INTRODUCTORY NOTE. The following explanation of the production of the Second Part of "Absalom and Achitophel" was given by Jacob Tonson, in reprinting the poem in the edition of Miscellany Poems" of 1716; and it has always been regarded as authentic: "In the year 1680 Mr. Dryden undertook the poem of ‘Absalom and Achitophel' upon the desire of King Charles the Second. The performance was applauded by every one; and several persons pressing him to write a second part, he, upon declining it himself, spoke to Mr. Tate to write one, and gave him his advice in the direction of it; and that part beginning, and ending, 'Next these, a troop of busy spirits press,' 'To talk like Doeg and to write like thee,' containing near two hundred verses, were entirely Mr. Dryden's composition, besides some touches in other places. This Second Part was published in November 1682, in the month following that of the publication of “Mac Flecknoe." Dryden's part of the poem (lines_310-509) contains a second bitter elaborate attack on Shadwell under the name of Og. Nahum Tate, the author of the greater part of this poem, is now most known as the author, with Brady, of a Translation of the Psalms in verse. He was an Irishman; he was a strong Tory: he had addressed a complimentary poem to Dryden on his "Absalom and Achitophel," which Dryden printed together with two others by Duke and Lee, at the beginning of the second edition. He became Poet Laureat on the death of Shadwell, who succeeded Dryden, deposed after the Revolution. ate died in 1715. Broughton, in his edition of Dryden's Poems, 1743, printed only that portion of this poem which Jacob Tonson had stated to be Dryden's. Tate's larger portion is not recommended by intrinsic merits. But it may be presumed, indeed there can be no doubt, that here and there are lines and phrases of Dryden's. Scott thinks that much of the descriptions of Corah and Arod, and of the lines preceding the account of Arod, is Dryden's. Under all the circumstances, it has been thought best to print the whole of the poem; printing it, however, for distinction's sake, in italics, with the exception of the part which is known to be entirely Dryden's. The poem was reprinted in the edition of the “Miscellany Poems” of 1716, when both Dryden and Tate were dead. There were several changes in this, which is called the third, edition; some evidently authorized improvements, others misprints and deteriorations of the text. There was annexed to the reprint in the "Miscellany Poems" of 1716 (vol. 2) a Key to both parts, which is here printed after the poem. ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL. THE SECOND PART. Since men, like beasts, each other's prey were made, Since realms were formed, none sure so cursed as those There Heaven itself and godlike kings in vain Shower down the manna of a gentle reign; Achitophel with triumph sees his crimes Of flattery's charms no longer stands in need, * David, Charles II. + In the first edition this line stood: "Thus David's goodness was e'en fatal grown." Wanting here means simply, needy. The same phrase, “wanting throne," occurs in "Absalom and Achitophel," line 892, where the context makes the meaning clear. Jerusalem, London. Achitophel, Earl of Shaftesbury. The Jews, the English. ** Absalom, Duke of Monmouth. * Flatteries in first edition, old spelling for flattery's; flattering in edition of 1716. 11 Israel, England. Yet, as all folly would lay claim to sense With arguments they'd make their treason good 35 And righteous David's self with slanders load: While in the bounds of sense they did contain,+ In Ileaven's remembrance and prolong his reign. Less desolation did the pest pursue That from Dan's limits to Beersheba slew, And less Jerusalem's avenging fire; ** With gentler terror these our State o'erran, Jebusites, Roman Catholics. + These two lines are meant as a reply by the author to the accusation against the King that he protected the Roman Catholics. "Their very chiefs," it is said in reply," have been never pardoned after conviction, and some of those employed for sham-plots whereby to sacrifice opponents have been executed.' 1 An unusual employment of the verb contain in an intransitive sense. § Evidence here, and again in line 91, is used to mean a witness. Corah, Titus Oates. Michal, Catharine, queen of England. ** Tyre, Holland. Trust was no more, art, science, useless made, Meanwhile, a guard on modest Corah wait, Well might he deem each peer and prince his slave, And lord it o'er the tribes which he could save: Even vice in him was virtue; what sad fate, But for his honesty, had seized our State? And with what tyranny had we been curst, To have told his knowledge of the intrigue in gross The travelled Levite had the experience got To husband well and make the best of his plot, Yet than all these a viler crew remain, The original rebels' wiles, revenge, and spite, These raise the plot, to have the scandal thrown Whose virtue with such wrongs they had pursued The cheated crowd applaud and share their guilt. Such practices as these, too gross to lie Long unobserved by each discerning eye, *For in first edition; replaced by and in edition of 1716 |