JONATHAN: I am limping still in the knee, and how shall I lead a foray? But thou art mine and I am thine. And I will clothe thee in my clothes, and give thee my sword and my bow, and so shall my spirit be added to thy spirit, and thou shalt be as the King’s son and the eagle of the Lord, in the eyes of the people.
Takes off striped coat, or wide-sleeved tunic.
DAVID: But can I do this thing?
JONATHAN: Yea! That all men know thou art as the King’s son in the world. For the eagle hath gold in his feathers and the young lion is bright. So shall David be seen in Israel.
DAVID slowly pulls off his loose robe, a herdsman’s tunic cut off at the knee. JONATHAN takes off his sleeveless shirt, and is seen in his leather loin-strap. From his upper arm he takes a metal bracelet.
JONATHAN: Even all my garments thou shalt take, even the armlet that should not leave me till I die. And thou shalt wear it for ever. And thy garments will I take upon me, so the honour shall be mine.
DAVID pulls off his shirt, and is seen in the leather loin-strap, JONATHAN puts his bracelet on DAVID’S arm, then his own shirt over DAVID’S head, and holds up his coloured robe. DAVID robed, JONATHAN brings him a coloured head-kerchief and girdle, then his sword and his bow and quiver and shoes. JONATHAN puts on DAVID’S clothes.
DAVID: How do I appear?
JONATHAN: Even as the eagle in his own plumage. It is said, David, that thou art anointed of Samuel, before the Lord. Is it so?
DAVID: Yea.
JONATHAN: Thou hast the sun within thee, who shall deny thee?
DAVID: Why speakest thou sadly, Jonathan, brother?
JONATHAN: Lest thou go beyond me, and be lost to me.
DAVID: Lord! Lord! Let not my soul part from the soul of Jonathan for ever, for all that man can be to man on earth, is he to me.
JONATHAN: Would I could give thee more!
SAUL (entering): Yea! And which now is the King’s son, and which the shepherd?
DAVID: Thy son would have it so, O King.
JONATHAN: It is well, Father! Shall not the leader shine forth?
SAUL: Even so. And the young King-bird shall moult his feathers in the same hour.
JONATHAN: The robe of David honours the shoulders of Jonathan.
SAUL: Art thou ready, thou brave young man?
DAVID: I am ready, O King.
SAUL: The host is in array, awaiting thy coming.
DAVID: I will come where the King leads me.
SAUL (to JONATHAN): Put another robe upon thee, ere thou come forth.
JONATHAN: I will not come forth. (Turns abruptly.)
DAVID follows SAUL from the tent — loud shouting of the army.
JONATHAN (alone): If the Lord hath anointed him for the kingdom, Jonathan will not quarrel with the Lord. My father knoweth. Yet Saul will strain against God. The Lord hath not revealed Himself unto me: save that once I saw the glisten in my father that now I see in David. My life belongs to my father, but my soul is David’s. I cannot help it. The Lord sees fit to split me between King and King-to-be, and already I am torn asunder as between two wild horses straining opposite ways. Yet my blood is my father’s. And my soul is David’s. And the right hand and the left hand are strangers on me.
CURTAIN
SCENE IX
Outside the courtyard of SAUL’S house in Gilgal. Doorway of courtyard seen open. MAIDENS running forth with instruments of music. Men-servants gazing into the distance. People waiting.
MAIDENS: Lu-lu-a-li-lu-lu-lu! Lu-lu-lu-li-a-li-lu-lu! A-li-lu-lu-lu-a-li-lu! Lu-al-li-lu! Lu-al-li-lu-a!
MERAB: Out of Judah Saul comes in!
MICHAL: David slew the Philistine.
MERAB AND HER MAIDENS: Out of Judah Saul comes in!
MICHAL AND HER MAIDENS: David slew the Philistine.
ALL (repeat several times): A-li-lu-lu! A-li-lu-lu-lu! Lu! lu! lu! lu! li! lu! lu! a! li! lu! lu! lu! lu!
MERAB: All the Philistine has fled.
MICHAL: By the roadside fell their dead.
MERAB: Wounded fell down in the path.
MICHAL: Beyond Ekron unto Gath.
MERAB AND MAIDENS: All the Philistine has fled.
MICHAL AND MAIDENS: By the roadside fell their dead.
MERAB AND MAIDENS: Wounded fell down in the path.
MICHAL AND MAIDENS: Beyond Ekron unto Gath.
ALL (repeat continuously): Lu-li-lu-lu-lu! Lu-lu-li-a-lu-lu! Li-a-li-lu-lu-lu! Lu! Lu! Lu! A! li! Lu! Lu! Lu! Lu! Li! A! Lu! Lu! Li! Lu! A! Li! Lu! Lu! Lu! Lu! u!
MERAB: Saul in thousands slew their men!
MICHAL: David slew his thousands ten!
MERAB AND MAIDENS: Saul in thousands slew their men!
MICHAL AND MAIDENS: David slew his thousands ten! Oh! Lu! Lu! Lu! Lu! Lu! Lu! A! Li! Lu! Lu! Lu!
ALL: Lu! Lu! Lu! Li! Lu! Lu! Lu! — A-li-lu-lu-a-li-lu-lu! Lu-a-li-lu-lu-lu! Lu-lu-lu!
MERAB: Out of Judah Saul comes in.
MICHAL: David slew the Philistine.
MERAB AND MAIDENS: Out of Judah Saul comes in.
MICHAL AND MAIDENS: David slew the Philistine.
ALL: Lu-li-lu-lu-lu-li-lu! Lu-lu-a-li-lu-lu-lu!
They continue the repetition of the simple rhymes, as SAUL draws near, followed by DAVID, JONATHAN, ABNER and the armed men. The MAIDENS keep up the singing, all the time dancing; MERAB with her MAIDENS on one side of the men, MICHAL and her MAIDENS on the other, singing loudly back and forth all the time. The men pass slowly into the gate, without response. The MAIDENS run peering at the spoil the servant-men are carrying in. All pass in at the gate.
CURTAIN
SCENE X
Courtyard of SAUL’S house in Gilgal. Confusion of people and men just come in — MAIDENS still singing outside.
ABNER: The King is returned to his own house once more full of victory. When shall we slay the sacrifice?
SAUL: To-night I will slay a bull calf for my house, and an ox will I sacrifice for my household. And for the men will we slay oxen and sheep and goats.
ABNER: Yea! For this is a great day before the Lord in Israel! And we will sprinkle the spoil with the sacrifice.
SAUL: Hast thou heard the song of the women? Nay, hearest thou? Hark! (In the distance is heard the singing.)
MERAB: Saul in thousands slew their men.
MICHAL: David slew his thousands ten.
ALL: Lu-lu-lu-li-lu-lu-a! A-li-lu-lu-a-li-lu!
ABNER: Ay!
SAUL: May such mouths be bruised!
ABNER: Nay! Nay! King Saul! In this hour!
SAUL: In this instant! They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands. And what can he have more, but the Kingdom?
ABNER: Nay, nay, O Saul! It is but the light words of women. Ay, let them sing! For as vain women they fancy naught but that head of Goliath, with the round stone sunken in. But the King is King.
SAUL: Shall that shepherd oust me, even from the mouths of the maidens?
ABNER: Nay, this is folly, and less than kingly.
MICHAL (followed by MERAB — running round the KING with their tambourines): Lu-li-lu-lu-a-li-lu! A-li-lu-lu-a-li-lu-lu-lu!
SAUL: Away!
MERAB AND MICHAL: Lu-lu-lu-lu! Saul, the King! Lu-lu-lu-lu-al-li-lu-lu! Saul! Saul! Lu-lu-lu! Saul! Saul! Lu-lu-lu!
SAUL: Peace, I say!
Exit SAUL, passing into house.
MERAB AND MICHAL: Jonathan and David. Lu-lu-lu! Here they come, the friendly two! Lu-lu-lu-lu-a-li-lu! Lu-lu-a-li-lu-lu-lu!
MERAB: Jonathan is kingly bred.
MICHAL: David took Goliath’s head.
BOTH: Jonathan and David! Lu-lu-lu! — a! Here they come, the loving two-a!
MICHAL (to DAVID): Where is the giant’s head?
DAVID: It is in Jerusalem of Judah, O Maiden.
MICHAL: Why did you not bring it here, that we might see it?
DAVID: I am of Judah, and they would have it there.
MICHAL: But Saul is King, and could have it where he would.
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br /> DAVID: Saul would leave it in Jerusalem.
MICHAL: And the armour, and the greaves of brass, and the shield, and the sword? The coat of brass that weighs five thousand shekels. Where are these? I want to see them, O David!
DAVID: The armour is in my father’s house, and in Jerusalem. The sword lies before the Lord in Ramah, with Samuel, O Maiden!
MICHAL: Why take it to Samuel? Do you not know my name, O David!
DAVID: You are Michal.
MICHAL: I am she. And this is Merab! Look at him, Merab, and see if you like him. Is it true, O my brother Jonathan, that the King will give Merab his daughter to the slayer of the Philistine?
JONATHAN: He hath said so.
MICHAL: To us he has not said one word. O Merab! Look at thy man! How likest thou him?
MERAB: I will not look at him yet.
MICHAL: Oh, thou! Thou hast spied out every hair in his beard. Is he not fox-red? I think the beard of a man should be raven-black. O Merab, thy David is very ruddy.
MERAB: Nay! He is not yet mine, nor I his.
MICHAL: Thou wouldst it were so! Aiee! Thou art hasty and beforehand with the red youth! Shame on thee, that art a King’s daughter.
MERAB: Nay, now, I have said naught.
MICHAL: Thou shouldst have said somewhat, to cover thy unmaidenly longing. — O David, this Merab sighs in her soul for you. How like you her?
DAVID: She is fair and a modest maiden.
MICHAL: As am not I! Oh, but I am Saul’s very daughter, and a hawk that soars kinghigh. And what has David brought, to lay before Merab?
DAVID: All I have is laid before the King.
MICHAL: But naught of the Philistine Goliath! All that spoil you took home to your father’s house, as the fox brings his prey to his own hole. Ah, David, the wary one!
MERAB: It was his own! Where should he take it, but to his father’s house!
MICHAL: Is not the King his father! Why should he not bring it here? Is Merab not worth the bride-money?
JONATHAN: Oh, peace! Thou art all mischief, Michal. Thou shouldst be married to a Philistine, for his undoing.
MICHAL: Ayee! This David has come back to trouble us! Why didst not thou slay the Philistine, Jonathan?
JONATHAN: Peace! Let us go in, David! These maidens are too forward. My father did never succeed in ruling his household of women.
MICHAL: Ayee! His household of women! Thou, Jonathan! Go in, David! They shall not put poison in your meat.
As DAVID and JONATHAN depart she sings:
Empty-handed David came!
Merab saw him full of shame!
Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-li-lu! A-li-lu-a! A-li-lu!
Empty-handed David came!
Merab saw him full of shame!
A-li-lu-lu! A-li-lu-li! Li-lu-li-lu-a!
(To MERAB.) So he has come!
MERAB: Even so! Yet his brow says: Have a care!
MICHAL: Have a care, Merab! Have a care, David! Have a care, Michal! Have a care, Jonathan! Have a care, King Saul! I do not like his brow, it is too studied.
MERAB: Nay, it is manly, and grave.
MICHAL: Ayee! Ayee! He did not laugh. He did not once laugh. It will not be well, Merab!
MERAB: What will not be well?
MICHAL: The King will not give thee to him.
MERAB: But the King hath spoken.
MICHAL: I have read the brow of Saul, and it was black. I have looked at David’s brow, and it was heavy and secret. The King will not give thee to David, Merab. I know it, I know it.
MERAB: A King should keep his word!
MICHAL: What! Art thou hot with anger against thy father, lest he give thee not to this shepherd boy! David hath cast a spell on Merab! The ruddy herdsman out of Judah has thrown a net over the King’s daughter! Oh, poor quail! poor partridge!
MERAB: I am not caught! I am not!
MICHAL: Thou art caught! And not by some chieftain, nor by some owner of great herds. But by a sheep-tending boy! Oh, fie!
MERAB: Nay, I do not want him.
MICHAL: Yea, thou dost. And if some man of great substance came, and my father would give thee to him, thou wouldst cry: Nay! Nay! Nay! I am David’s!
MERAB: Never would I cry this and that thou sayest. For I am not his. — And am I not first daughter of the King!
MICHAL: Thou waitest and pantest after that red David. And he will climb high in the sight of Israel, upon the mound of Merab. I tell thee, he is a climber who would climb above our heads.
MERAB: Above my head he shall not climb.
MICHAL:
Empty-handed David came!
Merab saw him full of shame!
Lu-li-lu-li! Lu-li-lu-lu-li! A-li-lu-lu!
CURTAIN
SCENE XI
Room in KING’S house at Gilgal. Bare adobe room, mats on the floor. SAUL, ABNER and ADRIEL reclining around a little open hearth.
SAUL: And how is the slayer of Goliath looked upon, in Gilgal?
ABNER: Yea! he is a wise young man, he brings no disfavour upon himself.
SAUL: May Baal finish him! And how looks he on the King’s daughter? Does he eye Merab as a fox eyes a young lamb?
ABNER: Nay, he is wise, a young man full of discretion, watching well his steps.
SAUL: Ay is he! Smooth-faced and soft-footed, as Joseph in the house of Pharaoh! I tell you, I like not this weasel.
ABNER: Nay, he is no enemy of the King. His eyes are clear, with the light of the Lord God. But he is alone and shy, as a rude young shepherd.
SAUL: Thou art his uncle, surely. I tell you, I will send him back to Bethlehem, to the sheep-cotes.
ABNER: He is grown beyond the sheep-cotes, O King! And wilt thou send him back into Judah, while the giant’s head still blackens above the gates of Jerusalem, and David is darling of all Judea, in the hearts of the men of Judah? Better keep him here, where the King alone can honour him.
SAUL: I know him! Should I send him away, he will have them name him King in Judah, and Samuel will give testimony. Yea, when he carried the sword of the giant before Samuel in Ramah, did not Samuel bless him in the sight of all men, saying: Thou art chosen of the Lord out of Israel!
ABNER: If it be so, O King, we cannot put back the sun in heaven. Yet is David faithful servant to the King, and full of love for Jonathan. I find in him no presumption.
SAUL: My household is against me. Ah, this is the curse upon me! My children love my chief enemy, him who hath supplanted me before the Lord. Yea, my children pay court to David, and my daughters languish for him. But he shall not rise upon me. I say he shall not! Nor shall he marry my elder daughter Merab. Wellah, and he shall not.
ABNER: Yet Saul has given his word.
SAUL: And Saul shall take it back. What man should keep his word with a supplanter? Abner, have we not appointed him captain over a thousand? Captain over a thousand in the army of Saul shall he be. Oh yes! And to-morrow I will say to him, I will even say it again: Behold Merab, my elder daughter, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. And then he shall go forth with his thousand again, quickly, against the Philistine. Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistine be upon him.
ABNER: But if the Lord be with him, and he fall not, but come back once more with spoil, wilt thou then withhold the hand of thy daughter Merab from him?
SAUL: He shall not have her! Nay, I know not. When the day comes that he returns back to this house, then Saul will answer him. We will not tempt the Thunderer.
ADRIEL: I have it sure, from Eliab his brother, that David was anointed by Samuel to be King over Israel, secretly, in the house of his father Jesse. And Eliab liketh not the youngster, saying he was ever heady, naughty-hearted, full of a youngling’s naughty pride, and the conceit of the father’s favourite. Now the tale is out in Judah, and many would have him King, saying: Why should Judah look to a King out of Benjamin? Is there no horn-anointed among the men of Judah?
Complete Works of D.H. Lawrence Page 712
