of their agreement thus express That each should hold what now he did possess Till Alexander unto age was grown VVho then should be enstalled in the throne This toucht Cassander sore for what he 'd done Imprisoning both the mother and the son He sees the Greeks now favour their young Prince Whom he in durance held now and long since That in few years he must be forc'd or glad To render up such Kingdomes as he had Resolves to quit his fears by one deed done So puts to death the Mother and her Son This Roxane for her beauty all commend But for one act she did just was her end No sooner was great Alexander dead But she Darius daughters murthered Both thrown into a well to hide her blot Perdiccas was her Partner in this plot The heavens seem'd slow in paying her the same But at the last the hand of vengeance came And for that double fact which she had done The life of her must goe and of her son Perdiccas had before for his amiss But by their hands who thought not once of this Cassanders deed the princes do detest But 't was in shew in heart it pleas'd them best That he is odious to the world they 'r glad And now they were free Lords of what they had When this foul tragedy was past and done Polysperchon brings the other son Call'd Hercules and elder then his brother But Olimpiaâ— would prefer the other The Greeks toucht with the murther done of late This Orphan prince 'gan to compassionate Begin to mutter much ' gainst proud Cassander And place their hopes on th' heir of Alexander Cassander fear'd what might of this onsue So Polisâ—erchon to his counsel drew And gives Peloponesus for his hire Who slew the prince according to desire Thus was the race and house of Alexander Extinct by this inhumane wretch Cassander Antigonus for all this doth not mourn He knows to 's profit this at last will turn But that some Title now he might pretend To Cleopatra doth for marriage send Lysimachus and Ptolemy the same And lewd Cassander too sticks not for shame She then in Lydia at Sardis lay Where by Embassage all these Princes pray Choice above all of Ptolemy she makes With his Embassador her journy takes Antigonus Lieutenant stayes her still Untill he further know his Masters will Antigonus now had a Wolf by th' Ears To hold her still or let her go he fears Resolves at last the Princess should be slain So hinders him of her he could not gain Her women are appointed for this deed They for their great reward no better speed For by command they streight were put to death As vile Conspirators that stopt her breath And now he hopes he 's order'd all so well The world must needs believe what he doth tell Thus Philip's house was quite extinguished Except Cassanders wife who yet not dead And by their means who thought of nothing loss Then vengeance just against them to express Now blood was paid with blood for what was done By cruel Father Mother cruel Son Thus may we hear and fear and ever say That hand is righteous still which doth repay These Captains now the stile of Kings do take For to their Crowns their 's none can Title make Demetrius first the royal stile assum'd By his Example all the rest presum'd Antigonus himself to ingratiate Doth promise liberty to Athens State With Arms and with provision stores them well The better ' gainst Cassander to rebel Demâ—trius thether goes is entertain'd Not like a King but like some God they feign'd Most grosly base was their great Adulation Who Incense burnt and offered oblation These Kings afresh fall to their wars again Demetrius of Ptolemy doth gain 'T would be an endless Story to relate Their several Battels and their several fate Their fights by Sea their victories by Land How some when down straight got the upper hand Antigonus and Seleucus then fight Near Ephesus each bringing all his might And he that Conquerour shall now remain The Lordship of all Asia shall retain This day 'twixt these two Kings ends all the strife For here Antigonus lost rule and life Nor to his Son did e're one foot remain Of those vast Kingdomes he did sometimes gain Demetrius with his Troops to Athens flyes Hopes to find succours in his miseries But they adoring in prosperity Now shut their gates in his adversity He sorely griev'd at this his desperate State Tryes Foes sith friends will not compassionate His peace he then with old Seleucus makes Who his fair daughter Strotonica takes Antâ—ochus Sâ—leuâ—us dear lov'd Son Is for this fresh young Lady quite undone Falls so extreamly sick all fear'd his life Yet durst not say he lov'd his Fathers wife When his disease the skill'd Physitian sound His Fathers mind he wittily did sound Who did no sooner understand the same But willingly resign'd the beautious Dame Cassander now must dye his race is run And leaves the ill got Kingdomes he had won Two Sons he left born of King Philips daughter Who had an end put to their dayes by slaughter Which should succeed at variance they fell The Mother would the youngest might excell The eld'st inrag'd did play the Vipers part And with his Sword did run her through the heart Rather then Philips race should longer live He whom she gave his life her death shall give This by Lysimacus was after slain Whose daughter he not long before had â—a'ne Demetrius is call'd in by th' youngest Son Against â—â—simachus who from him won But he a Kingdome more then 's friend did eye Seaz'd upon that and slew him traitrously Thus Philips and Cassander's race both gone And so falls out to be extinct in one And though Cassander died in his bed His Seed to be extirpt was destined For blood which was decre'd that he should spill Yet must his Children pay for Fathers ill Jehu in killing Anaâ—'s house did well Yet be aveng'd must blood of 〈◊〉 Demetrius thus Cassander's Kingdoms gains And now in Macedon as King he reigns Thougâ— men and mony both he hath at will In neither finâ—s content if he sits still That Sâ—lâ—ucus holds Asia grievs hiâ— sore Those Countryes large his Fatâ—er got before These to recover musters all his might And with his Son in Law will needs go fight A mighty Navy rig'd an Army stout With these he hopes to turn the world about Leaving Antigonus his eldest Son In his long absence to rule Macedon Demetrius with so many troubles met As Heaven and Earth against him had been set Disaster on disaster him pursue His story seems a Fable more then true At last he 's taken and imprisoned Within an Isle that was with pleasures fed Injoy'd what ere beseem'd his Royalty Only restrained of his liberty After three years he died left what he 'd won In Greece unto Antigonus his Son For his Posterity unto this day Did ne're regain one foot in Asia His Body
own My reason then bad judge how little hope My empty seed should yield a better crop Then with both hands I graspt the world together Thus out of one extream into another But yet laid hold on virtue seemingly Who climbs without hold climbs dangerously Be my condition mean I then take pains My Family to keep but not for gains A Father I for children must provide But if none then for kindred near ally'd If rich I 'm urgâ—d then to gather more To bear a port i' th' world and feed the poor If noble then mine honour â—o maintain If not riches 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 bless me for my bounty lent Whose backs I 've cloth'd and bellyes I have feâ— With mine own fleecâ— with my houshold bread Yea justice have I done was I in place To chear the good and wicked to deface The proud I crush't 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 Lambs as they had need A Captain I with Skill I train'd my Band And shew'd them how in faâ—e of Foes to stand A Souldier I with speed I did obey As readily as could my leader say Was I a labourer I wrought all day As cheerfully as e're I took my pay Thus hath mine Age in all sometimes done well Sometimes again mine Age been worse then Hell In meanness greatness riches poverty Did toyle did broyle oppress'd did steal and lye Was I as poor as poverty could be Then baseness was Companion unto me Such scum as hedges and high-ways do yield As neither sow nor reaâ— nor plant nor build If to Agriculture I was orâ—ain'd Great labours sorrows Crosses I sustain'd The early Cock did summon but in vain My wakeful thoughts up to my painful gain My weary Beast rest from his toyle can find But if I rest the more distrest my mind If happiness my sordidness hath found 'T was in the Crop of my manured ground My thriving Cattle and my new-milch-Cow My fleeced Sheep and fruitful farrowing 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 thirst for honour set my heart on fire And by Ambition's sails I was so carâ—ied That over Flats and sands and Rocks I hurried Opprest and sunk and stav'd all in my way That did oppose me to my longed Bay My thirst was higher then nobility I oft loâ—g'd sore to tast on Royalty Then Kings must be depos'd or put to flight I might possess that Throne which was their right There set I rid my self straight out of hand Of such Competitors as might in time withstand Then thought my state firm founded sure to last But in a trice 't is ruin'd by a blast Though cemented with more then noble bloud The bottom nought and so no longer stood Sometimes vain glory is the only baite Whereby my empty Soul is lur'd and caught Be I of wit of learning and of parts I judge I should have room in all mens hearts And envy gnaws if any do surmount I hate not to be held in high'st 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 reins The Strangury torments me with sore pains The windy Cholick oft my bowels rend To break the darksome prison where it 's pen'd The Cramp and Gout doth sadly torture me And the restraining lame Sciatica The Astma Megrim Palsy Lethargie The quartan Ague dropsy Lunacy Subject to all distempers 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 somewhat more Babes innocence youths wildness I have seen And in perplexed middle Age have been Sickness dangers and anxieties have past And on this stage am come to act my last I have been young and â—rong and wise as you But now Bis pueri seneâ— is too true In every Age I 've found much vanity 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 Hath now the power death's warfare to discharge It 's not my goodly state nor bed of downe That can refresh or ease if Conscience frown Nor from Alliance can I now have hope But what I have done well that is my prop He that in youth is godly wise and sage Provides a staff then to support his Age. Mutations great some joyful and some sad In this short pilgrimage I oft have had Sometimes the Heavens with plenty smil'd on me Sometime again rain'd all Adversity Sometimes in honour sometimes in disgrace Sometime an Abâ—â—ct 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 Kingdome 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 methought the day at noon grew dark When it had lost that radiant Sun-like Spark In midst of griefs I saw our hopes revive For 't was our hopes then kept our hearts alive We chang'd our queen for king under whose rayes We joy'd in many blest and prosperous dayes I 've seen a Prince the glory of our land In prime of youth seiz'd by heavens angry hand Which fil'd our hearts with fears with tears our eyes Wailing his fate our own destinies I 've seen from Rome an execrable thing A Plot to blow up Nobles and their King But saw their horrid fact soon disappointed And Land Nobles sav'd with their anointed I 've Princes seen to live on others lands A royal one by gifts from strangers hands Admired for their magnanimity Who lost a Prince-dome and a Monarchy I 've seen designs for Ree and Rochel crost And poor Palatinate for ever lost I've seen unworthy men advanced high And better ones suffer extremity But neither favour riches title State Could length their dayes or once reverse their fate I 've seen one stab'd and some to loose their heads And others fly struck both with gilt and dread I 've seen and so have you for t is but late The desolation of a goodly
But in the eighth against his Prince rebels The ninth came Nebuchadnezzar with power Besieg'd his city temple Zions tower And after eighteen months he took them all The Walls so strong that stood so long now fall The cursed King by flight could no wise fly His well deserv'd and foretold misery But being caught to Babels wrathfull King With children wives and Nobles all they bring Where to the sword all but himself were put And with that wofull sight his eyes close shut Ah! hapless man whose darksome contemplation Was nothing but such gastly meditation In midst of Babel now till death he lyes Yet as was told ne're saw it with his eyes The Temple 's burnt the vessels had away The towres and palaces brought to decay Where late of harp and Lute were heard the noise Now Zim Jim lift up their scrieching voice All now of worth are Captive led with tears And sit bewailing Zion seventy years With all these conquests Babels King rests not No not when Moab Edom he had got Kedar and Hazar the Arabians too All Vassals at his hands for Grace must sue A total conquest of rich Egypt makes All rule he from the ancient Phraohes takes Who had for sixteen hundred years born sway To Babilons proud King now yields the day Then Put and Lud do at his mercy stand VVhere e're he goes he conquers every land His sumptuous buildings passes all conceit Which wealth and strong ambition made so great His Image Judahs Captives worship not Although the Furnace be seven times more hot His dreams wise Daniel doth expound full well And his unhappy chang with grief foretell Strange melancholy humours on him lay Which for seven years his reason took away VVhich from no natural causes did proceed But for his pride so had the heavens decreed The time expir'd bruitish remains no more But Goverment resumes as heretofore In splendor and in Majesty he sits Contemplating those times he lost his witts And if by words we may ghess at the â—eart This king among the righteous had a part Fourty four years he reign'd which being run He left his wealth and conquests to his son Evilmerodach Babels great Monarch now laid in the dust His son possesses wealth and rule as just And in the first year of his Royalty Easeth Jehojakims Captivity Poor forlorn Prince 〈◊〉 had all state forgot In seven and thirty years had seen no jot Among the conquer'd Kings that there did ly Is Judah's King now lifted up on high But yet in Babel he must still remain And native Canaan never see again Unlike his Father Evilmerodach Prudence and magnanimity did lack Fair Egypt is by his remisness lost Arabia and all the bordering coast Warrs with the Medes unhappily he wag'd Within which broyles rich Croesus was ingag'd His Army routed and himself there slain His Kingdome to Belshazzar did remain Belshazzar Unworthy Belshazzar next wears the crown Whose acts profane a sacred Pen sets down His lust and crueltyes in storyes find A royal State rulâ—d by a bruitish mind His life so base and dissolute invites The noble Persian to invaâ—e his rights Who with his own and Uncles power anon Layes sieâ—ge to 's Regal Seat proud Baâ—â—n The coward King whose strength lay in his walls To banquetting and revelling now falls To shew his little dread but greater store To chear his friends and scorn his foes the more The holy vessels thither brought long since They carrows'd in and sacrilegious prince Did praise his Gods of mettal wood and stone Protectors of his Crown and Babylon But he above his doings did deride And with a hand soon dashed all this pride The King upon the wall casting his eye The fingers of a hand writing did spy Which horrid sight he fears must needs portend Destruction to his Crown toâ—s Person end With quaking knees and heart appall'd he cries For the Soothsayers and Magicians wise This language strange to read and to unfold With gifts of Scarlet robe and Chain of gold And highest dignity next to the King To him that could interpret clear this thing But dumb the gazing Astrologers stand Amazed at the writing and the hand None answers the affrighted Kings intent Who still expects some fearful sad event As dead alive he sits as one undone In comes the Queen to chear her heartless Son Of Daniel tells who in his grand-sires dayes VVas held in more account then now he was Dâ—niel in haste is brought before the King VVho doth not flatter nor once cloak the thing Reminds him of his Grand-Sires height and fall And of his own notorious sins withall His Drunkenness and his profaness high His pride and sottish gross Idolatry The guilty King with colour pale and dead Then hears his Mene and his Tekel read And one thing did worthy a King though late Perform'd his word to him that told his fate That night victorious Cyrus took the town Vâ—ho soon did terminate his life and crown VVith him did end the race of Baladan And now the Persian Monarchy began The End of the Assyrian Monarchy The Second Monarchy being the Persian began under Cyrus Darius being his Uncle and Father-in-law reigned with him about two years CYrus Cambyses Son of Persia King Whom Lady Mandana did to him bring She daughter unto great Astiages He in descent the seventh from Arbaces Cambyseâ— was of Achemenes race VVho had in Persia the Lieftenants place VVhen Sardanapalus was overthrown And from that time had helâ— it as his own Cyrus Darius Daughter took to wife And so unites two Kingdomes without strife Darius unto Manâ—aâ—a was brother Adopts her son for his having no other This is of Cyrus the true pedegree VVhose Ancestors were royal in degree His Mothers dream and Grand-Sires cruelty His preservation in his misery His nourishment afforded by a Bitch Are fit for such whose ears for Fables itch He in his younger dayes an Army led Against great Cressâ—â— then of Lidia head Who over-curious of wars event For information to Apollo went And the ambiguous Oracle did trust So overthrown by Cyrus as was just Who him pâ—asues to Sardis takes the Town Where all that dare resist are slaughter'd down Disguised Cressus hop'd to scape i' th' throng Who had no might to save himself from wrong But as he past his Son who was born dumb With pressing grief and sorrow overcome Among the tumult bloud-shed and the strife Brake his long silence cry'd spare Cressus life Cressus thus known it was grâ—at Cyrus doom A hard decree to ashes he consume Then on a wood pile set where all might eye He Solon Solon Solon thrice did cry The Reason of those words Cyrus demands Who Solon was to whom he lifts his hands Then to the King he makes this true report That Solon sometimes at his stately Court His Treasures pleasures pomp and power dâ—d see And viewing all at all nought mov'd was he That Cressus angry urg'd him to express If ever King
belong His Camels beasts for carriage numberless For Truths asham'd how many to express The charge of all he severally commended To Princes of the Persian bloud descended But the command of these commanders all Unto Mardonius made their General He was the Son of the fore nam'd Gobrius Who married the Sister of Darius Such his land Forces were then next a fleet Of two and twenty thousand Gallies meet Man'd with Phenicians and Pamphylians Cipriots Dorians and Cilicians Lycians Carians and Ionians Eolians and the Helispontines Besides the vessels for his transportation Which to three thousand came by best relation Brave Artemisia Hallicarnassus Queen In person present for his aid was seen Whose Gallyes all the rest in neatness pass Save the Zâ—donians where Xerxes was But hers she kept still seperate from the rest For to command alone she judg'd was best O noble Queen thy valour I commend But pitty 't was thine aid thou here didst lend At Sardis in Lydia all these do meet Whether rich Pythias comes Xerxes to greet Feasts all this multitude of his own charge Then gives the King a king-like gift full large Three thousand talents of the purest gold Which mighty sum all wondred to behold Then humbly to the king he makes request One of his five sons there might be releas'd To be to 's age a comfort and a stay The other four he freely gave away The king calls for the youth who being brought Cuts him in twain for whom his Sire besought Then laid his parts on both sides of the way 'Twixt which his souldiers marcht in good array For his great love is this thy recompence Is this to do like Xerxes or a Prince Thou shame of kings of men the detestation I Rhetorick want to pour out execration First thing he did that's worthy of recount A Sea passage cut behind Athos mount Next o're the Helespont a bridge he made Of Boats together coupled and there laid But winds and waves those iron bands did break To cross the sea such strength he found too weak Then whips the sea and with a mind most vain He fetters cast therein the same to chain The work-men put to death the bridge that made Because they wanted skill the same t o've staid Seven thousand Gallyes chainâ—d by Tyrians skill Firmly at last accomplished his will Seven dayes and nights his host without least stay Was marching o're this new devised way Then in Abidus plains mustring his forces He gloryes in his squadrons and his horses Long viewing them thought it great happiness One king so many subjects should possess But yet this sight from him produced tears That none of those could live an hundred years What after did ensue had he foreseen Of so long time his thoughts had never been Of Artubanus he again demands How of this enterprise his thoughts now stands His answâ—â— was both sea and land he fear'd Which was not vain as after soon appear'd But Xerxes resolute to Thrace goes first His Host all Lissus drinks to quench their thirst And for his Cattel all Pissyrus Lake Was scarce enough for each a draught to take Then marching on to th' streight Thermopyle The Spartan meets him brave Leonade This 'twixt the mountains lyes half Acre wide That pleasant Thessaly from Greece divide Two dayes and nights a fight they there maintain Till twenty thousand Persians fell down â—lain And all that Army then dismaid had fled But that a Fugitive discovered How some might o're the mountains go about And wound the backs of those brave warriors stout They thus behem'd with multitude of Foes Laid on more fiercely their deep mortal blows None cries for quarter nor yet seeks to run But on their ground they die each Mothers Son O noble Greeks how now degenerate Where is the valour of your ancient State When as one thousand could a million daunt Alas it is Leonades you want This shameful victory cost Xerxes dear Among the rest two brothers he lost there And as at Land so he at Sea was crost Four hundred stately Ships by storms was lost Of Vessels small almoâ—t innumerable The Harbours to contain them was not 〈◊〉 Yet thinking to out match his Foes at Sâ—â— Enclos'd their Fleet i' th' streight of Eubeâ—â— But they as fortunate at Sea as Land In this streight as the other firmly stand And Xerxes mighty Gallyes battered so That their split sides witness'd his overthrow Then in the streight of Salamis he try'd If that small number his great force could bide But he in daring of his forward Foe Received there a shameful overthrow Twice beaten thus at Sea he warr'd no more But then the Pâ—â—cians Country wasted sore They no way able to withstand his force That brave Themistocles takes this wise course In secret manner word to Xerxes sends That Greeks to break his Bridg shortly intends Aâ—d as a friend warns him what e're he do For his Retreat to have an eâ—e thereto He hearing this his thoughts course home bended Much fearing that which never was intended Yet 'fore he went to help out his expence Part of his Host to Delphos sent from thence To rob the wealthy Temple of Apollo But mischief sacriledge doth ever follow Two mighty Rocks brake from Parnassus hill And many thousands of those men did kill VVhich accident the rest affrighted so VVith empty hands they to their Master go He finding all to tend to his decay Fearing his Bridge no longer there wâ—uld stay Three hundred thousand yet he left behind VVith his Mardonius Index of his mind Who for his sake he knew would venture farre Chief instigator of this hapless warr He instantly to Athens sends for peace That all Hostility from thence forth cease And that with Xerxes they would be at one So should all favour to their State be shown The Spartans fearing Athens would agree As had Macedon Thebes and Thessaly And leave them out this Shock now to sustain By their Ambassador they thus complain That Xerxes quarrel was ' gainst Athens State And they had helpt them as Confederate If in their need they should forsake their friends Their infamy would last till all things ends But the Athenians this peace detest And thus reply'd unto Mardon's request That whil'st the Sun did run his endless Course Against the Persians they would bend their force Nor could the brave Ambassador he sent With Rhetorick gain better Complement A Macedonian born and great Commander No less then grand-Sire to great Alexaâ—dâ—r Mardonius proud hearing this Answer stout To add more to his numbers layes about And of those Greeks which by his Skill he 'd won He fifty thousand joyns unto his own The other Greeks which were Confedeâ—ate In all one hundred and ten thousand made The Athenians could but forty thousand Arme The rest had weapons would do little harm But that which helpt defects and made them bold Was victory by Oracle foretold Then for one battel shortly all provide Where both
The Greeks had chose him Captain General Which honour to his Son did now befall For as Worlds Monarch now we speak not on But as the King of little Macedon Restless both day and night his heart then was His high resolves which way to bring to pass Yet for a while in Greece is forc'd to stay Which makes each moment seem more then a day Thebes and stiff Athens both ' gainst him rebel Their mutinies by valour doth he quell This done against both right and natures Laws His kinsmen put to death who gave no cause That no rebellion in in his absence be Nor making Title unto Sovereignty And all whom he suspects or fears will climbe Now taste of death least they deserv'd in time Nor wonder isâ—t if he in bâ—ood begin For Cruelty was his parental sin Thus eased now of troubles and of fears Next spring his course to Asia he steers Leavs Sage Antipaâ— at home to sway And through the Hellisâ—â—nt his Ships made way Coming to Land his dart on shore he throws Then with alacrity he after goes And with a bount'ous heart and courage brave His little wealth among his Souldiers gave And being ask'd what for himself was left Reply'd enough sith only hope he kept Thirty two thousand made up his Foot force To which were joyn'd five thousand goodly horse Then on he marcht in 's way he view'd old Troy And on Achilles tomb with wondrous joy He offer'd and for good success did pray To him his Mothers Ancestors men say When news of Alexander came to Court To scorn at him Darius had good sport Sends him a frothy and contemptuous Letter Stiles him disloyal servant and no better Reproves him for his proud audacity To lift his hand ' gainst such a Monarchy Then to 's Lieftenant he in Asia sends That he be ta'ne alive for he intends To whip him well with rods and so to bring That boy so mallipert before the King Ah! fond vain man whose pen ere while In lower terms was taught a higher stile To River Granick Alexander hyes Which in Phrygia near Propontike lyes The Persians ready for encounter stand And strive to keep his men from off the land Those banks so steep the Greeks yet scramble up And heat the coward Persians from the top And twenty thousand of their lives bereave Who in their backs did all their wounds receive This victory did Alexander gain With loss of thirty four of his there slain Then Sardis he and Ephesus did gain VVhere stood of late Diana's wondrous Phane And by Paâ—meâ—â—o of renowned Fame Militus and Pamphilia overcame Halliâ—arnassus and Pisidia He for his Master takes with Lycia Next Alexander marcht towards the black Sea And easily takes old Gordium in his way Of Ass ear'd Midas once the Regal Seat VVhose touch turn'd all to gold yea even his meat VVhere the Prophetick knot he cuts in twain VVhich who so doth must Lord of all remain Now news of Memnon's death the Kings Viceroy To Alexanders heart 's no little joy For in that Peer more valour did abide Then in Darius multitude beside In 's stead was Arses plac'd but durst not stay Yet set one in his room and ran away His substitute as fearfull as his master Runs after two and leaves all to Disaster Then Alexander all Cilicia takes No stroke for it he struck their hearts so quakes To Greâ—â—â— he thirty thousand talents sends To raise more Force to further his intends Then o're he goes Darius now to meet Who came with thousand thousands at his feet Though some there be perhaps more likely write He but four hundred thousand had to fight The rest Attendants which made up no less Both Sexes there was almost numberless For this wise King had brought to see the sport With him the greatest Ladyes of the Court His mother his beauteous Queen and daughters It seems to see the Macedonian slaughters It s much beyond my time and little art To shew how great Darius plaid his part The splendor and the pomp he marched in For since the world was no such â—â—geant seen Sure 't was a goodly sight there to behold The Persians clad in silk and glistering gold The stately horses trapt the lances gilt As if addrest now all to run a tilt The holy sire was borne before the host For Sun and â—ire the Persians worship most The Priests in their strange habit follow after An object not so much of fear as laughter The King sate in a chariot made of gold With crown and Robes most glorious to behold And o're his head his golden Gods on high Support a party coloured Canopy A number of spare horses next were led Lest he should need them in his Chariots stead But those that saw him in this state to lye Suppos'd he neither meant to fight nor flye He fifteen hundred had like women drest For thus to fright the Greeks he judg'd was best Their golden ornaments how to set forth Would ask more time then was their bodies worth Great Sysigambis she brought up the Reer Then such a world of waggons did appear Like several houses moving upon wheels As if she 'd drawn whole Sâ—â—han at her heels This brave Virago to the King was mother And as much good she did as any other Now lest this gold and all this goodly stuff Had not been spoyle and booty rich enough A thousand mulâ— and Camels ready wait Loaden with gold with jewels and with plate For sure Darius thought at the first sight The Greeks would all adore but none would fight But when both Armies met he might behold That valour was more worth then pearls or gold And that his wealth serv'd but for baits to ' lure To make his overthrow more fierce and sure The Greeks came on and with a gallant grace Let fly their arrows in the Persians face The cowards feeling this sharp stinging charge Most basely ran and left their king at large Who from his golden coach is glad to ' light And cast away his crown for swifter flight Of late like some immoveable he lay Now finds both legs and horse to run away Two hundred thousand men that day were slain And forty thousand prisoners also tane Besides the Queens and Ladies of the court If Curtius be true in his report The Regal Ornaments were lost the treasure Divided at the Macedonians pleasure Yet all this grief this loss this overthrow Was but beginning of his future woe The royal Captives brought to Alexander T'ward them demean'd himself like a Commander For though their beauties were unparaled Conquer'd himself now he had conquered Preserv'd their honour us'd them bounteously Commands no man should doe them injury And this to Alâ—xander is more fame Then that the Persian King he overcame Two hundred eighty Greeks he lost in fight By too much heat not wounds as authors write No sooner had this Victor won the field But all Phenicia to his pleasure yield Of which the
his mates She gave him poyson formerly 't is thought Which damage both to mind and body brought She now with Polisperchon doth combine To make the King by force his Seat resigne And her young grand-child in his State inthrone That under him she might rule all alone For aid she goes t' Epire among her friends The better to accomplish these her ends Euriâ—ice hearing what she intends In haste unto her friend Cassander sends To leave his siege at Tegea and with speed To save the King and her in this their need Then by intreaties promises and Coyne Some forces did procure with her to joyn Olimpias soon enters Macedon The Queen to meet her bravely marches on But when her Souldiers saw their ancient Queen Calling to mind what sometime she had been The wife and Mother of their famous Kings Nor darts nor arrows now none shoots or flings The King and Queen seeing their destiny To save their lives t' Amphipolis do fly But the old Queen pursues them with her hate And needs will have their lives as well as State The King by extream torments had his end And to the Queen these presents she did send A Halter cup of poyson and a Sword Bids chuse her death such kinâ—ness she 'l afford The Queen with many a curse and bitter check At length yields to the Halter hâ—r fair neck Praying that fatal day might quickly haste On which Olimpias of the like might taste This done the cruel Quâ—en rests not content ' Gainst all that lov'd Cassander she was bent His Brethren Kinsfolk and his chiefest friends That fell within her reach came to their ends Dig'd up his brother dead ' gainst natures right And threw his bones about to shew her spight The Courtiers wondring at her furious mind Wisht in Epire she had been still confin'd In Peloponesus then Cassander lay Where hearing of this news he speeds away With rage and with revenge he 's hurried on To find this cruel Queen in Macedon But being stopt at streight Thermopoly Sea passage gets and lands in Thâ—â—aly His Army he divides sends post away Polisperchon to hold a while in play And with the rest Olimpias pursues For all her cruelty to give her dues She with the chief o' th' Court to Pydna flyes Well fortifi'd and on the Sea it lyes There by Cassander she 's blockt up so long Untill the Famine grows exceeding strong Her Couzen of Epire did what he might To raise the Siege and put her Poes to flight Cassander is resolved there to remain So succours and endeavours proves but vain Fain would this wretched Queen capitulate Her foe would give no Ear such is his hate The Souldiers pinched with this scarcity By stealth unto Cassander layly fly Olimpias means to holâ— out to the last Expecting nothing but of death to tast But his occasions calling him away Gives promise for her life so wins the day No sooner had he got her in his hand But made in judgement her accusers stand And pleaâ— the blood of friends and kindreds spilt Desiring justice might be done for guilt And so was he acquitted of his word For justice sake she being put to th' Sword This was the end of this most cruel Queen Whose fury scarcely parallel'd hath been The daughter sister Mother Wife to Kings But Royalty no good conditions brings To Husbands death 't is thought she gave consent The murtherer she did so much lament With Garlands crown'd his head bemoan'd his fates His Sword unto Apollo consecrates Her Outrages too tedious to relate How for no cause but her inveterate hate Her Husbands wives and Children after 's death Some slew some fry'd of others stopt the breath Now in her Age she 's forc'd to tast that Cup Which she had others often made to sup Now many Towns in Macedon supprest And Pâ—llas fain to yield among the rest The Funerals Cassander celebrates Of Aâ—â—daeus and his Queen with State Among their Ancestors by him they 're laid And shews of lamentation for them made Old Thebes he then rebuilt so much of fame And Cassandria rais'd after his name But leave him building others in their Urne Let 's for a while now into Asia turn True Eumenes endeavours by all Skill To keep Antigonus from Shushan still Having command o' th' Treasure he can hire Such as no threats nor favour could acquire In divers Battels he had good success Antigonus came off still honourless When Victor oft he 'd been and so might still Peucestes did betray him by a wile T' Antigonus who took his Life unjust Because he never would forgoe his trust Thus lost he all for his fidelity Striving t' uphold his Masters Family But to a period as that did haste So Eumâ—nes the prop of death must tast All Persia now Antigonus doth gain And Master of the Treasure sole remain Then with Seleuâ—us streight at odds doth fall And he for aid to Ptolomy doth call The Princes all begin now to envy Antigonus his growing up so high Fearing his force and what might hap e're long Enters into a Combination strong Sâ—â—â—câ—â— â—tolemy Cassander joynes Lysimachus to make a fourth combines Antâ—â—onus desirous of the Greekâ— To make Cassander odious to them seeks Sends forth his declarations near and far And clears what cause he had to make this war â—â—ssâ—nders outrages at large doth tell Shews his ambitious practises as well The mother of their King to death he 'd put His wife and son in prison close had shut And aiming now to make himself a king And that some title he might seem to bring Thessalonica he had newly wed Daughter to Philip their renowned head Had built and call'd a City by his name Which none e're did but those of royal fame And in despight of their two famous Kings Hatefull Olinthians to Greece rebrings Rebellious Thebes he had reedified Which their late King in dust had damnified Requires them therefore to take up their arms And to requite this traitor for these harms Then Ptolemy would gain the Greeks likewise And he declares the others injuryes First how he held the Empire in his hands Seleueuâ— driven from Goverment and lands The valiant Eumenes unjustly slain And Lord of royal Shusâ—an did remain Therefore requests their help to take him down Before he wear the universal Crown These princes at the sea soon had a sight Where great Antigonus was put to slight His son at Gaza likewise lost the field So Syria to Ptolemy did yield And Seleucus recovers Babylon Still gaining Countryes eastward he goes on Demetrius with Ptolemy did fight And coming unawares put him to flight But bravely sends the prisoners back again With all the spoyle and booty he had tane Courteous as noble Ptolemy or more VVho at Gaza did the like to him before Antigonus did much rejoyce his son VVith victory his lost repute had won At last these princes tired out with warrs Sought for a peace and laid aside their jarrs The terms
Sâ—leâ—cus sends to his Son Whose obsequies with wondrous pomp was done Next di'd the brave and noble Proâ—emp Renown'd for bounty valour clemency Rich Egypt leâ—t and what else he had won To Philadelpâ—us his more worthy Son Of the old Heroeâ— now but two remain Seleucus and â—yâ—â—machus these twain Must needs go try their fortune and their might And so Lysiâ—machus was slain in fight 'T was no small joy unto Seliucus breast That now he had out lived all the rest Possession of Europe thinks to take And so himself the only Monarch make Whilâ— with these hopes in Greece he did remain He was by Ptolemy Ceraunus slain The second Son of the first Ptolemy Who for Rebellion unto him did fly Seleucus was a Father and a friend Yet by him had this most unworthy end Thus with these Kingly Captains have we done A little now how the Succession run Antigonus Seleucus and Cassander With Ptolemy reign'd after Alexander Cassander's Sons soon after 's death were â—lain So three Successors only did remain Antigonus his Kingdomes lost and life Unto Seleucus Author of that â—triâ—e His Son Demetrius all Cassander's gains And his posterity the same retains Demetrius Son was call'd Antigonus And his again was namâ—d Demetrius I must let pass those many Battels fought Betwixt those Kings and noble Pyrrhus stout And his Son Alexander of Epire Whereby immortal honour they acquire Demetrius had Philip to his Son Part of whose Kingdomes Titus Quintius won Philip had Perseus wâ—o was made a Thrale Tâ— Emilâ—us the Roman General Him with his Sons in Triumph lead did he Such riches too as Rome did never see This of Antâ—gonus his Seed's the â—ate VVhose Empire was subdu'd to th' Roman State Longer Seleucus held the royalty In Syria by his Posterity Antiochus Soter his Son was nam'd To whom the old Berosus so much fam'd His Book of Assurs Monarchs dedicates Tells of their names their wars their riches fates But this is perished with many more VVhich oft we wish was extant as before Antiochus Theos was Soter's Son VVho a long war with Egypts King begun The Affinityes and Wars Daniel sets forth And calls them there the Kings of South North This Thâ—os murther'd was by his lewd wife Seleucus reign'd when he had lost his life A third Seleucus next sits on the Seat And then Antiochus firnam'd the great VVhose large Dominions after was made small By Scipio the Roman General Fourth Seleucus Antiochus succeeds And next Epiphanes whose wicked deeds Horrid Massacres Murthers cruelties Amongst the Jews we read in Machabees Antiochus Eupater was the next By Rebels and Impostors dayly vext So many Princes still were murthered The Royal Blood was nigh extinguished Then Tygranes the great Armâ—niar King To take the Government was called in Lucullus Him the Roman General Vanquish'd in fight and took those Kingdomes all Of Greece and Syria thus the rule did end In Egypt next a little time wee 'l spend First Ptolemy being dead his famous Son Call'd Philadelphus did possess the Throne At Alexandria a Library did build And with seven hundred thousand Volumes fill'd The seventy two Interpreters did seek They might translate the Bible into Greek His Son was Evergetes the last Prince That valour shew'd virtue or excellence Philopater was Evergetes Son After Epiphanes sate on the Throne Philometor Evergetes again And after him did false Lathurus reign Then Alexander in Lathurâ—s stead Next Auletes who cut off Pompeys head To all these names we Ptolemy must add For since the first they still that Title had Fair Cleopatra next last of that race Whom Julius Caesar set in Royal place She with her Paramour Mark Anthony Held for a time the Egyptian Monarchy Till great Augustus had with him a fight At Actium where his Navy â—s put to flight He seeing his hoâ—our lost his Kingdome end Did by his Sword his life soon after send His brave Vâ—rago Aspes sets to her Arms To take her life and quit her from all harms For 't was not death nor danger she did dread But some disgrace in triumph to be led Here ends at last the Grecian Monarchy Which by the Romans had its destiny Thus King Kingdomes have their times dates Their standings overturnings bounds and fates Now up now down now chief then broght under The heavn's thus rule to fil the world with wonder The Assyrian Monarchy long time did stand But yet the Persian got the upper hand The Grecian them did utterly subdue And millions were subjected unto few The Grecian longer then the Persian stood Then came the Roman like a raging flood And with the torrent of his rapid course Their Crowns their Titles riches bears by force The first was likened to a head of gold Next Arms and breast of silver to behold The third Belly and Thighs of brass in sight And last was Iron which breaketh all with might The stone out of the mountain then did rise â—nd smote those feet those legs those arms thighs Then gold silver brass Iron and all the store Became like Chaff upon the threshing â—loor The first a Lion second was a Bear The third a Leopard which four wings did rear The last more strong and dreadful then the rest Whose Iron teeth devoured every Beast And when he had no appetite to eat The residue he stamped under feet Yet shall this Lion Bear this Leopard Ram All trembling stand before the powerful Lamb. With these three Monarchyes now have I done But how the fourth their Kingdomes from them won And how from small beginnings it did grow To fill the world with terrour and with woe My tyred brain leavs to some better pen This task befits not women like to men For what is past I blush excuse to make But humbly stand some grave reproof to take Pardon to crave for errours is but vain The Subject was too high beyond my strain To frame Apology for some offence Converts our boldness into impudence This my presumption some now to requite Ne sutor ultra crepidam may write The End of the Grecian Monarchy After some dayes of rest my restless heart To finish what 's begun new thoughts impart And maugre all resolves my fancy wrought This fourth to th' other three now might be brought Shortness of time and inability Will force me to a confus'd brevity Yet in this Chaos one shall easily spy The vast Limbs of a mighty Monarchy What e're is found amiss take in good part As faults proceeding from my head not heart The Romane Monarchy being the fourth and last beginning Anno Mundi 3213. STout Romulus Romes founder and first King Whom vestal Rhea to the world did bring His Father was not Mars as some devis'd But Aemulus in Armour all disguiz'd Thus he deceiv'd his Neece she might not know The double injury he then did do Where sheperds once had Coats sheep their folds Where Swains rustick Peasants kept their holds A City fair
of treasure Fond fool he takes this earth ev'n for heav'ns bower But sad affliction comes makes him see Here 's neither honour wealth nor safety Only above is found all with security 33 O Time the fatal wrack of mortal things That draws oblivions curtains over kings Their sumptuous monuments men know them not Their names without a Record are forgot Their parts their ports their pomp's all laid in th' dust Nor wit nor gold nor buildings scape times rust But he whose name is grav'd in the white stone Shall last and shine when all of these are gone The Flesh and the Spirit IN secret place where once I stood Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood I heard two sisters reason on Things that are past and things to come One flesh was call'd who had her eye On worldly wealth and vanity The other Spirit who did rear Her thoughts unto a higher sphere Sister quoth Flesh what liv'st thou on Nothing but Meditation Doth Contemplation feed thee so Regardlesly to let earth goe Can Speculation satissy Notion without Reality Dost dream of things beyond the Moon And dost thou hope to dwell there soon Hast treasures there laid up in store That all in th' world thou count'st but poor Art fancy sick or turn'd a Sot To catch at shadowes which are not Come come I le shew unto thy sence Industry hath its recompence What canst desire but thou maist see True substance in variety Dost honour like acquire the same As some to their immortal fame And trophyes to thy name erect Which wearing time shall ne're deject For riches dost thou long full fore Behold enough of precious store Earth hath more silver pearls and gold Then eyes can see or hands can hold Affect's thou pleasure take thy fill Earth hath enough of what you will Then let not goe what thou maist find For things unknown only in mind Spir. Be still thou unregenerate part Disturb no more my setled heart For I have vow'd and so will doe Thee as a soe still to pursue And combate with thee will and must Untill I see thee laid in th' dust Sisters we are ye twins we be Yet deadly feud twixt thee and me For from one father are we not Thou by old Adam wast begot But my arise is from above Whence my dear father I do love Thou speak'st me fair but hat'st me sore Thy flatt'ring shews â—e trust no more How oft thy slave hast thou me made when I believ'd what thou hast said And never had more cause of woe Then when I did what thou bad'st doe I le stop mine ears at these thy charms And count them for my deadly harms Thy sinfull pleasures I doe hate Thy riches are to me no bait Thine honours doe nor will I love For my ambition lyes above My greatest honour it shall be When I am victor over thee And triumph shall with laurel head When thou my Captive shalt be led How I do live thou need'st not scoff For I have meat thou know'st not off The hidden Manna I doe eat The word of life it is my meat My thoughts do yield me more content Then can thy hours in pleasure spent Nor are they shadows which I catch Nor fancies vain at which I snatch But reach at things that are so high Beyond thy dull Capacity Eternal substance I do see With which inriched I would be Mine Eye doth pierce the heavens and see What is luvisible to thee My garments are not silk nor gold Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold But Royal Robes I shall have on More glorious then the glistring Sun My Crown not Diamonds Pearls and gold But such as Angels heads infold The City where I hope to dwell There 's none on Earth can parallel The stately Walls both high and strong Are made of pretious Jasper stone The Gates of Pearl both rich and clear And Angels are for Porters there The Streets thereof transparent gold Such as no Eye did e're behold A Chrystal River there doth run Which doth proceed from the Lambs Throne Of Life there are the waters sure Which shall remain for ever pure Nor Sun nor Moon they have no need For glory doth from God proceed No Candle there nor yet Torch light For there shall be no darksome night From sickness and infirmity For evermore they shall be free Nor withering age shall e're come there But beauty shall be bright and clear This City pure is not for thee For things unclean there shall not be If I of Heaven may have my fill Take thou the world and all that will The Vanity of all worldly things AS he said vanity so vain say I Oh! vanity O vain all under Sky 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 Sons of men shall dâ—â— And whil'st they live how oft doth turn their 〈◊〉 He 's now a captive that was King of â—ate What is' t in wealth great Treasâ—res to obtain No that 's hut labour anxiouâ— care and pain He heaps up riches and he heaps up sorrow It 's his to day but who 's his â—eir to morrow What then Content in pleasures canst thou find More vain then all that 's but to grasp the wind The sensual 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 're foul enough to day that once were saiâ— What is' t in stowring youth or manly age The first is prone to vice the last to rage Where is it then in wisdom learning arts Sure if on earth it must be in those parts Yet these the â—â—sest man of men did find But vanity vexation of mind And he that knowes the most doth still bemoan He knows not all that here is to be known What is it then to doe as Stoicks tell Nor laugh nor weâ—p let things go ill or well Such Stote 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 climb sound seek search or find That Summum Bonum which may stay my mind There is a path no vultures eye hath seen Where Lion fierce nor lions whelps have been Which leaâ—s unto that living Crystal Fount Who drinks thereof the world doth nought account The depth sea have said t is not in me With pearl and gold it shall not valued be For Saphire Onix Topaz who would change It s hid from eyes of men they count it strange Death and destruction the fame hath heard But where what it is from heaven's declar'd It brâ—ngs to honour which shall ne're decay It stores with wealth which time can't wear away It yieldeth pleasures far beyond conceit And truly beautifies without deceit Nor strength nor wisdome nor fresh youth