 | Zimri |  |
1. PART I.
SCENE I.
Balak and Zuran.Recitative.
Bal.
At length we triumph o'er the chosen race,
Before whose march the parting sea gave way,
Whose thirst the rock with sudden springs supply'd,
Whose hunger drew down manna from the skies.
Zur.
In vain was Balaam's willing curse suppress'd,
Vain was th'extorted blessing of his God:
If guiltless, they would still, tho' curst, prevail;
Tho' blest, yet guilty, they must fail before us.
Bal.
Therefore in arms we did not vainly dare
The dreadful Cherub, who, before their host
Veil'd in a cloud, or glowing like a flame,
Sweeps with one stroke whole nations to the grave.
Like him with silent force our daughters conquer;
Nor can our foes withstand the glance of beauty;
Beauty at once disarms them, and assails;
Subdues, and bids the pestilence destroy:
Save one, their mighty princes all are guilty;
And for their crime have twice ten thousand died.
Zur.
That one is Zimri! O mighty Zimri fall!
The boasted strength of Simeon's haughty tribe.
Bal.
Him with unrival'd charms thy daughter proves;
And not his gods can save him, if he loves.
Air.
And not his gods can save him, if he loves.
When with love the bosom burns,
Passion, reason, rule by turns;
Weaker still is reason's power,
Passion's stronger ev'ry hour.
When the cup of joy o'erflows,
Vain are hints of distant woes;
What if death in ambush lie?
Lovers pant to drink and die.
Passion, reason, rule by turns;
Weaker still is reason's power,
Passion's stronger ev'ry hour.
When the cup of joy o'erflows,
Vain are hints of distant woes;
What if death in ambush lie?
Lovers pant to drink and die.
Recitative.
Zur.
Thrice have the circling hours the morn renew'd
Since Cosbi's absence; but as yonder camp
Lies full within our view, I oft have seen her,
Known by the sportive beauties in her train,
Now passing Zimri's tent with wanton step,
Now lost amidst the tall contiguous shade.
2
See where she comes; by all our hopes successful;
The blush of triumph glowing on her cheek.
SCENE II.
Enter Cosbi and Chorus of Midianitish Women.
Recitative.
Cos.
At length Astarte unresisted reigns,
Our lovely goddess; all whose rites are bliss.
Zimri by these incurs the burning wrath
Of Israel's sterner gods, who frown destruction.
Zur.
Thrice happy Midian! we to gentle powers
Waft tender sighs, and pay delightful vows;
Nor yet to furious jealousy provoke
The dreadful Being, at whose lightest touch
Eternal mountains, like their snows, dissolve!
Before whose presence, when he rides the whirlwind,
The sun grows dark, and earth's foundations tremble.
But tell us now what happy wiles seduc'd
The steady Zimri from his vow'd allegiance.
Recitative accompanied.
Cos.
At length Astarte unresisted reigns,
Our lovely goddess; all whose rites are bliss.
Zimri by these incurs the burning wrath
Of Israel's sterner gods, who frown destruction.
Zur.
Thrice happy Midian! we to gentle powers
Waft tender sighs, and pay delightful vows;
Nor yet to furious jealousy provoke
The dreadful Being, at whose lightest touch
Eternal mountains, like their snows, dissolve!
Before whose presence, when he rides the whirlwind,
The sun grows dark, and earth's foundations tremble.
But tell us now what happy wiles seduc'd
The steady Zimri from his vow'd allegiance.
Cos.
When first I met the youth renown'd in arms,
My girded robe disclos'd but half my charms;
He stopp'd, he gaz'd, then frowning with disdain,
Turn'd back; yet stopp'd, and turn'd, and gaz'd again.
Oft as I cross'd his walk he still withdrew;
But his slow steps long linger'd in my view.
Air.
My girded robe disclos'd but half my charms;
He stopp'd, he gaz'd, then frowning with disdain,
Turn'd back; yet stopp'd, and turn'd, and gaz'd again.
Oft as I cross'd his walk he still withdrew;
But his slow steps long linger'd in my view.
With thoughtful pace alone he stray'd
Along the still sequester'd glade;
He stray'd, nor cast his eyes above,
But sigh'd in solitude for love.
Along the still sequester'd glade;
He stray'd, nor cast his eyes above,
But sigh'd in solitude for love.
Tripping then within his view,
All my wanton train I drew;
Sprightly measures while we play'd,
Each a thousand charms display'd.
All my wanton train I drew;
Sprightly measures while we play'd,
Each a thousand charms display'd.
Then loosely dress'd, and glowing from the dance,
Alone I stole, on his belov'd retreat.
Inflam'd, confus'd, he caught my am'rous glance;
He could not fly me, and he durst not meet.
Air.
Alone I stole, on his belov'd retreat.
Inflam'd, confus'd, he caught my am'rous glance;
He could not fly me, and he durst not meet.
I saw the pride of virtue fail,
And unresisted love prevail,
The tyrant of his breast;
Now pale, now blushing with disdain,
His varying looks declar'd his pain,
And ev'ry fond desire exprest.
With silent eloquence I sooth'd the boy,
And reason soon resign'd his soul to joy.
And unresisted love prevail,
The tyrant of his breast;
Now pale, now blushing with disdain,
His varying looks declar'd his pain,
And ev'ry fond desire exprest.
With silent eloquence I sooth'd the boy,
And reason soon resign'd his soul to joy.
Recitative.
Zur.
Oh, haste away! secure the glorious prize:
Lest he repent, and mercy disappoint us.
Bal.
Haste, and the triumph waits thy wish'd return.
To thee shall temples rise, and altars smoke.
Air.
To thee shall temples rise, and altars smoke.
Love, who rules the world beside.
Is himself a slave to thee;
Thou canst ev'ry passion guide,
All subduing thou art free.
Join in loud applauding strains.
Is himself a slave to thee;
Thou canst ev'ry passion guide,
All subduing thou art free.
Join in loud applauding strains.
Chorus.
Beauty now with wisdom reigns.
All the praise of noble aims,
Zuran's lovely daughter claims.
The bliss which gods might envy, she bestows,
To save her country, on her country's foes.
Bear the song to distant plains,
Beauty now with wisdom reigns.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
The Elders of Israel.
Recitative.
1st Eld.
Well may luxuriant Midian sheathe the sword,
And safely revel, since our sins destroy us.
These send the desolating angel forth,
Who scatters wide the dying from the dead.
2d Eld.
Yes, Israel's princes still to idols bow,
Still mix in rites obscene with Midian's daughters.
1st Eld.
Well may luxuriant Midian sheathe the sword,
And safely revel, since our sins destroy us.
These send the desolating angel forth,
Who scatters wide the dying from the dead.
2d Eld.
Yes, Israel's princes still to idols bow,
Still mix in rites obscene with Midian's daughters.
Air.
No more our sacred songs their lips employ,
No more in God the first and last they trust;
In conscious virtue now no more they joy;
No more the wise, the mighty, and the just.
Recitative.
3d Eld.
But Moses comes; and in his visage shines
The radiance caught from uncreated light,
The mark of recent conference with God.
SCENE IV.
To them Moses and Chorus of Israelitish Virgins.
Recitative.
Moses.
Cut off the wicked, and the just shall live.
He in whose sight not heaven itself is pure,
Nor angels wise, commands that ev'ry chief,
Who with affections vile, and hands prophane,
Has burnt his off'ring on an idol's altar,
And Midian's loveless harlots has caress'd,
Shall die; now deck'd in gems and gay with wine,
Ere night cast out to vultures and to dogs!
1st Eld.
The just decree with rev'rence be fulfill'd
Of sov'reign goodness, who destroys to save!
Who thus deters his chosen tribes from guilt;
From guilt, since all the guilty must be wretched.
Moses.
Cut off the wicked, and the just shall live.
He in whose sight not heaven itself is pure,
Nor angels wise, commands that ev'ry chief,
Who with affections vile, and hands prophane,
Has burnt his off'ring on an idol's altar,
And Midian's loveless harlots has caress'd,
Shall die; now deck'd in gems and gay with wine,
Ere night cast out to vultures and to dogs!
1st Eld.
The just decree with rev'rence be fulfill'd
Of sov'reign goodness, who destroys to save!
Who thus deters his chosen tribes from guilt;
From guilt, since all the guilty must be wretched.
Duet
Ah! to be guilty, and to die!
To die for ever! who can bear the thought?
In endless night to close the swimming eye!
In endless night, with endless horrors fraught!
Recitative.
Moses.
'Tis dreadful! Ye that shudder, sin no more.
SCENE V.
To them an Israelitish Virgin.Recitative.
Vir.
Ah! why should those who are not chaste be fair?
E'en Zimri falls, seduc'd by guilty charms!
Zimri, who stemm'd the torrent of defection;
In whom each excellence of youth and years
Combin'd to form the hero, sage, and saint,
Last night, near yon dark grove, was seen to part
With Zuran's daughter; scarce her loosen'd zone
Beneath her swelling breast her robe restrain'd,
And smiles and blushes mingled in her cheek.
Air.
E'en Zimri falls, seduc'd by guilty charms!
Zimri, who stemm'd the torrent of defection;
In whom each excellence of youth and years
Combin'd to form the hero, sage, and saint,
Last night, near yon dark grove, was seen to part
3
Beneath her swelling breast her robe restrain'd,
And smiles and blushes mingled in her cheek.
Ah! mourn with me the lovely youth,
Whose heart receives a wanton guest;
A heart where love should dwell with truth,
And virtue be by virtue blest.
Whose heart receives a wanton guest;
A heart where love should dwell with truth,
And virtue be by virtue blest.
Recitative.
Moses.
A guilt incurr'd so late, not yet we punish;
To conscience first, the judge within his breast,
'Tis fit we leave him. To the sacred tent
Now bend your steps, and let one general pray'r
From all the just in unison ascend.
Chorus.
Come, to the sacred tent repair,
And prostrate breathe the fervent prayer,
May Heav'n accept the victims due,
And favour Israel's race pursue!
[Exeunt.
| Zimri | |