rudence to respect
His sovereign, and not outrage one that she
Has deigned to charge with her commands.

{JOAD.}

Well, what's the ill she bids you to announce,
What frightful charge may such an agent bear?

{MATHAN.}

To Josabet I have made known her will.

{JOAD.}

Then quit me, monster of iniquity,
Go fill thy measure of all horrid things.
God rules to join thee with the perjured race,
Achitophel, Abiron, Doeg, Dathan t
The dogs which tore the limbs of Jezebel,
Waiting to show their fury upon thee,
Already, at thy gates, demand their prey.
{mathan (_agitated_).}
Before this day expires--it will be seen
Which of us---- He shall be forced--

_(To Nabal.)_

But, Nabal, let us go.

{NABAL.}

Where wander you? What wildering chaos is
The master of your senses? That's your way.

_Scene VI._

{JOAD, JOSABET.}

{JOSABET.}

The storm has burst!
The queen, enraged, demands Eliacin.
Already of his birth, and your designs
They have begun to pierce the mystery:
Mathan but failed to name to me his father.

{JOAD.}

To the perfidious Mathan who has told it?
Has not your agitation said too much?

{JOSABET.}

I did whate'er I could to curb myself.
Howe'er, believe me, peril presses, Sir;
For happier times let us reserve that child.
Whilst wicked ones deliberate with each other,
Before he is surrounded, torn from us,
Allow me to conceal him once again;
To him are open yet the doors, the gates.
Shall we convey him to the wildest desert?
I am prepared, I know a secret way,
By which myself and he, still unperceived,
The torrents of the Cedron passing over,
May go into the desert, where in tears,
And seeking safety, like ourselves, in flight,
David escaped his rebel son's pursuit.
I shall, on his account, fear wild beasts less;--
But why do you not favour Jehu's aid?
Perhaps good counsel I may offer you;
Let us make Jehu guardian of this treasure,
We could to-day conduct him to his kingdom,
For short the road is leading to his court.
Jehu has not a wild, relentless heart;
The name of David's honoured in his eyes.
Alas! is he a king so callous, cruel,
Unless his mother was a Jezebel,
That he would not co