Secure his person to secure your cause; They, who possess the prince, possess the laws. He said, and this advice, above the rest, With Absalom's mild nature suited best; Unblamed of life, ambition set aside, Not stained with cruelty, not puft with pride. How happy had he been, if destiny Had higher placed his birth, or not so high! His kingly virtues might have claimed a throne, And blest all other countries but his own; But charming greatness since so few refuse, 'Tis juster to lament him than accuse. Strong were his hopes a rival to remove, With blandishments to gain the public love; To head the faction while their zeal was hot, And popularly prosecute the plot. To further this, Achitophel unites The malcontents of all the Israelites; Whose differing parties he could wisely join, For several ends, to serve the same design. The best,--and of the princes some were such, Who thought the power of monarchy too much; Mistaken men, and patriots in their hearts; Not wicked, but seduced by impious arts. By these the springs of property were bent, And wound so high, they cracked the government. The next for interest sought to embroil the state, To sell their duty at a dearer rate, And make their Jewish markets of the throne; Pretending public good, to serve their own. Others thought kings an useless heavy load, Who cost too much, and did too little good. These were for laying honest David by, On principles of pure good husbandry.[257] With them joined all the haranguers of the throng; That thought to get preferment by the tongue. Who follow next a double danger bring, Not only hating David, but the king; The Solymæan rout; well versed, of old, In godly faction, and in treason bold; Cowring and quaking at a conqueror's sword, But lofty to a lawful prince restored; Saw with disdain an Ethnic plot begun, And scorned by Jebusites to be outdone. Hot Levites[258] headed these; who, pulled before From the ark, which in the judges' days they bore,[259] Resumed their cant, and, with a zealous cry, Pursued their old beloved theocracy; Where sanhedrim and priest enslaved the nation, And justified their spoils by inspiration. For who so fit to reign as Aaron's race, If once dominion they could found in grace? These led the pack; though not of surest scent, Yet deepest mouthed against the government. A numerous host of dreaming saints succeed, Of the true old enthusiastic breed; 'Gainst form and order they their power employ, Nothing to build, and all things to destroy. But far more numerous was the herd of such, Who think too little, and who talk too much. These out of mere instinct, they knew not why, Adored their fathers' God, and property; And, by the same blind benefit of fate,