[2]
Or that his Conscious Destiny made way,
By manly Beauty to Imperial-Sway.
Early in Foreign Fields he won Renown,
With Kings and States alli'd to Israel's Crown:
In Peace the thoughts of War he cou'd remove,
And seem's as he were only born for Love.
What e're he did, was done with so much ease,
In him alone, 'twas Natural to please:
His motions all accompani'd with grace;
And Paradise was open'd in his face.
With secret Joy, indulgent David view'd
His Youthful Image in his Son renew'd:
To all his wishes Nothing he deni'd;
And made the Charming Annabal his Bride.
What faults he had (for who from faults is free?)
His Father cou'd not, or he wou'd not see.
Some warm excesses, which the Law forbore,
Were constru'd Youth that purg'd by boiling o're:
And Amnon's Murther, by a specious Name,
Was call'd a Just Revenge for injur'd Fame.
Thus Prais'd, and Lov'd, the Noble Youth remain'd,
While David, undisturb'd, in Sion reign'd.
But Life can never be sincerely blest:
Heav'n punishes the bad, and proves the best.
The Jews, a Head-strong, Moody, Murm'ring race,
As ever tri'd th' extent and stretch of grace;
God's pamper'd People whom, debauch'd with ease,
No King could govern, nor no God could please;
(Gods they had tri'd of every shape and size,
That God-smiths could produce, or Priests devise:)
These Adam-wits, too fortunately free,
Began to dream they wanted Liberty,
And when no rule, no president was found
Of men, by Laws less circumscrib'd and bound;
They led their wild desires to Woods and Caves;
And thought that all but Savages were Slaves.
They who, when Saul was dead, without a blow,
Made foolish Isbosbeth the Crown forego;
Who banisht David did from Hebron bring,
And, with a General shout, proclaim'd him King;
By manly Beauty to Imperial-Sway.
Early in Foreign Fields he won Renown,
With Kings and States alli'd to Israel's Crown:
In Peace the thoughts of War he cou'd remove,
And seem's as he were only born for Love.
What e're he did, was done with so much ease,
In him alone, 'twas Natural to please:
His motions all accompani'd with grace;
And Paradise was open'd in his face.
With secret Joy, indulgent David view'd
His Youthful Image in his Son renew'd:
To all his wishes Nothing he deni'd;
And made the Charming Annabal his Bride.
What faults he had (for who from faults is free?)
His Father cou'd not, or he wou'd not see.
Some warm excesses, which the Law forbore,
Were constru'd Youth that purg'd by boiling o're:
And Amnon's Murther, by a specious Name,
Was call'd a Just Revenge for injur'd Fame.
Thus Prais'd, and Lov'd, the Noble Youth remain'd,
While David, undisturb'd, in Sion reign'd.
But Life can never be sincerely blest:
Heav'n punishes the bad, and proves the best.
The Jews, a Head-strong, Moody, Murm'ring race,
As ever tri'd th' extent and stretch of grace;
God's pamper'd People whom, debauch'd with ease,
No King could govern, nor no God could please;
(Gods they had tri'd of every shape and size,
That God-smiths could produce, or Priests devise:)
These Adam-wits, too fortunately free,
Began to dream they wanted Liberty,
And when no rule, no president was found
Of men, by Laws less circumscrib'd and bound;
They led their wild desires to Woods and Caves;
And thought that all but Savages were Slaves.
They who, when Saul was dead, without a blow,
Made foolish Isbosbeth the Crown forego;
Who banisht David did from Hebron bring,
And, with a General shout, proclaim'd him King;
Those
