104:01,000['  ]| <Elkanah Settle> 
104:01,000['  ]| <ABSALOM SENIOR> 
104:01,000['  ]| <or> 
104:01,000['  ]| <Achitophel Transpros'd> 
104:01,001['  ]| In gloomy times, when priestcraft bore the sway 
104:01,002['  ]| And made Heav'n's gate a lock to their own key; 
104:01,003['  ]| When ignorant devotes did blindly bow, 
104:01,004['  ]| All groping to be sav'd they knew not how:  
104:01,005['  ]| Whilst this Egyptian darkness did o'erwhelm, 
104:01,006['  ]| The priest sat pilot even at empire's helm.  
104:01,007['  ]| Then royal necks were yok'd, and monarchs still 
104:01,008['  ]| Held but their crowns at his almighty will.  
104:01,009['  ]| And to defend this high prerogative, 
104:01,010['  ]| Falsely from Heaven he did that power derive:  
104:01,011['  ]| By a commission forg'd i'th' hand of God, 
104:01,012['  ]| Turn'd Aaron's blooming wand to Moses' snaky rod.  
104:01,013['  ]| Whilst princes little scepters overpower'd, 
104:01,014['  ]| Made but that prey his wider gorge devour'd.  
104:01,015['  ]| Now to find wealth might his vast pomp supply 
104:01,016['  ]| (For costly roofs befit a lord so high), 
104:01,017['  ]| No arts were spar'd his luster to support, 
104:01,018['  ]| But all mines search'd t'enrich his shining Court.  
104:01,019['  ]| Then Heav'n was bought, religion but a trade, 
104:01,020['  ]| And temples murder's sanctuary made.  
104:01,021['  ]| By Phineas' spear no bleeding Cozbi groan'd, 
104:01,022['  ]| If Cozbi's gold for Cozbi's crimes aton'd.  
104:01,023['  ]| With these wise arts (for human policy 
104:01,024['  ]| As well as heav'nly truth mounts priests so high), 
104:01,025['  ]| 'Twixt gentle penance, lazy penitence, 
104:01,026['  ]| A faith that gratifies both soul and sense, 
104:01,027['  ]| With easy steps to everlasting bliss, 
104:01,028['  ]| He paves the rugged way to Paradise.  
104:01,029['  ]| Thus almost all the proselyte world he drives, 
104:01,030['  ]| Whilst th' universal drones buzz to his hives.  
104:01,031['  ]| Implicit Faith Religion thus convey'd 
104:01,032['  ]| Through little pipes to his great channel laid, 
104:01,033['  ]| Till Piety, through such dark conduits led, 
104:01,034['  ]| Was poison'd by the spring on which it fed.  
104:01,035['  ]| Here blind Obedience to a blinder guide 
104:01,036['  ]| Nurs'd that Blind Zeal that rais'd the priestly pride; 
104:01,037['  ]| Whilst to make kings the sovereign prelate own, 
104:01,038['  ]| Their reason he enslav'd, and then their throne.  
104:01,039['  ]| The miter thus above the diadem soar'd; 
104:01,040['  ]| God's humble servant he, but man's proud lord.  
104:01,041['  ]| It was in such church-light Blind Zeal was bred, 
104:01,042['  ]| By Faith's infatuating meteor led; 
104:01,043['  ]| Blind Zeal, that can even contradictions join, 
104:01,044['  ]| A saint in faith, in life a libertine, 
104:01,045['  ]| Makes Greatness, though in luxury worn down, 
104:01,046['  ]| Bigotted even to th' hazard of a crown; 
104:01,047['  ]| Ti'd to the girdle of a priest so fast, 
104:01,048['  ]| And yet religious only to the waist.  
104:01,049['  ]| But Constancy, atoning Constancy, 
104:01,050['  ]| Where that once reigns, Devotion may lay by.  
104:01,051['  ]| T'espouse the Church's cause lies in Heav'n's road 
104:01,052['  ]| More than obeying of the Church's God.  
104:01,053['  ]| And he dares fight for faith is more renown'd, 
104:01,054['  ]| A zealot militant, than martyr crown'd.  
104:01,055['  ]| Here the arch-priest, to that ambition blown, 
104:01,056['  ]| Pull'd down God's altars to erect his own:  
104:01,057['  ]| For not content to publish Heav'n's command, 
104:01,058['  ]| The sacred law penn'd by th' Almighty Hand, 
104:01,059['  ]| And Moses-like 'twixt God and Israel go, 
104:01,060['  ]| Thought Sinai's Mount a pinnacle too low.  
104:01,061['  ]| So charming sweet were incense's fragrant fumes, 
104:01,062['  ]| So pleas'd his nostrils, till th' aspirer comes 
104:01,063['  ]| From offering, to receiving, hecatombs; 
104:01,064['  ]| And ceasing to adore, to be ador'd.  
104:01,065['  ]| So fell Faith's guide:  so loftily he tow'r'd 
104:01,066['  ]| Till, like th' ambitious Lucifer accurst, 
104:01,067['  ]| Swell'd to a god, into a fiend he burst.  
104:01,068['  ]| But as great Lucifer by falling gain'd 
104:01,069['  ]| Dominion, and even in damnation reign'd, 
104:01,070['  ]| And though from light's bless'd orb forever driven, 
104:01,071['  ]| Yet Prince o'th' Air, h'had that vast scepter giv'n 
104:01,072['  ]| T'have subjects far more numerous than Heav'n; 
104:01,073['  ]| And thus enthron'd, with an infernal spite, 
104:01,074['  ]| The genuine malice of the realms of night, 
104:01,075['  ]| The Paradise he lost blasphemes, abhors, 
104:01,076['  ]| And against Heav'n proclaims eternal wars.  
104:01,077['  ]| No art's untri'd, no hostile step's untrod, 
104:01,078['  ]| Both against Truth's adorers, and Truth's God.  
104:01,079['  ]| So Faith's fall'n guide, now Baal's champion reign'd; 
104:01,080['  ]| Wide was his sway, and mighty his command, 
104:01,081['  ]| Whilst with implacable revenge he burn'd 
104:01,082['  ]| And all his rage against God's Israel turn'd.  
104:01,083['  ]| Here his envenom'd soul's black gall he flings, 
104:01,084['  ]| Spots all his snakes, and points his scorpion's stings, 
104:01,085['  ]| Omits no force or treacherous design 
104:01,086['  ]| Blest Israel to assault or undermine.  
104:01,087['  ]| But the first sword did his keen malice draw, 
104:01,088['  ]| Was aim'd against the God-like Deborah.  
104:01,089['  ]| Deborah, the matchless pride of Judah's crown, 
104:01,090['  ]| Whose female hand Baal's impious groves cut down, 
104:01,091['  ]| His banish'd wizards from her Israel thrust, 
104:01,092['  ]| And pounded all their idols into dust.  
104:01,093['  ]| Her life, with indefatigable pain, 
104:01,094['  ]| By daggers long and poisons sought in vain; 
104:01,095['  ]| At length they angry Jabin's rage inflam'd, 
104:01,096['  ]| Hazor's proud king, for iron chariots fam'd; 
104:01,097['  ]| A warrior powerful, whose most dreadful host 
104:01,098['  ]| Proclaim'd \Invincible\ (were human boast 
104:01,099['  ]| Infallible), by haughty Sisera led, 
104:01,100['  ]| 'Gainst Deborah their bloody banners spread.  
104:01,101['  ]| But Deborah her Barak calls to war; 
104:01,102['  ]| Barak, the sun's fam'd fellow-traveler, 
104:01,103['  ]| Who, wand'ring o'er the earth's surrounded frame, 
104:01,104['  ]| Had travel'd far as his great mistress Fame.  
104:01,105['  ]| Here Barak did with Deborah's vengeance fly, 
104:01,106['  ]| And to that swift prodigious victory, 
104:01,107['  ]| So much by human praises undefin'd 
104:01,108['  ]| That Fame wants breath, and Wonder lags behind.  
104:01,109['  ]| To Heav'n's high arch, her sounding glory is rung, 
104:01,110['  ]| Whilst thus great Deborah and Barak sung:  
104:01,111[B  ]| "Hear, oh ye princes, oh ye kings give ear, 
104:01,112[B  ]| And Israel's great avenger's honor, hear.  
104:01,113[B  ]| When God of hosts, thou Israel's spear and shield, 
104:01,114[B  ]| Went'st out of Seir and marched'st from Edom's field, 
104:01,115[B  ]| Earth trembled, the Heavens dropp'd, the clouds all pour'd; 
104:01,116[B  ]| The mountains melted from before the Lord; 
104:01,117[B  ]| Even thy own Sinai melted into streams 
104:01,118[B  ]| At Israel's dazzling God's refulgent beams.  
104:01,119[B  ]| In Shamgar and in Jael's former days, 
104:01,120[B  ]| The wand'ring traveler walk'd through byways.  
104:01,121[B  ]| They chose new gods.  No spear nor sword was found 
104:01,122[B  ]| To have Idolatry depos'd, Truth crown'd:  
104:01,123[B  ]| Till I alone, against Jehovah's foes, 
104:01,124[B  ]| I, Deborah, I, Israel's mother, rose.  
104:01,125[B  ]| Wake Deborah, wake, raise thy exalted head!  
104:01,126[B  ]| Rise Barak, and captivity captive lead, 
104:01,127[B  ]| For to blest Deborah, belov'd of Heav'n, 
104:01,128[B  ]| Over the mighty is dominion giv'n.  
104:01,129[B  ]| Great Barak leads, and Israel's courage warms; 
104:01,130[B  ]| Ephraim and Benjamin march down in arms, 
104:01,131[B  ]| Zebulon and Nepthali my thunder bore, 
104:01,132[B  ]| Dan from her ships, and Asher on the shore.  
104:01,133[B  ]| Behold Begiddo's waves, and from afar 
104:01,134[B  ]| See the fierce Jabin's threat'ning storm of war.  
104:01,135[B  ]| But Heav'n 'gainst Sisera fought, and the kind stars 
104:01,136[B  ]| Rank'd their embattle'd fires for Deborah's wars, 
104:01,137[B  ]| Shot down their vengeance that miraculous day 
104:01,138[B  ]| When Kishon's torrents swept their hosts away.  
104:01,139[B  ]| But 
104:01,139@x   | ""Curse ye, Meroz!  curse 'em from on high!"" 
104:01,140[B  ]| Did the denouncing voice of angels cry; 
104:01,141@x   | ""Accurs'd be they that went not out t'oppose 
104:01,142@x   | The mighty ~~ Deborah's, God's, and Israel's foes."" 
104:01,143[B  ]| Victorious Judah!  Oh my soul, th'hast trod, 
104:01,144[B  ]| Trod down their strengths.  So fall the foes of God.  
104:01,145[B  ]| But they who in His sacred laws delight 
104:01,146[B  ]| Be as the Sun when he sets out in might."" 
104:01,147['  ]| Thus sung, thus conquer'd Deborah; thus fell 
104:01,148['  ]| Hers, and Heav'n's, foes.  But no defeat tames Hell.  
104:01,149['  ]| By conquest overthrown, but not dismayed, 
104:01,150['  ]| 'Gainst Israel still their private engines play'd; 
104:01,151['  ]| And their dire machinations to fulfill, 
104:01,152['  ]| Their stings torn out, they kept their poison still.  
104:01,153['  ]| And now too weak in open force to join, 
104:01,154['  ]| In close cabals they hatch'd a damn'd design 
104:01,155['  ]| To light that mine as should the world amaze 
104:01,156['  ]| And set the ruin'd Israel in a blaze.  
104:01,157['  ]| When Judah's Monarch with his princes round, 
104:01,158['  ]| Amidst his glorious Sanedrin sat crown'd, 
104:01,159['  ]| Beneath this throne a cavern low, and dark 
104:01,160['  ]| As their black souls, for the great work they mark.  
104:01,161['  ]| In this one cell their midnight-hands bestow'd 
104:01,162['  ]| A Stygian compound, a combustive load 
104:01,163['  ]| Of mixture wondrous, execution dire, 
104:01,164['  ]| Ready the touch of their infernal fire.  
104:01,165['  ]| Have you not seen in yon ethereal road 
104:01,166['  ]| How, at the rage of th' angry driving god, 
104:01,167['  ]| Beneath the pressure of his furious wheels, 
104:01,168['  ]| The heav'ns all rattle, and the globe all reels?  
104:01,169['  ]| So does this thunder's ape its light'ning play, 
104:01,170['  ]| Keen as Heav'n's fires and scarce less swift than they.  
104:01,171['  ]| A short-liv'd glaring murderer it flies, 
104:01,172['  ]| In time's least pulse, a moment's wing'd surprise:  
104:01,173['  ]| 'Tis born, looks big, talks loud, breathes death, and dies.  
104:01,174['  ]| This mixture was th' invention of a priest; 
104:01,175['  ]| The sulphurous ingredients all the best 
104:01,176['  ]| Of Hell's own growth; for to dire compounds still 
104:01,177['  ]| Hell finds the minerals, and the priest the skill.  
104:01,178['  ]| From this curst mine they had that blow decreed, 
104:01,179['  ]| A moment's dismal blast, as should exceed 
104:01,180['  ]| All the storms, battles, murders, massacres, 
104:01,181['  ]| And all the strokes of daggers, swords, or spears, 
104:01,182['  ]| Since direst Cain's hand at Abel's head was lift:  
104:01,183['  ]| A blow more swift than pestilence, more swift 
104:01,184['  ]| Than ever a destroying angel rode, 
104:01,185['  ]| To pour the vial of an angry God.  
104:01,186['  ]| The train was laid, the very signal giv'n; 
104:01,187['  ]| But here th'all-seeing Israel's guardian, Heav'n, 
104:01,188['  ]| Could hold no longer, and to stop their way, 
104:01,189['  ]| With a kind beam from th' empyrean day, 
104:01,190['  ]| Disclos'd their hammering thunder at the forge, 
104:01,191['  ]| And made their Cyclop's cave their bolts disgorge.  
104:01,192['  ]| Discover'd thus, thus lost, betray'd, undone, 
104:01,193['  ]| Yet still untir'd, the restless cause goes on; 
104:01,194['  ]| And to retrieve a yet auspicious day, 
104:01,195['  ]| A glowing spark even in their ashes lay, 
104:01,196['  ]| Which thus burst out in flames in Geshur land, 
104:01,197['  ]| The utmost bound of Israel's command, 
104:01,198['  ]| Where Judah's planted faith but slowly grew, 
104:01,199['  ]| A brutal race that Israel's God ne'er knew; 
104:01,200['  ]| A nation by the conqueror's mercy grac'd, 
104:01,201['  ]| Their gods preserv'd and temples undefac'd; 
104:01,202['  ]| Yet not content with all the sweets of peace 
104:01,203['  ]| (Free their estates and free their consciences), 
104:01,204['  ]| 'Gainst Israel those confederate swords they drew, 
104:01,205['  ]| Which with that vast assassination slew:  
104:01,206['  ]| Two hundred thousand butcher'd victims shar'd 
104:01,207['  ]| One common doom; no sex nor age was spar'd:  
104:01,208['  ]| Not kneeling beauties' tears, nor virgins' cries, 
104:01,209['  ]| Nor infants' smiles.  No prey so small but dies.  
104:01,210['  ]| Alas, the hard-mouth'd bloodhound, Zeal, bites through; 
104:01,211['  ]| Religion hunts, and hungry jaws pursue.  
104:01,212['  ]| To what strange rage is supersition driv'n 
104:01,213['  ]| That man can outdo Hell to fight for Heav'n!  
104:01,214['  ]| So rebel Geshur fought:  so drown'd in gore, 
104:01,215['  ]| Even Mother Earth blush'd at the sons she bore; 
104:01,216['  ]| And still asham'd of her old staining brand, 
104:01,217['  ]| Her head shrinks down, and quagmires half their land.  
104:01,218['  ]| Yet not this blow Baal's empire could enlarge, 
104:01,219['  ]| For Israel still was Heav'n's peculiar charge:  
104:01,220['  ]| Unshaken still in all this scene of blood, 
104:01,221['  ]| Truth's temple firm on golden columns stood.  
104:01,222['  ]| Whilst Saul's revenging arm proud Geshur scourg'd, 
104:01,223['  ]| From their rank soil their Hydra's poison purg'd.  
104:01,224['  ]| Yet does not here their vanquish'd spleen give o'er, 
104:01,225['  ]| But as untir'd and restless as before, 
104:01,226['  ]| Still through whole waiting ages they outdo 
104:01,227['  ]| At once the chemist's pains and patience too ~~ 
104:01,228['  ]| Who, though he sees his bursting limbecks crack 
104:01,229['  ]| And at one blast, one fatal minute's wrack, 
104:01,230['  ]| The forward hopes of sweating years expire, 
104:01,231['  ]| With sad yet painful hand new-lights his fire:  
104:01,232['  ]| Pale, lean, and wan, does health, wealth, all consume, 
104:01,233['  ]| Yet for the great elixir still to come, 
104:01,234['  ]| Toils and hopes on.  No less their plottings cease; 
104:01,235['  ]| So hope, so toil, the foes of Israel's peace.  
104:01,236['  ]| When, lo, a long-expected day appears, 
104:01,237['  ]| Sought for above a hundred rolling years; 
104:01,238['  ]| A day i'th' register of doom set down 
104:01,239['  ]| Presents 'em with an heir of Israel's crown.  
104:01,240['  ]| Here their vast hopes of the rich Israel's spoils 
104:01,241['  ]| Requites the pains of their long ages' toils.  
104:01,242['  ]| Baal's banners now i'th' face of day shall march 
104:01,243['  ]| With Heav'n's bright roof for his triumphal arch.  
104:01,244['  ]| His lurking missioners shall now no more 
104:01,245['  ]| From foreign schools in borrow'd shapes come o'er, 
104:01,246['  ]| Convert by moonlight, and their mystic rites 
104:01,247['  ]| Preach to weak female half-soul'd proselytes.  
104:01,248['  ]| An all-commanding dragon now shall soar 
104:01,249['  ]| Where the poor serpents only crawl'd before.  
104:01,250['  ]| Baal's restoration, that most blest design, 
104:01,251['  ]| Now the great work of majesty, shall shine, 
104:01,252['  ]| Made by his consecrating hand divine.  
104:01,253['  ]| He shall new-plant their groves with each bless'd tree, 
104:01,254['  ]| A graft of an imperial nursery.  
104:01,255['  ]| In the kind air of this new Eden bless'd, 
104:01,256['  ]| Perch'd on each bough, and palaces their nest, 
104:01,257['  ]| No more by frighting laws forc'd t' obscure flight 
104:01,258['  ]| And gloomy walks, like obscene birds of night, 
104:01,259['  ]| Their warbling notes like Philomel shall sing, 
104:01,260['  ]| And like the bird of Paradise their wing.  
104:01,261['  ]| Thus Israel's heir their ravish'd souls all fir'd; 
104:01,262['  ]| For all things to their ardent hopes conspir'd.  
104:01,263['  ]| His very youth a bigot mother bred, 
104:01,264['  ]| And tainted even the milk on which he fed.  
104:01,265['  ]| Him only of her sons design'd for Baal's 
104:01,266['  ]| Great champion 'gainst Jerusalem's proud walls; 
104:01,267['  ]| Him dipp'd in Stygian Lake, by timely craft, 
104:01,268['  ]| Invulnerable made against Truth's pointed shaft.  
104:01,269['  ]| But to confirm his early poison'd faith, 
104:01,270['  ]| 'Twas in the cursed foreign tents of Gath, 
104:01,271['  ]| 'Twas there that he was lost.  There Absalon, 
104:01,272['  ]| By David's fatal banishment undone, 
104:01,273['  ]| Saw their false gods till in their fires he burn'd, 
104:01,274['  ]| Truth's manna, for Egyptian fleshpots, scorn'd.  
104:01,275['  ]| Not David so; for he, Faith's champion lord, 
104:01,276['  ]| Their altars loath'd and prophane rites abhorr'd, 
104:01,277['  ]| Whilst his firm soul on wings of cherubs rode, 
104:01,278['  ]| And tun'd his lyre to nought but Abraham's God.  
104:01,279['  ]| Thus the gay Israel her long tears quite dri'd, 
104:01,280['  ]| Her restor'd David met in all her pride; 
104:01,281['  ]| Three brothers saw, by miracle brought back, 
104:01,282['  ]| Like Noah's sons sav'd from the world's great wrack, 
104:01,283['  ]| An unbelieving Ham grac'd on each hand 
104:01,284['  ]| 'Twixt God-like Shem and pious Japhet, stand.  
104:01,285['  ]| 'Tis true, when David, all his storms blown o'er, 
104:01,286['  ]| Wafted by prodigies to Jordan's shore, 
104:01,287['  ]| (So swift a revolution, yet so calm) 
104:01,288['  ]| Had cur'd an age's wounds with one day's balm, 
104:01,289['  ]| Here the returning Absalom his vows 
104:01,290['  ]| With Israel joins, and at their altars bows.  
104:01,291['  ]| Perhaps surpris'd at such strange blessing show'r'd, 
104:01,292['  ]| Such wonders shown both t' Israel's Faith and Lord, 
104:01,293['  ]| His restoration-miracle he thought 
104:01,294['  ]| Could by no less than Israel's God be wrought.  
104:01,295['  ]| Whilst the enlighten'd Absalom thus kneels, 
104:01,296['  ]| Thus dancing to the sound of Aaron's bells, 
104:01,297['  ]| What dazzling rays did Israel's heir adorn, 
104:01,298['  ]| So bright his sun in his unclouded morn!  
104:01,299['  ]| 'Twas then his leading hand in battle drew 
104:01,300['  ]| That sword that David's fam'd ten thousand slew:  
104:01,301['  ]| David's the cause, but Absalom's the arm.  
104:01,302['  ]| Then he could win all hearts, all tongues could charm:  
104:01,303['  ]| Whilst with his praise the echoing plains all rung, 
104:01,304['  ]| A thousand timbrels play'd, a thousand virgins sung; 
104:01,305['  ]| And in the zeal of every jocund soul, 
104:01,306['  ]| Absalom's health with David's crown'd one bowl.  
104:01,307['  ]| Had he fix'd here, yes, Fate, had he fix'd here, 
104:01,308['  ]| To man so sacred, and to Heav'n so dear, 
104:01,309['  ]| What could he want that hands, hearts, lives could pay, 
104:01,310['  ]| Or tributary worlds beneath his feet could lay?  
104:01,311['  ]| What knees, what necks to mount him to a throne; 
104:01,312['  ]| What gems, what stars to sparkle in a crown?  
104:01,313['  ]| So pleas'd, so charm'd, had Israel's genius smil'd.  
104:01,314['  ]| But oh, ye pow'rs, by treacherous snakes beguil'd, 
104:01,315['  ]| Into a more than Adam's curse he run; 
104:01,316['  ]| Tasting that fruit has Israel's world undone.  
104:01,317['  ]| Nay, wretched even below his falling state, 
104:01,318['  ]| Wants Adam's eyes to see his Adam's fate.  
104:01,319['  ]| In vain were David's harp and Israel's choir, 
104:01,320['  ]| For his conversion did in vain conspire; 
104:01,321['  ]| For though their influence a while retires, 
104:01,322['  ]| His own false planets were th' ascendant fires.  
104:01,323['  ]| Heav'n had no lasting miracle design'd; 
104:01,324['  ]| It did a while his fatal torrent bind:  
104:01,325['  ]| As Joshua's wand did Jordan's streams divide, 
104:01,326['  ]| And rang'd the wat'ry mountains on each side; 
104:01,327['  ]| But when the marching Israel once got o'er, 
104:01,328['  ]| Down crack the crystal walls, the billows pour, 
104:01,329['  ]| And in their old impetuous channel roar.  
104:01,330['  ]| At last this last stroke thus totally o'erthrown, 
104:01,331['  ]| Apostacy now seal'd him all her own.  
104:01,332['  ]| Here op'd that gaping breach, that fatal door, 
104:01,333['  ]| Which now let in a thousand ruins more.  
104:01,334['  ]| All the bright virtues, and each dazzling grace, 
104:01,335['  ]| Which his rich veins drew from a God-like race ~~ 
104:01,336['  ]| The mercy, and the clemency divine, 
104:01,337['  ]| Those sacred beams which in mild David shine ~~  
104:01,338['  ]| Those royal sparks, his native seeds of light, 
104:01,339['  ]| Were all put out, and left a starless night.  
104:01,340['  ]| A long farewell to all that's great and brave:  
104:01,341['  ]| Not cataracts more headstrong; as the grave, 
104:01,342['  ]| Inexorable; sullen and untun'd 
104:01,343['  ]| As pride depos'd; scarce Lucifer dethron'd 
104:01,344['  ]| More unforgiving.  His enchanted soul 
104:01,345['  ]| Had drunk so deep of the bewitching bowl, 
104:01,346['  ]| Till he whose hand, with Judah's standard, bore 
104:01,347['  ]| Her martial thunder to the Tyrian shore, 
104:01,348['  ]| Arm'd in her wars, and in her laurels crown'd, 
104:01,349['  ]| Now, all forgotten, at one stagg'ring wound, 
104:01,350['  ]| Falling from Israel's Faith, from Israel's cause, 
104:01,351['  ]| Peace, honor, int'rest, all at once withdraws.  
104:01,352['  ]| Nor is he deaf t' a kingdom's groans alone, 
104:01,353['  ]| But could behold ev'n David's shaking throne; 
104:01,354['  ]| David, whose bounty rais'd his glittering pride, 
104:01,355['  ]| The basis of his glory's pyramid.  
104:01,356['  ]| But duty, gratitude, all ruin'd fall; 
104:01,357['  ]| Zeal blazes, and oblivion swallows all.  
104:01,358['  ]| So Sodom did both burnt and drown'd expire; 
104:01,359['  ]| A poison'd lake succeeds a pile of fire.  
104:01,360['  ]| On this foundation Baal's last hope was built, 
104:01,361['  ]| The sure retreat for all their sallying guilt:  
104:01,362['  ]| A royal harbor, where the rolling pride 
104:01,363['  ]| Of Israel's foes might safe at anchor ride, 
104:01,364['  ]| Defy all dangers, and ev'n tempest scorn, 
104:01,365['  ]| Though Judah's God should thunder in the storm.  
104:01,366['  ]| Here Israel's laws, the dull Levitic rolls, 
104:01,367['  ]| At once a clog to empire and to souls, 
104:01,368['  ]| Are the first martyrs to the fire they doom 
104:01,369['  ]| To make great Baal's triumphant legends room.  
104:01,370['  ]| But ere their hands this glorious work can crown, 
104:01,371['  ]| Their long-known foe, the Sanedrin, must down:  
104:01,372['  ]| Sanedrins, the free-born Israel's sacred right, 
104:01,373['  ]| That God-like balance of imperial might, 
104:01,374['  ]| Where subjects are from tyrant-lords set free 
104:01,375['  ]| From that wild thing unbounded man would be, 
104:01,376['  ]| Where pow'r and clemency are pois'd so even, 
104:01,377['  ]| A constitution that resembles Heav'n.  
104:01,378['  ]| So in th' united great Three-One we find 
104:01,379['  ]| A saving with a dooming Godhead join'd.  
104:01,380['  ]| (But why, oh why!  if such restraining pow'r 
104:01,381['  ]| Can bind Omnipotence, should kings wish more?) 
104:01,382['  ]| A constitution so divinely mix'd, 
104:01,383['  ]| Not Nature's bounded elements more fix'd.  
104:01,384['  ]| Thus earth's vast frame, with firm and solid ground, 
104:01,385['  ]| Stands in a foaming ocean circl'd round; 
104:01,386['  ]| Yet this not overflowing, that not drown'd.  
104:01,387['  ]| But to rebuild their altars, and install 
104:01,388['  ]| Their molten gods, the Sanedrin must fall; 
104:01,389['  ]| That constellation of the Jewish pow'r, 
104:01,390['  ]| All blotted from its orb, must shine no more; 
104:01,391['  ]| Or, stamp'd in Pharaoh's darling mold, must quit 
104:01,392['  ]| Their native beams for a new-model'd light; 
104:01,393['  ]| Like Egypt's sanedrins, their influence gone, 
104:01,394['  ]| Flash but like empty meteors round the throne:  
104:01,395['  ]| That that new lord may Judah's scepter wield, 
104:01,396['  ]| To whom th' old brickill taskmasters must yield; 
104:01,397['  ]| Who, to erect new temples for his gods, 
104:01,398['  ]| Shall th' enslav'd Israel drive with iron rods.  
104:01,399['  ]| If they want bricks for his new walls t' aspire, 
104:01,400['  ]| To their sad cost, he'll find 'em straw and fire.  
104:01,401['  ]| All this t' effect, and their new fabric build, 
104:01,402['  ]| Both close cabals and foreign leagues are held:  
104:01,403['  ]| To Babylon and Egypt they send o'er, 
104:01,404['  ]| And both their conduct and their gold implore.  
104:01,405['  ]| By such abettors the sly game was play'd:  
104:01,406['  ]| One of their chiefs ~~ a Jewish renegade, 
104:01,407['  ]| Highborn in Israel, once Michal's priest, 
104:01,408['  ]| But now in Babylon's proud scarlet dress'd ~~ 
104:01,409['  ]| 'Tis to his hands the plotting mandates come, 
104:01,410['  ]| Subscrib'd by the apostate Absalom.  
104:01,411['  ]| Nay, and to keep themselves all danger-proof, 
104:01,412['  ]| That none might track theBelial by his hoof, 
104:01,413['  ]| Their correspondence veil'd from prying eyes.  
104:01,414['  ]| In hieroglyphic figures they disguise.  
104:01,415['  ]| Hush'd as the night in which their plots combin'd, 
104:01,416['  ]| And silent as the graves they had design'd, 
104:01,417['  ]| Their ripening mischief's to perfection sprung.  
104:01,418['  ]| But oh!  the much-loath'd David lives too long.  
104:01,419['  ]| Their vultures cannot mount but from his tomb, 
104:01,420['  ]| And with too hungry ravenous gorges come 
104:01,421['  ]| To be by airy expectation fed.  
104:01,422['  ]| No prey, no spoil, before they see him dead.  
104:01,423['  ]| Yes, dead; the royal sands too slowly pass, 
104:01,424['  ]| And therefore they're resolved to break the glass; 
104:01,425['  ]| And to insure Time's tardy, dubious call, 
104:01,426['  ]| Decree their daggers should his scythe forestall.  
104:01,427['  ]| For th' execrable deed a hireling crew 
104:01,428['  ]| Their Hell and they pick out; whom to make true, 
104:01,429['  ]| An oath of force so exquisite they frame, 
104:01,430['  ]| Sworn in the blood of Israel's paschal lamb.  
104:01,431['  ]| If false, the vengeance of that sword that slew 
104:01,432['  ]| Egypt's firstborn, their perjur'd heads pursue.  
104:01,433['  ]| Strong was the oath, the imprecation dire; 
104:01,434['  ]| And for a viand, lest their guilt should tire, 
104:01,435['  ]| With promis'd Paradise they cheer their way; 
104:01,436['  ]| And bold 's the soldier who has Heav'n his pay.  
104:01,437['  ]| But the ne'er-sleeping Providence that stands 
104:01,438['  ]| With jealous eyes o'er Truth's up-lifted hands; 
104:01,439['  ]| That still in its lov'd Israel takes delight, 
104:01,440['  ]| Their cloud by day and guardian fire by night; 
104:01,441['  ]| A ray from out its fiery pillar cast 
104:01,442['  ]| That overlook'd their driving Jehu's haste.  
104:01,443['  ]| All's ruin'd and betray'd:  their own false slaves 
104:01,444['  ]| Detect the plot and dig their masters' graves:  
104:01,445['  ]| Not oaths nor bribes shall bind when great Jehovah saves.  
104:01,446['  ]| The frighted Israelites take the alarm, 
104:01,447['  ]| Resolve the traitors' sorceries t' uncharm; 
104:01,448['  ]| Till cursing, raving, mad, and drunk with rage, 
104:01,449['  ]| In Amnon's blood their frantic hands engage.  
104:01,450['  ]| Here let the ghost of strangl'd Amnon come, 
104:01,451['  ]| A specter that will strike amazement dumb; 
104:01,452['  ]| Amnon, the proto-martyr of the plot, 
104:01,453['  ]| The murder'd Amnon, their eternal blot; 
104:01,454['  ]| Whose too bold zeal stood like a Pharos light, 
104:01,455['  ]| Israel to warn, and track their deeds of night; 
104:01,456['  ]| Till the sly foe, his unseen game to play, 
104:01,457['  ]| Put out the beacon to secure his way.  
104:01,458['  ]| Baal's cabinet-intrigues he open spread, 
104:01,459['  ]| The ravish'd Tamar for whose sake he bled.  
104:01,460['  ]| T' unveil their temple and expose their gods 
104:01,461['  ]| Deserv'd their vengeance's severest rods.  
104:01,462['  ]| Wrath he deserv'd, and had the vial full.  
104:01,463['  ]| To lay those devils had possess'd his soul, 
104:01,464['  ]| His silenc'd fiends from his wrung neck they twist; 
104:01,465['  ]| Whilst his kind murd'rer's but his exorcist.  
104:01,466['  ]| Here draw, bold painter (if thy pencil dare 
104:01,467['  ]| Unshaking write what Israel quak'd to hear), 
104:01,468['  ]| A royal altar pregnant with a load 
104:01,469['  ]| Of human bones beneath a breaden god.  
104:01,470['  ]| Altars so rich not Moloch's temples show; 
104:01,471['  ]| 'Twas Heaven above, and Golgotha below.  
104:01,472['  ]| Yet are not all the mystic rites yet done:  
104:01,473['  ]| Their pious fury does not stop so soon, 
104:01,474['  ]| But, to pursue the loud-tongu'd wounds they gave, 
104:01,475['  ]| Resolves to stab his fame beyond the grave 
104:01,476['  ]| And in eternal infamy to brand 
104:01,477['  ]| With Amnon's murder, Amnon's righteous hand.  
104:01,478['  ]| Here with a bloodless wound, by hellish art, 
104:01,479['  ]| With his own sword they gore his lifeless heart.  
104:01,480['  ]| Thus in a ditch the butcher'd Amnon lay, 
104:01,481['  ]| A deed of night enough to have kept back the day, 
104:01,482['  ]| Had not the sun in sacred vengeance rose, 
104:01,483['  ]| Asham'd to see, but prouder to disclose, 
104:01,484['  ]| Warm'd with new fires, with all his posting speed, 
104:01,485['  ]| Brought Heav'n's bright lamp to show th' infernal deed.  
104:01,486['  ]| What art thou, Church!  when faith to propagate 
104:01,487['  ]| And crush all bars that stop thy growing state, 
104:01,488['  ]| Thou break'st through Nature's, God's, and human laws, 
104:01,489['  ]| Whilst murder's merit in a church's cause.  
104:01,490['  ]| How much thy ladder Jacob's does excel, 
104:01,491['  ]| Whose top's in heaven like his, but foot in Hell; 
104:01,492['  ]| Thy cause's bloody champions to befriend, 
104:01,493['  ]| For fiends to mount as angels to descend.  
104:01,494['  ]| This was the stroke did th' alarm'd world surprise, 
104:01,495['  ]| And even to infidelity lent eyes:  
104:01,496['  ]| Whilst sweating Absalom in Israel pent, 
104:01,497['  ]| For fresher air was to bleak Hebron sent.  
104:01,498['  ]| Cold Hebron, warm'd by his approaching sight, 
104:01,499['  ]| Flush'd with his gold and glow'd with new delight.  
104:01,500['  ]| Till sacred all-converting interest 
104:01,501['  ]| To loyalty (their almost unknown guest 
104:01,502['  ]| Op'd a broad gate, from whence forth-issuing come 
104:01,503['  ]| Decrees, Tests, Oaths, for well-sooth'd Absalom.  
104:01,504['  ]| Spite of that guilt that made even angels fall, 
104:01,505['  ]| An unbarr'd heir shall reign; in spite of all 
104:01,506['  ]| Apostacy from Heav'n, or Nature's ties, 
104:01,507['  ]| Though for his throne a Cain-built palace rise.  
104:01,508['  ]| No wonder Hebron such devotion bears 
104:01,509['  ]| T' imperial dignity and royal heirs; 
104:01,510['  ]| For they, whom chronicle so high renowns, 
104:01,511['  ]| For selling kings, should know the price of crowns.  
104:01,512['  ]| Here, glorious Hushai, let me mourn thy fate, 
104:01,513['  ]| Thou once great pillar of the Hebron state:  
104:01,514['  ]| Yet now to dungeons sent, and doom'd t' a grave.  
104:01,515['  ]| But chains are no new sufferings to the brave.  
104:01,516['  ]| Witness thy pains in six years' bonds endur'd, 
104:01,517['  ]| For Israel's Faith and David's cause immur'd.  
104:01,518['  ]| Death, too, thou oft for Judah's crown hast stood, 
104:01,519['  ]| So bravely fac'd in several fields of blood.  
104:01,520['  ]| But from fame's pinnacle now headlong cast; 
104:01,521['  ]| Life, honor, all are ruin'd at a blast.  
104:01,522['  ]| For Absalom's great law thou durst explain, 
104:01,523['  ]| Where but to pry, bold Lord, was to profane:  
104:01,524['  ]| A law that did his mystic God-head couch, 
104:01,525['  ]| Like th' ark of God, and no less death to touch.  
104:01,526['  ]| Forgot are now thy honorable scars, 
104:01,527['  ]| Thy loyal toils, and wounds in Judah's wars.  
104:01,528['  ]| Had thy pil'd trophies, Babel-high, reach'd Heav'n, 
104:01,529['  ]| Yet by one stroke from Absalom's thunder given, 
104:01,530['  ]| Thy tow'ring glory 's level'd to the ground.  
104:01,531['  ]| A stroke does all thy tongues of fame confound, 
104:01,532['  ]| And \Traitor\ now is all the voice they sound.  
104:01,533['  ]| True, thou hadst law; that even thy foes allow; 
104:01,534['  ]| But to thy advocates, as damn'd as thou, 
104:01,535['  ]| 'Twas death to plead it.  
104:01,535['  ]| Artless Absalon, 
104:01,536['  ]| The bloody banner to display so soon!  
104:01,537['  ]| Such killing beams from thy young daybreak shot; 
104:01,538['  ]| What will the noon be if the morn's so hot?  
104:01,539['  ]| Yes, dreadful heir, the crowd Hebron awe.  
104:01,540['  ]| So the young lion tries his tender paw:  
104:01,541['  ]| At a poor herd of feeble heifers flies 
104:01,542['  ]| Ere the rough bear, tusk'd boar, or spotted leopard dies.  
104:01,543['  ]| Thus flush'd, great sir, thy strength in Israel try:  
104:01,544['  ]| When their cow'd sanedrins shall prostrate lie 
104:01,545['  ]| And to thy feet their slavish necks shall yield, 
104:01,546['  ]| Then reign the princely savage of the field.  
104:01,547['  ]| Yes, Israel's Sanedrin; 'twas they alone 
104:01,548['  ]| That set too high a value on a throne, 
104:01,549['  ]| Thought they had a God was worthy to be serv'd, 
104:01,550['  ]| A Faith maintain'd, and liberty preserv'd; 
104:01,551['  ]| And therefore judg'd, for safety and renown 
104:01,552['  ]| Of Israel's people, altars, laws, and crown, 
104:01,553['  ]| Th' anointing drops on royal temples shed 
104:01,554['  ]| Too precious show'rs for an apostate's head.  
104:01,555['  ]| Then was that great deliberate counsel giv'n, 
104:01,556['  ]| An act of justice both to man and Heav'n, 
104:01,557['  ]| Israel's conspiring foes to overthrow, 
104:01,558['  ]| That Absalom should th' hopes of crowns forego.  
104:01,559['  ]| Debarr'd succession!  oh that dismal sound!  
104:01,560['  ]| A sound at which Baal stagger'd and Hell groan'd; 
104:01,561['  ]| A sound that with such dreadful thunder falls, 
104:01,562['  ]| 'Twas heard even to Semiramis' trembling walls.  
104:01,563['  ]| But hold!  Is this the Plot's last murd'ring blow, 
104:01,564['  ]| The dire divorce of soul and body?  No!  
104:01,565['  ]| The mangl'd snake, yet warm, to life they'll bring, 
104:01,566['  ]| And each disjointed limb together cling.  
104:01,567['  ]| Then thus Baal's wise consulting prophets cheer'd 
104:01,568['  ]| Their pensive sons, and call'd the scatter'd herd.  
105:01,569[X  ]| "Are we quite ruin'd!  No, mistaken doom, 
105:01,570[X  ]| Still the great day, yes, that great day, shall come 
105:01,571[X  ]| (Oh, rouse, our fainting sons, and droop no more!), 
105:01,572[X  ]| A day whose luster, our long clouds blown o'er, 
105:01,573[X  ]| Not all the rage of Israel shall annoy, 
105:01,574[X  ]| No, nor denouncing sanedrins destroy.  
105:01,575[X  ]| See yon North Pole, and mark Boo+tes Car:  
105:01,576[X  ]| Oh!  we've those influencing aspects there, 
105:01,577[X  ]| Those friendly pow'rs that drive in that bright Wain, 
105:01,578[X  ]| Shall redeem all and our lost ground regain.  
105:01,579[X  ]| Whilst to our glory their kind aid stands fast, 
105:01,580[X  ]| But one plot more, our greatest and our last." 
105:01,581['  ]| Now for a product of that subtle kind, 
105:01,582['  ]| As far above their former births refin'd 
105:01,583['  ]| As firmamental fires t' a taper's ray, 
105:01,584['  ]| Or prodigies to Nature's common clay.  
105:01,585['  ]| Empires in blood, or cities in a flame, 
105:01,586['  ]| Are work of vulgar hands, scarce worth a name.  
105:01,587['  ]| A cake of shewbread from an altar ta'en, 
105:01,588['  ]| Mix'd but with some Levitical king-bane, 
105:01,589['  ]| Has sent a martyr'd monarch to his grave.  
105:01,590['  ]| Nay, a poor mendicant, Church-rake-hell slave 
105:01,591['  ]| Has stabb'd crown'd heads; slight work to hands well-skill'd, 
105:01,592['  ]| Slight as the pebble that Goliah kill'd.  
105:01,593['  ]| But to make plots no plots, to clear all taints, 
105:01,594['  ]| Traitors transform to innocents, fiends to saints, 
105:01,595['  ]| Reason to nonsense, truth to perjury; 
105:01,596['  ]| Nay, make their own attesting records lie, 
105:01,597['  ]| And even the gaping wounds of murder whole:  
105:01,598['  ]| Aye, this last masterpiece requires a soul.  
105:01,599['  ]| Guilt to unmake, and plots annihilate, 
105:01,600['  ]| Is much a greater work than to create.  
105:01,601['  ]| Nay, both at once to be, and not to be, 
105:01,602['  ]| Is such a task would pose a deity.  
105:01,603['  ]| Let Baal do this, and be a god indeed:  
105:01,604['  ]| Yes, t' his immortal honor 'tis decreed, 
105:01,605['  ]| His sanguine robe, though dipp'd in reeking gore, 
105:01,606['  ]| With purity and innocence all o'er 
105:01,607['  ]| Shall dry, and spotless from the purple hue, 
105:01,608['  ]| The miracle of Gideon's fleece outdo.  
105:01,609['  ]| Yes, they're resolv'd, in all their foes' despite, 
105:01,610['  ]| To wash their more than Ethiop treason white.  
105:01,611['  ]| But now for heads to manage the design, 
105:01,612['  ]| Fit engineers to labor in this mine:  
105:01,613['  ]| For their own hands, 'twere fatal to employ; 
105:01,614['  ]| Should Baal appear, it would Baal's cause destroy.  
105:01,615['  ]| Alas, should only their own trumpets sound 
105:01,616['  ]| Their innocence, the jealous ears around 
105:01,617['  ]| All infidels would the loath'd charmer fly, 
105:01,618['  ]| And through the angel's voice the fiend descry, 
105:01,619['  ]| No, this last game wants a new plotting set, 
105:01,620['  ]| And Israel only now can Israel cheat.  
105:01,621['  ]| In this machine their profess'd foes must move, 
105:01,622['  ]| Whilst Baal, absconding, sits in clouds above, 
105:01,623['  ]| From whence unseen he guides their hidden way, 
105:01,624['  ]| For he may prompt, although he must not play.  
105:01,625['  ]| This to effect, a sort of tools they find, 
105:01,626['  ]| Devotion-rovers, an amphibious kind, 
105:01,627['  ]| Of no religion, yet like walls of steel, 
105:01,628['  ]| Strong for the altars where their princes kneel.  
105:01,629['  ]| Imperial, not celestial, is their Test, 
105:01,630['  ]| The uppermost, indisputably best.  
105:01,631['  ]| They always in the golden chariot rode, 
105:01,632['  ]| Honor their heav'n, and interest their god.  
105:01,633['  ]| Of these than subtle Caleb none more great, 
105:01,634['  ]| Caleb who shines where his lost fathers set; 
105:01,635['  ]| Got by that sire, who, not content alone 
105:01,636['  ]| To shade the brightest jewel in a crown, 
105:01,637['  ]| Preaching ingratitude t' a court and throne, 
105:01,638['  ]| But made his politics the baneful root 
105:01,639['  ]| From whence the springing woes of Israel shoot, 
105:01,640['  ]| When his great master's fatal Gordian ti'd, 
105:01,641['  ]| He laid the barren Michal by his side 
105:01,642['  ]| That the ador'd Absalom's immortal line 
105:01,643['  ]| Might on Judea's throne forever shine.  
105:01,644['  ]| Caleb, who does that hardy pilot make, 
105:01,645['  ]| Steering in that hereditary track, 
105:01,646['  ]| Blind to the sea-mark of a father's wrack.  
105:01,647['  ]| Next Jonah stands bull-fac'd, but chicken-soul'd, 
105:01,648['  ]| Who once the silver Sanedrin controll'd, 
105:01,649['  ]| Their gold-tipp'd tongue; gold his great council's bawd, 
105:01,650['  ]| Till by succeeding sanedrins outlaw'd, 
105:01,651['  ]| He was preferr'd to guard the sacred store.  
105:01,652['  ]| There, lordly rolling in whole mines of ore, 
105:01,653['  ]| To dicing lords a cully favorite, 
105:01,654['  ]| He prostitutes whole cargoes in a night.  
105:01,655['  ]| Here to the top of his ambition come, 
105:01,656['  ]| Fills all his sails for hopeful Absalom.  
105:01,657['  ]| For his religion 's as the season calls, 
105:01,658['  ]| God's in possession, in reversion Baal's.  
105:01,659['  ]| He bears himself a dove to mortal race, 
105:01,660['  ]| And though not man, he can look Heav'n i'th' face.  
105:01,661['  ]| Never was compound of more different stuff, 
105:01,662['  ]| A heart in lambskin, and a conscience buff.  
105:01,663['  ]| Let not that hideous bulk of honor scape, 
105:01,664['  ]| Nadab, that sets the gazing crowd agape:  
105:01,665['  ]| That old kirk-founder, whose coarse croak could sing 
105:01,666['  ]| The Saints, the Cause, No Bishop and No King:  
105:01,667['  ]| When greatness clear'd his throat, and scour'd his maw, 
105:01,668['  ]| Roar'd out Succession, and the Penal Law.  
105:01,669['  ]| Not so of old:  another sound went forth, 
105:01,670['  ]| When in the region from Judea north, 
105:01,671['  ]| By the triumphant Saul he was employ'd, 
105:01,672['  ]| A huge fang tusk to gore poor David's side.  
105:01,673['  ]| Like a proboscis in the tyrant's jaw, 
105:01,674['  ]| To rend and root through government and law.  
105:01,675['  ]| His hand that Hell-penn'd League of Belial drew, 
105:01,676['  ]| That swore down kings, religion overthrew, 
105:01,677['  ]| Great David banish'd and God's prophets slew.  
105:01,678['  ]| Nor does the court's long sun so powerful shine 
105:01,679['  ]| T' exhale his vapors or his dross refine; 
105:01,680['  ]| The metal is not mended by the stamp.  
105:01,681['  ]| With his rank oil he feeds the royal lamp.  
105:01,682['  ]| To sanedrins an everlasting foe, 
105:01,683['  ]| Resolv'd his mighty hunter's overthrown.  
105:01,684['  ]| And true to tyranny as th' only gem 
105:01,685['  ]| That truly sparkles in a diadem, 
105:01,686['  ]| To Absalom's side does his old Covenant bring, 
105:01,687['  ]| With \State\ raz'd out, and interlin'd with \King\.  
105:01,688['  ]| But Nadab's zeal has too severe a doom; 
105:01,689['  ]| Whilst serving an ungrateful Absalom, 
105:01,690['  ]| His strength all spent his greatness to create, 
105:01,691['  ]| He's now laid by, a cast-out drone of state.  
105:01,692['  ]| He rous'd that game by which he is undone, 
105:01,693['  ]| By fleeter coursers now so far outrun, 
105:01,694['  ]| That fiercer, mightier Nimrod in his chase, 
105:01,695['  ]| Till quite thrown out and lost, he quits the race.  
105:01,696['  ]| Of low-born tools, we bawling Shimei saw, 
105:01,697['  ]| Jerusalem's late, loud-tongu'd Mouth of Law 
105:01,698['  ]| By blessings from almighty bounty given, 
105:01,699['  ]| Shimei no common favorite of Heaven; 
105:01,700['  ]| Whom, lest posterity should lose the breed, 
105:01,701['  ]| In five short moons indulgent Heav'n rais'd seed; 
105:01,702['  ]| Made happy in an early-teeming bride, 
105:01,703['  ]| And laid a lovely heiress by her side; 
105:01,704['  ]| Whilst the glad father's so divinely bless'd 
105:01,705['  ]| That, like the stag proud of his brow so dress'd, 
105:01,706['  ]| He brandishes his lofty City crest.  
105:01,707['  ]| 'Twas in Jerusalem, was Shimei nurs'd; 
105:01,708['  ]| Jerusalem, by Baal's prophets ever curs'd, 
105:01,709['  ]| The greatest block that stops 'em in their way, 
105:01,710['  ]| For which she once in dust and ashes lay.  
105:01,711['  ]| Here to the bar this whiffling lurcher came, 
105:01,712['  ]| And bark'd to rouse the nobler hunter's game.  
105:01,713['  ]| But Shimei's lungs might well be stretch'd so far; 
105:01,714['  ]| For, steering by a Court-ascendant star, 
105:01,715['  ]| For daily oracles, he does address 
105:01,716['  ]| To the Egyptian beauteous sorceress.  
105:01,717['  ]| For Pharaoh, when he wisely did essay 
105:01,718['  ]| To bear the long-sought golden prize away, 
105:01,719['  ]| That fair enchantress sent whose magic skill 
105:01,720['  ]| Should keep great Israel's sleeping dragon still.  
105:01,721['  ]| Thus by her powerful inspirations fed, 
105:01,722['  ]| To bite their heels, this City-snake was bred, 
105:01,723['  ]| Till Absalom got strength to bruise their head.  
105:01,724['  ]| Of all the heroes since the world began, 
105:01,725['  ]| To Shimei, Joshua was the bravest man.  
105:01,726['  ]| To him, his tutelar saint, he prays, "~~ and oh, 
105:01,727['  ]| That great Jerusalem were like Jericho!" 
105:01,728['  ]| Then bellowing loud, for Joshua's spirit calls, 
105:01,729['  ]| Because his ram's horn blew down city walls.  
105:01,730['  ]| In the same role have we grave Corah seen, 
105:01,731['  ]| Corah, the late chief scarlet abbethdin; 
105:01,732['  ]| Corah, who luckily i'th' Bench was got 
105:01,733['  ]| To rate the bloodhounds off to save the Plot; 
105:01,734['  ]| Corah, who once against Baal's impious cause 
105:01,735['  ]| Stood strong for Israel's Faith and David's laws.  
105:01,736['  ]| He pois'd his scales and shook his ponderous sword, 
105:01,737['  ]| Loud as his father's Bashan-bulls he roar'd; 
105:01,738['  ]| Till by a dose of foreign ophir drench'd, 
105:01,739['  ]| The fever of his burning zeal was quench'd.  
105:01,740['  ]| Ophir, that rescu'd the Court-drugster's fate, 
105:01,741['  ]| Sent in the nick to gild his pills of state; 
105:01,742['  ]| Whilst the kind skill of our law-empiric 
105:01,743['  ]| Sublim'd his mercury to save his neck.  
105:01,744['  ]| In law, they say, he had but a slender mite, 
105:01,745['  ]| And sense he had less:  for, as historians write, 
105:01,746['  ]| The Arabian legate laid a snare so gay, 
105:01,747['  ]| As spirited his little wits away.  
105:01,748['  ]| Of the records of law, he fanci'd none 
105:01,749['  ]| Like the Commandment Tables grav'd in stone; 
105:01,750['  ]| And wish'd the Talmud such that sovereign sway, 
105:01,751['  ]| When once displeas'd, might th' angry Moses play.  
105:01,752['  ]| Only his law was brittle i'th' wrong place:  
105:01,753['  ]| For had our Corah been in Moses' case, 
105:01,754['  ]| The fury of his zeal had been employ'd 
105:01,755['  ]| To build that calf which th' other's rage destroy'd.  
105:01,756['  ]| Thus Corah, Baal's true fairy changeling made, 
105:01,757['  ]| He bleated only as the Pharisees pray'd, 
105:01,758['  ]| All to advance that future tyrant pow'r, 
105:01,759['  ]| Should widows' houses gorge and orphans' tears devour.  
105:01,760['  ]| Nor are these all their instruments.  To prop 
105:01,761['  ]| Their mighty cause and Israel's murmurs stop, 
105:01,762['  ]| They find a sort of academic tools 
105:01,763['  ]| Who, by the politic doctrine of their schools, 
105:01,764['  ]| Betwixt reward, pride, avarice, hope, and fear, 
105:01,765['  ]| Prizing their Heav'n too cheap, the world too dear, 
105:01,766['  ]| Stand bold and strong for Absalom's defense:  
105:01,767['  ]| Int'rest the thing, but conscience the pretense.  
105:01,768['  ]| These, to insure him for their Sion's king, 
105:01,769['  ]| A right divine quite down from Adam bring, 
105:01,770['  ]| That old Levitic engine of renown 
105:01,771['  ]| That makes no taint of souls a bar t' a crown.  
105:01,772['  ]| 'Tis true, religion's constant champion vow'd, 
105:01,773['  ]| Each open-mouth'd, with pulpit-thunder loud, 
105:01,774['  ]| Against false gods and idol temples bawls; 
105:01,775['  ]| Yet lays the very stones that raise their walls.  
105:01,776['  ]| They preach up Hell to those that Baal adore, 
105:01,777['  ]| Yet make 't damnation to oppose his pow'r.  
105:01,778['  ]| So far this paradox of conscience run, 
105:01,779['  ]| Till Israel's Faith pulls Israel's altars down.  
105:01,780['  ]| Grant Heav'n they don't to Baal so far make way, 
105:01,781['  ]| Those fatal wands before their sheepfolds lay; 
105:01,782['  ]| Such motley principles amongst them thrown 
105:01,783['  ]| Shall nurse that piebald flock that's half his own.  
105:01,784['  ]| Nor may they say, when Moloch's hands draw nigher, 
105:01,785['  ]| We built the pile, whilst Baal gives it fire.  
105:01,786['  ]| If monarchy in Adam first began, 
105:01,787['  ]| When the world's monarch dug and his queen span, 
105:01,788['  ]| His fig leaves his first coronation robe, 
105:01,789['  ]| His spade his scepter and her wheel his globe, 
105:01,790['  ]| And royal birthright (as their schools assert), 
105:01,791['  ]| Not kings themselves with conscience can divert; 
105:01,792['  ]| How came the world possess'd by Adam's sons, 
105:01,793['  ]| Such various principalities, powers, thrones, 
105:01,794['  ]| When each went out and chose what lands he pleas'd, 
105:01,795['  ]| Whilst a new family new kingdoms rais'd?  
105:01,796['  ]| His sons assuming what he could not give, 
105:01,797['  ]| Their sovereign sire's right heir they did deprive; 
105:01,798['  ]| And from rebellion all their pow'r derive:  
105:01,799['  ]| For were there an original majesty 
105:01,800['  ]| Upheld by right divine, the world should be 
105:01,801['  ]| Only one universal monarchy.  
105:01,802['  ]| Oh cruel right divine, more full of fate 
105:01,803['  ]| Than th' angel's flaming sword at Eden's gate, 
105:01,804['  ]| Such early treason through mankind convey'd, 
105:01,805['  ]| And at the door of infant Nature laid.  
105:01,806['  ]| For right divine in Esau's just defense, 
105:01,807['  ]| Why don't they quarrel with Omnipotence?  
105:01,808['  ]| The firstborn Esau's right to Jacob giv'n, 
105:01,809['  ]| And God's gift too, injustice charge on Heav'n.  
105:01,810['  ]| Nay, let Heav'n answer this one fact alone, 
105:01,811['  ]| Mounting a bastard, Jephtha, on a throne.  
105:01,812['  ]| If kings and sanedrins those laws could make 
105:01,813['  ]| Which from offending heirs their heads can take, 
105:01,814['  ]| And a firstborn can forfeit life and throne, 
105:01,815['  ]| And all by law, why not a crown alone?  
105:01,816['  ]| Strange-bounded lawmakers!  whose pow'r can throw 
105:01,817['  ]| The deadlier bolt, can't give the weaker blow.  
105:01,818['  ]| A treasonous act ~~ nay, but a treasonous \breath\ ~~ 
105:01,819['  ]| Against offended majesty is death.  
105:01,820['  ]| But, oh!  the wondrous church-distinction given 
105:01,821['  ]| Between the majesty of kings and Heav'n!  
105:01,822['  ]| The venial sinner here, he that intrigues 
105:01,823['  ]| With Egypt, Babylon; cabals, plots, leagues 
105:01,824['  ]| With Israel's foes her altars to destroy, 
105:01,825['  ]| A hair untouch'd, shall health, peace, crowns enjoy.  
105:01,826['  ]| Truth's temple thus the exhalations bred 
105:01,827['  ]| From her own bowels to obscure her head; 
105:01,828['  ]| And Absalom already had subdu'd 
105:01,829['  ]| Whole crowds of the unthinking multitude.  
105:01,830['  ]| But through these wiles too weak to catch the wise, 
105:01,831['  ]| Thin as their ephod-lawns, a cobweb net for flies, 
105:01,832['  ]| The searching Sanedrin saw; and to dispel 
105:01,833['  ]| Th' engend'ring mists that threat'ned Israel, 
105:01,834['  ]| They still resolv'd their plotting foes' defeat 
105:01,835['  ]| By barring Absalom th' imperial seat.  
105:01,836['  ]| But here's his greatest tug.  Could he but make 
105:01,837['  ]| Th' excluding Sanedrin's resolves once shake, 
105:01,838['  ]| Nay, make the smallest breach, or clashing jar 
105:01,839['  ]| In their great council, push but home so far, 
105:01,840['  ]| And the great point's secur'd.  ~~ And lo!  among 
105:01,841['  ]| The princely heads of that illustrious throng, 
105:01,842['  ]| He saw rich veins with noble blood new fill'd; 
105:01,843['  ]| Others who honor from dependence held; 
105:01,844['  ]| Some with exhausted fortunes to support 
105:01,845['  ]| Their greatness, propp'd with crutches from a Court.  
105:01,846['  ]| These for their country's right their votes still pass, 
105:01,847['  ]| Mov'd like the water in a weather-glass, 
105:01,848['  ]| Higher or lower, as the powerful charm 
105:01,849['  ]| O'th' sovereign hand is either cool or warm.  
105:01,850['  ]| Here must th' attack be made:  for well we know 
105:01,851['  ]| Reason and titles from one fountain flow:  
105:01,852['  ]| Whilst favor men, no less than fortunes, builds, 
105:01,853['  ]| And honor ever molds as well as gilds.  
105:01,854['  ]| Honor, that still does even new souls inspire, 
105:01,855['  ]| Honor, more powerful than the Heav'n-stol'n fire; 
105:01,856['  ]| These must be wrought to Absalom's defense; 
105:01,857['  ]| For though to baffle the whole Sanedrin's sense, 
105:01,858['  ]| T' attempt impossibles, would be in vain, 
105:01,859['  ]| Yet 'tis enough but to divide and reign.  
105:01,860['  ]| Here, though small force such easy converts draws, 
105:01,861['  ]| Yet 'tis thought fit in glory to their cause, 
105:01,862['  ]| Some learned champion of prodigious sense, 
105:01,863['  ]| With mighty and long-studi'd eloquence, 
105:01,864['  ]| Should with a kind of inspiration rise 
105:01,865['  ]| And the unguarded Sanedrin surprise; 
105:01,866['  ]| And such resistless conquering reasons press 
105:01,867['  ]| To charm their vanquish'd souls, that the success 
105:01,868['  ]| Might look like conscience, though 'tis nothing less.  
105:01,869['  ]| For this design, no head nor tongue so well 
105:01,870['  ]| As that of the profound Achitophel.  
105:01,871['  ]| ~~ How!  Great Achitophel?  his hand?  his tongue?  
105:01,872['  ]| Babylon's mortal foe?  he who so long 
105:01,873['  ]| With haughty sullenness and scornful law'r, 
105:01,874['  ]| Had loath'd false gods and arbitrary pow'r?  
105:01,875['  ]| 'Gainst Baal, no combatant more fierce than he 
105:01,876['  ]| For Israel's asserted liberty; 
105:01,877['  ]| No man more bold, with generous rage inflam'd, 
105:01,878['  ]| Against the old ensnaring Test declaim'd.  
105:01,879['  ]| Besides, he bore a most peculiar hate 
105:01,880['  ]| To sleeping pilots, all earth-clods of State.  
105:01,881['  ]| None more abhorr'd the sycophant, buffoon, 
105:01,882['  ]| And parasite, th' excrescence of a throne; 
105:01,883['  ]| Creatures who their creating sun disgrace, 
105:01,884['  ]| A brood more abject than Nile's slime-born race.  
105:01,885['  ]| Such was the brave Achitophel; a mind 
105:01,886['  ]| (If but the heart and face were of a kind) 
105:01,887['  ]| So far from being by one base thought deprav'd, 
105:01,888['  ]| That sure half ten such souls had Sodom sav'd.  
105:01,889['  ]| Here Baal's cabal Achitophel survey'd, 
105:01,890['  ]| And dash'd with wonder, half despairing said, 
105:01,891[C  ]| "Is this the hand that Absalom must crown, 
105:01,892[C  ]| The founder of his temples, palace, throne?  
105:01,893[C  ]| This, this, the mighty convert we must make?  
105:01,894[C  ]| Gods, h' has a soul not all our arts can shake." 
105:01,895['  ]| At this a wiser, graver head stepp'd out, 
105:01,896['  ]| And with this language chid their groundless doubt:  
105:01,897[W  ]| "For shame!  No more!  What is't that frights you thus?  
105:01,898[W  ]| Is it his hatred of our god, and us, 
105:01,899[W  ]| Makes him so formidable in your eye?  
105:01,900[W  ]| Or is't his wit, sense, honor, bravery?  
105:01,901[W  ]| Give him a thousand virtues more, and plant 
105:01,902[W  ]| Them round him like a wall of adamant, 
105:01,903[W  ]| Strong as the gates of Heaven, we'll reach his heart.  
105:01,904[W  ]| Cheer, cheer, my friends; I've found one mortal part:  
105:01,905[W  ]| For he has pride, a vast insatiate pride.  
105:01,906[W  ]| Kind stars, he's vulnerable on that side.  
105:01,907[W  ]| Pride that made angels fall, and pride that hurl'd 
105:01,908[W  ]| Entail'd destruction through a ruin'd word.  
105:01,909[W  ]| Adam from pride to disobedience ran:  
105:01,910[W  ]| To be like gods, made a lost, wretched man.  
105:01,911[W  ]| There, there, my sons, let our pour'd strength all fly!  
105:01,912[W  ]| For some bold tempter now to rap him high, 
105:01,913[W  ]| From pinnacles to mountain tops, and show 
105:01,914[W  ]| The gaudy glories of the world below." 
105:01,915['  ]| At which the consult came to this design, 
105:01,916['  ]| To work him by a kind of touch divine, 
105:01,917['  ]| To raise some holy sprite to do the feat.  
105:01,918['  ]| Nothing like dreams and visions to the great.  
105:01,919['  ]| Did not a little Witch of Endor bring 
105:01,920['  ]| A visionary seer t' a cheated king?  
105:01,921['  ]| And shall their greater magic wants success, 
105:01,922['  ]| Their more illustrious sorceries do less!  
105:01,923['  ]| This final resolution made, at last 
105:01,924['  ]| Some mystic words and invocations pass'd, 
105:01,925['  ]| They call'd the spirit of a late Court scribe, 
105:01,926['  ]| Once a true servant of the plotting tribe 
105:01,927['  ]| When both with foreign and domestic cost 
105:01,928['  ]| He play'd the feasted Sanedrin's kind host.  
105:01,929['  ]| H' had scribbled much, and, like a patriot bold, 
105:01,930['  ]| Bid high for Israel's peace with Egypt's gold.  
105:01,931['  ]| But since a martyr (Why!  as writers think, 
105:01,932['  ]| His master's hand had over-gall'd his ink.) 
105:01,933['  ]| And by protesting Absalom's wise care, 
105:01,934['  ]| Popp'd into brimstone ere he was aware.  
105:01,935['  ]| Him from the grave they rais'd, in ample kind, 
105:01,936['  ]| His sever'd head to his sere quarters join'd; 
105:01,937['  ]| Then cas'd his chin in a false beard so well 
105:01,938['  ]| As made him pass for Father Samuel.  
105:01,939['  ]| Him thus equipp'd in a religious cloak, 
105:01,940['  ]| They thus his new-made reverence bespoke:  
105:01,941[X  ]| "Go, awful sprite, haste to Achitophel, 
105:01,942[X  ]| Rouse his great soul, use every art, charm, spell:  
105:01,943[X  ]| For Absalom thy utmost rhet'ric try.  
105:01,944[X  ]| Preach him Succession, roar'd Succession cry, 
105:01,945[X  ]| Succession dress'd in all her glorious pride, 
105:01,946[X  ]| Succession worshipp'd, sainted, deifi'd.  
105:01,947[X  ]| Conjure him by divine and human pow'rs, 
105:01,948[X  ]| Convince, convert, confound, make him but ours, 
105:01,949[X  ]| That Absalom may mount on Judah's throne, 
105:01,950[X  ]| Whilst all the world before us is our own." 
105:01,951['  ]| The forward sprite but few instructions lack'd, 
105:01,952['  ]| Straight by the moon's pale light away he pack'd, 
105:01,953['  ]| And in a trice, his curtains open'd wide, 
105:01,954['  ]| He sat him by Achitophel's bedside.  
105:01,955['  ]| And in this style his artful accents ran:  
105:01,956[W  ]| "Hear, Israel's hope!  thou more than happy man!  
105:01,957[W  ]| Belov'd on high, witness this honor done 
105:01,958[W  ]| By Father Samuel, and believe me, son, 
105:01,959[W  ]| 'Tis by no common mandate of a god, 
105:01,960[W  ]| A soul beatifi'd, the blest abode 
105:01,961[W  ]| Thus low deserting, quits immortal thrones 
105:01,962[W  ]| And from his grave resumes his sleeping bones.  
105:01,963[W  ]| But Heav'n 's the guide, and wondrous is the way, 
105:01,964[W  ]| Divine the embassy:  hear, and obey.  
105:01,965[W  ]| How long, Achitophel, and how profound 
105:01,966[W  ]| A mist of hell has thy lost reason drown'd?  
105:01,967[W  ]| Can the apostasy from Israel's Faith, 
105:01,968[W  ]| In Israel's heir, deserve a murmuring breath?  
105:01,969[W  ]| Or to preserve religion, liberty, 
105:01,970[W  ]| Peace, nations, souls, is that a cause so high 
105:01,971[W  ]| As the right heir from empire to debar?  
105:01,972[W  ]| Forbid it Heav'n, and guard him every star.  
105:01,973[W  ]| Alas, what if an heir of royal race 
105:01,974[W  ]| God's glory and his temples will deface, 
105:01,975[W  ]| And make a prey of your estates, lives, laws; 
105:01,976[W  ]| Nay, give your sons to Moloch's burning paws; 
105:01,977[W  ]| Shall you exclude him?  Hold that impious hand!  
105:01,978[W  ]| As Abraham gave his son at God's command, 
105:01,979[W  ]| Think still he does by divine right succeed.  
105:01,980[W  ]| God bids him reign, and you should bid them bleed.  
105:01,981[W  ]| 'Tis true, as Heav'n's elected flock, you may 
105:01,982[W  ]| For his conversion, and your safety, pray.  
105:01,983[W  ]| But pray'rs are all.  To disinherit him, 
105:01,984[W  ]| The very thought, nay, word itself's a crime.  
105:01,985[W  ]| For that's the \means\ of safety:  but forbear, 
105:01,986[W  ]| For means are impious in the sons of pray'r.  
105:01,987[W  ]| To miracles alone your safety owe; 
105:01,988[W  ]| And Abraham's angel wait to stop the blow.  
105:01,989[W  ]| Yes, what if his polluted throne be strow'd 
105:01,990[W  ]| With sacrilege, idolatry, and blood; 
105:01,991[W  ]| And 'tis you mount him there, you're innocent still:  
105:01,992[W  ]| For he's a king, and kings can do no ill.  
105:01,993[W  ]| Oh Royal Birthright, 'tis a sacred name!  
105:01,994[W  ]| Rouse then, Achitophel; rouse up, for shame!  
105:01,995[W  ]| Let not this lethargy thy soul benumb; 
105:01,996[W  ]| But wake and save the God-like Absalom.  
105:01,997[W  ]| And to reward thee for a deed so great, 
105:01,998[W  ]| Glut thy desires, thy full-crown'd wishes meet; 
105:01,999[W  ]| Be with accumulated honors bless'd, 
105:02,000[W  ]| And grasp a Star t' adorn thy shining crest." 
105:02,001['  ]| Achitophel, before his eyes could ope, 
105:02,002['  ]| Dreamt of an ephod, miter, and a cope.  
105:02,003['  ]| Those visionary robes t' his eyes appear'd; 
105:02,004['  ]| For priestly all was the great sense he heard.  
105:02,005['  ]| But priest or prophet, right divine, or all 
105:02,006['  ]| Together, 'twas not at their feebler call, 
105:02,007['  ]| 'Twas at the Star he wak'd; the Star but nam'd, 
105:02,008['  ]| Flash'd in his eyes, and his rous'd soul inflam'd.  
105:02,009['  ]| A Star, whose influence had more powerful light 
105:02,010['  ]| Than that miraculous wanderer of the night 
105:02,011['  ]| Decreed to guide the eastern sages' way:  
105:02,012['  ]| Theirs to adore a God, his to betray.  
105:02,013['  ]| Here the new convert, more than half inspir'd, 
105:02,014['  ]| Straight to his closet and his books retir'd.  
105:02,015['  ]| There, for all needful arts in this extreme, 
105:02,016['  ]| For knotty sophistry t' a limber theme, 
105:02,017['  ]| Long brooding ere the mass to shape was brought, 
105:02,018['  ]| And after many a tugging, heaving thought, 
105:02,019['  ]| Together a well-order'd speech he draws, 
105:02,020['  ]| With ponderous sounds for his much-labor'd cause.  
105:02,021['  ]| Then the astonish'd Sanedrin he storm'd, 
105:02,022['  ]| And with such doughty strength the tug perform'd; 
105:02,023['  ]| Fate did the work with so much conquest bless, 
105:02,024['  ]| Wondrous the champion, glorious the success.  
105:02,025['  ]| So powerful eloquence, so strong was wit; 
105:02,026['  ]| And with such force the easy windfalls hit.  
105:02,027['  ]| But the entirest hearts his cause could steal 
105:02,028['  ]| Were the Levitic chiefs of Israel.  
105:02,029['  ]| None with more rage the impious thought runs down 
105:02,030['  ]| Of barring Absalom pow'r, wishes, crown, 
105:02,031['  ]| With so much vehemence, such fiery zeal!  
105:02,032['  ]| Oh, poor unhappy Church of Israel!  
105:02,033['  ]| Thou feel'st the fate of the archangels' wars, 
105:02,034['  ]| The Dragon's tail sweeps down thy falling stars.  
105:02,035['  ]| Nay, the black vote 'gainst Absalom appear'd 
105:02,036['  ]| So monst'rous that they damn'd it ere 'twas heard.  
105:02,037['  ]| For prelates ne'er in Sanedrins debate, 
105:02,038['  ]| They argue in the Church, but not i'th' State; 
105:02,039['  ]| And when their thoughts aslant towards Heav'n they turn, 
105:02,040['  ]| They weigh each grain in incense that they burn; 
105:02,041['  ]| But t' Heaven's vicegerents, soul, sense, reason, all, 
105:02,042['  ]| Or right, or wrong, like hecatombs must fall.  
105:02,043['  ]| And when State business calls their thoughts below, 
105:02,044['  ]| Then like their own church-organ-pipes they go.  
105:02,045['  ]| Not David's lyre could more his touch obey; 
105:02,046['  ]| For as their princes breathe and strike, they play.  
105:02,047['  ]| 'Gainst royal will, they never can dispute, 
105:02,048['  ]| But, by a strange tarantula struck mute, 
105:02,049['  ]| Dance to no other tune but \Absolute\.  
105:02,050['  ]| All acts of supreme power they still admire:  
105:02,051['  ]| 'Tis sacred, though to set the world on fire; 
105:02,052['  ]| Through Church infallibility they explode 
105:02,053['  ]| As making human knowledge equal God, 
105:02,054['  ]| \Infallible\ in a new name goes down, 
105:02,055['  ]| Not in the miter lodged, but in the crown.  
105:02,056['  ]| 'Tis true, blest Deborah's laws they could forget 
105:02,057['  ]| (But want of memory commends their wit!) 
105:02,058['  ]| Where 'twas enacted treason not to own 
105:02,059['  ]| Hers and her Sanedrin's right to place the crown.  
105:02,060['  ]| But her weak heads o'th' Church, mistaken fools, 
105:02,061['  ]| Wanted the light of their sublimer schools, 
105:02,062['  ]| For divine right could no such forces bring.  
105:02,063['  ]| But wisdom now expands her wider wing, 
105:02,064['  ]| And streams are ever deeper than the spring.  
105:02,065['  ]| Besides, they've sense of honor; and who knows 
105:02,066['  ]| How far the gratitude of priest-craft goes?  
105:02,067['  ]| And what if now like old Elisha fed, 
105:02,068['  ]| To praise the sooty bird that brought 'em bread, 
105:02,069['  ]| In pure acknowledgment, though in despite 
105:02,070['  ]| Of their own sense, they paint the raven white.  
105:02,071['  ]| Achitophel, charm'd with kind Fortune's smiles, 
105:02,072['  ]| Flush'd with success, now glows for bolder toils.  
105:02,073['  ]| Great wits perverted greatest mischiefs hold, 
105:02,074['  ]| As poisonous vapors spring from mines of gold.  
105:02,075['  ]| And proud to see himself with triumph bless'd, 
105:02,076['  ]| Thus to great Absalom himself address'd:  
105:02,077[C  ]| "Illustrious Terror of the World, all hail!  
105:02,078[C  ]| Forever like your conquering self prevail.  
105:02,079[C  ]| In spite of malice, in full luster shine; 
105:02,080[C  ]| Be your each action, word, and look, divine.  
105:02,081[C  ]| Nay, though our altars you've so long forborne, 
105:02,082[C  ]| To your derided foes' defeat and scorn, 
105:02,083[C  ]| For your renown, we have those trumpets found, 
105:02,084[C  ]| Shall ev'n this deed your highest glory sound, 
105:02,085[C  ]| That, spite of the ill-judging world's mistake, 
105:02,086[C  ]| Your soul still owns those temples you forsake.  
105:02,087[C  ]| Only by all-commanding honor driven, 
105:02,088[C  ]| This self-denial you have made with Heav'n; 
105:02,089[C  ]| Quitting our altars 'cause the insolence 
105:02,090[C  ]| Of profane sanedrins has driven you thence.  
105:02,091[C  ]| A prince his Faith to such low slaves reveal?  
105:02,092[C  ]| 'Twas treason though to God to bid you kneel!  
105:02,093[C  ]| And what though senseless, barking murmurers scold 
105:02,094[C  ]| And with a rage too blasphemously bold 
105:02,095[C  ]| Say Israel's crown 's for Esau's pottage sold?  
105:02,096[C  ]| Let 'em rail on!  and to strike envy dumb, 
105:02,097[C  ]| May the slaves live till that great day shall come 
105:02,098[C  ]| When their hush'd rage shall your keen vengeance fly 
105:02,099[C  ]| And, silenc'd with your royal thunder, die.  
105:02,100[C  ]| Nay, to outsoar your weak forefathers' wings, 
105:02,101[C  ]| And to be all that Nature first meant kings, 
105:02,102[C  ]| Damn'd be the law that majesty confines, 
105:02,103[C  ]| But doubly damn'd accursed sanedrins, 
105:02,104[C  ]| Invented only to eclipse a crown.  
105:02,105[C  ]| Oh, throw that dull Mosaic landmark down.  
105:02,106[C  ]| The making sanedrins a part of pow'r 
105:02,107[C  ]| Nurs'd but those vipers which its sire devour.  
105:02,108[C  ]| Lodg'd in the palace, towards the throne they press, 
105:02,109[C  ]| For pow'r's enjoyment does its lust increase.  
105:02,110[C  ]| Allegiance only is in chains held fast; 
105:02,111[C  ]| Make men ne'er thirst, is ne'er to let 'em taste.  
105:02,112[C  ]| Then, Royal Sir, be sanedrins no more; 
105:02,113[C  ]| Lop off that rank, luxurious branch of pow'r, 
105:02,114[C  ]| Those hungry scions, from the cedar's root, 
105:02,115[C  ]| That its imperial head towards Heav'n may shoot.  
105:02,116[C  ]| When lordly sanedrins with kings give law, 
105:02,117[C  ]| And thus in yokes like mules together draw, 
105:02,118[C  ]| For Judah's arms the royal lion race 
105:02,119[C  ]| And Issachar's dull ass supply the place.  
105:02,120[C  ]| If kings o'er common mankind have this odds, 
105:02,121[C  ]| Are God's vicegerents, let 'em act like gods.  
105:02,122[C  ]| As man is Heav'n's own clay, which it may mold 
105:02,123[C  ]| For honor or dishonor, uncontroll'd, 
105:02,124[C  ]| And monarchy is mov'd by heav'nly springs, 
105:02,125[C  ]| Why is not human fate i'th' breath of kings?  
105:02,126[C  ]| Then, Sir, from Heav'n your great example take, 
105:02,127[C  ]| And be th' unbounded lord a king should make; 
105:02,128[C  ]| Resume what bold, invading slaves engross'd, 
105:02,129[C  ]| And only pow'r's effeminacy lost." 
105:02,130['  ]| To this kind Absalom but little spoke, 
105:02,131['  ]| Only return'd a nod and gracious look:  
105:02,132['  ]| For though recorded fame with pride has told 
105:02,133['  ]| Of his great actings, wonders manifold, 
105:02,134['  ]| And his great thinkings most diviners guess, 
105:02,135['  ]| Yet his great speakings no records express.  
105:02,136['  ]| All things thus safe; and now for one last blow, 
105:02,137['  ]| To give his foes a total overthrow; 
105:02,138['  ]| A blow not in Hell's legends match'd before:  
105:02,139['  ]| The remov'd Plot 's laid at the enemy's door.  
105:02,140['  ]| The old Plot forg'd against the saints of Baal 
105:02,141['  ]| (Cheat, perjury, and subornation all!), 
105:02,142['  ]| Whilst with a more damn'd treason of their own, 
105:02,143['  ]| Like working moles, they're digging round the throne; 
105:02,144['  ]| \Baal, Baal\, they cry, and \Absalom\ the name, 
105:02,145['  ]| But David's glory, life, and crown the aim.  
105:02,146['  ]| Nay, if but a petition peep abroad, 
105:02,147['  ]| Though for the glory both of Church and God 
105:02,148['  ]| And to preserve even their yet unborn heirs, 
105:02,149['  ]| There's blood and treason in their very prayers.  
105:02,150['  ]| This unexampled impudence upheld, 
105:02,151['  ]| The government's best friends, the crown's best shield, 
105:02,152['  ]| The great and brave, with equal treason brands.  
105:02,153['  ]| Faith, honor, and allegiance, strongest bands 
105:02,154['  ]| All broken, like the cords of Sampson, fall 
105:02,155['  ]| Whilst th' universal leprosy taints all.  
105:02,156['  ]| These poisonous shafts with greater spleen they draw 
105:02,157['  ]| Than the outrageous wife of Potiphar; 
105:02,158['  ]| So the chaste Joseph, unseduc'd to her 
105:02,159['  ]| Adult'ries, was pronounc'd a ravisher.  
105:02,160['  ]| This hellish Ethnic Plot the Court alarms; 
105:02,161['  ]| The traitors, seventy thousand strong, in arms, 
105:02,162['  ]| Near Endor town lay ready at a call, 
105:02,163['  ]| And garrison'd in airy castles all.  
105:02,164['  ]| These warriors on a sort of coursers rid, 
105:02,165['  ]| Ne'er lodg'd in stables, or by man bestrid.  
105:02,166['  ]| What though the steel with which the rebels fought 
105:02,167['  ]| No forge e'er felt, or anvil ever wrought?  
105:02,168['  ]| Yet this magnetic Plot, for black designs, 
105:02,169['  ]| Can raise cold iron from the very mines.  
105:02,170['  ]| To this were twenty underplots contriv'd 
105:02,171['  ]| By malice and by ignorance believ'd, 
105:02,172['  ]| Till shams met shams, and plots with plots so cross'd, 
105:02,173['  ]| That the true Plot amongst the false was lost.  
105:02,174['  ]| Of all the much-wrong'd worthies of the land 
105:02,175['  ]| Whom this contagious infamy profan'd, 
105:02,176['  ]| In the first rank the youthful Ithream stood, 
105:02,177['  ]| His princely veins fill'd with great David's blood.  
105:02,178['  ]| With so much manly beauty in his face, 
105:02,179['  ]| Scarce his high birth could lend a nobler grace.  
105:02,180['  ]| And for a mind fit for this shrine of gold, 
105:02,181['  ]| Heav'n cast his soul in the same beauteous mold; 
105:02,182['  ]| With all the sweets of prideless greatness bless'd, 
105:02,183['  ]| As affable as Abraham's angel-guest.  
105:02,184['  ]| But when in wars his glittering steel he drew, 
105:02,185['  ]| No chief more bold with fiercer lightning flew; 
105:02,186['  ]| Witness his trial of an arm divine, 
105:02,187['  ]| Passing the ordeal of a burning mine:  
105:02,188['  ]| Such forward courage did his bosom fill, 
105:02,189['  ]| Starting from nothing, but from doing ill.  
105:02,190['  ]| Still with such heat in honor's race he run, 
105:02,191['  ]| Such wonders by his early valor done, 
105:02,192['  ]| Enough to charm a second Joshua's sun.  
105:02,193['  ]| But he has foes; his fatal enemies 
105:02,194['  ]| To a strange monster his fair truth disguise, 
105:02,195['  ]| And show the Gorgon even to royal eyes.  
105:02,196['  ]| To their false perspectives, his fate he owes; 
105:02,197['  ]| The spot 's i'th' glass, not in the star it shows.  
105:02,198['  ]| Yet when by the imperial sentence doom'd, 
105:02,199['  ]| The royal hand the princely youth unplum'd, 
105:02,200['  ]| He his hard fate without a murmur took, 
105:02,201['  ]| And stood, with that calm, duteous, humble look, 
105:02,202['  ]| Of all his shining honors unarray'd, 
105:02,203['  ]| Like Isaac's head on Abraham's altar laid.  
105:02,204['  ]| Yes, Absalom, thou hast him in the toil, 
105:02,205['  ]| Rifled, and lost; now triumph in the spoil.  
105:02,206['  ]| His zeal too high for Israel's temples soar'd, 
105:02,207['  ]| His God-like youth by prostrate hearts ador'd, 
105:02,208['  ]| Till thy revenge from spite and fear began, 
105:02,209['  ]| And, too near Heaven, took care to make him man.  
105:02,210['  ]| Though Israel's King, God, laws, share all his soul, 
105:02,211['  ]| Adorn'd with all that heroes can enroll, 
105:02,212['  ]| Yet vow'd succession's cruel sacrifice, 
105:02,213['  ]| Great Judah's son, like Jephtha's daughter, dies.  
105:02,214['  ]| Yes, like a monument of wrath he stands; 
105:02,215['  ]| Such ruin Absalom's revenge demands.  
105:02,216['  ]| His curiosity his doom assign'd, 
105:02,217['  ]| For 'twas a crime of as destructive kind 
105:02,218['  ]| To pry how Babylon's burning zeal aspires 
105:02,219['  ]| As to look back on Sodom's blazing fires.  
105:02,220['  ]| But spoil'd and robb'd, his drossier glories gone, 
105:02,221['  ]| His virtue and his truth are still his own.  
105:02,222['  ]| No rifling hands can that bright treasure take, 
105:02,223['  ]| Nor all his foes that royal charter shake.  
105:02,224['  ]| The dreadful'st foe their engines must subdue, 
105:02,225['  ]| The strongest rock through which their arts must hew, 
105:02,226['  ]| Was great Bazillai.  Could they reach his head, 
105:02,227['  ]| Their fears all hush'd, they had struck danger dead.  
105:02,228['  ]| That second Moses-guide resolv'd to free 
105:02,229['  ]| Our Israel from her threat'ning slavery, 
105:02,230['  ]| Idolatry and chains; both from the rods 
105:02,231['  ]| Of Pharaoh-masters and Egyptian gods; 
105:02,232['  ]| And for that wilderness of error freed, 
105:02,233['  ]| Where Dog-stars scorch, and killing serpents breed; 
105:02,234['  ]| That Israel's liberty and truth may grow, 
105:02,235['  ]| The Canaan whence our milk and honey flew.  
105:02,236['  ]| Such our Barzillai; but Barzillai, too, 
105:02,237['  ]| With Moses' fate does Moses' zeal pursue; 
105:02,238['  ]| Leads to that bliss which his silver hairs 
105:02,239['  ]| Shall never reach, rich only to his heirs.  
105:02,240['  ]| Kind patriot, who, to plant us banks of flow'rs, 
105:02,241['  ]| With purling streams, cool shades, and summer bow'rs, 
105:02,242['  ]| His age's needful rest away does fling, 
105:02,243['  ]| Exhausts his autumn to adorn our spring.  
105:02,244['  ]| Whilst his last hours in toils and storms are hurl'd, 
105:02,245['  ]| And only to enrich th' inheriting world, 
105:02,246['  ]| Thus prodigally throws his life's short span 
105:02,247['  ]| To play his country's generous pelican.  
105:02,248['  ]| But oh, that all-be-devill'd Paper, fram'd, 
105:02,249['  ]| No doubt, in Hell; that mass of treason damn'd; 
105:02,250['  ]| By Esau's hands, and Jacob's voice disclos'd; 
105:02,251['  ]| And timely to th' abhorring world expos'd!  
105:02,252['  ]| Nay, what's more wondrous, this waste-paper tool, 
105:02,253['  ]| A nameless, unsubscrib'd, and useless scroll, 
105:02,254['  ]| Was, by a politician great in fame 
105:02,255['  ]| (His chains foreseen a month before they came), 
105:02,256['  ]| Preserv'd on purpose, by his prudent care, 
105:02,257['  ]| To brand his soul, and ev'n his life ensnare.  
105:02,258['  ]| But then the Geshuritish troop, well-oath'd, 
105:02,259['  ]| And for the sprucer face, well-fed and cloth'd, 
105:02,260['  ]| These to the Bar obedient swearers go, 
105:02,261['  ]| With all the wind their manag'd lungs can blow.  
105:02,262['  ]| So have I seen from bellows' brazen snout, 
105:02,263['  ]| The breath drawn in, and by th' same hand squeez'd out.  
105:02,264['  ]| But helping oaths may innocently fly, 
105:02,265['  ]| When in a Faith where dying vows can lie.  
105:02,266['  ]| Were treason and democracy his ends, 
105:02,267['  ]| Why was't not prov'd by his revolting friends?  
105:02,268['  ]| Why did not th' oaths of his once-great colleagues, 
105:02,269['  ]| Achitophel and the rest, prove his intrigues?  
105:02,270['  ]| Why at the Bar appear'd such sordid scum, 
105:02,271['  ]| And all those nobler tongues of honor, dumb?  
105:02,272['  ]| Could he his plots t'his great allies conceal, 
105:02,273['  ]| He durst to leaky starving wretches tell?  
105:02,274['  ]| (Such ignorant princes, and such knowing slaves ~~ 
105:02,275['  ]| His Babel-building tools from such poor knaves!) 
105:02,276['  ]| Were he that monster his new foes would make 
105:02,277['  ]| Th' unreasoning world believe, his soul so black 
105:02,278['  ]| That they in conscience did his side forego, 
105:02,279['  ]| Knowing him guilty, they could prove him so.  
105:02,280['  ]| Then 'twas not conscience made 'em change their side.  
105:02,281['  ]| Or if they knew, yet did his treasons hide, 
105:02,282['  ]| In not exposing his detested crime 
105:02,283['  ]| They're greater monsters than they dare think him.  
105:02,284['  ]| Are these the proselytes renown'd so high, 
105:02,285['  ]| Converts to duty, honor, loyalty?  
105:02,286['  ]| Poorly they change, who in their change stand mute:  
105:02,287['  ]| Converts to truth ought falsehood to confute.  
105:02,288['  ]| To conquering Truth, they but small glory give, 
105:02,289['  ]| Who turn to God, yet let the Dragon live.  
105:02,290['  ]| But who can Amiel's charming wit withstand, 
105:02,291['  ]| The great State-pillar of the Muses' land.  
105:02,292['  ]| For lawless and ungovern'd, had the age 
105:02,293['  ]| The nine wild sisters seen run mad with rage, 
105:02,294['  ]| Debauch'd to savages, till his keen pen 
105:02,295['  ]| Brought their long banish'd reason back again, 
105:02,296['  ]| Driven by his satyres into Nature's fence, 
105:02,297['  ]| And lash'd the idle rovers into sense.  
105:02,298['  ]| Nay, his sly Muse, in style prophetic, wrote 
105:02,299['  ]| The whole intrigue of Israel's Ethnic Plot; 
105:02,300['  ]| Form'd strange battalions, in stupendous-wise, 
105:02,301['  ]| Whole camps in masquerade, and armies in disguise.  
105:02,302['  ]| Amiel, whose generous gallantry, whilst Fame 
105:02,303['  ]| Shall have a tongue, shall never want a name; 
105:02,304['  ]| Who, whilst his pomp his lavish gold consumes, 
105:02,305['  ]| Molted his wings to lend a throne his plumes, 
105:02,306['  ]| Whilst an ungrateful Court he did attend, 
105:02,307['  ]| Too poor to pay what it had pride to spend.  
105:02,308['  ]| But, Amiel has, alas, the fate to hear 
105:02,309['  ]| An angry poet play his chronicler; 
105:02,310['  ]| A poet rais'd above oblivion's shade, 
105:02,311['  ]| By his recorded verse immortal made.  
105:02,312['  ]| But, Sir, his livelier figure to engrave, 
105:02,313['  ]| With branches added to the Bays you gave 
105:02,314['  ]| (No Muse could more heroic feats rehearse!):  
105:02,315['  ]| Had, with an equal all-applauding verse, 
105:02,316['  ]| Great David's scepter and Saul's javelin prais'd:  
105:02,317['  ]| A pyramid to his saint, Interest, rais'd ~~ 
105:02,318['  ]| For which religiously no change he miss'd, 
105:02,319['  ]| From Commonwealth's-man up to Royalist.  
105:02,320['  ]| Nay, would have been his own loath'd thing call'd Priest:  
105:02,321['  ]| Priest, whom with so much gall he does describe, 
105:02,322['  ]| 'Cause once unworthy thought of Levi's tribe.  
105:02,323['  ]| Near those bright tow'rs where art has wonders done, 
105:02,324['  ]| Where David's sight glads the blest summer's sun 
105:02,325['  ]| And at his feet proud Jordan's waters run, 
105:02,326['  ]| A cell there stands by pious founders rais'd, 
105:02,327['  ]| Both for its wealth and learned rabbins prais'd:  
105:02,328['  ]| To this did an ambitious bard aspire, 
105:02,329['  ]| To be no less than lord of that blest choir; 
105:02,330['  ]| Till Wisdom deem'd so sacred a command 
105:02,331['  ]| A prize too great for his unhallow'd hand.  
105:02,332['  ]| Besides, lewd Fame had told his plighted vow 
105:02,333['  ]| To Laura's cooing love perch'd on a dropping bough.  
105:02,334['  ]| Laura, in faithful constancy confin'd 
105:02,335['  ]| To Ethiop's envoy, and to all mankind; 
105:02,336['  ]| Laura, though rotten, yet of mold divine; 
105:02,337['  ]| He had all her claps, and she had all his coin.  
105:02,338['  ]| Her wit so far his purse and sense could drain, 
105:02,339['  ]| Till every pox was sweet'n'd to a strain.  
105:02,340['  ]| And if at last his nature can reform, 
105:02,341['  ]| A-weary grown of love's tumultuous storm, 
105:02,342['  ]| 'Tis age's fault, not his; of pow'r bereft, 
105:02,343['  ]| He left not whoring, but of that was left.  
105:02,344['  ]| But wand'ring Muse, bear up thy flagging wing; 
105:02,345['  ]| To thy more glorious theme return, and sing 
105:02,346['  ]| Brave Jotham's worth, impartial, great, and just, 
105:02,347['  ]| Of unbrib'd faith, and of unshaken trust; 
105:02,348['  ]| Once Geshur's lord, their throne so nobly fill'd, 
105:02,349['  ]| As if, to th' borrow'd scepter that he held, 
105:02,350['  ]| Th' inspiring David yet more generous grew 
105:02,351['  ]| And lent him his imperial genius too.  
105:02,352['  ]| Nor has he worn the royal image more 
105:02,353['  ]| In Israel's Viceroy than Ambassador:  
105:02,354['  ]| Witness his gallantry that resolute hour 
105:02,355['  ]| When, to uphold the sacred pride of pow'r, 
105:02,356['  ]| His stubborn flags, from the Sydonian shore, 
105:02,357['  ]| The angry storms of thund'ring castles bore.  
105:02,358['  ]| But these are virtues Fame must less admire, 
105:02,359['  ]| Because deriv'd from that heroic sire 
105:02,360['  ]| Who, on a block, a dauntless martyr di'd 
105:02,361['  ]| With all the sweetness of a smiling bride; 
105:02,362['  ]| Charm'd with the thought of honor's starry pole, 
105:02,363['  ]| With joy laid down a head to mount a soul.  
105:02,364['  ]| Of all the champions rich in honor's scars, 
105:02,365['  ]| Whose loyalty through David's ancient wars 
105:02,366['  ]| (In spite of the triumphant tyrant's pride) 
105:02,367['  ]| Was to his lowest ebb of fortune ti'd, 
105:02,368['  ]| No link more strong in all that chain of gold 
105:02,369['  ]| Than Amasai, the constant, and the bold; 
105:02,370['  ]| That warlike general whose avenging sword, 
105:02,371['  ]| Through all the battles of his royal lord, 
105:02,372['  ]| Pour'd all the fires that loyal zeal could light; 
105:02,373['  ]| No brighter star in the lost David's night.  
105:02,374['  ]| No less the lordly Zeleck's glory sound, 
105:02,375['  ]| For courage and for constancy renown'd.  
105:02,376['  ]| Though once in nought but borrow'd plumes adorn'd, 
105:02,377['  ]| So much all servile flattery he scorn'd 
105:02,378['  ]| That, though he held his being and support 
105:02,379['  ]| By that weak thread, the favor of a Court, 
105:02,380['  ]| In sanedrins unbrib'd, he, firmly bold, 
105:02,381['  ]| Durst truth and Israel's right, unmov'd, uphold.  
105:02,382['  ]| In spite of Fortune, still to Honor wed; 
105:02,383['  ]| By Justice steer'd, though by Dependence fed.  
105:02,384['  ]| With reverence the religious Helon treat, 
105:02,385['  ]| Refin'd from all the looseness of the great; 
105:02,386['  ]| Helon who sees his line of virtues run 
105:02,387['  ]| Beyond the center of his grave, his own 
105:02,388['  ]| Unfinish'd luster sparkling in his son; 
105:02,389['  ]| A son so high in sanedrins renown'd, 
105:02,390['  ]| In Israel's int'rest strong, in sense profound.  
105:02,391['  ]| Under one roof, here Truth a goddess dwells; 
105:02,392['  ]| The pious father builds her shrines and cells, 
105:02,393['  ]| And in the son she speaks her oracles.  
105:02,394['  ]| In the same list, young Adriel's praise record; 
105:02,395['  ]| Adriel, the academic neighbor lord; 
105:02,396['  ]| Adriel, ennobled by a grandfather 
105:02,397['  ]| And uncle, both those glorious sons of war, 
105:02,398['  ]| Both generals, and both exiles with their lord, 
105:02,399['  ]| Till with the royal wanderer restor'd, 
105:02,400['  ]| They liv'd to see his coronation pride, 
105:02,401['  ]| Then, surfeiting on too much transport, di'd.  
105:02,402['  ]| O'er Adriel's head these heroes' spirits shine, 
105:02,403['  ]| His soul with so much loyal blood fenc'd in; 
105:02,404['  ]| Such native virtues his great mind adorn, 
105:02,405['  ]| Whilst under their congenial influence born.  
105:02,406['  ]| In this record, let Camrie's name appear, 
105:02,407['  ]| The great Barzillai's fellow sufferer; 
105:02,408['  ]| From unknown hands, of unknown crimes accus'd, 
105:02,409['  ]| Till th' hunted shadow lost, his chains unloos'd.  
105:02,410['  ]| Now to the sweet-tongu'd Amram's praise be just, 
105:02,411['  ]| Once the State Advocate, that wealthy trust, 
105:02,412['  ]| Till flattery, the price of dear-bought gold, 
105:02,413['  ]| His innocence for palaces unsold; 
105:02,414['  ]| To naked truth's more shining beauties true, 
105:02,415['  ]| Th' embroider'd mantle from his neck he threw.  
105:02,416['  ]| Next Hothriel write, Baal's watchful foe, and late 
105:02,417['  ]| Jerusalem's protecting Magistrate, 
105:02,418['  ]| Who, when false jurors were to frenzy charm'd, 
105:02,419['  ]| And against innocence even tribunals arm'd, 
105:02,420['  ]| Saw deprav'd Justice ope her ravenous jaw, 
105:02,421['  ]| And timely broke her canine teeth of law.  
105:02,422['  ]| Amongst th' asserters of his country's cause, 
105:02,423['  ]| Give the bold Micah his deserv'd applause, 
105:02,424['  ]| The grateful sanedrins' repeated choice, 
105:02,425['  ]| Of two great Councils the successive voice.  
105:02,426['  ]| Of that old hardy tribe of Israel born; 
105:02,427['  ]| Fear their disdain, and flattery their scorn, 
105:02,428['  ]| Too proud to truckle, and too tough to bend.  
105:02,429['  ]| Of the same tribe was Hanan, Ithream's friend; 
105:02,430['  ]| From that fam'd sire, the long robe's glory, sprung; 
105:02,431['  ]| In sanedrins his country's pillar long.  
105:02,432['  ]| Long had he fathom'd all the depths of State; 
105:02,433['  ]| Could with that strength that ponderous sense debate 
105:02,434['  ]| As turn'd the scale of nations with the weight; 
105:02,435['  ]| Till subtly made by spiteful honor great, 
105:02,436['  ]| Preferr'd to Israel's chief tribunal seat, 
105:02,437['  ]| Made in a higher orb his beams dispense, 
105:02,438['  ]| To hush his formidable eloquence.  
105:02,439['  ]| But Israel's numerous worthies are too long 
105:02,440['  ]| And great a theme for one continued song.  
105:02,441['  ]| Yet these by bold flagitious tongues run down, 
105:02,442['  ]| Made all conspirers against David's crown.  
105:02,443['  ]| Nay, and there was a time, had Hell prevail'd, 
105:02,444['  ]| Nor perjury and subornation fail'd, 
105:02,445['  ]| When a long list of names, for treason doom'd, 
105:02,446['  ]| Had Israel's patriots in one grave entomb'd; 
105:02,447['  ]| A list, with such fair loyal colors laid, 
105:02,448['  ]| Even to no less than royal hands convey'd.  
105:02,449['  ]| And the great mover in this pious fraud, 
105:02,450['  ]| A dungeon slave, redeem'd by a midnight bawd, 
105:02,451['  ]| Then made by art a swearer of renown, 
105:02,452['  ]| Nurs'd and embrac'd by th' heir of Judah's crown, 
105:02,453['  ]| Encourag'd too by pension for reward, 
105:02,454['  ]| With his forg'd scrolls for guiltless blood prepar'd.  
105:02,455['  ]| Poor engine for a greatness so sublime:  
105:02,456['  ]| But oh, a cause by which their Baal must climb 
105:02,457['  ]| Ennobles both the actor and the crime.  
105:02,458['  ]| Yet this, and all things else, now quite blown o'er, 
105:02,459['  ]| And Absalom, his Israel's fear no more, 
105:02,460['  ]| Luster and pride shall hem his radiant brow, 
105:02,461['  ]| All knees shall fall, and prostrate nations bow.  
105:02,462['  ]| By Heav'ns, he is, he will, he must, he shall 
105:02,463['  ]| Be Israel's hero, friend, saint, idol, all.  
105:02,464['  ]| What though provok'd with all the crying sins 
105:02,465['  ]| Of murmuring slaves, excluding Sanedrins, 
105:02,466['  ]| By profane crowds in dirt his prophets spurn'd, 
105:02,467['  ]| And ev'n his gods in mock processions burn'd, 
105:02,468['  ]| Himself from Israel into Hebron sent 
105:02,469['  ]| And doom'd to little less than banishment; 
105:02,470['  ]| In spite of all his scrolls to Babylon, 
105:02,471['  ]| And all the promis'd wonders to be done, 
105:02,472['  ]| When Egypt's frogs should croak on Judah's throne; 
105:02,473['  ]| Though of a Faith that propagates in blood, 
105:02,474['  ]| Of passions unforgiving, less withstood 
105:02,475['  ]| Than seas and tempests, and as deaf as they; 
105:02,476['  ]| Yet all divine shall be his God-like sway, 
105:02,477['  ]| And his calm reign but one long halcyon day, ~~  
105:02,478['  ]| And this great truth he's damn'd that dares deny; 
105:02,479['  ]| 'Gainst Absalom even oracles would lie, 
105:02,480['  ]| Though sense and reason preach 'tis blasphemy.  
105:02,481['  ]| Then let our dull mistaken terror cease, 
105:02,482['  ]| When even our comets speak all health and peace.