With lifted hands their young Messiah bless: Who now begins his progress to ordain With chariots, horsemen, and a numerous train:[273] From east to west his glories he displays, And, like the sun, the promised land surveys. Fame runs before him as the morning-star, And shouts of joy salute him from afar; Each house receives him as a guardian god, And consecrates the place of his abode. But hospitable treats did most commend Wise Issachar, his wealthy western friend.[274] This moving court, that caught the people's eyes, And seemed but pomp, did other ends disguise: Achitophel had formed it, with intent To sound the depths, and fathom, where it went, The people's hearts, distinguish friends from foes, And try their strength before they came to blows. Yet all was coloured with a smooth pretence Of specious love, and duty to their prince. Religion, and redress of grievances, (Two names that always cheat, and always please,) Are often urged; and good king David's life, Endangered by a brother and a wife.[275] Thus in a pageant-shew a plot is made; And peace itself is war in masquerade. Oh foolish Israel! never warned by ill! Still the same bait, and circumvented still! Did ever men forsake their present ease, In midst of health imagine a disease, Take pains contingent mischiefs to foresee, Make heirs for monarchs, and for God decree? What shall we think? Can people give away, Both for themselves and sons, their native sway? Then they are left defenceless to the sword Of each unbounded, arbitrary lord: And laws are vain, by which we right enjoy, If kings unquestioned can those laws destroy. Yet if the crowd be judge of fit and just, And kings are only officers in trust, Then this resuming covenant was declared When kings were made, or is for ever barred. If those, who gave the sceptre, could not tie, By their own deed, their own posterity, How then could Adam bind his future race? How could his forfeit on mankind take place? Or how could heavenly justice damn us all, Who ne'er consented to our father's fall? Then kings are slaves to those whom they command, And tenants to their people's pleasure stand. Add, that the power, for property allowed, Is mischievously seated in the crowd; For who can be secure of private right, If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might? Nor is the people's judgment always true: The most may err as grossly as the few; And faultless kings run down by common cry, For vice, oppression, and for tyranny. What standard is there in a fickle rout, Which, flowing to the mark, runs faster out? Nor only crowds but Sanhedrims may be Infected with this public lunacy, And share the madness of rebellious times, To murder monarchs for imagined crimes.