Judith: A sacred drama. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. The music composed by Dr. Arne.

Table of contents

- [titlepage]

- [dramatispersonae]

- ACT I.

- SCENE I.

- SCENE II.

- SCENE III.

- SCENE IV.

- SCENE V.

- SCENE VI.

- SCENE VII.

- ACT II.

- SCENE I.

- SCENE II.

- SCENE III.

- SCENE IV.

- SCENE V.

- SCENE VI.

- SCENE VII.

- ACT. III.

- SCENE I.

- SCENE II.

- SCENE III.

- SCENE IV. The TRIUMPH.

- SCENE V.

- SCENE VI.

- SCENE the Last.

JUDITH. AN ORATORIO.

FINIS.

JUDITH. A SACRED DRAMA. As it is performed at the THEATRE ROYAL In DRURY-LANE. The MUSIC composed by Dr. ARNE.

LONDON: Printed for J. COOTE, in Pater-noster Row; and T. DAVIES, in Russel-street, Covent-Garden. MDCCLXI. [Price One Shilling.]

Performers' Names.

- Mrs. CORNELI.

- Sig••. EBERARDI.

- Mr. CHAMPNES.

- Miss ELIZ. YOUNG.

- Mr. FAWCETT,

- AND Miss BRENT.

Characters.

- OZIAS.

- CHARMIS.

- HOLOFERNES.

- JUDITH.

- ABRA.

- Chorus of Israelites.

- Chorus of Assyrians.

SCENE, BITHULIA.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

Chorus of Israelites.

FATHER of Mercies lend thine Ear,

Behold us with a pitying Eye.

Thy wretched suppliant People hear,

Help, help, O Lord! or else we dye.

CHARMIS. Chorus.

Char.

Well may ye mourn, O miserable Race!

Well may ye mourn: The Angel of Destruction

Even now on Wing malignant hovers o'er us,

And show'rs upon our Heads the Wrath of Heaven.

A Man.

Ye are the Cause, ye Governors and Rulers,

Of the dire Mischiefs that are fallen upon us.

Why sought ye not a Peace with these Assyrians

E'er they approach'd our City? Now their Troops

Encompass us about, have seiz'd our Springs,

And thro' a Dearth of Water all must perish.

AIR.

A Wo.

O Torment, great, too great to bear!

Parch'd up with Thirst I burn, I rage;

Distraction! Horror! and Despair,

Give me this Fury to asswage

One Drop, from some yet moist'ned Bowl

To cool the Fever in my Soul!

SCENE II.

OZIAS, CHARMIS, Chorus.

A Man.

Throw wide our Gates, let Holofernes enter

With all his Troops, and spoil us! we will serve him.

It's better so to serve, than to behold

Our Wives and Children die before our Faces.

Ozias.

Brethren take Courage, let us yet endure

Five Days, and if within that Space the Lord

Turn not his Mercy towards us, we will do

According to the Words ye now have spoken.

AIR.

Be humble, suff'ring, trust in God,

Who joys not with the chast'ning Rod,

To shew his Power Divine;

No, he is Good as well as Great,

And Men, that will not patient wait,

Rebel, when they repine.

SCENE III.

JUDITH, ABRA.

Jud.

Have then our Miseries at length subdued us?

And must those Heathens lord it o'er the Race

Of abject Israel?

Abra.

Within five Days

Bithulia shall be plundered, our young Men

Slain with the Sword, our Virgins violated;

And the small Remnant must groan out a Life

In Slavery and Exile.

Jud.

Know'st thou not

What Wonders the Almighty can perform?

Oh weak of Faith! should God stretch forth his Arm,

Is it too late to save his sinking People?

I feel my Spirit stirr'd with strange Emotions.

Raise, raise some potent Strain, whilst I retireing,

In holy Meditation seek the Lord.

AIR.

Abra.

Wake my Harp! to melting Measures,

Pour thy softest, sweetest Treasures,

Such as lift the Thoughts on high;

'Till the rapt Soul, Earth forsaking,

Heaven-ward it's Flight is taking,

On the Wings of Harmony.

SCENE IV.

JUDITH, ABRA.

Jud.

Where are the Ancients of the City?—Lead me,

This instant lead me to them; with some vast

Design my Soul is big! Yet what am I,

Most Gracious! what am I, that thou shouldst do

This Thing, and by an Instrument so feeble

Blazon thy glorious Name among the Nations.

AIR.

Adventurous, lo! I spread the Sail,

Steering where Patriot Virtue guides;

That marks my Passage, 'points the Gate,

And Pilot at my Helm presides.

With stedfast Heart I quit the Shore,

Nor Man's Assistance deign to court;

The Star of Mercy goes before,

In Promise of a joyful Port.

SCENE V.

OZIAS, CHARMIS, JUDITH, ABRA, Chorus of Israelites

Ozias.

Brethren, behold! the Widow of Menasses,

Judith, for Wisdom, and for Beauty fam'd:

This way she comes attended by her Damsel.

Daughter, what wouldst thou?

Jud.

Hear me, O ye Rulers!

Ye have not rightly done to tempt the Lord,

By swearing, that unless within five Days

He turn'd to help us, ye would yield the City.

Charm.

Th' rash Inhabitants compell'd us to it.

But thou implore the Lord, that he may send

Rain from the Clouds, and we shall faint no more.

Chorus of Israelites.

When Israel wept, no Comfort nigh,

Thou heardst, O Lord, thy People's Cry:

Tender as Shepherd of his Flock,

When thro' the Desart they were led,

From Heav'n thy Bounty gave them Bread,

And pour'd them Water from the Rock.

Jud.

Hear me! I mean to do an Act shall go,

Throughout all Generations: I will go

Forth from the City to the Assyrian Camp

With this my Virgin; and within the Time

Prescrib'd, the Lord shall save ye by my Hand.

But question not the Scope of my Design.

For nought I will divulge 'till all be finish'd.

AIR.

Remember what Jehovah swore

To Abram, and his Seed of yore,

Above 'tis on Record;

With this right Hand I plant thy Race,

No Power shall root it from its Place;

So spoke the living Lord.

And Suns may melt, and Stars decay,

Both Heaven and Earth shall pass away,

But not his sacred Word.

SCENE VI.

OZIAS. CHARMIS.

Char.

She breaths prophetic Strains! depart in Peace,

And the Lord God go with thee. Wonder not

My Brethren, that upon this Woman's Strength

We rest our Hopes of Safety! through the Tribes

The Fame of her Religion is gone forth;

And know, a single Champion so provided,

Is better than a Host of the Prophane.

AIR.

Conquest is not to bestow

In the Spear, or in the Bow;

Nor does Victory belong

To the Valiant, or the Strong.

But the Pious and the Just,

Those who in Jehovah trust;

To their Foes the Sword may give,

They shall triumph, they shall live.

SCENE VII.

OZIAS, CHARMIS, Chorus of Israelites.

Ozias.

Lo! where fair Judith issuing from the Gate,

With her Attendant, now descends the Mountain:

How beautiful she looks, and with what Vigour

She treads along!—'Tis God! 'tis God inspires her

To some great Purpose; laud his holy Name.

Chorus of Israelites.

Hear! Angels, hear!—Celestial Choirs,

In Rapture catch your golden Lyres.

With us your Voices raise;

To him the first and last be given

In lowest Earth, in highest Heaven,

All Glory, Power, and Praise.

END of the FIRST ACT.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

HOLOFERNES, JUDITH, ABRA.

Jud.

Thus, noble Holofernes, thou hast heard

Why with this Virgin I forsook yon City;

Because the Inhabitants by Crimes most odious,

Where drawing on themselves the Wrath of Heaven.

When the dread Hour is nigh, God shall forewarn me,

And I, by secret Passes, will conduct

Thee, and thy Troops, to the devoted Walls:

Nor shall Bethulia only fall a Prey,

But all Judea.

Hol.

Wonder of thy Sex! what Language can express

My Admiration?—

What Words do Justice to thy Excellence?

For Comeliness of Form, and Strength of Mind,

There is not such another.

Jud.

Spoke my Lord

To his poor Handmaid?—Let me not suppose it.

Far be such vain Thoughts from the Wretch that toils

In this dark Vale of Sin and Misery.

AIR.

Oh! strive not with ill-suited Praise,

Thy Servant's humble Mind to raise.

God be my Pride, his holy Ways,

My Ornaments alone:

This Merit only rests with me,

That, through the Veil of Charity,

Another's Blemishes I see,

Whilst I lament my own.

SCENE II.

HOLOFERNES, JUDITH, ABRA, Chorus of Assyrians.

Hol.

Strait thro' the Camp let this Command be issued,

That none presume t'approach the Hebrew Women,

But with such due Respect and Reverence,

As suits the Friends of the Assyrian King.

An unmolested Passage let them find,

And ample Liberty to observe their Laws,

Their Customs, and Religion.

Chorus of Assyrians.

Live for ever!

Nebuchodonosor and Holofernes!

Hol.

Come, lovely Judith, for thy Residence

Yonder superb Pavilion we assign.

AIR.

Adorn'd with every matchless Grace

By Heaven from whence she sprung;

We view the Goddess in her Face,

We hear it in her Tongue.

Against such Charms, there's no Defence;

O take! Possess me whole!

Thy Beauty captivates my Sense,

Thy Wisdom quells my Soul.

Chorus of Assyrians.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Judea falls,

Yon stubborn City bows her Walls;

Victors we come, her Gates display,

And Desolation marks our Way.

While every Sword from Slaughter reeks,

The Virgin cries, the Matron shrieks;

Thro' her pale Streets Groans, Shouts resound,

And all her Turrets flame around.

SCENE III.

JUDITH, ABRA.

Jud.

Thus far the Lord hath led us by the Hand,

Till in the Midst of these Idolaters

We are set down. But know, like Sparks of Fire

Lodg'd in a Heap of Stubble, we shall soon

Blaze and consume them. Only thou, my Sister!

Beware of their Deceptions. Nor with Flattery

Let them intoxicate our Reason.

Abra.

Never.

The Praise of the Abandon'd to the Ear

Of Virtue, sounds but like the Serpent's Hiss

As timely Warning to avoid its Sting.

Too well by thy Example am I taught

To scorn the glittering Gewgaws they esteem.

AIR.

Vain is Beauty gawdy Flow'r,

Pageant of a Day, an Hour,

Born just to bloom and fade;

Nor less weak, less vain than it

Is the Pride of human Wit,

The Shadow of a Shade.

SCENE IV.

JUDITH, ABRA, Chorus of Assyrians.

Jud.

Soft, break we off, what wanton Troop comes yonder?

This Way they bend their Steps. Now speak your Errand.

If from the Great, the gracious Holofernes,

Ought in Command ye bear, behold a Vassal,

Submissive to the Pleasures of her Lord.

A Man.

Thus then our general greets the peerless Judith.

To Night he holds a Banquet, and her Presence

Only is wanting to compleat its Splendor.

Further he charg'd me—but I need not speak it,

Charms have the Hebrews, and the Assyrians Hearts.

A Wo.

Come, beauteous Stranger! give a Loose to Joy—

Our General amidst the Noise of War,

Has a Soul tun'd to all the softer Passions—

Enough, she smiles Consent, return we back

With the glad Answer of our Embassy.

AIR.

Haste to the Gardens of Delight,

Blest Scenes! where plenteous Pleasures grow;

Where Fruits luxuriant charm the Sight,

And court the Hand from every Bough.

No Churls are bid to Nature's Treat,

The Goods the Gods provide, employ;

To thank the Givers pluck and eat,

And satisfy the Soul with Joy.

SCENE V.

JUDITH, ABRA.

Jud.

The Lyon's in the Toils, we have him fast,

And never shall he walk abroad again

To make the Forests tremble: Hie we hence

To this same Banquet, yet imagine not,

That my chaste Body I will render up

To fulsome Purposes; no, God shall save me;

To whose Almighty Guidance I resign

Myself this Night. Fall prostrate on the Earth,

Join me in fervent Prayer from Heart and Voice,

Let our warm Vows in Unison aspire.

DUET.

Oh thou, on whom the Weak depend,

Creator! Father! Champion! Friend!

Source divine of every Blessing,

Merciful beyond expressing,

To thy vow'd Votarist's Suit attend.

Inspiration pure impart,

Nerve her Arms and steel her Heart.

Not sung.

Kind Influence shed on this important Hour,

And as thou giv'st her Courage, grant her Power.

SCENE VI.

HOLOFERNES.

Crown me with Laurels, bring the Chaplets hither,

With Roses and with Myrtle bind each Brow,

For we to-day are Conquerors. Thus surrounded,

Like the fam'd Son of Lybian Jove I stand,

When to the Indian Shore he led his Legions,

And Victory fought beside him!—Fill the Goblets!

To Father Bacchus pour Libation due.

Let Mirth and Musick testify Devotion,

So should the Deity be prais'd and honour'd.

AIR.

Hail, immortal Bacchus! known

By thy Vine encircled Zone;

By the Crew that on thee wait,

Thy rosy Crest and reeling Gait.

Hither vested like the God

With thine Ivy, Wreath, and Rod;

Hither come in jolly Pride,

And o'er thy festive Rites preside.

Chorus of Assyrians.

Hail, immortal Bacchus! known

By thy Vine encircled Zone;

By the Crew that on thee wait,

Thy rosy Crest and reeling Gait.

Hither vested like the God

With thine Ivy, Wreath, and Rod;

Hither come in jolly Pride,

And o'er thy festive Rites preside.

SCENE VII.

HOLOFERNES, JUDITH, Attendant, Chorus.

Hol.

Silence each ruder Sound, let nothing breathe

But softest Harmony.—Fair Judith comes,

Another Venus by the Graces led.

So when the Sea-born Goddess from the Foam

Prolific sprung, as on the boiling Deep

Her Form appear'd, the loud Winds fell to Whispers,

And the Waves crept in Murmurs to the Shore.

Jud.

Behold at thy Command, O Holofernes!

Thine Handmaid stands before thee.

Hol.

Thy Charms

O'erpow'r me with their Lustre! in a Blaze

Of Beauty I am lost!—O let me lean

My Head upon thy Bosom.

Jud.

Shall I question what to my Lord seems good—recline thy Head,

While I to lulling Sounds my Voice attune

And sing thy weary'd Spirits to Repose.

AIR.

Sleep, gentle Cherub!—Sleep descend!

Thy healing Wings protective spread,

And o'er his sacred Temples bend,

O bend their salutary Shade.

Abra.

Bacchus to Venus has resign'd the Hero

With Wine oppressed; and in extatic Slumbers

His Senses are dissolved; remove him gently

To the inmost Chambers of the Tent, beneath

The Purple Canopy, beside his Couch

The fair shall watch and guard him from Disturbance.

Chorus of Assyrians.

Prepare the genial Bow'r, prepare,

And thou the Ruler of the Sphere,

Night halt thy sable Wain:

Halt, and shed double Darkness round,

Be still each Motion, hush'd each Sound,

Let Love and Silence reign.

END of the SECOND ACT.

ACT. III.

SCENE I.

OZIAS, CHARMIS, JUDITH, ABRA.

Ozias.

Great are thy Works, O God! and wonderful

The Mercy which thou shewest the Sons of Men.

Daughter proceed, how scap'st thou undefiled?

Jud.

When we were left together in the Tent,

There Holofernes lay, stupid with Wine:

Then came the Spirit of the Lord upon me,

And drawing from his Sheath his shining Faulchion

I smote him twice, and strook away his Head.

Which when my faithful Abra had received,

We pass'd unquestioned 'till we reach'd Bithulia.

Ozias.

Blessed art thou, O Judith, among Women.

What thou hast wrought to-day for Israel

Shall be remembered to thy Praise for ever.

AIR.

'Mongst Heroes and Sages recorded,

Thou fairest and foremost shall shine;

For Fame is the Meed that's awarded,

To recompence Virtue like thine.

Whilst Men in a just Admiration

Of Wisdom and Valour agree.

So long every Age every Nation

Shall hallow a Laurel to thee.

SCENE II.

JUDITH, OZIAS, CHARMIS, ABRA, Chorus.

Jud.

Behold, my Brethren, how the Lord hath smitten

By a weak Woman's Hand, thine Enemy.

Here, take his Head, and hang it on the Walls,

Gird every Man his Sword upon his Thigh,

And feign yourselves preparing all for Battle.

The Assyrians will perceive ye are in motion,

And straitway call their General, Holofernes;

But no Cries wake the Dead; then shall they fear

And fly before you, while you thunder down,

And overthrow them with a mighty Slaughter.

AIR.

O Lord, our God! tremendous rise,

In Battle dreadful mount the Storm;

Before thy Face while Vengeance flies,

Thy wrathful Mandates to perform,

And blast thy Enemies

Not Sung.

In thine Anger hot and fierce,

Melt their Hearts, their Hopes disperse;

Sweep their Bands like Chaff away,

And cast them to the Dogs a Prey.

Chorus of Israelites.

Who can Jehovah's Wrath abide,

Who from his searching Fury hide,

He lifts his Arm in Ire;

Hell shrinks from the impending Stroke,

The Hills recede, the Mountains smoke,

Earth trembles, Heaven's on fire.

SCENE III.

Israelitish Priests, Men, Women, Elders.

A Wom.

Daughters of Sion, hear ye what is done?

How Judith with the Damsel her Companion

Has brought Destruction and Reproach on Assur.

Take Branches in your Hands, and crown'd with Garlands,

In Triumph let us bear them through the City.

A Man.

Well hast thou said. Prepare a solemn Feast

And high Rejoicing, for no less is due

To God, and his elected Members.

AIR.

No more the Heathen shall blaspheme,

O Lord of Hosts! thy holy Name,

In their polluted Place;

No more elate with impious Pride,

Thy sacred Sabbath shall deride.

Or vex thy chosen Race.

SCENE IV.
The TRIUMPH.

CHORUS.

Breath the Pipe, the Timbrel sound,

Strew the Olive, strew the Bays;

In grateful Songs rejoice,

Let every Hand and every Voice,

Join in matchless Judith's Praise.

Breath the Pipe, the Timbrels sound, &c.

AIR.

A Man.

The Victor on his lofty Seat,

By shouting Crouds proclaim'd the Great,

Exulting Pleasure feels;

While Spoils of Kings in Battle slain,

And captive Troops, a numerous Train

Surround his Chariot Wheels.

A Wom.

But weak the Joys th' ambitious Prize,

To those which round the Patriot rise,

And in his Soul prevail;

While thus a grateful People sav'd,

By Toils endur'd and Dangers brav'd,

Their Friend and Champion hail.

Chorus repeated.

SCENE V.

JUDITH, ABRA, Israelites.

Jud.

Israel, for Shame!—What, are ye like the Heathen,

To give the Glory of God's Works to Man?

Proceed no farther with this Prophanation—adore Jehovah.

AIR.

Not unto us, but to his Name,

The Praise, the Thanks bestow;

Who form'd above the starry Frame,

And sunk the Deeps below.

Who gave the Seasons Day and Night

By Turns to rise and fall;

Who out of Shade created Light,

And out of nothing all.

SCENE VI.

OZIAS, ABRA, Israelites.

Ozias.

Israel rejoice! thy Horn is now exalted.

From hence we may descry th' Assyrian Host

In wild Disorder, this and that Way flying.—

They cast away their Arms, and leave their Camps

A Spoil to our victorious Countrymen.

SEMI-CHORUS.

O bless'd Event! the Tempest is dispers'd

Which threatened to o'erwhelm the House of David,

And now the Sun of Peace shall rise upon us.

DUET.

On thy Borders, O Jordan, again shall be seen,

Rich Industry leading gay Plenty along;

The Pipe of the Shepherds shall wake on each Green,

Every Grove shall resound with the Nightingales Song.

SCENE the Last.

OZIAS, CHARMIS, JUDITH, ABRA, Israelites.

Jud.

Here, O ye Sons of Jacob, let us rest!

Yet since God heard you, when in sore Affliction

Ye sung a Hymn in Honour to his Name,

Joyful repeat it now; for to his Ear

Such Songs of Praise and Piety are sweet.

In grateful Clouds to Heaven they ascend

And fall again in Blessings on Mankind.

Chorus of Israelites.

Hear, Angels hear! celestial Choirs,

In Raptures catch your golden Lyres,

With us your Voices raise;

To him the first and last be given,

In lowest Earth, in highest Heav'n,

All Glory, Pray'r and Praise.

Information about this book

Title statement

Judith: A sacred drama. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. The music composed by Dr. Arne.

Bickerstaff, Isaac, 1735-1812.

Publication

Distributor

University of Oxford Text Archive
Oxford University Computing Services
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ota@oucs.ox.ac.uk

ID [ota]

http://ota.ox.ac.uk/id/3887

ID [isbn10]

1106008863

ID [isbn13]

9781106008862

ID [TCP]

K033708.000

ID [BIBNO]

CW3312456347

ID [ECLL]

0438900500

Availability

Distributed by the University of Oxford under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Source

— Judith: A sacred drama. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. The music composed by Dr. Arne., Bickerstaff, Isaac, 1735-1812.. [2],22p. ; 4⁰. London :: printed for J. Coote; and T. Davies,. 1761.. [Vertical chain-lines; possibly cut-down folio? Libretto only. By Isaac Bickerstaffe.] [Reproduction of original from the British Library.] [English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT29271.] [Electronic data. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. Page image (PNG). Digitized image of the microfilm version produced in Woodbridge, CT by Research Publications, 1982-2002 (later known as Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of the Gale Group).]

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