Since trade began, and priesthood grew a trade,
Since realms were form'd, none fure so curft as
That madly their own happiness oppose;
There heaven itself and god-like kings, in vain Shower down the manna of a gentle reign;
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 fwifteft hopes with fwifter 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 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 treason good,
And righteous David's felf with flanders load:
That arts of foreign fway 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 fenfe they did contain,
But foon they launcht into the unfathom❜d tide,
And in the depths they knew difdain'd to ride.
For probable discoveries to difpenfe,
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 impose,
And projects void of grace or fense disclose.
Such was the change on pious Michal brought,
Michal that ne'er was cruel even in thought,
The best of queens, and moft obedient wife,
Impeach'd of curft defigns on David's life!
His life, the theme of her eternal prayer,
"Tis scarce fo much his guardian angels care.
Not fummer morns fuch mildness can disclose,
The Hermon lilly, nor the Sharon rose.
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 peft purfue,
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, science, 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 seiz'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 gross, 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 ftill; 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 swearers out. Some had their sense impos'd on by their fear, But more for intereft fake believe and fwear: Even to that height with fome 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 some 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,
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