Szulamit
Summary
In a narrative steeped in ancient tragic grandeur, *Szulamit* unfurls a poignant saga of love, betrayal, and divine retribution. The pure-hearted Sulamith, daughter to the venerable chief priest Monoach, finds her innocent existence irrevocably altered when a mountain mishap leads her into a perilous well. It is there that Absolon, a formidable warrior, emerges as her unwitting savior, plucking her from the brink of oblivion. A fervent, almost fated, romance blossoms between them, culminating in Absolon's solemn vow of eternal commitment. Yet, the brutal currents of ambition and conquest prove stronger than his heartfelt pledge. After a victorious campaign, Absolon, swayed by the allure of power and wealth, reneges on his promise, choosing instead to wed the affluent Abigél in the newly subjugated town. This profound betrayal plunges Sulamith into a terminal despair, her spirit withering under the weight of a broken heart. Witnessing his daughter's tragic decline, Monoach, imbued with the righteous wrath of his faith, unleashes a devastating curse upon the faithless Absolon. The divine decree manifests with chilling precision: Absolon's infant son succumbs to a brutal feline attack, and his elder daughter meets a similarly grim fate, tumbling into a well—an echo of Sulamith's own near-demise. These successive, soul-crushing blows shatter Absolon's complacency, compelling him to confess his profound transgression and enduring love for Sulamith to Abigél. In a remarkable display of magnanimity, Abigél, understanding the depth of his torment and the true cost of his broken vow, urges him to return to his first love. Absolon rushes back to Sulamith, who, in her final, fleeting moments, embraces him with a joy that transcends her mortal suffering, finding peace in his return before succumbing to her illness. Monoach, observing the culmination of this tragic arc, ultimately accepts the inscrutable will of the Lord, recognizing the bitter justice served.
Synopsis
The daughter of chief priest Monoach, Sulamith, gets lost in the mountains, and she falls into a well. Absolon, the warrior passing by saves the unconscious girl. The young people fall in love with each other. Absolon vows to marry Sulamith. He breaks his vow, however, marrying the rich Abigél in the town which was conquered by his troops. Sulamith in her sorrow falls fatally ill and therefore Monoach curses the unfaithful man. The curse takes effect in the children of Absolon, his infant son is killed by a cat, his elder daughter falls into a well. After so many blows, Absolon confesses to Abigél that he has loved someone else before, and broken his vow. Abigél sends him back to Sulamith. Sulamith happily embraces Absolon, then she dies. Monoach accepts the will of the Lord.
