(_The_ SECOND WOMAN _crosses hastily to the left as though to flee; the_ FIRST WOMAN _darts between her and the_ SOLDIER _and stands ready, with clinched fists, to defend the_ BABY. _The_ SECOND SOLDIER _throws her aside and takes the_ BABY _from the other woman._) HERALD (_laughing_): O clever judge! O mighty son of David! SECOND WOMAN (_bowing low_): I bow, lord king, to thy decree. Let the child be neither mine nor hers, but divide it. FIRST WOMAN (_with a little panting cry, throws herself before_ SOLOMON): O my lord, my lord, give _her_ the child, give her the _living_ child, and in nowise slay it. Let the child live, even though it be within her arms--lord--lord-- HERALD: O prince of wisdom! Through thee indeed the Lord hath spoken. Who would have thought to see such mighty judgment, yea in a beardless youth? Thy wit hath showed the truth and made this lying woman eat her lies. CHILDREN (_swarming about_ SECOND WOMAN _and bowing to her_): Hail, mother of the child! FIRST SOLDIER (_raises sword and crosses to_ SECOND SOLDIER, _who holds_ BABY): Is it thy will, O king, I slay this child, or give it to yon woman? (_Indicates_ SECOND WOMAN.) SOLOMON: It is my will (_he raises_ FIRST WOMAN _tenderly_) thou give unto _this_ woman the living child, and in nowise slay it; for she is the mother thereof, because she loveth much. For love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can floods drown it. FIRST WOMAN (_eagerly receives_ BABY _and cuddles it_): O king, he who ruleth over men righteously, who ruleth in the fear of God, he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springeth out of the earth through clear shining after rain. King Solomon, all hail! ALL (_raising palms_): King Solomon, all hail! (_All pass out singing the children's song._) THE GOOD SAMARITAN THE PEOPLE PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE. (The same.) FIRST THIEF. SECOND THIEF. THIRD THIEF. THE JEW. FIRST SERVANT. SECOND SERVANT. THE PRIEST. FIRST LEVITE. SECOND LEVITE. THE GOOD SAMARITAN. THE HOST. THE PLACE A lonely road with an inn in the distance. If the play is given indoors, any door may represent the inn. THE PROPERTIES Three sticks or cudgels for the thieves. A wine bottle, packet of food, and cloak for Jew. Huge empty boxes, covered with bright cloth and bound with heavy cord for the servants to carry. If the illusion of night-time can be carried out, have the Samaritan carry a lanthorn on a stick, and have the Host appear, wearing a nightcap and carrying a candle (electric candle). A cloth to bind the wounds of the Jew. THE GOOD SAMARITAN