Father's Right and Fear of future Fame The Publick Good that Universal Call To which even Heav'n 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 Posterity Or let his Kindness by th' Effects be try'd Or let him lay his vain Pretence aside God said he lov'd your Father could 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 Lays Or some dull Hebrew Ballad in your Praise Then the next Heir a Prince Severe and Wise Already looks on you with Jelous Eyes Sees through the thin Disguises of your Arts And markes your Progress in the Peoples Hearts Though now his mighty Soul its Grief contains He meditates Revenge who least complains And like a Lion Slumbring 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'er and Spares But with a Lordly Rage hisâ—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 trie 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 would Expose To Plots from seeming Friends and secret Foes And who can sound the death of David's Soul Perhaps his fear his kindness may Controll 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 posses the Prince possess the Laws He said And this Advice above the rest With Absalom's Mild Nature suited best Unblam'd 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 Virtues might have claim'd a Throne And blest all other Countries 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 further this Achitophel Unites The Male-contents of all the Israelites Whose differing Parties he could 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 wound so high they Crack't the Government The next for Int'rest 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 Tongue Who follow next a double danger bring Not onely hating David but the 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 Lofty to a Lawfull Prince Restor'd Saw with Disdain an Ethnick Plot begun And Scorn'd by Iebusites to be Outâ—done Hot Levites Headed these who pull'd before From th' Ark which in the Judges days they bore Resum'd their Cant and with a Zealous Crie Pursu'd their old belov'd Theocracie Where Sanhedrin and Priest enslav'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 though 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 mere 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 Iebusite did hate Born to be sav'd even 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 Cheifs 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 Buffoon Then all for Women Painting Rhiming Drinking Besides ten thousand Freaks that dy'd in thinking Blest Madman who coud every hour employ With something New to wish or to enjoy Railing and praising were his usual Themes And both to shew his Judgment in Extremes 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 Beggar'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 forming Parties but could ne'er be Chief For 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 rehearse Of Lords below the dignity of Verse Wits Warriors Common wealths-men were the best Kind Husbands and mere 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 Lamb. 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
And trie their strength before they came 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 life Endanger'd by a Brother and a Wife Thus in a Pageant Shew a Plot is made And Peace it self is War in Masquerade Oh foolish Israel never warn'd by Ill Still the same bait and circumvented still Did ever men forsake their present ease In midst of Health Imagine a Disease 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 defenceless to the Sword Of each unbounded arbitrary Lord And Laws are vain by which we Right enjoy If Kings unquestion'd can those Laws destroy Yet if the Croud 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 Sceptre coud not tie By their own deed their own Posterity How then coud Adam bind his future Race How coud his forfeit on Mankind take place Or how coud Heavenly Justice damn us all Who ne'er 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 allow'd Is mischievously seated in the Croud 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 fickle Rout Which flowing to the Mark runs faster out Nor onely Crouds but Sanhedrins may be Infected with this Publick Lunacy And Share the madness of Rebellious Times To Murther Monarchs for Imagin'd Crimes If they may give and take when e'er they please Not Kings alone the God-heads 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'er their Sufferings were before That Change they Covet makes them suffer more All others Errours but disturb a Sate 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 is to touch our Ark. To change Foundations cast the Frame anew Is work for Rebels who base Ends pursue At once Divine and Humane Laws controul And mend the Parts by ruine of the Whole The tampr'ing world is subject to this Curse To Physick their Disease into a Worse Now what Relief can Righteous David bring How Fatal 't is to be too good a King Friends he has few so high the madness grows Who dare be such must be the Peoples Foes Yet some there were ev'n in the worst of days Some let me Name and Naming is to Praise In this short File Barzillai first appears Barzillai crown'd with Honour and with Years Long since the rising Rebels he withstood In regions Waste beyond the Iordan's Flood Unfortunately Brave to buoy the State But sinking underneath his Master's Fate In Exile with his God-like Prince he mourn'd For him he Suffer'd and with him Return'd The Court he practis'd not the Courtier 's Art Large was his Wealth but larger was his Heart Which well the Noblest Objects knew to chuse The Fighting Warriour and Recording Muse. His Bed coud once a Fruitfull Issue boast Now more than half a Father's Name is lost His Eldest Hope with every Grace adorn'd By me so Heav'n will have it always Mourn'd And always honour'd snatch'd in Manhoods prime B'unequal Fates and Providences crime Yet not before the Goal of Honour won All Parts fulfill'd of Subject and of Son Swift was the Race but short the Time to run Oh Narrow Circle but of Pow'r Divine Scanted in Space but perfect in thy Line By Sea by Land thy matchless Worth was known Arms thy Delight and War was all thy Own Thy force infus'd the fainting Tyrians prop'd And haughty Pharaoh found his Fortune stop'd Oh Ancient Honour Oh unconquer'd Hand Whom Foes unpunish'd never coud withstand But Israel was unworthy of his Name Short is the date of all Immoderate Fame It looks as Heav'n our Ruine had design'd And durst not trust thy Fortune and thy Mind Now free from Earth thy diâ—encumbred Soul Mounts up and leaves behind the Clouds and Starry Pole From thence thy kindred Legions maist thou bring To aid the Guardian Angel of thy King Here stop my Muse here cease thy painfull slight No Pinions can pursue Immortal height Tell good Barzillai thou canst sing no more And tell thy Soul she should have fled before Or fled she with his life and left this Verse To hang on her departed Patron 's Hearse Now take thy steepy flight from Heav'n and see If thou canst find on Earth another He Another He would be too hard to find See then whom thou canst see not far behind Zadoc the Priest whom shunning Pow'r and Place His lowly mind advanc'd to David's Grace With him the Sagan of Ierusalem Of hospitable Soul and noble Stem Him of the Western dome whose weighty sense Flows in fit words and heavenly eloquence The Prophets Sons by such Example led To Learning and to Lyalty were bred For Colleges on bounteous Kings depend And never Rebel was to Arts a Friend To these succeed the Pillars of the Laws Who best coud plead and best can judge a Cause Next them a train of Loyal Peers ascend Sharp judging Adriel the Muses Friend Himself a Muse In Sanhedrins debate True to his Prince but not a Slave of State Whom David's Love with Honours did adorn That from his disobedient Son were torn Iotham of piercing Wit and pregnant Thought Endu'd by Nature and by Learning taught To move Assemblies who but onely try'd The worse a while then chose the better side Nor chose alone but turn'd the Balance too So much the weight of one Brave man can doe Hushai the Friend of David in distress In publick storms of manly stedfastness By Foreign Treaties he inform'd his Youth And joyn'd Experience to his Native Truth His frugal care supply'd the wanting Throne Frugal for that but bounteous of his own 'T is easie Conduct when Exchequers slow But hard the task to manage well the low For Sovereign Power is too deprest or high When Kings are forc'd to sell or Crouds to buy Indulge one labour more my weary Muse For Amiel who can Amiel's praise refuse Of ancient Race by birth but nobler yet In his own worth and without Title Great The Sanhedrin long time as Chief he rul'd Their Reason
for fear they shou'd be Treason Fall severely on the miscarriages of Government for if scandal be not allow'd you are no freeborn subjects If God has not bless'd you with the Talent of Rhiming make use of my poor Stock and wellcome let your Verses run upon my feet and for the utmost refuge of notorious Blockheads reduc'd to the last extremity of sense turn my own lines upon me and in utter despair of your own Satyre make me Satyrize my self Some of you have been driven to this Bay already But above all the rest commend me to the Non-conformist Parson who writ the Whip and Key I am affraid it is not read so much as the Piece deserves because the Bookseller is every week crying help at the end of his Gazette to get it off You see I am charitable enough to doe him a kindness that it may be publish'd as well as printed and that so much skill in Hebrew Derivations may not lie for Wast-paper in the Shop Yet I half suspect he went no farther for his learning than the Index of Hebrew Names and Etymologies which are printed at the end of some English Bibles If Achitophel signify the Brother of a Fool the Authour of that Poem will pass with his Readers for the next of kin And perhaps 't is the Relation that makes the kindness Whatever the Verses are buy 'em up I beseech you out of pity for I hear the Conventicle is shut up and the Brother of Achitophel out of service Now Footmen you know have the generosity to make a Purse for a Member of their Society who has had his Livery pull'd over his Ears and even Protestant Socks are bought up among you out of veneration to the name A Dissenter in Poetry from Sense and English will make as good a Protestant Rhymer as a Dissenter from the Church of England a Protestant Parson Besides if you encourage a young Beginner who knows but he may elevate his style a little above the vulgar Epithets of prophane and sawcy Iack and Atheistick Scribler with which he treats me when the fit of Enthusiasm is strong upon him by which well-manner'd and charitable Expressions I was certain of his Sect before I knew his name What wou'd you have more of a man he has damn'd me in your Cause from Genesis to the Revelations And has half the Texts of both the Testaments against me if you will be so civil to your selves as to take him for your Interpreter and not to take them for Irish Witnesses After all perhaps you will tell me that you retain'd him onely for the opening of your Cause and that your main Lawyer is yet behind Now if it so happen he meet with no more reply than his Predecessours you may either conclude that I trust to the goodness of my Cause or fear my Adversary or disdain him or what you please for the short on 't is 't is indifferent to your humble servant whatever your Party says or thinks of him UPON THE AUTHOUR Of the Following POEM ONCE more our awfull Poet Arms t' engage The threatning Hydra-Faction of the Age Once more prepares his dreadfull Pen to wield And ev'ry Muse attends him to the Field By Art and Nature for this Task design'd Yet modestly the Fight He long declin'd Forbore the Torrent of his Verse to pour Nor loos'd his Satyre till the needfull Hour His Sov'reign's Right by Patience half betray'd Wak'd his Avenging Genius to it's Aid Blest Muse whose Wit with such a Cause was Crown'd And blest the Cause that such a Champion found With chosen Verse upon the Foe he falls And black Sedition in each Quarter galls Yet like a Prince with Subjects forc't t' engage Secure of Conquest He rebates his Rage His Fury not without Distinction sheds Hurls mortal Bolts but on devoted Heads To less infected Members gentle found Or spares or else pours Balm into the Wound Such Gen'rous Grace th' ingratefull Tribe abuse And trespass on the Mercy of his Muse Their wretched dogrell Rhimers forth they bring To Snarle and Bark against the Poets King A Crew that scandalize the Nation more Than all their Treason-canting Priests before On these He scarce vouchsafes a scornfull smile But on their Pow'rfull Patrons turns his Style A Style so keen as ev'n from Faction draws The vital Poyson stabs to th' Heart their Cause Take then great Bard what Tribute we can raise Accept our Thanks for you transcend our Praise TO THE UNKNOWN AUTHOUR Of the Following POEM And that of ABSALOM and ACHITOPHEL THUS pious ignorance with dubious praise Altars of old to Gods unknown did raise They knew not the lov'd Deity they knew Divine effects a cause Divine bid shew Nor can we doubt when such these Numbers are Such is their cause thô the worst Muse shall dare Their sacred worth in humble Verse declare As gentle Thames charm'd with thy tunefull Song Glides in a peacefull Majesty along No rebel Stone no lofty Bank does brave The easie passage of his silent wave So sacred Poet so thy Numbers flow Sinewy yet mild as happy Lovers woe Strong yet harmonious too as Planets move Yet soft as Down upon the Wings of Love How sweet does Vertue in your dress appear How much more charming when much less severe Whilst you our senses harmlesly beguile With all th' allurements of your happy Style Y' insinuate Loyalty with kind deceit And into sense th' unthinking Many cheat So the sweet Thracian with his charming lyre Into rude Nature virtue did inspire So he the savage herd to reason drew Yet scarce so sweet so charmingly as you Oh that you would with some such powerfull Charm Enervate Albion to just valour warm Whether much suffering Charles shall Theme afford Or the great Deeds of God-like Iames's Sword Again fair Gallia might be ours again Another Fleet might pass the subject Main Another Edward lead the Britains on Or such an Ossory as you did moan While in such Numbers you in such a strain Inflame their courage and reward their pain Let false Achitophel the rout engage Talk easie Absalom to rebel rage Let frugal Shimei curse in holy Zeal Or modest Corah more new Plots reveal Whilst constant to himself secure of fate Good David still maintains the Royal State Thô each in vain such various ills employs Firmly he stands and even those ills enjoys Firm as fair Albion midst the raging Main Surveys encircling danger with disdain In vain the Waves assault the unmov'd shore In vain the Winds with mingled fury rore Fair Albion's beauteous Cliffs shine whiter than before Nor shalt thou move thô Hell thy fall conspire Thô the worse rage of Zeal's Fanatick Fire Thou best thou greatest of the British race Thou onely fit to fill Great Charles his place Ah wretched Britains ah too stubborn Isle Ah stiff-neck't Israel on blest Canaan's soyl Are those dear proofs of Heaven's Indulgence vain Restoring David and his gentle Reign Is it in vain thou
humane thoughts the tunefull Quire But sure 't is more than Fancy or the Dream Of Rhimers slumbring by the Muses stream Some livelier Spark of Heav'n and more refin'd From Earthly dross fills the great Poet's Mind Witness these mighty and immortal Lines Through each of which th'informing Genius shines Scarce a diviner Flame inspir'd the King Of whom thy Muse does so sublimely sing Not David's self could in a nobler Verse His gloriously offending Son rehearse Thô in his Breast the Prophet's Fury met The Father's Fondness and the Poet 's Wit Here all consent in Wonder and in Praise And to the Unknown Poet Altars raise Which thou must needs accept with equal joy As when Aenaeas heard the Wars of Troy Wrapt up himself in darkness and unseen Extoll'd with Wonder by the Tyrian Queen Sure thou already art secure of Fame Nor want'st new Glories to exalt thy Name What Father else would have refus'd to own So great a Son as God-like Absalon R. D. TO THE CONCEAL'D AUTHOUR Of this INCOMPARABLE POEM HAil Heav'n-born Muse hail ev'ry Sacred page The Glory of our I 'le and of our Age. Th' inspiring Sun to Albion draws more nigh The North at length teems with a Work to vie With Homer's Flame and Virgil's Majesty While Pindus lofty Heights our Poet sought His ravisht Mind with vast Idea's fraught Our Language fail'd beneath his rising Thought This checks not his Attempt for Maro's Mines He dreins of all their Gold t' adorn his Lines Through each of which the Mantuan Genius shines The Rock obey'd the pow'rfull Hebrew Guide Her flinty Breast dissolv'd into a Tide Thus on our stubborn Language he prevails And makes the Helicon in which he sails The Dialect as well as sense invents And with his Poem a new speech presents Hail then thou matchless Bard thou great Unknown That give your Country Fame yet shun your own In vain for ev'ry where your Praise you find And not to meet it you must shun Mankind Your Loyal Theme each Loyal Reader draws And ev'n the Factious give your Verse applause Whose Lightning strikes to ground their Idol Cause The Cause for whose dear sake they drank a Flood Of Civil Gore nor spar'd the Royal-bloud The Cause whose growth to crush our Prelates wrote In vain almost in vain our Hero's fought Yet by one Stabb of your keen Satyr dies Before your Sacred Lines their Shatter'd Dagon lies Oh! If unworthy we appear to know The Sire to whom this Lovely Birth we owe Deny'd our ready Homage to express And can at best but thankfull be by guess This hope remains May David's God-like Mind For him 't was wrote the Unknown Authour find And having found show'r equal Favours down On Wit so vast as cou'd oblige a Crown N. T. ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL A POEM IN pious Times e'er Priest-Craft did begin Before Polygamy was made a Sin When Man on many multipli'd his kind E'er one to one was cursedly confin'd When Nature prompted and 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 ungratefull to the Tiller's care Not so the rest for several Mothers bore To God-like David several Sons before But since like Slaves his Bed they did ascend No true Succession cou'd their Seed attend Of all the Numerous Progeny was none So Beautifull so Brave as Absalon 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 Israel's Crown In Peace the thoughts of War he cou'd remove And seem'd as he were onely born for Love What e'er 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 Youthfull Image in his Son renew'd To all his wishes nothing he deni'd And made the Charming Annabel his Bride What faults he had for who from faults is free His Father cou'd not or he wou'd not see Some warm excesses which the Law forbore Where constru'd Youth that purg'd by boiling o'er 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 undisturb'd in Sion reign'd But Life can never be sincerely blest Heav'n punishes the bad and proves the best The Iews a Head-strong Moody Murm'ring race As ever try'd th' extent and stretch of grace God's pamper'd People whom debauch'd with ease No King cou'd govern nor no God cou'd please Gods they had try'd of every shape and size That God-smiths cou'd produce or Priests devise These Adam-wits too fortunately free Began to dream they wanted Liberty 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 Ishbosheth the Crown forego 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 cou'd create Or melt him to that Golden Calf a State But these were random Bolts No form'd Design Nor Interest made the Factious Croud to joyn The sober part of Israel free from stain Well knew the value of a peacefull Reign And looking backward with a wise afright Saw Seams 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 Rebell But when to Sin our byast Nature leans The carefull 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 rightfull 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 weakn'd well or ill content Submit they must to David's Government Impoverish't 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
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 Heaven 's Anointing Oyl had been in vain Let his successfull 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 Iordan's Sand The joyfull People throng'd to see him Land Cov'ring the Beech and blackning 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 onely blessing since his curst Return Those heaps of People which one Sheaf did bind Blown off and scatter'd by a puff of Wind. What strength can he to your Designs oppose Naked of Friends and round beset with Foes If Pharaoh's doubtfull Succour he should use A Foreign Aid wou'd more incense the Iews Proud Aegypt wou'd dissembled Friendship bring Foment the War but not support the King Nor wou'd the Royal party e'er unite With Pharaoh's Arms t' assist the Iebusite Or if they shou'd their Interest soon wou'd break And with such odious Aid make David weak All sorts of men by my successfull Arts Abhorring Kings estrange their alter'd Hearts From David's Rule And 't is their general Cry Religion Common-wealth and Liberty If you as Champion of the Publick Good Add to their Arms a Chief of Royal Blood What may not Israel hope and what Applause Might such a General gain by such a Cause Not barren Praise alone that Gaudy Flow'r Fair onely to the sight but solid Pow'r And Nobler is a limited Command Giv'n by the Love of all your Native Land Than a successive Title Long and Dark Drawn from the Mouldy Rolls of Noah's Ark. What cannot Praise effect in Mighty Minds When Flattery Sooths and when Ambition Blinds Desire of Pow'r on Earth a Vitious Weed Yet sprung from High is of Coelestial Seed In God 't is Glory And when Men Aspire 'T is but a Spark too much of Heavenly Fire Th' Ambitious Youth too Covetous of Fame Too full of Angels-Metal in his Frame Unwarily was led from Virtues ways Made Drunk with Honour and debauch'd with Praise Half loath and half consenting to the Ill For Royal Blood within him struggled 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 Delight Good Gracious Just Observant of the Laws And Heav'n by Wonders has espous'd his Cause Whom has he Wrong'd in all his Peacefull 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 Easie 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 People to Betray Or change his Right for Arbitrary Sway Let Haughty Pharaoh Curse with such a Reign His Fruitfull Nile and Yoak a Servile Train If David's Rule Ierusalem Displease The Dog star heats their Brains to this Disease Why then should I encouraging the Bad Turn Rebel and run Popularly Mad Were he a Tyrant who by Lawless Might Opprest the Iews and rais'd the Iebusite Well might I Mourn but Natures holy Bands Wou'd Curb my Spirits and restrain my Hands The People might assert their Liberty But what was Right in them were Crime in me His Favour leaves me nothing to require Prevents my Wishes and out-runs Desire What more can I expect while David lives All but his Kingly Diadem he gives And that But there he paus'd then Sighing said Is Justly destin'd for a Worthier Head For when my Father from his Toyls shall Rest And late Augment the Number of the Blest His Lawfull Issue shall the Throne ascend Or the Collat'ral Line where that shall end His Brother though Opprest with Vulgar Spight Yet Dauntless and Secure of Native Right Of every Royal Virtue 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 Croud 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 Inclin'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 God-like Sin Him Staggering so when Hells dire Agent found While fainting Virtue scarce maintain'd her Ground He pours fresh Forces in and thus Replies Th' Eternal God Supremely 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 Virtue 's onely given 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 But when should People strive their Bonds to break If not when Kings are Negligent or Weak Let him give on till he can give no more The Thrifty Sanhedrin shall keep him poor And every Sheckle which he can receive Shall cost a Limb 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 faithfull Friends our Jealousies and Fears Call Iebusites and Pharaoh's Pensioners 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 Virtues 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 doubtfull 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 releive Better one suffer than a Nation grieve The Iews well know their pow'r e'er Saul they chose God was their King and God they durst Depose Urge now your Piety your Filial Name A
no Titles gave and God no Grace Not Bull-fac'd Ionas who coud Statutes 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 Curse Shimei whose Youth did early Promise bring Of Zeal to God and Hatred to his King Did wisely from Expensive Sins refrain 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 Iews which was to Cheat and Pray The City to reward his pious Hate Against his Master chose him Magistrate 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 two 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 Would 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 suff'ring Saint from Humane Laws For Laws are onely 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 mis-employ an hour His Bus'ness was by Writing to perswade That Kings were Useless and a Clog to Trade And that his noble Style he might refine No Rechabite more shun'd the fumes of Wine Chaste were his Cellars and his Shrieval Board The Grossness of a City Feast abhor'd His Cooks with long disuse their Trade forgot Cool was his Kitchin though his Brains were hot Such frugal Vertue Malice may accuse But sure 't was necessary to the Iews For Towns once burnt such Magistrates require As dare not tempt God's Providence by Fire With Spiritual Food he fed is Servants well But free from Flesh that made the Iews rebell And Moses's Laws he held in more account For forty days of fasting in the Mount To speak the rest who better are forgot Would tire 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 though his birth were base yet Comets rise From Earthy Vapours e'er 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 Publick Good By that one Deed Enobles all his Blood Who ever ask'd the Witnesses high Race Whose Oath with Martyrdom did Stephen grace Ours was a Levite and as times went then His Tribe were God Almightie'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 Saint-like Grace A Church Vermillion and a Moses's Face His Memory miraculously great Coud Plots exceeding man's belief repeat Which therefore cannot be accounted Lies For humane Wit coud never such devise Some future Truths are mingled in his Book But where the Witness fail'd the Prophet spoke Some things like Visionary flights 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 excell Which piec'd his wondrous Evidence so well And suited to the temper of the Times Then groaning under Iebusitick Crimes Let Israel's Foes suspect his Heav'nly call And rashly judge his Writ Apocryphal Our Laws for such affronts have Forfeits made He takes his Life who takes away his Trade Were I my self in Witness Corah's place The Wretch who did me such a dire disgrace Shoud whet my memory though once forgot To make him an Appendix of my Plot. His Zeal to Heav'n made him his Prince despise And load his Person with indignities But Zeal peculiar privilege 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 join The best that coud be had for love or coin 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 frames And with familiar ease repeats their Names Thus form'd by Nature furnisht out with Arts He glides unfelt into their secret hearts Then with a kind compassionating look And sighs bespeaking pity e'er he spoke Few words he said but easie those and fit More slow than Hybla drops and far more sweet I mourn my Country-men your lost Estate Though far unable to prevent your Fate Behold a banish'd man for your dear Cause Expos'd a Prey to Arbitrary Laws Yet oh that I alone coud be undone Cut off 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 Foreign Gold Is grown in Bathsheba'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 onely 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 bless Who now begins his progress to ordain With Chariots Horsemen and a num'rous Train From East to West his Glories he displays And like the Sun the Promis'd Land surveys 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 depths and fathom where it went The Peoples hearts distinguish Friends from Foes
them were med'cinally good But when they fasten'd on their fester'd Sore Then Justice and Religion they forswore Their Maiden Oaths debauch'd into a Whore Thus Men are rais'd by Factions and decry'd And Rogue and Saint distinguish'd by their Side They rack ev'n Scripture to confess their Cause And plead a Call to preach in spight of Laws But that 's no news to the poor injur'd Page It has been us'd as ill in every Age And is constrain'd with patience all to take For what defence can Greek and Hebrew make Happy who can this talking Trumpet seize They make it speak whatever Sense they please T was fram'd at first our Oracle t' enquire But since our Sects in prophecy grow higher The Text inspires not them but they the Text inspire London thou great Emporium of our Isle O thou too bounteous thou too fruitfull Nile How shall I praise or cure to thy desert Or separate thy sound from thy corrupted part I call'd thee Nile the parallel will stand Thy tydes of Wealth o'erflow the fatten'd Land Yet Monsters from thy large increase we find Engender'd on the Slyme thou leav'st behind Sedition has not wholly seiz'd on thee Thy nobler Parts are from infection free Of Israel's Tribes thou hast a numerous band But still the Canaanite is in the Land Thy military Chiefs are brave and true Nor are thy disinchanted Burghers few The Head is loyal which thy Heart commands But what 's a Head with two such gouty Hands The wise and wealthy love the surest way And are content to thrive and to obey But Wisedom is to Sloath too great a Slave None are so busie as the Fool and Knave Those let me curse what vengeance will they urge Whose Ordures neither Plague nor Fire can purge Nor sharp experience can to duty bring Nor angry Heaven nor a forgiving King In Gospel phrase their Chapmen they betray Their Shops are Dens the Buyer is their Prey The Knack of Trades is living on the Spoil They boast e'en when each other they beguile Customs to steal is such a trivial thing That 't is their Charter to defraud their King All hands unite of every jarring Sect They cheat the Country first and then infect They for God's Cause their Monarchs dare dethrone And they 'll be sure to make his Cause their own Whether the plotting Jesuite lay'd the plan Of murth'ring Kings or the French Puritan Our Sacrilegious Sects their Guides outgo And Kings and Kingly Pow'r wou'd murther too What means their Trait'rous Combination less Too plain t' evade too shamefull to confess But Treason is not own'd when t is descry'd Successfull Crimes alone are justify'd The Men who no Conspiracy wou'd find Who doubts but had it taken they had join'd Join'd in a mutual Cov'nant of defence At first without at last against their Prince If Sovereign Right by Sovereign Pow'r they scan The same bold Maxime holds in God and Man God were not safe his Thunder cou'd they shun He shou'd be forc'd to crown another Son Thus when the Heir was from the Vineyard thrown The rich Possession was the Murth'rers own In vain to Sophistry they have recourse By proving theirs no Plot they prove 't is worse Unmask'd Rebellion and audacious Force Which though not Actual yet all Eyes may see T is working in th' immediate Pow'r to be For from pretended Grievances they rise First to dislike and after to despise Then Cyclop-like in humane Flesh to deal Chop up a Minister at every meal Perhaps not wholly to melt down the King But clip his regal rights within the Ring From thence t'assume the pow'r of Peace and War And ease him by degrees of publique Care Yet to consult his Dignity and Fame He shou'd have leave to exercise the Name And hold the Cards while Commons play'd the game For what can Pow'r give more than Food and Drink To live at ease and not be bound to think These are the cooler methods of the Crime But their hot Zealots think 't is loss of time On utmost bounds of Loyalty they stand And grinn and whet like a Croatian Band That waits impatient for the last Command Thus Out-laws open Villany maintain They steal not but in Squadrons scoure the Plain And if their Pow'r the Passengers subdue The Most have right the wrong is in the Few Such impious Axiomes foolishly they show For in some Soils Republiques will not grow Our Temp'rate Isle will no extremes sustain Of pop'lar Sway or Arbitrary Reign But slides between them both into the best Secure in freedom in a Monarch blest And though the Climate vex't with various Winds Works through our yielding Bodies on our Minds The wholsome Tempest purges what it breeds To recommend the Calmness that succeeds But thou the Pander of the Peoples hearts O Crooked Soul and Serpentine in Arts Whose blandishments a Loyal Land have whor'd And broke the Bonds she plighted to her Lord What Curses on thy blasted Name will fall Which Age to Age their Legacy shall call For all must curse the Woes that must descend on all Religion thou hast none thy Mercury Has pass'd through every Sect or theirs through Thee But what thou giv'st that Venom still remains And the pox'd Nation feels Thee in their Brains What else inspires the Tongues and swells the Breasts Of all thy bellowing Renegado Priests That preach up Thee for God dispence thy Laws And with thy Stumm serment their fainting Cause Fresh Fumes of Madness raise and toile and sweat To make the formidable Cripple great Yet shou'd thy Crimes succeed shou'd lawless Pow'r Compass those Ends thy greedy Hopes devour Thy Canting Friends thy Mortal Foes wou'd be Thy God and Theirs will never long agree For thine if thou hast any must be one That lets the World and Humane-Kind alone A jolly God that passes hours too well To promise Heav'n or threaten us with Hell That unconcern'd can at Rebellion sit And Wink at Crimes he did himself commit A Tyrant theirs the Heav'n their Priesthood paints A Conventicle of gloomy sullen Saints A Heav'n like Bedlam slovenly and sad Fore-doom'd for Souls with false Religion mad Without a Vision Poets can fore-shew What all but Fools by common Sense may know If true Succession from our Isle shou'd fail And Crowds profane with impious Arms prevail Not thou nor those thy Factious Arts ingage Shall reap that Harvest of Rebellious Rage With which thou flatter'st thy decrepit Age. The swelling Poison of the sev'ral Sects Which wanting vent the Nations Health infects Shall burst its Bag and fighting out their way The various Venoms on each other prey The Presbyter puft up with spiritual Pride Shall on the Necks of the lewd Nobles ride His Brethren damn the Civil Pow'r defy And parcel out Republique Prelacy But short shall be his Reign his rigid Yoke And Tyrant Pow'r will puny Sects provoke And Frogs and Toads and all the Tadpole Train Crane Will croak to Heav'n for help from this