If those who gave the Scepter, coud not tie By their own Deed their own Posterity, 770 How then coud Adam bind his future Race? How coud his Forfeit on Mankind take place? Or how coud heavenly Justice damn us all And Tenants to their Peoples pleasure stand. For Vice, Oppression, and for Tyranny. Not Kings alone, (the Godheads Images,) Yet, grant our Lords the People, Kings can make, What prudent men a setled Throne woud shake? For whatsoe'r their Sufferings were before, That Change they Covet makes them suffer At once Divine and Humane Laws controul, And mend the Parts by ruine of the Whole. The tamp'ring World is subject to this Curse, To Physick their Disease into a Worse. 810 Now what Relief can Righteous David bring? How Fatal 'tis to be too good a King! Friends he has few, so high the madness grows; Who dare be such, must be the People's Foes: Yet some there were ev'n in the worst of days; Some let me name, and Naming is to praise. In this short File Barzillai first appears; | Barzillai crown'd with Ilonour and with Years: Long since, the rising Rebels he withstood In Regions Waste, beyond the Jordans Flood: Unfortunately Brave to buoy the State; 821 But sinking underneath his Master's Fate: In Exile with his God-like Prince he Mourn'd, For him he Suffer'd, and with him Return'd. The Court he practis'd, not the Courtier's Art: Large was his Wealth, but larger was his Heart: Which, well the Noblest Objects knew to chuse, The Fighting Warriour, and Recording Muse. His Bed coud once a Fruitful Issue boast: Now more than half a Father's Name is lost. His Eldest Hope, with every Grace adorn'd, By me (so Heav'n will have it) always Mourn'd And always honour'd, snatch'd in manhoods prime B' unequal Fates and Providences crime: Yet not before the Goal of Honour won, All Parts fulfill'd of Subject and of Son; Swift was the Race, but short the Time to Oh Ancient Honour, Oh unconquered Hand, Whom Foes unpunish'd never coud withstand! But Israel was unworthy of thy Name: Short is the date of all Immoderate Fame. It looks as Heav'n our Ruine had design'd, And durst not trust thy Fortune and thy Mind. Now, free from Earth, thy disencumbred Soul 850 Mounts up, and leaves behind the Clouds and Starry Pole : From thence thy kindred Legions maist thou bring, To aid the Guardian Angel of thy King. Here stop my Muse, here cease thy painful flight; No pinions can pursue Immortal height: If thou canst find on Earth another He; Zadock the priest, whom, shunning Pow'r and His lowly mind advanc'd to David's Grace: sense Flows in fit words and heavenly eloquence. Next them a train of Loyal Peers ascend: 846 thy] Many editors give his Name] Birth ed. 1. 847 Fame] Worth ed. 1. 875 can] Many editors absurdly give could Jotham of piercing Wit and pregnant Thought, Endew'd by nature and by learning taught Nor chose alone, but turned the Balance too; Indulge one labour more, my weary Muse, So dextrous was he in the Crown's defence, So fit was he to represent them all. They, like th' unequal Ruler of the Day, 910 And safe enjoys the Sabbath of his Toils. These were the chief; a small but faithful Band Of Worthies in the Breach whodar'd tostand To batter down the lawful Government. 88 piercing] ready ed. 1. Thus long have I by Native Mercy sway'd, My Wrongs dissembl'd, my Revenge delay'd; So willing to forgive th' Offending Age; 941 So much the Father did the King asswage. But now so far my Clemency they slight, Th' Offenders question 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, Though Manly tempers can the longest bear. Yet since they will divert my Native course, 'Tis time to show I am not Good by Force. Those heap'd Affronts that haughty Subjects bring, 951 Are burdens for a Camel, not a King: Had God ordain'd his Fate for Empire born, 957-60 Not in ed. 1. Gull'd with a Patriot's name, whose Modern sense Is one that woud by Law supplant his Prince: The Peoples Brave, the Politicians Tool Never was Patriot yet, but was a Fool. Whence comes it that Religion and the Laws Should more be Absalom's than David's Cause ? 970 His old Instructor, e'r he lost his Place, Was never thought indu'd with so much Grace. Good heav'ns, how Faction can a Patriot My Rebel ever proves my Peoples Saint: Choice: But Esau's Hands suit ill with Jacob's Voice. My Pious Subjects for my Safety pray, Which to Secure, they take my Pow'r away. From Plots and Treasons Heav'n preserve iny Years, But save me most from my Petitioners. Unsatiate as the barren Womb or Grave; God cannot Grant so much as they can Crave. What then is left but with a Jealous Eye To guard the Small remains of Royalty? 990 The Law shall still direct my peaceful Sway, And the same Law teach Rebels to obey : Votes shall no more Established Pow'r controul, Such Votes as make a Part exceed the Whole: No groundless Clamours shall my Friends How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan, They could not be content to look on Till, Viper-like, their Mother Plot they tear, 1007 Grace,] Some editors omit the comma and thereby destroy the sense. |