Cale Young Rice

“ With Samuel netted fears about my father
Till I am paltrily unto you pledged. DAVID
Enough. MICHAL
Too much. DAVID
No more; the pledge I fling
Out of my heart, as ’twere enchantment dead.
And free you; but, no more. [He moves from her.]
MICHAL
As if it were
Enchantment dead. Ah, then ’tis true—there is
Another—is another! DAVID
Now what fever?
A gentleness clad once your every grace. MICHAL
There is some other that you lure and love. DAVID
It is not Michal speaking; so I wait. MICHAL
Then— [Judith glides suddenly in with a low laugh and kneels before David. Michal stands amazed.] ”

“ ADRIEL
How?
What reason can be? women are not clear;
And least unto themselves. ISHUI
Or to their fools. [He goes to curtains and draws out Adah.]
Your mistress, Merab, girl, whom does she love?
Unclench your hands. ADAH
I hate her. ISHUI
Insolent!
Answer; I am not milky Jonathan.
Answer; and for the rest—You hear? ADAH
She loves—
The shepherd David! ADRIEL
Who, girl? ADAH
I care not!
She is unkind; I wilt not spy for her
On Michal, and I’ll tell her secrets all!
And David does not love her—and she raves. ISHUI
Off to your sleep; now off— [Makes to strikes her.]
ADRIEL
Ishui, no. ”

“ One must go out—Goliath must have end. DOEG
Ah, ah! and you will! ISHUI
You? JONATHAN
No, David! SAUL
You? DAVID
Sudden you hound about me ravenous?
Have I thrown doom not daring to your feet,
Ruler of Israel, that you rise wild,
Livid above me as an avalanche? DOEG
A plot! it is a plot! He will be slain—
From you, my lord, dominion then will fall!
Or should it not ... SAMUEL
Liar; it is no plot.
But courage sprung seraphic out of night,
Beautiful and a bravery from God! MICHAL [Behind the throng.]
Open, and let me enter! Open! [She enters.] ”

“ ABIATHAR
A destiny, how, how? DAVID
The arrow!—His!
His, and no other’s. Quick, then, no delay. ABIATHAR
Be clear, clearer. DAVID
We are discovered—near
On us is death. Open the secret chamber
Within the cave, for from the bow of Saul
Is yonder bleeding—from no other. ABIATHAR
Saul’s?
But how, was any here? DAVID
To-day, to-day.
A leper wandering. ABIATHAR
We are betrayed. [Abishai with the water-skin hastens into the cave, Right. David and Abiathar stand listening. Noise of approach is heard.] ”

“ MICHAL
Doubt of it welleth thro’ your voice. No, no,
To save you strove I——! DAVID
Michal? MICHAL
Not to betray!
From Saul, my father, penitent I fled,
Seeking you in Engeddi’s wild. DAVID
And Phalti? MICHAL
’Twas wedding him I loathed. DAVID
Say true! MICHAL
This knife
Unfailingly into my breast had spared
Me from him, had not flight. DAVID
This—this can be? [A great joy dawning in him.]
Beyond all hope is it, even as day’s
Wide empery outspans our littleness. [Goes toward her.]
A tithing of thy loveliness were beauty
Enough for earth. Yet it is mine, is mine? MICHAL
David—forever! ”

“ Deeper than all the skill of time can draw,
I spare thee not the furrowed face of pain....
Delirious wings of hope that fluttered up,
At last to fall! [Moves to go.]
MICHAL
David! DAVID
Farewell! MICHAL
... You must not! DAVID
Peace to you—peace and joy! MICHAL
You must not go! [He turns. She sways, then reaches out her arms. As irresistibly they move toward each other, Doeg and Merab appear through the curtains. Michal utters a low cry. They vanish.]
MICHAL
[In numb affright] Merab and Doeg! DAVID
Yet what matter, now! ”

“ SAMUEL
Then, Saul of Gibeah, one thing and one
Alone is to be done. A champion,
To break this beetling giant down to death! SAUL
There is none. SAMUEL
Is none! Call! I order it. SAUL
Then who will dare against him! [A silence.]
See you now. SAMUEL
You, Abner, will not? ABNER
It were death and vain. SAMUEL
Doeg, chief servant of the king? DOEG
Why me?
Had I a mother out of Israel?
I am an alien, an Edomite. DAVID
My lord, this is no more endurable!
Futile and death? Alien? Edomite? ”

“ The kingdom is not in decay, and falls?
You are not prophecy’s anointed one?
Seize up the sword and strike—or I myself! DAVID
Or ... you yourself...? [Silently he puts them aside, takes up the sword, and slowly goes into Saul’s cave.]
ABISHAI
What will he do? Listen! [Michal enters unseen.]
ABIATHAR
If Saul cries out.... ABISHAI
Be ready.... MICHAL [To them.]
What is this! [David, haggard, with drawn sword and a piece of Saul’s cloak in his hand, re-enters from the cave. He sees Michal, pauses, and gazes upon her, as she on him, with rising emotion.]
MICHAL [Inarticulate. Then.] ”

“ Evil be on you and the sear of shame—
And haunting memory beyond the tomb! SAUL
Then let him—let him. And upon the field
Of Ephes-Dammin. But I am not blind! [To Abner]
Let him, to morrow! Go, prepare the host.
Yet—I am king, remember! I am king! [Saul goes; there is a murmur of relief. All except Michal follow, with various expressions of joy or hate toward David.]
DAVID
Michal! [She looks at him; struggles against tears, and turning, goes. David stands gazing sadly after her. Then a trumpet sounds, and soldiers shouting exultantly without, throng to the porch.] ”

“ Of fevered false-impassioned overpraise. [Saul, silent, rises slowly and goes, entreated of Jonathan. Many follow in doubt, whispering.]
DOEG [To David.]
This is not all, boy out of Bethlehem.
Goliath’s dead— DAVID
But not all villainy? [Doeg goes, flushing,—and all follow, except Michal, and Merab, who moves cunningly forward as if incensed.]
MERAB
I burn for it! DAVID
For what, and suddenly? MERAB
My father so ungenerously wroth!
And wrought away from recompense so right;
Can you forgive him? DAVID
Merab?... MERAB
Is it strange
That even I now ask it? DAVID
Merab’s self? ”

“ Between the crags to the East is the far blue of the Dead Sea; and still beyond, bathed in the waning afternoon, stretch the purple shores of Moab. During the act the scene grows crimson with sunset and a thunder-cloud rises over the sea.
Lying on a pallet of skins near the cliff’s verge, DAVID tosses feverishly. Three of his followers and a lad, who serves him, are gathered toward the front, ragged, hungry, and hunted, in altercation over a barley-cake. ”

“ ABNER
And Merab, too, will soon be here. DOEG
Well, come. ABNER
I’ll go and look upon him. [Goes to Saul’s cave and returns.]
Already he sleeps. [Turning they encounter Michal entering, still disguised. She quails.]
Woman, who are you, who? MICHAL
Unclean! away! DOEG
Unclean? a leper? in this place? Are there
No stones to stone you? Hence! And had I not
A brother such as thou—— MICHAL
Pity! Unclean! [She goes quickly; then they. A space. Then she returns trembling, fearful.]
I’ll call him! I will save him!—David! David!—
I his discomfiture and ruin!—David!
David! hear me! David! ”

“ Though he is Michal’s for Goliath’s death!
Michal’s to-day, unless— AHINOAM
Merab, a care!
Too near in you were ever love and hate. [The tumult nears. Ahinoam goes to look out.]
[Doeg enters to Merab.]
DOEG [low]
News, Merab! MERAB
Well—? DOEG
A triumph o’er him, yet!
The king is worn, as a leopard pent, between
Wonder of David and quick jealousy
Because of praise this whelming of Goliath
Wakes in the people. MERAB
Then? the triumph? DOEG
This. [The tumult, nearer.]
I’ve skilfully disposed the women
To coldly sing of Saul, but of our David
With lavish of ecstasy as to a king. ”

“ Listen! that cry! THE VOICE
Woe! woe! DAVID
What is its wail? THE VOICE
The battle’s lost! DAVID
Abiathar——? THE VOICE
Saul flees! DAVID
Abiathar, is lost? ABIATHAR
I fear it. DAVID
Then [Pointing to Doeg.]
Off with his armor for me, I will go
Forth and perchance may backward bend defeat.
Duty to Saul is over. ADRIEL
You must not.
A fruitless intrepidity it were. ABIATHAR
Remember your anointing! ADRIEL
The prophesy! [Miriam enters leading Michal. A moment’s suspense.]
MERAB
See! ADRIEL
See! MERAB
She liveth! MIRIAM
David—— MICHAL [Pleading to him.] ”

“ Mildew and mocking to the harp of Doeg,
As it were any slave’s; the while we all
Are lepered with suspicion. ADRIEL
Of the king? ISHUI
Ah! and of Jonathan and Michal. ADRIEL
Hush. [Enter Michal passing with Miriam.]
Michal, delay. Whom lead you? MICHAL
Miriam,
A prophetess. ADRIEL
How of the king to-night? MICHAL
He’s not at rest; dreads Samuel’s prophecy
The throne shall pass from him, and darkens more
Against this boundless Philistine Goliath
Who dares at Israel daily on the hills,
As we were dogs! ADRIEL
Is David with him? MICHAL
No ”

“ DAVID
Leper, no more. [A moment; then a jackal’s cry shrills to them. David starts.]
The signal. [He listens.] Thrice repeated? Word at last?
[To Michal.] He who is near may prove to thee less kind. [She goes. He springs to look down the cliff.]
Abishai? Abiathar? It is!
But staggering and wounded? breathless? torn? [He watches, then turns to meet them. They enter—Abiathar with bloody ephod and broken breastplate—and sink in panting exhaustion.]
Abishai, what is it that you bring?
Abiathar, up! answer! ABIATHAR
Water! DAVID
Up! [He brings the water-skin. They drain it fiercely.] ”

“ Unto Goliath’s slayer is the hand
Of Michal, the king’s daughter! DAVID [Joyously]
Michal! Michal! DOEG
See, see, my lord! Do you not understand? ISHUI
It is another coiling of their plot! MICHAL
Coiling of plot? What mean you? MERAB
Ah? You know
Not it is David offers against Goliath? MICHAL
David? [Shrinking] David? [A low tumult is heard without. Enter a Captain hurriedly.]
CAPTAIN
O King, bid me to speak! SAUL
Then speak! CAPTAIN
Fear is upon the host. There will
Be mutiny unless, Goliath slain,
Courage spring up anew. DAVID
My lord, then, choose! ”

“ The prophecy portending him the throne—
Folly, not fate! though it is Samuel’s.
I’ll trust in it no more. FIRST FOLLOWER
Nor I. THIRD FOLLOWER
And Saul
Has driven us from waste to waste—pressed us
Even unto the Philistines for shelter,
And now unto this crag. And is not David’s
Thought but of Michal, not of smiting him
And, with a host, of leaping to the kingdom? [David stirs to rise.]
FIRST FOLLOWER
He moves; peace! THIRD FOLLOWER
Let him. SECOND FOLLOWER
Peace. THIRD FOLLOWER
And fawning too? DAVID [Sufferingly]
Men—men, we must have news.
Perpetual,
Implacable they stare unto each other. ”

“ DAVID
My lord, my lord, this should not fret you. DOEG [Derisively.]
Nay! DAVID
’Tis only that the soul of Jonathan,
Brimmed by the Philistines with bitterness,
Sudden is joy and overfloweth— DOEG
Fast— DAVID
Upon his friend, thy servant, David. DOEG
Aie! [He turns away laughing.]
SAUL
Why do you laugh? DOEG
“Thy servant David!” SAUL
Why! A WOMAN [Without.]
King Saul has slain his thousands! DOEG
“Why,” my lord? THE WOMAN
But David his ten thousands! DOEG
Do you hear?
King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten!
Thy servant is he? servant? DAVID [To Saul.] ”

“ He is not there. SAUL
I tell you it is lies—
Because you deem that he shall be the king
And treasure up reward and amnesty. [Into one cave, then another he rushes, then out among them furious.]
From me, ill-fruited ineffectual herd!
Away from me, he’s fled and none of you
Is servant and will find and for me seize him!
From me—I’ll sleep—I’ll rest—and then— [All begin to crowd out, overawed, but Doeg and Abner.]
I’ll sleep. [Slowly he moves into the cave, Left, and lies down.]
ABNER
[To Doeg, significantly.] The evil spirit.
DOEG
Yes; is on him swift
As never before, and as a drunkenness. ”

“ But of Jehovah! of Jehovah! rise! [An elemental cry is heard. Then vast wavering forms rise out of the earth, in continuous stream. Miriam, with a long curdling shriek, sinks moaning to her knees.]
SAUL
Woman, I cannot—dare not—look upon it.
Utter thy sight. [The spirit of Samuel begins to take shape through the phantoms.] ”

“ Come, we must see. [They go to look out. Shouts of “David!” “David!” arise, and a band of timbrel-players, dancing and singing, followed by a band of priests bearing the ark with its cherubim of gold, pass the tent opening. David, Saul, Jonathan, Ishui and the Court then enter amid acclamations; before them servants, bearing the head of Goliath on a charger under a napkin. Saul darkly mounts the throne with Ahinoam, to waving of palms and to praise.] ”

“ Again—you’ve hither fled your mistress Merab,
In fear of her? ADAH
Yes. MIRIAM
At Engeddi Michal
By Saul was apprehended? Merab now
Plotteth against her—she and Doeg? ADAH
Still. MIRIAM
And ’twas in Merab’s tent you heard, the king
Despairing of to-morrow’s battle, comes
Hither to-night to bid me lift the spirit
Of Samuel out of the dead and learn
The issue? ADAH
Doeg said it. MIRIAM
And—you hear?—
Many within the army urge for David,
Would cry him king, if Saul were slain? ADAH
O many. [A knock at the gate. They start up fearful.] ”

“ Be guilt and all the hideous choke of horror! [Saul trembling at the curse lets the javelin fall from his hand. David breaking through Doeg and Ishui escapes by the door. Michal sinks to her knees, her face buried in her hands.]
[CURTAIN.]
ACT III.
SCENE: A savage mountain-cliff in the wilderness of Engeddi. On either side gray crags rise rugged, sinking away precipitously across the back. Cut into each is a cave. The height is reached by clefts from all sides. ”

“ It is the last. Already you have eat.
And we are here within a wilderness. FIRST FOLLOWER
Be it, but I’ll not starve. THIRD FOLLOWER
He utters right.
Why should we but to follow a mere shepherd
Famish and o’er a hundred desert hills? ”