Mistress, the house is now filled with strangers who were not here yesterday. And, it is said that the men who are in the Tetrarch's following run after young maidens. SALOME Let them! I am not afraid of any men.... I take them as I find them.... I love them. ABI Thou knowest men, mistress? SALOME I mean not the men of our own people! They wear beards on their chins like forests, and before one can look round, they stand there barefooted, and then people say---- No; I mislike that. But once, when I was with my father in Antioch, I met pale youths with golden brown hair, and they wore red shoes and smelt of perfumes.... They were Greeks, my father said, real Greeks from Hellas.... They smiled, and it made me thrill.... Why dost thou stand there sulking, Miriam, and listenest not to my converse? It doth not please thee? Laugh, or I'll beat thee. If thou laughest not, I'll have thee whipped! MIRIAM Let me be whipped, mistress. SALOME Where wert thou last night? The palace guards said thou wouldst visit thy sweetheart.... Thou hast a lover? [_Roguishly._] Whisper his name in my ear and I'll give thee a gold pin. MIRIAM I have no one that loveth me, mistress. SALOME The language of you Judeans hath an insipid flavour, and your eyes dissemble. Yet, I love Jerusalem. A purple haze hangs over its gables. And it seemeth to me ever as if the sun in Jerusalem kissed one secretly. But ye could not understand how that is ... ye have not the blood of the great Herod in your veins. My mother hath it, and I have it from her.... And whatever they may say in Jerusalem, my mother was wise to run away from that other husband, for the one here is of more account than he. And because she was so wise, and at the same time so sadly foolish, I love her, and will share the consequences of her folly. [_She flings herself on the couch._] I am not displeasing to my uncle Herod.... I have remarked that he casts stolen glances at me.... Now when my mother scolds me I shall know how to tease her! [_Trills forth._] I am the Rose of Sharon, a flower of the valley. Cometh not my friend into his garden to eat of---- Miriam, where does that window look out? MIRIAM I do not know, mistress. I have never been in this hall before. SALOME Go and see. MIRIAM [_Looks out of the window and starts._] SALOME Why dost thou start? MIRIAM Did I, mistress? SALOME Tell me what thou seest? MIRIAM There are many people standing round a fountain, and---- SALOME And? MIRIAM I cannot---- SALOME [_Stands up and goes to window._] Ah! [_Looking out for a moment in silence._] Miriam, who is that? MIRIAM [_Confused._] Whom dost thou mean, mistress? SALOME Is there anyone else but him?... Miriam, thou gentle, brown Miriam [_half threateningly_], deny him not! MIRIAM It is--John--the Baptist. ABI, MAECHA [_Hurrying up, all curiosity._] The Baptist? SALOME