LITMIR.BIZ

      Herod Do you not see how pale your daughter is?

      Herodias What is it to you if she be pale or not?

      Herod Never have I seen her so pale.

      Herodias You must not look at her.

      The Voice of Jokanaan In that day the sun shall become black like sackcloth of hair, and the moon shall become like blood, and the stars of the heaven shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs that fall from the fig-tree, and the kings of the earth shall be afraid.

      Herodias Ah! Ah! I should like to see that day of which he speaks, when the moon shall become like blood, and when the stars shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs. This prophet talks like a drunken man . . . But I cannot suffer the sound of his voice, I hate his voice. Command him to be silent.

      Herod I will not. I cannot understand what it is that he saith, but it may be an omen.

      Herodias I do not believe in omens. He speaks like a drunken man.

      Herod It may be he is drunk with the wine of God!

      Herodias What wine is that, the wine of God? From what vineyards is it gathered? In what wine-press may one find it?

      Herod [from this point he looks all the while at Salomé] Tigellinus, when you were at Rome of late, did the Emperor speak with you on the subject of . . .?

      Tigellinus On what subject, sire?

      Herod On what subject? Ah! I asked you a question, did I not? I have forgotten what I would have asked you.

      Herodias You are looking again at my daughter. You must not look at her. I have already said so.

      Herod You say nothing else.

      Herodias I say it again.

      Herod And the restorati6n of the Temple about which they have talked so much, will anything be done? They say the veil of the sanctuary has disappeared, do they not?

      Herodias It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random. I will not stay here. Let us go within.

      Herod Dance for me, Salomé.

      Herodias I will not have her dance.

      Salomé I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.

      Herod Salomé, daughter of Herodias, dance for me.

      Herodias Let her alone.

      Herod I command thee to dance, Salomé”.

      Salomé I will not dance, Tetrarch.

      Herodias [laughing]. You see how she obeys you!

      Herod What is it to me whether she dance or not? It is naught to me. To night I am happy. I am exceeding happy, Never have I been so happy.

      First Soldier The Tetrarch has a sombre look. Has he not a sombre look?

      Second Soldier He has a sombre look.

      Herod Wherefore should I not be happy? Caesar, who is lord of the world, who is lord of all things, loves me well. He has just sent me most precious gifts. Also he has promised me to summon to Rome the King of Cappadocia, who is my enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he wishes. Verily, Caesar is lord. Thus you see I have a right to be happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness.

      The Voice of Jokanaan He shall be seated on this throne. He shall be clothed in purple and scarlet. In his hand he shall bear a golden cup full of his blasphemies. And the angel of the Lord God shall smite him. He shall be eaten of worms.

      Herodias You hear what he says about you. He says that you will be eaten of worms.

      Herod It is not of me that he speaks. He speaks never against me. It is of the King of Cappadocia that he speaks,, of the King of Cappadocia who is mine enemy. It is he who shall be eaten of worms. It is not I. Never has he spoken word against me, this prophet, save that I sinned in taking to wife the wife of my brother. It may be he is right. For, of a truth, you are sterile.

      Herodias I am sterile, I? You say that, you who are ever looking at my daughter, you who would have her dance for your pleasure? It is absurd to say that. I have borne a child. You have gotten no child, no, not even from one of your slaves. It is you who are sterile, not I.

      Herod Peace, woman! I say that you are sterile. You have borne me no child, and the prophet says that our marriage is not a true marriage. He says that it is an incestuous marriage, a marriage that will bring evils. . . . I fear he is right. I am sure that he is right. But it is not the moment to speak of such things. I would be happy at this moment. Of a truth, I am happy. I am very happy. There is nothing I lack.

      Herodias I am glad you are of so fair a humour to-night. It is not your custom. But it is late. Let us go within. Do not forget that we hunt at sunrise. All honours must be shown to Cesar’s ambassadors, must they not?

      Second Soldier What a sombre look the Tetrarch wears.

      First Soldier Yes, he wears a sombre look.

      Herod Salomé, Salomé, dance for me. I pray you dance for me. I am sad to-night. Yes. I am passing sad to-night. When I came hither I slipped in blood, which is an evil omen; and I heard, I am sure I heard in the air a beating of wings, a beating of giant wings. I cannot tell what it means. . . . I am sad to-night. Therefore dance for me. Dance for me, Salomé, I beseech you. If you dance for me you may ask of me what you will, and I will give it you. Yes, dance for me, Salomé, and I will give you all that you ask of me,, even unto the half of my kingdom.

      Salomé [rising] Will you indeed give me whatsoever I shall ask, Tetrarch?

      Herodias Do not dance, my daughter.

      Herod Everything, even to the half of my kingdom.

      Salomé You swear it, Tetrarch?

      Herod I swear it, Salomé.

      Herodias Do not dance, my daughter.

      Salomé By what will you swear, Tetrarch?

      Herod By my life, by my crown, by my gods. Whatsoever you desire I will give it you, even to the half of my kingdom, if you will but dance for me. O Salomé, Salomé”, dance for me!

      Salomé You have sworn, Tetrarch.

      Herod I have sworn, Salomé.

      Salomé All that I ask, even to the half of your kingdom?

      Herodias My daughter, do not dance.

      Herod Even to the half of my kingdom. Thou wilt be passing fair as a queen, Salomé, if it please thee to ask for the half of my kingdom. Will she not be fair as a queen? Ah! it is cold here! There is an icy wind, and I hear . . . wherefore do I hear in the air this beating of wings? Ah! one might fancy it was a bird, a huge black bird hovering over the terrace. Why can I not see it, this bird? The beating of its wings is terrible. The breath of the wind of its wings is terrible. It is a chill wind. Nay, but it is not cold, it is hot. I am choking. Pour water on my hands. Give me snow to eat. Loosen my mantle. Quick! quick! loosen my mantle. Nay, but leave it. It is my garland that hurts me, my garland of roses. The flowers are like fire. They have burned my forehead. [He tears the wreath from his head and throws it on the table.] Ah! I can breathe now. How red those petals are! They are like stains of blood on the cloth. That does not matter. You must not find symbols in everything you see. It makes life impossible. It were better to say that stains of blood are as lovely as rose petals. It were better far to say that. . . . But we

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