(While he prays the First Woman creeps forward and kisses the hem of his robe. Solomon turns and regards her with wonder. She rises.)
First Woman: O king, because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked understanding to discern judgment, behold God will give to thee a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Solomon: Who art thou? For it was thus I heard the word of God ringing in my heart. Who art thou?
First Woman (prostrate): The least of thy servants—a grain of dust by the roadside.
Solomon: Why art thou come—here to the Hall of Judgment?
First Woman (rising): O my lord, I and this woman (Indicates Woman with Baby.) dwell in one house, and her son died in the night-time, and she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid her dead son beside me—
Second Woman (insolently): She lieth, lord king.
First Woman: When I arose in the morning the child was dead, but when I had considered it, behold, it was not my son.
Second Woman: Nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son.
Solomon (regards both silently for a few seconds): Women, approach! (Both women stand before him.) Thou sayest, "This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead," and thou sayest, "Nay, but thy son is the dead, and mine is the living." (To Soldier.) Bring hither a sword. (Soldier goes.)