1

Nor ftretch'd on rofes in the myrtle grove,

Nor crowns his days with mirth, his nights with love,
But far remov'd in thundering camps is found,
His flumbers fhort, his bed the herblefs ground:
In tafks of danger always feen the first,

Feeds from the hedge, and flakes with ice his thirft.
Long muft his patience strive with fortune's rage,
And long oppofing gods themselves engage,
Muft fee his country flame, his friends destroy'd,
Before the promis'd empire be enjoy'd :
Such toil of fate muft build a man of fame,

And fuch, to Ifrael's crown, the god-like David came.
What sudden beams difpel the clouds so fast,
Whose drenching rains laid all our vineyards waste !
The fpring fo far behind her course delay'd,
On th' inftant is in all her bloom array'd;
The winds breathe low, the element ferene;
Yet mark what motion in the waves is feen!
Thronging and busy as Hyblæan fwarms,
Or ftraggled foldiers fummon'd to their arms.
See where the princely bark in loosest pride,
With all her guardian fleet, adorns the tide!
High on her deck the royal lovers ftand,
Our crimes to pardon ere they touch'd our land.
Welcome to Ifrael and to David's breast!
Here all your toils, here all your fufferings reft,
This year did Ziloah rule Jerufalem,
And boldly all fedition's Syrtes ftem,
Howe'er incumber'd with a viler pair
Than Ziph or Shimei to affift the chair;

Yet

Yet Ziloah's loyal labours so pevail'd

That faction at the next election fail'd,
When ev'n the common cry did juftice found,
And merit by the multitude was crown'd:
With David then was Ifrael's peace reftor'd,
Crowds mourn'd their error, and obey'd their lord.

KEY to AB SALOM and ACHITOPHEL.

Abdael,

Abethdin,

{

General Monk, Duke of Albe

marle.

S The name given, thro' this poem,
to a Lord-Chancellor in general.
Duke of Monmouth.

The Earl of Shaftesbury.
Earl of Mulgrave.

Sir Edmundbury Godfrey.

SMr. Seymour, Speaker of the
House of Commons.

Sir Heneage Finch, Earl of Win-
chelsea, and Lord-Chancellor.

Duchefs of Monmouth.

Sir William Waller.

A Character drawn by Tate for Dryden, in the fecond Part of this Poem.

Earl of Huntingdon.

Barnet.

Duke of Ormond.

Duchefs of Fortfinouth.

Mephibofbeth,

Richard Cromwell.

England.

Thomas Thynne, Efq.

Mr. Ferguson, a canting Teacher.
Sir Robert Clayton.

Pordage.

OR to whom can I dedicate this poem, with fo

FOR

much justice as to you? It is the representation of your own hero: it is the picture drawn at length, which you admire and prize fo much in little. None of your ornaments are wanting; neither the landfcape of your Tower, nor the rising fun; nor the Anno Domini of your new fovereign's coronation. This muft needs be a grateful undertaking to your whole party: efpecially to thofe who have not been fo happy as to purchafe the original. I hear the graver has made a good market of it: all his kings are bought up already; or the value of the remainder fo inhanced, that many a pocr Polander, who would be glad to worship the image, is not able to go to the cost of him: but must be content to fee him here. I must confefs I am no great artift; but fign-pcft painting will ferve the turn to remember a friend by; especially when better is not to be had. Yet, for your comfort, the lincaments are true : and though he fat not five times to me, as he did to B. yet I have confulted hiftory; as the Italian painters do, when they would draw a Nero or a Caligula; though

they