Athaliah: A Tragedy Intended for Reading Only, Translated Into English Blank Verse, From Racine (A. Gombert's Edition, 1825)

A tragic shroud rises over the sacred precincts of Jerusalem, where a queen whose lineage is stained with blood seeks to erase the last hope of the Davidic line. Athaliah, the fierce widow of Jehoram, commands the temple with ruthless authority, her presence darkening the rituals of worship. In the opening scene, the high‑priest Joad and his officer Abner confront the unsettling shift from solemn devotion to a foreboding atmosphere of dread, hinting at the brutal purge she has already begun.

Amid hurried whispers and trembling priests, a single infant—Joas—survives the queen’s murderous intent, hidden by his devoted aunt Josabet and the sanctuary’s hidden corners. The tension between piety and power builds as allies gather, each aware that the fate of a kingdom may hinge on this fragile, secreted child. Listeners will feel the weight of ancient prophecy and the relentless march of intrigue that drives the drama forward.