herodias-第2章
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the balcony； one slave brought a quantity of large； soft cushions； and
arranged them in a kind of temporary couch upon the floor behind his
mistress。 Herodias sank upon them； and turning her face away from
Antipas； seemed to be weeping silently。 After a few moments she dried
her eyes； declared that she would dream no more； and that she was； in
reality； perfectly happy。 She reminded Antipas of their former long
delightful interviews in the atrium； their meetings at the baths；
their walks along the Sacred Way； and the sweet evening rendezvous at
the villa； among the flowery groves； listening to the murmur of
splashing fountains； within sight of the Roman Campagna。 Her glances
were as tender as in former days； she drew near to him； leaned against
his breast and caressed him fondly。
But he repelled her soft advances。 The love she sought to rekindle had
died long ago。 He thought instead of all his misfortunes； and of the
twelve long years during which the war had continued。 Protracted
anxiety had visibly aged the tetrarch。 His shoulders were bent beneath
his violet…bordered toga； his whitening locks were long and mingled
with his beard； and the sunlight revealed many lines upon his brow； as
well as upon that of Herodias。 After the tetrarch's repulse of his
wife's tender overtures； the pair gazed morosely at each other。
The mountain paths began to show signs of life。 Shepherds were driving
their flocks to pasture； children urged heavy…laden donkeys along the
roads； while grooms belonging to the palace led the horses to the
river to drink。 The wayfarers descending from the heights on the
farther side of Machaerus disappeared behind the castle； others
ascended from the valleys； and after arriving at the palace deposited
their burdens in the courtyard。 Many of these were purveyors to the
tetrarch； others were the servants of his expected guests； arriving in
advance of their masters。
Suddenly； at the foot of the terrace on the left； an Essene appeared；
he wore a white robe； his feet were bare； and his demeanour indicated
that he was a follower of the Stoics。 Mannaeus instantly rushed
towards the stranger； drawing the cutlass that he wore upon his hip。
〃Kill him！〃 cried Herodias。
〃Do not touch him！〃 the tetrarch commanded。
The two men stood motionless for an instant； then they descended the
terrace； both taking a different direction； although they kept their
eyes fixed upon each other。
〃I know that man；〃 said Herodias； after they had disappeared。 〃His
name is Phanuel； and he will try to seek out Iaokanann； since thou
wert so foolish as to allow him to live。〃
Antipas said that the man might some day be useful to them。 His
attacks upon Jerusalem would gain them the allegiance of the rest of
the Jews。
〃No；〃 said Herodias； 〃the Jews will accept any master； and are
incapable of feeling any true patriotism。〃 She added that； as for the
man who was trying to influence the people with hopes cherished since
the days of Nehemiah； the best policy was to suppress him。
The tetrarch replied that there was no haste about the matter； and
expressed his doubt that any real danger was to be feared from
Iaokanann even affecting to laugh at the idea。
〃Do not deceive thyself！〃 exclaimed Herodias。 And she retold the story
of her humiliation one day when she was travelling towards Gilead； in
order to purchase some of the balm for which that region was famous。
〃A multitude was standing on the banks of the stream； my lord； many of
the people were putting on their raiment。 Standing on a hillock； a
strange man was speaking to the gathering。 A camel's…skin was wrapped
about his loins； and his head was like that of a lion。 As soon as he
saw me； he launched in my direction all the maledictions of the
prophets。 His eyes flamed； his voice shook； he raised his arms as if
he would draw down lightning upon my head。 I could not fly from him；
the wheels of my chariot sank in the sand up to the middle； and I
could only crawl along； hiding my head with my mantle； and frozen with
terror at the curses that poured upon me like a storm from heaven！〃
Continuing her harangue； she declared that the knowledge that this man
still existed poisoned her very life。 When he had been seized and
bound with cords； the soldiers were prepared to stab him if he
resisted； but he had been quite gentle and obedient。 After he had been
thrown into prison some one had put venomous serpents into his
dungeon； but strange to say； after a time they had died； leaving him
uninjured。 The inanity of such tricks exasperated Herodias。 Besides；
she inquired； why did this man make war upon her？ What interest moved
him to such actions？ His injurious words to her； uttered before a
throng of listeners； had been repeated and widely circulated； she
heard them whispered everywhere。 Against a legion of soldiers she
would have been brave； but this mysterious influence； more pernicious
and powerful than the sword； but impossible to grasp； was maddening！
Herodias strode to and fro upon the terrace； white with rage； unable
to find words to express the emotions that choked her。
She had a haunting fear that the tetrarch might listen to public
opinion after a time； and persuade himself it was his duty to
repudiate her。 Then； indeed； all would be lost！ Since early youth she
had cherished a dream that some day she would rule over a great
empire。 As an important step towards attaining this ambition； she had
deserted Philip； her first husband； and married the tetrarch； who now
she thought had duped her。
〃Ah！ I found a powerful support； indeed； when I entered thy family！〃
she sneered。
〃It is at least the equal of thine；〃 Antipas replied。
Herodias felt the blood of the kings and priests； her ancestors；
boiling in her veins。
〃Thy grandfather was a servile attendant upon the temple of Ascalon！〃
she went on； with fury。 〃Thy other ancestors were shepherds； bandits；
conductors of caravans； a horde of slaves offered as tribute to King
David！ My forefathers were the conquerors of thine！ The first of the
Maccabees drove thy people out of Hebron； Hyrcanus forced them to be
circumcised！〃 Then； with all the contempt of the patrician for the
plebeian； the hatred of Jacob for Esau； she reproached him for his
indifference towards palpable outrages to his dignity； his weakness
regarding the Phoenicians； who had been false to him； and his cowardly
attitude towards the people who detested and insulted herself。
〃But thou art like them！〃 she cried； 〃Dost regret the loss of the Arab
girl who danced upon these very pavements？ Take her back！ Go and live
with herin her tent！ Eat her bread； baked in the ashes！ Drink
curdled sheep's…milk！ Kiss her dark cheeksand forget me！〃
The tetrarch had already forgotten her presence； it appeared。 He paid
no further heed to her anger； but looked intently at a young girl who
had just stepped out upon the balcony of a house not far away。 At her
side stood an elderly female slave； who held over the girl's head a
kind of parasol with a handle made of long； slender reeds。 In the
middle of the rug spread upon the floor of the balcony stood a large
open travelling…hamper or basket； and girdles； veils； head…dresses；
and gold and silver ornaments were scattered about in confusion。 At
intervals the young girl took one object or another in her hands； and
held it up admiringly。 She was dressed in the costume of the Roman
ladies； with a flowing tunic and a peplum ornamented with tassels of
emeralds； and blue silken bands confined her hair； which seemed almost
too luxuriant； since from time to time she raised a small hand to push
back the heavy masses。 The parasol half hid the maiden from the gaze
of Antipas； but now and then he caught a glimpse of her delicate neck；
her large eyes； or a fleeting smile upon her small mouth。 He noted
that her figure swayed about with a singularly elastic grace and
elegance。 He leaned forward； his eyes kindled； his breath quickened。
All this was not lost upon Herodias； who watched him narrowly。
〃Who is that maiden？〃 the tetrarch asked at last。
Herodias replied that she did not know； and her fierce demeanour
suddenly changed to one of gentleness and amiability。
At the entrance to the castle the tetrarch was awaited by several
Galileans； the master of the scribes； the chief of the land stewards；
the manager of the salt mines； and a Jew from Babylon； commanding his
troops of horse。 As the tetrarch approached the group； he was greeted
with respectful enthusiasm。 Acknowledging the acclamations with a
grave salute； he entered the castle。
As he proceeded along one of the corridors； Phanuel suddenly sprang
from a corner and intercepted him。
〃What！ Art thou still here？〃 said the tetrarch in displeasure。 〃Thou
seekest Iaokanann； no doubt。〃
〃And thyself； my lord。 I have something of great importance to tell
thee。〃
At a sign from Antipas； the Essene followed him into a somewhat dark
and gloomy room。
The daylight came faintly through a grated window。 The walls were of a
deep shade of crimson； so dark as to look almost black。 At one end of
the room stood an ebony bed； ornamented with bands of leather。 A
shield of gold； hanging at the head of the bed； shone like a sun in
the obscurity of the apartment。 Antipas crossed over to the couch and
threw himself upon it in a half…reclining attitude； while Phanuel
remained standing before him。 Suddenly he raised one hand； and
striking a commanding attitude said：
〃At times； my lord； the Most High sends a message to the people
through one of His sons。 Iaokanann is one of these。 If thou oppress
him； thou shalt be punished！〃
〃But it is he that persecutes me！〃 exclaimed Antipas。 〃He asked me to
do a thing that was impossible。 Since then he has done nothing but
revile me。 And I was not severe with him when he began his abuse of
me。 But he had the hardihood to send various men from Machaerus to
spread dissension and discontent throughout my domain。 A curse upon
him！ Since he attacks me； I shall defend myself。〃
〃Without doubt； he has expressed his anger with too much violence；〃
Phanuel replied calmly。 〃But do not heed that further。 He must be set
free。〃
〃One does not let loose a furious animal；〃 said the tetrarch。
〃Have no fear of him now；〃 was the quick reply。 〃He will go straight
to the Arabs； the Gauls； and the Scythians。 His work must be extended
to the uttermost ends of the earth。〃
For a moment Antipas appeared lost in thought； as one who sees a
vision。 Then he said：
〃His power over men is indeed great。 In spite of myself； I admire
him！〃
〃Then set him free！〃
But the tetrarch shook his head。 He feared Herodias； Mannaeus； and
unknown dangers。
Phanuel tried to persuade him； promising； as a guaranty of the honesty
of his projects； the submission
