Several Poems, Poem 1
The four Monarchyes, the Aſſyrian being the firſt, beginning under Nimrod, 131. Years after the Flood,
WHen time was young, & World in Infancy,
Man did not proudly ſtrive for Soveraignty:
But each one thought his petty Rule was high,
If of his houſe he held the Monarchy.
This was the golden Age, but after came
The boiſterous ſon of Chus, Grand-Child to …am,
That mighty Hunter, who in his ſtrong toyles
Both Beaſts and Men ſubjected to his ſpoyles:
The ſtrong foundation of proud Babel laid,
Erech, Accad, and Culneh alſo made.
Theſe were his firſt, all ſtood in Shinar land,
From thence he went Aſſyria to command,
And mighty Niniveh, he there begun,
Not finiſhed till he his race had run.
Reſen, Caleh, and Rehoboth likewiſe
By him to Cities eminent did riſe.
Of Saturn, he was the Original.
Whom the ſucceeding times a God did call,
When thus with rule, he had been dignifi'd,
One hundred fourteen years he after dy'd.
Belus.
Great Nimrod dead, Belus the next his Son
Confirms the rule, his Father had begun;
Whoſe acts and power is not for certainty
Left to the world, by any Hiſtory.
But yet this blot for ever on him lies,
He taught the people firſt to Idolize:
Titles Divine he to himſelf did take,
Alive and dead, a God they did him make.
This is that Bel the Chaldees worſhiped,
Whoſe Prieſts in Stories oft are mentioned;
This is that Baal to whom the Iſraelites
So oft profanely offered ſacred Rites:
This is Beelzebub God of Ekronites,
Likewiſe Baalpeor of the Mohabites,
His reign was ſhort, for as I calculate,
At twenty five ended his Regal date.
Ninus.
His father dead, Nirus begins his reign,
Transfers his ſeat to the Aſſyrian plain;
And mighty Nineveh more mighty made,
Whoſe Foundation was by his Grand-ſire laid.
Four hundred forty Furlongs wall'd about,
On which ſtood fifteen hundred Towers ſtout.
The walls one hundred ſixty foot upright,
So broad three Chariots run a breſt there might.
Upon the pleaſant banks of Tygris floud
This ſtately Seat of warlike Ninus ſtood:
This Ninus for a God his Father canonized,
To whom the ſottiſh people ſacrifi…ed.
This Tyrant did his Neighbours all oppreſs,
Where e're he warr'd he had too good ſucceſs.
Barzanes the great A…m…nia… King
By force and fraud did under Tribute bring.
The Median Country he did alſo gain,
Thernus their King he cauſed to be ſlain;
An Army of three millions heled out
Againſt the Bactrians (but that I doubt)
Zor…aſter their King he likewiſe flew,
And all the greater Aſia did ſubdue.
Semiramis from Menon did he take
Then drown'd himſelf, did Menon for her ſake.
Fifty two years he reign'd, (as we are told)
The world then was two thouſand nineteen old.
Semiramis.
This great oppreſſing Ninus, dead and gone,
His wife Semiramis uſurp'd the Throne;
She like a brave Ʋirago playd the Rex
And was both ſhame and glory of her Sex:
Her birth place was Philiſtines Aſcolan,
Her mother Dorceta a Curtizan.
Others report ſhe was a veſtal Nun,
Adjudged to be drown'd for th' crime ſhe'd done.
Tranſform'd into a Fiſh by Venus will,
Her beauteous face, (they feign) reteining ſtill.
Sure from this Fiction Dagon firſt began,
Changing the womans face into a man:
But all agree that from no lawfull bed,
This great renowned Empreſs iſſued:
For which ſhe was obſcurely nouriſhed,
Whence r…ſe that Fable, ſhe by birds was fed.
This gallant Dame unto the Bactrian warre,
Accompanying her husband Menon farr,
Taking a town, ſuch valour ſhe did ſhow,
That Ninus amorous of her ſoon did grow,
And thought her fit to make a Monarchs wife,
Which was the cauſe poor Menon loſt his life:
She flouriſhing with Ninus long did reign,
Till her Ambition caus'd him to be ſlain.
That having no Compeer, ſhe might rule all,
Or elſe ſhe ſought revenge for Menon's fall.
Some think the Greeks this ſlander on her caſt,
As on her life Licentious, and unchaſt,
That undeſerv'd, they blur'd her name and fame
By their aſperſions, caſt upon the ſame:
But were her virtues more or leſs, or none,
She for her potency muſt go alone.
Her wealth ſhe ſhew…d in building Babylon,
Admir'd of all, but equaliz'd of none;
The Walls ſo ſtrong, and curiouſly was wrought,
That after Ages, Skill by them was taught:
With Towers and Bulwarks made of coſtly ſtone,
Quadrangle was the form it ſtood upon▪
Each Square was fifteen thouſand paces long,
An hundred gates it had of mettal ſtrong:
Three hundred ſixty foot the walls in height,
Almoſt incre…ible, they were in brea…th
Some writers ſay, ſix Chariots might affront
With great facility, march ſa…e upon't:
About the Wall a ditch to deep and wide,
That like a River long it did abide.
Three hundred thouſand men here day by day
Beſtow'd their …abour, and receiv'd their pay.
And that which did all coſt and A…t excell,
The wondrous Temple was, ſhe rear'd to Bell:
Which in the midſt of this brave Town was plac'd,
Continuing till Xerxes it defac'd:
Whoſe ſtately top above the Clouds did riſe,
From whence Aſtrologers oft view'd the Skies.
This to deſ…ribe in each particular,
A ſtructure rare I ſhould but rudely marre.
Her Gardens, Bridges, Arches, mounts and ſpires
All eyes that ſaw, or Ears that hear admires,
In Shinar plain on the Euphratian flood
This wonder of the world, this Babel ſtood.
An expedition to the Eaſt ſhe made
Staurobates, his Country to invade:
Her Army of four millions did conſiſt,
Each may believe it as his fancy liſt.
Her Camels, Chariots, Gallyes in ſuch number,
As puzzles beſt Hiſtorians to remember;
But this is wonderful, of all thoſe men,
They ſay, but twenty e're came back agen.
The River Judas ſwept them half away,
The reſt S…urobates in fight did ſlay;
This was laſt progreſs of this mighty Queen,
Who in her Country never more was ſeen.
The Poets feign'd her turn'd into a Dove,
Leaving the world to Venus ſoar'd above:
Which made the Aſſyrians many a day,
A Dove within their Enſigns to diſplay:
Forty two years ſhe reign'd, and then ſhe di'd
But by what means we are not certifi'd.
Ninias or Zamies.
His Mother dead, Ninias obtains his right,
A Pr…nce wedded to eaſe and to delight,
Or elſe was his obedience very great,
To ſit thus long (obſcure) rob'd of his Seat.
Some write his Mother put his habit on,
Which made the people think they ſerv'd her Son.
But much it is, in more then forty years
This fraud in war nor peace at all appears:
More like it is his luſt with pleaſures fed,
He ſought no rule till ſhe was gone and dead.
VVhat then he did of worth can no man tell,
But is ſuppoſ'd to be that Amraphel
VVho warr'd with Sodoms and Gomorrahs King,
'Gainſt whom his trained bands Abram did bring,
But this is farre unlike, he being Son
Unto a Father that all Countryes won
So ſuddenly ſhould looſe ſo great a ſtate,
VVith petty Kings to joyne Confederate.
Nor can thoſe Reaſons which wiſe Raileih finds,
VVell ſatisfie the moſt conſiderate minds:
VVe may with learned Ʋſher better ſay,
He many Ages liv'd after that day.
And that Semiramis then flouriſhed
VVhen famous Troy was ſo beleaguered:
VVhat e're he was, or did, or how it fell▪
VVe may ſuggeſt our thoughts but cannot tell.
For Ninias and all his race are left
In deep oblivion, of acts bereft:
And many hundred years in ſilence ſit,
Save a few Names a new B…roſu… writ.
And ſuch as care not what befalls their fames,
May feign as many acts as he did Names;
It may ſuffice, if all be true that's paſt.
T' Sardanapalas next, we will make haſte.
Sardanapalas
Sardanapalas, Son to Ocrazapes,
VVho wallowed in all voluptuouſneſs,
That palliardizing ſot that out of dores,
Ne're ſhew'd his face but revell'd with his whores
Did wear their garbs, their geſtures imitate,
And in their kind, t… excel did emulate.
His baſeneſs knowing, and the peoples hate
Kept cloſe, fearing his well deſerved fate;
It chanc'd Arbaces brave unwarily,
His Maſter like a Strumpet clad did ſpye.
His manly heart diſdained (in the leaſt)
Longer to ſerve this Metamorphos'd Beaſt;
Unto Beloſus then he brake his mind,
Who ſick of his diſeaſe, …e ſoon did find
Theſe two, rul'd Media and Babilon
Both for their King, held their Dominion;
Beloſus promiſed Arbaces aid▪
Arbaces him fully to be repayd.
The laſt The Medes and Perſians do invite
Againſt their monſtrous King▪ to uſe their might.
Beloſus, the Chaldeans doth require
And the Arabians, to further his deſire:
Theſe all agree, and forty thouſand make
The Rule, from their unworthy Prince to take:
Theſe Forces muſtered and in array
Sardan…pal…s leaves his Api…h play.
And though of wars, he did abhor the ſight;
Fear of his diadem did force him fight.
And either by his valour or his fate,
Arbaces Courage he did ſo abate;
That in diſpair, he left the Field and fled,
But with freſh hopes Beloſus ſuccoured,
From Bactria, an Army was at hand
Preſt for this Service▪ by the Kings Command:
Theſe with celerity Arbaces meet,
And with all Terms of amity them greet.
With promiſes their necks now to unyoke,
And their Taxations ſore all to revoke;
T'inſranchiſe them, to grant what they could crave,
No priviledge to want, Subjects ſhould have,
Only intreats them, to joyn their Force with his,
And win the Crown, which was the way to bliſs.
Won by his loving looks, more by his ſpeech,
T' accept of what they could, they all beſeech:
Both ſides their hearts their hands, & bands unite,
And ſet upon their Princes Camp that night;
Who revelling in Cups, ſung care away,
For victory obtain'd the other day:
And now ſurpriſ'd, by this unlookt for fright,
Bereft of wits, were ſlaughtered down right.
The King his brother leavs, all to ſuſtain,
And ſpeeds himſelf to Niniveh amain.
But Salmeneus ſlain, the Army falls;
The King's purſu'd unto the City Walls,
But he once in, purſuers came to late,
The Walls and Gates their haſt did terminate,
There with all ſtore he was ſo well provided:
That what Arbaces did, was but derided:
Who there incamp'd, two years for little end,
But in the third, the River prov'd his friend,
For by the rain, was Tygris ſo o'reflown,
Part of that ſtately Wall was overthrown.
Arbaces marches in the Town he takes,
For few or none (it ſeems) reſiſtance makes:
And now they ſaw fulfil'd a Propheſy,
That when the River prov'd their Enemy,
Their ſtrong wal'd Town ſhould ſuddenly be taken
By this accompliſhment, their hearts were ſhaken.
Sardanapalas did not ſeek to fly,
This his inevitable deſtiny;
But all his wealth and friends together gets,
Then on himſelf, and them a fire he ſets.
This was laſt Monarch of great Ninus race
That for twelve hundred years had held the place;
Twenty he reign'd ſame time, as Stories tell,
That A…z…ah as King of Iſrael.
His Father was then King (as we ſuppoſe)
VVhen Jonah for their ſins denounc'd thoſe woes.
He did repent, the threatning was not done,
But now accompliſh'd in his wicked Son.
Arbaces thus of all becoming Lord,
Ingeniouſly with all did keep his word.
Of Babylon Beloſus he made King,
VVith overplus of all the wealth therein.
To Bactrians he gave their liberty,
Of Ninivites he cauſed none to dye.
But ſuffer'd with their goods, to go elſe where,
Not granting them now to inhabit there:
For he demoliſhed that City great,
And unto Media transfer'd his Seat.
Such was his promiſe which he firmly made,
To Medes and Perſians when he crav'd their aid:
A while he and his race aſide muſt ſtand,
Not pertinent to what we have in hand;
And Belochus in's progeny purſue,
VVho did this Monarchy begin anew.
Beloſus or Belochus.
Beloſus ſetled in his new old Seat,
Not ſo content but aiming to be great,
Incroaching ſtill upon the bordering lands,
Till Meſopotamia he got in's hands.
And either by compound or elſe by ſtrength,
Aſſyria he gain'd alſo at length;
Then did rebuild, deſtroyed Nineveh,
A coſtly work which none could do but he,
VVho own'd the Treaſures of proud Babylon,
And thoſe that ſeem'd with Sardanapal's gone;
For though his Palace did in aſhes lye,
The fire thoſe Mettals could not damnifie▪
From theſe with diligence he rakes,
Arbaces ſuffers all, and all he takes,
He thus inricht by this new tryed gold.
Raiſes a Phaenix new, from grave o'th old;
And from this heap did after Ages ſee
As fair a Town, as the firſt Niniveh.
VVhen this was built, and matters all in peace
Moleſts poor Iſrael, his wealth t' increaſe.
A thouſand Talents of Mena…em had,
(Who to be rid of ſuch a gueſt was glad;)
In ſacrid writ he's known by name of Pul.
Which makes the world of difference ſo full.
That he and Belochus could not one be,
But Circumſtance doth prove the verity;
And times of both computed ſo fall out,
That theſe two made but one, we need not doubt:
What elſe he did, his Empire to advance,
To reſt content we muſt, in ignorance.
Forty eight years he re…g…'d, his race then run,
He left his new got Kingdome to his Son.
Tiglath Pulaſsar.
Beloſus dead, Tiglath his warlike Son.
Next treads thoſe ſteps, by which his Father won;
Damaſcus ancient Seat, of famous Kings
Under ſubjection, by his Sword he brings.
Reſin their valiant King he alſo ſlew,
And Syri… t' obedience did ſubdue.
Judas had King occaſioned this war,
When Reſins force his Borders ſore did marre,
And divers Cities by ſtrong hand did ſeaze:
To Tiglath then, doth Ahaz ſend for eaſe,
The Temple robs, ſo to fulfil his ends,
And to Aſſy…ia's King a preſent ſends.
I am thy Servant and thy Son, (quoth he)
From Reſin, and from Pekah ſet me free,
Gladly doth Tiglath this advantage take,
And ſuccours Ahaz, yet for Tiglath's ſake▪
Then Reſin ſlain, his Army overthrown,
He Syria makes a Province of his own.
Unto Damaſcus then comes Judah's King,
His humble thankfulneſs (in haſte) to bring,
Acknowledging th' …ſſyrians high deſert,
To whom he ought all loyalty o… heart.
But Tiglath having gain'd his wiſhed end,
Proves unto Ah…z but a feigned friend;
All Iſraels lands beyond Jordan he takes,
In Galilee he woful havock makes.
Through Sy…ia now he march'd none ſtopt his, way
And Ahaz open at his mercy lay;
Who ſtill implor'd his love, but was diſtreſt▪
This was that Ahaz, who ſo high tranſgreſt:
Thus Tiglath reign'd, & warr'd twenty ſeven years
Then by his death releas'd was Iſraels fears.
Salmanaſſar or Nabanaſſar.
Tiglath deceas'd, Salmanaſſar was next,
He Iſraelites, more then his Father vext▪
H…he… their laſt King he did invade,
And him ſix years his Tributary made;
But weary of his ſervitude, he ſought
To Egypt King, which did avail him nought;
For Salm…naſſar with a mighty Hoſt,
Beſieg'd his Regal Town, and ſpoyl'd his Coaſt,
And did the people, nobles, and their King,
Into perpetual thraldome that time bring;
Thoſe that from Joſhuah's time had been a ſtate, 1… years.
Did Juſtice now by him eradicate:
This was that ſtrange, degenerated brood,
On whom▪ nor threats, nor mercies could do good;
Laden with honour, priſoners▪ and with ſpoyle,
Returns triumphant Victor to his ſoyle;
He placed Iſrael there, where he thought beſt,
Then ſent his Colonies, theirs to inveſt;
Thus Jacobs Sons in Exile muſt remain,
And pleaſant Canaan never ſaw again:
Where now thoſe ten Tribes are, can no man tell,
Or how they fare, rich, poor, or ill or well;
Whether the Indians of the Eaſt, or Weſt,
Or wild Tartarians, as yet ne're bleſt.
Or elſe thoſe Chinoes rare, whoſe wealth & arts
Hath bred more wonder then belief in hearts:
But what, or where they are; yet know we this,
They ſhall return, and Zion ſee with bliſs.
Senacherib.
Senacherib Salmanaſſer ſucceeds,
Whoſe haughty heart is ſhowne in words & deeds
His wars; none better then himſelf can boaſt,
On Henah, Arpad, and on Juahs coaſt;
On Hevahs and on Shepharvaims gods,
'Twixt them and Iſraels he knew no odds,
Untill the thundring hand of heaven he felt,
Which made his Army into nothing melt:
With ſhame then turn'd to Ninive again,
And by his ſons in's Idols houſe was ſlain.
Eſsarhadon.
His Son, weak Eſſarhaddon reign'd in's place▪
The fifth, and laſt of great Belloſus race.
Brave Merodach, the Son of Baladan,
In Babylon Lieftenant to this man
Of opportunity advantage takes,
And on his Maſters ruines his houſe makes.
As Beloſus his Soveraign did onthrone,
So he's now ſtil'd the King of Babilon.
After twelve years did Eſſarhaddon dye,
And Merodach aſſume the Monarchy.
Merodach Balladan.
All yield to him, but Niniveh kept free,
Untill his Grand-child made her bow the knee.
Ambaſſadors to Hezekiah ſent,
His health congratulates with complement.
Ben Merodach.
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.
Brave Nebulaſſar to this King was ſon,
The famous Niniveh by him was won,
For fifty years, or more, it had been free,
Now yields her neck unto captivity:
A Vice-Roy from her foe ſhe's glad to accept,
By whom in firm obedience ſhe is kept.
This King's leſs fam'd for all the acts he's done,
Then being Father to ſo great a Son.
Nebuchadnezzar, or Nebopolaſſar.
The famous acts of this heroick King
Did neither Homer, Heſiod, Virgil ſing;
Nor of his Wars have we the certainty
From ſome Thucidides grave hiſtory,
Nor's Metamorphoſis from Ovids book,
Nor his reſtoriag from old Legends took▪
But by the Prophets, Pen-men moſt divine,
This prince in's magnitude doth ever ſhine
This was of Monarchyes that head of gold,
The richeſt and the dread fulleſt 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,
Kil'd, ſav'd pul'd down, ſet up, or pain'd or eas'd;
And this was he, who when he fear'd the leaſt
Was changed from a King into a beaſt.
This Prince the laſt year of his fathers reign
Againſt Jehojakim marcht with his train,
Judahs poor King beſieg'd and ſuccourleſs
Yields to his mercy, and the preſent '…preſs;
His Vaſſal is, gives pledges for his truth,
Children of royal blood, unblemiſh'd youth:
Wiſe Daniel and his fellowes, mongſt the reſt,
By the victorious king to Babel's preſt:
The Temple of rich ornaments defac'd,
And in his Idols houſe the veſſels plac'd.
The next year he with unreſiſted hand
Quite vanquiſh…d Pharaoh Necho with his band:
By great Euphrates did his army fall,
Which was the loſs of Syria withall.
Then into Egypt Necho did retire,
Which in few years proves the Aſſirians hire.
A mighty army next he doth prepare,
And unto wealthy Tyre in haſt repair.
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 merchandize ſhe did excel,
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 Main by channel great:
Of coſtly ſhips and Gallyes ſhe had ſtore,
And Mariners to handle ſail and oar:
But the Chaldeans had nor ſhips nor skill,
Their ſhoulders muſt their Maſters mind fulfill,
Fetcht rubbiſh from the oppoſite old town,
And in the channel threw each burden down;
Where after many eſſayes, they made at laſt
The ſea firm land, whereon the Army paſt,
And took the wealthy town; but all the gain,
Requited not the loſs, the toyle and pain.
…ull thirteen years 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 war this King was hot,
Jehojakim his oath had clean forgot,
Thinks this the fitteſt time to break his bands
Whileſt Babels King thus deep engaged ſtands:
But he whoſe fortunes all were in the ebbe,
Had all his hopes like to a ſpiders web;
For this great King withdraws part of his force,
To Judah marches with a ſpeedy courſe,
And unexpected finds the feeble Prince
Whom he chaſtis'd thus for his proud offence,
Faſt bound, intends to Babel him to ſend,
But chang'd his mind, & caus'd his life there end,
Then caſt him out like to a naked Aſs,
For this is he for whom none ſaid alas.
His ſon he ſuffered three months to reign,
Then from his throne he pluck'd him down again,
Whom with his mother he to Babel led,
And ſeven and thirty years in priſon fed:
His Uncle he eſtabliſh'd in his place
(Who was laſt King of holy Davids race)
But he as perjur'd as Jehojakim,
They loſt more now then e're they loſt by him.
Seven years he kept his faith, and ſafe he dwells;
But in the eighth againſt his Prince rebels:
The ninth came Nebuchadnezzar with power,
Beſieg'd his city, temple, Zions tower,
And after eighteen months he took them all:
The Walls ſo ſtrong, that ſtood ſo long, now fall.
The curſed King by flight could no wiſe fly
His well deſerv'd and foretold miſery:
But being caught to Babels wrathfull King
With children, wives and Nobles all they bring,
Where to the ſword all but himſelf were put,
And with that wofull ſight his eyes cloſe ſhut.
Ah! hapleſs man, whoſe darkſome contemplation
Was nothing but ſuch gaſtly meditation.
In midſt of Babel now till death he lyes;
Yet as was told ne're ſaw it with his eyes.
The Temple's burnt the veſſels had away.
The towres and palaces brought to decay:
Where late of harp and Lute were heard the noiſe
Now Zim & Jim lift up their ſcrieching voice.
All now of worth are Captive led with tears,
And ſit bewailing Zion ſeventy years.
With all theſe conqueſts, Babels King reſts not,
No not when Moab, Edom he had got,
Kedar and Hazar, the Arabians too,
All Vaſſals at his hands for Grace muſt ſue.
A total conqueſt of rich Egypt makes,
All rule he from the ancient Phraohes takes,
Who had for ſixteen hundred years born ſway,
To Babilons proud King now yields the day.
Then Put and Lud do at his mercy ſtand.
VVhere e're he goes, he conquers every land.
His ſumptuous buildings paſſes all conceit,
Which wealth and ſtrong ambition made ſo great.
His Image Judahs Captives worſhip not,
Although the Furnace be ſeven times more hot.
His dreams wiſe Daniel doth expound full well,
And his unhappy chang with grief foretell.
Strange melancholy humours on him lay,
Which for ſeven years his reaſon took away,
VVhichWhich from no natural cauſes did proceed.
But for his pride, ſo had the heavens decreed.
The time expir'd, bruitiſh remains no more,
But Goverment reſumes as heretofore:
In ſplendor, and in Majeſty he ſits,
Contemplating thoſe times he loſt his witts.
And if by words we may gheſs at the …eart,
This king among the righteous had a part:
Fourty four years he reign'd, which being run,
He left his wealth and conqueſts to his ſon.
Evilmerodach
Babels great Monarch now laid in the duſt,
His ſon poſſeſſes wealth and rule as juſt:
And in the firſt year of his Royalty
Eaſeth Jehojakims Captivity:
Poor forlorn Prince, … had all ſtate forgot
In ſeven and thirty years had ſeen no jot.
Among the conquer'd Kings that there did ly
Is Judah's King now lifted up on high:
But yet in Babel he muſt ſtill remain,
And native Canaan never ſee again:
Unlike his Father Evilmerodach,
Prudence and magnanimity did lack;
Fair Egypt is by his remiſneſs loſt,
Arabia, and all the bordering coaſt.
Warrs with the Medes unhappily he wag'd
(Within which broyles rich Croeſus was ingag'd)
His Army routed, and himſelf there ſlain:
His Kingdome to Belſhazzar did remain.
Belſhazzar.
Unworthy Belſhazzar next wears the crown,
Whoſe acts profane a ſacred Pen ſets down,
His luſt and crueltyes in ſtoryes find,
A royal State rul…d by a bruitiſh mind.
His life ſo▪ baſe and diſſolute invites
The noble Perſian to inva…e his rights.
Who with his own, and Uncles power anon,
Layes ſie…ge to's Regal Seat, proud Ba…n,
The coward King▪ whoſe ſtrength lay in his walls,
To banquetting and revelling now falls,
To ſhew his little dread, but greater ſtore,
To chear his friends▪ and ſcorn his foes the more.
The holy veſſels thither brought long ſince,
They carrows'd in▪ and ſacrilegious prince
Did praiſe his Gods of mettal, wood, and ſtone,
Protectors of his Crown, and Babylon,
But he above, his doings did deride,
And with a hand ſoon daſhed all this pride.
The King upon the wall caſting his eye,
The fingers of a hand writing did ſpy,
Which horrid ſight▪ he fears muſt needs portend
Deſtruction to his Crown▪ to…s Perſon end.
With quaking knees, and heart appall'd he cries,
For the Soothſayers, and Magicians wiſe;
This language ſtrange to read, and to unfold;
With gifts of Scarlet robe and Chain of gold,
And higheſt dignity next to the King,
To him that could interpret, clear this thing:
But dumb the gazing Aſtrologers ſtand,
Amazed at the writing, and the hand.
None anſwers the affrighted Kings intent,
Who ſtill expects ſome fearful ſad event;
As dead, alive he ſits, as one undone:
In comes the Queen, to chear her heartleſs Son.
Of Daniel tells, who in his grand-ſires dayes
VVas held in more account then now he was.
D…niel in haſte is brought before the King,
VVho doth not flatter, nor once cloak the thing;
Reminds him of his Grand-Sires height and fall,
And of his own notorious ſins withall:
His Drunkenneſs, and his profaneſs high,
His pride and ſottiſh groſs Idolatry.
The guilty King with colour pale and dead
Then hears his Mene and his Tekel read.
And one thing did worthy a King (though late)
Perform'd his word to him that told his fate.
That night victorious Cyrus took the town,
V…ho ſoon did terminate his life and crown;
VVith him did end the race of Baladan:
And now the Perſian Monarchy began.
The End of the Aſſyrian Monarchy.