University of Virginia Library

5. PART V.

SCENE, The Tent of Saul.
SAUL,
rising from his couch.
Oh! that I knew the black and midnight arts
Of wizard sorcery! that I cou'd call
The slumb'ring spirit from the shades of hell!
Or, like Chaldean sages, cou'd foreknow
Th' event of things unacted! I might then
Anticipate my fortune. How I'm fall'n!
The sport of vain chimeras, the weak slave
Of fear, and sickly fancy; coveting
To know the arts which foul diviners use.
Thick blood, and moping melancholy, lead
To baleful Superstition, that fell fiend
Whose with'ring charms blast the fair bloom of virtue.
Why did my wounded pride with scorn reject
The wholesome truths which holy Samuel told me?
Why drive him from my presence? he might now
Raise my sunk soul, and my benighted mind
Enlighten with religion's cheering ray.
He dared to menace me with loss of empire,
And I, for that bold honesty, dismiss'd him.
“Another shall possess thy throne, he cry'd,
“A stranger!” This unwelcome prophecy
Has lin'd my crown, and strew'd my couch with thorns.
Each ray of op'ning merit I discern
In friend or foe, distracts my troubled soul,
Lest he shou'd prove my rival. But this morn,
Ev'n my young champion, lovely as he look'd
In blooming valour, struck me to the soul
With jealousy's barb'd dart. O jealousy!
Thou ugliest fiend of hell! thy deadly venom
Preys on my vitals, turns the healthful hue
Of my fresh cheek to haggard sallowness,
And drinks my spirit up!
[A flourish of trumpets, shouting, &c. &c.
What sounds are those?
The combat is decided. Hark! again,
Those shouts proclaim it! Now, O God of Jacob,
If yet thou hast not quite withdrawn from Saul
Thy light and favour, prosper me this once!
But Abner comes! I dread to hear his tale.
Fair Hope, with smiling face, but ling'ring foot
Has long deceiv'd me.

ABNER.
King of Israel, hail!
Now thou art king indeed. The youth has conquer'd.
Goliath's slain.

SAUL.
Oh, speak thy tale again,
Lest my fond ears deceive me.

ABNER.
Thy young champion
Has slain the Giant.

SAUL.
Then God is gracious still,
In spite of my offences! But, good Abner,
How was it? tell me all! Where is my champion;
Quick let me press him to my grateful heart,
And pay him a king's thanks. And yet, who knows?
This forward friend may prove an active foe.
No more of that.—Tell me the whole, brave Abner!
And paint the glorious acts of my young hero!

ABNER.
Full in the centre of the camp they stood.
Th' opposing armies rang'd on either side
In proud array. The haughty Giant stalk'd,
Stately, across the valley. Next the youth
With modest confidence advanc'd. Nor pomp,
Nor gay parade, nor martial ornament,
His graceful form adorn'd. Goliath strait,
With solemn state, began the busy work
Of dreadful preparation. In one place,
His closely jointed mail an op'ning left,
For air, and only one: the watchful youth
Mark'd that the beaver of his helm was up.
Meanwhile the Giant such a blow devis'd,
As wou'd have crush'd him; this the youth perceiv'd,
And from his well-directed sling, he hurl'd,
With dextrous aim, a stone, which sunk, deep lodg'd,
In the capacious forehead of the foe.
Then with a cry, as loud and terrible,
As Lybian lions roaring for their young,
Quite stunn'd, the furious Giant stagger'd, reel'd,
And fell: the mighty mass of man fell prone.
With its own weight his shatter'd bulk was bruis'd.
His clattering arms rung dreadful thro' the field,
And the firm basis of the solid earth
Shook. Chok'd with blood and dust, he curs'd his gods,
And dy'd blaspheming! Strait the victor youth
Drew from its sheath the Giant's pond'rous sword,
And from th' enormous trunk, the goary head,
Furious in death, he sever'd. The grim visage
Look'd threat'ning still, and still frown'd horribly.

SAUL.
O glorious deed! O valiant conqueror!

ABNER.
The youth so calm appear'd, so nobly firm;
So cool, yet so intrepid; that these eyes
Ne'er saw such temperate valour, so chastis'd
By modesty.

SAUL.
Thou dwell'st upon his praise
With needless circumstance. 'Twas nobly done;
But others too have fought!

ABNER.
None, none so bravely.

SAUL.
What follow'd next?

ABNER.
The shouting Israelites
On the Philistines rush'd, and still pursue
Their routed remnants. In dismay, their bands
Disorder'd fly. While shouts of loud acclaim
Pursue their brave deliverer. Lo, he comes!
Bearing the Giant's head, and shining sword,
His well-earn'd trophies.

SAUL, ABNER, DAVID.
[David bearing Goliath's head and sword. He kneels, and lays both at Saul's feet.]
SAUL.
Welcome to my heart,
My glorious champion! my deliverer, welcome!
How shall I speak the swelling gratitude
Of my full heart? or give thee the high praise
Thy gallant deeds deserve?

DAVID.
O mighty king!
Sweet is the breath of praise, when giv'n by those
Whose own high merit claims the praise they give.
But let not this one fortunate event,
By Heav'n directed, be ascrib'd to me.
I might have fought with equal skill and courage,
And not have gain'd this conquest; then had shame,
Harsh obloquy, and foul disgrace, befal'n me.
But prosp'rous fortune gains the praise of valour.

SAUL.
I like not this. In every thing superior!
He soars above me (aside)
. Modest youth, thou'rt right.
And fortune, as thou say'st, deserves the praise
We give to human valour.

DAVID.
Rather say,
The God of Hosts deserves it.

SAUL.
Tell me, youth!
What is thy name, and what thy father's house?

DAVID.
My name is David, Jesse is my sire,
An humble Bethle'mite of Judah's tribe.

SAUL.
David, the son of Jesse! Sure that name
Has been familiar to me! Nay, thy voice,
Thy form and features, I remember too,
Tho' faint, and indistinctly.

ABNER.
In this Hero
Behold thy sweet musician, he whose harp
Expell'd the melancholy fiend, whose pow'r
Enslav'd thy spirit.

SAUL.
This the modest youth,
Whom, for his skill and virtues, I preferr'd
To bear my armour?

DAVID.
I am he, O king!

SAUL.
Why this concealment? tell me, valiant David!
Why didst thou hide thy birth and name till now?

DAVID.
O king! I wou'd not ought from favour claim,
Or on remember'd services presume:
But on the strength of my own actions stand,
Ungrac'd and unsupported.

ABNER.
Well he merits
The honours which await him. Why, O king!
Dost thou delay to bless his doubting heart
With his well-earn'd rewards? Thy lovely daughter,
By right of conquest his!

SAUL,
to David.
True—thou hast won her.
She shall be thine—Yes, a king's word is past.

DAVID.
O boundless blessing! What, shall she be mine,
For whom contending monarchs might renounce
Their slighted crowns?

[Sounds of musical instruments heard at a distance. Shouting and singing. A grand procession. Chorus of Hebrew Women.]
SAUL.
How's this? what sounds of joy
Salute my ears? what means this pageantry?
This merry sound of tabret and of harp?
What mean these idle instruments of triumph?
These women, who in fair procession move,
Making sweet melody?

ABNER.
To pay due honour
To David, are they come.

SAUL.
[Aside.
A rival's praise
Is discord to the ear of jealousy!

[Martial symphony. After which Chorus of Women sing.]