The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde: 150+ Titles in One Edition. Oscar Wilde

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">       And the third is a wine of Sicily. That wine is as red as blood.

      THE NUBIAN

       The gods of my country are very fond of blood. Twice in the year we sacrifice to them young men and maidens: fifty young men and a hundred maidens. But I am afraid that we never give them quite enough, for they are very harsh to us.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       In my country there are no gods left. The Romans have driven them out. There are some who say that they have hidden themselves in the mountains, but I do not believe it. Three nights I have been on the mountains seeking them everywhere. I did not find them, and at last I called them by their names, and they did not come. I think they are dead.

      FIRST SOLDIER

       The Jews worship a God that one cannot 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 ridiculous.

      THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN

       After me shall come another mightier than I. I am not worthy so much as to unloose the latchet of his shoes. When he cometh the solitary places shall be glad. They shall blossom like the rose. The eyes of the blind shall see the day, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened. The sucking child shall put his hand upon the dragon’s lair, he shall lead the lions by their manes.

      SECOND SOLDIER

       Make him be silent. He is always saying ridiculous things.

      FIRST SOLDIER

       No, no. He is a holy man. He is very gentle, too. Every day when I give him to eat he thanks me.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       Who is he?

      FIRST SOLDIER

       A prophet.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       What is his name?

      FIRST SOLDIER

       Iokanaan.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       Whence comes he?

      FIRST SOLDIER

       From the desert, where he fed on locusts and wild honey. He was clothed in camel’s hair, and round his loins he had a leathern belt. He was very terrible to look upon. A great multitude used to follow him. He even had disciples.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       What is he talking of?

      FIRST SOLDIER

       We can never tell. Sometimes he says things that affright one, but it is impossible to understand what he says.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       May one see him?

      FIRST SOLDIER

       No. The Tetrarch has forbidden it.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       The Princess has hidden her face behind her fan! Her little white hands are fluttering like doves that fly to their dovecots. They are like white butterflies. They are just like white butterflies.

      THE PAGE OF HERODIAS

       What is that to you? Why do you look at her? You must not look at her … . Something terrible may happen.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       (Pointing to the cistern.)

       What a strange prison!

      SECOND SOLDIER

       It is an old cistern.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       An old cistern! That must be a poisonous place in which to dwell!

      SECOND SOLDIER

       Oh no! For instance, the Tetrarch’s brother, his elder brother, the first husband of Herodias the Queen, was imprisoned there for twelve years. It did not kill him. At the end of the twelve years he had to be strangled.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       Strangled? Who dared to do that?

      SECOND SOLDIER

       (Pointing to the Executioner, a huge negro.)

       That man yonder, Naaman.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       He was not afraid?

      SECOND SOLDIER

       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.

      FIRST SOLDIER

       Why? Kings have but one neck, like other folk.

      THE CAPPADOCIAN

       I think it terrible.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       The Princess is getting up! She is leaving the table! She looks very troubled. Ah, she is coming this way. Yes, she is coming towards us. How pale she is! Never have I seen her so pale.

      THE PAGE OF HERODIAS

       Do not look at her. I pray you not to look at her.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       She is like a dove that has strayed … . She is like a narcissus trembling in the wind … . She is like a silver flower.

       (Enter Salomé.)

      SALOMÉ

       I will not stay. I cannot stay. Why does the Tetrarch look at me all the while with his mole’s eyes under his shaking eyelids? It is strange that the husband of my mother looks at me like that. I know not what it means. Of a truth I know it too well.

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