CLVI. 2 Samuel, Chap. XVIII. XIX. and Chap. XX. to Ver. 22.
David mourns for Absalom. He returns
to Jerusalem. Shimei pardon'd. Amasa
slain. Sheba's Rebellion and Destruction.
In
Prime of Youth thus Talmai's Nephew fell,
And thus may all who dare like him rebel!
With true paternal Grief his Father hears,
Retires from publick View, and melts in Tears;
Then thus—“O Absalom! my Son! my Son!
“My dearer than my Soul! my Absalon!
“Why is my Grief so weak, or why so strong!
“Why must I still a weary Life prolong!
“With how much Joy had I his Place supply'd,
“The Son had liv'd and reign'd, the hapless Father di'd?
The Joys of Triumph thus to Tears were turn'd,
The sympathizing Land with David mourn'd:
Fierce Joab hears, and by his Service bold,
The Truth too roughly for a Subject told:
The King his Grief repress'd, he dries his Tears,
And in the Gate with alter'd Face appears:
To Zadok and Ahimaaz he sends,
Who in the worst of Times his faithful Friends,
By these and Amasa the Heart of Judah bends:
At Gilgal their returning Prince they meet,
Ev'n Shimei comes, and prostrate at his Feet;
For Pardon sues, and does his Suit obtain,
By thee, Zerviah's Son! oppos'd in vain:
Mephibosheth does half his Lands regain.
At Jordan David old Barzillai leaves,
And Chimham in his room to Court receives:
Thus grateful Princes smile on worthy Deeds,
And to the Father's Grace the Son succeeds:
Yet still the Relicks of the Storm remain,
And bode a dreadful Show'r of sanguin Rain.
While Israel Judah blames, that they alone
Recall'd the King, and fix'd him on his Throne.
Too soon the unlucky Hint false Sheba takes,
A Trumpet sounds, and new Rebellion makes:
Amasa now commands in Joab's stead,
And to pursue the Rebels Judah led;
Nor this Zerviah's cruel Offspring bore,
But basely stabb'd, as Abner long before,
And left the Gen'ral weltring in his Gore;
Then thro' the Tribes the Son of Bichri chas'd,
Who in strong Abel's Walls his Refuge plac'd:
The Royal Forces soon the Town invest,
With vast Machines on ev'ry side 'tis prest,
At length one Woman's Prudence saves the rest:
Curs'd Sheba's Head did all their Faults attone,
See where 'tis o're the lofty Turret thrown:
Deform'd in Death, and dropping putrid Gore,
His Mouth can vomit Treason now no more:
Joab a Trumpet sounds, the Siege to raise,
And to Jerusalem in Peace the Host conveys.
