The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08


prison; and Hsrod, Heyodics, TigelRnas
(Cesar's envoy and others come to the
terrace. h..
The pallld, gross Tetrarch, crowned with
flowers, Ia Ill at ease this evening. He 10
too hot, too cold, boastful and afraid. He
fancies that he hears the sound Of mighty
wings.
He drinks. and will not drink. He fatters
C@sar's envoy and exalts himself; insults
Herodias; says Iokanaan's foundations
are not meant for him; thinks the prophet
may be a holy man, and looks continually
at Salome, sitting moodily apart.
He beseeohes Saiorns to dance for him,
offering her finally whatever she may de-
sire, even to the half Of his kingdom; and
at this Salone rises:
win you indeed give me whatsoever I
shall ask, Tetraroh2'
He swears 1t by his life, by his crown,
by his gods.
Herodias commands her daughter not
to dance. but Saioms dances, and then, as
In the Bible, demands as her reward that
the bead Of Iokanaan be brought to her In
a silver charger.
Now Herodias is delighted. "Ah! that is
well said, my daughter But Herod is
COMPOUNDED, and there ensues for the audi
ence a long period Of suspense while the
Tetrarch offers Salome all his treasures, a
marvellous notwithstanding rather
than what she has asked.
Whenever he pauses Salome reiterates
m~onotonously, Give me the head Of
Iokandan' and finally Herod, sinking pack
exhausted, says, SLet her be given what
she asks! OF q truth she 10 her mothers
child. q
Herodias draws from his hand the ring
OF death and gives it to a soldier, who
st%raightway bears 1t to Raamdn, the exc
cutioner, a huge negro, who has stood in
the background, dark, ominous and silent,
throughout all that preoedes. Radman
bows and zoe into the we'll, and Sdlome
leans over it to listen.
@There is no sound. I hear nothing.
Why does he not cry out, this mann"
She is the only one who speaks, and
with long pauses. There comes the sound
of a sword falling to the ground and Salome,
fearing that Radman has not dared to kill
the prophet, orders others to 60; but all
recoil from her.
Then there comes forth from the we'll
the executioner's huge black arm, bearing
on a silver shield the head Of Iokdnddn.
Herod hides his fac with his cloak. He
rodias smiles and fans herself. Some
Nazarenes present fall on their knees and
begin to pray.
Salome seizes the head. "Ah! thou
wouldst not suffer me to kiss thy mouth,
Iokanaanl Well, 1 will kiss it now"
The long and strangely beautiful lament
which follows, wherein Sdlome pours forth
her passion, her resentment and her hope
less love, conflicts with and subordinates
ones violent physical disgust, and that this
| should be 80 is surely a remarkable tribute
to the writer's skill.
But Herod is a prey to terror. He orders
the torches to be put out. Il will not look
at things, 1 will not suffer things to look at
me-"
The slaves put out the torches and a great
black cloud crosses the moon and con-
oeals it completely. The stage becomes
very dark and Herod begins to ascend a
stairway which leads to the palace.
In the darkness Is heard again the voice
Of Salome. "Ah! l have kissed thy mouth,
Iokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth. There
was a bitter taste on thy lips. Was 1t the
taste Of blood1 But %perchanoe 1t is the
taste OF ioye- lhey say that love main a
bitter taste. But what Of that2 What Of
that? I have kissed thy mouth, To-
kanaan.'
A~moonbeam falls on Sdlome, covering her
with light, and Herod, turning around and
seeing her, cries out:
Kill that woman"
Their the soldiers rush forward and crush
beneath their shields Sdlome, daughter Of
Herodids, Princess Of Jud@a.