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diff --git a/18517-8.txt b/18517-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..340e533 --- /dev/null +++ b/18517-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4595 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Anti-Achitophel (1682), by Elkanah Settle et al. + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Anti-Achitophel (1682) + Three Verse Replies to Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden + +Author: Elkanah Settle et al. + +Editor: Harold Whitmore Jones + +Release Date: June 6, 2006 [EBook #18517] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANTI-ACHITOPHEL (1682) *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner, Suzanne Lybarger +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + [Transcriber's Note: + Typographical errors are listed separately at the end of the Editor's + Introduction and each poem.] + + + _Anti-Achitophel_ + + (1682) + + THREE VERSE REPLIES TO + + _Absalom and Achitophel_ by JOHN DRYDEN + + _Absalom Senior_ by Elkanah Settle + _Poetical Reflections_ by Anonymous + _Azaria and Hushai_ by Samuel Pordage + + + + + Facsimile Reproductions + + Edited with an Introduction + by + HAROLD WHITMORE JONES + + Gainesville, Florida + Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints + 1961 + + + + +SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS +118 N.W. 26th Street +Gainesville, Florida +Harry R. Warfel, General Editor + +Reproduced from Copies in +BRITISH MUSEUM +UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARY + +L. C. Catalog Card Number: 60-6430 + +Manufactured in the U.S.A. +Letterpress by J. N. Anzel, Inc. +Photolithography by Edwards Brothers +Binding by Universal-Dixie Bindery + + + * * * * * + +INTRODUCTION + + +English verse allegory, humorous or serious, political or moral, has +deep roots; a reprint such as the present is clearly no place for a +discussion of the subject at large:[1] it need only be recalled here +that to the age that produced _The Pilgrim's Progress_ the art form was +not new. Throughout his life Dryden had his enemies, Prior and Montague +in their satire of _The Hind and the Panther_, for example. The general +circumstances under which Dryden wrote _Absalom and Achitophel_, +familiar enough and easily accessible, are therefore recalled only +briefly below. Information is likewise readily available on his use of +Biblical allegory.[2] + + [Footnote 1: Cf. E. D. Leyburn, _Satiric Allegory, Mirror of Man_ + (New Haven, 1956).] + + [Footnote 2: e.g., _Absalom's Conspiracy_, a tract tracing how the + Bible story came to be used for allegorical purposes. See _The + Harleian Miscellany_ (1811), VIII, 478-479; and R. F. Jones, "The + Originality of 'Absalom and Achitophel,'" _Modern Language Notes_, + XLVI (April, 1931) 211-218.] + +We are here concerned with three representative replies to _Absalom +and Achitophel_: their form, their authors, and details of their +publication. Settle's poem was reprinted with one slight alteration +a year after its first appearance; the _Reflections_ has since been +reprinted in part, Pordage's poem not at all. _Absalom Senior_ has been +chosen because, of the many verse pieces directed against Dryden's poem, +it is of the greatest intrinsic merit and shows the reverse side of the +medal, as it were, to that piece; the second is given, not for any +literary merit it may possess--indeed, from its first appearance it has +been dismissed as of small worth--but rather as a poem representative of +much of the versifying that followed hard on the Popish Plot and as one +that has inspired great speculation as to its author; the third, in +addition to throwing light on the others, is a typical specimen of the +lesser work produced in the Absalom dispute. + +The author and precise publication date of the _Reflections_ remain +unidentified. Ascription of the poem to Buckingham rests ultimately on +the authority of Wood's _Athenae Oxonienses_ and on Wood alone, and we +do not know on what evidence he thought it to be Buckingham's; we do +know, however, that Wood was often mistaken over such matters. Sir +Walter Scott in his collected edition of Dryden (1808; IX, 272-5) also +accepted Buckingham as the author, but cited no authority; he printed +extracts, yet the shortcomings of his edition, whatever its convenience, +are well known. The poem has not appeared in any subsequent edition of +Dryden's poems, the latest being the four volume set (Oxford, 1958); +the volume of the California Dryden[A] relevant to _Absalom_ is still +awaited. Internal evidence is even more scanty. Only one passage of the +_Reflections_ (sig. D2) may bear on the matter. Perhaps the "Three-fold +Might" (p. 7, line 11) refers, not to the poet's "tripartite design" +(p. 7, line 10) or to the Triple Alliance of England, Holland, and +Sweden against France (1677/8, as in _Absalom and Achitophel_, line +175) but either to a treatise which had occasioned some stir in the +scientific world some twenty years previously: "the Delphic problem" +proposed by Hobbes to the Royal Society on the duplication of the cube, +which might have come to the ears of Buckingham as well as to those of +the court,[3] or perhaps to the triple confederacy of Essex, Halifax, +and Sunderland.[4] But to the Restoration reader the phrase "Three-fold +Might" would rather have suggested the Triple Alliance, to which Dryden +reverts in _The Medal_ (lines 65-68) when he claims that Shaftesbury, +"thus fram'd for ill, ... loos'd our Triple Hold" on Europe.[5] + + [Transcriber's Footnote (A): + This Introduction was written in 1959. Volume II of the California + Edition (_The Works of John Dryden_) was published in 1972.] + + [Footnote 3: Hobbes, _English Works_ (1845), ed. by Molesworth, VII, + 59-68.] + + [Footnote 4: H. C. Foxcroft, _A Character of the Trimmer_ + (Cambridge, England, 1946), p. 70. This book is an abridged + version of the same author's _Life and Works of Halifax_ (1897).] + + [Footnote 5: Cf. the phrase "Twofold might" in _Absalom and + Achitophel_, I, 175.] + +Evidence against Buckingham's authorship, on the other hand, is +comparatively strong. The piece does not appear in his collected _Works_ +(1704-5). It surely would have been included even though he had at first +wished to claim any credit from its publication and later have wished to +disown it. Little connection, furthermore, will be found between the +_Reflections_ and the rest of his published verse or with the plays, +including _The Rehearsal_, if the latter be his alone, which is +doubtful. + +_Poetical Reflections_ has been ascribed to Edward Howard. W. Thomas +Lowndes in his _Bibliographer's Manual_ (1864; II, 126) assigned to this +minor writer, on the authority of an auction note, the little collection +_Poems and Essays, with a Paraphrase on Cicero's Laelius, or, Of +Friendship ... By a Gentleman_ (1674), and G. Thorn-Drury, on the +equally debatable evidence of an anonymous manuscript ascription on +the title page of his own copy, ascribed the _Poetical Reflections_ to +Howard.[6] An examination of the _Poems and Essays_, however, reveals no +point of resemblance with our poem. How, then, does Howard fit into the +picture? He was in the rival camp to Dryden and was a friend of Martin +Clifford[7] and of Thomas Sprat, then Buckingham's chaplain: these three +have been thought to be jointly responsible for _The Rehearsal_. Sprat +had published a poem of congratulation to Howard on Howard's _The +British Princes_ (1669), the latter a long pseudo-epic of the Blackmore +style in dreary couplets which, again, provides no parallel with the +_Reflections_. And what of Howard's plays? Many of these were written +in the 1660's during his poetic apprenticeship; none seems akin to our +poem. Whereas, as shown in the Table of Allusions below, two independent +readers often agreed over the identities of many characters in Settle's +poem, Restoration readers at large were reticent over the authorship +of the _Reflections_. Hugh Macdonald, in his useful _John Dryden: a +Bibliography_ (1939), was wise to follow their example, and it seems +rash, therefore, to propose any new candidate in the face of such +negative evidence. The poem exists in two states, apparently differing +only in the title page. + + [Footnote 6: _Review of English Studies_, I (1925) 82-83.] + + [Footnote 7: In his _Notes upon Mr. Dryden's Poems in Four Letters_ + (1687) Clifford, in 16 pages, accuses Dryden of plagiarism, + especially in _Almanzor_.] + +Evidence of Settle's authorship of _Absalom Senior_, on the other hand, +is neither wanting nor disputed. We have had to wait until our own +century for the pioneer work on this writer, since he cannot have been +considered a sufficiently major poet by Samuel Johnson's sponsors, and +Langbaine's account is sketchy. In a periodical paper[8] Macdonald +summarized supplementary evidence on the dates of composition of +Settle's poem; he was working on it in January 1681/2, and it was +published on the following April 6. Lockyer, Dean of Peterborough, +asserted to Joseph Spence, who includes the rumor in _Anecdotes_, that +Settle was assisted by Clifford and Sprat and by "several best hands of +those times";[9] but Spence is notoriously unreliable. In the lack of +other evidence, then, it seems best to take the poem as wholly Settle's. +It needs only to add a few words on its textual states. The First +Edition, here reproduced, seems to exist in a single impression, and +likewise the Second Edition of the Settle (1682, in quarto) seems to +have been struck off in a single textual state. Of its individual +variants from the First Edition only the following seem of any +significance and, since there is no reason to suppose that it was +printed from any copy other than the First, they may be merely the +result of carelessness. + + FIRST EDITION SECOND EDITION + + p. 3, line 4, enthron'd, with inthron'd with + 3 8, Arts ... steps Art's ... step's + 11 10, Rods; Rods? + 13 26, to Descend do Descend + 14 17, couch, couch + 29 9, Cedar Cedars + 31 21, Temples Temple + + [Footnote 8: "The Attacks on John Dryden," _Essays and Studies by + Members of the English Association_, XXI, 41-74.] + + [Footnote 9: Joseph Spence, _Anecdotes ... of Books and Men_ (1858), + p. 51.] + +For "No Link ... night" (p. 35, lines 19-24), the Second Edition +substitutes, for an undetermined reason, the following: + + No less the Lordly Zelecks Glory sound + For courage and for Constancy renoun'd: + Though once in naught but borrow'd plumes adorn'd, + So much all servile Flattery he scorn'd; + That though he held his Being and Support, + By that weak Thread the Favour of a Court, + In Sanhedrims unbrib'd, he firmly bold + Durst Truth and Israels Right unmov'd uphold; + In spight of Fortune, still to Honour wed, + By Justice steer'd, though by Dependence fed. + +Very little can be said of Pordage's poem, beyond its date of +publication (January 17, 1681/2)[10] and the fact that no parallel has +been found with his earlier work. As no detailed study on him, published +or unpublished, has been traced, we can only have recourse to the +standard works on the period; data thus easily accessible are not +therefore reproduced here. A so-called second edition (MacDonald 205b) +is identical with the first. + + [Footnote 10: _Modern Philology_, XXV (1928) 409-416.] + +In conclusion a few comments may be made on the general situation into +which the poems fit. It will be remembered that _Absalom and Achitophel_ +appeared after the Exclusion Bill, the purpose of which was to debar +James Duke of York from the Protestant succession, had been rejected by +the House of Lords, mainly through the efforts of Halifax. Dryden's poem +was advertised on November 17, 1681, and we may safely assume that it +was published only a short time before Settle and our other authors +were hired by the Whigs to answer it. Full details have not survived; +one suspects Shaftesbury's Green Ribbon Club. That such replies were +considered necessary testifies both to the popularity of _Absalom and +Achitophel_ with the layman in politics and to the Whigs' fear of its +harming their cause. Settle's was of course a mercenary pen, and it is +amusing to note that after ridiculing Halifax here he was quite prepared +to publish, fourteen years later, _Sacellum Apollinare: a Funeral Poem +to the Memory of that Great Statesman, George Late Marquiss of Halifax_, +and on this count his place among Pope's Dunces seems merited. In +tracing his quarrel with Dryden up to the publication of _Absalom +Senior_, critics have tended to overlook the fact that by 1680 there +was already hostility between the two;[11] less has been said about +the effect on Dryden of the poets themselves. The spleen of his +contributions to the Second Part of _Absalom and Achitophel_ is +essentially a manufactured one and for the public entertainment; +personally he was comparatively unmoved--the Og portrait, for example, +is less representative than his words in "The Epistle to the Whigs" +prefixed to _The Medal_. Here, as in _Mac Flecknoe_, he appears to have +been able to write vituperation to order. "I have only one favor to +desire of you at parting," he says, and it is "that when you think of +answering this poem, you would employ the same pens against it, who have +combated with so much success against _Absalom and Achitophel_; for then +you may assure yourselves of a clear victory, without the least reply." +Is it for the best that this forecast proved the right one? + + [Footnote 11: e.g., over _The Empress of Morocco_; see Scott's + _Dryden_, XV, 397-413.] + +For permission to reproduce their copies of texts comprising the present +reprint thanks are expressed to the University of Florida Library +(_Absalom Senior_) and to the Trustees of the British Museum (the other +two poems). The University of Leeds and the City of Manchester Public +Library are also thanked for leave to use contemporary marginalia in +each's copy of Settle's poem. The provenance of the latter two copies +of this piece is unknown; the first, now in the Brotherton Collection, +bears the name William Crisp on its last blank leaf and, in abbreviated +form, identifies some characters; the second, of unidentified ownership, +is fuller. + + HAROLD WHITMORE JONES + + _Liverpool, England + + November_, 1959 + + + + +TABLE OF ALLUSIONS + + +NAMES + +The persons and places referred to in the allegories are identified +in the following lists of names. M indicates the ascription in the +Manchester copy; B, that in the Leeds University copy. Within the list +for each poem, names similarly used in _Absalom and Achitophel_ are +omitted; those used with a different meaning are marked with an +asterisk. + +ABSALOM SENIOR + + *_Absalom_, Duke of York + *_Achitophel_, Halifax + *_Adriel_, Earl of Huntington + _Amasai_, Earl of Macclesfield (M, B) + _Amnon_, Godfrey + *_Amiel_, Buckingham (B) + _Amram_, Sir William Jones + _Arabia_, Portugal + _Ashur_, Fourth Lord Herbert of Cherbury (M) + _Babylon_, Rome + _Barak_, Drake + *_Barzillai_, Shaftesbury (B) + *_Caleb_, Laurence Hyde, son of Clarendon (B) + _Camries_, Third Lord Howard of Escrick (M) + *_Corah_, Sir Edward Seymour (B) + _Deborah_, Queen Elizabeth + _Endor_, Oxford (B) + _Geshur_, Ireland + _Hanaan_, Lord Nottingham + _Hazor_, Spain + *_Helon_, First Duke of Bedford + *_Hothriel_, Slingsby Bethell + *_Hushai_, Earl of Argyll + _Ithream_, Monmouth + _Jabin_, Philip II + *_Jonas_, ?Sir William Gregory (M glosses as Seymour; _see Corah_) + *_Jotham_, Earl of Essex + _Laura_, Anne Reeve + _Levitick chiefs_, English bishops (B) + _Micah_, Sir William Williams, Speaker of the Commons + *_Nadab_, Lauderdale + *_Shimei_, Jeffreys (B) + _Sidon_, Denmark + _Sisera_, Medina Sidonia + _Zeleck_, unidentified + +POETICAL REFLECTIONS + + *_Amiel_, ?Finch, Lord Chancellor + *_Bathsheba_, ?Queen Catherine + _Nimrod_, Cromwell + _Tory Roger_, L'Estrange + +AZARIA AND HUSHAI + + _Abidon_, unidentified + _Amalack_, ?Henry Hyde, son of Clarendon + _Amazia_, Charles II + _Aminadab, Ashur_, unidentified; _see_ Ashur _above_. + _Athalia_, Mary Queen of Scots + _Azaria_, Monmouth + _Azyad_, Sir Edmundbury Godfrey + _Bibbai_, L'Estrange + _Canaanites, Chemarim_, Papists + _Doeg_, Danby + _Edomites_, Irish + _Elam_, Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester + _Eliab_, Lord Russell + _Eliakim_, Duke of York + _Elishama_, ?Macclesfield + _Elizur, Enan_, unidentified + _Essens_, nonconformists + _Gamaliel_, unidentified + _Gedaliah_, Edward Coleman + _Gibbar_, ?Lord Clifford + _Harim_, ?Lord Wharton + _Helon_, Bedford + *_Hushai_, Shaftesbury + _Jehosaphat_, Henry VII + _Jeptha_, see Settle, p. 21 + _Jerusha_, Anne, Countess of Buccleuch + _Joash_, Charles I + _Jocoliah_, Lucy Walters + *_Jotham_, ?Halifax + _Libni_, Oates + _Muppim_, ?Lauderdale + _Nashai_, Essex + _Pagiel_, unidentified + _Pharisee_, high churchman + _Rehoboam_, unidentified + *_Shimei_, Dryden + _Zabed_, Cromwell + _Zattue_, unidentified + + +REFERENCES + +Biblical parallels and parallels with _Absalom and Achitophel_ are +omitted. The _Dedications_ of the poems can be compared with Dryden's +in _Absalom and Achitophel_. + +ABSALOM SENIOR + +Page + + 3: _Barak_. The only borrowing in the poem from a popular seventeenth + century jest book, _Wits Recreations_ (1640), "Epigrams," no. 46, + "On Sir Fr. Drake": "The sun itself cannot forget/His fellow + traveller." + + 11: a _Jewish_ Renegade. Cardinal Philip Thomas Howard (B). + + 13: a Breaden God. Either a reference to transubstantiation (see also + II Kings 2-3 and II Chron. 34) or an allusion to the Meal Tub Plot + (1679). + + 16: a Cake of _Shew-bread_. In addition to the Biblical allusion, + perhaps a reference to the poisoning of the Holy Roman Emperor + Henry VII by the communion wafer. + + 17: in Possession. As this legal term is opposed to "reversion" + emendation is unnecessary. + + 19: to bear. There was a belief that Jeffreys was connected with + the Duchess of Portsmouth (B). The "Golden Prize" was perhaps + protestantism, to be suppressed under a secret provision of the + Treaty of Dover (1670). + + 19: Court-Drugster. Sir George Wakeman. + + 25: beautifyed. _OED_ notices this catachrestic form of "beatified" + + 32: All-be-devill'd Paper. Presumably that accusing Shaftsbury of + high treason. + + 34: A Cell. Eton. + + 37: Midnight Bawd. Mrs. Cellier. + +POETICAL REFLECTIONS + + 4: Ignoramus. the jury's verdict at Shaftesbury's trial. + + 5: the Joyner. Stephen Colledge. + + 9: motly Sight, read "Spight"? + +AZARIA AND HUSHAI + + 10: Power on _Amazia_. Read "of _Amazia_"? + + 19: allay'd. Read "ally'd"? + + 28: to board. Read "hoard"? + + 38: swifty back. So in all copies seen. + + +[Erratum: + + 4: Ignoramus. The jury's verdict at Shaftesbury's trial. + _text reads "the jury's"_] + + * * * * * + + Absalom Senior: + or, + ACHITOPHEL + TRANSPROS'D. + + A + POEM. + + _Si Populus vult decipi_, &c. + + [Illustration: Publisher's Device: + IL VOSTRO MALIGNARE NON GIOVA NVLLA] + + + LONDON: + +Printed for _S. E._ and Sold by _Langley Curtis_, + at the Sign of Sir _Edmondbury Godfrey_, + near _Fleetbridge_. 1682. + + + + +To the TORIES. + +_Gentlemen_, for so you all write your selves; and indeed you are your +own Heralds, and Blazon all your Coats with _Honour_ and _Loyalty_ for +your _Supporters_; nay, and you are so unconscionable too in that point, +that you will allow neither of them in any other _Scutcheons_ but +your own. But who has 'em, or has 'em not, is not my present business; +onely as you profess your selves Gentlemen, to conjure you to give an +Adversary fair play; and that if any person whatsoever shall pretend +to be aggrieved by this POEM, or any part of it, that he would bear +it patiently; since the Licentiousness of the first _Absolom_ and +_Achitophel_ has been the sole occasion of the Liberty of This, I +having only taken the Measure of My Weapon, from the Length of his; +which by the Rules of Honour ought not to offend you; especially, +since the boldness of that Ingenious Piece, was wholly taken from the +Encouragement you gave the Author; and 'tis from that Boldness only that +this POEM takes its Birth: for had not his daring Pen brought that Piece +into the World, I had been so far from troubling my self in any Subject +on this kind, that I may justly say in one sence, the Writer of that +_Absolom_, is the Author of this. This favour, as in Justice due, +obtain'd from you, I shall not trouble you with a long Preface, like +a tedious Compliment at the Door, but desire you to look in for your +Entertainment. Onely I cannot forbear telling you, that one thing I +am a little concern'd for you, _Tories_, that your _Absoloms_ and +_Achitophels_, and the rest of your Grinning Satyres against the +_Whiggs_, have this one unpardonable Fault, That the Lash is more +against a _David_, than an _Achitophel_; whilst the running down of the +PLOT at so extravagant a rate, savours of very little less (pardon the +Expression) than ridiculing of Majesty it self, and turning all those +several Royal Speeches to the Parliament on that Subject, onely into +those double-tongu'd Oracles that sounded one thing, and meant another. +Besides, after this unmannerly Boldness, of not onely branding the +publick Justice of the Nation, but affronting even the Throne it self, +to push the humour a little farther, you run into ten times a greater +Vice, (and in the same strain too) than what you so severely inveigh +against: and whilst a POPISH PLOT through want of sufficient +Circumstances, and credible Witnesses, miscarries with you, a PROTESTANT +PLOT without either Witness or Circumstance at all, goes currant. Nay +you are so far now from your former niceties and scruples, and disparing +about raising of Armies, and not one Commission found, that you can +swallow the raising of a whole Protestant ARMY, without either +Commission, or Commission-Officer; Nay, the very When, Where, and How, +are no part of your Consideration. 'Tis true, the great Cry amongst you, +is, The Nations Eyes are open'd; but I am afraid, in most of you, 'tis +onely to look where you like best: and to help your lewd Eye-sight, you +have got a damnable trick of turning the Perspective upon occasion, and +magnifying or diminishing at pleasure. But alas, all talking to you is +but impertinent, and fending and proving signifie just nothing; for +after all Arguments, both Parties are so irreconcileable, that as the +Author of _Absolom_ wisely observed, they'll be Fools or Knaves to each +other to the end of the Chapter. And therefore I am so reasonable in +this point, that should be very glad to divide 'em between 'em, and give +the Fool to the _Tory_, and the Knave to the _Whigg_. For the _Tories_ +that will believe no POPISH PLOT, may as justly come under that +denomination, as They, that _David_ tells us, _said in their Hearts +there was no God_. And then let the _Whiggs_ that do believe a _Popish +Plot_ be the Knaves, for daring to endeavour to hinder the Effects of a +_Popish Plot_, when the _Tories_ are resolved to the contrary. But to +draw near a conclusion, I have one favour more to beg of you, that +you'll give me the freedom of clapping but about a score of years +extraordinary on the back of my _Absolom_. Neither is it altogether so +unpardonable a Poetical License, since we find as great slips from the +Author of your own _Absolom_, where we see him bring in a _Zimri_ into +the Court of _David_, who in the Scripture-story dyed by the Hand of +_Phineas_ in the days of _Moses_. Nay, in the other extream, we find him +in another place talking of the Martyrdome of _Stephen_, so many Ages +after. And if so famous an Author can forget his own Rules of Unity, +Time, and Place, I hope you'll give a Minor Poet some grains of +Allowance, and he shall ever acknowledge himself + + Your Humble Servant. + + + + + Absalom Senior: + + or, + + ACHITOPHEL TRANSPROS'D. + + +In Gloomy Times, when Priestcraft bore the sway, +And made Heav'ns Gate a Lock to their own Key: +When ignorant Devotes did blindly bow, +And groaping to be sav'd they knew not now: +Whilst this _Egyptian_ darkness did orewhelm, +The Priest sate Pilot even at Empires Helm. +Then Royal Necks were yok'd, and Monarchs still +Hold but their Crowns at his Almighty Will. +And to defend this high Prerogative, +Falsely from Heaven he did that powr derive: +By a Commission forg'd i'th' hand of God, +Turn'd _Aarons_ blooming wand, to _Moses_ snaky Rod. +Whilst Princes little Scepters overpowr'd, +Made but that prey his wider Gorge devour'd. +Now to find Wealth might his vast pomp supply, +(For costly Roofs befit a Lord so high) +No Arts were spar'd his Luster to support, +But all Mines searcht t'enrich his shining Court. +Then Heav'n was bought, Religion but a Trade; +And Temples Murder's Sanctuary made. +By _Phineas_ Spear no bleeding _Cozbies_ groan'd, +If _Cozbies_ Gold for _Cozbies_ Crimes aton'd. +With these wise Arts, (for Humane Policy +As well as Heav'nly Truth, mounts Priests so high) +'Twixt gentle Penance, lazy Penitence, +A Faith that gratifies both Soul and Sense; +With easie steps to everlasting Bliss, +He paves the rugged way to Paradice. +Thus almost all the Proselyte-World he drives, +Whilst th'universal Drones buz to his Hives. +Implicite Faith Religion thus convey'd +Through little pipes to his great Channel laid, +Till Piety through such dark Conduits led, +Was poyson'd by the Spring on which it fed. +Here blind Obedience to a blinder Guide, +Nurst that Blind Zeal that rais'd the Priestly pride; +Whilst to make Kings the Sovereign Prelate own, +Their Reason he enslav'd, and then their Throne. +The Mitre thus above the Diadem soar'd, +Gods humble servant He, but Mans proud Lord. +It was in such Church-light blind-zeal was bred, +By Faiths infatuating Meteor led; +Blind Zeal, that can even Contradictions joyn; +A Saint in Faith, in Life a Libertine; +Makes Greatness though in Luxury worn down, +Bigotted even to th' Hazard of a Crown; +Ty'd to the Girdle of a Priest so fast, +And yet Religious only to the wast. +But Constancy atoning Constancy, +Where that once raigns, Devotion may lye by. +T'espouse the Churches Cause lyes in Heav'ns road, +More than obeying of the Churches God. +And he dares fight, for Faith is more renown'd +A Zealot Militant, than Martyr crown'd. +Here the Arch-Priest to that Ambition blown, +Pull'd down Gods Altars, to erect his own: +For not content to publish Heav'ns command, +The Sacred Law penn'd by th'Almighty Hand, +And _Moses_-like 'twixt God and _Israel_ go, +Thought _Sinai_'s Mount a Pinacle too low. +So charming sweet were Incense fragrant Fumes, } +So pleas'd his Nostrils, till th'Aspirer comes } +From offering, to receiving Hecatombs; } +And ceasing to adore, to be ador'd. +So fell Faiths guide: so loftily he towr'd, +Till like th'Ambitious _Lucifer_ accurst, +Swell'd to a God, into a Fiend he burst. + + But as great _Lucifer_ by falling gain'd +Dominion, and ever in Damnation reign'd; +And though from Lights blest Orb for ever driven, } +Yet Prince o'th'Air, h'had that vast Scepter giv'n, } +T'have Subjects far more numerous than Heav'n. } +And thus enthron'd, with an infernal spight, +The genuine Malice of the Realms of night, +The Paradise he lost blasphemes, abhors, +And against Heav'n proclaims Eternal Wars; +No Arts untry'd, no hostile steps untrod, +Both against Truths Adorers, and Truths God. + + So Faiths faln Guide, now _Baals_ great Champion raign'd; +Wide was his Sway, and Mighty his Command: +Whilst with implacable revenge he burn'd, +And all his Rage against Gods _Israel_ turn'd. +Here his invenom'd Souls black gall he flings, +Spots all his Snakes, and points his Scorpions stings: +Omits no Force, or Treacherous Designe, +Blest _Israel_ to assault, or undermine. +But the first Sword did his keen Malice draw, +Was aim'd against the God-like _Deborah. +Deborah_, the matchless pride of _Judah_'s Crown, +Whose Female hand _Baal's_ impious Groves cut down, +His banisht Wizards from her _Israel_ thrust, +And pounded all their Idols into dust. +Her Life with indefatigable pain, +By Daggers long, and poysons fought in vain: +At length they angry _Jabins_ Rage enflam'd, +_Hazors_ proud King, for Iron Chariots fam'd; +A Warriour powerful, whose most dreadful Hoast +Proclaim'd Invincible, (were humane Boast +Infallible) by haughty _Sisera_ led, +'Gainst _Deborah_ their bloody Banners spread. +Here _Deborah_ her _Barak_ calls to War; +_Barak_, the Suns fam'd fellow-traveller, +Who wandring o're the Earths surrounded Frame, +Had travelled far as his great Mistress Fame. +Here _Barak_ did with _Deborah's_ vengeance fly, +And to that swift prodigious Victory, +So much by Humane Praises undefin'd, +That Fame wants Breath, and Wonder lags behind. +To Heav'ns high Arch her sounding Glories rung, +Whilst thus great _Deborah_ and _Barak_ sung. + +_Hear, oh ye Princes, oh ye Kings give Ear, +And _Israels_ great Avengers honour hear. +When God of Hosts, thou _Israels_ Spear and Shield, +Wentst out of _Seir_, and marched'st from _Edoms_ field, +Earth trembled, the Heaven's drop'd, the Clouds all pour'd; +The Mountains melted from before the Lord; +Even thy own _Sinai_ melted into streams, +At _Israels_ dazling Gods refulgent Beams. +In _Shamgar_ and in _Jael's_ former days, +The wandring Traveller walked through by-ways. +They chose new Gods. No Spear nor Sword was found, +To have Idolatry depos'd, Truth Crown'd, +Till I alone, against _Jehovahs_ Foes; +I _Deborah_, I _Israels_ Mother rose. +Wake _Deborah_, wake, raise thy exalted Head; +Rise _Barak_, and Captivity Captive lead. +For to blest _Deborah_, belov'd of Heav'n, +Over the Mighty is Dominion given. +Great _Barak_ leads, and _Israels_ Courage warms; +_Ephraim_ and _Benjamin_ march down in Arms: +_Zebulon_ and _Nepthali_ my Thunder bore, +_Dan_ from her Ship, and _Asher_ on the Shore. +Behold _Megiddoes_ waves, and from afar, +See the fierce _Jabins_ threatning storm of War. +But Heav'n 'gainst _Sisera_ fought, and the kind Stars +Kindl'd their embattel'd Fires for _Deborah's_ Wars, +Shot down their Vengeance that miraculous day, +When _Kishons_ Torrants swept their Hosts away. +But curse ye _Meroz_, curse 'em from on high. +Did the denouncing voice of Angels cry; +Accurst be they that went not out t'oppose +The Mighty _Deborah's_, God's, and _Israel's_ Foes. +Victorious _Judah!_ Oh my Soul, th'hast trod, +Trod down their strengths. So fall the Foes of God. +But they who in his Sacred Laws delight, +Be as the Sun when he sets out in might._ + +Thus sung, they conquer'd _Deborah_; thus fell +Hers, and Heav'ns Foes. But no Defeat tames Hell. +By Conquest overthrown, but not dismay'd, +'Gainst _Israel_ still their private Engines play'd. +And their dire Machinations to fulfil, +Their stings torn out, they kept their poyson still. +And now too weak in open force to joyn, +In close Cabals they hatcht a damn'd Design, +To light that Mine as should the world amaze, +And set the ruin'd _Israel_ in a blaze. + + When _Judahs_ Monarch with his Princes round, +Amidst his glorious Sanedrim sate Crown'd, +Beneath his Throne a Cavern low, and dark +As their black Souls, for the great Work they mark. +In this lone Cell their Midnight-Hands bestow'd +A _Stygian_ Compound, a combustive load +Of Mixture wondrous, Execution dire, +Ready the Touch of their Infernal Fire. +Have you not seen in yon æthereal Road, +How at the Rage of th'angry driving God, +Beneath the pressure of his furious wheels +The Heav'ns all rattle, and the Globe all reels? +So does this Thunder's Ape its lightning play, +Keen as Heav'ns Fires, and scarce less swift than they. +A short-liv'd glaring Murderer it flies, } +In Times least pulse, a Moments wing'd surprize; } +'Tis born, looks big, talks lowd, breaths death, and dies. } +This Mixture was th'Invention of a Priest; +The Sulphurous Ingredients all the best +Of Hells own growth: for to dire Compounds still +Hell finds the Minerals, and the Priest the Skill. + + From this curst Mine they had that blow decreed, +A Moments dismal blast, as should exceed +All the Storms, Battles, Murders, Massacres, +And all the strokes of Daggers, Swords, or Spears, +Since first _Cain's_ hand at _Abels_ Head was lift: +A Blow more swift than Pestilence, more swift +Than ever a destroying Angel rod, +To pour the Vial of an angry God. + + The Train was laid, the very Signal giv'n; +But here th'all-seeing, _Israels_ Guardian, Heav'n +Could hold no longer; and to stop their way, +With a kind Beam from th'Empyræan Day, +Disclos'd their hammering Thunder at the Forge; +And made their Cyclops Cave their Bolts disgorge. + + Discover'd thus, thus lost, betray'd, undone, +Yet still untir'd, the Restless Cause goes on; +And to retrieve a yet auspicious day, +A glowing spark even in their Ashes lay, +Which thus burst out in flames. In _Geshur_ Land, +The utmost Bound of _Israels_ Command, +Where _Judah's_ planted Faith but slowly grew, +A Brutal Race that _Israels_ God n'er knew: +A Nation by the Conquerors Mercy grac'd, +Their Gods preserv'd, and Temples undefac'd; +Yet not content with all the Sweets of Peace, +Free their Estates, and free their Consciences; +'Gainst _Israel_ those confederate Swords they drew, +Which with that vast Assassination flew +Two hundred thousand Butcher'd Victims shar'd +One common doom: No Sex nor Age was spar'd: +Not kneeling Beauties Tears, not Virgins Cries, +Nor Infants Smiles: No prey so small but dies. +Alas, the hard-mouth'd Blood-hound, Zeal, bites through; +Religion hunts, and hungry Jaws pursue. +To what strange Rage is Superstition driven, +That Man can outdo Hell to fight for Heav'n! +So Rebel _Geshur_ fought: so drown'd in gore, +Even Mother Earth blusht at the Sons she bore; +And still asham'd of her old staining Brand, +Her Head shrinks down and Quagmires half their Land. +Yet not this blow _Baals_ Empire could enlarge +For _Israel_ still was Heav'ns peculiar charge: +Unshaken still in all this Scene of Blood, +Truths Temple firm on Golden Columns stood. +Whilst _Sauls_ Revenging Arm proud _Geshur_ scourg'd, +From their rank soyl their _Hydra's_ poyson purg'd. + + Yet does not here their vanquish'd spleen give o're, +But as untir'd, and restless as before, +Still through whole waiting Ages they outdo +At once the Chimists pains and patience too. +Who though he sees his bursting Limbecks crack, +And at one blast, one fatal Minutes wrack, +The forward Hopes of sweating years expire; +With sad, yet painful hand new lights his Fire: +Pale, lean, and wan, does Health, Wealth, all consume; +Yet for the great Elixir still to come, +Toyls and hopes on. No less their Plottings cease; +So hope, so toyl, the foes of _Israels_ peace. + + When lo, a long expected day appears, +Sought for above a hundred rowling years; +A day i'th' register of Doom set down, +Presents 'em with an Heir of _Israels_ Crown. +Here their vast hopes of the rich _Israels_ spoils, +Requites the pains of their long Ages Toyls. +_Baals_ Banners now i'th' face of day shall march, +With Heav'ns bright Roof for his Triumphal Arch. +His lurking Missioners shall now no more +From Forreign Schools in borrow'd shapes come o're; +Convert by Moon-light, and their Mystick Rites +Preach to poor Female half-Soul'd Proselytes. +An all-commanding Dragon now shall soar, +Where the poor Serpents onely crawl'd before. +_Baals_ Restoration, that most blest Design, } +Now the great work of Majesty, shall shine, } +Made by his consecrating hand Divine. } +He shall new plant their Groves with each blest Tree, +A graft of an Imperial Nursery. +In the kind Air of this new _Eden_ blest, +Percht on each bough, and Palaces their nest; +No more by frighting Laws forc'd t'obscure flight, +And gloomy walks, like obscene Birds of Night; +Their warbling Notes like _Philomel_ shall sing, +And like the Bird of _Paradise_ their wing. +Thus _Israels_ Heir their ravisht Souls all fired; +For all things to their ardent hopes conspired. + + His very youth a Bigot Mother bred, +And tainted even the Milk on which he fed. +Him onely of her Sons design'd for _Baals_ +Great Champion 'gainst _Jerusalems_ proud Walls; +Him dipt in _Stygian_ Lake, by timely craft, +Invulnerable made against Truths pointed shaft. +But to confirm his early poyson'd Faith, +'Twas in the cursed Forreign Tents of _Gath_, +'Twas there that he was lost. There _Absolon_ +By _Davids_ fatal Banishment undone, +Saw their false Gods till in their Fires he burn'd, +Truths Manna, for _Egyptian_ Fleshpots, scorn'd. +Not _David_ so; for he Faiths Champion Lord, +Their Altars loath'd, and prophane Rites abhorr'd: +Whilst his firm Soul on wings of _Cherubs_ rod, +And tun'd his Lyre to nought but _Abrahams_ God. +Thus the gay _Israel_ her long Tears quite dry'd, +Her restor'd _David_ met in all her Pride, +Three Brothers saw by Miracle brought back, +Like _Noahs_ Sons sav'd from the worlds great wrack; +An unbelieving _Ham_ graced on each hand, +'Twixt God-like _Shem_, and pious _Japhet_ stand. + + 'Tis true, when _David_, all his storms blown o're, +Wafted by Prodigies to _Jordans_ shore, +(So swift a Revolution, yet so calm) +Had cur'd an Ages wounds with one days Balm; +Here the returning _Absolon_ his vows +With _Israel_ joyns, and at their Altars bows. +Perhaps surpriz'd at such strange blessings showr'd, +Such wonders shewn both t'_Israels_ Faith, and Lord, +His Restoration-Miracle he thought +Could by no less than _Israels_ God be wrought. +Whilst the enlightened _Absolon_ thus kneels, +Thus dancing to the sound of _Aarons_ Bells, +What dazling Rays did _Israels_ Heir adorn, +So bright his Sun in his unclouded Morn! +'Twas then his leading hand in Battle drew +That Sword that _Davids_ fam'd ten thousand slew: +_Davids_ the Cause, but _Absolons_ the Arm. +Then he could win all Hearts, all Tongues could charm: +Whilst with his praise the ecchoing plains all rung, +A thousand Timbrels play'd, a thousand Virgins sung; +And in the zeal of every jocund Soul, +_Absolons_ Health with _Davids_ crown'd one Bowl. + + Had he fixt here, yes, Fate, had he fixt here, +To Man so Sacred, and to Heav'n so dear, +What could he want that Hands, Hearts, Lives could pay, +Or Tributary Worlds beneath his feet could lay? +What Knees, what Necks to mount him to his Throne; +What Gems, what Stars to sparkle in his Crown? +So pleas'd, so charm'd, had _Israels_ Genius smil'd; +But oh the Pow'rs, by treacherous snakes beguil'd, +Into a more than _Adams_ Curse he run, +Tasting that Fruit has _Israels_ World undone. +Nay, wretched even below his falling state, +Wants _Adams_ Eyes to see his _Adams_ Fate. +In vain was _Davids_ Harp and _Israels_ Quire; +For his Conversion all in vain conspire: +For though their influence a while retires, +His own false Planets were th'Ascendant Fires. +Heav'n had no lasting Miracle design'd; +It did a while his fatal Torrent bind. +As _Joshua's_ Wand did _Jordan's_ streams divide, +And rang'd the watry Mountains on each side. +But when the marching _Israel_ once got o're, } +Down crack the Chrystal Walls the Billows pow'r, } +And in their old impetuous Channel roar. } + + At this last stroke thus totally o'rethrown, +Apostasie now seal'd him all her own. +Here ope'd that gaping Breach, that fatal door, +Which now let in a thousand Ruines more. +All the bright Virtues, and each dazling Grace, +Which his rich Veins drew from a God-like Race; +The Mercy, and the Clemency Divine, +Those Sacred Beams which in mild _David_ shine; +Those Royal Sparks, his Native Seeds of Light, +Were all put out, and left a Starless Night. +A long farewel to all that's Great and Brave: +Not Cataracts more headstrong; as the Grave +Inexorable; Sullen and Untun'd +As Pride depos'd; scarce _Lucifer_ dethron'd +More Unforgiving; his enchanted Soul +Had drank so deep of the bewitching Bowl, +Till he whose hand, with _Judahs_ Standart, bore +Her Martial Thunder to the _Tyrian_ shore, +Arm'd in her Wars, and in her Laurels crown'd; +Now all forgotten at one stagg'ring wound, +Falling from _Israels_ Faith; from _Israels_ Cause, +Peace, Honour, Int'rest, all at once withdraws: +Nor is he deaf t'a Kingdoms Groans alone, +But could behold ev'n _Davids_ shaking Throne; +_David_, whose Bounty rais'd his glittering Pride, +The Basis of his Glories Pyramide. +But Duty, Gratitude, all ruin'd fall: +Zeal blazes, and Oblivion swallows all. +So _Sodom_ did both burnt and drown'd expire; +A poyson'd Lake succeeds a Pile of Fire. + + On this Foundation _Baals_ last Hope was built, +The sure Retreat for all their Sallying Guilt: +A Royal Harbour, where the rowling Pride +Of _Israels_ Foes might safe at Anchor ride; +Defie all Dangers, and even Tempests scorn, +Though _Judahs_ God should Thunder in the Storm. + + Here _Israels_ Laws, the dull Levitick Rolls, +At once a clog to Empire, and to Souls, +Are the first Martyrs to the Fire they doom, +To make great _Baals_ Triumphant Legends room. +But ere their hands this glorious work can Crown, +Their long-known Foe the Sanedrin must down; +Sanedrins the Free-born _Israels_ Sacred Right, +That God-like Ballance of Imperial Might; +Where Subjects are from Tyrant-Lords set free, +_From that wild Thing unbounded man would be_; +Where Pow'r and Clemency are poys'd so even, +A Constitution that resembles Heav'n. +So in th'united great THREE-ONE we find +A Saving with a Dooming Godhead joyn'd. +(But why, oh why! if such restraining pow'r +Can bind Omnipotence, should Kings wish more?) +A Constitution, so Divinely mixt, +Not Natures bounded Elements more fixt. +Thus Earths vast Frame with firm and solid ground, } +Stands in a foaming Ocean circled round; } +Yet This not overflowing, That not drown'd. } +But to rebuild their Altars, and enstal +Their Moulten Gods, the Sanedrin must fall; +That Constellation of the Jewish Pow'r, +All blotted from its Orb must shine no more; +Or stampt in _Pharoahs_ darling Mould, must quit +Their Native Beams, for a new-model'd Light; +Like _Egypts_ Sanedrins, their influence gone, +Flash but like empty Meteors round the Throne: +That that new Lord may _Judahs_ Scepter weild, +To whom th'old Brickill Taskmasters must yield; +Who, to erect new Temples for his Gods, +Shall th'enslav'd _Israel_ drive with Iron Rods; +If they want Bricks for his new Walls t'aspire, +To their sad cost, he'll find 'em Straw and Fire. + + All this t'effect, and their new Fabrick build, +Both close Cabals and Forreign Leagues are held: +To _Babylon_ and _Egypt_ they send o're, +And both their Conduct and their Gold implore. +By such Abettors the sly Game was plaid; +One of their Chiefs a Jewish Renegade, +High-born in _Israel_, one _Michals_ Priest, +But now in _Babylons_ proud Scarlet drest. +'Tis to his Hands the Plotting Mandats come +Subscrib'd by the Apostate _Absolom_. +Nay, and to keep themselves all danger-proof, +That none might track the _Belial_ by his Hoof, +Their Correspondence veil'd from prying Eyes, +In Hieroglyphick Figures they disguise. +Husht as the Night, in which their Plots combin'd, +And silent as the Graves they had design'd, +Their Ripening Mischiefs to perfection sprung. +But oh! the much-loath'd _David_ lives too long. +Their Vultures cannot mount but from his Tomb; +And with too hungry ravenous Gorges come, +To be by airy Expectation fed. +No Prey, no Spoil, before they see Him Dead. +Yes, Dead; the Royal Sands too slowly pass, +And therefore they're resolved to break the Glass: +And to ensure Times tardy dubious Call, +Decree their Daggers should his Sythe forestall. +For th'execrable Deed a Hireling Crew +Their Hell and They pick out; whom to make true, +An Oath of Force so exquisite they frame, +Sworn in the Blood of _Israels_ Paschal Lamb. +If false, the Vengeance of that Sword that slew +_Egypts_ First-born, their perjur'd Heads pursue. +Strong was the Oath, the Imprecation dire; +And for a Viand, lest their Guilt should tire, +With promis'd Paradice they cheer their way; +And bold's the Souldier who has Heav'n his pay. + + But the ne'r-sleeping Providence that stands +With jealous Eyes o're Truths up-lifted Hands; +That still in its Lord _Israel_ takes delight, +Their Cloud by Day, and Guardian Fire by Night; +A Ray from out its Fiery Pillar cast, +That overlook'd their driving _Jehu_'s hast. +All's ruin'd and betray'd: their own false Slaves } +Detect the Plot, and dig their Masters Graves: } +Not Oaths nor Bribes shall bind, when great _Jehovah_ saves. } +The frighted _Israelites_ take the Alarm, +Resolve the Traitors Sorceries t'uncharm: +Till cursing, raving, mad, and drunk with Rage, +In _Amnons_ Blood their frantick Hands engage. + + Here let the Ghost of strangl'd _Amnon_ come, +A Specter that will strike Amazement dumb; +_Amnon_ the Proto-Martyr of the Plot, +The Murder'd _Amnon_, their Eternal Blot; +Whose too bold zeal stood like a _Pharos_ Light, +_Israel_ to warn, and track their Deeds of Night. +Till the sly Foe his unseen Game to play, +Put out the Beacon to secure his way. +_Baals_ Cabinet-Intrigues he open spread, +The Ravisht _Tamar_ for whose sake he bled. +T'unveil their Temple and expose their Gods, +Deserv'd their vengeances severest Rods: +Wrath he deserv'd, and had the Vial full, +To lay those Devils had possest his Soul. +His silenc'd Fiends from his wrung Neck they twist; +Whilst his kind Murd'rer's but his Exorcist. +Here draw, bold Painter, (if thy Pencil dare +Unshaking write, what _Israel_ quak'd to hear,) +A Royal Altar pregnant with a Load +Of Humane Bones beneath a Breaden God. +Altars so rich not _Molocks_ Temples show; +'Twas Heaven above, and _Golgotha_ below. +Yet are not all the Mystick Rites yet done: +Their pious Fury does not stop so soon. +But to pursue the loud-tongu'd Wounds they gave, +Resolves to stab his Fame beyond the Grave, +And in Eternal Infamy to brand +With _Amnons_ Murder, _Amnons_ righteous Hand. +Here with a Bloodless wound, by Hellish Art, +With his own Sword they goar his Lifeless Heart. +Thus in a Ditch the butcher'd _Amnon_ lay, +A Deed of Night enough to have kept back the Day. +Had not the Sun in Sacred vengeance rose, +Asham'd to see, but prouder to disclose, +Warm'd with new Fires, with all his posting speed, +Brought Heav'ns bright Lamp to shew th'Infernal Deed. + + What art thou, Church! when Faith to propagate, +And crush all Bars that stop thy growing state, +Thou break'st through Natures, Gods, and Humane Laws, +Whilst Murder's Merit in a Churches Cause. +How much thy Ladder _Jacobs_ does excel: +Whose Top's in Heaven like His, but Foot in Hell; +Thy Causes bloody Champions to befriend, +For Fiends to Mount, as Angels to Descend. + + This was the stroke did th'alarm'd World surprize, +And even to infidelity lent Eyes: +Whilst sweating _Absolon_ in _Israel_ pent, +For fresher Air was to bleak _Hebron_ sent. +Cold _Hebron_ warm'd by his approaching sight, +Flusht with his Gold, and glow'd with new delight. +Till Sacred all-converting Interest +To Loyalty, their almost unknown Guest, +Oped a broad Gate, from whence forth-issuing come, +Decrees, Tests, Oaths, for well-sooth'd _Absolom_. +Spight of that Guilt that made even Angels fall, +An unbarr'd Heir shall Reign: In spight of all +Apostacy from Heav'n, or Natures tyes, +Though for his Throne a _Cain_-built Palace rise. +No wonder _Hebron_ such Devotion bears +T'Imperial Dignity, and Royal Heirs; +For they, whom Chronicle so high renowns +For selling Kings, should know the price of Crowns. + + Here, Glorious _Hushai_, let me mourn thy Fate, +Thou once great Pillar of the _Hebron_ State: +Yet now to Dungeons sent, and doom'd t'a Grave. +But Chains are no new Sufferings to the Brave. +Witness thy pains in six years Bonds endur'd, +For _Israels_ Faith, and _Davids_ Cause immur'd. +Death too thou oft for _Judahs_ Crown hast stood, +So bravely fac'd in several Fields of Blood. +But from Fames Pinnacle now headlong cast, +Life, Honour, all are ruin'd at a Blast. +For _Absolons_ great LAW thou durst explain; +Where but to pry, bold Lord, was to prophane: +A Law that did his Mystick God-head couch, +Like th'Ark of God, and no less Death to touch. +Forgot are now thy Honourable Scars, +Thy Loyal Toyls, and Wounds in _Judahs_ Wars. +Had thy pil'd Trophies _Babel_-high, reacht Heav'n, +Yet by one stroke from _Absolons_ Thunder given, +Thy towring Glorie's levell'd to the ground; } +A stroke does all thy Tongues of Fame confound, } +And, Traitor, now is all the Voice they sound. } +True, thou hadst Law; that even thy Foes allow; +But to thy Advocates, as damn'd as Thou, +'Twas Death to plead it. Artless _Absolon_ +The Bloody Banner to display so soon: +Such killing Beams from thy young Day-break shot; +What will the Noon be, if the Morn's so hot? +Yes, dreadful Heir, the Coward _Hebron_ awe. +So the young Lion tries his tender Paw. +At a poor Herd of feeble Heifers flies, +Ere the rough Bear, tusk'd Boar, or spotted Leopard dies. +Thus flusht, great Sir, thy strength in _Israel_ try: +When their Cow'd Sanedrims shall prostrate lye, +And to thy feet their slavish Necks shall yield; +Then raign the Princely Savage of the Field. + + Yes, _Israels_ Sanedrin, 'twas they alone +That set too high a Value on a Throne; +Thought they had a God was Worthy to be serv'd; +A Faith maintain'd, and Liberty preserv'd. +And therefore judg'd, for Safety and Renown +Of _Israels_ People, Altars, Laws and Crown, +Th'Anointing Drops on Royal Temples shed +Too precious Showrs for an Apostates Head. +Then was that great Deliberate Councel giv'n, +An Act of Justice both to Man and Heav'n, +_Israels_ conspiring Foes to overthrow, +That _Absolon_ should th'Hopes of Crowns forego. +Debarr'd Succession! oh that dismal sound! +A sound, at which _Baal_ stagger'd, and Hell groan'd; +A sound that with such dreadful Thunder falls, +'Twas heard even to _Semiramis_ trembling Walls. + + But hold! is this the Plots last Murd'ring Blow, +The dire divorce of Soul and Body? No. +The mangled Snake, yet warm, to Life they'll bring, +And each disjoynted Limb together cling. +Then thus _Baals_ wise consulting Prophets cheer'd +Their pensive Sons, and call'd the scatter'd Herd. + + Are we quite ruin'd! No, mistaken Doom, +Still the great Day, yes that great Day shall come, +(Oh, rouse our fainting Sons, and droop no more.) +A Day, whose Luster, our long Clouds blown o're, +Not all the Rage of _Israel_ shall annoy, +No, nor denouncing Sanedrims destroy. +See yon North-Pole, and mark _Boötes Carr_: +Oh! we have those Influencing Aspects there, +Those Friendly pow'rs that drive in that bright _Wain_, +Shall redeem All, and our lost Ground regain. +Whilst to our Glory their kind Aid stands fast, +But one Plot more, our Greatest and our Last. + + Now for a Product of that subtle kind, +As far above their former Births refin'd, +As Firmamental Fires t'a Tapers ray, +Or Prodigies to Natures common Clay. +Empires in Blood, or Cities in a Flame, +Are work for vulgar Hands, scarce worth a Name. +A Cake of _Shew-bread_ from an Altar ta'ne, +Mixt but with some Levitical King-bane, +Has sent a Martyr'd Monarch to his Grave. +Nay, a poor Mendicant Church-Rake-hell slave +Has stab'd Crown'd Heads; slight Work to hands well-skill'd, +Slight as the Pebble that _Goliah_ kill'd. +But to make Plots no Plots, to clear all Taints, +Traitors transform to Innocents, Fiends to Saints, +Reason to Nonsence, Truth to Perjury; +Nay, make their own attesting Records lye, +And even the gaping Wounds of Murder whole: +If this last Masterpiece requires a Soul. +Guilt to unmake, and Plots annihilate, +Is much a greater work than to create. +Nay both at once to be, and not to be, +Is such a Task would pose a Deity. +Let _Baal_ do this, and be a God indeed: +Yes, this Immortal Honour 'tis decreed, +His Sanguine Robe though dipt in reeking Gore, +With purity and Innocence all o're, +Shall dry, and spotless from the purple hue, +The Miracle of _Gideons_ Fleece outdo. +Yes, they're resolv'd, in all their foes despight, +To wash their more than _Ethiop_ Treason White. + + But now for Heads to manage the Design, +Fit Engineers to labour in this Mine. +For their own hands 'twere fatal to employ: +Should _Baal_ appear, it would _Baals_ Cause destroy. +Alas, should onely their own Trumpets sound +Their Innocence, the jealous Ears around +All Infidels would the loath'd Charmer fly, +And through the Angels voice the Fiend descry. +No, this last game wants a new plotting Set, +And _Israel_ only now can _Israel_ cheat. +In this Machine their profest Foes must move, +Whilst _Baal_ absconding sits in Clouds above, +From whence unseen he guides their bidden way: +For he may prompt, although he must not play. +This to effect a sort of Tools they find, +Devotion-Rovers, an Amphibious Kind, +Of no Religion, yet like Walls of Steel +Strong for the Altars where their Princes kneel. +Imperial not Celestial is their Test, +The Uppermost, indisputably Best. +They always in the golden Chariot rod, +Honour their Heav'n, and Interest their God. + + Of these then subtil _Caleb_ none more Great, +_Caleb_ who shines where his lost Father set; +Got by that sire, who not content alone, } +To shade the brightest Jewel in a Crown, } +Preaching Ingratitude t'a Court and Throne; } +But made his Politicks the baneful Root +From whence the springing Woes of _Israel_ shoot, +When his Great Masters fatal _Gordian_ tyed, +He lai'd the barren _Michal_ by his side; +That the ador'd _Absolons_ immortal Line +Might on _Judeas_ Throne for ever shine. +_Caleb_, who does that hardy Pilot make, } +Steering in that Hereditary Track, } +Blind to the Sea-Mark of a Fathers Wrack. } + + Next _Jonas_ stands bull-fac'd, but chicken-soul'd, +Who once the silver Sanedrin Controul'd, +Their Gold-tip'd Tongue; Gold his great Councels Bawd: +Till by succeeding Sanedrins outlaw'd, +He was prefer'd to guard the sacred Store: +There Lordly rowling in whole Mines of Oar; +To Diceing Lords, a Cully-Favourite, +He prostitutes whole _Cargoes_ in a Night. +Here to the Top of his Ambition come, +Fills all his Sayls for hopeful _Absolom._ +For his Religion's as the Season calls, +Gods in Possession, in Reversion _Baals._ +He bears himself a Dove to Mortal Race, +And though not Man, he can look Heav'n i'th' Face. +Never was Compound of more different Stuff, +A Heart in Lambskin, and a Conscience Buff. + + Let not that Hideous Bulk of Honour scape, +_Nadab_ that sets the gazing Crowd agape: +That old Kirk-founder, whose course Croak could sing +The Saints, the Cause, no Bishop, and no King: +When Greatness clear'd his Throat, and scowr'd his Maw, +Roard out Succession, and the Penal Law. +Not so of old: another sound went forth, +When in the Region from _Judea_ North, +By the Triumphant _Saul_ he was employ'd, +A huge fang Tusk to goar poor _Davids_ side. +Like a Proboscis in the Tyrants Jaw, +To rend and root through Government and Law. +His hand that Hell-penn'd League of _Belial_ drew, } +That Swore down Kings, Religion overthrew, } +Great _David_ banisht, and Gods Prophets slew. } +Nor does the Courts long Sun so powerful shine, +T'exhale his Vapours, or his Dross refine; +Nor is the Metal mended by the stamp. +With his rank oyl he feeds the Royal Lamp. +To Sanedrins an everlasting Foe, +Resolv'd his Mighty Hunters overthrow. +And true to Tyranny, as th'only Jem, +That truly sparkles in a Diadem; +To _Absalons_ side does his old _Covenant_ bring, +With _State_ raz'd out, and interlin'd with KING. +But _Nadabs_ Zeal has too severe a Doom; +Whilst serving an ungrateful _Absalom_, +His strength all spent his Greatness to create, +He's now laid by a cast-out Drone of State. +He rowz'd that Game by which he is undone, +By fleeter Coursers now so far outrun, +That fiercer Mightier _Nimrod_ in the Chace, +Till quite thrown out, and lost he quits the Race. + + Of Low-born Tools we bawling _Shimei_ saw, +_Jerusalems_ late loud-tongu'd MOUTH of Law. +By Blessings from Almighty Bounty given, +_Shimei_ no common Favorite of Heaven. +Whom, lest Posterity should loose the Breed, +In five short Moons indulgent Heav'n rais'd Seed; +Made happy in an Early teeming Bride, +And laid a lovely Heiress by her side. +Whilst the glad Father's so divinely blest, } +That like the Stag proud of his Brow so drest, } +He brandishes his lofty City-Crest. } +'Twas in _Jerusalem_ was _Shimei_ nurst, +_Jerusalem_ by _Baals_ Prophets ever curst, +The greatest Block that stops 'em in their way, +For which she once in Dust and Ashes lay. +Here to the Bar this whiffling Lurcher came, +And barkt to rowze the nobler Hunters Game. +But _Shimei's_ Lungs might well be stretcht so far; +For steering by a Court-Ascendant Star, +For daily Oracles he does address, +To the _Egyptian_ Beauteous Sorceress. +For _Pharoah_ when he wisely did essay +To bear the long-sought Golden Prize away, +That fair Enchantress sent, whose Magick Skill +Should keep great _Israels_ sleeping Dragon still. +Thus by her powerful inspirations fed, } +To bite their Heels this City-Snake was bred, } +Till _Absalon_ got strength to bruise their Head. } +Of all the Heroes since the world began, +To _Shimei Joshuah_ was the bravest Man. +To Him his Tutelar Saint he prays, and oh, +That great _Jerusalem_ were like _Jericoh_! +Then bellowing lowd for _Joshuahs_ Spirit calls, +Because his Rams-horn blew down City-Walls. + + In the same Roll have we grave _Corah_ seen, +_Corah_, the late chief Scarlet _Abbethdin_. +_Corah_, who luckily i'th' Bench was got, +To loo the Bloodhounds off to save the Plot. +_Corah_, who once against _Baals_ Impious Cause, +Stood strong for _Israels_ Faith and _Davids_ Laws. +He poys'd his Scales, and shook his ponderous Sword, +Lowd as his Fathers _Basan_-Bulls he roar'd; +Till by a Dose of Forreign _Ophir_ drencht, +The Feavour of his Burning Zeal was Quencht. +_Ophir_, that rescu'd the Court-Drugsters Fate, +Sent in the Nick to gild his Pills of State. +Whilst the kind Skill of our Law-Emperick, +Sublim'd his Mercury to save his Neck. +In Law, they say, he had but a slender Mite, +And Sense he had less: for as Historians write, +The _Arabian_ Legate laid a Snare so gay, +As Spirited his little Wits away. +Of the Records of Law he fancied none +Like the Commandment Tables graved in Stone. +And wish'd the _Talmude_ such, that Soveraign sway +When once displeased might th'angry _Moses_ play. +Onely his Law was Brittle i'th' wrong place: +For had our _Corah_ been in _Moses_ Case, +The Fury of his Zeal had been employ'd +To build that Calf which th'others Rage destroy'd. +Thus _Corah, Baals_ true Fayry Changeling made, +He Bleated onely as the _Pharisees_ pray'd, +All to advance that future Tyrant pow'r, +Should Widows Houses gorge, and Orphans Tears devour. + + Nor are these all their Instruments; to prop +Their Mighty Cause, and _Israels_ Murmurs stop; +They find a sort of Academick Tools; +Who by the Politick Doctrine of their Schools, +Betwixt Reward, Pride, Avarice, Hope and Fear, +Prizing their Heav'n too cheap, the World too dear, +Stand bold and strong for _Absolons_ Defence: +Interest the Thing, but Conscience the Pretence. +These to ensure him for their _Sions_ King, +A Right Divine quite down from _Adam_ bring, +That old Levitick Engine of Renown, +That makes no Taint of Souls a bar t'a Crown. +'Tis true, Religions constant Champion vow'd, +Each open-mouth'd, with Pulpit-Thunder lowd, +Against false Gods, and Idol Temples bawls; +Yet lays the very Stones that raise their Walls. +They preach up Hell to those that _Baal_ adore, +Yet make't Damnation to oppose his pow'r. +So far this Paradox of Conscience run, +Till _Israels_ Faith pulls _Israels_ Altars down. +Grant Heav'n they don't to _Baal_ so far make way, +Those fatal _Wands_ before their Sheepfolds lay. +Such Motley Principles amongst them thrown, +Shall nurse that Py-ball'd Flock that's half his own. +Nor may they say, when _Molocks_ Hands draw nigher, +We built the Pile, whilst _Baal_ but gives it fire. + + If Monarchy in _Adam_ first begun, +When the Worlds Monarch dug, and his Queen spun, +His Fig-leaves his first Coronation-Robe, +His Spade his Scepter, and her Wheel his Globe; +And Royal Birthright, as their Schools assert, +Not Kings themselves with Conscience can divert; +How came the World possest by _Adams_ Sons, +Such various Principalities, Powres, Thrones? +When each went out and chose what Lands he pleas'd, +Whilst a new Family new Kingdoms rais'd? +His Sons assuming what he could not give, } +Their Soveraign Sires right Heir they did deprive; } +And from Rebellion all their pow'r derive: } +For were there an original Majesty } +Upheld by Right Divine, the World should be } +Onely one Universal Monarchy. } +O cruel Right Divine, more full of Fate, +Then th' Angels flaming Sword at _Edens_ Gate, +Such early Treason through Mankind convey'd, +And at the door of Infant-Nature layd. +For Right Divine in _Esau's_ just defence, +Why don't they quarrel with Omnipotence, +The first-born _Esau's_ Right to _Jacob_ giv'n, +And Gods gift too, Injustice charge on Heav'n. +Nay, let Heav'n answer this one Fact alone, +Mounting a Bastard _Jephtha_ on a Throne. +If Kings and Sanedrims those Laws could make, +Which from offending Heirs their Heads can take; +And a First-born can forfeit Life and Throne, +And all by Law: why not a Crown alone? +Strange-bounded Law-makers! whose pow'r can throw +The deadlier Bolt, can't give the weaker Blow. +A Treasonous Act; nay, but a Treasonous Breath +Against offended Majesty is Death. +But, oh! the wondrous Church-distinction given +Between the Majesty of Kings and Heav'n! +The venial sinner here, he that intreagues +With _Egypt, Babylon_; Cabals, Plots, Leagues +With _Israels_ Foes her Altars to destroy, +A Hair untouch'd, shall Health, Peace, Crowns enjoy. + + Truths Temple thus the Exhalations bred +From her own Bowels, to obscure her Head. +And _Absolom_ already had subdu'd +Whole Crowds of the unthinking Multitude. +But through these Wiles too weak to catch the Wise, +Thin as their Ephod-Lawn, a Cobweb Net for Flyes, +The searching Sanedrim saw; and to dispel +Th'ingendring Mists that threatned _Israel_, +They still resolv'd their Plotting Foes defeat, +By barring _Absolon_ th'Imperial Seat. + + But here's his greatest Tug; could he but make +Th'encluding Sanedrims Resolves once shake; +Nay, make the smallest Breach, or clashing Jar, +In their great Councel, push but home so far, +And the great Point's secur'd.----And, lo! among +The Princely Heads of that Illustrious Throng, +He saw rich Veins with Noble Blood new fill'd; +Others who Honour from Dependance held. +Some with exhausted Fortunes, to support +Their Greatness, propt with Crutches from a Court. +These for their Countries Right their Votes still pass, +Mov'd like the Water in a Weather-glass, +Higher or lower, as the powerful Charm +O'th' Soveraign Hand is either cool or warm. +Here must th'Attacque be made: for well we know, +Reason and Titles from one Fountain flow: +Whilst Favour Men no less than Fortunes builds, +And Honour ever Moulds as well as Guilds. +Honour that still does even new Souls inspire; +Honour more powerful than the Heav'n-stoln Fire. +These must be wrought to _Absolons_ Defence. +For though to baffle the whole Sanedrims Sence, +T'attempt Impossibles would be in vain, +Yet 'tis enough but to _Divide_ and _Raign_. + + Here though small Force such easie Converts draws, +Yet 'tis thought fit in glory to their Cause, +Some learned Champion of prodigious Sense, +With Mighty and long studyed Eloquence, +Should with a kind of Inspiration rise, +And the unguarded Sanedrim surprize, +And such resistless conquering Reasons press, } +To charm their vanquisht Souls, that the Success } +Might look like Conscience, though 'tis nothing less. } + + For this Design no Head nor Tongue so well, +As that of the profound _Achitophel_. +How, great _Achitophel_! his Hand, his Tongue! +_Babylons_ Mortal Foe; he who so long +With haughty Sullenness, and scornful Lowr, +Had loath'd false Gods, and Arbitrary pow'r. +'Gainst _Baal_ no Combatant more fierce than he; +For _Israels_ asserted Liberty, +No Man more bold; with generous Rage enflam'd, +Against the old ensnaring Test declaim'd. +Beside, he bore a most peculiar Hate +To sleeping Pilots, all Earth-clods of State. +None more abhorr'd the Sycophant Buffoon, +And Parasite, th'excrescence of a Throne; +Creatures who their creating Sun disgrace, +A Brood more abject than _Niles_ Slime-born Race. +Such was the Brave _Achitophel_; a Mind, +(If but the Heart and Face were of a kind) +So far from being by one base Thought deprav'd, +That sure half ten such Souls had _Sodom_ sav'd. +Here _Baals_ Cabal _Achitophel_ survey'd, +And dasht with wonder, half despairing said, +Is this the Hand that _Absolon_ must Crown, +The Founder of his Temples, Palace, Throne? +This, This the mighty Convert we must make? +Gods, h'has a Soul not all our Arts can shake. + + At this a nicer graver Head stept out, +And with this Language chid their groundless Doubt: +For shame, no more; what is't that frights you thus? +Is it his Hatred of our God, and us, +Makes him so formidable in your Eye? +Or is't his Wit, Sense, Honour, Bravery? +Give him a thousand Virtues more, and plant +Them round him like a Wall of Adamant, +Strong as the Gates of Heaven; we'll reach his Heart: +Cheer, cheer, my Friends, I've found one Mortal part. +For he has _Pride_, a vast insatiate _Pride_, +Kind Stark, he's vulnerable on that side. +Pride that made Angels fall, and pride that hurl'd +Entayl'd Destruction through a ruin'd World. +_Adam_ from Pride to Disobedience ran: +To be like Gods, made a lost wretched Man. +There, there, my Sons, let our pour'd strength all fly: +For some bold Tempter now to rap him high, +From Pinnacles to Mountain Top, and show +The gaudy Glories of the World below. + + At which the Consult came to this Design, +To work him by a kind of Touch Divine. +To raise some holy Spright to do the Feat. +Nothing like Dreams and Visions to the Great. +Did not a little Witch of _Endor_ bring +A Visionary Seer t'a cheated King? +And shall their greater Magick want Success, +Their more Illustrious Sorceries do less! + + This final Resolution made, at last +Some Mystick words, and invocations past, +They call'd the Spirit of a late Court-Scribe; +Once a true Servant of the Plotting Tribe: +When both with Forreign and Domestick Cost, +He plaid the feasted Sanedrims kind Host. +H'had scribbled much, and like a Patriot bold, +Bid high for _Israels_ Peace with _Egypts_ Gold. +But since a Martyr. (Why! as Writers think, +His Masters Hand had over-gall'd his Ink.) +And by protesting _Absoloms_ wise care, +Popt into Brimstone ere he was aware. +Him from the Grave they rais'd, in ample kind, +His sever'd Head to his seer Quarters joyn'd; +Then cas'd his Chin in a false Beard so well, +As made him pass for Father _Samuel_. +Him thus equipt in a Religious Cloak, +They thus his new-made Reverence bespoke. + + Go, awful Spright, hast to _Achitophel_, +Rouze his great Soul, use every Art, Charm, Spell: +For _Absolom_ thy utmost Rhetorick try, +Preach him Succession, roar'd Succession cry, +Succession drest in all her glorious pride, +Succession Worshipt, Sainted, Deify'd. +Conjure him by Divine and Humane Pow'rs, +Convince, Convert, Confound, make him but ours, +That _Absolon_ may mount on _Judahs_ Throne, +Whilst all the World before us is our own. + + The forward Spright but few Instructions lackt, +Strait by the Moons pale light away he packt, +And in a trice, his Curtains open'd wide, +He sate him by _Achitophels_ Bed-side. +And in this style his artful Accents ran. + + Hear _Israels_ Hope, thou more than happy Man, +Beloved on high, witness this Honour done +By Father _Samuel_, and believe me, Son, +'Tis by no common Mandate of a God, +A Soul beatifyed, the blest Abode +Thus low deserting, quits Immortal Thrones, +And from his Grave resumes his sleeping Bones. +But Heavn's the Guide, and wondrous is the way, +Divine the Embassie: hear, and obey. +How long, _Achitophel_, and how profound +A Mist of Hell has thy lost Reason drown'd? +Can the Apostacy from _Israels_ Faith, +In _Israels_ Heir, deserve a murmuring Breath? +Or to preserve Religion, Liberty, +Peace, Nations, Souls, is that a Cause so high, +As the Right Heir from Empire to debar? +Forbid it Heav'n, and guard him every Star. +Alas, what if an Heir of Royal Race, +Gods Glory and his Temples will deface, +And make a prey of your Estates, Lives, Laws; +Nay, give your Sons to _Molocks_ burning paws; +Shall you exclude him? hold that Impious Hand. +As _Abraham_ gave his Son at Gods Command, +Think still he does by _Divine Right_ succeed: +God bids Him Reign, and you should bid Them Bleed. +'Tis true, as Heav'ns Elected Flock, you may +For his Conversion, and your Safety _pray_ +But Pray'rs are all. To Disinherit him, +The very Thought, nay, Word it self's a Crime. +For that's the MEANS of Safety: but forbear, +For Means are Impious in the Sons of Pray'r. +To Miracles alone your Safety owe; +And _Abrahams_ Angel wait to stop the Blow. +Yes, what if his polluted Throne be strowd +With Sacriledge, Idolatry, and Blood; +And 'tis you mount him there; you're innocent still: +For he's a King, and Kings can do no ill. +Oh Royal Birthright, 'tis a Sacred Name: +Rowze then _Achitophel_, rowze up for shame: +Let not this Lethargy thy Soul benum; +But wake, and save the Godlike _Absolom_. +And to reward thee for a Deed so great +Glut thy Desires, thy full-crown'd wishes meet, +Be with accumulated Honours blest, +And grasp a STAR t'adorn thy shining Crest. + + _Achitophel_ before his Eyes could ope, +Dreamt of an Ephod, Mitre, and a Cope. +Those visionary Robes t'his Eyes appear'd: +For Priestly all was the great Sense he heard. +But Priest or Prophet, Right Divine, or all +Together; 'twas not at their feebler call, +'Twas at the _Star_ he wak'd; the _Star_ but nam'd, +Flasht in his Eyes, and his rowz'd Soul enflam'd. +A _Star_, whose Influence had more powerful Light, +Then that Miraculous Wanderer of the Night, +Decreed to guide the Eastern Sages way: +Their's to adore a God, his to betray. + + Here the new Convert more than half inspir'd, +Strait to his Closet and his Books retir'd. +There for all needful Arts in this extreme, +For knotty Sophistry t'a limber Theme, +Long brooding ere the Mass to Shape was brought, +And after many a tugging heaving Thought, +Together a well-orderd Speech he draws, +With ponderous Sounds for his much-labour'd Cause. +Then the astonisht Sanedrim he storm'd, +And with such doughty strength the Tug perform'd: +Fate did the Work with so much Conquest bless, +Wondrous the Champion, Glorious the Success. +So powerful Eloquence, so strong was Wit; +And with such Force the easie Wind-falls hit. + + But the entirest Hearts his Cause could steal, +Were the Levitick Chiefs of _Israel_. +None with more Rage the Impious Thought run down +Of barring _Absolon_, Pow'r, Wishes, Crown. +With so much vehemence, such fiery Zeal! +Oh, poor unhappy Church of _Israel!_ +Thou feelst the Fate of the Arch-angels Wars, +The Dragons Tayl sweeps down thy Falling Stars. +Nay, the black Vote 'gainst _Absolon_ appear'd +So monstrous, that they damn'd it ere 'twas heard. +For Prelates ne'r in Sanedrims debate, +They argue in the Church, but not i'th' State; +And when their Thoughts aslant towards Heav'n they turn, +They weigh each Grain of Incense that they burn, +But t'Heavens Vice-gerents, Soul, Sense, Reason, all, +Or right or wrong, like Hecatombs must fall. +And when State-business calls their Thoughts below, +Then like their own Church-Organ-Pipes they go. +Not _Davids_ Lyre could more his Touch obey: +For as their Princes breathe and strike, they play. +'Gainst Royal Will they never can dispute, } +But by a strange _Tarantula_ strook mute, } +Dance to no other Tune but _Absolute_. } +All Acts of Supreme Power they still admire: +'Tis Sacred, though to set the World on Fire, +Though Church-Infallibility they explode, +As making Humane knowledge equal God; +Infallible in a new name goes down, +Not in the Mitre lodged, but in the Crown. +'Tis true, blest _Deborahs_ Laws they could forget: +(But want of Memory commends their Wit.) +Where 'twas enacted Treason, not to own +Hers and her Sanedrins right to place the Crown. +But her weak Heads oth' Church, mistaken fools, +Wanted the Light of their sublimer Schools: +For Divine Right could no such Forces bring. } +But Wisdom now expands her wider Wing, } +And Streams are ever deeper than the Spring. } +Besides, they've sense of Honour; and who knows +How far the Gratitude of Priest-craft goes? +And what if now like old _Elisha_ fed, +To praise the Sooty Bird that brought 'em Bread, +In pure acknowledgment, though in despight +Of their own sense, they paint the Raven White. + + _Achitophel_ charm'd with kind Fortunes Smiles, +Flusht with Success, now glows for bolder Toyls. +Great Wits perverted greatest Mischiefs hold, +As poysonous Vapors spring from Mines of Gold. +And proud to see himself with Triumph blest, +Thus to great _Absolom_ himself addrest. + + Illustrious Terrour of the World, all hayle: +For ever like your Conquering Self prevaile. +In spight of Malice in full Luster shine; +Be your each Action, Word, and Look Divine, +Nay, though our Altars you've so long forborne; +To your derided Foes Defeat, and Scorne, +For your Renown we have those Trumpets found, +Shall ev'n this Deed your highest Glory sound. +That spight of the ill-judging Worlds mistake, +Your Soul still owns those Temples you forsake: +Onely by all-commanding Honour driven, +This self-denial you have made with Heav'n: +Quitting our Altars, cause the Insolence +Of prophane Sanedrims has driven you thence. +A Prince his Faith to such low Slaves reveal! +'Twas Treason though to God to bid You kneel. +And what though senseless barking Murmurers scold, } +And with a Rage too blasphemously bold, } +Say _Israels_ Crown's for _Esau_'s Pottage sold. } +Let 'em rayl on; and to strike Envy dumb; +May the Slaves live till that great Day shall come, +When their husht Rage shall your keen Vengeance fly, +And silenc'd with your Royal Thunder dye. +Nay, to outsoar your weak Fore-fathers Wings, +And to be all that Nature first meant Kings; +Damn'd be the Law that Majesty confines, +But doubly damn'd accursed Sanedrins, +Invented onely to eclipse a Crown. +Oh throw that dull Mosaick Land-mark down. +The making Sanedrims a part of Pow'r, +Nurst but those Vipers which its Sire devour. +Lodg'd in the Pallace tow'rds the Throne they press, +For Pow'rs Enjoyment does its Lust increase. +Allegiance onely is in Chains held fast; +Make Men ne're thirst, is ne're to let 'em tast. +Then, Royal Sir, be Sanedrims no more, +Lop off that rank Luxurious Branch of pow'r: +Those hungry _Scions_ from the _Cedar_ root, +That its Imperial Head towards Heav'n may shoot. +When Lordly Sanedrims with Kings give Law, +And thus in yokes like Mules together draw; +From _Judahs_ Arms the Royal Lyon raze, +And _Issachars_ dull Ass supply the place. +If Kings o're common Mankind have this odds, +Are Gods Vicegerents; let 'em act like Gods. +As Man is Heav'ns own clay, which it may mould +For Honour or Dishonour, uncontrould, +And Monarchy is mov'd by Heav'nly Springs; +Why is not Humane Fate i'th' Breath of Kings? +Then, Sir, from Heav'n your great Example take, +And be th'unbounded Lord a King should make: +Resume what bold Invading Slaves engrost, +And onely Pow'rs Effeminacy lost. + + To this kind _Absolom_ but little spoke; +Onely return'd a Nod, and gracious Look. +For though recorded Fame with pride has told, +Of his great Actings, Wonders manifold; +And his great Thinkings most Diviners guess; +Yet his great Speakings no Records express. + + All things thus safe; and now for one last blow, +To give his Foes a total Overthrow; +A Blow not in Hells Legends match'd before, +The remov'd Plot's laid at the Enemies door. +The old Plot forg'd against the Saints of _Baal_, +Cheat, Perjury, and Subornation all, +Whilst with a more damn'd Treason of their own, +Like working Moles they're digging round the Throne; +_Baal_, _Baal_, the cry, and _Absolom_ the Name, +But _Davids_ glory, Life and Crown the Aim. +Nay, if but a Petition peep abroad, +Though for the Glory both of Church and God, +And to preserve even their yet unborn Heirs; +There's Blood and Treason in their very Prayers. +This unexampled Impudence upheld; +The Governments best Friends, the Crowns best Sheild, +The Great and Brave with equal Treason brands. +Faith, Honour, and Allegiance strongest Bands +All broken like the Cords of _Sampson_ fall, +Whilst th'universal Leprosie taints all. +These poysonous shafts with greater spleen they draw, +Than the Outragious Wife of _Potypha_. +So the chast _Joseph_ unseduc'd to her +Adult'ries, was pronounc'd a Ravisher. + + This hellish Ethnick Plot the Court alarms; +The Traytors seventy thousand strong in Arms, +Near _Endor_ Town lay ready at a Call, +And garrison'd in Airy Castles all. +These Warriours on a sort of Coursers rid, +Ne'r log'd in Stables, or by Man bestrid. +What though the steele with which the Rebels fought, +No Forge e're felt, or Anvile ever wrought? +Yet this Magnetick Plot, for black Designs, +Can raise cold Iron from the very Mines. +To this were twenty Under-plots, contriv'd +By Malice, and by Ignorance believ'd, +Till Shamms met Shamms, and Plots with Plots so crost, +That the True Plot amongst the False was lost. + + Of all the much-wrong'd Worthies of the Land +Whom this Contagious Infamy profan'd, +In the first Rank the youthful _Ithream_ stood, +His Princely Veins fill'd with great _Davids_ Blood. +With so much Manly Beauty in his Face, +Scarce his High Birth could lend a Nobler Grace. +And for a Mind fit for this shrine of Gold +Heaven cast his Soul in the same Beauteous Mould; +With all the sweets of Prideless Greatness blest, +As Affable as _Abrahams_ Angel-Guest. +But when in Wars his glittering Steel he drew, +No Chief more Bold with fiercer Lightning flew: +Witness his tryal of an Arm Divine, +Passing the Ordeal of a _Burning Mine_: +Such forward Courage did his Bosome fill, +Starting from nothing, but from doing ill. +Still with such Heat in Honours Race he run, } +Such Wonders by his early Valour done, } +Enough to charm a second _Joshua's_ Sun. } +But he has Foes; his fatal Enemies } +To a strange Monster his Fair Truth disguise; } +And shew the Gorgon even to Royal Eyes. } +To their false perspectives his Fate he owes, +The spots i'th' Glass, not in the Star it shows. +Yet when by the Imperial Sentence doom'd, +The Royal Hand the Princely Youth unplum'd, +He his hard Fate without a Murmur took, +And stood with that Calm, Duteous, Humble look. +Of all his shining Honours unarray'd, +Like _Isaac's_ Head on _Abrahams_ Altar lay'd. +Yes, _Absolom_, thou hast him in the Toyl, +Rifled, and lost; now Triumph in the Spoyl. +His Zeal too high for _Israels_ Temples soar'd, +His God-like Youth by prostrate Hearts ador'd, +Till thy Revenge from Spight and Fear began, +And too near Heaven took Care to make him Man. +Though _Israels_ King, God, Laws, share all his Soul, +Adorn'd with all that Heroes can enrol, +Yet Vow'd Successions cruel Sacrifice, +Great _Judah_'s Son like _Jeptha_'s Daughter dies. +Yes, like a Monument of Wrath he stands; +Such Ruine _Absolons_ Revenge demands; +His Curiosity his Doom assign'd: +For 'twas a Crime of as destructive Kind, +To pry how _Babylons_ Burning Zeal aspires, +As to look back on Sodoms blazing Fires. +But spoyl'd, and rob'd, his drossier Glories gone, +His Virtue and his Truth are still his own. +No rifling Hands can that bright Treasure take, +Nor all his Foes that Royal Charter shake. + + The dreadful'st Foe their Engines must subdue, +The strongest Rock through which their Arts must hew, +Was great _Barzillai_: could they reach his Head, +Their Fears all husht, they had strook Danger dead. +That second _Moses_-Guide resolv'd to free +Our _Israel_ from her threatning Slavery, +Idolatry and Chains; both from the Rods +Of _Pharoh_-Masters, and _Egyptian_ Gods: +And from that Wilderness of Errour freed, +Where Dogstars scorch, and killing Serpents breed: +That _Israels_ Liberty and Truth may grow, +The _Canaan_ whence our Milk and Honey flow. +Such our _Barzillai_; but _Barzillai_ too, +With _Moses_ Fate does _Moses_ Zeal pursue: +Leads to that Bliss which his own Silver Hairs +Shall never reach, Rich onely to his Heirs. +Kind Patriot, who to plant us Banks of Flow'rs, +With purling Streams, cool Shades, and Summer Bow'rs, +His Ages needful Rest away does fling, +Exhausts his Autumn to adorn our Spring: +Whilst his last hours in Toyls and Storms are hurl'd, +And onely to enrich th'inheriting World. +Thus prodigally throws his Lifes short span, +To play his Countries generous Pelican. +But oh, that all-be-devill'd Paper, fram'd +No doubt, in Hell; that Mass of Treason damn'd; +By _Esau_'s Hands, and _Jacobs_ Voice disclos'd; +And timely to th' Abhorring World expos'd. +Nay, what's more wondrous, this wast-paper Tool, +A nameless, unsubscrib'd, and useless scrowl, +Was, by a Politician great in Fame, +(His Chains foreseen a Month before they came) +Preserv'd on purpose, by his prudent care, +To brand his Soul, and ev'n his Life ensnare. +But then the Geshuritish Troop, well-Oath'd, +And for the sprucer Face, well-fed, and Cloath'd. +These to the Bar Obedient Swearers go, +With all the Wind their manag'd Lungs can blow. +So have I seen from Bellows brazen Snout, +The Breath drawn in, and by th'same Hand squeez'd out. +But helping Oaths may innocently fly, +When in a Faith where dying Vows can lye. +Were Treason and Democracie his Ends, +Why was't not prov'd by his Revolting Friends? +Why did not th'Oaths of his once-great Colleagues, +_Achitophel_ and the rest prove his Intreagues? +Why at the Bar appear'd such sordid scum, +And all those Nobler Tongues of Honour dumb? +Could he his Plots t'his great Allies conceal, +He durst to leaky Starving Wretches tell; +Such Ignorant Princes, and such knowing Slaves; +His _Babel_ building Tools from such poor Knaves. +Were he that Monster his new Foes would make +Th'unreasoning World beleive, his Soul so black, +That they in Conscience did his Side forego, +Knowing him guilty they could prove him so. +Then 'twas not Conscience made 'em change their side. +Or if they knew, yet did his Treasons hide; +In not exposing his detested Crime, +They're greater Monsters than they dare think Him. +Are these the Proselites renown'd so high, +Converts to Duty, Honour, Loyalty? +Poorly they change, who in their change stand mute: +Converts to Truth ought Falsehood to confute. +To conquering Truth, they but small glory give, +Who turn to God, yet let the Dagon live. + + But who can _Amiels_ charming Wit withstand, +The great State-pillar of the Muses Land. +For lawless and ungovern'd, had the Age +The Nine wild Sisters seen run mad with Rage, +Debaucht to Savages, till his keen Pen +Brought their long banisht Reason back again, +Driven by his Satyres into Natures Fence, +And lasht the idle Rovers into Sense. +Nay, his sly Muse, in Style Prophetick, wrot +The whole Intrigue of _Israels_ Ethnick Plot; +Form'd strange Battalions, in stupendious-wise, +Whole Camps in Masquerade, and Armies in disguise. +_Amiel_, whose generous Gallantry, whilst Fame +Shall have a Tongue, shall never want a Name. +Who, whilst his Pomp his lavish Gold consumes, +Moulted his Wings to lend a Throne his Plumes, +Whilst an Ungrateful Court he did attend, +Too poor to pay, what it had pride to spend. + + But, _Amiel_ has, alas, the fate to hear, +An angry Poet play his Chronicler; +A Poet rais'd above Oblivions Shade, +By his Recorded Verse Immortal made. +But, Sir, his livelier Figure to engrave, +With Branches added to the _Bays_ you gave: +No Muse could more Heroick Feats rehearse, +Had with an equal all-applauding Verse, +Great _Davids_ Scepter, and _Sauls_ Javelin prais'd: +A Pyramide to his Saint, _Interest_, rais'd. +For which Religiously no Change he mist, } +From Common-wealths-man up to Royalist: } +Nay, would have been his own loath'd thing call'd _Priest_. } +Priest, whom with so much Gall he does describe, +'Cause once unworthy thought of _Levies_ Tribe. +Near those bright Tow'rs where Art has Wonders done, } +Where _Davids_ sight glads the blest Summers Sun; } +And at his feet proud _Jordans_ Waters run; } +A Cell there stands by Pious Founders rais'd, +Both for its Wealth and Learned _Rabbins_ prais'd: +To this did an Ambitious Bard aspire, +To be no less than Lord of that blest Quire: +Till Wisdom deem'd so Sacred a Command, +A Prize too great for his unhallow'd Hand. +Besides, lewd Fame had told his plighted Vow, +To _Laura's_ cooing Love percht on a dropping Bough +_Laura_ in faithful Constancy confin'd +To _Ethiops_ Envoy, and to all Mankind. +_Laura_ though Rotten, yet of Mold Divine; +He had all her Cl--ps, and She had all his Coine. +Her Wit so far his Purse and Sense could drain, +Till every P--x was sweetn'd to a Strain. +And if at last his Nature can reform, +A weary grown of Loves tumultuous storm, +'Tis Ages Fault, not His; of pow'r bereft, +He left not Whoring, but of that was left. + + But wandring Muse bear up thy flagging Wing: +To thy more glorious Theme return, and sing +Brave _Jothams_ Worth, Impartial, Great, and Just, +Of unbrib'd Faith, and of unshaken Trust: +Once _Geshurs_ Lord, their Throne so nobly fill'd, +As if to th'borrow'd Scepter that he held, +Th'inspiring _David_ yet more generous grew, +And lent him his Imperial _Genius_ too. +Nor has he worn the Royal Image more +In _Israels_ Viceroy, than Embassador: +Witness his Gallantry that resolute hour, +When to uphold the Sacred Pride of Pow'r, +His stubborn Flags from the _Sydonian_ shore, +The angry storms of Thundring Castles bore. +But these are Virtues Fame must less admire, +Because deriv'd from that Heroick Sire, +Who on a Block a dauntless Martyr dy'd, +With all the Sweetness of a Smiling Bride; +Charm'd with the Thought of Honours Starry Pole, +With Joy laid down a Head to mount a Soul. + + Of all the Champions rich in Honours Scarrs, +Whose Loyalty through _Davids_ ancient Wars, +(In spight of the triumphant Tyrants pride,) +Was to his lowest Ebb of Fortune ty'd; +No Link more strong in all that Chain of Gold, +Then _Amasai_, the Constant, and the Bold. +That Warlike General whose avenging Sword, +Through all the Battles of his Royal Lord, +Pour'd all the Fires that Loyal Zeal could light, +No brighter Star in the lost _Davids_ night. + + No less with Laurels _Ashurs_ Brows adorn, +That mangled Brave who with _Tyres_ Thunder torn, +Brought a dismember'd Load of Honour home, +And lives to make both th'Earth and Seas his Tomb. + + With Reverence the Religious _Helon_ treat, +Refin'd from all the looseness of the Great. +_Helon_ who sees his Line of Virtues run } +Beyond the Center of his Grave, his own } +Unfinisht Luster sparkling in his Son. } +A Son so high in Sanedrims renown'd, +In _Israels_ Intrest strong, in Sense profound. +Under one Roof here Truth a Goddess dwells, } +The Pious Father builds her Shrines and Cells, } +And in the Son she speaks her Oracles. } + + In the same list young _Adriels_ praise record, +_Adriel_ the Academick Neighbour Lord; +_Adriel_ ennobled by a Grandfather, +And Unkle, both those Glorious Sons of War: +Both Generals, and both Exiles with their Lord; +Till with the Royal Wanderer restored, +They lived to see his Coronation Pride; +Then surfeiting on too much Transport dy'd. +O're _Adriels_ Head these Heroes Spirits shine, +His Soul with so much Loyal Blood fenc'd in; +Such Native Virtues his great Mind adorn, +Whilst under their congenial Influence born. + + In this Record let _Camries_ Name appear, +The Great _Barzillai_'s Fellow Sufferer; +From unknown Hands, of unknown Crimes accus'd, +Till th'hunted Shadow lost, his Chains unloos'd. + + Now to the Sweet-tongu'd _Amrams_ praise be just, +Once the _State-Advocate_, that Wealthy Trust, +Till Flattery the price of dear-bought Gold, +His Innocence for Pallaces unfold, +To Naked Truths more shining Beauties true, +Th'Embroiderd Mantle from his Neck he threw. + + Next _Hothriel_ write, _Baals_ watchful Foe, and late +_Jerusalems_ protecting Magistrate; +Who, when false Jurors were to Frenzy Charm'd, +And against Innocence even Tribunals arm'd, +Saw deprav'd Justice ope her Ravenous Jaw, +And timely broke her Canine Teeth of Law. + + Amongst th'Asserters of his Countries Cause, +Give the bold _Micah_ his deserv'd Applause, +The Grateful Sanedrims repeated Choice, +Of Two Great Councels the Successive Voice. +Of that old hardy Tribe of _Israel_ borne, +Fear their Disdain, and Flattery their Scorne, +Too proud to truckle, and too Tough to bend. + + Of the same Tribe was _Hanan, Ithreams_ Friend, +From that fam'd Sire, the Long Robes Glory, sprung, +In Sanedrims his Countries Pillar long; +Long had he fadom'd all the Depths of State; } +Could with that strength, that ponderous Sense debate, } +As turn'd the Scale of Nations with the weight: } +Till subtley made by Spightful Honour Great, +Prefer'd to _Israels_ Chief Tribunal Seat, +Made in a higher Orb his Beams dispense, +To hush his Formidable Eloquence. + + But _Israels_ numerous Worthies are too long +And Great a Theam for one continued Song. +Yet These by bold flagitious Tongues run down, +Made all Conspirers against _Davids_ Crown. + + Nay, and there was a Time, had Hell prevail'd, +Nor Perjury and Subornation fail'd, +When a long List of Names, for Treason doom'd, +Had _Israels_ Patriots in one Grave entomb'd: +A List, with such fair Loyal Colours laid, +Even to no less than Royal Hands convey'd. +And the great Mover in this pious Fraud, +A Dungeon Slave redeem'd by'a Midnight Bawd: +Then made by Art a Swearer of Renown, +Nurst and embrac'd by th'Heir of _Judahs_ Crown: +Encourag'd too by Pension for Reward, +With his forg'd Scrowls for Guiltless Blood prepared. +Poor Engine for a greatness so sublime: } +But oh, a Cause by which their _Baal_ must climb, } +Ennobles both the Actor and the Crime. } + + Yet This, and all Things else now quite blown o're, +And _Absolom_, his _Israels_ Fear no more: +Luster and Pride shall hem his radiant Brow; +All Knees shall fall, and prostrate Nations bow. +By Heav'ns, he is, he will, he must, he shall +Be _Israels_ Heroe, Friend, Saint, Idol, all. +What though provok'd with all the crying sins +Of Murmuring Slaves, excluding Sanedrins: +By profane Crowds in dirt his Prophets spurn'd, +And ev'n his Gods in mock Processions burn'd: +Himself from _Israel_ into _Hebron_ sent, +And doom'd to little less than Banishment. +In spight of all his Scrowls to _Babylon_; } +And all the promis'd Wonders to be done, } +When _Egypts_ Frogs should croak on _Judahs_ Throne. } +Though of a Faith that propagates in Blood; +Of Passions unforgiving, less withstood +Then Seas and Tempests, and as Deaf as they. } +Yet all Divine shall be his Godlike Sway, } +And his calm Reign but one long _Halcyon_ Day. } +And this Great Truth he's damn'd that dares deny; } +'Gainst _Absolom_ even Oracles would lye, } +Though Sense and Reason Preach 'tis Blasphemy. } +Then let out dull Mistaken Terrour cease, +When even our Comets speak all Health and Peace. + +_FINIS._ + + +ERRATA. + + [Transcriber's Note: + + The author's Errata list was printed at the bottom of the page in a + single block of small type, heavily smudged and not always legible. + In at least one case, the requested change appears to be what the text + already says. For these reasons, changes listed have _not_ been made. + The text of each complete line is given in brackets.] + + The Reader is desired to Correct these following Mistakes. + + Page 1. line 12. for _Hold_, read _Held_. + [Hold but their Crowns at his Almighty Will.] + p. 4. l. 22. r. _Ships_; + [_Dan_ from her Ship, and _Asher_ on the Shore.] + ibid. l. 26. for _Kindl'd_ r. _Bank'd_; + [Kindl'd their embattel'd Fires for _Deborah's_ Wars,] + ibid. l. 32. r. _the Mighty_; + [The Mighty _Deborah's_, God's, and _Israel's_ Foes.] + ibid. l. 37 for _they_ r. _thus_; + [Thus sung, they conquer'd _Deborah_; thus fell] + p. 7. l. 18. for _poor_, r. _weak_; + [Preach to poor Female half-Soul'd Proselytes.] + p. 9. l. 3. & 4. for _his_ r. _a_; + [What Knees, what Necks to mount him to his Throne; + What Gems, what Stars to sparkle in his Crown?] + l. 6. for _the_, r. _ye_; + [But oh the Pow'rs, by treacherous snakes beguil'd,] + ibid. l. 20. r. _Walls; the Billows pour_; + [Down crack the Chrystal Walls the Billows pow'r,] + p. 12. l. 11. r. _lov'd Israel_; + [That still in its Lord _Israel_ takes delight,] + p. 19. l. 27. for _loo_ r. _race_ [illegible, possibly "rate"] + [To loo the Bloodhounds off to save the Plot.] + p. 22. l. 10. r. _Excluding_. + [Th'encluding Sanedrims Resolves once shake;] + + [Additional errors and anomalies noted by transcriber: + + (Title, after dedication) + Absalom Senior + _catchword on previous page has "Abso-"_ + Whilst th'universal Drones buz to his Hives. + _apostrophe missing_ + If this last Masterpiece requires a Soul. + _"f" ("If") invisible_ + The Uppermost, indisputably Best. + _text reads "indsputably"_ + This final Resolution made, at last + _line printed after break, but not indented_ + But t'Heavens Vice-gerents, Soul, Sense, Reason, all, + _the word "vice-gerent" occurs twice_ + Why did not th'Oaths of his once-great Colleagues, + _apostrophe missing_ + Th'Embroiderd Mantle from his Neck he threw. + _apostrophe missing_ + By profane Crowds in dirt his Prophets spurn'd, + _apostrophe invisible_ ] + + + * * * * * + + Poetical Reflections + on a Late + + POEM + + Entituled, + Absalom and Achitophel. + + _By a Person of Honour._ + + + [Decoration] + + _LONDON:_ + Printed for _Richard Janeway_. 1681. + + + + +TO THE READER. + +If ever anything, call'd a _Poem_, deserv'd a severe Reflection, that +of _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_ may justly contract it. For tho' Lines +can never be purg'd from the dross and filth they would throw on others +(there being no retraction that can expiate the conveying of persons to +an unjust and publick reproach); yet the cleansing of their fames from a +design'd pollution, may well become a more ingenious Pen than the Author +of these few reflections will presume to challenge. + +To epitomize which scandalous Phamphlet (unworthy the denomination of +_Poesy_) no eye can inspect it without a prodigious amazement; the +abuses being so gross and deliberate, that it seems rather a Capital +or National Libel, than personal exposures, in order to an infamous +detraction. For how does he character the King, but as a broad figure +of scandalous inclinations, or contriv'd unto such irregularities, +as renders him rather the property of Parasites and Vice, than suitable +to the accomplishment of so excellent a Prince? Nay, he forces on King +_David_ such a Royal resemblance, that he darkens his sanctity in spite +of illuminations from Holy Writ. + +Next (to take as near our King as he could) he calumniates the Duke +of _Monmouth_ with that height of impudence, that his Sense is far +blacker than his Ink, exposing him to all the censures that a Murderer, +a Traytor, or what a Subject of most ambitious evil can possibly +comprehend: and it is some wonder, that his Lines also had not hang'd +him on a Tree, to make the intended _Absalom_ more compleat. + +As to my Lord _Shaftsbury_ (in his collusive _Achitophel_), what does he +other than exceed Malice it self? or that the more prudent deserts of +that Peer were to be so impeach'd before hand by his impious Poem, as +that he might be granted more emphatically condign of the Hangman's Ax; +And which his Muse does in effect take upon her to hasten. + +And if the season be well observ'd, when this Adulterate Poem was +spread, it will be found purposely divulg'd near the time when this +Lord, with his other Noble Partner, were to be brought to their Tryals. +And I suppose this Poet thought himself enough assur'd of their +condemnation; at least, that his _Genius_ had not otherwise ventur'd +to have trampled on persons of such eminent Abilities, and Interest in +the Nation. A consideration, I confess, incited my Pen (its preceding +respect being paid to the Duke of _Monmouth_) to vindicate their +Reputations where I thought it due. + +And some are not a little mistaken in their judgments of persons, if any +Kingdom has at this time Two men of their Dignity, of more extraordinary +Understandings: Which may (if well consider'd) be some inducement to +their future preservation and esteem. As I have endeavour'd chiefly to +clear their abuse, so I have pass'd divers considerable persons, under +as malign inclinations of this Author's; conceiving, that what I have +said for the Principals, may remove such smaller prejudices as are on +the value of others on the same concern. + +His most select and pecuniary Favourites, I have but barely touch'd, +in respect his praise includes a concomitant reprehension, if well +apprehended. Besides, I was unwilling to discourage any, that for the +future may desire to be admir'd by him according to their liberality. +A method, that perhaps may in time set up some Merchants of _Parnassus_, +where the _Indies_ of Fame seem lately discover'd, and may be purchas'd +_per Centum_, according to modern example. + +As to the Character of _Amiel_, I confess my Lines are something +pointed, the one reason being, that it alludes much to a manner of +expression of this Writer's, as may be seen by the marginal Notes; and a +second will be soon allowed. The figure of _Amiel_ has been so squeez'd +into Paint, that his soul is seen in spite of the Varnish. + +And none will deny, but it is as easie to send Truth backward, as it is +to spur Falsities egregiously forward, and might have caus'd any Asse, +as knowing as _Balaam_'s, to have rebuk'd such a Poet as will needs +prophecy against the sense of Heaven and Men. But I have enough of this +_Amiell_, as well as of his Muse, unless that by his means it occasions +a further account. And for what is mine here, It will at worst contract +censure, in respect it is a brief reflection on a very large Libel. And +tho' I believe it did not cost (tho' that be not offer'd for an excuse) +the tenth part of the time of the other. As to my Preface, I was willing +that he should find, that this smaller work has some Nose.--Tho' I am no +more bound to have my Face known by it, than he is willing to obscure +his by a Nameless Preamble. + + + + + [Asterisks used as side/footnote references are from the original + text.] + + Poetical Reflections + ON A POEM, + + CALLED + Absolon and Achitophel. + + +When late Protectorship was Canon-Proof, +And _Cap-a-pe_ had seiz'd on _Whitehall_-Roof, +And next, on _Israelites_ durst look so big, +That _Tory-like_, it lov'd not much the _Whigg_: +A Poet there starts up, of wondrous Fame; +Whether _Scribe_ or _Pharisee_, his Race doth name, +Or more t'intrigue the Metaphor of Man, +Got on a Muse by _Father-Publican_: + [Sidenote: A Committee-Man.] +For 'tis not harder much, if we tax Nature, +That Lines should give a Poet such a Feature; +Than that his Verse a _Hero_ should us show, + [Sidenote: _Sir Denzill Hollis_ seeks _annum mirabilis_.] +Produc'd by such a Feat, as famous too. +His Mingle such, what Man presumes to think, +But he can Figures daub with Pen and Ink. +A Grace our mighty _Nimrod_ late beheld, +When he within the Royal Palace dwell'd, +And saw 'twas of import if Lines could bring +His Greatness from _Usurper_, to be King: + [Sidenote: See his Poem on _Cromwel_.] +Or varnish so his Praise, that little odds +Should seem 'twixt him, and such called Earthly Gods. +And tho no Wit can Royal Blood infuse, +No more than melt a Mother to a Muse: +Yet much a certain Poet undertook, +That Men and Manners deals in without-Book. +And might not more to Gospel-Truth belong, +Than he (if Christened) does by name of _John._ +This Poet, who that time much squanderd thought, +Of which some might bring Coyn, whilst some none brought, +As Men that hold their Brains of powerful sense, +Will least on Poet's Tales bestow their pence, +Tho he such Dispensations to endear, +Had notch'd his Sconce just level with his Ear. +An Emblem in these days of much import, +When Crop-ear'd Wits had such a Modish Court. +Tho some from after-deeds much fear the Fate, +That such a Muse may for its Lugs create. +As Stars may without Pillories dispence, +To slit some Ears for Forgeries of sense, +Which Princes, Nobles, and the Fame of Men, +Sought to bespatter by a worthless Pen. +But leaving this to Circumstances fit, +With what thence spreads this Renegado-wit. +We'll tell you how his Court he now doth make, } +And what choice Things and Persons he doth take, } +That Lines for Guinnys might more liquorish speak. } +To heigten which we'll to his Muse advance, +Which late discover'd its _Judaick_ Trance: +Where _Absalon_'s in _English_ Colours di'd, +That in a Duke, a Traitor might be spi'd. +Or Heaven on him did Graces so bestow, +As only could confer their Pageant Show; +Giving his Glories no more fast Renown, +Than with more Honour to be taken down: +Like Victimes by some Sacrificers drest, +Must fall adorn'd, which then they pity least. +But fear not _Monmouth_, if a Libel's quill, +Would dregs of Venom on thy Vertue spill; +Since no desert so smoothly is convey'd, +As next it's Fame, no canker'd Patch is laid; +Thou didst no Honour seek, but what's thy due, +And such Heaven bids thee not relinquish too. +Whilst it's Impressions so oblig'd thy Task, +As leave from Earth thy Soul declin'd to ask. +If this thy Error were, what Influ'nce can +Excuse the Duty of more wilfull Man; +With such whose Figures shew that squinting Paint, +Whence peeps a Mungril _Babylonish Saint_. +Thy Soul's Religion's Prop, and Native Grace, +_Rome_, (fears its onsets) looking on the place; +What Altitude can more exalt thy Praise, +Tho best Devotion should thy Trophies raise, +And 'tis perhaps from thy Diviner Bliss, +That some may fear their Souls are seen amiss. +As what so high does Emulation mount, +As Greatness when surpass'd on Heaven's Account; +And if th' Ambition would in this excel, +'Twas but to be more great in doing well; +And must rebate the worst that Fates intend, +Whilst Heaven and _England_ is at once thy Friend. +This just _Encomium_, tho too brief it be +To represent thy least Epitome; +And but unto thy larger Figure joyn'd, +As small proportions are from great design'd; +Tho where a line one worth of thine can speak, +It does alone, a Poem's Greatness make; +Leaving this _Hero_ to his spotless Fame, +(As who besides this Wretch will it blaspheme) +Or in a Libels Allegorick Way, +Men falsely figur'd, to the world convey, +Libels the enormous Forgery of sense, +Stamp'd on the brow of human Impudence; +The blackest wound of Merit, and the Dart, +That secret Envy points against Desert. +The lust of Hatred pander'd to the Eye +T'allure the World's debauching by a Lie. +Th'rancrous Favourite's masquerading Guilt, +Imbitt'ring venom where he'd have it spilt. +The Courts depression in a fulsom Praise; +A Test it's _Ignoramus_ worst conveys, +A lump of Falshood's Malice does disperse, +Or Toad when crawling on the Feet of Verse. +Fame's impious Hireling and mean Reward, +The Knave that in his Lines turns up his Card, +Who, tho no Rabby, thought in Hebrew wit, +He forc'd Allusions can closly fit. +To _Jews_ or _English_, much unknown before, +He made a _Talmud_ on his Muses score; +Though hop'd few Criticks will its _Genius_ carp, +So purely Metaphors King _David_'s Harp, +And by a soft Encomium, near at hand, +Shews _Bathsheba_ Embrac'd throughout the Land. +But this Judaick Paraphrastick Sport +We'll leave unto the ridling Smile of Court. +Good Heav'n! What timeful Pains can Rhymers take, +When they'd for Crowds of Men much Pen-plot make? +Which long-Beak'd Tales and filch'd Allusions brings, +As much like Truth, as 'tis the Woodcock sings. +What else could move this Poet to purloin +So many _Jews_, to please the _English_ Swine? +Or was it that his Brains might next dispense +To adapt himself a Royal Evidence? +Or that he'd find for _Dugdale_'s Wash some Spell, +In stead of once more dipp'd in _Winifred_'s Well; +And ope his Budget, like _Pandora_'s Box, +Whence Overt-acts more _Protestants_ should Pox, +Which might the Joyner's Ghost provoke to rise, +And fright such Tales with other _Popish_ Lies? +But _Starr's_ or _Ignoramus_'s may not give +Those Swearers longer swinge by Oaths to live. +A Providence much _English_ Good protects, +And sends Testees to Trade for new Effects; +Which none of the Long-Robe, 'tis hop'd, can aid, +So well by Oaths the Devil's already paid; +And most suppose, if e're both Plots can die, +Or eat up one anothers Perjury, +'Twou'd _Pluto_ strangely pose to find a Third, +Sould he in his a _Popish_ Legion Lard. +A Policy some Poems much embrace, +As is discern'd in _Shaftsbury_'s Great Case; +Where Verse so vile an Obloquy betray, +As for a Statist-_Jew_ they'd him convey. +Tho hard it is to understand what Spell +Can conjure up in him _Achitophel_, +Or tax this Peer with an Abused Sense +Of his so deep and apt Intelligence: +A Promptitude by which the Nation's shown +To be in Thought concurrent with his own. +_Shaftsbury_! A Soul that Nature did impart +To raise her Wonder in a Brain and Heart; +Or that in him produc'd, the World might know, +She others did with drooping Thought bestow. +As in Mans most perspicuous Soul, we find +The nearest Draught of her Internal Mind, +Tho it appears her highest Act of State, +When Human Conducts she does most compleat, +And place them so, for Mankinds good, that they +Are fit to Guide, where others miss their Way; +It being in Worldly Politiques less Great +To be a Law-maker, than Preserve a State. +In Publick Dangers Laws are unsecure, +As strongest Anchors can't all Winds endure; +Though 'tis in Exigents the wisest Ease +To know who best can ply when Storms encrease; +Whilst other Prospects, by mistaking Fate, +Through wrong Preventions, more its Bad dilate. +Whence some their Counter-Politicks extend, +To ruine such can Evils best amend. +A Thwarting _Genius_, which our Nation more +Than all its head-strong Evils does deplore; +And shews what violent Movements such inform, +That where a Calm should be, they force a Storm; +As if their Safety chiefly they must prize +In being rid of Men esteem'd more Wise. +To this Great, Little Man, we'll T'other joyn, +Held Sufferers by one Tripartite Design. +As from a Cubick Power, or Three-fold Might, +Roots much expand, as Authors prove aright; +But of such Managements we'll little say, +Or shamm'd Intrigues, for Fame left to convey; +Which may by peeping through a Gown-mans Sleeve, +Tell such grave Tales, Men cannot well believe: +With what for Plots and Trials has been done, +As Whores depos'd, before away they run; +All which was well discern'd by numerous Sense, +Before the Doctors py'd Intelligence, +Who, with some Motley Lawyers, took much care +To gain the _Caput_ of this Knowing Peer; +When after so much Noise, and nothing prov'd, +Heaven thank'd, to Freedom he's at last remov'd, +Leaving a Low-Bridge _Cerberus_ to try +In what Clerks Pate his monstrous Fee does lie; +Or by the help of _Tory-Roger_ tell +How Sacred Gain-Prerogativ'd should spell. +But these are Thoughts may fit some Pensive Skulls, +Or Men concern'd to bait their several Bulls; +Whilst on this Peer we must some Lines bestow, +Tho more he merits than best Verse can show: +Great in his Name, but greater in his Parts, +Judgment sublim'd, with all its strong Deserts; +A Sense above Occasions quick surprize, +That he no Study needs to make him Wise, +Or labour'd Thoughts, that trains of Sinews knit, +His Judgment always twin'd unto his Wit; +That from his clear Discussions Men may know +He does to wonder other Brains out-do. +Whilst they for Notions search they can't compact, +His _Genius_ fitly stands prepar'd to act. +Admir'd of Man, that in thy Sense alone +So ready dost exalt high Reason's Throne; +That Men abate Resentments to expect +Thou mayst rise Greater, having past Neglect. +A Sacred Method Kings receive from Heaven, +That still does Cherish, when it has Forgiven; +Which from our Princes Soul so largely flows, +That Mercy's Channel with his Greatness goes. +No Arbitrary Whispers him can guide +To swell his Rule beyond its genuine Tide: +Whilst other Kings their rugged Scepters see +Eclips'd in his more soft Felicity; +Whose Goodness can all Stress of State remove, +So fitly own'd the Subjects Fear and Love. +My Verse might here discharge its hasty Flight, } +As Pencils that attempt Immortal Heighth } +Droop in the Colours should convey its Light, } +Did not this Poet's Lines upon me call +For some Reflexions on a Lower Fall; +Where he by Rhyming, a _Judaick_ Sham, +Obtrudes for _Israelites_ some Seeds of _Cham_. +And this Inspexion needs no further go +Than where his Pen does most Indulgent show: +And 'tis no wonder if his _Types_ of Sense +Should stroke such _Figures_ as give down their Pence; +A Crime for which some Poets Lines so stretch, +As on themselves they Metaphor _Jack Ketch_. +Tho small the Varnish is to Humane Name, +Where Cogging Measures rob the truth of Fame. +And more to do his skew'd _Encomiums_ right, +Some Persons speak by him their motly Sight: +Or much like _Hudibras_, on Wits pretence, +Some Lines for Rhyme, and some to gingle Sense. +Who else would _Adriel_, _Jotham_, _Hushai_, fit, +With loathed _Amiell_, for a Court of Wit? +For, as Men Squares of Circles hardly find, +Some think these Measures are as odly joyn'd. +What else could _Adriell_'s sharpness more abuse, +Than headlong dubb'd, to own himself a Muse, +Unless to spread Poetick Honours so +As should a Muse give each St. _George_'s Show? +A Mode of Glory might _Parnassus_ fit, +Tho our Sage Prince knows few he'd Knight for Wit. +And thus this Freak is left upon the File, +Or as 'tis written in this Poet's Stile. +Next, as in Course, to _Jotham_ we'll descend, +Thoughtful it seems which Side he'll next befriend, +As thinking Brains can caper to and fro, +Before they jump into the Box they'd go. +And 'tis a moody Age, as many guess, +When some with busie Fears still forward press; +As 'tis Ambitions oft-deluding Cheat +To tempt Mens aims, secureless of defeat. +_Hushai_ the Compass of th'_Exchequer_ guides, +Propense enough unto the North besides: +As what can steady Stations more allure, +Than such, a Princely Bed does first secure? +Whose Part none are so ignorant to ask, +And does no less employ his Ends and Task. +But quitting these, we must for Prospect pass +To gaping _Amiell_, as reflects our Glass. +The _Him_ indeed of his own *Western Dome, + [Sidenote: _See his_, p. 27.] +So near his praiseful Poet Sense may come: +For *_Amiell_, _Amiell_, who cannot endite + [Sidenote: _See his_, p. 28.] +Of his _Thin_ Value won't disdain to write? +The very _Him_ with Gown and Mace did rule +The _Sanedrim_, when guided by a Fool. +The _Him_ that did both Sense and Reason shift, +That he to gainful Place himself might lift. +The very _Him_ that did adjust the Seed +Of such as did their Votes for Money breed. +The Mighty _Him_ that frothy Notions vents, +In hope to turn them into Presidents. +The _Him_ of _Hims_, although in Judgment small, +That fain would be the biggest at _Whitehall_. +The He that does for Justice Coin postpone, +As on Account may be hereafter shown. +If this plain _English_ be, 'tis far from Trick, +Though some Lines gall, where others fawning lick; +Which fits thy Poet, _Amiell_, for thy Smiles, +If once more paid to blaze thy hated Toils. +Of Things and Persons might be added more, +Without Intelligence from Forreign Shore, +Or what Designs Ambassadors contrive, +Or how the Faithless _French_ their Compass guide: +But Lines the busie World too much supply, +Besides th'Effects of evil Poetry, +Which much to _Tory_-Writers some ascribe, +Though hop'd no Furies of the _Whiggish_ Tribe +Will on their Backs such Lines or Shapes convey, +To burn with Pope, on Great _November_'s Day. + +_FINIS._ + + + [Erratum: + + And such Heaven bids thee not relinquish too. + _text reads "relinqnish"_ ] + + + * * * * * + + AZARIA + AND + HUSHAI, + + A + POEM. + + _Quod cuique visum est sentiant._ + + _LONDON,_ + Printed for _Charles Lee_, + An. Dom. 1682. + + + + +TO THE READER. + +I shall not go about, either to excuse, or justifie the Publishing of +this Poem; for that would be much more an harder Task than the Writing +of it: But however, I shall say, in the words of the Author of the +incomparable _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_, _That I am sure the Design is +honest_. If Wit and Fool be the Consequence of _Whig_ and _Tory_, no +doubt, but Knave and Ass may be Epithets plentifully bestowed upon me by +the one party, whilst the other may grant me more favourable ones, than +perhaps I do deserve. But as very few are Judges of Wit, so I think, +much fewer of honesty; since Interest and Faction on either side, +prejudices and blinds the Judgment; and the violence of Passion makes +neither discernible in an Adversary. I know not whether my Poem has a +_Genius_ to force its way against prejudice: Opinion sways much in the +World, and he that has once gained it writes securely. I speak not this +any ways to lessen the merits of an Author, whose Wit has deservedly +gained the Bays; but in this I have the advantage, since, as I desire +not Glory or vain applause, I can securely wrap my self in my own Cloud, +and remain unknown, whilest he is exposed through his great Lustre. +I shall never envy what I desire not, nor am I altogether so doting, as +to believe the Issues of my own Brain to exceed all others, and to be so +very fond of them, (as most Authors, especially Poets, are) as to think +them without fault, or be so blinded as not to see their blemishes, and +that they are excelled by others; yet since Poems are like Children, +it may be allowed me to be naturally inclined to have some good Opinion +of my own, and not to believe this Poem altogether despicable or +ridiculous. The Ancients say, that every thing hath two handles, I have +laid hold of that opposite to the Author of _Absalom_: As to Truth, who +has the better hold, let the World judge; and it is no new thing, for +the same Persons, to be ill or well represented, by several parties. +I hope then, I may be excused as well as another, since I have told my +Dreams with the same Liberty, for the fancies of Poets are no more than +waking Dreams, and never imposed as dogmatical precepts, which are more +agreeable to truth or falshood, or according to the Poets Language, +which proceed from the Horny or Ivory Port, will be sentenced according +to the Humour and Interest of several Parties who in spite of our Teeth +will be our judges. Where I have been satyrical, 'tis without Malice or +Revenge; and though I brag not of my Talent therein, I could have said +much worse, of some Enemies to our _Jewish_ Heroe. He that will lash +others, ought not to be angry if the like be returned to himself: _Lex +talionis_ is a general and natural Law. I call not this an Answer to +_Absalom_, I have nothing to do with him, he was a Rebel to his Father; +my _Azaria_ a good Son, influenced by a worthy and Loyal Counsellor, and +_Achitophel_ and _Hushai_ were men of contrary Opinions, and different +Principles: And if Poets (as it is often brought for their excuse, when +they vary from known History) ought to represent Persons as they ought +to be, I have not transcurred the Precepts of Poetry, and _Absalom_ is +not so good a Poem, because his Character is not so agreeable to the +virtue of an Heroe, as this of _Azaria_ is: But certainly when Poetry +and Truth are joyned together, and that the persons are truly what they +are represented, and liv'd their Character, the glory is double, both to +the Heroe and the Poet: And I could wish, that the same Hand, that drew +the Rebellious Son, with so much Ingenuity and Skill, would out do mine, +in shewing the virtues of an obedient Son and loyal Counsellor, since +he may have as much Truth for a Foundation to build upon, the Artful +Structure of the Heroes Glory, with his own Fame and Immortality. + + + + + AZARIA AND HUSHAI, + + A POEM. + + +In Impious Times, when Priest-craft was at height, +And all the Deadly Sins esteemed light; +When that Religion only was a Stale, +And some bow'd down to God, and some to _Baal_; +When Perjury was scarce esteem'd a Sin, +And Vice, like flowing Tides, came rowling in; +When Luxury, Debauch, and Concubine, +The sad Effects of Women and of Wine, +Rag'd in _Judea_ and _Jerusalem_, +Good _Amazia_ of great _David_'s Stem, +God-like and great in Peace did rule that Land, +And all the _Jews_ stoop'd to his just Command. +Long now in _Sion_ had he Peace enjoy'd, +After that Civil Broils the Land destroy'd: +Plenty and Peace attended on his Reign, +And _Solomon_'s Golden days return'd again; +When the Old _Canaanites_, who there did lurk, +Began to find both God and King new Work: +For _Amazia_, tho' he God did love, +Had not cast out _Baal_'s Priests, and cut down every Grove. +Too oft Religion's made pretence for Sin, +About it in all Ages Strife has been; +But Int'rest, which at bottom doth remain, +Which still converts all Godliness to Gain, +What e'er Pretence is made, is the true Cause, +That moves the Priest, and like the Load-stone draws. +The _Canaanites_ of Old that Land possess'd, +And long therein Idolatry profess'd; +Till Sins of Priests, and of the Common Rout, +Caus'd God and his good Kings to cast them out. +Their Idols were pull'd down, their Groves destroy'd, +Strict Laws against them, and their Worship made. +The Heathen Priests were banish'd from the Land +Of _Baal_, no Temple suffer'd was to stand; +And all Succeeding Kings made it their Care, +They should no more rear up their Altars there. +If some mild Kings did wink at their Abode, +They to the _Jews_ still prov'd a Pricking-goad: +Growing more bold, they penal Laws defy'd, +And like tormenting Thorns, stuck in their Side. +The busy Priests had lost their gainful Trade, +Revenge and Malice do then Hearts invade; +And since by Force they can't themselves restore, +Nor gain the Sway they in _Judea_ bore, +With Hell they Joyn their secret Plots to bring +Destruction to _Judea_ and its King. + + The _Chemerarims_, the learnedst Priests, of all +The numerous Swarms which did belong to _Baal_, +Bred up in subtil Arts, to _Jews_ well known, +And fear'd for Bloody Morals of their own; +Who in the Cause of _Baal_ no one would spare, +But for his sake on all Mankind make War, +Counting it lawful Sacred Kings to smite, +Who favor'd not their God, or was no _Baalite_, +These were the Idol's known, and great Support, +Who in Disguise creep into every Court, +Where they soon Faction raise, and by their Arts, +Insinuate into the Princes Hearts: +Wriggle themselves into Intreagues of State, +Sweet Peace destroy, and Bloody Wars create. +Unwearied still, they deep Designs pursue; +What can't a _Chemarim_, and _Belzeebub_ do? +For cunning Plot, Trepan, for Oaths and Sham, +The Devil must give place to _Chemarim_. +These subtil Priests, in Habit black and grave; +Each man a Saint in shew, in Heart a Knave, +Did in _Judea_ swarm, grew great withall, +And like th' _Egyptian Frogs_ to Court they crawl: +Where, like them too, they never are at rest; +But Bed and Board of Kings, with Filth infest. +To every Shape they could themselves transform, +Angels could seem, but still their Aim was Harm. +They all the Sects among the _Jews_ could ape, +And went about disguiss'd in every Shape. +One imitates the _Zealous Pharisee,_ +The _Essens_ this, the dammee _Sadduce_ he; +And such their ready, and their subtil Wit, +For every Trade, and every Science fit: +They Credit got, and stole into the Heart, +And from their God, did many Souls pervert, +Who seeming _Jews_, or what they were before, +In Secret did the Idol _Baal_ adore; +Whole false Religion was but loose, and few +Could bear the Righteous Strictness of the true. + + Thus these Disciples of the hellish Brood, +Disguis'd, among the _Jews_, themselves intrude, +And with the purer Wheat, their Tares they sow, +Saw their bad Crop near to an Harvest grow, +And hop'd that they again should rule the State: +For e'er the days of good _Jehosaphat_, +Through all the Land _Baal_'s Worship was allow'd, +And King and People to gross Idols bow'd. +The Priests, like Bloody Tyrants did command; +They and their Gods, did wholly rule the Land; +And every one who would not bow to _Baal_, +Fled thence, or else by Fire, or Sword did fall: +But that good King a Reformation made, +Their Idols, and their Groves he quite destroy'd; +In every place their Altars overthrew, +And _Chemarims_ he banished or slew. +Since when (except in _Athaliah_'s Reign, +Who for a space, set Idols up again, +Tormenting those to Death who would not turn, +And did the _Jewish Rabbins_ slay or burn) +These crafty Priests, by Plots did never cease, +To spoil the Beauty of _Judea's_ Peace. +Whilst _Joash_ reign'd, by sly and subtil Arts, +They first estrang'd from him his Peoples Hearts. +Saw Faction's Sparks, and unseen blew the Fire, +Till Rebells 'gainst that good King did conspire: +Then Cursed _Zabed_ of proud _Ammon_'s Line, +And _Moabitish Jehozabad_ joyn, +And to their Side some _Pharisees_ they drew, +(_Joash_ did to their Sect no Favor shew) +And th' _Essens_, who then daily numerous grew, +Rebell, and their good King, like Murtherers, slew. +Then _Amazia_ over _Jordan_ fled, +Till God had struck the Tyrant _Zabed_ dead; +When all his Subjects, who his Fate did moan, +With joyful Hearts, restor'd him to his Throne; +Who then his Father's Murtherers destroy'd, +And a long, happy, peaceful Reign enjoy'd. +Belov'd of all, for merciful was He, +Like God, in the Superlative Degree. +The _Jewish_ Sects he did not seek to quell, +Yet Laws he made they might no more rebell: +Wisely about them made of Laws a Fence, +Yet kind, would not oppress their Conscience. +The _Pharisee_, a very numerous Sect, +Above the rest were in their Worship strict: +In their own _Synagogues_ he let them pray, +And worship God after their stricter way. +In Peace all liv'd, and former strife forgot, +The _Chemarims_ and Hell had hatch'd a Plot: +A Plot form'd in the deep Abyss below, +Law and Religion both to overthrow. +The King was by their Bloody Swords to fall, +That all _Judea_ might submit _to Baal_. +Great were their Hopes, and deep was their Design. +The Train already laid to spring their Mine; +Not dreaming Heav'n could their Plots betray, +They only waited an auspicious day. +Nor fail'd their Plot for want of Common Sence, +As some endeavor'd to persuade the Prince: +For with much Art, great Industry and Care, +They all things for their black Design prepare. +Not hatch'd by Common Brains, or men of Earth, +Nor was't the Issue of a suddain Birth; +But long designing, and well laid it seems, +By _Baal_'s _Arch-priests_, and subtil _Chemarins_. +The _Canaanites_ dispersed through the Land, +O'er whom _Baal_'s Priests had absolute Command, +Were bound with Oaths, the Priests Religious Charms, +To Secresie, and furnished with Arms. +Heads they had got, as well as Hands to fight, +Some zealous Princes of the _Canaanites_, +Who ready were to guide the Common Rout, +So soon as their Conspiracy broke out. +_Ægypt_ of Warlike _Jews_ was still afraid, } +Lest as of Old, they should that Land invade, } +To further this Design had promis'd Aid. } +Thus on a firm Foundation they had wrought +Their great Design, well built to Humane thought: +Tho' nothing that weak Mortals e'er design'd, +But Folly seems to the Eternal Mind, +Who blasting man's vain Projects, lets him know, +He sits above, sees and rules all below. +This wicked Plot, the Nations Bain and Curse, +So bad no man can represent it worse: +Want only _Amazia_ to destroy, +But that they might the Rites of _Baal_ enjoy: +For the good _Amazia_ being gone, +They had design'd a _Baalite_ for the Throne. +Of all their Hopes and Plots, here lay the Store: +For what Encouragement could they have more, +When they beheld the King's own Brother fall, +From his Religion, and to worship _Baal_? +The Priest well knew what Pow'r, and what Controul +He had usurp'd o're ev'ry _Baalite_'s Soul, +That such a Prince must their God's Cause pursue, +And do whatever they would have him do; +Else from his Throne he should be curs'd and damn'd: +For _Baal_'s High-Priest, a Right t' all Crowns had claim'd. +An Article 'tis of a _Baalite_'s Faith, +That o're Crown'd Heads a Sovereignty he hath. + + Thus on a sure Foundation, as they thought, +They had their Structure to Perfection wrought +When God, who shews regard to Sacred Kings, } +The Plot and Plotters to Confusion brings, } +And in a moment down their _Babel_ flings. } +A _Levite_, who had _Baalite_ turn'd, and bin +One of the Order of the _Chemarim_, +Who in the Plot had deeply been concern'd, +And all their horrid Practices had learn'd; +Smote in his Conscience with a true Remorse, +From King and Land diverts the threat'ning Curse. +_Libni_, I think they call'd the _Levite_'s Name, +Which in _Judea_ still will be of Fame; +Since following Heaven's Impulse and high Command, +He prov'd a Glorious Saviour of the Land. +By him the deep Conspiracy's o'rethrown, +The Treason, and the Traytors all made known: +For which from _Baalites_ he had Curses store; +But by the _Jews_ loaded with Blessings more. +The Hellish Plotters were then seiz'd upon, +And into Goals and Iron Fetters thrown; +From whence to Lawful Tryals they were born, +Condemn'd for Traytors, and hang'd up with Scorn: +Yet _Chemarims_ with matchless Impudence, +With dying Breath avow'd their Innocence: +So careful of their Order they still were, +Lest Treason in them Scandal should appear, +That Treason they with Perjury pursue, +Having their Arch-priest's Licence so to do. +They fear'd not to go perjur'd to the Grave, +Believing their Arch-priest their Souls could save: +For all God's Power they do on him bestow, +And call him their Almighty God below. +To whom they say three powerful Keys are given, +Of Hell, of Purgatory, and of Heav'n. +No wonder then if _Baalites_ this believe, +They should, with their false Oaths try to deceive, +And gull the People with their Dying Breath, +Denying all their Treason at their Death. +This made Impression on some easie Minds, +Whom or good Nature, or false Pity blinds; +Mov'd their Compassion, and stirr'd up their Grief, +And of their dying Oaths caus'd a Belief. +This did effect what the curs'd Traytors sought, +The Plots Belief into Discredit brought, +Of it at first, some Doubts they only rais'd, +And with their Impudence the World amaz'd: +Tho' _Azyad_'s Murder did the _Jews_ convince, +Who was a man most Loyal to his Prince, +And by the Bloody _Chemarims_ did fall, +Because he seiz'd the Trayt'rous Priests of _Baal_: +Tho' _Gedaliah_'s Letters made all plain, +Who was their Scribe, and of a ready Brain: +A _Levite's_ Son, but turn'd a _Baalite_, +Who for the King's own Brother then did write, +And Correspondence kept i'th' _Egyptian_ Court, +To whom the Traytors for Advice resort; +Who like a zealous, trayt'rous _Baalite_ dy'd, +And at the Fatal Tree the Plot deny'd. +Tho' _Amazia_ did at first believe, +And to the Hellish Plot did Credit give; +Tho' the Great Council of the _Sanhedrim_, +Among the _Jews_ always of great Esteem, +Declar'd to all the World this Plot to be, +An Hellish, and a curs'd Conspiracy, +To kill the King, Religion to o'rethrow, +And cause the _Jews_ their Righteous Laws forgoe; +To make the People to dumb Idols fall, +And in the place of God, to set up _Baal_: +Tho' all the People saw it, and believ'd; +Tho' Courts of Justice, hard to be deceiv'd, +Had added to the rest their Evidence, +Yet with a strange unheard of Impudence, +The _Baalites_ all so stoutly had deny'd } +Their Hellish Plot, with Vows and Oaths beside, } +And with such Diligence themselves apply'd. } +They at the last, their sought for point had got, +And artfully in doubt had brought their Plot. +A thousand cunning Shams and Tricks they us'd, +Whereby the simple Vulgar were abus'd; +And some o'th' _Edomitish_ Evidence, +Who _Mammon_ worship'd, were brought off with pence. +_Libni_, for whom, before their Harps they strung, } +Who was the Subject of each _Hebrew_'s Song, } +Was villify'd by every Rascall's Tongue. } +In Secret, and inglorious did remain, +And the Plot thought the Project of his Brain. + + The _Baalites_ thus encourag'd by Success, +Increase their Hopes, and their black Projects bless: +Like the bold _Titans_, Plot on Plot they lay, +And Heav'n it self with impious Arms essay. +A new Invention wrought in Hell below, +The _Jews_, and their Religion to o'erthrow; +They bring to light, with this their Hopes they raise, +And for dire Plots, think they deserve the Bays. +This Engine stronger than th' old _Roman_ Ram +For Battery, by a new name call'd Sham, +With well learn'd, and successful Arts they use +To overthrow the _Syn'gogues_ of the _Jews_, +Their Worship and Religion to confound. +And lay their Glorious Temple on the Ground. +With this new Engine, they a Breach had made, +By which they hop'd the Loyal _Jews_ t' invade. +With Troops of Treasons, and Rebellious Plots, +Led on by Villains, perjur'd Rogues and Sots; +And with such Arms, in Hells black Work-house form'd, +The peaceful _Jews_ they violently storm'd; +Who 'gainst the _Ba'lites_ Plots had no defence, +But God, their Laws, and their own Innocence. + + Among the Princes of the _Jewish_ Race, +For Wisdom, _Hushai_ had the Chiefest Place, +Prudent in Speech, and in his Actions close, +Admir'd by all, and feared by his Foes; +Well skill'd, and knowing in the _Jewish_ Laws, +Able to plead, and to defend a Cause, +Of piercing Judgment, and of pregnant Wit, +Did once Chief Judge of all _Judea_ sit; +Was then esteem'd the Honor of the Gown, } +And with his Vertues sought to serve the Crown, } +Till Foes procur'd him _Amazia_'s Frown. } +Then he descended from the hight of Place, +Without a Blemish, and without Disgrace; +Yet inly griev'd; for he could well divine +The Issue of the _Baalites_ curs'd Design, +To see Religion, and God's Righteous Cause, +The Ancient Government, the Nation's Laws, +Unpropping, and all ready strait to fall, +And the whole Race of _Jews_ made Slaves to _Baal_: +With Zeal inspired, boldly up he 'rose, +To wrestle with the King's, and Nation's Foes; +And tho' he was with Wealth and Honor blest, +He scorn'd to give his Age its needful Rest: +He learn'd, that man was not born for himself, +To get great Titles, Names, or sordid Pelf, +To wear a lazy Life, himself to please, +With Idleness, and with luxurious Ease: +When he beheld his Country in distress, +And none the Danger able to redress, +He did resolve, tho' not affecting Fame, +Or to obtain a Patriot's Glorious Name, +His Rest, his Life, his Fortune to expose, +Rather than see his Countrey's dangerous Foes +Run on uncheck'd, till they had brought the Land, +To their, and to a _Baalite_ King's Command. +He could not therefore so himself forget, +To see the Barques of Government o'erset; +But with his Skill he help'd the Boat to trim, +And boldly did oppose _Eliakim_. +_Eliakim_ was Brother to the King, +From the same Loins, and Royal _Seed_ did spring; +Of Courage bold, and of a daring mind, } +To whom the King, ev'n to Excess was kind; } +And tho' he had a Son, for him the Crown design'd. } +Sweet _Azaria_, like the beauteous Morn, +Whence all Sweets flow, did once that Court adorn, +A budding Rose, whose Beauty's newly blown, +Or like a Cedar on Mount _Lebanon_: +He in his Father's Grace, and Favor grew, +And towards him the People's Eyes he drew. +He was by most belov'd, admir'd by all, +For's Zeal to God, and's Hatred unto _Baal_: +But ah! this mov'd the cursed _Baalite_'s Hate, +Disturb'd his Peace, and Troubles did create. +What can't Design and Hellish Malice do? +With Lyes they close this Noble Prince pursue. +They think his Father too indulgent grown, +Whose Love had many Blessings on him thrown, +But what exceeded all the rest beside, +He chose the sweet _Jerusha_ for his Bride: +A Blessing he esteemed far above +The Crown, and all things but his Father's Love: +For that he still above his Life did prize, +Dear as his Fame, and dearer than his Eyes. +Below his Feet, for that he all things trod, +Adoreing nothing more except his God. +Young as he was, he had acquired Fame, +His Breast infired with a Warlike Flame, +In Foreign Wars, his Courage he had shown, +Had Lawrels won, and brought home fair Renown: +Happy, most happy, till with wondrous Art, +His Foes had wrought him from his Father's Heart; +And so much Power on _Amazia_ won, +He by Degrees, grew jealous of his Son. +And who for this can _Amazia_ blame, +If that the King the Father overcame? +For Crowns by Kings esteemed are more near, +Than Children, or than Sons, belov'd more dear. +His Foes, _Baal_'s Friends, had laid their artful Snairs, +Hight'ned his Father's Jealousies and Fears, +And made each innocent Action of the Prince, +To give his Jealous Father an Offence. +If with wise _Hushai_ they the Prince did see, +They call'd their Meeting a Conspiracy, +And cry, that he was going to rebell: +Him _Absalom_ they name, _Hushai_ _Achitophel_. +With Slander thus the Prince they did pursue, +Aiming at's Life, and the wise _Hushai_'s too. +When they much pleased, and triumphing saw, +The King his Royal Favors to withdraw, +Which like a Spring on him before did flow, +And from him, all on others to bestow: +Defenceless left, naked, almost forlorn, +Subject to every trifling Rhimers Scorn, +And beyond _Jordan_ by their malice drove, +No Succor left him but the People's Love; +(For he was still their Darling and Delight, +Because they saw he was no _Baalite_,) +Their Hopes now almost at their Height did seem, +To place the Crown upon _Eliakim_. + + The _Jews_, God's People and peculiar Care, +For their true Worship still most zealous were; +That Jewel seem'd most pretious in their Eyes, +And it above all Humane things they prize. +No Torments could make them their Faith deny, +They willingly for their Religion die: +Their Liberties were also dear to them, +Sprung from a free, and not a slavish Stem, +Th' _Egyptian_ Bondage for their Souls unfit, +They never in _Judea_ would permit; +Their own known Laws, they willingly obey, +Hate Tyranny and Arbitrary Sway: +Nor did they many Priviledges want, +Kept from the Time they first the Land did plant; +For which to Death they lawfully would strive, +If injur'd by their King's Prerogative: +For some of them have try'd to break the Bound, +And did like _Ethnick_ Kings, their People's Freedom wound, +So _Rehoboam_ caus'd them to rebell, +And lost at once ten Tribes of _Israel_. +No people were more ready to obey +Their Kings, who rul'd them by a gentle Sway, +Who never sought their Consciences to curb, +Their Freedom or Religion to disturb. +To such they always open-hearted were, +For them, they neither Coin, nor Blood would spare. +Such Kings might their Prerogatives improve, +And rule the _Jews_, ev'n as they pleas'd with Love; +But stiff indeed they were, and moody grew, } +When Tyrants did with cruel Stripes pursue } +Them sore oppress'd, and sometimes murmur'd too. } +Kings they had try'd of ev'ry sort and size. +Best govern'd by the Warlike and the wise. +Tho' Kings they lov'd, and for them Reverence had, +They never would adore them as a God. +God's Worship, and their Laws they did prefer, +They knew, them men might by bad Councils Err. +Tho' Loyal, yet oppress'd, they did not fear +To make their heavy Grievances appear. +This was indeed the Humor of the _Jew_, +The People by Complaints their Griefs would shew; +And never would, in truth, contented seem, +Untill redress'd by their wise _Sanhedrim_. +Thus now the _Jews_, tho' free from ill Design, +In their Religious Cause together joyn: +They cast their Eyes on _Amazia_'s Son, +Who, without Arts the People's Love had won: +Full of tormenting Jealousies and Fears, +_Eliakim_ a dangerous man appears: +The sober part of the whole _Sanhedrim_, +Desire to keep _Judea's_ Crown from him: +For they foresaw if he should wear the Crown, +_Baal_'s Worship he'd set up, and God's cast down: +That all the Nations must be Slaves to _Baal_, +Suffer in Flames, fly, or 'fore Idolls fall. +Great were their Fears, but yet they did abhor +The very Thought of a dishonest War: +For they had seen the Kingdom's many Scarrs, +Th' unseemly Marks of former Civil Wars. +They _Amazia_ lov'd and wish'd him well, +Resolve to suffer rather than rebell; +Yet openly declare free from all Stain, +How much they hate a _Baalite_ should Reign; +And for this Cause, and for this Cause alone, +_Eliakim_ they'd put by from the Throne. + + _Eliakim_ at Court had many Friends, +By whom in Secret he could work his Ends; +So that no Accusation could remove +Him, deeply rooted in his Brother's Love. +But since the _Jews_ to him shew'd open Hate, +Lest that his presence should embroil the State; +And that the _Jews_ might have no cause to sin, +He's sent to rule the Tribe of _Benjamin_. +Thus two great Factions in _Judea_ rose, } +So hotly each the other did oppose, } +'Twas fear'd they'd fall at last from Words to Blows. } +Each side most zealous for the King appears, +Each full of Jealousies and disturbing Fears, +Each pleads for _Amazia_ and the Laws, +God and Religion both do make their Cause: +Both Loyalty profess, both opposite, } +Both would persuade that each was in the right, } +Tho' both contrary shew as day and night. } +Sweet _Azaria_ with these Troubles mov'd, +On that side hated, and by this belov'd; +Fearing th' inveterate Malice of his Foes, +Which he sought to avoid, not to oppose, +And lest they should their sought Occasion find, } +To tax him of an ill ambitious mind, } +By seeing all the _Jews_ to him so kind; } +Lest he should grow i'th' King's Opinion worse, +He seeks for Council how to steer his Course, +That he might to the Court give no Offence, +But live wrapt up in his own fair Innocence, +The wise and thoughtful _Hushai_ he doth find, +And thus to him he breaks his troubled Mind, +Great Councellor, and Favorite of Heav'n, +To whom the Blessing of true Wisdom's giv'n, +Which by no Mortal can possessed be, +Whose Thoughts are not inform'd by Loyalty. +I know Reproaches upon you are thrown; +But judge your Innocency by my own. +I am accused Sir, as well as you, +And the same Foe doth both our Lives pursue. +He fears your Wisdom, may his Hindrance prove, +And me, because I have the People's Love: +His Creatures therefore throw on you and me, +The Scandal of a curs'd Conspiracy, +Against our King and Father to rebell: +Me _Absalom_, and you _Achitophel_ +They name; bad Councellor, and worser Son, +Who Traytors, durst into Rebellion run. +My Father governs with so equal Sway, +That all both love him, and his Laws obey: +He seems Heav'n's Care, who set him in the Throne, +Preserved by his wondrous Power alone. +Oh may on him no Blemish fall or stain, +But all live happy in his peaceful Reign: +May he be happy still as he is good, +Like God in Mercy, not inclin'd to Blood. +This is the Prayer that I daily make; } +For Piety shall never me forsake, } +Tho' I his Royal Favor ne'er partake. } +And tho' my Foes have with their subtil Art +Banish'd me from my Royal Father's Heart, +Which is the Source of all my Grief and Woe, +My just Obedience I will ne'er forgoe. +Nor has Disgrace, nor my hot Passions wrought, +Within my Breast one bad disloyal Thought. +I ne'er believ'd my Father would betray +His People, or sought Arbitrary Sway: +Or tho' his People did his Wrath provoke, +He meant to curb them with an Iron Yoak. +Yet do I think, nay more than think, the Cause +(But here his passion made some little pause, +Till sighing, at the last he thus went on) +Why my Great Father does disown his Son; +They say I am but of a spurious Brood, +My Mother being of Ignoble Blood: +For _Jocoliah_ was but mean by Birth, +Tho' with the King she mix'd her baser Earth. +I was begotten in my Father's Flight, +E'er to the Crown he had obtain'd his Right: +And since I from his Favor did decline, +He has declar'd her but his Concubine. +This has the Hopes rais'd of _Eliakim_, +And _Amaziah_'s Crown design'd for him; +My Hopes are lost, and I do think it fit, +I should to God, Right, and the King submit; +But yet, wise _Hushai_ know, I still do find, +My Birth has not so much debas'd my mind, +To make me stoop to low or mean desires; +I feel my Father's Royal Blood inspires +My depress'd Soul, wipes off th' ignoble Stain, +Renders me apt, or not unfit to reign. +Of _David_'s Royal Blood, my self I own, +And with it never can disgrace the Throne. +Tho' my bold Spirits, mounting thus, do fly +Towards the Noble hight of Sovereignty, +And that I feel my Father's Blood to rowl +Through every Vein and animate my Soul; +Yet so much Loyalty is sown within +My Breast, I would not Empire gain with Sin: +For when my ambitious Thoughts begin to roam, +Their Forces, I with that soon overcome. +Tho' to God's Laws, and to the King's I yield, +To my known Foes I would not leave the Field. +I'd not be trampl'd on by sordid Feet, +Nor take Affronts from ev'ry one I meet: +I'd give no Cause they should my Courage doubt, +Nor to Rebellion push the vulgar Rout, +I to my Father would give no Offence, +Nor while he lives, lay to the Crown Pretence; +But since Life's sweet, by Wisdom I'd keep mine, +From _Baalites_ Hate, and _Eliakim_'s Design: +This my wise Friend, is my chief Business now, +To take some Sage and good Advice from you. + + _Hushai_ in Silence heard the Prince, and weigh'd +Each word he spake, then to him thus reply'd; +Great Prince, th' Almighty has to you been kind, } +Stamp'd Graces on your Body and your mind, } +As if he for your Head a Crown design'd. } +We shall not search into Fates Secret Womb, +God alone knows the things that are to come; +But should you never sit on _David_'s Throne, +'Tis better to deserve than wear a Crown. +Of Royal Blood, and of great Birth you are, +Born under some benign auspicious Star, +Lov'd by the best, and prais'd by every Tongue, +The glorious Subject of each worthy Song: +The young man's Wish, Joy of each Warlike Wight, +The People's Darling, and the World's Delight. +A Crowd of Vertues fill your Princely Breast, } +And what appears more glorious than the rest, } +You are of Truth and Loyalty possest. } +That I would cherish in you, that would raise +To an admired height, that I would chiefly praise. +Let Fools and subtil Politicians scorn +Fair Vertue, which doth best a Prince adorn: +Whilst you her bright and shining Robes put on, +You will appear more great than _Solomon_. +Let not Great Prince, the Fumes of Vulgar Praise, +Your bolder Spirits to Ambition raise. +We cannot see into the Mist of Fate, +Till time brings forth, you must expecting wait; +But Fortune, rather Providence, not Chance, +The constant, stout, and wise doth still advance. +Let your quick Eye be to her Motions ty'd; +But still let Noble Vertue be your Guide: +For when that God and Vertue points the way, +There can be then no danger to obey. +But here in Wisdom's School we ought to learn, +How we 'twixt Good and Evil may discern, +For, noble Prince, you must true difference make, +Lest for the one the other you mistake. +You must not think you may your self advance, +By laying hold on every proffer'd chance. +Tho Fortune seems to smile, and egg you on, +Let Vertue be your Rule and Guide alone. +Thus _David_ for his Guide his Vertue took; +Nor was by Fortune's proffer'd Kindness shook. +His Vertue and his Loyalty did save +King _Saul_, when Fortune brought him to his Cave, +And if that I may to you Counsel give, +You should without a Crown for ever live, +Rather than get it by the Peoples Lust, +Or purchase it by ways that are unjust. +_David_ your Ancestor, from whom you spring, +Would never by Rebellion be made King; +But long in _Gath_ a Warring Exile stay'd, +Till for him God a lawful way had made. +In _Hebron_, full of Glory and Renown, +He gain'd, at last, and not usurpt the Crown. +By full Consent he did the same obtain, +And Heav'n's anointing Oyl was not in vain. +I once did seem to _Amazia_ dear, +Who me above m'ambitious hopes did rear; +I serv'd him then according to my skill, +And bow'd my Mind unto my Soveraign's Will. +Too neer the Soveraign Image then I stood, +To think that every Line and Stroke was good. +Some Daubers I endeavour'd to remove, +And to amend their artless Errours strove. +My Skill in secret these with slander wound; +With every Line I drew still faults were found; +Till wearied, I at last my Work gave o're. } +And _Amazia_ (I shall say no more) } +Did me to my lov'd Privacy restore. } +For this they think I must my Vertue change, +For Envy, Malice, and for sweet Revenge. +Me by themselves they judge, who would do so, +And cause the King suspect me for his Foe. +But by th'advice I give, you best will find +Th'Integrity and Plainness of my Mind; +And that I harbour not that vile intent +Their Poets and their Malice do invent. +Far be't from me, to be like Cursed _Cham_; +A good Son strives to hide his Father's shame. +A King, the Father of his Country is; +His shame is every Act he doth amiss. +Good and just Kings God's Image bear; but when +Their Frailties let us see they are but Men, +We cannot every Action so applaud, +As if it came from an unerring God. +Kings have their Passions, and deceiv'd may be, +When b'others Ears and Eyes they hear and see: +For Sycophants, of Courts the Bane and Curse, +Make all things better than they are, or worse. +To Evil prone, to Mischief ever bent, } +Th'all Objects with false colours represent; } +The Guilty clear, condemn the Innocent. } +Thus, noble Prince, they you and me accuse +With all the Venome Malice can infuse. +_Baal_'s Priests, Hell, and our Foes, new Arts have got, +The filthy Reliques of their former Plot; +Whereby they would our Lives in danger bring, +And make us cursed Traytors to the King. +What mayn't these cunning men hope to atchieve, +When by their Arts few men their Plot believe? +When b'horrid ways, not known to _Jews_ before, +Their Plot's transform'd, and laid now at our door? +But fear not, Sir, we have a sure Defence, +The Peoples Love, God, Law, and Innocence. +Keep fast your Vertue, and you shall be blest, +And let alone to God and Time the rest. + The Noble Youth, with Vertues Robes arrai'd, +Consider'd well what the wise _Hushai_ said. +Desire of Power, though of Celestial Birth, +Below, is ever intermixt with Earth: +And all who do to hight of Place aspire, +Have earthly Smoak mixt with their mounting Fire. +Praise may debauch, and strong Ambition blind, +Where heav'nly Vertue does not guard the Mind. +But _Azaria_ so well understood, +He left the Evil, and embrac'd the Good: +Tho in his breast aspiring thoughts he found, +Yet Loyalty still kept them within bound. +And tho he might have Empire in his Eye, +When to it by his bloud allay'd so nigh, +Yet in his Soul such Virtue did remain, +He by Rebellion would not Empire gain. +Through every Vein his Loyal Bloud did run, +Yet Royal too, as _Amazia_'s Son. +About his noble Heart he felt it spring; +Which let him know his Father was a King. +If that to _Azaria_ were a Blot, +His Father made it when he him begot: +But Heav'n such Virtue moulded with his Soul, +That his aspiring Lust it did controul. +Thus to wise _Hushai_ he repli'd: I finde +Your Counsel is agreeing with my Minde. +And tho my Foes me an ill man do make, +My Loyalty I never will forsake: +Yet, prudent _Hushai_, do not Nature blame, } +If I cannot, unmov'd, appear so tame } +As not to shew Resentment at my Shame. } +Oh, would to Heav'n I ne'er had been begot! +Or never had been born a Royal Blot! +My Father's Bloud runs thorow every Vein; } +He form'd those Spirits which desire to reign, } +Mount t'wards a Throne, and sordid Earth disdain. } +In Glory, Fame, Crowns, Empire, they delight, +And to all these they would assert my Right. +And my great Thoughts do whisper there is none +Can be more neer a Father, than his Son. +This prompts me to oppose _Eliakim_, +And never yield my Father's Crown to him. +But then one groveling thought strait pulls me down, +And throws me at a distance from The Crown. +Oh, would to God------And here he stopt and sigh'd, +Whilst _Hushai_ thus to the griev'd Prince repli'd. + + Indeed, great Prince, it seemeth wondrous strange +To all the World, to see your Father's change; +To find the happy Love he us'd to show'r, +Like fruitful Rain, on you, to fall no more: +To see a Son, the Father's dear Delight, +His pleasing Joy, now banish'd from his sight. +Nature must in the Father deeply groan, +When from his Heart is rent so dear a Son. +Nor can I think, tho he from you should part, +A Brother e'er can lie so near his Heart. +To work this Change, your Foes much Art do use, } +Their venom'd Tongues your Fathers Ears abuse, } +And you of an aspiring mind accuse. } +Justice in _Amazia_ bears such sway, +That even Nature must to it give way; +H'ad rather Nature force, and part with you, +Than seem to rob another of his due. +He holds it just, and as a thing divine, +To keep unbroken still the Royal Line. +Such an Example we can hardly find, +A King to's Brother so exceeding kind; +When by it he doth such great hazard run, +Losing at once his People and his Son. +Grieve not, great Prince, at your unhappy Fate; } +Let not your Birth your Vertue to abate; } +It was not you that could your self create. } +I should great folly shew, should I repine +At what I could not help, and was no fault of mine. +Tho by your Mothers side your Birth was mean, +And tho your Mother no declared Queen, +If Heaven and your Father please, you may +By lawful Right, _Judea_'s Scepter sway, +After that he is number'd with the Dead, +And his great Soul to _Abraham_'s Bosom fled. +Possession of a Crown clears every Stain; +No blot of Birth to you can then remain. +What Pow'r on Earth, by Right, dares question you? +Or what your Father and _Sanhedrim_ do? +Nor is your Birth to Heaven any let; +God _Jepthtah_ once did o're _Judea_ set. +He was a Conquerour of a mighty Name, +And's Mother no ways did eclipse his Fame, +Nor bar'd him from the Title of a King, +Nor those who after from his Loins did spring. +Nature may yet make your great Father kind; +And who can tell but he may change his mind, +When your Succession shall be understood +To be the Peoples Choice, and for the Nations Good? +But let us leave what is to come, to Fate; +Yours Father's pleasure and God's will await. +Long may it be ere the King's life doth end; +On it our Peace and Happiness depend. +Like Wheat full ripe, with many years bow'd down, +Let him leave this for an immortal Crown. +And who can tell Heav'n's will? it may be too, +_Eliakim_ may die before the King or you. +Think of no Titles while your Father lives; +Take not what an unjust Occasion gives. +For to take Arms you can have no pretence, +Tho it should be e'en in your own defence. +It better were without the Crown to die, +Than quit your Vertue and blest Loyaltie. +You with the numerous Peoples Love are blest, +Not of the Vulgars onely, but the Best. +I would not have you their kind Love repel, +Nor give encouragement for to rebel: +For their Affection which they wildly shew, +Is rendred, by your Foes, a Crime in you. +Here you your Course must even steer and strait, } +That you may not your Father's fears create; } +Keep the _Jews_ Love, and not increase his Hate. } +Leave for a while the Citie and the Court, +Go and divert your self with Country-sport; +Perhaps your Foes may then abate their spight, +And you may be forgot, when out of sight. +By your Retirement, you will let them see +You'd take away all cause of Jealousie. +That you, like _Absalom_, will never prove, +To court the head-strong Peoples factious Love. +Nor will I ever prove _Achitophel_, +To give you wicked Counsel to rebel. +Continue still your Loyalty, be just; +And for the Crown, God and your Vertue trust. +Endeavour not to take what may be giv'n; +Deserve it first, and then receive't from Heav'n. + + He said, And this Advice above the rest, +Suited with _Azaria_'s Vertue best. +He was not stain'd with Cruelty or Pride; +A thousand Graces he possest beside. +To Vertue he was naturally inclin'd, +And Goodness clothed his heroick Mind. +His Kingly Vertues made him fit to reign, +Yet scorn'd by evil Arts the Crown to gain. +And tho he Empire to desire did seem, +His Loyalty was still more dear to him: +Therefore he did not court the Peoples Love, +Nor us'd their Pow'r his Rival to remove. +From's Father he fought not their Hearts to steal, +Nor head a Faction mov'd by blinding Zeal; +But like a vertuous and a pious Son, +Sought all occasions of Offence to shun. +In private like a common man sat down, +His Peace his Rule, his Loyalty his Crown. + + Thus humble, vertuous, loyal, void of Pride, +Most of the _Jews_ he gained to his side. +Not factious Sects, the Rabble, or the rude +Erring, unthinking, vulgar Multitude: +But the chief Tribes and Princes of the Land, +Who durst for _Moses_'s ancient Statutes stand. +The pious, just, religious, and the good, +Men of great Riches, and of greater Bloud, +Did, as one man, themselves together joyn +To stop the _Baalites_, and Hell's curst design. +Not wicked, or seduc'd by impious Arts, +But Loyal all, and Patriots in their Hearts. +For they beheld the _Baalites_ foul intent, +Religion to o'rethrow and Government. +These at the Monarch's Power did not grutch, +Since bound by Laws, he could not have too much. +What Laws prescribe, they thought he well might have, +How could he else his Realm in danger save? +But _Baal_'s or _Egypt_'s Yoke they would refuse, +Not fitting for the Necks of free-born _Jews_. +They all resolve the King not to oppose, +Yet to defend the Nation from its Foes. +And were it not for those great Worthy men, +The _Jews_ distress'd and wretched soon had been. +Among the Rout perhaps there some might blend, +Whose int'rest made them Publick Good pretend; +Weary of Peace, new Troubles would create, +And for their private Gain, embroyl the State. +And some perhaps there were, who thought a King +To be of Charge, and but an useless thing. +Some idle Fops, who publickly debate +To shew their Parts, the deep Intrigues of State; +These and some others, for a Commonwealth, +Among the Herd, unseen, might hide by stealth: +But it would strange to common Justice seem, +For some few bad, the sound Flock to condemn. +Like Goats among the Sheep, well known these bleat, +And are like Darnel 'mong the purest Wheat. +These not as Friends, but Enemies to the Throne, +Good Patriots and good Subjects did disown. +And _Azaria_, tho they us'd his name, +Disdain'd their Friendship with a loyal shame. + + But he beheld appearing on his side, +Princes, whose Faith and Loyalty were try'd; +Such as no base or sordid ends could move, +Who did his Father and their Country love. +In the first rank of these did _Nashon_ stand, +None nobler or more loyal in the Land. +Under the King he once did _Edom_ sway, +And taught that Land the _Jews_ good Laws t'obey. +True to his Word, and of unspotted Fame; +Great both in Parts, in Vertue, and in Name. +His Faith ne'r touch'd, his Loyalty well known, +A Friend both to his Country and the Throne. +Base ends his great and noble Soul did scorn, +Of loyal, high, and noble Parents born. +His Father with renown and great Applause, +For _Joash_ di'd, and suffer'd for his Cause. +Of great _Aminadab_ who would not sing, +Whose glory shin'd next to the martyr'd King? +From him his Son true Loyalty understood, +Imprest on's Soul, seal'd with his Father's Bloud. +The grave, religious, wife, rich _Helon_ too, } +Much honoured by every zealous _Jew_, } +Appear'd a Patriot, to his Country true. } +In the _Jews_ Laws, and strict Religion bred, +And _Baal_'s curst Rites did much abhor and dread. +His Son _Eliab_, in the _Sanhedrim_, +With courage had oppos'd _Eliakim_: +A man whose many Vertues, and his Parts, +Had won upon the sober Peoples Hearts. +From every Faction, and from Envy free; } +Lov'd well the King, but hated Flatterie; } +Kept _Moses_'s Laws, yet was no _Pharisee_. } +He went not to their _Synagogues_ to pray, +But to the Holy Temple every day. +With piercing Judgment saw the Lands Disease, +And labour'd onely for the Kingdoms Peace: +Loyal and honest was esteem'd by all, +Excepting those who strove to set up _Baal_. +For an ill Action he ne'r stood reprov'd; +But's King, his Country, and Religion lov'd. +No Taint ere fell upon _Eliab_'s name, +Nor Hell it self found cause to spot his Fame. +_Pagiel_ with honour loaded, and with years, +Among this Loyal Princely Train appears. +None _Pagiel_ tax'd, for no one ever knew +That he to _Amazia_ was untrue. +A Fame unspotted he might truly boast; +Yet he had Foes, and his gain'd Favours lost. +_Zuar_, a sober and a vertuous Prince, +Who never gave least cause of an offence. +_Elishama_, at once both sage and young, } +From noble and from loyal Fathers sprung, } +Shone bright among this sober Princely throng. } +_Enan_, a Prince of very worthie Fame; +Great in deserved Title, Bloud, and Name. +_Elizur_ too, who number'd with the best +In Vertue, scorn'd to lag behind the rest. +_Abidon_ and _Gamaliel_ had some sway; +Both loyal, and both zealous in their way. +And now once more I will invoke my Muse, +To sing brave _Ashur_'s praise who can refuse? +Sprung from an ancient and a noble Race, +With Courage stampt upon his manly face; +Young, active, loyal; had through Dangers run, +And with his Sword abroad had Honours won: +Well-spoken, bold, free, generous, and kind, +And of a noble and discerning mind. +Great ones he scorn'd to court, nor fools would please, +But thought it better for to trust the Seas. +He thought himself far safer in a Storm, +And should receive from raging Seas less harm, +Than from those dangerous men, who could create +A Storm at Land, with Envie and with Hate. +And now got free from all their Trains and Wiles, } +He at their hateful Plots and Malice smiles, } +Plowing the Ocean for new Honour toils. } +These were the chief; a good and faithful Band } +Of Princes, who against those men durst stand } +Whose Counsel sought to ruine all the Land. } +With grief they saw the cursed _Baalites_ bent +To batter down the _Jewish_ Government; +To pull their Rights and true Religion down, +By setting up a _Baalite_ on the Throne. +These wisely did with the _Sanhedrim_ joyn; +Which Council by the _Jews_ was thought divine. +The next Successour would remove, 'tis true, +Onely because he was a _Baalite_ Jew. +Ills they foresaw, and the great danger found, } +Which to the King (as by their Dutie bound) } +They shew'd, and open laid the bleeding Wound. } +But such who had possest his Royal Ear, +Had made the King his Loyal Subjects fear; +Did their good Prince with causeless terrour fright, +As if these meant to rob him of his Right. +Said, They with other Rebels did combine, +And had against his Crown some ill designe: +That the wise _Hushai_ laid a wicked Train, +And _Azaria_ sought in's stead to reign: +That the old Plot to ruine Church and State, +Was born from _Hushai_'s and the _Levite_'s Pate: +That _Pharisees_ were bold and numerous grown, +And sought to place their Elders in his Throne. +No wonder then if _Amazia_ thought +These Loyal Worthies did not as they ought; +That they did Duty and Obedience want, +And no Concessions from the Throne would grant. + + They who in _Amazia_'s favour grew, +Themselves obnoxious to the People knew. +Some were accused by the _Sanhedrim_, +Most Friends and Allies to _Eliakim_: +For his Succession eagerly they strove, +And him, the rising Sun, adore and love. +When _Doeg_, who with _Egypt_ did combine, +And to enslave _Judea_ did designe, +Accus'd of Treason by the _Sanhedrim_, +Kept in the Tower of _Jerusalem_; +The Object prov'd of fickle Fortunes sport, +And lost the Honours he possest at Court. +_Elam_ in favour grew, out stript by none, +And seem'd a Prop to _Amazia_'s Throne. +He had in foreign parts been sent to School, +And did in _Doeg_'s place the Kings thin Treasure rule. +He to _Eliakim_ was neer alli'd; +What greater parts could he possess beside? +For the wise _Jews_ believ'd the King did run +Some hazard, if he prov'd his Father's Son. +But now, alas! th' Exchequer was grown poor, +The Coffers empty, which did once run o're. +The bounteous King had been so very kind, +That little Treasure he had left behind. +_Elam_ had gotten with the empty Purse, +For his dead Father's sake the Peoples Curse: +For they believ'd that no great good could spring +From one false to his Country and his King. +_Jotham_ the fickle Shuttle-cock of Wit, +Was bandied several ways to be made fit: +Unconstant, he always for Honour tri'd, +At last laid hold upon the rising side. +If Wit he had, 'twas thought, by not a few, +He a better thing did want, and Wisdom too. +Then _Amiel_ would scarce give place to him, +Who once the chief was of the _Sanhedrim_. +He then appeared for the Crowns defence; +But spoke his own, and not the Nations sense. +And tho he praised was by _Shimei_'s Muse, +The _Jews_ of many Crimes did him accuse. +_Harim_, a man like a bow'd Ninepence bent, +Had tried all the ways of Government: +Was once a Rebel, and knew how to cant; +Then turn'd a very Devil of a Saint: +Peevish, morose, and some say, prov'd a fool, +When o're the _Edomites_ he went to rule. +When to his bent the King he could not bring, +He fairly then went over to the King. +Old _Amalack_, a man of cunning head, +Once in the cursed School of Rebels bred; +From thence his Maximes and his Knowledge drew, +Of old known Arts how to enslave the _Jew_. +For pardon'd Treason, thus sought to atone, +Had wrong'd the Father, would misguide the Son. +Once in Religion a strict _Pharisee_, +To _Baal_'s then turn'd, or else of none was he. +He long before seem'd to approve their Rites, +Marrying his issue to the _Baalites_. +A constant hunter after sordid Pelf; +Was never just to any but himself: +A very _Proteus_ in all shapes had been, +And constant onely, and grown old in sin. +To speak the best of _Amalack_ we can, +A cunning Devil in the shape of Man. +_Muppim_, a man of an huge working Pate, +Not how to heal, but to embroil the State; +Knew how to take the wrong, and leave the right; +Was once himself a Rebel _Benjamite_. +To that stiff Tribe he did a while give Law, +And with his iron Yokes kept them in aw. +The Tyrant _Zabed_ less did them provoke, +And laid upon their necks a gentler Yoke. +Amongst that Tribe he left an hated Name, +And to _Jerusalem_ from thence he came, +Where he tyrannick Arts sought to intrude, } +To learn which, _Amazia_ was too good, } +And better the _Jews_ temper understood. } +Refus'd, the Serpent did with Woman joyn, +And Counsels gave th'_Egyptian_ Concubine. +_Adam_, first Monarch, fell between these two; +What can't the Serpent and a Woman do? +These with some more of the like size and sort, +In _Sion_ made up _Amazia_'s Court: +Whilst his best friends became these Rulers scorn, +Saw how they drove, and did in silence mourn. +_Sion_ did then no Sacrifice afford; +_Gibbar_ had taught the frugal King to board. +Void were its Cellars, Kitchins never hot, +And all the Feasts of _Solomon_ forgot. +Others there were, whose Names I shan't repeat; +_Eliakim_ had friends both small and great: +And many, who then for his Favour strove, +With their hot heads, like furious _Jehu_, drove. +Some Wits, some Witless, Warriors, Rich and Poor, +Some who rich Clothes and empty Titles wore; +Some who knew how to rail, some to accuse, +And some who haunted Taverns and the Stews. +Some roaring Bullies, who ran th'row the Town +Crying, God damn 'um, they'd support the Crown: +Whose wicked Oaths, and whose blasphemous Rant, +Had quite put down the holy zealous Cant. +Some were for War, and some on Mischief bent; +And some who could, for gain, new Plots invent. +Some Priests and Levites too among the rest, +Such as knew how to blow the Trumpet best: +Who with loud noise and cackling, cri'd like Geese, +For Rites, for Temple, and for dearer Fleece. +'Twixt God and _Baal_, these Priests divided were; } +Which did prevail, these greatly did not care; } +But headlong drove, without or wit or fear. } +The _Pharasees_ they curse, as Sons of _Cham,_ +And all dissenting _Jews_ to Hell they damn. +_Shimei_ the Poet Laureate of that Age, +The falling Glory of the _Jewish_ Stage, +Who scourg'd the Priest, and ridicul'd the Plot, +Like common men must not be quite forgot. +Sweet was the Muse that did his wit inspire, +Had he not let his hackney Muse to hire: +But variously his knowing Muse could sing, +Could _Doeg_ praise, and could blaspheme the King: +The bad make good, good bad, and bad make worse, +Bless in Heroicks, and in Satyrs curse. +_Shimei_ to _Zabed_'s praise could tune his Muse, +And Princely _Azaria_ could abuse. +_Zimri_ we know he had no cause to praise, +Because he dub'd him with the name of _Bays_. +Revenge on him did bitter Venome shed, +Because he tore the Lawrel from his head; +Because he durst with his proud Wit engage, +And brought his Follies on the publick Stage. +Tell me, _Apollo_, for I can't divine, +Why Wives he curs'd, and prais'd the Concubine; +Unless it were that he had led his life +With a teeming Matron ere _she_ was a Wife: +Or that it best with his dear Muse did sute, +Who was for hire a very Prostitute. +The rising Sun this Poets God did seem, +Which made him tune's old Harp to praise _Eliakim_. +_Bibbai_, whose name won't in Oblivion rot, +For his great pains to hide the _Baalites_ Plot, +Must be remembred here: A Scribe was he, +Who daily damn'd in Prose the _Pharisee_. +With the Sectarian _Jews_ he kept great stir; +Did almost all, but his dear self, abhor. +What his Religion was, no one could tell; +And it was thought he knew himself not well: +Yet Conscience did pretend, and did abuse, +Under the notion of Sectarian _Jews_, +All that he thought, or all that did but seem +Foes to _Baal_'s Rites, _Eliakim_, and him. +He was a man of a pernicious Wit +For railing, biting, and for mischief fit: +He never slept, yet ever in a Dream; +Religion, Law, and State, was all his Theam. +On these he wrote in _Earnest_ and in _Jeast_, +Till he grew mad, and turn'd into a Beast, +_Zattue_ his Zanie was, Buffoon, and Fool, +Who turn'd Religion into Ridicule: +Jeer'd at the Plot, did _Sanhedrims_ abuse, +Mock'd Magistrates, damn'd all Sects of the _Jews_. +Of little Manners, and of lesser Brains; +Yet to embroil the State, took wondrous pains. +In jeasting still his little Talent lay; +At _Hushai_ scoft in's witless grinning way. + + These with the rest, of every size and sort, } +Strove to be thought Friends to the King and Court, } +With lyes and railing, would the Crown support. } +Then in a Pageant shew a Plot was made, +And Law it self made War in Masquerade. +But fools they were, not warn'd by former ill, +By their own selves were circumvented still. +They thought by Bloud to give the Kingdom ease; +Physick'd the _Jews_ when they had no Disease. +Contingent mischiefs these did not foresee, +Against their Conscience fought, and God's Decree. +What shall we think, when such, pretending good, +Would build the Nations Peace on Innocent Blood? +These would expose the People to the Sword +Of each unbounded Arbitrary Lord. +But their good Laws, by which they Right enjoy, +The King nor could, nor ever would destroy. +And tho he Judge be of what's fit and just, +He own'd from Heaven, and from Man a Trust. +Tho Laws to Kingly Power be a Band, +They are not Slaves to those whom they command. +The Power that God at first to _Adam_ gave, +Was different far from what all Kings now have: +He had no Law but Will; but all Kings now +Are bound by Laws, as all Examples show. +By Laws Kings first were made, and with intent +Men to defend, by Heav'n's and Man's consent. +God to the Crown the Regal Power did bring, +And by Consent at first, Men chose their King. +If Kings usurp'd a Power, by force did sway, +The People by no Law were bound t'obey. +This does not in the People place a Right +To dissolve Soveraign sway by force or might. +To Kings, by long succession, there is giv'n +A native Right unto the Throne, by Heav'n: +Who may not be run down by common Cry, +For Vice, Oppression, and for Tyranny. +But if that Kings the tyes of Laws do break, +The People, without fault, have leave to speak; +To shew their Grievances, and seek redress +By lawful means, when Kings and Lords oppress. +Tho they can't give and take, whene'r they please, +And Kings allow'd to be God's Images. +The Government you Tyranny must call, +Where Subjects have no Right, and Kings have all. +But if reciprocal a Right there be, +Derived down unto Posteritie, +That side's in fault, who th'other doth invade, +By which soe'r at first the breach is made: +For Innovation is a dangerous thing, +Whether it comes from People or from King. +To change Foundations which long Ages stood, +Which have prov'd firm, unshaken, sound, and good, +To pull all down, and cast the Frame anew, +Is work for Rebels, and for Tyrants too. + + Now what relief could _Amazia_ bring, +Fatal indeed to be too good a King? +Friends he had many, but them did not know, +Or else made to believe they were not so: +For all that did ill Ministers oppose, +Were represented to him as his Foes. +Yet there were many thousands in those days, +Who _Amazia_ did both love and praise; +Who for him daily pray'd, and wish'd his good, +And for him would have spent both Coin and Bloud. +Yet these, tho the more numerous, and the best, +Were call'd but murmuring Traytors by the rest: +By such who strain'd till they had crackt the string +Of Government; lov'd Pow'r, and not the King +These daily hightned _Amazia_'s fears, +And thus they whisper'd to his Royal Ears: + + Sir, it is time you now take up the Sword, +And let your Subjects know you are their Lord. +Goodness by Rebels won't be understood, +And you are much too wonderful and good. +The _Jews_, a moody, murmuring, stubborn Race, +Grow worse by Favours, and rebel with Grace. +Pamper'd they are, grown rich and fat with ease, +Whom no good Monarch long could ever please. +Freedom and Liberty pretend to want; +That's still the cry, where they're on Mischief bent. +Freedom is their Disease; and had they less, +They would not be so ready to transgress. +Give them but Liberty, let them alone, +They shall not onely you, but God dethrone. +Remember, Sir, how your good Father fell; +It was his goodness made them first rebel. +And now the very self-same tract they tread, +To reach your Crown, and then take off your head. +A senseless Plot they stumbl'd on, or made, +To make you of th'old _Canaanites_ afraid. +Still when they mean the Nation to enthral, +With heavie Clamour they cry out on _Baal_. +But these hot Zealots who _Baal_'s Idols curse, +Bow to their own more ugly far and worse. +_Baal_ would but rob some Jewels from your Crown, +But these would Monarchy itself pull down: +Both Church and State they'l not reform by Halves, +Pull down the Temple, and set up their Calves. +You, and your Priests, they would turn out to Graze, +Nor would they let you smell a Sacrifize, +Those pious Offerings which Priests lasie made, +To Rebels, should, instead of God be paid. +How to the Prey these factious _Jews_ do run! +From you by art they have debauch'd your Son; +That little subtle Instrument of Hell, +Worse than to _David_ was _Achitophel_, +The young Man tutors, sends him through the Land, +That he the peoples minds may understand; +That he, with winning Charms, might court the _Jew_, +And draw your fickle Subjects hearts from you. +Alas! already they of you Complain. +And are grown sick of your too peaceful Reign, +Their Lusts grown high, they are debauch'd with Grace, +And like unfrozen Snakes fly in your Face. +These men who now pretend to give you Law, +Stood of the Tyrant _Zabed_'s power in awe; +He made them crouch who scorn'd a Prince's sway, +And forc'd them, like dull slaves, his power obey. +Of _Israel_, and of _Juda_'s Tribe you spring, +A Lion is the Ensign of a King, +Rouse up your self, in mildness sleep no more, +And make them tremble at your princely roar: +Appear like _Jove_ with Thunder in your hand, +And let the Slaves your power understand; +Strike but the sinning Princes Down to Hell, +The rest will worship you, and ne'r rebel. + + Thus these rash Men with their bad Counsels strove, +To turn to hate good _Amazia_'s Love. +A Prince to Mercy naturally inclin'd, } +Not apt to fear, nor of a Jealous Mind, } +Thought no Man e'r against his Life design'd, } +But these with Art did dangers represent, +And Plots they fram'd the People never meant. +Each Mole hill they a Mountain did create, +And sought to fright him with his Fathers Fate. +_Hushai_ at last was to a Prison sent, +As a false Traitor to the Government. +Loud murmurs then possest the troubled _Jews_, +Who were surprised at the fatal News; +His Wisdom they believed their chief support, +Against the evil Instruments at Court; +Nor, by his Actions, did they ever find, +He bore a Trait'rous, or a factious Mind: +And now they thought themselves expos'd to all +The Arts, and Plots of the hid friends to _Baal_. +Troubled, and discontented, at the last, +Their Eyes upon the noble Prince they cast. +Who fearing lest their discontent and rage, +Should them, to some rebellious Crime ingage, +Both for his Fathers, and his Countries sake, +The murmuring People sought more calm to make. +With a sweet Air, and with a graceful look, +He did command their silence, e'er he spoke. +Then thus he said, and though his words were few, +They fell like Manna, or the Hony Dew; + + My Country-men, Let not your discontent +Draw you to actions you will soon repent, +What e'er your fears and jealousies may be, +Let them not break the bonds of Loyalty. +I dare, and you may too, my Father trust, +For he's so merciful, so good, so just, +That he of no mans Life will make a Prey, +Or take it in an Arbitrary way, +To Heav'n, and to the King submit your cause, +Who never will infringe your ancient Laws; +But if he should an evil Action do, +To run to Arms, 'tis no pretence for you. +The King is Judge of what is just and fit, +And if he judge amiss you must submit, +Tho griev'd you must your constant duty pay, +And your Redress seek in a lawful way. +_Hushai_ tho he of Treason be accus'd, +Such loyal precepts in my soul infus'd, +That I the hazard of my life will run, +Rather than prove my self a Rebel Son. +Our Foes, have sought to' infect my Father's mind, +To think, you to Rebellion are inclin'd: +To stir you to Rebellion is their aim, +And they are mad, to see you justly tame. +Upon your Heads, they fain would lay their sin, +'Tis War they seek, but would have you begin: +Pretence they want, who for the King do seem, +To bring in, and set up _Eliakim_. +I am afraid the _Baalites_ cursed Plot, +By many laught at, and by most forgot, +Is carried on still, in their hidden Mine, +I fear, but dare not, the event, divine. +May Heav'n defend my Father's Life, and late, +Full ripe with Age, in peace, may he'yield to Fate. +I know, my Friends, for Him's your chiefest Care, +For him, as much as for your selves, you fear, +Upon his Life our happiness depends, +With it the peace of all _Judea_ ends, +Be vigilant, your foes Designs prevent, +Let not loud murmures shew your discontent: +Your Loyal Duty to your Soveraign pay, +Your Griefs present him in a Lawful way: +Be not too anxious for our common Friend, +God, and his Innocence will him defend: +Sit down in quiet, murmure not, but pray, +Submit to Heaven, your King, and Laws obey. +Youth, Beauty, and the Grace wherewith he spoke, +The Eyes, Ears, Hearts, of all the people took, +Their murmures then to joyful shouts were turn'd, +And they rejoyc'd, who lately murmuring mourn'd: +With Loyalty he did their Breasts inflame, +And they with shouts blest _Azaria_'s name. +The joyful Cry th'row all the City flew, +God save the King, and _Azaria_ too. +To him the Princes, his best Friends resort, +Resolv'd as Suppliants, to repair to Court; +In humble wise, to shew the King their Grief, +And on their bended Knees to seek Relief. +They 'approach'd the Throne, to it their homage paid, +Then to the King, the Loyal _Nashon_ said. +Great Sir, whom all good Subjects truly Love, +Tho all things that you do they can't approve, +We, whom the Throne has with high Honours blest, +Present you here the prayers of the rest; +Our bended Knees, as low as Earth we bow, +And humbly prostrate supplicate you now: +The blessing of your Love to us restore, +And raise us to your Favour, Sir, once more. +Where is the Joy, the Peace, and Quiet flown, +All had, when first you did ascend the Throne; +Now murmuring discontents assault our Ears, +And loud Complaints of jealousies, and fears: +Bad instruments help to blow up this Fire, +And with ill minds, their own worse Arts admire, +Whilst, by their means, you think your Friends your Foes, +For your best friends, your Enemies suppose; +Suspect your Loyal Subjects, and believe +The _Sanhedrim_ would you of Rights bereive. +Your people, who do love your gentle Sway, +And willingly their God, and you obey, +Who for Religion ever zealous were, +For that, for you, and for themselves do fear. +Clear as the Sun, by sad effects they find, +A _Baalite_ to succeed you is design'd: +Sir, they would not dispute with you, his right, +But they can n're indure a _Baalite_: +Tho whilst you live, they are secure and blest, +Yet are they with a thousand fears opprest, +Think your Life still in danger of the Plot, +Which now is laugh'd at, and almost forgot. +They see the _Baalites_ Hellish Plot run down, +And on the _Pharisees_ a false one thrown; +Your zealous faithful _Jews_ all Rebels made, +Their ruine hatch'd, you, and themselves betray'd. +Oh! Sir, before things to extreams do run, +Remember, at the least, you have a Son, +Let the _Sanhedrim_ with your wisdom joyn, +To keep unbroken still the Royal line; +And to secure our fears, that after you, +None shall succeed but a believing _Jew_. +Sir, this is all your Loyal Subjects Crave, +On you, as on a God, they cry to save. +Kings are like Gods on Earth, when they redress, +Their peoples Griefs, and save them in distress. +With loads of careful thoughts, the King opprest, +And long revolving in his Royal Breast, +Th' event of Things-----at last he silence broke, +And, with an awful Majesty, he spoke. +I've long in Peace _Judeas_ Scepter swaid, +None can Complain, I Justice have delay'd: +My Clemency, and Mercy has been shown, +Blood, and Revenge did ne'r pollute my Throne; +I and my People happy, kindly strove, +Which should exceed, my Mercy or their Love: +Who, till of late, more ready were to give +Supplies to me, than I was to receive. +Oh! happy days, and oh! unhappy change; +That makes my _Sanhedrims_, and my people strange, +And now, when I am in the Throne grown old, +With grief I see my Subjects Love prove cold. +They fear not my known Mercy to offend, +And with my awful Justice dare contend; +But yet their Crimes my mercy shan't asswage, +I'm ready to forgive th' offending Age, +And though they should my Kingly power slight, +I'le still keep for them my forgiving right. +I feel a tenderness within me spring, +I am my Peoples Father, and their King, +And tho I think, they may have done me wrong. +I can't remember their offences long. +Nature is mov'd, and sues for a Reprieve, +They are my Children, and I must forgive. +My many jealous fears I shan't repeat, +My Heart with a strong pulse of Love doth beat; +Nature I feel has made a sudden start, +And a fresh source springs from the Father's heart. +A stubborn Bow, drawn by the force of men, +The force remov'd, flies swifty back agen. +'Tis hard a Fathers nature to o'ercome, +How easily does she her force assume! +Sh' has o'er my Soul an easie Conquest won, +And I remember now I have a Son, +Whose Youth had long been my paternal Care, +Rais'd to the height his noble frame could bear, +And Heav'n has seem'd to give his Soul a turn, +As if ordain'd by Fate for Empire born. +By our known Laws I have the Scepter sway'd, +By them I govern'd, them my Rule I made. +To them I sought to frame my soveraign Will, +By them my Subjects I will govern still: +They, not the People, shall proclaim my Heir, } +Yet I will hearken to my Subjects Prayer, } +And of a _Baalite_ will remove their fear. } +From hence I'le banish every Priest of _Baal_, +And the wise _Sanhedrim_ together call: +That Body with the Kingly Head shall join, +Their Counsel and their Wisdom mix with mine, +All former strife betwixt us be forgot, +And in Oblivion buried every Plot. +We'l try to live in Love and Peace again, +As when I first began my happy Reign. +Before our Trait'rous Foes with secret toil +Did fair _Judea_'s blessed Peace embroil. +May all my latter days excel my first, +And he who then disturbs our Peace be curst. + + He said: Th' Almighty heard, and from on high +Spoke his Consent, in Thunder through the Skie: +The Augurie was noted by the Croud, +Who joyful shouts return'd almost as loud: +Then _Amazia_ was once more restor'd, +He lov'd his People, they obey'd their Lord. + +_FINIS._ + + +[Errata: + + an Author, whose Wit has deservedly / gained the Bays; + _"Bays" unclear_ + the Horny or Ivory Port + _so in original: "Part"?_ + + 'Twas fear'd they'd fall at last from Words to Blows. + _invisible apostrophe_ + He fears your Wisdom, may his Hindrance prove, + _text reads "Hndrance"_ + Religion to o'rethrow and Government. + _text reads "Governmenr"_ + And _Azaria_, tho they us'd his name, + _text reads "tehy"_ + From you by art they have debauch'd your Son; + _text reads "debauch,d"_ + Full ripe with Age, in peace, may he'yield to Fate. + _so in original: "he yield" or (metrical) "h'yield"?_ + The force remov'd, flies swifty back agen. + _see Editor's Introduction, References, for "swifty"_ ] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Anti-Achitophel (1682), by Elkanah Settle et al. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANTI-ACHITOPHEL (1682) *** + +***** This file should be named 18517-8.txt or 18517-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/1/18517/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner, Suzanne Lybarger +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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