A doom in this! SAUL He must Hold comfort, and the torrent of despair Within me stay and hush. MIRIAM Then must it be. [_Turning towards the teraphim amid wind and pallid lightning, and prostrating herself before it._] Prophet of Israel, who art beyond The troubling and the terrifying grave, Th’ immeasurable moan and melancholy Of ways that win to Sheol--Rise! Arise! [_She waits. Only the gust. Then springing up and stretching wide her arms with wild, blind eyes._] Prophet of Israel, arise! Not in The name of Baal, Amon, Ashtoreth, Dagon or all the deities that dream In trembling temples of Idolatry, But of Jehovah! of Jehovah! rise! [_An elemental cry is heard. Then vast wavering forms rise out of the earth, in continuous stream._ MIRIAM, _with a long curdling shriek, sinks moaning to her knees_.] SAUL Woman, I cannot--dare not--look upon it. Utter thy sight. [_The spirit of_ SAMUEL _begins to take shape through the phantoms_.] MIRIAM I saw ascending Forms as of gods in swaying ghostliness, Dim apparitions of a dismal might, And now is one within a mantle clad, Who looketh---- SAUL Samuel! MIRIAM Who looketh with Omniscience in his mien, and all the chill And cling about him of eternity. His eyes impale me! SAUL Spirit, give me word! [_He falls heavily to the ground._] SAMUEL [_As afar._] O evil king! and wretched king! why hast Thou brought me from the quietness and rest. SAUL The battle on the morrow----! SAMUEL Evil thou art For underneath this night thou hast conspired Death to thy daughter Michal--if at dawn The battle shall be lost--lest she may fall Into the hands of David---- DAVID [_In horror._] O! ISHUI Whose cry? SAMUEL I tell thee, Saul, thy sceptre shrivels fast. The battle shall be lost--it shall be lost. [_The spirit of_ SAMUEL _disappears_. _A wail of wind._] ADRIEL Ishui, true? Is Michal to be slain? ISHUI This is no hour for fools and questioning. SAUL [_Struggling up._] The battle, Ishui, at once command It shall begin! To Jonathan and say it. [ISHUI _goes_.] No prophecy shall sink me and no shade. I am the king, and Israel, my own. [_Frenzied he goes. A silence._] DAVID [_Breaking forth._] Michal to die and Israel to fall! Prophet of prophets, Samuel, return! [ADRIEL _goes_.]