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!
	What murmur ye, the servants of the king?
114	What tidings telleth Cusay to the king?
	Say, Cusay, lives the child, or is he dead?
116
	Cusay. The child is dead, that of Urias' wife
118	David begat.
120	David. Urias' wife, saist thou?
	The child is dead, then ceaseth David's shame:
122	Fetch me to eat, and give me wine to drink;
	Water to wash, and oil to clear my looks;
124	Bring down your shalms, your cymbals, and your pipes;
	Let David's harp and lute, his hand and voice,
126	Give laud to him that loveth Israel,
	And sing his praise that shendeth David's fame,
128	That put away his sin from out his sight,
	And sent his shame into the streets of Gath.
130	Bring ye to me the mother of the babe,
	That I may wipe the tears from off her face,
132	And give her comfort with this hand of mine,
	And deck fair Bethsabe with ornaments,
134	That she may bear to me another son,
	That may be lovèd of the Lord of Hosts;
136	For where he is, of force must David go,
	But never may he come where David is.
138
	They bring in water, wine, and oil.
140	Music and a banquet;
	and enter Bethsabe.
142
	Fair Bethsabe, sit thou, and sigh no more: −
144	And sing and play, you servants of the king:
	Now sleepeth David's sorrow with the dead,
146	And Bethsabe liveth to Israel.
148	[They use all solemnities together and sing, etc.]
150	Now arms and warlike engines for assault
	Prepare at once, ye men of Israel,
152	Ye men of Judah and Jerusalem,
	That Rabbah may be taken by the king,
154	Lest it be callèd after Joab's name,
	Nor David's glory shine in Sion streets.
156	To Rabbah marcheth David with his men,
	To chastise Ammon and the wicked ones.
	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE VIII.
	A Field.
	Enter Absalon with several others.
1	Abs. Set up your mules, and give them well to eat,
2	And let us meet our brothers at the feast.
	Accursèd is the master of this feast,
4	Dishonour of the house of Israel,
	His sister's slander, and his mother's shame:
6	Shame be his share that could such ill contrive,
	To ravish Thamar, and, without a pause,
8	To drive her shamefully from out his house:
	But may his wickedness find just reward!
10	Therefore doth Absalon conspire with you,
	That Amnon die what time he sits to eat;
12	For in the holy temple have I sworn
	Wreak of his villany in Thamar's rape.
14	And here he comes: bespeak him gently, all,
	Whose death is deeply gravèd in my heart.
16
	Enter Amnon, Adonia, and Jonadab.
18
	Amnon. Our shearers are not far from hence, I wot;
20	And Amnon to you all his brethren
	Giveth such welcome as our fathers erst
22	Were wont in Judah and Jerusalem; −
	But, specially, Lord Absalon, to thee,
24	The honour of thy house and progeny:
	Sit down and dine with me, King David's son,
26	Thou fair young man, whose hairs shine in mine eye
	Like golden wires of David's ivory lute.
28
	Abs. Amnon, where be thy shearers and thy men,
30	That we may pour in plenty of thy vines,
	And eat thy goats'-milk, and rejoice with thee?
32
	Amnon. Here cometh Amnon's shearers and his men: −
34	Absalon, sit and rejoice with me.
36	Enter a company of Shepherds, who dance and sing.
38	Drink, Absalon, in praise of Israel;
	Welcome to Amnon's fields from David's court.
40
	Abs. [Stabbing Amnon]
42	Die with thy draught; perish, and die accursed;
	Dishonour to the honour of us all;
44	Die for the villany to Thamar done,
	Unworthy thou to be King David's son!
46
	[Exit with others.]
48
	Jonad. O, what hath Absalon for Thamar done,
50	Murthered his brother, great King David's son!
52	Adon. Run, Jonadab, away, and make it known,
	What cruèlty this Absalon hath shown. −
54	Amnon, thy brother Ádonia shall
	Bury thy body 'mong the dead men's bones;
56	And we will make complaint to Israel
	Of Amnon's death and pride of Absalon.
58
	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE IX.
	Rabbah, Outside the City's Walls.
	Enter David, Joab, Abisai, Cusay, and others,
	with drum and ensign against Rabbah.
1	David. This is the town of the uncircumcised,
2	The city of the kingdom, this is it,
	Rabbah, where wicked Hanon sitteth king.
4	Despoil this king, this Hanon of his crown;
	Unpeople Rabbah and the streets thereof;
6	For in their blood, and slaughter of the slain,
	Lieth the honour of King David's line.
8	Joab, Abisai, and the rest of you,
	Fight ye this day for great Jerusalem.
10
	Enter Hanon and others on the walls.
12
	Joab. And see where Hanon shows him on the walls;
14	Why, then, do we forbear to give assault,
	That Israel may, as it is promisèd,
16	Subdue the daughters of the Gentiles' tribes?
	All this must be performed by David's hand.
18
	David. Hark to me, Hanon, and remember well:
20	As sure as He doth live that kept my host,
	What time our young men, by the pool of Gibeon,
22	Went forth against the strength of Isboseth,
	And twelve to twelve did with their weapons play;
24	So sure art thou and thy men of war
	To feel the sword of Israel this day,
26	Because thou hast defièd Jacob's God,
	And suffered Rabbah with the Philistine
28	To rail upon the tribe of Benjamin.
30	Hanon. Hark, man: as sure as Saul thy master fell,
	And gored his sides upon the mountain-tops,
32	And Jonathan, Abinadab, and Melchisua,
	Watered the dales and deeps of Askaron
34	With bloody streams, that from Gilboa ran
	In channels through the wilderness of Ziph,
36	What time the sword of the uncircumcised
	Was drunken with the blood of Israel;
38	So sure shall David perish with his men
	Under the walls of Rabbah, Hanon's town.
40
	Joab. Hanon, the God of Israel hath said,
42	David the king shall wear that crown of thine
	That weighs a talent of the finest gold,
44	And triumph in the spoil of Hanon's town,
	When Israel shall hale thy people hence,
46	And turn them to the tile-kiln, man and child,
	And put them under harrows made of iron,
48	And hew their bones with axes, and their limbs
	With iron swords divide and tear in twain.
50	Hanon, this shall be done to thee and thine,
	Because thou hast defièd Israel. −
52	To arms, to arms, that Rabbah feel revenge,
	And Hanon's town become King David's spoil!
54
	Alarum, excursions, assault;
56	exeunt.
	Then the trumpets sound,
58	and re-enter David with Hanon's crown, Joab, etc.
60	David. Now clattering arms and wrathful storms of war
	Have thundered over Rabbah's razèd towers;
62	The wreakful ire of great Jehovah's arm,
	That for his people made the gates to rend,
64	And clothed the cherubins in fiery coats
	To fight against the wicked Hanon's town.
66	Pay thanks, ye men of Judah, to the King,
	The God of Sion and Jerusalem,
68	That hath exalted Israel to this,
	And crownèd David with this diadem.
70
	Joab. Beauteous and bright is he among the tribes;
72	As when the sun, attired in glistering robe,
	Comes dancing from his oriental gate,
74	And bridegroom-like hurls through the gloomy air
	His radiant beams, such doth King David show,
76	Crowned with the honour of his enemies' town,
	Shining in riches like the firmament,
78	The starry vault that overhangs the earth:
	So looketh David King of Israel.
80
	Abis. Joab, why doth not David mount his throne
82	Whom Heaven hath beautified with Hanon's crown?
	Sound trumpets, shalms, and instruments of praise,
84	To Jacob's God for David's victory.
86	[Trumpets, etc.]
88	Enter Jonadab.
90	Jonad. Why doth the King of Israel rejoice?
	Why sitteth David crowned with Rabbah's rule?
92	Behold, there hath great heaviness befall'n
	In Amnon's fields by Absalon's misdeed;
94	And Amnon's shearers and their feast of mirth
	Absalon hath o'erturnèd with his sword;
96	Nor liveth any of King David's sons
	To bring this bitter tidings to the king.
98
	David. Ay me, how soon are David's triumphs dashed,
100	How suddenly declineth David's pride!
	As doth the daylight settle in the west,
102	So dim is David's glory and his gite.
	Die, David; for to thee is left no seed
104	That may revive thy name in Israel.
106	Jonad. In Israel is left of David's seed. −
	Comfort your lord, you servants of the king. −
108	Behold, thy sons return in mourning weeds,
	And only Amnon Absalon hath slain.
110
	Enter Adonia with other Sons of David.
112
	David. Welcome, my sons; dearer to me you are
114	Than is this golden crown or Hanon's spoil.
	O, tell me, then, tell me, my sons, I say,
116	How cometh it to pass that Absalon
	Hath slain his brother Amnon with the sword?
118
	Adon. Thy sons, O king, went up to Amnon's fields,
120	To feast with him and eat his bread and oil;
	And Absalon upon his mule doth come,
122	And to his men he saith, "When Amnon's heart
	Is merry and secure, then strike him dead,
124	Because he forcèd Thamar shamefully,
	And hated her, and threw her forth his doors."
126	And this did he; and they with him conspire,
	And kill thy son in wreak of Thamar's wrong.
128
	David. How long shall Judah and Jerusalem
130	Complain, and water Sion with their tears!
	How long shall Israel lament in vain,
132	And not a man among the mighty ones
	Will hear the sorrows of King David's heart!
134	Amnon, thy life was pleasing to thy lord,
	As to mine ears the music of my lute,
136	Or songs that David tuneth to his harp;
	And Absalon hath ta'en from me away
138	The gladness of my sad distressèd soul.
140	[Exeunt Joab and some others.]
142	Enter Woman of Thecoa.
144	Woman. [Kneeling]
	God save King David, King of Israel,
146	And bless the gates of Sion for his sake!
148	David. Woman, why mournest thou? rise from the earth;
	Tell me what sorrow hath befall'n thy soul.
150
	Woman. [Rising]
152	Thy servant's soul, O king, is troubled sore,
	And grievous is the anguish of her heart;
154	And from Thecoa doth thy handmaid come.
156	David. Tell me, and say, thou Woman of Thecoa,
	What aileth thee or what is come to pass.
158
	Woman. Thy servant is a widow in Thecoa.
160	Two sons thy handmaid had; and they, my lord,
	Fought in the field, where no man went betwixt,
162	And so the one did smite and slay the other.
	And, lo, behold, the kindred doth arise,
164	And cry on him that smote his brother,
	That he therefóre may be the child of death;
166	"For we will follow and destroy the heir."
	So will they quench that sparkle that is left,
168	And leave nor name nor issue on the earth
	To me or to thy handmaid's husband dead.
170
	David. Woman, return; go home unto thy house:
172	I will take order that thy son be safe.
	If any man say otherwise than well,
174	Bring him to me, and I shall chastise him;
	For, as the Lord doth live, shall not a hair
176	Shed from thy son or fall upon the earth.
	Woman, to God alone belongs revenge:
178	Shall, then, the kindred slay him for his sin?
180	Woman. Well hath King David to his handmaid spoke:
	But wherefore, then, hast thou determinèd
182	So hard a part against the righteous tribes,
	To follow and pursue the banishèd,
184	Whenas to God alone belongs revenge?
	Assuredly thou saist against thyself:
186	Therefore call home again the banishèd;
	Call home the banishèd, that he may live,
188	And raise to thee some fruit in Israel.
190	David. Thou woman of Thecoa, answer me,
	Answer me one thing I shall ask of thee:
192	Is not the hand of Joab in this work?
	Tell me, is not his finger in this fact?
194
	Woman. It is, my lord; his hand is in this work:
196	Assure thee, Joab, captain of thy host,
	Hath put these words into thy handmaid's mouth;
198	And thou art as an angel from on high,
	To understand the meaning of my heart:
200	Lo, where he cometh to his lord the king.
202	Re-enter Joab.
204	David. Say, Joab, didst thou send this woman in
	To put this parable for Absalon?
206
	Joab. Joab, my lord, did bid this woman speak,
208	And she hath said; and thou hast understood.
210	David. I have, and am content to do the thing.
	Go fetch my son, that he may live with me.
212
	Joab. [Kneeling]
214	Now God be blessèd for King David's life!
	Thy servant Joab hath found grace with thee,
216	In that thou sparest Absalon thy child.
218	[Rises.]
220	A beautiful and fair young man is he,
	In all his body is no blemish seen;
222	His hair is like the wire of David's harp,
	That twines about his bright and ivory neck;
224	In Israel is not such a goodly man;
	And here I bring him to entreat for grace.
226
	Joab brings in Absalon.
228
	David. Hast thou slain [Amnon] in the fields of Hazor −
230	Ah, Absalon, my son I ah, my son, Absalon!
	But wherefore do I vex thy spirit so?
232	Live, and return from Gesur to thy house;
	Return from Gesur to Jerusalem:
234	What boots it to be bitter to thy soul?
	Amnon is dead, and Absalon survives.
236
	Abs. Father, I have offended Israel,
238	I have offended David and his house;
	For Thamar's wrong hath Absalon misdone:
240	But David's heart is free from sharp revenge,
	And Joab hath got grace for Absalon.
242
	David. Depart with me, you men of Israel,
244	You that have followed Rabbah with the sword,
	And ransack Ammon's richest treasuries. −
246	Live, Absalon, my son, live once in peace:
	Peace [be] with thee, and with Jerusalem!
248
	[Exeunt all except Absalon.]
250
	Abs. David is gone, and Absalon remains,
252	Flowering in pleasant spring-time of his youth:
	Why liveth Absalon and is not honoured
254	Of tribes and elders and the mightiest ones,
	That round about his temples he may wear
256	Garlands and wreaths set on with reverence;
	That every one that hath a cause to plead
258	Might come to Absalon and call for right?
	Then in the gates of Sion would I sit,
260	And publish laws in great Jerusalem;
	And not a man should live in all the land
262	But Absalon would do him reason's due:
	Therefore I shall address me, as I may,
264	To love the men and tribes of Israel.
266	[Exit.]
	SCENE X.
	The Mount of Olives.
	Enter David, Ithay, Sadoc, Ahimaas,
	Jonathan, and others; David barefoot,
	with some loose covering over his head;
	and all mourning.
1	David. Proud lust, the bloodiest traitor to our souls,
2	Whose greedy throat nor earth, air, sea, or Heaven,
	Can glut or satisfy with any store,
4	Thou art the cause these torments suck my blood,
	Piercing with venom of thy poisoned eyes
6	The strength and marrow of my tainted bones.
	To punish Pharaoh and his cursèd host,
8	The waters shrunk at great Adonai's voice
	And sandy bottom of the sea appeared,
10	Offering his service at his servant's feet;
	And, to inflict a plague on David's sin,
12	He makes his bowels traitors to his breast,
	Winding about his heart with mortal gripes. −
14	Ah, Absalon, the wrath of Heaven inflames
	Thy scorchèd bosom with ambitious heat,
16	And Satan sets thee on a lusty tower,
	Showing thy thoughts the pride of Israel,
18	Of choice to cast thee on her ruthless stones! −
	Weep with me, then, ye sons of Israel;
20	Lie down with David, and with David mourn
	Before the Holy One that sees our hearts;
22
	[Lies down, and all the rest after him.]
24
	Season this heavy soil with showers of tears,
26	And fill the face of every flower with dew;
	Weep, Israel, for David's soul dissolves,
28	Lading the fountains of his drownèd eyes,
	And pours her substance on the senseless earth.
30
	Sadoc. Weep, Israel; O, weep for David's soul,
32	Strewing the ground with hair and garments torn,
	For tragic witness of your hearty woes!
34
	Ahim. O, would our eyes were conduits to our hearts,
36	And that our hearts were seas of liquid blood,
	To pour in streams upon this holy mount,
38	For witness we would die for David's woes!
40	Jon. Then should this Mount of Olives seem a plain
	Drowned with a sea, that with our sighs should roar,
42	And, in the murmur of his mounting waves,
	Report our bleeding sorrows to the heavens,
44	For witness we would die for David's woes.
46	Ith. Earth cannot weep enough for David's woes:
	Then weep, you heavens, and, all you clouds, dissolve,
48	That piteous stars may see our miseries,
	And drop their golden tears upon the ground,
50	For witness how they weep for David's woes.
52	Sadoc. Now let my sovereign raise his prostrate bones,
	And mourn not as a faithless man would do;
54	But be assured that Jacob's righteous God,
	That promised never to forsake your throne,
56	Will still be just and pure in his vows.
58	David. Sadoc, high-priest, preserver of the ark,
	Whose sacred virtue keeps the chosen crown,
60	I know my God is spotless in his vows,
	And that these hairs shall greet my grave in peace:
62	But that my son should wrong his tendered soul,
	And fight against his father's happiness,
64	Turns all my hopes into despair of him,
	And that despair feeds all my veins with grief.
66
	Ith. Think of it, David, as a fatal plague
68	Which grief preserveth, but preventeth not;
	And turn thy drooping eyes upon the troops
70	That, of affection to thy worthiness,
	Do swarm about the person of the king:
72	Cherish their valours and their zealous loves
	With pleasant looks and sweet encouragements.
74
	David. Methinks the voice of Ithay fills mine ears.
76
	Ith. Let not the voice of Ithay loathe thine ears,
78	Whose heart would balm thy bosom with his tears.
80	David. But wherefore go'st thou to the wars with us?
	Thou art a stranger here in Israel,
82	And son to Achis, mighty King of Gath;
	Therefore return, and with thy father stay:
84	Thou cam'st but yesterday; and should I now
	Let thee partake these troubles here with us?
86	Keep both thyself and all thy soldiers safe:
	Let me abide the hazards of these arms,
88	And God requite the friendship thou hast showed.
90	Ith. As sure as Israel's God gives David life,
	What place or peril shall contain the king,
92	The same will Ithay share in life and death.
94	David. Then, gentle Ithay, be thou still with us,
	A joy to David, and a grace to Israel. −
96	Go, Sadoc, now, and bear the ark of God
	Into the great Jerusalem again:
98	If I find favour in his gracious eyes,
	Then will he lay his hand upon my heart
100	Yet once again before I visit death;
	Giving it strength, and virtue to mine eyes,
102	To taste the comforts and behold the form
	Of his fair ark and holy tabernacle:
104	But, if he say, "My wonted love is worn,
	And I have no delight in David now,”
106	Here lie I armèd with an humble heart
	T' embrace the pains that anger shall impose,
108	And kiss the sword my lord shall kill me with.
	Then, Sadoc, take Ahimaäs thy son,
110	With Jonathan son to Abiathar;
	And in these fields will I repose myself,
112	Till they return from you some certain news.
114	Sadoc. Thy servants will with joy obey the king,
	And hope to cheer his heart with happy news.
116
	[Exeunt Sadoc, Ahimaas, and Jonathan.]
118
	Ith. Now that it be no grief unto the king,
120	Let me for good inform his majesty,
	That, with unkind and graceless Absalon,
122	Achitophel your ancient counsellor
	Directs the state of this rebellion.
124
	David. Then doth it aim with danger at my crown. −
126	[Kneeling] O thou, that hold'st his raging bloody bound
	Within the circle of the silver moon,
128	That girds earth's centre with his watery scarf,
	Limit the counsel of Achitophel,
130	No bounds extending to my soul's distress,
	But turn his wisdom into foolishness!
132
	Enter Cusay with his coat turned and head covered.
134
	Cusay. Happiness and honour to my lord the king!
136
	David. What happiness or honour may betide
138	His state that toils in my extremities?
140	Cusay. O, let my gracious sovereign cease these griefs,
	Unless he wish his servant Cusay's death,
142	Whose life depends upon my lord's relief!
	Then let my presence with my sighs perfume
144	The pleasant closet of my sovereign's soul.
146	David. No, Cusay, no; thy presence unto me
	Will be a burden, since I tender thee,
148	And cannot break thy sighs for David's sake:
	But if thou turn to fair Jerusalem,
150	And say to Absalon, as thou hast been
	A trusty friend unto his father's seat,
152	So thou wilt be to him, and call him king,
	Achitophel's counsel may be brought to naught.
154	Then having Sadoc and Abiathar,
	All three may learn the secrets of my son,
156	Sending the message by Ahimaäs,
	And friendly Jonathan, who both are there.
158
	Cusay. Then rise, referring the success to Heaven.
160
	David. Cusay, I rise; though with unwieldy bones
162	I carry arms against my Absalon.
164	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE XI.
	The Palace in Jerusalem.
	Absalon, Amasa, Achitophel,
	with the Concubines of David, and others,
	are discovered in great state;
	Absalon crowned.
1	Abs. Now you that were my father's concubines,
2	Liquor to his inchaste and lustful fire,
	Have seen his honour shaken in his house,
4	Which I possess in sight of all the world;
	I bring ye forth for foils to my renown,
6	And to eclipse the glory of your king,
	Whose life is with his honour fast enclosed
8	Within the entrails of a jetty cloud,
	Whose dissolution shall pour down in showers
10	The substance of his life and swelling pride:
	Then shall the stars light earth with rich aspécts,
12	And Heaven shall burn in love with Absalon,
	Whose beauty will suffice to chase all mists,
14	And clothe the sun's sphere with a triple fire,
	Sooner than his clear eyes should suffer stain,
16	Or be offended with a lowering day.
18	1^st Conc. Thy father's honour, graceless Absalon,
	And ours thus beaten with thy violent arms,
20	Will cry for vengeance to the host of Heaven,
	Whose power is ever armed against the proud,
22	And will dart plagues at thy aspiring head
	For doing this disgrace to David's throne.
24
	2^nd Conc. To David's throne, to David's holy throne,
26	Whose sceptre angels guard with swords of fire,
	And sit as eagles on his conquering fist,
28	Ready to prey upon his enemies:
	Then think not thou, the captain of his foes,
30	Wert thou much swifter than Azahell was,
	That could outpace the nimble-footed roe,
32	To scape the fury of their thumping beaks
	Or dreadful scope of their commanding wings.
34
	Achit. Let not my lord the King of Israel
36	Be angry with a silly woman's threats;
	But, with the pleasure he hath erst enjoyed,
38	Turn them into their cabinets again,
	Till David's conquest be their overthrow.
40
	Abs. Into your bowers, ye daughters of disdain,
42	Gotten by fury of unbridled lust,
	And wash your couches with your mourning tears,
44	For grief that David's kingdom is decayed.
46	1^st Conc. No, Absalon, his kingdom is enchained
	Fast to the finger of great Jacob's God,
48	Which will not loose it for a rebel's love.
50	[Exeunt Concubines.]
52	Amasa. If I might give advice unto the king,
	These concubines should buy their taunts with blood.
54
	Abs. Amasa, no; but let thy martial sword
56	Empty the veins of David's armèd men,
	And let these foolish women scape our hands
58	To recompense the shame they have sustained.
	First, Absalon was by the trumpet's sound
60	Proclaimed through Hebron King of Israel;
	And now is set in fair Jerusalem
62	With cómplete state and glory of a crown:
	Fifty fair footmen by my chariot run,
64	And to the air whose rupture rings my fame,
	Where'er I ride, they offer reverence.
66	Why should not Absalon, that in his face
	Carries the final purpose of his God,
68	That is, to work him grace in Israel,
	Endeavour to achieve with all his strength
70	The state that most may satisfy his joy,
	Keeping his statutes and his covenants pure?
72	His thunder is entangled in my hair,
	And with my beauty is his lightning quenched:
74	I am the man he made to glory in,
	When by the errors of my father's sin
76	He lost the path that led into the land
	Wherewith our chosen ancestors were blessed.
78
	Enter Cusay.
80
	Cusay. Long may the beauteous King of Israel live,
82	To whom the people do by thousands swarm!
84	Abs. What meaneth Cusay so to greet his foe?
	Is this the love thou shewdst to David's soul,
86	To whose assistance thou hast vowed thy life?
	Why leav'st thou him in this extremity?
88
	Cusay. Because the Lord and Israel chooseth thee;
90	And as before I served thy father's turn
	With counsel ácceptable in his sight,
92	So likewise will I now obey his son.
94	Abs. Then welcome, Cusay, to King Absalon. −
	And now, my lords and loving counsellors,
96	I think it time to exercise our arms
	Against forsaken David and his host.
98	Give counsel first, my good Achitophel,
	What times and orders we may best observe
100	For prosperous manage of these high exploits.
102	Achit. Let me choose out twelve thousand valiant men:
	And, while the night hides with her sable mists
104	The close endeavours cunning soldiers use,
	I will assault thy discontented sire;
106	And, while with weakness of their weary arms,
	Surcharged with toil, to shun thy sudden power,
108	The people fly in huge disordered troops
	To save their lives, and leave the king alone,
110	Then will I smite him with his latest wound,
	And bring the people to thy feet in peace.
112
	Abs. Well hath Achitophel given his advice.
114	Yet let us hear what Cusay counsels us,
	Whose great experience is well worth the ear.
116
	Cusay. Though wise Achitophel be much more meet
118	To purchase hearing with my lord the king,
	For all his former counsels, than myself,
120	Yet, not offending Absalon or him,
	This time it is not good nor worth pursuit;
122	For, well thou know'st, thy father's men are strong,
	Chafing as she-bears robbèd of their whelps:
124	Besides, the king himself a valiant man,
	Trained up in feats and stratagems of war;
126	And will not, for prevention of the worst,
	Lodge with the common soldiers in the field;
128	But now, I know, his wonted policies
	Have taught him lurk within some secret cave,
130	Guarded with all his stoutest soldiers;
	Which, if the forefront of his battle faint,
132	Will yet give out that Absalon doth fly,
	And so thy soldiers be discouragèd:
134	David himself withal, whose angry heart
	Is as a lion's letted of his walk,
136	Will fight himself, and all his men to one,
	Before a few shall vanquish him by fear.
138	My counsel therefore is, with trumpet's sound
	To gather men from Dan to Bersabe,
140	That they may march in number like sea-sands,
	That nestle close in [one] another's neck:
142	So shall we come upon him in our strength,
	Like to the dew that falls in showers from Heaven,
144	And leave him not a man to march withal.
	Besides, if any city succour him,
146	The numbers of our men shall fetch us ropes,
	And we will pull it down the river's stream,
148	That not a stone be left to keep us out.
150	Abs. What says my lord to Cusay's counsel now?
152	Amasa. I fancy Cusay's counsel better far
	Than that is given us from Achitophel;
154	And so, I think, doth every soldier here.
156	All. Cusay's counsel is better than Achitophel's.
158	Abs. Then march we after Cusay's counsel all:
	Sound trumpets through the bounds of Israel,
160	And muster all the men will serve the king,
	That Absalon may glut his longing soul
162	With sole fruition of his father's crown.
164	Achit. [Aside]
	Ill shall they fare that follow thy attempts,
166	That scorns the counsel of Achitophel.
168	[Exeunt all except Cusay.]
170	Cusay. Thus hath the power of Jacob's jealous God
	Fulfilled his servant David's drifts by me,
172	And brought Achitophel's advice to scorn.
174	Enter Sadoc, Abiathar, Ahimaas, and Jonathan.
176	Sadoc. God save Lord Cusay, and direct his zeal
	To purchase David's conquest 'gainst his son!
178
	Abi. What secrets hast thou gleaned from Absalon?
180
	Cusay. These, sacred priests that bear the ark of God: −
182	Achitophel advised him in the night
	To let him choose twelve thousand fighting men,
184	And he would come on David at unwares,
	While he was weary with his violent toil:
186	But I advised to get a greater host,
	And gather men from Dan to Bersabe,
188	To come upon him strongly in the fields.
	Then send Ahimaäs and Jonathan
190	To signify these secrets to the king,
	And will him not to stay this night abroad;
192	But get him over Jordan presently,
	Lest he and all his people kiss the sword.
194
	Sadoc. Then go, Ahimaäs and Jonathan,
196	And straight convey this message to the king.
198	Ahim. Father, we will, if Absalon's chief spies
	Prevent not this device, and stay us here.
200
	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE XII.
	The Road Near the Village of Bahurim.
	Enter Semei.
1	Semei. The man of Israel that hath ruled as king,
2	Or rather as the tyrant of the land,
	Bolstering his hateful head upon the throne
4	That God unworthily hath blessed him with,
	Shall now, I hope, lay it as low as hell,
6	And be deposed from his detested chair.
	O, that my bosom could by nature bear
8	A sea of poison, to be poured upon
	His cursèd head that sacred balm hath graced
10	And consecrated King of Israel!
	Or would my breath were made the smoke of hell,
12	Infected with the sighs of damnèd souls,
	Or with the reeking of that serpent's gorge
14	That feeds on adders, toads, and venomous roots,
	That, as I opened my revenging lips
16	To curse the shepherd for his tyranny,
	My words might cast rank poison to his pores,
18	And make his swoln and rankling sinews crack,
	Like to the combat-blows that break the clouds
20	When Jove's stout champions fight with fire.
	See where he cometh that my soul abhors!
22	I have prepared my pocket full of stones
	To cast at him, mingled with earth and dust,
24	Which, bursting with disdain, I greet him with. −
26	Enter David, Joab, Abisai, Ithay, and others.
28	Come forth, thou murtherer and wicked man:
	The lord hath brought upon thy cursèd head
30	The guiltless blood of Saul and all his sons,
	Whose royal throne thy baseness hath usurped;
32	And, to revenge it deeply on thy soul,
	The Lord hath given the kingdom to thy son,
34	And he shall wreak the traitorous wrongs of Saul:
	Even as thy sin hath still importuned Heaven,
36	So shall thy murthers and adultery
	Be punished in the sight of Israel,
38	As thou deserv'st, with blood, with death, and hell.
	Hence, murtherer, hence!
40
	[Throws stones and earth at David.]
42
	Abis. Why doth [t]his dead dog curse my lord the king?
44	Let me alone to take away his head.
46	David. Why meddleth thus the son of Zeruia
	To interrupt the action of our God?
48	Semei useth me with this reproach
	Because the Lord hath sent him to reprove
50	The sins of David, printed in his brows
	With blood, that blusheth for his conscience' guilt;
52	Who dares, then, ask him why he curseth me?
54	Semei. If, then, thy conscience tell thee thou hast sinned,
	And that thy life is odious to the world,
56	Command thy followers to shun thy face;
	And by thyself here make away thy soul,
58	That I may stand and glory in thy shame.
60	David. I am not desperate, Semei, like thyself ,
	But trust unto the covenant of my God,
62	Founded on mercy, with repentance built,
	And finished with the glory of my soul.
64
	Semei. A murtherer, and hope for mercy in thy end!
66	Hate and destruction sit upon thy brows
	To watch the issue of thy damnèd ghost,
68	Which with thy latest gasp they'll take and tear,
	Hurling in every pane of hell a piece.
70	Hence, murtherer, thou shame to Israel,
	Foul lecher, drunkard, plague to Heaven and earth!
72
	[Throws again at David.]
74
	Joab. What, is it piety in David's thoughts,
76	So to abhor from laws of policy
	In this extremity of his distress,
78	To give his subjects cause of carelessness?
	Send hence the dog with sorrow to his grave.
80
	David. Why should the sons of Zeruia seek to check
82	His spirit, which the Lord hath thus inspired?
	Behold, my son which issued from my flesh,
84	With equal fury seeks to take my life:
	How much more then the son of Jemini,
86	Chiefly since he doth naught but God's command?
	It may be, he will look on me this day
88	With gracious eyes, and for his cursing bless
	The heart of David in his bitterness.
90
	Semei. What, dost thou fret my soul with sufferance?
92	O, that the souls of Isboseth and Abner,
	Which thou sent’st swimming to their graves in blood,
94	With wounds fresh bleeding, gasping for revenge,
	Were here to execute my burning hate!
96	But I will hunt thy foot with curses still:
	Hence, monster, murtherer, mirror of contempt!
98
	[Throws again at David.]
100
	Enter Ahimaas and Jonathan.
102
	Ahim. Long life to David, to his enemies death!
104
	David. Welcome, Ahimaäs and Jonathan:
106	What news sends Cusay to thy lord the king?
108	Ahim. Cusay would wish my lord the king
	To pass the river Jordan presently,
110	Lest he and all his people perish here;
	For wise Achitophel hath counselled Absalon
112	To take advantage of your weary arms,
	And come this night upon you in the fields.
114	But yet the Lord hath made his counsel scorn,
	And Cusay's policy with praise preferred;
116	Which was to number every Israelite,
	And so assault you in their pride of strength.
118
	Jon. Abiathar besides entreats the king
120	To send his men of war against his son,
	And hazard not his person in the field.
122
	David. Thanks to Abiathar, and to you both,
124	And to my Cusay, whom the Lord requite;
	But ten times treble thanks to his soft hand
126	Whose pleasant touch hath made my heart to dance,
	And play him praises in my zealous breast,
128	That turned the counsel of Achitophel
	After the prayers of his servant's lips.
130	Now will we pass the river all this night,
	And in the morning sound the voice of war,
132	The voice of bloody and unkindly war.
134	Joab. Then tell us how thou wilt divide thy men,
	And who shall have the special charge herein.
136
	David. Joab, thyself shall for thy charge conduct
138	The first third part of all my valiant men;
	The second shall Abisai's valour lead;
140	The third fair Ithay, which I most should grace
	For comfort he hath done to David's woes;
142	And I myself will follow in the midst.
144	Ithay. That let not David; for, though we should fly,
	Ten thousand of us were not half so much
146	Esteemed with David's enemies as himself:
	Thy people, loving thee, deny thee this.
148
	David. What seems them best, then, that will David do.
150	But now, my lords and captains, hear his voice
	That never yet pierced piteous Heaven in vain;
152	Then let it not slip lightly through your ears; −
	For my sake spare the young man Absalon.
154	Joab, thyself didst once use friendly words
	To reconcile my heart incensed to him;
156	If, then, thy love be to thy kinsman sound,
	And thou wilt prove a perfit Israelite,
158	Friend him with deeds, and touch no hair of him, −
	Not that fair hair with which the wanton winds
160	Delight to play, and love to make it curl,
	Wherein the nightingales would build their nests,
162	And make sweet bowers in every golden tress
	To sing their lover every night asleep:
164	O, spoil not, Joab, Jove's fair ornaments,
	Which he hath sent to solace David's soul!
166	The best, ye see, my lords, are swift to sin;
	To sin our feet are washed with milk of roes,
168	And dried again with coals of lightening.
	O Lord, thou see'st the proudest sin's poor slave,
170	And with his bridle pull'st him to the grave!
	For my sake, then, spare lovely Absalon.
172
	Ithay. We will, my lord, for thy sake favour him.
174
	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE XIII.
	The House of Achitophel.
	Enter Achitophel with a halter.
1	Achit. Now hath Achitophel ordered his house,
2	And taken leave of every pleasure there:
	Hereon depends Achitophel's delights,
4	And in this circle must his life be closed.
	The wise Achitophel, whose counsel proved
6	Ever as sound for fortunate success
	As if men asked the oracle of God,
8	Is now used like the fool of Israel:
	Then set thy angry soul upon her wings,
10	And let her fly into the shade of death;
	And for my death let Heaven for ever weep,
12	Making huge floods upon the land I leave,
	To ravish them and all their fairest fruits.
14	Let all the sighs I breathed for this disgrace,
	Hang on my hedges like eternal mists,
16	As mourning garments for their master's death.
	Ope, earth, and take thy miserable son
18	Into the bowels of thy cursèd womb:
	Once in a surfeit thou didst spew him forth;
20	Now for fell hunger suck him in again,
	And be his body poison to thy veins.
22	And now, thou hellish instrument of Heaven,
	Once execute th' arrest of Jove's just doom,
24	And stop his breast that curseth Israel.
26	[Exit.]
	SCENE XIV.
	The Wood of Ephraim.
	Enter Absalon, with Amasa and the rest of his train.
1	Abs. Now for the crown and throne of Israel,
2	To be confirmed with virtue of my sword,
	And writ with David's blood upon the blade.
4	Now, Jove, let forth the golden firmament,
	And look on him, with all thy fiery eyes,
6	Which thou hast made to give their glories light:
	To show thou lov'st the virtue of thy hand,
8	Let fall a wreath of stars upon my head,
	Whose influence may govern Israel
10	With state exceeding all her other kings.
	Fight, lords and captains, that your sovereign's face
12	May shine in honour brighter than the sun;
	And with the virtue of my beauteous rays
14	Make this fair land as fruitful as the fields
	That with sweet milk and honey overflowed.
16	God, in the whissing of a pleasant wind,
	Shall march upon the tops of mulberry-trees,
18	To cool all breasts that burn with any griefs,
	As whilom he was good to Moyses' men.
20	By day the Lord shall sit within a cloud,
	To guide your footsteps to the fields of joy;
22	And in the night a pillar, bright as fire,
	Shall go before you, like a second sun,
24	Wherein the essence of his godhead is;
	That day and night you may be brought to peace,
26	And never swarve from that delightsome path
	That leads your souls to perfect happiness.
28	This shall he do for joy when I am king.
	Then fight, brave captains, that these joys may fly
30	Into your bosoms with sweet victory.
32	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE XV.
	The Wood of Ephraim.
	The battle; and then Absalon hangs by the hair.
1	Abs. What angry angel, sitting in these shades,
2	Hath laid his cruèl hands upon my hair,
	And holds my body thus 'twixt Heaven and earth?
4	Hath Absalon no soldier near his hand
	That may untwine me this unpleasant curl,
6	Or wound this tree that ravisheth his lord?
	O God, behold the glory of thy hand,
8	And choicest fruit of nature's workmanship,
	Hang, like a rotten branch, upon this tree,
10	Fit for the axe and ready for the fire!
	Since thou withhold'st all ordinary help
12	To loose my body from this bond of death,
	O, let my beauty fill these senseless plants
14	With sense and power to loose me from this plague,
	And work some wonder to prevent his death
16	Whose life thou mad'st a special miracle!
18	Enter Joab with a Soldier.
20	Sold. My lord, I saw the young Prince Absalon
	Hang by the hair upon a shady oak,
22	And could by no means get himself unloosed.
24	Joab. Why slew'st thou not the wicked Absalon,
	That rebel to his father and to Heaven,
26	That so I might have given thee for thy pains
	Ten silver sickles and a golden waist?
28
	Sold. Not for a thousand shekels would I slay
30	The son of David, whom his father charged
	Nor thou, Abisai, nor the son of Gath,
32	Should touch with stroke of deadly violence.
	The charge was given in hearing of us all;
34	And, had I done it, then, I know, thyself,
	Before thou wouldst abide the king's rebuke,
36	Wouldst have accused me as a man of death.
38	Joab. I must not now stand trifling here with thee.
40	Abs. Help, Joab, help, O, help thy Absalon!
	Let not thy angry thoughts be laid in blood,
42	In blood of him that sometimes nourished thee,
	And softened thy sweet heart with friendly love:
44	O, give me once again my father's sight,
	My dearest father and my princely sovereign!
46	That, shedding tears of blood before his face,
	The ground may witness, and the heavens record,
48	My last submission sound and full of ruth.
50	Joab. Rebel to nature, hate to Heaven and earth!
	Shall I give help to him that thirsts the soul
52	Of his dear father and my sovereign lord?
	Now see, the Lord hath tangled in a tree
54	The health and glory of thy stubborn heart,
	And made thy pride curbed with a senseless plant:
56	Now, Absalon, how doth the Lord regard
	The beauty whereupon thy hope was built,
58	And which thou thought'st his grace did glory in?
	Find'st thou not now, with fear of instant death,
60	That God affects not any painted shape
	Or goodly personage, when the virtuous soul
62	Is stuffed with naught but pride and stubbornness?
	But, preach I to thee, while I should revenge
64	Thy cursèd sin that staineth Israel,
	And makes her fields blush with her children's blood?
66	Take that as part of thy deservèd plague,
	Which worthily no torment can inflict.
68
	[Stabs him.]
70
	Abs. O Joab, Joab, cruèl, ruthless Joab!
72	Herewith thou wound'st thy kingly sovereign's heart,
	Whose heavenly temper hates his children's blood,
74	And will be sick, I know, for Absalon. −
	O, my dear father, that thy melting eyes
76	Might pierce this thicket to behold thy son,
	Thy dearest son, gored with a mortal dart!
78	Yet, Joab, pity me: pity my father, Joab;
	Pity his soul's distress that mourns my life,
80	And will be dead, I know, to hear my death.
82	Joab. If he were so remorseful of thy state,
	Why sent he me against thee with the sword?
84	All Joab means to pleasure thee withal
	Is to despatch thee quickly of thy pain:
86	Hold, Absalon, Joab's pity is in this;
	In this, proud Absalon, is Joab's love.
88
	[Stabs him again; and then exit with Soldier.]
90
	Abs. Such love, such pity Israel's God send thee,
92	And for his love to David pity me!
	Ah, my dear father, see thy bowels bleed;
94	See death assault thy dearest Absalon;
	See, pity, pardon, pray for Absalon!
96
	Enter five or six Soldiers.
98
	1st Sold. See where the rebel in his glory hangs. −
100	Where is the virtue of thy beauty, Absalon?
	Will any of us here now fear thy looks,
102	Or be in love with that thy golden hair
	Wherein was wrapt rebellion 'gainst thy sire,
104	And cords prepared to stop thy father's breath?
	Our captain Joab hath begun to us;
106	And here's an end to thee and all thy sins.
108	[They stab Absalon; who dies.]
110	Come, let us take the beauteous rebel down,
	And in some ditch, amids this darksome wood,
112	Bury his bulk beneath a heap of stones,
	Whose stony heart did hunt his father's death.
114
	Re-enter, in triumph with drum and ensign, Joab;
116	Abisai and Soldiers.
118	Joab. Well done, tall soldiers! take the traitor down,
	And in this miry ditch inter his bones,
120	Covering his hateful breast with heaps of stones.
	This shady thicket of dark Ephrami
122	Shall ever lower on his cursèd grave;
	Night-ravens and owls shall ring his fatal knell,
124	And sit exclaiming on his damnèd soul;
	There shall they heap their preys of carrion,
126	Till all his grave be clad with stinking bones,
	That it may loathe the sense of every man:
128	So shall his end breed horror to his name,
	And to his traitorous fact eternal shame.
130
	[Exeunt.]
	CHORUS II.
	Enter Chorus.
1	Chor. O dreadful president of his just doom,
2	Whose holy heart is never touched with ruth
	Of fickle beauty or of glorious shapes,
4	But with the virtue of an upright soul,
	Humble and zealous in his inward thoughts,
6	Though in his person loathsome and deformed!
	Now, since this story lends us other store,
8	To make a third discourse of David's life,
	Adding thereto his most renownèd death,
10	And all their deaths that at his death he judged,
	Here end we this, and what here wants to please,
12	We will supply with treble willingness.
14	[Exit.]
	SCENE XVI.
	Near the Battlefield
	Trumpets sound.
	Enter Joab, Ahimaas, Cusay;
	Amasa, with all the other followers of Absalon.
1	Joab. Soldiers of Israel, and ye sons of Judah,
2	That have contended in these irksome broils,
	And ript old Israel's bowels with your swords;
4	The godless general of your stubborn arms
	Is brought by Israel's helper to the grave,
6	A grave of shame, and scorn of all the tribes:
	Now, then, to save your honours from the dust,
8	And keep your bloods in temper by your bones,
	Let Joab's ensign shroud your manly heads,
10	Direct your eyes, your weapons, and your hearts,
	To guard the life of David from his foes.
12	Error hath masked your much-too-forward minds,
	And you have sinned against the chosen state,
14	Against his life, for whom your lives are blessed,
	And followed an usurper to the field;
16	In whose just death your deaths are threatenèd;
	But Joab pities your disordered souls,
18	And therefore offers pardon, peace, and love,
	To all that will be friendly reconciled
20	To Israel's weal, to David, and to Heaven. −
	Amasa, thou art leader of the host
22	That under Absalon have raised their arms;
	Then be a captain wise and politic,
24	Careful and loving for thy soldiers' lives,
	And lead them to this honourable league.
26
	Amasa. I will; at least, I'll do my best:
28	And for the gracious offer thou hast made
	I give thee thanks, as much as for my head. −
30	Then, you deceived poor souls of Israel,
	Since now ye see the errors you incurred,
32	With thanks and due submission be appeased;
	And as ye see your captain's president,
34	Here cast we, then, our swords at Joab's feet,
	Submitting with all zeal and reverence
36	Our goods and bodies to his gracious hands.
38	[Kneels with others.]
40	Joab. Stand up, and take ye all your swords again:
42	[All stand up.]
44	David and Joab shall be blessed herein.
46	Ahim. Now let me go inform my lord the king
	How God hath freed him from his enemies.
48
	Joab. Another time, Ahimaäs, not now. −
50	But, Cusay, go thyself, and tell the king
	The happy message of our good success.
52
	Cusay. I will, my lord, and thank thee for thy grace.
54
	[Exit.]
56
	Ahim. What if thy servant should go too, my lord?
58
	Joab. What news hast thou to bring since he is gone?
60
	Ahim. Yet do Ahimaäs so much content,
62	That he may run about so sweet a charge.
64	Joab. Run, if thou wilt; and peace be with thy steps. −
66	[Exit Ahimaas.]
68	Now follow, that you may salute the king
	With humble hearts and reconcilèd souls.
70
	Amasa. We follow, Joab, to our gracious king;
72	And him our swords shall honour to our deaths.
74	[Exeunt.]
	SCENE XVII.
	David's Headquarters at Manahaim.
	Enter David, Bethsabe, Salomon, Chileab, Adonia,
	and Nathan, with their train.
1	Beth. What means my lord, the lamp of Israel,
2	From whose bright eyes all eyes receive their light,
	To dim the glory of his sweet aspécts,
4	And paint his countenance with his heart's distress?
	Why should his thoughts retain a sad conceit,
6	When every pleasure kneels before his throne,
	And sues for sweet acceptance with his grace?
8	Take but your lute, and make the mountains dance,
	Retrieve the sun's sphere, and restrain the clouds,
10	Give ears to trees, make savage lions tame,
	Impose still silence to the loudest winds,
12	And fill the fairest day with foulest storms:
	Then why should passions of much meaner power
14	Bear head against the heart of Israel?
16	David. Fair Bethsabe, thou mightst increase the strength
	Of these thy arguments, drawn from my skill,
18	By urging thy sweet sight to my conceits,
	Whose virtue ever served for sacred balm
20	To cheer my pinings past all earthly joys:
	But, Bethsabe, the daughter of the Highest,
22	Whose beauty builds the towers of Israel,
	She that in chains of pearl and unicorn
24	Leads at her train the ancient golden world.
	The world that Adam held in paradise,
26	Whose breath refineth all infectious airs,
	And makes the meadows smile at her repair, −
28	She, she, my dearest Bethsabe,
	Fair Peace, the goddess of our graces here,
30	Is fled the streets of fair Jerusalem,
	The fields of Israel, and the heart of David,
32	Leading my comforts in her golden chains,
	Linked to the life and soul of Absalon.
34
	Beth. Then is the pleasure of my sovereign's heart
36	So wrapt within the bosom of that son,
	That Salomon, whom Israel's God affects,
38	And gave the name unto him for his love,
	Should be no salve to comfort David's soul?
40
	David. Salomon, my love, is David's lord;
42	Our God hath named him lord of Israel:
	In him (for that, and since he is thy son,)
44	Must David needs be pleasèd at the heart;
	And he shall surely sit upon my throne.
46	But Absalon, the beauty of my bones,
	Fair Absalon, the counterfeit of love,
48	Sweet Absalon, the image of content,
	Must claim a portion in his father's care,
50	And be in life and death King David's son.
52	Nath. Yet, as my lord hath said, let Salomon reign,
	Whom God in naming hath anointed king.
54	Now is he apt to learn th' eternal laws,
	Whose knowledge being rooted in his youth
56	Will beautify his age with glorious fruits;
	While Absalon, incensed with graceless pride,
58	Usurps and stains the kingdom with his sin:
	Let Salomon be made thy staff of age,
60	Fair Israel's rest, and honour of thy race.
62	David. Tell me, my Salomon, wilt thou embrace
	Thy father's precepts gravèd in thy heart,
64	And satisfy my zeal to thy renown
	With practice of such sacred principles
66	As shall concern the state of Israel?
68	Sal. My royal father, if the heavenly zeal,
	Which for my welfare feeds upon your soul,
70	Were not sustained with virtue of mine own;
	If the sweet accents of your cheerful voice
72	Should not each hour beat upon mine ears
	As sweetly as the breath of Heaven to him
74	That gaspeth scorchèd with the summer's sun;
	I should be guilty of unpardoned sin,
76	Fearing the plague of Heaven and shame of earth:
	But since I vow myself to learn the skill
78	And holy secrets of his mighty hand
	Whose cunning tunes the music of my soul,
80	It would content me, father, first to learn
	How the Eternal framed the firmament;
82	Which bodies lead their influence by fire,
	And which are filled with hoary winter's ice;
84	What sign is rainy, and what star is fair;
	Why by the rules of true proportiön
86	The year is still divided into months,
	The months to days, the days to certain hours;
88	What fruitful race shall fill the future world;
	Or for what time shall this round building stand;
90	What magistrates, what kings shall keep in awe
	Men's minds with bridles of th' eternal law.
92
	David. Wade not too far, my boy, in waves too deep:
94	The feeble eyes of our aspiring thoughts
	Behold things present, and record things past;
96	But things to come exceed our human reach,
	And are not painted yet in angels' eyes:
98	For those, submit thy sense, and say − "Thou power,
	That now art framing of the future world,
100	Know'st all to come, not by the course of Heaven,
	By frail conjectures of inferior signs,
102	By monstrous floods, by flights and flocks of birds,
	By bowels of a sacrificèd beast,
104	Or by the figures of some hidden art;
	But by a true and natural presage,
106	Laying the ground and perfect architect
	Of all our actions now before thine eyes,
108	From Adam to the end of Adam's seed:
	O Heaven, protect my weakness with thy strength!
110	So look on me that I may view thy face,
	And see these secrets written in thy brows.
112	O sun, come dart thy rays upon my moon!
	That now mine eyes, eclipsèd to the earth,
114	May brightly be refined and shine to Heaven;
	Transform me from this flesh, that I may live,
116	Before my death, regenerate with thee.
	O thou great God, ravish my earthly sprite!
118	That for the time a more than human skill
	May feed the organons of all my sense;
120	That, when I think, thy thoughts may be my guide,
	And, when I speak, I may be made by choice
122	The perfect echo of thy heavenly voice."
	Thus say, my son, and thou shalt learn them all.
124
	Sal. A secret fury ravisheth my soul,
126	Lifting my mind above her human bounds;
	And, as the eagle, rousèd from her stand
128	With violent hunger, towering in the air,
	Seizeth her feathered prey, and thinks to feed,
130	But seeing then a cloud beneath her feet,
	Lets fall the fowl, and is emboldened
132	With eyes intentive to bedare the sun,
	And styeth close unto his stately sphere;
134	So Salomon, mounted on the burning wings
	Of zeal divine, lets fall his mortal food,
136	And cheers his senses with celestial air,
	Treads in the golden starry labyrinth,
138	And holds his eyes fixed on Jehovah's brows.
	Good father, teach me further what to do.
140
	Nath. See, David, how his haughty spirit mounts,
142	Even now of height to wield a diadem:
	Then make him promise that he may succeed,
144	And rest old Israel's bones from broils of war.
146	David. Nathan, thou prophet, sprung from Jesse's root,
	I promise thee and lovely Bethsabe,
148	My Salomon shall govern after me.
150	Beth. He that hath touched thee with this righteous thought
	Preserve the harbour of thy thoughts in peace!
152
	Enter Messenger.
154
	Mess. My lord, thy servants of the watch have seen
156	One running hitherward from forth the wars,
158	David. If he be come alone, he bringeth news.
160	Mess. Another hath thy servant seen, my lord,
	Whose running much resembles Sadoc's son.
162
	David. He is a good man, and good tidings brings.
164
	Enter Ahimaas.
166
	Ahim. Peace and content be with my lord the king,
168	Whom Israel's God hath blessed with victory.
170	David. Tell me, Ahimaas, lives my Absalon?
172	Ahim. I saw a troop of soldiers gatherèd,
	But know not what the tumult might import.
174
	David. Stand by, until some other may inform
176	The heart of David with a happy truth.
178	Enter Cusay.
180	Cusay. Happiness and honour live with David's soul,
	Whom God hath blessed with conquest of his foes
182
	David. But, Cusay, lives the young man Absalon?
184
	Cusay. The stubborn enemies to David's peace,
186	And all that cast their darts against his crown,
	Fare ever like the young man Absalon!
188	For as he rid the woods of Ephraïm,
	Which fought for thee as much as all thy men,
190	His hair was tangled in a shady oak;
	And hanging there, by Joab and his men
192	Sustained the stroke of well-deservèd death.
194	David. Hath Absalon sustained the stroke of death?
	Die, David, for the death of Absalon,
196	And make these cursèd news the bloody darts
	That through his bowels rip thy wretched breast.
198	Hence, David, walk the solitary woods,
	And in some cedar's shade the thunder slew,
200	And fire from Heaven hath made his branches black,
	Sit mourning the decease of Absalon:
202	Against the body of that blasted plant
	In thousand shivers break thy ivory lute,
204	Hanging thy stringless harp upon his boughs;
	And through the hollow sapless sounding trunk
206	Bellow the torments that perplex thy soul.
	There let the winds sit sighing till they burst;
208	Let tempest, muffled with a cloud of pitch,
	Threaten the forests with her hellish face,
210	And, mounted fiercely on her iron wings,
	Rend up the wretched engine by the roots
212	That held my dearest Absalon to death.
	Then let them toss my broken lute to Heaven,
214	Even to his hands that beats me with the strings,
	To show how sadly his poor shepherd sings.
216
	[Goes to his pavilion and sits close a while.]
218
	Beth. Die, Bethsabe, to see thy David mourn,
220	To hear his tunes of anguish and of hell.
	O, help, my David, help thy Bethsabe,
222
	She kneels down.
224
	Whose heart is piercèd with thy breathy swords,
226	And bursts with burden of ten thousand griefs!
	Now sit thy sorrows sucking of my blood:
228	O, that it might be poison to their powers,
	And that their lips might draw my bosom dry,
230	So David's love might ease him, though she die!
232	Nath. These violent passions come not from above;
	David and Bethsabe offend the Highest,
234	To mourn in this immeasurable sort.
236	David. [Looking forth.]
	O Absalon, Absalon! O my son, my son!
238	Would God that I had died for Absalon!
	But he is dead; ah, dead! Absalon is dead:
240	And David lives to die for Absalon.
242	[Sits close again.]
244	Enter Joab, Abisai, Ithay, and their train.
246	Joab. Why lies the queen so prostrate on the ground?
	Why is this company so tragic-hued?
248	Why is the king now absent from his men,
	And marcheth not in triumph through the gates?
250
	[Unfolds the pavilion.]
252
	David, awake; if sleep have shut thine eyes,
254	Sleep of affection, that thou canst not see
	The honour offered to the victor's head:
256	Joab brings conquest piercèd on his spear,
	And joy from all the tribes of Israel.
258
	David. Thou man of blood, thou sepulchre of death,
260	Whose marble breast intomb[s] my bowels quick,
	Did I not charge thee, nay, entreat thy hand,
262	Even for my sake, to spare my Absalon?
	And hast thou now, in spite of David's health,
264	And scorn to do my heart some happiness,
	Given him the sword and spilt his purple soul?
266
	Joab. What, irks it David, that he victor breathes,
268	That Judah and the fields of Israel
	Should cleanse their faces from their children's blood?
270	What, art thou weary of thy royal rule?
	Is Israel's throne a serpent in thine eyes,
272	And he that set thee there so far from thanks,
	That thou must curse his servant for his sake?
274	Hast thou not said that, as the morning light,
	The cloudless morning, so should be thine house,
276	And not as flowers by the brightest rain
	Which grow up quickly and as quickly fade?
278	Hast thou not said, the wicked are as thorns,
	That cannot be preservèd with the hand,
280	And that the man shall touch them must be armed
	With coats of iron and garments made of steel,
282	Or with the shaft of a defencèd spear?
	And art thou angry he is now cut off
284	That led the guiltless swarming to their deaths,
	And was more wicked than an host of men?
286	Advance thee from thy melancholy den,
	And deck thy body with thy blissful robes,
288	Or, by the Lord that sways the Heaven I swear,
	I’ll lead thine armies to another king
290	Shall cheer them for their princely chivalry,
	And not sit daunted, frowning in the dark,
292	When his fair looks, with oil and wine refreshed,
	Should dart into their bosoms gladsome beams,
294	And fill their stomachs with triumphant feasts;
	That when elsewhere stern war shall sound his trump,
296	And call another battle to the field,
	Fame still may bring thy valiant soldiers home,
298	And for their service happily confess
	She wanted worthy trumps to sound their prowess:
300	Take thou this course and live; refuse and die.
302	Abis. Come, brother, let him sit there till he sink;
	Some other shall advance the name of Joab.
304
	[Offers to go out with Joab.]
306
	Beth. [Rising]
308	O, stay, my lords, stay! David mourns no more,
	But riseth to give honour to your acts.
310
	David. [Rising, and coming from his pavilion]
312	Then happy art thou, David's fairest son,
	That, freèd from the yoke of earthly toils,
314	And séquestered from sense of human sins,
	Thy soul shall joy the sacred cabinet
316	Of those divine ideas that present
	Thy changèd spirit with a Heaven of bliss.
318	Then thou art gone; ah, thou art gone, my son!
	To Heaven, I hope, my Absalon is gone:
320	Thy soul there placed in honour of the saints,
	Or angels clad with immortality,
322	Shall reap a sevenfold grace for all thy griefs;
	Thy eyes, now no more eyes but shining stars,
324	Shall deck the flaming heavens with novel lamps;
	There shalt thou taste the drink of seraphins,
326	And cheer thy feelings with archangels' food;
	Thy day of rest, thy holy sabbath-day,
328	Shall be eternal; and, the curtain drawn,
	Thou shalt behold thy sovereign face to face,
330	With wonder, knit in triple unity,
	Unity infinite and innumerable −
332	Courage, brave captains! Joab's tale hath stirred,
	And made the suit of Israel preferred.
334
	Joab. Bravely resolved, and spoken like a king:
336	Now may old Israel and his daughters sing.
338	[Exeunt omnes.]
	FINIS.