shore These obscure Nations yeelded as before A City here he built cal'd by his name Which could not sound too oft with too much fame Hence sayling down by th' mouth of Indus floud His Gallies stuck upon the sand and mud Which the stout Macedonians mazed sore Depriv'd ar once the use of Saile and Oare But well observing th' nature of the tiâ—e Upon those Flats they did not long abide Passing faire Indus mouth his course he stear'd To thâ— coast which by Euâ—hraâ—es mouth appear'd Whose inlers neare unto he winter spent Unto his starved Souldiers small câ—ntent By hunger and by cold so many slaine That of them all the fourth did scarce remaine Thus Winter Souldiers and provision spent From hence he to Gedrosia went And thence he marcht into Carmania So he at length drew neare to Persia Now through these goodly countries as he past Much time in feasts and ryoting doth wast Then visits Cyrus Sepulcher in 's way Who now obscure at Passagardis lay Upon his Monument his Robes he spread And set his Crown on his supposed head From hence to Babylon some time there spent He at the last to royall Sushan went A Wedding Feast to 's Nobles then he makes And Statirah Darius daughter takes Her Sister gives to his Ephestion deare That by this match he might be yet more neare He fourscore Persian Ladies also gave At the same time unto his Captains brave Six thousand Guests he to this feast invites Whose Sences all were glutted with delights It far exceeds my meane abilities To shadow forth these short felicities Spectators here could scarce relate the story They were so wrapt with this externall glory If an Ideall Paradise a man should frame He might this feast imagine by the same To every Guest a cup of gold he sends So after many dayes this Banquet ends Now Alexanders conquests all are done And his long travells past and over-gone His vertues dead buried and all forgot But vice remaines to his eternall blot ' Mongst those that of his cruelty did taste Philotas was not least nor yet the last Accus'd because he did not certifie The King of treason and conspiracy Upon suspicion being apprehended Nothing was found wherein he had offended His silence guilt was of such consequence He death deserv'd for this so high offence But for his Fathers great deserts the King His Royall pardon gave for this same thing Yet is Philotas unto Judgement brought Must suffer not for what he did but thought His Master is Accuser Judge and King Who to the height doth aggravate each thing Enveighs against his Father now absent And 's Brethren whom for him their lives had spent But Philotas his unpardonable crime Which no merit could obliterate or time He did the Oracle of Iupiter deride By which his Majesty was deifi'd Philotas thus o're-charg'd with wrong and greif Sunk in despair without hope of releif Faine would have spoke and made his owne defence The King would give no eare but went from thence To his malicious foes delivers him To wreak their spight and hate on every limbe Philotas after him sends out this cry Oh Alexander thy free clemency My foes exceeds in malice and their hate Thy Kingly word can easily terminate Such torments great as wit could first invent Or flesh or life could bear till both were spent Are now inflicted on Parmenio's Son For to accuse himself as they had done At last he did So they were justified And told the world that for desert he dyed But how these Captaines should or yet their Master Look on Parmenie after this disaster They knew not wherefore best now to be done Was to dispatch the Father as the Son This sound advice at heart pleas'd Alexander Who was so much engag'd to this Commander As he would ne're confesse nor could reward Nor could his Captaines 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 doe this deed they into Media send He walking in his Garden too and fro Thinking no harme because he none did owe Most wickedly was slaine without least crime The most renowned Captaine of his time This is Parmenio which 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 over-came Yet gave his Master the immortall fame Who for his prudence valour care and trust Had this reward most cruel and unjust The next that in untimely death had part Was one of more esteem but lesse desart Clitus belov'd next to Ephestion And in his cups his chief Companion When both were drunk Clitus was wont to jeere Alexander to rage to kill and sweare Nothing more pleasing to mad Clitus tongue Then 's Masters god-head to defie and wrong Nothing toucht Alexander to the quick Like this against his deity to kick Upon a time when both had drunken well Upon this dangerous theam fond Clitus fell From jeast to earnest and at last so bold That of Parmenio's death him plainly told Alexander now no longer could containe But instantly commands him to be slaine Next day he tore his face for what he 'd done And would have slaine himself for Clitus gone This pot companion he did more bemoan Then all the wrong to brave Parmenio done The next of worth that suffered after these Was vertuous learned wise Calistâ—ines Who lov'd his Master more then did the rest As did appeare in flattering him the least In his esteem a God he could not be Nor would adore him for a Deity For this alone and for no other cause Against his Sovereigne or against his Lawes He on the wrack his limbs in peeces vent Thus was he tortur'd till his life was spent Of this unkingly deed doth Seneâ—a This censure passe and not unwisely say Of Alexander this th' eternall crime Which shall not be obliterate by time Which vertues fame can ne're redeem by farre Nor all felicity of his in war When e're 't is said he thousand thousands slew Yea and Calisthines to death he drew The mighty Persian King he over-came Yea and he kild Calisthines by name All Kingdoms Countries Provinces he won From Hellispont to th' furthest Ocean All this he did who knows not to be true But yet withall Calisthines he slew From Macedon his Empire did extend Unto the furthest bounds of th' orient All this he did yea and much more 't is true But yet withall Calisthines he slew Now Alexander goes to Media Findes there the want of wise Parmenio Here his cheif favourite Ephestion dyes He celebrates his mournfull obsequies For him erects a stately Monument Twelve thousand Tallents on it franckly spent Hangs his Phisitian the reason why Because he let Ephestion to dye This act me thinks his god head should ashame To punish where himself deserved blame Or of necessity he must imply The other was the
the more distrest my mind If happinesse my sordidnesse hath found 'T was in the crop of my manured ground My fatted Oxe and my exuberous Cow My fleeced Ewe and ever farr owing Sow To greater things I never did aspire My dunghil thoughts or hopes could reach no higher If to be rich or great it was my fate How was I broyl'd with envy and with hate Greater then was the great'st was my desire And greater stil did set my heart on fire If honour was the point to which I steer'd To run my hull upon disgrace I fear'd But by ambitious sailes I was so carryed That over flats and sands and rocks I hurried Opprest and sunke and sact all in my way That did oppose me to my longed bay My thirst was higher then Nobility And oft long'd sore to taste on Royalty Whence poyson Pistols and dread instruments Have been curst furtherers of mine intents Nor Brothers Nephewes Sons nor Sires I 've spar'd When to a Monarchy my way they barr'd There set I rid my selfe straight out of hand Of such as might my son or his withstand Then heapt up gold and riches as the clay Which others scatter like the dew in May. Sometimes vaine-glory is the only bait Whereby my empty soule is lur'd and caught Be I of worth of learning or of parts I judge I should have room in all mens hearts And envy gnawes if any do surmount I hate for to be had in small account If Bias like I 'm stript unto my skin I glory in my wealth I have within Thus good and bad and what I am you see Now in a word what my diseases be The vexing Stone in bladder and in reines Torments me with intollerable paines The windy Cholick oft my bowels rend To break the darksome prison where it 's pend The knotty Gout doth sadly torture me And the restraining lame Sciatica The Quinsie and the Feavours oft distaste me And the Consumption to the bones doth wast me Subject to all Diseases that 's the truth Though some more incident to age or youth And to conclude I may not tedious be Man at his best estate is vanity Old Age. WHat you have been ev'n such have I before And all you say say I and something more Babes innocence Youths wildnes I have seen And in perplexed Middle-age have bin Sicknesse dangers and anxieties have past And on this Stage am come to act my last I have bin young and strong and wise as you But now Bis pueri senes is too true In every Age i 've found much vanitie An end of all perfection now I see It 's not my valour honour nor my gold My ruin'd house now falling can uphold It 's not my Learning Rhetorick wit so large Now hath the power Deaths Warfare to discharge It 's not my goodly house nor bed of down That can refresh or ease if Conscience frown Nor from alliance now can I have hope But what I have done wel that is my prop He that in youth is godly wise and sage Provides a staffe for to support his age Great mutations some joyful and some sad In this short Pilgrimage I oft have had Sometimes the Heavens with plenty smil'd on me Sometimes again rain'd all adversity Sometimes in honour sometimes in disgrace Sometime an abject then again in place Such private changes oft mine eyes have seen In various times of state i 've also been I 've seen a Kingdom flourish like a tree When it was rul'd by that Celestial she And like a Cedar others so surmount That but for shrubs they did themselves account Then saw I France and Holland sav'd Cales won And Philip and Albertus half undone I saw all peace at home terror to foes But ah I saw at last those eyes to close And then me thought the world at noon grew dark When it had lost that radiant Sun-like spark In midst of greifs I saw some hopes revive For 't was our hopes then kept our hearts alive I saw hopes dasht our forwardnesse was shent And silenc'd we by Act of Parliament I 've seen from Rome an execraâ—le thing A plot to blow up Nobles and their King I 've seen designes at Ree and Cades crost And poor Palatinate for ever lost I 've seen a Prince to live on others lands A Royall one by almes from Subjects hands I 've seen base men advanc'd to great degree And worthy ones put to extremity But not their Princes love nor state so high could once reverse their shamefull destiny I 've seen one stab'd another loose his head And others fly their Country through their dread I 've seen and so have ye for 't is but late The desolation of a goodly State Plotted and acted so that none can tell Who gave the counsel but the Prince of hell I 've seen a land unmoulded with great paine But yet may live to see 't made up again I 've seen it shaken rent and soak'd in blood But out of troubles ye may see much good These are no old wives tales but this is truth We old men love to tell what 's done in youth But I returne from whence I stept awry My memory is short and braine is dry My Almond-tree gray haires doth flourish now And back once straight begins apace to bow My grinders now are few my sight doth faile My skin is wrinkled and my cheeks are pale No more rejoyce at musickes pleasant noyse But do awake at the cocks clanging voyce I cannot scent savours of pleasant meat Nor sapors find in what I drink or eat My hands and armes once strong have lost their might I cannot labour nor I cannot fight My comely legs as nimble as the Roe Now stiffe and numb can hardly creep or go My heart sometimes as fierce as Lion bold Now trembling and fearful sad and cold My golden Bowl and silver Cord e're long Shal both be broke by wracking death so strong I then shal go whence I shal come no more Sons Nephews leave my death for to deplore In pleasures and in labours I have found That earth can give no consolation sound To great to rich to poore to young or old To mean to noble fearful or to bold From King to begger all degrees shal finde But vanity vexation of the minde Yea knowing much the pleasant'st life of all Hath yet amongst that sweet some bitter gall Though reading others Works doth much refresh Yet studying much brings wearinesse to th' flesh My studies labours readings all are done And my last period now e'n almost run Corruption my Father I do call Mother and sisters both the worms that crawl In my dark house such kindred I have store There I shal rest til heavens shal be no more And when this flesh shal rot and be consum'd This body by this soul shal be assum'd And I shal see with these same very eyes My strong Redeemer comming in the skies Triumph I shal o're Sin o're Death o're Hel And
both wise and strong Whose courage nought but death could ever tame ' Mongst these Epimanondas wants no fame Who had as noble Raleigh doth evince All the peculiar vertues of a Prince But let us leave these Greeks to discord bent And turne to Persia as is pertinent The King from forraign foes and all at ease His home-bred troubles seeketh to appease The two Queens by his means 'gin to abate Their former envie and inveterate hare Then in voluptuousnesse he leads his life And weds his Daughter for a second wife His Mothers wicked counsell was the cause Who sooths him up his owne desires are Lawes But yet for all his greatnesse and long reign He must leave all and in the pit remain Forty three years he rules then turns to dust As all the mighty ones have done and must But this of him is worth the memory He was the Master of good Nehemie Darius Ochus GReat Artexerxes dead Ochus succeeds Of whom no Record's extant of his deeds Was it because the Grecians now at war Made Writers work at home they sought not far Or dealing with the Persian now no more Their Acts recorded not as heretofore Or else perhaps the deeds of Persian Kings In after wars were burnt ' mongst other things That three and twenty years he reign'd I finde The rest is but conjecture of my minde Arsames or Arses WHy Arsames his brother should succeed I can no reason give cause none I read It may be thought surely he had no Son So fell to him which else it had not done What Acts he did time hath not now left pend But as 't is thought in him had Cyrus end Whose race long time had worn the Diadem But now 's divolved to another Stem Three years he reign'd as Chronicles expresse Then Natures debt he paid quite Issue-lesse Darius Codomanus HOw this Darius did attain the Crown By favour force or fraud is not set down If not as is before of Cyrus race By one of these he must obtain the place Some writers say that he was Arses son And that great Cyrus line yet was not run That Ochus unto Arsames was father Which by some probabilities seems rather That son and father both were murthered By one Bagoas an Eunuch as is sed Thus learned Pemble whom we may not slight But as before doth well read Raleigh write Antd he that story reads shall often find That severall men will have their severall mind Yet in these differences we may behold With our judicious learned Knight to hold And this ' mongst all 's no controverted thing That this Darius was last Persian King Whose warres and losses we may better tell In Alexanders 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 sâ—ay One deluge came and swept them all away And in the sixt year of his haplesse reigne Of all did scarce his winding sheet retaine And last a sad catastrophe to end Him to the grave did â—raytor Bessus send The end of the Persian Monarchy The third Monarchy was the Grecian beginning under Alexander the Great in the 112 Olimpiad GReat Alexander was wise Phillips son He to Amintas Kings of Macedon The cruell proud Olimpias was his mother Shee to the rich Molossians King was daughter This Prince his father by Pausanias slain The twenty first of 's age began to reign Great were the guifts of nature which be had His Education much to these did adde By Art and Nature both he was made fit T' accomplish that which long before was writ The very day of his nativity To th' ground was burnt Diana's Temple high An Omen to their near approaching woe Whose glory to the Earth this Prince did throw His rule to Greece he scorn'd should be confin'd The universe scarce bounds his large vast minde This is the hee-goat which from Grecia came Who ran in fury on the Persian Ram That broke his hornes that threw him on the ground To save him from his might no man was found Phillip on this great conquest had an eye But death did terminate those thoughts so high The Greeks had chose him Captain Generall Which honour to his son now did befall For as worlds Monarch now we speak not on But as the King of little Macedon Restlesse both day and night his heart now was His high resolves which way to bring to passe Yet for a while in Grecce is forc'd to stay Which makes each moment seem more then a day Thebes and old Athens both ' gainst him rebell But he their mutinies full soon doth quell This done against all right and natures laws His kinsmen puts to death without least cause That no combustion in his absence be In seeking after Soveraignity And many more whom he suspects will climbe Now taste of death least they deserv't in time Nor wonder is' t if he in blood begin For cruelty was his parentall sin Thus eased now of troubles and of fears His course to Asiâ— next Spring he steers Leaves sage Antipater at home to sway And through the Hellispont his ships make way Comming to land his dart on shear he throwes Then with alacrity he after goes Thirty two thousand made up his foot force To these were joyn'd five thousand goodly horse Then on he march'd in 's way he veiw'd old Troy And on Achillis Tombe with wondrous joy He offer'd and for good successe did pray To him his mothers Ancestor men say When newes of Alexander came to th' Court To scorn at him Darius had good sport Sends him a frothy and contemptuous letter Stiles him disloyall servant and no better Reproves him for his proud audacity To lift his hand ' gainst such a Monarchy Then to his Lieutenant in Asia sends That he be tane alive for he intends To whip him well with rods and then to bring That boy so mallepart before the King Ah! fond vaine man whose pen was taught ere while In lower termes to write a higher stile To th' river Granicke Alexander hyes Which twixt Phrigia and Propontis lyes The Persians for encounter ready sland And think to keep his men from off the land Those banks so steep the Greeks now scramble up And beat 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 losse of thirty sour of his there slaine Sardis then he and Ephesus did gaine Where stood of late Diana's wondrous Phane And by Parmenio of renowned fame Miletus and Pamphilia overcame Hallicarnassus and Pisidia He for his master takes with Lycia Next Alexander marcht t'wards the black sea And easily takes old Gordium in his way Of Asse-eard Midas once the regall seat Whose touch turn'd all to gold yea even his meat There the Prophetick knot he cuts in twain Which who so did must Lord of all remain Now newes of Memnons death
then with old Seleuchus makes Who his fair daughter Stratonica takes Antiochus Seleuchus dear lov'd son Is for this fresh young Lady-half undone Falls so extreamly sick all fear his life Yet dares not say he loves his fathers wife When his disease the skilfull Physician found He wittily his fathers mind did sound Who did no sooner understand the same But willingly resign'd the beauteous dame Cassander now must die 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 should excell The eld'st enrag'd did play the vipers part And with his Sword did pierce his mothers heart Rather then Philips child must longer live He whom she gave his life her death must give This by Lysimachus soon after slain Whose daughter unto wife he 'd newly ta'n The youngest by Demetrius kill'd in fight Who took away his now pretended right Thus Philips and Cassander's race is gone And so falls out to be extinct in one Yea though Cassander died in his bed His seed to be extirpt was destined For blood which was decreed that he should spill Yet must his children pay for fathers ill Jehu in killing Ahabs house did well Yet be aveng'd must th' blood of Jesreel Demetrius Cassanders kingdomes gains And now as King in Macedon he reigns Seleuchus Asia holds that grieves him sore Those 〈◊〉 untries large his father got before These to recover musters all his might And with his son in law will needs go fight There was he taken and imprisoned Within an Isle that was with pleasures fed Injoy'd what so beseem'd his Royalty Onely restrained of his liberty After three years he dyed left what he 'd won In Greece unto Antigonus his son For h s posterity unto this day Did nâ—'r regain one foot in Asia Now dyed the brave and noble Ptolomy Renown'd for bounty valour clemency Rich Aegypt left and what else he had won To Philadelphus his more worthy Son Of the old Heroes now but two remaine Seleuchus and Lysimachus those twaine Must needs goe try their fortune and their might And so Lysimachus was slaine in fight 'T was no small joy unto Seleuchus breast That now he had out-lived all the rest Possession he of Europe thinks to take And so himselfe the only Monarch make Whilst with these hopes in Greece he did remaine He was by Ptolomy Cerannus slaine The second Son of the first Ptolomy Who for rebellion unto him did sly Selencbus was as Father and a friend Yet by him had this most unworthy end Thus with these Kingly Captaines have we done A little now how the Succession run Antigonus Seleuchus and Cassander With Ptolomy reign'd after Alexander Cassanders Sons soone after 's death were slaine So three Successors only did remaine Antigonus his Kingdoms lost and 's life Unto Seleuchus author of that strife His Son Demetrius all Cassanders gaines And his posterity the same retaines Demetrius Son was call'd Awigonus And his againe also Demetrius I must let passe those many battels fought Between those Kings and noble Fyrrus stout And his son Alexander of Epire Whereby immortall honour they acquire Demetrius had Philip to his son He Perseus from him the kingdom 's won Emillius the Roman Generall Did take his rule his sons himself and all This of Antigonus his seed's the fate Whose kingdomes were subdu'd by th' Roman state Longer Seleuchus held the Royalty In Syria by his posterity Awiochus Soter his son was nam'd To whom Ancient Berosus To much fam'd His book of Assurs Monarchs dedicates Tells of their warres their names their riches fates But this is perished with many more Which we oft wish were extant as before Antiochus Theos was Soters son Who a long warre with Egypts King begun The affinities and warres Daniel set forth And calls them there the Kings of South and North This â—â—cos he was murthered by his wife Seleuchus reign'd when he had lost his life A third Seleuchus next sitâ— on the seat And then Antiochus surnam'd the great Seleuchus next Anttiochus succeeds And then Epiphanes whole wicked deeds Horrid massacres murders cruelties Against the Jewes we read in Macchabees By him was set up the abomination I 'th' holy place which caused desolation Antiochus Eupator was the next By Rebells and imposters daily vext So many Princes still were murthered The Royall blood was quite extinguished That Tygranes the great Armenian King To take the government was called in Him Lucullus the Romane Generall Vanquish'd in fight and took those kingdomes all Of Greece and Syria thus the rule did end In Egypt now a little time we 'l spend First Ptolomy being dead his famous son Cal'd Philadelphus next sat on the throne The Library at Alexandria built 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 vertue or excellence Philopater was Evergete's son After Epiphanes sat on the Throne Philometer then Evergetes again And next to him did false Lathurus reigne Alexander then Lathurus in 's stead Next Auletes who cut off Pompey's head To all these names we Ptolomy must adde For since the first that title still they had Fair Cleopatra next last of that race Whom Julius Caesar set in Royall place Her brother by him lost his trayterous head For Pompey's life then plac'd her in his stead She with her Paramour Mark Antony Held for a time the Egyptian Monarchy Till great Augustus had with him a fight At Actium slain his Navy put to flight Then poysonous Aspes she sets unto her Armes To take her life and quit her from all harmes 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 Kings and Kingdoms have their times and dates Their standings over-turnings bounds and fates Now up now down now chief and then brought under The Heavens thus rule to fill the earth 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 Romane like a raging flood And with the torrent of his rapid course Their Crownes their Titles riches beares by force The first was likened to a head of gold Next armes and breast of silver to behold The third belly and thighs of brasse in sight And last was Iron which breaketh all with might The Stone out of the Mountaine then did rise And smote those feet those legs those arms and thighs Then gold silver brasse iron and all that store Became like chaffe upon the threshing floor The first a Lion second was a Beare The third a Leopard
base thou art that baser cannot be The excrement adustion of me But I am weary to dilate thy shame Nor is' t my pleasure thus to blur thy name Onely to raise my honours to the Skyes As objects best appear by contraries Thus arms and arts I claim and higher things The Princely quality befitting Kings Whose Serene heads I line with policies They 're held for Oracles they are so wise Their wrathfull looks are death their words are laws Their courage friend and foe and subject awes But one of you would make a worthy King Like our fixt Henry that same worthy 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 Lyon by beasts triumpht ore Again ye know how I act every part By th' influence I send still from the heart It s not your muscles nerves nor this nor that Without my lively heat do's ought that 's flat The spongy Lungs I feed with frothy blood They coole my heat and so repay my good Nay th' stomach magazeen to all the rest Without my boiling heat cannot digest And yet to make my greatnesse far more great What differences the Sex but only heat And one thing more to close with my narration Of all that lives I cause the propagation I have been sparing what I might have said I love no boasting that 's but childrens trade To what you now shal say I wil attend And to your weaknesse gently condescend Blood GOod sisters giveme leave as is my place To vent my griefe and wipe off my disgrace Your selves may plead your wrongs are no whit lesse Your patience more then mine I must confesse Did ever sober tongue such language speak Or honestie such ties unfriendly break Do'st know thy selfe so well us so amisse Is' t ignorance or folly causeth this I le only shew the wrongs 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 annalise thy so proud relation So ful of boasting and prevarication Thy childish incongruities I le show So walke thee til thou' rt cold then let thee go There is no Souldier but thy selfe thou say'st No valour upon earth but what thou hast Thy foolish provocations I despise And leave 't to all to judge where valour lyes No pattern nor no Patron will I bring But David Judah's most heroyick King Whose glorious deeds in armes the world can tel A rosie cheek'd musitian thou know'st wel He knew how for to handle Sword and Harpe And how to strike ful sweet as wel as sharpe Thou laugh'st at me for loving merriment And scorn'st all Knightly sports at turnament Thou sayst I love my sword because t is guilt But know I love the blade more then the hilt Yet do abhorre such timerarious deeds As thy unbridled barb'rous Choler yeelds Thy rudenesse 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 scoffes not worthy of reply Shal 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 useful when a mixture can indure As with thy mother Fire so 't is with thee The best of al the four when they agree But let her leave the rest and I presume Both them and all things else she will consume Whil'st us for thine associates thou takest A Souldier most compleat in al points makest But when thou scorn'st to take the helpe we lend Thou art a fury or infernal Fiend Witnesse the execrable deeds thou '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 tel thou wouldst count me no blab How often for the lye thou 'st giv'n the stab To take the wal's a sin of such high rate That naught but blood the same may expiate To crosse thy wil a challenge doth deserve So spils that life thou' rt bounden to preserve Wilt thou this valour manhood courage cal Nay know 't is pride most diabolical If murthers be thy glory t is no lesse I le not envy thy feats nor happinesse But if in fitting time and place on foes For Countries good thy life thou darst expose Be dangers neer so high and courage great I le praise that fury valour choler heat But such thou never art when al alone Yet such when we al four are joyn'd in one And when such thou art even such are we The friendly coadjutors stil to thee Nextly the spirits thou do'st wholly claime Which natural vital animal we name To play Philosopher I have no list Nor yet Phisitian nor Anatomist For acting these I have nor wil nor art Yet shal with equity give thee thy part For th' natural thou dost not much contest For there are none thou say'st if some not best That there are some and best I dare averre More useful then the rest don't reason erre What is there living which cannot derive His life now animal from vegative If thou giv'st life I give thee nourishment Thine without mine is not 't is evident But I without thy help can give a growth As plants trees and small Embryon know'th And if vital spirits do flow from thee I am as sure the natural from me But thine the nobler which I grant yet mine Shal justly claime priority of thine I am the Fountaine which thy Cisterns fils Through th' warme blew conduits of my veinal rils What hath the heart but what 's sent from the liver If thou' rt the taker I must be the giver Then never boast of what thou do'st receive For of such glory I shal thee bereave But why the heart should be usurpt by thee I must confesse is somewhat strange to me The spirits through thy heat are made perfect there But the materials none of thine that 's cleare Their wondrous mixture is of blood and ayre The first my self second my sister faire But I 'le not force retorts nor do thee wrong Thy fiery yellow froth is mixt among Challenge not all ' cause part we do allow Thou know'st I've there to do as wel as thou But thou wilt say I deale unequally There lives the irascible faculty Which without all dispute is Choler 's owne Besides the vehement heat only there known Can be imputed unto none but Fire Which is thy self thy Mother and thy Sire That this is true I easily can assent If stil thou take along my Aliment And let me be thy Partner which is due So wil I give the dignity to you Again stomachs concoction thou dost claime But by what right nor
daily have And some perhaps I carry to my grave Some times in fire sometimes in waters fall Strangely preserv'd yet mind it not at all At home abroad my danger 's manifold That wonder t is my glasse till now doth hold I 've done unto my elders I give way For 't is but little that a childe 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 do we on this Stage assemble Then let not him which hath most craft dissemble Mine education and my learning 's such As might my self and others profit much With nurture trained up in vertues Schools Of Science Arts and Tongues I know the rules The manners of the Court I likewise know Nor ignorant what they in Country do The brave attempts of valiant Knights I prize That dare climbe Battlements rear'd to the skies The snorting Horse the Trumpet Drum I like The glistring Sword and wel advanced Pike I cannot lye in trench before a Town Nor wait til good advice our hopes do crown I scorn the heavy Corsset 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 do suit each mind I can insinuate into the brest And by my mirth can raise the heart deprestâ— Sweet Mufick rapteth my harmonious Soul And elevates my thoughts above the Pole My wit my bounty and my courtesie Makes all to place their future hopes on me This is my best but youth is known alas To be as wilde as is the snuffing Asse As vain as froth as vanity can be That who would see vain man may look on me My gifts abus'd my education lost My woful Parents longing hopes all crost My wit evaporates in meriment My valour in some beastly quarrel 's spent Martial deeds I love not ' cause they 're vertuous But doing so might seem magnanimous My Lust doth hurry me to all that 's ill I know no Law nor reason but my wil 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 Until her freinds treasure and honour 's gone Sometimes I sit carousing others health Until mine own be gone my wit and wealth From pipe to pot from pot to words and blows For he that loveth Wine wanteth no woes Dayes nights with Ruffins Roarers Fidlers spend To all obscenity my eares I bend All counsel hate which tends to make me wise And dearest freinds count for mine enemies If any care I take 't is to be fine For sure my suit more then my vertues shine If any time from company I spare 'T is spent in curling frisling up my hair Some young Adonis I do strive to be Sardana Pallas now survives in me Cards Dice and Oaths concomitant I love To Masques to Playes to Taverns stil I move And in a word if what I am you 'd heare Seek out a Brittish bruitish Cavaleer Such wretch such monster am I but yet more I want a heart all this for to deplore Thus thus alas I have mispent my time My youth my best my strength my bud and prime Remembring not the dreadful day of Doom Nor yet that heavy reckoning for to come Though dangers do attend me every houre And gastly death oft threats me with her power Sometimes by wounds in idle combates taken Sometimes by Agues all my body shaken Sometimes by Feavers all my moisture drinking My heart lyes frying and my eyes are sinking Sometimes the Cough Stitch painful Plurifie With sad affrights of death doth menace me Sometimes the loathsome Pox my face be-mars With ugly marks of his eternal scars Sometimes the Phrensie strangely madds my Brain That oft for it in Bealam I remain Too many's my Diseases to recite That wonder 't is I yet behold the light That yet my bed in darknesse is not made And I in black oblivions den long laid Of Marrow ful my bones of Milk my breasts Ceas'd by the gripes of Serjeant Death's Arrests Thus I have said and what i 've said you see Child-hood and youth is vaine yea vanity Middle Age. CHildehood and youth forgot sometimes I 've seen And now am grown more staid that have beengreen 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 ye do expect But more my age the more is my defect But what 's of worth your eyes shal first behold And then a world of drosse among my gold When my Wilde Oates were sown and ripe mown I then receiv'd a harvest of mine owne My reason then bad judge how little hope Such empty seed should yeeld a better crop I then with both hands graspt the world together Thus out of one extreame into another But yet laid hold on vertue seemingly Who climbes without hold climbes dangerously Be my condition mean I then take paines My family to keep but not for gaines If rich I 'm urged then to gather more To bear me out i' th' world and feed the poor If a father then for children must provide But if none then for kindred near ally'd If Noble then mine honour to maintaine If not yet wealth Nobility can gain For time for place likewise for each relation I wanted not my ready allegation Yet all my powers for self-ends are not spent For hundreds blesse me for my bounty sent Whose loynes I 've cloth'd and bellies I have fed With mine owne fleece and with my houshold bread Yea justice I have done was I in place To chear the good and wicked to deface The proud I crush'd th' oppressed I set free The lyars curb'd but nourisht verity Was I a pastor I my flock did feed And gently lead the lambes as they had need A Captain I with skil I train'd my band And shew'd them how in face of foes to stand If a Souldier with speed I did obey As readily as could my Leader say Was I a laborer I wrought all day As chearfully as ere I took my pay Thus hath mine age in all sometimes done wel Sometimes mine age in all been worse then hell In meannesse greatnesse riches poverty Did toile did broile oppress'd did steal and lye Was I as poor as poverty could be Then basenesse was companion unto me Such scum as Hedges and High-wayes do yeeld As neither sow nor reape nor plant nor build If to Agricolture I was ordain'd Great labours sorrows crosses I sustain'd The early Cock did summon but in vaine My wakefull thoughts up to my painefull gaine For restlesse day and night I 'm rob'd of steep By can kered care who centinel doth keep My weary beast rest from his toile can find But if I rest
could crave To want no priviledge Subjects should have Only intreats them joyn their force with his And win the Crown which was the way to blâ—sse Won by his loving looks more loving speech T' accept of what they could they him beseech Both sides their hearts their hands their bands unite And set upon their Princes Camp that night Who revelling in Cups sung care away For victory obtain'd the other day But all surpris'd by this unlookt for fright Bereft of wits were slaughtered down right The King his Brother leaves all to sustaine And speeds himself to Ninivic amain But Salmeneus slaine his Army fals The King 's pursu'd unto the City wals But he once in pursuers came too late The wals and gates their course did terminate There with all store he was so wel provided That what Arbaces did was but derided Who there incamp'd two years for little end But in the third the River prov'd his friend Which through much rain then swelling up so high Part of the wal it level caus'd to lye Arbaces marches in the town did take For few or none did there resistance make And now they saw fulfill'd a Prophesie That when the River prov'd their enemy Their strong wall'd town should suddenly be taken By this accomplishment their hearts were shaken Sardanapalus did not seek to fly This his inevitable destiny But all his wealth and friends together gets Then on himself and them a fire he sets This the last Monarch was of Ninus race Which for twelve hundred years had held that place Twenty he reign'd same time as Stories tel That Amâ—zia was King of Israel His Father was then King as we suppose When Jonah for their sins denounc'd such woes He did repent therefore it was not done But was accomplished now in his Son Arbaces thus of all becomming Lord Ingeniously with each did keep his word Of Babylon Belosus he made King With over-plus of all treasures therein To Bactrians he gave their liberty Of Ninivites he caused none to dye But suffered with goods to go elsewhere Yet would not let them to inhabite there For he demolished that City great And then to Media transfer'd his seat Thus was the promise bound since first he crav'd Of Medes and Persians their assisting aide A while he and his race aside must stand Not pertinent to what we have in hand But Belochus in 's progeny pursue Who did this Monarchy begin anew Belosus or Belochus BElosus setled in his new old seat Not so content but aiming to be great Incroached stil upon the bord'ring Lands Til Mesopotamia he got in 's hands And either by compound or else by strength Assyria he also gain'd at length Then did rebuild destroyed Niniviâ— A costly work which none could doe but he Who own'd the treasures of proud Babylon And those which seem'd with Sardanapal's gone But though his Palace did in ashes lye The fire those Mettals could not damnifie From rubbish these with diligence he rakes Arbaces suffers all and all he takes He thus inricht by this new tryed gold Raises a Phoenix new from grave o' th old And from this heap did after Ages see As fair a Town as the first Ninivie When this was built and all matters in peace Molests poor Israel his wealth t' encrease A thousand tallents of Menahem had Who to be rid of such a guest was glad In sacred Writ he 's known by name of Pul Which makes the world of differences so ful That he and Belochus one could not be But circumstance doth prove the verity And times of both computed so fall out That those two made but one we need not doubt What else he did his Empire to advance To rest content we must in ignorance Forty eight years he reign'd his race then run He left his new got Kingdoms to his Son Tiglath Palasser BElosus dead Tiglath his waâ—like Son Neyt treads the steps by which his Father won Damascus ancient seat of famous Kings Under subjection by his sword he brings Resin their valiant King he also slew And Syria t' obedience did subdue Iuda's bad King occasioned this War When Resins force his borders sore did mar And divers Cities by strong hand did seize To Tiglath then doth Ahaz send for ease The temple robes so to fulfill his ends And to Assyria's King a Present sends I am thy Servant and thy Son quoth he From Rezin and from Pekah set me free Gladly doth Tiglath this advantage take And succours Ahaz yet for Tiglath's sake When Rezin's slain his Army over-thrown Syria he makes a Province of his own Unto Damascus then comes Iudah's King His humble thankfulnesse with hast to bring Acknowledging th' Assyrians high desert To whom he ought all loyalty of heart But Tiglath having gain'd his wished end Proves unto Ahaz but a feigned friend All Israels Land beyond Iordan he takes In Galilee he woful havock makes Through Syria now he marcht none stopt his way And Ahaz open at his mercy lay Who stil implor'd his love but was distress'd This was that Ahaz which so much transgrest Thus Tiglath reign'd and wart'd twenty seven years Then by his death releas'd was Israels fears Salmanasser or Nabonasser 10 years TIglath deceas'd Salmanasser is next He I sraelites more then his Father vext Hoshea their last King he did invade And him six years his tributary made But weary of his servitude he sought To Aegypts King which did avail him nought For Salmanasser with a mighty Hoast 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 Ioshua's time had been Estate Did Justice now by him eradicate This was that strange degenerated brood On whom nor threars nor mercies could do good Laden with honour prisoners and with spoyl Returns triumphant Victor to his soyl Plac'd Israel in 's Land where he thought best Then sent his Colonies theirs to invest Thus Iacobs Sons in exile must remain And pleasant Canaan ne're see again Where now those ten Tribes are can no man tel Or how they fare rich poor or ill or wel Whether the Indians of the East or West Or wild Tartarians as yet ne're blest Or else those Chinoes rare whose wealth and Arts Hath bred more wonder then beleefe in hearts But what or where they are yet know we this They shal return and Zion see with blisse Senacherib 7 years SEnacherib Salmaneser succeeds Whose haughty heart is shewn in works and deeds His Wars none better then himself can boast On Henah Arpad and on Ivah least On Hena's and on Sepharuaim's gods 'Twixt them and Israels he knew no odds Until the thundring hand of heaven he felt Which made his Army into nothing melt With shame then turn'd to Ninivie again And by his Sons in 's Idols house was slain Essarhadon HIs Son weak Essarhadon reign'd in 's place The fifth and last of great Belosus race Brave Merodach the Son
grown a man resum'd again his state He next to Cyprus sends his bloudy Hoast Who landed soon upon that fruitful coast Made Evelthon their King with bended knee To hold his own of his free courtesie The Temples he destroyes not for his zeal But he would be profest god of their Weal Yea in his pride he ventured so farre To spoyl the Temple of great Jupiter But as they marched o're those desart sands The stormed dust o'r-whelm'd his daring bands But scorning thus by Jove to be out-brav'd A second Army there had almost grav'd But vain he found to fight with Elements So left his sacrilegious bold intents The Aegyptian Apis then he likewise slew Laughing to scorn that calvish sottish crew If all his heat had been for a good end Cambyses to the clouds we might commend But he that 'fore the gods himself preferrs Is more prophane then grosse Idolaters And though no gods if he esteem them some And contemn them woful is his doome He after this saw in a Vision His brother Smerdis sit upon his throne He strait to rid himself of causlesse fears Complots the Princes death in his green years Who for no wrong poore innocent must dye Praraspes now must act this tragedy Who into Persia with Commission sent Accomplished this wicked Kings intent His sister whom incestuously he wed Hearing her harmlesse brother thus was dead His woful fate with tears did so bemoane That by her Husbands charge she caught her owne She with her fruit was both at once undone Who would have born a Nephew and a Son O hellish Husband Brother Vnckle Sire Thy cruelty will Ages still admire This strange severity one time he us'd Upon a Judge for breach of Law accus'd Flayd him alive hung up his stuffed skin Over his Seat then plac'd his Son therein To whom he gave this in rememberance Like fault must look for the like recompence Praraspes to Cambyses favourite Having one son in whom he did delight His cruell Master for all service done Shot through the heart of his beloved son And only for his fathers faithfullnesse Who said but what the King bad him expresse 'T would be no pleasant but a tedious thing To tell the facts of this most bloody King Fear'd of all but lov'd of few or none All thought his short râ—ign long till it was done At last two of his Officers he heart Had set a Smerdis up of the same years And like in feature to the Smerdis dead Ruling as they thought good under his head Toucht with this newes to Persia he makes But in the way his sword just véngeance takes Unsheathes as he his horse mounted on high And with a Martall thrust wounds him i th' thigh Which ends before begun the Persian Waâ—re Yeelding to death that dreadfull Conquerer Griefe for his brothers death he did expresse And more because he dyed issulesse The Male line of great Cyrus now did end The Female many ages did extend A Babylon in Egypt did he make And built fair Meroe for his sisters sake Eight years he reign'd a short yet too long time Cut off in 's wickednesse in 's strength and prime The inter Regnum between Cambyses and Darius Hyslaspes Childlesse Cambyses on the sudden dead The Princes meet to chuse one in his stead Of which the cheife were seven call'd Satrapes Who like to Kings rul'd Kingdomes as they please Descended all of Achâ—menes blood And kinsmen in account to th' King they stood And first these noble Magi 'gree upon To thrust th' Imposter Smerdis our of throne Their Forces instantly they raise and rout This King with conspirators so stout Who little pleasure had in his short reigne And now with his accomplyces lye slaine But yet 'fore this was done much blood was shed And two of these great Peers in place 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 Rebells throughly queâ—'d A Consultation by the States was held What forme 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 governed by an Aristocracy But others thought none of the dullest braine But bâ—tter one then many Tyrants reigne What arguments they us'd I know not well Too politicke t is like for me to tell But in conclusion they all agree That of the seven a Monarch chosen be All envie to avoyd this was thought on Upon a Green to meet by rising Sun And he whose Horse before the rest should neigh Of all the Peers should have precedency They all attend on the appointed houre Praying to Fortune for a Kingly power Then mounting on their snorting coursers proud Darius lusty stallion neighed full loud The Nobles all alight their King to greet And after Persian manner kisse his feet His happy wishes now doth no man spare But acclamations ecchoes in the aire A thousand times God save the King they cry Let tyranny now with Cambyses dye They then attend him to his royall roome Thanks for all this to 's crafty Stable-groome Darius Hyslapses DArius by election made a King His title to make strong omits no thing He two of Cyrus Daughters now doth wed Two of his Neeces takes to nuptiall bed By which he cuts their hopes for future times That by such steps to Kingdoms often climbs And now a King by marriage choyce and bloud Three strings to 's bow the least of which is good Yet more the peoples hearts firmly to binde Made wholsome gentle Laws which pleas'd each mind His affability and milde aspect Did win him loyalty and all respect Yet notwithstanding he did all so well The Babylonians ' gainst their Prince rebell An Hoast he rais'd the City to reduce But strength against those walls was of no use For twice ten months before the town he lay And fear'd he now with scorn must march away Then brave Zopirus for his Masters good His manly face dis-figures spares no bloud With his own hands cuts off his eares and nose And with a faithfull fraud to 'th town he goes Tels them how harshly the proud King had dealt That for their sakes his cruelty he felt Desiring of the Prince to raise the siege This violence was done him by his Leige This told for enterance he stood not long For they beleev'd his nose more then his tongue With all the Cities strength they him betrust If he command obey the greatest must When opportunity he saw was fit Delivers up the town and all in it To loose a nose to win a Town 's no shame But who dare venture such a stake for th' game Then thy disgrace thine honour 's manifold Who doth deserve a Statue made of gold Nor can Darius in his Monarchy Scarse finde enough to thank thy loyalty But yet thou hast sufficient recompence In that
by his craft ordered the matter so That the poor innocent to death must go But in short time this wickednesse was knowne For which he dyed and not he alone But all his family was likewise slain Such Justice then in Persia did remain 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 sprang of Cyrus race He first war with revolting Aegypt made To whom the perjur'd Grecians lent their aide Although to Xerxes they not long before A league of amity had sworn before Which had they kept Greece had more nobly done Then when the world they after over-run Greeks and Egyptians both he overthrows And payes them now according as he owes Which done a sumptuous feast makes like a King Where ninescore days are spent in banquetting His Princes Nobles and his Captaines calls To be partakers in these festivalls His hangings white and green and purple dye With gold and silver beds most gorgiously The royall wine in golden cups doth passe To drink more then he list none bidden was Queen Vashty also feasts but 'fore t is ended Alas she from her Royalty's suspended And a more worthy placed in her roome By Memucan's advice this was the doome What Hester was and did her story reed And how her Country-men from spoile she freed Of Hamans fall and Mordica's great rise The might o' th' Prince the tribute on the Isles Unto this King Thymistocles did flye When under Ostracisme he did lye For such ingratitude did Athens show This valiant Knight whom they so much did owe Such entertainment with this Prince he found That in all Loyalty his heart was bound The King not little joyfull of this chance Thinking his Grecian wars 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 losse and shame much more For punishment their breach of oath did call The noble Greek now fit for generall Who for his wrong he could not chuse but deem His Country nor his Kindred would esteem Provisions and season now being fit T' Thymistecles he doth his war commit But he all injury had soon forgate And to his Country-men could bear no hate Nor yet disloyall to his Prince would prove To whom oblig'd by favour and by love Either to wrong did wound his heart so sore To wrong himselfe by death he chose before In this sad conflict marching on his ways Strong poyson took and put an end to 's dayes The King this noble Captaine having lost Again dispersed his new levyed hoast ' Rest of his time in peace he did remain And dy'd the two and fortieth of his reign Daryus Nothus THree sons great Artaxerxes left behind The eldest to succeed that was his mind But he with his next brother fell at strife That nought appeas'd him but his brothers life Then the surviver is by Nothus slaine Who now sole Monarch doth of all remaine These two lewd sons are by hystorians thought To be by Hester to her husband brought If they were hers the greater was her moon That for such gracelesse wretches she did groan Disquiet Egypt ' gainst this King rebells Drives out his garison that therein dwels Joynes with the Greeks and so maintains their right For sixty years maugre the Persians might A second trouble after this succeeds Which from remissenesse in Asia proceeds Amerges whom their Vice-roy he ordain'd Revolts having treasure and people gain'd Invades the Country and much trouble wrought Before to quietnesse things could be brought The King was glad with Sparta to make peace So that he might these tumults soon appease But they in Asia must first restore All Townes held by his Ancestors before The King much profit reapeth by these leagues Re-gaines his own and then the Rebell breaks Whose forces by their helpe were overthrown And so each man again possest his owne The King his sister like Cambyses wed More by his pride then lust thereunto led For Persian Kings did deem themselves so good No match was high enough but their own blood Two sons she bore the youngest Cyrus nam'd A hopefull Prince whose worth is ever fam'd His father would no notice of that take Prefers his brother for his birth-rights sake But Cyrus scornes his brothers feeble wit And takes more on him then was judged fit The King provok'd sends for him to the Court Meaning to chastise him in sharpest sort But in his slow approach ere he came there His fathers death did put an end to 's fear Nothus reign'd nineteen years which run His large Dominions left to 's eldest son Artaxerxes Mnemon MNemon now fits upon his fathers Throne Yet doubts all he injoyes is not his own Still on his brother casts a jealous eye Judging all 's actions tends to 's injury Cyrus o' th' other side weighs in his mind What helps in 's enterprize he 's like to find His interest in the Kingdome now next heir More deare to 's mother then his brother far His brothers litle love like to be gone Held by his mothers intercession These and like motives hurry him amain To win by force what right could not obtain And thought ' it best now in his mothers time By lesser steps towards the top to climbe If in his enterprize he should fall short She to the King would make a fair report He hop'd if fraud nor force the Crown could gaine Her prevailence a pardon might obtain From the Lieutenant first he takes away Some Townes commodious in lesse Asia Pretending still the profit of the King Whose rents and customes duly he sent in The King finding revenues now amended For what was done seemed no whit offended Then next the Lacedemons he takes to pay One Greeke could make ten Persians run away Great care was his pretence those Souldiers stout The Rovers in Pisidia should drive out But least some worser newes should fly to Court He meant himselfe to carry the report And for that end five hundred Horse he chose With posting speed towards the King he goes But fame more quick arrives ere he came there And fills the Court with tumult and with fear The young Queen and old at bitter jars The one accus'd the other for these wars The wife against the mother still doth cry To be the Author of conspiracy The King dismay'd a mighty Hoast doth raise Which Cyrus heares and so fore-slowes his pace But as he goes his Forces still augments Seven hundred Greeks now further his intents And others to be warm'd by this new sun In numbers from his brother daily run The fearfull King at last musters his Forces And counts nine hundred thousand foot and horses And yet with these had neither heart nor grace To loâ—k his manly brother in the face Three hundred thousand yet to Syria sent To keep those streights to hinder
t' uphold hâ—s Masters family But as that to a period did haste So Eumenes of destiny must taste Antigonus all Persia now gains And Master of the treasure he remains Then with Seleuchus straight at ods doth fall But he for aid to Ptolomy doth call The Princes all begin now to envie Antigonus his growing up so hye Fearing their state and what might hap ere long Enter into a combination strong Selcuchus Ptolomy Cassander joynes Lyâ—â—mac us to make a fourth combines Antigonus desirous of the Greeks To make Cassander odious to them seeks Sends forth his declaration from a farre And shews what cause they had to take up warre The Mother of their King to death he 'd put His Wife and Son in prison close had shut And how he aymes to make himselfe a King And that some title he might seeme to bring Thessalonica he had newly wed Daughter to Phillip their renowned head Had built and call'd a City by his name Which none e're did but those of royall fame And in despight of their two famous Kings Th' hatefull Olinthians to Greece re-brings Rebellious Thebs he had re-edified Which their late King in dust had-damnified Requires them therefore to take up their Armes And to requite this Traytor for those harmes Now Ptolomy would gaine the Greeks likewise For he declares against his injuries First how he held the Empire in his hands Seleuchus drove from government and lands Had valiant Eumenes unjustly slaine And Lord o' th' City Susha did remain So therefore craves their help to take him down Before he weare the universall Crown Antigonus at Sea soone had a fight Where Ptolomy and the rest put him to flight His Son at Gaza likewise lost the field So Syria to Ptolomy did yeeld And Sclcuchus recovers Babylon Still gaining Countries East-ward goes he on Demetrius againe with Ptolomy did fight And comming unawares put him to slight But bravely sends the Priseners back againe And all the spoyle and booty they had tane Curtius as noble Ptolomy or more Who at Gaza did th' like to him before Antigonus did much rejoyce his son His lost repute with victorie had won At last these Princes tired out with warres Sought for a peace and laid aside their jarres The terms of their agreement thus expresse That each shall hold what he doth now possesse Till Alexander unto age was grown Who then shall be installed in the throne This touch'd Cassander sore for what he 'd done Imprisoning both the mother and her 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 And put to death the mother and her son This Rexane for her beautie all commend But for one act she did just was her end No sooner was great Alexander dead But she Dariu's daughters murthered Both thrown into a well to hide her blot Perdicas was her partner in this plot The Heavens seem'd slow in paying her the same But yet at last the hand of vengeance came And for that double fact which she had done The life of her must go and of her son Perdicas had before for his amisse But from their hands who thought not once of this Gassander's dead the Princes all detest But 't was in shew in heart it pleas'd them best That he was odious to the world they 'r glad And now they are free Lords of what they had When this foul tragedy was past and done Polisperchon brings up the other son Call'd Hercules and elder then his brother Bur Olymptas thought to preferre th' other The Greeks touch'd with the murther done so late This Prince began for to compassionate Begin to mutter much ' gainst proud Cassander And place their hopes o' th heire of Alexander Cassander fear'd what might of this insue So Polisperchon to his Counsell drew Gives Peloponesus unto him for 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 all i' th end will turn But that some title he might now pretend For marriage to Cleopatra doth send Lysimachus and Ptolomy the same And vile Cassander too sticks not for shame She now in Lydia at Sardis lay Where by Embassage all these Princes pray Choise above all of Ptolomy she makes With his Embassadour her journey takes Antigonu's Lieutenant stayes her still Untill he further know his Masters will To let her go or hold her still he fears Antigonus thus had a wolf by th' â—aâ—s Resolves at last the Princesse then'd be stain So hinders him of her he could not gain Her women are appointed to this deed They for their great reward no better speed For straight way by command they 'r put to death As vile conspiratours that took her breath And now he thinks he 's ordered all so well The world must needs believe what he doth tell Thus Philips house was quite extinguished Except Cassanders wife who yet not dead And by their means who thought of nothing lesse Then vengeance just against the same t' expresse Now blood was paid with blood for what was done By cruell father mother cruell son Who did erect their cruelty in guilt And wronging innocents whose blood they spilt Philip and Olympias both were slain Aridaeus and his Queen by slaughters ta'ne Two other children by Olympias kill'd And Cleopatra's blood now likewise spill'd If Alexander was not poysoned Yet in the flower of 's age he must lie dead His wise and sons then slain by this Cassander And 's kingdomes rent away by each Commander 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 there 's none can title make Demetrius is first that so assumes To do as he the rest full soon presumes To Athens then he goes is entertain'd Not like a King but like some God they fain'd Most grossely base was this great adulation Who incense burnt and offered oblation These Kings fall now afresh to warres again Demetrius of Ptolomy doth gain 'T would be an endlesse story to relate Their severall battells and their severall fate Antigonus and Seleuchus now fight Near Ephesus each bringing all their might And he that conquerour shall now remain Of Asia the Lordship shall retain This day twixt these two foes ends all the strife For here Antigonus lost rule and life Nor to his son did there one foot remain Of those dominions he did sometimes gain Demetrius with his troops to Athens flies Hoping to find succour in miseries But they adoring in prosperity Now shut their gates in his adversity He sorely griev'd at this his desperate state Tries foes since friends will not compassionate His peace he
crown In all records thy Name I ever see Put with an Epithet of dignity Which shewes thy worth was great thine honour such The love thy Country ought thee was as much Let then none dis-allow of these my straines Which have the self-same blood yet in my veines Who honours thee for what was honourable But leaves the rest as most unprofitable Thy wiser dayes condemn'd thy witty works Who knowes the Spels that in thy Rethroick lurks But some infatuate fooles soone caught therein Found Cupids Dam had never such a Gin Which makes severer eyes but scorn thy Story And modeâ— Maids and Wives blush at thy glory Yet he 's a beetle head that cann't discry A world of treasure in that rubbish lye And doth thy selfe thy worke and honour wrong O brave Refiner of our Bâ—iuish Tongue That sees not learning valour and morality Justice friendship and kind hospitality Yea and Divinity within thy Book Such were prejudicate and did not look But to say truth thy worth I shall but staine Thy fame and praise is farre beyond my straine Yet great Augustus was content we know To be saluted by a silly Crow Then let such Crowes as I thy praises sing A Crow's a Crow and Caesar is a King O brave Achilles I wish some Homer would Engrave on Marble in characters of Gold What famous feats thou didst on Flanders coast Of which this day faire Belgia doth boast O Zutphon Zutphon that most fatall City Made famous by thy fall much more 's the pitty Ah in his blooming prime death pluckt this Rose E're he was ripe his thred cut Atropos Thus man is borne to dye and dead is he Brave Hector by the walls of Troy we see Oh who was neare thee but did sore repine He rescued not with life that life of thine But yet impartiall Death this Boone did give Though Sidney dy'd his valiant name should live And live it doth in spight of death through fame Thus being over-come he over-came Where is that envious tongue but can afford Of this our noble Scipio some good word Noble Bartas this to thy praise adds more In sad sweet verse thou didst his death deplore Illustrious Stella thou didst thine full well If thine aspect was milde to Astrophell I feare thou wert a Commet did portend Such prince as he his race should shortly end If such Stars as these sad presages be I wish no more such Blazers we may see But thou art gone such Meteors never last And as thy beauty so thy name would wast But that it is record by Philips hand That such an omen once was in our land O Princely Philip rather Alexander Who wert of honours band the chief Commander How could that Stella so confine thy will To wait till she her influence distill I rather judg'd thee of his mind that wept To be within the bounds of one world kept But Omphala set Hercules to spin And Mars himself was ta'n by Venus gin Then wonder lesse if warlike Philip yield When such a Hero shoots him out o' th' field Yet this preheminence thou hast above That thine was true but theirs adult'rate love Fain would I shew how thou fame's path didst tread But now into such Lab'rinths am I led With end lesse turnes the way I find not out For to persist my muse is more in doubt Calls me ambitious fool that durst aspire Enough for me to look and so admire And makes me now with Sylvester confesse But Sydney's Muse can sing his worthinesse Too late my errour see that durst presume To fix my faltring lines upon his tomb Which are in worth as far short of his due As Vulcan is of Venus native hue Goodwill did make my head-long pen to run Like unwise Phaeton his ill guided sonne Till taught to 's cost for his too hasty hand He left that charge by Phoebus to be man'd So proudly foolish I with Phaeton strive Fame's flaming Chariot for to drive Till terrour-struck for my too weighty charge I leave 't in brief Apollo do 't at large Apollo laught to patch up what 's begun He bad me drive and he would hold the Sun Better my hap then was his darlings fate For dear regard he had of Sydney's state Who in his Deity had so deep share That those that name his fame he needs must spare He Promis'd much but th' muses had no will To give to their detractor any quill With high disdain they said they gave no more Since Sydney had exhausted all their store That this contempt it did the more perplex In being done by one of their own sex They took from me the scribling pen I had I to be eas'd of such a task was glad For to revenge his wrong themselves ingage And drave me from Parnassus in a rage Not because sweet Sydney's fame was not dear But I had blemish'd theirs to make 't appear I pensive for my fault sat down and then Errata through their leave threw me my pen For to conclude my poem two lines they daigne Which writ she bad return't to them again So Sydney's fame I leave to England's Rolls His bones do lie interr'd in stately Pauls His Epitaph Here lies intomb'd in fame under this stone Philip and Alexander both in one Heire to the Muses the Son of Mars in truth Learning valour beauty all in vertuous youth His praise is much this shall suffice my pen That Sidney dy'd the quintessence of men In honour of Du Bartas 1641. A. B. AMongst the happy wits this Age hath showne Great deare sweet Bartas thou art marchlesse knowne My ravisht eyes and heart with faltering tongue In humble wise have vow'd their service long But knowing th' taske so great and strength but small Gave o're the work before begun withall My dazled sight of late review'd thy lines Where Art and more then Art in Nature shines Reflection from their beaming altitude Did thaw my frozen hearts ingratitude Which Rayes datting upon some richer ground Had caused flowers and fruits soone to abound But barren I my Day sey here doe bring A homely flower in this my latter spring If Summer or my Auâ—umne age doe yeeld â—â—ewers sruits in garden orchard or in sield They shall be consecrated in my Verse And prostrate off'red at great Bartas Herse My Muse unto a Childe I fitly may compare Who sees the riches of some famous Fayre He feeds his eyes but understanding lacks To comprehend the worth of all those knacks The glittering Plate and Jewels he admires The Hats and Fans the Plumes and Ladies tires And thousand times his mazed minde doth wish Some part at least of that brave wealth was his But seeing empty wishes nought obtaine At night turnes to his Mothers cor againe And tells her tales his full heart over-glad Of all the glorious sights his eyes have had But findes too soone his want of Eloquence The silly Pratler speakes no word of sence And seeing utterance fayle his great desires Sits down
our wrong Let such as say our sex is void of reason Know 't is a slander now but once was treason But happy England which had such a Queen O happy happy had those dayes still been But happinesse lies in a higher sphere Then wonder not Eliza moves not here Full fraught with honour riches and with dayes She set she set like Titan in his rayes No more shall rise or set such glorious Sun Untill the heavens great revolution If then new things their old form must retain Eliza shall rule Albian once again Her Epitaph Here sleeps THE Queen this is the reyall bed O' th' Damask Rose sprung from the white and red Whose sweet perfume fills the all-filling aire This Rose is withered once so lovely faire On neither tree did grow such Rose before The greater was our gain our losse the more Another Here lies the pride of Queens pattern of Kings So blaze it fame here 's feathers for thy wings Here lies the envy'd yet unparralell'd Prince Whose living vertues speak though dead long since If many worlds as that fantastick framed In every one be ber great glory famed Davids Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan 2 Sam. 1.19 ALas slaine is the head of Israel Illustrious Saul whose beauty did excell Upon thy places mountan'ous and high How did the mighty fall and falling dye In Gath let not this thing be spoken on Nor published in streets of Askelon Lest Daughters of the Philistins rejoyce Lest the uncircumcis'd lift up their voyce O! Gilbo Mounts let never pearled dew Nor fruitfull showres your barren tops bestrew Nor fields of offerings e're on you grow Nor any pleasant thing e're may you show For the mighty ones did soone decay The Shield of Saul was vilely cast away There had his dignity so fore a foyle As if his head ne're felt the sacred Oyle Sometimes from crimson blood of gastly slaine The bow of Jonathan ne're turn'd in vaine Nor from the far and spoyles of mighty men Did Saul with bloodlesse Sword turne back agen Pleasant and lovely were they both in life And in their deaths was found no parting strife Swifter then swiftest Eagles so were they Stronger then Lions ramping for their prey O Israels Dames o're-flow your beauteous eyes For valiant Saul who on Mount Gilbo lyes Who cloathed you in cloath of richest dye And choyse delights full of variety On your array put ornaments of gold Which made you yet more beauteous to behold O! how in battell did the mighty fall In mid'st of strength not succoured at all O! lovely Ionathan how wert thou slaine In places high full low thou dost remaine Distrest I am for thee deare Ionathan Thy love was wonderfull passing a man Exceeding all the Love that 's Feminine So pleasant hast thou been deare brother mine How are the mighty falne into decay And war-like weapons perished away Of the vanity of all worldly creatures AS he said vanity so vain say I O vanity O vain all under skie Where is the man can say lo I have found On brittle earth a consolation sound What is 't in honour to be set on high No they like beasts and sonnes of men shall die And whilst they live how oft doth turn their State He 's now a slave that was a Prince of late What is' t in wealth great treasures for to gain No that 's but labour anxious care and pain He heaps up riches and he heaps up sorrow It s his to day but who 's his heire to morrow What then content in pleasures canst thou find More vain then all that 's but to grasp the wind The sensuall senses for a time they please Mean while the conscience rage who shall appease What is' t in beauty no that 's but a snare They 'r foul enough to day that once was fair What Is' t in flowring youth or manly age The first is prone to vice the last to rage Where is it then in wisdome learning arts Sure if on earth it must be in those parts Yet these the wisest man of men did find But vanity vexation of the mind And he that knows the most doth still bemoan He knows not all that here is to be known What is it then to do as Stoicks tell Nor laugh nor weep let things go ill or well Such stoicks are but stocks such teaching vain While man is man he shall have ease or pain If not in honour beauty age nor treasure Nor yet in learning wisdome youth nor pleasure Where shall I climbe sound seek search or find That summum Bonum which may stay my mind There is a path no vultures eye hath seen Where lions fierce nor lions whelps hath been Which leads unto that living Christall fount Who drinks thereof the world doth naught account The depth and sea hath said its not in me With pearl and gold it shall not valued be For Saphyre Onix Topas who will change It s hid from eyes of men they count it strange Death and destruction the fame hath heard But where and what it is from heaven's declar'd It brings to honour which shall not decay It steeres with wealth which time cann't wear away It yeeldeth pleasures faire beyond conceit And truly beautifies without deceit Nor strength nor wisdome nor fresh youth shall fade Nor death shall see but are immortall made This pearl of price this tree of life this spring Who is possessed of shall reign a King Nor change of state nor cares shall ever see But wear his Crown unto eternitie This satiatâ—s the soul this stayes the mind The rest 's but vanity and vain we find FINIS
the Kings Vice-roy To Alexanders heart 's no little joy For in that Peer more valour did abide Then in Darius multitudes beside There Arsemes was plac'd yet durst not stay But sets one in his roome and ran away His substitute as fearfull as his master Goes after too and leaves all to disaster Now Alexander all Cilicia takes No stroake for it he struck their hearts so quakes To Greece he thirty thousand talents sends To raise more force for what he yet intends And on he goes Darius for to meet Who came with thousand thousands at his feet Though some there be and that more likely write He but four hundred thousand had to fight The rest attendants which made up no lesse Both sexes there was almost numberlesse For this wise King had brought to see the sport Along with him the Ladyes of the Court His mother old beautious wife and daughters It seemes to see the Macedonians slaughters Sure it s beyond my time and little Art To shew how great Darius plaid his part The splendor and the pompe he marched in For since the world was no such Pageant seen Oh 't was a goodly sight there to behold The Persians clad in silk and glitt'ring gold The stately Horses trapt the launces guilt As if they were now all to run at tilt The Holy fire was borne before the Host For Sun and Fire the Persians worship most The Priests in their strange habit follow after An object not so much of fear as laughter The King sat in a chariot made of gold With Robes and Crowne 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 Least he should need them in his chariots stead But they that saw him in this state to lye Would think he neither thought to fight nor fly He fifteen hundred had like women drest For so to fright the Greekes he judg'd was best Their golden Ornaments so to set forth Would aske more time then were their bodys worth Great Sisigambis she brought up the Reare Then such a world of Wagons did appear Like severall houses moving upon wheeles As if she 'd drawne whole Sushan at her heeles This brave Virago to the King was mother And as much good she did as any other Now least this Gold and all this goodly stuffe Had not been spoile and booty rich enough A thousand Mules and Cameâ—ls ready wait Loaden with gold with Jewels and with Plate For sure Darius thought at the first sight The Greekes would all adore and would none fight But when both Armies met he might behold That valour was more worth then Pearls or gold And how his wealth serv'd but for baits t' allure Which made his over-throw more fierce and sure The Greeks come on and with a gallant grace Let fly their Arrowes in the Persians face The cowards feeling this sharp stinging charge Most basely run and left their King at large Who from his golden Coach is glad t' alight And cast away his Crown for swifter flight Of late-like some immovable he lay Now finds both leggs and Horse to run away Two hundred thousand men that day were slaine And forty thousand Prisoners also tane Besides the Queens and Ladies of the Court If Curtius be true in his report The Regall ornaments now lost the treasure Divided at the Macedomans pleasure Yet all this grief this losse this over-throw Was but beginning of his future woe The Royall Captives brought to Alexander T'ward them demean'd himself like a Commander For though their beauties were unparalled Conquer'd himself now he had conquered Preserv'd their honour us'd them courteously Commands no man should doe them injury And this to A'exander is more a fame Then that the Persian King he over-came Two hundred eighty Greeks he lost in fight By too much heat not wounds as Authors write No sooner had this Captaine won the field But all Thâ—nicia to his pleasures yeeld Of which the Government he doth commit Unto Parmenio of all most fit Darius now more humble then before Writes unto Alexander to 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 His Letter Alexander doth disdaine And in short termes sends this reply againe A King he was and that not only so But of Darius King as he should know Now Alexander unto Tyre doth goe His valour and his victories they know To gain his love the Tyrians do intend Therefore a Crown and great provisions send Their present he receives with thankfulnesse Desires to offer unto Hercules Protector of their Town by whom defended And from whom also lineally descended But they accept not this in any wise Least he intend more fraud then sacrifice Sent word that Hercules his Temple stood In the old town which now lay like a wood With this reply he was so sore enrag'd To win their town his honour he engag'd And now as Babels King did once before He leaves not till he makes the sea firme shoâ—r But far lesse cost and time he doth expend The former ruines help to him now lend Besides he had a Navie at command The other by his men fetcht all by Land In seven months space he takes this lofty town Whose glory now a second time 's brought down Two thousand of the cheif he crucifi'd Eight thousand by the sword now also dy'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 he to Socrates doth give For now 's the time Captains like Kings may live For that which eaâ—ily comes as freely goes Zidon he on Ephestion bestowes He scorns to have one worse then had the other And therefore gives this Lord-ship to another Ephestion now hath the command o' th' Fleet And must at Gaza Alexander meet Darius finding troubles still increase By his Embassadours now sues for peace And layes before great Alexanders eyes The dangers difficulties like to rise First at Euphrates what he 's like to abide And then at Tigris and Araxis side These he may scape and if he so desire A league of friendship make firm and entire His eldest Daughter him in marriage offers And a most Princely Dowry with her proffers All those rich Kingdoms large which doe abide Betwixt the Hâ—llesâ—ont and Hallis side But he with scorn his courtesie rejects And the distressed King no way respects Tels him these proffers great in truth were none For all he offered now was but his owne But quoth Parmenio that brave Commander Was I as great as is great Alexander Darius offers I would not reject But th' Kingdoms and the Ladies soone accept To which brave Alexander did reply And so if I Parmenio were would I. He now to Gaza goes and there doth meet His