w Xx^>v - THE ROUT OF THE PHILISTINES THE TWENTIETH GROVE PLAY OFTHE BOHEMIAN CLUB 1922 THE ROUT OF THE PHILISTINES A FOREST PLAY BY CHARLES G. NORRIS MUSIC BY NINO MARCELLI THE TWENTIETH GROVE PLAY OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO As performed by its members in the Bohemian Grove, Sonoma County, California on the twenty-ninth of July nineteen hundred and twenty-two SAN FRANCISCO BOHEMIAN CLUB 1922 COPYRIGHT 1922 BY BOHEMIAN CLUB SAN FRANCISCO PRINTED BY ISAAC UPHAM Co., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA THE ROUT OF THE PHILISTINES A FOREST PLAY DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF GREAT AND GENTLE BOHEMIAN FRANK L. MATHIEU But here before you stands a god in truth, Or if no god, the symbol of a god; Te would do well to fall upon your knees And worship him, j or he is inspiration, And kindleth aspiration, attributes Of gods alone. PERSONS OF THE PLAY AARON, High Priest of the Philistines MALCHALM, Priest ABIMELECH, King of the Philistines ACKISH, Prince, Son of Abimelech MOAB, Tutor to the Prince . DOR, Servant to the Prince . . . HAMUL, Captain of the Host . . GAZA } ASHKELON LORDS OF GATH ASHOD EKRON SAPH, Son of Rapha, King of the Anakims AMON, Script Writer SISERA, Musician BOAZ, Sculptor Lords of the Philistines RICHARD M. HOTALING . JOSEPH S. THOMPSON . MORRIS W. ANKRUM . RICHARD A. LEONARD GEORGE S. MAGEE . . EASTON KENT WILLIAM B. HANLEY, JR. LEO CUNNINGHAM LESTER SEIB E. MALCOLM CAMERON FRANK E. RODOLPH JOHN R. GWYNN WILLIAM S. RAINEY [GORDON DAVIS Slaves of the J FREDERICK THOMPSON iihstmes ^ DAVID R ElSENBACH MESSENGER JESSE L. PECK SOLDIER WM.C. SHIELS APPARITION of King Rapha .... MELVILLE C. THRELKELD MOTHER S SONG, sung by STEPHEN BOWERS Chorus of Priests, Nobles, Zealots, Soldiers, Slaves, Litter Bearers M. ANGELL M. ANGER A. A. ARBOGAST R. A. BROWN P. S. CARLTON W. L. COZZENS M. E. CRESWELL T. G. ELLIOTT J. O. ENGLAND C. E. ENGVICK C. J. EVANS W. B. FIEDLITZ H. FREEMAN E. GERSON R. A. GLENN C. E. GREENFIELD C. HARRIS R. B. HEATH G. BROWN E. J. CARDINAL WM. CROSS CHORUS OF PRIESTS CHESTER HEROLD E. V. HOLTON W. F. HOOKE O. JOHNSON A. G. KELLOGG W. R. KNEISS R. H. LACHMUND G. LANE CHAS. M. LEE R. LUNDGREN R. I. LYNAS F. A. MACK H. MALDE E. H. McCANDLISH J. McEwiNG F. MUELLER A. E. MEYERS R. M. NEILLY CHORUS OF KINGSMEN D. A. ERVIN W. H. HOPKINSON W. A. MITCHELL P. J. MOHR DANCE OF THE ZEALOTS R. O BRIEN H. L. PERRY G. B. PETERSON R. PROBASCO G. PURLENKY E. W. ROLAND J. S. SELFRIDGE B. M. STICK A. H. STILL J. F. TALBOT J. M. TEEL J. A. THOMAS W. B. THOMPSON C. F. VOLKER P. H. WARD M. WHITE G. R. WILLIAMS W. S. WILSON A. Y. WOOD H. ORR J. I. THOMAS T. G. WHITAKER WM. LINDLEY ABBOTT S. W. BLUM A. M. BROWN LESLIE CUPPLES WM. H. CUPPLES FRED B. DAVIS C. DECHENT CHESTER DECHENT GEORGE HAMMERSMITH FRED W. KAPPELMAN JOHN MESSERSMITH HARVEY R. OLDS LELAND S. POOLE DANCE OF THE DRYADS WM. LINDLEY ABBOTT S. W. BLUM FRED B. DAVIS CHARLES DECHENT FRED W. KAPPELMAN HARVEY R. OLDS LELAND S. POOLE WILLIAM S. RAINEY RETAINERS OF THE LORDS GAZA S RETAINERS C. H. BENTLEY J. R. SELBY DONZEL STONEY WM. L. SHAW GATH S RETAINERS GEO. Q. CHASE JOHN HOWELL J. B. McCARGAR DONALD MCLAREN ASHOD S RETAINERS B. D. DEAN R. W. MAPLES J. D. MlLLIKIN WM. K. WHITE ASHKELON S RETAINERS J. C. ATWOOD C. T. CROCKER G. J. HENRY ARMSTRONG TAYLOR W. R. BACON C. C. DOBIE EKRON S RETAINERS GEO. VAN SMITH R. L. McWlLLIAMS HAMUL S MEN M. ANGER A. A. ARBOGAST H. H. DIGNAN T. G. ELLIOTT C. E. ENGVICK G. H. EVANS G. J. HATFIELD C. HEROLD E. V. HOLTON F. W. KROLL A. E. MEYERS J. A. MOORE R. O BRIEN G. B. STACY B. M. STICK LITTER BEARERS C. W. B. CORNELIUS W. A. DWIGHT T. C. PALMER H. C. TAFT DIRECTOR GENERAL . FOR THE JINKS COMMITTEE FREDERICK A. DENICKE DIRECTOR REGINALD TRAVERS LIGHTING EFFECTS AND ILLUMINATION . RAY F. COYLE /HOMER ANSLEY Assisted by j EDWIN L . OLIVER COSTUMES AND PROPERTIES . . . FRANK J. VAN SLOUN LUCIEN LABAUBT Assisted by RAY BOYNTON HARRY P. CARLTON HARRY S. FONDA SCENIC EFFECTS HERBERT A. SCHMIDT DIRECTOR OF DANCES GEORGE HAMMERSMITH CONDUCTOR NINO MARCELLI DIRECTOR OF CHORUS EUGENE BLANCHARD CONCERT MASTER ALEXANDER SASLAVSKY ORCHESTRA MANAGER .... WALTER OESTERREICHER PROMPTER FRANK C. SHAUGHNESSY PLAN OF MUSIC Prelude Invocation to Dagon Entrance of the Lords of Philistia Hail Philistia! The Glorification of Dagon Dance of the Zealots The Return of Hamul and his Men Saph s Narrative The Mother s Song Finale THE PROLOGUE SCENE A woodland glade, shrouded in the mystery of dark night, and the profound solemnity of great trees. Glimmerings of dawn are followed by the slow awakening of the forest. Calls of woodland spirits are heard, some cheerful, some sad, some tortured. As the light increases, ACKISH, the young Prince of Philistia, is discovered asleep. Plaintive cries continue to be heard, and gradually creatures of the forest become discern- able: dryads, a Pan, timid fauns and elves. They discover the Prince, and indicate their curiosity and interest. One bolder dryad detaches himself from his fellows and draws near for closer inspection. In pantomimic dance, he portrays his admiration for the sleeping youth, his fear of impending tragedy, his eagerness for friendship, and a pressing need of assistance. Warnings of approaching danger are heard, and the dryad and other woodland creatures flee in alarm. The forest illuminated, now, reveals the entrance of MOAB, fol lowed by DOR. MOAB My task is done, and like a tethered hound, I strain the leash that binds me. Fain would I Begone. The hour attends when we depart; The kindly breeze that sees us homeward bound Already stirs the canvas of our sails. Where waits the Prince? DOR He was enamored of A woodland glade, just such a one as this, And told me he would there abide alone, Till we returned. [13] MOAB I fear the way is lost, And that thou art uncertain of the spot. Thy negligence may cost us dear. The King, Abimelech, almost a year ago, Did charge me with the keeping of his son, Did bid me journey to far-distant lands, And show to him the wonders of the world. He did entrust me with the Prince, and I Have loved my charge. To Egypt have we been, To Tyre, Sidon, and to Babylon, And no misfortune hath befallen us. But now upon the brink of our return, When we within the hour sail for home To bring the Prince of all the Philistines, Unto the King, his father, doth mishap Waylay our steps! Woe, woe betide thee, Dor, If he be harmed! DOR Good Moab, be assured, He is not far. Twas some such spot as this. Lo, there he is! Asleep! Praised be the gods! For thou didst fill me with disquietude. MOAB It is the Prince! And it is well for thee, No harm hath come to him. He must awake, For it behooves us to be gone; the sea Lies just beyond the hill; the eager ship Doth strain her moorings e en as strains my heart To carry safe my cargo home again, Discharge my freight, and give my King account. DOR Philistia! Thy Prince restored to thee Shall shortly be, our mission safely done! MOAB Awake thy master. We must not delay. DOR O Prince awake! My master Ackish wake! Arise! The hour is come when we depart, The good ship waits, our year of travel far Is o er and we our faces turn toward home. ACKISH (awakening, bewildered) Ah, what say you? . . . Good Moab, faithful Dor? Ah, what a dream had I, or was it dream Or vision of my sleep? . . . Thy hand, my boy. . . . Oh, horrible illusion ! Dream I still? . . . MOAB Not so, my lord, we do depart straightway For fair Philistia s shores. I have secured A timely passage and we sail forthwith. ACKISH (still bewildered) Such odious crime, such foul and wanton murder! MOAB What troubles thee, my Prince ? ACKISH My dream my dream ! MOAB A figment of the brain, of no import. ACKISH Not so. This fancy of my troubled sleep Was all too vivid, too appalling strange To have no portent. DOR Hadst thou visions, then ? ACKISH Aye, visions, and a troubling revelation ! Good Moab, see this quiet, leafy glade? It did enchant me when I came on it, These stately trees, these noble columned timbers, Rising in serried ranks like sentinels About this grove. I, drinking of its peace, Did lay me down and soon I was asleep. And as I slept, strange creatures came to me From out the woods, dryads and woodland sprites, And these grave trunks took on a gentle mien, And like a kindly race of giant friends They showed to me their hearts their simple souls! Thus saw I them as guardians of the world, Beloved by bird and beast by all the life That stirred and rustled, and was not afraid So near to them ! The elves and fauns and fays, With music and with laughter ringed them round, So that mine eyes were wet with tears of joy, My soul stirred deep with beauty. Sudden changed The dream : a troop of harsh and bloody fiends Burst in they slew these trees they hacked them down! They dragged their bodies off for gain, they left Their noble crowns, their princely vesture here To wither, mold, disintegrate decay! And all this lovely opulence of green Became a wilderness, wind-swept and bare, Deserted by the laughing merry nymphs, fi61 The little peeping elves who danced for Pan, Except where some poor fallen tree lay dead, Forgotten, left to rot! There grasses bloomed, And loving vines crept o er the broken corse, And hid the wound, and in the narrow shade, There lurked a weeping dryad, torn by grief! horrid sight! Would I might lift my hand To save a thing so noble! God-like trees, Thy purpose never falters; steadfast, sure, Thou ever pointest upward! Beauteous things, 1 would befriend thee if I might, and serve Thee half as staunchly as thou servest me! And I will give the world when I am King, Thy royal dow r of peace and fellowship, Of beauty and of kindness! MOAB Dear my lord, The dream that so excites thee hath small weight, Though thou hast couched it in such moving terms! Now wake to action. Soft the moving feet Of time do tip-toe by; our ship awaits The turning of the tide. A fav ring wind Toward fair Philistia blows. Thy father s arms Are stretched to welcome thee. Let us depart. ACKISH Farewell, dear land of dreams ! Oh, noble trees, Be still my friends when I am far away! I shall remember thee thy message keep And cherish in my heart. And if this arm Of mine can bring thee succor in thy hour Of need, its strength is thine. Farewell O trees ! I shall remember thee. Farewell! Farewell! [Exeunt [17] THE PLAY . . . Dwelt therein in times past a people great, and many and tall as the Anakims; which also were accounted giants. . . . DEUTERONOMY II:io, u. SCENE. A sacred forest grove outside the Temple of Dagon at Gaza in Philistia. Facade of temple at R. with broad steps leading down. A chant of the priests of Dagon is heard; as the hymn approaches its conclusion, the priests file from the temple singing, followed by AARON, MALCHALM, and attendant group of slaves. HYMN TO DAGON Dagon Dagon Dagon! Humbly our homage we yield, Lord of the vines and the harvest, Lord of the flock and the field, Guardian of streams and of fountains, Mighty one, wise to direct us, Fling o er our forests and mountains, All of thy might to protect us Hark to our voices repeating, Hark to our cries and entreating, Be to thy people a shield! D agon D agon D agon ! Now when the famine is near us, Fallen and vanished our glory, God of the powerless cheer us, Lift thou the crops that are failing, Hark, how the foeman rejoices, Widowed and fatherless wailing, Canst thou be deaf to their voices? Dagon, ail wise and forgiving, Grant us the sweetness of living, Thou who are merciful, hear us! Dagon Dagon Dagon! Here at thy temple we sue thee. Now shall the smoke from the body Of the live offering woo thee Into thine hour of kindness. Dagon, we storm at thy portals! Thou wilt forgive us our blindness, Mighty one, we are but mortals! And while the sacrifice fuming, Softens thee toward our presuming, We shall do homage unto thee! AARON The hour draws near when King Abimelech Holds council grave before great Dagon s shrine, From Ashkelon, and Gaza, Ekron, Gath, From distant Ashod come our noble Lords To legislate such measures as may bring The speedy help our people sorely need. Let Dagon s priests prepare the council seats. [Descends to lowest stage. MALCHALAM (to attendants) Swift take ye heed of Aaron s words. Set forth Such stalls as may most seemingly befit The dignity and honor of the court. [Joins AARON on lowest stage while priests and slaves bring from the temple the seats for the council ring. After these are arranged^ they withdraw. High Priest, it is a bitter hour that brings The King and Lords of all the Philistines [19] In august council on this troubled day. Does Dagon sleep, while we who watch and pray, Must also watch hope die, and faith depart, Our country fall in ruin, pass away? His favor Dagon s favor, the supreme, Hath been denied his faithful worshippers The season s round. And fresh misfortune seeks With eager clasp the hand of stale ill-luck, Familiar hardship ever at our backs. Our stately ships lie broken on the rocks, Our busy marts, ere now Philistia s pride, Stand empty and forlorn; the barren fields Lie fallow, waste by drought, and pestilence And hunger take their daily toll of life. AARON Tis bitter truth. Philistia s breasts are dry. The little children mouth their hands for food. MALCHALM A sorry state, but one which cannot be Alleviated by decree or law, The rulers of our cities, and our King Meet here to-day at Gaza s judgment-seat, To legislate some measure to restore Prosperity and plenty once again. Tis idle effort. Law nor statute will Avail while Dagon frowns. Twere better far To sue the god for grace, engage his favor, Propitiate him in his deep displeasure. AARON And what e re now hath never failed to suage Great Dagon s wrath? What hath unfailingly Appeased him, pacified his angry heart? [20] MALCHALM A living sacrifice of gentle blood, A noble youth of princely lineage Our mighty god doth crave above all else. No common mortal sates his appetite; Oblations of patrician rank alone Will glut his maw, and gratify his greed. AARON Thou speakest very truth, and to provide Such sacrifice to palliate our god, Meet here our noble Lords and gracious King. No purpose theirs to promulgate decrees, But theirs to formulate a plan whereby Almighty Dagon may be satisfied. MALCHALM What death more precious could there be than one By which the suffering of mankind might cease! AARON Yet though among our royal princes stood There one to welcome such a martyrdom, Accept the fiery kiss from Dagon s lips, His ardent clasp, his passionate embrace, Twere needless death, a futile sacrifice. There dwells not two moons journey from our land A race of giants all of noble blood, The Anakims, great-limbed, with towering heads Uplifted to the skies. MALCHALM Above all else Desired most by Dagon. Well I know The great god s hunger for these mighty men. [21] AARON The tigress calling for her mate, the wolf Long on his quarry s trail, hot for his prey, The mother yearning o er her ailing child, The wanton mad to satisfy her lust, None craves as Dagon craves the noble blood And savory flesh of these colossal men. MALCHALM The season s lagging circle is complete Since sacrifice to Dagon hath been made. How comes it that so long a time hath lapsed Ere we have had a captive from this land? AARON Knowst thou the lofty stature and the size, The bulk and brawny magnitude these men Attain ? Like mighty columns stand they fast, Their feet among the grasses of the plain,^ Their heads among the clouds. Majestically They lift themselves in towering stateliness. Of peace they are and disposition mild, Unwarlike, helpless gainst the keen-edged sword. Twere idle otherwise to dare presume Philistia s men of valor might prevail In combat o er such formidable foes. Great age they know, a thousand years and more, Each twelve-month adding to their magnitude. Their King, old Rapha, venerable, seer, A mighty monarch, oldest of them all, Tis said was born while yet the world was new, Ere pigmy man in cities walled himself, Or hid in houses fearful of the storm. [22] MALCHALM How comes it then our valiant fighting men From forays e er victorious gainst this foe Bring hither captives of no stature huge, But youths of size and height no more than ours, Alike to us, to any Philistine, Nor taller by so much as half a head ? AARON Such captives are but striplings of the race, Their younger sons, in age a score of years. Whereas we reach our height at man s estate. These giants steadily each round of months Lift up their heads still higher, taller soar. Great Dagon must have living sacrifice; Alive his meat must be. In captive state To bring a full-grown giant to our land Would prove by far too arduous a task. What fetters, chains or manacles are there So strong, so stout, so intricately made, As can withstand the strength of limbs so huge, Unused to bonds, rebellious of restraint? These proud and stately creatures welcome death, Accept the sword in arrogant disdain, Prefer to die than to submit to chains. For many years our valiant fighting men Have havoc wrought against this stalwart tribe To purpose good. Their dwindling number makes It ever harder and more difficult, ^ The capture of their sons, their tender youths, Who, in their adolesence, have not won The mighty size and still more mighty strength. MALCHALM Yet did not Hamul, Captain of the Host, [23] Set forth with ten score picked and fearless men These six months gone in eager enterprise To wrest such captives from the Anakims ? AARON Brave Hamul hath been grievously beset By storms of wind and rain, hath lost his way, And suffered hunger, thirst, and cruel want. And now for space of three months come and gone, No tidings good or evil hath he sent. Grave doubts possess the wisest of our chiefs; They dread disaster to our doughty band, Fear lest brave Hamul and his men are dead, Or peradventure are in cruel straits, Awaiting help from us that doth not come. And so our Lords and King meet here today In council to debate what policy Should shape our course: to Hamul speedy aid Dispatch, or hold our hand in trust some news Will shortly come. The people suffer want, Their urgent cry for food assaults our ears And whips our lagging purpose with its lash. MALCHALM I hear the trumpets and the march of feet; The Lords are gathering at the judgment-seat. AARON We ll to the temple and prepare to greet The King Abimelech and all his suite. [Exeunt. [Enter the LORD OF GAZA with retainers singing. MEN OF GAZA Greatest of all Philistia The men of Gaza march, Above the flashing of their shields, The heavens bend their arch. Before them flies the routed foe, The cowards shun their flanks, As o er a world submissive go The men of Gaza s ranks. For he who moves by field or fen, Must reckon first with Gaza s men; And he who puts it to the test, Will find our arrows at his breast. [Enter the LORD OF ASHKELON with attendants singing MEN OF ASHKELON We are the men of Ashkelon, Good servants of the King, And where our serried thousands throng, There is no garnering. Yet love we well the harvest days, When low the red sun shines, And haloes in a golden haze The maidens and the vines. Come back, oh days of peace and power, The bride s rose and the passion-flower, And let the yield of earth and stream, Make care and want a distant dream. [Enter the LORD OF GATH with attendants singing. [251 MEN OF GATH Singing before they bend their back, Our bowmen take the field, And what a harvest, red and black, The ordered furrows yield ! Our quiet women at their looms, Smile as they bind their hair With the gold fillets and perfumes The foeman s women wear. Make ready in the days of peace, For what may follow when they cease. None but the King dare face the wrath That stirs the mighty men of Gath. [Enter the LORD OF EKRON with attendants singing. MEN OF EKRON Death is obedient to our hands, The crash of echoing steel Has told afar in alien lands The hate our ranks may feel. To fight and love, these be the lot Of soldiers of the King, And passion s breath is not more hot Than our embattling. About the safety of our Lord, Stands fast the wall of Ekron s sword. And where we hunt and strike to kill, The thirsty steel shall drinkjts^fill. [Enter the LORD OF ASHOD with attendants singing. [261 MEN OF ASHOD A guarded mountain fastness ours, Across long leagues of plain, And where we dwell the tempest lowers, And sweeps the hurricane. But when the call to battle rings, Right ready are we then, Quick to the post each warrior springs, For we are Ashod s men ! What though the forest dim their trail, The men of Ashod shall not fail. With trumpet blast and beat of drum, Across the desert sands we come! GAZA To Gaza, noble Lords, I bid you welcome; Too long a time hath lapsed without this honor. ASHKELON We thank thee, Lord of Gaza. Ashkelon Returns thy hearty greeting and thy love. EKRON The harvest moon hath run her silver course Since last we met before great Dagon s shrine. GATH All hail, great ruler. Brother Philistines And brother princes, I salute you all. ASHOD From distant Ashod have I travelled far, Content to greet you neath fair Gaza s walls. [27] GAZA When last Abimelech convened us here, We had brave plans afoot for eager war, But now, alas! a far less joyful cause Hath brought us here in answer to his call. EKRON An evil blight hath fallen on our land. ASHOD The stealthy fingers of the mortal plague Close round my people s throats, a deadly grip, The only harvest Ashod knows is death. ASHKELON In Ashkelon, my Lords, there are no crops! The land lies parched; the weeds are shrivelled in The paths; Gilboa s sides are black and seared, The rivers, Hebron and Chebar, are dry, Their beds are dust. The fig upon the tree Is withered and the cattle die from thirst. GATH In stricken Gath, the richest of our towns, The city of Philistia s mart, wherein, The rushing currents of the world of trade Flowed nobly and as nobly ebbed, where came The spices of Arabia, the silks From rich Damascus, Egypt s wheat and corn, From Lebanon its cedars, Syrian figs, Heaped woolly pelts from Tartary, and wine Red from the vineyards of the Israelites, Tis even so. The produce of the world Flowed through our markets, weighed our pregnant ships, [28] Heaped high our coffers! Lords, they come no more! Our galleys founder on unfriendly seas, Or lie in broken wreckage on the shore. Deserted are the marts of Gath; the streets Are filled with mourners hungry in their weeds! GAZA So, too, in Gaza, humbled in her pride, She starves upon her hills. The chink of gold We hear no more. The jingling shekels cease To sound their clinking music in our ears, Starvation threatens us! ... But hark, methinks I hear the chanting voices in the temple; The priests of Dagon raise their prayer in song. ASHKELON The High Priest Aaron cometh to our council; It will behoove us all to close attend him. [Enter a procession of priests chanting. PRIESTS OF DAGON Dagon Dagon Dagon! Humbly our homage we yield, Lord of the vines and the harvest, Lord of the flock and the field, Guardian of streams and of fountains, Mighty one, wise to direct us, Fling o er our forests and mountains, All of thy might to protect us. Hark to our voices repeating, Hark to our cries and entreating, Be to thy people a shield! [29] Dagon Dagon Dagon! Now that the famine is near us, Fallen and vanished our glory, God of the powerless hear us! Lift thou the crops that are failing. Hark, how the foeman rejoices, Widowed and fatherless wailing! Canst thou be deaf to their voices? Dagon, all wise and forgiving, Grant us the sweetness of living, Thou who are merciful, hear us ! \At the conclusion of the hymn y AARON, followed by MALCOLM, appears at the portals of the temple, the ranks of the priests divide,, and the HIGH PRIEST comes down stage , and addresses the LORDS. AARON We gather here today neath Gaza s walls To make complaint before our worthy King, And tell of grave affliction that hath come Upon the people of our fatherland. Full well I know the justice of your plaints; We face indeed a situation grave; Yet ere this council doth begin, I beg You heed advice. ASHKELON Most Holy Priest, your words Have ever had a welcome in our hearts. No admonition know we more revered Than thine. We importune thee to advise. AARON Apostle of our sacred god am I, His inmost confidence is mine, and when [30] I speak, great Dagon speaks, and by my mouth His voice is heard. Give heed, oh Philistines, To D agon s words. GATH Most humbly we attend. AARON Thus spake the god: "I, Dagon, am incensed, My wrath is kindled, hot my anger is. My fury flameth, and my wrath is fierce. Accursed be my people for their sins, May they know famine, suffer pestilence, May death their portion be, and may their seed Be scattered to the corners of the earth. For they have chosen to neglect their god, Forgotten to make sacrifice to him, No homage paid, no tribute have they brought, No longer do they make their first concern My needs. I shall abandon them in turn; Annihilation shall their portion be, Disease and hunger, war and pestilence Shall swiftly blot them from the face of earth! ASHOD Oh, dreadful doom! Oh, fearful punishment Our sinful heedlessness hath well deserved ! EKRON Good Aaron, we beseech thee to avert This dreadful fate. We beg thee intercede For us, placate the god, forgiveness win. ASHOD Instruct us what to do to make amends, And for our wicked negligence atone. AARON Nay, listen yet awhile how spake the god: "I, Dagon, am ahungered, starved my soul. God though I am, I crave both drink and food, Oblation and libation must I have. My faithful priests devoutly sing their songs, And tend my vacant altar day and night; The ceremonies and the chants of praise, Are well enough, but this sufficeth not. The smoke of sacrifice, the drip of blood, The sav ry scent of crisping noble flesh, Alone will satisfy my gnawing need. With base-born slaves, and common, bleating sheep, My sacred altar have you dared defile. Until ye make a fitting offering, Calamity shall hound your steps. When next The moon hath waned above Philistia, My patience ends, and with a mighty sweep Your walls shall crumble, cities disappear, Yourselves, your children, all shall I destroy, Exterminate your race." GAZA Oh hideous fate ! What hath befallen us! GATH Good Aaron, plead Our cause, avert so terrible a doom ! AARON Lords of the Philistines, hark well to me: Our incensed deity we may placate With speedy offering of some royal youth Whose blood shall straightway feed the altar fire. You come here with the story of your griefs, Each one believing his the greatest plight Among you all. My Lords, your woes will cease, Your troubles disappear when Dagon dines. Abimelech will soon be here, e en now Methought I heard his trumpets at our walls, When he arrives, I charge you earnestly Waste not your breath in repetitions dull Of this great woe and that calamity, Of how the cattle died, how failed the crops, But take with him a tone of stern rebuke, Of censure aye, of censure ! Have no fear, But tax him with his failure to provide Our god with food. Demand from him account Of how it comes no offering has been made In all these moons! He is responsible, See that ye hold him so! Which of ye here Would hesitate to blame a son who failed His aged father when that father begged Of him some needy food? Abimelech Hath failed his father so; our mighty god Is procreator of Abimelech! Shall you permit the King to starve your god, The father of us all ? ASHKELON Not so, not so! Abimelech in stern accounting shall Be called, and I for one shall beard his wrath, And tax him roundly with his negligence. I have no fear of him ! [33] GAZA Nor I! EKRON Nor I! [Horns off stage and the music of a march. AARON List, tis Abimelech! The King s at hand! Heed well the words with which I Ve counselled you, Forget the speeches ready on your tongues With which you planned to stir our sympathy And move this synod. Gird yourselves instead With what determination ye may claim To call the polished forces of the King To an accounting for his culpable Default, and charge him he provide straight-way The princely sacrifice that shall appease Your justly angry and neglected god! [Enter KING ABIMELECH, resplendently costumed, drawn in a cbariot yoked to white bullocks capari soned in housings of gold and purple, followed by military guard, attendants and slaves, including AMON, SISERA andBoAz. SONG OF THE KING S MEN KING S MEN Who doubts our country s power? Who challenges our host? Behold our glorious hour, And harken to our boast! Hail to Philistia, hail! [34] Forever strong and splendid, Our conquering voices raise, A chorus never-ended, In great Philistia s praise. Hail to Philistia, hail! How weak their walls before us ! How swift their sudden rout! Beneath the fiery chorus Of our great battle shout! Hail to Philistia, hail! Philistia, mighty nation, Be glorious in war, And we in deep prostration Shall praise thee evermore! Hail to Philistia, hail! KING My Lords and faithful friends, most reverend Priest, I bid you royal greeting, one and all. [to Gatb. Most cordial salutations, gracious Prince; [to Asbod. My Lord of Ashod, welcome to our court, I know the weary journey that is thine, Ere Gaza s walls confront thy tired eyes. [to Gaza. And thou, thy city s battlements must lift Their rock-hewn heads in proud acknowledgment Each time affairs of state necessitate The gathering here within your stately gates Of so resplendent an illustrious group. [35] GAZA Indeed, tis so, yet this occasion did Display so grave a face methought twould be More seemly were our city s walls festooned With drapes of deepest hues and darkest dyes. KING A proper voucher of our sympathy, Today, when all the people are in want. GAZA Yet think not Gaza s Lord insensible To honor Gaza gains through company Of so distinguished and august a mien. KING Tis well. Let s to our business. We ll dispense With ceremony. Grave reports I hear Of evils that beset from every side. What say you now, my Lord of Ashkelon? Your grave foreboding looks bespeak dark thoughts. ASHKELON In truth, they are both serious and sad, But I shall not attempt to here describe The canopy of blackest gloom that hangs O er Ashkelon. Against our weary lips Is pressed the cup of salt adversity,^ And one and all have drained the contents deep. The specter of disaster stalks abroad; Philistia hath come on evil days. Tis so in all the cities of the land, Our aching eyes find daily proof of it. But let this recitation of our woes [36] Abide awhile; let s seek the cause, the cause For all these ills, for cause most surely must There be for so much universal grief! EKRON My brother speaks with wisdom. Is there smoke Where fire burneth not? For common ills There must be common cause. KING And who is wise To tell us what occasions all this woe? ASHKELON I ll be so bold. Great Dagon is ahungered! Our sacred god hath known no sacrifice Of noble blood for space of nigh a year. For our neglect his vengeance scorcheth us, And from his hand come these afflictions dire! ASHOD Tis punishment for our indifference; Gainst Dagon have we sinned most grievously! GAZA His scourge is on our backs; he plies the lash And flogs us with disaster on disaster! ASHKELON The voice of all Philistia cries out For sacrifice to light its altar fires. KING Six months ago, great Hamul was despatched Into the land of giants to secure A captive for our sacrifice. And now, [37] Four moons have gone, the tidings cometh not; We know not if he lives or dies. ASHKELON And in the meantime, crops have failed, our marts Are closed, the cattle die, the children faint From lack of food! KING Yet patience, Ashkelon! Success must wait on Hamul s feats of arms, And reason have we to expect success. The Oracle of Ekron hath declared That Hamul would prevail against the foe, And bring to Dagon fitting sacrifice. EKRON With mine own ears heard I the oracle Thus speak, foretelling victory for us. AARON "I hunger/* said the god, "make sacrifice Upon my altar or destruction waits!" The Oracle of Ekron prophesies, But doth it say when Hamul shall return? Return mayhap when all of us are dead. ASHKELON Thou hearest what the Priest of Dagon saith? What answereth thou? KING To Aaron s words I give. Good heed, yet have I faith in oracles. We shall have news of Hamul soon, good news. [38] ASHKELON And is that all ? Thine office doth thou then Fulfill by merely counselling more delay, And saying to thy starving people: "Wait Wait on and hunger on!" KING What else is there That may be said? ASHKELON The time is past to hope That chance may favor us. Thou art the King, And thine the duty in this bitter hour To satisfy our god, and save us all. Wilt thou not lead thy people in their need? KING I like not thy presumption, Ashkelon. Dost dare to question then thy King? ASHKELON I dare As much and more while ringing in my ears I hear the children crying for the milk That drieth in their mothers withered breasts. KING Let not the people s need serve as a cloak For insolence ! Audacious fool ! More swift Than Dagon s is my wrath, and Ashkelon A barren wilderness shall be within The day if I shall choose to punish thee! [39] GATH Then may thy arm be strong, O King, and deal With Gath as thou doth deal with Ashkelon. EKRON And so with Ekron! GAZA And with Gaza, too! ASHOD Forget not Ashod in thy punishment! KING My Lords my Lords! What treason have we here? ASHKELON No treason, King, but fair and just demand. We challenge thee urged by the common need. KING Black-hearted traitors! Would ye flout your King, And beard him to his face, defiance hurl? Upon your heads my vengeance then shall fall! This night your naked bodies shall be nailed Upon our walls, your shaven heads adorn My battlements, your children driven forth, And with your wives mv soldiers shall make free! ASHKELON Do thou thy worst! United we defy thee! MALCHALM Thus Dagon s awful words shall be fulfilled; A civil strife impends, and so shall be Supplied the means by which this sinful race [40] Of faithless worshippers shall be effaced. The purpose of our god takes shape before Mine eyes! The wicked shall destroy themselves, And brother brother kill, until at last, Their swords against the consecrated priests Shall turn, the final, awful sacrilege Which will presage the speedy doom of all ! MESSENGER (of stage) King! Most noble King! Abimelech! MALCHALM My Lords, forbear! O King, a cry I hear! KING 1 heard it, too, my name upon the wind! Perchance it is the message we await, To prove the wisdom of the oracle. \A messenger appears on the upper hillside. GAZA A runner comes with tidings. KING Bid him haste! ASHKELON Approach thou, with thy news. MESSENGER Most gracious King, Thy son is here. To Gaza s gates he came, And now the people shout his name for joy, As through the streets he comes, while on before I ran to bring thee first the gladsome news. KING My son, my Prince! O best beloved boy. Art come again into thy father s arms, The gift of some divining power that shines As light in this dark hour? GAZA A year and more Our Prince hath wandered through the world in search Of knowledge. ASHKELON Let us hope tis gained, and that He brings his new-found wisdom to our aid. GATH None favored more than he! EKRON A lucky chance Brings Ackish to our council and this stress! [ACKISH appears on upper hillside accompanied by MOAB and DOR; be raises an arm in distant salu tation. ACKISH Ho Lords, good Philistines and faithful friends ! If in your midst the King, my father, sits, My greeting first to him! Salute for me Abimelech. [Shouts of welcome. ACKISH descends. KING My son ! GAZA All hail all hail! All welcome to our best beloved Prince! KING My son ! GATH O Ackish, timely art thou come! EKRON Our loyal greetings, Prince, to thee. KING My son ! GAZA Thy countrymen who love thee in their hearts, Rejoice in thy return. ACKISH Where is the King? Where is my noble father? KING Son my Prince! ACKISH My father! O my King! O sovereign dear! [Kneeling and kissing hem of robe. KING Embrace me boy, but not upon thy knees, [Raising him. Come close unto my heart where thou art King Already and doth rule with tyranny! r . ~ i ACKISH Thy humblest, most devoted subject, Sire. KING And from thy wandering art home again ? And hast thou seen the mighty Pyramids, The pomp of Pharaoh, Egypt s pageantry, The glories of far-distant Babylon, Sennacherib s resplendent court, and all The golden temples of the Ammonites? ACKISH Yea, all of these, and saw I more beside. Vast wonders upon wonders, marvels great Surpassing marvels. These can better wait A time more fitting when thy news and mine May be exchanged at leisure. KING Be it so, Yet let me be assured that thou hast well Survived thy journey, and that all my hopes For what thou shouldst both see and shouldst achieve, Have been attained. PRINCE Tis even so and more Than these has been accomplished with success. I beg thee question Moab who hath served Me faithfully and well. KING We greet thee, friend, Good Moab, hearty thanks; most royally Shalt thou be paid for thy fidelity. [44] But tell us now, what of thy journeyings? How bore our son himself? With what degree Of cordiality was he received? MOAB In every circumstance and every place, The gracious Prince did so comport himself As best becomes his honor and thine own. He hath seen many marvels, this is well, But more he hath accomplished, for where e er He visited he hath made friends for thee And for Philistia. The Kingdoms near Are well-disposed. The nations of the world Stand ready to befriend us, take our part, And send us help in case of untoward stress. ASHKELON My Lords, may we not benefit ourselves, And ease the anguish of our stricken land By an appeal to these new friends ? Our Prince Shall be our advocate and press our cause. PRINCE Hear I aright? Didst thou say "stricken land"? The "anguish" of our people? Father, speak! Are we in need? What mean these dreadful words ? KING Thou hast returned on evil times my son; Adversity is with us. I am old, Yet in the long procession of my days There has been no such dole within our midst. Our land is stricken! All our glory sinks In famine and in pestilence. Today, E en now, we gather here to make debate [45] As to the means that shall propitiate Our angry god. And while I urged delay, The Lords, my vassals five, e er now so true, Did threaten me, accuse me of misrule! ACKISH What now, disloyalty among our Lords! But I shall credit them, and not mine ears. AARON Tis true, and I did urge them to protest. We may no longer hang upon delay. Our god a warning hath pronounced. The Lords, The people by my mouth have heard his words: Unless a sacrifice of noble blood Burns on his altar, Dagon will destroy Us and our land! KING I did remind the Lords That gallant Hamul is despatched six months To meet the giant foe, and to procure From our hereditary enemy The sacrifice that Dagon claims. No word Hath come from Hamul of his victory If victory he hath! And still we wait, And starve, and starve and wait! The Lords cry out Against my counsel further to delay. AARON To wait for word from Hamul is to wait In vain; our Captain and his men are dead. GAZA Heardst thou the Priest? He saith that Hamul s dead! [46] All hidden things to him the god reveals. ASHKELON What shall be gained if still we longer wait? GATH The angry people, starving and enraged, May feed on us for want of other food! GAZA Their eyes are hungry for me as I pass. They stare at me in sullen mood; I fear Their baleful looks. ASHOD The desert s burning breath Blows empty and consuming from the east; I dare not face again its scorching touch, Without some reassuring word that will Appease my gaunt and famished subjects. ACKISH Then Most happily have I returned, my Lords, My timely coming proves great Dagon s plan, His purpose that tis I who shall redeem You, save you from your miseries and woe. Tomorrow, with what fighting men there are In Gaza, I depart on Hamul s trail, Nor night, nor day shall we know rest until I come upon the giants in their land, Do battle, rout their forces, capture one, And bring the prisoner, chained and manacled, To Dagon s temple yonder, there to burn And expiate our sin. [471 KING O nobly spoke! Doth this suffice? ASHK.ELON The time doth not permit! Ere Ackish come again, our cities fair Will crumbled lie, our country barren wastes Shall be, ourselves destroyed! ACKISH Thou knowest not The temper of my purpose, Ashkelon. ASHKELON Thy temper may be not, may flame, indeed Yet it will naught avail against the word, The dreadful wrath of Dagon. "When the moon Once more hath waned above Philistia My patience endeth; then shall I destroy." Thus spoke the god. Were not these Dagon s words? AARON "The screaming of your children shall be drowned Amid the crashing crumble of your walls. And deep shall they be buried where they fall. Your cities proud shall lie in ruined heaps, And in amongst them shall the jackal prowl In search of carrion and carcass foul!" GAZA Oh woe ! Oh woe to us ! ASHOD No hope remains! [48] EKRON The oracle is proven basely false. [Enter SOLDIER on upper hillside. SOLDIER Oh tidings, Philistines! I bring great news! MOAB Behold a man with tidings! See him there! ACKISH A messenger! (calling) Whom seek ye? Bring thy news. SOLDIER Advice I have for King Abimelech, Let none delay my steps. KING Again my name! Who calls Abimelech? What now portends? ACKISH The King with all his Lords holds council grave At Gaza s judgment-seat. Bring here thy news. [Soldier descends the hillside. A runner comes who doth proclaim he holds Glad tidings for thine ear, and thine alone. KING A welcome herald he, for news that s good Is doubly good amidst calamity. ASHKELON The gleaming shimmer of his coat of mail Proclaims his calling. [49] GAZA Soldier then is he! GATH Perchance from Hamul comes there good report! ASHKELON Fain would I hope yet dare I not so much! ACKISH (to approaching Soldier) Bestir thy steps. Impatient waits the King. The promise of good news to those that weep Doth tease as doth the drip of water cool The throats that burn with thirst. SOLDIER (reaching stage) I seek the King! ACKISH Behold him there. KING Thy news? Let not delay attend thy sluggish speech. [SOLDIER kneels before ABIMELECH. SOLDIER King, live forever! Thy men of valor shall subdue the earth. Make thy enemies thy foot-stool, The nations of the earth bow down before thee! KING Enough ! Unfold thy news, unleash thy tongue ! SOLDIER 1 come from Hamul, Captain of the Host. [50] Against the giants hath he handily Prevailed, and after hardships, grievous straits, Their thousands hath he slain, and brings he now Their Prince, young Saph, the son of aged Rapha, Whom Hamul single-handed slew; and Saph To mighty Dagon shall be sacrificed. KING Now praise to Dagon, praise for evermore! Mine enemies he hath delivered to My hands! Our arms against the foe once more Triumphant have been borne! Courageous Hamul Philistia s deathless gratitude hath earned! ACKISH O warrior brave, thy country s savior thou! Our grateful love for evermore is thine! GAZA From dreadful doom he hath delivered us. ASHKELON Now Dagon s hunger shall be satisfied. Tis well; the vengeful anger of our god My heart did fill with grave disquietude. AARON The sacrifice! At last the sacrifice! Good Malchalm, soon our altars shall be red With flames and blood. We ll heap the pyre high For the great feast! KING O harken, Philistines! Quick spread these joyous tidings through the land, Send forth fleet runners to our cities five, To distant Ashod first, dispatch the news, To Ekron and to regal Ashkelon, And publish it in Gath, and let today The daughters of the Philistines rejoice! For woe is at an end and pestilence And famine shall depart from out our midst. A time of generous plenty is at hand, The music of the golden shekels heaped Shall echo in our coffers once again. The giants in their thousands have we slain, And Hamul bringeth captive to our god Old Rapha s son as royal sacrifice. My Lord of Gaza, lay a bounteous feast, Fat sucklings, beeves, whate er thou hast, and let Wine from the grape-press flow both red and free, Make dance and song, and let our carnival Be graced by that kind god of festival, The Golden Calf. Bring forth the god, ye Priests, And set his shining image in our midst. Let us rejoice, for great is our excuse! Let us rejoice, our armies have prevailed! Let us rejoice, so when brave Hamul comes In happy mood we ll be to welcome him. Lift up your voices, Dagon s priests! Intone His praise, sing ye his glory evermore! \A hymn in joyous glorification of D agon > is begun by the priests. During the first two stanzas of the song, a table is brought on and arranged before ABIME- LECH, seats are placed for the LORDS, and the table is set with viands and great drinking cups, ^he feast begins. With the third stanza* the character of J o J the music change s y and the image of the Golden Calf is carried in, in triumph by the priests from the temple. The paean to Dagon now becomes less re ligious in tone, and grows more jubilant , praising the Golden Calf. The image of the Calf is carried to the lowest stage, the priests ranging themselves about it, still singing. On the middle stage, the KING, PRINCE and LORDS are feasting and draining their drinking cups. HYMN IN GLORIFICATION OF DAGON PRIESTS We shall sing to Dagon who is master of our fates, Let us lay before him all the glory of our praise; Silent in the dimness and the incense he awaits All that men shall bring him from the fullness of their days. Dagon thou art power, thou art strong to help or hate, Who shall know thy splendor with a heart untouched by fear? Gather we adoring thee outside thy temple gate, Dagon, thou art god and we are mortals, dost thou hear? Let the bays and laurels in a canopy entwine, Bring the roasted offerings to spread about his feet, Pour before the Golden Calf the rubies of the vine, We shall dance and sing, who find our victory so sweet! Calf of Gold, we greet thee! Let thy golden heart enjoy All the thousand wonders of the triumph we prepare, Lo, before thy brazen face we ll dance and sing with joy, Glorifying Dagon who hath heard his people s prayer! {At the conclusion of this chorus, the music merges into a wild dance measure, and from the temple rush religious zealots who fling themselves into a [53] mad revel, twining garlands about the neck of the Golden Calf, prostrating themselves before the idol. The dance is interrupted by the approach of HAMUL and his returning soldiers. The priests surge for ward, dispersing the dancers and burst out into the following martial song in which the entire com pany join. To the cadence of the march, HAMUL and his men are seen descending the hillside, SAPH, heavily manacled, in their midst. SONG OF THE PRIESTS OF DAGON UPON THE RETURN OF HAMUL AND HIS MEN Marching erect and victorious, Swift to the beat of the drum, High in their power and glorious, Home from the conquest they come. Hamul, we meet thee, Hamul, we greet thee, Crown thee with evergreen bays. Maidens shall glory Telling the story, Children shall lisp in thy praise. Waving of banner and trumpet and beating of drum, Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! ii What shall they fear who are fearless? What shall be theirs who succeed? Swordsmen eternally peerless, Earth shall resound with thy deed! Hamul, we meet thee, Hamul, we greet thee, Crown thee with evergreen bays. [54] Maidens shall glory, Telling the story, Children shall lisp in thy praise. Waving of banner and trumpet and beating of drum. Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! in Soldiers, who mastered as cattle All of our enemies ranks, Take now the fruit of the battle, Take thou Philistia s thanks. Hamul, we meet thee, Hamul, we greet thee, Crown thee with evergreen bays, Maidens shall glory, Telling the story, Children shall lisp in thy praise. Waving of banner and trumpet and beating of drum, Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! [-Sung by HAMUL and his men upon reaching the main stage. IV Who shall destroy or alarm us? We who are thirsty for fight? We who have Dagon to arm us With the great sword of his might? Dagon, before thee, Lo, we adore thee, God of Philistia divine! Banners we bring thee, Humbly we sing thee, [55] Lord, all our glory is thine! [ All Singing Waving of banner and trumpet, and beating of drum, Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! [At the conclusion of tbe song HAMUL stands before ABIMELECH. KING Thou, Hamul, art thy country s savior; great Art thou among all men ! From grievous plight Thou hast courageously delivered us. Our never-dying gratitude is thine; Our love, our children s love, their children s love Is pledged to thee for all the years to come. Thy King will honor thee, claim thy reward, And it is thine! HAMUL No recompense or meed In land or goods can place within my ranks Once more the valiant loyal men who fell About me in this ill-starred enterprise. A sweet escape were death for those who fought, Who starved, despaired, and struggled on this march, With thoughts of hearth-stones, little children s smiles, The arms of lovely women safe at home, Pursuing us with haunting memories. Reward would cheapen what can have no price, The glory tarnish which we know is ours, And more, mayhap: persuade us to forget That what we do as soldiers of the King, Is for the King, the people and the land! [56] ACKISH Thy tongue is worthy as thy feats in arms! KING We thank thee, Hamul, for thy deeds and speech. AARON Who bringeth sacrifice to Dagon shall Not want; henceforth he shall be favored well. The god shall not forget thy service or Thy valiant deeds. ASHKELON In grateful Ashkelon, Thou shalt find friends and glory all thy days. GAZA And Gaza likewise homage gladly pays To thy unequaled valor and thy might. ASHOD Thy praise in distant Ashod shall resound. GATH The fairest daughters of the Philistines Shall dance before thee while they chant the song Of thy great deeds when thou shalt come to Gath. EKRON The promise of the oracle by thee Hath been fulfilled, and Ekron s gratitude Is ever thine. HAMUL Thy praise is undeserved By me, but due it is to those staunch men [57] Who braved all hardships blindly at my word, Those men who cheerfully went forth with me, Light-hearted, singing, hopes and purpose high, And who were destined never to return. The flower of Philistia enrolled With me upon this fateful march. Alas! This handful of that splendid band alone Returns ! KING All honor to our noble dead. They perished that our people might survive, They died that we might live once more with joy; They sleep eternal sleep that we may wake Anew to days of plenty. AARON While we mourn, Great Dagon hungers. Tribute to our dead Tis fitting that we duly pay; but let Us not delay. Impatiently the god Awaits, his breath grows hot, and for his feast He clamors. MALCHALM Let us speed the sacrifice! KING Produce the captive. Where is Rapha s son ? Good Hamul, where is great Dagon s victim? \he soldiers step aside, disclosing SAPH. HAMUL This is the prisoner, the noble youth, Old Rapha s scion, Saph by name, whom I Have brought here for a living sacrifice. [58] ACKISH A likely youth of truly royal mien! Methinks I have beheld his face before. HAMUL The inauspicious day our march began, Misfortune spread her subtle nets for us, And took her daily toll. By avalanche And tempest were we crushed; our way we lost, And groped our steps with hesitating feet; We found ourselves in black and dreadful gulfs; A noisome gorge wherein wild beasts did rage; A chasm opened at our feet; sheer cliffs Confronted us and barred our path. But these Were trifling hardships to the perils fresh That we encountered when with weary steps Cross weary miles, we reached the giant land. The foe had learned of our approach and were Forewarned. They had receded to the heights Of their great mountain fastnesses. Their young They hid, they knew it was their young we sought! We tracked them days on days without reward. A solitary sentinel on guard, Occasionally we came upon, but him We quickly slew, and left him where he lay To rot. Among the mountains were we lost; Strange people hindered us and blocked our way; Our hands were bleeding and our feet were sore; Ferocious beasts attacked us, when at night, Exhausted from our weary task, we slept. At last one day in a deep mountain glen, We came upon the aged King, himself, Old Rapha, stately monarch of them all, Grim, tall and hoary. Round about him stood (59J In serried ranks the stalwart patriarchs Of his great race. They towered mightily Beside him, shoulder touching shoulder. We Who gathered bout their feet, the flaming sun Could not discern so close they stood. They saw Our gleaming swords flash in our hands, the sight Sent through their ranks a dreadful shudder deep, They swayed in terror, yet their silence held. We fell upon them and our swords drank deep. We thrust and cut; they died like stupid sheep, And headlong tumbled to the ground. At last Before the mighty King I stood. His size O erwhelmed me, made me pause. Strain though I would My eyes, his lofty head I could not see. His girth a hundred cubits would not span! So huge, so vast a man I never saw Before; I trembled at his giant bulk, As in his silent majesty he reared Himself indifferent to my sword. My heart Misgave me at his stern magnificence, His royal scorn of me. Beside him stood His son, the very stripling we did need, The youth whose sacrifice we sought. And so I struck, and at old Rapha s knees I hacked, And struck and struck again until my strength Began to ebb. The bite of my stout sword Made small impression on his carcass tough. Disdainfully, with royal scorn, he spurned My weak attack. I prayed to Dagon, begged His aid, besought him strengthen my good arm. The great god heard. Old Rapha trembled, blood Was flowing fast, the wound grew deeper; then, He tottered; suddenly the old king fell. [6ol A fearful rending sound, a hideous roar The mountains shook, as at my feet he crashed; My keen-edged sword then quickly pierced his heart, And while the combat raged the boy stood fast, And sought to aid his father where he might. No thought occurred to him to make escape, Desert his parent in his final hour. When all was o er, disdainfully he still Regarded us, and when he saw our plan, With royal gesture but with bitter hate, He held his hands out to receive our chains. ACKISH Oh, cruel sight! Oh, vision barbarous! The son to see his father murdered thus Before his eyes ! And were it mine the King My gentle father ? No ! The very thought s Too hideous ! KING Most warmly I command Thy courage, Hamul. Philistines alone Such burning valor know, and proud I am, I am a Philistine. Long may thy arm Be equal to thy sword. AARON Let Dagon s priests Behold the sacrifice. Let Rapha s son Stand forth that all may see. [SAPH steps forward. A goodly youth, A fitting offering. His tender limbs, His soft and pliant flesh will make a feast Full worthy of our god. ACKISH Tis butchery! Tis wanton murder thus to sacrifice A youth so proud, so well-endowed, to such Ignoble death! KING O son of Rapha, thou Art called to be a sacrifice unto The greatest of all gods; thy noble blood Shall flow to expiate the thousand crimes Of all our enemies. Hast aught to say? THE SONG OF SAPH I [Recitative. I belong to a kingly race, benign and ancient, Kings who were old when the world was young! Not easily have I come to this hour of sorrow and death. Behold I am Saph! And Rapha was my father! [Singing. Mine is the race of the Kings, when the universe rose New from confusion and tempest, e er man had released Hatred and tribehood, and war with its evils and woes, Snaring and death for the bird, and the trap for the beast, Then were we Kings undisputed, and peaceful our reign, Then might we shelter the forest s small terrified things; Justice we meted to all, without quarrel or gain, Hear ye the song that is sung by the Kings of the Kings! real II [Recitative. Here ye see me in chains who have never known chains! Philistines, ye have yet to learn That in harming me or one of my fathers, Ye harm only yourselves ! [Singing. Ours was the ruling of brotherhood, over us shone Skies that were silent and blue. From the mountains above Ran the swift waters to mirror my forefather s throne, And all the law of our Kingdom was service and love. Then came thy people, with ruin and murder, and death, Smiting our ranks; for no cause ye decreed we must die! Gone was the silence, the peace of the summer s warm breath, All of us fallen or captive, as captive am I ! in [Recitative. You think only of the gold that Dagon brings you. In our land there is no need of gold. You cannot buy our souls, Although you would sell your own for gold! [Singing. Philistines, come to the land where the beauty of old, Lingers among the green shafts, where the spirit supreme, Brotherly, loving has wiped out the hunger for gold, Made strife and hatred fade out like the figures of dream. Cast off your gods, foolish image of serpent and calf! Ye are the gods whom the power and kingdom await, This is the song of the captive, the song of Prince Saph, Fearless yet helpless, delivered to you and his fate! [63] IV [Recitative. Ye have no thought of befriending us, Yet when have we not been your friends? When have ye not found peace among us, And buried care beneath our calm and our beauty? [Singing. Ah, be ye friends! We have gifts to put into your hands; Come to our fellowship, open your lives to our love. Ye shall protect us, and we in our powerful bands, From the rich plains to the heights of the mountains above, We shall befriend you, encompass you round with de lights, Make for your leisure a haven where joy never ends, Through the sweet, deep summer noons, and the still summer nights, Ye shall be rich who claim me and my mates as your friends. ACKISH My dream ! My dream ! A woodland glade I see And lofty trees, beloved by bird and beast, And in my dream methought a sapling danced, And plead with me for friendship and for help! This youth, the dryad doth resemble strange, The face, the lineaments, the royal mien! It is the same! . . . O dream, thy portent still Is darkly veiled but I have faith ere long Thy meaning clear shall be revealed! . . . He came To me in slumber and I pledged mine aid; Now stands he here before me and in need! My promise summons me with stern command. AARON A crafty plea our clever captive makes, He hopes by cunning words and promises To gain our sympathies, and so avert His doom. Twill not avail; the sacrifice I claim. As soon as Dagon is appeased, His hunger stayed, abundance will return, The god with benefits will shower us, The shining gold will heap our coffers high Again, and plenty shall abound for all! MALCHALM The sacrifice! On with the sacrifice! Let Dagon s priests the altar swift prepare, Ignite the fires! ACKISH Hold, impetuous priest! Let s pause, consider this while there is time. To sacrifice to Dagon, this brave youth Is murder upon murder! What s his crime? What wrong, offense hath he committed? What Transgressions are his fathers guilty of, That he should suffer punishment? I pray Thee, father, spare this noble youth, let him Return unto his kind! The blessings that The High Priest promises will emanate From Dagon will as surely come to us From deed so just. Tis sacrilege to kill This princely boy. No good can come from such An evil thing! AARON Insidious words our Prince Doth speak, but heed him not. The wisdom that [65] He gathered on his journey ings hath touched His brain, hath turned his blood to thinnest milk! [AMON, BOAZ and SISERA now push their way through the crowd of listening LORDS and cour tiers. AMON (kneeling) O King, a boon I crave! KING What now? Who calls? AMON Thy slave, the humble Amon. Speech I beg! Though thou destroy me, yet I do implore Thine ear. Oh harken to the earnest plea Of Boaz, Sisera and Amon. BOAZ Sire, Petition of grave import offer we. SISERA We importune thee and thy mercy beg. KING What suit so pressing it must needs delay The sacrifice to Dagon? Time and place There are when thy request more fittingly Could be presented. BOAZ Twill not wait, O King. Indulgence we implore; our prayer is urgent. KING What is the nature of thy cause? Be quick. [66] AMON We humbly beg thy mercy for this youth; Restrain the hand of these his murderers, Unbind him, let him go his way. His words Reveal him as a god, and tis not meet Or just for mortals to decree his death. Atrocities enough against his race Have we committed. Spare him, gracious King. AARON What folly have we here? What shameful talk? These are but slaves, their words the words of slaves! Our soldiers die, brave Hamul fighteth hard, Endureth hardships great to bring to us Adaptive for our needs; are these for naught? Was such a toll and such endeavor vain ? And are we now to set the prisoner free ? Preposterous words! Enough, away with them! KING I ll smite thee slave, for thy presumption bold. ACKISH Nay, father, wait! Set curb upon thy hand. Shall not these slaves presume to say what s in Their hearts ? I beg thee, as thou lovest me, To listen to their plea ere judging them Iniquitous too quickly. KING Ever dear Art thou to me, my son; thy words have weight, And I would please thee if I could. Say on, Thou slave; what is the boon that may not wait? ACKISH Fear not. With heart intrepid speak thy mind. I ll sponsor thee. What is it thou wouldst ask? AMON My name is Amon, the symbol writer I, And on the scrolls of papyrus I make The records of thy numerous exploits, Thy deeds and doings. Mercy, gracious King, But I have grown aweary of my task, And of the ugly history I make, The endless chronicle of war and death, Of pillage, cruelty and bitterness. The princely Saph did sing of peace and love, And I believe that peace and love would bring Us blessings, bring us happiness, and days Of plenty and of ease would speedily Return, if we espoused this different creed. Instead of sacrificing this young man, Let s set him free and send him home again, With friendship pledged, and let those who have grown Dissatisfied amongst us, go with him, And build their lives, and choose their work anew. AARON miscreant and dog! Perfidious wretch! Dispatch this mouthing traitor with a blow. ACKISH No! Spare him, father; hold thy peace,[High Priest. Let s have the others words; I would hear all. SISERA 1 lift my voice with Amon to bespeak [68] The mercy of the King for this brave youth. I, too, am but a slave, thy humble slave, Tis I who shape the trumpet and the drum That call our men to war. I make the songs, Compose the hymns the Priests in Dagon s praise, Sing in the temple. But I fain would seek Another land where it might be my lot To fashion music of a sweeter sort, To sing of love, of simple brotherhood. For those great aisles of solitude and peace, For that dear beauty and that harmony Of which this youth has told us in his song, My heart doth long, my pulses leap. ACKISH And thou ? What addest thou? Our patience, I implore; Let s hear them out ere we our judgment form. BOAZ Full well I know the peril I incur In saying what I am about to say, Yet must I speak though death be my reward. I am a sculptor, Boaz is my name, A slave of thine since birth, and born of slaves. I fashion things of clay, and in the rock I hew thy image and the runes that tell The story of thy conquests. From the earth I mould such shapes as most resemble man, And more I do: I mould the gods. Tis I Who hath shaped Ashtheroth and Dagon both, Who made the Calf of Gold. These images Ye worship are but hardened clay and stuffed With straw. With one swift hammer s blow I can Demolish them and build them new again. Before these creatures of my hands, thy Priests Abase themselves, thy people worship them, Beseeching favor, supplicating aid! Now ye would sacrifice this noble youth Upon the altars of these things of clay That have no minds, no eyes, no hearts, no blood, That are but plastered mud, packed full of culm, The sweepings of an ox s stall. O King, I can make gods of more imposing mien Than Dagon, larger gods if such ye want, But here before you stands a god in truth, Or if no god, the symbol of a god, Ye would do well to fall upon your knees And worship him, for he is inspiration, And kindleth aspiration, attributes Of gods alone. Oh, free his hands from chains, And let him seek his peaceful mountain home, In safety and security once again. AARON impious blasphemer! Scoundrel! Rogue! 1 claim this wretch and his reviling mates For yonder altar. Let the flaming breath Of Dagon be thy answer to their plea. ASHKELON Aye, let them burn. Mine ears have never heard Such sacrilege. We 11 give them to the god They dare to slander. GATH Let them die the death! EKRON They have blasphemed! So let their punishment Be quick in order that our sacred god May know our detestation of their crime. ASHKELON Let all such slaves as these be sacrificed, The puerile men who fashion script and rune, The base-born minstrels, scribes and chiselers! These singing, mouthing weaklings in our ranks Contribute nothing to the common weal. Destroy them, burn them, let their craven blood Pour forth on Dagon s altar. ACKISH Hold ye all! My father, bid them halt! Attend my words! What would ye do? These slaves who dare to make An intercession for old Rapha s son, Them ye would sacrifice as well as him? My Lords, give ear, and harken to me, Priest, What say you Dagon craves and needs must have? I hear ye: "Noble blood a prince within Whose veins patrician wine doth flow!" He stands Before you: I, myself. Behold in me Your sacrifice. Take me, and let me be Your offering, but bid this captive go, And stay your hand from punishing these slaves Who spoke for peace and love and brotherhood. Am I not royal ? For a sacrifice Could ye give more to Dagon? Let us haste, My throat is bare, my blood leaps in my veins, To spill on Dagon s altar, my flesh longs To feel the flame consuming, and the hot Embrace of Dagon s arms. KING My son my boy! Art thou demented? What insanity Is this? My son for Dagon s sacrifice! Thou knowest not the meaning of thy words. ACKISH My father, listen, I demand thine ear. Dost thou recall my mother? And how fair, How good she was, how comely ? I had seen But nine short summers when she went away, Yet I recall her as twere yesterday! How well she loved thee all her happy years, Yet me she loved the more, ah, how she loved! Dost thou remember on the night she died Her parting words to thee, the boon she craved? And that upon that fatal night of nights, When her faint breath grew fainter as she held Our hands each in a hand of hers, she begged A promise of thee, and thou madest a pact With her and sealed it with a parting kiss? This was thy promise, father, to thy wife: That when thy son, myself, should be a man, I should be free to make thee one demand, And make the same, her name upon my lips! And that whatever its nature, or thy wish, That promise and that oath should guide thy will, And give me what I asked! Most upright King, Dost thou the pledge remember? KING Aye my son, I do acknowledge such an oath I made. [72] ACKISH Then claim I its fulfillment here, before Thy court; I do adjure thee, keep thy faith. This captive set thou free, strike off his chains. And bid him go with promise to destroy No more his race, and let these slaves of thine, Who seek a country new of comradeship, And love, where once again they may be free, Let them accomp ny him, and who so else Would go with them to seek this land of peace And harmony, shall follow them if so They list, and be permitted to depart, To serve a consecrated band to guard These noble giants in dead Rapha s land, Protect them gainst disaster and attack, And reap the recompense the princely Saph Hath promised them would surely be their own. Whilst I on Dagon s altar shall be laid, Rejoicing that a life as poor as mine May buy them their felicity. KING No no ! My son, unsay those words. It cannot be! I cannot grant thy suit! Thou mayest demand My kingdom or my life, my very all, But ask me not to send thee to thy death! My son, I plead with thee, make not such claim, Consider yet again what thou wilt ask. ACKISH Not so; I hold thee to thy royal oath; As King fulfill thy vow, make good thy pledge! [73] KING I connot! No, a thousand noes! ACKISH O mother, Thine aid, where e re thou art, sustain me now! Help thou thine ancient partner keep the faith He made with thee, the solemn pact of death! MOTHER S SONG MOTHER (off stage) Child of my heart! Body I made! I hear thy dear voice, Claiming my aid! O King of my life, Breath of my breath, Keep thou the promise Sealed with my death! My sweetheart of old, My husband indeed, Swiftly the prayer Of our firstborn concede. Have faith, O my heart! As I have in you; Believe that the best Will follow the true. O King, live forever! My voice thou hast heard. As me thou still lovest, So keep now thy word ! [74] KING My Queen! Thy gentle voice I hear again. Across the barren reach of empty years! My girlish Queen! My white and lucent flower! What wouldst thou of this desolated house Which thou left dark, forlorn and tenantless? ACKISH My Mother sweet! Thy loving spirit rests Like pinions of some tender, brooding dove, A feather-touch, against my cheek! I feel Thy lips upon my brow! O Mother, thanks! KING My son my son ! ACKISH Have courage, father dear; I must do this and thou must keep thine oath. High Priest, my Lords, the sacrifice awaits; Prepare me for great Dagon s sacred feast. AARON O King, we wait upon thy word. Thy son, Or Saph, the captive, must be sacrificed. [aside. Either to famished Dagon s jaws will prove, A toothsome morsel. Even now, I see The crackling flames lick redly round their limbs, And smell the incense of their roasting flesh! ASHKELON An offering to Dagon must we have. The Prince or giant youth, it matters not, As long as sacrifice we speedy make. [75] ACKISH Thine oath, my father! Come, what dost decide? The Priest spoke true: we wait upon thy word. KING Accursed am I ! Go then and have thy wish! Thy mother took my heart and thou hast robbed Me of my soul! Take all and have my life! ACKISH Those chains strike off! Let noble Saph depart. And all ye others who would go with him, Begone, and take my benediction. Hold It sacredly your duty to preserve His noble race, and find ye peace and love Among his strong and gentle brotherhood. Young Prince, farewell! Thou hast my ardent love; A benison goes with thee. Straight return To thine own peopl,, live to Rapha s age, A monarch strong and stately and benign; And from that land to which I turn my eyes Beyond the fires that even now are hot, Perchance my weary soul shall visit thee. High Priest, thy servant! Speed the rites! I sniff The smoke of Dagon s fires! I need no chains; Let me go free to meet the furnace glow Of Dagon s kiss ! My love shall after death Return to comfort thee, O Father dear! Farewell, Prince Saph; farewell, a long farewell! [The chains have been removed from SAPH S wrists, and be now lifts bis arms heavenward in joyous freedom. At the conclusion of the foregoing speach, ACKISH, clasps SAPH S hand in affectionate fare well* and turns toward AARON, who, with his at- [76] tendant PRIESTS, comes forward to claim the new victim. SAPH, followed by AMON, SISERA andBoAz y and many other Philistine s, begins slowly to mount the hill. The KING overwhelmed with grief , and with bowed head) leans heavily upon the supporting arm of one of his attendants. ACKISH advances toward the temple from the portals of which streams a hide ous , red glare. As he starts to ascend the steps , an explosion occurs within, and the red light becomes more intense , and greatly increases in volume. AARON What now! What hath occured? . . . Stand all ye back! Disaster travels swift in yon red gleams! The breath of hell blows hotly in my face ! MALCHALM The temple blazeth! Dagon is aflame! His altar now in bloody flames is wrapped! What now, High Priest? AARON The fire s in my breast, And it consumeth me! Oh agony And torment! Dagon, mercy! Spare thy Priest! Oh, mortal pain ! I die! It is my death! [He dies. MALCHALM The Priest, the Holy Priest of Dagon falls! He fainteth! . . . Lords, he s dead! KING And look and look [77] The Golden Calf hath crumbled! Woe to us! [Golden Calf falls in pieces. It is the end! ACKISH Not so, it is instead The great beginning of a better day! Lift up your hearts, my people! The new age Dawns gloriously upon us. Let us meet The breaking morn with joy, for Dagon s dead, The Calf of Gold hath crumbled! We go on! There lies our way; our course is toward the east! The glow hath spread; the heavens light our path. On, follow me. We seek the land where love And comradeship and peace abide; where care And strife and envy enter not. Our gods, Our old false gods of gluttony and hate, Are dead forever, and the giant race We shall befriend, and they shall shelter us, And in our championship of them, shall we Attain felicity and perfect peace! Beloved Saph, lead on! To thee and thine We pledge our shields, our swords, our trust, our love! [SAPH, half-way up the hill, now halts, and spreads wide his arms. The illumination begins and gradu ally increases, approaching its height during the Final Chorus. THE TRIUMPH OF SAPH SAPH I. Sing I the song of rejoicing, the triumph of Saph! Back to the forest returning, the wars are at end! [78] Peace and prosperity circle forever my path, I shall go singing forever, the world for my friend. Bind up the wounds that are bleeding, recover the lyres, Love shall prevail from the mountain tops down to the sea! Crushed are the gods and the temples, and cold are the fires, I who was bound and imprisoned, once more I am free! ii. Now shall earth laugh with the harvest come smiling to birth, Now shall the aisles of the forest re-echo and ring With the sweet laughter of fauns, and the small of the earth Shall be protected and sheltered, shall dance and shall sing! Glory and triumph forever shall wait on my throne, Mercy and brotherhood live in my glorious reign; We who were slaughtered and fearful, and torn from our own, Thus shall we sing, turning back to our forests again! THE END 79] THE MUSIC In composing the music for "The Rout of the Philis tines/ I endeavored to translate into the musical idiom the author s conception of the story. In my effort to accom plish this I have used certain themes indicative of the prin cipal characters and their influence upon the trend of events. I do not wish to give a detailed account of the appearance and re-appearance of these themes, but prefer to let their presence at various stages throughout the course of the work be self-explanatory. If the auditor is enabled to grasp the significance of the occurrence and development of the musical ideas, my purpose will have been accomplished. The entire musical work is based upon four main themes: First The Theme of Dagon, the god of the Philistines-. IT 4 * j ** j n jr r^t > > r Just as the actions of the Philistines are inspired by their belief in the god Dagon, so the various ideas used to char acterize those actions are derived from or influenced by this main theme. For example, in the opening scene where Ackish, the young prince of Philistia, is discovered asleep in a woodland glade, "shrouded in the mystery of dark night," the initial motive sung by the double basses is one metamorphosis of the Dagon theme: M^ lira ^f F8o =in Another instance, as an expression of their religious fanaticism: oiif again, as a martial fanfare: as a manifestation of overwhelming sorrow: TO n? i w H-y TSf 81 Second The theme of Sapfy, which is intended to repre sent the nobility and grancTeur of his race: This, also, appears in many different guises, alone and in combination. The theme of Saph s Love for Humanity and Belief in Brotherhood, which, in accordance with the author s symbolical conception of the character of Saph is always given in combination with the Fourth theme, that of the forest: The work is scored for piccolo, three flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, five tympani, xilophone, bells, drums and cymbals, tam-tam, tambourine, triangle, celesta, harp, and strings. Nino Marcelli [82] <*^i^& 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK JFROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. *^> s* Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. General Library University of California Berkeley LD 21A-50m-ll, 62 (D3279slO)476B **-0^ S3! *^J &%%m%^ &^?$^2//fs < ^ v Ovi^,^