SCENE 3

MARIAMNE. ALEXANDRA. SOEMUS.

SOEMUS.

Pardon!

MAR.

Indeed, I wished even now to have you called. Come in!

SOEMUS.

’Tis the first time you had such wish.

MAR.

Ay, true!

SOEMUS.

You’ve parried me till now.

MAR.

And have you then Sought for me? Have you aught to seek from me? I cannot think it so.

SOEMUS.

At least the former; Behold in me the truest of your servants.

MAR.

I did, but do so now no more.

SOEMUS.

No more?

MAR.

How could you let that rebel, him whom Herod Ordered to prison, have his dungeon opened? Is he still King, or is he King no more?

SOEMUS.

The answer’s not so easy as you think.

MAR.

And if you find it hard you’ll pay it dearly.

SOEMUS.

You’ve not yet heard the news the fight is lost?

MAR.

The fight at Actium’s reported lost?

SOEMUS.

Yes. Antony is fallen by his own hand, With like death Cleopatra.

MAR.

What, could she Have such fine nerve? Time was she could not bear A sword to sight, and shuddered back at his Whene’er he held it toward her for a mirror.

SOEMUS.

Titus the Captain had these very tidings. Octavian curses that no means were used To hinder them. Myself I read the letter.

MAR.

Then Death for some long time has had his share And every head stands firmer than it stood Ere then.

SOEMUS.

You think so?

MAR.

Why that riddling smile?

SOEMUS.

You do not know Octavian, it would seem. He will not ask Death if his maw be queasy; He’ll find the friends of Antony of use To serve him yet another meal, and one Where tasty tit-bits will not be so scarce.

MAR.

That touches Herod?

SOEMUS.

Well, if he should hold To what he purposed----

MAR.

What was that?

SOEMUS.

He said:-- “I have no further love for Antony, Far sooner do I hate him; but I will Stand at his side unto the latest hour Although I fear that he is doomed to fall. I owe it to myself if not to him.”

MAR.

Right kingly spoke!

SOEMUS.

Ay, true, right kingly spoke! Only Octavian’s not the man t’admire it, And Herod if he do so----

MAR.

Who dares doubt it?

SOEMUS.

Then he’s a lost man too, or black affront Has smirched Octavian’s name when rumour said The mighty slaughter following Caesar’s death Was written on his reckoning.

MAR.

That you’re fast In faith on such an outcome, and that Herod Is ranked by you with death, is clear enough, Else had you never dared what you have dared. Ay, and the shudder takes me, I confess it, At your calm certainty. You are no fool And without ground would never dare so much. But, howsoe’er it be, this thing is true-- I’m still alive, and I, yes I, shall show you That I am skilled to render him obedience Even in his death; there’s not a sole command That he has given shall not be executed. Such be the Dead Man’s sacrifice.

SOEMUS.

Not one? I doubt it, Queen! (_Aside._) Now let the blow come down!

MAR.

As true as I am Maccabee you send This Sameas again into his dungeon.

SOEMUS.

If such your will demand, ’tis done; and if You will yet more, if he shall die the death The King had threatened, speak and he is dead. But now vouchsafe a question of your grace-- Shall I take you, that thus the sacrifice You think to yield be full and blemishless, Shall I take you and pierce you with a sword-thrust? For such injunction too I have from him.

MAR.

Woe!

ALEX.

Nevermore!

MAR.

And so the end is come! And what an end! One that its own beginning Engulfs with all beside. The time that’s past, The time to come, dissolve to naught in me. Naught I have had and naught I have and naught I shall have. Oh, was mortal e’er so poor?

ALEX.

Whatever misdeed hatched and wrought by Herod You told me, every several one I’d credit, But this----

MAR.

Misdoubt it not, ’tis fixed and sure.

ALEX.

You say’t yourself?

MAR.

O God, I know wherefore!

ALEX.

Then must you know the deed before you!

MAR.

Ay!

[_She thrusts the dagger at herself._

ALEX. (_preventing her_).

Mad fool! Is this his due? Is it his due? That you should play the butcher on yourself?

MAR.

A topsy-turvy freak! My thanks! This office He’d chosen for himself. (_Throws the dagger away._) Tempter, begone!

ALEX.

You’ll seek a refuge under Rome’s protection!

MAR.

On none who has a thing at heart to do I’ll put the hindrance. I myself, I give A feast to-night.

ALEX.

A feast?

MAR.

And there I dance----[14] Yes, yes, that is the way!

ALEX.

To gain what end?

MAR.

Hey, servants!

[_Enter_ MOSES _and_ SERVANTS.

Fling the splendid state-rooms wide And summon all that can be jubilant! Put fire to every candle that will burn, Pluck all the flowers from stem that are not faded! There is no need that any now survive. (_To_ MOSES.) You tricked our wedding once in famous trappings, Your task to-day’s a feast more brilliant still. Spare nothing therefore. (_Advancing._) Herod, tremble now Though never yet before in life you trembled!

SOEMUS (_approaching her_).

I feel your smart as you do.

MAR.

Keep your pity, I’ll rob you not! You axe no butcher’s boor, I dare not doubt it, you have given me proof! But that has turned you traitor, and to traitors I give no thanks nor bear them round my person Whatever use they may be in this world. For that’s not judged awry. Were you the man You seemed to be, it had been forced on God To work a wonder; He were forced to lend The very air the tongue it lacks for utterance. That He foresaw or ere your clay He shaped And made the first of hypocrites--made you!

SOEMUS.

That thing I am not! I was Herod’s friend, His weapon-brother and his shoulder-fellow, Before he scaled the throne! I was his servant, His truest servant, since he’s been a king, But only so as long as he could hold The Man in me inviolate and the Human, As I in him the Hero and the Lord. He did so till, the eyes of the dissembler For the first time unworthily down-drooping, He gave the word of Blood through which he doomed, All-heartless, me and you to certain death, Through which he doomed me to your folk’s revenge, To Roman rage, and to his own slant spite, And you to be the prey of my sword’s point. That was my proof how high he rated me.

MAR.

Did you not tell him how your heart recoiled?

SOEMUS.

I did it not because I would protect you.[15] I took his charge in show and hypocrited, If you will have the word, that thus no other Take it instead from him and stab me down. A Galilean had the deed accomplished.

MAR.

I own me wrong. You stand with him as I; You have, as I, in your most Holy Place Felt hurt; as I, am slighted to a Thing, For what he is as spouse he is as friend.[16] Come to my feast.

[_Exit._

ALEX.

So you, it seems, were waiting for your time As I was!

SOEMUS.

For my time? How mean you that?

ALEX.

I’ve often seen it with a wondering eye How, when the King gives thanks for his high office Unto the Roman’s whim (the heady swiller!) And not to lineage and pride of birth, You bent your back as though you seemed, like him, Forgetful that you were his equal peer. But now I pierce your mask; it was your wish To lull him from suspicion!

SOEMUS.

There you err. I spoke the truth in all. His equal peer I do not deem myself nor ever shall. How many a paltry wight there is I know Who, just because his blood’s no kin of his, Yields muttering homage; others too, I know, Keep troth alone for Mariamne’s sake. But I am never bonded with that brood That rather to a baby’s sword is loyal, If it be birthright, than a hero’s sword That is not wrought till smithied out of fire. I ever saw the higher soul in him, And when the weapon-brother dropped his shield I raised it for him with as ready will As e’er I raised his sceptre for the King. The crown and the first woman: both I yielded With grudgeless heart, for I had felt his worth.

ALEX.

But you too are a man!

SOEMUS.

That I am not Forgetful of such truth I prove you now. There’s none so great that I’m a working-tool Fit to his use. Who calls on me for service That rendered or not rendered, come what may, Makes me to sure and shameful death devote, That man annuls my every bond, to him My duty is to show that ’twixt the King And slave there is an intermediate stage And that the Man takes stand on this.

ALEX.

To me ’Tis one what ground you had. Enough; you’ve come To join my faction.

SOEMUS.

Fear no battle more, He is as good as dead. Octavian Is scarce an Antony who lets the flesh Be hacked from body and forgives the deed Because he can admire the hand that does it. _He_ only sees the strokes.

ALEX.

And what says Titus?

SOEMUS.

He thinks as I do. I had Sameas Set free alone because it is my wish To answer my account. Indeed I had No other way to audience with the Queen. Now knows she what she needs must know, and now When the death-tidings come is strong to meet them. That was my aim. A noble heart! and kill her? Her very tears would rouse the soul of pity!

ALEX.

Ay, true! And what a tender husband! Seek her, Persuade her only that she give herself To Rome for shelter, and attend the feast Which is the signal that she breaks with Herod Be he now dead or living.

SOEMUS (_following her_).

He is dead!

[_Exeunt._