CLI. 2 Samuel, Chap. XIII.
Amnon's Rape of Tamar. He is slain
by Absalom.
Nor was the promis'd Vengeance long delaid,
Th'Arrears of brave Uriah's Ghost unpaid:
See where it comes like a resistless Flood,
And Lust is plagu'd with Lust, and Blood with Blood:
Fair Tamar kindles Amnon's loose Desire,
Who forc'd the Royal Maid, and quench'd his lawless Fire:
Possess'd of all he wish'd, he hates her more,
(The Sexes wont) than he admir'd before:
Nor this cou'd Absalom's great Heart digest,
Tho' long he kept it boyling in his Breast:
Now twice the Sun had reach'd his annual Goal,
And view'd new Stars beneath each distant Pole;
Then in the Lion all his force displays,
And shoots direct on Earth his burning Rays:
The fleecy Train their weight cou'd hardly bear,
And long to pay their Master's yearly Care;
They and their bleating Lambs in Folds compell'd,
When Absalon a Feast in Hazor held,
The King and Court invites; in vain he press'd,
His Father him deny'd, but kindly bless'd:
With more Success he his Desire renews,
When he for Amnon and his Brethren sues:
Chearful they go, on Regal Fare they dine,
And crown the plenteous Feast with noble Wine.
Their Host the Signal gave for Amnon's Death,
His Servants in his Breast their Poniards sheath:
Life gushes out at many a griesly Wound,
And mingled Blood and Wine distains the Ground:
The Boards are over-turn'd, the Guests are gone,
Look back, and think their Brother's Fate their own:
But Fame which always mingles Truth with Lies,
And stretch'd on saily Wings still gathers as it flies,
Prevents their Speed, more swift than Fear it fled,
And told th'astonish'd King, that all his Sons were dead:
Swift to his Heart the frighted Blood repair'd,
And made a stand the Fort of Life to guard:
All deadly pale he from his Throne descends,
Stretch'd on cold Earth his Royal Robes he rends;
The same around his silent mournful Friends:
Wise Jonadab alone applies Relief,
Alone durst stem the Tide of Royal Grief:
That Amnon only was for Tamar slain,
He wou'd persuade, but wou'd persuade in vain;
Till now the Royal Company appears.
At once confirms, at once confutes their Fears,
And with their mournful Father's mix their Tears;
While Absalon to Syrian Geshur fled,
And till his Fate was ripe, from Justice sav'd his Head.
