IN pious times, e’r Priest-Craft did begin,
Before Poligamy was made a sin;
When Man, on many, multipli’d his kind,
E’r one to one was, cursedly, confin’d;
When Nature prompted, & no law deni’d
Promiscuous Use of Concubine and Bride;
Then, Israel‘s Monarch, after Heavens own heart,
His vigorous warmth did, variously, impart
To Wives and Slaves; And, wide as his Command,
Scatter’d his Maker’s Image through the Land.
Michal, of Royal blood, the Crown did wear;
A Soil ungrateful to the Tiller’s care;
Not so the rest; for several Mothers bore
To Godlike David several Sons before.
But since like slaves his bed they did ascend,
No True Succession could their seed attend.
Of all this Numerous Progeny was none
So beautiful so brave as Absolon:
Whether, inspir’d by some diviner Lust,
His Father got him with a greater Gust;
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 Israels Crown;
In Peace the thoughts of War he coud remove,
And seem’d as he were only born for love.
What e’r 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 deny’d;
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Page 8What faults he had (for who from faults is free?
His Father coud not, or he woud not see.
Some warm excesses, which the Law forbore,
Were constru’d Youth that purg’d by boyling o’r;
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, undistutb’d in Sion raign’d.
But Life can never be sincerely blest;
Heav’n punishes the bad, and proves the best.
The Iews, a Headstrong, 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 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 libertie;
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 Isbosheth the Crown forgo;
Who banisht David did from Hebron bring,
And, with a General Shout, Proclaim’d him King:
Those very Iews, who, at their very best,
Their Humour more than Loyalty exprest,
Now, wondred why, so long, they had obey’d
An Idol-Monarch which their hands had made,
Thought they might ruine him they could create;
Or melt him to that Golden Calf, a State.
But these were random bolts, No form’d Design,
Nor Intrest made the Factious Croud to joyn:
The sober part of Israel, free from stain,
Well knew the value of a peaceful reign:
And, looking backward with a wise afright,
Saw S