[Pressing near him in their delight, throwing themselves at his feet, embracing his knees] Returned!--Risen as from the dead.--Glorious prophecy.--Jerusalem.--Jerusalem.
[On his knees] My master, my teacher, how sweet are your words, how blissful is your message.
Blessed be he who brings comfort in time of affliction.
His eyes glow like stars and light up the vault.
His words have heartened me. I live, I live again. Oh that I, too, might one day return to Jerusalem.
Your words have brought me new courage, Jeremiah.
[Paying no heed, but gradually awakening from his trance and looking round with alarm] Where are they to whom I spake? Surely I talked with messengers from King Nebuchadnezzar? Have I been dreaming? Methought there were three men, richly appareled.
They fled before the lightnings of your glance.
[Still confused] What did I say? My mind is dark, and yet I seem to recall something. What did I say? Why do you all look at me yearningly? Why do you crowd round me? You looked at me with horror in your faces, but now ... What has happened to me, and what has happened to you?
Man of God, man into whose heart the fire of God has passed, this light streams from you. Mightily have you prophesied to us.
Look at me. I can get up. I can walk. The pain has gone. Your words have called me back from death.
A miracle.--A miracle like those of Elijah.--Raising from the dead.--Let us bow before God's messenger.--A miracle.--A miracle.
[Gently] Nay, brothers, shame me not by your praises. I have no part in what has befallen. A miracle has there doubtless been, but it has been wrought on me, not by me. I cursed God, and he has blessed me; I fled from him, and he has found me. None can escape his love, nor can anyone overcome his power. He has vanquished me, my brothers; and nothing is sweeter than to be vanquished by God.
[Ecstatically] Jeremiah, Jeremiah, may God do by all of us even as he has done by you.
Alas, that I knew not the Lord till so late! Alas, that I found you so late, my brothers! Dark lies the city, and dark our fate; but wonderful is life, holy the world wherein we dwell. O earth which I have despised, be gentle to me as I kneel; God, whom but now I renounced, be gracious to my prayer! [He kneels]