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THE ROYAL PENITENT. IN THREE PARTS.
TO WHICH IS ADDED, DAVID's LAMENTATION OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN.
BY MRS. SARAH PORTER, OF PLYMOUTH IN NEWHAMPSHIRE.
Of old, those met rewards
who could excel;
And those were prais'd
who but endeavour'd
well:
The triumphs
were to Gen'rals
only due,
Crowns
were reserv'd to grace the Soldiers
too.
POPE.
CONCORD: Printed by GEORGE HOUGH, and sold at his Office, Wholesale and Retail.
M. DCC. XCI.
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THE ROYAL PENITENT.
PART FIRST.
CELESTIAL Muse! assist me while I sing,
In paths forbid, what woes unnumber'd spring.
To shun a noisy court, and noon-tide heat,
And all the cares that 'tend upon the great,
The King walk'd forth, to breathe the balmy air,
And view the beauties of the gay
parterre.
The palace-garden, made for careless ease,
Was stor'd with all that could the fancy please;—
The stately trees, in lofty arches, rise,
Wave their green heads, and gently fan the skies;
A humbler sort, with blossoms sprinkled o'er,
In order rang'd, stand round the royal bow'r:
Here joyful birds, in sweet harmonious notes,
To hail their monarch, tune their little throats:
Near the delicious spot, smooth roll'd a flood,
In which the various trees reflected stood;
The golden Orange, 'midst the smiling green,
Inverted in the shining mirrour's seen.
[Page 4]Here, while the trees their ripen'd fruit display,
Or sweetly smile with purple blossoms gay,
The mantling vine holds forth her luscious grape,
That not a beauty may the eye escape.
Ten thousand lovely flow'rs, of various dye,
In regular confusion meet the eye.
HERE
Israel's King enjoy'd the balmy breeze,
By
Zephyr wafted thro' the charming trees.
Fair
Bathsheba, with all her blooming charms,
Had just withdrawn her from the Monarch's arms;
When
Nathan found, beneath the cooling shade,
Stretch'd at his ease, the Royal Shepherd laid.
"Forever live, O King!"—thus spake the Seer—
The Monarch rose, with reverence, to hear
High Heav'n's Ambassadour—who thus began:
"Justice, my Lord the King, 'twixt man and man;
Within the city-walls two men were known—
One, poor indeed—the other, overgrown
In wealth and pow'r; his flocks, unnumber'd, rove
O'er all the plain, and whiten ev'ry grove:
The poor man nurs'd, each day, with care and cost,
One little lamb—'twas all that he could boast;
With him it fed, and with his children grew,
And in his bosom lay the darling ewe.
The rich have many friends—a friend arrives
To visit him who in gay affluence lives:
Pride now would furnish out a sumptuous feast;
But
Av'rice fears to entertain the guest;—
[Page 5]A sudden thought the miser fill'd with glee.—
'Twas oft his hap his neighbour's lamb to see;
When walking forth, he mark'd its snowy hue,
And with its beauty quite enamour'd grew:
He seiz'd the destin'd prey, nor heeds its cries,
Nor felt the woe that from the deed might rise."
THE Prophet ceas'd:—enrag'd, the Monarch stands:
"Who? Where is he?" he sternly then demands;
Anger, like lightning, flashes from his eye:
"As God doth live, the man shall surely die!"
Thou art the man, scarce had the Prophet said,
When all the outward marks of inward dread
Appear'd in view—a chilly frost bedews
The Monarch's face, and speaks his recent woes:
Thou art the man, like an envenom'd dart,
Rankles within, and tears the bleeding heart:
Thou art the man, still vibrates on the ear,
And half forbids it other words to hear.
THE man of God continues to unfold
High Heav'n's behest, and thus the message told:—
"Thus saith the Lord—I rais'd thee to the throne,
And on thy head have plac'd thy master's crown;
His num'rous wives, his houses, and his land,
To thee I gave—what more couldst thou demand?
Or if thou hadst a wish that ask'd for more,
My hand was able to increase the store.
[Page 6]Why hast thou then, with Ammon's sword, hewn down
Uriah, chief supporter of thy crown?
Why, tyrant-like, have you thus sought his life,
And from his bosom torn his beauteous wife?
Thou,
Israel's Shepherd, (this was once my boast)
Ill fares the flock that have their leader lost.
How, from the fold, was thou the first to stray,
'Till even Innocence became thy prey?
Hell heard, with pleasure, the detested deed;
And
Belial's wanton sons, supinely laid
Within his groves, with harlots now blaspheme,
Mock
Israel's King, and curse Jehovah's name."
FORLORN, appall'd, the Royal mourner stood:
Ive sinn'd against the Lord—nor more he cou'd:
A sigh escap'd the heart—on Angels' wings
Alost was borne, and reach'd the KING of Kings;
With incense touch'd, it lay before the throne,
Spoke his remorse, and made his sorrows known.
"Thy sin is blotted out—thou shalt not die;
Heav'n sees thy grief—has heard thy inward cry:
Yet, lest GOD's foes his justice should arraign,
Thy first-born son shall be untimely slain;—
Scarce shall his infant eyes behold the light,
Ere they shall close in everlasting night:
While greater troubles in thy house shall rise,
To break thy peace, and damp thy future joys."
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PART SECOND.
DEATH's Angel now, commission'd by the Lord,
O'er the fond infant holds the fatal sword;
From the dread sight the frantick father turns,
And, clad in sackcloth, in his chamber mourns;
The Monitor, within the Royal breast,
That long had slept, now rous'd at length from rest,
Holds forth a mirrour to the aching sight,
Seizes the mind that fain would take its flight—
Bids it look in:—and first,
Uriah stood,
Arm'd for the sight, as yet unstain'd with blood;
Courage and care were on his brow combin'd,
To show the hero and the patriot join'd:—:
Next, pale and lifeless, on his warlike shield,
The soldiers bore him from the bloody field.
"And is it thus? (the Royal mourner said)
And has my hand perform'd the dreadful deed?
Was I the wretch that gave thee to the soe,
And bade thee sink beneath th' impending blow?
Bade every friend and hero leave thy side?—
Open, O earth! and in thy bosom hide
A guilty wretch who wishes not to live;
Who cannot, dares not, ask for a reprieve;
So black a crime just Heav'n will not forgive!
Justice arrests thy coming mercy, Lord—
Strike then, O strike, unsheath thy dreadful sword:
Accurs'd forever be the hated day,
That led my soul from innocence astray;—
[Page 8]O may the stars, on that detested hour,
Shed all their influence with malignant pow'
[...] ▪
Darkness and sorrows jointly hold their reign,
When time, revolving, brings it round again.
Ye injur'd ghosts, break from the silent tomb,
In all the fearful pomp of horrour come,
Breathe out your woes, and hail the dreadful gloom.
Why does not injur'd
Israel now arise,
Proclaim my madness to th' avenging skies,
Hurl quick the sceptre from my bloody hand,
While marks of infamy my forehead brand?
No time shall e'er the dreadful act conceal—
No tongue shall fail its horrours to reveal—
Eternity, upon its strongest wing,
Shall bear the deed whence all my sorrows spring.
Unhappy man!—ah! whither shall I turn?
Like
Cain, accurst, must I forever mourn?
On beds of silk in vain I seek repose—
Uriah's shade forbids my eyes to close;
No bars exclude him—to no place confin'd,
Eager he still pursues my flying mind:
Not all the crowd that bow at my approach,
Nor guards that thicken round the gilded coach.
Can with their arms, or martial air, affright.
Or drive the phantom from my wearied sight.
Whene'er I view the diamond's varied rays,
That grace my robes, or on my sceptre blaze,
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Uriah still, reflected from the stone,
[...] at his wounds, and shows me what I've done.
Cou'd all the gold that lies on
India's coast,
Cou'd all the gems its num'rous quarries boast,
Bribe peace a moment to this aching heart,
How freely with the glitt'ring store I'd part.
Black, heavy thoughts, ah! what a num'rous train!
I feel your stings unpitied, yet complain.
Thou gallant hero, say, where art thou now?
Gone, gone forever! sunk beneath my blow!—
Of my uplifted arm, my dire command,
Fell Ammon's sword was wielded by my hand!
Where the fierce battle glow'd with hottest rage,
Where all the mighty, arm to arm engage,
Where frightful death his various forms put on,
You met the terrour of his dreadful frown.—
As some huge tree, whose tow'ring threats the sky,
While deep in earth its roots embosom'd lie,
Mocks at the warring winds, and proudly dares
The tempest's force, nor once destruction fears:
So, unappall'd, the glorious Leader stood,
Tho torn with wounds, and cover'd o'er with blood;
O'er hills of slaughter'd foes he makes his way—
His sword, from Ammon, gain'd the doubtful day:
Yet, while alost the
Hebrew standard flies,
And vict'ry shouts to echoing earth and skies,
[Page 10]The lifeless hero, stretch'd upon the shield,
With countless wounds, is borne from off the field.
Once, how he shone amidst the gazing throng,
Who prais'd his courage as he pass'd along!
On thy firm brow, what beaming splendour shone!
By thy bold arm, how strengthen'd was my throne!
And shall thy murd'rer crown thy head with bays,
And dare thy God-like virtues thus to praise?
From cruel fate, ah! whither shall I run?—
Capricious lust!—thou hast my soul undone!
Drawn on by impious passion, I pursu'd.
The flying fair, and oft my suit renew'd;
The humble suppliant, and the haughty lord,
By turns put on, no ray of hope afford;—
She heard at length, but with an obdurate ear—
And still
Uriah draws the pitying tear.
O happy day! when, blest with
Eglah's charms,
I woo'd no other beauty to my arms;
No court's licentious joys did then molest
My peaceful mind, nor haunt my tranquil breast.
A glitt'ring crown! thou poor, fantastick thing!
What solid satisfaction canst thou bring?—
Once, far remov'd from all the toils of state,
In groves I slept—no guards around me wait:
Oh! how delicious was the calm retreat!—
Sweet groves! with birds & various flowers stor'd,
Where nature furnish'd out my frugal board;
[Page 11]The pure, unstained spring, my thirst allay'd;
No poison'd draughts, in golden cups convey'd,
Was there to dread.—Return, ye happy hours,
Ye verdant shades, kind nature's pleasing bow'rs—
Inglorious solitude, again return,
And heal the breast with pain and anguish torn.
Oh! sweet content! unknown to pomp and kings,
The humble rest beneath thy downy wings;
The lowly cottage is thy lov'd retreat—
In vain, you're courted by the rich and great—
In vain, the miser seeks thee in his gold—
In vain, each day the glitt'ring store is told;
Thou art not there: in vain th' ambitious sigh,
And seek the joys that still before them fly:
The merchant's ship all treasures brings but thee—
You from his anxious bosom ever flee:
For thee, the sailor tempts the boist'rous main,
And hopes to find thee in his dear-bought gain:
For thee, the hero mounts his iron car,
And hopes to find thee when return'd from war.
Their hopes are vain.—Who wish with thee to dwell,
Must seek the rural shade, or lonely cell:
The Gods themselves delight in verdant groves,
And shield from harm the innocence they love.—
Witness, the day, my youthful arm withstood
The foaming bear:—the monarch of the wood,
[Page 12]With open jaws appear'd, and crested mien,
But in a moment by my hand was slain:
Safe from their teeth I snatch'd the destin'd prey,
And bore it harmless in my arms away.—
Witness, the day,
Gath's lordly champion came,
With haughty strides, and curs'd Jehovah's name;
Tho in my hand nor sword nor spear were found,
This vast unwieldy bulk lay stretch'd upon the ground.
Belov'd by Heav'n, nought had I then to fear—
Twice I escap'd from
Saul's emitted spear,
By malice thrown; and, free from danger, stand,
Hid in the hollow of th' Almighty's hand;—
His darling then I was; who, mighty GOD!
Sink now beneath the terrours of thy rod.
Dispel those thick, dark clouds, this boist'rous wind,
That tears the soul, and harrows up the mind;
Oh! let thy mercy, like the solar ray,
Break forth and drive these dismal clouds away;
Oh! send its kind enliv'ning warmth on one,
Who sinks, who dies, beneath thy dreadful frown:
Thus fares the wretch at sea, by tempests tost—
Sands, hurricanes, and rocks, proclaim him lost;
With eager eyes he views the peaceful shore,
And longs to rest where billows cease to roar:—
Of wanton winds and waves I've been the sport—
Oh! when shall I attain the wish'd for port?
[Page 13]Or might I bear the punishment alone,
Nor hear the lovely infant's piteous moan;—
My sins upon the dying child impress'd,
The dreadful thought forbids my soul to rest.
In mercy, LORD, thy humble suppliant hear—
Oh! give the darling to my ardent prayer!—
Cleanse me from sin—oh! graciously forgive—
Blest with thy love, oh! let thy servant live:
Thy smiles withdrawn, what is the world to me?
My hopes, my joys, are plac'd alone on thee:
Oh! let thy love, to this desponding heart,
One ray, at least, of heav'nly love impart."
PART THIRD.
SWIFT to the skies the wing'd petition flew,
And, from above, a radiant Seraph drew:
A sudden light dispels the sable gloom,
And solemn musick fills the mourner's room;
While balmy fragrance fills the midnight air,
The King beholds the shining guest draw near;
To meet the heav'nly form he lowly bends,
And to his words a fix'd attention lends.
"COMMISSION'D from the throne of GOD, I come—
Now bear, with fortitude, th' approaching doom:
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Thy son must die!—such is the will of GOD;
Nor thou repine—but humbly kiss the rod:
Yet Heav'n has heard thy cries, has seen thy tears,
And sends me down to calm thy anxious fears:
Thy pray'r is heard—thy sin is done away,
That in thy sorrowing heart so heavy lay:
Thou shalt not die—till, fix'd upon the throne,
Belov'd of Heav'n, you see another son;
A son, whose fame shall reach the farthest east—
In his mild reign shall
Israel's sons be blest;
Then strife shall cease—calm Peace, with downy wing,
From all annoy shall shield her fav'rite King;
At War's approach no more the trees shall fade,
And safe the swain shall deep beneath the shade;
While peace and plenty bless the happy land,
Science shall thrive beneath his fostering hand;
Eager of knowledge, shall his searching eye,
Into the farthest depths of nature pry;
From fam'd
Libanus' cedars, fair and tall,
To humble hyfsop springing on the wall,
He shall discourse—while men, astonish'd, own,
No Prince on earth e'er equall'd
David's son:—
But let this thought prevail above the rest,
That in his seed all nations shall be blest;
From this beloved child, this son, shall spring,
Of whom the Prophets sung the mystick King—
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lsrael's Redeeper stil'd—sent down from Heav'n—
To him, to him the glorious branch is giv'm—
To rule the world—his kingdom shall extend
From East to West—e'en earth's remotest end
Shall own his sway; and, at his birth, shall cease,
All strife and toil; and justice, truth, and peace,
Each hand in hand shall walk thro' all the earth,
Proclaiming, as they go, the Saviour's birth.
As
Eden was, ere
Adam's fatal sin,
In his bless'd reign such shall the earth be seen:
The barren waste shall fragrant blossoms yield,
While smiling plenty crowns the open field:
For joy, the crystal streams shall break their way,
And, unconfin'd, thro' desarts, winding, stray;
Where, late, rough thorns were seen, the fir shall rise,
With tufted top, and wave among the skies;
Where noisome thistles did the ground o'erspread,
The fragrant myrtle now shall rear its head;
Rich grapes, in clusters, from the bending vine,
Unpress'd, shall yield their luscious streams of wine.
E'en savage beasts their nat'ral dens shall change,
And, harmless, thro' the fields and forests range;
The ox and lion sleep beneath one shade,
Or, side by side, shall cross the flow'ry mead;
Upon the verdant grass, the fearless lamb,
Shall, with the wolf, lie down as with its dam;
[Page 16]Pleas'd with its speckle'd coat, in colours gay,
Unhurt, the child shall with the serpent play —
Floods, floods, of joy, shall overflow the land,
While fix'd Messiah's throne shall ever stand;—
To him, at last, each stubborn knee shall bend,
Whose kingdom knows no bounds, whose reign no end:
'Tis his, all care and anguish to destroy—
'Tis his, to fill the wounded heart with joy—
From his mild reign shall ev'ry comfort flow—
Nor more, let man or angel seek to know."
THE heav'nly guest, the King with transport heard—
His grief remov'd: the Angel disappear'd.
FINIS.
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DAVID's LAMENTATION OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN.
HOW are the mighty fall'n!
Gilboa, boast
Saul, and his son, upon thy summit lost!—
Thy face is sprinkle'd with the blood of war—
Thy bosom surrow'd with the iron car—
Accurst remain, from this dark, gloomy hour,
Nor know henceforth one cool, refreshing show'r:
Ye humid clouds, by Ocean's bounty fed,
Your kindly moisture here forbear to shed:
No ripen'd fruit nor herbage mayst thou know,
Nor flocks or herds e'er grace thy desart brow;
Nor fragrant incense from thy top arise,
In curling waves, to greet th' offended skies.
DISTAIN'D with blood, here lay the royal shield—
Here lay the sword
Saul's mighty arm did wield.
Oh
Jonathan! for thee I am distress'd—
My friend, my brother!—speak, my tears, the rest.
[Page 18]Ye
Hebrew dames, will ye forbear to join
My song of woe, nor mingle tears with mine?
The gen'rous Prince, whose recent fate we mourn,
With costly vestments did the Fair adorn:
Rich gems, and gold, that charm'd th' admiring eye,
Were sprinkle'd o'er your robes of
Tyrian dye:
Did Foreigners, to see the King, resort,
He proudly show'd the Damsels of his court:—
Your rich attire, with perfect beauty join'd,
Won ev'ry heart, and fill'd th' enraptur'd mind.
OH!
Saul!—oh!
Jonathan!—our
lsrael's hoast!
Ofc have the Heathen prov'd you to their cost:
Your names, with terrour sill'd the nations round—
Appall'd, they heard your warlike trumpet sound.
Swifter, you rush'd to meet the coming war,
Than tow'ring eagles cut the yielding air—
Fiercer than lions tear their destin'd prey,
You met the foe, and swept whole hosts away—
Swift from your bows, unerring, shew the dart;
Nor fail'd your jav'lins to arrest the heart.
Ye sons of
Israel! thee, the dreadful deed,
Sinks deep within, and makes each bosom bleed.
Your heavy sorrows yet with caution tell,
Lest when in doleful accounts you reveal
The mighty v.oe,
Fhilistia's sons rejoice,
Loudly blaspheme, and rend the echoing skies—
[Page 19]Invoke their gods, obscene—fresh altars raise—
While nightly revels shout their idol's praise.
Thus they their impious madness shall proclaim,
Mock all our woe, and curse Jehovah's name.
OH
Saul! illustrious hero! may thy name,
With
Jonathan's, borne on the wings of fame,
Reach, with your glorious deeds, from pole to pole,
'Till winds lie still, and waters cease to roll.
How are the mighty fall'n!—the sword, the spear,
And all the rich habiliments of war,
Lie scatter'd o'er the bloody sield, and tell,
How
Israel's Nobles by the Heathen fell.