Cæsar! Cæsar! HEROD Do you not see your daughter, how pale she is? HERODIAS What is it to you if she be pale or not? HEROD Never have I seen her so pale. HERODIAS You must not look at her. THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN In that day the sun shall become black like sackcloth of hair, and the moon shall become like blood, and the stars of the heavens shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs that fall from the fig-tree, and the kings of the earth shall be afraid. HERODIAS Ah! Ah! I should like to see that day of which he speaks, when the moon shall become like blood, and when the stars shall fall upon the earth like ripe figs. This prophet talks like a drunken man ... but I cannot suffer the sound of his voice. I hate his voice. Command him to be silent. HEROD I will not. I cannot understand what it is that he saith, but it may be an omen. HERODIAS I do not believe in omens. He speaks like a drunken man. HEROD It may be he is drunk with the wine of God. HERODIAS What wine is that, the wine of God? From what vineyards is it gathered? In what wine-press may one find it? HEROD [_From this point he looks all the while at Salomé._] Tigellinus, when you were at Rome of late, did the Emperor speak with you: on the subject of...? TIGELLINUS On what subject, sire? HEROD On what subject? Ah! I asked you a question, did I not? I have forgotten what I would have asked you. HERODIAS You are looking again at my daughter. You must not look at her. I have already said so. HEROD You say nothing else. HERODIAS I say it again. HEROD And that restoration of the Temple about which they have talked so much, will anything be done? They say the veil of the Sanctuary has disappeared, do they not? HERODIAS It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random. I will not stay here. Let us go within. HEROD Dance for me, Salomé. HERODIAS I will not have her dance. SALOMÉ I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch. HEROD Salomé, daughter of Herodias, dance for me. HERODIAS Let her alone. HEROD I command thee to dance, Salomé. SALOMÉ I will not dance, Tetrarch. HERODIAS [_Laughing_]. You see how she obeys you. HEROD What is it to me whether she dance or not? It is naught to me. To-night I am happy, I am exceeding happy. Never have I been so happy. FIRST SOLDIER The Tetrarch has a sombre look. Has he not a sombre look? SECOND SOLDIER Yes, he has a sombre look. HEROD Wherefore should I not be happy? Cæsar, who is lord of the world, who is lord of all things, loves me well. He has just sent me most precious gifts. Also he has promised me to summon to Rome the King of Cappadocia, who is my enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he wishes. Verily, Cæsar is lord. Thus you see I have a right to be happy. Indeed, I am happy. I have never been so happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness. THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN