MARIAMNE tttt^tftffttfm* FIVE -ACTS 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
 TWO • SHILLINGS • NET If DUCKWORTH • co • LONDON • MCMXI I 
 
MARIAMNE 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR 
 POETRY 
 
 The Vinedresser and other Poems, 1899 
 
 Aphrodite against Artemis, 1901 
 
 Absalom, 1903 
 
 Danae, 1903 
 
 The Little School, 1905 
 
 Poems, 1906 
 
 PROSE 
 
 The Centaur and Bacchant, from the French by 
 
 Maurice de Guerin, 1899 
 
 Altdorfer, 1900 
 
 Diirer, 1904 
 
 Correggio, 1906 
 
 Art and Life, 19 10 
 
MARIAMNE 
 
 BY-T. STURGE MOORE 
 
 DUCKWORTH • AND • CO. 
 LONDON • MCMXI 
 
All rights reserved 
 
MARIAMNE 
 
 M 
 
 '1 
 
 S3G543 
 
THE CHARACTERS 
 
 HKROD THE GREAT, Kingofjudea. 
 
 AN AN EL, High Priest. 
 
 CASTOBAR, Captain of the Guard, brother-in-law to 
 
 Herod. 
 
 SOHEMUS OF ITUREA, Treasurer and, during the 
 
 Kino-'s absence, Governor of the Alexandrium ; Hke his 
 
 master he has become a Jew for pohtical reasons. 
 
 SAMEAS (orSHEMAIAH), Chief Rabbi in the Sanhedrin. 
 
 HEROD'S CUPBEARER. 
 
 A STUDENT. 
 
 COURTIERS, GUARDS, EUNUCHS, OFFICERS, etc. 
 
 MARIAMNE, Queen of Judea. 
 
 ALEXANDRA, her mother. 
 
 CYPROS, Mother of Herod. 
 
 SALOME, Herod's sister, Castobar's wife. 
 
 MIRIAM, MARAH, REBECCA, HEPSIBAH, NAOMI, and 
 
 other women attendants on the Queen. 
 
 AN ARAB GIRL, and other attendants on the royal 
 
 widows and princess. 
 
ACT I 
 
 [The courtyard of the Alexandrium, surrounded by 
 
 fortifications in many parts only temporarily restored 
 
 since their demolition by Gabinius. Right, the outer 
 
 gate. Left, steps lead up into the castle ; from 
 
 within SOHEMUS is heard in earnest conversation with 
 
 ALEXANDRA. They issue at the top of the steps and 
 
 his words become audible] 
 
 He has been near his death a thousand times, 
 
 And is so rash, he must be caught at last ; 
 
 The Jews who love thy daughter, hate him ; wait. 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Wait while she ruins all ? She will not come 
 
 To give him welcome. 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 Will not come ? 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Not she : 
 Obsessed by knowing he would have her slain 
 If he himself died, she must flaunt her hate 
 Full in his face. 
 SOHEMUS [musing] 
 
 That is not wise. 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 She has no policy more than a child. 
 [CASTOBAR enters through the gate. His commands 
 to the soldiers whom he has been drilling have echoed 
 occasionally across the scene ] 
 SOHEMUS [indicating the newcomer's bearino-] 
 This Idumean Castobar swims in the news. 
 
 lii. 
 
[AIJ''-XA\'))R.\ shrd^s her shoulders, then, turning, 
 directs her women, who have joined her, to spread her 
 carpet at the top of the steps, in the centre, and to keep 
 a lonj^-handled parasol over her as the sun is hot. 
 SOHEMUS descends and meets CASTOBAR.] 
 
 CASTOBAR [waggishly] 
 
 Good Sohemus, I thought the King was dead? 
 
 SOHEMUS [gravely] 
 
 So many thought, but God in heaven be praised. . . . 
 
 CASTOBAR 
 
 Ay, God in heaven and . . . ? valour on the earth ! 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 'Tis Idumean, Sir, to halve God's praise. 
 
 CASTOBAR 
 
 Right! it is so; our Herod's Idumean, 
 
 And halves it, Jeiu. 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 With us 'tis blasphemy. 
 CASTOBAR 
 
 Ungenerous Jew, not backward wouldst thou be 
 In David's praise ; why not in Herod's then .-^ 
 SOHEMUS [taking him by the arm and walking with him] 
 You think, because the Roman is our friend, 
 The fanatics will moderate their rage. 
 I was not born a Jew, no more than Herod, 
 No, nor thyself; but I, to serve my King, 
 Seem what I seem ; and wouldst thou serve him, speak 
 As though Shemaiah had thy note of hand. 
 Was at thine elbow, must be pacified. 
 [He gives him a gentle push toward the gate whither 
 he has led him.] 
 
CASTOBAR [going out] 
 
 Damn Jews, 
 
 And, saving soldiers, damn all kinds of men ! 
 
 [SOHEMUS rejoins the QUEEN.] 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Now counsel me on present means and ends : 
 
 Should we not strive to please him all we can ? 
 
 Give him such welcome as shall blind his eyes ? 
 
 Salome and proud Cypros will be here, 
 
 Their litters have been watched along the road ; 
 
 And, had I not secured the vantage ground, 
 
 They would seem first to welcome Herod home : — 
 
 Which must not be and shall not. 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 Herod will look for welcome — will be pleased 
 
 To meet it . . . If thy daughter grant hers not . . . 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Childish fool ! 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 Yet, if she w^ill not come, it may be best 
 His sister and his mother, here alone. 
 Salute his advent, 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Sohemus, how so ? 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 Queen, 
 His love will leave them slighted on these steps ; 
 Till she is in his arms he will not pause ; 
 Fully two years it is since they have met ; 
 His gifts sent on prove his impatience hot ; 
 
ShouKlsL ihoii he with lliem and scarce heeded too, 
 The aspersion thou wouldst share. 
 
 ALKXANDRA 
 
 Be the whole theirs ! . . . 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 Yet (|uit thou not the steps before they come. 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 How ! must I serve for taro^et to their gibes ? 
 
 SOHEMUS 
 
 But should they crowd thee from thy station, Queen, 
 (Which in thy daughter's absence well may be), 
 'Twould both excuse thee and discomfit them 
 Reported, later on, to Herod's ear. 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Right, right ! 
 
 It shall so, if I own a woman's tongue ! 
 
 Behold, they come. Thou, Sohemus, go forth — 
 
 Meet him upon the road — prepare his mind 
 
 For Mariamne's sullen-browed caprice. 
 
 [SOHEMUS descends the steps, passes the Princesses 
 
 with gestures of profound salutation, and goes out 
 
 through the gate. The grooms take the mules and 
 
 litters round behind the castle ; while CYPROS and 
 
 SALOME mount slowly with their parasols, eunuchs 
 
 and women. When they arrive where ALEXANDRA 
 
 stands in front of her women, she turns] 
 
 Now, girls, be not so simple as to budge ; 
 
 These Queens have not so good a right as we. 
 
 [To the'^PRINCESSES] 
 
 Nay, haughty Cypros, come control th) knave ; 
 
 He elbows this young girl. Rough wretch, stand back! 
 
 [She strikes the eunuch, who gives way.] 
 
CYPROS 
 
 Nay, Alexandra, thou shalt ^^ive us place. 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 I will not, Cypros ; we are of the house, 
 
 And room there is on either hand of us. 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 We are more numerous ; thou hast no men. 
 
 But we have brought sufficient. 
 
 [To her EUNUCHS, indicating ALEXANDRA'S women] 
 
 Carry them to one side. 
 
 SALOME 
 
 Ha, Alexandra, thou art left alone ! 
 
 Call forth thy daughter's eunuchs! Where is she.'* 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 Knows she her mother doth sustain affront ? 
 
 SALOME [advancing right on to ALEXANDRA] 
 
 Madam, thou surely wilt not here persist 
 
 Dissevered from thy train ? 
 
 I thank thee for thy place. 
 
 ALEXANDRA [retreating] 
 
 Cypros, 
 
 My daughter loves me more than's in thy race 
 
 To yield affection parent, child, or wife. 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 My son's blood is too cool ? 'Tis scandal only 
 
 Founds his uxorious fame ! He hath a mistress ; 
 
 Men never are so fond in wedlock. Sooth, 
 
 I will be angry at the next reproach 
 
 Directed 'gainst his wife-spoiling. No, no. 
 
 He's more the man than to be satisfied 
 
 With one proud yellow Jewess. 
 
 VII. 
 
ALEXANDRA 
 
 [While a girl slips round the castle, and joins CYPROS' 
 
 train] 
 
 Cypros, rail ! 
 I leave thee in possession of the steps. 
 Herod will wait upon me where thy slaves 
 Shall not find entrance. 
 
 CYPROS [turning to her train, as ALEXANDRA 
 
 enters the castle] 
 
 How is it Mariamne comes not forth ? 
 
 [ONE OF THOSE who have received the girl and helped 
 
 to disguise her with shawls] 
 
 Madam, here is the Arab girl, whom thou 
 
 Contrivedst to get placed i' th' kitchen suite. 
 
 [They push the girl forward.] 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 Why comes the Queen not forth ? 
 
 ARAB GIRL [speaking glibly] 
 
 Most noble lady, 
 Nothing touched her ; all has been sent in vain : 
 Most wonderful apparel bought in Rhodes ! 
 One fall was of a tissue light as air ! 
 And there were pattens mother-of-pearl inlaid ! 
 And, priceless, wholly made of fine white wool, 
 So soft it seemed to flow like cream, not fold, 
 A chlamys fashioned to Athenian taste ! 
 The Roman purple, so her women said, 
 Becomes her swarthy caste of countenance 
 To such perfection, that it makes them sigh 
 To think that she refused to put it on. 
 Nor would she scarcely glance at graven stones, — 
 viii. 
 
Which are a scandal to these Jewish girls, 
 Because of naked idols on them wrought 
 Which do deceive the eye, they seem so human, 
 So fit for life, and formed to satisfy. 
 Though tiny ! tiny ! 
 CYPROS 
 
 Peace ! — But Mariamne ? 
 ARAB GIRL 
 
 O madam, Mariamne wears to-day 
 What every day she wears, and that not queenly ! 
 She hath grown so neglectful of herself 
 Since first she heard that Herod lived, though false 
 Report had noised his death. She loves him not : — 
 Nor hath she really, so her women hold. 
 Since first she learnt from Joseph, four years back. 
 How Herod had provided, should he die, 
 That she must thereupon be put to death ; — 
 Although this Joseph was a councillor. 
 And did protest that Herod's very love 
 Was the true cause of that ferocious purpose 
 Her wrath is trebled now; for Sohemus 
 Received the same command as Joseph had. 
 'Tis thought she will estrange him utterly, — 
 Since she hath never practised to conceal 
 Her every humour, cross him how they might! 
 But, madam, still, they say such gifts do prove 
 That love has grown with absence on his side ; 
 And yet they tremble for the Queen, whom all 
 Love dearly ; for her goodness is to them 
 As marked as is her humour toward her Lord. 
 SALOME [signing to the girl to fall back] 
 Her pride surpasseth Jezebel's : but hark ! 
 
The trumpets which announce my brother near! 
 He will expect to find his wife here stationed, 
 Which disappointment should enhance our kindness. 
 [HEROD, attired in purple, enters through the gate, 
 followed by SOHEMUS, CASTOBAR, COURTIERS, 
 GREEKS, and GUARDS who gradually fill the yard.] 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 Herod, thy niother bids thee welcome. 
 
 SALOME 
 
 Thy sister 
 Welcomes her brother, Herod. 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 We rejoiced 
 To hear of all thy Roman honours, son. 
 HEROD 
 
 Health to thee, mother — but I seek my Queen! 
 Salome, is not Mariamne here ? 
 SALOME 
 
 O Herod, fortunate in every sort ! 
 Most fortunate that of his wife men say — 
 Even the gloomy Pharisees have said — 
 She is the Rose of Sharon ! They say well ; 
 Most favoured art thou, that it should be so : 
 Yet only in his wife can it be said 
 Of Herod, that he much deserveth pity. 
 CYPROS 
 
 My son, thy former Doris had been here. 
 She was as we are, Idumean born, 
 And not a stiff-necked Jewess. 
 HEROD 
 
 What is this ? 
 Let me pass on ! 
 
SALOME [getting in front of him with a scornful 
 mimicry of the Queen] 
 
 Thus she received thy gifts : — 
 " I have too many robes and could be pleased 
 With just a queen's attire. The concubine- 
 Needs quilted jackets — must be hitched aloft 
 On ebony clogs inlaid with mother-of-pearl : 
 The veil, that floats five minutes in the air 
 Before it reach the ground, is not too light 
 For one who, like a feather, by caprice 
 Is puffed above a monarch's head ; there floats ; 
 There trembles, smiled on, talked to ; afterwards 
 Is swept up with the dust — as Doris was. 
 Doris lives somewhere in the rubbish still, 
 Take her these things ! " 
 
 CYPROS 
 
 Discarding even the gossamer tissue thus! 
 
 HEROD 
 
 mother, that thou hat'st my wife, I know : — 
 And sister, thou hadst got a ready tongue 
 Upon this theme, before I went from hence. — 
 Ye do impede me ; pray remove your arms ; 
 
 1 am in haste, and fear I owe to you 
 
 This cold reception ; for ye cross the Queen 
 
 Whose inborn humour brooks with little enough, — 
 
 [Reaching the top of the steps and looking down on 
 
 them, he stamps.] 
 
 Hut, were she patient as these pavement stones, 
 
 I know ye would not relish rest before 
 
 The limit of that sufferance were passed. 
 
 I pray ye to give welcome to my friends ; 
 
 xi. 
 
Since I must labour to undo wliat yc 
 
 Have wrought so kindly in my household here. 
 
 [ He goes in alone.] 
 
 CYPROS [turning to the crowd] 
 
 This must a mother bear that hath conceived 
 
 A King, by native gift, raised to the clouds. 
 
 [Before she mounts the last few steps to go in] 
 
 Good friends, I pray you, follow to the hall. 
 
 [When the steps are wholly covered by the backs of 
 
 the crowd swarming up, the curtain comes rapidly 
 
 down.] 
 
ACT II 
 
 [MARIAMNE'S apartment in the Alexandriuin. It opens 
 to the south towards Jerusalem, between carved columns 
 of algumin wood, upon a gallery over which an awning 
 of violet cloth slopes out like eaves, and is supported by- 
 two slanting poles. These rest on the gallery rail and 
 are corded to the feet of columns ; from the centre 
 towards the left a flight of stairs, in which the gallery 
 terminates, descends to the gardens, while luxuriant tree 
 tops are visible over this and beneath the awning fringe. 
 The bed, which is slung in a frame carved and painted 
 after the Egyptian manner, is enclosed by curtains of 
 lawn ; it stands on the right, leaving a narrow passage 
 between its head and the wall of the apartment. In front 
 on the same side is a doorway closed by a curtain. On 
 the left, half-way between the pillars and the front, is a 
 second door with folding leaves of cedar wood. Beside 
 this stand two large vases of water with basins to dip, 
 and a great variety of slippers, pattens, sandals, etc. In 
 the centre at the foot of the bed is a carpet on which are 
 two ebony stools. The bed-curtains part near the head, 
 and two crowns are visible upon the pillows. When the 
 curtain rises the scene is empty. HEROD enters throuo-h 
 the folding doors ; he looks round, claps his hands.] 
 
 AN EUNUCH [entering behind him] 
 Hail to my lord the King ! 
 
 HEROD [turning] 
 
 Where is the Queen .'* 
 EUNUCH 
 My lord, she hath descended to the bath. 
 
 xiii. 
 
[HEROD strides out through the curtained doorway on 
 the left, and the EUNUCH returns throu'di the foldine 
 doors after a minute or two. | 
 
 [MARIAMNE and MHIIAM come up the stairs from the 
 garden ; they are out of breath and have been running. 
 MARIAMNE is dressed in a long white simar ; her hair is 
 down and still wet.] 
 
 MIRIAM [who is similarly dressed, carries towels, and 
 
 speaks with assumed cheerfulness] 
 
 He did not see us turn along the wall, 
 
 Therefore will search the gardens, and the more 
 
 That thou dost ever haunt them : this he knows ; 
 
 For he knows all thy ways. We shall have time 
 
 For such a toilette as becomes a Queen. 
 
 MARIAMNE [placing a fuchsia spray she has brought in 
 
 from the gardens between her lips, claps her hands 
 
 impatiently : then as the Eunuch enters, says, pointing 
 
 with the spray] 
 
 Hasten my girls : they loiter at the bath. 
 
 I EUNUCH crosses the stage and passes the curtain. The 
 
 QUEEN sits down.] 
 
 MIRIAM [drying Mariamne's hair] 
 
 They will be here anon : I bade them hold 
 
 The King in parley at the inner door. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 He hunts me, hunts me ; violent doth stretch across 
 
 His but-imagined grave, to slay me there, 
 
 The widowed mother of his little ones ; — 
 
 In case death seize him, this is his command, 
 
 My life — his children's mother's life! — be taken ; — 
 
 With policy ! cold forethought ! thus he thwarts 
 
 xiv. 
 
The monster, that his jealous dreams paint large, 
 
 My second husband ! — which should I forget, 
 
 I must demean me like a serving maid, 
 
 Thy fellow, not thy mistress. 
 
 [The w(MTien enter : they are dressed in white simars and 
 
 carry huge baskets piled with clothes or towels.] 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Quick, girls, my mourning robes ! and tind me those 
 
 I for my brother wore ! 
 
 [Shutting her eyes and pressing the leaves of the fuchsia 
 
 against them] 
 
 Aristobulus, 
 Brother, O let thy beauty flood my sight ; 
 Thy death he compassed and not planned alone ! 
 [Looking up] 
 Thy murderer comes ! 
 
 [Turning to the women, who with the help of several 
 Eunuchs have brought out five or six chests in which 
 they are rummaging] 
 
 How now ! So many chests? 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 I cannot call to mind in which they are. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Make haste, make haste ! 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 This key must have got bent. 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 Perchance it fits this. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Come, how slow ye are ! 
 [Plaiting the fuchsia into her hair] 
 
 XV. 
 
Oh. to bec^in aq^ain ! 
 [Taking up a mirror] 
 
 I thouorht he had been dead. 
 The rumours made it probable, — but lo ! 
 I still am Herod's wife. — Poor wretched fool, 
 Thy beauty saves the shame of many a smile 
 Which else 'twould be thy lot to simulate. 
 Thy brother's murderer's wife ! 
 [Tosses the mirror aside.] 
 To think that as my husband is he king 
 Though none by birth ! Yes, crowned, — and by my 
 hand, 
 
 Armed, — and with power I lend. One who has slain 
 My brother and grandfather, he commands 
 This bed and my fidelity. 
 [Crunching up the spray] 
 
 O God, 
 And canst thou see, and not be moved to wrath ? 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Behold the very robe, lustreless black. 
 
 HEPSIBAH [coming forward from the gallery, while the 
 
 Queen hurriedly drapes herself] 
 
 The King doth mount the stairs. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Leave us alone, but be within our call. 
 
 [They go out on the left.] 
 
 HEROD [entering from the gallery] 
 Why, Mariamne, here's a wild-wood craze ? 
 Wilt thou be hunted like the shy gazelle ? 
 But what ! what mean these doleful draperies ! 
 This stiff averted bearing.'^ 
 
[He stops and muses a moment : then in a changed voice] 
 
 Queen of Judea, 
 
 Great princess of the house of Maccabees, 
 
 Right royal spouse, from Rhodes am I returned, 
 
 The friend of Caesar, honoured by his hand 
 
 In cordial warmth as to an equal given : 
 
 And, since I have escorted him to Egypt 
 
 Providing water through the waste Pereea, 
 
 Commended by his lips with estimation 
 
 As much beyond my hopes as my desert. 
 
 And from Augustus to my Queen I bear 
 
 Gifts and exceeding honour — Straton's Tower, 
 
 The site we coveted to build a city ; 
 
 And Jericho with all her glorious palms. 
 
 Her shrubs that yield the balsam, and those pools 
 
 Called " Diamonds of the Desert" ; add to this 
 
 Samaria. Gadara, Anthedon, Hippos! 
 
 Thou crown of all the Asmonean line, 
 
 Thy borders are restored — restored ? extended ! — 
 
 Gaza and Joppa, all the littoral. 
 
 Cities renowned and thriving marts and ports 
 
 Wherein the west doth traffic with the east, 
 
 Accessions most momentous to thy realm. 
 
 And I, that am the steward of thy wealth — 
 
 The husband of thine honour. — here present 
 
 True tables of the increase come to hand. 
 
 [Holding out his tablets] 
 
 Thy wealth, see, trebled ; while thine honour stands 
 
 Higher than ever erst: but clearer yet 
 
 On tables of my heart I bear inscribed 
 
 The profit of swift thoughts that passed like ships 
 
 Athwart the tlotxl to thee, and made return 
 
Laden wiili wondrous gains, — and now I kneel 
 
 With all a proffered tribute to thy joy. 
 
 [A pause, then rising and changing his tone] 
 
 Thou thinkst to show thy power over me, 
 
 Treatincf me thus! These mourning robes attest 
 
 More lightness in thy mind, than my forbearance 
 
 Can speak that love of thee which holds my chafe . . . 
 
 Why, every father yields as good a proof 
 
 To his child's pettish humour every year, 
 
 As this thou dost exact with pains so great. 
 
 [A silence, then in softer tones once more, and stooping 
 
 to lift the spray of fuchsia] 
 
 See, thus must Howers suffer from a storm . 
 
 The bloom of life from anger suffers thus : 
 
 Something is lost ! Or may this thought be truer ? — 
 
 That as the balsam will alone yield gum 
 
 To violence, when the sharp jagged tlints are struck 
 
 Deep through the bark, and golden drops collect ; — 
 
 Harsh is the treatment needful ere true hearts 
 
 Shall yield their balm, more costly than the best 
 
 That trickles priceless from so rare a shrub. 
 
 [Kissing the hem of her robe he pauses ; then starting 
 
 up and back, paces the room, dragging the scattered 
 
 robes with his feet and spurning them] 
 
 These robes, that here lie scattered, these are not 
 
 The robes I sent thee! Where are those I sent.'* 
 
 It had not been so virtuous thus arrayed 
 
 (Though more to please thy husband than thyself), 
 
 To welcome me I 
 
 [He stands still trying to control himself] 
 
 Thou wilt not speak ; how can I learn the fault. 
 
 Which in this entertainment meets award — 
 
Just, it may be ? 
 
 Canst thou appoint some third 
 Who may expound our quarrel ? 
 
 Mariamne, 
 Has there some lying scandal altered thee? 
 Have I been wronged ? O speak ! Hast thou been 
 
 wronged ? 
 Thou art but young : I will not blame thee, speak ! 
 Come, come, I must insist : when thou dost feel 
 These loving, strong and comfortable arms 
 Protect thee, thou wilt yield thy secret up. 
 I do remember how I found thine eyes 
 Behind this veil, more lovely after tears ! 
 [Having put his arms round her, he draws the veil from 
 off her face : she averts her eyes and groans. He breaks 
 from her and rushes out by the staircase.] 
 
 MARIAMNE [left alone, sinking back on one of the 
 
 stools, sighs] 
 
 Little enough, little enough, I then 
 
 Thought that to die in happiness was bliss ! 
 
 Oh that they had but made us prisoners 
 
 When, from Antigonus and the Parthians, we 
 
 Toiled through the desolate land in waggons jerked ! 
 
 Better it must have been had he then died. 
 
 And we, the prey of heathen archers, fallen 
 
 Deep in dishonourable servitude, 
 
 Rather than lived, him whom we loved to know 
 
 More savage, more defiling than such foes ! 
 
 [She bows down her head and is silent.] 
 
 ALEXANDRA [entering through the curtain] 
 Ha! truly, Mariamne, thou art mad! 
 
 xix. 
 
Dost want to see thy mother's severed head 
 
 Roll on the courtyard stones ? or dost thou choose 
 
 Instant decapitation now to end 
 
 Thy troubles, patience judged as not worth while? 
 
 I met thy tyrant ; murder on his face 
 
 Was stamped, as on a warrant his great seal 
 
 In red and seething wax, and am informed 
 
 Of how thou hast received him, childish fool ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Mother, what mean these words ? since thou thyself 
 
 Didst prove me, it was clean impossible 
 
 To hold my husband guiltless or to yield him. 
 
 As I had done, the utmost benefit 
 
 Of what doubt still remained ? Thou didst upbraid 
 
 Smile, kiss or anxious thought — all signs of love, 
 
 Whatever I received or have returned. 
 
 Becoming to our married state, — as nought 
 
 But base impiety towards my brother : 
 
 And this not once, but every day ! 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Alas! 
 In what have I deserved so blind a child. 
 So little capable to understand ? 
 The women of our house have been, till now, 
 Commended for rare politic insight : 
 Dost thou not know our lives are in his hand ? 
 A word can end us, child ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Alas, I know. 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 O thou dost know ! It is the grace of God 
 If thou dost know. 
 
 XX. 
 
mariamnp: 
 
 What can I do ? 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 What canst thou do? Why, thou canst save my Hfe ! 
 
 A smile or two : even to add a kiss, 
 
 Where thou hast squandered thousands, were but Httle 
 
 To save thy mother ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Little ? 
 His murderer ? 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 This would show well enousfh, 
 Had he been by Augustus taken off, 
 Or with his credit shattered had returned, 
 (Which things were lively hoped) : if then thou hadst 
 Repudiated Herod and his deeds. 
 No fault could have been found ; but now, since all 
 Strengthens his hold upon our hapless land, — 
 Since that his crown is set more firmly on 
 Than ere before — since with him now he brings 
 Roman decrees endorsed by Roman legions, — 
 Since thou and I may certainly expect 
 To see all friends, who promised us their aid, 
 Lie quiet and seem unconcerned in aught 
 That doth affect us, — we must, knowing this, 
 Be all the help unto ourselves we can. 
 His passion for thee is our only shield. 
 And this wouldst thou destroy ! Come, come, more 
 sense ! 
 
 At thy best speed send humbly for the King 
 And win him with thy cunningcst address ; 
 
 xxi. 
 
Think, certainly, Salome is at work ! 
 Good Sohemus now stands where Joseph stood ; 
 For his sake be thou speedy ! Cypros, too, 
 She will be fannin^r her dear son's hot mind 
 With all the wind her arrof^ance conceives ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Mother! thou art persuading me almost 
 
 That thou didst never credit his contriving 
 
 Aristobulus' death, and that thou hast 
 
 By nothing else been moved but mere anibition. 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 I been b)- nothing moved ! my son cut off : — 
 
 My crown upon my daughter's head disgraced ! — 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 How couldst thou entertain so vile a thought, 
 That I should prostitute or lip or body 
 Unto my brother's murderer again ? 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 This is no season for a show of virtue ! 
 
 Believe, if it consoles thee thus to do, 
 
 Him blameless quite, whilst thou art in his power. 
 
 But think at once of friends who risk their lives 
 
 Upon the tiptoe grandeur of thy pride — 
 
 On the imperious crossing of those brows 
 
 And the pinched wilful silence of ripe lips ; 
 
 For time to play this pretty masquerade. 
 
 My life, and that of Sohemus, is pledged ! 
 
 Think, mistress, of these plain impressive facts! 
 
 I ne'er had dreamed, imagination-struck, 
 
 Thou couldst have gone such lengths in their despite. 
 
 Lost in this grand performance of thy pride! 
 
MARIAMNE 
 
 Alas, alas, have I no friends at all ? 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 It likes thee little to regard them such. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 But did he plan Aristobulus' death ? 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Come, ask him and believe him ; for my credit, 
 
 I fear, is fallen in my daughter's eyes ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 O mother, tell me, what dost thou believe ? 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Convinced I am, thou hast dire need to love him, 
 
 And best be speedy with some proof thou dost. 
 
 If Sohemus thou prizest or thy mother. 
 
 There is no time to lose ! Bah ! take this style, 
 
 Here are thy tablets — write. 
 
 [She claps her hands and an eunuch enters.] 
 
 [MARIAMNE writes and then bows her face into her 
 hands.] 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Here, slave, take these at once unto the Kinor, 
 
 And yield them, mind you, to no hand but his ! 
 
 [Exit EUNUCH followed by ALEXANDRA.] 
 
 MARIAMNE [left alone] 
 
 O Lord, give light unto my groping eyes ! 
 
 Herod was noble, and I loved him well ; 
 
 Didst thou not make him beautiful and strong, 
 
 Drape him with majesty and give that air 
 
 The lion hath, anointing him with might? 
 
And in his ofi-iricd heart didst thou not place 
 
 The fervency of long-enduring love, 
 
 Tuning his lips like magic to my soul, 
 
 Entrancing all my softness in a spell? — 
 
 But how can I believe that what was, is ? 
 
 [Rising] 
 
 At least, while doubt may still be entertained, 
 
 Let me not be unjust. Though all were proved, 
 
 The worst, has there not been excuse for that ? 
 
 Has my contentious mother ever failed 
 
 To yield him exculpation full as far 
 
 As forceful circumstance can exculpate ? 
 
 Aristobulus was to her intents 
 
 No better than a drawn and brilliant sword, 
 
 Wherewith she threatened Herod every month : 
 
 Could he unbroken wrest it from her hand ? 
 
 His crime is then excused as self-defence. 
 
 Has she not used e'en me to mar his peace } 
 
 [With gathering animation] 
 
 Her grandam, as she never can forget. 
 
 An Alexandra, ruled for full nine years, — 
 
 This constitutes her right to Herod's crown ! 
 
 Because my father was the King — because 
 
 Herod, than whom no man more born to rule. 
 
 As she admits, has praised her subtle mind — 
 
 Because hers is the Asmonean blood, — 
 
 Why, she has been seditious, steeped in plots ! 
 
 Yet Herod has entreated me ignobly 
 
 By this command that I should straight be slain 
 
 If from Augustus he should fail of grace ; 
 
 This man, that after Joseph's death, did swear, 
 
 Drenching my hands in tears, with broken accents, 
 
Never to m\e a";ain such vile commands — 
 
 Or me ag^ain accuse 
 
 As he had dared accuse. . . . 
 
 [HEROD enters and she turns to face him] 
 
 Now, I will speak. 
 I am the Queen of Israel by birth, 
 In line direct from Simon Maccabseus, 
 Fifth reofent of the Asmonean house ; 
 And thou from me derivest thy best claim. 
 
 Thou hast no trust, because thou hast no honour ! 
 Thine actions still confirm my mother's cries ; 
 Aristobulus may right well have perished 
 By order of a man that pays for spies 
 To overreach his wife. 
 
 I can speak aptly ; thou art proud of me ! 
 
 Wit, wit ! why, Cleopatra had as much, 
 
 Which Antony did love belike as well ! 
 
 — A brace of names that are a byword now. 
 
 Is wit and beauty, beauty, wit and crown, 
 
 My sum and total told ? Beauty I have, 
 
 But, noble that I am, I do not boast ; 
 
 My thought was beautiful before my speech ; 
 
 My heart was overflowing ere my lips. 
 
 " Man, like a man, still thinks to promise easy ; — " 
 
 Which dictum, trust me, widely though it hold. 
 
 Holds not for those who, ere they utter vow, 
 
 Have curbed their whole souls to one great desire — 
 
 Even to serve for their love's sake a man 
 
 Less noble as to blood, pure as to birth 
 
 Than were themselves or were their ancestors. 
 
Hut 'tis no service, slavery it is 
 
 That will content thee ! Think of Love : 
 
 To be beforehand with most awful time 
 
 Love binds a wet cloth round her aching brow, — 
 
 As I have bound, to wait thy messengers 
 
 Sent from the wars, and watched the whole night long ;- 
 
 Love, calm in spite of danger, answers need 
 
 Prepared and helpful. 
 
 But there ! I speak to Herod, whose ear sings 
 
 With cries of poison, lust and perjury, 
 
 All which foul crimes inhabit one whom he 
 
 Pretends to love despite them all. Strange Love ! 
 
 A king, thou art not ill : an actor. Sir, 
 
 So sorry. Wonder weeps to watch thee fail. 
 
 Thou dost not love me ; own that and be cured ; 
 
 Thou lov'st to dream thyself madly in love, 
 
 But dost impose on none except thyself. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 I swear I love thee, and not least when thus 
 
 Thy blood doth seethe, for thou art voluble 
 
 As at no other time ; 
 
 Thine eloquence expands ; 
 
 Thy beauty lightens, while thy voice discovers 
 
 Not my faults only, but its own rich range. 
 
 Yet jealousy ! — hast thought upon its cause ? 
 
 Of what 'tis token ? and from whence it springs ? 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Too much, too much. But thou hast told me tales 
 
 Of cunning Greeks, who have writ manners so, 
 
 That common men now step into the garb 
 
 Of kings and queens passed nobly long agone, 
 
Mistakingly beheld, applauded even 
 
 For deeds, which once required cosdier blood 
 
 Through lavish wounds poured out. This, with some 
 
 paint 
 
 And heiofhtened socks, the scum of Greece effects. 
 
 I marvel not ; yet think my royal eyes 
 
 Had scarcely been content, nor my hands warmed 
 
 With genial claps of praise, since thou thyself, 
 
 Augrustus' friend, canst not hit off the kino-, 
 
 As nature prompts me ask to have it done. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Thy scorn's not just, indignant beauteous Queen. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Thy common jealousy degrades thy crown. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 My jealousy has passed away, years since. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Beheading one old man made thee secure ? 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Of whom have I been jealous since that date.-* 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Methinks I still am kept like miser's gold. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 To whom have I denied access to thee ? 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Remember Joseph's death ; thou art returned. 
 
 Thy native gifts may make thee royal thus 
 
 A second time. 
 
 I tremble, Sir, for grey-haired Sohemus. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 My hands were bound ; the posture of affairs 
 
Precluded much that willingly I would 
 For thee have done. The Alexandrium 
 I do admit a prison, yet secure ; 
 Thou and thy mother have lived safely here. 
 My life and my authority so poised 
 Upon the point of hazard as they were, 
 How could I trust thy mother more at large, 
 Or thee, my bride, within Salome's reach ? 
 Be gentle, for thy steward did his best. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Herod, might but my heart feel sure of that ! 
 Yet of one thing take note : my mother, Sir, 
 Shall ne'er again be privy to my mind. 
 It is the doubt I can but entertain, — 
 The fatal influence of her restless schemes 
 May have been more in our calamities 
 Than thine ambition or unscrupulous acts — 
 That makes me seek this interview with thee, 
 Howe'er the colour of thine actions lower. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 My Mariamne, what great joy is this ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 My lord, a little wait : an hour since 
 
 I hated thee, with all my heart I did. 
 
 It may be well to prelude yet our peace. 
 
 [She claps her hands, then to MIRIAM who enters] 
 
 Fetch me those robes my lord hath latest sent 
 
 And bid my tirewomen wait at once ; 
 
 And pack these chests and see them put away. 
 
 [She throws off the mourning robe and veil.] 
 
 xxviii. 
 
HEROD 
 
 This is my Queen ! 
 
 [He turns and kicks the robes together towards the 
 chests, which the women and eunuchs commence pack- 
 ing while the Queen is being arrayed by her maidens. 
 Then with rhetorical parade] 
 
 Gowns, gowns, their service done. 
 The habits of past time ; black mourning robes, 
 White festal raiment, radiant, striped with gold ; 
 Pelusian linen — filled with beauty once 
 And now, like vacant dwellings, caving inwards : — 
 Your folds are speechless ; front me ye cannot, 
 Though once informed with pride, though flaunting once 
 An accidental bravery. Fleered at prayers, 
 Did ye ? Limp sleeves whisked ye away from touches 
 That plead ? So go those moods ye served. — My Queen, 
 Disdain and pride are rent and cast aside ; 
 Aloofness falls ; discarded must spite be. 
 For love upholds the vital part of life 
 That walks into the future, and love's wardrobe 
 Is courtesy, staid gentleness and hope 
 That smiles and helps, and happy confidence, 
 Glowing contentment, rainbow-hued resolves — 
 High Virtue's vesture. 
 These, that outlast change, 
 Life must return to, — 
 Perennial fashions they ! 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Herod, believe thy words ! 
 And I will trust them. 
 HEROD 
 
 Doubt'st thou their bravery ? 
 
 xxix. 
 
Frank colours arc of truth. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Enough, enough, 
 Wit's but half wise. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 I have ensfatred some Greeks, 
 Philosophers approved and rhetoricians, 
 Who can discourse divinely and debate ; 
 They will afford thee frequent entertainment 
 Recounting famous deeds betid of yore 
 In Greece and Rome. I mean them to instruct 
 In all august accomplishments our sons. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 My lord, a learned Alexandrian Jew 
 
 Has oft beguiled my leisure this past winter. 
 
 And showed me how the Grecian wisdom springs 
 
 From Moses or Melchizedek, perchance, 
 
 And is a sister branch unto our own. 
 
 Deserving all esteem and recognition. 
 
 But while I think of it, good Sohemus 
 
 Has, in solicitude for our best welfare, 
 
 Fast bound our gratitude ; may I request. 
 
 That he obtain some fitting recompense ? 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Thy will shall be my pleasure. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 How is this ? 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Entrancing! Cleopatra is surpassed. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 This addereth is a well-worked pelisse. 
 
 XXX. 
 
HEROD 
 
 'Tis from Damascus, and, I deem, unique. 
 
 They tell me that bright seed used in the fringe 
 
 Comes from the land of Chittim, and the veil 
 
 That like a dew envelops thee in sheen 
 
 Is from Taprobana : it hallows thee ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Shall we walk forth, where the cool trees invite ? 
 
 HEROD 
 
 By all means ; noon grows heavy. Hark ! an air 
 
 Freshens the alleys rustling. 
 
 [To an Eunuch] 
 
 Bid them pitch 
 My saffron tabernacle on the lawn 
 Beside the basin of the golden carp. 
 [EUNUCH salaams and goes out.] 
 HEROD [standing outside] 
 Jerusalem lies just beyond that ridge : 
 At last, Fortune and Peace permitting, I 
 Hope to rebuild her temple on a scale 
 More fit to crown the city of God's choice. 
 [As he and MARIAMNE descend a parasol is raised 
 over them, and all the women and eunuchs flock down 
 in their wake. When the scene is empty the curtain 
 descends.] 
 
 XXXI. 
 
ACT III 
 
 [MARIAMNE'S apartment, the same as in the last. A 
 
 few clothes are still littered round the open chests. 
 
 Outside, the tree tops are bathed in the noon blaze. 
 
 When the curtain rises the scene is empty. But soon 
 
 MARAH returns furtively up the stair; first glances 
 
 back toward the gardens to make sure she has been 
 
 unobserved, then, surveying the room, proceeds on 
 
 tip-toe to the front and holds the curtain out from 
 
 the doorway on the left ; then begins to sing a simple 
 
 air.] 
 
 Powder thy hair with dust as blue 
 
 As is the sky ! 
 
 Tint thou thy nails with henna red 
 
 As heart's blood shed ! 
 
 Streak in thy scanty eyebrows, do, 
 
 Legs of a fly ! 
 
 Improve thy cheeks with painted guile, 
 
 And smile — O smile! 
 
 Thou never wilt appear so sweet as I, 
 
 Nor win my love from me. 
 
 Beneath thy casement he will never sigh, 
 
 Nor, called, climb up to thee. 
 
 [HEROD'S cupbearer appears through the curtain, and, 
 
 still holding it, she addresses him ; while slowly SALOME 
 
 mounts the staircase and, entering the room, draws near 
 
 to them, keeping behind the bed.] 
 
 O Phanuel, what says my warlike Haman ? 
 
 — Thy Hepsibah can think of nought but thee! 
 
 Has Haman sent no present to his love.-* 
 
 — For speech with thee poor Hepsibah doth thirst! 
 
 xxxii. 
 
Did he not fill thy mouth with soothing words, 
 
 My tall Samaritan warrior, — did he not ? 
 
 — She oft had noted thee and. in her sleep, 
 
 Seen thee thereafter. — Speak of Haman first, 
 
 Then will I pay thine ears with Hepsibah. 
 
 Had he but entrance to the house himself 
 
 rid sing him up the stairs and not need thee. 
 
 CUPBEARER 
 
 Hist, and take breath ! An eunuch has been gained : 
 
 It is old Tubal ; he will let you slip 
 
 (Both Hepsibah, my jewel, and yourself) 
 
 Down to the gardens on the first safe night ; 
 
 And there thy Haman and myself will wait. 
 
 What said fair Hepsibah when first you spoke? 
 
 Was she inclined to heark, or hard to win ? 
 
 I deem her youth all virgin, e'en in thought! 
 
 MAR AH 
 
 She was afraid, and then she thought it wrong 
 
 Because the Queen so pets her, — frowned and sighed : 
 
 But still she blushed and listened, while I spoke 
 
 About thy grace and valour, youth and love — 
 
 How thou wast suited to her : I enlarged 
 
 The madness of thy passion. . . . 
 
 SALOME [interrupting] 
 
 This is well ; 
 
 The Queen has honourable servants, troth ! 
 
 [The woman lets the curtain swing back in the 
 
 doorway and falls on her face before the PRINCESS, 
 
 while the CUPBEARER kneeling says] 
 
 Most gracious Princess, thou art beautiful ; 
 
 Must, therefore, know what power beauty wields; 
 
 Think gendy, then, of those who feel its might. 
 
 c 
 
 XXXIU. 
 
MARAH (trcinl)lint;- and kissins:^ the hem of the 
 
 TRINXESS'S robe] 
 
 Pardon, dread Lady, pardon, pardon, pardon ! 
 
 SALOME 
 
 Sometimes I need to know vvliat the Queen thinks. 
 
 MARAH 
 
 I swear to tell thee every word I hear. 
 
 SALOME 
 
 So be it. I will shield thee, whilst thou dost. 
 
 Be off unto the gardens, join the Queen ! 
 
 [When the woman has gone out she turns suddenly on 
 
 the CUPBEARER and seizing him by his dress cries] 
 
 Hark ! Thou hast had philtres from the Queen. 
 
 CUPBEARER [in alarm] 
 
 Not I ! 
 
 SALOME 
 
 Fool, thou must say so. — Strange drugs 
 Hast thou, for years past, mixed in Herod's wine. 
 The Queen did tell thee they controlled his love, 
 And bound his faith to her 
 As passion only binds. 
 But boy, to-day, to-day, on his return. 
 She gave thee other drugs, a differing draught ; 
 And, as she forced these on thee, looked so black. 
 That thou didst fear her present purpose was 
 To poison him ! Therefore, thou, at his feet. 
 Wast saying that which, now, I say to thee. 
 Dost mark me? on thy life thou shalt say this. 
 Or I reveal thy business with this woman : — 
 How thou hast bought his eunuch, — how thou hast 
 Deserved the most dispiteous death he knows. 
 
Thy terror makes thee totter : be a man ! 
 
 Collect thy wits ; thou shalt rehearse thy part ! 
 
 Attend me in my closet shortly ! Go ! 
 
 [He goes out through the curtain.] 
 
 Fortune helps those who take her lightest hint ; 
 
 My brother oft affirms it. Prove him right; 
 
 Confirm thy favourite, Fortune ! Light the hint 
 
 That I have seized in these two fools' loose love. 
 
 They merely plotted pleasure. They shall work 
 
 Herod, the engine of my hate — and grind 
 
 Thee. Mariamne ; slaves shall crumble thee 
 
 Beneath thy husband's hardened heart, and crush 
 
 Thy hopes as with a millstone ; these slaves shall ! 
 
 [She points derisively towards the bed] 
 
 Poor Herod, sleep's thy chains, this muslin house 
 
 Thy prison — O strong walls ! 
 
 [A scornful silence, then with deliberate triumph] 
 
 I, I 
 Will free this wife-besotted brother — teach 
 Our mother fume is smoke but fire effective. 
 [MIRIAM is heard coming up from the garden. When 
 she enters SALOME, advancing towards her, cries 
 laughing] 
 
 Come, hold thy dress out ! 
 
 [And herself catching it up so as to form a receptacle, 
 empties a purse into it.] 
 
 Deem'st thou this a bribe ? 
 
 It is a gift. Think well of me, and thou 
 Shalt speak well too, which I confess I need. 
 Say what is in thy heart, 1 ask no more. 
 No words ! come, tie these in thy kerchief, dolt ! 
 And hide them quickly, for there are who come. 
 
[The other women and eunuchs arrive : SALOME 
 
 advances to meet them. ] 
 
 I came to see your mistress. Draws she nijjh ? 
 
 I eo to meet her. 
 
 [She passes them and goes out.] 
 
 REBECCA 
 
 Come, let us help the eunuchs to remove 
 
 These chests already filled. 
 
 NAOMI 
 
 They are not locked. 
 MIRIAM [hurriedly composing her dress] 
 That's soon done ! 
 
 [The eunuchs file through and out by the folding 
 doors : the women look at one another.] 
 MARAH 
 
 The Queen does well to trust her with those keys : 
 Her secrets too with her doth she confide, 
 Who here alone had speech with the Princess. 
 
 REBECCA 
 
 She hath been bribed ; look how confused she is ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 Something she sought to hide as we came in ! 
 
 NAOMI 
 
 Her price is on her! 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 It is not true ; you lie ! 
 MARAH 
 That's not like innocence ! 
 
 NAOMI 
 
 Not in the least ! 
 
[REBECCA catches at her sleeve ; several closing round 
 
 her begin to drag" at her clothes.] 
 
 MIRIAM [angrily striking them with the keys] 
 
 The Queen shall hear of this! 
 
 [A scuffle is toward, when it is arrested by the entrance 
 
 of the OLTEEN, followed by SALOME, from the garden.] 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Why wilt thou follow me, princess ? I need not 
 
 Thy proffered offices. I welcome not 
 
 This gust of friendship from an enemy 
 
 Whose deep contrition would be wasted time. 
 
 SALOME 
 
 Thy blindness cannot plumb thy needs, poor soul. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Desist, desist. 
 
 [Freeing her dress from SALOME'S hand] 
 
 Prefer a genuine hate to apish love. 
 
 [Coming forward to her women] 
 
 What meant the hubbub here ? Is nowhere peace ? 
 
 ALL [in one voice, standing off and looking askance at 
 
 MIRIAM] 
 
 Now, she must clear herself! 
 
 MIRIAM [after a pause] 
 
 They say I am a spy . . , 
 
 [Sobbing and throwing herself at MARIAMNE'S feet] 
 
 . . . but I am not ! 
 Indeed, I am not ! 'Tis themselves are bought ! 
 
 SALOME 
 
 I Hark, Mariamne ! when thy pride caves in. 
 Remember me, trapped Fool, remember me ! 
 
 xxx>'ii. 
 
[Having cried this from the top of the stair she descends 
 
 into the garden : her disappearance is followed by a 
 
 painful silence.] 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 No one has taken orold to serve me ill. 
 
 Come, not a word ! 
 
 [Sitting down] 
 
 Come, Miriam, weep no more ; it was their fears 
 
 And not themselves, accused thee ; souls in dread 
 
 Are dreadful to themselves. Yes, we are watched, 
 
 And we are listened to ; for palace walls 
 
 Have always ears and eyes invisible : 
 
 Distrust will not protect us, but trust may. 
 
 To trust a foe is often to disarm one ; 
 
 And friends are trusted, friendship being trust. 
 
 Fear haunts me, I have leant too ready an ear 
 
 To apprehensions and become their slave ! 
 
 Friends, mark me, I, upon suspicion, have 
 
 Restrained my husband of his lawful right, 
 
 There in the tent, and roused his wrath once more, 
 
 By being bold to break my marriage vow 
 
 And set a stubborn will against my lord's. — 
 
 If I have sinned in this, O thou, still young 
 
 And honourably fearless still — though dead — 
 
 My brother's soul, reveal to me mine error ! 
 
 [She presses her hands against her eyes.] 
 
 If in the fish-ponds, there, at Jericho 
 
 No human enemies, inhuman friends. 
 
 Leant aid to drown thee — laughed to mock appeals 
 
 Thy last despair put piteously up . . . 
 
 O dead face, smile assurance or look thwart 
 
 And lower on this heart's ill-judged compunction ! 
 
 xxxviii. 
 
[After a pause, freeing her eyes with a despairing action.] 
 
 Not less are driioged, who sip suspicion's cup, 
 
 Than those whose wine was meddled with ; perhaps 
 
 Their friends appear like monsters vision-bred, 
 
 Their husbands may assume some nightmare shape ; 
 
 Stripped are they, then, of all relationship! 
 
 How naked is that soul which doubts of love ! 
 
 Random accusers to protect mere life 
 
 They soon become who yield to mutual doubts ; 
 
 Forgetful of the best that they have known, 
 
 They will count all that made them love-worthy 
 
 For loss to save what, saved, can be no more 
 
 Than one mean undeservino- friendless heart. 
 
 [After a pause, turning to HEPSIBAH and putting her 
 
 arms round her] 
 
 Hepsibah, thou art sobbing, guileless child — 
 
 This heart's a sample of your trusty hearts ; 
 
 Girls, I have not been often harsh with you. 
 
 HEPSIBAH [in a broken voice] 
 Never again, never again. 
 Will I send messag-es ! 
 Indeed I will not, oh ! 
 
 MARIAMNE [starts up and stands away from her] 
 
 It is so ! though she seemed a child ! — my son ? 
 
 My Alexander.-* left! and in the care 
 
 Of such as these ! 
 
 [To HKPSIRAH, who has fallen at her feet imploringly] 
 
 I loathe you, — loathe you all. 
 Shameful women ! I am mother and am wife ; 
 My heart is not that gaping avid thing 
 That sucks the unwed female, in distress ; 
 
 xxix. 
 
My bosom's richer that it has been milked 
 
 Five times, by several pairs of infant lips ! 
 
 Base hearts ! my eldest boy ! my Alexander, 
 
 Whom I have hoped would one day s^row to prove 
 
 God's great Messiah, Israel's longed-for King, 
 
 Great with his father's greatness, greater yet 
 
 With that great glory of the Maccabees — 
 
 His nation's saviour! This ye knew, base hearts! 
 
 And yet I am alone among you, helpless ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 I will be true ; I have done nothing yet. 
 
 MIRIAM [also prone at Mariamne's feet] 
 
 I will be true ; here is Salome's gold ! 
 
 She said it was no bribe, but just a gift, 
 
 That I might speak her kindly ; she was quick 
 
 And forced me take it. Pardon ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 Pardon ! 
 
 MARIAMNE [musingly repeats] 
 
 Pardon, pardon ! 
 
 [The chief of the eunuchs rushes in, falls at 
 
 MARIAMNE'S feet and catches hold of her robe.] 
 
 EUNUCH 
 
 O Queen, O mistress, help ! 
 
 HEROD'S OFFICER [following] 
 
 Madam, the King 
 Commands that he be tortured and at once ! 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Go tell the King that I protect my slave ! 
 HEROD'S OFFICER 
 
 The King forbad us heed aught thou shouldst say. 
 xl. 
 
MARIAMNE 
 
 Take him ; begone ! 
 
 [The eunuch is carried off— the QUEEN turns to her 
 
 women,] 
 
 Give me my crown and robe of state at once. 
 
 ALEXANDRA [entering breathless] 
 
 This is the end ! oh, this is thy success ! — 
 
 His cupbearer falls down at Herod's feet — 
 
 Declares that he for years has mixed his wine 
 
 With magic philtres which he had from thee : 
 
 But that to-day the drink was not the same 
 
 As thou at other times providedst him, 
 
 Therefore he feared, and rather brooked the blame 
 
 Of yielding to a young wife's pretty fears, 
 
 Than pour he knew not what in Herod's cup. 
 
 Thy husband howls and, like a man possessed, 
 
 Stamps up and down ; then bids them fetch thy slave, 
 
 And Sohemus he bade them bring him chained ; 
 
 And seeing-, Sflared at me in such a sort, 
 
 That I made haste to get beyond his reach. 
 
 [MARIAININE sweeps out, having assumed her crown and 
 robe, followed by her women ; but very shordy returns, 
 halts a moment, then says :] 
 Go see if there are guards 
 Outside upon those stairs I 
 
 HEPSIBAH [who has run to look] 
 Yes, two stand half-way up 
 And at the bottom more. 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Prisoned ! Thou art indicted of high treason 
 
 As Hyrcan was, if I foresee at all. 
 
 xli. 
 
Behold where all thy humours have an end ! — 
 
 Me hast thou ruined ; I that warned thee truly ; 
 
 I, that, to-day, bade thee thy husband soothe! 
 
 Forget not that before thy judges. Once, 
 
 Whilst yet thou canst, right thou thy mother, girl 
 
 MARIAMNE [taking off her crown] 
 
 What is the use of this ? 
 
 [She tosses it on one side. | 
 
 ALEXANDRA 
 
 Dost thou not heed me even yet, Cold Pride ? 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 When have I been a queen ? 
 
 The promises of birth 
 
 How they have mocked me ! 
 
 This violence unjust 
 
 Has been my bondage I 
 
 This blind man's fury. 
 
 This jealous treachery. 
 
 This love that risks nought. 
 
 Without faith, 
 
 Without warmth. 
 
 Griping cold. 
 
 It tightens ! — 
 
 Suffocates ! — 
 
 Strenorth fails me ! 
 
 My children I — 
 
 Where are they ? 
 
 [She sinks back as the curtain falls.] 
 
 xlii. 
 
ACT IV 
 
 [A lofty circular hall. Around the one half seventy-one 
 stalls for the Sanhedrin are built against the wall ; the 
 other half is vacant, and here have been brought chairs 
 for CYPROS. SALOME. ALEXANDRA, around whom 
 are gathered the different factions from the palace. A 
 rope separates the two sections : at either end of this 
 rise two thrones approached by many steps ; HEROD'S 
 on the extreme left in front ; that of ANANEL, the 
 High Priest, at the back in the centre. A clear passage 
 is left from throne to throne along the rope, from which 
 space up to the feet of the JUDGES are arranged a vast 
 quantity of low stools for clerks and scholars. Two 
 lanes, branching through these stools from the centre, 
 run, one to a small door considerably to the right of 
 ANANEL, the other straight to the front of the stage in 
 the centre. By the first, DOCTORS and their PUPILS 
 late to arrive are stealing to their places ; by the second, 
 MARIAMNE is being led in. with her back to the 
 auditorium, when the curtain goes slowly up. A 
 small railed dais has been prepared for her where both 
 lanes converge ; she is wholly draped in heavy black ; 
 the guard who leads her in seats himself on the steps 
 of the dais. The two Officers of the Court are seated 
 one at the foot of HEROD'S throne, one beneath that of 
 ANANEL, and have their backs to those from the palace 
 and face the SANHEDRIN, as does the prisoner. The 
 scholars, of whom there is only a sprinkling, face the 
 accused. Many of the stalls, which describe a deep 
 curve from ANANEL to the extreme right, remain empty. 
 HEROD'S Cupbearer, the only witness, stands beside 
 
 xliii. 
 
the OFFICKR at the foot of the KING'S throne; uho 
 
 rising, addresses the QUEEN] 
 
 Thou, Mariamne, Queen of Israel, 
 
 Art for high treason here arraigned ; whereto 
 
 Is joined adultery, with Joseph first, 
 
 Thy husband's sister's spouse, and recently 
 
 With Sohemus. As thou art draped in black, 
 
 According to the custom of this court, 
 
 These venerable judges do demand 
 
 That thou assume an humble attitude. 
 
 And wait thy sentence with submissiveness 
 
 Matched to the shadow of that awful peril 
 
 Wherein thou standest under Moses' Law. 
 
 HEROD [who has his head covered by a napkinj 
 Is she now stationed where her fatal eyes 
 Cannot encounter with our own to kindle 
 That strange enfeebling fondness, which her drugs 
 Have nourished to such ravage in our frame? 
 
 The OFFICER [mounts the steps and draws a curtain 
 
 looped over HEROD down till it entirely hides the 
 
 Queen] 
 
 My lord, the curtain shields thee from her gaze. 
 
 HEROD [removing the napkin, rises in his throne and 
 
 turns to the Judges] 
 
 Ye Priests, Scribes, Elders, — Israel's foremost men, 
 
 Some haste appears in this your summoning, 
 
 And I perceive your number to fall short ; 
 
 For judgment none the less those here suffice. 
 
 I am your King; design against my life 
 
 Is treason to the state. Know then, this Queen, 
 
 Implacable Mariamne, poisons us — 
 
 xliv. 
 
Holding our reason subject to her will 
 
 By philtres and unnatural sorceries, 
 
 Till now we find our very life at stake. 
 
 Such sullen blackness was from her regard 
 
 Discharged, her bribed minister took fright. 
 
 The philtre he had deemed a woman's wile 
 
 And pardonable, being not the same 
 
 To-day, as that with which he heretofore 
 
 Hath mixed our wine, he at our feet fell down — 
 
 Confessed the whole— begged mercy and obtained it. 
 
 [Bowing his head] 
 
 Our boundless fondness very grossly proves 
 
 The former potions' devilish effect, 
 
 So dire we dare not look on her again. 
 
 Yet have to summon utmost resolution 
 
 To hold our eyes from truancy foredoomed. 
 
 [Raising his head] 
 
 Behold that beauty, whose abuse doth this ! 
 
 Concoctions have not decomposed your blood 
 
 Nor brought its currents into servitude ; 
 
 So ye may marvel at that dignity 
 
 Which makes her crime so great a sacrilege. 
 
 [Turning and. finding himself obstructed by the curtain, 
 
 raising his voice] 
 
 On thee, our God's high priest, most wronged I call : 
 
 Open our court supreme with solemn prayer, 
 
 ANANEL 
 
 Blessed art thou, O Lord of Sabaoth ; 
 
 Mighty and tremendous art thou, God most high ; 
 
 God of our fathers, God of Abraham, 
 
 The God of Israel, the God of Jacob, 
 
 The '^reat God mighty and tremendous ! 
 
 xlv. 
 
Because ihon lovcst rli^hteousness, O Lcjixl. 
 
 Dost thou rule over us with j^race and mercy ; 
 
 I'vlse what were we to stand before thy wrath ? 
 
 We tlierefore now beseech thee of thy might ; 
 
 To slanderers let there be no hope at all ! 
 
 May workers of iniquity be lost — 
 
 Upon a sudden in a moment let them perish ! 
 
 O humble them at once and in our sight ! 
 
 Thus shall thy judges fear thee and judge right. 
 
 O help them bring to nought all wrongdoers, 
 
 Making of no effect their confidence! 
 
 Upon the just, upon the pious, and upon 
 
 The elders of thy people and thy priests, 
 
 Bestow, Lord, we beseech thee, grace and wisdom ! 
 
 [He sits down, the whole assembly murmuring] 
 
 Amen. 
 
 OFFICER [at the foot of HEROD'S throne, rising and 
 
 addressing the prisoner] 
 
 Thou, Mariamne, Queen of Israel, 
 
 Hast leave to speak now in thine own defence. 
 
 [A silence] 
 
 If any here would say aught in defence 
 
 Of Mariamne, Queen of Israel, 
 
 He, first, before the accuser, shall be heard. 
 
 [A silence ; then among the students a murmur of] 
 
 Sameas, Sameas. 
 
 [At length that Doctor riseth from his seat on the 
 
 extreme right.] 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 O ye, that are assessors here with me — 
 
 O thou, that art our King, — neither myself, 
 
 Nor do I think that any other man, 
 
 xlvi. 
 
Can now recall a precedent for this ; 
 
 The accused, accuser, nature of the crime, 
 
 Amaze as did the deeds of God in Egypt. 
 
 Therefore I will not search the law for texts. 
 
 None will dispute that, if our Queen hath done 
 
 All those things of the which she stands accused. 
 
 Her life, though at the mercy of the King, 
 
 Is forfeit to the law. But this consider — 
 
 And more, O King, than others, ponder thou. 
 
 How oreat and elorious is this woman's blood ! 
 
 In what respect, till now, she hath been held ! 
 
 Not only at the court — throughout the land 
 
 That reputation virtue only gains 
 
 She hath enjoyed ; admit to scheme for this 
 
 Conceivable in one perversely willed ; 
 
 Yet Jezebel and Cleopatra too 
 
 Schemed not for this, but shamelessly did wrong. 
 
 Then from experience reason in survey 
 
 Draws nought of confirmation in respect 
 
 Of her high state and honoured good repute. 
 
 Next to her situation turn an eye ; — 
 
 On what regardeth passions probable 
 
 In such as form her circle and her train. 
 
 Not in kings' houses is it hard to find 
 
 False witnesses, when one can seek with gold ; 
 
 Nor are those high in honour envied least ; 
 
 Nor does a woman's hatred take a sword, — 
 
 The tongue that sows dissensions she prefers. 
 
 Think how thyself stood in like peril once 
 
 Of Cleopatra's most offending tongue ! 
 
 Can innocence, that scruples at a fib, 
 
 Foil the contriving lips that trecly lie ? 
 
 xlvii. 
 
My lord, is any witness to these things 
 Save this thy youthful, unnerved cupbearer? 
 
 HEROD [rising- again] 
 Nay, the chief eunuch, under torture, died 
 Ere he confessed, so clumsy were my slaves. 
 Yet he, at least, made plain that Sohemus 
 Had, in my absence, foully soiled my bed, 
 Indulging this Queen's hatred and his lust ; 
 Which to my taking-off adds likelihood. 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 When but one witness can be brought, my lord, 
 At least he should be tortured, ere believed ; 
 Unless her Majesty admit the charge ? 
 
 HEROD 
 
 The dying eunuch's testimony confirms. 
 
 OFFICER [reads] 
 
 Gehazi, on the rack a third time stretched, 
 
 Made signal of his willingness to speak ; 
 
 Relieved, he wept and said his mistress' wrath 
 
 Against her husband dated from that day 
 
 Whereon she, closeted with Sohemus, 
 
 Gained knowledge of commands to him delivered 
 
 Under close seal of secrecy. These were, 
 
 That should the King die, she should straight be slain. 
 
 But questioned of the philtres, he denied 
 
 All knowledge and refused to speak thenceforth. 
 
 Though racked a fourth and fifth time : when, being 
 
 slacked, 
 
 He unexpectedly gave up the ghost, 
 
 Despite our care and prompt solicitude. 
 
 Signed Draco ; witnessed Hasdrubal and Mark. 
 
 xlviii. 
 
SAME AS 
 
 Here is no confirmation ; justly weiglied 
 
 These words hint not adultery, my lord ; 
 
 Neither imply they treason in thy Oueen : — 
 
 And if in Sohemus, not of intent, 
 
 But that he, weak, betrayed thy confidence. 
 
 He was a man in years, of rigid life ; 
 
 They might be closeted without reproach. 
 
 Though he did wrong, revealing thy commands. 
 
 This need not taint the honour of the Queen. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 And not, when Joseph failed the selfsame way? 
 
 Would both, for small gain, venture thus their heads? 
 
 SAME AS 
 
 Joseph declared he did reveal his trust 
 
 To prove how great thy passion for the Queen, — 
 
 Which she, to his confusion, took not so. 
 
 Were Sohemus now questioned, it may be 
 
 We should hear much to mollify our censure. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Were Sohemus not headless, he might fable ! — 
 
 To woo the Queen, he had but praised the King — 
 
 Broucj-ht home to her the warmth of my affection 
 
 As well as any man so far in years 
 
 Could hope to — held my honour worth his own. 
 
 Despatch upon conviction, that — that only 
 
 Prevents him smile upon and soothe his dupe! 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 Examination of this councillor 
 
 O King, had helped to justice either wa)- : 
 
 So swift to execution is not wise ! 
 
 jj xlix. 
 
/ 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Must I, to help your wisdoms see the lioht. 
 
 Endure that man's Hie who usurped my bed ? 
 
 Why, every man's bed is as a king's throne ; 
 
 Adulterers are stoned. Far worse his crime ! 
 
 SAME AS 
 
 But where doubt lurks, question alone sheds light . . . 
 
 HEROD [interrupting] 
 
 O count it not improbable, brave sirs, 
 
 That one so young, so delicate, so fair, 
 
 Preferred a grisled elder to myself. 
 
 Her hatred, darkening ever more, hath flowed. 
 
 Like that great Nile, who sometimes brings thick mud 
 
 Into the palaces of Egypt's kings, 
 
 From whence nought can debar his sullen force ; 
 
 So hath her anger, like his swirling flood, 
 
 O'erborne the bootless courtesies of life ; 
 
 So, through the trustful portals of my love, 
 
 The sickening moil of pale malignity. 
 
 In silence risen from that Nubian source 
 
 Her mind, came burdened, and unloadeth now 
 
 The heavy breeding slime of household guile 
 
 Round throne and life and state. 
 
 She, to debauch the man I left in trust, 
 
 Would lie with bones and kiss far skinnier hands. 
 
 SAMEAS [suddenly pointing with vehemence at the 
 
 Cupbearer] 
 
 My lord, he should be tortured. See ! He shakes ! 
 
 Perchance some ill-intentioned Arab purse 
 
 Hath gilded those white lips. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Believe me, sirs, the lad is young and good. 
 
 1. 
 
Is not the Queen pale too ? 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 My lord, as white as Death. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 And is not hatred frozen in her face ? 
 
 Thou art silent, man ; speak truth. Is this not so? 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 My lord, the Queen is very beautiful, 
 
 And may be wronged, and surely is hard placed. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Her beauty blinds thee yet : but hate protrudes 
 As through a soft life-nurturinij woman's form 
 Age slowly thrusts the cheerless skeleton. 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 My lord ! my lord ! yet for the sake of form, 
 
 This boy should be most straitly put to test ! 
 
 The Queen is of the blood of Maccabaeus, 
 
 Greatly beloved among the populace ; 
 
 Therefore it were not wise to slight the Law. 
 
 She should be heard — this boy should be hard 
 
 pressed. 
 
 ' HEROD 
 
 \ She should be heard ! She cannot speak for spleen ! 
 V. . J She hath been taken thus to-day already. 
 .vV.AHer spirit contradicts her form so greatly 
 
 hat both are at dead-lock : those lips of hers 
 Are far too fair to speak her very mind ; 
 Her wholesome flesh doth turn against her soul. — 
 I, Doctors, vouch that what I say is true ; 
 It is not just to-day's untasted cup. 
 Not what this boy may say or may not say. 
 
 r^> 
 
Which proves her crime. I^ach added thwarted year 
 (Wherein, if I have ever found her kind 
 It has been gained by gifts and patient vows) 
 Her wedded husband has to woo her still, 
 Though married now six years ; wherein I, perfect, 
 Kept me from other laps and lived as boys do, 
 Sick with their first love's coyness. Lost I heart? 
 No, all was suffered with the tenderest love ! 
 Which boundless fondness very grossly proves 
 As I have said, what drugs did sap my blood. 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 O Kino-, to-morrow is the Sabbath eve. 
 Whereon no sentence can be passed ; nor can 
 A sentence on a charge which doth involve 
 Or life or death be passed the selfsame day 
 On which the trial cometh to its term. 
 This is the Law ; therefore to set aside 
 Law's forms will not expediate the end. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 'Tis superstitious, this respect for forms. 
 When thou thyself hast pointed out the call 
 For rapid action,— lest her danger rouse 
 In the duped people such mistaken warmth 
 As causeth contlagration unto states — 
 Tumults that impede the course of law — 
 Seditions that, once getting head, put all 
 To the arbitrament of civil war ! 
 Methinks that thou dost secretly incline 
 To unleash violence, in hopes to gain 
 By popular consent the reins of power. 
 Ambitious Pharisee! I will not risk 
 The whole achievement of my strenuous life 
 lii. 
 
(For which I'm mapped with scars — have hardships 
 
 borne, 
 
 Such as thy learned days can form no guess of), 
 
 To pleasure thee with one more precedent 
 
 For superstitious trifling with mere words. 
 
 Peace is at stake. As to this woman's guilt 
 
 Who entertains an honest doubt of that .'* 
 
 If any man — her beauty trammels him ! 
 
 Let such lend ear to what I next will tell, 
 
 The chronicle of that insensate hate 
 
 With which my so mad fondness is repaid. 
 
 Through our betrothal, lasting four long years, 
 
 I courted her, then hardly yet a woman. 
 
 And to commence, I put away a wife 
 
 Of mine own tribe — though she had borne a son, 
 
 W'as well derived, soft spoken, full of grace : — 
 
 An action nigh to madness, many thought. 
 
 But, tender virgin though she was, e'en then, 
 
 The blood of all her domineering race. 
 
 With jealous humours flecked her springtide health. 
 
 Her mother's malice educating hers. 
 
 Soon found occasion in my every act 
 
 For slanders, accusations, tears, and storms. 
 
 Her brother, young Aristobulus drowned ; — 
 
 I drowned him ! though I proved mine innocence — 
 
 A VOICE [from among the Doctors of the Sanhedrin] 
 
 It was not proven here, 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Who spoke ? 
 
 [A silence] 
 
 The charge was not brought here. — 
 
 Sirs, to have drowned him had had full excuse! 
 
 liii. 
 
For Alexandra and liimsclf I took 
 
 In perforated coffins, snujjfly stowed 
 
 And hoist on carriers' shoulders, to be borne 
 
 From hence to Egypt, Cleopatra's court, 
 
 Haven of refuge for a young fair prince ! 
 
 Sufficient proof of what their motives were! 
 
 Namely, to promise Antony my wife. 
 
 Whose picture and her brother's had been sent 
 
 By their all-shameless mother to that man, 
 
 Whose manners infamous were known to all ! 
 
 Had I. not God, punished so great offence 
 
 Justice had not been wronged. But no, my love 
 
 Not only pardoned this, but raised the lad 
 
 To the high priesthood : whereat the Most High, 
 
 Justly offended that I was so weak, 
 
 Caused him to drown while romping in the ponds I 
 
 Though I was there, it was already dusk, 
 
 And they were swum some distance from the bank. 
 
 I saw the splashing, heard them laugh and shout. 
 
 His not the least loud voice ; then suddenly 
 
 A silence fell, and slowly towing him 
 
 They did return like frightened children home. 
 
 Sport will grow mad : he was as mad as they. 
 
 The SAME VOICE [as before] 
 
 What tyrant drove them mad ? 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Who spoke ? 
 
 [A silence] 
 
 I heed no man 
 
 Who dares not with his presence vouch his voice. 
 
 But brief recount what else remains. These women 
 
 Entrapped the aged Hyrcan in a plot 
 
 liv. 
 
Which unto the Arabians would have sold 
 You, helpless Jews ; forced to be sudden, I 
 Had him beheaded ; 'twas, perchance, a fault 
 To slay a man so harmless in himself; 
 But here the philtre worked and warped my mind 
 To pardon her inhum.ui mother's g"uilt 
 Because she spoke and looked, as now to think 
 Compels me close mine eyes for fear they turn 
 And master my control. To-day this witch 
 Refused me welcome — put on mourning — groaned 
 When I embraced her — scorning me outright. 
 Doubtless, she deemed I was a poisoned man 1 
 I weep to think how yet she played with me 
 As with the mouse the cat doth — gave me hopes, 
 Between her paws, and seemed to close her eyes, 
 Forgetful of her hate ; — when Fool ! O Fool ! 
 I, in the garden of my palace — I 
 Did pace beside her. wooing hate with love. . . . 
 Five hours since it was ! and )et she lives I 
 SAMEAS 
 
 King, I see thy pain : but cause and cure 
 Are they best found of patient or of leech ? 
 Ah, in thy deep exasperation see. 
 Imperative, the call for time ! Let bide : 
 After the Sabbath passed in holy thought,. 
 Return to judgment calmly like a king ! 
 
 1 will be surety for the populace ; 
 
 If they rebel, take thou my life, my lord ! 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Tlwu wilt be surety for the populace I 
 
 I said as much ! Thou bold seditious man I 
 
 Perhaps my crown is really on thy head ? 
 
 Iv. 
 
This is a witch-craft — drug-deception — nay, 
 
 This circular oppression which I feel 
 
 Is it not madness ? 
 
 SAM HAS 
 
 Is there no other tongue which dares to plead ? 
 
 Ye leave me unsupported : aid me, friends ! 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Help him, he totters ; the old man will fall ! 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 Alas, it is thyself that stumblest, King. 
 
 STUDENT 
 
 O King, I am a student, sitting here, 
 
 Both young and little learned : yet the law 
 
 Permits that we speak in defence of those 
 
 Who stand in danger of their lives — and I 
 
 Make bold to tell thee that the Queen did blench, 
 
 Change colour, and look near upon to weep 
 
 When thou just now didst tell how short a time 
 
 Had passed since that thine heart had trusted hers. 
 
 May be thou hast been wronged unto her ear. 
 
 Even as she in thine, my lord, may be. 
 
 HEROD 
 
 Send for your nurslings and for those bed-rid ; 
 Such only can find words in such a cause ; — 
 The over silly and the overwise, 
 Let them " maybe " and query on : but men 
 Whose reason does not totter, sternly see 
 Need pressing that this demon's vot'ress die. 
 
 SAMEAS 
 
 Nay wait ! be careful how ye slight the law ! — 
 
 This trial has not been in order, Sirs ; 
 
 Ivi. 
 
Although ve suffer from this scourge of God, 
 
 [Indignant murmurs among the courtiers | 
 
 Remember God more dreadful is than kings !— 
 
 And thou, O King, to whom I prophesied 
 
 (What time thou. too. cited before this court, 
 
 Answeredst charge involving life or death) 
 
 This kingly power which thou abusest now ; 
 
 Thou, too, wouldst then have been condemned to death 
 
 Save that, in lieu of these prescribed black weeds, 
 
 Thou cam'st in golden armour, with a troop 
 
 And lances to intimidate the hearts 
 
 Of judges who feared thee yet more than God. 
 
 That time I prophesied their cowardice 
 
 [Uneasiness among the Doctors] 
 
 Should cringe and suffer 'neath thine alien heel, 
 
 As now they do ; for not a judge sits here. 
 
 But smarts to see our law so trampled on. 
 
 HEROD [interrupting yet more furiously] 
 
 Confusion ! Where, without me, would ye be ? 
 
 Jerusalem were ruins ! Romans, Sirs, 
 
 Or else Arabians, here had pitched their camp, 
 
 And with your roof-trees cooked their evening meal. 
 
 And fortified themselves with threshold stones 
 
 And lintels out from which they marched their slaves. 
 
 Gabinius, Barzaphanes, Cassius, Ccesar — 
 
 Brave men from anywhere have but to come — 
 
 Then, when the robbers from the east did dodge 
 
 The Roman cohorts west, when Arabs poured 
 
 From out the south, and Parthians from the north, 
 
 Oh, ye might beat your breasts! Oh, ye might roll 
 
 Down in the dust, tearing your mandes then ! 
 
 Jackals would soon whelp in your temple's courts. 
 
 Ivii. 
 
And bandits dig your hidden treasures up 
 From rubble-smothered ruins left to L,^uard 
 Of conies and the hoarse chough's callow brood. 
 [The DOCTORS and STUDENTS alike express their 
 horror, waving their long sleeved arms.] 
 SAMEAS [alone remains unmoved upright as before, 
 and now retorts :] 
 
 The Almighty could raise up a Maccabaeus 
 A Samson, Gideon, David, Joshua — 
 Omnipotence depends on no one man ! 
 Deceive thyself no more, but me believe 
 If now I prophesy : 
 
 Repentance, following thine act too late. 
 Shall make thy fate more dire yet than his 
 The first Aristobulus of this throne ; 
 Who, now some fourscore years past, slew his mother 
 And after her his brother ; and of whom 
 Judas the Essenian prophesied, 
 And all came true according to his words. 
 He vomited his blood, the which was spilled 
 Upon the same spot where, by his command, 
 That brother had been stabbed : 
 
 His own was mixed with blood his brother shed. . . . 
 HEROD [while they force SAMEAS to be silent, in con- 
 sternation at the KING, almost black in the face with 
 
 fury] 
 
 Is her blood mine ? 
 
 Have I my brother slain } Thou onager, 
 
 Thou hard-mouthed mule, shalt thou call prophecy 
 
 The impudence of thy schooled tongue-wagging.-^ 
 
 Am I not held ensample to the world 
 
 For love of brothers and for love of kin .'* 
 
 Iviii. 
 
Have I, remiss, behaved me tyrant- wise 
 
 To Phasael or Pheroras or Jason, 
 
 That thou dost tax me with the infamous 
 
 Dead forebear of this wicked Jewish Queen, 
 
 Whom I accuse of so resembHng him 
 
 As offspring will their ancestors ? His blood. 
 
 The Asmonean. she inherits it ! ! 
 
 [To AXANEL, after a pause, in which he glares round 
 
 the hall] 
 
 Now let the judges signify her guilt ! 
 
 [At a sign from ANANEL the JUDGES hold out their 
 
 hands in sign of assent, while the two Officers record the 
 
 votes in the two sections of the hemi-cycle. The vote 
 
 is unanimous except for those near SAMEAS, who are 
 
 occupied with the old Doctor, who is coughing and 
 
 sobbing. The two Officers hand their tablets to 
 
 ANANEL, who, having glanced over them and written 
 
 the sentence, returns them to the Officer whose place is 
 
 on the steps of his throne, and who proclaims :] 
 
 Mariamne, Queen of Israel, 
 
 Thou art by the Sanhedrin's vote declared 
 
 Convicted of high treason, whereunto 
 
 Is joined adultery with Joseph, first, — 
 
 Thy husband's sister's spouse, — and recendy 
 
 With Sohemus : for reasons of high state 
 
 Thou art condemned to die this very day. 
 
 Three hours are thine to seek thy peace with God. 
 
 HEROD [as the sentence is read, has drawn back the 
 
 curtain and gazes upon MARIAMNE. who turns no whit 
 
 toward him but lowers her eyes : after a silence he speaks | 
 
 Now that she is condemned by the Sanhedrin, 
 
 There is no cause to fear the populace, 
 
 lix. 
 
As all hath passed accortlinjr^ lo ilic law : 
 
 And to respect the Sabbath it were well. 
 
 The Queen mij^ht now to Alexandrium 
 
 He instantly conveyed : our children there 
 
 Might take farewell and I . . . 
 
 My masters, do I not speak as I should? 
 
 The JUDGES 
 
 The thinq- is very pleasing to us all. 
 
 SALOME [loosinq- the cord, runs forward and mounts 
 
 HEROD'S throne] 
 
 Herod, thou art bewitched, the potion works! 
 
 Thou art like Samson : thy Delilah soon 
 
 Will have thee bound and grinding Jewish corn ! 
 
 Thine eyes are fastened on thy doom, poor King! 
 
 Before the Alexandrium were reached 
 
 A thousand chances that she would be freed ! 
 
 Be sure the rumour of her danger spreading, 
 
 Has brought together the fanatic mob, 
 
 Which will with fifty ambuscades, decoys, 
 
 Sudden attacks, and stones from hiding slung, 
 
 Soon disconcert the very steadiest guard 
 
 That thou canst summon at a moment's call. 
 
 [Drawing back the curtains so as again to hide 
 
 MARIAMNE from her brother, while he sinks back in 
 
 his throne, she continues :] 
 
 Herod, I save thee from thyself, unmanned 
 
 As thou hast been by years of drug-taking. 
 
 [The guard has begun to lead MARIAMNE forward 
 
 towards the footlights, when ALEXANDRA, breaking 
 
 away from her women, gets in front of her daughter. 
 
 All the JUDGES are leaving the court but are stopped 
 
 by her voice.] 
 Ix. 
 
ALEXANDRA 
 
 O shameless wanton, hast thou heard thy mother 
 
 Abused for a participant with thee 
 
 In all thy crimes, and art thou silent yet ? 
 
 Mow often have I warned thee, headstrong girl, 
 
 What ruin thou wouldst bring upon us all, 
 
 Didst thou persist in injuring the King — 
 
 Debarring from his natural rights a husband 
 
 So fond, long-suffering and exemplary ? 
 
 Confess it, even to-day, I urged his claims 
 
 With every argument my brain could forge ! 
 
 Say, did I not ? 
 
 [Receiving no answer she strikes the QUEEN on the face.] 
 
 Speak, stubborn strumpet, speak ! 
 [The guard interposes, and MARIAMNE'S and her own 
 women drag her away, while the whole assembly ex- 
 presses its disapproval and consternation : but the 
 QUEEN seems not to regard it, save that at hrst she 
 discovers some concern for her mother's offence : yet 
 proceedeth forward unshaken when the guard recom- 
 mences to lead, as the curtain falls.] 
 
 Ixi. 
 
ACT V 
 
 [Three walls of naked rock, with a Hat stone ceiling as 
 
 in Egyptian buildings ; to the left a doorway with two 
 
 huge sliding doors ; above this a grating, the one source 
 
 of light ; at the back to the right a narrow door closed 
 
 upon a staircase of which the two last steps protrude 
 
 into the prison ; in the centre a well, with a wooden 
 
 barrel fixed above, on which the rope winds. Four 
 
 of the Queen's maidens are turning its two heavy 
 
 crank-handles ; she herself is seated on the stone parapet 
 
 that surrounds the well and is just completing her toilet. 
 
 The water of a former draught, that has been used 
 
 for washing, stands in a shallow tub at her feet ; towels 
 
 are on the ground ; while HEPSIBAH, kneeling, holds 
 
 the sandal of the QUEEN, waiting to be allowed to 
 
 strap it on, another woman dries the QUEEN'S hands. 
 
 Those who have been turning the windlass stop, and 
 
 one of their number, unhooking the bucket, comes 
 
 forward.] 
 
 Oh ! it is clear ! The bucket has become 
 
 Quite clean, at last. — Wilt thou not bathe thy brow ? 
 
 There is no least speck clinging to the sides, 
 
 Or floating — it is clear and cold and clean ! 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Dear Mistress, bathe thy brows and be refreshed. 
 
 MARIAMNE [to HEPSIBAH] 
 
 Nay, 
 
 Why should I lace my feet in curious straps, 
 
 To step into the grave ? 
 
 [To MIRIAM, who with the help of REBECCA brings 
 
 the bucket to the QUEEN] 
 
 Ixii. 
 
Well, let mc try — 
 [Shrinking from contact with it] 
 It chills me even through my dresses — flashing, 
 Icy and black with rusted stains. No, no I 
 It has been used for blood ! I know it hath ; 
 Take it away! And though this fear be vain, 
 [Recovering her self-control] 
 It is too cold and would intensif)- 
 The aching of my brows. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Let me a little sprinkle in thy face — 
 
 There now ! does that not do thee good ? There, there ; — 
 
 I knew it wH)uld. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Enoug-h, enoug-h ! Have done! 
 I am relieved ; my brows are not so hot : 
 Here, let me dip my hands ! 
 
 [Carefully keeping her face turned from the bucket, 
 she immerses her hands and then damps her brows 
 and eyes.] 
 Now pour the rest away. 
 
 REBECCA [empties the bucket down the well] 
 
 How long it took before we heard the splash ! — 
 
 This well must needs be deep. 
 
 HEPSIBAH [bending over it] 
 
 Impossible to see, 
 
 There is so little light. 
 
 [Shuddering] 
 
 How horrible ! how black ! 
 
 MARIAMNE [who is just receiving her black cloak 
 from MIRIAM, clutching it to her, repeats] 
 
 Ixiii. 
 
How liorriblc ! How black! 
 
 It strikes cold too ! So cold ! 
 
 [Shuddering, she throws it off; pauses then, roused by 
 
 HEPSIBAH beginning to sobj 
 
 Come, we must say " Farewell " ! 
 
 I must prepare my thoughts. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Oh no, we cannot leave thee ! 
 
 THE OTHERS [weeping] 
 
 Never, never ! 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Indeed, ye should ; 
 
 Your tears betray my frailty. 
 
 Be brave and quit me now. 
 
 All that you can is done. 
 
 I had doubts of your truth. . 
 
 And wholly past. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Nay, kindest, noblest Queen, 
 Our gratitude's thy generous pardon's due. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Oh, it is horrible 
 
 To fear those we must brush against and touch 
 
 In answering each day's claim ; yet how much worse 
 
 Is dread of one whom pleasure, rest and sleep 
 
 Have long, and should long link and closet with us ! 
 
 I was too set upon a perfect life. 
 
 Must no fault be to hnd in Herod's love ? 
 
 Because a leat was led aside to turn 
 
 The mills of darkling thought and gross desire. 
 
 Such tampering with my fortune's copious stream 
 
 Ixiv. 
 
 But that's forgiven, 
 
Appeared a crime inhuman — human fault 
 Scarce marring much less fortune, it had seemed 
 To women husbanded at lesser cost 
 Of God's supreme endowments. I, a queen, 
 Cloyed with profusion, grudged the meagre pence 
 That hushed those earthy factions in the man,— 
 
 His doubts, extortions, inconsistencies ; — 
 Why, even as he claimed, I claimed too much ! 
 What, what ? to make 
 
 Assurance, which mine honour armed him with, 
 
 Doubly assured, he gave commands ?— paid spies ? 
 
 He did this ? Well, and if he did ? They were 
 
 Precautions needless, not devoid of plea, 
 
 As sops to nature's frail misgiving boon. 
 
 Hepsibah, weep not so : spare thy young heart ! 
 
 Farewell, Rebecca — Naomi, farewell. 
 
 Hepsibah, cease ! thy life is but begun ; 
 
 Thou shalt have others dearer to thy life 
 
 Than I have ever been. 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 Does it then happen nothing waits the doing 
 
 Of those who would give all they are to help ? 
 
 OTHER WOMEN 
 
 Alas ! Alas ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 Can the truth be, such willing love is vain ? 
 
 Our eyes, our tongues, our youth, — might these not work 
 
 Upon the King if tried ? 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 How? in what way? 
 n. Ixv. 
 
J 
 
 HKrsn^Aii 
 
 Can will devoted fail to find a way ? 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 We are but slaves, all doors are barred to us. 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 Let us try something ! somewhere let us go ! 
 And all as one wrest from his dark mistake 
 That light of reason which won him his crown. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 We utter words 
 
 Unconscious of all true contingency — 
 
 Speaking as those who speak 
 
 Surrounded by a dream — 
 
 Their lips are moved, their eyes are closed, they sleep, 
 
 Yet are they heard commanding in a place 
 
 Far from their beds — conversing even with those 
 
 Whose friendship they own not, but only seek, — 
 
 Instant to touch things, in a treasury. 
 
 Guarded by enemies 
 
 Enfortressed in a town 
 
 A thousand miles away. 
 
 Has not my heart done this ? — 
 
 The Herod loved was ne'er the Herod seen ; 
 
 I was but tender with a fond illusion ; 
 
 My kindness never met 
 
 The very call for aid, 
 
 Great Herod's bitter need. 
 
 Then how dared I to set 
 
 That crying out in slumber for his dream, 
 
 That straining after the impossible. 
 
 Against his true substantial kindnesses, 
 Ixvi. 
 
And would not humour him as he did me ? 
 How often has he turned my wrath with words 
 Too kind for aught save the repentant kiss 
 Which hps, more true than my poor soul dared be, 
 Refused no longer ; like a child that smiles 
 Despite the anger hugged unto its breast ? 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 Can no one tell him what the Queen has said ? 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Alas, 
 
 We are but silly women hear these things ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 While he, whose madness these kind words would cure. 
 
 Pines in a hostile silence fenced and caged. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 W^hen he grew sick, who good, was good to me, 
 
 Had I no sweetness — no rich laxative 
 
 To soften his warped heart and stiffened will ? 
 
 Was I found poorer than poor women even, 
 
 Who still have saved a cruise of oil — a box 
 
 Of precious ointment to anoint a bruise 
 
 Or do deep wounds some service, and repair 
 
 The damage of the man who fought for them — 
 
 Was jealous for their honour to excess ? 
 
 Will they not bear with many slights from such ? — 
 
 Forego much liberty to humour them ? 
 
 But I, a Queen, I, who have royal blood, 
 
 Returned him slight for slight — 
 
 Retrenched his freedom, when he curtailed mine, — 
 
 Refused him welcome — welcome 
 
 Of which love is the promise, as I think, 
 
 E* lx\ii. 
 
More truly than of any other good ! — 
 
 " Thou shalt be always welcome," — friendship even 
 
 Finds heart enough to say as much as that ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 He must be told : report but half of this ; 
 
 And ye shall see his love turn from Death's door 
 
 And come to her again. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 We women slaves 
 Feeling ! knowing ! are heeded but as pigeons ! 
 
 NAOMI 
 
 Had we but strength, authority, or madness ! 
 
 HEPSIBAH 
 
 We can but die against the door refused, 
 
 Or on the sword that is like us determined. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 They will forbid ye : even your cries will never 
 
 Reach to his ear : but it is best ye go 
 
 Before my heart, my lips, my eyes, rebel 
 
 O'erpowering what of dignity remains. 
 
 Come, go — O Miriam, think of my fond hopes ! 
 
 My Alexander, be thou all to him 
 
 As to Messiah — anxious — prompt ! — Poor child, 
 
 It may be yet the Lord shall choose my son : 
 
 His father was not then what now he is, 
 
 And I was better far. 
 
 Remember, Miriam, all those glorious days: 
 
 The generous product of such hours might well 
 
 Bless all the world to come ! — It seems so, now — 
 
 To me, it seems so, who have dwindled down 
 
 Till all my riches is the time long past. — 
 
 Ixviii. 
 
]\Iarah, farewell. — God bless each one of you. 
 
 When ye have failed as needs it must ye shall, 
 
 Come not back to me, let me die alone ; 
 
 I have no heart again to say, farewell. 
 
 [The women, gathered on the steps which lead straight 
 
 up, say " Farewell." Then MIRIAM, kissing the QUEEN 
 
 once again, joins them, and closes the door on the mass 
 
 of their white garments.] 
 
 MARIAMNE [having listened to their footsteps 
 
 distancing] 
 
 They go away — I sent them — O proud Heart ! 
 
 Art thou so terribly afraid to fail ? — 
 
 E'en in extremity wouldst rather still 
 
 Stoop than be seen to stoop? These walls are 
 
 stone, 
 
 But thou art stonier than these walls, O Pride. 
 
 Thou didst forbid my tears — forbid mine arms 
 
 That furious embrace which should have bound 
 
 Forever those dear friends, whose hands helped me 
 
 Each day, and every day, and all day long ! 
 
 Thus are they paid : my heart remains unknown. 
 
 [Slowly pacing she continues with bitter emphasis.] 
 
 All this long study to ensure control. 
 
 That makes us slaves unto our dignity — 
 
 To the mere phantom of our would-be worth, — 
 
 How this improves warm love and cheerful life ! 
 
 Have I been wary of my mother's fault, 
 
 Rash rage that gathers unto madness fast, — 
 
 Have I despised my husband's jealousy, — 
 
 Have I contemned these for their garrulous tongues 
 
 And women's over-talking, — all for this. 
 
 To find the issues of my nature choked } 
 
That, now, the merest vacancy would look 
 
 As well and yield as much good grace as I ? 
 
 Then is thy death come timely, tongue-tied soul ! 
 
 This bolted door, let it be forced at once, 
 
 Since all that I have stored within this breast, 
 
 Is good for naught, and 1, though rich, am poor 
 
 If my friends' need is now perforce refused. 
 
 [Having beaten her bosom during the last lines, she 
 
 turns dejectedly, props her elbows on one of the handles 
 
 of the windlass, and after a pause resumes.] 
 
 My husband loved me, — not indeed as I 
 
 Hoped, being foolish, — still he gave me much. 
 
 And even now I am in reach of love, 
 
 If I could only force these lips to cry ; 
 
 But Pride has sealed them fast : — 
 
 If I could only in my heart forgive, 
 
 But this I cannot do ; 
 
 Let others do it. 
 
 Let them when little learn : — 
 
 But I will die. 
 
 [She sits down and bows her face in her hands.] 
 
 My Alexander, O my Christ, am I 
 
 More cruel to thee than thy father is, 
 
 Leaving thee child of a beheaded Queen, 
 
 Who could make no defence, whose stubborn lips 
 
 Were steadfast in suppression of the truth — 
 
 Let lies have way and gave wild passion rein 
 
 Because she did not choose to stoop her pride ? 
 
 [Clasping her hands] s^ 
 
 O God, I will be penitent, contrite ; 
 
 Choose thou my son, anoint his head with oil — 
 
 Hand-maiden to thy hope in him, my life, 
 
 Ixx. 
 
With year-long service, shall his virtues nurse 
 And help him to be worthy. Hear my prayer, 
 O Lord of Sabaoth, forgive my sin ! 
 [Commencing to pace about, she proceeds with increas- 
 ing animation] 
 
 How it is dreadful to give brooding way ! 
 Almost was I asleep : — this tragic dream 
 Has flattered every pampered fault of mine ; 
 This prison, these torn garments, these bare feet, 
 That small and barred-out call of Light on Life. . . . 
 Thus doth Death bid me think the day far off, 
 The active Day ! 
 Night nears ; 
 
 Death's dupe holds dreamy converse with her soul. 
 But I am of the day ! I live ! I breathe ! 
 Am mother to an Alexander ! — hope 
 For the great world with warm maternal pangs ! — 
 Am young ! — am full of courage ! — am thy foe. 
 Thou gloomy magisterial realmless Death ! 
 There is a thing to do, which must be done. 
 [She stoops down and laces on her sandal, casting anxious 
 glances towards the light] 
 That sky hath felt the dusk, as I have felt 
 The grave's invasive influence. . . . How long? 
 An hour ? likelier two by this, are spent 
 Of those short three allotted me for grace : 
 [Rising to reach the second sandal] 
 My Alexander, hark ! thy mother lives ! 
 Hath she been rendered useless by slight checks 
 Of things run counter to her darling's hopes.-* — 
 [Stooping to lace the other sandal] 
 Not looked beyond the present in her pride ? — 
 
 Ixxi. 
 
Passinji strict iudemcnt on the moment's mim. 
 
 When all his days before had solaced hers. 
 
 Although he was thy father, and althouq^h 
 
 He, Herod, veritably is no more 
 
 This mad and easily incensed tyrant 
 
 [Rising] 
 
 Than acting thus he is my husband ? — Herod, 
 
 Come back ! return ! come back ! 
 
 [Resuming her cloak] 
 
 [She beats on the door, then pauses.] 
 
 Alas! 
 
 He no more dares to look me in the face. 
 
 He doth believe ! He hath believed ! No hope I 
 
 Yes, there is one ; 
 
 And this it is : — 
 
 For pardon I 
 
 Must take unto my credit 
 
 More sins than are mine own. 
 
 Women have often done as much when girls, 
 
 Defending shiftless lovers. 
 
 I must confess the philtres . . . but the draught ! — 
 
 And Sohemus ! — and Joseph ! 
 
 That woman's ruined. 
 
 Whose falsehoods, even, 
 
 Have no more chance than mine to be believed. 
 
 Are these the wits he praised ? 
 
 Invent ! invent ! 
 
 [Beating her forehead] 
 
 [A guard opens the door. He has been heard on the 
 
 stairs before.] 
 
 Haste thou unto the King, and say, I pray 
 
 To see his face once more. 
 
 Ixxii. 
 
The GUARD 
 
 Madam, I will. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Alas, and should he come, and dread mine eyes 
 Then, most of all, when love leaps out from them ? 
 My smile a snare, and every glance a toil ! 
 Are these conditions for repentance, God ? 
 If he regard me but as leprosy — 
 Esteem what he most loves in me as worst, 
 I am defiled by such suspicions. Yea, 
 And shall be forced to act vile as his thought- 
 Garnish this body as he deems tempts best — 
 Worm to his favour as he holds I left it, 
 Making my arms like serpents, and my throat, 
 Like the lascivious reed-pipe, gurgle moans 
 Controlled by lips and fingers of a man 
 That eats and drinks and sleeps with dancing girls ! 
 Sohemus, doubtless, was entangled thus. 
 And Joseph, poor old gossip. Bah ! I dream ; 
 The only proper course has been pursued. 
 
 GUARD [re-opening the door] 
 Madam, the King refuses audience both 
 To me and to thy words. 
 
 MARIAMNE 
 
 Thou hast our thanks. 
 
 [The guard withdraws, closing the door, and is heard 
 
 to ascend the steps.] 
 
 O Death, 
 
 Let me think well of thee ! We rise again ; 
 
 Hyrcan was doubdess wrong, the Pharisees 
 
 And those of Alexandria in the right ; 
 
 Ixxiii. 
 
If all were vanity, as he maintained, 
 
 Dcspnir would not be cruel : and it is. 
 
 [Peerini^ down the well] 
 
 Icy and black and deep and mute and still ! — 
 
 Attracting so the downward inclination 
 
 Of our prone minds. To lie forever still ? 
 
 Rest? Horror wed to Peace doth sleep below. 
 
 The water, that waits mute, would shout a welcome 
 
 And echoes upward noise how I was hailed ! — 
 
 Hoarse laughter "Vanity of vanities" — 
 
 Hollow resoundings swelling out to naught ! 
 
 Oh no, that water's dead, but there are living ; 
 
 "They have forsaken the Eternal, 
 
 The fountain of living waters." 
 
 [She kneels] 
 
 A broken and a contrite spirit, Thou 
 
 Wilt not reject. O Lord, 
 
 I cannot now undo 
 
 The wrongs that I have done ; 
 
 Accept my penitence — 
 
 Accept my son. 
 
 [Creaking, the doors on the left commence to open ; 
 
 she gets up, gathers together her black robes, leaving 
 
 her head alone uncloaked, and faces the light which two 
 
 SLAVES with their utmost effort barely avail to slowly 
 
 widen, — then pointing] 
 
 Is that the place where I must kneel ? 
 
 VOICE [from without] 
 
 It is. 
 [She walks firmly out through the two doors which the 
 SLAVES at once commence to drag together again.] 
 [A silence] 
 Ixxiv. 
 
[Then the narrow door is violently opened and CAS- 
 
 TOBAR enters carrying keys. He shouts to the two 
 
 SLAVES, who have remained within the prison.] 
 
 CASTOBAR 
 
 Here is the seal ! — delay the execution ! 
 
 [The SLAVES commence once more to push the doors ; 
 
 when they are some foot apart, he covers his face with 
 
 his hands, bowing his head. A pause. Then HEROD 
 
 enters breathless : CASTOBAR hearing his approach 
 
 signs to the SLAVES to shut the door, and rushing 
 
 forward helps them.] 
 
 HEROD [shouts] 
 
 Mariamne ! 
 
 [And throws himself against the closing doors. The 
 
 others stand back, while he sinks gradually to the 
 
 ground, sobbing. After a pause, he looks up and speaks 
 
 with difficulty.] 
 
 My grief is nothing : 
 
 This enervating passion will decrease. 
 
 My blood will clear. 
 
 [Rising, he continues with an effort to control himself.] 
 
 I have sufficient strength to walk, to live, 
 
 To think, if not to hope. Still, still my mind 
 
 Knows virtue, and can nobleness admire ; 
 
 I am a man still, standing in the light, 
 
 Distinguishing the worthless from the worthy, 
 
 And not confused in judgment — 
 
 O my wife ! 
 [With a wail, he totters and falls ; CASTOBAR hurries 
 to him as the curtain comes down.] 
 
 Ixxv. 
 
111 
 
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 I 
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY ^^