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

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Cæsar! Cæsar!

·43· herod

Do you not see your daughter, how pale she is?

herodias

What is it to you if she be pale or not?

herod

Never have I seen her so pale.

herodias

You must not look at her.

the voice of jokanaan

In that day the sun shall become black like sackcloth of hair, and the moon shall become like blood, and the stars of the heavens shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs that fall from the fig-tree, and the kings of the earth shall be afraid.

herodias

Ah! Ah! I should like to see that day of which he speaks, when the moon shall become like blood, and when the stars shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs. This prophet talks like a drunken man …. but I cannot suffer the sound of his voice. I hate his voice. Command him to be silent.

herod

I will not. I cannot understand what it is that he saith, but it may be an omen.

·44· herodias

I do not believe in omens. He speaks like a drunken man.

herod

It may be he is drunk with the wine of God.

herodias

What wine is that, the wine of God? From what vineyards is it gathered? In what wine-press may one find it?

herod

[ From this point he looks all the while at Salomé .] Tigellinus, when you were at Rome of late, did the Emperor speak with you on the subject of …?

tigellinus

On what subject, sire?

herod

On what subject? Ah! I asked you a question, did I not? I have forgotten what I would have asked you.

herodias

You are looking again at my daughter. You must not look at her. I have already said so.

herod

You say nothing else.

·45· herodias

I say it again.

herod

And that restoration of the Temple about which they have talked so much, will anything be done? They say the veil of the Sanctuary has disappeared, do they not?

herodias

It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random. I will not stay here. Let us go within.

herod

Dance for me, Salomé.

herodias

I will not have her dance.

salomé

I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.

herod

Salomé, daughter of Herodias, dance for me.

herodias

Let her alone.

herod

I command thee to dance, Salomé.

·46· salomé

I will not dance, Tetrarch.

herodias

[ Laughing ]. You see how she obeys you.

herod

What is it to me whether she dance or not? It is naught to me. To-night I am happy, I am exceeding happy. Never have I been so happy.

first soldier

The Tetrarch has a sombre look. Has he not a sombre look?

second soldier

Yes, he has a sombre look.

herod

Wherefore should I not be happy? Cæsar, who is lord of the world, who is lord of all things, loves me well. He has just sent me most precious gifts. Also he has promised me to summon to Rome the King of Cappadocia, who is my enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he wishes. Verily, Cæsar is lord. Thus you see I have a right to be happy. Indeed, I am happy. I have never been so happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness.

·47· the voice of jokanaan

He shall be seated on this throne. He shall be clothed in scarlet and purple. In his hand he shall bear a golden cup full of his blasphemies. And the angel of the Lord shall smite him. He shall be eaten of worms.

herodias

You hear what he says about you. He says that you will be eaten of worms.

herod

It is not of me that he speaks. He speaks never against me. It is of the King of Cappadocia that he speaks; the King of Cappadocia, who is mine enemy. It is he who shall be eaten of worms. It is not I. Never has he spoken word against me, this prophet, save that I sinned in taking to wife the wife of my brother. It may be he is right. For, of a truth, you are sterile.

herodias

I am sterile, I? You say that, you that are ever looking at my daughter, you that would have her dance for your pleasure? It is absurd to say that. I have borne a child. You have gotten no child, no, not even from one of your slaves. It is you who are sterile, not I.

herod

Peace, woman! I say that you are sterile. You have borne me no child, and the prophet ·48· says that our marriage is not a true marriage. He says that it is an incestuous marriage, a marriage that will bring evils…. I fear he is right; I am sure that he is right. But it is not the moment to speak of such things. I would be happy at this moment. Of a truth, I am happy. There is nothing I lack.

herodias

I am glad you are of so fair a humour to-night. It is not your custom. But it is late. Let us go within. Do not forget that we hunt at sunrise. All honours must be shown to Cæsar’s ambassadors, must they not?

second soldier

What a sombre look the Tetrarch wears.

first soldier

Yes, he wears a sombre look.

herod

Salomé, Salomé, dance for me. I pray thee dance for me. I am sad to-night. Yes; I am passing sad to-night. When I came hither I slipped in blood, which is an evil omen; and I heard, I am sure I heard in the air a beating of wings, a beating of giant wings. I cannot tell what they mean … I am sad to-night. Therefore dance for me. Dance for me, Salomé, I beseech you. If you dance for me you may ask of me what you will, and I will give it you, even unto the half of my kingdom.

·49· salomé

[ Rising .] Will you indeed give me whatsoever I shall ask, Tetrarch?

herodias

Do not dance, my daughter.

herod

Everything, even the half of my kingdom.

salomé

You swear it, Tetrarch?

herod

I swear it, Salomé.

herodias

Do not dance, my daughter.

salomé

By what will you swear, Tetrarch?

herod

By my life, by my crown, by my gods. Whatsoever you desire I will give it you, even to the half of my kingdom, if you will but dance for me. O, Salomé, Salomé, dance for me!

salomé

You have sworn, Tetrarch.

herod

I have sworn, Salomé.

·50· salomé

All this I ask, even the half of your kingdom.

herodias

My daughter, do not dance.

herod

Even to the half of my kingdom. Thou wilt be passing fair as a queen, Salomé, if it please thee to ask for the half of my kingdom. Will she not be fair as a queen? Ah! it is cold here! There is an icy wind, and I hear … wherefore do I hear in the air this beating of wings? Ah! one might fancy a bird, a huge black bird that hovers over the terrace. Why can I not see it, this bird? The beat of its wings is terrible. The breath of the wind of its wings is terrible. It is a chill wind. Nay, but it is not cold, it is hot. I am choking. Pour water on my hands. Give me snow to eat. Loosen my mantle. Quick! quick! loosen my mantle. Nay, but leave it. It is my garland that hurts me, my garland of roses. The flowers are like fire. They have burned my forehead. [ He tears the wreath from his head and throws it on the table .] Ah! I can breathe now. How red those petals are! They are like stains of blood on the cloth. That does not matter. You must not find symbols in everything you see. It makes life impossible. It were better to say that stains of blood are as lovely as rose petals. It were better far to say that…. But we will not speak of this. Now I am happy, ·51· I am passing happy. Have I not the right to be happy? Your daughter is going to dance for me. Will you not dance for me, Salomé? You have promised to dance for me.

herodias

I will not have her dance.

salomé

I will dance for you, Tetrarch.

herod

You hear what your daughter says. She is going to dance for me. You do well to dance for me, Salomé. And when you have danced for me, forget not to ask of me whatsoever you wish. Whatsoever you wish I will give it you, even to the half of my kingdom. I have sworn it, have I not?