Vainly my child thou striv’st to sooth my woe I still must grieve, thou art my only hope E’er since the hour I clasp’d thy infant form With that fond transport mothers only know I envied not the world its pomp or riches The greatest monarch that ere rul’d the world Was not so happy mid his days of triumph Viewing his vast domains, and countless treasures As I with my sweet lovely smiling infant And each revolving year increased the treasure And must I now, oh must I part with thee? Yes I submit, since tis the will of heaven But ask me not to bear the stroke with firmness A mother’s heart must feel a mother’s woe. ELIZABETH. Think me not dead but in a happier country Where grief’s not known but joy succeeds to joy Perhaps our gracious God, will permit me To watch thy secret steps, and whisper peace When sad calamity corrodes thy bosom To hover o’er thy walks a guardian spirit To pour the balm of joy on all thy anguish And wing thy soul at thy last hour to heaven Tirzah must be thy child, my friend and sister Must fill my place in thy maternal heart. TIRZAH. Oh were I worthy to fulfill that office But if affection, sympathising love And fix’d attention to thy slightest wish Can sooth the sorrows of thy woe worn heart Tirzah will spend her life to make thine tranquil. (_Enter_ ATTENDANT.) ATTENDANT. The worthy Agnes with her three sweet children Desire to see thee. ELIZABETH. I bade her come. Promis’d her feeble age Should find protection in my native country I dread to see her; her tears will melt Her gratitude oppress me. (_Enter_ AGNES _and her three grandchildren_) AGNES. Did I then visit Israel’s land for this. (_To_ JEPHTHAH _who during this scene is walking in a gloomy but determined silence in the back part of the stage_.)