{ATHALIAH.}
Why do you hurry to reply for him?
{JOSABET.}
From such a tender age can you expect
Much information?
{ATHALIAH.}
That age is artless, its ingenuousness
Does not as yet pervert the simple truth.
Let him explain the whole concerning him.
{JOSABET.}
Great God, O place Thy wisdom in his mouth!
{ATHALIAH.}
What is your name?
{JOAS.}
Eliacin.
They say I am an orphan,
Cast from my birth into the arms of God,
And who my parents were I never knew.
{ATHALIAH.}
Have you no parents?
{JOAS.}
They abandoned me.
{ATHALIAH.}
How? And how long ago?
{JOAS.}
At my birth.
{ATHALIAH.}
Do they, at least, not know your native country?
{JOAS.}
This temple is my country; none I know
Besides--
{ATHALIAH.}
Your father?
Where is it said that chance discovered you?
{JOAS.}
Among the cruel wolves, their helpless prey.
{ATHALIAH.}
Who placed you in this temple?
{JOAS.}
An unknown woman, never looked on since,
Who did not say her name.
{ATHALIAH.}
But who took charge of your most early years?
{JOAS.}
Does God e'er let his children want in vain?
He gives the smallest birds their nourishment,
And over all His works extends His goodness.
Each day I call on Him. His care paternal
Nourishes me with gifts presented at
The altar.
{ATHALIAH.}
What strange event again perplexeth me?
The sweetness of his voice, his youthful grace,
Cause my aversion imperceptably
To be succeeded--I could be inclined
To pity.
{ABNER.}
Is this, then, Madam, that terrific foe '?
The fraud of your false dreams is manifest:
Unless 'tis sympathy that touches you,
It is that fatal blow which makes you tremble.
{ATHALIAH (_to Joas and Josabet_).}
Are you going?
{JOSABET.}
His story you have heard:
His further stay would be importunate.
{ATHALIAH.}
No, No, return. What do you every day?
{JOAS.}
Adore the Lord; they train me in His law,
They teach me how to read His sacred book,
And now I copy it with mine own hand.
{ATHALIAH.}
How does that law instruct you?
{JOAS.}
That love is what the Lord desires; that He
Sooner or later will avenge His name,
His holy name blasphemed; that He protects
The timid orphan, that He breaks the proud,
And punishes the murderer.
{ATHALIAH.}
I understand. But what do all the people
Enclosed within that place?
{JOAS.}
They praise, and bless the Lord.
{ATHALIAH.}
And does He wish that one should always pray
And meditate.
{JOAS.}
All deeds profane are banished from His temple.
{ATHALIAH.}
What are your pleasures, then?
{JOAS.}
Sometimes unto the high priest I present
Either the salt or incense at the altar:
I hear them sing of God's unbounded greatness,
I see the sumptuous order of His rites.
{ATHALIAH.}
Alas! have you no pastimes more delightful?
I pity the sad fate of one like you.
Come to my palace, see my splendour there.
{JOAS.}
I! I should lose the memory of God's blessings!
{ATHALIAH.}
No. I would not constrain you to forget Him.
{JOAS.}
You do not pray to Him.
{ATHALIAH.}
But you can pray to Him.
{JOAS.}
But I should see another god invoked.
{ATHALIAH.}
I have my god to serve, and you have yours.
They both are powerful gods.
{JOAS.}
Mine must be feared, for He alone is God,
And yours is nothing, Madam.
{ATHALIAH.}
Pleasures, near _me_, will seek you out, in crowds.
{JOAS.}
The blessings of the wicked pass away,
As doth a torrent
{ATHALIAH.}
The wicked! Who are they?
{JOSABET.}
Pray, Madam! excuse a child.
{ATHALIAH}
I like to see how you are training him.
At length, Eliacin, you have amused me;
You're, doubtless, not an ordinary child.
You see I am a queen, without an heir:
Cast off these garments, quit this menial trade,
And all my riches I will share with you.
Try the conclusion of my promises:
Beside me at my table, everywhere,
I promise you shall sit as my own son.
{JOAS.}
As your own son?
{ATHALIAH.}
Yes, would it please you?
{JOAS.}