DAVID To the--stay! Your words again. MERAB The kingdom. DAVID Awful God! MERAB What is your mien? you will not? DAVID Twice the words-- Full from her lips--and to betray her father. [ABIATHAR _discovers_ SAUL.] MERAB You will not? answer! DAVID Odious utterly! As yonder sea of death and bitter salt, As foam-girt Joppa of idolatry, As Memphian fane of all abhorrencies! Morning would move with horror of it, noon A livid sepulchre of shame span o’er, And night shrink to remember day had been! MERAB You scorn--you scorn me? DAVID Jonathan! your sister! MERAB Then Saul shall rend you dead. And Jonathan!… [_She laughs shrilly._] Perchance you have not heard that Jonathan Knows to the Philistines you fled--and loathes you! DAVID I have not heard. MERAB Nor have not, ah? how Michal Is given to the embraces of another? [DAVID _shrinks_.] You desperately breathe and pale at last? [_She laughs more bitterly._] To me for aid, to me, you yet shall come. [_She goes._ DAVID _slowly lifts his hand to his brow in heavy pain_. ABIATHAR--_and soon_ ABISHAI--_abruptly descends from the cave to him_.] ABIATHAR David---- DAVID Leave me. ABIATHAR Not till you know--and strike! DAVID I tell you go. ABIATHAR I tell you ’tis the king. DAVID Who breaks forbearance--yes. ABIATHAR Who lieth yonder, And sleeping lieth--for a thrust to end. DAVID [_His sword quickly out, struggling._] This throb and wounds that wring me! and this wail Under the deeps of me against his wrongs, Awakening remembrance that with burst And burn of pain.… O, never-ceasing ill! [_Flings the sword down, anguished._] ABIATHAR You will not come? DAVID The sun is set. ABIATHAR Has Saul Hunted you to this desert’s verge----? DAVID Enough! ABIATHAR Has he pursued you, all his hate unleashed? Is Samuel not slain? the priests? my father? The kingdom is not in decay, and falls? You are not prophecy’s anointed one? Seize up the sword and strike--or I myself! DAVID Or … you yourself…? [_Silently he puts them aside, takes up the sword, and slowly goes into_ SAUL’S _cave_.] ABISHAI What will he do? Listen! [MICHAL _enters unseen_.] ABIATHAR If Saul cries out.… ABISHAI