University of Virginia Library

3. PART III.

RECITATIVE.
Apame.
What says Zorobabel to wanton Charms,
And Beauty's empire o'er the heart, abus'd?

Zorob.
It turns the heart it gains from virtue, oft
Its native bent, to violence and fraud.
We ransack earth and sea in quest of gold,
And rob and kill, to sooth a Wanton's pride.
Distraction, Slavery, Despair, and Death,
Wait on her frown. If Love enlightens fools,
It oftner blinds the wise. Remember Helen,
And Asia heretofore (ye Pow'rs avert
The dreadful omen!) by the Greeks o'erturn'd.

CHORUS.
Let ten years war, the price of lawless joy,
And rapid Simois, red with blood, declare
The cause that ruin'd heav'n-defended Troy;
A heart too tender, and a face too fair.

RECITATIVE.

Such are thy Rivals, Truth; but Thou art pure:
Yet Int'rest hates, and mad Ambition flies thee;
Rank, Affluence, Pow'r, Prosperity, and Mirth,
Have little leisure to consult with Thee.
Corruption, Flattery, and groundless Fears,
Drive Thee from Cabinets, and dark Cabals,
From factious Senates, and from giddy Crouds:
But he who dares to look within himself,
With a cool head, and honest heart, shall find thee.

AIR.
To a rural scene convey me,
Where no hopes nor fears betray me:
Passion hush'd, and vice subdu'd,
Tune the soul to solitude.
Contemplation there shall charm her;
Quiet lull, and Virtue arm her.

AIR.
Hail the gloomy close of light!
Hail the calm of silent night!
Nature's music in the wood!
Drowsy murmurs of the flood!
Thither, Truth, my way prepare;
Let us be companions there.

RECITATIVE.
How potent, all-subduing Truth, art Thou!
Imposture, sanctify'd by age, at length
Shall yield to Thee: False glory, false religion,
And lying oracles, shall fall before thee.

AIR.
The worship of the Sun shall end,
The Sun himself to night descend,
The Heav'ns dissolve, and pass away,
And only Thou thy light display,
In beams of uncreated day.

AIR.
To Persons Thou hast no regard;
Unbiass'd in thy just award
By all the tender ties of life,
The Friend, the Father, or the Wife;
By Passion, in a thoughtless hour;
The bribe of Wealth, and frown of Pow'r.

RECITATIVE.
Thy magic wand, with one transforming touch,
Restores the villain to his genuine shape,
Stripp'd of the holy veil that long disguis'd him.
'Tis thine, with sov'reign justice, to reform
The stile of custom, flattery, or humour;
And brand all evil with its proper name.

AIR.
Alike by thy commission fall
The partial Judge and Criminal;
The Robber in his den alone,
Or mounted on a guilty throne.

RECITATIVE.
In vain the grand offender mocks the Law,
Pursu'd by Thee, and thy avenger, Conscience,
To hold the mirror of his crimes before him,
And lash his felon heart with whips of steel.

AIR.
'Tis thine, amid the depth of night,
To shoot the mind's tremendous light;
With ghastly dreams distract the head,
And turn to thorns the downy bed.

CHORUS.
Truth, Thou art great in life and story,
And heav'n and earth, and might and glory;
Thou art the kingdom, pow'r, strength, majesty,
And ages numberless are blest in Thee:
Blest be the God of Truth to all eternity!

RECITATIVE.
Dar.
As Thou hast gain'd the glorious cause of Truth,
Distinguish'd by superior wisdom, take
The promis'd marks of victory and honour:
From gold to quaff the grape's delicious juice,
And on a couch of gold to sleep, be thine;
The golden chariot, and the harness too.
Let Egypt's linnen thy tiara grace,
And hang a chain of gold about thy neck:
Array'd in purple, be Thou seated next me,
The kinsman of my throne. If aught beside,
Thy wishes yet can name, demand and have it.

Zorob.
With gratitude beyond what words can utter,
I own the bounty I can ne'er deserve;
And yet, by your permission, ask for more:
Rebuild, my Lord, our city and our temple,
And pay your vow to Heav'n's almighty King,
Made when he rais'd you to the Persian throne.

Dar.
My vow is sacred; and I seal it thus.

[Kissing him.
AIR.
Zorob.
Heroic Prince! reviving sound!
Waft it, ye winds, the world around;
But first to Sion, to the place
Where Sion stands, I turn my face;
For there my ravish'd eyes
Shall view a Temple rise,
The care and wonder of the skies.

RECITATIVE.
Darius.
The holy vessels shall be yours again;
Your tribute is remitted; your possessions,
Usurp'd by Edom's sons, shall be restor'd.
A fund of twenty talents I allot
Each year, to this important work; and ten
To furnish out the pomp of sacrifice:
A standing force, defray'd at my expence,
Shall guard Jerusalem; the plan design'd
By Cyrus, great and good, I swear to finish,
And raise a Temple to the God of Truth.

AIR.
Zorob.
For This, to great Jehovah's praise,
Our hands, our harps, our hearts we raise;
The conquest, gracious Lord, is mine,
The wisdom that atchiev'd it, thine.

CHORUS of Israelites.
By Thee to Israel, now a Nation,
Descend the tidings of Salvation;
Darius shall caress thee,
Thy captive Brethren bless thee,
By wisdom victorious,
By victory glorious;
Yet not to Thee, but Heav'n,
Be praise, be might, and glory giv'n.