The Complete Plays

by Oscar Wilde

  HEROD (from this point he looks all the while at SALOMÉ). Tigellinus, when you were at Rome of late, did the Emperor speak with you on the subject of …?

  TIGELLINUS. On what subject, sire?

  HEROD. On what subject? Ah! I asked you a question, did I not? I have forgotten what I would have asked you.

  HERODIAS. You are looking again at my daughter. You must not look at her. I have already said so.

  HEROD. You say nothing else.

  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 the veil of the Sanctuary has disappeared, do they not?

  HERODIAS. It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random. I will not stay here. Let us go within.

  HEROD. Dance for me, Salomé.

  HERODIAS. I will not have her dance.

  SALOMÉ. I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.

  HEROD. Salomé, daughter of Herodias, dance for me.

  HERODIAS. Let her alone.

  HEROD. I command thee to dance, Salomé.

  SALOMÉ. I will not dance, Tetrarch.

  HERODIAS (laughing). You see how she obeys you.

  HEROD. What is to me whether she dance or not? It is naught to me. To-night I am happy, I am exceeding happy. Never have I been so happy.

  FIRST SOLDIER. The Tetrarch has a sombre look. Has he not a sombre look?

  SECOND SOLDIER. Yes, he has a sombre look.

  HEROD. Wherefore should I not be happy? Caesar, who is lord of the world, who is lord of all things, loves me well. He has just sent me most precious gifts. Also he has promised me to summon to Rome the King of Cappadocia, who is my enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he wishes. Verily, Caesar is Lord. Thus you see I have a right to be happy. Indeed, I am happy. I have never been so happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness.

  THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN. He shall be seated on this throne. He shall be clothed in scarlet 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 hear what he says about you. He says that you will be eaten of worms.

  HEROD. It is not of me that he speaks. He speaks never against me. It is of the King of Cappadocia that he speaks; the King of Cappadocia, who is mine enemy. It is he who shall be eaten of worms. It is not I. Never has he spoken word against me, this prophet, save that I sinned in taking to wife the wife of my brother. It may be he is right. For, of a truth, you are sterile.

  HERODIAS. I am sterile, I? You say that, you that are ever looking at my daughter, you that would have her dance for your pleasure? It is absurd to say that. I have borne a child. You have gotten no child, no, not even from one of your slaves. It is you who are sterile, not I.

  HEROD. Peace, woman! I say that you are sterile. You have borne me no child, and the prophet says that our marriage is not a true marriage. He says that it is an incestuous marriage, a marriage that will bring evils. … I fear he is right; I am sure that he is right. But it is not the moment to speak of such things. I would be happy at this moment. Of a truth, I am happy. There is nothing I lack.

  HERODIAS. I am glad you are of so far a humour to-night. It is not your custom. But it is late. Let us go within. Do not forget that we hunt at sunrise. All honours must be shown to Caesar’s ambassadors, must they not?

  SECOND SOLDIER. What a sombre look the Tetrarch wears.

  FIRST SOLDIER. Yes, he wears a sombre look.

  HEROD. Salomé, Salomé, dance for me. I pray thee dance for me. I am sad to-night. Yes, I am passing sad to-night. When I came hither I slipped in blood, which is an evil omen; and I heard, I am sure I heard in the air a beating of wings, a beating of giant wings. I cannot tell what they mean. … I am sad to-night. Therefore dance for me. Dance for me, Salomé, I beseech you. If you dance for me you may ask of me what you will, and I will give it you, even unto the half of my kingdom.

  SALOMÉ (rising). Will you indeed give me whatsoever I shall ask, Tetrarch?

  HERODIAS. Do not dance, my daughter.

  HEROD. Everything, even the half of my kingdom.

  SALOMÉ. You swear it, Tetrarch?

  HEROD. I swear it, Salomé.

  HERODIAS. Do not dance, my daughter.

  SALOMÉ. By what will you swear, Tetrarch?

  HEROD. By my life, by my crown, by my gods. Whatsoever you desire I will give it you, even to the half of my kingdom, if you will but dance for me. O, Salomé, Salomé, dance for me!

  SALOMÉ. You have sworn, Tetrarch.

  HEROD. I have sworn, Salomé.

  SALOMÉ. All this I ask, even the half of your kingdom.

  HERODIAS. My daughter, do not dance.

  HEROD. Even to the half of my kingdom. Thou wilt be passing fair as a queen, Salomé, if it please thee to ask for the half of my kingdom. Will she not be fair as a queen? Ah! it is cold here! There is an icy wind, and I hear … wherefore do I hear in the air this beating of wings? Ah! one might fancy a bird, a huge black bird that hovers over the terrace. Why can I not see it, this bird? The beat of its wings is terrible. The breath of the wind of its wings is terrible. It is a chill wind. Nay, but it is not cold, it is hot. I am choking. Pour water on my hands. Give me snow to eat. Loosen my mantle. Quick, quick! Loosen my mantle. Nay, but leave it. It is my garland that hurts me, my garland of roses. The flowers are like fire. They have burned my forehead. (He tears the wreath from his head and throws it on the table.) Ah! I can breathe now. How red those petals are! They are like stains of blood on the cloth. That does not matter. You must not find symbols in everything you see. It makes life impossible. It were better to say that stains of blood are as lovely as rose petals. It were better far to say that. … But we will not speak of this. Now I am happy, I am passing happy. Have I not the right to be happy? Your daughter is going to dance for me. Will you not dance for me, Salomé? You have promised to dance for me.

  HERODIAS. I will not have her dance.

  SALOMÉ. I will dance for you, Tetrarch.

  HEROD. You hear what your daughter says. She is going to dance for me. You do well to dance for me, Salomé. And when you have danced for me, forget not to ask of me whatsoever you wish. Whatsoever you wish I will give it you, even to the half of my kingdom. I have sworn it, have I not?

  SALOMÉ. You have sworn it, Tetrarch.

  HEROD. And I have never broken my word. I am not of those who break their oaths. I know not how to lie. I am the slave of my word, and my word is the word of a king. The King of Cappadocia always lies, but he is no true king. He is a coward. Also he owes me money that he will not repay. He has even insulted my ambassadors. He has spoken words that were wounding. But Caesar will crucify him when he comes to Rome. I am sure that Caesar will crucify him. And if not, yet will he die, being eaten of worms. The prophet has prophesied it. Well! wherefore dost thou tarry, Salomé?

  SALOMÉ. I am waiting until my slaves bring perfumes to me and the seven veils, and take off my sandals. (Slaves bring perfumes and the seven veils, and take off the sandals of SALOMÉ.)

  HEROD. Ah, you are going to dance with naked feet. ’Tis well! ’Tis well. Your little feet will be like white doves. They will be like little white flowers that dance upon the trees. … No, no, she is going to dance on blood. There is blood spilt on the ground. She must not dance on blood. It were an evil omen.

  HERODIAS. What is it to you if she dance on blood? Thou hast waded deep enough therein. …

  HEROD. What is it to me? Ah! Look at the moon! She has become red. She has become red as blood. Ah! the prophet prophesied truly. He prophesied that the moon would become red as blood. Did he not prophesy it? All of you heard him. And now the moon has become red as blood. Do ye not see it?

  HERODIAS. Oh, yes, I see it well, and the stars are falling like ripe figs, are they not? And the sun is becoming black like sackcloth of hair, and the kings of th
e earth are afraid. That at least one can see. The prophet, for once in his life, was right; the kings of the earth are afraid. … Let us go within. You are sick. They will say at Rome that you are mad. Let us go within, I tell you.

  THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN. Who is this who cometh from Edom, who is this who cometh from Bozra, whose raiment is dyed with purple, who shineth in the beauty of his garments, who walketh mighty in his greatness? Wherefore is thy raiment stained with scarlet?

  HERODIAS. Let us go within. The voice of that man maddens me. I will not have my daughter dance while he is continually crying out. I will not have her dance while you look at her in this fashion. In a word I will not have her dance.

  HEROD. Do not rise, my wife, my queen, it will avail thee nothing. I will not go within till she hath danced. Dance, Salomé, dance for me.

  HERODIAS. Do not dance, my daughter.

  SALOMÉ. I am ready, Tetrarch. (SALOMÉ dances the dance of the seven veils.)

  HEROD. Ah! Wonderful! Wonderful! You see that she has danced for me, your daughter. Come near, Salomé, come near, that I may give you your reward. Ah! I pay the dancers well. I will pay thee royally. I will give thee whatsoever thy soul desireth. What wouldst thou have? Speak.

  SALOMÉ (kneeling). I would that they presently bring me in a silver charger …

  HEROD (laughing). In a silver charger? Surely yes, in a silver charger. She is charming, is she not? What is it you would have in a silver charger, O sweet and fair Salomé, you who are fairer than all the daughters of Judaea? What would you have them bring thee in a silver charger? Tell me. Whatsoever it may be, they shall give it to you. My treasures belong to thee. What is it, Salomé?

  SALOMÉ (rising). The head of Jokanaan.

  HERODIAS. Ah! that is well said, my daughter.

  HEROD. No, no!

  HERODIAS. That is well said, my daughter.

  HEROD. No, no, Salomé. You do not ask me that. Do not listen to your mother’s voice. She is ever giving you evil counsel. Do not heed her.

  SALOMÉ. I do not heed my mother. It is for mine own pleasure that I ask the head of Jokanaan in a silver charger. You have sworn, Herod. Forget not that you have sworn an oath.

  HEROD. I know it. I have sworn by my gods. I know it well. But I pray you, Salomé, ask of me something else. Ask of me the half of my kingdom, and I will give it you. But ask not of me what you have asked.

  SALOMÉ. I ask of you the head of Jokanaan.

  HEROD. No, no, I do not wish it.

  SALOMÉ. You have sworn, Herod.

  HERODIAS. Yes, you have sworn. Everybody heard you. You swore it before everybody.

  HEROD. Be silent! It is not to you I speak.

  HERODIAS. My daughter has done well to ask the head of Jokanaan. He has covered me with insults. He has said monstrous things against me. One can see that she loves her mother well. Do not yield, my daughter. He has sworn, he has sworn.

  HEROD. Be silent, speak not to me …! Come, Salomé, be reasonable. I have never been hard to you. I have ever loved you. … It may be that I have loved you too much. Therefore ask not this thing of me. This is a terrible thing, an awful thing to ask of me. Surely, I think you are jesting. The head of a man that is cut from his body is ill to look upon, is it not? It is not meet that the eyes of a virgin should look upon such a thing. What pleasure could you have in it? None. No, no, it is not what you desire. Hearken to me. I have an emerald, a great round emerald, which Caesar’s, minion sent me. If you look through this emerald you can see things which happen at a great distance. Caesar himself carries such an emerald when he goes to the circus. But my emerald is larger. I know well that it is larger. It is the largest emerald in the whole world. You would like that, would you not? Ask it of me and I will give it you.

  SALOMÉ. I demand the head of Jokanaan.

  HEROD. You are not listening. You are not listening. Suffer me to speak, Salomé.

  SALOMÉ. The head of Jokanaan.

  HEROD. No, no, you would not have that. You say that to trouble me, because I have looked at you all this evening. It is true, I have looked at you all evening. Your beauty troubled me. Your beauty has grievously troubled me, and I have looked at you too much. But I will look at you no more. Neither at things, nor at people should one look. Only in mirrors should one look, for mirrors do but show us masks. Oh! oh! bring wine! I thirst. … Salomé, Salomé, let us be friends. Come now …! Ah! what would I say? What was’t? Ah! I remember …! Salomé – nay, but come nearer to me; I fear you will not hear me – Salomé, you know my white peacocks, my beautiful white peacocks, that walk in the garden between the myrtles and the tall cypress trees. Their beaks are gilded with gold, and the grains that they eat are gilded with gold also, and their feet are stained with purple. When they cry out the rain comes, and the moon shows herself in the heavens when they spread their tails. Two by two they walk between the cypress trees and the black myrtles, and each has a slave to tend it. Sometimes they fly across the trees and anon they crouch in the grass, and round the lake. There are not in all the world birds so wonderful. There is no king in all the world who possesses such wonderful birds. I am sure that Caesar himself has no birds so fine as my birds. I will give you fifty of my peacocks. They will follow you withersoever you go, and in the midst of them you will be like the moon in the midst of a great white cloud. … I will give them all to you. I have but a hundred, and in the whole world there is no king who has peacocks like unto my peacocks. But I will give them all to you. Only you must loose me from my oath, and must not ask of me that which you have asked of me.

  He empties the cup of wine.

  SALOMÉ. Give me the head of Jokanaan.

  HERODIAS. Well said, my daughter! As for you, you are ridiculous with your peacocks.

  HEROD. Be silent! You cry out always; you cry out like a beast of prey. You must not. Your voice wearies me. Be silent, I say. … Salomé, think of what you are doing. This man comes perchance from God. He is a holy man. The finger of God has touched him. God has put into his mouth terrible words. In the palace as in the desert God is always with him. … At least it is possible. One does not know. It is possible that God is for him and with him. Furthermore, if he died some misfortune might happen to me. In any case, he said that the day he dies a misfortune will happen to some one. That could only be to me. Remember, I slipped in blood when I entered. Also, I heard a beating of wings in the air, a beating of mighty wings. These are very evil omens, and there were others. I am sure there were others, though I did not see them. Well, Salomé, you do not wish a misfortune to happen to me? You do not wish that. Listen to me, then.

  SALOMÉ. Give me the head of Jokanaan.

  HEROD. Ah! you are not listening to me. Be calm. I – I am calm. I am quite calm. Listen. I have jewels hidden in this place – jewels that your mother even has never seen; jewels that are marvellous. I have a collar of pearls, set in four rows. They are like unto moons chained with rays of silver. They are like fifty moons caught in a golden net. On the ivory of her breast a queen has worn it. Thou shalt be as fair as a queen when thou wearest it. I have amethysts of two kinds, one that is black like wine, and one that is red like wine which has been coloured with water. I 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 an ice-like flame, opals that make sad men’s minds, and are fearful of the shadows. I have onyxes like the eyeballs of a dead woman. I have moonstones that change when the moon changes, and are wan when they see the sun. I have sapphires big like eggs, and as blue as blue flowers. The sea wanders within them and the moon comes never to trouble the blue of their waves. I have chrysolites and beryls and chrysoprases and rubies. I have sardonyx and hyacinth stones, and stone of chalcedony, and I will give them all to you, all, and other things will I add to them. The King of the Indies has but even now sent me four fans fashioned from the feathers of parrots, and the King of Numidia a garment of ostrich feather
s. I have a crystal, into which it is not lawful for a woman to look, nor may young men behold it until they have been beaten with rods. In a coffer of nacre I have three wondrous turquoises. He who wears them on his forehead can imagine things which are not, and he who carries them in his hand can make women sterile. These are great treasures above all price. They are treasures without price. But this is not all. In an ebony coffer I have two cups of amber, that are like apples of gold. If an enemy pour poison into these cups, they become like an apple of silver. In a coffer incrusted with amber I have sandals incrusted with glass. I 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. … What desirest thou more than this, Salomé? Tell me the thing that thou desirest, and I will give it thee. All that thou askest I will give thee save one thing. I will give thee all that is mine, save one life. I will give thee the mantle of the high priest. I will give thee the veil of sanctuary.

  THE JEWS. Oh! Oh!

  SALOMÉ. Give me the head of Jokanaan.

  HEROD (sinking back in his seat). Let her be given what she asks! Of a truth she is her mother’s child! (The FIRST SOLDIER approaches. HERODIAS draws from the hand of the TETRARCH the ring of death and gives it to the SOLDIER, who straightway bears it to the EXECUTIONER. The EXECUTIONER looks scared.) Who has taken my ring? There was a ring on my right hand. Who has drunk my wine? There was wine in my cup. It was full of wine. Some one has drunk it? Oh! surely some evil will befall some one. (The EXECUTIONER goes down into the cistern.) Ah! Wherefore did I give my oath? Kings ought never to pledge their word. If they keep it not, it is terrible, and if they keep it, it is terrible also.

  HERODIAS. My daughter has done well.

  HEROD. I am sure that some misfortune will happen.

  SALOMÉ (she leans over the cistern and listens). There is no sound. I hear nothing. Why does he not cry out, this man? Ah! if any man sought to kill me, I would cry out, I would struggle, I would not suffer. … Strike, strike, Naaman, strike, I tell you. … No, I hear nothing. There is a silence, a terrible silence. Ah! something has fallen upon the ground. I heard something fall. It is the sword of the headsman. He is afraid, this slave. He has let his sword fall. He dare not kill him. He is a coward, this slave! Let soldiers be sent. (She sees the PAGE OF HERODIAS and addresses him.) Come hither, thou wert the friend of him who is dead, is it not so? Well, I tell thee, there are not dead men enough. Go to the soldiers and bid them go down and bring me the thing I ask, the thing the Tetrarch has promised me, the thing that is mine. (The PAGE recoils. She turns to the SOLDIERS.) Hither, ye soldiers. Get ye down into this cistern and bring me the head of this man. (The SOLDIERS recoil.) Tetrarch, Tetrarch, command your soldiers that they bring me the head of Jokanaan.