herodias-第3章

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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　of　the　Essenians　to　the　King。　These

poor　people；　clad　only　in　linen；　untameable　in　spite　of　severe

treatment；　endowed　with　the　power　to　divine　the　future　by　reading　the

stars；　had　succeeded　in　commanding　a　certain　degree　of　respect。



〃What　is　the　important　matter　thou　wouldst　communicate　to　me？〃　Antipas

inquired；　with　sudden　recollection。



Before　Phanuel　could　reply；　a　Negro　entered　the　room　in　great　haste。

He　was　covered　with　dust；　and　panted　so　violently　that　he　could

scarcely　utter　the　single　word：



〃Vitellus！〃



〃Has　he　arrived？〃　asked　the　tetrarch。



〃I　have　seen　him；　my　lord。　Within　three　hours　he　will　be　here。〃



Throughout　the　palace；　doors　were　opening　and　closing　and　portieres

were　swaying　as　if　in　a　high　wind；　with　the　coming　and　going　of　many

persons；　there　was　a　murmur　of　voices；　sounds　of　the　moving　of　heavy

furniture　could　be　heard；　and　the　rattle　of　silver　plates　and　dishes。

From　the　highest　tower　a　loud　blast　upon　a　conch　summoned　from　far　and

near　all　the　slaves　belonging　to　the　castle。







CHAPTER　II



The　ramparts　were　thronged　with　people　when　at　last　Vitellius　entered

the　castle　gates；　leaning　on　the　arm　of　his　interpreter。　Behind　them

came　an　imposing　red　litter；　decorated　with　plumes　and　mirrors。　The

proconsul　wore　a　toga　ornamented　with　the　laticlave；　a　broad　purple

band　extending　down　the　front　of　the　garment；　indicating　his　rank；　and

his　feet　were　encased　in　the　kind　of　buskins　worn　by　consuls。　A　guard

of　lictors　surrounded　him。　Against　the　wall　they　placed　their　twelve

fascesa　bundle　of　sticks　with　an　axe　in　the　centre。　And　the　populace

trembled　before　the　insignia　of　Roman　majesty。



The　gorgeous　litter；　borne　by　eight　men；　came　to　a　halt。　From　it

descended　a　youth。　He　wore　many　pearls　upon　his　fingers；　but　he　had　a

protruding　abdomen　and　his　face　was　covered　with　pimples。　A　cup　of

aromatic　wine　was　offered　to　him。　He　drank　it；　and　asked　for　a　second

draught。



The　tetrarch　had　fallen　upon　his　kne