Why are my thoughts upon a crown employ'd
Which once obtain'd can be but half enjoy'd?
Not so when virtue did my arms require,
And to my father's wars I flew entire.

My regal pow'r how will my foes resent,
When I myself have scarce my own consent?
Give me a son's unblemish'd truth again,
Or quench the sparks of duty that remain.
How slight to force a throne that legions guard!
The task to me to prove unjust how hard!
And if th' imagined guilt thus wound my thought,
What will it when the tragic scene is wrought?
Dire War must first be conjur'd from below,
The realm we'd rule we first must overthrow;
And when the civil furies are on wing,

That blind and undistinguish'd slaughters fling, 140
Who knows what impious chance may reach the
King?

Oh! rather let me perish in the strife,

Than have my crown the price of David's life! ̧
Or if the tempest of the war he stand,
In peace some vile officious villain's hand,
His soul's anointed temple may invade,

Or press'd by clam'rous crowds, myself me made
His murderer; rebellious crowds, whose guilt
Shall dread his vengeance till his blood be spilt;
Which, if my filial tenderness oppose,
Since to the empire by their arms I rose,

13.0

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Those very arms on me shall be employ'd,
A new usurper crown'd, and I destroy'd:
The same pretence of public good will hold,
And new Achithophels be found as bold
To urge the needful change, perhaps the old.

He said. The statesman, with a smile, replies,
A smile that did his rising spleen disguise:
My thoughts presum'd our labours at an end,
And are we still with conscience to contend?
Whose want in kings as needful is allow'd,
As 'tis for them to find it in the crowd.
Far in the doubtful passage you are gone,
And only can be safe by pressing on.

The crown's true heir, a prince severe and wise,
Has view'd your motions long with jealous eyes,
Your person's charms, your more prevailing arts,
And mark'd your progress in the people's hearts,
Whose patience is th' effect of stinted pow'r,
But treasures vengeance for the fatal hour,
And if remote the peril he can bring,
Your present danger's greater from the King.
Let not a parent's name deceive your sense,
Nor trust the father in a jealous prince!
Your trivial faults if he could so resent,
To doom you little less than banishment,
What rage must your presumption since inspire,
Against his orders your return from Tyre?

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Nor only so, but with a pomp more high,
And open court of popularity,

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The factious tribes---And this reproof from thee?
The prince replies, O statesman's winding skill,
They first condemn that first advis'd the ill!
Illustrious youth, return'd Achithophel,
Misconstrue not the words that mean you well.
The course you steer I worthy blame conclude,
But 'tis because you leave it unpursu❜d.

A monarch's crown with fate surrounded lies,
Who reach, lay hold on death that miss the prize.
Did you for this expose yourself to show,
And to the crowd bow popularly low?
For this your glorious progress next ordain,
With chariots, horsemen, and a numʼrous train,
With Fame before you, like the morning star,

And shouts of joy saluting from afar?]

Oh from the heights you've reach'd but take a view,
Scarce leading Lucifer could fall like you!

And must I here my shipwreck'd arts bemoan?
Have I for this so oft made Isr'el groan?

Your single int'rest with the nation weigh'd,
And turn'd the scale where your desires were laid!
E'en when at helm a course so dang’rous mov'd,
To land your hopes has my removal prov'd.
I not dispute, the royal youth replies,
The known perfection of your policies;

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Nor in Achithophel yet grudge or blame
The privilege that statesmen ever claim,
Who private int'rest never yet pursu❜d,
But still pretended 'twas for other's good:
What politician, yet e'er 'scap'd his fate,
Who saving his own neck not sav'd the state?
From hence on ev'ry hum'rous wind that veer'd,
With shifted sails a sev'ral course you steer'd.
What from a sway did David e'er pursue,
That seem'd like absolute, but sprung from you?
Who at your instance quash'd each penal law,
That kept dissenting factious Jews in awe;
And who suspends fix'd laws may abrogate,
That done, form new, and so enslave the state.
E'en property, whose champion now you stand,
And seem for this the idol of the land,
Did ne'er sustain such violence before,
As when your counsel shut the royal store;
Advice, that ruin to whole tribes procur'd,
But secret kept till your own banks secur'd,
Recount with this the triple cov'nant broke,
And Is'rel fitted for a foreign yoke;

Nor here your counsels' fatal progress staid,

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But sent our levied pow'rs to Pharaoh's aid. 230 Hence Tyre and Is'rel low in ruins laid,

[made.

And Egypt, once their scorn, their common terror
E'en yet of such a season can we dream,
When royal rights you made your darling theme;

For pow'r unlimited could reasons draw,

And place prerogative above the law;
Which on your fall from office grew unjust,
The laws made king, the king a slave in trust;
Whom with state-craft, to int'rest only true,
You now accuse of ills contriv'd by you.

To this Hell's agent----Royal Youth, fix here,
Let int'rest be the star by which you steer.
Hence to repose your trust in me was wise,
Whose int'rest most in your advancement lies;
A tie so firm as always will avail,

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When Friendship, Nature, and Religion fail.
On ours, the safety of the crowd depends,
Secure the crowd, and we obtain our ends,
Whom I will cause so far our guilt to share,
Till they are made our champions by their fear. 250
What opposition can your rival bring,
While sanhedrims are jealous of the king?
His strength as yet in David's friendship lies,
And what can David's self without supplies?
Who with exclusive bills must now dispense,
Debar the heir, or starve in his defence:
Conditions which our elders ne'er will quit,
And David's justice never can admit.
Or forc'd by wants his brother to betray,
To your ambition next he clears the way;
For if succession once to nought they bring,
Their next advance removes the present king;

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