She is cold and chaste. I am sure she is a virgin.
She has the beauty of a virgin. Yes, she is a virgin. She has never defiled herself.
She has never abandoned herself to men, like the other goddesses.
THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN
Behold! the Lord hath come. The Son of Man is at hand. The centaurs have
hidden themselves in the rivers, and the nymphs have left the rivers, and
are lying beneath the leaves in the forests.
SALOME
Who was that who cried out?
SECOND SOLDIER
The prophet, Princess.
SALOME
Ah, the prophet! He of whom the Tetrarch is afraid?
SECOND SOLDIER
We know nothing of that, Princess. It was the prophet Iokanaan who cried out.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Is it your pleasure that I bid them bring your litter, Princess? The night is fair
in the garden.
SALOME
He says terrible things about my mother, does he not?
SECOND SOLDIER
We never understand what he says, Princess.
SALOME
Yes; he says terrible things about her.
[Enter a Slave.]
THE SLAVE
Princess, the Tetrarch prays you to return to the feast.
SALOME
I will not return.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Pardon me, Princess, but if you return not some misfortune may happen.
SALOME
Is he an old man, this prophet?
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Princess, it were better to return. Suffer me to lead you in.
SALOME
This prophet . . . is he an old man?
FIRST SOLDIER
No, Princess, he is quite young.
SECOND SOLDIER
One cannot be sure. There are those who say that he is Elias.
SALOME
Who is Elias?
SECOND SOLDIER
A prophet of this country in bygone days, Princess.
THE SLAVE
What answer may I give the Tetrarch from the Princess?
THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN
Rejoice not, O land of Palestine, because the rod of him who smote thee is
broken. For from the seed of the serpent shall come a basilisk, and that which
is born of it shall devour the birds.
SALOME
What a strange voice! I would speak with him.
FIRST SOLDIER
I fear it may not be, Princess. The Tetrarch does not suffer any one to
speak with him. He has even forbidden the high priest to speak with him.
SALOME
I desire to speak with him.
FIRST SOLDIER
It is impossible, Princess.
SALOME
I will speak with him.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Would it not be better to return to the banquet?
SALOME
Bring forth this prophet.
[Exit the Slave.]
FIRST SOLDIER
We dare not, Princess.
SALOME
[Approaching the cistern and looking down into it.]
How black it is, down there! It must be terrible to be in so black a hole!
It is like a tomb . . . .
[To the soldiers.]
Did you not hear me? Bring out the prophet. I would look on him.
SECOND SOLDIER
Princess, I beg you, do not require this of us.
