Her hinder parts, but with a daring eye
To tempt the terrour of her front and die.
By their own arts 'tis righteoully decreed,
Thofe 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 onfet, 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 stands the ground.
He faid: Th' Almighty nodding gave confent;
And peals of thunder fhook the firmament.
Henceforth a series of new time began,
The mighty years in long proceffion ran:
Once more the god-like David was reftor'd,
And willing nations knew their lawful lord.
N the year 1680 Mr. Dryden undertook the poem
of Abfalom and Achitophel, upon the defire of King Charles the Second. The performance was applauded by every one; and several perfons preffing him to write a fecond part, he, upon declining it himself, fpoke to Mr. Tate to write one, and gave him his advice in the direction of it; and that part beginning page 156. line 13.
"Next thefe, a troop of bufy fpirits prefs,"
and ending page 161. line the last.
"To talk like Doeg, and to write like thee."
containing near two hundred verfes, were intirely Mr. Dryden's compofitions, befides fome touches in other places,
Si quis tamen hæc quoque, Si quis captus amore leget.
INCE men like beafts each other's prey were made, Since trade began, and priesthood grew a trade, Since realms were form'd, none fure so curft as those That madly their own happiness oppose;
There heaven itself and god-like Kings, in vain
Show'r down the manna of a gentle reign;
While pamper'd crouds to mad sedition run,
And monarchs by indulgence are undone.
Thus David's clemency was fatal grown,
While wealthy faction aw'd the wanting throne.
For now their fov'reign's orders to contemn,
Was held the charter of Jerufalem,
His rights t'invae, his tributes to refuse,
A privilege péculiar to the Jews;
As if from heav'nly call this licence fell,
And Jacob's feed were chofen to rebel!
Achitophel with triumph fees his crimes.
Thus fuited to the madnefs of the times;
And Abfalom, to make his hopes fucceed,
Of flattering charms no longer ftands in need;
While fond of change, though ne'er fo dearly bought,
Our tribes outstrip the youths ambitious thought;
His swifteft hopes with fwifter homage meet,
And croud their fervile necks beneath his feet.
Thus to his aid while preffing tides repair,
He mounts and fpreads his ftreamers in the air.
The charms of empire might his youth mislead,
But what can our befotted Ifrael plead ?
Sway'd by a monarch, whofe ferene command
Seems half the bleffing of our promis'd land.
Whose only grievance is excess of ease ;
Freedom our pain, and plenty our disease!
Yet as all folly would lay claim to sense,
And wickedness ne'er wanted a pretence,
With arguments they'd make their treafon good,
And righteous David's felf with flanders load:
That arts of foreign fway he did affect,
And guilty Jebufites from law protect,
Whofe very chiefs, convict, were never frced,
Nay we have feen their facrificers bleed!
Accufers infamy is urg'd in vain,
While in the bounds of fense they did contain,
But foon they launcht into th' unfathom'd tide,
And in the depths they knew difdain'd to ride,
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