Rita Benton

“ THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON
(The Wicked Judge is seated on the High Place, judging the two women. The First Woman, at his right, holds the Baby. The Second Woman kneels at his left, with imploring gestures.)
Wicked Judge (with a sweep of his hand) : No more! No more, I say! I will hear no more. Am I not judge in the king, his place? (Points at First Woman sternly.) You say yonder woman's child died in the night-time, and she wants yours. (Points at Second Woman.) You say—stop sniveling— (Second Woman shrinks away from him.) You say 'twas her child died and that she hath stolen your child. ”

“ Abraham: O my son, God will provide the sacrifice. (Bends over him.) O my son, before thou wert born I longed for thee, and since thou wast a little lad I have loved thee with a greater love than I have given my God. Now I am punished. For the Lord hath commanded me, saying: "Take thou thine son, thine only son whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and offer him up for a burnt-offering upon the mountains." O my son, I shall do even as the Lord hath commanded me, for all his ways are perfect. ”

“ Jesse: Who tendeth their sheep?
Eliab (sullenly) : David.
Jesse (with mild sarcasm) :
And if a bear or a lion attack the flocks,
The little David is alone;
While his brave brothers abide here in safety.
He perchance fighteth, while they make them ready.
Eliab (sneers) :
Thou ever didst make much of David.
The very name of "David" means "beloved."
Jesse:
Nay, all my sons are equal in my love.
But David—he is indeed a gentle lad.
(He turns as though to go out. Left.)
(The Prophet Samuel enters slowly from the right.)
Eliab:
My father, who comes there? ”

“ Soldiers: Way for King Solomon, the son of David! Way! Way! (They take positions, one on the right hand and one on the left.)
First Soldier (conversationally) : He cometh hither for sacrifice, they say.
Second Soldier: Aye, and to render judgment.
First Soldier: Is it true, think you, that he is wiser than all men that have gone before him?
Second Soldier (shrugs) : So men say. As for me, I shall judge for myself.
First Soldier (poses mockingly) : O King Solomon, King Solomon, little thou thinkest that the while thou art judging others, a mightier shall judge thee! ”

“ The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich;
He bringeth low; he also lifteth up.
For by strength shall no man prevail.
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
He shall give strength unto his king
And exalt the horn of his anointed.
(She turns, embraces the child, then bows before Eli.)
O Eli, priest of God and judge of Israel, the Lord be with thee.
(Hannah and Elkanah go.)
Eli (sits on couch and beckons to Samuel) : Come hither, lad. (Samuel goes to him reluctantly.) What do they call thee?
Samuel (sniffling) : Samuel, master.
Eli: Samuel? And what hath thy mother taught to thee? ”

“ Lo, there is mourning in the land of Egypt because thou keepest them in bondage. (He points to the Son of Pharaoh.)
Egyptians: Woe, woe, woe! Yea, the god of Israel is a jealous god!
Pharaoh: O Moses and Aaron, evil have ye wrought in the land of Egypt, and accursed is the land while the children of Israel remain.
Rise ye, get ye forth from my people, lest your god smite us, and we be all dead men. (He passes out followed by Soldiers carrying litter.)
Moses (to Children of Israel or Class) : Ho, men of Israel! (They stand.) Pharaoh commands, "Cease ye the burden of Egypt!" ”

“ O king, he who ruleth over men righteously, who ruleth in the fear of God, he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springeth out of the earth through clear shining after rain. King Solomon, all hail! ”

“ And why art thou come down?
And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?
I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart;
Thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
David:
My father bade me seek thee with this loaf,
And flask of wine. (Offers them. Eliab turns angrily
away, but Abinadab accepts and eats.)
Saul:
Peace, men! ”

“ As there is a God in Israel, to whom men pray, I yet shall have my child.
First Woman: A God in Israel? (Shrugs.) As there is god-head in gold, which men worship, lo, I shall keep thy child. (She makes a sweeping bow and passes out.)
Second Woman: O God, God, give me my child, my son. Thou knowest the child is mine, thou knowest, thou knowest. ”

“ Hophni (eagerly) : Yea! (They go out singing and taking turns at jug.)
Eli (raising his arms despairingly to heaven) : O God! God! (Passes out.)
(Enter Hannah, followed by her husband, Elkanah. She is weeping.)
Elkanah (imploringly) : Hannah, why weepest thou? And why is thy heart so grieved? If it be because thou hast no son, grieve not. Am I not better to thee than ten sons?
Hannah: Ai, my husband, the women mock me that I have no child. (She kneels and prays silently.)
(Eli enters and observes her in wonder, for silent prayer was unusual.)
Eli: Woman, what ails thee? ”

“ Second Woman: She would have grieved had'st thou been stolen from her?
Solomon: What mother would not? But, woman, to thy tale—
Second Woman: My tale is told. O son of Bathsheba, [Pg 109] God hath given to thee an understanding heart. Let it read my sorrow; give me back my child.
Solomon (bewildered) : Woman, I have not thy child.
Second Woman: Nay, but thy judge in Gibeon, for gold he hath rendered false judgment; for gold, he hath given my child to another woman. ”

“ Wicked Judge (pocketing gold) : Ah, yea, yea, thou art indeed the rightful mother. (Raises his eyes to heaven.) More is a child to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold. I will indeed look after thy gold for thee. Now get ye gone. (Turns crossly to Second Woman.) And count thyself lucky that I do not call the guard, and have thee cast into prison for bearing lying witness.
(A Boy rushes in, shouting as he runs.)
[Pg 102]
Boy: Ohé! Ohé! King Solomon, he entereth now the city. He cometh here to offer sacrifice; the children dance before him. Ohé! Ohé! (He runs out.) ”

“ First Woman: When I arose in the morning the child was dead, but when I had considered it, behold, it was not my son.
Second Woman: Nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son.
Solomon (regards both silently for a few seconds) : Women, approach! (Both women stand before him.) Thou sayest, "This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead," and thou sayest, "Nay, but thy son is the dead, and mine is the living." (To Soldier.) Bring hither a sword. (Soldier goes.)
Herald (with curiosity) : What is in the king's mind? Will he slay yonder woman for bearing lying witness? ”

“ Unto the champion who kills Goliath,
The king will give great riches.
And to that man the king will give his daughter.
(There is another pause.)
Eliab (uncertainly) :
I fear, lord king,
For if I fail, then Israel is doomed to servitude.
Abinadab: I am not strong.
Shammah: I am not yet full-grown.
David (steps forth) :
Let no man's heart fail because of him.
Thy servant will go and fight with the Philistine.
(Laughter and derision from his brothers. Smiles from others.)
Saul: Thou art but a youth, and he a man of war. ”

“ Page (looking up) : They fall; they crush! Thy army, the waves go over them.
Pharaoh (stretching out his arms) : O god of Moses, drive the sea apart!
Page (promptly) : The god of Moses will not hear thy prayer.
Pharaoh: The Israelites exult.
Children of Israel (in distance) :
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?
Glorious in holiness—
Fearful in praises—
Doing wonders!
The Lord shall reign forever and ever.
Miriam (with a clash of cymbals) :
I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously. ”

“ I say, if you had minded your brats properly, there would not be this to-do. (A pause.) What were you doing when one of you stole the other's child? Gadding about the streets? Eh?
Second Woman: O sir, sir, she stole him while I slept.
First Woman: Most gracious Judge, I did not steal.
Second Woman (turning on her) : But thou did'st!
Wicked Judge: O you women! Lo, all the troubles of this kingdom flow from this, that women do not properly observe the affairs of their households. As King Solomon remarks, with rather more wisdom than he usually manifests, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" ”

“ Lo, there entereth Eli, priest of Israel. (Prologue withdraws.)
(Eli, the old priest, enters, and stands praying.) Eli: O Lord God, turn thou my sons, I pray thee, from their evil ways. Lo, they come yonder, full of wine and drink, a disgrace to mine old age.
(Hophni and Phinehas come swaggering in, arm in arm. One has a jug of wine; he drinks and hands it to the other. Eli raises a trembling hand toward them.)
Hophni: Hi there, old man, art going to chide again?
Phinehas (mockingly) : Do not show anger, for anger doth not become a man of God. ”

“ First Soldier: Alas, alas, who now shall judge our people?
Third Soldier (seizes Samuel and raises him aloft) : Behold the judge who shall rule Israel.
(The Soldiers pass out, bearing Samuel and shouting, "Huzza!")
(The Epilogue advances.)
Epilogue: Hear ye the words of the preacher, how he said: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right. ”

“ Samuel rises and regards him uncertainly.)
Samuel: Surely the Lord's anointed is before me.
Eliab (triumphantly) : Ah, father, art so ready now to chide me?
Samuel: Nay, pause, my son, for the Lord hath said unto me:
Look not on a man's countenance,
Nor the height of his stature;
For the Lord seeth not as man seeth.
For man looketh on the outward appearance,
But the Lord looketh on the heart.
Thy heart is proud, and thou shalt not be king.
(Eliab passes with hanging head to the right. Abinadab advances.) ”

“ Children should usually themselves be the actors and not mere spectators. In acting Bible stories they learn how intimately the past is linked to the present, and how the struggles of to-day after truth, courage, love, are like the struggles of the patriarchs and prophets. ”

“ The Monkey runs away; he is brought back. The other Monkey climbs on roof of ark and pulls the ear of Giraffe as that beast looks out of window. They drag the Elephant in with great difficulty. Noah counts off the animals as they enter. ”

“ Good heavens, fellow, why did'st carry him hither, and wake honest people up in the dead of night? The thing to do was to notify the authorities. You cannot go to the rescue of every man you see in trouble. ”

“ Noah: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the stall! Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out!
Sons (loudly) : Amen!
Idolaters: Woe! Woe! Woe! (They surge forward.)
First Idolater: Upon them!
Second Idolater: Scatter them!
Third Idolater: Destroy them!
Fourth Idolater: No! (He pushes others back.)
It is the old ark-builder. Very sad!
Cursing of other men hath made him mad.
[Pg 20]
WIFE OF NOAH'S SON
Click for larger image.
[Pg 21]
A Maiden (holding out her hand to Japheth) :
Come, join in the dance ”

“ She faces the Soldiers as they enter and salute.)
First Soldier: Daughter of Pharaoh, we make search for Hebrew children. One hath escaped us.
Daughter of Pharaoh (haughtily) : Who art thou to question me? Pass on.
Second Soldier: But—the babe yonder? (Points.)
Daughter of Pharaoh: Is the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter. Pass ye by. (She waves them away. They salute and go. She takes the child in her arms and embraces him.) I love the child. (She gives the Child to his Mother and turns to go; then she turns back.) ”

“ I will sing a song unto thee, O God;
Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
(He takes his harp and sings.)
Song: Music, Continuation of Psalm.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ”

“ A cloth to bind the wounds of the Jew.
[Pg 123]
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
(If this play be given out of doors, the thieves must conceal themselves in the shrubbery before the play begins; if indoors, they may conceal themselves in corners, or creep in.)
(Enter the Prologue.)
Prologue: And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind ”

“ The Mother of Moses. The Daughter of Pharaoh. First Slave. Second Slave. Soldiers. THE PLACE A marshy place by a river. If a little scenery is desired, take an old window-shade, sketch upon it reeds and cat-tails, and cut it so that when the little sister hides behind it she may appear to be looking through the reeds. The Prologue may unfold this as she speaks, and then hold it up so as to conceal herself.
THE PROPERTIES A curtain of reeds (if desired) . An ark (a basket bound with reeds or raffia) . A piece of gold. Two fans. Spears for soldiers. ”

“ In the earlier history of religion the dramatic expression of religious aspiration and feeling was almost universal. The dramatic impulse is deeply grounded in human nature, and may be made to appeal to the highest attributes of reverence and devotion. ”