scene 2
[HEROD. PHERORAS.]
PHERORAS
All health and safety wait upon my lord,
And may you long in prosperous fortunes live
45 With Rome-commanding Caesar at accord,
And have all honors that the world can give.
HEROD
Oh brother, now thou speak'st not from thy heart,
No, thou hast struck a blow at Herod's love:
That cannot quickly from my memory part,
Though Salome did me to pardon move.
Valiant Phasaelus, now to thee farewell,
Thou wert my kind and honorable brother:
Oh hapless hour, when you self-stricken fell,
Thou father's image, glory of thy mother.
Had I desired a greater suit of thee
Than to withhold thee from a harlot's bed,
Thou would'st have granted it: but now I see
All are not like that in a womb are bred.
Thou would'st not, hadst thou heard of Herod's d**h,
Have made his burial time thy bridal hour:
Thou would'st with clamors, not with joyful breath,
Have showed the news to be not sweet but sour.
PHERORAS
Phasaelus' great worth I know did stain
Pheroras' petty valor: but they lie
(Excepting you yourself ) that dare maintain
That he did honor Herod more than I,
For what I showed, love's power constrained me show,
And pardon loving faults1 for Mariam's sake.
HEROD
Mariam, where is she?
PHERORAS
Nay, I do not know,
But absent use of her fair name I make:
You have forgiven greater faults than this,
For Constabarus, that against your will
Preserved the sons of Babas, lives in bliss
Though you commanded him the youths to k**.
HEROD
Go, take a present order for his d**h,
And let those traitors feel the worst of fears:
Now Salome will whine to beg his breath,
But I'll be deaf to prayers: and blind to tears.
PHERORAS He is, my lord, from Salome divorced,
Though her affection did to leave him grieve:
Yet was she by her love to you enforced
To leave the man that would your foes relieve.
HEROD
Then haste them to their d**h. [Exit PHERORAS.]
I will requite
Thee, gentle Mariam—Salom, I mean.
85 The thought of Mariam doth so steal my spirit,
My mouth from speech of her I cannot wean.