er that impious race:

{JOSABET.}

And 'tis His rigid justice on those kings
That throes me for my wretched brother's son.
For who can say that child, at birth, was not
Condemned with them--included in their guilt?
That God, for David's sake, will grant him favour,
And separate him from a hateful race?
Alas! the horrible perplexing state,
In which heaven represents itself to me,
Haunts me incessantly, and frights my soul.
The chambers gorged with princes massacred--
Inexorable Athaliah, armed
With poniard, fires her barbarous soldiery
Unto the carnage, and pursues the course
Of her assassinations. Left for dead,
Joas strikes my sight! Methinks I still behold
His nurse, distracted, throw her feeble form
In vain before the murderers; and him,
Extended on the earth, clasp to her breast
I take him up all bloody--with my tears
Bathing his visage--bring him back to life;
And still in terror, or caressing me,
I feel his innocent arms upon me press.
Great God! let not my love be fatal to him,
The precious relic of the loyal David:
Brought up within Thy house to love Thy law,
He knows no other father yet than Thee.
About to attack a homicidal queen,
If peril's aspect terrifies my faith,
If flesh and blood to-day, bewildered being,
Have too great part in tears I shed for him,
Heir of Thy sacred promises, preserve him,
And punish me alone for all my frailty!

{JOAD.}

Your griefs are crimeless, Josabet; but God
Would have us trust in His paternal care.
Upon the son who fears Him He does not
Call blindly in His wrath to answer for
His sire's impiety. All that remain
Still faithful Hebrews, will come forth to-day
To make their vows anew; all that revere
The race of David, Athaliah hate!
Joas will affect them with his modesty,
Through which appears to glow his royal blood,
And our example, by His very voice
The Lord supporting, will moreover speak
Within His temple straight unto their hearts.
Two unbelieving kings in turns have braved Him;
Tis now imperative a king be raised
Upon the throne, who shall avow hereafter
That, to the honour of his ancestors,
God caused him, by the influence of His priests,
To re-ascend; and, by their hands, hath snatched