,transcriber's ,note3 ,page ,scan ,source3 http3_/_/www4archive4org_/details_/johnb aptistplay#jjsuderich ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,a ,,play ,,by ,,hermann ,,sudermann ,,translated ,,by ,,beatrice ,,marshall ,,london ,,john ,,lane ,,the ,,bodley ,,head ,,vigo ,,street ,w4 ,,new ,,york ,,john ,,lane ,,company ,,mcmix ,,william ,,brendon ,,and ,,son1 ,,ltd41 ,,printers1 ,,plymouth ,,persons ,,in ,,the ,,play ,herod ,antipas4 ,tetrarch of ,galilee4 ,herodias4 ,salome4 ,her daughter4 ,vitellius4 ,legate of ,syria4 ,marcellus4 ,his companion4 ,merokles1 the rhetorician4 ,gabalos1 the ,syrian4 ,at the ,court of ,herod4 ,jabad1 the ,levite4 _/ ,john4 ,called ,the ,baptist4 ,josaphat4 ,matthias4 ,his disciples4 ,amarja4 ,manassa4 _/ ,jael4 ,josaphat's wife4 ,their two ,children4 ,hadidja4 ,maid in the ,palace4 ,miriam4 ,abi4 ,playfellows of ,salome4 ,maecha4 _/ ,mesulemeth4 ,a beggar-woman4 ,amasai4 ,pharisees4 ,jorab4 _/ ,eliakim4 ,pasur4 ,citizens of ,jerusalem4 ,hachmoni4 _/ ,simon4 ,the ,galilean4 ,first ,galilean4 ,second ,galilean4 ,a ,paralytic4 ,first ,priest4 ,second ,priest4 ,a ,citizen of ,jerusalem4 ,the ,commander of the ,roman ,soldiers4 ,first ,second ,roman ,soldier4 ,third _/ ,the ,captain of the ,palace ,guard4 ,the ,gaoler4 ,men and ,women from ,jerusalem1 ,pilgrims1 ,roman ,legionaries1 ,men and ,maidservants in the ,palace4 ,time of ,action4 ,the ,year #bi after ,christ4 ,scene of ,action4 ,during the ,prelude a rocky wilderness near ,jerusalem4 ,in the ,first1 ,second1 and ,third ,acts4 ,jerusalem4 ,in the ,fourth and ,fifth ,acts4 ,a town of ,galilee4 ,,prelude ,,prelude ,wild1 rocky scenery in the neighbourhood of ,jerusalem4444 ,night--,the moon shining dimly through jagged clouds4444 ,in the distance is seen the fire of the great sacrificial altar1 burning on the horizon4 ,,scene ,i ,dark shadows flit in groups across the background from right to left4 ,,miriam ,hadidja1 ,i am afraid6 ,,hadidja ,come6 ,,miriam ,i am afraid4 ,seest thou not those gliding shadows8 ,their feet scarce touch the stones1 and their flesh is like the shadow of the night-wind4 ,,hadidja ,fool that thou art6 ,thou art afraid of thy companions in misery and suffering4 ,the same need as thine brings them hither2 the same hope leads them on to the heights4 ,,miriam ,do they also wish to go to him8 ,,hadidja ,every one wishes to go to him4 ,is there a light in ,israel which doth not irradiate from his hand8 ,is there water for the thirsty which doth not flow from him8 ,streams of sweet water gush forth from these dead stones1 and his voice is born out of silence4 ,,miriam ,but ,i am afraid of him4 ,why dwelleth he among the terrors of the desert8 ,why flieth he from the paths of the joyous1 and shunneth the suffering8 ,,hadidja ,the joyous need him not4 ,the suffering will find their way to him4 ,,miriam ,look1 ,hadidja6 ,there is the glow of fire yonder above ,jerusalem4 ,the ,romans are burning down our houses1 and yet we tarry here6 ,,hadidja ,what6 ,dost thou not know that is the great altar on which1 day and night1 the priests offer up a tenth part of the sweat of our brows8 ,,miriam ,in horrified amazement4 ,and would he let the great altar fall too8 ,,hadidja ,i know not4 ,but what he willeth is best4 ,see--who is coming8 ,,scene ,,ii ,the same2 two men1 half carrying1 half dragging a paralytic who moans4 ,,first ,,man ,women1 say1 have ye met the great ,rabbi whom men call the ,baptist8 ,,hadidja ,we also are seeking the ,baptist4 ,the ,paralytic1 moaning4 ,put me down2 let me die6 ,,first ,,man ,we have carried this palsied man here in our arms1 and they are weary1 and he whom we hoped to find is not here4 ,,the ,,paralytic ,with a groan4 ,i shall die6 ,,manassa',s ,,voice ,crying aloud from the right4 ,john6 ,john6 ,,manassa ,rushing on the scene4 ,john1 where art thou1 ,john8 ,i cry unto thee in my distress4 ,have mercy2 let me behold thee1 ,john6 ,,miriam ,pointing to the left4 ,look6 ,a crowd of people are drawing near4 ,they go before him4 ,,hadidja ,kneel2 for it is he4 ,,scene ,,iii ,the same4 ,john1 behind him a number of men and women1 among them ,amarja4 ,,john ,whose wretchedness is so great that he wails aloud1 and forgets that grief should be silent8 ,,manassa ,kneeling before him4 ,rabbi1 mighty ,rabbi4 ,if thou art he of whom men are talking in the streets of ,jerusalem1 help me1 save me6 ,,john ,stand up and speak4 ,,manassa ,i am ,manassa1 the son of ,jeruel1 and my father was sick and blind2 and ,i lived with him on the road to ,gibeon1 close by the well which is never dry4 ,and men came unto me who said1 ,it is the will of the ,lord our ,god that ye refuse to pay tribute to the ,romans1 and ,i refused to pay the ,romans tribute4 ,then have the soldiers fallen on me and burned my house1 and my young wife hath perished in the flames1 and my father1 who was blind4 ,and ,i am now left alone and desolate4 ,help me1 ,rabbi6 ,help6 ,,john ,am ,i lord over ,life and ,death that ,i can make thy father1 wife1 and child alive again8 ,can ,i build up thy house once more out of its ashes8 ,what dost thou ask of me8 ,,manassa ,then cursed be those who---- ,,john ,stop6 ,cursings enough hang over us4 ,israel is loaded with them1 like the autumn boughs with ripe grapes4 ,wherefore dost thou lament8 ,look before1 instead of behind4 ,if thou canst not withhold thy lamentations1 put a gag between thy teeth2 for prayer should be silent1 and longing and patience without sound4 ,,manassa ,how shall that help me1 ,rabbi1 in my loneliness and desolation8 ,,john ,thou speakest sinfully4 ,is ,he not with thee8 ,,manassa ,rabbi6 ,who8 ,,amarja ,hearken6 ,he hath not heard the news of ,him ,who cometh6 ,,john ,know'st thou not that soon there will be rejoicing in ,israel8 ,bridal garments and music of cymbals6 ,know'st thou not that there will be no more sorrow in ,israel8 ,therefore wipe the foam from thy lips and sanctify thyself4 ,,all ,sanctify thyself6 ,,manassa ,no more sorrow4 ,no more suffering6 ,rabbi1 say that ,i may stay with thee8 ,,john ,mix with thy fellows over there and learn silence4 ,,manassa ,stammering4 ,rabbi6 ,he withdraws4 ,,john ,i see not ,josaphat among ye4 ,neither is ,matthias here4 ,who hath tidings of them8 ,,amarja ,rabbi1 none hath seen them4 ,,john ,who is that lying on the ground groaning8 ,,the ,,paralytic ,master1 ,i am a poor man1 sick of a palsy and in great agony4 ,if ,thou canst not cure me1 ,i must die6 ,,john ,die now6 ,now1 when ,one is at hand ,who bringeth relief for thy tumours and balm for thy sores8 ,i say unto ,thee thou wilt thank the ,lord thy ,god with shouts of joy for every hour of thy pain1 for every inch of the road thou hast crawled along on inflamed knees1 when thou beholdest ,him for ,whom our soul longeth and hopeth1 for ,whose coming we wait and watch by the roadside1 looking towards the ,east4 ,therefore endure sevenfold suffering and groan no more4 ,,the ,,paralytic ,rabbi1 thou hast done wonders for me4 ,i feel no longer--,i----,he makes an effort to rise1 but sinks back4 ,his companions lead him away4 ,he breathes more easily1 laughing as he goes4 ,,murmur ,,of ,,people ,see6 a miracle4 ,he works miracles6 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,people ,truly the word is fulfilled--,elias is risen4 ,the ,great ,prophet is risen from the dead6 ,,another ,no1 not ,elias1 not the ,prophet6 ,see ye not1 ye blind8 ,it is ,he ,himself6 ,he is the promised ,one4 ,worship ,him6 worship ,him6 ,,all ,falling on their knees4 ,worship ,him6 ,,john ,a man sick of a fever crawled along the road looking for the physician1 and when a beggar or a slave came by1 carrying water1 he fell on his knees before him and cried1 ,hail to thee1 great physician6 ,thank ,god1 thou art come6 ,and so he went on till evening1 and the children mocked him4 ,the people rise slowly4 ,what have ,i1 the beggar1 to give you8 ,the water ,i carry is to baptize you in2 it is the pure water of repentance4 ,but ,he ,who cometh after me will baptize with fire and the ,spirit1 and ,i am not worthy to unlatch ,his shoes1 444 so little am ,i compared with ,him4 ,,several ,rabbi1 tell us1 when will ,he come of ,whom thou speakest8 ,,others ,who is it1 ,rabbi8 ,be merciful and strengthen our souls4 ,speak to us of ,him4 ,,john ,then sit ye down in a circle and hear the oft-told tidings1 ye insatiable ones4 ,the people crouch on the ground4 ,,miriam ,hadidja1 what is he going to tell us8 ,,hadidja ,be silent4 ,,miriam ,let me take thy hand1 ,hadidja4 ,,john ,it was on the banks of ,jordan that ,i baptized all1 according to the command of the ,lord4 ,many people were gathered round me and hearkened to what ,i preached1 but my soul was consumed with doubt and misgiving4 ,then1 lo1 a youth came down from the cliffs above1 and he was alone1 and all the people drew back4 ,and as ,i raised my eyes to his face1 ,i knew that this was ,he1 for the glory of eternity shone round about ,him4 ,and when ,he spake with me1 and prayed me to baptize ,him as if ,he were a sinner1 ,i trembled and refused1 saying1 ,i would be baptized by ,thee1 but ,thou comest to me8 ,and ,he made answer1 ,so be it1 for thus shall the law be fulfilled4 ,then ,i yielded1 and let it be as ,he desired4 ,and when ,he had received ,baptism from my trembling hand1 ,he rose from the water1 and behold1 the ,heavens opened above ,him and ,i saw the ,holy ,ghost descending like a white dove1 and ,he was bathed in the ,heavenly light4 ,and a voice out of ,heaven spake1 ,behold1 this is ,my ,beloved ,son1 in ,whom ,i am well pleased4 ,then ,i fell on my face and prayed4 ,and ,i was no longer afraid4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,crowd ,after a pause4 ,and whence came ,he1 ,he ,who was thus illumined by the radiance of the ,lord8 ,,all ,yes1 whence came ,he1 and whither did ,he go8 ,didst thou not hold ,him8 ,,john ,plague me not with questions4 ,he cometh and goeth1 and no man holdeth ,him4 ,at this very hour ,he may be sitting in our midst4 ,,all ,turn on each other a scared and inquiring gaze4 ,,amarja ,rabbi1 we are all poor workpeople from ,jerusalem1 and every one knoweth his fellow4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,crowd ,pointing to ,miriam4 ,yes1 we men6 ,but here is a woman whom ,i never saw before4 ,,hadidja ,her name is ,miriam1 and she serves as maid in the ,palace1 as ,i do4 ,,john ,leave her in peace4 ,,another ,but if ,he of ,whom thou speakest dwells among the living1 ,he must bear a name1 and ,his ,father's name4 ,,all ,yea2 tell us ,his name4 ,his name8 ,,john ,ye would hear his name8 ,listen to the wind whispering among the rocks1 mark well what it saith ere it vanisheth4 ,so ,his name1 heard first here and then there1 passed by my ear4 ,i am waiting with prayer and anxiety to hear it again4 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,question me not further1 lest it melt away like a dream when the cock croweth4 ,,amarja ,yet give us withal some guidance4 ,whence came ,he to thee--,he---- ,,john ,the wind which wafted ,him to me blew from ,galilee4 ,,all ,from ,galilee6 ,,one ,is then the ,messiah the ,galileans'1 the fisheaters'8 ,,another ,he shall come to us ,judaeans6 ,up1 and let us seek ,him6 ,,all ,aye1 let us seek ,him6 ,,john ,think ye that ,he will permit ,himself to be found by you8 ,ye miserable creatures full of mutiny and revolt6 ,who are ye that ye should alter the course of the world's history by a hair's breadth8 ,when the time for ,his harvest is ripe1 then ,he shall appear to you of ,his own free will in glory as the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,the four cherubim shall ride before ,him on caparisoned horses1 with flaming sickles in their hands4444 ,whatsoever hath been planted in sin and hath grown up rankly1 that shall be mown down1 root and branch2 whatsoever hath reared itself against ,him shall be trampled upon4 ,therefore1 ye men of ,israel1 root up the weeds that flourish and encumber your bodies1 so that ye do not rot1 and in your corruption are not swept away with your polluters when ,he draweth near with the seven-coloured rainbow about ,his head4 ,he ,who shall come must come reflectively1 must come6 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,crowd ,rabbi1 we have repented of our sins4 ,we pray day and night1 and our bodies are emaciated from fasting4 ,say1 what more can we do8 ,,scene ,,iv ,the same4 ,josaphat4 ,matthias4 ,,john ,josaphat1 so thou art here4 ,and thou1 ,matthias4 ,,josaphat ,master1 chide us not for having lingered4 ,we paused by ,herod's ,palace1 which1 as a rule1 is dark and deserted4 ,we saw rosy lights kindled1 and the pillars garlanded with flowers4 ,fresh ignominy shall befall ,israel1 more deadly sin weigh upon her1 if thou1 ,rabbi1 comest not to the rescue4 ,,john ,speak out6 ,,josaphat ,herod hath not come out of ,galilee1 as every year before1 for the ,passover4 ,he is not expected till to-morrow4 ,another guest hath arrived4 ,the wife of ,philip1 ,herod's brother1 hath deserted him1 and taken with her ,salome1 ,philip's daughter4 ,the guest at the ,palace is called ,herodias1 and to-morrow the marriage feast is to be celebrated4 ,,john ,between ,herod and the wife of his own brother8 ,,josaphat ,thou sayest right1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,no6 ,no6 ,whoever hath told thee this informed thee falsely4 ,his lips were shameless1 and his soul lied4 ,,amarja ,pardon1 ,rabbi2 there are maids here belonging to the ,palace4444 ,question them4 ,,john ,hadidja1 ,i know thee4 ,speak6 ,,hadidja ,rabbi1 my place is menial4 ,i only hear what the idle gossips say4 ,but here is ,miriam4 ,she has been chosen as the playmate of the young maiden ,salome since she came yesterday4 ,she waits on her at the bath4 ,question her6 ,,john ,miriam1 why art thou silent8 ,,hadidja ,rabbi1 she hath never yet conversed with strangers4 ,,miriam ,in a low1 stuttering tone4 ,master1 it is true what that man saith4 ,and----,emotion4 ,,john ,continue6 ,,miriam ,and after the wedding1 on the first day of the ,passover1 ,herodias is to enter the ,temple1 as far as the women's outer court1 her new consort leading her by the hand4 ,they will show themselves to the people4 ,,john ,that the people may stone them8 ,but what am ,i saying8 ,they dare not6 ,those priests1 lustful as they are1 cowards cringing in the dust at the feet of the ,romans1 dare not permit this6 ,the iron gates will close upon the scandal1 and the ,high ,priest will stretch forth his arm to curse them6 ,,hadidja ,speak1 ,miriam6 ,,john ,what else hast thou to say1 ,miriam8 ,,miriam ,master1 at this very hour1 messengers are passing to and fro between ,herodias and the ,temple4 ,the ,princess desireth that the ,high ,priest shall meet them at the second gate1 where the men and women separate1 to bless her---- ,,john ,enough6 ,go home1 all of you4 ,i wish to be alone4 ,to-morrow ye will see me at ,jerusalem4 ,horror amongst the people4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,crowd ,rabbi1 wilt thou be responsible for thy enemies8 ,,others ,reflect1 ,rabbi6 ,the ,pharisees will trap thee4 ,the priests will condemn thee4 ,,john ,i am the son of a priest4 ,i will speak priestly words to those who countenance this infamous crime4 ,i will speak to them in the name of ,him ,who cometh1 for ,whom ,i prepare the way4 ,go6 ,as they appear unwilling and hesitate4 ,go6 ,the curtain falls4 ,,first ,,act ,,first ,,act ,square in front of the ,palace of ,herod--,the guardroom of the ,roman soldiers is to the right of the ,palace in the foreground1 with benches before the door--,to the right of centre is the chief entrance--,steps in background1 which lead to the top of a hill--,behind1 separated by an invisible valley1 is a view of rising masses of house-tops belonging to another part of the town--,a narrow street to the left of centre1 and another street in foreground1 which may be taken as a continuation of the one that runs to right of guard-room--,in it is the shop of the woollen merchant ,eliakim--,at its right corner the shop of the fruit-seller ,pasur1 with wares exhibited--,a fountain with seats round it1 near the middle of the stage4 ,,scene ,i ,eliakim1 ,pasur4 ,first1 second1 third common soldiers4 ,,pasur ,as he comes forward glances anxiously at the soldiers1 who sit in front of guard-room4 ,neighbour1 neighbour1 dost thou not hear me8 ,,eliakim ,sitting outside his shop reading a parchment ,it is written that whosover disturbeth a man when he is reading the law shall forfeit his life4 ,,pasur ,thou readest the law8 ,,eliakim ,knowest thou not that ,i read the law day and night8 ,,pasur ,forgive me1 neighbour2 accuse me not4 ,i sinned out of ignorance4444 ,i was in fear of the soldiers who are quartered yonder 444 but ,i am going in4 ,slinks back to his shop4 ,,first ,,soldier ,to the second who sharpens his sword4 ,marcus1 wherefore handiest thou thy blade with such terrific zeal8 ,there is naught to hew down in there4 ,these damned ,judeans have had enough4 ,they'll rebel no more4 ,,second ,,soldier ,who can tell8 ,since that woman entered there yesterday1 my nostrils have scented bloodshed4 ,everything is upside down in ,herod's house1 and your so-called princes are ticklish subjects4 ,,first ,,soldier ,here in ,judea they have none2 so we are masters4 ,,second ,,soldier ,we are masters everywhere1 with or without a ,herod4 ,,first ,,soldier ,what brings the ,tetrarch of ,galilee to ,jerusalem8 ,,second ,,soldier ,yes1 well mayest thou ask6 ,yet he cometh twice or thrice in the year to rub his nose on the fleeces of the ,temple1 and then away he goes again4 ,god requires it of him1 so they say4 ,a crazy people6 ,,first ,,soldier ,and we must stand by as guard of honour4 ,a nice business for a ,roman citizen6 ,,scene ,,ii ,the same1 ,hadidja and two other maids 7with jugs on their heads1 come out of the ,palace and go to the well1 where they draw water74 ,,second ,,soldier ,idiot6 ,we are bound to do it1 so that we may appear to honour him4 ,in reality we guard him4 ,he will soon be here now4 ,,third ,,soldier ,who has been squatting on a brick1 without taking any part in conversation1 sings4 ,sweet smiling ,lalage1 thee will ,i love for ever4 ,thee1 sweet smiling ,lalage---- ,,second ,,soldier ,irritably4 ,have done howling after thy ,lalage6 ,before thou goest back to ,rome again1 she will be a grandmother4 ,,third ,,soldier ,stretching out his arms4 ,alack6 ,yes4 ,,second ,,soldier ,pointing to the maids4 ,are not there women enough here8 ,,third ,,soldier ,ah6 but they are ,jew girls4 ,they mean well enough1 but the punishment of death hangs over them4 ,,second ,,soldier ,a crazy people4 ,,third ,,soldier ,if only there were no foreigners6 ,i1 for my part1 take not kindly to these ,asiatics4 ,they wash all day long1 and yet stink in spite of it4444 ,ha6 yesterday a ,syrian sweetheart made me a present of a necklace4 ,there it is4 ,shall we dice for it8 ,,second ,,soldier ,show it to me4 ,i say fifty denarii4 ,,third ,,soldier ,rogue6 ,a hundred and fifty6 ,,second ,,soldier ,very well4 ,,first ,,soldier ,i will join4 ,,third ,,soldier ,come along4 ,all three disappear into the guard-room4 ,,scene ,,iii ,eliakim1 ,pasur1 ,hadidja1 and the two other maids4 ,two ,priests descending the central steps4 ,,first ,,priest ,damsels1 you belong to the ,palace8 ,,hadidja ,yes1 ye priests4 ,,first ,,priest ,announce us to your mistress4 ,,hadidja ,our mistress1 priests1 is gone forth to meet the ,tetrarch ,herod1 to receive him at the gates4 ,,first ,,priest ,when will she return8 ,,hadidja ,that we cannot say1 priests2 it depends on the coming of the ,prince4 ,,first ,,priest ,do you desire our blessing8 ,,hadidja ,no6 ,she vanishes with the other maids into the interior of the ,palace4 ,,both ,,priests ,look discomposed4 ,,first ,,priest ,observing ,eliakim and ,pasur sitting in front of their doors1 raises his hands unctuously4 ,blessed be ye who---- ,,eliakim ,no one asked thy blessing6 ,,both ,,priests ,regard each other in dismay4 ,,second ,,priest ,furiously4 ,these again are of the school of the ,pharisees6 ,,first ,,priest ,we hold the ,temple4 ,they shall yet be our servants4 ,come6 ,exeunt both priests4 ,,scene ,,iv ,,pasur ,drawing near humbly4 ,forgive me1 neighbour1 but now thou no longer readest in the law8 ,,eliakim ,no4 ,,pasur ,this will be a sorry ,passover for us tradesmen4 ,see all this fine stock which ,i have laid in4 ,there is the sacred pomegranate wood1 whereon to roast the lamb4 ,here are the sweet herbs1 with which to prepare the holy broth1 and here are the bitter roots1 the garlic1 cresses1 and bay leaves1 all according to the precept4 ,in six1 or at latest seven hours the feast begins1 and ,i shall be left stranded with my whole stock on hand4 ,oh1 woe is me6 ,woe is me6 ,,eliakim ,well1 have ,i not also superior and holy wares for sale8 ,there are stuffs of the very finest quality4 ,beautiful tassels of white and hyacinth-blue wool4 ,and are not my ,tephillims the most beautiful ever worn by a son of ,abraham at morning prayer8 ,nay1 ,abraham himself never wore a finer ,tephillim4 ,i believe ,i have eighteen dozen or more4 ,but one should take no thought of bodily raiment1 but read the ,scriptures4 ,so it is written4 ,,pasur ,but1 neighbour1 the man who deals in vegetables does not find it so easy to be righteous in the sight of the ,lord4 ,thy woollen goods will keep till ,herod is gone again with his new wife4 ,,eliakim ,shakes his fist at the ,palace4 ,it's a shame1 a crying shame6 ,,pasur ,yes2 once this was always a good spot for business1 but now grass groweth in front of the ,palace4 ,,eliakim ,only priests go in and out4 ,,scene ,v ,the same4 ,a citizen of ,jerusalem who comes to fill his pitcher at the fountain4 ,,citizen ,distressfully4 ,neighbour1 dear neighbour6 ,,eliakim ,what is thy trouble8 ,,citizen ,thou art a righteous man and knowest the law4 ,give me advice1 and thou shalt have my thanks4 ,my poor wife has hurt her foot while working in the fields4 ,it is burning and swollen1 and ,i bathe it with cold water from the fountain1 which does it good4 ,but in a short time beginneth the feast4 ,may ,i continue with the bathing then8 ,,eliakim ,sabbath breaking4 ,thou wilt be guilty1 and deserve death4 ,,the ,,citizen ,oh1 ,lord eternal6 ,,eliakim ,yes4 ,if it were her throat that ailed1 then thou mightest pour the remedy into her mouth4 ,but foot6 ,no6 ,,citizen ,but suppose that it mortifies6 ,,eliakim ,yea1 if it mortifies and is a danger to life1 the law alloweth it4 ,,the ,,citizen ,crying out in despair4 ,but then it is too late6 ,meanwhile a man wrapt in a cloak has come down the street1 and looks up calmly at the windows of ,herod's ,palace4 ,,eliakim ,points to him1 looking shocked4 ,hush1 if thou lovest thy life6 ,the man thou seest yonder is one ,david1 belonging to the ,zealots who dwell in the desert4 ,they come down to the towns with daggers hidden in the folds of their cloaks4 ,and when they find people committing a breach of the law by word or deed1 they strike at them from behind4 ,rising1 as the stranger approaches4 ,greeting2 thou holy man6 ,behold ,i know thee well4 ,wilt thou not bless thy servant8 ,the stranger passes1 and disappears in the street to the left4 ,,pasur ,i feel a shiver run through me4 ,one can err and not know it4 ,,the ,,citizen ,how many hours are there yet1 ere the feast begins8 ,,eliakim ,regarding the sun4 ,six4 ,,the ,,citizen ,so long1 then1 ,i may use the cooling remedy1 but ,i know not what to do afterwards4 ,drags his pitcher away dejectedly4 ,,pasur ,of a truth1 we ,hebrews are hunted like vermin4 ,if the ,romans leave us alone1 the law strikes at us4 ,,scene ,,vi ,the same4 ,the stage has become half-filled with people1 who gesticulate in excitement1 looking up at ,herod's ,palace4 ,among them ,hachmoni2 later1 the soldiers4 ,,eliakim ,what is going on there8 ,hachmoni1 thou shalt speak4 ,what ails the people8 ,,hachmoni ,hast thou not heard8 ,john is in the town6 ,,eliakim ,there are many ,johns4 ,,hachmoni ,the ,baptist1 man6 ,,eliakim ,the ,baptist2 enemy of the ,priests and of the ,pharisees2 to whom every ,rechabite hath sworn death4 ,is he caught at last8 ,,hachmoni ,thou speakest like one in his sleep6 ,if there is a man in ,jerusalem safe and untouched by the curse of the ,romans1 it is he4 ,he standeth in the market-place and preacheth2 he standeth at the gates and preacheth4--,did ,i say preach8 ,firebrands issue from his lips2 scorpions leap out of his mouth4 ,,eliakim ,against whom doth he preach1 then8 ,,hachmoni ,against ,herod1 naturally4 ,and his paramour1 and his paramour's whelp4 ,,all ,down with ,herod6 ,death to ,herod6 ,the first and second ,roman soldiers step out of the guard-room4 ,,first ,,soldier ,what are the blear-eyed scum crying8 ,,second ,,soldier ,death to ,herod6 ,did not ,i say it would be so8 ,i can trust my nose4 ,draws his sword4 ,,pasur ,protect yourselves6 ,the soldiers6 ,the people fall back4 ,,first ,,soldier laughing4 ,the dogs are affrighted already4 ,curs6 ,they go in1 laughing4 ,,scene ,,vii ,the same4 ,amasai and ,jorab from left centre1 remain in the street4 ,,amasai ,look at them6 ,must this not appear a mad mockery in the sight of the ,lord8 ,who that follows the straight path laid down by the law1 after the manner of ,god-fearing men1 can have anything in common with these sinners8 ,,jorab ,they are infatuated with the ,baptist's preaching1 and yet too weak to kick against the pricks4 ,speak to them1 so that they come to themselves4 ,,amasai ,after the ,baptist8 ,rather would ,i grasp a mad bull by the horns4 ,they would go up to the ,temple to make an offering of sow's blood1 if he bade them do it4 ,,jorab ,cannot we trap him8 ,,amasai ,and so stand before the people as the friends of ,herod8 ,leave that kind of fame to the ,priests and the ,sadducees4 ,the disaffection which we quelled1 at a signal from him1 screams aloud in the gutter4 ,so what good have we done8 ,that is why the people flock to him4 ,we have missed our opportunity4 ,but still2 ,i know a way to entangle him4 ,i will strike at him through his folly about the ,messiah4 ,shouts of applause arise from the people4 ,listen6 so they once hailed us4 ,they withdraw further into the street to the left4 ,,scene ,,vii ,the same1 without ,amasai and ,jorab4 ,john1 accompanied by ,josaphat1 ,matthias1 and ,manassa and afresh crowd4 ,people appear behind left4 ,,john ,throwing himself down on the edge of the fountain4 ,,josaphat ,see1 ,rabbi1 what power hath been given thee4 ,they wag their tails like pleased hounds4 ,jerusalem the ,blessed lies at thy feet4 ,,john ,give me to drink6 ,,manassa ,draws him water4 ,,hachmoni ,behold6 ,the great prophet drinks as if he were one of us---- ,,pasur ,that is goat's hair wherewith he is clothed4 ,it must prick his skin4 ,it shows what a holy man he is4 ,,eliakim ,but he doth not favour the woollen trade4 ,if all were so holy1 we should be beggared4 ,,hachmoni ,and his food1 people say1 is nought but locusts and wild honey4 ,,matthias ,get back4 ,see ye not that ye plague him8 ,they retire4 ,,josaphat ,rabbi1 forgive4 ,the people wait4 ,what is thy command to them8 ,,john ,is this ,herod's house8 ,,josaphat ,yes1 ,rabbi silence4 ,rabbi1 say1 what shall they do8 ,,john ,am ,i the keeper of these people8 ,the shepherd may drive his flock through thorns or flowers4 ,i pine for the wilderness1 for my rocky fastnesses4 ,,josaphat ,dismayed4 ,rabbi6 ,,john ,i have awakened the slumbering conscience1 scourged and roused the idle1 shown the erring the right road4 ,one great burst of indignation against ,herod now flames towards heaven4 ,so now they may let me go my way1 or send their spies after me4 ,but no priest has yet dared to stand in my path4 ,it is well4 ,my work in ,jerusalem is at an end4 ,,matthias ,not so1 ,rabbi4 ,thy work only beginneth4 ,we have to face the ,prince's entry4 ,the people want a leader4 ,,john ,whither will they be led8 ,,matthias ,that we know not1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,and do ,i know8 ,am ,i one to subject my will to the fetters of a plan1 or to spin a web of calculations for others8 ,i am the voice of one crying in the wilderness4 ,that is my destiny4 ,come6 ,he stands up4 ,,the ,,people ,hail to thee1 ,john6 ,hail6 ,as he is going1 ,amasai and ,jorab step in his way4 ,,scene ,,viii ,the same4 ,amasai1 ,jorab4 ,,amasai ,pardon us1 great ,prophet1 that we have not yet been present at thy baptisms4 ,,john ,who are ye8 ,,josaphat ,whispering4 ,be on your guard1 ,rabbi4 ,they wear the wide hem of the ,pharisees4 ,their brethren are high in the ,council4 ,,amasai ,we are diligent scribes1 simple men1 to whom the study of the law hath brought more honour than we deserve4 ,,john ,may be4 ,but what do ye want with me8 ,,amasai ,many reports of miracles worked by thee have come to our ears4 ,some say thou art ,elias2 and others1 even greater than he4 ,we are willing to believe this1 even if thou performest not his miracles4 ,naturally thou mayest have reasons in thy heart for keeping thy power of miracle-working a secret from us4 ,,pasur ,hath he worked miracles8 ,,eliakim ,not for me4 ,,pasur ,ah6 ,,amasai ,we have heard1 too1 much of thy godliness2 that thou fastest and prayest as one to whom meat and drink and earthly intercourse are of no account4 ,we fast and pray also1 and our desire for doing good cannot be satisfied4 ,but the law is harder and more zealous than we4 ,therefore we beg thee to be so gracious as to bestow on us the benefit of thy teaching1 ,rabbi1 and to tell us how we can keep the law4 ,,john ,so8 ,ye lay traps for me under the cloak of your glib words4 ,ye generation of vipers6 ,who hath told you that ye shall escape the wrath to come8 ,woe unto you1 when ,he cometh ,who is stronger than ,i6 ,he hath ,his sickle already in ,his hand4 ,he will gather the grain into ,his barn1 but the chaff ,he will burn with everlasting fire4 ,,pasur ,of whom doth he speak8 ,,hachmoni ,hush6 he speaks of the ,messiah4 ,,eliakim ,what ,messiah8 ,,jorab ,come1 ,amasai4 ,i am afraid of this man4 ,,amasai ,shielding himself with his hand4 ,we approached thee as petitioners1 and thou hast abused us4 ,we will let that pass1 presuming that thou hast a right thereto4 ,the one of whom thou speakest as coming after thee has given thee the right4 ,is it not so8 ,silence4 ,behold1 ye people of ,israel1 your prophet is silent4 ,if it be not the ,messiah1 the ,messiah of ,whom he preaches in the wilderness1 and even in the market-place1 who hath given him the right to chide us8 ,where else hath he obtained his authority8 ,ye know what we are1 ,god-fearing1 upright men1 that strive to obey the law in everything4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,people ,who is this8 ,,eliakim ,amasai1 the wise and learned scribe4 ,,people ,murmuring4 ,listen1 it is ,amasai4 ,,another ,rabbi1 wilt thou not bless us8 ,,amasai ,yea1 we1 in short1 who are a piece of the law ourselves4 ,and we have never done this man any harm4 ,if he is an enemy to us1 it must be because he is an enemy to the law4 ,,john ,thou liest4 ,,amasai ,good4 ,if ,i lie1 so teach me1 great prophet1 how thou keepest the law4 ,,josaphat ,in a low voice4 ,yes1 ,rabbi1 explain6 ,the people expect it4 ,,john ,i have nothing to do with the law1 of which ye and your like set up to be guardians and students4 ,sensation among the people4 ,,josaphat ,sotto voce4 ,rabbi1 think what thou art saying4 ,injure not thyself4 ,,john ,nay1 it is not your law1 but ye yourselves that ,i hate4 ,for your hand lieth heavily on this people1 and your well-being is its affliction4 ,,amasai ,that thou hast yet to prove1 great prophet4 ,,john ,who are ye1 ye men of worldly wisdom1 that ye should look on the law as your special inheritance and possession8 ,here is an enslaved people crawling patiently on its belly beneath a scourge1 oppressed by a heavy burden1 and ye desire to tell it how it shall crawl4 ,,amasai ,yea1 because it must crawl somehow1 great prophet4 ,,john ,ye think so4 ,i say that it shall rise out of the dust4 ,,amasai ,thus have rebels ever spoken1 and the end hath always been the cross and the gallows4 ,thou1 whom men call the great prophet1 listen to me6 ,when the ,lord redeemed ,his people the first time1 how did ,he do it8 ,through the law4 ,and when ,he redeemed them a second time1 knowest thou how ,he did it8 ,through the law4 ,so if we guard and watch this law1 and let it expand by itself1 swelling like an ear of corn1 a thousand times into a thousandfold blessings1 what is our object8 ,redemption1 the hope which lives in all of us4 ,only we do not noise it abroad in the gutter and on the housetops4 ,,people ,murmuring4 ,there he is right4 ,aye1 he is right6 ,,scene ,,ix ,the same4 ,a troop of pilgrims have come up by degrees and slake their thirst at the fountain4 ,among them ,simon the ,galilean4 ,,amasai ,see6 ,look around thee4 ,behold these pilgrims6 ,they come with their knapsacks from far distant lands3 from ,egypt1 from ,euphrates1 and ,syria1 and from the accursed city of ,rome itself4 ,they are indifferent to hunger and thirst1 the heat of the sun1 and the dust of the road4 ,and wherefore have they come8 ,because of this very law1 which ,i and my brethren guard and study4 ,and if thou sayest thou hast nothing to do with this law1 and hatest it1 tell us1 then1 what law thou lovest8 ,where do the ,commandments leave off which the ,lord made for ,his people1 and where begin the vain works of men8 ,enlighten us1 great prophet1 and scold us not4 ,,john ,is silent1 and uncertain what to say4 ,,josaphat ,i warned thee1 ,rabbi6 ,,amasai ,with a laugh of scorn4 ,now see1 all of you4 ,see6 ,methinks the great---- ,breaks off as a woman1 sickly and heavily loaded1 comes accidentally near to him4 ,he turns round in anger4 ,touch me not1 lest ,i become unclean6 ,i am a ,rechabite6 ,,simon ,,the ,,galilean ,to the woman4 ,no2 touch him not1 lest thou becomest unclean4 ,,amasai ,what8 ,,simon ,,the ,,galilean ,for the ,pharisees who call themselves ,rechabites are unclean from within4 ,come6 ,leads her to the fountain4 ,,amasai ,he denies ,god6 ,,the ,,people ,murmuring4 ,he denies ,god6 ,,amasai ,a ,rechabite unclean8 ,a man who doth nothing day and night but fulfil the law2 who performeth his sacred ablutions three times more than necessary2 who sitteth1 on the ,sabbath1 like a monument2 who speaketh a blessing at meat twice1 and over salt1 bread er----er--half choking4 ,a ,rechabite unclean8 ,,john ,if ,i could not answer thy questions with their double meaning1 thou thyself hast now answered them6 ,,amasai ,and may seven swine possess thee1 thou great prophet1 so that compared with them thou appearest to me a saint4 ,to the ,galilean4 ,and what evil spirit hath taken possession of thee1 man8 ,art thou a ,jew8 ,where dost thou come from8 ,what is thy name8 ,,matthias ,in a low voice4 ,tell him not thy name4 ,he will ruin thee4 ,,simon ,,the ,,galilean ,calmly4 ,i am a ,jew4 ,my name is ,simon1 and ,i come from ,galilee4 ,,amasai ,and as one that there knoweth ,law and ,sacrifice---- ,,simon ,,the ,,galilean ,interrupting4 ,greater than law1 greater than sacrifice1 is love6 ,sensation and dismay among people ,,amasai ,see ye not now that he is guilty against the law8 ,he continues speaking earnestly to the people ,,john ,approaching the ,galilean in great excitement4 ,who taught thee that8 ,as ,simon is silent1 more urgently4 ,who taught thee that8 ,,matthias ,in a quick1 low tone to the ,galilean4 ,before they capture thee1 fly6 ,,simon ,,the ,,galilean ,shakes his head4 ,,john ,this knowledge1 that comes straight from thy simple and timid heart1 awes me1 for it cannot be thine own4 ,the people1 hounded on by ,amasai1 jostle the ,galilean ,back6 ,in the ,name of ,him ,who cometh1 keep back4 ,leave him alone6 ,people retreat4 ,,pasur ,thou playest with us and our great longing as if we were toys4 ,,amasai ,ah1 now ,i have caught thee6 ,thou who poisonest a thirsty people with foul water6 ,where is ,he ,who shall come8 ,where is thy ,messiah8 ,where is the ,king of the ,jews8 ,aye1 show ,him to us6 ,,the ,,people ,fiercely4 ,yea1 woe to thee if thou canst not show ,him to us6 ,,john ,firmly4 ,here cometh the ,king of the ,jews whom ye acclaim6 ,,scene ,x ,the same4 ,herod1 ,herodias1 ,salome and their train appear above in the background4 ,the company of soldiers1 with their officers1 have posted themselves at the ,palace gates4 ,in silence the procession descends4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,train ,hail to ,herod6 ,still silence4 ,now1 ye dogs6 ,cry1 ,hail6 ,,herod ,at what are the people gaping8 ,to the ,commander of the ,guard4 ,ye1 who in obedience to ,rome's command are here to protect me1 cannot you clear them out of my way8 ,,the ,,soldiers ,at a sign from their ,captain begin to charge the people with lowered spears4 ,,amasai ,who is standing in the foremost row4 ,turns with a shrill cry4 ,woe6 woe6 ,takes fight4 ,jorab follows him4 ,the people retreat with a subdued exclamation of fear4 ,john alone stands his ground1 his head held high1 and measures ,herod with his glance4 ,,salome ,raising her veil4 ,mother1 look at that man4 ,it is the same who stood in the market-place and at the gates and everywhere where we have passed4 ,,herod ,and everywhere caused dissension4 ,,salome ,look6 ,his eyes flash fire6 ,mother1 look6 ,,herod ,come along1 ye women4 ,and if the pious citizens of ,jerusalem have unlearnt the way to welcome with rejoicing the representative of the great race of ,herod with a glance at the ,captain of the ,guard1 ,rome1 ,i hope1 will teach it to them again4 ,the ,captain shrugs his shoulders with a slight smile4 ,,herod ,come1 ,i pray4 ,herod1 ,herodias1 ,salome1 go with their train into the ,palace2 the common soldiers into the guard-room4 ,,scene ,,xii ,johannes1 ,josaphat1 ,matthias1 ,manassa1 ,hachmoni1 ,pasur1 the people4 ,,hachmoni ,at the head of a group1 pressing forward ,pardon us1 great prophet4 ,the ,pharisees have fled like cowards4 ,but1 see1 we cling to thee4 ,so now help us4 ,,the ,,people ,help us6 ,,john ,as if in a dream4 ,tell me1 whither hath the man from ,galilee gone8 ,,manassa ,rabbi1 we know not4 ,,john ,then seek him4 ,bring him to me4 ,,manassa ,yes1 ,rabbi4 ,,all ,,the ,,people ,tarry with us1 great prophet4 ,help us6 ,we flee to thee4 ,,john ,pondering in uncertainty4 ,matthias1 ,josaphat1 did he not say ,love8 ,the curtain falls4 ,,second ,,act ,,second ,,act ,hall in ,roman style of architecture in ,herod 's ,palace--,on the right side1 a balcony upheld by pillars1 which extends the whole depth of the stage1 and to which a fight of steps leads--,off the balcony a door opens into ,salome's room--,underneath1 on the ground floor1 another door--,in the centre of the background is the chief entrance--,on the left1 a window--,near it a couch and other furniture--,to the right1 between the pillars of the balcony1 is a divan--,carpets and tiger-skins on the floor--,a mixture of ,roman and ,oriental luxury4 ,,scene ,i ,maecha1 ,miriam1 ,abi on the balcony4 ,after them1 ,salome4 ,,the ,,damsels ,stepping cautiously and listening4 ,,salome ,through the door4 ,is it safe8 ,no one there8 ,,maecha ,not a sound of anyone4 ,,salome ,then1 come6 ,they skip down the stairs4 ,,salome ,ah1 here it is light1 and one can see oneself reflected in the walls4 ,do you know why we have been suddenly mewed up in the apartments above8 ,yesterday we were allowed to wander as we listed through all the passages1 to dance unveiled in the gardens1 and peep through the railings and mock the passers-by4 ,but to-day1 since my uncle came1 we have had to sit moping in sackcloth and ashes4 ,why8 ,do none of you know why8 ,,maecha ,mistress1 the house is now filled with strangers who were not here yesterday4 ,and1 it is said that the men who are in the ,tetrarch's following run after young maidens4 ,,salome ,let them6 ,i am not afraid of any men4444 ,i take them as ,i find them4444 ,i love them4 ,,abi ,thou knowest men1 mistress8 ,,salome ,i mean not the men of our own people6 ,they wear beards on their chins like forests1 and before one can look round1 they stand there barefooted1 and then people say---- ,no2 ,i mislike that4 ,but once1 when ,i was with my father in ,antioch1 ,i met pale youths with golden brown hair1 and they wore red shoes and smelt of perfumes4444 ,they were ,greeks1 my father said1 real ,greeks from ,hellas4444 ,they smiled1 and it made me thrill4444 ,why dost thou stand there sulking1 ,miriam1 and listenest not to my converse8 ,it doth not please thee8 ,laugh1 or ,i'll beat thee4 ,if thou laughest not1 ,i'll have thee whipped6 ,,miriam ,let me be whipped1 mistress4 ,,salome ,where wert thou last night8 ,the palace guards said thou wouldst visit thy sweetheart4444 ,thou hast a lover8 ,roguishly4 ,whisper his name in my ear and ,i'll give thee a gold pin4 ,,miriam ,i have no one that loveth me1 mistress4 ,,salome ,the language of you ,judeans hath an insipid flavour1 and your eyes dissemble4 ,yet1 ,i love ,jerusalem4 ,a purple haze hangs over its gables4 ,and it seemeth to me ever as if the sun in ,jerusalem kissed one secretly4 ,but ye could not understand how that is 444 ye have not the blood of the great ,herod in your veins4 ,my mother hath it1 and ,i have it from her4444 ,and whatever they may say in ,jerusalem1 my mother was wise to run away from that other husband1 for the one here is of more account than he4 ,and because she was so wise1 and at the same time so sadly foolish1 ,i love her1 and will share the consequences of her folly4 ,she flings herself on the couch4 ,i am not displeasing to my uncle ,herod4444 ,i have remarked that he casts stolen glances at me4444 ,now when my mother scolds me ,i shall know how to tease her6 ,trills forth4 ,i am the ,rose of ,sharon1 a flower of the valley4 ,cometh not my friend into his garden to eat of---- ,miriam1 where does that window look out8 ,,miriam ,i do not know1 mistress4 ,i have never been in this hall before4 ,,salome ,go and see4 ,,miriam ,looks out of the window and starts4 ,,salome ,why dost thou start8 ,,miriam ,did ,i1 mistress8 ,,salome ,tell me what thou seest8 ,,miriam ,there are many people standing round a fountain1 and---- ,,salome ,and8 ,,miriam ,i cannot---- ,,salome ,stands up and goes to window4 ,ah6 ,looking out for a moment in silence4 ,miriam1 who is that8 ,,miriam ,confused4 ,whom dost thou mean1 mistress8 ,,salome ,is there anyone else but him8444 ,miriam1 thou gentle1 brown ,miriam half threateningly1 deny him not6 ,,miriam ,it is--,john--the ,baptist4 ,,abi1 ,,maecha ,hurrying up1 all curiosity4 ,the ,baptist8 ,,salome ,let him be who he be4 ,see how the people surge round him6 ,have ye ever in your valley seen a rock bend8 ,he doth not bend4 ,ha6 ha6 ,not he6 ,only if--perhaps---- ,she stretches out her arms4 ,,scene ,,ii ,the same4 ,herodias4 ,enters from centre4 ,,maecha ,mistress1 thy mother6 ,,the ,,three ,,maidens ,withdraw quickly from the window4 ,,herodias ,what are ye doing here1 damsels8 ,salome thou6 ,shall we let it be said that we have brought evil manners into ,jerusalem8 ,,salome ,intending to wound1 but outwardly meek4 ,methinks it is said already4 ,,herodias ,enraged4 ,go6 ,,salome ,yes1 mother4 ,she crosses over1 and lingers between the pillars of the balcony4 ,,herodias ,ye damsels1 stay6 ,ye are ,judeans8 ,,maecha ,yes1 mistress4 ,,herodias ,intelligence hath reached me of one they call the ,baptist stirring up rebellion in the streets4 ,which of you know the man8 ,,maecha ,she does4 ,,abi ,she hath this moment confessed it4 ,,herodias ,what dost thou know of him8 ,,miriam ,that last night ,i sat at his feet praying4 ,,salome ,coming forward ,thou8 ,thou8 ,,maecha ,pardon6 ,a moment ago he was standing close to the ,palace4 ,,herodias ,show him to me4 ,,maecha ,from the window ,now is he gone4 ,,herodias ,to ,miriam ,so speed after him1 and when thou hast found him1 bring him privately through yonder gate4 ,points below to the right ,,salome ,she shall not4444 ,i will not 444 ,not her6 ,,herodias ,why not8 ,,salome ,throwing her arms round ,miriam ,she is dearest to me4 ,i will not let her go out of my sight4 ,comes over and supplicates ,herodias ,mother6 ,,herodias ,art thou still such a child8 ,to ,miriam4 ,go6 ,,salome ,angrily4 ,miriam6 ,exit ,miriam4 ,,herodias ,such a child1 and already hast the tooth of a serpent in thy mouth6 ,,salome ,kneels on the couch before her mother and encircles her knees with her arms4 ,forgive me1 mother4 ,we1 thou and ,i1 are not like others4 ,we sting those we love4 ,,herodias ,sotto voce4 ,and those we hate8 ,,salome ,sotto voce4 ,we kiss6 ,,herodias ,laughing4 ,child6 ,she kisses her4 ,,salome ,laughing4 ,thou kissest me6 ,,scene ,,iii ,the same4 ,the ,palace ,captain4 ,,palace ,,captain ,my master1 the ,tetrarch ,herod1 would see thee1 mistress4 ,,herodias ,in growing anxiety covers ,salomes' face with her veil4 ,go1 make haste2 go6 ,,salome ,mother1 ,i am dull in the upstair chambers4 ,may ,i not stay near thee8 ,,herodias ,looking towards the door4 ,go1 instantly6 ,,salome ,slowly climbs the stairs with her companions4 ,,herodias ,thou art ,captain in the ,palace8 ,,the ,,palace ,,captain ,bows4 ,,herodias ,go1 set watches at every door4 ,who entereth goeth not out again4444 ,and keep silent4 ,,the ,,palace ,,captain ,one has but to see thee to know that thou art the mistress4444 ,how should ,i not be silent8 ,goes to the door4 ,,scene ,,iv ,the same4 ,herod1 ,gabalos1 ,merokles1 ,jabad4 ,the ,palace ,captain exit when the others enter4 ,,herod ,princess1 after waiting even the space of a moment1 a man will enjoy his favours to the full4444 ,therefore 444 ,kisses her on brow and mouth4 ,pardon6 ,,herodias ,thou hast rested2 art refreshed8 ,,herod ,that question thou oughtst not to ask me4 ,my father was one of those men who never knew what weariness was4 ,so his son1 likewise1 parts company with his pillow betimes1 and---- ,he observes ,salome who1 with her veil slightly lifted1 looks down from the balcony1 and after she sees that he has noticed her1 vanishes4 ,,herodias ,thou art silent4 ,,herod ,thy daughter is not with thee8 ,,herodias ,dryly4 ,no4 ,,herod ,bows his head1 smiling4 ,allow me1 ,princess 444 to present these friends4444 ,i will not call them servants1 for such they are not4 ,,merokles ,oh1 mistress1 they are servants whom thou mayest safely make thy friends4 ,,jabad ,and they are friends in order that they may serve thee4 ,,gabalos ,and are amply rewarded for both1 great mistress4 ,,herod ,smiling4 ,this rascal1 whose ,syrian dialect thou art now acquainted with for the first time1 is ,gabalos from ,antioch4 ,thou seest1 ,i tolerate his jesting4 ,,gabalos ,for ,herod the ,great also kept a ,fool4 ,,herodias ,and people say that he acquired a second ,fool before he let the first drown4 ,,gabalos ,bows1 smiling1 then turns aside with a grimace4 ,,herod ,this is ,merokles1 the rhetorician4 ,his voice carries far4 ,it is heard in ,rome1 when folks there would overhear my own4 ,,merokles ,but ,i shall take no satisfaction in that voice till it may greet thee1 mistress1 with the cry ,hail to thee1 ,o ,queen6 ,,herodias ,winces1 then smiles and exchanges a glance with ,herod4 ,,merokles ,sotto voce1 joining ,gabalos4 ,thou madest a good hit2 ,i a better4 ,,herod ,and in contrast to this cool flatterer1 here is ,jabad the ,levite1 my guide and my conscience ever since ,i set foot on ,jewish soil4 ,for1 by ,bacchus1 he knows exactly what ,i have to do1 every moment1 in order to be pious1 after the manner of my pious people4 ,,gabalos ,sotto voce4 ,he acts as if he had forgotten the way4 ,,merokles ,sotto voce4 ,for by so doing he thinks he will the more resemble his father4 ,,herod ,as an example1 what ought ,i to be doing at this sacred moment8 ,,jabad ,the sun is sinking1 oh master4 ,thy ,passover lamb1 one year old and flawless1 hath been slaughtered in the ,temple4 ,it is now in the yard to be blessed4 ,thou1 as the lord and master of this house---- ,,herod ,must do it myself8 ,,jabad ,thine illustrious father did not1 and there was1 on that account1 grumbling amongst the people4 ,,herod ,blessing is cleaner work than slaughter4 ,i will do it4 ,see1 ye wise ,greeks1 that we must serve the gods in order to rule over men6 ,and in the end we serve to no purpose4 ,he motions them away4 ,to ,jabad4 ,go and make ready1 and ,i will follow thee4 ,exeunt ,gabalos1 ,merokles1 and ,jabad4 ,,scene ,v ,herod1 ,herodias later ,salome with ,maecha1 on the balcony4 ,herod and ,herodias stand together a few moments in silence4 ,,herodias ,art thou content8 ,,herod ,thy kindness oppresses me4 ,whether thou art content seemeth to me of more importance4 ,,herodias ,feeling his tone of contempt4 ,i have had no roof over my head for three nights4 ,like a tramp ,i have wandered in the dust of the roads4 ,my serving-women one by one deserted me4 ,only ,salome hath not forsaken me4 ,i have robbed her of her father2 the father ,i have robbed of his child4 ,and what ,i have robbed my husband of thou canst estimate better than it beseemeth me4 ,see1 all this ,i have done for thee6 ,,herod ,i have abandoned my wife1 who also said she loved me4 ,she flew to her father4 ,he now maketh ready for war to avenge his child's wrong4 ,only a trifle is lacking3 ,i have no army4 ,in ,rome ,i am threatened with disgrace2 my brother curses me2 ,judea points the finger of scorn at me4444 ,so little have ,i done for thee---- ,,herodias ,and thou repentest this little already8 ,,herod ,no6 only forgive me if ,i blame thy coming too soon4 ,,herodias ,too soon6 ,was warmer welcome ever heard than this too soon8 ,,herod ,take not my words amiss1 ,i entreat thee6 ,,herodias ,i dare not say that longing drove me here4 ,,herod ,with an embarrassed smile4 ,say it 444 by all means6 ,,herodias ,then thou hast not forgotten the days--of eloquent looks and silent vows--when every breath was a longing desire and every word a feast8 ,,herod ,how should ,i forget8 ,love1 how should ,i----8 ,,herodias ,and thou rememberest no more the nights when wandering footsteps stole their way to the fragrant gardens1 where1 in the feverish blossoming around them1 two sleepless ones mingled their sighs8 ,,herod ,how could ,i not remember2 ,love1 how could ,i not8 ,,herodias ,i have clothed myself in ,indian draperies2 ,i have put pomegranate blossoms in my bosom1 and gold dust in my hair 444 but thou seest nothing6444 ,my converse is bridal1 but thou hearest it not4 ,salome has appeared on the balcony with ,maecha4 ,herod notices her4 ,,salome ,wait2 let me see whether he has already come4 ,she looks over1 and after her eyes have met ,herod's she vanishes4 ,,herodias ,observing his absence of mind1 with an exclamation4 ,no6 thou hearest nothing4 ,,herod ,quickly recovering himself8 ,well2 what if it is so8 ,the language of our soul1 which thou art kind enough to call bridal1 was fitting to the delight of those fragrant gardens4 ,to-day1 methinks1 we have another task before us6 ,,herodias ,thinkest thou that ,i have been idle8 ,am ,i a woman who cometh to beg of you a nightly dole of caresses8 ,look at me4444 ,not thy beloved4444 ,she exists no longer4444 ,see in me thy ruling mistress6 ,,herod ,i am looking1 and ,i see a woman who raves4 ,,herodias ,as real as the ambition of thy mistress1 as real as the secret resentment which gnaws beneath thy own2 despite thy ever-ready smiles4 ,,herod ,horrified4 ,who told thee 444 whence 4448 ,,herodias ,so real and positive is my hold over thee4 ,just now1 when thou didst say ,i raved1 thou wast reflecting how thou couldst best get rid of me4444 ,thou fool2 then get rid of thy wakeful nights and all that which thou thinkest great in thyself1 the inheritance of that greater than thou1 whom thou wilt never equal4444 ,,herod ,woman 444 what 444 his words choke in his throat4 ,,herodias ,laughing4 ,speak out what thou hast to say4 ,if thou no longer needest me for love1 thou mayest still require me as a listener and adviser4 ,,herod ,after he has walked up and down several times in great excitement4 ,never resemble4444 ,what is the man who smiles amiably in wrath8 ,a coward8444 ,what is the man1 who has two faces8 ,insincere8444 ,who fawns on those in power4 ,servile8 ,no2 because the great ,herod also did these things4 ,but sometimes1 when the blood throbbed to bursting in his veins1 he snatched his sword from the sheath and slashed at friend and enemy alike who stood in his way 444 till the blood of his victim washed him calm and cool again 444 till the mighty at ,rome experienced a thrill at such a display of strength4444 ,i1 too1 feel the blood hammering in my veins4444 ,i1 too1 would 444 but ,i have no sword 444 and so ,i must continue to smile amiably 444 continue showing two faces1 and licking the sandals of the priests4444 ,i1 the son of ,herod2 ,i1 his ape6 ,,herodias ,and suppose that the priests of the ,temple adopted the attitude of shield and barrier betwixt thee and the fury of the people1 wouldst thou doubt thyself less8 ,,herod ,i doubt myself not4 ,and what thou sayest can never happen4 ,,herodias ,goes to the middle door and opens it4 ,a ,porteress enters4 ,,herodias ,what tidings hast thou8 ,,the ,,porteress ,the two messengers to the ,temple1 mistress1 have come back with word from the ,high ,priest4 ,,herodias ,show them into the outer hall4444 ,they shall wait there4 ,exit the ,porteress4 ,,herod ,with a laugh of rage and fear4 ,are their trumpets already sounding on the road8 ,hath the great curse already reached the door8 ,,herodias ,thou art wrong1 my friend4 ,only a little blessing scratches at the door4444 ,if it pleaseth thee1 let it come in4 ,,herod ,thou dreamest4 ,,herodias ,listen to me6 ,why did ,i come before thee in haste to inhabit this empty house8444 ,because every hour since ,i came ,i have been negotiating with the priests---- ,,herod ,thou8 ,,herodias ,what if instead of hiding the sinning woman from the people1 thou1 with head held aloft1 repairest with her to the ,temple8 ,would it not be an ironical event if the ,high ,priest1 with the same air of patriarchal servility with which he greeted the virtuous ,mariamne1 also smiled a welcome to thy brother's runaway wife8 ,,herod ,with what sum hast thou purchased this8 ,,herodias ,when it is given1 it will be a present1 not a purchase4 ,,herod ,only one who knows not these butchers of the ,high ,altar could believe you4 ,,herodias ,well1 these are the terms in a low voice4 ,if we were to promise never again to aspire in ,rome to the sceptre of ,judea scoffingly1 then they might consider---- ,,herod ,and what answer didst thou make to such drastic1 such---- ,,herodias ,i promised4444 ,what else should ,i do8444 for thee1 as well as myself4 ,,herod ,pointing to himself4 ,even before this booty was thine1 thou hast betrayed it8 ,,herodias ,i fancied that ,i heard thee crying out just now for a sword4 ,smiling4 ,when thou art king1 thou wilt1 of course1 kill all whom thou hast promised not to be king6 ,that is the same thing as if thou hadst never promised it4 ,,herod ,staring at her4 ,woman6 ,,herodias ,believest thou still that ,i hurried here only for the sake of a kiss8 ,,herod ,i shudder at thee4 ,but even if the priests be won over1 there remains the people1 the hydra-headed2 thou knowest not the people4 ,they once1 it is said1 hurled sacrificial victims at the head of their king1 they slew ,barachia's son between the ,temple and the altar4 ,and besides1 dost thou not know that ,john the ,baptist is in the town8 ,,herodias ,the ,baptist6 ,leave the ,baptist to me4 ,,herod ,i warn thee1 approach him only with a weapon in thy hand6 ,,herodias ,laughs4 ,,scene ,,vi ,the same4 ,jabad and several servants4 ,,jabad ,pardon1 oh master1 the lamb is ready4 ,,herod ,first1 we will hear what the priests have to say if your mistress1 our mistress1 so pleaseth4 ,,herodias ,assents1 smiling4 ,exeunt all4 ,,scene ,,vii ,john1 ,miriam come through the lower door to right4 ,,miriam ,await her here1 ,rabbi4444 ,what are thy commands to thy handmaiden8 ,,john ,shakes his head4 ,,miriam ,kisses the hem of his garment4 ,exit4 ,,scene ,,viii ,john left alone for a brief space1 then ,salome1 and two of her damsels4 ,,salome ,steps softly to the balustrade and gazes down on ,john1 seeks in her breast for a flower1 and not finding one turns back to ,maecha4 ,give me those thou wearest in thy girdle4 ,she takes the roses which ,maecha hands to her and throws them down4 ,he doth not see them4 ,bring more flowers1 and thy harp4 ,stay1 ,maecha1 or ,i shall be afraid4 ,exeunt the maids1 except ,maecha4 ,thou fair savage1 out of the wilderness of ,judah6 ,the fire of hate that flashes from thy eye shall not devour me6 ,i will kindle another fire in it1 lovely and languid like my dreams1 when at night the perfume of the narcissi is wafted to my pillow4 ,the maids come back4 ,give them here4444 ,roses 444 two arms' full4 ,hides her face in the flowers4 ,now if ,i had narcissi1 too6 ,nay1 but tarry and sing the song which ,i taught you yesterday1 the song which the dancers sang at ,antioch4 ,but sing softly1 so that he be not shy of us4 ,where is ,miriam8 ,,abi ,she refuseth to come4 ,,salome ,between her teeth4 ,she refuseth6 ,he saw the rose4 ,he is picking it up 444 as if he had never----,there are more 444 and more 444 and more4 ,she scatters the roses down on him4 ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,maidens ,the following is accompanied by the harp1 which1 after playing a finale alone1 dies away4 ,i have entertained thee with myrrh and honey4 ,i bound sweet sandals on my feet4 ,from my waist ,i have loosened the girdle1 ,i have sung with the harp1 thee to greet4 ,now come1 let us quench ,the fire that consumes me 444 ,come6 ,or thou from fear shalt blench4 ,for my soul will hate thee 444 ,come6 ,,john ,has looked up astonished4 ,the hail of flowers strikes him in the face4 ,he shrinks back4 ,who playeth with me8 ,,salome ,who has slowly descended the steps4 ,master1 ,i---- ,,john ,who art thou8 ,,salome ,coyly trifling4 ,i am a rose of ,sharon and a flower of the valley4 ,,john ,then play with thy mates 444 ,leave me in peace 444 or go and call her who summoned me4 ,,salome ,my mother8 ,,john ,thou art ,salome the---- ,,salome ,yes2 ,i am she4 ,,john ,let me look into thy eyes1 maiden4 ,,salome ,look1 master 444 ,no1 but not like that4444 ,if you compellest me to put my hands before my face1 ,i shall spread my fingers apart and laugh between them2 yes1 ,i shall laugh4 ,,john ,maiden1 knowst thou not how abhorred this house is8 ,keepest thou thy soul innocent among the guilty8 ,,salome ,look at me again1 master4444 ,am ,i not young among the ,daughters of ,israel8 ,and ,i have heard say that youth knoweth nothing of the guilty and of guilt4 ,see1 they keep me confined to the upper chambers4 ,i drew back the bolts and crept out here1 because ,i knew thou wert here1 master4 ,,john ,how can ,i say to the storm wind3 ,pass by1 and to the floods1 ,swallow her not8 ,,salome ,speak on1 master1 even if ,i understand nothing thou sayest4 ,and knowest thou that we are now sinning according to the ,jewish law8 ,both of us--yea1 it is true4 ,my companions are gone2 and is it not forbidden for a ,jewish man to be alone with a virgin8 ,,john ,i am not alone with thee4 ,behind us standeth the shadow of those who have dragged thee with them through the foul refuse of their pleasures4 ,,salome ,i have my own pleasures1 master4 ,how shall the pleasures of others concern me8 ,i read once a saying that stolen fruits are sweet1 and my nurse used to tell me that undiscovered treasure was only found by those who did not seek for it4444 ,is it not true thou hast not sought me8 ,,john ,thy converse is confused4 ,,salome ,no matter4 ,chide me not4 ,think1 are not our dreams confused too8 ,when ,i flew hither with my mother1 we came at night to a field of poppies4 ,and the dew shone on their petals4444 ,they looked grey1 and were all closed up because it was night4444 ,but now they are wide open1 and ,i think my cheeks must glow red in their reflection4 ,,john ,thou art lovely among the daughters of ,jerusalem4 ,they will weep for thee4 ,,salome ,why will they weep8 ,am ,i to be sacrificed8 ,not ,i1 master4 ,protect me6 ,i have heard of a king1 master1 who made a compact with the sun4 ,hast thou heard of him8 ,john bows his head4 ,,salome ,well1 ,i will make a compact with thee4 ,shall ,i be the sun1 and thou my king8 ,or wilt thou be the sun1 and ,i thy queen8 ,,john ,maiden1 ,i cannot be either sun or king4 ,,salome ,why not8 ,it is only a game4 ,,john ,a ,king cometh after me1 but ,i wander in the wilderness and seek a path among thorns4 ,,salome ,and hast not found it8 ,,john ,not for myself4 ,,salome ,but for others8 ,,john ,in torture1 half to himself4 ,who knoweth8 ,,salome ,master1 what harm shall wrath do one1 who is a jubilation and a feast day8 ,and if thou camest to me in flames of fire1 ,i would not mourn my youth for the length of two moons4444 ,i would stretch out my arms and cry1 ,destroy me1 flame2 take me up6 ,,john ,after a pause4 ,go6 ,,salome ,i am going4 ,she rushes into the arms of ,herodias1 who enters4 ,mother6 ,,scene ,,ix ,the same4 ,herodias and her women4 ,,salome ,forgive me1 mother1 and let me stay with thee4 ,,herodias ,thou who lookest at me so imperiously1 art thou the man who stirreth up the people against me8 ,,john ,i am he whom thou hast summoned4 ,,herodias ,seating herself4 ,come hither to me6 ,,john ,send thy women away1 and this child1 so that she be not corrupted ere she is ripe4 ,,herodias ,but this child1 companion of my fate1 shall hear what thou hast to say to me4 ,,john ,she should be guarded from what ,i have to say to thee4 ,,herodias ,take care1 prophet6 ,at that door stand armed men1 two deep4 ,consider thy danger1 so that thou courtest not death6 ,,john ,i am a servant of life1 and danger never standeth in my way4 ,,herodias ,i respect thy faith1 prophet1 and so would speak to thee in a friendly spirit4444 ,people have told me of a man who keeps far away from human dwellings1 and only descends now and then to the banks of fresh waters to bless1 so it is said4 ,that pleased me well4444 ,the great willingly bow to greatness 444 and so ,i bow to thee4 ,,salome ,after cowering at her feet1 springs up1 and throws herself on her neck4 ,,herodias ,i will not reproach thee for denouncing me in the market-place of ,jerusalem1 for thou dost not know me4444 ,yet ,i was not well pleased that thou didst chew the cud of wormwood1 which hath embittered these ,judean cattle against me4 ,i should have thought thou wast too proud1 thy solitary nature too noble6 ,,john ,i have not come here for thy praise or thy blame4 ,i have but a simple question to ask4 ,art thou going on the first day of the ,passover to the ,temple1 at the ,tetrarch's side8 ,,herodias ,mastering her scorn with difficulty4 ,i perceive1 thou great prophet1 that thy wrath strains on its chain4444 ,before thou lettest it loose1 permit me also to ask a question2 for see1 ,i am endeavouring to approach thee1 and would gladly win thee4 ,wert thou not a riddle to me1 ,i should not ask it4 ,yet truly no man is so curiously fashioned as not to cherish secret wishes in his heart4 ,every one hath said to himself3 ,this were my delight1 and that my desire4 ,,john ,i understand thee not4 ,,herodias ,look round thee4 ,doth not the gleaming snow of marble attract thy eyes1 nor the yellow glitter of gold8 ,,john ,is silent4 ,,herodias ,or 444 hast thou never dreamed of the power and splendour and riches of this world8 ,,john ,still silent4 ,or pointing to ,salome1 who again cowers at her feet4 has thy heart not trembled at the sight of this sweet1 unveiled youth8 ,,john ,after further silence4 ,thou wouldst sell thyself to me6 ,dost thou know thy own price8 ,a grain of barley would be too dear 444 for thy name is courtezan1 and adulteress is written on thy brow4 ,,herodias ,infuriated4 ,thou--thou---- ,,salome ,falling into her arms4 ,mother6 ,,herodias ,controlling herself haughtily and contemptuously4 ,i should have thee seized on the instant1 only thou makest sport for me4 ,and if not quite intoxicated with thy own superiority1 listen to me once more4 ,he who thinketh himself designed to be a judge over men should take part in the life of men1 should be human among human beings4 ,,john ,impressed4 ,what 444 didst thou say8 ,,herodias ,but thou seemest to me so isolated from thy fellow-men that the throb of a human heart itself is nothing to thee4444 ,thou hast avoided1 cowardlike1 all contact with sin and guilt in thy waste places1 and now creepest forth to condemn others as guilty4 ,the scorching winds of thy desert may perhaps have taught thee hate 444 but what knowest thou of love8 of those who live and die for the sake of their love8 ,,john ,thou too speakest of love 444 thou too8 ,,herodias ,see6 ,i am laughing at thee1 great prophet4 ,she laughs4 ,,salome ,mother1 look at him 444 be silent6 ,,john ,thy poisoned arrows are well aimed1 and hit their mark6 ,but 444 pointing to the window see there1 the ,lord's people 444 they gnash their teeth against thee1 for thou hast taken their bitter bread out of their mouths and dissipated their miserable joys4444 ,thou sayest that ,i know them not4444 ,yet ,i know their heart's desire 444 for ,i have created it2 ,i have put my life at the service of that desire1 and ,i cry to thee1 ,woe6 thou that hast contaminated it for them4444 ,thou enervatest the strength of their young men1 and exposest the shame of their young women4 ,thou sowest scoffings where ,i thought to reap faith4444 ,and if thou bendest the ,high and ,mighty to be the footstool of thy lusts1 ,i will fling the poor and humble in thy path1 that they may trample thee beneath their feet4444 ,woe to thee1 and woe to him who shareth thy adulterous couch6444 ,woe1 too1 to this youthful body that cringes under the scourge of thy blood6 ,woe6 ,woe6 ,,herodias ,springing up and going to the door on right4 ,the guards shall seize him4444 ,guards6444 ,she wrenches the door open4 ,,scene ,x ,the same4 ,two guards4 ,,herodias ,lead this man 444 4 ,she hesitates as she meets ,john's eyes4 ,,john ,smiling4 ,now1 look to it1 what thou dost with me6 ,,herodias ,lead this man 444 out 444 into the street4444 ,she staggers to the divan4 ,,salome ,thou camest in flames of fire6444 ,,john ,walks to the door4 ,the ,curtain falls4 ,,third ,,act ,,third ,,act ,a room in ,josaphat's house4 ,in the background a door1 which leads into the street4 ,near it a barred window4 ,on the left side is a door to another living room4 ,a door also on the right4 ,in the foreground to left a cobbler's tools4 ,towards centre1 a table and two or three benches4 ,to the right1 a couch1 a small table1 and chair beside it4 ,the room is poor1 but not bare2 lighted by two clay lamps4 ,,scene ,i ,,jael ,with a child at her breast4 ,two other children and several women standing near door on left listening to a psalm sung by men's voices1 which is heard in subdued strains coming through the door4 ,,the ,,boy ,what are they singing now1 mother8 ,,jael ,pale and troubled4 ,they sing the great ,hallelujah1 my child4 ,,the ,,boy ,is the prophet singing with them1 mother8 ,,jael ,that ,i cannot hear1 my child4 ,two more women come through middle door4 ,,first ,,woman ,jael1 we have heard that the ,great ,prophet eateth the passover in thy house4 ,wilt thou permit us to see him8 ,,jael ,come in6 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,other ,,women ,that is he1 the last there on the left4 ,,first ,,woman ,he that sitteth there looking so heavy of spirit8 ,,the ,,second ,,woman ,i should be frightened of him4 ,the singing has meanwhile ceased4 ,,first ,,woman ,they say that he hath come into the town to judge ,herodias4 ,is that so1 ,jael8 ,,jael ,i know not4 ,,the ,,boy ,mother1 see1 they are now drinking the fourth goblet4 ,they will be here directly4 ,,first ,,woman ,hath he spoken a blessing over the fourth goblet8 ,,second ,,woman ,no2 ,josaphat spake it4 ,,first ,,woman ,see1 they are standing up6 ,,another ,are they coming hither1 ,jael8 ,,jael ,that is the couch on which he will rest4 ,,several ,then farewell1 ,jael4 ,,jael ,farewell6 ,they hurry out4 ,,scene ,,ii ,jael with her children4 ,john1 ,josaphat1 ,amarja4 ,,josaphat ,here thou wilt be alone1 ,rabbi4 ,the others remain outside4 ,,john ,accept my thanks1 ,josaphat4 ,,amarja ,mine1 too1 ,josaphat4 ,,josaphat ,thank him1 ,amarja1 for eating with us4 ,while ,john seats himself1 he says1 sotto voce1 to ,amarja ,come6 ,observes ,jael1 who has been standing at the door unnoticed4 ,jael1 thou here1 and the children8 ,,john ,is that thy wife1 ,josaphat8 ,,josaphat ,yes1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,and thy children8 ,,josaphat ,yes1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,thou hast never told me of these4444 ,is thy name ,jael8 ,he called thee so4 ,,jael ,yes1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,why comest thou not nearer8 ,,the ,,boy ,we are afraid of thee1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,smiling4 ,why are you afraid8 ,,the ,,boy ,i do not know4 ,,josaphat ,forgive him1 ,rabbi 444 he 444 ,,john ,josaphat1 wilt thou entrust them to me for a few minutes8 ,,josaphat ,bows his head1 signs to ,amarja1 and goes away with him to the right4 ,,scene ,,iii ,john1 ,jael1 the children4 ,,john ,thy eyes have a sad look1 ,jael4 ,is thy heart troubled8 ,,jael ,kneel down1 ,baruch1 my son4 ,kneel down1 both4 ,,the ,,boy ,half crying4 ,mother6 ,,john ,what is it1 ,jael8 ,,jael ,to the children4 ,say3 ,prithee1 ,rabbi8 ,,the ,,children ,prithee1 ,rabbi4 ,,jael ,and this little one prayeth1 too1 though not old enough to pray4444 ,,john ,for what8 ,,jael ,that thou wouldest give them back their father2 for see1 they have no bread4 ,,john ,lifting the children from their knees4 ,just now we ate of the lamb in thy house1 and thou sayest we have no bread8 ,,jael ,i do not speak of to-day2 to-day the poorest have something to eat4 ,thou art truly a great prophet1 ,rabbi1 and thou givest much to the people2 but from us--from me and these little children--thou takest away all that we have4 ,,john ,how could ,i do that1 ,jael8 ,,jael ,see2 for a long time my husband goeth out every night to thee in the wilderness1 and then the tools lie there idle1 and we starve4 ,but willingly would we starve and die of hunger for him1 if thou hadst not estranged his heart from us1 and stolen his love for thyself4 ,,john ,art thou1 too1 one of those who say1 ,greater than the law and sacrifice is love8 ,,jael ,anxiously4 ,i did not say that1 ,rabbi4444 ,thou wouldst not get me into trouble with the priests8 ,,john ,but thou thinkst so in thy heart6 ,,jael ,rabbi6 ,,john ,hadst thou come to me in my wilderness1 ,i would have shown thee the way to ,one ,who shall bring food to the hungry4 ,here1 ,i am powerless4 ,go2 ,i have nothing to do with thee6 ,,jael ,goes with the children to the door1 ,,john ,makes a movement as if he would call her back4 ,,jael ,rabbi6 ,,john ,shakes his head4 ,exit ,jael1 with the children4 ,,scene ,,iv ,john1 ,josaphat1 ,amarja4 ,,john ,josaphat1 how long have ,i known thee8 ,,josaphat ,it is two years since ,i came to thy baptism4 ,,john ,and since1 thou hast been often8 ,,josaphat ,have ,i not always been with thee1 ,rabbi8 ,,john ,i never knew that thou wast a cobbler 444 and that thy children cried for bread6 ,it seems to me that ,i do not know thee even yet1 ,josaphat4 ,,josaphat ,thou knowest what is best in me1 for thou hast given it to me6 ,,john ,so1 then1 ,i know myself alone4 ,and of thee1 too1 ,amarja1 ,i know no more4444 ,only this ,i know4 ,gazing into vacancy4 ,i am sent---- ,breaks off4 ,,josaphat ,rabbi6 ,,john ,some one hath said to me that ,i knew ye not2 one of those who have the word love on their tongues4444 ,and ,i am inclined to believe her4444 ,but even if ,i have known you1 ,i have not desired to love you1 but rather to judge you in the name of---- ,in whose name8 ,know ye the rest8 ,,josaphat ,in the name of ,him ,who shall come4 ,so thou hast taught us1 master4 ,,john ,sooner would ,i talk to these black walls1 that they might perhaps fall2 sooner to thy hungry children1 that my words might fill them4 ,but the belief that looketh up to me1 transfigured because it believeth4444 ,that hurts me4 ,,amarja ,low to ,josaphat4 ,it is now the second hour4 ,wilt thou not mention ,herod to him8 ,,john ,as ,josaphat comes nearer to him4 ,i sent the youngest of you to search for the ,galilean4 ,where is he8 ,,josaphat ,he has not yet come back1 master4 ,,john ,may be he has lost the way4 ,,josaphat ,i told him where to come to1 master4 ,,john ,i want the ,galilean4444 ,ye shall procure me the ,galilean4444 ,see ye not that my strength rests in my ,king 444 ,even if ,i serve ,him like an unworthy vessel 444 ,i serve ,him according to my measure4444 ,i have borne witness to ,him4444 ,is that not true8 ,,josaphat ,thou hast borne witness1 indeed1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,but the testimony hath grown up in my soul4 ,when ,he comes1 will ,he bear it out8 ,,josaphat ,he will1 master2 for ,god sendeth ,him4 ,,john ,else my soul hath not known ,him1 even as it hath not known you4 ,have ye no news of ,manassa8 ,go and keep watch outside1 that he doth not miss the house4 ,,josaphat ,that will be he6 ,goes to open the door4 ,,scene ,v ,the same4 ,matthias4 ,,josaphat ,thou1 ,matthias8 ,hast thou not seen ,manassa8 ,,matthias ,no4 ,rabbi1 ,i come to thee in the night because of ,herod4 ,,john ,because of ,herod8 ,seats himself with head turned away4 ,,matthias ,i sent spies to the ,palace up till the time of the ,passover ,feast4 ,the priests were coming to and fro4 ,what their business was no one knows4 ,and if he cometh now to the morning sacrifice at eight of the clock1 as is his custom on high festivals 444 and comes with that woman 444 flaunting his sin in the face of the people4444 ,rabbi1 speak6 ,what then8 ,,john ,does not answer1 ,,amarja ,he hears thee not4 ,,josaphat4 ,he is thinking of the ,galilean4 ,,john ,i heard some one here speak of sin4 ,know ye in what raiment sin clothes itself gorgeously when it goeth abroad among the people8 ,say courtliness1 say hate1 say what ye will1 and ,i shall laugh at you4 ,hear1 and mark well4 ,they call it love4 ,everything that is small1 and stoops because it is small1 that throws crumbs from its table in order not to throw bread2 that covers up graves that they may stink secretly2 that hews off the thumb of the left hand that it may have nothing to say to the thumb of the right2 take care2 all that is called love4 ,and they call it love when in spring the ass brays and the dogs whine2 when a woman herself gathers together the stones whereon to rest with her lover in the evening1 stones which in the morning the people will hurl at her1 and the woman speaketh3 ,see beloved1 how sweet is our couch4 444 ,they call this love4 ,,matthias ,after exchanging a look with ,josaphat4 ,rabbi1 forgive us1 but the people are waiting for thee4 ,the many who desert their beds1 expectant of the morrow1 think only of one thing--judgment6 ,the judgment of ,herod4 ,,john ,judgment of ,herod--well4 ,,josaphat ,and thou shalt judge him4 ,no one else but thou8 ,,john ,i shall judge him4 ,,matthias4 ,him and the woman8 ,,john ,him and the woman4 ,did ye doubt8 ,,matthias ,if we did1 forgive4 ,,amarja ,but suppose he comes without the woman4 ,what would happen then8 ,,john ,ye ask so much4 ,ye and your questions become wearisome4 ,hark6 ,there is ,manassa4 ,josaphat opens4 ,,scene ,,vi ,the former4 ,miriam4 ,,john ,miriam1 thou8 ,what desirest thou of me8 ,,miriam ,breathless4 ,i flew from the ,palace4444 ,the guards have chased me4444 ,perhaps what ,i know 444 may be of use to thee4 ,,josaphat ,speak1 ,miriam6 ,,miriam ,if the master will hear4 ,with ye others ,i have nothing to do4 ,,john ,i will listen1 ,miriam4 ,,miriam ,a rumour has reached the ,tetrarch that the people are plotting evil against him4 ,he would on that account hide the woman1 but she will not be hid4 ,she will defy the master1 because he hath offended her4 ,an order is just gone forth for all the servants of the house to arm themselves and line the road4 ,even during the night1 so that the procession shall pass to the ,temple ere the great crowd assembleth4 ,thus they think to escape the people's wrath and thine1 master4 ,,the ,,disciples ,that shall not come to pass2 verily it shall not4 ,,josaphat ,hast thou learned1 ,miriam1 by which of the outer gates they go to the ,temple8 ,,miriam ,by the ,susan ,gate4 ,i heard the servants say1 as ,i crept by4 ,,josaphat ,and will the ,roman soldiers be amongst them8 ,,miriam ,that ,i did not hear4 ,,josaphat ,for if the ,romans accompany them1 we must wait behind the second gate2 there where no heathen may penetrate at the cost of his head4 ,,matthias ,on the other hand1 they can there be saved by the priests4 ,,josaphat ,certainly1 there the priests---- ,master1 what is thy counsel8 ,,john ,i counsel you to go forth into the streets1 and to seek right and left4 ,i would learn from that ,galilean what counsel ,i ought to give you4 ,,matthias ,canst thou understand him8 ,,josaphat ,i would liefer not understand him4 ,exeunt ,josaphat1 ,matthias1 and ,amarja4 ,,scene ,,vii ,john1 ,miriam4 ,,miriam ,shrinks against the wall near the door and looks shyly across at ,john1 who broods with his back turned to her4 ,,john ,suddenly noticing her4 ,thou1 ,miriam1 art still here8 ,,miriam ,forgive me1 master4 ,i am a little afraid2 for if ,i go homewards the guards at the gate will seize me4 ,,john ,but thou camest to me in the wilderness at night8 ,,miriam ,then no one knew with whom ,i associated1 master4 ,,john ,who art thou8 ,tell me about thyself4 ,who is thy father8 ,,miriam ,i have no father--and no mother4 ,the country is full of orphans like me4 ,there are far too many4 ,i have never asked anyone why4 ,,john ,and why didst thou go to the ,palace as serving maid8 ,,miriam ,they say that ,i once sat and played with pebbles on the threshold4 ,and when evening came1 they took me in4 ,since then ,i have belonged to the ,palace1 and know no better4 ,,john ,thou servest me with zeal1 ,miriam4 ,why dost thou serve me8 ,,miriam ,i know not why4 ,,john ,and thou servest me to no purpose--knowest thou that8 ,,miriam ,bows her head4 ,,john ,will they not punish thee8 ,,miriam ,with a shudder4 ,they will 444 ,i4444 ,,john ,speak6 ,,miriam ,master1 what does it matter8 ,,john ,miriam1 is it also ,he ,who shall come that thou servest8 ,,miriam ,i cannot tell1 master4 ,when ,i see thee1 ,i feel a longing for ,him4444 ,but if thou speakest to me of ,him1 ,i see only thee4 ,,john ,ye children of men 444 there is a rushing as of many waters in your souls4444 ,clear and muddy 444 ,i shall gather all together in one great river1 and ,i feel as if ,i should drown therein4 ,,miriam ,master1 now ,i must go4 ,whether or no ,i served thee to no purpose1 be gracious4 ,praise me1 master4 ,,john ,i see thee sitting on the threshold again 444 playing with thy life1 and thou excitest my pity4 444 ,go1 maid6 ,go1 child6 and ,he listens4 ,,miriam ,master6 ,,scene ,,viii ,the former4 ,josaphat1 ,matthias1 ,amarja1 ,manassa4 ,,john ,going forward to him4 ,where is the ,galilean8 ,,manassa ,i have sought ,him1 master1 from the hour thou sentest me till past midnight4 ,i have not rested nor tasted a crumb4 ,,john ,the ,galilean8 ,hast thou found ,him8 ,,manassa ,i found him4 ,he lay stretched out on the stones in charge of the soldiers1 and near him1 in chains1 was his murderer4 ,,amarja ,who1 on the holy eve of the ,passover----8 ,,manassa ,they called him ,david the ,zealot4 ,the ,galileans blaspheme ,god1 he hath said1 and therefore must this one die4 ,,josaphat ,it is true2 he did blaspheme ,god4 ,,matthias ,he blasphemed ,god6 ,,john ,but ,i say unto you 444 ,to him it was not blasphemy4 ,to him it was worship4 ,methinks more such men will come out of ,galilee4 ,for there is an uprising there4444 ,tell me1 ,josaphat1 do not many pilgrims sleep on the stones at night1 nigh the doors of the ,temple8 ,,josaphat ,yes1 ,rabbi4 ,on starry nights1 like these1 many a one wraps himself in his blanket and tarries by the ,house of the ,lord4 ,,john ,in sudden decision4 ,it is well4 ,exit4 ,,matthias ,rabbi6 ,,amarja ,hath he deserted us8 ,,josaphat ,be not troubled6 ,thou1 ,amarja1 wake our friends4 ,thou1 ,manassa1 bring us tidings from the ,palace4 ,we two will follow the master4 ,meet us at the ,susan ,gate1 at the place where the old beggar-woman sits4 ,come6 ,exeunt the men4 ,,miriam ,who has stood unheeded1 goes out with bowed head4 ,,change ,,of ,,scene ,a stone square before the open gate of the ,temple called the ,susan ,gate4 ,the front of the stage is enclosed by the circuit of the outer wall4 ,in the centre more than half the breadth of the stage is taken up by the massive doors of the gate1 to which steps lead4 ,it is night4 ,the fire of the great sacrificial altar is reflected from the background on the walls1 and fills the foreground with red1 uncertain flickering glow4 ,,scene ,x ,pilgrims 7men and women7 lie in their blankets1 scattered about the steps and on the stones which fill the space on left side4 ,among them the ,first ,galilean and ,second ,galilean4 ,to the right of the path which leads outside the wall of the ,temple1 across the stage1 lies ,mesulemeth4 7,in a little while enter ,john from left47 ,,john ,looks round searchingly1 and pauses before a pilgrim who is sleeping on the steps4 ,pilgrim1 awake6 ,,pilgrim ,it is not yet day4 ,why dost thou wake me8 ,,john ,whence comest thou8 ,art thou a ,galilean8 ,,pilgrim ,i come from ,gaza on the south-east coast4 ,let me sleep4 ,,second ,,galilean ,to first4 ,didst hear8 ,some one there is talking of ,galileans4 ,,first ,,galilean ,sleep1 and let them talk4 ,,john ,walks on1 and then pauses in front of ,mesulemeth4 ,thou who liest here by the way1 be thou man or woman1 wake up6 ,,mesulemeth ,why dost thou not step over me1 as every one does in ,jerusalem8 ,,john ,dost thou lie here always in the road8 ,,mesulemeth ,i lie here always4 ,for ,i must be at the ,temple4 ,day and night ,i must be at the ,temple4 ,,john ,art thou not greedy for alms8 ,,mesulemeth ,shaking her head4 ,the little ,i want1 the pilgrims give me4 ,but hast thou never heard of ,hannah1 the prophetess8 ,,john ,i have heard speak of her1 when ,i was a child4 ,,mesulemeth ,well1 this is her place4 ,here she sat and waited for the ,messiah1 forty years long4 ,when she died she left the place to me 444 ,and now ,i sit and wait till ,he comes again4 ,,john ,comes again8 ,hath ,he then been already8 ,,mesulemeth ,certainly ,he hath4 ,,john ,in deep emotion4 ,he came8 ,came even to thee8 ,,mesulemeth ,to me8 ,no4 ,if ,he had come to me1 ,i should have been at rest long ago4 ,but ,hannah 444 ,she saw ,him when ,he came4 ,,john ,woman6 ,i implore thee 444 ,speak1 tell me1 how did ,he come8 ,,mesulemeth ,then sit down here beside me1 so that ,i may speak low4444 ,once a little lad was brought to the ,temple by his mother1 to be circumcised4 ,and there was one called ,simeon who1 when he saw this boy-babe1 was filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and said1 ,lord1 now lettest thou ,thy servant depart in peace1 for his eyes have seen ,thy salvation1 which ,thou hast prepared for all nations4 444 ,and ,hannah heard this1 and she came up to them and recognised ,him8 ,,john ,how did she recognise ,him8 ,,mesulemeth ,did ,i not tell thee that she was a prophetess8 ,otherwise she might not have recognised ,him4 ,but as it was1 she praised the ,lord1 and laid herself down and died4 ,so now ,i sit where she sat1 and wait for ,him to come again4 ,,john ,verily1 ,he must come again2 and dost thou know1 woman1 how ,he will come8 ,as the ,lord of ,hosts1 arrayed in golden armour1 with ,his sword drawn above ,his head1 so ,he will come to save ,his people ,israel4 ,he will trample ,his enemies under ,his horse's hoofs1 but the youth of ,israel shall greet ,him with hosannas and jubilation4 ,see1 woman1 that is how ,he will come6 ,,mesulemeth ,anxiously4 ,who art thou1 stranger8 ,dost thou imagine thyself to be the prophet of anyone8 ,,john ,it matters not who ,i am1 if thou art prepared for my message4 ,,mesulemeth ,thou canst take thy message further4 ,i will not have it4 ,,john ,what6 ,thou wilt not have the ,messiah8 ,,mesulemeth ,not that one4 ,i will not have that one4 ,for many have come in golden armour1 and have drawn their sword1 and then ,israel hath bled after1 like a sacrificial ox4 ,he shall be no king6 ,no6 ,when kings come1 they come to kings6 ,no one hath come1 as yet to us1 the poor---- ,go away1 stranger1 lest thou snatch from me my crumb of hope4 ,begone1 thou art a false prophet6444 ,go1 let me lie on the road6 ,she sinks back4 ,,john ,to himself4 ,false prophet6 ,,scene ,,xi ,the same4 ,josaphat1 ,matthias4 ,from the left4 ,,matthias ,see1 he is there6 ,,josaphat ,rabbi1 forgive us for following thee hither---- ,,john ,it is not yet dawn4444 ,at this hour ye have nothing to claim from me---- ,,matthias ,but1 remember ,herod---- ,,john ,why stir ye up so much dust8 ,this puny ,herod1 who runs after women1 is not my business4 ,,josaphat ,,and ,,matthias ,exchange dismayed glances4 ,,john ,go1 find me ,galileans6 ,wake those who sleep on the steps1 ransack the houses if necessary4 ,only bring me ,galileans1 that ,i may question them4 ,,second ,,galilean ,hearest thou8 ,some one standeth there1 clamouring for ,galileans6 ,,first ,,galilean ,i thought ,i dreamt it4 ,thou1 who wilt not let us sleep1 what dost thou want with us ,galileans8 ,,john ,stand up and come to me6 ,,second ,,galilean ,goest thou8 ,,first ,,galilean ,he must be great in ,israel1 otherwise he would not command4 ,,second ,,galilean ,yes1 yes2 thou art right4 ,they both stand up4 ,,josaphat ,rabbi----,john signs to him with his hand to be silent4 ,,first ,,galilean ,now1 here we are4 ,,john ,who are ye8 ,whence do ye come8 ,,first ,,galilean ,we are fishermen from the ,sea of ,galilee4 ,my name is ,ram1 and that is my brother-in-law1 and he is called ,abia4 ,and we both fish with the same net4 ,is it not so8 ,,second ,,galilean ,yes2 we both fish with the same net4 ,,john ,and tell me1 ye two men1 have ye ever heard of a prophet that teacheth in ,galilee8 ,,first ,,galilean ,a prophet6 ,hast thou heard of a prophet1 ,abia8 ,,second ,,galilean ,i have heard of no prophet4 ,,john ,not 444 of one who saith 444 ,he is the ,son of ,god8 ,,first ,,galilean ,ah1 thou meanest ,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,,john ,in great agitation1 scarcely audible4 ,jesus of ,nazareth6 ,,josaphat ,,and ,,matthias4 ,awed4 ,jesus of ,nazareth6 ,,john ,thou spakest ,his name first4 ,fear sealed my lips4 ,but now thou hast said it4 ,yes1 ,i mean ,him4 ,,first ,,galilean ,yes 444 ,i know ,his father well4 ,he is an honest carpenter1 and very pious too4 ,he well deserves that his son should be a joy to him4 ,,john ,tell me more of ,him4 ,,first ,,galilean ,he put up a bedstead for a friend of mine4 ,,john ,tell me of the son4 ,,first ,,galilean ,ah1 the son4 ,well1 ,abia1 what shall we say of the son8 ,,second ,,galilean ,aye1 what shall we say of the son8 ,,john ,hast thou ever seen ,him8 ,,first ,,galilean ,oh1 yes4 ,,john ,thou hast seen ,him8 ,,first ,,galilean ,many a time 444 from my ship4 ,for ,he carries on ,his work on the shore4 ,and there is always a great gathering along the banks1 is there not1 ,abia8 ,,second ,,galilean ,yes1 the banks are always quite black with people4 ,and the fish take notice of it4 ,that is not good for our trade4 ,,first ,,galilean ,they say that ,he works miracles4 ,i once met a man myself who had been blind till his--,i forget what year--and he maintained that he was made to see again by spittle from ,his mouth 444 ,it may be possible--but----,laughs stupidly4 ,,john ,to ,josaphat4 ,have not many said of me1 that ,i work miracles8 ,,josaphat ,many say it1 but we know it1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,indeed8 ,i have seen no miracle but the power 444 and no one to whom it hath happened1 save the weak4 ,but speak on1 man4 ,,first ,,galilean ,it may be all very well for ,him to heal the sick1 but the worst of it is ,he doeth it on the ,sabbath4 ,that is bad1 bad6 ,and then1 ,his friends are not well chosen4 ,circumspect people1 naturally1 are not disposed to mix with ,him4 ,for how can one trust a man who sitteth at meat with publicans and sinners8 ,and1 then1 ,he is always at weddings and feasts4 ,ah6 ,no1 no4 ,,john ,at feasts8 ,,josaphat ,master1 these are little people4 ,they understand not the wisdom of cunning speech4 ,,john ,the great should carry the little with them1 the wise should master these simple intellects4 ,that he hath not done4444 ,and what is it ,he teacheth8 ,,first ,,galilean ,ah1 what does ,he teach8 ,all sorts of folly4 ,for instance1 that we should love our enemies4 ,,john ,love our enemies8 ,,first ,,galilean ,and bless them that curse us 444 and pray for them that persecute us4 ,,john ,pray for them that persecute us8 ,,first ,,galilean ,yes2 and more nonsense of the kind4 ,also that---- ,,call ,from the roof of the ,temple4 ,it groweth light towards ,hebron4 ,,john ,eagerly4 ,why dost thou not proceed8 ,,first ,,galilean ,rising4 ,it is now time for morning prayer4 ,,call ,more distant4 ,it groweth light towards ,hebron4 ,all stand up and begin to pray1 their faces turned towards the ,temple4 ,,call ,quite distant4 ,it groweth light towards ,hebron4 ,,john ,baffled and tormented4 ,towards ,hebron it groweth light4 ,,scene ,,xii ,the great gates are slowly opened1 displaying marble walls1 mounting in terraces1 behind which are two more gates4 ,the ,temple-building itself is almost completely hidden by smoke from the great lighted sacrificial altar1 which bounds the perspective4 ,from the mountains behind the ,temple are heard the long-drawn notes of the silver trumpets4 ,people begin to stream up4 ,,matthias ,has gone to ,josaphat's side and speaks to him privately1 then turns to ,john1 who stands alone on the left4 ,master1 the people are flocking to the ,temple4444 ,in a few moments the ,tetrarch will certainly be there too1 with the woman4 ,wilt thou not step among them1 that they may know their leader8 ,,john ,the image of my ,king shining in the radiance of the cherubim4 ,where is it8 ,where is the rainbow of seven colours that was round ,his head8 ,seven torches burned by ,his throne4 ,i see them no more6 ,,scene ,,xiii ,the same4 ,manassa4 ,,manassa ,hurrying up from left4 ,matthias1 ,josaphat1 where is the master8 ,,josaphat ,herod has come forth from his door8 ,,manassa ,assents4 ,,josaphat ,with the woman8 ,,manassa ,with the woman4 ,,josaphat ,master as he heeds not1 ,master---- ,,john ,what is it8 ,,josaphat ,herod is on the way4 ,,john ,who is ,herod8 ,,josaphat ,buries his face in his hands4 ,,matthias ,to ,manassa4 ,had he the ,roman soldiers with him8 ,,manassa ,only his servants are with him4 ,,matthias ,hearest thou1 master8 ,he is delivered into our hands4 ,,scene ,,xiv ,the same4 ,amarja2 with a fresh crowd of people4 ,,amarja ,calling4 ,john1 where is ,john8 ,,josaphat ,with resolution4 ,here is ,john4 ,,the ,,people ,hear and murmur1 joyously4 ,see1 there is ,john6 ,,josaphat ,hear all of you6 ,go not past2 and thou over there mayest speak4 ,the master will listen unto thee4 ,,amarja ,herod is coming to the ,temple1 wearing princely robes4 ,at his side1 sparkling with precious stones1 walks the courtezan4 ,,the ,,people ,break out into cries of anger4 ,,josaphat ,master1 thy hour is come2 mount the steps and speak to them6 ,,the ,,people ,pressing round4 ,john1 speak--,rabbi1 speak--,what shall we do8 ,,josaphat ,keep back6 ,he will speak to you4 ,sotto voce4 ,mount the steps6 ,,john ,walks as if in a dream towards the steps4 ,,the ,,people ,murmuring4 ,see6 ,he sways4 ,what aileth him8 ,,josaphat ,make haste4 ,speak6 ,,call ,here is ,herod4 ,here cometh ,herod6 ,,the ,,people ,stone him6 ,stone the courtezan6 ,,others ,look at ,john6 ,do what ,john does1 else are ye lost4 ,,scene ,,xv ,the same4 ,herod1 ,herodias1 with train from right4 ,,john ,john has mounted the steps and stands in the middle of the threshold4 ,,herod ,pale1 but smiling4 ,hearest thou what they cry8 ,,herodias ,have him seized1 else it means death to you and to me4 ,,the ,,people ,are silent and tense in expectation4 ,most of them have picked up stones4 ,,josaphat ,who stands to the left of ,john on a lower step1 hands him a stone1 and says in a low voice4 ,take this stone6 ,more urgently4 ,take this stone6 ,,john ,takes the stone4 ,,herod ,thou on the steps4 ,knowest thou me not8 ,,josaphat ,whispers4 ,hurl the stone6 ,,john ,firmly4 ,in the name of ,him ,he is about to throw the stone1 then pauses1 half-questioning1 half-swooning4 444 ,who 444 commands me 444 to love thee----,a low moaning runs through the people4 ,,two ,,servants ,have approached ,john4 ,they seize him and push him down from the ,temple steps4 ,,herod ,,and ,,herodias ,walk up4 ,,the ,,people ,woe to us6 ,he too hath forsaken us4 ,woe1 woe6 ,,josaphat ,to ,john1 who is pinioned by the servants4 ,master1 what hast thou done to us8 ,,the ,,people ,woe6 ,woe6 ,the curtain falls4 ,,fourth ,,act ,,fourth ,,act ,a town in ,galilee4444 ,the stage represents a grass-grown prison-yard which1 on the right side1 is adjacent to the gardens of a ,herodian ,palace1 divided from them by a low wall1 which continues in a right-hand direction to the centre of background4 ,on the left side of background a higher wall1 and entrance with heavy doors4 ,to the left1 the clumsy pile of the prison buildings and a door4 ,in the garden wall is a gate1 over which hangs the green foliage of the garden beyond1 which bounds the right side of background4 ,on the right is a semi-circular shaped marble seat with back2 on left1 stones covered with moss4 ,,scene ,i ,gaoler1 ,abi4 ,,abi ,with head thrust over the garden wall4 ,master ,gaoler1 dost thou not hear8 ,,gaoler ,what wilt thou8 ,,abi ,a ball went over the wall4 ,hast thou seen it8 ,,gaoler ,no4 ,,abi ,please look for it1 and throw it back4 ,,gaoler ,look for it thyself4 ,,abi ,how can ,i1 unless thou openest the gate4 ,,gaoler ,i may not open it4 ,let me be4 ,,abi ,listen1 ,gaoler4 ,the ball belongs to ,salome1 our young ,princess4 ,if thou art not obliging1 beware6 ,,gaoler ,oh1 if it belongs to the young ,princess----,opens the gate4 ,,scene ,,ii ,the ,gaoler1 ,abi1 ,maecha1 and later1 ,salome4 ,,abi ,calls back1 laughing4 ,mistress1 the door is open4 ,,gaoler ,is that the young ,princess1 who is daughter of his new wife8 ,,abi ,nods4 ,,salome ,appears in the gateway4 ,,gaoler ,princess1 if ever thou comest through again1 be sure to laugh1 as to-day4 ,for this gate is full of danger for ,herod's children4 ,,salome ,what does it do to ,herod's children1 thy gate8 ,,gaoler ,the two sons of ,herod the ,great came through this gate before they were sentenced1 and through this gate---- ,,maecha ,stop6444 ,,salome ,let him alone1 ,maecha6 ,his wisdom has taken a holiday4 ,hast thou no livelier stories1 old man8 ,,gaoler ,what sort dost thou mean1 young ,princess8 ,,salome ,stories of yesterday4 ,stories that have not yet come to an end--stories that are as young stretches herself as we are4 ,,gaoler ,ah1 ,i knew2 but---- ,,salome ,but8 ,tell me1 hast thou a new prisoner8 ,,gaoler ,yes4 ,,salome ,what has he done8 ,,gaoler ,maliciously4 ,he stole hens1 young ,princess4 ,,salome ,see to it that thou dost not steal my time6 ,,abi ,softly to him4 ,with her there is no jesting4 ,,gaoler ,princess1 forgive4444 ,i did not know4444 ,thou meanest1 perhaps1 ,john8 ,,salome ,which ,john8 ,,gaoler ,the one they call the ,baptist--the ,prophet from ,judea1 who---- ,,salome ,so he is here8 ,,gaoler ,yes2 he has been here the last three days1 ,princess4 ,they brought him at the end of the same cavalcade which brought thee4 ,he lieth now safe with the salamanders and scorpions4 ,they say he stirred up rebellion in ,jerusalem1 and therefore---- ,,salome ,i wish to see ,john4 ,bring him here6 ,,gaoler ,horrified4 ,princess1 that cannot be4 ,,salome ,i wish it6 ,hast thou not heard8 ,i wish it6 ,,gaoler ,princess1 ,i opened this gate for thee because thou hadst lost a plaything4 ,shall ,i now1 instead of thy plaything1 lose this old head8 ,,maecha ,mistress1 the ,tetrarch is coming4 ,,salome ,veiling herself4 ,hide yourselves6 ,she stoops behind the seat2 the maidens slip into the bushes4 ,in the gateway ,herod and his attendants4 ,,scene ,,iii ,the same4 ,herod1 ,merokles1 ,jabad1 ,gabalos4 ,,herod ,gaoler6 ,,gaoler ,sire4 ,,herod ,who are the three men who linger about the door8 ,they look morose1 and did not salute me4 ,,gaoler ,sire1 those are the remnant of the crew which followed ,john1 they say1 from ,jerusalem4 ,for eight days and eight nights they followed him4 ,,herod ,the remnant1 sayest thou8 ,where are the rest8 ,,gaoler ,they lie somewhere by the wayside1 ,sire1 and die of thirst1 unless the ravens give them to drink4 ,,herod ,drive them away6 ,,gaoler ,sire1 we have hunted them off several times2 but they always come back4 ,,herod ,so1 let them be4 ,,merokles ,see1 how mild is our ruler6 ,he doth not order them to be cut in pieces4 ,,jabad ,hail to our ,ruler6 ,the two others join in4 ,,herod ,to speak candidly1 friends1 ,i do not lay hands on sages and fools willingly2 for one can never know whether the executioner holds up the head of a sage or a fool4 ,,gabalos ,thou canst do no wrong1 ,sire2 for thou art wise1 all-wise6 ,,herod ,when ,i order thee to be beheaded1 ,i shall not be wrong2 for thou art a fool1 a complete fool4 ,nearing the seat4 ,bring me----,observes ,salome1 who1 listening1 has raised her head a little above the edge of the seat1 then quickly dives down again4 ,i beg you to retire1 and await me without the gate4 ,exeunt ,gabalos1 ,merokles1 ,jabad4 ,,scene ,,iv ,herod1 ,salome4 ,also ,abi and ,maecha1 hidden4 ,,herod ,tell me1 thou veiled one1 art thou not ,salome1 my wife's daughter8 ,,salome ,sire1 so true as 'tis that thou art my protector ,i am ,salome4 ,,herod ,how camest thou into this prison-yard8 ,,salome ,ask me not1 ,sire4 ,my soul else will blush before thee4 ,it was curiosity1 because ,i heard thee coming4 ,,herod ,and where are thy playmates8 ,,salome ,they are afraid of thee1 so they have crept away4 ,abi1 ,maecha1 come forth2 our master commands it4 ,abi and ,maecha come out hesitatingly1 and curtsey profoundly4 ,,herod ,thy eyes plead for them1 therefore they shall not be scolded4 ,,salome ,and my lips thank thee on their behalf4 ,,herod ,they thank like conquerors4 ,there is music in them4 ,how is it1 ,salome1 that ,i have never heard thy voice8 ,,salome ,thou shouldst ask my mother1 ,sire4 ,,herod ,fiercely4 ,thy mother6 ,still1 ,i know that thou art well disposed towards me4 ,thou didst deliver into my hand that maid who carried on treason at night outside the ,palace4 ,,salome ,could ,i do less1 ,sire8 ,and him to whom she betrayed thy secrets1 wilt thou not punish him too8 ,,herod ,i do not know4 ,but how8 ,,salome ,sire1 it seemeth to me that he hath a great following among the people4 ,if thou sparest him1 the people will like thee4 ,,herod ,words of wisdom fall from thy lips1 ,salome4 ,,salome ,see how his disciples tarry at the entrance4 ,if thou treatest him well1 they will carry praises of thee to ,jerusalem4 ,,herodias ,how unlike thou art to thy mother1 ,salome6 ,,salome ,and how like1 too6 ,,herod ,i would rather think that thou wert unlike4 ,my sweet1 unveil thyself4 ,,salome ,sire1 if thou wert my father6 ,but thou art not4 ,directly thou comest near1 my mother herself draweth my veil down deep over my breast4 ,,herod ,unveil to me4 ,,salome ,sire1 not when ,i am alone with thee4 ,,herod ,then if ,i was with others1 thou wouldst8 ,,salome ,perhaps4 ,ask my mother4 ,,herod ,a little now4 ,just a finger's length4 ,,salome ,no1 really 444 it is not seemly1 ,sire4 ,,herod ,but if ,i were sitting with other men 444 at meat 444 or over wine 444 and thou camest and unveiled1 that would be more seemly8 ,,salome ,may be6444 ,i can dance1 ,sire4 ,,herod ,wouldst thou do that for me also8 ,,salome ,and what wouldst thou do for me8 ,,herod ,salome6 ,,salome ,rising4 ,no1 but thou must indeed ask my mother1 ,sire4 ,i am still far too ignorant2 ,i know not what a maiden ought to do4 ,only what ,i would like to do4 ,i know that well enough4 ,,herod ,what wouldst thou like to do8 ,,salome ,thy pleasure1 ,sire4 ,nothing else1 nothing4 ,seest thou1 if thou treatest this prisoner humanely1 they will sing thy praises1 and ,i shall be so proud1 ,i shall say in my heart1 ,he acted on my advice4 ,,herod ,to the gaoler4 ,bring the ,baptist here4444 ,i will consider it1 ,salome4 ,exit ,gaoler4 ,,salome ,from the gate1 with a slight fluttering of her veil4 ,and ,i will thank thee1 ,sire6 ,,herod ,salome6 ,,salome ,vanishes1 with a burst of laughter4 ,abi and ,maecha have preceded her4 ,,herod ,looks after her1 and then sits down on the seat4 ,,scene ,v ,herod1 ,john4 ,the ,gaoler4 ,a ,guard4 ,,herod ,tell me1 how should one address thee when one would show thee respect8 ,thou thinkest that ,i mock thee8 ,but knowest thou that in reality ,i am indebted to thee8 ,the people's meditated attack was not hidden from me1 and yet ,i came without the escort of warriors which ,rome sent for my protection4 ,thou heldest me in the hollow of thy hand1 as thou heldest the stone4 ,say1 why didst thou let it fall8 ,why hast thou spared me8 ,,john ,sire1 even if ,i spoke thou wouldst not understand me4 ,,herod ,that is defiance1 which ,i cannot praise4 ,in chains it is easy to be defiant4 ,take off his chains and go4 ,the ,gaoler obeys4 ,exit with the guard4 ,now1 as a free man1 revile me4 ,art thou a preacher of repentance8 ,if so1 preach to me6 ,,john ,sire1 thou wouldst not understand me4 ,,herod ,so thou saidst before4 ,think of something new4 ,here in ,galilee ,i am inclined to be mild and tolerant of goodness4 ,i am told that thou hatest the ,pharisees4 ,i hate them too4 ,i am told that thou hatest the priests4 ,i love them not4 ,i am told that thou hatest the ,romans4 ,i---- ,say1 why didst thou spare me8 ,,john ,sire1 my heart failed me4 ,,herod ,failed thee6 ,before me1 whom thou callest the little6 ,art thou flattering me because ,i have loosened thee from thy chains8 ,,john ,thou hast not laid me in chains1 and canst not loosen me from them4 ,,herod ,what 444 and yet ,i made thee falter8 ,,john ,it was ,another who threw thee in my way4444 ,and so my heart failed me4 ,,herod ,tell me1 ,baptist--,i call thee by the name ,i have heard people speak of thee by1 and ,i hope thou wilt not be angry--tell me1 ,who is that ,king of the ,jews whose image thou danglest before the people8444 ,see1 the guards are gone1 and thy confidence shall be rewarded4 ,tell me1 who is it8 ,,john ,sire1 ,i know not4 ,,herod ,and so thou deniest thy own creature8 ,,john ,what is my own ,i deny4 ,,herod ,ha1 ha1 ha6 ,i have half a mind to summon my little ,greek that he may go to school under thee4 ,listen in a low voice1 ,i too have heard of a ,king of the ,jews who will come with a sword drawn above his head1 and he will spare no one who doth not serve him at the right moment4 ,,john ,eagerly4 ,who is it1 of whom thou speakest8 ,,herod ,master1 ,i do not know4 ,thou seest thus that ,i too have a burden of secret anxiety oppressing me1 and await the sunrise4444 ,but let me speak with thee seriously1 ,baptist4 ,thou hurlest thy arrows of reproach at me on account of the woman ,i stole4444 ,i could almost pity thee for that4 ,thou1 a great man1 mightst have chosen a greater subject than a woman4 ,and knowest thou every day she sharpens those arrows herself for me8444 ,but enough of that4 ,the smiths say that good metal rings true even when it is cracked1 and thou ringest true4 ,how dost thou manage it8444 ,i pray thee teach me the way4444 ,what1 silent again8 ,,john ,methinks ,i know you now1 ye smiling scoffers4 ,ye grow fat on the wit of the market-places2 but hunger seizes you1 and ye then lift your eyes to the earnest ones1 walking on the mountain-tops4 ,,herod ,by ,bacchus1 there lurks some truth in that4 ,but it's not good walking on the mountain-tops4 ,we wait to see you fall2 then we shall not smile1 but laugh4 ,,john ,but ,i say unto thee1 ,sire1 thou wilt not laugh4 ,he ,who cometh requireth me not4 ,that is why ,he cast me down4444 ,gaze into ,his eyes when ,he comes1 and thou wilt not laugh1 even at me4 ,,herod ,it seems to me thy reasoning is poor1 and revolves in a circle4444 ,and yet there is something that attracts me to thee4 ,baptist1 thou hast so long been my enemy1 couldst thou not possibly be my friend8 ,,john ,sire1 meseemeth that to be nobody's enemy and nobody's friend is the right of the lonely4 ,it is their all4 ,let me keep it4 ,,herod ,yet ,i do not give thee up as lost4 ,if thou wert so minded we might pursue the same paths for a spell4 ,,john ,whither1 ,sire8 ,,herod ,whither8 ,upwards6 ,,john ,for thee there is no upwards4 ,thou bearest the times that are and were before thee1 like an ulcerous evil1 on thy body4 ,burnest thou not from all their poisonous lusts8 ,art thou not weighted by their unholy desires8 ,and thou wouldst mount to the heights4 ,stay in the market-place and smile4 ,,herod ,baptist1 take care4 ,thy chains lie not far off4 ,,john ,let me be chained1 ,sire2 ,i ask for nothing better4 ,,herod ,gnashing his teeth4 ,truly thou art ruled by a broken spirit4 ,after a little reflection4 ,yet tell me1 ,baptist1 when that other cometh1 that other----,say1 was it in ,his ,name that thou didst not throw the stone at me8 ,,john ,confused4 ,sire1 what dost thou ask8 ,,herod ,was it in ,his ,name8 ,for if so1 thy ,jewish king shall not rob my nights of sleep4 ,ha6 ha6 ,here1 gaoler6 ,the gaoler comes4 ,the prisoner shall go in and out as he pleaseth1 for he is not dangerous4 ,,gaoler ,dumfounded1 then in a low voice4 ,sire1 how shall my life be safe1 if---- ,,herod ,and his disciples1 who loiter about the gates4 ,let them in and out as often as he wishes4444 ,now1 did this ,god's people ever know a more clement master than ,i8 ,laughing1 walks away4 ,,scene ,,vi ,john and the ,gaoler4 ,later1 ,maecha1 ,salome4 ,,gaoler ,well1 thou art now thy own master4 ,what are thy commands8 ,,john ,the ,tetrarch spoke of my disciples---- ,,maecha ,appearing in the gateway to left4 ,he is alone4 ,,salome ,signs to the ,gaoler4 ,exeunt ,maecha and ,gaoler4 ,,john ,what wilt thou8 ,,salome ,master1 seest thou the sun sinking yonder between the pomegranate boughs8 ,,john ,i see it4 ,,salome ,knowest thou whose doing it is that thou art able to see it ere it goeth down1 and ere thou goest down8 ,mine6 ,,john ,may be4 ,what dost thou want8 ,,salome ,thou shalt not go down4 ,not thou4 ,for my soul is thirsty4 ,teach me1 master4 ,,john ,what shall ,i teach thee8 ,,salome ,see1 ,i am pious by nature1 and ,i have a longing for salvation4444 ,what thou givest to the humblest by the highway1 give also to me4 ,let me sit at thy feet4 ,i will be pious4 ,yea1 ,i will4 ,and if ,i touch thy hairy shirt1 then be not frightened4 ,i mean thee no harm4 ,,john ,why shouldst thou mean me harm1 young virgin8 ,,salome ,who can say 444 if thou shouldst reject me6 ,no one knows how powerful ,i am to-day4 ,when ,i stretch my limbs she spreads out her arms it seems to me as if ,i carried the whole world like this 444 only to hug it to my heart4 ,,john ,maiden1 thou hast a playmate4 ,,salome ,attentively4 ,which playmate8 ,,john ,her name is ,miriam4 ,,salome ,i had her4 ,now she is dead4 ,,john ,bows his head4 ,his suspicions realized4 ,,salome ,i had her slain because she went to thee4 ,no one shall go to thee except me4 ,seest thou now how pious ,i am8 ,seest thou8 ,my soul feels thy strength1 and feels it with joy2 for ,i have never seen anyone so strong as thou art4 ,i have made thankofferings and secret vows like those the ,psalms sing of4 ,then ,i have been forth in the gloaming to seek thy countenance and the light of thy eyes4 ,and ,i have decked my bed with beautiful1 many-coloured rugs from ,egypt1 and ,i have sprinkled my pillows with myrtle1 aloes1 and cinnamon4 ,i will give thee my fair young body1 thou barbarian among the sons of ,israel6 ,come1 let us make love till morning4 ,and my playmates shall keep watch on the threshold1 and greet the dawn with their harps4 ,,john ,verily1 thou art powerful2 thou carriest the world in thy arms 444 for thou art sin itself4 ,,salome ,yes4 ,sweet as sin4444 ,that am ,i4 ,,john ,go6 ,,salome ,thou spurnest me6 ,spurnest me8 ,she rushes through the gate4 ,,scene ,,vii ,john1 ,josaphat1 ,manassa1 ,amarja4 ,,john ,goes to the door1 where the ,gaoler is waiting4 ,,gaoler ,wouldst thou see thy disciples now8 ,,john ,bring them to me4 ,manassa1 ,amarja hasten to him and kiss his garment4 ,josaphat hangs back4 ,,john ,matthias is not with you8 ,,josaphat ,no4 ,,john ,what1 ,josaphat1 thou who wast ever the nearest to me1 hast thou no greeting to give8 ,,josaphat ,turns away4 ,,john ,well1 then1 what is it8 ,,josaphat ,rabbi1 it is written 444 ,one knife sharpens another1 and one man another 444 but thou hast made us blunt4 ,,john ,and thou hast come this long way to tell me that8 ,,josaphat ,rabbi1 thou shouldst be the way that all the erring follow4 ,thou shouldst strengthen weak knees and mould trembling hands to the sword's hilt4 ,thy work was wrath1 ,rabbi1 but thou hast made of it a sophistry and a weakness4 ,,john ,thou art not to know what my work was4 ,had ,i known myself1 ,i should not be here4 ,truly the time of my fall is come1 when enemies sing my praises and friends speak ill of me4 ,what would ye have me do8 ,my end must be in solitude and silence4 ,,josaphat ,thy end1 ,rabbi1 is no concern of ours4 ,it is for ,israel's end that ,i fear4 ,thou tookest the law from us4 ,what hast thou given us instead8 ,,john ,who art thou1 that like a kennelled hound1 thou bitest at my shanks8 ,i took the law from you8 ,my soul hath wrestled with the law till it is weary2 my forehead beat against its walls till it bled6 ,but now ye have opened your mouths wide that salvation should slip down them like sweet crumbs4 ,ye gazed up at me so long as ,i stood erect1 and now shrink away like cowards from my fall4 ,i have not fallen for myself1 ,i fell for you4 ,to you it was a compulsion and a matter of watching4 ,to me it was voluntary1 and a combat at the sword's point4444 ,look at me6 ,twice to-day ,i have been face to face with the world's sin4 ,but it seemed to me almost fair1 for ,i have yet to meet the worst4 ,thou art a renegade6 ,thou hast ever been a renegade1 and renegades will ye be to all eternity1 ye men of universal utility1 who manure your acres with the blood of those who have died for you6 ,go6 ,i am weary of you6 ,,josaphat ,i am going1 ,rabbi1 whither ,matthias hath gone before me1 to ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,,john ,startled and moved4 ,to ,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,,josaphat ,turns silently to go out4 ,exit4 ,,scene ,,viii ,manassa1 ,amarja1 ,john4 ,,john ,how ,amarja1 and how ,manassa8 ,those whom ,i trusted the most have forsaken me1 and ye are still here6 ,,amarja ,rabbi1 ,i was at all times the least among thy disciples4 ,what should ,i be worth if ,i were not faithful8 ,,manassa ,and to me1 ,rabbi1 thou hast given a hope4 ,,john ,yet he is gone to ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,be ye not fools4 ,go with him4 ,,manassa ,let us be fools1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,sitting down on a stone4 ,so seat yourselves with me4 ,night draweth nigh1 and ,i am weary4 ,hearken6 ,it was even as if ,i heard a beating of wings above me4 ,did ye hear nothing8 ,,amarja ,nothing1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,the womb of my soul is opened4 ,i am ready for the blessing from on high4 ,is there not a whispering1 roundabout8 ,heard ye nothing8 ,,manassa ,nothing1 ,rabbi4 ,,john ,there is a light shining over yonder mountains4 ,lovely is that light1 and within me dawns the meaning of a contradiction4 ,who alone can deliver the world8 ,to obtain it as a gift is to stretch forth your hands for the unobtainable4444 ,we are in ,galilee1 know ye1 where ,he now teacheth1 this ,jesus of ,nazareth6 ,,amarja ,we heard in the streets that ,he was not far off4 ,he tarries on the sea-coast4 ,,manassa ,and they say ,he may perhaps come into the town4 ,,john ,mayhap4 ,yet only mayhap6 ,and my time is over4 ,i must make haste1 lest ,i die4 ,will ye do me a service8 ,,amarja1 ,,manassa ,rabbi1 command us6 ,,john ,get ye up and go unto ,him4 ,,amarja1 ,,manassa ,to ,him8 ,,john ,nods4 ,and wheresoever ye find ,him1 speak to ,him4 ,ask3 ,art ,thou ,he ,who cometh1 or shall we wait for another8 ,so ask ,him1 and when ,he hath answered1 come back--quickly--for my longing for ,him is very great4 ,i believe ,i could not die ere ye returned4 ,,amarja ,master1 we will not pause or rest4 ,,john ,and ye will not forget my darkness in ,his radiance8 ,,manassa ,master1 why makest thou us ashamed8 ,,john ,then1 farewell4 ,,manassa1 ,,amarja ,farewell1 ,rabbi4 ,they turn to go4 ,,john ,go not thus2 not yet4 ,let me clasp your hands1 then ye are the least among my disciples1 and in great emotion methinks ,i--,i--love you4 ,the ,curtain falls4 ,,fifth ,,act ,,fifth ,,act ,hall in ,herod's ,palace4 ,a row of pillars1 raised by two steps1 in the background1 which lead to an open balcony with balustrade4 ,this can be shut off by curtains1 which at first are thrown back4 ,a street is supposed to run at the foot of the next storey4 ,in the middle of the stage1 raised on a dais1 is a table1 with couches ranged round it2 flowers and ornaments4 ,doors to right and left4 ,,scene ,i ,servants moving about arranging pictures and flowers1 ,gabalos superintending them2 afterwards1 ,herod4 ,a ,,servant ,announces from door on left4 ,our governor6 ,,herod ,following him4 ,now1 ,gabalos1 thou who hast washed in many waters1 what has thy art provided8 ,thou knowest our guests are spoiled children4 ,,gabalos ,sire1 thou needest have no anxiety about food and drink4 ,something customary is best for jaded palates4 ,therefore ,i chartered the cook of ,vitellius4 ,but for the other part of the entertainment the prospect is bad4 ,,herod ,smiling4 ,is that thy opinion8 ,,gabalos ,noble ,merokles will declaim a new ode1 ,i warrant4 ,our ,libyan flute-players will have washed their brown legs in honour of the occasion4 ,sire1 mistrust those legs even when washed4 ,as ,i tell thee every day1 we are sick of ,judean morality4 ,judean morality is devouring us like the plague4 ,,herod ,say1 ,gabalos1 dost thou think that our ,legate from ,syria1 before whom all the gaiety and colour of life doth shimmer1 hath ever seen a young daughter of ,princes dance at table8 ,,gabalos ,that would be grand1 because it is something new4 ,,scene ,,ii ,the same4 ,herodias from right4 ,,herod ,noticing her4 ,get thee gone6 ,gabalos and the servants withdraw to the background1 where they let down the curtains which now shut in the hall4 ,,herod ,what hast thou decided8 ,will it come to pass8 ,,herodias ,thy countenance beams4 ,thy eyes betray a badly concealed desire4 ,,herod ,bewildered ,of what desire dost thou speak8 ,,herodias ,do not prevaricate4 ,i know thee1 my friend4 ,the poisonous weed which thou cultivatest with little sighs1 and coverest up with thy crooked smiles1 ,i know it6 ,,herod ,i vow1 love1 that ,i ask this only for the sake of the ,roman4 ,and how should ,i ever have conceived the idea had it not been for thy half-promises and suggestion of its possibilities8 ,thou knowest as well as ,i that we must offer the ,roman something immense1 something that may not have faded from his tired memory when he enters ,caesar's presence4 ,,herodias ,that is it4 ,and thou thyself gainest thereby a dainty tit-bit for thy lonely night-dreams6 ,it will be nothing more than that4 ,i'll see to it4 ,,herod ,i am simple of understanding4 ,i cannot follow thee4 ,,herodias ,oh1 yes2 very simple is thy understanding4 ,i know4 ,,herod ,then it seems thou refusest8 ,,herodias ,how could ,i refuse1 when youth smiled and consented8 ,,herod ,ah6 ,and what reward wilt thou claim8 ,,herodias ,nothing4 ,,herod ,thou art like those priests1 dearest4 ,what didst thou ever do for nothing8 ,hasten then1 ,i pray1 to name thy price6 ,,herodias ,farewell6 ,,herod ,looks after her1 shaking his head4 ,,herodias ,turning round4 ,before ,i forget it1 just tell me1 my friend1 what art thou going to do with that ,baptist8 ,,herod ,my ,baptist is nothing to thee4 ,,herodias ,the maids tell me he wanders about loose in the gardens4 ,,herod ,let him2 he will not hurt thee4 ,,herodias ,i only asked1 because ,i wish to know how ,i am to avoid him4 ,,herod ,i'll take care1 love1 that he doth not meet thee4 ,but enough of the ,baptist4 ,once more thy price1 ,herodias8 ,,herodias ,look at me6 ,here is a woman that no longer adorns her own body because thou now scornest it2 she therefore adorns instead the body that came from hers4 ,here is a woman whose breasts have withered because her eyes have shed tears of blood4 ,therefore she will let the budding bosom1 from which the veil has never yet fallen1 be exposed to thine and thy guests' lustful gaze4 ,and for this sacrifice of unspeakable bitterness ,i ask nothing1 for ,i am without wishes4 ,one who can still hope shall ask4 ,salome shall ask4 ,,herod ,salome 444 ,i would rather it were so4 ,,herodias ,and thou wilt grant what she asks8 ,,herod ,i know not4 ,i will see4 ,i will let myself be driven4 ,for in combat with the strong that is the last resource of the weak4 ,but take care whither thou drivest me4444 ,mistress6 ,exit4 ,,scene ,,iii ,herodias1 ,salome4 ,,salome ,putting her head through the door4 ,mother1 am ,i to dance here8 ,,herodias ,come1 softly4 ,art thou trembling1 my dove8 ,art thou afraid of thy own will8 ,,salome ,take my hand1 mother4 ,i am not trembling1 because ,i know that thou art my will4 ,,herodias ,not ,i6 thou must will4 ,,salome ,for only the one who willeth exerciseth power4 ,as ,herodias regards her suspiciously1 she adds quickly4 ,i read that in the ,scriptures1 mother4 ,i did not understand what it meant4 ,,herodias ,listen to me1 thou sharpwits4 ,a carpet of ,indian wool will be spread here1 there the ,prince will sit with the foreign guests4444 ,let not thy foot touch the stone1 raise not thy eyes4444 ,dance thy dance modestly1 and when thou hast finished1 wipe signs of shame from thy face2 hearken narrowly to what the ,tetrarch saith to thee4 ,and if he should say1 ,now ask of me1 and---- ,,salome ,what then1 mother8 ,,herodias ,ask nothing4444 ,then look at him for the first time a long1 smiling look1 and 444 ask nothing4 ,after that thou mayest demand4 ,,salome ,attentive4 ,what shall ,i demand1 mother8 ,a gold hair-ornament1 or shoes of velvet8 ,no2 ,i know what ,i'll demand--a mirror4 ,,herodias ,passing her hand through ,salome's hair4 ,verily thou hast never felt hate to boil in thy breast1 like love on a night in ,may8 ,,salome ,feigning innocence4 ,no1 mother4 ,how should ,i8 ,,herodias ,thou hast never felt an insult coursing through thee1 like burning1 liquid fire8 ,,salome ,in the same tone4 ,no1 mother2 really ,i have not4 ,,herodias ,thou shalt demand no mirror1 no hair-ornament1 and no velvet shoes4 ,but that the head of him they call ,john the ,baptist shall be brought to thee on a dish4 ,,salome ,setting her teeth1 and controlling herself with difficulty4 ,on a golden dish8 ,,herodias ,what dost thou say8 ,understandest thou me not or--who---- ,,salome ,there's something else4 ,one thing more ,i want to be sure of6 ,will he know--that 444 that ,baptist1 from whom the request cometh8 ,,herodias ,breaking out ,certainly1 he shall know6 ,i will stand behind thy bloody trophy as thy will4 ,,salome ,half to herself4 ,as the will of my will8 ,,herodias ,i will grow over him1 as the sword groweth forth from the sleeve of the executioner 444 ,trumpets sound4 ,come6 ,,salome ,and ,i will grow over him like a sweet grapevine4 ,exeunt both1 to right4 ,,scene ,,iv ,herod4 ,vitellius4 ,marcellus 7and other ,romans of the ,legate and suite71 ,merokles1 ,gabalos1 ,jabad4 ,,herod ,welcome to my table1 exalted ,vitellius1 who bringest on the soles of thy feet the sacred soil of ,rome into my poor dwelling4 ,welcome to you also1 ye who follow him1 according to ,rome's command4 ,she1 our august mother1 but ordereth what my soul desireth4 ,,vitellius ,thou hast my thanks1 excellent prince4 ,,herod ,repose now at thy pleasure1 exalted one4 ,they lie on the couches4 ,,gabalos ,low4 ,say1 my brave ,marcellus1 how dost thou like this ,jewish ear-wig8 ,,marcellus ,it doth not find its way to our ears4 ,,herod ,and if thou wilt consent to crown thy brow with this wreath1 as our ,lord and ,master1 ,i shall be able to persuade myself that ,i am thy guest1 instead of thou being mine4 ,,vitellius ,thou art ,rome's guest1 ,highness4 ,thus ,i will accept what befitteth me4 ,puts on the wreath which a servant hands to him4 ,,gabalos ,there was a sting in that speech4 ,,herod ,quickly collecting himself4 ,my good ,merokles1 begin4 ,,merokles ,stands up and reads from a roll of parchment4 ,cooled by ,hebron's far-gleaming snow1 ,the fiery soul1 concealed in ice1 ,favours with its flickering smile ,us the worshippers4 ,so thou sendest forth twofold beams of silent light1 ,so flames for us shoot forth from thy coldness1 ,so we prize as sacred thy flickering smile1 mighty ,vitellius-- ,till we---- ,,vitellius ,my dear friend1 what is this man talking about8 ,,herod ,doth it displease thee1 ,exalted ,one8 ,,vitellius ,it seemed to me that he called my name4 ,in the case of his desiring a favour1 it shall be immediately granted if he promises to keep silent for the future6 ,,gabalos ,oh1 friends1 what a success6 ,,vitellius ,nevertheless1 thy peacock's liver is good1 very good1 my dear ,herod4 ,,herod ,thou rejoicest me1 ,exalted ,highness4 ,wilt thou not now command thy ,libyan flute-players to come and charm thy ear8 ,,vitellius ,my ear is obedient4 ,let them come4 ,,scene ,v ,the same4 ,salome 7thickly veiled7 led in by ,herodias while the harps are tuned4 ,a murmur of astonishment runs round the table4 ,,vitellius ,are these thy ,libyan---- ,,herod ,who has risen4 ,this is my wife1 ,exalted ,highness4 ,,vitellius ,also rising4 ,mistress1 if thou wouldst grace this feast with thy smiles1 ,i bid thee welcome4 ,,herodias ,pardon1 noble ,vitellius4 ,the custom of the ,east1 over which thou reignest so gloriously1 doth not permit of my sitting beside thee at table4 ,yet we know how to entertain even when we are not merry4 ,my lord and consort1 zealous to please thee1 hath commanded me to adorn myself and my little daughter to enter thy presence1 therewith she may delight thy eyes with her maidenly art1 trembling in maidenly modesty4 ,,vitellius ,hail to thee1 ,prince1 and to thy noble wife6 ,rome will not be grudging where thou art so lavish4 ,hearest thou not8 ,,herod ,with his eyes fixed on ,salome4 ,exalted1 look6 ,,vitellius ,truly1 he is right2 let us look1 ,romans4 ,open your eyes wide1 for what is coming is the art of all arts4 ,and if thou tremblest1 maiden1 remember that thou rulest because thou tremblest4 ,,marcellus ,one is obliged to say that1 ,gabalos1 to encourage her4 ,,gabalos ,ah1 my brave ,marcellus1 see to it1 is it fast on its neck8 ,,marcellus ,who8 ,what8 ,,gabalos ,the head6 the head6 ,look at ,herodias4 ,that will cost some one his head6 ,only whose has not yet transpired4 ,,marcellus ,pointing to ,salome4 ,silence6444 ,see6444 ,,salome ,has extricated herself from the arms of ,herodias and1 accompanied by exclamations of admiration and delight1 has begun to dance4 ,her dance becomes wilder and more abandoned2 she gradually loosens her veil1 then covers herself with it again in voluptuous playfulness1 till at last1 quite unveiled1 she stands with the upper part of her body apparently unclothed4 ,she sinks on her knees half exhausted1 half in homage1 before ,herod1 who stands on the right side of the table4 ,all break into ecstasies of applause4 ,,herod ,rushes forward to raise her4 ,,herodias ,who has retreated as far as the proscenium on right1 and has watched everything intently with a harassed expression playing on her face1 now intervenes to prevent him4 ,she and ,herod exchange hostile glances4 ,,herod ,hoarsely4 ,salome6 ,,salome ,sire6 ,,herod ,stand up and speak4 ,,salome ,slowly rising4 ,what shall ,i say1 ,sire8 ,,herod ,i am a poor man4 ,rome--who gave ,herod's son1 as if in mockery1 the name of ,herod--,rome has not left him much of his father's heritage4 ,yet enough is still his wherewith to thank thee4 ,speak1 what wilt thou have8 ,and by that ,god and ,lord before whom we kneel in the dust1 barefoot1 at ,jerusalem1 ,i swear it shall be thine4 ,,salome ,i beg and desire that thou wilt give me1 on a dish1 the head of ,john the ,baptist4 ,,herod ,herodias--thou6 ,,vitellius ,dear friend1 whose head doth she want8 ,,herod ,the head of a man1 great legate1 who lies in my prison1 whom ,i have there learnt to respect1 ,i had almost said1 to love4 ,,vitellius ,oh1 oh6444 ,and is he on view1 this man for whose head daughters of princes dance before thee8 ,,herod ,fetch him4 ,exit servant4 ,damsel1 thy mother led thee into this4 ,thou knowest not what thou askest4444 ,take back thy request4 ,,salome ,i beg and desire that thou wilt give me the head of ,john the ,baptist on a golden dish4 ,silence4 ,,herod ,and if ,i refuse8 ,,herodias ,drawing herself erect4 ,thou hast sworn1 ,sire4 ,,vitellius ,laughing4 ,of course1 my friend1 thou hast sworn4 ,we are all witnesses of that4 ,ah6 ,what a wood-god they are bringing in over there4 ,,scene ,,vi ,the same4 ,john led in by two armed men4 ,,herod ,i have summoned thee1 ,baptist4 ,i am sorry for thee4 ,prepare thyself1 for the evening of thy days is come4 ,,john ,i am ready1 ,sire4 ,,herod ,understand me4 ,i am truly sorry4 ,but thou must meet death4 ,now1 on the spot4 ,,john ,after looking searchingly towards the door4 ,sire1 grant me a respite4 ,,vitellius ,thy hero doth not appear to be all too ready4 ,a little more and he would whimper4 ,,herod ,baptist1 wherefore dost thou want this respite8 ,,john ,i have sent out messengers and await their return4 ,,herod ,to whom hast thou sent these messengers8444 ,thou art silent4444 ,as ,i said before4 ,i am from my heart sorry4 ,so much might have been made of thee4444 ,still 444 ,he shrugs his shoulders4 ,,john ,holding out his arms distressed4 ,i beseech thee1 ,sire6 ,,vitellius ,did not ,i tell you8 ,all kinds of people struggle to live1 only the ,roman understands how to die4 ,,herod ,thou must ask the maiden1 ,baptist4 ,know that in her hands rests what chance thou hast of the thing called life4 ,,salome ,master1 now see'st thou how powerful ,i am8 ,now ask me6 ,ask me6 ,,herodias ,prompting her1 behind4 ,if he does ask1 laugh at him4 ,,salome ,perhaps1 but who knoweth what my heart desireth8444 ,now1 master1 why dost thou not beg8 ,,john ,maiden 444 ,i 444 ,,salome ,there is the stone floor1 see6 ,the stone longs for the touch of thy knees4 ,pause4 ,,scene ,,vii ,the same4 ,the ,gaoler4 ,,herod ,what brings thee here8 ,,gaoler ,forgive1 ,sire4 ,had ,i not known that thou wast friendly towards the prisoner 444 ,,herod ,what dost thou want with him8 ,,gaoler ,two of his friends who were with him yesterday1 the same thou sawest outside the gate1 have come back1 and learning that his life is now in jeopardy--thy servant hath told me1 and ,i have got everything ready--they became like creatures possessed1 and implored me to lead them to him wheresoever he might be4 ,,herod ,dost thou approve1 ,mighty ,legate8 ,,vitellius ,dear friend1 this is the most enjoyable entertainment that has ever been provided for me at meat4 ,let them come6 ,let them come6 ,,herod ,signs4 ,,gaoler ,retires behind curtain of door and beckons4 ,,scene ,,viii ,the same4 ,manassa4 ,amarja4 ,they seem at first as if they would rush to ,john1 but overcome by shyness stand still4 ,,john ,what have ye to tell me8 ,,manassa ,master6 ,,herod ,speak louder1 my good men6 ,unless ye let us participate in the news1 ,i will have you carried off through separate doors4 ,,manassa ,may we1 ,master8 ,,john ,speak freely1 for methinks we are alone together4 ,,manassa ,we took the road in all haste to ,bethesda1 and at break of day we found ,him there4 ,,john ,ye found him there8 ,,manassa ,and many people were gathered about him resting in the olive gardens1 and praised the ,lord for the miracle which had been done to them at that hour4 ,and behold there was a light in every eye1 and in every mouth the music of thanksgiving4 ,,john ,and ,he8 ,how looked ,his countenance8 ,what were ,his gestures8 ,,manassa ,master1 ,i know not4 ,,john ,but ye saw ,him8 ,,amarja ,rabbi1 thou mightest as well ask1 ,what is the face of the sun1 and what the gestures of light8444 ,as we beheld ,his smile we sank to the ground1 and in our souls was a great peace4 ,,john ,and when ye had questioned ,him1 and ,he began to speak1 tell me what was ,his manner of speech8 ,say2 ,i stand here awaiting ,his wrath4 ,,amarja ,rabbi4444 ,he spoke to us like a brother4 ,his speech was simple4 ,,manassa ,and it was beautiful 444 like the voice of the wind which blows from the sea towards evening4 ,,amarja ,and this is what ,he spake4 ,go and tell ,john what ye have seen and heard4 ,the blind see1 the lame walk1 the lepers are cleansed1 the deaf hear1 the dead rise1 and the poor have the gospel preached to them4 ,,john ,the poor--,he said the poor8 ,,manassa ,and when ,he prepared to come hither to this town with the people who were gathered about ,him1 we accompanied ,him as far as the gate1 and then hurried on before1 according to thy wish4 ,,john ,and said ,he nothing else to you8 ,reflect well4 ,,amarja ,yes2 yet one more thing4 ,he said1 ,blessed be he who hath not been offended at me4 ,but this we could not understand4 ,,john ,but ,i understand it well and to whom ,he spoke4 ,i have been offended1 for ,i have not recognized ,him4 ,and my anger filled the world1 for ,i knew ,him not4 ,ye yourselves are my witnesses that ,i have said1 ,i am not the ,christ1 but one sent to prepare the way for ,him that cometh4 ,a man can take nothing to himself that is not given him by ,heaven4 ,and unto me nothing was given4 ,the key of death 444 ,i held it not 444 the scales of sin were not confided to me4 ,for out of no man's mouth may the name of sin sound1 save out of the mouth of the one that loveth4 ,but ,i would have scourged you with iron rods4 ,therefore is my kingdom come to shame1 and my lips are sealed4 ,i hear roundabout a rushing noise1 as of many waters1 and the divine radiance is near me4444 ,a throne hath descended out of heaven amidst darts of fire4 ,the ,king of ,peace sitteth thereon in white robes4 ,and ,his sword is called ,love1 and ,his watchword is mercy4444 ,behold ,he hath the bride1 ,he is the bridegroom4 ,but the friend of the bridegroom standeth and listeneth1 and rejoiceth over the voice that is coming4 ,the same is my joy4 ,now is it fulfilled4 ,he stands with his arms outspread and his eyes turned towards heaven4 ,manassa and ,amarja sink at his feet4 ,,vitellius ,dear friend1 it seems to me that we have had enough of this maniac4 ,,herod ,between emotion and scorn4 ,john1 ,i am truly grieved on thy account4 ,and when ,he cometh of whom thou dreamest1 ,i will greet ,him as ,i have greeted thee4 ,ha6 ha6 ha6 ,lead him to execution4 ,,salome ,now1 ask me6 ,as ,john smilingly looks beyond her4 ,mother1 will he not ask8 ,,scene ,,ix ,vitellius1 his suite1 ,herod1 ,herodias1 ,salome1 ,merokles1 ,gabalos1 ,jabad4 ,,vitellius ,my friend1 thy banquet has been somewhat disturbed4 ,as ,herod stares at the door through which ,john has disappeared4 ,no matter what ,i say1 he does not hear me4 ,,herod ,exalted highness1 pardon6 ,,salome ,has crossed over the stage and goes stealthily to the door on left4 ,in great curiosity she draws back the curtain1 and after gazing eagerly through it1 reels backwards into the arms of ,herodias4 ,outside1 behind the middle curtain1 an ever-increasing tumult and murmur of many voices has arisen4 ,,vitellius ,bid the women to sit down4 ,thou hast an ill-conducted people4 ,they brawl in the street while we dine4 ,,herod ,are they already muttering about the ,baptist8 ,gabalos1 look to it1 and tell them to be quiet4 ,,gabalos ,it shall be done1 ,sire4 ,exit4 ,,salome ,pointing to the door1 the curtains of which are open4 ,mother1 see what they are bringing4 ,see6 ,she rushes out4 ,,herod ,descending the steps of the dais4 ,what does she want there8 ,,herodias ,sire1 thou art of simple understanding4 ,i advise thee to look the other way4 ,,herod ,what is she doing8 ,,herodias ,she is dancing6 ,she holds the charger with the ,prophet's head high in her arms1 and dances4 ,,jabad ,see1 she dances6 ,,herod ,so thou hast corrupted thy own flesh and blood4 ,so thou wilt corrupt us all4 ,,herodias ,smiling1 shrugs her shoulders4 ,,merokles ,she sways4 ,she will fall6 ,,herodias ,goes out composedly4 ,,merokles ,the head is rolling on the floor6 ,,marcellus ,oh1 horror6 ,,herodias ,comes back supporting ,salome in her arms4 ,,salome ,mother1 where is the dish8 ,where is the head8 ,,herodias ,make obeisance4 ,speak thy thanks4 ,,salome ,before ,herod4 ,sire1 ,i am a rose of ,sharon4 ,a flower of the valley 444 ,who would thank me should pluck me 444 ,oh1 look at the head6 ,,herod ,take the women away6 ,,herodias ,curtseys1 and leads1 smiling2 the half-swooning ,salome off to right4 ,,scene ,x ,the same4 ,without ,herodias and ,salome4 ,gabalos has re-entered from left4 ,,herod ,well1 what is the matter8 ,,gabalos ,sire1 the people will not be restrained4 ,men and women in holiday raiment fill the streets and crowd on the roofs4 ,they carry palms in their hands1 and sing and shout for joy4 ,,herod ,what are they singing8 ,,gabalos ,thou knowest1 ,sire1 ,i am not servile1 but ,i scarcely like to say4 ,,herod ,speak6 ,,gabalos ,hosannah6 to ,him ,who shall come4 ,hosannah to the ,king of the ,jews6 ,so they sing4 ,,herod ,grinding his teeth4 ,i have had ,john beheaded4 ,who may this one be8 ,,gabalos ,if thou wouldst see ,him1 ,sire1 they say ,he is coming this way4 ,,herod ,i will see ,him4 ,i will greet ,him as ,i promised4 ,ha6 ha6 ha6 ,open6 ,,scene ,,xi ,the curtains are drawn aside4 ,one sees the roofs crowded with women waving palms4 ,others1 with palms in their hands1 climb the hilly street below4 ,the shouting swells in volume and becomes an orderly1 harmonious song4 ,,vitellius ,who has continued sitting1 turns round indignantly4 ,what is going on there again8 ,,herod ,has grasped a goblet1 and springs on the topmost step4 ,greeting to thee1 my ,king ---- of the ---- ,he looks1 stops short 444 the goblet slips from his hand1 he turns away and hides his face in his mantle4 ,,the ,,others ,also stand1 looking down in silent amazement4 ,the ,hosannahs rise from the street4 ,the ,curtain falls4 ,,finis