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caught up at the waist by a girdle of fretted silver。 Her full
trousers； of black silk； were embroidered in a pattern of silver
mandragoras； and as she moved forward with indolent grace； her little
feet were seen to be shod with slippers made of the feathers of
humming…birds。
When she arrived in front of the pavilion she removed her veil。
Behold！ she seemed to be Herodias herself； as she had appeared in the
days of her blooming youth。
Immediately the damsel began to dance before the tetrarch。 Her slender
feet took dainty steps to the rhythm of a flute and a pair of Indian
bells。 Her round white arms seemed ever beckoning and striving to
entice to her side some youth who was fleeing from her allurements。
She appeared to pursue him； with movements light as a butterfly； her
whole mien was like that of an inquisitive Psyche； or a floating
spirit that might at any moment dissolve and disappear。
Presently the plaintive notes of the gingras； a small flute of
Phoenician origin； replaced the tinkling bells。 The attitudes of the
dancing nymph now denoted overpowering lassitude。 Her bosom heaved
with sighs； and her whole being expressed profound languor； although
it was not clear whether she sighed for an absent swain or was
expiring of love in his embrace。 With half…closed eyes and quivering
form； she caused mysterious undulations to flow downward over her
whole body； like rippling waves； while her face remained impassive and
her twinkling feet still moved in their intricate steps。
Vitellius compared her to Mnester； the famous pantomimist。 Aulus was
overcome with faintness。 The tetrarch watched her； lost in a
voluptuous reverie； and thought no more of the real Herodias。 In fancy
he saw her again as she appeared when she had dwelt among the
Sadducees。 Then the vision faded。
But this beautiful thing before him was no vision。 The dancer was
Salome； the daughter of Herodias； who for many months her mother had
caused to be instructed in dancing； and other arts of pleasing； with
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 b