invariably versified as
one syllable, and Baal also, with one exception, which occurs in the
first page; these words, to my judgment, being scarcely of greater
quantity than thought, wrought, brought, &c.

Should the reader realize the same amount of interest in the perusal of
this translation that I have had in its production, I shall be amply
rewarded for the genial labour bestowed upon it.

J. DONKERSLEY,

South Street Academy,

Huddersfield.

HISTORICAL OUTLINE.

"Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who exercised a
sanguinary dominion over Israel, and both, (more especially Jezebel,)
rendered their reign infamous by their worship of idols, and their cruel
persecution of prophets. She had been espoused by Jehoram, king of
Judah, son of Jehosaphat, and the seventh king of the race of David. His
son, Ahaziah, seduced into idolatry, as well as Jehoram, by the example
of Athaliah, after a reign of one year was put to death, together with
all the princes of the house of Ahab, by Jehu, whom God had anointed by
his prophets to reign over Israel, and to be the minister of his
vengeance. Athaliah, irritated by the massacre of her family, undertook
on her part to exterminate the royal race of David, and accordingly
perpetrated the murder of all the children of Ahaziah, her own
grandchildren, Joas, at that time an infant in the cradle, alone escaped
the fury of her slaughtering sword: he was rescued by Jehosabeth, the
half-sister of Ahaziah (being daughter of Jehoram by a different
mother), and wife of the high-priest Joad. It is the establishment of
this scion of David upon the throne of his ancestors that forms the
subject of this drama."

CHARACTERS

Joas, King of Judah, son of Ochoziah.

Athaliah, widow of Joram, Joas's grandmother.

Joad, the High-priest

Josabet, wife of the High-priest, and Joas's aunt.

Zachariah, son of Joad and Josabet.

Salomith, Zachariah's sister.

Abner, one of the principal officers of the kings of Judah.

Azartah, Ishmael, and three other priests and Levite chiefs.

Mathan, apostate priest, pontiff of Baal.

Nabal, Mathan's confidant.

Agar, a woman in Athaliah's suite.

Troupes of Levites and priests.

Nurse of Joad.

Choir, daughters of the tribe of Levi.

The Scene is in the Temple of Jerusalem, in a vestibule
of the High-priest's apartment.

A T H A L I A H.

_ACT FIRST.--Scene I._

{JOAD, ABNER.}

{ABNER.}