There is no actual change of scenery in this play, description
serving the purpose.
THE PROPERTIES
A litter on which the dead son of Pharaoh is carried.
Moses' rod.
Miriam's cymbals.
Fan which the page carries over Pharaoh.
Spears for soldiers.
UP, UP FROM EGYPT TO THE PROMISED LAND
(_Enter_ PHARAOH, _followed by_ SOLDIERS _carrying the litter of his
dead_ SON. _The_ EGYPTIANS _follow, then_ MOSES _and_ AARON.)
FIRST EGYPTIAN (_bowing low_): O Pharaoh, let the children of Israel
go. Lo, there is mourning in the land of Egypt because thou keepest
them in bondage. (_He points to the_ SON _of_ PHARAOH.)
EGYPTIANS: Woe, woe, woe! Yea, the god of Israel is a jealous god!
PHARAOH: O Moses and Aaron, evil have ye wrought in the land of
Egypt, and accursed is the land while the children of Israel remain.
Rise ye, get ye forth from my people, lest your god smite us, and
we be all dead men. (_He passes out followed by_ SOLDIERS _carrying
litter._)
MOSES (_to_ CHILDREN OF ISRAEL _or_ CLASS): Ho, men of Israel! (_They
stand._) Pharaoh commands, "Cease ye the burden of Egypt!"
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (_shout_): To God the glory! (_They rush into
aisle._)
AARON: Assemble ye your wives and little ones, your camels and your
asses. God leads us to a land of milk and honey. On now to Canaan, to
the promised land!
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (_shout_): The promised land!
(AARON _leads; the_ CHILDREN OF ISRAEL _follow;_ MOSES _brings up the
rear. They march toward the back of the room singing._)
_Song_: "The Promised Land," by Unknown Author
(_Adapted_).
[Song:
1. Up, up from E-gypt to the promised land!
Up, up from E-gypt to the promised land!
Where our God shall lead us, we will go.
O hasten to the promised land!
CHORUS
I'll a-way, I'll a-way to the promised land!
I'll a-way, I'll a-way to the promised land!
Where our God shall lead us, we will go.
O hasten to the promised land!
]
(_The Egyptians watch with interest._)
FIRST EGYPTIAN: A mighty army!
SECOND EGYPTIAN: Six hundred thousand strong!
THIRD EGYPTIAN: Pharaoh will rue the day when he let these slaves
escape from the land of Egypt.
FIRST EGYPTIAN: There he cometh in mad haste.
(PHARAOH _enters followed by_ PAGE _and_ SOLDIERS.)
PHARAOH: Lo, it repents me that I have let Israel go. Let my soldiers
go after them and scourge them back. On the Red Sea shore we will
come up with them. On, my men, on!
(PHARAOH, _the_ EGYPTIANS _and_ SOLDIERS _rush down aisle after
the_ CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. _They, in the meantime, have made the
circuit of the room, or church, and re-enter the stage, or chancel,
singing._)
_Song:_ Same Music as before.
"Flowing with honey is the promised land;
Flowing with honey is the promised land.
Where our God shall lead us, we will go.
O hasten to the promised land!"
_Chorus:_ As before.
AARON: Men of Israel, before us stretches the Red Sea water; here we
will make our camp.
MIRIAM (_clutching his arm_): O Aaron, look! Behind us see the
shining spears! Behind us cometh Pharaoh and his hosts. Where now is
Moses?
AN ISRAELITE: And before, stretches the Red Sea water. How may we
cross? Where now is Moses?
ANOTHER ISRAELITE: We shall be brought to Egypt again as slaves.
Where now is Moses?
(MOSES _pushes his way through the people._)
AARON AND OTHERS: O Moses, why hast thou thus dealt with us?
ANOTHER ISRAELITE: It were better for us to serve in the land of
Egypt, than that we die here in the wilderness.
MOSES: Fear ye not. Stand still and see the salvation of your God.
For the Egyptians which ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them no
more forever. (_He stretches out his rod._)
MIRIAM (_exultingly_): The Red Sea parts! The waves do mount on
either side like giant cliffs, upheld by a monster hand. See how the
waves do lash and foam! See! See!
MOSES: Forward, ye men of Israel!
(_They pass down the central aisle, singing._)
_Song:_ Same Music as before.
Through Red Sea waters to the promised land!
Through Red Sea waters to the promised land!
Where our God shall lead us, we will go.
O hasten to the promised land!
_Chorus:_ As before.
(PHARAOH _and his men, having pursued the_ CHILDREN OF ISRAEL _around
the room, appear on the stage._)
FIRST EGYPTIAN: O Pharaoh, thy soldiers have them in a trap. Before
stretches the Red Sea water, and behind, behold thy shining spears!
PHARAOH: On, my men, on!
(_The_ EGYPTIANS _and the_ SOLDIERS _rush after the_ CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL. PHARAOH _and his_ PAGE _remain._)
PAGE: See, see, the Red Sea parts! The children of Israel walk on it
dryshod. Verily, their god is God.
PHARAOH (_loudly_): Is their god more than I? Who is Jehovah? On, my
men, on!
PAGE: Thy soldiers obey; thy army follows after through the sea. (_A
pause of ten seconds while they peer into distance._) The high waves
tremble--O let thy soldiers haste! (_A pause of ten seconds. Then he
cries, trembling and hiding his eyes._) O lord, the waves! The waves!
PHARAOH: Waves, stand ye back! I, Pharaoh, bid ye stay!
[Illustration: THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAIL THE PROMISED LAND]
PAGE (_looking up_): They fall; they crush! Thy army, the waves go
over them.
PHARAOH (_stretching out his arms_): O god of Moses, drive the sea
apart!
PAGE (_promptly_): The god of Moses will not hear _thy_ prayer.
PHARAOH: The Israelites exult.
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (_in distance_):
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?
Glorious in holiness--
Fearful in praises--
Doing wonders!
The Lord shall reign forever and ever.
MIRIAM (_with a clash of cymbals_):
I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously.
This is my God and I will praise him,
My father's God and I will exalt him. (_Clash of cymbals._)
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL:
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?
Glorious in holiness--
Fearful in praises--
Doing wonders.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever. (_Clash of cymbals._)
PHARAOH (_shaking his clinched fist_): Mocked at by god and man!
I will raise me a mightier army and follow after.
I will pray to the gods of Egypt. (_He passes hastily out._)
PAGE (_stretches out his arms to the departing Israelites_): O God of
Moses, _I_ will pray to thee. (_He goes slowly after Pharaoh._)
[Illustration: THE CHILD SAMUEL WITH HIS PARENTS]
THE CALL OF SAMUEL
THE PEOPLE
PROLOGUE AND EPILOGUE.
ELI THE PRIEST.
HOPHNI, } HIS SONS.
PHINEHAS, }
HANNAH.
ELKANAH.
SAMUEL, SON OF HANNAH AND ELKANAH.
FIRST SOLDIER.
SECOND SOLDIER.
THIRD SOLDIER.
THE PLACE
Shiloh, before the door of the tabernacle.
PROPERTIES
A seven-branched candlestick (if feasible).
Two couches.
A jar of wine.
Spears and shields.
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.
ELI: Yea, but the cup of your iniquity is full; and I--I suffer in
your fall.
[Illustration: THE PRIEST ELI REBUKES HIS DRUNKEN SONS]
PHINEHAS (_laughs mockingly_): Ah, so? The iniquity of the children
shall be visited upon the fathers? Eh? Well, who is responsible if
not the father? Come, Hophni, come where it is merry.
HOPHNI (_eagerly_): Yea! (_They go out singing and taking turns at
jug._)
ELI (_raising his arms despairingly to heaven_): O God! God! (_Passes
out._)
(_Enter_ HANNAH, _followed by her husband_, ELKANAH. _She is
weeping._)
ELKANAH (_imploringly_): Hannah, why weepest thou? And why is thy
heart so grieved? If it be because thou hast no son, grieve not. Am I
not better to thee than ten sons?
HANNAH: Ai, my husband, the women mock me that I have no child. (_She
kneels and prays silently._)
(ELI _enters and observes her in wonder, for silent prayer was
unusual._)
ELI: Woman, what ails thee?
HANNAH (_rising_): Ah, sir, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit; I pour
out my soul before the Lord.
ELI: Give me to know thy sorrow.
HANNAH: I prayed unto the Lord that he would look upon the affliction
of his handmaid, and give unto me a man-child. If he do so, then will
I give the child unto the Lord all the days of his life.
ELI: A man-child? Nay, ask more. Ask that he grow in the grace and
love of God, else will the gift be one of sorrow.
HANNAH: Ah, sir, that shall be _my_ task--to lead him in the love of
God.
ELI: Ai, 'tis there that _I_ have failed. (_He raises his hands and
blesses her._) Go thou in peace, and the Lord grant thy petition.
HANNAH (_bowing_): May thy servant find grace in thy sight. (_She
and_ ELKANAH _go._)
ELI (_prays_): O Lord God, O let this, thy servant, find grace in thy
sight. Forgive thou the iniquity of my sons. For who shall follow
after me, O Lord? Who shall be judge of Israel, if not my sons? Hear
my prayer, O Lord, and give unto me an answer of peace. (_He bows his
head and passes out._)
(_The_ PROLOGUE _reenters._)
PROLOGUE: Now many years have passed. Eli is still the priest and
judge of Israel, though he is blind; and his sons continue still in
evil. Yonder come Hannah and her husband to give thanks for the gift
of the child Samuel, and to give him to the Lord. (PROLOGUE _goes._)
(_Enter_ HANNAH _and_ ELKANAH _leading the child_ SAMUEL.)
HANNAH (_caressing child_): See thou, this is the very spot on which
I prayed the prayer which brought me thee.
SAMUEL (_roguishly_): God heard thy prayer, and sent thee a little
son to boast of. (_He smiles up at her._)
ELKANAH (_rumpling_ SAMUEL'S _hair_): Nay, an imp of mischief!
(ELI _enters, groping blindly._ SAMUEL _regards him in amaze._)
SAMUEL: There cometh the priest in raiment. (_He shrinks away._) Ai!
Why walketh he in such fashion?
HANNAH: He is become blind. (_She advances to him._) Sir--O Eli--
ELI: Woman, thy voice is known to me--and yet--who art thou?
HANNAH: O sir, I am that woman who stood here praying, these
many years ago. For a child I prayed, and the Lord hath granted
my petition. (_She leads_ SAMUEL _to_ ELI, _who passes his hands
delicately over the child's head._) Therefore I also have given the
child to the Lord. As long as he liveth he is granted to the Lord.
(_She turns to_ SAMUEL.) Kneel thou, my son, before this holy man and
beseech him to take thee into the service of the Lord.
SAMUEL (_pulls_ HANNAH _away and puts his lips to her ears_):
Hark'ee, dear mother, I would fain go home with thee again.
HANNAH: Nay, little son, night approacheth; we must leave thee.
ELKANAH: Come, say, "Farewell." (SAMUEL _goes to him._)
HANNAH (_prays, as though facing the altar of the Lord_):
My heart exulteth in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord.
The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich;
He bringeth low; he also lifteth up.
For by strength shall no man prevail.
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
He shall give strength unto his king
And exalt the horn of his anointed.
(_She turns, embraces the child, then bows before_ ELI.)
O Eli, priest of God and judge of Israel, the Lord be with thee.
(HANNAH _and_ ELKANAH _go._)
ELI (_sits on couch and beckons to_ SAMUEL): Come hither, lad.
(SAMUEL _goes to him reluctantly._) What do they call thee?
SAMUEL (_sniffling_): Samuel, master.
ELI: Samuel? And what hath thy mother taught to thee?
SAMUEL: She hath taught me that the Lord Jehovah is one God, and
there is none beside him, that I must love him and speak truth
always.
ELI: And what else--if there be aught beside?
SAMUEL: She bade me serve and follow in thy steps.
ELI (_musing_): Follow in my steps? Come, thou shalt serve these
blind eyes and quench the candles. (_Omit this if there are no
candles._) (_While_ SAMUEL _puts out the candles_, ELI _muses._)
Follow in my steps? Shall it then be this lad, and not my sons, who
shall rule Israel? Come, little lad, thou shalt lie here the night.
(_He motions to couch on which he sits._ SAMUEL _lies down._ ELI
_kneels as though before altar._) O God, God, would that my sons
were pure as is this child! Yea, I have reared my sons in folly; now
I reap the punishment thereof. Lo, what shall be the end?
(_He falls silent._)
(_There is a pause; then_ SAMUEL _half rouses and listens. He runs
to_ ELI.)
SAMUEL: Here am I, master, for thou calledst me.
ELI: Nay, my son, I called thee not; lie down again.
(_He reclines on other couch._)
SAMUEL (_after a pause of about twenty seconds, again runs to_ ELI):
Here am I, master, for thou calledst me.
ELI: Nay, my son, I called thee not; lie down again.
SAMUEL (_lies down for twenty seconds; then he half rises and looks
bewildered_): He _did_ call me, he _did!_ he _did!_ (_He crosses to_
ELI.) Here am I, master, for _truly_ thou didst call me.
ELI: Not I! (_He reflects._) It is the Lord, who speaketh
to _thee_ and not to _me._ Alas, I have not the open
vision. Go, lie down, and it shall be if he call thee, thou
shalt say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."
(SAMUEL _lies down; presently he rises and kneels._)
SAMUEL: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
(_There is a pause while_ SAMUEL _listens._ ELI _turns toward him
eagerly, then calls._)
ELI: Samuel, my son! (SAMUEL _goes to him slowly._) What is this
thing the Lord hath spoken to thee? I pray thee, hide it not.
SAMUEL (_reluctantly_): He said--he said--the Lord hath
said: Behold, I will judge the house of Eli forever,
because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he
restrained them not. Master, what did he mean?
ELI (_slowly and mournfully_): It is the Lord! Let him
do what seemeth unto him good. (_He raises his arms to
heaven._)
SHOUTS OUTSIDE: News! News for the priest!
ELI: What meaneth the noise of this tumult?
(THREE SOLDIERS _run in._)
FIRST SOLDIER: O Eli, servant of God, woe unto thee!
SECOND SOLDIER: O Eli, be strong, and hear the news we bring.
FIRST SOLDIER: Israel hath joined battle with the
Philistines; Israel was smitten before the Philistines.
SECOND SOLDIER: We brought the ark of the covenant to save
us: It was thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who carried
the ark.
THIRD SOLDIER: And there was a very great slaughter--And
thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas--
FIRST SOLDIER } The Lord hath slain them!
SECOND SOLDIER }
(ELI _trembles and falls backward_; _the_ FIRST _and_ SECOND SOLDIERS
_support him._)
THIRD SOLDIER: Lo, ye have slain him with your evil tidings.
SAMUEL (_runs to_ ELI _lovingly, and kneels before him,
embracing him_): O my dear master! (_A pause, then he rises
and turns to the soldiers._) Bear him hence between you.
(FIRST _and_ SECOND SOLDIERS _lead him out._) (_To_ THIRD
SOLDIER.) Grieve not; ye have not slain him, but he is
smitten of the Lord. For the Lord, he came unto me in a
vision of the night, saying, I will smite the house of Eli
forever, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves
and he restrained them not.
(FIRST _and_ SECOND SOLDIERS _return._)
FIRST SOLDIER: Alas, alas, who now shall judge our people?
THIRD SOLDIER (_seizes_ SAMUEL _and raises him aloft_):
Behold the judge who shall rule Israel.
(_The_ SOLDIERS _pass out, bearing_ SAMUEL _and shouting_, "_Huzza!_")
(_The_ EPILOGUE _advances._)
EPILOGUE: Hear ye the words of the preacher, how he said:
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be
pure and whether it be right. Bring up a child in the way
he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from
it. (_The_ EPILOGUE _passes out._)
[Illustration: DAVID]
DAVID AND GOLIATH
(THE STORY OF A NATIONAL HERO AND A NATIONAL GOD.)
THE PEOPLE
THE PROPHET SAMUEL.
JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE.
ELIAB, }
ABINADAB, }
SHAMMAH, }
NATHANEEL, } JESSE'S SONS.
RADDAI, }
OZEM, }
ELIHU, }
DAVID, }
DAUGHTER OF JESSE.
SAUL, KING OF ISRAEL.
TWO ATTENDANTS, ONE OF WHOM IS ARMOR-BEARER.
FIRST MESSENGER.
SECOND MESSENGER.
THE PRINCESS MICHAL.
HER WOMEN.
PRINCE JONATHAN.
CHALLENGER FOR GOLIATH.
GOLIATH OF GATH.
ISRAELITES AND PHILISTINES.
THE PLACE