John the Baptist: A Play

_John_ [_left alone for a brief space_], _then Salome, and two of her damsels._

Salome. [_Steps softly to the balustrade and gazes down on John, seeks in her breast for a flower, and not finding one turns back to Maecha._] Give me those thou wearest in thy girdle. [_She takes the roses which Maecha hands to her and throws them down._] He doth not see them. Bring more flowers, and thy harp. Stay, Maecha, or I shall be afraid. [_Exeunt the maids, except Maecha._] Thou fair savage, out of the wilderness of Judah! The fire of hate that flashes from thy eye shall not devour me! I will kindle another fire in it, lovely and languid like my dreams, when at night the perfume of the narcissi is wafted to my pillow. [_The maids come back._] Give them here.... Roses ... two arms' full. [_Hides her face in the flowers._] Now if I had narcissi, too! Nay, but tarry and sing the song which I taught you yesterday, the song which the dancers sang at Antioch. But sing softly, so that he be not shy of us. Where is Miriam?

Abi. She refuseth to come.

Salome. [_Between her teeth._] She refuseth! He saw the rose. He is picking it up ... as if he had never----There are more ... and more ... and more. [_She scatters the roses down on him._]

SONG OF THE MAIDENS

[_The following is accompanied by the harp, which, after playing a finale alone, dies away._]

I have entertained thee with myrrh and honey. I bound sweet sandals on my feet. From my waist I have loosened the girdle, I have sung with the harp, thee to greet. Now come, let us quench The fire that consumes me ... Come! Or thou from fear shalt blench. For my soul will hate thee ... Come!

John. [_Has looked up astonished. The hail of flowers strikes him in the face. He shrinks back._] Who playeth with me?

Salome. [_Who has slowly descended the steps._] Master, I----

John. Who art thou?

Salome. [_Coyly trifling._] I am a rose of Sharon and a flower of the valley.

John. Then play with thy mates ... Leave me in peace ... or go and call her who summoned me.

Salome. My mother?

John. Thou art Salome the----

Salome. Yes; I am she.

John. Let me look into thy eyes, maiden.

Salome. Look, master ... No, but not like that.... If you compellest me to put my hands before my face, I shall spread my fingers apart and laugh between them; yes, I shall laugh.

John. Maiden, knowst thou not how abhorred this house is? Keepest thou thy soul innocent among the guilty?

Salome. Look at me again, master.... Am I not young among the Daughters of Israel? And I have heard say that youth knoweth nothing of the guilty and of guilt. See, they keep me confined to the upper chambers. I drew back the bolts and crept out here, because I knew thou wert here, master.

John. How can I say to the storm wind: "Pass by," and to the floods, "Swallow her not"?

Salome. Speak on, master, even if I understand nothing thou sayest. And knowest thou that we are now sinning according to the Jewish "law"? Both of us--yea, it is true. My companions are gone; and is it not forbidden for a Jewish man to be alone with a virgin?

John. I am not alone with thee. Behind us standeth the shadow of those who have dragged thee with them through the foul refuse of their pleasures.

Salome. I have my own pleasures, master. How shall the pleasures of others concern me? I read once a saying that stolen fruits are sweet, and my nurse used to tell me that undiscovered treasure was only found by those who did not seek for it.... Is it not true thou hast not sought me?

John. Thy converse is confused.

Salome. No matter. Chide me not. Think, are not our _dreams_ confused too? When I flew hither with my mother, we came at night to a field of poppies. And the dew shone on their petals.... They looked grey, and were all closed up because it was night.... But now they are wide open, and I think my cheeks must glow red in their reflection.

John. Thou art lovely among the daughters of Jerusalem. They will weep for thee.

Salome. Why will they weep? Am I to be sacrificed? Not I, master. Protect me! I have heard of a king, master, who made a compact with the sun. Hast thou heard of him? [_John bows his head._]

Salome. Well, I will make a compact with thee. Shall I be the sun, and thou my king? Or wilt thou be the sun, and I thy queen?

John. Maiden, I cannot be either sun or king.

Salome. Why not? It is only a game.

John. A King cometh after me, but I wander in the wilderness and seek a path among thorns.

Salome. And hast not found it?

John. Not for myself.

Salome. But for others?

John. [_In torture, half to himself._] Who knoweth?

Salome. Master, what harm shall wrath do one, who is a jubilation and a feast day? And if thou camest to me in flames of fire, I would not mourn my youth for the length of two moons.... I would stretch out my arms and cry, "Destroy me, flame; take me up!"

John. [_After a pause._] Go!

Salome. I am going. [_She rushes into the arms of Herodias, who enters._] Mother!