And from the first impression takes the bent: 
  But if, unseized, she glides away like wind,
  And leaves repenting folly far behind. 
  Now, now she meets you with a glorious prize, 260
  And spreads her locks before her as she flies. 
  Had thus old David, from whose loins you spring,
  Not dared when fortune called him to be king,
  At Gath an exile he might still remain,
  And Heaven’s anointing oil had been in vain. 
  Let his successful youth your hopes engage;
  But shun the example of declining age: 
  Behold him setting in his western skies,
  The shadows lengthening as the vapours rise. 
  He is not now, as when on Jordan’s sand 270
  The joyful people throng’d to see him land,
  Covering the beach and blackening all the strand;
  But, like the prince of angels, from his height
  Comes tumbling downward with diminish’d light: 
  Betray’d by one poor Plot to public scorn: 
  (Our only blessing since his cursed return:)
  Those heaps of people which one sheaf did bind,
  Blown off and scatter’d by a puff of wind. 
  What strength can he to your designs oppose,
  Naked of friends, and round beset with foes? 280
  If Pharaoh’s doubtful succour he should use,
  A foreign aid would more incense the Jews: 
  Proud Egypt would dissembled friendship bring;
  Foment the war, but not support the king: 
  Nor would the royal party e’er unite
  With Pharaoh’s arms to assist the Jebusite;
  Or if they should, their interest soon would break,
  And with such odious aid make David weak. 
  All sorts of men, by my successful arts,
  Abhorring kings, estrange their alter’d hearts 290
  From David’s rule:  and ’tis their general cry—­
  Religion, commonwealth, and liberty. 
  If you, as champion of the public good,
  Add to their arms a chief of royal blood,
  What may not Israel hope, and what applause
  Might such a general gain by such a cause? 
  Not barren praise alone—­that gaudy flower,
  Fair only to the sight—­but solid power: 
  And nobler is a limited command,
  Given by the love of all your native land, 300
  Than a successive title, long and dark,
  Drawn from the mouldy rolls of Noah’s ark.

   What cannot praise effect in mighty minds,
  When flattery soothes, and when ambition blinds? 
  Desire of power, on earth a vicious weed,
  Yet sprung from high, is of celestial seed: 
  In God ’tis glory; and when men aspire,
  ’Tis but a spark too much of heavenly fire. 
  The ambitious youth, too covetous of fame,
  Too full of angels’ metal in his frame, 310
  Unwarily was led from virtue’s ways,
  Made drunk with honour, and debauch’d with praise. 
  Half loath, and half consenting to the