GReat
Alexander was wise
Philips son,
He to
Amyntas, Kings of
Macedon;
The cruel proud
Olympias was his Mother,
She to
Epirus warlike King was daughter.
This Prince (his father by
Pausanias slain)
The twenty first of 's age began to reign.
Great were the Gifts of nature which he had,
His education much to those did adde:
By art and nature both he was made fit,
To 'complish that which long before was writ.
The very day of his Nativity
To ground was burnt
Dianaes Temple high:
An Omen to their near approaching woe,
Whose glory to the earth this king did throw.
His Rule to
Greece he scorn'd should be confin'd,
The Universe scarce bound his proud vast mind.
This is the He-Goat which from
Grecia came,
That ran in Choler on the
Persian Ram,
[Page 126]That brake his horns, that threw him on the ground
To save him fro
[...] his might no man was found:
Philip on this great Conquest had an eye,
But death did ter
[...]inate those thoughts so high.
The Greeks had chose him Captain General,
Which honour to his So
[...] did now befall.
(For as Worlds Monarch now we speak not o
[...],
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 pu
[...] to death, who gave no cause;
That no rebellion in i
[...] his absence be,
Nor making Ti
[...]le unto Sovereignty.
And all whom he suspects or fears will climbe,
Now tast
[...] of death least they deserv'd in time,
Nor won
[...]er is t if he in b
[...]ood begin,
For Cruelty was his parental
[...]in,
Thus eased now of troubles an
[...] of fears,
N
[...]t spring his course to
Asi
[...] he steers,
Leav
[...]
S
[...]e Antipater, at home to sway,
And through the
Hellispont his Ships mad
[...] way.
Coming to La
[...]d, his dart on shore he throws,
Then with alacrity he after goes;
And with a bount'ous heart and courage brave,
His little weal
[...]h among his Souldiers gave.
[Page 127]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 h
[...] 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 lye
[...].
The
P
[...]rsians ready for encounter stand,
And strive to keep his men from off the land;
Those banks so steep the
Greeks yet scramble up,
And beat the coward
Persians from the top,
And twenty thous
[...]nd of their lives bereave,
Who in their backs did all their wounds receive.
This v
[...]ctory did
Alexander gain,
With loss of thirty four of his there slain;
[Page 128]Then
Sardis he, and
Ephesus did gain,
VVhere 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 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
Greece 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.
[Page 129]For this wife 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.
Its much beyond my time and little art,
To shew how great
Dariu
[...] plaid his part;
The splendor and the pomp he marched in,
For since the world was no such Pageant seen.
Sure twas 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 fire was borne before the host,
(For Sun and Fire the
P
[...]rsians worship most)
The Priests in their strange habit follow after,
An object, not so much of fear as
[...]aughter.
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,
[Page 130]Like several houses moving upon wheels,
As if she'd drawn whole
Shushan 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 mules and Camels ready wait
Loaden with gold, with je
[...]els and with plate:
For sure
Darius thought at the
[...]rst sight,
The
Greek
[...] 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
Persi
[...]ns 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 slai
[...],
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.
[Page 131]The royal Captives brought to
Alexander
T'ward them demean'd himself like a Comm
[...]nder
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
Alexander is more fame
Then that the
Persian King he overcame.
Two hundred eig
[...]ty Gree
[...]s 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 Government he doth commit
Unto
Parme
[...]io, of all most fit.
Darius now less lofty then before,
To
Alexander writes he would restore
Those mournfull Ladies from Captivity,
For whom he offers him a ransome high▪
But down his haughty stomach could not bring,
To give this Conquerour the Stile of King.
This Letter
Alexander doth disdain,
And in short terms sends this reply again,
A King he was, and that not only so,
But of
Darius King, as he should know.
Next
Alexander unto
Tyre doth goe,
His valour and his victoryes they know:
To gain his love the
Tyrians intend,
Therefore a crown and great Provision send,
Their present he receives with thankfullness,
Desires to offer unto
Hercules.
[Page 132]Protector of their town, by whom defended,
And from whom he lineally descended.
But they accept not this in any wise,
Lest he intend more fraud then sacrifice,
Sent word that
Hercules his temple stood
In the old town (which then lay like a wood)
With this reply he was so deep enrag'd,
To win the town his honour he ingag'd:
And now as
Babels King did once before,
He leaves not till he made the sea firm shore,
But far less time and cost he did expend,
The former Ruines forwarded his end:
Moreover had a Navy at command,
The other by his men fetcht all by land.
In seven months time he took that we
[...]lthy town,
Whose glory now a second time's brought down.
Two thousand of the chief he crucifi'd,
Eight thousand by the sword then also di'd,
And thirteen thousand Gally slaves he made,
And thus the
Tyrians for mistrust were paid.
The rule of this he to
[...]hilotas gave
Who was the son of that
Parm
[...]nio brave.
Cilicia to
Socrates doth give,
For now's the time Captains like Kings may live.
Zidon he on
Ephestion bestowes,
(For that which freely comes, as freely goes)
He scorns to have one worse then had the other,
So gives his little Lordship to another.
Ephestion having chief command of th' Fleet,
At
Gaza now must
Alexander meet.
[Page 133]
Darius finding troubles still increase,
By his Ambassadors now sues for peace,
And layes before great
Al
[...]xanders eyes
The dangers difficultyes like to rise,
First at
Euphrates what he's like to 'bide,
And then at
Ty
[...]ris and
Araxis side,
These he may scape▪ and if he so desire,
A league of friendship make firm and entire.
His eldest daughter he in mariage profers,
And a most princely dowry with her offers.
All those rich Kingdomes large that do abide
Betwixt the
Hellispont and
Halys side.
But he with scorn his courtesie rejects,
And the distressed King no whit respects,
Tells him, these proffers great, in truth were none
For all he offers now was but his own.
But quoth
Parmenio that brave Commander,
Was I as great, as is great
Alexander,
Darius offers I would not reject,
But th' kingdomes and the Lady soon accept.
To which proud
Alexander made reply,
And so if I
Parmenio was, would I.
He now to
Gaza goes and there doth meet,
His Favorite
Ephestion with his Fleet,
Where valiant
Betis stoutly keeps the town,
(A loyal Subject to
Darius Crown)
For more repulse the
Grecians here abide
Then in the
Persian Monarchy beside;
And by these walls so many men were slain,
That
Greece was forc'd to yield supply again.
[Page 134]But yet this well defended Town was taken.
For 'twas decree'd, that Empire should be shaken;
Thus
Betis ta'en had holes bor'd through his feet▪
And by command was drawn through every street
To imitate
Achilles in his shame,
Who did the like to Hector (of more fame)
What hast thou lost thy
[...]agnimity,
Can
Alexander deal thus cruelly?
Sith valour with
Heroick
[...] is renown'd,
Though in an Enemy it should be found;
If of thy future fame thou hadst regard,
Why didst not heap up honours and reward?
From
Gaza to
Ierusalem he goes,
[...]t in no hostile way, (as I suppose)
Him in his Priestly Robes high
Iaddus
[...]eets,
Whom with great reverence
Alexander greets;
The Priest shews him good
Dani
[...]l's Prophesy,
How he should overthrow this Monarchy,
By which he was so much encouraged,
No future dangers
[...]e did ever dread.
From thence to fruitful
Egypt marcht with speed,
Where happily in's wars he did succeed;
To see how fast he gain'd was no small wonder,
For in few dayes he brought thatKingdome under.
Then to the
Phane of
Iupiter he went,
To be install'd a God, was his
[...]ntent.
The
Pagan Priest through hire, or else mistake,
The Son of
Iupiter did streight him make:
He Diobolical must needs remain,
[...]hat his humanity will not retain.
[Page 135]Thence back to
Egypt goes, and in few dayes;
Fair
Al
[...]andria from the ground doth raise▪
Then setling all things in less
Asia,
In
Syria, Egypt, and
Phenicia,
Unto
Euphrate
[...] marcht and overgoes,
For no man's there his Army to oppose;
Had
Betis now been there but with his band,
Great
Alexander had been kept from Land.
But as the King, so is the multitude,
And now of valour both are destitute.
Yet he (poor prince) another Host doth muster,
Of
Persians,
[...]cythians,
[...]ndians in a cluster;
Men but in shape and name, of valour none
Most fit, to blunt the Swords of
Macedon.
Two hundred fifty thousand by account,
Of Horse and Foot his Army did amount;
For in his multitudes his trust still lay,
But on their fortitude he had small stay;
Yet had some hope that on the spacious plain,
His numbers might the victory obtain.
About this time
Dari
[...] beau
[...]ious Queen▪
Who had sore travail and much sorrow seen,
Now bids the world adue, with pain being spent,
Whose death her Lord full sadly did laraent.
Great
Alexander mourns as well as he,
The more because not set at liberty;
When this sad news (at first
Darius hears,
Some injury was offered he fears:
But when inform'd how royally the King,
Had used her, and hers, in every thing,
[Page 136]He prays the immortal Gods they would reward
Great
Alexander for this good regard;
And if they down his Monarchy will throw,
Let them on him this dignity bestow
And now for peace he sues as once before,
And offers all he did and Kingdomes more;
His eldest daughter for his princely bride,
(Nor was such match in all the world beside)
And all those Countryes which (betwixt) did lye
Phanisian Sea, and great
Euphrates high:
With fertile
Egypt and rich
Syria.
And all those Kingdomes in less
Asia.
With thirty thousand Talents to be paid,
For the Queen Mother, and the royal maid;
And till all this be well perform'd, and sure,
Ochus his Son for Hostage should endure.
To this stout
Alexander gives no ear,
No though
Parmenio plead, yet will not hear;
Which had he done (perhaps) his fame he'd kept,
Nor Infamy had wak'd, when he had slept,
For his unlimited prosperity
Him boundless made in vice and Cruelty.
Thus to
Darius he writes back again,
The Firmament, two Suns cannot contain.
Two Monarchyes on Earth cannot abide,
Nor yet two Monarchs in one world reside;
The afflicted King finding him set to
[...]ar,
Prepares against to morrow, for the war,
Parmenio, Alexander, wisht that night,
To force his Camp, so vanquish them by flight.
[Page 137]For tumult in the night doth cause most dread,
And weakness o
[...] a Foe is covered,
But he disdain'd to steal a victory:
The Sun should witness of his valour be,
And careless in his bed, next morne he lyes,
By Captains twice is call'd before hee'l rise,
The Armyes joyn'd a while, the
Persians
[...]ght▪
And spilt the Greeks some bloud before their
[...]light
But long they stood not e're they're forc'd to run,
So made an end, As soon as well begun.
Forty five thousand
Alexander had,
But is not known what slaughter here was made,
Some write th' other had a million, some more,
But
Quintus Curtius as before.
At
Arbela this victory was gain'd,
Together with the Town also obtain'd;
Darius stript of all, to
Media came▪
Accompan'ed with sorrow, fear▪ and shame,
At
Arbela left his Ornaments and Treasure,
Which
Alexander deals as suits his pleasure.
This conqueror to
Babylon then goes.
Is entertain'd with joy and pompous showes,
With showrs of flours the streets along
[...]re strown,
And incense burnt the silver Altars on.
The glory of the Castle he admires,
The strong Foundation and the lofty Spires,
In this, a world of gold and Treasure lay,
Which in few hours was carried all away.
With greedy eyes he views this City round,
Whose fame throughout the world was so r
[...]nown
[...]
[Page 138]And to possess he counts no little bliss
The towres and bowres of proud
S
[...]miramis,
Though worne by time, and rac'd by foes full sore,
Yet old foundations shew'd and somewhat more.
With all the pleasures that on earth are found,
This city did abundantly abound,
Where
[...]our and thirty dayes he now did stay,
And gave himself to banqueting and play:
He and his souldiers wax ef
[...]eminate,
An
[...] former discipline begin to hate.
Whilst revelling at
Babylon he lyes,
Antipater from
Greece sends fresh supplyes.
He then to
Shushan goes with his new bands,
But needs no force, tis rendred to his hands.
He likewise here a world of treasure found;
For 'twas the seat of
Persian Kings renown
[...]d.
Here stood the royal Houses of delight,
Where Kings have shown their glory wealth and might
The sumptuous palace of Queen
Esther here,
And of good
Mordicai, her kinsman dear,
Those pur
[...]le hangings, mixt with green and white
Those beds of gold and couches of delight.
And furniture the richest in all lands,
Now fall into the
Macedonians hands.
From
Shushan to
Persi
[...]olis he goes,
Which news doth still augment
D
[...]riu
[...] woes
In his approach the governour sends word,
For his receipt with joy they all accord,
With open gates the wealthy town did stand,
And all in it was at his high command.
[Page 139]Of all the Cities that on earth was fou
[...],
None like to this in riches did abound:
Though
Baby
[...]on was rich▪ and
Shushan too
Yet to compare with this they might not doe:
Here lay the bulk of all those preciou
[...] things
That did pertain unto the
Persian Kings:
For when the souldiers rifled had their pleasure,
And taken money plate and golden treasure,
Statues some gold, and silver numberless,
Yet after all, as storyes do express
The share of
Alexander did amount
To an hundred thousand talents by account.
Here of his own he sets a Garison,
(As first at
Shushan and at
B
[...]bylon)
On their old Governours titles he laid,
But on their faithfulness he never staid,
Their place gave to his Captains (as was just)
For such revolters false, what King can trust?
The riches and the pleasures of this town
Now makes this King his virtues all to drown,
That wallowing in all licentiousness,
In pride and cruelty to high excess.
Being inflam'd with wine upon a season,
Filled with madness, and quite void of reason,
He at a bold proud strumpets leud desire,
Commands to set this goodly town on fire.
Parmenio wise intreats him to desist.
And layes before his eyes if he persi
[...]t
His fames dishonour, l
[...]ss unto his state,
A
[...]d just procuring of the
Persian
[...] hate:
[Page 140]But deaf to reason, bent to have his will,
Those stately streets with raging flame did fill▪
Then to
Darius he directs his way,
W
[...]o was retir'd as far as
Media,
And there with sorrows, fears & cares surrounde
[...]
Had now his army fourth and last compounded,
Which forty thousand made, but his intent
Was these in
Bactria soon to augment:
Bu
[...] hearing
Al
[...]xan
[...]er was so near,
Thought now this once to try his fortunes here,
And rather chose an honourable death,
Then still with infamy to draw his breath:
But
B
[...]ssus false, who was his chief Commander
Perswades him not to fight with
Alexander.
With sage advice he sets before his eyes
The little hope of profit like to rise:
If when he'd multitudes the day he lost,
Then with so few, how likely to be crost.
This counsel for his safety he pretended,
But to deliver
[...]im to's foe intended.
Next
[...]ay this tr
[...]ason to
Da
[...]ius known
T
[...]anspor
[...]ed sore with grief and passion,
Grin
[...]ing his teeth, an
[...] plucking off his hair,
Sate overwhelm'd with sorrow and dispair:
Then bids his servant
Artabasus tr
[...]e,
Look to himself, and leave him to that crew,
Who was of hopes and comforts quite bereft,
And by his guard and Servitors all left.
Straight
Bessus comes, & with his trait'rous hands
Layes hold on's Lord, and binding him with bands
[Page 141]Throws him into a Cart, covered with hides,
Who wanting means t' resist these wrongs abides,
Then draws the cart along with chains of gold,
In more despight the thraled prince to hold,
And thus t'ward
Alexand
[...]r on he goes,
Great recompence for this, he did propose:
But some detesting this his wicked fact,
To
Alexander flyes and tells this act,
Who doubling of his march, posts on amain,
Darius from that traitors hands to gain.
B
[...]ssus gets knowledg his disloyalty
Had
Alexanders wrath incensed high,
Whose army now was almost within sight,
His hopes being dasht prepares himself for flight:
Unto
Darius fi
[...] he brings a horse,
And bids him save himself by speedy course:
The wofull King his courtesie refuses,
Whom thus the execrable wretch abuses,
By throwing darts gave him his mortal wound▪
Then slew his Servants that were faithfull found,
Yea wounds the beasts that drew him unto death,
And leaves him thus to gasp out his last breath.
Bessus his partner in this tragedy,
Was the false Governour of
Media.
This done, they with their h
[...]st soon speed away,
To hide themselve
[...] remote in
Bactria.
Darius bath'd in blood, sends out his groans,
Invokes the heav'ns and earth▪ to hear his moans
His lost felicity did grieve him sore,
But this unheard of treachery much more:
[Page 142]But above all, that neither Ear nor Eye
Should hear nor see his dying misery;
As thus he lay,
Polistrates a Greek,
Wearied with his long march, did water seek,
So chanc'd these bloudy Horses to espy,
Whose wounds had made their skins of purple dy
[...]
To them repairs then looki
[...]g in the Cart,
Finds poor
Da
[...]ius pierced to the heart,
Who not a little chear'd to have some eye,
The witness of this horrid Tragedy;
Prays him to
Alexander to commend
The just revenge of this his woful end:
And not to pardon such disloyalty,
Of Treason, M
[...]r
[...]h
[...]r▪ and base Cruelty.
If not, because
Darius thus did pray,
Yet that succeeding Kings in safety may
Their lives enjoy, their Crowns and dignity,
And not by Traitors hands untimely dye.
He also sends his humble thankfulness,
For all the Kingly grace he did express;
To's Mother, Children dear, and wife now gone▪
Which made their long restraint seem to be none:
Praying the immortal Gods, that Sea and Land
Might be subjected to his royal hand,
And that his Rule as far extended be,
As men the rising se
[...]ting Sun shall see,
This said▪ the Greek for
[...]ater doth intreat,
[...]o quench his thirst, and
[...]o allay his heat:
Of all good things (quoth he) once in my power,
I've nothing left, at this my dying hou
[...];
[Page 143]Thy service and compassion to reward,
But
Al
[...]xander will, for this regard.
This said, his fainting breath did fleet away,
And though a Monarch late, now lyes like clay;
And thus must every Son of
Adam lye,
Though Gods on Earth like Sons of men they dye.
Now to the East, great
Al
[...]xander goes,
To see if any dare his might oppose,
For scarce the world or any bounds thereon,
Could bound his boundless fond▪ Ambition;
Such as submits again he do
[...]h restore
Their riches, and their honours he makes more,
On
Artabac
[...]s more then all bestow'd,
For his fidelity to's Master show'd.
Thalestris Queen ofth'
Amazons now brought
Her Train to
Alexand
[...]r, (as 'tis thought▪)
Though most of reading best and soundest mind,
Such Country there, nor yet such people find.
The
[...] tell her errand, we had better spare
To th' ignorant, her title will declare:
As
Alexander in his greatness grows,
So dayly of his virtues doth he lose.
He baseness counts, his former Clemency,
And not beseeming such a dignity;
His past sobriety doth also bate,
As most incompatible to his State;
His temperance is but a sordid thing,
No wayes becoming such a mighty King;
His greatness now he takes to represe
[...]t
His fa
[...]cy'd Gods above the Firmament.
[Page 144]And such as shew'd but reverence before,
Now are commanded strictly to adore;
With
Persian Robes himself doth dignifie,
Charging the
[...]ame on his nobility,
His manners▪ habit, gestures, all did fashion
After that conquer'd and luxurious Nation.
His Captains that were virtuously inclin'd,
Griev'd at t
[...]is change of manners and of mind.
The ruder sort did openly deride,
His feigned Diety and foolish pride;
The certain
[...]y of both comes to his Ears,
But yet no notice takes of what he hears:
With those of worth he still desires esteem,
So heaps up gifts his credit to redeem
And for the rest new wars and travails finds,
That othe
[...] matters might take up their minds,
And heari
[...]g
Bessus, makes himself a King,
Intends that Traitor to his end to bring.
Now that his Host from luggage might be free,
And with his burthen no man burthened be,
Comman
[...]s forthwith each man his fardle bring,
Into the market place before the King;
VVhich done sets fire upon those goodly spoyles,
The rec
[...]mpence of travails wars and toyles.
And thus unwisely in a mading fume,
The we
[...]lth of many Kingdomes did consume,
But ma
[...]vell 'tis that without mutiny,
The Souldiers should let pass this injury;
Nor won
[...]er less to Readers may it bring,
Here to observe the rashness of the King.
[Page 145]Now with his Army doth he post away
False
Bessus to find out in
Bactria ▪
But much distrest for water in their march,
The drought and heat their bodies sore did parch.
At length they came to th' river
O
[...]eus brink,
Where so immoderately these thirsty drink,
Which more mortality to them did bring,
Then all their warrs against the
Persian King.
Here
Alexander's almost at a stand,
To pass the River to the other land.
For b
[...]ats here's none, nor near it any wood,
To make them Rafts to wast them o're the flood:
But he that was resolved in his mind,
Would without means some transportation find.
Then from the Carriages the hides he takes,
And s
[...]uffing them with straw, he bundles makes.
On these together ti'd, in six dayes space,
They all pass over to the other place.
Had
Bessus had but valour to his will,
With little pain there m
[...]ght have kept them still▪
But Coward durst not fight, nor coul
[...] he
[...]ly,
Hated of all for's former treachery,
Is by his own now bound in iron chains,
A Coller of the same, his neck contains.
And in this sort they rather drag then bring
This Malefactor vile before the King,
Who to
Darius broth
[...]r gives the wretch,
With racks and tortures every limb to stretch.
Here was of
Greeks a town in
Bactria,
Whom
Xerxes from their Country led away,
[Page 146]These not a little joy'd, this day to see,
Wherein their own had got the sov'raignty
And now reviv'd, with hopes held up their head
From bondage long to be Enfranchised.
But
Al
[...]xand
[...]r puts them to the sword
Without least cause from them in deed or word;
Nor Sex, nor age, nor one, nor other spar'd,
But in his cruelty alike they shar'd:
Nor reason could he give for this great wrong,
But that they had forgot their mother tongue.
While thus some time he spent in
Bactria,
And in his camp strong a
[...]d securely lay,
Down from the mountains twenty thousand came
And there most fiercely set upon the
[...]ame:
Repelling these, two marks of honour got
Imprinted in his leg, by arrows shot.
The
Bactrians against him now rebel;
But he their stubborness in time doth quell.
From hence he to
Iaxartis River goes▪
Where
[...]ythians rude his army doth oppose,
And with their outcryes in an hideous sort
Bese
[...] his camp, or military court,
Of darts and arrows, made so little spare,
They flew so thick, they seem'd to dark the air:
But soon his souldiers forc'd them to a flight,
The
[...]r nakedness could not endure their might.
Upon this rivers bank in seventee
[...] dayes
A goodly City doth compleatly raise,
Which
Alexandria he doth likewise name,
And sixty furlongs could but round the same.
[Page 147]A third Supply
Antipat
[...]r now sent,
Which did his former forces much augment;
An
[...] being one hundred twenty thousand strong;
He enters then the Indian Kings among:
Those that submit▪ he gives them rule again,
Such as
[...]o no
[...] both them and theirs are slain.
His warrs with sundry nations I'le omit,
And also of the
M
[...]llians what is writ.
His Fights, his dangers▪ and the hurts he had,
How to su
[...]mit their necks at last they're glad.
To
N
[...]s
[...] goes by
Bacchus built long since,
Whose feasts are celebrated by this prince;
Nor had that drunken god one who would take
His Liquors more devoutly for his fake▪
When thus ten days his brain with wine he'd soak
[...].
And with delicious meats his palate choakt:
To th' River
Inaus next
[...]is course he bends,
Boats to prepare
[...]phestion first he sends,
Who coming thither long before his Lord▪
Had to his mind made all things to accord,
The vessels ready were at his command,
And
Omp
[...]is King of that
[...]art of the land,
Through his perswasion
Alexander meets,
And as his
[...]ov'raign Lord him humbly greets
Fifty six Elephants he brings to's hand,
And tenders him the strength of all his land▪
Presents himsel
[...] first with a golden crown,
Then eighty talents to his captains down:
But
Ale
[...]and
[...] made him to be
[...]old
He glory sought, no silver nor no gold;
[Page 148]His presents all with thanks he did restore,
And of his own a thousand talents more.
Thus all the Indian Kings to him submit,
But
Porus stout, who will not yeild as yet:
To him doth
Alexander thus declare,
His pleasure is that forthwith he repair
Unto his Kingdomes borders▪ and as due,
His homage to himself as Soveraign doe:
But kingly
Porus this brave answer sent,
That to attend him there was his intent,
And come as well provided as he could,
But for the rest, his sword a
[...]vise him should.
Great
Alexander vext at this reply.
Did more his valour then his crown envy,
Is now resolv'd to pass
Hydaspes flood,
And there by force his soveraignty make good.
Stout
Porus on the banks doth ready stand
To give him welcome when he comes to land▪
A potent army with him like a King,
And ninety Elephants for warr did bring:
Had
Alexander such resistance seen
On
Tygris side, here now he had not been.
Within this spacious River deep and wide
Did here and the
[...]e Isles full of trees abide.
His army
Alexander doth divi
[...]e
With
Ptolemy sends part to th' other side;
Porus encounters them and thinks all's there,
When covertly the rest get o're else where,
And whilst the first he valiantly assail'd,
The last set on his back, and so prevail'd.
[Page 149]Yet work enough here
Al
[...]xander found,
For to the last stout
Porus kept his ground:
Nor was't
[...]ishonour at the length to yield,
When
Alexander strives to win the field.
The kingly Captive '
[...]ore the Victor's brought,
In loo
[...]s or gesture not abased ought,
But him a Prince of an undaunted mind
Did
Alexande
[...] by his answers find:
His fortitude his royal foe commends,
Restores him and his bounds farther extends.
Now eastward
Alexander would goe still,
But so to doe his souldiers had no will,
Long with excessive travails wearied,
Could by no means be farther drawn or led,
Yet that his fame might to posterity
Be had in everlasting memory▪
Doth for his Camp a greater circuit take,
And for his souldiers larger Cabbins make.
His mangers he erected up so high
As never horse his Provender could eye.
Huge bridles made, whi
[...] here and there he left,
Which might be found, and for great wonders kept
Twelve altars then for monuments he rears,
Wher
[...]on his acts and travels long appears.
But doubting wearing time might these decay,
And so his memory would fade away,
He on the fair
Hydaspes pleasant side,
Two Cities built, his name mig
[...]t there abide,
First
Nicea, the next
Bucephal
[...]n,
Where he entomb'd his stately Stalion.
[Page 150]His fourth and last supply was hither sent,
Then down
Hy
[...]aspes with his F
[...]eet he went;
Some time he after spent upon that shore,
Whether Ambassadors▪ ninety or more▪
Came with submission from the Indian Kings,
Bringing their presents rare and precious t
[...]ings,
These all he feasts in state on beds of gold,
His Furniture most sumptuous to behold;
His meat & drink, attendants, every thing,
To th' utmost shew'd the glory of a King.
With rich rewards he sent them home again,
Acknowledged their Masters sovereign;
Then sailing South, and coming to that shore,
Those obscure Nations yielded as before:
A City here he built▪ call'd by his Name,
Which could not sound too oft with too much fame
Then sailing by the mouth of
Indus floud▪
His Gallyes stuck upon the flats an
[...] mud;
Which the stout
Macedonians amazed sore,
Depriv'd at once the use of Sail and Oar:
Observing well the nature of the Tide,
In those their fears they did not long abide.
Passing fair
Indus mouth his course he steer'd
To th' coast which by
Euphrates mouth appear'd;
Whose inlets near unto, he winter spent,
Unto his starved Souldiers small content,
By hunger and by cold so many slain,
That of them all the fourth did scarce remain.
Thus winter Souldiers and provisions spent,
From hence he then unto
Gedrosia went.
[Page 151]And thence he marcht into
Carma
[...]ia,
And so at length drew near to
Persia,
Now through these goodly Countryes as he past,
Much time in feasts and ryoting did waste;
Then visits
Cyrus Sepulchr
[...] in's way,
Who now obscure
[...]t
Passa
[...]ardis lay▪
Upon his Monument his Robe he spread,
And set his Crown on his supposed head.
From hence to
Babylon, some time there spent,
He at the last, to royal
Sh
[...]shan went;
A wedding Feast to's Nobles then he makes,
And
St
[...]yra, Darius daughter takes,
Her Sister gives to his
Ephestian dear,
That by this match he might be yet more
[...]ear;
He fourscore
Persian Ladies also gave,
At this sam
[...] time unto his Captains brave:
Six thous
[...]nd guests unto this Feast invites,
Whose Sences all were glutted with delights.
It far exceeds my mean abilities
To shadow forth these short felicities,
Spectators here could scarce relate the story,
T
[...]ey were so rapt with this external glory:
If an Ideal Paradise a man would frame,
He might this Feast imagine by the same;
To every guess a cup of gold he sends,
So after many dayes th
[...] B
[...]nquet ends.
Now
Alexanders conquests all are do
[...]e,
And his long Travails p
[...]s
[...] and overgone▪
His virtues dead, buried, and quite forgot,
But vice remains to his Eternal blot.
[Page 152]'Mongst those that of his cruelty did tast,
Philot
[...]s was not least, nor yet the last,
Accus'd because he did not certifie
The King of treason and conspiracy:
Upon suspition being apprehended,
Nothing was prov'd wherein he had offended
But silence, which was of such consequence,
He was judg'd guilty of the same offence,
But for his fathers great deserts the King
His royal pardon gave for this foul thing.
Yet is
Phy
[...]otas unto judgment brought,
Must suffer, not for what is prov'd, but thought.
His master is accuser, judge and King,
Who to the height doth aggravate each thing▪
Inveighs against his father now absent,
And's brethren who for him their lives had spent.
But
Philotas his unpardonable crime,
No merit could obliterate, or time:
He did the Oracle of
Iove deride,
By which his Majesty was diefi'd.
Philot
[...] thus o'recharg'd with wrong and grief
Sunk in despair without hope of Relief,
Fain would have spoke and made his own defence,
The King would give no ear but went from thence
To his malicious Foes delivers him,
To wreak their spight and hate on every limb.
Philot
[...] after him sends out this cry,
O
Alexander, thy free clemency
My
[...]oes exceeds in malice, and their hate
Thy kingly word can easily terminate.
[Page 153]Such torments great as wit could worst invent,
Or flesh and life could bear, till both were spent
Were now inflicted on
Parmenio's son
He might accuse himself, as they had done,
At last he did, so they were justifi'd,
And told the world▪ that for his guilt he di'd.
But how these Captains should, or yet their mas
[...]er
Look on
Parmenio, after this disaster
They knew not, wh
[...]efore best now to be done,
Was to dispatch the father as the son.
This sound advice at heart pleas'd
Alexander,
Who was so much ingag'd to this Commander,
As he would ne're confess, nor yet reward,
Nor could his Captains bear so great regard:
Wherefore at once, all these to satisfie,
It was decreed
Pa
[...]menio should dye:
Polidamus, who seem'd
Parmenio's friend
To do this deed they into
Media send:
He walking in his garden to and fro.
Fearing no harm, because he none did doe,
Most wickedly was slain without least crime,
(The most renowned captain of his time)
This is
Parmenio who so much had done
For
Philip dead▪ and his surviving son,
Who from a petty King of
Mac
[...]don
By him was set upon the
Persian throne,
This that
Pa
[...]menio who still overcame,
Yet gave his Master the immortal fame,
Who for his prudence, valour, care and trust
Had this reward, most cruel and unjust.
[Page 154]The next, who in untimely death had part,
Was one of more esteem, but less desert;
Clitus belov'd next to
Eph
[...]stian,
And in his cups his chief companion;
When both were drunk▪
Clitus was wont to jeer,
Alexander to rage, to kill, and swear;
Nothing more pleasing to mad
Clitus tongue,
Then's Masters Godhead to defie and wrong;
Nothing toucht
Alexander to the quick,
Like this against his Diety to kick:
Both at a Feast when they had tippled well▪
Upon this dangerous Theam fond
Clitus fell;
From jest to earnest, and at last so bold,
That of
Parmenio's death him plainly told.
Which
Alexanders wrath incens'd so high,
Nought but his life for this could satisfie;
From one stood by he snatcht a partizan,
And in a rag
[...]
[...]m through the body ran,
Next day he tore his face for what he'd done,
And would have slain himself for
Clitus gone:
This pot Companion he did more bemoan,
Then all the wrongs to brave
Parmenio done.
The next of worth that suffered after these,
Was learned, virtuous, wise
Calisthenes,
VVho lov'd his Master more then did the rest,
As did appear, in flattering him the least;
In his esteem a God he could not be,
Nor would adore him for a Diety:
F
[...]r this alone, and for no other cause,
Against his Sover
[...]ign, or aga
[...]nst his Laws,
[Page 155]He on the Rack his Limbs in pieces rent,
Thus w
[...]s he tortur'd till his life was spent.
Of this unkingly act doth
Seneca
This censu
[...] ▪ pass, and not unwis
[...]ly say,
Of
Alexand
[...]r this th eternal crime,
VVhich shall not be obliterate by time.
VVhich virtues fame can ne're redeem by far,
Nor all felicity o
[...] his in war▪
VVhen e're 'tis said he thousand thousands slew,
Yea, and
Calisthenes to death he drew.
The mighty
Persian King he overcame,
Yea, and he kill'd
Calistth
[...]nes of fame.
All Countryes Kingdomes▪ Provinces, he wan
From
He
[...]irspont ▪ to th' farthest Oce
[...]n.
All this he did, who
[...]nows' not to be true?
[...]ut yet withal,
Cat
[...]sth
[...]n
[...]s he slew.
From
Macedon, his Empire did extend
Unto the utmost bounds o'th' orient:
All this he did▪ yea, and much more 'tis true,
But yet withal,
Catisth
[...]n
[...] he slew.
Now
[...]l
[...]x
[...]nder goes to
Me
[...]ia,
Finds there the want of wise
Parmeni
[...];
Here his chief favourite
Ep
[...]estian dies,
He celebrates his mournful obsequies:
Hangs his Physitian, the Reason why
He suffered, his friend
Ephestian dye.
This act (me-thinks) his Godhead shoul
[...] a shame,
To punish where himself deserved blame,
Or of necessity he must impl
[...] ▪
The other was the greate
[...] Diety.
[Page 156]The Mules and Horses are for sorrow shorne,
The battlements from off the walls are torne.
Of stately
Ecbatane who now must shew,
A rueful face in this so general woe;
Twelve thousand Talents also did intend,
Upon a sumptuous monument to spend:
What e're he did, or thought not so content,
His messenger to
Iupi
[...]er he sent,
T
[...]at by his leave his friend
E
[...]hestion,
Among the Demy Gods they might inthrone.
F
[...]om
[...]dia to
B
[...]b
[...]
[...] he went,
To meet him there t'
A
[...]tipate
[...] he'd sent,
Tha
[...] he might act also upon the Stage,
And in a Tragedy there end his age.
The
[...]ueen
Olimpias bears him deadly hate,
Not suffe
[...]ng her to meddle with the State,
And by her Letters did her Son incite,
This great indignity he should 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 so long,
He might well dye though he had done no wrong;
His service great is suddenly forgot,
[...]r
[...]f remembred
[...]e
[...] r
[...]garded not:
The King doth intimate 'twas his intent,
H
[...] honours and his riches to augment;
Of larger Provinces the rule to give,
And for his Counsel near the Ki
[...]g to live.
So to be caught,
Antipa
[...]e
[...]
[...]s too wise,
Parmento's
[...]eath's too fresh before his eyes;
[Page 157]He was too subtil for his cra
[...]ty foe.
Nor by his baits could be insnared so:
But his excuse with
[...]umble thanks he sends,
His Age and journy long he then preten
[...]s;
And pardon craves for his unwilling stay,
He shews his grief, he's forc'd to disobey.
Before his Answer came to
Ba
[...]ylon.
[...]he thread of
Alexanders life was spun;
Poyson had put an end to's dayes ('twas thought)
By
Philip and
Cassander to him brought,
Sons to
Antipater, and bearers of his Cup▪
Lest of such like their Father chance to sup;
By others thought
[...] and that more genera
[...]ly,
That through excessive drinking he did dye:
The thirty third of's Age do all agree,
This Conquerour did yield to destiny.
When this sad news came to
Darius Mother,
She laid it more to heart, then any other,
Nor meat▪ nor drink, nor comfort would she take,
But pin d in grief till life did her forsake;
All friends she shuns, yea, banished the light,
Till death inwrapt her in perpetual night.
This Monarchs fame must last whilst world doth stand,
And Conquests be talkt of whilest there is land;
His Princely qualities had he retain'd,
Unparalled for ever had remain'd.
But with the world his virtues overcame,
And so with black beclouded, all his fame;
Wise
Aristotle Tutor to his youth.
Had so instructed him in moral Truth:
[Page 158]The principles of what he then had learn'd
Might to the
[...]ast (when sober
[...] be discern'd.
L
[...]arning and learned men he much regarded,
An curious Artist evermore rewarde
[...]:
T
[...]e
[...]ll
[...]a
[...]s o
[...]
Homer he still kept,
An
[...] un
[...]er's pillow lai
[...] them when he slept.
Ac
[...]ll
[...]s happiness he
[...]id envy,
'Cause
Home
[...] kept his acts to memory.
Profusely bountifull wit
[...]out desert,
For
[...]uch as pleas'd him had both wealth and heart
C
[...]ue
[...] by n
[...]ture and by custome too▪
As o
[...]t his acts throughout his reign doth shew:
Ambitious so, that nought could sa
[...]s
[...]ie,
Vain thirsting after immortality,
Still fearing that his name might hap to dye,
An
[...] same not last unto eternity.
This
[...]onqueror did o
[...]t lament (tis said)
There
[...]ere no more worlds to be conquered.
This
[...]olly great
Augustus did de
[...]ide,
For had he had but wisdome to his pride,
He would hav
[...] found enough there to be done,
To govern that he had already won.
His thoughts are perisht, he
[...]spires no more,
Nor can he kill or save as
[...]eretofor
[...] ▪
A God alive, him all must Idolize▪
Now like a mortal helpless man he lyes.
O
[...] all t
[...]ose King
[...]omes large which he had got,
To his Posterity remain'd no jot,
For by th
[...]t han
[...] which still revengeth bloud,
None of his
[...]indred, nor his race long stood:
[Page 159]But as he took delight much bloud to spill,
So the same cup to his, di
[...] others fill.
Four of his Captains now do all divide,
As
Daniel before had prophysi'd.
The Leopard down, the four wings 'gan to rise,
The great horn broke, the less did tyranize.
What troubles and contentions did ensue
We may hereafter shew in season due.
Aridaeus.
Great
Alexand
[...]r dead, his Armyes left,
Like to that Giant of his Eye bereft;
When of his monstrous bulk it was the guide,
His matchless force no creature could abide.
But by
Vlisses having lost his sight,
All men began streight to contemn his might;
For aiming still amiss, his dreadful blows
Did harm himself, but never reacht his Foes.
Now Court and Camp all in confusion be,
A King they'l have, but who, none c
[...]n agree;
E
[...]ch Captain wisht this prize to bear away,
But none so hardy fo
[...]nd as so durst say:
Great
Alexander did leave Issue none,
[...]xcep
[...] by
Artabasu
[...] daughter one▪
And
Roxane fair whom late he married,
Was near her time to be delivered.
By natures right these had enough to claim,
But meaness of their mothers bar'd the same,
Alledg'd by those who by their subtile Plea
Had hope themselves to bear the Crown away.
[Page 160]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 choice
Perdiccas vehemently disclaim'd,
And Babe unborn of
Roxane he proclaim'd;
Some wished him to take the style of King,
Because his Master gave to him his Ring,
And had to him still since
Ephestion di'd
More then to th' rest his favour testifi'd.
But he refus'd, with feigned modesty,
Hoping to be elect more generally.
He hold on this occasion should have laid,
For second offer there was never made.
'Mongst these contentions tumults jealousies,
Seven dayes the corps of their great master lies
Untoucht, uncovered slighted and neglected,
So much these princes their own ends respected
A Contemplation to astonish Kings,
That he who late possest all earthly things,
And yet not so content unless that he
Might be esteemed for a Diety;
Now lay a Spectacle to testifie▪
The wretchedness of mans mortality.
After some time, when stirs began to calm,
His bo
[...]y did the
Egyptians embalme;
His countenance so lively did appear,
That for a while they durst not come so near:
[Page 161]No sign of poyson in his intrails found,
But all his bowels coloured, well and sound.
Perdicca
[...]
[...]eing
Arideus must be King▪
Under his name began to rule each thing.
His chief Opponent wh
[...] Control'd his sway,
Was
M
[...]leager whom he would take away,
And by a wile he got him in his power,
So took his life unworthily that hour.
Using the name▪ and the command of th' King
To authorize his acts in every thing.
The princes seeing
Perdiccas power
[...]nd pride,
For their security did now provide.
Antigonus for his
[...]hare
Asia takes,
And
Ptolemy next sure of
Egypt makes:
Seleucus afterward held
Babylon,
Antipater had long rul'd
Macedon.
These now to govern for the king prete
[...]ds,
But nothing less each one himself intends.
Perdicc
[...] took no province like the rest,
But held command of th' Army (which was best)
And had a higher project in his head,
His Masters sister secretly to wed:
So to the Lady, covertly he sent,
(That none might know, to frustrate hi
[...] intent)
But
Cleopatra this Suitor did deny,
For
L
[...]onatus 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
Greek
[...],
Their Ancient Liberty afresh now seeks.
[Page 162]And gladly would the yoke shake off laid on
Sometimes by
Philip and his conquering son.
The
Athenians force
Antipater to fly
To
Lamia where he shu
[...] up doth lye.
To brave
Cra
[...]e
[...]us then he sends with speed
For succours to relieve him in his need.
The like of
L
[...]natu
[...] he requires,
(Which at this time well suited his desires)
For to
A
[...]tipater he now might goe▪
His Lady take in th' way, and no man know.
Antiphilus the
Athenian General
With speed his Army dot
[...] together call,
And
Leonatu
[...] seeks to stop, that
[...]o
He joyne not with
Antipater their foe.
The
Athenian Army was the greater far,
(Which did his Match with
Cleopat
[...]a mar)
For fighting still, while there did hope remai
[...]
The valiant Chief amidst his foes was slain.
'Mongst all the princes of great
Alexander
For personage, none like to this Command
[...]
Now to
Antipater Crat
[...]rus goes,
Blockt up in
Lamia still by his foes,
Long marches through
Cilicia he makes,
And the remains of
L
[...]onatus takes:
With them and his he into
Grecia went,
Antipater rele
[...]s'd from prisonment:
After which time the
Greek
[...] did never more
Act any thing of worth, as heretofore:
But under servitude their necks remain'd,
Nor former liberty or glory gain'd.
[Page 163]Now di'd about the end of th'
Lamian war
Demosth
[...]nes, that sweet-tongue'd Orator,
Who fear'd
Antipater would take his life
For animating the
Athenian strife:
To end his dayes by poison rather chose
Then fall into the hands of mortal foes.
Crateru
[...] and
Antip
[...]ter now joyne,
In love and in affinity combine,
Craterus doth his daughter
[...]hila wed
Their
[...]riendship might the more be strengthened.
Whilst they in
Macedon do thus agree,
In
Asia they all asunder be.
Per
[...]iccas griev'd to see the princes bold
So many Kingdomes in their power to hold,
Yet to regain them, how▪ he did not know,
His souldiers 'gainst those captains would not goe
To suffer them go on as they begun,
Was to give way himself might be undone.
With
An
[...]ipater to joyne he sometimes thought,
That by his help, the rest might low be brought,
But this again dislikes; he would remain,
If not in stile, in deed a soveraign;
(For all the princes of great
Alexander
Acknowledged for Chief that old Commander)
Desires the King to goe to
Macedon,
W
[...]ich once was of his Ancestors the throne,
And by his presence there to nullifie
The acts of his Vice-Roy now grown so high.
Ant
[...]nus of treason first attaints,
And summons him to answer his complaints.
[Page 164]This he avoids, and ships himself and son,
goes to
Antipater and tells what's done.
He and
Craterus, both with him do joyne,
And 'gainst
Perdiccas all their strength combine.
Brave
Ptolemy, to make a fourth then sent
To save
[...]imself from danger imminent.
In midst of these garboyles, with wondrous state
His masters Funeral doth celebrate:
In
Alexan
[...]ria his tomb he plac'd▪
Which eating time hath scarcely yet defac'd.
Two years and more, since natures debt he paid,
And yet till now at quiet was not laid.
Great love did
Ptolemy by this act gain,
And made the souldiers on his side remain.
Perdiccas hears his foes are all combin
[...]d,
'Gainst which to goe, is not resolv'd in mind.
But first 'gainst
Ptolemy he judg'd was best,
Neer'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 unto
Egypt goes
Brave
Ptolemy to th' utmost to oppose.
Perdiccas surly cariage, and his pride
Did alinate the souldiers from his side.
But
Ptol
[...]my by affability
His sweet demeanour and his courtesie,
Did make his own, firm to his cause remain,
And from the other side did dayly gain:
Perdiccas in his pride did ill intreat
Python of haughty mind, and courage great.
[Page 165]Who could not brook so great indignity,
But of his wrongs his friends doth certifie,
The souldiers 'gainst
P
[...]rdiccas they incense▪
Who vow to make this captain recompence,
And in a rage they rush into his tent,
Knock out his brains: to
Ptolemy then went
And offer him his honours, and his place,
With stile of the Protector, him to grace.
Next day into the camp came
Ptolemy,
And is receiv'd of all most joyfully.
Their proffers he refus'd with modesty,
Yields them to
Python for his courtesie.
With what he held he was now more content,
Then by more trouble to grow eminent.
Now comes there news of a great victory
That
Eumenes got of the other three.
Had it but in
P
[...]rdicc
[...] life ariv'd,
With greater joy it would have been receiv'd.
Thus
Ptolemy rich
Egypt did retain,
And
Python turn'd to
Asia again.
Whilst
Perdiccas
[...]ncamp'd in
Affrica,
Antigonus did enter
Asia,
And
[...]ain would
Eumenes draw to their side,
But he alone most 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 once make him move:
Two Battles fought, and had of both the best,
And brave
Craterus slew among the rest:
[Page 166]For this sad strife he poures out his complaint
[...],
And his beloved foe full sore laments.
I should but snip a story into bits
And his great Acts and glory much eclipse,
To shew the dangers
Eumenes befel.
His stratagems wherein he did excel:
His Policies, how he did extricate
Himself from out of Lab'rinths intricate:
He that at large would satisfie his mind,
In
Plutarchs Lives his history may find.
For all that should be said, let this suff
[...]ce,
He was both valiant, faithfull, patient, wise.
Python now chose Protector of the state,
His rule Queen
Eu
[...]idice begins to hate,
Sees
Arrideus must not King it long,
If once young
Alexander grow more strong,
But that her husband serve for supplement,
To warm his seat, was never her intent.
She knew her birth-right gave her
Macedon,
Grand-child to him who once sat on that throne
Who was
Perdiccas, Phili
[...]s eldest brother,
She daughter to his son▪ who had no other.
Pythons commands, as oft she 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 room the souldiers chose
Antipater,
Who vext the Queen more then the other far.
From
Macedon to Asia he came
That he might settle matters i
[...] the same.
[Page 167]He plac'd▪ displ
[...]c'd control'd rul'd as he list,
And this no man durst question or resist;
For all the no
[...]les of King
Alexander
Their bonnets vail'd to him as chief Commander.
When to his pleasure all things they had done,
The King and Queen he takes to
Macedon,
Two sons of
Alexander, and the rest▪
All to be order'd there as he thought best.
The Army to
An
[...]us doth leave,
And Goverment of Asia to him gave.
And thus
A
[...]tip
[...]ter the ground-work layes,
On which
Antigonus his height doth raise,
Who in few years, the rest so overtops,
For universal Monarchy he hopes.
With
Eumenes he diverse Battels fought,
And by his slights to circu
[...]vent him sought:
But vain it was to use his policy,
'Gainst him that all deceits could scan and try.
In this Epitome too long to tell
How finely
Eumen
[...]s did here excell,
And by the self same Traps the other laid,
He to his cost was righteously repaid.
But while these Chieftains doe in Asia figh
[...],
To
Gre
[...]ce and
Maced
[...] lets turn our sight.
When great
Antipater the world must leave,
Hi
[...] place to
Polisperchon did bequeath,
Fearing his son
Cassan
[...]er was unstaid,
Too rash to bear that charge, if on him laid.
Antigonus hearing of his decease
On mos
[...] part of
Assyria doth seize.
[Page 168]And
Ptolemy next to incroach begins,
All
Syri
[...] and
Phenicia he wins,
Then
Polisperchon 'gins to act in's place,
Recalls
Olimpias the Court to grace.
A
[...]tipater had banish'd her from thence
Into
E
[...]ire for her great turbulence;
This new Protector's of another mind,
Thinks by her Majesty much help to find.
Cass
[...]der like his
[...]ather could not see,
This
[...]olisper
[...]hons great ability,
Slights his Commands his actions he disclaims,
And to be chief himself now bends his aims;
Such as his Father had advanc'd to place,
Or by his favours any way had grac'd
Are now at the devotion of the Son,
Prest to accomplish what he would have done;
Besides he was the young Queens fa
[...]ourite,
On whom (t'was thought) she set her chief delig
[...]
Unto these helps at home he seeks out more,
Goes to
Antigon
[...] and doth implore,
By all the Bonds 'twixt him and's Father past,
And for that great gift which he gave him last.
By these and all to grant him some supply,
To take down
Polisperchon grown so high;
For this
Antigonus did need no spurs,
Hoping to gain yet more by these new stirs,
Streight furnish'd him with a sufficient aid,
And so he quick returns thus well appaid,
With Ships at Sea▪ an Army for the Land,
His proud opponent hopes soon to withstand.
[Page 169]But in his absence
Polispercho
[...] takes
Such friends away as for his Inter
[...]st makes
By de
[...]th by prison, or by banishment,
That no supply by these here might be le
[...]t,
Cassander with his Host to
Greci
[...] goes,
Whom
Polispe
[...]c
[...]on labours to oppose▪
But beaten was at Sea, and foil'd at Land,
Cassanders forces had th
[...] upper han
[...] ▪
Athens with many Towns in
Gr
[...]ec
[...] beside,
Firm (for his Fathers sake
[...] to him abide.
Whil'st hot in wars these two in
Grecee remain,
Antigonus doth all in
Asia gain;
Still labours
Eumen
[...]s, would with him side,
But all in vain,
[...]e faithful did abi
[...]e:
Nor Mother could nor Sons of
Alexander,
Put trust in any but in this Commander.
The great ones now began to shew their mind,
And act as opportunity they find.
Aria
[...]us the scorn'd and simple King
More then he bidden was could act no thing.
Polisperchon for office hoping long,
Thinks to int
[...]rone the Prince when riper grown;
Euridice this injury disdains,
And to
Cassandar of this wrong complains.
Hateful the name and house of
Al
[...]x
[...]nder,
Was to this proud vindicative
Cassander ▪
He still kept lockt within his memory,
His Fathers danger▪ with his Family▪
Nor thought he that indignity was small,
When
Alexander knockt his head to th' wall.
[Page 170]These with his love unto the amorous Queen,
Di
[...] make him vow, her servant to be seen,
Ol
[...]mpia
[...], A
[...]id
[...] deadly hates,
As all her Husbands, Children by his mates,
She gave him poyson formerly ('tis thought)
Which damage both to mind, and body broug
[...]t;
She now with
Pol
[...]perchon doth combine,
To ma
[...]e the King by force his Seat resigne:
A
[...] her young grand-child in his State
[...],
That under him, she might rule all alone.
For aid she goes t'
Epi
[...]e among her friends,
The
[...] to accomplish these her ends;
[...] hearing what she intends,
In haste unto her friend
Cassander sends,
To leave his siege at
[...]egea, and with speed,
To save the King and her in this their need:
Then by intreaties, promises and Coyn
[...],
Some forces did procure with her to joy
[...].
Olimp
[...]as 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
[...]rrows, now none shoots or flings.
The King and Queen seeing their destiny,
To save their lives t'
A
[...]phipolis do fly;
But the old Queen pursues them with her hate,
And needs will have their lives as well as State:
The King by extre
[...]m torments had his end,
And to the Queen these presents she did send:
[Page 171]
[...] Halter, cup of poyson, and a Sword,
Bids chuse her death, such kin
[...]ness she'l afford.
The Queen with many a curse, and bitter check,
At length yields to the Halter h
[...]r fair neck,
Praying that fatal day might quic
[...]ly haste,
On which
Ol
[...]mpia
[...] of the like might taste.
This done the cruel Qu
[...]en rests not content▪
'Gainst all that lov'd
Cassan
[...]er she was bent;
His Brethren Kinsfolk and his chiefest friends,
That
[...]ell within her reach came to their ends:
Dig'd up his brother dead▪ 'gainst natures right,
And threw his bones about to shew her
[...]pight▪
The Courtiers wondring at h
[...]r
[...]urious mind,
Wisht in
Epire she had bee
[...] still confin'd.
In
Pelopo
[...]esus 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
Thessaly:
His Army he divides, sends post away,
Polisperchon to hold a while in play;
And with the rest
Olimp
[...]as pursues,
For all her cruelty, to gi
[...]e her dues.
She with the chief o'th' Court to
[...]ydra
[...]lyes,
Well fortifi'd, (and on the Sea it lyes)
The
[...]e by
Cassander she's blockt up so long,
Untill the Famine grows exceeding strong,
Her Couzen of
[...] did what he might,
To raise the Siege, and put her
[...]oes to
[...]light.
[Page 172]
Cassander is resolved there to remain,
So succou
[...]s 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 dayly fly;
O
[...]impias means to hold out to th
[...] last,
Expecting
[...]othing but of death to t
[...]st:
But his occasions calling him away,
Gives promise for her life, so wins the day.
No so
[...]ner had he got her in his hand,
But made i
[...] judgement her accusers stand:
And plead the blood of friends and kindreds spilt,
Desiring justice might be done for guilt;
And so was he acquitted of his word,
For justice sak
[...] 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 ('tis 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
[...]lew, 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.
[Page 173]Now many Towns in
M
[...]cedon supprest,
And
P
[...]llas fain to yield among the rest▪
The Funerals
Cassander celebrates,
Of
A
[...]idaeus 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 lea ve 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 h
[...] can hire,
Such as no threats, nor favour could acquire.
In divers Battels he had good success,
Antigonu
[...] came off still honourless▪
Wh
[...]n Victor oft he'd been, and so might still,
Pe
[...]cestes 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 fideli
[...]y,
Striving t'uphold his Masters Family.
But to a period as that did haste,
So
Eumenes (the prop) of death must tast;
All
Persia now
Antigonus doth gain,
And Master of the Treasure sole remain:
Then with
Seleucus streight at odds doth fall,
And he for aid to
Ptolomy doth call,
The Princes all begin now to envy
Antig
[...]nus, his growing up so high▪
[Page 174]Fearing his force, and what might hap e're long,
Enters into a Combination strong,
Seleucus, Ptolemy Cassander joynes,
Lysimachus to make a fourth combines:
Antigonus desirous of the
Greek
[...],
To ma
[...]e
Cass
[...]nder odious to them seeks,
Se
[...]ds forth his declarations n
[...]ar and far,
And clears what cause he had to make this war,
C
[...]ssan
[...]r
[...] 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,
Th
[...]ss
[...]lonica he had newly wed▪
Daughter to
[...]h
[...]lip 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
Hate
[...]ull
Oli
[...]hians to
Gr
[...]ec
[...] rebrings.
Rebellious
Thebes he had reedifie
[...],
Which their late King in dust had damnified,
Requires them therefore to take up their arms
An
[...] to requite this traitor for the
[...]e harms.
Then
[...]tolemy would gain the
Greeks likewise,
An
[...] he declares the others injuryes:
First how he held the Empire in his hands,
Se
[...]uc
[...] driven from Goverment and lands,
The valiant
Eu
[...]enes unjustly slain,
And Lor
[...] of royal
Shushan did remain;
[Page 175]Therefore requests their help to take him down
Before he wear the universal Crown
These princes at the sea soon had a fight,
Where great
Antigonus was put to
[...]ight:
His son at
Gaza likewise lost the field,
So
Syria to
Ptolemy did yield:
And
Seleucus recovers
B
[...]ylon ▪
Still gaini
[...]g Countryes eastward he goes on.
Demetrius with
Ptolemy did fight,
And coming unawares, put him to f
[...]ight;
But bravely sends the prisoners bac
[...] again,
With all the spoyle and booty he had tane.
Courteous as noble
Ptolem
[...], 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 fo
[...] a peace, and laid aside their jarrs:
The terms 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 ha
[...];
Resolves to quit his fears by one deed done,
So puts to death the Mother and her Son.
[Page 176]This
Roxane for her b
[...]auty all commend,
But for one a
[...]t she did, j
[...]st was her end.
No sooner was great
Alexander dead,
But she
Darius daughters murthered.
Both thrown into a well to hide her blot,
Pe
[...]iccas 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.
Cas
[...]an
[...]ers deed the princes do detest,
But '
[...]as 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,
Polys
[...]erchon brings the other son
Call'd
Hercules and elder then his brother,
(But
Olimp
[...]as would prefer the other)
The
G
[...]e
[...]ks toucht with the m
[...]rther 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.
Cassan
[...]er fear'd what might of this ensue,
So
Polisperchon to his counsel drew,
And gives
Pelopone
[...]u
[...] for his hire,
Who slew the prince according to desire.
Thu
[...] was the race and house of
Alexander
Extinct by this inhumane wretch
Cassander.
[Page 177]
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 slai
[...],
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
Philips house was quite extinguished,
Except
Cassanders wife who yet not
[...]ead.
And by their means who thought of nothing less,
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.
[Page 178]These Captains now the stile of Kings do take,
For to their Crowns their's none can Title make
D
[...]metrius first the royal stile assum'd,
By his Example all the rest presum'd.
Antigonus himself to ingratia
[...]e,
Doth promise liberty to
Athens State;
With Arms and with provision stores them well,
The better 'gainst
Cassander to reb
[...]l.
Dem
[...]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.
'Twould 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 ha
[...]
Antigonus and
Seleucus then fight
Near
Ephesus, each bringing all his migh
[...],
And he that Conquerour shall now remain,
The Lordship of all
[...]sia 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 gai
[...].
Demetrius with his Troops to
Athens flyes,
Hopes to
[...]ind succours in his miseries;
But they adoring in prosperity,
Now
[...]hut their gates in his adversity:
[Page 179]He sorely griev'd at th
[...]s his desperate State
Tryes Foes▪ sith friends will not compassionate.
His peace he then with old
S
[...]leucus makes,
Who his fair daughter
S
[...]r
[...]to
[...]ica takes,
Antiochus, S
[...]l
[...]ucus, dear lov'd Son▪
Is for this fre
[...]h 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'
[...] Physitian found▪
His Fathers mind he wittily did so
[...]d▪
Who
[...]id no sooner understand t
[...]e same,
But willingly res
[...]gn'd the beautious Dame▪
Cassan
[...]er now must dye his race is run,
And leaves the ill got Kingdomes he had won.
Two Sons he left, born of King
Philip
[...] daughte
[...],
Who had an end put to their dayes by slaughter▪
Which should succeed at variance they fell,
The Mother would, the youngest might
[...]e cell:
The eld'st inrag'd did play the Vipers pa
[...]t
And with hisSword did run her through the heart:
Rather then
Philip
[...] race should longer live,
He whom she gave his life▪ her death shall give.
This by
Lys
[...]mac
[...] was after slain,
Whose daughter he not long before had
[...]a'ne;
D
[...]metrius is call'd in by th' youngest Son,
Against
L
[...]simachus who from him won.
But he a Kingdome more then's friend did eye,
Seaz'd
[...]pon that and
[...] him traitrously.
Thus
Phili
[...]s and
Cassan
[...]'s race both gone,
And so falls out to be ex
[...]inct in one▪
[Page 180]And th
[...]ugh
Cassander died in his bed,
His Seed to be extirpt, was
[...]estined;
For blood which was decre'd that he should spill,
Yet must his C
[...]ildren pay for Fathers ill;
Iehu in killing
Ana
[...]'s house did well,
Yet be aveng'd must blood of
I
[...]z
[...]rel.
Demetrius thus
Cassander's Kingdoms gain
[...],
And now in
Macedon as King he reigns;
Though men and mony both he hath at will,
In neither finds content if he sits still:
That
Seleucus holds
Asia grievs him sore,
Those Countryes large his Fat
[...]er got before.
These to recover, musters all his might,
And with his Son in Law will nee
[...]s go fight;
A mighty Navy rig'd, an Army stout,
With these he hopes to turn the world about▪
Leaving
Anti
[...]onus his el
[...]est Son▪
In his long absence to rule
[...]ac
[...]don.
Demetriu
[...] 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,
O
[...]ly restrained of his liberty:
Af
[...]er three years he died▪ left what he'd wo
[...],
In
Greece unto
Anti
[...]onus his Son.
For his Posterity unto this day,
Did ne're regain one foot in
Asia;
[Page 181]His Body
S
[...]l
[...]ucus sends to his Son▪
Whose obsequies with won
[...]rous pomp was done.
Next di'd the brave an
[...] noble
P
[...]m
[...],
Renown'd for bounty, valour, clemency,
Ric
[...]
Egypt le
[...]t and what else he had won,
To
Phil
[...]delp
[...]us his more worthy Son
Of the old
He
[...]oe
[...], now but two remain,
Seleucus and
Ly
[...]im
[...]chus these twain,
Must needs go try their fortune and their might,
And so
Lysimach
[...]s was slain in fight;
'Twas no small joy unto
Seleucus breast,
That now he had out-lived all the rest:
Possession of
Europe thinks to take,
And so himself the only Monarch make;
Whilst with these hopes in
Greece he did remain,
He was by
Ptolemy
[...]eraunus slain.
The second Son of the first
Ptolemy,
Who fo
[...] 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
Cass
[...]nder,
With
Ptolemy, reign'd a
[...]ter
Alexander;
Cassander's Sons soon after's death w
[...]re slain,
So three Successors only did rem
[...]in:
Antigonus his Kingdomes lost and life,
Unto
Seleucus, Author of that strife.
His Son
Demetrius, all
Cassander
[...] gains,
And his posterity, the same retains;
[Page 182]
Demetrius Son was call'd
Antigonus,
And his again was nam'd
Demetrius.
I must let pass those many Battels fought,
Betwixt those Kings, and noble
Pyrrhus stout,
And his Son
Al
[...]x
[...]n
[...]e
[...] of
Epir
[...],
Whereby immortal honour they acquire;
D
[...]me
[...]rius had
Philip to his Son,
(Part of whose Kingdomes
Titus Quintius won)
Phi
[...]p had
Perseus w
[...]o was made a Thrale
T'
Emilius t
[...]e Roman General;
Him with his Sons in Triumph lead did he,
Such riches too as
Rome did never see:
This of
Antigonus, his Seed's the
[...]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 wa
[...]s, 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
[...]orth▪
And calls them there the Kings of South & North,
This
Th
[...]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,
[Page 173]VVhose large Dominions after was made small,
By
Scipio the Roman General;
Fourth
Sel
[...]c
[...]s A
[...]t
[...]o
[...]u
[...] succeeds,
And next
[...] whose wicked deeds,
Horrid Massacres, Mur
[...]hers, cruelties,
Amongst the Jews we read in
Machabees ▪
Antiochus Eu
[...]t
[...]r was the next,
By Rebels and Im
[...]ostors dayly vext;
So many Princes still were murthered,
The Royal Blood
[...]as nigh extinguished;
Then
Tygran
[...]s the great
Arm
[...]nian King,
To take the Government was called in▪
Lucullus, Him, (the Roman General)
Vanquish'd in fight, and took those Kingdomes all;
Of
Greec
[...] 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 Gre
[...]k.
His Son was
Evergetes the last Prince,
That valour shew'd, virtue or excellence,
[...]hilopater was
Evergetes Son,
After
Epiphanes sate on the Thr
[...]ne;
Philome
[...]or, Evergetes again,
And after him, did f
[...]lse
Lathurus reign:
Then
Alexander in
Lath
[...]rus stead,
Next
Auletes, who cut off
Pompeys head.
[Page 184]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
Iulius Caesar set in Royal place,
She with her Paramour,
Mark Anthon
[...]
Held for a time, the
Egyptian Monarchy,
Till great
Augustus had with him a fight
At
Acti
[...]m ▪ wh
[...]re his Navy s put to flight;
He seeing his honour lost, his Kingdome end,
Did by his Sword his life soon after send.
His brave
Vi
[...]ago Aspes sets to her Arms,
To take her life, and quit her from all harms;
For 'twas 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
[...]own now chief, & then broght under,
The heavn s thus rule to fil the world with wonder
The
Assyrian Monarchy long time did s
[...]and,
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,
[Page 185]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 ri
[...]e,
and smote those feet those legs, t
[...]ose
[...]rms & thighs
Then gold silver, brass, Iron and all the store,
Became like Chaff upon the threshing
[...]loor.
The first a Lion, secon
[...] was a Bear▪
The third a Leopar
[...], which four wings did rear;
The last more strong and dreadful then the rest,
Whose
[...]ron teeth
[...]evoured every B
[...]ast,
And when he had no appetite to eat,
The resi
[...]ue he stamp
[...]d under feet;
Yet shall this Lion, Bear, this Leopard, Ram,
All trembling stan
[...] before the powerful Lamb.
With these three Monarchyes now have I done,
But how the fourth, their King
[...]omes 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
[...]rrours, 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.