ar Sion, what sayest thou,
When thou, alas! beholdst upon the throne
Of thine own kings, an impious stranger sat?

_All the Choir._
Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou,
When thou, alas! beholdst upon the throne
Of thine own kings, an impious stranger sat!

_The same voice continues._

Instead of David's pleasing strains,
In which he poured his holy raptures,
And blessed his God, his Father and his Lord:
Sion, dear Sion, what sayest thou,
When thou dost hear them laud the strangers' god,
And curse the name thy princes have adored?

_One voice alone._

How long, O Lord, and yet again how long
Shall we behold the wicked rise 'gainst Thee?
They come into Thy temple braving Thee:
The people who adore Thee, treat as frenzied.
How long, O Lord, and yet again How long
Shall we behold the wicked rise 'gainst Thee?

_Another._

Wherefore, say they, this sombre piety?
Why flee the use of many joys so sweet?
Your God does naught for you.

_Another._

Come laugh and sing, exclaims this impious band;
From flower to flower, from sweet to sweet,
Let us give air to our desires,
In the insensate future who confides?
Doubtful the number of our fleeting years:
Then let us haste to-day to relish life;
Who knows if we shall be to-morrow?

_All the Choir._
O let them weep, my God, and groan for fear,
The miserable, who will not see
The eternal splendour of Thy holy city.
But we must chant, to whom Thou dost reveal
Thy everlasting light;
Of all Thy gifts and grandeur we must sing.

_One voice alone._
What will remain of all their empty pleasures
In which their soul is sunk? I' the dregs of dreams
Whose error's recognized.
At their awaking--awaking full of horror!--
Whilst at the table the just poor will taste
The sweets of peace unspeakable,
The hideous cup exhaustless they will drink,
Which in the day of wrath thou wilt present
To all the guilty race.

_All the Choir._
O waking full of horror!
O fleeting dream!
O dangerous error!

{END OF THE SECOND ACT.}

_ACT III.--Scenes I. and II_

{MATHAN, NABAL, THE CHOIR.}

{MATHAN.}

Young daughters, go, and say to Josabet
That Mathan waits to speak to her in private.