weight I changed as they inclined.
As much as Joad's unpliant humour pained
The softness of their supercilious ear,
So much I pleased them with my dexterous art;
Concealing from their eyes the bitter truth;
Lending convenient colour to their rage;
And, lavish, above all, of wretches' blood.
At length, to Baal, whom she had introduced,
By Athaliah was a temple reared.
Jerusalem did weep to see herself
Profaned: The alarmed band of Levi's race
Did elevate to heaven appalling cries.
Giving example to the timid Jews.
Deserter from their law, myself approved
The enterprise, and merited by that
Baal's priesthood: and I made myself withal
A terror to my rival; I put on
The turban--walked his equal. Ne'ertheless
I must avow, that in that glorious height
The troublesome memory of the God I left
Still throws into my soul a shade of dread:
Tis that which strengthens and supports my fury.
Happy, if on the temple my revenge
Accomplishing, I can at length content
Her petty spite, and lose amongst the wreck
The ravage and the slaughter, my remorse,
By dint of those enormities. But here
Is Josabet.

_Scene IV._

{JOSABET, MATHAN, NABAL.}

{MATHAN.}

Commissioned by the queen
To calm again, and dissipate the anger,
Princess, in which heaven placed so sweet a soul,
Be not surprised at my addressing you.
A rumour, which however I suspect
To be a fable, favouring the warnings,
Which in a dream she had received, on Joad,
Accused of dangerous complots, she was going
To pour the floodgates of her wrath. I wish
Not here to boast of services to you--
I know of Joad's injustice to myself--
But for offence I must return good deeds.
At length, I come to speak the words of peace.
Live, solemnize your feasts without distrust,
She only claims a pledge of your submission:
It is--I did my utmost to dissuade her--
The orphan whom she says that she has seen.

{JOSABET.}

Eliacin?

{MATHAN.}

I am ashamed of her on that account:
Of a vain dream she makes too much ado:
But you declare yourselves her mortal foes,
If not that child's resigned to me at once:
The queen impatiently 'waits your reply.

{JOSABET.}

And that on her part is the peac