AN ARGUMENT FOR DAVID'S BELIEF OF A
FUTURE STATE, INFERRED FROM
BATHSHEBA'S LAST WORDS TO
HIM UPON HIS DEATH-BED.
I
If David knew not of a future Life,
How understood he Bathsheba his Wife;
Who, when he lay upon his Death-bed, came
To plead for Solomon's succeeding claim;
And, having prosper'd in her own Endeavour,
Said: “Let my Lord, King David, live for ever?”
II
What real Wish was Bathsheba's Intent,
If Life hereafter was not what she meant?
Say, that “for ever” to a King in Health
Meant a long Life, Prosperity and Wealth,—
To one that lay a-dying, you must own,
'Twould be a mere Burlesque upon his Throne.
III
If she had pray'd for David's mild Release,
Or, “Let my Lord the King depart in Peace,”—
Tho' even then 'twere difficult to stint
Her utmost Thought to so minute a Hint,—
The short-liv'd Comment might have some Pretence;
But “Live for ever” has no Sort of Sense;—
IV
Unless we grant her Meaning to extend
To future Life, that never has an End.
Piety will, and Reason must, confess
That her Intention never could be less.
“King, live for ever,” and “God save the King,”—
Old or new Phrase,—Salvation is the Thing;—
V
No poor Salvation to be quickly past,
And with a deadly Exit at the last,—
To which when David was so near, what Share
Could he enjoy of “Live for ever” Pray'r,
Had he not known what Bathsheba design'd,—
A Life to come of everlasting Kind?
VI
Tho' num'rous Proofs might readily be brought
That this was always holy David's Thought,—
Yet, since by learnèd and long-winded Ways
Men seek to break the Force of ancient Phrase,
I single out this plain, familiar one.—
Now, give as plain an Answer thereupon!
