The cause, alas, is known to neighboring nations
And even remotest climes have heard of Israel
Her highly favored tribes, her grievous sins
And the just vengeance of offended heaven
We hid thy country’s sufferings from thy knowledge
Wishing to spare thy youthful mind from anguish
We would not blast the opening bloom of youth
By unfolding scenes which riper reason shuns
As filled with woes too mighty to be borne
But since thy gentle spirit feels such alarm
I briefly will relate the direful tale
Which fills with keen distress all Jacob’s race.
Thy infant mind can scarce retain the time
When Jephthah lived, first of the race of Gilead
Till envious hate of his most cruel brethren
Drove him amidst their desert wilds and forests
To seek that shelter Israel would not give
Here we have lived a peaceful, happy life.
The rude inhabitants, thy father’s virtues
Have humanized, refined and taught the worth
Of civil laws and righteous government.
_Their barbarous manners softened into virtue_,
They look to Jephthah as friend, a father,
And next thyself and country share his love.
To me was left the pleasing, anxious task,
Of teaching thy young mind the path of knowledge
And if a sigh has e’er escaped my lips
When thinking what my early fortune promised
Twas for thy sake, bred in this lonely station,
Whose birth was hailed first of the maids of Gilead.
ELIZABETH.
My dearest mother, let no thought of me
Disturb the tranquil hours of this sweet vale
What is there to be envied midst the great
Can costly domes or splendid garbs avert
The shafts of envy or the touch of pain
Or make one honest heart respect their owners
Had my dear father still remained in Israel
The affairs of state befitting his high rank
Would with unceasing care have filled his mind
And robbed domestic life of half its comforts.
The frequent woes which harass Jacob’s race
Would perhaps e’er this have laid him with his fathers
And made the humble shepherd’s lot our envy.
BETHULAH.
Most true, my child. In this discern the cares
Which with unwonted gloom our brows o’erspread
Israel ungrateful to their Heavenly Father
Forsake his altars and forget his laws
Pride violence and rapine waste the land.
To inbred evils terrible to bear
Are joined proud Ammon’s and Philistia’s bands
Who waste the land, and spare nor sex nor age.
The few who still remember their Creator
In sackcloth clad, raise the repentant voice,
Implore his mercy a forgiving grace.
As former sins afflict their guilty minds,
The injustice done thy father, stings their conscience
As humble suppliants they implore forgiveness
And entreat your sire to lead his chosen troops
To shield his country from proud Ammon’s force
His doubtful mind now ponders their request
His patriot bosom burns to save his country
But latent fears of their returning hatred
Repress the generous ardour of his soul.
ELIZABETH.
Ah, sure he will not hesitate to fly
When his loved Israel calls for succour
When thousands of our nation ask for aid
Who ne’er united with his envious foes
To persecute and drive him from his country
But now I rejoiced in this obscurity
Which saved my father from dread war’s alarms
But since my suffering brethren need his aid
Dear as he is I yield him for their safety
And my suppliant voice unite with theirs
To urge his presence in the tented field.
(_Enter an attendant._)
ATTENDANT.
Madam two women ask to be admitted
And to your private ear relate their sorrows
BETHULAH.
Whence come they, what is their dress and mien?
ATTENDANT.
They both are clothed in Israel’s mourning garb
One venerable by years, but more by grief
The other young and beauteous as the morn
Her gentle mien, a face bedewed with tears
Melt every heart to pity, may they have leave to enter?
BETHULAH.
Conduct them hither. Thy outcasts Israel
Shall find a shelter in my humble shed.
ELIZABETH.
Some sad, disastrous tale of wrongs and woe
I stand prepared to hear, Oh my loved country
Tho’ a stranger to thee, thou still art dear
“Dear as the blood which mantles in my heart.”
(_Enter_ MAHALAH _and_ TIRZAH.)
BETHULAH.
What do I see, the stern Athobat’s wife
Mahalah here.
MAHALAH.
Yes, the proud Mahalah who spurned thy virtues,
And despised thy tears. An humble suppliant now
Implores thy succour and forgiving love,
If stern revenge is harbored in thy breast
Our mighty woes will drive the demon hence
And thou wilt own our crimes are fully punished
More full than bitterest enemies could wish.
Then, oh forgive the many wrongs I did thee
And give repentant enemies a shelter.
(BETHULAH _during this speech looks with an air of stern incredulity,
then turns to hide her emotions_.)
TIRZAH.
If gentle pity ever touched thy bosom
If soft humanity e’er sway’d thy mind
Let their soft whispers move thy soul to pardon
Look on thy child whose years agree with mine
If thou hast felt a mother’s joyful pride
To see her virtues far exceed thy hopes
Then fear’d those virtues might be early blasted
By dire misfortune or unfeeling foes
Deaf to the voice of innocence and age
Ah then with mercy greet that wretched mourner
(_Kneeling_,) Oh, for my sake who never injured thee
Forgive the many wrongs which thou hast suffer’d
And snatch repentant enemies from want.
BETHULAH.
Arise sweet maid, I do forgive thy parents
Tho’ they have driven me far from friends and country
An exile mid a savage heathen race
Yet we should forgive, as we hope to be forgiven.
TIRZAH.
A thousand blessings crown the generous deed.
BETHULAH.
No not a generous deed. I let thee kneel
Solicit pardon, tho’ your penitence
Spoke in each feature and implored forgiveness
I should have met thee with a friends embrace
And gave a pardon e’er thou hadst time to ask it.
Elizabeth embrace thy new found cousin
And make her welcome as a friend and sister.
ELIZABETH.
Dear sister of my soul, I feel I love thee
And that this love will increase with waning time.
BETHULAH.
Sister why are thine eyes bent on the earth
Does dark distrust still lurk within thy breast
Tho’ thou hads’t been tenfold more cruel to me
Thy penitence would claim my full forgiveness
Accept my friendship and dismiss thy fears.
MAHALAH.
Remorse and not distrust has chained my tongue
Oh when to me thou fled’st for friendly succour
I scorn’d thy merit and thy grief derided
But Heaven’s just wrath avenged thy injuries
And brought our pride to moulder in the dust
BETHULAH.
Rumor has spread your numerous woes abroad
The huge tongued goddess has I hope increased
The sad detail, but still my beating heart
With anxious fear enquires the full recital
Of every outrage our dear nation suffers
Which thou a witness, can’st with truth relate.
But chiefly what distress drove thee from home
To seek a shelter in this lonely vale.
MAHALAH.
Backsliding Israel, faithless to the Lord
Forsook his altars and despised his laws
To Ammon’s Gods they bowed the knee profane
And made their children pass through fire to Moloch
To Belial also paid the rite obscene
And all the various Gods which Egypt owns
Engaged their fickle worship, ever changing
Prone to rebellion, a stiff-necked race
They refused to obey the laws of God and man
Our rulers warned, our prophets preached in vain
Abused by vulgar tongues, by riotous disorder
Rob’d of their hard earned gains, the honest Jews
Escaped to foreign lands to seek that safety
Israel would not give to wretched
BETHULAH.
Wretched country, stain to our chosen race
When virtue flies to heathen lands for safety.
But say what next ensu’d, how long have sinners sway’d
Our happy land, happy I fear no more.
MAHALAH.
At first the populace with impious mirth
Exulted in their fancied happiness
Their boisterous pleasure pain’d the honest ear
Oppression next, with wild misrule upbourne
Seiz’d their defenceless, and deluded victims
Now they who erst in splendid robes array’d
Those delicate limbs ne’er felt the sun’s broad ray
With patient labor seek and seek in vain
A pittance in the field. They whose delicious board
With luxuries full up o’er flowed
Now ask for bread and no one breaks it to them
The infants’ cries each hour assail the ear
Their tongues for thirst, cleave to their little mouths
Mothers with frantic pity slay their babes
To save them from famine’s slow and cruel tortures
The blushing maiden and chaste matron now
To caves and desert woods for safety flee.
Not safely even the traveller wends his way
In public roads his necessary steps
But in by-paths, avoids the murderous bands
Which lawless range through our most wretched country.
Where once the crowded street, the city rose
The rank grass waves its head, o’er fallen walls
The thorny thistle shakes in the sullen blast
Each face a cloud of deepest sadness wears
For even the base are caught in their own snares
Yet still our stubborn hearts refused to bend
To an offended God, or ask his mercy
Till Ammon’s troops and proud Philistia’s bands
With war’s dread scourge, fill’d up heaven’s cup of wrath
This roused the stupid, and abashed the bold
They seiz’d their arms and flew to oppose the foe
But all in vain, the foe swept down whole ranks
Our cities bend beneath the conqueror’s sword
From Jordan’s streams and Judah’s fruitful plains
To where proud Ephraim once securely dwelt
My husband fell amidst the foremost ranks
And Jephthah’s cruel brethren wished too late
For his brave hand to save the race of Gilead
Amid the lawless ruin of my country
I scarce found shelter neath Athobat’s arm
Since he is gone, I durst not stay in Israel
Beset by foes both foreign and domestic.
BETHULAH.
Oh Israel, sinful but much lov’d country
My heart drops blood at thy calamities.
Will not these evils bend their stubborn souls
And turn them to the Rock of their defense
Their only hope amid the tempest.
MAHALAH.
With many tears they seek to avert the wrath
Of their offended, but merciful Creator.
They have at last perceived their idols could not save
Have cast them and their altars in the dust
With ardent zeal some seek the good old paths
Saying where’s the right way, let us walk therein
The path which our forefathers wisely trod
But what is man, can he arrest God’s arm
When crimes like ours call forth his righteous vengeance
Ah see where Jephthah comes. Wilt thou entreat for me
I cannot meet his eye.
BETHULAH.
Retire with me, and let our daughters plead
Thy moving cause their eloquence will gain,
An easy pardon from thy generous brother
(_Exit_ BETHULAH _and_ MAHALAH.)
(_Enter_ JEPHTHAH.)
ELIZABETH.
Father I bring an humble suppliant
Who entreats thy pardon for once guilty parents
Who sorrowing, for all the wrongs they brought on thee
Implores through us forgiveness and protection.
JEPHTHAH.
My protection?
Who has sunk so low as to sue for Jephthah’s favor
An outcast wanderer, without power or fortune.
TIRZAH.
One who while living should have called thee brother
Dying bequeath’d his orphan to thy care
Bidding thee recollect the infant friendship
Which warm’d your hearts, e’er envy and ambition
Crept in and blasted every noble feeling.
JEPHTHAH.
And is Athobat dead, my once lov’d brother
His cruel treatment I’ll no more remember
But view him only as the dear companion
The much lov’d partner of my infant sports
Our joys our hopes our wishes all the same
And thou his daughter, welcome to my cottage
Next my Elizabeth in dear affection.
Take her my daughter as an only sister
And may your friendship meet no cruel blast
From rancorous envy, or misplaced ambition.
ELIZABETH.
My heart already owns her for a sister
I hope by acts of kindness soon to win
An equal place within her gentle bosom.
TIRZAH.
Thy kindness has already won my heart
And wak’d my sorrowing soul anew to pleasure.
JEPHTHAH.
But where’s thy mother? is she here with thee
Or dost thou mourn her with my fallen brother.
TIRZAH.
Fearing thy wrath too justly merited
She retir’d to hide her keen remorse from thee
I’ll seek her to relate thy generous pardon
And let her thanks repay thy boundless goodness
Which my full heart refuses words to express.
(_Exit_ ELIZABETH _and_ TIRZAH.)
(_Enter_ ELZAPHAN _and_ PEDAZAR.)
JEPHTHAH.
Welcome Elzaphan, my friend Pedazar
What news from our unhappy country?
PEDAZAR.
On Jordan’s banks proud Ammon’s banner waves
Judah already bends before his arms
While Benjamin to stern Philistia yields
Who threats all Israel with her galling yoke
ELZAPHAN.
Our country torn by faction
Our land by faction torn, bleeding at every pore
By foreign and domestic woes oppress’d
Have sent us here as messengers of grace
For all the past they humbly sue for pardon
And beg thou’lt lead their armies to the field
Secure of victory neath thy powerful arm.
JEPHTHAH.
When fortune smil’d and plenty fill’d your dwellings
And youthful vigor prompted me to enjoy
Each social pleasure, and my warm heart
O’erflow’d with kindness to ye. Ye hated me
Drove me from friends, from my lov’d country
From all the joys my ardent nature priz’d.
Then why do ye come to seek me in distress.
My youthful arm oft quell’d your powerful foes
And this lone desert all the reward obtained.
I scorn those friends, who fawn in times of trouble
But mid prosperity forget past favors.
PEDAZAR.
Tis not thy ungrateful friends alone implore thee
Thy country’s voice proclaims thee as her chief.
Not against thee alone our elders sin’d
Our ungrateful hearts forgot the Rock of Ages
His great deliverance and his boundless blessings
All, all ne’er made our stubborn hearts obey
Fill his just vengeance, clothe the land in mourning
Then by our humble prayers and deep repentance
We sought his pardon and obtained forgiveness.
His gracious voice is heard again in Israel
For not like man the Almighty holds resentment
How can weak man whose virtues all are frail
To near approach his Heavenly Maker’s image
As by kind mercy delegate of heaven
Who bids us pardon even our enemies.
JEPHTHAH.
Should I return would you indeed prove true
Is no conceal’d no treacherous snare employ’d
To work my ruin by my envious foes.
PEDAZAR.
No treachery believe me waits thy steps
Dost thou think so meanly of Pedazar’s heart
As to suspect he would join in bare deceit
To work the ruin of his bitterest foe
Much less the man once rank’d among his friends.
JEPHTHAH.
Pedazar pray forgive my unjust suspicions
My former fortunes render me distrustful
And if the Lord give Ammon to my hands
Shall I retain my place as Israel’s judge
Swear that ye will not drive me again to exile.
ELZAPHAN.
Here in our country’s name we solemn swear
And call heaven’s thunders to attest the oath
That Jephthah’s chosen judge of Israel
To rule in peace and war with equal sway
And may heaven’s vengeance blast the guilty wretch
Who dares oppose what Israel has decreed.
PEDAZAR.
Come let us haste, the expectant army waits
With keen impatience for their gallant leader
And Israel’s prayers attend us to the field.
JEPHTHAH.
Go tell our warriors Jephthah soon will join them
And while life’s current warms this heart to action
Ammon shall feel the fury of this arm.
(_Exit_ ELZAPHAN _and_ PEDAZAR.)
JEPHTHAH.
Great God, if thou indeed wilt crown my arms
With wish’d success against our impious foe
And make ungrateful Israel feel my wrongs
Then will I offer on thy altar, Lord
What e’er comes first from out my house to meet me
To hail my joyful conquest o’er the foe
Ammon destroyed and Israel bless’d with peace.
(_End of the first act._)
[Illustration:
PL. XXIV.—“THE ROSE OF SHARON,” PUPIL ABOUT 1814
From a miniature painted by Dickinson
Elizabeth Hannah Canfield, daughter of Judson Canfield and Mabel
Ruggles, of Sharon, Conn. She married Frederick Augustus Tallmadge,
son of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge. She was called “The Rose of Sharon”
by the law students, from her beauty and her birthplace, her sister
Julia receiving the title of “The Lily of the Valley,” from her fair
skin and want of color.
The two sons of Gov. Edward Telfair, of Georgia, who attended the law
school, were in love with her,—Thomas and Alexander. The latter
offered himself and was refused. He afterwards walked the twenty
miles from Litchfield to Sharon only to gaze at the light in her
window and walk back again.
]
_Act II._
_Scene I._
(JEPHTHAH’S _house at Mizpeh_, ELIZABETH, TIRZAH _and several young
women singing_).
SONG.
Guide our troops O great Jehovah
Save this sinful, war worn land.
We are weak; but thou art mighty,
Save us by thy powerful hand.
King of heaven, king of heaven
Save us, and we ask no more.
2
Shield our fathers in the strife,
Guard our brothers, we implore
Give them victory, freedom, life
Drive our foes far from this shore.
King of heaven, king of heaven,
Dry our tears, and hear our prayers.
(_Enter_ MAHALAH _and_ BETHULAH.)
MAHALAH.
With anxious heart I mark each slow pac’d hour
While Israel’s bands engage our numerous foes
Should Jephthah fall our shield our last defense
Our tribes must wear the galling yoke of slaves
More fear’d than death, more gloomy than the grave.
BETHULAH.
Sister what words have pass’d thy lips unweigh’d
Is Jephthah’s arm the only hope of Israel
Wilt thou on him an arm of flesh rely
When that great Being who controll’st the heavens
Who exalts proud tyrants to afflict the earth
Or driv’st them headlong from their envied greatness
Who mak’st weak insects his commissioners
To humble the power of strongest nations
When this great Being is our covenant God
Gave this fair Canaan to the seed of Jacob
Drove out great nations for his chosen people
Has said the sceptre shall not fail in Judah
Till that great prince the Almighty Shiloh come.
On him rely even in the darkest hour
Whose word is sure, whose power is infinite
And though dark clouds conceal his deep decrees
His chast’ning rod is ever rais’d in mercy.
MAHALAH.
Thy just rebuke confirms my wav’ring faith
Subdues my terrors and inspires new confidence.
ELIZABETH.
I wish some news would reach us from our army
Jephthah may fall even in the arms of victory.
Methought last night I saw our bands triumphant
And my lov’d father crowned with wreaths of glory
I flew to clasp him, when an envious fiend
Rush’d in and snatch’d me far from him and Israel
Mid desert lands I wander’d lone and wretched
Till on a cloud I saw thy father Tirzah
With smiles benign, inviting me to heaven
I strove to join him, and the effort wak’d me.
TIRZAH.
Thy mind intent on Jephthah’s danger rests
Awake or sleeping thou art ever with him.
ELIZABETH.
Hark, what shout is that I hear?
(_Enter_ PEDAZAR.)
PEDAZAR.
Victory crowns our arms, Jephthah returns triumphant.
Oh praise the Lord who guides our hosts to battle
Whose mighty arm has wrought this great deliverance
Come my young companions prepare the timbrel
Let’s haste with joyful songs and comely dance
To hail our heroes glorious from the war
Take each a wreath of laurel, to bind the victor’s brow
And name each gallant hero in our song.
(ELIZABETH _and her companions form a procession_.)
SONG.
STRIKE THE CYMBAL.
_Act III._
_Scene I._
(_Enter_ JEPHTHAH _followed by_ ELIZABETH _and_ TIRZAH.)
ELIZABETH.
My father why avert thy clouded brow
Why turn thine eye with horror from thy daughter
Ne’er till this hour was Elizabeth unwelcome.
JEPHTHAH.
Oh my child thou hast brought me low
Low even to the ground thou hast bow’d thy father
Oh thou hast filled my soul with anguish
For to the Lord I vowed, oh dreadful vow
And I must pay it with thy precious blood.
ELIZABETH.
My father let thy vow be cheerful paid
Tho’ my heart’s blood must seal the solemn oath
A little boon to pay the mighty debt
Of thy success and Israel’s great deliverance.
(_Enter_ BETHULAH, MAHALAH, PEDAZAR, _and_ ELZAPHAN.)
BETHULAH.
What do I hear! is then my darling child
My life’s best comfort and my dearest treasure
Devoted to thy rash and bloody vow
Oh Jephthah, Jephthah must this glorious morn
This day of joy to happy Israel’s race
Be only dark in cruel Jephthah’s house
Must its bright hours be stained with guiltless blood
The light of life torn from a mother’s arms
No human victims the Almighty claims
Tis heathen gods who boast such horrid rites
Offensive to our great Jehovah who delights in mercy.
[Illustration:
PL. XXV.—BLACK LACE VEIL MADE BY “THE ROSE OF SHARON”
]
ELIZABETH.
My dearest mother do not yield to grief
Collect thy wonted firmness
And give thy bright example to thy daughter.
Oh see’st thou not my father’s wounded spirit
Claims thy support
And thy distress adds anguish to his wounds.
Think of Abraham our noble ancestor
No sigh escaped, no tear bedewed his cheek
When his lov’d Isaac follow’d to the altar
And mildly ask’d where is the lamb for sacrifice.
BETHULAH.
Twas no rash vow made by our rev’rend father
But God’s express command, his child to offer
To show the world one truly faithful saint
At God’s command thy precious life I’d yield
Without a murmur crown the sacred victim
But now, oh now a mother’s tears are just
My cries shall rend the air and know no pause
Till Heaven in mercy move stern Jephthah’s heart
To revoke his cruel his unlawful vow.
Will not whole hecatombs of bulls suffice
Will not some other blood atone for thine
Behold me here oh! most unjust of fathers
Kneeling I ask to spend my life for hers.
ELIZABETH.
Mother most rever’d most lov’d of mortals
Do not in pity, do not melt me thus
Nor rend my father’s heart by thy reproaches
Lest grief so poignant snap the chord of life
And bleeding Israel mourn their gallant leader.
JEPHTHAH.
No let her just reproaches have full vent.
I deserve her hatred, thine and my country’s
What right had I to vow a sacrifice
Which might have fallen upon another’s head
Had any of my menial train advanc’d
With joyful greetings at their master’s glory
They had been sacrificed to my dread oath
And grief like mine torn the fond bosoms
Of their hapless friends
Oh God most holy, wise are thy decrees
I kiss the rod and own thy just correction.
MAHALAH.
Is there no offering can atone to heaven
No blood of beasts to save this precious child
Speak holy father thou art read in the laws
Can nothing save this guiltless valued maid?
ELZAPHAN.
Nothing can save her, naught devote to God
Or man or beast or field can be redeemed
Nor can a generous friend a ransom give
The life so offer’d or the thing so chang’d
Are both devote to God.
Our holy laws ordains no change in this
Tho’ common offerings are by gifts redeemed
A sacred vow must ever be rever’d (_turn to the end_) _x x x_
So dear Bethulah strive against thy grief
Which adds fresh anguish to the wounded heart
Shall Jephthah ruler of our chosen race
Infringe the law and break a solemn oath
Would not the people taught by his example
Deem their oaths light, which bind them to his sway
Think o’er the woes which now, oppress our land
But recent sav’d from powerful Ammon’s yoke
Still bleeding with the wounds of bloody faction
And numerous ills bro’t on by disobedience
Jephthah’s example now must save or crush us
Ah better that thy daughter rich in worth
And lov’d thro’ Israel as a child of light
Better that she, with all her virgin train
Give their pure lives to fulfill a solemn vow
Than we our rulers, and our numerous tribes
Be taught by Jephthah to offend our God
Dreadful in anger terrible in vengeance.
BETHULAH.
Forgive me heaven if I have grown rebellious
Forgive me Jephthah and forgive me Israel
My brain grows wild, I can’t endure the light.
_ACT_
_Scene I._
(JEPHTHAH _and_ ELIZABETH.)
ELIZABETH.
Permit me lov’d father ere I quit the world
To pay a parting tribute to the cot
Which shelter’d us during our days of exile
Where unambitious happiness was ours
There with my young companions let me wander
Amid the mountain groves I lov’d so well
And take a last farewell of this world’s joys
There mourn my sins. Prepare my mind to meet
The awful hour, which fills my feeble soul
With new felt terror.
JEPHTHAH.
My child; pride of my life
Once hop’d the staff of my declining years
Thy slightest wish is sacred to thy father
Go with thy virgin train, take leave of time
Its joys are fleeting as the morning dew
Tho’ to thy youthful mind they now appear most fair
But why should’st thou be terrified at death
Thou whose pure life? unblemished by a crime
Scarce tinctur’d with the stain of Adam’s race
Hast lived a miracle of sweetness
Can thy chaste bosom feel a thought of fear
At entering thy heavenly Maker’s presence
It is my pride my only consolation
To think that death’s a glorious boon to thee
Snatching thy virtues from the numerous ills
Which wait frail man even in his happiest state.
ELIZABETH.
No heart so innocent but feels most vile
When ent’ring the dread presence of its maker
Whose eye discerns the faults of spotless angels
Who chargest his minist’ring spirits with folly
What then is man, a creature form’d of dust
To dare plead innocence before the Eternal
Even Abra’m friend of God, and Moses sin’d
What then am I a frail a feeble woman
Whose idle thot’s, and vain desires betray,
This foolish heart, each day to guilt and error
But God is mercy, and I trust his grace
Will pardon the sins and errors of my youth
Reform my virtues, and inspire my soul
With heavenly wisdom and immortal love.
(_Enter_ BETHULAH, MAHALAH _and_ TIRZAH.)
BETHULAH.
Lead on my sister here’s our darling child
Our lost Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH.