_King Herod._ Potz-tausend! Himmel-sacrament!
Filled am I with great wonderment
At this unwelcome news!
Am I not Herod? Who shall dare
My crown to take, my sceptre bear,
As king among the Jews?
(_Here he shall stride up and down and flourish his sword._)
What ho! I fain would drink a can
Of the strong wine of Canaan!
The wine of Helbon bring,
I purchased at the Fair of Tyre,
As red as blood, as hot as fire,
And fit for any king!
(_He quaffs great goblets of wine._)
Now at the window will I stand,
While in the street the armed band
The little children slay:
The babe just born in Bethlehem
Will surely slaughtered be with them,
Nor live another day!
(_Here a voice of lamentation shall be heard in the street._)
_Rachel._ O wicked king! O cruel speed!
To do this most unrighteous deed!
My children all are slain!
_Herod._ Ho seneschal! another cup!
With wine of Sorek fill it up!
I would a bumper drain!
_Rahab._ May maledictions fall and blast
Thyself and lineage, to the last
Of all thy kith and kin!
_Herod._ Another goblet! quick! and stir
Pomegranate juice and drops of myrrh
And calamus therein!
_Soldiers (in the street)_. Give up thy child into our hands!
It is King Herod who commands
That he should thus be slain!
_The Nurse Medusa._ O monstrous men! What have ye done!
It is King Herod's only son
That ye have cleft in twain!
_Herod._ Ah, luckless day! What words of fear
Are these that smite upon my ear
With such a doleful sound!
What torments rack my heart and head!
Would I were dead! would I were dead,
And buried in the ground!
(_He falls down and writhes as though eaten by worms.
Hell opens, and_ SATAN _and_ ASTAROTH _come forth,
and drag him down._)