e is dead. He was a bold man, and a good one, I think; but
the best should be careful how they rebuke kings. John rebuked Herod,
and lost his head in consequence thereof.

_Eudora._ Well, we must all die.

_Rachel._ Not so says he whom John declared to be greater than
himself,--Jesus of Nazareth.

_Zachariah._ If he be what many claim him, he speaks with more
authority on that point than the Pharisees.

_Eudora._ And what do people say he is?

_Zachariah._ The Messiah.

_Eudora._ Israel's Deliverer?

_Zachariah._ Yes.

_Eudora._ Well, what says he?

_John._ That they who believe in him shall never die.

_Eudora._ Surely, no one believeth that. Or does he jest, by saying
what he knows they cannot receive?

_Rachel._ You have never seen him, or you would not ask that question.
No one hearing him can doubt, that he, like John, would seal his words
with his blood.

_John._ You have seen him: is he like John?

_Rachel._ In boldness very like him. In other respects they differ.
John was clothed like the prophets; Jesus wears the common garb. John
dwelt in the wilderness, and on the banks of the Jordan; but Jesus
frequents the cities and villages. John was stern in manner, and
abstemious in food; Jesus is neither. He is gentle and social; often
seen at the feasts of the publicans, and associating with the
multitudes.

_Eudora._ But does he, like the former kings of Israel, combine
military ardor with his religious enthusiasm?

_Rachel._ He seems, with all his boundless benevolence, formed to
command; but never has he aimed to form an army, though the people
would at one time have declared him king. Salome promised to meet us
here at this time. I wish she were present. She can tell you more of
him than can I.

_Eudora._ And here she is.

_John._ Welcome to our circle! and doubly so now; for we would hear of
you concerning this Jesus, who we hoped was to be our deliverer from
bondage.

_Salome._ Right glad am I to be here, and more so to speak of him; for
he hath come indeed to deliver us from bondage,--a worse, however,
than _Roman_ bondage.

_John._ Are we to have a harder taskmaster than the Romans, before we
are delivered?

_Salome._ No harder master than we now have. The Roman is not our only
or worst bondage.

_Rebecca._ What talk you of so earnestly?

_Salome._ Jesus of Nazareth.

_Rebecca._ He has come, it is said, to set up a new kingdom.

_Salome._ Rather to enlarge the kingdom alread