希罗底︰那是您自己偷走了。你胡言乱语。我再也不想待在这儿。我们进去吧。

希律王︰为我舞一曲吧，莎乐美。

希罗底︰我不让她跳舞。

莎乐美︰我没心情跳舞，陛下。

希律王︰莎乐美，希罗底之女，为我跳舞。

希罗底︰别扰她。

希律王︰我命令妳跳舞，莎乐美。

莎乐美︰我不跳，陛下。

希罗底〔大笑〕︰你看看她多么遵从你的意思。

希律王︰她跳不跳舞对我又有何妨？我并不介意。今晚我很高兴，我太高兴了。我从未如此快活过。

第一士兵︰陛下看来相当忧郁。

第二士兵︰是的；他外表忧郁。

希律王︰我为何不快乐呢？西泽是这个世界的统治者，是万物的统治者，他很喜欢我。他刚送我最珍贵的礼物。并且，他允诺我将召唤卡帕多西亚国王到罗马去，他是我的敌人。可能他会在罗马被处以钉十字架之刑，因为他有权这么做。毫无疑问地，西泽是我的主人。于是你见到我有权快乐。的确，我很快乐。我从未如此快活。世上再也没有什么东西能破坏我的快乐。

约翰的声音︰他将坐在宝座上。他将穿着紫色长袍。在他的手上握着一只充满亵渎的酒杯。主的天使将重击他。他该受万虫穿咬。

希罗底︰你听到他如何说你。他说你该受万虫穿咬。

希律王︰他指的人并不是我。他从未出言冒犯我。他说的是卡帕多西亚的国王；卡帕多西亚王，我的敌人。是他该受万虫穿咬。不是我。他，这位先知，从未出言冒犯过我，除了我将我兄弟妻子取来做为妻子这件罪行之外。他可能是对的。因为，妳确实不能生育。

希罗底︰我不能生育？你难道没见过我的女儿，你还想要她跳舞来替你取悦？你这话太荒谬了。我生过一个孩子。而你，却连一个孩子都没有，即使与你的女奴。是你不能生育，不是我。

希律王︰冷静下来，女人！我说妳不能生育。妳从未为我生下一个孩子，而先知说我们的婚礼并不是真正的婚礼。他说那是个违背伦常的婚礼，会招致邪恶的婚礼……我恐怕他说的对；我确定他说的对。不过现在并不是说这些事的时候。我希望此刻能够快乐。事实上，我现在很快乐。我什么都不缺。

希罗底︰我很高兴你今晚十分幽默。这不是你的习惯。太迟了。我们进去吧。别忘了我们明天日出时要外出狩猎。我们要将一切荣耀让西泽的使者分享，不是吗？

第二士兵︰陛下的脸上多么忧郁呀。

第一士兵︰是的，他的脸上忧郁。

希律王︰莎乐美呀，莎乐美，为我跳一曲吧。我愿意为妳的舞蹈付出代偿。我今晚感到悲伤。是的；我暂时感到悲伤。我走到这儿来却因地上的血而滑倒，这是不祥的征兆；而且我听到了，我确实听到翅膀振动的声响，一对巨大翅膀的拍动。我不清楚那是什么意思……我今晚觉得悲伤。因此请为我跳舞。为我跳舞吧，莎乐美，我恳求妳。若妳为我跳舞，妳可以向我要求任何东西，我也将承诺妳，就算是我王国的一半也行。

莎乐美〔抬头〕︰您真的愿意给我任何我所要求的东西吗，陛下？

希罗底︰不要跳舞，我的女儿。

希律王︰任何东西，就算是我王国的一半。

莎乐美︰您要以什么发誓，陛下？

希律王︰以我的生命，以我的王冠，以我的神。无论妳要求什么我都会给妳，就算是我王国的一半，只要妳愿意为我跳舞。噢，莎乐美呀，莎乐美，为我跳舞吧！

莎乐美︰您已经立誓，陛下。

希律王︰我已经立誓，莎乐美。

莎乐美︰一切我所要求的，即使是您王国的一半。

希罗底︰我的女儿，不要跳。

HERODIAS

It was thyself didst steal it. Thou speakest at random and without wit. I will not stay here. Let us go within.

HEROD

Dance for me, Salome.

HERODIAS

I will not have her dance.

SALOME

I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch.

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

[Laughing.]

You see how she obeys you.

HEROD

What is it to me whether she dance or not?

-47-

It is nought 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? C?sar, who is lord of the world, C?sar, 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 mine enemy. It may be that at Rome he will crucify him, for he is able to do all things that he has a mind to do. Verily, C?sar is lord. Therefore I do well to be happy. I am very happy, never have I been so happy. There is nothing in the world that can mar my happiness.

THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN

He shall be seated on his 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 shall be eaten of worms.

-48-

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? You speak as a fool. I have borne a child. You have gotten no child, no, not on 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 a marriage of incest, a marriage that will bring evils . . . . I fear he is right; I am sure that he is right. But it is not the hour to speak of these 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 fair a humour tonight. It is not your custom. But it is late. Let us go

-49-

within. Do not forget that we hunt at sunrise. All honours must be shown to C?sars ambassadors, must they not?

SECOND SOLDIER

The Tetrarch has a sombre look.

FIRST SOLDIER

Yes, he has a sombre look.

HEROD

Salome, Salome, 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 ill omen; also I heard in the air a beating of wings, a beating of giant wings. I cannot tell what that may mean . . . . I am sad to-night. Therefore dance for me. Dance for me, Salome, I beseech thee. If thou dancest for me thou mayest ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee. Yes, dance for me, Salome, and whatsoever thou shalt ask of me I will give it thee, even unto the half of my kingdom.

-50-

SALOME

[Rising.]

Will you indeed give me whatsoever I shall ask of you, Tetrarch?

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 will you swear this thing, Tetrarch?

HEROD

By my life, by my crown, by my gods. Whatsoever thou shalt desire I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom, if thou wilt but dance for me. O Salome, Salome, dance for me!

SALOME

You have sworn an oath, Tetrarch.

HEROD

I have sworn an oath.

HERODIAS

My daughter, do not dance.