DAVID AND BETHSABE

By George Peele

Performed c. 1596

First Published 1599

The love of King David and Fair Bethsabe.

With the Tragedie of Absalon.

As it hath ben diuers times plaied on the stage.

Written - by George Peele.

LONDON,

Printed by Adam Islip.

1599

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

David and his Family:

David, King of Israel and Judah.

     Cusay, a lord, and follower of David.

Amnon, son of David by Ahinoam

     Jethray, Servant to Amnon.

Chileab, son of David by Abigail.

Absalon, son of David by Maacah.

Thamar, daughter of David by Maacah.

Adonia, son of David by Haggith.

Salomon, son of David by Bethsabe.

Joab, captain of the host to David, and nephew of

     David and son of his sister Zeruia.

Abisai, nephew of David and son of his sister Zeruia.

Amasa, nephew of David and son of his sister Abigail;

     also captain of the host to Absalon.

Jonadab, nephew of David and son of his brother

     Shimeah; also friend to Amnon.

Other Characters:

Urias, a warrior in David's army.

     Bethsabe, wife of Uriah.

          Maid to Bethsabe.

Nathan, a prophet.

Sadoc, high-priest.

     Ahimaas, his son.

Abiathar, a priest.

     Jonathan, his son.

Achitophel, chief counsellor to Absalon.

Ithay, a Captain from Gath.

Semei.

Hanon, King of Ammon.

Machaas, King of Gath.

Woman of Thecoa.

Messenger, Soldiers, Shepherds, and Attendants.

Concubines to David.

Chorus.

PROLOGUS.

1

Of Israel's sweetest singer now I sing,

2

His holy style and happy victories;

Whose Muse was dipt in that inspiring dew

4

Arch-angels stillèd from the breath of Jove,

Decking her temples with the glorious flowers

6

Heavens rained on tops of Sion and Mount Sinai.

Upon the bosom of his ivory lute

8

The cherubins and angels laid their breasts;

And, when his consecrated fingers strook

10

The golden wires of his ravishing harp,

He gave alarum to the host of Heaven,

12

That, winged with lightning, brake the clouds, and cast

Their crystal armour at his conquering feet.

14

Of this sweet poet, Jove's musiciän,

And of his beauteous son, I prease to sing.

16

Then help, divine Adonai, to conduct

Upon the wings of my well-tempered verse

18

The hearers' minds above the towers of Heaven,

And guide them so in this thrice-haughty flight,

20

Their mounting feathers scorch not with the fire

That none can temper but thy holy hand:

22

To thee for succour flies my feeble Muse,

And at thy feet her iron pen doth use.

24

The Prologue-speaker, before going out, draws a

26

curtain and discovers Bethsabe, with her Maid,

bathing over a spring:

28

she sings, and David sits above viewing her.

SCENE I.

The Royal Palace, Jerusalem.

David sitting on the Palace roof,

watching Bethsabe below bathing over a spring.

THE SONG.

1

Hot sun, cool fire, tempered with sweet air,

2

Black shade, fair nurse, shadow my white hair:

Shine, sun; burn, fire; breathe, air, and ease me;

4

Black shade, fair nurse; shroud me, and please me:

Shadow, my sweet nurse, keep me from burning,

6

Make not my glad cause cause of mourning.

Let not my beauty's fire

8

Inflame unstaid desire,

Nor pierce any bright eye

10

That wandereth lightly.

12

Beth.  Come, gentle Zephyr, tricked with those perfumes

That erst in Eden sweetened Adam's love,

14

And stroke my bosom with thy silken fan:

This shade, sun-proof, is yet no proof for thee;

16

Thy body, smoother than this waveless spring,

And purer than the substance of the same,

18

Can creep through that his lances cannot pierce:

Thou, and thy sister, soft and sacred Air,

20

Goddess of life, and governess of health,

Keep every fountain fresh and arbour sweet;

22

No brazen gate her passage can repulse,

Nor bushly thicket bar thy subtle breath:

24

Then deck thee with thy loose delightsome robes,

And on thy wings bring delicate perfumes,

26

To play the wantons with us through the leaves.

28

David.  What tunes, what words, what looks, what wonders pierce

My soul, incensèd with a sudden fire?

30

What tree, what shade, what spring, what paradise,

Enjoys the beauty of so fair a dame?

32

Fair Eva, placed in perfect happiness,

Lending her praise-notes to the liberal heavens,

34

Strook with the accents of arch-angels' tunes,

Wrought not more pleasure to her husband's thoughts

36

Than this fair woman's words and notes to mine.

May that sweet plain that bears her pleasant weight

38

Be still enamelled with discoloured flowers;

That precious fount bear sand of purest gold;

40

And, for the pebble, let the silver streams

That pierce earth's bowels to maintain the source,

42

Play upon rubies, sapphires, chrysolites;

The brims let be embraced with golden curls

44

Of moss that sleeps with sound the waters make

For joy to feed the fount with their recourse;

46

Let all the grass that beautifies her bower

Bear manna every morn instead of dew,

48

Or let the dew be sweeter far than that

That hangs, like chains of pearl, on Hermon hill,

50

Or balm which trickled from old Aaron's beard. −

Cusay, come up, and serve thy lord the king.

52

Enter Cusay above.

54

Cusay.  What service doth my lord the king command?

56

David.  See, Cusay, see the flower of Israel,

58

The fairest daughter that obeys the king

In all the land the Lord subdued to me;

60

Fairer than Isaac's lover at the well,

Brighter than inside-bark of new-hewn cedar,

62

Sweeter than flames of fine-perfumèd myrrh,

And comelier than the silver clouds that dance

64

On Zephyr's wings before the King of Heaven.

66

Cusay.  Is it not Bethsabe the Hethite's wife,

Urias now at Rabbah siege with Joab?

68

David.  Go know, and bring her quickly to the king;

70

Tell her, her graces hath found grace with him.

72

Cusay.  I will, my lord.

74

[Exit.]

76

David.  Bright Bethsabe shall wash, in David's bower,

In water mixed with purest almond-flower,

78

And bathe her beauty in the milk of kids:

Bright Bethsabe gives earth to my desires;

80

Verdure to earth; and to that verdure flowers;

To flowers sweet odours; and to odours wings

82

That carry pleasures to the hearts of kings.

84

Enter Cusay, below, to Bethsabe,

she starting as something affright.

86

Cusay.  Fair Bethsabe, the King of Israel

88

From forth his princely tower hath seen thee bathe;

And thy sweet graces have found grace with him:

90

Come, then, and kneel unto him where he stands;

The king is gracious, and hath liberal hands.

92

Beth.  Ah, what is Bethsabe to please the king?

94

Or what is David, that he should desire,

For fickle beauty's sake, his servant's wife?

96

Cusay.  David, thou know'st, fair dame, is wise and just,

98

Elected to the heart of Israel's God;

Then do not thou expostulate with him

100

For any action that contents his soul.

102

Beth.  My lord the king, elect to God's own heart,

Should not his gracious jealousy incense

104

Whose thoughts are chaste: I hate incontinence.

106

Cusay.  Woman, thou wrong'st the king, and doubt'st his honour,

Whose truth maintains the crown of Israel,

108

Making him stay that bade me bring thee straight.

110

Beth.  The king's poor handmaid will obey my lord.

112

Cusay.  Then come, and do thy duty to his grace;

And do what seemeth favour in his sight.

114

[Exit, below, with Bethsabe.]

116

David.  Now comes my lover tripping like the roe,

118

And brings my longings tangled in her hair.

To joy her love I'll build a kingly bower,

120

Seated in hearing of a hundred streams,

That, for their homage to her sovereign joys,

122

Shall, as the serpents fold into their nests

In oblique turnings, wind the[ir] nimble waves

124

About the circles of her curious walks;

And with their murmur summon easeful sleep

126

To lay his golden sceptre on her brows. −

Open the doors, and entertain my love;

128

Open, I say, and, as you open, sing,

Welcome, fair Bethsabe, King David's darling.

130

Enter, above, Cusay, with Bethsabe.

132

Welcome, fair Bethsabe, King David's darling.

134

Thy bones' fair covering, erst discovered fair,

And all mine eyes with all thy beauties pierced:

136

As Heaven's bright eye burns most when most he climbs

The crookèd zodiac with his fiery sphere,

138

And shineth furthest from this earthly globe;

So, since thy beauty scorched my conquered soul,

140

I called thee nearer for my nearer cure.

142

Beth.  Too near, my lord, was your unarmèd heart

When furthest off my hapless beauty pierced;

144

And would this dreary day had turned to night,

Or that some pitchy cloud had cloaked the sun,

146

Before their lights had caused my lord to see

His name disparaged and my chastity!

148

David.  My love, if want of love have left thy soul

150

A sharper sense of honour than thy king,

(For love leads princes sometimes from their seats,)

152

As erst my heart was hurt, displeasing thee,

So come and taste thy ease with easing me.

154

Beth.  One medicine cannot heal our different harms;

156

But rather make both rankle at the bone:

Then let the king be cunning in his cure,

158

Lest flattering both, both perish in his hand.

160

David.  Leave it to me, my dearest Bethsabe,

Whose skill is cónversant in deeper cures. −

162

And, Cusay, haste thou to my servant Joab,

Commanding him to send Urias home

164

With all the speed can possibly be used.

166

Cusay.  Cusay will fly about the king's desire.

168

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II.

Before the Walls of the City of Rabbah,
the Capital City of Ammon.

Enter Joab, Abisai, Urias, and others,
with drum and ensign
.

1

Joab.  Courage, ye mighty men of Israel,

2

And charge your fatal instruments of war

Upon the bosoms of proud Ammon's son[s],

4

That have disguised your king's ambassadors,

Cut half their beards and half their garments off,

6

In spite of Israel and his daughters' sons!

Ye fight the holy battles of Jehovah,

8

King David's God, and ours, and Jacob's God,

That guides your weapons to their conquering strokes,

10

Orders your footsteps, and directs your thoughts

To stratagems that harbour victory:

12

He casts his sacred eyesight from on high,

And sees your foes run seeking for their deaths,

14

Laughing their labours and their hopes to scorn;

While 'twixt your bodies and their blunted swords

16

He puts on armour of his honour's proof,

And makes their weapons wound the senseless winds.

18

Abis.  Before this city Rabbah we will lie,

20

And shoot forth shafts as thick and dangerous

As was the hail that Moses mixed with fire,

22

And threw with fury round about the fields,

Devouring Pharaoh's friends and Egypt's fruits.

24

Urias.  First, mighty captains, Joab and Abisai,

26

Let us assault, and scale this kingly tower,

Where all their conduits and their fountains are;

28

Then we may easily take the city too.

30

Joab.  Well hath Urias counselled our attempts;

And as he spake us, so assault the tower:

32

Let Hanon now, the king of Ammon's son[s],

Repulse our conquering passage if he dare.

34

Enter Hanon, Machaas, and others, upon the walls.

36

Hanon.  What would the shepherd's-dogs of Israel

38

Snatch from the mighty issue of King Ammon,

The valiant Ammonites and haughty Syrians?

40

'Tis not your late successive victories

Can make us yield, or quail our courages;

42

But if ye dare assay to scale this tower,

Our angry swords shall smite ye to the ground,

44

And venge our losses on your hateful lives.

46

Joab.  Hanon, thy father Nahas gave relief

To holy David in his hapless exile,

48

Livèd his fixèd date, and died in peace:

But thou, instead of reaping his reward,

50

Hast trod it under foot, and scorned our king;

Therefore thy days shall end with violence,

52

And to our swords thy vital blood shall cleave.

54

Mach.  Hence, thou that bear'st poor Israel's shepherd's-hook,

The proud lieutenant of that base-born king,

56

And keep within the compass of his fold;

For, if ye seek to feed on Ammon's fruits,

58

And stray into the Syrians' fruitful meads,

The mastives of our land shall worry ye,

60

And pull the weesels from your greedy throats.

62

Abis.  Who can endure these pagans' blasphemies?

64

Urias.  My soul repines at this disparagement.

66

Joab.  Assault, ye valiant men of David's host,

And beat these railing dastards from their doors.

68

[Assault, and they win the tower;

70

and then Joab speaks above.]

72

Thus have we won the tower, which we will keep,

Maugre the sons of Ammon and of Syria.

74

Enter Cusay below.

76

Cusay.  Where is Lord Joab, leader of the host?

78

Joab.  Here is Lord Joab, leader of the host.

80

Cusay, come up, for we have won the hold.

82

Cusay.  In happy hour, then, is Cusay come.

84

Cusay goes up.

86

Joab.  What news, then, brings Lord Cusay from the king?

88

Cusay.  His majesty commands thee out of hand

To send him home Urias from the wars,

90

For matter of some service he should do.

92

Urias.  'Tis for no choler hath surprised the king,

I hope, Lord Cusay, 'gainst his servant's truth?

94

Cusay.  No; rather to prefer Urias' truth.

96

Joab.  Here, take him with thee, then, and go in peace;

98

And tell my lord the king that I have fought

Against the city Rabbah with success,

100

And scalèd where the royal palace is,

The conduit-heads and all their sweetest springs:

102

Then let him come in person to these walls,

With all the soldiers he can bring besides,

104

And take the city as his own exploit,

Lest I surprise it, and the people give

106

The glory of the conquest to my name.

108

Cusay.  We will, Lord Joab; and great Israel's God

Bless in thy hands the battles of our king!

110

Joab.  Farewell, Urias; haste away the king.

112

Urias.  As sure as Joab breathes a victor here,

114

Urias will haste him and his own return.

116

[Exeunt Cusay and Urias.]

118

Abis.  Let us descend, and ope the palace' gate,

Taking our soldiers in to keep the hold.

120

Joab.  Let us, Abisai: − and, ye sons of Judah,

122

Be valiant, and maintain your victory.

124

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III.

The House of Amnon in Jerusalem,

Enter Amnon, Jonadab, Jethray, and Amnon's Page.

1

Jonad.  What means my lord, the king's belovèd son,

2

That wears upon his right triumphant arm

The power of Israel for a royal favour,

4

That holds upon the tables of his hands

Banquets of honour and all thought's content,

6

To suffer pale and grisly abstinence

To sit and feed upon his fainting cheeks,

8

And suck away the blood that cheers his looks?

10

Amnon.  Ah, Jonadab, it is my sister's looks,

On whose sweet beauty I bestow my blood,

12

That makes me look so amorously lean;

Her beauty having seized upon my heart,

14

So merely consecrate to her content,

Sets now such guard about his vital blood,

16

And views the passage with such piercing eyes,

That none can scape to cheer my pining cheeks,

18

But all is thought too little for her love.

20

Jonad.  Then from her heart thy looks shall be relieved,

And thou shalt joy her as thy soul desires.

22

Amnon.  How can it be, my sweet friend Jonadab,

24

Since Thamar is a virgin and my sister?

26

Jonad.  Thus it shall be: lie down upon thy bed,

Feigning thee fever-sick and ill-at-ease;

28

And when the king shall come to visit thee,

Desire thy sister Thamar may be sent

30

To dress some dainties for thy malady:

Then when thou hast her solely with thyself,

32

Enforce some favour to thy manly love.

See where she comes: entreat her in with thee.

34

Enter Thamar.

36

Tham.  What aileth Amnon, with such sickly looks

38

To daunt the favour of his lovely face?

40

Amnon.  Sweet Thamar, sick, and wish some wholesome cates

Dressed with the cunning of thy dainty hands.

42

Tham.  That hath the king commanded at my hands;

44

Then come and rest thee, while I make thee ready

Some dainties easeful to thy crazèd soul.

46

Amnon.  I go, sweet sister, easèd with thy sight.

48

[Exeunt Thamar, Amnon, Jethray, and Page.]

50

Jonad.  Why should a prince, whose power may command,

52

Obey the rebel passions of his love,

When they contend but 'gainst his consciënce,

54

And may be governed or suppressed by will? −

Now, Amnon, loose those loving knots of blood,

56

That sucked the courage from thy kingly heart,

And give it passage to thy withered cheeks.

58

Now, Thamar, ripened are the holy fruits

That grew on plants of thy virginity;

60

And rotten is thy name in Israel:

Poor Thamar, little did thy lovely hands

62

Foretell an action of such violence

As to contend with Amnon's lusty arms

64

Sinewed with vigour of his kindless love:

Fair Thamar, now dishonour hunts thy foot,

66

And follows thee through every covert shade,

Discovering thy shame and nakedness,

68

Even from the valleys of Jehosaphat

Up to the lofty mounts of Lebanon;

70

Where cedars, stirred with anger of the winds,

Sounding in storms the tale of thy disgrace,

72

Tremble with fury, and with murmur shake

Earth with their feet and with their heads the heavens,

74

Beating the clouds into their swiftest rack,

To bear this wonder round about the world.

76

[Exit.]

SCENE IV.

Outside the Door to Amnon's House.

Re-enter Amnon thrusting out Thamar, and Jethray.

1

Amnon.  Hence from my bed, whose sight offends my soul

2

As doth the parbreak of disgorgèd bears!

4

Tham.  Unkind, unprincely, and unmanly Amnon,

To force, and then refuse thy sister's love,

6

Adding unto the fright of thy offence

The baneful torment of my published shame!

8

O, do not this dishonour to thy love,

Nor clog thy soul with such increasing sin!

10

This second evil far exceeds the first.

12

Amnon.  Jethray, come thrust this woman from my sight,

And bolt the door upon her if she strive.

14

[Exit.]

16

Jeth.  Go, madam, go; away, you must begone;

18

My lord hath done with you: I pray, depart.

20

[Shuts her out. − Exit.]

22

Tham.  Whither, alas, ah, whither shall I fly,

With folded arms and all-amazèd soul?

24

Cast as was Eva from that glorious soil,

(Where all delights sat bating, winged with thoughts,

26

Ready to nestle in her naked breasts,)

To bare and barren vales with floods made waste,

28

To desert woods, and hills with lightening scorched,

With death, with shame, with hell, with horror sit;

30

There will I wander from my father's face;

There Absalon, my brother Absalon,

32

Sweet Absalon shall hear his sister mourn;

There will I lure with my windy sighs

34

Night-ravens and owls to rend my bloody side,

Which with a rusty weapon I will wound,

36

And make them passage to my panting heart.

Why talk'st thou, wretch, and leav'st the deed undone?

38

Rend hair and garments, as thy heart is rent

With inward fury of a thousand griefs,

40

And scatter them by these unhallowed doors,

To figure Amnon's resting cruëlty,

42

And tragic spoil of Thamar's chastity.

44

Enter Absalon.

46

Abs.  What causeth Thamar to exclaim so much?

48

Tham.  The cause that Thamar shameth to disclose.

50

Abs.  Say; I thy brother will revenge that cause.

52

Tham.  Amnon, our father's son, hath forcèd me,

And thrusts me from him as the scorn of Israel.

54

Abs.  Hath Amnon forcèd thee? by David's hand,

56

And by the covenant God hath made with him,

Amnon shall bear his violence to hell;

58

Traitor to Heaven, traitor to David's throne,

Traitor to Absalon and Israel!

60

This fact hath Jacob's ruler seen from Heaven,

And through a cloud of smoke and tower of fire,

62

As he rides vaunting him upon the greens,

Shall tear his chariot-wheels with violent winds,

64

And throw his body in the bloody sea;

At him the thunder shall discharge his bolt;

66

And his fair spouse, with bright and fiery wings,

Sit ever burning on his hateful bones:

68

Myself, as swift as thunder or his spouse,

Will hunt occasion with a secret hate,

70

To work false Amnon an ungracious end. −

Go in, my sister; rest thee in my house;

72

And God in time shall take this shame from thee.

74

Tham.  Nor God nor time will do that good for me.

76

[Exit.]

SCENE V.

Jerusalem.

Enter David with his train.

1

David.  My Absalon, what mak'st thou here alone,

2

And bears such discontentment in thy brows?

4

Abs.  Great cause hath Absalon to be displeased,

And in his heart to shroud the wounds of wrath.

6

David.  'Gainst whom should Absalon be thus displeased?

8

Abs.  'Gainst wicked Amnon, thy ungracious son,

10

My brother and fair Thamar's by the king,

My step-brother by mother and by kind:

12

He hath dishonoured David's holiness,

And fixed a blot of lightness on his throne,

14

Forcing my sister Thamar when he feigned

A sickness, sprung from root of heinous lust.

16

David.  Hath Amnon brought this evil on my house,

18

And suffered sin to smite his father's bones?

Smite, David, deadlier than the voice of Heaven,

20

And let hate's fire be kindled in thy heart:

Frame in the arches of thy angry brows,

22

Making thy forehead, like a comet, shine,

To force false Amnon tremble at thy looks.

24

Sin, with his sevenfold crown and purple robe,

Begins his triumphs in my guilty throne;

26

There sits he watching with his hundred eyes

Our idle minutes and our wanton thoughts;

28

And with his baits, made of our frail desires,

Gives us the hook that hales our souls to hell:

30

But with the spirit of my kingdom's God

I'll thrust the flattering tyran from his throne,

32

And scourge his bondslaves from my hallowed court

With rods of iron and thorns of sharpened steel.

34

Then, Absalon, revenge not thou this sin;

Leave it to me, and I will chasten him.

36

Abs.  I am content: then grant, my lord the king,

38

Himself with all his other lords would come

Up to my sheep-feast on the plain of Hazor.

40

David.  Nay, my fair son, myself with all my lords

42

Will bring thee too much charge; yet some shall go.

44

Abs.  But let my lord the king himself take pains;

The time of year is pleasant for your grace,

46

And gladsome summer in her shady robes,

Crownèd with roses and with planted flowers,

48

With all her nymphs, shall entertain my lord,

That, from the thicket of my verdant groves,

50

Will sprinkle honey-dews about his breast,

And cast sweet balm upon his kingly head:

52

Then grant thy servant's boon, and go, my lord.

54

David.  Let it content my sweet son Absalon,

That I may stay, and take my other lords.

56

Abs.  But shall thy best-belovèd Amnon go?

58

David.  What needeth it, that Amnon go with thee?

60

Abs.  Yet do thy son and servant so much grace.

62

David.  Amnon shall go, and all my other lords,

64

Because I will give grace to Absalon.

66

Enter Cusay and Urias, with others.

68

Cusay.  Pleaseth my lord the king, his servant Joab

Hath sent Urias from the Syrian wars.

70

David.  Welcome, Urias, from the Syrian wars,

72

Welcome to David as his dearest lord.

74

Urias.  Thanks be to Israel's God and David's grace,

Urias finds such greeting with the king.

76

David.  No other greeting shall Urias find

78

As long as David sways th' elected seat

And consecrated throne of Israel.

80

Tell me, Urias, of my servant Joab;

Fights he with truth the battles of our God,

82

And for the honour of the Lord's anointed?

84

Urias.  Thy servant Joab fights the chosen wars

With truth, with honour, and with high success,

86

And, 'gainst the wicked king of Ammon's sons,

Hath, by the finger of our sovereign's God,

88

Besieged the city Rabbah, and achieved

The court of waters, where the conduits run,

90

And all the Ammonites' delightsome springs:

Therefore he wisheth David's mightiness

92

Should number out the host of Israel,

And come in person to the city Rabbah,

94

That so her conquest may be made the king's,

And Joab fight as his inferior.

96

David.  This hath not God and Joab's prowess done

98

Without Urias' valours, I am sure,

Who, since his true conversion from a Hethite

100

To an adopted son of Israel,

Hath fought like one whose arms were lift by Heaven,

102

And whose bright sword was edged with Israel's wrath.

Go, therefore, home, Urias, take thy rest;

104

Visit thy wife and household with the joys

A victor and a favourite of the king's

106

Should exercise with honour after arms.

108

Urias.  Thy servant's bones are yet not half so crazed,

Nor constitute on such a sickly mould,

110

That for so little service he should faint,

And seek, as cowards, refuge of his home:

112

Nor are his thoughts so sensually stirred,

To stay the arms with which the Lord would smite

114

And fill their circle with his conquered foes,

For wanton bosom of a flattering wife.

116

David.  Urias hath a beauteous sober wife,

118

Yet young, and framed of tempting flesh and blood;

Then, when the king hath summoned thee from arms,

120

If thou unkindly shouldst refrain her bed,

Sin might be laid upon Urias' soul,

122

If Bethsabe by frailty hurt her fame:

Then go, Urias, solace in her love;

124

Whom God hath knit to thee, tremble to loose.

126

Urias.  The king is much too tender of my ease:

The ark and Israel and Judah dwell

128

In palaces and rich pavilions;

But Joab and his brother in the fields,

130

Suffering the wrath of winter and the sun:

And shall Urias (of more shame than they)

132

Banquet, and loiter in the work of Heaven?

As sure as thy soul doth live, my lord,

134

Mine ears shall never lean to such delight,

When holy labour calls me forth to fight.

136

David.  Then be it with Urias' manly heart

138

As best his fame may shine in Israel.

140

Urias.  Thus shall Urias' heart be best content,

Till thou dismiss me back to Joab's bands:

142

This ground before the king my master's doors

Shall be my couch, and this unwearied arm

144

The proper pillow of a soldier's head;

146

[Lies down.]

148

For never will I lodge within my house,

Till Joab triumph in my secret vows.

150

David.  Then fetch some flagons of our purest wine,

152

That we may welcome home our hardy friend

With full carouses to his fortunes past

154

And to the honours of his future arms;

Then will I send him back to Rabbah siege,

156

And follow with the strength of Israel.

158

Enter one with flagons of wine.

160

Arise, Urias; come and pledge the king.

162

Urias.  If David think me worthy such a grace,

I will be bold and pledge my lord the king.

164

[Rises.]

166

David.  Absalon and Cusay both shall drink

168

To good Urias and his happiness.

170

Abs.  We will, my lord, to please Urias' soul.

172

David.  I will begin, Urias, to thyself,

And all the treasure of the Ammonites,

174

Which here I promise to impart to thee,

And bind that promise with a full carouse.

176

[Drinks.]

178

Urias.  What seemeth pleasant in my sovereign's eyes,

180

That shall Urias do till he be dead.

182

David.  Fill him the cup. −

184

[Urias drinks.] 

186

                                            Follow, ye lords that love

Your sovereign's health, and do as he hath done.

188

Abs.  Ill may he thrive, or live in Israel,

190

That loves not David, or denies his charge. −

Urias, here is to Abisai's health,

192

Lord Joab's brother and thy loving friend.

194

[Drinks.]

196

Urias.  I pledge Lord Absalon and Abisai's health.

198

[Drinks.]

200

Cusay.  Here now, Urias, to the health of Joab,

And to the pleasant journey we shall have

202

When we return to mighty Rabbah siege.

204

[Drinks.]

206

Urias.  Cusay, I pledge thee all with all my heart. −

Give me some drink, ye servants of the king;

208

Give me my drink.

210

[Drinks.]

212

David.  Well done, my good Urias! drink thy fill,

That in thy fulness David may rejoice.

214

Urias.  I will, my lord.

216

Abs.  Now, Lord Urias, one carouse to me.

218

Urias.  No, sir, I’ll drink to the king;

220

Your father is a better man than you.

222

David.  Do so, Urias; I will pledge thee straight.

224

Urias.  I will indeed, my lord and sovereign;

I[’ll] once in my days be so bold.

226

David.  Fill him his glass.

228

Urias.  Fill me my glass.

230

He gives him the glass.

232

David.  Quickly, I say.

234

Urias.  Quickly, I say. − Here, my lord, by your favour

236

now I drink to you.

238

[Drinks.]

240

David.  I pledge thee, good Urias, presently.

242

[Drinks.]

244

Abs.  Here, then, Urias, once again for me,

And to the health of David's children.

246

[Drinks.]

248

Urias.  David's children!

250

Abs.  Ay, David's children: wilt thou pledge me, man?

252

Urias.  Pledge me, man!

254

Abs.  Pledge me, I say, or else thou lov'st us not.

256

Urias.  What, do you talk? do you talk? I'll no more; I'll lie down here.

258

David.  Rather, Urias, go thou home and sleep.

260

Urias.  O, ho, sir! would you make me break my sentence?

262

[Lies down.]

264

Home, sir! no, indeed, sir: I’ll sleep upon mine

266

arm, like a soldier; sleep like a man as long as I live in

Israel.

268

David.  [Aside]

270

If naught will serve to save his wife's renown,

I'll send him with a letter unto Joab

272

To put him in the forefront of the wars,

That so my purposes may take effect. −

274

Help him in, sirs.

276

[Exeunt David and Absalon.]

278

Cusay.  Come, rise, Urias; get thee in and sleep.

280

Urias.  I will not go home, sir; that's flat.

282

Cusay.  Then come and rest thee upon David's bed.

284

Urias.  On, afore, my lords, on, afore.

[Exeunt.]

CHORUS I.

Enter Chorus.

1

Chor.  O proud revolt of a presumptuous man,

2

Laying his bridle in the neck of sin,

Ready to bear him past his grave to hell!

4

Like as the fatal raven, that in his voice

Carries the dreadful summons of our deaths,

6

Flies by the fair Arabian spiceries,

Her pleasant gardens and delightsome parks,

8

Seeming to curse them with his hoarse exclaims,

And yet doth stoop with hungry violence

10

Upon a piece of hateful carrion;

So wretched man, displeased with those delights

12

Would yield a quickening savour to his soul,

Pursues with eager and unstanchèd thirst

14

The greedy longings of his loathsome flesh.

If holy David so shook hands with sin,

16

What shall our baser spirits glory in?

This kingly giving lust her rein

18

Pursues the sequel with a greater ill.

Urias in the forefront of the wars

20

Is murthered by the hateful heathens' sword,

And David joys his too dear Bethsabe.

22

Suppose this past, and that the child is born,

Whose death the prophet solemnly doth mourn.

24

[Exit.]

SCENE VI.

The Royal Palace at Jerusalem.

Enter Bethsabe with her Handmaid.

1

Beth.  Mourn, Bethsabe, bewail thy foolishness,

2

Thy sin, thy shame, the sorrow of thy soul:

Sin, shame, and sorrow swarm about thy soul;

4

And, in the gates and entrance of my heart,

Sadness, with wreathèd arms, hangs her complaint.

6

No comfort from the ten-stringed instrument,

The twinkling cymbal, or the ivory lute;

8

Nor doth the sound of David's kingly harp

Make glad the broken heart of Bethsabe:

10

Jerusalem is filled with thy complaint,

And in the streets of Sion sits thy grief.

12

The babe is sick, sick to the death, I fear,

The fruit that sprung from thee to David's house;

14

Nor may the pot of honey and of oil

Glad David or his handmaid's countenance.

16

Urias − wo is me to think hereon!

For who is it among the sons of men

18

That saith not to my soul, "The king hath sinned;

David hath done amiss, and Bethsabe

20

Laid snares of death unto Urias' life"?

My sweet Urias, fall’n into the pit

22

Art thou, and gone even to the gates of hell

For Bethsabe, that wouldst not shroud her shame.

24

O, what is it to serve the lust of kings!

How lion-like th[e]y rage when we resist!

26

But, Bethsabe, in humbleness attend

The grace that God will to his handmaid send.

28

[Exeunt.]

SCENE VII.

The Palace.

Enter David in his gown, walking sadly;

Servants attending.

1

David.  [Aside]

2

The babe is sick, and sad is David's heart,

To see the guiltless bear the guilty's pain.

4

David, hang up thy harp; hang down thy head;

And dash thy ivory lute against the stones.

6

The dew, that on the hill of Hermon falls,

Rains not on Sion's tops and lofty towers;

8

The plains of Gath and Askaron rejoice,

And David's thoughts are spent in pensiveness:

10

The babe is sick, sweet babe, that Bethsabe

With woman's pain brought forth to Israel.

12

Enter Nathan.

14

But what saith Nathan to his lord the king?

16

Nath.  Thus Nathan saith unto his lord the king:

18

There were two men both dwellers in one town;

The one was mighty, and exceeding rich

20

In oxen, sheep, and cattle of the field;

The other poor, having nor ox, nor calf,

22

Nor other cattle, save one little lamb

Which he had bought and nourished by the hand;

24

And it grew up, and fed with him and his,

And eat and drank as he and his were wont,

26

And in his bosom slept, and was to live

As was his daughter or his dearest child.

28

There came a stranger to this wealthy man;

And he refused and spared to take his own,

30

Or of his store to dress or make him meat,

But took the poor man's sheep, partly, poor man's store,

32

And dressed it for this stranger in his house.

What, tell me, shall be done to him for this?

34

David.  Now, as the Lord doth live, this wicked man

36

Is judged and shall become the child of death;

Fourfold to the poor man shall he restore,

38

That without mercy took his lamb away.

40

Nath.  Thou art the man; and thou hast judged thyself.

David, thus saith the Lord thy God by me:

42

"I thee anointed king in Israel,

And saved thee from the tyranny of Saul;

44

Thy master's house I gave thee to possess;

His wives into thy bosom did I give,

46

And Judah and Jerusalem withal;

And might, thou know'st, if this had been too small,

48

Have given thee more:

Wherefore, then, hast thou gone so far astray,

50

And hast done evil, and sinned in my sight?

Urias thou hast killèd with the sword;

52

Yea, with the sword of the uncircumcised

Thou hast him slain: wherefore, from this day forth,

54

The sword shall never go from thee and thine;

For thou hast ta'en this Hethite's wife to thee:

56

Wherefore, behold, I will," saith Jacob's God,

"In thine own house stir evil up to thee;

58

Yea, I before thy face will take thy wives,

And give them to thy neighbour to possess:

60

This shall be done to David in the day,

That Israel openly may see thy shame."

62

David.  Nathan, I have against the Lord, I have

64

Sinnèd; O, sinnèd grievously! and, lo,

From Heaven's throne doth David throw himself,

66

And groan and grovel to the gates of hell!

68

[Falls down.]

70

Nath.  [Raising him]

David, stand up: thus saith the Lord by me:

72

David the king shall live, for He hath seen

The true repentant sorrow of thy heart;

74

But, for thou hast in this misdeed of thine

Stirred up the enemies of Israel

76

To triumph, and blaspheme the God of Hosts,

And say, he set a wicked man to reign

78

Over his lovèd people and his tribes, −

The child shall surely die, that erst was born,

80

His mother's sin, his kingly father's scorn.

82

[Exit.]

84

David.  How just is Jacob's God in all his works!

But must it die that David loveth so?

86

O, that the Mighty One of Israel

Nill change his doom, and says the babe must die!

88

Mourn, Israel, and weep in Sion-gates;

Wither, ye cedar-trees of Lebanon;

90

Ye sprouting almonds, with your flowering tops,

Droop, drown, and drench in Hebron's fearful streams:

92

The babe must die that was to David born,

His mother's sin, his kingly father's scorn.

94

[Sits sadly.]

96

Enter Cusay.

98

1st Serv.  What tidings bringeth Cusay to the king?

100

Cusay.  To thee, the servant of King David's court,

102

This bringeth Cusay, as the prophet spake;

The Lord hath surely stricken to the death

104

The child new-born by that Urias' wife,

That by the sons of Ammon erst was slain.

106

1st Serv.  Cusay, be still; the king is vexèd sore:

108

How shall he speed that brings this tidings first,

When, while the child was yet alive, we spake,

110

And David's heart would not be comforted?

112

David.  Yea, David's heart will not be comforted!