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DAVID 
 
 A TRAGEDY 
 
 BY 
 
 CALE YOUNG RICE 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR 
 
 Charles Di Tocca 
 
DAVID 
 
 A TRAGEDY 
 
 BY 
 
 GALE YOUNG RIGE 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. 
 
 M C M I V 
 
Two hundred and fifty copies of this book have been 
 
 printed at the McClure Press, of which 
 
 this is No. idLi 
 
 •ft 3 
 
 5^ 
 
 < 
 
 t-'^^'io'^ 
 
 LiBBAKV nf CONGRESS 
 Two Gooies Received 
 
 MAY 9 1904 
 
 / r, CooyrlKht Entrv 
 
 CLASS 
 
 COPY B 
 
 XXo. No. 
 
 Copyright, 1904, by 
 McClube, Phillips & Co. 
 
 Published May, 1^04. N. 
 
AFFECTIONATELY 
 
 TO MY BROTHER 
 
 LACY L. RICE 
 
ACT I 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 SAUL King of Israel. 
 
 JONATHAN .... Heir to the throne. 
 
 ISHUI His brother. 
 
 SAMUEL The Prophet of Israel. 
 
 ABNER Captain of the Host of Israel. 
 
 DOEG An Edomite; Chief Servant of Saul, 
 
 and suitor for Michal. 
 
 ADRIEL A lord of Meholah, suitor for Merab. 
 
 DAVID A Shepherd, secretly anointed King. 
 
 ABISHAI A follower of David. 
 
 ABIATHAR .... A Priest and follower of David. 
 
 A PHILISTINE SPY. 
 
 AHINOAM .... The Queen. 
 
 MERAB .... ] ^ , ro ^ 1 At-- 
 
 i..rx^xx » T ^ Daughters oi baul and Ahinoam. 
 
 MICHAL . . . . j ^ 
 
 MIRIAM A blind Prophetess, and later the 
 
 "Witch of Endor." 
 JUDITH . . . . ^ 
 
 LEAH V Timbrel-players of the King. 
 
 ZILLA j 
 
 ADAH Handmaiden to Merab. 
 
 A Chorus of Women. A Band of Prophets. Followers of David. 
 Soldiers of Saul. People of the Court, etc. 
 
 Ivi] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ACT I 
 
 SCENE : A Hall of judgment in the palace of Saul at Gibe ah. 
 The walls y pillars and ceiling are of cedar richly carven with 
 images of serpents, pomegranates and cherubim in gold. The 
 floors are of bright marble ; the throne of ivory , hung with a 
 lion's skin whose head is its footstool. On the right and left, 
 doors y draped with finely woven curtains of purple and white, 
 lead to other portions of the palace. Seats toward the front. 
 Lamps burn low. 
 
 The Hall, supported on pillars, is open along the back, where 
 a Porch, surrounding the Court of the palace, crosses. Through 
 the Porch, on the environing hills, glow the camp-fires of the 
 Philistines, the enemies of Israel. 
 
 JUDITH, LEAH and ZILLA are reclining restively on 
 the fioor of the Hall. 
 JUDITH 
 
 [Springing to her feet impatiently.'] 
 O for a feast! pomegranate wine and song! 
 LEAH 
 
 Oh ! oh ! 
 ZILLA 
 
 A feast indeed I the men in camp ! 
 
 [■J 
 
DAVID 
 
 When was a laugh or any leaping here? 
 Never; and none to charm with timbreling! 
 [•S^^ goes to the porch.lj^ 
 LEAH 
 
 What shall we do? 
 JUDITH 
 
 I'll dance. 
 ZILLA 
 
 Until you're dead, 
 JUDITH 
 
 Or till a youth wed Zilla for her beauty ? 
 I'll not soil mine with sullen fear all day 
 Because these Philistines press round. As well 
 Be wenches gathering grapes or wool ! Come, Leah. 
 [She prepares to dance. ^ 
 LEAH 
 
 No, Judith, I'll put henna on my nails. 
 And mend my anklet. 
 [She sits down.^ 
 ZILLA 
 
 [At the curtains. '\ Oh! oh, oh! 
 JUDITH 
 
 Now hear her ! 
 Who, who, now ? who, who is it ? dog, fox, devil ? 
 ZILLA 
 
 All! 
 JUDITH 
 
 Then 'tis Ishui! [Bounding to curtains.'] Yes, Ishui! 
 And fury in him, sallow, sour fury ! 
 A jackal were his mate ! Come, come, we'll plague him. 
 
DAVID 
 
 ZILLA 
 
 And too — with David whom he hates ! 
 
 JUDITH 
 
 Aie, David! 
 
 A joy to rouse men up to jealousy ! 
 LEAH 
 
 Why hates he David, Zilla? 
 
 ZILLA 
 
 Stupid Leah! 
 JUDITH 
 
 Hush, hush, be meet and ready now; he's near. 
 Look as for silly visions and for dreams 1 
 
 \They pose themselves. Ishui enters — sees them. 'Judith sighs ?^ 
 ISHUI 
 
 Now timbrel-gaud, why gaping here ! 
 
 JUDITH 
 
 O! 'tis 
 Prince Ishui! 
 ZILLA 
 
 Prince Ishui! Then he 
 Will tell us ! he will tell us ! 
 
 LEAH 
 
 Yes! 
 JUDITH 
 
 Of David ! 
 
 O is he come ! when, where, quick, quick, and will 
 He pluck us ecstasies out of his harp. 
 Winning until we're wanton for him, mad, 
 And sigh and laugh and weep to the moon ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 Low thing! 
 
 [3] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ChafFof the king! 
 JUDITH 
 
 The king ! I had not thought ! 
 David a king! how beauteous would he be ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 David ? 
 JUDITH 
 
 Turban of sapphire ! robe of gold ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 A king ? o'er Israel ? 
 JUDITH 
 
 Who, who can tell ! 
 Have you not heard? Yesterday in the camp 
 Among war-old but fearful men he offered 
 Kingly to meet Goliath — great Goliath ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 What do you say? to meet Goliath? 
 JUDITH 
 
 [Laug/img in his face. \ Aie! 
 \He thrusts her from him. She goes dancing with 
 Zilla and Leah.l 
 ADRIEL 
 
 [^ho has entered^ Ishui, in a rage ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Should I not be! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Not would you be yourself. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Not ? [Deftfy.] You say well. 
 I should not, no. Pardon, then, Adriel. 
 
 [4l 
 
DAVID 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 What was the offence? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Turn from it. — I have not 
 Bidden you here for vapours ; yet they had 
 Substance as well for you ! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 For me? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Who likes 
 Laughter against him ! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 I was laughed at? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Why, 
 It is this shepherd! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 David? 
 ISHUI 
 
 With his harp ! 
 Flinging enchantment on the palace air 
 Till he impassions to him all who breathe. 
 ADRIEL 
 
 What sting from that? He's lovable and brave. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Lovable ? Lovable ? 
 ADRIEL 
 
 I do not see. 
 ISHUI 
 
 This then : you've hither come with gifts and gold, 
 
 Ls] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Dream-bringing amethyst and weft of Ind, 
 
 To wed my sister, Merab ? 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 It is so. 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 And you've the king's consent ; but she denies ? 
 ADRIEL 
 
 As every wind, you know it. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Still denies! 
 
 And you, lost in the maze of her, fare on 
 
 Blindly and find no reason for it ! 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 How? 
 What reason can be? women are not clear; 
 And least unto themselves. 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Or to their fools. 
 \He goes to curtains and draws out Adah.^ 
 Your mistress, Merab, girl, whom does she love? 
 Unclench your hands. 
 ADAH 
 
 I hate her. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Insolent ! 
 Answer; I am not milky Jonathan. 
 Answer; and for the rest — You hear? 
 ADAH 
 
 She loves — 
 The shepherd David ! 
 
 [6] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Who, girl? 
 ADAH 
 
 I care not! 
 
 She is unkind; I will not spy for her 
 On Michal, and I'll tell her secrets all! 
 And David does not love her — and she raves. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Off to your sleep ; now off — 
 \^Makes to strikes her.^ 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Ishui, no. 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 And see you now how * lovable * he is ! 
 I tell you that he stands athwart us all ! 
 The heart of Merab swung a censer to him. 
 My seat at table with the king usurped ! 
 Mildew and mocking to the harp of Doeg, 
 As it were any slave's ; the while we all 
 Are lepered with suspicion. 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Of the king ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Ah ! and of Jonathan and Michal. 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Hush. 
 
 Rnter Michal passing with Miriam. 
 Michal, delay. Whom lead you ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Miriam, 
 
 [71 
 
 [Adah goes.^ 
 
DAVID 
 
 A prophetess. 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 How of the king to-night ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 He's not at rest ; dreads Samuel's prophecy 
 
 The throne shall pass from him, and darkens more 
 
 Against this boundless Philistine Goliath 
 
 Who dares at Israel daily on the hills. 
 
 As we were dogs ! 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Is David with him ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 No; 
 
 But he is sent for — and will ease him — Ah! 
 He's wonderful to heal the king with his harp ! 
 A waft, a sunny leap of melody, 
 And swift the hovering mad shadow's gone — 
 As magic ! 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Michal Curst! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 What anger's this ? 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Disdaining Doeg and his plea to dust. 
 
 His waiting and the winning-o'er of Edom, 
 
 You are enamoured of this David too ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 I think my brother Ishui hath a fever. 
 [S^e goes — calmly y with Miriam?^ 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Now are you kindled — are you quivering, 
 
 [8] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Or must this shepherd put upon us more? 
 ADRIEL 
 
 But has he not dealt honorably ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 No. 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Why do you urge it? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Why have senses. He 
 With Samuel the prophet fast enshrouds 
 Some secret, and has Samuel not told 
 The kingdom from my father shall be rent 
 And fall unto another ? 
 ADRIEL 
 
 You are certain ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 As granite. 
 
 [Voices are heard in altercation.^ 
 Yonder ! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 The king ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 And Samuel 
 With prophecy or some refusal tears him ! 
 
 [They step aside. Saml followed by Samuel strides 
 in and mounts the throne.^ 
 SAUL 
 
 You threat, and ever thunder threatening ! 
 Pour seething prophesy into my veins. 
 Till a simoon of madness in me moves. 
 
 [9] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Am I not king, the king ? chosen and sealed ? 
 
 Who've been anathema and have been bane 
 
 Unto the foes of Israel, and filled 
 
 The earth vi'ith death of them ? 
 
 And do you still forbid that I bear gold 
 
 And bribe away this Philistine array 
 
 Folded about us, fettering w^ith flame ? 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Yes, — yes ! While there is air, and awe of Heaven 
 
 Do I forbid ! A champion must rise 
 
 To level this Goliath. Thus may we 
 
 Loose on them pest of panic and of fear. 
 SAUL 
 
 Are forty days not dead ? A champion ! 
 
 None will arise — 'tis vain. And I'll not wait 
 
 On miracle. 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Offer thy daughter then, 
 
 Michal, thy fairest, to whoever shall. 
 SAUL 
 
 Demand and drain for more ! without an end. 
 
 Ever vexation ! No ; I will not. 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Then, 
 
 Out of Jehovah and a vast foreseen 
 
 I tell thee again, thou perilous proud king, 
 
 The sceptre shall slip from thee to another! 
 [He moves to go?^ 
 SAUL 
 
 The sceptre .... 
 
 [lo] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAMUEL 
 
 To another ! 
 SAUL 
 
 From me ! No ! 
 You rouse afar the billowing of ill. 
 I grant — go not ! — I grovel to your will. 
 Fear it and fawn as to omnipotence, 
 
 ^Snatching at Samuel's mantle^ 
 And vow to all its divination — all ! 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Then, Saul of Israel, the hour is near. 
 When shall arise one, and Goliath fall ! 
 
 [Samuel goes slowly out, Saul sinks back^ 
 ISHUI 
 
 Oh, — subtle ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Thus he sways me. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Subtle ! — subtle ! 
 
 And yet I must not speak ; come, Adriel, 
 No use of us here. 
 
 \Iie makes as if to go\ 
 SAUL 
 
 Use .? subtle .? Stand ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 No, father, no. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 What mean you? 
 ISHUI 
 
 Do not ask. . . . 
 Yet how it creeps, and how ! 
 
 [■•1 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Unveil your words. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Do you not see it crawl, this serpent scheme ? 
 Goliath slain — the people mad with praise, 
 
 Then fallen from you — Michal the victor's wife 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Say on ; say on. 
 ISHUI 
 
 Or else the champion slain — 
 Fear on the people — panic — the kingdom's ruin! 
 SAUL 
 
 Now do the folds slip from me. 
 ISHUI 
 
 And you see ? 
 Ah then, if one arise ? If one arise ? 
 SAUL 
 
 Death, death ! If he hath touched this prophet — if 
 Merely a little moment! — 
 ISHUI 
 
 I have seen 
 Your David with him. 
 SAUL 
 
 Death! if — Come here : David ? 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 In secret. 
 SAUL 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Say you? 
 
 Yes, 
 
 [12] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 The folds slip further ; 
 To this you lead me — hatred against David ! 
 To this with supple envy's easy glide ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 I have but told — 
 SAUL 
 
 You have but builded lies. 
 As ever you are building and forever. 
 I'll hear no more against him — Abner — No. 
 
 [To Abner, w/io enters.^ 
 David, and with his harp. 
 ABNER 
 
 My lord — 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Not come ? 
 
 He is not come ? And never ! but delays. 
 
 ABNER 
 
 Time's yet to pass. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 There is not — Am I king? 
 
 \A harp is heard.] 
 See you, 'tis he! 'Tis David, and he sings ! 
 DAVID [Bravely, within] 
 
 Smiter of hosts. 
 Terrible Saul ! 
 Vile on the hills shall he laugh who boasts 
 None is among 
 Great Israel's all 
 Fearless for Saul, king Saul ! 
 
 [■3] 
 
DAVID 
 
 [Entering with people of the palace\ 
 Aye, is there none 
 Galled of the sting, 
 Will at the soul of Goliath run ? 
 Wring it and up 
 To his false gods fling ? . . . 
 None for the king, the king ? 
 VHe drops to his knee, amid praise, before the throne?^ 
 SAUL [Darkening] 
 
 Forego this praise and stand 
 Away from him; 'tis overmuch. 
 
 [To David] Why have 
 
 You dallied and delayed ? 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord, delayed ? 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Do not smile wonder, mocking ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Why, my lord, 
 I do not mock. Only the birds have wings. 
 Yet on the vales behind me I have left 
 Haste and a swirling wonderment of air. 
 And in the torrent's troubled vein amaze. 
 So swift I hurried hither at your urgence 
 Out of the fields and folding the far sheep ! 
 SAUL 
 
 You have not ; you have dallied. 
 
 [He motions. All go but David, whom he 
 comes down toward, indeterminately .] 
 
 You have dallied. 
 
 [>4] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Deep in the king I see a darkness foam 
 
 And sheeted passion, as a lightning gust. 
 
 Shall I not play to him ? 
 SAUL 
 
 You shall not, no. 
 \^S lowly draws a dagger ^^ 
 
 V\\ not be lulled. 
 DAVID 
 
 Is it a tiger gleam, 
 
 Terrible fury stealing from the heart 
 
 And crouching cold within the eye of Saul ? 
 SAUL 
 
 I'll not endure. They say that you — 
 DAVID 
 
 They say ? 
 
 What is this ravage in you. Does the truth 
 
 So limpid overflow in palaces ? 
 
 Never an enemy to venom it ? 
 
 Am I not David, faithful, and thy friend ? 
 SAUL 
 
 I'll slay you, and regretless. 
 DAVID \Unmovmg] 
 
 Slay, my lord ? 
 SAUL 
 
 Do you not fear ? and brave me to my breast ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Have I done wrong that I should fear the king? 
 
 Reed as I am, could he not breathe and break? 
 
 And I should be oblivion at a word ! 
 
DAVID 
 
 But under the terror of his might have I 
 Not seen his heart beat justice and beat love ? 
 See, even now . . . . ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 I will not listen to them ! 
 DAVID 
 
 To whom, my lord, and what ? 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Ever they say, 
 
 " This David," and " this David !" 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Ah, my harp ! 
 SAUL 
 
 But think you, David, I shall lose the kingdom ? 
 DAVID [Starting] 
 
 My lord . . . . ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Pain in your eyes ? you think it ? Deem 
 
 I cannot overleap this destiny ? 
 DAVID 
 
 To that let us not verge ; it has but ill. 
 
 Deeper the future gulf is for our fears. 
 
 Forget it. Forget the brink may ever gape. 
 
 And wield the throne so well that God himself 
 
 Must not unking you, more than he would cry 
 
 The morning star from Heaven ! Then, I swear it. 
 
 None else will ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Swear ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Nay, nay ! 
 
 [.6] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 You swear ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 But words, 
 
 Foolishly from the heart ; a shepherd speech ! 
 
 Give them no mood ; but see, see yonder fires 
 
 Camping upon the peace of Israel, 
 
 As we were carrion beneath the sun ! 
 
 Let us conceive annihilation on them. 
 
 Hurricane rush and deluging and ruin. 
 SAUL 
 
 Ah, but the prophecy ! the prophecy ! 
 
 It eats in me the food of rest and ease. 
 
 And David, nearer : Samuel in my stead 
 
 Another hath anointed. 
 DAVID 
 
 Saul, not this ! 
 
 This should not fall to me, my lord ; no more ! 
 
 You cannot understand; it pains beyond 
 
 All duty and enduring! 
 SAUL 
 
 Pains beyond . . . . ? 
 
 Who is he ? know you of him ? do you ? know you ? 
 
 You sup the confidence of Samuel ? 
 
 I'll search from Nile to Nineveh — 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Mountain and desert, wilderness and sea. 
 Under and over, search — and find. 
 
 ['7] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Peace, peace ! 
 
 Enter Michal joyously. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 O father, father ! David ! Listen !— Why, 
 All here is dark and quivering as pain. 
 And a foreboding binds me ere I breathe ! 
 David, you have not been as sun to him ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 But Michal will be now. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Child, well, what then ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Father, a secret ! Oh, and it will make 
 
 Dawn and delight in you ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Perhaps; then, well? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Oh, I have heard. . . . ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Have heard ? — Why do you pale ? 
 
 \^She stands unaccountably moved.^ 
 
 Now are you Baal-bit ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 
 MICHAL [In terror.] 
 
 David ! . . . the dread. 
 What does it mean ? I cannot speak ! It shrinks 
 Shivering down upon my heart in awe ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 So piteous are you ? suddenly so numb ? 
 
 [i8] 
 
DAVID 
 
 And you are faint ? let it rush from your lips ! 
 Can any moving in the world so bring 
 Terror upon you ! Speak, what is it ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Ah! 
 
 I know not ; danger rising and its wing 
 Sudden against my lips ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 To warn ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 It shall not! 
 
 There — now again flows joy ; I think it flows. 
 SAUL 
 
 Then — you have heard . . . ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yes, father, yes I Have you 
 
 Not much desired discovery of whom 
 
 Samuel hath anointed ? 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Well? 
 MICHAL 
 
 I've found 
 
 [David blenches?^ 
 
 Almost have found ! A prophetess to-day 
 
 Hath told me that he is a — 
 
 [ She stops in realizing horror.'\ 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Now you cease ? 
 
 Sudden and senseless ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 David ?-^No ! 
 
 [19] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 God ! God ! 
 Have I not bidden swiftly ! Ever then 
 Vexation ! I could — No. Will she not speak ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 I cannot. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Cannot ! Are you flesh of me ! 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord, not anger ! Hear me . . . 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Cannot ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Hear! 
 
 Her lips could never seal upon a wrong. 
 
 Sudden divinity is on them, silence 
 
 Sent for the benison of Israel, 
 
 Else were it shattered by her love to you ! 
 
 Believe ! in all the riven realm of duty 
 
 There's no obedience from thee she would hold. 
 
 If it seem other — 
 
 Enter Abner hurriedly. 
 
 ABNER 
 
 Pardon, O king. At once ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 I will not. Do you come with vexing too ? 
 ABNER 
 
 The Philistines — some fury is afoot. 
 
 A spy within our gates — and scorns to speak. 
 SAUL 
 
 Conspiracy of silence ! . . . Back to him. 
 
 [Abner goesi\ 
 
 [20] 
 
DAVID 
 
 [To David and Michal.] But you — I'll not forget. 
 
 I'll not forget. 
 
 [Saul goes.'\ 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Forget ! anointing ! peril ! what are they all ! 
 Michal ? — for me you have done this, for me ? 
 
 [Slfe stands immovable.^ 
 I am swung with joy, as palms of Abila ! 
 
 [Goes to herl\ 
 
 A princess, you, and the veins of you live warm 
 
 With sympathy and love unto your father. 
 
 Yet you have shielded me ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 You are the anointed? 
 DAVID 
 
 I am — oh do not flint your loveliness ! — 
 
 I am the anointed, but all innocent 
 
 In will or hope of any envious wrong • 
 
 As lily blowing of blasphemy ! as dew 
 
 Upon it is of enmity ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Anointed ! 
 
 You whom the king uplifted from the fields ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And who am ever faithful to him ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You, 
 
 Whom Jonathan loves more than women love ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Yet reaches not my love to Jonathan ! 
 
 [21] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You — you ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 But, hear me ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You, of all ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 O hear ! 
 
 Of my anointing Jonathan is 'ware. 
 
 Knows it is holy, helpless, innocent 
 
 As dawn or a drift of dreaming in the night ! 
 
 Knows it unsought — out of the skies — supernal — 
 
 From the inspired cruse of Samuel ! 
 
 For Israel it dripped upon me, and 
 
 For Israel must drip until I die ! 
 
 Or till high Gath and Askalon are blown 
 
 Dust on the wind, and all Philistia 
 
 Lie peopleless and still under the stars ! — 
 
 Goliath, then, a laughter evermore ! . . . 
 
 Still, still you shrink ! do you not see, not feel ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 So have you breathed yourself about my heart. 
 
 Even as moon-lit incense, spirit flame 
 
 Burning away all barrier ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 But see! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 And all the world has streamed a rapture in. 
 Till even now my lids from anger falter 
 And the dew falls ! 
 
 [22J 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Restrain ! O do not weep ! 
 Upon my heart each tear were as a sea 
 Flooding it from all duty but the course 
 Of thy delight ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Poor, that 1 should have tears ! 
 Fury were better, tempest ! O weak eyes. 
 When 'tis my father, and with Samuel 
 You creep to steal his kingdom ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! . . . God ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yes, steal it ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Cruel ! fell accusal ! Yes, 
 Utterly false and full of wounding ! 
 
 [Strugglingy then with control.^ Yet, 
 Forgive that even when thy arrows drive 
 Deeper than all the skill of time can draw, 
 
 I spare thee not the furrowed face of pain 
 
 Delirious wings of hope that fluttered up. 
 At last to fall ! 
 
 [Moves to go.'^ 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 David! 
 
 Farewell ! 
 You must not ! 
 
 [23] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Peace to you — peace and joy ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You must not go ! 
 
 [He turns. She sways, then reaches out her 
 arms. As irresistibly they move toward each 
 other. Do EG and Merab appear through 
 the curtains. Michal utters a low cry. 
 They vanish. \ 
 MICHAL 
 
 [In numb affrighi\ Merab and Doeg ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Yet what matter, now ! 
 
 Were it the driven night-unshrouded dead ! 
 Under the firmament is but one need, 
 That you will understand ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 But Merab! ah. 
 
 She's cunning, cold and cruel, and she loves thee ; 
 
 Hath told her love to Ahinoam the queen! 
 
 And Doeg hates thee — since for me he's mad! 
 DAVID 
 
 Be it, his hate, as wild, as wide as winds 
 
 That gather up the desert for their blast. 
 
 Be it as Sheol deep, stronger than stars 
 
 That fling fate on us, and I care not, care not. 
 
 If I am trusted and to Michal truth ! 
 
 Hear, hear me ! for the kingdom, tho 't may come, 
 
 I yearn not, but for you ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 No, no I 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 For you ! 
 
 Since I a shepherd o'er a wild of hills 
 
 First beheld you the daughter of the king 
 
 Amid his servants, leaning, still with noon. 
 
 Beautiful under a tamarisk, until 
 
 All beauty else is dead — 
 MICHAL 
 
 Ah cease ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Since then, 
 
 I have been wonder ecstasy and dream ! 
 
 The molded light and fragrant miracle. 
 
 Body of you and soul, lifted me till 
 
 When you departed — 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 No, you rend me ! 
 DAVID 
 
 I 
 
 Fell thro' infinity of void ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 No more ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Then came the prophet Samuel with anointing ! 
 
 My hope sprung as the sun ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 I must not hear ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Then was I called to play before the king. 
 Here in this hall where cherubim shine out. 
 Where the night silence — 
 
 [25] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 David ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Strung me tense, 
 I waited, shepherd-timid, and you came. 
 You for the king to try my skill ! you, you ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Leave me, ah leave ! I yield ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And often since 
 Have we not swayed and swept thro' happy hours. 
 Far from the birth unto the bourne of bliss ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 And I— 
 
 DAVID 
 
 To-night you did not to the king 
 Reveal my helpless chrism, give me to peril. 
 Say but the reason ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 David ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Speak, O speak ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 And shall I, shall I ? how this prophetess 
 Miriam hath foretold — 
 DAVID 
 
 Some wonder ? speak ! 
 MICHAL [Springing up the throne?^ Hath told I shall 
 
 be queen of Israel ! 
 
 [26] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal, the queen ? the queen ! We two are then 
 
 Yoked of eternity unto this end ! 
 MICHAL [Shrinking downl\ No, no ! horror in me 
 moans out against it ! 
 
 Wed me with destiny against my father ? 
 
 Dethrone my mother ? Ah ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Not that — no wron? ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Then swear conspiracy upon its tide 
 
 Never shall lift you ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Deeper than soul or sea, 
 
 Deep as divinity is deep, I swear. 
 
 If it shall come, the kingdom — 
 MICHAL 
 
 "If! " not "if" 
 
 Surrender this anointing ! Spurn it, say 
 
 You never will be king though Israel 
 
 Kingless go mad for it ! 
 DAVID 
 
 I cannot. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Guile ! 
 DAVID 
 
 I cannot — and I must not. It is holy ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Then must I hate you — scorn you — 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 
 [27] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 And will. 
 
 But to reign over Israel you care. 
 Not for the peace of it 1 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Thus all is vain ; 
 
 A seething on the lips, Til say no more . . . 
 
 Care but to reign and not for Israel's calm ? 
 
 I who am wounded with her every wound ? . . . 
 
 Look out upon yon Philistine bold fires 
 
 Lapping the night with bloody tongue — look out ! 
 
 [A commotion is heard within.^ 
 As God has swung the world and hung forever 
 The infinite in awe, to-morrow night 
 Not one of them shall burn ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You pall me! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 None ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 What is this strength! It seizes on me ! No, 
 ril not believe, no, no, more than I would 
 From a boy's breath or the mere sling you wear 
 A multitude should flee ! And you shall learn 
 A daughter to a father may be true 
 Tho paleness be her doom until she die ! 
 
 \She turns to go. Enter Jonathan eagerly^l 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 David ! 
 
 [28] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 My friend — my Jonathan ! 'Tis you ? 
 
 [T/iey embrace, Michal goes^ 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Great heart, I've heard how yesterday before 
 The soldiers you . . . But Michal gone ? No word ? 
 DAVID 
 
 The anointing. 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Ah, she knows? 
 DAVID 
 
 All. 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 And disdains 
 Believing? tell me. 
 DAVID 
 
 No, not now — not now. 
 
 Let me forget it in a leap of deeds. 
 
 Vthe commotion sounds again.^ 
 And all this murmur misty of distress. 
 What is it? sprung of the Philistines? new terror? 
 This sounding giant flings again his foam? 
 Jonathan, I am flame that will not wait. 
 What is it? I must strike. 
 JONATHAN 
 
 David .... 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Tell me. 
 
 And do not bring dissuasion more, or pause. 
 JONATHAN 
 
 The king comes here. 
 
 [29] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Now ? 
 
 With a spy who keeps 
 
 Then is peril up ! 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Fiercely to silence. 
 DAVID 
 
 Jonathan — ! 
 JONATHAN 
 
 David, you must cool from this. 
 
 Determination surges you o'erfar. 
 
 I will not see you rush on perishing. 
 
 Not though it be the aid of Israel. 
 DAVID 
 
 I must. . . .1 will not let them ever throng. 
 
 Staining the hills, and starving us from peace. 
 
 Rather the last ray living in me, rather 
 
 Death and the desecration of the worm. 
 
 Bid me not back with love, nor plea ; I must ! 
 JONATHAN 
 
 But think — 
 DAVID 
 
 I must. 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 DAVID 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 The madness of it ! 
 DAVID 
 
 *Twere futile 
 
 Hear ; the king 1 
 
 No, and see ; they come. 
 [3°] 
 
DAVID 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Strangely my father is unstrung. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 They come. 
 Enter Saul with Samuel; Soldiers with the 
 spy ; Ahinoam with Abner ; and all the 
 court in suppressed dread. 
 SAUL 
 
 \To Samuel] He will not speak, but scorns me, 
 
 and his lips 
 Bitterly curve and grapple. But he shall 
 Learn there is torture to it ! Set him forth. 
 
 S^the spy is thrust forward.^ 
 Tighten his bonds up till he moan. 
 [// is done.^ 
 
 Aye, gasp. 
 Accursed Philistine ! Now wilt thou tell 
 The plan and passion of thy people 'gainst us ? 
 SPY 
 
 Baal! 
 SAUL 
 
 Tighten the torture more Now will you? 
 
 SPY [In agony.] 
 
 Yea! 
 SAUL 
 
 On, then, reveal. 
 SPY 
 
 New forces have arrived. 
 Numberless ; more than peaks of Arabah. 
 [General movement of U7ieasiness.] 
 
 [31] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Unless before to-morrow's moon one's sent 
 
 To overthrow Goliath — Gods ! the pain ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Well ?— Well ? 
 
 SPY 
 
 Then Gibeah attacked, and all 
 
 Even to sucking babes be put to sword ! 
 [yf movement of horror^ 
 AHINOAM 
 
 All Gibeah ! 
 A WOMAN 
 
 My little ones? No, no! 
 \She rushes frantically out.^ 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Then, Saul of Gibeah, one thing and one 
 Alone is to be done. A champion, 
 To break this beetling giant down to death ! 
 SAUL 
 
 There is none. 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Is none ! Call ! I order it. 
 SAUL 
 
 Then who will dare against him ! 
 [^ silence A 
 
 See you now. 
 SAMUEL 
 
 You, Abner, will not ? 
 ABNER 
 
 It were death and vain. 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Doeg, chief servant of the king? 
 
 [32] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Why me? 
 
 Had I a mother out of Israel ? 
 
 I am an alien, an Edomite. 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord, this is no more endurable ! 
 
 Futile and death ? Alien ? Edomite ? 
 
 Has not this Philistine before the gates 
 
 With insult and illimitable breath 
 
 Vaunting of vanity and smiting laughter 
 
 Boasted and braved and threatened up to Baal ? 
 
 And now unless one slay him, Israel 
 
 From babe to age must bleed and be no more ! 
 
 I am a shepherd, have but seized the lion 
 
 And throttled the bleating kid out of his throat ; 
 
 Little it then beseems that I thrust in 
 
 Where battle captains pale and falter off; 
 
 But this is past all carp of rank or station. 
 
 One must go out — Goliath must have end. 
 DOEG 
 
 Ah, ah ! and you will ! 
 ISHUI 
 
 You ? 
 JONATHAN 
 
 No, David ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Tou? 
 DAVID 
 
 Sudden you hound about me ravenous ? 
 
 Have I thrown doom not daring to your feet, 
 
 [33] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Ruler of Israel, that you rise wild. 
 Livid above me as an avalanche ? 
 DOEG 
 
 A plot ! it is a plot ! He will be slain — ■ 
 From you, my lord, dominion then will fall ! 
 Or should it not . . . 
 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Liar ; it is no plot. 
 But courage sprung seraphic out of night. 
 Beautiful and a bravery from God ! 
 MICHAL [Behind the throng.] 
 
 Open, and let me enter ! Open ! 
 
 She enters. 
 
 Father, 
 It is not false ? but now, the uttermost ? 
 To-morrow, if Goliath still exult. 
 There's peril of desolation, bloody ruin ? 
 SAMUEL 
 
 I answer for him ; 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Then to your will. 
 Father, unto will of yesterday 
 I bend me now with sacrificial joy. 
 Unto Goliath's slayer is the hand 
 Of Michal, the king's daughter ! 
 
 DAVID [Joyously] 
 
 Michal ! Michal ! 
 DOEG 
 
 See, see, my lord ! Do you not understand ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 It is another coiling of their plot ! 
 
 [34] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Coiling of plot ? What mean you ? 
 MERAB 
 
 Ah ? You know 
 Not it is David offers against Goliath ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 David ? [^Shrinking] David ? 
 
 \A low tumult is heard without. 
 Enter a Captain hurriedly A 
 CAPTAIN 
 
 O King, bid me to speak ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Then speak ! 
 CAPTAIN 
 
 Fear is upon the host. There will 
 Be mutiny unless, Goliath slain. 
 Courage spring up anew. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord, then, choose! 
 
 Ere longer waiting fester to disaster. 
 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Yea, king of Gibeah, and bid him go. 
 And Michal for his meed! or evermore 
 Evil be on you and the sear of shame — 
 And haunting memory beyond the tomb ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Then let him — let him. And upon the field 
 Of Ephes-Dammin. But I am not blind ! 
 
 [To Abner] 
 Let him, to morrow! Go, prepare the host. 
 
 [35] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Yet — I am king, remember ! I am king ! 
 
 [Saul goes; there is a murmur of relief. All 
 except yiiCYi.A'L follow J with various expres- 
 sions of joy or hate toward David.] 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 
 \She looks at him ; struggles against tears, and 
 turning y goes. David stands gazing sadly 
 after her. Then a trumpet sounds , and sol- 
 diers shouting exultantly without, throng to 
 the porch.^ 
 DAVID [Thrilled; his hand on his sling\ 
 
 For Israel ! For Israel ! 
 VRe goes, toward the soldiers^ 
 
 [curtain.] 
 
 I36I 
 
ACT II 
 
DAVID 
 
 ACT II 
 
 SCENE : The royal tent of Saul pitched on one hill of the battle-field 
 of Ephes-Dammin. The tent is of black embroidered with va- 
 rious warlike designs. To one side on a dais are the chairs of 
 SAUL and AHINOAM ; also DAVID'S harp. On the 
 other sidcy toward the front y is a table with wine and wine-cups. 
 The tent wall is lifted along the back, revealing on the oppo- 
 site hilly across a deep narrow valley, the routed camp of the 
 Philistines : before it in gleaming brazen armor lies GOLIATH 
 slain. Other hills beyond, and the sky above. By the wine 
 table, her back to the battle-field, sits MERAB in cold anger. 
 AHINOAM and several women look out in ecstasy toward 
 DAVID, SAUL, JONATHAN and the army, returning 
 victorious and shouting. 
 
 FIRST WOMAN 
 
 See, see, at last ! 
 SECOND WOMAN 
 
 THIRD WOMAN 
 
 They come! 
 
 An avalanche. 
 Over the brook and bright amid hosannas ! 
 
 [39l 
 
DAVID 
 
 SECOND WOMAN 
 
 And now amid the rushes ! 
 FIRST WOMAN 
 
 And the servants ! 
 Goliath's head high-borne upon a charger ! 
 The rocks that cry reverberant and vast ! 
 The people and the palms ! 
 THIRD WOMAN 
 
 Yea all the branches 
 Torn from the trees ! The waving of them — O ! 
 SECOND WOMAN 
 
 And David, see! triumphant, calm, between 
 The king and Jonathan ! . . . His glory- 
 All the wild generations of the wind 
 Ever shall utter ! Hear them — 
 
 [The tumult ascends afar] David ! David ! 
 A sea of shouting ! — 
 
 O queen! 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 You yearn for it ? 
 Then go and lave you in this tide of joy. 
 
 VT/ie wotnen go rapturously . A h i n o a M turns ^ 
 MERAB 
 
 Mother ! 
 AHINOAM 
 
 MERAB 
 AHINOAM 
 
 My daughter ? 
 
 Well? 
 
 They all are gone. 
 
 [40] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MERAB 
 
 And Michal, where ? 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 I do not know, my child. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Why did my father pledge her to him ! you 
 
 Not hindering! 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 She is your sister. You 
 
 Are pledged to Adriel. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 And as a slave ! 
 
 And if I do not love him there is — riches ! 
 
 If he is Sodom-bitter to me — riches ! 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 But for the kingdom. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 For my torture! What 
 
 Kingdom is to a woman as her love ! 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 And David still enthralls you ? 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Though he never 
 
 Sought me with any murmur or desire ! 
 
 Though he is Michal's for Goliath's death ! 
 
 Michal's to-day, unless — 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 Merab, a care! 
 
 Too near in you were ever love and hate, 
 
 \ne tumult mars. Ahinoam goes to look out\. 
 DoEG enters to Merab 
 
 [41J 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG [low] 
 
 News, Merab ! 
 MERAB 
 
 Well—? 
 
 DOEG 
 
 A triumph o'er him, yet ! 
 The king is worn, as a leopard pent, between 
 Wonder of David and quick jealousy 
 Because of praise this whelming of Goliath 
 Wakes in the people. 
 MERAB 
 
 Then ? the triumph? 
 
 DOEG 
 
 This. 
 \T/ie tumult y nearer.] 
 I've skilfully disposed the women 
 To coldly sing of Saul, but of our David 
 With lavish of ecstasy as to a king. 
 [He watches her^ 
 MERAB 
 
 Then / will praise him 
 DOEG 
 
 David? you? 
 MERAB 
 
 As he 
 Was never — and shalt never be again, — 
 DOEG 
 
 But— 
 MERAB 
 
 Give me the phial. 
 
 [42] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 The poison ? 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Come ; At once ! 
 
 DOEG 
 
 What will you do? 
 
 MERAB 
 
 At once with it ! 
 [He hands it to her. She dips the point of her dag- 
 ger in //.] 
 
 DOEG 
 
 To stab him 
 
 MERAB 
 
 As any fool ? Wait. — And the rest now, quick. 
 This timbrel-player, Judith ? 
 
 DOEG 
 
 She is ready 
 And ravishing ! 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Well, well ; then — ? 
 
 DOEG 
 
 We will send her 
 Sudden, as Michal is alone with David, 
 To seize him with insinuative kisses. 
 And arms that wind as they were wonted to him. 
 Michal once jealous — and already I 
 Have sowed suspicions — 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Will—? yes—? 
 
 [ 43 1 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 On him burst [laughs] 
 And as a fury. 
 MERAB May it be their rending! 
 
 [The tumult, near.'\ 
 Come, we must see. 
 
 [T/iey go to look out. Shouts of " David I ** 
 " David !" arise , and a band of timbrel-play- 
 ers, dancing and singing, followed by a band 
 of priests bearing the ark with its cherubim of 
 gold, pass the tent opening. David, Saul, 
 Jonathan, Ishui and the Court then enter 
 amid acclamations ; before them servants, bear- 
 ing the head of Goliath on a charger under 
 a napkin. Saul darkly mounts the throne 
 with Ahinoam, to waving of palms and to 
 praise?^ 
 A WOMAN [breaking from the throng. '\ 
 
 Our little ones are saved ! hosannah ! joy ! 
 [She kisses David's hand.] 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Woman, thy tongue should know an angel-word. 
 Or seraph-syllables new-sung to God ! 
 Earth has not any rapture well for this ! 
 David, my brother ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Jonathan, my friend ! 
 While life has any love, know mine for you. 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Then am I friended as no man was ever ! 
 
 [44] 
 
DAVID 
 
 And though my soul were morning wide it were 
 Helpless to hold my wonder and delight ! 
 O people, look upon him ! 
 THE PEOPLE 
 
 David ! David ! 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Never before in Israel rose beauty 
 Up to this glory ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Jonathan, nay — 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Never ! 
 
 {Loosing his robe and girdle l\ 
 
 Therefore I pour him splendor passionate. 
 
 In gold and purple, this my own, I clothe him. 
 
 David, my brother ! 
 SAUL [Angered.^ 
 
 Brother ! 
 AHINOAM 
 
 Saul? 
 
 SAUL 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Father ? 
 AHINOAM 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Thou fool ! 
 
 My lord 
 
 Thou full-of-lauding fool ! 
 Of breath and ravishment unceasing ! 
 AHINOAM 
 
 Saul ! 
 
 [45] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Is it not praise enough, has he not reached 
 
 The skies on it ! 
 DAVID 
 
 O king, my lord — 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Had Saul 
 
 Ever so rich a rapture from his son ? 
 
 Ever this worshipping of utterance ? 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord, my lord, this should not fret you. 
 DOEG [Derisively.] 
 
 Nay! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 'Tis only that the soul of Jonathan, 
 Brimmed by the Philistines with bitterness. 
 Sudden is joy and overfloweth — 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Fast— 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Upon his friend, thy servant, David. 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Aie! 
 
 [He turns away laughing^ 
 SAUL 
 
 Why do you laugh ? 
 DOEG 
 
 " Thy servant David ! ** 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Why! 
 
 [46] 
 
DAVID 
 
 A WOMAN \Without:\ 
 
 King Saul has slain his thousands ! 
 
 "Why," my lord? 
 THE WOMAN 
 
 But David his ten thousands ! 
 DOEG 
 
 Do you hear ? 
 King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten ! 
 Thy servant is he ? servant ? 
 DAVID {ro Saul.] 
 
 Shall thy sceptre 
 Be wielded by this venom-word, as is 
 A weed under the wind ? 
 SAUL 
 
 'Tis overmuch ! 
 I'll burst all bond of priest or prophecy. 
 Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear. 
 
 \He seizes a javelin?^ 
 I'll smite where'er I will. 
 DAVID 
 
 No! 
 JONATHAN 
 
 Father ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Shall 
 A rapid palsy now come on thy hand. 
 Awful and sceptre-ruined lord of men? 
 An impotence, a shriveling to fear. 
 Avenging ere thou shed offenceless blood ? 
 [Saul's hand drops.^ 
 
 1 47] 
 
DAVID 
 
 is this thy love, the love of Saul the king ? 
 Who once was kindlier than kindest are. 
 For but a woman's wantonness of word 
 And idle air, my life ? 
 
 AHINOAM 
 
 Saul, Saul — ! 
 JONATHAN 
 
 The shame ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Some enemy — does Doeg curve his lip? — 
 Hath put into her mouth this stratagem 
 Of fevered false-impassioned overpraise. 
 
 [Saul, silent^ rises slowly and goes, entreated of 
 Jonathan. Many follow in doubt , whis- 
 pering.^ 
 DOEG {To David.] 
 
 This is not all, boy out of Bethlehem. 
 Goliath's dead — 
 
 DAVID 
 
 But not all villainy ? 
 [Doeg goeSy flushings — and all follow y except 
 MicHAL, and Merab, who moves cunningly 
 forward as if incensed^ 
 MERAB 
 
 I burn for it! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 For what, and suddenly ? 
 
 MERAB 
 
 My father so ungenerously wroth ! 
 
 And wrought away from recompense so right ; 
 
 Can you forgive him? 
 
 [48 1 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Merab ? . . . 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Is it strange 
 That even / now ask it ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Merab's self? 
 MERAB 
 
 Herself and not to-day your friend ; but now 
 
 Conquered to exaltation and aglow 
 
 To wreathe you for this might to Israel, 
 
 Beautiful, unbelievable and bright ! 
 
 Noble the dawn of it within your dream. 
 
 Noble the lightning of it in your arm, 
 
 And noble in your veins the fearless flow 
 
 And dare of blood ! — so noble that I ask 
 
 As a remembrance and bequest forever. 
 
 In priceless covenant of peace between us, 
 
 A drop of it — 
 
 \^S^e draws her dagger and offers it to him.^ 
 
 Upon this sacred blade. 
 DAVID 
 
 Such kindness, in all honor ? 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Poor requital 
 To one whose greatness humbles me from hate. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Then of my veins whatever drop you will. 
 Were it the very dwelling of my soul. 
 
 [49 J 
 
DAVID 
 
 [He takes the dagger and makes as if to prick 
 himself .\ 
 Ah, but you do not mock me ? 
 MERAB 
 
 Rather upon 
 Its edge one vein of you — than priceless nard. 
 DAVID 
 
 And perfume out of India jewel poured? 
 
 \lie searches her eyes.'\ 
 Or than — I may believe ? — a miracle 
 Of dew, were you a traveller and lost 
 Upon the illimitable desert's thirst? 
 Or than — 
 
 \lle draws his own dagger ^ pricks his wrist with 
 it, and hands it to her^ 
 than this? 
 MERAB 
 
 Shepherd ! 
 
 Under a sham of tribute, poison ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Treachery, then r 
 
 Poison ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And I of vanity should prick it in ? 
 I a mere shepherd innocent of wile ! 
 A singer music-maudled and no more. 
 
 [As she goeSy stung with chagrin.^ 
 The daughter of king Saul has yet to learn. 
 
 [From looking after her , he turns toward M.icnAL, 
 and, sighing, slowly approaches her.^ 
 
 [50] 
 
DAVID 
 
 The vaunting of this victory is done. 
 
 We are alone at last. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yes. 
 DAVID 
 
 That is all ? 
 
 For Israel I've wrought to-day, for you 
 
 Who were about me, in me, as a mist 
 
 Of armed mighty angels triumphing. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yes ? It was well. 
 DAVID 
 
 To you no more? to you 
 
 Whom not a slave can serve unhonored ? 
 MICHAL [Struggling.] 
 
 Nothing. 
 DAVID 
 
 Empty of glow then seems it, impotent, 
 
 A shrivelled hallowing. . . . 
 
 Ashes of ecstasy that burned in vain. 
 MICHAL 
 
 No, no ! I — 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 No, divine it was! 
 
 And had I cried my praise the ground had broke 
 
 To Eden under me with blossoming. 
 
 Where was so wonderful a deed as this. 
 
 So fair a springing of salvation up ! 
 
DAVID 
 
 Glory above star-soaring could I sieze. 
 Auras of dawn and loveliness unfading, 
 To crown you with and crown ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 O lips ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 With but 
 
 A sling, a shepherd's sling, you sped the brook. 
 
 Drew from its bed a stone, and up the hill 
 
 Where the great Philistine contemning cried. 
 
 Mounted and flung it deep upon his brain ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 This is the victory and not his death ! 
 
 Tell, tell thy joy with kisses on my lips ! 
 
 Thy mouth ! thy arms ! thy breast ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 No no ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Thy soul ! 
 
 Too much of waiting and of severance ! 
 
 Of dread and distance and the deep of doubt. 
 
 Now must I fold you, falter all my love 
 
 And triumph on your senses till they burn 
 
 Beautiful to eternity with bliss. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Loose, loose me ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Nay, again ! immortal kisses ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 A frenzy, 'tis a frenzy ! From me ! see ! 
 
 [52] 
 
DAVID 
 
 This irremediable victory 
 
 Over Goliath severs us the more. 
 
 [T/ie tumult breaks again ^ ajar A 
 
 Hear how the people lift you limitless! 
 
 Almost, to-day, and in my father's room 
 
 They would that you were king. 
 DAVID 
 
 But ere to-morrow 
 
 Dim shall I be, and ere the harvest bend 
 
 Less than a gleam in their forgotten peril ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 O were it, were it ! But all silently 
 
 Jehovah fast is beckoning the realm 
 
 Into thy hands. 
 DAVID 
 
 Then futile to resist 
 
 The gliding on of firm divinity. 
 
 And yet whatever may be shall be done. 
 MICHAL 
 
 All, all ? 
 DAVID 
 
 That for thee reverently may. 
 MICHEL 
 
 The anointing, then — 
 DAVID 
 
 Of that ! ... not that ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yet grant 
 
 It may be told my father; that I may 
 
 Say to him all the secret ! 
 
 1 53] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And provoke 
 
 Murder in him, insatiable though 
 
 I fled upon the wilderness and famine ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 He would not ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Nay. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 I'll plead with him. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 In vain ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Then [co/ti/y] it is as I thought. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 You are distraught. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 This stroke to-day \pointing to Goliath's head] 
 no love of me had in it. 
 DAVID 
 
 A love, a passion fervid thro' me as 
 The tread and tremble of immortal song 
 Along the infinite. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You use me ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Use? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 A step to rise and riot in ambition ! 
 DAVID 
 
 So bitter are you , blind ? 
 
 [54] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 It was a trick ! 
 You snared me to you. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Cunningly 
 
 With Samuel netted fears about my father 
 
 Till I am paltrily unto you pledged. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Enough. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Too much. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 No more ; the pledge I fling 
 
 Out of my heart, as 'twere enchantment dead. 
 
 And free you ; but, no more. 
 
 [He moves from her.\ 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 As if it were 
 
 Enchantment dead. Ah, then 'tis true — there is 
 
 Another — is another ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Now what fever ? 
 
 A gentleness clad once your every grace. 
 MICHAL 
 
 There is some other that you lure and love. 
 DAVID 
 
 It is not Michal speaking ; so I wait. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Then — 
 
 [55J 
 
DAVID 
 
 [Judith glides suddenly in with a low laugh and 
 kneels before David. Michal stands a?nazed. ] 
 JUDITH \^As if with amorous admiration.^ 
 
 Brave, it was brave, my love ! beauteous ! brave ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Woman ? 
 JUDITH 
 
 The Philistine, a brazen tower, 
 A bastion of strength fell to the earth ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Woman, who are you ? 
 
 ^She clasps and kisses him.^ 
 
 Take away your flesh. 
 [Fr^^"] Take it away, the heat and myrrh of it. 
 JUDITH 
 
 So cold ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Away. 
 JUDITH 
 
 And 'tis no longer fair ? 
 [Wantonfy'\ Oh ! Ah ! I understand ! the princess ? — 
 DAVID 
 
 Go. 
 [Judith oheys, laughing and shaking her timbrel^ 
 MICHAL 
 
 A dancer then, a very timbrel player ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Until this hour I never looked upon her. 
 It is chicanery of chance or craft. 
 You who are noble, though in doubt adrift. 
 Be noble now ! 
 
 [56] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 And loving ? O, I will — 
 Now that I know what should be done. Be sure. 
 DAVID 
 
 You mean, that Saul ? — you would not, no ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Rest sure. 
 [A hand is seen at the tent. Ah i no am enter s?\^ 
 AHINOAM 
 
 David, the king — But what is this } 
 
 [Michel goes.'\ 
 DAVID 
 
 O queen — 
 It is but life. 
 AHINOAM 
 
 Nay. 
 DAVID Life that ever strings 
 
 Our hearts, so pitifully prone for it. 
 To ecstasy — then snaps. 
 AHINOAM 
 
 I love thee, David. 
 DAVID 
 
 Then gracious be, and question here no more. 
 Where words are futile for an utterance. 
 But of the king — the king ? 
 AHINOAM 
 
 He's driven still. 
 And hither comes, and soon, and must be calmed. 
 Thy harp take, winds of beauty from it bring, 
 And consolation — as of valley-eves 
 
DAVID 
 
 When there is ebb of sorrow and of toil, 
 O could you heal him and forever heal. 
 DAVID 
 
 Then would I be — ! 
 
 [He breaks off with a gesture of great desire^ 
 takes the harp and seats himself^ 
 AHINOAM 
 
 At once, for he will come. 
 [David begins; a strain of wild sadness, Saul 
 enters and with him Doeg, Ishui, Jona- 
 than — others. He pauses, his hand to his 
 broWy and goes slowly , enspelled o/' David's 
 playing, up the dais.^ 
 AHINOAM 
 
 My lord, shall David sing — to ease us ? 
 SAUL 
 
 Let him. 
 DAVID 
 
 [With high sorrow.^ 
 
 O heart of woe, 
 Heart of unrest and broken as a reed ! 
 [Plays,] 
 
 O heart whose flow 
 Is anguish and all the bitterness of need ! 
 [Plays.] 
 
 O heart as a roe, 
 Heart as a hind upon the mountain fleeing 
 
 The arrow-wounds of being, 
 Be still, O heart, and rest and do not bleed ! 
 [Plays longer with bowed head.] 
 
 [58] 
 
DAVID 
 
 O days of life, 
 Days that are driven swift and wild from the womb ! 
 [P/ays.] 
 
 O days so rife — 
 Days that are torn of trouble, trod of doom ! 
 [P/ays.] 
 
 MiCHAL enters. 
 O days of strife. 
 Days of desire on deserts spread unending. 
 
 The burning blue o'erbending, 
 O days, our peace, our victory is the tomb ! 
 [He plays to a close that dies in anguished s Hence. '\ 
 SAUL [Rising in tears] 
 
 David ! 
 DAVID 
 
 My lord? 
 SAUL 
 
 Thy breathing ! beauteous ! 
 
 Stilling to sorrow ! O my friend, my son ! 
 DAVID 
 
 To me is this ? I dream it not ? The king 
 
 Again is kind and soft his spirit moves ? 
 SAUL 
 
 To you I 
 DAVID 
 
 How shelter o*er me then will spring 
 And safety covering ! 
 SAUL 
 
 It ever shall. 
 Loveliest have you been among my days, 
 
 [59] 
 
DAVID 
 
 And singing weary madness from my brain. 
 
 [David starts toward him.'\ 
 
 How I have wronged thee ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Wronged him? [In fury :\ 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Girl? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 You have not wronged him I 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 No, but he 
 
 Is jeopardy and fate about you ! drive 
 Him from you utterly and now away ! 
 [Murmurs of astonishment. '\ 
 
 SAUL 
 
 What mean you ? 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Speak. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 What mean you ? 
 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 This ! 
 
 
 DAVID 
 
 No word ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 I'll not be kept — 
 
 
 [60 J 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 But shall be; for to tell 
 Would rend silence forever from you — pale 
 Your flesh with haunting of it evermore ! 
 All, all your being would become a hiss. 
 A memory of syllables that sear, 
 A living iteration of remorse. 
 I — I myself will save your lips the words 
 Of this betrayal leaping from your heart. 
 
 [Nobly y before Sau/.] 
 You seek, my lord, you seek whom Samuel 
 Anointed. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 'Tis- 
 DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Yes. 
 
 Then know that it is I. 
 
 I. 
 
 You! 
 
 I. And guiltless I, no other. 
 I, though I sought it not and sufl^er, though 
 I would it had not come and fast am sworn 
 Never against you to lift up — 
 MERAB 
 
 Hear, hear ! 
 Now he will cozen ! 
 
 [6,] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 He, "thy servant!" 
 ISHUI 
 
 Hear! 
 A VOICE [Without.] 
 
 A thousand Saul hath slain ! But David ten ! 
 SAUL [Choking:] 
 
 Omnipotence shall not withhold me more. 
 [He lifts a javelin.] 
 DAVID 
 
 Murderous king afoam with murder-heat! 
 
 [He avoids from side to side.] 
 Monarch of misery — of might — of rage 
 So fell that lightning were not dread enough 
 Were it thy bolt 1 To-day you will destroy me ? 
 
 [Goliath's head overturned, rolls on thefoor.] 
 Upon this day will slay me innocent ? 
 SAUL 
 
 Die, die! 
 JONATHAN 
 
 No, father, hold ! 
 [Saul flings the javelin.] 
 MICHAL [Reeling.] 
 
 What have I done ? 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 David, unhurt ? Away, the wilderness. 
 [Thrusts a sword on him.] 
 SAUL 
 
 He shall not! no. 
 
 [Seizes another javelin.] 
 
 [62] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID {Aflame?^ 
 
 Then, king of Israel, strike ! 
 Strike me to darkness and the waiting: worm ! 
 Into the Pit and to the hopeless gloom. 
 But, after, be your every breathing blood. 
 Remorse and riving bitterness and fear. 
 Be guilt and all the hideous choke of horror ! 
 
 Saul trembling at the curse lets the javelin fall 
 from his hand. David breaking through 
 DoEG and Ishui escapes by the door, Michal 
 sinks to her knees y her face buried in her hands ?^ 
 
 Curtain. 
 
 [63J 
 
ACT III 
 
ACT III. 
 
 SCENE : A savage mountain-cliff in the wilderness of Engeddi. 
 On either side gray crags rise rugged^ sinking away precipi- 
 tously across the back. Cut into each is a cave. The height 
 is reached by clefts from all sides. 
 
 Between the crags to the East is the far blue of the Dead Sea; 
 and still beyond, bathed in the waning afternoon, stretch the 
 purple shores of Moab. During the act the scene grows crim- 
 son with sunset and a thunder-cloud rises over the sea. 
 Lying on a pallet of skins near the cliff's verge, DAVID tosses 
 feverishly. Three of his followers and a lad, who serves him, 
 are gathered toward the front, ragged, hungry, and hunted, in 
 altercation over a barley-cake. 
 DAVID 
 
 Water ! the fever fills me, and I thirst. 
 Water ! 
 FIRST FOLLOWER 
 
 Listen. 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 He calls. 
 DAVID 
 
 Water ! I thirst. 
 THE LAD 
 
 Yes, yes, my lord. Shakes up a water-skin^ Ah, empty, not 
 
 a quaff! 
 They've drunk it all from him ! My lord, none's left. 
 
 [67] 
 
DAVID 
 
 I'll run and in the valley brim it soon. 
 [He goes. David sinks back.^ 
 SECOND FOLLOWER [To First.] Tou drank it then. 
 FIRST FOLLOWER 
 
 And should I thirst, not he ? 
 Give me the bread. 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 If it would strangle you. 
 FIRST FOLLOWER 
 
 I'll have it. 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 Or betray him ? spitingly ? 
 It is the last. Already you have eat. 
 And we are here within a wilderness. 
 FIRST FOLLOWER 
 
 Be it, but I'll not starve. 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 He utters right. 
 Why should we but to follow a mere shepherd 
 Famish and o'er a hundred desert hills ? 
 The prophecy portending him the throne — 
 Folly, not fate ! though it is Samuel's. 
 I'll trust in it no more. 
 FIRST FOLLOWER 
 
 Nor I. 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 And Saul 
 Has driven us from waste to waste — pressed us 
 Even unto the Philistines for shelter. 
 And now unto this crag. And is not David's 
 
 [68] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Thought but of Michal, not of smiting him 
 And, with a- host, of leaping to the kingdom? 
 [David stirs to riseA 
 FIRST FOLLOWER 
 He moves ; peace ! 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 Let him. 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 Peace. 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 And fawning too ? 
 DAVID [Sufermgfy] Men — men, we must have news. 
 Perpetual, 
 Implacable they stare unto each other. 
 This rock and stony sky. 
 
 [Rises and comes down to them.\ We must have news. 
 \They are silent^ 
 Longer is death. 'Tis overmany days 
 Of sighing and remembered verdancy ; 
 Nor any dew or upward odor comes. 
 Who will go now and bring us word of Saul ? 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 Have not Abishai, Abiathar, 
 And others gone ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Bravely. 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 And none returned ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Not one of all. 
 
 [69] 
 
DAVID 
 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 Well, then, we are not swine. 
 And life's but once. 
 DAVID 
 
 So ? 
 
 THIRD FOLLOWER 
 
 We will follow you 
 No longer hungered and rewarded never, 
 But perilously ever. 
 DAVID 
 
 It is well. 
 [He looses a bracelet from his arm.^ 
 This was a gift from Saul. In it is ease. 
 
 [Gives it to Third Follower, who goes^ 
 This ring was Jonathan's. The jewel tells 
 Still of the sunny haven of his heart. 
 Upon my hand he pressed it — the day we leapt 
 Deeper than friends °nto each other's love. 
 
 [Gives it to First Follower, iioho goes^ 
 
 This chain 
 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 I want it not. 
 DAVID 
 
 You have not thought ; 
 'Tis riches — such as Sidon marts and Tyre 
 Would covet. 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 I care not. 
 DAVID 
 
 None else is left. 
 
 [70] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 No matter. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Then ? 
 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 There was of Gibeah 
 A woman — dear to me. Her face at night 
 Weeping among my dreams. . . . 
 
 The prophecy 
 Is unfulfilled, and vain ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And you would go ? 
 SECOND FOLLOWER 
 
 The suffering — this cliff. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 I understand. 
 [Motions.^ So, without any blame, and to content. 
 
 [T/ie Second Follower Ja/ters, then goes A 
 [^ietfy.^ A desolation left, of rock and air. 
 Of barren sea and bitterness as vast. 
 Thou hast bereft me, Saul ! thou hast bereft ! 
 
 [He moves up the cliffy gazes sadly away, then kneels by a 
 stone, as to pray?^ 
 My flesh cries for oblivion — to sink 
 Unwaking away into the Night . . . where is 
 No tears, but only tides of sleep. . . . 
 
 No, crieth 
 Not for Oblivion and Night, but for 
 Rage and revenge ! Saul ! Saul ! . . . My spirit, peace. 
 
 [71] 
 
DAVID 
 
 As pants the heart for the water-brook, so I ! 
 
 [He bows his head. Michal in rags that disguise, enters 
 with the Lad, unseen?\ 
 Her lips it was that hurled me unto this ! 
 Yet, yet not violence on him and blood ! 
 I must revenge's call within me quell. 
 Though righteously it quivers and aflame. 
 \He goes slowly into the cave, Right.^ 
 MICHAL 
 
 This is the place, then, this ? 
 
 LAD 
 
 Yes, princess. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Here 
 
 So long in want and sickness he hath hid ? 
 Under the livid day and lonelier night ! 
 
 LAD 
 
 I brought him water, often. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Little lad ! 
 
 But he has heard no word from me — not how 
 My father, Saul, frantic of my repentance. 
 Had unto Phalti, a new lord, betrothed me ? 
 How then I fled to win unto these wilds ? 
 
 LAD 
 
 He heard not anything — only the tales 
 I told of Moab, my own land. 
 [David plays within.^ 
 
 But oh ! 
 It is his harp. 
 
 [72] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 And strains that weep o'er me ! . . . 
 I'll speak to him ... and yet must be unknown ! 
 A leper ? as a leper could I . . . ? 
 LAD 
 
 Why 
 Must he not know you ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Ask me not, lad, now; 
 But go a little. 
 LAD 
 
 Yes. 
 [He sets down the water-skin and goes. '\ 
 MICHAL [Delaying, then in a loud voice.] Unclean ! Unclean ! 
 
 [Conceals her face in her hair.] 
 DAVID 
 
 Who crieth here ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Unclean ! 
 DAVID [Appearing.] Who cries unclean ? 
 
 Poor leper in these wilds, who art thou ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 One 
 
 Outcast and faint, forlorn ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Then you have come 
 To one more bitter outcast than yourself. 
 One who has less than this lone void to give. 
 This sterile solitude and sun, this scene 
 Of leaden desolation that makes mad. 
 
 [73] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Who has no ease but cave or shading rock, 
 Or the still moon, or stars that glide the night. 
 
 One over whom 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yet, pity ! 
 DAVID 
 
 The pale hours 
 Flow dead into eternity. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Ah, yet .... ! 
 DAVID 
 
 My cloak, then, for thy tattered limbs. Or, no — 
 This chain of Ophir for thy every need. 
 Once was it dear, but should be so no more. 
 \Flinging it to her.^ Have it, and with it vanish 
 memory 
 
 Out of my breast 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 No, no. 
 DAVID 
 
 And from me fall 
 Link upon link her loveliness that bound. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Oh, do not ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Woman . . . ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Nothing. A chain like this 
 I once beheld wind undulantly bright 
 O'er Michal, the king's daughter. 
 
 [74] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 Pity! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Woman, the king's ? 
 
 Who are you ? 
 
 Stay ! Unclean ! 
 A spy ? 
 
 A spy of Saul and hypocrite have crept 
 
 Hither to learn . . . ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Have heed — unclean ! 
 DAVID 
 
 How then 
 Wandering come you here ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Unclean ! Unclean ! 
 DAVID 
 
 My brain is overfull of fever, mad. 
 Almost and I had touched thy peril, held 
 Thy hideous contagion. 
 MICHAL 
 
 Wrong ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Then who 
 Art thou to know and speak of her, of Michal .? 
 MICHAL 
 
 One who has served the king. 
 
 [75] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And you have seen 
 
 Michal, you have beheld her ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Once, when she 
 
 In face w^as fairer and in heart than now 
 
 They say she is. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And heard her speak ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 A night 
 Under the leaves of Gibeah — when she 
 Sang with another — David. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Say no more. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 And from afar, under the moon, blew faint 
 The treading of the wine-presses with song. 
 David she loved, but anger-torn betrayed. 
 Unworthy of him. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Speak of her no more, 
 Nor of her cruelty, unless to pray 
 He she has ruined may forget her. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Yet 
 
 If deep she should repent ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Leper, no more. 
 
 [ 76 ] 
 
DAVID 
 
 [A moment ; then a jackal's cry shrills to them. David 
 starts A 
 The signal. [He listens. '\ 
 
 Thrice repeated ? Word at last ? 
 \To MiCHAL.] He who is near may prove to thee less kind. 
 
 [She goes. He springs to look down the cliff?^ 
 Abishai ? Abiathar ? It is ! 
 But staggering and wounded ? breathless ? torn ? 
 
 [He watches, then turns to meet them. They enter — Abi- 
 athar with bloody ephod and broken breastplate — 
 and sink in panting exhaustion A 
 Abishai, what is it that you bring ? 
 Abiathar, up ! answer ! 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Water ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Up! 
 [He brings the water-skin. They drain it fiercely. '\ 
 What is it now so fevered from you stares 
 And breathing too abhorrence ? Gasp it out. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 I stifle — in a universe — he still — 
 Has breath in. 
 DAVID 
 
 Saul? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 I'll scathe him ! Scorpions 
 Of terror and remorse sting in his soul ! 
 DAVID 
 
 If you have tidings, not in words so wild. 
 
 [77] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Then ask and hate shall calm me. 
 DAVID 
 
 Ask? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 On, on ! 
 Seek if he lives ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Who? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Seek if prophecy 
 Founts yet in Judah ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Samuel . . . ? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Is dead ! . . . 
 Dead — and of tidings more calamitous. 
 [A pause. '\ 
 DAVID [Hoarsefy.] 
 
 Tell on. I hear. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Saul gloating to believe 
 The priests, assembled sacredly at Nob, 
 
 Plotted assisting you, hath had them 
 
 DAVID 
 
 No . . .! 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Slain at the hands of Doeg — murdered, all ! 
 DAVID 
 
 But he — your father ? 
 
 [78] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Was among them ; fell. 
 \He stands motionless^ 
 DAVID {Gently?^ 
 
 Abiathar, my friend ! . . . Appeaseless Saul ! 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Hear all, hear all ! Thy father, too, and mother. 
 
 Even thy kindred, out of Israel 
 
 Are driven into Moab ; and this king, 
 
 Delirious still for blood as desert pard, 
 
 With Merab, whelp of him, and many armed. 
 
 Is near us now — aquiver at Engeddi 
 
 For your destruction : 
 
 [David struggles for control A 
 
 And yet you will not strike. 
 DAVID 
 
 [L<?'Z£^.] No, but of Michal, tell me good at once. 
 Lest unendurable this lot, I may — 
 and mount o'er every oath into revenge. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Ha— Michal ! 
 DAVID 
 
 She withholds her father's wrath ? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 She's well. 
 DAVID 
 
 Not if you say no more. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 I know 
 Nothing of her. 
 
 [79] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Your look belies. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Perhaps : 
 
 As did her love. 
 DAVID 
 
 That is for me. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Well, what ? 
 A woman who betrays ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Speak, not evade ; 
 And judge her when earth has no mystery. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Then from your craving put her — wide ; she is 
 Unworthy any tremor of your veins. 
 DAVID 
 
 Dawn-lilies under dew are then unworthy. 
 And nesting doves are horrible to heaven. 
 I will not so believe. Your reason . . . ! 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Saul 
 Has given her — and she will wed him, aye — 
 To Phalti, a new lord. 
 DAVID 
 
 Untrue of her ! 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Cry. Yet you will believe it. 
 DAVID 
 
 Not until 
 
 [80] 
 
DAVID 
 
 The verdant parable of spring is hushed 
 Ever of bloom, to prove it. Never till 
 Hermon is swung into the sea ! until 
 
 The last void of the everlasting sky 
 
 [^Looking up he falters, breaks off, and is strangely moved at 
 something beheld^ 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 What, what alarm ? 
 ABISHAI 
 
 What stare you on ? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 He's mad ? 
 [David points. They look up.^ 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 An eaglet ! . . . 
 ABISHAI 
 
 Eaglet ? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Pierct ! 
 ABISHAI 
 
 Pierct? . . . 
 DAVID 
 
 Falling here. 
 And beating against death unbuoyantly. 
 
 \The birdy an arrow through it, drops in throes at their 
 feet.] 
 A destiny, a fate in this is hidden ! 
 
 \He bends over it, then quickly back.] 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 A destiny, how, how ? 
 
 [8.] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 The arrow ! — His ! 
 His, and no other's. Quick, then, no delay. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Be clear, clearer. 
 DAVID 
 
 We are discovered — near 
 On us is death. Open the secret chamber 
 Within the cave, for from the bow of Saul 
 Is yonder bleeding — from no other. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Saul's ? 
 But how, was any here? 
 DAVID 
 
 To-day, to-day. 
 A leper wandering. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 We are betrayed. 
 [Abishai with the water-skin hastens into the cave, Right. 
 David and Abiathar stand listening. Noise of 
 approach is heard.^ 
 DAVID 
 
 They near. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Inexorable ! 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 And many. 
 
 King of Israel ! 
 
 O, rebuke him, do ! 
 
 [82] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Almost I am beyond this tolerance. 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 In truth. Therefore it is you rise and shake 
 
 Out of his power the sceptre ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Tempt me not ! 
 
 Mercy and memory almost are dead, 
 And craving birth in me is fateful ire. 
 
 \T hey follow into the cave. Hardly have they done so when 
 at a shouty Saul, bloodthirsty ^ with Doeg, Abner, 
 IsHUi, and soldiers ^ pour in from all sides, with drawn 
 weapons^ 
 SAUL 
 
 On, to him ! search the caves ! In, in, and bring 
 Him to my sword, and Michal with him. 
 \Pacing terrible the while.^ They 
 Shall couch upon eternity and dust. 
 [JVeakly.] I am the king, and Israel is mine . . . 
 I'll sleep upon their grave — I'll sleep upon it. 
 And hear the worm . . . ! 
 
 [To a Soldier re-entering from one cave.^ Where is he? 
 Bring him. 
 SOLDIER 
 
 O King 
 
 SAUL 
 
 You've slain him and you tremble ! Say it. 
 
 SOLDIER 
 
 No. 
 SAUL 
 
 Then hither with him ; hither ! 
 
 [83] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SOLDIER 
 
 He's not here. 
 
 SAUL 
 
 A treachery ! You cunningly contrive 
 To aid him, so . . . 
 
 [To a Soldier re-entering fearfully from the other caveJ^ 
 Bring me his head. 
 SOLDIER 
 
 My lord. 
 He is not there. 
 SAUL 
 
 I tell you it is lies — 
 Because you deem that he shall be the king 
 And treasure up reward and amnesty. 
 
 [Into one cave, then another he rushes, then out among them 
 furious.^ 
 From me, ill-fruited ineffectual herd ! 
 Away from me, he's fled and none of you 
 Is servant and will find and for me seize him ! 
 From me — I'll sleep — I'll rest — and then — 
 
 [All begin to crowd out, overawed, but Doeg jW Abner.] 
 
 I'll sleep. 
 [Slowly he moves into the cave. Left, and lies down.l^ 
 ABNER 
 
 [To Doeg, significantly.] The evil spirit. 
 DOEG 
 
 Yes ; is on him swift 
 As never before, and as a drunkenness. 
 ABNER 
 
 Then, safe to leave him ? 
 
 [84] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Will he brook denial ? 
 ABNER 
 
 And Merab, too, will soon be here. 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Well, come. 
 ABNER 
 
 I'll go and look upon him. 
 
 [Goes to Saul's cave and returns^ 
 
 Already he sleeps. 
 [Turning they encounter Michal entering y still disguised. 
 She quails.^ 
 Woman, who are you, who ? 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Unclean ! away ! 
 DOEG 
 
 Unclean ? a leper ? in this place ? Are there 
 
 No stones to stone you ? Hence ! And had I not 
 
 A brother such as thou 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Pity ! Unclean ! 
 [She goes quickly ; then they. A space. Then she returns 
 trembling, fearful.^ 
 I'll call him ! I will save him ! — David ! David ! — 
 I his discomfiture and ruin ! — David ! 
 David ! hear me ! David ! 
 
 [Searching, she approaches the cave where Saul lies, but 
 recoils terrified^ 
 
 The king ! my father ! 
 
 [8s] 
 
DAVID 
 
 I cannot — am not — whither shall I, whither ? 
 
 \Confused she JJees^ as scuffling is heardy and Abishai and 
 Abiathar, struggling with David, appear.^ 
 DAVID 
 
 Loose me, I say. 'Twas Michal and she called. 
 [Breaking free. ^ I say that it was she ! 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Foolhardy, no. 
 Return into the cave, and ere too late ! 
 Merab, veiled^ enters behind them. 
 DAVID 
 
 'Twas Michal and no other. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 You are duped. 
 DAVID 
 
 The breathing of archangels could not so 
 Have swung the burden from me as her call. 
 
 [Searchingy he faces — and beholds Merab. His look 
 grows to coldness ^ 
 MERAB 
 
 It is not Michal. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 No — it is not Michal. 
 [He motions Abiathar and K^ishai aside.^ 
 MERAB 
 
 Yet it is one who 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Need not lift her veil 
 Or longer stay. The path she came is open. 
 
 [86] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MERAB 
 
 rm here — and here will speak ! I've hither stolen, 
 Yearning — I say it — yearning — and I will. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 These words I do not know. 
 MERAB 
 
 Because you will not. 
 More all-devouring than a Moloch is 
 This love within me 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Love and you are twain. 
 As sun and Sheol. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 False. I am become 
 For want of you as famine-wind, a wave 
 In the mid-tempest, with no rest, no shore. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 I do not hear the unashamed words 
 Of one who has but recently another, 
 Adriel, wedded. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 You refuse me then ? 
 DAVID 
 
 I beg you but to cease. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Goaded, chagrined ? 
 No, but this will I do. The Philistines, 
 For long at rioting within their walls. 
 Gather again and break toward Gilboa. . . . 
 
 [87] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 This is not true. 
 MERAB 
 
 To-morrow must my father 
 From hunting you return and arm for battle. 
 But — many would that you were king. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Were? . . . 
 
 MERAB 
 
 King! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 I do not understand your eyes. 
 MERAB 
 
 I will 
 For love of you arouse rebellion up. 
 Murmur about the host your heaven-call. 
 And lift you to the kingdom. 
 DAVID 
 
 To the — stay ! 
 
 Your words again. 
 MERAB 
 
 The kingdom. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Awful God ! 
 
 MERAB 
 
 What is your mien ? you will not ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Twice the words — 
 
 Full from her lips — and to betray her father. 
 [Abiathar discovers Saul.] 
 
 [ 88 1 
 
DAVID 
 
 MERAB 
 
 You will not ? answer ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Odious utterly ! 
 
 As yonder sea of death and bitter salt, 
 
 As foam-girt Joppa of idolatry. 
 
 As Memphian fane of all abhorrencies ! 
 
 Morning would move with horror of it, noon 
 
 A livid sepulchre of shame span o'er. 
 
 And night shrink to remember day had been ! 
 
 MERAB 
 
 You scorn — you scorn me ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Jonathan ! your sister ! 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Then Saul shall rend you dead. And Jonathan ! . . . 
 
 [S/ie laughs shrilly ^^ 
 Perchance you have not heard that Jonathan 
 Knows to the Philistines you fled — and loathes you ! 
 DAVID 
 
 I have not heard. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Nor have not, ah ? how Michal 
 
 Is given to the embraces of another ? 
 
 [David shrinks ^^ 
 You desperately breathe and pale at last ? 
 
 \She laughs more bitterly ^^ 
 To me for aid, to me, you yet shall come. 
 
 yShe goes. David slowly lifts his hand to his- brow in 
 heavy pain. Abiathar — and soon Abishai — abrupt- 
 ly descends from the cave to him.^ 
 
 1 89] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 David 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Leave me. 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Not till you know — and strike ! 
 DAVID 
 
 I tell you go. 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 I tell you 'tis the king. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Who breaks forbearance — yes. 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Who lieth yonder. 
 
 And sleeping lieth — for a thrust to end. 
 DAVID 
 
 [His sword quickly outy struggling.^ 
 This throb and wounds that wring me ! and this wail 
 Under the deeps of me against his wrongs, 
 Awakening remembrance that with burst 
 And burn of pain. . . . O, never-ceasing ill ! 
 [Flings the sword down^ anguished.^ 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 You will not come ? 
 DAVID 
 
 The sun is set. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Has Saul 
 
 Hunted you to this desert's verge ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Enough ! 
 
 [90] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Has he pursued you, all his hate unleashed ? 
 Is Samuel not slain ? the priests ? my father ? 
 The kingdom is not in decay, and falls ? 
 You are not prophecy's anointed one ? 
 Seize up the sword and strike — or I myself! 
 DAVID 
 
 Or . . . you yourself . . . ? 
 
 [^Silently he puts them aside, takes up the sword, and slowly 
 goes into Saul's cave.^ 
 ABISHAI 
 
 What will he do ? Listen ! 
 Mi c HAL enters unseen. 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 If Saul cries out. . . . 
 ABISHAI 
 
 Be ready. . . . 
 MICHAL 
 
 [To them.'] What is this ! 
 
 [David, haggard, with drawn sword and a piece i?/' Saul's 
 cloak in his hand, re-enters from the cave. He sees 
 MiCHAL, pauses, and gazes upon her, as she on hitn, 
 with rising emotion^ 
 MICHAL 
 
 [Inarticulate. Then.] Ah, you have slain — 
 
 Have slain him ! Wretch ! thou wretch ! 
 And sleeping as he was ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Then it was you ? 
 In lying rags ? 
 
 [91] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Have struck him in his sleep ! 
 And merciless ! — And now will kill me, too ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 In faithless rags ? You are the leper ? Who 
 
 [Growing frenzied^ 
 Drove me a prey unto this wilderness ! 
 Upon the blot of it and death and sear ! 
 The silence, burning, and relentless swoon ! 
 You are the leper, who have broken troth 
 And shut the cry of justice from your breast ! 
 Who've stifled me with desolation's woe. 
 Who've followed still and still have me betrayed ! 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Betrayed ? No, loose me ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Slain thy father ? slain ? 
 [Flinging the piece of Saul's cloak at her feet ^ 
 See how I might — see, see you, yonder he lies 
 A king who quits the kingdom, though a cloud 
 Of Philistines is foaming toward Gilboa ; 
 Jeoparded leaves it, undefended, for 
 Pursuit of me and pitiless harrying ! 
 A king who murders priests. . . . 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Priests ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Stifles God 
 With penitence that he has shaped the world ! 
 
 [92] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Have slain ? have slain him ! I have slain him ! Ah ! 
 Ah, that I had thy falseness and could slay him ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 David ! . . . 
 DAVID 
 
 Nevermore near me ! never v^^ith 
 That quivering and tenderness of lure. 
 Those eyes that hold infinity of fate, 
 That breathing cassia-sweet, but sorcery ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Oh. . . . 
 DAVID 
 
 Never thy presence pouring beauty, swift, 
 And seething in the brain as frantic wine ! 
 I'll be no more enspelled of thee — never ! 
 I will not hear thee and be wound by words 
 Into thy wile as wide as Ashtoreth's, 
 Back into hope, eternity of pain ! 
 
 [In agony he goes, Abiathar and Abishai after. 
 MiCHAL stands gazing te arks sly before her, as Saul, 
 awakened, slowly comes from the mouth of the cave down 
 toward her.^ 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 [93l 
 
ACT IV 
 
ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE: The House of MIRIAM, the " Witch of Endor;' by 
 
 Mount Gilboa — where Saul is encamped against the Philistines. 
 It is of one story, built rectangularly about an inner court, 
 which is dimly lighted. 
 
 Under the gallery which ranges around the court are doors 
 leading to the sleeping and other apartments ; before one of 
 these, a lattice. On the left is the gate opening to the street. 
 In the back to one side, the teraphim, or image of divination ; 
 on the other side a stairway mounts to the roof. Above is the 
 night, and vague lightning amid a moan of wind. During 
 the act comes dawn. 
 
 Forward on a divan sits MIRIAM alone, in blind restless- 
 ness. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Adah! 
 
 The child is sunken in a sleep. 
 Yet would I have her near me in this night, 
 And hear again the boding of her tale. 
 Unto the blind the vision and the awe 
 Of the invisible sway ever in, 
 The shadow of nativities that lead 
 Upon fatality. 
 
 Girl ! Adah ! girl ! 
 [The wind passes. Adah enters from a chamber, rubbing 
 her eyes.^ 
 Thou art awake ? 
 
 [97] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ADAH 
 
 I slumbered. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Stand you where 
 Fathoming I may feel within you. Now, 
 Again — you've hither fled your mistress Merab, 
 In fear of her ? 
 ADAH 
 
 Yes. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 At Engeddi Michal 
 By Saul was apprehended ? Merab now 
 Plotteth against her — she and Doeg ? 
 ADAH 
 
 Still. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 And 'twas in Merab's tent you heard, the king 
 Despairing of to-morrow's battle, comes 
 Hither to-night to bid me lift the spirit 
 Of Samuel out of the dead and learn 
 The issue ? 
 ADAH 
 
 Doeg said it. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 And — you hear ? — 
 Many within the army urge for David, 
 Would cry him king, if Saul were slain ? 
 ADAH 
 
 O many. 
 [A knock at the gate. They start up f earful. '\ 
 
 [98] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Who seeks blind Miriam of Endor's roof. 
 Under the night and unextinguished storm ? 
 Come you a friend ? 
 DAVID 
 
 [fFit/iout.] A friend. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 As knows my soul ! 
 [Breathless she opens the gate. David and Abiathar 
 enter cloaked.^ 
 Thy voice again ! — this blindness of my eyes — 
 If it be David, speak. 
 DAVID 
 
 Yes, Miriam. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 David of Jesse, Israel's desire ! 
 
 Let me behold thee [Her hands go over him.^ with my 
 
 fingers' sight. 
 And gather in them touch of thee again ! 
 Thy voice is as dream-dulcimers that stir 
 Quivering myrrh of memory and joy — 
 But, aie ! why are you here ? You have been there ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Yes — in the camp of Saul. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 In spite of death ! 
 
 Do you not know ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 I know — that Saul would rather 
 O'ertrample me than a multitude of foes. 
 
 [99] 
 
 L.t- 
 
DAVID 
 
 That it is told him I who shun his ire-— 
 
 Though death were easier, if dutiful — 
 
 Am come up with the Philistines to win 
 
 The kingdom. That he would slay me though I fought 
 
 For Israel !— But, Michal ! 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Aie 
 
 DAVID 
 
 What brews ? 
 She was not in the camp. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Men all are mad ! 
 And you who should be never. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 She is in 
 Some peril. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 You, in more ! And must from here 
 Swiftly away, for Saul is 
 
 DAVID 
 
 I must see her. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Unholy ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Yet unholier were flight. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 You are the anointed ! 
 
 [A heavy knock at the gate.^ Ah, calamity ! 
 You would not heed — 'tis Saul ! 
 
 [lOO] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Here ? 
 MIRIAM 
 
 He is come 
 That I shall call up Samuel. 
 DAVID 
 
 You, you — 
 The awful dead ? 
 SAUL 
 
 [Ctf//f.] Woman of Endor ! 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Hide! 
 The lattice yonder ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Woman of Endor ! woman ! 
 [David and Abiathar conceal themselves behind the lat- 
 tice. The knockingy hastier.^ 
 Woman of Endor ! Woman of Endor ! Woman ! 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Who crieth at my gate ? 
 SAUL 
 
 Unbar and learn. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 To danger ? 
 SAUL 
 
 None. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 To thieves ? 
 SAUL 
 
 To rueing if 
 
 [10. ] 
 
DAVID 
 
 You tarry ! 
 
 [S/ie opens the gate. Adah cowers down. Saul, Ishui, 
 and Adriel enter ?^ 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Whom seek you ? 
 SAUL 
 
 Witch of Endor, you. 
 Who of the fate-revealing dead divine. 
 Out of the Pit you call them ! 
 MIRIAM 
 
 What is this ? 
 SAUL 
 
 I say that you can lift them ! 
 MIRIAM 
 
 You are come 
 With snaring! knowing well that Saul the king 
 Is woe and bitterness to all who move 
 With incantation. 
 SAUL 
 
 He is not. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Depart ! 
 SAUL 
 
 I must have up out of the Awfulness 
 Him I would question. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Perilous ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Prepare 
 Before thy teraphim. No harm, I swear, 
 
 [ I02 ] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Shall come of it. Bid Samuel appear. 
 The battle ! its event ! 
 MIRIAM 
 
 [With a cry.'\ I know thee now ! 
 Saul ! thou art Saul ! the Terror ! 
 SAUL 
 
 Call him up. 
 Ready is it, the battle — but I am 
 Forsaken of all prophecy and dream. 
 Of voices and of priest and oracle. 
 To augur it. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 A doom in this ! 
 SAUL 
 
 He must 
 Hold comfort, and the torrent of despair 
 Within me stay and hush. 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Then must it be. 
 [Turning towards the teraphim amid wind and pallid light- 
 ning, and prostrating herself before //.] 
 Prophet of Israel, who art beyond 
 The troubling and the terrifying grave, 
 Th' immeasurable moan and melancholy 
 Of ways that win to Sheol — Rise ! Arise ! 
 
 \She waits. Only the gust. Then springing up and 
 stretching wide her arms with wild, blind eyes^ 
 Prophet of Israel, arise ! Not in 
 The name of Baal, Amon, Ashtoreth, 
 Dagon or all the deities that dream 
 
 [ 103 1 
 
DAVID 
 
 In trembling temples of Idolatry, 
 
 But of Jehovah ! of Jehovah ! rise ! 
 
 [An elemental cry is heard. Then 'vast wavering fortns 
 rise out of the earthy in continuous stream. Miriam, 
 with a long curdling shriek, sinks moaning to her knees.^ 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Woman, I cannot — dare not — look upon it. 
 Utter thy sight. 
 
 [The spirit of Samuel begins to take shape through the 
 phantoms.^ 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 I saw ascending 
 Forms as of gods in swaying ghostliness. 
 Dim apparitions of a dismal might, 
 And now is one within a mantle clad. 
 Who looketh 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Samuel ! 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 Who looketh with 
 Omniscience in his mien, and all the chill 
 And cling about him of eternity. 
 His eyes impale me ! 
 
 SAUL 
 
 Spirit, give me word ! 
 [He falls heavily to the ground. '\ 
 
 SAMUEL 
 
 [As afar.'] O evil king ! and wretched king ! why hast 
 Thou brought me from the quietness and rest. 
 
 [ 104] 
 
DAVID 
 
 SAUL 
 
 The battle on the morrow ! 
 
 SAMUEL 
 
 Evil thou art 
 
 For underneath this night thou hast conspired 
 
 Death to thy daughter Michal — if at dawn 
 
 The battle shall be lost — lest she may fall 
 
 Into the hands of David 
 
 DAVID 
 
 [In horror. '\ O ! 
 
 ISHUI 
 
 Whose cry ? 
 SAMUEL 
 
 I tell thee, Saul, thy sceptre shrivels fast. 
 The battle shall be lost — it shall be lost. 
 
 \The spirit of Samuel disappears. A wail of wtnd\ 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Ishui, true ? Is Michal to be slain ? 
 ISHUI 
 
 This is no hour for fools and questioning. 
 SAUL 
 
 [Struggling up.] The battle, Ishui, at once command 
 It shall begin ! To Jonathan and say it. 
 
 [IsHui goes.'\ 
 No prophecy shall sink me and no shade. 
 I am the king, and Israel, my own. 
 [Frenzied he goes. A silence^ 
 DAVID 
 
 [Breaking forth ^ Michal to die and Israel to fall! 
 Prophet of prophets, Samuel, return ! 
 
 [■05] 
 
DAVID 
 
 [Adriel goes.'\ 
 
 The quivering 
 Quicksands of destiny beneath her stir. 
 Is heaven a mocking shield w^hich ever keeps 
 God from our prayers ? 
 MIRIAM 
 
 David, contain thy heart. 
 ^A faint uproar begins afar ; and dawn^ 
 DAVID 
 
 The battle ! on the wind. Abiathar, 
 Speed out upon the mountain-side and cull 
 All that befalls. 
 
 [Adah opens the gate. Abiathar goes.'\ 
 ADAH 
 
 [^Springing back A Oh ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Child, why do you quail ? 
 ADAH 
 
 My mistress, Merab ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Girl .? 
 ADAH 
 
 I saw her — she 
 Is coming hither ! Do not let her — she 
 I fear — I fear her ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Hither coming ? 
 [Merab throws open the gate and enters^ 
 ADAH 
 
 Oh! 
 
 I io6 ] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Woman and witch, did Adriel, my husband. 
 Come to you with the king ? 
 
 [S/ie sees David and shrinks.^ 
 DAVID 
 
 Unnatural, 
 Unkind, most cruel sister ! 
 MERAB 
 
 You are here ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Once me you would have poisoned, but the coil 
 Within your bosom I beheld. And now 
 Michal your sister is the victim. 
 MERAB 
 
 I— 
 Know not your meaning. 
 DAVID 
 
 The battle burning yonder. 
 If it adversely veers, the king has planned 
 Michal is not to live, lest she may hap 
 Unto my arms. 
 MERAB 
 
 That Michal shall be slain ? 
 \The tumult again. ^ 
 DAVID 
 
 Almighty, smite, and save to thee thy people ! 
 And save thy altars unto Israel. 
 
 \He bows his head. A stir comes at the gate.] 
 MERAB 
 
 David, 'tis Adriel ! 
 
 [ 107] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Ope ! open you ! 
 DAVID 
 
 At last the word. 
 
 MERAB 
 
 Girl, Adah, draw the bar. 
 
 [David throws a cloak over his face. Adah obeys, 
 
 Adriel enters, and Doeg, who pauses in quick alarms 
 
 as David goes between him and the gate.\ 
 
 DOEG 
 
 What place is this ? Why do you bar that gate ? 
 
 Merab, 'tis you ? Why do you gaze, rigid ? 
 
 And this is the blind witch, Miriam ? 
 
 DAVID 
 
 It is. 
 
 \He throws off his cloak^ 
 DOEG 
 
 Lured ? I am snared ? a trap ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Where have you Michal ? 
 
 DOEG 
 
 [Drawing.] No closer ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 If she is an atom harmed ! 
 
 Where is she ? 
 DOEG 
 
 I was the servant of the king, 
 I but obeyed him. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 And thy horrible heart. 
 
 Then speak, or unto frenzy I am driven. 
 
 [ '°8 1 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 I'll drive you there with 
 
 [Breaks off with low laugh,'\ 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Tell it ! 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Unto your 
 Soft sympathy — and passion ? \Laughs.'\ She is dead. 
 DAVID 
 
 [Immovable^ then repressed^ 
 If it is so, the lightning, that is wrath 
 Within the veins of God, should sink its fang 
 Into thy bosom and sear out thy heart. 
 If it is so, this momentary calm. 
 This silence pouring overfull the world. 
 Would rush and in thee cry until thy bones 
 Broken of guilt are crumbled in thy groans. 
 Dead, she is dead ? 
 MIRIAM 
 
 No, David, my lord, he lies ! 
 [Strangely^ as in a trance^ 
 To wound you, lies ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Not dead ? 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 I see her eyes ! 
 
 \All listen amazed?^ 
 I see her in a vision. She is near — 
 Is in a cave — is bound — and is alone. 
 I will go to her — quickly bring her. 
 
 [ 109 1 
 
DAVID 
 
 DOEG 
 
 Not 
 \^Lunges at her^ 
 If this shall reach you. 
 DAVID 
 
 Ah, to pierce a woman ! 
 [Miriam y?Wj her way out.^ 
 You've plotted, false have been and bloody, foul. 
 And as a pestilence of midnight marsh 
 Have oozed corruption into all around you. 
 The kingdom thro' you is in brokenness. 
 Within its arteries you flow, poison. 
 Incentive of irruption and unrest. 
 Of treachery and disaffection's sore. 
 Till even the stars of truest ray seem tares 
 Sown hostile o'er the nightly vale of heaven. 
 
 \Drawing Jirmly y he coldly ^ skilfully approaches for attack.^ 
 
 DOEG 
 DAVID 
 
 \Retreating.'\ No further ! 
 
 Unto the end ! 
 \He rushes iriy they engage. Doeg is wounded, recovers, 
 defends furiously, then is disarmed and forced under ^ 
 Thy villainy is done. 
 
 \The gate opens and Abiathar hurries in.] 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 David, the battle 
 
 [He sees Doeg and stops.] 
 DAVID 
 
 Fetter him. 
 
 [i.o] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Only fetter ? [His dagger out.] the murderer 
 Of priestly sanctity and of my father ? 
 DAVID 
 
 Abiathar ! You know obedience ? 
 
 [Abiathar sullenly sheathes his weapon and binds Doeg. 
 A dim panic is heard afar, and a lament without. 
 David, who has sunk to a seat, springs anxiously up.] 
 Listen ! that cry ! 
 THE VOICE 
 
 Woe ! woe ! 
 DAVID 
 
 What is its wail ? 
 
 THE VOICE 
 
 The battle's lost ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Abiathar ? 
 
 THE VOICE 
 
 Saul flees ! 
 DAVID 
 
 Abiathar, is lost ? 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 I fear it. 
 DAVID 
 
 Then [Pointing to Doeg.] 
 Off with his armor for me, I will go 
 Forth and perchance may backward bend defeat. 
 Duty to Saul is over. 
 ADRIEL 
 
 You must not. 
 A fruitless intrepidity it were. 
 
 [Ill] 
 
DAVID 
 
 ABIATHAR 
 
 Remember your anointing ! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 The prophesy ! 
 [Miriam enters leading Michal. A moment's suspense.'] 
 MERAB 
 
 See! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 See! 
 MERAB 
 
 She liveth ! 
 MIRIAM 
 
 David 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 \Pleading to him.'\ It is I. 
 
 MIRIAM 
 
 The cords were cruel, hungrily sank in 
 Her wrists and ankles. 
 MICHAL 
 
 David, look on me. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 My words must be alone with her — alone. 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Come, all of you — the battle. 
 
 \They go out the gate. David stands speechless.'] 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 David — my lord ! 
 I ask not anything but to be heard — 
 Though once I would not hear. Has all of life 
 No glow for me ! 
 
 [1.2] 
 
DAVID 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Betrayers should have none. 
 MICHAL 
 
 I was a woman — the entanglement 
 
 Of duty amid love we have no skill 
 
 To loosen, but with passion. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 You too late 
 Remember it is so. 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 Nobility 
 All unbelievable it seemed that you 
 Could innocently wait on time to tide 
 You to the kingdom. Then forgive, I plead. 
 DAVID 
 
 But in the wilderness, your perfidy ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Doubt of it welleth thro' your voice. No, no. 
 
 To save you strove I ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 Not to betray ! 
 
 From Saul, my father, penitent I fled. 
 
 Seeking you in Engeddi's wild. 
 DAVID 
 
 And Phalti ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 'Twas wedding him I loathed. 
 DAVID 
 
 Say true ! 
 
 [i>3] 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 This knife 
 Unfailingly into my breast had spared 
 Me from him, had not flight. 
 
 DAVID 
 
 This — this can be ? 
 
 [A great joy dawning in him.^ 
 Beyond all hope is it, even as day's 
 Wide empery outspans our littleness. 
 
 \Goes toward her.^ 
 A tithing of thy loveliness were beauty 
 Enough for earth. Yet it is mine, is mine ? 
 MICHAL 
 
 David — forever ! long as odorous 
 Cooling o'er Lebanon shall blow, long as 
 The swinging sapphire of the sea shall flash 
 Up to the sun: until the soul no more 
 Is soul, but vapor ! 
 
 DAVID 
 
 Michal ! 
 MICHAL 
 
 Evermore ! 
 \She sinks into his arms, and there is a pause. But a sud- 
 den confusion of cries is heard and they start apart. 
 The gate is flung back and Adriel enters^ shaken 
 with awe. He looks from one to the other, silent^ 
 DAVID 
 
 \At /ast.] Adriel ! 
 
 What have you ! 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Saul ... is slain ! 
 
DAVID 
 
 MICHAL 
 
 My father ? 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Slain ! 
 
 And Jonathan 
 
 DAVID 
 
 No! 
 
 ADRIEL 
 
 Fell beside him down. 
 The fray was fast — Israel fled — the foe 
 Fierce after Saul, whom Jonathan defended. 
 MICHAL 
 
 My father ! 
 DAVID 
 
 And my brother Jonathan ! 
 If I believe it will not miracle 
 Alone bring joy again unto my pain ? 
 
 [T/ie wailing again without y and deeper groans !\ 
 O Israel, the Infinite has touched 
 Thy glory and it changes to a shroud ! 
 Thy splendor is as vintage overspilt. 
 For Saul upon the mountains low is lying. 
 And Jonathan beside him, beautiful 
 Beyond the mar of battle, and of death. 
 
 \He bows his head in tears.] 
 O kingly Jonathan, would I might give 
 The beating of my life into your veins — 
 Willing for it would I be drouth and die. 
 How are the mighty fallen and the fair ! 
 \fFith lifted artn, deeply moved?[ 
 
 ["5] 
 
DAVID 
 
 Peaks, mountains of Gilboa, let no more 
 Dew be upon you, and as sackcloth let 
 Clouds cover you, and ashes be your soil. 
 Until I bring upon Philistia 
 And Gath and Askalon extinguishing. 
 And sorrow — and immensity of tears ! 
 
 [Mi c HAL goes to him and takes his hand. He folds her in 
 his arms.^ 
 But we must calm the flowing of this grief. 
 Though yet we cannot mind us to remember 
 Love will as sandal-breath and trickling balm 
 O'erheal us in the unbegotten years. 
 Too headlong must not be our agony. 
 Hush now thy woundedness, my Michal, now. 
 See, o'er the East the lifted wings of dawn. 
 
 [S/owfy they climb the stair to the house-top. As they look 
 away toward the battle' s rout the clouds party and the 
 full brightness of the sun breaks over them.^ 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 [ii6] 
 
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