Athaliah Part 9

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, and groan for fear, The miserable, who will not see The eternal splendour of Thy holy city.

But we must chant, to whom Thou dost reveal Thy everlasting light; Of all Thy gifts and grandeur we must sing.

_One voice alone._ What will remain of all their empty pleasures In which their soul is sunk? I' the dregs of dreams Whose error's recognized.

At their awaking--awaking full of horror!-- Whilst at the table the just poor will taste The sweets of peace unspeakable, The hideous cup exhaustless they will drink, Which in the day of wrath thou wilt present To all the guilty race.

_All the Choir._ O waking full of horror!

O fleeting dream!

O dangerous error!

{END OF THE SECOND ACT.}

_ACT III.--Scenes I. and II_

{MATHAN, NABAL, THE CHOIR.}

{MATHAN.}

Young daughters, go, and say to Josabet That Mathan waits to speak to her in private.

_One of the daughters of the Choir._

Mathan! O G.o.d 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? Forbear Beyond this place to make advance: it is The 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 sight Of foul idolatry; and prostrate now Before the Lord, would shrink from being disturbed.

{MATHAN.}

My son, her time is ours; be not alarmed; I wish to speak to your ill.u.s.trious mother.

I come here charged with orders from the queen.

_Scene III._

{MATHAN, NABAL.} {NABAL.}

The children have already _their_ fierce 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 Joad Unto her wrath, and in the end to place Within that temple Baal and you. You had To 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 s.e.x, 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 wrung With threats from heaven, had filled with bitterness And rancour; she, confiding to my care Her vengeance, had commanded me to bring At once her guards together: but, indeed, Whether that brat before her brought, and said To be an outcast from his parents, had Diminished 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 ancestry They have begun to boast: from time to time Joad 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 G.o.d, 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 end I hope that fire and sword will free my eyes Of that obnoxious temple!

{NABAL.}