SECOND PRIEST.

Recitative.

Why this delay? At length for joy prepare;
I read your looks, and see compliance there.
Come, raise the strain, and grasp the full-ton'd lyre —
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 valley playing,

Streams along the meadow straying.

FIRST PRIEST.

While these a constant revel keep,
Shall reason only bid me weep?
Hence, intruder! we'll pursue

Nature a better guide than you.

SECOND PRIEST.

Every moment, as it flows,
Some peculiar pleasure owes;
Then let us, providently wise,
Seize the debtor as it flies.

Think not to-morrow can repay

The pleasures that we lose to-day;
To-morrow's most unbounded store

Can but pay its proper score.

FIRST PRIEST.

Recitative.

But, hush! see foremost of the captive choir,
The master-prophet grasps his full-ton'd lyre;
Mark where he sits, with executing art,

Feels for each tone, and speeds it to the heart.
See inspiration fills his rising form,

Awful as clouds that nurse the growing storm; And now his voice, accordant to the string, Prepares our monarch's victories to sing.

FIRST PROPHET.

Air.

From north, from south, from east, from west,

Conspiring foes shall come:

Tremble, thou vice-polluted breast;

Blasphemers, all be dumb.

The tempest gathers all around

On Babylon it lies;

Down with her! down-down to the ground:

She sinks, she groans, she dies.

SECOND PROPHET.

Down with her, Lord, to lick the dust,

Ere yonder setting sun;

Serve her as she hath serv'd the just:

"Tis fix'd-it shall be done.

FIRST PRIEST.

Recitative.

Enough! when slaves thus insolent presume,

The king himself shall judge and fix their doom.

Short-sighted wretches! have not you and all,

To yonder gloomy dungeon turn your eyes—

Mark where dethron'd your captive monarch lies; Depriv'd of sight, and rankling in his chain,

He calls on death to terminate his pain.

Yet know, ye slaves, that still remain behind

More ponderous chains, and dungeons more confin’d.

Chorus.

Arise, All-potent Ruler, rise,

And vindicate thy people's cause —

Till every tongue, in every land,

Shall offer up unfeign'd applause.

End of the second act.

ACT III.

Scene as before.

FIRST PRIEST.

Recitative.

Yes, my companions, Heaven's decrees are pass'd, And our fix'd empire shall forever last:

In vain the maddening prophet threatens woe

In vain rebellion aims her secret blow;

Still shall our fame and growing power be spread, And still our vengeance crush the guilty head.

Air.

Coeval with man

Our empire began,

And never shall fall

Till ruin shakes all:
With the ruin of all

Shall Babylon fall