University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE, a Mountain near the Camp.
Saul and Doeg in disguise.
Do,
Beneath this Mountain Dorba's Cave do's lie,
As low its bottom, as its Top is high.
Dark as the Arts she studies in it are,
And dismal as the Fiends she raises there.
Which (by her Pow'r) at her Command are sent
To Breed confusion in each Element.
Now thro' the Land they scatter Discord's Seed;
Now strange Diseases and Contagions breed:
Now they rejoice to see the Ocean rave,
And threaten Ruine with its ev'ry Wave;
And now from these up to the Air they fly,
Where Infant Thunders wrapt in Clouds do lie;
Then break its Secundine, and give it Birth,
To blast the Fields and make a Barren Earth.

Sa.
But do's her Pow'r to raise the Dead extend?
Can she with all her Charms make them ascend?
And then unfold the dark Results of Fate,
And future Progress of a troubled State?

Do.
Name but what Ghost you please, it shall appear,
Strait to that form she will condense the Air.
And in it her Familiar Spirit wrap,
To solve your doubts from the Phantastick Shape.
It shall declare yours and your Kingdoms doom,
And, as if present, show you things to come:
It the Remotest Actions can descry,
Time cannot reach beyond its piercing Eye.
This, Sir, I by experience can declare.
At Nob I was foretold my Fate by her.
That David shou'd, like me, be in disgrace,
And I regain your Favour and his Place.
But since you did that fatal Sentence give,
That not a Witch shou'd in your Israel live,
She will to none, but privately, impart,
The strange effects of her Mysterious Art.

Sa.
Sure this disguise my Person may conceal;
But if her Magick Art do's that reveal,
Rewards shall force her to declare my doom,
For Gold has Charms, which will ev'n hers or'ecome.

[Exeunt.
The Cave discover'd, in it Dorba asleep, some Spirits, hov'ring over her, who sing.—
SONG.
1. Sp.
Sleep, sleep unconcern'd and enjoy a free Rest,
Take all Light from her Eyes, and all Care from her Breast.

2. Sp.
'Tis done, they are gone,
They no longer cou'd stay.

3. Sp.
I see them, I see them all posting away.

Cho.
When pleasures approach, grief is still put to flight,
So the Sun at his Rise
Reguilding the Skies
Dispenses the Clouds that had darkned his Light.

Tolo enters and touching Dorba with his Wand wakens her.
To.
Awake, awake, for Saul is near,
But yet admit no thought of Fear,
He must the help of Art implore,
And court what he condemn'd before.
He comes conceal'd in borrow'd shape,
That thus he may your Knowledge 'scape.

Do.
How can he hope he shou'd delude my Eyes,
With the vain helps of Night and a Disguse?
So Ignorant is Man, who do's believe
And trust those Arts he thinks he can deceive.

To.
He comes—

Dor.
—Begone my Spirit and unseen,
Reprove his Folly and Conduct him in.

Exit Tolo.
A hollow Noise and Flashes of Fire, the Spirit flies in, after it Saul and Doeg. Tolo sings behind the SCENE.
SONG.
To.
While the hidden Decrees of Fate you wou'd know
You but hasten your Sorrow and Double your Wo;
Foreseeing the pains you must bear,
You antedate all with your Fear:
Then why shou'd you seek to discover that doom,
Which too soon you will know, when its time is to come.

Sa.
Woman, arise, thy mighty Art declare,
[to Dorba.
And make the Ghost, which I wou'd see, appear.

Do.
Forbear my Son thus to design my death,
[she rises.
Time soon will waste my little Stock of Breath.
I must (the Day draws near when Fate will call)
Resign my hated Life to that and Saul.

Sa.
Let this reward thy pains; and do not Fear,
[Gives her Money.
No hurt from Saul shall ever reach thee here.

Dor.
Say, in what form I shall the Vision make?

Sa.
Let it no form, but of old Samuel take.

Dor.
Why thus do's Saul lay Wait for wretched me?
Too well, alas! I know that thou art he.

Sa.
Suspend thy Fear, let my Wish receive,
Saul Seals thy Pardon: then go on and live.

[Dorba shakes her Wand.
Dor.
Thou who art ready still at hand,
To exercise what I command:
Tolo, the Gentlest of thy kind,
Nimble as Thought, and light as Wind,
VVho canst thy very Limbs disguise
In Thousand Shapes to cheat Mens Eyes:
Who with a Smooth, or Wrinkled Brow,
A nimble Motion or a Slow,
Canst Young and Old by Turns appear,
And fill the Mind with Hope or Fear,
Into Fate's deep designs canst look,
And search the Adamantine Book,
Rise and old Samuel's Shape assume,
And to the King declare his doom.

The Ground opens, and the Ghost ascends like an old Man Mantled.
Gho.
Why hast thou brought me from my Rest below,
To tell thee what thou shou'dst abhor to know?
Searching to read thy Fortune bad or good,
I found it writ in Characters of Blood:
Thy Fall is near, to Morrow is the Day
Must take thy Scepter and thy Life away,
Thy Host and Off-spring; and when thou art gone,
The Son of Jess shall fill thy empty Throne.
Farewell to Morrow thou shalt visit me,
And then, as I, an airy form shalt be.

[The Ghost sinks.
Sa.
And then damn'd Ghost I'le be reveng'd on thee.
Come since one short Day more must be my last
Let us to Battel and to Death make hast:
I will not Covet to prolong its date,
He doubly suffers who expects his Fate.

[Exeunt Saul and Doeg.
Dor.
Go, hast to ruine, and prevent thy Foe,
While I am feasted with thy overthrow.
But least it shou'd too long—
[Enter Tolo.
To that desir'd and happy Day appear,
Let my Diversion be, till then, your Care.

Tolo beckens in the four Spirits, who sing.
SONG.
1. Sp.
We are bound as her Slaves her Commands to fulfil,
To attend on her Pleasure and wait on her Will.

3. Sp.
We come and we go
We run and we fly.

2. Sp.
Thro' earth and thro' water, thro' fire and thro' sky.

Chor.
Then let us some pleasant diversion invent
To afford her delight
And to pass the long Night
Which in troubles and fears must by others be spent.

The SONG ended, they Dance; and the Dance being done,
Dor.
Now bear me gently hence—
And thro' the yeilding Air's wide Region fly,
That I may see and triumph in his Misery.

The Spirits cause a Cloud to descend, in which the Witch being plac'd, they bear her away in it, and the SCENE changes to the Camp.
Jonathan, Adriel, Abner.
Jon.
The Sun appears thro' the dark Mask of Night,
And Clouds, like Spirits, fly before the Light.
The Day is come which must bring Israel peace,
Or make the Miseries she bears encrease.

Abn.
Her Foes, who long with ill Success have fought,
Now desperate to their last Refuge brought,
Join all their Force, resolv'd this once to try
For certain Death or certain Victory.

Adr.
Our Men in their dejected Looks express,
A strange distrust of their own Courages.
Heedless in Duty, and to Action slow,
I Fear the Omen do's some ill foreshow.

Jon.
I cannot entertain a Thought of Fear,
Yet in each look I read some danger near.
Tow'rds the last Watch, as on my Couch I lay,
I heard a hollow Voice, cry, Come away.
Starting I cast my Watchful Eyes about,
When, lo! the Torch turn'd Blue and almost out.
Yet, led my Eye tow'rds the Tent-door to see,
A thing Clad all in White which beckn'd me.
As of its Face I took a serious View,
The Features and the Lineaments I knew,
They were the same with hers, who gave me Breath,
And who now Rests among the Shades beneath.
While on the Object I was thus intent,
Silent as falling Snow away it went.
And beck'ning at each step, twice more did say,
What it before had utter'd, Come away.

[Enter Saul.
Abn.
See, Sir, the King, he seems disturb'd—

Jon.
—Alas!
I read despair and Horrour in his Face.
Sure something of to Day's events he knows,
Something more dreadful than he can disclose.

Sa.
Why do you gaze at me with all this dread,
Is it my Crown you stare at, or my Head?
Both still are mine, and I your Monarch still,
Nor David yet my empty Throne do's fill.

Jon.
His Cares distract him, and divert his Fear
[Aside.
To things remote, from certain dangers near.
Unhappy Empire! as a Curse from Heav'n,
[Saul walks about.
To him who rules, and them who sought it, giv'n.
Since all his Subjects, who are good and just,
Either incur his hatred or distrust.
His Fear alone from David's Virtue Springs,
He thinks none Merit, but who wou'd be Kings.
Who do's not Virtue for its self regard,
Nor know how well it self it do's reward.

Sa.
Go, see the Chariots in due order plac'd,
[To Jonathan.
You to the Horse, you to the Foot make hast.
[To Adr. and Abn.
My self soon in the Army's head will be,
And lead them on to Death or Victory.

[Eexunt.
The Trumpets Sound a Charge, and great shouts are made, which being awhile continu'd,
Enter Saul and Doeg meeting him.
Do.
Hast, Sir, the Foe has almost won the Field,
Your Ranks are broke, your heartless Souldiers yield.
Some Court their Enemies Swords, which others fly,
But all who dare oppose their Fury die.

Sa.
Lead me among the thickest of my Foes,
Of my short time, I will no minute lose:
But since my Life is made the Aim of Fate,
I will not sell it at an under-rate.

[Exeunt
Adriel enters, wounded, and pursu'd by Philistins.
SCENE a Field.
Adr.
In vain I have their numerous Swords withstood,
Come on, come on, and glut your selves with Blood.

He falls, they go out dragging him off. Several Israelites pursu'd by Philistins cross the Stage. Then enter Saul and Doeg.
SCENE a Desart.
Sa.
What Man cou'd do, I have already done,
To purchase Israel's safety and my own:
Oppress'd with Numbers I was forc'd to fly,
Content to gain this little time to die.
For that is all I have now left to do,
And I for that must be oblig'd to you.
If by Philistin's Arms I shou'd be slain,
The way of dying wou'd exceed the Pain.

Do.
Forbid, good Heav'n, that I shou'd kill my Lord!
First let my Blood stain some Philistins Sword.

Sa.
Since then you will not with my Wish comply,
Thus to my self I grant what you deny.
No hand but Saul's shall Act his Tragedy.

[He falls.
Do.
Thus a stern Lyon braves his numerous Foes,
Till finding Courage do's in vain oppose,
Too weak to stand and yet too brave to fly
He makes a fair Retreat—
Not to shun Death, but undiscern'd to die.

Sa.
I go, I go to an Eternal Rest,
Which thoughts of Empire never shall molest,
Nor shalt thou David trouble there my Breast.
The pow'r, thou didst aspire to, I resign,
I cannot wish a greater Mischief thine.
May'st thou the envy'd Crown of Israel wear,
And with it all its vast unenvy'd Care.
I quit it freely, that it may to thee
Prove the same Curse, which it has done to me.

[Dies.
Do.
Since Saul is Dead, in vain I wish to live,
I only shou'd to greater woes survive.
But I will David's Vengeance thus prevent.
And free my self from fear and punishment.

[He falls on his own sword.
Enter an Amalekite.
Ama.

[Exit.
Enter Jonathan bleeding.
Jon.
My Wounds bleed fast, my strength as fast decays,
And Death is entring at these several Ways:
Yet that a mean and common Refuge is,
To which poor Spirits fly from Miseries.
But I to greatest Troubles wou'd survive:
The truely Noble dare unhappy live.
They can the Injuries of Fate despise,
And when they're most deprest do highest rise.
But see! my Father bleeding on the Ground!
[Starts seeing Saul.
These are but small, That is my greatest Wound,
So kind a Father and a King so good,
Requires a double Debt of Tears and Blood.
[Weeps.
But he is slain, and I mispend my Grief,
The Dead in Sighs and Tears find no Relief.
I will embrace what Heav'n for him decreed,
And rather to his Death, than Throne Succeeds
One more deserving must that pow'r enjoy,
Which want of Merit did in us destroy.
For, tho' without it Men may Crowns obtain,
Desert alone confers a long-liv'd Reign.
May his be such and may the Crown he wears
Yeild all its Joys untainted with its Cares:
Wou'd Heav'n but grant it, I cou'd wish to breath
To see my Friend enjoy what I bequeath.
But 'tis deny'd—
Death cou'd not grieve me any other way,
Than closing thus my Eyes before that Day.

[Dies.
Enter several Philistins.
1. Phi.
Here, here they are by their own fears destroy'd,
Yet dead, they shall not our Revenge avoid.
Convey their Bodies hence and hang them high,
The Noblest Trophies of our Victory.

[They go out with the Dead Bodies:
Enter Abner and Officer.
SCENE a Field.
Abn.
In vain we longer do withstand our Foes,
Israel has lost all she had left to lose.
For mighty Saul and Jonathan are dead,
Those Pillars fall'n, she must decline her Head.
Only in David all her hopes remain,
His Virtue may her Liberty regain.
Let us to him, as to her Champion, go,
Tho' he was ours, he was not Israel's Foe,
Nor was he ours, but that we made him so.

Offic.
When he appear'd against our Enemies,
Still their success bow'd and gave place to his.
As Rubbish, which some shallow Stream withstood,
Yields to the stronger Violence of a Flood.

Abn.
Let us to Gibeah hast; while he is there,
We are beyond the reach of Foes or Fear:
And tho' our Swords were drawn for Saul, not him,
We by confessing shall excuse our Crime.
Brave Souls, like his, believe no fault so great,
Which true submission cannot expiate.

[Exeunt.
Merab with a Letter in her Hand.
SCENE Gibeah.
Mer.
David is come to see a Mistress here,
But he shall find the short liv'd pleasure dear.
The Death he shunn'd from my great Fathers hand
Shall overtake him now by his Command.
Here's my Commission—
To which I will a quick Obedience show,
Saul never pleas'd me with Commands till now.

[Exit.
David. Michol in her Chamber.
Da.
To the wild rage of War I owe my Peace,
For only that cou'd make my Troubles cease;
Divert your Father's anger and allow
This happy leisure of attending you:
For, tho' my Life was from his Pow'r secure,
I did a greater loss in you endure.

Mi.
You cou'd not more condemn Saul's cruelty,
Nor be a greater Sufferer than I.
Your Safety and your Dangers still were mine,
With you I rise and did with you decline.

Da.
So Lutes tun'd by some skilful hand alike
Do both seem Sufferers, tho' but one you strike.
For each soft touch its fellow do's receive,
This will its thanks in pleasing Accents give.
But if some ruder Hands disturbs the Strings,
Trembles and grieves in loud harsh Murmurings.

Mi.
In vain they sep'rate us, whose Souls are joyin'd,
For they are free and cannot be confin'd.
They, uncontroul'd, no bounds nor distance know,
But spite of all to their lov'd Objects go:
As streams their passage to the Ocean force,
While Men in vain wou'd intercept their Course.

Enter Azuba.
Azub.
Pardon that I intrude on your Recess,
[To Michol.
To share what you, unkind, alone possess:
For I some Interest in him can pretend,
Both as your Lover and my Husbands Friend.

Da.
The Justice of your Claim, I must confess,
So much in that consists my happiness,
For I am blest that you vouchsafe to own
The poor Address of my Devotion.

Azub.
To shew how I prize Services from you,
I am come hither to employ you now.
You to my Lodging shall with me repaire,
A slender Banquet waits your Presence there.
Nor cou'd I spare this Leisure from my Grief,
But that your coming brings it some Relief.

Da.
When such Commands you on your Servant lay
As he wou'd chuse, he cannot disobey.

[Exeunt.
Several Shouts without; some running over the Stage cry, Long live King David.
Enter David at one door, Abishai and the Amalekite at the other.
Da.
What impious Shouts are those that grate my Ear?
Have the mad Crowds lost all their sense of Fear?
That thus they dare from their Allegiance fall,
And own a King in Israel not Saul?

Abi.
The ground, my Lord, of all these Clamours springs
From news, which this Amalekite now brings.

Amal.
Saul too unworthy of that mighty Name
Will now to Israel lay no further Claim.
The Crown his head dishonour'd, as your due
[Presents the Crown kneeling.
Great Sir, I humbly do present to you.
This Hand attain'd the Happiness this Day,
[David seems much mov'd.
To take Saul's Life and then his Crown away:
Which, since the King and Jonathan are dead,
Is a fit Present only for your Head.

Da.
How! Kill a King and Glory in the Act!
And to that ill a greater Sin contract!
Nay, void of all humanity and Shame,
Dar'st play the Trait'rous Murd'rer with his Fame.
O banish'd Virtue! whither art thou gone?
When Men thus boast, what they shou'd blush to own!

Amal.
It was by his Command I fell on him:

Da.
[To Abishai who kills him.

Abi.
I must obey, tho' I believe I err,
Liking the News to kill the Messenger.

Da.
Thus may they fall—
Who dare mean things of Kingly pow'r conceive,
And slight Heav'ns greatest Representative.
But I too much for Saul alone complain:
Did he not tell me Jonathan was slain?
Oh Noble Prince—
The slow expressions of my Grief forgive,
I cou'd not, what I so abhorr'd, believe.
Nor shew my Sorrow, which is grown for thee,
Unutterable as thy Love for me.
Tho' I, like Women, cou'd command my Eyes,
Their true and feign'd Complaints wou'd not suffice:
Their grief to mine wou'd as inferior prove,
As their mean Flame to thy Sublimer Love.

Enter Eliab hastily.
Eli.

[Gives a Letter.
Da.
Tho' she alive no Pity Merited,
She do's command it now by being Dead.
Tho' we the bad amidst their greatness hate,
We shou'd lament them when Unfortunate.
But we forget the Princess—

[David is going.
Enter Abner with Officers, he goes in hast to meet David, and kneeling, lays his Sword at his Feet.
Abn.
Extend, great Sir, your mercy to a Foe,
Whom only his Allegiance render'd so:
Had Saul still liv'd, I must have sought your Death,
But my Aversion ended with his Breath:
And I to you as Israel's Champion fly,
Since all her hopes do on your Sword rely.

Da.

Abn.
With too much Grief, Sir, you their loss deplore,
The sinking Empire wants your pity more:
And Courts your Hand in this great exigence,
As only fit to fight in her defence.
The scatter'd Souldiers Rally and Renew
Their wonted Courage from their hopes of you.
No General, no King but you they own,
What Valour can they better trust—
Than that, whose great effects they have already known?

Da.

[Exeunt Omnes: