[Pressing forward] Is it true? Is Nebuchadnezzar slain? So the word runs from street to street.
Yes, slain is the oppressor.--Nay, the news is not yet confirmed.--But the messenger said so; he told us that Nebuchadnezzar had been killed in his tent.--Myriads of the enemy have fallen with him, God be thanked.--The oppressor is slain.--Alleluia!
He told us of the victory.--Why are you still in doubt?--I wish we could exterminate these faint-hearts.--I heard it myself.--So did I.--So did I.--The messenger said that Nebuchadnezzar had been killed in his tent.--No, he never said that.--Yes.--No.--But undoubtedly he brought tidings of victory.--Israel is free.--Free!
I tell you I was standing quite close to him. I could hear every word he said.
Your ears and your heart are deafened.--These kill-joys should themselves be killed.--Let us don our festal attire.--Out of the way, chatterbox.
Hananiah was a true prophet. Wise were we to heed his words, and not to hearken to those who declared that the temple would fall ...
Who said that Ashur would lay Zion low ...
Who said that our maids would be ravished by the Chaldeans ...
To the temple, to the temple. Let us give thanks there to God, and to Hananiah, his prophet!
No, let us wait here, for the king will come soon.--Who said so?--Kings always appear in public after a victory.--The king will go to the temple.--The king must be the first to offer a sacrifice.--All right, let us stay here.--Let us send for drums and cymbals to celebrate the victory.--We will dance like David before the ark.--God is once more showing his love for Jerusalem.--Fetch the dancers.--Summon the women.--Call the trumpeters and the lute-players.--Let us make merry and give praise to the king of kings.
[The crowd sways to and fro joyfully, in movements like those of a troubled sea. Groups form, dissolve, and reform. The general mood is one of expectation and impatience. JEREMIAH and BARUCH enter from a side street, and endeavor to make their way through the press]
[Laughing] Look! There he comes! Jeremiah.
[Giving vent to their high spirits] Hail to the revealer!--Lo, the prophet draws nigh.--Let us welcome the destroyer of Jerusalem.--Behold the mob orator.--Come and join us.