MAYA

I hear the moaning rains beat on your restIn the long nights of Winter and his wind—And Death, the woeful, guilty of your fall,Crying that he has sinned.

(Hiroshima, Japan, 1905)

Pale sampans up the river glideWith set sails vanishing and slow;In the blue west the mountains hideAs visions that too soon will go.Across the rice-lands flooded deepThe peasant peacefully wades on—As in unfurrowed vales of sleep,A phantom out of voidness drawn.Over the temple cawing fliesThe crow with carrion in his beak.Buddha within lifts not his eyesIn pity or reproval meek;Nor, in the bamboos, where they bowA respite from the blinding sun,The old priest—dreaming painless howNirvana's calm will come when won."All is allusion,Maya, allThe world of will," the spent East seemsWhispering in me, "And the callOf Life is but a call of dreams."

Pale sampans up the river glideWith set sails vanishing and slow;In the blue west the mountains hideAs visions that too soon will go.

Across the rice-lands flooded deepThe peasant peacefully wades on—As in unfurrowed vales of sleep,A phantom out of voidness drawn.

Over the temple cawing fliesThe crow with carrion in his beak.Buddha within lifts not his eyesIn pity or reproval meek;

Nor, in the bamboos, where they bowA respite from the blinding sun,The old priest—dreaming painless howNirvana's calm will come when won.

"All is allusion,Maya, allThe world of will," the spent East seemsWhispering in me, "And the callOf Life is but a call of dreams."

(Miyanoshita, Japan, 1905)

Spirit of rain—With all thy ghosts of mist about the mountain, lonelyAs a gray trainOf souls newly discarnate seeking new life only!Spirit of rain!Leading them thro' dim torii, up fane-ways onwardTill not in vainThey tremble upon the peaks and plunge rejoicing dawnward.Spirit of rain!So would I lead my dead thoughts high and higher,Till they regainBirth and the beauty of a new life's fire.

Spirit of rain—With all thy ghosts of mist about the mountain, lonelyAs a gray trainOf souls newly discarnate seeking new life only!

Spirit of rain!Leading them thro' dim torii, up fane-ways onwardTill not in vainThey tremble upon the peaks and plunge rejoicing dawnward.

Spirit of rain!So would I lead my dead thoughts high and higher,Till they regainBirth and the beauty of a new life's fire.

She lay by the river dead,A broken reed in her hand,The nymph whom an idle god had wedAnd led from her maidenland.The god was the great god, Jove.Two notes would the bent reed blow,The one was sorrow, the other love,Enwove with a woman's woe.She lay by the river dead,And he at feasting forgot.The gods, shall they be disquietedBy dread of a mortal's lot?

She lay by the river dead,A broken reed in her hand,The nymph whom an idle god had wedAnd led from her maidenland.

The god was the great god, Jove.Two notes would the bent reed blow,The one was sorrow, the other love,Enwove with a woman's woe.

She lay by the river dead,And he at feasting forgot.The gods, shall they be disquietedBy dread of a mortal's lot?

Oh, fisher-fleet, go in from the seaAnd furl your wings.The bay is gray with the twilit sprayAnd the loud surf springs.The chill buoy-bell is rung by the handsOf all the drowned,Who know the woe of the wind and towOf the tides around.Go in, go in! O haste from the sea,And let them rest—A son and one who was wed and oneWho went down unblest.Aye, even as I whose hands at the bellNow labour most.The tomb has gloom, but O the doomOf the drear sea-ghost!He evermore must wander the oozeBeneath the wave,Forlorn—to warn of the tempest born,And to save—to save!Then go, go in! and leave us the sea,For only soCan peace release us and give us easeOf our salty woe.

Oh, fisher-fleet, go in from the seaAnd furl your wings.The bay is gray with the twilit sprayAnd the loud surf springs.

The chill buoy-bell is rung by the handsOf all the drowned,Who know the woe of the wind and towOf the tides around.

Go in, go in! O haste from the sea,And let them rest—A son and one who was wed and oneWho went down unblest.

Aye, even as I whose hands at the bellNow labour most.The tomb has gloom, but O the doomOf the drear sea-ghost!

He evermore must wander the oozeBeneath the wave,Forlorn—to warn of the tempest born,And to save—to save!

Then go, go in! and leave us the sea,For only soCan peace release us and give us easeOf our salty woe.

The clouds in woe hang far and dim:I look again and loOnly a faint and shadow lineOf shore—I watch it go.The gulls have left the ship and wheelBack to the cliff's gray wraith.Will it be so of all our thoughtsWhen we set sail on Death?And what will the last sight be of lifeAs lone we fare and fast?Grief and the face we love in mist—Then night and awe too vast?Or the dear light of Hope—like that,O see, from the lost shoreKindling and calling "Onward, youShall reach the Evermore!"

The clouds in woe hang far and dim:I look again and loOnly a faint and shadow lineOf shore—I watch it go.

The gulls have left the ship and wheelBack to the cliff's gray wraith.Will it be so of all our thoughtsWhen we set sail on Death?

And what will the last sight be of lifeAs lone we fare and fast?Grief and the face we love in mist—Then night and awe too vast?

Or the dear light of Hope—like that,O see, from the lost shoreKindling and calling "Onward, youShall reach the Evermore!"

Silence is song unheard,Is beauty never born,Is light forgotten—left unstirredUpon Creation's morn.

SaulKing of Israel.JonathanHeir to the throne.IshuiHis brother.SamuelThe Prophet of Israel.AbnerCaptain of the Host of Israel.DoegAn Edomite; chief servant of Saul, and suitor for Michal.AdrielA Lord of Meholah, suitor for Merab.DavidA shepherd, secretly anointed King.AbishaiA follower of David.AbiatharA priest and follower of David.A Philistine Spy.AhinoamThe Queen.MerabDaughters of Saul and Ahinoam.MichalMiriamA blind prophetess, and later the "Witch of Endor."JudithTimbrel-players of the King.LeahZillaAdahHandmaiden to Merab.A Chorus of Women. A Band of Priests. Followers of David. Soldiers of Saul. People of the Court, &c.

DAVID

Scene:A Hall of Judgment in the palace ofSaulat Gibeah. The walls and pillars of cedar are richly carven—with 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, by the throne, and on the left are doors to other portions of the palace; they are draped with woven curtains of purple and white. In the rear, which is open and supported on pillars, a porch crosses a court. Through the porch, on the environing hills, glow the camp-fires of the Philistines, the enemies of Israel. Lamps in the Hall burn low, and on the floorJudith,LeahandZillaare reclining restively.

Judith(springing to her feet impatiently). O for a feast, pomegranate wine and song!Leah.Oh! Oh!Zilla.A feast indeed! the men in camp!When was a laugh or any leaping here?Never; and none to charm with timbreling!

Judith(springing to her feet impatiently). O for a feast, pomegranate wine and song!

Leah.Oh! Oh!

Zilla.A feast indeed! the men in camp!When was a laugh or any leaping here?Never; and none to charm with timbreling!

(She goes to the porch.)

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 dayBecause these Philistines press round. As wellBe wenches gathering grapes or wool! Come, Leah.

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 dayBecause these Philistines press round. As wellBe wenches gathering grapes or wool! Come, Leah.

(She prepares to dance.)

Leah.No, Judith, I'll put henna on my nails,

(Sits down.)

And mend my anklet.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, souring fury!A jackal were his mate! Come, come, we'll plague him.Zilla.Shall we—with David whom he hates?Judith.Aie, David!The joy of rousing men 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!

And mend my anklet.

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, souring fury!A jackal were his mate! Come, come, we'll plague him.

Zilla.Shall we—with David whom he hates?

Judith.Aie, David!The joy of rousing men 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!

(They pose.Ishuientering sees them.Judithsighs.)

Ishui.Now, timbrel-gaud, why gape you here?Judith.O! 'tisPrince Ishui!Zilla.Prince Ishui! Then heWill tell us! he will tell us!Leah.Yes!Judith.Of David!O, is he come? when, where?—quick, quick. And willHe 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!Chaff of 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 offeredKingly to meet Goliath—great Goliath!Ishui.What do you say? to meet Goliath?Judith(laughing in his face). Aie!

Ishui.Now, timbrel-gaud, why gape you here?

Judith.O! 'tisPrince Ishui!

Zilla.Prince Ishui! Then heWill tell us! he will tell us!

Leah.Yes!

Judith.Of David!O, is he come? when, where?—quick, quick. And willHe 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!Chaff of 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 offeredKingly to meet Goliath—great Goliath!

Ishui.What do you say? to meet Goliath?

Judith(laughing in his face). Aie!

(Thrust from him, she goes, dancing withZillaandLeah.)

Adriel(who has entered). Ishui, in a rage?Ishui.Should I not be?Adriel.Not would you be yourself.Ishui.Not? (Deftly.) You say well.I should not, no. Pardon then, Adriel.Adriel.What was the offence?Ishui.Turn from it: I have notBidden you here for vapours ... tho' they hadSubstance as well for you!Adriel.For me?Ishui.Who likesLaughter against him?Adriel.I was laughed at?Ishui.Why,It is this shepherd!Adriel.David?Ishui.With his harp!Flinging enchantment on the palace airTill 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,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 onBlindly 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.

Adriel(who has entered). Ishui, in a rage?

Ishui.Should I not be?

Adriel.Not would you be yourself.

Ishui.Not? (Deftly.) You say well.I should not, no. Pardon then, Adriel.

Adriel.What was the offence?

Ishui.Turn from it: I have notBidden you here for vapours ... tho' they hadSubstance as well for you!

Adriel.For me?

Ishui.Who likesLaughter against him?

Adriel.I was laughed at?

Ishui.Why,It is this shepherd!

Adriel.David?

Ishui.With his harp!Flinging enchantment on the palace airTill 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,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 onBlindly 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.

(Goes to curtain, draws outAdah.)

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!Adriel.Who, girl?Adah.I care not!She is unkind; I will not spy for herOn Michal, and I'll tell her secrets all!And David does not love her—and she raves.Ishui.Off to your sleep; be off—

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!

Adriel.Who, girl?

Adah.I care not!She is unkind; I will not spy for herOn Michal, and I'll tell her secrets all!And David does not love her—and she raves.

Ishui.Off to your sleep; be off—

(Makes to strike her.)

Adriel.Ishui, no.

(Adahgoes.)

Ishui(gnashingly). Then see you now how "lovable" he is?I tell you that he stands athwart us all!The heart of Merab swung as a censer to him,My seat at table with the king usurped!Mildew and mocking to the harp of DoegAs it were any slave's; the while we allAre lepered with suspicion.Adriel.Of the king?Ishui.Ah! and of Jonathan and Michal.Adriel.Hush.

Adriel.Of the king?

Ishui.Ah! and of Jonathan and Michal.

Adriel.Hush.

(EnterMichal,passing, withMiriam.)

Michal, delay. Whom lead you?Michal. Miriam,A prophetess.Adriel.How of the king to-night?Michal.He's not at rest; dreads Samuel's prophecyThe throne shall pass from him, and darkens moreAgainst this boundless Philistine GoliathWho 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.

Michal, delay. Whom lead you?

Michal. Miriam,A prophetess.

Adriel.How of the king to-night?

Michal.He's not at rest; dreads Samuel's prophecyThe throne shall pass from him, and darkens moreAgainst this boundless Philistine GoliathWho 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.

(She goes, calmly, withMiriam.)

Ishui.Now are you kindled—are you quivering,Or must this shepherd put upon us more?Adriel.But has he not dealt honourably?Ishui.No.Adriel.Why do you urge it?Ishui.Why have senses. HeWith Samuel the prophet fast enshroudsSome secret, and has Samuel not toldThe kingdom from my father shall be rentAnd fall unto one another?Adriel.You are certain?Ishui.As granite.

Ishui.Now are you kindled—are you quivering,Or must this shepherd put upon us more?

Adriel.But has he not dealt honourably?

Ishui.No.

Adriel.Why do you urge it?

Ishui.Why have senses. HeWith Samuel the prophet fast enshroudsSome secret, and has Samuel not toldThe kingdom from my father shall be rentAnd fall unto one another?

Adriel.You are certain?

Ishui.As granite.

(Voices are heard in altercation.)

Yonder!Adriel.The king?Ishui.And SamuelWith prophecy or some refusal tears him!

Yonder!

Adriel.The king?

Ishui.And SamuelWith prophecy or some refusal tears him!

(They step aside.Saul,followed bySamuel,strides in and mounts the throne.)

Saul.You threat, and ever thunder threatening!Pour seething prophecy into my veins,Till a simoon of madness in me moves.Am I not king, the king? chosen and sealed?Who've been anathema and have been baneUnto the foes of Israel, and filledThe earth with death of them?And do you still forbid that I bear goldAnd bribe away this Philistine arrayFolded about us, fettering with flame?Samuel.Yes,—yes! While there is air—and awe of HeavenDo I forbid! A champion must riseTo level this Goliath. Thus may weLoose 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 waitOn 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 foreseenI tell thee again, thou perilous proud king,The sceptre shall slip from thee to another!

Samuel.Yes,—yes! While there is air—and awe of HeavenDo I forbid! A champion must riseTo level this Goliath. Thus may weLoose 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 waitOn 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 foreseenI tell thee again, thou perilous proud king,The sceptre shall slip from thee to another!

(He moves to go.)

Saul.The sceptre....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,

Saul.The sceptre....

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 atSamuel'smantle.)

And vow to all its divination—all!Samuel.Then, Saul of Israel, the hour is near,When shall arise one, and Goliath fall!

And vow to all its divination—all!

Samuel.Then, Saul of Israel, the hour is near,When shall arise one, and Goliath fall!

(Goes slowly out by the porch, Saul sinks back.)

Ishui(after a pause, keenly). Oh,—subtle!Saul.Thus he sways me.Ishui.Subtle!—subtle!And yet I must not speak; come, Adriel,

Ishui(after a pause, keenly). Oh,—subtle!

Saul.Thus he sways me.

Ishui.Subtle!—subtle!And yet I must not speak; come, Adriel,

(As if going.)

No use of us is here.Saul.Use? subtle? Stand!Ishui.No, father, no.Saul.What mean you?Ishui.Do not ask....Yet how it creeps, and how!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—ifMerely a little moment!—Ishui.I have seenYour David with him.Saul.Death! if —— Come here: David?Ishui.In secret.Saul.Say you?Ishui.Yes.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 for ever.I'll hear no more against him—Abner!—no.

No use of us is here.

Saul.Use? subtle? Stand!

Ishui.No, father, no.

Saul.What mean you?

Ishui.Do not ask....Yet how it creeps, and how!

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—ifMerely a little moment!—

Ishui.I have seenYour David with him.

Saul.Death! if —— Come here: David?

Ishui.In secret.

Saul.Say you?

Ishui.Yes.

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 for ever.I'll hear no more against him—Abner!—no.

(ToAbner,who enters.)

David, and with his harp.Abner.My lord——Saul.Not come?He is not come? Forever he delays!

David, and with his harp.

Abner.My lord——

Saul.Not come?He is not come? Forever he delays!

(Remounts throne.)

Abner.Time's yet to pass.Saul.There is not. Am I king?

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 boastsNone is amongGreat Israel's allFearless for Saul, King Saul!

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 boastsNone is amongGreat Israel's allFearless for Saul, King Saul!

(Entering with people of the palace.)

Aye, is there noneGalled of the sting,Will at the soul of Goliath run?Wring it and upTo his false gods fling?...None for the king, the king?

(He drops to his knee, amid praise, before the throne.)

Saul(darkening). Forego this praise and standAway from him; 'tis overmuch.(ToDavid.) Why haveYou 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 leftHaste and a swirl, a wonderment of air,And in the torrent's troubled vein amaze,So swift I hurried hither at your urgenceOut of the fields and folding the far sheep!Saul.You have not; you have dallied. (Motions rest out.) You have dallied.

Saul(darkening). Forego this praise and standAway from him; 'tis overmuch.

(ToDavid.) Why haveYou 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 leftHaste and a swirl, a wonderment of air,And in the torrent's troubled vein amaze,So swift I hurried hither at your urgenceOut of the fields and folding the far sheep!

Saul.You have not; you have dallied. (Motions rest out.) You have dallied.

(Comes down indeterminately.)

And now——David.And now the king with darkness foams,With sheeted passions like to lightning gusts.

And now——

David.And now the king with darkness foams,With sheeted passions like to lightning gusts.

(All have gone.)

Shall I not play to him?Saul.You shall not, no.

Shall I not play to him?

Saul.You shall not, no.

(Slowly draws a dagger.)

I'll not be lulled.David.But show a tiger gleam?Terrible fury stealing from the heartAnd crouching cold within the eye, O Saul?Saul.I'll not endure. They say that you——David.They say?What is this ravage in you? Does the truthSo 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(unmoving). 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!But under the terror of his might have INot 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? DeemI 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 HimselfMust not unking you, more than He would cryThe morning star from Heaven! Then, I swear it,None else will!Saul.Swear?David.Nay, nay!Saul.You swear?David.But words,Foolishly from the heart; a shepherd speech!Give them no mood; but see, see yonder firesCamping 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 steadAnother hath anointed.David.Saul, not this!This should not fall to me, my lord; no more!You cannot understand; it pains beyondAll 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.David.Peace, peace!

I'll not be lulled.

David.But show a tiger gleam?Terrible fury stealing from the heartAnd crouching cold within the eye, O Saul?

Saul.I'll not endure. They say that you——

David.They say?What is this ravage in you? Does the truthSo 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(unmoving). 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!But under the terror of his might have INot 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? DeemI 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 HimselfMust not unking you, more than He would cryThe morning star from Heaven! Then, I swear it,None else will!

Saul.Swear?

David.Nay, nay!

Saul.You swear?

David.But words,Foolishly from the heart; a shepherd speech!Give them no mood; but see, see yonder firesCamping 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 steadAnother hath anointed.

David.Saul, not this!This should not fall to me, my lord; no more!You cannot understand; it pains beyondAll 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.

David.Peace, peace!

(EnterMichaljoyously.)

Michal.O father, father! David! Listen!... WhyAll 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 makeDawn and delight in you!Saul.Perhaps; then, well?Michal.Oh, I have heard...!Saul.Have heard!—Why do you pale?

Michal.O father, father! David! Listen!... WhyAll 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 makeDawn 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 dreadWhat does it mean? I cannot speak! It shrinksShivering down upon my heart in awe!David.And numbs you so?—Let it rush from your lips!Can any moving in the world so bringTerror upon you! Speak, what is it?Michal.Ah!I know not; danger rising and its wingSudden 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! Have youNot much desired discovery of whomSamuel hath anointed?Saul.Well?Michal.I've found——

Now are you Baal-bit?

David.Michal!

Michal(in terror). David!... the dreadWhat does it mean? I cannot speak! It shrinksShivering down upon my heart in awe!

David.And numbs you so?—Let it rush from your lips!Can any moving in the world so bringTerror upon you! Speak, what is it?

Michal.Ah!I know not; danger rising and its wingSudden 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! Have youNot much desired discovery of whomSamuel hath anointed?

Saul.Well?

Michal.I've found——

(Davidblenches.)

Almost have found! A prophetess to-dayHath told me that he is a——

(Realises.)

Saul.Now you cease?

(She stands horrified.)

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