JOAS, JOAD, JOSABET, ZACHARIAH, SALOMITH, AZARIAH,
ISHMAEL, THREE OTHER LEVITE CHIEFS, A LEVITE,
THE CHOIR.

A LEVITE.
I know not what design they have 'gainst God;
But threatening boldness growls on every side:
Amidst their standards they have lighted fires,
And doubtless Athaliah joins her forces;
Already every path for succour's closed:
The sacred mount on which the temple's reared
Is quite infested with fierce Tynans;
Blaspheming, one of them came forth and said,
"Your Abner is in chains, and cannot aid you."


JOSABET (to Joas)
Dear child, whom Heaven in vain reserved for me,
I've done whate'er I could to rescue you:
But God no longer knows your father, David.


JOAD (to Josabet).
What! fear you not to draw His wrath on you,
And on this king so dear unto your love?
Though God should tear him from your arms for ever,
And will that David's house should be extinct,
Are you not here upon the holy mount,
Where 'gainst his innocent son the Jewish sire,
Raised, without murmur, his obedient arm;
And, as burnt-offering, on the altar placed
The finit of his old age, leaving with God
The oversight of bearing out His promise,
And yielded up to Him, with his loved son,
His house's hope, contained in him alone?
Friends let us go. Let Ishmael to his charge,
Take all the side that looks unto the east;
You take the northern portion, you the west,
And you the centre. Let not too much zeal,
Betraying my designs, cause priest or Levite
To quit his place, and charge before the time;
And, finally, let all impelled as one
Keep to the death the post I have assigned them.
The foe beholding us in his blind rage,
As a vile herd reserved for massacre,
Thinks but to meet disorder and dismay.
You, Azariah, keep beside the king.

(To Joas.)
Come, you dear scion of a valiant race,
With a new courage fill your champions;
Assume the diadem before their eyes,
And fall as king, at least, if fall you must.

(To a Levite.)
Follow him, Josabet. Give me those arms.

(To the Choir.)
Children, to God present your innocent tears.