THE VOICE OF SALOME

  Ah! I have kissed thy mouth, Iokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth. There was a bitter taste on thy lips. Was it the taste of blood? . . .
Nay; but perchance it was the taste of love. . .
They say that love hath a bitter taste. But what matter? what matter? I have kissed thy mouth, Iokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth.     

 [A ray of moonlight falls on Salome and illumines her.]

Wilde - Salomé

Beardsley - Pen & Ink