To come and to release him in his need The like of Leonatus he requires Which at this time well suited his desires For to Antipater he now might go His Lady take i' th' way and no man know Antiphilus the Athenian Generall With speed his forces doth together call Striving to stop Leonatus that so He joyn not with Antipater that foe The Athenian Army was the greater far Which did his match with Cleopatra mar For fighting still whilst there did hope remain The valiant Chief amidst his foes was slain ' Mongst all the Captains of great Alexander For personage none was like this Commander Now to Antipater â—raterus goes Blockt up in Lamia still by his foes Long marches through Cilicia he makes And the remains of Leonatus takes With them and his he into Grecia went Antipater releas'd from 's prisonment After this time the Grecks did never more Act any thing of worth as heretofore But under servitude their necks remain'd Nor former liberty or glory gain'd Now dy'd about the end of th' Lamian warre Dimosthencs that sweet tongu'd oratour Craverus that Antipater now joyn In love and in affiaity combine Creteâ—us doth his daughter Phisa wed Their friendship may the more be strengthened Whilst they in Macedon doe thus agree In Asia they all asunder be Perdicas griev'd to see the Princes bold So many Kingdoms in their power to hold Yet to regain them how he did not know For 's Souldiers ' gainst those Captains would not goe To suffer them goe on as they begun Was to give way himself might be undone With Antipater t' joyn sometimes he thought That by his help the rest might low be brought But this again dislikes and would remain If not in word in deed a Soveraigne Desires the King to goe to Macedon Which of his Ancestors was once the throne And by his presence there to nullifie The Acts of his Vice-royes now grown so high Antigonus of Treason first attaints And summons him to answer these complaints This he avoyds and ships himself and 's Son Goes to Antipater and tels what 's done He and Craterus both with him now joyn And ' gainst Perdicas all their strength combine Brave Ptolomy to make a fourth now sent To save himself from dangers eminent In midst of these Garboyles with wondrous state His Masters Funerals doth celebrate At Alexandria in Aegypt Land His sumptuous monument long time did stand Two years and more since Natures debt he paid And yet till now at quiet was not laid Great love did Ptolomy by this act gain And made the Souldiers on his side remain Perdicas hears his foes are now combin'd ' Gainst which to goe is troubled in his minde With Ptolomy for to begin was best Near'st unto him and farthest from the rest Leaves Eumenes the Asian coast to free From the invasions of the other three And with his Army into Aegypt goes Brave Ptolomy to th' utmost to oppose Perdicas surly carriage and his pride Did alienate the Souldiers from his side But Ptolomy by affability His sweet demeanour and his courtesie Did make his owne firme to his cause remaine And from the other daily some did gaine Pithon next Perdicas a Captaine high Being entreated by him scornfully Some of the Souldiers enters Perdica's tent Knocks out his braines to Ptolomy then went And offers him his Honours and his place With stile of the Protector would him grace Next day into the Camp comes Ptolomy And is of all received joyfully Their proffers he refus'd with modesty Confers them Pithon on for 's courtesie With what he held he now was well content Then by more trouble to grow eminent Now comes there newes of a great victory That Eumenes got of the other three Hâ—d it but in Perdicas life arriv'd With greater joy it would have been receiv'd Thus Ptolomy rich Aegypt did retaine And Pithon turn'd to Asia againe Whilst Perdicas thus staid in Africa Antigonus did enter Asia And fain would draw Eumenes to their side But he alone now faithfull did abide The other all had kingdomes in their eye But he was true to 's masters family Nor could Craterus whom he much did love From his fidelity make him once move Two battells now he fought and had the best And brave Craterus slew amongst the rest For this great strife he pours out his complaints And his beloved foe full sore laments I should but snip a story into verse And much eclipse his glory to rehearse The difficulties Eumenes befell His stratagems wherein he did excel His policies how he did extricate Himself from out of labyrinths intricate For all that should be said let this suffice He was both valiant faithfull patient wise Python now chose protector of the State His rule Queen Euridice begins to hate Perceives Aridaeus must not king it long If once young Alexander grow more strong But that her Husband serve for supplement To warm the seat was never her intent She knew her birthright gave her Macedon Grandchild to him who once sat on that throne Who was Perdicas Philips elder brother She daughter to his son who had no other Her mother Cyna sister to Alexander Who hâ—d an Army like a great Commander Ceria the Phrigian Queen for to withstand And in a Battell slew her hand to hand Her Daughter she instructed in that Art Which made her now begin to play her part Pithons commands She ever countermands What he appoints She purposely withstands He wearied out at last would needs be gone Resign'd his place and so let all alone In 's stead the Souldiers chose Antipater Who vext the Queen more then the other farre He plac'd displac'd controld rul'd as he list And this no man durst question or resist For all the Princes of great Alexander Acknowledged for chief this old Commander After a while to Macedon he makes The King and Queen along with him he takes Two Sons of Alexander and the rest All to be order'd there as he thought best The Army with Antigonus did leave And government of Asia to him gave And thus Antipater the ground-work layes On which Antigonus his height doth raise Who in few years the rest so over-tops For universall Monarchy he hopes With Eumenes he divers Battels fought And by his sleights to circumvent him sought But vaine it was to use his policy ' Gainst him that all deceits could scan and try In this Epitomy too long to tell How neatly Eumenes did here excell That by the selfe-same traps the other laid He to his cost was righteously repaid Now great Antipater the world doth leave To Polisperchon then his place he gave Fearing his Son Cassander was unstay'd Too young to beare that charge if on him lay'd Antigonus hearing of his decease On most part of Assyria doth seize And Ptolomy now to encroach begins All Syria and Phenicia he wins Now Polisperchon 'gins to act in 's place Recals Olimpias the Court to grace Antipater had banisht her from thence Into
lifted up on high But yet in Babell he must still remain And native Canaan never see again Unlike his father Evilmerodach Prudence and magnanimity did lack Faire Aegypt is by his remissenesse lost Arabia and all the boardering coast Wars with the Medes unhappily he wag'd Within which broiles râ—ch Croesus was engag'd His Army routed and himselfe there slain His Kingdome to Belshazzar did remain Belshazzar UNworthy Belshazzar next weares the Crown Whose prophane acts a sacred pen sets down His lust and cruelty in books we find A Royall State rul'd by a bâ—uitish mind His life so base and dissolute invites The Noble Persians to invade his rights Who with his own and Uncles power anon Layes siedge to 's regall seat proud Babylon 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 vessells thither brought long since Carous'd they in and sacrilegious Prince Did praise his gods of mettall wood and stone Protectors of his Crown and Babylon But he above his doings did deride And with a hand soon dashed all his pride The King upon the wall casting his eye The fingers of his hand-writing did spy Which horrid sight he fears must needs portend Destruction to his Crown to 's Person end With quaking knees and heart appall'd he crys For the Soothsayers and Magicians wise This language strange to read and to unfold With guifts of Scarlet robe and Chaines 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 fearfull sad event As thus amort he sits as all undone In comes the Queen to chear her heartlesse son Of Daniel tells who in his Grand-fires dayes Was held in more request then now he was Daniel in haste is brought before the King Who doth not flatter nor once cloake the thing Re-minds him of his Grand-fires height and fall And of his own notorious sins withall His drunkennesse and his prophainnesse high His pride and sottish grosse Idolatry The guilty King with colour pale and dead There hears his Mene and his Tekel read And did one thing worthy a King though late Perform'd his word to him that told his fate That night victorious Cyrus took the town Who soone did terminate his Life and Crown With 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 begun under Cyrus Darius being his Vnckle and his Father in Law reigning with him about two years CYrus Cambyses Son of Persia's King Whom Lady Mandana did to him bring She Daughter unto great Astiages He in descent the seventh from Arbaces Cambyses was of Achemenes race Who had in Persia the Lieutenants place When Sardanapalus was over-thrown And from that time had held it as his own Cyrus Darius Daughter took to wife And so unites two Kingdoms without strife Darius was unto Mandana brother Adopts her Son for his having no other This is of Cyrus the true pedigree Whose Ancestors were royal in degree His Mothers Dream and Grand-fires cruelty His preservation in his misery His nourishment afforded by a Bitch Are fit for such whose eares for fables itch He in his younger dayes an Army led Against great Cressus then of Lidia head Who over-curious of wars event For information to Apollo went And the ambiguous Oracle did trust So over-thrown of Gyrus as was just Who him pursues to Sardis takes the town Where all that doe 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 dumbe With pressing grief and sorrow over-come Amidst the tumult bloud-shed and the strife Brake his long silence cry'd spare Cressus life Cressus thus known it was great Cyâ—us doome A hard decree to ashes he consume Then on a Pike being set where all might eye He Solon Solon Solon thrice did cry Upon demand his minde to Cyrus broke And told how Solon in his hight had spoke With pitty Cyrus mov'd knowing Kings stand Now up now down as fortune turnes her hand Weighing the age and greatnesse of the Prince His Mothers Vnckle stories doe evince Gave him at once his life and Kingdom too And with the Lidians had no more to doe Next war the restlesse Cyrus thought upon Was conquest of the stately â—abylon Now trebble wall'd and moated so about That all the world they neither feare nor doubt To drain this ditch he many sluces cut But till convenient time their heads kept shut That night Belshazzar feasted all his rout He cuts those banks and let the river out And to the walls securely marches on Not finding a defendant thereupon Enters the town the sottish King he slayes Upon earths richest spoyles his Souldiers preys Here twenty yeares provision he found Forty five mile this City scarce could round This head of Kingdoms Caldes excellence For Owles and Satyres makes a residence Yet wondrous Monuments this stately Queen Had after thousand yeares faire to be seen Cyrus doth now the Jewish captives free An Edict makes the Temple builded be He with his Vnckle Daniel sets on high And caus'd his foes in Lions den to dye Long after this he ' gainst the Sythians goes And Tomris Son an Army over-throwes Which to revenge she hires a mighty power And sets on Cyrus in a fatall houre There routs his Hoast himself she prisoner takes And at one blow worlds head she headlesse makes The which she bak'd within a But of bloud Using such taunting words as she thought good But Zenophon reports he dy'd in 's bed In honour peace and wealth with a grey head And in his Town of Pasargada lyes Where Alexander fought in hope of prize But in this Tombe was only to be found Two Sythian bowes a sword and target round Where that proud Conquerour could doe no lesse Then at his Herse great honours to expresse Three Daughters and two Sons he left behind Innobled more by birth then by their mind Some thirty years this potent Prince did reign Unto Cambyses then all did remain Cambyses CAmbyses no wayes like his noble Sire But to enlarge his state had some desire His reign with Bloud and Incest first begins Then sends to finde a Law for these his sins That Kings with Sisters match no Law they finde But that the Persian King may act his minde Which Law includes all Lawes though lawlesse stil And makes it lawful Law if he but wil He wages warre the fifth year of his reign ' Gainst Aegypts King who there by him was slain And all of Royal bloud that came to hand He seized first of life and then of Land But little Marus scap'd that cruel fate Who
grown a man resum'd again his state He next to Cyprus sends his bloudy Hoast Who landed soon upon that fruitful coast Made Evelthon their King with bended knee To hold his own of his free courtesie The Temples he destroyes not for his zeal But he would be profest god of their Weal Yea in his pride he ventured so farre To spoyl the Temple of great Jupiter But as they marched o're those desart sands The stormed dust o'r-whelm'd his daring bands But scorning thus by Jove to be out-brav'd A second Army there had almost grav'd But vain he found to fight with Elements So left his sacrilegious bold intents The Aegyptian Apis then he likewise slew Laughing to scorn that calvish sottish crew If all his heat had been for a good end Cambyses to the clouds we might commend But he that 'fore the gods himself preferrs Is more prophane then grosse Idolaters And though no gods if he esteem them some And contemn them woful is his doome He after this saw in a Vision His brother Smerdis sit upon his throne He strait to rid himself of causlesse fears Complots the Princes death in his green years Who for no wrong poore innocent must dye Praraspes now must act this tragedy Who into Persia with Commission sent Accomplished this wicked Kings intent His sister whom incestuously he wed Hearing her harmlesse brother thus was dead His woful fate with tears did so bemoane That by her Husbands charge she caught her owne She with her fruit was both at once undone Who would have born a Nephew and a Son O hellish Husband Brother Vnckle Sire Thy cruelty will Ages still admire This strange severity one time he us'd Upon a Judge for breach of Law accus'd Flayd him alive hung up his stuffed skin Over his Seat then plac'd his Son therein To whom he gave this in rememberance Like fault must look for the like recompence Praraspes to Cambyses favourite Having one son in whom he did delight His cruell Master for all service done Shot through the heart of his beloved son And only for his fathers faithfullnesse Who said but what the King bad him expresse 'T would be no pleasant but a tedious thing To tell the facts of this most bloody King Fear'd of all but lov'd of few or none All thought his short râ—ign long till it was done At last two of his Officers he heart Had set a Smerdis up of the same years And like in feature to the Smerdis dead Ruling as they thought good under his head Toucht with this newes to Persia he makes But in the way his sword just véngeance takes Unsheathes as he his horse mounted on high And with a Martall thrust wounds him i th' thigh Which ends before begun the Persian Waâ—re Yeelding to death that dreadfull Conquerer Griefe for his brothers death he did expresse And more because he dyed issulesse The Male line of great Cyrus now did end The Female many ages did extend A Babylon in Egypt did he make And built fair Meroe for his sisters sake Eight years he reign'd a short yet too long time Cut off in 's wickednesse in 's strength and prime The inter Regnum between Cambyses and Darius Hyslaspes Childlesse Cambyses on the sudden dead The Princes meet to chuse one in his stead Of which the cheife were seven call'd Satrapes Who like to Kings rul'd Kingdomes as they please Descended all of Achâ—menes blood And kinsmen in account to th' King they stood And first these noble Magi 'gree upon To thrust th' Imposter Smerdis our of throne Their Forces instantly they raise and rout This King with conspirators so stout Who little pleasure had in his short reigne And now with his accomplyces lye slaine But yet 'fore this was done much blood was shed And two of these great Peers in place lay dead Some write that sorely hurt they ' scap'd away But so or no sure t is they won the day All things in peace and Rebells throughly queâ—'d A Consultation by the States was held What forme of Government now to erect The old or new which best in what respect The greater part declin'd a Monarchy So late crusht by their Princes Tyranny And thought the people would more happy be If governed by an Aristocracy But others thought none of the dullest braine But bâ—tter one then many Tyrants reigne What arguments they us'd I know not well Too politicke t is like for me to tell But in conclusion they all agree That of the seven a Monarch chosen be All envie to avoyd this was thought on Upon a Green to meet by rising Sun And he whose Horse before the rest should neigh Of all the Peers should have precedency They all attend on the appointed houre Praying to Fortune for a Kingly power Then mounting on their snorting coursers proud Darius lusty stallion neighed full loud The Nobles all alight their King to greet And after Persian manner kisse his feet His happy wishes now doth no man spare But acclamations ecchoes in the aire A thousand times God save the King they cry Let tyranny now with Cambyses dye They then attend him to his royall roome Thanks for all this to 's crafty Stable-groome Darius Hyslapses DArius by election made a King His title to make strong omits no thing He two of Cyrus Daughters now doth wed Two of his Neeces takes to nuptiall bed By which he cuts their hopes for future times That by such steps to Kingdoms often climbs And now a King by marriage choyce and bloud Three strings to 's bow the least of which is good Yet more the peoples hearts firmly to binde Made wholsome gentle Laws which pleas'd each mind His affability and milde aspect Did win him loyalty and all respect Yet notwithstanding he did all so well The Babylonians ' gainst their Prince rebell An Hoast he rais'd the City to reduce But strength against those walls was of no use For twice ten months before the town he lay And fear'd he now with scorn must march away Then brave Zopirus for his Masters good His manly face dis-figures spares no bloud With his own hands cuts off his eares and nose And with a faithfull fraud to 'th town he goes Tels them how harshly the proud King had dealt That for their sakes his cruelty he felt Desiring of the Prince to raise the siege This violence was done him by his Leige This told for enterance he stood not long For they beleev'd his nose more then his tongue With all the Cities strength they him betrust If he command obey the greatest must When opportunity he saw was fit Delivers up the town and all in it To loose a nose to win a Town 's no shame But who dare venture such a stake for th' game Then thy disgrace thine honour 's manifold Who doth deserve a Statue made of gold Nor can Darius in his Monarchy Scarse finde enough to thank thy loyalty But yet thou hast sufficient recompence In that
both wise and strong Whose courage nought but death could ever tame ' Mongst these Epimanondas wants no fame Who had as noble Raleigh doth evince All the peculiar vertues of a Prince But let us leave these Greeks to discord bent And turne to Persia as is pertinent The King from forraign foes and all at ease His home-bred troubles seeketh to appease The two Queens by his means 'gin to abate Their former envie and inveterate hare Then in voluptuousnesse he leads his life And weds his Daughter for a second wife His Mothers wicked counsell was the cause Who sooths him up his owne desires are Lawes But yet for all his greatnesse and long reign He must leave all and in the pit remain Forty three years he rules then turns to dust As all the mighty ones have done and must But this of him is worth the memory He was the Master of good Nehemie Darius Ochus GReat Artexerxes dead Ochus succeeds Of whom no Record's extant of his deeds Was it because the Grecians now at war Made Writers work at home they sought not far Or dealing with the Persian now no more Their Acts recorded not as heretofore Or else perhaps the deeds of Persian Kings In after wars were burnt ' mongst other things That three and twenty years he reign'd I finde The rest is but conjecture of my minde Arsames or Arses WHy Arsames his brother should succeed I can no reason give cause none I read It may be thought surely he had no Son So fell to him which else it had not done What Acts he did time hath not now left pend But as 't is thought in him had Cyrus end Whose race long time had worn the Diadem But now 's divolved to another Stem Three years he reign'd as Chronicles expresse Then Natures debt he paid quite Issue-lesse Darius Codomanus HOw this Darius did attain the Crown By favour force or fraud is not set down If not as is before of Cyrus race By one of these he must obtain the place Some writers say that he was Arses son And that great Cyrus line yet was not run That Ochus unto Arsames was father Which by some probabilities seems rather That son and father both were murthered By one Bagoas an Eunuch as is sed Thus learned Pemble whom we may not slight But as before doth well read Raleigh write Antd he that story reads shall often find That severall men will have their severall mind Yet in these differences we may behold With our judicious learned Knight to hold And this ' mongst all 's no controverted thing That this Darius was last Persian King Whose warres and losses we may better tell In Alexanders reign who did him quell How from the top of worlds felicity He fell to depth of greatest misery Whose honours treasures pleasures had short sâ—ay One deluge came and swept them all away And in the sixt year of his haplesse reigne Of all did scarce his winding sheet retaine And last a sad catastrophe to end Him to the grave did â—raytor Bessus send The end of the Persian Monarchy The third Monarchy was the Grecian beginning under Alexander the Great in the 112 Olimpiad GReat Alexander was wise Phillips son He to Amintas Kings of Macedon The cruell proud Olimpias was his mother Shee to the rich Molossians King was daughter This Prince his father by Pausanias slain The twenty first of 's age began to reign Great were the guifts of nature which be had His Education much to these did adde By Art and Nature both he was made fit T' accomplish that which long before was writ The very day of his nativity To th' ground was burnt Diana's Temple high An Omen to their near approaching woe Whose glory to the Earth this Prince did throw His rule to Greece he scorn'd should be confin'd The universe scarce bounds his large vast minde This is the hee-goat which from Grecia came Who ran in fury on the Persian Ram That broke his hornes that threw him on the ground To save him from his might no man was found Phillip on this great conquest had an eye But death did terminate those thoughts so high The Greeks had chose him Captain Generall Which honour to his son now did befall For as worlds Monarch now we speak not on But as the King of little Macedon Restlesse both day and night his heart now was His high resolves which way to bring to passe Yet for a while in Grecce is forc'd to stay Which makes each moment seem more then a day Thebes and old Athens both ' gainst him rebell But he their mutinies full soon doth quell This done against all right and natures laws His kinsmen puts to death without least cause That no combustion in his absence be In seeking after Soveraignity And many more whom he suspects will climbe Now taste of death least they deserv't in time Nor wonder is' t if he in blood begin For cruelty was his parentall sin Thus eased now of troubles and of fears His course to Asiâ— next Spring he steers Leaves sage Antipater at home to sway And through the Hellispont his ships make way Comming to land his dart on shear he throwes Then with alacrity he after goes Thirty two thousand made up his foot force To these were joyn'd five thousand goodly horse Then on he march'd in 's way he veiw'd old Troy And on Achillis Tombe with wondrous joy He offer'd and for good successe did pray To him his mothers Ancestor men say When newes of Alexander came to th' Court To scorn at him Darius had good sport Sends him a frothy and contemptuous letter Stiles him disloyall servant and no better Reproves him for his proud audacity To lift his hand ' gainst such a Monarchy Then to his Lieutenant in Asia sends That he be tane alive for he intends To whip him well with rods and then to bring That boy so mallepart before the King Ah! fond vaine man whose pen was taught ere while In lower termes to write a higher stile To th' river Granicke Alexander hyes Which twixt Phrigia and Propontis lyes The Persians for encounter ready sland And think to keep his men from off the land Those banks so steep the Greeks now scramble up And beat the coward Persians from the top And twenty thousand of their lives bereave Who in their backs did all their wounds receive This Victory did Alexander gain With losse of thirty sour of his there slaine Sardis then he and Ephesus did gaine Where stood of late Diana's wondrous Phane And by Parmenio of renowned fame Miletus and Pamphilia overcame Hallicarnassus and Pisidia He for his master takes with Lycia Next Alexander marcht t'wards the black sea And easily takes old Gordium in his way Of Asse-eard Midas once the regall seat Whose touch turn'd all to gold yea even his meat There the Prophetick knot he cuts in twain Which who so did must Lord of all remain Now newes of Memnons death
the more distrest my mind If happinesse my sordidnesse hath found 'T was in the crop of my manured ground My fatted Oxe and my exuberous Cow My fleeced Ewe and ever farr owing Sow To greater things I never did aspire My dunghil thoughts or hopes could reach no higher If to be rich or great it was my fate How was I broyl'd with envy and with hate Greater then was the great'st was my desire And greater stil did set my heart on fire If honour was the point to which I steer'd To run my hull upon disgrace I fear'd But by ambitious sailes I was so carryed That over flats and sands and rocks I hurried Opprest and sunke and sact all in my way That did oppose me to my longed bay My thirst was higher then Nobility And oft long'd sore to taste on Royalty Whence poyson Pistols and dread instruments Have been curst furtherers of mine intents Nor Brothers Nephewes Sons nor Sires I 've spar'd When to a Monarchy my way they barr'd There set I rid my selfe straight out of hand Of such as might my son or his withstand Then heapt up gold and riches as the clay Which others scatter like the dew in May. Sometimes vaine-glory is the only bait Whereby my empty soule is lur'd and caught Be I of worth of learning or of parts I judge I should have room in all mens hearts And envy gnawes if any do surmount I hate for to be had in small account If Bias like I 'm stript unto my skin I glory in my wealth I have within Thus good and bad and what I am you see Now in a word what my diseases be The vexing Stone in bladder and in reines Torments me with intollerable paines The windy Cholick oft my bowels rend To break the darksome prison where it 's pend The knotty Gout doth sadly torture me And the restraining lame Sciatica The Quinsie and the Feavours oft distaste me And the Consumption to the bones doth wast me Subject to all Diseases that 's the truth Though some more incident to age or youth And to conclude I may not tedious be Man at his best estate is vanity Old Age. WHat you have been ev'n such have I before And all you say say I and something more Babes innocence Youths wildnes I have seen And in perplexed Middle-age have bin Sicknesse dangers and anxieties have past And on this Stage am come to act my last I have bin young and strong and wise as you But now Bis pueri senes is too true In every Age i 've found much vanitie An end of all perfection now I see It 's not my valour honour nor my gold My ruin'd house now falling can uphold It 's not my Learning Rhetorick wit so large Now hath the power Deaths Warfare to discharge It 's not my goodly house nor bed of down That can refresh or ease if Conscience frown Nor from alliance now can I have hope But what I have done wel that is my prop He that in youth is godly wise and sage Provides a staffe for to support his age Great mutations some joyful and some sad In this short Pilgrimage I oft have had Sometimes the Heavens with plenty smil'd on me Sometimes again rain'd all adversity Sometimes in honour sometimes in disgrace Sometime an abject then again in place Such private changes oft mine eyes have seen In various times of state i 've also been I 've seen a Kingdom flourish like a tree When it was rul'd by that Celestial she And like a Cedar others so surmount That but for shrubs they did themselves account Then saw I France and Holland sav'd Cales won And Philip and Albertus half undone I saw all peace at home terror to foes But ah I saw at last those eyes to close And then me thought the world at noon grew dark When it had lost that radiant Sun-like spark In midst of greifs I saw some hopes revive For 't was our hopes then kept our hearts alive I saw hopes dasht our forwardnesse was shent And silenc'd we by Act of Parliament I 've seen from Rome an execraâ—le thing A plot to blow up Nobles and their King I 've seen designes at Ree and Cades crost And poor Palatinate for ever lost I 've seen a Prince to live on others lands A Royall one by almes from Subjects hands I 've seen base men advanc'd to great degree And worthy ones put to extremity But not their Princes love nor state so high could once reverse their shamefull destiny I 've seen one stab'd another loose his head And others fly their Country through their dread I 've seen and so have ye for 't is but late The desolation of a goodly State Plotted and acted so that none can tell Who gave the counsel but the Prince of hell I 've seen a land unmoulded with great paine But yet may live to see 't made up again I 've seen it shaken rent and soak'd in blood But out of troubles ye may see much good These are no old wives tales but this is truth We old men love to tell what 's done in youth But I returne from whence I stept awry My memory is short and braine is dry My Almond-tree gray haires doth flourish now And back once straight begins apace to bow My grinders now are few my sight doth faile My skin is wrinkled and my cheeks are pale No more rejoyce at musickes pleasant noyse But do awake at the cocks clanging voyce I cannot scent savours of pleasant meat Nor sapors find in what I drink or eat My hands and armes once strong have lost their might I cannot labour nor I cannot fight My comely legs as nimble as the Roe Now stiffe and numb can hardly creep or go My heart sometimes as fierce as Lion bold Now trembling and fearful sad and cold My golden Bowl and silver Cord e're long Shal both be broke by wracking death so strong I then shal go whence I shal come no more Sons Nephews leave my death for to deplore In pleasures and in labours I have found That earth can give no consolation sound To great to rich to poore to young or old To mean to noble fearful or to bold From King to begger all degrees shal finde But vanity vexation of the minde Yea knowing much the pleasant'st life of all Hath yet amongst that sweet some bitter gall Though reading others Works doth much refresh Yet studying much brings wearinesse to th' flesh My studies labours readings all are done And my last period now e'n almost run Corruption my Father I do call Mother and sisters both the worms that crawl In my dark house such kindred I have store There I shal rest til heavens shal be no more And when this flesh shal rot and be consum'd This body by this soul shal be assum'd And I shal see with these same very eyes My strong Redeemer comming in the skies Triumph I shal o're Sin o're Death o're Hel And
of Balladan In Babylon Leiutenant to this man Of opportunity advantage takes And on his Masters ruins his house makes And Belosus first his did unthrone So he 's now stil'd the King of Babylon After twelve years did Essarhadon dye And Merodach assume the Monarchy Merodach Baladan 21 years ALl yeelds to him but Ninivie kept free Until his Grand-childe made her bow the knee Embassadours to Hezekiah sent His health congratulates with complement Ben. Merodach 22 years BEn Merodach Successor to this King Of whom is little said in any thing But by conjecture this and none but he Led King Manasseh to captivity Nebulassar 12 years BRave Nebulassar to this King was Sonne The ancient Niniveh by him was won For fifty years or more it had been free Now yeelds her neck unto captivity A Vice-roy from her foe she 's glad t' accept By whom in firm obedience she 's kept Nebuchadnezar or Nebopolassar THe famous Wars of this Heroyick King Did neither Homer Hesiode Virgil sing Nor of his acts have we the certainty From some Thucidides grave History Nor 's Metamorphosis from Ovids Book Nor his restoring from old legends took But by the Prophets Pen-men most Divine This Prince in 's magnitude doth ever shine This was of Monarchies that head of gold The richest and the dreadfull'st to behold This was that tree whose branches fill'd the earth Under whose shadow birds and beasts had birth This was that King of Kings did what he pleas'd Kild sav'd pull'd down set up or pain'd or eas'd And this is he who when he fear'd the least Was turned from a King unto a Beast This Prince the last year of his Fathers reign Against Ichoiakim marcht with his train Iudah's poor King besieg'd who succourlesse Yeelds to his mercy and the present stresse His Vassal is gives pledges for his truth Children of Royal bloud unblemish'd youth Wise Daniel and his fellows ' mongst the rest By the victorious King to Babel's prest The temple of rich ornaments defac'd And in his Idols house the Vassal's plac'd The next year he with unresisted hand Quite vanquish'd Pharaoh Necho and his Band By great Euphrates did his Army fall Which was the losse of â—yria withall Then into Aegypt Necho did retire Which in few years proves the Assyrians hire A mighty Army next he doth prepare And unto wealthy Tyre with haâ—â— repure Such was the scituation of this place As might not him but all the world out-face That in her pride she knew not which to boast Whether her wealth or yet her strength was most How in all Merchandise she did excell None but the true Ezekiel need to tell And for her strength how hard she was to gain Can Babels tired Souldiers tell with pain Within an Island had this City seat Divided from the maine by channel great Of costly Ships and Gallies she had store And Mariners to handle sayle and oare But the Chaldeans had nor ships nor skill Their shoulders must their Masters minde fulfill Fetch rubbish from the opposite old town And in the channell throw each burden down Where after many aslayes they make at last The Sea firm Land whereon the Army past And took the wealthy town but all the gain Requited not the cost the toyle and pain Full thirteen yeares in this strange work he spent Before he could accomplish his intent And though a Victor home his Army leads With peeled shoulders and with balded heads When in the Tyrian wars the King was hot Jehoiakim his Oath had clean forgot Thinks this the fittest time to break his bands While Babels King thus deep ingaged stands But he alas whose fortunes now i' th ebbe Had all his hopes like to a Spiders web For this great King with-drawes part of his force To Judah marches with a speedy course And unexpected findes the feeble Prince Whom he chastased for his proud offence Fast bound intends at Babel he shal stay But chang'd his minde and slew him by the way Thus cast him out like to a naked Asse For this was he for whom none said Alas His Son three months he suffered to reign Then from his throne he pull'd him down again Whom with his Mother he to Babel led And more then thirty years in prison fed His Unckle he established in 's place Who was last King of holy Davids race But he as perjur'd as Ichoiakim Iudah lost more then e're they lost by him Seven years he keeps his faith and safe he dwels But in the eighth against his Prince rebels The ninth came Nebuchadnezar with power Besieg'd his City Temple Zions Tower And after eighteen months he took them all The wals so strong that stood so long now fall The cursed King by flight could no wise free His wel deserv'd and fore-told misery But being caught to Babels wrathful King With Children Wives and Nobles all they bring Where to the sword all but himself was put And with that woful sight his eyes close shut A haplesse man whose darksome contemplation Was nothing but such gastly meditation In mid'st of Babel now til death he lyes Yet as was told neâ—e saw it with his eyes The Temple 's burnt the Vessels had away The Towers and Palaces brought to decay Where late of Harp and Lute was heard the noyse Now Zim and Sim lift up their shriking voyce All now of worth are captive led with tears There sit bewailing Zion seventy years With all these Conquests Babels King rests not No nor when Moab Edom he had got Kedar Hazer the Arabians too All Vassals at his hands for grace must sue A totall Conquest of rich Aegypt makes All rule he from the ancient Pharoes takes Who had for sixteen hundred years born sway To Babylons proud King now yeelds the day Then Put and Lud doe at his mercy stand Where e're he goes he Conquers every Land His sumptuous buildings passes all conceit Which wealth and strong ambition made so great His Image Iudahs Captives worship not Although the Furnace be seven times more hot His Dreams wise Daniel doth expound ful wel And his unhappy change with grief fore-tel Strange melancholly humours on him lay Which for seven years his reason took away Which from no natural causes did proceed For by the Heavens above it was decreed The time expir'd remains a Beast no more Resumes his Government as heretofore In splender and in Majesty he sits Contemplating those times he lost his wits And if by words we may guesse at the heart This King among the righteous had a part Forty four years he reign'd which being run He left his Wealth and Conquest 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 Jehoiakims captivity Poor forlorn Prince that had all state forgot In seven and thirty years had seen no jot Among the Conquered Kings that there did lye Is Judah's King now
it great happinesse One King so many Subjects should possesse But yet this goodly sight produced teares That none of these should live a hundred yeares What after did ensue had he fore-seen Of so long time his thoughts had never been Of Artabanus he again demands How of this enterprise his thoughts now stands His answer was both Land and Sea he feared Which was not vaine as it soon appeared But Xerxes resolute to Thrace goes first His Hoast who Lissus drinks to quench their thirst And for his Cattell all Pissirus Lake Was scarce enough for each a draught to take Then marching to the 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 falls down slain And all that Army then dismay'd had fled But that a Fugative discovered How part might o're the Mountains goe about And wound the backs of those bold Warriours stout They thus behemm'd with multitude of foes Laid on more fiercely their deep mortall blowes None cryes for quarter nor yet seeks to run But on their ground they dye each Mothers Son O noble Greeks how now degenerate Where is the valour of your antient State When as one thousand could some Millions daunt Alas it is Leonades you want This shamefull Victory cost Xerxes deare Amongst the rest two brothers he lost there And as at Land so he at Sea was crost Four hundred stately Ships by stormes was lost Of Vessels small almost innumerable Them to receive the Harbour was not able Yet thinking to out-match his foes at Sea Inclos'd their Fleet i' th' streights of Eubea But they as valiant by Sea as Land In this Streight as the other firmly stand And Xerxes mighty Gallies batter'd so That their split sides witness'd his overthrow Yet in the Streights of Salamis he try'd If that smal number his great force could bide But he in daring of his forward foe Received there a shameful over-throw Twice beaten thus by Sea he warr'd no more But Phocians Land he then wasted sore They no way able to withstand his force That brave Thymistocles takes this wise course In secret manner word to Xerxes sends That Greeks to break his bridge shortly intends And as a friend warns him what e're he doe For his retreat to have an eye thereto He hearing this his thoughts and course home bended Much that which never was intended Yet 'fore he went to help out his expence Part of his Hoast to Delphos sent from thence To rob the wealthy Temple of Apollo But mischief Sacriledge doth ever follow Two mighty Rocks brake from Parnassus Hil And many thousands of these men did kil Which accident the rest affrighted so With empty hands they to their Master go He seeing all thus tend unto decay Thought it his best no longer for to stay Three hundred thousand yet he left behind With his Mardon'us judex of his minde Who for his sake he knew would venture far Chief instigater of this hopelesse War He instantly to Athens sends for peace That all Hostility might 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 Thessalie And leave them out the shock for to sustaine By their Ambassador they thus complain That Xerxes quarrel was ' gainst Athens State And they had helpt them as confederate If now in need they should thus fail 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 whilst the Sun did run his endlesse course Against the Persians they would use their force Nor could the brave Ambassador be sent With Rhetorick t' gain better complement Though of this Nation borne a great Commander No lesse then Grand-sire to great Alexander Mardonius proud hearing this answer stout To adde unto his numbers layes about And of those Greeks which by his skil he 'd won He fifty thousand joynes unto his own The other Greeks which were confederate One hundred thousand and ten thousand make The Beotian Fields of war the seats Where both sides exercis'd their manly feats But all their controversies to decide For one maine Battell shortly both provide The Athenians could but forty thousand arme For other Weapons they had none would harme But that which helpt defects and made them bold Was Victory by Oracle fore-told Ten dayes these Armies did each other face Mardonius finding victuals wast apace No longer dar'd but fiercely on-set gave The other not a hand nor sword will wave Till in the entrails of their Sacrifice The signall of their victory doth rise Which found like Greeks they fight the Persians fly And troublesome Mardonius now must dye All 's lost and of three hundred thousand men Three thousand scapes for to run home agen For pitty let those few to Xerxes go To câ—rtifie this finall over-throw Same day the small remainder of his Fleet The Grecians at Mytale in Asia meet And there so utterly they wrack'd the same Scarce one was left to carry home the fame Thus did the Greeks destroy consume disperce That Army which did fright the Universe Scorn'd Xerxes hated for his cruelty Yet ceases not to act his villany His brothers wife sollicites to his will The chaste and beautious Dame refuses still Some years by him in this vain suit was spent Yet words nor guifts could win him least content Nor matching of her daughter to his son But she was stil as when it first begun When jealous Queen Amestris of this knew She Harpy-like upon the Lady flew Cut off her lilly breasts her nose and ears And leaves her thus besmear'd with blood and tears Straight comes her Lord and finds his wife thus lie The sorrow of his heart did close his eye He dying to behold that wounding sight Where he had sometime gaz'd with great delight To see that face where Rose and Lilly stood O're-flown with torrent of her ruby blood To see those breasts where chastity did dwel Thus cut and mangled by a hag of hell With loaden heart unto the King he goes Tels as he could his unexpressed woes But for his deep complaints and showres of tears His brothers recompence was naught but jears The grieved Prince finding nor right nor lâ—ve To Bactria his houshold did remove His wicked brother after sent a crew Which him and his most barbarously there slew Unto such height did grow his cruelty Of life no man had least security At last his Uncle did his death conspire And for that end his Eunuch he dâ—d hire Which wretch him privately smother'd in 's bed But yet by search he was found murthered The Artacanus hirer of this deed That from suspition he might be freed Accus'd Darius Xerxes eldest son To be the Authour of the deed was done And
by his craft ordered the matter so That the poor innocent to death must go But in short time this wickednesse was knowne For which he dyed and not he alone But all his family was likewise slain Such Justice then in Persia did remain The eldest son thus immaturely dead The second was inthron'd in 's fathers stead Artaxerxes Longimanus AMongst the Monarchs next this Prince had place The best that ever sprang of Cyrus race He first war with revolting Aegypt made To whom the perjur'd Grecians lent their aide Although to Xerxes they not long before A league of amity had sworn before Which had they kept Greece had more nobly done Then when the world they after over-run Greeks and Egyptians both he overthrows And payes them now according as he owes Which done a sumptuous feast makes like a King Where ninescore days are spent in banquetting His Princes Nobles and his Captaines calls To be partakers in these festivalls His hangings white and green and purple dye With gold and silver beds most gorgiously The royall wine in golden cups doth passe To drink more then he list none bidden was Queen Vashty also feasts but 'fore t is ended Alas she from her Royalty's suspended And a more worthy placed in her roome By Memucan's advice this was the doome What Hester was and did her story reed And how her Country-men from spoile she freed Of Hamans fall and Mordica's great rise The might o' th' Prince the tribute on the Isles Unto this King Thymistocles did flye When under Ostracisme he did lye For such ingratitude did Athens show This valiant Knight whom they so much did owe Such entertainment with this Prince he found That in all Loyalty his heart was bound The King not little joyfull of this chance Thinking his Grecian wars now to advance And for that end great preparation made Fair Attica a third time to invade His Grand-sires old disgrace did vex him sore His father Xerxes losse and shame much more For punishment their breach of oath did call The noble Greek now fit for generall Who for his wrong he could not chuse but deem His Country nor his Kindred would esteem Provisions and season now being fit T' Thymistecles he doth his war commit But he all injury had soon forgate And to his Country-men could bear no hate Nor yet disloyall to his Prince would prove To whom oblig'd by favour and by love Either to wrong did wound his heart so sore To wrong himselfe by death he chose before In this sad conflict marching on his ways Strong poyson took and put an end to 's dayes The King this noble Captaine having lost Again dispersed his new levyed hoast ' Rest of his time in peace he did remain And dy'd the two and fortieth of his reign Daryus Nothus THree sons great Artaxerxes left behind The eldest to succeed that was his mind But he with his next brother fell at strife That nought appeas'd him but his brothers life Then the surviver is by Nothus slaine Who now sole Monarch doth of all remaine These two lewd sons are by hystorians thought To be by Hester to her husband brought If they were hers the greater was her moon That for such gracelesse wretches she did groan Disquiet Egypt ' gainst this King rebells Drives out his garison that therein dwels Joynes with the Greeks and so maintains their right For sixty years maugre the Persians might A second trouble after this succeeds Which from remissenesse in Asia proceeds Amerges whom their Vice-roy he ordain'd Revolts having treasure and people gain'd Invades the Country and much trouble wrought Before to quietnesse things could be brought The King was glad with Sparta to make peace So that he might these tumults soon appease But they in Asia must first restore All Townes held by his Ancestors before The King much profit reapeth by these leagues Re-gaines his own and then the Rebell breaks Whose forces by their helpe were overthrown And so each man again possest his owne The King his sister like Cambyses wed More by his pride then lust thereunto led For Persian Kings did deem themselves so good No match was high enough but their own blood Two sons she bore the youngest Cyrus nam'd A hopefull Prince whose worth is ever fam'd His father would no notice of that take Prefers his brother for his birth-rights sake But Cyrus scornes his brothers feeble wit And takes more on him then was judged fit The King provok'd sends for him to the Court Meaning to chastise him in sharpest sort But in his slow approach ere he came there His fathers death did put an end to 's fear Nothus reign'd nineteen years which run His large Dominions left to 's eldest son Artaxerxes Mnemon MNemon now fits upon his fathers Throne Yet doubts all he injoyes is not his own Still on his brother casts a jealous eye Judging all 's actions tends to 's injury Cyrus o' th' other side weighs in his mind What helps in 's enterprize he 's like to find His interest in the Kingdome now next heir More deare to 's mother then his brother far His brothers litle love like to be gone Held by his mothers intercession These and like motives hurry him amain To win by force what right could not obtain And thought ' it best now in his mothers time By lesser steps towards the top to climbe If in his enterprize he should fall short She to the King would make a fair report He hop'd if fraud nor force the Crown could gaine Her prevailence a pardon might obtain From the Lieutenant first he takes away Some Townes commodious in lesse Asia Pretending still the profit of the King Whose rents and customes duly he sent in The King finding revenues now amended For what was done seemed no whit offended Then next the Lacedemons he takes to pay One Greeke could make ten Persians run away Great care was his pretence those Souldiers stout The Rovers in Pisidia should drive out But least some worser newes should fly to Court He meant himselfe to carry the report And for that end five hundred Horse he chose With posting speed towards the King he goes But fame more quick arrives ere he came there And fills the Court with tumult and with fear The young Queen and old at bitter jars The one accus'd the other for these wars The wife against the mother still doth cry To be the Author of conspiracy The King dismay'd a mighty Hoast doth raise Which Cyrus heares and so fore-slowes his pace But as he goes his Forces still augments Seven hundred Greeks now further his intents And others to be warm'd by this new sun In numbers from his brother daily run The fearfull King at last musters his Forces And counts nine hundred thousand foot and horses And yet with these had neither heart nor grace To loâ—k his manly brother in the face Three hundred thousand yet to Syria sent To keep those streights to hinder
greatest Deity From Media to Babylon he went To meet him there t' Antipater had sent That he might next now act upon the Stage And in a Tragedy there end his age The Queen Olimpias bears him deadly hate Not suffering her to meddle in the State And by her Letters did her Son incite This great indignity for to requite His doing so no whit displeas'd the King Though to his Mother he disprov'd the thing But now Antipater had liv'd thus long He might well dye though he had done no wrong His service great now 's suddenly forgot Or if remembred yet regarded not The King doth intimate 't was his intent His honours and his riches to augment Of larger Provinces the rule to give And for his Counsell ne're the King to live So to be caught Antipater's too wise Parmenio's death 's too fresh before his eyes He was too subtile for his crafty foe Nor by his baits could be ensnared so But his excuse with humbâ—e thanks he sends His age and journey long he now pretends And pardon craves for his unwilling stay He shewes his grief he 's forc'd to disobey Before his answer came to Babylon The thread of Alexanders life was spun Poyson had put an end to 's dayes 't was thought By Philip and Cassander to him brought Sons to Antipater bearers of his Cup Least of such like their Father chance to sup By others thought and that more generally That through excessive drinking he did dye The thirty third of 's age doe all agree This Conquerour did yeeld to destiny Whose famous Acts must last whilst world shall stand And Conquests be talkt of whilst there is Land Hit Princely qualities had he retain'd Unparalel'd for ever had remain'd But with the world his vertues overcame And so with black be-clouded all his fame Wise Aristotle tutour to his youth Had so instructed him in morall truth The principles of what he then had learn'd Might to the last when sober be discern'd Learning and learned men he much regarded And curious Artists evermore rewarded The Illiads of Homer he still kept And under 's pillow laid them when he slept Achille's happinesse he did envy ' Cause Homer kept his Acts to memory Profusely bountifull without desert For those that pleas'd him had both wealth and heart Cruell by nature and by custome too As oft his Acts throughout his reigne did shew More boundles in ambition then the skie Vain thirsting after immortality Still fearing that his Name might hap to die And fame not last unto Eternity This conquerour did oft lament 't is sed There was no worlds more to be conquered This folly great Augustus did deride For had he had but wisdome to his pride He would have found enough for to be done To govern that he had already won His thoughts are perish'd he aspires no more Nor can he kill or save as heretofore A God alive him all must Idolize Now like a mortall helplesse man he lies Of all those kingdomes large which he had got To his posterity remain'd no jot For by that hand which still revengeth bloud None of his Kindred or his Race long stood And as he took delight much bloud to spill So the same cup to his did others fill Four of his Captains all doe now divide As Daniel before had Prophesied The Leopard down his four wings 'gan to rise The great Horn broke the lesse did tytannize What troubles and contentions did ensue We may hereafter shew in season due Aridaeus GReat Alexander dead his Army 's left Like to that Giant of his eye bereft When of his monstrous bulk it was the guide His matchlesse force no Creature could abide But by Ulysses having lost his sight Each man began for to contemn his might For ayming still amisse his dreadfull blowes Did harm himself but never reacht his foes Now Court and Camp all in confusion be A King they 'l have but who none can agree Each Captain wisht this prize to beare away Yet none so hardy found as so durst say Great Alexander had left issue none Except by Artabasus daughter one And Roxan faire whom late he married Was neare her time to be delivered By Natures right these had enough to claime But meannesse of their Mothers bard the same Alleadg'd by those which by their subtill plea Had hope themselves to beare the Crown away A Sister Alexander had but she Claim'd not perhaps her Sex might hindrance be After much tumult they at last proclaim'd His base born Brother Aridaeus nam'd That so under his feeble wit and reign Their ends they might the better still attain This choyse Perdicas vehemently disclaim'd And th' unborn babe of Roxan he proclaim'd Some wished him to take the stile of King Because his Master gave to him his Ring And had to him still since Ephestion dyed More then to th' rest his favour testified But he refus'd with fained modesty Hoping to be elect more generally He hold of this occasion should have laid For second offers there were never made ' Mongst these contentions tumulâ—s jealousies Seven dayes the Corps of their great Master lyes Untoucht uncovered slighted and neglected So much these Princes their owne ends respected A contemplation to astonish Kings That he who late possest all earthly things And yet not so content unlesse that he Might be esteemed for a Deity Now lay a spectacle to testifie The wretchednesse of mans mortality After this time when stirs began to calme The Egyptians his body did enbalme On which no signe of poyson could be found But all his bowels coloured well and sound Perdicas seeing Aridaeus must be King Under his name begins to rule each thing His chief opponents who kept off the Crown Was stiffe Meleager whom he would take down Him by a wile he got within his power And took his life unworthily that houre Using the name and the command o' th' King To authorize his Acts in every thing The Princes seeing Perdica's power and Pride Thought timely for themselves now to provide Antigonus for his share Asia takes And Ptolomy next sure of Egypt makes Seleuchus afterward held Babylon Amipater had long rul'd Macedon These now to govern for the King pretends But nothing lesse each one himself intends Perdicas took no Province like the rest But held command o' th' Armies which was best And had a higher project in his head Which was his Masters sister for to wed So to the Lady secretly he sent That none might know to frustrate his intent But Cleopatra this suitour did deny For Leonatus more lovely in her eye To whom she sent a message of her mind That if he came good welcome he should find In these tumultuous dayes the thralled Greeks Their ancient liberty afresh now seeks Shakes off the yoke sometimes before laid on By warlike Philip and his conquering son The Athenians force Antipater to fly To Lamia where he shut up doth ly To brave Craterus then he sends with speed
t' uphold hâ—s Masters family But as that to a period did haste So Eumenes of destiny must taste Antigonus all Persia now gains And Master of the treasure he remains Then with Seleuchus straight at ods doth fall But he for aid to Ptolomy doth call The Princes all begin now to envie Antigonus his growing up so hye Fearing their state and what might hap ere long Enter into a combination strong Selcuchus Ptolomy Cassander joynes Lyâ—â—mac us to make a fourth combines Antigonus desirous of the Greeks To make Cassander odious to them seeks Sends forth his declaration from a farre And shews what cause they had to take up warre The Mother of their King to death he 'd put His Wife and Son in prison close had shut And how he aymes to make himselfe a King And that some title he might seeme to bring Thessalonica he had newly wed Daughter to Phillip their renowned head Had built and call'd a City by his name Which none e're did but those of royall fame And in despight of their two famous Kings Th' hatefull Olinthians to Greece re-brings Rebellious Thebs he had re-edified Which their late King in dust had-damnified Requires them therefore to take up their Armes And to requite this Traytor for those harmes Now Ptolomy would gaine the Greeks likewise For he declares against his injuries First how he held the Empire in his hands Seleuchus drove from government and lands Had valiant Eumenes unjustly slaine And Lord o' th' City Susha did remain So therefore craves their help to take him down Before he weare the universall Crown Antigonus at Sea soone had a fight Where Ptolomy and the rest put him to flight His Son at Gaza likewise lost the field So Syria to Ptolomy did yeeld And Sclcuchus recovers Babylon Still gaining Countries East-ward goes he on Demetrius againe with Ptolomy did fight And comming unawares put him to slight But bravely sends the Priseners back againe And all the spoyle and booty they had tane Curtius as noble Ptolomy or more Who at Gaza did th' like to him before Antigonus did much rejoyce his son His lost repute with victorie had won At last these Princes tired out with warres Sought for a peace and laid aside their jarres The terms of their agreement thus expresse That each shall hold what he doth now possesse Till Alexander unto age was grown Who then shall be installed in the throne This touch'd Cassander sore for what he 'd done Imprisoning both the mother and her son He sees the Greeks now favour their young Prince Whom he in durance held now and long since That in few years he must be forc'd or glad To render up such kingdomes as he had Resolves to quit his fears by one deed done And put to death the mother and her son This Rexane for her beautie all commend But for one act she did just was her end No sooner was great Alexander dead But she Dariu's daughters murthered Both thrown into a well to hide her blot Perdicas was her partner in this plot The Heavens seem'd slow in paying her the same But yet at last the hand of vengeance came And for that double fact which she had done The life of her must go and of her son Perdicas had before for his amisse But from their hands who thought not once of this Gassander's dead the Princes all detest But 't was in shew in heart it pleas'd them best That he was odious to the world they 'r glad And now they are free Lords of what they had When this foul tragedy was past and done Polisperchon brings up the other son Call'd Hercules and elder then his brother Bur Olymptas thought to preferre th' other The Greeks touch'd with the murther done so late This Prince began for to compassionate Begin to mutter much ' gainst proud Cassander And place their hopes o' th heire of Alexander Cassander fear'd what might of this insue So Polisperchon to his Counsell drew Gives Peloponesus unto him for hire Who slew the prince according to desire Thus was the race and house of Alexander Extinct by this inhumane wretch Cassander Antigonus for all this doth not mourn He knows to 's profit all i' th end will turn But that some title he might now pretend For marriage to Cleopatra doth send Lysimachus and Ptolomy the same And vile Cassander too sticks not for shame She now in Lydia at Sardis lay Where by Embassage all these Princes pray Choise above all of Ptolomy she makes With his Embassadour her journey takes Antigonu's Lieutenant stayes her still Untill he further know his Masters will To let her go or hold her still he fears Antigonus thus had a wolf by th' â—aâ—s Resolves at last the Princesse then'd be stain So hinders him of her he could not gain Her women are appointed to this deed They for their great reward no better speed For straight way by command they 'r put to death As vile conspiratours that took her breath And now he thinks he 's ordered all so well The world must needs believe what he doth tell Thus Philips house was quite extinguished Except Cassanders wife who yet not dead And by their means who thought of nothing lesse Then vengeance just against the same t' expresse Now blood was paid with blood for what was done By cruell father mother cruell son Who did erect their cruelty in guilt And wronging innocents whose blood they spilt Philip and Olympias both were slain Aridaeus and his Queen by slaughters ta'ne Two other children by Olympias kill'd And Cleopatra's blood now likewise spill'd If Alexander was not poysoned Yet in the flower of 's age he must lie dead His wise and sons then slain by this Cassander And 's kingdomes rent away by each Commander Thus may we hear and fear and ever say That hand is righteous still which doth repay These Captains now the stile of Kings do take For to their Crowns there 's none can title make Demetrius is first that so assumes To do as he the rest full soon presumes To Athens then he goes is entertain'd Not like a King but like some God they fain'd Most grossely base was this great adulation Who incense burnt and offered oblation These Kings fall now afresh to warres again Demetrius of Ptolomy doth gain 'T would be an endlesse story to relate Their severall battells and their severall fate Antigonus and Seleuchus now fight Near Ephesus each bringing all their might And he that conquerour shall now remain Of Asia the Lordship shall retain This day twixt these two foes ends all the strife For here Antigonus lost rule and life Nor to his son did there one foot remain Of those dominions he did sometimes gain Demetrius with his troops to Athens flies Hoping to find succour in miseries But they adoring in prosperity Now shut their gates in his adversity He sorely griev'd at this his desperate state Tries foes since friends will not compassionate His peace he
then with old Seleuchus makes Who his fair daughter Stratonica takes Antiochus Seleuchus dear lov'd son Is for this fresh young Lady-half undone Falls so extreamly sick all fear his life Yet dares not say he loves his fathers wife When his disease the skilfull Physician found He wittily his fathers mind did sound Who did no sooner understand the same But willingly resign'd the beauteous dame Cassander now must die his race is run And leaves the ill got kingdomes he had won Two sons he left born of King Philips daughter Who had an end put to their dayes by slaughter Which should succeed at variance they fell The mother would the youngest should excell The eld'st enrag'd did play the vipers part And with his Sword did pierce his mothers heart Rather then Philips child must longer live He whom she gave his life her death must give This by Lysimachus soon after slain Whose daughter unto wife he 'd newly ta'n The youngest by Demetrius kill'd in fight Who took away his now pretended right Thus Philips and Cassander's race is gone And so falls out to be extinct in one Yea though Cassander died in his bed His seed to be extirpt was destined For blood which was decreed that he should spill Yet must his children pay for fathers ill Jehu in killing Ahabs house did well Yet be aveng'd must th' blood of Jesreel Demetrius Cassanders kingdomes gains And now as King in Macedon he reigns Seleuchus Asia holds that grieves him sore Those 〈◊〉 untries large his father got before These to recover musters all his might And with his son in law will needs go fight There was he taken and imprisoned Within an Isle that was with pleasures fed Injoy'd what so beseem'd his Royalty Onely restrained of his liberty After three years he dyed left what he 'd won In Greece unto Antigonus his son For h s posterity unto this day Did nâ—'r regain one foot in Asia Now dyed the brave and noble Ptolomy Renown'd for bounty valour clemency Rich Aegypt left and what else he had won To Philadelphus his more worthy Son Of the old Heroes now but two remaine Seleuchus and Lysimachus those twaine Must needs goe try their fortune and their might And so Lysimachus was slaine in fight 'T was no small joy unto Seleuchus breast That now he had out-lived all the rest Possession he of Europe thinks to take And so himselfe the only Monarch make Whilst with these hopes in Greece he did remaine He was by Ptolomy Cerannus slaine The second Son of the first Ptolomy Who for rebellion unto him did sly Selencbus was as Father and a friend Yet by him had this most unworthy end Thus with these Kingly Captaines have we done A little now how the Succession run Antigonus Seleuchus and Cassander With Ptolomy reign'd after Alexander Cassanders Sons soone after 's death were slaine So three Successors only did remaine Antigonus his Kingdoms lost and 's life Unto Seleuchus author of that strife His Son Demetrius all Cassanders gaines And his posterity the same retaines Demetrius Son was call'd Awigonus And his againe also Demetrius I must let passe those many battels fought Between those Kings and noble Fyrrus stout And his son Alexander of Epire Whereby immortall honour they acquire Demetrius had Philip to his son He Perseus from him the kingdom 's won Emillius the Roman Generall Did take his rule his sons himself and all This of Antigonus his seed's the fate Whose kingdomes were subdu'd by th' Roman state Longer Seleuchus held the Royalty In Syria by his posterity Awiochus Soter his son was nam'd To whom Ancient Berosus To much fam'd His book of Assurs Monarchs dedicates Tells of their warres their names their riches fates But this is perished with many more Which we oft wish were extant as before Antiochus Theos was Soters son Who a long warre with Egypts King begun The affinities and warres Daniel set forth And calls them there the Kings of South and North This â—â—cos he was murthered by his wife Seleuchus reign'd when he had lost his life A third Seleuchus next sitâ— on the seat And then Antiochus surnam'd the great Seleuchus next Anttiochus succeeds And then Epiphanes whole wicked deeds Horrid massacres murders cruelties Against the Jewes we read in Macchabees By him was set up the abomination I 'th' holy place which caused desolation Antiochus Eupator was the next By Rebells and imposters daily vext So many Princes still were murthered The Royall blood was quite extinguished That Tygranes the great Armenian King To take the government was called in Him Lucullus the Romane Generall Vanquish'd in fight and took those kingdomes all Of Greece and Syria thus the rule did end In Egypt now a little time we 'l spend First Ptolomy being dead his famous son Cal'd Philadelphus next sat on the throne The Library at Alexandria built With seven hundred thousand volumes fill'd The seventy two interpreters did seek They might translate the Bible into Greek His son was Evergetes the last Prince That valour shew'd vertue or excellence Philopater was Evergete's son After Epiphanes sat on the Throne Philometer then Evergetes again And next to him did false Lathurus reigne Alexander then Lathurus in 's stead Next Auletes who cut off Pompey's head To all these names we Ptolomy must adde For since the first that title still they had Fair Cleopatra next last of that race Whom Julius Caesar set in Royall place Her brother by him lost his trayterous head For Pompey's life then plac'd her in his stead She with her Paramour Mark Antony Held for a time the Egyptian Monarchy Till great Augustus had with him a fight At Actium slain his Navy put to flight Then poysonous Aspes she sets unto her Armes To take her life and quit her from all harmes For 't was not death nor danger she did dread But some disgrace in triumph to be led Here ends at last the Grecian Monarchy Which by the Romans had its destiny Thus Kings and Kingdoms have their times and dates Their standings over-turnings bounds and fates Now up now down now chief and then brought under The Heavens thus rule to fill the earth with wonder The Assyrian Monarchy long time did stand But yet the Persian got the upper hand The Grecian them did utterly subdue And Millions were subjected unto few The Grecian longer then the Persian stood Then came the Romane like a raging flood And with the torrent of his rapid course Their Crownes their Titles riches beares by force The first was likened to a head of gold Next armes and breast of silver to behold The third belly and thighs of brasse in sight And last was Iron which breaketh all with might The Stone out of the Mountaine then did rise And smote those feet those legs those arms and thighs Then gold silver brasse iron and all that store Became like chaffe upon the threshing floor The first a Lion second was a Beare The third a Leopard