[SCENE VI.]

Enter A BSALON with two or three .

Abs. Set up your mules, and give them well to eat,
And let us meet our brothers at the feast.
Accursed is the master of this feast,
Dishonour of the house of Israel,
His sister's slander, and his mother's shame:
Shame be his share that could such ill contrive,
To ravish Thamar, and, without a pause,
To drive her shamefully from out his house:
But may his wickedness find just reward!
Therefore doth Absalon conspire with you,
That Amnon die what time he sits to eat;
For in the holy temple have I sworn
Wreak of his villainy in Thamar's rape.
And here he comes: bespeak him gently, all,
Whose death is deeply graved in my heart.

Enter A MNON with A DONIA and J ONADAB , to A BSALON and his Company .

Am. Our shearers are not far from hence, I wot;
And Amnon to you all his brethren
Giveth such welcome as our fathers erst
Were wont in Judah and Jerusalem; —
But, specially, Lord Absalon, to thee,
The honour of thy house and progeny:
Sit down and dine with me, King David's son,
Thou fair young man, whose hairs shine in mine eye
Like golden wires of David's ivory lute.
Abs. Amnon, where be thy shearers and thy men,
That we may pour in plenty of thy wines,
And eat thy goats'-milk, and rejoice with thee?
Am. Here cometh Amnon's shearers and his men: —
[Come,] Absalon, sit and rejoice with me.

Here enter a company of Shepherds, and dance and sing .

Drink, Absalon, in praise of Israel;
Welcome to Amnon's fields from David's court.
Abs. [ stabbing A MNON .] Die with thy draught; perish, and die accursed;
Dishonour to the honour of us all;
Die for the villany to Thamar done,
Unworthy thou to be King David's son!
Jonad. O, what hath Absalon for Thamar done,
Murdered his brother, great King David's son!
Ad. Run, Jonadab, away, and make it known,
What cruelty this Absalon hath shown.
Amnon, thy brother Adonia shall
Bury thy body among the dead men's bones;
And we will make complaint to Israel
Of Amnon's death and pride of Absalon.