Line By Line Explanation Of Absalom And Achitophel By Dryden

Absalom And Achitophel By John Dryden

Our laws for ……………… name to all.

Exp. In these lines the poet discusses the laws relating to accusations brought against the king and other divinely inspired people. Under the laws of England no citizen can bring an accusation of falsehood or blaspheme against the king or other divinely inspired personalities. If any citizen brings such a false accusation, he is likely to lose his livelihood. Under the English laws, such a person can even be awarded death punishment. If any one dared to question. Titus Oates (Coral’s) words, he too was sure to be included in the list of the traitors. Titus had such a strange temper and attitude that his religious fervour led him to heap all sorts of insults on the king and hold him in utter contempt. But religious zeal conferred special sanctity on the easily bypassed. This is why Titus could speak such abusive words against the murder of Sir Edmund Godfrey, although is was in the knowledge of all that Titus himself had done away with the famous judge. In the Biblical story, Samuel had terribly rebuked Saul (Cromwell) for not having purr their king Agag (Godfrey) to death. The witnesses who supported Titus would all fall into the pit in which he himself had fallen because witnesses are all the same.

Youth, beauty ……………… western friend.

Exp. In these lines the poet describes how the Duke of Monmouth won popular fame, admiration and love. He was a young, graceful and handsome person who was loved and admired by all.

Any other person possessing the youth, beauty and grace of Monmouth would received the same amount of love and admiration from the people, Monmouth was something more than that. He had made the cause of the people his own cause. He came up as the champion of the poor and the weak and thus elicited the pity and admiration of the masses. The masses who generally expect that their rulers would always oppress them, would feel elated if they find the ruler liberal and sympathetic. Monmouth, led by Shaftesbury, toured all over the country assessing how far the masses would support him. He was satisfied to find popular support everywhere. His tour was attended upon by chariots, horses and large number of followers. He shone like the rising sun all over the country. He proudly surveyed the whole land of which he hoped to be the king. His fame reached every place before he actually reached there. Wherever he went, he was welcomed with shouts of joy. Every home received him as its prophet sanctifying each and every place he visited, But Thynne his friend was ahead. Every one was against the king.

Succession for the ……………… her kind.

Exp. Shaftesbury further tells Monmouth that the system of succession was introduced for the public good. It cannot be allowed to harm the interests of the nation. People should have the right to change the system of succession if the existing one goes against the public good. The interest of one or the other individual should not be allowed to come in the way of public good. The Englishmen are fully conscious of their rights and powers. The nation cannot put up with any system that harms its interests. So when they found that the interests of the nation were not safe in the hands of Charles I, they deposed him and chose Cromwell to be their Lord Protector. Even prior to that they had accepted God as their only protector. They rejected the idea of a republican In many deposition becomes unavoidable. Therefore Shaftesbury appealed to Monmouth not to be deluded or deflected from the path of public good by the love of his father. He should remember that his foremost duty was to protect the wider interests of the people. Even God would approve and ratify any action taken by him if it served the national interests Upon that also depended his own future name and fame. It is in keeping with the scheme of nature that children should replace their parents. This is how the cycle of nature continues to work.

His hand a vare ……………… from human laws.

Exp. In these lines Shaftesbury recounts those people who denounced the king. The foremost amongst them was Slingsby Bethel (Shimei), the Mayor of London. As Mayor of London, he was also the Justice of Peace. Bethel had the outer covering of nobility, goodness and fair justice. But inwardly he was highly selfish, greedy and scandalous. He was the leader of the abusers and blasphemers of the king. His daily routine was to pray to God and cheat the people. He never violated the sanctity of Sundays except when he could make money by doing so. Nor had he ever been known to utter an oath or a curse except when he wanted to denounced the government. He accumulated wealth by cheating and by covering up such activity by a show of piety. The people of London chose him to be the Mayor of the city as a reward for his hatred of the king, a hatred which he thought to be fully justified. He carried the stick of justice in his hand, but wore a heavy chain of gold round his neck. During his tenure in office disloyalty towards the king was not considered to be a crime. The wicked and sinful had a happy time during his regime. Bethel, though not a spend thrift, he loved the wicked people as much as he loved himself. Whenever or wherever two or three persons gathered to denounce the king, Bethel was sure to be amongst them. If they completed the accusers will be saved against the king. The king had little support.

If my young Samson ……………… was a fool.

Exp. The poet says that the treachery of the young son Monmouth under the instigation and supervision of Shaftesbury could not remain hidden from the king for a long time. In fact, he had known It from its very early stage but he had tolerated it and overlooked it in the hope that his erring son, Monmouth would himself realize his folly and come round apologizing to him. But when he found him and Shaftesbury crossing the limit, he decided to set them right. He was even now prepared to forgive his wayward son if he repented and apologized. But he could never forgive Shaftesbury who was at the root of all mischief.

So the king said that if his son, Monmouth thought that he had risen to be a young Samson who could shake the pillars of the State, he was mistaken. If he did so, he would himself be crushed under them. However, the king wished his son to realize his folly. Monmouth should repent for his act of treachery. As a kind-hearted and indulgent father, he would readily forgive him. Parents find it very easy to pardon their crying children. The erring son has only to shed a few tears of repentance and the parents would forgive him. It is natural that parents should have a soft corner for their children, even if the children acted contrary to their wishes and planning. In this sense Monmouth deserved pity rather than censure. Under the king’s paternal care Monmouth had risen to the highest position. Had it been God’s will that he should be the king of the country. God would have given him a different soul. He would not have been an illegitimate son. Monmouth was also wrong in believing that he was a patriot. The common vulgar meaning of “patriot” is one who opposes the king. A “patriot” is one who can go to the extent of killing the king. This concept is nothing but gross foolishness.