edient
and most devoted servant the author."

To what extremes of adulation even a doctor of divinity may go, is well
shown in Schoelcher's pithy comment: "This is addressed to a man who
pitilessly murdered as many prisoners after the battle as his courage had
slain enemies during the combat." It is but just to the composer,
however, to say that the great success of this oratorio had little to do
with the political causes which led to its composition. It was first
performed at Covent Garden, April 1, 1747, and was repeated six times
that year. Handel himself conducted it thirty-eight times with ever
growing popularity, to which the Jews contributed greatly, as it
glorified an episode in their national history.

The characters represented are Judas Maccabaeus; Simon, his brother; an
Israelitish Messenger; and Israelitish Men and Women. The story may be
gathered from the following summary of the plot as prepared for the
Birmingham Festival of 1861:--

Part I.--Lamentations for the death of Mattathias (the father of Judas
Maccabaeus and Simon), by whom the Jewish people had been roused to
resist the cruelties and oppressions of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian
king, in his attempt to suppress their religion and liberties.--The
divine favor invoked.--Judas recognized as leader.--Appeal to the
patriotism of the people, and their response.--The value of
liberty.--Preparations for war.--Pious trust in God, and heroic resolve
to conquer or die.

Part II.--Celebration of the victories gained over the armies of
Apollonius, the governor of Samaria and Seron, the Deputy Governor of
Coelesyria, and the valor of Judas.--Renewal of war by a division of
the Syrian array from Egypt, under Gorgias, and the despondency it
occasions among the Israelites.--Judas again arouses the failing
courage of the people, and they set out to meet the enemy.--Those who
remain behind utter their detestation of the heathen idolatries, by
which the sanctuary at Jerusalem had been desecrated, and their
determination only to worship the God of Israel.

Part III.--Feast of the dedication at Jerusalem, after Judas and his
followers had recovered and restored the sanctuary, and re-established
the liberties of his country.--Return of Judas from his final victory
over Nicanor and his confederates.--Celebration of peace, and national
thanksgiving.

The first scene introduces the Israelitish Men and Women lamentin