Athaliah Part 10

What can inspire in you so fierce a hate?

Is it your zeal for Baal inflames you thus?

As for myself, you know of Ishmael blood, I neither wors.h.i.+p Baal nor Israel's G.o.d.

{MATHAN.}

Friend, canst thou think that I allow myself To be made blind by an unworthy zeal For a vain idol, fragile form of wood, Which, notwithstanding my support, the worms Upon its altar every day consume?

Born servant of the G.o.d that temple loves, It might be Mathan would adore Him still, If l.u.s.t of greatness, thirst for dominance, Could be accommodated to His yoke.

Nabal, what need repicture to thy mind The noted quarrel of myself and Joad.

When I 'gainst him the censor dared dispute, My factions, struggles, waitings, my despair?

Vanquished by him I chose a new career, And wed my soul entirely to the court.

I by degrees approached their royal honours, And soon my voice was made an oracle.

I probed their heart, and flattered their caprice; Bestrewed with flowers the precipice's brink; Serving their pa.s.sions, naught to me was sacred; Measure and weight I changed as they inclined.

As much as Joad's unpliant humour pained The softness of their supercilious ear, So much I pleased them with my dexterous art; Concealing from their eyes the bitter truth; Lending convenient colour to their rage; And, lavish, above all, of wretches' blood.

At length, to Baal, whom she had introduced, By Athaliah was a temple reared.

Jerusalem did weep to see herself Profaned: The alarmed band of Levi's race Did elevate to heaven appalling cries.

Giving example to the timid Jews.

Deserter from their law, myself approved The enterprise, and merited by that Baal's priesthood: and I made myself withal A terror to my rival; I put on The turban--walked his equal. Ne'ertheless I must avow, that in that glorious height The troublesome memory of the G.o.d I left Still throws into my soul a shade of dread: Tis that which strengthens and supports my fury.

Happy, if on the temple my revenge Accomplis.h.i.+ng, I can at length content Her petty spite, and lose amongst the wreck The ravage and the slaughter, my remorse, By dint of those enormities. But here Is Josabet.

_Scene IV._

{JOSABET, MATHAN, NABAL.}

{MATHAN.}

Commissioned by the queen To calm again, and dissipate the anger, Princess, in which heaven placed so sweet a soul, Be not surprised at my addressing you.

A rumour, which however I suspect To be a fable, favouring the warnings, Which in a dream she had received, on Joad, Accused of dangerous complots, she was going To pour the floodgates of her wrath. I wish Not here to boast of services to you-- I know of Joad's injustice to myself-- But for offence I must return good deeds.

At length, I come to speak the words of peace.

Live, solemnize your feasts without distrust, She only claims a pledge of your submission: It is--I did my utmost to dissuade her-- The orphan whom she says that she has seen.

{JOSABET.}

Eliacin?

{MATHAN.}

I am ashamed of her on that account: Of a vain dream she makes too much ado: But you declare yourselves her mortal foes, If not that child's resigned to me at once: The queen impatiently 'waits your reply.

{JOSABET.}

And that on her part is the peace announced.

{MATHAN.}

Can you one moment hesitate to grant it?

Or is that courtesy too dear for peace?

{JOSABET.}

Could Mathan, I was wondering, stript of guile, Have overcome the injustice of his heart; And, fatal plotter of so many ills, Could he be author of a shade of good.

{MATHAN.}

Of what do you complain? Come I enraged To tear from you your offspring, Zachariah?

What is this other child you love so well?

In turn, this great affection marvels me.

Is _he_ to you a pearl so precious, rare?

Is _he_ a liberator trained by Heaven?

Remember, your refusal would confirm A faint report that's just begun to spread.

{JOSABET.}

What report I

{MATHAN.}

That of ill.u.s.trious origin's the child, Destined to some great project by your spouse.

{JOSABET.}

And by that tale, which flatters Mathan's fury--

{MATHAN.}

Princess, to think me false belongs to you.

Yet still I deem that Josabet, the foe Implacable of falsehood, would resign Her own life even, were it requisite, Rather than life of insincerity Be purchased by the slightest word untrue.

Then of that child's descent there is no trace?

Darkness profound surrounds his origin!

You know not of what parents he was born?

From whose hands Joad received him to his arms?

Pray speak, I listen ready to believe.

Princess, unto the G.o.d you serve give glory!

{JOSABET.}

Base one, is't well you thus dare speak the name Of G.o.d, whom your own tongue bids men to curse!

Could His veracity be vouched by you, You, wretched, sat upon the noxious bench Where poison's scattered, falsehood hath the sway; You, nurtured in deceit and treachery?

_Scene V._

{JOAD, JOSABET, MATHAN, NABAL.}