and ending Page 18, Line 34,
To talk like Doeg, and to write like .thee.
containing near two Hundred Verfes were intirely Mr. Dryden's Compofitions, befides fome Touches in other places. You will find at the End of this Part, a true Key to both the Parts.
The SECOND PART OF
ABSALOM
SINCE Mén, like Beasts, each others
Since Trade began, and Priesthood. grew a Trade,
Since Realms were form'd, none.
fure.fo curft as those
That madly their own Happiness oppose;
There Heaven it felf, and God-like Kings, in vain
Showr down the Manna of a gentle Reign;
While pamper'd Crowds to mad Sedition run,
And Monarchs by Indulgence are undone.
Thus David's Clemency was fatal grown,
While wealthy Faction aw'd the wanting Throne.
For now their Sov'reign's Orders to contemn
Was held the Charter of Jerufalem,
His Rights t' invade, his Tributes to refuse,
A Privilege peculiar to the Jews;
As if from Heav'nly Call this Licence fell,
And Jacob's Seed were chosen to Rebel!*
V.O L.. II..
Achitophel with Triumph fees his Crimes
Thus fuited to the Madness of the Times;
And Abfalem, to make his Hopes fucceed,
Of flattering Charms no longer ftands in need;
While fond of Change, though ne'er fo dearly bought,
Our Tribes out-ftrip the Youth's Ambitious Thought;
His fwifteft Hopes with fwifter Homage meet,
And crowd their fervile Necks beneath his Feet.
Thus to his Aid while preffing Tides repair,
He mounts and fpreads his Streamers in the Air.
The Charms of Empire might his Youth mis-lead,
But what can our befotted Ifrael plead
Sway'd by a Monarch, whofe ferene Command
Seems half the Bleffing of our promis'd Land.
Whofe only Grievance is excefs of Eafe;
Freedom our Pain, and Plenty our Disease!
Yet, as all Folly would lay claim to Senfe,
And Wickedness ne'er wanted a Pretence,
With Arguments they'd make their Treafon good,
And righteous David's Self with Slanders load:
That Arts of foreign Sway he did affect,
And guilty Jebufites from Law protea,
Whofe very Chiefs, convict, were never freed,
Nay we have seen their Sacrificers bleed!
Accufers Infamy is urg'd in vain,
While in the bounds of Senfe they did contain,
But foon they launcht into th' unfathom'd Tide,
And in the Depths they knew difdain'd to Ride,
For probable Difcoveries to difpence,
Was thought below a penfion'd Evidence ;
Mere Truth was dull, nor fuited with the Port
Of pamper'd Corah, when advanc'd to Court.
No lefs than Wonders now they will impofe,
And Projects void of Grace or Senfe difclose.
Such was the Charge on pious Michal brought,
Michal that ne'er was cruel ev'n in Thought,
The best of Queens, and moft obedient Wife,
Impeach'd of curft Designs on David's Life!
His Life, the Theme of her eternal Pray'r,
'Tis fcarce fo much his Guardian Angels Care.
Not Summer Morns fuch Mildness can difclose,
The Hermou Lilly, nor the Sharon Rofe.
Neglecting each vain Pomp of Majesty,
Transported Michal feeds her Thoughts on high.
She lives with Angels, and as Angels do,
Quits Heav'n fometimes to blefs the World below.
Where, cherisht by her Bounties plenteous Spring,
Reviving Widows fmile, and Orphans fing.
Oh! when rebellious Ifrael's Crimes at height,
Are threatned with her Lord's approaching Eate,
The Piety of Michal then remain
In Heaven's Remembrance, and prolong his Reign..
Lefs Defolation did the Feft pursue,
That from Dan's limits to Beersheba new,
Lefs fatal the repeated Wars of Tyre,
And lefs Jerufalem's avenging Fire.
With gentler Terrour thefe our State o'er-ran,
Than fince our Evidencing Days began!
On every Cheek a pale Confufion fat,
Continu'd Fear beyond the worst of Fate!
Truft was no more, Art, Science, ufelefs made,
All Occupations loft, but Corah's Trade,
Mean while a Guard on modeft Corah wait,
If not for fafety, needful yet for State.
Well might he deem each Peer and Prince his Slave:
And Lord it o'er the Tribes which he could Save:
Ev'n Vice in him was Virtue---what fad Fate
But for his Honefty had feiz'd our State?
And with what Tyranny had we been curft,
Had Corah never prov'd a Villain first!
7' have told his Knowledge of th' Intrigue in grofs
Had been, alas, to our Deponent's lofs :
The travell'd Levite had th' Experience got,
To husband well, and make the best of's Plot i
And therefore like an Evidence of skill,
With wife Referves fecur'd his Penfion ftill;
Nor quite of future Pow'r himself bereft,
But Limbo's large for Unbelievers left.
And now his Writ fuch Reverence had got,
'Twas worse than Plotting to fufpect his Plot.
Some were fo well convinc'd, they made no doubt
Themselves to help the founder'd Swearers out.
Some had their Senfe impos'd on by their Fear,
But more for Int'reft fake believe and fwear :
Ev'n to that height with fome the Frenzy grew,
They rag'd to find their Danger not prove true,
Yet, than all these a Viler Crew remain,
Who with Achitophel the Cry maintain;
Not urg'd by Fear, nor through mifguided Senfe,
(Blind Zeal, and ftarving Need had fome pretence)
But for the Good Old Caufe that did excite
Th' Original Rebels Wiles, Revenge and Spight.
Thefe raise the Plot, to have the Scandal thrown
Upon the bright Succeffour of the Crown,
Whofe Virtue with fuch Wrongs they had purfu'd,
As feem'd all hope of Pardon to exclude.
Thus, while on private Ends their Zeal is built,
The cheated Crowd applaud and fhare their Guilt
Such Practices as thefe, too grofs to lye
Long unobferv'd by each difcerning Eye,
The more judicious Ifraelites Unfpell'd,
Though ftill the Charm the giddy Rabble held,
Ev'n Abfalom amidst the dazling Beams
Of Empire, and Ambition's flattering Dreams,
Perceives the Plot (too foul to be excus'd)
To aid Defigns, no lefs pernicious, us'd.
And (Filial Senfe yet ftriving in his Breaft)
Thus to Achitophel his Doubts expreft.
Why are my Thoughts upon a Crown employ'd,
Which once obtain'd, can be but half enjoy'd
Not fo when Virtue did my Arms require,
And to my Father's Wars I flew intire.
My Regal Pow'r how will my Foes refent,
When I my Self have scarce my own Confent?
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