John the Baptist: A Play Part 5

Idiot! We are bound to do it, so that we may appear to honour him. In reality we guard him. He will soon be here now.

THIRD SOLDIER

[_Who has been squatting on a brick, without taking any part in conversation, sings._] Sweet smiling Lalage, thee will I love for ever.

Thee, sweet smiling Lalage----

SECOND SOLDIER

[_Irritably._] Have done howling after thy Lalage! Before thou goest back to Rome again, she will be a grandmother.

THIRD SOLDIER

[_Stretching out his arms._] Alack! Yes.

SECOND SOLDIER

[_Pointing to the maids._] Are not there women enough here?

THIRD SOLDIER

Ah! but they are Jew girls. They mean well enough, but the punishment of death hangs over them.

SECOND SOLDIER

A crazy people.

THIRD SOLDIER

If only there were no foreigners! I, for my part, take not kindly to these Asiatics. They wash all day long, and yet stink in spite of it.... Ha! yesterday a Syrian sweetheart made me a present of a necklace. There it is. Shall we dice for it?

SECOND SOLDIER

Show it to me. I say fifty denarii.

THIRD SOLDIER

Rogue! A hundred and fifty!

SECOND SOLDIER

Very well.

FIRST SOLDIER

I will join.

THIRD SOLDIER

Come along. [_All three disappear into the guard-room._]

SCENE III

_Eliakim, Pasur, Hadidja, and the two other maids. Two Priests_ [_descending the central steps_].

FIRST PRIEST

Damsels, you belong to the Palace?

HADIDJA

Yes, ye priests.

FIRST PRIEST

Announce us to your mistress.

HADIDJA

Our mistress, priests, is gone forth to meet the Tetrarch Herod, to receive him at the gates.

FIRST PRIEST

When will she return?

HADIDJA

That we cannot say, priests; it depends on the coming of the Prince.

FIRST PRIEST

Do you desire our blessing?

HADIDJA

No! [_She vanishes with the other maids into the interior of the Palace._]

BOTH PRIESTS

[_Look discomposed._]

FIRST PRIEST

[_Observing Eliakim and Pasur sitting in front of their doors, raises his hands unctuously._] Blessed be ye who----

ELIAKIM

No one asked thy blessing!