Part 7

_Hushai_ in Silence heard the Prince, and weigh'd Each word he spake, then to him thus reply'd; Great Prince, th' Almighty has to you been kind, } Stamp'd Graces on your Body and your mind, } As if he for your Head a Crown design'd. } We shall not search into Fates Secret Womb, God alone knows the things that are to come; But should you never sit on _David_'s Throne, 'Tis better to deserve than wear a Crown. Of Royal Blood, and of great Birth you are, Born under some benign auspicious Star, Lov'd by the best, and prais'd by every Tongue, The glorious Subject of each worthy Song: The young man's Wish, Joy of each Warlike Wight, The People's Darling, and the World's Delight. A Crowd of Vertues fill your Princely Breast, } And what appears more glorious than the rest, } You are of Truth and Loyalty possest. } That I would cherish in you, that would raise To an admired height, that I would chiefly praise. Let Fools and subtil Politicians scorn Fair Vertue, which doth best a Prince adorn: Whilst you her bright and shining Robes put on, You will appear more great than _Solomon_. Let not Great Prince, the Fumes of Vulgar Praise, Your bolder Spirits to Ambition raise. We cannot see into the Mist of Fate, Till time brings forth, you must expecting wait; But Fortune, rather Providence, not Chance, The constant, stout, and wise doth still advance. Let your quick Eye be to her Motions ty'd; But still let Noble Vertue be your Guide: For when that God and Vertue points the way, There can be then no danger to obey. But here in Wisdom's School we ought to learn, How we 'twixt Good and Evil may discern, For, noble Prince, you must true difference make, Lest for the one the other you mistake. You must not think you may your self advance, By laying hold on every proffer'd chance. Tho Fortune seems to smile, and egg you on, Let Vertue be your Rule and Guide alone. Thus _David_ for his Guide his Vertue took; Nor was by Fortune's proffer'd Kindness shook. His Vertue and his Loyalty did save King _Saul_, when Fortune brought him to his Cave, And if that I may to you Counsel give, You should without a Crown for ever live, Rather than get it by the Peoples Lust, Or purchase it by ways that are unjust. _David_ your Ancestor, from whom you spring, Would never by Rebellion be made King; But long in _Gath_ a Warring Exile stay'd, Till for him God a lawful way had made. In _Hebron_, full of Glory and Renown, He gain'd, at last, and not usurpt the Crown. By full Consent he did the same obtain, And Heav'n's anointing Oyl was not in vain. I once did seem to _Amazia_ dear, Who me above m'ambitious hopes did rear; I serv'd him then according to my skill, And bow'd my Mind unto my Soveraign's Will. Too neer the Soveraign Image then I stood, To think that every Line and Stroke was good. Some Daubers I endeavour'd to remove, And to amend their artless Errours strove. My Skill in secret these with slander wound; With every Line I drew still faults were found; Till wearied, I at last my Work gave o're. } And _Amazia_ (I shall say no more) } Did me to my lov'd Privacy restore. } For this they think I must my Vertue change, For Envy, Malice, and for sweet Revenge. Me by themselves they judge, who would do so, And cause the King suspect me for his Foe. But by th'advice I give, you best will find Th'Integrity and Plainness of my Mind; And that I harbour not that vile intent Their Poets and their Malice do invent. Far be't from me, to be like Cursed _Cham_; A good Son strives to hide his Father's shame. A King, the Father of his Country is; His shame is every Act he doth amiss. Good and just Kings God's Image bear; but when Their Frailties let us see they are but Men, We cannot every Action so applaud, As if it came from an unerring God. Kings have their Passions, and deceiv'd may be, When b'others Ears and Eyes they hear and see: For Sycophants, of Courts the Bane and Curse, Make all things better than they are, or worse. To Evil prone, to Mischief ever bent, } Th'all Objects with false colours represent; } The Guilty clear, condemn the Innocent. } Thus, noble Prince, they you and me accuse With all the Venome Malice can infuse. _Baal_'s Priests, Hell, and our Foes, new Arts have got, The filthy Reliques of their former Plot; Whereby they would our Lives in danger bring, And make us cursed Traytors to the King. What mayn't these cunning men hope to atchieve, When by their Arts few men their Plot believe? When b'horrid ways, not known to _Jews_ before, Their Plot's transform'd, and laid now at our door? But fear not, Sir, we have a sure Defence, The Peoples Love, God, Law, and Innocence. Keep fast your Vertue, and you shall be blest, And let alone to God and Time the rest. The Noble Youth, with Vertues Robes arrai'd, Consider'd well what the wise _Hushai_ said. Desire of Power, though of Celestial Birth, Below, is ever intermixt with Earth: And all who do to hight of Place aspire, Have earthly Smoak mixt with their mounting Fire. Praise may debauch, and strong Ambition blind, Where heav'nly Vertue does not guard the Mind. But _Azaria_ so well understood, He left the Evil, and embrac'd the Good: Tho in his breast aspiring thoughts he found, Yet Loyalty still kept them within bound. And tho he might have Empire in his Eye, When to it by his bloud allay'd so nigh, Yet in his Soul such Virtue did remain, He by Rebellion would not Empire gain. Through every Vein his Loyal Bloud did run, Yet Royal too, as _Amazia_'s Son. About his noble Heart he felt it spring; Which let him know his Father was a King. If that to _Azaria_ were a Blot, His Father made it when he him begot: But Heav'n such Virtue moulded with his Soul, That his aspiring Lust it did controul. Thus to wise _Hushai_ he repli'd: I finde Your Counsel is agreeing with my Minde. And tho my Foes me an ill man do make, My Loyalty I never will forsake: Yet, prudent _Hushai_, do not Nature blame, } If I cannot, unmov'd, appear so tame } As not to shew Resentment at my Shame. } Oh, would to Heav'n I ne'er had been begot! Or never had been born a Royal Blot! My Father's Bloud runs thorow every Vein; } He form'd those Spirits which desire to reign, } Mount t'wards a Throne, and sordid Earth disdain. } In Glory, Fame, Crowns, Empire, they delight, And to all these they would assert my Right. And my great Thoughts do whisper there is none Can be more neer a Father, than his Son. This prompts me to oppose _Eliakim_, And never yield my Father's Crown to him. But then one groveling thought strait pulls me down, And throws me at a distance from The Crown. Oh, would to God------And here he stopt and sigh'd, Whilst _Hushai_ thus to the griev'd Prince repli'd.

Indeed, great Prince, it seemeth wondrous strange To all the World, to see your Father's change; To find the happy Love he us'd to show'r, Like fruitful Rain, on you, to fall no more: To see a Son, the Father's dear Delight, His pleasing Joy, now banish'd from his sight. Nature must in the Father deeply groan, When from his Heart is rent so dear a Son. Nor can I think, tho he from you should part, A Brother e'er can lie so near his Heart. To work this Change, your Foes much Art do use, } Their venom'd Tongues your Fathers Ears abuse, } And you of an aspiring mind accuse. } Justice in _Amazia_ bears such sway, That even Nature must to it give way; H'ad rather Nature force, and part with you, Than seem to rob another of his due. He holds it just, and as a thing divine, To keep unbroken still the Royal Line. Such an Example we can hardly find, A King to's Brother so exceeding kind; When by it he doth such great hazard run, Losing at once his People and his Son. Grieve not, great Prince, at your unhappy Fate; } Let not your Birth your Vertue to abate; } It was not you that could your self create. } I should great folly shew, should I repine At what I could not help, and was no fault of mine. Tho by your Mothers side your Birth was mean, And tho your Mother no declared Queen, If Heaven and your Father please, you may By lawful Right, _Judea_'s Scepter sway, After that he is number'd with the Dead, And his great Soul to _Abraham_'s Bosom fled. Possession of a Crown clears every Stain; No blot of Birth to you can then remain. What Pow'r on Earth, by Right, dares question you? Or what your Father and _Sanhedrim_ do? Nor is your Birth to Heaven any let; God _Jepthtah_ once did o're _Judea_ set. He was a Conquerour of a mighty Name, And's Mother no ways did eclipse his Fame, Nor bar'd him from the Title of a King, Nor those who after from his Loins did spring. Nature may yet make your great Father kind; And who can tell but he may change his mind, When your Succession shall be understood To be the Peoples Choice, and for the Nations Good? But let us leave what is to come, to Fate; Yours Father's pleasure and God's will await. Long may it be ere the King's life doth end; On it our Peace and Happiness depend. Like Wheat full ripe, with many years bow'd down, Let him leave this for an immortal Crown. And who can tell Heav'n's will? it may be too, _Eliakim_ may die before the King or you. Think of no Titles while your Father lives; Take not what an unjust Occasion gives. For to take Arms you can have no pretence, Tho it should be e'en in your own defence. It better were without the Crown to die, Than quit your Vertue and blest Loyaltie. You with the numerous Peoples Love are blest, Not of the Vulgars onely, but the Best. I would not have you their kind Love repel, Nor give encouragement for to rebel: For their Affection which they wildly shew, Is rendred, by your Foes, a Crime in you. Here you your Course must even steer and strait, } That you may not your Father's fears create; } Keep the _Jews_ Love, and not increase his Hate. } Leave for a while the Citie and the Court, Go and divert your self with Country-sport; Perhaps your Foes may then abate their spight, And you may be forgot, when out of sight. By your Retirement, you will let them see You'd take away all cause of Jealousie. That you, like _Absalom_, will never prove, To court the head-strong Peoples factious Love. Nor will I ever prove _Achitophel_, To give you wicked Counsel to rebel. Continue still your Loyalty, be just; And for the Crown, God and your Vertue trust. Endeavour not to take what may be giv'n; Deserve it first, and then receive't from Heav'n.

He said, And this Advice above the rest, Suited with _Azaria_'s Vertue best. He was not stain'd with Cruelty or Pride; A thousand Graces he possest beside. To Vertue he was naturally inclin'd, And Goodness clothed his heroick Mind. His Kingly Vertues made him fit to reign, Yet scorn'd by evil Arts the Crown to gain. And tho he Empire to desire did seem, His Loyalty was still more dear to him: Therefore he did not court the Peoples Love, Nor us'd their Pow'r his Rival to remove. From's Father he fought not their Hearts to steal, Nor head a Faction mov'd by blinding Zeal; But like a vertuous and a pious Son, Sought all occasions of Offence to shun. In private like a common man sat down, His Peace his Rule, his Loyalty his Crown.

Thus humble, vertuous, loyal, void of Pride, Most of the _Jews_ he gained to his side. Not factious Sects, the Rabble, or the rude Erring, unthinking, vulgar Multitude: But the chief Tribes and Princes of the Land, Who durst for _Moses_'s ancient Statutes stand. The pious, just, religious, and the good, Men of great Riches, and of greater Bloud, Did, as one man, themselves together joyn To stop the _Baalites_, and Hell's curst design. Not wicked, or seduc'd by impious Arts, But Loyal all, and Patriots in their Hearts. For they beheld the _Baalites_ foul intent, Religion to o'rethrow and Government. These at the Monarch's Power did not grutch, Since bound by Laws, he could not have too much. What Laws prescribe, they thought he well might have, How could he else his Realm in danger save? But _Baal_'s or _Egypt_'s Yoke they would refuse, Not fitting for the Necks of free-born _Jews_. They all resolve the King not to oppose, Yet to defend the Nation from its Foes. And were it not for those great Worthy men, The _Jews_ distress'd and wretched soon had been. Among the Rout perhaps there some might blend, Whose int'rest made them Publick Good pretend; Weary of Peace, new Troubles would create, And for their private Gain, embroyl the State. And some perhaps there were, who thought a King To be of Charge, and but an useless thing. Some idle Fops, who publickly debate To shew their Parts, the deep Intrigues of State; These and some others, for a Commonwealth, Among the Herd, unseen, might hide by stealth: But it would strange to common Justice seem, For some few bad, the sound Flock to condemn. Like Goats among the Sheep, well known these bleat, And are like Darnel 'mong the purest Wheat. These not as Friends, but Enemies to the Throne, Good Patriots and good Subjects did disown. And _Azaria_, tho they us'd his name, Disdain'd their Friendship with a loyal shame.

But he beheld appearing on his side, Princes, whose Faith and Loyalty were try'd; Such as no base or sordid ends could move, Who did his Father and their Country love. In the first rank of these did _Nashon_ stand, None nobler or more loyal in the Land. Under the King he once did _Edom_ sway, And taught that Land the _Jews_ good Laws t'obey. True to his Word, and of unspotted Fame; Great both in Parts, in Vertue, and in Name. His Faith ne'r touch'd, his Loyalty well known, A Friend both to his Country and the Throne. Base ends his great and noble Soul did scorn, Of loyal, high, and noble Parents born. His Father with renown and great Applause, For _Joash_ di'd, and suffer'd for his Cause. Of great _Aminadab_ who would not sing, Whose glory shin'd next to the martyr'd King? From him his Son true Loyalty understood, Imprest on's Soul, seal'd with his Father's Bloud. The grave, religious, wife, rich _Helon_ too, } Much honoured by every zealous _Jew_, } Appear'd a Patriot, to his Country true. } In the _Jews_ Laws, and strict Religion bred, And _Baal_'s curst Rites did much abhor and dread. His Son _Eliab_, in the _Sanhedrim_, With courage had oppos'd _Eliakim_: A man whose many Vertues, and his Parts, Had won upon the sober Peoples Hearts. From every Faction, and from Envy free; } Lov'd well the King, but hated Flatterie; } Kept _Moses_'s Laws, yet was no _Pharisee_. } He went not to their _Synagogues_ to pray, But to the Holy Temple every day. With piercing Judgment saw the Lands Disease, And labour'd onely for the Kingdoms Peace: Loyal and honest was esteem'd by all, Excepting those who strove to set up _Baal_. For an ill Action he ne'r stood reprov'd; But's King, his Country, and Religion lov'd. No Taint ere fell upon _Eliab_'s name, Nor Hell it self found cause to spot his Fame. _Pagiel_ with honour loaded, and with years, Among this Loyal Princely Train appears. None _Pagiel_ tax'd, for no one ever knew That he to _Amazia_ was untrue. A Fame unspotted he might truly boast; Yet he had Foes, and his gain'd Favours lost. _Zuar_, a sober and a vertuous Prince, Who never gave least cause of an offence. _Elishama_, at once both sage and young, } From noble and from loyal Fathers sprung, } Shone bright among this sober Princely throng. } _Enan_, a Prince of very worthie Fame; Great in deserved Title, Bloud, and Name. _Elizur_ too, who number'd with the best In Vertue, scorn'd to lag behind the rest. _Abidon_ and _Gamaliel_ had some sway; Both loyal, and both zealous in their way. And now once more I will invoke my Muse, To sing brave _Ashur_'s praise who can refuse? Sprung from an ancient and a noble Race, With Courage stampt upon his manly face; Young, active, loyal; had through Dangers run, And with his Sword abroad had Honours won: Well-spoken, bold, free, generous, and kind, And of a noble and discerning mind. Great ones he scorn'd to court, nor fools would please, But thought it better for to trust the Seas. He thought himself far safer in a Storm, And should receive from raging Seas less harm, Than from those dangerous men, who could create A Storm at Land, with Envie and with Hate. And now got free from all their Trains and Wiles, } He at their hateful Plots and Malice smiles, } Plowing the Ocean for new Honour toils. } These were the chief; a good and faithful Band } Of Princes, who against those men durst stand } Whose Counsel sought to ruine all the Land. } With grief they saw the cursed _Baalites_ bent To batter down the _Jewish_ Government; To pull their Rights and true Religion down, By setting up a _Baalite_ on the Throne. These wisely did with the _Sanhedrim_ joyn; Which Council by the _Jews_ was thought divine. The next Successour would remove, 'tis true, Onely because he was a _Baalite_ Jew. Ills they foresaw, and the great danger found, } Which to the King (as by their Dutie bound) } They shew'd, and open laid the bleeding Wound. } But such who had possest his Royal Ear, Had made the King his Loyal Subjects fear; Did their good Prince with causeless terrour fright, As if these meant to rob him of his Right. Said, They with other Rebels did combine, And had against his Crown some ill designe: That the wise _Hushai_ laid a wicked Train, And _Azaria_ sought in's stead to reign: That the old Plot to ruine Church and State, Was born from _Hushai_'s and the _Levite_'s Pate: That _Pharisees_ were bold and numerous grown, And sought to place their Elders in his Throne. No wonder then if _Amazia_ thought These Loyal Worthies did not as they ought; That they did Duty and Obedience want, And no Concessions from the Throne would grant.