Act I. A field in Bethlehem, near the home of Jesse.
Reading edition
(Enter Eliab, polishing his sword. He practices fighting an imaginary enemy. Presently he turns and calls.)
Eliab:
Ho, David, tend my sheep for me; I make me ready to fight the Philistines. And see thou that no lion enter in, Else 'twill go hard with thee.
(The sounds of a shepherd's pipe, or of a harp are heard, receding in the distance. Jesse enters and speaks mildly and with remonstrance.)
Jesse:
My son, this night the first new moon arises of the new year; My son, this night we feast, And make our sacrifices on God's altar. My son, first be thou reconciled with thy brother David.
Eliab (impatiently): I have done him no wrong.
Jesse:
Thou and thy brothers are too harsh with him. He is a tender lad; be thou more gentle.
(Lays hand on Eliab's arm.)
Eliab (shaking off hand): He is a babe, fit only to tend sheep.
Jesse: Where hast thou sent him?
Eliab: To the hillside, away from Bethlehem.
Jesse: Where are thy brothers?
Eliab: They make them ready to fight the Philistines.
Jesse: Who tendeth their sheep?
Eliab (sullenly): David.
Jesse (with mild sarcasm):
And if a bear or a lion attack the flocks, The little David is alone; While his brave brothers abide here in safety. He perchance fighteth, while they make them ready.
Eliab (sneers):
Thou ever didst make much of David. The very name of "David" means "beloved."
Jesse:
Nay, all my sons are equal in my love. But David—he is indeed a gentle lad.
(He turns as though to go out. Left.)
(The Prophet Samuel enters slowly from the right.)
Eliab:
My father, who comes there? Nay, there, through the budding barley? The old man with so lofty a bearing?
Jesse: Mine eyes are dim. (He shades them and peers out. Suddenly he speaks.)
My son, it is the prophet Samuel.
What can his coming bode of good or evil?
Haste, haste, my son.
(They advance to meet the prophet, bowing low.)
Jesse:
O Samuel, O mouthpiece of the Lord, Comest thou in peace to Bethlehem?
Samuel: In peace!
Jesse: Make us to know thy will.
Samuel: Thou art Jesse, the Bethlehemite?
Jesse: Thou hast said it.
Samuel:
I am the mouthpiece of the most high God. For the Lord spake unto me, saying: Mourn not over King Saul; For I repent me that I made Saul king over Israel. Fill thine horn with oil and go; I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite; For I have provided me a king among his sons.
Jesse: A king!
Eliab: A king!!
Jesse:
Eliab, wind thy horn and call thy brothers; And bid thy sister bring both meat and wine To set before our guest.
(Eliab runs out to the left, winding his horn. He passes several of his brothers who are entering, and points out the prophet. Jesse motions Samuel to a seat in the center. Samuel sits. The Daughter of Jesse enters with food and drink, which Samuel rejects.)
Samuel:
And now make thou thy sons to pass before me, That I may choose.
(Eliab enters with other brothers. Abinadab slips beside his sister and eats the food. The Daughter stands beside her father, at right of Samuel.)
Jesse:
My sons, pass ye in order of your years, Before this man of God.
(Eliab advances and kneels. Samuel rises and regards him uncertainly.)
Samuel: Surely the Lord's anointed is before me.
Eliab (triumphantly): Ah, father, art so ready now to chide me?
Samuel: Nay, pause, my son, for the Lord hath said unto me:
Look not on a man's countenance, Nor the height of his stature; For the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance, But the Lord looketh on the heart. Thy heart is proud, and thou shalt not be king.
(Eliab passes with hanging head to the right. Abinadab advances.)
Abinadab: And I, sir, look on me.
Samuel:
The Lord rejects thee, For thou art a wine-bibber and a glutton.
(Abinadab swaggers defiantly over to Eliab, who grins at him. Shammah bows low and speaks slyly.)
Shammah:
Sir, if thou crown me king, I'll make thee rich in the spoils of the Philistines.
Samuel (briefly): The Lord rejects thee for a thief and robber.
(Shammah shrugs and joins others. Nathaneel advances.)
Nathaneel:
Make me king, sir, And I will drive out the Philistines, And all men shall bow down to the God of Israel.
Samuel:
The Lord rejects thee, for thou boasteth thyself, And sayest thou canst do much, When thou canst do little.
(Nathaneel passes angrily to right. Raddai advances.)
Raddai (cunningly):
Thou wilt anoint me, Samuel; For lo, the Lord came unto me in the night watches, Saying, Awake, awake, thou shalt be king of Israel.
(The brothers stare angrily at him.)
Samuel: The Lord rejects thee, for thou art a liar.
(The brothers double up with mirth. Raddai joins them, shaking his fist at Samuel. Ozem advances and bows meekly.)
Ozem:
For me, I would not be the king in Israel, Except the Lord command.
Samuel (praying): Lord, give me light! (Then he motions Ozem away.) Thou art not the chosen one.
(Ozem joins others. Elihu advances triumphantly.)
Elihu:
O mouthpiece of the most high God, behold me! I am the last. Anoint me, and let the oil run down to the hem of my garment! Anoint me, for I shall be a mighty king over Israel.
Daughter of Jesse (starting forward):
O brother, thou hast forgotten little David. (Turns to Samuel.) O sir, if thou despiseth these, my brothers, O let me show thee David. 'Tis the youngest, And the best loved by me.
(The brothers surge forward angrily.)
Eliab and Others: No, no! He is a babe—a child—a—
Samuel (waves them back and turns to Jesse):
Are all thy children here? Or hast thou another son?
Jesse:
There remaineth yet the youngest; And behold, he keepeth the sheep. He is my dear-beloved. His years are yet too tender to rule Israel.
Daughter of Jesse: O let me go and bring him!
Samuel:
Send and fetch him; For we will not sit down till he come hither.
(The Daughter of Jesse starts running out toward left.)
Jesse: Nay, daughter, blow the horn till he appear. (She blows horn.)
Samuel:
Speak not of his tender years; For the Lord knoweth the times and the seasons.
(She blows horn.)
Neither will he cause the flower to blow on the seedling; Nor the fruit on the sapling; Nor an old head on young shoulders.
(She blows horn.)
(There is a pause while all listen; then she blows again.)
Daughter of Jesse: He cometh, for I hear his harp in the distance.
(The song is heard, beginning faintly, but growing stronger. David enters on the last two lines.)
Song: "The Lord is My Shepherd," Music by S. Liddle.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Samuel (advancing to meet him):
O sweet singer of Israel, The Lord commandeth me, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.
(He raises his horn of oil. David kneels. Samuel pours oil upon him.)
For the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth: And he shall give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.
Daughter of Jesse (embracing David): O David, I am glad.
Jesse: Come now to the feast.
(All pass out but David and his sister. She waits for him as he stands in prayer.)
David:
O God, thou hast anointed me with the oil of gladness, Above my fellows. I will sing a song unto thee, O God; Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
(He takes his harp and sings.)
Song: Music, Continuation of Psalm.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(He passes slowly out while singing the last lines followed by his sister.)