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
My high-born soul so straightly was confin'd That its own worth it did not know nor mind This little house of flesh did spacious count Through ignorance all troubles did surmount Yet this advantage had mine ignorance Freedom from envy and from arrogance How to be rich or great I did not cark A Baron or a Duke ne'r made my mark Nor studious was Kings â—avours how to buy With costly presence or base flattery No office coveted wherein I might Make strong my self and turn aside weak right No malice bare to this or that great Peer Nor unto buzzing whisperers gave ear I gave no hand nor vote for death or life I 'd nought to do 'twixt King and peoples strife No Statist I nor Martilist in 'th field Where ere I went mine innocence was shield My quarrels not for Diadems did rise But for an apple plum or some such prize My strokes did ' cause no blood no wounds or skars My little wrath did end soon as my Warrs My Duel was no challeng nor did seek My foe should weltring in his bowels reek I had no suits at law neighbours to vex Nor evidence for lands did me perplex I fear'd no storms nor all the wind that blowes I had no ships at sea nor fraights to loose I fear'd no drought nor wet I had no crop Nor yet on future things did set my hope This was mine innocence but ah the seeds Lay raked up of all the cursed weeds Which sprouted forth in mine ensuing age As he can tel that next comes on the stage But yet let me relate before I go The sins and dangers I am subject to Stained from birth with Adams sinfull fact Thence I began to sin as soon as act A perverse will a love to what 's forbid A serpents sting in pleasing face lay hid A lying tongue as soon as it could speak And fifth Commandment do daily break Oft stubborn peevish sullen pout and cry Then nought can please and yet I know not why As many are my sins so dangers too For sin brings sorrow sickness death and woe And though I miss the tossings of the mind Yet griefs in my frail flesh I still do find VVhat gripes of wind mine infancy did pain VVhat tortures I in breeding teeth sustain VVhat crudityes my stomack cold ' hath bred VVhence vomits flux and worms have issued VVhat breaches knocks and falls I daily have And some perhaps I carry to my grave Sometimes in fire sometimes in water fall Strangly presev'd yet mind it not at all At home abroad my dangers manifold That wonder t is my glass till now doth hold I 've done unto my elders I give way For t is but little that a child can say Youth My goodly cloathing and my beauteous skin Declare some greater riches are within But what is best I 'le first present to view And then the worst in a more ugly hue For thus to doe we on this stage assemble Then let not him that hath most craft dissemble My education and my learning such As might my self and others profit much VVith nurture trained up in virtues schools Of science arts and tongues I know the rules The manners of the court I also know And so likewise what they in 'th Country doe The brave attempts of valiant knights I prize That dare scale walls and sorts rear'd to the skies The sâ—orting Horse the trumpet Drum I like The glitt'ring sword the Pistol and the Pike I cannot lye intrench'd before a town Noâ— wait till good success our hopes doth crown I scorn the heavy Corslet musket-proof I fly to catch the bullet that 's aloof Though thus in field at home to all most kind So affable that I can suit each mind I can insinuate into the breast And by my mirth can raise the heart deprest Sweet musick raps my brave harmonious soul My high thoughts elevate beyond the pole My wit my bounty and my courtesie Make all to place their future hopes on me This is my best but Youth is known Alas To be as wild as is the snuffing Ass As vain as froth or vanity can be That who would see vain man may look on me My gifts abusâ—d my education lost My wofull Parents longing hopes are crost My wit evaporates in merriment My valour in some beastly quarrell 's spent My lust doth hurry me to all that 's ill I know no law nor reason but my will Sometimes lay wait to take a wealthy purse Or stab the man in 's own defence that 's worse Sometimes I cheat unkind a female heir Of all at once who not so wise as fair Trusteth my loving looks and glozing tongue Untill her friends treasure and honour 's gone Sometimes I sit carousing others health Untill mine own be gone my wit and wealthâ— From pipe to pot from pot to words and blows For he that loveth wine wanteth no woes Whole nights with Ruffins Roarers Fidlers spend To all obscenity mine ears I lend All Counsell hate which tends to make me wise And dearest friends count for mine enemies If any care I take t is to be fine For sure my suit more then my virtues shine If time from leud Companions I can spare 'T is spent to curle and pounce my new bought hair Some new Adonis I do strive to be Sardanapalus nâ—w survives in me Cards Dice and Oathes concomitant I love To playes to masques to â—averns still I move And in a word if what I am you 'd hear Seek out a Brittish bruitish Cavaleer Such wretch such Monster am I but yet more I have no heart at all this to deplore Remembring not the dreadfull day of doom Nor yet that heavy reckoning soon to come Though dangers do attend me every hour And gastly Death oft threats me with his power Sometimes by wounds in idle Combates taken Sometimes with Agues all my body shaken Sometimes by fevers all my moisture drinking My heart lies frying mine eyes are sinking Sometimes the Quinsey painfull Pleurisie With sad affrighrs of death doth menace me Sometimes the two fold Pox me sore be marrs With outward marks inward loathsome scarrs Sometimes the Phrenzy strangly mads my brain That oft for it in Bedlam I remain Too many my diseases to recite That wonder t is I yet behold the light That yet my bed in darkness is not made And I in black oblivions Den now laid Of aches full my bones of woe my heart Clapt in that prison never thence to start Thus I have said and what I 've been you see Childhood and Youth are vain ye vanity Middle Age. Childhood and Youth forgot I've sometimes seen And now am grown more staid who have bin green What they have done the same was done by me As was their praise or shame so mine must be Now age is more more good you may expect But more mine age the more is my defect When my wild oates were sown ripe and mown I then receiv'd an harvest of mine
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
Malecontent musing sits And by misprissions like to loose her witts If great perswasions cause her meet her foe In her dull resolution she 's so slow To march her pace to some is greater pain Then by a quick encounter to be slain But be she beaten she 'l not run away She 'l first advise if 't be not best to stay Now let 's give cold white sister flegme her right So loving unto all she scorns to fight If any threaten her she 'l in a trice Convert from water to congealed ice Her teeth will chatter dead and wan's her face And 'fore she be assaulted quits the place She dares not challeng if I speak amiss Nor hath she wit or heat to blush at this Here 's three of you all see now what you are Then yield to me preheminence in war Again who fits for learning science arts Who rarifies the intellectual parts From whence fine spirits fâ—ow and witty notions But t is not from our dull slow sisters motions Nor sister sanguine from thy moderate heat Poor spâ—rits the Liver breeds which is thy seat What comes from thence my heat refines the same And through the arteries sends it o're the frame The vital spirits they 're call'd and well they may For when they fail man turns unto his clay The animal I claim as well as these The nerves should I not warm soon would they freeze But flegme her self is now provok'd at this She thinks I never shot so far amiss The brain she challengeth the headâ—s her seat But know'ts a foolish brain that wanteth heat My absence proves it plain her wit then flyes Out at her nose or melteth at her eyes Oh who would miss this influence of thine To be distill'd a drop on every Line Alas thou hast no Spirits thy Company Will feed a dropsy or a Tympany The Palsy Gout or Cramp or some such dolour Thou wast not made for Souldier or for Scholar Of greazy paunch and bloated cheeks go vaunt But a good head from these are dissonant But Melancholy wouldst have this glory thine Thou sayst thy wits are staid subtil and fine 'T is true when I am Midwife to thy birth Thy self 's as dull as is thy mother Earth Thou canst not claim the liver head nor heart Yet hast the Seat assign'd a goodly part The sinke of all us three the hateful Spleen Of that black Region nature made thee Queen Where pain and sore obstruction thou dost work Where envy malice thy Companions lurk If once thou' rt great what follows thereupon But bodies wasting and destruction So base thou art that baser cannot be Th' excrement adustion of me But I am weary to dilate your shame Nor is' t my pleasure thus to blur your name Only to raise my honour to the Skies As objects best appear by contraries But Arms and Arts I claim and higher things The princely qualities befitting Kings Whose profound heads I line with policies They 'r held for Oracles they are so wise Their wrathful looks are death their words are laws Their Courage it foe friend and Subject awes But one of you would make a worthy King Like our sixth Henry that same virtuous thing That when a Varlet struck him o're the side Forsooth you are to blame he grave reply'd Take Choler from a Prince what is he more Then a dead Lion by Beasts triumph'd o're Again you know how I act every part By th' influence I still send from the heart It 's nor your Muscles nerves nor this nor that Do's ought without my lively heat that 's slat Nay th' stomack magazine to all the rest Without my boyling heat cannot digest And yet to make my greatness still more great What differences the Sex but only heat And one thing more to close up my narration Of all that lives I cause the propagation I have been sparings what I might have said I love no boasting that's but Childrens trade To what you now shall say I will attend And to your weakness gently condescend Blood Good Sisters give me leave as is my place To vent my grief and wipe off my disgrace Your selves may plead your wrongs are no whit less Your patience more then mine I must confess Did ever sober tongue such language speak Or honesty such tyes unfriendly break Dost know thy self so well us so amiss Is' t arrogance or folly causeth this I le only shew the wrong thou 'st done to me Then let my sisters right their injury To pay with railings is not mine intent But to evince the truth by Argument I will analyse this thy proud relation So full of boasting and prevarication Thy foolish incongruityes I le show So walk thee till thou' rt cold then let thee go There is no Souldier but thy self thou sayest No valour upon Earth but what thou hast Thy silly provocations I despise And leave 't to all to judge where valour lies No pattern nor no pattron will I bring But David Judah's most heroick King Whose glorious deeds in Arms the world can tell A rosie cheek Musitian thou know'st well He knew well how to handle Sword and Harp And how to strike full sweet as well as sharp Thou laugh'st at me for loving merriment And scorn'st all Knightly sports at Turnament Thou sayst I love my Sword because it 's gilt But know I love the Blade more then the Hilâ— Yet do abhor such temerarious deeds As thy unbridled barbarous Choler breeds Thy rudeness counts good manners vanity And real Complements base flattery For drink which of us twain like it the best I le go no further then thy nose for test Thy other scoffs not worthy of reply Shall vanish as of no validity Of thy black Calumnies this is but part But now I le shew what souldier thou art And though thou 'st us'd me with opprobrious spight My ingenuity must give thee right Thy choler is but rage when t is most pure But usefull when a mixture can endure As with thy mother fire so t is with thee The best of all the four when they agree But let her leave the rest then I presume Both them and all things else she would consume VVhilst us for thine associates thou tak'st A Souldier most compleat in all points mak'st But when thou scorn'st to take the help we lend Thou art a Fury or infernal Fiend Witness the execrable deeds thouâ—st done Nor sparing Sex nor Age nor Sire nor Son To satisfie thy pride and cruelty Thou oft hast broke bounds of Humanity Nay should I tell thou would'st count me no blab How often for the lye thou 'st given the stab To take the wall 's a sin of so high rate That nought but death the same may expiate To cross thy will a challenge doth deserve So shed'st that blood thou' rt bounden to preserve Wilt thou this valour Courage Manhood call No know 't is pride most diabolical If murthers be thy glory t is no less I le not envy thy feats nor
overthrown He Syria makes a Province of his own Unto Damascus then comes Judah's King His humble thankfulness in haste to bring Acknowledging th' â—ssyrians high desert To whom he ought all loyalty oâ— heart But Tiglath having gain'd his wished end Proves unto Ahâ—z but a feigned friend All Israels lands beyond Jordan he takes In Galilee he woful havock makes Through Syâ—ia now he march'd none stopt his way And Ahaz open at his mercy lay Who still implor'd his love but was distrest This was that Ahaz who so high transgrest Thus Tiglath reign'd warr'd twenty seven years Then by his death releas'd was Israels fears Salmanassar or Nabanassar Tiglath deceas'd Salmanassar was next He Israelites more then his Father vext Hâ—â—heâ— their last King he did invade And him six years his Tributary made But weary of his servitude he sought To Egypt King which did avail him nought For Salmâ—nassar with a mighty Host Besieg'd his Regal Town and spoyl'd his Coast And did the people nobles and their King Into perpetual thraldome that time bring Those that from Joshuah's time had been a state 1â— years Did Justice now by him eradicate This was that strange degenerated brood On whom nor threats nor mercies could do good Laden with honour prisoners and with spoyle Returns triumphant Victor to his soyle He placed Israel there where he thought best Then sent his Colonies theirs to invest Thus Jacobs Sons in Exile must remain And pleasant Canaan never saw again Where now those ten Tribes are can no man tell Or how they fare rich poor or ill or well Whether the Indians of the East or West Or wild Tartarians as yet ne're blest Or else those Chinoes rare whose wealth arts Hath bred more wonder then belief in hearts But what or where they are yet know we this They shall return and Zion see with bliss Senacherib Senacherib Salmanasser succeeds Whose haughty heart is showne in words deeds His wars none better then himself can boast On Henah Arpad and on Juahs coast On Hevahs and on Shepharvaims gods 'Twixt them and Israels he knew no odds Untill the thundring hand of heaven he felt Which made his Army into nothing melt With shame then turn'd to Ninive again And by his sons in 's Idols house was slain Essarhadon His Son weak Essarhaddon reign'd in 's place The fifth and last of great Bellosus race Brave Merodach the Son of Baladan In Babylon Lieftenant to this man Of opportunity advantage takes And on his Masters ruines his house makes As Belosus his Soveraign did onthrone So he 's now stil'd the King of Babilon After twelve years did Essarhaddon dye And Merodach assume the Monarchy Merodach Balladan All yield to him but Niniveh kept free Untill his Grand-child made her bow the knee Ambassadors to Hezekiah sent His health congratulates with complement Ben Merodach Ben Merodach Successor to this King Of whom is little said in any thing But by conjecture this and none but he Led King Manasseh to Captivity Nebulassar Brave Nebulassar to this King was son The famous Niniveh by him was won For fifty years or more it had been free Now yields her neck unto captivity A Vice-Roy from her foe she 's glad to accept By whom in firm obedience she is kept This King 's less fam'd for all the acts he 's done Then being Father to so great a Son Nebuchadnezzar or Nebopolassar The famous acts of this heroick King Did neither Homer Hesiod Virgil sing Nor of his Wars have we the certainty From some Thucidides grave history Nor 's Metamorphosis from Ovids book Nor his restoriag from old Legends took But by the Prophets Pen-men most divine This prince in 's magnitude doth ever shine This was of Monarchyes that head of gold The richest and the dread fullest to behold This was that tree whose branches fill'd the earth Under whose shadow birds and beasts had birth This was that king of kings did what he pleas'd Kil'd sav'd pul'd down set up or pain'd or eas'd And this was he who when he fear'd the least Was changed from a King into a beast This Prince the last year of his fathers reign Against Jehojakim marcht with his train Judahs poor King besieg'd and succourless Yields to his mercy and the present ' â—press His Vassal is gives pledges for his truth Children of royal blood unblemish'd youth Wise Daniel and his fellowes mongst the rest By the victorious king to Babel's prest The Temple of rich ornaments defac'd And in his Idols house the vessels plac'd The next year he with unresisted hand Quite vanquishâ—d Pharaoh Necho with his band By great Euphrates did his army fall Which was the loss of Syria withall Then into Egypt Necho did retire Which in few years proves the Assirians hire A mighty army next he doth prepare And unto wealthy Tyre in hast repair Such was the scituation of this place As might not him but all the world out-face That in her pride she knew not which to boast Whether her wealth or yet her strength was most How in all merchandize she did excel None but the true Ezekiel need to tell And for her strength how hard she was to gain Can Babels tired souldiers tell with pain Within an Island had this city seat Divided from the Main by channel great Of costly ships and Gallyes she had store And Mariners to handle sail and oar But the Chaldeans had nor ships nor skill Their shoulders must their Masters mind fulfill Fetcht rubbish from the opposite old town And in the channel threw each burden down Where after many essayes they made at last The sea firm land whereon the Army past And took the wealthy town but all the gain Requited not the loss the toyle and pain â—ull thirteen years in this strange work he spent Before he could accomplish his intent And though a Victor home his Army leads With peeled shoulders and with balded heads When in the Tyrian war this King was hot Jehojakim his oath had clean forgot Thinks this the fittest time to break his bands Whilest Babels King thus deep engaged stands But he whose fortunes all were in the ebbe Had all his hopes like to a spiders web For this great King withdraws part of his force To Judah marches with a speedy course And unexpected finds the feeble Prince Whom he chastis'd thus for his proud offence Fast bound intends to Babel him to send But chang'd his mind caus'd his life there end Then cast him out like to a naked Ass For this is he for whom none said alas His son he suffered three months to reign Then from his throne he pluck'd him down again Whom with his mother he to Babel led And seven and thirty years in prison fed His Uncle he establish'd in his place Who was last King of holy Davids race But he as perjur'd as Jehojakim They lost more now then e're they lost by him Seven years he kept his faith and safe he dwells
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
Goverment he doth commit Unto Parmenio of all most fit Darius now less lofty then before To Alexander writes he would restore Those mournfull Ladies from Captivity For whom he offers him a ransome high But down his haughty stomach could not bring To give this Conquerour the Stile of King This Letter Alexander doth disdain And in short terms sends this reply again A King he was and that not only so But of Darius King as he should know Next Alexander unto Tyre doth goe His valour and his victoryes they know To gain his love the Tyrians intend Therefore a crown and great Provision send Their present he receives with thankfullness Desires to offer unto Hercules Protector of their town by whom defended And from whom he lineally descended But they accept not this in any wise Lest he intend more fraud then sacrifice Sent word that Hercules his temple stood In the old town which then lay like a wood With this reply he was so deep enrag'd To win the town his honour he ingag'd And now as Babels King did once before No leaves not till he made the sea firm shore But far less time and cost he did expend The former Ruines forwarded his end Moreover had a Navy at command The other by his men fetcht all by land In seven months time he took that wealthy town Whose glory now a second time 's brought down Two thousand of the chief he crucifi'd Eight thousand by the sword then also di'd And thirteen thousand Gally slaves he made And thus the Tyrians for mistrust were paid The rule of this he to Philotas gave Who was the son of that Parmenio brave Cilicia to Socrates doth give For now 's the time Captains like Kings may live Zidon he on Ephestion bestowes For that which freely comes as freely goes He scorns to have one worse then had the other So gives his little Lordship to another Ephestion having chief command of th' Fleet At Gaza now must Alexander meet Darius finding troubles still increase By his Ambassadors now sues for peace And layes before great Alexanders eyes The dangers difficultyes like to rise First at Euphrates what he 's like to ' bide And then at Tygris and Araxis side These he may scape and if he so desire A league of friendship make firm and entire His eldest daughter he in mariage profers And a most princely dowry with her offers All those rich Kingdomes large that do abide Betwixt the Hellespont and Halys side But he with scorn his courtesie rejects And the distressed King no whit respects Tells him these proffers great in truth were none For all he offers now was but his own But quoth Parmenio that brave Commander Was I as great as is great Alexander Darius offers I would not reject But th' kingdomes and the Lady soon accept To which proud Alexander made reply And so if I Parmenio was would I. He now to Gaza goes and there doth meet His Favorite Ephestion with his Fleet Where valiant Betis stoutly keeps the town A loyal Subject to Darius Crown For more repulse the Grecians here abide Then in the Persian Monarchy beside And by these walls so many men were slain That Greece was forc'd to yield supply again But yet this well defended Town was taken For 't was decree'd that Empire should be shaken Thus Betis ta'en had holes bor'd through his feet And by command was drawn through every street To imitate Achilles in his shame Who did the like to Hector of more fame What hast thou lost thy magnimity Can Alexander deal thus cruelly Sith valour with Heroicks is renown'd Though in an Enemy it should be found If of thy future fame thou hadst regard Why didst not heap up honours and reward From Gaza to Jerusalem he goes But in no hostile way as I suppose Him in his Priestly Robes high Jaddus meets Whom with great reverence Alexander greets The Priest shews him good Daniel's Prophesy How he should overthrow this Monarchy By which he was so much encouraged No future dangers he did ever dread From thence to fruitful Egypt marcht with speed Where happily in 's wars he did succeed To see how fast he gain'd was no small wonder For in few dayes he brought that Kingdome under Then to the Phane of Jupiter he went To be install'd a God was his intent The Pagan Priest through hire or else mistake The Son of Jupiter did streight him make He Diobolical must needs remain That his humanity will not retain Thence back to Egypt goes and in few dayes Fair Alexandria from the ground doth raise Then setling all things in less Asia In Syria Egypt and Phenicia Unto Euphrateâ— marcht and overgoes For no man's there his Army to oppose Had â—â—tis now been there but with his band Great Alexander had been kept from Land But as the King so is the multitude And now of valour both are destitute Yet he poor prince another Host doth muster Of Pâ—â—siâ—â—s Scythians Inaians in a cluster Men but in shape and name of valour none Most fit to blunt the Swords of Macedon Two hundred fifty thousand by account Of Horse and Foot his Army did amount For in his multitudes his trust still lay But on their fortitude he had small stay Yet had some hope that on the spacious plain His numbers might the victory obtain About this time Darius beautious Queen Who had sore travail and much sorrow seen Now bids the world adue with pain being spent Whose death her Lord full sadly did lament Great Alexander mourns as well as he The more because not set at liberty When this sad news at first Darius hears Some injury was offered he fears But when inform'd how royally the King Had used her and hers in every thing He prays the immortal Gods they would reward Great Alexander for this good regard And if they down his Monarchy will throw Let them on him this dignity bestow And now for peace he sues as once before And offers all he did and Kingdomes more His eldest daughter for his princely bride Nor was such match in all the world beside And all those Countryes which betwixt did lye Phanisian Sea and great Euphrates high With fertile Egypt and rich Syria And all those Kingdomes in less Asia With thirty thousand Talents to be paid For the Queen Mother and the royal maid And till all this be well perform'd and sure Ochus his Son for Hostage should endure To this stout Alexander gives no ear No though Parmenio plead yet will not hear Which had he done perhaps his fame he 'd kept Nor Infamy had wak'd when he had slept For his unlimited prosperity Him boundless made in vice and Cruelty Thus to Darius he writes back again The Firmament two Suns cannot contain Two Monarchyes on Earth cannot abide Nor yet two Monarchs in one world reside The afflicted King finding him set to jar Prepares against to morrow for the war Parmenio Alexander wisht that night To force his Camp
the father as the son This sound advice at heart pleas'd Alexander Who was so much ingag'd to this Commander As he would ne're confess nor yet reward Nor could his Captains bear so great regard Wherefore at once all these to satisfie It was decreed Parmenio should dye Polidamus who seem'd Parmenio's friend To do this deed they into Media send He walking in his garden to and fro Fearing no harm because he none did doe Most wickedly was slain without least crime The most renowned captain of his time This is Parmenio who so much had done For Philip dead and his surviving son Who from a petty King of Macedon By him was set upon the Persian throne This that Parmenio who still overcame Yet gave his Master the immortal fame Who for his prudence valour care and trust Had this reward most cruel and unjust The next who in untimely death had part Was one of more esteem but less desert Clitus belov'd next to Ephestian And in his cups his chief companion When both were drunk Clitus was wont to jeer Alexander to rage to kill and swear Nothing more pleasing to mad Clitus tongue Then 's Masters Godhead to defie and wrong Nothing toucht Alexander to the quick Like this against his Diety to kick Both at a Feast when they had tippled well Upon this dangerous Theam fond Clitus fell From jest to earnest and at last so bold That of Parmenio's death him plainly told Which Alexanders wrath incens'd so high Nought but his life for this could satisfie From one stood by he snatcht a partizan And in a rage him through the body ran Next day he tore his face for wâ—at he 'd done And would have slain himself for Clitus gone This pot Companion he did more bemoan Then all the wrongs to brave Parmenio done The nâ—x of worth that suffered after these Was learned virtuous wise Calisthenes VVho lov'd his Master more then did the rest As did appear in flattering him the least In his esteem a God he could not be Nor would adore him for a Diety For this alone and for no other cause Against his Sovereign or against his Laws He on the Rack his Limbs in pieces rent Thus was he tortur'd till his life was spent Of this unkingly act doth Seneca This censure pass and not unwisely say Of Alexander this th' eternal crime VVhich shall not be obliterate by time VVhich virtues fame can ne're redeem by far Nor all felicity of his in war VVhen e're 't is said he thousand thousands slew Yea and Calisthenes to death he drew The mighty Persian King he overcame Yea and he kill'd Calistâ—hâ—nâ—s of fame All Countryes Kingdomes Provinces he wan From Hellispont to th' farthest Ocean All this he did who knows ' not to be true But yet withal Catisthenes he slew From Macedon his Empire did extend Unto the utmost bounds o' th' orient All this he did yea and much more 't is true But yet withal Catisthenes he slew Now Alexander goes to Media Finds there the want of wise Parmenio Here his chief favourite Ephestian dies He celebrates his mournful obsequies Hangs his Physitian the Reason why He suffered his friend Ephestian dye This act me-thinks his Godhead should a shame To punish where himself deserved blame Or of necessity he must imply The other was the greatest Diety The Mules and Horses are for sorrow shorne The battlements from off the walls are torne Of stately Ecbatane who now must shew A rueful face in this so general woe Twelve thousand Talents also did intend Upon a sumptuous monument to spend What e're he did or thought not so content His messenger to Jupiter he sent That by his leave his friend Ephestion Among the Demy Gods they might inthrone From Media to Babylon he went To meet him there t' Antipater he 'd sent That he might act also upon the Stage And in a Tragedy there end his age The Queen Olimpias bears him deadly hate Not suffering her to meddle with the State And by her Letters did her Son incite This great indignity he should requite His doing so no whit displeas'd the King Though to his Mother he disprov'd the thing But now Antipater had liv'd so long He might well dye though he had done no wrong His service great is suddenly forgot Or if remembred yet regarded not The King doth intimate 't was his intent His Honours anâ— his riches to augment Of larger Provinces the rule to give And for his Counsel near the King to live So to be caught Antipater â—s too wise Parmenio's death 's too fresh before his eyes He was too subtil for his crafty soe Nor by his baits could be insnared so But his excuse with humble thanks he sends His Age and journy long he then pretends And pardon craves for his unwilling stay He shews his grief he 's forc'd to disobey Before his Answer came to Babylon The thread of Alexanders life was spun Poyson had put an end to 's dayes 't was thought By Philip and Cassander to him brought Sons to Antipater and bearers of his Cup Lest of such like their Father chance to sup By others thought and that more generaâ—ly That through excessive drinking he did dye The thirty third of 's Age do all agree This Conquerour did yield to destiny When this sad news came to Darius Mother She laid it more to heart then any other Nor meat nor drink nor comfort would she take But pinâ—d in grief till life did her forsake All friends she shuns yea banished the light Till death inwrapt her in perpetual night This Monarchs same must last whilst world doth stand And Conquests be talkt of whilest there is land His Princely qualities had he retain'd Unparalled for ever had remain'd But with the world his virtues overcame And so with black beclouded all his fame Wise Aristotle Tutor to his youth Had so instructed him in moral Truth The principles of what he then had learn'd Might to the last when sober be discern'd Learning and learned men he much regarded And curious Artist evermore rewarded The Illiads of Homer he still kept And under 's pillow laid them when he slept Achilles happiness he did envy ' Cause Homer kept his acts to memory Profusely bountifull without desert For such as pleas'd him had both wealth and heart Cruel by nature and by custome too As oft his acts throughout his reign doth shew Ambitious so that nought could satisfie Vain thirsting after immortality Still fearing that his name might hap to dye And â—ame not last unto eternity This Conqueror did oâ—t lament t is said There were no more worlds to be conquered This folly great Augustus did deride For had he had but wisdome to his pride He would have found enough there to be done To govern that he had already won His thoughts are perisht he aspires no more Nor can he kill or save as heretofore A God alive him all must Idolize Now like a mortal helpless man
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
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
knows but this may be my overthrow Oh pity me in this sad perturbation My plundred Towns my houses devastation My weeping Virgins and my young men slain My wealthy trading fall'n my dearth of grain The seed-times come but ploughman hath no hope Because he knows not who shall inn his Crop The poor they want their pay their children bread Their woful Mothers tears unpittied If any pity in thy heart remain Or any child-like love thou dost retain For my relief do what there lyes in thee And recompence that good I 've done to thee New-England Dear Mother cease complaints wipe your eyes Shake off your dust chear up and now arise You are my Mother Nurse and I your flesh Your sunken bowels gladly would refresh Your griefs I pity but soon hope to see Out of your troubles much good fruit to be To see those latter dayes of hop'd for good Though now beclouded all with tears and blood After dark Popery the day did clear But now the Sun in 's brightness shall appear Blest be the Nobles of thy noble Land With ventur'd lives for Truths defence that stand Blest be thy Commons who for common good And thy infringed Laws have boldly stood Blest be thy Counties who did aid thee still With hearts and States to testifie their will Blest be thy Preachers who do chear thee on O cry the Sword of God and Gidâ—on And shall I not on them wish Mâ—ro's curse That help thee not with prayers Arms and purse And for my self let miseries abound If mindless of thy State I e're be found These are the dayes the Churches foes to crush To root out Popelings head tail branch and rush Let 's bring Baals vestments forth to make a fire Their Mytires Surplices and all their Tire Copes Rotchets Crossiers and such empty trash And let their Names consume but let the flash Light Christendome and all the world to see We hate Romes whore with all her trumpery Go on brave Essex with a Loyal heart Not false to King nor to the better part But those that hurt his people and his Crown As duty binds expel and tread them down And ye brave Nobles chase away all fear And to this hopeful Cause closely adhere O Mother can you weep and have such Peers When they are gone then drown your self in tears If now you weep so much that then no more The briny Ocean will o'reflow your shore These these are they I trust with Charles our King Out of all mists such glorious dayes shall bring That dazled eyes beholding much shall wonder At that thy setled peace thy wealth and splendor Thy Church and weal establish'd in such manner That all shall joy that thou display'dst thy Banner And discipline erected so I trust That nursing Kings shall come and lick thy dust Then Justice shall in all thy Courts take place Without respect of person or of case Then Bribes shall cease Suits shall not stick long Patience and purse of Clients oft to wrong Then high Commissions shall fall to decay And Pursivants and Catchpoles want their pay So shall thy happy Nation ever flourish When truth righteousnes they thus shall nourish When thus in peace thine Armies brave send out To sack proud Rome and all her Vassals rout There let thy Name thy fame and glory shine As did thine Ancestors in Palestine And let her spoyls full pay with Interest be Of what unjustly once she poll'd from thee Of all the woes thou canst let her be sped And on her pour the vengeance threatned Bring forth the Beast that rul'd the World with 's beck And tear his flesh set your feet on 's neck And make his filthy Den so desolate To th' stonishment of all that knew his state This done with brandish'd Swords to Turky goe For then what is' t but English blades dare do And lay her waste for so 's the sacred Doom And do to Gog as thou hast done to Rome Oh Abraham's seeâ— lift up your heads on high For sure the day of your Redemption's nigh The Scales shall fall from your long blinded eyes And him you shall adore who now despise Then fulness of the Nations in shall flow And Jew and Gentile to one worship go Then â—ollows dayes of happiness and rest Whose lot doth fall to live therein is blest No Canaanite shall then be found i' th' Land And holiness on horses bells shall stand If this make way thereto then sigh no more But if at all thou didst not see 't before Farewel dear Mother rightest cause prevail And in a while you 'le tell another tale An Elegie upon that Honourable and renowned Knight Sir Philip Sidney who was untimely slain at the Siege of Zutphan Anno 1586. WHen England did enjoy her Halsion dayes Her noble Sidney wore the Crown of Bayes As well an honour to our British Land As she that sway'd the Scepter with her hand Mars and Minerva did in one agree Of Arms and Arts he should a pattern be Calliâ—pi with Terpsichorâ— did sing Of Poesie and of musick he was King His Rhetorick struck Polâ—mina dead His Eloquence made Mercury wax red His Logick from Euterpe won the Crown More worth was his then Clio could set down Thalia and Melpomene say truth Witness Arcadia penned in his youth Are not his tragick Comedies so acted As if your ninefold wit had been compacted To shew the world they never saw before That this one Volume should exhaust your store His wiser dayes condemn'd his witty works Who knows the spels that in his Rhetorick lurks But some infatuate fools sâ—on caught therein Fond Cupias Dame had never such a gin Which makes severer eyes but slight that story And men of morose minds envy his glory But he 's a Beetle head that can't descry A world of wealth within that rubbish lye And doth his name his work his honour wrong The brave refiner of our British tongue That sees not learning valour and morality Justice friendship and kind hospitality Yea and Divinity within his book Such were prejudicate and did not look In all Records his name I ever see Put with an Epithite of dignity Which shews his worth was great his honour such The love his Country ought him was as much Then let none disallow of these my straines Whilst English blood yet runs within my veins O brave Achilles I wish some Homer would Engrave in Marble with Characters of gold The valiant feâ—s thou didst on Flanders coast Which at this day fair Belgia may boast The more I say the more thy worth I stain Thy fame and praise is far beyond my strain O Zutphen Zutphen that most fatal City Made famous by thy death much more the pity Ah! in his blooming prime death pluckt this rose E're he was ripe his thread cut Atropos Thus man is born to dye and dead is he Brave Hector by the walls of Troy we see O who was near thee but did sore repine He
shall sade Nor death shall see but are immortal made This pearl of price this tree of lâ—â—e this spring Who is possessed of shall reign a King Nor change of state nor cares shall ever see But wear his crown unto eternity This satiates the Soul this stayes the mind And all the rest but Vanity we find FINIS The Author to her Book THou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain Who after birth did'st by my side remain Till snatcht from thence by friends less wise then true Who thee abroad expos'd to publick view Maâ—e thee in raggs halting to th' press to trudg Where errors were not lessened all may judg At thy return my blushing was not small My rambling brat in print should mother call I cast thee by as one unfit for light Thy Visage was so irksome in my sight Yet being mine own at length affection would Thy blemishes amend if so I could I wash'd thy face but more defects I saw And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw I stretcht thy joynts to make thee even feet Yet still thou run'st more hobling then is meet In better dress to trim thee was my mind But nought save home-spun Cloth i' th' house I find In this array ' mongst Vulgars mayst thou roam In Criticks hands beware thou dost not come And take thy way where yet thou art not known If for thy Father askt say thou hadst none And for thy Mother she alas is poor Which caus'd her thus to send thee out of door Several other Poems made by the Author upon Diverse Occasions were found among her Papers after her Death which she never â—ednt should come to publick view amongst which these following at the desire of sâ—me friends that knew her well are 〈◊〉 insâ—rted Upon a Fit of Sickness Anno. 1632. Aâ—tatâ—s suae 10. TWice ten years old not sully told Since nature gave me breath My race is run my thread is spun lo here is fatal Death All men must dye and so must I this cannot be revok'd For Adams sake this word God spake when he so high provok'd Yet live I shall this life 's but small in place of highest bliss Where I shall have all I can crave no life is like to this For what 's this life but care and strife since first we came from womb Our strength doth waste our time doth hast and then we go to th' Tomb. O Bubble blast how long can'st last that alwayes art a breaking No sooner blown buâ— dead and gone ev'n as a word that 's speaking O whil'st I live this grace me give I doing good may be Then deaths arrest I shall count best because it 's thy decree Bestow much cost there 's nothing lost to make Salvation sure O great 's the gain though got with pain comes by profession pure The race is ran the field is won the victory 's mine I see For ever know thou envious foe the soyle belongs to thee Vpon some distemper of body In anguish of my heart repleat with woes And wasting pains which best my body knows In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed Bedrencht with tears that slow'd from mournful head Till nature had exhausted all her store Then eyes lay dry disabled to weep more And looking up unto his Throne on high Who sendeth help to those in misery He chac'd away those clouds and let me see My Anchor cast i' th' vale with safety He eas'd my Soul of woe my flesh of pain And brought me to the shore from troubled Main All things within this fading world hath end Adversity doth still our joyes aâ—â—end No tyes so strong no friends so dear and sweet But with deaths parting blow is sure to meet The sentence past is most irrovocable A common thing yet oh inevitable How soon my Dear death may my steps attend How soon't may be thy Lâ—t to â—ose thy friend We both are ignorant yet love biâ—s me These farewell lines to recommend to thee That when that knot â—s untyâ—e that made us one I may seem thine who in effect am none And ill see not half my daye that 's due What â—â—ture would God grant to yours and you The many faults that well you know I have Let be inâ—err'd in my oblivions grave Many worth or virtue were in me Let that live freshly in thy memory And when thou feel'st no grief as I no harms Yet love thy dead who long lay in thine arms And when thy loss shall be repaid with gaâ—ns Look to my little babes my dear remains And if thou love thy self or lovedst me These O protect from step Dames injury And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse With some sad sighs honour my absent Herse And kiss this paper for thy loves deaâ— sake Who with salt tears this last Farewel did take A. B. To my Dear and loving Husband IF ever two were one then surely we If ever man were lov'd by wife then thee If ever wife was happy in a man Compare with me ye women if you can I prize thy love more then whole Mines of gold Or all the riches that the East doth hold My love is such that Rivers cannot quench Nor ought but love from thee give recompence Thy love is such I can no way repay The heavens reward thee manifold I pray Then while we live in love lets so persever That when we live no more we may live ever A Letter to her Husband absent upon Publick employment My head my heart mine Eyes my life nay more My joy my Magazine of earthly store If two be one as surely thou and I How stayest thou there whilst I at Ipswich lye So many steps head from the heart to sever If but a neck soon should we be together I like the earth this season mourn in black My Sun is gone so far in 's Zodiack Whom whilst I'joy'd nor storms nor frosts I felt His warmth such frigid colds did cause to melt My chilled limbs now nummed lye forlorâ— Return return sweet Sol from Capricorn In this dead time alas what can I more Then view those fruits which through thy heat I bore Which sweet contentment yield me for a space True living Pictures of their Fathers face O strange effect now thou art Southward gone I weary grow the tedious dâ—y so long But when thou Northward to me shalt return I wish my Sun may never set but burn Within the Cancer of my glowing breast The welcome house of him my dearest guest Where ever ever stay and go not thence Till natures sad decree shall call thee hence Flesh of thy flesh bone of thy bone I here thou there yet both but one A. B. Another Phoebus make haste the day 's too long be gone The silent night 's the fittest time for moan But stay this once unto my suit give ear And tell my griefs in either Hemisphere And if the whirling of thy wheels don't drown'd The woful accents of my doleful sound If in thy swift