THE POOR MAN's LAM B. A PARAPHRASE OF NATHAN'S PARABLE TO DAVID, AFTER THE MURDER OF URIAH, AND HIS MARRIAGE WITH BATHSHEBĄ. BY THE HONOURABLE ANNE, COUNTESS QF WINCHILSEA, N ; W spent the fallen king in-amorous cares In vain the altar waits his slow returns, flain. 'Tis pass’d, 'tis done! the holy marriage knot, Too strong to be unty'd, at last is cut. And now to BATHSHEBA the king declares, That with his heart, the kingdom too is her's; That ISRAEL's throne and longing monarch's arms Are to be fill'd but with her widow'd charms; Nor Nor muft the days of formal tears fucceed, Where art thou, NATHAN? where's that spirit now, And lo! he comes; the reverend bard appears, “ Hear me, the cause between two neighbours hear } This clears the doubt, and now no more he fears The cause his own, and therefore stays and hears : When thus the prophet;--in a flowery plain A KING-LIKE man does in full plenty reign; Cafts round his eyes, in vain, to reach the bound, Which JORDAN's flood sets to his fertile ground: Counting his Aocks, whilst LEBANON contains A herd as large, kept by his numerous swains, That fill with bellowings the morning air, And to the shade at scorching noon repair. Near to this wood a lowly cottage stands, Built by the humble owner's painful hands; Fenc'd by a stubble-roof from rain and heat, Secur’d without, without all plaip and neat. A field of small extent surrounds the place, In which one single Ewe did sport and graze : This his whole stock, till in full time there came To bless his utmost hopes, a snowy LAMB; Which, lest the season yet too cold might prove, And northern blafts annoy it from the grove, Or tow'ring fowl on the weak prey might seize, (For with his store his fears must too increase) He brings it home, and lays it by his fide, At once his wealth, his pleasure, and his pride; Still bars the door, by labour call'd away, And, when returning at the close of day, With one small mefs himself and that sustains, And half his dish it shares, and half his gains. -When to the great man's table now there comes A LORD as great, follow'd by hungry grooms : For For these must be provided sundry meats, One servant diligent above the rest, In haste he sends, led by no law but will, Not to intreat, or purchase, but to kill. The messenger arrives; the harmless spoil Unus'd to Ay, runs bleating to the toil: Whilst for the innocent the owner fear’d, And, sure, would move, could poverty be heard ! “ Oh spare, he cries, the product of my cares! My stock’s increase !, the blessings on my pray’rs ! My growing hope, and treasure of my life! More was he speaking, when the murdering knife Shew'd him his fuit, tho' just, must be deny'd, .. And the white fleece in its own scarlet dy'd; While the poor helpless wretch stands weeping by, And lifts his hands for justice to the sky.' " Which he shall fird! th’incensed KING replies, When for the foul offence th' oppreffor dies. ONATHAN! by the HOLY NAME I swear, Our land such wrongs unpunish'd shall not bear, If, with the fault, th' offender thou declare.” Then, says the prophet, clofing with the time, “ THOU ART THE MAN, and thine th’ill-natur'd Nor think against thy place or state I err, [crime. A power above thee does this charge pre : Urg'd } } Urg'd by whose fpirit, hither am I brought, down. Black |