That seems to me altogether ridiculous.

   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.

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

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

   Who is he?

   A prophet.

   What is his name?

   Iokanaan.

   Whence comes he?

   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.

   What is he talking of?

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

   May one see him?

   No. The Tetrarch has forbidden it.

   The Princess has hidden her face behind her fan! Her little white hands are fluttering like doves that fly to their dove-cots. They are like

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

    [Pointing to the cistern.]

   What a strange prison!

   It is an old cistern.

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

   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.

   Strangled? Who dared to do that?

    [Pointing to the Executioner, a huge negro.]

    That man yonder, Naaman.

   He was not afraid?

   Oh no! The Tetrarch sent him the ring.

   What ring?

   The death ring. So he was not afraid.

   Yet it is a terrible thing to strangle a king.

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

   I think it terrible.

   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.

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

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

   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.

   You have left the feast, Princess?

   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.