My dear friend, what is this man talking about? HEROD Doth it displease thee, Exalted One? VITELLIUS It seemed to me that he called my name. In the case of his desiring a favour, it shall be immediately granted if he promises to keep silent for the future! GABALOS Oh, friends, what a success! VITELLIUS Nevertheless, thy peacock's liver is good, very good, my dear Herod. HEROD Thou rejoicest me, Exalted Highness. Wilt thou not now command thy Libyan flute-players to come and charm thy ear? VITELLIUS My ear is obedient. Let them come. SCENE V [_The same. Salome_ (_thickly veiled_) _led in by Herodias while the harps are tuned. A murmur of astonishment runs round the table._] VITELLIUS Are these thy Libyan---- HEROD [_Who has risen._] This is my wife, Exalted Highness. VITELLIUS [_Also rising._] Mistress, if thou wouldst grace this feast with thy smiles, I bid thee welcome. HERODIAS Pardon, noble Vitellius. The custom of the East, over which thou reignest so gloriously, doth not permit of my sitting beside thee at table. Yet we know how to entertain even when we are not merry. My lord and consort, zealous to please thee, hath commanded me to adorn myself and my little daughter to enter thy presence, therewith she may delight thy eyes with her maidenly art, trembling in maidenly modesty. VITELLIUS Hail to thee, Prince, and to thy noble wife! Rome will not be grudging where thou art so lavish. Hearest thou not? HEROD [_With his eyes fixed on Salome._] Exalted, look! VITELLIUS Truly, he is right; let us look, Romans. Open your eyes wide, for what is coming is the art of all arts. And if thou tremblest, maiden, remember that thou rulest because thou tremblest. MARCELLUS One is obliged to say that, Gabalos, to encourage her. GABALOS Ah, my brave Marcellus, see to it, is it fast on its neck? MARCELLUS Who? What? GABALOS The head! the head! Look at Herodias. That will cost some one his head! Only _whose_ has not yet transpired. MARCELLUS [_Pointing to Salome._] Silence!... See!... SALOME [_Has extricated herself from the arms of Herodias and, accompanied by exclamations of admiration and delight, has begun to dance. Her dance becomes wilder and more abandoned; she gradually loosens her veil, then covers herself with it again in voluptuous playfulness, till at last, quite unveiled, she stands with the upper part of her body apparently unclothed. She sinks on her knees half exhausted, half in homage, before Herod, who stands on the right side of the table._] [_All break into ecstasies of applause._] HEROD [_Rushes forward to raise her._] HERODIAS [_Who has retreated as far as the proscenium on right, and has watched everything intently with a harassed expression playing on her face, now intervenes to prevent him. She and Herod exchange hostile glances._] HEROD [_Hoarsely._] Salome! SALOME Sire! HEROD Stand up and speak. SALOME