Achitophel with triumph sees his crimes
  Thus suited to the madness of the times;
  And Absalom, to make his hopes succeed,
  Of flattering charms no longer stands in need; 20
  While fond of change, though ne’er so dearly bought,
  Our tribes outstrip the youth’s ambitious thought;
  His swiftest hopes with swifter homage meet,
  And crowd their servile necks beneath his feet. 
  Thus to his aid while pressing tides repair,
  He mounts and spreads his streamers in the air. 
  The charms of empire might his youth mislead,
  But what can our besotted Israel plead? 
  Sway’d by a monarch, whose serene command
  Seems half the blessing of our promised land:  30
  Whose only grievance is excess of ease;
  Freedom our pain, and plenty our disease! 
  Yet, as all folly would lay claim to sense,
  And wickedness ne’er wanted a pretence,
  With arguments they’d make their treason good,
  And righteous David’s self with slanders load: 
  That arts of foreign sway he did affect,
  And guilty Jebusites from law protect,
  Whose very chiefs, convict, were never freed,
  Nay, we have seen their sacrificers bleed! 40
  Accusers’ infamy is urged in vain,
  While in the bounds of sense they did contain;
  But soon they launch into the unfathom’d tide,
  And in the depths they knew disdain’d to ride. 
  For probable discoveries to dispense,
  Was thought below a pension’d evidence;
  Mere truth was dull, nor suited with the port
  Of pamper’d Corah when advanced to court. 
  No less than wonders now they will impose,
  And projects void of grace or sense disclose. 50
  Such was the charge on pious Michal brought,—­
  Michal that ne’er was cruel, even in thought,—­
  The best of queens, and most obedient wife,
  Impeach’d of cursed designs on David’s life! 
  His life, the theme of her eternal prayer,
  ’Tis scarce so much his guardian angel’s care. 
  Not summer morns such mildness can disclose,
  The Hermon lily, nor the Sharon rose. 
  Neglecting each vain pomp of majesty,
  Transported Michal feeds her thoughts on high. 60
  She lives with angels, and, as angels do,
  Quits heaven sometimes to bless the world below;
  Where, cherish’d by her bounties’ plenteous spring,
  Reviving widows smile, and orphans sing. 
  Oh! when rebellious Israel’s crimes at height,
  Are threaten’d with her Lord’s approaching fate,
  The piety of Michal then remain
  In Heaven’s remembrance, and prolong his reign!