Shiloh, before the door of the tabernacle. PROPERTIES A seven-branched candlestick (if feasible). Two couches. A jar of wine. Spears and shields. THE CALL OF SAMUEL (_Enter the_ PROLOGUE.) PROLOGUE: This is the story of the call of Samuel. The scene is Shiloh, before the door of the tabernacle. Lo, there entereth Eli, priest of Israel. (PROLOGUE _withdraws._) (ELI, _the old priest, enters, and stands praying._) ELI: O Lord God, turn thou my sons, I pray thee, from their evil ways. Lo, they come yonder, full of wine and drink, a disgrace to mine old age. (HOPHNI _and_ PHINEHAS _come swaggering in, arm in arm. One has a jug of wine; he drinks and hands it to the other._ ELI _raises a trembling hand toward them._) HOPHNI: Hi there, old man, art going to chide again? PHINEHAS (_mockingly_): Do not show anger, for anger doth not become a man of God. ELI: My sons, why will ye tempt the Lord your God? Turn from your evil ways and pray. (_Lays a hand on_ HOPHNI.) HOPHNI (_jerking away_): I pray not, I! Thou hast ever said the Lord was slow to anger. ELI: Yea, but the cup of your iniquity is full; and I--I suffer in your fall. [Illustration: THE PRIEST ELI REBUKES HIS DRUNKEN SONS] PHINEHAS (_laughs mockingly_): Ah, so? The iniquity of the children shall be visited upon the fathers? Eh? Well, who is responsible if not the father? Come, Hophni, come where it is merry. HOPHNI (_eagerly_): Yea! (_They go out singing and taking turns at jug._) ELI (_raising his arms despairingly to heaven_): O God! God! (_Passes out._) (_Enter_ HANNAH, _followed by her husband_, ELKANAH. _She is weeping._) ELKANAH (_imploringly_): Hannah, why weepest thou? And why is thy heart so grieved? If it be because thou hast no son, grieve not. Am I not better to thee than ten sons? HANNAH: Ai, my husband, the women mock me that I have no child. (_She kneels and prays silently._) (ELI _enters and observes her in wonder, for silent prayer was unusual._) ELI: Woman, what ails thee? HANNAH (_rising_): Ah, sir, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit; I pour out my soul before the Lord. ELI: Give me to know thy sorrow. HANNAH: I prayed unto the Lord that he would look upon the affliction of his handmaid, and give unto me a man-child. If he do so, then will I give the child unto the Lord all the days of his life. ELI: A man-child? Nay, ask more. Ask that he grow in the grace and love of God, else will the gift be one of sorrow. HANNAH: Ah, sir, that shall be _my_ task--to lead him in the love of God. ELI: Ai, 'tis there that _I_ have failed. (_He raises his hands and blesses her._) Go thou in peace, and the Lord grant thy petition. HANNAH (_bowing_): May thy servant find grace in thy sight. (_She and_ ELKANAH _go._)