In deepest pain do we appear before you. HEROD. I do not doubt it. With my house and me You’re closely bonded all as friend and kin; What hurts me must hurt you. You will rejoice, Touching the Queen, if you--(_stops short_) forgive me that! You will rejoice if you should not condemn her, If you may send her, cleared before her spouse, Again unto my house, not Golgotha, Yet will you not, faced with the uttermost, Quake marrowless at its necessity. Since luck and evil luck with me you share You share my shame and honour alike with me. Then to your duty! [_He gives_ JOAB _a sign_. JOAB _goes out and appears again with_ MARIAMNE. _A long pause._ HEROD. Aaron! AARON. Queen, we have A heavy task. You stand before your judges. MAR. Before my judges, yes. Before you too. AARON. Do you repudiate this court? MAR. I see A higher here. If that allow your questions The answering word from me, then I shall speak, And hold my peace if such the same forbid. I scarcely see you clear, for there behind you Stand ghosts that gaze augustly, dumb, and earnest; They are the great Forefathers of my stem. Three nights I saw them ere this hour in dream, Now too they come by day to me, and well I know what it must mean when thus assembled The Dead already ope for me their ranks And when what lives and breathes for me is pale. See there behind yon throne on which a king In seeming sits, stands Judas Maccabaeus-- Hero of Heroes, look thou not so darkly Upon me from on high! Thou shalt be glad of me! ALEX. Curb your defiance, Mariamne! MAR. Mother! Farewell! (_To_ AARON.) Say wherefore I am here accused. AARON. The accusation’s this--your King and Lord You have deceived. (_To_ HEROD.) ’Tis so? MAR. Deceived? Ah, folly! Did he not find me in the way he thought That he would find me, at the dance and play? And did I don, when I had heard the death-news, My mourning-raiment? Did I shed my tears? And did I tear dishevelled locks? Then had I Deceived him; but these things I have not done, And can bring solid proof. Salome, speak! HEROD. I found her as she says. She does not need To look about for other witnesses. But I had never, never had such thought. MAR. Ne’er had such thought? Yet feigned and had the headsman Set close upon my back? That cannot be. As I at parting stood before his spirit E’en so at our reunion he has found me. Therefore I must deny that I deceived. HEROD (_breaking into wild laughter_).