes us no better and no worse than the Christians! No, no! You are
+  angry--you don't care what you say! You are angry--and you sneer at
+  my father. What do you know against my father's honesty?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  He is the father of a man who has married me and dares not proclaim
+  me.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Dares not! Dares not! Ah, you little know me if you think that!
+  Rosa, Rosa! Look here! My dear little girl, you are all wrong. We
+  have agreed on this point. It was yourself who said that we must not
+  tell of our marriage yet. [_ROSA sinks into a chair._] You said that
+  I must give my time to my music, until I had made a name--until
+  we could go forth on our own footing--not cast out of that
+  door--without a cent between us, to be reviled and hustled by the
+  mob. And I thought of my father--of his old age--of his pain. If he
+  _is_ wrong--if he _is_ what he should not be, he's still my
+  father----
+
+ROSA.
+
+  He called me a demon just now! He opened the door and was about to
+  bid me go from here. He said my father came out of hell. He called
+  me a vampire--he called me a snake----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Oh--! Oh--! Rosa, poor little Rosa!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Weeping._] I only want you to love me. I want to know it--to know
+  that they cannot, shall not take you from me! Tell me so, Rafael;
+  burn it into my heart, Rafael!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Yes, it must be burned into your heart, dear. Before to-night it
+  shall be. I love you! I dare anything for the sake of my love for
+  you!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael!
+
+      [_Knock at the door. She rushes upstairs._
+
+  Rafael! But your father--[_knock_]--you mustn't tell him!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Hush! [_Exit ROSA. RAFAEL goes to the window; sees REBECCA._]
+  Rebecca! She knows that the old people will be at the synagogue at
+  this hour. What does she want here? A true daughter of her father,
+  and yet she has many virtues, I suppose! I wish she would take her
+  virtues and go home! I want to get at my music.
+
+    _Enter REBECCA._
+
+  Oh, some friend of Rosa, I suppose?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  What--don't you know me? I am Rebecca--I used to know you once.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Oh, Rebecca--Abram's daughter, of course. Won't you----?
+
+      [_Points to a chair._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Not Abram's daughter, Rafael; Aaron's daughter. My father was here
+  only yesterday.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Oh, Aaron's daughter! Oh yes! Aaron was here only yesterday!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Yes.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And now you are here.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Yes. He came to sell some wool.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Some wool? I thought it was a lamb he came to sell. Ah well! [_Motions
+  to chair._] Let us proceed to business.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  But I did not come on business.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  We are quite alone.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  From what your friends Samson and Daniel have just told me, I should
+  think not.
+
+      [_She examines the room._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  How do you like it?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Laughs._] Father said I ought to come and see Esther.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Oh, so your father--a thoughtful man; your father, a man of tact,
+  admirable tact!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  You say such strange things!
+
+      [_A pause. She begins to struggle with a ring on her finger._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Yawning._] Admirable tact!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  This ring--it's so tight--it hurts my finger so! I took it from
+  Isaac's son one time--when we played that our fathers had engaged us
+  to marry. I don't suppose it was quite proper of me, was it, Rafael?
+  It was years ago--but--but--[_pulls_]--it doesn't come easily! [_She
+  stretches out her hand to him._] Don't you want to clear it away,
+  Rafael?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Goes to the cupboard._] Just a moment.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_With her hand still out._] Everybody out, Rafael?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Bringing a plate._] There's not a Jew in the house.
+
+      [_He removes the ring easily, and gives it to her on the plate._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Vexed._] Your servant--that Christian person--I suppose she's
+  listening at that door?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_He sits on the table._] You might go up and see.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_After hesitating, she runs up the stairs and opens the door._] Oh! I
+  don't believe there is any one in the house but us! I'm afraid to come
+  down!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  You needn't be!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  You mustn't come up!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  They'll be home soon. Let us proceed to business.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Archly coming down one step._] Do you call it business?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I can't say I do. I weigh 12 stone, Rebecca, and your father won't
+  give but 8000 guilders. That's--that's 666 guilders a stone; 14 into
+  666, that's only 45 guilders a pound! And----
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  No, it's over 47-1/2 guilders a pound.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I am sure you are right--only 47-1/2 guilders a pound he'll give for
+  me. No, I can't say I call that business.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Coming down a step._] You don't seem to have much sentiment about
+  it, Rafael.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Ah, if it were only a matter of sentiment! [_She comes down two
+  steps._] But sentiment after business, Rebecca, after business. I
+  am 40 inches round the chest, Rebecca; and if my heart should swell
+  I should be doubtless 45. But at eight thousand guilders, Rebecca,
+  it doesn't swell!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  But I--I don't like to talk this way, Rafael; it doesn't seem to me
+  quite--quite nice.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  That is your delicacy, Rebecca, your extreme delicacy. But we must not
+  mix delicacy with business, Rebecca. He sticks at eight thousand, and
+  not a thing, I suppose, in the way of dresses, finery, rigging----?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  It's really most unpleasant to have to talk of such things. Of
+  course I shall have a dozen of everything; father has told me
+  so--when I am--when I--I can't say it! I really can't speak of it.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  That's your shrinking nature, Rebecca, your extreme sensitiveness!
+  H'm! How should a man's heart know which way to beat? On the one
+  side the daughter, with her delicacy, her shrinking nature; on the
+  other side the father, who sticks at eight thousand guilders! No;
+  at eight thousand I will not love you. It would not be dignified at
+  eight thousand!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Coming down the remaining steps._] But you don't suppose that if
+  my father were willing to give, say, ten thousand, he would begin at
+  more than eight thousand; not with _your_ father--now would he,
+  Rafael? But I think that nowadays, when young people are to be--when
+  they intend--they ought to have some sentiment for each other.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  H'm!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  And, moreover, I think that young men should be more careful as to
+  how they let themselves be talked about--more careful than you are.
+  They call you an infidel, Rafael, and they say disagreeable things
+  about you and this impertinent servant of yours.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  They do! [_A pause._] Of course, if we were to contemplate
+  matrimony--you and I--such a matter would be very serious.
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  It certainly would.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And so it's very fortunate, Rebecca, that we have been talking in a
+  kind of irony--you and I--over a matter which was never even
+  remotely possible! Isn't it?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_After a pause._] Yes, _very_ fortunate. It would have been most
+  unfortunate for you if you had ever entertained the idea. If your
+  father or mine entertain it, we must speedily end that. Go on with
+  your scullerymaid; it's nothing to me.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  No, it's nothing to you, Rebecca! You and I don't want to marry, and
+  they are trying to chain us together against our wills! We must
+  fight them, Rebecca! We must put our backs against the wall! Your
+  father will whisper avarice to you. He'll bid you look around. "This
+  is thy neighbour's house," he'll say. "It will all be Rafael's;
+  see--see--treasure, value, gain; see the jewels there, the gold and
+  silver, the rich laces and old articles of art--all his, my
+  girl--and his father will die soon! He'll die of joy if he gets
+  eight thousand guilders with his daughter-in-law. And then it will
+  be all yours--yours and Rafael's; yours to hug and wrap your soul
+  around, my girl; all--all, from the last atom of diamond dust in
+  the cases there, to the rust on the nail in the latch on the door
+  that keeps away the moans of the starving!"
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  But do you think----?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  But you won't be betrayed by an old man's lust for gold. No! You'll
+  say: "Father, I have a heart; I will not give myself to one I do not
+  love, to soothe your itching palm!" You'll look well saying that,
+  Rebecca! You'll stand and face him in the dignity of truth! You'll
+  be defending the next generation against the crawling viper of
+  greed! I'd like to be there! I'd like to see the flash in your eyes;
+  even now you cannot think of it without fire in your look! I see the
+  anger of righteousness; I cannot too deeply express my respect,
+  Rebecca!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Do you think I don't know what you mean? You think I want to marry
+  you--to get you away from this vile creature--this unthinkable
+  person who----
+
+    _Enter ROSA._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Will you be so good as to say no more about Rosa! If a man--[_He
+  checks himself._] Let me tell you what she is to me----
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael, Rafael!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Oh! She calls you Rafael! She was listening all the time! What they
+  say is true: you thrust your shameful doings in my face! I shall
+  tell my father--I shall tell everyone; they will stone you from the
+  Ghetto! You tried to make a fool of me; and you--you----
+
+      [_She bursts into tears. Exit._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And now I'm going to break my poor old father's heart. I am going to
+  tell him that you and I were married by the Civil Authority beyond
+  the Ghetto, that we are one and indivisible. Poor old man! I am not
+  without love for my father, you know. He will think that I am lost
+  for ever; he will turn me away from his door with a curse on his
+  lips; and then, when we are gone, he'll sink down in his chair and
+  weep; a broken life, an old age come to nothing! And he may die at
+  any moment--it may kill him--and he _might_ have died and never have
+  known it.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael, I can't be the cause of his death! Don't tell him, Rafael! I
+  will try to live on--as we are.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Live on as we are, with this doubt in your heart? You have said I
+  dared not face poverty for your sake. Such a doubt must be killed at
+  any cost. I won't have it coming back to you to mar your faith in me
+  in after years. No; there's no question of my not telling him;
+  there's only the question of how to tell him.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael, I would rather you wouldn't! I have been selfish; I forgot
+  about your father; I forgot about your music.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  My father will probably speak first of Rebecca. I shall say: "No,
+  father, I will marry no woman I do not love." Then that will be
+  settled; my father will let the matter drop. Then I shall tell him
+  about you. Either he will be violent or he will ask me a few
+  questions between his teeth, such as: "How much money have you?"
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Nothing!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Or, "What vocation are you master of?"
+
+ROSA.
+
+  The music--if he could only hear----!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  My father is as deaf to my art as he is blind. "Are you master of an
+  art, when it will not yield you bread?" he will say.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  But it will yield you bread, if you will but wait, Rafael!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I was very happy when I came through that door. I saw Hanakoff this
+  morning. He is going to play my Fantasia to-night, Rosa, before the
+  aristocracy; he is going to let me lead his orchestra! And in a
+  month he would have played my Symphony!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Would have! Why not, then?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Why not? It won't be possible, Rosa.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  It must be possible! Why not? Why not?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Well, because the Symphony isn't finished, and in the time when I
+  thought to finish it I shall be working with my hands to keep us
+  from starving--if a man can keep from starving by working with his
+  hands!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael, you shall not tell your father! You shall not sacrifice your
+  career to me. I wounded you too deeply. I didn't mean what I said--I
+  didn't realise what I was doing. See, dear, we must wait for the
+  Symphony. You must go on with your work--you must have peace--you
+  must know that I love you--that I cannot doubt you! Don't you feel
+  that the music will succeed?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  It must succeed! It's beautiful. My God, I know it's beautiful!
+  Because it is you, Rosa, shining through my art, lifting up my
+  spirit till I can't call the work mine. It comes from you and from
+  God!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Then, against my will, will you put me between God and the message
+  he sends to the world through you? No!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I must accept the challenge you have made. I am a musician; but I'm
+  a man first!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  But--but I----      [_She weeps._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Don't--don't! And this is the day I had looked forward to for so
+  many weary months; my music has found a great man who believes in
+  it, and on that day my spirit is sunken within me; I am waiting to
+  give my father a blow that may kill him, and the woman I love so
+  tenderly is sobbing her foolish little heart out on my knee!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Springing up._] Not now! I have stopped sobbing--the tears have
+  cleared my eyes--I see better than you! I will not have you magnify
+  the doubt I threw into my angry words. There was no doubt; I spoke
+  falsely. Have I not given you my life? I should not dare to doubt
+  you! There are things that must not, shall not be done. We are going
+  to pass through a fire of hatred, scorn, ridicule. We _must_ have
+  success, we _must_ triumph, and we must protect your father from
+  harm. Go! Tell your father you cannot marry Rebecca; tell him he
+  must not think of that. Lead him home, speak kind words to him, but
+  don't tell him of me. And then go to work on your Symphony. You say
+  I inspired it. You touch my vanity. I want to inspire it to the end!
+  Don't mind me, don't think of me. Work, work, and only let me once
+  in a while come softly, silently, and----
+
+      [_She kisses his hand._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Rosa! Rosa! How you tempt me! I want to do what is right. I can't
+  tell which it is, but the child of my soul is coming forth into the
+  world, and your kiss is so like a mother's kiss--it seems to bid me
+  be gentle to my child--not to kill it before it is born. Oh, how I
+  love my music--love it because it lets me express my love for you! I
+  say the world shall never forget how I loved you when my music goes
+  down to history! Rosa, Rosa, can you wait--can you trust me?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Joyfully._] You are going to grant my prayer--you're going to
+  wait--wait! I'm so glad--I'm so glad!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Unless they force me to it, I'll wait. I must go and find my father;
+  it's late already. And then to the Symphony! Ah, you--you are my
+  Symphony--it cannot fail! We must have success--and then let the
+  Ghetto do what it can! I ought to be back in an hour. Will you steal
+  a moment to let me tell you how things stand?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Yes! yes! Good-bye! good-bye! Remember, there is no Rosa--she does
+  not exist!
+
+      [_RAFAEL shakes his head laughingly; kisses her. Exit. She stands
+        smiling and happy._
+
+A VOICE WITHOUT.
+
+  That was the man; he's going to marry a Christian!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Oh!
+
+ANOTHER VOICE.
+
+  He's going to marry the Christian servant in his father's house!
+
+VARIOUS VOICES.
+
+  Oh! Shame! shame! [_ROSA runs to the window._] Oh! Oh!
+
+THE SECOND VOICE.
+
+  It's a sacrilege! He's an infidel!
+
+THE THIRD VOICE.
+
+  He's a dog!      [_Mingled cries of "Yes, yes!"_
+
+ROSA.
+
+  What will they do? That girl! that girl! she has told them!
+
+THE FIRST VOICE.
+
+  Shall he do this in our teeth and not suffer?
+
+VARIOUS VOICES.
+
+  No, no!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Ah! they'll stone him! Ah! O God, it might be the last time he ever
+  touched my lips!
+
+A WOMAN'S VOICE.
+
+  Stone him! Stone him! He mocks our God!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Ah, Rafael! What shall I do?
+
+VARIOUS VOICES.
+
+  He does! He's a dog! He insults us all! Out of the Ghetto with him!
+  Come on!
+
+      [_A number of rough men and women charge along the street, and are
+        seen through the window, repeating their cries, which then begin
+        to diminish in the distance._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  It has come! He's alone--he'll face them--he will not yield an inch!
+  [_A rising yell of the mob is heard._] Rafael! No, he shall not be
+  alone! No! No!
+
+      [_She opens the door. A yell from the mob farther in the distance;
+        she locks the door and runs off past the window. A still more
+        distant yell from the mob dying away._
+
+END OF THE SECOND ACT.
+
+
+
+
+THE THIRD ACT
+
+  SCENE: _A street. At the right the entrance to the synagogue, with
+    steps and a portico. At the left the house of AARON, before which
+    are some chairs, in the shade of an awning. Some trees and shrubs
+    give a grateful contrast to the surroundings of SACHEL'S house, seen
+    in ACT I._
+
+  _The final chant of a Jewish service is heard within the synagogue.
+    Enter REBECCA, flushed from her interview with RAFAEL, as the chant
+    ends, and among others, AARON comes out of the synagogue._
+
+
+AARON.
+
+  Ah, you've come back! Did you find Esther at home?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  No; you knew she would not be at home!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh! After you had gone, my dear, there I saw her, going into the
+  synagogue.
+
+    _Enter ROSA; she looks about anxiously._
+
+  Well, how did you--how did you get on?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Angrily, seeing ROSA._] I----
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Seeing ROSA._] 'Sh! It's all arranged, my girl! You wanted him; now
+  you have him. Are you happy?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Her eyes on ROSA, with growing malevolence._] Yes.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Go in. Rafael is coming here, and the Rabbi--a quiet talk. Make
+  yourself look well; the boy's a little high-strung, you know.
+  By-and-by we will go out by the shop door; we will come round this
+  way and join them. We must use tact. Will you come in?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  [_Still facing ROSA._] In a moment.      [_Exit AARON._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Overcoming a reluctance._] Have you seen Rafael?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  He's not here. [_Malignantly._] He went home again.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Do you speak the truth?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  If I spoke all the truth I know you would not stay to hear it!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  All the truth you know would not take long to tell!      [_Exit._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  She hates me! She shall hate me more!
+
+      [_Exit into the house._
+
+    _Enter SACHEL and ESTHER from the synagogue; she looks about._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You do not see him?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Not yet.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He won't come; he suspects that the Rabbi will try to influence him.
+
+    _Enter SAMSON and DANIEL._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  He said he would walk home with us. Good afternoon, have you seen
+  Rafael?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  Good afternoon. [_To SAMSON._] _Have_ we seen Rafael!
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  Is he looking for us?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He might be; he does not care what vagabond he goes with.
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  It is true! For I hear he is about to turn Christian and marry his
+  father's maid-servant!
+
+SAMSON.
+
+  And any one who dislikes it is to be thrown out of the house--even if
+  it be his father! Daniel, shall we stay to meet such a person?
+
+DANIEL.
+
+  I scorn the interview!      [_Exeunt._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You are rascals and liars! [_To ESTHER._] They speak the truth! It
+  is Rosa who has turned my son against me!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Oh, be still! Here comes the Rabbi!
+
+    _Enter THE RABBI, with a father, a mother, and their son, who seems
+      subdued, as if after an exhortation by THE RABBI. THE RABBI
+      dismisses them blandly._
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  That boy came as stubborn as a donkey, but a little touch of
+  sympathy, enough concession to soothe his pride, a little tact
+  withal, and he departs as meek as a lamb.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  But Rafael is my son, and you cannot twist him about your finger. He
+  has no heart; he treats me like a dog. They say he is foul of my
+  maid-servant. If it's true----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  'Sh! 'sh! Scandalous! Are you every gossip's plaything? Come!
+  Violence, violence--we shall do nothing with violence. Rafael is
+  young, short-sighted and stubborn; but he's a good fellow at heart.
+  We must handle him delicately, like a big trout. You leave him to
+  me, and he will stay at home and marry Aaron's daughter, willingly.
+
+      [_They sit in front of AARON'S house._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Now what did I tell you, you silly old man!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Silly old man! Not at all. An affectionate father, deeply troubled
+  about his only child--sorely vexed because too many things have gone
+  wrong at once! Would you have him sit still and not open his month?
+  Oh no, Sachel is not the man to let things take care of themselves!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  It is true! What does she know about the feelings of a parent? Ah, I
+  would mould things now, Rabbi, but times have changed. Once, as it
+  is written in the Books of Moses, a son must obey his father, or he
+  would be stoned to the gates of the city! That was right!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  It was right then; but, as you so very rightly observe, Sachel,
+  times have changed; and when one throws stones now, one must pay for
+  the windows. So, instead of stoning Rafael, we shall marry him to
+  Rebecca; and in time you shall be the grandfather of a boy; a boy, I
+  say! Ha, ha, ha! You don't laugh enough, Sachel!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I cannot laugh! I tell you there is a serpent in my house. This
+  girl--this Rosa, I could swear that she----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Shame! shame! I won't hear about it! It was for you that I was
+  preaching, but you do not listen when you come to synagogue. Of
+  course, you were thinking about Rafael. You leave him to me. He
+  shall marry Rebecca, do you hear? In such matters as this you are a
+  child!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He shall do my bidding, or he shall go in rags! 'Sh!
+
+      [_They all listen. Enter RAFAEL, with his hand bound up carelessly
+        in a handkerchief._
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Why, it's Rafael! What an unexpected pleasure!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  It _is_ a long time since I have seen you.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Daniel and Samson are liars! But if it were true, I would----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Tut, tut! What's the matter? Mumbling about business matters on the
+  Sabbath! Well, well, how you've shot up since--since----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Since last I came to the synagogue I have had time to grow.
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  I pass that over. I don't look upon you as gone astray. You are
+  seeking for the light, and when you find it, whether you think so
+  now or not, you will find it there! [_Indicating the synagogue._]
+  Just as when you find happiness you will find it here.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  In the house of Aaron?
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  With your father, and at home, under the roof where your mother
+  lived. Ah! what a fine career is open to you in following out your
+  father's business! It isn't every boy who has such opportunities!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Business! You in your synagogue--you ought to be the enemy of
+  business. You ought to preach it to our people without end that
+  their life of morning, noon, and night, and not a breath drawn but
+  for sake of gain, is a sickly mockery of life, and that it is
+  against the law of Moses!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Another prophet! Business, gain, contrary to the laws of Moses! Go
+  on, my boy! Let us have the sermon you would preach! Ha, ha! Go on!
+  Now I shall learn something.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Have I not read in the Book of Moses how the people divided the
+  soil, and there was no one who had more than another; and there was
+  no grinding of the poor, and there was never any selling of lands:
+  "For mine is the soil, and you are but strangers unto Me!" And
+  among them was not business despised? How did Jacob speak of
+  Issachar?
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Bravo! "A strong ass," eh? Ha, ha, ha! You've been deep in the
+  Pentateuch. Where will you find such inspirations in any other
+  Sacred Book? But you should read them under guidance, you foolish
+  boy!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Under guidance! There is a guidance born in me that takes me where I
+  am, and I do not fear! It is a guidance that lives to-day; it is not
+  a guidance dug from the bones of a dead people of the dim past! I
+  know. You are going to say that Solomon did business, that David did
+  business. I don't care if they did! And you tell me that I skim the
+  surface, that I miss the spirit of the Jewish faith; and I tell you
+  that it is this spirit that my soul revolts against--the spirit that
+  holds our people in chains--the chains of the Ghetto!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Ghetto! There is no Ghetto! We do not live in Ghettos now, my boy!
+  Preposterous!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And now _you_ are skimming the surface, and _you_ will not see the
+  truth that underlies! You say there is no Ghetto! Could I ever play
+  with any but another Jew when I was a child? Could I ever eat with a
+  Christian? Was I ever taught by any but a Jew? No, you have taught
+  me to despise the Christians!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  They persecuted us for ages; they have not taught us to admire them.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  They have ceased to persecute us, they have taken down the stones of
+  the Ghetto walls, but still we are taught to despise them; still we
+  try to think ourselves the chosen people. We set ourselves as a race
+  against them and the universal brotherhood of man. This is the proof
+  of it: _our women we marry, theirs we pay!_
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  That is not true; it's a shameful calumny!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I can pick you ten young men to prove it--out of those that heard
+  you preach to-day!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  How dare you say such a thing! Are you a Jew no longer? Am I
+  speaking to a Christian?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  You are speaking to a Jew who claims to-day and to-morrow as his
+  own--not yesterday! A Jew who believes that it shall not be asked if
+  a man worship in a synagogue or in a cathedral, in a chapel or in a
+  mosque, or in silence and solitude under God's own dome! And the
+  falsehood you have brought me up by; our hatred and our bigotry
+  which keeps us away from them, our cursed earthiness which keeps
+  them away from us--I loathe it all--I hate it--I will fight it as
+  long as I live! I am a Jew--a Jew of to-day and to-morrow; and every
+  man whom God created in his image is my brother!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  The boy's gone daft! Daft!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No, not that; he's been poisoned--poisoned by this damned creature in
+  my house! She's his----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Be still! I lost my self-control--set me a better example. I--I--it
+  is many years--indeed, I may say I have never listened to such a
+  tirade! Let me tell you, you will live to regret what you have said
+  here in the very shadow of the synagogue. I will not treat it
+  seriously; I cannot! That you--a mere boy who has gobbled a bit here
+  and a bit there from the Book of Law, should have the monstrous
+  effrontery to--to----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Father, are you ready to walk home now?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I--I am not rested yet.      [_He pokes THE RABBI._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  From the sermon?
+
+    _Enter two rough fellows, supporting another, who has a swollen eye;
+      they stand at a distance, with sinister looks at RAFAEL._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Ha, ha! [_Pokes THE RABBI._] You don't laugh enough!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  As I was about to say, when I was interrupted, you have said that
+  Rafael wants to go away. Then let him go! When he comes back he'll
+  have a different view of his people. Do you fear he won't come back;
+  not come back to his home--to his blind old father? You are foolish,
+  Sachel! Drive him away, and he'll find that there is no home in the
+  world like a Jewish home--that a clock ticks nowhere in the world as
+  it does by one's own hearth. Ah, the Christians don't know what
+  family life is; they have nothing to compare with ours. It is
+  because we stay by one another, because we are sober and temperate
+  and industrious and respectful of our elders!
+
+      [_RAFAEL goes up, faces the three men at the back; they slink off.
+        He returns, showing a new determination in his face._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He ought to marry; then he would appreciate that.
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Marry? Who spoke of marrying? He doesn't want to marry yet; I
+  wouldn't have him marry yet. Don't try to hurry Rafael; he's not the
+  fellow to stand it. My dear friends, when the time comes, and a
+  strong, fine-looking young fellow makes up his mind that----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  It is a good idea. I have been thinking of marriage all day.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Eh, you have? Now what sort of thoughts did you have? I suppose you
+  thought I would object, eh?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  But he doesn't know any girls. He never looks at them!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I know one.
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Indeed! And whom, pray?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Aaron's daughter--Rebecca. Do you know her?
+
+      [_SACHEL nudges THE RABBI._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  This is where she lives; and she came to see us yesterday, with her
+  father.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Indeed! What did he come for?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  To sell some wool! She's a fine girl, I should say.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  A delicate person--a retiring person--a shrinking person!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Oh, not too much so.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_As if disappointed._] Then you think she is not so sensitive a
+  creature?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Well, I should say she _was_ perhaps rather sensitive.
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Shrinking, I should say.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Shrinking; she is shrinking, I should say!      [_A pause._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Well----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  And----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  And did----?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+   Eh? Rain--rain? Oh no!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Speaking of Rebecca reminds me, and I will tell you an anecdote----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Curious coincidence that, just as my mind was full of thoughts of love
+  and matrimony, in should burst this same Rebecca!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Eh? eh?      [_He nudges THE RABBI._
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Curious? Not at all! Beauty, health, cleverness--the idea is in the
+  air, wherever she goes. If I were a young man--but such matters are
+  not for my concern until they are brought to the synagogue--I
+  should----
+
+      [_REBECCA appears at the window of AARON'S house._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  True, Rabbi, true! And you do wisely not to meddle with them. Do you
+  know there was a faint suggestion in the air--like the subtle odour
+  of some tender flower--that possibly Rebecca would not be averse to
+  marrying me!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Well, well, well! Hee, hee!      [_He nudges THE RABBI._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Dear me; love at first sight!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Not at first sight; we have had previous interviews----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Eh? eh? The rascal!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  ----about fourteen years ago. And now we have met again, and I
+  thought she would be willing to marry me, but being so shrinking a
+  creature, like--what shall I say--like a snail withdrawing into its
+  shell----      [_REBECCA draws back in pain._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  [_Mildly deprecating._] Oh!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  She would not say so in as many words.
+
+      [_REBECCA looks out again._
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  I am sorry for the poor girl; for, if the truth be told--But, there,
+  you are not serious about anything!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Why do you say "poor girl" when she would bring----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  But Rafael doesn't look to dowries; he has a romantic turn. The fact
+  that she would bring five or six thousand guilders----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Ten thousand guilders!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Ten thousand guilders! [_In irony._] H'm! But--Oh, well, I'm not a
+  very keen observer, Rabbi; it is probable that Rebecca never----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  On the contrary. For, speaking of that very matter, which, of course,
+  is no affair of mine, she----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Quite true, quite true! What did you say, aunt?
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Eh? Oh, I was going to say that she begged your photograph of me
+  yesterday, and when it dropped into the canal she was almost ready to
+  cry.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  H'm! But it was careless of her to drop me into that nasty canal!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  It blew in; there came a great gust of wind.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  The wind must have been Aaron, disputing the value of his wool!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Good! Good! Ha, ha, ha! He has a mind; he will not let his heart run
+  away with his head!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And so Rebecca----H'm! But I shall not let my heart run away with my
+  purse. I should hold my hot young blood in bounds!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Not always! Not always! A young man must have his day!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  But is she well? Is she sound? One cannot be too cautious. I knew of
+  a girl who seemed as strong as a green peach on a tree; and she had
+  not been two days married when, what do you think? Why, she died!
+  She knew she was going to die, but she never told him! That's awful,
+  awful! Oh! Oh! I could not stand a thing like that! [_THE RABBI
+  rises to look at RAFAEL'S face._] I have a soul, Rabbi, I know,
+  because you taught me so, and a deception like that--it would kill
+  my love.
+
+      [_REBECCA draws in, distressed._
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Are you serious?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Am I serious? He asks me if I am serious! But that was not Rebecca.
+  You think Rebecca is----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  She's as honest as her father!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Ah! Two of them, as honest as each other! [_THE RABBI has growing
+  appreciation of the irony._] H'm! But a good housewife? A good
+  needlewoman? Sharp over the counter? My father has not slaved to
+  feed the idleness of another man's daughter!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  I'll answer for that. I thought I could bake cakes, but she's coming
+  to-morrow to teach me how! You never tasted such cakes!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Indeed, I believe I have heard them spoken of.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Who has been musing._] Eh--cakes? You cannot expect a girl to know
+  everything. Anyway, she's coming to-morrow; and Esther is going to----
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Esther is going to learn from her. Excellent!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Eh? [_He is nudged by ESTHER._] Yes, yes!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Good, good! I half suspect that--that you look with favour on
+  Rebecca. We--we had considerable conversation this morning, we
+  talked of money--and love--and----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  They talked of love! Now, what did you say of love?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  And we talked of money--and of children--and of--money.
+
+      [_ESTHER looks at THE RABBI; she also now in dawning suspicion of
+        RAFAEL'S irony._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Ha, ha! They talked of love and children! Of love and children! We
+  must have some wine, Rafael--this is the house of a friend. Esther,
+  you go and fetch it. Now what----
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  They charge two prices at that place around the corner.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I say we will have some wine! Some good wine! Go!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Very well; it is a season of denial with us.
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  But the extreme heat! [_Whispers._] Get some from my house.
+
+      [_Exit ESTHER._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  H'm! They talked of children and love! And what did you say about
+  children, my boy? Ah, they are beautiful things; though I could not
+  see one, I could fondle it! What about children, my boy?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  We said that they should each have two cradles; one with a soft
+  pillow of burnt wool and one with a hard pillow of burnt cotton, so
+  that they should learn the difference before they were old enough to
+  tell the sun from a silver coin.
+
+      [_An angry gesture from THE RABBI._
+
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Eh, what--H'm! Yes, yes, but later--later would do as well. And
+  about love, Rafael; what did she say about love?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Oh, she is a shrinking creature--as shrinking as wool unmixed with
+  cotton! And, at first, she would not talk of love, but at length she
+  said that when she was married she expected to have a dozen----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  A dozen! That's too large a family in such times as these!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  A dozen of everything.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Ah yes--a dozen of everything, Rafael; a dozen of the finest. Her
+  father has told me so.
+
+    _Enter ESTHER, followed by a servant with glasses of wine on a
+      tray._
+
+  And a dowry of ten thousand guilders! What do you think of that, my
+  boy? The wine--here! I shall propose a toast! [_He takes a glass and
+  gives glasses to the others; ESTHER and THE RABBI take theirs
+  unwillingly._] Here! Here!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  [_Holding his glass toward RAFAEL._] I suggest a toast to an open
+  heart--to a tongue that leads no man astray!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Hear! The Rabbi suggests that--with _his_ tongue! I'll drink that
+  toast with _you_, Rabbi!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  It is my wine! I am proposing the toast! I----
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  [_To SACHEL._] You had better drink in silence, and go home. You are
+  deceiving yourself: you know not where you stand!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  What! What does he mean, father? Am I deceiving myself? Are you not
+  planning to marry me to Rebecca? Do you fear, then, that I have
+  fallen in love with her? Is she not an honest girl--a shrinking
+  girl--a girl as good as Father Aaron?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Yes, and better!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Will she not bring me a dozen of everything, and ten thousand
+  guilders? Could man ask more? What's wrong here? Why do they not
+  raise their glasses?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Because they will not let me manage my own affairs! He is my son,
+  not yours! It is my wine, not yours! Drink, then, drink to Rebecca,
+  the richest girl in the Ghetto, a beautiful young girl, a marvellous
+  young girl----
+
+      [_ESTHER turns appealingly to THE RABBI; both look on in distress
+        and perplexity._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  But they do not raise their glasses, father; they will not drink,
+  father! Why? Do they see handwriting on the wall? Do they think I
+  have forsaken my race? Do they think I have given my heart and soul
+  to the heart and soul of another? Why do they not raise their
+  glasses?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Let them throw it on the ground if they will! Every one tries to
+  thwart me, every one but you; but they shall not! I am Sachel! Drink
+  with me! Drink to Rebecca, your wife, Rafael! For this day I have
+  seen Aaron; I have sat with him--yesterday and to-day I have sat
+  with him! I have laboured with him, my boy; your father was not
+  wanting! He would have squirmed into my house with eight thousand;
+  but I raised him! I raised him two thousand, my boy! We have agreed,
+  agreed! She is yours, Rafael--yours! To Rebecca, my daughter-in-law!
+  Now will you drink--will you clink your glasses? [_He reaches about;
+  no one clinks; RAFAEL turns away and pours his wine on the ground._]
+  Where are you? I'm all alone! What's the matter? What's the matter?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  They have not touched their glasses, father! They stand staring at
+  you, without words!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Sachel, come home!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What do you mean? You fools, what do I care what you mean! He's
+  going to stay at home and be my boy, my comfort, my staff in my old
+  age; he's going to marry Rebecca! Rafael and Rebecca! Rafael and
+  Rebecca! Does it not sound beautiful--beautiful!
+
+    _Enter AARON by way of the street, dragging REBECCA by the hand;
+      she holds back in deep mortification._
+
+AARON.
+
+  Ha, ha! It does! It does!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Father!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Don't be afraid, my girl. [_To the others._] I suspected what you
+  were doing! Rafael--[_effusively_]--since the day she was born I've
+  had an eye on you! Eh, what's the matter? Why are you all so glum?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_He goes to the table and gets a glass, then back._] On this solemn
+  occasion, sir, I was about to propose a toast.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Yes.
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Goes to table._] We'll drink it here.
+
+      [_He offers the glass to REBECCA._
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  I don't want to drink, father; I want to go in, father!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Bosh! What are you afraid of? Speak on, my boy!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Yes, speak on, and speak your soul to them! They need not think to
+  thwart this marriage! Let them beware!
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Surprised._] What's this about?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  It's about my soul--my soul that leaps its bounds at last--my soul
+  that speaks from the heart of a man! [_A passer-by at the back stops
+  to listen._] My soul that dwelt in the wilderness--a rumbling,
+  roaring, raging, lying, sweating wilderness of traffic in the things
+  of earth--my soul in the wilderness crying in vain, in vain, for the
+  love of another soul like mine. Is it not so, Rebecca?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Hear, hear!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Let me go, father!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Let _me_ go, father; let _me_ go! I would not be slain on the altar,
+  father! The knife is in my flesh! This is the blood of my heart! O
+  God, crieth my soul in vain? Where--where is the angel that shall
+  stay my father's hand?
+
+      [_A crowd slowly gathers._
+
+AARON.
+
+  Masterly! Masterly! Here she is! What an auctioneer he would make!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  What an auctioneer I should make! Ah! [_He runs and stands on the
+  synagogue steps._] My father bids me sell my soul! Shall I sell it
+  cheap--my soul and my heart's blood? Shall it be knocked down to the
+  solitary thirsty first who bids? I, to whom the stench of avarice is
+  the breath of morning and night--I, who have seen a man sell his
+  soul on the scales----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What does he mean by that?
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I--to be knocked down for two pink lips and a banknote! See--my red
+  heart's blood! See--see--see! And you would have me sell it for ten
+  thousand pieces of silver! And I say no! no! no!
+
+AARON.
+
+  He wants more! Oh! I will not give it, do you hear? It is an insult
+  to ask more--an insult to my daughter!
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Father, come away!
+
+ESTHER.
+
+  Sachel, come home!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Let me be! What does he want? What does he mean?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Ha, ha! he wants more!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  I want more! The sale shall be public! [_The crowd thickens._] I
+  will have my price. Who bids more? Who bids? What do you bid, my
+  girl?
+
+REBECCA.
+
+  Nothing--nothing--I----      [_Exit._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  She bids all she has, and yet I will not take it! More--more--who
+  bids me more?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Ha, ha! ten million guilders, idiot!
+
+    _Enter ROSA, at the back._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  He bids ten million guilders, and that is still too small. You bid
+  nothing but money, money; have you nothing else? Who comes? Who
+  bids? Who bids? See, see--[_He points to ROSA, who has worked
+  forward, pressed by the crowd._] Another bidder! Another bidder! The
+  angel--the angel come to stay my father's hand!
+
+      [_ESTHER and others turn fiercely on ROSA._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Panic-stricken, pressed by the crowd._] Rafael! Rafael!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  It's Rosa! It's Rosa!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Rosa, Rosa, what do you bid? They bid money, nothing but money; and
+  you--you----
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Wringing her hands._] Rafael!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  She calls him Rafael! A curse! A damning curse!
+
+      [_The crowd murmurs._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Silence! It is my blood we are drinking! It is my soul we are
+  selling! [_To AARON._] And you bid more than all you have, and yet
+  it will not do; and you, Rosa, angel--angel--for my heart--for my
+  soul--bid, bid!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  For your heart--my heart! For your soul--my soul!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Ha, ha! Going! Going!
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Going the way of the profligate--to the damned!
+
+      [_Exit into the synagogue, closing the doors._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Gone to the highest bidder! She has been my wife for months!
+  [_SACHEL sinks into a chair; hisses and groans from the crowd._] Now
+  let the Ghetto damn me if it can!
+
+ONE OF THE CROWD.
+
+  She's a Christian!
+
+      [_The crowd surround RAFAEL, who holds them at bay._]
+
+END OF THE THIRD ACT.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOURTH ACT
+
+  SCENE: _The same as ACT I. It is seven days later. AARON discovered
+    at the door; he holds some letters in his hand._
+
+
+AARON.
+
+  I had rather talk to you here.
+
+    _Enter SACHEL, pale, bowed and trembling; the two sit on a bench
+      at the right._
+
+  Then it is true that you have not heard from Rafael for a week? What
+  happened that day, after the officers had dispersed the crowd?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_With a sob, then restraining his emotions._] He brought her back
+  here to get the few things that belong to her. He said that as soon
+  as he had done with Hanakoff he would come and get her. Then he went
+  away. He said he would be back in the morning; and he has been gone
+  a week! My God, it was I who made him so anxious to leave--it is the
+  judgment of the Almighty upon my sins!
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Calculatingly, as he looks at the letters in his hand._] Oh, he's
+  your son; I fancy if he got in the vicinity of harm, he saw it
+  before it saw him! And the girl, why do you let her stay here?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  The Rabbi! The Rabbi came here and made me promise to keep the girl
+  until Rafael could find a home for her. I thought it would be the
+  next day; I promised. The Rabbi said he repented the strong words he
+  had uttered when he slammed the door of the synagogue. H'm! The
+  Rabbi is not much better than you, or at least, than me! The only
+  difference is that the Rabbi is always repenting! If Rafael would
+  only come back, I'd let him keep the girl here for ever--what do I
+  care! I want my son--the only thing I live for!
+
+AARON.
+
+  But doesn't the girl know where he is?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No, no. Esther kept telling me that Rosa has had no word from
+  Rafael. I would not believe it; and this morning I took hold of her;
+  I cursed her up and down for not telling me where he was. She said
+  if she knew where he was she would walk to him, if it was a thousand
+  miles, rather than stay another night under my roof. Then, for the
+  third time this week, she had a fit of hysterics--I never heard such
+  sobs in all my life! When she quieted down she went up and put on
+  the rags she first came here in; and since then she has refused to
+  take food from us; she won't enter the house; she is wandering about
+  here somewhere now. I don't know; though she be a Christian and a
+  pauper, I suppose I'll have to accept her for my daughter-in-law, if
+  he'll only come!
+
+AARON.
+
+  She, that broke up your home and took your son away from the finest
+  young woman in the Ghetto? She, that robbed him of his faith and
+  brought him to a pass where every one is saying that he has run away
+  rather than face the consequences of his acts? H'm!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What am I going to do? If he's dead, I _will_ keep her! Isn't she
+  the only one in the world whose sorrow will approach mine?
+
+AARON.
+
+  But if he is not dead? If he comes back? [_Circumspectly makes as if
+  to open one of the letters._] Look here--
+
+      [_Enter the RABBI; AARON hastily puts away the letters._
+
+  Oh, the Rabbi! [_Whispers._] We must get rid of him. I want to talk
+  to you.
+
+RABBI.
+
+  Good evening! How is that girl? Is she still crying her eyes out? It's
+  pitiful! It is dangerous! I must see her!      [_AARON nudges SACHEL._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  She's all right. I have not heard her stir since she went to bed.
+
+RABBI.
+
+   Oh, she's gone to bed--good! Sachel, Rafael had my promise to
+   protect that girl; and I will protect her. Last Saturday we were all
+   overwrought; we were taken by surprise. But now that we all realise
+   it, it comes to this: Rafael has married a Christian girl; she knows
+   what an affront this is to the religion in which Rafael was reared,
+   and to which inevitably he must return his full devotion when he
+   grows an older and wiser man. Now there is but one remedy: Rosa must
+   become a Jewess. Not to-night or to-morrow; but she must be
+   influenced to open her heart to the faith of her husband; and she
+   must be urged to welcome a future day when she shall enter the
+   synagogue and come forth from there with all the hatred, all the
+   revulsion which she has seen in our faces to-day, buried for ever!
+   Teach her to be thankful that this is Holland, where a Christian
+   _may_ become a Jewess.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Rabbi, your sentiments are worthy of your calling. Sachel and I have
+  been talking; we both regret our bitter words of that day. Sachel
+  has become reconciled--as much as any Jew could. And, to tell the
+  truth, we had gone so far as to dismiss the subject and to devote
+  ourselves to a very important matter of business which had to go
+  over from Friday.
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  I see--I see! I am very glad, then! We must make Rosa understand the
+  things that are glorious in our religion; the inspirations that have
+  sustained us through centuries of the bitterest persecution that
+  men have ever known. And she must believe that we shall cling to
+  them until that supreme day when Jerusalem is peopled anew with the
+  race which God has chosen for His own. Is it not so?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Yes, yes! And we'll walk a little way with you. Then, Aaron, you can
+  come back, and we can go on with that business.
+
+      [_They go up: THE RABBI stops at the bridge._
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  Very well; but you will treat the young girl tenderly, my friends?
+  Look here; you and Esther and Rafael bring her to my house some
+  night when there will be no one else there. We'll let her feel the
+  warmth of our hearts, as if she were already a Jewess. We will show
+  her what the inner life of the Jews is; the life that the Christians
+  have no conception of. And so we will work upon her better nature;
+  but--yes, yes, I see you are busy. You are not worrying about
+  Rafael, then?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Oh, he'll be all right. I'm sure of it.
+
+      [_They start off over the bridge._
+
+THE RABBI.
+
+  I'm glad to see you here, Aaron. It does you credit to forget your
+  disappointments!      [_Exeunt._
+
+    _A bell tolls ten o'clock. Enter ROSA. Her pallor and the tremor
+      of her voice show the effects of intense emotional strain._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  The very hour that he went away, and seven days are gone! Seven
+  days--and he stood here and took me in his arms!
+  Oh!--[_turning_]--you who cry after me that Rafael has deserted his
+  Christian mistress; it is because you never knew the love of
+  anything but money! You look down--always down! But the same clear
+  sky was over our heads when he kissed me here, and we looked up to
+  it and thanked God, who made us dare to lead our life in open truth
+  before the world! Let _God_ punish us for loving each other, if that
+  be a crime! Oh, _does_ He punish us? Where is my Rafael, you star
+  that watched over us then! I love him, I love him; I cannot live
+  without him--sweet star, tell me where he is to-night! Oh, it is
+  from pity that you will not tell! And he lies cold and dead! Rafael,
+  Rafael, I'm all alone--all alone! [_Weeps._] No, no; it can't be
+  that! Dear God, who sees me here among these aliens, you could not
+  be so cruel to your own! Not so cruel as that! Not so cruel as that!
+
+      [_She sobs; exit._
+
+    _Enter AARON and SACHEL._
+
+AARON.
+
+  Where is Esther?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Can't you hear her snoring? I can, though she is away at the back of
+  the house! I have not slept seven hours in these seven days!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Do you think the girl has any suspicion that Rafael may have found
+  that he has undertaken the impossible? If he did throw her off--I
+  don't say that he has--but if he did, it must strike her that she
+  wouldn't have a place to go in all the world!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  She believes in him.
+
+AARON.
+
+  When he is with her, yes! But when he is away, and she waits and
+  waits, are not all women alike? Doesn't she know that he has
+  sacrificed every guilder that he might have had from you?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I said that to them. Why did I not hold my cursed tongue! He hadn't
+  a copper in his pocket; the poor boy had given away everything he
+  had, to bury Mordecai's son.
+
+AARON.
+
+  And does not she know that he gave up every friend he had, too, when
+  he forsook his religion? These things must have passed through her
+  mind.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What do I care what is passing in _her_ mind!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Of course, of course! [_Pulls the letters from his pocket._] But the
+  main probability is that Rafael will soon return. I am only thinking
+  whether before he returns this girl could not be influenced to leave
+  here, made to believe that the boy has deserted her? You can't blame
+  me for considering my daughter's feelings in this matter. Now
+  suppose we could let drop a few things in Rosa's presence, without
+  appearing to know that she overheard?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I don't care about her! I want _him_ to come back.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Don't you see: after a whole week, after all her waiting and
+  waiting, without a word from him and with her whole life trembling
+  in the balance, then if she overhears certain things----! Of course
+  if we try to persuade her he is gone, she'll suspect at once. But
+  there are certain remarks that we can let drop, quite casually, you
+  know, that will absolutely make her believe that he does not intend
+  to come back; that he has deserted her.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  But she _won't_ believe it!
+
+AARON.
+
+  No, not if we try to convince her! But we won't try! You only make
+  certain statements within her hearing; and if she says they are not
+  true, just shrug your shoulders! What is in that girl's mind? Either
+  that he has met harm, or that he is afraid to come back to her; that
+  the poverty staring him in the face has been too much for him. Seven
+  days is a long time when a woman is alone on the rack of doubt. Now,
+  do you see what I mean?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  But I want my son! I don't care whether he marries your daughter! I
+  want my son!
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Tapping the letters._] Here are some letters. One for you and four
+  for Rosa.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Where did _you_ get them? Is mine from Rafael? Yes? Ah, ah! Read it,
+  quick!
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Reads._] "Father: Rosa will tell you where I am. I am your son; do
+  not be harsh to Rosa. The Rabbi told me that he knew you would keep
+  her over night; as I left her for a night, relying upon his good
+  offices with you, so I feel I may leave her for a week. Good-bye,
+  father. Rafael."
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He's all right! He's all right! [_Pauses, suddenly._] Look here, you
+  miserable rascal, you've had this for a week. You've bribed that
+  postman; it's a crime!
+
+AARON.
+
+  One for you and four for her. Will you listen to one of those he
+  wrote to her? [_Opens it._] Shall I open it?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You have, already.
+
+AARON.
+
+  Shall I read it?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_After hesitation._] Yes.
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Reads._] "My darling: If I take ship at once with Hanakoff for
+  London, I have the opportunity of a life time; it will fix me in my
+  career as I had never dreamed of. My mind tells my heart that I must
+  go; but I am as joyful as I am sorrowful; for in a week, dear, I
+  take you away from the stifling air you breathe to-night--out of the
+  Ghetto, into the freedom which is the right of our love. Good night,
+  my angel! Your Rafael."
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He'll have money now. He'll never look at me again. She's got him!
+  She's got him! O, I would to my Maker I were dead!
+
+AARON.
+
+  No, no! She hasn't got him! She shan't have him! Don't you see, this
+  clears the way for the very thing I proposed to you.
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  What? What? It might succeed, with the girl in the state she is. But
+  if it does, what will Rafael say, to-morrow?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh? Why, if he finds her gone and she left no word, let him draw his
+  own conclusions; that she was afraid to stand by him; afraid to
+  share his poverty. You say "to-morrow"? He may be back to-night!
+  It's your one chance. If it succeeds, the girl goes, with two
+  hundred guilders in her pocket; Rafael stays home--in due time
+  marries Rebecca--becomes a successful Jew. If it fails--then this
+  Christian robs you of him anyway! [_SACHEL ponders; then suddenly
+  touches him; they listen; AARON whispers._] Only casually; not an
+  effort to convince her! She can't help believing it, then!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Sh--!
+
+    _Enter ROSA, by the bridge; she drops her hands, hopelessly, and
+      stays near the bridge, turned away from them._
+
+AARON.
+
+  [_Without looking about, whispers._] Was that her step? [_SACHEL
+  nods; a pause; AARON begins in a moderate tone._] Yes; but a man who
+  gives his word to one girl and then deserts her, would desert
+  another girl. Shall I let my daughter risk that? No!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  But I tell you it is not a parallel case! A marriage solemnised in a
+  synagogue is one thing; but a marriage such as this--which we all
+  know is not a marriage, either inside or outside the Ghetto--I tell
+  you it's totally different!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Didn't he commit himself morally? Very well! Then he goes and finds
+  that he has been tricked by a venial under-magistrate, for the sake
+  of thirty guilders; and he finds that it was no marriage at all! The
+  girl is reduced merely to the position of his mistress----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Well, doesn't that dispose of _her_? Doesn't that rid him of
+  responsibility?
+
+AARON.
+
+  Yes; but it is a high moral consideration that occupies me. The boy
+  found that he could rid himself of his burden; the discovery came
+  when he had been looking about for a week, and finding nothing but
+  poverty, privation and despair on every side; no one would lend him
+  money; none of his former friends would speak to him; there was only
+  the choice between an absolutely hopeless struggle and running away.
+  He ran! And I say a young man who has thus been tried and found
+  wanting is no man to be my daughter's husband!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  O! Because Rafael has had one mistress is he not good enough to be
+  your daughter's husband?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  What do you mean! What do you mean, Sachel! [_The two men rise,
+  affecting surprise._] It is a lie! It is a cruel lie!
+
+AARON.
+
+  Eh? Doesn't the _girl_ know about it?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  What do you mean by saying that he ran away from me? How do you know
+  that he ran away from me? Where is he! Tell me where he is! Quick,
+  you shall!
+
+AARON.
+
+  No one will know where he is until he has spent the money he sent
+  for. And that ought to keep him a year, even in England.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  England--you say he has gone to England? You tell me he has deserted
+  me? After what he said before the synagogue? I say it's a lie--a
+  preposterous lie! It isn't true that I am only his mistress--it's a
+  lie!
+
+AARON.
+
+  I'll tell you what _is_ true; after this escapade with you he'll
+  have to prove himself a man before he marries my daughter.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  He can't marry your daughter! He's mine! O, God, what does this
+  mean? Can't you find him? Can't you let me see him? He would have
+  written to me--I know he would! Sachel, let me go to him. Sachel,
+  tell me where he is!
+
+AARON.
+
+  What could Sachel do, even if he could reach the boy? After seven
+  days, at the very moment Sachel has been persuaded to accept all
+  this--to treat you as his daughter--here slinks Rafael along the
+  canal and up through the warehouse and whispers that he has given
+  you up! Then he wheedles his father out of more money than I would
+  give ten sons, and then boards a ship for England! [_To SACHEL._] Do
+  you think I'll see my daughter marry such a man? If he wants to
+  return next year on the hope of marrying Rebecca, you tell him to
+  remain in England!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  It's a lie! He couldn't desert me. He's a man of soul--of honour! It
+  isn't true. My God, it can't be true!
+
+AARON.
+
+  You'd better find a place to sleep, and then compose yourself to
+  make the best of it. I have a friend in the country who will receive
+  you. With the money that Rafael has persuaded his father to give
+  you, begin life over again. Come!      [_Touches her._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No, I will not come! It is a lie. You try to convince me because
+  you know I will kill myself--because you----
+
+AARON.
+
+  Has any one tried to convince you? Sachel is the only one to gain by
+  your going. Has he tried to convince you?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I know--I know--O God! Sachel, Sachel, as you fear your God, swear
+  to me that he has deserted me! Swear to me that he wants to marry
+  Rebecca!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I--I----
+
+AARON.
+
+  Shall _I_ take an oath, on the Law of Moses, that is fastened to the
+  lintel there?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  I will not believe _you_ on any oath! I will only believe
+  Sachel--Sachel, who could not deceive me--[_turns to
+  SACHEL_]--because you know that if you make me go away and kill
+  myself Rafael will hate you, for ever and ever! Sachel, Sachel,
+  can't we get him back? I'll do anything--anything. I'll become a
+  Jewess if you'll get him back! Sachel, Sachel!
+
+      [_Cries hysterically._
+
+AARON.
+
+  The poor girl wants your oath. That's a simple matter. [_To
+  SACHEL._] There is no reason why I should stay here to witness this.
+  Good-night!
+
+      [_Exit by the bridge._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Such as you to kill yourself--h'm! Now take your money and be off!
+  I'm going to lock my door.
+
+ROSA.
+
+  _You_ haven't said the marriage was false! _You_ haven't said he
+  went away! _You_ haven't said he wants to many her--you dare not! It
+  can't be true! It _can't_ be true!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Dare not--dare not. What do you mean? You thankless hussy! You wreck
+  my home, you rob me of my son, and then when he has gone and I offer
+  you money to leave me in peace you dare to say I lie!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  No, I did not say _you_ lied, because _you_ have not said that he is
+  deserting me! You will not! You dare not! He loves me; he is coming
+  back! I will stay until he comes!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  He wants to be rid of you. He has gone to England. He wants Aaron
+  to----
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Sachel, Sachel, think what you are saying! Tell me he is dead--tell
+  me anything but that he's left me! O, could your son dishonour me?
+  Think what you are saying! No, no--not unless you swear it in the
+  sight of God! Sachel, Sachel--[_as he puts hand on the
+  lintel_]--don't swear to it--[_on her knees_]--don't swear to it!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_With a burst of rage._] God!--Hear me then. You have been nothing
+  but Rafael's mistress! Rafael has deserted you! Rafael wants to
+  marry Rebecca! Rafael has sailed from Amsterdam! By the sacred Law
+  of Moses, by all that is holy in the sight of God, I swear it! I
+  swear it! Now go! Take your money and go!
+
+      [_She goes towards the canal._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  And so--and so--Dear God--dear God!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Where are you? Here, take it--take it! Where are you going?
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_At the canal._] Dear God--dear God--No more--no more!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Come away!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  Rafael!      [_She jumps into the canal._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Stop! O--O God! It isn't true! Rosa! Rosa! [_At the wall._] A stick!
+  A stick! I cannot find one! Where are you? For God's sake, answer!
+  Don't you hear? O God! O God! [_Turns to the house, where music is
+  being played._] Daniel! Samson! Open the door! [_The music drowns
+  his voice._] Help! help! [_He rushes back._] Rosa! Reach out your
+  hand! Where are you--where are you? Answer me--[_the music ceases
+  abruptly_]--answer. [_A silence. He slinks away from the wall. A
+  pause._] What will Rafael do? What will God do?
+
+      [_He hears the footsteps of RAFAEL._
+
+    _Enter RAFAEL, joyously._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Hello, father, father! I'm home again! Why haven't I heard from you?
+  I--what's the matter?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_Trembling._] I--I--don't mind me! I--I--I thought you wouldn't
+  come back. We didn't get your letters until to-day. But you've
+  come--you've come! Rafael, for God's sake, don't leave me! For God's
+  sake--I'm sick, I'm blind, I've only a little while left! Stay with
+  me. Don't leave me alone--you mustn't leave me alone!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  You are not well. Have you been in the heat? Father, why do you
+  tremble so?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I'm not trembling, my boy. I--I--my boy, my boy, ask me anything and
+  I will give it to you! I can't live without my son! If you speak a
+  harsh word to me I shall drop dead, Rafael.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Father, father, be calm; Heaven knows I don't want to be harsh to
+  you; there's a clean page to begin on if you like. We'll leave this
+  place; come and live with Rosa and me. She has never spoken a harsh
+  word to you, has she? Don't you see now that she has the gentleness
+  of an angel? Wait till our people know her!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Yes, yes, I know; my God, I know--I--I--[_RAFAEL makes as if to go
+  in._] Rafael, for God's sake, don't leave me!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Where is she, father? She was afraid to stay here; but I told her
+  she was my wife, and that you loved your son, and that ought to be
+  enough to reassure her. I had to go with Hanakoff. I have made a
+  success, do you hear? Don't worry, don't tremble. I must find Rosa.
+  Where is she? Rosa! I've something to tell you!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No, no; don't speak so loud!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Yes, but she does not hear me! Isn't she in the house? Rosa! What have
+  you said to her? Where is she? She is not here. Where is she?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Don't ask me, don't ask me!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Where is she?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  I couldn't stop her!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  From what? Where is she?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Don't know, don't know! She went away!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Where--why?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  You shall not blame me! It was not my doing. Aaron--Aaron--it was he
+  who bribed the postman! Before God it was not I!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Bribed the postman? She did not hear from me? Where is my wife?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  No, no, Rafael, my boy; my dearest boy--she's gone, she took money,
+  she deserted you!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  You are lying!
+
+      [_People collect, looking over the canal wall._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  She said--she said she hated our race--she hated you--she hated all
+  of us; she was going away, out of the Ghetto, away, off there,
+  there--[_He points away from the canal. The excitement at the canal
+  wall increases. RAFAEL starts as if towards the wall._] Not there,
+  not there, Rafael, my boy, my boy!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  What's the matter down there? [_Two men bring ROSA up the steps; the
+  crowd obscures her from RAFAEL._] Who is that? My God! Is it a
+  woman?
+
+A MAN.
+
+  Yes.
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Pushes through the crowd._] Rosa, Rosa--Rosa! Oh! oh! oh!
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Oh, my boy!--oh, my boy! Rafael! Rafael! I couldn't stop her!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_Turning on his father._] Ugh! Off from me--off! Oh, oh, damnable,
+  damnable monster! Take him away!
+
+AN OLD MAN.
+
+  He's your father! Shame! shame!
+
+      [_Hisses from crowd._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  [_To SACHEL._] Keep your cursed talons off! Murderer! Murderer! You
+  made her drown herself!
+
+A SECOND MAN.
+
+  Leave him alone! Shame! This is the man who blasphemes God!
+
+A THIRD MAN.
+
+  He profaned the synagogue--he curses his father!
+
+      [_RAFAEL meanwhile looks upon the body of ROSA._
+
+THE SECOND MAN.
+
+  Shall he do all this--this--in our teeth? [_Hisses from the crowd._]
+  Hide your face! Hide your face!
+
+      [_Advances on RAFAEL._
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Stand away from her! [_Throws him down, turns to his father._] O
+  God, if I had not concealed your knavery from her, your holiest oath
+  would not have moved her! And now must you live on, while she lies
+  thus?
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  [_To the crowd._] She poisoned my son; she took away his religion--she
+  killed my son's love for his father! She deserves it--she deserves it!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Rosa, my Rosa, you shall not die! Life, life, freedom--the blue
+  sweet sky, we two together singing in the sun--not the dead soul
+  sighing through the trees--not the whisper of night--the sorrowful
+  shade that passes in the mist! No, no, you must feel my breath upon
+  your cheek, you must feel my arms, you must live, live! [_ROSA
+  stirs._] Live! She breathes--she breathes! Air--distance--distance,
+  I say! Rosa, it is I, Rafael! You are safe! Not all the fiends in
+  God's grey world shall thrust an arm between us. Rosa! Rosa!
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_Raising her head a little._] Rafael, forgive me----
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Rafael--Rafael--she means me. Forgive _me_--for God's sake--[_on his
+  knees to RAFAEL, who turns his back_]--Rafael!
+
+SECOND MAN.
+
+  Shame! shame! He hates his father!
+
+THE CROWD.
+
+  Shame! shame! Punish him!
+
+      [_The crowd closes in on RAFAEL._
+
+ROSA.
+
+  [_In fear._] Rafael!
+
+RAFAEL.
+
+  Are you no better than a mob of Christians? Stand back! [_Pushes the
+  crowd back violently._] Rosa, Rosa--away--out of the Ghetto--into
+  the air! Rosa!
+
+      [_The crowd starts to close in again; he takes ROSA in his arms
+        and rushes across the bridge. The crowd follows, walking
+        rapidly. SACHEL is left solitary._
+
+SACHEL.
+
+  Rafael! Raf----      [_He falls._
+
+    _Enter A WATCHMAN._
+
+WATCHMAN.
+
+  Eleven o'clock, and all's--[_Stops and looks at SACHEL, who stirs and
+  sobs._] Eleven o'clock!
+
+      [_Exit WATCHMAN, thoughtfully._
+
+  Eleven o'clock!
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+  Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
+  London & Edinburgh
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+
+  Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
+
+  Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from
+  the original.
+
+  Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows:
+    Page 28: "ust" changed to "just"
+    Page 30: "manag" changed to "manage"
+    Page 120: "sustain" changed to "sustained"
+    Page 134: "want's" changed to "wants"
+
+  Errors in punctuation have been corrected without note.
+
+
+
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