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قراءة كتاب David: A Tragedy
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اللغة: English
الصفحة رقم: 2
class="verse">He pluck us ecstasies out of his harp,
Winning until we’re wanton for him, mad,
And sigh and laugh and weep to the moon!
ISHUI
Low thing!
Chaff of the king!
JUDITH
The king! I had not thought!
David a king! how beauteous would he be!
ISHUI
David?
JUDITH
Turban of sapphire! robe of gold!
ISHUI
A king? o’er Israel?
JUDITH
Who, who can tell!
Have you not heard? Yesterday in the camp
Among war-old but fearful men he offered
Kingly to meet Goliath—great Goliath!
ISHUI
What do you say? to meet Goliath?
JUDITH [Laughing in his face.]
Aie!
[He thrusts her from him. She goes dancing with Zilla and Leah.]
ADRIEL [Who has entered.]
Ishui, in a rage?
ISHUI
Should I not be!
ADRIEL
Not would you be yourself.
ISHUI
Not? [Deftly.] You say well.
I should not, no. Pardon, then, Adriel.
ADRIEL
What was the offence?
ISHUI
Turn from it.—I have not
Bidden you here for vapours; yet they had
Substance as well for you!
ADRIEL
For me?
ISHUI
Who likes
Laughter against him!
ADRIEL
I was laughed at?
ISHUI
Why,
It is this shepherd!
ADRIEL
David?
ISHUI
With his harp!
Flinging enchantment on the palace air
Till he impassions to him all who breathe.
ADRIEL
What sting from that? He’s lovable and brave.
ISHUI
Lovable? Lovable?
ADRIEL
I do not see.
ISHUI
This then: you’ve hither come with gifts and gold,
Dream-bringing amethyst and weft of Ind,
To wed my sister, Merab?
ADRIEL
It is so.
ISHUI
And you’ve the king’s consent; but she denies?
ADRIEL
As every wind, you know it.
ISHUI
Still denies!
And you, lost in the maze of her, fare on
Blindly and find no reason for it!
ADRIEL
How?
What reason can be? women are not clear;
And least unto themselves.
ISHUI
Or to their fools.
[He goes to curtains and draws out Adah.]
Your mistress, Merab, girl, whom does she love?
Unclench your hands.
ADAH
I hate her.
ISHUI
Insolent!
Answer; I am not milky Jonathan.
Answer; and for the rest—You hear?
ADAH
She loves—
The shepherd David!
ADRIEL
Who, girl?
ADAH
I care not!
She is unkind; I wilt not spy for her
On Michal, and I’ll tell her secrets all!
And David does not love her—and she raves.
ISHUI
Off to your sleep; now off—
[Makes to strikes her.]
ADRIEL
Ishui, no.
[Adah goes.]
ISHUI
And see you now how ‘lovable’ he is!
I tell you that he stands athwart us all!
The heart of Merab swung a censer to him,
My seat at table with the king usurped!
Mildew and mocking to the harp of Doeg,
As it were any slave’s; the while we all
Are lepered with suspicion.
ADRIEL
Of the king?
ISHUI
Ah! and of Jonathan and Michal.
ADRIEL
Hush.
[Enter Michal passing with Miriam.]
Michal, delay. Whom lead you?
MICHAL
Miriam,
A prophetess.
ADRIEL
How of the king to-night?
MICHAL
He’s not at rest; dreads Samuel’s prophecy
The throne shall pass from him, and darkens more
Against this boundless Philistine Goliath
Who dares at Israel daily on the hills,
As we were dogs!
ADRIEL
Is David with him?
MICHAL
No;
But he is sent for—and will ease him—Ah!
He’s wonderful to heal the king with his harp!
A waft, a sunny leap of melody,
And swift the hovering mad shadow’s gone—
As magic!
ISHUI
Michal.… Curst!
MICHAL
What anger’s this?
ISHUI
Disdaining Doeg and his plea to dust,
His waiting and the winning-o’er of Edom,
You are enamoured of this David too?
MICHAL
I think my brother Ishui hath a fever.
[She goes—calmly, with Miriam.]
ISHUI
Now are you kindled—are you quivering,
Or must this shepherd put upon us more?
ADRIEL
But has he not dealt honorably?
ISHUI
No.