Chapter 11 ten

Herodias: You stole it yourself.You are talking nonsense.I never want to be here again.Let's go in. Herod: Dance for me, Salome. Herodias: I will not let her dance. Salome: I am not in the mood to dance, my lord. Herod: Salome, daughter of Herodias, dance for me. HERODIAS: Leave her alone. Herod: I command you to dance, Salome. Salome: I do not dance, my lord. HERODIAS [laughs]: Look how much she obeys you. Herod: What does it matter to me whether she dances or not?I don't mind.I'm happy tonight, I'm so happy.I have never been so happy. First Soldier: Your Majesty looks rather gloomy.

Second Soldier: Yes; he looks gloomy. Herod: Why am I unhappy?Caesar is the ruler of this world, the ruler of all things, and he likes me very much.He just gave me the most precious gift ever.And, he promised me that I would summon the king of Cappadocia, who is my enemy, to Rome.Probably he would have been crucified in Rome because he had the right to do so.There is no doubt that Caesar is my master.So you have a right to be happy when you see me.Indeed, I am very happy.I have never been so happy.Nothing in the world can spoil my happiness. John's voice: He will sit on a throne.He will be wearing a purple robe.In his hand he held a goblet full of blasphemy.The angel of the Lord will strike him hard.He deserves to be bitten by all worms.

HERODIAS: You heard what he said of you.He said you deserve to be bitten by ten thousand moths. Herod: It's not me he's referring to.He never said anything to offend me.He speaks of the King of Cappadocia; the King of Cappadocia, my enemy.It is he who deserves to be pierced and bitten by ten thousand insects.not me.He, the Prophet, has never spoken a word against me except for my crime of taking my brother's wife for his wife.He may be right.Because, you are indeed infertile. Herodias: Am I barren?Haven't you seen my daughter and you want her to dance to please you?What you said is ridiculous.I have given birth to a child.And you don't even have a child, even with your slave girl.You are barren, not me.

Herod: Calm down, woman!I said you are barren.You never bore me a child and the Prophet said our wedding was not a real wedding.He said it was an unethical wedding that would lead to a wicked wedding... I'm afraid he's right; I'm sure he's right.But now is not the time to talk about these things.I want to be happy right now.In fact, I am very happy now.I lack nothing. Herodias: I'm glad you've been very humorous tonight.This is not your habit.Too late.Let's go in.Don't forget we're out hunting tomorrow at sunrise.We want to share all the glory with Caesar's emissary, don't we?

Second Soldier: What a sad look on His Majesty's face. First Soldier: Yes, his face is sad. Herod: Salome, Salome, dance for me.I am willing to pay for your dancing.I feel sad tonight.Yes; I am temporarily sad.It was an ominous sign that I came here and slipped on the blood on the ground; and I heard, I did hear the sound of wings beating, the beating of a pair of great wings.I don't know what that means... I feel sad tonight.So please dance for me.Dance for me, Salome, I beseech you.If you dance for me, you can ask me for anything and I will promise you even half of my kingdom. Salome [looks up]: Will you really give me anything I ask, Sire?

Herodias: Do not dance, my daughter. Herod: Anything is half my kingdom. Salome: By what do you swear, my lord? Herod: By my life, by my crown, by my God.I will give you whatever you ask, even half of my kingdom, if you will dance for me.O Salome, Salome, dance for me! Salome: You have sworn, my lord. Herod: I have sworn, Salome. Salome: All I ask, even half your kingdom. Herodias: Don't dance, my daughter. HERODIAS It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random and without wit. I will not stay here. Let us go within. 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 for me. HERODIAS Peace. Let her alone. HEROD I command thee to dance, Salome. 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? -47- It is nought 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? C?sar, who is lord of the world, C?sar, 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 mine enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he has a mind to do. Verily, C?sar is lord. Therefore I do well to be happy. I am very happy, never have I been so happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness.

THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN He shall be seated on his 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 shall be eaten of worms. -48- 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. 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? You speak as a fool. I have borne a child. You have gotten no child, no, not on 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 a marriage of incest, a marriage that will bring evils . . . . I fear he is right; I am sure that he is right. But it is not the hour to speak of these things. I would be happy at this moment. Of a truth, I am happy.

HERODIAS I am glad you are of so fair a humor tonight. It is not your custom. But it is late. Let us go -49- within. Do not forget that we hunt at sunrise. All honours must be shown to C?sars ambassadors, must they not? SECOND SOLDIER The Tetrarch has a sombre look. FIRST SOLDIER Yes, he has a sombre look. HEROD Salome, Salome, 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 ill omen; in the air a beating of wings, a beating of giant wings. I cannot tell what that may mean . . . . I am sad to-night. Therefore dance for me. Dance for me, Salome, I beseech thee. for me thou mayest ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee. Yes, dance for me, Salome, and whateverso ever thou shalt ask of me I will give it thee, even unto the half of my kingdom.

-50- SALOME [Rising.] Will you indeed give me whatsoever I shall ask of you, Tetrarch? HERODIAS Do not dance, my daughter. HEROD Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, even unto the half of my kingdom. SALOME You swear it, Tetrarch? HEROD I swear it, Salome. HERODIAS Do not dance, my daughter. SALOME By what will you swear this thing, Tetrarch? HEROD By my life, by my crown, by my gods. Whatever thou shalt desire I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom, if thou wilt but dance for me. O Salome, Salome, dance for me! SALOME You have sworn an oath, Tetrarch. HEROD I have sworn an oath. HERODIAS My daughter, do not dance.