While pamper'd crowds to mad fedition 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 fovereign's orders to contemn
Was held the charter of Jerufalem,

His rights to invade, his tributes to refuse,
A privilege peculiar 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 madness of the times;
And Abfalom, to make his hopes fucceed,
Of flattering charms no longer stands in need;
While fond of change, tho ne'er fo dearly bought,
Our tribes outstrip the youth's ambitious thought;
His swifteft hopes with swifter homage meet,
And crowd their fervile necks beneath his feet.
Thus to his aid while preffing tides repair,
He mounts and spreads 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.
Whofe only grievance is excefs of eafe;
Freedom our pain, and plenty our disease!

Yet as all folly would lay claim to fense,
And wickedness ne'er wanted a pretence,
With arguments they'd make their treafon good,
And righteous David's self with flanders load:
That arts of foreign sway he did affect,
And guilty Jebufites from law protect,
Whose very chiefs, convict, were never freed,
Nay we have seen their facrificers bleed!
Accufers infamy is urg'd in vain,

While in the bounds of fense they did contain,
But foon they launcht into the unfathom'd tide,
And in the depths they knew difḍain'd to ride.
For probable discoveries to dispense,
Was thought below a penfion'd evidence ;
Mere truth was dull, nor fuited with the port
Of pamper'd Corah when advanc'd to court.
No less than wonders now they will impofe,
And projects void of grace or sense disclose.
Such was the change on pious Michal brought,
Michal that ne'er was cruel even in thought,
The best of queens, and most obedient wife,
Impeach'd of curst designs on David's life!
His life, the theme of her eternal prayer,
'Tis fcarce fo much his guardian angels care.
Not fummer morns fuch mildness can difclofe,
The Hermon lilly, nor the Sharon rofe.

Neglecting each vain pomp of majesty,
Transported Michal feeds her thoughts on high.
She lives with angels, and as angels do,

Quits heaven fometimes to bless the world below.
Where, cherisht by her bounties plenteous fpring,
Reviving widows fmile, and orphans fing.
Oh! when rebellious Ifrael's crimes at height,
Are threatned with her Lord's approaching fate,
The piety of Michal then remain

In heaven's remembrance, and prolong his reign.
Lefs defolation did the pest pursue,
That from Dan's limits to Beersheba flew,
Lefs fatal the repeated wars of Tyre,
And lefs Jerufalem's avenging fire.

With gentler terror these our state o'er-ran,
Than fince our evidencing days began!
On every cheek a pale confufion fat,
Continu'd fear beyond the worst of fate!

Truft was no more, art, fcience, useless made,
All occupations loft but Corah's trade.
Mean while a guard on modest Corah wait,
If not for fafety, needful yet for state.

Well might he deem each peer and prince his flave,
And lord it o'er the tribes which he could fave:
Even vice in him was virtue---what fad fate

But for his honefty had feiz'd our state ?

And with what tyranny had we been curst,

Had Corah never prov'd a villain first ?

T'have told his knowlege of the intrigue in grofs,
Had been, alas, to our deponent's lofs:

The travell'd Levite had the experience got,
To husband well, and make the best of's plot ;
And therefore like an evidence of skill,
With wife referves fecur'd his penfion still;
Nor quite of future power himself bereft,
But limbos large for unbelievers left.

And now his writ fuch reverence had

got, 'Twas worse than plotting to suspect his plot. Some were fo well convinc'd, they made no doubt Themselves to help the founder'd fwearers out. Some had their fenfe impos'd on by their fear, But more for intereft fake believe and fwear: Even to that height with some the frenzy grew, They rag'd to find their danger not prove true. Yet, than all these a viler crew remain, Who with Achitophel the cry maintain ; Not urg'd by fear, nor thro misguided sense, Blind zeal and starving need had fome pretence, But for the good old cause that did excite The original rebels wiles, revenge and spight. These raise the plot to have the scandal thrown Upon the bright fucceffor of the crown,

Whose virtue with fuch wrongs they had purfu'd,
As feem'd all hope of pardon to exclude.
Thus, while on private ends their zeal is built,
The cheated crowd applaud and share their guilt.
Such practices as these, too gross to lie
Long unobferv'd by each discerning eye,
The more judicious Ifraelites unfpell'd,
Tho ftill the charm the giddy rabble held,
Ev'n Abfalom amidst the dazzling beams
Of empire, and ambition's flattering dreams,
Perceives the plot, too foul to be excus'd,
To aid defigns, no less pernicious, us'd.
And, filial sense yet striving in his breast,
Thus to Achitophel his doubts exprest,

Why are my thoughts upon a crown employ'd,
Which once obtain'd can be but half enjoy'd?
Not fo when virtue did my arms require,
And to my father's wars I flew intire.
My regal power how will my foes refent,
When I myself have scarce my own consent?
Give me a fon's unblemish'd truth again,
Or quench the sparks of duty that remain.
How flight to force a throne that legions guard
The talk to me; to prove unjust, how hard!
And if th' imagin'd guilt thus wound my thought,
What will it when the tragic scene is wrought?