mmiserate the fate
Of such a suppliant? Is not his cause
The common one of kings?

{JOAD.}

Dare you propose to me such timid counsels?
What can you hope in Jehu's countenance?

{JOSABET.}

Does God forbid all care and all prevision?
Will not an over-confidence offend Him?
Employing human means to sacred ends,
Has He Himself not Jehu's arm equipt?

{JOAD.}

Jehu, on whom I see your hopes are built,
Paying His gifts with thankless thoughtlessness,
Jehu in peace leaves Ahab's hideous daughter;
Following the course profane of Israel's kings,
Of Egypt's worthless god he saves the temples;
Jehu, at length, dares offer on the heights
An incense rash which God can not allow:
His heart's not just enough, nor pure his hands,
To serve His cause--to avenge His injuries.
No, No, 'tis God alone we must engage.
Far from concealing, let us show the boy,
And let the diadem surround his head:
I even will urge on the expected hour,
Before vile Mathan's complots can be formed.

_Scene VII_

{JOAD, JOSABET, AZARIAH, THE CHOIR, AND SEVERAL
LEVITES.}

{JOAD.}

Well, Azariah, is the temple closed?

{AZARIAH.}

The gates have all been made before my eyes

{JOAD.}

Your saintly troops and you alone remain?

{AZARIAH.}

Twice I have walked around the sacred courts,
And all are fled; dispersed without return,
Scattered in fear--a miserable crew!
God by His holy tribe's no longer served:--
E'er since that people Pharoah's steps escaped,
An equal panic has not seized on them.

{JOAD.}

A people in performance loose, and born
For slavery--bold against God alone!
Let us pursue our work. But who retains
These children, even in our midst?

_One of the daughters of the choir_

Alas, could we, sire, part ourselves from you?
In the Lord's temple are we aliens?
Around you are our fathers and our sires.

_Another._

Ha! if to avenge the shame of Israel
Our hands may not as Jael's, formerly,
Have power to pierce God's impious enemies' head,
Yet we at least may give our lives to Him.
Whilst you are fighting for His temple stormed,
We may, at least, invoke Him with our tears.

{JOAD.}

Eternal Wisdom, in Thy quarrel armed