Athaliah Part 5

You have commanded me to speak to you Without concealment, Madam: What is then This mighty cause of fear? A dream, a child Devoid of power, that your suspicious eye Thinks it has recognised, perhaps untruly.

{ATHALIAH.}

I wish to think so, Abner, I may be Deluded; probably an empty dream Has too much occupied my spirit. Well, I must observe that child more narrowly; His features I must scan at leisure. Let Them 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 satisfied With Athaliah's kindness. Still I know That on my conduct and against my power How 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.

_Scene VI._

{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 know His pa.s.sion for the offspring of their kings.

And who can say that Joad does not intend, In place of them, to subst.i.tute the boy By which heaven threatens you. It may perchan Be his own son.

{ATHALIAH.}

Mine eyes are opened: I begin to see Clearly into the warnings of the heavens.

I wish, however, to be free from doubt: A child is little fit to flourish thoughts, Yet _one_ may 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.

_Scene VII_

{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 children So 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 more I scrutinize--'Tis he! my faculties Again are seized with horror! Josabet Is 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, who _is_ your 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 expect Much information?

{ATHALIAH.}

That age is artless, its ingenuousness Does not as yet pervert the simple truth.

Let him explain the whole concerning him.

{JOSABET.}

Great G.o.d, O place Thy wisdom in his mouth!

{ATHALIAH.}