APPENDIX

And what? Perchance in stillnessHe burned for her. But if that were a sinThen it was his and never aught of hers.He cried to me:—“I die because I spoke;Else had I died because I might have spoken.For such was Joseph’s lot. He swore while stillIn death that he was innocent as I,I marked it.”

And what? Perchance in stillness

He burned for her. But if that were a sin

Then it was his and never aught of hers.

He cried to me:—“I die because I spoke;

Else had I died because I might have spoken.

For such was Joseph’s lot. He swore while still

In death that he was innocent as I,

I marked it.”

Herod(breaking out).

Joseph! Is he too avenged?Does Earth gape open? Do the striding deadOutface me all?

Joseph! Is he too avenged?

Does Earth gape open? Do the striding dead

Outface me all?

Alex.(approaching him).

They do! But no, fear nothing.There’s one—a woman—still lies under earth!

They do! But no, fear nothing.

There’s one—a woman—still lies under earth!

Herod.

Accursèd! (Commanding himself.) Be it so. If then SoemusCommitted but a single crime against me,

Accursèd! (Commanding himself.) Be it so. If then Soemus

Committed but a single crime against me,

[He turns toSalome.

Joseph, through whom this vulgar-souled suspicionHad filled him, Joseph fooled him even in death—Is it not so?—Why are you silent now?

Joseph, through whom this vulgar-souled suspicion

Had filled him, Joseph fooled him even in death—

Is it not so?—Why are you silent now?

Salome.

Hot-foot he dogged her every step——

Alex.(toHerod).

Ay true!But with intent to find the ripened time,No more, in which to carry out your chargeBoth her and me to murder——

Ay true!

But with intent to find the ripened time,

No more, in which to carry out your charge

Both her and me to murder——

Herod.

Is this true?(ToSalome.) And you, you?

Is this true?

(ToSalome.) And you, you?

Alex.

Almost the self-same hourWhy he allowed his mask fully to fallHad Mariamne ta’en on her the oathTo give herself, if you returned not hither,A sacrifice to death. I hide it not.For doing so I hated her.

Almost the self-same hour

Why he allowed his mask fully to fall

Had Mariamne ta’en on her the oath

To give herself, if you returned not hither,

A sacrifice to death. I hide it not.

For doing so I hated her.

Herod.

Oh fearful!And this—but now you tell this?

Oh fearful!

And this—but now you tell this?

Alex.

Yes!

Titus.

I knowThis too. It was her latest word to me.But for a thousand years I had been silent,I would but clear her name, not give you torture.

I know

This too. It was her latest word to me.

But for a thousand years I had been silent,

I would but clear her name, not give you torture.

Herod.

Then—— (His voice fails him.)

Titus.

Calm yourself! It wounds me too.

Herod.

Ay, woundsYou, her (toSalome) and everyone who here, like me,Has been the blinded tool of slant-souled Fate,But I alone have lost what on this earthEternally will ne’er be seen again.Have lost! Oh! Oh!

Ay, wounds

You, her (toSalome) and everyone who here, like me,

Has been the blinded tool of slant-souled Fate,

But I alone have lost what on this earth

Eternally will ne’er be seen again.

Have lost! Oh! Oh!

Alex.

Aha, Aristobulus,You are avenged, my son, and I in you.

Aha, Aristobulus,

You are avenged, my son, and I in you.

Herod.

What, triumphing? You think that I will nowWilt like a broken thing? Nay, I will not.I am a king and I will let the world

What, triumphing? You think that I will now

Wilt like a broken thing? Nay, I will not.

I am a king and I will let the world

[He makes a gesture as though snapping something to pieces.

Feel it and tremble! Up now, Pharisees.Up with your rebel heads! (ToSalome.) And you, why shrink youSo soon from me? Why, sure, I’ve not yet alteredMy face, but on the morrow it may happenThat my own mother shall be forced to swearI am no more her son.

Feel it and tremble! Up now, Pharisees.

Up with your rebel heads! (ToSalome.) And you, why shrink you

So soon from me? Why, sure, I’ve not yet altered

My face, but on the morrow it may happen

That my own mother shall be forced to swear

I am no more her son.

[After a pause, in a toneless voice.

Ah, if my crownWere set with all the stars that flame in heaven,For Mariamne I would give them henceAnd, if I had it too, this earthen ball.Yea, were it possible that I myselfLiving as now within the grave could lay meAnd ransom her from out her own, I’d do it!With my own hands I’d dig myself therein.Ah, but I cannot! Therefore have I stillAnd fastly hold what still I have. That isNot much, but still a crown is part thereofWhich now shall fill for me the woman’s place,And who makes grasp for that—One does so now;Why yes, a Boy does so, a Marvellous Boy—He Whom the Prophets have long been announcingAnd Whom e’en now a star lights into life.But, Fate, thy reckoning is sore at faultIf thou, in trampling me with iron foot,A piecemeal thing, hast thought to smooth His course.A soldier I; myself will fight with theeAnd, as I lie, will bite thee in the heel.(Sharply.) Joab!

Ah, if my crown

Were set with all the stars that flame in heaven,

For Mariamne I would give them hence

And, if I had it too, this earthen ball.

Yea, were it possible that I myself

Living as now within the grave could lay me

And ransom her from out her own, I’d do it!

With my own hands I’d dig myself therein.

Ah, but I cannot! Therefore have I still

And fastly hold what still I have. That is

Not much, but still a crown is part thereof

Which now shall fill for me the woman’s place,

And who makes grasp for that—One does so now;

Why yes, a Boy does so, a Marvellous Boy—

He Whom the Prophets have long been announcing

And Whom e’en now a star lights into life.

But, Fate, thy reckoning is sore at fault

If thou, in trampling me with iron foot,

A piecemeal thing, hast thought to smooth His course.

A soldier I; myself will fight with thee

And, as I lie, will bite thee in the heel.

(Sharply.) Joab!

[Joabapproaches.

(In a contained voice.) You go at once to BethlehemAnd tell the Captain there who’s in commandTo find the Marvellous Boy—Nay, he will notRansack him out, not all can see the star;As for those Kings, they’re sly as sanctimonious—The children who within the bygone yearWere born, he is to slay upon the spot.He leaves no single one surviving.

(In a contained voice.) You go at once to Bethlehem

And tell the Captain there who’s in command

To find the Marvellous Boy—Nay, he will not

Ransack him out, not all can see the star;

As for those Kings, they’re sly as sanctimonious—

The children who within the bygone year

Were born, he is to slay upon the spot.

He leaves no single one surviving.

Joab(retreating).

Good!(Aside.) And I know why! But Moses was deliveredPharaoh despite!

Good!

(Aside.) And I know why! But Moses was delivered

Pharaoh despite!

Herod(still loud and strong).

I’ll see to it to-morrow,To-day with Mariamne—(He collapses.) Titus!

I’ll see to it to-morrow,

To-day with Mariamne—(He collapses.) Titus!

[Tituscatches him.

containing passages from the original version and those omitted for stage representation.

1.At this point was written originally:—

I’ve no more use for him; behind the ploughTo trapse is ’gainst his stomach; as to music,For that he’s over-restive; then the trumpet,I tried some blowing-lessons—wasted all!Fists, ay and fine ones too, are his equipment,Fear he knows none, not e’en the fear of me.And since the day you scoured the mountains cleanThere’s never brigand gives himself to glimpse.So he’s with us a lack-use, and perchanceWill be the first to get a kink in his waysAnd spoil our maiden’s pleasure in the woods.If you’ll not—(To his son.) Now then, Blacklooks, clear your brow!The word was not ill-meant; and if the KingForgives the jest, why you can do it too!So then you’ll take him, Sire? Before the gateI saw the Roman cohort in your serviceAnd thought this raw-hide lad was just their fellow,In all, I mean, that touches form and fashion,As though, within the very mother-womb,He’d had the thought to stop a gap therein.No single one I saw gave me the notionHe might have had a bent or finger-knackFor sandal-cobbling or for garment-stitching,But in each mother’s son I thought I markedThat straight upon the Captain’s uttered wordHe’d spit his very sire without a qualm,—Just what this sprig of mine were ripe to do!The worser else, for soldiering the better.

I’ve no more use for him; behind the plough

To trapse is ’gainst his stomach; as to music,

For that he’s over-restive; then the trumpet,

I tried some blowing-lessons—wasted all!

Fists, ay and fine ones too, are his equipment,

Fear he knows none, not e’en the fear of me.

And since the day you scoured the mountains clean

There’s never brigand gives himself to glimpse.

So he’s with us a lack-use, and perchance

Will be the first to get a kink in his ways

And spoil our maiden’s pleasure in the woods.

If you’ll not—(To his son.) Now then, Blacklooks, clear your brow!

The word was not ill-meant; and if the King

Forgives the jest, why you can do it too!

So then you’ll take him, Sire? Before the gate

I saw the Roman cohort in your service

And thought this raw-hide lad was just their fellow,

In all, I mean, that touches form and fashion,

As though, within the very mother-womb,

He’d had the thought to stop a gap therein.

No single one I saw gave me the notion

He might have had a bent or finger-knack

For sandal-cobbling or for garment-stitching,

But in each mother’s son I thought I marked

That straight upon the Captain’s uttered word

He’d spit his very sire without a qualm,

—Just what this sprig of mine were ripe to do!

The worser else, for soldiering the better.

2.Insert:—

If this lad be not true to me, why thenHis mother was no better toward his father.At least he’ll be so for an eight-days’ spaceFor he knows none here. That’s a point worth while!

If this lad be not true to me, why then

His mother was no better toward his father.

At least he’ll be so for an eight-days’ space

For he knows none here. That’s a point worth while!

[ExitJoab.

3.In the MS.:—

Of pearls we spoke our latest word. But pearlsAre white and blood is red. How came I thenFrom white of pearls upon the red of blood?’Tis naught; the wearing’s sweet, nor long the questionWhether the diver, even to arm and leg,Paid a forced reckoning to the snatching polyp.For if his fate be such to go a-seekingAnd fight therefore the Things o’ the underwaters,’Tis mine to have them for the necklet-windingAnd make myself a mark for every arrowWinged by wry hearts and hate—worse lot than his!Who has a head believes him worth a crown,Who has a neck wants pearls as well thereon.

Of pearls we spoke our latest word. But pearls

Are white and blood is red. How came I then

From white of pearls upon the red of blood?

’Tis naught; the wearing’s sweet, nor long the question

Whether the diver, even to arm and leg,

Paid a forced reckoning to the snatching polyp.

For if his fate be such to go a-seeking

And fight therefore the Things o’ the underwaters,

’Tis mine to have them for the necklet-winding

And make myself a mark for every arrow

Winged by wry hearts and hate—worse lot than his!

Who has a head believes him worth a crown,

Who has a neck wants pearls as well thereon.

4.After this line in the MS.:—

Believe my word, natures there are in lifeThat put deceit, and must, on all whose trustingIs not a wholeheart thing. Not in the testing,Nay, through the testing’s self they topple groundwardBeing too high therefor, too fine of feel.Woe then to you if you’ve no heart for trusting,Since you—Forgive me! This is the last time.

Believe my word, natures there are in life

That put deceit, and must, on all whose trusting

Is not a wholeheart thing. Not in the testing,

Nay, through the testing’s self they topple groundward

Being too high therefor, too fine of feel.

Woe then to you if you’ve no heart for trusting,

Since you—Forgive me! This is the last time.

Herod.

Farewell.

Mariamne.

Farewell. I know you will come back.

5.Insert:—

Herod(aside).

I’ll do it—ay and must, though doubly soreIt sting me that no more is in my power.

I’ll do it—ay and must, though doubly sore

It sting me that no more is in my power.

6.Insert:—

Ay, and for us as well ’twill serve a turn,Henceforth through all Judaea ’twill be oursTo fare at night-time and without our torches.You see the King knows well what he’s about.

Ay, and for us as well ’twill serve a turn,

Henceforth through all Judaea ’twill be ours

To fare at night-time and without our torches.

You see the King knows well what he’s about.

7.The text runs:—

Es wär’ genug den Cäsar zu bezahlenUnd schätzt er selbst sich ab vorm Tode.

Es wär’ genug den Cäsar zu bezahlen

Und schätzt er selbst sich ab vorm Tode.

The words seem to mean “The tribute would be enough to pay Caesar if he (Herod) were assessing his own value to save himself from death.” The passage proved too much for me, and I owe this explanation to Mr. Nicholson. I translate:—

It were enough to quit his debt to CaesarWere he himself to rate his worth ’gainst death.

It were enough to quit his debt to Caesar

Were he himself to rate his worth ’gainst death.

8.Insert:—

Herod, if it were mine with one mere wordTo pluck me from my death, never would ISeek such abjection as that word to utter;If I were strong to tell me that my life,My whole-of-blemish life itself had spoken,Then would I rather die than let misthoughtOf meaner mould by such a word be stifled.Forget not that!

Herod, if it were mine with one mere word

To pluck me from my death, never would I

Seek such abjection as that word to utter;

If I were strong to tell me that my life,

My whole-of-blemish life itself had spoken,

Then would I rather die than let misthought

Of meaner mould by such a word be stifled.

Forget not that!

9.Insert:—

That you deny. Now ere the time I know,If death be overhasty on my footsteps,What thing will make me quail in my last hour.I saw, now years agone, a dying manUpon a field of fight, on whom an insectHad crept and stung. One twitch he still could giveAnd straight thereon yielded the final breath.I felt its horror. For his wounds, I scarceSet eyes upon them, but the insect-stingI see even now. And thus ’twill go with me.That sense-repelling, spirit-sickening thingIs my last torture. Take my prepaid thanks!

That you deny. Now ere the time I know,

If death be overhasty on my footsteps,

What thing will make me quail in my last hour.

I saw, now years agone, a dying man

Upon a field of fight, on whom an insect

Had crept and stung. One twitch he still could give

And straight thereon yielded the final breath.

I felt its horror. For his wounds, I scarce

Set eyes upon them, but the insect-sting

I see even now. And thus ’twill go with me.

That sense-repelling, spirit-sickening thing

Is my last torture. Take my prepaid thanks!

10.Insert:—

If it have weight for me, ’twill lie for meSelf-manifest.

If it have weight for me, ’twill lie for me

Self-manifest.

11.Insert:—

To-night a feast! I’ll shape me to the imageThat he must bear in heart, deeming it me!He sees me ever dancing, that is clear,E’en when I’m weeping and dissolved in anguish.Dance then I shall!—set on the cymbal’s clashingThat at my sight he be not put to blush!

To-night a feast! I’ll shape me to the image

That he must bear in heart, deeming it me!

He sees me ever dancing, that is clear,

E’en when I’m weeping and dissolved in anguish.

Dance then I shall!—set on the cymbal’s clashing

That at my sight he be not put to blush!

12.Instead of this speech ofSoemusthe MS. has:—

Then stood I not before you. Then on meHad fallen his death-hand, as, when he returns,That death-hand will and must soon as it may.That lay and lies i’ the order. Even as IWas but his limb, I had alone ’twixt deathAnd life the simple choice. My bow was forcedAnd forced the hypocriting—have your word.Albeit my inmost soul before him froze.

Then stood I not before you. Then on me

Had fallen his death-hand, as, when he returns,

That death-hand will and must soon as it may.

That lay and lies i’ the order. Even as I

Was but his limb, I had alone ’twixt death

And life the simple choice. My bow was forced

And forced the hypocriting—have your word.

Albeit my inmost soul before him froze.

13.Insert:—

Soemus.

He hoodwinked me not for a moment’s space.And all the less for this, that Joseph’s deathTo me was less a riddle than to allWho saw him not upon his latest path.’Twill shock you to recoil—but there was likeInjunction laid on him, and he kept dumbLest aught should slip his guard. Thus much at leastI must believe, for in the very dyingHe swore he’d naught committed worthy death.

He hoodwinked me not for a moment’s space.

And all the less for this, that Joseph’s death

To me was less a riddle than to all

Who saw him not upon his latest path.

’Twill shock you to recoil—but there was like

Injunction laid on him, and he kept dumb

Lest aught should slip his guard. Thus much at least

I must believe, for in the very dying

He swore he’d naught committed worthy death.

Mar.

I know it all—yes!

Soemus.

What?

Alex.

And gave’t your pardon?

Soemus.

And, that despite, extolled him and defended?Then the mere harboured thought upon your hurtWas a more heinous thing than the wrought deedOn any woman else!

And, that despite, extolled him and defended?

Then the mere harboured thought upon your hurt

Was a more heinous thing than the wrought deed

On any woman else!

Mar.

Come to my feast!etc.

14.Insert:—

Titus.

If so be your physicianGave him assurance that from AfricaYou brought a fever, then (so ran his words)He’d pardon your misthought, but else——

If so be your physician

Gave him assurance that from Africa

You brought a fever, then (so ran his words)

He’d pardon your misthought, but else——

Herod.

So speaks heKnowing full well the aftermath, and fainTo be her shield before my vengeance. ThatI understand. And what veneer,etc.

So speaks he

Knowing full well the aftermath, and fain

To be her shield before my vengeance. That

I understand. And what veneer,etc.

The original version ran thus:—

Titus.

If so be your physician——

Herod.

What were his grounds?

Titus.

The thing you hug so close.

Herod.

And how was that?

Titus.

He gave me half-light hints.“You laid on him an outrage passing natureIn whose compare to set into a blazeThe Temple even, were none.”

He gave me half-light hints.

“You laid on him an outrage passing nature

In whose compare to set into a blaze

The Temple even, were none.”

Herod.

And, not contentTo leave it undischarged, whereby enoughWere expiated the most ticklesomeOf consciences to mollify, he wentFlying to her with my command, and madeHis bid—no guess you know it—

And, not content

To leave it undischarged, whereby enough

Were expiated the most ticklesome

Of consciences to mollify, he went

Flying to her with my command, and made

His bid—no guess you know it—

Titus.

Naught!

Herod.

He keptConcealed from you what he laid bare to her?Oh had he changed his rôle about! Nay, never!He must have given to you what stood for himWithin her payment. Learn it then from me—I laid on him—ask me not why—commandWhereby he was to kill her if myselfShould have no home-return. That thus I didProves you how deep I trusted him. Believe meI had good ground therefor, and if the iron,Whereof the man is mettled, flagged and flowed,It proves but this, that he was in the fire.

He kept

Concealed from you what he laid bare to her?

Oh had he changed his rôle about! Nay, never!

He must have given to you what stood for him

Within her payment. Learn it then from me—

I laid on him—ask me not why—command

Whereby he was to kill her if myself

Should have no home-return. That thus I did

Proves you how deep I trusted him. Believe me

I had good ground therefor, and if the iron,

Whereof the man is mettled, flagged and flowed,

It proves but this, that he was in the fire.

Titus.

Yes, yes, and yet—’tis not what I’d have done.

Herod.

Had she but loved me as I her, then were sheAfter my death all out of love with life.What the heart’s out of love with lets a manBegone, nor rues it. No one holds it fast.What was the point to ponder? Had she notTripped me behind my back, she’d gladly die;Whereas if she did trip me, then were hersA well-earned death for such a double front.Then let the friend of twilight blame my step,The light’s my choice, and now I see full clear,I see what health there is within her heart.Why fret my soul with this and that? why questionIf, after swearing deathless love to me,In such or such a way she made the breach?Granted that she were pure, granted SoemusMade her his head away—I cannot think itBut grant ’twere so—that Joseph did the same,Was it my cue, before her spite’s stiff neck,To sink my own, and like a milksop let herTwist her to sheer negation of her soul?Oh nay, Oh nay! I swear it by the keyOf Paradise that she holds in her hands.By all beatitude that she erewhileHas granted me, that she can grant me still,I lash what she became, not what she did.You eye me doubtfully, you think I reachMyself in her. I do it, oh I do it!If it may hap that men can die of woundsThey give and not receive, then even now’Twill come to pass—and yet to my content.

Had she but loved me as I her, then were she

After my death all out of love with life.

What the heart’s out of love with lets a man

Begone, nor rues it. No one holds it fast.

What was the point to ponder? Had she not

Tripped me behind my back, she’d gladly die;

Whereas if she did trip me, then were hers

A well-earned death for such a double front.

Then let the friend of twilight blame my step,

The light’s my choice, and now I see full clear,

I see what health there is within her heart.

Why fret my soul with this and that? why question

If, after swearing deathless love to me,

In such or such a way she made the breach?

Granted that she were pure, granted Soemus

Made her his head away—I cannot think it

But grant ’twere so—that Joseph did the same,

Was it my cue, before her spite’s stiff neck,

To sink my own, and like a milksop let her

Twist her to sheer negation of her soul?

Oh nay, Oh nay! I swear it by the key

Of Paradise that she holds in her hands.

By all beatitude that she erewhile

Has granted me, that she can grant me still,

I lash what she became, not what she did.

You eye me doubtfully, you think I reach

Myself in her. I do it, oh I do it!

If it may hap that men can die of wounds

They give and not receive, then even now

’Twill come to pass—and yet to my content.

15.Insert:—

And this is now the second time. Then hear—By your stark stubbornness, upon an earthWhere all’s in flux, the only rigid thing;By every day of loveliness I livedWith you to share, each day that now no moreI dare remember; by my future, whichCan never bring to me such days again;Yea, by the very shudder which were fainE’en now to choke this oath; this day, this hourI’ll have it out, whether my life is oneWith life of yours, and if it be that NatureIn mock and gibe enknots me with a creatureFor ever—one to whom I’m naught, who canAvenge her thus, nay stand here as you do!Away! (ToThe Judges.) You halt? My sentence will no jotAdmit retraction! (Seeing they still hesitate.) Or have I missed the point?

And this is now the second time. Then hear—

By your stark stubbornness, upon an earth

Where all’s in flux, the only rigid thing;

By every day of loveliness I lived

With you to share, each day that now no more

I dare remember; by my future, which

Can never bring to me such days again;

Yea, by the very shudder which were fain

E’en now to choke this oath; this day, this hour

I’ll have it out, whether my life is one

With life of yours, and if it be that Nature

In mock and gibe enknots me with a creature

For ever—one to whom I’m naught, who can

Avenge her thus, nay stand here as you do!

Away! (ToThe Judges.) You halt? My sentence will no jot

Admit retraction! (Seeing they still hesitate.) Or have I missed the point?

16.Insert:—

Since you are not for me nor yet against.

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