He stopped, and spoke some passion with his eyes. 'Excellent friend!' the gallant prince replies; 'Thou hast so proved thy virtues, that they're known To all good men, more than to each his own. Who lives in Israel that can doubtful be Of thy great actions? for he lives by thee. Such is thy valour, and thy vast success, That all things but thy loyalty are less; And should my father at thy ruin aim, 'Twould wound as much his safety as his fame. Think them not coming, then, to slay thee here, But doubt mishaps as little as you fear; For, by thy loving God, whoe'er design Against thy life, must strike at it through mine, But I my royal father must acquit From such base guilt, or the low thought of it. Think on his softness, when from death he freed The faithless king of Am'lek's cursed seed; Can he t' a friend, t' a son, so bloody grow, He who even sinned but now to spare a foe? Admit he could; but with what strength or art Could he so long close and seal up his heart? Such counsels jealous of themselves become, And dare not fix without consent of some; Few men so boldly ill great sins to do, Till licensed and approved by others too. No more (believe it) could he hide this from me, Than I, had he discovered it, from thee.' Here they embraces join, and almost tears, Till gentle David thus new-proved his fears: 'The praise you pleased, great prince! on me to spend, Was all outspoken, when you styled me friend: That name alone does dangerous glories bring, And gives excuse to the envy of a king. What did his spear, force, and dark plots, impart But some eternal rancour in his heart? Still does he glance the fortune of that day When, drowned in his own blood, Goliath lay, And covered half the plain; still hears the sound How that vast monster fell, and strook the around: The dance, and, David his ten thousand slew, Still wound his sickly soul, and still are new. Great acts t' ambitious princes treason grow, So much they hate that safety which they owe. Tyrants dread all whom they raise high in place; From the good danger, from the bad disgrace. They doubt the lords, mistrust the people's hate, Till blood become a principle of state. Secured not by their guards nor by their right, But still they fear even more than they affright, Pardon me, sir; your father's rough and stern; His will too strong to bend, too proud to learn. Remember, sir, the honey's deadly sting! Think on that savage justice of the King, When the same day that saw you do before Things above man, should see you man no more. 'Tis true, the accursed Agag moved his ruth; He pitied his tall limbs and comely youth; Had seen, alas! the proof of Heaven's fierce hate, And feared no mischief from his powerless fate; Remember how the old seer came raging down, And taught him boldly to suspect his crown. Since then, his pride quakes at the Almighty's rod, Nor dares he love the man beloved by God. Hence his deep rage and trembling envy springs; Nothing so wild as jealousy of kings.