Then Death unworthy feiz'd a gen'rous Race,
To Virtue's fcandal, and the Stars difgrace!
Oh! had th' Indulgent Pow'rs vouchfaf'd to yield,
Inftead of faithlefs Shelves, a lifted Field;
A lifted Field of Heav'ns and David's Foes,
Fierce as the Troops that did his Youth oppose,
Each Life had on his flaughter'd heap retir'd,
Not tamely, and unconqu❜ring thus expir'd:
But Deftiny is now their only Foe,

And dying ev'n o'er that they triumph too;
With loud laft Breaths their Mafter's Scape applaud,
Of whom kind Force cou'd fcarce the Fates defraud;
Who for fuch Followers loft, O matchlefs Mind!
At his own Safety now almost repin'd!
Say, Royal Sir, by all your Fame in Arms,
Your Praise in Peace, and by Urania's Charms;
If all your Suff'rings paft fo ne'erly preft,

Or pierc d with half fo painful Grief your Breaft?
Thus fome Diviner Muse her Heroe forms,
Not footh'd with foft Delights, but toft in Storms.
Not ftretcht on Rofes in the Myrtle Grove, [Love,
Nor Crowns his Days with Mirth, his Nights with
But far remov'd in thundring Camps is found,
His Slumbers fhort, his Bed the herblefs Ground:
In Tasks of Danger always feen the First,

Feeds from the Hedge, and flakes with Ice his Thirft.
Long muft his Patience ftrive with Fortune's Rage,
And long oppofing Gods themselves engage,
Muft fee his Country Flame, his Friends deftroy'd,
Before the promis'd Empire be enjoy'd :
Such Toil of Fate muft build a Man of Fame,
And fuch, to Ifrael's Crown,the God-like David came.
What fudden Beams difpel the Clouds fo faft!
Whofe drenching Rains laid all our Vineyards wafte
The Spring fo far behind her Course delay'd,
On th' Inftant is in all her Bloom array'd;
The Winds breath low, the Element ferene ;
Yet mark what Motion in the Waves is seen!

Thronging and bufie as Hyblaan Swarms,
Or ftragled Soldiers fummon'd to their Arms.
See where the Princely Bark in looseft Pride,
With all her Guardian Fleet, adorns the Tide!
High on her Deck the Royal Lovers ftand,
Our Crimes to Pardon e'er they touch'd our Land.
Welcome to Ifrael and to David's Breaft!
Here all your Toils, here all your Suff'rings reft.
This Year did Ziloah rule Jerufalem,
And boldly all Sedition's Syrtes Atem,
How e'er incumber'd with a viler Pair
Than Ziph or Shimei to affift the Chair;
Yet Ziloah's Loyal Labours fo prevail'd
That Faction at the next Election fail'd,
When ev❜n the common Cry did Juftice found,
And Merit by the Multitude was Crown'd:
With David then was Ifrael's Peace reftor'd,
Crowds mourn'd their Error, and obey'd their Lord.

A KEY to both Parts of Abfalóm and Achitophel.

i

The entire Episode of Mezentius and Laufus, tranflated out of the Tenth Book of Virgil's Eneids.

By Mr. DRYDEN.

.

Connection of the EPISODE, with the foregoing Story.

Mezentius was King of Etruria, or Tuscany; from whence he was expelid by his Subjects, for his Ty--rannical government, and cruelty ; and a new King Elected. Being thus banish'd he applies himself to King Turnus, in whofe Court he and his Son Laufus take Sanctuary. Turnus for the Love of Lavinia making War with Eneas, Mezentius ingages in the caufe of his Benefactor, and performs many great actions, particularly in revenging himself on his late Subjects, who now affifted Eneas out of hatred to him. Mezentius is every where defcrib'd by Virgil as an Atheift; his Son Laufus is made the Pattern of filial Piety and Virtue: And the death of thofe two is the fubject of this Noble Episode.

"HUS equal deaths are dealt, and equal chance ;

TH

By turns they quit their ground, by turns adVictors and vanquish'd in the various field; [vance: Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield:

The Gods from Heav'n furvey the doubtful ftrife,
And mourn the Miseries of human life.
Above the rest two Goddeffes appear

Concern'd for each: Here Venus, Juno there.
Amidst the Crowd, infernal Até fhakes

Her Scourge aloft, and hiffing Creft of Snakes...
Once more Mezentius, with a proud difdain,
Brandifh'd his Spear, and run'd into the Plains.