Less desolation did the pest pursue,
  That from Dan’s limits to Beersheba flew; 70
  Less fatal the repeated wars of Tyre,
  And less Jerusalem’s avenging fire. 
  With gentler terror these our state o’erran,
  Than since our evidencing days began! 
  On every cheek a pale confusion sate,
  Continued fear beyond the worst of fate! 
  Trust was no more; art, science useless made;
  All occupations lost but Corah’s trade. 
  Meanwhile a guard on modest Corah wait,
  If not for safety, needful yet for state. 80
  Well might he deem each peer and prince his slave,
  And lord it o’er the tribes which he could save: 
  Even vice in him was virtue—­what sad fate,
  But for his honesty had seized our state! 
  And with what tyranny had we been cursed,
  Had Corah never proved a villain first! 
  To have told his knowledge of the intrigue in gross,
  Had been, alas! to our deponent’s loss: 
  The travell’d Levite had the experience got,
  To husband well, and make the best of’s Plot; 90
  And therefore, like an evidence of skill,
  With wise reserves secured his pension still;
  Nor quite of future power himself bereft,
  But limbos large for unbelievers left. 
  And now his writ such reverence had got,
  ’Twas worse than plotting to suspect his Plot. 
  Some were so well convinced, they made no doubt
  Themselves to help the founder’d swearers out. 
  Some had their sense imposed on by their fear,
  But more for interest sake believe and swear:  100
  Even to that height with some the frenzy grew,
  They raged to find their danger not prove true.

   Yet, than all these a viler crew remain,
  Who with Achitophel the cry maintain;
  Not urged by fear, nor through misguided sense,—­
  Blind zeal and starving need had some pretence;
  But for the good old cause, that did excite
  The original rebels’ wiles—­revenge and spite. 
  These raise the plot, to have the scandal thrown
  Upon the bright successor of the crown, 110
  Whose virtue with such wrongs they had pursued,
  As seem’d all hope of pardon to exclude. 
  Thus, while on private ends their zeal is built,
  The cheated crowd applaud, and share their guilt.

   Such practices as these, too gross to lie
  Long unobserved by each discerning eye,
  The more judicious Israelites unspell’d,
  Though still the charm the giddy rabble held. 
  Even Absalom, amidst the dazzling beams
  Of empire, and ambition’s flattering dreams, 120
  Perceives the plot, too foul to be excused,
  To aid designs, no less pernicious, used. 
  And, filial sense yet striving in his breast,
  Thus to Achitophel his doubts express’d: