University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

SALOME, MAZAEL.
MAZAEL.
Yes, the supreme authority with which
Herod invested thee, is now at least,
Confirm'd till his return. I flew t'ward Azor,
And suddenly repass'd Samaria's plains
To Jordan's source. In lucky hour I came
The factious Hebrews to confound, and dash
Their towering hopes; thy brother long detain'd
In Rome, throughout th'extent of his domains
Was almost lost to memory: and the people
Forever full of treachery to their kings,
Bold in their words, blind in their wild caprice,
Publish'd aloud that Herod was condemn'd
By Rome, and wore the shackles of a slave.
That in the rank of her great ancestors
The queen was fix'd, by whom again restor'd
The blood of our high-priests should o'er us reign.
I own it with regret, where e'er I moved
I saw that Mariamne was the object
Of holy reverence, and her name the theme
Of dearest estimation. Israel still
Loves with idolatry th'heroic race
From whence she sprang. Her charms, her birth, and more
Her sad misfortunes, have seduced the hearts
Of Judah's sons who look on us with hatred.
And while invoking heaven, to her they gave
The sovereign title, their enthusiast zeal
Seem'd to denounce thy certain fall. I saw
How all the people by these false reports
Were moved, and ripe for tumult; but I spake
And fear succeeded; to their eyes I painted
Herod returning cloath'd with double power,
Entering his realms with vengeance close behind
Attendant on his steps; his name alone
Hath scatter'd terror thro' the land; and now
The Jews in silence mourn their errors past.

SALOME.
Mazael, undoubtedly we soon shall view
The king's approach; the people and myself
Shall own a master; this imperial sway
Which I can scarce be said to have enjoy'd,
Is but a shade whose evanescent form
In passing, disappears. I love my brother;
Yet his good fortune sinks me to the earth,
And Mariamne's triumph is my bane.

MAZAEL.
Fear not thy brother.

SALOME.
Ah! what depth of woe
Shall be our lot, when the queen sees again
Her husband at her feet? This haughty rival
Of my authority, with voice seductive
Tainting the regal ear, hath ever been
Pernicious to our hopes. Her daring soul,
Proud and unyielding, cherishes t'ward us
Eternal hate; on us will fall her vengeance.
Mazael, I have offended her too much
To be forgiven. Self-interest will inspire
The means of our abasement. Hah! what say'st thou!
Dost thou no longer those all-powerful charms
Contemplate with dismay, which tyrannize
Imperious o'er the heart of wretched Herod?
E'er since the fatal nuptials which in one
Their destinies combined, a space almost
Of five revolving years, that wondrous love
Which, as with fascination, struck his soul,
By hate is fed, and strengthened by disdain.
Oft hast thou seen this monarch, whom no tears
Or prayers could bend, cast majesty's dread state
Aside for her, and lowly at her feet
Strive in her eyes, averted now with scorn,
And now indignant glances darting on him,
With fondest assiduity, to read
Those tender looks, which he could never find.
Oft hast thou seen him storm, and sigh, and mourn,
Flatter, incense, menace, and shrink before her.
Fierce in his love, submissive in his rage,
A slave at home; abroad a glorious hero.
Nay more; when giving loose to just revenge
On an ungrateful race, with the sire's blood
His hand yet reeking, he adored the daughter.
And the uplifted sword, still dyed with gore,
Pointed at her, and urged by thee to strike,
Fell harmless at her feet.

MAZAEL.
But think in Rome
Far from her sight removed, the chain stretch'd out
To such a distance, may be broke in twain.

SALOME.
Believe me, his return will close the links;
And danger ever hide itself beneath
Her charms insidious.

MAZAEL.
True, but her proud soul
It's own tormentor, hath unceasing strove
To gain the fix'd aversion of her husband.
By new disdain she will excite his rage,
And place herself the shaft within thy hand
Which now eludes it's grasp. No harmony
Can e'er exist 'twixt those, whom heaven hath form'd
In mutual opposition. Herod always
Gloomy, morose, and jealous, will require
Even against his love, his sister's aid.

SALOME.
When Mariamne strait her sway resumes,
And I am lost.

MAZAEL.
Thee Ascalon expects,
To ornament it's throne, while a retreat
Glorious to thee, a new and splendid court,
And hymeneals which by love's own hand
Have been prepared, will shelter thee at once
From all those storms which Solyma e'erlong
May view, perhaps, burst forth with hideous ruin
Upon our heads. In Ascalon Sohemus
With firm and undisputed title reigns;
Acknowledged and protected by the Romans;
Free, and uncircumscribed by Herod's power,
Dear to his people. In his breast are join'd
The sage's wisdom, and the prince's greatness.
Nought but success thy future days attends,
Herod's supreme directress, or a queen.

SALOME.
Ah! let thy faithful ear my sufferings learn,
And that disgrace which stains my cheeks with shame.
For ever Mariamne was decreed
My life t'invenom. She of rank, of power,
Of dignity deprives me, and for her
Sohemus now betrays me.

MAZAEL.
Hah? what, he!
Who hath so long for these espousals waited
The king's return! whose rigid sentiments,
And philosophic lore austere, appeared
To scorn the amorous passion and it's follies,
Vain phantoms of the sons of vanity
Our empty courtiers! would he thus affront
A monarch, his ally!

SALOME.
What wouldst thou say,
Should I inform thee, that the queen and he
In secret understand each other well?

MAZAEL.
I know they are united by the ties
Of blood and friendship; but I ne'er beheld—

SALOME.
No; thou hast not my eyes; with utmost clearness
My new misfortune stands reveal'd before them.
The nuptials are a treacherous pretext only,
Their pomp delay'd, th'indifference of Sohemus,
His language frozen and reserv'd, explain
My ignominious lot, and through my soul
Dart strongest confirmation.

MAZAEL.
Dost thou then
Suspect, that one of manners so severe,
Whose streaming eyes incessantly lament
Her father and her brother doom'd to death,
Whose high-toned spirit (which augments her woes)
Feeds on resentment, and by torture lives,
Would indiscreetly seek the fatal triumph,
A suitor to withdraw, who wears thy chains?
Say can her pride-swol'n bosom stoop to love?

SALOME.
She can at least inspire it; there's the sting.

MAZAEL.
Beware of self-delusion. To a soul
So arrogant th'excess of scorn hath given
What bears the semblance and the shape of virtue;
And in her haughtiness she hath resolved
To pass her life unsullied.

SALOME.
On a rock
That vaunted haughtiness perchance may split.
But what heed I, whether her soaring mind
My perjured lover's faithless bosom charms?
Or whether proving her disdainful power,
Unwillingly she gives me poignant anguish?
Whether she cherishes or not the treasure
From me purloin'd, it is no longer mine;
That thought suffices; thence her pride gains wings;
My shame exalts her glory; she enjoys
With an insulting smile the pangs I feel,
And all the tears I shed. And shall I long
This base constraint endure, and pine in secret?
No; full conviction shall instruct me soon
How far they claim revenge.—Sohemus comes;
Leave me. My fate will now unfold itself.