Chapter 12 eleven

Herod: Even half of my kingdom.You will be honored beyond queens, Salome, if you claim half my kingdom.Isn't she a great queen?what!It's so cold here!There was a cold wind blowing, and I heard... why did I hear the sound of wings flapping in the air?what!Like a bird, a huge black roc hovered over the court.Why can't I see that bird?What a frightful sound the flapping of wings makes.How terrible is the breath of the blast.A cold wind.No, that's not cold, but hot air.I'm suffocating.Pour water on my palm.I want a drink of ice-cold snow.Undo my outer cloak.hurry up!hurry up!Undo my cloak.No, just take it easy.It was the wreath on my head that pricked me, my rose wreath.Flowers burn like fire.They burn my forehead. [He tears off the wreath and throws it on the table. 〕what!I can catch my breath.How bright red these petals are!They are like red blood stains on clothes.It doesn't matter.You cannot find any symbol in what you see.Such a life is too hard.Best to say, these bright red bloodstains are as lovely as rose petals.That's a lot more comforting to say...but let's not talk about it.I feel happy now, I'm so happy.Am I not entitled to pleasure?Your daughter will dance for me.Will you dance for me, Salome?You promise to dance for me.

Herodias: I don't want her to dance for you. Salome: I will dance for you, my lord. Herod: You heard what your daughter said.You are going to dance for me.Do you dance for me, Salome.Don't forget to ask me when you dance for me.I will give you whatever you want, even half of my kingdom.I've made an oath, haven't I? Salome: You have sworn, my lord. Herod: I never broke my promise.I'm not the type to break a vow.I don't know how to lie.I am a slave to my vows and my words are king of words.The king of Cappadocia has lied all his life, but he is not the real king.He is a coward.And he still owes me an outstanding debt.He even insulted the emissary I sent.His words hurt each other everywhere.But Caesar will crucify him as soon as he gets to Rome.I'm sure Caesar will have him crucified.Otherwise, he still deserves to die, to be bitten to death by thousands of insects.The prophets have foretold it.Well, what are you waiting for, Salome?

Salome: I will take off my shoes while my slaves bring perfume and veils. [The slave brings perfume and veil, and helps Salome remove her shoes. 〕 Herod: Oh, you dance barefoot.Great!Great.Your slender feet are like a pair of pure white pigeons.They are like two white flowers dancing on a tree... No, no, she will dance on blood.The ground was stained with blood.She shouldn't be dancing on pools of blood.Very inauspicious. Herodias: What does it matter if she dances on pools of blood?You have just walked over there. Herod: Have I?what!look at that moon!She turns red.She was as red as blood.what!The prophecies of the prophets were fulfilled.He prophesied that the moon would turn blood red.Did he say so?You all heard it.Now the moon is as red as blood.Did you see it?

Herodias: Oh, yes, I see clearly, and the stars are like ripe figs falling to the earth, aren't they?And the sun is like a deep black sack, and the kings of the earth will be terrified.At least we see one thing hold true.The so-called Prophet, he's been right all his life, the kings of the earth will be terrified... let's go in.you are sick.If you're in Rome, they'll say you're crazy.I tell you again, let's go in. John's Voice: Who came from Edom, who came from Bozra?Whose clothes are dyed purple, who shows off with his gorgeous clothes, who looks down on others with complacency?Why is your coat stained with scarlet blood?

HERODIAS: Let us go in.Listening to this man's voice drives me crazy.I don't want my daughter to dance in this constant roaring environment.I don't want her to dance under your gaze.Simply put, I won't let her dance. Herod: Don't be in such a hurry to get up, my wife, my queen, it will do you no good.I won't let you in there unless I let her finish dancing.Dance, Salome, dance for me. Herodias: Don't dance, my daughter. Salome: I am ready, my lord. [Salome dances the dance of the seven veils. 〕 Herod: Ah!So beautiful!So beautiful!You see her dance for me, your daughter.Come here, Salome, come here, and I will reward you with whatever you wish.what!I reward dancers richly.I want to reward you heavily.I will give you anything you want.what do you wantSpeak.

Salome [kneeling]: I wish I could now be given a silver plate containing... Herod [laughs]: A silver plate?Silver plates, of course.She's so charming, isn't she?What would you like to have on your plate?O sweet and lovely Salome, you are more beautiful than the daughters of all the kingdoms of Judah.What do you wish was given to you in a silver platter?tell me.Whatever your wish is, I will give it to you.My treasure belongs to you.What do you want, Salome? Salome [stands up]: John's head. Herodias: Ah!Well said, my daughter. HEROD Even to the half of my kingdom. Thou wilt be passing fair as a queen, Salome, if it please thee to ask for the half of my kingdom. Will she

-51- 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 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. 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. It is not wise to find symbols in everything that one sees. It makes life too full of terrors. 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. Wilt thou not dance for me, Salome? Thou hast promised to dance for me. HERODIAS I will not have her dance. SALOME I will dance for you, Tetrarch.

-52- HEROD You hear what your daughter says. She is going to dance for me. Thou does well to dance for me, Salome. And when thou hast danced for me, forget not to ask of me whatsoever thou hast a mind to ask. desire I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom. I have sworn it, have I not? SALOME Thou hast sworn it, Tetrarch. HEROD And I have never failed of 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 had ever a lying tongue, 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 C?sar will crucify him when he comes to Rome. I know that C?sar will crucify him. And if he crucify him not, yet will he die, being eaten of worms. The prophet has prophesied it. Well! Wherefore dost thou tarry, Salome?

SALOME I am waiting until my slaves bring perfumes to me and the seven veils, and take from off my feet my sandals. [Slaves bring perfumes and the seven veils, and take off the sandals of Salome.] -53- HEROD Ah, thou art to dance with naked feet! Tis well! Tis well! Thy 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 spilled on the ground. She must not dance on blood. It were an evil omen. HERODIAS What is it to thee if she dance on blood? Thou hast waded deep enough in it . . . . .

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. ye heard him prophesying it. And now the moon has become as blood. Do ye not see it? HERODIAS Oh, yes, I see it well, and the stars are falling like unripe 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 is justified of his words in that at least, for truly 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. -54- THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN 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, Salome, dance for me. HERODIAS Do not dance, my daughter. SALOME I am ready, Tetrarch. HEROD [Salome dances the dance of the seven veils.] Ah! wonderful! wonderful! You see that she has danced for me, your daughter. Come near, Salome, come near, that I may give thee thy fee. Ah! I pay a royal price to those who dance -55- for my pleasure. I will pay thee royally. I will give thee whatever thy soul desire. What wouldst thou have? Speak. SALOME [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 that thou wouldst have in a silver charger, O sweet and fair Salome, thou that art fairer than all the daughters of Jud? What wouldst thou have them bring thee in a silver charger? Tell me. Whatsoever it may be, thou shalt receive it. My treasures belong to thee. What is it that thou wouldst have, Salome? SALOME [Rising.] The head of Iokanaan. HERODIAS Ah! that is well said, my daughter.