28 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
out many passages that were not essential, and in the third he made 
still further changes in the text, and vastly improved the language of 
some of the scenes, both in clearness and musical phrasing. It is signi- 
ficant, too, that in many cases these revisions resulted in the substitution 
of simple, strong Saxon phrases for the more pretentious and less direct 
words of Latin origin. For instance, in the second edition, a Hebrew, 
speaking of the King, says:— 
“Had he a prescience that he 
should be selected ? ” ‘ 
This becomes, in the third edition:— 
‘“ Did he foreknow 
he was the great king coming ? ” 
In the second scene, Saul, having been anointed king by Samuel, 
has returned to his home at Gibeah, and resumed his former calling of 
herdsman. In the third and fourth scenes Saul appears as king among 
the people, and summons them to Gibeah to withstand the Ammonites, 
who are besieging Jabesh-Gilead. Nahash is defeated, and Saul returns 
to Gilgal to be crowned. 
The second act opens at Michmash. A messenger announces that 
Jonathan has overthrown the Philistine garrison at Geba. Saul and 
Jehoiadah the Priest hasten to the Hebrew camp at Gilgal, where the 
ill-equipped and half-hearted followers of Saul are confronted by the 
veteran hosts of Philistia. Saul, disheartened by the continual desertion 
of his men, and chafing over the non-appearance of Samuel, himself 
offers the burnt-sacrifice on the altar. Samuel appears and sternly 
rebukes the king, telling him that his posterity shall not wear the 
crown of Israel. Samuel goes out, and Saul tries to persuade himself 
that his disobedience of God’s command had been justifiable. 
The Philistines are triumphant in the field, and Saul and Jonathan 
retire, Saul bitterly complaining, Jonathan bravely resigned to the 
inevitable. To Saul’s pessimistic cry: 
There is no virtue left in mortal man,— 
Nay, women had done better. 
he replies : 
What we have done, O king and sire, is ours, 
Part of ourselves:—yea, more, it will not die 
When we shall, nor can any steal it ; 
For honor hath that cleaving quality, 
It sticks to us and no one may remove it, 
Save our own selves by future deeds of baseness. 
In the next act, Saul having been sufficiently humbled, the angel 
Gloriel is sent to interpose on behalf of the Hebrews. He compels 
