Oscar Wilde - Salome

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SALOME
OscdT
WUde>
'H.M. CxUdwell Co.
New Yorti-^Boston.
/Ph XI
190/
Copyright, igoj
By H. M. Caldwell Co.
Salome
TO MY FRIEND
LORD ALFRED BRUCE DOUGLAS
THE TRANSLATOR OF
MY PLAY
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

HEROD
ANTIPAS,
TETRARCH
OF
JUDJEA
lOKANAAN, THE PROPHET
THE YOUNG SYRIAN, CAPTAIN OF THE
GUARD
TIGELLINUS, A
YOUNG ROMAN
A CAPPADOCIAN
A NUBIAN
FIRST SOLDIER
SECOND SOLDIER
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS

JEWS, NAZARENES, ETC.
A SLAVE
NAAMAN, THE EXECUTIONER

HERODIAS, WIFE OF THE TETRARCH
SALOME, DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS
THE SLAVES OF SALOME
Introduction
QSCAR
FINGAL O'FLAHERTIE
WILLS WILDE was born in
Dublin, October i6, 1854. His father, Sir
William Wilde, a noted oculist and

ogist,
otol-
was one of the most distinguished
surgeons that Great Britain has known,
and
is
also
well
remembered
as
the
author of several important works on

Irish History
and Archaeology.
other hand, he was a
man
On the
of strong, un-
bridled passions, in the gratification of
which no sense of
social or professional
responsibility could restrain him.
His
mother, Jane Francesca Elgee, was well
^ Introduction
known both
as
pamphleteer and a
poet, writing to the Nation,
Dublin,
under the names of " Speranza " and

" John Fenshaw ElHs " at the time of
the political upheaval in 1848.
was
Oscar
and son, and
their second child
because a boy his advent was a disap-
who had
de-
for a long time he
was
pointment to his mother,

sired a girl,
and
treated, talked to,
and dressed
He
education at Ennis-
received
killen
and
where
in
his
like one.
at Trinity College, Dublin,
won
1874 he
Gold Medal.
the
Berkeley
In October of that year
he entered Magdalen College, Oxford,

in his first
term coming under the
fluence of Ruskin,
who
lectured on the
" Esthetic and Mathematical

of Art in Florence."
vi
in-
Schools
In 1877 an event
Introduction
took place which had a deep influence
on
his
life,
his
journey to Greece
with the party that accompanied John
MahafFy, whereby, without
Pentland
doubt, his true enthusiasm for Beauty
and the Hellenic
was aroused.
spirit
In 1878 he gained First Class in the
Honour
Finals at Oxford, and in the
same year won the Newdigate Prize

English Verse with
venna."
his
for
poem " Ra-
For a period of
practically
five
years from the time of his gradua-
tion
from Oxford
with his
in 1878,
mumming made
Oscar Wilde
an extrava-
ganza of the Pre-Raphaelite movement
and a burlesque of the

Esthetes.
breeches,
coats,
and
theories of the
His eccentric dress of knee

silk
stockings,
and
velvet
his affectation of sunflowers

vii
^ Introduction
and
lilies
toriety.
brought him a certain no-
He was
caricatured in Punch,
good-humouredly
in
rallied
all
of the
public prints, and satirized in Gilbert
and
In
Sullivan's
1
comic opera " Patience."
88 1 he found a publisher for his
poems, consisting mainly of reprints

contributed to various
periodicals
England and Ireland.
In the
in
latter
part of December, 1881, he sailed for
New
York, where early in January,
1882, he delivered the

lectures,
of a series of
which afterwards he repeated
the principal
cities
and Canada.
not
first
prove
of the United States
Although the tour did

great
especially towards
travelling in
in
its
financial
success,
close, the year's
America was productive of
great good in the development of his

viii
Introduction
character.
Brought into close contact
with the most energetic of men, his
energy aroused
latent
and the
itself,
unworthy posings were abandoned, and

by the time of
his return to
England
his
masquerade of speech, manner, and

dress
had disappeared.
his arrival in
Shortly after
England he went to
Paris,
taking with him several copies of his
poems, which he sent to
known
people.
well-
His advances were
vourably received and
many
opened to him, but he was

understood.
many
doors were
really never
He was labelled "
and was not taken
at
fa-
all
Poseur
"
seriously.
Through the lack of money he was

obhged to return to England
in
the
summer of
1883, and entered on a lec-
ture
visiting
tour,
ix
various
provincial
"^ Introduction
towns, but he met with
On May 29,
success.
little
1884, he married Constance
Lloyd, and her dower enabled them to

take the lease of a good house in Tite
Street,
Chelsea.
turned
to
Wilde
Oscar
much
journalism, writing
though
anonymously,
at
then
same
the
period he wrote the exquisite fairy-tales
published in 1888 under the title of

" The Happy Prince and Other Tales."
From
October,
1889, he
was
1887,
to
September,
editor of the
Woman
World, where his personal contributions
were mainly published under the title

of " Some Literary Notes." During
the eight years from 1884 to
total of his published
891 the
work was
consisting principally of "
Man
under Socialism," "
The
The
small,
Soul of
Picture
Introduction
of Dorian
Gray " and "
Intentions,"
a volume of essays which had already
appeared in monthly magazines.
On
the 20th of February, 1892, his play,
" Lady Windermere's Fan," was pro-
duced and proved an immediate success.
From
then on there were three years of
prosperity and triumph for Oscar Wilde.
He was
counted one of the
first
play-
wrights of the English stage and his
income sprang from nothing to several

thousand pounds a year. In April,
"
1893, " A Woman of No Importance
was performed; on the 3d of January,

1895,
came " An Ideal Husband," and
on the 14th of February " The Importance of Being Earnest,"

with extraordinary success.
all
meeting
The
strong
point in each of these comedies lay in

xi
^ Introduction
the dialogue, which sparkled and scin-
with wit;
tillated
Wilde himself
was simply Oscar
it
At
talking.
he frequently visited
time
this
and the
Paris,
him by Henri
following description of
Regnier dates from about the period

of the writing of " Salome/* " This
foreigner
was
pulence.
to give
still
tall
and of great
cor-
high complexion seemed

greater width to his clean-
shaven and proconsular
face.
It
was
the unbearded face that one sees on

coins.
The
seemed
eyes smiled.
be
to
rather fleshy
The hands
beautiful:
and plump, and one of
them was ornamented with

which a
a ring in
beetle of green stone
The man's
wearing
they were
tall
ample
figure
and
xii
was
set.
allowed of his
masterly
frock-
Introduction
which opened out on somewhat
coats,
*
loud
'
waistcoats of smooth velvet or
flowered
Oriental cigarettes
satins.
with gold tips were ever consuming

themselves into smoke in his mouth.
rare blossom in his
buttonhole gave
a finishing touch to his rich attire in
which every
detail
carefully studied^
from cafe
to cafe,
seemed to have been
From cab
to cab,
from salon to salon,
he moved with the lazy gait of a stout
man who
on
his
rather weary.
is
He
carried
correspondence by means of
tel-
egrams, and his conversation by means

of apologues.*'
his
downfall,
proved
goat
on
that
of a
May
In April,
1895,
came
having
since
been
it
he was really the scape-
circle
25th
of his
he was
friends,
and
sentenced to
^ Introduction
two years
release
hard
at
On
labour.
his
from gaol he went to France,
where he dragged out the
rest of his
existence, with the exception of a short
time spent in Italy, dying in Paris in
comparative
November,
poverty
on the 30th of
1900.
" Salome " was written

the
first
in Paris
about
of the year 1892 and but a short
time before the production of " Lady
Windermere's
Fan "
was composed
in
in
London.
It
French and with the
exception of slight revision by Marcel
Schwob was
entirely
Oscar Wilde's
work, and the best French
unanimous
critics
in expressing their
are
wonder
that any foreigner could have acquired
such a mastery of the French language,

adv
Introduction
The
play was not written for Sarah
Bernhardt, as so often stated, but she
asked the author to read
London around June,

impressed with
at
it
1892,
to her in
and was so
possibiHties that she
its
once expressed a desire to play the
title
Rehearsals were imme-
role.
diately
begun, costumes, scenery, and
everything
toward the
had
prepared, but
been
last of
June
license to pro-
duce the play in London was refused
by the Lord Chamberlain on the ground

that
it
religious
was unadvisable
episodes.
to
produce
Madame
Bern-
hardt, however, decided to produce

in Paris at her
St.
own
it
theatre of the Port
Martin as soon as an opportunity
offered.
At the time of
his arrest in
1895, Oscar Wilde's plays in

XV
England
^ Introduction
were withdrawn from the boards as soon
as possible
and
his
income
stopped.
His only hope for any money was from

" Salome," which he had expected Sarah
Bernhardt would produce that year,
and while awaiting
trial
he wrote to a
friend in Paris to ask her if she
would
not purchase the play outright.
This
she refused to do, and although she
shed tears for his

sent
pitiful
position
him messages of sympathy, she
refused to assist
him
financially in
way,
she
had
although
led
friend to believe she would.
was
and
first
any
Wilde's
The
play
produced by Luigne Poe in
Paris in 1896; and from the time of

first
production in Berlin in September,
1903, has created a furor in

It
its
Germany.
has also been produced in Italy, but

xvi
Introduction
in English there
seem to have been but
two productions of the play up

present time.
The
first
to the
was of a semi-
private nature at the Bijou Theatre in
London,
May
loth and 13th, 1905, and
the second
was a
formances
at
series of public per-
the
Berkeley
Lyceum,
New
York, from November 13th to

" Salome " in the original
i6th, 1905.
French was pubhshed in 1893, and in

the following year appeared in English,
translated
by Lord
Alfred
Douglas.
Since then there have been three Ger-
man
versions
and two Russian, as well
as translations in Polish, Swedish,
and
Spanish, showing the truth of the Ger-
man
is
**
statement that to-day Oscar Wilde
a " World's Poet "
World's Play."
"
xvii
and " Salome " a

It is
among some
'
^ Introduction
of his friends an abiding regret that
he was not spared a few years longer

that in the
so
might
he
depth
have
of
seen
the
wonderful
triumph that Germany has

him,
for
might
despair
his
prepared
watched
have
the
crowds flocking to the theatre to see

*
Salome
'
played, might have listened to
the frantic enthusiasm which this play
never
fails to
invoke, might a
on have realized that

to
him by
it
little
later
had been given
this play to stimulate to the
highest expression of his wonderful art
the composer Richard Strauss,

the
cognoscenti
maestro
*
who
hail
as
the
whom
greatest
ever lived."
Life of Oscar Wilde, by R.
xviu
H. Sherard, 1906,
Salome
Scene
A great
terrace in the
Palace
of Herody set above the banqueting- hall.
Some
soldiers are leaning over the bal-
To
cony.
the right there is a gigantic
staircase, to the
cistern
left,
at the back,
an old
surrounded by a wall of green
The moon
bronze.
is
shining
very
brightly.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
How
beautiful
is
the Princess Salome
to-night

Look
at the
moon seems
moon.
She
is
How
like a
strange the
woman
ris-
^ Salome
She
ing from a tomb.
is
woman. One might fancy
like a
dead
she was look-
ing for dead things.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

She has a strange look.
little
princess
and whose
who wears
She
is
like a
a yellow veil,
She
feet are of silver.
is
who has little white doves

One might fancy she was
like a princess
for
feet.
dancing.

She
is
like
woman who
is
dead.
She moves very slowly.

[Noise in the banqueting-halL]
FIRST SOLDIER
What an
uproar
beasts howling?
Who are those wild
Salome
SECOND SOLDIER
The Jews. They are always

that.
They are disputing about
like
their
religion.
FIRST SOLDIER
Why
ligion
do they dispute about
their re-
SECOND SOLDIER
I
cannot
The
it.
there
tell.
They
are always doing
Pharisees, for instance, say that
are
and the Sadducees
angels,
declare that angels do not exist.
FIRST SOLDIER
I
think
it
is
ridiculous to dispute
about such things.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
How
to-night
beautiful
I
is
the Princess Salome
^ Salome
You
are always looking at her.
look at her too much.

to look at people in
may
thing terrible
It is
You
dangerous
such fashion.
Some-
happen.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

She
is
very beautiful to-night.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch has
sombre
aspect.
SECOND SOLDIER
Yes; he has a sombre aspect.
FIRST SOLDIER
He
is
looking at something.
SECOND SOLDIER
He
is
looking at some one.
FIRST SOLDIER
At
whom
is
he looking
Salome
SECOND SOLDIER
I cannot
tell.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
How
have
Princess is!
pale the
I seen
She
her so pale.
shadow of a white
is
Never
Hke the
rose in a mirror of
silver.
You must
too much at
You
look
the cup of
the
not look at her.

her.
FIRST SOLDIER
Herodias has
filled
Tetrarch.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Is that the Queen Herodias,
she
who
wears a black mitre sewed with pearls,
and whose hair

dust
is
powdered with blue
^ Salome
FIRST SOLDIER
Yes; that
is
Herodias, the Tetrarch's
wife.
SECOND SOLDIER
The Tetrarch
He
is
very fond of wine.
is
has wine of three
sorts.
One which
brought from the Island of Samo-
thrace,
and
is
Hke
purple
the cloak
of Caesar.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I
have never seen Cassar.
SECOND SOLDIER
Another that
called
Cyprus,
comes from
and
gold.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I love gold.
is
town
as yellow
as
Salome
SECOND SOLDIER
And
the third
That wine
is
is
a wine of Sicily.
as red as blood.
THE NUBIAN
The gods
of blood.
to
of
my country
Twice
are very fond
in the year
we
sacrifice
them young men and maidens
young men and

But
am
fifty
hundred maidens.
afraid that
we
never give them
quite enough, for they are very harsh

to us.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
In
my
country there are no gods
The Romans have

There are some who
driven
do not believe
out.
say that they have
hidden themselves in the

but
them
left.
it.
mountains,
Three nights
have been on the mountains seeking

7
^ Salome
them everywhere.
and
at last I called
did not find them,
them by
and they did not come.
their
I
names,
think they
are dead.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Jews worship

cannot
God
that one
see.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I
cannot understand that.
FIRST SOLDIER
In
fact,
they only believe in things
that one cannot see.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
That seems
to
me
altogether ridicu-
lous.
THE VOICE OF lOKANAAN

After all shall come another
8
mightier
Salome
FIRST SOLDIER
We can never tell.
Sometimes he says
things that affright one, but

sible to
it is
impos-
understand what he says.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
May
one see him
FIRST SOLDIER
No.
ThexTetrarch has forbidden
it.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
The
Princess
behind her fan
has hidden her face
Her
little
white hands
are fluttering like doves that
They
dove-cots.
flies.
They
are
fly to their
are like white butterjust
like
white but-
terflies.
What
is
that to you
look at her?
You must
II
Why
do you
not look at
^ Salome
her.
Something
terrible
may
hap-
pen.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
[Pointing
to
the
What
cistern.^
strange prison!
SECOND SOLDIER
It is
an old
cistern.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
An
old cistern
That must be
a poi-
sonous place in which to dwell
SECOND SOLDIER
Oh, no
brother,
For instance, the Tetrarch's
his
elder
brother,
the
first
husband of Herodias the Queen, was

imprisoned there for twelve years.
did not
kill
him.
It
At the end of twelve
years he had to be strangled.

12
Salome
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Strangled
Who
dared to do that
SECOND SOLDIER
[Pointing
to the
Executioner, a huge
That man yonder, Naaman.
negro.]
THE CAPPADOCIAN
He was
not afraid
SECOND sol:6ier
Oh, no
The Tetrarch
sent
him the
ring.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
What
ring
SECOND SOLDIER
The
death ring.
So he was not
afraid.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
Yet
it
is
a terrible thing to strangle
a king.
13
^ Salome
FIRST SOLDIER
Why?
Kings have but one neck,
Hke other
folk.
THE CAPPADOCIAN
I think
it
terrible.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

The Princess is getting up!
leaving
the
Ah, she
troubled.
Yes, she
is
pale she is!
She
table!
is
looks
coming
coming towards
Never have
She
this
us.
is
very
way.
How
seen her so
pale.
Do
not look at her.
pray you not to
look at her.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

She
.
is
like a
She
is
dove that has strayed.
like a narcissus
14
trembling
Salome
in the wind.
She
is
like a silver
flower.
[Enter Salome.]
SALOME
I will
not stay.
cannot
does the Tetrarch look at
Why
stay.
me
all
the
while with his mole's eyes under his
shaking eyelids
husband of
that.
truth I
my
know
know
It is strange that the
me like
means. Of a
mother looks
not what
it
it
at
too well.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
You have
left
the feast, Princess
SALOME
How
sweet
breathe here!
is
the air here!
can
Within there are Jews
from Jerusalem who are tearing each

other in pieces over their foolish cere15
^ Salome
monies, and barbarians
drink and
spill their
who
drink and
wine on the pave-
ment, and Greeks from Smyrna with

painted eyes and painted cheeks, and
frizzed
hair
Egyptians
nails
curled
in
and
silent
and
columns,
subtle, with long
of jade and russet cloaks, and
Romans
brutal
and coarse, with
uncouth jargon.
Romans
They
Ah
how
their
I loathe the
are rough
and com-
mon, and they give themselves the
airs
of noble lords.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Will you be seated. Princess
Why
do you
something
speak to her?
Oh!
happen.
Why
terrible will
do you look
at her
i6
Salome
SALOME
How
like
good to see the moon!
She
silver flower.
am
of money, a
piece
Httle
sure she
is
is
cold
is
little
and chaste.
She has the
a virgin.
beauty of a virgin. Yes, she
She has never
She
is
a virgin.
defiled herself.
She has
never abandoned herself to men, Hke

the other goddesses.

Behold! the Lord hath come.
Son of
Man
is
at
hand.
have hidden themselves
and the nymphs have
The
centaurs
in the rivers,
left
the rivers,
and are lying beneath the leaves

forests.
SALOME
Who was
that
who
17
The
cried out
in the
^ Salome
SECOND SOLDIER
The
prophet, Princess.
SALOME
Ah, the prophet
Tetrarch
afraid
is
He
of
whom
the
SECOND SOLDIER
We know
It
nothing of that. Princess.
was the prophet lokanaan who
cried
out.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Is
your pleasure that
it
bring your
is fair
litter,
Princess
bid
them
The
night
in the garden.
SALOME
He
says
things
terrible
mother, does he not
i8
about
my
Salome
SECOND SOLDIER
We
never understand what he says,
Princess.
SALOME
Yes
he says terrible things about her.
[Enter a Slave.]
THE SLAVE
Princess, the Tetrarch prays
you to
return to the feast.
SALOME
I will not return.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Pardon me. Princess, but
turn
not
if
you
some misfortune may hap-
pen.
SALOME
Is
re-
he an old man,
19
this
prophet
^ Salome
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Princess,
Suffer
me
it
were better to return.
to lead
you
in.
SALOME
This prophet
..
is
he an old
man ?
FIRST SOLDIER
No,
Princess, he
is
quite young.
SECOND SOLDIER
One cannot be sure. There

who say that he is Elias.
are those
SALOME
Who
is
Elias
SECOND SOLDIER
prophet of this country in bygone
days, Princess.
THE SLAVE
What answer may I

from the Princess
20
give the Tetrarch
Salome

Rejoice not,
land of Palestine, be-
cause the rod of him

broken.
who smote
thee
For from the seed of the
is
ser-
pent shall come a basilisk, and that
which
is
born of it shall devour the birds.
SALOME
What
a strange voice
would speak
with him.
FIRST SOLDIER
I fear
it
may
not be, Princess.
The
Tetrarch does not suffer any one to
speak with him.
He
has even forbidden
the high priest to speak with him.
SALOME
I desire to
speak with him.
FIRST SOLDIER
It is impossible. Princess.
21
^ Salome
SALOME
I will
speak with him.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Would
it
the banquet
not be better to return to

?
SALOME
Bring forth
this prophet.
[Exit the Slave,]
FIRST SOLDIER
We
dare not, Princess.
SALOME
\A pproaching
down
into
there!
It
?V.]
How
must be
black a hole!
\To the
the cistern
black
it
terrible to
It is like a
soldiers.^
and looking
is,
down
be in so
tomb.
Did you not hear me
Bring out the prophet.

him.
22
would look on
Salome
SECOND SOLDIER
Princess, I beg you,
this
do not require
of us.
SALOME
You
are
making me wait upon your
pleasure.
FIRST SOLDIER
Princess, our lives belong to you, but
we cannot do what you have asked of

us. And indeed, it is not of us that you
should ask this thing.
SALOME
[Looking at the young Syrian.]
Ah
Oh what is going to
am sure that something
!
happen.
23
happen
terrible
I
will
S&jjj
Salome
SALOME
up
[Going
Thou
wilt
young
Syr tan J\
this thinp- for
me, wilt
to
do
the
thou not, Narraboth

this thing for
me.
Thou
would but look
strange prophet.
much
of him.
Men
Often
wilt
do
have ever been
kind towards thee.
me.
Thou
Tetrarch talk of him.
wilt
at
do
it
for
him, this
have talked so
have heard the
I
think he
afraid of him, the Tetrarch.
is
Art thou,
even thou, also afraid of him, Narraboth
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

I fear
man
him
fear.
not, Princess;
there
is
no
But the Tetrarch has
formally forbidden that any

raise the cover of this well.
24
man
should
Salome
SALOME
Thou
do
wilt
this thing for
me, Nar-
when
I pass in
raboth, and to-morrow
my
litter
beneath the gateway of the
idol-sellers I will let fall for thee a little
flower, a
little
green flower.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Princess, I cannot, 1 cannot.
SALOME
Thou
[Smiling.]
for
me,
wilt
Narraboth.
do
this thing
Thou knowest
that thou wilt do this thing for me.
And on
in
my
the
litter
morrow when
I shall
pass
by the bridge of the
idol-
buyers, I will look at thee through the
muslin
look at thee, Narra-
veils, I will
both,
it
Look
at
may
be
will smile at thee.
me, Narraboth, look

25
at
me.
-^ Salome
Ah! thou knowest
what
it
...
that thou wilt do
ask of thee.
I
know
Thou knowest
do
that thou wilt
this
thing.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

[Signing
the
to
prophet
Let
the third Soldier,^
come
forth.
The
Princess Salome desires to see him.
SALOME
Ah!
Oh
How
strange the
Like the hand of a dead
moon
looks
woman who
is
seeking to cover herself with a shroud.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

She has a strange aspect
a
little
amber.
princess,
She
is like
whose eyes are eyes of
Through the clouds of muslin

26
Salome
she
smiling like
is
little
[The prophet comes out of

Salome looks
the cistern.
him and
at
princess.
steps slowly
back.]
lOKANAAN
Where
tions
is
he whose cup of abomina-
is
now
full
Where
is
he,
who
in
a robe of silver shall one day die in the

face of
forth, that
who
the people
all
he
may
Bid him come
hear the voice of him
hath cried in the waste places and
in the houses of kings.
SALOME
Of whom
is
he speaking
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
No
one can
tell,
Princess.
lOKANAAN
Where
is
she
who saw
27
the images of
^ Salome
men
painted on the walls, even the
images of the Chaldaeans painted with
and gave herself up unto the
colours,
lust of her eyes,
and sent ambassadors
into the land of Chaldaea
SALOME
It is
of my mother that he
is
speaking.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Oh
no, Princess.
SALOME
Yes
it is
of
my
mother that he
is
speaking.
lOKANAAN
Where
the
is
she
Captains
who gave
of Assyria,
herself unto
who have
baldricks on their loins, and crowns of
many
is
she
colours on their heads
who hath
Where
given herself to the

28
Salome
young men of the Egyptians, who are

clothed
whose
in
fine
linen
and
whose helmets
shields are of gold,
are of silver,
Go, bid her
hyacinth,
whose bodies are mighty
rise
up from the bed of her
abominations, from the bed of her incestuousness,
she
that
may
hear the
words of him who prepareth the way of
may
repent her of
Though
she will not
the Lord, that she
her iniquities.
repent, but will stick fast in her

inations,
abom-
go bid her come, for the fan
of the Lord
is
in
His hand.
SALOME
Ah, but he
is
terrible,
he
terrible
is
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Do
not stay here, Princess,
you.
29
beseech
^ Salome
SALOME
It is his eyes
rible.
They
by torches
above
all
that are ter-
are like black holes burned
They
in a tapestry of Tyre.
are like the black caverns where the
dragons
live,
Egypt
which the dragons make
in
They
lairs.
black
the
are
caverns
black
like
troubled by fantastic moons.
you think he
will
speak again
of
their
lakes
.
Do
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Do
not stay here, Princess.
you do not stay
pray
here.
SALOME
How
wasted he
ivory statue.
silver.
moon
I
is.
am
He
He
is
He
like
is
sure he
is like
30
is
is
like a thin
an image of
chaste, as the
moonbeam,
like
Salome
a shaft of silver.
His
...
cold, cold as ivory.
must be very
flesh
I wôuld look
closer at him.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

No, no.
Princess.
SALOME
I
must look
closer at him.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Princess
Princess
lOKANAAN
Who
me
is
this
I will
woman who
is
looking at
not have her look at me.
Wherefore doth she look
at
me, with her
golden eyes, under her gilded eyelids
know not who she is. I do not desire

to know who she is. Bid her begone.
I
It is
not to her that
3^
would speak.
-^ Salome
SALOME
I
am
Salome, daughter of Herodias,
Pnncess of Judaea.
lOKANAAN
Back
daughter of Babylon
not near the chosen of the Lord.
mother hath
wine of her
the earth with the
filled
and the cry of her
iniquities,
come up even
sinning hath
Come
Thy
to the ears
of God.
SALOME
Speak again, lokanaan.
is
mine
as music to
Thy
voice
ear.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Princess
Princess
Princess
SALOME
Speak again!
naan, and
tell
Speak again, loka-
me what
32
must do.
Salome
lOKANAAN
Daughter of Sodom, come not near
me
But cover thy face with a
scatter ashes
veil,
and
upon thine head, and get
thee to the desert, and seek out the Son
of
Man.
SALOME
Who
is
he, the
Son of
as beautiful as thou art,
Man
Is
lokanaan
he
lOKANAAN
Get thee behind me!
hear in the
palace the beating of the wings of the

angel of death.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN

Princess, I beseech thee to go within.
lOKANAAN
Angel of the Lord God, what dost
thou here with thy sword
33
Whom
^ Salome
seekest thou in this palace
him who
The day of
shall die in a robe of silver
has not yet come.
SALOME
lokanaan
lOKANAAN
Who
speaketh
SALOME
am amorous of thy body, lokanaan

Thy body is white, like the lilies of a
I
field that
the
Thy body
lie
is
mower hath never mowed.

white like the snows that
on the mountains of Judaea, and
come down
in the
into, the valleys.
The
roses
garden of the Queen of Arabia
are not so white as thy body.
the roses of the garden of the

34
Neither
Queen
Salome
of Arabia, the garden of spices of the
Queen of Arabia, nor
dawn when
they Hght on the leaves, nor
the breast of the

the
the feet of the
moon when
the sea.
breast of
lies
on
There
is
she
.
nothing in the world so white as thy

body.
Suffer
me
to touch thy body.
lOKANAAN
Back
daughter of Babylon
woman came
evil into the
not to me.
I
listen
I will
world.
By
Speak
not listen to thee.
but to the voice of the Lord
God.
SALOME
Thy body
body of a
is
hideous.
leper.
It is like the
It is like a plastered
wall where vipers have crawled; like a

plastered wall
where the scorpions have

35
^ Salome
made
their nest.
sepulchre,
is
thy body
of thy hair that
lokanaan.
like
is
Thy
a whited
loathsome
of
full
It is horrible,
It
hair
horrible.
is
am
things.
It
enamoured,
like clusters of
is
grapes, like the clusters of black grapes

that
hang from the
in the land of the Edomites.

is
like the cedars
great cedars of
Edom
vine-trees of
Thy
hair
of Lebanon-, like the
Lebanon
that give their
shade to the lions and to the robbers
who would
long black nights,
her face,
when
when
the
that dwells in the forest

is
moon
hides
the stars are afraid, are
not so black as thy hair.
There
The
hide them by day.
is
The
silence
not so black.
nothing in the world that
black as thy hair.
touch thy hair.

36
Suffer
is
me
so
to
Salome
lOKANAAN
Back, daughter of Sodom
me
Touch
Profane not the temple of the
not.
Lord God.
SALOME
Thy
hair
is
It is
covered
It is like a
crown of
horrible.
with mire and dust.
thorns placed on thy head.
It is like a
knot of serpents coiled round thy neck.

I
love
not
thy
hair.
...
It
mouth
that I desire, lokanaan.
mouth
is
like a
tower of ivory.
band of
It is like a
thy
is
scarlet
Thy
on a
pomegranate
cut in twain with a knife of ivory.
The
pomegranate flowers that blossom

the gardens of Tyre,
and are redder
than roses, are not so red.

blasts of
in
The
red
trumpets that herald the ap-
^ Salome
proach of kings, and make afraid the
enemy, are not so
red.
redder than the feet of
Thy mouth is
those who tread
the wine in the wine-press.
than the
doves
feet of the
It
is
who
redder
inhabit
the temples and are fed by the priests.

It is
redder than the feet of him
Cometh from a
a
slain
where he .hath
and seen gilded
lion,
Thy mouth
forest
is
who
tigers.
a branch of coral
like
that fishers have found in the twilight of
the sea, the coral that they keep for the

kings
...
It
is
like
the
vermilion
that the Moabites find in the mines of
Moab,
the vermilion that the kings take
from them.
It is like
the
King of the Persians, that

with vermilion and
There
is
is
bow
is
of the
painted
tipped with coral.
nothing in the world so red

38
Salome
as thy mouth.
Suffer
me
to kiss
thy mouth.
lOKANAAN
Never daughter of Babylon Daugh1
ter of
Sodom
never
SALOME
I will kiss
thy mouth, lokanaan.
mouth.
will kiss thy
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Princess, Princess, thou
who
art like
garden of myrrh, thou
who
art the
dove of
all
doves, look not at this
look not at
words
him
to him.
Do
man,
not speak such
cannot endure
it.
Princess, do not speak these things.
SALOME
I will kiss thy
mouth, lokanaan.
39
^ Salome
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Ah!
[He
himself and falls be-
kills
tween Salome and lokanaan.]
The young Syrian has

The young captain has
He has slain
I
wrought
said
Well
knew
it,
and
Ah, did he not say
it
that the
a dead thing, but I
whom
and now he
in silver,
some misfortune would happen
I, too,
he
my friend
box of perfumes and
little
has killed himself.

that
slain himself!
himself who was
gave him a
ear-rings
slain himself!
has come to pass.
moon was
knew not
she sought.
not hide him from the
seeking
that
Ah why
If
moon
!
it
was
did I
I
had
hidden him in a cavern she would not
have seen him.

40
Salome
FIRST SOLDIER
Princess, the
young captain has
just
slain himself.
SALOME
Suffer
me to kiss thy mouth, lokanaan.
lOKANAAN
Art
thou
Herodias
not
Did
daughter
afraid,
not
tell
of
thee that I had
heard in the palace the beatings of the
wings of the angel of death, and hath he

not come, the angel of death
SALOME
Suffer
me
to kiss thy mouth.
lOKANAAN
Daughter of adultery, there
but one
He of whom
Him. He is in a boat
who can
save thee.
I spake.
Go
seek
is
41
It is
^ Salome
on the sea of Galilee, and
He
talketh
Kneel down on the
with His disciples.
shore of the sea, and call unto
Him by
When He cometh to thee,

and to all who call unto Him He cometh,
His name.
bow
Him
thyself
at
His
feet
and ask of
the remission of thy sins.
SALOME
Suffer
me
to kiss thy mouth.
lOKANAAN
Cursed be thou
daughter of an in-
cestuous mother, be thou accursed!
SALOME
I will kiss
lOKANAAN
I will not look at thee.
accursed,
[He
Thou
art
Salome, thou art accursed.
goes Jozun into the cistern.^

42
Salome
SALOME
I will kiss
will kiss
thy mouth, lokanaan;
thy mouth.
FIRST SOLDIER
We
must bear away the body to an-
other place.
The Tetrarch does
not
care to see dead bodies, save the bodies
of those
whom
he himself has
slain.
He was my
brother,
than a brother.
full
and nearer to
gave him a
little
me
box
of perfumes, and a ring of agate that
he always wore on his hand.
In the
we were wont to walk by the

river, and among the almond-trees, and
he used to tell me the things of his counHe spake ever very low. The
try.
evening
sound of
his voice
was
43
like the
sound of
^ Salome
who playeth upon the

had much joy to gaze at
the flute, of one
Also he
flute.
himself in the
him
river.
used to reproach
for that.
SECOND SOLDIER
You
are
we must
right;
The Tetrarch must
body.
hide the
not see
it.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch
He
place.
He
is
too
will not
come
to this
never comes on the terrace.
much
afraid of the prophet.
[Enter Herody HerodiaSy and
all the
Court.]
HEROD
Where
Princess
Salome
Why
banquet
the
Ah
is
there she
as
Where
is
the
did she not return to

I
is
44
commanded her?
Salome
HERODIAS
You must
not look at her!
You
are
always looking at her
HEROD
The moon has a
Has she not
night.
She
woman who
She
lovers.
mad
seeking everywhere for
is
naked
is
naked.
quite
look to-
a strange look
mad woman,
like a
is
strange
The
too.
She
is
clouds are seeking
to clothe her nakedness, but she will
not
let
naked
She
them.
shows
herself
reels
through
She
in the sky.
the clouds like a drunken

I
am
Does
is
she not
reel
is
She
is
looking for lovers.
sure she
woman
woman.
like
hke a
she not?
45
drunken
mad woman,
-^ Salome
HERODIAS
No;
all.
is
the
moon
Let
the
is like
go
us
moon, that
within.
We
have nothing to do here.
HEROD
I will stay here
Manasseh, lay car-
Light torches.
pets there.
Bring forth
the ivory tables, and the tables of jasper.
The
air here is sweet.
wine with
all
my
honours
guests.
to
the
I will
We
drink more
must show
ambassadors
of
Caesar.
HERODIAS
It is
not because of them that you
remain.
HEROD
Yes;
the air
is
very sweet.
Herodias, our guests await us.

46
Come,
Ah
Salome
^
e^vv
have slipped
It is
an
ill
have slipped in blood
omen.
It is a
very
Wherefore is there blood here

this
and
body, what does this body here
Think you
who
omen.
ill
gives
am
no
.?
Hke the King of Egypt,
feast to his guests but that
he shows them a corpse
on
I will not look
Whose
is it ?
it.
FIRST SOLDIER
It is
Syrian
our captain,
whom
sire.
It is the
young
you made captain of the
guard but three days gone.
HEROD
I issued
no order that he should be
slain.
SECOND SOLDIER
He
slew himself,
sire.
47
-^ Salome
HEROD
For what reason
captain of
my
had made him
guard
SECOND SOLDIER
We
do not know,
own hand he
But with
sire.
his
slew himself.
HEROD
That seems strange
thought
phers
to me.
was but the Roman
it
who
slew themselves.
had
philosoIs
it
not
true, Tigellinus, that the philosophers
at
Rome
slay themselves
tigeLlinus
There be some who
They
sire.
are
people
are the Stoics.
of no
as
The
cultivation.
are ridiculous people.
them
slay themselves,
Stoics
They
myself regard
being perfectly ridiculous.

48
Salome
HEROD
It is ridiculous to kill one*s-
I also.
self.
TIGELLINUS
Everybody
at
Rome
The Emperor has

against
them.
It
laughs at them.
written
is
recited
satire
every-
where.
HEROD
Ah
them
he has written a
Csesar
everything.
is
...
satire against
wonderful.
slain himself.
sorry he has slain himself.
He was
For he was
even very
languorous eyes.
can do
It is strange that the
young Syrian has
sorry.
He
fair to
fair.
am
am
very
look upon.
He had
remember
very
that I
saw that he looked languorously

49
at
^ Salome
Salome.
Truly, I thought he looked
much
too
at her.
HERODIAS
There are others who look too much
at her.
HEROD
His father was a king.
from
his
who was
a queen, you
it
him
were, and for that reason I
made
am
have you
must be taken
sorry he
left
to
I will not look at
it,
There
there not a
is
is
dead.
the body here
some other
50
it
It is cold
wind blowing.
wind blowing?
place.
away with
[They take away the body.]

here.
a slave,
guest,
Ho why
It
made
my
my captain.
drave him
of his mother,
So he was here as
Herodias.
as
And
kingdom.
Is
Salome
HERODIAS
No;
there
is
no wind.
HEROD
I tell
.
you there
And
that
is
is
wind that blows.
hear in the air something
like the beating of wings, like
the beating of vast wings.
hear
Do you
not
it ?
HERODIAS
I
hear nothing.
HEROD
I
It
hear
it
no
longer.
But
heard
was the blowing of the wind.
passed away.
Do
But, no, I hear
you not hear
it ?
beating of wings.
SI
it
It
it.
has
again.
It is just like a
-^ Salome
HERODIAS
you there
I tell
ill.
is
You
nothing.
are
within.
Let us go
eo within
HEROD
I
is
am
not
It is
ill.
your daughter
Never have
sick to death.
who
seen her
so pale.
HERODIAS
I
have told you not to look at her.
HEROD
Pour
me
forth
wine with me.

exquisite.
Dip
into
[fFine
Salome, come drink a
brought.]
is
wine.
it
is
little
have here a wine that
Caesar himself sent
thy Uttle red
drain the cup.

52
lips,
that
it
me.
may
Salome
SALOME
I
am
not thirsty, Tetrarch.
HEROD
You
how
hear
daughter of yours
she answers me, this

?
HERODIAS
She does
right.
gazing at her
Why
are
you always
HEROD
me
Bring
brought.]
with me.
fruits.
[Fruits
Salome, come and eat

I love to see in
mark of thy
of this
ripe
Httle teeth.
fruit,
that I
a fruit the
eat
left.
SALOME
I
am
not hungry, Tetrarch.

53
fruits
Bite but a
may
are
little
what
is
^ Salome
HEROD
You
[To Herodias.]
have
up
brought
see
how you
daughter
this
of
yours.
HERODIAS
My
race.
come of
a royal
for thee, thy father
was a
daughter and
As
camel-driver!
He was
a thief and a
robber to boot!
HEROD
Thou
liest!
HERODIAS
Thou knowest
well that
it is
true.
HEROD
Salome, come and
sit
next to me.
will give thee the throne of

54
thy mother.
Salome
SALOME
I
am
not tired, Tetrarch.
HERODIAS
You
see in
what regard she holds you.
HEROD
Bring
I forget.
What
me
Ah
ah
is it
remember.
that I desire

Behold
which
time
the
I foretold
day that
has come to pass.
spake of
come!
is
is
at
That
The
hand.
HERODIAS
Bid him be
his voice.
silent.
This
insults against
man
I will
is
not listen to
for ever hurling
me.
HEROD
He
has
Besides,
he
said nothing
is
against you.
a very great prophet.

55
^ Salome
HERODIAS
I
do not believe
man tell what will come

man knows it. Also he
sulting me.
of him.
.
...
But
I
Can
in prophets.
to pass
is
No
for ever in-
think you are afraid
know
well that you are
afraid of him.
HEROD
I
am
not afraid of him.
am
afraid
of no man.
HERODIAS
I tell
you you are afraid of him. If
you are not
afraid of
him why do you
not deliver him to the Jews

these six
who
for
months past have been clam-
ouring for him
.?
56
Salome
A JEW
Truly,
deliver
my
him
lord,
it
were better
to
into our hands.
HEROD
Enough on
this subject.
ready given you

deliver
him
holy man.
my
have
al-
I will
not
answer.
into your hands.
He
is
man who
He
is
has seen
God.
A JEW
That cannot
There
be.
is
no man
who hath seen God since the prophet

Elias. He is the last man who saw God
face to face.
In these days God doth
not show Himself.
Therefore great
God
evils
hideth Himself.
have come upon
the land.
57
-^ Salome
ANOTHER JEW
Verily, no man knoweth
Elias the
if
prophet did indeed see God.

venture
it
Perad-
was but the shadow of God
that he saw.
A THIRD JEW
God
at
is
no time hidden.
eth Himself at
God
is
what
is
in
all
what
times and in
is evil
He showall
even as
places.
He
is
in
good.
A FOURTH JEW
Thou
shouldst not say that.
very dangerous doctrine.
It is a
It is a doctrine
that
Cometh from Alexandria, where
men
And
teach the philosophy of the Greeks.

the Greeks are Gentiles.
are not even circumcised.

58
They
Salome
A FIFTH JEW
No man
how God worketh.

His ways are very dark. It may be that
the things which we call evil are good,
can
tell
and that the things which we

are
evil.
anything.
There
We
call
good
no knowledge of
is
can but bow our heads
God
to His will, for
is
very strong.
He
breaketh in pieces the strong together

with the weak, for
He
regardeth not
any man.
JEW
Thou speakest
FIRST
is
He
terrible.
truly.
weak
in a mortar.
But
as
men break
as for this
hath never seen God.
God
God
breaketh in pieces the
strong and the
seen
Verily,
corn
man, he
No man
hath
since the prophet Elias.

59
'
^ Salome
HERODIAS
Make them
be
silent.
They weary
me.
HEROD
But I have heard
is
in very truth
THE JEW
That cannot
it
said that
your prophet
be.
It is
lokanaan
Elias.
more than three
hundred years since the days of the

prophet EHas.
HEROD
There be some who say that
is
this
man
EHas the prophet.
A NAZARENE
I
am
sure that he
is
Elias the prophet.
THE JEW
Nay, but he
is
not Elias the prophet.

60
Salome
at
hand, the day of
the Lord, and I hear
upon the moun-
Behold the day
tains the feet of
is
Him who
shall be the
Saviour of the world.
HEROD
What
does that
of the world
mean
The
Saviour
TIGELLINUS
It is a title that Caesar adopts.
HEROD
But Caesar
not coming into Judaea.
is
Only yesterday
Rome.
received letters from
They contained nothing
cerning this matter.

nus,
who were
at
And
Rome
6i
con-
you, Tigelli-
during the v in-
^ Salome
you heard nothing concerning
ter,
matter, did you
this
TIGELLINUS
Sire, I
matter.
It is
heard nothing concerning the

I
was but explaining the
one of Caesar's
title.
titles.
HEROD
But Caesar cannot come.
gouty.
They
reasons of state.
Rome.
beit,
Caesar
He
is
will not
too
Also there are
He who
will not
lord,
be his pleasure.
he
is
say that his feet are like
the feet of an elephant.
loses
He
Rome
leaves
How-
come.
he will come
if
such
Nevertheless, I think
come.
FIRST NAZARENE
It
was not concerning Caesar
prophet spake these words,

62
that the
sire.
Salome
HEROD
How
Caesar
was
it
not
concerning
FIRST NAZARENE
my
No,
lord.
HEROD
Concerning
whom
then did he speak
FIRST NAZARENE
Concerning Messias,
who
hath come.
A JEW
Messias hath not come.
FIRST NAZARENE
He
hath come, and everywhere he
worketh miracles!
HERODIAS
Ho
in
ho
miracles
miracles.
[To the Page.]
do not believe
have seen too many.
My
fan.
^ Salome
FIRST NAZARENE
Man
This
Thus,
at a
in a little
worketh
true
miracles.
marriage which took place
town of
Galilee, a
town of
some importance. He changed water

into wine.
Certain persons
present related
two
it
lepers that
to me. Also
who were
He healed
were seated before the
Gate of Capernaum simply by touching

them.
SECOND NAZARENE
Nay;
it
was two blind men
that
He
healed at Capernaum.
FIRST NAZARENE
Nay;
they
were
lepers.
hath healed blind people
was seen on
also,
But He
and
He
a mountain talking with
angels.
64
Salome
A SADDUCEE
Angels do not
exist.
A PHARISEE
Angels
this
exist,
Man
but
do not believe that
has talked with them.
FIRST NAZARENE
He was
seen by a great multitude of
people talking with angels.
HERODIAS
How
these
ridiculous
lous
men weary me
They
They
are
are altogether ridicu-
[To the Page.^
\The Page gives her

have a dreamer's look.
Well
my
fan
You
the fan.]
You must
not
who
dream.
It
dream.
[She strikes the Page with her
is
only sick
people
fan.]
65
^ Salome
SECOND NAZARENE
There
also
is
of the
miracle
the
daughter of Jairus.
FIRST NAZARENE
Yea, that
say
is
sure.
No man can gain-
it.
HERODIAS
Those men are mad.
They have
looked too long on the moon.
mand them
HEROD
What
is
of Jairus
Com-
to be silent.
this miracle of the
daughter
FIRST NAZARENE
The daughter
This
Man
of Jairus was dead.
raised her
66
from the dead.
Salome
HEROD
How! He
dead
people from
raises
the
FIRST NAZARENE
Yea,
sire;
He
raiseth the dead.
HEROD
I
bid
do not wish
Him
raise
to
the
do
Him
to
This
found and told that
present
Where
raise the dead.
that.
I suffer
that.
dead.
do
no
Man
I for-
man
to
must be
forbid
Him
to
this
Man
at
is
SECOND NAZARENE
He
is
is
in every place,
my
lord, but
hard to find Him.
FIRST NAZARENE
It is said that
He
is
67
now
in Samaria.
it
-^ Salome
A JEW
It
easy to
is
Messias,
if
He
is
that
see
is
not
It is
not
this
in Samaria.
to the
Samaritans that Messias shall
come.
The Samaritans
They
are
accursed.
bring no offerings to the Temple.
SECOND NAZARENE
He
I
is
Samaria a few days
left
think that at the present

in the
since.
moment He
neighbourhood of Jerusalem.
FIRST NAZARENE
No; He
is
not there.
come from Jerusalem.
have just
For two months
they have had no tidings of Him.
HEROD
No
and
matter
tell
King,
'
But
let
Him, thus
I will
them
saith
not suffer
68
find
Him,
Herod the
Thee
to raise
!
!
Salome
^
To
the dead.'
the
heal
to
He may
change water into wine,
lepers
and
do these things
if
blind
He
It
In
a kindly deed to heal a
But no man
leper.
...
it
will.
say nothing against these things.

truth, I hold
would be
shall raise the dead.

terrible if the
dead
came back.

Ah The wanton one The
!
Ah
the daughter of Babylon with her
golden
Thus
and her gilded
eyes
saith the
come up
men.
harlot
eyelids
Lord God, Let there
against her a
multitude of
Let the people take stones and
stone her.
HERODIAS
Command him
to be silent!
69
^ Salome
Let the captains of the hosts pierce
her with their swords,
let
them crush
her beneath their shields.
HERODIAS
Nay, but
it is
infamous.

It is
thus that I will wipe out
wickedness from the earth, and that
women
all
all
shall learn not to imitate her
abominations.
HERODIAS
You hear what he says against me ?

You suffer him to revile her who is your
wife!
HEROD
He
did not speak your name.

70
Salome
HERODIAS
What
well that
And
does that matter?
am
it is
whom
your wife,
You know
he seeks to
am
not
revile.
HEROD
Of a
truth, dear
you are
my
and before that you
wife,
were the wife of
and noble Herodias,
my
brother.
HERODIAS
It
was thou
didst snatch
me from
his
arms.
HEROD
Of
wa3.
a truth I
.
matter.
It
is
But
was stronger than he

let
us not talk of that
do not desire to talk of
it.
the cause of the terrible words
that the prophet has spoken.
venture on account of
71
it
Perad-
misfortune will
-^ Salome
come.
Let us not speak of
this matter.
Noble Herodias, we are not mindful

of our guests.
Fill
Ho!
thou
my
cup,
my
fill
with wine the
great goblets of silver,
and the great
well-beloved.
goblets of glass.
I will drink to Caesar.
There are Romans here, we must drink

to Caesan
ALL
Caesar
Caesar
HEROD
Do you
pale she
not see your daughter,
how
is ?
HERODIAS
What
is
it
to
you
if
she be pale or
not?
HEROD
Never have
seen her so pale.

72
Salome
HERODIAS
You must
not look at her.

In that day the sun shall become
black Hke sackcloth of hair, and the
moon
shall
become
heaven
stars of the
earth like unripe

fig-tree,
and the
like blood,
upon the
shall fall
that
figs
fall
from the
and the kings of the earth
shall
be afraid.
HERODIAS
Ah ah
!
should like to see that day
of which he speaks,
shall
become
like blood,
stars shall fall
ripe
figs.
moon
and when the
the
upon the earth
like
This prophet talks
drunken man,
fer the
when
sound of
but
his
73
un-
like
cannot suf-
voice.
hate
^ Salome
Command him
his voice.
to
be
si-
lent.
HEROD
I will not.
cannot understand what
that he saith, but
is
it
it
may
be an
omen.
HERODIAS
I
do not believe
like a
in
omens.
He speaks
drunken man
HEROD
It
may
be he
is
drunk with the wine
of God.
HERODIAS
What wine is
God ? From what
ered
that,
the
vineyards
In what wine-press
it?
74
wine
is it
of
gath-
may one
find
Salome
?-4L
HEROD
[From
this point he looks all the
at Salome.^
at
Rome
of
while
Tigellinus,
when you were
did the
Emperor speak
late,
with you on the subject of
TIGELLINUS
On
what
my
subject,
lord
HEROD
On
what subject
a question, did I not
what
Ah
asked you
have forgotten
would have asked you.
HERODIAS
You are looking

ter.
You must not
again at
look at her.
already said so.
HEROD
You
say nothing
my
else.
75
daughI
have
"^ Salome
HERODIAS
I
say
it
again.
HEROD
And
that restoration of the
Temple
about which they have talked so much,

will
anything be done
They say
that
the veil of the Sanctuary has disap-
peared, do they not
HERODIAS
It
was
thyself didst steal
speakest at
it.
Thou
random and without
I will not stay here.
wit.
Let us go within.
HEROD
Dance
for
me, Salome.
HERODIAS
I will not
have her dance.
SALOME
I
have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.

76
Salome
HEROD
Salome, daughter of Herodias, dance

for
me.
HERODIAS
Peace.
Let her alone.
HEROD
I
command
thee to dance, Salome.
SALOME
I will not dance, Tetrarch.
HERODIAS
You
[Laughing.]
see
how
she obeys
you.
HEROD
What
not
am
is it
It is
nought to me.
happy.
Never have
me whether
to
I
I
am
she dance or
To-night
exceeding happy.
been so happy.
77
^ Salome
FIRST SOLDIER
The Tetrarch has a sombre

Has he not a sombre look ?
look.
SECOND SOLDIER
Yes, he has a sombre look.
HEROD
Wherefore should
not be happy?
who is lord of the world,

Caesar, who is lord of all things, loves
me well. He has just sent me most
Caesar,
precious
Also he has promised
gifts.
summon to Rome the King of

Cappadocia, who is mine enemy. It
may be that at Rome he will crucify
me
to
him, for he
is
able to do
he has a mind to do.

lord.
am
Therefore
all
things that
Verily, Caesar
is
do well to be happy.
very happy, never have I been so

78
Salome
happy.
There
that can
mar my
is
nothing in the world
happiness.
He
shall
be seated on his throne.
shall be clothed in scarlet
He
and purple.
In his hand he shall bear a golden cup

full
of his blasphemies.
And
the angel
of the Lord shall smite him.
He
shall
be eaten of worms.
HERODIAS
You
He
hear what he says about you.
says that you shall
be eaten of
worms.
HEROD
It is
not of
me
that he speaks.
speaks never against me.
It is
He
of the
King of Cappadocia that he speaks;

the
King of Cappadocia who

79
is
mine
-^ Salome
enemy.
It is
worms.
It
he
is
who
not
shall be eaten
Never has he
I.
spoken word against me,

save that
of
this prophet,
sinned in taking to wife
the wife of
my
he
For, of a truth, you are
is
right.
brother.
may
It
be
sterile.
HERODIAS
am
sterile, I
You
say that, you
my
that are ever looking at
daughter,
you that would have her dance

pleasure
You
have borne a
no
you who are
your
fool.
You have
gotten
on one of your
slaves.
child.
child, no, not
It is
speak as a
for
sterile,
not
I.
HEROD
Peace,
sterile.
woman
You have
!
I say that
borne
80
you are
me no
child,
Salome
and the prophet says that our marriage
He
is
not a true marriage.
is
a marriage of incest, a marriage that
will bring evils.

I
am
...
sure that he
is
says that
I fear
he
But
right.
is
right
not
it is
the hour to speak of these things.
would be happy
am
truth, I
at this
is
Of
nothing
moment.
There
happy.
it
lack.
HERODIAS
I
am
glad you are of so fair a
to-night.
it is
It is
forget that
honours
not your custom.
Let us go within.
late.
we hunt
must
humour
be
at
shown
But
Do
sunrise.
to
ambassadors, must they not
8i
sombre
All
Caesar's
SECOND SOLDIER
The Tetrarch has
not
look.
^ Salome
FIRST SOLDIER
Yes, he has a sombre look.
HEROD
Salome, Salome, dance for me.
pray thee dance for me.

night.
am
Yes, I
When
which
is
came
an
am
sad to-
passing sad to-night.
hither I slipped in blood,
omen;
evil
also I heard in
the air a beating of wings, a beating of

giant wings.
cannot
may mean. ...
am
sad
Therefore dance for me.
me, Salome,
dancest for
what thou
thee.
me
and
dance
of
my
it
for
for
If thou
thou mayest ask of
and whatsoever thou

I will give
to-night.
Dance
beseech thee.
wilt,
Yes,
what that
tell
me
will
give
me,
Salome,
shalt ask of
it
me
thee, even unto the half
kingdom.
82
Salome
^
rfv
SALOME
Will you indeed give
[Rising.]
whatsoever
trarch
shall
me
ask of you, Te-
HERODIAS
Do
not dance,
my
daughter.
HEROD
Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me,
even unto the half of
my
kingdom.
SALOME
You swear
it,
Tetrarch
HEROD
I
swear
it,
Salome.
HERODIAS
Do
not dance,
my
daughter.
SALOME
By what
Tetrarch
will
you swear
83
this thing,
^ Salome
HEROD
By my
life,
Whatsoever
give
my crown,
thou shalt
thee, even to
it
kingdom,
me.
by
if
by
my gods.
desire
the half of
will
my
thou wilt but dance for
Salome,
Salome,
dance
for
me!
SALOME
You have sworn an
oath, Tetrarch.
HEROD
I
have sworn an oath.
HERODIAS
My
daughter, do not dance.
HEROD
Even
Thou
to the
half of
my
kingdom.
wilt be passing fair as a queen,
Salome,
half of
if it
my
please thee to ask for the
kingdom.
84
Will she not be
Salome^
fair as a
queen
There
an
is
icy
wherefore do
ing of wings
Ah
it is
wind, and
cold here
hear
hear in the air this beat-
Ah
one might fancy a
huge black bird that hovers over the

terrace.
The
Why can I
beat of
not see
wings
its
not cold,
it
my
Pour water on
snow
to
Quick!
quick!
that hurts
The
me,
flowers
have burned
Nay, but
it is
am
hands.
It is
my
are
my
on the
table.]
85
Give
my
my
my
me
mantle.
mantle.
garland
roses.
like
They
fire.
forehead.
Ah
choking.
garland of
the wreath from his head,

it
The
ter-
loosen
it.
is
Loosen
eat.
Nay, but leave
hot.
is
wings
its
wind.
It is a chill
this bird
is terrible.
breath of the wind of

rible.
it,
[He
tears
and throws
can breathe now.
Salome
How
red those petals are
They
blood on the cloth.
like stains of
does not matter.
It is
makes
too
life
full
That
not wise to find
symbols in everything that one

It
are
sees.
of terrors. It were
better to say that stains of blood are as
lovely as rose-petals.
to say that
of
this.
Now
ing happy.
happy
It
But we
am
Have
were better far
happy.
dance for me.
me, Salome
am
is
going to
Wilt thou not dance for
Thou
hast promised to
dance for me.
HERODIAS
I will not
have her dance.
SALOME
I will
pass-
not the right to be
Your daughter
not speak
will
dance for you, Tetrarch.

86
Salome
HEROD
You hear what your daughter
She
going to dance for me.
is
dost well
thou hast danced for me,
forget not to ask of
hast a
mind
me
whatsoever thou
Whatsoever thou
to ask.
shalt desire I will give
the half of
it,
have
Thou
dance for me, Salome.
to
And when
says.
my
not
it
kingdom.
thee, even to
I
have sworn
SALOME
Thou
hast sworn
it,
Tetrarch.
HEROD
And
have never
failed of
am not of those who
know
of
how
not
my word,
of a king.
and
to
word.
break their oaths.
lie.
my word
The King
87
my
am
is
the slave
the
word
of Cappadocia
AAU>
Salome
had ever a lying tongue, but he
He
true king.
owes
He
He
me money
no
Also he
a coward.
is
is
that he will not repay.
has even insulted
my
ambassadors.
has spoken words that were wound-
But Caesar
ing.
will crucify
he comes to Rome.
know
And
him when
that Caesar
he crucify
will
crucify him.
him
not, yet will he die, being eaten
The prophet has
of worms.
Salome
prophesied
Wherefore dost thou
Well!
it.
if
tarry,
SALOME
I
am
waiting until
me and
from off my
my
slaves bring
perfumes to
the seven veils,
and take
feet
bring perfumes
[Slaves
veils,
and
take
off
Salome.]
88
my
and
the
sandals.
the
seven
sandals
of
Salome
H^-
HEROD
Ah, thou
feet
'Tis well
be like
will
is
'Tis well
Thy
trees.
spilt
They
No,
going to dance on blood
blood
little
white flowers that
little
upon the
dance
is
dance with naked
be like white doves.
feet will
she
art to
It
There
She must
on the ground.
not dance on blood.
no,
were an
evil
omen.
HERODIAS
What
blood
in
it.
is
it
Thou
.
to thee if she
hast
dance on
waded deep enough
HEROD
What is it to me ? Ah look at the
moon! She has become red. She has
!
become red
as blood.
89
Ah
the prophet
^ Salome
He
prophesied truly.
the
prophesied that
moon would become
Did he not prophesy
him prophesying
moon
as
blood.
All of ye heard
it ?
And now
it.
the
Do
has become as blood.
ye
not see it?
HERODIAS
Oh
yes, I see
well,
it
are falling like unripe
and the sun
is
and the
figs,
stars
are they not
becoming black
like
sackcloth of hair, and the kings of the

earth are afraid.
That
at least
one can
see.
The prophet
words
in that at least, for truly the kings
of
the
is
earth are afraid.
of his
Let us
You are sick. They will

Rome that you are mad. Let
go within.
say at
justified
us go within, I
tell
you.
90
Salome
Who
who
is
this
is
who cometh from Edom,

who cometh from Bozra,
this
whose raiment
who
dyed with purple,
is
shineth in the beauty of his gar-
ments,
who walketh mighty in
ness
Wherefore
with scarlet
is
his great-
thy raiment stained
HERODIAS
The
Let us go within.
man maddens
me.
I will
daughter dance while he

crying out.
voice of that
not have
is
my
continually
not have her dance
I will
while you look at her in this fashion.
In a word,
I will
not have her dance.
HEROD
Do
not
rise,
my
wife,
will avail thee nothing.

91
my
queen,
I will
it
not go
^ Salome
within
till
Dance,
she hath danced.
Salome, dance for me.
HERODIAS
Do not
dance,
my daughter.
SALOME
am
ready, Tetrarch.
[Salome dances
seven
the
dance of the
veils.
HEROD
Ah
wonderful
see that she has
wonderful
You
danced for me, your
Come near, Salome, come

near, that I may give thee thy fee. Ah
I pay a royal price to those who dance
daughter.
for
my
pleasure.
I will
soul
desireth.
?
pay thee roy-
give thee whatsoever thy
ally.
have
I will
What wouldst thou
Speak.
92
Salome
SALOME
[Kneeling.]
me
ently bring
would that they pres-
in a silver charger
HEROD
[Laughing.]
In
silver
charger
Surely yes, in a silver charger.
charming,
is
she not
wouldst have in a
What
silver
She
is it
is
thou
charger,
sweet and fair Salome, thou that art

fairer
than
all
the daughters of Judaea
What wouldst thou have them

thee
in
silver
Whatsoever
ceive
it.
What
is
Salome
it
My
it
charger?
may
Tell
bring
me.
be, thou shalt re-
treasures belong to thee.
that thou wouldst
have,
SALOME
[Rising.]
The head
93
of lokanaan.
^ Salome
HERODIAS
Ah
that
is
my
well said,
daughter.
HEROD
No, no!
HERODIAS
That
is
my
well said,
daughter.
HEROD
No, no, Salome.
Do
desirest.
She
voice.
It is
not that thou
not listen to thy mother*s

is
ever
giving
thee
evil
Do not heed her.
counsel.
SALOME
not
It is
heed.
my
It is for
mother's voice that I
my own
pleasure that I
ask the head of lokanaan in a silver

charger.
Herod.
You have sworn an
oath,
Forget not that you have sworn
an oath.
94
Salome
HEROD
I
my
know
it.
gods.
have sworn an oath by
know
I will give
what thy
it
lips
half of
thee.
But
me something
thee, Salome, ask of
Ask of me the
well.
it
my
pray
else.
kingdom, and
But ask not of
me
have asked.
SALOME
I
ask of you the head of lokanaan.
HEROD
No, no,
I will not give
it
thee.
SALOME
You have sworn an
oath, Herod.
HERODIAS
Every-
Yes, you have sworn an oath.
body heard you.
You
everybody.
95
swore
it
before
^ Salome
HEROD
woman!
Peace,
It is
not to you I
speak.
HERODIAS
My daughter has
He
head of lokanaan.
with
He
insults.
done well
has covered
One can
she loves her mother well.
my
me
has said unspeakable
things against me.
yield,
to ask the
He
daughter.
see that
Do
not
has sworn an
oath, he has sworn an oath.
HEROD
Speak
Peace!
Salome,
born.
ward
...
pray thee
have
thee.
It
may
too much.
not
ever
have
be that
to
be
not
been
ever
me!
stub-
kind
loved
to-
thee.
have loved thee
Therefore ask not this thing

96
Salome
them
evil
to
^
Thou wouldst
not.
not that some
should befall me, Salome
me
Listen
again.
SALOME
Give
me
the head of lokanaan.
HEROD
Ah! thou
Be calm.
not calm
ten.
art not
As
I
for
am
listening to
me, as for me,
altogether calm.
have jewels hidden
jewels
that
me.
am
Lis-
in this place
mother even has
thy
never seen; jewels that are marvellous

to look at.
have a collar of pearls,
set in four rows.
They
are like unto
moons chained with
rays
They
hundred moons
are even as half a
caught in a golden net.

breast of a
On
of
the ivory
queen they have

103
silver.
rested.
^ Salome
Thou
shalt be as fair as a
thou wearest them.

of two kinds;
wine,
that
I
one
have amethysts
one that
and one that

has
queen when
is
coloured
is
black like
red like wine
with
water.
have topazes yellow as are the eyes
of tigers, and topazes that are pink

as the eyes of a wood-pigeon,
and green
topazes that are as the eyes of cats.

I
have opals that burn always, with a
flame that
is
cold as ice, opals that
make sad men's minds, and

of the shadows.
are afraid
have onyxes
the eyeballs of a dead
woman.
like
have
moonstones that change when the moon

changes, and are
the
sun.
eggs,
sea
and
wan when
they see
have sapphires big
as blue as blue flowers.
wanders within them, and the

104
like
The
moon
Salome
comes never
to
their waves.
beryls,
I
trouble
blue
the
have chrysolites and
and chrysoprases and rubies;
have sardonyx and hyacinth stones,
and stones of chalcedony, and

give
them
all
unto thee,
will
The King
now
of the Indies has but even
me
and other
all,
things will I add to them.
sent
four fans fashioned from the feathers
of parrots, and the King of

a garment of ostrich feathers.
a crystal, into
for a
woman
men
behold
which
it
is
to look, nor
it
until
beaten with rods.

I
of
Numidia
I
have
not lawful
may young
they have been
In a coffer of nacre
have three wondrous turquoises.
who wears them on
his forehead
He
can
imagine things which are not, and he
who
carries
them
in his
los
hand can turn
^ Salome
the fruitful
is
woman
These are great
barren.
They
But
are
this
coflFer I
woman
into a
not
is
treasures.
above
treasures
all
have two cups of amber that
are like apples of pure gold.
enemy pour poison

become
of
apples
like
incrusted
If
an
into these cups they
with
In
silver.
amber
coffer incrusted with
dals
price.
ebony
an
In
all.
that
have sanI
glass.
have
mantles that have been brought from

the land of the Seres,
and bracelets
decked about with carbuncles and with

jade that come from the city of Euphrates.
than
this,
What
Salome
Tell
that thou desirest,

thee.
desirest
and
thou more
me
the thing
I will give
it
All that thou askest I will give
thee, save one thing only.

1
06
I will give thee
Salome
all
that
mine, save only the
is
one man.
I will
of the high
priest.
veil
life
of
give thee the mantle

I will give
thee the
of the sanctuary.
THE JEWS
Oh! Oh!
SALOME
Give
me
the head of lokanaan
HEROD
[Sinking back in his
be given what she asks

she
is
her mother's child!
Soldier
Let her
seat.]
Of
a truth
[The
Herodias
approaches.
first
draws
from the hand of the Tetrarch the ring

of death,
and gives
straightway hears
it
The Executioner
has taken,
my
to the Soldier,
it
to
looks
ring
107
who
the Executioner.
scared."]
Who
There was a ring
^ Salome
my
on
my wine
was
It
drunk
it
Oh
some
surely
[The
one.
into the cistern.]
fore did I give
my
my cup.
in
Some one has
of wine.
some
down
has drunk
There was wine
full
befall
goes
Who
right hand.
oath
evil
will
Executioner
Ah
where-
Hereafter
no king swear an oath. If he keep

not,
is
is
it
terrible,
and
if
he keep
it,
let
it
it
terrible also.
HERODIAS
My
daughter has done well.
HEROD
I
am
sure that
some misfortune
will
happen.
SALOME
[She leans over the cistern and
There
is
no sound.
io8
listens.]
hear nothing.
Salome
Why
does he not cry out, this
Ah!
if
would cry
tell
you.
nothing.
There
silence.
Ah
struggle, I
He
Let soldiers be
of Herodias
tell
Go
is
hear
has
fallen
afraid, this slave.
is
He
him.
who
would
heard something
has dropped his sword.
hither.
Naaman,
No,
something
me,
was the sword of the execu-
It
tioner.
kill
a silence, a terrible
is
upon the ground.

fall.
kill
Strike, strike,
sought to
would
out, I
not suffer.
strike,
man
any
man
is
He
[She sees the Page
sent.
and addresses him.]
Come
the friend of
dead, wert thou not
thee, there are not
down and
dares not
a coward, this slave!
Thou wert
to the
He
him
Well, I
dead men enough.
soldiers
and bid them go
me
the thing I ask, the
bring
109
^ Salome
thing the Tetrarch has promised me, the
thing that
is
She turns
to
soldierso
mine.
[The Page
Hither, ye
the soldiers.]
Get ye down
recoils.
into this cistern
and bring me the head of
man.
this
command your
bring me the head of
Tetrarch,
Tetrarch,
soldiers that they
lokanaan.
[A huge black arm,
arm
the
of the
Executionery comes forth from the
hearing on a silver shield the head
terriy
Salome
of lokanaan.
hides
his
rodias
face
smiles
Nazarenes
to
cts-
fall
with
seizes
his
and fans
Herod
it.
cloak.
He-
herself.
The
on their knees and begin
pray.]
Ah
thou wouldst not suffer

kiss
it
now.
I will bite
no
me
Well!
it
with
to kiss
I
my
will
teeth
Salome
Yes,
as one bites a ripe fruit.

kiss thy
I
mouth, lokanaan.
not say
it
now.
I said
it ?
it.
I said
Ah
I will
I will kiss
But wherefore dost thou
not look at me, lokanaan
Thine eyes
that were so terrible, so full of rage
thine
Open
thine eyes
dost thou not look at
me
Lift
up
Wherefore
lokanaan!
eyelids,
and
Wherefore are
scorn, are shut now.
they shut
did
it,
Art thou
afraid of me, lokanaan, that thou wilt
not look at
was
that
it
me
like a red
moves no more,
And
thy tongue,
snake darting poison,

it
speaks no words,
lokanaan, that scarlet viper that spat

its
not
venom upon me.

?
How
is it
It is strange, is it
that the red viper
stirs
Thou wouldst have

none of me, lokanaan. Thou rejectedst
no
longer?
III
Salome
jA->
Thou
me.
against me.
me
toward
that
is
didst
speak
Thou
didst
Princess
what
I will.
of Judaea
but thou art dead, and
still live,
thy head belongs to me.
and
woman
a wanton, to me, Salome, daugh-
Well, I
it
bear thyself
as to a harlot, as to a
of Herodias,
ter
words
evil
can throw
can do with
it
to the dogs
That which
to the birds of the air.
the dogs leave, the birds of the air shall
devour.
Ah, lokanaan, lokanaan,
thou wert the
man
among men!
All
hateful to me.
But thou wert beauti-
ful
Thy body was
set
full
that I loved alone
upon
other
a column of ivory
feet of silver.
of doves and
men were
lilies
It
of
was
a garden
silver.
It
was
a tower of silver decked with shields of

ivory.
There was nothing

112
in the
world
Salome
^
There was noth-
so white as thy body.
ing in the world so black as thy hair.
In the whole world there was nothing
Thy
so red as thy mouth.
voice
was a
censer that scattered strange perfumes,
and when
looked on thee
Ah
strange music.
heard a
wherefore didst
thou not look at me, lokanaan
With
the cloak of thine hands and with the
cloak of thy blasphemies thou didst hide
Thou
thy face.
eyes the covering of

his
upon thine
didst put
him who would
see
God. Well, thou hast seen thy God,
lokanaan, but me, me, thou didst never

see.
If thou hadst seen
loved me.
Oh, how
and
thee,
I loved thee
lokanaan.
am
saw
love
me
loved thee.
I love thee yet,
only
athirst for thy beauty;

IT3
thou hadst
thee.
I
...
am hungry
^ Salome
body;
for thy
and neither wine nor
apples can appease

shall
the
my
and thou
my
passion.
was a
my
didst take
was
didst scorn me.
and thou
was a
Well
from
fill
Ah! ah! where-
fireo
thou hadst looked
me.
virgin,
virginity
didst thou not look at
loved
princess,
and thou didst
chaste,
veins with
fore
Neither
nor the great waters can
floods
quench
What
desire.
do now, lokanaan
me.
my
at
I
me ?
If
me thou hadst
know that thou
wouldst have loved me, and the mystery

of Love
is
greater than the mystery of
Death.
HEROD
She
tell
is
monstrous, thy daughter;
thee she
is
monstrous.
what she has done

114
is
In truth,
a great crime.
Salome
I
am
sure that
it is
a crime against
some
unknown God.
HERODIAS
I
am
well pleased with
She has done
And
well.
my
I
daughter.
would stay
here now.
HEROD
Ah!
[Rising.]
brother's wife
in this place.
There speaks
Come
Come,
Surely
I tell thee.
terrible thing will befall.
seh,
Issachar,
torches.
not stay
I will
some
Ozias,
put
Manasout
not suffer things to look at me.
the stars
the
not look at things, I will
I will
out the torches
my
Hide the moon
Put
Hide
Let us hide ourselves in our
palace, Herodias.
begin to be afraid.
[The slaves put out the
"5
torches.
The
^ Salome
A
stars disappear.
moon and
the
The
stage
great cloud crosses
conceals
becomes
Tetrarch begins
The
dark.
quite
climb
to
completely.
it
the staircase.]^
THE VOICE OF SALOME

Ah!
have kissed thy mouth, loka-
have kissed thy mouth.
naan,
was a
bitter taste
taste
of blood
chance
it
They say
.
on thy
.
was the
Was
lips.
Nay
There
but
taste of love.
it
the
per.
that love hath a bitter taste.
But what matter
what matter
have kissed thy mouth, lokanaan,
have kissed thy mouth.
\A ray of moonlight
and illumines
falls
on Salome
her.}
HEROD
[Turning round and seeing Salome.]
Kill that
woman
ii6
Salome
[The
soldiers rush
forward and crush
beneath their shields Salome, daughter of
Herodias, Princess of Judcea.]
Curtain
"7
Rêmarctue E^dition of
Literary Masterpieces
tiniform witH
voltime
1
4
5
8
9
><
Sheridan.
Destruction of Pompeii
By Pliny and Bulwer.
Sir Roger de Coverley Papers
By Addison.
Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius
Selections.
10
v<
Sonnets from the Portuguese

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Virginibus Puerisque
By Robert Louis Stevenson.
Friendship and Love
By Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Heroism and Character
By Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Poor Richard's Almanac
By Benjamin Franklin.
The School for Scandal
By
7
v^
this
Lord Chesterfield's Letters

Selections.
N<
^ Remarque Series
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Milton
By Lord Macaulay.
11
1
Enoch Arden
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of
Sleepy Hollow
By Washington Irving.
13
14
18
Rochefoucauld's Maxims
Rab and His Friends
By Dr. John Brown.
She Stoops to Conquer
By Oliver Goldsmith.
Old Christmas
19
Vision of Sir Launfal
20
By James Russell Lowell.

Leaves of Grass
21
By Walt Whitman.
Selections.
Elegy and Other Poems
15
16
17
By Washington
Irving.
By Thomas Gray.
22
23
Sweetness and Light

By Matthew Arnold.
Golden Thoughts
24
By Archbishop Fenelon.
Wit and Wisdom
By Sidney Smith.
25
26
By Charles Dickens,
Will 0' the Mill and Biographical Sketch
By R. L. Stevenson.
Christmas Carol
XI 07
"*
Remarque
27
Series
Men and Women

By Robert Browning.
30
Napoleon Addresses and Anecdotes

Passion in the Desert, and an Episode
Selected
in the Reign of Terror.
Prose Works of Honore de Balzac
Poems of Sentiment
31
Some
28
29
By Byron.
Fruits
of
Solitude.
Reflections
and Maxims
32
23
By William Penn.
Young Man about Town
By William Makepeace Thackeray.
Golden Wings. A Prose Romance and
Letters to a
a Poem
35
By William Morris.
Selected Poems
By John Boyle O'Reilly.
The Discourses of Epictetus
36
Evangeline
37
The Holy Grail

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
38
Atala
34
Selections.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
By Fran9ois Rene Auguste Chateaubriand.
39
Armande
By Edmond and
40
Corsair and Lara

By Lord Byion.
Jules de Goncourt.
-^ Remarque
41
The Gold Bug
42
Juliet
43
L'Arlesienne
44
Manon Lescaut. Vol.

By Abbe Prevost.
Manon Lescaut. Vol.
45
46
47
48
49
By Edgar Allan Poe.

and Romeo
From the Italian of Luigi da
Serif
Porto.
By Alphonse Daudet.
i.
11.
Paul and Virginia
By Bernardin de St. Pierre.

Peter Schlemihl
By Adelbert von Chamisso.
Werther
By J. W. von Goethe.
Undine
By Friedrich, Baron de La
^,
que.
CO
51
52
53
Tales of a Wayside Inn
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellosv.

King of the Golden River, The
By John Ruskin.
Love Letters of a Violinist
By Eric Mackay.
Sketches of Young Couples
By Charles Dickens.
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Oscar Wilde - Salome

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Oscar Wilde - Salome

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TO

LORD ALFRED BRUCE DOUGLAS

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

lOKANAAN, THE PROPHET

THE YOUNG SYRIAN, CAPTAIN OF THE

THE PAGE OF HERODIAS

NAAMAN, THE EXECUTIONER

THE SLAVES OF SALOME

Dublin, October i6, 1854. His father, Sir

William Wilde, a noted oculist and

was one of the most distinguished

surgeons that Great Britain has known,

author of several important works on

other hand, he was a

bridled passions, in the gratification of

responsibility could restrain him.

mother, Jane Francesca Elgee, was well

poet, writing to the Nation,

under the names of " Speranza " and

and son, and

their second child

because a boy his advent was a disap-

for a long time he

pointment to his mother,

treated, talked to,

at Trinity College, Dublin,

In October of that year

he entered Magdalen College, Oxford,

term coming under the

" Esthetic and Mathematical

took place which had a deep influence

with the party that accompanied John

MahafFy, whereby, without

doubt, his true enthusiasm for Beauty

and the Hellenic

In 1878 he gained First Class in the

Finals at Oxford, and in the

same year won the Newdigate Prize

poem " Ra-

years from the time of his gradua-

ganza of the Pre-Raphaelite movement

and a burlesque of the

His eccentric dress of knee

his affectation of sunflowers

brought him a certain no-

public prints, and satirized in Gilbert

comic opera " Patience."

88 1 he found a publisher for his

poems, consisting mainly of reprints

England and Ireland.

part of December, 1881, he sailed for

York, where early in January,

1882, he delivered the

which afterwards he repeated

of the United States

Although the tour did

close, the year's

America was productive of

great good in the development of his

Brought into close contact

with the most energetic of men, his

unworthy posings were abandoned, and

masquerade of speech, manner, and