To this hell's agent: Royal youth, fix here, 240 Let interest be the star by which you steer. Hence to repose your trust in me was wise, Whose interest most in your advancement lies. A tie so firm as always will avail, When friendship, nature, and religion fail; On ours the safety of the crowd depends; Secure the crowd, and we obtain our ends, Whom I will cause so far our guilt to share, Till they are made our champions by their fear. What opposition can your rival bring, 250 While Sanhedrims are jealous of the king? His strength as yet in David's friendship lies, And what can David's self without supplies? Who with exclusive bills must now dispense, Debar the heir, or starve in his defence. Conditions which our elders ne'er will quit, And David's justice never can admit. Or forced by wants his brother to betray, To your ambition next he clears the way; For if succession once to nought they bring, 260 Their next advance removes the present king: Persisting else his senates to dissolve, In equal hazard shall his reign involve. Our tribes, whom Pharaoh's power so much alarms, Shall rise without their prince to oppose his arms; Nor boots it on what cause at first they join, Their troops, once up, are tools for our design. At least such subtle covenants shall be made, Till peace itself is war in masquerade. Associations of mysterious sense, 270 Against, but seeming for, the king's defence: Even on their courts of justice fetters draw, And from our agents muzzle up their law. By which a conquest if we fail to make, 'Tis a drawn game at worst, and we secure our stake.