-
TheProjectGutenbergEBookofSalom,byOscarWilde
ThiseBookisfortheuseofanyoneanywhereatnocostandwithalmostnorestrictionswhatsoever.Youmaycopyit,giveitawayorre-useitunderthetermsoftheProjectGutenbergLicenseincludedwiththiseBookoronlineatwww.gutenberg.org
Title:SalomATragedyinOneAct
Author:OscarWilde
Illustrator:AubreyBeardsley
Translator:Alfred,LordDouglas
ReleaseDate:May12,2013[EBook#42704]
Language:English
***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKSALOM***
ProducedbyMarcD'Hoogheathttp://www.freeliterature.org(ImagesgenerouslymadeavailablebytheInternetArchive.)
-
SALOMATRAGEDYINONEACT:
TRANSLATEDFROMTHEFRENCHOF
-
OSCARWILDE,
WITHSIXTEENDRAWINGSBYAUBREYBEARDSLEY
LONDON:JOHNLANE,THEBODLEYHEAD
NEWYORK:JOHNLANECOMPANY,MCMVII
THEPERSONSOFTHEPLAY.
HERODANTIPAS,TETRARCHOFJUDA.JOKANAAN,THEPROPHET.
-
THEYOUNGSYRIAN,CAPTAINoftheGUARD.TIGELLINUS,AYOUNGROMAN.ACAPPADOCIAN.ANUBIAN.FIRSTSOLDIER.SECONDSOLDIER.THEPAGEOFHERODIAS.JEWS,NAZARENES,ETC.ASLAVE.NAAMAN,THEEXECUTIONER.HERODIAS,WIFEOFTHETETRARCH.SALOM,DAUGHTEROFHERODIAS.THESLAVESOFSALOM.
ANOTEON"SALOM."
"SALOM"hasmadetheauthor'snameahouseholdwordwherevertheEnglishlanguageisnotspoken.FewEnglish
plays have such a peculiar history.Written inFrench in 1892 itwas
in full rehearsal
byMadameBernhardtatthePalaceTheatrewhenitwasprohibitedbytheCensor.OscarWildeimmediatelyannouncedhisintentionofchanginghisnationality,acharacteristicjest,whichwasonlytakenseriously,oddlyenough,inIreland.TheinterferenceoftheCensorhasseldombeenmorepopularormoreheartilyendorsed
by English critics. On its publication in book form "Salom" was
greeted by a chorus
ofridicule,anditmaybenotedinpassingthatatleasttwoofthemoreviolentreviewswerefromthepensofunsuccessfuldramatists,whileallthosewhoseFrenchneverwentbeyondOllendorffweregladtofindinthatvenerableschoolclassicanunsuspectedassetintheireducationahandymissilewithwhichtopelt"Salom"anditsauthor.ThecorrectnessoftheFrenchwas,ofcourse,impugned,althoughthescriphadbeenpassedbyadistinguishedFrenchwriter,towhomIhaveheardthewholeworkattributed.TheTimes,
while depreciating the drama, gave its author credit for a tour de
force, in being capable
ofwritingaFrenchplayforMadameBernhardt,andthisdrewfromhimthefollowingletter:
TheTimes,Thursday,March2,1893,p.4.
MR.OSCARWILDEON"SALOM."
TotheEditorofTheTimes.
Sir,Myattentionhasbeendrawntoareviewof"Salom"whichwaspublishedinyourcolumnslastweek.TheopinionsofEnglishcriticsonaFrenchworkofminehave,ofcourse,little,ifany,interestforme.Iwritesimplytoaskyoutoallowmetocorrectamisstatementthatappearsinthereviewinquestion.
Thefactthatthegreatesttragicactressofanystagenowlivingsawinmyplaysuchbeautythatshewas
anxious to produce it, to take herself the part of the heroine, to
lend to the entire poem
theglamourofherpersonality,andtomyprosethemusicofherflute-likevoicethiswasnaturally,andalwayswill
be, a source of pride and pleasure tome, and I look forwardwith
delight to
seeingMme.BernhardtpresentmyplayinParis,thatvividcentreofart,wherereligiousdramasareoftenperformed.Butmyplaywas
inno senseof thewordswritten for this great actress. I
haveneverwritten a play for any actor or actress, nor shall I ever
do so. Such work is for the artisan
inliteraturenotfortheartist.
Iremain,Sir,yourobedientservant,
-
OSCARWILDE.
When"Salom"was translated intoEnglishbyLordAlfredDouglas, the
illustrator,AubreyBeardsley,sharedsomeoftheobloquyheapedonWilde.Itisinterestingthatheshouldhavefoundinspirationforhisfinestworkinaplayheneveradmiredandbyawriterhecordiallydisliked.Themotivesare,ofcourse,madetohishand,andneverwasthereamoresuitablematerialforthatoddtangentartinwhichtherearenotactilevalues.TheamusingcaricaturesofWildewhichappearintheFrontispiece,"EnterHerodias"and"TheEyesofHerod,"aretheonlypiecesofvraisemblanceintheseexquisitedesigns.Thecolophonisarealmasterpieceandawittycriticismoftheplayaswell.
On the production of "Salom" by the New Stage Club in May,
1905,[1] the dramatic critics againexpressed themselves vehemently,
vociferating their regrets that the play had been dragged from
itsobscurity.Theobscuredrama,however,hadbecomeforfiveyearspastpartoftheliteratureofEurope.Itisperformed
regularlyor intermittently inHolland,Sweden, Italy,France,
andRussia, and it
hasbeentranslatedintoeveryEuropeanlanguage,includingtheCzech.ItformspartoftherepertoireoftheGermanstage,whereitisperformedmoreoftenthananyplaybyanyEnglishwriterexceptShakespeare.Owing,perhaps,towhatImustcallitsobscurepopularityinthecontinentaltheatres,Dr.StrausswaspreparinghisremarkableoperaattheverymomentwhenthereappearedthecriticismstowhichIrefer,andsincethe
production of the opera in Dresden in December, 1905, English
musical journalists
andcorrespondentsalwaysrefertotheworkasfoundedonWilde'sdrama.Thatistheonlywayinwhichtheycan
evade an awkward trutha palpable contravention to their ownwishes
and theories. Themusic,however, has been set to the actual words of
"Salom" in Madame Hedwig Lachmann's
admirabletranslation.Thewordshavenotbeentransfiguredintoordinaryoperaticnonsensetosuitthescore,orthesusceptibilitiesoftheEnglishpeople.IobservethatadmirersofDr.Straussarealittlemortifiedthatthegreatmastershouldhavefoundanoccasionforcompositioninaplaywhichtheylongagoconsignedtooblivion
and the shambles ofAubreyBeardsley.Wilde himself, in a rhetorical
period, seems to havecontemplated the possibility of his prose
drama for amusical theme. In "DeProfundis" he says:
"Therefrains,whoserecurringmotifsmake'Salom'solikeapieceofmusic,andbindittogetherasaballad."
Hewas still incarcerated in 1896,whenMons. LuignePo produced the
play for the first time at theThtre Libre in Paris, with LinaMuntz
in the title role. A rather pathetic reference to this
occasionoccursinaletterWildewrotetomefromReading:
"PleasesayhowgratifiedIwasattheperformanceofmyplay,andhavemythanksconveyedtoLuignePo.ItissomethingthatatatimeofdisgraceandshameIshouldstillberegardedasanartist.IwishIcouldfeelmorepleasure,butIseemdeadtoallemotionsexceptthoseofanguishanddespair.However,pleaseletLuignePoknowthatIamsensibleofthehonourhehasdoneme.Heisapoethimself.Writetomeinanswertothis,andtryandseewhatLemaitre,Bauer,andSarceysaidof'Salom.'"
The bias of personal friendship precludes me from praising or
defending "Salom," even if it werenecessary to do so. Nothing
Imight saywould add to the reputation of its detractors. Its
sources areobvious; particularly Flaubert andMaeterlinck, inwhose
peculiar and original style it is an essay.Acritic,
forwhomIhaveagreater regard thanmanyofhiscontemporaries, says
that"Salom" isonlyacatalogue;butacataloguecanbe
intenselydramatic,asweknowwhen theperformance
takesplaceatChristie's; few plays aremore exciting than an auction
in King Street when the stars are fighting forSisera.
IthasbeenremarkedthatWildeconfusesHerodtheGreat(Mat.xi.1),HerodAntipas(Mat.xiv.3),andHerodAgrippa(Actsxiii),buttheconfusionisintentional,asinmedivalmysteryplaysHerodistakenfor
a type, not an historical character, and the criticism is about as
valuable as that of people who
-
laboriouslypointouttheanachronismsinBeardsley'sdesigns.Withreferencetothechargeofplagiarismbroughtagainst"Salom"anditsauthor,Iventuretomentionapersonalrecollection.
Wildecomplainedtomeonedaythatsomeoneinawell-knownnovelhadstolenanideaofhis.IpleadedindefenceoftheculpritthatWildehimselfwasafearlessliterarythief."Mydearfellow,"hesaid,withhisusualdrawlingemphasis,"whenIseeamonstroustulipwithfourwonderfulpetalsinsomeoneelse'sgarden,
Iam impelled togrowamonstrous tulipwith fivewonderfulpetals,but
that isno
reasonwhysomeoneshouldgrowatulipwithonlythreepetals."THATWASOSCARWILDE.
ROBERTROSS.[1]Amorerecentperformanceof"Salom"(1906),bytheLiteraryTheatreClub,hasagainproducedanebullitionofrancouranddeliberatemisrepresentationonthepartofthedramaticcritics,themajorityofwhomareanxiousto
parade their ignorance of the continental stage.The productionwas
remarkable on account of the beautifuldresses and mounting, for
which Mr. Charles Ricketts was responsible, and the marvellous
impersonation ofHerodbyMr.RobertFarquharson.Wildeused tosay
that"Salom"wasamirror
inwhicheveryonecouldseehimself.Theartist,art;thedull,dulness;thevulgar,vulgarity.
1.THEWOMANINTHEMOON.2.TITLEPAGE.3.COVERDESIGN.4.LISTOFTHEPICTURES.5.THEPEACOCKSKIRT.6.THEBLACKCAPE.7.APLATONICLAMENT.8.JOHNANDSALOM.9.ENTERHERODIAS.10.THEEYESOFHEROD.11.THE
STOMACH DANCE. 12. THE TOILETTE OF SALOMI. 13. THE TOILETTE OF
SALOMII. 14. THE DANCER'SREWARD.15.THECLIMAX.16.CULDELAMPE.
-
CastofthePerformanceof"Salom,"representedinEnglandforthefirsttime.
NEWSTAGECLUB.
"SALOM,"
BYOSCARWILDE.
May10thand13th1905.
AYOUNGSYRIANCAPTAIN MR.HERBERTALEXANDER.PAGEOFHERODIAS
MRS.GWENDOLENBISHOP.FIRSTSOLDIER MR.CHARLESGEE.SECONDSOLDIER
MR.RALPHDEROHAN.CAPPADOCIAN MR.CHARLESDALMON.JOKANAAN
MR.VINCENTNELLO.NAAMAN,THEEXECUTIONERMR.W.EVELYNOSBORN.SALOM
MissMILLICENTMURBY.SLAVE MissCARRIEKEITH.HEROD
MR.ROBERTFARQUHARSON.HERODIAS MissLOUISESALOM.TIGELLINUS
MR.C.L.DELPH.SLAVE MissSTANSFELD.FIRSTJEW
MR.F.STANLEYSMITH.SECONDJEW MR.BERNHARDSMITH.THIRDJEW
MR.JOHNBATE.FOURTHJEW STEPHENBAGEHOTFIFTHJEW FREDERICKLAWRENCE.
SceneTHEGREATTERRACEOUTSIDETHEPALACE.
SCENE.Agreat terrace in thePalaceofHerod, set above
thebanqueting-hall. Some soldiersareleaning over the balcony. To
the right there is a gigantic staircase, to the left, at the back,
an oldcisternsurroundedbyawallofgreenbronze.Moonlight.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
HowbeautifulisthePrincessSalomto-night!
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Lookatthemoon!Howstrangethemoonseems!Sheislikeawomanrisingfromatomb.Sheislikeadeadwoman.Youwouldfancyshewaslookingfordeadthings.
-
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Shehasastrangelook.Sheislikealittleprincesswhowearsayellowveil,andwhosefeetareofsilver.Sheislikeaprincesswhohaslittlewhitedovesforfeet.Youwouldfancyshewasdancing.
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Sheislikeawomanwhoisdead.Shemovesveryslowly.
[Noiseinthebanqueting-hall.]
FIRSTSOLDIER
Whatanuproar!Whoarethosewildbeastshowling?
SECONDSOLDIER
TheJews.Theyarealwayslikethat.Theyaredisputingabouttheirreligion.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Whydotheydisputeabouttheirreligion?
SECONDSOLDIER
I cannot tell. They are always doing it. The Pharisees, for
instance, say that there are angels, and
theSadduceesdeclarethatangelsdonotexist.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Ithinkitisridiculoustodisputeaboutsuchthings.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
HowbeautifulisthePrincessSalomto-night!
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Youarealwayslookingather.Youlookathertoomuch.Itisdangeroustolookatpeopleinsuchfashion.Somethingterriblemayhappen.
-
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Sheisverybeautifulto-night.
FIRSTSOLDIER
TheTetrarchhasasombrelook.
SECONDSOLDIER
Yes;hehasasombrelook.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Heislookingatsomething.
SECONDSOLDIER
Heislookingatsomeone.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Atwhomishelooking?
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Icannottell.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Howpale thePrincess is!Neverhave I seenher sopale.She is like
the shadowofawhite rose inamirrorofsilver.
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Youmustnotlookather.Youlooktoomuchather.
FIRSTSOLDIER
HerodiashasfilledthecupoftheTetrarch.
THECAPPADOCIAN
IsthattheQueenHerodias,shewhowearsablackmitresewnwithpearls,andwhosehairispowderedwithbluedust?
FIRSTSOLDIER
Yes;thatisHerodias,theTetrarch'swife.
SECONDSOLDIER
TheTetrarchisveryfondofwine.Hehaswineofthreesorts.OnewhichisbroughtfromtheIslandofSamothrace,andispurplelikethecloakofCsar.
THECAPPADOCIAN
IhaveneverseenCsar.
SECONDSOLDIER
AnotherthatcomesfromatowncalledCyprus,andisyellowlikegold.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Ilovegold.
SECONDSOLDIER
AndthethirdisawineofSicily.Thatwineisredlikeblood.
THENUBIAN
Thegodsofmycountryareveryfondofblood.Twicein theyearwesacrifice
to
themyoungmenandmaidens;fiftyyoungmenandahundredmaidens.Butitseemswenevergivethemquiteenough,fortheyareveryharshtous.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Inmycountrytherearenogodsleft.TheRomanshavedriventhemout.Therearesomewhosaythattheyhavehiddenthemselvesinthemountains,butIdonotbelieveit.ThreenightsIhavebeenonthemountainsseekingthemeverywhere.Ididnotfindthem.AndatlastIcalledthembytheirnames,andtheydidnotcome.Ithinktheyaredead.
FIRSTSOLDIER
-
TheJewsworshipaGodthatyoucannotsee.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Icannotunderstandthat.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Infact,theyonlybelieveinthingsthatyoucannotsee.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Thatseemstomealtogetherridiculous.
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Afterme shall come anothermightier than I. I amnotworthy somuch
as to unloose the latchet of
hisshoes.Whenhecometh,thesolitaryplacesshallbeglad.Theyshallblossomlikethelily.Theeyesoftheblindshallseetheday,andtheearsofthedeafshallbeopened.Thenew-bornchildshallputhishanduponthedragon'slair,heshallleadthelionsbytheirmanes.
SECONDSOLDIER
Makehimbesilent.Heisalwayssayingridiculousthings.
FIRSTSOLDIER
No,no.Heisaholyman.Heisverygentle,too.Everyday,whenIgivehimtoeathethanksme.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Whoishe?
FIRSTSOLDIER
Aprophet.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Whatishisname?
FIRSTSOLDIER
Jokanaan.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Whencecomeshe?
FIRSTSOLDIER
Fromthedesert,wherehefedonlocustsandwildhoney.Hewasclothedincamel'shair,androundhisloinshehadaleathernbelt.Hewasveryterribletolookupon.Agreatmultitudeusedtofollowhim.Heevenhaddisciples.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Whatishetalkingof?
FIRSTSOLDIER
Wecannevertell.Sometimeshesaysterriblethings,butitisimpossibletounderstandwhathesays.
-
THECAPPADOCIAN
Mayoneseehim?
FIRSTSOLDIER
No.TheTetrarchhasforbiddenit.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
ThePrincesshashiddenherfacebehindherfan!Herlittlewhitehandsareflutteringlikedovesthatflytotheirdove-cots.Theyarelikewhitebutterflies.Theyarejustlikewhitebutterflies.
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Whatisthattoyou?Whydoyoulookather?Youmustnotlookather....Somethingterriblemayhappen.
THECAPPADOCIAN
[Pointingtothecistern.]
Whatastrangeprison!
SECONDSOLDIER
Itisanoldcistern.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Anoldcistern!Itmustbeveryunhealthy.
SECONDSOLDIER
Ohno!Forinstance,theTetrarch'sbrother,hiselderbrother,thefirsthusbandofHerodiastheQueen,wasimprisoned
there for twelve years. It did not kill him. At the end of the
twelve years he had to bestrangled.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Strangled?Whodaredtodothat?
SECONDSOLDIER
[PointingtotheExecutioner,ahugeNegro.]
Thatmanyonder,Naaman.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Hewasnotafraid?
SECONDSOLDIER
Ohno!TheTetrarchsenthimthering.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Whatring?
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Thedeath-ring.Sohewasnotafraid.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Yetitisaterriblethingtostrangleaking.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Why?Kingshavebutoneneck,likeotherfolk.
THECAPPADOCIAN
Ithinkitterrible.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
ThePrincessrises!Sheisleavingthetable!Shelooksverytroubled.Ah,sheiscomingthisway.Yes,sheiscomingtowardsus.Howpalesheis!NeverhaveIseenhersopale.
-
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Donotlookather.Iprayyounottolookather.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Sheislikeadovethathasstrayed....Sheislikeanarcissustremblinginthewind....Sheislikeasilverflower.
[EnterSalom.]
SALOM
Iwillnotstay.Icannotstay.WhydoestheTetrarchlookatmeallthewhilewithhismole'seyesunderhisshaking
eyelids? It is strange that the husband ofmymother looks atme like
that. I know notwhat itmeans.Intruth,yes,Iknowit.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Youhavejustleftthefeast,Princess?
SALOM
Howsweettheairishere!Icanbreathehere!WithinthereareJewsfromJerusalemwhoaretearingeachotherinpiecesovertheirfoolishceremonies,andbarbarianswhodrinkanddrink,andspilltheirwineonthepavement,andGreeksfromSmyrnawithpaintedeyesandpaintedcheeks,andfrizzedhaircurledintwistedcoils,andsilent,subtleEgyptians,withlongnailsofjadeandrussettcloaks,andRomansbrutalandcoarse,with
theiruncouth jargon.Ah!howI loathe theRomans!Theyare
roughandcommon,andtheygivethemselvestheairsofnoblelords.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Willyoubeseated,Princess?
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Whydoyouspeaktoher?Whydoyoulookather?Oh!somethingterriblewillhappen.
SALOM
Howgoodtosee themoon!She is likea littlepieceofmoney,youwould
thinkshewasa littlesilverflower.Themoon iscoldandchaste. Iamsureshe
isavirgin,shehasavirgin'sbeauty.Yes,she
isavirgin.Shehasneverdefiledherself.Shehasneverabandonedherselftomen,liketheothergoddesses.
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
TheLordhathcome.Thesonofmanhathcome.Thecentaurshavehiddenthemselvesintherivers,andthesirenshavelefttherivers,andarelyingbeneaththeleavesoftheforest.
SALOM
Whowasthatwhocriedout?
SECONDSOLDIER
Theprophet,Princess.
SALOM
Ah,theprophet!HeofwhomtheTetrarchisafraid?
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Weknownothingofthat,Princess.ItwastheprophetJokanaanwhocriedout.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
IsityourpleasurethatIbidthembringyourlitter,Princess?Thenightisfairinthegarden.
SALOM
Hesaysterriblethingsaboutmymother,doeshenot?
SECONDSOLDIER
Weneverunderstandwhathesays,Princess.
SALOM
Yes;hesaysterriblethingsabouther.
[EnteraSlave.]
THESLAVE
Princess,theTetrarchpraysyoutoreturntothefeast.
SALOM
Iwillnotgoback.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Pardonme,Princess,butifyoudonotreturnsomemisfortunemayhappen.
SALOM
Isheanoldman,thisprophet?
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Princess,itwerebettertoreturn.Suffermetoleadyouin.
SALOM
Thisprophet...isheanoldman?
FIRSTSOLDIER
No,Princess,heisquiteayoungman.
SECONDSOLDIER
Youcannotbesure.TherearethosewhosayheisElias.
SALOM
WhoisElias?
SECONDSOLDIER
Averyancientprophetofthiscountry,Princess.
THESLAVE
WhatanswermayIgivetheTetrarchfromthePrincess?
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Rejoicenotthou,landofPalestine,becausetherodofhimwhosmotetheeisbroken.Forfromtheseedoftheserpentshallcomeforthabasilisk,andthatwhichisbornofitshalldevourthebirds.
SALOM
Whatastrangevoice!Iwouldspeakwithhim.
FIRSTSOLDIER
I fear it is impossible, Princess.TheTetrarch does notwish any
one to speakwith him.He has
evenforbiddenthehighpriesttospeakwithhim.
SALOM
Idesiretospeakwithhim.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Itisimpossible,Princess.
SALOM
Iwillspeakwithhim.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Woulditnotbebettertoreturntothebanquet?
SALOM
Bringforththisprophet.
[Exittheslave.]
FIRSTSOLDIER
Wedarenot,Princess.
SALOM
[Approachingthecisternandlookingdownintoit.]
How black it is, down there! It must be terrible to be in so
black a pit! It is like a tomb.... [To
thesoldiers.]Didyounothearme?Bringouttheprophet.Iwishtoseehim.
SECONDSOLDIER
Princess,Ibegyoudonotrequirethisofus.
SALOM
Youkeepmewaiting!
FIRSTSOLDIER
Princess,ourlivesbelongtoyou,butwecannotdowhatyouhaveaskedofus.Andindeed,itisnotofusthatyoushouldaskthisthing.
SALOM
[LookingattheyoungSyrian.]
-
Ah!
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Oh!whatisgoingtohappen?Iamsurethatsomemisfortunewillhappen.
SALOM
[GoinguptotheyoungSyrian.]
Youwilldothistilingforme,willyounot,Narraboth?Youwilldothisthingforme.Ihavealwaysbeenkindtoyou.Youwilldoitforme.Iwouldbutlookatthisstrangeprophet.Menhavetalkedsomuchofhim.OftenhaveIheardtheTetrarchtalkofhim.IthinktheTetrarchisafraidofhim.Areyou,evenyou,alsoafraidofhim,Narraboth?
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
I fear him not, Princess; there is noman I fear. But the
Tetrarch has formally forbidden that
anymanshouldraisethecoverofthiswell.
SALOM
Youwilldothisthingforme,Narraboth,andto-morrowwhenIpassinmylitterbeneaththegatewayoftheidol-sellersIwillletfallforyoualittleflower,alittlegreenflower.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Princess,Icannot,Icannot.
SALOM
[Smiling.]
Youwilldo this thingforme,Narraboth.Youknowthatyouwilldo this
thingforme.Andto-morrowwhenIpassinmylitterbythebridgeoftheidol-buyers,Iwilllookatyouthroughthemuslinveils,Iwilllookatyou,Narraboth,itmaybeIwillsmileatyou.Lookatme,Narraboth,lookatme.Ah!youknowthatyouwilldowhatIaskofyou.Youknowitwell....Iknowthatyouwilldothisthing.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
[Signingtothethirdsoldier.]
Lettheprophetcomeforth....ThePrincessSalomdesirestoseehim.
SALOM
Ah!
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Oh!Howstrangethemoonlooks.Youwouldthinkitwasthehandofadeadwomanwhoisseekingtocoverherselfwithashroud.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Shehasastrangelook!Sheislikealittleprincess,whoseeyesareeyesofamber.Throughthecloudsofmuslinsheissmilinglikealittleprincess.
[Theprophetcomesoutofthecistern.Salomlooksathimandstepsslowlyback.]
-
JOKANAAN
Whereishewhosecupofabominationsisnowfull?Whereishe,whoinarobeofsilvershallonedaydieinthefaceofallthepeople?Bidhimcomeforth,thathemayhearthevoiceofhimwhohathcriedinthewasteplacesandinthehousesofkings.
SALOM
Ofwhomishespeaking?
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Youcannevertell,Princess.
JOKANAAN
Whereisshewhohavingseentheimagesofmenpaintedonthewalls,theimagesoftheChaldeanslimnedincolours,gaveherselfupuntothelustofhereyes,andsentambassadorsintoChaldea?
SALOM
-
Itisofmymotherthathespeaks.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Oh,no,Princess.
SALOM
Yes;itisofmymotherthathespeaks.
JOKANAAN
WhereisshewhogaveherselfuntotheCaptainsofAssyria,whohavebaldricksontheirloins,andtiarasofdiverscoloursontheirheads?WhereisshewhohathgivenherselftotheyoungmenofEgypt,whoareclothedinfinelinenandpurple,whoseshieldsareofgold,whosehelmetsareofsilver,whosebodiesaremighty?Bidherriseupfromthebedofherabominations,fromthebedofherincestuousness,thatshemayhear
the words of himwho prepareth the way of the Lord, that shemay
repent her of her
iniquities.Thoughshewillneverrepent,butwillstickfastinherabominations;bidhercome,forthefanoftheLordisinHishand.
SALOM
Butheisterrible,heisterrible!
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Donotstayhere,Princess,Ibeseechyou.
SALOM
Itishiseyesaboveallthatareterrible.TheyarelikeblackholesburnedbytorchesinaTyriantapestry.Theyarelikeblackcavernswheredragonsdwell.TheyareliketheblackcavernsofEgyptinwhichthedragonsmaketheir
lairs.Theyarelikeblacklakestroubledbyfantasticmoons....Doyouthinkhewillspeakagain?
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Donotstayhere,Princess.Iprayyoudonotstayhere.
SALOM
Howwastedheis!Heislikeathinivorystatue.Heislikeanimageofsilver.Iamsureheischasteasthemoonis.Heis
likeamoonbeam,likeashaftofsilver.Hisfleshmustbecool
likeivory.Iwouldlookcloserathim.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
No,no,Princess.
SALOM
Imustlookathimcloser.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Princess!Princess!
JOKANAAN
Whoisthiswomanwhoislookingatme?Iwillnothaveherlookatme.Whereforedothshelookatme
-
withhergoldeneyes,underhergildedeyelids?Iknownotwhosheis.Idonotwishtoknowwhosheis.Bidherbegone.ItisnottoherthatIwouldspeak.SALOM
IamSalom,daughterofHerodias,PrincessofJuda.
JOKANAAN
Back!daughterofBabylon!ComenotnearthechosenoftheLord.Thymotherhathfilledtheearthwiththewineofheriniquities,andthecryofhersinshathcomeuptotheearsofGod.
SALOM
Speakagain,Jokanaan.Thyvoiceiswinetome.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Princess!Princess!Princess!
SALOM
Speakagain!Speakagain,Jokanaan,andtellmewhatImustdo.
JOKANAAN
DaughterofSodom,comenotnearme!Butcoverthyfacewithaveil,andscatterashesuponthinehead,andgettheetothedesertandseekouttheSonofMan.
SALOM
Whoishe,theSonofMan?Isheasbeautifulasthouart,Jokanaan?
JOKANAAN
Gettheebehindme!Ihearinthepalacethebeatingofthewingsoftheangelofdeath.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Princess,Ibeseechtheetogowithin.
JOKANAAN
AngeloftheLordGod,whatdostthouherewiththysword?Whomseekestthouinthisfoulpalace?Thedayofhimwhoshalldieinarobeofsilverhasnotyetcome.
-
SALOM
Jokanaan!
JOKANAAN
Whospeaketh?
SALOM
Jokanaan,Iamamorousofthybody!Thybodyiswhiteliketheliliesofafieldthatthemowerhathnevermowed.
Thy body is white like the snows that lie on the mountains, like
the snows that lie on
themountainsofJuda,andcomedownintothevalleys.TherosesinthegardenoftheQueenofArabiaarenotsowhiteasthybody.NeithertherosesinthegardenoftheQueenofArabia,theperfumedgardenofspicesoftheQueenofArabia,northefeetofthedawnwhentheylightontheleaves,northebreastofthemoonwhensheliesonthebreastofthesea....Thereisnothingintheworldsowhiteasthybody.Letmetouchthybody.
-
JOKANAAN
Back!daughterofBabylon!Bywomancameevilintotheworld.Speaknottome.Iwillnotlistentothee.IlistenbuttothevoiceoftheLordGod.
SALOM
Thybodyishideous.Itislikethebodyofaleper.Itislikeaplasteredwallwherevipershavecrawled;like
aplasteredwallwhere the scorpionshavemade theirnest. It is like
awhitened sepulchre full
ofloathsomethings.Itishorrible,thybodyishorrible.ItisofthyhairthatIamenamoured,Jokanaan.Thyhairislikeclustersofgrapes,liketheclustersofblackgrapesthathangfromthevine-treesofEdominthelandoftheEdomites.ThyhairislikethecedarsofLebanon,likethegreatcedarsofLebanonthatgivetheirshadetothelionsandtotherobberswhowouldhidethemselvesbyday.Thelongblacknights,whenthemoonhidesherface,whenthestarsareafraid,arenotsoblack.Thesilencethatdwellsintheforestisnotsoblack.Thereisnothingintheworldsoblackasthyhair....Letmetouchthyhair.
JOKANAAN
Back,daughterofSodom!Touchmenot.ProfanenotthetempleoftheLordGod.
SALOM
Thyhairishorrible.Itiscoveredwithmireanddust.Itislikeacrownofthornswhichtheyhaveplacedonthyforehead.Itislikeaknotofblackserpentswrithingroundthyneck.Ilovenotthyhair....Itisthymouth
that I desire, Jokanaan. Thy mouth is like a band of scarlet on a
tower of ivory. It is like
apomegranatecutwithaknifeofivory.Thepomegranate-flowersthatblossominthegardensofTyre,andareredder
thanroses,arenotsored.Theredblastsof trumpets thatherald
theapproachofkings,andmakeafraidtheenemy,arenotsored.Thymouthisredderthanthefeetofthosewhotreadthewineinthewine-press.
Thymouth is redder than the feet of the doveswho haunt the temples
and are fed by thepriests. It is redder than
thefeetofhimwhocomethfromaforestwherehehathslaina
lion,andseengilded tigers.Thymouth is likeabranchofcoral that
fishershave found in the twilightof thesea,
thecoralthattheykeepforthekings!...ItislikethevermilionthattheMoabitesfindintheminesofMoab,thevermilionthatthekingstakefromthem.ItislikethebowoftheKingofthePersians,thatispaintedwithvermilion,andistippedwithcoral.Thereisnothingintheworldsoredasthymouth....Letmekissthymouth.
JOKANAAN
Never!daughterofBabylon!DaughterofSodom!Never.
SALOM
Iwillkissthymouth,Jokanaan.Iwillkissthymouth.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
Princess,Princess,thouwhoartlikeagardenofmyrrh,thouwhoartthedoveofalldoves,looknotatthisman,looknotathim!Donotspeaksuchwordstohim.Icannotsufferthem....Princess,Princess,donotspeakthesethings.
SALOM
Iwillkissthymouth,Jokanaan.
THEYOUNGSYRIAN
-
Ah![HekillshimselfandfallsbetweenSalomandJokanaan.]
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
TheyoungSyrianhasslainhimself!Theyoungcaptainhasslainhimself!Hehasslainhimselfwhowasmy
friend! I gave him a little box of perfumes and ear-ringswrought in
silver, and nowhe has killedhimself! Ah, did he not foretell that
some misfortune would happen? I, too, foretold it, and it
hashappened.WellIknewthatthemoonwasseekingadeadthing,butIknewnotthatitwashewhomshesought.Ah!whydidInothidehimfromthemoon?IfIhadhiddenhiminacavernshewouldnothaveseenhim.
FIRSTSOLDIER
Princess,theyoungcaptainhasjustkilledhimself.
SALOM
Letmekissthymouth,Jokanaan.
JOKANAAN
Artthounotafraid,daughterofHerodias?DidInottelltheethatIhadheardinthepalacethebeatingsofthewingsoftheangelofdeath,andhathhenotcome,theangelofdeath?
-
SALOM
Letmekissthymouth.
-
JOKANAAN
Daughterofadultery,thereisbutonewhocansavethee,itisHeofwhomIspake.GoseekHim.HeisinaboatontheseaofGalilee,andHetalkethwithHisdisciples.Kneeldownontheshoreofthesea,andcalluntoHimbyHisname.WhenHecomethtothee(andtoallwhocallonHimHecometh),bowthyselfatHisfeetandaskofHimtheremissionofthysins.
SALOM
Letmekissthymouth.
-
JOKANAAN
Cursedbethou!daughterofanincestuousmother,bethouaccursed!
SALOM
Iwillkissthymouth,Jokanaan.
-
JOKANAAN
Idonowishtolookatthee.Iwillnotlookatthee,thouartaccursed,Salom,thouartaccursed.[Hegoesdownintothecistern.]
SALOM
Iwillkissthymouth,Jokanaan;Iwillkissthymouth.
-
FIRSTSOLDIER
Wemustbearawaythebodytoanotherplace.TheTetrarchdoesnotcaretoseedeadbodies,savethebodiesofthosewhomhehimselfhasslain.
-
THEPAGEOFHERODIAS
Hewasmybrother,andnearertomethanabrother.Igavehimalittleboxfullofperfumes,andaringofagate
thatheworealwaysonhishand.In
theeveningweusedtowalkbytheriver,amongthealmondtrees,andhewouldtellmeofthethingsofhiscountry.Hespakeeververylow.Thesoundofhisvoicewaslikethesoundoftheflute,ofafluteplayer.Alsohemuchlovedtogazeathimselfintheriver.Iusedtoreproachhimforthat.
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Youareright;wemusthidethebody.TheTetrarchmustnotseeit.
-
FIRSTSOLDIER
TheTetrarchwillnotcome to thisplace.Henevercomeson the
terrace.He is toomuchafraidof theprophet.
[EnterHerod,Herodias,andalltheCourt.]
-
HEROD
WhereisSalom?WhereisthePrincess?WhydidshenotreturntothebanquetasIcommandedher?Ah!theresheis!
-
HERODIAS
Youmustnotlookather!Youarealwayslookingather!
-
HEROD
Themoonhasastrangelookto-night.Hasshenotastrangelook?Sheislikeamadwoman,amadwomanwhoisseekingeverywherefor
lovers.She isnaked too.She isquitenaked.Thecloudsareseeking
toclothehernakedness,butshewillnotletthem.Sheshowsherselfnakedinthesky.Shereelsthroughtheclouds
like a drunkenwoman.... I am sure she is looking for lovers.Does
she not reel like a drunkenwoman?Sheislikeamadwoman,isshenot?
-
HERODIAS
No;themoonislikethemoon,thatisall.Letusgowithin....Youhavenothingtodohere.
-
HEROD
Iwillstayhere!Manesseh,laycarpetsthere.Lighttorches,bringforththeivorytables,andthetablesofjasper.Theairhereisdelicious.Iwilldrinkmorewinewithmyguests.WemustshowallhonourstotheambassadorsofCsar.
-
HERODIAS
Itisnotbecauseofthemthatyouremain.
-
HEROD
Yes; the air is delicious. Come,Herodias, our guests await
us.Ah! I have slipped! I have slipped
inblood!Itisanillomen.Itisaveryevilomen.Whereforeistherebloodhere?...andthisbody,whatdoesthisbodyhere?ThinkyouIamliketheKingofEgypt,whogivesnofeasttohisguestsbutthatheshowsthemacorpse?Whoseisit?Iwillnotlookonit.
-
FIRSTSOLDIER
Itisourcaptain,sire.HeistheyoungSyrianwhomyoumadecaptainonlythreedaysago.
-
HEROD
Igavenoorderthatheshouldbeslain.
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Hekilledhimself,sire.
-
HEROD
Forwhatreason?Ihadmadehimcaptain.
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Wedonotknow,sire.Buthekilledhimself.
-
HEROD
Thatseemsstrangetome.IthoughtitwasonlytheRomanphilosopherswhokilledthemselves.Isitnottrue,Tigellinus,thatthephilosophersatRomekillthemselves?
-
TIGELLINUS
Therearesomewhokill themselves,sire.Theyare
theStoics.TheStoicsarecoarsepeople.Theyareridiculouspeople.Imyselfregardthemasbeingperfectlyridiculous.
-
HEROD
Ialso.Itisridiculoustokilloneself.
-
TIGELLINUS
Everybody at Rome laughs at them. The Emperor has written a
satire against them. It is recitedeverywhere.
-
HEROD
Ah!hehaswrittenasatireagainstthem?Csariswonderful.Hecandoeverything....ItisstrangethattheyoungSyrianhaskilledhimself.Iamsorryhehaskilledhimself.Iamverysorry;forhewasfairtolookupon.
He was even very fair. He had very languorous eyes. I remember that
I saw that he
lookedlanguorouslyatSalom.Truly,Ithoughthelookedtoomuchather.
-
HERODIAS
Thereareotherswholookathertoomuch.
-
HEROD
Hisfatherwasaking.Idrovehimfromhiskingdom.Andyoumadeaslaveofhismother,whowasaqueen,Herodias.Sohewashereasmyguest,asitwere,andforthatreasonImadehimmycaptain.Iamsorryheisdead.Ho!whyhaveyouleft
thebodyhere?Iwillnot lookat itawaywith it![They
takeawaythebody.]Itiscoldhere.Thereisawindblowing.Istherenotawindblowing?
-
HERODIAS
No;thereisnowind.
-
HEROD
Itellyouthereisawindthatblows....AndIhearintheairsomethingthatislikethebeatingofwings,likethebeatingofvastwings.Doyounothearit?
-
HERODIAS
Ihearnothing.
-
HEROD
Ihearitnolonger.ButIheardit.Itwastheblowingofthewind,nodoubt.Ithaspassedaway.Butno,Ihearitagain.Doyounothearit?Itisjustlikethebeatingofwings.
-
HERODIAS
Itellyouthereisnothing.Youareill.Letusgowithin.
-
HEROD
Iamnotill.Itisyourdaughterwhoissick.Shehasthemienofasickperson.NeverhaveIseenhersopale.
-
HERODIAS
Ihavetoldyounottolookather.
-
HEROD
Pourmeforthwine[wineisbrought].Salom,comedrinkalittlewinewithme.Ihavehereawinethatisexquisite.Csarhimselfsentitme.Dipintoitthylittleredlips,thatImaydrainthecup.
SALOM
Iamnotthirsty,Tetrarch.
-
HEROD
Youhearhowsheanswersme,thisdaughterofyours?
-
HERODIAS
Shedoesright.Whyareyoualwaysgazingather?
-
HEROD
Bringmeripefruits[fruitsarebrought].Salom,comeandeatfruitwithme.Ilovetoseeinafruitthemarkofthylittleteeth.BitebutalittleofthisfruitandthenIwilleatwhatisleft.
SALOM
Iamnothungry,Tetrarch.
-
HEROD
[ToHerodias.]Youseehowyouhavebroughtupthisdaughterofyours.
-
HERODIAS
MydaughterandIcomeofaroyalrace.Asforthee,thyfatherwasacameldriver!Hewasalsoarobber!
-
HEROD
Thouliest!
-
HERODIAS
Thouknowestwellthatitistrue.
-
HEROD
Salom,comeandsitnexttome.Iwillgivetheethethroneofthymother.
SALOM
Iamnottired,Tetrarch.
-
HERODIAS
Youseewhatshethinksofyou.
-
HEROD
BringmewhatisitthatIdesire?Iforget.Ah!ah!Iremember.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Lo!thetimeiscome!ThatwhichIforetoldhascometopass,saiththeLordGod.Lo!thedayofwhichIspoke.
-
HERODIAS
Bidhimbesilent.Iwillnotlistentohisvoice.Thismanisforevervomitinginsultsagainstme.
-
HEROD
Hehassaidnothingagainstyou.Besides,heisaverygreatprophet.
-
HERODIAS
Idonotbelieveinprophets.Canamantellwhatwillcometopass?Nomanknowsit.Moreover,heisforeverinsultingme.ButIthinkyouareafraidofhim....Iknowwellthatyouareafraidofhim.
-
HEROD
Iamnotafraidofhim.Iamafraidofnoman.
-
HERODIAS
Itellyou,youareafraidofhim.IfyouarenotafraidofhimwhydoyounotdeliverhimtotheJews,whoforthesesixmonthspasthavebeenclamouringforhim?
-
AJEW
Truly,mylord,itwerebettertodeliverhimintoourhands.
-
HEROD
Enoughonthissubject.Ihavealreadygivenyoumyanswer.Iwillnotdeliverhimintoyourhands.Heisaholyman.HeisamanwhohasseenGod.
-
AJEW
Thatcannotbe.ThereisnomanwhohathseenGodsincetheprophetElias.HeisthelastmanwhosawGod.InthesedaysGoddothnotshowHimself.HehidethHimself.Thereforegreatevilshavecomeupontheland.
-
ANOTHERJEW
Verily,nomanknowethifEliastheprophetdidindeedseeGod.PeradventureitwasbuttheshadowofGodthathesaw.
-
ATHIRDJEW
Godisatnotimehidden.HeshowethHimselfatalltimesandineverything.GodisinwhatisevilevenasHeisinwhatisgood.
-
AFOURTHJEW
Thatmustnotbe said. It is averydangerousdoctrine. It is
adoctrine that cometh from the schools atAlexandria,wheremen teach
thephilosophyof theGreeks.And
theGreeksareGentiles:Theyarenotevencircumcised.
-
AFIFTHJEW
NoonecantellhowGodworketh.Hiswaysareverymysterious.Itmaybethatthethingswhichwecallevilaregood,andthatthethingswhichwecallgoodareevil.Thereisnoknowledgeofanything.Wemustneedssubmittoeverything,forGodisverystrong.Hebreakethinpiecesthestrongtogetherwiththeweak,forHeregardethnotanyman.
-
FIRSTJEW
Thouspeakethtruly.Godisterrible;Hebreakeththestrongandtheweakasamanbrayscorninamortar.ButthismanhathneverseenGod.NomanhathseenGodsincetheprophetElias.
-
HERODIAS
Makethembesilent.Theywearyme.
-
HEROD
ButIhavehearditsaidthatJokanaanhimselfisyourprophetElias.
-
THEJEW
Thatcannotbe.ItismorethanthreehundredyearssincethedaysoftheprophetElias.
-
HEROD
TherebesomewhosaythatthismanistheprophetElias.
-
ANAZARENE
IamsurethatheistheprophetElias.
-
THEJEW
Nay,butheisnottheprophetElias.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Sothedayiscome,thedayoftheLord,andIhearuponthemountainsthefeetofHimwhoshallbetheSaviouroftheworld.
-
HEROD
Whatdoesthatmean?TheSaviouroftheworld.
-
TIGELLINUS
ItisatitlethatCsartakes.
-
HEROD
ButCsarisnotcomingintoJuda.OnlyyesterdayIreceivedlettersfromRome.Theycontainednothingconcerning
this matter. And you, Tigellinus, who were at Rome during the
winter, you heard nothingconcerningthismatter,didyou?
-
TIGELLINUS
Sire,Iheardnothingconcerningthematter.Iwasexplainingthetitle.ItisoneofCsar'stitles.
-
HEROD
ButCsarcannotcome.Heistoogouty.Theysaythathisfeetarelikethefeetofanelephant.AlsotherearereasonsofState.HewholeavesRomelosesRome.Hewillnotcome.Howbeit,Csar
is
lord,hewillcomeifhewishes.Nevertheless,Idonotthinkhewillcome.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
ItwasnotconcerningCsarthattheprophetspakethesewords,sire.
-
HEROD
NotofCsar?
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
No,sire.
-
HEROD
Concerningwhomthendidhespeak?
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
ConcerningMessiaswhohascome.
-
AJEW
Messiahhathnotcome.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
Hehathcome,andeverywhereHeworkethmiracles.
HERODIASHo!ho!miracles!Idonotbelieveinmiracles.Ihaveseentoomany.[Tothepage.]Myfan!
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
Thismanworkethtruemiracles.Thus,atamarriagewhichtookplaceinalittletownofGalilee,atownof
some importance,He changedwater intowine.Certain personswhowere
present related it
tome.AlsoHehealedtwolepersthatwereseatedbeforetheGateofCapernaumsimplybytouchingthem.
-
SECONDNAZARENE
Nay,itwasblindmenthathehealedatCapernaum.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
Nay;theywerelepers.ButHehathhealedblindpeoplealso,andHewasseenonamountaintalkingwithangels.
-
ASADDUCEE
Angelsdonotexist.
-
APHARISEE
Angelsexist,butIdonotbelievethatthisManhastalkedwiththem.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
Hewasseenbyagreatmultitudeofpeopletalkingwithangels.
-
ASADDUCEE
Notwithangels.
-
HERODIAS
Howthesemenwearyme!Theyare ridiculous! [Tothepage.]Well!my fan!
[Thepagegivesher
thefan.]Youhaveadreamer'slook;youmustnotdream.Itisonlysickpeoplewhodream.[Shestrikesthepagewithherfan.]
-
SECONDNAZARENE
ThereisalsothemiracleofthedaughterofJairus.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
Yes,thatissure.Nomancangainsayit.
-
HERODIAS
Thesemenaremad.Theyhavelookedtoolongonthemoon.Commandthemtobesilent.
-
HEROD
WhatisthismiracleofthedaughterofJairus?
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
ThedaughterofJairuswasdead.Heraisedherfromthedead.
-
HEROD
Heraisesthedead?
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
Yea,sire,Heraiseththedead.
-
HEROD
IdonotwishHimtodothat.IforbidHimtodothat.Iallownomantoraisethedead.ThisManmustbefoundandtoldthatIforbidHimtoraisethedead.WhereisthisManatpresent?
-
SECONDNAZARENE
Heisineveryplace,mylord,butitishardtofindHim.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
ItissaidthatHeisnowinSamaria.
-
AJEW
ItiseasytoseethatthisisnotMessias,ifHeisinSamaria.ItisnottotheSamaritansthatMessiasshallcome.TheSamaritansareaccursed.TheybringnoofferingstotheTemple.
-
SECONDNAZARENE
He left Samaria a few days since. I think that at the present
moment He is in the neighbourhood ofJerusalem.
-
FIRSTNAZARENE
No;Heisnotthere.IhavejustcomefromJerusalem.FortwomonthstheyhavehadnotidingsofHim.
-
HEROD
Nomatter!ButletthemfindHim,andtellHimfromme,Iwillnotallowhimtoraisethedead!Tochangewaterintowine,tohealthelepersandtheblind....HemaydothesethingsifHewill.Isaynothingagainstthesethings.IntruthIholditagooddeedtohealaleper.ButIallownomantoraisethedead.Itwouldbeterribleifthedeadcameback.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Ah!thewanton!Theharlot!Ah!thedaughterofBabylonwithhergoldeneyesandhergildedeyelids!ThussaiththeLordGod,Lettherecomeupagainstheramultitudeofmen.Letthepeopletakestonesandstoneher....
-
HERODIAS
Commandhimtobesilent.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Letthewarcaptainspierceherwiththeirswords,letthemcrushherbeneaththeirshields.
-
HERODIAS
Nay,butitisinfamous.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
ItisthusthatIwillwipeoutallwickednessfromtheearth,andthatallwomenshalllearnnottoimitateherabominations.
-
HERODIAS
Youhearwhathesaysagainstme?Youallowhimtorevileyourwife?
-
HEROD
Hedidnotspeakyourname.
-
HERODIAS
Whatdoesthatmatter?YouknowwellthatitisIwhomheseekstorevile.AndIamyourwife,amInot?
-
HEROD
Ofatruth,dearandnobleHerodias,youaremywife,andbeforethatyouwerethewifeofmybrother.
-
HERODIAS
Itwasyouwhotoremefromhisarms.
-
HEROD
OfatruthIwasstronger....Butletusnottalkofthatmatter.Idonotdesiretotalkofit.Itisthecauseoftheterriblewordsthattheprophethasspoken.Peradventureonaccountofitamisfortunewillcome.Letusnotspeakofthismatter.NobleHerodias,wearenotmindfulofourguests.Fillthoumycup,mywell-beloved.Fillwithwinethegreatgobletsofsilver,andthegreatgobletsofglass.IwilldrinktoCsar.ThereareRomanshere,wemustdrinktoCsar.
-
ALL
Csar!Csar!
-
HEROD
Doyounotseeyourdaughter,howpalesheis?
-
HERODIAS
Whatisittoyouifshebepaleornot?
-
HEROD
NeverhaveIseenhersopale.
-
HERODIAS
Youmustnotlookather.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Inthatdaythesunshallbecomeblacklikesackclothofhair,andthemoonshallbecomelikeblood,andthestarsoftheheavensshallfallupontheearthlikeripefigsthatfallfromthefig-tree,andthekingsoftheearthshallbeafraid.
-
HERODIAS
Ah!Ah!Ishouldlike
toseethatdayofwhichhespeaks,whenthemoonshallbecomelikeblood,andwhenthestarsshallfallupontheearthlikeripefigs.Thisprophettalkslikeadrunkenman...butIcannotsufferthesoundofhisvoice.Ihatehisvoice.Commandhimtobesilent.
-
HEROD
Iwillnot.Icannotunderstandwhatitisthathesaith,butitmaybeanomen.
-
HERODIAS
Idonotbelieveinomens.Hespeakslikeadrunkenman.
-
HEROD
ItmaybeheisdrunkwiththewineofGod.
-
HERODIAS
Whatwineisthat,thewineofGod?Fromwhatvineyardsisitgathered?Inwhatwine-pressmayonefindit?
-
HEROD
[FromthispointhelooksallthewhileatSalom.]
Tigellinus,whenyouwereatRomeoflate,didtheEmperorspeakwithyouonthesubjectof...?
-
TIGELLINUS
Onwhatsubject,sire?
-
HEROD
Onwhatsubject?Ah!Iaskedyouaquestion,didInot?IhaveforgottenwhatIwouldhaveaskedyou.
-
HERODIAS
Youarelookingagainatmydaughter.Youmustnotlookather.Ihavealreadysaidso.
-
HEROD
Yousaynothingelse.
-
HERODIAS
Isayitagain.
-
HEROD
AndthatrestorationoftheTempleaboutwhichtheyhavetalkedsomuch,willanythingbedone?TheysaytheveiloftheSanctuaryhasdisappeared,dotheynot?
-
HERODIAS
Itwasthyselfdidststealit.Thouspeakestatrandom.Iwillnotstayhere.Letusgowithin.
-
HEROD
Danceforme,Salom.
-
HERODIAS
Iwillnothaveherdance.
SALOM
Ihavenodesiretodance,Tetrarch.
-
HEROD
Salom,daughterofHerodias,danceforme.
-
HERODIAS
Letheralone.
-
HEROD
Icommandtheetodance,Salom.
SALOM
Iwillnotdance,Tetrarch.
-
HERODIAS
[Laughing].
Youseehowsheobeysyou.
-
HEROD
Whatisittomewhethershedanceornot?Itisnaughttome.To-nightIamhappy,Iamexceedinghappy.NeverhaveIbeensohappy.
-
FIRSTSOLDIER
TheTetrarchhasasombrelook.Hashenotasombrelook?
-
SECONDSOLDIER
Yes,hehasasombrelook.
-
HEROD
WhereforeshouldInotbehappy?Csar,whoislordoftheworld,whoislordofallthings,lovesmewell.Hehasjustsentmemostpreciousgifts.AlsohehaspromisedmetosummontoRometheKingofCappadocia,whoismyenemy.ItmaybethatatRomehewillcrucifyhim,forheisabletodoallthingsthathewishes.Verily,Csarislord.ThusyouseeIhavearighttobehappy.Indeed,Iamhappy.Ihaveneverbeensohappy.Thereisnothingintheworldthatcanmarmyhappiness.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Heshallbeseatedonthisthrone.Heshallbeclothedinscarletandpurple.Inhishandheshallbearagoldencupfullofhisblasphemies.AndtheangeloftheLordshallsmitehim.Heshallbeeatenofworms.
-
HERODIAS
Youhearwhathesaysaboutyou.Hesaysthatyouwillbeeatenofworms.
-
HEROD
Itisnotofmethathespeaks.Hespeaksneveragainstme.ItisoftheKingofCappadociathathespeaks;theKingofCappadocia,whoismineenemy.Itishewhoshallbeeatenofworms.ItisnotI.Neverhashespokenwordagainstme,thisprophet,savethatIsinnedintakingtowifethewifeofmybrother.Itmaybeheisright.For,ofatruth,youaresterile.
-
HERODIAS
Iamsterile,I?Yousaythat,youthatareeverlookingatmydaughter,youthatwouldhaveherdanceforyourpleasure?Itisabsurdtosaythat.Ihaveborneachild.Youhavegottennochild,no,notevenfromoneofyourslaves.Itisyouwhoaresterile,notI.
-
HEROD
Peace, woman! I say that you are sterile. You have borneme no
child, and the prophet says that ourmarriage is not a truemarriage.
He says that it is an incestuousmarriage, amarriage that will
bringevils....Ifearheisright;Iamsurethatheisright.Butitisnotthemomenttospeakofsuchthings.Iwouldbehappyatthismoment.Ofatruth,Iamhappy.ThereisnothingIlack.
-
HERODIAS
Iamgladyouareofsofairahumourto-night.Itisnotyourcustom.Butitislate.Letusgowithin.Donotforgetthatwehuntatsunrise.AllhonoursmustbeshowntoCsar'sambassadors,musttheynot?
-
SECONDSOLDIER
WhatasombrelooktheTetrarchwears.
-
FIRSTSOLDIER
Yes,hewearsasombrelook.
-
HEROD
Salom,Salom,danceforme.Ipraytheedanceforme.Iamsadto-night.Yes;Iampassingsadto-night.WhenIcamehitherIslippedinblood,whichisanevilomen;andIheard,IamsureIheardintheairabeatingofwings,abeatingofgiantwings.
Icannot tellwhat theymean ...
Iamsadto-night.Thereforedanceforme.Danceforme,Salom,Ibeseechyou.Ifyoudanceformeyoumayaskofmewhatyouwill,andIwillgiveityou,evenuntothehalfofmykingdom.
SALOM
[Rising.]WillyouindeedgivemewhatsoeverIshallask,Tetrarch?
-
HERODIAS
Donotdance,mydaughter.
-
HEROD
Everything,eventhehalfofmykingdom.
SALOM
Youswearit,Tetrarch?
-
HEROD
Iswearit,Salom.
-
HERODIAS
Donotdance,mydaughter.
SALOM
Bywhatwillyouswear,Tetrarch?
-
HEROD
Bymylife,bymycrown,bymygods.WhatsoeveryoudesireIwillgiveityou,eventothehalfofmykingdom,ifyouwillbutdanceforme.O,Salom,Salom,danceforme!
SALOM
Youhavesworn,Tetrarch.
-
HEROD
Ihavesworn,Salom.
SALOM
AllthisIask,eventhehalfofyourkingdom.
-
HERODIAS
Mydaughter,donotdance.
-
HEROD
Eventothehalfofmykingdom.Thouwiltbepassingfairasaqueen,Salom,ifitpleasetheetoaskforthehalfofmykingdom.Willshenotbefairasaqueen?Ah!itiscoldhere!Thereisanicywind,andIhear...whereforedoIhearintheairthisbeatingofwings?Ah!onemightfancyabird,ahugeblackbirdthathoversovertheterrace.WhycanInotseeit,thisbird?Thebeatofitswingsisterrible.Thebreathofthewindofitswingsis
terrible.It isachillwind.Nay,but it isnotcold, it
ishot.Iamchoking.Pourwateronmyhands.Givemesnowtoeat.Loosenmymantle.Quick!quick!loosenmymantle.Nay,butleaveit.Itismygarlandthathurtsme,mygarlandofroses.Theflowersarelikefire.Theyhaveburnedmyforehead.
[He tears thewreath fromhisheadand throws iton the table.]Ah!
Icanbreathenow.Howredthosepetalsare!Theyarelikestainsofbloodonthecloth.Thatdoesnotmatter.Youmustnotfindsymbolsineverythingyousee.Itmakeslifeimpossible.Itwerebettertosaythatstainsofbloodareaslovelyasrosepetals.Itwerebetterfartosaythat....Butwewillnotspeakofthis.NowIamhappy,Iampassinghappy.HaveInottherighttobehappy?Yourdaughterisgoingtodanceforme.Willyounotdanceforme,Salom?Youhavepromisedtodanceforme.
THETOILETTEOFSALOMII
-
HERODIAS
Iwillnothaveherdance.
SALOM
Iwilldanceforyou,Tetrarch.
-
HEROD
Youhearwhatyourdaughtersays.Sheisgoingtodanceforme.Youdowelltodanceforme,Salom.Andwhenyouhavedancedforme,forgetnottoaskofmewhatsoeveryouwish.WhatsoeveryouwishIwillgiveityou,eventothehalfofmykingdom.Ihaveswornit,haveInot?
SALOM
Youhaveswornit,Tetrarch.
-
HEROD
AndIhaveneverbrokenmyword.Iamnotofthosewhobreaktheiroaths.Iknownothowtolie.Iamtheslaveofmyword,andmywordisthewordofaking.TheKingofCappadociaalwayslies,butheisnotrue
king. He is a coward. Also he owesmemoney that hewill not repay. He
has even
insultedmyambassadors.Hehasspokenwordsthatwerewounding.ButCsarwillcrucifyhimwhenhecomestoRome.
I am sure thatCsarwill crucify him.And if not, yetwill he die,
being eaten ofworms.
Theprophethasprophesiedit.Well!whereforedostthoutarry,Salom?
SALOM
Iamawaitinguntilmyslavesbringperfumestomeandthesevenveils,andtakeoffmysandals.[Slavesbringperfumesandthesevenveils,andtakeoffthesandalsofSalom.]
-
HEROD
Ah, you are going to dancewith naked feet. 'Tiswell!'Tiswell.
Your little feet will be
likewhitedoves.Theywillbelikelittlewhiteflowersthatdanceuponthetrees....No,no,sheisgoingtodanceonblood.Thereisbloodspiltontheground.Shemustnotdanceonblood.Itwereanevilomen.
-
HERODIAS
Whatisittoyouifshedanceonblood?Thouhastwadeddeepenoughtherein....
-
HEROD
What is it tome?Ah! look at themoon! She has become red. She has
become red as blood.Ah!
theprophetprophesiedtruly.Heprophesiedthatthemoonwouldbecomeredasblood.Didhenotprophesyit?Allofyouheardhim.Andnowthemoonhasbecomeredasblood.Doyenotseeit?
-
HERODIAS
Oh,yes,Iseeitwell,andthestarsarefallinglikeripefigs,aretheynot?andthesunisbecomingblacklikesackclothofhair,andthekingsoftheearthareafraid.Thatatleastonecansee.Theprophet,foronceinhislife,wasright,thekingsoftheearthareafraid....Letusgowithin.Youaresick.TheywillsayatRomethatyouaremad.Letusgowithin,Itellyou.
-
THEVOICEOFJOKANAAN
Whois thiswhocomethfromEdom,who is thiswhocomethfromBozra,whose
raiment
isdyedwithpurple,whoshinethinthebeautyofhisgarments,whowalkethmightyinhisgreatness?Whereforeisthyraimentstainedwithscarlet?
-
HERODIAS
Let us gowithin. The voice of thatmanmaddensme. Iwill not havemy
daughter dancewhile he
iscontinuallycryingout.Iwillnothaveherdancewhileyoulookatherinthisfashion.Inaword,Iwillnothaveherdance.
-
HEROD
Donotrise,mywife,myqueen,itwillavailtheenothing.Iwillnotgowithintillshehathdanced.Dance,Salom,danceforme.
-
HERODIAS
Donotdance,mydaughter.
SALOM
Iamready,Tetrarch.
[Salomdancesthedanceofthesevenveils.]
-
HEROD
Ah!wonderful!wonderful!Youseethatshehasdancedforme,yourdaughter.Comenear,Salom,comenear,thatImaygiveyouyourreward.Ah!Ipaythedancerswell.Iwillpaytheeroyally.Iwillgivetheewhatsoeverthysouldesireth.Whatwouldstthouhave?Speak.
SALOM
[Kneeling].
Iwouldthattheypresentlybringmeinasilvercharger....
-
HEROD
[Laughing.]
Inasilvercharger?Surelyyes,inasilvercharger.Sheischarming,isshenot?Whatisityouwouldhaveinasilvercharger,OsweetandfairSalom,youwhoarefairerthanallthedaughtersofJuda?Whatwouldyouhavethembringtheeinasilvercharger?Tellme.Whatsoeveritmaybe,theyshallgiveityou.Mytreasuresbelongtothee.Whatisit,Salom?
SALOM
[Rising].
TheheadofJokanaan.
-
HERODIAS
Ah!thatiswellsaid,mydaughter.
-
HEROD
No,no!
-
HERODIAS
Thatiswellsaid,mydaughter.
-
HEROD
No,no,Salom.Youdonotaskmethat.Donotlistentoyourmother'svoice.Sheisevergivingyouevilcounsel.Donotheedher.
SALOM
Idonotheedmymother.ItisformineownpleasurethatIasktheheadofJokanaaninasilvercharger.Youhathsworn,Herod.Forgetnotthatyouhaveswornanoath.
-
HEROD
Iknowit.Ihaveswornbymygods.Iknowitwell.ButIprayyou,Salom,askofmesomethingelse.Askofmethehalfofmykingdom,andIwillgiveityou.Butasknotofmewhatyouhaveasked.
SALOM
IaskofyoutheheadofJokanaan.
-
HEROD
No,no,Idonotwishit.
SALOM
Youhavesworn,Herod.
-
HERODIAS
Yes,youhavesworn.Everybodyheardyou.Yousworeitbeforeeverybody.
-
HEROD
Besilent!ItisnottoyouIspeak.
-
HERODIAS
Mydaughterhasdonewell to ask theheadof Jokanaan.Hehas
coveredmewith insults.Hehas
saidmonstrousthingsagainstme.Onecanseethatsheloveshermotherwell.Donotyield,mydaughter.Hehassworn,hehassworn.
-
HEROD
Besilent,speaknottome!...Come,Salom,bereasonable.Ihaveneverbeenhardtoyou.Ihaveeverlovedyou....ItmaybethatIhavelovedyoutoomuch.Thereforeasknotthisthingofme.Thisisaterriblething,anawfulthingtoaskofme.Surely,Ithinkthouartjesting.Theheadofamanthatiscutfromhisbodyisilltolookupon,isitnot?Itisnotmeetthattheeyesofavirginshouldlookuponsuchathing.Whatpleasurecouldyouhave
in it?None.No,no, it
isnotwhatyoudesire.Hearkentome.Ihaveanemerald,agreatroundemerald,whichCsar'sminionsentme.Ifyoulookthroughthisemeraldyoucanseethingswhichhappenatagreatdistance.Csarhimselfcarriessuchanemeraldwhenhegoestothecircus.Butmyemeraldislarger.Iknowwellthatitislarger.Itisthelargestemeraldinthewholeworld.Youwouldlikethat,wouldyounot?AskitofmeandIwillgiveityou.
-
SALOM
IdemandtheheadofJokanaan.
-
HEROD
Youarenotlistening.Youarenotlistening.Suffermetospeak,Salom.
SALOM
TheheadofJokanaan.
-
HEROD
No,no,youwouldnothavethat.Yousaythattotroubleme,becauseIhavelookedatyouallthisevening.It
is true, I have looked at you all this evening.Your beauty
troubledme.Your beauty has
grievouslytroubledme,andIhavelookedatyoutoomuch.ButIwilllookatyounomore.Neitheratthings,noratpeopleshouldonelook.Onlyinmirrorsshouldonelook,formirrorsdobutshowusmasks.Oh!oh!bringwine!Ithirst....Salom,Salom,letusbefriends.Comenow!...Ah!whatwouldIsay?Whatwas't?Ah!Iremember!...Salomnay,butcomenearer
tome;I
fearyouwillnothearmeSalom,youknowmywhitepeacocks,mybeautifulwhitepeacocks,
thatwalk in thegardenbetween themyrtles and the
tallcypresstrees.Theirbeaksaregildedwithgold,andthegrainsthattheyeataregildedwithgoldalso,andtheirfeetarestainedwithpurple.Whentheycryouttheraincomes,andthemoonshowsherself
intheheavenswhen they spread their tails. Two by two theywalk
between the cypress trees and the
blackmyrtles,andeachhasaslavetotendit.Sometimestheyflyacrossthetrees,andanontheycrouchinthegrass,androundthelake.Therearenotinalltheworldbirdssowonderful.Thereisnokinginalltheworldwhopossessessuchwonderfulbirds.IamsurethatCsarhimselfhasnobirdssofairasmybirds.Iwillgiveyoufiftyofmypeacocks.Theywillfollowyouwhithersoeveryougo,andinthemidstofthemyouwillbelikethemooninthemidstofagreatwhitecloud....Iwillgivethemalltoyou.Ihavebutahundred,andinthewholeworldthereisnokingwhohaspeacockslikeuntomypeacocks.ButIwillgivethemalltoyou.Onlyyoumustloosemefrommyoath,andmustnotaskofmethatwhichyouhaveaskedofme.
[Heemptiesthecupofwine.]
SALOM
GivemetheheadofJokanaan.
-
HERODIAS
Wellsaid,mydaughter!Asforyou,youareridiculouswithyourpeacocks.
-
HEROD
Besilent!Youcryoutalways;youcryoutlikeabeastofprey.Youmustnot.Yourvoiceweariesme.Besilent,IsaySalom,thinkofwhatyouaredoing.ThismancomesperchancefromGod.Heisaholyman.The
fingerofGodhas touchedhim.Godhasput intohismouth terriblewords. In
thepalaceas in
thedesertGodisalwayswithhim....Atleastitispossible.Onedoesnotknow.ItispossiblethatGodisforhimandwithhim.Furthermore,ifhediedsomemisfortunemighthappentome.Inanycase,hesaidthatthedayhediesamisfortunewillhappentosomeone.Thatcouldonlybetome.Remember,IslippedinbloodwhenIentered.Also,Iheardabeatingofwingsintheair,abeatingofmightywings.Thesearevery
evil omens, and therewere others. I am sure therewere others though
I did not see
them.Well,Salom,youdonotwishamisfortunetohappentome?Youdonotwishthat.Listentome,then.
SALOM
GivemetheheadofJokanaan.
-
HEROD
Ah!youarenotlisteningtome.Becalm.IIamcalm.Iamquitecalm.Listen.Ihavejewelshiddeninthisplacejewelsthatyourmotherevenhasneverseen;jewelsthataremarvellous.Ihaveacollarofpearls,setinfourrows.Theyarelikeuntomoonschainedwithraysofsilver.Theyarelikefiftymoonscaughtinagoldennet.Ontheivoryofherbreastaqueenhaswornit.Thoushaltbeasfairasaqueenwhenthouwearestit.Ihaveamethystsoftwokinds,onethatisblacklikewine,andonethatisredlikewinewhichhasbeencolouredwithwater.Ihavetopazes,yellowasaretheeyesoftigers,andtopazesthatarepinkastheeyesofawood-pigeon,andgreentopazesthatareastheeyesofcats.Ihaveopalsthatburnalways,withan
icelikeflame,opals thatmakesadmen'sminds,andarefearfulof
theshadows.
Ihaveonyxesliketheeyeballsofadeadwoman.Ihavemoonstonesthatchangewhenthemoonchanges,andarewanwhentheyseethesun.Ihavesapphiresbiglikeeggs,andasblueasblueflowers.Theseawanderswithinthemandthemooncomesnevertotroubletheblueoftheirwaves.Ihavechrysolitesandberylsandchrysoprasesandrubies.Ihavesardonyxandhyacinthstones,andstonesofchalcedony,andIwillgivethemalltoyou,all,andotherthingswillIaddtothem.TheKingoftheIndieshasbutevennowsentme
four fans fashioned from the feathersofparrots,and
theKingofNumidiaagarmentofostrichfeathers.Ihaveacrystal,intowhichitisnotlawfulforawomantolook,normayyoungmenbeholdituntil
theyhavebeenbeatenwith rods. In a coffer of nacre I have
threewondrous
turquoises.Hewhowearsthemonhisforeheadcanimaginethingswhicharenot,andhewhocarries
theminhishandcanmakewomensterile.Thesearegreattreasuresaboveallprice.Theyaretreasureswithoutprice.Butthisisnot
all. Inanebonycoffer Ihave twocupsofamber, that are
likeapplesofgold. If anenemypourpoison into these cups, they become
like an apple of silver. In a coffer incrusted with amber I
havesandals incrusted with glass. I have mantles that have been
brought from the land of the Seres, andbracelets decked about with
carbuncles and with jade that come from the city of Euphrates....
Whatdesirestthoumorethanthis,Salom?Tellmethethingthatthoudesirest,andIwillgiveitthee.AllthatthouaskestIwillgivethee,saveonething.Iwillgivetheeallthatismine,saveonelife.Iwillgivetheethemantleofthehighpriest.Iwillgivetheetheveilofthesanctuary.
-
THEJEWS
Oh!oh!
SALOM
GivemetheheadofJokanaan.
-
HEROD
[Sinkingbackinhisseat].Letherbegivenwhatsheasks!Ofatruthsheishermother'schild![ThefirstSoldierapproaches.HerodiasdrawsfromthehandoftheTetrarchtheringofdeathandgivesittotheSoldier,whostraightwaybearsittotheExecutioner.TheExecutionerlooksscared.]Whohastakenmyring?Therewasaringonmyrighthand.Whohasdrunkmywine?Therewaswineinmycup.Itwasfullofwine.Someonehasdrunkit!Oh!surelysomeevilwillbefallsomeone.[TheExecutionergoesdownintothecistern.]Ah!WhereforedidIgivemyoath?Kingsoughtnevertopledgetheirword.Iftheykeepitnot,itisterrible,andiftheykeepit,itisterriblealso.
-
HERODIAS
Mydaughterhasdonewell.
-
HEROD
Iamsurethatsomemisfortunewillhappen.
SALOM
[Sheleansoverthecisternandlistens.]
Thereisnosound.Ihearnothing.Whydoeshenotcryout,thisman?Ah!ifanymansoughttokillme,Iwouldcryout,Iwouldstruggle,Iwouldnotsuffer....Strike,strike,Naaman,strike,Itellyou....No,Ihearnothing.Thereisasilence,aterriblesilence.Ah!somethinghasfallenupontheground.Iheardsomethingfall.Itistheswordoftheheadsman.Heisafraid,thisslave.Hehaslethisswordfall.Hedarenotkillhim.He
is a coward, this slave!Let soldiers be sent. [She sees thePage
ofHerodias andaddresseshim.]Comehither, thouwert
thefriendofhimwhoisdead, is itnotso?Well,I tell thee,
therearenotdeadmenenough.Go to the soldiersandbid
themgodownandbringme the thing I ask, the thing
theTetrarchhaspromisedme,thethingthatismine.[ThePagerecoils.Sheturnstothesoldiers.]Hither,yesoldiers.Getyedownintothiscisternandbringmetheheadofthisman.[TheSoldiersrecoil.]Tetrarch,Tetrarch,commandyoursoldiersthattheybringmetheheadofJokanaan.
[Ahugeblackarm,thearmoftheExecutioner,comesforthfromthecistern,bearingonasilvershieldtheheadofJokanaan.Salomseizesit.Herodhideshisfacewithhiscloak.Herodiassmilesandfansherself.TheNazarenesfallontheirkneesandbegintopray.]
Ah!thouwouldstnotsuffermetokissthymouth,Jokanaan.Well!Iwillkissitnow.Iwillbiteitwithmyteethasonebitesaripefruit.Yes,Iwillkissthymouth,Jokanaan.Isaidit;didInotsayit?Isaidit.Ah!Iwillkissitnow....But,whereforedostthounotlookatme,Jokanaan?Thineeyesthatweresoterrible,sofull
of rage and scorn, are shut now.Wherefore are they shut?Open thine
eyes! Lift up thine
eyelids,Jokanaan!Whereforedostthounotlookatme?Artthouafraidofme,Jokanaan,thatthouwiltnotlookatme?...Andthytongue,
thatwaslikearedsnakedartingpoison, itmovesnomore,
itsaysnothingnow,Jokanaan,thatscarletviperthatspatitsvenomuponme.Itisstrange,isitnot?Howisitthattheredviperstirsnolonger?...Thouwouldsthavenoneofme,Jokanaan.Thoudidstrejectme.Thoudidstspeakevilwords
against me. Thou didst treat me as a harlot, as a wanton, me,
Salom, daughter of
Herodias,PrincessofJuda!Well,Jokanaan,Istilllive,butthou,thouartdead,andthyheadbelongstome.IcandowithitwhatIwill.Icanthrowittothedogsandtothebirdsoftheair.Thatwhichthedogsleave,thebirdsoftheairshalldevour....Ah,Jokanaan,Jokanaan,thouwerttheonlymanthatIhaveloved.Allothermen
are hateful tome.But thou, thouwert beautiful!Thy bodywas a
columnof ivory set on a
silversocket.Itwasagardenfullofdovesandofsilverlilies.Itwasatowerofsilverdeckedwithshieldsofivory.Therewasnothingintheworldsowhiteasthybody.Therewasnothingintheworldsoblackasthyhair.Inthewholeworldtherewasnothingsoredasthymouth.Thyvoicewasacenserthatscatteredstrangeperfumes,andwhenIlookedontheeIheardastrangemusic.Ah!whereforedidstthounotlookatme,Jokanaan?Behindthinehandsandthycursesthoudidsthidethyface.ThoudidstputuponthineeyesthecoveringofhimwhowouldseehisGod.Well,
thouhastseen thyGod,Jokanaan,butme,me,
thoudidstneversee.Ifthouhadstseenmethouwouldsthavelovedme.I,Isawthee,Jokanaan,andIlovedthee.Oh,howIlovedthee!Ilovetheeyet,Jokanaan,Ilovetheeonly....Iamathirstforthybeauty;Iamhungryforthybody;andneitherwinenorfruitscanappeasemydesire.WhatshallIdonow,Jokanaan?Neitherthefloodsnorthegreatwaterscanquenchmypassion.Iwasaprincess,andthoudidstscornme.Iwasavirgin,andthoudidsttakemyvirginityfromme.Iwaschaste,andthoudidstfillmyveinswithfire....Ah!ah!whereforedidstthounotlookatme,Jokanaan?Ifthouhadstlookedatmethouhadstlovedme.WellIknowthatthouwouldsthavelovedme,andthemysteryofloveisgreaterthanthemysteryofdeath.Loveonlyshouldoneconsider.
-
HEROD
Sheismonstrous,thydaughter,sheisaltogethermonstrous.Intruth,whatshehasdoneisagreatcrime.IamsurethatitwasacrimeagainstanunknownGod.
-
HERODIAS
Iapproveofwhatmydaughterhasdone.AndIwillstayherenow.
-
HEROD
[Rising].
Ah!Therespeakstheincestuouswife!Come!Iwillnotstayhere.Come,Itellthee.Surelysometerriblethingwillbefall.Manasseh,Issachar,Ozias,putoutthetorches.Iwillnotlookatthings,Iwillnotsufferthings
to look atme. Put out the torches!Hide themoon!Hide the stars!Let
us hide ourselves in ourpalace,Herodias.Ibegintobeafraid.
[The slaves put out the torches. The stars disappear. A great
black cloud crosses the moon
andconcealsitcompletely.Thestagebecomesverydark.TheTetrarchbeginstoclimbthestaircase.]
THEVOICEOFSALOM
Ah!Ihavekissedthymouth,Jokanaan,Ihavekissedthymouth.Therewasabittertasteonthylips.Wasitthetasteofblood?...Butperchanceit
is thetasteoflove....Theysaythat lovehathabitter
taste....Butwhatofthat?whatofthat?Ihavekissedthymouth,Jokanaan.
[AmoonbeamfallsonSalomcoveringherwithlight.]
-
HEROD
[TurningroundandseeingSalom.]
Killthatwoman!
[ThesoldiersrushforwardandcrushbeneaththeirshieldsSalom,daughterofHerodias,PrincessofJuda.]
CURTAIN.
EndoftheProjectGutenbergEBookofSalom,byOscarWilde
***ENDOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKSALOM***
*****Thisfileshouldbenamed42704-h.htmor42704-h.zip*****Thisandallassociatedfilesofvariousformatswillbefoundin:http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/7/0/42704/
ProducedbyMarcD'Hoogheathttp://www.freeliterature.org(ImagesgenerouslymadeavailablebytheInternetArchive.)
Updatededitionswillreplacethepreviousone--theoldeditionswillberenamed.
CreatingtheworksfrompublicdomainprinteditionsmeansthatnooneownsaUnitedStatescopyrightintheseworks,sotheFoundation(andyou!)cancopyanddistributeitintheUnitedStateswithoutpermissionandwithoutpayingcopyrightroyalties.Specialrules,setforthintheGeneralTermsofUsepartofthislicense,applytocopyinganddistributingProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkstoprotectthePROJECTGUTENBERG-tmconceptandtrademark.ProjectGutenbergisaregisteredtrademark,andmaynotbeusedifyouchargefortheeBooks,unlessyoureceivespecificpermission.IfyoudonotchargeanythingforcopiesofthiseBook,complyingwiththerulesisveryeasy.YoumayusethiseBookfornearlyanypurposesuchascreationofderivativeworks,reports,performancesandresearch.Theymaybemodifiedandprintedandgivenaway--youmaydopracticallyANYTHINGwithpublicdomaineBooks.Redistributionissubjecttothetrademarklicense,especiallycommercialredistribution.
-
***START:FULLLICENSE***
THEFULLPROJECTGUTENBERGLICENSEPLEASEREADTHISBEFOREYOUDISTRIBUTEORUSETHISWORK
ToprotecttheProjectGutenberg-tmmissionofpromotingthefreedistributionofelectronicworks,byusingordistributingthiswork(oranyotherworkassociatedinanywaywiththephrase"ProjectGutenberg"),youagreetocomplywithallthetermsoftheFullProjectGutenberg-tmLicenseavailablewiththisfileoronlineatwww.gutenberg.org/license.
Section1.GeneralTermsofUseandRedistributingProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks
1.A.ByreadingorusinganypartofthisProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicwork,youindicatethatyouhaveread,understand,agreetoandacceptallthetermsofthislicenseandintellectualproperty(trademark/copyright)agreement.Ifyoudonotagreetoabidebyallthetermsofthisagreement,youmustceaseusingandreturnordestroyallcopiesofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksinyourpossession.IfyoupaidafeeforobtainingacopyoforaccesstoaProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkandyoudonotagreetobeboundbythetermsofthisagreement,youmayobtainarefundfromthepersonorentitytowhomyoupaidthefeeassetforthinparagraph1.E.8.
1.B."ProjectGutenberg"isaregisteredtrademark.Itmayonlybeusedonorassociatedinanywaywithanelectronicworkbypeoplewhoagreetobeboundbythetermsofthisagreement.ThereareafewthingsthatyoucandowithmostProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksevenwithoutcomplyingwiththefulltermsofthisagreement.Seeparagraph1.Cbelow.TherearealotofthingsyoucandowithProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksifyoufollowthetermsofthisagreementandhelppreservefreefutureaccesstoProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks.Seeparagraph1.Ebelow.
1.C.TheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation("theFoundation"orPGLAF),ownsacompilationcopyrightinthecollectionofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks.NearlyalltheindividualworksinthecollectionareinthepublicdomainintheUnitedStates.IfanindividualworkisinthepublicdomainintheUnitedStatesandyouarelocatedintheUnitedStates,wedonotclaimarighttopreventyoufromcopying,distributing,performing,displayingorcreatingderivativeworksbasedontheworkaslongasallreferencestoProjectGutenbergareremoved.Ofcourse,wehopethatyouwillsupporttheProjectGutenberg-tmmissionofpromotingfreeaccesstoelectronicworksbyfreelysharingProjectGutenberg-tmworksincompliancewiththetermsofthisagreementforkeepingtheProjectGutenberg-tmnameassociatedwiththework.YoucaneasilycomplywiththetermsofthisagreementbykeepingthisworkinthesameformatwithitsattachedfullProjectGutenberg-tmLicensewhenyoushareitwithoutchargewithothers.
1.D.Thecopyrightlawsoftheplacewhereyouarelocatedalsogovernwhatyoucandowiththiswork.Copyrightlawsinmostcountriesareinaconstantstateofchange.IfyouareoutsidetheUnitedStates,checkthelawsofyourcountryinadditiontothetermsofthisagreementbeforedownloading,copying,displaying,performing,distributingorcreatingderivativeworksbasedonthisworkoranyotherProjectGutenberg-tmwork.TheFoundationmakesnorepresentationsconcerningthecopyrightstatusofanyworkinanycountryoutsidetheUnitedStates.
1.E.UnlessyouhaveremovedallreferencestoProjectGutenberg:
1.E.1.Thefollowingsentence,withactivelinksto,orotherimmediateaccessto,thefullProjectGutenberg-tmLicensemustappearprominentlywheneveranycopyofaProjectGutenberg-tmwork(anyworkonwhichthephrase"ProjectGutenberg"appears,orwithwhichthephrase"ProjectGutenberg"isassociated)isaccessed,displayed,performed,viewed,copiedordistributed:
ThiseBookisfortheuseofanyoneanywhereatnocostandwithalmostnorestrictionswhatsoever.Youmaycopyit,giveitawayor
-
re-useitunderthetermsoftheProjectGutenbergLicenseincludedwiththiseBookoronlineatwww.gutenberg.org
1.E.2.IfanindividualProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkisderivedfromthepublicdomain(doesnotcontainanoticeindicatingthatitispostedwithpermissionofthecopyrightholder),theworkcanbecopiedanddistributedtoanyoneintheUnitedStateswithoutpayinganyfeesorcharges.Ifyouareredistributingorprovidingaccesstoaworkwiththephrase"ProjectGutenberg"associatedwithorappearingonthework,youmustcomplyeitherwiththerequirementsofparagraphs1.E.1through1.E.7orobtainpermissionfortheuseoftheworkandtheProjectGutenberg-tmtrademarkassetforthinparagraphs1.E.8or1.E.9.
1.E.3.IfanindividualProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkispostedwiththepermissionofthecopyrightholder,youruseanddistributionmustcomplywithbothparagraphs1.E.1through1.E.7andanyadditionaltermsimposedbythecopyrightholder.AdditionaltermswillbelinkedtotheProjectGutenberg-tmLicenseforallworkspostedwiththepermissionofthecopyrightholderfoundatthebeginningofthiswork.
1.E.4.DonotunlinkordetachorremovethefullProjectGutenberg-tmLicensetermsfromthiswork,oranyfilescontainingapartofthisworkoranyotherworkassociatedwithProjectGutenberg-tm.
1.E.5.Donotcopy,display,perform,distributeorredistributethiselectronicwork,oranypartofthiselectronicwork,withoutprominentlydisplayingthesentencesetforthinparagraph1.E.1withactivelinksorimmediateaccesstothefulltermsoftheProjectGutenberg-tmLicense.
1.E.6.Youmayconverttoanddistributethisworkinanybinary,compressed,markedup,nonproprietaryorproprietaryform,includinganywordprocessingorhypertextform.However,ifyouprovideaccesstoordistributecopiesofaProjectGutenberg-tmworkinaformatotherthan"PlainVanillaASCII"orotherformatusedintheofficialversionpostedontheofficialProjectGutenberg-tmwebsite(www.gutenberg.org),youmust,atnoadditionalcost,feeorexpensetotheuser,provideacopy,ameansofexportingacopy,orameansofobtainingacopyuponrequest,oftheworkinitsoriginal"PlainVanillaASCII"orotherform.AnyalternateformatmustincludethefullProjectGutenberg-tmLicenseasspecifiedinparagraph1.E.1.
1.E.7.Donotchargeafeeforaccessto,viewing,displaying,performing,copyingordistributinganyProjectGutenberg-tmworksunlessyoucomplywithparagraph1.E.8or1.E.9.
1.E.8.YoumaychargeareasonablefeeforcopiesoforprovidingaccesstoordistributingProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksprovidedthat
-Youpayaroyaltyfeeof20%ofthegrossprofitsyouderivefromtheuseofProjectGutenberg-tmworkscalculatedusingthemethodyoualreadyusetocalculateyourapplicabletaxes.ThefeeisowedtotheowneroftheProjectGutenberg-tmtrademark,buthehasagreedtodonateroyaltiesunderthisparagraphtotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation.Royaltypaymentsmustbepaidwithin60daysfollowingeachdateonwhichyouprepare(orarelegallyrequiredtoprepare)yourperiodictaxreturns.RoyaltypaymentsshouldbeclearlymarkedassuchandsenttotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationattheaddressspecifiedinSection4,"InformationaboutdonationstotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation."
-Youprovideafullrefundofanymoneypaidbyauserwhonotifiesyouinwriting(orbye-mail)within30daysofreceiptthats/hedoesnotagreetothetermsofthefullProjectGutenberg-tmLicense.YoumustrequiresuchausertoreturnordestroyallcopiesoftheworkspossessedinaphysicalmediumanddiscontinuealluseofandallaccesstoothercopiesofProjectGutenberg-tmworks.
-Youprovide,inaccordancewithparagraph1.F.3,afullrefundofanymoneypaidforaworkorareplacementcopy,ifadefectintheelectronicworkisdiscoveredandreportedtoyouwithin90daysofreceiptofthework.
-
-YoucomplywithallothertermsofthisagreementforfreedistributionofProjectGutenberg-tmworks.
1.E.9.IfyouwishtochargeafeeordistributeaProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkorgroupofworksondifferenttermsthanaresetforthinthisagreement,youmustobtainpermissioninwritingfromboththeProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationandMichaelHart,theowneroftheProjectGutenberg-tmtrademark.ContacttheFoundationassetforthinSection3below.
1.F.
1.F.1.ProjectGutenbergvolunteersandemployeesexpendconsiderableefforttoidentify,docopyrightresearchon,transcribeandproofreadpublicdomainworksincreatingtheProjectGutenberg-tmcollection.Despitetheseefforts,ProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks,andthemediumonwhichtheymaybestored,maycontain"Defects,"suchas,butnotlimitedto,incomplete,inaccurateorcorruptdata,transcriptionerrors,acopyrightorotherintellectualpropertyinfringement,adefectiveordamageddiskorothermedium,acomputervirus,orcomputercodesthatdamageorcannotbereadbyyourequipment.
1.F.2.LIMITEDWARRANTY,DISCLAIMEROFDAMAGES-Exceptforthe"RightofReplacementorRefund"describedinparagraph1.F.3,theProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation,theowneroftheProjectGutenberg-tmtrademark,andanyotherpartydistributingaProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkunderthisagreement,disclaimallliabilitytoyoufordamages,costsandexpenses,includinglegalfees.YOUAGREETHATYOUHAVENOREMEDIESFORNEGLIGENCE,STRICTLIABILITY,BREACHOFWARRANTYORBREACHOFCONTRACTEXCEPTTHOSEPROVIDEDINPARAGRAPH1.F.3.YOUAGREETHATTHEFOUNDATION,THETRADEMARKOWNER,ANDANYDISTRIBUTORUNDERTHISAGREEMENTWILLNOTBELIABLETOYOUFORACTUAL,DIRECT,INDIRECT,CONSEQUENTIAL,PUNITIVEORINCIDENTALDAMAGESEVENIFYOUGIVENOTICEOFTHEPOSSIBILITYOFSUCHDAMAGE.
1.F.3.LIMITEDRIGHTOFREPLACEMENTORREFUND-Ifyoudiscoveradefectinthiselectronicworkwithin90daysofreceivingit,youcanreceivearefundofthemoney(ifany)youpaidforitbysendingawrittenexplanationtothepersonyoureceivedtheworkfrom.Ifyoureceivedtheworkonaphysicalmedium,youmustreturnthemediumwithyourwrittenexplanation.Thepersonorentitythatprovidedyouwiththedefectiveworkmayelecttoprovideareplacementcopyinlieuofarefund.Ifyoureceivedtheworkelectronically,thepersonorentityprovidingittoyoumaychoosetogiveyouasecondopportunitytoreceivetheworkelectronicallyinlieuofarefund.Ifthesecondcopyisalsodefective,youmaydemandarefundinwritingwithoutfurtheropportunitiestofixtheproblem.
1.F.4.Exceptforthelimitedrightofreplacementorrefundsetforthinparagraph1.F.3,thisworkisprovidedtoyou'AS-IS',WITHNOOTHERWARRANTIESOFANYKIND,EXPRESSORIMPLIED,INCLUDINGBUTNOTLIMITEDTOWARRANTIESOFMERCHANTABILITYORFITNESSFORANYPURPOSE.
1.F.5.Somestatesdonotallowdisclaimersofcertainimpliedwarrantiesortheexclusionorlimitationofcertaintypesofdamages.Ifanydisclaimerorlimitationsetforthinthisagreementviolatesthelawofthestateapplicabletothisagreement,theagreementshallbeinterpretedtomakethemaximumdisclaimerorlimitationpermittedbytheapplicablestatelaw.Theinvalidityorunenforceabilityofanyprovisionofthisagreementshallnotvoidtheremainingprovisions.
1.F.6.INDEMNITY-YouagreetoindemnifyandholdtheFoundation,thetrademarkowner,anyagentoremployeeoftheFoundation,anyoneprovidingcopiesofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksinaccordancewiththisagreement,andanyvolunteersassociatedwiththeproduction,promotionanddistributionofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks,harmlessfromallliability,costsandexpenses,includinglegalfees,thatarisedirectlyorindirectlyfromanyofthefollowingwhichyoudoorcausetooccur:(a)distributionofthisoranyProjectGutenberg-tmwork,(b)alteration,modification,oradditionsordeletionstoanyProjectGutenberg-tmwork,and(c)anyDefectyoucause.
Section2.InformationabouttheMissionofProjectGutenberg-tm
-
ProjectGutenberg-tmissynonymouswiththefreedistributionofelectronicworksinformatsreadablebythewidestvarietyofcomputersincludingobsolete,old,middle-agedandnewcomputers.Itexistsbecauseoftheeffortsofhundredsofvolunteersanddonationsfrompeopleinallwalksoflife.
VolunteersandfinancialsupporttoprovidevolunteerswiththeassistancetheyneedarecriticaltoreachingProjectGutenberg-tm'sgoalsandensuringthattheProjectGutenberg-tmcollectionwillremainfreelyavailableforgenerationstocome.In2001,theProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationwascreatedtoprovideasecureandpermanentfutureforProjectGutenberg-tmandfuturegenerations.TolearnmoreabouttheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationandhowyoureffortsanddonationscanhelp,seeSections3and4andtheFoundationinformationpageatwww.gutenberg.org
Section3.InformationabouttheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation
TheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationisanonprofit501(c)(3)educationalcorporationorganizedunderthelawsofthestateofMississippiandgrantedtaxexemptstatusbytheInternalRevenueService.TheFoundation'sEINorfederaltaxidentificationnumberis64-6221541.ContributionstotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationaretaxdeductibletothefullextentpermittedbyU.S.federallawsandyourstate'slaws.
TheFoundation'sprincipalofficeislocatedat4557MelanDr.S.Fairbanks,AK,99712.,butitsvolunteersandemployeesarescatteredthroughoutnumerouslocations.Itsbusinessofficeislocatedat809North1500West,SaltLakeCity,UT84116,(801)596-1887.EmailcontactlinksanduptodatecontactinformationcanbefoundattheFoundation'swebsiteandofficialpageatwww.gutenberg.org/contact
Foradditionalcontactinformation:[email protected]
Section4.InformationaboutDonationstotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation
ProjectGutenberg-tmdependsuponandcannotsurvivewithoutwidespreadpublicsupportanddonationstocarryoutitsmissionofincreasingthenumberofpublicdomainandlicensedworksthatcanbefreelydistributedinmachinereadableformaccessiblebythewidestarrayofequipmentincludingoutdatedequipment.Manysmalldonations($1to$5,000)areparticularlyimportanttomaintainingtaxexemptstatuswiththeIRS.
TheFoundationiscommittedtocomplyingwiththelawsregulatingcharitiesandcharitabledonationsinall50statesoftheUnitedStates.Compliancerequirementsarenotuniformandittakesaconsiderableeffort,muchpaperworkandmanyfeestomeetandkeepupwiththeserequirements.Wedonotsolicitdonationsinlocationswherewehavenotreceivedwrittenconfirmationofcompliance.ToSENDDONATIONSordeterminethestatusofcomplianceforanyparticularstatevisitwww.gutenberg.org/donate
Whilewecannotanddonotsolicitcontributionsfromstateswherewehavenotmetthesolicitationrequirements,weknowofnoprohibitionagainstacceptingunsoliciteddonationsfromdonorsinsuchstateswhoapproachuswithofferstodonate.
Internationaldonationsaregratefullyaccepted,butwecannotmakeanystatementsconcerningtaxtreatmentofdonationsreceivedfromoutsidetheUnitedStates.U.S.lawsaloneswampoursmallstaff.
PleasechecktheProjectGutenbergWebpagesforcurrentdonationmethodsandaddresses.Donationsareacceptedinanumberofotherwaysincludingchecks,onlinepaymentsandcreditcarddonations.Todonate,pleasevisit:www.gutenberg.org/donate
Section5.GeneralInformationAboutProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks.
-
ProfessorMichaelS.HartwastheoriginatoroftheProjectGutenberg-tmconceptofalibraryofelectronicworksthatcouldbefreelysharedwithanyone.Forfortyyears,heproducedanddistributedProjectGutenberg-tmeBookswithonlyaloosenetworkofvolunteersupport.
ProjectGutenberg-tmeBooksareoftencreatedfromseveralprintededitions,allofwhichareconfirmedasPublicDomainintheU.S.unlessacopyrightnoticeisincluded.Thus,wedonotnecessarilykeepeBooksincompliancewithanyparticularpaperedition.
MostpeoplestartatourWebsitewhichhasthemainPGsearchfacility:
www.gutenberg.org
ThisWebsiteincludesinformationaboutProjectGutenberg-tm,includinghowtomakedonationstotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation,howtohelpproduceourneweBooks,andhowtosubscribetoouremailnewslettertohearaboutneweBooks.
SALOMA TRAGEDY IN ONE ACT:TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
OSCAR WILDE,WITH SIXTEEN DRAWINGS BY AUBREY BEARDSLEYA NOTE ON
"SALOM."NEW STAGE CLUB."SALOM,"May 10th and 13th 1905.