SAUL: Of peace and pleasantness and quiet ways. (_Reclines on couch._) DAVID (_sings as before_): The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. SAUL (_to attendant_): Go, bid the Princess Michal bring a crown To crown his brow. For he _is_ the sweet singer of Israel. (ATTENDANT _goes out._) Sing yet again. DAVID (_sings continuation of psalm_): Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For thou art with me: Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (_The_ ATTENDANT _enters from right and is followed by the_ PRINCESS MICHAL _and her slave girls bearing fans._) ATTENDANT (_announces_): The Princess Michal! SAUL: Come thou, Michal, here, And crown the sweetest singer in all Israel. MICHAL (_bowing_): My father, as thou biddest! (_She turns to_ DAVID.) Sir, I crown thee, The sweetest singer in all Israel. (_Crowns him._) (_Loud shouting to the left._ PRINCE JONATHAN _enters running._) JONATHAN: Where is my father? O my father, hear: The army of the Philistines is at hand. And thy people fear, O father. For lo, one of the Philistines, A champion among them, And a giant for strength, He sendeth a challenge to the people of Israel. SAUL: Admit the challenger. (_Enter from the left the_ CHALLENGER _of_ GOLIATH _of_ GATH. _He surveys the people sneeringly._) CHALLENGER: Give ear, O ye Israelites, Hear the words of Goliath of Gath: "Choose ye a man for your champion And let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me and kill me, Then will we be your servants; But if I prevail against him, Then shall ye be our servants and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel this day." (_The_ ISRAELITES _sway forward murmuring_: Ho! Indeed! Swaggerer!) SAUL: We will consider. Go! (_The_ CHALLENGER _goes._) JONATHAN: This challenge hath been cried before the army, And none is found who dare hope for the victory. SAUL: Perchance a champion for Israel is here. (_Beckons._) Ho, sons of Jesse, ye are come to fight; Ye are big men. Which one of you will fight 'gainst this Philistine? (_There is a pause: all look on ground._) Unto the champion who kills Goliath, The king will give great riches. And to that man the king will give his daughter. (_There is another pause._) ELIAB (_uncertainly_): I fear, lord king, For if I fail, then Israel is doomed to servitude. ABINADAB: I am not strong. SHAMMAH: I am not yet full-grown. DAVID (_steps forth_): Let no man's heart fail because of him. Thy servant will go and fight with the Philistine.