by John Dryden
But Esau’s Hands suit ill with Jacob’s Voice.
My Pious Subjects for my Safety pray,
Which to Secure, they take my Pow’r away.
From Plots and Treasons Heav’n preserve my Years, 985
But save me most from my Petitioners.
Unsatiate as the barren Womb or Grave;
God cannot Grant so much as they can Crave.
What then is left but with a Jealous Eye
To guard the Small remains of Royalty? 990
The Law shall still direct my peaceful Sway,
And the same Law teach Rebels to obey:
Votes shall no more Established Pow’r controul,
Such Votes as make a Part exceed the Whole:
No groundless Clamours shall my Friends remove 995
Nor Crouds have pow’r to Punish e’r they Prove;
For Gods and God-like kings their Care express,
Still to defend their Servants in distress.
Oh that my Pow’r to Saving were confin’d:
Why am I forc’d, like Heav’n, against my mind, 1000
To make Examples of another Kind?
Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?
Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!
How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan,
Beware the Fury of a Patient Man. 1005
Law they require, let Law then shew her Face;
They could not be content to look on Grace,
Her hinder parts, but with a daring Eye
To tempt the terror of her Front, and Die.
By their own Arts ’tis Righteously decreed, 1010
Those dire Artificers of Death shall bleed.
Against themselves their Witnesses will Swear,
Till, Viper-like, their Mother Plot they tear,
And suck for Nutriment that bloudy gore
Which was their Principle of Life before. 1015
Their Belial with their Belzebub will fight;
Thus on my Foes, my Foes shall do me Right.
Nor doubt th’ event; for Factious croud engage
In their first Onset, all their Brutal Rage;
Then let ‘em take an unresisted Course; 1020
Retire and Traverse, and Delude their Force:
But when they stand all Breathless, urge the fight,
And rise upon ‘em with redoubled might:
For Lawful Pow’r is still Superiour found,
When long driv’n back, at length it stands the ground. 1025
He said. Th’ Almighty, nodding, gave consent;
And peals of Thunder shook the Firmament.
Henceforth a Series of new time began,
The mighty Years in long Procession ran:
Once more the God-like David was Restor’d, 1030
And willing Nations knew their Lawful Lord.
Absalom and Achitophel: The Second Part
SINCE Men, like Beasts, each others Prey were made,
Since Trade began, and Priesthood grew a Trade,
Since Realms were form’d, none sure so curst as those
That madly their own Happiness oppose;
There Heaven itself, and Godlike Kings, in vain 5
Showr down the Manna of a gentle Reign;
While pamper’d Crowds to mad Sedition run,
And Monarchs by Indulgence are undone.
Thus David’s Goodness was e’en fatal grown,
While wealthy Faction aw’d the wanting Throne. 10
For now their Sov’reign’s Orders to contemn
Was held the Charter of Jerusalem;
His Rights t’ invade, his Tributes to refuse,
A Privilege peculiar to the Jews;
As if from Heav’nly Call this Licence fell 15
And Jacob’s seed were chosen to rebell!
Achitophel with triumph sees his Crimes
Thus suited to the madness of the Times;
And Absalom, to make his hopes succeed,
Of Flatteries Charms no longer stands in need; 20
While fond of Change, though ne’er so dearly bought,
Our Tribes out-strip the Youth’s Ambitious Thought;
His swiftest Hopes with swifter Homage meet,
And crowd their servile Necks beneath his Feet.
Thus to his aid while pressing Tides repair, 25
He mounts and spreads his Streamers in the Air.
The Charms of Empire might his Youth mis-lead,
But what can our besotted Israel plead?
Sway’d by a Monarch, whose serene Command
Seems half the Blessing of our promis’d Land. 30
Whose onely Grievance is excess of Ease,
Freedome our Pain, and Plenty our Disease!
Yet since all Folly wou’d lay claim to Sense,
And Wickedness ne’er wanted a Pretence,
With Arguments they’d make their Treason good 35
And righteous David’s self with Slanders load:
That Arts of foreign Sway he did affect,
And guilty Jebusites from Law protect,
Whose very Chiefs, convict, were never freed,
Nay, we have seen their Sacrificers bleed! 40
Accusers Infamy is urg’d in vain,
While in the bounds of Sense they did contain,
But soon they launcht into th’ unfathom’d Tide
And in the Depths they knew disdain’d to Ride;
For probable Discoveries to dispence 45
Was thought below a pentioned Evidence;
Mere Truth was dull, nor suited with the port
Of pamper’d Corah, when advanc’t to Court.
No less than Wonders now they will impose
And Projects void of Grace or Sense disclose. 50
Such was the Charge on pious Michal brought,
Michal, that ne’er was cruel e’en in thought,
The best of Queens, and most obedient Wife,
Impeach’d of curst Designs on David’s Life!
His Life, the Theam of her eternal Pray’r, 55
’Tis scarce so much his Guardian Angels Care.
Not Summer Morns such Mildness can disclose,
The Hermon Lilly nor the Sharon Rose.
Neglecting each vain Pomp of Majesty,
Transported Michal feeds her thoughts on high. 60
She lives with Angels, and as Angels do,
Quits Heav’n sometimes to bless the world Below,
Where cherisht by her Bounties plenteous Spring,
Reviving Widows smile, and Orphans sing.
Oh! when rebellious Israel’s Crimes at height 65
Are threatned with her Lord’s approaching Fate,
The Piety of Michal then remain
In Heav’ns Remembrance, and prolong his Reign.
Less Desolation did the Pest pursue
That from Dan’s limits to Beersheba slew, 70
Less fatal the repeated Wars of Tyre,
And less Jerusalem’s avenging Fire.
With gentler terrour these our State o’erran,
Than since our Evidencing Days began!
On every Cheek a pale Confusion sat, 75
Continu’d Fear beyond the worst of Fate!
Trust was no more, Art, Science useless made,
All occupations lost but Corah’s Trade.
Mean while a Guard on modest Corah wait,
If not for safety needfull yet for State. 80
Well might he deem each Peer and Prince his Slave:
And Lord it o’er the Tribes which he could save:
E’en Vice in him was Vertue — what sad Fate,
But for his Honesty had seiz’d our State?
And with what Tyranny had we been curst, 85
Had Corah never proved a Villain first?
T’ have told his knowledge of th’ Intrigue in gross
Had been alas to our Deponent’s loss:
The travell’d Levite had th’ Experience got
To husband well, and
make the best of ‘s Plot; 90
And therefore like an Evidence of skill,
With wise Reserves secur’d his Pension still;
Nor quite of future Pow’r himself bereft,
But Limbo’s large for unbelievers left.
For now his Writ such Reverence had got, 95
’Twas worse than Plotting to suspect his Plot.
Some were so well convinc’t, 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 Int’rest sake believe and swear: 100
E’en to that height with some 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 through misguided Sense, 105
(Blind Zeal, and starving need had some Pretence)
But for the Good Old Cause, that did excite
Th’ Original Rebells Wiles, Revenge and Spight,
These raise the Plot to have the Scandal thrown
Upon the bright Successor of the Crown, 110
Whose Vertue with such wrongs they had pursu’d
As seem’d all hope of pardon to exclude.
Thus, while on private Ends their Zeal is built
The cheated Crowd applaud and share their Guilt.
Such Practices as These, too gross to lye 115
Long unobserv’d by each discerning Eye,
The more judicious Israelites Unspell’d,
Though still the Charm the giddy Rabble held.
Ev’n Absalom amid the dazling Beams
Of Empire, and ambitions flattering Dreams, 120
Perceives the Plot (too foul to be excus’d)
To aid Designs, no less pernicious, us’d.
And (Filial Sense yet striving in his Breast)
Thus to Achitophel his Doubts exprest.
Why are my Thoughts upon a Crown employ’d, 125
Which once obtain’d, can be but half Enjoy’d?
Not so when Virtue did my Arms require,
And to my Father’s Wars I flew Intire.
My Regal Pow’r how will my Foes resent,
When I my Self have scarce my own Consent? 130
Give me a Son’s unblemish’t Truth again
Or quench the Sparks of Duty that remain.
How slight to force a Throne that Legions guard
The Task to me; to prove Unjust, how hard!
And if th’ imagined Guilt thus wound my Thought, 135
What will it, when the tragick Scene is wrought?
Dire War must first be conjur’d from below,
The Realm we’d Rule we first must Overthrow.
And when the Civil Furies are on wing
That blind and undistinguish’t Slaughters fling, 140
Who knows what impious chance may reach the King?
Oh! rather let me perish in the strife,
Than have my Crown the Price of David’s Life!
Or if the Tempest of the War he stand,
In Peace, some vile officious Villain’s hand 145
His Soul’s anointed Temple may invade,
Or, prest by clamorous Crowds, my Self be made
His murtherer; rebellious Crowds, whose Guilt
Shall dread his vengeance till his Bloud be spilt.
Which if my filial Tenderness oppose, 150
Since to the Empire by their Arms I rose,
Those very Arms on Me shall be employ’d,
A new Usurper Crown’d, and I Destroyed:
The same Pretence of Publick Good will hold
And new Achitophels be found, as bold 155
To urge the needfull Change, perhaps the Old.
He said. The statesman with a Smile replies,
(A smile that did his rising Spleen disguise.)
My thoughts presum’d our labours at an End,
And are we still with Conscience to contend? 160
Whose Want in Kings, as needfull is allow’d
As ’tis for them to find it in the Crowd.
Far in the doubtfull Passage you are gone,
And onely can be Safe by pressing on.
The Crowns true Heir, a Prince severe, and wise, 165
Has view’d your Motions long with Jealous Eyes:
Your Persons Charms, your more prevailing Arts,
And marked your Progress in the Peoples Hearts,
Whose Patience is th’ effect of stinted Pow’r,
But treasures Vengeance for the fatal hour. 170
And if remote the Perill He can bring,
Your Present Danger’s greater from the King.
Let not a Parent’s name deceive your Sense,
Nor trust the Father in a Jealous Prince!
Your trivial Faults if he could so resent, 175
To doom you little less than Banishment,
What rage must your Presumption Since inspire,
Against his Orders your Return from Tyre?
Nor onely so, but with a Pomp more high
And open Court of Popularity, 180
The Factious Tribes — And this Reproof from Thee?
(The Prince replies) O Statesman’s winding Skill,
They first Condemn that first Advis’d the Ill!
Illustrious Youth (returned Achitophel)
Misconstrue not the Words that mean you well. 185
The Course you steer I worthy Blame conclude,
But ’tis because you leave it Unpersu’d.
A Monarch’s Crown with Fate surrounded lyes,
Who reach, lay hold on Death that miss the Prize.
Did you for this expose yourself to Show, 190
And to the Crowd bow popularly low?
For this your Glorious Progress next ordain,
With Chariots, Horsemen, and a numerous Train,
With Fame before you like the Morning Starr,
And Shouts of Joy saluting from afarr? 195
Oh from the Heights you’ve reached but take a View,
Scarce leading Lucifer cou’d fall like you!
And must I here my Shipwrackt Arts bemoan?
Have I for this so oft made Israel groan!
Your single interest with the Nation weigh’d, 200
And turned the Scale where your Desires were laid?
Ev’n when at Helm a Course so dang’rous mov’d,
To Land your Hopes, as my Removal prov’d.
I not dispute (the Royal youth replys)
The known Perfection of your Policies, 205
Nor in Achitophel yet grudge, or blame,
The Priviledge that Statesmen ever claim;
Who private Interest never yet persu’d,
But still pretended ’twas for Others good:
What Polititian yet e’er scap’t his Fate 210
Who saving his own Neck not sav’d the State?
From hence on ev’ry hum’urous Wind that veer’d
With shifted Sayls a sev’ral Course you Steer’d.
What Form of Sway did David e’er persue
That seem’d like Absolute but sprung from You? 215
Who at your instance quasht each penal Law,
That kept dissenting factious Jews in awe;
And who suspends fixt Laws, may abrogate,
That done, form New, and so enslave the State.
Ev’n Property, whose Champion now you stand, 220
And seem for this the Idol of the Land,
Did ne’er sustain such Violence before
As when your Counsel shut the Royal Store;
Advice, that Ruine to whole Tribes procur’d,
But secret kept till your own Banks secur’d. 225
Recount with this the tripple Cov’nant broke,
And Israel fitted for a Foreign Yoke,
Nor here your Counsels fatal Progress staid,
But sent our levied Pow’r
s to Pharaoh’s Aid.
Hence Tyre and Israel, low in Ruins laid, 230
And Egypt, once their Scorn, their common Terrour made.
Ev’n yet of such a Season we can dream,
When Royal Rights you made your darling Theam.
For Pow’r unlimited could Reasons draw,
And place Prerogative above the Law; 235
Which on your fall from Office grew Unjust,
The Laws made King, the King a Slave in Trust:
Whom with State-craft, to Int’rest onely True,
You now Accuse of ills contriv’d by You.
To this Hell’s Agent — Royal Youth fix here, 240
Let Int’rest be the Star by which I Steer.
Hence to repose your Trust in Me was wise,
Whose Int’rest most in your Advancement lies.
A Tye so firm as always will avail
When Friendship, Nature and Religion fail; 245
On ours the Safety of the Crowd depends,
Secure the Crowd and we obtain our Ends,
Whom I will cause so far our Guilt to share
Till they are made our Champions by their Fear.
What Opposition can your Rival bring, 250
While Sanhedrims are Jealous of the King?
His strength as yet in David’s Friendship lies,
And what can David’s Self without supplies?
Who with Exclusive Bills must now dispence,
Debar the Heir, or Starve in his Defence. 255
Conditions which our Elders ne’er will quit
And David’s Justice never can admit.
Or forc’t by Wants his Brother to betray,
To your Ambition next he clears the Way;
For if Succession once to Nought they bring 260
Their next Advance removes the present King:
Persisting else his Senates to dissolve
In equal Hazzard shall his Reign involve.
Our Tribes, whom Pharaoh’s Pow’r so much Alarms,
Shall rise without their Prince t’ oppose his Arms; 265
Nor boots it on what Cause at first they Joyn,
Their Troops once up, are Tools for our Design.
At least such subtle Covenants shall be made,
Till peace it self is War in Masquerade.
Associations of Mysterious Sense, 270
Against, but seeming for the King’s Defence:
Ev’n on their Courts of Justice Fetters draw,
And from our Agents Muzzle up their Law.
By which, a Conquest if we fail to make,
’Tis a drawn Game at worst, and we secure our Stake. 275
He said, and for the dire Success depends
On various Sects, by common Guilt made Friends.
Whose Heads, though ne’er so diff’ring in their Creed,
I’ th’ point of Treason yet were well Agreed.
‘Mongst these, Extorting Ishban first appears, 280