Chapter 15 fourteen

Herod: She is a beast, your daughter, she is quite a beast.In fact, everything she did was a crime.I'm sure it was a crime against an unknown god. Herodias: I agree with my daughter's actions.Now, I would like to stay here. Herod [stands up]: Ah!The incestuous wife!bring it on!I don't want to be here.Come on, let me tell you.There will be terrible misfortune to come.Manasseh, Issachar, Ozias, extinguish the fire.I can't watch it anymore.I can no longer bear what I see.Extinguish the torches!Cover the moon!Cover the stars!Let us hide in the palace, Herodias.I started to feel scared.

[The slave puts out the torch.The stars disappear.A dark cloud floated in front of the moon, completely obscuring the moonlight.The stage is dark.The king began to climb the stairs. 〕 Salome's voice: Ah!I kissed your mouth, John, I kissed your mouth at last.It tastes rather bitter on your lips.Is it the taste of blood? ...maybe that's the taste of love...they say love tastes rather bitter...but so what?so what?I finally kissed your mouth, John. [A ray of moonlight shines through, and Salome is bathed in silver light. 〕 HEROD [turns to Salome]: Kill this woman! [Soldiers raise their shields and gradually push forward Salome, daughter of Herodias, princess of the Kingdom of Judea. 〕

end HEROD She is monstrous, thy daughter; I tell thee she is monstrous. In truth, what she has done is a great crime. I am sure that it is a crime against some unknown God. HERODIAS I am well pleased with my daughter. She has done well. And I would stay here now. HEROD [Rising.] Ah! There speaks my brothers wife! Come! I will not stay in this place. Come, I tell thee. Surely some terrible thing will befall. Manasseh, Issachar, Ozias, put out the torches. will not suffer things to look at me. Put out the torches! Hide the moon! Hide the stars! Let us hide ourselves in our palace, Herodias.

[The slaves put out the torches. The stars disappear. A great cloud crosses the moon and conceals it completely. The stage becomes quite dark. The Tetrarch begins to climb the staircase.] THE VOICE OF SALOME Ah! I have kissed thy mouth, Iokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth. There was a bitter taste on thy lips. Was it the taste of blood? . . . Nay; but perchance it was the taste of love. . .They -67- say that love hath a bitter taste. But what matter? what matter? I have kissed thy mouth, Iokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth. [A ray of moonlight falls on Salome and illuminates her.] HEROD

[Turning round and seeing Salome.] Kill that woman! [The soldiers rush forward and crush beneath their shields, Salome, daughter of Herodias, Princess of Judas.] [CURTAIN.]