Eliab our next labour does invite, And hard the task to do Eliab right. Long with the royal wanderer he roved, And firm in all the turns of fortune proved. Such ancient service and desert so large Well claim'd the royal household for his charge. 990 His age with only one mild heiress bless'd, In all the bloom of smiling nature dress'd, And bless'd again to see his flower allied To David's stock, and made young Othniel's bride. The bright restorer of his father's youth, Devoted to a son's and subject's truth; Resolved to bear that prize of duty home, So bravely sought, while sought by Absalom. Ah, prince! the illustrious planet of thy birth, And thy more powerful virtue, guard thy worth! 1000 That no Achitophel thy ruin boast; Israel too much in one such wreck has lost. Even envy must consent to Helon's worth, Whose soul, though Egypt glories in his birth, Could for our captive-ark its zeal retain. And Pharaoh's altars in their pomp disdain: To slight his gods was small; with nobler pride, He all the allurements of his court defied; Whom profit nor example could betray, But Israel's friend, and true to David's sway. 1010 What acts of favour in his province fall On merit he confers, and freely all. Our list of nobles next let Amri grace, Whose merits claim'd the Abethdin's high place; Who, with a loyalty that did excel, Brought all the endowments of Achitophel. Sincere was Amri, and not only knew, But Israel's sanctions into practice drew; Our laws, that did a boundless ocean seem, Were coasted all, and fathom'd all by him. 1020 No rabbin speaks like him their mystic sense, So just, and with such charms of eloquence: To whom the double blessing does belong, With Moses' inspiration, Aaron's tongue. Than Sheva none more loyal zeal have shown, Wakeful as Judah's lion for the crown; Who for that cause still combats in his age, For which his youth with danger did engage. In vain our factious priests the cant revive; In vain seditious scribes with libel strive 1030 To inflame the crowd; while he with watchful eye Observes, and shoots their treasons as they fly; Their weekly frauds his keen replies detect; He undeceives more fast than they infect: So Moses, when the pest on legions prey'd, Advanced his signal, and the plague was stay'd. Once more, my fainting muse! thy pinions try, And strength's exhausted store let love supply. What tribute, Asaph, shall we render thee? We'll crown thee with a wreath from thy own tree! 1040 Thy laurel grove no envy's flash can blast; The song of Asaph shall for ever last.