“Saul” V. Alfieri in summary
David comes at night to the camp of the Israelites in Gilboa. He is forced to hide from King Saul, to which the filial feelings feed. Earlier, Saul loved him, he himself chose David as his wife for his beloved daughter, Malkola. “But ransom / Ominous – a hundred enemy heads – / You demanded, and I double harvest / I took it off for you…” Today Saul is not himself: he is following David. David wants to take part in the battle with the Philistines and to prove his devotion to Saul. Saul’s son Jonathan, hearing David speak to himself, approaches him. Jonathan rejoices at the meeting: he loves David as a brother. He fears for David’s life, knowing how much he hates Saul. David is not afraid of anything: “I’m here to die: but only in battle, / As strong – for the fatherland and for the ungrateful Saul / That he prays for my death.” Jonathan tells us, that the wicked and envious Abner, a relative of Saul and the chief of his
Saul remembers how undaunted the warrior he was. Now he is old and his strength is not the same as before. But he lost not only his youth: “Was with me / Another invincible hand / the Almighty! .. And was, at least, / With me, David, my knight.” Abner tells Saul that David is the main cause of all his troubles. But Saul understands that the thing in him is: “Impatient, gloomy, / Cruel, spiteful – so I became what, / Always not myself, not sweet to others, / With peace thirsty for wars, for wars – peace.” Abner assures Saul that the prophet Samuel, who was the first to say that Saul is rejected by God, is a defiant, deceitful and cunning old man, he himself wanted to become king, but the people elected Saul, and Samuel out of envy declared that God had rejected Saul. Abner says that David was always closer to Samuel than to Saul, and is more located to the altar than to the battlefield. Abner of one blood with Saul: “I am of your kind, and the glitter of the king / There is the glory of Abner, and David / will not be exalted, not upset by Saul.” Saul often sees in a dream how Samuel tears off the king’s crown from his head and wants to lay it on David’s head, but David falls down and tears to the prophet to return the crown to Saul. Abner exclaims: “Let David perish: disappear with him / All fears, and misfortunes, and visions.”
Saul no longer wants to delay the battle with the Philistines. Jonathan does not doubt the victory. Melchola hopes that after the battle, Saul will find rest and peace and return her beloved husband. Saul believes that the Israelis are doomed to failure. Michal recalls how David, with his singing, appeased Saul and distracted him from gloomy thoughts. Jonathan reminds Saul of David’s military valor. David appears: “My King, I have long wanted / You are my head.” So, take it, / Seki her. ” Saul greets him kindly: “In you God speaks, he brought you / to me the Lord…” David asks Saul to let him fight in the ranks of the Israelis or to lead the army – as it pleases – and then ready to accept the execution. Saul accuses David of pride, in a desire to eclipse the king. David knows that he is not guilty of anything, it’s all – Abner’s slander, which envies him. Abner asserts that David was hiding in Philistia, among the enemies, sowing turmoil among the people of Israel and more than once attempted the life of Saul. In justification, David shows a flap from the royal mantle of Saul. One day, Saul, who was looking for David to kill, fell asleep in the cave where David was hiding. David could kill him and escape, for Abner, who was supposed to guard Saul, was far away. But David did not take advantage of the fact that the king was in his power, for revenge and only cut off the sword with a sword from the mantle of Saul. Hearing David’s speech, Saul returns his position and appoints him commander. David could kill him and escape, for Abner, who was supposed to guard Saul, was far away. But David did not take advantage of the fact that the king was in his power, for revenge and only cut off the sword with a sword from Saul’s mantle. Hearing David’s speech, Saul returns his position and appoints him commander. David could kill him and escape, for Abner, who was supposed to guard Saul, was far away. But David did not take advantage of the fact that the king was in his power, for revenge and only cut off the sword with a sword from the mantle of Saul. Hearing David’s speech, Saul returns his position and appoints him commander.
David calls Abner to himself for an important conversation. He says that Abner should not serve him, David, and they both must serve the sovereign, the people and God. Abner offers a battle plan, which David fully approves. He appoints Abner the chief of the main forces. David wants to begin the offensive at four o’clock in the afternoon: the sun, wind and thick dust will help them in battle. Michal tells David that Abner had already whispered something to Saul, and the mood of the king changed. Saul again accuses David of pride. David replies: “On the battlefield – a warrior, at court – / Your son-in-law, and before God I am nothing.” Saul notices David’s sword. This sacred sword was given to David by the priest Ahimelech. Hearing that Ahimelech gave the sacred sword hanging in the Nomva above the altar, David, Saul is enraged. He accuses the children of the fact that they are just waiting for him to die, to take possession of the royal crown. Jonathan asks David to sing, hoping to dispel the wrath of his father. David sings about the military exploits of Saul, about the rest after the battle, but hearing the word “sword”, Saul again goes into a rage. Jonathan and Michal hold Saul ready to slay David so that he can leave. Saul sends Michal to David. Jonathan, meanwhile, tries to pacify his father’s wrath, begs him not to be bitter against the truth and God, whose elect is David. Abner also looks for David: less than an hour left before the battle. In the camp of the Israelis appears Ahimelech. He rebukes Saul in that he descended from the path of the Lord, Saul also calls Ahimelech a traitor, who gave the exile David not only shelter and write, but also a sacred weapon. Saul does not doubt that Ahimelech came to betray him, but the priest came to pray for the bestowal of Saul’s victory. Saul scolds all the priests, he remembers how Samuel himself killed the Amalekite king, who was captured by Saul and spared for military prowess. Ahimelech urges Saul to return to God: “King of the earth, but before God / Who is the king?” Saul, come to your senses, you are no more, / than a crown of dust. ” Ahimelech threatens Saul with the wrath of the Lord and denounces the malicious and insidious Abner. Saul orders Abner to kill Ahimelech, cancel David’s order and postpone the attack for tomorrow, seeing in David’s desire to start a battle before sunset a hint of his fading old hand. Saul tells Abner to lead David, so that he himself cuts his veins. Ahimelech before death predicts that Saul and Abner will die a miserable death from the sword, but not from the enemy and not in battle. Jonathan tries to appeal to the mind of his father, but without success. Saul drives the children away: He sends Jonathan to the army, and sends him to seek David. “I alone stay with myself, / And only I am afraid of myself.”
Michal persuades David to flee under the cover of night, but David does not want to leave the Israelis on the eve of the battle. Michal tells of the execution of Ahimelech and the fact that Saul gave Avenir an order to kill David if he met him during the battle. David hears a prophetic voice, he predicts that the coming day will be terrible for the king and for the whole people. But here the pure blood of the servant of the Lord was spilled, and David can not fight on the land that is defiled. Reluctantly, he agrees to flee, but, worried about Michal, does not want to take it with him: “Stay / with your father until you return to your husband / you Lord.” David is hiding. Michal hears from his father’s tent cries and sees Saul running from the shadow that pursues him. Melkola tries in vain to convince his father that nobody is after him. Saul sees a fiery punishing sword above him and asks the Lord to turn his sword away from his children, he himself is to blame, but the children are not guilty of anything. He hears the voice of the prophet Samuel, standing up for David. He wants to send for David…
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