Appear, dear boy, blood worthy Israel's kings! Of our most saintly monarchs, knowst thou, queen, The inheritor? Knowst thou at least these scars Thy dagger made? Behold thy king, thy son, The son of Ochoziah! Abner, you And people recognise king Joas! {ABNER.} Heavens! ATHALIAH (to Joad). Perfidious wretch! {JOAD.} See'st thou that faithful Jewess Of whom, thou knowest well, he drew the breast? Him rescued from thy rage by Josabet, This temple hailed, where God has cared for him, Of David's treasures, see what I have left. {ATHALIAH.} Thy treachery, traitor, to that child will be Most fatal. Soldiers, deliver me from That odious spectre! {JOAD.} Guards of the living God, defend your king! (_The bottom of the temple opens, and the Levites rush upon the scene from all sides._) {ATHALIAH.} Where am I? Treason! O, unhappy queen! With arms and enemies I am surrounded! {JOAD.} Thine eyes flash round in vain, escape thou canst not, On every side the Lord's encompassed thee: That God thou hast defied, into my hands Has given thee up: now render an account To Him of slaughters which have made thee drunk. {ATHALIAH.} What fear has petrified my worthless troops? Into what snare hast thou conducted me, Base Abner? {ABNER.} Queen, God is my testimony-- {ATHALIAH.} Hence with thy God, thou traitor, and avenge me! {ABNER.} On whom, on Joas, my master? {ATHALIAH.} He Joas? Thy king? Remember, vile one, that My armies still are holding you besieged. I hear my camp demand me with loud cries, They come to aid me, quake, rebellious crew! _Scene VI._ {ISHMAEL, JOAS, JOAD, ATHALIAH, AND ALL THE OTHERS OF THE LAST SCENE.} {ISHMAEL (_to Joad_).}