A TRAGI-COMEDY by XYSTUS BETULIUS AUGUSTANUS
GALAAD. What is new, I ask you. What's the reason for this?
IEROBAAL. I do not know, unless something serious has arisen; it must be that now some of the appointed judges have left the bench.
ARRADA. I suppose, as is usual, each one is indulging his factions and partizans.
BESASA. This could be the case. Now we shall know very well.
EXAMINER. Hem, elders of Israel. Here is a case of life or death. Therefore take the places of those who are absent by virtue of their partizanship, and are laying a serious charge against a holy and pious woman, who you see is coming here. The stating of the law troubles me. I bid you, take the places there.
SUSANNA, THE DAUGHTER. Where are you taking my mother, you wicked men?
BENJAMIN. In no way shall you commit this crime.
JOACHIM. No, children. Come to me, my dear pledges of one love.
BENJAMIN. O father, where is my dearest mother being taken?
RACHEL. Wicked actions. By my faith, my heart is breaking with sorrow.
CHELKIAS. Speak more discreetly.
RACHEL. The stock of Cain.
PROMPTULA. Captivity had to be suffered. But surely this is not our native land? A tyrant could not act more cruelly, if it was his greatest wish.
RACHEL. Could he do this? Egypt was once very fair to our ancestors, if you are making comparisons, Promptula. O earth, swallow these men. O tardy lightning.
CHELKIAS. A matron must be mindful of decorum even when misfortune harasses her intensely.
RACHEL. O grief, O sacrilegious race.
CHELKIAS. God protects his innocents and proves them by dangers, so that their virtue when so tested may shine more brightly.
JOACHIM. Be of good cheer, my most dear wife. Just as you have always hitherto preserved your most chaste honour by your chaste character, now you will see that death's attendant is being handled by this means. Constantly, alas, I shall be now calling to witness your innocence by the shedding of blood, and I demand by a mutual agreement the life of these traitors, relying on the faith which our most propitious God gave to us. Without doubt they will fail in their case. Be of good hope.
EXAMINER. Clerk of the court, announce to these elders that if they so wish they may now start their case.
CLERK. Gentlemen, you now have permission to continue the prosecution of the accused. The judge will now decide the state of the case.
EXAMINER. Gentlemen, you have given evidence against the accused and the judges have discussed your evidence and voted one by one, that a judicial enquiry should be undertaken and the matter examined very carefully. Here stands the defendant, whom you have charged. Let the defendant now be placed among the prisoners. It is incumbent upon us to proceed further. Let the legitimate process of the law be used against her, and let evil guile be absent, lest through shamelessness you seem to gratify evil passions and to wish to use cunning to make your case.
ACHAB. Examiner and judges of the people of Israel, I hold to all that which court practice maintains, and here let no worldly juror administer the affairs and formulae of the law. We have had experience and we have knowledge for this whatever it is. If anything has escaped me, let the joint-signer of the accusation bring it up here and now.
SEDECHIAS. It is fitting that this woman should now take off her veil in order that you may be able to see from her constantly turning eyes what is the evidence from her face. It will not be easy for her not to show her crime by her looks.
RACHEL. Hem. Traitor. Villain. Your raging lust, not our fathers' custom, is dictating that, you villain. Do you not know that it is fitting for a magistrate not only to have clean hands, nay, it is fitting also for his eyes to be free from all lust? Have you not yet sufficiently satisfied your lusts, you most evil men? A sinister fire is boiling in you and black hatred and the blazing dart of madness.
SEDECHIAS. Can you not be silent, you triple poisoner-witch?
RACHEL. She will give her life to you; she gives her honour to no one.
ACHAB. Examiner, is this proper? Surely the usher has not yet demanded silence in court?
EXAMINER. Usher, as is usual, order silence in court.
USHER. For the first time I shall order silence, again a second and third time, that no one to whom the opportunity of speaking has not been given by the judge may try to interrupt the words of the judges. He who now arrogantly acts contrarily to this order, shall know that he will be fined two shekels.
EXAMINER. Now you can suitably bring your charge forward. The noise has ceased. Do not indulge at all in great emotional appeals. The speech of truth is simple.
ACHAB. Judge of this investigation and you other gentlemen of the court, we do not need counsel, believe me, but consider this point: we think that they need it more to whom the good should be of concern as should the fair; as you are well aware. Believe me, we have always taken as much care as possible that mercy should be bestowed on persons accused and that justice should be free from insults, in order not to cause injury to anyone from evil passions; let such an action be far absent from us. How often the pain of pity has moved our hearts, even if an accused was being punished quite justly. Would that there were not thief or adulterer anywhere, as she there, who treacherously has violated her marriage bed (for the accustomed dishes did not please) and unchastely has put off the chaste rites of Venus! We shall not use circumlocution but shall tell you in order of the situation and how it happened. Yesterday after lunch, when the sun's rays were shining and causing by its stay intense heat, and no case at that time had busied us and had brought us here and kept us busy in the court, the pleasant shade of paradisal trees had enticed us. While under the trees, we were leaving behind our discussions on state business, there advanced this presumably chaste woman, attended by two most beautiful maidens. She covers her beautiful figure from the turbulent breezes and takes her shoes from her ivory feet. But if the other companions had remained with her, it could have been seen that she wished to sprinkle her little body with the drops of leaping water. Our suspicion was soon aroused. For an elegant youth jumped quickly forth from the corner of the garden and came to her; immediately they greet each other. "Look, the place is free from any other person's presence." Without delay, under the tree on the green grass they sported with kisses and embraces. If the boy tried anything rather licentious, her shameless face denied him nothing or very little. We men are ashamed to put into words the other things this wicked woman was not ashamed to do. From this, from this, I say, gentlemen, you can see that this was a very frequent practice for her. But lest our weak sight should be deceiving us, we then came out of the shade and approached nearer them; there they lay in their shame. At once with hate for this most foul sight, we ran up cursing, slowly with our aged steps. Nevertheless we did seize the adulterer, but better with movement of his feet, and relying on his youth and being stronger in physical strength and superior in wrestling, he escaped our hold and, knocking down us feeble old men, held us down and then jumped quickly onto his feet and leaping up strongly on the back of the gate with one rapid motion boldly jumped across the barrier and, fearing the gathering of the citizens, deserted this defiled woman. Grabbing her we asked, who was that man? But we did not extort from this undoubted faithbreaker by our prayers or by any threats who he was. Do you agree, good colleague, all things were done as I have told? Give your evidence.
SEDECHIAS. I bear witness and affirm that which he has said. If our word is not enough, we will swear it by oath. Hold your deliberations, incorruptible judges, and make your decision lest any area can be seen open by your clemency. Now let there be an example for all mortals in the future lest the God of Israel in anger should punish us for a wrong. Therefore, O judge, let the preliminary examination be made.
EXAMINER. Susanna, most glorious ornament of women, you will now reply to the charge which he has brought against you. Do you acknowledge these charges as a whole or do you take exception to them?
SUSANNA. I give a denial in a way to which no objection can be raised: I deny absolutely what these old men say. God understands the warped trickery of deceit. Not one single thing of the charges which they have uttered with malicious calumny can they prove by reliable witnesses: it is enough for me that my mind is aware of this fact.
EXAMINER. Holy fathers, you have heard this most fierce charge and you have heard the defence. The elders support it and the woman denies it. The elders ask for a sentence of capital punishment; she rejects that. The case is controversial; the gist of the action hangs on this: the substance of the case consists in denial. Take counsel on what further is now to be done. Maloco, I ask you for your opinion.
MALOCO. Because I am now asked for my opinion, good fathers, though I should indeed have conceded that honour to others, nevertheless I will say what justice has bidden me to say. We have heard what the elderly seniors have said, and we have heard what the married woman has quite briefly replied. She denies their charges completely, and because of this the gist of the case now changes. Therefore, gentlemen, I suggest to the plaintiff that the proof should rely on something stronger than logical proofs and conjectures. But I am not prejudging any decision.
EXAMINER. Ierobaal, reveal the ideas of your mind.
IEROBAAL. Achab seems to have set forth the case clearly enough, and the suit seems probable enough. And yet if the mature age of these men is not a match for the age of strong youth, at least there should be trust in the most sacred oath which these elders have offered.
EXAMINER. Tell us, Hedioth, what seems probable to you.
HEDIOTH. What pleases these other good men is approved by me. And I wish to vote for that.
EXAMINER. Arradan, you also give your opinion.
ARRADAN. Since the introduction of this lawsuit has been set afoot by the calling of witnesses and the charge to be proved has been heard and the quite cold denial, it remains that a comparison of sex be made and the circumstances rightly weighed. On the one side are elder men of high authority and leaders in our order who agree in their evidence, men to whom it would be a religious offence to swear falsely the oath which they have offered to make. On the other side it is evident that woman is fragile and that the young could not resist the drive of lust. Why could she not be broken down by fear and by such grave danger? If to do wrong and to defile the honour sacred to her husband was not a religious offence to her, by so much will she be less afraid now to cheat God. Your honour, I give my opinion: if the faith is not held in the witness of the plaintiff, at least let the gods, to whom oaths have been sworn, prevail.
EXAMINER. Good Dibon, pronounce your judgement in this serious case. What seems right to you?
DIBON. I will say this with your permission: my mind is far different than Arradan's. I dissent completely. If aging authority so prevails with you as does the appraisal of the old, I do now know how this can be hurtful to her most chaste honour; but this I do know, that her father and her husband are illustrious by birth and are as famous and dignified by their prudence as any of those who press these charges. In addition, these pious men have been especially dedicated to the works of God. Her life was in accord with the laws. She kept up the standards of her ancestors. When a reputation is discredited, it is necessary to consider thoroughly whether the accused is of bad repute. But if the reputation is tarnished, then it is probable that perhaps such a wicked crime has been committed, but except for these two no one has suspected such an evil. I shall be silent over whether it is illegal to offer to take an oath, lest it be a condition for an opponent. The plaintiff seems to wish to pronounce sentence on his own case. And her sex does not prevent her from making an oath. Therefore I think it fair that now the same conditions be given to the accused as the plaintiff claimed for himself, and fairness grants the very same privilege to the lady.
EXAMINER. Zaba, tell us what is your opinion.
ZABA. My opinion is this: in this case I approve of Arradan's view; justice seems to favour the accusers.
EXAMINER. Speak, Besasa.
BESASA. I feel the same as Arradan.
EXAMINER. Dabrani, would you tell us what judgement your mind suggests.
DABRANI. What Dibon said appeals to my sympathies, which ought to be far removed from a consecrated judge. His love does it: for his love what he has suggested must be condoned. But is that the basis for pronouncing judgement? He has certainly brought forward his feelings and has supported the case as if he were defending it and making this cause his own to the best of his ability. But what Arradan said pleases me more.
EXAMINER. Javan, give us the reckoning that you approve.
JAVAN. It is that the good Dibon has spoken prudently. My opinion is not what the rest have said.
EXAMINER. What about you, Agira? What judgement do you deliver?
AGIRA. Many have given many different opinions, and the justice fluctuates from this to that for me. While I am pondering everything that has been said, my mind hesitates. For on the one side is my compassion and on the other the authoritative statement of the elders to which truth is attributed as much as possible. Hence my conscience keeps saying sadly, the black theta, death, but mercy presses on me quite importunately the white tau. Chelkias is my friend and so is Joachim, but truth is certainly more dear to us. I have stood up with these men at the altars as a friend, but truth now has greater weight for me.
EXAMINER. You, Galaad, tell us what is a sound decision to you.
GALAAD. There is great strength in testimony; the witnesses are effective. Truth takes its stand and this the divine law says, and an oath is very strong in law. If the case is rather complicated, this oath helps the law.
EXAMINER. Histiob, tell us what seems fitting to a good man.
HISTIOB. Kind judge, justice now has no strength; as you see, innocence is now in trouble. It matters not that my vote stands alone; nevertheless I shall say freely what I feel. Friendly golden truth is stronger for some; for others it is more valid that the case of adultery, if it pleases the gods, has been proved by evidence. One friend butchers her, the other abuses the laws and makes Lesbia the norm. Agira urges in strict conscience that it is necessary that the sad letter of death, theta, be fastened on her. In all conscience, why? Had an extension been turned down although the truth was not being established? If I cannot cast the die for life, yet it suits me to proclaim it loudly. If I cannot save this chaste, innocent and good woman by my vote, nevertheless far be it from me to stain my hands with her innocent blood, and I publicly make it known that for me she is free.
EXAMINER. Greater partiality is often felt for the accused than for the accusers. In this case the accused woman is not allowed to have what is lawful for the accusers; truth fails; sophistries prevail. Oh, if a judge were allowed to rescind what he thinks has been decided by dishonest votes. But because necessity now demands that I carry out what their perversity demands, I am now ratifying the numbered votes of the court by the power of my authority, and I am drawing up the form of the oath for the accusers. Old men, place your right hands on the head of the woman and hold them there, as our custom demands, and I will speak the traditional oath. While I speak first, you say the oath quite clearly after me, following all my syllables. Let there be no indistinct muttering of the language.
ACHAB. We are well aware of this.
SEDECHIAS. We understand this method of court practice.
EXAMINER. We, Achab and Sedechias, witnesses--
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. We, Achab and Sedechias, witnesses--
EXAMINER. Do solemnly swear by the God of the living,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. Do solemnly swear by the God of the living,
EXAMINER. As witness to our words we call on the God of Hosts,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. As witness to our words we call on the God of Hosts,
EXAMINER. If we did not catch Susanna in adultery,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. If we did not catch Susanna in adultery,
EXAMINER. If the situation does not agree with our words in every way,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. If the situation does not agree with our words in every way,
EXAMINER. Let God the avenger see to it that we die exiled from Babylon--
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. Let God the avenger see to it that we die exiled from Babylon--
EXAMINER. And that it never be lawful for us to come back by the right of returning home--
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. And that it never be lawful for us to come back by the right of returning home--
EXAMINER. And may the earth swallow us,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. And may the earth swallow us,
EXAMINER. As it did Dathan and Abyran in days of old,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. As it did Dathan and Abyran in days of old,
EXAMINER. May leprosy take hold of us in the same way as it did Naaman the Syrian,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. May leprosy take hold of us in the same way as it did Naaman the Syrian,
EXAMINER. And may all the sins of our fathers fall upon our heads--
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. And may all the sins of our fathers fall upon our heads--
EXAMINER. And by endless curses, by the laws of Moses--
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. And by endless curses, by the laws of Moses--
EXAMINER. Let us, the guilty, be violently harassed by the oracles of the prophets,
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. Let us, the guilty, be violently harassed by the oracles of the prophets,
EXAMINER. So that hereafter we may be an example of perjury to the people. Amen.
ACHAB. SEDECHIAS. So that hereafter we may be an example of perjury to the people. Amen.
PEOPLE. Let her be carried away to her punishment. Let the guilty now pay the price. The law demands that the house of Israel be cleansed of sin. Is that rottenness now to be driven away? Then let her be dragged from our midst--the law orders that she be destroyed by stones--it is right for her to be so punished.
EXAMINER. After the oath of the elders has satisfied the sentence decreed, now nothing further remains except what the highest law has laid down that to satisfy the anger of the people, you woman, should answer for your detestable crime by death. Unless you shall appeal against our actions or within the time limit now allowed (for we give you three days for this) an appeal should be submitted through us to the authority of the king to whom the highest jurisdiction belongs. Nabuchadnezer the victor himself now claims that for himself, and a conquered people has transferred all its rights to him. The law of war is this, that for the conquered there be suffering ever present. But note, captivity has this much of liberty: we may know about the customs of our law. Talk things over with your beloved husband and your dear parents. Your life now depends entirely on the clemency of the king.
JOACHIM. O my chaste wife, my heart is breaking with grief for you.
RACHEL. Alas, why? Does it please anyone to live? Evil is bred by evil.
CHELKIAS. O God, now this very heavy load of trouble is added to the evil of captivity.
PROMPTULA. We have avoided the force of the tyranny; the law of war has allowed us to be chaste, but, mistress, nothing helps us to enjoy life any more. The elders have done such a great crime.
CHELKIAS. Daughter, Nabuchadnezer is most fair. To him we may now appeal.
SUSANNA. Father, does the fairness of the uncircumcised have weight? No, it does not seem probable.
JOACHIM. This is possible, my beautiful one.
SUSANNA. I am now bringing disgrace on you.
JOACHIM. Only until God, the most uncorrupt judge, shall have restored you from such false charges.
SUSANNA. You speak rightly. For God alone knows my innocence, my faithfulness to my marriage bed, the secrets of my heart. I call on the King of the Heavens. Then goodbye now, my dearest husband; I will bear witness to my faithfulness to my marriage with the drops of my blood.
JOACHIM. O companion of my marriage, is it thus you leave here your suffering husband?
SUSANNA. I entrust to you the dear pledges of our love. Son, be strong now. My dear daughter, I now leave you exposed to like evil. Look, death is the undeserved reward for a chaste life. The same evil hangs over you, my Promptula and Spudaea. Chastity will no longer have value in the future.
PROMPTULA. Mistress, it is better to be your companion than to be thus exposed to evils.
SUSANNA. To you I entrust my children.
BENJAMIN. Mother, stay.
SUSANNA, THE DAUGHTER. Stay, I beg you, dear mother. Do not leave us as most unhappy orphans.
SUSANNA. You, my parents, look at the fruits of your diligent care and this turning point of my education. You nurtured me with chaste manners; now you are worn with age, captives, exiles, and now I cause trouble for you. I feel ashamed for you, my parents; I am not delaying in any way to pay my life to my unfair fate.
RACHEL. Daughter, is abominable death seizing you, my poor daughter?
SUSANNA. Mother mine, it is not an unhappy thing to yield to fate. It is unhappy to admit that I deserve this abominable death. The lot of mortals brings this to the good and the evil equally, so that here they are liable to fortuitous evils.
CHELKIAS. You are very wise in that you count these equally good. May God add strength to your efforts; may you be honoured for your virtues, also conquer by suffering.
SUSANNA. The Lord God, my creator, will bring about his praise thus in a miraculous way. I want your minds to be persuaded that this is a blot which without doubt is to be obliterated beautifully by new glory. I will now give my mind's decision to the judge. Goodbye, and, you good and just men, carry out all these requirements. To God entrust this business.
SUSANNA. You judges of Israel, I have now conferred with my dear husband and my parents about the business of my life. What benefit does an appeal bring me? It is the custom of a citation of appeal to take great care that there be no grievous error in the appeal. I call on him who wields the very highest authority by whom the power of judging is delegated to others, even to those evil men who are powerful. He knows hearts and searches into the innards and is not subject to error. He will vindicate me and will give a fair sentence.
EXAMINER. Death can never fail one willing to die. Now let the execution of this severe judgement be carried out. The rigour of the law, Susanna, orders that you now be stoned to death. Officers of the court, seize her.
CLETER. Lady, we beg you not to take too bitterly what the sentence of the court has ordered.
ABED. Move along. You take account of fairness and goodness; necessity drives us law-court attendants to be the public agents of this sentence.
SUSANNA. A corrupted justice drives you on. I in no way call down evil on you. Divine Themis, take up my case. I beg for your court and your authority; adulterated testimony does not deceive you nor speech hoarse with passions nor the wide hemmed gown of the law, but frankness and a pure heart have great influence on you. Nothing that is hidden escapes you; you know by what trickery these elders have beset me since I refused to acquiesce to their lustful requests. You are aware that the case is being sustained by evil guile, and my blood will bear witness to this. People of my nation and citizens of Babylon, listen: take note that this most powerful desire be in you that the chastity both of your wives and daughters may be safe. You to whom it is of importance to see that the state receives no harm and that evils do not assail it, blunt the wicked stratagems of these crafty greybeards. Otherwise this evil pestilence will creep in more cruelly. Chastity will sicken to its death. Some of you are evil and some agree to these proceedings partly; some of you are good but few of you can do nothing against this. Men of Israel, be wise, know, understand, be discreet, wise, learn wisdom from my danger.
FOURTH CHORUS, from Psalm 82.
God is present in the midst of the councils of the gods; omnipotent, over all the gods he judges the wicked. What end will there be to your faithless judgements?
How long will the presence of the wicked prevail? Do you see their magnificent processions in the forum? Let your concern for the afflicted child be more suitable.
You should bring a just judgement to the poor, declare the oppressed needy free, snatch the good from the violence of an unjust magistrate. The good are numb and ignorant and do not well understand as they go through the darkness feeling their way with their hands. On this side the land trembles and undulates wildly with ill-boding portents.
To you is the highest rank; on you I call, ye spirits, and children of the most high God; nevertheless death, the lot of Adam, will catch you and the role of fate will weigh you down.
I will throw you headlong from the highest roofs; arise, O God, that you may judge the earth. For you shall rule over all nations everywhere.
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