John the Baptist: A Play - LightNovelsOnl.com
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SALOME
[_Rising._] No, but thou must indeed ask my mother, Sire. I am still far too ignorant; I know not what a maiden ought to do. Only what I would like to do. I know that well enough.
HEROD
What wouldst thou _like_ to do?
SALOME
Thy pleasure, Sire. Nothing else, nothing. Seest thou, if thou treatest this prisoner humanely, they will sing thy praises, and I shall be so proud, I shall say in my heart, He acted on my advice.
HEROD
[_To the gaoler._] Bring the Baptist here.... I will consider it, Salome.
[_Exit Gaoler._
SALOME
[_From the gate, with a slight fluttering of her veil._] And I will thank thee, Sire!
HEROD
Salome!
SALOME
[_Vanishes, with a burst of laughter. Abi and Maecha have preceded her._]
HEROD
[_Looks after her, and then sits down on the seat._]
SCENE V
_Herod, John. The Gaoler. A Guard._
HEROD
Tell me, how should one address thee when one would show thee respect?
Thou thinkest that I mock thee? But knowest thou that in reality I am indebted to thee? The people's meditated attack was not hidden from me, and yet I came without the escort of warriors which Rome sent for my protection. Thou heldest me in the hollow of thy hand, as thou heldest the stone. Say, why didst thou let it fall? Why hast thou spared me?
JOHN
Sire, even if I spoke thou wouldst not understand me.
HEROD
That is defiance, which I cannot praise. In chains it is easy to be defiant. Take off his chains and go. [_The Gaoler obeys. Exit with the guard._] Now, as a free man, revile me. Art thou a preacher of repentance? If so, preach to me!
JOHN
Sire, thou wouldst not understand me.
HEROD
So thou saidst before. Think of something new. Here in Galilee I am inclined to be mild and tolerant of goodness. I am told that thou hatest the Pharisees. I hate them too. I am told that thou hatest the priests. I love them not. I am told that thou hatest the Romans.
I---- Say, why didst thou spare me?
JOHN
Sire, my heart failed me.
HEROD
Failed thee! Before me, whom thou callest "the little"! Art thou flattering me because I have loosened thee from thy chains?
JOHN
Thou hast not laid me in chains, and canst not loosen me from them.
HEROD
What ... and yet I made thee falter?
JOHN
It was Another who threw thee in my way.... And so my heart failed me.
HEROD
Tell me, Baptist--I call thee by the name I have heard people speak of thee by, and I hope thou wilt not be angry--tell me, Who is that King of the Jews whose image thou danglest before the people?... See, the guards are gone, and thy confidence shall be rewarded. Tell me, who is it?
JOHN
Sire, I know not.
HEROD
And so thou deniest thy own creature?
JOHN
What is my own I deny.
HEROD
Ha, ha, ha! I have half a mind to summon my little Greek that he may go to school under thee. Listen [_in a low voice_], I too have heard of a King of the Jews who will come with a sword drawn above his head, and he will spare no one who doth not serve him at the right moment.
