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SCENE II.
To him Cosbi, and Chorus of Midianitish Women.
Recitative.
Cos.
What haggard looks? what gestures of distraction?
Why art thou thus, when in the blossom'd bow'r
The voice of mirth invites thee to the banquet,
And love would breathe soft murmurs on thy breast?
Zim.
I must not hear thy voice, nor see thy face—
Thy voice is fatal as the southern blast,
Thy face more sure than basilisks destroys!
Cos.
What haggard looks? what gestures of distraction?
Why art thou thus, when in the blossom'd bow'r
The voice of mirth invites thee to the banquet,
And love would breathe soft murmurs on thy breast?
Zim.
I must not hear thy voice, nor see thy face—
Thy voice is fatal as the southern blast,
Thy face more sure than basilisks destroys!
Duet.
Cos.
Yet let the fond remembrance last,
Of kinder thoughts, and pleasures past!
Zim.
Of all the past I dread the view,
And bid the guilty joys adieu.
Cos.
Why dread the scenes that love displays?
Zim.
Alas! 'tis guilt, 'tis death to gaze!
Cos.
Ah! think—
Zim.
My thoughts to phrenzy turn.
Again I languish and I burn.
Cos.
Yet let the fond remembrance last,
Of kinder thoughts, and pleasures past!
Zim.
Of all the past I dread the view,
And bid the guilty joys adieu.
Cos.
Why dread the scenes that love displays?
Zim.
Alas! 'tis guilt, 'tis death to gaze!
Cos.
Ah! think—
Zim.
My thoughts to phrenzy turn.
Again I languish and I burn.
Recitative.
Cos.
Come then, my love!
Zim.
O! no; stand off, seducer;
This hour, the victims of such wiles as thine,
The mighty chiefs of Israel, gasp in death.
Cos.
Haste then, suspend the lifted hand of murder
I do not task thy eloquence too high;
Go, plead the cause of nature with her foes,
Till superstition blush, and priests learn mercy.
Air and Chorus.
Cos.
Come then, my love!
Zim.
O! no; stand off, seducer;
This hour, the victims of such wiles as thine,
The mighty chiefs of Israel, gasp in death.
Cos.
Haste then, suspend the lifted hand of murder
I do not task thy eloquence too high;
Go, plead the cause of nature with her foes,
Till superstition blush, and priests learn mercy.
A Midianitish Woman.
Fly, and disappoint the grave!
Fly, the destin'd victims save!
And, with them returning, prove,
Life is gain to those who love.
Recitative.
Zim.
Ah, no! but let me rather perish with them:
How can I else atone my follies past?
How else be sure that I shall not repeat them?
Cos.
Thou nor to crime nor folly art seduc'd;
Nor die the princes by the gods decree.
Cares not the common parent of mankind
Alike for all? one family on earth,
However nam'd, and wheresoe'er they dwell?
Would he, who bids encrease, deny the rite,
Because th'enamour'd hearts that long to join,
When first they beat, were distant from each other?
Zim.
Ah! could I but believe thy reas'ning just!
Cos.
That wish had prov'd it: Nature never gave
Desires, which yet 'tis duty to suppress.
Zim.
Subdu'd at once by eloquence and love,
My fair enchantress, all my soul is thine.
Air.
My fair enchantress, all my soul is thine.
That I should yield, thy wit persuades;
Thy wit thy matchless beauty aids,
And gives and justifies delight.
Whene'er we err, our fault is less,
More num'rous as temptations press;
And all, fair nymph, in thee unite.
Thy charms which prompt my fault, the guilt destroy;
Thy charms, at once my safety and my joy.
Thy wit thy matchless beauty aids,
And gives and justifies delight.
Whene'er we err, our fault is less,
More num'rous as temptations press;
And all, fair nymph, in thee unite.
Thy charms which prompt my fault, the guilt destroy;
Thy charms, at once my safety and my joy.
Recitative.
Cos.
See, yonder comes the tyrant of thy race!
Stand firm; to persevere, is now to conquer.
I leave thee: follow with a lover's haste.
O! virgins, aid my purpose with your song.
Duet.
Be thy thoughts for ever kind,
Ever firm thy manly mind!
Haste away to yonder plain;
Haste, with all thy kindred train.
Tender joys our gods approve;
Haste with us to live and love!
[Exeunt.
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