A to Z Classics - Complete Works Of Oscar Wilde (Best Navigation) (A to Z Classics)

·8· the cappadocian

[ Pointing to the cistern .] What a strange prison!

second soldier

It is an old cistern.

the cappadocian

An old cistern! It must be very unhealthy.

second soldier

Oh no! For instance, the Tetrarch’s brother, his elder brother, the first husband of Herodias the Queen, was imprisoned there for twelve years. It did not kill him. At the end of the twelve years he had to be strangled.

the cappadocian

Strangled? Who dared to do that?

second soldier

[ Pointing to the Executioner, a huge Negro .] That man yonder, Naaman.

the cappadocian

He was not afraid?

second soldier

Oh no! The Tetrarch sent him the ring.

the cappadocian

What ring?

·9· second soldier

The death-ring. So he was not afraid.

the cappadocian

Yet it is a terrible thing to strangle a king.

first soldier

Why? Kings have but one neck, like other folk.

the cappadocian

I think it terrible.

the young syrian

The Princess rises! She is leaving the table! She looks very troubled. Ah, she is coming this way. Yes, she is coming towards us. How pale she is! Never have I seen her so pale.

the page of herodias

Do not look at her. I pray you not to look at her.

the young syrian

She is like a dove that has strayed…. She is like a narcissus trembling in the wind…. She is like a silver flower.

[ Enter Salomé .]

salomé

I will not stay. I cannot stay. Why does the Tetrarch look at me all the while with his mole’s eyes under his shaking eyelids? It is strange ·10· that the husband of my mother looks at me like that. I know not what it means. In truth, yes I know it.

the young syrian

You have just left the feast, Princess?

salomé

How sweet the air is here! I can breathe here! Within there are Jews from Jerusalem who are tearing each other in pieces over their foolish ceremonies, and barbarians who drink and drink, and spill their wine on the pavement, and Greeks from Smyrna with painted eyes and painted cheeks, and frizzed hair curled in twisted coils, and silent, subtle Egyptians, with long nails of jade and russett cloaks, and Romans brutal and coarse, with their uncouth jargon. Ah! how I loathe the Romans! They are rough and common, and they give themselves the airs of noble lords.

the young syrian

Will you be seated, Princess?

the page of herodias

Why do you speak to her? Why do you look at her? Oh! something terrible will happen.

salomé

How good to see the moon! She is like a little piece of money, you would think she was a ·11· little silver flower. The moon is cold and chaste. I am sure she is a virgin, she has a virgin’s beauty. Yes, she is a virgin. She has never defiled herself. She has never abandoned herself to men, like the other goddesses.

the voice of jokanaan

The Lord hath come. The son of man hath come. The centaurs have hidden themselves in the rivers, and the sirens have left the rivers, and are lying beneath the leaves of the forest.

salomé

Who was that who cried out?

second soldier

The prophet, Princess.

salomé

Ah, the prophet! He of whom the Tetrarch is afraid?

second soldier

We know nothing of that, Princess. It was the prophet Jokanaan who cried out.

the young syrian

Is it your pleasure that I bid them bring your litter, Princess? The night is fair in the garden.

salomé

He says terrible things about my mother, does he not?

·12· second soldier

We never understand what he says, Princess.

salomé

Yes; he says terrible things about her.

[ Enter a Slave .]

the slave

Princess, the Tetrarch prays you to return to the feast.

salomé

I will not go back.

the young syrian

Pardon me, Princess, but if you do not return some misfortune may happen.

salomé

Is he an old man, this prophet?

the young syrian

Princess, it were better to return. Suffer me to lead you in.

salomé

This prophet … is he an old man?

first soldier

No, Princess, he is quite a young man.

second soldier

You cannot be sure. There are those who say he is Elias.

·13· salomé

Who is Elias?

second soldier

A very ancient prophet of this country, Princess.

the slave

What answer may I give the Tetrarch from the Princess?

the voice of jokanaan

Rejoice not thou, land of Palestine, because the rod of him who smote thee is broken. For from the seed of the serpent shall come forth a basilisk, and that which is born of it shall devour the birds.

salomé

What a strange voice! I would speak with him.

first soldier

I fear it is impossible, Princess. The Tetrarch does not wish any one to speak with him. He has even forbidden the high priest to speak with him.

salomé

I desire to speak with him.

first soldier

It is impossible, Princess.

·14· salomé

I will speak with him.

the young syrian

Would it not be better to return to the banquet?

salomé

Bring forth this prophet.

[ Exit the slave .]

first soldier

We dare not, Princess.

salomé

[ Approaching the cistern and looking down into it .] How black it is, down there! It must be terrible to be in so black a pit! It is like a tomb….. [ To the soldiers .] Did you not hear me? Bring out the prophet. I wish to see him.

second soldier

Princess, I beg you do not require this of us.

salomé

You keep me waiting!

first soldier

Princess, our lives belong to you, but we cannot do what you have asked of us. And indeed, it is not of us that you should ask this thing.

·15· salomé

[ Looking at the young Syrian .] Ah!

the page of herodias

Oh! what is going to happen? I am sure that some misfortune will happen.

salomé

[ Going up to the young Syrian .] You will do this thing for me, will you not, Narraboth? You will do this thing for me. I have always been kind to you. You will do it for me. I would but look at this strange prophet. Men have talked so much of him. Often have I heard the Tetrarch talk of him. I think the Tetrarch is afraid of him. Are you, even you, also afraid of him, Narraboth?

the young syrian

I fear him not, Princess; there is no man I fear. But the Tetrarch has formally forbidden that any man should raise the cover of this well.

salomé

You will do this thing for me, Narraboth, and to-morrow when I pass in my litter beneath the gateway of the idol-sellers I will let fall for you a little flower, a little green flower.

the young syrian

Princess, I cannot, I cannot.

·16· salomé

[ Smiling .] You will do this thing for me, Narraboth. You know that you will do this thing for me. And to-morrow when I pass in my litter by the bridge of the idol-buyers, I will look at you through the muslin veils, I will look at you, Narraboth, it may be I will smile at you. Look at me, Narraboth, look at me. Ah! you know that you will do what I ask of you. You know it well…. I know that you will do this thing.

the young syrian

[ Signing to the third soldier .] Let the prophet come forth…. The Princess Salomé desires to see him.

salomé

Ah!

the page of herodias

Oh! How strange the moon looks. You would think it was the hand of a dead woman who is seeking to cover herself with a shroud.

the young syrian

She has a strange look! She is like a little princess, whose eyes are eyes of amber. Through the clouds of muslin she is smiling like a little princess.

[ The prophet comes out of the cistern. Salomé looks at him and steps slowly back .]