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

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СКАЧАТЬ YOUNG SYRIAN

       You have left the feast, Princess?

      SALOMÉ

       How sweet is the air here! I can breathe here! Within there are Jews from Jerusalem who are tearing each other in pieces over their foolish ceremonies, and barbarians who drink and drink and spill their wine on the pavement, and Greeks from Smyrna with painted eyes and painted cheeks, and frizzed hair curled in columns, and Egyptians silent and subtle, with long nails of jade and russet cloaks, and Romans brutal and coarse, with their uncouth jargon. Ah! how I loathe the Romans! They are rough and common, and they give themselves the airs of noble lords.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       Will you be seated, Princess.

      THE PAGE OF HERODIAS

       Why do you speak to her? Oh! something terrible will happen. Why do you look at her?

      SALOMÉ

       How good to see the moon! She is like a little piece of money, a little silver flower. She is cold and chaste. I am sure she is a virgin. She has the beauty of a virgin. Yes, she is a virgin. She has never defiled herself. She has never abandoned herself to men, like the other goddesses.

      THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN

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

      SALOMÉ

       Who was that who cried out?

      SECOND SOLDIER

       The prophet, Princess.

      SALOMÉ

       Ah, the prophet! He of whom the Tetrarch is afraid?

      SECOND SOLDIER

       We know nothing of that, Princess. It was the prophet Iokanaan who cried out.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       Is it your pleasure that I bid them bring your litter, Princess? The night is fair in the garden.

      SALOMÉ

       He says terrible things about my mother, does he not?

      SECOND SOLDIER

       We never understand what he says, Princess.

      SALOMÉ

       Yes; he says terrible things about her.

       (Enter a Slave.)

      THE SLAVE

       Princess, the Tetrarch prays you to return to the feast.

      SALOMÉ

       I will not return.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       Pardon me, Princess, but if you return not some misfortune may happen.

      SALOMÉ

       Is he an old man, this prophet?

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       Princess, it were better to return. Suffer me to lead you in.

      SALOMÉ

       This prophet … is he an old man?

      FIRST SOLDIER

       No, Princess, he is quite young.

      SECOND SOLDIER

       One cannot be sure. There are those who say that he is Elias.

      SALOMÉ

       Who is Elias?

      SECOND SOLDIER

       A prophet of this country in bygone days, Princess.

      THE SLAVE

       What answer may I give the Tetrarch from the Princess?

      THE VOICE OF IOKANAAN

       Rejoice not, O land of Palestine, because the rod of him who smote thee is broken. For from the seed of the serpent shall come a basilisk, and that which is born of it shall devour the birds.

      SALOMÉ

      What a strange voice! I 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.

      SALOMÉ

      I desire to speak with him.

      FIRST SOLDIER

       It is impossible, Princess.

      SALOMÉ

       I will speak with him.

      THE YOUNG SYRIAN

       Would it not be better to return to the banquet?

      SALOMÉ

       Bring forth this prophet.

       (Exit the Slave.)

      FIRST SOLDIER

       We dare not, Princess.

      SALOMÉ

       (Approaching the cistern and looking down into it.)

       How black it is, down there! It must be terrible to be in so black a hole! It is like a tomb … . [To the soldiers.]

       Did you not hear me? Bring out the prophet. I would look on him.

      SECOND SOLDIER

       Princess, I beg you, do not require this of us.

      SALOMÉ

       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.

      SALOMÉ

       (Looking at the young Syrian.)

       Ah!

      THE PAGE OF HERODIAS

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