David: A Tragedy

_SCENE: The royal tent of Saul pitched on one hill of the battle-field of Ephes-Dammin. The tent is of black embroidered with various warlike designs. To one side on a dais are the chairs of SAUL and AHINOAM; also DAVID’S harp. On the other side, toward the front, is a table with wine and wine cups. The tent wall is lifted along the back, revealing on the opposite hill, across a deep narrow valley, the routed camp of the Philistines: before it in gleaming brazen armor lies GOLIATH slain. Other hills beyond, and the sky above. By the wine table, her back to the battle-field, sits MERAB in cold anger. AHINOAM and several women look out in ecstasy toward DAVID, SAUL, JONATHAN and the army, returning victorious and shouting._

FIRST WOMAN

See, see, at last!

Second Woman. They come!

THIRD WOMAN

An avalanche. Over the brook and bright amid hosannas!

Second Woman. And now amid the rushes!

FIRST WOMAN

And the servants! Goliath’s head high-borne upon a charger! The rocks that cry reverberant and vast! The people and the palms!

THIRD WOMAN

Yea all the branches Torn from the trees! The waving of them--O!

Second Woman. And David, see! triumphant, calm, between The king and Jonathan!… His glory All the wild generations of the wind Ever shall utter! Hear them--

[_The tumult ascends afar_]

David! David! A sea of shouting!-- O queen!

Ahinoam. You yearn for it? Then go and lave you in this tide of joy.

[_The women go rapturously._ AHINOAM _turns_.]

Merab. Mother!

Ahinoam. My daughter?

Merab. Well?

Ahinoam. They all are gone.

Merab. And Michal, where?

Ahinoam. I do not know, my child.

Merab. Why did my father pledge her to him! you Not hindering!

Ahinoam. She is your sister. You Are pledged to Adriel.

Merab. And as a slave! And if I do not love him there is--riches! If he is Sodom-bitter to me--riches!

Ahinoam. But for the kingdom.

Merab. For my torture! What Kingdom is to a woman as her love!

Ahinoam. And David still enthralls you?

Merab. Though he never Sought me with any murmur or desire! Though he is Michal’s for Goliath’s death! Michal’s to-day, unless--

Ahinoam. Merab, a care! Too near in you were ever love and hate.

[_The tumult nears._ AHINOAM _goes to look out._]

[DOEG _enters to_ MERAB.]

DOEG [_low_]

News, Merab!

Merab. Well--?

Doeg. A triumph o’er him, yet! The king is worn, as a 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.

[_He watches her._]

Merab. Then _I_ will praise him.

Doeg. David? you?

Merab. As he Was never--and shall never be again,--

Doeg. But--

Merab. Give me the phial.

DOEG The poison?

MERAB Come; At once!

Doeg. What will you do?

Merab. At once with it!

[_He hands it to her. She dips the point of her dagger in it._]

DOEG To stab him

Merab. As any fool? Wait.--And the rest now, quick. This timbrel-player, Judith?

Doeg. She is ready And ravishing!

Merab. Well, well; then--?

DOEG We will send her Sudden, as Michal is alone with David, To seize him with insinuative kisses, And arms that wind as they were wonted to him. Michal once jealous--and already I Have sowed suspicions--

Merab. Will--? yes--? DOEG

On him burst [_laughs_] And as a fury.

Merab. May it be their rending!

[_The tumult, near._]

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_.]

A WOMAN [_breaking from the throng_.]

Our little ones are saved! hosannah! joy!

[_She kisses_ DAVID’S _hand_.]

Jonathan. Woman, thy tongue should know an angel-word, Or seraph-syllables new-sung to God! Earth has not any rapture well for this! David, my brother!

David. Jonathan, my friend! While life has any love, know mine for you.

Jonathan. Then am I friended as no man was ever! And though my soul were morning wide it were Helpless to hold my wonder and delight! O people, look upon him!

THE PEOPLE

David! David!

Jonathan. Never before in Israel rose beauty Up to this glory!

David. Jonathan, nay--

Jonathan. Never!

[_Loosing his robe and girdle._]

Therefore I pour him splendor passionate. In gold and purple, this my own, I clothe him. David, my brother!

SAUL [_Angered._]

Brother!

Ahinoam. Saul?

Saul. Thou fool!

Jonathan. Father?

Ahinoam. My lord?

Saul. Thou full-of-lauding fool! Of breath and ravishment unceasing!

Ahinoam. Saul!

Saul. Is it not praise enough, has he not reached The skies on it!

David. O king, my lord--

Saul. Had Saul Ever so rich a rapture from his son? Ever this worshipping of utterance?

David. My lord, my lord, this should not fret you.

DOEG [_Derisively._]

Nay!

David. ’Tis only that the soul of Jonathan, Brimmed by the Philistines with bitterness, Sudden is joy and overfloweth--

Doeg. Fast--

David. Upon his friend, thy servant, David.

Doeg. Aie!

[_He turns away laughing._]

Saul. Why do you laugh?

Doeg. “Thy servant David!”

Saul. Why!

A WOMAN [_Without._]

King Saul has slain his thousands!

Doeg. “Why,” my lord?

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.]

Shall thy sceptre Be wielded by this venom-word, as is A weed under the wind?

Saul. ’Tis overmuch! I’ll burst all bond of priest or prophecy. Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear.

[_He seizes a javelin._]

I’ll smite where’er I will.

David. No!

Jonathan. Father!

David. Shall A rapid palsy now come on thy hand, Awful and sceptre-ruined lord of men? An impotence, a shriveling to fear, Avenging ere thou shed offenceless blood?

[SAUL’S _hand drops_.]

Is this thy love, the love of Saul the king? Who once was kindlier than kindest are. For but a woman’s wantonness of word And idle air, my life?

Ahinoam. Saul, Saul--!

Jonathan. The shame!

David. Some enemy--does Doeg curve his lip?-- Hath put into her mouth this stratagem Of fevered false-impassioned overpraise.

[SAUL, _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?

Merab. Herself and not to-day your friend; but now Conquered to exaltation and aglow To wreathe you for this might to Israel, Beautiful, unbelievable and bright! Noble the dawn of it within your dream, Noble the lightning of it in your arm, And noble in your veins the fearless flow And dare of blood!--so noble that I ask As a remembrance and bequest forever, In priceless covenant of peace between us, A drop of it--

[_She draws her dagger and offers it to him._]

Upon this sacred blade.

David. Such kindness, in all honor?

Merab. Poor requital To one whose greatness humbles me from hate.

David. Then of my veins whatever drop you will, Were it the very dwelling of my soul.

[_He takes the dagger and makes as if to prick himself._]

Ah, but you do not mock me?

Merab. Rather upon Its edge one vein of you--than priceless nard.

David. And perfume out of India jewel poured?

[_He searches her eyes._]

Or than--I may believe?--a miracle Of dew, were you a traveller and lost Upon the illimitable desert’s thirst? Or than--

[_He draws his own dagger, pricks his wrist with it, and hands it to her._]

than this?

Merab. Shepherd! Treachery, then? Under a sham of tribute, poison?

Michal. Poison?

David. And I of vanity should prick it in? I a mere shepherd innocent of wile! A singer music-maudled and no more.

[_As she goes, stung with chagrin._]

The daughter of king Saul has yet to learn.

[_From looking after her, he turns toward_ MICHAL, _and, sighing, slowly approaches her_.]

The vaunting of this victory is done. We are alone at last.

Michal. Yes.

David. That is all? For Israel I’ve wrought to-day, for you Who were about me, in me, as a mist Of armed mighty angels triumphing.

Michal. Yes? It was well.

David. To you no more? to you Whom not a slave can serve unhonored?

MICHAL [_Struggling._]

Nothing.

David. Empty of glow then seems it, impotent, A shrivelled hallowing.… Ashes of ecstasy that burned in vain.

Michal. No, no! I--

David. Michal?

Michal. No, divine it was! And had I cried my praise the ground had broke To Eden under me with blossoming. Where was so wonderful a deed as this, So fair a springing of salvation up! Glory above star-soaring could I seize, Auras of dawn and loveliness unfading, To crown you with and crown!

David. O lips!

Michal. With but A sling, a shepherd’s sling, you sped the brook, Drew from its bed a stone, and up the hill Where the great Philistine contemning cried, Mounted and flung it deep upon his brain!

David. This is the victory and not his death! Tell, tell thy joy with kisses on my lips! Thy mouth! thy arms! thy breast!

Michal. No no!

David. Thy soul! Too much of waiting and of severance! Of dread and distance and the deep of doubt. Now must I fold you, falter all my love And triumph on your senses till they burn Beautiful to eternity with bliss.

Michal. Loose, loose me!

David. Nay, again! immortal kisses!

Michal. A frenzy, ’tis a frenzy! From me! see! This irremediable victory Over Goliath severs us the more.

[_The tumult breaks again, afar._]

Hear how the people lift you limitless! Almost, to-day, and in my father’s room They would that you were king.

David. But ere to-morrow Dim shall I be, and ere the harvest bend Less than a gleam in their forgotten peril!

Michal. O were it, were it! But all silently Jehovah fast is beckoning the realm Into thy hands.

David. Then futile to resist The gliding on of firm divinity. And yet whatever may be shall be done.

Michal. All, all?

David. That for thee reverently may.

Michal. The anointing, then--

David. Of that!… not that!

Michal. Yet grant It may be told my father; that I may Say to him all the secret!

David. And provoke Murder in him, insatiable though I fled upon the wilderness and famine?

Michal. He would not!

David. Nay.

Michal. I’ll plead with him.

David. In vain!

Michal. Then [_coldly_] it is as I thought.

David. You are distraught.

Michal. This stroke to-day [_pointing to_ GOLIATH’S _head_] no love of me had in it.

David. A love, a passion fervid thro’ me as The tread and tremble of immortal song Along the infinite.

Michal. You use me!

David. Use?

Michal. A step to rise and riot in ambition!

David. So bitter are you, blind?

Michal. It was a trick! You snared me to you.

David. Michal!

Michal. Cunningly With Samuel netted fears about my father Till I am paltrily unto you pledged.

David. Enough.

Michal. Too much.

David. No more; the pledge I fling Out of my heart, as ’twere enchantment dead. And free you; but, no more.

[_He moves from her._]

Michal. As if it were Enchantment dead. Ah, then ’tis true--there is Another--is another!

David. Now what fever? A gentleness clad once your every grace.

Michal. There is some other that you lure and love.

David. It is not Michal speaking; so I wait.

Michal. Then--

[JUDITH _glides suddenly in with a low laugh and kneels before_ DAVID. MICHAL _stands amazed_.]

JUDITH [_As if with amorous admiration._]

Brave, it was brave, my love! beauteous! brave!

David. Woman?

Judith. The Philistine, a brazen tower, A bastion of strength fell to the earth!

David. Woman, who are you?

[_She clasps and kisses him._]

Take away your flesh. [_Free_] Take it away, the heat and myrrh of it.

Judith. So cold?

David. Away.

Judith. And ’tis no longer fair? [_Wantonly_] Oh! Ah! I understand! the princess?--

David. Go.

[JUDITH _obeys, laughing and shaking her timbrel_.]

Michal. A dancer then, a very timbrel player!

David. Until this hour I never looked upon her. It is chicanery of chance or craft. You who are noble, though in doubt adrift, Be noble now!

Michal. And loving? O, I will-- Now that I know what should be done. Be sure.

David. You mean, that Saul?--you would not, no!

Michal. Rest sure.

[_A hand is seen at the tent._ AHINOAM _enters_.]

Ahinoam. David, the king--But what is this?

[MICHAL _goes_.]

David. O queen-- It is but life.

Ahinoam. Nay.

David. Life that ever strings Our hearts, so pitifully prone for it, To ecstasy--then snaps.

Ahinoam. I love thee, David.

David. Then gracious be, and question here no more. Where words are futile for an utterance. But of the king--the king?

Ahinoam. He’s driven still. And hither comes, and soon, and must be calmed. Thy harp take, winds of beauty from it bring, And consolation--as of valley-eves When there is ebb of sorrow and of toil, O could you heal him and forever heal.

David. Then would I be--!

[_He breaks off with a gesture of great desire, takes the harp and seats himself._]

Ahinoam. At once, for he will come.

[DAVID _begins; a strain of wild sadness_. SAUL _enters and with him_ DOEG, ISHUI, JONATHAN--_others_. _He pauses, his hand to his brow, and goes slowly, enspelled of_ DAVID’s _playing, up the dais_.]

Ahinoam. My lord, shall David sing--to ease us?

Saul. Let him.

David. [_With high sorrow._]

O heart of woe, Heart of unrest and broken as a reed!

[_Plays._]

O heart whose flow Is anguish and all the bitterness of need!

[_Plays._]

O heart as a roe, Heart as a hind upon the mountain fleeing The arrow-wounds of being, Be still, O heart, and rest and do not bleed!

[_Plays longer with bowed head._]

O days of life, Days that are driven swift and wild from the womb!

[_Plays._]

O days so rife-- Days that are torn of trouble, trod of doom!

[_Plays._]

[MICHAL _enters_.]

O days of strife, Days of desire on deserts spread unending, The burning blue o’erbending, O days, our peace, our victory is the tomb!

[_He plays to a close that dies in anguished silence._]

SAUL [_Rising in tears_]

David!

David. My lord?

Saul. Thy breathing! beauteous! Stilling to sorrow! O my friend, my son!

David. To me is this? I dream it not? The king Again is kind and soft his spirit moves?

Saul. To you!

David. How shelter o’er me then will spring And safety covering!

Saul. It ever shall. Loveliest have you been among my days, And singing weary madness from my brain.

[DAVID _starts toward him_.]

How I have wronged thee!

Michal. Wronged him? [_In fury._]

David. Michal!

Saul. Girl?

Michal. You have not wronged him!

David. Michal!

Michal. No, but he Is jeopardy and fate about you! drive Him from you utterly and now away!

[_Murmurs of astonishment._]

Saul. What mean you?

Ishui. Speak.

Saul. What mean you?

Michal. This!

David. No word!

Michal. I’ll not be kept--

David. But shall be; for to tell Would rend silence forever from you--pale Your flesh with haunting of it evermore! All, all your being would become a hiss. A memory of syllables that sear, A living iteration of remorse. I--I myself will save your lips the words Of this betrayal leaping from your heart.

[_Nobly, before Saul._]

You seek, my lord, you seek whom Samuel Anointed.

Saul. Yes.

David. Then know that it is I.

Saul. ’Tis--?

David. I.

Saul. You!

David. I. And guiltless I, no other. I, though I sought it not and suffer, though I would it had not come and fast am sworn Never against you to lift up--

Merab. Hear, hear! Now he will cozen!

Doeg. He, “thy servant!”

Ishui. Hear!

A VOICE [_Without._]

A thousand Saul hath slain! But David ten!

SAUL [_Choking._]

Omnipotence shall not withhold me more.

[_He lifts a javelin._]

David. Murderous king afoam with murder-heat!

[_He avoids from side to side._]

Monarch of misery--of might--of rage So fell that lightning were not dread enough Were it thy bolt! To-day you will destroy me?

[GOLIATH’S _head overturned, rolls on the floor_.]

Upon this day will slay me innocent?

Saul. Die, die!

Jonathan. No, father, hold!

[SAUL _flings the javelin_.]

MICHAL [_Reeling._]

What have I done?

Jonathan. David, unhurt? Away, the wilderness.

[_Thrusts a sword on him._]

Saul. He shall not! no.

[_Seizes another javelin._]

DAVID [_Aflame._]

Then, king of Israel, strike! Strike me to darkness and the waiting worm! Into the Pit and to the hopeless gloom. But, after, be your every breathing blood, Remorse and riving bitterness and fear, 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._]