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REV. ROBERT E. FORD
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SOLOMON
A Sacred Drama
By
REV. ROBERT E. FORD
Re-enter Joab.
Joab: Thou callest?
Adon : Yes, send now at once to me, Abiathar, the priest.
Joab : Thy will be done, O, King.
Adon : And now, my noble brother, Absalom, once more the
throne of Israel must bear another wrest. Me thinks the breast that
gave us nourishment was rich with royal milk, or why this spirit in
us both? Hark.
Enter Abiathar.
Abi: O noble prince: Jehovah's chosen one, thou didst send for
me: I hasten to thy call.
Adon : O holy man, thy hands are clean, I know. Art worthy
to a holy sacrifice ?
Abi.: Aye, noble prince, if so to serve thy needs, doth thy great
heart so prompt thee?
Adon: Indeed it doth. I would proclaim a feast, a royal feast
unto the Lord, for knowest not that I am king in David, my sire's
stead ?
Abi.: I knew not but that thou shouldest be, seeing that the
king, my lord, thy sire most feeble is, and stands in need of one like
unto thee to take the reins of State.
^don: And I have taken reins this day, and so myself proclaim.
The sacrifice make ready, and call all my brethren to the feast, aye,
all excepting Solomon, for him I would not there.
Abi.: Aye, aye, O king, and it shall all be done. Whom else,
O king?
Adon: The men of Judah all, but Zadok, the priest, Benaiah,
the son of Jehoiada, Nathan, the prophet, Shemei and Rei, and the
mighty men who belong to my sire's band: let these not be there.
'Abi.: Thy will, O king, be done: O mayst thy reign be crowned
with glory.
Exit Abiathar.
Adon: Now that the fire has been started, I think I'll rest
awhile: O, Absalom, O Absalom! (The spirit of Absalom appears
suddenly lifting its hands disapprovingly, and slowlv fades out of
sight). What is it, does thou come to me from beyond the dark valley
of death? (Falls in a swoon).
CURTAIN.
o
SCENE II.—The Well of Rogel. Soldiers lingering about,
an altar in the distance, lowing of cattle and bleating of sheep heard.
Iff Sold.: And Andonijah shall be king in David, his father's
stead : a goodly man.
4
2nd Sold. : A worthy son of a worthy sire, he. How I remem¬
ber him when he was but a boy, so much like that brave, daring Ab¬
salom.
3rd Sold. : Aye, aye, but I remember more, his father, comrades,
I was but a very small lad, sent like himself to serve my brethren.
But, when he in his youth did smite the giant, I saw it with mine
eyes. Can I forget that day? I've service seen since then. Hark,
who be these?
Enter the brethren of Adonijah, passing toward the altar.
Soldiers salute.
1st Sold. (Whispers to 2nd Soldier): All but Solomon, what
meaneth this? All but Solomon.
Enter Joab. The soldiers salute. Enter Abiathar with a horn of oil.
The soldiers salute
Enters Adonijah. The soldiers salute. He kneels before Abiathar
who annoints his head with oil.
Joab (Turning quickly to his soldiers): Long live the king!
Soldiers (shouting): Long live the king!
Adonijah's Brethren (coming and kneeling before him):
Long live the king!
Flare of trumpets. Enter more soldiers, followed by civilians
Joab (To the civilians): Behold your king!
Chorus of Voices: Long live King Adonijah!
.CURTAIN
o
ACT II.
Scene I.—House of Bathsheba. Bathsheba alone on the porch
overlooking royal gardens.
Enter Solomon.
Sol.: Hail, beautiful mother! How farest thou?
Bath.: Quite well, indeed, my son. O future king of Israel,
doest thou well ?
Sol. : Quite well, my mother, only that I have a slight to speak
of.
Bath.: A slight? What meanest thou, that thou hast slighted
been ?
Sol. : And so it looks. I'm from the royal baths, where with
my brethren, we did enjoy refreshing waters, and the roughing of
the slaves. While there, we all but Adonijah, came Abiathar, the
priest, and soon it was that all had left the place, and only I remained,
not knowing why.
Bath.: Fret not, my noble son, but be thou wise. Those breth¬
ren of thine are not as favorable toward thee as they might be, and
well know I why. But hark thee, thou wilt come into thine own
some day, and then
5
Sol. : Then, I trust I shall act wisely then, for I am young, and
they my elders are.
Bath. : Aye, thou art already wise, and more shall be. But
here comes Nathan, the prophet, on business bent. Perhaps he can
explain. But give him room.
Sol. : Aye, mother, dear, yet, ere I go, I hear my sire is resting
well, hast thou heard?
Bath. : Oh, yes, with that fair damsel so he must, what man
would not ? Aye, I was once young and pleased him. But, be thou
gone, the man of God appears.
Exit Solomon. Enter Nathan.
Nath.: Hail, daughter of Israel and mother of the future
king. In Jehovah's name I come to seek thee this day.
Bath. (making a seat ready for him) : Aye, holy one of God,
and in whose other name couldst thou seek me this day ? Surely some
important project draws thee from thy seclusion. Pray make it
known to me now.
Nath.: Aye, and it is indeed important that the mother of
Solomon should know the things that occur right around her, espec¬
ially when they strike her own interests. Heardest thou?
Bath. : Heard I ? Solomon, my noble boy, tells me my lord, the
king, his sire, is better today. What pray thee, is he so suddenly
worse ?
Nath.: Ah, no, not the king: he I too, learn has had a peaceful
time. But, dost not thou know of treason in the land? Dost thou
not know that Absalom again walks in the body of his brother, Adon-
ijah? Knowest thou not that he hath even now called all but Zadok,
Benaiah, Shimei, Rei, Solomon and myself to En-rogel where he
this day makes a feast, and to the army and people proclaims himself
king? Seest thou not that if this succeeds, we who are not invited
shall lose our own lives, and God's cause shall also be defeated?
Bath. : This, O holy man of God, is indeed bad news thou
bringest. It explains the story of Solomon, my noble son, of his
treatment at the royal baths.
Nath.: And so soon have they begun?
Rath. : Oh, no, only came Abiathar while they were together
except Adonijah, and mysteriously drew his brethren away from him
and left him all alone, not knowing where they went.
Nath.: Ha! seest thou? Even the high priest giveth his aid,
and Joab, the king s tried friend, yet as false as Hades, casts his hand
with this rebellious son. Treason, O treason, thou are the seed of
Absalom!
Bath.: What shall we do? Despite the promise made me by
the king, the nation even now, and always has looked to this Adoni¬
jah as the heir. What shall we do?
6
Nath.: The promise of the ting thou hast, go to him now,
tell him what now takes place, tell him that even thou and Solomon,
thy son, shall surely be slain if this conspiracy succeeds. Thy life
and Solomon's and God's own cause demand thy action. Go! and
I shall come ere thou leavest the king, confirming all that thou hast
said to him.
Bath.: I go, although I know I shine no more as queen within
his sight, that one younger by far, and fairer still doth lie upon his
breast: yet will I go and plead with him my cause, my cause and
Solomon's.
Nath.: Wise mother of a wiser son, thou doest well. Behold
I leave thee. Zadok, Benaiah, Shimei and Rei are without. We
shall stand by thee, and above it all, is the God of Abraham. He
will his aid bestow. Strengthen thine heart and go before the king.
Bath. : O holy man of God, I go, although it be the last act
I perform, I go, I go!
Nath.: I shall meet thee at the throne. Till then, good bye!
Exit Nathan. Bathsheba sings.
The Song.
God of my fathers, hear my plea,
At this hour give strength to me,
Go before, prepare the way,
Success give to me, I pray.
Bring me to thy servant's throne ,
Help me to make my wishes known,
Open thou his heart to me,
So that he may hear my plea.
In thy strength alone I go,
The result I cannot know;
But as it best suiteth thee,
God of my fathers, hear thou me.
CURTAIN.
SCENE II.—Porch of the royal palace. Servants of David
lounging about. Benaiah, Rei and Smimei are among them.
Benaiah (to Shemei and Rei aside) : I for one will not support
any such project. Has it not been known all along that the young¬
est son of David would succeed him? Why will Adonijah thus act?
Shimei: Ah, brother, 'tis the poison generated by indulgent pa¬
rents. My lord, hath, as the case of Absalom, yielded too much to
the selfish whims of his eldest son, and nursed in him the idea 'till
the coming of the younger: now, I fear it is too late, and treason fills
the air.
7
Rei: In truth it fills the air, but are not the people loyal? They
but wait to hear what my Lord, the king, shall say. Some one should
tell him this.
Shimei: But who, who of the king's servants, save of the royal
house, would dare accuse the king's son of treason?
Rei: And do we indeed stand helplessly looking on upon the
scene of treason, blood shed and destruction? I smell blood even
now—O house of Judah, O house of Judah! lift high the sceptre, let
it not depart!
Enter Zadok, the Priest.
Benaiah: Whence, holy father, seekst thou the king?
Zad. : 'Tis not my privilege to seek the king, but God for him
when so he wishes. I wait without, I would I could seek him and
tell him all I know that even now goeth on.
The Three (in concert) : So do we all, so do we all!
Enter and passes on Bathsheba, giving them no heed, but all
prostrate themselves, rising when she disappears.
Ben: And she hath heard, I know from that bowed head I see.
Ha, she is bold enough to seek the king and plead with him his pro¬
mise: may she succeed.
All: Amen! amen! amen!
CURTAIN
SCENE III.—David's Throne Room . David is on the throne,
with Abishag on his left. She strikes the cords of a harp and also
sings softly.
The Song.
Thou art the Lion of Judah,
A great and wondrous king,
The lord of all thy realm,
And this thy people sing:
His is the victory
Over the land and sea,
Where e'er the sun is shining
There shall his power be.
Thine an everlasting kingdom,
Thy power shall not depart,
And even thy foes shall serve thee,
And bow the proudest heart,
Thine is the victory
Over the land and sea,
Where e'er the sun is shining,
There shall thy glory be.
8
Dav. : Fairest queen, thou singest sweetly, very sweetly today.
Is thy song indeed, inspired by the true condition of the realm, is it
thy love for me that causes thee to so sing?
Abish.: Both, O my Lord and king? Thou to thy subjects art
indeed glorious. And my love for thee inspires me to sing the song.
Dav.: And is it indeed true, that I must wait until my old age
to have one as young and fair as thou to interpret my true feeling?
Aye, happy am I, I who have sung my songs alone all these years
have now one who not only can herself sing as I would sing, but who
understands me as none of all my lovely wives before her have under¬
stood. Thy sweet companionship but makes my life the longer. Thy
words are the inspiration of my breath, thy songs the sweet fruit
of mellowness to feed upon. Sing, daughter, sing.
Abish.: And I would always sing, O Lord, my king! my heart
melts in gazing into thine eyes. I tremble often before thy presence,
fortunate, indeed, aye ,highly lifted up, to occupy one smalll space in
thy noble, generous heart. (Sings).
O thou art glorious,
O'er all victorious,
My lord and king;
Wide may thy realm be
O'er all the land and sea,
Thine, too, the victory,
Ever we sing.
Should foes thy walls attack,
Thy power shall drive them back:
Thou shalt prevail.
Nought can thy power arerst,
Nought can thy power arrest,
From thee that power wrest,
Thou canst not fail.
Enter Attendant.
Attend.: Hail, my lord, the king, thy hand maid, her highness
Bathsheba awaits without, and desires audience with my lord, the
king.
Dav. : Ah, yes, Bathsheba, goodly woman, Bathsheba, the moth¬
er of Solomon (to Abishag). Thou knowest she would confer, I
must hear her: wouldst thou leave a space ?
Abish. : Most certainly, my lord, if so the king would will. I
love the king and not my own happiness. Sweet be the conference of
the king with Bathsheba, my sister, the mother of Solomon (aside
ironically). The mother of Solomon.
Exit Abishag.
9
Dav. : (to the attendant) : Bid her enter, the king would au¬
dience give.
Attend. : Aye aye, sire!
Dav. : Good woman, Bathsheba, true to me as any of my wives
have been, and the great wrong I did her and my God shall never
depart from out my memory. What brings her now, no jealous
twang, of this I'm sure. Thankful I am that in the bosom of all my
wives, even of her who has just stepped out, so young and fair, there
is no jealousy.
Enter Bathsheba.
Bath.: Hail, my lord and king, how fares my lord?
Dav. : Ah, better, daughter, may I not now say, far better since
this visit brought by thee. How doest thou ?
Bath. : Ah, my lord and king, out yonder, dull indeed, but here
in thy august presence I can feel again the life and joy I once pos¬
sessed. Yet, O my lord and king, I bring thee news that must be
news to thee.
Dav.: News? Then without further word, this news make
known.
Bath.: O my lord and king, when I was fairer than what I
might be now, when God had given us a second son, didst thou not
swear.by that same God that this same son should sit upon thy throne?
And yet behold, even now Adonijah, the eldest, doth reign. I know
thou knowest it not, yet hath he slain sheep and oxen and proclaimed
a feast, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Joab and Abiathar
to En-rogel, and there even at this moment the proclamation is made,
and the feast is spread. I, thy hand maid, and Solomon, thy son,
Nathan, Zadok and Benaiah, he hath not called. And now, my lord
and king, the eyes of all Israel look to thee to see what thou wilt do.
But hold thy peace, and Israel will feel her duty bound to recognize
thy eldest son as king, and Solomon, thy youngest son is even now
as good as slain. Act thou, O king: thy promise hath been made, a
vow before the Lord. Thou canst not withhold thy hand. Unto
the Lord, thy God, the vow that Solomon, my son, should reign as
king.
Enter Attendant.
Attend.: Hail, my lord, the king! Nathan, the prophet, comes
upon my heels.
Bath. : With my lord, the king's permission, I shall retire with¬
out.
Dav. : There await for further word.
Exit Bathsheba.
10
Enter Nathan.
Nath.: My lord, O king, hast thou said that Adonijah should
reign after thee, that he should sit upon thy throne? Lo, he hath
gone down to the Well of Rogel, this day and slain oxen and fat
cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons and
the captains of the hosts and Abiathar, the priest, and behold, they
eat and say, "God save King Adonijah." But me, even thy servant,
and Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada and thy ser¬
vant, Solomon, hath he not called. Is this thing done by my lord,
the king, and thou hast not made it known unto thy servant as to
who would sit upon the throne of my lord, the king, after him?
Dav. : And this is news beyond my thinking, (aside) O boy, O
boy! to me must be laid thy folly, (to attendant) Call me Bath-
sheba.
Exit attendant and returns with Bathsheba.
(To Bathsheba) : As the Lord liveth that hath redeemed my
soul out of all distresses, even as I swore unto thee by the Lord God
of Israel, saying "Assuredly Solomon, thy son, shall reign after me,
and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead," even so I will certain¬
ly do this day.
Bathsheba (bowing low): Let my lord, King David, live for¬
ever! Full well I knew the king, my lord, would do as he hath pro¬
mised. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless my lord, the
king, and may his name be praised forever and ever.
Dav. : Thank thee, my daughter, go in peace, the mother of
Solomon, my son, the king.
Exit Bathsheba.
(To Attendant) : Call me Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah, the
son of Jehoiada.
Attend.: Aye, aye, sire!
Exit Attendant.
Enter Zadok and Benaiah.
Zadok : My lord, the king, demands our presence.
Dav. : Yea, and an important mission I would you three per¬
form. Know ye the whereabouts of Solomon, my son?
Nath.: O king live forever, we know, for at this hour he sits
by the brook, Kedron, gazing into its placid waters, contemplating
life's mysteries: for thus his wont, although so young he be.
Dav.: Aye, of a contemplative temperment. (To Benaiah)
Well take you the servants of your lord and cause Solomon, my son
to ride upon my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon, and let
Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet annoint him there, king
over Israel. And blow ye the trumpet and say, "God save King
11
Solomon." Then shall ye come up after him, that he may come and
sit upon my thronefor he shall be king in my stead, and I have ap¬
pointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.
Ben. : Amen! The Lord God of my lord, the king, say so too.
As the Lord has been to my lord, the king, even so be he with Solo¬
mon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King
David.
Dav.: Well said, my valiant man! Now, go all of you and do
as I have bidden.
Exit the three and the attendant
Enter Abishag.
Abish. (prostrating herself at the king's feet): O king, my
king! What hast thou done?
Dav. (stroking her head in a fatherly manner) : Only, my daugh¬
ter, that I have sworn to do. But trouble not thyself, for with thee
it shall be well. No harm shall come to thee beloved of the king,
by his hands whom the king appoints in his stead Arise, now, and
be of good cheer.
Abish. : Ah, my lord and king, not that, but to know that the
Sun of Israel must set, to know that on thy throne I shall not see
thee more, that is the crush, that is the crush, indeed! But ere this
taketh place, thy hand, O king, upon thy hand maid's head, thy voice
in blessing on her as a king.
Dav. (his hands resting upon her head, sings.)
The Song.
Sweet is thy spirit, loving more thy heart,
Ne'er would I suffer thee from me to part;
Hard 'twill be to leave thee, thou my happiness,
But ere such befalleth, thee I now shall bless.
Ever, forever, heaven fill thy soul with joy,
Never, O never, aught thy peace destroy.
Angels watch o'er thee, guard thy soul from ill,
In their arms bear thee, be it heaven's will.
Long may thy life be, filled with peace divine
And mayst thou never feel the pain of mine.
Ever, forever, heaven fill thy soul with joy,
Never, O never, aught thy peace destroy.
CURTAIN
12
ACT III.
Scene I.—IVell of Rogel in the distance, where Adonijah makes
merry with his brethren, Joab, etc. Soldiers stand in foreground
on guard
1st Soldier: Fast times, brother, but grand, good times.
2nd Sold.: Yea, fast, indeed, too fast, methinks, and I cannot
tell how good.
3rd Sold.: Nay, I see a cloud arising, let us not rejoice too soon,
lest we shed a tear. Remember Absalom?
4th Sold. : There, Isaiah, thou wouldst not have us forget.
How could I who saw the slaughter on that day? God save Adoni¬
jah from that awful fate.
5th Sold. : But, happily, Joab commands for, and not against in
this.
4th Sold. : And that's the truth. (A shout and flourish of a
trumpet heard.)
(They listen. Joab comes forward, followed by Adonijah and
the rest.)
Joab.: Ho, guard, what meaneth this noise?
Adon. : Yea, my valiants, what doth it mean indeed?
Enter Jonathan, saluting the prince.
Ha, my good fellow, thou art a valiant one, what meaneth this
noise in the city? Pray, thy story tell, bringest thou good tidings?
Jon.: Be that as it may, O Prince, but know ye all that this
day hath my lord, Prince Solomon, been annointed king of Israel,
and at this hour rideth upon the ass of my lord, King David, while
Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and all the people shout,
"God save King Solomon."
Joab: Annointed king of Man, thou liest! Mindest thou,
here standeth the king!
Jon.: As the Lord God liveth, I speak the truth, (More shout¬
ing), even as yon shouting testifieth.
One of the Sons of David to the Rest: Let us to our homes,
O brethren lest ill befall our heads.
Joab: And would you leave your father's son, the rightful king?
One of the Sons: He alone is rightful king, upon whose head
our father puts the crown. To our homes, O brethren, to our homes!
Exit brethren
Joab (calling after them): Would ye thus desert the cause?'
Adon.: Ah, hold thy peace, O man of war, save, too, thyself,
our cause is lost. I struggle not but to the altar go.
Abiathar: O noble Prince, what now must Israel lose?
13
AdOn. : Thyself, O Priest if thou art not begone.
Noise of approaching populace. Cries of "God save King Solomon.
To the Soldiers: Fly worthies, fly, be not mixed up in this,
they come, they came!
Exit all in an opposite direction.
Enter a large company singing—
God save King Solomon,
Long may he reign
O'er all victorious
From main to main.
May peace and wisdom rule
Throughout his day
May love and mercy e'er
Attend his way.
CURTAIN.
SCENE II.—Throne Room. David on the throne. Solomon
to his right and Bathsheba to his left. Sons of the king about the
throne, all except Adonijah. Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, Shemei, Rei,
etc., with soldiers and civilians.
David: Hear ye, O Princes and Captains of hosts and people
of Israel! I, your king, by the act of Jehovah, called from the sheep-
fold to the Throne of Israel, am about to surrender my sceptre to
another, whom God hath chosen in my stead. But, before I do final¬
ly this thing I have in purpose a solemn charge to make. Ye do
know that I had in my heart to build a house unto the Lord. I could
not rest to dwell myself in a house and have the Lord abide in a tent.
But the Lord revealed unto me through Nathan, the Prophet, that
I should not build Him a house, but there would be a son born unto
me to build Him an house, who should reign after me, and his reign
would be one of peace. So the Lord gave unto me this son, and re¬
vealed that I should call his name Solomon, because he it was of all
mv sons, that should build the house and be upon my throne to reign
after me. I have called you this day to make known unto you that
I have laid up in my treasuries means for the building of the house,
whatsoever there may be lacking, charge you to assist Solomon, my
son, in the supplying thereof. Let your hands be open unto the
Lord, your God, O ye Mighty, such as becometh you to give unto
the Lord, that there be no lacking in the building and the maintenance
of His house. I have provided all plans for the same, and see that
there be skilful and cunning workmen to work out all the devices
that enter into the building of God's house, for it is a House unto
the Lord, and there must be no lack either in skill or labor unto the
14
Lord. And now I charge you all, ye mighty men and captains, sub¬
mit to the rule of the Lord's annointed, my son, Solomon, whom the
Lord hath chosen in my stead, and serve him loyally, that the Lord
may bless you and subdue all your foes under you, and make you a
great people. For He hath promised to establish his kingdom for¬
ever, if he be constant to do the commandments and judgments of the
Lord, his God. Now, therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the con¬
gregation of the Lord, and in the audience of God, keep and seek
all the commandments of your God, that ye may possess this goodly
land and have it for an inheritance for your children after you. (To
Solomon) And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy
father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind,
for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imagina¬
tions of the thoughts. If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee,
if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off. Take heed, now, for
the Lord hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary, be
strong and do it. (Gives Solomon the pattern, etc.)
One of the Princes of Benjamin: O King, mv lord, I
pledge unto thee the support of the tribe of Benjamin in all that is
in thine heart, to give liberally in the building of this house unto the
Lord.
Chorus of Voices: So do we all of us. So do we all. May
the plans of the king prosper in the hands of Solomo11, who shall
reign after him.
A Captain from the Tribe of Gad: O King, my lord, I but
voice the sentiment of my brethren here that Solomon, my lord, thy
son, be reconsecrated king over all Israel in the sight of all this hosts.
Chorus of Voices : So say we all of us. So say we all!
David: It is well and good. And in the consecration of Solo¬
mon, it is but fitting to consecrate a High Priest, the office of which
is declared vacant because of an act of treason. I therefore, appoint
Zadok HigK Priest in Abiathar's stead.
Zadok: O King, my lord, I thank thee! May Jehovah An-
noint me with His spirit! (bows)
David: Let Nathan, the prophet, come forth and annoint these
chosen of God, Solomon King of Israel and Zadok, Priest of Jehovah.
(Nathan comes forth while Solomon and Zadok kneel. He an-
noints Solomon.)
Chorus of Voices: God save King Solomon.
(Zadok is annointed. The people sing led by David.)
15
THE SONG.
Now bless the Lord, your God,
Ye people of his choice,
Praise ye his Name with lifted hand
And lifted heart and voice.
Let all the nations know,
The Lord is on our side,
No power on earth but His can move,
No schemes of men divide.
Long as the stars endure,
Long as the earth shall move,
His chosen kingdom shall exist,
The marks of all his love.
(David vacates the Throne Chair, takes the crown from his
>roiv and hands it to Nathan, who places it upon the head of Solo-
non, still kneeling. Solomon and Zadok arise, he is escorted to. the
Throne Chair by Nathan and the High Priest.)
Chorus of Voices : God save King Solomon, long may he reign!
The Brethren of Solomon (bowing before him)'. God save
□ng "Solomon!
Solomon : Behold, all of my brethren are with me but the eld-
st, where is he?
Ben. :• Behold, O my lord, the King, he hath fled to the Taber-
acle, and clingeth close to the Horns of the Altar, and will not let
o until thou grant him pardon.
Sol: He is my brother. If he will prove himself worthy, no
arm shall come to him.
Chorus of Voices: God save and bless King Solomon, great
nd noble heart, full of wisdom, love and mercy! (Sing).
Song.
Solomon, the good, the great, the wise
Long be thy glorious reign!
O may the sun forever rise,
Nor set on thy domain.
May nations from the north and south,
The eas1" and glorious west,
Seek wisdom from thy gracious mouth,
And bow at thy behest.
CURTAIN.
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