The plenty, state, music, and spriteful wine,
Were lost on Saul; an angry care did dwell
In his dark breast, and all gay forms expel.
David's unusual absence from the feast
To his sick spirit did jealous thoughts suggest:
Long lay he still, nor drank, nor eat, nor spoke,
And thus at last his troubled silence broke:

"Where can he be?" said he; "It must be

And all his fate, and all his deeds, were wrought, | But, though bright joy in every guest did shine,
Since he from Ur to Ephron's cave was brought.
But none 'mongst all the forms drew then their
Like faithful Abram's righteous sacrifice: [eyes
The sad old man mounts slowly to the place,
With Nature's power triumphant in his face
O'er the mind's courage; for, in spite of all,
From his swoln eyes resistless waters fall.
The innocent boy his cruel burthen bore
With smiling looks, and sometimes walk'd before,
And some times turn'd to talk; above was made
The altar's fatal pile, and on it laid
The hope of mankind; patiently he lay,
And did his sire, as he his God, obey.
The mournful sire lifts up at last the knife,
And on one moment's string depends his life,
In whose young loins such brooding wonders lie.
A thousand spirits peep'd from th' affrighted
sky,

Amaz'd at this strange scene; and almost fear'd
For all those joyful prophecies they'd heard ;
Till one leap'd nimbly forth, by God's command,
Like lightning from a cloud, and stopp'd his
hand.

[set.

The gentle spirit smil'd kindly as he spoke,
New beams of joy through Abram's wonder broke,
The angel points t'a tuft of bushes near,
Where an entangled ram does half appear,
And struggles vainly with that fatal net,
Which, though but slightly wrought, was firmly
For, lo! anon, to this sad glory doom'd,
The useful beast on Isaac's pile consum'd;
Whilst on his horns the ransom'd couple play'd,
And the glad boy danc'd to the tunes he made.
Near this hall's end a shittim-table stood;
Yet well-wrought plate strove to conceal the
wood;

With that he paus'd a while. "Too well we know
His boundless pride: he grieves, and hates to

see

The solemn triumphs of my court and me.
Believe me, friends, and trust what I can show
From thousand proofs; th' ambitious David now
Does those vast things in his proud soul design
That too much business give for mirth or wine.
He's kindling now, perhaps, rebellious fire
Among the tribes, and does ev'n now conspire
Against my crown, and all our lives; whilst we
Are loth ev'n to suspect, what we might see.
By the Great Name, 'tis true."
With that he strook the board; and no man
But Jonathan durst undertake to clear [there
The blameless prince; and scarce ten words he
spoke,

When thus his speech th' enraged tyrant broke:
"Disloyal wretch! thy gentle mother's shame!
Whose cold pale ghost ev'n blushes at thy name!
Who fears, lest her chaste bed should doubted be,
And her white fame stain'd by black deeds of
thee!
[hire
Canst thou be mine? a crown sometimes does
Ev'n sons against their parents to conspire;
But ne'er did story yet, or fable, tell
Of one so wild, who, merely to rebel,
Quitted th' unquestion'd birthright of a throne,
And bought his father's ruin with his own.
Thou need'st not plead th' ambitious youth's de-
feuce;

For from the foot a golden vine did sprout,
And cast his fruitful riches all about.
Well might that beauteous ore the grape express,
Which does weak man intoxicate no less.
Of the same wood the gilded beds were made,
And on them large embroider'd carpets laid,
From Egypt, the rich shop of follies, brought;
But arts of pride all nations soon are taught.
Behold seven comely blooming youths appear,
And in their hands seven silver wash-pots bear,
Curl'd, and gay clad; the choicest sons that be
Of Gibeon's race, and slaves of high degree!
Seven beauteous maids march'd softly in behind;
Bright scarfs their clothes, their hair fresh gar-Nor such prodigious worth in David fiud,

Thy crime clears his, and makes that innocence :
Nor can his foul ingratitude appear,

lands, bind;

And, whilst the princes wash, they on them shed
Rich ointments, which their costly odours spread
O'er the whole room; from their small prisons
free,
[flee.
With such glad haste through the wide air they
The king was plac'd alone, and o'er his head
A well-wrought Heaven of silk and gold was
spread,

Azure the ground, the Sun in gold shone bright,
But piere'd the wandering clouds with silver light.
The right-hand bed the king's three sous did

grace,

The third was Abner's, Adriel's, David's, place;
And twelve large tables more were fill'd below,
With the prime men Saul's court and camp could
show.

The palace did with mirth and music sound,
And the crown'd goblets nimbly mov'd around;

Whilst thy unnatural guilt is plac'd so near.
Is this that noble friendship you pretend?
Mine, thine own, foe-and thy worst enemy's
friend?

If thy low spirit can thy great birthright quit,
The thing 's but just, so ill deserv'st thou it.
I, and thy brethren here, have no such mind;

That we to him should our just rights resign,
Or think God's choice not made so well as thine.
Shame of thy house and tribe! hence, from mine
eye,

To thy false friend, and servile master, fly;
He's ere this time in arms expecting thee;
Haste, for those arms are rais'd to ruin me!
Thy sin that way will nobler much appear,
Than to remain his spy and agent here.
When I think this, Nature, by thee forsook,
Forsakes me too." With that his spear he took
To strike at him; the mirth and music cease;
The guests all rise, this sudden storm t' appeases
The prince his danger, and his duty, knew ;
And low he bow'd, and silently withdrew.

To David straight, who in a forest nigh
Waits his advice, the royal friend does fly.
The sole advice now, like the danger, clear,
Was, in some foreign land this storm t' outwear.

All marks of comely grief in both are seen;
And mournful kind discourses pass'd between.
Now generous tears their hasty tongues restrain,
Now they begin, and talk all o'er again:
A reverent oath of constant love they take,
And God's high name their dreaded witness make;
Not that at all their faiths could doubtful prove;
But 'twas the tedious zeal of endless love.
Thus, ere they part, they the short time bestow
In all the pomp friendship and grief could show:
And David now, with doubtful cares oppress'd,
Beneath a shade borrows some little rest;
When, by command divine, thick mists arise,
And stop the sense, and close the conquer'd eyes.
There is a place which man most high doth rear,
The small world's Heaven, where Reason moves the
sphere:

Here in a robe which does all colours show

(Th' envy of birds, and the clouds' gaudy bow) Phansy, wild dame, with much lascivious pride, By twin-camelions drawn, does gaily ride;

Her coach there follows, and throngs round
about

Of shapes and airy forms an endless rout:
A sea rolls on with harmless fury here;
Straight 'tis a field, and trees and herbs appear:
Here in a moment are vast armies made,
And a quick scene of war and blood display'd:
Here sparkling wines, and brighter maids, come
in,

The bawds for Sense, and lying baits of Sin:
Some things arise of strange and quarrelling kind,
The forepart lion, and a snake behind :
Here golden mountains swell the covetous place,
And centaurs ride themselves, a painted race.
Of these slight wonders Nature sees the store,
And only then accounts herself but poor.

Hither an angel comes, in David's trance,
And finds them mingled in an antique dance;
Of all the numerous forms fit choice he takes,
And joins them wisely, and this vision makes.-
First David there appears in kingly state,
Whilst the twelve tribes his dread commands
await;
[goes,
Straight to the wars with his join'd strength he
Settles new friends, and frights his ancient foes.
To Solima, Canaan's old head, they came,
(Since high in note, then not unknown to Fame ;)
The blind and lame th' undoubted wall defend,
And no new wounds or dangers apprehend:
The busy image of great Joab there

Disdains the mock, and teaches them to fear:
He climbs the airy walls, leaps raging down,
New-minted shapes of slaughter fill the town:
They curse the guards their mirth and bravery
chose;

All of them now are slain, or made like those,
Far throud an inward scene an army lay,
Which with full banners a fair fish display:
From Sidon plains to happy Egypt's coast
They seem all met; a vast and warlike host!
Thither hastes David to his destin'd prey,
Honour and noble danger lead the way;
The conscious trees shook with a reverent fear
Their unblown tops; God walked before him
there.

Slaughter the weary'd Riphaims' bosom fills;
Dead corpse emboss the vale with little hills.
On th' other side, Sophenes' mighty kirg
Numberless troops of the blest East does bring:

Twice are his men cut off, and chariots ta'en;
Damascus and rich Adad help in vain.
Here Nabathæan troops in battle stand,
With all the lusty youth of Syrian land!
Undaunted Joab rushes on with speed,
Gallantly mounted on his fiery steed;
He hews down all, and deals his deaths around
The Syrians leave, or possess dead, the ground.
On th' other wing does brave Abishai ride,
Reeking in blood and dust; on every side
The perjur'd sons of Ammon quit the field;
Some basely die, and some more basely yield.
Through a thick wood the wretched Hanun flies,
And far more justly then fears Hebrew spies.
Moloch, their bloody god, thrusts out his head,
Grinning through a black cloud: him they 'd
long fed

In his seven chambers; and he still did eat
New-roasted babes, his dear delicious meat.
Again they arise, more anger'd than dismay'd;
Euphrates and swift Tygris sends them aid:
In vain they send it, for again they 're slain,
And feast the greedy birds on Helay plain.
Here Rabba with proud towers affronts the sky,
And round about great Joab's trenches lie:
They force the walls,and sack the helpless town;
On David's head shines Ammon's massy crown.
Midst various torments the curs'd race expires;
David himself his severe wrath admires.

Next upon Israel's throne does bravely sit
A comely youth, endowed with wondrous wit.
Far, from the parched line, a royal dame,
To hear his tongue and boundless wisdom, came:
She carried back in her triumphant womb
The glorious stock of thousand kings to come.
Here brightest forms his pomp and wealth display,
Here they a temple's vast foundations lay;
A mighty work! and with fit glories fill'd
For God t' inhabit, and that king to build.
Some from the quarries hew out massy stone,
Some draw it up with cranes; some breathe and
In order o'er the anvil; some cut down [groan
Tall cedars, the proud mountain's ancient crown;
Some carve the trunks, and breathing shapes
bestow,

Giving the trees more life than when they grow.
But oh, alas! what sudden cloud is spread
| About this glorious king's eclipsed head?
It all his fame benights, and all his store,[more!
Wrapping him round; and now he 's seen no
When straight his son appears,at Sichem crown'd,
With young and heedless council circled round;
Unseemly object! but a falling state
Has always its own errours join'd with Fate.
Ten tribes at once forsake the Jessian throne,
And bold Adoram at his message stone ;
"Brethren of Israel !"-more he fain would say,
But a flint stopp'd his mouth, and speech, i' th'
Here this fond king's disasters but begin, [way.
He's destin'd to more shame by his father's sin :
Susack came up, and under his command
A dreadful army from scorch'd Afric's sand,
As numberless as that: all is his prey,
The temple's sacred wealth they bear away:
Adrazar's shields and golden loss they take:
Ev'n David in his dream does sweat and shake.
Thus fails this wretched prince; his loins appear
Of less weight now, than Solomon's fingers were.
Abijah next seeks Israel to regain,
And wash in seas of blood his father's stain:

Ne'er saw the aged Sun so cruel fight;
Scarce saw he this, but hid his bashful light.
Nebat's curs'd son fled with not half his men;
Where were his gods of Dan and Bethel then?
Yet could not this the fatal strife decide;
God punish'd one, but bless'd not th' other side.
Asan, a just and virtuous prince succeeds,
High-rais'd by Fame for great and godly deeds;
He cut the solemn groves where idols stood,
And sacrific'd the gods with their own wood;
He vanquish'd thus the proud weak powers of
Hell;

Before him next their doating servants fell:
So huge an host of Zerah's men he slew,
As made ev'n that Arabia desert too.
Why fear'd he then the perjured Baasha's fight?
Or bought the dangerous aid of Syrians' might?
Conquest, Heaven's gift, cannot by man be sold;
Alas! what weakness trusts he? Man and gold.
Next Josaphat possess'd the royal state
(An happy prince, well worthy of his fate);
His oft oblations, on God's altar made,

With thousand flocks and thousand herds are
paid,

Arabian tribute! What mad troops are those,
Those mighty troops that dare to be his foes!
He prays them dead: with mutual wounds they
fall;

One fury brought, one fury slays, them all.
Thus sits he still, and sees himself to win;
Never o'ercome but by 's friend Ahab's sin;
On whose disguise Fates then did only look ;
And had almost their God's command mistook :
Him from whose danger Heaven securely brings,
And for his sake two ripely wicked kings.
Their armies languish, burnt with thirst at Sier;
Sighs all their cold, tears all their moisture,
there;

They fix their greedy eyes on th' empty sky,
And fancy clouds, and so become more dry:
Elisha calls for waters from afar

To come; Elisha calls, and here they are:
In helmets they quaff round the welcome flood;
And the decrease repair with Moab's blood.
Jehoram next, and Ochoziah, throng
For Judah's sceptre; both short-liv'd too long.
A woman too from murder title claims;
Both with her sins and sex the crown she shames:
Proud, cursed woman! but her fall, at last,

To doubting men clears Heaven for what was
past.

Joas at first does bright and glorious show;
In life's fresh morn his fame did early crow;
Fair was the promise of his dawning ray,
But prophet's angry blood o'ercast his day;
From thence his clouds, from thence his storms,

begin;

It cries aloud and twice lets Aram in.
So Amaziah lives, so ends his reign;
Both by their traiterous servants justly slain.
Edom at first dreads his victorious hand,
Before him thousand captives trembling stand;
Down a deep precipice, down he casts them all,
The mimic shapes in several postures fall:
But then (mad fool!) he does those gods adore,
Which, when pluck'd down, had worshipp'd him
before!

Thus all his life to come is loss and shame ;
No help from gods, who themselves help'd not,

came.

All this Uzziah's strength and wit repairs,
Leaving a well built greatness to his heirs;
Till leprous scurf, o'er his whole body cast,
Takes him at first from men, from earth at last.
As virtuons was his son, and happier far;
Buildings his peace, and trophies grac'd his war.
But Achaz heaps up sins, as if he meant
To make his worst forefathers innocent:
He burns his son at Hinnon, whilst around
The roaring child drums and loud trumpets
sound:

This to the boy a barbarous mercy grew,
And snatch'd him from all miseries to ensue.
Here Peca comes, and hundred thousands fall;
Here Resin marches up and sweeps up all;
Till, like a sea, the great Belochus' son
Breaks upon both, and both does over-run;
The last of Adad's ancient stock is slain,
Israel captiv'd, and rich Damascus ta'en:
All this wild rage to revenge Judah's wrong;
But woe to kingdoms that have friends too
strong!

Thus Hezekiah the torn empire took,
And Assur's king, with his worse gods, forsook;
Who to poor Judah worlds of nations brings,
There rages, utters vain and mighty things;
Some dream of triumphs and exalted names,
Some of dear gold,and some of beauteous dames;
Whilst, in the midst of their huge sleepy boast,
An angel scatters death through all the host.
Th' affrighted tyrant back to Babel hies,
There meets an end far worse than that he flies.
Here Hezekiah's life is almost done!

So good, and yet, alas! so short, 'tis spun:
Th' end of the line was ravell'd, weak, and old;
Time must go back, and afford better hold
To tie a new thread to it, of fifteen years:
'Tis done; th' all-mighty power of prayer and
tears!

Backward the Sun, an unknown motion, went ;
The stars gaz'd on, and wonder'd what he meant.
Manasses next (forgetful man!) begins,
Enslav'd and sold to Ashur by his sins;
Till by the rod of learned Misery taught,
Home to his God and country both he's

brought:

It taught not Ammon, nor his hardness brake;
He's made the example he refus'd to take.

Yet from this root a goodly cyon springs;
Josiah, best of men, as well as kings.
Down went the calves with all their gold and
cost:

The priest then truly griev'd Osiris lost;
These mad Egyptian rites till now remain'd;
Fools! they their worser thraldrom still retain'd!
In his own fires Moloch to ashes fell,
And no more flames must have besides his Hell;
Like end Astarte's horned image found,
And Baal's spired stone to dust was ground:
No more were men in female habit seen,
Nor they in men's, by the lewd Syrian queen:
No lustful maids at Benos' temple sit,

And, with their bodies' shame, their marriage
get:

The double Dagon neither nature saves,
Nor flies she back to th' Erythrean waves.
The travelling Sun sees gladly from on high
His chariots burn, and Nergal quenched lie;
| The king's impartial anger lights on all,
From fly-blown Accaron to the thundering Baâl.

Straight to his diligent God just thanks he gives;
To divine Nobe directs then his flight,

A small town, great in fame, by Levi's right;
Is there, with sprightly wines and hallow'd bread,
(But what's to hunger hallow'd?) largely fed.
The good old priest welcomes his fatal guest,
And with long talk prolongs the hasty feast:
He lends him vain Goliah's sacred sword
(The fittest help just Fortune could afford);
A sword whose weight, without a blow might slay,
Able unblunted to cut hosts away;
A sword so great, that it was only fit
To take-off his great head who came with it.
Thus he arms David: "I your own restore,
Take it," said he, "and use it as before;

I saw you then, and 'twas the bravest sight
That ere these eyes ow'd the discovering light:
When you step'd forth, how did the monster