The King!
[General stir.
Alex.
Who? who?
Scene 8
The Same. Herod, in war accoutrement. Joab, and Retinue.
Mariamne.
’Tis Death, Death, Death, has come amongst us,
Without announcement, as he ever comes!
Salome.
Ay, Death for you in truth! You feel’t yourself?
My brother!
[Offers to embrace Herod; he thrusts her back.
Herod.
Mariamne!
Mar. (repulsing him with a violent gesture).
Draw the sword!
Give me the poison-goblet! You are Death,
Death gives embrace and kiss with sword and poison!
Herod (turning round to Salome).
And what means this? A thousand candles called
From distant regions through the night to me—
“Your courier did not fall in Arab hands
A captive. He arrived; you are awaited!”
And now——
Salome.
The candles lyingly deceived you,
The jubilation here was for your death!
Your courier arrived not, and your mother
Has rent her raiment over you.
[Herod looks round about; sees Titus and beckons to him.
Titus (advancing).
It is so.
No single soul here could have thought, myself
The least of all, that you before the fight
At Actium would turn from Antony
And, as I grant, at prudence’ call give Caesar
Transferred allegiance. But that you have done it
Is proved by your returning here. Then good.
My—gratulations.
Mar. (approaching him).
And my deep regrets
That no occasion offered you the chance
To slay Mark Antony with your own hand.
’Twas this way you would show your new Lord best
You had no further dealings with the old one.
You would have brought your own friend’s head to him,
He would have recompensed you with the crown.
Herod.
Pooh, Titus, pooh! Even you think thus of me?
I made my southward march to Araby
Pursuing orders Antony had given.
But there I found no foe, so I made ready
To start for Actium, and there’s no blame
Attaints me if I came too late. Had he
Maintained the attitude I thought he would,
In such a case (to Mariamne) occasion had been sought
To make him present of Octavian’s head
As payment for the crown. (To Titus.) He did it not.
He was long dead ere I appeared, nor was there
A further need for friend, and I set out
To see Octavian, not indeed as King—
I laid the crown aside—but all the more
For that, no beggar. Drawing sword I spoke:—
“This I’d have used against you, and perchance
I would have dyed it with your very blood
If things here had gone better. That is o’er.
I sink it at your feet and lay it by.
Weigh then in mind the sort of friend I was
And not whose friend. The Dead has set me free
And now, if so you will, I can be yours.”
Titus.
And he?
Herod.
He said:—“Where have you placed your crown?
I’ll set another noble stone therein.
Receive the province which till now has lacked you,
This only shall my largess make you feel,
That I am victor, not Mark Antony.
From Cleopatra it had ne’er been taken,
What she till now possessed I give to you.”
Titus.
That—I had ne’er conceived, nor praise I aught
Except your star.
Herod.
O Titus, praise it not!
I have been spared for a harsh work. Soemus!
[Soemus remains standing where he is and does not answer.
What, recreant? You are dumb! I know enough.
Oh oh, away with him!
Soemus (as he is led off).
Naught I deny,
But that I deemed you dead—you may believe it.
And now I do your will.
[Exit.
Herod.
And after death
The end of all, eh, friend? Yes, yes, my Titus,
Had you but known the man as I, you never
Would stand there so composed, so unperturbed
As I stand here; you would be foaming, gnashing,
And raving. (To Mariamne.) Woman, what were you about
To lure so good a man so far? Salome,
So you were right! I must be washing, washing—
Blood here! I institute an inquisition!
You’re silent? Case you still in haughty challenge?
And I know why. You have not yet forgotten
What once you were to me. I’d rip more lightly
E’en now heart out of breast—Titus, it is so—
Than (again to Mariamne) you from out my heart. And yet I do it.
Mar.
(turning round abruptly). I am your prisoner?
Herod.
Yes.
Mar.
(to the soldiers). Then lead me hence.
[Turns round. At a signal from Herod, Joab follows her with soldiers.
Death cannot be my husband any more.
[Exit.
Herod.
Ha ha! To her in time past I had spoken:—
“Two souls that love each other as they should love
Could never bear each other to outlive.
If I on some far battlefield had fallen
You would not need a courier’s announcing,
You’d feel that on the instant death had happened
And woundless die in sentience of mine.”
Titus, bemock me not. ’Tis so, ’tis so,
But, ah the pity, mankind loves not thus.
[Exit.