(Athaliah enters, and addresses Joad.)


ATHALIAH.
Ah! there thou art, seducer! thou
Noxious contriver of conspiracies,
Who only on confusion feed'st thy hopes;
Perpetual enemy of sovereign power!
In the support of God thou hast reposed:
Art thou yet disabused of thy vain trust?
His temple and thy life he yields to me.
I ought upon the altar, where thy hand
Makes sacrifices, thee.—But with the price
They offer me I must content myself.
What thou hast promised, see to execute:
That boy, that treasure must be given to me.
Where are they?


JOAD.
Immediately thou shalt be satisfied;
I am about to show them both at once.

(The screen is withdrawn. Joas is seen on his throne;
his nurse on her knees at his right; Azariah, with
his sword in his hand, is standing at his left; and
near him are Zachariah and Salomith, kneeling on
the steps of the throne; several Levites armed are
ranged around.)

Appear, dear boy, blood worthy Israel's kings!
Of our most saintly monarchs, knowst thou, queen,
The inheritor? Knowst thou at least these scars
Thy dagger made? Behold thy king, thy son,
The son of Ochoziah! Abner, you
And people recognise king Joas!


ABNER.
Heavens!

ATHALIAH (to Joad).

Perfidious wretch!


JOAD.
See'st thou that faithful Jewess
Of whom, thou knowest well, he drew the breast?
Him rescued from thy rage by Josabet,
This temple hailed, where God has cared for him,
Of David's treasures, see what I have left.


ATHALIAH.
Thy treachery, traitor, to that child will be
Most fatal. Soldiers, deliver me from
That odious spectre!


JOAD.
Guards of the living God, defend your king!

(The bottom of the temple opens, and the Levites rush
upon the scene from all sides.)


ATHALIAH.
Where am I? Treason! O, unhappy queen!
With arms and enemies I am surrounded!


JOAD.
Thine eyes flash round in vain, escape thou canst not,
On every side the Lord's encompassed thee:
That God thou hast defied, into my hands
Has given thee up: now render an account
To Him of slaughters which have made thee drunk.


ATHALIAH.
What fear has petrified my worthless troops?
Into what snare hast thou conducted me,
Base Abner?


ABNER.
Queen, God is my testimony—


ATHALIAH.
Hence with thy God, thou traitor, and avenge me!


ABNER.
On whom, on Joas, my master?


ATHALIAH.
He Joas? Thy king? Remember, vile one, that
My armies still are holding you besieged.
I hear my camp demand me with loud cries,
They come to aid me, quake, rebellious crew!