ATHALIAH, MATHAN, ABNER, SUITE OF ATHALIAH.MATHAN.Great queen! is this a fitting place for you?What trouble agitates you—fear congeals?What do you come to seek amidst your foes?Dare you approach this temple of profaneness?Have you cast off that hatred so intense—ATHALIAH.List both of you attentively:I wish not here to call to mind the past,Nor render an account of blood that's flowed;I do not take a hasty crowd for judge;In what its violence has dared put forth,To justify me, heaven itself has cared.The great achievements of my rooted powerHave made my name respected to both seas:By me Jerusalem's a calm profound;Jordan no longer sees the vagrant Arabs',Nor proud Philistines' constant ravages,Lay waste her banks, as in your sovereigns' times;The Syrian treats me as a sister queen;At length the treacherous scourger of my house.ATHALIAH.Who was to drive his cruelty on me,Jehu, the haughty Jehu, in SamariaIs trembling; pressed by potent neighboursOn every side, whom I have found the meansTo raise against that murderer; and IAm left the royal mistress of those lands;In peace the fruit of my sagacityEnjoying. But, some days ago, there cameA sleepless trouble to arrest the courseOf my prosperity. A dream (why should a dreamDisquiet me?) feeds in my heart a pangThat wrings it; everywhere I try to shun it;But everywhere it follows me. It wasDuring the horror of the night profound,My mother, Jezebel, before me stood,Apparelled gorgeously, as on the dayOf her decease; misfortunes had not crushedHer dignity; and even she had stillThat borrowed tint, with which it was her careTo bloom and ornament her countenance,In order to repair the ravagesOf years irreparable. 'Tremble, daughter,Thou worthy of myself,' to me she said;'The cruel God of Judah over theeWill certainly prevail: I pity thee,My daughter, falling into His dread hands.'These fearful words completed, towards my bedHer shadow seemed to bend itself, and IHeld out my arms in order to embrace it;But only found confusion horribleOf mangled bones and flesh dragged in the mud,And tatters soaked in gore, of hideous limbs,That dogs, devouring, fought for with each other.ABNER.Great God!ATHALIAH.In this disorder came before mine eyesA tender boy, in radiant robes arrayed,As one beholds the Hebrew priests attired.My sunken spirits rallied at the vision;But when recovering from my deadly trouble,His sweetness, noble air, and modestyI was admiring, all at once I feltA homicidal steel, plunged by the traitorDeep through my breast.—Of objects so diverseThe strange assemblage, seems to you perhapsA work of chance; and I myself, at times,Shamed of my fears, have thought it but the effectOf sombre melancholy; but my soul,Possessed by this remembrance, in my sleep,Has twice beheld that spectre terrible:Twice my sad eyes have had upon them tracedThe picture of that boy always preparedTo spring on me. At length, quite wearied out,With horrors that pursued me, unto BaalI went to ask protection for my life,And at his altars look for some repose:What cannot terror do in mortal mind?An instinct forced me to the Jewish temple,And I conceived the thought to appease their God:Some offerings, I believed, would calm His rage,And make that God, whate'er He be, more gentle.Pontiff of Baal excuse my feebleness!I entered; but the sacrifices ceased,The people fled; the high-priest furiouslyRushed towards me; whilst he spake, O terriblesurprise!I saw that selfsame child, my menacer,Such as my frightful dream had fashioned him.I saw him; even his air, his linen garb,His gait, his eyes, his lineaments entire:It was himself. He walked beside the high-priest:But soon they caused him to avoid my sight.This is the trouble that arrests me here,And touching which I long to question both.Mathan, what does this prodigy forebode?MATHAN.This dream, and this resemblance seem to meQuite terrible.ATHALIAH.But, Abner, have you seen that fatal boy?What is he? Of what blood, and of what tribe?ABNER.Two children at the altar lend their service:The one is Joad's, his mother, Josabet;The other is unknown to me.MATHAN.But whyDeliberate, Madam, must not both be seized?You know my moderation, and regardFor Joad, and that I do not seek revengeFor injuries; that equity aloneIn all my counsels is the ruling virtue.But after all, even were it his own child,Could he one moment let the culprit live?ABNER.What is the crime for which the boy is fitted?MATHAN.Heaven's shown him with a weapon in his hand.Heaven, just' and wise, does nothing fruitlessly.What do you seek for more?ABNER.But on the strengthOf a mere dream urge you that we should plungeOur hands into the blood of blossoming youth?You know not yet his father, who he is.MATHAN.He stirs our fears; that comprehends the whole.If of illustrious parents he is born,The splendour of his lot must speed his doom.Should fate have ranked him in obscurity,What matters it if low-born blood be spilt?Does this slow justice appertain to kings?Their safety oft depends on prompt redress.Let us not pinch them with perplexing cares:Suspected ones are criminals to them.ABNER.Mathan, is this the language of a priest?I, trained to horrid carnage in the field,The stern executor of royal vengeance,Must I to the unhappy lend my voice!And you, who owe to him a father's yearnings,You, minister of peace in time of wrath,Now, covering your resentment with false zeal,Are of opinion blood too lightly flows!You have commanded me to speak to youWithout concealment, Madam: What is thenThis mighty cause of fear? A dream, a childDevoid of power, that your suspicious eyeThinks it has recognised, perhaps untruly.
ATHALIAH.I wish to think so, Abner, I may beDeluded; probably an empty dreamHas too much occupied my spirit. Well,I must observe that child more narrowly;His features I must scan at leisure. LetThem both be brought before me.ABNER.I fear—ATHALIAH.What would they fail in courtesy to me?Of that strange non-compliance, what the cause?It might produce in me mistrustful thoughts.Let Josabet, or Joad, I tell you, bring them \I can, when time requires, speak like a queen.Abner, to you I may indeed declare,Your priests have reason to be satisfiedWith Athaliah's kindness. Still I knowThat on my conduct and against my powerHow far they bear the license of their speech:They live, however, and their temple stands.But soon, I feel, my gentleness must end.Let Joad put bridle on his savage zeal,Nor wound me with a second outrage. Go.
MATHAN.At length I have the liberty to speak;I can expose the truth to open day.Some monster's rising in that temple reared!Queen, do not wait the bursting of the cloud.Abner, attended by the high-priest Joad,Was there before the break of day: You knowHis passion for the offspring of their kings.And who can say that Joad does not intend,In place of them, to substitute the boyBy which heaven threatens you. It may perchanBe his own son.ATHALIAH.Mine eyes are opened: I begin to seeClearly into the warnings of the heavens.I wish, however, to be free from doubt:A child is little fit to flourish thoughts,Yetonemay make us judge of great designs.I must, dear Mathan, see him—question him.But go yourself, without exciting fears,And cause my Tyrians to arm themselves.
JOAS, JOSABET, ATHALIAH, ZACHARIAH, ABNER, SALOMITH,TWO LEVITES, THE CHOIR, SUITE OF ATHALIAH.JOSABET (to the two Levites).You, servants of the Lord, upon those childrenSo dear, so precious, keep a fixed regard.ABNER (to Josabet).Princess, have courage, they are in my care.ATHALIAH.O heaven! the more I look at him, the moreI scrutinize—'Tis he! my facultiesAgain are seized with horror! JosabetIs that your son?JOSABET.Who, he, Madam?ATHALIAH.He.JOSABET.His mother I am not. This is my son.ATHALIAH (to Joas.)And you, my boy, whoisyour father then?Come child reply.JOSABET.Heaven till to-day—ATHALIAH.Why do you hurry to reply for him?JOSABET.From such a tender age can you expectMuch information?ATHALIAH.That age is artless, its ingenuousnessDoes not as yet pervert the simple truth.Let him explain the whole concerning him.JOSABET.Great God, O place Thy wisdom in his mouth!ATHALIAH.What is your name?JOAS.Eliacin.ATHALIAH.Your Father?JOAS.They say I am an orphan,Cast from my birth into the arms of God,And who my parents were I never knew.ATHALIAH.Have you no parents?JOAS.They abandoned me.ATHALIAH.How? And how long ago?JOAS.At my birth.ATHALIAH.Do they, at least, not know your native country?JOAS.This temple is my country; none I knowBesides—ATHALIAH.Where is it said that chance discovered you?JOAS.Among the cruel wolves, their helpless prey.ATHALIAH.Who placed you in this temple?JOAS.An unknown woman, never looked on since,Who did not say her name.ATHALIAH.But who took charge of your most early years?JOAS.Does God e'er let his children want in vain?He gives the smallest birds their nourishment,And over all His works extends His goodness.Each day I call on Him. His care paternalNourishes me with gifts presented atThe altar.ATHALIAH.What strange event again perplexeth me?The sweetness of his voice, his youthful grace,Cause my aversion imperceptablyTo be succeeded—I could be inclinedTo pity.ABNER.Is this, then, Madam, that terrific foe '?The fraud of your false dreams is manifest:Unless 'tis sympathy that touches you,It is that fatal blow which makes you tremble.ATHALIAH (to Joas and Josabet).Are you going?JOSABET.His story you have heard:His further stay would be importunate.ATHALIAH.No, No, return. What do you every day?JOAS.Adore the Lord; they train me in His law,They teach me how to read His sacred book,And now I copy it with mine own hand.ATHALIAH.How does that law instruct you?JOAS.That love is what the Lord desires; that HeSooner or later will avenge His name,His holy name blasphemed; that He protectsThe timid orphan, that He breaks the proud,And punishes the murderer.ATHALIAH.I understand. But what do all the peopleEnclosed within that place?JOAS.They praise, and bless the Lord.ATHALIAH.And does He wish that one should always prayAnd meditate.JOAS.All deeds profane are banished from His temple.ATHALIAH.What are your pleasures, then?JOAS.Sometimes unto the high priest I presentEither the salt or incense at the altar:I hear them sing of God's unbounded greatness,I see the sumptuous order of His rites.ATHALIAH.Alas! have you no pastimes more delightful?I pity the sad fate of one like you.Come to my palace, see my splendour there.JOAS.I! I should lose the memory of God's blessings!ATHALIAH.No. I would not constrain you to forget Him.JOAS.You do not pray to Him.ATHALIAH.But you can pray to Him.JOAS.But I should see another god invoked.ATHALIAH.I have my god to serve, and you have yours.They both are powerful gods.JOAS.Mine must be feared, for He alone is God,And yours is nothing, Madam.ATHALIAH.Pleasures, nearme, will seek you out, in crowds.JOAS.The blessings of the wicked pass away,As doth a torrentATHALIAH.The wicked! Who are they?JOSABET.Pray, Madam! excuse a child.ATHALIAHI like to see how you are training him.At length, Eliacin, you have amused me;You're, doubtless, not an ordinary child.You see I am a queen, without an heir:Cast off these garments, quit this menial trade,And all my riches I will share with you.Try the conclusion of my promises:Beside me at my table, everywhere,I promise you shall sit as my own son.JOAS.As your own son?ATHALIAH.Yes, would it please you?JOAS.Ah what a father I should leave, and for—ATHALIAH.Well!JOAS.What kind of mother!ATHALIAH.His memory's faithful; and in all he saysI recognise your animus and Joad's.Behold, how here, corrupting simple youth,You both employ the peace I leave you in!Their hate and fury you already foster:Only with horror you pronounce my nameTo them.JOSABET.Can we conceal the history of our wrongs?All know it, and you boast of it yourself.ATHALIAH.Yes, of my righteous rage, and I am proudTo avenge my parents on posterity.My father and my brother saw I slaughtered;My mother from her palace window hurled;And even in one day murdered at once—Dread sight!—more than twice twenty sons of kings:And wherefore? To avenge some nameless prophetsWhom 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 rageInsult for insult, death for every death,And shall not treat all David's progenyAs Ahab's wretched remnant were by them!Where should I be to-day, had I not hadA tenderness for my torn, strangled mother;And, conquering my weakness, with my handShedding 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 seeAnd 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 chargeThat you committed to me.
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 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!END OF THE SECOND ACT.
MATHAN, NABAL, THE CHOIR.MATHAN.Young daughters, go, and say to JosabetThat Mathan waits to speak to her in private.One of the daughters of the Choir.Mathan! O God of heaven do thou confound him.NABAL.How now? all flee, disperse without reply!MATHAN.Let us approach.ZACHARIAH, MATHAN, NABAL.ZACHARIAH.Audacious! Whither would you go? ForbearBeyond this place to make advance: it isThe holy minister's divine abode.To all profane the law forbids the entrance.Of whom are you in search? My mother shuns,Upon this solemn day, the guilty sightOf foul idolatry; and prostrate nowBefore the Lord, would shrink from being disturbed.MATHAN.My son, her time is ours; be not alarmed;I wish to speak to your illustrious mother.I come here charged with orders from the queen.
MATHAN, NABAL.NABAL.The children have alreadytheirfierce pride.But what doth Athaliah seek in this?What is this tumult born of in her councils?By overbearing Joad this morn offended,And in her dreams braved by a murderous child,She went to sacrifice the high-priest JoadUnto her wrath, and in the end to placeWithin that temple Baal and you. You hadTo me already testified your joy;I hoped, on my part, for so rich a prey.What changes thus her vacillating vows?MATHAN.I have not known her, friend, for two days past.No more the queen of an enlightened spirit,Intrepid, raised beyond her timid sex,Who crushed, at first, her wondering enemies,And knew the value of occasion lost:The pangs of vain remorse whelm this great soul:She wavers, hesitates, is in a word,A woman. I, her heart, already wrungWith threats from heaven, had filled with bitternessAnd rancour; she, confiding to my careHer vengeance, had commanded me to bringAt once her guards together: but, indeed,Whether that brat before her brought, and saidTo be an outcast from his parents, hadDiminished the alarm of frightful dreams,Or she had seen in him some unknown charm,I found her anger reeling, undecided:She now puts off her vengeance till to-morrow.Her projects all appear to slay each other."Some knowledge I have gained of this boy's fate,"So did I say; "now of his ancestryThey have begun to boast: from time to timeJoad shows him to the factious, holds him up,As if another Moses, to the Jews,And lying oracles support his speech."These words did cause the blood to mount her brow:Ne'er lucky fable had such prompt effect."Must I drag on in this uncertainty?Let us escape," said she, "this restlessness.To Josabet declare you this resolve—'The fires are kindling, and the sword prepared,Nothing can save your temple from destruction,If hostage for your faith that child's not given.'"NABAL.Why for a boy of whom they're ignorant,That chance, perhaps, has cast into their arms,Will they behold their temple tombed in weeds?MATHAN.Ah! of all mortals known, the haughtiest!Sooner than yield a child into our hands,That Joad has consecrated to his God,He would endure the most terrific death.Besides 'tis plainly seen they love the child.If, from the queen, I heard a true report,Joad of his birth knows more than he imparts.However fatal it may be for them,I can foresee they will not give him up.On me the rest remains; and in the endI hope that fire and sword will free my eyesOf that obnoxious temple!NABAL.What can inspire in you so fierce a hate?Is it your zeal for Baal inflames you thus?As for myself, you know of Ishmael blood,I neither worship Baal nor Israel's God.MATHAN.Friend, canst thou think that I allow myselfTo be made blind by an unworthy zealFor a vain idol, fragile form of wood,Which, notwithstanding my support, the wormsUpon its altar every day consume?Born servant of the God that temple loves,It might be Mathan would adore Him still,If lust of greatness, thirst for dominance,Could be accommodated to His yoke.Nabal, what need repicture to thy mindThe noted quarrel of myself and Joad.When I 'gainst him the censor dared dispute,My factions, struggles, waitings, my despair?Vanquished by him I chose a new career,And wed my soul entirely to the court.I by degrees approached their royal honours,And soon my voice was made an oracle.I probed their heart, and flattered their caprice;Bestrewed with flowers the precipice's brink;Serving their passions, naught to me was sacred;Measure and weight I changed as they inclined.As much as Joad's unpliant humour painedThe softness of their supercilious ear,So much I pleased them with my dexterous art;Concealing from their eyes the bitter truth;Lending convenient colour to their rage;And, lavish, above all, of wretches' blood.At length, to Baal, whom she had introduced,By Athaliah was a temple reared.Jerusalem did weep to see herselfProfaned: The alarmed band of Levi's raceDid elevate to heaven appalling cries.Giving example to the timid Jews.Deserter from their law, myself approvedThe enterprise, and merited by thatBaal's priesthood: and I made myself withalA terror to my rival; I put onThe turban—walked his equal. Ne'erthelessI must avow, that in that glorious heightThe troublesome memory of the God I leftStill throws into my soul a shade of dread:Tis that which strengthens and supports my fury.Happy, if on the temple my revengeAccomplishing, I can at length contentHer petty spite, and lose amongst the wreckThe ravage and the slaughter, my remorse,By dint of those enormities. But hereIs Josabet.
JOSABET, MATHAN, NABAL.MATHAN.Commissioned by the queenTo calm again, and dissipate the anger,Princess, in which heaven placed so sweet a soul,Be not surprised at my addressing you.A rumour, which however I suspectTo be a fable, favouring the warnings,Which in a dream she had received, on Joad,Accused of dangerous complots, she was goingTo pour the floodgates of her wrath. I wishNot here to boast of services to you—I know of Joad's injustice to myself—But for offence I must return good deeds.At length, I come to speak the words of peace.Live, solemnize your feasts without distrust,She only claims a pledge of your submission:It is—I did my utmost to dissuade her—The orphan whom she says that she has seen.JOSABET.Eliacin?MATHAN.I am ashamed of her on that account:Of a vain dream she makes too much ado:But you declare yourselves her mortal foes,If not that child's resigned to me at once:The queen impatiently 'waits your reply.JOSABET.And that on her part is the peace announced.MATHAN.Can you one moment hesitate to grant it?Or is that courtesy too dear for peace?JOSABET.Could Mathan, I was wondering, stript of guile,Have overcome the injustice of his heart;And, fatal plotter of so many ills,Could he be author of a shade of good.MATHAN.Of what do you complain? Come I enragedTo tear from you your offspring, Zachariah?What is this other child you love so well?In turn, this great affection marvels me.Isheto you a pearl so precious, rare?Ishea liberator trained by Heaven?Remember, your refusal would confirmA faint report that's just begun to spread.JOSABET.What report IMATHAN.That of illustrious origin's the child,Destined to some great project by your spouse.JOSABET.And by that tale, which flatters Mathan's fury—MATHAN.Princess, to think me false belongs to you.Yet still I deem that Josabet, the foeImplacable of falsehood, would resignHer own life even, were it requisite,Rather than life of insincerityBe purchased by the slightest word untrue.Then of that child's descent there is no trace?Darkness profound surrounds his origin!You know not of what parents he was born?From whose hands Joad received him to his arms?Pray speak, I listen ready to believe.Princess, unto the God you serve give glory!JOSABET.Base one, is't well you thus dare speak the nameOf God, whom your own tongue bids men to curse!Could His veracity be vouched by you,You, wretched, sat upon the noxious benchWhere poison's scattered, falsehood hath the sway;You, nurtured in deceit and treachery?
JOAD, JOSABET, MATHAN, NABAL.JOAD.Where am I? Am I looking at Baal's priest?What, David's daughter speaking to that traitor?And will you tolerate his speech with you?Do you not fear that a profound abyssWill yawning open underneath his feet,So that its flames at once will compass you?Or that these walls will crush you fallen on him?What wants he? Wherefore comes, this enemyOf God, to taint the air we here inhale?MATHAN.This violence gives evidence of Joad.Yet he would show more prudence to respectHis sovereign, and not outrage one that sheHas deigned to charge with her commands.JOAD.Well, what's the ill she bids you to announce,What frightful charge may such an agent bear?MATHAN.To Josabet I have made known her will.JOAD.Then quit me, monster of iniquity,Go fill thy measure of all horrid things.God rules to join thee with the perjured race,Achitophel, Abiron, Doeg, Dathan tThe dogs which tore the limbs of Jezebel,Waiting to show their fury upon thee,Already, at thy gates, demand their prey.mathan (agitated).Before this day expires—it will be seenWhich of us—— He shall be forced—(To Nabal.)But, Nabal, let us go.NABAL.Where wander you? What wildering chaos isThe master of your senses? That's your way.
JOAD, JOSABET.JOSABET.The storm has burst!The queen, enraged, demands Eliacin.Already of his birth, and your designsThey have begun to pierce the mystery:Mathan but failed to name to me his father.JOAD.To the perfidious Mathan who has told it?Has not your agitation said too much?JOSABET.I did whate'er I could to curb myself.Howe'er, believe me, peril presses, Sir;For happier times let us reserve that child.Whilst wicked ones deliberate with each other,Before he is surrounded, torn from us,Allow me to conceal him once again;To him are open yet the doors, the gates.Shall we convey him to the wildest desert?I am prepared, I know a secret way,By which myself and he, still unperceived,The torrents of the Cedron passing over,May go into the desert, where in tears,And seeking safety, like ourselves, in flight,David escaped his rebel son's pursuit.I shall, on his account, fear wild beasts less;—But why do you not favour Jehu's aid?Perhaps good counsel I may offer you;Let us make Jehu guardian of this treasure,We could to-day conduct him to his kingdom,For short the road is leading to his court.Jehu has not a wild, relentless heart;The name of David's honoured in his eyes.Alas! is he a king so callous, cruel,Unless his mother was a Jezebel,That he would not commiserate the fateOf such a suppliant? Is not his causeThe common one of kings?JOAD.Dare you propose to me such timid counsels?What can you hope in Jehu's countenance?JOSABET.Does God forbid all care and all prevision?Will not an over-confidence offend Him?Employing human means to sacred ends,Has He Himself not Jehu's arm equipt?JOAD.Jehu, on whom I see your hopes are built,Paying His gifts with thankless thoughtlessness,Jehu in peace leaves Ahab's hideous daughter;Following the course profane of Israel's kings,Of Egypt's worthless god he saves the temples;Jehu, at length, dares offer on the heightsAn incense rash which God can not allow:His heart's not just enough, nor pure his hands,To serve His cause—to avenge His injuries.No, No, 'tis God alone we must engage.Far from concealing, let us show the boy,And let the diadem surround his head:I even will urge on the expected hour,Before vile Mathan's complots can be formed.