Solomon and Sheba Page #8

No matter how few of us are left, | we will fight on.

If I cannot live as a king with honour,

at least I can die as a king with honour.

Woe unto us! Our king is defeated!

Majesty.

The outcry is over the news brought | by deserters from Solomon"s army.

It seems he has been defeated, | his men routed.

Is he... among the dead?

No one knows, | but all say that by morning,

not one Israelite will escape alive.

Now will Your Majesty seek safety? | The Israelites will blame you.

I beg Your Majesty, do not refuse again. | You must save yourself.

- Majesty, where are you going? | - Do not try to stop me, Baltor.

I will not let you take the risk | of going into the streets.

Stand aside!

I command you both, | do not follow after me.

Solomon is vanquished! | How are the mighty fallen.

Woe unto us. | The Egyptians will be upon us.

The Lord | has punished Solomon for his sins.

Who will save us now from Pharaoh?

Our sins | have brought this upon us.

Woe unto us. The Egyptians | have overthrown our noble Solomon.

Pharaoh will slay us all.

Solomon did not follow | the path of God.

God of Israel,

thou who art called | the all-knowing, the compassionate,

look into my heart and hear my prayer.

Forgive my sin against thee | and thy people.

Grant me the life of Solomon | and preserve him against his enemies.

Do this, and I will return to the land | of Sheba and cast down the false gods.

And I will build a tabernacle | to the glory of thy name,

and there shall be | no other gods before thee.

Josiah.

- What has alarmed you, sire? | - Not alarm, but hope.

Hope that comes like a light | in the midst of darkness.

It is as though God had come to me | and showed me the way.

Yes?

Sire.

- Our men return. | - And there.

And there!

They rally to us, by the hundreds.

Set them to burnishing their shields. | Let them shine like mirrors.

Yes, sire.

I remember you once lectured me, Hezrai, | on how a king of Israel is crowned.

Are there any among you | who deny my right to sit upon this throne?

Then I need no senseless ritual | to attend my elevation.

No anointing with the waters of Gihon.

I take with my own hands | what has always been mine.

Hail Adonijah, Lion of Israel.

Hail Adonijah.

Know this, all of you. | I have made an alliance with the Pharaoh.

Under his protection, I will rule Israel,

and I"ll have no mercy | on any who oppose me.

Sire, the Sheban harlot has been found.

She has taken refuge in the temple.

- Halt! | - Halt!

- Again the Israelites. | - Where did they gather so many men?

Last night we could find none, | only their dead.

In a few minutes, they will all be dead.

Today there is no darkness | into which they can escape.

They face east, | and will be blinded by the sun.

- Prepare for a frontal attack. | - Frontal attack.

- They are going to charge us. | - Wait for my signal.

Attack. Strike them down.

Attack!

Charge!

Sire?

- Now! | - Shields forward.

Lord God of Israel, | thine is the victory.

Thou art our sword and our shield.

Lord God of hosts.

Thou art the Lord God. What thou hast | done was out of love for thy people.

If thou knowest what is in my heart, | grant me forgiveness.

Amen.

Ahab. Josiah.

Choose 20 men. Mount them on horses.

Gather up the Egyptians" banners | from the dust.

We will ride with them to Jerusalem | to proclaim that the City of David is saved.

By now, | Solomon is dead by his own deeds.

An Egyptian sword | has rendered judgement upon him.

It is I, Adonijah, who has prevented | the hordes from falling upon you

and razing this city.

- Hail Adonijah, saviour of Israel. | - Hail Adonijah.

There in the temple | is the cause of all your troubles.

It was she | who brought disaster upon Israel.

- What shall be done with her? | - Let the dogs devour her.

- Drag her through the streets. | - Give her to us.

The sanctuary of the temple | must not be violated.

In the Israel that I rule, | there is no sanctuary for a pagan harlot.

You are her judges. I give her to you.

Let me pass.

Let me pass.

Once before I told you I was king | and you called me an impostor.

Now I shall prove to you | that I am the king.

I grant you | the honour of my first judgement.

Stone her!

- I have spoken. Obey my command. | - Stone her.

Kill the pagan slut.

Solomon! Victory! Victory!

Victory! Victory! Solomon returns.

- Victory! | - Solomon!

Solomon! Once before | you robbed me of my birthright,

but this time I"ll not be denied!

Sheathe your sword. | I will not break my pledge.

I will sheathe it in your heart.

When none in Jerusalem believed | that you and Israel could be saved,

she came into the temple and before the | sanctuary prayed you might be spared.

For thine is the power and the glory.

For ever.

Because thou didst call upon my name | in thy dark hour, I have heard thee.

Return therefore until thine own land

and keep the covenant | thou didst make with me.

Now I can tell you | that I am to bear the child of our love.

Now you will be queen over Israel, | and our son shall reign after me.

No.

I gave promise to God | that I would return to my own land.

For that he granted me your life | and his forgiveness.

But how can I let you go?

Your child shall reign in the land of Sheba.

And if God grants us the blessing of a son,

then for the first time | Sheba shall have a king,

and he shall walk in the way | of the Lord God Jehovah.

That we must part is our atonement.

If this be thy will, O God,

I submit to thy judgement.

May thou watch between us | while we are apart, one from the other.

I will be with you... always.

Shout unto God, all the earth. | Sing praises unto the glory of his name.

Sing praises unto the Lord, O Israel.

Be gracious unto us, God.

- And bless us. | - And bless us.

For his anger is but for a moment.

But his love is for ever.

Weeping may tarry for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning.

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