Him rescued from thy rage by Josabet,
This temple hailed, where God has cared for him,
Of David's treasures, see what I have left.

{ATHALIAH.}

Thy treachery, traitor, to that child will be
Most fatal. Soldiers, deliver me from
That odious spectre!

{JOAD.}

Guards of the living God, defend your king!

(_The bottom of the temple opens, and the Levites rush
upon the scene from all sides._)

{ATHALIAH.}

Where am I? Treason! O, unhappy queen!
With arms and enemies I am surrounded!

{JOAD.}

Thine eyes flash round in vain, escape thou canst not,
On every side the Lord's encompassed thee:
That God thou hast defied, into my hands
Has given thee up: now render an account
To Him of slaughters which have made thee drunk.

{ATHALIAH.}

What fear has petrified my worthless troops?
Into what snare hast thou conducted me,
Base Abner?

{ABNER.}

Queen, God is my testimony--

{ATHALIAH.}

Hence with thy God, thou traitor, and avenge me!

{ABNER.}

On whom, on Joas, my master?

{ATHALIAH.}

He Joas? Thy king? Remember, vile one, that
My armies still are holding you besieged.
I hear my camp demand me with loud cries,
They come to aid me, quake, rebellious crew!

_Scene VI._

{ISHMAEL, JOAS, JOAD, ATHALIAH, AND ALL THE
OTHERS OF THE LAST SCENE.}

{ISHMAEL (_to Joad_).}

The temple, sire, is free, the foe's no more;
The stranger's army's fled, the Jewish docile;
As wind disperses vapour in the air,
The voice of the Almighty's chased that army.
Our Levites, from the sacred porches' height,
The son of Ochoziah have proclaimed
Unto the people, and recited how
His infancy was stolen from the sword;
How Ahab's daughter's buried in the snare.
At the same time the trumpet on all sides
Resounded, and its blasts, blent with their shouts,
Into the astonished camp disorder spread,
And utter panic: (as proud Midianite
Was struck by Gideon) Tyrians threw away
Their arms and bucklers, and by diverse roads
Scattered the first; some Hebrews next took flight;
But with loud voice the rest declared for Joas;
Admiring how the Lord had dealt with him.
At length the people, by one spirit moved,
The women, children, and old men