The second part of Absalom and Achitophel a poem. Tate, Nahum, 1652-1715. 1682 Approx. 62 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A36680 Wing D2350 ESTC R73 11774743 ocm 11774743 48933 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36680) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 48933) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 489:22) The second part of Absalom and Achitophel a poem. Tate, Nahum, 1652-1715. Dryden, John, 1631-1700. [2], 34 p. Printed for Jacob Tonson, London : 1682. Written by Nahum and John Dryden. Cf. Macdonald, H. John Dryden. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng 2002-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-03 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-04 TCP Staff (Oxford) Sampled and proofread 2002-04 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-05 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE SECOND PART OF ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL . A POEM . — Si Quis tamen Haec quoque , Si Quis Captus Amore Leget — LONDON , Printed for Iacob Tonson , at the Iudges Head in Chancery-Lane , near Fleetstreet . 1682. THE Second Part OF ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL . A POEM . SInce Men like Beasts , each others Prey were made , Since Trade began , and Priesthood grew a Trade , Since Realms were form'd , none sure so curst as those That madly their own Happiness oppose ; There Heaven it self , and Godlike Kings , in vain Showr down the Manna of a gentle Reign ; While pamper'd Crowds to mad Sedition run , And Monarchs by Indulgence are undone . Thus David's Goodness was e'en fatal grown , While wealthy Faction aw'd the wanting Throne . For now their Sov'reigns Orders to contemn Was held the Charter of Ierusalem , His Rights t' invade , his Tributes to refuse , A Privilege peculiar to the Iews As if from Heav'nly Call this Licence fell , And Iacob's Seed were chosen to rebell ! Achitophel with triumph sees his Crimes Thus suited to the madness of the Times ; And Absalom , to make his hopes succeed , Of Flatterie's Charms no longer stands in need ; While fond of Change , though ne'er so dearly bought , Our Tribes out-strip the Youth 's Ambitious Thought ; His swiftest Hopes with swifter Homage meet , And crowd their servile Necks beneath his Feet . Thus to his aid while pressing Tides repair , He mounts and spreads his Streamers in the Air. The Charms of Empire might his Youth mis-lead , But what can our besotted Israel plead ? Sway'd by a Monarch whose serene Command , Seems half the Blessing of our promis'd Land. Whose onely Grievance is excess of Ease , Freedome our Pain , and Plenty our Disease ! Yet since all Folly wou'd lay claim to Sense , And Wickedness ne'er wanted a Pretence , With Arguments they 'd make their Treason good , And righteous David's self with Slanders load : That Arts of foreign Sway he did affect , And guilty Iebusites from Law protect , Whose very Chiefs , convict , were never freed , Nay , we have seen their Sacrificers bleed ! Accusers Infamy is urg'd in vain , While in the bounds of Sense they did contain , But soon they launcht into th' unfathom'd Tide , And in the Depths they knew disdain'd to Ride , For probable Discoveries to dispence , Was thought below a pention'd Evidence ; Mere Truth was dull , nor suited with the port Of pamper'd Corah , when advanc't to Court. No less than Wonders now they will impose , And Projects void of Grace or Sense disclose . Such was the Charge on pious Michal brought , Michal that ne'er was cruel e'en in thought , The best of Queens , and most obedient Wife , Impeach'd of curst Designs on David's Life ! His Life , the Theam of her eternal Pray'r , 'T is scarce so much his Guardian Angels Care. Not Summer Morns such Mildness can disclose , The Hermon Lilly , nor the Sharon Rose . Neglecting each vain Pomp of Majesty , Transported Michal feeds her thoughts on high . She lives with Angels , and as Angels do , Quits Heav'n sometimes to bless the World below . Where cherisht by her Bounties plenteous Spring , Reviving Widows smile , and Orphans sing . Oh! when rebellious Israel's Crimes at height , Are threatned with her Lord's approaching Fate , The Piety of Michal then remain In Heav'ns Remembrance , and prolong his Reign . Less Desolation did the Pest persue , That from Dan's limits to Beersheba slew , Less fatal the repeated Wars of Tyre , And less Ierusalem's avenging Fire . With gentler terrour these our State o'erran , Than since our Evidencing Days began ! On every Cheek a pale Confusion sat , Continu'd Fear beyond the worst of Fate ! Trust was no more , Art , Science useless made , All occupations lost but Corah's Trade . Mean while a Guard on modest Corah wait , If not for safety needfull yet for State. Well might he deem each Peer and Prince his Slave : And Lord it o'er the Tribes which he could save : E'en Vice in him was Vertue — what sad Fate But for his Honesty had seiz'd our State ? And with what Tyranny had we been curst , Had Corah never prov'd a Villain first ? T' have told his knowledge of th' Intrigue in gross Had been alas to our Deponent's loss : The travell'd Levite had th' Experience got , To husband well , and make the best of 's Plot ; And therefore like an Evidence of skill , With wise Reserves secur'd his Pension still ; Nor quite of future Pow'r himself bereft , But Limbo's large for unbelievers left . For now his Writ such Reverence had got , 'T was worse than Plotting to suspect his Plot. Some were so well convinc't , they made no doubt , Themselves to help the founder'd Swearers out . Some had their Sense impos'd on by their Fear , But more for Int'rest sake believe and swear : E'en to that height with some the Frenzy grew , They rag'd to find their danger not prove true . Yet , than all these a viler Crew remain , Who with Achitophel the Cry maintain ; Not urg'd by Fear , nor through misguided Sense , ( Blind Zeal , and starving Need had some pretence ) But for the Good Old Cause that did excite Th' Original Rebells Wiles , Revenge and Spight . These raise the Plot to have the Scandal thrown Upon the bright Successor of the Crown , Whose Vertue with such wrongs they had persu'd , As seem'd all hope of pardon to exclude . Thus , while on private Ends their Zeal is built The cheated Crowd applaud and share their Guilt . Such Practices as These , too gross to lye Long unobserv'd by each discerning Eye , The more judicious Israelites Unspell'd , Though still the Charm the giddy Rabble held , Ev'n Absalom amidst the dazling Beams Of Empire , and Ambitions flattering Dreams , Perceives the Plot ( too foul to be excus'd ) To aid Designs , no less pernicious , us'd . And ( Filial Sense yet striving in his Breast ) Thus to Achitophel his Doubts exprest . Why are my Thoughts upon a Crown employ'd , Which once obtain'd , can be but half Enjoy'd ? Not so when Virtue did my Arms require , And to my Father's Wars I flew Intire . My Regal Pow'r how will my Foes resent , When I my Self have scarce my own Consent ? Give me a Son 's unblemisht Truth again , Or quench the Sparks of Duty that remain . How slight to force a Throne that Legions guard The Task to me ; to prove Unjust how hard ! And if th' imagin'd Guilt thus wound my Thought , What will it when the tragick Scene is wrought ? Dire War must first be conjur'd from below , The Realm we 'd Rule we first must Overthrow . And when the Civil Furies are on wing That blind and undistinguisht Slaughters fling , Who knows what impious chance may reach the King ? Or rather let me Perish in the Strife , Than have my Crown the Price of David's Life ! Or if the Tempest of the War he stand , In Peace , some vile officious Villain 's hand His Soul 's anointed Temple may invade , Or , prest by clamorous Crowds , my Self be made His Murtherer ; rebellious Crowds , whose Guilt Shall dread his vengeance till his Bloud be spilt . Which if my filial Tenderness oppose , Since to the Empire by their Arms I rose , Those very Arms on Me shall be employ'd , A new Usurper Crown'd , and I Destroy'd : The same Pretence of Publick Good will hold , A new Achitophels be found , as bold To urge the needfull Change , perhaps the Old. He said . The Statesman with a Smile replies , ( A smile that did his rising Spleen disguise . ) My thoughts presum'd our labours at an End , And are we still with Conscience to contend ? Whose Want in Kings , as needfull is allow'd , As 't is for them to find it in the Crowd . Far in the doubtfull Passage you are gone , And onely can be Safe by pressing on . The Crowns true Heir , a Prince severe , and wise , Has view'd your Motions long with Jealous Eyes : Your Persons Charms , your more prevailing Arts , And mark't your Progress in the Peoples Hearts , Whose Patience is th' effect of stinted Pow'r , But treasures Vengeance for the fatal hour . And if remote the Perill He can bring , Your Present Danger 's greater from the King. Let not a Parent 's name deceive your Sense , Nor trust the Father in a Jealous Prince ! Your trivial Faults if he could so resent , To doom you little less than Banishment , What rage must your Presumption Since inspire ? Against his Orders your Return from Tyre ? Nor onely so , but with a Pomp more high , And open Court of Popularity , The Factious Tribes — And this Reproof from Thee ? ( The Prince replies ) O Statesman's winding Skill , They first Condemn that first Advis'd the Ill ! Illustrious Youth ( return'd Achitophel ) Misconstrue not the Words that mean you well . The Course you steer I worthy Blame conclude , But 't is because you leave it Unpersu'd . A Monarch's Crown with Fate surrounded lyes , Who reach , lay hold on Death that miss the Prize . Did you for this expose your self to Show , And to the Crowd bow popularly low ? For this your Glorious Progress next ordain , With Chariots , Horsemen , and a numerous Train . With Fame before you like the Morning Starr , And Shouts of Joy saluting from afarr . Oh from the Heights you 've reach't but take a View , Scarce leading Lucifer cou'd Fall like You ! And must I here my Ship-wrackt Arts bemoan ? Have I for this so oft made Israel groan ! Your single Interest with the Nation weigh'd , And turn'd the Scale where your Desires were laid ? Ev'n when at Helm a Course so dang'rous mov'd To Land your Hopes , as my Removal prov'd . I not dispute ( the Royal youth replyes ) The known Perfection of your Policies , Nor in Achitophel yet grudge , or blame , The Priviledge that Statesmen ever claim ; Who private Interest never yet persu'd , But still pretended 't was for Others good : What Polititian yet e'er scap't his Fate , Who saving his own Neck not sav'd the State ? From hence on ev'ry hum'rous Wind that veer'd , With shifted Sayls a sev'ral Course you Steer'd . What Form of Sway did David e'er persue That seem'd like Absolute but sprung from You ? Who at your instance quasht each penal Law , That kept dissenting factious Iews in awe ; And who suspends fixt Laws , may abrogate , That done , form New , and so enslave the State. Ev'n Property , whose Champion now you stand , And seem for this the Idol of the Land , Did ne'er sustain such Violence before , As when your Counsel shut the Royal Store ; Advice , that Ruine to whole Tribes procur'd , But secret kept till your own Banks secur'd . Recount with this the tripple Cov'nant broke , And Israel fitted for a Foreign Yoke , Nor here your Counsels fatal Progress staid , But sent our levied Pow'rs to Pharaoh's Aid . Hence Tyre and Israel , low in Ruins laid , And Egypt once their Scorn , their common Terrour made . Ev'n yet of such a Season we can dream , When Royal Rights you made your darling Theam . For Pow'r unlimited could Reasons draw , And place Prerogative above the Law ; Which on your fall from Office grew Unjust , The Laws made King , the King a Slave in Trust : Whom with State-craft ( to Int'rest onely True ) You now Accuse of ills contriv'd by You. To this Hell's Agent — Royal Youth fix here , Let Int'rest be the Star by which I Steer . Hence to repose your Trust in Me was wise , Whose Int'rest most in your Advancement lies . A Tye so firm as always will avail When Friendship , Nature and Religion fail ; On ours the Safety of the Crowd depends , Secure the Crowd and we obtain our Ends , Whom I will cause so far our Guilt to share Till they are made our Champions by their Fear . What Opposition can your Rival bring , While Sanhedrims are Jealous of the King ? His Strength as yet in David's Friendship lies , And what can David's Self without Supplies ? Who with Exclusive Bills must now Dispence , Debarr the Heir , or Starve in his Defence . Conditions which our Elders ne'er will quit , And David's Justice never can admit . Or forc't by Wants his Brother to betray , To your Ambition next he clears the Way ; For if Succession once to Nought they bring , Their next Advance removes the present King : Persisting else his Senates to dissolve , In equal Hazzard shall his Reign involve . Our Tribes , whom Pharaoh's Pow'r so much Alarms , Shall rise without their Prince t' oppose his Arms ; Nor boots it on what Cause at first they Joyn , Their Troops once up , are Tools for our Design . At least such subtle Covenants shall be made , Till Peace it self is War in Masquerade . Associations of Mysterious Sense , Against , but seeming for the King's Defence : Ev'n on their Courts of Justice Fetters draw , And from our Agents Muzzle up their Law. By which , a Conquest if we fail to make , 'T is a drawn Game at worst , and we secure our Stake . He said , and for the dire Success depends On various Sects , by common Guilt made Friends . Whose Heads , though ne'er so diff'ring in their Creed , I' th point of Treason yet were well Agreed . 'Mongst these , Extorting Ishban first appears , Persu'd b' a meager Troop of Bankrupt Heirs . Blest Times , when Ishban , He whose Occupation So long has been to Cheat , Reformes the Nation ! Ishban of Conscience suited to his Trade , As good a Saint as Usurer e'er made . Yet Mammon has not so engrost him quite , But Belial lays as large a Claim of Spight ; Who , for those Pardons from his Prince he draws , Returns Reproaches , and cries up the Cause . That Year in which the City he did sway , He left Rebellion in a hopefull way . Yet his Ambition once was found so bold , To offer Talents of Extorted Gold ; Cou'd David's Wants have So been brib'd to shame And scandalize our Peerage with his Name ; For which , his dear Sedition he 'd forswear , And e'en turn Loyal to be made a Peer . Next him , let Railing Rabsheka have place , So full of Zeal He has no need of Grace ; A Saint that can both Flesh and Spirit use , Alike haunt Conventicles and the Stews : Of whom the Question difficult appears , If most i' th' Preachers or the Bawds Arrears . What Caution cou'd appear too much in Him That keeps the Treasure of Ierusalem ! Let David's Brother but approach the Town , Double our Guards , ( He cries ) We are undone . Protesting that He dares not Sleep in 's Bed Lest he shou'd Rise next Morn without his Head , Next these , a Troop of buisy Spirits press , Of little Fortunes , and of Conscience Less ; With them the Tribe , whose Luxury had drain'd Their Banks , in former Sequestrations gaind : Who Rich and Great by past Rebellions grew , And long to fish the troubled Waves anew . Some future Hopes , some present Payment draws , To Sell their Conscience and espouse the Cause , Such Stipends those vile Hirelings best befit , Priests without Grace , and Poets without Wit. Shall that false Hebronite escape our Curse , Iudas that keeps the Rebells Pension-Purse ; Iudas that pays the Treason-writers Fee , Iudas that well deserves his Namesake's Tree ; Who at Ierusalem's own Gates Erects His College for a Nursery of Sects . Young Prophets with an early Care secures , And with the Dung of his own Arts manures . What have the Men of Hebron here to doe ? What part in Israel's promis'd Land have you ? Here Phaleg the Lay Hebronite is come , 'Cause like the rest he could not live at Home ; Who from his own Possessions cou'd not drain An Omer even of Hebronitish Grain , Here Struts it like a Patriot , and talks high Of Injur'd Subjects , alter'd Property : An Emblem of that buzzing Insect Just , That mounts the Wheell , and thinks she raises Dust ; Can dry Bones Live ? or Skeletons produce The Vital Warmth of Cuckoldizing Juice ? Slim Phaleg cou'd , and at the Table fed , Return'd the gratefull product to the Bed. A Waiting-man to Trav'ling Nobles chose , He , his own Laws , wou'd Sawcily impose ; Till Bastinado'd back again he went , To Learn those Manners he to Teach was sent , Chastiz'd , he ought to have retreated Home , But He reads Politicks to Absalom . For never Hebronite though Kickt and Scorn'd , To his own Country willingly return'd . — But leaving famish'd Phaleg to be fed , And to talk Treason for his daily Bread , Let Hebron , nay let Hell produce a Man So made for Mischief as Ben-Iochanan , A Iew of Humble Parentage was He , By Trade a Levite though of low Degree : His Pride no higher than the Desk aspir'd , But for the Drudgery of Priests was hir'd To Reade and Pray in Linen Ephod brave , And pick up single Sheckles from the Grave . Married at last , and finding Charge come faster , He cou'd not live by God , but chang'd his Master : Inspir'd by Want , was made a Factious Tool , They Got a Villain , and we lost a Fool. Still Violent , whatever Cause he took , But most against the Party he forsook , For Renegadoes , who ne'er turn by halves , Are bound in Conscience to be double Knaves . So this Prose-Prophet took most monstrous Pains , To let his Masters see he earn'd his Gains . But as the Dev'l ows all his Imps a Shame , He chose th' Apostate for his proper Theme ; With little Pains he made the Picture true , And from Reflexion took the Rogue he drew . A wondrous Work to prove the Iewish Nation , In every Age a Murmuring Generation ; To trace 'em from their Infancy of Sinning , And shew 'em Factious from their First Beginning . To prove they cou'd Rebell , and Rail , and Mock , Much to the Credit of the Chosen Flock ; A strong Authority which must Convince , That Saints own no Allegiance to their Prince . As 't is a Leading-Card to make a Whore , To prove her Mother had turn'd up before . But , tell me , did the Drunken Patriot Bless The Son that shew'd his Father's Nakedness ? Such Thanks the present Church thy Pen will give , Which proves Rebellion was so Primitive . Must Ancient Failings be Examples made , Then Murtherers from Cain may learn their Trade ? As thou the Heathen and the Saint hast drawn , Methinks th' Apostate was the better man : And thy hot Father ( waving my respect ) Not of a mother Church , but of a Sect. And Such he needs must be of thy Inditing , This Comes of drinking Asses milk and writing . If Balack should be cal'd to leave his place ( As profit is the loudest call of Grace , ) His Temple dispossess'd of one , wou'd be Replenish'd with seven Devils more by thee . Levi , thou art a load , I 'll lay thee down , And shew Rebellion bare , without a Gown ; Poor Slaves in metre , dull and adle-pated , Who Rhime below ev'n David's Psalms translated . Some in my Speedy pace I must outrun , As lame Mephibosheth the Wisard's Son : To make quick way I 'll Leap o'er heavy blocks , Shun rotten Vzza as I wou'd the Pox ; And hasten Og and Doeg to rehearse , Two Fools that Crutch their Feeble sense on Verse ; Who by my Muse , to all succeeding times , Shall live in spight of their own Dogrell Rhimes . Doeg , though without knowing how or why , Made still a blund'ring kind of Melody ; Spurd boldly on , and Dash'd through Thick and Thin , Through Sense and Non-sense , never out nor in ; Free from all meaning , whether good or bad , And in one word , Heroically mad : He was too warm on Picking-work to dwell , But Faggotted his Notions as they fell , And if they Rhim'd and Rattl'd all was well . Spightfull he is not , though he wrote a Satyr , For still there goes some thinking to ill-Nature : He needs no more than Birds and Beasts to think , All his occasions are to eat and drink . If he call Rogue and Rascal from a Garrat , He means you no more Mischief than a Parat : The words for Friend and Foe alike were made , To Fetter 'em in Verse is all his Trade . For Almonds he 'll cry Whore to his own Mother And call Young Absalom King David's Brother . Let him be Gallows-Free by my consent , And nothing suffer since he nothing meant ; Hanging Supposes humane Soul and reason , This Animal's below committing Treason : Shall he be hang'd who never cou'd Rebell ? That 's a preferment for Achitophel . The Woman that Committed Buggary , Was rightly Sentenc'd by the Law to die ; But 't was hard Fate that to the Gallows led , The Dog that never heard the Statute read . Railing in other Men may be a crime , But ought to pass for mere instinct in him ; Instinct he follows and no farther knows , For to write Verse with him is to Transprose . 'T were pity treason at his Door to lay , Who makes Heaven's gate a Lock to its own Key : Let him rayl on , let his invective muse Have four and Twenty letters to abuse , Which if he Jumbles to one line of Sense , Indict him of a Capital Offence . In Fire-works give him leave to vent his spight , Those are the onely Serpents he can write ; The height of his Ambition is we know But to be Master of a Puppet-show , On that one Stage his works may yet appear , And a months Harvest keeps him all the Year . Now stop your noses Readers , all and some , For here 's a tun of Midnight-work to come , Og from a Treason Tavern rowling home . Round as a Globe , and Liquor'd ev'ry chink , Goodly and Great he Sayls behind his Link ; With all this Bulk there 's nothing lost in Og For ev'ry inch that is not Fool is Rogue : A Monstrous mass of foul corrupted matter , As all the Devils had spew'd to make the batter . When wine has given him courage to Blaspheme , He Curses God , but God before Curst him ; And if man cou'd have reason none has more , That made his Paunch so rich and him so poor . With wealth he was not trusted , for Heav'n knew What 't was of Old to pamper up a Iew ; To what wou'd he on Quail and Pheasant swell , That ev'n on Tripe and Carrion cou'd rebell ? But though Heav'n made him poor , ( with rev'rence speaking , He never was a Poet of God's making ; The Midwife laid her hand on his Thick Skull , With this Prophetick blessing — Be thou Dull ; Drink , Swear and Roar , forbear no lew'd delight Fit for thy Bulk , doe any thing but write : Thou art of lasting Make like thoughtless men , A strong Nativity — but for the Pen ; Eat Opium , mingle Arsenick in thy Drink , Still thou mayst live avoiding Pen and Ink. I see , I see 't is Counsell given in vain , For Treason botcht in Rhime will be thy bane ; Rhime is the Rock on which thou art to wreck , 'T is fatal to thy Fame and to thy Neck : Why should thy Metre good King David blast ? A Psalm of his will Surely be thy last . Dar'st thou presume in verse to meet thy foes , Thou whom the Penny Pamphlet foil'd in prose ? Doeg , whom God for Mankinds mirth has made , O'er-tops thy tallent in thy very Trade ; Doeg to thee , thy paintings are so Course , A Poet is , though he 's the Poets Horse . A Double Noose thou on thy Neck dost pull , For Writing Treason , and for Writing dull ; To die for Faction is a Common evil , But to be hang'd for Non-sense is the Devil : Had'st thou the Glories of thy King exprest , Thy praises had been Satyr at the best ; But thou in Clumsy verse , unlickt , unpointed , Hast Shamefully defi'd the Lord 's Anointed : I will not rake the Dunghill of thy Crimes , For who wou'd reade thy Life that reads thy rhimes ? But of King David's Foes be this the Doom , May all be like the Young-man Absalom ; And for my Foes may this their Blessing be , To talk like Doeg , and to Write like Thee . Achitophel each Rank , Degree and Age , For various Ends neglects not to Engage ; The Wise and Rich for Purse and Counsell brought , The Fools and Beggars for their Number sought : Who yet not onely on the Town depends , For Ev'n in Court the Faction had its Friends ; These thought the Places they possest too small , And in their Hearts wisht Court and King to fall : Whose Names the Muse disdaining holds i' th' Dark , Thrust in the Villain Herd without a Mark ; With Parasites and Libell-spawning Imps , Intriuging Fopps , dull Jesters and worse Pimps . Disdain the Rascall Rabble to persue , Their Sett Caballs are yet a viler Crew ; See where involv'd in Common Smoak they sit ; Some for our Mirth , some for our Satyr fit : These Gloomy , Thoughtfull and on Mischief bent , While those for mere good Fellowship frequent Th' Appointed Clubb can let Sedition pass , Sense , Non-sence , any thing t' employ the Glass ; And who believe in their dull honest Hearts , The Rest talk Treason but to shew their Parts ; Who n'er had Wit or Will for Mischief yet , But pleas'd to be reputed of a Set. But in the Sacred Annals of our Plot , Industrious AROD never be forgot : The Labours of this Midnight-Magistrate , May Vie with Corah's to preserve the State ; In search of Arms , He fail'd not to lay hold On War's most powerfull dang'rous Weapon , GOLD . And last , to take from Iebusites , all Odds , Their Altars pillag'd , stole their very Gods ; Oft wou'd He Cry , when Treasure He surpriz'd , 'T is Baalish Gold in David's Coyn Disguiz'd . Which to his House with richer Relicts came , While Lumber Idols onely fed the Flame : For our wise Rabble ne'er took pains t' enquire , What 't was he burnt , so 't made a rousing Fire . With which our Elder was enricht no more Than False Gehazi with the Syrian's Store ; So Poor , that when our Choosing-Tribes were met , Ev'n for his Stinking Votes He ran in Debt ; For Meat the Wicked , and as Authours think , The Saints He Chous'd for His Electing Drink ; Thus , ev'ry Shift and subtle Method past , And All to be no Zaken at the Last . Now , rais'd on Tyre's sad Ruines , Pharaoh's Pride Soar'd high , his Legions threatning far and wide ; As when a battring Storm ingendred high , By Winds upheld , hangs hov'ring in the Skye , Is gaz'd upon by ev'ry trembling Swain , This for his Vineyard fears , and that his Grain ; For blooming Plants , and Flowr's new Opening , These For Lambs ean'd lately , and far-lab'ring Bees ; To Guard his Stock each to the Gods does call , Uncertain where the Fire-charg'd Clouds will Fall : Ev'n so the doubtfull Nations watch his Arms , With Terrour each expecting his Alarms . Where Iudah , where was now , thy Lyons Roar ? Thou onely cou'dst the Captive Lands restore ; But Thou , with inbred Broils , and Faction prest , From Egypt needst a Guardian with the Rest. Thy Prince from Sanhedrims no Trust allow'd , Too much the Representers of the Crow'd , Who for their own Defence give no Supply , But what the Crowns Prerogatives must buy : As if their Monarch's Rights to violate , More needfull were than to preserve the State ! From present Dangers they divert their Care , And all their Fears are of the Royal Heir ; Whom now the reigning Malice of his Foes , Unjudg'd wou'd Sentence , and e'er Crown'd , Depose . Religion the Pretence , but their Decree To barr his Reign , whate'er his Faith shall be ! By Sanhedrims , and clam'rous Crowds , thus prest What passions rent the Righteous David's Breast ? Who knows not how t' oppose , or to comply , Unjust to Grant , and dangerous to Deny ! How near in this dark Juncture Israel's Fate , Whose Peace one sole Expedient cou'd create , Which yet th' extremest Virtue did require , Ev'n of that Prince whose Downfall they conspire ! His Absence David does with Tears advise , T' appease their Rage , Undaunted He Complies ; Thus he who prodigal of Bloud , and Ease , A Royal Life expos'd to Winds and Seas , At once contending with the Waves and Fire , And heading Danger in the Wars of Tyre , Inglorious now forsakes his Native Sand , And like an Exile quits the promis'd Land ! Our Monarch scarce from pressing Tears refrains , And painfully his Royal State maintains , Who now embracing on th' extremest Shore Almost Revokes what he Injoyn'd before : Concludes at last more Trust to be allow'd , To Storms and Seas , than to the raging Crow'd ! Forbear , rash Muse , the parting Scene to draw , With Silence charm'd as deep as theirs that saw ! Not onely our attending Nobles weep , But hardy Saylers swell with Tears the Deep ! The Tyde restrain'd her Course , and more amaz'd , The Twyn-Stars on the Royal Brothers gaz'd : While this sole Fear — Does Trouble to our suff'ring Heroe bring Lest next the Popular Rage oppress the King ! Thus parting , each for th' others Danger griev'd , The Shore the King , and Seas the Prince receiv'd . Go injur'd Heroe while propitious Gales , Soft as thy Consorts breath inspire thy Sails ; Well may She trust her Beauties on a Flood , Where thy Triumphant Fleets so oft have rode ! Safe on thy Breast reclin'd her Rest be deep , Rockt like a Nereid by the Waves asleep ; While happiest Dreams her Fancy entertain , And to Elysian Fields convert the Main ! Go injur'd Heroe while the Shores of Tyre , At thy Approach so Silent shall admire , Who on thy Thunder still their thoughts imploy , And greet thy Landing with a trembling Joy. On Heroes thus the Prophet's Fate is thrown , Admir'd by ev'ry Nation but their Own ; Yet while our factious Iews his Worth deny , Their Aking Conscience gives their Tongue the Lye. Ev'n in the worst of Men the noblest Parts Confess him , and he Triumphs in their Hearts , Whom to his King the best Respects commend Of Subject , Souldier , Kinsman , Prince and Friend ; All Sacred Names of most divine Esteem , And to Perfection all sustain'd by Him , Wise , Just and Constant , Courtly without Art , Swift to discern and to reward Desert ; No Hour of His in fruitless Ease destroy'd , But on the noblest Subjects still employ'd : Whose steddy Soul ne'er learnt to Separate Between his Monarch's Int'rest and the State , But heaps those Blessings on the Royal Head , Which He well knows must be on Subjects shed . On what Pretence cou'd then the Vulgar Rage Against his Worth , and native Rights engage ? Religious Fears their Argument are made , Religious Fears his Sacred Rights invade ! Of future Superstition They complain , And Iebusitick Worship in His Reign ; With such Alarms his Foes the Crowd deceive , With Dangers fright , which not Themselves believe . Since nothing can our Sacred Rites remove , Whate'er the Faith of the Successour prove : Our Iews their Ark shall undisturb'd retain , At least while their Religion is their Gain , Who know by old Experience Baal's Commands Not onely claim'd their Conscience , but their Lands ; They grutch God's Tythes , how therefore shall they yield An Idol full possession of the Field ? Grant such a Prince enthron'd , we must confess The People's Suff'rings than that Monarch's less , Who must to hard Conditions still be bound , And for his Quiet with the Crowd compound ; Or shou'd his thoughts to Tyranny incline , Where are the means to compass the design ? Our Crowns Revenues are too short a Store , And Jealous Sanedrims wou'd give no more ! As vain our Fears of Egypt's potent Aid , Not so has Pharoah learnt Ambition's Trade , Nor ever with such Measures can comply , As Shock the common Rules of Policy ; None dread like Him the Growth of Israel's King , And He alone sufficient Aids can bring ; Who knows that Prince to Egypt can give Law , That on our Stubborn Tribes his Yoak cou'd draw , At such profound Expence He has not stood , Nor dy'd for this his Hands so deep in Blood ; Wou'd nere through Wrong and Right his Progress take , Grudge his own Rest , and keep the World awake , To fix a Lawless Prince on Iudah's Throne , First to Invade our Rights , and then his Own ; His dear-gaind Conquests cheaply to despoil , And Reap the Harvest of his Crimes and Toil. We grant his Wealth Vast as our Ocean's Sand , And Curse its Fatal Influence on our Land , Which our Brib'd Iews so num'rously pertake , That ev'n an Host his Pensioners wou'd make ; From these Deceivers our Divisions spring , Our Weakness , and the Growth of Egypt's King ; These with pretended Friendship to the State , Our Crowd's Suspition of their Prince Create , Both pleas'd and frightend with the specious Cry , To Guard their Sacred Rights and Property ; To Ruin , thus , the Chosen Flock are Sold , While Wolves are tane for Guardians of the Fold ; Seduc'd by these , we groundlesly complain , And loath the Manna of a gentle Reign : Thus our Fore-fathers crooked Paths are trod , We trust our Prince , no more then They their God. But all in vain our Reasoning Prophets Preach , To those whom sad Experience ne're cou'd Teach , Who can commence new Broils in Bleeding Scars , And fresh Remembrance of Intestine Wars ; When the same Houshold Mortal Foes did yeild , And Brothers stain'd with Brothers Blood the Feild ; When Sons Curst Steel the Fathers Gore did Stain , And Mothers Mourn'd for Sons by Fathers Slain ! When thick , as Egypt's Locusts on the Sand , Our Tribes lay Slaughter'd through the promis'd Land , Whose few Survivers with worse Fate remain , To drag the Bondage of a Tyrants Reign : Which Scene of Woes , unknowing We renew , And madly , ev'n those ills we Fear , persue ; VVhile Pharoah laughs at our Domestick Broils , And safely crowds his Tents with Nations Spoils . Yet our fierce Sanedrim in restless Rage , Against our absent Heroe still engage , And chiefly urge , ( such did their frenzy prove , ) The only Suit their Prince forbids to move , VVhich till obtain'd , they cease Affairs of State , And real Dangers wave , for groundless Hate . Long David's Patience waits Relief to bring , VVith all th' Indulgence of a lawful King , Expecting till the troubled VVaves wou'd cease , But found the raging Billows still increase . The Crowd , whose Insolence Forbearance swells , VVhile he forgives too far , almost Rebels . At last his deep Resentments silence broke , Th' Imperial Pallace shook , while thus He spoke , Then Justice wake , and Rigour take her time , For Lo ! Our Mercy is become our Crime . VVhile haulting Punishment her stroke delays , Our Sov'reign Right , Heav'ns Sacred Trust , decays ; For whose support ev'n Subjects Interest calls , VVo ! to that Kingdom where the Monarch Falls . That Prince who yields the least of Regal Sway , So far his Peoples Freedom does Betray . Right lives by Law , and Law subsists by Pow'r Disarm the Shepherd , Wolves the Flock devour . Hard Lot of Empire o're a stubborn Race , Which Heav'n it Self in vain has try'd with Grace ! When will our Reasons long-charm'd Eyes unclose , And Israel judge between her Friends and Foes ? When shall we see expir'd Deceivers Sway , And credit what our God and Monarchs say ? Dissembled Patriots brib'd with Egypts Gold , Ev'n Sanedrims in blind Obedience hold ; Those Patriots Falshood in their Actions see , And judge by the pernicious Fruit the Tree ; If ought for which so loudly they declaim Religion , Laws , and Freedom were their Aim ; Our Senates in due Methods they had led , T' avoid those Mischeifs which they seem'd to dread , But first er'e yet they propt the sinking State , T' impeach and charge , as urg'd by private Hate ; Proves that they ne're beleiv'd the Fears they prest , But Barb'rously destroy'd the Nations Rest ! O! Whither will ungovern'd Senates drive , And to what Bounds licentious Votes arrive ? When their Injustice We are prest to share , The Monarch urg'd t'exclude the lawful Heir ; Are Princes thus distinguish'd from the Crowd , And this the Priviledge of Royal Blood ? But grant we shou'd Confirm the Wrongs they press , His Sufferings yet were , than the Peoples , less ; Condem'd for Life the Murdring Sword to weild , And on their Heirs entail a Bloody Feild : Thus madly their own Freedom they betray , And for th' Oppression which they fear , make way ; Succession fixt by Heav'n the Kingdoms Bar , Which once dissolv'd , admits the Flood of War ; Wast , Rapine , Spoil , without th● Assault begin , And our mad Tribes Supplant the Fence within . Since then their Good they will not understand , 'T is time to take the Monarchs Pow'r in hand ; Authority , and Force to joyn with Skill , And save the Lunaticks against their Will. The same rough Means that swage the Crowd , appease Our Senates raging with the Crowds Disease . Henceforth unbiass'd Measures let 'em draw From no false Gloss , but Genuine Text of Law ; Nor urge those Crimes upon Religions score Themselves so much , in Jebusites Abhor . Whom Laws convict ( and only they ) shall Bleed , Nor Pharisees by Pharisees be Freed . Impartial Justice from our Throne shall Shou'r , All shall have Right , and We our Sov'reign Pow'r . He said , th'Attendants heard with awful Joy , And glad Presages their fixt Thoughts employ ; From Hebron now the suffering Heir Return'd , A Realm that long with Civil Discor'd Mournd ; Till his Approach , like some Arriving God , Compos'd , and heal'd the place of his Aboad ; The Deluge checkt that to Iudea spread , And stopt Sedition at the Fountain's Head. Thus in forgiving David's Paths he drives , And chas'd from Israel , Israels Peace contrives . The Feild confest his Pow'r in Arms before , And Seas proclaim'd his Tryumphs to the Shore ; As nobly has his Sway in Hebron shown , How fit t' Inherit Godlike Davids Throne ? Through Sion's-Streets his glad Arrivals spread , And Conscious Faction shrinks her snaky head ; His Train their Sufferings think o'repaid , to see The Crowds Applause with Vertue once agree . Success charms All , but Zeal for Worth distrest A Virtue proper to the Brave and Best ; 'Mongst whom was Iothran , Iothran always bent To serve the Crown and Loyal by Descent . Whose Constancy so Firm , and Conduct Just , Deserv'd at once Two Royal Masters Trust ; Who Tyre's proud Arms had Manfully withstood On Seas , and gather'd Lawrels from the Flood Of Learning , yet no Portion was deny'd , Friend to the Muses , and the Muses Pride . Nor can Benaiah's VVorth forgotten lie , Of steddy Soul when Publick Storms were high ; VVhose Conduct , while the Moor fierce Onsets made , Secur'd at once our Honour & our Trade . Such were the Chiefs , who most his Suff'rings mourn'd , And viewd with silent Joy the Prince return'd ; VVhile those that sought his Absence to Betray , Press first their Nauseous False Respects to pay ; Him still th' officious Hypocrites Molest , And with malicious Duty break his Rest. VVhile real Transports thus his Friends Employ , And Foes are Loud in their dissembled Joy , His Tryumphs so resounded far and near , Mist not his Young Ambitious Rival's Ear ; And as when joyful Hunters clam'rous Train , Some Slumbring Lion VVakes in Moab's Plain , VVho oft had forc'd the bold Assailants Yeild , And scatter'd his Persuers through the Feild , Disdaining , furls his Main , and tears the Ground , His Eyes enflaming all the Desart Round , With Roar of Seas directs his Chasers Way , Provokes from far , and dares them to the Fray ; Such Rage storm'd now in Absalom's fierce Breast , Such Indignation his fir'd Eyes Confest ; Where now was the Instructer of his Pride ? Slept the Old Pilot in so rough a Tide ? Whos 's Wiles had from the happy Shore betray'd , And thus on Shelves the cred'lous Youth convey'd ; In deep revolving Thoughsts He weighs his State , Secure of Craft , nor doubts to baffle Fate , At least , if his storm'd Bark must go adrift , To baulk his Charge , and for himself to shift , In which his dextrous Wit had oft been shown , And in the wreck of Kingdoms sav'd his own ; But now with more then Common Danger prest , Of various Resolutions stands possest , Perceives the Crowds unstable Zeal decay , Least their Recanting Chief the Cause betray , Who on a Father's Grace his Hopes may ground , And for his Pardon with their Heads compound . Him therefore , e're his Fortune slip her Time , The Statesman Plots t' engage in some bold Crime Past Pardon , whether to Attempt his Bed , Or Threat with open Arms the Royal Head , Or other daring Method , and Unjust , That may secure him in the Peoples Trust. But failing thus t' ensnare him , nor secure How long his foil'd Ambition may endure , Plots next to lay him by , as past his Date , And try some new Pretenders luckier Fate ; Whose Hopes with equal Toil he wou'd persue , Nor cares what Claimer's Crownd , except the True. Wake Absalom , approaching Ruin shun , And see , O see , for whom thou art Undone ! How are thy Honours and thy Fame betray'd , The Property of desp'rate Villains made ? Lost Pow'r and Conscious Fears their Crimes Create , And Guilt in them was little less than Fate ; But why shou'dst Thou , from ev'ry Grievance free , Forsake thy Vineyards for their Stormy Sea ? For Thee did Canaan's Milk and Honey flow , Love drest Thy Bow'rs , & Lawrels sought thy Brow , Preferment , Wealth aud Pow'r thy Vassals were , And of a Monarch all things but the Care. Oh shou'd our Crimes , again , that Curse draw down , And Rebel-Arms once more attempt the Crown , Sure Ruin waits unhappy Absalon , Alike by Conquest or Defeat undone ; VVho cou'd relentless see such Youth and Charms ; Expire with wretched Fate in Impious Armes ? A Prince so form'd with Earth's , & Heav'ns Applause ; To Tryumph ore Crown'd Heads in David's Cause : Or grant him Victor , still his Hopes must fail , VVho , Conquering , wou'd not for himself prevail ; The Faction whom He trusts for future Sway , Him and the Publique wou'd alike Betray ; Amongst themselves devide the Captive State , And found their Hydra-Empire in his Fate ! Thus having beat the Clouds with painful Flight , The pitty'd Youth , with Scepters in his Sight ; ( So have their Cruel Politicks Decreed , ) Must by that Crew that made him Guilty , Bleed ! For cou'd their Pride brook any Prince's Sway , Whom but mild David wou'd they choose t' Obey ? VVho once at such a gentle Reign Repine , The Fall of Monarchy of self Design ; From Hate to That their Reformations spring , And David not their Grievance , but the King. Seiz'd now with pannick Fear the Faction lies , Least this clear Truth strike Absaloms charm'd Eyes , Least He percieve , from long Enchantment free , VVhat all , beside the flatter'd Youth , must see . But whate're doubts his troubled Bosome swell , Fair Carriage still became Achitophel . Who now an envious Festival enstalls , And to survey their Strength the Faction calls , Which Fraud , Religious Worship too must Guild ; But oh how weakly does Sedition Build ? For Lo ! the Royal Mandate Issues forth , Dashing at once their Treason , Zeal , and Mirth ! So have I seen disastrous Chance Invade , Where careful Emmits had their Forrage laid , Whether fierce Vulcan's Rage , the Furzy Plain Had seiz'd , Engendred by some careless Swain ; Or swelling Neptune lawless Inroads made , And to their Cell of Store his Flood convey'd ; The Common-Wealth broke up distracted go , And in wild Hast their loaded Mates o'rethrow : Ev'n so our scatter'd Guests confus'dly meet , With Boil'd , Bak'd , Roast , all Justling in the Street ; Dejected all , and rufully dismai'd , For Sheckle without Treat , or Treason paid . Seditions dark Eclipse now fainter shows , More bright each Hour the Royal Plannet grows , Of Force the Clouds of Envy to disperse , In kind Conjunction of Assisting Stars . Here lab'ring Muse those Glorious Chiefs relate , That turn'd the doubtful Scale of David's Fate ; The rest of that Illustrious Band rehearse , Immortalliz'd in Lawrell'd Asaph's Verse : Hard Task ! yet will not I thy Flight recall , View Heav'n and then enjoy thy glorious Fall. First Write Bezaliel , whose Illustrious Name Forestals our Praise , and gives his Poet Fame . The Kenites Rocky Province his Command , A barren Limb of Fertile Canaans Land ; Which for its gen'rous Natives yet cou'd be Held Worthy such a President as He ! Bezaliel with each Grace , and Virtue Fraught , Serene his Looks , Serene his Life and Thought , On whom so largly Nature heapt her Store , There scarce remain'd for Arts to give him more ! To Aid the Crown and State his greatest Zeal , His Second Care that Service to Conceal ; Of Dues Observant , Firm in ev'ry Trust , And to the Needy always more than Just. Who Truth from specious falshood can divide , Has all the Gown-mens Skill without their Pride ; Thus crown'd with worth from heights of honour won , Sees all his Glories copyed in his Son , Whose forward Fame should every Muse engage : Whose Youth boasts skill deny'd to others Age. Men , Manners , Language , Books of noblest kind Already are the Conquest of his Mind . Whose Loyalty before its Date was prime ; Nor waited the dull course of rowling Time : The Monster Faction early he dismaid , And David's Cause long since confest his Aid . Brave Abdael o'er the Prophet's School was plac'd ; Abdael with all his Father's Virtue grac'd ; A Heroe , who , while Stars look'd wondring down , Without one Hebrew 's Bloud restor'd the Crown . That Praise was His ; what therefore did remain For following Chiefs , but boldly to maintain That Crown restor'd ; and in this Rank of Fame , Brave Abdael with the First a place must claim . Proceed illustrious , happy Chief , proceed , Foreseize the Garlands for thy Brow decreed , While th' inspir'd Tribe attend with noblest strain To Register the Glories thou shalt gain : For sure , the Dew shall Gilboah's Hills forsake , And Iordan mix his Stream with Sodom's Lake ; Or Seas retir'd their secret Stores disclose , And to the Sun their scaly Brood expose , Or swell'd above the Clifts , their Billows raise , Before the Muses leave their Patron 's Praise . Eliab our next Labour does invite , And hard the Task to doe Eliab right : Long with the royal Wanderer he rov'd , And firm in all the Turns of Fortune prov'd ! Such ancient Service and Desert so large , Well claim'd the Royal Houshold for his Charge . His Age with onely one mild Heiress blest , In all the Bloom of smiling Nature drest , And blest again to see his Flow'r ally'd To David's Stock , and made young Othriel's Bride ! The bright Restorer of his Father's Youth , Devoted to a Son 's and Subject's Truth : Resolv'd to bear that prize of Duty home , So bravely sought ( while sought ) by Absalom . Ah Prince ! th' illustrious Planet of thy Birth , And thy more powerfull Virtue guard thy worth That no Achitophel thy Ruine boast ; Israel too much in one such Wreck has lost . Ev'n Envy must consent to Helon's Worth ; Whose Soul ( though Egypt glories in his Birth ) Cou'd for our Captive-Ark its Zeal retain , And Pharaoh's Altars in their Pomp disdain : To slight his Gods was small ; with nobler pride , He all th' Allurements of his Court defi'd . Whom Profit nor Example cou'd betray , But Israel's Friend and true to David's Sway. What acts of favour in his Province fall ; On Merit he confers , and Freely all . Our List of Nobles next let Amri grace , Whose Merits claim'd the Abethdins high place ; Who , with a Loyalty that did excell , Brought all th' endowments of Achitophel . Sincere was Amri , and not onely knew , But Israel's Sanctions into practice drew ; Our Laws , that did a boundless Ocean seem , Were coasted all , and fathom'd all by Him. No Rabbin speaks like him their mystick Sense , So just , and with such Charms of Eloquence : To whom the double Blessing does belong , With Mose's Inspiration , Aaron's Tongue . Than Sheva , none more loyal Zeal have shown , Wakefull , as Iudah's Lion for the Crown . Who for that Cause still combats in his Age , For which his Youth with danger did engage . In vain our factious Priests the Cant revive , In vain seditious Scribes with Libels strive T' enflame the Crowd , while He with watchfull Eye Observes , and shoots their Treasons as They fly . Their weekly Frauds his keen Replies detect , He undeceives more fast than they infect . So Moses when the Pest on Legions prey'd , Advanc'd his Signal and the Plague was stay'd . Once more , my fainting Muse , thy Pinnions try , And Strengths exhausted store let Love supply . What Tribute , Asaph , shall we render Thee ? We 'll crown thee with a Wreath from thy own Tree ! Thy Lawrel Grove no Envye's flash can blast . The Song of Asaph shall for ever last ! With wonder late Posterity shall dwell On Absalom , and false Achitophel : Thy strains shall be our slumbring Prophets dream , And when our Sion , Virgins sing their Theam . Our Iubilees shall with thy Verse be grac't The Song of Asaph shall for ever last ! How fierce his Satyr loos'd , restrain'd how tame , How tender of th' offending Young man's Fame ! How well his worth , and brave Adventures still'd , Just to his Vertues , to his Errour mild . No Page of thine that fears the strictest view , But teems with just Reproof , or Praise , as due ; Not Eden cou'd a fairer Prospect yield , All Paradise without one barren Field : VVhose VVit the Censure of his Foes has past , The Song of Asaph shall for ever last ! What Praise for such rich Strains shall we allow ? What just Rewards the gratefull Crown bestow ? While Bees in Flow'rs rejoyce , and Flow'rs in Dew , While Stars and Fountains to their Course are true ; While Iudah's Throne , and Sion's Rock stand fast , The Song of Asaph and the Fame shall last . Still Hebrons honour'd happy Soil Retains Our Royal Heroes beauteous dear remains ; Who now sails off with Winds nor Wishes slack , To bring his Suff'rings bright Companion back , But e'er such Transport can our sense employ A bitter grief must poyson half our Joy ; Nor can our Coasts restor'd those Blessings see Without a Bribe to envious Destiny ! Curs'd Sodom's Doom for ever fix the Tyde Where by inglorious Chance the Valiant dy'd . Give not insulting Askalon to know , Nor let Gath's Daughters triumph in our Woe ! No Sailer with the News swell Egypt's Pride , By what inglorious Fate our Valiant dy'd ! Weep Arnon ! Iordan weep thy Fountains dry , While Sion's Rock dissolves for a Supply ! Calm were the Elements , Night's silence deep , The Waves scarce murm'ring , and the Winds asleep ; Yet Fate for Ruine takes so still an hour , And treacherous Sands the Princely Barque devour ; Then Death unworthy seiz'd a gen'rous Race , To Virtues scandal , and the Stars disgrace ! Oh! had th' Indulgent Powr's vouchsaf't to yield , Instead of faithless Shelves , a listed Field ; A listed Field of Heav'ns and David's Foes , Fierce as the Troops that did his Youth oppose , Each Life had on his slaughter'd heap retir'd , Not Tamely , and Unconqu'ring thus expir'd : But Destiny is now their onely Foe , And dying , ev'n o'er that they triumph too ; With loud last Breaths their Master's Scape applaud , Of whom kind Force cou'd scarce the Fates defraud ; Who for such Followers lost , O matchless Mind ! At his own Safety now almost repin'd ! Say Royal Sir , by all your Fame in Arms , Your praise in Peace , and by Vrania's Charms ; If all your Suff'rings past so nerely prest , Or pierc't with half so painful Grief your Breast ? Thus some Diviner Muse her Heroe forms , Not sooth'd with soft Delights , but tost in storms . Not stretcht on Roses in the Myrtle Grove , Nor Crowns his Days with Mirth , his Nights with Love , But far remov'd in Thundring Camps is found , His Slumbers short , his Bed the herbless Ground : In Tasks of Danger always seen the First , Feeds from the Hedg , and slakes with Ice his Thirst. Long must his Patience strive with Fortunes Rage , And long opposing Gods themselves engage , Must see his Country Flame , his Friends destroy'd , Before the promis'd Empire be enjoy'd , Such Toil of Fate must build a Man of Fame , And such , to Israel's Crown , the God-like David came , What suddain Beams dispel the Clouds so fast ! Whose drenching Rains laid all our Vineyards waste ? The Spring so far behind her Course delay'd , On th' Instant is in all her Bloom array'd ; The Winds breath low , the Element serene ; Yet Mark what Motion in the Waves is seen ! Thronging and busie as Hyblaean Swarms , Or stragled Souldiers Summon'd to their Arms. See where the Princely Barque in loosest Pride , With all her Guardian Fleet , Adorns the Tide ! High on her Deck the Royal Lovers stand , Our Crimes to Pardon e're they toucht our Land. VVelcome to Israel and to David's Breast ! Here all your Toils , here all your Sufferings Rest. This Year did Ziloah Rule Ierusalem , And boldly all Sedition's Syrges stem , How e're incumbred with a viler Pair Than Ziph and Shimei to assist the Chair ; Yet Ziloah's Loyal Labours so prevail'd That Faction at the next Election fail'd , VVhen ev'n the common Cry did Justice Sound , And Merrit by the Multitude was Crown'd : VVith David then was Israel's Peace restor'd , Crowds Mournd their Errour and Obey'd their Lord. FINIS .