University of Virginia Library

Scene II

Masada. Mariamne's old apartment
Salome and Cypros
Salome.

Mother, I am angered against Herod.

Cypros.

It is my son's will, child. He besought
me with the same eyes he lifted
for a favour when he was small; he was
weeping.

Salome.

He has banished us to his Masada;
we are his captives now.

Cypros
(laying a soothing hand on Salome).

My son has commanded. Let us lie by, like
the garments he is not using.

[In a low chant to herself.
Void we are as the palace that he frequents not,
Void . . . but how sudden an outbreak of gems and colour!
Say, can there be a woman so girt with gladness?
Cypros, safe from his foes thou shalt clasp thy son!

Salome.

Mother, mother, but you are free in
your thoughts!

[A eunuch comes and addresses Salome.
(To Cypros.)

From Egypt; the message is
not from Rome.

Cypros.

Egypt is no land . . . he does not
even travel by Egypt. You may talk
Egyptian while I am singing to myself.

[She is heard as she goes away.
Great is he, undiverted, cruel to torture,
Wrenching the truth from his tortured; soft to my bosom,
Soft to the cries of my bosom as when he sucked.

[Meanwhile an Egyptian woman has entered. She salutes Salome, then presents her with a box.
Salome.
Who art thou?

Anake.
Charmian's sister.

Salome.
And thine errand?

Anake
(pointing to the box now in Salome's bosom).
I am Anake . . . Charmian is dead.
My sister Charmian! She, too, touched poison.
They say it is the same.
[She points again toward the box.
I am Anake;
I tended Cleopatra in the tombs.

Salome.
How fared she there? She wept for Antony?

Anake.
She wandered up and down and took no rest,
And then she spread her prayers upon the tomb;
And it was like the lion round the desert
To hear her—I was frighted, for the noise
Was never in one place—now near, now far.
. . . My sister Charmian gave this to my bosom.

[She bows and turns to go.
Salome
(detaining her).
Anake, you have looked upon her dead.
How did those wonderful and perfumed lips
Fall into silence? Was her splendour slow
In ebbing, as a sunset or the sea?

Anake.
O Princess, she was marvellous disfigured,
For all the fair array she had put on
To dazzle Cæsar when he should be brought.
Her eyes were sunk far back into her head,
For she had wept so sore; her cheeks were cut
And frayed up with her nails, as I had seen her
Striding her chamber when the fury drove.

Salome.
For Antony—was this for Antony?
Then wherefore was she careful of her promise?
Why does she crave the death of Mariamne?
[Holding the golden box before her eyes.
It may be there is poison here for both,
For Herod too . . . He shut us in this fortress;
It may be he is whispering our death . . .
But she shall die the first. If I remove her,
And put her beauty from his eyes, perchance . . .
There is but one delight—to live with him
Again and sole as in our youth together.

[A great cry is heard through the passage, followed by wailing. Enter Pheroras and Cypros with a crowd of attendants.
Pheroras.
Salome, evil tidings.

Cypros.
He is dead!
Herod is dead.

[She falls, as if shot. Salome with a sharp cry lays hold of Pheroras.
Pheroras.
They are come from Rome, just landed. . . . They report
That Cæsar tortured him.

Salome
(looking down at Cypros).
She has not heard!

[She stoops down and chafes her mother.
Pheroras.
Killed in revenge, by Cæsar.

Salome.
Pheroras,
You are as in his place—our Governor.
Swift to Jerusalem! Leave us alone.
Put out the women. Swift!