HERODIAS
[Winces, then smiles and exchanges a glance with Herod.]
MEROKLES
[Sotto voce, joining Gabalos.] Thou madest a good hit; I a better.
HEROD
And in contrast to this cool flatterer, here is Jabad the Levite, my guide and my conscience ever since I set foot on Jewish soil. For, by Bacchus, he knows exactly what I have to do, every moment, in order to be pious, after the manner of my pious people.
GABALOS
[Sotto voce.] He acts as if he had forgotten the way.
MEROKLES
[Sotto voce.] For by so doing he thinks he will the more resemble his father.