John the Baptist: A Play

_Servants moving about arranging pictures and flowers, Gabalos superintending them; afterwards, Herod._

A SERVANT

[_Announces from door on left._] Our governor!

Herod. [_Following him._] Now, Gabalos, thou who hast washed in many waters, what has thy art provided? Thou knowest our guests are spoiled children.

Gabalos. Sire, thou needest have no anxiety about food and drink. Something customary is best for jaded palates. Therefore I chartered the cook of Vitellius. But for the other part of the entertainment the prospect is bad.

Herod. [_Smiling._] Is that thy opinion?

Gabalos. Noble Merokles will declaim a new ode, I warrant. Our Libyan flute-players will have washed their brown legs in honour of the occasion. Sire, mistrust those legs even when washed. As I tell thee every day, we are sick of Judean morality. Judean morality is devouring us like the plague.

Herod. Say, Gabalos, dost thou think that our Legate from Syria, before whom all the gaiety and colour of life doth shimmer, hath ever seen a young daughter of Princes dance at table?

Gabalos. That would be grand, because it is something new.