The spring, so far behind her course delay"d, On the instant is in all her bloom array"d; 1120 The winds breathe low, the element serene; Yet mark what motion in the waves is seen!
Thronging and busy as Hyblaean swarms, Or straggled soldiers summon"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 stand, Our crimes to pardon, e"er they touch"d our land.
Welcome to Israel and to David"s breast!
Here all your toils, here all your sufferings rest. 1130
This year did Ziloah rule Jerusalem, And boldly all sedition"s surges stem, Howe"er enc.u.mber"d with a viler pair Than Ziph or Shimei to a.s.sist the chair; Yet Ziloah"s loyal labours so prevail"d, That faction at the next election fail"d, When even the common cry did justice found, And merit by the mult.i.tude was crown"d: With David then was Israel"s peace restored, Crowds mourn"d their error, and obey"d their lord. 1140
A KEY TO BOTH PARTS OF ABSALOM AND ACHITOPHEL.
_Aldael_--General Monk, Duke of Albemarle.
_Abethdin_--The name given, through this poem, to a Lord-Chancellor in general.
_Absalom_--Duke of Monmouth, natural son of King Charles II.
_Achitophel_--Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury.
_Adriel_--John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave.
_Agag_--Sir Edmundbury G.o.dfrey.
_Amiel_--Mr Seymour, Speaker of the House of Commons.
_Amri_--Sir Heneage Finch, Earl of Winchelsea, and Lord Chancellor.
_Annabel_--d.u.c.h.ess of Monmouth.
_Arod_--Sir William Waller.
_Asaph_--A character drawn by Tate for Dryden, in the second part of this poem.
_Balaam_--Earl of Huntingdon.
_Balak_--Barnet.
_Barzillai_--Duke of Ormond.
_Bathsheba_--d.u.c.h.ess of Portsmouth.
_Benaiah_--General Sackville.
_Ben Jochanan_--Rev. Samuel Johnson.
_Bezaliel_--Duke of Beaufort.
_Caleb_--Ford, Lord Grey of Werk.
_Corah_--Dr t.i.tus Oates.
_David_--King Charles II.
_Doeg_--Elkanah Settle, the city poet.
_Egypt_--France.
_Eliab_--Sir Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington.
_Ethnic-Plot_--The Popish Plot.
_Gath_--The Land of Exile, more particularly Brussels, where King Charles II. long resided.
_Hebrew Priests_--The Church of England Clergy.
_Hebron_--Scotland.
_Helon_--Earl of Feversham, a Frenchman by birth, and nephew to Marshal Turenne.
_Hushai_--Hyde, Earl of Rochester.
_Ishban_--Sir Robert Clayton, Alderman, and one of the City Members.
_Ishbosheth_--Richard Cromwell.
_Israel_--England.
_Issachar_--Thomas Thynne, Esq., who was shot in his coach.
_Jebusites_--Papists.
_Jerusalem_--London.
_Jews_--English.
_Jonas_--Sir William Jones, a great lawyer.
_Jordan_--Dover.
_Jotham_--Saville, Marquis of Halifax.
_Jothram_--Lord Dartmouth.
_Judas_--Mr Ferguson, a canting teacher.
_Mephibosheth_--Pordage.
_Michal_--Queen Catharine.