SIMON THE CYRENIAN

And as they led him away they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, ... and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

Luke 23, 26.

Time—The day of the Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth

Scene:A garden of Pilate’s house at Jerusalem. The whole scene is strictly Roman, softened by its eastern location and by the beginnings of Rome’s decadence, but there is no trace of Judean influence. At the back there is a gallery or raised portico reaching entirely across the garden. It is roofed but open and beyond it the morning sky is seen. This passageway, which will be called the portico, leads from the Praetorium on the left to other buildings on the right. The garden has entrances toward the back at both left and right. At the left, near the front, a narrow portion of the façade of Pilate’s house is seen, with a doorway reached by three steps. At the right of the garden, near the front, there is a wall fountain. There is a marble seat at back centre. All the architecture is of mellow marble as dark as alabaster.

[As the curtain risesProculais discovered upon the steps of her house. She is in an extreme state of agitation. Her attendants are in the garden. The sound of a mob, with cries of “Crucify him,” “To the Place of the Skull,” “On to Golgotha,” etc. is heard at the rise of the curtain and at intervals throughout the play.]

Procula

Go! Go, send more messengers. Ah, Hera, help me.

[AMessengerruns into the garden from the right and kneels before her, breathless.]

Procula

Has Simon the Cyrenian been found?

Messenger

The swiftest horseman reached him. He is nearing the city.

Procula

Hasten him. Bring him. Your freedom for it. [TheMessengerhurries out.]

Procula

[ToAttendants.] Is there no news yet?

Attendant

One messenger has not returned. He who was sent to the royal woman of Egypt.

Procula

Send others after him, take wings. [Drususenters the garden from the left.] Drusus! Help me draw him swiftly.

Drusus

The wife of Pilate speaks. Whom shall I send to her?

Procula

Too late, too late. I speak foolishly. I have already sent.

Drusus

You are tormented.

Procula

Are mine the only eyes that see the doom unrolling?

Drusus

You speak strangely.

Procula

The Furies whip me.

Drusus

Tell me your secret.

Procula

This Jesus the Nazarene—

Drusus

You need not fear him. He is in Pilate’s hands.

Procula

Out of that is my agony. Ah, my dream.

Drusus

Dreams?—

Procula

Did you feel the earth heave last night?

Drusus

I was drinking at Herod’s palace.

Procula

Trees groaned, the statues shuddered, the fountains dried, the walls sweated, a red dew fell in the gardens.

Drusus

I felt nothing. I saw nothing.

Procula

I saw—I cannot tell it. Horror was heaped on horror.

Drusus

You dreamed of this Nazarene?

Procula

Of him. He must not die. I begged his life of Pilate but he fears the Jews. Help me.

Drusus

Help you? How?

Procula

Bring Simon the Cyrenian.

Drusus

That tiger?

Procula

I heard many voices in my dream and one voice cried, “Simon the African shall bear the burden.”

Drusus

You have not felt his claws.

Procula

Then you too believe him dangerous?

Drusus

The most dangerous man in the empire.

Procula

Dangerous to Romans, it may be, but—

Drusus

[Scornfully.] The friend of slaves! Wherever he goes insurrection follows him. He was the secret leader of last year’s armed uprising in Rome when thirty thousand perished. He hollows out the empire with sedition.

Procula

A stronger man than Rome.

Drusus

His influence spreads through the provinces. He plans world empire, undermining Rome. Cæsar has been warned of him, but is afraid or listless.

Procula

[Half to herself.] Surely such power should avail to save one life.

Drusus

There is a rumour that he was here two nights ago to renew the insurrection of Barabbas. We had spies set upon him.

Procula

Does he fear spies? I have sent for this man. If the Nazarene is condemned Simon must kindle riot and take him from the soldiers.

Drusus

Will the wife of Pilate breed rebellion to Rome?

Procula

It is for Rome’s sake and in my extremity. What singing is that? I heard it in my dream.

[During the last few speeches a marching song by men’s and women’s voices is heard off left, at first faintly then, growing louder; the words are indistinguishable.]

Drusus

The air is African.

Procula

May it be Simon.

Drusus

[Looking off left.] A litter with Ethiopian bearers.

Procula

Ethiopians! It is the Egyptian. [Drususstarts to go off right.]

Procula

Though I sent for her I fear her. Stay with me.

Drusus

I cannot. I bear word from Pilate to Herod. [He goes off right. AHeraldin Egyptian dress enters from left.]

The Herald

Acte of Egypt to the wife of Pilate.

[The voices off left are heard approaching and singing the tune that today is known as the Negro spiritual “Walk Together, Children.”Acteenters from left walking with her litter-bearers and women. With her isBattus, a boy of ten.]

Acte

The wife of Pilate sent to me?

Procula

For Simon the Cyrenian. Men say you are his friend.

Acte

I have come here to find him.

Procula

He is not here.

Acte

If his mood holds he will not fail to come since you have sent for him. Your men have told me that he nears the city.

Procula

Oh, help me rouse him when he comes.

Acte

What is your need?

Procula

A hidden service.

Acte

You ask my aid? Then trust me.

Procula

[Coming down close toActeand speaking in a low voice.] Jesus the Nazarene must not die.

Acte

Has he been doomed?

Procula

Not yet. But if—

Acte

Are you not Pilate’s wife?

Procula

He fears the Jews.

Acte

And Simon?

Procula

If Jesus is condemned Simon must seize him.

Acte

Never.

Procula

It must be done. I beg you help me.

Acte

This Nazarene has no friend in me.

Procula

And you have never seen him.

Acte

No, but I suffer much because of him.

Procula

And I. Jesus must live. Oh, move Simon to strike.

Acte

More lives than this magician’s wait on Simon. [AnAttendantofProculaenters from left.]

Attendant

[Calling.] Pilate has gone up toward the Judgment Hall.

Procula

Beg him to stay for me, for one word more. I’ll follow. [Attendantgoes out left. ToActe.] Command my household, wait here for Simon. [SeizingActeand pointing toward the Judgment Hall.] In there and at this hour the fate of earth and heaven dangles in the hands of blind men. Tell Simon this, see that his eyes are open.

[Proculahastens into her house. During Procula’s words one of Acte’sAttendants, who has strayed off right has reëntered, looking off.]

Attendant

Lord Simon rushes toward this place.

Acte

Make ready all.

[Her tire-women attend her and her men stand looking expectantly off right.Simonenters from right. He is a Negro of majestic bearing, with a sad, severe countenance. He is dressed as a soldier.]

Simon

Egypt!

Battus

[Rushing joyfully towardSimon.] Simon, Simon.

Simon

Battus, Royal Battus. [He embraces the boy.]

Battus

You have been long away.

Simon

Not so long as to have forgotten Battus.

Battus

And have you forgotten Cyrene and Egypt and our kingdom of the free? [Actehushes the boy, looking apprehensively about.]

Simon

No, Battus.

Acte

[To herAttendants.] Take the boy deeper in the garden. Wait there till I call him. [TheAttendantsleadBattusoff left.]

Acte

[Moving swiftly toSimon.] You are in danger here. What sorcery called you back?

Simon

Where is the wife of Pilate?

Acte

She is asleep—or she listens to the harp.

Simon

Why are you here?

Acte

I came to meet you. Why did you return?

Simon

Messengers from the wife of Pilate reached me.

Acte

What spell is on you, you who were never trapped? This is the wolf’s own mouth. You tempt it to close upon you.

Simon

The tiger’s blood is never lapped by wolves.

Acte

Many can pull down one. Go back.

Simon

When is the Nazarene to be tried by Pilate?

Acte

So, I have found the hunter that has snared you.

Simon

When is he to be tried?

Acte

Who knows? Tomorrow. Perhaps never.

Simon

Today, the message said.

Acte

Perhaps this afternoon. Oh, Simon, wake. Shake off this net of dreams. How were you taken in it?

Simon

I am not taken.

Acte

You have seen this Nazarene?

Simon

I saw him.

Acte

When?

Simon

Two nights ago.

Acte

After you left me.

Simon

Afterward. I had summoned to a gardenThe bravest of the slaves to help them planA new sedition that would free Barabbas.There as I roused the jungles against RomeI saw lights in another part of the garden,I saw men come with torches and seize a man.I hurried near and through the olive leavesHis eyes looked into mine,His eyes burned into mine. I have seen them since,Waking or sleeping.

Afterward. I had summoned to a garden

The bravest of the slaves to help them plan

A new sedition that would free Barabbas.

There as I roused the jungles against Rome

I saw lights in another part of the garden,

I saw men come with torches and seize a man.

I hurried near and through the olive leaves

His eyes looked into mine,

His eyes burned into mine. I have seen them since,

Waking or sleeping.

Acte

You followed him?

Simon

No, and none saw me. I turned back throughthe shadows and joined my men.

No, and none saw me. I turned back through

the shadows and joined my men.

Acte

And did you plot again that night?

Simon

My thoughts went wide. My words were broken.I told the slaves to wait till my next coming.Then, before dawn, I set out for the sea.

My thoughts went wide. My words were broken.

I told the slaves to wait till my next coming.

Then, before dawn, I set out for the sea.

Acte

Oh, my Cyrenian, where is that fierce bloodThat poured out from your heart fires to burn Rome?

Oh, my Cyrenian, where is that fierce blood

That poured out from your heart fires to burn Rome?

Simon

My spirit is fiercer than it was before,The groans of the oppressed louder than ever.

My spirit is fiercer than it was before,

The groans of the oppressed louder than ever.

Acte

Then why have you turned back?

Simon

I have seen the whole world’s sorrow in one man’s eyes.

Acte

What does it mean? You are changed.

Simon

There as I looked upon him in the gardenA wound came in my side like a spear’s thrust,Bleeding for him.

There as I looked upon him in the garden

A wound came in my side like a spear’s thrust,

Bleeding for him.

Acte

Is this all you know of him?

Simon

As I went seawardI met men coming to the yearly feast.These told me of his works, they spoke of marvels,Of healings and of resurrections.He suffers the old wrong of the downtrodden.

As I went seaward

I met men coming to the yearly feast.

These told me of his works, they spoke of marvels,

Of healings and of resurrections.

He suffers the old wrong of the downtrodden.

Acte

Are there no wrongs then in our Africa?

Simon

The whole earth groans beneath the persecuted;The outcast, the despised cry out to me.

The whole earth groans beneath the persecuted;

The outcast, the despised cry out to me.

Acte

And you whom they trust to save them turn asideTo this one man.

And you whom they trust to save them turn aside

To this one man.

Simon

I have not turned aside, yet I may help him.

Acte

Go back. Your peril grows. You will be trapped.

Simon

Rome cannot take me.

Acte

It is not Rome I fear but this Judean.

Simon

[Moving toward the doorway of Pilate’s house.]

Why does the wife of Pilate stay,Having summoned me with horsemen?

Why does the wife of Pilate stay,

Having summoned me with horsemen?

Acte

[Going with him.] Doubtless she forgets.Her whims are many.

[Going with him.] Doubtless she forgets.

Her whims are many.

Simon

I must hear from herWhat they have done with him.

I must hear from her

What they have done with him.

Acte

[Placing herself before him.] Simon!Mists are before your eyes,Mists of forgetting.

[Placing herself before him.] Simon!

Mists are before your eyes,

Mists of forgetting.

You have forgotten Battus and all your holy vows before the priests of Libya and Egypt to bring him back to Africa Rome’s conqueror.

[She calls off left toBattus. TheAttendantsenter with him.]

Come, lad, sit here. [She leads him to a seat at centre.] Let’s play at worlds for Simon. Who are you?

Battus

I am Battus.

Acte

And who is Battus?

Battus

Son of Cyrenian kings and kings of Egypt,Son of all Africa.

Son of Cyrenian kings and kings of Egypt,

Son of all Africa.

Acte

Who shall be your army?

Battus

The slaves of Rome.

Acte

Who shall lead them up to victory?

Battus

Simon and I.

Acte

And then?

Battus

They shall be free. All wrongs shall be righted.The great shall be brought low, the lowly raised.

They shall be free. All wrongs shall be righted.

The great shall be brought low, the lowly raised.

Acte

How shall we reach our own?

Battus

Through blood and fire.

Acte

Who shall be our own?

Battus

All those who suffer wrongs, the poor, the captives.

Acte

[ToSimon.] What do you say, now you have heard the faith he lives by?

Simon

Oh, I have not forgotten. We shall go forward.

Acte

To triumph.

Simon

Yes, to triumph.

Acte

Through fire and blood.

Simon

Through fire and blood.

Acte

Ah, I have never doubted the fierce heart in you. Never be tamed.

[Proculaappears in her doorway.Actesees her and moves apprehensively aside.ProculaseesSimon.]

Procula

You are the Libyan captain?

[ActewavesBattusand her attendants off left.]

Simon

The wife of Pilate sees him.

Procula

[Going swiftly to him.] You have seen Jesus the Nazarene?

Simon

I have seen him.

Procula

Save him.

Simon

When is he to be tried?

Procula

He has been tried.

Simon

[ToActe.] Who has deceived me? [ToProcula.] Has he been condemned?

Procula

Not yet, not yet.

Simon

Your husband holds him.

Procula

I have no power in this.

Simon

You sent for me.

Procula

Save this one man. I know your power.

Acte

Remember Cyrene, Egypt and our world, Battus and Africa.

Simon

Their roots are in my heart.

Acte

Then come away with me.

Simon

My breast can nourish both this Judean and our kingdom.

Acte

No, for this man’s spirit threatens to overcome you; they have called him king; there cannot be two kings, and you the lesser, in the world we plan.

Simon

Not that he is a king but that he is a captive my heart flows most to him.

Acte

Legions of captives in the empire wait for you to set them free. Shall you yourself be captive?

Procula

He was betrayed.

Acte

[ToSimon.] Look to it that you are not yourself betrayed by him.

Procula

Herod mocked him.

Acte

[ToSimon.] If you are now led astray you mock our Africa and the new world we plan there.

Simon

Plan no more worlds if this man is destroyed. But he shall conquer Pilate.

Procula

Save him. Waken the mob. Breed riot. Take him from the soldiers.

[She suddenly looks upward off left back and gives a cry.]

Pilate ascends to the outer judgment seat.

[She rushes toSimon.]

Burn the city if he is condemned.

[Simonstands brooding motionless.Procularuns toward her doorway.]

I’ll send to Pilate even on the judgment seat.

[She rushes into her house.Simonmoves after her as though he would follow.]

Acte

[Recalling him by a touch so that he turns.] The time is not yet ripe. A new sedition now suddenly bursting would dash down all our dreams.

Simon

Pilate at last will listen. With such a pleader the Sufferer is safe.

Acte

You are taken in this soothsayer’s mesh.

Simon

He has not spoken to me.

Acte

Has he not led you?

Simon

He leads me most who suffers most injustice.

Acte

And on that night when you were first led captiveThe lonely lions and the Libyan moonWatched over Africa, faithful to her,When you grew faithless.

And on that night when you were first led captive

The lonely lions and the Libyan moon

Watched over Africa, faithful to her,

When you grew faithless.

Simon

Africa shall triumph. This man, not I, not Battus, shall restore her.

Acte

If Pilate pleases.

Simon

He shall conquer Pilate.

Acte

Shall he indeed?

Simon

What’s there?

[A loud murmur of many voices has been heard at intervals in the Praetorium at left back during the past scene. This murmur has now increased into a roar out of which the cry “Crucify him! Crucify him!” rises. The cries and the roar suddenly become triumphant asSimonlistens. Then from theentrance at right there appears a fantastic impish figure bearing a great scourge. He is followed by another bearing a gorgeous scarlet robe and by a third bearing upon a cushion a crown of thorns.]

Simon

What are these?

The Mocker with the Scourge

A scourge for a prophet.

The Mocker with the Crown of Thorns

A crown of thorns for a king.

The Mocker with the Scarlet Robe

A scarlet robe for a saviour.

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