First Woman (advancing to High Place):
King Solomon, all hail!
Thou wisest of all judges!
Thou canst read the hearts of men;
Thou understandest the language of beasts and birds;
Lo, I bare my heart to thee.
Read thou!
I lay my child before thy feet;
Judge thou! (She places child at foot of step.)
Solomon: Guard, take the child. (Second Soldier lifts the child stiffly.) (To First Woman.) Is this thy child?
First Woman: God knows.
Solomon: Aye, but I would likewise know. Hath neither woman a witness?
Wicked Judge (brusquely): Pshaw! Nonsense! There is no doubt at all, O mighty son of David. I have examined witnesses; they swear the child is hers. (Nods toward First Woman.) Moreover, she hath the child; possession witnesses. (Pats First Woman.) Fear not, my girl; the king will do thee right.
Second Woman: O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And this woman's child died in the night; and she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid her dead son beside me. And when I arose in the morning, the child was dead; but when I had considered it, behold, it was not my son.
First Woman: Nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son.
Second Woman: Nay, but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son.