Oscar Wilde: The Complete Works. Knowledge house
to be silent.
the voice of jokanaan
Let the war captains pierce her with their swords, let them crush her beneath their shields.
herodias
Nay, but it is infamous.
the voice of jokanaan
It is thus that I will wipe out all wickedness from the earth, and that all women shall learn not to imitate her abominations.
herodias
You hear what he says against me? You allow him to revile your wife?
·42· herod
He did not speak your name.
herodias
What does that matter? You know well that it is I whom he seeks to revile. And I am your wife, am I not?
herod
Of a truth, dear and noble Herodias, you are my wife, and before that you were the wife of my brother.
herodias
It was you who tore me from his arms.
herod
Of a truth I was stronger…. But let us not talk of that matter. I do not desire to talk of it. It is the cause of the terrible words that the prophet has spoken. Peradventure on account of it a misfortune will come. Let us not speak of this matter. Noble Herodias, we are not mindful of our guests. Fill thou my cup, my well-beloved. Fill with wine the great goblets of silver, and the great goblets of glass. I will drink to Cæsar. There are Romans here, we must drink to Cæsar.
all
Cæsar! Cæsar!
·43· herod
Do you not see your daughter, how pale she is?
herodias
What is it to you if she be pale or not?
herod
Never have I seen her so pale.
herodias
You must not look at her.
the voice of jokanaan
In that day the sun shall become black like sackcloth of hair, and the moon shall become like blood, and the stars of the heavens shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs that fall from the fig-tree, and the kings of the earth shall be afraid.
herodias
Ah! Ah! I should like to see that day of which he speaks, when the moon shall become like blood, and when the stars shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs. This prophet talks like a drunken man …. but I cannot suffer the sound of his voice. I hate his voice. Command him to be silent.
herod
I will not. I cannot understand what it is that he saith, but it may be an omen.
·44· herodias
I do not believe in omens. He speaks like a drunken man.
herod
It may be he is drunk with the wine of God.
herodias
What wine is that, the wine of God? From what vineyards is it gathered? In what wine-press may one find it?
herod
[From this point he looks all the while at Salomé.] Tigellinus, when you were at Rome of late, did the Emperor speak with you on the subject of …?
tigellinus
On what subject, sire?
herod
On what subject? Ah! I asked you a question, did I not? I have forgotten what I would have asked you.
herodias
You are looking again at my daughter. You must not look at her. I have already said so.
herod
You say nothing else.
·45· herodias
I say it again.
herod
And that restoration of the Temple about which they have talked so much, will anything be done? They say the veil of the Sanctuary has disappeared, do they not?
herodias
It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random. I will not stay here. Let us go within.
herod
Dance for me, Salomé.
herodias
I will not have her dance.
salomé
I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.
herod
Salomé, daughter of Herodias, dance for me.
herodias
Let her alone.
herod
I command thee to dance, Salomé.
·46· salomé
I will not dance, Tetrarch.
herodias
[Laughing]. You see how she obeys you.
herod
What is it to me whether she dance or not? It is naught 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? Cæsar, who is lord of the world, 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 my enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he wishes. Verily, Cæsar is lord. Thus you see I have a right to be happy. Indeed, I am happy. I have never been so happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness.
·47· the voice of jokanaan
He shall be seated on this 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 will be eaten of worms.
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. It is not I. 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? It is absurd to say that. I have borne a child. You have gotten no child, no, not even from 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 ·48· says that our marriage is not a true marriage. He says that it is an incestuous marriage, a marriage that will bring evils…. I fear he is right; I am sure that he is right. But it is not the moment to speak of such things. I would be happy at this moment. Of a truth, I am happy. There is nothing I lack.
herodias
I