THE CALL OF SAMUEL
(Enter the Prologue.)
Prologue: This is the story of the call of Samuel. The scene is Shiloh, before the door of the tabernacle. Lo, there entereth Eli, priest of Israel. (Prologue withdraws.)
(Eli, the old priest, enters, and stands praying.) Eli: O Lord God, turn thou my sons, I pray thee, from their evil ways. Lo, they come yonder, full of wine and drink, a disgrace to mine old age.
(Hophni and Phinehas come swaggering in, arm in arm. One has a jug of wine; he drinks and hands it to the other. Eli raises a trembling hand toward them.)
Hophni: Hi there, old man, art going to chide again?
Phinehas (mockingly): Do not show anger, for anger doth not become a man of God.
Eli: My sons, why will ye tempt the Lord your God? Turn from your evil ways and pray. (Lays a hand on Hophni.)
Hophni (jerking away): I pray not, I! Thou hast ever said the Lord was slow to anger.