'Tis right my son I should inform you, even before all, Of God's great ends o'er you and o'er His people. Be armed with new fidelity and zeal! 'Tis time to show this ardour and this faith, Which to the bottom of your heart my cares Have cultivated; and to pay to God The debt you owe Him. Do you feel this noble And generous aspiration? {JOAS.} I feel prepared, if wished, to give my life. {JOAD.} You've oft heard read the history of our kings: My son, do you remember what strict law Must be imposed on him who takes the crown? {JOAS.} Thus God Himself declares that a wise king Does not rely on riches and on gold; But fears the Lord his God; and ever hath Before him His stern judgments, precepts, laws, And crusheth not his brethren with oppression. {JOAD.} But of our kings, if you must copy one, Which, from your choice, my son, would you be like? {JOAS.} David, who full of loyal love to God, Appears the type most perfect of great kings. {JOAD.} Then, in their riot, you'd not imitate The faithless Joram, godless Ochoziah? {JOAS.} O my father! {JOAD.} Continue, say what you think. {JOAS.} Whoe'er resembles, may he die like them. _(Joad prostrates himself at his feet)._ My father, in what state are you before me? {JOAD.} I render you the homage of my king. {JOAS.} Joas! me? {JOAD.} You know the signal grace by which God, foiling the designs of a bad woman, Already with her dagger in your breast, He chose, and saved you from amid the carnage. You have not yet eluded all her madness: With the same passion she has ever hungered To lose in you the last child of her son, Her cruelty is fixed to reach your death; Under your name assumed, she hunts you still. But 'neath your standard I have now arranged A people prompt to vengeance and obedience. Come, generous chiefs of sacred families, By turns be honoured by the holy priest. _Scene III._ {JOAS, JOAD, AZARIAH, ISHMAEL, THREE OTHER LEVITE CHIEFS.} {JOAD.} King, here are the avengers on your foes. Priests, here's the king that I have promised you. {AZARIAH.} What, is't Eliacin? {ISHMAEL.} What! that amiable child-- {JOAD.}