But, preach I to thee, while I should revenge Thy cursed sin that staineth Israel, And makes her fields blush with her children's blood? Take that as part of thy deserved plague, Which worthily no torment can inflict. ABS. O Joab, Joab, cruel, ruthless Joab! Herewith thou wound'st thy kingly sovereign's heart, Whose heavenly temper hates his children's blood, And will be sick, I know, for Absalon. O, my dear father, that thy melting eyes JOAB. If he were so remorseful of thy state, In this, proud Absalon, is Joab's love. [He goes out. Ah, my dear father! see, thy bowels bleed ; See death assault thy dearest Absalon; See, pity, pardon, pray for Absalon. Enter five or six Soldiers. SOLD. See where the rebel in his glory hangs : Where is the virtue of thy beauty, Absalon? VOL. II. F Will any of us here now fear thy looks, And here's an end to thee and all thy sins. Enter in triumph with drum and ensign, JoAB, JOAB. Well done, tall + soldiers; take the traitor And in this miry ditch inter his bones, Covering his hateful breast with heaps of stones. Shall ever lower on his cursed grave; Night ravens and owls shall ring his fatal knell, And to his traitorous fact eternal shame. [Exeunt. CHORUS. O dreadful precedent of his just doom, Trumpets sound: Enter JOAB, AHIMAAS, CUSAY, JOAB. Soldiers of Israel, and ye sons of Judah, That have contended in these irksome broils, And ript old Israel's bowels with your swords; The godless general of your stubborn arms Is brought by Israel's helper to the grave, A grave of shame, and scorn of all the tribes: Now then, to save your honours from the dust, After this speech of the Chorus, the old copy (Sig. G 4.) gives the following fragment, which belongs to some earlier scene of the play that has been lost; Absalon, with three or four of his servants or gentlemen. "AB. What boots it, Absalon, unhappy Absalon, Sighing I say, what boots it, Absalon, To have disclos'd a far more worthy womb Than" And keep your bloods in temper by your bones, In whose just death your deaths are threaten'd, Our goods and bodies to his gracious hands. JOAB. Stand up, and take ye all your swords [All stand up. again; David, and Joab, shall be blest herein. 9 AHI. Now let me go inform my lord the king How God hath freed him from his enemies. JOAB. Another time, Ahimaas, not now; But Cusay, go thyself, and tell the king The happy message of our good success. Cu. I will, my lord, and thank thee for thy grace. [Ex. Cus. AнI. What if thy servant should go too, my lord? JOAB. What news hast thou to bring since he is gone? АнI. Yet do Ahimaas so much content, That he may run about so sweet a charge. [Exit. JOAB. Run, if thou wilt; and peace be with thy steps. Now follow, that you may salute the king With humble hearts, and reconciled souls. AMA. We follow, Joab, to our gracious king; And him our swords shall honour to our deaths. [Exeunt. DAVID, BETHSABE, SALOMON, NATHAN, ADONIA, CHILEAB, with their train. BETH. What means my lord, the lamp of Israel, From whose bright eyes all eyes receive their light, To dim the glory of his sweet aspects, And paint his countenance with his heart's distress? Why should his thoughts retain a sad conceit, When every pleasure kneels before his throne, And sues for sweet acceptance with his grace? |