With blandishments to gain the public love: 
  To head the faction while their zeal was hot,
  And popularly prosecute the Plot. 490
  To further this, Achitophel unites
  The malcontents of all the Israelites: 
  Whose differing parties he could wisely join,
  For several ends to serve the same design. 
  The best—­and of the princes some were such—­
  Who thought the power of monarchy too much;
  Mistaken men, and patriots in their hearts;
  Not wicked, but seduced by impious arts. 
  By these the springs of property were bent,
  And wound so high, they crack’d the government. 500
  The next for interest sought to embroil the state,
  To sell their duty at a dearer rate,
  And make their Jewish markets of the throne;
  Pretending public good, to serve their own. 
  Others thought kings an useless heavy load,
  Who cost too much, and did too little good. 
  These were for laying honest David by,
  On principles of pure good husbandry. 
  With them join’d all the haranguers of the throng,
  That thought to get preferment by the tongue. 510
  Who follow next a double danger bring,
  Not only hating David, but the king;
  The Solyimaean rout; well versed of old
  In godly faction, and in treason bold;
  Cowering and quaking at a conqueror’s sword,
  But lofty to a lawful prince restored;
  Saw with disdain an Ethnic plot begun,
  And scorn’d by Jebusites to be outdone. 
  Hot Levites headed these; who pull’d before
  From the ark, which in the Judges’ days they bore, 520
  Resumed their cant, and with a zealous cry,
  Pursued their old beloved theocracy: 
  Where Sanhedrim and priest enslaved the nation,
  And justified their spoils by inspiration: 
  For who so fit to reign as Aaron’s race,
  If once dominion they could found in grace? 
  These led the pack; though not of surest scent,
  Yet deepest mouth’d against the government. 
  A numerous host of dreaming saints succeed,
  Of the true old enthusiastic breed:  530
  ’Gainst form and order they their power employ,
  Nothing to build, and all things to destroy. 
  But far more numerous was the herd of such,
  Who think too little, and who talk too much. 
  These out of mere instinct, they knew not why,
  Adored their fathers’ God and property;
  And by the same blind benefit of fate,
  The Devil and the Jebusite did hate: 
  Born to be saved, even in their own despite,
  Because they could not help believing right. 540

    Such were the tools:  but a whole Hydra more
  Remains of sprouting heads too long to score. 
  Some of their chiefs were princes of the land: 
  In the first rank of these did Zimri stand;
  A man so various, that he seem’d