John the Baptist: A Play Part 36

SALOME

[_Veiling herself._] Hide yourselves! [_She stoops behind the seat; the maidens slip into the bushes._]

[_In the gateway Herod and his attendants._]

SCENE III

_The same. Herod, Merokles, Jabad, Gabalos._

HEROD

Gaoler!

GAOLER

Sire.

HEROD

Who are the three men who linger about the door? They look morose, and did not salute me.

GAOLER

Sire, those are the remnant of the crew which followed John, they say, from Jerusalem. For eight days and eight nights they followed him.

HEROD

The remnant, sayest thou? Where are the rest?

GAOLER

They lie somewhere by the wayside, Sire, and die of thirst, unless the ravens give them to drink.

HEROD

Drive them away!

GAOLER

Sire, we have hunted them off several times; but they always come back.

HEROD

So, let them be.

MEROKLES

See, how mild is our ruler! He doth not order them to be cut in pieces.

JABAD

Hail to our Ruler! [_The two others join in._]

HEROD

To speak candidly, friends, I do not lay hands on sages and fools willingly; for one can never know whether the executioner holds up the head of a sage or a fool.

GABALOS

Thou canst do no wrong, Sire; for thou art wise, all-wise!

HEROD

When I order thee to be beheaded, I shall not be wrong; for thou art a fool, a complete fool. [_Nearing the seat._] Bring me----[_Observes Salome, who, listening, has raised her head a little above the edge of the seat, then quickly dives down again._] I beg you to retire, and await me without the gate.

[_Exeunt Gabalos, Merokles, Jabad._]

SCENE IV

_Herod, Salome. Also Abi and Maecha, hidden._

HEROD

Tell me, thou veiled one, art thou not Salome, my wife's daughter?

SALOME

Sire, so true as 'tis that thou art my protector I am Salome.

HEROD

How camest thou into this prison-yard?

SALOME

Ask me not, Sire. My soul else will blush before thee. It was curiosity, because I heard thee coming.

HEROD

And where are thy playmates?

SALOME

They are afraid of thee, so they have crept away. Abi, Maecha, come forth; our master commands it. [_Abi and Maecha come out hesitatingly, and curtsey profoundly._]

HEROD