 | Zimri |  |
3. PART III.
SCENE I.
Chorus of Israelitish Virgins.Recitative accompanied.
1 Vir.
On time's swift wing the dreadful hour is come!
With mournful steps, in solemn slow procession,
The princes pass to die; a num'rous train
In sackcloth follow—Hark! the dirge of death.
[Solemn music.
It ceases—and now awful silence reigns
O'er all the prostrate crowd. The victims now,
(Alas! their sands are few) look round aghast;
And now their eyes are veil'd to gaze no more:
They lift their trembling hands, and give the sign!
Now, now, the agonies of death are on them!—
Now the last pang resigns them to the bar
Of heav'n's eternal Judge—tremendous thought!
With mournful steps, in solemn slow procession,
The princes pass to die; a num'rous train
In sackcloth follow—Hark! the dirge of death.
[Solemn music.
It ceases—and now awful silence reigns
O'er all the prostrate crowd. The victims now,
(Alas! their sands are few) look round aghast;
And now their eyes are veil'd to gaze no more:
They lift their trembling hands, and give the sign!
Now, now, the agonies of death are on them!—
Now the last pang resigns them to the bar
Of heav'n's eternal Judge—tremendous thought!
Air.
Indulge unblam'd your tears, ye virgin train,
When guilt exacts the salutary pain:
For oft as Justice wounds with dreadful sweep,
Still gentle pity claims the right to weep;
The friend of man, she melts at ev'ry woe,
Nor sees her streaming eye who feels the blow.
Recitative.
1 Vir.
O sight of yet more horror! turn we from it—
At this dread moment, by the prostrate camp,
Zimri, inflam'd by beauty and by wine,
Leads Zuran's daughter, glowing with desire:
Behind them, dancing to the timbrel's sound,
The gay companions of her wanton hours.
2d Vir.
Her arts in vain essay'd, from death to save
5
But with fresh insult to provoke our God,
She now prevails, and we for Zimri perish!
1st Vir.
The sky grows dark, presaging swift destruction!—
Ah! what can intercept th'impending stroke?
Ah! who propitiate now affronted Heav'n?
SCENE II.
To them, Moses.Recitative.
Moses.
Fear not!—I saw the foul presumptuous insult.
But by the sacred influence from above,
Which fills so often my presaging breast,
I know the end of all our woes is near.
Chorus.
Belov'd of Heaven, already we behold,
And bless th'attesting sign! the glooms disperse,
It thunders one loud peal, and all is clear.
SCENE III.
To them, a Messenger and Chorus.Air and Chorus.
Tune your harps to songs of praise!
Happy tidings now I bear;
God with joy our grief repays,
God propitious hears our pray'r:
Not averted now his face,
Now his gracious ear inclin'd,
Now confess'd his chosen race—
Give your sorrows to the wind!
Recitative.
Moses.
Has not some patriot-hand laid Zimri low?
Mes.
It has. Th'apostate, as he pass'd along,
Embracing and embrac'd by Zuran's daughter,
Brave Phineas mark'd; and springing from his seat,
With sacred fury seiz'd his dreaded lance:
“Avenge the cause of Israel's God!”—he cried.
Obedient to the word the weapon flew,
And with one wound transfix'd the guilty pair.
Gasping they fell; and as they smote the ground,
Applauding thunder shook the vault above.
The sun with sudden blaze resum'd his glory;
The sick, inspir'd with instantaneous health,
Leap'd up; and horror seiz'd astonish'd Midian!
Moses.
See, where our foes precipitate their flight!
An Israelite.
Recitative accompanied.
They fly, but not from conscience; in their breasts
That stern Avenger of our wrongs they bear.
But soon the blameless mind shakes off it's sorrows;
For he whose will is fate, at first decreed,
No bands shou'd long bind innocence to woe.
Air.
That stern Avenger of our wrongs they bear.
But soon the blameless mind shakes off it's sorrows;
For he whose will is fate, at first decreed,
No bands shou'd long bind innocence to woe.
Smiling hope, a cherub bright!
Smiling hope is virtue's guest;
Soothing anguish to delight,
Healing soon the wounded breast.
Joy succeeds to sorrow past;
Give the beating heart to joy!
Virtue's joy shall ever last;
Ever last, and never cloy.
Smiling hope is virtue's guest;
Soothing anguish to delight,
Healing soon the wounded breast.
Joy succeeds to sorrow past;
Give the beating heart to joy!
Virtue's joy shall ever last;
Ever last, and never cloy.
Recitative accompanied.
Moses.
Yes! joy to guilt is but a transient beam,
Like the red lightning that makes night more dreadful:
To blameless minds 'tis sunshine without cloud,
That gives new splendour to the chearful day.
But other truths this awful day must teach:
It's judgments, else, but half are understood.
Air.
Like the red lightning that makes night more dreadful:
To blameless minds 'tis sunshine without cloud,
That gives new splendour to the chearful day.
But other truths this awful day must teach:
It's judgments, else, but half are understood.
Nor wit's deceit, nor beauty's charm,
Nor mirth nor wine's insiduous pow'r,
Eternal Justice e'er disarm,
Or stop the sure tho' ling'ring hour.
Who break Jehovah's sacred laws,
Whate'er the means, whate'er the cause,
Shall stand impeach'd without reply:
If mercy pleads no contrite tear,
Fair virtue's pledge whene'er sincere,
The guilty souls for ever die.
Nor mirth nor wine's insiduous pow'r,
Eternal Justice e'er disarm,
Or stop the sure tho' ling'ring hour.
Who break Jehovah's sacred laws,
Whate'er the means, whate'er the cause,
Shall stand impeach'd without reply:
If mercy pleads no contrite tear,
Fair virtue's pledge whene'er sincere,
The guilty souls for ever die.
Chorus.
Raise then to God the supplicating strain;
To God, whom virtue ne'er address'd in vain!
His gracious voice shall answer to the song—
“Be wise ye simple, and ye weak be strong.”
With joy receive the promise of the sky!
And in one chorus let your praise reply.
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