B. I.]
DAVIDEIS.
201
"Him Israel loves, him neighbouring countries fear;
"You but the name and empty title bear. 270
"And yet the traitor lives, lives in thy court;
"The court that must be his; where he shall sport
"Himself with all thy concubines, thy gold,
"Thy costly robes, thy crown, Wert thou not told
"This by proud Samuel, when at Gilgal he 275
"With bold false threats from God affronted thee?
"The dotard ly'd; God said it not, I know;
"Not Baal or Moloch would have us'd thee so.
"Was not the choice his own? did not thy worth
"Exact the royal lot, and call it forth? 280
"Hast thou not since (my best and greatest son!)
"To him, and to his perishing nation, done
"Such lasting benefits as may justly claim
"A sceptre as eternal as thy fame?
"Poor prince! whom madmen, priests, and boys, invade; 285
"By thine own flesh, thy' ungrateful son, betray'd!
"Unnatural fool! who can thus cheated be
"By friendship's name, against a crown and thee!
"Betray not too thyself; take courage, call
"Thy' enchanted virtues forth, and be whole Saul.
"Lo! this great cause makes thy dead fathers rise,
"Breaks the firm seals of their clos'd tombs and eyes.
"Nor can their jealous ashes, whilst this boy
"Survives, the privilege of their graves enjoy.
"Rise quickly, Saul! and take that rebel's breath,
"Which troubles thus thy life, and ev'n our death:
"You but the name and empty title bear. 270
"And yet the traitor lives, lives in thy court;
"The court that must be his; where he shall sport
"Himself with all thy concubines, thy gold,
"Thy costly robes, thy crown, Wert thou not told
"This by proud Samuel, when at Gilgal he 275
"With bold false threats from God affronted thee?
"The dotard ly'd; God said it not, I know;
"Not Baal or Moloch would have us'd thee so.
"Was not the choice his own? did not thy worth
"Exact the royal lot, and call it forth? 280
"Hast thou not since (my best and greatest son!)
"To him, and to his perishing nation, done
"Such lasting benefits as may justly claim
"A sceptre as eternal as thy fame?
"Poor prince! whom madmen, priests, and boys, invade; 285
"By thine own flesh, thy' ungrateful son, betray'd!
"Unnatural fool! who can thus cheated be
"By friendship's name, against a crown and thee!
"Betray not too thyself; take courage, call
"Thy' enchanted virtues forth, and be whole Saul.
"Lo! this great cause makes thy dead fathers rise,
"Breaks the firm seals of their clos'd tombs and eyes.
"Nor can their jealous ashes, whilst this boy
"Survives, the privilege of their graves enjoy.
"Rise quickly, Saul! and take that rebel's breath,
"Which troubles thus thy life, and ev'n our death:
