I'll smite where'er I will.
David. No!
Jonathan. Father!
David. No!
For rapid palsy would come on thy hand,
Awful and sceptre-ruined lord of men,
An impotence, a shrivelling with fear,
Avenging ere thou shed offenceless blood!
For rapid palsy would come on thy hand,
Awful and sceptre-ruined lord of men,
An impotence, a shrivelling with fear,
Avenging ere thou shed offenceless blood!
(Saul's hand drops.)
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?
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.
Hath put into her mouth this stratagem
Of fevered, false-impassioned overpraise.
(Saul, tortured, sweeps from the tent, entreated of Jonathan. Many follow in doubt, whispering.)
Doeg (at door, to David). This is not all, boy out of Bethlehem.
Goliath's dead——
Goliath's dead——
David. But not all villainy?
(Only Michal and Merab are left with David; he waits.)
Merab (after a pause, then as if in shame). 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?
And wrought away from recompense so right.
Can you forgive him?
David. Merab?
Merab. Is it strange
That even I now ask it?
That even I now ask it?
David. Merab's self?
Merab. Herself and not to-day your friend; but now
Conquered to exultation and aglow
To wreathe you for this might to Israel,
Beautiful, unbelievable and bright!
Noble the dawn of it was in 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 for ever,
In priceless covenant of peace between us,
A drop of it——
Conquered to exultation and aglow
To wreathe you for this might to Israel,
Beautiful, unbelievable and bright!
Noble the dawn of it was in 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 for ever,
In priceless covenant of peace between us,
A drop of it——
(She draws dagger and offers it to him.)
Upon this sacred blade ...
David. Such kindness? in all honour?
Merab. Poor requital
To one whose greatness humbles me from hate.
To one whose greatness humbles me from hate.
Merab. Rather upon
Its edge one vein of you—than priceless nard.
Its edge one vein of you—than priceless nard.
David. Or perfume out of India jewel poured?
(He searches her eyes.)
Or than—I may believe?—a miracle
Of dew, were you a traveller upon
The illimitable desert's thirst? Or than—
Of dew, were you a traveller upon
The illimitable desert's thirst? Or than—
(He draws his own dagger, pricks his wrist, and hands it her.)
Than this?
Merab. Shepherd!
David (quickly). Treachery? treachery, then?
Under a sham of tribute poison?
Under a sham of tribute poison?
Michal. Poison?
David. And I of vanity should prick it in?
I a mere shepherd innocent of wile!
A singer music-maudled and no more?...
The daughter of King Saul has yet to learn.
I a mere shepherd innocent of wile!
A singer music-maudled and no more?...
The daughter of King Saul has yet to learn.
(She goes. He turns to Michal.)
But you, fairest of all my hopes, what word!
The vaunting of this victory is done.
We are alone at last.
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—and for
You, ever round about me as a mist
Of armèd mighty angels triumphing.
For Israel I've wrought to-day—and for
You, ever round about me as a mist
Of armèd mighty angels triumphing.
Michal. Yes: It was well.
Michal (struggling). Nothing.
David. Empty of glow then seems it, impotent,
A shrivelled hallowing ...
Ashes of ecstasy that burned in vain.
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?
Glory above the heavens could I seize,
Wreathing of dawn and loveliness unfading,
To crown you with and crown!
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?
Glory above the heavens could I seize,
Wreathing 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!
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!
Tell, tell thy joy with kisses on my lips!
Thy mouth! thy arms! thy breast!
Michal. No no!
David. Thy soul!
(Clasps her.)
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.
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.
Michel. Loose, loose me!
David. Nay, again! immortal kisses!
Michal. A frenzy, 'tis a frenzy! From me! see!
This irremediable victory
Over Goliath severs us the more.
This irremediable victory
Over Goliath severs us the more.
(The tumult, again, afar.)
Hear how the people lift you limitless!
Almost to-day and in my father's room
They would that you were king.
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!
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.
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.
The gliding on of firm divinity.
And yet whatever may be shall be done.
Michal. All, all?
David. That for thee reverently may.
Michal. That 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!
It may be told my father; that I may
Say to him all the secret!
Michal. He would not!
David. Nay.
Michal. I'll plead with him.
David. In vain.
Michal (coldly). Then ... 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 through me as
The tread and tremble of seraphic song
Along the infinite.
The tread and tremble of seraphic 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? even in all?
Michal. You snared me to you!
David. Michal!
Michal. Cunningly
With Samuel netted fears about my father,
Till I am paltrily unto you pledged.
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.
Out of my heart, as 'twere enchantment dead,
And free you; but no more.
(He moves from her.)
David. Now, what fever?
A gentleness clad once your every grace.
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 you will learn.... Who's that?
(Judith glides in.)
(To her.) Why are you here?
Judith (to David, with a laugh, as if with amorous joy).
Brave, it was brave, my love! beauteous! brave!
Brave, it was brave, my love! beauteous! brave!
David. Woman?
Judith. The Philistine, a brazen tower,
A bastion of strength, fell to the earth!
A bastion of strength, fell to the earth!
David. Woman, who are you?
(She clasps and kisses him.)
Take away your flesh.
(Free.) Take it away, the heat and myrrh of it.
(Free.) Take it away, the heat and myrrh of it.
Judith. So cold?
David. Hireling!
Judith. It is no longer fair?
(Wantonly.) Oh! Ah! I understand! the princess! Oh!
(Wantonly.) Oh! Ah! I understand! the princess! Oh!
(Goes laughing and shaking her timbrel wickedly.)
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!
It is chicanery of chance or craft.
You who are noble, though in doubt adrift,
Be noble now!
David. You mean ... that Saul——? You would not, no!
Michal. Rest sure.
(A hand is seen at the door. Ahinoam enters.)
Ahinoam. David, the king ... But what is this?
(Michal goes.)
David. O queen ...
It is but life.
It is but life.
Ahinoam. Nay.
David. Life that ever strings
Our hearts, so pitifully prone for it,
To ecstasy—then snaps.
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——?
Where words are futile for an utterance.
But of the king—the king——?
Ahinoam. He's driven still.
And hither comes again, and must be calmed.
The harp take you, and winds of beauty bring,
And consolation, as of valley eves
When there is ebb of sorrow and of toil.
Oh, could you heal him and for ever heal!
And hither comes again, and must be calmed.
The harp take you, and winds of beauty bring,
And consolation, as of valley eves
When there is ebb of sorrow and of toil.
Oh, could you heal him and for ever heal!
David. Then would I be——!
(Breaks off with great desire. Takes the harp and seats himself.)
Ahinoam. At once, for he will come.
(A strain of wild sadness brings Saul, and many, within. He pauses, his hand to his brow, enspelled of the playing; then slowly goes up the daïs.)
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 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!
O heart of woe,
Heart of unrest and broken as a reed! (Plays.)
O heart whose flow
Is anguish and all 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.)
O days of life,
Days that are driven swift and wild from the womb! (Plays.)
O days so rife—
Days that are torn of trouble, trod of doom!
Days that are driven swift and wild from the womb! (Plays.)
O days so rife—
Days that are torn of trouble, trod of doom!
(Plays. 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!
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 silence.)
Saul (rising in tears). David!
David. My lord?
Saul. Thy song is beauteous!
Stilling to sorrow!... Oh, my friend, my son!
Stilling to sorrow!... Oh, my friend, my son!
Saul. To you!
David. How shelter o'er me then will spring
And safety covering!
And safety covering!
Saul. It ever shall.
Loveliest have you been among my days,
And singing weary madness from my brain.
Loveliest have you been among my days,
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!
David. Michal!
Michal. No! but he
Is jeopardy and fate about you! drive
Him from you utterly and now away!
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!
David. But shall be; for to tell
Would rend silence for ever 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.
Would rend silence for ever 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 before Saul.)
You seek, my lord ... you seek whom Samuel
Anointed.
Anointed.
Saul. Yes.
David. Then know that it is I.
(Consternation.)
Saul. You!
David. Guiltless I, no other!
I, though I sought it not and suffer, though—
I, though I sought it not and suffer, though—
(Saul seizes a javelin.)
I would it had not come and fast am sworn
Never against you to lift up——
Never against you to lift up——
Merab. Hear, hear!
Now he will cozen!
Now he will cozen!
Doeg. He, "thy servant!"
Ishui. Hear!
(Goliath's head is upset.)
A voice. A thousand Saul hath slain! but David ten!
Saul (choking). Omnipotence shall not withhold me more.
(Lifts javelin.)
Die, die!
Jonathan. No, father ... hold!
Michal (as Saul flings). What have I done?
(Reels.)
Jonathan. David, unhurt? Away, the wilderness!
David (aflame). Strike, strike, then! strike, strike, strike,
(Rushes up throne.)
Murderous king, afoam with murder-heat.
Strike me to darkness and the waiting worm!
But after be your every breathing blood!
Remorse and riving bitterness and fear!
Be guilt and all the hideous choke of horror!
Strike me to darkness and the waiting worm!
But after be your every breathing blood!
Remorse and riving bitterness and fear!
Be guilt and all the hideous choke of horror!
(Saul trembling cowers, the javelin falling from him. David breaks through Doeg and Ishui and escapes by the door. Michal sinks to her knees, her face buried in her hands.)
ACT III
Scene: A savage mountain-cliff in the wilderness of Engeddi. On either side grey crags rise rugged, sinking away precipitously 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 crimson with sunset and a thundercloud arises 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!
Water!
First Fol. Listen.
Second Fol. He calls.
David. Water! I thirst.
(He goes. David sinks back.)
Second Fol (to First). You drank it, then.
First Fol. And should I thirst, not he?
Give me the bread.
Give me the bread.
Second Fol. If it would strangle you.
First Fol. I'll have it.
Second Fol. Or betray him? spitingly?
It is the last. Already you have eat.
And we are here within a wilderness.
It is the last. Already you have eat.
And we are here within a wilderness.
First Fol. Be it, but I'll not starve.
Third Fol. He utters right.
Why should we but to follow a mere shepherd
Famish—over 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.
Why should we but to follow a mere shepherd
Famish—over 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 Fol. Nor I.
Third Fol. 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
Thought but of Michal, not of smiting him
And, with a host, of leaping to the kingdom?
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
Thought but of Michal, not of smiting him
And, with a host, of leaping to the kingdom?
(David stirs to rise.)
First Fol. He moves; peace!
Third Fol. Let him.
Second Fol. Peace.
David (sufferingly). Men—men, we must have news. Perpetual,
Implacable they stare unto each other,
This rock and stony sky.... We must have news.
Implacable they stare unto each other,
This rock and stony sky.... We must have news.
(Rises and comes down to them. They are silent.)
Longer is death. 'Tis over many days
Of sighing—and remembered verdancy;
Nor any dew comes here or odour up.
Who will go now and bring us word of Saul?
Of sighing—and remembered verdancy;
Nor any dew comes here or odour up.
Who will go now and bring us word of Saul?
Third Fol. Have not Abishai, Abiathar,
And others gone?
And others gone?
David. Bravely.
Third Fol. And none returned!
David. Not one of all.
Third Fol. Well, then, we are not swine;
And life's but once.... So we will follow you
No longer hungered and rewarded never,
But perilously ever.
And life's but once.... So 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 into each other's love.
Still of the sunny haven of his heart.
Upon my hand he pressed it—the day we leapt
Deeper than friends into each other's love.
(Gives it to First, who goes.)
Second Fol. I want it not.
David. You have not thought;
'Tis riches—such as Sidon marts and Tyre
Would covet.
'Tis riches—such as Sidon marts and Tyre
Would covet.
Second Fol. I care not.
David. None else is left.
Second Fol. No matter.
David. Then——?
Second Fol. There was of Gibeah
A woman—dear to me. Her face at night ...
Weeping among my dreams....
The prophesy
Is unfulfilled and vain!
A woman—dear to me. Her face at night ...
Weeping among my dreams....
The prophesy
Is unfulfilled and vain!
David. And you would go?
Second Fol. The suffering—this cliff.
David. I understand.
(Motions.) So, without any blame, go—to content.
(Motions.) So, without any blame, go—to content.
(The Second, faltering, goes.)
(Quietly.) A desolation left, of rock and air,
Of barren sea and bitterness as vast.
Thou hast bereft me, Saul!... and Michal, thou!
Of barren sea and bitterness as vast.
Thou hast bereft me, Saul!... and Michal, thou!
(He moves up cliff, gazes off, then kneels 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.
I must revenge's call within me quell
Though righteously it quivers and aflame.
As pants the hart for the water-brook, so I!
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.
I must revenge's call within me quell
Though righteously it quivers and aflame.
As pants the hart for the water-brook, so I!
(He bows his head.... Michal enters in rags with the lad. She sees David rise and wander into 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?
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?
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.... But, oh!
I told of Moab, my own land.... But, oh!
(David plays within.)
It is his harp.
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...?
I'll speak to him ... and yet must be unknown!
A leper? as a leper could I...?
Lad. Why
Must he not know you?
Must he not know you?
Michal. Ask me not, lad, now;
But go a little.
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?
Poor leper in these wilds, who art thou?
Michal. One
Outcast and faint, forlorn!
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;
Who has no ease but cave or shading rock,
Or the still moon, or stars that glide the night.
One over whom——
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;
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.
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 it was dear, but should be so no more.
(Flinging it to her). Have it, and with it vanish memory
Out of my breast——
This chain of Ophir for thy every need.
Once it was 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.
Link upon link her loveliness that bound.
David. Woman...?
Michal. Nothing. A chain like this
I once beheld wind undulantly bright
O'er Michal the king's daughter.
I once beheld wind undulantly bright
O'er Michal the king's daughter.
David. Woman, the king's?
Michal. Pity!
David. Who are you?
Michal. Stay! Unclean!
David. A spy?
A spy of Saul and hypocrite have crept
Hither to learn...?
A spy of Saul and hypocrite have crept
Hither to learn...?
Michal. Have heed—unclean!
David. How, then
Wandering came you here?
Wandering came you here?
Michal. Unclean! Unclean!
David. My brain is overfull of fever, mad.
Almost and I had touched thy peril, held
Thy hideous contagion.
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?
Art thou to know and speak of her, of Michal?
Michal. One who has served the king.
David. And you have seen
Michal, you have beheld her?
Michal, you have beheld her?
Michal. Once, when she
In face was fairer and in heart than now
They say she is.
In face was fairer and in heart than now
They say she is.
David. And heard her speak?
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.
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.
Nor of her cruelty, unless to pray
He she has ruined may forget her.
Michal. Yet
If deep she should repent?—if deep she should?
If deep she should repent?—if deep she should?
(A cry interrupts. They start.)