John the Baptist: A Play

_John and the Gaoler. Later, Maecha, Salome._

Gaoler. Well, thou art now thy own master. What are thy commands?

John. The Tetrarch spoke of my disciples----

Maecha. [_Appearing in the gateway to left._] He is alone.

Salome. [_Signs to the Gaoler. Exeunt Maecha and Gaoler._]

John. What wilt thou?

Salome. Master, seest thou the sun sinking yonder between the pomegranate boughs?

John. I see it.

Salome. Knowest thou whose doing it is that thou art able to see it ere it goeth down, and ere thou goest down? Mine!

John. May be. What dost thou want?

Salome. Thou shalt not go down. Not thou. For my soul is thirsty. Teach me, master.

John. What shall I teach thee?

Salome. See, I am pious by nature, and I have a longing for salvation.... What thou givest to the humblest by the highway, give also to me. Let me sit at thy feet. I will be pious. Yea, I will. And if I touch thy hairy shirt, then be not frightened. I mean thee no harm.

John. Why shouldst thou mean me harm, young virgin?

Salome. Who can say ... if thou shouldst reject me! No one knows how powerful I am to-day. When I stretch my limbs [_she spreads out her arms_] it seems to me as if I carried the whole world like this ... only to hug it to my heart.

John. Maiden, thou hast a playmate.

Salome. [_Attentively._] Which playmate?

John. Her name is Miriam.

Salome. I _had_ her. Now she is dead.

John. [_Bows his head. His suspicions realized._]

Salome. I had her slain because she went to thee. No one shall go to thee except me. Seest thou now how pious I am? Seest thou? My soul feels thy strength, and feels it with joy; for I have never seen anyone so strong as thou art. I have made thankofferings and secret vows like those the Psalms sing of. Then I have been forth in the gloaming to seek thy countenance and the light of thy eyes. And I have decked my bed with beautiful, many-coloured rugs from Egypt, and I have sprinkled my pillows with myrtle, aloes, and cinnamon. I will give thee my fair young body, thou barbarian among the sons of Israel! Come, let us make love till morning. And my playmates shall keep watch on the threshold, and greet the dawn with their harps.

John. Verily, thou art powerful; thou carriest the world in thy arms ... for thou art sin itself.

Salome. Yes. Sweet as sin.... That am I.

John. Go!

Salome. Thou spurnest me! Spurnest me? [_She rushes through the gate._]