OTHE

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

Holy Bible,

In Verfe, with Sculptures.

VOL. IL

CLXV.

Solomon dies. The ten Tribes revolt from Rehoboam. Hadoram fton'd.

"Mpair'd in Body and in Strength of Mind,
When Solomon for neither Cure cou'd find,

I

To him that Spares not Kings his Breath's at
length refign'd.

His Folly and his Wifdom ne're fhall die,
Immortal both in Fame and Infamy.
Roboam next fupports the tott'ring State,
How weak his Shoulders for fo vaft a Weight!
With Taxes gaul'd th' affembled People prefs'd
To have their weighty Grievances redrefs'd;
Bold Jeroboam at their Head appear'd,
And mutually fecur'd they nothing fear'd:
Th' unfettled Monarch for the Council fends,
Hoary and Wife, his Father's conftant Friends,
Well vers'd in deep Emergencies of State,
And 'twas by all refolv'd on the Debate,
With gentle Words 'twas fitteft to affwage
Uneafie Minds, and calm the Peoples Rage:,
Their first Request 'twas fatal to deny,
Which granted, would confirm their Loyalty.

Nor

Nor fooner this agreed, the Council role,
When all that pafs'd the King his Equals shows:
Warm unexperienc'd Nobles, empty Peers
Companions of his Pleafures and his Tears:
His unfledg'd Politicians him advise,
He fhou'd thofe doting Counsellors defpife,
Who only for their Beards were counted Wife:
A factious People fomething still require,
The more you give the more they still desire,
Favours, like Oyl, inflame feditious Fire :
Muft they uncall'd their Princes Counsels share?
Muft they presume to feel, who born to bear?
Exert the Monarch, Sir! and let them know,
You are their Sovereign and you will be fo!
The worfe Advice prevails, for God defign'd
Whom he had mark'd for Ruin, first to Blind:
His Equals Counsel the rafh Youth pursues,
With aukward Majesty the King indues;
And with ill-tim'd Refentment in his Eyes,
He to his fuppliant People thus replies:

Whence this audacious Madness, to abuse
Our Lenity, and all Distinctions lose ?
Too mild my Father, his indulgent Reign
Unjustly made your pamper'd Tribes complain:
His eafie Toke, and gentle Rods despis'd,
But I'll with Scorpions fee my Slaves chaftis'd.

Pleas'd and difpleas'd at once the Faction role,
Treafon unmask'd her ugly Visage shows;
What only grumbled in the Clouds before,
Now burfts enlarg'd away with Thunder's Roar :
All Intereft they in David's Line difclaim,
And Feffe's Son is but a vulgar Name :

Hence Ifrael to your Tents! defert his Throne,
And leave the childish Prince to reign alone!
Thus all enrag'd; 'tis done as soon as spoke,
And in Confufion, thence th' Affembly broke:
Too late the King his Folly did repent,
And to the People old Hadoram fent:

Amid the Crowd in lucklefs Hour he came,
His hateful Sight did more their Rage enflame;
For none in Ways or Means was deeplier skill'd,
More dextrously the Subjects fleec'd and pill'd,
Their Coffers empti'd, while his own he fill'd:
A Show'r of Stones around his Temples flies;
Rebels! you fall for this--- He fays and dies :
Swift as his Fears the Monarch drives away,

}

And him his foaming Steeds, to Salem's Walls convey.