Speak on, master, even if I understand nothing thou sayest. And knowest thou that we are now sinning according to the Jewish "law"? Both of us--yea, it is true. My companions are gone; and is it not forbidden for a Jewish man to be alone with a virgin? JOHN I am not alone with thee. Behind us standeth the shadow of those who have dragged thee with them through the foul refuse of their pleasures. SALOME I have my own pleasures, master. How shall the pleasures of others concern me? I read once a saying that stolen fruits are sweet, and my nurse used to tell me that undiscovered treasure was only found by those who did not seek for it.... Is it not true thou hast not sought me? JOHN Thy converse is confused. SALOME No matter. Chide me not. Think, are not our _dreams_ confused too? When I flew hither with my mother, we came at night to a field of poppies. And the dew shone on their petals.... They looked grey, and were all closed up because it was night.... But now they are wide open, and I think my cheeks must glow red in their reflection. JOHN Thou art lovely among the daughters of Jerusalem. They will weep for thee. SALOME Why will they weep? Am I to be sacrificed? Not I, master. Protect me! I have heard of a king, master, who made a compact with the sun. Hast thou heard of him? [_John bows his head._] SALOME Well, I will make a compact with thee. Shall I be the sun, and thou my king? Or wilt thou be the sun, and I thy queen? JOHN Maiden, I cannot be either sun or king. SALOME Why not? It is only a game. JOHN A King cometh after me, but I wander in the wilderness and seek a path among thorns. SALOME And hast not found it? JOHN Not for myself. SALOME But for others? JOHN [_In torture, half to himself._] Who knoweth? SALOME Master, what harm shall wrath do one, who is a jubilation and a feast day? And if thou camest to me in flames of fire, I would not mourn my youth for the length of two moons.... I would stretch out my arms and cry, "Destroy me, flame; take me up!" JOHN [_After a pause._] Go! SALOME I am going. [_She rushes into the arms of Herodias, who enters._] Mother! SCENE IX _The same. Herodias and her women._ SALOME Forgive me, mother, and let me stay with thee. HERODIAS Thou who lookest at me so imperiously, art thou the man who stirreth up the people against me? JOHN I am he whom thou hast summoned. HERODIAS [_Seating herself._] Come hither to me! JOHN Send thy women away, and this child, so that she be not corrupted ere she is ripe. HERODIAS But this child, companion of my fate, shall hear what thou hast to say to me. JOHN She should be guarded from what I have to say to thee. HERODIAS Take care, prophet! At that door stand armed men, two deep. Consider thy danger, so that thou courtest not death! JOHN I am a servant of life, and danger never standeth in my way. HERODIAS