502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,001[A ]| Fly hence those siren charms of Wealth and Pow'r, 502:09,002[A ]| Strong to undo, unable to restore; 502:09,003[A ]| At first they tickle, but at last they smart, 502:09,004[A ]| They please the palate, and corrode the heart. 502:09,005[A ]| To those gay idols, which fond men adore, 502:09,006[A ]| Our Christian Muse all incense does abhor: 502:09,007[A ]| Idols! (like hungry Moloch) whose dire food 502:09,008[A ]| Too often is suppli'd by human blood! 502:09,009[A ]| That precious juice which can, with sov'reign balm, 502:09,010[A ]| The war and ferment of our nature calm; 502:09,011[A ]| That can the anguish of our minds allay, 502:09,012[A ]| Heal wounds of grief and storms of passion sway; 502:09,013[A ]| That gen'rous offspring of the healing vine 502:09,014[A ]| I' th' Muses' temple may deserve a shrine. 502:09,015[A ]| But, hold! 'tis not the wine of common draught, 502:09,016[A ]| Which Palma sends or greedy merchants waft 502:09,017[A ]| From Rhenish banks or from the Gascon shore 502:09,018[A ]| T' enrich themselves and make the drinkers poor; 502:09,019[A ]| Poor in their wasted 'states, poor in their mind, 502:09,020[A ]| Who in a brutish club with swine are join'd, 502:09,021[A ]| And greatest joy in stupefaction find: 502:09,022[A ]| No, our exalted taste disdains to feast 502:09,023[A ]| On that dull liquor which turns man to beast, 502:09,024[A ]| It must be nourish'd with some spritely juice 502:09,025[A ]| Which does our mortal frame immortalize; 502:09,026[A ]| Defies the arrows of malicious fate, 502:09,027[A ]| The people's fury, and the tricks of state. 502:09,028[A ]| Quickly, ah! quickly then, my Muse, disclose 502:09,029[A ]| The happy place where this true nectar grows. 502:09,030[A ]| Is it not Naboth's vineyard? Fame speaks loud 502:09,031[A ]| Of thee but louder of thy master's blood; 502:09,032[A ]| That hero's blood, fed by thy vital juice, 502:09,033[A ]| Which did, when flowing in his veins, despise 502:09,034[A ]| The woman's craft, the tyrant's avarice; 502:09,035[A ]| The bloody oaths of perjur'd assassins; 502:09,036[A ]| The frowns of bias'd justice, which inclines 502:09,037[A ]| The giddy rabble to their natural bent, 502:09,038[A ]| With tongues and hands to tear the innocent. 502:09,039[A ]| Ahab had conquer'd Aram, but, alas! 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,040[A ]| His very conquest his undoing was: 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,041[A ]| He soon forgot the Hand which did bestow 502:09,042[A ]| Edge on his sword, and laurel on his brow 502:09,043[A ]| Proud with the spoils of the slain Aramites, 502:09,044[A ]| The Pow'r which gave him victory he slights. 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,045[A ]| He treats, and bargains with his enemies, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,046[A ]| And all the cov'nants of his Lord defies. 502:09,047[A ]| Ahab, distress'd, bow'd to his Lord, and pray'd; 502:09,048[A ]| Ahab, victorious, proudly disobey'd. 502:09,049[A ]| Ungrateful mortals! whose corrupted will 502:09,050[A ]| Turns grace to poison and makes blessings kill. 502:09,051[A ]| In vain poor subjects in the justice trust 502:09,052[A ]| Of kings that to their Maker are unjust; 502:09,053[A ]| The heart once tainted with a master sin 502:09,054[A ]| All lesser crimes does easily let in. 502:09,055[A ]| Poor Naboth's vineyard next lies in his way. 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,056[A ]| His cov'tous eye had mark'd it for his prey; 502:09,057[A ]| He parley'd first ~~ but what he could not worm 502:09,058[A ]| By treaty from him, he resolv'd to storm. 502:09,059[A ]| "How, Sir! can you think worthy your large soul 502:09,060[A ]| To crave my spot of land, my sleeping-hole?" 502:09,061[A ]| (Says Naboth) "I myself should prize it not, 502:09,062[A ]| Were it not sacred made by age and lot; 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,063[A ]| By lot consign'd to my forefather's hand 502:09,064[A ]| Who first with Joshua seiz'd this holy land. 502:09,065[A ]| 'Twere sacrilege in me to give or sell 502:09,066[A ]| What to my name by Heav'n's appointment fell. 502:09,067[A ]| May Ahab his large kingdoms long possess; 502:09,068[A ]| Let Naboth his small vineyard hold in peace." 502:09,069[A ]| Ahab was silent, but not satisfi'd; 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,070[A ]| The cov'tous poison through his veins did glide, 502:09,071[A ]| And what his greedy eye and heart devour 502:09,072[A ]| He will extort by an usurping pow'r. 502:09,073[A ]| So have I seen the tow'ring falcon rise, 502:09,074[A ]| And next to nothing lessen to our eyes, 502:09,075[A ]| Beyond the call of any game or lure; 502:09,076[A ]| The tim'rous fowl such distance can endure, 502:09,077[A ]| But ill they measure by their own the sight 502:09,078[A ]| And sharpness of their tyrant's appetite; 502:09,079[A ]| She sports and plies her wings i'th' liquid air 502:09,080[A ]| As if she minded pleasure and not war. 502:09,081[A ]| But when the fowl, betray'd by flatt'ring hopes, 502:09,082[A ]| Takes wing, the watchful foe as lightning stoops; 502:09,083[A ]| What her eye mark'd her talons make her own., 502:09,084[A ]| As thunderstruck the quarry tumbles down. 502:09,085[A ]| But ill did Ahab's eyes, with all their art, 502:09,086[A ]| Cover the secret rancor of his heart; 502:09,087[A ]| The wound did fester that his passion made, 502:09,088[A ]| Which soon his face unwillingly betray'd. 502:09,089[A ]| First Jezebel descri'd his secret pain: 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,090[A ]| "My Lord (she said) can your breast entertain 502:09,091[A ]| A grief or joy but what I must partake? 502:09,092[A ]| O, do not this unkind distinction make." 502:09,093[A ]| Shame to reveal, and greater shame to hide 502:09,094[A ]| His soul from her, his troubled thoughts divide. 502:09,095[A ]| At last he pour'd his grief into the ear 502:09,096[A ]| Of his too kind and fatal counsellor: 502:09,097[A ]| "In vain, my dear, our scepter does command 502:09,098[A ]| From the North*Sea, to the Arabian sand; 502:09,099[A ]| In vain the kings of Aram are my slaves; 502:09,100[A ]| In vain my justice kills, my mercy saves, 502:09,101[A ]| If stubborn Naboth must his vineyard hold 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,102[A ]| In spite of all entreaty, pow'r, and gold; 502:09,103[A ]| If a poor worm of Israel proudly dares 502:09,104[A ]| Resist, not my commands, my very pray'rs." 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,105[A ]| "Tread on that rebel worm," says Jezebel, 502:09,106[A ]| "The weight of a king's anger let him fell; 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,107[A ]| Crush him to nothing that your subjects may 502:09,108[A ]| Be taught by his example to obey." 502:09,109[A ]| Then Ahab sigh'd, and said, "That must not be ~~ 502:09,110[A ]| People and priests would rise in mutiny. 502:09,111[A ]| Too much we hazard for a thing so small; 502:09,112[A ]| The Tyrant Law, which monarchs does enthrall, 502:09,113[A ]| Controls the execution of my will 502:09,114[A ]| And makes the slave bold to resist me still." 502:09,115[A ]| At this unmoveable stood Jezebel, 502:09,116[A ]| Like one fast bound by an enchanter's spell; 502:09,117[A ]| Her flaming cheeks had choler's deepest dye, 502:09,118[A ]| And like struck flints sparkl'd her furious eye; 502:09,119[A ]| Such heaving and such panting shook her breast, 502:09,120[A ]| As if some spirit had the place possess'd. 502:09,121[A ]| Then suddenly she starts with a loud cry: 502:09,122[A ]| "If law must do the work, Naboth shall die. 502:09,123[A ]| Let not the Sanhedrim a monarch awe; 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,124[A ]| He that commands the judge commands the law. 502:09,125[A ]| Law is a poor dumb thing, which none can hear, 502:09,126[A ]| But by the mouth of an interpreter; 502:09,127[A ]| And in the people's mouth 'tis the old plea 502:09,128[A ]| For rebels, when their prince they disobey. 502:09,129[A ]| Fear not the law, but by the judge be fear'd; 502:09,130[A ]| Else as the pedants gravely wag their beard, 502:09,131[A ]| Kings must of their prerogatives be stripp'd 502:09,132[A ]| As children are for breach of grammar whipp'd. 502:09,133[A ]| Then trust my skill ~~ I'll bring you quick relief 502:09,134[A ]| To heal the wounds of your unseemly grief; 502:09,135[A ]| Both you and Naboth your just rights shall have: 502:09,136[A ]| You shall possess his vineyard, he his grave." 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,137[A ]| Thus with her oily words she skins his sore, 502:09,138[A ]| But adds new poison to the ulc'rous core; 502:09,139[A ]| And that false comfort leaves in Ahab's mind 502:09,140[A ]| Which villains in their thriving mischiefs find. 502:09,141[A ]| She summons then her chosen instruments, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,142[A ]| Always prepar'd to serve her black intents. 502:09,143[A ]| The chief was Arod, whose corrupted youth 502:09,144[A ]| Had made his soul an enemy to truth; 502:09,145[A ]| But nature furnish'd him with parts and wit, 502:09,146[A ]| For bold attempts and deep intriguing fit. 502:09,147[A ]| Small was his learning, and his eloquence 502:09,148[A ]| Did please the rabble, nauseate men of sense. 502:09,149[A ]| Bold was his spirit, nimble and loud his tongue, 502:09,150[A ]| Which more than law, or reason, takes the throng. 502:09,151[A ]| Him, part by money, partly by her grace, 502:09,152[A ]| The cov'tous Queen rais'd to a judge's place; 502:09,153[A ]| And, as he bought his place, he justice sold, 502:09,154[A ]| Weighing his causes not by law, but gold. 502:09,155[A ]| He made the justice seat a common mart; 502:09,156[A ]| Well skill'd he was in the mysterious art 502:09,157[A ]| Of finding varnish for an unsound cause, 502:09,158[A ]| And for the sound, imaginary flaws. 502:09,159[A ]| With him fierce Jezebel consults the way 502:09,160[A ]| How she for harmless Naboth snares may lay. 502:09,161[A ]| "Madam," says he, "you rightly judge the course 502:09,162[A ]| Unsafe, to run him down by open force. 502:09,163[A ]| In great designs it is the greatest art 502:09,164[A ]| To make the common people take your part. 502:09,165[A ]| Some words there are which have a special charm 502:09,166[A ]| To wind their fancies up to an alarm: 502:09,167[A ]| Treason, Religion, Liberty are such; 502:09,168[A ]| Like clocks they strike when on those points you touch. 502:09,169[A ]| If some of these unto his charge you lay, 502:09,170[A ]| You hit the vein of their tarantula. 502:09,171[A ]| For, to say truth, the trick did never fail; 502:09,172[A ]| Loud calumny with them does still prevail. 502:09,173[A ]| I, Madam, of these means no scruple make; 502:09,174[A ]| Means for their end their good or badness take. 502:09,175[A ]| Naboth, a rebel to his sov'reign's will, 502:09,176[A ]| By any ways we lawfully may kill." 502:09,177[A ]| Whilst thus he pour'd his venom in her ear, 502:09,178[A ]| A spiteful joy did in her face appear: 502:09,179[A ]| She said, "Your faithful counsel I approve ~~ 502:09,180[A ]| You have chalk'd out the way we are to move; 502:09,181[A ]| But still you leave untouch'd the hardest part, 502:09,182[A ]| Which most requires your industry and art: 502:09,183[A ]| Where is the crime? where are the witnesses?" 502:09,184[A ]| "It is my province, Madam, to find these 502:09,185[A ]| (Repli'd the Judge) and that our project may 502:09,186[A ]| Take faster hold, let there a solemn day 502:09,187[A ]| To seek the Lord by fasting and by pray'r 502:09,188[A ]| Be set apart. This will exactly square 502:09,189[A ]| With the whole model of our work design'd. 502:09,190[A ]| This will the people draw body and mind 502:09,191[A ]| To act their parts in Naboth's tragedy. 502:09,192[A ]| This builds the stage on which the wretch shall die. 502:09,193[A ]| As glasses, by the sun's reflected ray, 502:09,194[A ]| The silly lark into the net betray, 502:09,195[A ]| So will the people, by the dazzling thought 502:09,196[A ]| Of godliness, religiously be caught." 502:09,197[A ]| When the Queen saw that her design would take, 502:09,198[A ]| She with impatient haste the conf'rence brake; 502:09,199[A ]| Of av'rice and revenge such is the thirst 502:09,200[A ]| That with the least delay the patient's burst. 502:09,201[A ]| "Lose no more time (she cri'd) ~~ with speedy care 502:09,202[A ]| Letters and orders for our seal prepare, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,203[A ]| Such as the work requires. For 'till I gain 502:09,204[A ]| This point, each moment is an age of pain." 502:09,205[A ]| Since first for acting God proud angels fell, 502:09,206[A ]| Still to ape Heav'n has been the pride of Hell. 502:09,207[A ]| As the bright spir'ts always attend His throne, 502:09,208[A ]| And what He wills they execute as soon, 502:09,209[A ]| Our fury so could not conceive the fact 502:09,210[A ]| More nimbly than her agent-fiend did act. 502:09,211[A ]| Stay, hell hounds, stay! why with such rav'nous speed 502:09,212[A ]| Must the dear blood of innocence be shed? 502:09,213[A ]| Blind is your haste, and blinder is your rage; 502:09,214[A ]| Hell no successful war 'gainst Heav'n can wage. 502:09,215[A ]| You shoot at Naboth, but yourselves you wound 502:09,216[A ]| With poison'd darts, for which no cure is found; 502:09,217[A ]| The poison drawn from a remorseless heart 502:09,218[A ]| Baffles divine, much more all human art. 502:09,219[A ]| What will your rage effect, but lasting shame 502:09,220[A ]| In this, in the next world eternal flame? 502:09,221[A ]| With all your subtle arts of perjury, 502:09,222[A ]| And all the varnish of your bloody lie 502:09,223[A ]| To make him guilty, and you rightful seem, 502:09,224[A ]| Hell for yourselves you build, and Heav'n for him. 502:09,225[A ]| Arod had always tools at his command 502:09,226[A ]| Of a fit temper for his work in hand; 502:09,227[A ]| But here no villains of a common size 502:09,228[A ]| In wickedness, or cunning would suffice. 502:09,229[A ]| Yet two he found, which did as much exceed 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,230[A ]| All common rogues as common facts this deed: 502:09,231[A ]| Malchus, a puny Levite, void of sense 502:09,232[A ]| And grace, but stuff'd with noise and impudence, 502:09,233[A ]| Was his prime tool ~~ so venomous a brute 502:09,234[A ]| That every place he liv'd in spew'd him out. 502:09,235[A ]| Lies in his mouth and malice in his heart 502:09,236[A ]| By nature grew, and were improv'd by art. 502:09,237[A ]| Mischief his pleasure was, and all his joy 502:09,238[A ]| To see his thriving calumny destroy 502:09,239[A ]| Those whom his double heart and forked tongue, 502:09,240[A ]| Surer than viper's teeth, to death had stung. 502:09,241[A ]| Python his second was, and his alone; 502:09,242[A ]| For he in ills no other first would own. 502:09,243[A ]| A braver impudence did arm this wight ~~ 502:09,244[A ]| He was a ruffian, and no hypocrite; 502:09,245[A ]| And with audacious and loud villainy 502:09,246[A ]| He did at once virtue and fame defy. 502:09,247[A ]| These two, though Malchus wore the longer cloak, 502:09,248[A ]| Were e'enly pair'd, and drew the same yoke. 502:09,249[A ]| No foresters with keener appetite 502:09,250[A ]| In running down their hunted game delight 502:09,251[A ]| Than these the slaughter of the guiltless view, 502:09,252[A ]| Whom their malicious calumny pursue. 502:09,253[A ]| This goodly pair were, by their teacher's art, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,254[A ]| Fully prepar'd and tun'd to play their part. 502:09,255[A ]| A fast is then proclaim'd ~~ this serves as leav'n 502:09,256[A ]| To raise the people's lump with news from Heav'n. 502:09,257[A ]| They in the dark, when bid to seek the Lord, 502:09,258[A ]| Are sure for His to take the preacher's word; 502:09,259[A ]| These, when they toll their great Diana bell, 502:09,260[A ]| Look up to Heav'n and do the works of Hell. 502:09,261[A ]| Always state-fasts some strange events portend, 502:09,262[A ]| And often in a godly mischief end. 502:09,263[A ]| The fair pretense is that the Lord may weed 502:09,264[A ]| Treason and blasphemy from Abr'ham's seed. 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,265[A ]| Great and just God! will it be always so? 502:09,266[A ]| When thy rebellious creatures here below 502:09,267[A ]| Their black designs of deepest mischief frame, 502:09,268[A ]| Shall they still stamp on them Thy holy name? 502:09,269[A ]| Make Thee, all good, a party in their ill? 502:09,270[A ]| Thy very Word abuse to break Thy will? 502:09,271[A ]| By which their leaders draw the vulgar in, 502:09,272[A ]| With harmless minds, to perpetrate their sin; 502:09,273[A ]| By which the just are by the impious slain, 502:09,274[A ]| And Abel still is sacrific'd by Cain. 502:09,275[A ]| How can Thy justice and Thy thunder sleep, 502:09,276[A ]| When such affronts on Thee and Thine they heap? 502:09,277[A ]| How can the earth forbear with open jaws 502:09,278[A ]| To swallow these contemners of Thy laws? 502:09,279[A ]| Hold Muse! thy zeal now grows to mutiny; 502:09,280[A ]| Thou dost ignobly from thy colors fly. 502:09,281[A ]| Under the standard of the Cross we serve, 502:09,282[A ]| And from our Leader's ways we must not swerve. 502:09,283[A ]| By form of law He did submit to die, 502:09,284[A ]| Accus'd of treason and of blasphemy; 502:09,285[A ]| All-pow'rful He, without revenge or strife, 502:09,286[A ]| Endur'd the loss of honor and of life. 502:09,287[A ]| This is the way which He his foll'wers taught, 502:09,288[A ]| Which Him to triumph, us to safety brought. 502:09,289[A ]| Then in this way let us march bravely on, 502:09,290[A ]| Which will our innocence with glory crown; 502:09,291[A ]| And let us pity those whom prosp'rous sin 502:09,292[A ]| Hardens, and does on earth their Hell begin. 502:09,293[A ]| Now comes the solemn and the bloody day 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,294[A ]| In which all Israel meets to fast and pray; 502:09,295[A ]| But impious is that fast and pray'r which parts 502:09,296[A ]| From lips polluted and from harden'd hearts. 502:09,297[A ]| In the first rank of Levites Arod stood, 502:09,298[A ]| Court favor plac'd him there, not worth or blood. 502:09,299[A ]| Naboth amongst the tribes the foremost place 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,300[A ]| Did with his riches, birth, and virtue grace: 502:09,301[A ]| A man whose wealth was the poor's common stock; 502:09,302[A ]| The hungry found their market in his flock; 502:09,303[A ]| His justice made all law contentions cease; 502:09,304[A ]| He was his neighbors' safeguard and their peace. 502:09,305[A ]| The rich by him were in due bounds contain'd; 502:09,306[A ]| The poor, if strong, employ'd; if weak, maintain'd. 502:09,307[A ]| Well had he serv'd his country and his king, 502:09,308[A ]| And the best troops in all their wars did bring; 502:09,309[A ]| Nor with less brav'ry did he lead them on, 502:09,310[A ]| Warding his country's danger with his own. 502:09,311[A ]| Scarce were the rites and ceremonies past 502:09,312[A ]| Which by the law attend their public fast, 502:09,313[A ]| When Malchus, raising up his hands and eyes, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,314[A ]| With bended knees, thus to the judges cries: 502:09,315[A ]| "Hear me, great seed of Levi, hear me all, 502:09,316[A ]| Israel's ten tribes I for your mercy call. 502:09,317[A ]| Seal me a pardon who too long have been 502:09,318[A ]| A dark concealer of a crying sin! 502:09,319[A ]| Heav'n does this day my wounded conscience heal, 502:09,320[A ]| And bids me the hid blasphemy reveal. 502:09,321[A ]| Naboth, stand forth! 'Tis thee of impious breach 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,322[A ]| Of God's and the King's laws whom I impeach." 502:09,323[A ]| At this the tribes a various murmur raise; 502:09,324[A ]| His boldness some abhorr'd, and some did praise. 502:09,325[A ]| Some would have Naboth by a public vote, 502:09,326[A ]| Without more form, found guilty of the Plot. 502:09,327[A ]| Others the law allege that no offense 502:09,328[A ]| Can be judg'd so on single evidence. 502:09,329[A ]| While thus they waver, Arod takes his cue: 502:09,330[A ]| "Our thanks to Heav'n in the first place are due 502:09,331[A ]| (He said) which will such gracious speed prevents 502:09,332[A ]| Our pray'rs, and all false traitors curs'd intents. 502:09,333[A ]| Speak, Malchus, then, and this assembly give 502:09,334[A ]| Of the whole Plot a perfect narrative; 502:09,335[A ]| And whilst this service you do Israel do, 502:09,336[A ]| Know that we hear you, and believe you too." 502:09,337[A ]| Malchus, applauded thus in public view, 502:09,338[A ]| Did now almost believe that he spoke true. 502:09,339[A ]| This arm'd his face with brass, his heart with steel, 502:09,340[A ]| That he no shame and no remorse could feel. 502:09,341[A ]| Then he the story of his Plot at large 502:09,342[A ]| Unfolds, and lays to guiltless Naboth's charge. 502:09,343[A ]| How with the Aramites he did conspire 502:09,344[A ]| His country to invade, the City fire, 502:09,345[A ]| The temple to destroy, the Kings to kill, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,346[A ]| And the whole realm with desolation fill. 502:09,347[A ]| He told how he himself the agent was 502:09,348[A ]| In close consults to bring these things to pass; 502:09,349[A ]| Nor did he fail with proper circumstance 502:09,350[A ]| Of time and place to garnish his romance. 502:09,351[A ]| The priests astonish'd are, the people gaze, 502:09,352[A ]| And the dumb judges horror does amaze. 502:09,353[A ]| Then out steps Python, and with dextrous art 502:09,354[A ]| Weaving his story, seals a counterpart 502:09,355[A ]| To all that Malchus had before depos'd; 502:09,356[A ]| And with deep oaths the accusation clos'd. 502:09,357[A ]| Now on poor Naboth all their eyes were set, 502:09,358[A ]| Some red with anger, some with pity wet; 502:09,359[A ]| But the fierce rabble gladly would prevent 502:09,360[A ]| His trial by an instant punishment. 502:09,361[A ]| Whence this unnat'ral pleasure to destroy? 502:09,362[A ]| From what ill root grows this malignant joy? 502:09,363[A ]| Beasts worry beasts but when their hunger calls, 502:09,364[A ]| But man on man with a full stomach falls. 502:09,365[A ]| 'Tis not our wants of nature to redress 502:09,366[A ]| That we this rage to our own kind express, 502:09,367[A ]| But for the mischief's sake we pleasure find; 502:09,368[A ]| It lies not in our body, but our mind. 502:09,369[A ]| Our seed receives a double taint and stain: 502:09,370[A ]| From rebel Adam, and from murd'ring Cain. 502:09,371[A ]| Naboth, thus charg'd, had need for his defense 502:09,372[A ]| Of all his courage and his innocence. 502:09,373[A ]| It was a trial of no vulgar kind 502:09,374[A ]| To show th' heroic temper of his mind. 502:09,375[A ]| But the transparent brightness of his soul, 502:09,376[A ]| E'en through his eyes, their malice did control. 502:09,377[A ]| For his accusers, when he sternly view'd, 502:09,378[A ]| Their tortur'd looks their rack of conscience shew'd. 502:09,379[A ]| But to his judges with a manly grace 502:09,380[A ]| He lowly bow'd, and pleaded thus his case: 502:09,381[A ]| "My lords, by these false oaths, this bloody lie, 502:09,382[A ]| God and the King are more abus'd than I; 502:09,383[A ]| For I, poor worm, weigh nothing in the scale 502:09,384[A ]| When their high wrongs for reparation call. 502:09,385[A ]| When God's dread Name, when His and the King's laws 502:09,386[A ]| Are thus blasphem'd, 'tis their, and not my cause. 502:09,387[A ]| Pharaoh, Goliath, and that heathen brood 502:09,388[A ]| Less impiously blasphem'd our Sov'reign Good; 502:09,389[A ]| They believ'd not His Being nor His might, 502:09,390[A ]| And blindly what they nothing thought did slight. 502:09,391[A ]| These know Him, and Him knowingly defy, 502:09,392[A ]| And signing with His awful Name their lie, 502:09,393[A ]| Make him a party to their perjury. 502:09,394[A ]| Nay, in this horrid enterprise they do 502:09,395[A ]| Their curs'd endeavor to destroy Him too; 502:09,396[A ]| For Truth and He in essence so partake 502:09,397[A ]| That when you make Him false, you Him unmake. 502:09,398[A ]| "These vipers in the bosom of our law 502:09,399[A ]| Will eat it through, its very heartstrings gnaw; 502:09,400[A ]| For when with artificial perjury 502:09,401[A ]| They make God's sacred Name espouse their lie, 502:09,402[A ]| Forthwith that lie omnipotent becomes 502:09,403[A ]| And governs all below ~~ it saves or dooms; 502:09,404[A ]| Disposes of our honor, life, and state, 502:09,405[A ]| Gives rule to law, and arbitrates our fate. 502:09,406[A ]| No rage of famine, pestilence, or war 502:09,407[A ]| Can with this legal massacre compare. 502:09,408[A ]| If perjur'd villains may a shelter find 502:09,409[A ]| To make their inroads thus on human kind, 502:09,410[A ]| Laws, for chastisement of the guilty meant, 502:09,411[A ]| Will turn their points against the innocent 502:09,412[A ]| (As cannons of a newly enter'd town 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,413[A ]| From their own walls the houses batter down). 502:09,414[A ]| My lords, if you this villainy endure, 502:09,415[A ]| Judges themselves will not be long secure. 502:09,416[A ]| And so I leave my cause in your wise breast, 502:09,417[A ]| The temple where Truth's oracle should rest." 502:09,418[A ]| Thus Naboth spoke, with that undaunted mien 502:09,419[A ]| Which only in bold innocence is seen; 502:09,420[A ]| But lest the people's fury should relent, 502:09,421[A ]| Arod their calmer thoughts did thus prevent: 502:09,422[A ]| "Naboth, what you have said in your defense 502:09,423[A ]| Adds to your guilt, clears not your innocence; 502:09,424[A ]| When the King's evidence you perjur'd call, 502:09,425[A ]| Know that your very plea is criminal. 502:09,426[A ]| Shall malefactors with reproaches tear 502:09,427[A ]| Their fame who for their King and country swear? 502:09,428[A ]| What thief, what felon may not do the same, 502:09,429[A ]| To purge themselves the witnesses defame? 502:09,430[A ]| Against two oaths, so positive and plain, 502:09,431[A ]| All your haranguing rhetoric is vain. 502:09,432[A ]| Should stout denying pass for innocence, 502:09,433[A ]| The court must be as weak as your defense. 502:09,434[A ]| Less confidence your bloody crimes behov'd, 502:09,435[A ]| So weakly answer'd and so strongly prov'd. 502:09,436[A ]| Is it not doubly sworn that you conspir'd 502:09,437[A ]| With Aram's King this city to have fir'd, 502:09,438[A ]| And in that hurry to destroy the King, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,439[A ]| And into Israel bondage and idols bring?" 502:09,440[A ]| Stung with these dire reproaches, Nab'th again 502:09,441[A ]| Offer'd to speak, but offer'd still in vain; 502:09,442[A ]| For when the bench did thus his guilt proclaim, 502:09,443[A ]| Their words, like oil, enrag'd the people's flame; 502:09,444[A ]| Who hardly staying till the sentence pass'd, 502:09,445[A ]| Like hungry wolves they rush with furious haste, 502:09,446[A ]| Hurrying poor Naboth to a planted stake, 502:09,447[A ]| Where in his death their cruel joy they take. 502:09,448[A ]| Their hands and tongues they equally employ, 502:09,449[A ]| And him with stones and calumnies destroy. 502:09,450[A ]| Some gather flints, and some the victim ti'd 502:09,451[A ]| Ready for sacrifice. He loudly cri'd, 502:09,452[A ]| "Heav'n bless the King! And I forgive ye all. 502:09,453[A ]| O! may this inn'cent blood no vengeance call 502:09,454[A ]| On you my brethren" ~~ off'ring more to say, 502:09,455[A ]| A murd'ring show'r of stones took voice and life away. 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,456[A ]| Thus Naboth fell ~~ Kind Heav'n! so may I fall 502:09,457[A ]| Rather than stand so high, and criminal, 502:09,458[A ]| As cov'tous Ahab and his bloody Queen; 502:09,459[A ]| Or serve the malice of such lust and spleen; 502:09,460[A ]| Or judge with Arod, or with Malchus swear; 502:09,461[A ]| Or with the rabble oppress'd virtue tear. 502:09,462[A ]| Naboth! though cast thou art by human laws, 502:09,463[A ]| Heav'n's writ of error has remov'd thy cause 502:09,464[A ]| And judg'd it so that it shall stand from hence 502:09,465[A ]| A lasting record of wrong'd innocence. 502:09,466[A ]| All to thy ashes shall their duty pay; 502:09,467[A ]| Friends shall their tears, foes weep their blood away. 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,468[A ]| For lo! the great Elijah, Heav'n's envoy, 502:09,469[A ]| Has now surpris'd them in their guilty joy, 502:09,470[A ]| Caught in the very fact and place where they 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,471[A ]| Rejoice, pluming and hov'ring o'er the prey: 502:09,472[A ]| "What? have I found you in this field of blood 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,473[A ]| (For so thy title to't shall be made good 502:09,474[A ]| More by thine own than Naboth's) graceless King! 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,475[A ]| I from thy dreadful Judge thy sentence bring" 502:09,476[A ]| (Says Heav'n's bold herald). Ahab heartless grew, 502:09,477[A ]| And the Queen's fears did all her pride subdue 502:09,478[A ]| At this loud thunderstroke. "Know, wretched pair," 502:09,479[A ]| Continues he, "the vultures in the air, 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,480[A ]| Wolves in the field shall be the living tomb 502:09,481[A ]| Of all that's born from Jezebel's curs'd womb; 502:09,482[A ]| And Ahab's seed shall be the worthy food 502:09,483[A ]| Of birds and beasts that live by prey and blood. 502:09,484[A ]| Thy race no more shall mix with human kind, 502:09,485[A ]| But nourish beasts, and so with them be join'd. 502:09,486[A ]| Thou, Ahab, here in this ill-purchas'd ground, 502:09,487[A ]| Shalt bleed thy last from a fresh mortal wound; 502:09,488[A ]| Mastiffs shall lick thy blood, and it shall be 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,489[A ]| As sweet to them as Naboth's blood to thee. 502:09,490[A ]| And thou, curs'd woman, Eve and serpent too, 502:09,491[A ]| Cause of thine own, and of thy husband's woe, 502:09,492[A ]| Thy broken limbs, and into pieces rent, 502:09,493[A ]| Shall be of dogs the food and excrement. 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,494[A ]| Low falls thy body, low'r thy soul will sink; 502:09,000[' ]| <2 k.c.9> 502:09,000[' ]| 502:09,495[A ]| Thy mem'ry ever shall remain and stink." 502:09,496[A ]| And so he left them thunderstruck and dumb, 502:09,497[A ]| Stung with their present guilt, and fate to come.