Athaliah | Page 9

twice twenty sons of kings: And wherefore? To avenge some nameless prophets Whom she had punished for their senseless frenzy: And I, cold queen, and daughter without love, Slave of a cowardly and frivolous folly, Shall even not return to this blind rage Insult for insult, death for every death, And shall not treat all David's progeny As Ahab's wretched remnant were by them! Where should I be to-day, had I not had A tenderness for my torn, strangled mother; And, conquering my weakness, with my hand Shedding in torrents my own people's blood, Had not repressed your plots by that fierce blow! At length, the inflexible vengeance of your God, Betwixt our houses all alliance breaks: David of me's in horror; and his sons, Though of my blood, are strangers unto me.
{JOSABET.}
In all you have succeeded. Let God see And judge.
{ATHALIAH.}
That God, a long time past, your only refuge, Of what effect will be His prophecies? Let Him produce that King, told to the nations, That Son of David, your support, your hope-- But we shall meet again. Adieu, I go, Quite satisfied. I wished to see: I have seen.
{ABNER (to Josabet).}
I promised you; and I return the charge That you committed to me.

Scenes VIII and IX.
{JOAD, JOSABET, JOAS, ZACHARIAH, ABNER, SALOMITH, LEVITES, AND THE CHOIR.}
{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 testimony Unto His name! I recognize, dear Abner, This important service: bear in mind The hour when Joad expects you. We, whose sight This 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 lured By any of her dangerous baits.
Another.
Whilst each to Athaliah's god With incense to the altar runs, A child unfearing publishes That God alone eternal is, And speaks as once Elijah spoke Before the other Jezebel.
Another. Who will reveal to us thy secret birth Dear child? Art thou some holy prophet's son?
Another.
And thus the lovely Samuel was seen To 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 adorned By all heaven's blessings from his birth; And the contagious company of the bad Doth alter not his innocence.
All the Choir.
O happy, happy is the child That God instructs and vindicates! The same voice alone. So, in a secret vale upon the banks Of a pellucid stream, Beneath the shadow of an oak, A tender lily bloometh, nature's love. Far from the world arising, 'tis adorned With all heaven's blessings from its birth; And the contagious company of the bad Doth alter not its innocence.
All the Choir.
O blest, a thousand times, the child That God doth render docile to His laws.
One voice alone.
My God, how can a growing virtue walk Amongst so many dangers with sure step % What obstacles are found to his designs Who seeketh Thee, and wisheth innocence What 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 His wrath? Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou, When thou, alas! beholdst upon the throne Of thine own kings, an impious stranger sat?
All the Choir. Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou, When thou, alas! beholdst upon the throne Of 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 long Shall 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 long Shall 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