[_Low._] No, but of Michal, tell me good at once, Lest unendurable this lot, I may-- and mount o’er every oath into revenge. ABIATHAR Ha--Michal! DAVID She withholds her father’s wrath? ABIATHAR She’s well. DAVID Not if you say no more. ABIATHAR I know Nothing of her. DAVID Your look belies. ABIATHAR Perhaps: As did her love. DAVID That is for me. ABIATHAR Well, what? A woman who betrays? DAVID Speak, not evade; And judge her when earth has no mystery. ABIATHAR Then from your craving put her--wide; she is Unworthy any tremor of your veins. DAVID Dawn-lilies under dew are then unworthy, And nesting doves are horrible to heaven. I will not so believe. Your reason…! ABIATHAR Saul Has given her--and she will wed him, aye-- To Phalti, a new lord. DAVID Untrue of her! ABIATHAR Cry. Yet you will believe it. DAVID Not until The verdant parable of spring is hushed Ever of bloom, to prove it. Never till Hermon is swung into the sea! until The last void of the everlasting sky---- [_Looking up he falters, breaks off, and is strangely moved at something beheld._] ABIATHAR What, what alarm? ABISHAI What stare you on? ABIATHAR He’s mad? [DAVID _points_. _They look up._] ABIATHAR An eaglet!… ABISHAI Eaglet? ABIATHAR Pierct! ABISHAI Pierct?… DAVID Falling here. And beating against death unbuoyantly. [_The bird, an arrow through it, drops in throes at their feet._] A destiny, a fate in this is hidden! [_He bends over it, then quickly back._] ABIATHAR A destiny, how, how? DAVID The arrow!--His! His, and no other’s. Quick, then, no delay. ABIATHAR Be clear, clearer. DAVID We are discovered--near On us is death. Open the secret chamber Within the cave, for from the bow of Saul Is yonder bleeding--from no other. ABIATHAR Saul’s? But how, was any here? DAVID To-day, to-day. A leper wandering. ABIATHAR We are betrayed. [ABISHAI _with the water-skin hastens into the cave, Right_. DAVID _and_ ABIATHAR _stand listening_. _Noise of approach is heard._] DAVID They near. ABIATHAR