David! DAVID Strung me tense, I waited, shepherd-timid, and you came, You for the king to try my skill! you, you! MICHAL Leave me, ah leave! I yield! DAVID And often since Have we not swayed and swept thro’ happy hours, Far from the birth unto the bourne of bliss? MICHAL And I-- DAVID To-night you did not to the king Reveal my helpless chrism, give me to peril. Say but the reason! MICHAL David! DAVID Speak, O speak! MICHAL And shall I, shall I? how this prophetess Miriam hath foretold-- DAVID Some wonder? speak! MICHAL [_Springing up the throne._] Hath told I shall be queen of Israel! DAVID Michal, the queen? the queen! We two are then Yoked of eternity unto this end! MICHAL [_Shrinking down._] No, no! horror in me moans out against it! Wed me with destiny against my father? Dethrone my mother? Ah! DAVID Not that--no wrong! MICHAL Then swear conspiracy upon its tide Never shall lift you! DAVID Deeper than soul or sea, Deep as divinity is deep, I swear. If it shall come, the kingdom-- MICHAL “If!” not “if.” Surrender this anointing! Spurn it, say You never will be king though Israel Kingless go mad for it! DAVID I cannot. MICHAL Guile! DAVID I cannot--and I must not. It is holy! MICHAL Then must I hate you--scorn you-- DAVID Michal! MICHAL And will. But to reign over Israel you care, Not for the peace of it! DAVID Thus all is vain; A seething on the lips, I’ll say no more … Care but to reign and not for Israel’s calm? I who am wounded with her every wound?… Look out upon yon Philistine bold fires Lapping the night with bloody tongue--look out! [_A commotion is heard within._] As God has swung the world and hung forever The infinite in awe, to-morrow night Not one of them shall burn! MICHAL You pall me! DAVID None! MICHAL What is this strength! It seizes on me! No, I’ll not believe, no, no, more than I would From a boy’s breath or the mere sling you wear A multitude should flee! And you shall learn A daughter to a father may be true Tho paleness be her doom until she die! [_She turns to go. Enter_ JONATHAN _eagerly_.] JONATHAN David! DAVID My friend--my Jonathan! ’Tis you? [_They embrace._ MICHAL _goes_.] JONATHAN