Book X, Chapter 61

TO epilogue our Tragedie, now Adoniah acts,
With whome, olde Dauid to depose, euen […]oabs-selfe compacts:
Yeadiuers Captaines did reuolt, and with the Sonne rebell,
Which not a little greeu'd the King, that lou'd the young-man well,
Who, next his brother, did for forme, and soly now excell.
Remayn'd but Salomon and he, and he the elder Sonne,
Too forward yeat to practise Rule eare Dauids Raigne was donne:
But what God meaneth is, Amen: The Scepter was behight
To Salomon, and Nathan mou'd the King to do[…] him right:
Who, aged, caus'd his Diadem to ro[…]alize the head
Of Salomon, annoynted now: which heard, the Rebel, flead.
So haue we seene, not yeares farre-past, long-Plottings ouerthrone,
Euen in a trise, to day a Queene, to morrow lesse than none:
Such was her Fate, but not her Fault, that stoode for Maries Thrones
Nor cite I this A Noueltie, like Pul-backs many an one.
Repentant[…] Ad[…]ni[…] now vnto the Altar flies,
[…] thereof: which one, that it espies,
[…] vnto Salomon, that sent to fetch him Thence:
Which would not be, till swore the King to pardon his offence:
Whome […] we now so pardoned, or rather in suspence.
[…]or though a Kings Competitor in one same Land may liue,
[…]eat take he heed, the sleightest cause a cause of death doth giue:
Which hapned him, eare hapned this, inserted by the way.

Dauid decea'ste, in Salomon was sole and sou'raigne Sway,
When […], to prolong his life, did at the Altar stay.
Euen he that in so many Brunts for Dauid did preuaile,
That, saue for Adoniah now, Allegiance neare did faile,
That, saue for sheaded blood of twaine, could none impeach of wrong,
Euen this grandame Captaine of the Hosts, a luckie Knight so long,
Hand-fasting now the Altar, clames that Priuiledge, in vaine:
For thence he would not, and the King commaunds he theare be slaine.
Which Warrant did Banaiah serue: And so this Worthie died,
For Abner and Amasas blood, like-Worthies and as-tried.

With Adoniah now remaines we act and ende our Sceanes,
To whō, might seeme, small good was meant, what il soere he meanes:
Wheare crowned Might, & crossed Right so neere together dwel,
Behooues that Forrest-flying Feare, whereof the Fox did tell:
Our factious Lancaster and Yorke thereof could witnes well.
Abisag, Dauids Hebe, that in comfort of his Age,
Attended him at Bed and Boarde, when naturall heate did swage,
Howbeit still a Virgin, and the goodliest Wench aliue,
Enamours Adoniah: at the least with her to Wiue
He drifteth, not detayned but for Salomons consent:
Of which he moued Bethsabe, for which she Sutor went
To Salomon, that thearewithall was onely not content,
But also tooke occasion hence, of more, perhaps, than meant.
[…]na[…]ah, by the Kings Commaund, did Adontah slea:
For Cryme perhaps, perhaps because a Crowne might come in Plea.
For Salomon, diuinely wise, could Subtellizings sound:
That much the Ma[…]d knew Dauids mind, that Many she had bound,
Whilst gratious earst, with Benefits: her Kinred strong he found:
That […]oa[…] and Abiat[…]ar weare on his Brothers side:
That his aspiring sleepes, nor must be slept, the King espide:
Or else-what? Adoniah was dispatched out of hand:
So sped his Su[…]e, so was confirm'd to Salomon the Land:
If Others otherwise, not I as others vnderstand.

Nor better Meede for Merits could these Dauidists alleadge:
Yeat did their Father eate the Grapes that set their Teeth on edge.
Then charitable, godly-wise, and continent, weare fit
Should Parents be: So prosper they, Theirs, and whom Theirs begi[…] […]
Of Scotland, quieted by our Queene, and France, by her kept French,
Is toucht: Of Belgike, long selfe-vaind, rests how the blood doth stēch.