Athaliah

JOAD, ABNER.

ABNER. TO worship the Eternal, yea, I come Into his temple, come to celebrate, According to our ancient, solemn use, In company with you, the hallowed day On which upon Mount Sinai unto us The law was given. How changed are the times! No sooner did the sacred trumpet sound That day’s return, than holy people thronged In multitudes the temple’s porticos; And all in order ’fore the altar placed, Bearing the fields’ new produce in their hands, Those first-fruits offered up to the One God: The sacrifices overtaxed the priests! Stopping that concourse, an audacious woman Has changed those glorious days to days of gloom. Scarce a small number of true worshippers Dare give faint semblance of the ancient times; The rest have shewn a fatal thoughtlessness Towards their God, or worse, have even rushed To Baal’s altars to initiate Themselves into his shameful mysteries; And curse the name their fathers have invoked. To speak right openly, I am in dread That Athaliah from the altar will Tear you, yourself; and casting off, at length, The remnants of her forced respect, complete On you her deadly vengeance.