Anti-Achitophel | Page 9

build,?Both close Cabals and Forreign Leagues are held:?To _Babylon_ and _Egypt_ they send o're,?And both their Conduct and their Gold implore.?By such Abettors the sly Game was plaid;?One of their Chiefs a Jewish Renegade,?High-born in _Israel_, one _Michals_ Priest,?But now in _Babylons_ proud Scarlet drest.?'Tis to his Hands the Plotting Mandats come?Subscrib'd by the Apostate _Absolom_.?Nay, and to keep themselves all danger-proof,?That none might track the _Belial_ by his Hoof,?Their Correspondence veil'd from prying Eyes,?In Hieroglyphick Figures they disguise.?Husht as the Night, in which their Plots combin'd,?And silent as the Graves they had design'd,?Their Ripening Mischiefs to perfection sprung.?But oh! the much-loath'd _David_ lives too long.?Their Vultures cannot mount but from his Tomb;?And with too hungry ravenous Gorges come,?To be by airy Expectation fed.?No Prey, no Spoil, before they see Him Dead.?Yes, Dead; the Royal Sands too slowly pass,?And therefore they're resolved to break the Glass:?And to ensure Times tardy dubious Call,?Decree their Daggers should his Sythe forestall.?For th'execrable Deed a Hireling Crew?Their Hell and They pick out; whom to make true,?An Oath of Force so exquisite they frame,?Sworn in the Blood of _Israels_ Paschal Lamb.?If false, the Vengeance of that Sword that slew?_Egypts_ First-born, their perjur'd Heads pursue.?Strong was the Oath, the Imprecation dire;?And for a Viand, lest their Guilt should tire,?With promis'd Paradice they cheer their way;?And bold's the Souldier who has Heav'n his pay.
But the ne'r-sleeping Providence that stands?With jealous Eyes o're Truths up-lifted Hands;?That still in its Lord _Israel_ takes delight,?Their Cloud by Day, and Guardian Fire by Night;?A Ray from out its Fiery Pillar cast,?That overlook'd their driving _Jehu_'s hast.
All's ruin'd and betray'd: their own false Slaves }
Detect the Plot, and dig their Masters Graves: }
Not Oaths nor Bribes shall bind, when great _Jehovah_ saves. } The frighted _Israelites_ take the Alarm,?Resolve the Traitors Sorceries t'uncharm:?Till cursing, raving, mad, and drunk with Rage,?In _Amnons_ Blood their frantick Hands engage.
Here let the Ghost of strangl'd _Amnon_ come,?A Specter that will strike Amazement dumb;?_Amnon_ the Proto-Martyr of the Plot,?The Murder'd _Amnon_, their Eternal Blot;?Whose too bold zeal stood like a _Pharos_ Light,?_Israel_ to warn, and track their Deeds of Night.?Till the sly Foe his unseen Game to play,?Put out the Beacon to secure his way.?_Baals_ Cabinet-Intrigues he open spread,?The Ravisht _Tamar_ for whose sake he bled.?T'unveil their Temple and expose their Gods,?Deserv'd their vengeances severest Rods:?Wrath he deserv'd, and had the Vial full,?To lay those Devils had possest his Soul.?His silenc'd Fiends from his wrung Neck they twist;?Whilst his kind Murd'rer's but his Exorcist.?Here draw, bold Painter, (if thy Pencil dare?Unshaking write, what _Israel_ quak'd to hear,)?A Royal Altar pregnant with a Load?Of Humane Bones beneath a Breaden God.?Altars so rich not _Molocks_ Temples show;?'Twas Heaven above, and _Golgotha_ below.?Yet are not all the Mystick Rites yet done:?Their pious Fury does not stop so soon.?But to pursue the loud-tongu'd Wounds they gave,?Resolves to stab his Fame beyond the Grave,?And in Eternal Infamy to brand?With _Amnons_ Murder, _Amnons_ righteous Hand.?Here with a Bloodless wound, by Hellish Art,?With his own Sword they goar his Lifeless Heart.?Thus in a Ditch the butcher'd _Amnon_ lay,?A Deed of Night enough to have kept back the Day.?Had not the Sun in Sacred vengeance rose,?Asham'd to see, but prouder to disclose,?Warm'd with new Fires, with all his posting speed,?Brought Heav'ns bright Lamp to shew th'Infernal Deed.
What art thou, Church! when Faith to propagate,?And crush all Bars that stop thy growing state,?Thou break'st through Natures, Gods, and Humane Laws,?Whilst Murder's Merit in a Churches Cause.?How much thy Ladder _Jacobs_ does excel:?Whose Top's in Heaven like His, but Foot in Hell;?Thy Causes bloody Champions to befriend,?For Fiends to Mount, as Angels to Descend.
This was the stroke did th'alarm'd World surprize,?And even to infidelity lent Eyes:?Whilst sweating _Absolon_ in _Israel_ pent,?For fresher Air was to bleak _Hebron_ sent.?Cold _Hebron_ warm'd by his approaching sight,?Flusht with his Gold, and glow'd with new delight.?Till Sacred all-converting Interest?To Loyalty, their almost unknown Guest,?Oped a broad Gate, from whence forth-issuing come,?Decrees, Tests, Oaths, for well-sooth'd _Absolom_.?Spight of that Guilt that made even Angels fall,?An unbarr'd Heir shall Reign: In spight of all?Apostacy from Heav'n, or Natures tyes,?Though for his Throne a _Cain_-built Palace rise.?No wonder _Hebron_ such Devotion bears?T'Imperial Dignity, and Royal Heirs;?For they, whom Chronicle so high renowns?For selling Kings, should know the price of Crowns.
Here, Glorious _Hushai_, let me mourn thy Fate,?Thou once great Pillar of the _Hebron_ State:?Yet now to Dungeons sent, and doom'd t'a Grave.?But Chains are no new Sufferings to the Brave.?Witness thy pains in six years Bonds endur'd,?For _Israels_ Faith, and _Davids_ Cause immur'd.?Death too thou oft for _Judahs_ Crown hast stood,?So bravely fac'd in several Fields of Blood.?But from