A Paraphrase on Horace, B. III. Od. xvi. .... 203 VIII. The Dangers of an honest Man in much Company 206 5 Up with the sun arose; and, having thrice ride; 15 20 25 Rich swords and gilded quivers grace their side. 'Midst the fair troop David's tall brethren rode, And Joab, comely as a fancied god; They entertain'd th' attentive Moab lords With loose and various talk that chance affords, Whilst they pac'd slowly on; but the wise king Did David's tongue to weightier subjects bring. "Much," said the king, "much I to Joab owe, "For the fair picture drawn by him of you; “'T was drawn in little, but did acts express "So great, that largest histories are less. "I see, methinks, the Gathian monster still; "His shape last night 'my mindful dreams did fill. 30 "Strange tyrant Saul, with envy to pursue 35 "The praise of deeds whence his own safety grew! "I've heard (but who can think it?) that his son "Has his life's hazard for your friendship run; "His matchless son, whose worth (if fame be true) "Lifts him 'bove all his countrymen but you, 40 "With whom it makes him one." Low David bows, But no reply Moab's swift tongue allows. "And pray, kind guest! whilst we ride thus," says he " (To gameful Nebo still three leagues there be), "The story of your royal friend relate, "And his ungovern'd sire's imperious fate; "Why your great State that nameless family chose, "And by what steps to Israel's throne they rose." 45 He said: and David thus: "From Egypt's land "You've heard, Sir, by what strong unarmed hand "Our fathers came, Moses their sacred guide; 51 "But he in sight of the given country dy'd: "His fatal promis'd Canaan was on high, "And Joshua's sword must th' active rod supply: "It did so, and did wonders. 55 "From sacred Jordan to the Western main, "From well-clad Libanus to the Southern plain "Of naked sands, his winged conquests went; "And thirty kings to hell uncrown'd he sent. "Almost four hundred years, from him to Saul, 60 "In too much freedom pass'd, or foreign thrall. "Oft strangers' iron sceptres bruis'd the land "(Such still are those borne by a conquering hand);" Oft pitying God did well-form'd spirits raise, "Fit for the toilsome business of their days, 65 "To free the groaning nation, and to give "Peace first, and then the rules in peace to live. "But they whose stamp of power did chiefly lie "In characters too fine for most men's eye, "Graces and gifts divine ;-not painted bright 70 "With state to awe dull minds, and force t' af"fright; "Were ill obey'd whilst living, and at death "Their rules and pattern vanish'd with their breath. "The hungry rich all near them did devour; "Their judge was Appetite, and their law was "Power. "Not Want itself could luxury restrain; "For what that emptied, Rapine fill'd again. 75 "6 Robbery the field, Oppression sack'd the town; "What the Sword's reaping spar'd, was glean'd by "th' Gown. "At courts, and seats of justice, to complain, 80. "Was to be robb'd more vexingly again. "Nor was their Lust less active or less bold, "Amidst this rougher search of blood and gold; "Weak beauties they corrupt, and force the strong; "The pride of old men that, and this of young. 85 "You 've heard perhaps, Sir, of lewd Gibeah's "shame, "Which Hebrew tongues still tremble when they "Alarmed all by one fair stranger's eyes, 90 |