HERODIAS
So real and positive is my hold over thee. Just now, when thou didst say I raved, thou wast reflecting how thou couldst best get rid of me.... Thou fool; then get rid of thy wakeful nights and all that which thou thinkest great in thyself, the inheritance of that greater than thou, whom thou wilt never equal....
HEROD
Woman ... what ... [his words choke in his throat.]
HERODIAS
[Laughing.] Speak out what thou hast to say. If thou no longer needest me for love, thou mayest still require me as a listener and adviser.
HEROD
[After he has walked up and down several times in great excitement.] Never resemble.... What is the man who smiles amiably in wrath? A coward?... What is the man, who has two faces? Insincere?... Who fawns on those in power. Servile? No; because the great Herod also did these things. But sometimes, when the blood throbbed to bursting in his veins, he snatched his sword from the sheath and slashed at friend and enemy alike who stood in his way ... till the blood of his victim washed him calm and cool again ... till the mighty at Rome experienced a thrill at such a display of strength.... I, too, feel the blood hammering in my veins.... I, too, would ... but I have no sword ... and so I must continue to smile amiably ... continue showing two faces, and licking the sandals of the priests.... I, the son of Herod; I, his ape!
HERODIAS
And suppose that the priests of the Temple adopted the attitude of shield and barrier betwixt thee and the fury of the people, wouldst thou doubt thyself less?
HEROD
I doubt myself not. And what thou sayest can never happen.
HERODIAS
[Goes to the middle door and opens it.]
[A Porteress enters.]
HERODIAS
What tidings hast thou?
THE PORTERESS
The two messengers to the Temple, mistress, have come back with word from the High Priest.
HERODIAS
Show them into the outer hall.... They shall wait there.
[Exit the Porteress.]
HEROD
[With a laugh of rage and fear.] Are their trumpets already sounding on the road? Hath the great curse already reached the door?
HERODIAS
Thou art wrong, my friend. Only a little blessing scratches at the door.... If it pleaseth thee, let it come in.
HEROD
Thou dreamest.
HERODIAS
Listen to me! Why did I come before thee in haste to inhabit this empty house?... Because every hour since I came I have been negotiating with the priests----
HEROD
Thou?
HERODIAS
What if instead of hiding the sinning woman from the people, thou, with head held aloft, repairest with her to the Temple? Would it not be an ironical event if the High Priest, with the same air of patriarchal servility with which he greeted the virtuous Mariamne, also smiled a welcome to thy brother's runaway wife?
HEROD
With what sum hast thou purchased this?
HERODIAS
When it is given, it will be a present, not a purchase.
HEROD
Only one who knows not these butchers of the High Altar could believe you.
HERODIAS
Well, these are the terms [in a low voice]. If we were to promise never again to aspire in Rome to the sceptre of Judea [scoffingly], then they might consider----
HEROD
And what answer didst thou make to such drastic, such----
HERODIAS
I promised.... What else should I do?... for thee, as well as myself.
HEROD
[Pointing to himself.] Even before this booty was thine, thou hast betrayed it?
HERODIAS
I fancied that I heard thee crying out just now for a sword. [Smiling.] When thou art king, thou wilt, of course, kill all whom thou hast promised not to be king! That is the same thing as if thou hadst never promised it.
HEROD
[Staring at her.] Woman!
HERODIAS
Believest thou still that I hurried here only for the sake of a kiss?
HEROD
I shudder at thee. But even if the priests be won over, there remains the people, the hydra-headed; thou knowest not the people. They once, it is said, hurled sacrificial victims at the head of their king, they slew Barachia's son between the Temple and the altar. And besides, dost thou not know that John the Baptist is in the town?
HERODIAS
The Baptist! Leave the Baptist to me.
HEROD
I warn thee, approach him only with a weapon in thy hand!
HERODIAS
[Laughs.]
SCENE VI
The same. Jabad and several servants.
JABAD
Pardon, oh master, the lamb is ready.
HEROD
First, we will hear what the priests have to say if your mistress, our mistress, so pleaseth.
HERODIAS
[Assents, smiling.] [Exeunt all.
SCENE VII
John, Miriam [come through the lower door to right].
MIRIAM
Await her here, Rabbi.... What are thy commands to thy handmaiden?
JOHN
[Shakes his head.]
MIRIAM
[Kisses the hem of his garment.] [Exit.
SCENE VIII
John [left alone for a brief space], then Salome, and two of her damsels.
SALOME
[Steps softly to the balustrade and gazes down on John, seeks in her breast for a flower, and not finding one turns back to Maecha.] Give me those thou wearest in thy girdle. [She takes the roses which Maecha hands to her and throws them down.] He doth not see them. Bring more flowers, and thy harp. Stay, Maecha, or I shall be afraid. [Exeunt the maids, except Maecha.] Thou fair savage, out of the wilderness of Judah! The fire of hate that flashes from thy eye shall not devour me! I will kindle another fire in it, lovely and languid like my dreams, when at night the perfume of the narcissi is wafted to my pillow. [The maids come back.] Give them here.... Roses ... two arms' full. [Hides her face in the flowers.] Now if I had narcissi, too! Nay, but tarry and sing the song which I taught you yesterday, the song which the dancers sang at Antioch. But sing softly, so that he be not shy of us. Where is Miriam?
ABI
She refuseth to come.
SALOME
[Between her teeth.] She refuseth! He saw the rose. He is picking it up ... as if he had never----There are more ... and more ... and more. [She scatters the roses down on him.]
SONG OF THE MAIDENS
[The following is accompanied by the harp, which, after playing a finale alone, dies away.]
I have entertained thee with myrrh and honey.
I bound sweet sandals on my feet.
From my waist I have loosened the girdle,
I have sung with the harp, thee to greet.
Now come, let us quench
The fire that consumes me ... Come!
Or thou from fear shalt blench.
For my soul will hate thee ... Come!
JOHN
[Has looked up astonished. The hail of flowers strikes him in the face. He shrinks back.] Who playeth with me?
SALOME
[Who has slowly descended the steps.] Master, I----
JOHN
Who art thou?
SALOME
[Coyly trifling.] I am a rose of Sharon and a flower of the valley.
JOHN
Then play with thy mates ... Leave me in peace ... or go and call her who summoned me.
SALOME
My mother?
JOHN
Thou art Salome the----
SALOME
Yes; I am she.
JOHN
Let me look into thy eyes, maiden.
SALOME
Look, master ... No, but not like that.... If you compellest me to put my hands before my face, I shall spread my fingers apart and laugh between them; yes, I shall laugh.
JOHN
Maiden, knowst thou not how abhorred this house is? Keepest thou thy soul innocent among the guilty?
SALOME
Look at me again, master.... Am I not young among the Daughters of Israel? And I have heard say that youth knoweth nothing of the guilty and of guilt. See, they keep me confined to the upper chambers. I drew back the bolts and crept out here, because I knew thou wert here, master.
JOHN
How can I say to the storm wind: "Pass by," and to the floods, "Swallow her not"?
SALOME
Speak on, master, even if I understand nothing thou sayest. And knowest thou that we are now sinning according to the Jewish "law"? Both of us--yea, it is true. My companions are gone; and is it not forbidden for a Jewish man to be alone with a virgin?
JOHN
I am not alone with thee. Behind us standeth the shadow of those who have dragged thee with them through the foul refuse of their pleasures.
SALOME
I have my own pleasures, master. How shall the pleasures of others concern me? I read once a saying that stolen fruits are sweet, and my nurse used to tell me that undiscovered treasure was only found by those who did not seek for it.... Is it not true thou hast not sought me?
JOHN
Thy converse is confused.
SALOME
No matter. Chide me not. Think, are not our dreams confused too? When I flew hither with my mother, we came at night to a field of poppies. And the dew shone on their petals.... They looked grey, and were all closed up because it was night.... But now they are wide open, and I think my cheeks must glow red in their reflection.
JOHN
Thou art lovely among the daughters of Jerusalem. They will weep for thee.
SALOME
Why will they weep? Am I to be sacrificed? Not I, master. Protect me! I have heard of a king, master, who made a compact with the sun. Hast thou heard of him? [John bows his head.]
SALOME
Well, I will make a compact with thee. Shall I be the sun, and thou my king? Or wilt thou be the sun, and I thy queen?
JOHN
Maiden, I cannot be either sun or king.
SALOME
Why not? It is only a game.
JOHN
A King cometh after me, but I wander in the wilderness and seek a path among thorns.
SALOME
And hast not found it?
JOHN
Not for myself.
SALOME
But for others?
JOHN
[In torture, half to himself.] Who knoweth?
SALOME
Master, what harm shall wrath do one, who is a jubilation and a feast day? And if thou camest to me in flames of fire, I would not mourn my youth for the length of two moons.... I would stretch out my arms and cry, "Destroy me, flame; take me up!"
JOHN
[After a pause.] Go!
SALOME
I am going. [She rushes into the arms of Herodias, who enters.] Mother!
SCENE IX
The same. Herodias and her women.
SALOME
Forgive me, mother, and let me stay with thee.
HERODIAS
Thou who lookest at me so imperiously, art thou the man who stirreth up the people against me?
JOHN
I am he whom thou hast summoned.
HERODIAS
[Seating herself.] Come hither to me!
JOHN
Send thy women away, and this child, so that she be not corrupted ere she is ripe.
HERODIAS
But this child, companion of my fate, shall hear what thou hast to say to me.
JOHN
She should be guarded from what I have to say to thee.
HERODIAS
Take care, prophet! At that door stand armed men, two deep. Consider thy danger, so that thou courtest not death!
JOHN
I am a servant of life, and danger never standeth in my way.
HERODIAS
I respect thy faith, prophet, and so would speak to thee in a friendly spirit.... People have told me of a man who keeps far away from human dwellings, and only descends now and then to the banks of fresh waters to bless, so it is said. That pleased me well.... The great willingly bow to greatness ... and so I bow to thee.
SALOME
[After cowering at her feet, springs up, and throws herself on her neck.]
HERODIAS
I will not reproach thee for denouncing me in the market-place of Jerusalem, for thou dost not know me.... Yet I was not well pleased that thou didst chew the cud of wormwood, which hath embittered these Judean cattle against me. I should have thought thou wast too proud, thy solitary nature too noble!
JOHN
I have not come here for thy praise or thy blame. I have but a simple question to ask. Art thou going on the first day of the Passover to the Temple, at the Tetrarch's side?
HERODIAS
[Mastering her scorn with difficulty.] I perceive, thou great prophet, that thy wrath strains on its chain.... Before thou lettest it loose, permit me also to ask a question; for see, I am endeavouring to approach thee, and would gladly win thee. Wert thou not a riddle to me, I should not ask it. Yet truly no man is so curiously fashioned as not to cherish secret wishes in his heart. Every one hath said to himself: "This were my delight, and that my desire."
JOHN
I understand thee not.
HERODIAS
Look round thee. Doth not the gleaming snow of marble attract thy eyes, nor the yellow glitter of gold?
JOHN
[Is silent.]
HERODIAS
Or ... hast thou never dreamed of the power and splendour and riches of this world?
JOHN
[Still silent.]
Or [pointing to Salome, who again cowers at her feet.] has thy heart not trembled at the sight of this sweet, unveiled youth?
JOHN
[After further silence.] Thou wouldst sell thyself to me! Dost thou know thy own price? A grain of barley would be too dear ... for thy name is courtezan, and adulteress is written on thy brow.
HERODIAS
[Infuriated.] Thou--thou----
SALOME
[Falling into her arms.] Mother!
HERODIAS
[Controlling herself haughtily and contemptuously.] I should have thee seized on the instant, only thou makest sport for me. And if not quite intoxicated with thy own superiority, listen to me once more. He who thinketh himself designed to be a judge over men should take part in the life of men, should be human among human beings.
JOHN
[Impressed.] What ... didst thou say?
HERODIAS
But thou seemest to me so isolated from thy fellow-men that the throb of a human heart itself is nothing to thee.... Thou hast avoided, cowardlike, all contact with sin and guilt in thy waste places, and now creepest forth to condemn others as guilty. The scorching winds of thy desert may perhaps have taught thee hate ... but what knowest thou of love? of those who live and die for the sake of their love?
JOHN
Thou too speakest of love ... thou too?
HERODIAS
See! I am laughing at thee, great prophet. [She laughs.]
SALOME
Mother, look at him ... be silent!
JOHN
Thy poisoned arrows are well aimed, and hit their mark! But ... [pointing to the window] see there, the Lord's people ... they gnash their teeth against thee, for thou hast taken their bitter bread out of their mouths and dissipated their miserable joys.... Thou sayest that I know them not.... Yet I know their heart's desire ... for I have created it; I have put my life at the service of that desire, and I cry to thee, "Woe! thou that hast contaminated it for them.... Thou enervatest the strength of their young men, and exposest the shame of their young women. Thou sowest scoffings where I thought to reap faith.... And if thou bendest the High and Mighty to be the footstool of thy lusts, I will fling the poor and humble in thy path, that they may trample thee beneath their feet.... Woe to thee, and woe to him who shareth thy adulterous couch!... Woe, too, to this youthful body that cringes under the scourge of thy blood! Woe! Woe!"
HERODIAS
[Springing up and going to the door on right.] The guards shall seize him.... Guards!... [She wrenches the door open.]
SCENE X
The same. Two guards.
HERODIAS
Lead this man ... . [She hesitates as she meets John's eyes.]
JOHN
[Smiling.] Now, look to it, what thou dost with me!
HERODIAS
Lead this man ... out ... into the street.... [She staggers to the divan.]
SALOME
Thou camest in flames of fire!...
JOHN
[Walks to the door.]
[The Curtain falls.]
THIRD ACT
THIRD ACT
A room in Josaphat's house. In the background a door, which leads into the street. Near it a barred window. On the left side is a door to another living room. A door also on the right. In the foreground to left a cobbler's tools. Towards centre, a table and two or three benches. To the right, a couch, a small table, and chair beside it. The room is poor, but not bare; lighted by two clay lamps.
SCENE I
JAEL [With a child at her breast.]
[Two other children and several women standing near door on left listening to a psalm sung by men's voices, which is heard in subdued strains coming through the door.]
THE BOY
What are they singing now, mother?
JAEL
[Pale and troubled.] They sing the great Hallelujah, my child.
THE BOY
Is the prophet singing with them, mother?
JAEL
That I cannot hear, my child. [Two more women come through middle door.]
FIRST WOMAN
Jael, we have heard that the Great Prophet eateth the passover in thy house. Wilt thou permit us to see him?
JAEL
Come in!
ONE OF THE OTHER WOMEN
That is he, the last there on the left.
FIRST WOMAN
He that sitteth there looking so heavy of spirit?
THE SECOND WOMAN
I should be frightened of him. [The singing has meanwhile ceased.]
FIRST WOMAN
They say that he hath come into the town to judge Herodias. Is that so, Jael?
JAEL
I know not.
THE BOY
Mother, see, they are now drinking the fourth goblet. They will be here directly.
FIRST WOMAN
Hath he spoken a blessing over the fourth goblet?
SECOND WOMAN
No; Josaphat spake it.
FIRST WOMAN
See, they are standing up!
ANOTHER
Are they coming hither, Jael?
JAEL
That is the couch on which he will rest.
SEVERAL
Then farewell, Jael.
JAEL
Farewell! [They hurry out.]
SCENE II
Jael with her children. John, Josaphat, Amarja.
JOSAPHAT
Here thou wilt be alone, Rabbi. The others remain outside.
JOHN
Accept my thanks, Josaphat.
AMARJA
Mine, too, Josaphat.
JOSAPHAT
Thank him, Amarja, for eating with us. [While John seats himself, he says, sotto voce, to Amarja] Come! [Observes Jael, who has been standing at the door unnoticed.] Jael, thou here, and the children?
JOHN
Is that thy wife, Josaphat?
JOSAPHAT
Yes, Rabbi.
JOHN
And thy children?
JOSAPHAT
Yes, Rabbi.
JOHN
Thou hast never told me of these.... Is thy name Jael? He called thee so.
JAEL
Yes, Rabbi.