Written by Dr. HAWKESWORTH.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
PART I.
SCENE I.
Balak and Zuran.
RECITATIVE.
Bal.
At length we triumph o'er the choſen race,
Before whoſe march the parting ſea gave way,
Whoſe thirſt the rock with ſudden ſprings ſupply'd,
Whoſe hunger drew down manna from the ſkies.
Zur.
In vain was Balaam's willing curſe ſuppreſs'd,
Vain was th'extorted bleſſing of his God;
If guiltleſs, they would ſtill, tho' curſt, prevail;
Tho' bleſt, yet guilty, they muſt fall before us.
Bal.
Therefore in arms we did not vainly dare
The dreadful Cherub, who, before their hoſt
Veil'd in a cloud, or glowing like a flame,
Sweeps with one ſtroke whole nations to the grave.
Like him with ſilent force our daughters conquer;
Nor can our foes withſtand the glance of beauty;
Beauty at once diſarms them, and aſſails;
Subdues, and bids the peſtilence deſtroy:
Save one, their mighty princes all are guilty;
And for their crime have twice ten thouſand died.
Zur.
That one is Zimri! O mighty Zimri fall!
The boaſted ſtrength of Simeon's haughty tribe.
Bal.
Him with unrival'd charms thy daughter proves;
And not his gods can ſave him, if he loves.
AIR.
When with love the boſom burns,
Paſſion, reaſon, rule by turns;
Weaker ſtill is reaſon's power,
Paſſion's ſtronger ev'ry hour.
When the cup of joy o'erflows;
Vain are hints of diſtant woes;
What if death in ambuſh lie?
Lovers pant to drink and die.
RECITATIVE.
Zur.
Thrice have the circling hours the morn re⯑new'd
Since Coſbi's abſence; but as yonder camp
Lies full within our view, I oft have ſeen her,
Known by the ſportive beauties in her train,
Now paſſing Zimri's tent with wanton ſtep,
Now loſt amidſt the tall contiguous ſhade.
Bal.
[2]See where ſhe comes; by all our hopes ſuc⯑ceſsful;
The bluſh of triumph glowing on her cheek.
SCENE II.
Enter Coſbi and Chorus of Midianitiſh Women.
RECITATIVE.
Coſ.
At length Aſtarte unreſiſted reigns,
Our lovely goddeſs; all whoſe ri [...]es are bliſs.
Zimri by theſe incurs the burning wrath
Of Iſrael's ſterner gods, who frown deſtruction.
Zur.
Thrice happy Midian▪ we to gentle powers
Wa [...]t tender ſighs, and pay delightful vows;
Nor yet to furious jealouly provoke
The dreadful Being, at whoſe lighteſt touch
Eternal mountains, like their ſnows, diſſolve!
Before whoſe preſence, when he rides the whirl⯑wind,
The ſun grows dark, and earth's foundations trem⯑ble.
But tell us now what happy wiles ſeduc'd
The ſteady Zimri from his vow'd allegiance.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Coſ.
When firſt I met the youth renown'd in arms,
My girded robe diſclos'd but half my charms;
He ſtopp'd, he gaz d, then frowning with diſdain,
Turn'd back; yet ſtopp'd, and turn'd, and gaz [...]d a⯑gain.
Oft as I croſs'd his walk he ſtill withdrew;
But his ſlow ſteps long linger'd in my view.
AIR.
With thoughtful pace alone he ſtray'd
Along the ſtill ſequeſter'd glade;
He ſtray'd, nor caſt his eyes above,
But ſigh'd in ſolitude for love.
Tripping then within his view,
All my wanton train I drew;
Sprightly meaſures while we play'd,
Each a thouſand charms diſplay'd.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Then looſely dreſs'd, and glowing from the dance,
Alone I ſtole, on his belov'd retreat.
Inflam'd, confus'd, he caught my am'rous glance;
He could not fly me, and he durſt not meet.
AIR.
I ſaw the pride of virtue fail,
And unreſiſted love prevail,
The tyrant of his breaſt;
Now pale, now bluſhing with diſdain,
His varying looks declar'd his pain,
And ev'ry fond deſire expreſt.
With ſilent eloquence I ſooth'd the boy,
And reaſon ſoon reſign'd his ſoul to joy.
RECITATIVE.
Zur.
Oh, haſte away! ſecure the glorious prize:
[...] he repent, and mercy diſappoint us.
Bal.
Haſte; and the triumph waits thy wiſh'd return.
To thee ſhall temples riſe, and altars ſmoke.
AIR.
Love, [...] rules the world beſide,
[...] [...]f a ſlave to thee;
Thou, [...] ev'ry paſſion guide,
All ſubduing thou [...] free.
Join in loud applauding [...].
CHORUS.
Beauty now with wiſdom reigns.
All the praiſe of noble aims,
Zuran's lovely daughter claims.
The bids which gods might envy, ſhe beſlows,
To ſave her country, on her country's f [...]es.
Bear the ſong to diſtant plains,
Beauty now with wiſdom reigns.
Exeunt.
SCENE III.
The Elders of Iſrael.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Eld.
Well may luxuriant Midian ſheathe the ſword,
And ſafety revel, ſince our ſins deſtroy us.
Theſe ſend the deſolating angel forth,
Who ſcatters wide the dying from the dead.
2d Eld.
Yes, Iſrael's princes ſtill to idols bow,
Still mix in rites obſcene with Midian's daughters.
AIR.
No more our ſacred ſongs their lips employ,
No more in God the firſt and laſt they truſt;
In conſcious virtue now no more they joy;
No more the wiſe, the mighty, and the juſt.
RECITATIVE.
3d Eld.
But Moſes comes; and in his viſage ſhines
The radiance caught from uncreated light,
The mark of recent conference with God.
SCENE IV.
To them Moſes and Chorus of Iſraelitiſh Virgins.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
Cut off the wicked, and the juſt ſhall live.
He in whoſe ſight not heaven itſelf is pure,
Nor angels wiſe, commands that ev'ry chief,
Who with affections vile, and hands prophane,
Has burnt his off [...]ing on an idol's altar,
And Midian's loveleſs harlots has careſs'd,
Shall die; now deck'd in gems and gay with wine,
Ere night caſt out to vultures and to dogs!
1ſt Eld.
The juſt decree with rev'rence be ful⯑fill'd
Of ſov'reign goodneſs, who deſtroys to ſave!
Who thus deters his choſen tribes from guilt;
From guilt, ſince all the guilty muſt be wretched.
DUET.
Ah! to be guilty, and to die!
To die for ever! who can bear the thought?
In endleſs night to cloſe the ſwimming eye!
In endleſs night, with endleſs horrors fraught!
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
'Tis dreadful! Ye that ſhudder, ſin no more.
SCENE V.
To them an Iſraelitiſh Virgin.
RECITATIVE.
Vir.
Ah! why ſhould thoſe who are not chaſte be fair!
E'en Zimri falls, ſeduc'd by guilty charms!
Zimri, who ſtemm'd the torrent of defection;
In whom each excellence of youth and years
Combin'd to form the hero, ſage, and ſaint,
Laſt night, near yon dark grove, was ſeen to part
[3]With Zuran's daughter; ſcarce her looſen'd zone
Beneath her ſwelling breaſt her robe reſtrain'd,
And ſmiles and bluſhes mingled in her cheek.
AIR.
Ah! mourn with me the lovely youth,
Whoſe heart receives a wanton gueſt;
A heart where love ſhould dwe [...]l with truth,
And virtue be by virtue bleſt.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
A guilt incurr'd ſo late, not yet we puniſh;
To conſcience firſt, the judge within his breaſt,
'Tis fit we leave him. To the ſacred tent
Now bend your ſteps, and let one general pray'r
From all the juſt in uniſon aſcend.
CHORUS.
Come, to the ſacred tent repair,
And proſtrate breathe the fervent prayer.
May Heav'n accept the victims due,
And favour Iſrael's race purſue!
Exeunt.
PART II.
SCENE I.
Zimri alone.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Again ſeduc'd to guilty joys, again
I break away to muſe and to be wretched.
Farewel the peaceful hour of meditation,
When conſcious virtue wa [...]ts the ſoul to heaven!
If I look inward now, I ſtart with horror;
And life becomes a burden and a curſe.
SCENE II.
To him Coſbi, and Chorus of Midianitiſh Women.
RECITATIVE.
Coſ.
What haggard looks? what geſtures of diſ⯑traction?
Why art thou thus, when in the bloſſom'd bow'r
The voice of mirth invites thee to the banquet,
And love would breathe ſoft murmurs on thy breaſt?
Zim.
I muſt not hear thy voice, nor ſee thy face—
Thy voice is fatal as the ſouthern blaſt,
Thy face more ſure than baſiliſks deſtroys!
DUET.
Coſ.
Yet let the fond remembrance laſt,
Of kinder thoughts, and pleaſures paſt!
Zim.
Of all the paſt I dread the view,
And bid the guilty joys adieu.
Coſ.
Why dread the ſcenes that love diſplays?
Zim.
Alas! 'tis guilt, 'tis death to gaze!
Coſ.
Ah! think—
Zim.
My thoughts to phrenzy turn.
Again I languiſh and I burn.
RECITATIVE.
Coſ.
Come then, my love!
Zim.
O! no; ſtand off, ſeducer;
This hour, the victims of ſuch wiles as thine,
The mighty chiefs of Iſrael, gaſp in death.
Coſ.
Haſte then, ſuſpend the li [...]ted hand of murder!
I do not talk thy eloquence too high;
Go, plead the cauſe of nature with her foes,
Till ſuperſtition bluſh, and prieſts learn mercy.
AIR and CHORUS.
A Midianitiſh Woman.
Fly, and diſappoint the grave!
Fly, the deſtin'd victims ſave!
And, with them returning, prove,
Life is gain to thoſe who love.
RECITATIVE.
Zim.
Ah, no! but let me rather periſh with them:
How can I elſe atone my follies paſt?
How elſe be ſure that I ſhall not repeat them?
Coſ.
Thou nor to crime nor folly art ſeduc'd;
Nor die the princes by the gods decree.
Cares not the common parent of mankind
Alike for all? one family on earth,
However nam'd, and whereſoe'er they dwell?
Would he, who bids encreaſe, deny the rite,
Becauſe th' enamour'd hearts that long to join,
When firſt they beat, were diſtant from each other?
Zim.
Ah! could I but believe thy reas'ning juſt!
Coſ.
That wiſh had prov'd it: Nature never gave
Deſires, which yet 'tis duty to ſuppreſs.
Zim.
Subdu'd at once by eloquence and love,
My fair enchantreſs, all my ſoul is thine.
AIR.
That I ſhould yield, thy wit perſuades;
Thy wit thy matchleſs beauty aids,
And gives and juſtifies delight.
Whene'er we err, our fault is leſs,
More num'rous as temptations preſs;
And all, fair nymph, in thee unite.
Thy charms which prompt my fault, the guilt deſtroy;
Thy charms, at once my ſafety and my joy.
RECITATIVE.
Coſ.
See, yonder comes the tyrant of thy race!
Stand firm; to perſevere, is now to conquer.
I leave thee: follow with a lover's haſte.
O! virgins, aid my purpoſe with your ſong.
DUET.
Be thy thoughts for ever kind,
Ever firm thy manly mind!
Haſte away to yonder plain;
Haſte, with all thy kindred train.
Tender joys our gods approve;
Haſte with us to live and love!
Exeunt.
SCENE III.
To Zimri, Moſes.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
Is yet the hand that ſoftens rocks upon thee?
Doſt thou relent? and wilt thou yet with us
Surround the ſacred dwelling of our God,
And ſee th' apoſtate chiefs of Iſrael die?
Zim.
Relent thou rather, and forbid the murder:
Nor more, when driving on the tainted ſtorm
Diſeaſe aſſails us, feign that Heaven is wroth,
And glut the grave with thoſe that plagues would ſpare!
Moſes.
Doubt and ſuſpicion ſtill attend on guilt [...]
While yet thy life was pure, thy faith was ſtrong.
But tell me, thou, whoſe intellectual eye
[4]The midnight revel happily has purg'd,
Why, if contagion uncommiſſion'd ſpreads,
It teaches not to Midian?
Zim.
Tell me rather,
Why, if commiſſion'd, the ſeducers live?
Moſes.
Abhorr'd of God, he leaves them unre⯑claim'd;
And only deigns to puniſh thoſe he loves.
Zim.
Let reaſon judge who muſt are lov'd of Heaven.
AIR.
You happy race on fertile plains recline,
Embrac'd by beauty, and regal'd with wine;
Aw'd by no terrors, to no laws con [...]in'd,
Love all the worſhip for their gods deſign'd.
We, ſtill to hunger and to thirſt a prey,
With painful rites relentleſs pow'rs obey:
From ev'ry joy reſtrain'd by ſtern command,
And driv'n ſtill vagrant o'er the burning ſand,
Forward we look for better days in vain—
It patient, famiſh'd; if we murmur, ſlain.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
To ſenſe, not reaſon, is thy raſh appeal.
To brutal appetite, luxurious eaſe
Is ſweet; but man ſhould live to nobler purpoſe.
AIR.
The bliſs that ne'er was found below,
Above by virtue we obtain;
And virtue if we wiſh to know,
We muſt not ſtrangers be to pain.
Who hopes for Heav'n, adverſity defies;
And ſights on earth, to triumph in the ſkies.
RECITATIVE.
Farewel. Yet one word more—remember Sinai▪
[...]
SCENE IV.
Zimri alone.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Remember Sinai! wou'd I could forget it!
A thouſand dread ideas ruſh upon me!
Methinks, again I ſee the mountain ſhake;
It's lofty ſummit now involv'd in darkneſs,
Now burning unconſum'd with ruddy fires!
I hear, again, the thunder and the voice;
Again obedient, I believe, and tremble!
AIR.
O Firſt and Beſt, the Parent of mankind,
Who for thy throne the mercy-ſeat deſign'd!
Receive my fault'ring pray'r, my crime forgive—
To thee returning, let thy ſervant live!
SCENE V.
To Zimri, Coſbi and Chorus of Midianitiſh Women.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Zim.
Again ſhe come [...]! my reſolution fa [...]ls,
As morning vapours vaniſh from the ſun.
RECITATIVE.
Coſ.
Impatient of thy abſence, I return
Ah, let me hear thy voice, and ſee the [...] ſmile.
Zim.
I cannot ſpeak—
Coſ.
I muſt not, cannot loſe thee!
Thus let me graſp thy hand, and gaze upon thee.
And now, my lovely hero, tell me true,
Has this ſtern Moſes frown'd away thy love?
Zim.
Oh, leave me now, nor farther urge thy pow'r;
Leſt for another momentary dream,
I caſt eternal happineſs away.
Coſ.
Leave to the gods eternity; nor truſt
For aught to-morrow, which to-day can give.
AIR.
The future is not mine nor thine;
The paſt, alas! no more returns:
Let love our ſouls this moment join;
For us his lamp this moment burnt.
RECITATIVE.
Zim.
Again my ſoul has caught the ſweet infec⯑tion;
Again I feel the phrenzy of deſire!
AIR.
Yes, though around me thouſands die,
While yet I live, I'll life improve;
The poſting moments as they fly
I'll catch, and fill the laſt with love.
CHORUS.
Mortals, thus with haſte poſſeſs
All that fortune gives to bleſs;
And, deſpiſing ſlaviſh rules,
Leave the joys of hope to fools!
Exeunt.
PART III.
SCENE I.
Chorus of Iſraelitiſh Virgins.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
1 Vir.
On time's ſwift wing the dreadful hour is come!
With mournful ſteps, in ſolemn ſlow proceſſion,
The princes paſs to die; a num'rous train
In ſackcloth follow—Hark! the dirge of death.
Solemn muſic
.
It ceaſes—and now awful ſilence reigns
O'er all the proſtrate crowd. The victims now,
(Alas! their ſands are few) look round aghaſt;
And now their eyes are veil'd to gaze no more:
They lift their trembling hands, and give the ſign!
Now, now, the agonies of death are on them!—
Now the laſt pang reſigns them to the bar
Of heav'n's eternal Judge—tremendous thought!
AIR.
Indulge unblam'd your tears, ye virgin train,
When guilt exacts the ſalutary pain:
For oft as Juſtice wounds with dreadful ſweep,
Still gentle pity claims the right to weep;
The friend of man, ſhe melts at ev'ry wee,
Nor ſees her ſtreaming eye who feels the blow.
RECITATIVE.
1 Vir.
O ſight of yet more horror! turn we from it—
At this dread moment, by the proſtrate camp,
Zimri, inflam'd by beauty and by wine,
Leads Zuran's daughter, glowing with deſire:
Behind them, dancing to the timbrel's ſound,
The gay companions of her wanton hours.
2d Vir.
Her arts in vain eſſay'd, from death to ſave
[5]The victims deſtin'd to atone the paſt:
But with freſh inſult to provoke our God,
She now prevails, and we for Zimri periſh!
1ſt Vir.
The ſky grows dark, preſaging ſwift de⯑ſtruction!—
Ah! what can intercept th' impending ſtroke?
Ah! who propitiate now affronted Heav'n?
SCENE II.
To them, Moſes.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
Fear not!—I ſaw the foul preſumptuous inſult.
But by the ſacred influence from above,
Which fills ſo often my preſaging breaſt,
I know the end of all our woes is near.
CHORUS.
Belov'd of Heaven, already we behold,
And bleſs th' atteſting ſign! the glooms diſperſe,
It thunders one loud peal, and all is clear.
SCENE III.
To them, a Meſſenger and Chorus.
AIR and CHORUS.
Tune your harps to ſongs of praiſe!
Happy tidings now I bear;
God with joy our grief repays,
God propitious hears our pray'r:
Not averted now his face,
Now his gracious ear inclin'd,
Now confeſs'd his choſen race—
Give your ſorrows to the wind!
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
Has not ſome patriot-hand laid Zimri low?
Meſ.
It has. Th' apoſtate, as he paſs'd along,
Embracing and embrac'd by Zuran's daughter,
Brave Phineas mark'd; and ſpringing from his ſeat,
With ſacred fury ſeiz'd his dreaded lance:
"Avenge the cauſe of Iſrael's God!"—he cried.
Obedient to the word the weapon flew,
And with one wound transfix'd the guilty pair.
Gaſping they fell; and as they ſmote the ground,
Applauding thunder ſhook the vault above.
The ſun with ſudden blaze reſum'd his glory;
The ſick, inſpir'd with inſtantaneous health,
Leap'd up; and horror ſeiz'd aſtoniſh'd Midian!
Moſes.
See, where our foes precipitate their flight!
An Iſraelite.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
They fly, but not from conſcience; in their breaſt [...]
That ſtern Avenger of our wrongs they bear.
But ſoon the blameleſs mind ſhakes off it's ſorrows;
For he whoſe will is fate, at firſt decreed,
No bands ſhou'd long bind innocence to woe.
AIR.
Smiling hope, a cherub bright!
Smiling hope is virtue's gueſt;
Soothing anguiſh to delight,
Healing ſoon the wounded breaſt.
Joy ſucceeds to ſorrow paſt;
Give the beating heart to joy!
Virtue's joy ſhall ever laſt;
Ever laſt, and never cloy.
RECITATIVE accompanied.
Moſes.
Yes! joy to guilt is but a tranſient beam,
Like the red lightning that makes night more dreadful:
To blameleſs minds 'tis ſunſhine without cloud,
That gives new ſplendour to the chearful day.
But other truths this awful day muſt teach:
It's judgments, elſe, but half are underſtood.
AIR.
Nor wit's deceit, nor beauty's charm,
Nor mirth nor wine's inſiduous pow'r,
Eternal Juſtice e'er diſarm,
Or ſtop the ſure tho' ling'ring hour.
Who break Jehovah's ſacred laws,
Whate'er the means, whate'er the cauſe,
Shall ſtand impeach'd without reply:
If mercy pleads no contrite tear,
Fair virtue's pledge whene'er ſincere,
The guilty ſouls for ever die.
CHORUS.
Raiſe then to God the ſupplicating ſtrain;
To God, whom virtue ne'er addreſs'd in vain!
His gracious voice ſhall anſwer to the ſong—
"Be wiſe ye ſimple, and ye weak be ſtrong."
With joy receive the promiſe of the ſky!
And in one chorus let your praiſe reply.