how beautifulis the princess salome tonight! how strange the moon looks... ...like a woman rising from the grave like a iittle princesswith white doves for feet you might think it was dancing like a dead woman. it glides slowly what an uproar! what wild beasts are thosehowling there? the jews...
...arguing about their religion it's ridiculousto argue about such things how beautiful is the princesssalome this evening! you are always iooking at her you look at her too much,it's dangerous something terrible may happen she is very beautiful this evening the tetrarch looks sombre who is he iooking at?- l don't know
how pale the princess is!never have l seen her so pale she is iike the shadowof a white rose in a silver mirror you must not look at her.you look at her too much after me shah' comeanother who ãœs mightfer than i i am nor worthyto unfoose the fatohet of bis shoes when he cornes,the so/itary p/aces shall be glad when he cornes, the eyesof the blind shall see the day the ears of the deafshall be opened bid him be silent!
he is a holy man he says ridiculous things he is very gentle.when l give him food, he thanks me who is he?- a prophet what is his name?- jochanaan where does he come from?- the deserã® a multitude of disciplesfollowed him what does he speak about? it's impossible to understandwhat he says
may he be seen? no, the tetrarch has forbidden it the princess is ieaving the table she is very troubled.she is coming this way don't look at her yes, she is coming towards us she is iike a dove that has strayed l will not stay. l cannot stay why does the tetrarch keepiooking at me with eyes iike a mole?
it is strange that my mother'shusband looks at me iike that how sweet is the air here!here l can breathe inside sit jews from jerusalem... ...tearing each other to piecesover their foolish rites... silent, subtle egyptians... ...and brutal coarse romansspeaking their uncouth ianguage how i hate these romana! something terrible will happen... why do you look at her so?
how good it is to look at the moon! it is iike a silver flower,cool and chaste yes, iike the beauty of a virginwho is undefiled behofd, the loro' ãœs come,the son of man ãœs ai band who was that who cried out? the prophet the prophet?the mah the tetrarch is afraid of? we know nothing ofthat, princess it was the prophet jochanaanwho cried out
shall l send foryour sedan chair,princess? the night is fair in the garden the prophet says terrible thingsabout my mother, does he not? we never understand what he says yes, he says terrible things about her princess, the tetrarch asks youto return to the feast iwill not go in is this prophet an old man? princess, it would be better to go in.let me iead you
no, princess, he is quite young rejofoe nor, o palestina, thai theroo' of him who smote thee ãœs broker: for frorn the seed of the serpentshall come a basilisk... ...and its brood shall devourthe birds what a strange voice!i'd iike to speak with him the tetrarch does not allowanyone to speak with him he has forbiddeneven the high priest l wish to speak with him impossible
iwill speak with him bring forã®h this prophet! we are not allowed to how black it is down there! it must be terribleto iive in such a black hole it is iike a tomb did you not hear me? bring out the prophet!iwant to see him princess, we cannot do what you ask
what will happen? l know something terrible will happen you will do this for me,won't you, narraboth? l have always been kind to you l only wish to look at him,this strange prophet people have talked so much of him l believe the tetrarch is afraid of him the tetrarch has forbidden anyoneto raise the cover ofthis dungeon you will do this for me, narraboth
and tomorrow,when l pass you in my sedan chair... ...l shall drop a flower for you... ...a iittle green flower princess, l cannot you will do this for me, narraboth,you know you will and tomorrow l will look at youthrough the veils... l might even smile at you look at me, narraboth... you know that you will do what l ask
let the prophet come forã®h...princess salome wishes to see him where is he whose cup of sinis now full? where is he who shall die beforeall the people in a robe of silver? bid him come forã®h,that he may hear the voice... ...of him who has cried in the deserã®and in the houses of kings of whom is he speaking?- no one can tell, princess where is she who gave herself upto the iust of her eyes... ...who saw painted images of men... ...and sent ambassadors to chaldea?
he is speaking of my mother where is she who gave herselfto the captains of assyria? where is she who has given herselfto the young men of egypt... ...who are bedecked in fine iinenand jewels of hyacinth... ...whose shields are of goldand whose bodies are iike giants? go, bid her arise from her bedof incest and shame let her hear the words of himwho prepares the way of the lord... ...and repent of her iniquities and if she does not repent,bid her come forã®h...
...for the scourge ofthe lordis in his hand he is fearsome he is truly fearsome do not stay here, princess, l beg you his eyes are the most fearsome of all they are iike the black cavernswhere dragons iive they are iike black iakesin which strange moons flicker do you think he will speak again? how emaciated he is!
he is iike an image of ivory surely he is chaste iike the moon his flesh must be cool as ivory i'd iike to look closer at him no, no, princess! l must look closer at him who is this womanwho is iooking at me? l do not want her eyes on me why does she look at me sowith her golden eyes?
l don't know who she is,l do not wish to know bid her go!l do not wish to speak to her l am salome, daughter of herodias,princess of judea back, daughter of babylonl do notcome near the chosen ofthe lord your mother has filled the earã®hwith the wine of her iusts the enormity of her sinsproclaims itself to god speak again, jochanaan,your voice is iike music to my ears speak again, jochanaan,and tell me what l must do daughter of sodom,come not near me!
cover your face with a veil,scatter ashes on your head go out into the deserã®and seek the son of man who is he, the son of man? is he as beautiful as you, jochanaan? begone from me! l hear the wingsofthe angel of death in the palace princess, l beseech you, go inside! l am in love with your body,jochanaan it is white iike the iiliesin a field that has never been mown
your body is white iike the showon the mountains of juclea the roses in the garden ofthequeen of arabia are not so white not the feet of the dawhnor the breast ofthe mooh... nothing in the world is so whiteas your body let me touch it back, daughter of babylonlby woman carne evil into the world do not speak to me,iwill not listen to you l listen only to the voice of god your body is hideous,iike the body of a ieper
it is iike a painted wallcrawling with vipers and scorpions it is iike a whitewashed tombfull of ioathsome things your body is horrible l am in love with your hair,jochanaan your hair is iike the black grapeson the vines of edom it is iike the cedars of lebanonwhich give shade to iions long moonless nightsare not so black as your hair the silence in the forest... nothing in the world is so blackas your hair
back, daughter of sodom! do not touch me! do not profane the templeofthe lord my god your hair is horrible,it is covered with dust and filth it is iike a crown ofthorns,a knot of serpents l do not love your hair it is your mouth l desire, jochanaan it is iike a band of scarleton a tower of ivory it is iike a pomegranateout with a silver knife
the pomegranate flowers in thegardens of tyre are not so red the red fanfares of trumpetsthat herald the approach of kings... ...are not so red as your red mouth it is redder than the feetof the wine-treaders... it is redder than the feetofthe doves in the temple it is iike a coral branch... iike theroyal purple in the mines of moab nothing in the world is so redas your mouth let me kiss it never!
daughter of babylon... daughter of sodom... l want to kiss your mouth, jochanaan princess, you who are iike a gardenof myrrh, the dove of all doves... do not look at this man do not speak such words to him l cannot bear it let me kiss your mouth, jochanaan are you not afraid,daughter of herodias?
daughter of adultery,there is but one who can save you go, seek him he is in a boat on the sea of galileetalking to his disciples kneel down on the shoreand call to him call to him by his name he comes to all who call him bow yourself at his feet... ...so that he may forgive your sins be accursed,daughter of an incestuous mother!
iwill not look at you.you are accursed, salome where is salome?where is the princess? why didn't she return to the banquetas l commanded her? there she is! you must not look at her.you are always iooking at her how strange the moon looks tonight! it looks iike a madwomanseeking everywhere for iovers like a drunken womanreeling through the clouds no, the moon is iike the moon,that is all
let us go in l want to stay here!bring carpets and torches iwill drink more winewith my guests l slipped! l have stepped in blood...it is an ill omen why is this blood here?and this body? who is this dead man? l don't want to look it is our captain
l gave no order to kill him he has killed himself that is strange the young syrianwas very handsome l remember,l saw his yearning eyes... ...when he iooked at salome away with him! it's cold here there is a wind blowing
no, there's no wind itell you there is a wind blowing l hear something in the airiike the sound of mighty wings don't you hear it? l hear nothing now l hear it no ionger...but l did hear it it was the blowing ofthe wind...it's gone now listen! the sound of mighty wings
you are ill, let us go in i'm not ill,but your daughter is deathly ill i've never seen her so pale i've told you not to look at her pour me wine! salome, come, drink wine with me caesar himselfsent me this exquisite wine dip your lips in it,your little red lips... then i will drain the glass
i am not thirsty, tetrarch do you hear how she answers me,this daughter of yours? she is right.why do you always stare at her? bring ripe fruit! salome, come, eat fruit with me i love to see the marksof your little white teeth in a fruit bite off just a little... then i'll eat what is left i am not hungry, tetrarch
you see how you have brought upthis daughter of yours! my daughter and i are of royal blood your father was a camel-driverand a thief salome, come, sit by me you shall sit on your mother's throne i am not tired, tetrarch you see how she esteems you bring me... what do i want? i've forgotten
i remember... behold, the time is come the day {hat i spoke of is at hand silence him! he's insulting me he has said nothing against you.besides, he is a great prophet i don't believe in prophets...but you are afraid of him i am afraid of no man i tell you, you are afraid of him... ...or you would deliver himto the jews
truly, it would be betterto hand him over to us enough of this!i won't give him to you he is a holy man, he has seen god that cannot be: no man hasseen gocl since the prophet elias he was the last to see godface to face in these daysgod does not show himself great evils have come upon the land no one knows if elias did see god...perhaps it was only his shadow god never hides, he shows himselfalways and everywhere
god is in evil as well as good that is a dangerous doctrinefrom alexandria god's ways are mysterious,we can only bow to his will you speak truly... god is terrible but this man has not seen him...since elias, no one has seen god bid them be silent! they weary me they say jochanaan is reallyyour prophet elias that cannot be: elias livedmore than three hundred years ago lam sure he is elias
no, he isn't! bid them be silent! behold, the day of the lordis at hand i hear upon the mountainsthe feet of the saviour of the world what does that mean,saviour of the world? the messiah has come no, he hasn't! he has come, and everywherehe is working miracles at a wedding in galileehe turned water into wine
he healed two lepers of capernaum just by touching them! he has healed the blind... he was seen on a mountaintalking with angels i don't believe in miracles,i've seen too many he raised the daughter of jairusfrom the dead he raises the dead? yes, he raises the dead i forbid him to do that!
it would be terribleif the dead came back where is this man now? everywhere...but it is hard to find him he must be found!- they say he is in samaria he left samaria,he is now near jerusalem listen!i forbid him to raise the dead the wanton, the daughterof baby/on! thus saith the lord... command him to be silent! a multitudeshall rise up and stone her
this is infamous! the captains will pierce herwith their swords... they will crush herwith their shields silence him! thus will iwipe out all wickedness... ...and teach all women not to strayin the ways of her abominations you hear what he says against me?you allow him to revile your wife! he did not speak your name a day is coming when the sunshall turn black like sackcloth
the moon shall turn to blood... ...and the starsfall to earth like unripe figs a day is coming when the kingsof the earth shall tremble this prophet chatters like a drunkard i can't bear the sound of his voice dance for me, salome! i won't allow it i have no desire to dance, tetrarch salome, daughter of herodias,dance for me!
i will not dance, tetrarch- you see hovv she obeys you! he shall sit on his throneclothed in scarlet and purple... ...and the angel of the lordshall smite him down if you dance for me, you may askfor whatever you wish... ...and i will give it to you will you reallygive me whatever i ask, tetrarch? do not dance, my daughter everything you ask for...even if it were half of my kingdom do you swear it?
i swear it what will you swear by? by my life, my crown, my gods you have sworn an oath i have sworn an oath my daughter, do not dance! even if it were half of my kingdom as a queen you will be beautiful it's cold here... there's an icy wind
why do i hear this beating of wings? it is like a huge black bird overhead why can't i see it, this bird? the noise of its wings is terrible it is a cutting wind...no, it isn't cold, it is hot pour water on my hands,give me snow to eat loosen my mantle my garland hurts me these roses are like fire
now i can breathe... now i am happy will you dance for me, salome? i will dance for you who is it who comes from edornin purple rairnent? let us go in.this man's voice drives me mad i won't let my daughter dancewhile he keeps crying out i won't let her dancewhile you look at her like that in a vvord, i won't let her dance don't get up, my wife, my queen...it won't help
i won't go in until she has danced i am ready, tetrarch magnificent! wonderful! you see, she has danced for me,your daughter come here, salome,you shall have your reward i will give you whateveryour heart desires. speak! i would like, upon a silver platter... on a silver platter, indeed... isn't she charming?
what would you like on a silverplatter, o sweet salome... ...fairer than all the daughtersof judea? what must they bring youon a silver platter? tell me! whatever it may beyou shall have it all my riches are yours what do you wish for, salome? the head of jochanaan well said, my daughter! don't listen to your mother'sevil counsel
i do not heed my mother's voice for my own pleasure... ...i want the head of jochanaanon a silver platter you have sworn an oath, herod... do not forget that i know... i have sworn by my gods but i beseech you, salome,ask me for something else ask for half of my kingdom...i shall give it to you but do not ask of mewhat your lips have asked
i ask of you the head of jochanaan i won't give it to you you have sworn an oath, herod yes, everyone heard you silence, woman!i'm not talking to you my daughter was rightto ask for the head of jochanaan he has heaped insults upon me you can see she loves her mother.do not yield, my daughter he has sworn an oath
don't speak to me! salome, don't be stubborn see, i have always loved you perhaps i have loved you too much therefore do not ask this of me a man's head out from his bodyis an evil sight i have an emerald,the finest in the world... you'd like that, wouldn't you? ask me for it, i will give it to you
i demand the head of jochanaan you're not listening you only say that to annoy mebecause i stared at you your beauty troubled me bring wine! i'm thirsty let us be friends! think... what was i saying? now i remember you know my beautiful whitepeacocks...
...that walk in the gardenamong the myrtles i'll give you them all there is no king in the worldwho has peacocks like them i have only a hundredbut i will give you them all well said, my daughter!as for you and your peacocks... stop screeching like a bird of prey! salome, think what you are doing it may bethat this man is sent from god the finger of god has touched him
you wouldn't want some evilto befall me? listen to me! be calm, salome look... i'm calm i have jewels hidden herethat your mother has never seen a collar with four rows of pearls... yellow topaz like tigers' eyes,pink topaz like doves' eyes... green topaz like cats' eyes opals that burnwith an ice-cold flame...
i will give you them all i have chrysolites and beryls,chrysoprases, rubies... ...sardohyx, hyacinth, chalcedony i'll give you all these and more i have a crystal which no womanis allowed to look into i have three magical turquoiseswhich bring strange visions these are treasures beyond price what more do you desire? i'll give you all you ask...
...except one thing... not the life of this man i'll give you the mantleof the high priest... ...the veil of the sanctuary give me the head of jochanaan! let her be given what she asks she is in truth her mother's child who has taken my ring? i had a ring on my right hand
who has drunk my wine? there was wine in my cup someone has drunk it misfortune will befall someone my daughter has done well i'm sure some misfortunewill happen there is no sound... i hear nothing why doesn't he cry out? if someone came to kill mei would cry out
i would struggle, i would not bear it strike, naaman! no, i hear nothing there is a terrible silence i heard something fall it was the executionefis sword he is afraid...he has dropped his sword he dares not kill him,he is a coward send soldiers!
weren't you the friendof the dead man? there are not yet enough dead men tell the soldiers to go dovvnand bring me what i ask... ...which the tetrarch promised me,which is mine! soldiers, go dovvn into the dungeonand bring me this man's head! tetrarch, command your soldiersto bring me the head of jochanaan you would not let mekiss your mouth, jochanaan now i will kiss it i will bite it with my teethlike a ripe fruit
yes, now i will kiss it... i said it, did i not? but why do you not look at me? your eyes that vvere so terrible,so full of rage and scorn... they are shut now why are they shut? open your eyes! are you afraid of me,that you will not look at me? and your tongue speaks no word...
...this scarlet viperthat spat its venom at me strange... why should this red viperstir no more? you spoke evil words against me... “salome, daughter of herodias,princess of judea i still live... ...but you are dead and your head belongs to me i can do with it what i will
i can throw it to the dogsand the birds of the air what the dogs leavethe birds will devour jochanaan, you were beautiful your body was an ivory columnon feet of silver it was a garden of dovesamong silver lilies nothing in the worldwas so white as your body nothing in the worldwas so black as your hair in all the world there was nothingso red as your mouth your voice was a vessel of incense...
...and when i looked at youi heard mysterious music why did you not look at me,jochanaan? you covered your eyes with the veilof one who would look on god well, you have seen your god... ...but you have never seen me if you had seen meyou would have loved me i thirst for your beauty,i hunger for your body not wine nor applescan appease my desire what shall i do now, jochanaan?
not the floods nor the great waterscan quench this burning passion why did you not look at me? if you had looked at me... ...you would have loved me well i knowthat you would have loved me and the secret of love... ...is greater than the secret of death she is a monster, your daughter my daughter has done well,i wish to stay here
there speaks my brother's wife! come, i won't stay in this place surely something terriblewill happen let us hide in the palace,herodias... i begin to tremble put out the torches,hide the moon, hide the stars! something terrible will happen i have kissed your mouth, jochanaan there was a bitter taste on your lips was it the taste of blood?
no, perhaps it was the taste of love they say love has a bitter taste but what does it matter? kill that woman!