University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE, A Room of State.
Michol, Azuba, weeping.
Mi.
Sister, your Sorrows too imperious grow,
Or stop their Course, or they will overflow;
Small Streams at first may eas'ly be withstood,
But know no Laws when swol'n into a Flood.

Az.
Streams which within their Channels gently run
While they do meet no Opposition,
Impetuous grow when Men wou'd stop their Course,
And make the Way they are deny'd, by force.

Mi.
Yet greatest Torrents quickly wou'd be dry'd,
Were the Recruits they still receive deny'd;
But smallest Brooks above their Banks must rise,
Which from the Clouds find too profuse Supplies.

Az.
Unjustly we against the Clouds complain,
If they too largely spend themselves in vain;
They are but Vapours the Sun-beams exhale,
And these withdrawn, they down again must fall.
Too like these Mists am I—
Who by your Brother rais'd to this great height,
Tho' I, (as they the Sun's) ecclipse his Light,
Must melt in Show'rs now he has left my sight.

Mi.
Those Clouds in mod'rate Show'rs lament their Fate,
But you deplore yours at too large a rate.

Az.
They with the Rays they miss shall be re-blest;
Those which I want may never be possest:
What Joys with wretched Azuba can stay,
While Jonathan their Cause is still away?
Shall I wear Smiles and Pleasure on my Brow,
While he encounters some stern frowning Foe?
Shall I my self with soft Attire invest,
While He is with uneasie. Armour prest?
Though Fate our Separation has design'd,
Our Loves and Fortunes shall not be disjoyn'd.

Mi.
Too much you share what he does undergo;
Which wou'd increase his trouble but to know.
Your Sorrow flows to an unjust excess;
I am his Sister, yet lament him less.

Az.
O Michol you too unexperienc'd are,
To judge between a Wife's and Sister's care.
Your Brother's Absence only troubles you;
I dread the Mischiefs may from that ensue.
That time when you with sweet Repose are blest,
Is that by which my Miseries are encreast.
Death does to me in thousand shapes appear,
All which (though he can meet but one) I fear.
And though small Slumbers close awhile my Eyes,
Still I behold his fancy'd Miseries.
Or, if indulg'd with any pleasing Dream,
I find it makes my Sorrows more extream.
The Miser thus with his day toils opprest,
In the short time he gives himself to rest,
Finds the lov'd Object of his thoughts remain,
And, dreaming, acts his Labours o're again:
But when he wakes and seeks about in vain,
The acquisition of his sleeping pain,
He thinks the Summ diminish'd from his Store,
And, as if real, does the loss deplore.

Mi.
I cannot grant your Love may greater be;
Since how it should is still a Mystery;
For the same Blood runs in his Veins as mine:
But you came to him from a distant Line.
My Brother from my Infancy I knew,
He was a Stranger, till of late, to you.

Az.
Tho' from one Womb you did your Birth receive,
Still you are two; that, Life to both might give;
But cou'd not the same Mind in both infuse,
For different things in different ways you chuse:
Your Kindness is but from Relation grown,
Remove but this and that wou'd vanish soon.
A Nobler Object do's beget my Love,
Which like it self, will firm and lasting prove.
We did not in the Humours disagree;
But were all Concord and all Sympathy.
His Soul in mine, and mine in his was known,
And thus the Husband and the Wife are one.
What News?

[Enter Orpha.
Orp.
The General, Madam, waits without.

Az.
Admit him; his Arrival at the Court
Do's something of great Consequence import.
[Enter Abner.
Welcome, my Lord, what Message do you bear?

Abn.
Good, as our Friends can wish, or Enemies fear.
Madam, the King, your Lord, and all the Men
Safe and victorious are return'd agen:
By their Commands to wait on you I come,
Before next Watch themselves will be at home.

Az.
My Lord return'd! I now shall grieve no more,
He, with his Presence, will my Joys restore.

Mi.
The King and Jonathan come back in Peace!
We cou'd not hope a greater Happiness.
We heard the Enemie's Numbers were so great,
All we dur'st wish, was but a safe Retreat:
And are they all return'd victorious now!

Abn.
Madam they are—
And that we to a single Valour owe,
Which has perform'd more than our Host cou'd do.
For the Philistins, tho' so numerous,
That half their Army might have conquer'd us;
Yet in a Gyant's Strength did so confide,
That chusing him the Champion on their side,
They did the bravest of our Men invite
To end the Quarrel in a single Fight.
But none against the Monster wou'd appear,
(So far were we subdued by our own Fear.)
Till an advent'rous Youth, did with one Blow
Their Champion, and their Army did over-throw.

Az.
My Lord, the Manner of the Fight declare;
For more of that brave Deed I long to hear.

Abn.
After the Monster with his usual Boast
Breath'd loud Defiance to our trembling Host,
He stood expecting our Reply awhile:
When lo a Youth unknown descends our Hill,
Who did, besides his Courage and his Sling
No Arms offensive, or defensive bring.
Only to these five Pebble-stones he took,
Smooth as their Stream, tho' rugged to his Look:
These in a Scrip he put—
And tow'rds the Gathite march'd in such a way,
As if he had not gone to Fight, but Play.

Mi.
How cou'd he look on him?

Abn.
With far less dread
Than we were able to behold him dead.
He laugh'd to hear Goliah call him Boy,
And give his Sling the Name of Childish Toy:
But when the Host of Israel he defy'd,
Our angry Champion with a Stone reply'd,
Which skilfully he to his Sling did fit,
And at the Monster's Fore-head levell'd it.
The well-aim'd Stone did upwards, singing, fly,
Young David's Triumph, th'other's Elegy,
And hit the Mark which we believ'd too high.

Az.
He and his End alike prodigious were;
But pray, my Lord, let us what follow'd hear.

Abn.
Thus laid along the Youth bestrides his Foe,
Not to insult, as meaner Victors do:
But to secure the Conquest he had wone,
Which cou'd not be with too much Caution done.
He from the Scabbard draws the Monstrous Sword,
And turns its Edge on its more Monstrous Lord;
And lifting it on high, with no small Pain,
He let it fall on his great Neck again:
It sever'd Head and Shoulders with one Blow,
And, with its Weight, did more than Strength cou'd do.
Their Champion kill'd, the base Philistins fly,
And leave the Youth a double Victory.

Mi.
In this Relation you have made us, Sir,
You have oblig'd us and the Conquerer.
Your Rhetorick has for us Diversion made,
And do's a Lustre to his Actions add.

Abn.
My self too mean an Orator I own
To give him Fame, or you Diversion.
Yet, Madam, honour'd with Commands from you,
I thus my Duty, tho' my Weakness, shew.
But, Madam, now I know the King is near,
And I for his Reception must prepare.
I humbly take my leave—

[Bowing.
Az.
Let us go too:
My Lord, we must prepare as well as you:
We shou'd our Joys for them but ill express,
If we shou'd meet them in a Mourning-dress.

[Exeunt.
Adriel, Merab.
Me.
How! Marry'd to a Stranger! and obscure!
Thus I alone shou'd Israel's Fate endure:
While they escape Philistin Slavery,
They basely wou'd impose a worse on me.

Adr.
The King has promis'd and it must be so,
You to the Son of Jesse's Bed must go.
Wife to an humble Bethlemite must be,
Of Juda's Tribe the meanest Family.

Me.
I wou'd stoop lower e'er accept of thee.

Adr.
Do, court his Bed, more than you mine despise;
Yet think where all your State, your Greatness lies:
This is to me Revenge sufficient:

[Exit.
Me.
Sir, I must tell you, you are insolent.
Ha! With what strange Contempt he's gone!
A Tyrant thus depriv'd of Pow'r and State
His Slave's Insult o'er what they tremble at.
Yet he turns Rebel to my Eyes in vain,
One Smile my former Empire will regain.
And tho' awhile I this Submission shew,
I shun a worse Contempt which I am falling to.
I will not go to that mean Stranger's Bed,
Tho' he a King's and Father's Promise plead:
Tho' he has vanquish'd the Philistin Host,
He shall no Conquest over Merab boast.
Yet I will go—
To see his Entrance at the Palace-Gate,
And then despise him at his greatest height.

[Exit.
SCENE, The Palace.
After several Shouts, a Sound of Trumpets; Merab with other Ladies appear in one Window; Michol, Azuba and others over-against them in another Window: After the Trumpets some enter carrying Goliah's Spear, Helmet and Coat, then a Sett of Musick; after them some with the Sword and Head, usher'd in by Doeg: Then four Women with Bows and Garlands; Eliab bare, Saul, Jonathan and David with a Garland, and his Sling, follow'd by Abner, and the King's Guards. The Women sing.
SONG.
1 Wom.
The Field is wone, our Foes are put to flight.

2. Wom.
They had not Courage to support the Fight.

1. Wom.
They saw their Champion's Head cut off,
That Head which Israel's Arms did scoff;

2. Wom.
And now they fly, as if the Blow
Had wounded all the Army too.

Chorus.
Mighty Saul his Thousand kill'd,
David his Ten Thousand slew,
They forc'd the pow'rful Foe to yield:
What cannot Saul and David do!

While the SONG is singing David bows to all the Ladies, but makes a more solemn Complement to Michol. The Song ended, the Pomp passes-over the Stage, then Merab speaks.
Mer.
How! Do's my Birth or Beauty merit less!
That he to Michol made his chief Address!
Do's he her Favour more than mine affect?
Or has Saul's Promise caus'd this Disrespect?
And the proud Boy thus triumphs over me,
As a sure Trophy of his Victory!
If either; (tho' I his mean Love despise,)
I will revenge this Injury to my Eyes:
For he who dares contemn and slight their Fire,
Shall by my Anger's fiercer Flames expire.

[Exit, And all the Ladies.
The SCENE changes to a large Room of State, with a Throne and other Seats in it. The Pomp enters again, the Women singing, while Saul, Jon. and David take their Places.
Second SONG.
1. Wom.
See how the curst Philistins fly away!
See how disperst about the Fields they stray!

2. Wom.
They fly when no one do's pursue;

1. Wom.
So the Guilty use to do.

2. Wom.
And who has our Deliv'rance wrought?

1. Wom.
David out of Bethlehem brought.

Chorus.
Mighty Saul his Thousand kill'd,
David his Ten Thousand slew,
They forc'd the pow'rful Foe to yield:
What cannot Saul and David do!

After the SONG the four Men that carry'd Goliah's Armour, at the Sound of the Trumpets enter and dance a Martial Dance, while the Trumpets sound a Levet. That ended, the Women dance to Wind-Musick, and at last all together lay their Garlands (as the Men had their Swords) at David's Feet: Whereat Saul rises hastily and makes signs to the Attendants to be gone; they all go out; and after them Jon. and David bowing retir'd; the King walks disorderly about.
Sa.
Still with the cursed Noise my Ears are fill'd,
My Thousand I, but he Ten Thousand kill'd!
The Soldiers love no Name but his to hear,
The People call him their Deliverer:
Nay my own Servants do their Charge neglect,
And slighting me, pay him their whole Respect.
What then remains, but Saul to be remov'd,
To raise the Man who is so well belov'd?
Have they no other way to make him shine,
But adding to his Fame to lessen mine?
Must I, like some high Tow'r by time impair'd,
On my Foundation see another rear'd?
Spoil'd of that Head which did tow'rds Heav'n aspire,
Be only us'd, to raise another higher!
No, I will stop him e'er he grows too tall;
Israel shall know no greater Man than Saul.
Yet still my Looks on him must pleasant be;
The Smiling, is the dangerous, Enemy.
I will so fast my Favours on him press,
That he shall sink beneath my Kindnesses.

[Exit.
Adriel enters and goes over the Stage after him.
Jon. David, Azuba, Michol.
Jon.
What Pleasures do's the Marry'd-pair possess!
Pleasures which oft'nest reap'd do more encrease.
Others are height'ned by less frequent Use;
These oftest gather'd do most Fruit produce;
Ev'n time which do's all other things destroy,
In adding to my Years augments my Joy:
And still I do discover, at each View,
New Flames in me, new Beauties spring in you.

Az.
Still may my Lord as dear to Israel be,
As my Affection renders him to me.
And may he find when Heav'n shall take Saul hence,
In all his Subjects my Obedience.

Jon.
Of that I must a farther Trial add
To the great Proofs I have already made:
Your Love which wholly you devote to me,
Must now imparted to another be.
[Presenting David.
Him as my Friend into your Breast receive;
He will deserve more than you have to give.

Da.
My Lord is pleas'd to be so much my Friend,
To find out something in me to commend;
That since he has vouchsaf'd me his Esteem,
The World may not condemn that Choice in him.
But, Madam, your impartial Eye will find
Those Failings whose Concealment he design'd.

Az.
Shou'd I believe, Sir, the most curious Eye
Cou'd any Fault in so great Merit spy,
I to your Virtue shou'd become unjust,
And wrong a Judgment I have Cause to trust.
[Turning to Jon.
But both have been so well to me made known,
To question them wou'd argue I have none.

Jon.
Michol, he must within your Breast be free,
What he receives is doubly paid to me.

Da.
When first your Brother took me to his Heart,
I thought he cou'd no other Bliss impart;
And that he had profusely spent his Store:
Such was my Joy I cou'd not covet more.
But, Madam, honour'd with your Smiles, I find
A long Reserve of Blessings was behind.

Mi.
My Brother's Choice I cannot discommend,
And must esteem whom he has made his Friend.
Aside ...
Much on my Country's Score to you I owe,
Your matchless Valour has subdu'd its Foe,
And gain'd a Conquest over Michol too. ... Aside


Da.
Madam, to you I owe what I have done.
I had not gain'd that Victory so soon
But that the Gyant was your Enemy,
Which weaken'd him and did enable me.
Your Beauties greater, than his Strength appear,
And more to be admir'd than that they are:
They have perform'd what he cou'd never do,
And made his Conqueror their Captive now.

Mi.
To gain great Conquest cheaply, we must own
A Privilege indulg'd to you alone:
I no such Victory o'er you can boast:
Or if I can, my self as much have lost.

[Aside.
Doeg Enters.
Do.
The King, Sir, out of his abundant Grace,
Confers on you the Armour-bearer's Place;
It is a Favour you have merited.

Da.
The Kings Rewards my poor Deserts exceed;
Men may receive, but can have no Pretence
To what kind Heav'n do's bounteously dispense.

Jon.
Sir, a just Title to that Place you have,
It was the least my Father's Promise gave.

Do.
It was too much—But I shall find a time
[Aside.
To take Revenge, great as my Hate on him.

[Exit.
Mi.
Beauty and Virtue have alike been kind,
That to adorn his Face, and This his Mind.
[Viewing David.
Just such a Blush the Rosy-morn puts on,
But his continues, that is quickly gone.
His Looks have no less Charms than Ophir's Mine,
His Eyes, bright as its Parent Sun-beams shine.
Beauties like these in vain we hope to find
In all that Art can work on Woman kind;
And the best Spirit Man e'er boasted is
Only a fainter Counterfeit of his.
Oh, what Resistance can that Virgin make,
Whom such united Pow'rs as these attaque!

Jon. and David are discoursing together this while.
Da.
I from the Terrace first receiv'd my Wound;
Viewing the Ladies there with eager Eyes,
No Beauty did, like hers, my Heart surprize;
And I from that
A sure Defence against all others found.

Jon.
I much commend your Choice—
The Menage of your Love to me commit,
Michol and Saul shall both accept of it:
They neither can refuse that Happiness,
So proffer'd, which themselves shou'd rather press.

[Exeunt.
Merab.
Mer.
Unhappy Merab, whom constraint does force
To chuse one evil to avoid a worse!
From David I to Adriel must go,
And condescend to what I scorn'd till now.
Chear'd with my Smiles he to the King is gone
To make his Passion and his Interest known,
For I am his: by this expedient
I shall the Mischiefs, I more dread, prevent.
What News, my Lord?

[Adriel Enters
Adr.
The King is still averse.
And will not hear my Reasons nor my Prayers.
In vain I urg'd, you my mine by promise were;
He, of no promise, but his own, would hear.
I left him angry and inflexible.

Mer.
And I will follow his Example still.
I will oppose whate're he does design,
And only to what he denys encline.

[Exeunt.
Saul. A Chamber of State.
Sa.
All my designs do prosperously succeed;
I soon shall from my Jealousy be freed:
The height to which I gave him wings to fly,
Makes all the Court malign him more than I.
Doeg with envy sees him in that place,
From which his Hopes were tumbled with Disgrace.
And Adriel storms, he must supplanted be,
By a poor Fortune and mean Family.
Merab do's hate him, and I must improve
That hatred still by pressing her to Love.
Thus by my Favours he shall be undoen,
Yet own his fall an obligation.
Envy with shows of Love shou'd be conceal'd,
Its pow'r to Hurt, is lost when once reveal'd.

[Enter David.
He comes, my looks must now Serene appear,
The Sea is calmest when a Storm is near.
Welcome, my Son, you to my Eye have brought,
What last was represented to my thought.
It was my Care, before you came, which way
I should the Debts I owe your Valour pay.

Da.
Your Care, Great Sir, exceeds what I deserve;
And I must long, to merit your past favours serve.
All I cou'd do, had its reward before,
Few Servants thus run on their Masters score.

Sa.
No, generous Youth, I still your Debtor am,
You can a title to my promise claim.
Which to confirm before I did design,
But Merab's Will wou'd not consent to Mine.
Yet I will see a Father's Pow'r made good,
Nor by her Disobedience be withstood.

Da.
'Tis Disobedience only to withstand
A Princely Father's Negative Command;
But urg'd, a Man she cannot Love, to chuse,
It is no break of Duty to refuse.
That Union only blessings do's beget,
Where, as two Bodies, so two Souls are met;
Which when constran'd, and the effect of force,
From a great Blessing proves a greater Curse.
And Fathers who compel their Children's love,
From careful Parents cruel Tyrants prove,
And when the Parents Kindness is destroy'd,
It makes the Childrens Bond of Duty void.

Sa.
Is this Excuse design'd for Merab's sake,
Or that he slights the Overtures I make?
[Aside.
Perhaps 'tis Michol do's possess his Heart;
If so he shall the Secret soon impart.
For one to raise him higher I must give,
That from his Rise he may his fall receive.—
Since Sir, for Merab this excuse you plead,
I must believe you wou'd avoid her Bed.
Perhaps her Sister is your greater care,
Speak freely Son, I can as freely hear.

Da.
To say I do not pow'rful Beauties find,
In Michols Face, but greater in her Mind,
Would be to call my Eyes and Reason blind?
This to admire her gives me just pretence,
Yet, to aspire to her, were insolence.

Sa.
It takes—
[Aside.
Michol I find has been your secret choice,
Take her, my Son, you have her Father's voice.
Nor let the thoughts of Joynture trouble you,
Which easie as I ask, you can bestow.
A Joynture I, by Custom, must require
But it shall be to raise your Merits higher.
Not but your Great Exploits already done,
Intitle you to be your Monarch's Son:
But that some Action to the World may prove,
None equals you in Honour or in Love:
You shall a Hundred of our Enemies slay,
And for a dow'r only their heads shall pay.

Da.
Shall Michol at so mean a rate be priz'd!
I thought a Thousand wou'd not have suffic'd.
But since you please, Great Sir, it shall be done:
I only blush she must be cheaply wone.

[Exit.
Sa.
[Enter Adriel.

Ad.
I can no greater than her self receive.

Sa.
Your Nuptials shall no longer be delay'd
Then till fit preparations can be made.
The Priest shall then confirm what I have done:
For Saul and Heav'n consent to make you one.

[Exeunt.
Jonathan, David.
Jon.
Your News begets alike my Joy and Fear
When I with your Success your Danger hear.
I shou'd, like you, applaud my Father's Grant,
Did it that too severe Condition want.
But thoughts of Fear I must not entertain;
Who knows your Valour, is afraid in vain.

Da.
Your Father cou'd no greater Favour do,
Next giving Michol than to give her so.
I best declare by making her this Dow'r
The Greatness of my Passion and her Pow'r.
But, Sir, too long at Gibeah I stay,
Glory and Love admit not this delay.

Jon.
Must you, O! must you go so soon away?
Yet go, and that you sooner may come back,
My Guards and stronger Wishes with you take.

Da.
Let me but first Sir on your Sister wait
And with her Smiles be Arm'd against my Fate.
Farewel my Lord, I from your presence go
[Embracing him.
With more Reluctance than to meet the Foe.

Jon.
The Soul and Body take a leave like this
When that on wing tow'rds Heaven and Glory is.
Ravish'd with Joy, That hasts to get away;
This, loth to part, strives to prolong its stay:
But when it can no more the Flight oppose,
Quits its weak hold—
And of the loss it suffers sensless grows.

[Exeunt.
Doeg.
Do.

[Exit.