Part 3
No matter! But let them find Him, and tell Him from me, I will not allow him to raise the dead! To change water into wine, to heal the lepers and the blind.... He may do these things if He will. I say nothing against these things. In truth I hold it a good deed to heal a leper. But I allow no man to raise the dead. It would be terrible if the dead came back.
[Illustration: THE STOMACH DANCE]
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN
Ah! the wanton! The harlot! Ah! the daughter of Babylon with her golden eyes and her gilded eyelids!--Thus saith the Lord God, Let there come up against her a multitude of men. Let the people take stones and stone her....
HERODIAS
Command him to be silent.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN
Let the war captains pierce her with their swords, let them crush her beneath their shields.
HERODIAS
Nay, but it is infamous.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN
It is thus that I will wipe out all wickedness from the earth, and that all women shall learn not to imitate her abominations.
HERODIAS
You hear what he says against me? You allow him to revile your wife?
HEROD
He did not speak your name.
HERODIAS
What does that matter? You know well that it is I whom he seeks to revile. And I am your wife, am I not?
HEROD
Of a truth, dear and noble Herodias, you are my wife, and before that you were the wife of my brother.
HERODIAS
It was you who tore me from his arms.
HEROD
Of a truth I was stronger.... But let us not talk of that matter. I do not desire to talk of it. It is the cause of the terrible words that the prophet has spoken. Peradventure on account of it a misfortune will come. Let us not speak of this matter. Noble Herodias, we are not mindful of our guests. Fill thou my cup, my well-beloved. Fill with wine the great goblets of silver, and the great goblets of glass. I will drink to Cæsar. There are Romans here, we must drink to Cæsar.
ALL
Cæsar! Cæsar!
HEROD
Do you not see your daughter, how pale she 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 heavens 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 that restoration 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
Yes, he has a sombre look.
HEROD
Wherefore should I not be happy? Cæsar, 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, Cæsar is lord. Thus you see I have a right to be happy. Indeed, I am happy. I have never been so 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 scarlet and purple. In his hand he shall bear a golden cup full of his blasphemies. And the angel of the Lord 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; 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 that are ever looking at my daughter, you that 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. 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 Cæsar'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 thee 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 they mean ... 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, even unto the half of my kingdom.
[Illustration: THE TOILETTE OF SALOMÉ--I]
SALOMÉ
[_Rising._] Will you indeed give me whatsoever I shall ask, Tetrarch?
HERODIAS
Do not dance, my daughter.
HEROD
Everything, even 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 this I ask, even 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 a bird, a huge black bird that hovers over the terrace. Why can I not see it, this bird? The beat 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 will not speak of this. Now I am happy, I am passing happy. Have I not the right to be happy? Your daughter is going to dance for me. Will you not dance for me, Salomé? You have promised to dance for me.
[Illustration: THE TOILETTE OF SALOMÉ--II]
HERODIAS
I will not have her dance.
SALOMÉ
I will dance for you, Tetrarch.
HEROD
You hear what your daughter says. She is going to dance for me. You do well to dance for me, Salomé. And when you have danced for me, forget not to ask of me whatsoever you wish. Whatsoever you wish I will give it you, even to the half of my kingdom. I have sworn it, have I not?
SALOMÉ
You have sworn it, Tetrarch.
HEROD
And I have never broken my word. I am not of those who break their oaths. I know not how to lie. I am the slave of my word, and my word is the word of a king. The King of Cappadocia always lies, but he is no true king. He is a coward. Also he owes me money that he will not repay. He has even insulted my ambassadors. He has spoken words that were wounding. But Cæsar will crucify him when he comes to Rome. I am sure that Cæsar will crucify him. And if not, yet will he die, being eaten of worms. The prophet has prophesied it. Well! wherefore dost thou tarry, Salomé?
SALOMÉ
I am awaiting until my slaves bring perfumes to me and the seven veils, and take off my sandals. [_Slaves bring perfumes and the seven veils, and take off the sandals of Salomé._]
HEROD
Ah, you are going to dance with naked feet. 'Tis well!--'Tis well. Your little feet will be like white doves. They will be like little white flowers that dance upon the trees.... No, no, she is going to dance on blood. There is blood spilt on the ground. She must not dance on blood. It were an evil omen.
HERODIAS
What is it to you if she dance on blood? Thou hast waded deep enough therein....
HEROD
What is it to me? Ah! look at the moon! She has become red. She has become red as blood. Ah! the prophet prophesied truly. He prophesied that the moon would become red as blood. Did he not prophesy it? All of you heard him. And now the moon has become red as blood. Do ye not see it?
HERODIAS
Oh, yes, I see it well, and the stars are falling like ripe figs, are they not? and the sun is becoming black like sackcloth of hair, and the kings of the earth are afraid. That at least one can see. The prophet, for once in his life, was right, the kings of the earth are afraid.... Let us go within. You are sick. They will say at Rome that you are mad. Let us go within, I tell you.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN
Who is this who cometh from Edom, who is this who cometh from Bozra, whose raiment is dyed with purple, who shineth in the beauty of his garments, who walketh mighty in his greatness? Wherefore is thy raiment stained with scarlet?
HERODIAS
Let us go within. The voice of that man maddens me. I will not have my daughter dance while he is continually crying out. I will not have her dance while you look at her in this fashion. In a word, I will not have her dance.
HEROD
Do not rise, my wife, my queen, it will avail thee nothing. I will not go within till she hath danced. Dance, Salomé, dance for me.
HERODIAS
Do not dance, my daughter.
SALOMÉ
I am ready, Tetrarch.
[_Salomé dances the dance of the seven veils._]
HEROD
Ah! wonderful! wonderful! You see that she has danced for me, your daughter. Come near, Salomé, come near, that I may give you your reward. Ah! I pay the dancers well. I will pay thee royally. I will give thee whatsoever thy soul desireth. What wouldst thou have? Speak.
SALOMÉ
[_Kneeling_].
I would that they presently bring me in a silver charger....
HEROD
[Laughing.]
In a silver charger? Surely yes, in a silver charger. She is charming, is she not? What is it you would have in a silver charger, O sweet and fair Salomé, you who are fairer than all the daughters of Judæa? What would you have them bring thee in a silver charger? Tell me. Whatsoever it may be, they shall give it you. My treasures belong to thee. What is it, Salomé?
SALOMÉ
[_Rising_].
The head of Jokanaan.
HERODIAS
Ah! that is well said, my daughter.
HEROD
No, no!
HERODIAS
That is well said, my daughter.
HEROD
No, no, Salomé. You do not ask me that. Do not listen to your mother's voice. She is ever giving you evil counsel. Do not heed her.
SALOMÉ
I do not heed my mother. It is for mine own pleasure that I ask the head of Jokanaan in a silver charger. You hath sworn, Herod. Forget not that you have sworn an oath.
HEROD
I know it. I have sworn by my gods. I know it well. But I pray you, Salomé, ask of me something else. Ask of me the half of my kingdom, and I will give it you. But ask not of me what you have asked.
SALOMÉ
I ask of you the head of Jokanaan.
HEROD
No, no, I do not wish it.
SALOMÉ
You have sworn, Herod.
HERODIAS
Yes, you have sworn. Everybody heard you. You swore it before everybody.
HEROD
Be silent! It is not to you I speak.
HERODIAS
My daughter has done well to ask the head of Jokanaan. He has covered me with insults. He has said monstrous things against me. One can see that she loves her mother well. Do not yield, my daughter. He has sworn, he has sworn.
HEROD
Be silent, speak not to me!... Come, Salomé, be reasonable. I have never been hard to you. I have ever loved you.... It may be that I have loved you too much. Therefore ask not this thing of me. This is a terrible thing, an awful thing to ask of me. Surely, I think thou art jesting. The head of a man that is cut from his body is ill to look upon, is it not? It is not meet that the eyes of a virgin should look upon such a thing. What pleasure could you have in it? None. No, no, it is not what you desire. Hearken to me. I have an emerald, a great round emerald, which Cæsar's minion sent me. If you look through this emerald you can see things which happen at a great distance. Cæsar himself carries such an emerald when he goes to the circus. But my emerald is larger. I know well that it is larger. It is the largest emerald in the whole world. You would like that, would you not? Ask it of me and I will give it you.
[Illustration: THE DANCER'S REWARD]
SALOMÉ
I demand the head of Jokanaan.
HEROD
You are not listening. You are not listening. Suffer me to speak, Salomé.
SALOMÉ
The head of Jokanaan.
HEROD
No, no, you would not have that. You say that to trouble me, because I have looked at you all this evening. It is true, I have looked at you all this evening. Your beauty troubled me. Your beauty has grievously troubled me, and I have looked at you too much. But I will look at you no more. Neither at things, nor at people should one look. Only in mirrors should one look, for mirrors do but show us masks. Oh! oh! bring wine! I thirst.... Salomé, Salomé, let us be friends. Come now!... Ah! what would I say? What was't? Ah! I remember!... Salomé--nay, but come nearer to me; I fear you will not hear me--Salomé, you know my white peacocks, my beautiful white peacocks, that walk in the garden between the myrtles and the tall cypress trees. Their beaks are gilded with gold, and the grains that they eat are gilded with gold also, and their feet are stained with purple. When they cry out the rain comes, and the moon shows herself in the heavens when they spread their tails. Two by two they walk between the cypress trees and the black myrtles, and each has a slave to tend it. Sometimes they fly across the trees, and anon they crouch in the grass, and round the lake. There are not in all the world birds so wonderful. There is no king in all the world who possesses such wonderful birds. I am sure that Cæsar himself has no birds so fair as my birds. I will give you fifty of my peacocks. They will follow you whithersoever you go, and in the midst of them you will be like the moon in the midst of a great white cloud.... I will give them all to you. I have but a hundred, and in the whole world there is no king who has peacocks like unto my peacocks. But I will give them all to you. Only you must loose me from my oath, and must not ask of me that which you have asked of me.
[_He empties the cup of wine._]
SALOMÉ
Give me the head of Jokanaan.
HERODIAS
Well said, my daughter! As for you, you are ridiculous with your peacocks.
HEROD
Be silent! You cry out always; you cry out like a beast of prey. You must not. Your voice wearies me. Be silent, I say Salomé, think of what you are doing. This man comes perchance from God. He is a holy man. The finger of God has touched him. God has put into his mouth terrible words. In the palace as in the desert God is always with him.... At least it is possible. One does not know. It is possible that God is for him and with him. Furthermore, if he died some misfortune might happen to me. In any case, he said that the day he dies a misfortune will happen to some one. That could only be to me. Remember, I slipped in blood when I entered. Also, I heard a beating of wings in the air, a beating of mighty wings. These are very evil omens, and there were others. I am sure there were others though I did not see them. Well, Salomé, you do not wish a misfortune to happen to me? You do not wish that. Listen to me, then.
SALOMÉ
Give me the head of Jokanaan.
HEROD