Daughter of adultery, there is but one who can save thee, it is He of whom I spake. Go seek Him. He is in a boat on the sea of Galilee, and He talketh with His disciples. Kneel down on the shore of the sea, and call unto Him by His name. When He cometh to thee (and to all who call on Him He cometh), bow thyself at His feet and ask of Him the remission of thy sins. SALOMÉ Let me kiss thy mouth. JOKANAAN Cursed be thou! daughter of an incestuous mother, be thou accursed! SALOMÉ I will kiss thy mouth, Jokanaan. JOKANAAN I do no wish to look at thee. I will not look at thee, thou art accursed, Salomé, thou art accursed. [_He goes down into the cistern._] SALOMÉ I will kiss thy mouth, Jokanaan; I will kiss thy mouth. FIRST SOLDIER We must bear away the body to another place. The Tetrarch does not care to see dead bodies, save the bodies of those whom he himself has slain. THE PAGE OF HERODIAS He was my brother, and nearer to me than a brother. I gave him a little box full of perfumes, and a ring of agate that he wore always on his hand. In the evening we used to walk by the river, among the almond trees, and he would tell me of the things of his country. He spake ever very low. The sound of his voice was like the sound of the flute, of a flute player. Also he much loved to gaze at himself in the river. I used to reproach him for that. SECOND SOLDIER You are right; we must hide the body. The Tetrarch must not see it. FIRST SOLDIER The Tetrarch will not come to this place. He never comes on the terrace. He is too much afraid of the prophet. [_Enter Herod, Herodias, and all the Court._] HEROD Where is Salomé? Where is the Princess? Why did she not return to the banquet as I commanded her? Ah! there she is! HERODIAS You must not look at her! You are always looking at her! HEROD The moon has a strange look to-night. Has she not a strange look? She is like a mad woman, a mad woman who is seeking everywhere for lovers. She is naked too. She is quite naked. The clouds are seeking to clothe her nakedness, but she will not let them. She shows herself naked in the sky. She reels through the clouds like a drunken woman.... I am sure she is looking for lovers. Does she not reel like a drunken woman? She is like a mad woman, is she not? HERODIAS No; the moon is like the moon, that is all. Let us go within.... You have nothing to do here. HEROD I will stay here! Manesseh, lay carpets there. Light torches, bring forth the ivory tables, and the tables of jasper. The air here is delicious. I will drink more wine with my guests. We must show all honours to the ambassadors of Cæsar. HERODIAS It is not because of them that you remain. HEROD