The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08
PHILLIPS
ssThe Sim Of DAVID

play, THE Sin of David" must, I
believe, elicit commendation not
altogether unqualified. AS poetry
THE Sin of DAVID is a thing rarely
beautiful; as drama it is weak and
lacking in convincing strength. Though
some of the poets lines sing themselves
deep into the very heart of hearts of
the reader. and though the delicate, al
most exotic, grace of his verse carries
with it the charm of the highest ar
tistry, the ultimate effect of the whole
drama is that of disillusion and dissat-
isfaction. Can we but consider it in
detail we are ready to concede Phillips
last play the greatest praise; in it's
whole substance it wants something
which is felt insensibly by the reader
but which sticks at exact definition.
One cause of this deficiency in Phil
lips drama is more readily appreciated
than the other and finer objections that
may be raised against it, and this
cause springs from the poets too earn
est desire for simplicity in the pieces
action. The fable of the guilty love be-
tween David and Bathsheba, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite, which Phillips has
acters, certainly admits of a deeper,
more slow-moving and more significant
development than that received from
the hand of this poet. Three acts-and
they are brief-have been forced to en-
compass action which has to rehearse
Tristan and Isolde theme plus the
added complication of this Roundhead
David's treachery in setting his Uriah
In the forefront of the hottest battle"
and thereby bringing death to him. To
such an extent has Phillips trimmed
down and Topped off the angles of his
action that the passion between the
spotless wife and the frreproachabl~
leader of Gods hosts has to germinate,
spring into life and blush at greatest
heat all before the climax to the sec
ond act has been reached. The neces-
sary result of this severe abridgment
In the action is bewilderment to the
reader, however close in sympathy he
may be with the story that inspires the
drama
Another objection, this one a matter
or motive, raises itself against .sThe
SIN OF David" After the guilty lovers
have become united before the law
upon the removal of the one having
rlght to just grievance against them
the child of their sinful passion is
snatched away by death. Divine pun
lshment in this case seems not to be
punishment, but sanctification. Thus
sounds the final note of the drama in
the words of the bereaved father:
Our former marriage. though by holy bell
And melody of lifted voices blest
n mar dnac IL
ana born OF murder; therefore is the child
flesh -
Corruptible; yet he in that withdrawal.
Folded upon the bosom of the Father
Hatn fitn joined US in a marriage everlasting;
Marriage at last of SPIRIT of sense
Whose ritual is memory and repentance
whose sacrament this deep and mutual wound
whose nns covenant the all that might have been.
ana 10 this truth majestic shadows throng
And stand about us in dumb sympathy
IN presence of these silent witnesses
ana one perchance that carrieth now a bato
.ds take In mine thy hand and call thee wife
Wife. wife, till the grave -shattering trumpet!
But as poetry Phillips play is uni
formly one Of surprising excellence.
Spontaneity is not a characteristic of
Phillips verse. 1t does not move
through motive springs within. II Is
not temperamentaI. 1t is, however.
classical without being artificial: per-
~>St eiOo5A AOl SluQl6Q. An EXCERPT
from the love scene between Lisle and
Miriam exhibits Phillips at his very
highest:
When l spurred hither, all on fire for God
Ihen did l sallop into human flame
eoid had lived, pure narrow temperate
girded swordsman pressing to the mark
30 rode through that gate. Then suddenly
!hy beauty like a tempest fell on me:
and In one moment 1 rent ana riyen
Stunned is my life; wander, and I frope.
MY voice In the council falters; in mid-act
Inis lifted arm falls at thy floating face
1ney Waver like to mist the ranks of war
ihey waver and fade; he fades, the armed
man,
And squirting armies In a vision clash
~ Ur would pray and upward fling nv handsf
10 thee pray thee. thee. with cries beseech-
Thou hast unlocked the loveliness Of earth.
LMeading M me through thy beauty to ali beauty.
Tnou hast admitted me to mystery,
Iaught me the different souls of ali the stars.
Through thee have inherited this sir
discovered sudden riches at my feet
And now on eyes long blinded flames the worId
Inou shattering storm, thou eve of after hiua
Incu deiuge and thou world from delure RISEN
Inou sudden death. and thou life after DEATH
how Fave walked in glory unawareI
(The Macmillan Company, New York:
price 81 25.)