As vain our fears of Egypt's potent aid, Not so has Pharaoh learn'd ambition's trade, Nor ever with such measures can comply, As shock the common rules of policy; None dread like him the growth of Israel's king, And he alone sufficient aids can bring; Who knows that prince to Egypt can give law, That on our stubborn tribes his yoke could draw: At such profound expense he has not stood, Nor dyed for this his hands so deep in blood; 680 Would ne'er through wrong and right his progress take, Grudge his own rest, and keep the world awake, To fix a lawless prince on Judah's throne, First to invade our rights, and then his own; His dear-gain'd conquests cheaply to despoil, And reap the harvest of his crimes and toil. We grant his wealth vast as our ocean's sand, And curse its fatal influence on our land, Which our bribed Jews so numerously partake, That even an host his pensioners would make. 690 From these deceivers our divisions spring, Our weakness, and the growth of Egypt's king; These, with pretended friendship to the state, Our crowds' suspicion of their prince create; Both pleased and frighten'd with the specious cry, To guard their sacred rites and property. 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.