UR. Thus shall Urias' heart be best content, Shall be my couch, and this unwearied arm, For never will I lodge within my house, Till Joab triumph in my secret vows. DAV. Then fetch some flagons of our purest wine, And to the honours of his future arms; Then will I send him back to Rabbah siege [Enter one with the flagons of wine. Arise, Urias; come, and pledge the king. I will be bold, and pledge my lord the king. To good Urias, and his happiness. ABS. We will, my lord, to please Urias' soul. And all the treasure of the Ammonites, UR. What seemeth pleasant in my sovereign's eyes, DAV. Fill him the cup; follow, ye lords, that love Your sovereign's health, and do as he hath done. a. ABS. Ill may he thrive, or live in Israel, That loves not David, or denies his charge. Urias, here is to Abisai's health, Lord Joab's brother, and thy loving friend. UR. I pledge lord Absalon, and Abisai's health. [He drinks. Cu. Here now, Urias, to the health of Joab, And to the pleasant journey we shall have, When we return to mighty Rabbah siege. UR. Cusay, I pledge thee all with all my heart.— Give me some drink, ye servants of the king; Give me my drink. [He drinks. DAV. Well done, my good Urias; drink thy fill, That in thy fulness David may rejoice. UR. I will, my lord. ABS. Now, lord Urias, one carouse to me. UR. No, sir, I'll drink to the king; Your father is a better man than you. DAV. Do so, Urias, I will pledge thee straight. UR. I will indeed, my lord, and sovereign; I'll* once in my days be so bold. DAV. Fill him his glass. UR. Fill me my glass. [He gives him the glass. DAV. Quickly, I say, Urias, quickly I say. * I'll] Old copy “I.” + DAV. Quickly, I say, Urias, &c.] From the manner in which this line is printed in the old copy, I incline to think that part of it belongs to Urias, and that we should read; "DAV. Quickly, I say. “UR. Quickly, I say : Here, my lord, by your favour now I drink to you." UR. Here, my lord, by your favour now I drink to you. DAV. I pledge thee, good Urias, presently. [He drinks. ABS. Here then, Urias, once again for me, And to the health of David's children. UR. David's children? ABS. Ay, David's children; wilt thou pledge me, man? UR. Pledge me man ! ABS. Pledge me, I say, or else thou lov'st us not. UR. What, do you talk? do you talk? I'll no more, I'll lie down here. DAV. Rather, Urias, go thou home and sleep. UR. O, ho, sir! would you make me break my [He lies down. sentence? Home, sir, no, indeed, sir: I'll sleep upon mine arm, Like a soldier, sleep like a man as long as I live in Israel. DAV. If nought will serve to save his wife's re nown, I'll send him with a letter unto Joab To put him in the forefront of the wars, That so my purposes may take effect.- [Exeunt Dav. and Abs. Cu. Come, rise, Urias; get thee in and sleep. Cu. Then come, and rest thee upon David's bed. CHORUS. O proud revolt of a presumptuous man, Her pleasant gardens, and delightsome parks,* So wretched man, displeas'd with those delights Is murther'd by the hateful heathens' sword, delightsome parks] England's Parnassus, (where several lines of this chorus are given, p. 195, under the head man, in,)" delightful parts." † kingly} Qy. "king by.” Tui Enter BETHSABE, with her handmaid. BETH. Mourn, Bethsabe, bewail thy foolishness, * The tinkling cymbal, or the ivory lute; Nor doth the sound of David's kingly harp, The fruit that sprung from thee to David's house; Glad David, or his handmaid's countenance. For who is it among the sons of men, That saith not to my soul, the king hath sinn'd ; David hath done amiss, and Bethsabe Laid snares of death unto Urias' life? My sweet Urias, fallen into the pit Art thou, and gone even to the gates of hell For Bethsabe, that wouldst not shroud her shame. How lion-like they rage, when we resist! The grace that God will to his handmaid send. tinkling] Old copy "twinkling." [Exit. Pepore. |