ATHALIAH, AGAR, ABNER, SUITE OF ATHALIAH.
AGAR.
Why, Madam, do you linger in this place?
Here all the objects wound and anger you.
Unto the priest, who dwells within it, leave
This temple, flee this tumult, and go calm
Your agitated spirit in your palace.


ATHALIAH.
No, no, I cannot: my perplexity
And weakness thou behold'st. Give my commands
That Mathan instantly must hasten hither.
Happy if I can find, by his assistance,
The peace I seek—that's always shunning me!


ATHALIAH, ABNER, SUITE OF ATHALIAH.

ABNER.
Your pardon, Madam, if I dare defend him:
Joad's zeal should not have struck you with surprise:
Such is the eternal order of the God
We serve: His temple and His altar He,
Himself, forbade to us; to Aaron's sons
Alone, His sacrifices were committed;
He marked the Levites' office and their place,
And, above all, to their posterity forbade
All intercourse with other gods.
Indeed, both wife and mother of our kings,
Are you in this respect a stranger to us?
Do you not know our laws? Must I to-day—
Here is your Mathan; I will take my leave.


ATHALIAH.
Abner, your presence here is requisite.
No more of Joad's rash violence; of all
That heap of superstition, which bars out
All other nations from your sanctuary;
A subject more momentous stirs my fears.
I know, from infancy brought up to arms,
That Abner has a noble heart; that he
Can render, when necessity demands,
His duty to his God, and what he owes
Unto his queen. Remain.