the reconcilement of Abfalom to David.. And who knows but this may come to pass? Things were not brought to an extremity where I left the ftory: there feems yet to be room left for a compofure; hereafter there may be only for pity. I have not fo much as an uncharitable wish against Achitophel, but am content to be accused of a good-natured error, and to hope with Origen, that the devil himself may at last be faved. For which reason, in this poem, he is neither brought to fet his houfe in order, nor to difpofe of his perfon afterwards as he in wisdom shall think fit. God is infinitely merciful; and his vicegerent is only not fo, because he is not infinite.

The true end of fatire is the amendment of vices by correction. And he, who writes honeftly, is no more an enemy to the offender, than the physician to the patient, when he prescribes harfh remedies to an inveterate difeafe; for those are only in order to prevent the chirurgeon's work of an Enfe refcindendum, which I wish not to my very enemies. To conclude all; if the body politic have any analogy to the natural, in my weak judgment, an act of oblivion were as neceffary in a hot diftemper'd state, as an opiate would be in a raging fever.

ABSALOM

AND

A CHITOPHE L.

IN pious times ere prieftcraft did begin,

Before polygamy was made a fin; When man on many multiply'd his kind, Ere one to one was curfedly confin'd; When nature prompted, and no law deny'd Promifcuous ufe of concubine and bride; Then Ifrael's monarch after heaven's own heart, His vigorous warmth did variously impart

To wives and flaves; and wide as his command,
Scatter'd his Maker's image through the land.
Michal, of royal blood, the crown did wear;
A foil ungrateful to the tiller's care:
Not fo the reft; for several mothers bore
To god-like David feveral fons before.
But fince like flaves his bed they did ascend,
No true fucceffion could their feed attend.
Of all the numerous progeny was none
So beautiful, fo brave, as Abfalom:
Whether infpir'd by fome diviner luft,
His father got him with a greater gust:
Or that his confcious destiny made way,
By manly beauty to imperial fway.
Early in foreign fields he won renown,
With kings and ftates ally'd to Ifrael's crown:
In peace the thoughts of war he could remove,
And feem'd as he were only born for love.
Whate'er he did, was done with fo much ease,
In him alone 'twas natural to please :
His motions all accompany'd with grace;
And paradife was open'd in his face.
With fecret joy indulgent David view'd
His youthful image in his fon renew'd:
To all his wishes nothing he deny'd;

And made the charming Annabel his bride.

What faults he had, for who from faults is free?
His father could not, or he would not fee.
Some warm exceffes which the law forbore,
Were conftru'd youth that purg'd by boiling o'er
And Amnon's murder by a fpecious 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 fincerely blest :
Heaven punishes the bad, and proves the best.
The Jews, a headstrong, moody, murmuring race,
As ever try'd th' extent and stretch of grace;
God's pamper'd people, whom debauch'd with
eafe,

No king could govern, nor no God could please;
Gods they had try'd of every shape and fize,
That godfmiths could produce, or priests devise :
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 circumfcrib'd and bound
They led their wild defires to woods and caves,
And thought that all but favages were flaves.
They who, when Saul was dead, without a blow,
Made foolish Ishbofheth the crown forego;

Who banish'd David did from Hebron bring,
And with a general fhout proclaim'd him king:
Thofe very Jews, who at their very best,
Their humor more than loyalty expreft,
Now wonder'd why so long they had obey'd
An idol monarch, which their hands had made;
Thought they might ruin him they could create,
Or melt him to that golden calf a state.

But these were random bolts: no form'd defign,
Nor interest made the factious crowd to join:
The fober part of Ifrael, free from stain,
Well knew the value of a peaceful reign;
And looking backward with a wife affright,
Saw feams of wounds dishonest to the fight:
In contemplation of whofe ugly scars,
They curft the memory of civil wars.
The moderate fort of men thus qualify'd,
Inclin'd the balance to the better fide;
And David's mildness manag'd it fo well,
The bad found no occafion to rebel.

But when to fin our bias'd nature leans,
The careful devil is ftill at hand with means;
And providently pimps for ill defires :
The good old cause reviv'd a plot requires.
Plots true or falfe are neceffary things,

To raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings.