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socle d'argent。 C'etait un jardin plein de colombes et de lis
d'argent。 C'etait une tour d'argent ornee de boucliers d'ivoire。
Il n'y avait rien au monde d'aussi blanc que ton corps。 Il n'y
avait rien au monde d'aussi noir que tes cheveux。 Dans le monde
tout entier il n'y avait rien d'aussi rouge que ta bouche。 Ta voix
etait un encensoir qui repandait d'etranges parfums； et quand je te
regardais j'entendais une musique etrange！ Ah！ pourquoi ne m'as…tu
pas regardee； Iokanaan？ Derriere tes mains et tes blasphemes tu as
cache ton visage。 Tu as mis sur tes yeux le bandeau de celui qui
veut voir son Dieu。 Eh bien； tu l'as vu； ton Dieu； Iokanaan； mais
moi； moi 。 。 。 tu ne m'as jamais vue。 Si tu m'avais vue； tu
m'aurais aimee。 Moi； je t'ai vu； Iokanaan； et je t'ai aime。 Oh！
comme je t'ai aime。 Je t'aime encore； Iokanaan。 Je n'aime que toi
。 。 。 J'ai soif de ta beaute。 J'ai faim de ton corps。 Et ni le
vin； ni les fruits ne peuvent apaiser mon desir。 Que ferai…je；
Iokanaan； maintenant？ Ni les fleuves ni les grandes eaux； ne
pourraient eteindre ma passion。 J'etais une Princesse； tu m'as
dedaignee。 J'etais une vierge； tu m'as defloree。 J'etais chaste；
tu as rempli mes veines de feu 。 。 。 Ah！ Ah！ pourquoi ne m'as…tu
pas regardee； Iokanaan？ Si tu m'avais regardee tu m'aurais aimee。
Je sais bien que tu m'aurais aimee； et le mystere de l'amour est
plus grand que le mystere de la mort。 Il ne faut regarder que
l'amour。Salome
THE YOUNG KING
All rare and costly materials had certainly a great fascination for
him； and in his eagerness to procure them he had sent away many
merchants； some to traffic for amber with the rough fisher…folk of
the north seas； some to Egypt to look for that curious green
turquoise which is found only in the tombs of kings； and is said to
possess magical properties； some to Persia for silken carpets and
painted pottery； and others to India to buy gauze and stained ivory；
moonstones and bracelets of jade； sandal…wood and blue enamel and
shawls of fine wool。
But what had occupied him most was the robe he was to wear at his
coronation； the robe of tissued gold； and the ruby…studded crown；
and the sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls。 Indeed； it was
of this that he was thinking to…night； as he lay back on his
luxurious couch； watching the great pinewood log that was burning
itself out on the open hearth。 The designs； which were from the
hands of the most famous artists of the time； had been submitted to
him many months before； and he had given orders that the artificers
were to toil night and day to carry them out； and that the whole
world was to be searched for jewels that would be worthy of their
work。 He saw himself in fancy standing at the high altar of the
cathedral in the fair raiment of a King； and a smile played and
lingered about his boyish lips； and lit up with a bright lustre his
dark woodland eyes。
After some time he rose from his seat； and leaning against the
carved penthouse of the chimney； looked round at the dimly…lit room。
The walls were hung with rich tapestries representing the Triumph of
Beauty。 A large press； inlaid with agate and lapis…lazuli； filled
one corner； and facing the window stood a curiously wrought cabinet
with lacquer panels of powdered and mosaiced gold； on which were
placed some delicate goblets of Venetian glass； and a cup of dark…
veined onyx。 Pale poppies were broidered on the silk coverlet of
the bed； as though they had fallen from the tired hands of sleep；
and tall reeds of fluted ivory bare up the velvet canopy； from which
great tufts of ostrich plumes sprang； like white foam； to the pallid
silver of the fretted ceiling。 A laughing Narcissus in green bronze
held a polished mirror above its head。 On the table stood a flat
bowl of amethyst。
Outside he could see the huge dome of the cathedral； looming like a
bubble over the shadowy houses； and the weary sentinels pacing up
and down on the misty terrace by the river。 Far away； in an
orchard； a nightingale was singing。 A faint perfume of jasmine came
through the open window。 He brushed his brown curls back from his
forehead； and taking up a lute； let his fingers stray across the
cords。 His heavy eyelids drooped； and a strange languor came over
him。 Never before had he felt so keenly； or with such exquisite
joy； the magic and the mystery of beautiful things。
When midnight sounded from the clock…tower he touched a bell； and
his pages entered and disrobed him with much ceremony； pouring rose…
water over his hands； and strewing flowers on his pillow。 A few
moments after that they had left the room； he fell asleep。The
Young King
A CORONATION
And when the Bishop had heard them he knit his brows； and said； 'My
son； I am an old man； and in the winter of my days； and I know that
many evil things are done in the wide world。 The fierce robbers
come down from the mountains； and carry off the little children； and
sell them to the Moors。 The lions lie in wait for the caravans； and
leap upon the camels。 The wild boar roots up the corn in the
valley； and the foxes gnaw the vines upon the hill。 The pirates lay
waste the sea…coast and burn the ships of the fishermen； and take
their nets from them。 In the salt…marshes live the lepers； they
have houses of wattled reeds； and none may come nigh them。 The
beggars wander through the cities； and eat their food with the dogs。
Canst thou make these things not to be？ Wilt thou take the leper
for thy bedfellow； and set the beggar at thy board？ Shall the lion
do thy bidding； and the wild boar obey thee？ Is not He who made
misery wiser than thou art？ Wherefore I praise thee not for this
that thou hast done； but I bid thee ride back to the Palace and make
thy face glad； and put on the raiment that beseemeth a king； and
with the crown of gold I will crown thee； and the sceptre of pearl
will I place in thy hand。 And as for thy dreams； think no more of
them。 The burden of this world is too great for one man to bear；
and the world's sorrow too heavy for one heart to suffer。'
'Sayest thou that in this house？' said the young King； and he strode
past the Bishop； and climbed up the steps of the altar； and stood
before the image of Christ。
He stood before the image of Christ； and on his right hand and on
his left were the marvellous vessels of gold； the chalice with the
yellow wine； and the vial with the holy oil。 He knelt before the
image of Christ； and the great candles burned brightly by the
jewelled shrine； and the smoke of the incense curled in thin blue
wreaths through the dome。 He bowed his head in prayer； and the
priests in their stiff copes crept away from the altar。
And suddenly a wild tumult came from the street outside； and in
entered the nobles with drawn swords and nodding plumes； and shields
of polished steel。 'Where is this dreamer of dreams？' they cried。
'Wher