Here is a twofold accusation against the damsel, that she danced, and that she chose to ask an execution as her reward. Observe how Herod is at once cruel and yielding; he obliges himself by an oath, and leaves her free to choose her request. Yet when he knew what evil was resulting from her request, he was grieved, “And the king was sorry,” for virtue gains praise and admiration even among the bad.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).