The Equinox (Volume I, Number V)

THE SCORPION SCENE u. A few days later. Afluhlic‘olace injerusalem. In the midst a stahe withfaggots. Seatsfor the dignitaries, some thirty orforty of whom are present, most with their ladies. There ispresent moreover a motley crowd of all classesofsociety, Christian andSaracen. Note esfiecially ISAAC, afat good-temferedjew, and an URCHIN of some twelve years old. Infront arejugg/ers, tumolers, singers and dancers, huchsters, etc., all of whom ply their trade merrily. The Oficial Procession now enters, the guard clearing away thesefolh. All take their seats, chatting. The Bishop is enthronea’, in full canonicals. He is sugfiported by three acolytes, bearing bel/, book and candle. LAYLAH brought in and [Sound to stake. The Bishop rises at a signalfrom the King, andoegins a long declamation in Latin. The general confusiongradually subsides. URCHIN. Uncle Isaac, take me on thy stout shoulders I want to see the witch burnt. ISAAC. All in good time. The holy Bishop is still cursing, I think. BISHOP [concluding raises his voice to drown the general conversation]. In Saecula Saeculorum. Amen! ALL. Amen! K. OF J. [enthronea’ near the Bishop]. Let the sentence be executed. [The Executioner firings forward his torch, which he lights at the BISHOP’S candle. BISHOP [blessing]. Absolvo te. [The Executioner thrusts his torch into the fiyre. The 105