Air. Coeval with man Till ruin shakes all. Then shall Babylon fall. SECOND PROPHET. 'Tis thus the proud triumphant rear the head, Air. Ye wretches, who, by fortune's hate, In want and sorrow groan, Come, ponder his severer fate, And learn to bless your own. FIRST PROPHET. Ye vain, whom youth and pleasure guide, Like yours, his life began in pride, Like his, your lives shall end. SECOND PROPHET. Behold his wretched corse with sorrow worn, Air. ISRAELITISH WOMAN. As panting flies the hunted hind, Thus we, O Lord, alike distress'd, Streams which cheer the sore oppress'd, And overwhelm the strong. FIRST PROPHET. But whence that shout? Good Heavens! Amazement all! See yonder tower just nodding to the fall: Behold, an army covers all the ground, CHORUS OF CAPTIVES. Down with them, Lord, to lick the dust; Serve them as they have served the just, FIRST PRIEST. All, all is lost! The Syrian army fails, Air. FIRST AND SECOND PRIEST. O happy, who in happy hour SECOND PROPHET. Now, now 's our time! ye wretches, bold and blind, Ye seek in vain the Lord unsought before, Air. O Lucifer, thou son of morn, Of Heaven alike, and man the foe, — Heaven, men, and all, Now press thy fall, And sink thee lowest of the low. FIRST PROPHET. O Babylon, how art thou fallen! Thy fall more dreadful from delay! Thy streets forlorn, To wilds shall turn, Where toads shall pant and vultures prey. SECOND PROPHET. Such be her fate. But hark! how from afar To chain the strong, and set the captive free. CHORUS OF YOUTHS. Rise to transports past expressing, CHORUS OF VIRGINS. Cyrus comes, the world redressing, SEMI-CHORUS. Hail to him with mercy reigning, THE LAST CHORUS. But chief to thee, our God, defender, friend, LINES ATTRIBUTED TO DR. GOLDSMITH, E'EN have you seen, bathed in the morning dew, It shrinks, and scarcely trusts the blaze of day: So soft, so delicate, so sweet she came, Youth's damask glow just dawning on her cheek I gazed, I sigh'd, I caught the tender flame, Felt the fond pang, and droop'd with passion weak. |