With war’s dread scourge, fill’d up heaven’s cup of wrath This roused the stupid, and abashed the bold They seiz’d their arms and flew to oppose the foe But all in vain, the foe swept down whole ranks Our cities bend beneath the conqueror’s sword From Jordan’s streams and Judah’s fruitful plains To where proud Ephraim once securely dwelt My husband fell amidst the foremost ranks And Jephthah’s cruel brethren wished too late For his brave hand to save the race of Gilead Amid the lawless ruin of my country I scarce found shelter neath Athobat’s arm Since he is gone, I durst not stay in Israel Beset by foes both foreign and domestic. BETHULAH. Oh Israel, sinful but much lov’d country My heart drops blood at thy calamities. Will not these evils bend their stubborn souls And turn them to the Rock of their defense Their only hope amid the tempest. MAHALAH. With many tears they seek to avert the wrath Of their offended, but merciful Creator. They have at last perceived their idols could not save Have cast them and their altars in the dust With ardent zeal some seek the good old paths Saying where’s the right way, let us walk therein The path which our forefathers wisely trod But what is man, can he arrest God’s arm When crimes like ours call forth his righteous vengeance Ah see where Jephthah comes. Wilt thou entreat for me I cannot meet his eye. BETHULAH. Retire with me, and let our daughters plead Thy moving cause their eloquence will gain, An easy pardon from thy generous brother (_Exit_ BETHULAH _and_ MAHALAH.) (_Enter_ JEPHTHAH.) ELIZABETH. Father I bring an humble suppliant Who entreats thy pardon for once guilty parents Who sorrowing, for all the wrongs they brought on thee Implores through us forgiveness and protection. JEPHTHAH. My protection? Who has sunk so low as to sue for Jephthah’s favor An outcast wanderer, without power or fortune. TIRZAH. One who while living should have called thee brother Dying bequeath’d his orphan to thy care Bidding thee recollect the infant friendship Which warm’d your hearts, e’er envy and ambition Crept in and blasted every noble feeling. JEPHTHAH.