scene 7
[HEROD and SALOME.]
HEROD
Nay, she shall die. Die, quoth you? That
she shall:
But for the means. The means! Methinks 'tis hard
To find a means to murder her withal,
Therefore I am resolv'd she shall be spar'd.
SALOME
Why, let her be beheaded.
HEROD
That were well,
Think you that swords are miracles like you?
Her skin will ev'ry curtl'ax edge refell,
And then your enterprise you well may rue.
What if the fierce Arabian notice take
Of this your wretched weaponless estate:
They answer, when we bid resistance make,
That Mariam's skin their falchions did rebate.
Beware of this, you make a goodly hand,
If you of weapons do deprive our land.
SALOME
Why, drown her then.
HEROD
Indeed, a sweet device.
Why, would not ev'ry river turn her course
Rather than do her beauty prejudice,
And be reverted to the proper source?
So not a drop of water should be found
In all Judea's quondam fertile ground.
SALOME
Then let the fire devour her.
HEROD
'Twill not be:
Flame is from her derived into my heart:
Thou nursest flame, flame will not murder thee,
My fairest Mariam, fullest of desert.
SALOME
Then let her live for me.
HEROD
Nay, she shall die:
But can you live without her?
SALOME
Doubt you that?
HEROD
I'm sure I cannot; I beseech you try:
I have experience but I know not what.
SALOME
How should I try?
HEROD
Why, let my love be slain,
But if we cannot live without her sight
You'll find the means to make her breathe again,
Or else you will bereave my comfort quite.
SALOME
Oh ay: I warrant you. [Exit.]
HEROD
What, is she gone,
And gone to bid the world be overthrown?
What, is her heart's composure hardest stone?
To what a pa** are cruel women grown! [Re-enter SALOME.]
She is returned already: have you done?
Is't possible you can command so soon
A creature's heart to quench the flaming sun,
Or from the sky to wipe away the moon?
SALOME
If Mariam be the sun and moon, it is:
For I already have commanded this.
HEROD
But have you seen her cheek?
SALOME
A thousand times.
HEROD
But did you mark it too?
SALOME
Ay, very well.
HEROD
What is't?
SALOME
A crimson bush, that ever limes
The soul whose foresight doth not much excel.
HEROD
Send word she shall not die. Her cheek a bush—
Nay, then I see indeed you mark'd it not.
SALOME
'Tis very fair, but yet will never blush,
Though foul dishonors do her forehead blot.
HEROD
Then let her die, 'tis very true indeed,
And for this fault alone shall Mariam bleed.
SALOME
What fault, my lord?
HEROD
What fault is't? You that ask,
If you be ignorant I know of none.
To call her back from d**h shall be your task,
I'm glad that she for innocent is known.
For on the brow of Mariam hangs a fleece,
Whose slenderest twine is strong enough to bind
The hearts of kings; the pride and shame of Greece,
Troy-flaming Helen's not so fairly shined.
SALOME
'Tis true indeed, she lays them out for nets,
To catch the hearts that do not shun a bait:
'Tis time to speak: for Herod sure forgets
That Mariam's very tresses hide deceit.
HEROD
Oh, do they so? Nay, then you do but well,
In sooth I thought it had been hair:
Nets call you them? Lord, how they do excel,
I never saw a net that showed so fair.
But have you heard her speak?
SALOME
You know I have.
HEROD
And were you not amazed?
SALOME
No, not a whit.
HEROD
Then 'twas not her you heard; her life I'll save,
For Mariam hath a world-amazing wit.
SALOME
She speaks a beauteous language, but within
Her heart is false as powder: and her tongue
Doth but allure the auditors to sin,
And is the instrument to do you wrong.
HEROD
It may be so: nay, 'tis so; she's unchaste,
Her mouth will ope to ev'ry stranger's ear:
Then let the executioner make haste,
Lest she enchant him, if her words he hear.
Let him be deaf, lest she do him surprise
That shall to free her spirit be a**igned:
Yet what boots deafness if he have his eyes?
Her murderer must be both deaf and blind.
For if he see, he needs must see the stars
That shine on either side of Mariam's face:
Whose sweet aspect will terminate the wars,
Wherewith he should a soul so precious chase.
Her eyes can speak, and in their speaking move;
Oft did my heart with reverence receive
The world's mandates. Pretty tales of love
They utter, which can human bondage weave.
But shall I let this heaven's model die,
Which for a small self-portraiture she drew?
Her eyes like stars, her forehead like the sky,
She is like Heaven, and must be heavenly true.
SALOME
Your thoughts do rave with doting on the queen.
Her eyes are ebon-hued, and you'll confess:
A sable star hath been but seldom seen.
Then speak of reason more, of Mariam less.
HEROD
Yourself are held a goodly creature here,
Yet so unlike my Mariam in your shape
That when to her you have approachèd near,
Myself hath often ta'en you for an ape.
And yet you prate of beauty: go your ways,
You are to her a sun-burnt blackamoor:
Your paintings cannot equal Mariam's praise,
Her nature is so rich, you are so poor.
Let her be stayed from d**h, for if she die,
We do we know not what to stop her breath:
A world cannot another Mariam buy;
Why say you ling'ring? Countermand her d**h.
SALOME
Then you'll no more remember what hath pa**ed,
Sohemus' love and hers shall be forgot?
'Tis well in truth: that fault may be her last,
And she may mend, though yet she love you not.
HEROD
Oh God: 'tis true. Sohemus—earth and Heav'n,
Why did you both conspire to make me cursed
In coz'ning me with shows and proofs unev'n?
She showed the best, and yet did prove the worst.
Her show was such, as had our singing king,
The holy David, Mariam's beauty seen,
The Hittite had then felt no deadly sting,
Nor Bethsabe had never been a queen.
Or had his son, the wisest man of men,
Whose fond delight did most consist in change,
Beheld her face, he had been stayed again;
No creature having her, can wish to range.
Had Asuerus seen my Mariam's brow,
The humble Jew, she might have walked alone:
Her beauteous virtue should have stayed below,
Whiles Mariam mounted to the Persian throne.
But what avails it all? For in the weight
She is deceitful, light as vanity:
Oh, she was made for nothing but a bait,
To train some hapless man to misery.
I am the hapless man that have been trained
To endless bondage. I will see her yet:
Methinks I should discern her if she feigned;
Can human eyes be dazed by woman's wit?
Once more these eyes of mine with hers shall meet,
Before the headsman do her life bereave:
Shall I forever part from thee, my sweet,
Without the taking of my latest leave?
SALOME
You had as good resolve to save her now,
I'll stay her d**h; 'tis well determinèd:
For sure she never more will break her vow,
Sohemus and Josephus both are dead.
HEROD
She shall not live, nor will I see her face;
A long-healed wound a second time doth bleed:
With Joseph I remember her disgrace,
A shameful end ensues a shameful deed.
Oh, that I had not called to mind anew
The discontent of Mariam's wavering heart:
'Twas you: you foul-mouthed Ate, none but you,
That did the thought hereof to me impart.
Hence from my sight, my black tormentor, hence,
For hadst not thou made Herod unsecure,
I had not doubted Mariam's innocence,
But still had held her in my heart for pure.
SALOME
I'll leave you to your pa**ion: 'tis no time
To purge me now, though of a guiltless crime. [Exit.]
HEROD
Destruction take thee: thou hast made my heart
As heavy as revenge; I am so dull,
Methinks I am not sensible of smart,
Though hideous horrors at my bosom pull.
My head weighs downwards: therefore will I go
To try if I can sleep away my woe. [Exit.]