Part 10 (1/2)

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.

They who in _Amazia_'s favour grew, Themselves obnoxious to the People knew.

Some were accused by the _Sanhedrim_, Most Friends and Allies to _Eliakim_: For his Succession eagerly they strove, And him, the rising Sun, adore and love.

When _Doeg_, who with _Egypt_ did combine, And to enslave _Judea_ did designe, Accus'd of Treason by the _Sanhedrim_, Kept in the Tower of _Jerusalem_; The Object prov'd of fickle Fortunes sport, And lost the Honours he possest at Court.

_Elam_ in favour grew, out stript by none, And seem'd a Prop to _Amazia_'s Throne.

He had in foreign parts been sent to School, And did in _Doeg_'s place the Kings thin Treasure rule.

He to _Eliakim_ was neer alli'd; What greater parts could he possess beside?

For the wise _Jews_ believ'd the King did run Some hazard, if he prov'd his Father's Son.

But now, alas! th' Exchequer was grown poor, The Coffers empty, which did once run o're.

The bounteous King had been so very kind, That little Treasure he had left behind.

_Elam_ had gotten with the empty Purse, For his dead Father's sake the Peoples Curse: For they believ'd that no great good could spring From one false to his Country and his King.

_Jotham_ the fickle Shuttle-c.o.c.k of Wit, Was bandied several ways to be made fit: Unconstant, he always for Honour tri'd, At last laid hold upon the rising side.

If Wit he had, 'twas thought, by not a few, He a better thing did want, and Wisdom too.

Then _Amiel_ would scarce give place to him, Who once the chief was of the _Sanhedrim_.

He then appeared for the Crowns defence; But spoke his own, and not the Nations sense.

And tho he praised was by _s.h.i.+mei_'s Muse, The _Jews_ of many Crimes did him accuse.

_Harim_, a man like a bow'd Ninepence bent, Had tried all the ways of Government: Was once a Rebel, and knew how to cant; Then turn'd a very Devil of a Saint: Peevish, morose, and some say, prov'd a fool, When o're the _Edomites_ he went to rule.

When to his bent the King he could not bring, He fairly then went over to the King.

Old _Amalack_, a man of cunning head, Once in the cursed School of Rebels bred; From thence his Maximes and his Knowledge drew, Of old known Arts how to enslave the _Jew_.

For pardon'd Treason, thus sought to atone, Had wrong'd the Father, would misguide the Son.

Once in Religion a strict _Pharisee_, To _Baal_'s then turn'd, or else of none was he.

He long before seem'd to approve their Rites, Marrying his issue to the _Baalites_.

A constant hunter after sordid Pelf; Was never just to any but himself: A very _Proteus_ in all shapes had been, And constant onely, and grown old in sin.

To speak the best of _Amalack_ we can, A cunning Devil in the shape of Man.

_Muppim_, a man of an huge working Pate, Not how to heal, but to embroil the State; Knew how to take the wrong, and leave the right; Was once himself a Rebel _Benjamite_.

To that stiff Tribe he did a while give Law, And with his iron Yokes kept them in aw.

The Tyrant _Zabed_ less did them provoke, And laid upon their necks a gentler Yoke.

Amongst that Tribe he left an hated Name, And to _Jerusalem_ from thence he came, Where he tyrannick Arts sought to intrude, } To learn which, _Amazia_ was too good, } And better the _Jews_ temper understood. } Refus'd, the Serpent did with Woman joyn, And Counsels gave th'_Egyptian_ Concubine.

_Adam_, first Monarch, fell between these two; What can't the Serpent and a Woman do?

These with some more of the like size and sort, In _Sion_ made up _Amazia_'s Court: Whilst his best friends became these Rulers scorn, Saw how they drove, and did in silence mourn.

_Sion_ did then no Sacrifice afford; _Gibbar_ had taught the frugal King to board.

Void were its Cellars, Kitchins never hot, And all the Feasts of _Solomon_ forgot.

Others there were, whose Names I shan't repeat; _Eliakim_ had friends both small and great: And many, who then for his Favour strove, With their hot heads, like furious _Jehu_, drove.

Some Wits, some Witless, Warriors, Rich and Poor, Some who rich Clothes and empty t.i.tles wore; Some who knew how to rail, some to accuse, And some who haunted Taverns and the Stews.

Some roaring Bullies, who ran th'row the Town Crying, G.o.d d.a.m.n 'um, they'd support the Crown: Whose wicked Oaths, and whose blasphemous Rant, Had quite put down the holy zealous Cant.

Some were for War, and some on Mischief bent; And some who could, for gain, new Plots invent.

Some Priests and Levites too among the rest, Such as knew how to blow the Trumpet best: Who with loud noise and cackling, cri'd like Geese, For Rites, for Temple, and for dearer Fleece.

'Twixt G.o.d and _Baal_, these Priests divided were; } Which did prevail, these greatly did not care; } But headlong drove, without or wit or fear. } The _Pharasees_ they curse, as Sons of _Cham,_ And all dissenting _Jews_ to h.e.l.l they d.a.m.n.

_s.h.i.+mei_ the Poet Laureate of that Age, The falling Glory of the _Jewish_ Stage, Who scourg'd the Priest, and ridicul'd the Plot, Like common men must not be quite forgot.

Sweet was the Muse that did his wit inspire, Had he not let his hackney Muse to hire: But variously his knowing Muse could sing, Could _Doeg_ praise, and could blaspheme the King: The bad make good, good bad, and bad make worse, Bless in Heroicks, and in Satyrs curse.

_s.h.i.+mei_ to _Zabed_'s praise could tune his Muse, And Princely _Azaria_ could abuse.

_Zimri_ we know he had no cause to praise, Because he dub'd him with the name of _Bays_.