SCENE 4

HEROD. MARIAMNE. SALOME.

SALOME (_entering hastily_).

What plan you, Man of Horror? Ah, I see My husband led away; and he conjures me Beseech you for your mercy--but I wavered Because I bear him grudge nor understand him, And now--and now I hear things gruesome whispered. They say--they lie! Say so!

HEROD.

Your husband dies!

SALOME.

Before he is condemned? Ah, never, never!

HEROD.

Himself is his condemner; for the letter That forfeits him to death was in his hands Before he played me traitor, and he knew What penalty it was awaited him If done; he put him ’neath that penalty And in its spite he did it.

SALOME.

Herod, hear me! Do you know that for sure? I did accuse him And felt beneath my charge the base of right; I had my grounds therefor--and that he loved her Was open fact; he had indeed for me No single further glance, no press of hand-- He was by day about her when he could be. And in the night his dreams betrayed to me How firm she held his thought in grip; all that Is true and more; but, for all that, it follows Not yet that she must love him in requital And less than all that she--ah no, ah no! ’Twas jealousy that tore me on--forgive! (_To_ MARIAMNE.) You too forgive! O God, and time flies fast! They said--shall I Then love you as I hated you? Then be No longer dumb! Speak! Say that he is guiltless And plead for his reprieve even as myself.

MAR.

He is!

HEROD.

In her construction, not in mine.

MAR.

In yours as well.

HEROD.

You must then have known nothing; And now a nothing can be his excuse. And if I make him now a gift to death Without foretrial, ’tis because my will Is bent to show you that my thought of you Is nowise base and mean, and that I rue The rash-born word that fell from my first wrath, And more because I know that he can have Nothing to say to me.

[_Enter_ SOEMUS.