The City of Delight

All Jerusalem was in the streets; all Jerusalem poured into the

immense open space where some palatial ruin stood, and melted in the

giant concourse that gathered to hear the prophetess.

Laodice and the Maccabee were unable to see the woman; only her voice,

mystic, musical, pitched at a singing monotone, intoning rather than

speaking, reached them from the distance. The long harangue, delivered

as a chant, had long ago had a mesmerizing effect on her audience.

Absolutely she controlled them; along the dead level of her preaching

they maintained a low continuous murmur, accompanied by a slight slow

swaying of the body; in the climaxes of the appeal they responded with

cries and wild gestures, flinging themselves about in attitudes

characteristic of their frenzy. In their faces was the reflection of a

peculiar light that proved that derangement had settled over

Jerusalem. It was the end of the reign of reason.

"It is the abomination of desolation. Even so, it is finished! It is

the time, it is full time, and Michael hath come. There are seventy

weeks; behold them. The transgression is finished and the end hereto

of all sins. Approacheth the hour for the reconciliation for iniquity

and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up the vision

and prophecy and to anoint the most Holy! Prepare ye!"

Somewhere in the city a voice that was heard even by the fighting-men

on the wall in Akra cried: "The Sacrifice has failed! The Oblation is ceased! There is no

Offering for the Altar; none is left to offer it!"

The vast gathering heard it, and immediately from the high place of

the prophetess came back the words, prompt and effective: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the

midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to

cease!"

Posthumus, buried in the midst of the crowd, was shouting, but over

him the splendid mesmerism of the prophetess' voice soared.

"The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children; they

were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people ...

The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of

Zion; ... and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it

desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be

poured upon the desolate!"

Among the crowd now growing frantic, people began to cry: "A sign! A sign!"

Others shouted: "Lead us!"

"Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the Heaven of the

Lord!"

"Lead us!" they still shouted.

They were hungry; they had been abstinent; they had surrendered their

riches and their comforts. It was not independence but necessities

that they wanted now. The primal wants were at the surface.

"Come up and be filled!" she cried. "Ask and it shall be given unto

you! Eat of the grapes and the honey; drink of wine and warm milk;

sleep as kings; be housed in mansions; be rulers; command potentates!

Let kings bow at your footstools! Be replenished; be great! Suffering

hath been your portion since the earth was; but the end is come. Draw

nigh and have your recompense. Laugh, you whose eyes have trickled

down with the waters of affliction! You in the low dungeon come forth

and range all the free boundaries of the world. Whosoever hath gravel

between his teeth, let them be grapes! He who sitteth alone, gather

company and revel unto him! Feast, ye hungry; be drunken, ye thirsty;

love and be loved, ye forlorn!"