Salomé
by Oscar Wilde
FIRST SOLDIER
Herodias has filled the cup of the Tetrarch.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Is that the Queen Herodias, she who wears a black mitre sewed with pearls, and
whose hair is powdered with blue dust?
FIRST SOLDIER
Yes; that is Herodias, the Tetrarch's wife.
SECOND SOLDIER
The Tetrarch is very fond of wine. He has wine of three sorts.
One which is brought from the Island of Samothrace, and is purple like the
cloak of Caesar.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I have never seen Caesar.
SECOND SOLDIER
Another that comes from a town called Cyprus, and is as yellow as gold.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I love gold.
SECOND SOLDIER
And the third is a wine of Sicily. That wine is as red as blood.
THE NUBIAN
The gods of my country are very fond of blood. Twice in the year we
sacrifice to them young men and maidens: fifty young men and a
hundred maidens. But I am afraid that we never give them quite enough, for
they are very harsh to us.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
In my country there are no gods left. The Romans have driven them out.
There are some who say that they have hidden themselves in the mountains,
but I do not believe it. Three nights I have been on the mountains seeking
them everywhere. I did not find them, and at last I called them by their names,
and they did not come. I think they are dead.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Jews worship a God that one cannot see.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I cannot understand that.
FIRST SOLDIER
In fact, they only believe in things that one cannot see.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
That seems to me altogether ridiculous.
THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN
After me shall come another mightier than I. I am not worthy so much as to
unloose the latchet of his shoes. When he cometh the solitary places shall be glad.
They shall blossom like the rose. The eyes of the blind
shall see the day, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened. The sucking child shall
put his hand upon the dragon's lair, he shall lead the lions by their manes.
SECOND SOLDIER
Make him be silent. He is always saying ridiculous things.
FIRST SOLDIER
No, no. He is a holy man. He is very gentle, too. Every day when I give him
to eat he thanks me.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Who is he?
FIRST SOLDIER
A prophet.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
What is his name?
FIRST SOLDIER
Iokanaan.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Whence comes he?
FIRST SOLDIER
From the desert, where he fed on locusts and wild honey. He was clothed in
camel's hair, and round his loins he had a leathern belt. He was very terrible to look
upon. A great multitude used to follow him. He even had disciples.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
What is he talking of?
FIRST SOLDIER
We can never tell. Sometimes he says things that affright one, but it is impossible
to understand what he says.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
May one see him?
FIRST SOLDIER
No. The Tetrarch has forbidden it.