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
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
AZARIA AND HUSHAI A POEM Quod cuique visum est sentiant The Second Edition Revised and Amended LONDON Printed for Charles Lee AN. DOM. 1682. TO THE READER I Shall not go about either to excuse or justifie the Publishing of this Poem for that would be much more an harder Task than the Writing of it But however I shall say in the words of the Author of the incomparable Absalom and Achitophel That I am sure the Design is honest If Wit and Fool be the Consequence of Whig and Tory no doubt but Knave and Ass may be Epithets plentifully bestowed upon me by the one party whilst the other may grant me more favourable ones than perhaps I do deserve But as very few are Iudges of Wit so I think much fewer of honesty since Interest and Faction on either side prejudices and blinds the Iudgment and the violence of Passion makes neither discernible in an Adversary i I know not whether my Poem has a Genius to force â—ts way against prejudice Opinion sways much in the World and he that has once gained it writes securely I speak not this any ways to lessen the merits of an Author whose Wit has deservedly gained the Bays but in this I have the advantage since as I desire not Glory or vain applause I can securely wrap my self in my own Cloud and remain unknown whilest he is exposed through his great Lustre I shall never envy what I desire not nor am I altogether so doting as to believe the Issues of my own Brain to exceed all others and to be so very fond of them as most Authors especially Poets are as to think them without fault or be so blinded as not to see their blemishes and that they are excelled by others yet since Poems are like Children it may be allowed me to be naturally inclined to have some good Opinion of my own and not to believe this Poem altogether despicable or ridiculous The Ancients say that every thing hath two handles I have laid bold of that opposite to the Author of Absalom As to Truth who has the better hold let the World judge and it is no new thing for the same Persons to be ill or well represented by several parties I hope then I may be excused as well as another since I have told my Dreams with the same Liberty for the fancies of Poets are no more than waking Dreams and never imposed as dogmatical precepts which are more agreeable to truth or falshood or according to the Poets Language which proceed from the Horny or Ivory Port will be sentenced according to the Humour and Interest of several Parties who in spite of our Teeth will be our judges Where I have been satyrical 't is without Malice or Revenge and though I brag not of my Talent therein I could have said much worse of some Enemies to our Jewish Heroe He that will lash others ought not to be angry if the like be returned to himself Lex talionis is a general and natural Law I call not this an Answer to Absalom I have nothing to do with him he was a Rebel to his Father my Azaria a good Son influenced by a worthy and Loyal Counsellor and Achitophel and Hushai were men of contrary Opinions and different Principles And if Poets as it is often brought for their excuse when they vary from known History ought to represent Persons as they ought to be I have not transcurred the Precepts of Poetry and Absalom is not so good a Poem because his Character is not so agreeable to the virtue of an Heroe as this of Azaria is But certainly when Poetry and Truth are joâ—ned together and that the Persons are truly what they are represented and liv'd their Character the glory is double both to the Heroe and the Poet And I could wish that the same Hand that drew the Rebellious Son with so much Iâ—genuity and Skill would out do mine in shewing the virtues of an obedient Son and loyal Counsellor since he may have as much Truth for a Foundation to build upon the Artful Structure of the Heroes Glory with his own Fame and Immortality AZARIA AND HUSHAI A POEM IN Impious times when Priest-craft was at height And all the Deadly Sins esteemed light When that Religion onely was a Stale And some bow'd down to God and some to Baal When Perjury was scarce esteem'd a Sin And Vice like flowing Tides came rowling in When Luxury Debauch and Concubine The sad effects of Women and of Wine Rag'd in Iudaea and Ierusalem And Amazia of great Davids Stem God-like and great in peace did rule that Land And all the Iews stoop'd to his just Command Long now in Sion had he Peace enjoy'd After that civil Broils the Land destroy'd Plenty and Peace attended on his Reign And Solomons Golden days return'd again When the old Canaanites who there did lurk Began to find both God and King new work For Amazia though he God did love Had not cast out Baal's Priests and cut down every Grove Too oft Religion's made pretence for Sin About it in all Ages Strife has been But Interest which at bottom doth remain Which still converts all Godliness to Gain What e'er pretence is made is the true cause That moves the Priest and like the Loadstone draws The Canaanites of old that Land possess'd And long therein Idolatry profess'd Till Sins of Priests and of the common Rout Caus'd God and his good Kings to cast them out Their Idols were pull'd down their Groves destroy'd Strict Laws against them and their Worship made The Heathen Priests were banish'd from the Land Of Baal no Temple suffer'd was to stand And all succeeding Kings made it their care They should no more rear up their Altars there If some mild Kings did wink at their abode They to the Iews still prov'd a pricking Goad Growing more bold they Penal Laws defied And like tormenting Thorns stuck in their side The busie Priests had lost their gainful Trade Revenge and Malice do their hearts invade And since by force they can't themselves restore Nor gain the sway they in Iudaea bore With Hell they joyn their secret Plots to bring Destruction to Iudaea and its King The Chemarims the learnedst Priests of all The numerous Swarms which did belong to Baal Bred up in subtil Arts to Iews well known And fear'd for bloudy Morals of their own Who in the cause of Baal no one would spare But for his sake on all Mankind make war Counting it lawful sacred Kings to smite Who favour'd not their God or was no Baalite These were the Idol's known and great Support Who in disguise creep into every Court Where they soon Faction raise and by their Arts Insinuate into the Princes Hearts Wriggle themselves into Intrigues of State Sweet Peace destroy and Bloudy War create Unwearied still they deep designs pursue What can't a Chemarim and Belzebub do For cunning Plot Trepan for Oaths and Sham The Devil must
give place to Chemarim These subtil Priests in Habit black and grave Each man a Saint in shew in heart a Knave Did in Iudea swarm grew great withall And like th' Egyptian Frogs to Court they crawl Where like them too they never are at rest But Bed and Board of Kings with Filth infest To every shape they could themselves transform Angels could seem but still their aim was Harm They all the Sects among the Iews could ape And went about disguis'd in every shape One imitates the Zealous Pharisee The Essens this the Damme Sadduce he And such their ready and their subtil Wit For every Trade and every Science fit They Credit got and stole into the Heart And from their God did many Souls pervert Who seeming Iews or what they were before In secret did the Idol Baal adore Whose false Religion was but loose and few Could bear the righteous strictness of the true Thus these Disciples of the Hellish Brood Disguis'd among the Iews themselves intrude And with the purer Wheat their Tares they sow Saw their bad Crop near to an Harvest grow And hop'd that they again should rule the State For e'er the days of good Iehosaphat Through all the Land Baal's Worship was allow'd And King and People to gross Idols bow'd The Priests like bloudy Tyrants did command They and their Gods did wholly rule the Land And every one who would not bow to Baal Fled thence or else by Fire or Sword did fall But that good King a Reformation made Their Idols and their Groves he quite destroy'd In every place their Altars overthrew And Chemâ—â—rims he banished or slew Since whâ—n except in Athaliah's Reign Who for a space set Idols up again Tormenting those to death who would not turn And did the Iewish Rabbins slay or burn These crafty Priests by Plots did never cease To spoil the beauty of Iudaea's Peace Whilest Ioash reign'd 〈◊〉 sly and subtil Arts They first estrang'd from him his Peoples hearts Saw Faction's Sparks and unseen blew the Fire Till Rebells 'gainst that good King did conspire Then cursed Zabed of proud Ammons Line And Moabitish Iehozabad joyn And to their side some Pharisees they drew Ioash did to their Sect no favour shew And th' Essens who then daily numerous grew Rebell and their good King like Murderers slew Then Amazia over Iordan fled Till God had struck the Tyrant Zabed dead When all his Subjects who his fate did moan With joyful hearts restor'd him to his Throne Who then his Fathers Murderers destroy'd And a long happy peaceful Reign enjoy'd Belov'd of all former 〈◊〉 was he Like God in the Superlative Degree The Iewish Sects he did not seek to quell Yet Laws he made they might no more rebell Wisely about them made of Laws a Fence Yet kind would not oppress their Conscience The Pharisees a very numerous Sect Above the rest were in their Worship strict In their own Synagogues he let them pray And worship God after their stricter way In peace all liv'd and former strife forgot Till Chemarims and Hell had hatch'd a Plot A Plot form'd in the deep Abyss below Law and Religion both to overthrow The King was by their bloudy Swords to fall That all Iudaea might submit to Baal Great were their Hopes and deep was their Design The Train already laid to spring their Mine Not dreaming Heaven could their Plots betray They onely waited an auspicious day Nor fail'd their Plot for want of common sense As some endeavour'd to persuade the Prince For with much art great industry and care They all things for their black Design prepare Nor hatch'd by common Brains nor men of Earth Nor was 't the Issue of a sudden birth But long designing and well laid it seems By Baal's Archpriests and subtil Chemarims The Canaanites dispersed through the Land O'er whom Baal's Priests had absolute command Were bound with Oaths the Priests Religious Charms To Secresie and furnished with Arms. Heads they had got as well as Hands to fight Some zealous Princes of the Canaanites Who ready were to guide the common Rout As soon as their Conspiracy broke out Aegypt of Warlike Iews was still afraid Lest as of old they should that Land invade To further this Design had promis'd Aid Thus on a firm foundation they had wrought Their great Design well built to Human thought Though nothing that weak Mortals e'er design'd But Folly seems to the Eternal Mind Who blasting Mans vain Projects lets him know He sits above sees and rules all below This wicked Plot the Nations Bane and Curse So bad no man can represent it worse Wan't onely Amazia to destroy But that they might the Rites of Baal enjoy For the good Amazia being gone They had design'd a Baalite for the Throne Of all their Hopes and Plots here lay the store For what Encouragement could they have more When they beheld the Kings own Brother fall From his Religion and to worship Baal The Priest well knew what Power and what Controul He had usurp'd o'er every Baalites Soul That such a Prince must their Gods Cause pursue And do whatever they would have him do Else from his Throne he should be curs'd and damn'd For Baal's Highpriest a right t' all Crowns had claim'd An Article 't is of a Baalites Faith That o'er Crown'd Heads a Sovereignty he hath Thus on a sure foundation as they thought They had their Structure to perfection wrought When God who shews regard to Sacred Kings The Plot and Plotters to confusion brings And in a moment down their Babel flings A Levite who had Baalite turn'd and bin One of the Order of the Chemerim Who in the Plot had deeply been concern'd And all their horrid Practices had learn'd Smote in his Conscience with a true remorse From King and Land diverts the threatning Curse Libni I think they call'd the Levites Name Which in Iudaea still will be of fame Since following Heavens Impulse and high Command He prov'd a glorious Saviour of the Land By him the deep Conspiracy's o'erthrown The Treason and the Traytors all made known Foe which from Baalites he had Curses store But by the Iews loaded with Blessings more The Hellish Plotters were then seiz'd upon And into Gaols and Iron Fetters thrown From whence to lawful Tryals they were born Condemn'd for Traytors and hang'd up with scorn Yet Chemarims with matchless Impudence With dying breath avow'd their Innocence So careful of their Order they still were Lest Treason in them Scandal should appear That Treason they with Perjury pursue Having their Archpriests Licence so to do They fear'd not to go perjur'd to the Grave Believing their Archpriest their Souls could save For all Gods Power they do on him bestow And call him their Almighty God below To whom they say three powerful Keys are given Of Hell of Purgatory and of Heaven No wonder then if Baalites this believe They should with their false Oaths try to deceive And gull the People with
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
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