{ATHALIAH.}
What would they fail in courtesy to me?
Of that strange non-compliance, what the cause?
It might produce in me mistrustful thoughts.
Let Josabet, or Joad, I tell you, bring them \
I can, when time requires, speak like a queen.
Abner, to you I may indeed declare,
Your priests have reason to be satisfied
With Athaliah's kindness. Still I know
That on my conduct and against my power
How far they bear the license of their speech:
They live, however, and their temple stands.
But soon, I feel, my gentleness must end.
Let Joad put bridle on his savage zeal,
Nor wound me with a second outrage. Go.
_Scene VI._
{MATHAN.}
At length I have the liberty to speak;
I can expose the truth to open day.
Some monster's rising in that temple reared!
Queen, do not wait the bursting of the cloud.
Abner, attended by the high-priest Joad,
Was there before the break of day: You know
His passion for the offspring of their kings.
And who can say that Joad does not intend,
In place of them, to substitute the boy
By which heaven threatens you. It may perchan
Be his own son.
{ATHALIAH.}
Mine eyes are opened: I begin to see
Clearly into the warnings of the heavens.
I wish, however, to be free from doubt:
A child is little fit to flourish thoughts,
Yet _one_ may make us judge of great designs.
I must, dear Mathan, see him--question him.
But go yourself, without exciting fears,
And cause my Tyrians to arm themselves.
_Scene VII_
{JOAS, JOSABET, ATHALIAH, ZACHARIAH, ABNER, SALOMITH,
TWO LEVITES, THE CHOIR, SUITE OF ATHALIAH.}
{JOSABET (_to the two Levites_).}
You, servants of the Lord, upon those children
So dear, so precious, keep a fixed regard.
{ABNER (_to Josabet_).}
Princess, have courage, they are in my care.
{ATHALIAH.}
O heaven! the more I look at him, the more
I scrutinize--'Tis he! my faculties
Again are seized with horror! Josabet
Is that your son?
{JOSABET.}
Who, he, Madam?
{ATHALIAH.}
He.
{JOSABET.}
His mother I am not. This is my son.
{ATHALIAH (_to Joas_.)}
And you, my boy, who _is_ your father then?
Come child reply.
{JOSABET.}