*

wide as his command, Scattered his Maker's image through the land.

IO

*

Of all this numerous progeny was none
So beautiful, so brave, as Absalon.

*

*

*

Early in foreign fields he won renown With kings and states allied to Israel's crown;

In

peace the thoughts of war he could remove,

25

And seemed as he were only born for love.

Whate'er he did was done with so much ease,

30

In him alone 'twas natural to please;
His motions all accompanied with grace,
And Paradise was opened in his face.
With secret joy indulgent David viewed
His youthful image in his son renewed;
To all his wishes nothing he denied,
And made the charming Annabel his
bride.

What faults he had (for who from faults is free?)

35

His father could not, or he would not see. Some warm excesses, which the law forbore,

Were construed youth that purged by boiling o'er;

And Amnon's murder by a specious name Was called a just revenge for injured fame. Thus praised and loved, the noble youth remained,

40

While David undisturbed in Sion reigned. But life can never be sincerely blest; Heaven punishes the bad, and proves the best.

The Jews, a headstrong, moody, murmuring race

45

As ever tried the extent and stretch of grace;

God's pampered people, whom, debauched with ease,

No king could govern nor no God could please;

Gods they had tried of every shape and size

That godsmiths could produce or priests devise;

50

These Adam-wits, too fortunately free,
Began to dream they wanted liberty;
And when no rule, no precedent, was
found

Of men by laws less circumscribed and bound,

They led their wild desires to woods and caves,

55

And thought that all but savages were slaves.

They who, when Saul was dead, without a blow

Submit they must to David's government: Impoverished and deprived of all command,

Their taxes doubled as they lost their land; And, what was harder yet to flesh and blood, 96 Their gods disgraced, and burnt like common wood.

This set the heathen priesthood in a flame,
For priests of all religions are the same.
Of whatsoe'er descent their godhead be,
Stock, stone, or other homely pedigree, 101
In his defense his servants are as bold,
As if he had been born of beaten gold.
The Jewish rabbins, though their enemies,
In this conclude them honest men and
wise.

105

For 'twas their duty, all the learned think, To espouse his cause by whom they eat and drink.

From hence began that Plot, the nation's

curse,

Bad in itself, but represented worse,

mon sense,

Had yet a deep and dangerous conse

quence;

135

For as, when raging fevers boil the blood, The standing lake soon floats into a flood, And every hostile humor which before Slept quiet in its channels bubbles o'er; So several factions from this first ferment Work up to foam and threat the govern

ment.

141

Some by their friends, more by themselves thought wise, Opposed the power to which they could not rise.

Some had in courts been great and, thrown from thence,

Like fiends were hardened in impenitence. Some, by their Monarch's fatal mercy grown 146 From pardoned rebels kinsmen to the throne,

Were raised in power and public office high;

Strong bands, if bands ungrateful men could tie.

Of these the false Achitophel was first,150 A name to all succeeding ages curst: For close designs and crooked counsels fit; Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit; Restless, unfixed in principles and place; In power unpleased, impatient of dis

grace:

155

A fiery soul, which, working out its way,
Fretted the pigmy body to decay,
And o'er-informed the tenement of clay.
A daring pilot in extremity;

Pleased with the danger when the waves went high,

160

He sought the storms; but, for a calm unfit, Would steer too nigh the sands, to boast his wit.

Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide; Else why should he, with wealth and honor blest, 165 Refuse his age the needful hours of rest? Punish a body which he could not please, Bankrupt of life, yet prodigal of ease? And all to leave what with his toil he won To that unfeathered two-legg'd thing, a

170

son, Got, while his soul did huddled notions try,

And born a shapeless lump, like anarchy.
In friendship false, implacable in hate,
Resolved to ruin or to rule the state;
To compass this the triple bond he broke,
The pillars of the public safety shook,
And fitted Israel for a foreign yoke;
Then, seized with fear, yet still affecting
fame,

176

Usurped a patriot's all-atoning name.
So easy still it proves in factious times 180
With public zeal to cancel private crimes.
How safe is treason, and how sacred ill,
Where none can sin against the people's

will!

Where crowds can wink and no offence be known,

Since in another's guilt they find their own! 185 Yet fame deserved no enemy can grudge; The statesman we abhor, but praise the judge.

In Israel's courts ne'er sat an Abbethdin With more discerning eyes or hands more clean,

Unbribed, unsought, the wretched to redress,

190

Swift of despatch and easy of access.
Oh! had he been content to serve the crown
With virtues only proper to the gown,
Or had the rankness of the soil been freed
From cockle that oppressed the noble
seed,

195

David for him his tuneful harp had strung

And Heaven had wanted one immortal song.

But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand,

200

And Fortune's ice prefers to Virtue's land.
Achitophel, grown weary to possess
A lawful fame and lazy happiness,
Disdained the golden fruit to gather
free,

And lent the crowd his arm to shake the tree.

Now, manifest1 of crimes contrived long since,

He stood at bold defiance with his prince, Held up the buckler of the people's

cause

206

Against the crown, and skulked behind the laws. The wished occasion of the plot he takes; Some circumstances finds, but more he makes;

By buzzing emissaries fills the ears 210 Of listening crowds with jealousies and fears

Of arbitrary counsels brought to light, And proves the king himself a Jebusite. Weak arguments! which yet he knew full well

Were strong with people easy to rebel. 215 For, governed by the moon, the giddy Jews

Tread the same track when she the prime

renews;

1 evidently guilty.

reign?

Who sues for justice to his throne in vain? What millions has he pardoned of his foes, Whom just revenge did to his wrath expose?

324

Mild, easy, humble, studious of our good, Inclined to mercy and averse from blood. If mildness ill with stubborn Israel suit, His crime is God's beloved attribute.

Why then should I, encouraging the bad, Turn rebel and run popularly mad? 336 Were he a tyrant, who by lawless might Oppressed the Jews and raised the Jebusite,

Well might I mourn; but nature's holy bands

Would curb my spirit and restrain my hands; 340 The people might assert their liberty, But what was right in them were crime in

me.

His favor leaves me nothing to require, Prevents my wishes, and outruns desire; What more can I expect while David lives? All but his kingly diadem he gives: 346 And that"-But here he paused, then sighing said,

"Is justly destined for a worthier head; For when my father from his toils shall rest,

349

And late augment the number of the blest, His lawful issue shall the throne ascend, Or the collateral line, where that shall end.

Yet dauntless and secure of native right, Of every royal virtue stands possessed, 355 Still dear to all the bravest and the best. His courage goes, his friends his truth proclaim,

His loyalty the King, the world his fame. His mercy even the offending crowd will find,

For sure he comes of a forgiving kind. 360 Why should I then repine at Heaven's decree,

Why am I scanted by a niggard birth? 369 My soul disdains the kindred of her earth, And, made for empire, whispers me within, 'Desire of greatness is a god-like sin." Him staggering so when Hell's dire agent found,

999

Which gives me no pretence to royalty? Yet oh that Fate, propitiously inclined, Had raised my birth, or had debased my mind;

364

While fainting virtue scarce maintained her ground,

375

He pours fresh forces in, and thus replies: "The eternal God, supremely good and wise,

He said, and this advice above the rest With Absalom's mild nature suited best; Unblamed of life (ambition set aside,) Not stained with cruelty nor puffed with pride, 480

How happy had he been if Destiny
Had higher placed his birth or not so high!
His kingly virtues might have claimed a
throne

And blessed all other countries but his

own;

But charming greatness since so few refuse, 485 'Tis juster to lament him than accuse.