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A43431
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Herodians of Alexandria his imperiall history of twenty Roman caesars & emperours of his time / First writ in Greek, and now converted into an heroick poem by C.B. Staplyton.; History. English
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Herodian.; Stapylton, C. B.
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1652
(1652)
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Wing H1583; ESTC R177960
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91,430
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194
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Pillag'd whatsoe're he listed The Germans rarely Build with Stone or Bricks But little sheds laid o're with boards and sticks 15. Thus Ravadg'd he and Burnt the Fields amaine And gave the Souldiers Cattell for their prey The Barb'rous left the Champaigne and the Plaine Then to the Boggs and VVoods they hast away There skulk and VVatch Advantage meet to take And when they see their time Eruptions make 16. Here Trees will break the Arrowes force and Darts And Boggs unknown the Romans dare not venter But these more skilfull in those wilder parts And swimmers good doe make no bones to enter The fight begins which turned to their smarts More boggy Poole was not above the Center The Souldiers wish for open Field and Large Yet Maximine most bravely gives the Charge 17. He plung'd amongst them to the Horses Belly The Barb'rous folk resist and stoutly fight But some he kils and some he treads to Jelly His men asham'd he was so fouly dight Leapt after him into this durty Meare Then both sides slash and limbs in pieces teare 18. The Roman Prince in Person bravely fought Barbarians most were kill'd in Mud and Sand The Purpled Fenns with bloud so interwrought It seem'd a ghastly Sea-fight on the Land Yet afterwards his Honours came to nought Though Troops he led and grapled hand to hand This Battell Roman Senate had by Letter And eke by pourtrait to discern it better 19. Soone after that this brave exploit had end Then did this Champion stout without comparison His boot and Pris'ners in Panonia send To Sirmion where he kept his VVinter Garison And there prepar'd his Force against the Spring At his dispose the Barb'rous folk to bring 20. A VVarriour brave and likely to subdue And at the utmost Ocean set his Rest VVith Glory great but for the bloudy Crew That did the Roman People so molest VVhat better he the Barb'rous folk to kill VVhen they at Rome the bloud of Subjects spill 21. Informers base not only were permitted But whetted on good men to Circumvent And Crimes ript up perhaps not true Committed VVhen former Princes had the Government So hard their â—ap convicted by this egging Some lost their lives some Rich men went a begging 22. This he pretends was for his Souldiers pay His eares were ope to ev'ry false surmise Both Consuls and Commanders hal'd away Vicegerenâ—s eke with Rich men and the VVise Informers had admittance night and day O're East VVest North and South they doe Revise Some stript of their Estates some others Baff'ld Some banisht were some did upon a scaffold 23. So long as this to private men extends And doth not Trench upon a Gen'rall Nation The Commons seldome mourne the great mens ends Deprav'd through envy tax or Molestation Therefore they stir not but the matter slighted And are withall exceeding much delighted 24. But Maximine with this was not content To take the Nobles goods and Lives withall He from the common stock will Force a Rent And treasure seize laid up in their Guild Hall The City store when deare the market growes To buy them Corne or grace their solemn showes 25. He Sacred Donaries from Temples took With Statues of the gods and Ancient Heroes To melt for Coyne he rifled every nook With Horrid Facts as ill or worse then Neroes This caus'd their sores to rancle and to fester They now in earnest saw he was no jester 26. All o're the City was a mournfull cry To see things Pillag'd Sacred and prophane No Forraign Force to rob or make them die And yet their Holy Altars brought to bane This Sacriledg ingendred so much hate Whole Countries now began to execrate 27. The Souldiers also doe not take it well For that their Friends and kinsfolks them upbraid Though all might take occasion to Rebell From gods above they yet implored aid Desiring them to make their grievance lesse As being loth to Force their own redresse 28. For three yeares space he us'd this bloudy Traffick But Tyrants Raigne is fickle and unstable Revolt and Tumult now began in Africk Of false Promoters thither got a Rabble At Carthage one exceeds in his opinion For that he was become the Emp'rours minion 29. Indulgent most he to his Checquer Friends If any just they leane against their will Lesse honest they more fit to serve his Ends Their Neighbours goods and lives withall to spill Young Gentlemen and Citizens not rare This African had got within his snare 30. Some at their sentence are extremely griev'd Yet Promise large their forfeit to redeem Meane while contrive how they may be reliev'd And to the Procurator friendly seem The Country clownes they gaine into their plot Who come and hide the Weapons they have got 31. Together come they make a mighty Troop For Africa was Populous of Boors When day was come they did no songer droop But cheerfully advancing out of doores The Gentlemen Command not yet to Act Lest Souldiers hinder their intended Fact 32. The Gallants in their Bosoms hide their Daggers To pay the promis'd money they pretend But Instantly the Procurator Staggers For him they slew and brought to sudden end As Souldiers draw their swords to Rescue knaves The Country men resist with Clubs and Staves 33. They laid about and put them all to flight Which done the Gentlemen resolve in fine To stand it out if it were wrong or right And thus they pitch upon a high design The Governour must now be of their Faction They purpose to imbark him in this Action 34. The Commons eke they stirr up to rebell And apt they are save fear of Maximine They march whereas the Governour did dwell Proconsull he at age of Seventy nine One Gordian well seen in state Affa'res The fittest man to ease them of their cares 35. They have good hope of Roman Peers Assent This to Conferr his other Acts to crowne He Noble was by Birth of high descent And best deserv'd the place of Chiefe Renown While thus of weighty matters they dispose He kept at home intending his Repose 36. These Gallants with this Traine and naked Swords Came where this good old man on Couch did rest They him salute by faire and gentle words And so with Purple Robe anon they him Invest He stirrs about as then the time affords Beseeching them they will not him molest But give unto their Soveraigne what was due And spare his life that no Extortion knew 37. But Gordian they doe the more importune Who all this while was in a fearfull Maze They will him to accept this present Fortune As he upon this tumult stood at gaze The Chiefe of them stept out with Sword in hand As in the Canto next you 'l understand CANTO XX. The ARGUMENT Gordian Chose then followes private Slaughter Capellian gives to Africans defeate Prince Gordian and his Father dies soon after Joves Temple Romans chuse their Lawes to treat Two Consuls Rule the Senate doe desire Commotion
rather should revere To him I Honour gave before all other What could I more have done unto a Brother 28. Ill Offices to doe I count a Crime So most unmanly to endure a wrong We question'd Niger in convenient time To which of us the Empire should belong Litigious then Ambition both did guide But this of Albine we may not abide 29. He sole of Grace admitted was Compeâ—r When to Imperiall Stems it ' Long'd of Right How dare he then once put us in this fear That vanquisht have the Orient with our might Since to Affront us he is so unwise By Arms I meane his rashnesse to chastise 30. Here Gallant men at Arms and Roman Force Are come as friends and entred in our List Who ' i st that can approve his witlesse course Are Iland Brittaines able to resist Our prowesse that so many fields have won Assure your selves his glasse is almost run 31. He wallowes deep in Riot and excesse Not like a Souldier but a Brutish Swine Then let 's advance with wonted cheerfulnesse Our Guides before us are the gods Divine Whom to dishonour he so false hath sworn And our Erected Trophies holds in scorn 32. Thus having said the Souldiers doe proclaime Albinus Traytor with full demonstration He gives rewards now having hit his aime Which they receive with shouts and Acclamations And then Advanc'd concluding with the rest To send some Troopes Byzantium to invest 33. This City Nigers Souldiers held that fled A Famous place by Famine after taken And quite defac'd when they had lost their head Most of the Dwellers now had it forsaken Vassals the rest to Perinth doe Approach So they of Laâ—dice had Antioch 34. But Cities he repair'd that Niger spoyl'd Then hasts away with Souldiers blithe and Jolly Through thick and thin by winters March they moyl'd Not resting on the Workday or the Holy Sometimes bare headed through the Snow he toyl'd Though some perhaps might think it was a folly Yet Souldiers this did imitate in briefe And tooke example from their Royall Chiefe 35. The streights Alpine he sendeth Force to seize And passage into Italy to Barr Albinus ' bides secure he thought in peace Till rouzed with the noise of present Warr Then of his Fate to try the doubtfull Chance Disbarkt an Army on the Coast of France 36. His Mandates straight in ev'ry Province there He sends about to call him to his aide Severus Name the most part kept in fere Yet other some unluckily obay'd But what event and which of them did best The Canto next ensuing will digest CANTO XI The ARGUMENT Albinus and Severus fight it out The Brittaines win by Albine bravely led Yet next Encounter they are put to rout And Albine Caesar shorter by the head Severe turns greedy fierce as wildest Beast And makes his expedition to the East 1. VVEe never think enough wee doe acquire Such is the nature of Ambition blind The more we have the more we doe desire A vice too incident to human kind Example store we have in ev'ry Age So of these two that now are on the Stage 2. Severus now was entred into Gall With skirmish light at first they did begin Yet soone they fight a bloudy field withall On both sides to Assayle they never lin Of Victory as yet there was no signe 'T was hard to say to whom it would incline 3. The Brittaines bold in Arms were not Inferior They stoutly fight and kill without remorse The wing Severus charged was Superior Whereby he was dismounted from his Horse So being Cumbred sore with dust and smoak Was forc'd at length to quit's Imperiall Cloak 4. And hide himselfe till Tydings some might bring Meane while the Brittaines follow on the chase With merry glee and doe their Paeans sing But Laetus came with fresh supplies in place Then at them once againe he had a fling And staid their rage though to his owne disgrace Some said his men at first he did restraine Severus dead that Empire he might gaine 5. And this conceit was prov'd by the Event For when Severus got his former State He unbethought him and for Laetus sent To take his head for what he did of late Yet first this set the Illyrians so afloat Severus mounts againe in Purple Coat 6. The Brittaines thought them Masters of the Field Presuming so the sooner to disband But now their Harvest little Fruit doth yield They charged were with fresh supplies at hand Lugdanum Walls that they might not be kill'd They strive to reach but could not long withstand Then City Sackt the Souldiers that were sent Albinus head Severus did present 7. Two Stately Trophies thus in East and North He rais'd and other Deeds without compare By him were done as Stories make it forth Examples such with us are seen but rare Not Caesar Pompey Scylla or great Marius For speedy March Excell'd or Battels furious 8. One man to kill three Emperours Elect And Trained Bands surprise by cast of Wit To keep his Souldiers in such due respect To make them for his drifts and purpose fit For Conquest great and skill'd in ev'ry kind Search where you will the like you shall not find 9. Though fatall Honour of Albinus ceast Yet now Severus Deeds were intermixt With Indignation fierce as any Beast He caus'd his head to be on Gallowes fixt To Rome his conquest he inscribed hath To Albiu's friend a Postscript of his wrath 10. Th' Affaires in Brittaine he with heed inclos'd Two Presidents he leaves with equall part The Gallick matters likewise he compos'd Then Strikes Albinus friends unto the h'art And now to Rome with speed he is dispos'd Where many moe are like to feele the smart Him Commons meet with Lâ—urell Acclamation And Senate Greet with fain'd Congratulation 11. Full well they knew his Nature to Oppresse If he contrive there will be no Evasion Yet first unto the gods he makes Addresse Next to the Palace taking no Occasion Then Largesse gives as he no grudg had borne To Souldiers Coyne unto the Commons Corne. 12. Great Priviledge he to the Souldier gave Augmenting Wheat then with their wives to dwell And Rings to weare with other Jewels brave To change their manly diet was not well What care they now their Betters to deprave And when they 'l mend their manners who can tell Who would have thought a man of his Severity Could so decline the Militar Austerity 13. When Fancy thus had led him to Enact In Senate he ascends his Princely Throne Albinus Friends he chargeth with Compact Unhappy they that thus have cause to moan Of Letters sent by some he doth Produce And other some he blames for holding Truce 14. With them that did resist him in the East Thus quarrels picks with all Albinus friends Of Peeres and Nobles not of them the least He put to Death for Avaricious Ends Though Candid words he gave as sweet as hony They now perceive too