VOLTAIRE: 60+ Works in One Volume - Philosophical Writings, Novels, Historical Works, Poetry, Plays & Letters. Вольтер

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       In blood more precious, and a dearer self:

       Thou shalt behold the object of thy love,

       Who has preferred thee to her hated lord,

       Thou shalt behold her soon expire in torment

       Before thy eyes: dost thou not think Augustus

       Will praise my just severity?

      salome.

       No doubt

       He will, my lord, and would himself advise it.

       On the same altar where his friends adore him,

       He sheds the blood of foes: he teaches kings

       To rule and to be feared; let Herod mark

       And follow his example; thus alone

       Thy life can be secure: the queen must stand

       Condemned by all, and thou be justified.

      mazael.

       But make good use of this important moment,

       Whilst Varus is yet absent, and his forces

       Far from our walls; now seize her, and complete

       Thy easy vengeance.

      salome.

       Above all conceal

       From Israel’s sons thy purpose and thy grief,

       And spare thyself the horror of a sight

       So dreadful; fly from this unhappy place,

       The witness of thy shame, that must recall

       A thousand mournful images; O hide

       From every eye thy sorrows and thy tears.

      herod.

       No: I must see her; face to face confound her;

       Force her to answer; hear her poor excuses:

       I’ll make her tremble at the approach of death,

       And ask that pardon she shall never obtain.

      salome.

       My lord, you will not see her?

      herod.

       Fear me not;

       Her doom is fixed: vainly she hopes that love

       Will plead her cause; my heart is shut against her:

       Those eyes, which once were dangerous to my peace,

       Are harmless now; her presence will but raise

       My anger, not my love. Guards, bring her hither;

       I’ll only see, and hear, and punish her.

       Sister, I would be private for a moment:

       [To the attendants.

       Send Mariamne here: you may retire.

       [To the guards.