odorous Combs XCV So full of Joy and from their Bodies free Those happy souls towards Heav'n take their flight And visibly to some appear'd to be Wrap'd up within a glorious cloud of Light A joyful Troop a beautious company All crown'd with flaming Diadems most bright And in a Circle which they largely spread They starry Garlands weave and Dances lead XCVI The Sky was most serene all clouds gave way And brightest Stars upon their triumphs wait The South and Northern Winds their rage allay And calm to see their pleasant Dances sate The air and gentle Breezes sport and play And early birds with Songs congratulate Of Crimson dew the Morn did then prepare Gems for her breasts and Roses for her hair XCVII The vast Abysses and death's Prison where The shades of ancient Heroes dwell then smil'd While those so bright and glorious Lamps appear And the dark Iron gates with lustre guild The Royal Poet and stout Shepherd there Was seen who when a Boy the Gyant kill'd His Sling his Harp and Scepter on the Shore Of Lethe lay not us'd as heretofore XCVIII But then the dusky fields that border near Where mournful birds on barren boughs reside And never silent are impoverish'd were While with fresh flow'rs to braid his hair he try'd When a new light struck through the gloomy air His eyes and he their shining Ensignes spy'd His Harp resum'd he from his sacred breast Inspir'd with holy Fire this Song exprest XCIX Glad tidings see those Messengers of Joy Which unto us were promis'd long ago Behold those pure forerunners of the Day Who with Vermilion rays approach us so Now whatsoe're of old did us annoy Shall cease and we full liberty shall know The Sun is up which guilds our dark shades o're Let 's kneel and all at once his Rise adore C. To you most long'd-for Angels to you Peace And Glory who have that salvation gain'd Which we long long have hop'd But who are these Who are with wounds and bloud so strangely stain'd Who cut those throats Whence did that Rage encrease That on their Heads so cruel mischief rain d What heart ' gainst pity could so harden'd be What hand what Sword so fir'd with cruelty CI. And you that in your selves your selves retain Destructive storms what then did you repress What bridled you ye winds What did restrain Thunder and clouds Your rage from its excess So that this act unpunish'd did remain And God s most just revenge seem'd to be less An Act that ' midst eternal Hate and Ire Furies amaz'd and made Hell blush like fire CII O sacred holy O most bless'd and dear Triumphant Martyrs whom nought could subdue Heroes who by your Captain chosen were To die for him before he dies for you Imbitter'd Apples pull'd by hands severe Flow'rs that unblown in his own garden grew Sweet Roses dy'd in your own bloud and born To be cut off with wounds in groves of thorn CIII Most tender Lillie s untouch'd Jessimine Wherein sweet'st streams of purple Nectar flow Preserv'd in Gods own Garden made divine T' enrich those Feasts he does in Heav'n bestow Fair branches that on earth did glorious shine Torn from the trunks whereon you once did grow Small broken stones on which the Church will lay Its new Foundation and its Honours pay CIV To us here languishing our Saviours name Upon your Virgin Foreheads writ you bear Sweet sheep whose looks your Innocence proclaim Immaculate and whitest Doves you are Purg'd Holocausts bright Off'rings free from blame Wash'd in the Lamb's and your own bloud most fair First Victims that to th' King of Saints were pay'd And by the cruel sword were open layd CV Welcome Illustrious Sp'rits souls clear and fair Most happy Bades who to us certain news Of our approaching Jubilee now bear And long-expected Joys through all diffuse O sacred Drops and every drop a Star Bloud which than Rubies Christ doth rather chuse As richest Gems selected for his own T' enrich his Diadem and his Spouses Crown CVI. O happy wounds and signs that now declare Past Martyrdom with great'st Veracity Of Glory and Honour surest Pledges are That Grace and Love can loudest magnifie Now who is he who will not tears prepare To bath you and with kisses wipe you dry Or who is he whom pity will not move To drink those streams are shed for wounded Love CVII With sprinklings of your bloud even Heaven desires It self t' adorn instead of its own Light The moon in such sine Purple now aspires To paint her Face and mix it with her white In such pure rivolets Angels and those Fires That shine above to view themselves delight The Sun 's ambitious in so fair a Sea Himself t' impurple and to drown the Day CVIII O most delightful O most charming tears O dearest Sighs and Groans that pleasures move From sound of which the most harmonious Spheares Make their high Consort as they turn above O sweetest Grief which the lov'd Martyr bears With all delight and makes his Joys improve O pleasing Death that does more glorious seem Than Life it self in honour and esteem CIX Lov'd Spirits beautious Souls how great how fair Immortal Arches now doth God for you I' th' Empyraean Capitol prepare With Palms and Crowns and Blisses that ensue What greater glory then when Hell a War Designs their King and Armies to subdue With naked Champions who so took the field Unarm'd and thus were made your Saviour's shield CX In that high starry Court where now he reigns In triumph and from whence he sent you there With Angels your Companions the Remains And spoils of his great Victory you shall share The Standard there of Death with bloudy stains And that of Innocence all white appear There for a Trophy ' mids those Troops displai'd Large Banners your torn Swathbands shall be made CXI Even in your torments O most happy you Who rather more of milk than bloud did spend In your first day your last night did ensue One day gave your Beginning and your End Yet was it fit before you either knew That you with Death and Sorrow should contend And with torn Sails your weak Barks first effort Scarce made into the Sea should gain your Port. CXII We infirm Wrestlers we you now may say Faln in the Lists up to God's bosome rise From bloudy Paths we now the Milky way New Stars with purer white shall signalize Our Feet which now no weakness can betray Tread on the highest Spheres and Earth despise We from a loose and little Veil begun To survey Heav'n before we saw the Sun CXIII As thus he sung those glorious souls his Lays Abruptly stop'd the shades straight vanish quite To Heav'n their hands the Ancient Fathers raise Hoping a Period of so long a Night And through the horrours of those gloomy ways The welcom Children now a Burthen Light Bear in their Arms and iterate upon Their holy checks their kisses and their moan Notes upon the Fourth Book Stanza LXXXIV Herod had married this Doris of his own Country on whom he begat this Alexander whose death among these Innocents when reported to Augustus I had rather said he be Herod's Swine than his Son because as a Jew he would let the Swine live but jealous of his Son would murther him FINIS Errata Page 36. Stanza 47. for stocks read shocks pag. 55. Stanza 112. for spise r. Spyes
A sad but unexpected Accident Dire chance unheard of intercepts our way O could your Majesty have been content That we had been less ready to obey But what do silly People know What ill Can give them blame that 's done against their will XXXIX Our hands too ready were alas too prone All our desires to satisfie you were With bloud rage shame our hearts were drunk and none Saw what they did dark and obscure the air The Fault might be excus'd but it is done This said his Tongue did farther speech forbear But Herod urg'd him on and he again Begun and thus the King did entertain XL. While we as I have said your high command Had thus perform'd resolving to be gone A cunning Souldier of Malecche's Band His Spy who all his secrets knew alone Met us in haste to let him understand That he a woman saw to him unknown Who with two Children in her garment wrap'd Fled thence and to a secret place escap'd XLI Then not far distant from the Palace where From the soft stream the Royal Garden sees With such delight proud Libanus to rear His head led on by cruel destinies A Postern door our Guide approach'd and there 〈◊〉 While he desir'd to act all by surprize Through crannies of the broken posts appeard A little light and streight a voice was heard XLII Within a Woman was whose looks put on All that of fear or sorrow could be found Solicitous for her two Sons the one Lay'd in her bosom t' other on the ground With sighs mix'd with a sad and trembling tone Drawn from her heart where doubtful thoughts abound To one dear Child where shall I save or hide Thee in th' Abyss of deepest seas she cry'd XLIII Samaria once had Women as 't is said By Fame so cruel that with hunger prest Flesh born of their own bowells re-conveyd To them and so on their own Issue feast And may not this that their Rage lawful made To Me in Pitty be allow'd at least And to conceal you from these Harpies Pride My dearest entrails in my entrails hide XLIV But after Patterns of such Ills so great I 've often opâ—d my bosom unto thee Dear Child that so thou might'st thy hopes repeat After my Death to have a Life from Me. Nay even my Soul thou mayst lay open yet If with my Soul thou mayst concealed be How greedily should I receive thee here Within my very Soul thou Soul more dear XLV Thus reas'ning with her self the child held in Her arms within a Vessel deep and wide That lately fill'd with Bacchus spoils had bin Not yet quite empty silent seeks to hide Then addes to thee O Vessel free from sin Of fraud I all my Joy and Peace confide And let me ' midst such Ruins thee a kind Depository of my Treasure find XLVI More she would say but at her back she hears Our Captain 's rage and voice who at the door Knock'd and streight in he breaks in pieces tears The locks and barres more furious then before One hidden in the Caske t'other her fears Snatching into her arms she flying bore Into the most remote and secret room Of all the house and waited there her doom XLVII She hid him there but might have with him fled From the dire mischief that was then so near Had she had time to leave there in his steed Some other Child that might like this appear But from this fatal Risque she hop d this Head First to secure which she esteem'd most dear Or with a wile so merciless and strange Make one to take the other 's sad revenge XLVIII 'T was wonderful she past thus undescry'd By Us but through the dark and gloomy aire And horrours that appear'd on every side None did consider what she acted there Besides our rage swell'd to so high a Tyde That we ran blind and madding every where And since she was not in the Palace seen None did suspect this chance could e're ha' been XLIX But our Malecche who exactly knew The place where this dear Theft then hidden lay To boast his power and his fierce rage pursue As he his furious humour would betray Still threatning and in 's actions dreadful too Would scofling with her sad misfortune play And with cruel cunning on her smil'd To cloak 's intent before her Sons were kil'd L. And now his hands then he his feet employ'd Against her now tares her Vest and then her hair Tell me said he where is it thou didst hide Thy two Sons tell me vile wretch where they are And thou said she whose hands with bloud are dy'd Where are those Babes whom thou hast murder'd where Eyes of so many wretched Mothers Thou While I of thousands speak seek'st onely two LI. Dear Children who to Me like Stars did show Whom I so fondly Nurst up and caresst What Nest protects you now did you but know What cruel talons snatch you from my brest That ' midst these wracks chains arms and dangers tho Torments of quickest flames did me invest This Heart which now no other light can see Robb'd of a Mother's faith shall never be LII Whither O whither can you now retire My hapless Babes what fortune can you save You are perhaps to Ashes turn'd by fire Or in deep waters now have found a Grave Food or for Dogs or Birds or Winds conspire With raging Seas and you for pastime have Or the dire thirst of barbarous swords late drench In bloud of Innocents perhaps have quench'd LIII Quench'd alass no there 's nothing can restrain This barbarous rage I see it flames so high To this Malceche says Thou dost in vain What cannot be deny'd to Me deny Fond Faith dull Piety mad Love to feign That as a Secret which must open ly The violence of the sword with quickest force Deprives a Mother's heart of all remorse LIV. Art thou the valiant Mother thou the wise Who wouldst conceal what is already known Who Life neglectest and do'st Death despise For Love of thy dear children this is done Like motions of Love in Herod rise And him invite too to preserve his own Thus menacing he spoke and she with brave And manly courage this stout answer gave LV. Plant Me 'mong swords or hottest flames if thou Know'st how to kill Death will great kindness be If thou desirest to terrify me now With Life and not with Death then threaten me Thus the brave Woman with a constant brow Her courage greater then before they see When the poor infant in the Vessel lay'd Himself with childish cryes alass betray'd LVI â—â—lecche seiz'd the Vessel which upon The floor he roll'd and with it laughing play'd But when with pointed steel nought could be done And that the poignard small impression made When all the strength and force of 's arm was gone What might be done by fire he then essay'd To th' flames he drives it and the hearth was fill'd With bloud wine through numerous holes distill'd LVII As
Mount y 'ave clearly shown But though in all I doe confide 't is true â—'ve at this instant need of one alone 'T is Cruelty alone I now require That can from doubts my jealousy retire XXXVI Of the Three Goddesses of Mischief She A worthy Sister fierce above the rest Employes her bloudy Wings continually To view those ill-born Troops that men infest Busy with Food Immortal to Supply Those Flames where black Souls boiling are oppres 't In the profoundest Secret depths of Hell Where Sorrow and Eternal Weeping dwell XXXVII Most sadly thrice the dismal Caverns houle Thrice the deep Shades like smoaking Cannon rore Then from dark unknown Gulphs the Waves that roul And quarries thunder on Crcytus's Shore The noise She heard and with a squinting Scoul From thence revert's her eyes enflam'd with gore And her reply to her most dreadful Name Her Snaky Locks with a dire Hiss proclaime XXXVIII No House more terrible more dark in all Death's Region then this was made by Fates ' Gainst cries of others who for pity call Stil shut rough Adamants compose the Gates The fix'd Foundation is of Iron the Wall Of Jasper is which nothing penetrates And Heads which bloud and filthy gore besmear With limbs lopt off are scatter'd every where XXXIX Revenge has here her Throne and in her hand Waving a naked Sword all bloudy sets Near her Disdain with senseless Fury and Fierce War with Slaughter that still pants and sweats Far off they easily may understand Impetuous Rage like mad to vent her threats Midst these with grim Aspect proud death commands And turns his mighty Sythe with both his hands XL. Upon the Walls they horrid Engines see By which so oft poor Mortals Plagues endure That through the House as dreadful Tapistry Are hung the worst that mischief could procure Their Wheels Chains Gibbets Spears Grindstones be Nails Axes Swords with other Furniture All steep'd in bloud and bear the horrid stain Of Brothers poyson'd or of Fathers slain XLI At her detestably sad Table sit The Harpies with devouring Famine There Inhumane Erisicthon's appetite Untam'd calls every moment for repair While Progne Tantalus fierce Atreus fit With Infamous Lycaon their curs'd Fare And dire Medusa's hand supplies them all With frequent Bouls of Bloud commix'd with Gall. XLII The dire Eumenides her Sisters still Attend with flaming torches in their hands Her Servants Sylla and proud Jezabel With Circe near to whom Medea stands The Damsels of her Court for all commands The Parcae cruel and inflexible Whose hands her Robes of blackest threads of Life Compose cut off by their Impartial knife XLIII This dismal House is circled by a Grove Where fatal Trees their baneful shadows spread Each Plant's a Plague and all Flow'rs poysons prove The Winds are sighs the floods tears lately shed Within fierce Minotaurs and Cyclops move in heards and by the gloomy air are fed In troops Hyenaes Dragons Tygers there Sphynx Cerastes Hydra's and Chimeraes are XLIV Fereus Dogs horses of Diomed Therodamas his furious Lions there With bloud profane Busiris Alters fed Proud Sylla's Prisons above all severe Cruel Procrustes strange and dreadful Bed And Lestrigonion Tables there appear To these his Impious Rocks fierce Sciron joyns And cruel Scinis his tormenting Pines XLV Such tortures as by dire Mexentius Nor by Gerion could invented be Or Ochos Ezelino Phalaris Or Nero ever fear'd for cruelty There all the flames and knives of Barbarous Nabucco Acabbes and Pharaoh they see Such is her Mansion and with horrid cries On active Wings thence this Fourth Fury flies XLVI Scarce then to her the secret of his mind The Prince of this black Empire did disclose But streight from Hell swifter than swiftest Wind Or Lightning from his bloudy Gates she goes And as the face of Heaven serenely shin'd The pallid stains of Death upon it throws While to the ground the poison'd Birds at sight Of her alone fall dead amidst their flight XLVII From this dark Gulph soon as this Monster came To vomit thus her Hell against the Day The Flow'rs and Herbs as by contagious flame Or Winter's fury blasted streight decay She with her frown could Nature's active Frame Make stupid and th' Eternal Sun dismay Conceal the Stars and Elements beside Did not her Serpents her curs'd Visage hide XLVIII Already from his secret shady Den Dull Somnus chief Companion of the Night Rose on his lazy Wings and eyes of Men With welcom theft depriv'd of tedious light And with a pleasing tiranny had then Shed his Lethean Water on their sight While various wanton dreams and calmest rest As Lords their senses and their thoughts possess 't XLIX With black and nimble pinions soaring high To Bethlaem then Erynnis was convey'd For there Usurp'd with greatest cruelty And restless cares the King his Scepter sway'd And as with impious fatal Torches She A bloudy Feast at Thebes appearing made Into all roomes o' th Royal House She pryes Searching with careful steps and busy eyes L. Herod Augustus Vassal one now old In years possess'd good David's Royal Place No lawful King but of the Throne a bold Usurper and of Idumaean Race For Juda's progeny no more did hold Judaea's Scepter but was in disgrace And while lost ancient Honours they bewail'd Felt the sharp rigour of a Yoak entail'd LI. Through all the lofty Palace now she goes Glides into most retired cabinets Where at great Ease and pleas'd with sweet repose On Softest plumes the King his cares forgets Nor will She foul perfidious Fiend disclose Her self in her own Shape which Hell befits But changing first her Face and habit made Herself a pallid Ghost and fleeting shade LII All that She had of Fury off She throws And instantly a mortal Form She takes * Joseph's aspects his meen his action shows Such and as big as He herself She makes Then to the King oppress'd with sleep She goes Her cold hand chills his Heart and then he Wakes While thus disguiz'd an Humane Voice She feigns And Him 'twixt sleep and waking thus arraigns LIII What Sleep'st thou Fool and as when every part Of the Egean Sea thick Storms surround To the fierce winds and waves his Helm and Art A slothful Pilot quits whom fears confound Thou art here idle and thy warlike heart In sloth thy senses in repose are drown'd Nor dost regard or know what mischiefs thy Strong Fates now threaten and are very nigh LIV. Know that from ancient race of Hebrew Kings As fruit unhop'd for from a Stock that 's dry A child though poor that with Him wonders brings As soon as born with beasts on straw doth ly Of this new branch th' ungrateful Vulgar sings Too much his Friend to thee an Enemy Their praise Him follows and already Fame Stiles Him their King and thy Successor name LV. O what Seditions Plots by him design'd What Engines in his brest He fire does bear In 's hand the Sword even now 't is in his mind To mix fell
's cruel marks are onely seen Made by a murdring hand these ruins are Though from another left to my repaire LXXIV Are these alass those lovely limbs those gay Which from your mother you did first assume O Stars that me to ruin did betray Is such my miserable Flesh become 'Mong all these wounds and bloud these these are they These belov'd Heads I know is' t then your doome That I should while to me you thus return For the sad reliques of my bowels mourn LXXV Oh sweetest Faces mirrours of my Heart Where I my self was wont to recreate Sons of these eyes eyes that with sorrow smart In which I tasted all delights of late O Lips where Love with kisses would divert And intermingled smiles himself would sate Alass what Hellish monsters now combine Thus cruelly to mix your bloud with mine LXXVI Let me these limbs distinctly touch at least Though with my touch I fear they 'le break again Wretch I my sons thus fatally deceas't Lament yet know not for which I complain For while with this dire paleness y' are possesst I must distracted and confus'd remain And all the beauty that I once might boast In this your want of bloud I see is lost LXXVII Art thou my First-born sure it cannot be This Head so late cut off cannot be thine Dire change to this thy Body who was He Who could another Face so unlike join Dear children now no hopes remain for Me All joyes I in your eyes to Death resign Here my griefs swell yet can't I more bewail Your Fate with tears whose springs are dry and fail LXXVIII She faints her looks all pale no voice or sound Of words but breathless and unmov'd her eyes While a black storm of thousands swords the ground Shakes all around and through all quarters flyes Where such Stars reign and such a King is found They fix a curse on all Nativities Happy who was unborn or if then born Who from his Birth nere saw a second morn LXXIX But what afflicts thee why dost thou complain Vile World that th' Age is rude or bad the Times That Fraud now flourishes and Vices reign That Faith and Truth inhabit not thy climes Virtue brave Minds and noble Souls in vain Languish and grieve to see the growth of Crimes Since clearest Innocence could perish so And from that Day lyes murder'd here below LXXX Rivers of bloud now flow nothing is heard But doleful mourning shouts of rage and ire Horrour and Death Herod alone appear'd with pleasure the sad Objects to admire The Slaughter feasts him and which others fear'd He prais'd the wounds that kept his joyes entire With greedy appetite he reckons all The blows and still observes them as they fall LXXXI Mean while the People full of grief and sad With lamentable Cryes their Fate bemoan Trembling with memory of what they had Beheld the King fix'd in his joyes alone As the Sun s warmth makes poisonous Serpents mad Seem's through their Pitty to all ill more prone Biting his Lips he foames his eyes with flame Are fill'd and gnashing Teeth his rage proclaime LXXXII Now from the place he rose from whence before Th' effects of his dire Fury he had seen Then nearer went resolving to explore The Shambles of Tyranny and therein Sees corps dispers'd like wracks upon the Shore Wracks of Mortality that there had been Late drown'd in children's bloud whose horrid Tide Their Swathbands and their Members seem'd to hidâ— LXXXIII Over these dismal Piles these bloudy Heaps Dreadful to think on He insulting goes O're gaping sides and cloven heads he leaps Whence of warm bloud a reeking deluge flows There as in streams clear flowing in their Deeps Himself he views and 's inward pleasure shews And as the Wretches lay upon the ground Measures with his own hand each fatal wound LXXXIV So a fierce Dragon from his Den with green And shining wings and Scarlet Crest ascends To view the Sun by him before not seen And then his wide and dreadful Jaws extends Erects his Scales that shine as they had been With rough and squallid Gold enlay'd then bends His rage against the Light of Heav'n and throws Poyson from 's trident-tongue where e're he goes LXXXV Some cover'd o're with ugly stains he there Beheld lie languishing with deadly pain And in their Mothers arms uncertain are Whether in death or life they yet remain Others expose their hearts that open were And quite depriv'd of life then shew again Their Faces shap'd for pity and for love But objects now of grief and sorrow prove LXXXVI Others whose vital Humour was not spent And from their panting hearts yet largely flows While bloud by Vomit from their Mouths is sent As when a sinking Bark near harbour rows Some one by swimming would his Fate prevent And himself on some swelling billow throws But spent and breathless in this last effort Sinks in his Mothers arms and dies i' th' Port. LXXXVII But the sad Women some their tender cheeks Beat with their hands their lovely tresses tare Here one her naked bosome Frantick strikes Sighs not nor groans but houling rends the air Anothers breast with lamentable skreeks Like Aetna fumes her eyes like Ganges are Some ' gainst the King some against Heav'n exclaim And some their griefs that had not kill'd them blame LXXXVIII There one to give her griefs a silent vent Near to her Son late murder'd prostrate lies Quite stupid in the Act her self she spent In groans and with deep sighs her self destroys Another checks her sorrow as content To give her scarce-dead Sons their Obsequies And gath ' ring on their Lips their fleeting breath Stamps there departing kisses cold as Death LXXXIX The squalid dismal spoils and torn Remains Of a pale little Corps another there Within a covering cleans'd from bloudy stains An object of extremest Pity bare And while her heart to water through her veins Distils and while her soul dissolves to air Her Bosome late his Cradle is become By her so strict Embrace in Death his Tomb. XC Tyr'd with this sight not satisfi'd with bloud Herod would now his greedy eyes divert On the soft Torrent and Vermilion sloud And in that tepid Bath caress'd his heart Of late like troubled streams but now they stood Like setled Pools and calm in every part Only a Gale of sighs as they the world Forsook with circles had the Surface curl'd Notes upon the Third Book Stanza I. This Painter so commended by our Author was Gioseppi Cesari d' Arpino cotemporary with Marino a Facorite to three successive Popes for his excellent Pieces and for a Piece of St. Michael presented to Lewis the 13th the French King beside other considerable gratuities had the Order of St. Michael conferred upon him Stanza V. Bethlehem was called the City of David where his Ancesters dwelt from the time of Obed of whom Jâ—sse â—ineally descended It was not the least of the Tribe of Judah â—et we no where find it
celebrated for any magnificent or stately building which the Poet here deseribes till the Birth of our Saviour gave it reputation and after his death stor'd it with many stately Edifices of Devotion through the Piety of several Princes as Constantine the Great his Mother Heâ—ena c. The End of the Third Book THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS BOOK IV. Limbus I. SUrcharg'd with storms such as were never known The dismal day a dismal night succeeds As if it had intended to bemoan The Infants Exequies in saddest weeds The rain in Cataracts was poured down With all the horrours that thick darkness breeds And from this mute Confusion every where Her sighs high winds her groans loud Thunder were II. Thus as content though not content within The King into his Palace goes again And in that Furnace where they did begin The furious flames doth still alive retein And ' gainst the Children his accurs'd design Keeps fresh within his heart and every vein Fearing that in some houses unreveal'd The Reliques of his Fear might be conceal'd III. He calls Malacche such a a villain none E'r knew of all Mankind the damnedst Knave More cruel then the cruell'st Lestrigon Should all that cursed Race rise from the Grave Born amongst Thieves a Jebusite and grown Up 'mong wild beasts which him their Nature gave So very ugly that if Likeness might Assume a Body 't would himself assright IV. Besides his thin-hair'd Chin and his bald Head His narrow Temples and thick bristled Brow Three Teeth a Nose that on his Face was spread A piercing look his eyes unequal throw The best of which by chance had perished O're which athwart an ample scarr did grow The stamp and Character of Jew and Greek In 's Forehead and his Face as Trophies stick V. Go seek said he through all and with thee take A Guard and if in any place you find Children alive a final slaughter make Do as thou' rt wont and follow thine own mind I 'le do 't reply'd the Villain for thy sake I scorn their loss and ne'r think Heav'n unkind For this sole cause that you would have it done To shew my obedience I 'le first kill my Son VI. While Herod thus within himself design'd A lasting Monument of his Rage to raise Malecche no less impiously inclin'd His Orders for the Fact no more delays A strict observer of his Masters mind To act their parts his Souldiers he conveys No Servant to so merciless a Lord So void of Pity could the world afford VII As when the burning Heats of Summer past The fair Astraea balances the year And Sol more temperate rays and just doth cast The days are mild and Trees ripe Apples bear To prey upon their Fruit the Sterlings haste And marshall'd in their several Troops appear And while far off they hover in the air The frighted Peasants for their grapes despair VIII So this perfidious and guilty Crew Where any Branches of the Hebrew stock They heard were hid the bloudy tract pursue Leaving the slain and to fresh slaughter flock As in th' Egaean when South winds renew The War the Palaces and every rock Eccho with noise so sad and doleful cries Of Women and of Children strike the Skies IX As if they now their Walls and lofty Gates Surpriz'd beheld and sinking all in flames While the proud Foe the Houses scales elates His Voice and bloud and death aloud proclaims Her breast afflicted Bethlem penetrates With strokes and her dire Fate lamenting blames And with so loud a voice to God she cries That Rama's Hill to the sad sound replies X. As trembling stems of Corn the Sickle reaps Or heavy ploughs tear up the tender flow'rs Innumerable Children so in heaps Fall near their Mothers side The Sword devours All that it finds through all insulting leaps And in full streams the bloud of Natives pours The miserable People cannot fly Their rage and know no Refuge but to die XI Into a little Cottage 'mong the rest The barbarous Malecche broke his way Where two sweet Boys he finds one at the breast Of 's Mother at her feet the other lay This with her foot she rock'd and lightly prest And would with pleasant Songs to sleep betray The other from white Springs suck'd milk and sound More than the milk kind kisses to abound XII Instead of a Salute the Traitor leapt To seize the Infant in the Cradle laid And with a dreadful voice as there he slept Awak'd him and most terribly dismay'd Nor long his murd'ring sword from 's throat he kept But to a lasting Lethargy betray'd And made him find alas how very near The confines betwixt Death and Sleep appear XIII Soon as this Trial on the first was found The Sword ' gainst t'other sucking was employ'd And in the Nape of 's neck inflicts a wound Which through his Jaws straight sent a purple tyde And with 't his Food His little soul is drown'd In bloud and milk that flows within beside While still the sharp and cruel point was press'd Forward and fix'd his Tongue unto his breast XIV The miserable Mother had of late Another Birth conceiv d within her Womb Tow'rds which the Suckling sunk as if with that He sought to joyn and find a living Tomb. One in her belly t'other in a strait Embrace she held till sharing in their doom She fell Strange Fate not to be seen again Three in one body by one stroke were slain XV. From thence into another house he made His way and there a fair young Lady found Where newly circumciz'd her Son was laid The bloud as yet not stanch'd but fresh the Wound He lifting up his armed hand the Blade I' th' blood which she would wipe away was drown'd And to the Wound was given by Heav'ns Edict His cruel Arm doth that of death inflict XVI She that she might a little life restore As he then languish d straight the Teat applies But he his mothers milk all turns to gore And her white bosom with deep purple dies His bloud to water then is turn'd by store Of tears which she pours on him from her eyes And while her breasts the crimson liquor dash'd Her Son 's sweet face the candid humour wash'd XVII This done he left her and goes boldly through All rooms in places most retir'd he pries Searcheth all Cabinets and with his Crew Turns up the Beds and all that on them lies At length within a little Couch where two Fair Twins were laid the lovely Pair he spies In Beauty and in Form so like they were That like the Twins of Heav'n they did appear XVIII Born so unhappy and preserv'd so Ill Alike in Form in Sex they diff'rent are One Soul two several Bodies seems to fill And in two Hearts a single life they share Nature to make them like us'd all her skill And by simplicity they coupled were And this new Janus made in Two one bed In common shar'd as they one Aspect had XIX But that
when the Agrigentine Bull those dire And doleful notes sent from the hollow brass The Bull not his own bellowings did expire But the contrivers dying voice it was So as th' unlook'd for clement the fire Nourish'd and through the hollow wood did pass Th' infus'd liquors mix'd increas'd the flame And thence most sad and mournful murmurs came LVIII Amaz'd at this sad fight the mother stood Collecting all the furies in her brest Like a fell Tygress in some Hircan wood At once of all her young late dispossest With nimble feet the hunter is pursued Through all the sands and in the furious quest Her face with threats of cruel pitty scouls And high Niphate trembles while she houls LIX Streight to take up the other Child she turn'd And amidst us poor woman held him where She saw the Pile wherein the first was burn'd And fed the fire that fill'd her with dispair With alike heat at once she rag'd and mourn'd And her mix'd grief and fury to declare To turn him all to Ashes streight she said Let him within this bosom here be layd LX. Here as in an Immortal Fornace here Love will preserve his Ashes still alive And since these murders are to you so dear And you will me of that best part deprive 'T is fit that I should cruel too appear And quietly to you this other give Then take him since I must depriv'd remain Of Both that Dead this other must be slain LXI As this she spoke a poignard yet with gore Reeking I saw but knew not in what hand Cruel as stout who the Child hid before Did with an hundred wounds to death command So that the Soul for flight to chuse a door Among so many doubtful seem'd to stand Nor knew which way it should the sally give But a long space did even in Death survive LXII And now at length have I the Traitress said My dearest Country and unhappy Son At once reveng'd and the foundation layd Of future quiet by what I have done You who the cruel Tyrant's slaves are made You truly ought to vindicate alone On false Albina's guilty bloud the ill And Ruins that the house of Herod fill LXIII Y 'ave kill'd my very heart yet shall not you Too joyful at my misery hence remove The last whom in my bosom here I slue Was not my Son by nature but by love And let Albina know that this is true Inurs'd young Alexander Him above All other Herod lov'd this pretty Boy Dead here upon the ground was all his joy LXIV This as she spoke our Captain with a mind Inflam'd resolv'd her fury to chastise But in an instant how I could not find A sword she drew or else did it surprize With which her hand a valiant act design'd Above her Sex wounds him and streight he dyes I scarce believ'd my self when falling I Saw him besmear'd with his own bloud and dy LXV At this strange chance our company with fear Were all surpriz'd and troubled in their mind And while this unexpected news they hear All thought that something worse remain'd behin'd But we the Nurse have taken prisoner And under a strict guard have now confind A single death for such a crime as this Too small a punishment and torment is LXVI All this the Tyrant with impatience hears And would not stay till he had made an end But furious as the King of Winds appears When with the Elements he would contend And ' gainst the World a dreadful War prepares While his fierce Troops from their deep Caves ascend Him to an inner Room his fury drives Where strait fair Dorida his Queen arrives LXVII Just then unhappy She the private Throne Of her with-drawing Room forsook her Train Of Damsels who upon her wait bemoan The loss and sadly full of grief complain Before her some the bloudy spoils upon Their arms then carried of the infant slain And as she sighing came with tears her eyes Enflam'd Where is my Bliss my Life She cryes LXVIII As when the Goddess who did Corn invent Sought her lost Daughter in Sicilian plaines With flaming Pines in Etna steep'd she went And to her grief and fury gave the reins Through th' air their course her rapid Dragons bent While her sick mind no comfort entertains In a strict search of the fair straggling Maid Who soon as seen was to a Rape betray'd LXIX Such there she came and when her swelling eyes Saw the loved Corps such pitty seiz'd her heart And to so great an height her sorrows rise That her fix'd silence nothing could divert All mangled at her Feet the Body lyes Pierc'd in the brest the sides and every part Engraild with wounds whose strangeness all surprize Like Argos with an hundred bleeding eyes LXX How the two living Sapphyrs then were quite Depriv'd of Lustre and their trembling flames How her eyes languish'd with a dying Light While in sad Accents She her grief proclames How her deep sighs did then the Stars invite To pitty while her hand her breasts inflames With blows plucks off the Gold the Roses breaks Of which Love had compos'd her Hair and Cheeks LXXI At length her face to his she press'd embrac'd And kiss'd him then her self upon him threw Wh'hath dress'd thee thus she said who hath defac'd My fairest Picture and most like Me too In what dire rank are my offences plac'd That in such manner Heaven should Me pursue Alass dear Child must thy kind Father so His Crown and Scepter upon thee bestow LXXII Oh thou wild Beast of all that are most wild Hircanian Tigers to their Young are kind What fury against this thy dearest Child Made thee so cruel or what rage so blind Th' hast sated now thy will thy Soul defil'd With all the cruelties that fill thy mind Enjoy them may his bloud and these my Woes Be thy sole Trophies and thy Triumphs close LXXIII Tell Me thou spirit of Serpents Soul of Bears Thou Heart of Adamant or hardest stone How could an Infant of such tender years Betray thee to whom Treason was unknown How could he whose past Age so short appears Have will to do what you fear may be done That this sad punishment before the time Should be inflicted for a future Crime LXXIV Thou art not Man nor born of Humane kind As I believe but rather of the rude And cruel Syrts or Seas enrag'd by wind Or of the Sphynxe's vile and bloudy brood Thy Birth Chimaera or Hell's Dogg design'd With Scylla's and Charibdis rage endu d. And thee among devouring Troops of curs'd Cyrenian Dragons some dire Harpy nurs'd LXXV And dost thou see it Heaven and suffer 't too My Son and yet I live and thus delay With mine own hand this veil of life for you Alone valued by me to take away No no since the cold frost and palid Dew Of Death o'respreads thy cheeks so young so gay It is not fit that mine which now can boast No ornament survive when thou art
lost LXXVI And since he who thy Being gave with thee Hath It cut off and all my hopes o'rethrown In spight of Him my soul from fetters free Shall follow thee whereever thou artgone Thy Hearse my Body shall accompany The Fate o' th' Tree and Fruit shall both be One. And thus the cruel Murderer of my joyes With one sad slaughter many lives destroyes LXXVII Alass how much more happy hadst thou bin My dearest Infant when with mournful cryes To view the light of Day thou didst begin If Death had then for ever clos'd thine eyes If when with moan thy language from within These breasts thou oft did'st seek for fresh supplies Instead of milk which kindly from me flow'd My hand a mortal poison had bestow'd LXXVIII But this my Breast unto it self too kind Too foolishly injurious to thee When to another I a weight resign'd So dear and suffer'd it so nurs'd to be But now as bitter as belov'd thy mind It shall fulfil and do it liberally I will that Debt with interest now make good Thy want of Milk shall be supply'd with Bloud LXXIX At this sad language he began to melt His heart as hard as hardest Alpine stone With pitty touch'd seem'd to relent and felt A passion to his soul before unknown When with a Dagger hanging at a belt And in a golden sheath beneath her gown In her own brest she fix'd so deep a wound She streight fell pale and dead upon the ground LXXX Her Train of Women at this sad surprize Could not the fury of her hand restrain Herod himself in hast with weeping eyes Endeavour'd to assist her but in vain He trembled and grew pale his faculties Grief wonder and amazement all enchain He seem'd a Statue stiff and pallid grown As late his heart so now his limbs are stone LXXXI Thou foolish barbarous Prince What canst thou say See see how vain all humane Counsels are Wherein thou thought'st thy only safety lay Thou now dost find thy mortal danger there Thy Son and Kingdom both thou didst betray While to secure them thou didst thus prepare Thy sentence on thee falls and thou alone Hast punish'd thine own fault before 't was done LXXXII As when a Limb cut off by some surprize Or by the sword receives to th' quick a wound The bloud streight backward as affrighted flyes And for a while no signs of bleeding found But soon as pain o' th hurt the sense supplies Streight warm Vermilion streams o'reflow the ground And from the open'd veins the bloud its course Maintains like waters from their native sourse LXXXIII So sudden grief the cruel Tyrants tongue A while restrain'd and all his sense delay'd Till through excess of anguish in a throng His sighs broke out and for words passage made Tears from his eyes in rivulets streight sprung Like bloud from 's Soul and inward Wounds betray'd At length he fell where 's wife and son then lay Like Rocks of Marble in a Crimson Sea LXXXIV See! to what dismal sight these weeping eyes Heaven hath reserv'd Will ye ne'r close again Or that my griefs may give these warm supplies Must ye be forc'd still open to remain O Alexander dost not hear my cryes Flowr of my Soul cut off i' th Bud and slain O Doris dost not hear Giv'st no reply But hid'st the Sun of thy fair eyes Oh why LXXXV Wretch that I am Which shall I first lament My Son Or Thee dear consort of my Bed Who in the prime of years from me art rent And He alass no sooner born but dead On you these tears shall for my self be spent Your Fate I 'le weep as ruins on my head My Crown shall now no other purple wear Then what the Tincture of your bloud shall bear LXXXVI Poor Child Of a most cruel Father born Under the influence of a Star severe Are these the Ensignes should thy brows adorn Is this the Throne I have prepar'd thee here Oh with what tragique pomp the Fates here mourn My Nuptial Bed is turn'd into a Bier Those Lights which I to Hymen did commend Must now alass sad exequies attend LXXXVII Oh my distracted Soul What was design'd By my Fate or thy folly to what end This mad advice which made my reason blind So that I could not even mine own defend Nor when th' edict went out could call to mind To draw him from the danger did impend But this rebellious flames was your design Perfidious Stars your cruelty not mine LXXXVIII But you infernal Furies spurr'd me on To act all this though guilty I remain Of all these ills of all this mischief done 'T was I contriv'd it all I these have slain My Life from Life and honour from my Throne I have cut off and that which should sustain With Me and after Me my Race and Crown I onely have o'rethrown and trampled down LXXXIX Now what revenge thou most unhappy child Of an unhappy Mother can suffice For expiation of a rage so wild What can'st thou from thy Sire accurs'd reprize Not thy perfidious Nurse with bloud defil'd Nor Troops the Actors of my cruelties Nor if at once my kingdom to thy Shade And I my self a sacrifice be made XC The name of King and Father I 'le assume No more such titles too injurious were Vile Monster Devil will me best become Unworthy thee whom I have murder'd here How much since now too late I find my doom Do I to those dead Infants envy bear For since my Joyes no longer now survive 'T is fit that I this day should cease to Live XCI Yet could I wish those naked Souls which I Spoil'd of their bodies were now cloth'd again That spoiling them anew their limbs might ly Expos'd to salvage beasts winds frost and rain And should kind Heaven collect them as they dy That they may hidden from its sight remain Yet will I satisfy my grief though Fame Shall Me most cruel through the World proclaim XCII Oh who will give me here that sword which all My Joyes cut off for it is fit that I By the same weapon with my son should fall And since that Branch is broke the stock must dy Thus his complaints around the Country call To moan the Ruins of his Family While the most happy Spirits already fled There wings to'ards the Elysian Mansions spred XCIII As at the entrance of some shady grove In the declining of a Summer's day In Troops the flying little creatures move And in the trembling Light still waving play And to the Swains and Shepherds seem above Atoms inspir'd with life by every ray So that the false and still removing light Deceives the Children who pursue their flight XCIV Or as the busie and industrious Bees In Hybla's fresh and odorif'rous air The spoils of April from the rosie Trees And fragrant Lilies gather every where Whence cunning Architects in all degrees Their well-built Cells for Winter they prepare Ingenious Fabricks with most stately rooms Of Virgin Wax form'd in