too When they much pleased and triumphing saw The King his Royal Favour to withdraw Which like a Spring on him before did flow And from him all on others to bestow Defenceless left naked almost forlorn Subject to every trifling Rimers scorn And beyond Iordan by their malice drove No Succour left him but the Peoples Love For he was still their Darling and Delight Because they saw he was no Baalite Their Hopes now almost at their height did seem To place their Crown upon Eliakim The Iews Gods People and peculiar care For their true Worship still most zealous were That Jewel seem'd most precious in their eyes And it above all Human things they prize No Torments could make them their Faith deny They willingly for their Religion die Their Liberties were also dear to them Sprung from a free and not a slavish Stem Th' Egyptian Bondage for their Souls unfit They never in Iudaea would permit Their own known Laws they willingly obey Hate Tyranny and Arbitrary Sway. Nor did they many Privileges want Kept from the time they first the Land did plant For which to death they lawfully would strive If injur'd by their Kings Prerogative For some of them have try'd to break the Bound And did like Ethnick Kings their People's Freedom wound So Rehoboam caus'd them to rebell And lost at once ten Tribes of Israel No people were more ready to obey Their Kings who rul'd them by a gentle Sway Who never sought their Consciences to curb Their Freedom or Religion to disturb To such they always open-hearted were For them they neither Coin nor Blood would spare Such Kings might their Prerogatives improve And rule the Iews ev'n as they pleas'd with Love But stiff indeed they were and moody grew When Tyrants did with cruel Stripes pursue Them sore oppress'd and sometimes murmur'd too Kings they had try'd of ev'ry sort and size Best govern'd by the Warlike and the wise Tho' Kings they lov'd and for them Reverence had They never would adore them as a God God's Worship and their Laws they did prefer They knew them men might by bad Councils Err. Tho' Loyal yet oppress'd they did not fear To make their heavy Grievances appear This was indeed the Humor of the Iew The People by Complaints their Griefs would shew And never would in truth contented seem Untill redress'd by their wise Sanhedrim Thus now the Iews tho' free from ill Design In their Religious Cause together joyn They cast their Eyes on Amazia's Son Who without Arts the People's Love had won Full of tormenting Jealousies and Fears Eliakim a dangerous man appears The sober part of the whole Sanhedrim Desire to keep Iudea's Crown from him For they foresaw if he should wear the Crown Baal's Worship he 'd set up and God's cast down That all the Nations must be Slaves to Baal Suffer in Flames fly or 'fore Idolls fall Great were their Fears but yet they did abhor The very thoughts of a dishonest War For they had seen the Kingdom 's many Scarrs Th'unseemly marks of former Civil Wars They Amazia lov'd and wish'd him well Resolve to suffer rather than rebell Yet openly declare free from all stain How much they hate a Baalite should reign And for this cause and for this cause alone Eliakim they 'd put by from the Throne Eliakim at Court had many Friends By whom in secret he could work his ends So that no Accusation could remove Him deeply rooted in his Brother's love But since the Iews to him shew'd open hate Lest that his Presence should embroil the State And that the Iews might have no cause to sin He 's sent to rule the Tribe of Benjamin Thus two great Factions in Iudaea rose So hotly each the other did oppose 'T was fear'd they 'd fall at last from words to blows Each side most zealous for the King appears Each full of Jealousies and disturbing Fears Each pleads for Amazia and the Laws God and Religion both do make their cause Both Loyalty profess both opposite Both would persuade that each was in the right Though both contrary shew as Day and Night Sweet Azaria with these Troubles mov'd On that side hated and by this belov'd Fearing th'inveterate malice of his Foes Which he sought to avoid not to oppose And lest they should their sought occasion find To tax him of an ill ambitious Mind By seeing all the Iews to him so kind Lest he should grow i' th' Kings Opinion worse He seeks for counsel how to steer his course That he might to the Court give no offence But live wrapt in his own fair innocence The wise and thoughtful Hushai he doth find And thus to him he breaks his troubled mind Great Counsellour and Favourite of Heaven To whom the blessing of True Wisdom's given Which by no Mortal can possessed be Whose Thoughts are not inform'd by Loyalty I know Reproaches upon you are thrown But judge your Innocency by my own I am accused Sir as well as you And the same Foe doth both our Lives pursue He fears your Wisdom may his hinderance prove And me because I have the Peoples love His Creatures therefore throw on you and me The scandal of a curs'd Conspiracy Against our King and Father to rebell Me Absalom and you Achitophel They name bad Counsellour and worser Son Who Traitors durst into Rebellion run My Father governs with so equal sway That all both love him and his Laws obey He seems Heav'ns care who set him in the Throne Preserved by his wonderous power alone Oh may on him no blemish fall or stain But all live happy in his peaceful Reign May he be happy still as he is good Like God in Mercy not inclin'd to Blood This is the Prayer that I daily make For Piety shall never me forsake Tho I his Royal Favour ne'er partake And tho my Foes have with their subtil art Banish'd me from my Royal Fathers heart Which is the source of all my grief and wo My just Obedience I will ne'er forgo Nor has Disgrace nor my hot Passions wrought Within my Breast one bad disloyal Thought I ne'er believ'd my Father would betray His People or sought Arbitrary Sway Or though his People did his wrath provoke He meant to curb them with an Iron Yoke Yet do I think nay more than think the cause But here his Passion made some little pause Till sighing at the last he thus went on Why my Great Father does disown his Son They say I am but of a spurious Brood My Mother being of Ignoble Blood For Iocoliah was but mean by Birth Though with the King she mix'd her baser Earth I was begotten in my Fathers Flight E'er to the Crown he had obtain'd his Right And since I from his Favour did decline He has declar'd her but his Concubine This has the hopes rais'd of Eliakim And Amazia's Crown 's design'd for him My hopes are lost and I do think it fit I should to God Right and the
their dying breath Denying all their Treason at their death This made Impression on some easie Minds Whom or good Nature or false Pity blinds Mov'd their Compassion and stirr'd up their Grief And of their dying Oaths caus'd a Belief The did effect what the curs'd Traytors sought The Plots Belief into Discredit brought Of it at first some Doubts they onely rais'd And with their Impudence the World amaz'd Though Azgads Murder did the Iews convince Who was a man most Loyal to his Prince And by the bloudy Chemarims did fall Because he seiz'd the Trayt'rous Priests of Baal Though Gedaliah's Letters made all plain Who was their Scribe and of a ready Brain A Levite's Son but turn'd a Baalite Who for the Kings own Brother then did write And Correspondence kept i' th' Egyptian Court To whom the Traytors for Advice resort Who like a zealous Traytorous Baalite died And at the Fatal Tree the Plot denied Though Amazia did at first believe And to the Hellish Plot did credit give Though the great Council of the Sanhedrim Among the Iews always of great esteem Declar'd to all the world this Plot to be An Hellish and a curs'd Conspiracy To kill the King Religion to o'erthrow And cause the Iews their righteous Laws forgo To make the People to dumb Idols fall And in the place of God to set up Baal Though all the People saw it and believ'd Though Courts of Justice hard to be deceiv'd Had added to the rest their Evidence Yet with a strange unheard of Impudence The Baalites all so stoutly had deny'd Their Hellish Plot with Vows and Oaths beside And with such diligence themselves apply'd They at the last their sought for point had got And artfully in doubt had brought their Plot A thousand cunning Shams and Tricks they us'd Whereby the simple Vulgar were abus'd And some o' th' Edomitish Evidence Who Mammon worship'd were bought off with Pence Libni for whom before their Harps they strung Who was the Subject of each Hebrews Song Was vilified by every Rascals Tongue In secret and inglorious did remain And the Plot thought the Projects of his Brain The Baalites thus encourag'd by success Increase their hopes and their black Projects bless Like the bold Titans Plot on Plot they lay And Heav'n it self with impious Arms essay A new Invention wrought in Hell below The Iews and their Religion to o'erthrow They bring to light with this their hopes they raise And for dire Plots think they deserve the Bays This Engine stronger than th' old Roman Ram For Battery by a new name call'd Sham With well learn'd and succesful arts they use To overthrow the Synagogues of the Iews Their Worship and Religion to confound And lay their glorious Temple on the ground With this new Engine they a breach had made By which they hop'd the Loyal Iews t' invade With Troops of Treasons and Rebellious Plots Led on by Villains Perjur'd Rogues and Scots And with such Arms in Hell's black Workhouse form'd The peaceful Iews they violently storm'd Who 'gainst the Baalites Plots had no defence But God their Laws and their own Innocence Among the Princes of the Iewish â—â—â—ce For Wisdom Hushai had the Chiefest Place Prudent in Speech and in his Actions close Admir'd by all and feared by his Foes Well skill'd and knowing in the Iewish Laws Able to plead and to defend a Cause Of piercing Judgment and of pregnant Wit Did once Chief Judge of all Iudea sit Was then esteem'd the Honor of the Gown And with his Vertues sought to serve the Crown Till Foes procur'd him Amazia's Frown Then he descended from the hight of Place Without a Blemish and without Disgrace Yet inly griev'd for he could well divine The Issue of the Baalites curs'd Design To see Religion and God's Righteous Cause The Ancient Government the Nation 's Laws Unpropping and all ready strait to fall And the whole Race of Iews made Slaves to Baal With Zeal inspired boldly up he ' rose To wrestle with the King 's and Nation 's Foes And tho' he was with Wealth and Honor blest He scorn'd to give his Age its needful Rest He learn'd that man was not born for himself To get great Titles Names or sordid Pelf To wear a lazy Life himself to please With Idleness and with luxurious Ease When he beheld his Country in distress And none the Danger able to redress He did resolve tho' not affecting Fame Or to obtain a Patriot's Glorious Name His Rest his Life his Fortune to expose Rather than see his Countrey 's dangerous Foes Run on uncheck'd till they had brought the Land To their and to a Baalite King's Command He could not therefore so himself forget To see the Barques of Government o'erset But with his Skill he help'd the Boat to trim And boldly did oppose Eliakim Eliakim was Brother to the King From the same Loins and Royal Seed did spring Of courage bold and of a daring mind To whom the King even to excess was kind And though he had a Son for him the Crown design'd Sweet Azaria like the beauteous Morn Whence all Sweets flow did once that Court adorn A budding Rose whose beauty 's newly blown Or like a Cedar on Mount Lebanon He in his Fathers grace and favour grew And towards him the Peoples eyes he drew He was by most belov'd admir'd by all For 's Zeal to God and 's Hatred unto Baal But ah this mov'd the cursed Baalites hate Disturb'd his peace and troubles did create What can't Design and Hellish Malice do With Lies they close this noble Prince pursue They think his Father too indulgent grown Whose Love had many Blessings on him thrown But what exceeded all the rest beside He chose the sweet Ierusha for his Bride A blessing he esteemed far above The Crown and all things but his Fathers Love For that he still above his Life did prize Dear as his Fame and dearer than his Eyes Below his Feet for that he all things trod Adoring nothing more except his God Young as he was he had acquired Fame His Breast infired with a Warlike Flame In Forein Wars his courage he had shown Had Laurels won and brought home fair Renown Happy most happy till with wonderous art His Foes had wrought him from his Fathers heart And so much power on Amazia won He by degrees grew jealous of his Son And who for this can Amazia blame If that the King the Father overcame For Crowns by Kings esteemed are more near Than Children or than Sons belov'd more dear His Foes Baals Friends had laid their artful Snares Heighten'd his Fathers Jealousies and Fears And made each innocent Action of the Prince To give his jealous Father an offence If with wise Hushai they the Prince did see They call'd their meeting a Conspiracy And cry that he was going to rebell Him Absalom they name Hushai Achitophel With slander thus the Prince they did pursue Aiming at 's Life and the wise Hushai's
of Peace new Troubles would create And for their private Gain embroyl the State And some perhaps there were who thought a King To be of Charge and but an useless thing Some idle Fops who publickly debate To shew their Parts the deep Intrigues of State These and some others for a Common-wealth Among the Herd unseen might hide by stealth But it would strange to common Justice seem For some few bad the sound Flock to condemn Like Goats among the Sheep well known these bleat And are like Darnel 'mong the purest Wheat These not as Friends but Enemies to the Throne Good Patriots and good Subjects did disown And Azaria tho they us'd his name Disdain'd their Friendship with a loyal shame But he beheld appearing on his side Princes whose Faith and Loyalty were try'd Such as no base or sordid ends could move Who did hls Father and their Country love In the first rank of these did Nashon stand None nobler or more loyal in the Land Under the King he once did Edom sway And taught that Land the Iews good Laws t' obey True to his Word and of unspotted Fame Great both in Parts in Vertue and in Name His Faith ne'r touch'd his Loyalty well known A friend both to his Country and the Throne Base ends his great and noble Soul did scorn Of loyal high and noble Parents born His Father with renown and great Applause For Ioash di'd and suffer'd for his Cause Of great Aminadab who would not sing Whose glory shin'd next to the martyr'd King From him his Son true Loyalty understood Imprest on 's Soul seal'd with his Father's Blood The grave religious wise rich Helon too Much honoured by every zealous Iew Appear'd a Patriot to his Country true In the Iews Laws and strict Religion bred And Baal's curst Rites did much abhor and dread His Son Eliab in the Sanhedrim With courage had oppos'd Eliakim A man whose many Vertues and his Parts Had won upon the sober Peoples hearts From every Faction and from Envy free Lov'd well the King but hated Flatterie Kept Moses's Laws yet was no Pharisee He went not to their Synagogues to pray But to the Holy Temple every day With piercing Judgment saw the Lands Disease And labour'd only for the Kingdoms Peace Loyal and honest was esteem'd by all Excepting those who strove to set up Baal For an ill Action he ne'r stood reprov'd But 's King his Country aud Religion lov'd No Taint ere fell upon Eliab's name Nor Hell it self found cause to spot his Fame Pagiel with honour loaded and with years Among this Loyal Princely Train appears None Pagiel tax'd for no one never knew That he to Amazia was untrue A â—â—me unspotted he might truly boast Yet he had Foes and his gain'd Favours lost 〈◊〉 a sober and a vertuous Prince Who never gave least cause of an offence Elishama at once both sage and young From noble and from loyal Fathers sprung Shone bright among this sober Princely throng Enan a Prince of very worthy Fame Great in deserved Title Bloud and Name Elizur too who number'd with the best In Vertue scorn'd to lag behind the rest Abidon and Gamaliel had some sway Both loyal and both zealous in their way And now once more I will invoke my Muse To sing brave Ashur's praise who can refuse Sprung from an ancient and a noble Race With Courage stampt upon his manly face Young active loyal had through Dangers run And with his Sword abroad had Honours won Well-spoken bold free generous and kind And of a noble and discerning mind Great ones he scorn'd to court nor fools would please But thought it better for to trust the Seas He thought himself far safer in a Storm And should receive from raging Seas less harm Than from those dangerous men who could create A Storm at Land with Envie and with Hate And now got free from all their Trains and Wiles He at their hateful Plots and Malice smiles Plowing the Ocean for new honour toils These were the chief a good and faithful Band Of Princes who against those men durst stand Whose Counsel sought to ruine all the Land With grief they saw the cursed Baalites bent To batter down the Iewish Government To pull their Rights and true Religion down By setting up a Baalite on the Throne These wisely did with the Sanhedrim joyn Which Council by the Iews was thought divine The next Successour would remove 't is true Onely because he was a Baalite Jew Ills they foresaw and the great danger found Which to the King as by their Dutie bound They shew'd and open laid the bleeding Wound But such who had possest his Royal Ear Had made the King his Loyal Subjects fear Did their good Prince with causeless terrour fright As if these meant to rob him of his Right Said They with other Rebels did combine And had against his Crown some ill designe That the wise Hushai laid a wicked Train And Azaria sought in 's stead to reign That the old Plot to ruine Church and State Was born from Hushai's and the Levite's Pate That Pharisees were bold and numerous grown And sought to place their Elders in his Throne No wonder then if Amazia thought These Loyal Worthies did not as they ought That they did Duty and Obedience want And no Concessions from the Throne would grant They who in Amazia's favour grew Themselves obnoxious to the People knew Some were accused by the Sanhedrim Most Friends and Allies to Eliakim For his Succession eagerly they strove And him the rising Sun adore and love When Doeg who with Egypt did combine And to enslave Iudea did designe Accus'd of Treason by the Sanhedrim Kept in the Tower of Ierusalem The Object prov'd of fickle Fortunes sport And lost the Honours he possest at Court Elam in favour grew out stript by one And seem'd a Prop to Amazia's Throne He had in foreign parts been sent to School And did in Doeg's place the Kings thin Treasure rule He to Eliakim was neer alli'd What greater parts could he possess beside For the wise Iews believ'd the King did run Some hazard if he prov'd his Father's Son But now alas th' Exchequer was grown poor The Coffers empty which did once run o're The bounteous King had been so very kind That little Treasure he had left behind Elam had gotten with the empty Purse For his dead Father's sake the Peoples Curse For they believ'd that no great good could spring From one false to his Country and his King Iotham the fickle Shuttle-cock of Wit Was bandied several ways to be made fit Unconstant he all ways for Honour tri'd At last laid hold upon the rising side If Wit he had 't was thought by not a few He a better thing did want and VVisdom too Then Amiel would scarce give place to him VVho once the chief was of the Sanhedrim He then appeared for the Crowns defence But spoke his own and not the Nations sense And tho he
praised was by Shimei's Muse The Iews of many Crimes did him accuse Harim a man like a bow'd Ninepence bent Had tried all the ways of Government VVas once a Rebel and Knew how to cant Then turn'd a very Devil of a Saint Peevish morose and some say prov'd a fool VVhen o're the Edomites he Went to rule VVhen to his bent the King he could not bring He fairly then went over to the King Old Amalack a man of cunning head Once in the cursed School of Rebels bred From thence his Maximes and his Knowledg Drew Of old known Arts hovv to enslave the Iew. For pardon'd Treason thus sought to atone Had wrong'd the Father would misguide the Son Once in Religion a strict Pharisee To Baal's then turn'd or else of none was he He long before seem'd to approve their Rites Marrying his Issue to the Baalites A constant hunter after sordid Pelf Was never just to any but himself A very Proteus in all shapes had been And constant only and grovvn old in sin To speak the best of Amalek we can A cunning Devil in the shap of Man Muppim a man of an huge working Pate Not how to heal but to embroil the State Knew how to take the wrong and leave the right Was once himself a Rebel Benjamite To that stiff Tribe he did a while give Law And with his iron Yokes kept them in aw The Tyrant Zabed less did them provoke And laid upon their necks a gentler Yoke Amongst that tribe he left an hated Name And to Ierusalem from thence he came Where he tyrannick Arts sought to intrude To learn which Amazia was too good And better the Iews temper understood Refus'd the Serpent did with Woman joyn And Counsel's gave th' Egyptian Concubine Adam first Monarch fell between these two What can't the Serpent and a Woman do These with some more of the like size and sort In Sion made up Amazia's Court Whilst his best friends became these Rulers scorn Saw how they drove and did in silence mourn Sion did then no Sacrifice afford Gibbar had taught the frugal king to board Void were its Cellors Kitchins never hot And all the Feasts of Solomon forgot Others there were whose Names I shan't repeat Eliakim had friends both small and great And many who then for his Favour strove With their hot heads like furious Iehu drove Some Wits some Witless Warriors Rich and Poor Some who rich Clothes and empty Titles wore Some who knew how to rail some to accuse And some who haunted Taverns and the Stews Some roaring Bullies who ran th'row the Town Crying God damn'um they 'd support the Crown Whose wicked Oaths and whose blasphemous Rant Had quite put down the holy Zealot's Cant. Some were for War and some for Mischief bent And some who could for gain new Plots invent Some Priests and Levites too among the rest Such as knew how to blow the Trumpet best Who with loud noise and cackling cri'd like Geese For Rites for Temple and for dearer Fleece 'Twixt God and Baal these Priests divided were Which did prevail these greatly did not care But headlong drove without or wit or fear The Pharasees they curse as Sons of Cham And all dissenting Iews to Hell they damn Shimei the Poet Laureate of that Age The falling Glory of the Iewish Stage Who scourg'd the Priest and ridicul'd the Plot Like common men must not be quite forgot Sweet was the Muse that did his wit inspire Had he not let his hackney Muse to hire But variously his knowing Muse could sing Could Doeg praise and could blaspheme the King The bad make good good bad and bad make worse Bless in Heroicks and in Satyrs curse Shimei to Zabed's praise could tune his Muse And Princely Azaria could abuse Zimri we know he had no cause to praise Because he dub'd him with the name of Bays Revenge on him did better Venome shed Beeause he tore the Lawrel from his head Because he durst with his proud Wit engage And brought his Follies on the publick Stage Tell me Apollo for I can't divine Why Wives he curs'd and prais'd the Concubine Unless it were that he had led his life With a teeming Matron ere she was a Wife Or that it best with his dear Muse did sute Who was for hire a very Prostitute The rising Sun this Poets God did seem Which made him tune 's old Harp to praise Eliakim Bibbai whose name won't in Oblivion rot For his great pains to hide the Baalites Plot Must be remembred here A Scribe was he Who daily damn'd in Prose the Pharisee With the Sectarian Iews he kept great stir Did almost all but his dear self abhor What his Religion was no one could tell And it was thought he knew himself not well Yet Conscience did pretend and did abuse Under the notion of Sectarian Iews All that he thought or all that did but seem Foes to Baal's Rites Eliakim and him He was a man of pernicious Wit For railing biting and for mischief fit He never slept yet ever in a Dream Religion Law and State was all his Theam On these he wrote in Earnest and in Ieast Till he grew mad and turn'd into a Beast Zattue his Zanie was Buffoon and Fool Who turn'd Religion into Ridicule Jeer'd at the Plot did Sanhedrims abuse Mock'd Magistrates damn'd all Sects of the Iews Of little Manners and of lesser Brains Yet to embroil the State took wondrous pains In jeasting still his little Talent lay At Hushai scoft in 's witless grinning way These with the rest of every size and sort Strove to be thought Friends to the King and Court With lies and railing would the Crown support Then in a Pageant shew a Plot was made And Law it self made War in Masquerade But fools they were not warn'd by former ill By their own selves were circumvented still They thought by Bloud to give the Kingdome ease Physick'd the Iews when they had no Disease Contingent mischiefs these did not foresee Against their Conscience fought and God's Decree What shall we think when such pretending good Would build the Nations Peace on Innocent Blood These would expose the People to the Sword Of each unbounded Arbitrary Lord. But their good Laws by which they Right enjoy The King nor could nor evey would destroy And tho he Judge be of what 's sit and just He own'd from Heaven and from Man a Trust. Tho Laws to Kingly Power be a Band They are not Slaves to those whom they command The Power that God at first to Adam gave Was different far from what all Kings now have He had no Law but Will but all Kings now Are Bound by Laws as all Examples show By Laws Kings first were made and with intent Men to defend by Heav'n's and Man's consent God to the Crown the Regal Power did bring And by Consent at first Men chose their King If Kings usurp'd a Power by force did sway The People by no Law
were bound t' obey This does not in the Peope place a Right To dissolve Soveraign sway by force or might To Kings by long succession there is giv'n A native Right unto the Throne by Heav'n Who may not be run down by common Cry For Vice Oppression and for Tyranny But if that Kings the tyes of Laws do break The People without fault have leave to speak To shew their Grievances and seek redress By lawful means when Kings and Lords oppress Tho they can't give and take when e'r they please And Kings allow'd to be God's Images The Govenment you Tyranny must call Where Subjects have no Right Kings have all But if reciprocal a Right there be Derived down unto Posteritie That side 's in fault who th' other doth invade By which soe'r at first the breach is made For Innovation is a dangerous thing Whether it comes from People or from King To change Foundations which long Ages stood Which have prov'd firm unshaken sound and good To pull all down and cast the Frame anew Is work for Rebels and for Tyrants too Now what relief could Amazia bring Fatal indeed to be too good a King Friends he had many but them did not know Or else made to believe they were not so For all that did ill Ministers oppose Were represented to him as his Foes Yet there were many thousands in those days Who Amazia did with love and praise Who for him daily pray'd and wish'd his good And for him would have spent both Coin and Bloud Yet these tho the more numerous and the best Were call'd but murmuring Traytors by the rest By such who strain'd till they had crackt the string Of Government lov'd Pow'r and not the King These daily hightned Amazia's fears And thus they whisper'd in his Royal Ears Sir it is time you now take up the Sword And let your Subjects know you are their Lord. Goodness by Rebels won't be understood And you are much too merciful and good The Iews a moody murmuring stubborn Race Grow worse by Favours and rebel with Grace Pamper'd they are grown rich and fat with ease Whom no good Monarch long could ever please Freedom and Liberty pretend to want That 's still the cry when they 're on Mischief bent Freedom is their Disease and had they less They would not be so ready to transgress Give them but Liberty let them alone They shall not only you but God dethrone Remember Sir how your good Father fell It was his goodness made them first rebel And now the very self-same tract they tread To reach your Crown and then take off your head A senseless Plot they stumbl'd on or made To make you of th' old Canaanites afraid Still when they mean the Nation to enthral With heavie Clamour they cry out on Baal But these hot Zealots who Baal's Idols curse Bow to their own more ugly far and worse Baal would but rob some Jewels from your Crown But these would Monarchy it self pull down Both Church and State they 'l not reform by Halves Pull down the Temple and set up their Calves You and your Priests they would turn out to Graze Nor would they let you smell a Sacrifice Those pious Offerings which Priests lasie made To Rebels should instead of God be paid How to the Prey these factious Iews do run From you by art they have debauch'd your Son That little subtle Instrument of Hell Worse than to David was Achitophel The young Man tutors sends him through the Land That he the Peoples Minds may understand That he with winning Charms might court the Iew And draw your fickle Subjects Hearts from you Alas already they of you Complain And are grown sick of your too peaceful Reign Their Lusts grown high they are debauch'd with Grace And like unfrozen Snakes sly in your Face These Men who now pretend to give you Law Stood of the Tyrant Zabed's power in awe He made them crouch who scorn'd a Prince's sway And forc'd them like dull slaves his power obey Of Israel and of Iudah's Tribe you spring A Lion is the Ensign of a King Rouse up your self in mildness sleep no more And make them tremble at your Princely Roar Appear like Iove with Thunder in your hand And let the Slaves your Power understand Strike but the sinning Princes down to Hell The rest will worship you and ne'er rebel Thus these rash Men with their bad Counsels strove To turn to hate good Amazia's Love A Prince to Mercy naturally inclin'd Not apt to fear nor of a jealous Mind Thought no man e'er against his Life design'd But these with art did dangers represent And Plots they fram'd the People never meant Each Mole hill they a Mountain did create And sought to fright him with his Fathers Fate Hushai at last was to a Prison sent As a false Traitor to the Government Loud Murmurs then possest the troubled Iews Who were surprised at the Fatal News His Wisdom they believ'd their chief Support Against the evil Instrmuents at Court Nor by his Actions did they ever find He bore a Trait'rous or a factious Mind And now they thought themselves expos'd to all The Arts and Plots of the hid Friends to Baal Troubled and discontented at the last Their Eyes upon the Noble Prince they cast Who fearing lest their discontent and rage Should them to some rebellious Crime engage Both for his Fathers and his Countries sake The murmuring People sought more calm to make With a sweet Air and with a graceful look He did command their silence e'er he spoke Then thus he said and though his words were few They fell like Manna or the Hony Dew My Country-men Let not your discontent Draw you to actions you will soon repent What e'er your Fears and Jealousies may be Let them not break the bonds of Loyalty I dare and you may too my Father trust For he 's so merciful so good so just That he of no mans Life will make a Prey Or take it in an Arbitrary way To Heav'n and to the King submit your Cause Who never will infringe your ancient Laws But if he should an evil Action do To run to Arms t' is no pretence for you The King is Judge of what is just and fit And if he judge amiss you must submit Tho griev'd you must your constant Duty pay And your Redress seek in a lawful way Hushai tho he of Treason be accus'd Such loyal precepts in my Soul infus'd That I the hazard of my Life will run Rather than prove my self a Rebel Son Our Foes have sought t' infect my Father's Mind To think you to Rebellion are inclin'd To stir you to Rebellion is their aim And they are mad to see you justly tame Upon your Heads they fain would lay their sin 'T is War they seek but would have you begin Pretence they want who for the King do seem To bring in and set up Eliakim I am afraid the Baalites cursed Plot By many
King submit But yet wise Hushai know I still do find My Birth has not so much debas'd my Mind To make me stoop to low or mean desires I feel my Fathers Royal Bloud inspires My depress'd Soul wipes off th' Ignoble Stain Renders me apt or not unfit to reign Of Davids Royal Bloud my self I own And with it never can disgrace the Throne Though my bold Spirits mounting thus do fly Towards the noble height of Sovereignty And that I feel my Fathers Bloud to rowl Through every Vein and animate my Soul Yet so much Loyalty is sown within My Breast I would not Empire gain with Sin For when my ambitious Thoughts begin to roam Their Forces I with that soon overcome Though to Gods Laws and to the King I yield To my known Foes I would not leave the Field I 'd not be trampled on by sordid Feet Nor take Affronts from every one I meet I 'd give no cause they should my courage doubt Nor to Rebellion push the vulgar Rout. I to my Father would give no offence Nor while he lives lay to the Crown pretence But since Life's sweet by Wisdom I 'd keep mine From Baalites Hate and Eliakim's Design This my wise Friend is my chief business now To take some sage and good Advice from you Hushai in silence heard the Prince and weigh'd Each word he spake then to him thus reply'd Great Prince th' Almighty has to you been kind Stamp'd Graces on your Body and your Mind As if he for your Head a Crown design'd We shall not search into Fates secret womb God alone knows the things that are to come But should you never sit on Davids Throne 'T is better to deserve than wear a Crown Of Royal Bloud and of great Birth you are Born under some benign auspicious Star Lov'd by the best and prais'd by every Tongue The glorious Subject of each worthy Song The young mans wish Joy of each warlike Wight The Peoples Darling and the Worlds Delight A Crowd of Vertues fill your Princely Breast And what appears more glorious than the rest You are of Truth and Loyalty possest That I would cherish in you that would raise To an admired height that I would chiefly praise Let Fools and Politicians scorn Fair Vertue which doth best a Prince adorn Whilest you her bright and shining Robes put on You will appear more great than Solomon Let not Great Prince the Fumes of Vulgar Praise Your bolder Spirits to Ambition raise We cannot see into the Mist of Fate Till time brings forth you must expecting wait But Fortune rather Providence not Chance The constant stout and wise doth still advance Let your quick Eye be to her Motions tied But still let Noble Vertue be your Guide For when that God and Vertue points the way There can be then no danger to obey But here in Wisdoms School we ought to learn How we 'twixt Good and Evil may discern For noble Prince you must true difference make Lest for the one the other you mistake You must not think you may your self advance By laying hold on every proffer'd chance Tho Fortune seems to smile and egg you on Let Vertue be your Rule and Guide alone Thus David for his Guide his Vertue took Nor was by Fortune's proffer'd Kindness shook His Vertue and his Loyalty did save King Saul when Fortune brought him to his Cave And if that I may to you Counsel give You should without a Crown for ever live Rather than get it by the Peoples Lust Or purchase it by ways that are unjust David your Ancestor from whom you spring Would never by Rebellion be made King But long in Gath a Warring Exile stay'd Till for him God a lawful way had made In Hebron full of Glory and Renown He gain'd at last and not usurpd the Crown By full Consent he did the same obtain And Heav'n's anointing Oyl was not in vain I once did seem to Amazia dear Who me above m'ambitious hopes did rear I serv'd him then according to my skill And bow'd my mind unto my Sov'raigns Will Too neer the Soveraign Image then I stood To think that every Line and Stroke was good Some Daubers I endeavoâ—r'd to remove And to amend their Artless Errours strove My Skill in secret these with slander wound With every Line I drew still faults were found Till wearied I at last my Work gave o're And Amazia I shall say no more Did me to my lov'd Privacy restore For this they think I must my Vertue change For Envy Malice and for sweet Revenge Me by themselves they judg who would do so And cause the King suspect me for his Foe But by th' advice I give you best will find Th'Integrity and Plainness of my Mind And that I harbour not that vile intent Their Poets and their Malice do invent Far be 't from me to be like Cursed Cham A good Son strives to hide his Father's shame A King the Father of his Country is His shame is every Act he doth amiss Good and just Kings God's Image bear but when Their Frailties let us see they are but Men We cannot every Action so applaud As if it came from an unerring God Kings have their Passions and deceiv'd may be When b' others Ears and Eyes they hear and see For Sycophants of Courts the Bane and Curse Make all things better then they are or worse To Evil prone to Mischief ever bent Th'all Objects with false colours represent The Guilty clear condemn the Innocent Thus noble Prince they you and me accuse With all the Venome Malice can infuse Baal's Priests Hell and our Foes new Arts have got The filthy Reliques of their former Plot Whereby they would our Lives in danger bring And make us cursed Traytors to the King What mayn't these cunning men hope to atchieve When by their Arts few men their Plot believe When b'horrid ways not known to Iews before Their Plot 's transform'd and laid now at our door But fear not Sir we have a sure Defence The Peoples Love God Law and Innocence Keep fast your Vertue and you shall be blest And let alone to God and time the rest The noble Youth with Vertues Robes arrai'd Consider'd well what the wise Hushai said Desire of Power though of Celestial Birth Below is ever intermixt with Earth And all who do to hight of Place aspire Have earthly smoak mixt with their mounting Fire Praise may debauch and strong Ambition blind Where heav'nly Vertue does not guard the Mind But Azaria so well understood He left the Evil and embrac'd the Good Tho in his breast aspiring thoughts he found Yet Loyalty still kept them within bound And tho he might have Empire in his Eye When to it by his bloud allay'd so nigh Yet in his Soul such Virtue did remain He by Rebellion would not Empire gain Through every Vein his Loyal Bloud did run Yet Royal too as Amazia's Son About his noble heart he felt it spring Which