[8]
But, if unseiz'd, she glides away like wind;
And leaves repenting Folly far behind.
Now, now she meets you, with a glorious prize,
And spreads her Locks before her as she flies.
Had thus Old David, from whose Loins you spring,
Not dar'd, when Fortune call'd him, to be King,
At Gath an Exile he might still remain;
And Heavens Anointing Oil had been in vain.
Let his successful Youth your hopes engage;
But shun th'example of Declining Age:
Behold him setting in his Western Skies,
The shadows lengthning as the Vapours rise.
He is not now, as when on Jordan's Sand
The joyful People throng'd to see him Land,
Cov'ring the Beech, and blackning all the Strand:
But, like the Prince of Angels from his height,
Comes tumbling downward with diminish'd light:
Betray'd by one poor Plot to publick Scorn:
(Our only blessing since his curst Return:)
Those heaps of People which one Sheaf did bind,
Blown off, and scatter'd by a puff of Wind.
What strength can he to your Designs oppose,
Naked of Friends, and round beset with Foes?
If Pharoah's doubtful Succour he should use,
A Foreign Aid wou'd more incense the Jews:
Proud Egypt wou'd dissembled Friendship bring;
Foment the War, but not support the King:
Nor wou'd the Royal Party e're unite
With Pharoah's Arms, t'assist the Jebusite;
Or if they shou'd, their Interest soon wou'd break,
And, with such odious Aid, make David weak.
All sorts of men, by my successful Arts,
Abhorring Kings, estrange their alter'd Hearts
From David's Rule: And 'tis the general Cry,
Religion, Common-wealth, and Liberty.
If you, as Champion of the Publick Good,
Add to their Arms a Chief of Royal Blood;
What may not Israel hope, and what Applause
Might such a General gain by such a Cause?
And leaves repenting Folly far behind.
Now, now she meets you, with a glorious prize,
And spreads her Locks before her as she flies.
Had thus Old David, from whose Loins you spring,
Not dar'd, when Fortune call'd him, to be King,
At Gath an Exile he might still remain;
And Heavens Anointing Oil had been in vain.
Let his successful Youth your hopes engage;
But shun th'example of Declining Age:
Behold him setting in his Western Skies,
The shadows lengthning as the Vapours rise.
He is not now, as when on Jordan's Sand
The joyful People throng'd to see him Land,
Cov'ring the Beech, and blackning all the Strand:
But, like the Prince of Angels from his height,
Comes tumbling downward with diminish'd light:
Betray'd by one poor Plot to publick Scorn:
(Our only blessing since his curst Return:)
Those heaps of People which one Sheaf did bind,
Blown off, and scatter'd by a puff of Wind.
What strength can he to your Designs oppose,
Naked of Friends, and round beset with Foes?
If Pharoah's doubtful Succour he should use,
A Foreign Aid wou'd more incense the Jews:
Proud Egypt wou'd dissembled Friendship bring;
Foment the War, but not support the King:
Nor wou'd the Royal Party e're unite
With Pharoah's Arms, t'assist the Jebusite;
Or if they shou'd, their Interest soon wou'd break,
And, with such odious Aid, make David weak.
All sorts of men, by my successful Arts,
Abhorring Kings, estrange their alter'd Hearts
From David's Rule: And 'tis the general Cry,
Religion, Common-wealth, and Liberty.
If you, as Champion of the Publick Good,
Add to their Arms a Chief of Royal Blood;
What may not Israel hope, and what Applause
Might such a General gain by such a Cause?
Not
