THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES DAVID AND BATHSHUA BY THE SAME A UTHOR AD ASTRA. SONGS AND LYRICS. DAVID 8? BATHSHUA A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS BY CHARLES WHITWORTH WYNNE LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD. 1903 Copyrighted in the United States A II rights reserved TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. PR GO C-Bt&d 7o G. F. T. DRAMATIS PERSONS DAVID, after-wards King of Israel and Judah. THE LITTLE PRINCE, his son. AHITOPHEL, his chief counsellor. JOAB, captain of his host. URIAH, husband of Bathshua, and officer of David. NATHAN, the prophet. ABIATHAR, the high priest. First Elder of Judah. A Prisoner. A Reveller. An Amalekite. A Ziphite. High Priests, Priests, Levites, Princes, Rulers and Elders of the Tribes, Captains, Officers, Soldiers, Warders, Revellers, Attendants, etc. SAUL, the first King of Israel. JONATHAN, his son. ABNER, captain of Saul's host. PHALTIEL, afterwards husband of Michal. A Jester. Lords, Officers and Soldiers in attendance upon Saul. ACHISH, King of Gath. An Officer of his Guard. Lords and Ladies of the Philistines. MICHAL, daughter of Saul and wife of David. MERAB, Saul's eldest daughter. BA.THSHU A, grand-daughter of Ahitophel and later the wife of Uriah. ZOE, Nurse to Bathshua. An old Witch. Ladies, Maids, Small Girls, Attendants, etc. SCENE : Palestine. DAVID AND BATHSHUA ACT I SCENE I. Forest near Hebron. Enter a number of young girls, garlanded 'with Jlmvers ; some carrying timbrels, others small harps; Bathshua conspicuous. After some light movements, they dance and sing: How lovely the Spring is, How fragrant the flowers ! How sweet is the morning After fresh showers ! Glad are our hearts and gay, Brighter than buds of May In Eden bowers. ii Sweet is the matin song Of lark and linnet, I DAVID AND BATHSHUA Primrose and daffodil Pastorall'd in it. Free are we, and without care, Scattering sunbeams everywhere Each joyous minute. Bath. You scatter your notes as lightly as the sunbeams : 'Twas a rain of larks' music. Excellent ! Small Girls (clinging to Bathshua). Our holiday : how shall we spend it, Bathshua ? Bath. How can we spend it better than in such wise Singing and dancing ? The forest's full of song, And dancing is the true accompaniment To hearts at ease. Here is the sward for tender feet, A carpet woven of needles of the pine ; And there are tufted hillocks of smooth grass, Where we may sit and rest. Come girls, and foot it ! But those who'd idly talk of senseless love May go elsewhere. First Maid. Why, Bathshua, of love ? Have we nought else to talk about but love ? Sec. Maid. And is love senseless ? this is some newer sense in Bathshua ! Bath. What do all maids desire ? But I would have you know 'tis waste of breath, 2 DAVID AND BATHSHUA And want of sense to speak of it. Several. Of love ? Bath. Yes, what is love to us ? Sec. Maid. A thing to dream of, And find more pleasant every time you dream it. All. But if we never dream ? See. Maid. Why then you miss it ; And missing it, miss what is best worth having. All. O come, sweet dreams, and tell us what is love ! Bath. O why is all the world so full of love ? Enter old witch, unobserved. Old Witch. Aye, aye, the world is very full of love, But still more full of sorrow ! 'Tis a sad world : I' faith a sorry world, a woeful world ! Woe's me, woe's me ! Bath. Tell us your grief, poor mother ; We have the wish to mend it. Old Witch. Child, I have none : At least not such as other mortals have j But none the less I thank thee, pretty one ; Thy voice was kindly, and 't did warm my heart To see that precious pearl within thine eye. Love and Sorrow, Sorrow and Love Alas the day that thou wert born ! 3 DAVID AND BATHSHUA For thou, dear heart, shalt live to prove The Rose of Life hath many a thorn. So beautiful thou art ! and to think that thou Must drink of the cup of life's bitterness To the dregs ; yet, to know what 'tis to love : That, that is something ! bitterer were life To a woman without that knowledge. Bath. Truly, Mother, thy kindness is most questionable : Why breakest thou upon our play with notes Of such ill omen ? Old Witch. I follow, follow, Up and down the world, round and round the world, For words of mystic meaning flood my brain, And I must be deliver'd ere my doom j For I have felt within me these late hours A power that urges me, that hath urged me on, Just such a force as the great crater feels Before it belches forth its smoke and spume, (Taking Bathshuas hand) I stand upon the threshold of all Time : Hist ! child, quick words, and image forth my vision ! I see thee seated on a golden throne 4 DAVID AND BATHSHUA In the golden gates of morning, and round thy brow A crown of beaten gold, and thro' thy hair, Shot with the splendour of the northern lights, A flaming aureole, and in thy hand The sceptre of a queen . . . For art thou not the loveliest of the land, And loved of him the noblest in the land ? A thousand hearts give thee their benison, For charity and grace around thee flow, Like mists inhaling sunlight ; thou shalt be loved, Aye, more than ever woman yet was loved, By him who is the very prince of love ; And thro' thy children shalt thou be beloved, For thou shalt mother him the pride of men, In wisdom greatest of the sons of men, 1 And thro' that son's remoter sons bequeath Unto the world the crowning gift of Peace Of Charity that is above the law, Of Faith unconquerable, Hope supreme ; And last a Saviour 2 Who shall free thy sex From bonds of slavery and sensual sin, Making the weak fit help-mate for the strong ; And adding to the glory of the woman 1 Solomon. 2 Bathshua, as the mother of Solomon, was the direct ancestress of our Lord. DAVID AND BATHSHUA The tender joy of true maternity, Till perfect motherhood become the basic law Of life, and all men shape their lives thereby. Bath. The old dame turns my head : what would she say ? Is this not blasphemy against the Law ? And I what virtue lies in me to do All this, a simple and unwitting maid ? Old Witch. And simpler for the fact thou art a maid ; But Time will show, and when thine hour shall fall, Fear not to take the sceptre to thine hand, Dread not the majesty of that dread throne : Follow, follow, follow, follow, Follow, altho' thy heart seem hollow, Follow thy lord, follow thy lord, Follow him at his beck or word, Leave thy past to the roaring wind, Leave thy kith, and leave thy kind. [Vanishes. Bath. What mystery, and what perplexity Hath she unroll'd ! Sec. Maid. How now, sweet Bathshua, What of thy senseless love ? If love shall bring thee A crown, and jewels, and the prince of love, 6 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Thou'lt surely never say love hath no sense ? Bath. Idle thy talk as that poor wizen'd dame's : Come, girls, to our play and forget her ! First Maid. Our Bathshua a Queen ! let's crown her all, And do obeisance to her majesty. All (bowing}. Your Majesty's most liege and humble servants. Bath. Go to, you fools, nor mock me any more, I've had enough of queening it for the nonce ; I were as like to clown it, as to queen it. Voice (without bodily presence}. Much greater wonders hath this old world seen Than that a pretty maid should die a queen ; For all that hath been is, and all that is hath been. [They all scatter frightened. SCENE II. r The same. Another part of the forest. Enter David and Jonathan. Jon. The king will alter : do not take his moods So much in earnest, his spirit frets him sore. It is more pain of body than a disposition To do thee harm. 7 DAVID AND BATHSHUA David. Murder has come from less But that I saw the madness in his eye, The colour mount his cheek, ere he could poise His javelin, my body now were pinn'd Against his palace wall, and you the loser Of one who loves you better than the world, Tho' all were put into the scale against you. Jon. Your love I reckon more than all the world, And daily do I wonder more and more That one of so high soul, of so pure mind as David, Should give his faith to such an one as I, Who fashion'd in a less ethereal mould Am all unworthy. David. No more, sweet Jonathan, Nature has bound our souls in such sure bonds Of amity, that neither death, nor that Which is more strong than death eternal love Can e'er divorce them : not even that sweet love, We dream of, you and I The meeting between heavenly opposites, That draw together like long sunder'd stars, To flood the night with their converging joy ; That unity of minds, diversely strung, Resolving to one harmony ; that spirit love, Which doth fulfil the life of man and woman, Which unfulfill'd, leaves each a barren waste. 8 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Jon. Thou sayest true, my friend, For death is but the exchange for happier fields, Where we may free the love that's stifled here. . . . Never woman, David, shall steal my heart from thee, Not tho' she met my soul's supremest need, For there is not within the heart of woman Such love as thine. David. Thy troth makes large amends For all the enmity of all thine house, And here, in breathing it, I feel again The sinews of my strength, and vigour to confront Mine adversary in the day of trial. Praise be to God, for giving me a friend As brave and loyal as thou ! Jon. David, thy hand ; And vow to me, before thy God and mine, That, hap what may, no doubt shall come between us, And that for this same love thou bearest me Thou wilt not wreak thy vengeance upon Saul, Or on Saul's house, deeply as he hath wrong'd Thy loyal heart, grievous as is the offence He hath committed against thy person. For I know thou shalt be king, and in that day May thy true friend find favour in thy sight, That peace may be between my seed and thine For aye. 9 DAVID AND BATHSHUA David. Jonathan, I love thee as my soul, And could I war against thee, or thy father ? He is the king, and truly God's anointed, And, if I find no favour in his sight, Surely the fault's with me, not with thy father ? But would I knew my fault ; for, if there be A flaw within my loyalty, I'd rather, Friend and brother, that thou shouldst take and slay me. [Presenting his sword to Jonathan. Silently draw this blade across my throat, That my vile blood may out, and that the traitor- ous trunk May shrink and shrivel to its swift decay. But, if there be not, and oh, my friend thou know'st My conscience is most clear towards the king ! Why should he use me thus ? Can nothing turn Thy father's heart ? For, verily, there lies But one short step betwixt me and the grave. For since the day the blatant mob call'd out My young achievements, won in Jehovah's name, And overdid their part, as is their wont, Proclaiming me the ten times greater lord By reason of my conquests, he hath not miss'd Occasion to undo me : now he seeks By violence, and anon by strategy, To rid me of my life j and, whether by his hand, 10 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Or waging war against his enemies, What matters it the way by which I go ? Evil he sees in all my thoughts towards him ; I may not live, and hope to serve the king. Jon. Nay, friend, I think thou dost mistake his purpose, Tho', when his mood is on, thou must avoid him ; At such times e'en his dearest should beware How they approach his person. But of this I am most sure, he would not plot against Thy life to take it, unless he gave me, His first counsellor, some hint of his design ; And I, thy friend, would warn thee ere the peril Came too nigh. David. Then thou shalt put it to the test : Or whether he would kill, or reinstate me. For to-morrow is the feast of the new moon, And I should sit at meat with him, but will not, Giving by thee the excuse that I have gone To Bethlehem, at the bidding of my kin, To hold with them the yearly sacrifice. And if the king shall take my absence well, Then shalt thou know I may return in peace ; But if he take it badly, then shalt thou send Me word ; for, without doubt, his heart is set On my destruction. Jon. Thus will I apprise thee : II DAVID AND BATHSHUA Keep thou in hiding by the Stone of Ezel, And on the second day, about this hour, I will pass by the mound, and shoot three arrows ; And if I say unto the lad that's with me, " Behold the arrows are on this side : run, Fetch them," then come thou forth, for there is peace : But if I say, " The arrows are beyond thee" : Then go thy way, I may not see thy face. David (taking Jonathan's hand}. Thro' life, thro' death, and thro' eternity, Thine ! [Exeunt. SCENE III. Gibeah. A room in Saul's palace. Enter Merab and Michal. Mich. I have not seen our brother in such anger As when he rose from table yestereve, His tunic torn, our father's spear infixed j Narrowly he miss'd the spilling of his blood, To pledge his loyalty to David. My brave, Brave Jonathan ! My ever-dearer brother ! Thou stand'st between the two in deadly peril ! Alas, that thy noble pleading was in vain, 12 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Thy zeal and thy devotion for thy friend Of no avail ! Merab. Nor will they ever help him : Jonathan had best side with his father, 'Twere tact to do so. Mich. Thou wouldst stand by and see injustice done ? Merab. If that I could not stem the tide of wrong. Mich. Such tact must stand for cowardice ! most tact, I think, does so. Who fears to speak the truth, Is generally accredited with tact, Or takes it to himself as blessed balm, To heal the stings of slow-awakening pride. Merab. I have no pride towards the king my father. Mich. And I have so much pride towards him, that I Cannot endure to see him wrong himself, As every time his rage o'ermasters him. Thou wouldst impel him to the giddy brink The tottering heights where sanity grows dim, By silent acquiescence in the wrong ; For, to agree with a man when he is mad, But speeds him to his doom. Merab. Not to agree Might bring, I think, a speedier doom upon him ! Mich. Thou art cavilling, my sweet sister ; this Is no time to cavil. Merab (shrugging her shoulders). Perhaps, may be : 13 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Enter Saul, Lords, Ladies and Attendants. Saul. And has that fool, thy brother, cool'd his anger, His too perfervid friendship for that adder That's ever in our path, sliming our palace walks, Choosing the undergrowth in which to thrive, And striking at us in the dark thro' our sons ? Most noble friendship ! that would side with those The enemies of his house : most loyal friendship ! That doth prefer the stranger to the brother, Setting aside the natural ties of blood, And building on the ruin of his clan A sweet-tongued friendship, an open-hearted friendship, Indeed a friendship such as women share, Secretive and hush'd : not like true-hearted men, That need not words to make their feelings known. A damned, villainous, unholy friendship ! I tell thee, Merab, nor my throne, nor person, Will ever be secure, while this same viper crawls : This bosom friend of our sweet Jonathan j This oil'd and curled darling of the nation ; This underling, this upstart, this Merab. Dear father, that thou say'st is but too true, I would I could think otherwise ; but, alas, David was ever traitor at the core DAVID AND BATHSHUA Traitor to man and woman ! And his heart, Since that thy javelin fail'd a second time, Hath crystallized to black and icy hate. Henceforth thy life Mich. Hush, Merab, stay thy speech Thou wilt repent thee of these hasty words ; Spiteful they well might seem, but that the motive For such virulence seems lacking. David plotting against the king ? 'tis monstrous ! 'Tis infamous that such a lie should live, Even for the brief space that gave it birth ! And thou, my father, shame on thy noble mind That could conceive, and coin such wickedness ! Thy tongue that could so palter with the truth ! David in league with Jonathan ! Aye, if to league Be but to set up bands of staunchest steel Around their loyalty to thee, to daily vie In loving fealty and true heart-service, Which shall commend him first to thy affection, Then David is in league with Jonathan ! But, whether David were more worthy Jonathan, Or Jonathan of David, I know not This I know, There is not one more brave than Jonathan ; And could the friend of Jonathan take on 1 David had preferred Michal to Merab. 15 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Such foul and scaly attributes, or disport, Like some low dinosaur of the world's first dawn, In slimy shallow or reptilian pool ? I would not let my love for either plead, But I can answer Merab word for word, There is not one more loyal of heart and soul Than Jonathan unless that one be David, My dear, dear husband. Merab. Ha, ha, ha, thy husband ! I thought thy husband was a feather bolster, An image stuck with goat's hair ! Mich. My sister Hath, indeed, a pleasant wit. Saul. Enough : (to Michal} And you, Who taught you to call shame upon my speech You, who have call'd down shame on your marriage bed? But she, who mocks her father and her husband, God will most surely punish her. Mich. My noble father doth forget himself : I did it but to save his life. Saul. But yesterday It was to save your own : lie upon lie : Deceive your sire as you've deceived your husband ! Mich. I grieve to think I could so do to either ; But if, from harsh necessity, I wrought 16 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Some slight deception on my lord the king, It was to save Saul from himself, David from Saul. Your calmer judgment will approve my action, For you must in your heart I know forgive me, As well I know your true heart will excuse me. Saul. Child, get you hence, ere you exhaust my patience. As you have made your bed so must you lie ; David's your choice : look no more to your father, Henceforth you have none. Mich. My father, O my father ! [Exit sobbing. Merab. Take care she prove not now the greater rebel ! A woman injured is far more to be fear'd Than twenty men ; men know not how to hate, Their hates disperse like mists before the sun : But woman, when she hates, hates once for all, Hates with a fury that no force may quell, Hates with a hate for ever at white heat Till it burn on to vengeance, or consume The vessel that can hold such bateless fire : Michal is now the fiercer enemy. Saul. My Merab, canst thou speak so of thy sister ? Merab. Of twenty sisters, if they proved as false. Saul. False ! hath she proved false to thee ? Merab. Nay, father ; But plots she not against thy life and throne, B 17 DAVID AND BATHSHUA And am not I thy daughter, and most loyal ? Saul. Yea, more my daughter than thy sister's friend, More loyal may be than loving ! Merab. Traitors I hate. Saul. Nay, say not so ; it doth embrace so many : And such a fund of hate may sear thy bosom. It is not good for human hearts to hate, However bruised : there is no healing in it Bear with the injury and it will heal, Bear with the injurer and he'll repent. Merab. But, father, thou dost hate as well as I. Saul. Nay, child, I do get angry it is true, But hate is anger that hath petrified. I never yet could hate beyond a day, But on the morrow do I hate my hate, And fling it from me as a thing accurst. Merab. I cannot hate, and unhate, in that fashion. Saul. Then hadst thou better never hate at all, For she who hates, ponder it well, my Merab, Hates her ownself more than her enemy, Else would she be more careful of her hate, Not spill it 'gainst herself: for God is just, And doth reward us for our love or hate According to the use we make of either. Merab. Then the reward of David must be great, For is not his whole heart an armed camp 18 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Of treason and rebellion ? [Saul frowns. Saul. Fetch me my jester, for my soul grows sad. Enter Jester. Saul. Come, Fool, if thou art worth thy place, declare it: Disperse these heavy mists that are closing in, That threaten to engulph me in their night. Jest. What would my lord, that 'I should make him merry ? Saul. Nay, Fool, but that thou shouldst make me less sad. Jest. A merry task that well might prove a sad one. Saul. Nay, an it will, if that thou gib'st me more. Jest, (to ladies}. Come all you fair ones then of light and healing, And you shall guess, what should need no re- vealing, A simple riddle of a great disaster : How true love stole a march on his old master. Ladies (excitedly}. A riddle ! and all about love ! Jest. Here's for you then : What is there that should rid King Saul of sorrow, Yet is no good for sport, 19 DAVID AND BATHSHUA That ne'er a one of you is like to borrow That's lived a month at court ? First Lady. A husband. Jest. Nay : That were a very likely thing to borrow. Second Lady. But some of us have husbands, and have no need to borrow ! Jest. Why then you have the greater need to borrow. Several. How so ? Jest. When your good man goes a-roving, And you've not enough of loving, What must you do, but borrow, borrow, borrow ? Third Lady. And some of us are still unhusbanded. Jest. Now that's very sad : your case is less complex ; For, not having one of your own, you are very like To borrow someone else's. Third Lady. Impudent rogue ! Jest. Nay, but all women are alike : not having a hus- band, they do desire one above all things ; uo sooner is their whim gratified, their peering and impelling curiosity assuaged, than they quickly find he is not all their eye painted him, their mind con- ceived; then must they go worrying to find a remedy, and the remedy is always another hus- band, someone else's for preference ! 20 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Oh, isn't it strange "We'd all of us range, Six out of every seven ; And a bit of a change To another grange Is all on the way to heaven. Sec. Lady. Man's heaven woman : a pretty heaven that ! Jest. Indeed a pretty heaven ! [Chucking her under the chin. Sec. Lady. Go on, Fool, with your riddle. Jest. List then whilst I repeat it. [Repeats riddle. First Lady. I know : a lover ! Jest. Well, well, I thought you would come as near by your first guess as possible : if you cannot have a husband, try a lover ! But how should a lover rid King Saul of sorrow ? First Lady. By his antics. Jest. Ah, cruel, and from you that are the cause of them ! But granted the antics, how can you main- tain that a lover is no good for sport ? most women seem to find sport in their lovers, and certes the lover afFordeth excellent sport to the onlooker : with his ogling it, his coaxing it, his squeezing it, not to say his accommodating it upon his knee. Then there are the moonlit walks : with heads joined, 21 DAVID AND BATHSHUA hands joined, hearts joined (mimicking the appearance of lovers as seen from behind in a country lane}, F faith I often wonder how they ever come apart again, they seem so truly and delightfully one ! And surely to such the world seems but a vast pleasure- garden, where they may wander at will, quite oblivious of all save their own sweeting. Happy lovers ! happy lovers ! Indeed I should not mind fooling it so once in a way myself. Sec. Lady. Thou wouldst make a better fool in love than out of love. Jest. Ah, love's a wonderful quickener ! Surely you must have had much practice in the art ? Sec. Lady. I will quicken thee in a minute, so thou be not quick to solve thy riddle. [Strikes him. Jest. You have me by the quick j 1 cry you mercy. I'll rid me of my riddle, so you rid me of your riddling. (To First Lady) Pretty chuck, you came so near by your second guess that you deserve a prize a consolation prize (offering to kiss her). 'Tis not a lover, my dear, but a very particular substitute for a lover : one that sets great store by his head-gear, what with his oiling it, and per- fuming it. (To attendant) Bring in the scented answer to my riddle. [Exit attendant. 22 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Re-enter attendant, bearing the teraphim that Michal had substituted for David. Jest. Take care, now, of his larded davidical locks. All. The teraphim ! The teraphim ! Severally. A wise fool ! A witty fool ! A wondrous- clever fool ! Saul. Nay, Fool, but now you jest too near myself. \_Hurls his javelin at the jester. Jest. But, Master, what I did I did to serve you. Saul. Then serve me now by going ! [Jester makes as though to take away the image. (In a voice of thunder) No, not the image. [Exit jester. Saul (rushing on the image and overthrowing it}. O glad am I that I may vent my rage On this poor senseless mask, and not on her. For Michal, if I had thee now, Pd kill thee. (Drawing his hand over his brow) Oh, am I mad ? Or am I only blinded with my passion ? O God, where am I ? Give me this man alive, That I may tear him piecemeal limb from limb. (To lords and ladies) Out of my way ! For I could mow you down, Like single blades before the advancing storm, Without respect of sex. [Exeunt all except Saul. (In a calmer voice) Now Samuel DAVID AND BATHSHUA Is gone from me, whom have I on whom to lean ? For these wild bursts must wreck my brain even as They rack my body. . . . Samuel ! O Samuel ! Why didst thou leave me in my hour of trial ? Why for one sin, one little sin forsake me One little sin that led me on to others, Stung by the punishment for my first offence ? Hadst thou stood by me then I might have turn'd, Hadst thou kept tryst with me I had not sinn'd ! I saw the seventh day in before I yielded, Worn out at last by the mob's fierce entreaty, The enemy were even at our gates, The Philistines were at the gates of Gilgal, And surely did I think thou wouldst not come, Or I had waited, waited patiently, Until the setting of the seventh day's sun, Ere I had disobey'd thy high behest, And fann'd the flame of sacrifice to God. But how didst thou rebuke my slight offence ? Thou turn'dst my fault to treason against God, And didst revoke my kingship ! Aye, much more Thou didst decree the downfall of my house. O injustice ! My worst of sins did never Merit this : surely God hath forgiven ! 24 DAVID AND BATHSHUA And them, my guide, my earthly counsellor, Art thou still stubborn ? Lies there no way to peace ? Is Saul for ever damn'd ? The face of his soul Held up to him as in a threefold mirror, In which he sees all his defects of nature, Without thy cold indifference to remind him. Have I not striven to expiate my sin, A thousand acts against two small misdeeds ? Will nothing move thee, immalleable priest ? (Penitentially) O Samuel, my friend : forgive, forget, Come back to me again that I may live, That I may feel once more God's Holy Spirit Replenishing the springs of life within me, Directing all the purpose of my soul Ah, no : it cannot be ! that day is past ! Samuel hath sworn he will not come again : He hath anointed David my successor. That is enough ! O my sons, O my sons, If it were not for you, King Saul could bear it. But Saul is damn'd ! Damn'd in his house and kingdom Then Saul I fear is damn'd eternally, For Saul now bids defiance to Jehovah, Spits at his temple, tramples on his priests, Persecutes his people : and this same David 25 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Let me but once lay hands on him, but once ! Saul shall be ten times damn'd ere he is done. Now Saul is damn'd, Saul hath no soul to lose : Now Saul is damn'd, he's free to unmask Hell. Enter messenger. Mess. My lord, we have news of the Prince : he hath fled To Achish. Saul. Good, good : it is very good. (To messenger] Go ! [Exit messenger. It is excellent : I can bribe Achish. [Exit. 26 ACT II SCENE I. Gath. A Banqueting Hall in the Palace. King Achish with Lords and Ladies of the Philistines seated at meat. Noise heard without. King Ach. Who is it thus disturbs our noontide feast ? What noise is this ? Who stirs up all this tumult ? [Exit attendant. (Noise and shuffling continue.) Have we not discord enough i' the state, But we must have it served upon us here ? What ruffian breaks upon us with such laughter, It rings thro' vault and ceiling, beam and rafter ? Enter David, torn, dishevelled, mud-bespattered, yet shaking with laughter , followed by the King's guards. David. Oh, 'tis a jolly life The king's son-in-law's ! High in his favour, On's best behaviour j 27 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Next moment down at heels, Swift from Saul's path he steals, Like the bright adder. King Ach. (to attendants). See'st thou not the man is mad ? First Lady. A strange madness ! David. Why should a king's son-in-law Escape by a window, Unless for a wifely whim ? Substituted teraphim 1 Is the most they'll get of him ! Michal, O Michal, Who'd wed a king's daughter ! Officer of the Guard. This is he of whom the people sang : ' ' Saul hath slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands." David (drawing his sword^). The sword of Goliath : it is a good sword To him that can wield it ! King Ach. Disarm him. David. So ! [ The guards draw back before the long siving of David's sword. 'Tis not for use upon my friends, but upon The enemies of Achish, good my lord. [Hands over sword. 1 Although a plural word, it is used in the singular number in i Sam. xix. 13. 28 DAVID AND BATHSHUA In my youth I slew a lion, Pluck'd him by the beard : Never, till I loved a woman, Was I yet afFear'd. (To Achish) What think you, king, are all fair women false ? Or are they only false who think them fair ? King Ach. There is more rhyme than reason in this man. Sec. Lady. And yet he reasons well, and out of rhyme. David. Yea ; out of rhyme I reason, And yet my reason is not out of rhyme : I would I had no reason for my rhyme, Or rhyme for such poor reason ! King Ach. In this man is a spirit of divinity : Whence comes he ? Officer. My lord, we came upon him Hotly press'd by his own countrymen, who, When they saw our guard, fell back, and one of them Cried out, " He is a murderer : seize him ! " But he, between the takings of his breath, Gave them the lie, adding, " Ye are from Saul, Who is no friend of Achish : let Achish judge Between us." Then did they offer silver For his person, but we, fearing the king, Refused the loathly bribe, and brought him hither. King Ach. Ye acted circumspectly, my good friends ; But could ye not have kept him till to-morrow ? 29 DAVID AND BATHSHUA See ye not our meats are cooling ? Officer. My lord, We could not hold him : half famish'd tho' he be, He hath an iron hand, and thews like adamant. King Ach. Such strength comes but of madness. Officer. Most like, my lord, For when the fit o'ertook him, he did tear All things that came within his fearful reach, Rolling his eyes, and raking out his beard In such a frothing frenzy, that no man Durst come nigh him. King Ach. It is evident, then, The merit of his bringing rests with himself. Officer. If it so please my lord, the king. King Ach. It is well : The man, who is an enemy of Saul's, Must in some measure be a friend of ours. Give him safe conduct to the border : if He means injury, he had best commit it Upon the Israelite, not on ourself. He hath a spirit : 'twere most unholy To detain him ! Return his sword. (To David) God speed you ! David. Thanks, noble friend, I will some day requite Thy kindness : I shall not soon forget it. [Exeunt guards and David. 30 DAVID AND BATHSHUA King Ach. (to Courtiers). Now, having settled our affairs of state, Let us do justice to the viands that wait. SCENE II. Mountainous country in the wilderness of Engedi. In the background limestone caves. In the foreground groups of soldiers, Abner and other Captains. Enter King Saul (stepping out of one of the caves). King Saul. Abner, methinks this mountain search is vain, No man, however sorely press'd, would choose These sun-baked slopes, this wild and arid desert, For his concealment ; and canst persuade me A crafty freebooter of this bandit tribe Would let himself be taken unawares Within these narrow wadys ? Abner. Nay, my lord ; Still cunning oft defeats itself, and these same caves, Might well afford both shelter and concealment To one hard press'd : our quarry hath not had Much time to breathe since first we got upon him. My counsel is we seal them (pointing to the caves) with all speed, Setting a guard both to the North and South, 3 1 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Then at our leisure we may search them thro'. King Saul. Nay, man, 'tis waste of time. Let's to Hachilah : There in the forest we shall run him down. Abner. My lord, spare but the time for this one search ; And afterwards to Hachilah. King Saul. Afterwards, Thou'lt still be crying afterwards ! Abner. My lord, I humbly King Saul. Confusion take thy humbleness ! Humble thyself by swift obedience : set All our force in motion. [They move off slowly. Enter David (from the cave) attended by Joab, Abishai, and other Captains. David. My lord, the king ! King Saul. David ! do I indeed behold my son ? David. My lord, thou dost behold a loyal subject : One who, tho' sorely tried, is yet most true ; One who this moment might have ta'en thy life, But who doth, even from his heart, regret This trespass (holding up a piece of Saul's robe), tho' cut with seemly reverence, As token of a faith that could not falter Towards the person of the Lord's anointed. DAVID AND BATHSHUA (Btrwing low) Wherefore, O king, dost thou come out against My life ? Hath David treasonable thoughts ? Thou knowst he hath not ! Doth David seek thy hurt ? If so, the occasion hath but slipp'd his grasp. Why, then, shouldst thou believe in my dishonour, Accepting what mine enemies have said, And drawing thence hasty and rash conclusions, That should prejudge me traitor, all unheard ? What wrong could I commit against my lord ? Evil proceedeth but from evil men, And those, who think evil, encompass evil ; But every thought of mine towards the king Is, as my hand this day, clean and unsullied. The Lord judge between me and thee ! the Lord Avenge me of thee ; but my hand shall never Be against thee. King Saul. David, my son, my son, How sweet it is to hear thy voice again, E'en tho' thou speakest to my own confusion ! Saul stands abash'd before thy greater soul Saul, who doth own no master but Jehovah, Humbles himself and his high pride to thee. How have I wrong'd thee, son, this many a day ; And, ah, how nobly hast thou me requited ! c 33 DAVID AND BATHSHUA There is not one more loyal to me than thou, Not one in all my kingdom ! For who would so have spared his adversary ? May the Great God reward thee for thy zeal, Thy dutiful devotion! Aye, and He Will reward thee, for now I know that thou Shalt surely reign, and that my throne will pass Pass altogether from the House of Saul. Thou shalt be father to a line of kings, Prouder than any that have walk'd this earth, Greater than any since the dawn of Time ; Thou art the herald of a world-wide hope, In thee the Sun of Israel shall not set, But flame on the hills for ever ! . . . Come near That I may lean upon thee as of old. \_Embracing David. Few are there now on whom my age may lean, And, if that few were fewer, it were well ! (Taking his hand) Swear to me, David Thou wilt not cut my seed from off the earth, Nor yet efface my name in Israel : So shall thy justice be temper'd with mercy, And the people of God rejoice in thy law. David. Not for thy sake, O king, but Jonathan's, Shall I incline to mercy. Without his love, His steadfastness thro' all these bitter trials, 34 DAVID AND BATHSHUA I could not so have borne them : for his sake I must look tenderly upon Saul's House, I could not in my heart do otherwise. [Exeunt. SCENE III. On the foreshore of the Great Sea. Enter Bathshua. Bath. How good it is to come here from the hills ! How exquisite the deep blue of the ocean ! O heart, my heart, how dost thou surge and swell ! And you, my feet, how pulsing to be off! Off fast before the wind ! (Drawing in a long breath.) I cannot breathe Enough of the sweet air ! O happiness To be again free with the winds of heaven, And not within the narrow haunts of men ! Men ! Why they are not fit to walk God's earth ! They have not eyes to see the beautiful, Nor have they souls to feel what women feel ! Love have they never dreamt of all save one : He only hath a clean heart and high purpose, David my heart's true idol, and its king ! How lovely wert thou as thou strod'st along, Leading thy stalwarts to the tent of Saul, 35 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Heading thy captains and thy men of war, Thy face all flush'd with battle, thy eager eyes Clear as the noonday sun, and thy whole soul Emblazon'd on thy god-like countenance ! I would give all the world for one long kiss Of thy sweet mouth, and yet, unless God wills, I may not even touch thy hand I, who Am but a simple maid of Benjamin. (Sighs deeply.) Enter old Nurse (panting, and out of breath). Nurse. Bathshua, Stay thee, sweet child ! thy poor, old nurse has not The strength to follow, and scarce, I think, the breath. Bath. I'm sorry, nurse, I meant not to outrun thee : This air strikes brisk, and hard it is to hold One's spirits in check ! Nurse. Yes, my love, I know it ; I would have raced thee thirty summers back, I was most light upon my feet. My poor, Dear father used to say, " Zoe is fleeter Than the roe." Bath. Come, nurse, art sure thou speak'st the truth The exact truth ? DAVID AND BATHSHUA Nurse. Why, child, look at this instep. [Showing her foot. Knowst thou not that a high arch is ever The sign of a swift runner ? Bath. And mine (raising her skirts) is Higher still : thou wouldst not, then, have outrun me ! Nurse. Certes thou art more nimble with thy tongue ! Bath. But with my feet ? Nurse. Ah, that's another matter. Bath. Thou'lt not concede the victory ! Dear heart, Let's move along. The day is failing fast. Already is the sun 'neath the horizon, And we must make towards home. What lovely shells ! [Picks up one. I did not know the sea had such fine jewels. Nurse. Fine jewels ! Why they're only common shells. Wait till thou see'st the jewels at the court Diamonds and rubies, sapphires and emeralds, Onyx and Why, child, thou art not listening. Bath. Indeed, I am. [Picks up another shell. There are no jewels at the court like these, None half so fine, nor of so great variety ; Look but at the tinting of this shell. Hath The diamond of the court so many hues, Or such transparency ? the beaming ruby A countenance like this ? there's no comparison ! 37 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Here are the very waters of the sea, Roll'd into flesh of iridescent pearl. Nurse. Iridescent nonsense, child ! Bath. Ah, nurse, it is not so. Alas, how few Can look upon a lowly thing, and find It lovely the lovelier for its lowliness ! And yet, such's the common eye, it would proclaim This (holding up she//) mean and insignificant beside Some tawdry jewel of the court, deep-delv'd From its mother earth, with but a borrow'd bright- ness. My first of men would not have so disdain'd it. Nurse. Who is this paragon of thine ? Bath. Ah, nurse, That is my secret : One that can look into the starry heavens, And trace God's finger there, or on the mountains, . . And mark amid their monumental calm The immeasurable strength of their Creator ; Or just as simply, for his faith is large, In the bright colouring of an autumn leaf Attest the Great Artificer amid The russets, and the yellows, and the browns. Nurse. Indeed, these be great virtues ! but myself Had just as lief prefer a man more stolid, Who look'd to me for beauty, not to the stars DAVID AND BATHSHUA Nor to the dulling glory of the leaf. Bath. To me for beauty ! I have not pride enough to think of that Yet still that beldam's words, " I see thee seated On a golden throne, in the golden gates Of morning, and in thy hand the sceptre Of a queen." Nurse. Thou art a queen already A Queen of Beauty ! and what has any queen To boast of but her beauty ? it was for that That she became a queen, and, when she loses it, She loses half her empery ! Bath, (rapturously). O Love, Could I be worthy of so great a lord ? He only can give voice to all my thoughts : Could I not add some radiance to his ? For I would so encompass him with love, He must live lovelier, think lovelier, Create lovelier I would not try to hold him with my beauty, But with those charms that captivate the mind : Grace, that shall set the bells of his soul aringing, Sympathy, attuned to the fall of a sigh, Mute understanding, softly and silently winging To a home in his heart, none knoweth so well as I. Beauty is but a magnet : these the hoops 39 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Fd set about his soul to keep it mine. Oh I could love, dear, if only another Could love me as I could love ! Nurse. Who is this Favour' d prince, for prince at least he must be ? Bath. Ah, sounds he not too like a prince of faery ? Nurse. He must be faery prince that wins my maid : Comes such an one a- wooing ? Batk. Nay, sweetheart, But I have thoughts of such an one. Nurse. God send Thou mayst have more than thoughts of him ! Bath. To that sweet wish I can but kiss my hand, and say amen. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Saul seated under a tree in Ramah ; Merab, Michal, Jonathan, Abner, Phaltiel, Lords and Ladies in attendance. At the hour of sundown. Abner. The king looks sad. Saul. And so wouldst thou look, Abner, If thou hadst won a kingdom with thy prowess, And saw it slowly, slowly slipping from thee, 40 DAVID AND BATHSHUA As steadily as sinks yon western orb. The night is coming up, and I must die, Pass, and leave all I have to other hands, And those most hateful to me ! Jehovah cares not for my dimming sight, My shatter'd hopes of kingship ! (In a stronger voice.) What boots it That I look'd death in the face a thousand times, If that my victories serve to disinherit My own true sons ? David is not my blood Abner. Nor shall he reign, whilst one of thy royal house Yet lives : so help me God ! Saul. I know thee, trusty friend, but I have sworn it. Merab. Under misapprehension. David has trick'd thee He knew much better than to lay his hand Upon the person of the Lord's anointed, With Abner and three thousand men near by, Himself scarce able to command five hundred. Thou mayst be sure he weigh'd the odds of battle, Ere he had made a virtue of his fear, And staked his all upon thy clemency. His ready wit stood him for double gain Renewal of his life, and of Saul's favour, For every moment's doubt did more imperil One in so close a strait. He wisely chose The lesser of two evils, and threw himself 41 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Upon thy royal heart. Saul. I never look'd at it, my child, in that light ; But now I think on it, 'tis very true : I was a fool to be so moved by words, Trick'd by the trick of a seeming great affection ! (Turning to Merab) Hadst thou been born a boy, my throne were safe ; My days had then gone down with swift decline Unto the peaceful grave, but, when I look On these (pointing to his sons), I am wrung to the heart : I do Despair for Israel ! Sons have I none : Thine eye is now sole bulwark to my state. Jon. And ministers but to a state diseased. Saul. Silence, thou fool ! Jon. And greater fool being wise. Saul. David will take the crown from off thy head. Jon. Then will he crown my head with greater glory, For such a friend hath no man ; and I joy To think that he will some day reign in Israel, And that my service shall bestead him : perchance As captain of his host, his generalissimo. But if he shall assign some lesser place, Then will I serve him just as loyally, So that I serve him, matters it not where ! Saul. If David chooseth captains such as thou, 42 DAVID AND BATHSHUA He is not like to reign so long in Israel. What says my Michal ? Mich. Father, take back that taunt, For I am heart and soul with Jonathan, And truer son than David Saul hath none. Saul, (to Abner). David appears to have more friends than I, And fashion'd from these loins : I have bred these children but to poison me With their envenom'd, fulsome praise of David. (To Michaf) Almost had I forgot thy base, thy gross Ingratitude, thou child of the rebellious woman ! And now thou must add impudence to deceit. I'll teach thee manners ere thou go'st to bed : (To Phaltiel) Phaltiel, you long desired my daughter's hand : If that she still doth please you, she is yours ; Take her, with all her manifold sweet vices, And cherish her, but see you keep her far From this same David. Phalt. My day has come at last. Mich. Would God it were my last ! [Exit Michal sobbing, Phaltiel follows her. Enter Attendant. Attend. My lord, some men of Judah beg an audience. 43 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Saul. Bid them attend. Enter Ziphites (they prostrate themselves). What would you, men of Judah ? First Ziph. My lord, we bring you news of him you sought But lately thro' the wilderness of Ziph, And drove past tarn and quarry : he is now In hiding in the forest of Hachilah. Saul. Enough. (To Abner) Abner call all my men together, And we will see if we may snare him there ; This time I shall not spare him ! \Exeunt. SCENE V. The Hill of Hachilah. Night. Saul and his men asleep in their encampment. David and Abishai seen dimly groping their way amid the slumbering host. Abish. (in a low voice). My lord, here lies the king wrapt in deep slumber, God hath deliver'd him into thy hands ! (Raising his spear) Let me strike home : he shall not stir again. David (staying his arm). Nay, Abishai, I cannot hold him guiltless, 44 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Who would so use the Lord's anointed ! God In His own time and way will punish him : He will avenge me on mine adversary. Take now the cruse that stands beside his pillow. \David himself uproots Saul's spear. These tokens will suffice. We must away : Faint glimmerings shoot up from the underworld, And dawn is near. \_As they move off the dawn broadens, and several of the sleeping soldiers awake. David and Abishai are next seen on the other side of a ravine, from 'which David hails Abner. David. Abner, thou valiant chief, why steepest thou ? Are day dreams pleasanter than duty ? Abner ! Abner ! Abner. Who art thou that criest to the King ? David. One who is more thoughtful of the king than thou, Tho' less in his good favour ! Surely thou art A leader much approved in war, careful And considerate in all thy plans, of great Experience and resource, ever watchful To seize the coign of vantage, vigilant Alike in camp and field : Yet wouldst thou be surprised if I should charge thee Of gross neglect concerning thy royal master ! 45 DAVID AND BATHSHUA See now Saul's spear and cruse ! (Holding up both.} Some enemy Hath come nigh the king. Saul. Is that thy voice, my son ? Is it the voice of David that I hear ? David. Thou knowst my voice, O king, and wilt thou tempt My strain'd allegiance till it snap and fail ? Are all Saul's promises of no account ? Is David's life so trivial a thing That he must hold it ever at thy mercy ? Try me not overmuch, for I am frail, And Saul being dead I should have nought to fear. What evil genius stands beside the king, To prick him to such folly ? What woman's strategy lies veil'd in this ? Show me my fault, and I will strive to mend it. For Saul is oft persuaded 'gainst himself To his own hurt : and those, my slanderers, Dare not to speak the thing that they affirm, Except as slanderers behind my back, For they are many who would do me wrong. How long, O king, how long must I endure it ? For if my punishment is of the Lord, May He accept my offering, and forgive My trespass ; but if of man, avenge me 46 DAVID AND BATHSHUA On him, O God ! and that right speedily, For my soul is nigh to death. Saul. David, my son, I have sinn'd, sinn'd grievously against thee : I have believed things which I knew were false, Believed, because I wish'd to so believe, Believed, because I hoped to find thee evil. But now I know thou art my trusted son, That guile or wickedness are not of thee, But an exceeding goodness and great mercy. Return, and I will no more seek thy life. Come back to me, my son, for I have err'd David (raising his hand}. 'Tis common ! men oftener take their friends for foes, Than recognise a foeman in a friend. Let now the king send one of his young men, To fetch his spear and cruse, and may the Lord Render to each his righteousness : for as Thy soul was this day precious in my sight, So may the soul of David find redemption, Even in the eyes of the Great Judge of all. Saul. Blessed be thou, blessed be thou my son ! For as in the beginning thou didst prevail, So to the end shalt thou be still victorious. Thou wilt do great things, for God is with thee. 47 [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. Zig/ag. At the entrance of the city. Enter David, High Priest, Captains and Officers. David. What news of Saul ? Is there no messenger ? When last we heard the king was hastening north To expel the invading host encamp'd at Shunem, And with him all the might of Israel. The prize the lovely vale of Esdraelon, The key to the trade and commerce of the north, The highway to the south : Philistia's Lords Have long set wistful eyes upon this pass, And now with all the force they can command, With lines of glittering chariots, horse and foot, They do await Saul's battle, firm and composed. If he engage them in the open plain Israel is lost : valour will not avail Against the savage onset of their horse, The roar and rattle of their flaming cars That like a whirlwind sweep the floor of earth, And leave but wrack and ruin in their path. DAVID AND BATHSHUA Whatever men Saul might to these oppose, The heathen scythes would cut and mow them down, And shock them in close sheaves upon the morrow. But, back'd by their own inhospitable hills, The Tribes may prove a more than equal match For all Philistia's craft and skill in war, And given a leader . . . but, alas, they have none ! For Saul is headstrong, rash, impetuous, And Jonathan too easily o'er-borne In council, tho' strenuous in action : Abner a shuttle-cock between these two. My mind forebodeth ill Enter Messenger. Mess. News, news, my lord, news ! [Prostrating himself. The armies of Israel are scatter'd : Saul And his sons are slain. David. How knowst thou this ? Mess. My lord, When the king saw the battle was against him And that his sons were slain, himself sore-stricken, He call'd to him that bore his shield to slay him. But he, whether from love or fear, I know not, Forebore, and whilst I waited, Saul raised himself Upon his arm, even upon the pivot D 49 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Of his thigh, and cried aloud, " if there be Any near, or friend or foe, let him draw nigh And ease me of my mortal agony." Then, seeing the dreadful nature of his wounds, And out of pity for a dying man, I did for him the office of a friend. And scarcely had the last breath left his body, When that proud man, who had stood by unmoved, Immovable ! his erstwhile armour-bearer, Stepping astride the massy, sinuous trunk, Fell heavily on the point of his own sword, Refusing to outlive his royal master. David. And Jonathan, how fared he thro' the battle ? Mess. He was the first to fall, tho' not before A dozen wounds had bit thro' hose and doublet : He fought as one who reck'd not of his life, Exposed himself most freely, and where he swept The battle seem'd to ope and widen out Beneath his sword, so breathless was his ire. And when at last they bore him from the field, Fainting from loss of blood, he made as tho', Between returning pangs of consciousness, He would have spoke, but as often did his lips Refuse their office, mutely articulate, Until upon one long and labour'd sigh, He breath'd thy name and died. 50 DAVID AND BATHSHUA David (overcome). O, my brother, Dearer than life wert thou ! (To Messenger) What is thy name ? Mess. I am a stranger, an Amalekite ; And hither have I brought Saul's crown and bracelet, Stript from his person. [ Presenting them. David (in anger). Base slave, settest thou these As the price of a king slain ? and dar'st thou To face me with the tokens of thy guilt Warm in thine hand ? thou art, indeed, a stranger ! Craftily hast thou spoken and with colour, But, that all men may know 'tis no light thing To lay fell hands upon a heaven-crown'd king, I do deliver thee now to instant death. Thou stand'st adjudged by thine own traitorous breath. (To Officer) Go near and fall upon him. [Officer strikes him doivn. (To High Priest) Make this a day of solemn supplication : A day of prayer and fasting. To-morrow We must to Hebron, to reunite the Tribes. [David then takes his tunic in both hands and rends it ; next, turning to the people, he intones : Saul, Saul is dead. Saul and Jonathan 51 DAVID AND BATHSHUA The heroes of war are no more : O Israel, where are now thy hosts, Scatter'd and strewn upon Mount Gilboa ? Wail with the sound of loud lamentation, For Saul is dead, The bravest of the brave lies slain. \The people take up the refrain, and chant it after him as they retire. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Hebron. An open space. A full muster of the Tribe ofjudah. Enter David, Captains, Officers, Elders, and Chief Men of the Tribe. First Eld. Most valiant prince, most venerable councillors, And you thick-sinew'd sons of mighty Judah ! If to the privilege of age be added Devotion to the people and the law, Then to none must I yield priority, Who can look down upon the oldest here As still a child in knowledge. For amongst you Who is there that remembers that awful night 52 DAVID AND BATHSHUA When the first messenger arrived from Aphek, And the old man Eli fell backward from his seat, On hearing that the Ark of God was taken, And that his sons were slain ; when thirty thousand Of our countrymen chose death before defeat, And when the westering sun threw back the glare Of Shiloh, that dear city of our rest, Rising in fire and flare and flame to God ? Those scenes were burnt into my boyish brain, And thro' the long years of manhood I beheld The heathen tyranny, the alien yoke, The iron heel of pagan persecution : Our young men taken but for menial tasks, Our maidens oft defiled without redress, The nation stripp'd to the bare means of sustenance j Even the blunt tools of husbandry snatch'd From our hands at nightfall, to be hammer'd On anvils no longer ours, by hands not ours, Lest we, incited by the glowing forge, And mindful of our multitudinous wrongs, Might shape them into implements of war. Year after year we ate the bread of servitude, Salted with bitter tears, until Jehovah, Hearkening at length to the long voice of prayer, Sent Samuel to our succour. . . . Under that princely judge, that noble law-giver, 53 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Israel regain'd her strength, and the Great God Directing all her councils, she went forth Fear'd and respected as of yore. Happy Had she retain'd that governance divine ! But Pride, that erst o'erthrew, again constrain'd her, Until she begg'd in tears an earthly ruler One that should be the glory of her strength, The symbol of her manhood. God gave her Then her wish . . . And in that ruler is she now abased, Her glory lies with his on Mount Gilboa ! And yet our first of rulers was a king Fashion'd to the height and measure of our hearts, With many fair, endearing qualities. But he is dead ; and, with his dauntless sons, Is past our cognizance : he is gone from us, And we must choose betimes one in his place, For we are brought to no uncertain pass. First, then, your choice must be for a tried leader, To guide you down the perilous paths of war ; Next for a righteous judge and prudent ruler j And last, tho' highest attribute of all, One on whom Jehovah's favour rests, for Unless the Lord doth lead, vain is the setting forth. One man alone unites these qualities : The son of Jesse, I do submit him 54 DAVID AND BATHSHUA To you with all confidence, whom Samuel Did appoint even in the life of Saul. \Vociferous applause. Joab. Compatriots of Judah ! you have all heard The speech that flow'd like honey from the lips Of our august and honour'd countryman. To that I can add little, but that little I am prepared to back with my good sword. Blunt am I of speech, but my weapon's edge Hath never been left to rust from like disuse, And with that I shall be happy to make good My liege's claim to the chieftainship of Judah. Nor do I think there is who will dispute His right, or who disputing it, can hold His ground for a day. I am for King David, And those with me will follow him to the death. (Raising his sivord} Long live King David ! Tribesmen (ivith loud acclaim). King David ! King David ! [ The partisans of Joab shouting, " Joab and David ! Joab and David ! " Ahltophel (as President of the Council}. I understand the people are resolved To have the son of Jesse for their king. Nevertheless, it is most right, seemly, And befitting, that we proceed on lines Of precedent, that nothing may be lacking 55 DAVID AND BATHSHUA To confirm our purpose, or prejudice The king's election. Wherefore, men of Judah, I put it to you, one and severally : Will ye the son of Jesse for your king ? And ye shall answer me by a show of swords. \The tribesmen flourish their sivords and shout, "King David! King David !" Ahit. Will ye swear fealty to King David ? Tribesmen (together). We will. A hit. Let the son of Jesse stand forth before The people ! \Dai)id steps forward amid shouts of loud acclamation. Ahit. Most dread and potent prince, art thou prepared To take the solemn vows of kingship ? to rule Well and nobly, according to the best That thy heart knoweth, submitting thy will At all times unto Jehovah ? to strive Not for thine own but for thy people's good, Diligent and faithful to the great charge Entrusted to thee ? Wilt thou keep alive The true religion ? Wilt thou respect the law, Altho' thou art above the law, guarding it As the true fountain of the nation's life ? Wilt thou redeem thy word wherever given, That men may know there is a king in Judah ? 56 DAVID AND BATHSHUA Wilt thou abide by these ? David. All these will I observe, justly and rightly, According to the best that in me is ; And hereby make my solemn attestation To uphold the law, and make my people's will My own. Ahit. Then David, son of Jesse, I declare thee, By grace of God, the chosen of this people : I commit thee to the hands of the High Priest, That as thou first receivedst the holy oil From Samuel, God's true servant, so thou shall, Even at the hands of his successor, Be 'stablisht and confirm'd in royalty. The Lord prosper thee now and ever ! All the People. Amen ! [David kneels to the High Priest,