She stands Before a man as never woman should; Make then an end. SALOME (_advancing_). Oh do it! For your mother Is sick unto the death. She will be whole If spared to see it. HEROD (_to_ ALEXANDRA). Did you not say aught? ALEX. No. [HEROD _gazes long at_ MARIAMNE. MARIAMNE _remains dumb_. HEROD. Die! (_To_ JOAB.) I lay it in your hands. [_Goes off quickly._ SALOME _follows him_. ALEX. (_looking after_ HEROD). I have An arrow still for you. (_To_ MARIAMNE.) You wished it so! MAR. I thank you. [_Exit_ ALEXANDRA. AARON (_to the other_ JUDGES). Can we not even now attempt To soften him? This fills me o’er with horror. She is the last of Maccabean daughters. If we could only gain the briefest respite! Now ’twere not feasible that we withstood him. Soon will he be his former self again And then it’s possible he’ll punish us Because to-day we made him no resistance. Follow him! [_Exit._ JOAB (_approaching_ MARIAMNE). You forgive? I must obey. MAR. Do what your Lord commands and do it swift. I shall be ready soon as you yourself, And queens, you know, are never wont to wait. [_Exit_ JOAB. SCENE 6 MARIAMNE. TITUS. _Afterwards_, JOAB. MARIAMNE. (_approaching_ TITUS). Yet one more word before I sleep, the while My latest chamberlain prepares my bed. I see you are astounded that this word Directs itself on you and not my mother, But she is far and foreign to my heart. TITUS. Astounded that the woman thus should teach me How hearted I, the man, should meet my death. Yes, Queen, it prickles sense, this thing you’ve done, Nor less, I hide it not, your Being’s self; Yet, this despite, the hero-soul I honour Which lets you take your leave of life as though You left this fair world at your journey’s end No longer worth a fleeting backward glance. And this brave mood half reconciles me to you. MAR. ’Tis no brave mood. TITUS. I’ faith I have been told Your black-look Pharisees give out the notion That death is but the proper birth of life. And who believes them sets the world at nothing In which the sun alone gives light eternal And all beside is puffed into the night. MAR. I ne’er would hear them and believe it not. Nay, nay, I know from what I am to part. TITUS.