Act II: Scene VIII and IX

JOSABET (to Joad).My lord, Did you o'erhear that haughty queen?

JOAD.I heard the whole, and I bewailed your anguish.To lend you aid, these Levites and myself,Were close at hand, resolved to die with you.

(To Joas.)May God watch over you whose courage, child,Has just returned this noble testimonyUnto His name! I recognize, dear Abner,This important service: bear in mindThe hour when Joad expects you. We, whose sightThis inpious, murderous woman has defiled,Whose prayers has interrupted, will return:And let immaculate blood, shed by my hands,Cleanse to the marble what her steps have touched.

THE CHORUS.One of the daughters of the Choir.What star has burst upon our sight?What will that marvellous child one day become?He braveth pompous haughtiness,And will not let himself be luredBy any of her dangerous baits.

Another.Whilst each to Athaliah's godWith incense to the altar runs,A child unfearing publishesThat God alone eternal is,And speaks as once Elijah spokeBefore the other Jezebel.

Another.Who will reveal to us thy secret birthDear child? Art thou some holy prophet's son?

Another.And thus the lovely Samuel was seenTo grow beneath the tabernacle's shadow;Become the Hebrews' hope and oracle.May'st thou like him console our race!

Another sings.O blessed, a thousand times,The child that loves the Lord,Who early hearkens to His voice,Whom God, Himself, doth deign to teach!Far from the world he, nurtured, is adornedBy all heaven's blessings from his birth;And the contagious company of the badDoth alter not his innocence.

All the Choir.O happy, happy is the childThat God instructs and vindicates!The same voice alone.So, in a secret vale upon the banksOf a pellucid stream,Beneath the shadow of an oak,A tender lily bloometh, nature's love.Far from the world arising, 'tis adornedWith all heaven's blessings from its birth;And the contagious company of the badDoth alter not its innocence.

All the Choir.O blest, a thousand times, the childThat God doth render docile to His laws.

One voice alone.My God, how can a growing virtue walkAmongst so many dangers with sure step %What obstacles are found to his designsWho seeketh Thee, and wisheth innocenceWhat enemies make war on him!Where can Thy saints conceal themselves?The evil-doers overspread the earth.

Another.O David's palace, and his cherished city,Famed mount, where even God a long time dwelt,Why hast thou from the heavens drawn down Hiswrath?Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou,When thou, alas! beholdst upon the throneOf thine own kings, an impious stranger sat?

All the Choir.Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou,When thou, alas! beholdst upon the throneOf thine own kings, an impious stranger sat!

The same voice continues.Instead of David's pleasing strains,In which he poured his holy raptures,And blessed his God, his Father and his Lord:Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou,When thou dost hear them laud the strangers' god,And curse the name thy princes have adored?

One voice alone.How long, O Lord, and yet again how longShall we behold the wicked rise 'gainst Thee?They come into Thy temple braving Thee:The people who adore Thee, treat as frenzied.How long, O Lord, and yet again How longShall we behold the wicked rise 'gainst Thee?

Another.Wherefore, say they, this sombre piety?Why flee the use of many joys so sweet?Your God does naught for you.

Another.Come laugh and sing, exclaims this impious band;From flower to flower, from sweet to sweet,Let us give air to our desires,In the insensate future who confides?Doubtful the number of our fleeting years:Then let us haste to-day to relish life;Who knows if we shall be to-morrow?

All the Choir.O let them weep, my God, and groan for fear,The miserable, who will not seeThe eternal splendour of Thy holy city.But we must chant, to whom Thou dost revealThy everlasting light;Of all Thy gifts and grandeur we must sing.

One voice alone.What will remain of all their empty pleasuresIn which their soul is sunk? I' the dregs of dreamsWhose error's recognized.At their awaking--awaking full of horror!--Whilst at the table the just poor will tasteThe sweets of peace unspeakable,The hideous cup exhaustless they will drink,Which in the day of wrath thou wilt presentTo all the guilty race.

All the Choir.O waking full of horror!O fleeting dream!O dangerous error!