The Tragedy of Mariam tells the story of Mariam, the second wife of Herod the Great, King of Judea from 39 to 4 B.C. The play opens in 29 B.C., when Herod is thought dead at the hand of Octavian (later Emperor Augustus).
Act I
- Scene I. Mariam enters, soliloquizing on the probable death of her husband Herod, who has gone to Rome to appear before Octavian. She reveals that her feelings towards her husband are conflicted because, while Herod loved her, he had also murdered her grandfather Hyrcanus and her brother Aristobulus to ensure his succession to the throne.
- Scene II. Mariam's mother Alexandra enters and scolds her daughter for shedding tears for Herod.
- Scene III. Salome, Herod's sister, engages in a verbal sparring match with Mariam and her mother concerning Mariam's faithfulness, class status, and fitness to be Herod's wife.
- Scene IV. After Mariam and Alexandra exit, Salome explains her plot to divorce her husband Constabarus in favor of her lover, the Arabian prince Silleus.
- Scene V. Silleus enters and Salome and he profess their love; Salome remarks that it is Constabarus who stands in the way of their happiness. Salome sees her husband coming and sends Silleus away.
- Scene VI. Constabarus enters and confronts Salome for her unfaithfulness and wavering disposition. Salome declares that she will seek a divorce from her husband, an option only available to men at the time.
- Chorus. The Chorus concludes the act by singing about the dangers of women wishing for variety or change in their lives.
Act II
- Scene I. Pheroras, brother of Salome and Herod, enters talking about his love of Graphina, a servant girl in Herod's court. Pheroras had been commanded to marry Herod's infant daughter, to keep the lines of succession pure, so he is conflicted about the news of Herod's death because, while he feels grief for his brother, Herod's death means that he can marry Graphina.
- Scene II. Constabarus enters with Babas' sons. Babas' sons had been sentenced to death by Herod twelve years prior to the start of the play, and Constabarus had been sheltering them in secret. Babas' sons are skeptical as to whether Herod is really dead, and they convince Constabarus to allow them to remain in hiding until Herod's death is confirmed, lest they be discovered or Salome uses the information against them.
- Scene III. Doris, Herod's first wife, enters with her son Antipater. They express their frustration at having been ousted from the court.
- Scene IV. Silleus challenges Constabarus to a duel. Silleus is wounded, but not fatally. Constabarus feels pity for Silleus and takes him away to take care of him. He exclaims, “I hate thy body, but I love thy mind,[7]” and so expresses his appreciation for the Arabian Prince's intelligence and character.
- Chorus. The Chorus warns that people should have been more skeptical when they heard of Herod's death. They also state that people will often believe what they wish were true.
Act III
- Scene I. Pheroras and Salome argue over his decision to marry Graphina, whom Salome considers to be unworthy of her brother.
- Scene II. Ananell informs them that Herod is actually alive. Salome is pleased to hear the news because it means that she will be able to get rid of Mariam, but Pheroras is unhappy because he has gone against Herod's wishes and married Graphina, which will probably result in punishment. Salome engages Pheroras to speak to Herod about her divorce, and, in exchange, she will entreat Herod to be merciful towards Pheroras and his new bride. Salome explains her plan to turn Herod against Mariam by convincing him that Mariam is trying to poison him.
- Scene III. Mariam and Sohemus, Herod's counselor, enter. Sohemus tells Mariam that Herod is alive, and she laments Herod's return.
- Chorus. The Chorus comments that a wife should exhibit self-restraint by being chaste and keeping her body and her mind solely for her husband's enjoyment.
Act IV
- Scene I. Herod returns to the city and happily anticipates Mariam's welcome.
- Scene II. Pheroras enters and Herod expresses his unhappiness that he married Graphina. Pheroras then tells Herod that Salome divorced Constabarus because he had been harboring Babas' sons. Herod orders their execution while continuing to ask after Mariam.
- Scene III. Mariam enters and her gloomy countenance angers Herod. She refuses to dissemble, and she brings up Herod's violence against her grandfather and brother.
- Scene IV. The Butler enters with a drink for Herod, admitting that it is poison and claiming that Mariam gave it to him via Sohemus. Herod calls the royal guard to take Mariam away but then changes his mind. He wavers about having her executed.
- Scene V. The Butler expresses his guilt at framing Sohemus and Mariam; he reveals that Salome is the one responsible for this ruse.
- Scene VI. Constabarus enters with Babas' Sons, guarded. As they are being taken to the execution block, they lament the duplicity of evil women, i.e. Salome.
- Scene VII. Herod is torn about executing Mariam. Salome insinuates that Mariam and Sohemus were having an affair. Herod curses his sister for making him unsure of Mariam's innocence, and he orders Mariam's execution.
- Scene VIII. Mariam is confronted by Doris. Doris curses Mariam and her offspring to misery.
- Chorus. The Chorus lectures that it is better to forgive those who have wronged us than to seek revenge, but that if we must get revenge, it should be of the noblest kind. They criticize Mariam for not forgiving Herod for his actions against her family, as that would have saved her life.
Act V
- Scene I. Nuntio informs Herod that Mariam is dead. Herod expresses extreme regret and begins a lengthy soliloquy wherein he expresses how devastated he is by Mariam's death and his decision to have her beheaded.
- Chorus. The Chorus criticizes Herod for acting without thinking before ordering Mariam's death because he can never return life to her, then concludes, “This day alone our sagest Hebrews shall / In aftertimes the school of wisdom call.”[8]
