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FROM THE ESTATE OF
GEORGE JAFFE
SALOME
SALOME A TRAGEDY IN ONE ACT TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF OSCAR WILDE, WITH SIXTEEN DRAWINGS BY AUBREY BEARDSLEY :
LONDON JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY, MCMVII :
:
THE PERSONS OF THE HEROD
ANTIPAS, Tetrarch of
JOKANAAN, The
Judaea.
Prophet.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN,
Captain of the Guard,
TIGELLINUS, A Young Roman.
A CAPPADOCIAN.
A NUBIAN. FIRST SOLDIER.
SECOND SOLDIER.
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS. JEWS, NAZARENES, Etc.
A SLAVE.
NAAMAN, The
Executioner.
HERODIAS, Wife
PLAY.
of the Tetrarch.
SALOME, Daughter
of Herodias.
THE SLAVES OF SALOME.
A NOTE ON "SALOME." has made the author's "QALOME" household word wherever the
^
name
a
English lanis not Few guage spoken. English plays have such a peculiar history. Written in French in 1892 it was in full rehearsal by Madame Bernhardt at the Palace Theatre when it was prohibited by the Censor. Oscar Wilde immediately announced his intention of changing his nationality, a characteristic jest, which was only taken seriously, oddly
enough, in Ireland. The interference of the Censor has seldom been more popular or more heartily endorsed by English critics. On its publication in " book form " Salome was greeted by a chorus of ridicule, and it may be noted in passing that at least two of the more violent reviews were from the
pens of unsuccessful dramatists, while all those whose French never went beyond Ollendorff were glad to find in that venerable school classic an una handy suspected asset in their education " missile with which to pelt " Salome and its author. The correctness of the French was, of course, impugned, although the scrip had been passed by a distinguished French writer, to whom I have heard the whole work attributed. The Times, while depreciating the drama, gave its author credit for a
—
xiii
tour deforce, in being capable of writing a French play for Madame Bernhardt, and this drew from him the following letter:
—
The
Times, Thursday, March
2,
1893, p.
4.
Mr. Oscar Wilde on "Salome."
To
the Editor of The Times. attention has been drawn to a review
SIR,
My
" of " Salome which was published in your columns The opinions of English critics on a last week. French work of mine have, of course, little, if any, I write simply to ask you to allow interest for me. me to correct a misstatement that appears in the review in question. The fact that the greatest tragic actress of any stage now living saw in my play such beauty that she was anxious to produce it, to take herself the part of the heroine, to lend to the entire poem the glamour of her personality, and to my prose the music of her flute-like voice this was naturally, and always will be, a source of pride and pleasure to me, and I look forward with delight to seeing Mme. Bernhardt present my play in Paris, that vivid centre of art, where religious dramas are often performed. But my play was in no sense of the words written for this great actress. I have never written a play for any actor or actress, nor shall I ever do so. Such work is for the artisan in literature not for the artist.
—
—
I
remain,
Sir,
your obedient servant,
Oscar Wilde. xiv
When
"
Salome
"
was translated into English by Alfred Douglas, the illustrator, Aubrey Beardsley, shared some of the obloquy heaped on Wilde. It is interesting that he should have found inspiration for his finest work in a play he never admired and by a writer he cordially disliked. The motives are, of course, made to his hand, and never was there a more suitable material for that odd
Lord
tangent art in which there are no tactile values. The amusing caricatures of Wilde which appear in " the Frontispiece, " Enter Herodias and " The Eyes of Herod," are the only pieces of vraisemblance in these exquisite designs. The colophon is a real masterpiece and a witty criticism of the play as well. "
the production of " Salome by the New 1 Stage Club in May, 1905, the dramatic critics again expressed themselves vehemently, vociferating their regrets that the play had been dragged from its obscurity. The obscure drama, however, had become for five years past part of the It is performed regularly or literature of Europe.
On
intermittently in Holland, Sweden, Italy, France, and Russia, and it has been translated into every European language, including the Czech. It forms
A
1 more recent performance of "Salome" (1906), by the Literary Theatre Club, has again produced an ebullition of rancour and deliberate misrepresentation on the part of the dramatic critics, the majority of whom are anxious to parade their ignorance of the The production was remarkable on account of continental stage. the beautiful dresses and mounting, for which Mr. Charles Ricketts was responsible, and the marvellous impersonation of Herod by Mr. Robert Farquharson. Wilde used to say that "Salome" was a The artist, art the dull, mirror in which everyone could see himself. dulness the vulgar, vulgarity. ;
;
part of the repertoire of the German stage, where performed more often than any play by any English writer except Shakespeare. Owing, perhaps, to what I must call its obscure popularity in the continental theatres, Dr. Strauss was preparing his remarkable opera at the very moment when there appeared the criticisms to which I refer, and since the production of the opera in Dresden in it is
December, 1905, English musical journalists and correspondents always refer to the work as founded on Wilde's drama. That is the only way in which they can evade an awkward truth a palpable contravention to their own wishes and theories. The music, however, has been set to the actual words of "Salome" in Madame Hedwig Lachmann's admirable translation. The words have not been transfigured into ordinary operatic nonsense to
—
suit
the
score,
or
the
susceptibilities
of
the
English people. I observe that admirers of Dr. Strauss are a little mortified that the great master should have found an occasion for composition in a play which they long ago consigned to oblivion and the shambles of Aubrey Beardsley. Wilde himself, in a rhetorical period, seems to have contemplated the possibility of his prose drama for a musical theme. In " De Profundis" he says "The refrains, whose recurring motifs make Salome so like a piece of music, and bind it together as a :
'
'
ballad."
He was still incarcerated in 1896, when Mons. Luigne Poe produced the play for the first time at the Theatre Libre in Paris, with Lina Muntz in the title role.
A
rather pathetic reference to this occaXVI
a letter Wilde wrote to
occurs in
sion
Reading
:
—
me
from
" Please say how gratified I was at the performance of my play, and have my thanks conveyed to It is something that at a time of Luigne Poe. I should still be regarded as an shame and disgrace I wish I could feel more pleasure, but I seem artist. dead to all emotions except those of anguish and
However, please let Luigne Poe know despair. that I am sensible of the honour he has done me. He is a poet himself. Write to me in answer to this, and try and see what Lemaitre, Bauer, and Sarcey said of
The
bias
'
Salome.'
"
of personal
friendship
precludes
me
from praising qr defending " Salome," even if it were Nothing I might necessary to do so. to the add would reputation of its detractors. say Its
sources
are
and Maeterlinck, is
it
style
an
obvious in
particularly
;
whose peculiar and
A
essay.
critic,
for
Flaubert original
whom
I
of his congreater regard than many " " a catais that Salome only temporaries, says logue but a catalogue can be intensely dramatic, as we know when the performance takes place at few plays are more exciting than an Christie's auction in King Street when the stars are fighting
have a ;
;
for Sisera. It has been remarked that Wilde confuses Herod the Great (Mat. xi. i), Herod Antipas (Mat. xiv. 3), and Herod Agrippa (Acts xiii), but the confusion
Herod
is is
and the
intentional, as in mediaeval mystery plays taken for a type, not an historical character, criticism
is
about as valuable as that of XVll
people who laboriously point out the anachronisms With reference to the Beardsley's designs. charge of plagiarism brought against "Salome" and its author, I venture to mention a personal in
recollection.
to me one day that someone a well-known novel had stolen an idea of his. I pleaded in defence of the culprit that Wilde him" self was a fearless literary thief. My dear fellow," he said, with his usual drawling emphasis, "when I see a monstrous tulip with four wonderful petals in
Wilde complained
in
someone
else's
garden,
I
am
impelled to grow a
monstrous tulip with five wonderful petals, but that is no reason why someone should grow a tulip with only three petals."
That WAS OSCAR
WILDE.
Robert Ross.
SALOME
Cast of the Performance of in
England
<{
Salome*," represented
for the first time.
NEW STAGE
CLUB.
"SALOME," OSCAR WILDE.
By
May
A Young
10th
and 13th,
1905.
Syrian Captain
Mr HERBERT ALEXANDER. Page of Herodias
Mrs.
GWENDOLEN
BISHOP.
Mr. CHARLES GEE. Mr. RALPH DE ROHAN. Cappadocian Mr. CHARLES DALMON. Jokanaan - - - - Mr. VINCENT NELLO. Naaman, the Executioner Mr. W. EVELYN OSBORN. Salome Miss MILLICENT MURBY. Slave Miss CARRIE KEITH. Herod Mr. ROBERT FARQUHARSON. Herodias - - - - Miss LOUISE SALOM. Tigellinus - - - Mr. C. L. DELPH. Slave Miss STANSFELD. First Jew Mr. F. STANLEY SMITH. Second Jew - - - Mr. BERNHARD SMITH. Third Jew - - - Mr. JOHN BATE. Fourth Jew - - - STEPHEN BAGEHOT Fifth Jew - - - FREDERICK LAWRENCE. First Soldier Second Soldier
-
-----
Scene
-
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Scene.
—A
great terrace in the Palace of Herod, above the banqueting-hall. Some soldiers are To the right there is a leaning over the balcony. gigantic staircase, to the left, at the back, an old cistern surrounded by a wall of green bronze. set
Moonlight.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
How
beautiful
is
the Princess Salome to-night
!
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS Look at the moon How strange the moon seems She is like a woman rising from a tomb. She is like a dead woman. You would fancy she !
!
was looking
for
dead
things.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN She has a strange look. She is like a little princess who wears a yellow veil, and whose feet are of silver. She is like a princess who has little
white doves for
was dancing.
feet.
You would
fancy she
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS She is like a woman who
is
dead.
She moves
very slowly. [Noise in the banqueting-halQ
FIRST SOLDIER
What howling
an uproar
!
Who
are those wild beasts
?
SECOND SOLDIER The Jews. They
are always like that. are disputing about their religion.
They
FIRST SOLDIER
Why do
they dispute about their religion
?
SECOND SOLDIER I cannot tell. They are always doing it. The Pharisees, for instance, say that there are angels, and the Sadducees declare that angels do not
exist.
FIRST SOLDIER I
think
it
ridiculous
is
to dispute about
such
things.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
How
beautiful
is
the Princess Salome to-night
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS You are always looking her too much. in such fashion.
It is
!
You look at look to at people dangerous at her.
Something
terrible
may
happen.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN She
is
very beautiful to-night.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch has
a sombre look.
SECOND SOLDIER Yes he has a sombre ;
look.
FIRST SOLDIER
He
is
looking at something.
SECOND SOLDIER
He
is
looking at some one.
FIRST SOLDIER
At whom
is
he looking
?
SECOND SOLDIER I
cannot
tell.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
How pale the Princess is Never have I seen her so pale. She is like the shadow of a white rose in a mirror of silver. !
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS You must not look at
her.
You
look too
at her.
FIRST SOLDIER Herodias has
filled
the cup of the Tetrarch. 3
»3
much
THE CAPPADOCIAN Is that the Queen Herodias, she who wears a black mitre sewn with pearls, and whose hair is powdered with blue dust ?
FIRST SOLDIER
Yes
;
that
Herodias, the Tetrarch's wife.
is
SECOND SOLDIER The Tetrarch
very fond of wine. He has One which is brought from the Island of Samothrace, and is purple like the cloak of Caesar.
wine of three
is
sorts.
THE CAPPADOCIAN I
have never seen Caesar.
SECOND SOLDIER Another that comes from a town and is yellow like gold.
called Cyprus,
THE CAPPADOCIAN I
love gold.
SECOND SOLDIER
And the third red like blood.
is
a wine of
Sicily.
That wine
is
THE NUBIAN The gods Twice
of
in the
my
year
country are very fond of blood.
we
sacrifice to
4
them young men
and maidens maidens. But
young men and a hundred seems we never give them quite
fifty
;
it
enough, for they are very harsh to
us.
THE CAPPADOCIAN The In my country there are no gods left. Romans have driven them out. There are some who say that they have hidden themselves in the do not believe
Three nights it. the mountains seeking them everywhere. I did not find them. And at last I called them by their names, and they did not come. I think they are dead. mountains, but I
have been
I
on
FIRST SOLDIER
The Jews worship a God
that
you cannot
see.
THE CAPPADOCIAN I
cannot understand that.
FIRST SOLDIER In fact, they only believe cannot see.
THE CAPPADOCIAN That seems to me
in
that
you
altogether ridiculous.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN After me shall come another so much as I am not worthy latchet of his shoes.
things
When
mightier than I. to unloose the he cometh, the soli-
tary
places
be glad.
shall
They
shall
blossom
The
eyes of the blind shall see the day, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened. The new-born child shall put his hand upon the dragon's lair, he shall lead the lions by their like the
lily.
manes.
SECOND SOLDIER
Make him be
He
silent.
is
always
saying
ridiculous things.
FIRST SOLDIER No, no. gentle, too.
He
is a holy man. He is very Every day, when I give him to eat
he thanks me.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Who
is
he
?
FIRST SOLDIER
A prophet THE CAPPADOCIAN What is his name
?
FIRST SOLDIER Jokanaan.
THE CAPPADOCIAN Whence comes he
?
6
FIRST SOLDIER
From the desert, where he fed on locusts and He was clothed in camel's hair, and wild honey. round his loins he had a leathern belt. He was great multitude very terrible to look upon. used to follow him. He even had disciples.
A
THE CAPPADOCIAN What is he talking
of ?
*
FIRST SOLDIER
We rible
can never but
things,
what he
tell.
is
it
Sometimes he says terimpossible to understand
says.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
May
one see him
FIRST SOLDIER No.
.
?
.
The Tetrarch has forbidden
it.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN The fan
!
Princess has hidden
Her
doves that
little
fly
her face behind her white hands are fluttering like
to their dove-cots. They are like They are just like white butter-
white butterflies. flies.
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS What is that to you ? Why do you You must not look at her. her? Something terrible may happen.
look at
The CappAdoCian [Pointing to the cistern^ a strange prison
What
!
SECOND SOLDIER It is
an old
cistern.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
An
old cistern
It
!
must be very unhealthy.
SECOND SOLDIER
Oh
For instance, the Tetrarch's brother, no! his elder brother, the first husband of Herodias the Queen, was imprisoned there for twelve years. It did not kill him. At the end of the twelve years he had to be strangled.
THE CAPPADOCIAN Strangled
?
Who
dared to do that
?
SECOND SOLDIER {Pointing
to the Executioner,
a huge Negro.]
That man yonder, Naaman.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
He
was not
afraid
?
SECOND SOLDIER Oh no The Tetrarch !
sent
THE CAPPADOCIAN What ring ? 8
him the
ring.
SECOND SOLDIER The death-ring.
So he was not
afraid.
THE CAPPADOCIAN Yet
it is
a terrible thing to strangle a king.
FIRST SOLDIER
Kings have but one neck,
Why?
other
like
folk.
THE CAPPADOCIAN I
think
it
terrible.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN The
Princess rises She troubled. !
is
leaving the table
!
She looks very this
How
Ah, she is coming Yes, she is coming towards us. way. Never have I seen her so pale. pale she is !
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS Do not look at her. I
pray you not to look
at her.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN She She is .
.
is
.
a dove that has strayed. a narcissus trembling in the wind. She is like a silver flower.
like
.
.
.
like .
[Enter Salome".]
SALOME I will not stay. Tetrarch look at
eyes under his
I
me
cannot stay. all
Why
does the the while with his mole's
shaking eyelids 9
?
It
is
strange
that the that. I
I
know
husband of my mother looks at me know not what it means. In truth,
like
yes,
it.
YOUNG SYRIAN
THE.
You have
just left the feast, Princess
?
SALOME
How
sweet the air is here I can breathe Within there are Jews from Jerusalem who are tearing each other in pieces over their foolish ceremonies, and barbarians who drink and drink, and spill their wine on the pavement, and Greeks from Smyrna with painted eyes and painted cheeks, and frizzed hair curled in twisted coils, and silent, subtle Egyptians, with long nails of jade and russett cloaks, and Romans brutal and coarse, with their uncouth jargon. Ah! how I loathe the Romans! They are rough and common, and they give themselves the airs of
here
!
!
noble lords.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Will you be seated, Princess
?
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS
Why at her
?
do you speak to her ? Oh something terrible !
Why will
do you look
happen.
SALOME
How little
She is like a good to see the moon of think she was a would piece money, you !
10
The moon is cold and chaste. a virgin, she has a virgin's beauty. She has never defiled herYes, she is a virgin. self. She has never abandoned herself to men, like the other goddesses. silver flower.
little
I
am
sure she
is
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN The Lord hath come. The son of man hath The centaurs have hidden themselves in
come.
the rivers, and the sirens have left the rivers, and are lying beneath the leaves of the forest.
SALOME
Who
was that who cried out
?
SECOND SOLDIER The prophet, Princess.
SALOME Ah, the prophet is
afraid
!
He
of
whom
the Tetrarch
?
SECOND SOLDIER We know nothing of that, Princess. prophet Jokanaan who cried out.
It
was the
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Is
your pleasure that I bid them bring your Princess ? The night is fair in the garden.
it
litter,
SALOME
He he not
says terrible things about ?
ii
my
mother, does
SECOND SOLDIER
We
never understand what he says, Princess.
SALOM& Yes
he says terrible things about \Enter a Slave.] ;
her.
THE SLAVE Tetrarch prays you to return to
Princess, the
the
feast.
SALOMfi not go back.
I will
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Pardon me, Princess, but
if
you do not return
some misfortune may happen.
SALOME Is
he an old man,
this
prophet
?
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess, to lead you
it
were better to return.
Suffer
me
in.
SALOME This prophet
.
.
.
is
he an old
man
?
FIRST SOLDIER No, Princess, he
is
quite a
young man.
SECOND SOLDIER
You he
is
cannot be sure.
There are those who say
Elias. 12
SALOME
Who
is
Elias
?
SECOND SOLDIER
A
ancient
very
prophet
of
this
country,
Princess.
THE SLAVE What answer may Princess
I
give the Tetrarch from the
?
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN Rejoice not thou, land of Palestine, because the For from rod of him who smote thee is broken. the seed of the serpent shall come forth a basilisk, and that which is born of it shall devour the birds.
SALOME What
a
strange
voice
!
I
would speak with
him.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch I fear it is impossible, Princess. does not wish any one to speak with him. He has even forbidden the high priest to speak with him.
SALOME I desire to
speak with him.
FIRST SOLDIER It is impossible, Princess. 13
SALOME I will
speak with him.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Would it not be better
to return to the banquet
?
SALOME Bring forth
this prophet.
[Exit the slave]
FIRST SOLDIER
We
dare not, Princess.
SALOME {Approaching the cistern and looking down into it.]
How
black
terrible to .
.
me ?
.
be
it
is,
in so
down
there
black a pit
[To the soldiers] Bring out the prophet. .
!
It
must
be
a tomb. Did you not hear I wish to see him.
!
It is like
SECOND SOLDIER Princess, I
beg you do not require
SALOME You keep me
this of us.
waiting!
FIRST SOLDIER Princess, our lives belong to you, but
we cannot
do what you have asked of us. And indeed, not of us that you should ask this thing.
H
it
is
salome [Looking at the young Syrian]
Ah!
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS Oh what is going to happen !
that
some misfortune
will
happen.
to the young
Syrian]
?
I
am
sure
SALOME [Going up
You
will
do
this
thing for me, will you not, Narraboth? You will do this thing for me. I have always been kind to you. You will do I would it for me. but look at this strange Men have talked so much of him. prophet. Often have I heard the Tetrarch talk of him. I think the Tetrarch is afraid of him. Are you, even you, also afraid of him, Narraboth ?
THE YOUNG SYRIAN him not, Princess there is no man I But the Tetrarch has formally forbidden that any man should raise the cover of this well. I
fear
;
fear.
SALOME You will do
this thing for I pass in
to-morrow when
gateway of the a
little flower,
a
me, Narraboth, and litter beneath the
my
idol-sellers I will let fall for little
green flower.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess, I cannot, I cannot. i5
you
SALOME [Smiling.']
You will do this You know that you
for
thing
do
will
Narraboth. thing for me.
me,
this
And to-morrow when I pass in my litter by the bridge of the idol-buyers, I will look at you through the muslin veils, I will look at you, Narraboth, it may be I will smile at you. Look at me, Narraboth, look at me. Ah you know that you will do what I ask of you. You know !
it
...
well.
I
know
that
do
will
you
this
thing.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN [Signing Let the Princess
to the
third soldier\]
prophet
Salome
come
forth.
.
.
The
.
desires to see him.
SALOME Ah!
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS Oh How strange the moon !
think
it
looks. You would was the hand of a dead woman who is
seeking to cover herself with a shroud.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN She is like a little She has a strange look whose eyes are eyes of amber. Through !
princess,
the clouds of muslin she
is
smiling like a
little
princess.
[The prophet comes out of the looks at
him and steps slowly 16
frack.]
cistern.
Salome'
JOKANAAN Where is he whose cup of abominations is now ? Where is he, who in a robe of silver shall
full
one day die
in the face of all the people
?
Bid
him come forth, that he may hear the voice of him who hath cried in the waste places and in the houses of kings.
SALOME Of whom
is
he speaking
THE YOUNG SYRIAN You can never tell,
?
Princess.
JOKANAAN Where is she who having men painted on the walls,
seen the images of the images of the Chaldeans limned in colours, gave herself up unto the lust of her eyes, and sent ambassadors into
Chaldea
?
SALOME It is of
my
mother that he speaks.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Oh, no, Princess.
SALOME Yes
;
it is
JOKANAAN Where is tains
of
of
my
she
mother that he speaks.
who gave herself unto the Capwho have baldricks on their
Assyria,
17
c
and
of divers colours on their she who hath given herself of Egypt, who are clothed to the in fine linen and purple, whose shields are of gold, whose helmets are of silver, whose bodies Bid her rise up from the bed are mighty ? of her abominations, from the bed of her incestuousness, that she may hear the words of him who prepareth the way of the Lord, that she may repent her of her iniquities. Though she will never repent, but will stick fast in her abominabid her come, for the fan of the Lord is in tions His hand. loins,
heads
?
tiaras
Where is young men
;
SALOME But he
is terrible,
he
is
terrible
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Do not stay here, Princess,
I
!
beseech you.
SALOME It is his eyes above all that are terrible. They are like black holes burned by torches in a Tyrian They are like black caverns where tapestry. They are like the black caverns dragons dwell. of Egypt in which the dragons make their lairs. They are like black lakes' troubled by fantastic Do you think he will speak moons.
...
again
?
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Do not stay here, Princess. stay here. 18
I
pray you do not
salome
How
wasted he
He
statue.
is
is
like
!
He
is
an image of
like
a thin ivory
silver.
I
am
sure
he is chaste as the moon is. He is like a moonHis flesh must be beam, like a shaft of silver. I would look closer at him. cool like ivory.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN No, no, Princess.
SALOME I
must look
at
him
closer.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess
!
Princess
!
JOKANAAN
Who
1 is this woman who is looking at me ? Wherefore doth not have her look at me. she look at me with her golden eyes, under her I do I know not who she is. gilded eyelids ? Bid her begone. not wish to know who she is. It is not to her that I would speak.
will
SALOME I
am
Salome, daughter of Herodias, Princess
of Judaea.
JOKANAAN
Come not near Back daughter of Babylon the chosen of the Lord. Thy mother hath filled the earth with the wine of her iniquities, and the cry of her sins hath come up to the ears of God. !
!
19
c 2
SALOME Speak
again,
Jokanaan.
Thy
voice
is
wine
to me.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess
!
Princess
!
Princess
!
SALOME Speak Speak again I must do. !
again, Jokanaan,
and
tell
me what
JOKANAAN But Daughter of Sodom, come not near me cover thy face with a veil, and scatter ashes upon thine head, and get thee to the desert and seek out the Son of Man. !
SALOME
Who
is he, the Son of as thou art, Jokanaan ?
Man
?
Is
he as beautiful
JOKANAAN I hear in the palace the Get thee behind me of the of the wings angel of death. beating !
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess,
I
beseech thee to go within.
JOKANAAN Angel of the Lord God, what dost thou here with thy sword ? Whom seekest thou in this foul palace ? The day of him who shall die in a robe of silver has not yet come. 20
SALOME Jokanaan
!
JOKANAAN
Who
speaketh
?
SALOMfi Jokanaan, I am is white like mower hath never like the snows that snows that lie on the
amorous of thy body!
Thy
of a field that the mowed. Thy body is white lie on the mountains, like the mountains of Judaea, and come down into the valleys. The roses in the garden of the Queen of Arabia are not so white as thy body. Neither the roses in the garden of the Queen of Arabia, the perfumed garden of spices of the Queen of Arabia, nor the feet of the dawn when they light on the leaves, nor the breast of the moon when she lies on the breast of the sea. There is nothing in the world so white as thy body. Let me touch thy body.
body
the
lilies
.
JOKANAAN By woman came daughter of Babylon Speak not to me. I will not I listen but to the voice of the listen to thee. Lord God. Back
!
!
evil into the world.
SALOME
Thy body leper.
It is
have
crawled
is
It is like the body of a hideous. a plastered wall where vipers like a plastered wall where the
like ;
21
It is like a scorpions have made their nest. It whitened sepulchre full of loathsome things. It is of thy is horrible, thy body is horrible. hair that I am enamoured, Jokanaan. Thy hair is
like clusters of grapes, like the clusters of black grapes that hang from the vine-trees of Edom in the land of the Edomites. Thy hair is like the cedars of Lebanon, like the great cedars of Lebanon that give their shade to the lions and to the robbers who would hide themselves by day. The long black nights, when the moon hides her face, when the stars are afraid, are not so
The
black.
silence
that
There not so black. . black as thy hair. .
is .
dwells
in
the forest
is
nothing in the world so Let me touch thy hair.
JOKANAAN Touch me not. Back, daughter of Sodom Profane not the temple of the Lord God. !
SALOMfi
Thy and
hair
dust.
is
It
horrible. is
like
It is covered with mire a crown of thorns which
It is like they have placed on thy forehead. a knot of black serpents writhing round thy It is thy I love not thy hair. neck. mouth that I desire, Jokanaan. Thy mouth is like a band of scarlet on a tower of ivory. It is like a pomegranate cut with a knife of The pomegranate-flowers that blossom in ivory. the gardens of Tyre, and are redder than roses, The red blasts of trumpets that are not so red. .
herald the approach of kings, and 22
.
make
afraid the
enemy, are not so red. than the feet of those
Thy mouth is redder who tread the wine in
the wine-press. Thy mouth is redder than the feet of the doves who haunt the temples and are fed by the priests. It is redder than the feet of him who cometh from a forest where he hath slain a lion, and seen gilded tigers. Thy mouth is like a branch of coral that fishers have found in the twilight of the sea, the coral that It is like the they keep for the kings vermilion that the Moabites find in the mines of Moab, the vermilion that the kings take from them. It is like the bow of the King of the Persians, that is painted with vermilion, and is tipped with coral. There is nothing in the world so red as thy mouth. Let me kiss thy
...
!
.
.
.
mouth.
JOKANAAN Never
Sodom
!
!
daughter Never.
of
Babylon
!
Daughter
of
SALOME I
will kiss
thy
mouth, Jokanaan.
will
I
kiss
thy mouth.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess, Princess, thou who art like a garden of myrrh, thou who art the dove of all doves, Do not look not at this man, look not at him I cannot suffer them. words to him. such speak Princess, Princess, do not speak these things. !
.
.
.
23
SALOME I will kiss
thy mouth, Jokanaan.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Ah
[He
!
kills
himself and falls between Salome*
and Jokanaan?^
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS The The young Syrian has slain himself! young captain has slain himself! He has slain I gave him a little himself who was my friend box of perfumes and ear-rings wrought in silver, and now he has killed himself! Ah, did he not foretell that some misfortune would happen ? I, Well I knew too, foretold it, and it has happened. that the moon was seeking a dead thing, but I knew not that it was he whom she sought. Ah why did I not hide him from the moon ? If I had hidden him in a cavern she would not have !
!
seen him.
FIRST SOLDIER Princess, himself.
the
young
captain
has just killed
SALOME Let
me
kiss thy
mouth, Jokanaan.
JOKANAAN Art thou not afraid, daughter of Herodias ? Did I not tell thee that I had heard in the palace the beatings of the wings of the angel of death, and hath he not come, the angel of death ? 24
SALOME Let
me
thy mouth.
kiss
JOKANAAN Daughter of adultery, there
He of whom
is
who can
but one
Go seek Him. spake. He is in a boat on the sea of Galilee, and He talketh with His disciples. Kneel down on the shore of the sea, and call unto Him by His name. When He cometh to thee (and to all who call on save thee,
it is
I
Him He cometh), bow thyself at Him the remission of thy sins.
His
feet
and ask
of
SALOME Let
me
kiss
thy mouth.
JOKANAAN Cursed be thou! daughter of mother, be thou accursed
an
incestuous
!
SALOME I will kiss
thy mouth, Jokanaan.
JOKANAAN I
at
do no wish thee,
thou
to look at thee. art
accursed,
[He goes down
accursed.
I
will
Salome,
not look thou art
into the cistern.]
SALOME I
will
kiss
thy mouth, Jokanaan
thy mouth. 25
;
I
will
kiss
FIRST SOLDIER
We must bear away the body The Tetrarch does not care to save the bodies of those
to another place. see dead bodies,
whom
he himself has
slain.
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS
He
was
brother.
I
my
brother,
and nearer to
gave him a
little
box
full
me than a of perfumes,
and a ring of agate that he wore always on his hand. In the evening we used to walk by the river, among the almond trees, and he would tell me of the things of his country. He spake ever The sound of his voice was like the very low. sound of the flute, of a flute player. Also he much loved to gaze at himself in the river. I used to reproach him for that.
SECOND SOLDIER You are right we must ;
Tetrarch must not see
hide the body.
The
it.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch will not come to this place. He never comes on the terrace. He is too much afraid of the prophet.
\Enter Herod, Herodias, and all the Court]
HEROD is Salome ? Where is the Princess ? did she not return to the banquet as I commanded her ? Ah there she is
Where
Why
!
!
26
HERODIAS
You must looking at her
not look
at her!
You
are
always
!
HEROD The moon has a strange look to-night. Has she not a strange look ? She is like a mad woman, a mad woman who is seeking everywhere for lovers. She is naked too. She is quite naked. The clouds are seeking to clothe her nakedness, but she will not let them. She shows herself naked in the sky. She reels through the clouds like a drunken woman. I am sure she is Does she not reel like a looking for lovers. drunken woman ? She is like a mad woman, is she not ?
...
HERODIAS
No
the
;
moon
is
Let us go within.
do
.
like the .
.
moon, that
You have
is
all.
nothing to
here.
HEROD I will stay here Manesseh, lay carpets there. Light torches, bring forth the ivory tables, and the The air here is delicious. I will tables of jasper. drink more wine with my guests. We must show all honours to the ambassadors of Caesar. !
HERODIAS It is
not because of them that you remain. 27
HEROD Yes the air is delicious. Come, Herodias, our I have I have slipped guests await us. Ah in It is It is a very blood an ill omen. slipped evil omen. Wherefore is there blood here ? and this body, what does this body here ? Think you I am like the King of Egypt, who gives no feast to his guests but that he shows them a corpse ? Whose is it ? I will not look on it. ;
!
!
!
.
FIRST SOLDIER
He is the young Syrian sire. captain only three days ago.
our captain,
It is
whom you made HEROD I
gave no order that he should be
slain.
SECOND SOLDIER
He
killed himself, sire.
HEROD For what reason
?
I
had made him
captain.
SECOND SOLDIER
We
do not know,
But he
sire.
killed himself.
HEROD That seems strange to me. only the
Roman
philosophers 28
I
thought
who
killed
was them-
it
Is
selves.
sophers at
it
not true, Tigellinus, that the philokill themselves ?
Rome
TIGELLINUS There are some who
kill themselves, sire. They The Stoics are coarse people. the Stoics. I myself regard They are ridiculous people.
are
them
as being perfectly ridiculous.
HEROD It is ridiculous to kill oneself.
I also.
TIGELLINUS Everybody Emperor has
Rome
at
laughs
at
The
them.
written a satire against them.
It is
recited everywhere.
HEROD
Ah
!
It is
he has written a
sorry
is
I
self. ;
against
them
fair.
remember
that
Salome.
.
He
.
? .
had very languorous eyes. I saw that he looked languorously Truly, I thought he looked too much
even very at
satire
He
can do everything. young Syrian has killed himam sorry he has killed himself. I am very He was for he was fair to look upon.
wonderful. strange that the
Caesar
I
at her.
HERODIAS There are others who look 29
at her too
much.
HEROD His father was a king. I drove him from his kingdom. And you made a slave of his mother, who was a queen, Herodias. So he was here as my guest, as it were, and for that reason I made him my captain. I am sorry he is dead. Ho why have you left the body here ? I will not look at it away with it \They take away the It is cold here. There is a wind blowbody.'] Is there not a wind blowing ? ing. !
—
!
HERODIAS
No
;
there
is
no wind.
HEROD you there is a wind that blows. hear in the air something that is like the beating of wings, like the beating of vast wings. Do you not hear it ? I
tell
And
.
.
.
I
HERODIAS I
hear nothing.
HEROD I hear it no longer. But I heard it. It was the blowing of the wind, no doubt. It has passed away. But no, I hear it again. Do you not hear it ? It is
just like the beating of wings.
HERODIAS I
tell
you there
is
nothing.
us go within. 30
You
are
ill.
Let
HEROD I am
not
It is
ill.
your daughter who
She has the mien of a I
sick
person.
is
sick.
Never have
seen her so pale.
HERODIAS I
have told you not to look at
her.
HEROD
me
Pour
wine [wine is brought]. Salome, wine with me. I have here a Caesar himself sent it me. exquisite.
forth
come drink a wine that
Dip
into
is
it
thy
little
red
little
lips,
that
I
may
drain the
cup.
SALOME I
am
not thirsty, Tetrarch.
HEROD You hear how yours
she answers me, this daughter of
?
HERODIAS She does at her
Why
right.
are
you always gazing
?
HEROD Bring
me ripe
come and eat fruit the mark of this
fruit
are brought], Salome, I love to see in a Bite but a little teeth.
fruits [fruits
fruit
with me.
of thy
and then
little I will
3i
eat
what
is left.
SALOME I
am
not hungry, Tetrarch.
HEROD up
[To Herodzas.] You see how you have brought this daughter of yours.
HERODIAS daughter and I come of a royal thy father was a camel driver also a robber
My
for thee,
race. !
As
He was
!
HEROD Thou
liest
!
HERODIAS Thou knowest
well that
it is
true.
HEROD Salome, come and
sit
next to me.
I
will give
thee the throne of thy mother.
SALOME I
am
not
tired, Tetrarch.
HERODIAS
You
see what she thinks of you.
HEROD
me—what
Bring
Ah
!
ah
!
I
is
it
that I desire
remember. 32
?
I
forget.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN That which Lo the time is come !
!
has come to pass, saith the Lord God. day of which I spoke.
HERODIAS Bid him be This
man
is
I
foretold
Lo
!
the
not listen to his voice. vomiting insults against me. I will
silent.
for ever
HEROD is
He has said nothing against you. a very great prophet.
Besides, he
HERODIAS in prophets. Can a man tell No man knows it. Moreto pass ? But. I think you over, he is for ever insulting me. are afraid of him. ... I know well that you are I
what
do not believe will
come
afraid of him.
HEROD I am
not afraid of him.
I
am
afraid of
no man.
HERODIAS If you are I tell you, you are afraid of him. not afraid of him why do you not deliver him to the Jews, who for these six months past have been
clamouring
for
him
?
A JEW Truly,
my
lord,
it
were better to deliver him
into our hands. 33
r>
HEROD Enough on you
my
this subject. I have already given I will not deliver him into your
answer.
He is a holy man. hands. has seen God.
He
is
a
man who
A JEW That cannot
There
be.
is
no man who hath
He is the last prophet In these days God doth not He hideth Himself. Therefore
God since the man who saw God.
seen
show Himself. great evils have
Elias.
come upon the
ANOTHER JEW Verily, no man knoweth
if
land.
Elias the
did indeed see God. Peradventure shadow of God that he saw.
A THIRD JEW God is at no time self at all times is evil
He
prophet
was but the
showeth Himwhat
in everything. God is in is in what is good.
and
He
even as
hidden.
it
A FOURTH JEW That must not be
said. It is a very dangerous a doctrine that cometh from the men teach the schools at Alexandria, where And the Greeks are philosophy of the Greeks. Gentiles They are not even circumcised.
doctrine.
It
is
:
A FIFTH JEW
No
one can
tell
how God worketh. His ways It may be that the things
are very mysterious.
34
which we call evil are good, and that the things which we call good are evil. There is no knowledge We must needs submit to everything, of any thing. He breaketh in pieces for God is very strong. the strong together with the weak, for He regardeth not any man.
FIRST
JEW
Thou speaketh
truly.
God
is
terrible
;
He
breaketh the strong and the weak as a man brays corn in a mortar. But this man hath never seen No man hath seen God since the prophet God. Elias.
HERODIAS
Make them be
They weary me.
silent.
HEROD is
But I have heard it said that Jokanaan himself your prophet Elias.
THE JEW That cannot be. It is more than three hundred years since the days of the prophet Elias.
HEROD There be some who say that
this
man
is
prophet Elias.
A NAZARENE I
am
sure that he
is
the prophet Elias. 35
d
2
the
THE JEW Nay, but he
is
not the prophet Elias.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN So the day is come, the day of the Lord, and I hear upon the mountains the feet of Him who shall be the Saviour of the world.
HEROD What
does
that
mean
?
The Saviour
of the
world.
TIGELLINUS It is
a
title
that Caesar takes.
HEROD But Caesar
into is not coming received letters from
Judaea.
Only
Rome. They yesterday And contained nothing concerning this matter. you, Tigellinus, who were at Rome during the winter, you heard nothing concerning this matter, did you ? I
TIGELLINUS Sire, I
I
heard
nothing
was explaining the
title.
concerning the matter. It is one of Caesar's
titles.
HEROD
He is too gouty. like are the feet of an his feet that They say He Also there are reasons of State. elephant. He will not who leaves Rome loses Rome. But Caesar cannot come.
36
come. Howbeit, Caesar is he wishes. Nevertheless, come.
he will come if do not think he will
lord, I
NAZARENE
FIRST
It was not concerning Caesar that the prophet spake these words, sire.
HEROD Not of Caesar
?
NAZARENE
FIRST No,
sire.
HEROD Concerning
whom
then did he speak
?
NAZARENE
FIRST
Concerning Messias who has come.
A JEW Messiah hath not come.
NAZARENE
FIRST
He
come, and
hath
He
everywhere
worketh
miracles.
HERODIAS
Ho
ho
!
miracles.
My
fan
!
I
miracles
I
!
do
have seen too many.
!
37
not
believe
in
[To the page.]
FIRST NAZARENE This man worketh true miracles. Thus, at a marriage which took place in a little town of Galilee, a town of some importance, He changed water into wine. Certain persons who were present related it to me. Also He healed two lepers that were seated before the Gate of Capernaum simply by touching them.
SECOND NAZARENE Nay, it was Capernaum.
blind
men
that
he
healed
at
FIRST NAZARENE
Nay
;
they were lepers.
blind people also, and talking with angels.
He
But He hath healed was seen on a mountain
A SADDUCEE Angels do not
exist.
A PHARISEE Angels exist, but I do not believe that this has talked with them.
Man
FIRST NAZARENE
He
was seen by a great multitude of people
talking with angels.
A SADDUCEE Not with
angels. 38
HERODIAS
How culous
men weary me [To the page] Well
these
!
are ridifan [The
!
They
!
my
!
page gives her the fan] You have a dreamer's look you must not dream. It is only sick people who dream. [She strikes the page with her fan] ;
SECOND NAZARENE There
is
the miracle of the daughter of
also
Jairus.
FIRST NAZARENE Yes, that
is
No man
sure.
can gainsay
it.
HERODIAS These men are mad. long on the moon.
HEROD What
is
They have looked
Command them
this miracle of the
to
too
silent.
daughter of Jairus
?
NAZARENE
FIRST
The daughter of Jairus was dead. her from the dead.
HEROD
He
be
raises the
dead
?
FIRST NAZARENE Yea,
sire,
He
raiseth the dead.
39
He
raised
HEROD do not wish Him to do that. I forbid Him do that. I allow no man to raise the dead. This Man must be found and told that I forbid I
to
Him
to raise
Where
the dead.
is
this
Man
at
?
present
SECOND NAZARENE
He find
is
in
my
every place,
lord,
but
it
is
hard to
Him.
NAZARENE
FIRST
It is said that
He
now
is
in
Samaria.
A JEW easy to see that this is not Messias, if He Samaria. It is not to the Samaritans that Messias shall come. The Samaritans are accursed. They bring no offerings to the Temple. It is
is
in
SECOND NAZARENE
He
left
Samaria a few days
at the present
moment He
is
I think that the neighbour-
since.
in
hood of Jerusalem. FIRST NAZARENE
No He is not there. I have just come from For two months they have had no Jerusalem. tidings of Him. ;
HEROD
No matter! Him from me,
But I
let
will
them
find
Him, and
tell
not allow him to raise the 40
dead! lepers
To change water and the blind. .
.
.
into wine, to heal
He may
the
do these things
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.
if
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, them crush her beneath their shields.
let
HERODIAS Nay, but
it is
infamous.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN It
is
thus that
I
will
from the earth, and that
wipe out all
women
all
wickedness
shall learn not
to imitate her abominations.
HERODIAS
You him
hear what he says against
to revile your wife
?
4i
me
?
You
allow
HEROD
He
did not speak your name.
HERODIAS
What
does that matter ? You know well that it he seeks to revile. And I am your wife, not ?
is I
whom
am
I
HEROD Of a
my
wife,
dear and noble Herodias, you are and before that you were the wife of my
truth,
brother.
HERODIAS It
was you who tore me from
his arms.
HEROD . But let us not Of a truth I was stronger. . I do not desire to talk of it. talk of that matter. It is the cause of the terrible words that the .
prophet has spoken. Peradventure on account of Let us not speak of it a misfortune will come. Noble Herodias, we are not mindful this matter. Fill thou my cup, my well-beloved. of our guests. Fill with wine the great goblets of silver, and the I will drink to Caesar. great goblets of glass. There are Romans here, we must drink to Caesar.
ALL Caesar
!
Caesar
!
42
HEROD Do you she
not
see
your
how
daughter,
pale
is ?
HERODIAS
What
is it
to
you
if
she be pale or not
?
HEROD 'Never have
seen her so pale.
I
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 like blood, and earth like ripe
when the figs.
....
drunken man sound of his voice. him to be silent.
I
become upon the
shall
stars shall fall
This prophet talks like a but I cannot suffer the hate his voice. Command
HEROD I will not.
he
saith,
but
I it
cannot understand what
may be an omen. 43
it
is
that
HERODIAS I do not believe drunken man.
in
omens.
He
speaks like a
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 winepress may one find it ?
HEROD [From
this point
he looks all the while at Salome*.] late, did
when you were at Rome of the Emperor speak with you on the Tigellinus,
of
...
subject
?
TIGELLINUS
On what HEROD On what tion,
did
I
subject, sire
subject?
not?
I
?
Ah! I asked you a queshave forgotten what I would
have asked you.
HERODIAS
You
are
looking again at
must not look
HEROD You say
at her.
nothing
I
my
daughter.
have already said
else.
44
so.
You
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
random.
I will
steal
it.
not stay here.
Thou speakest
HEROD Dance
for
me, Salome.
HERODIAS I will
not have her dance.
SALOME I
have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.
HEROD Salome, daughter of Herodias, dance
HERODIAS Let her alone.
HEROD I command
thee to dance, Salome. 45
at
Let us go within.
for
me.
salome I will
not dance, Tetrarch.
HERODIAS \Laughing\.
You
see
how
she obeys you.
HEROD What
is it to me whether she dance or not ? naught to me. To-night I am happy, I am exceeding happy. Never have I been so happy.
It is
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch has a sombre look. a sombre look ?
Has he not
SECOND SOLDIER Yes, he has a sombre look.
HEROD Wherefore should
who loves
me
gifts.
not
I
lord of the world,
is
well.
He
who
be happy is
? Caesar, lord of all things,
me most precious me to summon to
has just sent
Also he has promised
Rome the King of Cappadocia, who is my enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he able Caesar
to
is
is
do
lord.
all
happy. Indeed, I so happy. There
mar my
things that he wishes. Verily, see I have a right to be
Thus you
am
is
happy. I have never been nothing in the world that can
happiness. 46
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN
He shall be seated on this throne. He shall be In his hand he clothed in scarlet and purple. 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 that
hear what he says about you. will be eaten of worms.
He
says
you
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 I have borne a child. You have gotten no that. It child, no, not even from one of your slaves. is you who are sterile, not I.
HEROD I say that Peace, woman you You have borne me no child, and !
47
are sterile. the prophet
says that our marriage is not a true marriage. He says that it is an incestuous marriage, a marriage I fear he is right that will bring evils. I am sure that he is right. But it is not the moment I would be happy at to speak of such things. this moment. Of a truth, I am happy. There is
...
;
I lack.
nothing
HERODIAS
am
glad you are of so fair a humour to-night. not your custom. But it is late. Let us go Do not forget that we hunt at sunrise. within. All honours must be shown to Caesar's ambassadors, must they not ? I
It is
SECOND SOLDIER
What
a sombre look the Tetrarch wears.
FIRST SOLDIER Yes, he wears a sombre look.
HEROD Salome, Salome, dance for me. dance for me. I am sad to-night.
I
pray thee
Yes I am came hither I ;
When I passing sad to-night. is an evil omen and I in which blood, slipped heard, I am sure I heard in the air a beating of I cannot tell what wings, a beating of giant wings. Therefore they mean ... I am sad to-night. ;
dance
for
you.
If
what you half of
me.
Dance
you dance will,
my
and
for
for
I will
I beseech ask of me you, even unto the
me, Salome,
me you may give
kingdom. 48
it
SALOME [Rising.] Will you ask, Tetrarch ?
me
indeed give
whatsoever
I shall
HERODIAS
Do
not dance,
my
daughter.
HEROD Everything, even the half of
SALOME You swear
Tetrarch
it,
my
kingdom.
?
HEROD I
swear
it,
Salome.
HERODIAS
Do
not dance,
my
daughter.
SALOME
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, Salome, Salome, dance for me !
SALOME You have
sworn, Tetrarch.
HEROD I
have sworn, Salom£. 49
e
SALOME All this
I
ask, even the half of your
kingdom.
HERODIAS
My
daughter, do not dance.
HEROD Thou wilt to the half of kingdom. fair as a queen, Salome, if it please Will thee to ask for the half of kingdom. it is cold here she not be fair as a queen ? Even
my
be passing
my Ah
!
!
whereThere is an icy wind, and I hear fore 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, The beat of its wings is terrible. The this bird ? breath of the wind of its wings is terrible. It is a chill wind. Nay, but it is not cold, it is hot. Give Pour water on my hands. I am choking. 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 forehead. [He tears the wreath from his head
my and
Ah I can breathe now. it on the tabled red those petals are They are like stains That does not matter. of blood on the cloth.
throws
!
How
!
You must
not find
makes
symbols
in
everything you
It were better impossible. to say that stains of blood are as lovely as rose It were better far to say that petals. But we will not speak of this. Now I am happy,
see.
It
life
.
5°
.
.
.
am
Have I not the right to be Your happy daughter is going to dance for me. Will you not dance for me, Salome ? You have I
passing happy. ?
promised to dance
for
me.
HERODIAS I will
not have her dance.
SALOME I will
dance
for you, Tetrarch.
HEROD You
hear what your daughter says. She is dance for me. You do well to dance going for me, Salome. 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? to
SALOME You have sworn
it,
Tetrarch.
HEROD
And
I
have never broken
my
word.
I
am
not
I know not how of those who break their oaths. to lie. I am the slave of my word, and my word The King of Cappadocia is the word of a king. He is always lies, but he is no true king. Also he owes me money that he a coward. He has even insulted my ambaswill not repay. sadors. He has spoken words that were wound-
51
E
7,
But Caesar
ing.
Rome.
will crucify
am
sure
him when he comes
that
Caesar will crucify And if not, yet will he die, being eaten him. of worms. The prophet has prophesied it. Well wherefore dost thou tarry, Salome ? to
I
!
SALOME I am me and
awaiting until my slaves bring perfumes to the seven veils, and take off my sandals.
and the
[Slaves bring perfumes
seven veils,
and
take
off the sandals of Salom/.]
HEROD Ah, you are going well doves. !
to dance with
Your
'Tis well.
naked be
little feet will
feet.
'Tis
like white
They will be like little white flowers that dance upon the trees. No, no, she is going There is blood spilt on the to dance on blood. ground. She must not dance on blood. It were an evil omen. .
.
.
HERODIAS
What hast
to
is it
you
if
she dance on blood
waded deep enough
HEROD What
is
it
to
She has become
therein.
Ah
me ? red.
!
.
.
?
Thou
.
look at the
moon
She has become red
!
as
Ah the prophet prophesied truly. He prophesied that the moon would become red as Did he not prophesy it ? blood. All of you heard him. And now the moon has become red as blood. Do ye not see it ? blood.
!
52
HERODIAS see it well, and the stars are falling 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
Oh, yes,
I
like
The prophet, for once in his life, was 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, can
see.
right, the
I tell
.
.
.
you.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN
Who
is this who cometh from Edom, who is who cometh from Bozra, whose raiment is dyed with purple, who shineth in the beauty of his garments, who walketh mighty in his great-
this
ness
Wherefore
?
scarlet
is
thy raiment stained
with
?
HERODIAS
The voice of that man 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. Let us go within.
maddens me.
I will
HEROD Do not
rise, my wife, my queen, it will avail I will not go within till she hath thee nothing. danced. Dance, Salome, dance for me.
53
HERODIAS
Do
not dance,
my
daughter.
SALOME
am
ready, Tetrarch. {Salome* dances the dance of the seven veils.]
I
HEROD
Ah wonderful wonderful You see that she Come near, has danced for me, your daughter. Salome, come near, that I may give you your I will pay reward. Ah I pay the dancers well. I will give thee whatsoever thy thee royally. What wouldst thou have ? Speak. soul desireth. !
!
!
!
SALOME \Kneeling\. I would that they presently bring
charger
.
.
me
in
a silver
.
HEROD \Laughing\. In a silver charger ? Surely yes, in a silver She is charming, is she not ? What is charger. it you would have in a silver charger, O sweet and fair Salome, you who are fairer than all the What would you have daughters of Judaea ? Tell me. them bring thee in a silver charger ?
Whatsoever
My
it
treasures
Salome
may
be,
belong
they shall give to
?
54
thee.
What
it
is
you. it,
salome [Rising],
The head
of Jokanaan.
HERODIAS
Ah
!
that
is
well said,
my
daughter.
HEROD No, no
!
HERODIAS That
is
well said,
my
daughter.
HEROD You do not ask me that. No, no, Salome. not listen to your mother's voice. She is ever
Do
giving you evil counsel.
Do
not heed her.
SALOME do not heed
It is for mine mother. ask of Jokanaan the head pleasure You hath sworn, Herod. in a silver charger. Forget not that you have sworn an oath. I
own
that
my I
HEROD I it
know
well.
it.
But
I I
have sworn by my gods. I know pray you, Salome, ask of me
Ask of me the half of my something else. But ask not of kingdom, and I will give it you. me what you have asked. 55
salome I
ask of you the head of Jokanaan.
HEROD No, no,
do not wish
I
SALOME You have
it.
sworn, Herod.
HERODIAS Yes, you have sworn. Everybody heard you. it before everybody.
You swore
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 Do not yield, see that she loves her mother well. my daughter. He has sworn, he has sworn. HEROD Be silent, speak not to me Come, I have never been hard Salome, be reasonable. It may I have ever loved you. to you. Therefore be that I have loved you too much. This is a terrible thing, ask not this thing of me. 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 !
.
.
.
56
.
.
.
.
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 Caesar's minion sent me. If you look through this emerald you can see Caesar things which happen at a great distance. 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. is
SALOME I
demand
the head of Jokanaan.
HEROD You are not listening. You Suffer me to speak, Salome.
are not listening.
SALOME The head
of Jokanaan.
HEROD You say No, no, you would not have that. to trouble me, because I have looked at It is true, I have looked you all this evening. 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 that
57
should one look. look, for mirrors
Only in mirrors should one do but show us masks. Oh! oh!
I thirst. Salome, Salome, bring wine let us be friends. Come now! Ah! .
!
.
.
....
what would member!
I
say
?
What
—
....
to
me
;
I
fear
was't
?
Ah
!
I
re-
Salome nay, but come nearer you will not hear me Salome,
you know my white
—
peacocks, my peacocks, that walk in the garden between the Their beaks myrtles and the tall cypress trees. 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 beautiful white
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 There are not in all grass, and round the lake. There is no king the world birds so wonderful. in all the world who possesses such wonderful birds. I am sure that Caesar himself has no birds I will give you fifty of my so fair as my birds. They will follow you whithersoever you peacocks. go, and in the midst of them you will be like the
they spread their
moon
midst of a great white cloud. I have but a hundred, all to you. 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. I will
in the
.
give them
[He empties 58
the cup of wine.]
.
.
SALOME Give
me
the head of Jokanaan.
HERODIAS Well
said,
daughter! As your peacocks.
my
ridiculous with
for you,
you are
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 Salome, think of what you are doing. This man comes He is a holy man. The perchance from God. God has put into finger of God has touched him. his mouth terrible words. In the palace as in the !
God
;
At always with' him 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, Salome, you do not wish a misfortune to happen to me ? You do not wish that. Listen to me, then. desert least
is
it
is
possible.
SALOME Give
me
the head of Jokanaan. 59
HEROD
Ah
I
—
I
!
you are not
am
calm.
I
listening
am
quite
to
me.
calm.
—
Be
calm.
Listen.
I
have jewels hidden in this place jewels that your mother even has never seen jewels that are marvellous. I have a collar of pearls, set in four rows. They are like unto moons chained ;
with rays of silver. They are like fifty moons On the ivory of her caught in a golden net. breast a queen has worn it. Thou shalt be as fair as a queen when thou wearest it. I have amethysts of two kinds, one that is black like wine, and one that is red like wine which has been coloured with I have topazes, yellow as are the eyes of water. tigers, and topazes that are pink as the eyes of a wood-pigeon, and green topazes that are as the I have opals that burn always, eyes of cats. with an icelike flame, opals that make sad men's minds, and are fearful of the shadows. I have onyxes like the eyeballs of a dead woman. I have moonstones that change when the moon I changes, and are wan when they see the sun. have sapphires big like eggs, and as blue as blue flowers. The sea wanders within them and the moon comes never to trouble the blue of their I have chrysolites and beryls and chrysowaves. I have sardonyx and hyacinth prases and rubies. stones, and stones of chalcedony, and I will give them all to you, all, and other things will I add The King of the Indies has but even to them. now sent me four fans fashioned from the feathers of parrots, and the King of Numidia a garment of ostrich feathers. I have a crystal, into which
60
woman
to look, nor may they have been beaten In a coffer of nacre I have three with rods. He who wears them on wondrous turquoises. his forehead can imagine things which are not, and he who carries them in his hand can make it
is
not lawful
for
young men behold
women
until
These are great treasures above But are treasures without price. all. In an ebony coffer I have
sterile.
They
all price.
this
a
it
not
is
two cups of amber, that are like apples of gold. If an enemy pour poison into these cups, they
become
like
an
apple of
amber
silver.
In a coffer
in-
have sandals incrusted with I have mantles that have been brought glass. from the land of the Seres, and bracelets decked about with carbuncles and with jade that come What from the city of Euphrates
crusted with
I
Tell me desirest thou more than this, Salome ? the thing that thou desirest, and I will give it All that thou askest I will give thee, save thee. one thing. I will give thee all that is mine, save I will one life. give thee the mantle of the I will give thee the veil of the high priest. sanctuary.
THE JEWS Oh! oh!
SALOME Give
me
the head of Jokanaan.
HEROD [Sinking back in his
seat].
61
Let her be given
what she asks! Of a truth she is her mother's Soldier approaches. Herodias [ The first draws from the hand of the Tetrarch the ring of
child
!
and gives
who straightway The Executioner looks Who has taken my ring ? There was scared] a ring on my right hand. Who has drunk my wine ? There was wine in my cup. It was full death bears
to the
it
of wine.
some
it to
the Soldier,
Executioner.
Someone has drunk it! Oh! surely some one. [The Executioner
evil will befall
Ah Wherefore did goes down into the cistern] I give my oath ? Kings ought never to pledge their word. If they keep it not, it is terrible, !
and
if
they keep
it,
it is
terrible also.
HERODIAS
My daughter has
done
well.
HEROD
am
I
sure that
some misfortune
will
happen.
SALOME [She leans over the cistern and listens] I hear nothing. There is no sound. Why does he not cry out, this man ? Ah if any man sought to kill me, I would cry out, I would Strike, strike, struggle, I would not suffer. Naaman, strike, I tell you. No, I hear There is a silence, a terrible silence. nothing. Ah something has fallen upon the ground. I It is the sword of the heard something fall. He is afraid, this slave. He has headsman. He He dare not kill him. let his sword fall. !
.
.
.
!
62
.
.
Let soldiers be sent. a coward, this slave [She sees the Page of Herodias and addresses him.] Come hither, thou wert the friend of him who is dead, is it not so ? Well, I tell thee, there are is
!
Go to the soldiers and not dead men enough. bid them go down and bring me the thing I ask, the thing the Tetrarch has promised me, the [The Page recoils. She turns thing that is mine. to the soldiers] Get ye Hither, ye soldiers. down into this cistern and bring me the head of this man. [The Soldiers recoil] Tetrarch, Tetrarch, command your soldiers that they bring me the head of Jokanaan. [A huge black arm, the arm of the Executioner; comes forth from the cistern, bearing on a silver shield the head of Jokanaan. Salome' seizes it, Herod hides his face with his cloak. Herodias smiles and fans herself. The Nazarenes fall on their knees and begin to pray] Ah thou wouldst not suffer me to kiss thy !
Well
mouth, Jokanaan. bite
my
with
it
!
I will
kiss
teeth as one bites
now. a ripe
it
I will
fruit.
Yes, I will kiss thy mouth, Jokanaan. I said it I said it. did I not say it ? Ah I will kiss it now. But, wherefore dost thou not look at me, Jokanaan ? Thine eyes that were so terso full of rible, rage and scorn, are shut now. Wherefore are they shut ? Open thine eyes Lift Wherefore dost thou up thine eyelids, Jokanaan not look at me ? Art thou afraid of me, Jokanaan, that thou wilt not look at me ? And thy tongue, that was like a red snake darting poison, ;
!
.
.
.
!
!
.
it
moves no more,
it
says nothing now, Jokanaan, 63
that It
is
scarlet viper
strange,
is
it
that spat
not
?
venom upon me.
its
How
is
it
that the red
no longer ? Thou wouldst have none of me, Jokanaan. Thou didst reject me. Thou didst speak evil words against me. Thou viper stirs
didst treat me as a harlot, as a wanton, me, Salome, Well, daughter of Herodias, Princess of Judaea !
Jokanaan, I still live, but thou, thou art dead, and I can do with it what thy head belongs to me. I will. I can throw it to the dogs and to the That which the dogs leave, birds of the air. the birds of the air shall devour. . Ah, thou wert the man that Jokanaan, only Jokanaan, All other men are hateful to me. I have loved. But thou, thou wert beautiful Thy body was a column of ivory set on a silver socket. It was a garden full of doves and of silver lilies. It was a tower of silver decked with shields There was nothing in the world so of ivory. There was nothing in the white as thy body. In the whole world world so black as thy hair. there was nothing so red as thy mouth. Thy voice was a censer that scattered strange perfumes, and when I looked on thee I heard a Ah wherefore didst thou not strange music. Behind thine hands and look at me, Jokanaan ? Thou didst thy curses thou didst hide thy face. put upon thine eyes the covering of him who would see his God. Well, thou hast seen thy God, Jokanaan, but me, me, thou didst never see. If thou hadst seen me thou wouldst have loved me. I, I saw thee, Jokanaan, and I loved thee. I love thee yet, Jokanaan, Oh, how I loved thee .
!
!
!
64
.
love
I
thee
only.
.
.
.
I
am hungry
.
.
I
am
athirst
for
and thy body nor fruits can appease my desire. What shall I do now, Jokanaan ? Neither the floods nor the great waters can quench my passion. I was a princess, and thou didst scorn me. I was a virgin, and thou didst take my virginity from I was chaste, and thou didst fill my veins me. Ah ah wherefore didst thou with fire. not look at me, Jokanaan ? If thou hadst looked Well I know that at me thou hadst loved me. thou wouldst have loved me, and the mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death. Love only should one consider. thy beauty neither wine ;
.
!
for
;
!
HEROD She is monstrous, thy daughter, she is altogether In truth, what she has done is a great monstrous. crime. I am sure that it was a crime against an
unknown God.
HERODIAS I
approve of what stay here now.
my
And
daughter has done.
I will
HEROD [Rising],
Ah
!
There speaks the incestuous wife
Come
!
!
will not stay here. Come, I tell thee. Surely some terrible thing will befall. Manasseh, Issachar, I will not look at Ozias, put out the torches. I
things, I
will
not
things to look
suffer
Put out the torches
!
Hide the moon 65
at
me.
Hide
!
F
the stars Herodias.
Let us hide ourselves begin to be afraid.
!
our palace,
in
I
The stars dis[The slaves put out the torches. appear. great black cloud crosses the moon and conceals it completely. The stage becomes very dark. The Tetrarch begins to climb the staircase^
A
THE VOICE OF SALOME
Ah I have kissed thy mouth, Jokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth. There was a bitter taste on thy lips. Was it the taste of blood ? But perchance it is the taste of love. They But what say that love hath a bitter taste. of that ? what of that ? I have kissed thy mouth, Jokanaan. [A moonbeam falls on Salome' covering her with !
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
light.]
HEROD [Turning round and seeing Salomi\ Kill that
woman
!
[The soldiers rush forward and crush beneath Salom^ daughter of Herodias, Princess
their shields
of Jud<za?[
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