They, like the unequal ruler of the day,
Misguide the seasons, and mistake the way:
While he, withdrawn, at their mad labour smiles,
And safe enjoys the Sabbath of his toils.
These were the chief; a small but faithful band
Of worthies, in the breach who dar'd to stand,
And tempt th' united fury of the land.
With grief they view'd such pow'rful engines bent,
To batter down the lawful government.
A num'rous faction, with pretended frights,
In sanhedrims to plume the regal rights;
The true successor from the Court remov'd,
The plot, by hireling witnesses, improv❜d.
These ills they saw, and, as their duty bound,
They shew'd the King the danger of the wound;
That no concessions from the throne would please,
But lenitives fomented the disease:
That Absalom, ambitious of the Crown,
Was made the lure to draw the people down:
That false Achithophel's pernicious hate
Had turn'd the plot to ruin church and state:
The council violent, the rabble worse;
That Shimei taught Jerusalem to curse.
With all these loads of injuries opprest,
And long revolving in his careful breast
Th' event of things; at last, his patience tir'd,
Thus, from his royal throne, by Heav'n inspir'd,
The Godlike David spoke; with awful fear
His train their Maker in their master hear.
Thus long have I, by native mercy sway'd,
My wrongs dissembled, my revenge delay'd:
So willing to forgive th' offending age,
So much the father did the king assuage.
But now so far my clemency they slight,
Th' offenders question my forgiving right.
That once was made for many they contend;
But 'tis to rule; for that's a monarch's end.
They call my tenderness of blood my fear:
Though manly tempers can the longest bear.
Yet, since they will divert my native course,
'Tis time to shew I am not good by force.
Those heap'd affronts that haughty subjects bring,
Are burdens for a Camel, not a king.
Kings are the public pillars of the state,
Born to sustain and prop the nation's weight;
If my young Samson will pretend a call
To shake the Column, let him share the fall:
But, oh, that yet he would repent and live!
How easy 'tis for parents to forgive!
With how few tears a pardon might be won
From Nature, pleading for a darling son!
Poor, pitied youth, by my paternal care,
Rais'd up to all the height his frame could bear!
Had God ordain'd his fate for empire born,
He would have giv'n his soul another turn:
Gull'd with a patriot's name, whose modern sense
Is one that would by law supplant his prince;
The people's brave, the politician's tool ;
Never was patriot yet but was a fool.
Whence comes it that religion and the laws
Should more be Absalom's than David's cause? 974
His old instructor, ere he lost his place,
Was never thought endu'd with so much grace.
Good heav'ns, how faction can a patriot paint?
My rebel ever proves my people's saint,
Would they impose an heir upon the throne,
Let sanhedrims be taught to give their own.
A king's at least a part of government,
And mine as requisite as their consent:
Without my leave a future king to chuse,
Infers a right the present to depose.
True, they petition me t' approve their choice;
But Esau's hands suit ill with Jacob's voice.
My pious subjects for my safety pray,
Which to secure they take my pow'r away.
From plots and treasons Heav'n preserve my years,
But save me most from my petitioners.
Unsatiate as the barren womb or grave,
God cannot grant so much as they can crave.
What then is left, but with a jealous eye
To guard the small remains of royalty?
The law shall still direct my peaceful sway,
And the same law teach rebels to obey ;.
Votes shall no more establish'd pow'r control,
Such votes as make a part exceed the whole.
No groundless clamours shall my friends remove,
Nor crowds have pow'r to punish ere they prove:
No gods and godlike kings their care express,
Still to defend their servants in distress.
Oh, that my power to saving were confin'd!
Why am I forc'd, like Heav'n, against my mind,
To make examples of another kind?
Must I at length the sword of justice draw?
Oh curs'd effects of necessary law !
How ill my fear they by my mercy scan!
Beware the fury of a patient man.
Law they require, let Law then shew her face;
They could not be content to look on Grace
Her hinder parts, but with a daring eye
To tempt the terror of her front, and die.
By their own hearts, 'tis righteously decreed,
Those dire artificers of death shall bleed.
Against themselves their witnesses will swear,
Till, viper-like, their mother-plot they tear,
And suck for nutriment that bloody gore,
Which was their principle of life before:
Their Belial with their Beelzebub will fight;
Thus on my foes my foes shall do me right.
Nor doubt th' event; for factious crowds engage
In their first onset all their brutal rage.
Then let 'em take an unresisted course;
Retire, and traverse, and delude their force:
But when they stand all breathless, urge the fight, And rise upon them with redoubled might:
For lawful pow'r is still superior found;
When long driv'n back, at length it stands the ground.
He said: th' Almighty nodding gave consent
And peals of thunder shook the firmament.
Henceforth a series of new time began,
The mighty years in long procession ran;
Once more the godlike David was restor❜d,
And willing nations knew their lawful lord.
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