I cried--“What’s that you’re doing? Why, you’ve not So much as read the letter!” He replied:-- “My will’s to speak with Herod! That’s the meaning! He is arraigned by me on capital charge!” Then I was bade relate how the High Priest Came by his death, and as I told the tale-- A dizziness had gripped him in his bath-- He cut me short and quick--“Gripped! Ay, that is The fitting word. That dizziness had fists!” Then I perceived--pardon if I declare it,-- Rome’s not persuaded that the youth is drowned; Nay, but there’s accusation in the wind That by your chamberlain’s kind offices You’ve had him strangled in the river-depths. HEROD. Thanks, Alexandra, thanks! JOAB. Then, waving hand, He bade me thence--I went. But, once again, He called to me and spoke--“You’ve not yet paid The question I first put you its due answer; Then hear it twice. This picture, does it favour The Dead?” As I assented with forced nod, “And favours Mariamne then her brother? Say, favours she the youth so piteous--dead? Is she so fair that every woman hates her?” HEROD. And you? JOAB. Hear first what all the others said Who meanwhile rose, and, gathered at my side, Circled the picture. With a laugh they said, Changing with Antony the double glance, “Say yes! If e’er you took the dead man’s largess, Hap or mishap, you’ll see his death avenged.” But I replied I knew no jot of it, For never else but draped in veils had I Beheld the Queen: and that’s the very truth. HEROD (_aside_). Ha, Mariamne! But--I laugh at that, I’ll know the trick to shield me from that danger, This way or that, whatever way it come. (_To_ JOAB.) And what commission did you take for me? JOAB. No smallest. If commission I had taken I’d not have roundabouted thus. As ’tis It seemed imperative. HEROD. Good: you return At once to Alexandria with me. You leave the palace under penalty. JOAB. Your servant! I’ll hold talk with none i’ the palace. HEROD. That’s credible! Who hankers for the cross Now of all times when figs begin to ripe? My Mute must have the axe, and should he question The why, he’s answered--“Just that you can question.” (_Aside._) So now I see through whom the Ancient Serpent So often learned what I--A wicked wench! (_To_ JOAB.) See to’t! When done I must behold the head. I’ll send a present to my mother-in-law. (_Aside._) She needs a little warning-sign, it seems. JOAB. At once! HEROD. This too: the Galilean lad-- Take him beneath your wing--Zerubabel’s son. I’ll have a word with him too ere we go.[3] [_Exit_ JOAB. SCENE 2 HEROD _alone_. HEROD.