_Michal._ Not to betray! From Saul, my father, penitent I fled, Seeking you in Engeddi's wild.
_Michal._ This knife Unfailingly into my breast had sunk And spared me, had not flight.
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?
(_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._ Fell beside him down ... The fray was fast--Israel fled--the foe Fierce after Saul, whom Jonathan defended.
_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!...
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...._)
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_.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Plays and Lyrics, by Cale Young Rice