University of Virginia Library

Scœna 7.

Herod and Salome.
Herod.
Nay, she shall die. Die quoth you, that she shalls
But for the meanes. The meanes I Me thinks tis hard
To finde a meanes-to murther her withall,
Therefore I am resolu'd the shall be spar'd.

Salom.
Why? let her be beheaded.

Her.
That were well,
Thinke you that swords are miracles like you:
Her skinne will eu'ry Gurtlax edge refell,
And then your enterprise you well may rue.
What if the fierce Arabian notice take,
Of this your wretched weaponlesse estate:
They answere when we bid resistance make,
That Mariams skinne their fanchions did rebate.
Beware of this, you make a goodly hand,
If you of weapons doe depriue our Land.

Sal.
Why drowne her then.

Herod.
Indeed a sweet deuice,
Why? woul'd not eu'ry Riuer turne her course
Rather then doe her beautie preiudice?
And be reuerted to the proper sourse.
So not a drop of water should be found
In all Iudeas quondam firtill ground.

Sal.
Then let the fire deuoure her.

Her.
T'will not bee:
Flame is from her deriu'd into my heart:
Thou nursest flame, flame will not murther thee,
My fairest Mariam, fullest of desert.

Salom.
Then let her liue for me.

Herod.
Nay, she shall die:
But can you liue without her?

Sal.
doubt you that?

Herod.
I'me sure, I cannot, I beseech you trie:
I haue experience but I know not what.

Salom.
How should I try?

Her.
Why let my loue be slaine,
But if we cannot liue without her sight
Youle finde the meanes to make her breathe againe,
Or else you will bereaue my comfort quite.

Sal.
Oh I: I warrant you.

Herod.
What is she gone?
And gone to bid the world be ouerthrowne:
What? is her hearts composure hardest stone?
To what a passe are cruell women growne?
She is return'd already: haue you done?
Ist possible you can command so soone?
A creatures heart to quench the flaming Sunne,
Or from the skie to wipe away the Moone.

Salo.
If Mariam be the Sunne and Moone, it is:
For I already haue commanded this.

Her.
But haue you seene her cheek?

Sal.
A thousand times.

Herod.
But did you marke it too?

Sal.
I very well.

Herod.
What ist?

Sal.
A Crimson bush, that euer limes
The soule whose foresight doth not much excell.

Herod.
Send word she shall not dye. Her cheek a bush,
Nay, then I see indeed you markt it not.

Sal.
Tis very faire, but yet will neuer blush,
Though soule dishonors do her forehead blot.

Herod.
Then let her die, tis very true indeed,
And for this fault alone shall Mariam bleed.

Sal.
What fault my Lord?

Herod.
What fault ist? you that aske:
If you be ignorant I know of none,
To call her backe from death shall be your taske,
I'm glad that she for innocent is knowne.
For on the brow of Mariam hangs a Fleece,
Whose slenderest twine is strong enough to binde
The hearts of Kings, the pride and shame of Greece,
Troy flaming Helens not so fairely shinde.

Salom.
Tis true indeed, she layes them out for nets,
To catch the hearts that doe not shune a baite:
Tis time to speake: for Herod sure forgets
That Mariams very tresses hide deceit.

Her.
Oh doe they so? nay, then you doe but well,
Insooth I thought it had beene haire:
Nets call you them? Lord, how they doe excell,
I neuer saw a net that show'd so faire.
But haue you heard her speake?

Sal.
You know I haue.

Her:
And were you not amaz'd?

Sal.
No, not a whit.

Her.
Then t'was not her you heard, her life Ile saue,
For Mariam hath a world amazing wit.

Salo.
She speaks a beautious language, but within
Her heart is false as powder: and her tongue
Doth but allure the auditors to sinne,
And is the instrument to doe you wrong.

Herod.
It may be so: nay, tis so: shee's vnchaste,
Her mouth will ope to eu'ry strangers eare:
Then let the executioner make haste,
Lest the inchant him, if her words he heare.
Let him be deafe, lest she do him surprise
That shall to free her spirit be assignde:
Yet what boots deafenes if he haue his eyes,
Her murtherer must be both deafe and blinde.
For if he see, he needs must see the starres
That shine on eyther side of Mariams face:
Whose sweet aspect will terminate the warres,
Where with he should a soule so precious chase.
Her eyes can speake, and in their speaking moue,
Oft did my heart with reuerence receiue
The worlds mandates. Pretty tales of loue
They vtter, which can humane bondage weaue.
But shall I let this heauens modell dye?
Which for a small selfe-portraiture she drew:
Her eyes like starres, her forehead like the skie,
She is like Heauen, and must be heauenly true.

Salom.
Your thoughts do raue with doating on the Queen,
Her eyes are chon hewde, and you'll confesse:
A sable starre hath beene but seldome seene,
Then speake of reason more, of Mariam lesse.

Herod.
Your selfe are held a goodly creature heere,
Yet so vnlike my Mariams in your shape:
That when to her you haue approached neere,
My selfe hath often and you for an Ape.
And yet you prate of beautie: goe your waies,
You are to her a Sun burnt Blackamore:
Your paintings cannot equall Mariams praise,
Her nature is so rich, you are so poore.
Let her be staide from death, for if she die,
We do we know not what to stop her breath:
A world cannot another Mariam buy,
Why stay you lingring? countermaund her death.

Salo.
Then youle no more remember what hath past,
Sohemus loue, and hers shall be forgot:
Tis well in truth: that fault may be her last,
And she may mend, though yet she loue you not.

Her:
Oh God: tis true.

Sohemus:
earth and heau'n,
Why did you both conspire to make me curst:
In cousning me with showes, and proofes vneu'n?
She show'd the best, and yet did proue the worst.
Her show was such, as had our singing king
The holy Dauid, Mariams beautie seene:
The Hittits had then felt no deadly sting,
Nor Bethsabe had neuer bene a Queene.
Or had his sonne the wisest man of men,
Whose fond delight did most consist in change.
Beheld her face, he had bene staid agen,
No creature hauing her, own wish to range.
Had Asuerus seene my Mariams brow,
The humble Iewe, she might haue walkt alone:
Her beautious vertue should haue staid below,
Whiles Mariam mounted to the Persian throne.
But what auailes it all: for in the waight
She is deceitfull, light as vanitie:
Oh she was made for nothing but a bait,
To traine some haples man to miserie.
I am the haples man that haue bene trainde,
To endles bondage, I will see her yet:
Me thinkes I should discerne her if she fainde,
Can humane eyes be dazde by womans wit?
Once more these eyes of mine with hers shall meet,
Before the headsman doe her life bereaue:
Shall I for euer part from thee my sweet?
Without the taking of my latest leaue.

Salo:
You had as good resolue to saue her now,
Ile stay her death, tis well determined:
For sure she neuer more will breake her vow,
Sohemus and Iosephus both are dead.

Herod.
She shall not liue, nor will I see her face,
A long heald wound, a second time doth bleed:
With Ioseph I remember her disgrace,
A shamefull end ensues a shamefull deed.
Oh that I had not cald to minde anew,
The discontent of Mariams wauering hurt:
Twas you: you foule mouth'd Ate, none but you,
That did the thought hereof to me impart.
Hence from my sight, my blacke tormenter hence,
For hadst not thou made Herod vnsecure:
I had not doubted Mariams innocence,
But still had held her in my heart for pure.

Salo:
Ile leaue you to your passion: tis no time
To purge me now, though of a guiltles crime.

(Exit.
Herod.
Destruction take thee: thou hast made my hart
As heauie as reuenge, I am so dull,
Me thinkes I am not sensible of smart,
Though hiddious horrors at my bosome pull.
My head waies downwards: therefore will I goe
To try if I can sleepe away my woe.