What more can I expect while David lives?
All but his kingly diadem he gives :
And that—But here he paus'd; then, fighing, said➡
Is justly deftin'd for a worthier head.
For when my father from his toils shall rest,
And late augment the number of the bleft,
His lawful iffue fhall the throne afcend,
Or the collateral line, where that shall end.
His brother, though opprefs'd with vulgar spite,
Yet dauntless, and fecure of native right,
Of every royal virtue stands poffeft;
Still dear to all the braveft and the best.
His courage foes, his friends his truth proclaim;
His loyalty the king, the world his fame.
His mercy ev'n th' offending crowd will find ;
For fure he comes of a forgiving kind.
Why should I then repine at heaven's decree,
Which gives me no pretence to royalty?
Yet oh that fate, propitiously inclin'd,
Had rais'd my birth, or had debas'd my mind;
To my large foul not all her treafure lent,
And then betray'd it to a mean defcent!
I find, I find my mounting fpirits bold,
And David's part difdains my mother's mould.
Why an I scanted by a niggard birth ?
My foul disclaims the kindred of her carth;
And made for empire whispers me within,
Defire of greatnefs is a god-like fin.
Him ftaggering fo, when hell's dire agent found,
While fainting virtue fcarce maintain'd her ground,
fresh forces in, and thus replies
pours
Th' eternal God, fupremely good and wise,
Imparts not these prodigious gifts in vain :
What wonders are referv'd to bless your reign!
Against your will your arguments have shown,
Such virtue's only given to guide a throne.
Not that your father's mildness I contemn;
But manly force becomes the diadem.
'Tis true he grants the people all they crave;
And more perhaps than fubjects ought to have:
For lavish grants suppose a monarch tame,
And more his goodnefs than his wit proclaim.
But when should people firive their bonds to break,
If not when kings are negligent or weak?
Let him give on till he can give no more,
The thrifty fanhedrim fhall keep him poor;
And every fhekel, which he can receive,
Shall coft a limb of his prerogative.
To ply him with new plots fhall be my care ;
Or plunge him deep in fome expenfive war ;
Which when his treafure can no more fupply,
He muft, with the remains of kingship, buy
His faithful friends, our jealoufies and fears
Call Jebusites, and Pharaoh's pensioners;
Whom when our fury from his aid has torn,
He fhall be naked left to public scorn.
The next fucceffor, whom I fear and hate,
My arts have made obnoxious to the state;
Turn'd all his virtues to his overthrow,
And gain'd our elders to pronounce a foe.
His right, for fums of neceffary gold,
Shall first be pawn'd, and afterwards be fold;
Till time shall ever-wanting David draw,
To pass your doubtful title into law;
If not, the people have a right fupreme
To make their kings; for kings are made for them.
All empire is no more than power in trust,
Which, when resum'd, can be no longer just.
Succeffion, for the general good defign'd,
In its own wrong a nation cannot bind :
If altering that the people can relieve,
Better one fuffer than a nation grieve.
The Jews well know their power: ere Saul they chose,
God was their king, and God they durft depose.
Urge now your piety, your filial name,
A father's right, and fear of future fame ;
The public good, that univerfal call,
To which ev'n heaven fubmitted, anfwers all.
Nor let his love enchant your generous mind;
'Tis nature's trick to propagate her kind.
Our fond begetters, who would never die,
Love but themselves in their pofterity.
Or let his kindness by th' effects be try'd,
Or let him lay his vain pretence aside.
God faid, he lov'd your father; could he bring
A better proof, than to anoint him king?
It furely fhew'd he lov'd the fhepherd well,
Who gave fo fair a flock as Ifrael.
Would David have you thought his darling fon,
What means he then to alienate the crown ?
The name of godly he may blush to bear :
Is't after God's own heart to cheat his heir?
He to his brother gives fupreme command,
To you a legacy of barren land;
Perhaps th' old harp, on which he thrums his lays,
Or fome dull Hebrew ballad in your praise.
Then the next heir, a prince fevere and wife,
Already looks on you with jealous eyes ;
Sees through the thin difguifes of your arts,
And marks your progress in the people's hearts;
Though now his mighty foul its grief contains:
He meditates revenge who least complains :
And like a lion, flumbering in the way,
Or fleep diffembling, while he waits his prey,
His fearless foes within his distance draws,
Conftrains his roaring, and contracts his paws;
Till at the laft, his time for fury found,
He shoots with fudden vengeance from the ground;
The proftrate vulgar passes o'er and spares,
But with a lordly rage his hunters tears.
Your cafe no tame expedients will afford:
Refolve on death, or conqueft by the fword,
Which for no lefs a ftake than life you draw;
And felf-defence is nature's eldest law.
Leave the warm people no confidering time:
For then rebellion may be thought a crime.
Avail yourself of what occasion gives,
But try your title while your father lives:
And that your arms may have a fair pretence,
Proclaim you take them in the king's defence;
Whofe facred life each minute would expofe
To plots, from feeming friends, and fecret foes..
And who can found the depth of David's foul?
Perhaps his fear his kindness may controul.
He fears his brother, though he loves his fon,
For plighted vows too late to be undone.
If fo, by force he wishes to be gain'd:
Like women's lechery to seem constrain'd.
Doubt not but, when he most affects the frown,
Commit a pleafing rape upon the crown.
Secure his person to secure your caufe:
They who poffefs the prince poffefs the laws.
He faid; and this advice above the reft,
With Abfalom's mild nature fuited beft;
Unblain'd of life, ambition fet afide,
Not ftain'd with cruelty, nor puft with pride.
How happy had he been, if destiny
Had higher plac'd his birth, or not so high!
His kingly virtues might have claim'd a throne,
And bleft all other countries but his own.
But charming greatness since so few refuse,
'Tis juster to lament him than accuse.
Strong were his hopes a rival to remove,
With blandishments to gain the public love :
To head the faction while their zeal was hot,
And popularly profecute the plot.
To further this, Achitophel unites
The malcontents of all the Ifraelites :
Whofe differing parties he could wifely join,
For feveral ends, to ferve the fame defign.
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