Chapter 4 three

Young Syrian Officer: Please sit down, Princess. Herodias' Attendant: Why are you talking to her?why are you looking at heroh!Unlucky things are about to happen. Salome: How pleasant to see the moonlight!She is like a little piece of money, you would think she was a little silver flower.The moon is cold and chaste.I'm sure she's a virgin, she has the beauty of a virgin.Yes, she is a virgin.She has never been defiled.She has never committed herself to a man like other goddesses. Voice of John the Baptist: The Lord has come.The Son of God has come.The centaur has been hidden in the river, and the siren has left the water to hide in the forest trees.

Salome: Who is crying? Second Soldier: It's the Prophet, Princess. Salome: O prophet!Is he the one His Majesty fears? Second Soldier: We have no way of knowing, princess.Just now it was the voice of the prophet John. Young Syrian Officer: Would you like me to order the palanquin to be brought, Princess?The garden at night is quite beautiful. Salome: He said harsh words to my mother, didn't he? Second Soldier: We don't understand what he's saying, princess. Salome: Yes; he spoke harsh words to his mother. [Enter a slave] Slave: Your Royal Highness, Your Majesty invites you to return to the banquet.

Salome: I will not go back. Young Syrian Officer: Forgive me for interrupting, princess, but something unfortunate will happen if you don't go back. Salome: Is he an old man, the prophet? Young Syrian Officer: Princess, you'd better go back.Please allow me to guide you into the banquet hall. Salome: Is that prophet...an old man? First Soldier: No, princess, he's a young man. Second Soldier: You can't be sure.Some say he is Elias. Salome: Who is Elijah? Second Soldier: It's a pretty old prophet in this country, the princess. Slave: What should I say to Your Majesty?

Voice of John the Baptist: You cannot bear the joy, land of Palestine, for the rod that struck you is broken.For the seed of a serpent will hatch into a basilisk, which will devour all flying birds as soon as it is born. Salome: What a strange sound!I would like to speak to him. First Soldier: I'm sorry, Princess.His Majesty doesn't want anyone to talk to him.Not even the High Priest can speak to him. Salome: I want to talk to him. First Soldier: That's impossible, princess. Salome: I want to talk to him. Young Syrian officer: Is it better to go back to the banquet? Salome: Bring the prophet here.

[exit slave] First Soldier: We dare not, Princess. Salome [approaching the dungeon and looking down]: How dark it is down here!It must be terrible to be in such a dark pit!Like a grave... [To the soldier. ] Did you hear what I said?Bring out the prophet.I want to see him. Second Soldier: Princess, I beg you not to give us this order. Salome: How dare you keep me waiting! First Soldier: Princess, our lives belong to you, but we cannot follow your orders.Therefore, you should not ask us. Salome [to the young Syrian officer]: Ah! Herodias' Attendant: Oh!what is the problem!I'm sure something unfortunate is going to happen.

Salome (approaching the young Syrian officer): Will you help me, Narraboth?You will be willing to help me.I just wanted to meet this strange prophet.Everyone mentions this guy.I think His Majesty is very much afraid of him.And are you, even you, afraid of him, Neraborth? THE YOUNG SYRIAN Will you be seated, Princess. THE PAGE OF HERODIAS Why do you speak to her? Oh! something terrible will happen. Why do you look at her? SALOME How good to see the moon! She is like a little piece of money, a little silver flower. She is cold and chaste. I am sure she is a virgin. She has never defiled herself. She has never abandoned herself to men, like the other goddesses.

THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN Behold! the Lord hath come. The Son of Man is at hand. The centaurs have hidden themselves in the rivers, and the nymphs have left the rivers, and are lying beneath the leaves in the forests. SALOME Who was that who cried out? SECOND SOLDIER The prophet, Princess. SALOME Ah, the prophet! He of whom the Tetrarch is afraid? -12- SECOND SOLDIER We know nothing of that, Princess. It was the prophet Iokanaan who cried out. THE YOUNG SYRIAN Is it your pleasure that I bid them bring your litter, Princess? The night is fair in the garden. SALOME He says terrible things about my mother, does he not?

SECOND SOLDIER We never understand what he says, Princess. SALOME Yes; he says terrible things about her. [Enter a Slave.] THE SLAVE Princess, the Tetrarch prays you to return to the feast. SALOME I will not return. THE YOUNG SYRIAN Pardon me, Princess, but if you return not some misfortune may happen. SALOME Is he an old man, this prophet? -13- THE YOUNG SYRIAN Princess, it were better to return. Suffer me to lead you in. SALOME This prophet . . . is he an old man? FIRST SOLDIER No, Princess, he is quite young. SECOND SOLDIER One cannot be sure. There are those who say that he is Elias.

SALOME Who is Elias? SECOND SOLDIER A prophet of this country in bygone days, Princess. THE SLAVE What answer may I give the Tetrarch from the Princess? THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN Rejoice not, O land of Palestine, because the rod of him who smote thee is broken. For from the seed of the serpent shall come a basilisk, and that which is born of it shall devour the birds. -14- SALOME What a strange voice! I would speak with him. FIRST SOLDIER I fear it may not be, Princess. The Tetrarch does not suffer 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. 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 -15- it.] How black it is, down there! It must be terrible to be in so black a hole! It is like a tomb . . . . [To the soldiers.] Did you not hear me? Bring out the prophet. I would look on him. SECOND SOLDIER Princess, I beg you, do not require this of us.

SALOME You are making me wait upon your pleasure. FIRST SOLDIER Princess, our lives belong to you, but we cannot do what you have asked of us. And indeed, it is not of us that you should ask this thing. SALOME [Looking at the young Syrian.] Ah! THE PAGE OF HERODIAS Oh! what is going to happen? I am sure that something terrible will happen. SALOME [Going up to the young Syrian.] Thou wilt do this thing for me, wilt. thou not, Narraboth? Thou wilt do this thing for me. I have ever been kind towards thee. Thou wilt do it for me. I would but look at him, this strange prophet. have talked so much of him. Often I have heard the Tetrarch talk of him. I think he is afraid of him, the Tetrarch. Art thou, even thou, also afraid of him, Narraboth?