Davideis :: :: University of Virginia Library

OH, the intemp'rance of th'ambitious mind!
To no due bounds or medium confin'd!
How doth it swell! how doth it soar on high!
As if it fain would climb above the sky.

This topping temper soon itself did show
In Absalom, and wrought his overthrow.
He that at home, confin'd but t'other day,
Greatly depress'd in mind, obscurely lay,
O'erwhelm'd almost with grief and cold despair,
No sooner felt the warmth of courtly air,
But as the winter-fly, whom heat doth bring
To sense, begins to buz and take the wing;
So he the royal favour feeling, straight
Took wing, and soar'd above his proper state.

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Unsteady nature, varying like the wind,
Hurries to each extreme th'unstable mind;
At sea becalm'd, we wish some brisker gales
Would on us rise, and fill our limber sails:
We have our wish; and straight our skiff is toss'd
So high, we are in danger to be lost.
At land we would be foremost, make a stir,
And ride at neck-and-all, with whip, and spur;
We would be, would have all, are loath to stay
For future rights, 'till Providence make way.

This is the nature of ambitious man,
Soaring as fast, as high too as he can;
Whereas, would we but bridle our desire,
'Till the due time, we might rise safely higher.

This was the ruin of this goodly prince,
Let loose too soon; his lofty mind e'er since,
Aim'd nothing lower than the highest seat,
Thought nothing for himself, too good or great;
He on the crown look'd with a longing eye,
Nor spake, nor dream'd of ought but monarchy,
And whensoe'er he saw the royal throne,
Could scarce forbear to call that seat his own;
His own it might have been, would he have staid
Until his father's head was fairly laid;
But his impatience thought each day a year,
Each year an age, until the throne was clear;
Nor would he stay 'till Providence should make
His way to th'crown, but his own way would take.

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Accordingly, he did assume such state,
As far transcends the highest subject's rate;
Horses he did, and chariots too provide,
And fifty men, in whom he could confide,
To run before him; which might seem to be
Either for state, or for security.
High state it shew'd, if these his lackeys were;
A strong defence, if he did them prepare
For his life-guard. On which soe'er account
It was, it did a subject's state surmount.

This pomp, however, made the people gaze,
And in the mob did admiration raise;
For vulgar eyes with gaudy shews are caught,
And, from admiring, to submission brought;
But he had no other ways to circumvent
The better sort, and thus to work he went:

Early each morn he to the court would go,
And there, beside the gate, would stand, that so
Whatever suitor to the king did come
For judgment, must pass by prince Absalom;
Then would he call him near, and ask his name,
What his affair might be, and whence he came;
Then feigning a concern the matter might
Go well, he'd say, ‘Take care thy cause be right:’
But then with down-cast look, and shaking head,
Added, ‘The king hath no man in his stead
‘Deputed thee to hear;’ so that though right
Thy cause should be, thou suffer may'st by might.

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Then, in a kind of discontented tone,
As if he did the people's case bemoan,
He'd mutter something; then would make a stop,
And in a softer tone this wish would drop:—
‘Would I were made chief justice in the land!
‘That every man who hath a cause in hand,
‘Might come to me, and I would do him right,
‘How poor soe'er; none should oppress by might;
‘Would I were on the bench, that I from thence
‘Might equal justice unto all dispense!’

When thus himself he'd artfully extoll'd,
And thereby the poor suitor had cajoll'd
To bow before him, and obeisance make,
Into his arms he would the client take,
Hug, and embrace him, nor would him dismiss
Till he had charm'd him with a treach'rous kiss.

Thus did the son, by such alluring arts,
Bereave the father of his people's hearts,
And draw them to himself; while the good king,
Of all things, least suspected such a thing.

By this time Absalom is thought to be
Forty years old, and finding now that he
So strong a party had, that he durst venture
Upon the crown, by force of arms to enter,
And drive his too kind father from the throne,
Which he, among his faction, call'd his own;
He held it best, yet policy to use,
His royal parent further to abuse,

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And gain some time, from his beguiled father,
That so he might his scattered forces gather,
Unto a gen'ral rendezvous, and then
Pour on the king a mighty host of men.

For this end, therefore, to the court he went,
And that he might be sure to circumvent
The king, this feigned tale he did devise,
His treason with religion to disguise.

‘While I at Geshur did an exile live,
‘I vow'd a vow, that if the Lord would give
‘Me favour in thy sight, and bring me home,
‘That I in peace unto this place might come,
‘Then would I to the Lord an offering make
‘At Hebron, where I life at first did take;
‘Now, therefore, gracious sire, be pleas'd, I pray,
‘To grant thy servant leave, that go I may
‘To Hebron, and perform the vow I made
‘Unto the Lord.’ The good king thus betray'd
By feigned words, said, ‘Go in peace.’ He might
Have better said, ‘Come back in peace at night.’
But wise men, good men, suffer'd are sometimes
To fall into the snares their former crimes
Have for them laid; thus this unwitting king
Helps forward that which must upon him bring
The judgment long since giv'n; Uriah's blood
Is not yet silenc'd, but still cries aloud.

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To Hebron now prince Absalom doth post,
And sends his scouts abroad, through every coast
Of Israel, that they might notice give
To all his friends who did dispersed live
In all the tribes; that when they once should hear
The trumpet sound, they should for him appear
In arms embody'd, and where'er they came
Amongst their neighbours they should him proclaim,
And that not faintly, but in lofty strain,
Say, ‘Absalom doth now in Hebron reign.’

With Absalom too from Jerus'lem went
Two hundren chosen men, who his intent
Knew nothing of, but went unto his feast,
By which his strength and numbers were increas'd;
For these were men of choice abilities
For war; as well to fight, as to advise.

But he for counsel chiefly did rely
Upon Ahithophel, whose fame so high
Was in esteem, that whatsoe'er he said
Was as the oracle of God obey'd;
Him who had counsellor to David been,
Absalom now did to his faction win;
And from his city, Giloh, did the wretch
To his head-quarters now at Hebron fetch;
And now this foul conspiracy grew strong,
The people did so thick to Hebron throng.

2 Sam. xii. 11.