Cappadocian: I think that's ridiculous.
Voice of John the Baptist: After me, someone more glorious than I will come.I'm not even worthy to untie his shoelaces.When he comes, lonely places will be filled with joy.They will bloom like lilies.The eyes of the blind will see the day, and the ears of the deaf will be opened.The newborn baby's hands will be on the dragon's fur, and he will lead by pulling the lion's mane.
Second Soldier: Tell him to shut up.He is always talking nonsense.
First Soldier: No, no.He is a saint.He is very gentle.He always thanked me every day when I brought him food.
Cappadocian: who is he?
First Soldier: A Prophet.
Cappadocian: His name?
First Soldier: John.
Cappadocian: Where did he come from?
First Soldier: The desert, he lives on locusts and wild honey.He was clothed in camel's hair, with a belt around his waist.It looks horrific on the outside.A large crowd followed him.There are even a few believers.
Cappadocians: What theory does he propose?
First Soldier: We don't know.Sometimes he said something quite scary, but couldn't really understand what he was referring to.
Cappadocian: Can others see him?
First Soldier: No.His Majesty forbids people to see him.
Young Syrian officer: the princess hides her face behind a fan!Her white hands are like white doves flying in the sky.They are like white butterflies.They are like white butterflies.
Herodias' Attendant: What's the matter with you?Why are you staring at her?You can no longer look at her... terrible things can happen.
Cappadocian [pointing to the pool]: What a strange prison!
Second Soldier: That's an old pool.
Cappadocians: An old pool!That must be bad for your health.
Second Soldier: Oh, no!For example, His Majesty's elder brother, the first husband of Queen Herodias, was imprisoned there for twelve years.He did not die.At the end of twelve years he was hanged.
Cappadorians: hanged?Who would dare to do such a thing?
SECOND SOLDIER [points to the executioner, a burly black man]: The one over there, Naman.
Cappadocian: Isn't he afraid?
Second Soldier: Oh, no!His Majesty gave him the ring.
Cappadocians: what ring?
Second Soldier: Ring of Death.So he is not afraid.
Cappadocians: Still, it's terrible to hang a king.
Second Soldier: Why?The king is only one neck, just like everyone else.
Cappadocian: I think that's horrible.
Young Syrian Officer: The princess is on her feet!She's leaving the table!Her expression was very troubled.Ah, she's coming in this direction.Yes, she is coming towards us.How pale!I have never seen her look so pale.
Herodias' Attendant: Don't look at her.I beg you not to look at her.
Young Syrian officer: She is like a lost dove...she is like a narcissus swaying in the wind...she is like a silvery white flower.
[Enter Salome]
Salome: I can't stay any longer.I can't take it anymore.Why does His Majesty always look at me with those rat eyes?My mother's husband looked at me so strangely.I don't know what that means.Actually, yes, I know what that means.
Young Syrian Officer: Have you just left the banquet, princess?
Salome: How sweet is the air here!Here I can breathe freely!Where the Jews from Jerusalem, constantly quarreling over their stupid religious rites, would tear each other to pieces, and drink like savages, spilling their wine in the aisles, and those from Smeer The Greeks from Smyrna, with their eyes and cheeks variegated with green, and their hair twisted and coiled, and the cunning and taciturn Egyptians, with jade claws and russet coats, And the cruel, vulgar Roman, with his savage slang.what!How I loathe the Romans!They are impertinent and commonplace, but they still consider themselves noble and elegant.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
That seems to me altogether ridiculous.
THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN
After me shall come another mightier than I. I am not worthy so much as to unloose the latchet of his shoes. When he cometh the solitary places shall be glad. They shall blossom like the rose. The eyes of the blind shall see the day , and the ears of the deaf shall be opened. The sucking child shall put his hand upon the dragons lair, he shall lead the lions by their manes.
SECOND SOLDIER
Make him be silent. He is always saying ridiculous things.
FIRST SOLDIER
No, no. He is a holy man. He is very gentle, too. Every day when I give him to eat he thanks me.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
Who is he?
FIRST SOLDIER
A prophet.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
What is his name?
-7-
FIRST SOLDIER
Iokanaan.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
When comes he?
FIRST SOLDIER
From the desert, where he fed on locusts and wild honey. He was clothed in camels hair, and round his loins he had a leather belt. He was very terrible to look upon. .
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
What is he talking of?
FIRST SOLDIER
We can never tell. Sometimes he says things that affright one, but it is impossible to understand what he says.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
May one see him?
FIRST SOLDIER
No. The Tetrarch has forbidden it.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
The Princess has hidden her face behind her fan! Her little white hands are fluttering like doves that fly to their dove-cots.
-8-
white butterflies. They are just like white butterflies.
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS
What is that to you? Why do you look at her? You must not look at her . . . . Something terrible may happen.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
[Pointing to the cistern.]
What a strange prison!
SECOND SOLDIER
It is an old cistern.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
An old cistern! That must be a poisonous place in which to dwell!
SECOND SOLDIER
Oh no! For instance, the Tetrarchs brother, 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 CAPPA DOCIAN
Strangled? Who dared to do that?
SECOND SOLDIER
[Pointing to the Executioner, a huge negro.]
That man yonder, Naaman.
-9-
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
He was not afraid?
SECOND SOLDIER
Oh no! The Tetrarch sent him the ring.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
What ring?
SECOND SOLDIER
The death ring. So he was not afraid.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
Yet it is a terrible thing to strangle a king.
FIRST SOLDIER
Why? Kings have but one neck, like other folk.
THE CAPPA DOCIAN
I think it terrible.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
The Princess is getting up! She is leaving the table! She looks very troubled. Ah, she is coming this way.
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS
Do not look at her. I pray you not to look at her.
-10-
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
She is like a dove that has strayed . . . . She is like a narcissus trembling in the wind . . . . She is like a silver flower.
[Enter Salome.]
SALOME
I will not stay. I cannot stay. Why does the Tetrarch look at me all the while with his moles eyes under his shaking eyelids? It is strange that the husband of my mother looks at me like that. Of a truth I know it too well.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
You have left the feast, Princess?
SALOME
How sweet is the air here! I can breathe here! 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 columns, and Egyptians silent and subtle, with long nails of jade and russet cloaks, and Romans brutal and coarse, with their uncouth jargon. Ah! how I loathe the Romans! common, and they give themselves the airs of noble lords.
