How pale the Princess is! Never have I seen her so pale. She is like the shadow of a white rose in a mirror of silver. THE PAGE OF HERODIAS You must not look at her. You look too much at her. FIRST SOLDIER Herodias has filled the cup of the Tetrarch. THE CAPPADOCIAN Is that the Queen Herodias, she who wears a black mitre sewn with pearls, and whose hair is powdered with blue dust? FIRST SOLDIER Yes; that is Herodias, the Tetrarch's wife. SECOND SOLDIER The Tetrarch is very fond of wine. He has wine of three sorts. One which is brought from the Island of Samothrace, and is purple like the cloak of Cæsar. THE CAPPADOCIAN I have never seen Cæsar. SECOND SOLDIER Another that comes from a town called Cyprus, and is yellow like gold. THE CAPPADOCIAN I love gold. SECOND SOLDIER And the third is a wine of Sicily. That wine is red like blood. THE NUBIAN The gods of my country are very fond of blood. Twice in the year we sacrifice to them young men and maidens; fifty young men and a hundred maidens. But it seems we never give them quite enough, for they are very harsh to us. THE CAPPADOCIAN In my country there are no gods left. The Romans have driven them out. There are some who say that they have hidden themselves in the mountains, but I do not believe it. Three nights I have been on the mountains seeking them everywhere. I did not find them. And at last I called them by their names, and they did not come. I think they are dead. FIRST SOLDIER The Jews worship a God that you cannot see. THE CAPPADOCIAN I cannot understand that. FIRST SOLDIER In fact, they only believe in things that you cannot see. THE CAPPADOCIAN That seems to me altogether ridiculous. THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN After me shall come another mightier than I. I am not worthy so much as to unloose the latchet of his shoes. When he cometh, the solitary places shall be glad. They shall blossom like the lily. The eyes of the blind shall see the day, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened. The new-born child shall put his hand upon the dragon's lair, he shall lead the lions by their manes. SECOND SOLDIER Make him be silent. He is always saying ridiculous things. FIRST SOLDIER No, no. He is a holy man. He is very gentle, too. Every day, when I give him to eat he thanks me. THE CAPPADOCIAN Who is he? FIRST SOLDIER A prophet. THE CAPPADOCIAN What is his name? FIRST SOLDIER Jokanaan. THE CAPPADOCIAN Whence comes he? FIRST SOLDIER From the desert, where he fed on locusts and wild honey. He was clothed in camel's hair, and round his loins he had a leathern belt. He was very terrible to look upon. A great multitude used to follow him. He even had disciples. THE CAPPADOCIAN What is he talking of? FIRST SOLDIER We can never tell. Sometimes he says terrible things, but it is impossible to understand what he says. THE CAPPADOCIAN May one see him? FIRST SOLDIER No. The Tetrarch has forbidden it. THE YOUNG SYRIAN