Scene 6

I thank you.

[ExitAlexandra.

Aaron(to the otherJudges).

Can we not even now attemptTo soften him? This fills me o’er with horror.She is the last of Maccabean daughters.If we could only gain the briefest respite!Now ’twere not feasible that we withstood him.Soon will he be his former self againAnd then it’s possible he’ll punish usBecause to-day we made him no resistance.Follow him!

Can we not even now attempt

To soften him? This fills me o’er with horror.

She is the last of Maccabean daughters.

If we could only gain the briefest respite!

Now ’twere not feasible that we withstood him.

Soon will he be his former self again

And then it’s possible he’ll punish us

Because to-day we made him no resistance.

Follow him!

[Exit.

Joab(approachingMariamne).

You forgive? I must obey.

Mar.

Do what your Lord commands and do it swift.I shall be ready soon as you yourself,And queens, you know, are never wont to wait.

Do what your Lord commands and do it swift.

I shall be ready soon as you yourself,

And queens, you know, are never wont to wait.

[ExitJoab.

Mariamne. Titus.Afterwards,Joab.

Mariamne.(approachingTitus).

Yet one more word before I sleep, the whileMy latest chamberlain prepares my bed.I see you are astounded that this wordDirects itself on you and not my mother,But she is far and foreign to my heart.

Yet one more word before I sleep, the while

My latest chamberlain prepares my bed.

I see you are astounded that this word

Directs itself on you and not my mother,

But she is far and foreign to my heart.

Titus.

Astounded that the woman thus should teach meHow hearted I, the man, should meet my death.Yes, Queen, it prickles sense, this thing you’ve done,Nor less, I hide it not, your Being’s self;Yet, this despite, the hero-soul I honourWhich lets you take your leave of life as thoughYou left this fair world at your journey’s endNo longer worth a fleeting backward glance.And this brave mood half reconciles me to you.

Astounded that the woman thus should teach me

How hearted I, the man, should meet my death.

Yes, Queen, it prickles sense, this thing you’ve done,

Nor less, I hide it not, your Being’s self;

Yet, this despite, the hero-soul I honour

Which lets you take your leave of life as though

You left this fair world at your journey’s end

No longer worth a fleeting backward glance.

And this brave mood half reconciles me to you.

Mar.

’Tis no brave mood.

Titus.

I’ faith I have been toldYour black-look Pharisees give out the notionThat death is but the proper birth of life.And who believes them sets the world at nothingIn which the sun alone gives light eternalAnd all beside is puffed into the night.

I’ faith I have been told

Your black-look Pharisees give out the notion

That death is but the proper birth of life.

And who believes them sets the world at nothing

In which the sun alone gives light eternal

And all beside is puffed into the night.

Mar.

I ne’er would hear them and believe it not.Nay, nay, I know from what I am to part.

I ne’er would hear them and believe it not.

Nay, nay, I know from what I am to part.

Titus.

Then you stand thus as scarce could Caesar’s selfWhen Brutus’ hand had dealt the dagger-thrust.For he, too proud to bare his pain of heartAnd yet not strong enough to choke it under,In falling covered up his countenance.But you can hold it back within your breast.

Then you stand thus as scarce could Caesar’s self

When Brutus’ hand had dealt the dagger-thrust.

For he, too proud to bare his pain of heart

And yet not strong enough to choke it under,

In falling covered up his countenance.

But you can hold it back within your breast.

Mar.

No more, no more! It is not as you think.I feel no longer pain of heart, for painDemands the nerve of life, and life in meIs a quenched fire. I long have been no moreThan middle thing between the Man and ShadowAnd scarcely grasp the thought I still can die.Hear now a thing I will confide in you,But first give oath to me as man and RomanThat you’ll be dumb till I am under earth,And that you bear me escort when I go.You hesitate? I ask too much of you?My slip to sin is not the cause, and ifYou later speak or if you hold your peaceDecide yourself; I’ll bind you not in aught,And more, I hold that wish of mine in checkSince you have ever, like a bronzen godAbove a brawl of fire, self-mastered, cold,Cast the strong fretless eye upon our hell.You may command belief in giving witness.We are for you a race of other breedNo bond can knit to you; you speak of usAs we would speak of foreign plants and stones,Impartial, void of love and void of hate.

No more, no more! It is not as you think.

I feel no longer pain of heart, for pain

Demands the nerve of life, and life in me

Is a quenched fire. I long have been no more

Than middle thing between the Man and Shadow

And scarcely grasp the thought I still can die.

Hear now a thing I will confide in you,

But first give oath to me as man and Roman

That you’ll be dumb till I am under earth,

And that you bear me escort when I go.

You hesitate? I ask too much of you?

My slip to sin is not the cause, and if

You later speak or if you hold your peace

Decide yourself; I’ll bind you not in aught,

And more, I hold that wish of mine in check

Since you have ever, like a bronzen god

Above a brawl of fire, self-mastered, cold,

Cast the strong fretless eye upon our hell.

You may command belief in giving witness.

We are for you a race of other breed

No bond can knit to you; you speak of us

As we would speak of foreign plants and stones,

Impartial, void of love and void of hate.

Titus.

You go too far.

Mar.

If you refuse me nowYour overstubborn word, I take my secretWith me into the grave; my latest solaceI then must lack this—that one human breastWill keep mine image pure and undefiled,Which then when Fate has dared its ugliestCan lift the veil that shrouds it from the feelOf duty and of reverence for the truth.

If you refuse me now

Your overstubborn word, I take my secret

With me into the grave; my latest solace

I then must lack this—that one human breast

Will keep mine image pure and undefiled,

Which then when Fate has dared its ugliest

Can lift the veil that shrouds it from the feel

Of duty and of reverence for the truth.

Titus.

Good. I will swear the oath to you.

Mar.

Then knowI put deceit on Herod, but ’twas other,Far other than he weens; nay, I was trueAs he to self. Why shame me thus—much truer,For he has long been other than he was.What, am I to protest it? Sooner farI were resolved to swear an oath I haveMy eyes and hands and feet. Them I would loseAnd I would still remain that which I am;But not my heart and soul.

Then know

I put deceit on Herod, but ’twas other,

Far other than he weens; nay, I was true

As he to self. Why shame me thus—much truer,

For he has long been other than he was.

What, am I to protest it? Sooner far

I were resolved to swear an oath I have

My eyes and hands and feet. Them I would lose

And I would still remain that which I am;

But not my heart and soul.

Titus.

I do believe youAnd I will——

I do believe you

And I will——

Mar.

Keep the promise you have made.I doubt it not. Now ask yourself my feelingWhen for the second time (for once alreadyI’d pardoned him) he put me under swordAnd I must say to me:—“Your shadow’s likerYour proper self than that wry twisted imageHe bears of you far in his inmost depths.”’Twas that I would not bear, and could I so?I made to grasp my dagger, and preventedFrom rash-essayed self-murder, I then swore—“It is your will in death to be my headsman?You shall become my headsman, but in life.The woman you have gazed on you shall slaughterAnd not till death shall see me as I am;”You came unto my feast; well then, a maskWas dancing there.

Keep the promise you have made.

I doubt it not. Now ask yourself my feeling

When for the second time (for once already

I’d pardoned him) he put me under sword

And I must say to me:—“Your shadow’s liker

Your proper self than that wry twisted image

He bears of you far in his inmost depths.”

’Twas that I would not bear, and could I so?

I made to grasp my dagger, and prevented

From rash-essayed self-murder, I then swore—

“It is your will in death to be my headsman?

You shall become my headsman, but in life.

The woman you have gazed on you shall slaughter

And not till death shall see me as I am;”

You came unto my feast; well then, a mask

Was dancing there.

Titus.

Ha!

Mar.

’Twas a mask that stoodTo-day before the Judges; for a maskThe axe is whetted, but it strikes myself.

’Twas a mask that stood

To-day before the Judges; for a mask

The axe is whetted, but it strikes myself.

Titus.

I stand dumbfounded, Queen, and yet I charge youWith no injustice when perforce I sayThat you had duped my very self, had filled meWith horror and recoil before your feastAs now with shudders and admiring wonder.If thus with me, how could this show for himHave failed to dim your Being in a darkness,For him, whose heart all passion-fluctuousAs little as a turbid-troubled streamCould image things reflected as they are.Therefore I give his hurt my answering feelAnd find that your revenge is overstern.

I stand dumbfounded, Queen, and yet I charge you

With no injustice when perforce I say

That you had duped my very self, had filled me

With horror and recoil before your feast

As now with shudders and admiring wonder.

If thus with me, how could this show for him

Have failed to dim your Being in a darkness,

For him, whose heart all passion-fluctuous

As little as a turbid-troubled stream

Could image things reflected as they are.

Therefore I give his hurt my answering feel

And find that your revenge is overstern.

Mar.

But that revenge I take at my own cost;And proof it was not for the sake of lifeThat death like any altar-beast incensed meI give you, for I cast that life away.

But that revenge I take at my own cost;

And proof it was not for the sake of life

That death like any altar-beast incensed me

I give you, for I cast that life away.

Titus.

Give me my word again!

Mar.

And if you broke itYou’d alter not a tittle; for to die,There man commands his fellow, but to live,In that the mightiest forces not the weakest.And I’m aweary! Yea, I envy nowThe stone, and if the end of life is thisThat man should learn to hate it and to death,Eternal death, give preference, it isAchieved in me. And may they quarry granite,Uncrumbling rock, to hollow out my coffin,May it be sunken in abysmal oceanThat so my dust escape the elementsOblivioned for all eternity.

And if you broke it

You’d alter not a tittle; for to die,

There man commands his fellow, but to live,

In that the mightiest forces not the weakest.

And I’m aweary! Yea, I envy now

The stone, and if the end of life is this

That man should learn to hate it and to death,

Eternal death, give preference, it is

Achieved in me. And may they quarry granite,

Uncrumbling rock, to hollow out my coffin,

May it be sunken in abysmal ocean

That so my dust escape the elements

Oblivioned for all eternity.

Titus.

And yet we all live in the world of show.

Mar.

I see that now and therefore I go out.

Titus.

I have myself against you testified.

Mar.

To gain that end I had you at the feast.

Titus.

Should I say to him what to me you’ve said—

Mar.

Then he would call me back, I doubt it not.And if I followed, this were my reward,That now before each one that comes anear meHenceforward I must shudder and inly say—“Take care, for this perchance is your third headsman!”No, Titus, no, I played no pettish game;For me there’s no return; if such there wereThink you I had not found it out when ITook everlasting farewell from my children?Naught but defiance drove me, as he thinks;If so my guiltless smart had broke defianceAnd now ’twould only mean a bitterer death.

Then he would call me back, I doubt it not.

And if I followed, this were my reward,

That now before each one that comes anear me

Henceforward I must shudder and inly say—

“Take care, for this perchance is your third headsman!”

No, Titus, no, I played no pettish game;

For me there’s no return; if such there were

Think you I had not found it out when I

Took everlasting farewell from my children?

Naught but defiance drove me, as he thinks;

If so my guiltless smart had broke defiance

And now ’twould only mean a bitterer death.

Titus.

Oh, if he felt that, came himself and flung himDown at your feet!

Oh, if he felt that, came himself and flung him

Down at your feet!

Mar.

Yes, then indeed he hadThe Demon overmastered, and I couldSay all to him. For it is not my partTo chaffer with him meanly for a lifeThat through the price alone at which ’tis boughtMust lose for me the paltriest patch of worth.It were my part, to crown him for self-conquestAnd, oh believe, I could!

Yes, then indeed he had

The Demon overmastered, and I could

Say all to him. For it is not my part

To chaffer with him meanly for a life

That through the price alone at which ’tis bought

Must lose for me the paltriest patch of worth.

It were my part, to crown him for self-conquest

And, oh believe, I could!

Titus.

Have you no boding,O Herod?

Have you no boding,

O Herod?

[Joabenters noiselessly and remains standing in silence.

Mar.

No! You see, he sends me—him! (pointing toJoab.)

Titus.

Let me——

Mar.

Have you not understood me, Titus?And in your eyes is still the cause defianceThat put my mouth in lock? Can I still live?Can I still live with him, the man who nowIn me God’s image venerates no more?And if by keeping silence I had powerTo necromance old Death and give him weaponsWere it my duty then to break my silenceOnly to change one dagger for the other?And were it more to do so?

Have you not understood me, Titus?

And in your eyes is still the cause defiance

That put my mouth in lock? Can I still live?

Can I still live with him, the man who now

In me God’s image venerates no more?

And if by keeping silence I had power

To necromance old Death and give him weapons

Were it my duty then to break my silence

Only to change one dagger for the other?

And were it more to do so?

Titus.

She is right.

Mar.(toJoab).

Are you prepared?

[Joabbows.

(Turning towardsHerod’sapartments.) Then, Herod, fare you well!(To Earth.) Thou, Aristobulus, oh receive my greeting!Soon I am with thee in eternal night.

(Turning towardsHerod’sapartments.) Then, Herod, fare you well!

(To Earth.) Thou, Aristobulus, oh receive my greeting!

Soon I am with thee in eternal night.

[She moves towards the door.Joabopens it. Armed men are seen who form their ranks in homage. She goes out.Titusfollows her.Joabjoins them. Solemn pause.

Salomealone.

Salome.

She’s gone! And yet I feel no throb of heart,A further sign that she deserves her fate.And so I have at last my brother back,My mother also has her son. ’Tis well;I would not budge from him. Else had the JudgesE’en then his judgment jarred. Nay, Aaron, nay,No word of prison! She’d remain endungeonedNot for a moon. The grave alone holds fast,For to the grave alone he has no key.16

She’s gone! And yet I feel no throb of heart,

A further sign that she deserves her fate.

And so I have at last my brother back,

My mother also has her son. ’Tis well;

I would not budge from him. Else had the Judges

E’en then his judgment jarred. Nay, Aaron, nay,

No word of prison! She’d remain endungeoned

Not for a moon. The grave alone holds fast,

For to the grave alone he has no key.16

[Entera Servant.

Salome, The Three Kings from the East, Herod, Titus, Joab, Alexandra.

Servant.

Three kings from out the Eastern lands are here,They are with costly presents richly ladenAnd at this very moment have arrived.Never were seen more strangely striking figuresNor garments of more wondrous kind than these.

Three kings from out the Eastern lands are here,

They are with costly presents richly laden

And at this very moment have arrived.

Never were seen more strangely striking figures

Nor garments of more wondrous kind than these.

Salome.

Conduct them in.

[ExitServant.

I’ll tell him this at once.So long as they’re with him he will not thinkOn her; and all is over soon with her.

I’ll tell him this at once.

So long as they’re with him he will not think

On her; and all is over soon with her.

[She goes afterHerod.

[TheServantconducts in theThree Kings From the East.They are dressed in strange and curious raiment in such a way that they differ from each other in every particular. A rich retinue follows them, of like characteristics. Gold, incense, and myrrh. EnterHerod,andSalomeshortly after him.

First King.

O King, all hail!

Second King.

A blessing on thy House!

Third King.

A benison to all eternity!

Herod.

I thank you. But methinks for such an hourThe salutation’s strange.

I thank you. But methinks for such an hour

The salutation’s strange.

First King.

Was not a sonBorn to you?

Was not a son

Born to you?

Herod.

Me? Oh no! My wife has died.

First King.

We have no call to tarry here.

Second King.

So there’sA second King then here?

So there’s

A second King then here?

Herod.

Then there would beNone here at all.

Then there would be

None here at all.

Third King.

There’s here, beside your own,A second stem, it seems, of Kingly blood.

There’s here, beside your own,

A second stem, it seems, of Kingly blood.

Herod.

And why?

First King.

It is so.

Second King.

Yes, it must be so.

Herod.

Of that too I know naught.

Salome(toHerod).

In BethlehemThe stem of David still has left a shootRemaining.

In Bethlehem

The stem of David still has left a shoot

Remaining.

Third King.

David was a King?

Herod.

’Tis so.

First King.

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem!

Salome(continuing, toHerod).

But now it plants its seed alone in beggars.

Herod.

I think it, else——

Salome.

I spoke once with a virginOf David’s house, Mary, I think, her name.I found her fair enough for such a lineage,But she was to a carpenter betrothedAnd scarcely lifted eyes upon my faceWhen I made question of her name.

I spoke once with a virgin

Of David’s house, Mary, I think, her name.

I found her fair enough for such a lineage,

But she was to a carpenter betrothed

And scarcely lifted eyes upon my face

When I made question of her name.

Herod.

You hear it?

Second King.

’Tis naught! We go.

Herod.

You will then, ere you go,Acquaint me what has brought you hither.

You will then, ere you go,

Acquaint me what has brought you hither.

First King.

ReverenceBefore the King above all Kings.

Reverence

Before the King above all Kings.

Second King.

The wishEre yet we die to view his countenance.

The wish

Ere yet we die to view his countenance.

Third King.

The holy duty at His feet in homageTo lay whatever on earth is costly-rare.

The holy duty at His feet in homage

To lay whatever on earth is costly-rare.

Herod.

Who gave you tidings of Him then?

First King.

His star!We journeyed not together and we knewNaught of each other, for our kingdoms lieTo furthest East and furthest West, seas flowBetween them, lofty mountains sunder them——

His star!

We journeyed not together and we knew

Naught of each other, for our kingdoms lie

To furthest East and furthest West, seas flow

Between them, lofty mountains sunder them——

Second King.

And yet it was the self-same star we saw,The self-same impulse that had seized our hearts;We wandered on the self-same way and met usAt last together at the self-same goal——

And yet it was the self-same star we saw,

The self-same impulse that had seized our hearts;

We wandered on the self-same way and met us

At last together at the self-same goal——

Third King.

Whether a King’s son or a beggar’s sonThe Child this star has lighted into lifeWill be uplifted high, and on the EarthNo man shall breathe that will not bow to Him.

Whether a King’s son or a beggar’s son

The Child this star has lighted into life

Will be uplifted high, and on the Earth

No man shall breathe that will not bow to Him.

Herod(aside).

So speaks the Ancient Book as well! (Aloud.) May IMake offer of a guide to Bethlehem?

So speaks the Ancient Book as well! (Aloud.) May I

Make offer of a guide to Bethlehem?

First King

(pointing to Heaven). We have a guide!

Herod.

Then good. And if the ChildBe found, I prithee send to me the tidingsThat I with you may do Him reverence.

Then good. And if the Child

Be found, I prithee send to me the tidings

That I with you may do Him reverence.

First King.

It shall be done. Now forth to Bethlehem!

[TheThree Kingswith their retinue leave the stage.

Herod.

It never will be done!

[EnterJoabandTitus,followed byAlexandra.

Ha!

Joab.

It is finished!

[Herodcovers up his face.

Titus.

She died, yes, died! But as for me, I haveA still more fearful office to performThan he who brought your word of blood to pass,For I must tell you she was innocent.

She died, yes, died! But as for me, I have

A still more fearful office to perform

Than he who brought your word of blood to pass,

For I must tell you she was innocent.

Herod.

No, Titus, no!

[Titusis about to speak.

(Stepping close up to him.) For were that so, you could notHave let her go to death.

(Stepping close up to him.) For were that so, you could not

Have let her go to death.

Titus.

No one was ableTo hinder that but you. It gives me painTo be against my will your worse than headsman,But if a holy duty yields the dead one,Whoever he may be, the rite of burial,Still holier is the duty from a shameTo wash him clean if he deserve it not.This duty now lays law on me alone.

No one was able

To hinder that but you. It gives me pain

To be against my will your worse than headsman,

But if a holy duty yields the dead one,

Whoever he may be, the rite of burial,

Still holier is the duty from a shame

To wash him clean if he deserve it not.

This duty now lays law on me alone.

Herod.

I see from all you say one only thing—Her spell in death itself was true to her.Why eats Soemus still my heart? How could heResist this blinding woman in her life?Even in the dying flash she kindled you.

I see from all you say one only thing—

Her spell in death itself was true to her.

Why eats Soemus still my heart? How could he

Resist this blinding woman in her life?

Even in the dying flash she kindled you.

Titus.

Goes jealousy the very grave beyond?

Herod.

If I have duped me, if from out your mouthSome other thing than pity now were speakingToo deep by far not to be more than such,Then I must give you warning that your witnessHelped to condemn her, that the duty-bondFor you had then been this—to give me warningAs soon as e’er the tiniest doubt had come.

If I have duped me, if from out your mouth

Some other thing than pity now were speaking

Too deep by far not to be more than such,

Then I must give you warning that your witness

Helped to condemn her, that the duty-bond

For you had then been this—to give me warning

As soon as e’er the tiniest doubt had come.

Titus.

But my word held me back, and, more than that,The unimplorable Necessity.Had I relaxed from her one pace, no further,Upon herself the deathly thrust were given.I saw the dagger hidden in her breastAnd more than once the twitching of her hand.

But my word held me back, and, more than that,

The unimplorable Necessity.

Had I relaxed from her one pace, no further,

Upon herself the deathly thrust were given.

I saw the dagger hidden in her breast

And more than once the twitching of her hand.

[Pause.

She wished to die; she must have done so, too.As much she suffered and as much she pardonedAs she had power to pardon and to suffer.I have beheld her very innermost,Who more demands should quarrel not with her,Should quarrel only with the elementsWhich, willed or not, had been so mixed in herThat she could go no further. Yes, but let himShow me a woman further gone than she!

She wished to die; she must have done so, too.

As much she suffered and as much she pardoned

As she had power to pardon and to suffer.

I have beheld her very innermost,

Who more demands should quarrel not with her,

Should quarrel only with the elements

Which, willed or not, had been so mixed in her

That she could go no further. Yes, but let him

Show me a woman further gone than she!

[Herodmakes a gesture.

She wished to have her death from you, and calledThe unshapen dream-child of your jealousyInto illusive being at her feast,Juggling her soul to death and all deceiving.I found that stern but not unjust. She steppedAs mask before your eyes; the mask was destinedTo sting you till you pierced it with a sword-thrust.

She wished to have her death from you, and called

The unshapen dream-child of your jealousy

Into illusive being at her feast,

Juggling her soul to death and all deceiving.

I found that stern but not unjust. She stepped

As mask before your eyes; the mask was destined

To sting you till you pierced it with a sword-thrust.

[He points toJoab.

And that you did and killed her very self.

Herod.

So spoke she, but she spoke from vengeance so.

Titus.

So was it. I have testified against her.How gladly would I doubt it!

So was it. I have testified against her.

How gladly would I doubt it!

Herod.

And Soemus?

Titus.

Upon the way that leads to death I met him,He entered on his own as soon as hersHad been accomplished, and he felt it balmTo think his blood with hers should be commingledE’en though upon the block by headsman-hand.

Upon the way that leads to death I met him,

He entered on his own as soon as hers

Had been accomplished, and he felt it balm

To think his blood with hers should be commingled

E’en though upon the block by headsman-hand.

Herod.

Aha! You see?

Titus.

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