John the Baptist: A Play Part 21

HERODIAS

Look round thee. Doth not the gleaming snow of marble attract thy eyes, nor the yellow glitter of gold?

JOHN

[_Is silent._]

HERODIAS

Or ... hast thou never dreamed of the power and splendour and riches of this world?

JOHN

[_Still silent._]

Or [_pointing to Salome, who again cowers at her feet._] has thy heart not trembled at the sight of this sweet, unveiled youth?

JOHN

[_After further silence._] Thou wouldst sell thyself to me! Dost thou know thy own price? A grain of barley would be too dear ... for thy name is courtezan, and adulteress is written on thy brow.

HERODIAS

[_Infuriated._] Thou--thou----

SALOME

[_Falling into her arms._] Mother!

HERODIAS

[_Controlling herself haughtily and contemptuously._] I should have thee seized on the instant, only thou makest sport for me. And if not quite intoxicated with thy own superiority, listen to me once more. He who thinketh himself designed to be a judge over men should take part in the life of men, should be human among human beings.

JOHN

[_Impressed._] What ... didst thou say?

HERODIAS

But thou seemest to me so isolated from thy fellow-men that the throb of a human heart itself is nothing to thee.... Thou hast avoided, cowardlike, all contact with sin and guilt in thy waste places, and now creepest forth to condemn others as guilty. The scorching winds of thy desert may perhaps have taught thee hate ... but what knowest thou of love? of those who live and die for the sake of their love?

JOHN

Thou too speakest of love ... thou too?

HERODIAS

See! I am laughing at thee, great prophet. [_She laughs._]

SALOME

Mother, look at him ... be silent!

JOHN

Thy poisoned arrows are well aimed, and hit their mark! But ...

[_pointing to the window_] see there, the Lord's people ... they gnash their teeth against thee, for thou hast taken their bitter bread out of their mouths and dissipated their miserable joys.... Thou sayest that I know them not.... Yet I know their heart's desire ... for I have created it; I have put my life at the service of that desire, and I cry to thee, "Woe! thou that hast contaminated it for them.... Thou enervatest the strength of their young men, and exposest the shame of their young women. Thou sowest scoffings where I thought to reap faith.... And if thou bendest the High and Mighty to be the footstool of thy l.u.s.ts, I will fling the poor and humble in thy path, that they may trample thee beneath their feet.... Woe to thee, and woe to him who shareth thy adulterous couch!... Woe, too, to this youthful body that cringes under the scourge of thy blood! Woe! Woe!"

HERODIAS

[_Springing up and going to the door on right._] The guards shall seize him.... Guards!... [_She wrenches the door open._]

SCENE X

_The same. Two guards._

HERODIAS

Lead this man ... . [_She hesitates as she meets John's eyes._]

JOHN

[_Smiling._] Now, look to it, what thou dost with me!

HERODIAS

Lead this man ... out ... into the street.... [_She staggers to the divan._]

SALOME

Thou camest in flames of fire!...

JOHN

[_Walks to the door._]

[_The Curtain falls._]

THIRD ACT

THIRD ACT