FIRST WOMAN (_laughing_): Pray, aye, pray! The child will call _me_ "Mother." He will throw his little arms about my neck and hail me. For three pieces of ruddy gold have I bought him, and thy prayers shall never win him from me. SECOND WOMAN (_fiercely_): As there is a God in Israel, to whom men pray, I yet shall have my child. FIRST WOMAN: A God in Israel? (_Shrugs._) As there is god-head in gold, which men worship, lo, I shall keep thy child. (_She makes a sweeping bow and passes out._) SECOND WOMAN: O God, God, give me my child, my son. Thou knowest the child is mine, thou knowest, _thou_ knowest. Thou sawest when in the dark of the night-time she crept into my chamber and stole him from me. She cradleth him, and I am desolate. SHOUTS WITHOUT: King Solomon! King Solomon, all hail! Hail to King Solomon, the son of David! (_The_ SECOND WOMAN _looks about wildly, then crouches in a dim corner. The_ CHILDREN _enter dancing; they carry palms; they sing._) _Song_: "Hail to the Monarch" (Cantata of Esther) [Song: Hail to King Sol-o-mon, ev-er vic-to-ri-ous! Sing-ing, we praise him and fall at his feet. His judgment hath not ev-er erred; he reads the heart of man and bird. Hail, son of Dav-id, in wis-dom com-plete! ] (_Enter_ KING SOLOMON, _followed by two_ SOLDIERS _and_ PAGE.) SOLOMON (_raising his hand in blessing_): My children, I thank you for your love. Now get ye gone, for I would offer sacrifice alone. FIRST CHILD: But we have learned a psalm of David thy father, to do thee reverence; may we not say it? FIRST SOLDIER: Do ye not hear the king? (_Threatens them._) SOLOMON: Nay, let the little ones come hither. The psalms of David, my father, are dear unto me. Now, babes, speak up. SECOND CHILD (_to_ FIRST): Do thou begin. FIRST CHILD: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; SECOND CHILD: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in his law doth he meditate day and night. THIRD CHILD: And he shall be like a tree, planted by rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in due season; FOURTH CHILD: His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper. FIFTH CHILD: The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. ALL THE CHILDREN: Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish. SOLOMON: I thank you. (_He turns to_ SIXTH CHILD.) And why hast thou not spoken with the others? (_The_ SIXTH CHILD _reaches a tiptoe and whispers in his ear._) SOLOMON: Thou hast learned something more; then speak, little one.