Salomé Power Quotes

THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN 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. (36)

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. (57-63)

FIRST JEW Thou speakest truly. Verily God is terrible. He breaketh in pieces the strong and the weak as a man breaks corn in a mortar. (224)

THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN Behold the day is at hand, the day of the Lord, and I hear upon the mountains the feet of Him who shall be the Saviour of the world.

HEROD What does that mean? The Saviour of the world?

TIGELLINUS It is a title that Cæsar adopts. […]

THE NAZARENE It was not concerning Cæsar that the prophet spake these words, sire.

HEROD How?—it was not concerning Cæsar?

FIRST NAZARENE No, my lord.

HEROD Concerning whom then did he speak?

FIRST NAZARENE Concerning The Messiah who has come. (231-233, 236-241)

HEROD What is this miracle of the daughter of Jairus?

FIRST NAZARENE The daughter of Jairus was dead. This Man raised her from the dead.

HEROD How! He raises people from the dead?

FIRST NAZARENE Yea, sire; He raiseth the dead.

HEROD I do not wish Him to do that. I forbid Him to do that. I suffer no man to raise the dead. This Man must be found and told that I forbid Him to raise the dead. Where is this Man at present? (255-259)

THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN Ah! The wanton one! The harlot! Ah! the daughter of Babylon with her golden eyes and her gilded eyelids! Thus saith the Lord God, Let there come up against her a multitude of men. Let the people take stones and stone her…

HERODIAS Command him to be silent!

THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN Let the captains of the hosts pierce her with their swords, let them crush her beneath their shields.

HERODIAS Nay, but it is infamous.

THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN It is thus that I will wipe out all wickedness from the earth, and that all women shall learn not to imitate her abominations. (266-270)

THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN In that day the sun shall become black like sackcloth of hair, and the moon shall become like blood, and the stars of the heaven shall fall upon the earth like unripe figs that fall from the fig-tree, and the kings of the earth shall be afraid. (282-285)

SALOMÉ By what will you swear this thing, Tetrarch?

HEROD By my life, by my crown, by my gods. Whatsoever thou shalt desire I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom, if thou wilt but dance for me. O Salomé, Salomé, dance for me!

SALOMÉ You have sworn an oath, Tetrarch.

HEROD I have sworn an oath.

HERODIAS My daughter, do not dance. (323-325)

HEROD And I have never failed of my word. I am not of those who break their oaths. I know not how to lie. I am the slave of my word, and my word is the word of a king. The King of Cappadocia had ever a lying tongue, but he is no true king. He is a coward. Also he owes me money that he will not repay. He has even insulted my ambassadors. He has spoken words that were wounding. But Cæsar will crucify him when he comes to Rome. I know that Cæsar will crucify him. And if he crucify him not, yet will he die, being eaten of worms. The prophet has prophesied it. Well! Wherefore dost thou tarry, Salomé? (333)

SALOMÉ Well, I still live, but thou art dead, and thy head belongs to me. I can do with it what I will. I can throw it to the dogs and to the birds of the air. That which the dogs leave, the birds of the air shall devour… (375)