Chapter VIII: 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!

_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!"
O queen! a sea of shouting!

_Ahinoam._ Which you crave?
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 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

(_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.

(_Takes a dagger._)

_Doeg._ But----

_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?

_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----

(_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!

_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!

_People._ David! David!

_Jonathan._ Never before in Israel rose beauty
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!

_Saul_ (_livid_). 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?

_Woman._ But David his ten thousands!

_Doeg._ Do you hear?
King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten!
Thy servant, is he? servant?

_David._ Yea, O king!...
Therefore be wielded by no venom-word,
As a weed under the wind!

_Saul._ 'Tis overmuch!
I'll burst all bond of priest or prophesy.
Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear.

(_He seizes a javelin._)

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!

(_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, _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----

_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?

_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 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.

_David_ (_slowly_). Then of my veins whatever drop you will
But, no ... (_Pauses._) You do not mock me?

_Merab._ Rather upon
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--

(_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?

_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.

(_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.

_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.

_Michal._ Yes: It was well.

_David._ To you no more? to you
Whom not a slave can serve unhonoured?

_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 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!

_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!

(_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.

_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.

(_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.

_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._ 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!

_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_ (_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.

_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.

_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 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!

_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._ Hireling!

_Judith._ It is no longer fair?
(_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!

_Michal._ And loving? Oh, 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 door._
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 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!

(_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 song is beauteous!
Stilling to sorrow!... Oh, my friend, my son!

_David._ To me is this? I do not dream? 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 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.

_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--

(SAUL _seizes a javelin._)

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!

(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!

_Saul_ (_with another javelin_). He shall not, no!

_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!

(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._)

CURTAIN.