HELEN, awaking. 
           Oh, would I were at home!

SIMON. 
Thou sayest that I usurp another’s titles. 
In youth I saw the Wise Men of the East,
Magalath and Pangalath and Saracen,
Who followed the bright star, but home returned
For fear of Herod by another way. 
O shining worlds above me! in what deep
Recesses of your realms of mystery
Lies hidden now that star? and where are they
That brought the gifts of frankincense and myrrh?

HELEN. 
The Nazarene still liveth.

SIMON. 
                        We have heard
His name in many towns, but have not seen Him. 
He flits before us; tarries not; is gone
When we approach, like something unsubstantial,
Made of the air, and fading into air. 
He is at Nazareth, He is at Nain,
Or at the Lovely Village on the Lake,
Or sailing on its waters.

HELEN. 
                        So say those
Who do not wish to find Him.

SIMON. 
                         Can this be
The King of Israel, whom the Wise Men worshipped? 
Or does He fear to meet me?  It would seem so. 
We should soon learn which of us twain usurps
The titles of the other, as thou sayest.

They go down.

THE THIRD PASSOVER

I

THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

THE SYRO-PHOENICIAN WOMAN and her DAUGHTER
on the house-top at Jerusalem.

THE DAUGHTER, singing. 
Blind Bartimeus at the gates
Of Jericho in darkness waits;
He hears the crowd;—­he hears a breath
Say, It is Christ of Nazareth! 
And calls, in tones of agony,
[Greek text]!

The thronging multitudes increase: 
Blind Bartimeus, hold thy peace! 
But still, above the noisy crowd,
The beggar’s cry is shrill and loud;
Until they say, he calleth thee!
[Greek text]!

Then saith the Christ, as silent stands
The crowd, What wilt thou at my hands? 
And he replies, Oh, give me light! 
Rabbi, restore the blind man’s sight! 
And Jesus answers, [Greek text]!

Ye that have eyes, yet cannot see,
In darkness and in misery,
Recall those mighty voices three,
[Greek text]!
[Greek text]!
[Greek text]!

THE MOTHER. 
Thy faith hath saved thee!  Ah, how true that is! 
For I had faith; and when the Master came
Into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, fleeing
From those who sought to slay him, I went forth
And cried unto Him, saying:  Have mercy on me,
O Lord, thou Son of David! for my daughter
Is grievously tormented with a devil. 
But he passed on, and answered not a word. 
And his disciples said, beseeching Him: 
Send her away!  She crieth after us! 
And then the Master answered them and said: 
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep