delight Good gracious just observant of the Laws And Heav'n by wonder has espous'd his cause Whom has he wrong'd in all his Peaceful Reign Who sues for Justice to his Throne in vain What millions has he pardon'd of his Foes Whom just revenge did to his wrath expose Mild easy humble studious of our good Enclin'd to mercy and averse from blood If mildness ill with stubborn Israel suit His crime is God's beloved Attribute What could he gain his peopâ—e to betray Or change his right for arbitrary sway Let haughty Pharaoh curse with such a Reign His fruitful Nile and yoke a servile Train If David's Rule Ierusalem displease The Dog-star heats their brains to this disease Why then shoud I encoâ—raging the bad Turn Rebel and run popularly mad Were he a Tyrant who by lawless Might Opprest the Jews and rais'd the Iebusite Well might I mourn but Natures hely bands Woud curb my spirits and restrain my hand The people might assert their liberty But what was â—ight in them were crime in me His â—avour 〈◊〉 me nothing to require Prevents my wishes and out-runs desire What 〈…〉 I expect while David lives All but 〈…〉 Diadem he gives And that But there he paus'd then sighing said Is 〈…〉 for a worthier Head For when my Father from his toyls shall rest And 〈…〉 the number of the blest 〈…〉 shall the Throne ascend Of 〈…〉 Line where that shall end His Brother though opprest with vulgar spight Yet dauntless and secure of native right Of every Royal Vertue stands possest Still Dear to all the Bravest and the Best His Courage Foes his Friends his Truth Proclaim His Loyalty the King the World his Fame His mercy ev'n th'offending Crowd will find For sure he comes of a forgiving kind Why should I then repine at Heavens decree Which gives me no pretence to Royalty Yet oh that Fate propitiously enclin'd Had rais'd my Birth or had debas'd my mind To my large Soul not all her treasure lent And then betray'd it to a mean Descent I find I find my mounting spirits bold And David's part disdains my Mothers mold Why am I scanted by a niggard Birth My Soul disclaims the kindred of her Earth And made for Empire whispers me within Desire of Greatness is a Godlike sin Him staggering so when Hells dire Agent found While fainting Vertue scarce maintain'd her ground He pours fresh Forces in and thus replies Th' Eternal God supreamly good and wise Imparts not these prodigious Gifts in vain What wonders are reserv'd to bless your Reign Against your will your Arguments have shown Such Vertue 's only giv'n to guide a Throne Not that your Father's mildness I contemn But manly force becomes the Diadem 'T is true he grants the people all they crave And more perhaps than Subjects ought to have For lavish grants suppose a Monarch tame And more his Goodness than his Wit proclaim Bâ—t when should people strive their Bonds to break 〈◊〉 not when Kings are negligent or weak 〈◊〉 him give on till he can give no more The thriâ—ty Sanhedrin shall keep him poor And every 〈◊〉 which he can receive Shall cost a â—imb of his Prerogative To ply him with new Plots shall be my care Or plunge him deep in some expensive war Which when his Treasure can no more supply He must with the remains of Kingship buy His faithful Friends our jealousies and fears Call Iebusites and Pharaoh's Pentioners Whom when our fury from his aid has torn He shall be naked left to publick scorn The next Successor whom I fear and hate My arts have made obnoxious to the State Turn'd all his Vertues to his overthrow And gain'd our Elders to pronounce a foe His Right for sums of necessary Gold Shall first be pawn'd and afterwards be sold Till time shall ever-wanting David draw To pass your doubtful Title into Law If not the people have a Right supreme To make their Kings for Kings are made for them All Empire is no more than Pow'r in trust Which when resum'd can be no longer just Succession for the general good design'd In its own wrong a Nation cannot bind If altering that the people can relieve Better one suffer than a Nation grieve The Iews well knew their pow'r e'r Saul they chose God was their King and God they durst depose Urge now your Piety your Filial Name A Father's right and fear of future Fame The publick good that universal call To which ev'n Heaven submitted answers all Nor let his Love enchant your generous mind T is Natures trick to propagate her kind Our fond Begetters who would never die Love but themselves in their posteritie Or let his kindness by th' effects be tri'd Or let him lay his vain pretence aside God said he lov'd your Father coud he bring A better proof than to Anoint him King It surely shew'd he lov'd the Shepherd well Who gave so fair a Flock as Israel Woud David have you thought his Darling Son What means he then to Alienate the Crown The name of Godly he may blush to bear 'T is after God's own heart to cheat his Heir He to his Brother gives Supreme Command To you a Legacy of Barren Land Perhaps th' old Harp on which he thrums his Layes Or some dull Hebrew Ballad in your praise Then the next Heir a Prince severe and wise Already looks on you with jealous eyes Sees through the thin disguises of your arts And marks your progress in the peoples hearts Though now his mighty Soul its grief contains He meditates revenge who least complains And like a Lion slumb'ring in the way Or sleep-dissembling while he waits his prey His fearless Foes within his distance draws Constrains his roaring and contracts his paws Till at the last his time for fury found He shoots with sudden vengeance from the ground The prostrate Vulgar passes o'r and spares But with a Lordly rage his Hunters tears Your case no tame expedients will afford Resolve on death or conquest by the Sword Which for no less a Stake than Life you draw And Self-defence is Natures eldest Law Leave the warm people no considering time For then Rebellion may be thought a crime Prevail your self of what occasion gives But try your Title while your Father lives And that your Arms may have a fair pretence Proclaim you take them in the King's defence Whose sacred Life each minute woud expose To Plots from seeming friends and secret foes And who can sound the depth of David's Soul Perhaps his fear his kindness may controul He fears his Brother though he loves his Son For plighted Vows too late to be undone If so by force he wishes to be gain'd Like womens leachery to seem constrain'd Doubt not but when he most affects the Frown Commit a pleasing Rape upon the Crown Secure his Person to secure your Cause They who possess the Prince possess the Laws He said and this Advice above the rest With Absalom's mild nature suited best Unblam'd
A Name to 〈…〉 For close 〈…〉 Sagacious 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Restless unfixt in Principle and Place In Pow'r unpleas'd impatient of Disgrace A fiery Soul which working out its way Fretted the Pigâ—y-Body to decay And o'r inform'd the Tenement of Clay A daring Pilot in extremity Pleas'd with the Danger when the Waves went high He sought the Storms but for a Calm unâ—it Would Steer to nigh the Sands to boast his Wit Great Wits are sure to Madness neer ally'd And thin Partitions do their Bounds divide Else why should he with Wealth and Honour blest Refuse his Age the needful hours of rest Punish a Body which he coud not please Bankrupt of Life yet Prodigal of ease And all to leave what with his Toyl he won To that unfeather'd two legg'd thing a Son Got while his Soul did hudled Notions try And born a shapeless Lump like Anarchy In friendship false implacable in hate Resolv'd to ruine or to Rule the State To compass this the Triple Bond he broke The Pillars of the publick Safety shook And fitted Israel for a Foreign Yoke Then seiz'd with Fear yet still affecting Fame Usurp'd a Patriot's All-atoning Name So easy still it proves in factious times With publick Zeal to cancel private crimes How safe is Treason and how sacred ill Where none can sin against the peoples will Where Crowds can wink and no oâ—â—ence be known Since in anothers guilt they find their own Yet Fame deserv'd no Enemy can grudge The Statesman we abhor but praise the Judge In Israels Courts ne'r sat an Abbethdin With more discerning eyes or hands more clean Unbrib'd unsought the Wretched to redress Swiâ—t of Dispatch and easie of Access Oh had he been content to serve the Crown With vertues only proper to the Gown Or had the rankness of the Soyl been freed From Cockle that opprest the Noble seed David for him his tuneful Harp had strung And Heav'n had wanted one Immortal song But wild Ambition loves to slide not stand And Fortunes Ice prefers to Vertues Land Achitophel grown weary to possess A lawful Fame and lazy Happiness Disdain'd the Golden Fruit to gather free And lent the Croud his Arm to shake the Tree Now manifest of Crimes contriv'd long since He stood at bold Defiance with his Prince Held up the Buckler of the peoples Cause Agâ—inst the Crown and sculk'd behind the Laws The wish'd occasion of the Plot he takes Some circumstances finds but more he makes By buzzing Emissaries fills the ears Of listning Crowds with jealousies and fears Of Arbitrary Counsels brought to light And proves the King himself a Iebusite Weak Arguments which yet he knew full well Were strong with People easie to Rebel For govern'd by the Moon the giddy Iews Tread the same track when she the Prime renews And once in twenty years their Scribes Record By natural Instinct they change their Lord. Achitophel still wants a Chief and none Was found so fit as Warlike Absalon Not that he wish'd his Greatness to create For Polâ—titians neither love nor hate But for he knew his Title not allow'd Would keep him still depending on the Crowd That Kingly power thus ebbing out might be Drawn to the dregs of a Democracy Him he attempts with studied Arts to please And sheds his Venome in such words as these Auspicious Prince at whose Nativity Some Royal Planet rul'd the Southern Sky Thy longing Countreys Darling and Desire Their clowdy Pillar and their â—uardian Fire Their second Moses whose extended Wand Divides the Seas and shews the promis'd Land Whose dawning Day in every distant age Has exercis'd the Sacred Prophets rage The peoples Pray'r the glad Diviners Theam The young mens Vision and the old mens Dream Thee Saviour Thee the Nations Vows confess And never satisfi'd with seeing bless Swift unbespoken Pomps thy steps proclaim And stammering Babes are taught to lisp thy Name How long wilt thou the general Joy detain Starve and defraud the people of thy Reign Content ingloriously to pass thy days Like one of Vertues Fools that feeds on praise Till thy fresh Glories which now shine so bright Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight Believe me Royal Youth thy Fruit must be Or gather'd ripe or rot upon the Tree Heaven has to all allotted soon or late Some lucky Revolution of their Fate Whose motions if we watch and guide with skill For humane good depends on humane Will Our Fortune rolls as from a smoth descent And from the first Impression takes the bent But if unseiz'd she glides away like wind And leaves repenting Folly far behind Now now she meets you with a glorious prize And spreads her Locks before her as she flies Had thus old David from whose Loins you spring Not dar'd when Fortune call'd him to be King At Gath an Exile he might still remain And Heavens Anointing Oil had been in vain Let his successful Youth your hopes engage But shun th' example of Declining Age Behold him setting in his Western Skies The Shadows lengthning as the Vapours rise He is not now as when on Jordan's sand The joyful People throng'd to see him Land Cov'ring the Beach and â—lackning all the Strand But like the Prince of Angels from his height Comes tumbling downward with diminish'd light Betray'd by one poor Plot to publick Scorn Our only blessing since his curst Return Those heaps of people which one Sheaf did bind Blown off and scatter'd by a puss of wind What strength can he to your designs oppose Naked of Friends and round beset with Foes If Pharaoh's doubtful Succour he should use A Foreign Aid woud more incense the Iews Proud Egypt woud dissembled Friendship bring Foment the War but not support the King Nor woud the Royal Party e'r â—nite With Pharoah's Arms t' assist the Iebusite Or if they shoud their Interest soon would break And with such â—dious Aid make David weak All sorts of men by my successful Arts Aâ—â—orring Kings estrange their alter'd Hearts 〈…〉 And 't is the general Cry 〈◊〉 Common-wealth and Liberty 〈…〉 Champion of the publick Good Aâ—d to their Arms a Chief of Royal Blood 〈…〉 hope and what applause 〈…〉 gain by such a cause Not 〈…〉 alone that gaudy Flow'r 〈…〉 but solid Pow'r 〈…〉 limited command 〈…〉 Love of all your native Land 〈…〉 Tit'e long and dark Drawn 〈◊〉 the mouldy Rolls of Noah's Ark. What câ—nnâ—t â—raise effect in mighty Minds 〈…〉 â—ooths and when Ambition blinds 〈◊〉 of Pow'r on earth a vitious weed 〈…〉 from High is of Caelestial seed 〈…〉 And when men aspire 〈…〉 too much of Heavenly Fire 〈…〉 too covetous of Fame 〈…〉 of Angels Metal in his frame 〈◊〉 was led from Vertues ways Made drâ—nk with Honour and debauch'd with praise Half loath and half consenting to the ill For Loyal Bâ—ood within him strugled still He thus reply'd And what pretence have I To take up Arms for publick liberty My Father Governs with unquestion'd right The Faiths Defender and mankinds
of Life Ambition set aside Not stain'd with cruelty nor puft with pride How happy had he been if destiny Had higher plac'd his Birth or not so high His Kingly Vertues might have claim'd a Throne And blest all other Countreys but his own But charming Greatness since so few refuse 'T is juster to lament him than accuse Strong were his hopes a Rival to remove With blandishments to gain the publick love To head the Faction while their Zeal was hot And popularly prosecute the Plot. To farther this Achitophel unites The malecontents of all the Israelites Whose differing Parties he coud wisely joyn For several ends to serve the same design The best and of the Princes some were such Who thought the pow'r of Monarchy too much Mistaken men and Patriots in their hearts Not wicked but seduc'd by impious arts By these the springs of Property were bent And would so high they crack'd the Government The next for Interest sought t' embroil the State To sell their duty at a dearer rate And make their Iewish Markets of the Throne Pretending publick good to serve their own Others thought Kings an useless heavy load Who cost too much and did too little good These were for laying honest David by On Principles of pure good Husbandry With them joyn'd all th' Haranguers of the throng That thought to get Preferment by the â—oâ—gue Who follow next a double danger brâ—ng Not only hating â—avid but thâ— King The Solymaean Rout well vers'd of old In godly Faction and in Treason bold Cowring and quaking at a Conqu'ror's sword But losty to a Lawful Prince restor'd Saw with disdain an Ethnick Plot begun And scorn'd by Iebusites to be out-done Hot Levites headed these who pul'd before From th' Ark which in the Judges days they bore Resum'd their Cant and with a zealous cry Pursu'd their old belov'd Theocracy Where Sanhedrin and Priest inslav'd the Nation And justifi'd their spoils by inspiration For who so fit for Reign as Aaron's Race If once Dominion they could found in Grace These led the Pack the not of surest scent Yet deepest mouth'd against the Government A numerous Host of dreaming Saints succeed Of the true old Enthusiastick breed 'Gainst form and order they their Pow'r employ Nothing to build and all things to destroy But far more numerous was the herd of such Who think too little and who talk too much These out of meer instinct they knew not why Ador'd their Father's God and Property And by the same blind benefit of Fate The Devil and the Jebusite did hate Born to be sav'd ev'n in their own despight Because they could not help believing right Such were the tools but a whole Hydra more Remains of sprouting heads too long to score Some of their Chiefs were Princes of the Land In the first rank of these did Zimri stand A man so various that he seem'd to be Not one but all mankind's epitome Stiff in opinions always in the wrong Was every thing by starts and nothing long But in the course of one revolving Moon Was Chymist Fidler States-man and Bussoon Then all for Women Painting Rhiming Drinking Besides ten thousand freaks that di'd in thinking Blest Madman who coud every hour employ With something new to wish or to enjoy Railing and praising were his usual theams And both to shew his judgment in extreams So over-violent or over-civil That every man with him was God or Devil In squandring wealth was his peculiar art Nothing went unrewarded but desert Begger'd by fools whom still he found too late He had his Jest and they had his Estate He laugh'd himself from Court then sought relief By â—â—rming parties but could ne'r be Chief Foâ— spight of him the weight of business fell On Absalom and wise Achitophel Thus wicked but in will of means bereft He left not Faction but of that was left Titles and Names 't were tedious to reherse Of Lords below the dignity of Verse Wits Warriors Common-wealthsmen were the best Kind Husbands and meer Nobles all the rest And therefore in the name of dulness be The well hung Balaam and cold Caleb free And canting Nadab let oblivion damn Who made new Porridge for the Paschal Lamâ— Let friendships holy band some names assure Some their own worth and some let scorn secure Nor shall the Rascal Rabble here have place Whom Kings no Titles gave and God no Grace Not Bulâ—-fac'd Ionas who coâ—d Statâ—tes draw To mean Rebellion and make Treason Law But he though bad is follow'd by a worse The wretch who Heav'ns Anointed dar'd to câ—rse Shimei whose youth did early promise bring Of zeal to God and hatred to his King Did wisely from expensive sins reâ—rain And never broke the Sabbath but for gain Nor ever was he known an Oath to vent Or curse unless against the Government Thus heaping wealth by the most ready way Among the Jews which was to cheat and pray The City to reward his pious Hate Against his Master chose him Magistrat His hand a Vare of Justice did uphold His Neck was loaded with a Chain of Gold During his Office Treason was no Crime The Sons of Belial had a glorious Time For Shimei though not prodigal of pelf Yet lov'd his wicked Neighbour as himself When to or three were gather'd to declaim Against the Monarch of Ierusalem Shimei was always in the midst of them And if they Curst the King when he was by Woud rather Curse than break good Company If any durst his Factious Friends accuse He pact a Jury of dissenting Iews Whose fellow-feeling in the godly Cause Woud free the suffring Saint from humane Laws For Laws are only made to punish those Who serve the King and to protect his Foes If any leisure time he had from Pow'r Because 't is Sin to misimploy an hour His bâ—siness was by writing to Persuade That Kings were Useless and a Clog to Trade And that his noble Stile he might refine No Rechabite more shund the fumes of Wine Chast were his Cellars and his Shrieval Board The Grossness of a City Feast abhor'd His Cooks with long disuse their Trade â—orgot Cool was his Kitchen tho his Brains were hot Such â—rugall Vertue Malice may accuse But sure 't was necessary to the Iews For Towns one burâ—t sâ—ch Magistrates require As dare not tempt Gods Providence by fire With spiritual food he fed his servants well But free from flesh that made the Jews Rebel And Moses's Laws he held in more account For forty days of Fâ—sting in the Mount To speak the rest who better are forgot Would tyre a well breath'd Witness of the Plot Yet Corah thou shalt from oblivion pass Erect thy self thou Monumental Brass High as the Serpent of thy metal made While Nations stand secure beneath thy shade What tho his Birth were base yet Comets rise From earthy vapours ere they shine in Skies Prodigious Actions may as well be done By Weaver's Issue as by Prince's Son This Arch-Attestor for
the World would be but wants the art To whom ev'n the Phanaticks Altars raise Bow in their own despight and grin your praise As if a Milton from the dead arose Fil'd off his rust and the right party chose Nor Sir be shock'd at what the gloomy say Turn not your feet too inward nor too splay 'T is gracious all and great push on your Theme Lean your griev'd head on David's Diadem David that Rebel Israel's envy mov'd David by God and all good men belov'd The Beauties of your Absalom excel But more the Charms of Charming Annabel Of Annabel than May's first morn more bright Chearful as Summers Noon and chast as Winters Night Of Annabel the Muses dearest Theme Of Annabel the Angel of my dream Thus let a broken Eloquence attend And to your Master-piece these shadows send ABSALOM and ACHITOPHEL A POEM IN pious times e'r Priest-Craft did begin Before Poligamy was made a sin When Man on many multipli'd his kind E'r one to one was cursedly confin'd When Nature prompted no law deni'd Promiscuous Use of Concubine and Bride Then Israel's Monarch after Heavens own heart His vigorous warmth did variously impart To Wives and Slaves And wide as his Command Scatter'd his Maker's Image through the Land Michal of Royal blood the Crown did wear A Soil ungrateful to the Tiller's care Not so the rest for several Mothers bore To Godlike David several Sons before But since like slaves his bed they did ascend No True Succession could their seed attend Of all this Numerous Progeny was none So beautiful so brave as Absolon Whether inspir'd by some diviner Lust His Father got him with a greater Gust Or that his Conscious destiny made way By manly beauty to Imperial sway Early in Foreign fields he won Renown With Kings and States alli'd to Israels Crown In Peace the thoughts of War he coud remove And seem'd as he were only born for love What e'r he did was done with so much ease In him alone 't was Natural to please His motions all accompani'd with grace And Paradise was open'd in his face With secret Joy indulgent David view'd His Youthful Image in his Son renew'd To all his wishes Nothing he deny'd 〈…〉 What faults he had for who from faults is free His Father coud not or he woud not see Some warm excesses which the Law forbore Were constru'd Youth that purg'd by boyling o'r And Amnon's Murther by a specious Name Was call'd a Just Revenge for injur'd Fame Thus Prais'd and Lov'd the Noble Youth remain'd While David undistutb'd in Sion raign'd But Life can never be sincerely blest Heav'n punishes the bad and proves the best The Iews a Headstrong Moody Murm'ring race As ever tri'd th' extent and stretch of grace God's pamper'd people whom debauch'd with ease No King could govern nor no God could please Gods they tri'd of every shape and size That God-smiths could produce or Priests devise These Adam-wits too fortunately free Began to dream they wanted libertie And when no rule no president was found Of men by Laws less circumscrib'd and bound They led their wild desires to woods and Caves And thought that all but Savages were Slaves They who when Saul was dead without a blow Made foolish Isbosheth the Crown forgo Who banisht David did from Hebron bring And with a General Shout Proclaim'd him King Those very Iews who at their very best Their Humour more than Loyalty exprest Now wondred why so long they had obey'd An Idol-Monarch which their hands had made Thought they might ruine him they could create Or melt him to that Golden Calf a State But these were random bolts No form'd Design Nor Intrest made the Factious Croud to joyn The sober part of Israel free from stain Well knew the value of a peaceful reign And looking backward with a wise afright Saw Seames of wounds dishonest to the sight In contemplation of whose ugly Scars They Curst the memory of Civil Wars The moderate sort of men thus qualifi'd Inclin'd the Ballance to the better side And David's mildness manag'd it so well The Bad found no occasion to rebel But when to Sin our byast Nature leans The careful Devil is still at hand with means And providently pimps for ill desires The good Old Cause reviv'd a Plot requires Plots true or false are necessary things To raise up Common-wealths and ruine Kings Th' Inhabitants of old Ierusalem Were Iebusites the Town so call'd from them And their 's the Native Right But when the chosen people grew more strong The rightful Cause at length became the wrong And every loss the men of Iebus bore They still were thought God's enemies the more Thus worn and weaken'd well or ill content Submit they must to David's Government Impoverish'd and depriv'd of all Command Their Taxes doubled as they lost their Land And what was harder yet to flesh and blood Their Gods disgrac'd and burnt like common wood This set the Heathen Priesthood in a flame For Priests of all Religions are the same Of whatsoe'r descent their Godhead be Stock Stone or other homely Pedigree In his defence his Servants are as bold As if he had been born of beaten Gold The Iewish Rabbins thô their enemies In this conclude them honest men and wise For 't was their duty all the Learned think T' espouse his Cause by whom they eat and drink From hence began that Plot the Nation 's curse Bad in it self but represented worse Rais'd in extremes and in extremes decry'd With Oaths affirm'd with dying Vows deny'd Not weigh'd or winnow'd by the multitude But swallow'd in the mass unchew'd and crude Some Truth there was but dash'd and brew'd with Lies To 〈…〉 Foolâ— and puzzle all the Wise 〈…〉 did equal folly call 〈…〉 or believing all 〈…〉 Rites the â—ebusites imbrac'd 〈…〉 were recommeâ—ded by their tast 〈…〉 musâ— needs be good 〈…〉 once for Worship and for Food 〈…〉 could not introduce these Gods 〈…〉 in former days was odds So 〈◊〉 was us'd the Sacriâ—icers trade Fools are more hard to conquer than perswade Their busie 〈◊〉 mingled â—ith the Iews And 〈◊〉 for Convertâ— even the Court and Stews Which Hebrew Priests the more unkindly took Because the Fleece accompanies the Flock Some thought they God 's Anoint'd meant to slay By Guns invented since full many a day Our Author swears it not bâ—t who can know How â—ar the Devil and Iebusites may go This Plot which fail'd â—or want of common sense Had yet a deep and dangâ—roâ—s consequence For as when raging Fevers boyl the blood The standing Lake soon floats into a flood And ev'ry hostile humour which before Slept quiet in its Channâ—â—s 〈◊〉 o'r So several Factions 〈…〉 Ferment Work up to 〈…〉 Some â—y their â—â—iends 〈…〉 thought wise Oâ—pos'd the Pow'r to 〈…〉 not rise Some had in Courts 〈…〉 from thence Like Fiends were 〈…〉 Some by their 〈…〉 â—rown â—rom pardon'd 〈…〉 Throne Were rais'd in 〈…〉 Strong Bands if 〈…〉 tye Of these the 〈…〉
the publick good By that one Deed Enobles all his Blood Who ever ask'd the Witnesses high race VVhose Oath with Martyrdom did Stephen grace Ours was a Levite and as times went then His Tribe were Godalmighty's Gentlemen Sunk were his eyes his voice was harsh and loud Sure signs he neither cholerick was nor proud His long chin prov'd his wit his Saintlike grace A Church Vermilion and a Moses's face His memory miraculously great Could Plots exceeding mans belief repeat VVhich therefore cannot be accounted lies For humane wit coud never such devise Some future Trâ—ths are mingled in his Book But where the witness fail'd the Prophet spoke Some things like visionary slights appear The Spirit caught him up the Lord knows where And gave him his Rabinical degree Unknown to Foreign University His judgment yet his mem'ry did excel VVhich peic'd his wondrous Evidence so well And suited to the temper of the times Then groaning under Jebusitick crimes Let Israel foes suspect his heav'nly call And rashly judge his wit Apocryphal Our Laws for such affronts have forâ—eits made He takes his liâ—e who takes away his trade VVere I my selâ— in witness Corahs place The wretch who did me such a dire disgrace Should whet my memory though once forgot To make him an Aâ—pendix of my Plot. His zeal to Heav'n made him his Prince despise And load his person with indignities But zeal peculiar priviledg affords Indulging latitude to deeds and words And Corah might for Agag's murther call In terms as course as Samuel us'd to Saul What others in his Evidence did joyn The best that coud be had for love or coyn In Corah's own predicament will fall For witness is a common name to all Surrounded thus with friends of every sort Deluded Absalom forsakes the Court Impatient of high hopes urg'd with renown And fir'd with near possession of a Crown Th' admiring Croud are dazled with Surprize And on his goodly person feed their eyes His Joy Conceal'd he sets himself to show On each side bowing popularly low His looks his gestures and his words he frams And with familiar ease repeats their Names Thus form'd by Nature furnish'd out with Arts He glides unfelt into their secret hearts Then with a kind compassionating look And sighs bespeaking pity e'r he spoke Few words he said but easy those and fit More slow than Hybla drops and far more sweet I mourn my Countrymen your lost Estate Tho far unable to prevent your sate Behold a Banish't man for your dear cause Expos'd a prey to Arbitrary Laws Yet oh that I alone coud be undone Cut of from Empire and no more a Son Now all your Liberties a spoil are made Aegypt and Tyrus intercept your Trade And Iebusites your Sacred Rites invade My Father whom with reverence yet I Name Charm'd into Ease is careless of his Fame And brib'd with petty sums of Forreign Gold Is grown in Batsheba's Embraces old Exalts his Enemies his Friends destroys And all his pow'r against himself employs He gives and let him give my right away But why should he his own and yours betray He only he can make the Nation bleed And he alone from my revenge is freed Take then my tears with that he wip'd his Eyes T is all the Aid my present pow'r supplies No Court Informer can these Arms accuse These Arms may Sons against their Fathers use And 't is my wish the next Successor's Reign May make no other Israelite complain Youth Beauty Gracefull Action seldom fail But Common Interest always will prevail And pity never Ceases to be shown To him who makes the peoples wrongs his own The Croud that still believe their Kings oppress With lifted hands their young Messiah blesâ— Who now begins his Progress to ordain With Chariots Horsemen and a num'rous train From East to West his Glories he displaies And like the Sun the promis'd Land survays Fame runs before him as the morning-Star And shouts of Joy salute him from afar Each house receives him as a Guardian God And Consecrates the place of his abode But hospitable treats did most commend Wise Issachar his wealthy western friend This moving Court that caught the peoples Eyes And seem'd but pomp did other ends disguise Achitophel had form'd it with intent To sound the depth and fathom where it went The people's hearts distinguish Friends from Foes And trie their strength before they come to blows Yet all was colour'd with a smooth pretence Of specious love and duty to their Prince Religion and Redress of Grievances Two names that always cheat and always please Are often urg'd and good king David's liâ—e Indanger'd by a Brother and a Wife Thus in a Pageant Show a Plot is made And Peace it self is War in Masquerâde Oh foolish Israel never warn'd by ill Still the same baite and circumvented still Did ever men forsake their present ease In midst of health Imagine a desease Take pains Contingent mischiefs to foresee Make Heirs for Monarchs and for God decree What shall we think can people give away Both for themselves and Sons their Native sway Then they are left Defensless to the Sword Of each unbounded Arbitrary Lord And Laws are vain by which we Right enjoy If Kings unquestioned can those laws destroy Yet if the Crowd be Judge of fit and Just And Kings are onely Officers in trust Then this resuming Cov'nant was declar'd When Kings were made or is for ever bar'd If those who gave the Scepter could not tye By their own deed their own Posterity How then coud Adam bind his future Race How coud his forâ—eit on mankind take place Or how coud heavenly Justice damn us all Who ne'r consented to our Fathers fall Then Kings are slaves to those whom they Command And Tenants to their Peoples pleasure stand Add that the Pow'r for property allowd Is mischeivously seated in the Crowd For who can be secure of private Right If Sovereign sway may be dissolv'd by might Nor is the Peoples Judgment always true The most may err as grosly as the few And faultless Kings run down by Common Cry For Vice Oppression and for Tyranny What Standard is there in a â—ickle rout Which flowing to the mark runs faster out Nor only Crowds but Sanhedrins may be Infected with this publick lunacy And share the madness of rebellious times To marther Monarchs for imagin'd crimes If they may give and take whn e'r they please Not Kings alone the Godheads Images But Government it self at length must fall To Natures state where all have right to all Yet grant our Lords the people Kings can make What prudent men a setled Throne woud shake For whatsoe'r their sufferings were before That change they covet makes them suffer more All other Errors but disturb a State But Innovation is the blow of Fate If ancient Fabricks nod and threat to fall To patch the flaws and buttress up the wall Thus far 't is duty but here fix the mark For all beyond it