Chapter X: Prologue: And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and

tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit
eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as
thyself.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do,
and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And
who is my neighbor?

And Jesus spake unto them this parable.

(_The_ PROLOGUE _draws to one side and stands watching the action of the parable._)

(_The_ THIEVES _pop their heads out of the shrubbery and advance cautiously._)

FIRST THIEF: Hark'ee, brothers, I have sure word that one
of our profession is coming this day from Jerusalem to
Jericho, bearing rich merchandise.

SECOND THIEF (_eagerly_): To join our band?

FIRST THIEF: Fool, I mean a rich man.

SECOND THIEF: Ohé, a _very_ rich man?

FIRST THIEF: A _very_ rich man!

THIRD THIEF: We will share his ill-gotten gains in right
neighborly fashion--if he be willing.

SECOND THIEF: But if not--?

FIRST THIEF: If not? With a crack on the head!

SECOND THIEF: Aye!

THIRD THIEF: Aye!

(_They listen, then creep cautiously into shrubbery._)

(_Enter the_ JEW _and his_ SERVANTS. _They carry big bales of merchandise and advance fearfully._)

JEW: Come on, my men, come on; what do ye fear?

FIRST SERVANT (_trembling_): Master, I like not the look of
the lonely road; they say thieves lie in wait here to rob
rich travelers.

JEW (_casting a worried look around_): Then hasten, hasten!
(_He passes out._)

SECOND SERVANT (_scornfully_): Thieves! Thieves! Have we no
sticks?--no cudgels?

FIRST SERVANT (_feelingly_): So have the thieves.

SECOND SERVANT: Faint-heart! Hath not the master paid us
yellow gold to guard his merchandise to Jericho?

FIRST SERVANT: Ai! I would I were in Jerusalem again.
(_Suddenly he clutches the other._) Yonder! Didst not see
something stirring?

SECOND SERVANT: Bah! (_Shakes him off._)

FIRST SERVANT: Let us but say a prayer. (_His knees knock
together._)

(_The_ JEW _reenters and beckons angrily._)

JEW: Hurry, ye fools! It will be night ere-- (_Loud and
piercing whistles and cries come from shrubbery. The_
SERVANTS _drop their goods and flee wildly._)

JEW (_cries_): Stay! Stay! Ah, the good gold pieces I paid
you rascals! (_He tries to gather together his goods_): Ai!
Ai!

(_The_ THIEVES _gather closely round him._)

FIRST THIEF: Master, wilt help three poor and hungry men?

JEW (_looks up and cries_): Help! Help!

SECOND THIEF: 'Tis unneighborly ye are. Our stomachs yearn
for some of thy rich wine. (_He lays hold of the_ JEW'S
_wine bottle._)

JEW (_resisting_): Help! Help! Thieves!

THIRD THIEF: Bat him over the head. (_They do so; he falls._)

FIRST THIEF (_drinking of bottle_): Ah!

SECOND THIEF (_opening_ JEW'S _pack and eating_): Ah!

THIRD THIEF (_trying on_ JEW'S _outer garment._): Ah--ha!

(_The_ FIRST THIEF _makes a grab at the garment. Struggle. All fight for the goods. Suddenly all listen intently, then flee, taking the goods with them._)

(_The_ JEW _groans. Enter the_ PRIEST. _He regards the_ JEW.)

PRIEST: What's this? Er--r, a dead man surely! I must
notify the authorities. Yet--'twould be very awkward to
be detained and questioned. They will find him sooner or
later. A dead man surely!

(_The_ JEW _groans. The_ PRIEST _stops his ears and hastens out. Enter two_ LEVITES.)

FIRST LEVITE: Humph! One cannot come by this road without finding
signs of thievery and murder.

SECOND LEVITE: It gives the district a bad name.

FIRST LEVITE: We might carry him as far as your home.

SECOND LEVITE: Nay! If I brought the fellow there, my wife
might not like it. Let us carry him to your home.

FIRST LEVITE: We'd better not meddle, I reckon. After all
it's no affair of ours.

SECOND LEVITE (_has a bright idea_): We'll tell the
inn-keeper to send and fetch him.

(_The_ JEW _groans; the_ LEVITES _hurry out. Enter the_ SAMARITAN.)

SAMARITAN: Ah! Too bad! (_He bends over_ JEW.) Courage, my
friend! (JEW _groans. The_ SAMARITAN _binds up his head._)
Canst walk as far as the inn yonder? (_He assists_ JEW _to
rise._)

JEW (_wails_): They have stolen my all! I am
ruined--ruined--ruined!

SAMARITAN (_cheerfully_): Better ruined than dead! (_They
approach inn. He cries_): Mine host! Ho! Ho! (_Knocks._)

(_Enter the_ HOST. _The_ PRIEST _and_ LEVITES _follow, peering over the_ HOST'S _shoulder._)

SAMARITAN: I found this poor fellow in the road--beaten by
thieves no doubt.

FIRST LEVITE (_to_ HOST): It's the fellow I told you of.
(_To_ SAMARITAN.) Good heavens, fellow, why did'st carry
him hither, and wake honest people up in the dead of night?
The thing to do was to notify the authorities. You cannot
go to the rescue of every man you see in trouble.

SAMARITAN: Why not? We are all brothers.

SECOND LEVITE: Bah! (_The_ LEVITES _retire._)

PRIEST: But, fellow, it was no concern of yours. He is a Jew and you are a Samaritan.

SAMARITAN: Well, sir, we all have one Father.

PRIEST (_sourly_): Humph! (_He turns and goes._)

SAMARITAN: Will you take him in? Here is two pence for thy
care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come
again, I will repay thee.

HOST: I will obey thee, sir. (_He supports_ JEW _with his arm._)

SAMARITAN: Farewell. (_He goes._)

HOST (_watching him go_): He's a good fellow--that is, for
a Samaritan. (_He leads_ JEW _within._)

(_The_ EPILOGUE _advances._)