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petrified waves； the black depths among the cliffs； the immensity of
the blue sky； the rising sun； and the gloomy valley of the abyss；
filled the soul of Antipas with a vague unrest； he felt an
overwhelming sense of oppression at the sight of the desert； whose
uneven piles of sand suggested crumbling ampitheatres or ruined
palaces。 The hot wind brought an odour of sulphur； as if it had rolled
up from cities accursed and buried deeper than the river…bed of the
slow…running Jordan。
These aspects of nature； which seemed to his troubled fancy signs of
the wrath of the gods； terrified him； and he leaned heavily against
the balcony railing； his eyes fixed； his head resting upon his hands。
Presently he felt a light touch upon his shoulder。 He turned； and saw
Herodias standing beside him。 A purple robe enveloped her； falling to
her sandaled feet。 Having left her chamber hurriedly； she wore no
jewels nor other ornaments。 A thick tress of rippling black hair hung
over her shoulder and hid itself in her bosom； her nostrils； a little
too large for beauty； quivered with triumph； and her face was alight
with joy。 She gently shook the tetrarch's shoulder； and exclaimed
exultantly：
〃Caesar is our friend！ Agrippa has been imprisoned！〃
〃Who told thee that？〃
〃I know it！〃 she replied； adding： 〃It was because he coveted the crown
of Caligula。〃
While living upon the charity of Antipas and Herodias； Agrippa had
intrigued to become king； a title for which the tetrarch was as eager
as he。 But if this news were true； no more was to be feared from
Agrippa's scheming。
〃The dungeons of Tiberias are hard to open； and sometimes life itself
is uncertain within their depths；〃 said Herodias； with grim
significance。
Antipas understood her； and； although she was Agrippa's sister； her
atrocious insinuation seemed entirely justifiable to the tetrarch。
Murder and outrage were to be expected in the management of political
intrigues； they were a part of the fatal inheritance of royal houses；
and in the family of Herodias nothing was more common。
Then she rapidly unfolded to the tetrarch the secrets of her recent
undertakings； telling him how many men had been bribed； what letters
had been intercepted； and the number of spies stationed at the city
gates。 She did not hesitate even to tell him of her success in an
attempt to befool and seduce Eutyches the denunciator。
〃And why should I not？〃 she said； 〃it cost me nothing。 For thee； my
lord； have I not done more than that？ Did I not even abandon my
child？〃
After her divorce from Philip； she had indeed left her daughter in
Rome； hoping that； as the wife of the tetrarch； she might bear other
children。 Until that moment she had never spoken to Antipas of her
daughter。 He asked himself the reason for this sudden display of
tenderness。
During their brief conversation several attendants had come out upon
the balcony； one slave brought a quantity of large； soft cushions； and
arranged them in a kind of temporary couch upon the floor behind his
mistress。 Herodias sank upon them； and turning her face away from
Antipas； seemed to be weeping silently。 After a few moments she dried
her eyes； declared that she would dream no more； and that she was； in
reality； perfectly happy。 She reminded Antipas of their former long
delightful interviews in the atrium； their meetings at the baths；
their walks along the Sacred Way； and the sweet evening rendezvous at
the villa； among the flowery groves； listening to the murmur of
splashing fountains； within sight of the Roman Campagna。 Her glances
were as tender as in former days； she drew near to him； leaned against
his breast and caressed him fondly。
But he repelled her soft advances。 The love she sought to rekindle had
died long ago。 He thought instead of all his misfortunes； and of the
twelve long years during which the war had continued。 Protracted
anxiety had visibly aged the tetrarch。 His shoulders were bent beneath
his violet…bordered toga； his whitening locks were long and mingled
with his beard； and the sunlight revealed many lines upon his brow； as
well as upon that of Herodias。 After the tetrarch's repulse of his
wife's tender overtures； the pair gazed morosely at each other。
The mountain paths began to show signs of life。 Shepherds were driving
their flocks to pasture； children urged heavy…laden donkeys along the
roads； while grooms belonging to the palace led the horses to the
river to drink。 The wayfarers descending from the heights on the
farther side of Machaerus disappeared behind the castle； others
ascended from the valleys； and after arriving at the palace deposited
their burdens in the courtyard。 Many of these were purveyors to the
tetrarch； others were the servants of his expected guests； arriving in
advance of their masters。
Suddenly； at the foot of the terrace on the left； an Essene appeared；
he wore a white robe； his feet were bare； and his demeanour indicated
that he was a follower of the Stoics。 Mannaeus instantly rushed
towards the stranger； drawing the cutlass that he wore upon his hip。
〃Kill him！〃 cried Herodias。
〃Do not touch him！〃 the tetrarch commanded。
The two men stood motionless for an instant； then they descended the
terrace； both taking a different direction； although they kept their
eyes fixed upon each other。
〃I know that man；〃 said Herodias； after they had disappeared。 〃His
name is Phanuel； and he will try to seek out Iaokanann； since thou
wert so foolish as to allow him to live。〃
Antipas said that the man might some day be useful to them。 His
attacks upon Jerusalem would gain them the allegiance of the rest of
the Jews。
〃No；〃 said Herodias； 〃the Jews will accept any master； and are
incapable of feeling any true patriotism。〃 She added that； as for the
man who was trying to influence the people with hopes cherished since
the days of Nehemiah； the best policy was to suppress him。
The tetrarch replied that there was no haste about the matter； and
expressed his doubt that any real danger was to be feared from
Iaokanann even affecting to laugh at the idea。
〃Do not deceive thyself！〃 exclaimed Herodias。 And she retold the story
of her humiliation one day when she was travelling towards Gilead； in
order to purchase some of the balm for which that region was famous。
〃A multitude was standing on the banks of the stream； my lord； many of
the people were putting on their raiment。 Standing on a hillock； a
strange man was speaking to the gathering。 A camel's…skin was wrapped
about his loins； and his head was like that of a lion。 As soon as he
saw me； he launched in my direction all the maledictions of the
prophets。 His eyes flamed； his voice shook； he raised his arms as if
he would draw down lightning upon my head。 I could not fly from him；
the wheels of my chariot sank in the sand up to the middle； and I
could only crawl along； hiding my head with my mantle； and frozen with
terror at the curses that poured upon me like a storm from heaven！〃
Continuing her harangue； she declared that the knowledge that this man
still existed poisoned her very life。 When he had been seized and
bound with cords； the soldiers were prepared to stab him if he
resisted； but he had been quite gentle and obedient。 After he had been
thrown into prison some one had put venomous serpents into his
dungeon； but strange to say； after a time they had died； leaving him
uninjured。 The inanity of such tricks exasperated Herodias。 Besides；
she inquired； why did this man make war upon her？ What interest moved
him to such actions？ His injurious words to her； uttered before a
throng of listeners； had been repeated and widely circulated； she
heard them whispered everywhere。 Against a legion of soldiers she
would have been brave； but this mysterious influence； more pernicious
and powerful than the sword； but impossible to grasp； was maddening！
Herodia