Herodias

"Herodias" is a verse play in three acts, in which Ustad Youssef al-Khal has followed a splendid classical course — in the skill of its progression and in the choice of its diction, as befits the nature of the dialogue. The author spent six years in its composition, between Lebanon, Tripoli of the West, and New York, and kept working it over, purifying and polishing, until his refined poetic taste was satisfied with it; then he gave it to the presses of "al-Huda," whose editorship he headed last year, and it came out in a simple and elegant dress — a literary gem to take pride in, in form and in substance... To the poet Youssef al-Khal, our sincerest congratulations.

Below is a passage from this play which we have chosen to carry to the readers of "The Woman's Voice." In it Herod grants Salome whatever she desires, though it be half his kingdom of Judea; then comes Salome's insistence on the beheading of John the Baptist, in obedience to the will of her mother Herodias:

HEROD
Softly!
No fair one ever disobeyed me before, nor ever shall —
for my palm is the most bountiful of palms, and the most precious!
(He turns to Salome)
Yours is whatever you desire: half of Judea —
nay, my very life...

SALOME (in fear)
My lord!

HEROD
It is you who are the lord.

SALOME
O my God!

HEROD
Yes, I have promised you, Salome,
and my promise is a sworn oath... or else
ask: in my treasuries are virgin pearls
that lent the firmament some of its stars;
the giants, diving the deep, strayed wide of them,
beyond the unattainable reaches of the known —
and necklaces strung with rubies.

FIRST ROMAN
No. No. Let them be.

SECOND ROMAN
Take them, Salome!
In Herod's hidden hoards are things more splendid still —
so ask him... perhaps he will bestow them!

HEROD
Aye, by my Lord! Among them, of the most radiant pearl,
is a host of noblest strain, and jewels
that Bilqis carried, in the days of Solomon,
and eyes, beholding them, were dazzled;
and of wrought gold there are earrings,
light and glittering, and bracelets —
were fair women to adorn themselves with them, they would turn
morning into night, and night into morning...

FIRST ROMAN
Then hasten
and give them to her...

HEROD (continuing)
In my treasuries are robes of red,
lovely, diaphanous, coquettish;
the fingers of the jinn spun them — and that night
was a wedding, and the end in view was bridals —
upon them plays a lightning-flash of delights,
and from the rapture of love a kindled blaze...
Aye! and among them, Salome, are green ones and white,
soft-sheened, white-bordered, lilting;
Damascus embroidered them, so they are damask,
soft, luminous of warp, and stirring;
and Shiraz made them fine, so they are silk,
velvety — a mantle of brocade.

FIRST ROMAN
O Salome! Were she to drape herself in them now,
the dark would know no daybreak —
no, nor would a lamp shine over Rome,
nor any lamp sway before her!
Oh, what a...

HEROD (continuing)
In my treasuries is ambergris more lavish
in intoxication than wines long-aged,
and frankincense of ancient stock in flasks,
and musk borne by night in caskets,
and perfumes of every hue and fragrance,
blended by the fingers of lovers
in enchanted palaces of marble
whose domes are made fast to the horizons......
So ask!

SALOME (in agitation)
Your pardon, my lord. Not Judea
stands before my eyes, nor the precious jewels...
Wretched my day! Nor the gay virgin robes,
nor the heavy-scented perfumes!
Before my eyes stands...

HEROD (ardently)
What? Ask for the star — I shall bear it
on my palm to you for a necklace,
or ask me for Lebanon — I shall weave its hills
over your shoulders for a wrap and a figured cloak...
Whatever you wish — ask!

SALOME (in pain)
The head of Yohanan.