That smite my ears, compelling me to weep; He then asks for David, and reproaches him in turns for his pride (for deep jealousy is the true madness of Saul), and for the enthusiastic tone in which he speaks of God; since the Divinity is his enemy, and his praises are insults to Saul. He is astonished at beholding the sword which David had taken from Goliah, and which had been afterwards dedicated to God in the tabernacle of Nob, and he becomes furious when he learns that Abimelech has restored this sword to David. But even this fury exhausts itself. He relents; he melts into tears; and Jonathan invites David to seize upon this moment to calm the frenzy of the king by his songs and his harp. David sings. or recites some lyrical effusions, of which he changes the metre according to the subject, to suit the temper of Saul's mind. He first implores the protection of God; then he sings of martial glory in the stanza of the canzoni; but, upon Saul exclaiming that these are the songs of his youth, and that henceforward relaxation, oblivion, and peace must be the portion of his old age, David sings the hymn of peace in harmonious and tender strains. Saul is angry with himself that he can be moved by such effeminate compositions, Che me percuote, e a lagrimar mi sforza— and David again commences his war-song. In animated dithyrambic verse he paints the glory of Saul in his battles, and represents himself as marching in his footsteps. This allusion to another warrior exasperates Saul; in his fury he attempts to transfix the minstrel who has dared to introduce the mention of another's exploits, and David escapes with difficulty, while Jonathan and Michal restrain the anger of the king. At the commencement of the fourth act, Michal enquires from Jonathan, whether David may yet return to her father's tent, but she is told that although the frenzy of the king has passed away, his anger still remains. Saul then enters, and orders Michal to go in search of David. Abner accuses the latter, the general of the king's choice, with being absent in the hour of battle, and brings Abimelech, the high priest, whom he had discovered in the camp, before the monarch. At the sight of him, all Saul's fury against the Levites is again awakened, and on learning his name, he charges him with having dared to grant protection to David, and with having restored to him the sword of Goliah. Abimelech answers him with all the haughtiness of an enthusiast; menaces him with the vengeance of God, which is suspended above his head; and irritates, instead of intimidating him. Saul recalls the cruelty of the priests, and the death of the king of the Amalekites, who, after having been made prisoner, was put to death by Samuel; and he gives back menace for menace. He orders Abimelech to be led to death, and commands a detachment of his troops to proceed to Nob, to destroy the race of priests and prophets, to burn their abodes, and to put to the sword their mothers, their wives, and their children, their slaves, and their flocks. changes the whole order of battle, which had been determined upon in concert with David, and he resolves to commence the engagement on the ensuing dawn. He repulses Jonathan, who He entreats him not to incur the sin of this sacrilegious act; he repulses Michal, who returns without David; and he declares that if David is seen in the battle, all the swords of Israel shall be turned against him. Shunning every one, he exclaims, I to myself am left-myself alone, Unhappy king! myself alone I dread not. The fifth act commences with Michal leading David from his retreat. She informs him that dangers are closing round him, and entreats him to fly and bear her along with him. David wishes to remain to fight with his countrymen, and to perish in battle; but as soon as he hears that the blood of the priests has been shed, that the camp is polluted, and the ground stained with it, he acknowledges that he can never combat in this place, and resolves to fly. He is, however, unwilling to carry away with him a daughter who is her father's sole consolation, or to impede his course through the deserts, as he necessarily must if she accompanies him. He therefore supplicates and commands her to remain. Their separation is tender and touching, and David takes his lonely way through the craggy passes of the mountains. Scarcely has he departed, when Michal hears the sounds of conflict at the extremity of the camp, and groans proceeding from the tent of her father. Saul is again furious; the excess of his delirium is redoubled by the remorse which oppresses him. He sees the shade of Samuel menacing him, of Abimelech, and of the victims slain at Nob. His way is on every side obstructed by the bodies of the dead and by carnage. He offers up his supplications and entreats that at least the anger of God may pass away from the heads of his children. His delirium is truly sublime, and the apparitions which torment him fill the imagination of the spectator. Suddenly the shadows disappear; he only hears the cry of battle which approaches nearer and nearer. He had resolved to engage the ensuing morning; but it is yet night, and the Philistines are within his camp. Abner arrives with a handful of soldiers, and wishes to carry the king to the mountains to a place of safety. The Philistines surprise the Israelites, and Jonathan perishes with all his brothers. The army is completely routed, and only a few mo ments' space remains for flight. Of this, Saul obstinately refuses to take advantage; he orders Abner to bear Michal to a place of safety, and forces her to leave him, and he then remains alone on the stage: Oh my children, I was a father-See thyself alone, O King! Of thy so many friends and servants, Not one remains.-Inexorable God! Is thy retributory wrath appeased? But thou remain'st to me, O sword! Now come, Hark! hark!' the howlings of the insolent victors! Their swords by thousands. Impious Philistine! As he speaks these words he falls, transfixed by his own sword. The victorious Philistines surround him in a crowd, with blazing torches and bloody swords. While they are rushing with loud cries upon Saul, the curtain falls. * Oh figli miei !—Fui padre!— Eccoti solo, O rè; non un ti resta D' inesorabil Dio terribil ira ? Ma tu mi resti, O brando, all' ultim' uopo. |