O PEACE of mind, angelic guest! Thou soft companion of the breast! Dispense thy balmy store. Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies, Till earth, receding from our eyes, 5 Shall vanish as we soar. FIRST PRIEST. RECITATIVE. No more! Too long has justice been delay’d, The king’s commands must fully be obey’d; Compliance with his will your peace secures, Praise but our gods, and every good is yours. 10 But if, rebellious to his high command, You spurn the favours offer’d from his hand, Think, timely think, what terrors are behind; Reflect, nor tempt to rage the royal mind. SECOND PRIEST. AIR. Fierce is the whirlwind howling 15 O’er Afric’s sandy plain, And fierce the tempest rolling Along the furrow’d main: But storms that fly, To rend the sky, 20 Every ill presaging, Less dreadful show To worlds below Than angry monarch’s raging. [Illustration: ] GOLDSMITH’S AUTOGRAPH (Stanzas from ‘The Captivity’) ISRAELITISH WOMAN. RECITATIVE. Ah, me! What angry terrors round us grow; 25 How shrinks my soul to meet the threaten’d blow! Ye prophets, skill’d in Heaven’s eternal truth, Forgive my sex’s fears, forgive my youth! If, shrinking thus, when frowning power appears, I wish for life, and yield me to my fears. 30 Let us one hour, one little hour obey; To-morrow’s tears may wash our stains away. AIR. To the last moment of his breath On hope the wretch relies; And e’en the pang preceding death 35 Bids expectation rise. Hope, like the gleaming taper’s light, Adorns and cheers our way; And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a brighter ray. 40 SECOND PRIEST. RECITATIVE. Why this delay? At length for joy prepare; I read your looks, and see compliance there. Come on, and bid the warbling rapture rise, Our monarch’s fame the noblest theme supplies. Begin, ye captive bands, and strike the lyre, 45 The time, the theme, the place, and all conspire. CHALDEAN WOMAN. AIR. See the ruddy morning smiling, Hear the grove to bliss beguiling; Zephyrs through the woodland playing, Streams along the valley straying. 50 FIRST PRIEST. While these a constant revel keep, Shall Reason only teach to weep? Hence, intruder! We’ll pursue Nature, a better guide than you. SECOND PRIEST. Every moment, as it flows, 55 Some peculiar pleasure owes; Then let us, providently wise, Seize the debtor as it flies.