Sudden and senseless!
Michal. David!—No!
Saul. God! God!
Have I not bidden swiftly! Ever then
Vexation? I could—Ah. Will she not speak!
Have I not bidden swiftly! Ever then
Vexation? I could—Ah. 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——
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. A word.
Saul. I will not. Do you come with vexing too?
Abner. The Philistines—some fury is afoot;
A spy's within our gates—and scorns to speak.
A spy's within our gates—and scorns to speak.
Saul. Conspiracy of silence!... Back to him.
(Abner goes.)
(Goes trembling, his look bent backward still upon them.)
David (casting off gloom, then joyful). Forget! anointing peril! What are they all?
Michal!—for me you have done this, for me?
Michal!—for me you have done this, for me?
(She stands immovable.)
I'm swung with joy as palms of Abila!
(Goes to her.)
A princess, you! and warm within your veins
Live sympathy and all love unto your father,
Yet you have shielded me?
Live sympathy and all 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!
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!
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!
Whom Jonathan loves more than women love!
David. Yet reaches not my love to Jonathan!
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 inspirèd 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?
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 inspirèd 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 moonlit incense, spirit flame
Burning away all barrier!
Even as moonlit 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!
Till even now my lids from anger falter
And the dew falls!
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!
Upon my heart each tear were as a sea
Flooding it from all duty but the course
Of thy delight!
Michal. Poor, that I should have tears!
Fury were better, tempest! O weak eyes,
When 'tis my father, and with Samuel
You creep to steal his kingdom!
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!
(Moves to go.)
Michal. David!
David. Farewell!
Michal. ... You must not!
David. Peace to you, peace and joy!
Michal. You must not go!
(He turns. She sways and reaches to him her arms. As they move together Doeg and Merab appear, but vanish from the curtains as Michal utters dismay.)
Michal. Merab and Doeg!
David (has sprung to her). Yet what matter, now!
Were it the driven night-unshrouded dead!
Under the firmament is but one need,
That you will understand!
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!
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. Then be 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!
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!
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——
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 moulded light and fragrant miracle,
Body of you and soul, lifted me till
When you departed——
I have been wonder, ecstasy and dream!
The moulded 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!
Fell thro' infinity of void!
Michal. No more!
David. Then came the prophet Samuel with anointing!
My hope sprung as the sun!
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——
Here in this hall where cherubim shine out,
Where the night silence——
Michal. David!
David. Strung me tense,
I waited, shepherd-timid, and you came,
You for the king to try my skill! you, you!
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?
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!
Reveal my helpless chrism, give me to peril.
Say but the reason!
Michal. David!
David. Speak, O speak!
Michel. And shall I, shall I? how this prophetess
Miriam hath foretold——
Miriam hath foretold——
David. Some wonder? speak!
Michal (springs up the throne, then down). No, no! horror in me moans out against it.
Wed me with destiny against my father?
Dethrone my mother? Ah!
Wed me with destiny against my father?
Dethrone my mother? Ah!
David. Not that—no wrong!
Michal. Then swear conspiracy upon its tide
Never shall lift you!
Never shall lift you!
David. Deeper than soul or sea,
Deep as divinity is deep, I swear.
If it shall come, the kingdom——
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!
Surrender this anointing! Spurn it, say
You never will be king though Israel
Kingless go mad for it!
David. I cannot.
David. I cannot—and I must not. It is holy!
Michal. Then must I hate you—scorn you——
David. Michal!
Michal. And will.
But to reign over Israel you care,
Not for the peace of it!
But to reign over Israel you care,
Not for the peace of it!
David. Thus all is vain;
A seething on the lips, I'll 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 seething on the lips, I'll 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 for ever
The infinite in awe, to-morrow night
Not one of them shall burn!
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,
I'll 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!
I'll 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.)
Jonathan. David!
David. My friend—my Jonathan! 'Tis you?
(They embrace. Michal goes.)
Jonathan. Great heart, I've heard how yesterday before
The soldiers you.... But Michal's gone! No word?
The soldiers you.... But Michal's gone! No word?
David. The anointing.
Jonathan. Ah, she knows?
David. All.
Jonathan. And disdains
Believing? tell me.
Believing? tell me.
David. No, not now—not now.
Let me forget it in a leap of deeds.
Let me forget it in a leap of deeds.
(The commotion sounds again.)
For there is 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.
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.
And do not bring dissuasion more, or pause.
Jonathan. The king comes here.
David. Now?
Jonathan. With a spy who keeps
Fiercely to silence.
Fiercely to silence.
David. Then is peril up!
Jonathan...!
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.
Determination surges you o'erfar.
I will not see you rush on perishing,
Not though it be the aid of Israel.
David. I must.... I 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!
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. No thought!
Jonathan. 'Twere futile—
David. Hear; the king!
Jonathan. The madness of it!
David. No, and see; they come.
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.
Bitterly curve and grapple. But he shall
Learn there is torture to it! Set him forth.
(The spy is thrust forward.)
Tighten his bonds up till he moan.
(It is done.)
Aye, gasp,
Accursed Philistine! Now wilt thou tell
The plan and passion of the people 'gainst us?
Accursed Philistine! Now wilt thou tell
The plan and passion of the people 'gainst us?
Spy. Baal!
Saul. Tighten the torture more.... Now will you?
Spy (in agony). Yea!
Saul. On, then, reveal.
(General movement of uneasiness.)
Unless before to-morrow's moon one's sent
To overthrow Goliath ... Gods! the pain!
To overthrow Goliath ... Gods! the pain!
Saul. Well? Well?
Spy. Then Gibeah attacked, and all,
Even to sucking babes, they'll put to sword!
Even to sucking babes, they'll put to sword!
(A 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!
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!
(A silence.) See you now.
(A silence.) See you now.
Samuel. You, Abner, will not?
Abner. It were death and vain.
Samuel. Doeg, chief servant of the king?
Doeg. Why me?
Had I a mother out of Israel?
I am an alien, an Edomite.
Had I a mother out of Israel?
I am an alien, an Edomite.
David. My lord, this is no more endurable!
(Steps forth.)
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.
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. You?
David. Sudden you hound about me ravenous?
Have I thrown doom not daring to your feet,
Ruler of Israel, that you rise wild,
Livid above me as an avalanche?
Have I thrown doom not daring to your feet,
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 ...
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, yea, a bravery from God!
But courage sprung seraphic out of night,
Beautiful, yea, 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?
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; yea.
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!
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 you, my lord? Do you not understand?
Ishui. It is another coiling of their plot!
Michal. Coiling of plot? What mean you?
Merab. Ah! You know
Not it is David offers against Goliath?
Not it is David offers against Goliath?
Michal. David? (Shrinking.) David?
(A low tumult is heard without. Enter a Captain hurriedly.)
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.
Be mutiny unless, Goliath slain,
Courage spring up anew.
David. My lord, then, choose!
Ere longer waiting fester to disaster.
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!
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!
Of Ephes-Dammin. But I am not blind!
(To Abner.)
Let him, to-morrow! Go prepare the host.
Yet—I am king, remember! I am king!
Yet—I am king, remember! I am king!
(Saul goes; murmurs of relief ... All follow, but Michal, past David with joy or hate.)
David. Michal!
(She struggles against tears, but, turning, goes. He stands and gazes after her. Then a trumpet sounds and soldiers throng to the porch.)
David (thrilled, his hand on his sling). For Israel! For Israel!
(Goes toward them.)
ACT II
Scene.—The royal tent of Saul pitched on one hill of the battlefield of Ephes-Dammin. The tent is of black embroidered with various warlike designs. To one side on a daïs are the chairs of Saul and Ahinoam; also David's harp. On the other side, toward the front, is a table with weapons. The tent wall is lifted along the back, revealing on the opposite hill, across a deep narrow valley, the routed camp of the Philistines; before it in gleaming brazen armour lies Goliath slain. Other hills beyond, and the sky above. By the small table, her back to the battlefield, 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. They come!
Third Woman. An avalanche!
Over the brook and bright amid hosannas!
Over the brook and bright amid hosannas!
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!
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!
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!"
O queen! a sea of shouting!
The king and Jonathan!... His glory
All the wild generations of the wind
Ever shall utter! Hear them—
(The tumult ascends afar.) "David! David!"
O queen! a sea of shouting!
Ahinoam. Which you crave?
Then go and lave you in this tide of joy.
Then go and lave you in this tide of joy.
(The women go rapturously. Ahinoam turns.)
Merab. Mother!
Ahinoam. My daughter?
Merab. Well?
Ahinoam. They all are gone.
Merab. And Michal, where?
Ahinoam. I do not know, my child.
Merab. Why did my father pledge her to him? you
Not hindering?
Not hindering?
Ahinoam. She is your sister. You
Are pledged to Adriel.
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!
And if I do not love him there is—riches!
If he is Sodom-bitter to me—riches!
Ahinoam. But for the kingdom.
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——
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.
Too near in you were ever love and hate.
(The tumult nears. Ahinoam goes to look out. Doeg enters to Merab.)
Doeg (low). News, Merab!
Merab. Well?
Doeg. A triumph o'er him, yet!
The king is worn, as a leper pent, between
Wonder of David and quick jealousy
Because of praise this whelming of Goliath
Wakes in the people.
The king is worn, as a leper 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.
(The tumult, nearer.)
I've skilfully disposed the women
To coldly sing of Saul, but of our David
To coldly sing of Saul, but of our David
(Watches her.)
With lavish of ecstasy as to a king.
Merab (springing up). Then I will praise him!
Doeg. David? you?
Merab. As he
Was never—and shall never be again.
Was never—and shall never be again.
(Takes a dagger.)
Merab. Give me the phial.
Doeg. The poison?
Merab. Come—at once!
Doeg. What will you do?
Merab (seizes phial). At once with it.
(Dips dagger in.)
Doeg. You'll stab him?
Merab. As any fool? Wait. And the rest now, quick.
This timbrel-player, Judith?
This timbrel-player, Judith?
Doeg. She is ready
And ravishing!
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——
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——
(Laughs.)
Merab. May it be their rending.
(The tumult near.)
But come, come, we must see; and show no frown.
(They go to look out. Shouts of "David! David!" arise, and timbrelers, dancing and singing, pass the tent opening; then priests with the Ark and its cherubim of gold. David, Saul, Jonathan, Ishui, and the court then enter amid acclamations. Before them the head of Goliath is borne on a charger, under a napkin. Saul darkly mounts the throne with Ahinoam, to waving of palms and 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!
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.
While life has any love, know mine for you.
Jonathan. Then am I friended as no man was ever!
And though my soul were morning wide it were
Helpless to hold my wonder and delight!
O people, look upon him!
And though my soul were morning wide it were
Helpless to hold my wonder and delight!
O people, look upon him!
People. David! David!
Jonathan. Never before in Israel rose beauty
Up to this glory!
Up to this glory!
David. Jonathan, nay——
Jonathan. Never!
(Looses his robe and girdle.)
Therefore I pour him splendour passionate.
In gold and purple, this my own, I clothe him.
David, my brother!
In gold and purple, this my own, I clothe him.
David, my brother!
Saul (livid). Brother!
Ahinoam. Saul?
Saul. Thou fool!
Jonathan. Father?
Saul. Thou full-of-lauding fool!
Of breath and ravishment unceasing!
Of breath and ravishment unceasing!
Ahinoam. Saul!
Saul. Is it not praise enough, has he not reached
The skies on it?
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?
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——
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!
A Woman (without). King Saul has slain his thousands!
Doeg. Why, my lord?
Woman. But David his ten thousands!
Doeg. Do you hear?
King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten!
Thy servant, is he? servant?
King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten!
Thy servant, is he? servant?
Saul. 'Tis overmuch!
I'll burst all bond of priest or prophesy.
Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear.
I'll burst all bond of priest or prophesy.
Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear.
(He seizes a javelin.)