By force they could not introduce these gods; For ten to one in former days was odds. So fraud was used, the sacrificer's trade: Fools are more hard to conquer than persuade. Their busy teachers mingled with the Jews, And raked for converts even the court and stews: Which Hebrew priests the more unkindly took, Because the fleece accompanies the flock, Some thought they God's anointed meant to slay 130 By guns, invented since full many a day: Our author swears it not; but who can know How far the devil and Jebusites may go? This Plot, which fail'd for want of common sense, Had yet a deep and dangerous consequence: For as, when raging fevers boil the blood, The standing lake soon floats into a flood, And every hostile humour, which before Slept quiet in its channels, bubbles o'er; So several factions from this first ferment, 140 Work up to foam, and threat the government. Some by their friends, more by themselves thought wise, Opposed the power to which they could not rise. Some had in courts been great, and, thrown from thence, Like fiends were harden'd in impenitence. Some, by their monarch's fatal mercy, grown, From pardon'd rebels, kinsmen to the throne, Were raised in power and public office high; Strong bands, if bands ungrateful men could tie. Of these, the false Achitophel was first; 150 A name to all succeeding ages cursed: For close designs, and crooked counsels fit; Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit; Restless, unfix'd in principles and place; In power unpleased, impatient of disgrace: A fiery soul, which, working out its way, Fretted the pigmy body to decay, And o'er-inform'd the tenement of clay. A daring pilot in extremity; Pleased with the danger, when the waves went high, 160 He sought the storms; but for a calm unfit, Would steer too nigh the sands, to boast his wit. Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide; Else why should he, with wealth and honour blest, Refuse his age the needful hours of rest? Punish a body which he could not please; Bankrupt of life, yet prodigal of ease? And all to leave what with his toil he won, To that unfeather'd two-legg'd thing, a son; 170 Got, while his soul did huddled notions try; And born a shapeless lump, like anarchy. In friendship false, implacable in hate; Resolved to ruin, or to rule the state. To compass this, the triple bond[69] he broke; The pillars of the public safety shook; And fitted Israel for a foreign yoke: Then seized with fear, yet still affecting fame, Usurp'd a patriot's all-atoning name. So easy still it proves, in factious times, 180 With public zeal to cancel private crimes! How safe is treason, and how sacred ill, Where none can sin against the people's will!