Samuel. Doeg, chief servant of the king?
Doeg. Why me?
Had I a mother out of Israel?
I am an alien, an Edomite.
David. My lord, this is no more endurable!
(Steps forth.)
Futile and death? Alien? Edomite?
Has not this Philistine before the gates,
With insult and illimitable breath
Vaunting of vanity and smiting laughter,
Boasted and braved and threatened up to Baal?
And now unless one slay him, Israel
From babe to age must bleed and be no more!
I am a shepherd, have but seized the lion
And throttled the bleating kid out of his throat;
Little it then beseems that I thrust in
Where battle captains pale and falter off;
But this is past all carp of rank or station.
One must go out—Goliath must have end.
Doeg. Ah, ah! and you will!
Ishui. You?
Jonathan. No, David!
Saul. You?
David. Sudden you hound about me ravenous?
Have I thrown doom not daring to your feet,
Ruler of Israel, that you rise wild,
Livid above me as an avalanche?