Shall I speak? Well then of pearls,[4] You know we only spoke of pearls till now, Of pearls that are so chaste and blanched as foam That even against a bloody hand they lose No clearness in their sparkle! And you heap Them high on me! HEROD. To vexing you? MAR. Not me! ’Tis sure your gift can never veil intent Some debt to cancel, and methinks I have As queen and woman uncontested right To pearls and precious jewels: I can speak About the noble stone like Cleopatra:-- “It is my slave to whom I grant my pardon For standing such ill vicar to the star, Since, for amends, it overblooms the flower.” And yet you have Salome for a sister. HEROD. And she? MAR. Come! If you’d have her murder me On with your work, and make the deep your plunder, Else--give the diver his meet rest. I stand Deep enough in her debt by now. You eye Me doubtful-scrutinous? Pah! When last year I lay nigh-dead, she touched me with her kiss; It was her very first and very last. I thought at once--“This is your dear reward For getting gone from the world!” and, faith, it was. Ah, but I tricked her loving hope, and rallied. And now I have her kiss for naught, and that She can’t forget. I’ve mortal fear she might Store it in mind were I to visit her With wonder-pearls upon my neck that show Your latest token of your deepest love. HEROD (_aside_). There’s nothing lacking but that my left hand Turn traitor to my right! MAR. I would at least Disdainfully reject the greeting-cup. And should she proffer ’stead of spicy wine E’en innocent water in the crystal bowl, I’d let that water lie without a touch. True, that were bare of meaning. No, ’twould be A natural thing enough; for water is No more to me what once I felt it was, Mild element that gives the flowers to drink, Mother of life to all the world and me. It thrills with shudders, brims me o’er with horror Since its jaws oped to gulf my brother down. Ever I think--“there’s life dwells in the drop, But in the billow dwells the bitter death!” To you it must be quite another. HEROD. Why? MAR. Since through a stream you suffer calumny. Its own, its dastard, its malicious deed It dares unload on you! But fear it not, I’ll give’t the lie! HEROD. In very truth? MAR. I can! To love the sister and the brother murder! What reason yokes that pair? HEROD.