This secret to the temple's still confined; The band of Levi's race, distributed, Have placed themselves all silent at the doors; All are to rush together on the foe, And for the signal cry, "Long live King Joas!" My father wills that Zachariah guard The king, forbidden to expose himself. Meanwhile the queen, with poniard in her hand, Laughs at the feeble check of our brass gates. To crush them she attends the fatal engines, Breathing, in short, but blood and devastation. Some priests, my sister, at the first proposed, That in a secret cave, our fathers' dug, The precious ark at least should be concealed. "O base insulting fear my father cried, The ark which caused so many gorgeous towers To fall, and forced the Jordan's backward course; So many times triumphant o'er the gods Of nations, must it flee at the approach Of insolent woman?" My mother, near The king, in deadly trouble, now her eye Being on the altar, and now turned on him, Silent, and sinking 'neath the weight of dread, Would have extorted tears from eyes of brass. The king from time to time embracing her Consoled her: then she said, "my sisters dear, All follow me, and if our king to-day Must perish, let one fate unite ourselves With him." {SALOMITH.} What rugged hand knocks with repeated blows? Why those disordered Levites put to flight? And what precaution makes them hide their arms? Is the temple stormed? {ZACHARIAH.} Disperse your fears, God sends us Abner. _Scene II._ {ABNER, JOAD, JOSABET, ZACHARIAH, SALOMITH, TWO LEVITES, THE CHOIR.} {JOAD.} Must I believe my eyes, Dear Abner? By what way have you been here Conducted, through a camp besieging us? 'Twas said that Ahab's sacrilegious daughter Had loaded with vile chains your generous hands. {ABNER.} Yes, sire, she feared my fortitude and zeal. Confining me's the least part of her rage; In horrid dungeon by her orders buried, I was expecting that the temple burnt To ashes, and not satiated yet, With many floods of slaughter, she would come, And rid me of a troublesome life, cut short The days which would a thousand times have swelled The grief of being survivor of my kings. {JOAD.} What miracle has brought about your pardon? {ABNER.}