To ruin thus the chosen flock are sold,
  While wolves are ta’en for guardians of the fold;
  Seduced by these, we groundlessly complain,
  And loathe the manna of a gentle reign:  700
  Thus our forefathers’ crooked paths are trod—­
  We trust our prince no more than they their God. 
  But all in vain our reasoning prophets preach,
  To those whom sad experience ne’er could teach,
  Who can commence new broils in bleeding scars,
  And fresh remembrance of intestine wars;
  When the same household mortal foes did yield,
  And brothers stain’d with brothers’ blood the field;
  When sons’ cursed steel the fathers’ gore did stain,
  And mothers mourn’d for sons by fathers slain! 710
  When thick as Egypt’s locusts on the sand,
  Our tribes lay slaughter’d through the promised land,
  Whose few survivors with worse fate remain,
  To drag the bondage of a tyrant’s reign: 
  Which scene of woes, unknowing we renew,
  And madly, even those ills we fear, pursue;
  While Pharaoh laughs at our domestic broils,
  And safely crowds his tents with nations’ spoils. 
  Yet our fierce Sanhedrim, in restless rage,
  Against our absent hero still engage, 720
  And chiefly urge, such did their frenzy prove,
  The only suit their prince forbids to move,
  Which, till obtain’d, they cease affairs of state,
  And real dangers waive for groundless hate. 
  Long David’s patience waits relief to bring,
  With all the indulgence of a lawful king,
  Expecting still the troubled waves would cease,
  But found the raging billows still increase. 
  The crowd, whose insolence forbearance swells,
  While he forgives too far, almost rebels. 730
  At last his deep resentments silence broke,
  The imperial palace shook, while thus he spoke—­

   Then Justice wait, and Rigour take her time,
  For lo! our mercy is become our crime: 
  While halting Punishment her stroke delays,
  Our sovereign right, Heaven’s sacred trust, decays! 
  For whose support even subjects’ interest calls,
  Woe to that kingdom where the monarch falls! 
  That prince who yields the least of regal sway,
  So far his people’s freedom does betray. 740
  Right lives by law, and law subsists by power;
  Disarm the shepherd, wolves the flock devour. 
  Hard lot of empire o’er a stubborn race,
  Which Heaven itself in vain has tried with grace! 
  When will our reason’s long-charm’d eyes unclose,
  And Israel judge between her friends and foes? 
  When shall we see expired deceivers’ sway,
  And credit what our God and monarchs say? 
  Dissembled patriots, bribed with Egypt’s gold,
  Even Sanhedrims in blind obedience hold; 750
  Those patriots falsehood in their actions