Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-30

AgIsBAL AND ITTAI-a Contrast.

4
present objects to speculate on the con-
duct of some OF the chief actors who
have taken sides for or against it. The
cause Of the Patriots was at first sue
cessfuk A constitution was adopted,
cemmotions quelied, and the disaifected
had acauiesced. Abisbal was appointed
! to high command in the army. he was
accounted firm PATROL: buths hod not
been tried. France invades Spain with
a numerous army. Madrid was conf
ded to Abisbal. The French army mar
cl1es without opposition into the heart
of Spain. Several fortrssses ara taken.
Many Spanish Patriots, who were bold
when there was no danger, JON the
French. Abisbal saw that on the side
of his country were labor, suffering, and
the prospect Of ultimate ruin. On the
side OF the invaders, he was promis-
ed promotion, titles, and safety. TAo'
bound by honor, by patriotism, and by
his solemn oath, to defend that cause
which amslioraied the wretched condi-
ton of his countrymen, and to protect
his nativs soil from hostile INVASION. A
bisbal was uafaihfui. He betrayed
Madrid. On his fidelity the success Of
his country rested. He sacraficed that
country which promoted him, and the
cause of liberty, and an immortal fame,
for personal safety. He had neither
gratitude nor fidelity. Does the soul
sicken at such baseness and want of
principle2 bet it be refreshed by con-
ferIplating the character OF Ittai: This
name, reader, you will not find in the an
mails of Grecian cliivalry, or of Roman
ambition, but in the records of small,
obscure nation, whose history, though
ia thehands of every one, is more gene
rally sighted and condemned from its
being less read and understood than that
of any other.
1t appears that Ittai was exiled from
his native country for some cause not
related. In despotic governments, per-
sons are frequently punished whose cha
racters remain unblemished. David
kindly entertans him and his attendants,
at Jerusalem. In the mean time, David
is hurled from the heighth of prosperi-
ty to the depth of adversely. So ma
tured, and'yet SO secret was the rebel
lion Of Absolem, that he was obliged to
| fly, in the night, fromhis capital: And so
urgent was his flight, that he could nei-
tler provide carriages nor provision. He
and his friends walked barefoot up
Mount Olivet, and wept as they went"
Ittai, with six hundred followers, pre-
sents himself to David-who, tho thus
destitute of friends and help, before he
accepted the noble sacrafice, generous
| ly told his friend of the extreme danger
to which connection with him would
expose hims If his own subjects, whom
he had benefited by good and equal
laws, deserted him, how could he think
of exposing the lives of strangers by a
temporary, but hopeless resistance. All
these circumstances considered, his re-
ply TO lftai is an evidence Of great dis
interestedness, and that his mind pos
sesssd the noblest qualities: ",Chen said
David to Ittai, the Gittite---Wherefore
goest thou with uss Return to thy place,
and abide with the king, (Absolem); for
thou art a stranger, and also an erils.
Whereas thou earnest but yesterday,
should this day make thee go up and
down with uss seeing | go whittier I
may: Return thou and take back thy
brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee.n
| This remonstrance gave lttai an OPP
portunity of retracting his rash propo-
!, sal. He had only been relieved by Da-
yid for short time: the obligations of
gratitude were notso very strong. He
could have remained in the city honor
ably neutcr; or if obliged to take side
with Absoien, have silenced all scruples
by the plea of necessity. But disdain-
ing the arts and sub erfuges of time
servers, it was enough for him to know
that his friend needed his aid: he count
ed not the loss and gain. Faithful to
his friend in adversely, he answered
with frmness and vehemence, as ausevi-
dence of his sincerity. "As the Lord
hvetb, and as my lord the king hveth,
surely in what place my lord the king
shall be, whether in death or lie, even
there also will thy servant be"f
David permitted him to pass over, be-
ing convinced that longer refusal would
have been more painful than death it +.
self to the feelings of Ittai.
We know not which most to admire.
the disinterestedness of the one, or the
devotion of the other. The sentiments
Of both eminently exalt the human cha
racter: the treason and treacherY of
Abisbal debase it. The characters OF
I L IL Al 4. IL.
is wholly a Fictitious being; BY the