Will you be seated, Princess.

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

   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.

   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.

   Who was that who cried out?

   The prophet, Princess.

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

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

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

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

   We never understand what he says, Princess.

   Yes; he says terrible things about her.

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

   I will not return.

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

   Is he an old man, this prophet?

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

   This prophet . . . is he an old man?

   No, Princess, he is quite young.

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

   Who is Elias?

   A prophet of this country in bygone days, Princess.

   What answer may I give the Tetrarch from the Princess?

   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.

   What a strange voice! I would speak with him.

   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.

   I desire to speak with him.

   It is impossible, Princess.

   I will speak with him.

   Would it not be better to return to the banquet?

   Bring forth this prophet.

   We dare not, Princess.

    [Approaching the cistern and looking down into

   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.

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

   You are making me wait upon your pleasure.

   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.

    [Looking at the young Syrian.]

   Ah!

   Oh! what is going to happen? I am sure that something terrible will happen.

    [Going up to the young Syrian.]

   Thou wilt do this thing for me, wilt. thou not, Narraboth? Thou wilt do this thing for me. I have ever been kind towards thee. Thou wilt do it for me. I would but look at him, this strange prophet. Men have talked so much of him. Often I have heard the Tetrarch talk of him. I think he is afraid of