年輕敘利亞軍官︰我一點都不害怕，公主；我從不怕任何人。不過陛下曾經正式下令，禁止任何人打開這口井的蓋子。
莎樂美︰你會為我這樣做的，奈拉伯斯，到了明天，當我的轎子通過大門時，我會為你拋下一朵小花，一朵綠色的小花。
年輕敘利亞軍官︰公主，我不能，我不能違反命令。
莎樂美〔微笑〕︰你會為我這樣做的，奈拉伯斯。你知道你會為我這樣做。明天，當我的轎子通過大橋時，我會透過面紗望著你，我會看著你，奈拉伯斯，我會對你微笑。看著我，奈拉伯斯，看著我。啊！你知道你會滿足我的要求。你心裡十分清楚。 ……我知道你很樂意幫我。
年輕敘利亞軍官〔向第三士兵示意〕︰讓先知出來……莎樂美公主要見他。
莎樂美︰啊！
希羅底的侍從︰噢！月色多麼怪異。你會認為這就像一個死去的女人，伸手找尋她的裹屍布。
年輕敘利亞軍官︰她的面容怪異！她像個小公主，有一雙琥珀色的雙眼。雖然朦朧，但她的笑容卻像一位小公主。
〔先知從水牢中走出。莎樂美看著他，緩緩地向後退了幾步。 〕
約翰︰那個杯中充滿憎惡酒水的人在哪裡？他在哪裡，那個身穿銀袍的人，最後將死在所有人的面前？叫他過來，如此一來他才可能脫離王宮的污穢，傾聽他自己內心裡的聲音。
莎樂美︰他說的是誰？
年輕敘利亞軍官︰您永遠聽不懂他的話，公主。
約翰︰那個渴視牆上男子畫像的女人在哪裡？她放棄自我，注目著石柱上加勒底（Caldea）人的畫像，沈溺在她眼睛的慾念中，並派出使者到加勒底去。
莎樂美︰他在說我的母親。
年輕敘利亞軍官︰噢，不要理會他，公主。
莎樂美︰是的；他正在說我的母親。
約翰︰那個委身於亞述首領的人在哪裡？他們腰上配劍，頭戴五彩的皇冠。那個委身於埃及年輕男子的人在哪裡？他們身穿精緻紫色麻衣，金色盾牌，銀色頭盔，身強力壯。叫她立刻從罪惡的溫床裡爬起，從亂倫的溫床裡爬起，如此一來，她才能聽到為主鋪路的人的聲音，如此一來，她才能從不義之中改過自新。雖然她不會悔改，只會更加深陷在泥淖裡；叫她過來，因為主的扇子已在祂的手裡。
莎樂美︰太可怕了，他太可怕了！
年輕敘利亞軍官︰不要待在這兒，公主，我懇求您。
莎樂美︰他的眼睛太可怕了。它們就像黑洞中燃燒的火炬。它們像龍穴的深淵。它們像埃及惡龍居所的黑暗洞窟。它們像奇異月光下的黑色湖水……你認為他會再說一遍嗎？
年輕敘利亞軍官︰不要待在這兒，公主，我求您不要待在這裡。
莎樂美︰真是可惜！他就像是一尊潔白的象牙雕像。他身上映著銀色的光輝。我確信他與月光一般貞潔，如同銀色之箭。他的肉體必定如像牙一般冰冷。我願走過去仔細瞧瞧。
年輕敘利亞軍官︰不，不，公主。
莎樂美︰我一定要走過去瞧瞧。
年輕敘利亞軍官︰公主！公主！
約翰︰向我走來的女子是誰？我不願意他看著我。為何在她散著金粉的眼皮之下，用那雙金色的眸子看著我？我不認識她。我不願知道她是誰。叫她走開。我不與她說話。
莎樂美︰我叫莎樂美，希羅底的女兒，猶太王國的公主。
約翰︰退開！巴比倫之女！不准靠近主所選擇的人。妳的母親將不義染滿了大地，她的罪孽已經傳到神的耳裡。
莎樂美︰求您再說，約翰。您的聲音猶如酒一般的甜美。
年輕敘利亞軍官︰公主！公主！公主！
莎樂美︰求您再說！再說一遍，約翰，告訴我應該怎麼做。
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
I fear him not, Princess; there is no man I fear. But the Tetrarch has formally forbidden that any man should raise the cover of this well.
SALOME
Thou wilt do this thing for me, Narraboth, and to-morrow when I pass in my litter beneath the gateway of the idol-sellers I will let fall for thee a little flower, a little green flower.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Princess, I cannot, I cannot.
SALOME
[Smiling.]
Thou wilt do this thing for me, Narraboth. Thou knowest that thou wilt do this thing for me. And on the morrow when I shall pass in my litter by the bridge of the idol-buyers, I will look at thee through the muslin veils, I will look at thee, Narraboth, it may be I will smile at thee. Look at me, Narraboth, look at me. Ah! thou knowest that thou wilt do what I ask of thee. Thou knowest it . . . . I know that thou wilt do this thing.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
[Signing to the third soldier.]
Let the prophet
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come forth . . . . The Princess Salome desires to see him.
SALOME
Ah!
THE PAGE OF HERODIAS
Oh! How strange the moon looks! Like the hand of a dead woman who is seeking to cover herself with a shroud.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
She has a strange aspect! She is like a little princess, whose eyes are eyes of amber. Through the clouds of muslin she is smiling like a little princess. [The prophet comes out of the cistern. Salome looks at him and steps slowly back.]
IOKANAAN
Where is he whose cup of abominations is now full? Where is he, who in a robe of silver shall one day die in the face of all the people? Bid him come forth, that he may hear the voice of him who hath cried in the waste places and in the houses of kings.
SALOME
Of whom is he speaking?
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
No one can tell, Princess.
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IOKANAAN
Where is she who saw the images of men painted on the walls, even the images of the Chald?ans painted with colours, and gave herself up unto the lust of her eyes, and sent ambassadors into the land of Chald?a?
SALOME
It is of my mother that he is speaking.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Oh no, Princess.
SALOME
Yes: it is of my mother that he is speaking.
IOKANAAN
Where is she who gave herself unto the Captains of Assyria, who have baldricks on their loins, and crowns of many colours on their heads? Where is she who hath given herself to the young men of the Egyptians, who are clothed in fine linen and hyacinth, whose shields are of gold, whose helmets are of silver, whose bodies are mighty? Go, bid her rise up from the bed of her abominations, from the bed of her incestuousness, that she may hear the words of him who prepareth the way of the Lord, that she may repent her of her iniquities. Though she will not repent, but will stick fast in her abominations, go bid her come, for the fan of the Lord is in His hand.
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SALOME
Ah, but he is terrible, he is terrible!
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Do not stay here, Princess, I beseech you.
SALOME
It is his eyes above all that are terrible. They are like black holes burned by torches in a tapestry of Tyre. They are like the black caverns where the dragons live, the black caverns of Egypt in which the dragons make their lairs. They are like black lakes troubled by fantastic moons . . . . Do you think he will speak again?
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Do not stay here, Princess. I pray you do not stay here.
SALOME
How wasted he is! He is like a thin ivory statue. He is like an image of silver. I am sure he is chaste, as the moon is. He is like a moonbeam, like a shaft of silver. His flesh must be very cold, cold as ivory . . . . I would look closer at him.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
No, no, Princess!
SALOME
I must look at him closer.
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THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Princess! Princess!
IOKANAAN
Who is this woman who is looking at me? I will not have her look at me. Wherefore doth she look at me, with her golden eyes, under her gilded eyelids? I know not who she is. I do not desire to know who she is. Bid her begone, It is not to her that I would speak.
SALOME
I am Salome, daughter of Herodias, Princess of Jud?a.
IOKANAAN
Back! daughter of Babylon! Come not near the chosen of the Lord. Thy mother hath filled the earth with the wine of her iniquities, and the cry of her sinning hath come up even to the ears of God.
SALOME
Speak again, Iokanaan. Thy voice is as music to mine ear.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN
Princess! Princess! Princess!
SALOME
Speak again! Speak again, Iokanaan, and tell me what I must do.