(_Leading his daughter forward._) My friends and countrymen behold your chief Thus justly punished for his cruel vow Here I devote my child, my only child. Except her, I have no son or daughter Her spotless life has been my chief delight Sum up perfection in a female form And you name Jephthah’s daughter. Thus to fulfill My vow to God, I give this sacred life, A life more dear, more precious than my own. Let my example teach you to beware Of rash resolves, of breaking sacred oaths Each one here present owes a life to God A life of virtue, you have sworn with me To obey his statutes, follow all his laws Let not this precious blood be spilt in vain But let this offering teach you to resign Each selfish wish, each token of rebellion And silent bend before that power who gives Not only life but all its dear possessions. (JEPHTHAH _hands his daughter to_ ELZAPHAN, _who leads her out. A procession of young women follow. Solemn music._) NOTE 1. xxx These sentiments of Elzaphan are not to be considered as agreeing with the laws of Moses truly expounded, but we must suppose that not only Jephthah but those priests who were about him must have mistaken the meaning of the 28^{th} and 29th verses of the 27th chapter of Leviticus, otherwise they would not have permitted Jephthah to have sacrificed his amiable daughter to his unlawful vow. Not only Jephthah but the leaders of Israel appear to have been tinctured by the idol worship so long prevalent in Israel. Saul seems also to have made a similar mistake when he devoted Jonathan. And all Israel fell into a like error when they devoted the tribe of Benjamin to destruction. The punishment in all these cases, fell on the offender, and doubtless taught the nation the true meaning of the law. See Scott’s notes on Jephthah’s sacrifice. MRS. STOWE’S REMINISCENCES IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LYMAN BEECHER.[40] “On one occasion of this kind I had a hand in a merry joke enacted at one of the rehearsals of Miss Pierce’s favorite drama of ‘Jephtha’s Daughter.’ “It was when Jephtha, adorned with a splendid helmet of gilt paper and waving ostrich plumes, was awaiting the arrival of his general, Pedazar—his daughter’s lover—who was to enter and say, “‘On Jordan’s banks proud Ammon’s banners wave.’ Miss Pierce stood looking on to criticise, when having prearranged the matter, a knock was heard, and I ran forward, saying, ‘Walk in, Mr. Pedazar.’ In he came, helmet and all, saying, ‘How are you, Jep?’ who replied, ‘Hulloo, old fellow! Walk in and take a chair.’ Miss Pierce was in no way discomfited, but seemed to relish the joke as much as we young folks.