_Jonathan._ Woman, thy tongue should know an angel-word, Or seraph syllables new-sung to God! Earth has not any rapture well for this! David, my brother!
_David._ Jonathan, my friend! While life has any love, know mine for you.
_Jonathan._ Then am I friended as no man was ever! And though my soul were morning wide it were Helpless to hold my wonder and delight! O people, look upon him!
_Jonathan._ Never before in Israel rose beauty Up to this glory!
Therefore I pour him splendour passionate. In gold and purple, this my own, I clothe him. David, my brother!
_Saul._ Thou full-of-lauding fool! Of breath and ravishment unceasing!
_Saul._ Is it not praise enough, has he not reached The skies on it?
_Saul._ Had Saul Ever so rich a rapture from his son? Ever this worshipping of utterance?
_David._ My lord, my lord, this should not fret you.
_David._ 'Tis only that the soul of Jonathan, Brimmed by the Philistines with bitterness, Sudden is joy and overfloweth----
_David._ Upon his friend, thy servant, David.
_A Woman_ (_without_). King Saul has slain his thousands!
_Doeg._ Do you hear? King Saul has slain his thousands, David ten! Thy servant, is he? servant?
_David._ Yea, O king!... Therefore be wielded by no venom-word, As a weed under the wind!
_Saul._ 'Tis overmuch! I'll burst all bond of priest or prophesy. Nor cringe to threatening and fondle fear.
_David._ No! For rapid palsy would come on thy hand, Awful and sceptre-ruined lord of men, An impotence, a shrivelling with fear, Avenging ere thou shed offenceless blood!
Is this thy love, the love of Saul the king, Who once was kindlier than kindest are? For but a woman's wantonness of word And idle air, my life?
_David._ Some enemy--does Doeg curve his lip?-- Hath put into her mouth this stratagem Of fevered, false-impassioned overpraise.
(SAUL, _tortured, sweeps from the tent, entreated of_ JONATHAN. _Many follow in doubt, whispering._)
_Doeg_ (_at door, to David_). This is not all, boy out of Bethlehem. Goliath's dead----
(_Only_ MICHAL _and_ MERAB _are left with_ DAVID; _he waits._)
_Merab_ (_after a pause, then as if in shame_). I burn for it!
_Merab._ My father so ungenerously wroth! And wrought away from recompense so right. Can you forgive him?