Jesus
is a guest of the rope‑maker's humble family. Their house is low, with a saltish
smell, close as it is to sea water. At the rear there are some smelly
storehouses where goods are unloaded before they are collected by the various
buyers. At the front there is a dusty road, furrowed by heavy wheels, very noisy
because dockers, urchins, carters and seamen come and go incessantly. Beyond the
street there is a little dockyard with dirty water soiled by the rubble thrown
into it, and by its own stagnation. From the dockyard a canal flows into the
actual port, capable of taking large ships. On the western side there is a large
sandy square where ropes are made with squeaky twisting winches worked by hand.
On the eastern side there is another little square, much smaller but more noisy
and untidy, where men and women are patching up nets and sails. And beyond lie
low hovels with a saltish smell, crowded with half‑naked
children.
One certainly cannot say that Jesus has
chosen a magnificent abode. Flies, dust, bustle, the smell of stagnant water,
the stink of hemp steeped before being used, reign there. And the King of kings,
lying with His apostles on heaps of coarse hemp, tired as He is, falls asleep in
that poor environment, partly a lumber‑room, partly a storeroom, which is at the
rear of the little house and from which, through a door as black as tar, one can
enter the kitchen, which is also black, and through a worm‑eaten door, corroded
by dust and salt, so that it looks whitish‑grey like pumice‑stone, one comes out
into the square where ropes are being made and from which comes the stench of
steeped hemp.
The
sun is blazing down on the square notwithstanding that there are four huge
plane‑trees, two at each end of the rectangular square, under which are the
winches to twist the hemp. I do not know whether I am giving the implement the
right name. The men, wearing tunics reduced to the bare essential for decency,
running with sweat as if they were under a shower, keep turning their winches
with continuous motion, as if they were galley‑slaves... They speak only to say
the words indispensable to their work. Thus, without the squeaking of the winch
wheels, and the creaking of the hemp stretched in twisting, there is no other
noise in the square, a strange contrast with the din in the other places around
the house of the rope‑maker.
Thus
the exclamation of one of the workers is most surprising as it is uttered
unexpectedly: «What? Women? At this awful time of the day?! Look! They are
coming here...»
«They
may be in need of ropes to tie their husbands...» says a young rope‑maker
jokingly.
«They
may need some hemp for some work.»
«H'm!
It's unlikely that they need ours, which is so coarse, when they can get it
combed!? »
«Ours
is cheaper. See? They are poor...»
«But
they are not Jewesses. See, their mantles are
different...»
«Perhaps
they are not Jewesses. There are all races in Caesarea
now...»
«Perhaps
they are looking for the Rabbi. They may be ill... See how they are all covered,
even in this heat... »
«Provided
they are not lepers... Poverty, yes, but leprosy, no; I do not want it, not even
to be resigned to God » says the rope‑maker whom everybody
obeys.
«But
did you not hear the Master?: "We must accept everything God sends
us".»
«But
leprosy is not sent by God. It is sent by sins, vices,
contagion...»
The women are now behind them, not behind
those who are speaking and are at the very end of the square, but behind those
who are on the side near the house, thus the first to be met, and one of them
bends to say something to one of the rope‑makers, who turns round astonished and
remains like a blockhead.
«Let
us go and listen to them... Covered like that... With all the children I have,
leprosy would be the last straw!...» says the owner who has stopped turning his
winch and goes towards the women. His companions follow
him...
«Simon,
this woman wants something, but she speaks a foreign language. Since you have
travelled, listen to her » says the man to whom the woman had
spoken.
«What
do you want? » asks the rope‑maker rudely, trying to see her through the dark
dyed byssus which covers her face.
And
in the purest Greek the woman replies: «The King of Israel. The
Master.»
«Ah!
I see. But... are you lepers? »
«No.»
«Who
can assure me? »
«He
can. Ask Him.»
The
man hesitates... He then says: «Well. I will make an act of faith and God will
protect me... I am going to call Him. Stay where you are.»
The
four women do not move, a greyish silent group, looked at with amazement and
evident fear by the rope‑makers, who have gathered together a few steps
apart.
The
man goes into the storeroom and touches Jesus Who is sleeping. «Master... Come
out. They are looking for. You.»
Jesus
wakes and gets up immediately asking: «Who? »
«Who
knows!... Some Greek women... they are all covered... They say that they are not
lepers and that You can assure me...»
«I
will come at once » says Jesus tying His sandals which He had taken off, and
buttoning the top part of His tunic near His neck, and putting on the belt which
He had taken off to be more free in His sleep. And He goes out with the
rope‑maker.
The
women make the gesture of starting towards them. «Stay where you are, I tell
you! I do not want you to walk where my children are playing... I want Him to
say first that you are healthy.» The women stop.
Jesus
joins them. The tallest one, not the one who previously spoke Greek, says a word
in a low voice. Jesus addresses the ropemaker: «Simon, you need not worry. The
women are healthy and I have to listen to them in peace. May I go into the
house?...»
«No.
The old woman is there and she is more curious and chatty than a magpie. Go over
there, to the end, under the shed of the vats. There is also a little room. You
will be alone there and in peace.»
«Come...»
says Jesus to the women. And He goes with them to the end of the square, under
the unsavoury shed, into the little room as narrow as a cell, where there are
broken tools, rags, refuse hemp, huge cobwebs, and where the smell of
macerating‑vats and mould is so strong as to catch their throats. Jesus, Who is
very grave and pale, smiles lightly saying: «It is not a place in accord with
your tastes... But I have nothing else...»
«We
do not see the place, because we see Him Who lives in it just now » replies
Plautina removing her veil and mantle, imitated by the other ladies, who are
Lydia, Valeria and Albula Domitilla, a freedwoman.
«From
which I infer that after all you still believe that I am a just
man.»
«More
than a just man. And Claudia has sent us precisely because she believes that You
are more than just and she does not take into consideration the words she heard.
But she wishes to have Your confirmation to double her veneration for
You.»
«Or
to deprive Me of it, should I appear as they tried to picture Me. But you can
assure her. I have no human ambitions. My ministry and My desire are only and
entirely supernatural. I do want to gather all men into one only kingdom. But
what part of men? Their flesh and blood? No. I leave that, a fleeting matter, to
fleeting monarchies, to unsteady empires. I want to gather under My sceptre only
the spirits of men, immortal spirits in an immortal kingdom. I reject all other
accounts of My will, irrespectively of whoever gave them, if they differ from
that one. And I beg you to believe and to tell her who sent you, that the Truth
has but one word...»
«Your
apostle was so sure of himself when he told us...»
«He
is an overexcited youngster. He is to be listened to as
such...»
«But
he is detrimental to You! Reproach him... Send him
away...»
«And
what about My mercy? He acts through mistaken love. So must I not pity him? And
what would change if I sent him away? He would do double harm to himself and to
Me.»
«So
he is like a cannon‑ball tied to Your foot!...»
«He
is a poor wretch to be redeemed...»
Plautina
falls on her knees stretching out her arms and saying: «Ah! Master, greater than
anybody else, how easy it is to believe that You are holy when one feels Your
heart in Your words! How easy it is to love and follow You because of Your
charity, which is even greater than Your intelligence! »
«Not
greater. But more understandable for you... whose intellects are hampered by too
many errors and you are not generous in clearing them to receive the
Truth.»
«You
are right. Your divination is as great as Your wisdom.»
«As
wisdom is a form of holiness it gives enlightenment of judgement, both on past
or present events, and on forewarning of future ones.»
«So
your prophets...»
«Were
holy. God therefore communicated with them in great
fullness.»
«Were
they holy because they belonged to Israel? »
«They
were holy because they belonged to Israel and because they were just in their
actions. Because not all Israel is or was holy, although they belonged to
Israel. The fact that one belongs by chance to a people or to a religion cannot
make one holy. Those two conditions can be of great assistance to be so, but
they are not the essential factors of holiness.»
«Which
is then the factor? »
«The
will of man. The will that leads the actions of man to holiness if it is good,
to wickedness if it is bad.»
«Then...
it is not fair to say that just people cannot be found also among
us.»
«Certainly
not. Nay, some just people were certainly among your ancestors, and there are
certainly some among those who are living now. Because it would be too dreadful
if the whole heathen world were made of demons. Those among you who feel
attraction to Good and Truth and repulsion to Vice, and shun evil deeds as
disgracing man, believe Me, they are already on the path of
justice.»
«Claudia
then...»
«Yes.
And you as well. Persevere.»
«But
if we should die before being... converted to You?... Of what use would it be to
have been virtuous?...»
«God
is just in judging. But why hesitate to come to the true God?
»
The
three ladies lower their heads... Silence... Then the great confession, the one
which explains so many cruelties and so much resistance of the Romans against
Christianity... «Because, by doing so, we would appear to be betraying our
Fatherland...»
«On
the contrary you would serve your Fatherland, making it morally and spiritually
greater, strengthened by the possession and protection of God, in addition to
its armies and riches. Rome, the City of the world, the City of the universal
Religion!... Just think of that...»
There
is silence...
Then
Livia, blushing like a peony, says: «Master, some time ago we were seeking
information on You also in the pages of our Virgil. Because, as far as we are
concerned, prophecies in no way connected with any of the beliefs of Israel are
of greater value to us than those of your prophets, as we feel that the latter
are influenced by millenary beliefs... And we discussed the matter... comparing
those who presaged You in all times, nations and religions. But no one presaged
You so justly as our Virgil... How much we spoke on that day with Diomed also,
the Greek freedman, an astrologer dear to Claudia! He maintained that that
happened because the time was nearer and the stars spoke with their
conjunctions... And in support of his thesis he put forward the fact of the
three Wise men from the three Eastern countries, who had come to worship You,
still a baby, causing the massacre, which struck Rome with horror... But we were
not persuaded because... for over fifty years none of the wise people in the
world spoke of You explaining the voices of the stars, although we are even
closer to Your present revelation. Claudia exclaimed: "We would need the Master!
He would speak the truth and we would know the place and the immortal destiny of
our greatest poet!". Would You tell us... for Claudia... A gift to prove that
she is not disliked by You because of her doubt about
You...»
«I
understood her reaction of a Roman and I have had no grudge against her. You may
reassure her. And listen. Virgil was not great only as a poet, was he?
»
«Oh!
no! Also as a man. In the midst of a society already corrupt and vicious he
shone with spiritual purity. No one knew him to be lewd, fond of orgies and
debauchery. His writings are chaste, but even chaster was his heart. So much so
that where he lived mostly, he was called the "little virgin" with mockery by
vicious people, with respect by good people.»
«So,
could God not be reflected in the limpid soul of a chaste man, even if that man
was a heathen? Will perfect Virtue not have loved the virtuous man? And if he
was granted love and the sight of Truth because of the pure beauty of his soul,
could he not have had a flash of prophecy? As prophecy is nothing but the truth
which is revealed to those who deserve to know the Truth as a reward and a spur
to greater and greater virtue? »
«So...
he did prophesy You? »
«His
mind inflamed with purity and genius was elevated to the knowledge of a page
concerning Me, and he can be called the just heathen poet, a pre‑Christian
prophetic spirit as a reward to his virtues.»
«Oh!
Our Virgil!! And will he be rewarded? »
«I
said: "God is just". But do not imitate the poet stopping at his limit. Go on,
because the Truth did not reveal itself to you by intuition and partly, but
completely and it spoke to you.»
«Thank
You, Master... We are going away. Claudia told us to ask You if she can be
useful to You in moral matters » says Plautina without replying to Jesus'
remark.
«And
she told you to ask Me, if I was not an usurper...»
«Oh!
Master! How do You know? »
«I
am more than Virgil and the prophets...»
«It
is true! It is all true! Can we serve You?...»
«For
Myself I need but faith and love. But there is a creature who is in great danger
and whose soul will be killed this evening. Claudia could save
her.»
«Here?
Who? Soul killed? »
«One
of your patricians is giving a dinner‑party and...»
«Ah!
Yes! Ennius Cassius. My husband also is invited...» says
Livia.
«And
mine... And we, too, really. But as Claudia is not going, we will not go either.
We had decided to withdraw immediately after dinner, in the event we had gone...
Because... our dinners end in orgies... which we can no longer bear... And with
the contempt of neglected wives we let our husbands remain...» says Valeria
severely.
«Not
with contempt... With pity for their moral misery...» corrects
Jesus.
«It
is difficult, Master... We know what happens there...»
«I
also know many things which happen in hearts... and yet I
forgive...»
«You
are holy...»
«You
must become so. Urged by My desire and spurred by your
will...»
«Master!...»
«Yes.
Can you say that you are as happy now as you were before meeting Me, happy with
the poor brute sensual happiness of heathens unaware that they are more than
flesh, now that you know a little of Wisdom?...»
«No,
Master. We admit it. We are discontented, annoyed, like one who is looking for a
treasure and cannot find it.»
«And
it is in front of you! What annoys you is the yearning after Light of your
spirits, which suffer because of your delay... in giving them what they ask
for...»
There
is silence... Then Plautina, without replying to Jesus' remark, says: «And what
could Claudia do? »
«She
could save that creature. A girl purchased for pleasure by the Roman. A virgin
who will not be such tomorrow.»
«If
he bought her... she belongs to him.»
«She
is not a piece of furniture. Within her body there is a
soul...»
«Master...
our laws...»
«Women:
the Law of God!...»
«Claudia
is not going to the feast...»
«I
am not telling her to go. I am telling you to say to her: "The Master, to be
sure that Claudia does not blame Him, asks her for help for the soul of that
girl"...»
«We
will tell her. But she will not be able to do anything... A slave purchased...
is an object of which one may dispose...»
«Christianity
will teach you that a slave has a soul like the soul of Caesar, in most cases
even better, and that that soul belongs to God, and he who corrupts it is
cursed.» Jesus is imposing while saying so.
The
women perceive His authority and severity. They bow without discussing. They put
on their mantles and veils again and say: «We will report. Hail,
Master.»
«Goodbye.»
The
women go out into the warm square. But Plautina turns round and says: «With regard to everybody we were Greek
women. Is that clear? »
«I
understand. Go without worrying.»
Jesus
remains under the low porch and they go away along the same road they
came.
The
rope‑makers go back to their work...
Jesus
walks back to the storeroom slowly. He is pensive. He does not lie down again.
Sitting on a pile of rolled up ropes He prays fervently... The eleven apostles
are still fast asleep...
Some
time goes by thus... About one hour. Then the rope‑maker looks in and beckons
Jesus to go to the door. «There is a slave who wants You.»
The
slave, a Numidian, is outside in the square still exposed to the sun. He bows
and without speaking he gives Jesus a waxed tablet.
Jesus
reads it and says: «Tell her that I will wait until dawn. Have you understood?
»
The
man nods assent and to make Jesus understand why he does not speak, he opens his
mouth to show that his tongue has been cut off .
«Poor
wretch! » says Jesus caressing him.
Two
tears stream down the dark cheeks of the slave who takes Jesus' white hand in
his dark ones, which are so much like those of a big monkey, and he rubs it
against his face, he kisses it, and then throws himself on the ground. He takes
Jesus' foot and lays it on his head... A language of gestures to express his
gratitude for that gesture of pitiful love...
And
Jesus repeats: «Poor wretch! » but He does not cure him.
The
slave stands up and wants the waxed tablet back... Claudia does not wish to
leave any trace of her correspondence... Jesus smiles and hands the tablet to
him. The Numidian departs and Jesus approaches the
rope‑maker.
«I
must remain here until dawn... Will you allow Me?...»
«Everything
You wish. I am sorry that I am poor...»
«I
am pleased that you are honest.»
«Who
were those women? »
«Foreigners
needing advise.»
«Healthy?
»
«As
you and Me.»
«Good!...
Here are Your apostles...»
In
fact, rubbing their eyes, stretching themselves, still half sleeping, the Eleven
come out of the storeroom and go toward the Master.
«Master...
we will have to have supper if You wish to leave this evening...» says
Peter.
«No.
I am not leaving until dawn.»
«Why?
»
«Because
I have been asked to do so.»
«But
why? Who asked You? It was better to walk by night. It's new moon
now...»
«I
hope to save a creature... And that is brighter than the moon and more
refreshing for Me than the coolness of the night.»
Peter
draws Him aside: «What has happened? Have You seen the Roman ladies? What mood
are they in? Is it them who are becoming converted? Tell
me...»
Jesus
smiles: If you let Me reply I will tell you, o most inquisitive man. I saw the
Romans. They are going towards the Truth only very slowly. But they are not
going back. It is already a lot.»
«And...
with regard to what Judas said... what is the situation? »
«That
they are continuing to respect Me as a wise man.»
«But...
for Judas? Is he not involved?...»
«They
came to see Me, not him...»
«Why
then was he afraid to meet them? Why did he not want You to come to Caesarea?
»
«Simon,
it is not the first time that Judas is strangely
capricious...»
«That
is true. And... are the Romans coming tonight? »
«They
have already come.»
«Why
are we waiting until dawn, then? »
«And
why are you so inquisitive? »
«Master,
be good... Tell me everything.»
«Yes,
I will... to remove all doubt... You also heard the conversation of those three
Romans...»
«Yes,
I did. Filthy! Plague! Demons! But what have we got to do with that?... Ah! I
see! The Roman ladies will go to the dinner and then they will come and ask to
be forgiven for taking part in filthiness... I am surprised that You
agree.»
«And
I am surprised at your rash judgement! »
«Forgive
me, Master! »
«Yes, you had better know that the Roman
ladies are not going to the dinner‑party and that I asked Claudia to intervene
on behalf of that girl...»
«Oh!
But Claudia can do nothing! The girl was bought by the Roman and he can do what
he likes with her! »
«But
Claudia can exert much influence upon the Roman. And Claudia sent word to Me to
wait until dawn before leaving. Nothing else. Are you satisfied?
»
«Yes,
Master, I am. But You have not rested... Come now... You are so tired! I will
watch to ensure that You are left in peace... Come...» and lovingly tyrannical
he pulls and pushes Jesus, compelling Him to lie down once
again...
Hours
go by. It is sunset, work comes to an end, and children shout louder in the
streets and little squares and swallows screech in the sky. The first shades of
evening descend upon the earth, and swallows go back to their nests, and
children to bed. One by one all noises cease, so that one can hear only the
light rippling of the water in the canal and the louder lapping of the waves on
the shore. Houses, the houses of tired workmen are closed, lights go out and
rest descends to make everyone blind and dumb... remote... The moon rises and
adorns with her silver also the dirty sheet of water of the little dockyard,
which now looks like a sheet of silver...
The
apostles are sleeping once again on the hemp... Jesus, sitting on one of the
winches, His hands in His lap, is praying, thinking, waiting... He does not lose
sight of the street coming from town.
The
moon rises, rises... She is perpendicularly above His head. The noise of the sea
is louder, the smell of the canal is stronger, and the cone of the moon which
plunges its beams into the sea becomes wider and wider, embracing all the
expanse in front of Jesus, and fades away farther and farther: a path of light
which seems to be coming towards Jesus from the end of the world, along the
canal, finishing in the basin of the dockyard. And a little white boat is coming
along that path. It is proceeding without leaving any trace on the liquid path,
as the water becomes smooth again after it passes... It comes up the canal... It
is now in the silent dockyard... It draws closer and stops. And three shadows
land from it. A robust man, a woman and between them a slender figure. They
direct their steps towards the house of the rope‑maker.
Jesus
stands up and goes to meet them. «Peace to you. Whom are you looking for?
»
«For
You, Master » says Lydia unveiling her face and coming forward alone. And she
goes on: «Claudia has fulfilled Your desire because it was a just and completely
moral matter. That is the girl. Valeria will take her later as a nurse for
little Fausta. In the meantime she asks You to keep her, or, better still, to
entrust her to Your Mother or to the mother of Your relatives. She is completely
pagan. Nay, more than pagan. The master who brought her up, put absolutely nothing into her. She knows
nothing about Olympus or anything else. She has only a holy terror of men,
because life was revealed to her in all its brutality only a few hours
ago...»
«Oh!
How sad! Too late? »
«No,
not from a material point of view... But he was preparing her for his... let us
say: sacrilege. And the girl is terrified... Claudia had to leave her with that
satyr while dinner lasted, as she intended to take action when wine had impaired
his capability of pondering. I need not remind You that if man is always lewd in
his sensual love affairs, he is much more so when he is drunk... But only then
he is a laughing‑stock who can be urged by force and despoiled of his treasure.
And Claudia took advantage of the situation. Ennius wants to go back to Italy,
whence he was sent away as he had fallen out of favour... Claudia promised his
return in exchange for the girl. Ennius swallowed the bait... But tomorrow, when
he is sober, he will rebel, will look for her, he will cause an uproar. It is
true that tomorrow Claudia will have the means to silence
him.»
«Violence?
No!...»
«Oh!
violence used for a good purpose is useful! But it will not be used... Only
Pilate, still stunned by the quantity of wine he drank this evening, will sign
the order for Ennius to go and report to Rome... Ha! Ha!... And he will leave
with the first military ship. But in the meanwhile... it is wise for the girl to
be elsewhere, lest Pilate should repent and revoke the order... He is so
uncertain! And it is better for the girl to forget, if she can, human filth. Oh!
Master!... We went to the dinner for that purpose... But how were we able to go
to such orgies up to a few months ago, without feeling sick? We ran away as soon
as we achieved our purpose... Our husbands are there just now emulating
brutes... How disgusting, Master!... And we have to receive them after
they...»
«Be
austere and patient. You will improve your husbands through your exemplary
conduct.»
«Oh!
it is not possible!... You do not know...» The woman weeps more out of scorn
than sorrow. Jesus sighs. Lydia resumes: «Claudia asked me to tell You that she
did this to prove to You that she reveres You as the Only Man Who deserves veneration. And
she wants me to inform You that she thanks You for teaching her the value of a
soul and of purity. She will never forget that. Do You want to see the girl?
»
«Yes.
And who is the man? »
«The
dumb Numidian whom Claudia employs in the most secret matters. There is no
danger of delation... He has no tongue...»
As
in the afternoon Jesus repeats: «Poor wretch! » But even now He does not work a
miracle.
Lydia goes and takes the girl by the hand
and almost drags her before Jesus. She explains: «She knows few Latin words and
even fewer Judaean... A little wild animal... Just an object of pleasure.» And
she says to the girl: «Don't be afraid. Say "thanks" to Him. It is He Who saved
you... Kneel down. Kiss His feet. Cheer up! Do not tremble!... Forgive her,
Master! She is terrorised by the last caresses of drunken Ennius...»
«Poor
girl! » says Jesus laying His hand on the veiled head of the girl. «Be not
afraid! I will take you to My Mother, for some time. To a Mother, do you
understand? And you will have so many brothers around you... Be not afraid, My
dear daughter! »
What is there in Jesus' voice and looks?
Everything: peace, confidence, purity, holy love. The girl perceives that, she
throws back her mantle with hood to look at Him better, and the slender figure
of a girl hardly at the threshold of puberty, almost still a little child,
somewhat immature in comeliness, innocent looking, appears in a dress too wide
for her...
«She
was half‑naked... I put on her the first garments I found, and I put some also
in her sack...» explains Lydia.
«A
little girl! » says Jesus compassionately. And stretching out His hand towards
her, He asks: «Do you want to come with Me, without any fear?
»
«Yes,
sir.»
«No.
I am not your owner. Call Me: Master.»
«Yes,
Master » says the girl with more confidence and a timid smile replaces the
expression of fear previously visible on her very pale
face.
«Are
you capable of walking a long distance? »
«Yes,
Master.»
«Then
you will rest at My Mother's, in My house, awaiting Fausta... a little girl of
whom you will be very fond... Are you pleased? »
«Oh!
Yes!...» and the girl confidently raises her clear grey‑blue eyes, which are
most beautiful between her golden eyebrows and she dares to ask: «No more that
master? » and a flash of terror upsets her once again.
«Never
again » Jesus promises once more laying His hand again on the girl's thick hair
of the shade of blond honey.
«Goodbye,
Master. In a few days' time we shall be on the lake as well. Perhaps we shall
meet again. Pray for the poor Roman ladies.»
«Goodbye,
Lydia. Tell Claudia that these are the conquests which I expect, and nothing
else. Come, child. We are leaving at once...» And holding her by the hand He
looks in at the door of the storeroom calling the
apostles.
While
the boat, without leaving any trace of its voyage sails back to the open sea,
Jesus and the apostles, with the girl enveloped in a mantle in the middle of the
group, go towards the country through narrow desert streets of the
outskirts...
1st
May 1946
Maria Valtorta
The Poem of the Man God