to pray, finds his friend, and recognizes him by his hardihood. He tells him how his father Saul is tormented by an evil spirit, and how Abner, his lieutenant, takes advantage of this circumstance to sacrifice all whose merit has given him offence. He then informs him that Michal, the sister of Jonathan and the wife of David, is in the camp with Saul, her father, whom she is comforting and consoling in his afflictions, and from whom she has begged, in return, that he will restore David to her. He addresses David with a mixture of respect and love; regarding him both as the friend of his heart and as the messenger and favourite of God. The tender, faithful, and constant nature of David, is painted in the finest manner. The Lord triumphs over all his affections; but his enthusiasm, however exalted, does not extinguish the natural sentiments of his heart. Jonathan informs him that Michal will soon leave the tents, and join him in his morning prayers; and, as she approaches, he persuades David to conceal himself, in order that he may guard her against the surprise. Michal is a tender and suffering woman; she has no other thoughts but of David; all her fears and all her desires centre in him. As soon as Jonathan has prepared her to expect the return of her husband, David throws himself into her arms. They are all of opinion that David ought to present himself before Saul, previous to the battle which the latter is about to fight with the Philistines; and that Michal and Jonathan shall prepare the way for his reception, while David himself awaits their instructions in a neighbouring cavern. The second act opens with a scene between Saul and Abner. Saul is lamenting over his old age, the succour of the Almighty withheld from him, and the power of his enemies, with which he is deeply affected. His language is that of a noble but dejected soul. Abner attributes all the misfortunes of the king to David: * Thou 'rt deceived All my calamities may be referred To a more terrible cause.-And what? wouldst thou Alas! too certainly of much loved children, * Ah! no; deriva ogni sventura mia Già mi sarei fra gl'inimici ferri Scagliato io, da gran tempo; avrei gia tronca Così la vita orribile ch' io vivo. How many years have now pass'd since a smile Planted with thorns to my unsolaced limbs : Each dream, with imaged terrors that distract me. Thou seest that God hath cast me off for ever. Quanti anni or son, che sul mio labro il riso Ch'amo pur tanto, le più volte all'ira Sempre; a me stesso incresco ognora e altrui; The character of Saul throughout the whole drama is consistent with the representation of it in this scene. He impetuously abandons himself to the most contrary passions, and the latest word which he hears awakens a new storm in his soul. He easily believes his glory tarnished and his power departing; he menaces; he punishes; and his own fury appears to him a fresh instance of that divine vengeance under which he is perishing. Abner attributes his violence and his aberration of mind to the superstitious terrors which Samuel and the prophets of Rama have excited, and which the enthusiasm of David has nourished. Jonathan and Michal, who enter at this moment, entreat him, on the contrary, to believe that his power and glory are connected with the return of David, whom they announce as the messenger of God, and the pledge of divine protection. When the mind of Saul is thus warmed, David enters and throws himself at his feet. He calms by his submissive deportment the first burst of anger which his appearance has excited; he repels the accusations of Abner, and proves that, far from laying snares for the king, he had his life in his power in the cave of En-jedi, where, while Saul was sleeping, he cut off a portion of his garment, which he now presents to him. Saul is convinced; he calls David his son, and commends him to the love of Michal as a recompense for his sufferings. He then commits to him the command of the army, and begs him to arrange the order of the approaching battle. At the commencement of the third act, Abner gives an account to David of the order of battle which he had proposed when he conceived himself to be sole general. He mingles some bitter irony with his report, which David treats with noble coldness. The latter approves of the military dispositions, and confides the execution of them to Abner, mingling praises of his valour with the counsels which he gives him. Scarcely has Abner departed, when Michal appears, to inform her husband that the general, having seen Saul, has awakened with a single word all his former fury. She fears that David will again be forced to fly, and she swears to accompany him in his exile. Saul now appears with Jonathan, and displays symptoms of strong insanity: * Who, who are ye? Who speaks of pure air here? This? 'tis a thick impenetrable gloom, A land of darkness, and the shades of death. Ah, see! more nearly it approaches me— A fatal wreath of blood surrounds the sun- * Chi sete voi?—Chi d' aura aperta e pura. |