Belshazzar

by George Frideric Handel and Charles Jennens

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

• Belshazzar, King of Babylon (tenor)
• Nitocris, Mother of Belshazzar (soprano)
• Cyrus, Prince of Persia (alto)
• Daniel, a Jewish Prophet (alto)
• Gobrias, an Assyrian Nobleman, revolted to Cyrus (bass)
• Arioch, a Babylonian Lord (tenor)
• Messenger (bass)
• Wise Men
• Chorus of Jews
• Chorus of Babylonians
• Chorus of Medes & Persians

ACT ONE

Scene 1

The Palace in Babylon.

2. Accompagnato

Nitocris:

Vain, fluctuating state of human empire!

First, small and weak, it scarcely rears its head,

Scarce stretching out its helpless infant arms,

Implores protection of its neighbour states,

Who nurse it to their hurt. Anon, it strives

For pow'r and wealth, and spurns at opposition.

Arriv'd to full maturity, it grasps

At all within its reach, o'erleaps all bounds,

Robs, ravages and wastes the frighted world.

At length, grown old and swell'd to bulk enormous,

The monster in its proper bowels feeds

Pride, luxury, corruption, perfidy,

Contention, fell diseases of a state,

That prey upon her vitals. Of her weakness

Some other rising pow'r advantage takes,

(Unequal match!) plies with repeated strokes

Her infirm aged trunk: she nods, she totters,

She falls, alas, never to rise again!

The victor state, upon her ruins rais'd,

Runs the same shadowy round of fancied greatness,

Meets the same certain end.

3. Air

Nitocris:

Thou, God most high, and Thou alone,

Unchang'd for ever dost remain:

Through boundless space extends thy throne,

Through all eternity thy reign.

As nothing in thy sight

The reptile man appears,

Howe'er imagin'd great;

Who can impair thy might?

In Heav'n or earth, who dares

Dispute thy pow'r? — Thy will is fate.

Thou, God most high. . . da capo

4. Recitative

Nitocris:

The fate of Babylon, I fear, is nigh.

I have sought to avert it; small my skill,

Had not the Hebrew prophet with his counsel

Supported my weak steps. See, where he comes:

Wisdom and goodness in his front serene

Conspicuous sit enthron'd.

Enter Daniel.

Nitocris:

Oh, much belov'd

Of God and man! Say, is there aught can save

This sinking state?

Daniel:

Great Queen, 'tis not for man

To pry into the counsels of omniscience.

But you have done your duty, I mine.

No more remains but to submit to what

God, only wise and just, ordains.

5. Air

Daniel:

Lament not thus, O Queen, in vain!

Virtue's part is to resign

All things to the will divine,

Nor of its just decrees complain.

The sins of Babylon urge on her fate;

But virtue still this comfort gives,

On earth she finds a safe retreat,

Or bless'd in Heav'n for ever lives.

Lament not thus. . . da capo

Scene 2

The camp of Cyrus before Babylon. A view of the city, with the River Euphrates running through it. Cyrus, Gobrias, Medes and Persians

6. Chorus of Babylonians

(upon the walls, deriding Cyrus, as engaged in an impractible undertaking)

Behold, by Persia's hero made

In ample form, the strong blockade!

How broad the ditch, how deep it falls!

What lofty tow'rs o'erlook the walls!

Hark, Cyrus! Twenty times the sun

Round the great year his course shall run:

If there so long thy army stay,

Not yet to dogs and birds a prey,

No succour from without arrive,

Within remain no means to live,

We then may think it time to treat,

And Babylon capitulate.

A tedious time! To make it short,

Thy wise attempt will find us sport.

7. Recitative

Gobrias:

Well may they laugh, from meagre famine safe,

In plenteous stores for more than twenty years;

From all assault secure in gates of brass,

And walls stupendous; in Euphrates' depth

Yet more secure.

Cyrus:

'Tis that security

Shall aid me to their ruin. I tell thee, Gobrias,

I will revenge thy wrongs upon the head

Of this inhuman king.

8. Accompagnato

Gobrias:

Oh, memory!

Still bitter to my soul! Methinks I see

My son, the best, the loveliest of mankind,

Whose filial love and duty above all sons

Made me above all other fathers happy,

I see him breathless at the tyrant's feet,

The victim of his envy.

9. Air

Gobrias:

Oppress'd with never-ceasing grief,

I drag a painful, weary life;

Of all that made life sweet bereft,

No hope, but in revenge, is left.

10. Air

Cyrus:

Dry those unavailing tears,

Haste your just revenge to speed;

I'll disperse your gloomy fears,

Dawning hope shall soon succeed.

11. Recitative

Cyrus:

Be comforted: safe though the tyrant seem

Within those walls, I have a stratagem,

Inspir'd by Heav'n (dreams oft descend from Heav'n)

Shall baffle all his strength; so strong my mind

Th'impression bears, I cannot think it less.

12. Accompagnato

Cyrus:

Methought, as on the bank of deep Euphrates

I stood, revolving in my anxious mind

Our arduous enterprise, a voice divine,

In thunder utter'd, to the bottom seem'd

To pierce the river's depth. The lofty tow'rs

Of yon proud city trembling bow'd their heads,

As they would kiss the ground. "Thou deep," it said,

"Be dry". No more; but instant at the word,

The stream forsook its bank, and in a moment

Left bare his oozy bed. Amaz'd I stood:

Horror, till then unknown, uprais'd my hair,

And froze my falt'ring tongue. The voice renew'd:

"Cyrus, go on, and conquer: 'tis I that rais'd thee,

I will direct thy way. Build thou my city,

And without ransom set my captives free."

13. Recitative

Cyrus:

Now tell me, Gobrias, does not this Euphrates

Flow through the midst of Babylon?

Gobrias:

It does.

Cyrus:

And I have heard you say, that on the west

A monstrous lake, on ev'ry side extended,

Four hundred furlongs, while the banks were made,

Receiv'd th'exhausted river?

Gobrias:

'Tis most true.

Cyrus:

Might we not then

By the same means now drain Euphrates dry,

And through its channel march into the city?

Gobrias:

Suppose this done: yet still the brazen gates,

Which from the city to the river lead,

Will bar our passage, always shut by night,

When we must make th'attempt. Could we suppose

Those gates unshut, we might indeed ascend

With ease into the city.

Cyrus:

Said you not

This is the feast to Sesach consecrate?

And that the Babylonians spend the night

In drunken revels, and in loose disorder?

Gobrias:

They do; and 'tis religion to be drunk

On this occasion.

14. Air

Gobrias:

Behold the monstrous human beast

Wallowing in excessive feast!

vNo more his Maker's image found:

But, self-degraded to a swine,

He fixes grov'ling on the ground

His portion of the breath Divine.

Behold the monstrous human beast

Behold. . . da capo

15. Recitative

Cyrus:

Can you then think it strange, if drown'd in wine,

And from above infatuate, they neglect

The means of their own safety?

16. Air

Cyrus:

Great God, who, yet but darkly known,

Thus far hast deign'd my arms to bring;

Support me still, while I pull down

Assyria's proud, injurious king.

So shall this hand thy altars raise,

This tongue for ever sing thy praise;

And all thy will, when clearly shown,

By thy glad servant shall be done.

17. Recitative

Cyrus:

My friends, be confident, and boldly enter

Upon this high exploit. No little cause

We have to hope success; since not unjustly

We have attack'd, but being first attack'd,

We have pursu'd th'aggressor. Add to this,

That I proceed in nothing with neglect

Of pow'r divine: whate'er I undertake,

I still begin with God, and gain His favour

With sacrifice and pray'r.

18. Chorus

All empires upon God depend;

Begun by his command, at his command they end.

Look up to him in all your ways,

Begin with pray'r and end with praise.

Scene 3

Daniel's house. Daniel, with the Prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah open before him. Other Jews.:

19. Air

Daniel:

O sacred oracles of truth,

O living spring of purest joy!

By day be ever in my mouth,

And all my nightly thoughts employ.

Whoe'er withhold attention due,

Neglect themselves, despising you.

O sacred oracles. . . da capo

20. Accompagnato

Daniel:

Rejoice, my countrymen! The time draws near,

The long-expected time herein foretold:

"Seek now the Lord your God with all your heart,

And you shall surely find him. He shall turn

Your long captivity: he shall gather you

From all the nations whither you are driven,

And to your native land in peace restore you."

(after Jeremiah 29: 13-14)

For long ago,

Whole ages ere this Cyrus yet was born

Or thought of, great Jehovah, by His Prophet,

In words of comfort to his captive people

Foretold, and call'd by name the wond'rous man.

21. Air

Daniel:

"Thus saith the Lord to Cyrus, his anointed,

Whose right hand I have holden, to subdue

Nations before him: I will go before thee,

To loose the strong-knit loins of mighty kings,

Make straight the crooked places, break in pieces

The gates of solid brass, and cut in sunder

The bars of iron, for my servant's sake,

Israel my chosen. Though thou hast not known me,

I have surnam'd thee: I have girded thee:

That from the rising to the setting sun

The nations may confess, I am the Lord,

There is none else, there is no God besides me.

Thou shalt perform my pleasure, to Jerusalem

Saying, Thou shalt be built; and to the Temple,

Thy raz'd foundation shall again be laid."

(after Isaiah 45: 1-6; 44: 28)

22. Chorus

Sing, O ye Heav'ns, for the Lord hath done it!

Earth, from thy centre shout!

Break forth, ye mountains, into songs of joy,

O forest, and each tree therein, for the Lord hath done it!

Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob,

And glorified himself in Israel.

Hallelujah! Amen, Hallelujah!

Scene 4

The Palace. Belshazzar, Nitocris, Babylonians and Jews.

23. Air

Belshazzar:

Let festal joy triumphant reign,

Glad ev'ry heart, in ev'ry face appear!

Free flow the wine, nor flow in vain;

Far fly corroding care.

Each hand the chime melodious raise,

Each voice exult in Sesach's praise;

Let order vanish! Liberty alone,

Unbounded liberty the night shall crown.

Let festal joy. . . da capo

24. Recitative

Belshazzar:

For you my friends, the nobles of my court,

I have prepar'd a feast magnificent,

Worthy of you and me. Let all my wives

And concubines attend. Our royal mother —

Nitocris:

I must prevent thee, son. Who can endure

Th'unbridled license of this festival,

Miscall'd by the licentious, liberty?

Where nought prevails but riotous excess,

The noisy idiot laugh, the jest obscene,

The scurril taunt, and drunken midnight brawl.

My soul starts back at such brutality,

Asserting reason's empire.

25. Air

Nitocris:

The leafy honours of the field,

Before the furious driving wind,

In giddy dissipation fly.

To noise and folly forc'd to yield,

The fair ideas quit the mind,

And lost in wild confusion lie.

The leafy honours. . . da capo

26. Recitative

Belshazzar:

It is the custom, I may say, the law,

By long prescription fix'd.

(looking round and spying the Jews)

These captive Jews!

What do they here? They low'r upon our joys,

And envy liberty they cannot taste.

Yet something your perverse and wayward nation

Shall to our mirth contribute. Bring those vessels,

Those costly vessels my victorious grandsire

Took from the Temple of Jerusalem,

And in the temple of Bel laid up,

But us'd them not: — 'tis fit they should be us'd.

And let their God, whose pow'r was found too weak

To save his people, serve the conquerors

Of him and them. We'll revel in his cups:

Their rich materials and choice workmanship

Shall well augment the splendor of our feast.

And as we drink, we'll praise our country gods,

To whom we owe the prize.

Nitocris:

Oh, sacrilege,

Unheard of profanation!

27. Chorus of Jews

Recall, O king, thy rash command!

Nor prostitute with impious hand

To uses vile the holy things

Of great Jehovah, king of kings.

Thy grandsire trembled at his name,

And doom'd to death who durst blaspheme;

For he, like us, his pow'r had tried,

Confess'd him just in all his ways,

Confess'd him able to abase

The sons of men that walk in pride.

28. Recitative

Nitocris:

They tell you true; nor can you be to learn

(Though ease and pleasure have engross'd you all)

Things done in public view. I'll not repeat

The seven-fold heated furnace, by that God

Whom you defy, made to his faithful servants

A walk of recreation; nor the king,

In height of all his pride, drove from his throne,

And from the first of men, in thought a god,

Reduc'd to brutal rank: all this, and more,

Thou knows't as well as I, and shoulds't consider.

Belshazzar:

Away! Is then my mother convert grown

To Jewish superstition? Apostate queen!

These idle tales might well become the dotage

Of palsied eld, but not a queen like you,

In prime of life, for wisdon far renown'd.

On to the feast! I waste my time too long

In frivolous dispute, time, due of right

To pleasure and the gods.

29. Duet

Nitocris:

O dearer than my life, forbear!

Profane not, O my son,

With impious rites Jehovah's Name.

Remember what His arm has done,

The earth contains not half his fame:

Remember, and his vengeance fear!

Belshazzar:

O queen, this hateful theme forbear!

Join not against your son

With captive slaves, your country's foes.

Remember what our gods have done

To those who durst their pow'r oppose.

Remember, and their vengeance fear.

Nitocris:

Alas! Then must I see my son

Headlong to sure destruction run?

Belshazzar:

Not to destruction but delight

I fly, and all once more invite

To reign with me this happy night.

Nitocris:

O dearer than my life. . . da capo

Exeunt severally.

30. Chorus of Jews

By slow degress the wrath of God to its meridian height ascends;

There mercy long the dreadful bolt suspends,

Ere it offending man annoy;

Long patient for repentance waits, reluctant to destroy.

At length the wretch, obdurate grown,

Infatuate, makes

The ruin all his own;

And ev'ry step he takes,

On his devoted head

Precipitates the thunder down.

ACT TWO

Scene 1

Without the city, the river almost empty. Cyrus and Chorus of Persians and Medes.

31. Chorus of Persians and Medes

See, from his post Euphrates flies,

The stream withdraws his guardian wave,

Fenceless the queen of city lies!

Semi-Chorus:

Why, faithless river, dost thou leave

Thy charge to hostile arms a prey,

Expose the lives thou ought'st to save,

Prepare the fierce invader's way,

And, like false man, thy trust betray?

Semi-Chorus:

Euphrates hath his task fulfill'd,

But to divine decree must yield.

While Babel queen of cities reign'd,

The flood her guardian was ordain'd;

Now to superior pow'r gives place,

And but the doom of Heav'n obeys.

Full Chorus:

Of things on earth, proud man must own,

Falsehood is found in man alone.

32. Recitative

Cyrus:

You see, my friends, a path into the city

Lies open. Fearless let us enter, knowing

That those we are to cope with are the same

We have already conquer'd, strengthen'd then

With aid of great and numerous allies,

Wakeful and sober, rank'd in just array;

Now all asleep, or drunk, at best disorder'd —

A helpless state! Still worse, when they shall hear

We are within their walls.

33. Air

Cyrus:

Amaz'd to find the foe so near,

When sleep and wine their senses drown,

All hearts shall faint, and melt with fear,

All hands unnerv'd fall feebly down.

Useless the hero's valour lies,

Useless the counsel of the wise.

Amaz'd to find. . . da capo

34. Chorus of Persians and Medes

To arms, to arms, no more delay!

God and Cyrus lead the way.

Scene 2

A banquet-room, adorned with the images of the Babylonian gods. Belshazzar, his wives, concubines, and lords, drinking out of the Jewish temple-vessels, and singing the praises of their gods.

35. Chorus of Babylonians

Ye tutelar gods of our empire, look down,

And see what rich trophies your victory crown.

Let our bounteous gifts, which our gratitude raise,

Wine, gold, merry notes, pay our tributes of praise.

Sesach, this night is chiefly thine,

Kind donor of the sparkling wine!

36. Air

Belshazzar:

Let the deep bowl thy praise confess,

Thy gifts the gracious giver bless!

Thy gifts, of all the gods bestow,

Improve by use, and sweeter grow.

Another bowl! 'Tis gen'rous wine,

Exalts the human to divine.

37. Accompagnato

Belshazzar:

Where is the God of Judah's boasted pow'r?

Let him reclaim his lost magnificence,

Assert his rights, prov'd ours by long possession,

And vindicate his injur'd honour! — Ah!

As he is going to drink, a hand appears writing upon the wall over against him: he sees it, turns pale with fear, drops the bowl of wine, falls back in his seat, trembling from head to foot, and his knees knocking against each other.

Babylonians:

Help, help the king! He faints, he dies!

What envious demon blasts our joys,

And into sorrow turns?

Look up, O king! Speak, cheer thy friends!

Say, why our mirth thus sudden ends,

And the gay circle mourns?

Belshazzar:

Behold! See there!

Pointing to the hand upon the wall, which, while they gaze at it with astonishment, finishes the writing, and vanishes.

Babylonians:

Oh, dire portentous signt! But see, 'tis gone,

And leaves behind it types unknown,

Perhaps some stern decree of fate,

Big with the ruin of our state!

What God, or godlike man, can tell

The sense of this mysterious spell?

38. Recitative

Belshazzar:

Call all my Wise Men, Sorcerers, Chaldeans,

Astrologers, Magicians, Soothsayers:

They can perhaps unfold the mystic words,

Dispel our doubts, and ease us of our fears.

39. Symphony

Enter Wise Men of Babylon.

40. Recitative

Belshazzar:

Ye sages, welcome always to your king,

Most welcome now, since needed most! Oh, minister

To my sick mind the med'cine of your art.

Whoe'er shall read this writing and interpret,

A splendid purple robe behind him flows,

A chain of gold his honour'd neck shall grace,

And in the kingdom he shall rule the third.

Wise Men:

Alas, too hard a task the king imposes,

To read the characters we never learn'd!

41. Chorus of Babylonians

Oh, misery! Oh terror, hopeless grief!

Nor God nor man affords relief!

Who can this mystery unveil,

When all our wise diviners fail?

Enter Nitocris.

42. Recitative

Nitocris:

O king, live for ever!

Let not thy heart its wonted courage lose,

Nor let thy countenance be chang'd with fear,

Though all thy wise men fail thee, in the kingdom

There is a man, among the Jewish captives,

In whom the Holy Spirit of God resides,

And in thy grandsire Nebuchadnezzar's day

Wisdom, like that of God, was found in him,

By which he could interpret mystic dreams,

Explain hard sentences, dissolve all doubts:

Daniel his native name, but by the king

Nam'd Belteshazzar. Let him now be call'd,

He'll read the writing, and interpret it.

Enter Daniel.

Belshazzar:

Art thou that Daniel of the Jewish captives?

I have heard of thee.

That thou canst find interpretations deep,

And dissolve knotty doubts. If thou canst read

This writing, and explain, a purple robe

Adorns thy body, a gold chain thy neck,

And in the kingdom thou shalt rule the third.

43. Air

Daniel:

No, to thyself thy trifles be,

Or takes thy rich rewards who will!

Such glitt'ring trash affects not me,

Intent on greater matters still.

44. Accompagnato

Daniel:

Yet, to obey His dread command,

Who vindicates His honour now,

I'll read this oracle, and thou,

But to thy cost, shalt understand.

Thou, O king,

Hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of Heav'n,

Whose vessels they have brought before thee,

And thou, thy lords, thy wives, and concubines,

Have drunk wine in them! Thou hast prais'd the gods

Of gold and silver, brass, iron, wood and stone,

Which neither see, nor hear, nor aught perceive!

But Him, the God whose hands upholds thy life,

And in whose high dispose are all thy ways,

Thou hast not glorified, but hast blasphem'd.

From Him the hand was sent, by His appointment

These words were written:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN, which I thus interpret.

MENE: the God, whom thou hast dishonour'd,

The days hath number'd of thy reign, and finish'd it.

TEKEL: thou in the balances art weigh'd,

And art found wanting.

PERES: thy kingdom is divided,

And to the Medes and Persians given.

45. Recitative

Nitocris:

Oh, sentence too severe, and yet too sure,

Unless repentance may reverse the doom!

46. Air

Nitocris:

Regard, O son, my flowing tears,

Proofs of maternal love!

Regard thyself; to cure thy fears,

Regard the God above.

Repentance sure will mercy find,

But wrath pursues th'obdurate mind.

Regard, O son. . . da capo

Exit.

Scene 3

Cyrus, Gobrias and Chorus of Persians and Medes, within the City.

47. Air

Cyrus:

O God of truth, O faithful guide,

Well hast thou kept thy word!

Deep waves at my approach subside,

The brazen portals open wide,

Glad to receive their lord.

The hostile nations scatter'd fly,

Nor dare my presence stay.

Where'er I go, sure victory

Attends, for God is always nigh,

And He prepares my way.

48. Recitative

Cyrus:

You, Gobrias, lead directly to the palace,

For you best know the way. This revelling herd

Cannot oppose our passage; those who would,

Fall easy victims. For the rest, they fly,

Or take us for their friends, and reeling shout

For joy. We'll be their friends, and join the shout.

I seek no enemy except the tyrant;

When he is slain, our task is at an end.

My worthy friends, let us not stain our swords

With needless slaughter! I begin already

To count this people mine, myself their shepherd,

Whose office is to feed and to protect them,

Not to destroy.

49. Chorus

O glorious prince, thrice happy they

Born to enjoy thy future sway!

To all like thee were sceptres giv'n,

Kings were like gods, and earth like Heav'n.

Subjection free, unforc'd, would prove

Obedience is the child of love;

The jars of nation soon would cease,

Sweet liberty, beatific peace

Would stretch their reign from shore to shore,

And war and slav'ry be no more.

ACT THREE

Scene 1

The Palace. Nitocris, Daniel, Jews.

50. Air

Nitocris:

Alternate hopes and fears distract my mind,

My weary soul no rest can find.

My busy fancy now presents

A gracious scene: my son repents

And God recalls his doom.

Now to false shame he quits his fears,

False courage takes, and madly dares

His impious feast resume.

Then arms and dying groans resound,

And streams of blood gush out around.

Alternate hopes and fears distract my mind,

My weary soul no rest can find.

51. Recitative

Nitocris:

Fain would I hope. It cannot surely be.

Daniel:

Oh, that it could not! But if I may judge

The future by the past, it were vain flatt'ry

To bid you hope for his conversion.

52. Air

Daniel:

Can the black AEthiop change his skin,

His native spots the leopard lose?

Then may the heart obdur'd in sin

Grow soft, repent, and virtue choose!

Threats or advice but move disdain,

And signs and wonders glare in vain.

Can the black. . . da capo

Enter Arioch.

53. Recitative

Nitocris:

My hopes revive, here Arioch comes! By this

'Tis plain the revels are broke up. Say, Arioch,

Where is the king?

Arioch:

When you had left the room,

A while deep silence reign'd; the king sat pensive,

As doubting whether to break up the banquet,

Or to continue. At length some parasites,

Those insects vile that still infest a court,

Began to minister false comfort to him.

With this, again

They sat them down to drink. The bowl went round,

The king forgot his fears, the wine inspir'd him,

And he blasphem'd again. Not long we sat,

When from without the gates a noise tumultuous

Was heard, loud shouts and cries, and clashing arms.

The king deputed some to learn the cause.

I gladly seiz'd the opportunity,

And fled a place to swift destruction doom'd.

Enter a Messenger.

Messenger:

All's lost, the fate of Babylon is come!

Cyrus is here, ev'n within the palace!

Nitocris:

Cyrus, impossible!

Messenger:

It is too true;

A tumult heard without, the gates unbarr'd,

Disclos'd a dreadful scene: the guards overpow'rd

By numbers far superior, fell before them

With faint resistance. The victorious foe

No sooner saw the gates set open wide,

But rush'd at once, and easy entrance gain'd.

54. Chorus of Jews

Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth!

How is Sesach taken,

And how is the praise of the whole earth surpris'd!

Thy counsel stands, O Lord,

And thou dost all thy pleasure!

Scene 2

Belshazzar, his lords, and other Babylonians, with their swords drawn.

55. Air

Belshazzar:

I thank thee, Sesach! Thy sweet pow'r

Does to myself myself restore.

Thy plenteous heart-inspiring juice

All my courage lost renews.

I blush to think I shadows fear'd.

Cyrus, come on, I'm now prepar'd!

Exeunt to meet Cyrus.

56. A Martial Symphony

(during which a battle is supposed, in which Belshazzar and his attendants are slain)

Scene 3

Cyrus, Gobrias and Chorus.

57. Air

Gobrias:

To pow'r immortal my first thanks are due;

My next, great Cyrus, let me pay to you,

Whose arm this impious king laid low,

The bitter source of all my woe.

Tears, sure, will all my life employ,

E'en now I weep, but weep for joy.

58. Recitative

Cyrus:

Be it thy care, good Gobrias, to find out

The queen, and that great Jew, of whom thou tolds't me.

Guard them in safety hither; if harm befall them

I shall repent, and curse my victory.

Exit Gobrias.

59. Air

Cyrus:

Destructive war, thy limits know;

Here, tyrant death, thy terrors end.

To tyrants only I'm a foe,

To virtue and her friends, a friend.

Destructive war. . . da capo

Re-enter Gobrias, with Nitocris, Daniel, and Jews.

60. Duet

Nitocris:

Great victor, at your feet I bow,

No more a queen, your vassal now!

My people spare! Forgive my fears,

I mourn a son, indulge my tears,

Resistless nature bids them flow.

Cyrus:

Rise, virtuous queen, compose your mind,

Give fear and sorrow to the wind.

Safe are your people if they will;

Be still a queen, a mother still,

A son in Cyrus you shall find.

61. Recitative

Cyrus (to Daniel):

Say, venerable prophet, is there aught

In Cyrus' pow'r by which he can oblige

Thee, or thy people?

Daniel:

O victorious prince,

The God of Israel, Lord of Heav'n and earth,

Long ere thy birth, foretold thee by thy name,

And shew'd thy conquests! 'Tis to Him thou ow'st,

To Him thou must ascribe them. Read those lines,

The great prediction which thou hast already

In part accomplish'd, and, we trust, will soon

Fulfil the rest.

62. Soli & Chorus

Tell it out among the heathen,

That the Lord is King.

63. Accompagnato

Cyrus:

Yes, I will rebuild thy city, God of Israel!

I will release thy captives, not for price,

Not for reward, but to perform thy pleasure.

Thus prostrate I confess, Thou art the Lord,

There is none else, there is no God beside Thee.

Thou condescendest to call me thy shepherd,

And I will feed thy flock. To me Thou hast giv'n

The kingdoms of the earth; and shall I suffer

Thy kingdom to lie waste, Thy chosen people

In exile and captivity to wander?

Far be from Cyrus such ingratitude!

Hear, holy people! Hear, elect of God!

The God of Israel (he alone is God)

Hath charg'd me to rebuild his house and city,

And let his exil'd captive people go.

With transport I obey! Be free, ye captives,

And to your native land in peace return.

Thou, O Jerusalem, shalt be rebuilt;

O Temple, thy foundation shall be laid.

No thanks to me; to God return your thanks,

As I do mine! We all are to his goodness

Indebted deep, to Him be all the praise.

64. Soli & Chorus

Daniel:

I will magnify Thee, O God my king!

And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Daniel, Nitocris:

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,

And let all flesh give thanks

Unto His holy name for ever and ever.

Chorus:

Amen