The Poetical Works of John Dryden Volume I Part 15

To ply him with new plots shall be my care; Or plunge him deep in some expensive war; Which, when his treasure can no more supply, He must with the remains of kingship buy His faithful friends, our jealousies and fears Call Jebusites, and Pharaoh's pensioners; Whom when our fury from his aid has torn, He shall be naked left to public scorn. 400 The next successor, whom I fear and hate, My arts have made obnoxious to the state; Turn'd all his virtues to his overthrow, And gain'd our elders to p.r.o.nounce a foe.

His right, for sums of necessary gold, Shall first be p.a.w.n'd, and afterwards be sold; Till time shall ever-wanting David draw, To pa.s.s your doubtful t.i.tle into law; If not, the people have a right supreme To make their kings, for kings are made for them. 410 All empire is no more than power in trust, Which, when resumed, can be no longer just.

Succession, for the general good design'd, In its own wrong a nation cannot bind: If altering that the people can relieve, Better one suffer than a nation grieve.

The Jews well know their power: ere Saul they chose, G.o.d was their king, and G.o.d they durst depose.

Urge now your piety, your filial name, A father's right, and fear of future fame; 420 The public good, that universal call, To which even Heaven submitted, answers all.

Nor let his love enchant your generous mind; 'Tis nature's trick to propagate her kind.

Our fond begetters, who would never die, Love but themselves in their posterity.

Or let his kindness by the effects be tried, Or let him lay his vain pretence aside.

G.o.d said, he loved your father; could he bring A better proof, than to anoint him king? 430 It surely show'd he loved the shepherd well, Who gave so fair a flock as Israel.

Would David have you thought his darling son?

What means he then to alienate the crown?

The name of G.o.dly he may blush to bear: Is't after G.o.d's own heart to cheat his heir?

He to his brother gives supreme command, To you a legacy of barren land; Perhaps the old harp, on which he thrums his lays, Or some dull Hebrew ballad in your praise. 440 Then the next heir, a prince severe and wise, Already looks on you with jealous eyes; Sees through the thin disguises of your arts, And marks your progress in the people's hearts; Though now his mighty soul its grief contains: He meditates revenge who least complains; And like a lion, slumbering in the way, Or sleep dissembling, while he waits his prey, His fearless foes within his distance draws, Constrains his roaring, and contracts his paws; 450 Till at the last his time for fury found, He shoots with sudden vengeance from the ground; The prostrate vulgar pa.s.ses o'er and spares, But with a lordly rage his hunters tears.

Your case no tame expedients will afford: Resolve on death, or conquest by the sword, Which for no less a stake than life you draw; And self-defence is nature's eldest law.

Leave the warm people no considering time: For then rebellion may be thought a crime. 460 Avail yourself of what occasion gives, But try your t.i.tle while your father lives: And that your arms may have a fair pretence, Proclaim you take them in the king's defence; Whose sacred life each minute would expose To plots, from seeming friends, and secret foes.

And who can sound the depth of David's soul?

Perhaps his fear, his kindness may control.

He fears his brother, though he loves his son, For plighted vows too late to be undone. 470 If so, by force he wishes to be gain'd: By women's lechery to seem constrain'd.

Doubt not; but, when he most affects the frown, Commit a pleasing rape upon the crown.

Secure his person to secure your cause: They who possess the prince possess the laws.

He said, and this advice above the rest, With Absalom's mild nature suited best; Unblamed of life, ambition set aside, Not stain'd with cruelty, nor puff'd with pride, 480 How happy had he been, if destiny Had higher placed his birth, or not so high!

His kingly virtues might have claim'd a throne, And bless'd all other countries but his own.

But charming greatness since so few refuse, 'Tis juster to lament him than accuse.

Strong were his hopes a rival to remove, With blandishments to gain the public love: To head the faction while their zeal was hot, And popularly prosecute the Plot. 490 To further this, Achitophel unites The malcontents of all the Israelites: Whose differing parties he could wisely join, For several ends to serve the same design.

The best--and of the princes some were such-- Who thought the power of monarchy too much; Mistaken men, and patriots in their hearts; Not wicked, but seduced by impious arts.

By these the springs of property were bent, And wound so high, they crack'd the government. 500 The next for interest sought to embroil the state, To sell their duty at a dearer rate, And make their Jewish markets of the throne; Pretending public good, to serve their own.

Others thought kings an useless heavy load, Who cost too much, and did too little good.

These were for laying honest David by, On principles of pure good husbandry.

With them join'd all the haranguers of the throng, That thought to get preferment by the tongue. 510 Who follow next a double danger bring, Not only hating David, but the king; The Solyimaean rout; well versed of old In G.o.dly faction, and in treason bold; Cowering and quaking at a conqueror's sword, But lofty to a lawful prince restored; Saw with disdain an Ethnic plot begun, And scorn'd by Jebusites to be outdone.

Hot Levites headed these; who pull'd before From the ark, which in the Judges' days they bore, 520 Resumed their cant, and with a zealous cry, Pursued their old beloved theocracy: Where Sanhedrim and priest enslaved the nation, And justified their spoils by inspiration: For who so fit to reign as Aaron's race, If once dominion they could found in grace?

These led the pack; though not of surest scent, Yet deepest mouth'd against the government.

A numerous host of dreaming saints succeed, Of the true old enthusiastic breed: 530 'Gainst form and order they their power employ, Nothing to build, and all things to destroy.

But far more numerous was the herd of such, Who think too little, and who talk too much.

These out of mere instinct, they knew not why, Adored their fathers' G.o.d and property; And by the same blind benefit of fate, The Devil and the Jebusite did hate: Born to be saved, even in their own despite, Because they could not help believing right. 540

Such were the tools: but a whole Hydra more Remains of sprouting heads too long to score.

Some of their chiefs were princes of the land: In the first rank of these did Zimri stand; A man so various, that he seem'd to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome: Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong; Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon: 550 Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.

Blest madman, who could every hour employ, With something new to wish, or to enjoy!

Railing and praising were his usual themes; And both, to show his judgment, in extremes: So over violent, or over civil, That every man with him was G.o.d or Devil.

In squandering wealth was his peculiar art: Nothing went unrewarded but desert. 560 Beggar'd by fools, whom still he found too late; He had his jest, and they had his estate.

He laugh'd himself from court; then sought relief By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief: For, spite of him the weight of business fell On Absalom and wise Achitophel: Thus, wicked but in will, of means bereft, He left not faction, but of that was left.

t.i.tles and names 'twere tedious to rehea.r.s.e Of lords, below the dignity of verse. 570 Wits, warriors, commonwealth's-men, were the best: Kind husbands, and mere n.o.bles, all the rest.

And therefore, in the name of dulness, be The well-hung Balaam and cold Caleb free: And canting Nadab let oblivion d.a.m.n, Who made new porridge for the paschal lamb.

Let friendship's holy band some names a.s.sure; Some their own worth, and some let scorn secure.

Nor shall the rascal rabble here have place, Whom kings no t.i.tles gave, and G.o.d no grace: 580 Not bull-faced Jonas, who could statutes draw To mean rebellion, and make treason law.

But he, though bad, is follow'd by a worse, The wretch who Heaven's anointed dared to curse; Shimei, whose youth did early promise bring Of zeal to G.o.d and hatred to his king, Did wisely from expensive sins refrain, And never broke the Sabbath but for gain; Nor ever was he known an oath to vent, Or curse, unless against the government. 590 Thus heaping wealth by the most ready way Among the Jews, which was to cheat and pray; The city, to reward his pious hate Against his master, chose him magistrate.

His hand a vare[70] of justice did uphold; His neck was loaded with a chain of gold.

During his office treason was no crime; The sons of Belial had a glorious time: For Shimei, though not prodigal of pelf, Yet loved his wicked neighbour as himself. 600 When two or three were gather'd to declaim Against the monarch of Jerusalem, Shimei was always in the midst of them; And if they cursed the king when he was by, Would rather curse than break good company.

If any durst his factious friends accuse, He pack'd a jury of dissenting Jews; Whose fellow-feeling in the G.o.dly cause Would free the suffering saint from human laws.

For laws are only made to punish those 610 Who serve the king, and to protect his foes.

If any leisure time he had from power (Because 'tis sin to misemploy an hour), His business was, by writing to persuade, That kings were useless and a clog to trade; And, that his n.o.ble style he might refine, No Rechabite more shunn'd the fumes of wind.

Chaste were his cellars, and his shrivel board The grossness of a city feast abhorr'd; His cooks with long disuse their trade forgot; 620 Cool was his kitchen, though his brains were hot.

Such frugal virtue malice may accuse, But sure 'twas necessary to the Jews; For towns, once burnt, such magistrates require As dare not tempt G.o.d's providence by fire.

With spiritual food he fed his servants well, But free from flesh that made the Jews rebel: And Moses' laws he held in more account, For forty days of fasting in the mount.

To speak the rest who better are forgot, 630 Would tire a well-breathed witness of the plot.

Yet Corah, thou shalt from oblivion pa.s.s; Erect thyself, thou monumental bra.s.s, High as the serpent of thy metal made, While nations stand secure beneath thy shade.

What though his birth were base, yet comets rise From earthly vapours, ere they shine in skies.

Prodigious actions may as well be done By weaver's issue, as by prince's son.

This arch attestor for the public good 640 By that one deed enn.o.bles all his blood.

Who ever ask'd the witness's high race, Whose oath with martyrdom did Stephen grace?

Ours was a Levite, and as times went then, His tribe were G.o.d Almighty's gentlemen.

Sunk were his eyes, his voice was harsh and loud, Sure signs he neither choleric was, nor proud.

His long chin proved his wit; his saint-like grace A church vermilion, and a Moses' face.

His memory miraculously great, 650 Could plots, exceeding man's belief, repeat; Which therefore cannot be accounted lies, For human wit could never such devise.

Some future truths are mingled in his book; But where the witness fail'd, the prophet spoke.

Some things like visionary flights appear; The spirit caught him up the Lord knows where; And gave him his rabbinical degree, Unknown to foreign university.

His judgment yet his memory did excel; 660 Which pieced his wondrous evidence so well, And suited to the temper of the times, Then groaning under Jebusitic crimes.

Let Israel's foes suspect his heavenly call, And rashly judge his wit apocryphal; Our laws for such affronts have forfeits made; He takes his life who takes away his trade.

Were I myself in witness Corah's place, The wretch who did me such a dire disgrace, Should whet my memory, though once forgot, 670 To make him an appendix of my plot.

His zeal to heaven made him his prince despise, And load his person with indignities.

But zeal peculiar privilege affords, Indulging lat.i.tude to deeds and words: And Corah might for Agag's murder call, In terms as coa.r.s.e as Samuel used to Saul.

What others in his evidence did join, The best that could be had for love or coin, In Corah's own predicament will fall: 680 For witness is a common name to all.

Surrounded thus with friends of every sort, Deluded Absalom forsakes the court: Impatient of high hopes, urged with renown, And fired with near possession of a crown.

The admiring crowd are dazzled with surprise, And on his goodly person feed their eyes.

His joy conceal'd he sets himself to show; On each side bowing popularly low: His looks, his gestures, and his words he frames, 690 And with familiar ease repeats their names.

Thus form'd by nature, furnish'd out with arts, He glides unfelt into their secret hearts.

Then, with a kind compa.s.sionating look, And sighs, bespeaking pity ere he spoke, Few words he said; but easy those and fit, More slow than Hybla-drops, and far more sweet.

I mourn, my countrymen, your lost estate; Though far unable to prevent your fate: Behold a banish'd man for your dear cause 700 Exposed a prey to arbitrary laws!

Yet oh! that I alone could be undone, Cut off from empire, and no more a son!

Now all your liberties a spoil are made; Egypt and Tyrus intercept your trade, And Jebusites your sacred rites invade.

My father, whom with reverence yet I name, Charm'd into ease, is careless of his fame; And bribed with petty sums of foreign gold, Is grown in Bathsheba's embraces old; 710 Exalts his enemies, his friends destroys, And all his power against himself employs.

He gives, and let him give, my right away: But why should he his own and yours betray?

He, only he, can make the nation bleed, And he alone from my revenge is freed.

Take then my tears (with that he wiped his eyes), 'Tis all the aid my present power supplies: No court-informer can these arms accuse; These arms may sons against their fathers use: 720 And 'tis my wish, the next successor's reign, May make no other Israelite complain.

Youth, beauty, graceful action seldom fail; But common interest always will prevail: And pity never ceases to be shown To him who makes the people's wrongs his own.

The crowd, that still believe their kings oppress, With lifted hands their young Messiah bless: Who now begins his progress to ordain With chariots, hors.e.m.e.n, and a numerous train: 730 From east to west his glories he displays, And, like the sun, the promised land surveys.

Fame runs before him as the morning-star, And shouts of joy salute him from afar: Each house receives him as a guardian G.o.d, And consecrates the place of his abode.

But hospitable treats did most commend Wise Issachar, his wealthy western friend.

This moving court, that caught the people's eyes, And seem'd but pomp, did other ends disguise: 740 Achitophel had form'd it, with intent To sound the depths, and fathom where it went, The people's hearts, distinguish friends from foes, And try their strength, before they came to blows.

Yet all was colour'd with a smooth pretence Of specious love, and duty to their prince.

Religion, and redress of grievances, Two names that always cheat, and always please, Are often urged; and good king David's life Endanger'd by a brother and a wife. 750 Thus in a pageant show a plot is made; And peace itself is war in masquerade.

O foolish Israel! never warn'd by ill!

Still the same bait, and circ.u.mvented still!

Did ever men forsake their present ease, In midst of health imagine a disease; Take pains contingent mischiefs to foresee, Make heirs for monarchs, and for G.o.d decree?

What shall we think? Can people give away, Both for themselves and sons, their native sway? 760 Then they are left defenceless to the sword Of each unbounded, arbitrary lord: And laws are vain, by which we right enjoy, If kings unquestion'd can those laws destroy.