ACT IV

SCENE: _The house of_ MIRIAM, _the "Witch of Endor," by Mount Gilboa--where_ SAUL _is encamped against the Philistines. It is of one story, built rectangularly about an inner court, which is dimly lighted. Under the gallery which ranges around the court are doors leading to the sleeping and other apartments; before one of these a lattice. On the left is the gate opening to the street. At the back to one side, the teraphim, or image of divination; on the other side a stairway mounts to the roof. Above is the night and vague lightning amid a moan of wind. During the act comes dawn. Forward on a divan sits_ MIRIAM _alone, in blind restlessness_.

_Miriam._ Adah!... The child is sunken in a sleep. Yet would I have her near me in this night, And hear again the boding of her tale. Unto the blind the vision and the awe Of the invisible sway ever in, The shadow of nativities that lead Upon fatality. Girl! Adah! girl!

(_The wind passes._ ADAH _enters from a chamber, rubbing her eyes._)

Thou art awake?

_Adah._ I slumbered.

_Miriam._ Stand you where Fathoming I may feel within you. Now, Again--you've hither fled your mistress Merab, In fear of her?

_Adah._ Yes.

_Miriam._ At Engeddi Michal By Saul was apprehended? Merab now Plotteth against her--she and Doeg?

_Adah._ Still.

_Miriam._ And 'twas in Merab's tent you heard, the king Despairing of to-morrow's battle, comes Hither to-night to bid me lift the spirit Of Samuel out of the dead and learn The issue?

_Adah._ Doeg said it.

_Miriam._ And--you hear?---- Many within the army urge for David, Would cry him king, if Saul were slain?

_Adah._ O many.

(_A knock at the gate. They start up fearful._)

_Miriam._ Who seeks blind Miriam of Endor's roof, Under the night and unextinguished storm? Come you a friend?

_David_ (_without_). A friend.

_Miriam._ As knows my soul!

(_Throws open the gate._ DAVID _enters and_ ABIATHAR _cloaked._)

Thy voice again!--this blindness of my eyes-- If it be David, speak.

_David._ Yes, Miriam.

_Miriam._ David of Jesse, Israel's desire! Let me behold thee (_her hands go over him_) with my fingers' sight, And gather in them touch of thee again! Thy voice is as dream-dulcimers that stir Quivering myrrh of memory and joy. But, aie! why are you here? You have been _there_?

_David._ Yes--in the camp of Saul.

_Miriam._ In spite of Death! Do you not know----

_David._ I know--that Saul would rather O'er-tramble me than a multitude of foes. That it is told him I who shun his ire-- Though death were easier, if dutiful-- Am come up with the Philistines to win The kingdom. That he would slay me though I fought For Israel!--But, Michal!--

_Miriam._ Aie----

_David._ What brews? She was not in the camp.

_Miriam._ Men all are mad! And you who should be never.

_David._ She is in Some peril.

_Miriam._ You, in more! And must from here Swiftly away, for Saul is----

_David._ I must see her.

_Miriam._ Unholy!

_David._ Yet unholier were flight.

_Miriam._ You are the anointed!

(_A heavy knock at the gate._)

Ah, calamity! You would not heed--'tis Saul!

_David._ Here?

_Miriam._ He is come That I shall call up Samuel.

_David._ You, you-- The awful dead?

_Saul_ (_calls_). Woman of Endor!

_Miriam._ Hide! The lattice yonder!

_Saul._ Woman of Endor! woman!

(DAVID _and_ ABIATHAR _withdraw. The knocking hastier._)

Woman of Endor! Woman of Endor! Woman!

_Miriam._ Who crieth at my gate?

_Saul._ Unbar and learn.

_Miriam._ To danger?

_Saul._ None.

_Miriam._ To thieves?

_Saul._ To rueing it You tarry!

(_She lets him in, with_ ISHUI _and_ ADRIEL.)

_Miriam._ Whom seek you?

_Saul._ Witch of Endor, you, Who of the fate-revealing dead divine. Out of the Pit you call them!

_Miriam._ What is this?

_Saul._ I say that you can raise them!

_Miriam._ You are come With snaring! knowing well that Saul the king Is woe and bitterness to all who move With incantation.

_Saul._ He is not.

_Miriam._ Depart!

_Saul._ I must have up out of the Awfulness Him I would question.

_Miriam._ Perilous!

_Saul._ Prepare Before thy teraphim. No harm, I swear, Shall come of it. Bid Samuel appear. The battle! its event!

_Miriam_ (_with a cry_). I know thee now! Saul! thou art Saul! the Terror!

_Saul._ Call him up. Ready is it, the battle--but I am Forsaken of all prophesy and dream, Of voices and of priest and oracle, To augur it.

_Miriam._ A doom's in this!

_Saul._ He must Hold comfort, and the torrent of despair Within me stay and hush.

_Miriam._ Then must it be.

(_She turns to the teraphim, amid wind and pallid lightning prostrating herself._)

Prophet of Israel, who art beyond The troubling and the terrifying grave, Th' immeasurable moan and melancholy Of ways that win to Sheol--Rise! Arise!

(_She waits ... Only the wind gust. Then springing up, with wide arms, and wild blind eyes._)

Prophet of Israel, arise! Not in The name of Baal, Amon, Ashtoreth, Dagon or all the deities that dream In trembling temples of Idolatry, But of Jehovah! of Jehovah! rise!

(_An elemental cry is heard. Then wavering forms rise, vast, out of the earth, in continuous stream._ MIRIAM, _with a curdling shriek, sinks moaning to her knees._)

_Saul._ Woman, I cannot--dare not--look upon it. Utter thy sight.

(_The Spirit of_ SAMUEL _begins to take shape through the phantoms._)

_Miriam._ I see ... ascending Forms as of gods in swaying ghostliness, Dim apparitions of a dismal might, And now is one within a mantle clad, Who looketh----

_Saul._ Samuel!

_Miriam._ Who looketh with Omniscience in his mien, and there is chill And cling about him of eternity! His eyes impale me!

_Saul._ Spirit, give me word!

(_He falls heavily to the ground._)

_Samuel_ (_as afar_). O evil king! and wretched king! why hast Thou brought me from the quietness and rest?

_Saul._ The battle on the morrow----

_Samuel._ Evil thou art For underneath this night thou hast conspired Death to thy daughter Michal--if at dawn The battle shall be lost--lest she may fall Into the hands of David----

_David_ (_in horror_). O!

_Ishui._ Whose cry?

_Samuel._ I tell thee, Saul, thy sceptre shrivels fast. The battle shall be lost--it shall be lost.

(_The Spirit of_ SAMUEL _disappears. A wail of wind._)

_Adriel._ Ishui, true? Is Michal to be slain?

_Ishui._ This is no hour for fools and questioning.

_Saul_ (_struggling up_). The battle, Ishui, at once command It shall begin! To Jonathan and say it.

(ISHUI _goes._)

No prophecy shall sink me and no shade. I am the king, and Israel, my own.

(_Frenzied he goes. A silence._)

_David_ (_breaking forth_). Michal to die and Israel to fall! Prophet of prophets, Samuel, return! Out of the Shadow and the Sleep, return, Compassionate, and tell me where she is That I may save. Again appear and say That Israel to-morrow may not fall-- Not fall on ruin!

_Adriel._ David? is it thou?

_David._ Meholah's Adriel, your conscience asks.

_Adriel._ You were concealed?

_David._ And I have heard. Cry then Out unto Saul! Betray me, cry you out!

_Adriel._ Betray?

_David._ Is the word honey? Is it balm?

_Adriel._ David, I've wronged you--

_David._ Haply!

_Adriel._ Jealously. And ask now no forgiveness--not until Michal is won from peril!

_David._ Do you know More of her? still?

_Adriel._ Saul----

_David._ Saul----?

_Adriel._ Has given Doeg Power of this.... And to some spot of Endor Here he has brought her.

_David._ God!

_Adriel._ And now himself, David, himself cannot be far away.

_David._ Ahaste, and bring him then by force or guile, In any way, that we may from him win Where she is prisoned.

(ADRIEL _goes._)

The quivering Quicksands of destiny beneath her stir. Is heaven a mocking shield that ever keeps God from our prayers?

_Miriam._ David, contain thy heart.

(_A faint uproar begins afar; and dawn._)

_David._ The battle! on the wind. Abiathar, Speed out upon the mountain-side and cull All that befalls.

(ADAH _opens the gate. The priest goes._)

_Adah_ (_springing back_). Oh!

_David._ Child, why do you quail?

_Adah._ My mistress, Merab!

_David._ Girl?

_Adah._ I saw her--she-- Is coming hither! Do not let her--she-- I fear--I fear her!

_David._ Hither coming?

_Adah._ She!

(_The gate is thrown open fiercely._)

_Merab_ (_entering_). Woman and witch, did Adriel, my husband,

(_Sees_ DAVID.)

Come to you with the king?

_David._ Unnatural, Unkind, most cruel sister!

_Merab_ (_shrinks_). You are here?

_David._ Once me you would have poisoned, but the coil Within your bosom I beheld. And now Michal your sister is the victim.

_Merab._ I-- Know not your meaning.

_David._ The battle burning yonder, If it adversely veers, the king has planned Michal is not to live lest she may hap Unto my arms.

_Merab._ That Michal shall be slain?

(_The tumult again._)

_David._ Almighty, smite, and save to Thee thy people! And save Thy altars unto Israel!

(_He bows his head. A stir comes at the gate._)

_Merab._ David, 'tis Adriel!

_Adriel._ Ope! open, you!

_David._ At last the word.

_Merab._ Girl, Adah, draw the bar.

(DAVID _throws a cloak to his face, as_ ADAH _obeys_. ADRIEL _enters, and_ DOEG, _who pauses in quick alarm, as_ DAVID _goes between him and the gate._)

_Doeg._ What place is this? Why do you bar that gate? Merab, 'tis you? Why do you gaze, rigid? And this is the blind witch, Miriam?

_David._ It is.

(_He throws off the cloak._)

_Doeg._ Lured? I am snared? a trap?

_David._ Where have you Michal?

_Doeg_ (_drawing_). No closer!

_David._ If she is an atom harmed----! Where is she?

_Doeg._ I was the servant of the king, I but obey him.

_David._ And thy horrible heart. Then speak, or unto frenzy I am driven.

_Doeg._ I'll drive you there with----

(_Breaks off with low laugh._)

_David._ Tell it!

_Doeg._ Unto your Soft sympathy--and passion? (_Laughs._) She is dead.

_David_ (_immovable, then repressed_). If it is so, the lightning, that is wrath Within the veins of God, should sink its fang Into thy bosom and sear out thy heart. If it is so, this momentary calm, This silence pouring overfull the world, Would rush and in thee cry until thy bones Broken of guilt are crumbled in thy groans. Dead, she is dead?

_Miriam._ No, David, my lord, he lies!

(_Strangely, as in a trance._)

To wound you, lies!

_David._ Not dead?

_Miriam._ I see her eyes!

(_All listen amazed._)

I see her in a vision. She is near---- Is in a cave--is bound--and is alone. I will go to her--quickly bring her.

_Doeg._ Not

(_Lunges at her._)

If this shall reach you.

_David._ Ah, to pierce a woman!

(MIRIAM _finds her way out._)

You've plotted, have been false and bloody, foul, And as a pestilence of midnight marsh Have oozed corruption into all around you. The kingdom thro' you is in brokenness, Within its arteries you flow, poison, Incentive of irruption and unrest, Of treachery and disaffection's sore, Till even the stars that light it seem as tares Sown hostile o'er the nightly vale of heaven.

(_Draws firmly. Coldly, skilfully approaches for attack._)

_Doeg_ (_retreating_). No farther!

_David._ Unto the end! unto the end!

(_He rushes in; they engage_; DOEG _is wounded._)

Your villainy is done.

(_Quickly forces him under. The gate then opens and_ ABIATHAR _hurries in._)

_Abiathar._ David, the battle----!

(_Sees_ DOEG _and stops, pale._)

_David._ Fetter him.

_Abiathar._ Only fetter? (_His dagger out_) the murderer Of priestly sanctity and of my father?

_David._ Abiathar! You know obedience?

(DOEG _is sullenly bound and led aside. Then a panic is heard afar, and dim laments._ DAVID, _who has sunk to a seat, springs anxiously up._)

Listen! that cry!

_A voice._ Woe! woe!

_David._ What is its wail?

_The Voice._ The battle's lost!

_David._ Abiathar--?

_The Voice._ Saul flees!

_David._ Abiathar, is lost?

_Abiathar._ I fear it.

_David._ Then (_pointing to_ DOEG) Off with his armour for me, I will go Forth and may backward, backward bend defeat. Duty to Saul is over.

_Adriel._ You must not. A fruitless intrepidity it were.

_Abiathar._ Remember your anointing!

_Abishai._ The prophesy! And Michal! (_The gate opens._) Michal who lives! who lives! who lives!

(DAVID _has turned and sees her enter with_ MIRIAM.)

Hosanna!...

_Adriel._ Ever!...

_Miriam._ David----

_Michal_ (_pleading, to him_). It is I.

_Miriam._ The cords were cruel, hungrily sank in Her wrists and ankles.

_Michal._ David! look on me.

_David._ My words must be alone with her--alone.

_Adriel._ Come, all of you--the battle.

(_They go out the gate._)

_Michal._ My lord!... my lord!

(_He is silent._)

I ask not anything but to be heard-- Though once I would not hear. Has all of life No glow for me?

_David._ Betrayers should have none.

_Michal._ I was a woman--the entanglement Of duty amid love we have no skill To loosen, but with passion.

_David._ You too late Remember it is so.

_Michal._ Nobility All unbelievable it seemed that you Could innocently wait on time to tide You to the kingdom. Then forgive, I plead.

_David._ But in the wilderness, your perfidy!

_Michal._ Doubt of it welleth thro' your voice. No, no, To save you strove I----!

_David._ Michal?

_Michal._ Not to betray! From Saul, my father, penitent I fled, Seeking you in Engeddi's wild.

_David._ And Phalti?

_Michal._ 'Twas wedding him I loathed.

_David._ Say true!

_Michal._ This knife Unfailingly into my breast had sunk And spared me, had not flight.

_David._ This--this can be?

(_A great joy dawning in him._)

Beyond all hope it is, even as day's Wide empery outspans our littleness. A tithing of thy loveliness were beauty Enough for earth. Yet it is mine, is mine?

_Michal._ David--for ever!

(_She starts toward his arms. But cries and confusion of cries beat back their joy. Then the gate is flung open and_ ADRIEL _enters, shaken. He looks from one to the other._)

_David_ (_at last_). Adriel! Adriel! What have you?

_Adriel._ Saul--is slain!

_Michal._ My father?

_Adriel._ Slain! And Jonathan----

_David._ No!

_Adriel._ Fell beside him down ... The fray was fast--Israel fled--the foe Fierce after Saul, whom Jonathan defended.

_Michal._ My father!

_David._ And my brother Jonathan! If I believe it will not miracle Alone bring joy again unto my pain?

(_The wailing again, and deeper groans._)

O Israel, the Infinite has touched Thy glory and it changes to a shroud! Thy splendour is as vintage overspilt, For Saul upon the mountains low is lying, And Jonathan beside him, beautiful Beyond the mar of battle and of death. Yea, kingly Jonathan! And I would give The beating of my life into his veins. Willing for it would I be drouth and die!...

(_As the wails re-arise._)

Peaks, mountains of Gilboa! let no more Dew be upon you, and as sackcloth let Clouds cover you, and ashes be your soil, Until I bring upon Philistia And Gath and Askalon extinguishing, And sorrow--and immensity of tears!

(MICHAL _goes to him. He folds her in his arms._)

But we must calm the flowing of this grief. Though yet we cannot mind us to remember, Love will as sandal-breath and trickling balm O'erheal us in the unbegotten years, Too headlong must not be our agony. Hush now thy woundedness, my Michal, now. See, o'er the East the lifted wings of Dawn.

(_They climb the stair to the house-top. As they look away toward the battle's rout the clouds part, and over them breaks the full brightness of the sun...._)

THE END.

+The Gresham Press+,

UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED.

WOKING AND LONDON.

Transcriber's Notes:

Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.

Simple typographical and spelling errors were corrected. Considerable latitude was provided the dialogue and poetry.

Italics words are denoted by _underscores_.

Elaborate fonts are denoted by +pluses+.