Yes, I understand! And this was why you thought I needed comfort? Oh no! You err. It frights me not That the men-slugs o’ the world, who only suffer The Elect because they owe man’s debt to death, Have with their mouths already struck him dead. What has the slave for solace when the King In gorgeousness and glory sweeps him by Than this--to say, “He gets his turn like me! I grudge it not! And when he mounts his throne Fresh from a field o’erstrewn with graves in thousands I’ll praise him for’t: it chokes his covetous mood!” Ah, but my Herod lives and he will live! So says my heart to me. Death flings a shadow And that falls on me here! (_pointing to her heart_). SCENE 4 THE SAME. JOSEPH. [_Enter a_ SERVANT. SERVANT. The Viceroy comes! ALEX. Weaponed for certain, as he always is When he comes our way, since he had no luck In cozening our wits with glozing phrases After the manner of his first attempt. Do you not know Salome at the time Perished for jealousy? MAR. She does so now: For with an intimate smile I say to him Most shameless things whenever she is near, And since herself she never tires of spying I never tire of soundly whipping her For fatuous folly. [_Enter_ JOSEPH. ALEX. (_pointing to_ JOSEPH’S _weapon_). See you? MAR. Let him then! His wife demands it so that she may dream She has a husband who’s a man of war. ALEX. (_to_ JOSEPH). I am still here! JOSEPH. A very strange reception! ALEX. My son too is still here. As once before He’s hid him in the dead man’s Wooden House. Harry him out and I will pardon you Because you did it once before unbidden. But this time you must hunt your coffin not Upon a vessel sailing Egypt-bound, No, you must seek it in the graveyard’s belly! JOSEPH. I’m not the man to wake the dead to life. ALEX. (_with scorn directed at_ MARIAMNE). Ay true! or you had companied your Lord So that when all his kneeling and his pleading Were fruitless to frustrate the lictor’s axe---- MAR. He kneels and pleads? JOSEPH (_to_ MARIAMNE). I’ll let you know his way! “I am impeached for this crime! I confess it! But not for this! Well, for your information, I’ll fill the gap up soon!” Yes, that’s his way. ALEX. His cock crows for him? JOSEPH.