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Indulge one labour more, my weary muse,
For Amiel who can Amiel's praise refuse?
Of ancient race by birth, but nobler yet
In his own worth, and without title great:
The fanhedrim long time as chief he rul❜d,
Their reafon guided, and their paffion cool'd:
So dextrous was he in the crown's defence,
So form'd to speak a loyal nation's sense,
That, as their band was Ifrael's tribes in fmall,
So fit was he to represent them all.

Now rasher charioteers the feat ascend,
Whofe loose careers his fteady skill commend:
They, like th' unequal ruler of the day,
Mifguide the feasons, and mistake the way;
While he withdrawn at their mad labours fmiles,
And fafe enjoys the fabbath 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 fuch pow'rful engines bent,
To batter down the lawful government.
A numerous faction, with pretended frights,
In fanhedrims to plume the regal rights;
The true fucceffor from the court remov'd;
The plot, by hireling witneffes, improv'd.
Thefe ills they faw, and, as their duty bound,
They shew'd the King the danger of the wound
That no conceffions from the throne wou'd pleafe,
But lenitives fomented the disease:

That Abfalom, ambitious of the crown,

Was made the lure to draw the people down:
That falfe Achitophel's pernicious hate

Had turn'd the plot to ruin church and state:
The council violent, the rabble worse :
That Shimei taught Jerufalem to curfe.
With all these loads of injuries oppreft,
And long revolving in his careful breaft

The event of things, at laft his patience tir'd,
Thus, from his royal throne, by heaven infpir'd,
The god-like David fpoke; with awful fear
His train their Maker in their mafter hear.

Thus long have I by native mercy fway'd,
My wrongs diffembled, my revenge delay'd:
So willing to forgive th' offending age;
So much the father did the King affuage.
But now fo far my clemency they flight,
Th' offenders queftion my forgiving right,
That one 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:
Tho' manly tempers can the longest bear.
Yet fince they will divert my native course,
'Tis time to fhew I am not good by force.
Thofe heap'd affronts that haughty fubjects 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 Sampfon will pretend a call
To shake the column, let him fhare the fall:
But oh, that yet he would repent and live!
How eafy 'tis for parents to forgive!
With how few tears a pardon might be won
From nature, pleading for a darling fon!
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 foul another turn:
Gull'd with a patriot's name, whofe modern fense
Is one that would by law fupplant 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 Abfalom's than David's caufe?

His old inftructor ere he loft his place,
Was never thought indu'd with fo much grace.
Good heavens, how faction can a patriot paint!
My rebel ever proves my people's faint.
Would they impofe an heir upon the throne,
Let fanhedrims be taught to give their own.
A King's at least a part of government;
And mine as requifite as their confent:
Without my leave a future King to chufe,
Infers a right the present to depofe.

True, they petition me t' approve their choice:
But Efau's hands fuit ill with Jacob's voice.
My pious fubjects for my fafety pray;
Which to fecure they take my pow'r away.
From plots and treasons heaven preserve my years,
But fave me moft from my petitioners.
Unfatiate as the barren womb or grave;
God cannot grant fo much as they can crave.
What then is left, but with a jealous eye
To guard the small remains of royalty?
The law fhall ftill direct my peaceful fway,
And the fame law teach rebels to obey :
Votes fhall no more establish'd pow'r controul,
Such votes as make a part exceed the whole.
No groundless clamours fhall my friends remove,
Nor crouds have pow'r to punish ere they prove;
For Gods and god-like Kings their care exprefs,.
Still to defend their fervants in diftrefs.
Oh, that my pow'r to faving were confin'd!
Why am I forc'd, like heav'n, against my mind,
To make examples of another kind?

Muft I at length the fword of juftice draw?

Oh curft effects of neceffary law!

How ill my fear they by my mercy fcan!
Beware the fury of a patient man.

Law they require, let law then fhew her face;

They could not be content to look on grace,

}

Her hinder parts, but with a daring eye
To tempt
the terrour of her front and die.
By their own arts 'tis righteously decreed,
Those dire artificers of death fhall bleed.
Against themselves their witneffes will fwear,
"Till viper-like their mother plot they tear;
And fuck for nutriment that bloody gore,
Which was their principal of life before.
Their Belial with their Beelzebub will fight:
Thus on my foes, my foes fhall do me right.
Nor doubt th' event: for factious crouds engage,
In their firft onset, all their brutal rage.
Then let 'em take an unrefifted courfe :
Retire, and traverfe, and delude their force :
But when they ftand all breathlefs, urge the fight,
And rife upon them with redoubled might:
For lawful pow'r is ftill fuperiour found;
When long driv'n back at length it ftands the ground.
He faid: Th' Almighty nodding gave confent;
And peals of thunder shook the firmament.
Henceforth a series of new time began,
The mighty years in long proceffion ran:
Once more the god-like David was restor❜d,
And willing nations knew their lawful lord.

ABSALOM

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