SAMUEL (_runs to_ ELI _lovingly, and kneels before him, embracing him_): O my dear master! (_A pause, then he rises and turns to the soldiers._) Bear him hence between you. (FIRST _and_ SECOND SOLDIERS _lead him out._) (_To_ THIRD SOLDIER.) Grieve not; ye have not slain him, but he is smitten of the Lord. For the Lord, he came unto me in a vision of the night, saying, I will smite the house of Eli forever, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves and he restrained them not. (FIRST _and_ SECOND SOLDIERS _return._) FIRST SOLDIER: Alas, alas, who now shall judge our people? THIRD SOLDIER (_seizes_ SAMUEL _and raises him aloft_): Behold the judge who shall rule Israel. (_The_ SOLDIERS _pass out, bearing_ SAMUEL _and shouting_, "_Huzza!_") (_The_ EPILOGUE _advances._) EPILOGUE: Hear ye the words of the preacher, how he said: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right. Bring up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (_The_ EPILOGUE _passes out._) [Illustration: DAVID] DAVID AND GOLIATH (THE STORY OF A NATIONAL HERO AND A NATIONAL GOD.) THE PEOPLE THE PROPHET SAMUEL. JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE. ELIAB, } ABINADAB, } SHAMMAH, } NATHANEEL, } JESSE'S SONS. RADDAI, } OZEM, } ELIHU, } DAVID, } DAUGHTER OF JESSE. SAUL, KING OF ISRAEL. TWO ATTENDANTS, ONE OF WHOM IS ARMOR-BEARER. FIRST MESSENGER. SECOND MESSENGER. THE PRINCESS MICHAL. HER WOMEN. PRINCE JONATHAN. CHALLENGER FOR GOLIATH. GOLIATH OF GATH. ISRAELITES AND PHILISTINES. THE PLACE ACT I. _A field near Jesse's home in Bethlehem._ ACT II. _A field near the pavilion of Saul._ (_The same blue curtain, or out of doors, will do for both scenes._) THE PROPERTIES A horn of oil for the Prophet Samuel. A sword and horn for Eliab. A platter of food for Daughter of Jesse. A harp, a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, a slingshot for David. Helmet, spear and shield for Armor-bearer. Pebbles for attendant to give David. Sword and shield for Challenger. Horn and spear for First Messenger. Horn and spear for Second Messenger. A crown of flowers for Michal. For the head of Goliath take a fierce-looking mask; attach it to helmet. Sew long swaggering locks of hair on either side, and a sweep of red cloth at back. So, when David removes mask from Goliath's face, in cutting off his head, the red cloth will give the whole a solid appearance. If possible, have a harp for the music. DAVID AND GOLIATH ACT I. _A field in Bethlehem, near the home of_ JESSE. (_Enter_ ELIAB, _polishing his sword. He practices fighting an imaginary enemy. Presently he turns and calls._) ELIAB: Ho, David, tend my sheep for me; I make me ready to fight the Philistines. And see thou that no lion enter in, Else 'twill go hard with thee.