Strong were his hopes a rival to remove, With blandishments to gain the public love, To head the faction while their zeal was hot, And popularly prosecute the plot. For several ends to serve the same design; The best, (and of the princes some were such,) 495 Who thought the power of monarchy too much; Mistaken men, and patriots in their hearts, Not wicked, but seduced by impious arts; By these the springs of property were bent And wound so high they cracked the government. 500 The next for interest sought to embroil the state 490 Born to be saved, even in their own despite,. Because they could not help believing right. Such were the tools; but a whole Hydra 540 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; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon; 550 Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. Blest madman, who could every hour employ With something new to wish or to enjoy! 555 tremes: So over violent, or over civil, In squandering wealth was his peculiar art: Nothing went unrewarded but desert. 560 Beggared by fools whom still he found too late, He had his jest, and they had his estate. He laughed himself from Court; then sought relief By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief: For spite of him, the weight of business fell On Absalom and wise Achitophel: 566 Thus wicked but in will, of means bereft, He left not faction, but of that was left. Shimei, whose youth did early promise bring Of zeal to God, and hatred to his King, 586 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 591 Among the Jews, which was to cheat and pray, The city, to reward his pious hate 601 Against the monarch of Jerusalem, Shimei was always in the midst of them: And, if they cursed the King when he was by, Would rather curse than break good company. 605 If any durst his factious friends accuse, He packed a jury of dissenting Jews; Whose fellow-feeling in the godly cause Would free the suffering saint from human laws: For laws are only made to punish those 610 Who serve the King, and to protect his foes. If any leisure time he had from power, Because 'tis sin to misemploy an hour, His business was by writing to persuade That kings were useless and a clog to trade: 615 And that his noble style he might refine, No Rechabite more shunned the fumes of wine. Chaste were his cellars, and his shrieval board 730 train; From east to west his glories he displays, And, like the sun, the promised land surveys. Fame runs before him like 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. 736 · * * * * * Oh foolish Israel! never warned by ill! What shall we think? Can people give away Both for themselves and sons their native sway? 760 Then they are left defenceless to the sword Of each unbounded, arbitrary lord; And laws are vain by which we right enjoy, If kings unquestioned can those laws destroy. 766 Yet if the crowd be judge of fit and just, If those who gave the sceptre could not tie How could his forfeit on mankind take place? Or how could heavenly justice damn us all 775 And tenants to their people's pleasure Add that the power, for property allowed, For vice, oppression, and for tyranny. * * Now what relief can righteous David bring? 811 How fatal 'tis to be too good a king! years. Long since the rising rebels he withstood In regions waste beyond the Jordan's flood: 820 Which well the noblest objects knew to choose, The fighting warrior, and recording Muse. His bed could once a fruitful issue boast; Now more than half a father's name is lost. 830 His eldest hope, with every grace adorned, By me, so Heaven will have it, always mourned And always honored, snatched in man- By unequal fates and Providence's crime: Unfortunately brave to buoy the state, art: The court he practised, not the courtier's 825 Large was his wealth, but larger was his heart, son; Swift was the race, but short the time to run. Indulge one labor more, my weary For Amiel: who can Amiel's praise refuse? So dexterous was he in the Crown's de- So formed to speak a loyal nation's grows; So fit was he to represent them all. Who dare be such must be the people's Now rasher charioteers the seat ascend, foes. Whose loose careers his steady skill commend: Yet some there were even in the worst of They, like unequal ruler of the day, 910 sense, 905 That, as their band was Israel's tribes in small, way, While he, withdrawn, at their mad labor smiles, And safe enjoys the Sabbath of his toils. These were the chief, a small but faithful band Of worthies in the breach who dared to stand 915 And tempt the united fury of the land. With grief they viewed such powerful engines bent To batter down the lawful government. In Sanhedrins to plume the regal rights, 935 Thus from his royal throne, by Heaven inspired, The godlike David spoke; with awful fear His train their Maker in their master hear. "Thus long have I, by native mercy swayed, My wrongs dissembled, my revenge delayed; 940 So willing to forgive the offending age, 945 But 'tis to rule, for that's a monarch's end. They call my tenderness of blood my fear, Though manly tempers can the longest bear. Yet since they will divert my native course, 'Tis time to show I am not good by force. Those heaped affronts that haughty subjects bring 951 Are burdens for a camel, not a king. If my young Samson will pretend a call 955 To shake the column, let him share the fall. But oh that yet he would repent and live! How easy 'tis for parents to forgive! own. A king's at least a part of government, And mine as requisite as their consent. Without my leave a future king to choose Infers a right the present to depose. 980 True, they petition me to approve their choice; But Esau's hands suit ill with Jacob's voice. My pious subjects for my safety pray, Which to secure, they take my power away. From plots and treasons Heaven preserve my years, 985 But save me most from my petitioners, Unsatiate as the barren womb or grave; God cannot grant so much as they can crave. What then is left but with a jealous eye To guard the small remains of royalty? 990 The law shall still direct my peaceful sway, And the same law teach rebels to obey. By their own arts, 'tis righteously decreed, Those dire artificers of death shall bleed. Against themselves their witnesses will swear IOI2 Till, viper-like, their mother-plot they tear, MAC FLECKNOE All human things are subject to decay, And, when Fate summons, monarchs must obey. This Flecknoe found, who, like Augustus, young Was called to empire, and had governed long; 5 In prose and verse, was owned without dispute, Through all the realms of Nonsense, absolute. This aged prince, now flourishing in peace, And blest with issue of a large increase, Worn out with business, did at length debate 10 To settle the succession of the state; And, pondering which of all his sons was fit To reign and wage immortal war with Should only rule who most resembles me. |