I have not known her, friend, for two days past. No more the queen of an enlightened spirit, Intrepid, raised beyond her timid sex, Who crushed, at first, her wondering enemies, And knew the value of occasion lost: The pangs of vain remorse whelm this great soul: She wavers, hesitates, is in a word, A woman. I, her heart, already wrung With threats from heaven, had filled with bitterness And rancour; she, confiding to my care Her vengeance, had commanded me to bring At once her guards together: but, indeed, Whether that brat before her brought, and said To be an outcast from his parents, had Diminished the alarm of frightful dreams, Or she had seen in him some unknown charm, I found her anger reeling, undecided: She now puts off her vengeance till to-morrow. Her projects all appear to slay each other. "Some knowledge I have gained of this boy's fate," So did I say; "now of his ancestry They have begun to boast: from time to time Joad shows him to the factious, holds him up, As if another Moses, to the Jews, And lying oracles support his speech." These words did cause the blood to mount her brow: Ne'er lucky fable had such prompt effect. "Must I drag on in this uncertainty? Let us escape," said she, "this restlessness. To Josabet declare you this resolve-- 'The fires are kindling, and the sword prepared, Nothing can save your temple from destruction, If hostage for your faith that child's not given.'" {NABAL.} Why for a boy of whom they're ignorant, That chance, perhaps, has cast into their arms, Will they behold their temple tombed in weeds? {MATHAN.} Ah! of all mortals known, the haughtiest! Sooner than yield a child into our hands, That Joad has consecrated to his God, He would endure the most terrific death. Besides 'tis plainly seen they love the child. If, from the queen, I heard a true report, Joad of his birth knows more than he imparts. However fatal it may be for them, I can foresee they will not give him up. On me the rest remains; and in the end I hope that fire and sword will free my eyes Of that obnoxious temple! {NABAL.} What can inspire in you so fierce a hate? Is it your zeal for Baal inflames you thus? As for myself, you know of Ishmael blood, I neither worship Baal nor Israel's God. {MATHAN.}