If anything can justify a foolish man's ambition, it is the trouble he takes, after he has made his fortune, to discover some imaginary merit great enough to give him the importance he considers himself worthy of.

How many men are like well-grown trees transplanted into a beautiful garden. It surprises us to see them there, as we never saw them growing; so we have no knowledge of their beginning or their progress.

Nothing will more readily make us comprehend how valueless in God's eyes are wealth and grandeur, and the other advantages he bestows on mankind, than the dispensation he makes of them, and the kind of men who are best provided.

Men display their goods every morning to cheat the public; and pack them up at night after having cheated all day.

What one wastes he steals from his heir; what one sordidly saves he steals from himself.

ATHALIAH.

BY RACINE.

[JEAN BAPTISTE RACINE, French dramatist, was born in Dept. Aisne, December 21, 1639; studied the classics with the Jansenists at Port Royal; and finished his education at the Collège d'Harcourt. After composing an ode entitled "Nymphes de la Seine," in honor of Louis XIV.'s marriage, he made the acquaintance of Boileau, Molière, and La Fontaine, and began to write for the stage. His first play, "La Thébaïde," was produced by Molière's troupe; "Andromaque" (1667) established his reputation; then followed his one comedy, "Les Plaideurs," and a brilliant series of tragedies: "Britannicus,” “ Bérénice," "Bajazet," "Mithridate," "Iphigénie," and "Phèdre." He withdrew from the theater after the production of "Phèdre," partly on account of envious intrigues and malicious criticisms, and settled down to a peaceful married life. After a silence of twelve years he wrote, at the solicitation of Madame de Maintenon, "Esther" and "Athalie," biblical tragedies. His death (in 1699) is said to have been hastened by grief at losing the king's favor.]

ATHALIAH, with her Attendants ABNER and MATTAN.

Mattan

Great Queen, is this a place for thee?
What trouble stirs, what terror chills thine heart?
What dost thou in the midst of enemies?

Darest thou this unhallowed fane approach?

Hast thou that bitter hatred cast away

Athaliah

Both of you lend me an attentive ear.
I do not wish now to recall the past,
Nor give account to you for blood I shed:
A sense of duty prompted all my acts.
Nor will I take for judge a hasty crowd;
Whate'er they may presume to spread abroad,
My vindication Heaven has made its care.
My power, established on renowned success,
Has magnified my name from sea to sea;
Jerusalem enjoys profoundest peace;
The wandering Arab Jordan sees no more
Ravage his borders with continual raids;
Nor boasts Philistia over Judah now,
And Syria owns me for a sister Queen.

Lastly the traitor who destroyed my House,

And e'en to me thought to extend his rage,

Jehu, fierce Jehu, in Samaria quails
Before a mighty rival's rapid strokes,
Whom I incited to attack my foe;

And thus th' assassin leaves me mistress here,
To reap the fruits of policy in peace.

But for some days a gnawing care has come,
To check the flood of my prosperity.

A dream (why should a dream disquiet me?)
Preys on my heart, and keeps it ill at ease;

I try to banish it; it haunts me still.

'Twas deepest night, when horror falls on man, My mother Jezebel before me stood,

Richly attired as on the day she died,

Her pride undaunted by misfortune's touch.

That borrowed brightness still her features wore,
Which she would paint upon her withered face,
To hide the ravages of ruthless age:

"Tremble," she said, "child worthy of myself;
O'er thee too triumphs Judah's cruel god,
And thou must fall into his dreadful hands,
Whereat I grieve." With these alarming words,
Her specter o'er my bed appeared to bend;

I stretched my hands to clasp her; but I found
Only a hideous mass of flesh and bones,
Horribly bruised and mangled, dragged thro' mire,
Bleeding and torn, whose limbs the dogs of prey
Were growling over with devouring greed.
Abner-

Great God!

Athaliah

While thus disturbed, before me rose
The vision of a boy in shining robe,
Such as the Hebrew priests are wont to wear.
My drooping spirits at his sight revived:
But while my troubled eyes, to peace restored,
Admired his noble air and modest grace,

I felt the sudden stroke of murderous steel
Plunged deeply by the traitor in my breast.
Perhaps to you this dream, so strangely mixed,
May seem a work of chance, and I myself,
For long ashamed to let my fears prevail,
Referred it to a melancholy mood;

But while its memory lingered in my soul,
Twice in my sleep I saw that form again,
Twice the same child before my eyes appeared,
Always about to stab me to the heart.

Worn out at last by horror's close pursuit,
I went to claim Baal's protecting care,
And, kneeling at his altars, find repose.

How strangely fear may sway our mortal minds!
And instinct seemed to drive me to these courts,
To pacify the god whom Jews adore;

I thought that offerings might appease his wrath,
That this their god might grow more merciful.
Baal's High Priest, my feebleness forgive!
I entered; and the sacrifice was stayed,

The people fled, Jehoiada in wrath

Advanced to meet me. As he spake, I saw

With terror and surprise that selfsame boy

Who haunts me in my dreams. I saw him there;
His mien the same, the same his linen stole,
His gait, his eyes, each feature of his face;
It was himself; beside th' High Priest he walked,
Till quickly they removed him from my sight.

That is the trouble which detains me here,
And thereon would I fain consult you both.
Mattan, what means this omen marvelous ?

I fear

Athaliah

What! Can they fail to grame this?
What reason could they have to say me no?
"Twould rouse suspicion. Bid Jehosheba,
Or else her husband, bring the children here;
I can at pleasure use a monarch's tone.
Abner, I tell thee candidly, your priests.
Have cause to bless my kindness hitherto;
I know how far they freely have discussed
My conduct, and abused my sovereign power;
And yet they live, and yet their temple stands.
But soon, I feel, the limit may be passed;
Jehoiada must curb his savage zeal,
And not provoke my wrath a second time.
Go.
Mattan- I may now at last in freedom speak,
And clearly set the truth before thine eyes.
A growing monster in this temple lurks;
A tempest threatens, wait not till it breaks.
Ere daylight Abner with th' High Priest conferred;
Thou knowest well his love for David's line.

What if Jehoiada should in their ranks

[Exit ABNER.

Foist this young child with whom Heaven threatens thee,
His son or not

Athaliah

Thou hast unsealed mine eyes,

And Heaven's warning vision grows distinct.
But I would fain be free from every doubt:
Children will readily betray their thoughts,
One word will oft disclose some deep design.
Let me, dear Mattan, see him, question him.
Go thou, meanwhile, and secret orders give
That all my Tyrians quickly arm themselves.

JOASH, ATHALIAH, JEHOSHEBA, ZACHARIAH, ABNER, SALOME, TWO
LEVITES, CHORUS, ATTENDANTS OF ATHALIAH.

Jehosheba [to the TWO LEVITES]

Keep constant watch, ye servants of the Lord,
Over these children, precious and beloved.

Abner [to JEHOSHEBA]—

Take courage, Princess; they shall be my charge.
Athaliah-

Heavens! the more closely I examine him,
"Tis he! And horror seizes me again.

Wife of Jehoiada, is this thy son?

[Pointing to Joash.