ELIAB AND OTHERS: No, no! He is a babe--a child--a--
SAMUEL (_waves them back and turns to_ JESSE): Are all thy children here? Or hast thou another son?
JESSE: There remaineth yet the youngest; And behold, he keepeth the sheep. He is my dear-beloved. His years are yet too tender to rule Israel.
DAUGHTER OF JESSE: O let me go and bring him!
SAMUEL: Send and fetch him; For we will not sit down till he come hither.
(_The_ DAUGHTER OF JESSE _starts running out toward left._)
JESSE: Nay, daughter, blow the horn till he appear. (_She blows horn._)
SAMUEL: Speak not of his tender years; For the Lord knoweth the times and the seasons.
Neither will he cause the flower to blow on the seedling; Nor the fruit on the sapling; Nor an old head on young shoulders.
(_There is a pause while all listen; then she blows again._)
DAUGHTER OF JESSE: He cometh, for I hear his harp in the distance.
(_The song is heard, beginning faintly, but growing stronger._ DAVID _enters on the last two lines._)
_Song_: "The Lord is My Shepherd," Music by S. Liddle.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
SAMUEL (_advancing to meet him_): O sweet singer of Israel, The Lord commandeth me, Arise, anoint him; for this is _he._
(_He raises his horn of oil._ DAVID _kneels._ SAMUEL _pours oil upon him._)
For the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth: And he shall give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.
DAUGHTER OF JESSE (_embracing David_): O David, I _am_ glad.
(_All pass out but_ DAVID _and his sister. She waits for him as he stands in prayer._)
DAVID: O God, thou hast anointed me with the oil of gladness, Above my fellows. I will sing a song unto thee, O God; Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.