Fourth Conspirator: Ah, that is true; Daniel worshipeth a different God; I have seen him praying thrice in one day. Second Conspirator: Let us influence the King to make a firm decree that whosoever shall worship any God or man, save the King, for thirty days, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Third Conspirator: That soundeth well! If Daniel be faithful to his God, he will surely disobey this decree; and if the King once signeth it, the law of the Medes and the Persians saith that it cannot be altered. First Conspirator: Ah, this will surely be Daniel's ruin now! Fourth Conspirator: Come, let us hasten to the King and have him establish and sign this decree. He will be pleased; he will not think of Daniel. Third Conspirator: Yea, we will hasten before the setting of the sun. SCENE II PLACE: The same as in scene i. CHARACTERS: The same as in scene i. TIME: Several days after the events in scene i. [The KING is seated on his throne. The four conspirators come before the KING and kneel.] The Conspirators: Great King Darius, live forever! First Conspirator: O King, hast thou not signed a decree that he who shall pray to any God or man within thirty days, save to thee, shall be cast into the den of lions? King Darius: This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Second Conspirator: A man in thy kingdom regardeth not this law, and doth pray to his God three times a day— we have seen him! King [with anger]: Who is this man that breaketh my laws? First Conspirator: He is Daniel, whom thou hast favored and made ruler! King Darius [with surprise and sadness]: Daniel! It cannot be! Daniel must not die, for I love him. Third Conspirator: Thou knowest, O King, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that no decree which the King establisheth may be changed. King [sadly]: Thou sayest truly; the King's word may not be broken. Bring Daniel hither. [Soldiers go for DANIEL. The KING walks back and forth in great distress.] King [talking to himself]: Oh, I would that this had not happened! [DANIEL appears and bows before the KING.] King: Why hast thou disobeyed my law, Daniel? Wherefore didst thou pray to thy God when thou knewest of my decree? Daniel: Great King Darius, my God, the God to whom I pray, is the true God, and I shall worship no other. Do with me what thou wilt. King: Daniel, I would that thou hadst not done this thing, for I love thee. Thou art a brave and bold man! Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee! [To the soldiers]: Take this man from me; cast him into the den of lions. [Soldiers take DANIEL and thrust him into the den. The door is closed, and the KING seals it with his signet. The KING and attendants withdraw. The conspirators are alone.] First Conspirator: Daniel has fallen at last! No longer will he be the King's favorite! Fourth Conspirator: We, instead, will be the favored ones! [They leave the room in high spirits.] SCENE III PLACE: The same as in scene i. CHARACTERS: The same as in scene i. TIME: The next morning after the events in scene ii. [The KING hastens to the door of the lions' den.] King [calling eagerly]: O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Daniel [from within]: O King, live forever! My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, for the Lord knoweth that I have done no wrong, either before him or thee, O King! King [to servants who have followed him into the room]: Come hither, servants! Quickly bring Daniel out that I may see him! [The door is opened, and DANIEL comes out. The KING shows great joy in greeting him.] King: Thy God is truly the living God! Bring forth the men that have done Daniel this wrong. Cast them into the lions' den. [The conspirators are standing in the room, looking at DANIEL in astonishment.. The soldiers seize them and push them down into the den. As they go they cry to the KING.] Conspirators: O King, spare us! King: I will now sign a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men shall bow before the God of Daniel, for he is the only true God. He delivereth and rescueth and worketh great wonders; he hath saved Daniel from the power of the lions. Daniel: The Lord God will surely bless thee for this good thing! END CHAPTER X THE DRAMATIZATION OF NEW TESTAMENT PARABLES Many of the New Testament parables present interesting problems for dramatization. The selection should be limited to those which involve dramatic situations and unity of structure. The simplicity and conciseness of words and actions in many of the parables are qualities which call forth a ready and free response from children. Among the parables which have been worked out by the dramatic club are The Good Samaritan, The Wise and Foolish Virgins, The Great Supper, The Talents, The Prodigal Son. In the case of these short parables the story was not told first, but the parable was read to the children directly from the Bible. There was no discussion as to the truths supposed to be taught, the emphasis being placed entirely upon the story element involved. The customs of the times and the division of the story into scenes were discussed as fully as was done with other stories. Usually one or two meetings were all that were necessary for working one of these parables into dramatic form. When it was completed, the result was not a finished product, as the words and action had been interpreted with slight variations each time. The children learned the story by heart, as it is given in the Bible. This influenced their words when they were dramatizing. Several parables were given together at the meeting when parents and friends were invited. One child recited the Bible version just before the play was given. This feature added interest and dignity to the occasion. The parables were given in the following order: THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS [Ten virgins with their lamps are waiting for the bridegroom.] First Virgin: The bridegroom tarries; let us rest here awhile. Other Virgins: Yea, let us rest. [They all sit down and go to sleep.] A Cry Without: Behold, the bridegroom cometh! Go ye out to meet him! [All the virgins get up hurriedly. The five wise ones, with oil in their lamps, stand in readiness. The five foolish ones are in great confusion.] First Foolish Virgin: We have no oil! Our lamps are gone out! Second Foolish Virgin [speaking to the five wise virgins]: Give us of your oil-we have none. First Wise Virgin: Not so, lest there be not enough for ourselves and for you. But go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. [The foolish virgins hasten away.] |