And with a general shout proclaim'd him king: 60 Those very Jews, who, at their very best, Their humour more than loyalty express'd, Now wonder'd why so long they had obey'd An idol monarch, which their hands had made; Thought they might ruin him they could create, Or melt him to that golden calf--a state. But these were random bolts: no form'd design, Nor interest made the factious crowd to join: The sober part of Israel, free from stain, Well knew the value of a peaceful reign; 70 And, looking backward with a wise affright, Saw seams of wounds dishonest to the sight: In contemplation of whose ugly scars, They cursed the memory of civil wars. The moderate sort of men thus qualified, Inclined the balance to the better side; And David's mildness managed it so well, The bad found no occasion to rebel. But when to sin our biass'd nature leans, The careful devil is still at hand with means; 80 And providently pimps for ill desires: The good old cause revived a plot requires. Plots, true or false, are necessary things, To raise up commonwealths, and ruin kings. The inhabitants of old Jerusalem Were Jebusites; the town so call'd from them; And theirs the native right-- But when the chosen people grew more strong, The rightful cause at length became the wrong; And every loss the men of Jebus bore, 90 They still were thought God's enemies the more. Thus worn or weaken'd, well or ill content, Submit they must to David's government: Impoverish'd and deprived of all command, Their taxes doubled as they lost their land; And, what was harder yet to flesh and blood, Their gods disgraced, and burnt like common wood. This set the heathen priesthood in a flame; For priests of all religions are the same. Of whatsoe'er descent their godhead be, 100 Stock, stone, or other homely pedigree, In his defence his servants are as bold, As if he had been born of beaten gold. The Jewish rabbins, though their enemies, In this conclude them honest men and wise: For 'twas their duty, all the learned think, To espouse his cause by whom they eat and drink. From hence began that Plot, the nation's curse, Bad in itself, but represented worse; Raised in extremes, and in extremes decried: 110 With oaths affirm'd, with dying vows denied; Not weigh'd nor winnow'd by the multitude; But swallow'd in the mass, unchew'd and crude. Some truth there was, but dash'd and brew'd with lies, To please the fools, and puzzle all the wise. Succeeding times did equal folly call, Believing nothing, or believing all. The Egyptian rites the Jebusites embraced, Where gods were recommended by their taste. Such savoury deities must needs be good, 120 As served at once for worship and for food.