his mates She gave him poyson formerly 't is thought Which damage both to mind and body brought She now with Polisperchon doth combine To make the King by force his Seat resigne And her young grand-child in his State inthrone That under him she might rule all alone For aid she goes t' Epire among her friends The better to accomplish these her ends Euriâ—ice hearing what she intends In haste unto her friend Cassander sends To leave his siege at Tegea and with speed To save the King and her in this their need Then by intreaties promises and Coyne Some forces did procure with her to joyn Olimpias soon enters Macedon The Queen to meet her bravely marches on But when her Souldiers saw their ancient Queen Calling to mind what sometime she had been The wife and Mother of their famous Kings Nor darts nor arrows now none shoots or flings The King and Queen seeing their destiny To save their lives t' Amphipolis do fly But the old Queen pursues them with her hate And needs will have their lives as well as State The King by extream torments had his end And to the Queen these presents she did send A Halter cup of poyson and a Sword Bids chuse her death such kinâ—ness she 'l afford The Queen with many a curse and bitter check At length yields to the Halter hâ—r fair neck Praying that fatal day might quickly haste On which Olimpias of the like might taste This done the cruel Quâ—en rests not content ' Gainst all that lov'd Cassander she was bent His Brethren Kinsfolk and his chiefest friends That fell within her reach came to their ends Dig'd up his brother dead ' gainst natures right And threw his bones about to shew her spight The Courtiers wondring at her furious mind Wisht in Epire she had been still confin'd In Peloponesus then Cassander lay Where hearing of this news he speeds away With rage and with revenge he 's hurried on To find this cruel Queen in Macedon But being stopt at streight Thermopoly Sea passage gets and lands in Thâ—â—aly His Army he divides sends post away Polisperchon to hold a while in play And with the rest Olimpias pursues For all her cruelty to give her dues She with the chief o' th' Court to Pydna flyes Well fortifi'd and on the Sea it lyes There by Cassander she 's blockt up so long Untill the Famine grows exceeding strong Her Couzen of Epire did what he might To raise the Siege and put her Poes to flight Cassander is resolved there to remain So succours and endeavours proves but vain Fain would this wretched Queen capitulate Her foe would give no Ear such is his hate The Souldiers pinched with this scarcity By stealth unto Cassander layly fly Olimpias means to holâ— out to the last Expecting nothing but of death to tast But his occasions calling him away Gives promise for her life so wins the day No sooner had he got her in his hand But made in judgement her accusers stand And pleaâ— the blood of friends and kindreds spilt Desiring justice might be done for guilt And so was he acquitted of his word For justice sake she being put to th' Sword This was the end of this most cruel Queen Whose fury scarcely parallel'd hath been The daughter sister Mother Wife to Kings But Royalty no good conditions brings To Husbands death 't is thought she gave consent The murtherer she did so much lament With Garlands crown'd his head bemoan'd his fates His Sword unto Apollo consecrates Her Outrages too tedious to relate How for no cause but her inveterate hate Her Husbands wives and Children after 's death Some slew some fry'd of others stopt the breath Now in her Age she 's forc'd to tast that Cup Which she had others often made to sup Now many Towns in Macedon supprest And Pâ—llas fain to yield among the rest The Funerals Cassander celebrates Of Aâ—â—daeus and his Queen with State Among their Ancestors by him they 're laid And shews of lamentation for them made Old Thebes he then rebuilt so much of fame And Cassandria rais'd after his name But leave him building others in their Urne Let 's for a while now into Asia turn True Eumenes endeavours by all Skill To keep Antigonus from Shushan still Having command o' th' Treasure he can hire Such as no threats nor favour could acquire In divers Battels he had good success Antigonus came off still honourless When Victor oft he 'd been and so might still Peucestes did betray him by a wile T' Antigonus who took his Life unjust Because he never would forgoe his trust Thus lost he all for his fidelity Striving t' uphold his Masters Family But to a period as that did haste So Eumâ—nes the prop of death must tast All Persia now Antigonus doth gain And Master of the Treasure sole remain Then with Seleuâ—us streight at odds doth fall And he for aid to Ptolomy doth call The Princes all begin now to envy Antigonus his growing up so high Fearing his force and what might hap e're long Enters into a Combination strong Sâ—â—â—câ—â— â—tolemy Cassander joynes Lysimachus to make a fourth combines Antâ—â—onus desirous of the Greekâ— To make Cassander odious to them seeks Sends forth his declarations near and far And clears what cause he had to make this war â—â—ssâ—nders outrages at large doth tell Shews his ambitious practises as well The mother of their King to death he 'd put His wife and son in prison close had shut And aiming now to make himself a king And that some title he might seem to bring Thessalonica he had newly wed Daughter to Philip their renowned head Had built and call'd a City by his name Which none e're did but those of royal fame And in despight of their two famous Kings Hatefull Olinthians to Greece rebrings Rebellious Thebes he had reedified Which their late King in dust had damnified Requires them therefore to take up their arms And to requite this traitor for these harms Then Ptolemy would gain the Greeks likewise And he declares the others injuryes First how he held the Empire in his hands Seleueuâ— driven from Goverment and lands The valiant Eumenes unjustly slain And Lord of royal Shusâ—an did remain Therefore requests their help to take him down Before he wear the universal Crown These princes at the sea soon had a sight Where great Antigonus was put to slight His son at Gaza likewise lost the field So Syria to Ptolemy did yield And Seleucus recovers Babylon Still gaining Countryes eastward he goes on Demetrius with Ptolemy did fight And coming unawares put him to flight But bravely sends the prisoners back again With all the spoyle and booty he had tane Courteous as noble Ptolemy or more VVho at Gaza did the like to him before Antigonus did much rejoyce his son VVith victory his lost repute had won At last these princes tired out with warrs Sought for a peace and laid aside their jarrs The terms
of their agreement thus express That each should hold what now he did possess Till Alexander unto age was grown VVho then should be enstalled in the throne This toucht Cassander sore for what he 'd done Imprisoning both the mother and the son He sees the Greeks now favour their young Prince Whom he in durance held now and long since That in few years he must be forc'd or glad To render up such Kingdomes as he had Resolves to quit his fears by one deed done So puts to death the Mother and her Son This Roxane for her beauty all commend But for one act she did just was her end No sooner was great Alexander dead But she Darius daughters murthered Both thrown into a well to hide her blot Perdiccas was her Partner in this plot The heavens seem'd slow in paying her the same But at the last the hand of vengeance came And for that double fact which she had done The life of her must goe and of her son Perdiccas had before for his amiss But by their hands who thought not once of this Cassanders deed the princes do detest But 't was in shew in heart it pleas'd them best That he is odious to the world they 'r glad And now they were free Lords of what they had When this foul tragedy was past and done Polysperchon brings the other son Call'd Hercules and elder then his brother But Olimpiaâ— would prefer the other The Greeks toucht with the murther done of late This Orphan prince 'gan to compassionate Begin to mutter much ' gainst proud Cassander And place their hopes on th' heir of Alexander Cassander fear'd what might of this onsue So Polisâ—erchon to his counsel drew And gives Peloponesus for his hire Who slew the prince according to desire Thus was the race and house of Alexander Extinct by this inhumane wretch Cassander Antigonus for all this doth not mourn He knows to 's profit this at last will turn But that some Title now he might pretend To Cleopatra doth for marriage send Lysimachus and Ptolemy the same And lewd Cassander too sticks not for shame She then in Lydia at Sardis lay Where by Embassage all these Princes pray Choice above all of Ptolemy she makes With his Embassador her journy takes Antigonus Lieutenant stayes her still Untill he further know his Masters will Antigonus now had a Wolf by th' Ears To hold her still or let her go he fears Resolves at last the Princess should be slain So hinders him of her he could not gain Her women are appointed for this deed They for their great reward no better speed For by command they streight were put to death As vile Conspirators that stopt her breath And now he hopes he 's order'd all so well The world must needs believe what he doth tell Thus Philip's house was quite extinguished Except Cassanders wife who yet not dead And by their means who thought of nothing loss Then vengeance just against them to express Now blood was paid with blood for what was done By cruel Father Mother cruel Son Thus may we hear and fear and ever say That hand is righteous still which doth repay These Captains now the stile of Kings do take For to their Crowns their 's none can Title make Demetrius first the royal stile assum'd By his Example all the rest presum'd Antigonus himself to ingratiate Doth promise liberty to Athens State With Arms and with provision stores them well The better ' gainst Cassander to rebel Demâ—trius thether goes is entertain'd Not like a King but like some God they feign'd Most grosly base was their great Adulation Who Incense burnt and offered oblation These Kings afresh fall to their wars again Demetrius of Ptolemy doth gain 'T would be an endless Story to relate Their several Battels and their several fate Their fights by Sea their victories by Land How some when down straight got the upper hand Antigonus and Seleucus then fight Near Ephesus each bringing all his might And he that Conquerour shall now remain The Lordship of all Asia shall retain This day 'twixt these two Kings ends all the strife For here Antigonus lost rule and life Nor to his Son did e're one foot remain Of those vast Kingdomes he did sometimes gain Demetrius with his Troops to Athens flyes Hopes to find succours in his miseries But they adoring in prosperity Now shut their gates in his adversity He sorely griev'd at this his desperate State Tryes Foes sith friends will not compassionate His peace he then with old Seleucus makes Who his fair daughter Strotonica takes Antâ—ochus Sâ—leuâ—us dear lov'd Son Is for this fresh young Lady quite undone Falls so extreamly sick all fear'd his life Yet durst not say he lov'd his Fathers wife When his disease the skill'd Physitian sound His Fathers mind he wittily did sound Who did no sooner understand the same But willingly resign'd the beautious Dame Cassander now must dye his race is run And leaves the ill got Kingdomes he had won Two Sons he left born of King Philips daughter Who had an end put to their dayes by slaughter Which should succeed at variance they fell The Mother would the youngest might excell The eld'st inrag'd did play the Vipers part And with his Sword did run her through the heart Rather then Philips race should longer live He whom she gave his life her death shall give This by Lysimacus was after slain Whose daughter he not long before had â—a'ne Demetrius is call'd in by th' youngest Son Against â—â—simachus who from him won But he a Kingdome more then 's friend did eye Seaz'd upon that and slew him traitrously Thus Philips and Cassander's race both gone And so falls out to be extinct in one And though Cassander died in his bed His Seed to be extirpt was destined For blood which was decre'd that he should spill Yet must his Children pay for Fathers ill Jehu in killing Anaâ—'s house did well Yet be aveng'd must blood of 〈◊〉 Demetrius thus Cassander's Kingdoms gains And now in Macedon as King he reigns Thougâ— men and mony both he hath at will In neither finâ—s content if he sits still That Sâ—lâ—ucus holds Asia grievs hiâ— sore Those Countryes large his Fatâ—er got before These to recover musters all his might And with his Son in Law will needs go fight A mighty Navy rig'd an Army stout With these he hopes to turn the world about Leaving Antigonus his eldest Son In his long absence to rule Macedon Demetrius with so many troubles met As Heaven and Earth against him had been set Disaster on disaster him pursue His story seems a Fable more then true At last he 's taken and imprisoned Within an Isle that was with pleasures fed Injoy'd what ere beseem'd his Royalty Only restrained of his liberty After three years he died left what he 'd won In Greece unto Antigonus his Son For his Posterity unto this day Did ne're regain one foot in Asia His Body
t' excell I ask the man condemn'd that 's neer his death How gladly should his gold purchase his breath And all the wealth that ever earth did give How freely should it go so he might live No earth thy witching trash were all but vain If my pure air thy sons did not sustain The famish'd thirsty man that craves supply His moving reason is give least I dye So loth he is to go though nature 's spent To bid adieu to his dear Element Nay what are words which do reveal the mind Speak who or what they will they are but wind Your drums your trumpets your organs sound What is' t but forced air which doth rebound And such are ecchoes and report ofth ' gun That tells afar th'exploit which it hath done Your Songs and pleasant tunes they are the same And so 's the notes which Nightingales do frame Ye forging Smiths if bellows once were gone Your red hot work more coldly would go on Ye Mariners t is I that fill your sails And speed you to your port with wished gales When burning heat doth cause you faint I cool And when I smile your ocean's like a pool I help to ripe the corn I turn the mill And with my self I every Vacuum fill The ruddy sweet sanguine is like to air And youth and spring Sages to me compare My moist hot nature is so purely thin No place so subtiâ—ly made but I get in I grow more pure and pure as I mount higher And when I 'm throughly rarifi'd turn fire So when I am condens'd I turn to water Which may be done by holding down my vapour Thus I another body can assume And in a trice my own nature resume Some for this cause of late have been so bold Me for no Element longer to hold Let such suspend their thoughts and silent be For all Philosophers make one of me And what those Sages either spake or writ Is more authentick then our modern wit Next of my fowles such multitudes there are Earths beasts and waters fish scarce can compare Th' Ostrich with her plumes th' Eagle with her eyâ— The Phaenix too if any be are mine The stork the crane the partridg and the phesant The Thrush the wren the lark a prey to 'th pesant With thousands more which now I may omit Without impeachment to my tale or wit As my fresh air preserves all things in life So when corrupt mortality is rife Then Fevers Purples Pox and Pestilence With divers moe work deadly consequence Whereof such multitudes have di'd and fled The living scarce had power to bury dead Yea so contagious countryes have we known That birds have not ' scapt death as they have flown Of murrain cattle numberless did fall Meâ— fear'd destruction epidemical Then of my tempests felt at sea and land Which neither ships nor houses could withstand What wofull wracks I 've made may well appear If nought were known but that before Algere Where famous Charles the fifth more loss sustaind Then in his long hot war which Millain gain'd Again what furious storms and Hurricanoes Know western Isles as Christophers Barbadoâ—s Where neither houses trees nor plants I spare But some fall down and some fly up with air Earthquakes so hurtfull and so fear'd of all Imprison'd I am the original Then what prodigious sights I sometimes show As battles pitcht in th' air as countryes know Their joyning fighting forcing and retreat That earth appears in heaven O wonder great Sometimes red flaming swords and blazing stars Portentous signs of famines plagues and wars Which make the mighty Monarchs fear their fates By death or great mutation of their States I have said less then did my Sisters three But what 's their wrath or force the same 's in me To adde to all I 've said was my intent But dare not go beyond my Element Of the four Humours in Mans Constitution THe former four now ending their discourse Ceasing to vaunt their good or threat their force Lo other four step up crave leave to show The native qualityes that from them flow But first they wisely shew'd their high descent Each eldest daughter to each Element Choler was own'd by fire and Blood by air Earth knew her black swarth child water her fair All having made obeysance to each Mother Had leave to speak succeeding one the other But ' mongst themselves they were at variance Which of the four should have predominance Choler first hotly claim'd right by her mother Who had precedency of all the other But Sanguine did disdain what she requir'd Pleading her self was most of all desir'd Proud Melancholy more envious then the rest The second third or last could not digest She was the silentest of all the four Her wisdom spake not much but thought the more Mild Flegme did not contest for chiefest place Only she crav'd to have a vacant spacâ— Well thus they parle and chide but to be brief Or will they nill they Choler will be chief They seing her impetuosity At present yielded to necessity Choler To shew my high descent and pedegree Your selves would judge but vain prolixity It is acknowledged from whence I came It shall suffice to shew you what I am My self and mother one as you shall see But shee in greater I in less degree We both once Masculines the world doth ' know Now Feminines awhile for love we owe Unto your Sisterhood which makes us render Our noble selves in a less noble gender Though under Fire we comprehend all heat Yet man for Choler is the proper seat I in his heart erect my regal throne Where Monarch like I play and sway alone Yet many times unto my great disgrace One of your selves are my Compeers in place Where if your rule prove once predominant The man proves boyish sottish ignorant But if you yield subservience unto me I make a man a man in th'high'st degree Be he a souldier I more fence his heart Then iron Corslet ' gainst a sword or dart What makes him face his foe without appal To storm a breach or scale a city wall In dangers to account himself more sure Then timerous Hares whom Castles do immure Have you not heard of worthyes Demi-Gods Twixt them and others what is' t makes the odds But valour whence comes that from none of you Nay milksops at such brunts you look but blew Here 's sister ruddy worth the other two Who much will talk but little dares she do Unless to Court and claw to dice and drink And there she will out-bid us all I think She loves a fiddle better then a drum A Chamber well in field she dares not come She 'l ride a horse as bravely as the best And break a staff provided be in jest But shuns to look on wounds blood that 's spilt She loves her sword only because its gilt Then here 's our sad black Sister worse then you She 'l neither say she will nor will she doe But peevish
State Plotted and acted so that none can tell VVho gave the counsel but the Prince of hell Three hundred thousand slaughtered innocents By bloudy Popish hellish miscreants Oh may you live and so you will I trust To see them swill in bloud untill they burst I 've seen a King by force thrust from his throne And an Usurper subt'ly mount thereon I 've seen a state unmoulded rent in twain But ye may live to see 't made up again I 've seen it plunder'd taxt and soak'd in bloud But out of evill you may see much good What are my thoughts this is no time to say Men may more freely speak another day These are no old-wives tales but this is truth We old men love to tell what 's done in youth But I return from whence I stept awry My memory is bad my brain is dry Mine Almond tree grey hairs doe flourish now And back once straight apace begins to bow My grinders now are few my sight doth â—ail My skin is wrinkled and my cheeks are pale No more rejoyce at musicks pleasing noise But waking glad to hear the cocks shrill voice I cannot scent savours of pleasant meat Nor sapors find in what I drink or eat My arms and hands once strong have lost their might I cannot labour much less can I fight My comely legs as nimble as the Roe Now stiff and numb can hardly creep or goe My heart sometimes as fierce as Lion bold Now trembling is all fearful sad and cold My golden Bowl and silver Cord e're long Shall both be broke by racking death so strong Then shall I go whence I shall come no more Sons Nephews leave my farewel to deplore In pleasures and in labours I have found That Earth can give no consolation found To great to rich to poor to young to old To mean to noble fearful or to bold From King to begger all degrees shall find But vanity vexation of the mind Yea knowing much the pleasants life of all Hath yet among those sweets some bitter gall Though reading others works doth much refresh Yet studying much brings weariness to th' flesh My studies labours readings all are done And my last period now ev'n almost run Corruption my Father I do call Mother and Sisters both the worms that crawle In my dark house such kindred I have store Where I shall rest till heavens shall be no more And when this flesh shall rot and be consum'd This body by this Soul shall be assum'd And I shall see with these same very eyes My strong Redeemer coming in the Skies Triumph I shall o're sin o're death o're Hell And in that hope I bid you all farewel The four Seasons of the Year Spring ANother four I 've left yet to bring on Of four times four the last Quaternion The Winter Summer Autumn the Spring In season all these Seasons I shall bring Sweet Spring like man in his Minority At present claim'd and had priority With smiling face and garments somewhat green She trim'd her locks which late had frosted been Nor hot nor cold she spake but with a breath Fit to revive the nummed earth from death Three months quoth she are ' lotted to my share March April May of all the rest most fair Tenth of the first Sol into Aries enters And bids defiance to all tedious winters Crosseth the Line and equals night and day Stil adds to th' last til after pleasant May And now makes glad the darkned northern wights Who for some months have seen but starry lights Now goes the Plow-man to his merry toyle He might unloose his winter locked soyl The Seeds-man too doth lavish out his grain In hope the more he casts the more to gain The Gardner now superfluous branches lops And poles erects for his young clambring hops Now digs then sowes his herbs his flowers rootâ— And carefully manure his trees of fruits The Plâ—â—ades their influence now give And all that seem'd as dead afresh doth live The croaking frogs whom nipping winter kil'd Like birds now chirp and hop about the field The Nightingale the black-bird and the â—hrush Now tune their layes on sprayes of every bush The wanton frisking Kid and soft-fleec'd Lambs Do jump and play before their feeding Dams The tender tops of budding grass they crop They joy in what they have but more in hope For though the frost hath lost his binding power Yet many a fleece of snow and stormy shower Doth darken Sol's bright eye makes us remember The pinching North-west wind of cold December My second moneth is April green and fair Of longer dayes and a more temperate Air The Sun in Taurus keeps his residence And with his warmer beams glanceth from thence This is the month whose fruitful showrs produces All set and sown for all delights and uses The Pear the Plum and Apple-tree now flourish The grass grows long the hungry beast to nourish The Primrose pale and azure violet Among the virâ—uous grass hath nature set That when the Sun on 's Love the earth doth shine These might as lace set out her garment fine The fearfull bird his little house now builds In trees and walls in Cities and in fields The outside strong the inside warm and neat A natural Artificer compleat The clocking hen her chirping chickins leads With wings beak defends them from the gleads My next and last is fruitfull pleasant May Wherein the earth is clad in rich aray The Sun now enters loving Gemini And heats us with the glances of his eye Our thicker rayment makes us lay aside Lest by his fervor we be torrifi'd All flowers the Sun now with his beams discloses Except the double pinks and matchless Roses Now swarms the busy witty honey-Bee VVhose praise deserves a page from more then me The cleanly Huswifes Daâ—y's now in th' prime Her shelves and firkins fill'd for winter time The meads with Cowslips Honey-suckles dight One hangs his head the other stands upright But both rejoyce at th' heavens clear smiling face More at her showers which water them a space For fruits my Season yields the early Cherry The hasty Peas and wholsome cool Strawberry More solid fruits require a longer time Each Season hath his fruit so hath each Clime Each man his own peculiar excellence But none in all that hath preheminence Sweet fragrant Spring with thy short pittance fly Let some describe thee better then can I. Yet above all this priviledg is thine Thy dayes still lengthen without least decline Summer When Spring had done the Summer did begin With melted tauny face and garments thin Resembling Fire Choler and Middle age As Spring did Air Blood Youth in 's equipage Wiping the sweat from of her face that ran With hair all wet she puffing thus began Bright June July and August hot are miâ—e In 'th first Sol doth in crabbed Cancer shine His progress to the North now 's fully done Then retrograde must be my burning Sun Who to
equal'd his happiness Quoth he that man for happy we commend Whose happy life attains an happy end Cyrus with pitty mov'd knowing Kings stand Now up and down as fortune turns her hand Weighing the Age and greatness of the Prince His Mothers Uncle stories do evince Gave him his life and took him for a friend Did to him still his chief deâ—igns commend Next war the restless Cyrus thought upon Was conquest of the stately Babilon Now treble wall'd and moated so about That all the world they need not fear nor doubt To drain this ditch he many Sluces cut But till convenient time their heads kept shut That night Belshazzar feasted all his rout He cut those banks and let the River out And to the walls securely marches on Not finding a defendant thereupon Enters the Town the sottish King he sâ—ayes Upon Earths richest spoyles his Souldiers preys Here twenty years provision good he found Forty five miles this City scarce could round This head of Kingdomes Chaldees excellence For Owles and Satyres made a residence Yet wondrous monuments this stately Queen A thousand years had after to beseen Cyrus doth now the Jewish Captives free An Edict made the Temple builded be He with his Uncle Daniel sets on high And caus'd his foes in Lions Den to dye Long after this he gainst the Scythians goes And Tomris Son and Army overthrows VVhich to revenge she hires a mighty power And sets on Cyrus in a fatal hour There routs his Host himself she prisoner takes And at one blow worlds head she headless makes The which she bath'd within a But of bloud Using such taunting words as she thought good But Xenophoâ— reports he di'd in 's bed In honour peace and wealth with a grey head And in his Town of Bassagardes lyes VVhere some long after sought in vain for prize But in his Tombe was only to be sound Two Scythian boys a Sword and Target round And Alexander coming to the same VVith honours great did celebrate his fame Three daughters and two Sons he left behind Innobled more by birth then by their mind Thirty two years in all this Prince did reign But eight whilst Babylon he did retain And though his conquests made the earth to groan Now quiet lyes under one marble stone And with an Epitaph himself did make To shew how little Land he then should take Cambyses Cambyses no waves like his noble Sire Yet to inlarge his State had some desire His reign with bloud and Incest first begins Then sends to find a Law for these his sins That Kings with Sisters match no Law they find But that the Persian King may act his mind He wages war the fifth year of his reign ' Gainst Egypts King who there by him was slain And all of Royal Bloud that came to hand He seized first of Life and then of Land But little Narus scap'd that cruel sate VVho grown a man resum'd again his State He next to Cyprus sends his bloudy Host VVho landing soon upon that fruitful Coast Made Evelthon their King with bended knee To hold his own of his free Courtesie Their Temple he destroys not for his Zeal For he would be profest God of their weal Yea in his pride he ventured so farre To spoyle the Temple of great Jupiter But as they marched o're those desert sands The stormed dust o'rewhelm'd his daring bands But scorning thus by Jove to be outbrav'd A second Army he had almost grav'd But vain he found to fight with Elements So left his sacrilegious bold intents The Egyptian Apis then he likewise slew Laughing to scorn that sottish Calvish Crew If all this heat had been for pious end Cambyses to the Clouds we might commend But he that 'fore the Gods himself prefers Is more profane then gross Idolaters He after this upon suspition vain Unjustly caus'd his brother to be slain Praxaspes into Persia then is sent To act in secret this his lewd intent His Sister whom Incestuously he wed Hearing her harmless brother thus was dead His wofull death with tears did so bemoan That by her husbands charge she caught her own She with her fruit at once were both undone Who would have born a Nephew and a son Oh hellesh husband brother uncle Sire Thy cruelty all ages will admire This strange severity he sometimes us'd Upon a Judge for taking bribes accus'd I lay'd him alive hung ' up his stuffed skin Over his seat then plac'd his son therein To whom he gave this in remembrance Like sault must look for the like recompence His cruelty was come unto that height He spar'd nor foe nor friend nor favourite 'T would be no pleasure but a tedious thing To tell the facts of this most bloody King Feared of all but lovâ—d of few or none All wisht his short reign past before 't was done At last two of his Officers he hears Had set one Smerdiâ— up of the same years And like in feature to his brother dead Ruling as they thought best under this head The people ignorant of what was done Obedience yielded as to Cyrus son Toucht with this news to Persia he makes But in the way his sword just vengeance takes Unsheathes as he his horse mounted on high And with a mortal thrust wounds him i th' thigh Which ends before begun his home-bred warr So yields to death that dreadfull Conquerour Grief for his brothers death he did express And more because he died Issueless The male line of great Cyrus now had end The Female to many Ages did extend A Babylon in Egypt did he make And Meroâ— built for his fair Sisters sake Eight years he reign'd a short yet too long time Cut off in 's wickedness in 's strength and prime The inter regnum between Cambyses And Darius Histaspes Childless Cambyses on the sudden dead The Princes meet to chuse one in his stead Of which the chief was seven call'd Satrapes Who like to Kings rul'd Kingdomes as they please Descended all of Achemenes bloud And Kinsmen in account to th' King they stood And first these noble Magi 'gree upon To thrust th' imposter Smerdis out of Throne Then Forces instantly they raise and rout This King with his Conspirators so stout But yet ' â—ore this was done much bloud was shed And two of these great Peers in Field lay dead Some write that sorely hurt they scap'd away But so or no sure 't is they won the day All things in peace and Rebels throughly quell'd A Consultation by those States was held What form of government now to erect The old or new which best in what respect The greater part declin'd a Monarchy So late crusht by their Princes tyranny And thought the people would more happy be If govern'd by an Aristocracy But others thought none of the dullest brain That better one then many tyrants reign What Arguments they usâ—d I know not well Too politick its like for me to tell But in conclusion they all agree Out of
their Controversies they 'l decide Ten dayes these Armyes did each other face Mardonius finding victuals wast apace No lâ—nger dar'd but bravely on set gave The other not a hand nor Sword would wave Tiâ—l in the â—ntrails of their Sacrifice The signal of their victory did rise Which found like Greeks they fight the Persians fly And troublesome Mardonius now must dye All 's lost and of three hundred thousand men Three thousand only can run home agen For pitty let those few to Xerxes go To certifie his final overthrow Same day the small remainder of his Fleet The Grecians at Mycale in Asia meet And there so utterly they wrackt the same Scarce one was left to carry home the Fame Thus did the Greeks consume destroy disperse That Army which did fright the Universe Scorn'd Xerxes bated for his cruelty Yet ceases not to act his villany His brothers wife solicites to his will The chast and beautious Dame refused still Some years by him in this vain suit was spent Nor prayers nor gifts could win him least content Nor matching of her daughter to his Son But she was still as when he first begun When jealous Queen Amestris of this knew She Harpy like upon the Lady flew Cut off her breasts her lips her nose and ears And leavs her thus besmear'd in bloud and tears Straight comes her Lord and finds his wife thus ly The sorrow of his heart did close his Eye He dying to behold that wounding sight Where he had sometime gaz'd with great delight To see that face where rose and Lillyes stood O'reflown with Torrent of her guiltless bloud To see those breasts where Chastity did dwell Thus cut and mangled by a Hag of Hell With loaden heart unto the King he goes Tells as he could his unexpressed woes But for his deep complaints and showres of tears His brothers recompence was nought but jears The grieved prince finding nor right nor love To Bactria his houshold did remove His brother sent soon after him a crew With him and his most barbarously there slew Unto such height did grow his cruelty Of life no man had least security At last his Uncle did his death conspire And for that end his Eunuch he did hire Who privately him smother'd in his bed But yet by search he was found murthered Then Artabanus hirer of this deed That from suspition he might be fre'd Accus'd Darius Xâ—â—xes eldest Son To be the Author of the crime was done And by his craft order'd the matter so That the Prince innocent to death did goe But in short time this wickedness was known For which he died and not he alone But all his Family was likewise slain Such Justice in the Persian Court did reign The eldest son thus immaturely dead The second was inthron'd in 's fathers stead Artaxerxes Longimanus Amongst the Monarchs next this prince had place The best that ever sprung of Cyrus race He first war with revolted Egypt made To whom the perjur'd Grecians lent their aid Although to Xerxes they not long before A league of amity had firmly swore Which had they kept Greece had more nobly done Then when the world they after overrun Greeks and Egyptians both he overthrows And payes them both according as he owes Which done a sumptuous feast makes like a king Where ninescore dayes are spent in banquetting His Princes Nobles and his Captains calls To be partakers of these Festivals His hangings white and green and purple dye With gold and silver beds most gorgeously The royal wine in golden cups did pass To drink more then he list none bidden was Queen Vasthi also feasts but 'fore t is ended She 's from her Royalty alas suspended And one more worthy placed in her room By Memucans advice so was the doom What Esther was and did the story read And how her Country men from spoyle she freed Of Hamans fall and Mordicaes great Rise The might of th' prince the tribute of the Isles Good Ezra in the seventh year of his reign Did for the Jews commission large obtain With gold and silver and what ere they need His bounty did Darius far exceed And Nehemiah in his twentieth year Went to Jerusalem his city dear Rebuilt those walls which long in rubbish lay And o're his opposites still got the day Unto this King Themistocles did fly When under Ostracisme he did lye For such ingratitude did Athens show This valiant Knight whom they so much did owe Such royal bounty from his prince he found That in his loyalty his heart was bound The king not little joyfull of this chance Thinking his Gresian warrs now to advance And for that end great preparation made Fair Attica a third time to invade His grand-Sires old disgrace did vex him sore His Father Xerxes loss and shame much more For punishment their breach of oath did call This noble Greek now fit for General Provisions then and season being fit To Themistocles this warr he doth commit Who for his wrong he could not chuse but deem His Country nor his Friends would much esteem But he all injury had soon forg it And to his native land could bear no hate Nor yet disloyal to his Prince would prove By whom oblig'd by bounty and by love Either to wrong did wound his heart so sore To wrong himself by death he chose before In this sad conflict marching on his wayes Strong poyson took so put an end to 's dayes The King this noble Captain having lost Disperst again his newly levied host Rest of his time in peace he did remain And di'd the two and forti'th of his reign Darius Nothus Three sons great Artaxerxes left behind The eldest to succeed that was his mind His second Brother with him fell at strife Stil making war till first had lost his life Then the Surviver is by Nothus slain Who now sole Monarch doth of all remain The two first sons are by Historians thought By fair Queen Esther to her husband brought If so they were the greater was her moan That for such graceless wreâ—â—hes she did groan Revolting Egypt ' gainst this King rebels His Garisons drives out that ' mongst them dwells Joyns with the Greeks anâ— so maintain their right For sixty years maugre the Persians might A second trouble after this succeeds Which from remissness in â—â—eâ—s Asiâ— breeds Amoâ—ges whom for Vice-Roy he ordain'd Revolts treasure and people having gain'd Plunders the Country much mischief wrought Before things could to quietness be brought The King was glad with Sparta to make peace That so he might those troubles soon appease But they in Asia must first restore All towns held by his Ancestors before The King much profit reaped by this league Regains his own then doth the Rebel break Whose strength by Grecians help was overthrown And so each man again possest his own This King Cambises like his sister wed To which his pride more then his lust him led For Persian Kings then deem'd
The Greeks had chose him Captain General Which honour to his Son did now befall For as Worlds Monarch now we speak not on But as the King of little Macedon Restless both day and night his heart then was His high resolves which way to bring to pass Yet for a while in Greece is forc'd to stay Which makes each moment seem more then a day Thebes and stiff Athens both ' gainst him rebel Their mutinies by valour doth he quell This done against both right and natures Laws His kinsmen put to death who gave no cause That no rebellion in in his absence be Nor making Title unto Sovereignty And all whom he suspects or fears will climbe Now taste of death least they deserv'd in time Nor wonder isâ—t if he in bâ—ood begin For Cruelty was his parental sin Thus eased now of troubles and of fears Next spring his course to Asia he steers Leavs Sage Antipaâ— at home to sway And through the Hellisâ—â—nt his Ships made way Coming to Land his dart on shore he throws Then with alacrity he after goes And with a bount'ous heart and courage brave His little wealth among his Souldiers gave And being ask'd what for himself was left Reply'd enough sith only hope he kept Thirty two thousand made up his Foot force To which were joyn'd five thousand goodly horse Then on he marcht in 's way he view'd old Troy And on Achilles tomb with wondrous joy He offer'd and for good success did pray To him his Mothers Ancestors men say When news of Alexander came to Court To scorn at him Darius had good sport Sends him a frothy and contemptuous Letter Stiles him disloyal servant and no better Reproves him for his proud audacity To lift his hand ' gainst such a Monarchy Then to 's Lieftenant he in Asia sends That he be ta'ne alive for he intends To whip him well with rods and so to bring That boy so mallipert before the King Ah! fond vain man whose pen ere while In lower terms was taught a higher stile To River Granick Alexander hyes Which in Phrygia near Propontike lyes The Persians ready for encounter stand And strive to keep his men from off the land Those banks so steep the Greeks yet scramble up And heat the coward Persians from the top And twenty thousand of their lives bereave Who in their backs did all their wounds receive This victory did Alexander gain With loss of thirty four of his there slain Then Sardis he and Ephesus did gain VVhere stood of late Diana's wondrous Phane And by Paâ—meâ—â—o of renowned Fame Militus and Pamphilia overcame Halliâ—arnassus and Pisidia He for his Master takes with Lycia Next Alexander marcht towards the black Sea And easily takes old Gordium in his way Of Ass ear'd Midas once the Regal Seat VVhose touch turn'd all to gold yea even his meat VVhere the Prophetick knot he cuts in twain VVhich who so doth must Lord of all remain Now news of Memnon's death the Kings Viceroy To Alexanders heart 's no little joy For in that Peer more valour did abide Then in Darius multitude beside In 's stead was Arses plac'd but durst not stay Yet set one in his room and ran away His substitute as fearfull as his master Runs after two and leaves all to Disaster Then Alexander all Cilicia takes No stroke for it he struck their hearts so quakes To Greâ—â—â— he thirty thousand talents sends To raise more Force to further his intends Then o're he goes Darius now to meet Who came with thousand thousands at his feet Though some there be perhaps more likely write He but four hundred thousand had to fight The rest Attendants which made up no less Both Sexes there was almost numberless For this wise King had brought to see the sport With him the greatest Ladyes of the Court His mother his beauteous Queen and daughters It seems to see the Macedonian slaughters It s much beyond my time and little art To shew how great Darius plaid his part The splendor and the pomp he marched in For since the world was no such â—â—geant seen Sure 't was a goodly sight there to behold The Persians clad in silk and glistering gold The stately horses trapt the lances gilt As if addrest now all to run a tilt The holy sire was borne before the host For Sun and â—ire the Persians worship most The Priests in their strange habit follow after An object not so much of fear as laughter The King sate in a chariot made of gold With crown and Robes most glorious to behold And o're his head his golden Gods on high Support a party coloured Canopy A number of spare horses next were led Lest he should need them in his Chariots stead But those that saw him in this state to lye Suppos'd he neither meant to fight nor flye He fifteen hundred had like women drest For thus to fright the Greeks he judg'd was best Their golden ornaments how to set forth Would ask more time then was their bodies worth Great Sysigambis she brought up the Reer Then such a world of waggons did appear Like several houses moving upon wheels As if she 'd drawn whole Sâ—â—han at her heels This brave Virago to the King was mother And as much good she did as any other Now lest this gold and all this goodly stuff Had not been spoyle and booty rich enough A thousand mulâ— and Camels ready wait Loaden with gold with jewels and with plate For sure Darius thought at the first sight The Greeks would all adore but none would fight But when both Armies met he might behold That valour was more worth then pearls or gold And that his wealth serv'd but for baits to ' lure To make his overthrow more fierce and sure The Greeks came on and with a gallant grace Let fly their arrows in the Persians face The cowards feeling this sharp stinging charge Most basely ran and left their king at large Who from his golden coach is glad to ' light And cast away his crown for swifter flight Of late like some immoveable he lay Now finds both legs and horse to run away Two hundred thousand men that day were slain And forty thousand prisoners also tane Besides the Queens and Ladies of the court If Curtius be true in his report The Regal Ornaments were lost the treasure Divided at the Macedonians pleasure Yet all this grief this loss this overthrow Was but beginning of his future woe The royal Captives brought to Alexander T'ward them demean'd himself like a Commander For though their beauties were unparaled Conquer'd himself now he had conquered Preserv'd their honour us'd them bounteously Commands no man should doe them injury And this to Alâ—xander is more fame Then that the Persian King he overcame Two hundred eighty Greeks he lost in fight By too much heat not wounds as authors write No sooner had this Victor won the field But all Phenicia to his pleasure yield Of which the
Sâ—leâ—cus sends to his Son Whose obsequies with wondrous pomp was done Next di'd the brave and noble Proâ—emp Renown'd for bounty valour clemency Rich Egypt leâ—t and what else he had won To Philadelpâ—us his more worthy Son Of the old Heroeâ— now but two remain Seleucus and â—yâ—â—machus these twain Must needs go try their fortune and their might And so Lysiâ—machus was slain in fight 'T was no small joy unto Seliucus breast That now he had out lived all the rest Possession of Europe thinks to take And so himself the only Monarch make Whilâ— with these hopes in Greece he did remain He was by Ptolemy Ceraunus slain The second Son of the first Ptolemy Who for Rebellion unto him did fly Seleucus was a Father and a friend Yet by him had this most unworthy end Thus with these Kingly Captains have we done A little now how the Succession run Antigonus Seleucus and Cassander With Ptolemy reign'd after Alexander Cassander's Sons soon after 's death were â—lain So three Successors only did remain Antigonus his Kingdomes lost and life Unto Seleucus Author of that â—triâ—e His Son Demetrius all Cassander's gains And his posterity the same retains Demetrius Son was call'd Antigonus And his again was namâ—d Demetrius I must let pass those many Battels fought Betwixt those Kings and noble Pyrrhus stout And his Son Alexander of Epire Whereby immortal honour they acquire Demetrius had Philip to his Son Part of whose Kingdomes Titus Quintius won Philip had Perseus wâ—o was made a Thrale Tâ— Emilâ—us the Roman General Him with his Sons in Triumph lead did he Such riches too as Rome did never see This of Antâ—gonus his Seed's the â—ate VVhose Empire was subdu'd to th' Roman State Longer Seleucus held the royalty In Syria by his Posterity Antiochus Soter his Son was nam'd To whom the old Berosus so much fam'd His Book of Assurs Monarchs dedicates Tells of their names their wars their riches fates But this is perished with many more VVhich oft we wish was extant as before Antiochus Theos was Soter's Son VVho a long war with Egypts King begun The Affinityes and Wars Daniel sets forth And calls them there the Kings of South North This Thâ—os murther'd was by his lewd wife Seleucus reign'd when he had lost his life A third Seleucus next sits on the Seat And then Antiochus firnam'd the great VVhose large Dominions after was made small By Scipio the Roman General Fourth Seleucus Antiochus succeeds And next Epiphanes whose wicked deeds Horrid Massacres Murthers cruelties Amongst the Jews we read in Machabees Antiochus Eupater was the next By Rebels and Impostors dayly vext So many Princes still were murthered The Royal Blood was nigh extinguished Then Tygranes the great Armâ—niar King To take the Government was called in Lucullus Him the Roman General Vanquish'd in fight and took those Kingdomes all Of Greece and Syria thus the rule did end In Egypt next a little time wee 'l spend First Ptolemy being dead his famous Son Call'd Philadelphus did possess the Throne At Alexandria a Library did build And with seven hundred thousand Volumes fill'd The seventy two Interpreters did seek They might translate the Bible into Greek His Son was Evergetes the last Prince That valour shew'd virtue or excellence Philopater was Evergetes Son After Epiphanes sate on the Throne Philometor Evergetes again And after him did false Lathurus reign Then Alexander in Lathurâ—s stead Next Auletes who cut off Pompeys head To all these names we Ptolemy must add For since the first they still that Title had Fair Cleopatra next last of that race Whom Julius Caesar set in Royal place She with her Paramour Mark Anthony Held for a time the Egyptian Monarchy Till great Augustus had with him a fight At Actium where his Navy â—s put to flight He seeing his hoâ—our lost his Kingdome end Did by his Sword his life soon after send His brave Vâ—rago Aspes sets to her Arms To take her life and quit her from all harms For 't was not death nor danger she did dread But some disgrace in triumph to be led Here ends at last the Grecian Monarchy Which by the Romans had its destiny Thus King Kingdomes have their times dates Their standings overturnings bounds and fates Now up now down now chief then broght under The heavn's thus rule to fil the world with wonder The Assyrian Monarchy long time did stand But yet the Persian got the upper hand The Grecian them did utterly subdue And millions were subjected unto few The Grecian longer then the Persian stood Then came the Roman like a raging flood And with the torrent of his rapid course Their Crowns their Titles riches bears by force The first was likened to a head of gold Next Arms and breast of silver to behold The third Belly and Thighs of brass in sight And last was Iron which breaketh all with might The stone out of the mountain then did rise â—nd smote those feet those legs those arms thighs Then gold silver brass Iron and all the store Became like Chaff upon the threshing â—loor The first a Lion second was a Bear The third a Leopard which four wings did rear The last more strong and dreadful then the rest Whose Iron teeth devoured every Beast And when he had no appetite to eat The residue he stamped under feet Yet shall this Lion Bear this Leopard Ram All trembling stand before the powerful Lamb. With these three Monarchyes now have I done But how the fourth their Kingdomes from them won And how from small beginnings it did grow To fill the world with terrour and with woe My tyred brain leavs to some better pen This task befits not women like to men For what is past I blush excuse to make But humbly stand some grave reproof to take Pardon to crave for errours is but vain The Subject was too high beyond my strain To frame Apology for some offence Converts our boldness into impudence This my presumption some now to requite Ne sutor ultra crepidam may write The End of the Grecian Monarchy After some dayes of rest my restless heart To finish what 's begun new thoughts impart And maugre all resolves my fancy wrought This fourth to th' other three now might be brought Shortness of time and inability Will force me to a confus'd brevity Yet in this Chaos one shall easily spy The vast Limbs of a mighty Monarchy What e're is found amiss take in good part As faults proceeding from my head not heart The Romane Monarchy being the fourth and last beginning Anno Mundi 3213. STout Romulus Romes founder and first King Whom vestal Rhea to the world did bring His Father was not Mars as some devis'd But Aemulus in Armour all disguiz'd Thus he deceiv'd his Neece she might not know The double injury he then did do Where sheperds once had Coats sheep their folds Where Swains rustick Peasants kept their holds A City fair
But Kings ne're want such as can serve their will Fit Instruments t' accomplish what is ill As Tyssaphernes knowing his masters mind Their chief Commanders feasts and yet more kind With all the Oaths and deepest Flattery Gets them to treat with him in privacy But violates his honour and his word And Villain like there puts them all to th' Sword The Greeks seeing their valiant Captains slain Chose Xenophon to lead them home again But Tissaphernes what he could devise Did stop the way in this their enterprize But when through difficulties all they brake The Country burnt they no relief might take But on they march through hunger through cold Oâ—re mountains rocks and hills as lions bold Nor Rivers course nor Persians force could stay But on to Trabesond they kept their way There was of Greeks setled a Colony Who after all receiv'd them joyfully Thus finishing their travail danger pain In peace they saw their native soyle again The Greeks now as the Persian king suspects The Asiaticks cowardiâ—e detects The many victoryes themselves did gain The many thousand Persians they had slain And how their nation with facillity Might gain the universal Monarchy They then Dercilladus send with an host Who with the Spartans on the Asian coast Town after town with small resistance take Which rumour makes great Artaxerxes quake The Greeks by this success encourag'd so Their King Agesilaâ—s doth over goe By Tissaphernes is encountered Lieftenant to the King but soon he fled Which overthrow incens'd the King so sore That Tissaphern must be Viceroy no more Tythraustes then is placed in his stead Commission hath to take the others head Of that perjurious wretch this was the fate Whom the old Queen did bear a mortal hate Tytâ—â—austes trusts more to his wit then Arms And hopes by craft to quit his Masters harms He knows that many Towns in Greece envyes The Spartan State which now so fast did rise To them he thirty thousand Tallents sent With suit their Arms against their Foes be bent They to their discontent receiving hire With broyles and quarrels sets all Greece on fire Agesilaus is call'd home with speed To defend more then offend there was need Their winnings loâ—â— and peace their glad to take On such conditions as the King will make Dissention in Greece continued so long Till many a Captain tell both wise and strong Whose courage nought but death could ever tame ' Mongst these Epimanondas wants no same VVho had as noble Raileigh doth evince All the peculiar virtues of a Prince But let us leave these Greeks to discord bent And turn to Persia as is pertinent The King from forreign parts now well at ease His home bred troubles sought how to appease The two Queens by his means seem to abate Their former envy and inveterate hate But the old Queen implacable in strife By poyson caus'd the young one lose her life The King highly inrag'd doth hereupon From Court exile her unto Babilon But shortly calls her home her counsells prize A Lady very wicked but yet wise Then in voluptuousness he leads his life And weds his daughter for a second wife But long in ease and pleasure did not lye His sons sore vext him by disloyalty Such as would know at large his warrs and reign What troubles in his house he did sustain His match incestuous cruelties of th' Queen His life may read in Plutarch to be seen Forty three years he rul'd then turn'd to dust A King nor good nor valiant wise nor just Dorius Ochus Ochus a wicked and Rebellious son Succeeds in th' throne his father being gone Two of his brothers in his Fathers dayes To his great grief most subtilly he slayes And being King commands those that remain Of brethren and of kindred to be slain Then raises forces conquers Egypt land Which in rebellion sixty years did stand And in the twenty third of 's cruel raign Was by his Eunuch the proud Bagoas slain Arsames or Arses Arsames plac'd now in his fathers stead By him that late his father murthered Some write that Arsames was Oâ—hus brother Inthron'd by Bagoas in the room of th' other But why his brother 'fore his son succeeds I can no reason give ' cause none I read His brother as t is said long since was slain And scarce a Nephew left that now might reign What acts he did time hath not now left pen'd But most suppose in him did Cyrus end Whose race long time had worne the diadem But now 's divolved to another stem Three years he reign'd then drank of 's fathers cup By the same Eunuch who first set him up Darius Codomanus Darius by this Bagoas set in throne Complotter with him in the murther done And was no sooner setled in his reign But Bagoas falls to 's practices again And the same sauce had served him no doubt But that his troason timely was found out And so this wretch a punishment too small Lost but his life for horrid treasons all This Codomanus now upon the stage Was to his Predecessors Chamber pagâ—â— Some write great Cyrus line was not 〈◊〉 run But from some daughter this new king was sprung If so or not we cannot tell but find That several men will have their several mind Yet in such differences we may be bold With learned and â—udicious still to hold And this ' mongst all 's no Controverred thing That this Dariâ—â— was last Persian King Whose Wars and losses we may better tell In Alexâ—nder's reign who did him quell How from the top of worlds felicity He fell to depth of greatest misery Whose honours treasures pleasures had short stay One deluge came and swept them all away And in the sixth year of his hapless reign Of all did scarce his winding Sheet retain And last a sad Catastrophe to end Him to the grave did Traitor Bessus send The End of the Persian Monarchy The Third Monarchy being the Grecian beginning under Alexander the Great in the 112. Olympiad GReat Alexander was wise Philips son He to Amyntas Kings of Macedon The cruel proud Olympias was his Mother She to Epirus warlike King was daughter This Prince his father by Pausanias slain The twenty first of ' sage began to reign Great were the Gilts of nature which he had His education much to those did adde By art and nature both he was made fit To ' complish that which long before was writ The â—ry day of his Nativity To ground was burnt Dianaes Temple high An Omen to their near approaching woe Whose glory to the earth this king did throw His Rule to Greece he scorn'd should be confin'd The Universe scarce bound his proud vast mind This is the He-Goat which from Grecia came That ran in Choler on the Persian Ram That brake his horns that threw him on the ground To save him from his might no man was found Philip on this great Conquest had an eye But death did terminate those thoughts so high