uideth me.
Think that all Israel lives within this child!
Already God the avenger troubles her.
Eluding whom, I have assembled you;
She deems us armless here, without defence.
Let us crown quickly and proclaim Joas king:
Then, fearless soldiers of the new crowned prince,
March and invoke the Arbiter of battles;
And rousing in the people's hearts their faith,
Even in her palace, seek our enemy.
Then those so long in lazy slumber sunk,
Beholding us advance in saintly garbs,
Will haste with zeal to follow our example!
A king whom in His temple God has nourished:
Aaron's successor, followed by his priests,
Leading the house of Levi to the combat;
And in these hands, by all tribes venerated,
The arms of David consecrate to God!
The Lord will scatter terror on His foes.
Bathe without fear in unbelievers' blood!
Strike Syrian, and even Israelite!
From those famed Levites do you not descend,
Who, when to Nilus' god inconstant Israel
Paid in the desert adoration vile,
The saintly homicides of their own house,
Did dedicate their hands in treacherous blood,
And by that awful deed acquired for you
The rank of sole presiders at the altar?
But now I see you burn to follow me!
Swear on this sacred volume, then, Yore all
To live, to combat, and to die for him,
The king, whom heaven presenteth you to-day.

{AZARIAH (_at the end of the table, laying his hand
the sacred book),_}

Yes, swear we, for our brothers and ourselves,
To establish Joas upon his father's throne;
That we again will not lay down our arms
Until avenged upon his enemies:
If any' violator break this vow,
O may he feel, great God, Thy vengeful wrath!
And may with him his children be debarred
Thy heritage, as those Thou knowest no more!

{JOAD.}

And to this law, your ever present guide,
Will you not, king, swear always to be true?

{JOAS.}

Can I not to that law conform myself?

{JOAD.}

Allow, my son--I still dare call you so--
This tenderness, and tolerate the tears
Drawn from my eyes for you with just alarms.
Alas! far from the throne instructed, you
Are ignorant of the enpoisoned cup;
The drunkenness of unrestricted power;
The voice of the enchantress flattery.
Soon will