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irresistible though terrible fascination； she made her way through the
throng； and； reaching Mannaeus； she leant one hand on his shoulder and
bent over to listen。
The hollow voice rose again from the depths of the earth。
〃Woe to thee； Sadducees and Pharisees！ Thy voices are like the
tinkling of cymbals！ O race of vipers； bursting with pride！〃
The voice of Iaokanann was recognised。 His name was whispered about。
Spectators from a distance pressed closer to the open pit。
〃Woe to thee； O people！ Woe to the traitors of Judah； and to the
drunkards of Ephraim； who dwelt in the fertile valleys and stagger
with the fumes of wine！
〃May they disappear like running water； like the slug that sinks into
the sand as it moves； like an abortion that never sees the light！
〃And thou too； Moab！ hide thyself in the midst of the cypress； like
the sparrow； in caverns； like the wild hare！ The gates of the fortress
shall be crushed more easily than nut…shells； the walls shall crumble；
cities shall burn； and the scourge of God shall not cease！ He shall
cause your bodies to be bathed in your own blood； like wool in the
dyer's vat。 He shall rend you； as with a harrow； He shall scatter the
remains of your bodies from the tops of the mountains！〃
Of which conqueror was he speaking？ Was it Vitellius？ Only the Romans
could bring about such an extermination。 The people began to cry out：
〃Enough！ enough！ let him speak no more！〃
But the prisoner continued in louder tones：
〃Beside the corpses of their mothers； thy little ones shall drag
themselves over the ashes of the burned cities。 At night men will
creep from their hiding…places to seek a bit of food among the ruins；
even at the risk of being cut down with the sword。 Jackals shall pick
thy bones in the public places； where at eventide the fathers were
wont to gather。 At the bidding of Gentiles； thy maidens shall be
forced to cease their lamentations and to make music upon the zither；
and the bravest of thy sons shall learn to bend their backs； chafed
with heavy burdens。〃
The listeners remembered the days of exile； and all the misfortunes
and catastrophes of the past。 These words were like the anathemas of
the ancient prophets。 The captive thundered them forth like bolts from
heaven。
Presently his voice became almost as sweet and harmonious as if he
were uttering a chant。 He spoke of the world's redemption from sin and
sorrow； of the glories of heaven； of gold in place of clay； of the
desert blossoming like the rose。 〃That which is now worth sixty pieces
of silver will not cost a single obol。 Fountains of milk shall spring
from the rocks； men shall sleep； well satisfied； among the wine…
presses。 The people shall prostrate themselves before Thee； and Thy
reign shall be eternal； O Son of David！〃
The tetrarch suddenly recoiled from the opening of the pit； the
mention of the existence of a son of David seemed to him like a menace
to himself。
Iaokanann then poured forth invectives against him for presuming to
aspire to royalty。
〃There is no other king than the Eternal God！〃 he cried； and he cursed
Antipas for his luxurious gardens； his statues； his furniture of
carved ivory and precious woods； comparing him to the impious Ahab。
Antipas broke the slender cord attached to the royal seal that he wore
around his neck； and throwing the seal into the pit； he commanded his
prisoner to be silent。
But Iaokanann replied： 〃I shall cry aloud like a savage bear； like the
wild ass； like a woman in travail！ The punishment of heaven has
already visited itself upon thy incest！ May God inflict thee with the
sterility of mules！〃
At these words； a sound of suppressed laughter arose here and there
among the listeners。
Vitellius had remained close to the opening of the dungeon while
Iaokanann was speaking。 His interpreter； in impassive tones；
translated into the Roman tongue all the threats and invectives that
rolled up from the depths of the gloomy prison。 The tetrarch and
Herodias felt compelled to remain near at hand。 Antipas listened；
breathing heavily； while the woman； with parted lips； gazed into the
darkness of the pit； her face drawn with an expression of fear and
hatred。
The terrible man now turned towards her。 He grasped the bars of his
prison； pressed against them his bearded face； in which his eyes
glowed like burning coals； and cried：
〃Ah！ Is it thou； Jezebel？ Thou hast captured thy lord's heart with the
tinkling of thy feet。 Thou didst neigh to him like a mare。 Thou didst
prepare thy bed on the mountain top； in order to accomplish thy
sacrifices！
〃The Lord shall take from thee thy sparkling jewels； thy purple robes
and fine linen； the bracelets from thine arms； the anklets from thy
feet； the golden ornaments that dangle upon thy brow； thy mirrors of
polished silver； thy fans of ostrich plumes； thy shoes with their
heels of mother…of…pearl； that serve to increase thy stature； thy
glittering diamonds； the scent of thy hair； the tint of thy nails；
all the artifices of thy coquetry shall disappear； and missiles shall
be found wherewith to stone the adulteress！〃
Herodias looked around for some one to defend her。 The Pharisees
lowered their eyes hypocritically。 The Sadducees turned away their
heads； fearing to offend the proconsul should they appear to
sympathise with her。 Antipas was almost in a swoon。
Louder still rose the voice from the dungeon； the neighbouring hills
gave back an echo with startling effect； and Machaerus seemed actually
surrounded and showered with curses。
〃Prostrate thyself in the dust； daughter of Babylon； and scourge
thyself！ Remove thy girdle and thy shoes； gather up thy garments and
walk through the flowing stream； thy shame shall follow thee； thy
disgrace shall be known to all men； thy bosom shall be rent with sobs。
God execrates the stench of thy crimes！ Accursed one！ die like a dog！〃
At that instant the trap…door was suddenly shut down and secured by
Mannaeus； who would have liked to strangle Iaokanann then and there。
Herodias glided away and disappeared within the palace。 The Pharisees
were scandalised at what they had heard。 Antipas； standing among them；
attempted to justify his past conduct and to excuse his present
situation。
〃Without doubt；〃 said Eleazar； 〃it was necessary for him to marry his
brother's wife； but Herodias was not a widow； and besides； she had a
child； which she abandoned； and that was an abomination。〃
〃You are wrong；〃 objected Jonathas the Sadducee； 〃the law condemns
such marriages but does not actually forbid them。〃
〃What matters it？ All the world shows me injustice；〃 said Antipas；
bitterly； 〃and why？ Did not Absalom lie with his father's wives； Judah
with his daughter…in…law； Ammon with his sister； and Lot with his
daughters？〃
Aulus； who had been reposing within the palace； now reappeared in the
court。 After he had heard how matters stood； he approved of the
attitude of the tetrarch。 〃A man should never allow himself to be
annoyed；〃 said he； 〃by such foolish criticism。〃 And he laughed at the
censure of the priests and the fury of Iaokanann； saying that his
words were of little importance。
Herodias； who also had reappeared； and now stood at the top of a
flight of steps； called loudly：
〃You are wrong； my lord！ He ordered the people to refuse to pay the
tax！〃
〃Is that true？〃 he demanded。 The general response was affirmative；
Antipas adding his word to the declaration of the others。
Vitellius had a misgiving that the prisoner might be able to escape；
and as the conduct of Antipas appeared to him rather suspicious； he
established his own sentinels at the gates； at intervals along the
walls； and in the courtyard itself。
At last he retired to the apartments assigned to him； accompanied by
the priests。 Without touching directly upon the question of the
coveted offices of