Dav. I am he, O King! Saul. Why this concealment? tell me, valiant David? Why didst thou hide thy birth and name till now? Dav. O king! I would not aught from favour claim, Or on remember'd services presume; But on the strength of my own actions stand, Ab. Well he merits The honours which await him. Why, O king, With his well earn'd rewards? Thy lovely daughter, Saul [to DAVID]. True: thou hast won her. She shall be thine. Yes, a king's word is pass'd. Dav. O boundless blessing! What! shall she be mine, For whom contending monarchs might renounce [Sounds of musical instruments heard at a dis- Saul. How's this? what sounds of joy Salute my ears? What means this needless pomp? This merry sound of tabret and of harp? What mean these idle instruments of triumph? These women, who in fair procession move, Making sweet melody? Ab. To David are they come. Saul [aside]. To pay due honour A rival's praise Is discord to my ear! They might have spar'd [Martial symphony: after which, Chorus of Women singing.] I. PREPARE! your festal rites prepare! Idol gods shall reign no more: Let heathen hosts on human helps repose, II. Let remotest nations know Dagon mingles with the dust! Who fears the Lord of Glory, need not fear III. See, the routed squadrons fly! Lo! upon the tented field Royal Saul has thousands kill'd! David has ten thousands slain! Let mighty Saul his vanquish'd thousands tell, BELSHAZZAR: A Sacred Drama. How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the Morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, who didst weaken the nations! ISAIAH. PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. BELSHAZZAR, King of Babylon. NITOCRIS, the Queen-Mother. Courtiers, Astrologers, Parasites. DANIEL, the Jewish Prophet. Captive Jews, &c. SCENE- Babylon. TIME- Night. The Subject is taken from the Fifth Chapter of the Prophet Daniel. BELSHAZZAR. PART I SCENE-Near the Palace of Babylon. DANIEL and CAPTIVE JEWs. Dan. PARENT of Life and Light! Sole source o Whose tender mercies through the tide of time, And sav'd the sons of Israel! Thou, whose pow'r The whelming flood, the grave of human kind! Rais'd, at thy bidding, to devote a son, |