University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE, Gibeah.
Doeg return'd.
Do.
Fortune I thank thee, thou again art kind,
And hast perform'd the mischiefs I design'd.
Thou hast restor'd me to my former Day,
And blown the Cloud that darkned me, away.
The Fav'rite David who eclips'd my light,
No longer in the Courts fair Orb do's shine;
But tumbled headlong from his sudden height,
Rise's not fast as he do's now decline.
As Vapours, which the Sun's hot beams exhale
With greater hast then they ascended, fall.
This blest occasion prudently improv'd,
May plant me there whence David was remov'd.

Saul and Adriel Enter.
Adr.
In vain, Great Sir, all your attempts must prove
On him whom Israel more than Saul do's Love;
His meanest actions gain their best Applause,
Who to extol him will find any Cause.
He knows his Interest, and on that relies;
Nothing abets Rebellion more than this.
Each private Man wou'd to a Throne aspire,
But want of pow'r restrains his wild desire.

Sa.
If Israel dares to him, I hate, be kind,
Israel, like him, shall my Just Vengeance find.
Who Smiles on him, on whom his Sov'reign Frowns,
Himself as guilty of Rebellion owns.

Do.
To love a Man who dares resist his Prince,
Is, Sir, an equal Disobedience.
Yet some, (who shou'd be still unknown to you,
But Duty urges what I grieve to show)
Not only entertain your greatest Foes;
But arm that hand which do's its King oppose.

Sa.
Doeg return'd! I thought your Discontent
Had sent you to a willful Banishment.

Do.
To Nob, dread Sir, I had been still confin'd,
Had not my Sov'raigns Danger chang'd my Mind.
Shou'd I indulge my own Desires, and see
You, my Great Lord lost thro' neglect in me.
Forbid Just Heav'n who dost these Prayers hear,
I shou'd my Life to Saul's content prefer.

Adr.
Quickly declare the News you hither bring;
What is the Danger do's attend the King?

Do.
When I at Nob but some small time had spent,
Pleas'd with the Hopes of Quiet and Content;
Report, (to which I meant to stop my Ear;)
Fondly inform'd me Jesse's Son was there.
Such the applause he caus'd, and such the Joys,
Recess cou'd not exempt me from the Noise.
The Priest (by whose example all were led)
Receiv'd him there, who from your presence fled.
Into his Hand he put Goliah's Sword,
Arming the Subject to destroy his Lord.
When this I knew with my best speed I came,
To shew that Doeg can be swift as Fame,
When your concerns oblige him to be so.

Sa.

[Enter Abner.
Abn.
A Messenger from Gath, Sir, do's declare,
That the Philistin's have renew'd the War:
Rallying again their scatter'd Men and Hopes,
Tow'rds us they March with Strong and Num'rous Troops.

Sa.
I will oppose them but must first o'recome
A nearer and a greater Foe at home.
To Nob this Day I will my Army lead,
Punish the Priests and take that David's Head.
This done I shall with greater safety go,
To meet our old and too presumptuous Foe.

[Exeunt.
Azuba, Michol.
Mi.
Sister, too well I by experience know
The Greatness of that Grief I blam'd in you.
What Ignorance made me doubt too true I find,
That love do's more than Blood or Friendship bind.
That mean and common Obligation, Blood,
Is just as Simples, naturally good,
Friendship extracts a Nobler Virtue thence,
But purer Love is Friendship's Quintessence.

Az.
The Love which Nature do's oblige you too,
You with a Moderate earnestness pursue;
You with your Brother's absence cou'd dispence,
But bear your Lovers with Impatience.
Not all your Brothers Kindness to his Friend,
Can last like yours, nor far as it extend.

[Enter Jonathan.
Mi.
My Brother's hast and looks presage some ill,
Must David die? And does Saul hate him still?

Jon.
Saul's hate encreases as a raging Fire
That meets new Fuel when the Wind grows higher.
David in vain seeks to avoid his sight,
Saul's thoughts o're-take him in his furthest flight,
And He will reach him, if at Nob, to Night.
Whose sacred Priests must in his Ruine share,
For giving him a kind Reception there.
All who but smile on him, with him must fall,
So Blind and Violent is the Rage in Saul.

Mi.
Unhappy Man! whose Virtue is his Crime,
Whom Saul suspects, only for serving him.

Jon.
Let us retire and his ill Fate deplore,
'Tis our last Debt, and we can pay no more.
My Father has a sudden March design'd,
And since for that I no delay can find:
I to the Field against my Friend must go,
And only can prevent his Ruine so.
My Father's projects I must countermine,
And save the Man whose loss he do's design:
For I my Duty blindly shou'd obey,
When it wou'd lead me out of Virtues Way.

[Exeunt.
SCENE Changes to a Field near Nob.
David and Abishai.
Da.
Welcome my Friend, as welcome as that Rest
Thy happy Message brings my troubled Breast.
In vain Saul's Rage pursues, when a kind Friend,
And kinder Mistress labour to defend.
Those double Guards of Friendship and of Love
A sure defence against his Arms will prove.

Abi.
Ev'n happiest Men might envy your worst Fate,
Which Beateous Michol do's participate:
Her pity, which Saul's Anger do's bestow,
Makes full amends for all that drives you to.

Da.
That Anger now from which I chuse to fly,
Is what I might with greater ease defie;
I can no danger from the Army Fear,
Its greatest part do's to my side adhere:
Hither each Day his Murm'ring Subjects Crowd
Calling for Vengeance and Redress aloud.
To vindicate whose Cause I must engage,
Till I can mod'rate or divert his Rage.
Lest Grown too Mindful of Saul's violence,
They shou'd forget he is their Lawful Prince.

Enter a Soulder hastily.
Soul.
Arm, Arm, my Lord, some Enemy is near;
On yonder Hill their Ensigns do appear.
This way they March, or rather seem to fly,
Like Souldiers led to certain Victory.

Da.
Let them come on, I can their Arms despise,
The brave are ne're o'retook with a Surprize.
He who do's every day expose his Breath,
Can ne're be said to meet a suddain Death.

[Exeunt.
SCENE Changes to a Cave.
Dorba in it.
Dor.
While Wars loud Tumults do this Land molest,
Peace and soft pleasures only fill my Breast,
Saul seeks my Life, yet I, in spite of Saul,
Will live and still on my own Spirits call.
Here my great Arts I practice with Success,
And slight that Rage which wou'd those Arts suppress:
He do's in vain to take my Life intend,
Which Pow'rful Charms, like Bulwarks, do defend:
But Tolo is return'd—
[Enter Spirit flying:
Say gentle Spirit, say my Faithful Spy,
What didst thou in thy flight to Nob descry?
Inform me all and sooth my Soul with Joy
To know how Israel do's it self destroy.

Tol.

Dor.
The Priests of Nob did first conspire my Fall,
And made my Sentence be pronounc'd by Saul;
To shun whose Fury, prompted by my Fear,
I chose to seek a timely refuge here:
Where, tho' from all the Dread of Danger freed,
I still remember what they had decreed.
And to insult o're their ill Fate must see
The manner of their long-wish'd Tragedy.
Remove all objects hence which interpose,
And streight the Scene of Blood and Death disclose:
'Twill be a grateful prospect to my Eyes
To see those Priests thus made a Sacrifice.

The Spirit goes out. The SCENE discovers a Temple, in it an Altar at distance: The High-Priest and other Priests about it. Saul, Doeg and others enter; he seems to talk with the Priests; they bow often; at last Saul gives a sign to Doeg, who falls on the High-Priest and his Guards kill the other Priests and go out. In the midst of the Show the Spirit enters; which being past, Dorba says.
Dor.
Enough, thou hast perform'd thy Duty well,
The Entertainment was acceptable.

The Temple-SCENE Vanishes.
Dor.
Let us to our more private Cell withdraw,
And there conspire New ills—
More black and horrid than what here we saw.

They go out of the Cave and the SCENE changes to a Field.
David, Eliab, Abishai.
Da.
Thus are the Storms you rais'd, by you o'reblown,
You, whom we must our great Defenders own.
Your coming brings the Fears it caus'd Relief,
And makes our Joy excessive as our Grief.

Eli.
Your Danger, not my Pow'r has brought this aid,
Your Friends for you, more than themselves afraid.
Lest your unguarded Virtue shou'd be lost,
Have to their Hazards all their Lives expos'd.

Da.
Their Kindness do's beyond my Virtue go,
I cou'd not hope what they vouchsafe to do;
Who leave a strong and potent side, to be
Dependants on my weaker Arms and me.

Eli.
Brother, discreetly to your Arms they trust,
Which must be strong because your War is just.
All you design is in your own defence,
Which to neglect wou'd wrong your Innocence.
Yet, tho' unjustly Saul your Life pursues,
They who wou'd guard it, theirs are doom'd to lose.
Nob's Eighty Priests must perish by his Sword,
For the Relief they did to you afford.

Da.
How! die for me! that Saul had took this Head,
E're so much Blood to save it had been shed:
O! that this wretched Life had first been lost!
It is not worth the mighty Price it Cost.

Ab.
In vain, my Lord, you do their Death lament,
While you shou'd seek a greater to prevent.
The furious King in his pursuit is near,
The Sun will stay to show his Army here.

Da.
That Life, Abishai, which he longs to take,
Is what I wou'd as willingly forsake:
Yet since to you his Rage alike extends,
I must endeavour to preserve my Friends.
But if my Blood his Anger can attone,
To save a Thousand Lives, who wou'd not lay down one?

Eli.
He must not at so cheap a rate be lost
Who the vast Summ of Lives, like you, has cost.
We, by opposing, shall avoid his hate,
Who dares be Valiant must be Fortunate.

Da.
Brother, that Price which on my Life you set,
Is that which only makes me value it,
And I will save it—but by speedy flight,
I only stay to see the Prince this Night.
And when from him I know his Fathers Mind,
I thus will frustrate what he has design'd.
For, did I stay to meet Saul, I shou'd seem
To all the World as guilty as to him.

[Exeunut.
Saul, Jonathan, Adriel, Abner, Doeg, Guards.
Sa.
Declare how near the Rebel Army lies.

Do.
Only that Wood conceals them from your Eyes:
You have long since within their prospect been.

Sa.
They think themselves secure because unseen;
But they shall find that Saul has piercing Eyes,
And feel that Pow'r which now they dare despise.
Here let our Camp be pitch'd—
This one Nights rest will fit our Men to do
The Work to Morrows Sun will lead them to.

[Exeunt.
Several great Clouds appear, the Moon partly seen; from behind one of them, Enter David and Abishai.
Da.
Night hastens on, and with its darkest Clouds,
From Mortal Eyes the Heav'ns bright surface shrouds.
The Guilty now secure may quit his Cell,
And practise all his Arts invisible.
Then sure our Innocence and this Disguise
May lead us safe thro' sleeping Enemies,
Which might deceive ev'n the most watchful Eyes.

Abi.
The Souldiers weary'd with their March to Day,
Will now their Greater Leader, sleep, obey.
And give us time sufficient to descry
What strength they have, and how incamp'd they lie.

Da.

[Exeunt.
Thro' a Dark SCENE several lights are discover'd, at distance. Enter David and Abishai.
Abi.
Those Fires will to the Camp direct our Way,
Having such Guides, we cannot go astray.

The Camp discover'd. At distance thro' Rows of Tents Saul is seen sleep-in his Pavilion; the Guards scatter'd on the Ground asleep, a fire by Saul's Tent.
Enter David and Abishai.
Da.
A Sleep, like Death, has all the Guards possest,
Can one Days March require so great a Rest?
Regardless of their Duty, or their Foe,
They grant that favour we wou'd have them show.
Yet I in vain have sought the Prince; I Fear
He is with Saul, but more he is not here.

Abi.
See, Sir, some great Commander sure lies there,
So Rich his Arms, so strong his Guards appear.

[Sees Saul.
Da.
Ha! is it Saul? or do my Eyes mistake?
Can he be there and not his Guards awake?
Tho' for themselves no better Watch they keep,
The King's Concern shou'd banish thoughts of sleep.

Abi.
Propitious Heav'n do's smile and gives you Pow'r
To end your Fear and Enemies Life this Hour.
Embrace the Favour it is pleas'd to give,
Which if delay'd you never can retrieve.

Da.
Do you perswade what I must blush to hear?
Or has Saul's sleep o'recome, like him, your Fear?
That to contract this Guilt you dare provide,
A Guilt those Clouds wou'd be too thin to hide.
The sleeping Lion fears no violence,
And needs no Guards: his Pow'r is his Defence.
Beasts to their King such true Allegiance show,
Yet Men dare Act what they refuse to do.

Abi.
He is a Tyrant, and to punish him,
Wou'd be a Merit rather than a Crime.

Da.

Abi.
O most unequall'd Virtue! thus to be
Its Foes best Friend, its own worst Enemy.

Da.
Sir, you mistake—
By sparing him whom you will call my Foe,
I give him thus a greater Overthrow:
Tho' by his Rage I was condem'd to fall,
Thus I shall triumph o're that Rage and Saul.
Yet I will take his Sword, that he may know,
I shun'd the Mischief I had Pow'r to do.
[He takes Saul's Sword from his side.
He do's deserve the Name of Just alone,
Who flies ill Deeds when easie to be done.

[Exeunt.
An Alarm. Enter Abner at another Door in hast; he strikes the sleeping Guards, who Rise.
Abn.
Dull slothful Souls; is this the Watch you keep?
When dangers wake can you have time to sleep?
Awake, Sir, Rise and straight in Arms appear,
[To Saul who starts.
A greater Foe than you suspect is near.

Sa.
Ha! speak, what Foe? how near us can he be?

Abn.
It is your old Philistin Enemy;
Who, to Revenge their last great Overthrow,
With all their Force are Marching tow'rds you now.
My Scouts descry'd them on the Neighbr'ing Hills.
The News our Men with strange Confusion fills.

Sa.
The greatest trouble I from them receive
[Aside.
Is that their hast gains David time to live.
I from pursuit must to defence be gone,
Nor seek his Life till I secure my own.
For when the greatest Danger I suppress,
I, at my leisure, may o'recome the less.
Let them come on; we can their force withstand,
I slight their Arms while this is in my Hand.
[He looks for his Sword, and missing it starts.
Ha! my Sword gone! this Omen brings some Fear:
Who took it hence? speak Traitors, who was here?

[To the Guards:
Abn.
Pardon me, Sir, if I declare my guess,
That it was none besides the Son of Jess.

Sa.
say from what Reason do's that thought proceed?

Abn.
I judge it from the Greatness of the Deed.
For none can boast so brave a Soul as he,
When he cou'd kill, to spare an Enemy.
Besides he little difficulty found;
For when I enter'd—
The sluggish Guards lay snoaring on the Ground.
Sleep on their Eye-lids did so heavy sit,
That they have hardly got them open yet.

Sa.
Villains!—
Who for your King no better watches keep,
Whom your Concerns too often rob of sleep.

Enter Jonathan with Saul's Sword.
Jon.
I have a Message, Sir from Jesse's Son.

Sa.
This may resolve my doubts when told,—go on.

Jon.
A Scout of mine drawn home by these Alarms,
Met near the Camp two Men disguis'd in Arms;
Who knowing him first call'd him by his Name,
And having ask'd his News and whence he came;
David (whom by his Voice before he knew,)
Gave him this Sword, a Present Sir, for you.
Thro' all your Guards, he too it from your side,
Yet did your Death, which some advis'd, forbid.
Shall this brave Man be thought a Rebel still?
Will you, Sir, him who shun'd your Murder, kill?

[Saul pauses a while, and then says—
Sa.

Jon.
Sir, I will go—but mean not to prevail.

[Aside.
Sa.
Thus subtilty shall with much ease obtain,
[Exit.
What publick Force has oft assay'd in vain:
I now shall have him in my reach again.
Saving my Life shall not excuse his Crime;
I wou'd not live if not to punish him.
I'le speak him fair, and with dissembling Art,
Smile in his Face, then stab him to the Heart.

[Exeunt.
SCENE changes to a Wood.
David, Eliab, Abishai.
Eli.
Since the Philistin Army is so near,
It will divert Saul's Anger and our Fear.
He must defer his hot pursuit of you,
To meet a more considerable Foe.

Da.
My trouble is not for my self, but Saul,
When loud Alarms to threatning Dangers call.
He was secure while he but follow'd me,
He chas'd a loyal Friend, no Enemy.
But now he with a deadly Foe must joyn,
Who seeks his Ruine more than he do's mine.
Yet if he will receive my poor supplies,
My Life's expence shall save the loss of his.

Abi.
This Point of Honour leads you, Sir, too far,
For your pursuer to maintain a War!
No such great proof of Virtue needs be shown,
To save his Life by hazzarding your own.

Da.
Nothing perform'd with ease is counted great,
Men purchase Fame with Danger and with Sweat.

Two Souldiers enter with Jonathan in disguise.
Soul.
This Man, my Lord, was taken near your Tent,
He says he from the Prince to you is sent.
We judge he is one of the Enemies spyes.

[David views him.
Da.
'Tis he—I know him thro' the strange Disguise.

[Runs and Embraces him.
Da.
In vain, Sir, this Concealment you design'd;
Friendship can see where all things else are blind.

Jon.
I chose this way, least coming with a Guard,
Might make my presence by your People fear'd.
Who by mistaking me for Jealous Saul,
Might blindly to some Inconvenience Fall.
For I am come the Messenger of Peace:
Your last brave Act has made Saul's Anger cease.
Pleas'd with a Deed so far from Counterfeit,
He to his Camp do's you and these invite.

Da.
Thanks, my dear Lord, no blessing e're cou'd be
Besides your sight, so great as this to me.

Jon.
Hold Friend, too much you do that Blessing prize,
My Father's Kindness is but meer Disguise.
He soon will throw away those shews of Love,
When he his Foes and Danger can remove.
Till then his Looks are pleasant and serene,
But all his Clouds will soon return again.
Here in the Camp 'tis insecure to stay,
You shall to Court, it is your safest way.

Da.
Must I unarm'd, and from all Danger far,
Behold my King and Friend engag'd in War?
O do not Sir, so hard a Task injoyn;
Your thoughts sure cannot differ thus from mine.

Jon.
Dispute no more you must to Gibeah go,
For Saul permits, and I command you so.
There for your self you must a Courtier be,
A Husband and a Comforter for me.
Nor can your help be so important here,
Who serve your Friend and see your Mistress there.

Da.
I can no longer your Commands dispute,
Thus yours my weaker Reason do's confute?
Now a Denial can have no pretence,
Since Love and Friendship call for my Defence.

Jon.
This Day we March to meet the Enemy,
Let your dispatch as quick to Gibeah be.
The time hasts on too fast—and we must part,
You leave my Body here, but take my Heart.
Wish us success as great as that you brought,
When you for Honour and our Safety fought.

Da.
Where're you are all happiness must be,
Since in your self you take it all from me.

[They Embrace and go out severally.