e chose, and saved you from amid the carnage.
You have not yet eluded all her madness:
With the same passion she has ever hungered
To lose in you the last child of her son,
Her cruelty is fixed to reach your death;
Under your name assumed, she hunts you still.
But 'neath your standard I have now arranged
A people prompt to vengeance and obedience.
Come, generous chiefs of sacred families,
By turns be honoured by the holy priest.

_Scene III._

{JOAS, JOAD, AZARIAH, ISHMAEL, THREE OTHER LEVITE
CHIEFS.}

{JOAD.}

King, here are the avengers on your foes.
Priests, here's the king that I have promised you.

{AZARIAH.}

What, is't Eliacin?

{ISHMAEL.}

What! that amiable child--

{JOAD.}

Is true inheritor of Judah's throne,
Last born of tristful Ochoziah's children,
Reared up, you know it, by the name of Joas.
All Israel wept like you the destiny
Of this sweet flower, cut down so soon, and thought
That with his brother he was wrapt in death.
Attacked with the perfidious steel like them:
But God knowing how to turn aside the blow,
Kept in his heart the life-warmth near extinct,
Allowing Josabet to carry him
All bleeding in her bosom, and avoid
The assassin's vigilance. She having none
Except myself the accomplice of her theft,
Concealed the child, and reared him in the temple.

{JOAS.}

Alas! for so much love, so many blessings,
Father, how shall I e'er acquit myself?

{JOAD.}

For other times reserve this gratitude.
Here then behold your king, your only hope!
Till now my care has treasured him for you;
You, servants of the Lord, must bear it out.
Informed that Ochoziah's son still lives,
The murderess, Athaliah, soon will rush,
To hurry him again into the tomb.
Already, without knowing him, she pants
To ruin sacred ministers 'tis yours
To anticipate her fury; now 'tis time
To end the shameful slavery of the Jews,
To avenge our princes' deaths, exalt our laws,
And make our king be owned by our two tribes.
The enterprize is great and dangerous;
Attacking on her throne a haughty queen,
Who sees a numerous camp of hardy strangers
And traitorous Hebrews march beneath her standards!
But God's my strength, whose interest g