The Young Syrian You have left the feast, Princess?

Salome 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?

Salome 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.

Salome Who was that who cried out?

Second Soldier The prophet, Princess.

Salome 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.

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

Second Soldier We never understand what he says, Princess.

Salome Yes; he says terrible things about her.

Enter a Slave

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

Salome I will not return.

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

Salome Is he an old man, this prophet?

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

Salome 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.°