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the sole idea of bringing her to Machaerus and presenting her to the
tetrarch； so that he should fall in love with her fresh young beauty
and feminine wiles。 The plan had proved successful； it seemed； he was
evidently fascinated； and Herodias felt that at last she was sure of
retaining her power over him！
And now the graceful dancer appeared transported with the very
delirium of love and passion。 She danced like the priestesses of
India； like the Nubians of the cataracts； or like the Bacchantes of
Lydia。 She whirled about like a flower blown by the tempest。 The
jewels in her ears sparkled； her swift movements made the colours of
her draperies appear to run into one another。 Her arms； her feet； her
clothing even； seemed to emit streams of magnetism； that set the
spectators' blood on fire。
Suddenly the thrilling chords of a harp rang through the hall； and the
throng burst into loud acclamations。 All eyes were fixed on Salome；
who paused in her rhythmic dance； placed her feet wide apart； and
without bending the knees； suddenly swayed her lithe body downward； so
that her chin touched the floor； and her whole audience；the nomads；
accustomed to a life of privation and abstinence； the Roman soldiers；
expert in debaucheries； the avaricious publicans； and even the
crabbed； elderly priestsgazed upon her with dilated nostrils。
Next she began to whirl frantically around the table where Antipas the
tetrarch was seated。 He leaned towards the flying figure； and in a
voice half choked with the voluptuous sighs of a mad desire； he
sighed： 〃Come to me！ Come！〃 But she whirled on； while the music of
dulcimers swelled louder and the excited spectators roared their
applause。
The tetrarch called again； louder than before： 〃Come to me！ Come！ Thou
shalt have Capernaum； the plains of Tiberias！ my citadels！ yea； the
half of my kingdom！〃
Again the dancer paused； then； like a flash； she threw herself upon
the palms of her hands； while her feet rose straight up into the air。
In this bizarre pose she moved about upon the floor like a gigantic
beetle； then stood motionless。
The nape of her neck formed a right angle with her vertebrae。 The full
silken skirts of pale hues that enveloped her limbs when she stood
erect； now fell to her shoulders and surrounded her face like a
rainbow。 Her lips were tinted a deep crimson； her arched eyebrows were
black as jet； her glowing eyes had an almost terrible radiance； and
the tiny drops of perspiration on her forehead looked like dew upon
white marble。
She made no sound； and the burning gaze of that multitude of men was
concentrated upon her。
A sound like the snapping of fingers came from the gallery over the
pavilion。 Instantly； with one of her movements of bird…like swiftness；
Salome stood erect。 The next moment she rapidly passed up a flight of
steps leading to the gallery； and coming to the front of it she leaned
over； smiled upon the tetrarch； and； with an air of almost childlike
naivete； pronounced these words：
〃I ask my lord to give me； placed upon a charger； the head of〃 She
hesitated； as if not certain of the name； then said： 〃The head of
Iaokanann！〃
The tetrarch sank back in his chair as if stunned。
He had bound himself by his promise to her； and the people awaited his
next movement。 But the death that night of some conspicuous man that
had been predicted to him by Phanuel；what if； by bringing it upon
another； he could avert it from himself； thought Antipas。 If Iaokanann
was in very truth the Elias so much talked of； he would have power to
protect himself； and if he were only an ordinary man； his murder was
of no importance。
Mannaeus stood beside his chair； and read his master's thoughts。
Vitellius beckoned him to his side and gave him an order for the
execution； to be transmitted to the soldiers placed on guard over the
dungeon。 This execution would be a relief； he thought。 In a few
moments all would be over！
But for once Mannaeus did not perform a commission satisfactorily。 He
left the hall but soon returned； in a state of great perturbation。
During forty years he had exercised the functions of the public
executioner。 It was he that had drowned Aristobulus； strangled
Alexander； burned Mattathias alive； beheaded Zozimus； Pappus；
Josephus； and Antipater； but he dared not kill Iaokanann！ His teeth
chattered and his whole body trembled。
He declared that he had seen； standing before the dungeon； the Angel
of the Samaritans； covered with eyes and brandishing a great sword；
glowing and quivering like a flame。 He appealed to two of the guards；
who had entered the hall with him； to corroborate his words。 But they
said they had seen nothing except a Jewish captain who had attacked
them； and whom they had killed。
The fury of Herodias poured forth in a torrent of invective against
the populace。 She clenched the railing of the balcony so fiercely as
to break her nails； the two stone lions at her back seemed to bite her
shoulders and join their voices to hers。
Antipas followed her example； and priests； soldiers； and Pharisees
cried aloud together for vengeance； echoed by the rest of the
gathering； who were indignant that a mere slave should dare to delay
their pleasures。
Again Mannaeus left the hall； covering his face with his hands。
The guests found the second delay longer than the first。 It seemed
tedious to every one。
Presently a sound of footsteps was heard in the corridor without； then
silence fell again。 The suspense was becoming intolerable。
Suddenly the door was flung open and Mannaeus entered； holding at
arm's length； grasping it by the hair； the head of Iaokanann。 His
appearance was greeted with a burst of applause； which filled him with
pride and revived his courage。
He placed the head upon a charger and offered it to Salome； who had
descended the steps to receive it。 She remounted to the balcony； with
a light step； and in another moment the charger was carried about from
one table to another by the elderly female slave whom the tetrarch had
observed in the morning on the balcony of a neighbouring house； and
later in the chamber of Herodias。
When she approached him with her ghastly burden； he turned away his
head to avoid looking at it。 Vitellius threw upon it an indifferent
glance。
Mannaeus descended from the pavilion； took the charger from the woman；
and exhibited the head to the Roman captains； then to all the guests
on that side of the hall。
They looked at it curiously。
The sharp blade of the sword had cut into the jaw with a swift
downward stroke。 The corners of the mouth were drawn； as if by a
convulsion。 Clots of blood besprinkled the beard。 The closed eyelids
had a shell…like transparency； and the candelabra on every side
lighted up the gruesome object with terrible distinctness。
Mannaeus arrived at the table where the priests were seated。 One of
them turned the charger about curiously； to look at the head from all
sides。 Then Mannaeus； having entirely regained his courage； placed the
charger before Aulus； who had just awakened from a short doze； and
finally he brought it again to Antipas and set it down upon the table
beside him。 Tears were running down the cheeks of the tetrarch。
The lights began to flicker and die out。 The guests departed； and at
last no one remained in the great hall save Antipas； who sat leaning
his head upon his hands； gazing at the head of Iaokanann； and Phanuel；
who stood in the centre of the largest nave and prayed aloud； with
uplifted arms。
At sunrise the two men who had been sent on a mission by Iaokanann
some time before； returned to the castle； bringing the answer so long
awaited and hoped for。
They whispered the message to Phanuel； who received it with rapture。
Then he showed them the lugubrious object； still resting on the
charger amid the ruins of the feast。 One of the men said：
〃Be comforted！ He has descended among the dead in order to announce
the coming of the Christ！〃
And in that moment the Essene comprehended the words of Iaokanann： 〃In
order that His glory may increase； mine must diminish！〃
Then the three； taking with them the head of John the Baptist； set out
upon the road to Galilee； and as the burden was heavy； each man bore
it awhile in turn。
End