University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The top of Mount Olivet, crowded with fugitives from Jerusalem: King David, surrounded by his household, worshipping: the Cherethites and Pelethites restrain the People from pressing upon him. Joab, Benaiah, and other armed Chiefs, marshalling the multitude.
Ben.
Go bid yon loiterers hasten over Kedron,
If they would march with us.

Joab.
Let them abide:—
Why crawl they after us?—What seest thou, ho?

(Addressing a Soldier stationed in a tree above him.)
Soldier.
Nothing, my lord, but people from the city
Hurrying this way.

Joab.
Look not on them, fool: fix
Thine eyes upon the south.

Soldier.
I do, my lord.

Joab.
What seest thou toward the Prince's pillar?

Soldier.
Nothing.

Joab.
On that same open height beyond it?

Soldier.
Nothing.

Joab.
Well, nail thine eyes there.—Will the old man's prayer
Stretch out till doom? Benaiah, we lose time;
We should be now beyond Bahurim.

Ben.
Be patient;
The stroke was bitter, and his heart seemed fraught
Almost to bursting.

Joab.
Better rive at once,
Than meet the tender mercies of his son
By loitering here. By Heaven, I'll rouse him—

Ben.
Hold,
Hold, Joab!

People.
Stand aside!—Back there!—The King!

(King David comes forward among the People: Enter Hushai, with his garments rent; he falls to the ground, and clasps the King's feet.)
Hush.
God save my lord the King! Live I to see
My master thus! the Light, the Rock of Israel!

K. Dav.
Once, Hushai, once the candle of the Lord
Beamed on my head, and, like a shadowing rock,
His buckler sheltered me. Thou seest me, now,
Dark and defenceless; all my leprous sins
Wrathfully visited upon my people.

First People.
What will become of us?

Second People.
Alas! alas!
Heaven hath forsaken us!

Third People.
Woe, woe, alas!

Joab.
(going among them.)
Peace with your howling! Peace! or ye shall feast
The wild beasts of the wilderness.—My lord,
We linger here while death is at our heels.

K. Dav.
Hushai.

Hush.
Command thy servant.

K. Dav.
Turn thou back:
Mix with his council: seem as they. Thy words
May blast Ahithophel's, whose malice, else,
Will work our ruin. With us thou canst nought.—
Abiathar and Zadok stay behind,
By my commandment, with the Ark. To them
Communicate what thou canst learn of import:
They will despatch it to me by their sons,
Where I shall wait them in the wilderness.

Joab.
Depart ere thou art seen.

Hush.
God guard the King,
And bring him home to Zion.

(Exit.)
Soldier.
(calling from the tree.)
Joab,—my lord,—I see the flash of arms
On that same hill.—The vanguard comes—and now
The horsemen.—

Joab.
Make they for the city?

Soldier.
Straight.

Joab.
Enough; descend.—Shall we advance?

K. Dav.
Is there conveyance for the household?

Joab.
None.

People.
Yes, Ziba's here with asses.

Second People.
Only two.

Joab.
(impatiently.)
Therefore, my lord, behoves us haste. Suppose
His horse o'ertake us in the open plain,
Cumbered with women?

K. Dav.
Bid the Pelethites
Take up the youngest. Place upon the beasts
Michal and Bathsheba. Send forward some
For mules and camels, if the villages
Or fields can yield us any.—Where's the Prophet?

Joab.
Yonder, with Solomon.—Art ready, Sir?

K. Dav.
Ittai, protect the rearward. Station one
To bring intelligence.—Command the signal.

Joab.
(to his trumpeter.)
Sound.

(Trumpet sounds: exeunt the King and People, guarded by the armed bands.)