ACT IV

The Castleon Zion.Mariamne’sApartments.Mariamne. Alexandra.

Alex.

You pose me with your riddles. First the oath“I kill myself if he return no more!”Then bitter coldness when he came, so frowardThat he was mortified as keen as IRejoiced; and now again the deepest mourning!I’d gladly see the man who comprehends you.

You pose me with your riddles. First the oath

“I kill myself if he return no more!”

Then bitter coldness when he came, so froward

That he was mortified as keen as I

Rejoiced; and now again the deepest mourning!

I’d gladly see the man who comprehends you.

Mar.

If ’tis so hard, why do you plague yourself?

Alex.

And then the tart repugnance in the mannerWith which you fend Soemus to his distance!His looks betray there’s something on his heart——

And then the tart repugnance in the manner

With which you fend Soemus to his distance!

His looks betray there’s something on his heart——

Mar.

You think so?

Alex.

Ay, and he would make avowalBut dare not venture it; he would perhaps,If he should see you leap into the Jordan,Be dubious if he were privilegedTo rescue you from death; and he were right,For this blunt gracelessness is past all bounds.

Ay, and he would make avowal

But dare not venture it; he would perhaps,

If he should see you leap into the Jordan,

Be dubious if he were privileged

To rescue you from death; and he were right,

For this blunt gracelessness is past all bounds.

Mar.

You’ll own at least that Herod cannot sayI probed the virtue of his friend, and luredHis secret, if he has one, out of himWith cozening-tongued duplicity. No, no;It lies on the knees of God if I should learn it;And my heart says I take no risk therein.10

You’ll own at least that Herod cannot say

I probed the virtue of his friend, and lured

His secret, if he has one, out of him

With cozening-tongued duplicity. No, no;

It lies on the knees of God if I should learn it;

And my heart says I take no risk therein.10

[EnterSameas,with fetters on his hands.

The Same. Sameas.

Sameas.

The Lord is great!

Mar.

He is.

Alex.

You free, and yetIn fetters? Yet one riddle more!

You free, and yet

In fetters? Yet one riddle more!

Sameas.

These fettersI lay not by again. JerusalemShall day by day have brought to its remembranceThat Jonah’s progeny in prison sat.

These fetters

I lay not by again. Jerusalem

Shall day by day have brought to its remembrance

That Jonah’s progeny in prison sat.

Alex.

How came you out, then? Did you bribe the gaolers?

Sameas.

What, I? the gaolers?

Alex.

True, with what I know not.You still have on your shirt of camel’s hair,And that they freed you for a wild bees’ nestWhich you, with every hollow tree familiar,Could have betrayed to them for ransom-price—That I misdoubt, for there’s enough of honey.

True, with what I know not.

You still have on your shirt of camel’s hair,

And that they freed you for a wild bees’ nest

Which you, with every hollow tree familiar,

Could have betrayed to them for ransom-price—

That I misdoubt, for there’s enough of honey.

Sameas.

Why, what a question! ’Twas Soemus’ selfThat oped the gates for me.

Why, what a question! ’Twas Soemus’ self

That oped the gates for me.

Mar.

How could he dare that?

Sameas.

How then? And was’t not you that gave him orders?

Mar.

Sameas.

No? And yet I thought ’twas what he said.I may have erred, for I was just then sayingThe last psalm backwards-way when he came inAnd slackly gave him only half my ear.Well, good! It seems the Lord has done’t, and IMust go unto the Temple there to thank Him,For I have naught to do in David’s castle.

No? And yet I thought ’twas what he said.

I may have erred, for I was just then saying

The last psalm backwards-way when he came in

And slackly gave him only half my ear.

Well, good! It seems the Lord has done’t, and I

Must go unto the Temple there to thank Him,

For I have naught to do in David’s castle.

Mar.

The Lord!

Sameas.

The Lord. Was I endungeoned justly?

Mar.

The times are now no more in which the LordSpoke with the naked word unto His People.We have instead the Law; that speaks for Him.Extinguished is the Pillar of Fire and CloudThrough which our Fathers in the WildernessWere shown the paths he led them, and the ProphetsAre dumb as He.

The times are now no more in which the Lord

Spoke with the naked word unto His People.

We have instead the Law; that speaks for Him.

Extinguished is the Pillar of Fire and Cloud

Through which our Fathers in the Wilderness

Were shown the paths he led them, and the Prophets

Are dumb as He.

Alex.

Nay, not yet wholly so!Only a short time since there was a fireForetold by one—a fire that came to pass.

Nay, not yet wholly so!

Only a short time since there was a fire

Foretold by one—a fire that came to pass.

Mar.

Granted; but ’twas himself at mid of nightApplied the kindling flame.

Granted; but ’twas himself at mid of night

Applied the kindling flame.

Sameas.

Woman, blaspheme not!

Mar.

And I blaspheme not! No, I say what happened.The man’s a Pharisee like you yourself.He speaks like you, he raves like you. The fireWas meant to prove to us that he was trulyA prophet, and could see into the future.But still a soldier caught him in the act.

And I blaspheme not! No, I say what happened.

The man’s a Pharisee like you yourself.

He speaks like you, he raves like you. The fire

Was meant to prove to us that he was truly

A prophet, and could see into the future.

But still a soldier caught him in the act.

Sameas.

A Roman?

Mar.

Yes.

Sameas.

He lied! He was perhapsSuborned. He was suborned thereto by Herod,Suborned by you yourself.

He lied! He was perhaps

Suborned. He was suborned thereto by Herod,

Suborned by you yourself.

Mar.

Sirrah, your place!

Sameas.

You are his wife, you are the wife o’ the miscreantWho overweens him into the Messiah.If you can lock him in your arms and kiss himYou can do other things for him as well.

You are his wife, you are the wife o’ the miscreant

Who overweens him into the Messiah.

If you can lock him in your arms and kiss him

You can do other things for him as well.

Alex.

He overweens him now into Messiah?

Sameas.

He does! He flung the words into my teethWhen to the dungeon he had ordered me.I shrieked to God. I cried—“Look on thy folkAnd send Messiah unto us, whom ThouHast promised for the time of direst need!The direst need’s upon us!” Then replied heWith a proud curl o’ the lip—“He’s long since here;But ye—ye know it not! ’Tis I myself!”

He does! He flung the words into my teeth

When to the dungeon he had ordered me.

I shrieked to God. I cried—“Look on thy folk

And send Messiah unto us, whom Thou

Hast promised for the time of direst need!

The direst need’s upon us!” Then replied he

With a proud curl o’ the lip—“He’s long since here;

But ye—ye know it not! ’Tis I myself!”

Alex.

Now, Mariamne?

Sameas.

Then, with godless witHe proved that we’re a Folk of scatter-brainsAnd he alone has got an uncracked pate.We did not dwell for naught on the Dead SeaThat is devoid of motion—ebb and flood—And therefore poisons all the world with pest.It was a trusty mirror of ourselves!And he was bent to pang us into livingWere he compelled e’en Moses’ numskull book—So unabashed his words—with force to tatter.It was for that sole cause our river Jordan,Whose clear wave laughed and leapt throughout our land,Symbolled us not instead of a dull bog.

Then, with godless wit

He proved that we’re a Folk of scatter-brains

And he alone has got an uncracked pate.

We did not dwell for naught on the Dead Sea

That is devoid of motion—ebb and flood—

And therefore poisons all the world with pest.

It was a trusty mirror of ourselves!

And he was bent to pang us into living

Were he compelled e’en Moses’ numskull book—

So unabashed his words—with force to tatter.

It was for that sole cause our river Jordan,

Whose clear wave laughed and leapt throughout our land,

Symbolled us not instead of a dull bog.

Alex.

He flung the mask so wholly from him?

Sameas.

Ay!And yet perchance he deemed me, when he did it,As good as dead by then, for straight thereonHe gave the word of death.

Ay!

And yet perchance he deemed me, when he did it,

As good as dead by then, for straight thereon

He gave the word of death.

Mar.

He had been goaded.He found revolt for greeting.

He had been goaded.

He found revolt for greeting.

Sameas.

Now I warn youWhat is your duty. Be renounced from himAs he has now renounced his God. TherebyYou can chastise him, for he loves you dear.My only notion, when Soemus freed me,Was that you’d done it. If you do it notChide not the shaft that from the welkin fallsAs undeserved when it strikes you with him.I go to sacrifice.

Now I warn you

What is your duty. Be renounced from him

As he has now renounced his God. Thereby

You can chastise him, for he loves you dear.

My only notion, when Soemus freed me,

Was that you’d done it. If you do it not

Chide not the shaft that from the welkin falls

As undeserved when it strikes you with him.

I go to sacrifice.

Alex.

Take then the victimsFrom out my stall.

Take then the victims

From out my stall.

Sameas.

I take them where they’re missed,The widow-woman’s lamb, the poor man’s sheep.What is your ox to God?

I take them where they’re missed,

The widow-woman’s lamb, the poor man’s sheep.

What is your ox to God?

[Exit.EnterSoemus.

Mariamne. Alexandra. Soemus.

Soemus.

Pardon!

Mar.

Indeed,I wished even now to have you called. Come in!

Indeed,

I wished even now to have you called. Come in!

Soemus.

’Tis the first time you had such wish.

Mar.

Ay, true!

Soemus.

You’ve parried me till now.

Mar.

And have you thenSought for me? Have you aught to seek from me?I cannot think it so.

And have you then

Sought for me? Have you aught to seek from me?

I cannot think it so.

Soemus.

At least the former;Behold in me the truest of your servants.

At least the former;

Behold in me the truest of your servants.

Mar.

I did, but do so now no more.

Soemus.

No more?

Mar.

How could you let that rebel, him whom HerodOrdered to prison, have his dungeon opened?Is he still King, or is he King no more?

How could you let that rebel, him whom Herod

Ordered to prison, have his dungeon opened?

Is he still King, or is he King no more?

Soemus.

The answer’s not so easy as you think.

Mar.

And if you find it hard you’ll pay it dearly.

Soemus.

You’ve not yet heard the news the fight is lost?

Mar.

The fight at Actium’s reported lost?

Soemus.

Yes. Antony is fallen by his own hand,With like death Cleopatra.

Yes. Antony is fallen by his own hand,

With like death Cleopatra.

Mar.

What, could sheHave such fine nerve? Time was she could not bearA sword to sight, and shuddered back at hisWhene’er he held it toward her for a mirror.

What, could she

Have such fine nerve? Time was she could not bear

A sword to sight, and shuddered back at his

Whene’er he held it toward her for a mirror.

Soemus.

Titus the Captain had these very tidings.Octavian curses that no means were usedTo hinder them. Myself I read the letter.

Titus the Captain had these very tidings.

Octavian curses that no means were used

To hinder them. Myself I read the letter.

Mar.

Then Death for some long time has had his shareAnd every head stands firmer than it stoodEre then.

Then Death for some long time has had his share

And every head stands firmer than it stood

Ere then.

Soemus.

You think so?

Mar.

Why that riddling smile?

Soemus.

You do not know Octavian, it would seem.He will not ask Death if his maw be queasy;He’ll find the friends of Antony of useTo serve him yet another meal, and oneWhere tasty tit-bits will not be so scarce.

You do not know Octavian, it would seem.

He will not ask Death if his maw be queasy;

He’ll find the friends of Antony of use

To serve him yet another meal, and one

Where tasty tit-bits will not be so scarce.

Mar.

That touches Herod?

Soemus.

Well, if he should holdTo what he purposed——

Well, if he should hold

To what he purposed——

Mar.

What was that?

Soemus.

He said:—“I have no further love for Antony,Far sooner do I hate him; but I willStand at his side unto the latest hourAlthough I fear that he is doomed to fall.I owe it to myself if not to him.”

He said:—

“I have no further love for Antony,

Far sooner do I hate him; but I will

Stand at his side unto the latest hour

Although I fear that he is doomed to fall.

I owe it to myself if not to him.”

Mar.

Right kingly spoke!

Soemus.

Ay, true, right kingly spoke!Only Octavian’s not the man t’admire it,And Herod if he do so——

Ay, true, right kingly spoke!

Only Octavian’s not the man t’admire it,

And Herod if he do so——

Mar.

Who dares doubt it?

Soemus.

Then he’s a lost man too, or black affrontHas smirched Octavian’s name when rumour saidThe mighty slaughter following Caesar’s deathWas written on his reckoning.

Then he’s a lost man too, or black affront

Has smirched Octavian’s name when rumour said

The mighty slaughter following Caesar’s death

Was written on his reckoning.

Mar.

That you’re fastIn faith on such an outcome, and that HerodIs ranked by you with death, is clear enough,Else had you never dared what you have dared.Ay, and the shudder takes me, I confess it,At your calm certainty. You are no foolAnd without ground would never dare so much.But, howsoe’er it be, this thing is true—I’m still alive, and I, yes I, shall show youThat I am skilled to render him obedienceEven in his death; there’s not a sole commandThat he has given shall not be executed.Such be the Dead Man’s sacrifice.

That you’re fast

In faith on such an outcome, and that Herod

Is ranked by you with death, is clear enough,

Else had you never dared what you have dared.

Ay, and the shudder takes me, I confess it,

At your calm certainty. You are no fool

And without ground would never dare so much.

But, howsoe’er it be, this thing is true—

I’m still alive, and I, yes I, shall show you

That I am skilled to render him obedience

Even in his death; there’s not a sole command

That he has given shall not be executed.

Such be the Dead Man’s sacrifice.

Soemus.

Not one?I doubt it, Queen! (Aside.) Now let the blow come down!

Not one?

I doubt it, Queen! (Aside.) Now let the blow come down!

Mar.

As true as I am Maccabee you sendThis Sameas again into his dungeon.

As true as I am Maccabee you send

This Sameas again into his dungeon.

Soemus.

If such your will demand, ’tis done; and ifYou will yet more, if he shall die the deathThe King had threatened, speak and he is dead.But now vouchsafe a question of your grace—Shall I take you, that thus the sacrificeYou think to yield be full and blemishless,Shall I take you and pierce you with a sword-thrust?For such injunction too I have from him.

If such your will demand, ’tis done; and if

You will yet more, if he shall die the death

The King had threatened, speak and he is dead.

But now vouchsafe a question of your grace—

Shall I take you, that thus the sacrifice

You think to yield be full and blemishless,

Shall I take you and pierce you with a sword-thrust?

For such injunction too I have from him.

Mar.

Woe!

Alex.

Nevermore!

Mar.

And so the end is come!And what an end! One that its own beginningEngulfs with all beside. The time that’s past,The time to come, dissolve to naught in me.Naught I have had and naught I have and naughtI shall have. Oh, was mortal e’er so poor?

And so the end is come!

And what an end! One that its own beginning

Engulfs with all beside. The time that’s past,

The time to come, dissolve to naught in me.

Naught I have had and naught I have and naught

I shall have. Oh, was mortal e’er so poor?

Alex.

Whatever misdeed hatched and wrought by HerodYou told me, every several one I’d credit,But this——

Whatever misdeed hatched and wrought by Herod

You told me, every several one I’d credit,

But this——

Mar.

Misdoubt it not, ’tis fixed and sure.

Alex.

You say’t yourself?

Mar.

O God, I know wherefore!

Alex.

Then must you know the deed before you!

Mar.

Ay!

[She thrusts the dagger at herself.

Alex.(preventing her).

Mad fool! Is this his due? Is it his due?That you should play the butcher on yourself?

Mad fool! Is this his due? Is it his due?

That you should play the butcher on yourself?

Mar.

A topsy-turvy freak! My thanks! This officeHe’d chosen for himself. (Throws the dagger away.) Tempter, begone!

A topsy-turvy freak! My thanks! This office

He’d chosen for himself. (Throws the dagger away.) Tempter, begone!

Alex.

You’ll seek a refuge under Rome’s protection!

Mar.

On none who has a thing at heart to doI’ll put the hindrance. I myself, I giveA feast to-night.

On none who has a thing at heart to do

I’ll put the hindrance. I myself, I give

A feast to-night.

Alex.

A feast?

Mar.

And there I dance——11Yes, yes, that is the way!

And there I dance——11

Yes, yes, that is the way!

Alex.

To gain what end?

Mar.

Hey, servants!

[EnterMosesandServants.

Fling the splendid state-rooms wideAnd summon all that can be jubilant!Put fire to every candle that will burn,Pluck all the flowers from stem that are not faded!There is no need that any now survive.(ToMoses.) You tricked our wedding once in famous trappings,Your task to-day’s a feast more brilliant still.Spare nothing therefore. (Advancing.) Herod, tremble nowThough never yet before in life you trembled!

Fling the splendid state-rooms wide

And summon all that can be jubilant!

Put fire to every candle that will burn,

Pluck all the flowers from stem that are not faded!

There is no need that any now survive.

(ToMoses.) You tricked our wedding once in famous trappings,

Your task to-day’s a feast more brilliant still.

Spare nothing therefore. (Advancing.) Herod, tremble now

Though never yet before in life you trembled!

Soemus.

(approaching her). I feel your smart as you do.

Mar.

Keep your pity,I’ll rob you not! You axe no butcher’s boor,I dare not doubt it, you have given me proof!But that has turned you traitor, and to traitorsI give no thanks nor bear them round my personWhatever use they may be in this world.For that’s not judged awry. Were you the manYou seemed to be, it had been forced on GodTo work a wonder; He were forced to lendThe very air the tongue it lacks for utterance.That He foresaw or ere your clay He shapedAnd made the first of hypocrites—made you!

Keep your pity,

I’ll rob you not! You axe no butcher’s boor,

I dare not doubt it, you have given me proof!

But that has turned you traitor, and to traitors

I give no thanks nor bear them round my person

Whatever use they may be in this world.

For that’s not judged awry. Were you the man

You seemed to be, it had been forced on God

To work a wonder; He were forced to lend

The very air the tongue it lacks for utterance.

That He foresaw or ere your clay He shaped

And made the first of hypocrites—made you!

Soemus.

That thing I am not! I was Herod’s friend,His weapon-brother and his shoulder-fellow,Before he scaled the throne! I was his servant,His truest servant, since he’s been a king,But only so as long as he could holdThe Man in me inviolate and the Human,As I in him the Hero and the Lord.He did so till, the eyes of the dissemblerFor the first time unworthily down-drooping,He gave the word of Blood through which he doomed,All-heartless, me and you to certain death,Through which he doomed me to your folk’s revenge,To Roman rage, and to his own slant spite,And you to be the prey of my sword’s point.That was my proof how high he rated me.

That thing I am not! I was Herod’s friend,

His weapon-brother and his shoulder-fellow,

Before he scaled the throne! I was his servant,

His truest servant, since he’s been a king,

But only so as long as he could hold

The Man in me inviolate and the Human,

As I in him the Hero and the Lord.

He did so till, the eyes of the dissembler

For the first time unworthily down-drooping,

He gave the word of Blood through which he doomed,

All-heartless, me and you to certain death,

Through which he doomed me to your folk’s revenge,

To Roman rage, and to his own slant spite,

And you to be the prey of my sword’s point.

That was my proof how high he rated me.

Mar.

Did you not tell him how your heart recoiled?

Soemus.

I did it not because I would protect you.12I took his charge in show and hypocrited,If you will have the word, that thus no otherTake it instead from him and stab me down.A Galilean had the deed accomplished.

I did it not because I would protect you.12

I took his charge in show and hypocrited,

If you will have the word, that thus no other

Take it instead from him and stab me down.

A Galilean had the deed accomplished.

Mar.

I own me wrong. You stand with him as I;You have, as I, in your most Holy PlaceFelt hurt; as I, am slighted to a Thing,For what he is as spouse he is as friend.13Come to my feast.

I own me wrong. You stand with him as I;

You have, as I, in your most Holy Place

Felt hurt; as I, am slighted to a Thing,

For what he is as spouse he is as friend.13

Come to my feast.

[Exit.

Alex.

So you, it seems, were waiting for your timeAs I was!

So you, it seems, were waiting for your time

As I was!

Soemus.

For my time? How mean you that?

Alex.

I’ve often seen it with a wondering eyeHow, when the King gives thanks for his high officeUnto the Roman’s whim (the heady swiller!)And not to lineage and pride of birth,You bent your back as though you seemed, like him,Forgetful that you were his equal peer.But now I pierce your mask; it was your wishTo lull him from suspicion!

I’ve often seen it with a wondering eye

How, when the King gives thanks for his high office

Unto the Roman’s whim (the heady swiller!)

And not to lineage and pride of birth,

You bent your back as though you seemed, like him,

Forgetful that you were his equal peer.

But now I pierce your mask; it was your wish

To lull him from suspicion!

Soemus.

There you err.I spoke the truth in all. His equal peerI do not deem myself nor ever shall.How many a paltry wight there is I knowWho, just because his blood’s no kin of his,Yields muttering homage; others too, I know,Keep troth alone for Mariamne’s sake.But I am never bonded with that broodThat rather to a baby’s sword is loyal,If it be birthright, than a hero’s swordThat is not wrought till smithied out of fire.I ever saw the higher soul in him,And when the weapon-brother dropped his shieldI raised it for him with as ready willAs e’er I raised his sceptre for the King.The crown and the first woman: both I yieldedWith grudgeless heart, for I had felt his worth.

There you err.

I spoke the truth in all. His equal peer

I do not deem myself nor ever shall.

How many a paltry wight there is I know

Who, just because his blood’s no kin of his,

Yields muttering homage; others too, I know,

Keep troth alone for Mariamne’s sake.

But I am never bonded with that brood

That rather to a baby’s sword is loyal,

If it be birthright, than a hero’s sword

That is not wrought till smithied out of fire.

I ever saw the higher soul in him,

And when the weapon-brother dropped his shield

I raised it for him with as ready will

As e’er I raised his sceptre for the King.

The crown and the first woman: both I yielded

With grudgeless heart, for I had felt his worth.

Alex.

But you too are a man!

Soemus.

That I am notForgetful of such truth I prove you now.There’s none so great that I’m a working-toolFit to his use. Who calls on me for serviceThat rendered or not rendered, come what may,Makes me to sure and shameful death devote,That man annuls my every bond, to himMy duty is to show that ’twixt the KingAnd slave there is an intermediate stageAnd that the Man takes stand on this.

That I am not

Forgetful of such truth I prove you now.

There’s none so great that I’m a working-tool

Fit to his use. Who calls on me for service

That rendered or not rendered, come what may,

Makes me to sure and shameful death devote,

That man annuls my every bond, to him

My duty is to show that ’twixt the King

And slave there is an intermediate stage

And that the Man takes stand on this.

Alex.

To me’Tis one what ground you had. Enough; you’ve comeTo join my faction.

To me

’Tis one what ground you had. Enough; you’ve come

To join my faction.

Soemus.

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