Scene 6

Were I to name it I would make it greater.There was a secret I’d entrusted to himOn which my All was hanging, and this secretHe has betrayed; shall I then do the same?

Were I to name it I would make it greater.

There was a secret I’d entrusted to him

On which my All was hanging, and this secret

He has betrayed; shall I then do the same?

Salome.

Pitiful shuffling for my scare contrived!You think you can outwit me? You believeIn all that I have said, and yet you areToo strengthless-willed your love to understifleAnd rather choose the shrine to overcloakThat you’ll not stamp to nothing. But unlessYou murder me, your sister, with my husband,It will miscarry with you. (ToMariamne.) He is dead!Now you can swear what pleases you; he willNot contradict you!

Pitiful shuffling for my scare contrived!

You think you can outwit me? You believe

In all that I have said, and yet you are

Too strengthless-willed your love to understifle

And rather choose the shrine to overcloak

That you’ll not stamp to nothing. But unless

You murder me, your sister, with my husband,

It will miscarry with you. (ToMariamne.) He is dead!

Now you can swear what pleases you; he will

Not contradict you!

[Exit.

Herod.

Follow her, Soemus,And seek to win her to a calm! You know herAnd she ere now has given you willing ear.

Follow her, Soemus,

And seek to win her to a calm! You know her

And she ere now has given you willing ear.

Soemus.

Those times are now no longer; but I go!

[Exit.

Mar.(aside).

For him who meant my murder I might wellBe loath to supplicate; and yet I shudderThat not the respite even for that was left me.

For him who meant my murder I might well

Be loath to supplicate; and yet I shudder

That not the respite even for that was left me.

Herod(aside).

’Twas soon or late with him! In the next warHe had been stationed in Uriah’s place!And yet I rue this hasty hotness now.

’Twas soon or late with him! In the next war

He had been stationed in Uriah’s place!

And yet I rue this hasty hotness now.

[Entera Courier.

Herod. Mariamne. A Courier.

Courier.

I’m sent by Antony!

Herod.

Ah, then I knowWhat you are bringing me. I must make ready!The final feud of which he spoke begins.

Ah, then I know

What you are bringing me. I must make ready!

The final feud of which he spoke begins.

Courier.

Octavian, making course for Africa,Has taken ship; to meet him AntonySets out in haste with Cleopatra joinedIntending instant close at Actium——

Octavian, making course for Africa,

Has taken ship; to meet him Antony

Sets out in haste with Cleopatra joined

Intending instant close at Actium——

Herod.

And I, I, Herod, am to make the third!’Tis good! I make the march to-day. Soemus,For all this sorry plight of things, supplies me.Good that he came!

And I, I, Herod, am to make the third!

’Tis good! I make the march to-day. Soemus,

For all this sorry plight of things, supplies me.

Good that he came!

Mar.

Once more he marches forth!Eternal One, my thanks!

Once more he marches forth!

Eternal One, my thanks!

Herod(observing her).

Ha!

Courier.

Great King, no!He needs you not at Actium; he willsThat the Arabians, who have raised rebellion,Be blocked by you from coupling with the foemen.This is the service he would have of you.

Great King, no!

He needs you not at Actium; he wills

That the Arabians, who have raised rebellion,

Be blocked by you from coupling with the foemen.

This is the service he would have of you.

Herod.

It lies with him that place to delegateWhere I shall profit him.

It lies with him that place to delegate

Where I shall profit him.

Mar.

Once more! Then allIs fresh unravelled!

Once more! Then all

Is fresh unravelled!

Herod(as before).

How my wife is glad!(To theCourier.) Tell him—you know’t already—(Aside.) Brow unwrinkledAnd hands as though for thankful prayer enfolded—That is her heart!

How my wife is glad!

(To theCourier.) Tell him—you know’t already—

(Aside.) Brow unwrinkled

And hands as though for thankful prayer enfolded—

That is her heart!

Courier.

Have you naught else for me?

Mar.

Now will I know if it were but a fever,The fever of a passion frenzy-firedThat madded his poised mind, or if I sawHis innermost in clear sane deed betrayed.Now will I know!

Now will I know if it were but a fever,

The fever of a passion frenzy-fired

That madded his poised mind, or if I saw

His innermost in clear sane deed betrayed.

Now will I know!

Herod(to theCourier).

Naught, naught!

[ExitCourier.

(ToMariamne.) Your countenanceHas taken gladder glow! But do not hopeToo much. One does not always die in war.I’ve cheated many a one ere now.

(ToMariamne.) Your countenance

Has taken gladder glow! But do not hope

Too much. One does not always die in war.

I’ve cheated many a one ere now.

Mar.

(about to speak, but interrupting herself). No, no!

Herod.

The issue now involves a hotter fightThan then, I grant you. Every fight besideWas waged for something in the world, but thisIs waged for the world’s self; it makes decisiveWho’s destinied world-master—Antony,Wencher and trencherman, or else OctavianWho’s empty of his merit when he swearsThat he was never drunken in his life.There’ll be a pretty buffet-bout, and yetIt may be that your wish be not fulfilled,That Death may pass me with unbloodied sword.

The issue now involves a hotter fight

Than then, I grant you. Every fight beside

Was waged for something in the world, but this

Is waged for the world’s self; it makes decisive

Who’s destinied world-master—Antony,

Wencher and trencherman, or else Octavian

Who’s empty of his merit when he swears

That he was never drunken in his life.

There’ll be a pretty buffet-bout, and yet

It may be that your wish be not fulfilled,

That Death may pass me with unbloodied sword.

Mar.

My wish! ’Tis well! My wish—then it is good.O Heart, be quelled! Betray you not! The provingIs none if he should sense what quicks your throb.If he stand proof how you will be rewarded!And how you can reward him! Let him thenMisprise you. Prove him. Think upon the end,And on the garland you dare reach to him—When he has trod the Demon underfoot.

My wish! ’Tis well! My wish—then it is good.

O Heart, be quelled! Betray you not! The proving

Is none if he should sense what quicks your throb.

If he stand proof how you will be rewarded!

And how you can reward him! Let him then

Misprise you. Prove him. Think upon the end,

And on the garland you dare reach to him—

When he has trod the Demon underfoot.

Herod.

I give you thanks; you now have brought my heartA lightening. Though on the human in youI may have done no outrage, this is clear—That I have done no outrage on your love;And, for this reason, by your love I beg youNot for one final sacrifice, yet hopeThat you will yield to me one final duty.And this I hope not for my sake alone,I hope it for your own sake even more,You will not wish that, at this latest hour,I see you mistily; you will for this—That I myself the dead man’s mouth have locked,Open your own and clear my wonderingHow it has come he made his head your gift.And you will do it for the human in you,You’ll do it, too, because you honour Self.

I give you thanks; you now have brought my heart

A lightening. Though on the human in you

I may have done no outrage, this is clear—

That I have done no outrage on your love;

And, for this reason, by your love I beg you

Not for one final sacrifice, yet hope

That you will yield to me one final duty.

And this I hope not for my sake alone,

I hope it for your own sake even more,

You will not wish that, at this latest hour,

I see you mistily; you will for this—

That I myself the dead man’s mouth have locked,

Open your own and clear my wondering

How it has come he made his head your gift.

And you will do it for the human in you,

You’ll do it, too, because you honour Self.

Mar.

Because I honour Self I’ll do it not.

Herod.

So you yourself refuse the fair and fitting?

Mar.

The fair and fitting! So ’twere fair and fittingThat I, on knees before you in abjection,Swear “Lord, your villein came me not anigh!And that you may believe—for to your faithI have no right, albeit I am your wife—Hear this thing yet and that!” O fie, O fie!8No Herod! If your itching later askI answer you—perhaps. Now I am dumb.

The fair and fitting! So ’twere fair and fitting

That I, on knees before you in abjection,

Swear “Lord, your villein came me not anigh!

And that you may believe—for to your faith

I have no right, albeit I am your wife—

Hear this thing yet and that!” O fie, O fie!8

No Herod! If your itching later ask

I answer you—perhaps. Now I am dumb.

Herod.

But if you had been large enough of lovingTo grant me grace for all that, out of loving,I did, I never would have asked you thus.Now that I know how small your love is, nowI must re-ask the question; for whate’erYour love vouchsafe me as a bond of suretyCannot be greater than your love itself.And Love to which Life is a treasure higherThan the Beloved, is to me a nothing.

But if you had been large enough of loving

To grant me grace for all that, out of loving,

I did, I never would have asked you thus.

Now that I know how small your love is, now

I must re-ask the question; for whate’er

Your love vouchsafe me as a bond of surety

Cannot be greater than your love itself.

And Love to which Life is a treasure higher

Than the Beloved, is to me a nothing.

Mar.

Yet am I silent!

Herod.

Then I damn myselfThe mouth whose overpride disdains to swearNo other one has kissed it, nevermoreMyself to kiss till such it lowly do.Yea, if there were a means could give me potenceYour memory within my heart t’ extinguish,And if the drastic stab that pierced my eyes,Oblivioning the mirror of your beauty,Could also give your image to oblivion,Now at this very hour I’d stab them through.

Then I damn myself

The mouth whose overpride disdains to swear

No other one has kissed it, nevermore

Myself to kiss till such it lowly do.

Yea, if there were a means could give me potence

Your memory within my heart t’ extinguish,

And if the drastic stab that pierced my eyes,

Oblivioning the mirror of your beauty,

Could also give your image to oblivion,

Now at this very hour I’d stab them through.

Mar.

Be your mood’s master, Herod! For perhapsEven in this Now you’ve Fate within your handsAnd you can guide it wheresoe’er you will.To every man there comes the point of timeWhen to himself the steerer of his starGives o’er the reins. And this alone is ill—That he knows not the point of time; it may beEach one that past him rolls. I have monitionFor you ’tis this one; therefore keep a check!The track of life your chart is now designing,That track, perchance, unto the end you wander.Will you do that in the wild rush of wrath?

Be your mood’s master, Herod! For perhaps

Even in this Now you’ve Fate within your hands

And you can guide it wheresoe’er you will.

To every man there comes the point of time

When to himself the steerer of his star

Gives o’er the reins. And this alone is ill—

That he knows not the point of time; it may be

Each one that past him rolls. I have monition

For you ’tis this one; therefore keep a check!

The track of life your chart is now designing,

That track, perchance, unto the end you wander.

Will you do that in the wild rush of wrath?

Herod.

I fear but half the truth’s in your monition.The turning-point is there, but ’tis for you.For I, what wish I then? why this—naught further,A means wherewith to frighten bogy-dreams.9

I fear but half the truth’s in your monition.

The turning-point is there, but ’tis for you.

For I, what wish I then? why this—naught further,

A means wherewith to frighten bogy-dreams.9

Mar.

I’ll understand you not! I’ve borne you children,Have thought of them! Then you may ask yourselfWhat’s possible.

I’ll understand you not! I’ve borne you children,

Have thought of them! Then you may ask yourself

What’s possible.

Herod.

Who’s silent, even as you,Wakes the misthought he has no heart that daresTo say the truth, yet has no will to lie.

Who’s silent, even as you,

Wakes the misthought he has no heart that dares

To say the truth, yet has no will to lie.

Mar.

No further!

Herod.

Nay, no further; and farewell!And if I come again misgrudge it meNot all too sorely.

Nay, no further; and farewell!

And if I come again misgrudge it me

Not all too sorely.

Mar.

Herod!

Herod.

Be assuredI take no more the thing I took to-day,A greeting wrested.

Be assured

I take no more the thing I took to-day,

A greeting wrested.

Mar.

Nay, ’twill be no moreA needful thing. (To Heaven.) Eternal, guide his heart!I gave him pardon for a brother’s murder,I was prepared his deathward way to follow,I am so still; and can a mortal more?Thou didst what ne’er before thou didst—Thou rolledstThe wheel of time aback; it stands once moreEven as it erewhile stood. Then let him nowTake other course, and I forget what’s happened.Forget it even as if in heat of feverHe’d dealt me with his sword the stroke of deathAnd bound himself my wound that I grew whole.(ToHerod.) You’ll come again?

Nay, ’twill be no more

A needful thing. (To Heaven.) Eternal, guide his heart!

I gave him pardon for a brother’s murder,

I was prepared his deathward way to follow,

I am so still; and can a mortal more?

Thou didst what ne’er before thou didst—Thou rolledst

The wheel of time aback; it stands once more

Even as it erewhile stood. Then let him now

Take other course, and I forget what’s happened.

Forget it even as if in heat of fever

He’d dealt me with his sword the stroke of death

And bound himself my wound that I grew whole.

(ToHerod.) You’ll come again?

Herod.

If you should see me comingThen call for fetters. Let it be your proofThat I have gotten crazy wits.

If you should see me coming

Then call for fetters. Let it be your proof

That I have gotten crazy wits.

Mar.

You willRepent that word—oh, Heart, be quelled!—you will!

You will

Repent that word—oh, Heart, be quelled!—you will!

[Exit.

Herodalone.

Herod.

’Tis true I went too far. When half-way launchedI told myself the same. But not less trueIf she loved me the offence she would condone.If she loved me! Has she loved, truth to truth?I think it. Ay, but now—oh, how the Dead OneIs skilled to vengeance even in the grave!I made away with him my crown t’ assure,He took what dipped the heavier scale—her heart.For she has shown me since her brother diedStrange alteration; though my nice regardHas never found between her and her motherThe tiniest tell-tale vestige of resemblance,To-day showed more than once the linking touches;Thus I can give no more the old-time faith.That is a surety; must it therefore beAn equal surety that she has deceived?The guarantee that in her love had lainIs fallen away, but still there is a secondLies in that pride of hers; will not a pride,Superb-disdainful of its self-defence,Even more disdain the sullying of self?Ay, but she knows it! Joseph! Why can manBut kill and nevermore the dead awaken?He should be able both to do or neither.He takes his vengeance too! He comes not! YetI see him there! “My Lord commanded?” Monstrous!I’ll not believe ’t! Salome, keep you silentHowe’er it came it came not so! PerchanceThe eating secret like embowelled fireForced way through him; or he perchance betrayed itBecause he deemed me as one lost, and nowWas fain to be atoned with AlexandraBefore the tidings came. Well, we shall see!For she must stand the proof. Had I but guessedThat she could come by knowledge of it, neverHad I so far been gone. Now that she knows,From her revenge I now will need to fearThe thing that from her soul’s unstablenessPerchance I feared unjustly. I must fearThat on my grave she’ll make my wedding-mirth.Soemus came at nick of time. He isA man who, if I were not in the world,Had stood where I now stand. How true he thinks,How zealously he serves, he proves by coming.I give him now the charge. I know from himShe lures naught out of lock if she essayThe man in him to tempt. If he betray meShe pays me such a price as—Then, Salome,Then you were in the right!—Now to probation!

’Tis true I went too far. When half-way launched

I told myself the same. But not less true

If she loved me the offence she would condone.

If she loved me! Has she loved, truth to truth?

I think it. Ay, but now—oh, how the Dead One

Is skilled to vengeance even in the grave!

I made away with him my crown t’ assure,

He took what dipped the heavier scale—her heart.

For she has shown me since her brother died

Strange alteration; though my nice regard

Has never found between her and her mother

The tiniest tell-tale vestige of resemblance,

To-day showed more than once the linking touches;

Thus I can give no more the old-time faith.

That is a surety; must it therefore be

An equal surety that she has deceived?

The guarantee that in her love had lain

Is fallen away, but still there is a second

Lies in that pride of hers; will not a pride,

Superb-disdainful of its self-defence,

Even more disdain the sullying of self?

Ay, but she knows it! Joseph! Why can man

But kill and nevermore the dead awaken?

He should be able both to do or neither.

He takes his vengeance too! He comes not! Yet

I see him there! “My Lord commanded?” Monstrous!

I’ll not believe ’t! Salome, keep you silent

Howe’er it came it came not so! Perchance

The eating secret like embowelled fire

Forced way through him; or he perchance betrayed it

Because he deemed me as one lost, and now

Was fain to be atoned with Alexandra

Before the tidings came. Well, we shall see!

For she must stand the proof. Had I but guessed

That she could come by knowledge of it, never

Had I so far been gone. Now that she knows,

From her revenge I now will need to fear

The thing that from her soul’s unstableness

Perchance I feared unjustly. I must fear

That on my grave she’ll make my wedding-mirth.

Soemus came at nick of time. He is

A man who, if I were not in the world,

Had stood where I now stand. How true he thinks,

How zealously he serves, he proves by coming.

I give him now the charge. I know from him

She lures naught out of lock if she essay

The man in him to tempt. If he betray me

She pays me such a price as—Then, Salome,

Then you were in the right!—Now to probation!

[Exit.

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