Chapter II: 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 various warlike designs. To one side on a dais are the
chairs of SAUL and AHINOAM; also DAVID’S harp. On the other side,
toward the front, is a table with wine and wine cups. 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 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

They come!

THIRD WOMAN

An avalanche.
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!

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.

[_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!

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.

[_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 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.

[_The tumult, 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 _I_ will praise him.

DOEG

David? you?

MERAB

As he
Was never--and shall never be again,--

DOEG

But--

MERAB

Give me the phial.

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 dagger
in it._]

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--?
DOEG

On him burst [_laughs_]
And as a fury.

MERAB

May it be their rending!

[_The tumult, near._]

Come, we must see.

[_They go to look out. Shouts of “David!”
“David!” arise, and a band of timbrel-players,
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, bearing
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!
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._]

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

Thou fool!

JONATHAN

Father?

AHINOAM

My lord?

SAUL

Thou full-of-lauding fool!
Of breath and ravishment unceasing!

AHINOAM

Saul!

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!

A WOMAN [_Without._]

King Saul has slain his thousands!

DOEG

“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 [_To_ 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_.]

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, whispering._]

DOEG [_To_ DAVID.]

This is not all, boy out of Bethlehem.
Goliath’s dead--

DAVID

But not all villainy?

[DOEG _goes, flushing,--and all follow, 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?

DAVID

Merab?…

MERAB

Is it strange
That even _I_ 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--

[_She 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.

[_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?

[_He 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--

[_He draws his own dagger, pricks his wrist with
it, and hands it to her._]

than this?

MERAB

Shepherd!
Treachery, then?
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.

[_As she goes, stung with chagrin._]

The daughter of king Saul has yet to learn.

[_From looking after her, he turns toward_ MICHAL,
_and, sighing, slowly approaches her_.]

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!
Glory above star-soaring could I seize,
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!
This irremediable victory
Over Goliath severs us the more.

[_The tumult breaks again, afar._]

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.

MICHAL

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!

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 [_coldly_] 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?

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--

[JUDITH _glides suddenly in with a low laugh and
kneels before_ DAVID. MICHAL _stands amazed_.]

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.
[_Free_] Take it away, the heat and myrrh of it.

JUDITH

So cold?

DAVID

Away.

JUDITH

And ’tis no longer fair?
[_Wantonly_] Oh! Ah! I understand! the princess?--

DAVID

Go.

[JUDITH _obeys, 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!

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._ AHINOAM _enters_.]

AHINOAM

David, the king--But what is this?

[MICHAL _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
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, JONATHAN--_others_. _He pauses, his hand
to his brow, and goes slowly, enspelled of_ 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._]

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!

[_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!

[_He plays to a close that dies in anguished silence._]

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!

DAVID

How shelter o’er me then will spring
And safety covering!

SAUL

It ever shall.
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!

[_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 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, before Saul._]

You seek, my lord, you seek whom Samuel
Anointed.

SAUL

Yes.

DAVID

Then know that it is I.

SAUL

’Tis--?

DAVID

I.

SAUL

You!

DAVID

I. And guiltless I, no other.
I, though I sought it not and suffer, though
I would it had not come and fast am sworn
Never against you to lift up--

MERAB

Hear, hear!
Now he will cozen!

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! To-day you will destroy me?

[GOLIATH’S _head overturned, rolls on the floor_.]

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._]

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, her face buried in her
hands_.]

[_CURTAIN._]