(_Laughter and derision from his brothers. Smiles from others._) SAUL: Thou art but a youth, and he a man of war. DAVID: Thy servant kept his father's flocks, and when there came a lion or a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went down after it and killed it. ELIAB: O foolish one! ABINADAB: Back to thy sheep! SHAMMAH: Thou braggart! DAVID: The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion, And out of the paw of the bear; He will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine. SAUL: Go, and the Lord be with thee. And take my armor and my sword and shield. (_The_ ARMOR-BEARER _advances and offers weapons._) DAVID: I have not proved them. But give me rather five smooth stones from the brook; Thus will I fight. SAUL: Go, bid the champion of the Philistines come. (_The_ FIRST MESSENGER _goes out left._ MICHAL _goes to_ DAVID.) MICHAL: O shepherd, O sweet psalmist of Israel, O do not let the giant get too near! Be careful, David. Jonathan, go with him. And come back safe to Michal. God go with thee. (_She goes out._) (DAVID _stands as though in prayer, while everyone sings very softly the following lines_:) 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. (_Or, merely the music may be played._) (_The_ ATTENDANT _brings stones to_ DAVID.) (_Enter the_ CHALLENGER _for_ GOLIATH _followed by Philistines._) CHALLENGER: Tremble, O people of Israel, For Goliath cometh. And the champion of Israel will fall down before him As barley before the sickle. Tremble, O Israelites! Have ye a champion? Have ye a man to stand before him? (DAVID _stands forth._) CHALLENGER: Ha, ha, ha! Is Goliath a babe, that thou sendest forth an infant against him? DAVID: He cometh against me with a sword and spear; But I come against him in the name of the God of the armies of Israel, Whom he hath defied. Come forth, Goliath, for thou diest this day. ELIAB (_to_ DAVID): O lad, I fear for thee; I'll take thy place. DAVID: Be not afraid. Though I be little, I've the strength of ten. ISRAELITES: Huzzah! Huzzah! Though he be little, he's the strength of ten. DAVID (_cries_): Come forth, Goliath! [Illustration: THE CHALLENGER FOR GOLIATH] (GOLIATH, _a heavy man, enters like a lion loosed from his cage. He brandishes his sword, and attacks_ DAVID. DAVID _dodges and flees_; GOLIATH _follows him, hacking the air with his sword. Again_ DAVID _dodges and runs to a sufficient distance to use his sling._ GOLIATH _crashes to earth._ DAVID _runs and stands over him, seizes_ GOLIATH'S _sword and cuts off his head._) (_The_ CHALLENGER _and other_ PHILISTINES _flee, crying, "Woe! Woe!"_) ISRAELITES: Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!