University of Virginia Library

Scene III

Shipboard. Herod and Nicholas of Damascus at the stern of the vessel
Nicholas.
Dear king, but why so fervid in your gaze,
And why this backward strain? The land is Greece.

Herod.
The land is Greece—your land, philosopher,
Your race, all people's race, the land of gods.
[Nicholas moves away sternly.
These coasts!

Nicholas
(passing the king as he paces).
We land by Strato's Tower, the earth
Still Greek, idolater!

[He passes down the deck and becomes involved in talk with a group of seamen.
Herod.
The earth still Greek!
Then I will build on it, adorn it. Temples,
There shall be Temples;—ay,
And the great stronghold, Cæsar's fort.
[He falls into deep musing.
Mariamne—
Her Tower . . . O Mariamne! it is childish
The love I bear her, inexpressible.
Mariamne! In my palace she will greet me,
At my palace door; or rather she will stand
And wait for my approach still as a flower.
Children should run to greet you; but a woman
Should wait upon your coming as a flower.

[Presently Nicholas returns.
Nicholas.
King, you must rouse yourself.

Herod.
Not from my dream.
[At sight of Nicholas's face.
Good Nicholas—
What is the peril? Brief!

Nicholas.
There is report
Throughout Judæa, and, it seems, through Egypt,
That you are dead. Those clustered foreigners,
Taken aboard to speed our ship, confer,
In the confusion of their dialects,
Of how King Herod has been killed and all
His lands in turbulence . . .

[Herod suddenly shrieks and tears his hair.
Nicholas.
What ails the king?

Sailors.
What sickness?

Herod
(to the Sailors).
Swift!
Swift, if you love me . . . I have intimation,
I have seen it as a spectre from the sea,
The queen is dead!
Swift! she is calling me . . .

[He stares blankly to sea, while Nicholas encourages the Sailors.
Sailors.
King Herod, we will bring him to the haven!