University of Virginia Library

2. PART II.

The Prophet in his Bower—Gehazi and the Syrians advance.
RECITATIVE. Gehazi.
With Naaman's gratitude the good Elisha
Will be well pleas'd, but rest assur'd ye Syrians,
Of perishable treasures, earthly dross,
He will not touch; his treasures he lays up
Where great Jehovah dwells—But meet it is,
Ye do your leader's bidding—Lo! where sits
The pious Seer!—What dignity of aspect!
Around his rev'rend form the curling vines
A beauteous arbour raise; I lead you to him—
Yet, pause awhile—with holy rapture fir'd
He strikes the strings to his Creator's praise.

HYMN.
Elisha.
O God! what words can suit thy name,
What human tongue thy power proclaim?
In these thy bounties best ador'd,
Let these thy wond'rous praise record!
Disclose, ye streams, that feed the earth,
The skill profound that gave ye birth!
Ye flowers, who court yon' sunny ray,
His beauties and his grace display!
And thou, bright sun, thou wond'rous seat
Of life's great blessings, light and heat,
In thy unerring course record
The power and splendor of thy Lord!

RECITATIVE.
Gehazi.
Naaman (restor'd in Jordan's cleansing stream)
These warlike bands, flower of the Syrian host,
Laden with treasure sends to greet thy wisdom,
That wrought this mighty blessing; fill'd with wonder
To thee they dedicate their future lives,
Walk in thy paths, and in thy worship join.

Air & Chorus—Gehazi & Syrians.
Gehazi.
When the shrill trumpet calls to fight,
Thy God they will implore
To aid them with his heav'nly might,
And him alone adore.

CHORUS.
When the shrill trumpet calls to fight,
Thy God we will implore
To aid us with his heav'nly might,
And him alone adore.

Gehazi.
And conquest—crown'd in songs of praise make known,
That Israel's wond'rous God—is God alone.

CHORUS.
[Syrians.]
And conquest—crown'd in songs of praise make known,
That Israel's wondrous God is God alone.

RECITATIVE.
Elisha.
Your leader's proffer'd bounties claim my thanks,
Not my acceptance—bear them back in peace.
Say thus to Naaman: ‘For thy health restor'd
‘Would'st thou shew gratitude, be it in praise
‘To that invisible, all-knowing power,
‘Who breath'd his counsels in his Prophet's heart.’
AIR.

Friend, Father, Son, Reapers, &c. in the field.
RECITATIVE.
Friend.
Lo! gen'rous Lord of these extensive fields,
Nor yet the sun hath spent his fervid rays,
And all our task is done.

Father.
What vast profusion
Hath crown'd this harvest! How, beneath his load
Bends the tir'd ox! The sun burn'd Sickle-man,
Wiping his ruddy brow, eyes with delight
The produce of his labour. Pious gratitude,
Do thou inspire the song! 'ere homeward move
The rural train with their abundant store.

AIR.
Father.
Sons of Israel, grateful bend
To him whose bounty knows no end;
By whose command the pregnant earth
Warms infant atoms into birth;
By whose command the scatter'd grain
With swelling myriads loads the plain.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Sons of Israel, &c.

RECITATIVE.
Friend.
Ah me! what ails thy child? with sudden hand
He strikes his brow; lo! now his colour fades;
His sight forsakes him, and his tott'ring limbs
Hardly support his frame.

Father.
Alas, he faints!
O my lost comfort! Death is in his face;
Some sudden blast from the sun's heat intense,
Or apoplectic stroke hath smote his brain!
Raise him, my friends, and to his mother bear
This piteous object. O! unhappy woman!
What misery thy rash request hath drawn
On thine own heart, and thy too easy husband's!
AIR.

Woman, and Chorus of Neighbours.
RECITATIVE.
Woman.
My dear companions, ye delight my heart;
O how melodious to a mother's ear
Is the kind tongue that chaunts her darling's praise.
AIR.

Female Friend advaning.
RECITATIVE.
Friend.
All pleasures are imperfect here below
Arm, arm thy heart! lo! where thy son is brought,
Supported by thy friends. The dart of malady
Hath pierc'd him sore.

Woman.
Ah me! my child is dead!

Husband, Son, and Neighbours.
Friend.
Impetuous woe, prophetic of the worst,
Suspends the flowing blood—she faints, she sinks,
By the pale object of her suff'ring heart!
Oh! in this awful pause of Nature's powers,
Pour we our prayers for respite to her grief,
And the mute anguish of yon drooping Sire.

Soft and solemn Chorus.
May that great God, who to the Prophet's prayer
This precious treasure gave, this treasure spare!
Beam o'er the child his wond'rous power to save,
And snatch his beauties from an early grave!

RECITATIVE.
Woman.
Cease, cease your supplications,—useless all.
'Tis heav'ns decree—behold! O killing sight!
AIR.

RECITATIVE.
Husband.
Too fatal truth! Jehovah hath recall'd
The gift he gave, be patient, and submit.

DUET.—Husband and Friend.
'Twere impious now to mourn,
Thy child is dead,
His spirit fled,
Never, never to return.

RECITATIVE. Accompanied.
Woman.
Some wond'rous power awakes my slumbering soul
Ne'er to return! Who shall prescribe a bound
To God Omnipotent? That pow'rful word,
Which made the barren, fruitful, can from death
Retrieve the life he gave. Elisha lives!
Hence to mount Carmel will I take my flight!
His God hath not forsook him, but again
May listen to his prayers.

Husband.
Forbear, forbear!
My dearest wife!

Woman.
I must not be withheld,
My anxious mind will never know repose
If I not make this last, this great essay.

DUET. Husband and Woman.
Husband.
Whate'er from Heaven could be obtain'd,
Already hath Elisha gain'd.

Woman.
His God hath mercies to dispense
Beyond the stretch of human sense.

Husband.
Shall weak misjudging mortals plead
Against the stroke that's giv'n,
Strive to reverse the doom decreed,
And laws prescribe to heav'n?
The Prophet's righteous ire I dread,
No holy omen now invites,
The season, day and hour forbid;
Not this a time of holy rites.

Woman.
From holy lips when prayer proceeds
No season, day or hour forbids;
Our gracious God in all alike will hear
The sorrower's sighings and the good man's prayer.

Husband.
Oh truly spoke! When prayer proceeds
From holy lips, no hour forbids.
Our gracious God, &c.

FULL CHORUS.
From holy lips, &c.