The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, Part 5 · Section 1
the Aſſyrian being the firſt, beginning under Nimrod, 131. yeares after the Floud.
WHen Time was young, and World in infancy,
Man did not 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 boyſterous Sons of Cuſh, Grand-child to Ham.
That mighty Hunter, who in his ſtrong toyls,
Both Beaſts and Men ſubjected to his ſpoyls.
The ſtrong foundation of proud Babel laid,
Erech, Accad, and Calneh alſo made;
Theſe were his firſt, all ſtood in Shinar land,
From thence he went Aſſyria to command;
And mighty Ninivie, he there begun,
Nor finiſhed, til he his race had run;
R…ſea, Caleh, and Rehoboth likewiſe,
By him, to Cities eminent did riſe;
Of Sa…urn, he was the original,
Whom the ſucceeding times a god did …
When thus with rule he had been dignified,
One hundred fourteen years, he after dyed.
Bellus.
GReat Nimrod dead, Bellus the next, his Son,
Confirmes 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 lyes,
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 Bell, the Chaldees worſhipped,
Whoſe Preiſts, in Stories, oft are mentioned;
This is that Bell, to whom the Iſraelites
So oft profanely offered ſacred rites;
This is Belzebub, god of Ekronites,
Likewiſe Bal-peor, of the Moabites:
His reign was ſhort, for as I calculate,
At twenty five, ended his regal dare.
Ninus.
HIs father dead, Ninus begins his reign,
Transfers his Seat, to the Aſſyrian plain,
And mighty Ninivie 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 abreſt there might,
Upon the pleaſant banks of Tigris flood,
This ſtately ſeat of warlike Ninus ſtood.
This Ninus for a god, his father canoniz'd,
To whom the ſottiſh people ſacrific'd;
This Tyrant did his neighbours all oppreſſe,
Where e're he warr'd he had too good ſucceſſe,
Barzanes, the great Armenian King,
By force, his tributary, he did bring.
The Median country, he did alſo gain,
Pharmus, their King, he cauſed to be ſlain;
An army of three Millions he led out,
Againſt the Bactrians (but that I doubt)
Zoroaſter, their King, he likewiſe ſlew,
And all the greater Aſia did ſubdue;
Semiramis from Menon he did take,
Then drown 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 Virago, play'd the rex,
And was both ſhame, and glory of her ſex;
Her birth-place was Philiſtrius Aſcalon,
Her Mother Docreta, a Curtezan;
Others report, ſhe was a veſtal Nun,
Adjudged to be drown'd, for what ſhe'd done;
Transform'd into a fiſh, by Venus will,
Her beautious face (they feign) retaining ſtill.
Sure from this fiction, Dagon firſt began,
Changing his womans face, into a man.
But all agree, that from no lawfull bed;
This great renowned Empreſſe, iſſued.
For which, ſhe was obſcurely nouriſhed.
Whence roſe that fable, ſhe by birds was fed.
This gallant dame, unto the Bactrian war;
Accompaning her husband Menon far,
Taking a towne, ſuch valour ſhe did ſhow,
That Ninus of her, amorous ſoon did grow;
And thought her fit, to make a Monarch's wife,
Which was the cauſe, poor Menon loſt his life,
She flouriſhing with Ninus, long did reigne;
Till her ambition, caus'd him to be ſlaine:
That having no compeer, ſhe might rule all,
Or elſe ſhe ſought, revenge for Menons fall:
Some think the Greeks, this ſlander on her caſt,
As of her life, licenti…s, and unchaſt.
And that her worth, deſerved no ſuch blame,
As their aſperſions, caſt upon the ſame.
But were her vertues, more, or leſſe, or none;
…he for her potency, muſt go alone.
H… wealth ſhe ſhew'd, in building Babylon;
Adm…'d of all, but equaliz'd of none.
… walls ſo …ong, and curiouſly were wrought;
… after ages, skil, by them were taught.
With Tow…s, and Bulwalks made of coſtly ſtone
Quadrangle was the forme, it …ood upon:
Each Square, was … thouſand paces long,
An hundred …, it had, of mertall ſtrong.
Three hundred ſixty foot, the walls in heighth:
Almoſt incredible, they were in breadth.
Moſt writers ſay, ſix chariots might a front,
With great facility, march ſafe upon't.
About the wall, a ditch ſo deep and wide,
That like a river, long it did abide.
Three hundred thouſand men, here day, by day;
Beſtow'd their labour, and receiv'd their pay,
But that which did, all coſt, and art 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, beyond the clouds did riſe;
From whence, Aſtrologers, oft view'd the skies,
This to diſcribe, 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 hears, admires.
On Shinar plain, by the Euphratan flood,
This wonder of the world, this Babell ſtood.
An expedition to the Eaſt ſhe made.
Great King Staurobates, for to invade.
Her Army of four Millions did conſiſt,
(Each man beleive it, as his fancy liſt)
Her Camells, Chariots, Gallyes in ſuch number,
As puzzells beſt hyſtorians to remember:
But this is marvelous, of all thoſe men,
(They ſay) but twenty, ere came back agen.
The River Indus ſwept them half away,
The reſt Staurobates in fight did ſlay.
This was laſt progreſſe of this mighty Queen,
Who in her Country never more was ſeen.
The Poets feign 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 Enſigne to diſplay.
Forty two years ſhe reign'd, and then ſhe dy'd,
But by what means, we are not certifi'd.
Ninias, or Zamies.
HIs Mother dead, Ninias obtains his right,
A Prince wedded to eaſe, and to delight,
Or elſe was his obedience very great,
To ſit, thus long (obſcure) wrong'd of his ſeat;
Some write, his Mother put his habite 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;
It is more like, being with pleaſures fed,
He ſought no rule, til ſhe was gone, and dead?
What then he did, of worth, can no man tel,
But is ſuppos'd to be that Amraphel,
Who warr'd with Sodoms, and Gomorahs King,
'Gainſt whom his trained Bands Abram did bring.
Some may object, his Parents ruling all,
How he thus ſuddenly ſhould be thus ſmall?
This anſwer may ſuffice, whom it wil pleaſe,
He thus voluptuous, and given to eaſe;
Each wronged Prince, or childe that did remain,
Would now advantage take, their own to gain;
So Province, after Province, rent away,
Until that potent Empire did decay.
Again, the Country was left bare (there is no doubt)
Of men, and wealth, his mother carried out;
Which to her neighbours, when it was made known,
Did then incite, them to regain their own.
What e're he was, they did, or how it fel,
We may ſuggeſt our thoughts, but cannot tel;
For Ninias, and all his Race are left,
In deep oblivion, of acts bereft,
And eleav'n hundred of years in ſilence ſit,
Save a few names anew, Beroſus writ.
And ſuch as care not, what befals their fames,
May feign as many acts, as he did names;
It is enough, if all be true that's paſt,
T' Sardanapalus next we wil make haſte.
Sardanapalus.
SArdanapalus, (Son t' Ocrazapes)
Who wallowed in all voluptuouſneſſe,
That palliardizing ſot, that out of doores
Ne're ſhew'd his face, but revell'd with his Whores.
Did wear their garb, their geſtures imitate,
And their kind t' excel did emulate.
Knowing his baſeneſſe, and the peoples hate,
Kept ever cloſe, fearing ſome diſmal fate;
At laſt Arbaces brave, unwarily,
His maſter like a Strumpet chanc'd to ſpy,
His manly heart diſdained, in the leaſt,
Longer to ſerve this Metamorphos'd beaſt;
Unto Beloſus, then he brake his minde,
Who ſick of his diſeaſe, he ſoone did finde.
Theſe two rul'd Media and Babylon,
Both, for their King, held their dominion,
Beloſus, promiſed Arbaces aide,
Arbaces him, fully to be repaid.
The laſt, the Medes and Perſians doth invite.
Againſt their monſtrous King to bring their might,
Ecloſus 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.
By propheſie, Beloſus ſtrength's their hands,
Arbaces muſt be maſter of their lands.
Theſe Forces muſtered, and in array,
Sardanapalus leaves his Apiſh play.
And though of wars, he did abhor the ſight;
Fear of his diadem, did force him ſight:
And either by his valour or his fate;
Arbaces courage he did ſore abate:
That in diſpaire, he left the field and fled.
But with freſh hopes Beloſus ſuccoured.
From Bactaria an Army was at hand,
Preſt for this ſervice, by the Kings command;
Theſe with celerity, Arbaces meers,
And with all termes of amity, he greets,
Makes promiſes, their necks for to un-yoak,
And their Taxations ſore, all to revoake,
T'in franchiſe them, to grant what they could crave,
To want no priviledge, Subjects ſhould have,
Only intreats them, joyn their force with his,
And win the Crown, which was the way to bl…ſſe,
Won by his loving looks, more loving ſpeech,
T' accept of what they could, they him beſeech.
Both ſides their hearts, their hands, their bands unite,
And ſet upon their Princes Camp that night;
Who revelling in Cups, ſung care away,
For victory obtain'd the other day;
But all ſurpris'd, by this unlookt for fright,
Bereft of wits, were ſlaughtered down right.
The King his Brother leaves, all to ſuſtaine,
And ſpeeds himſelf to Ninivic amain;
But Salmeneus ſlaine, his Army fals,
The King's purſu'd unto the City wals;
But he once in, purſuers, came too late,
The wals, and gates, their courſe did terminate;
There with all ſtore he was ſo wel 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,
Which through much rain, then ſwelling up ſo high,
Part of the wal it level caus'd to lye;
Arbaces marches in, the town did take,
For few, or none, did there reſiſtance make;
And now they ſaw fulfill'd a Propheſie;
That when the River prov'd their enemy,
Their ſtrong wall'd town ſhould ſuddenly be taken;
By this accompliſhment, their hearts were ſhaken:
Sardanapalus 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 the laſt Monarch was, of Ninus race,
Which for twelve hundred years had held that place;
Twenty he reign'd, ſame time, as Stories tel,
That Am…zia was King of Iſrael;
His Father was then King (as we ſuppoſe)
When Jonah for their ſins denounc'd ſuch woes;
He did repent, therefore it was not done,
But was accompliſhed now, in his Son.
Arbaces thus, of all becomming Lord,
Ingeniouſly with each did keep his word;
Of Babylon, Beloſus he made King,
With over-plus of all treaſures therein,
To Bactrians, he gave their liberty,
Of Ninivites, he cauſed none to dye,
But ſuffered, with goods to go elſewhere,
Yet would not let them to inhabite there;
For he demoliſhed that City great,
And then to Media transfer'd his ſeat.
Thus was the promiſe bound, ſince firſt he crav'd,
Of Medes, and Perſians, their aſſiſting aide;
A while he, and his race, aſide muſt ſtand,
Not pertinent to what we have in hand;
But Belochus in's progeny purſue,
Who did this Monarchy begin anew.
Beloſus, or Belochus.
BEloſus ſetled, in his new, old ſeat,
Not ſo content, but aiming to be great,
Incroached ſtil upon the bord'ring Lands,
Til Meſopotamia he got in's hands,
And either by compound, or elſe by ſtrength,
Aſſyria he alſo gain'd at length;
Then did rebuild deſtroyed Ninivi…,
A coſtly work, which none could doe but he,
Who own'd the treaſures of proud Babylon,
And thoſe which ſeem'd with Sardanapal's gone;
But though his Palace, did in aſhes lye,
The fire, thoſe Mettals could not damnifie;
From rubbiſh theſe, with diligence he rakes,
Arbaces ſuffers all, and all he takes.
He thus inricht, by this new tryed gold,
Raiſes a Phoenix new, from grave o'th old;
And from this heap did after Ages ſee,
As fair a Town, as the firſt Ninivie.
When this was built, and all matters in peace,
Moleſts poor Iſrael, his wealth t' encreaſe.
A thouſand tallents of Menahem had,
Who to be rid of ſuch a gueſt, was glad;
In ſacred Writ, he's known by name of Pul,
Which makes the world of differences ſo ful,
That he, and Belochus, one could not be,
But circumſtance, doth prove the verity;
And times of both computed, ſo fall out,
That thoſe 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 reign'd, his race then run,
He left his new got Kingdoms to his Son.
Tiglath Palaſſer.
BEloſus dead, Tiglath his wa…like Son
Neyt treads the 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 Syria t' obedience did ſubdue;
Iuda's bad King occaſioned this War,
When Reſins force his borders ſore did mar.
And divers Cities, by ſtrong hand did ſeize,
To Tiglath then doth Ahaz ſend for eaſe.
The temple robes, ſo to fulfill his ends,
And to Aſſyria's King a Preſent ſends.
I am thy Servant, and thy Son (quoth he)
From Rezin, and from Pekah ſet me free:
Gladly doth Tiglath this advantage take,
And ſuccours Ahaz, yet for Tiglath's ſake,
When Rezin's ſlain, his Army over-thrown,
Syria he makes a Province of his own.
Unto Damaſcus then, comes Iudah's King,
His humble thankfulneſſe (with haſt) to bring,
Acknowledging th' Aſſyrians high deſert,
To whom, he ought all loyalty of heart.
But Tiglath, having gain'd his wiſhed end,
Proves unto Ahaz but a feigned friend;
All Iſraels Land, beyond Iordan, he takes.
In Galilee, he woful havock makes;
Through Syria now he marcht, none ſtopt his way,
And Ahaz open, at his mercy lay,
Who ſtil implor'd his love, but was diſtreſſ'd,
(This was that Ahaz, which ſo much tranſgreſt.)
Thus Tiglath reign'd, and wart'd, twenty ſeven years,
Then by his death, releas'd, was Iſraels fears.
Salmanaſſer, or Nabonaſſer.[10 years.
TIglath deceas'd, Salmanaſser is next,
He I ſraelites, more then his Father vext;
Hoſhea, their laſt King, he did invade,
And him ſix years his tributary made;
But weary of his ſervitude, he ſought,
To Aegypts King, which did avail him nought;
For Salmanaſſer, with a mighty Hoaſt,
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 Ioſhua's time had been Eſtate,
Did Juſtice now, by him, eradicate:
This was that ſtrange degenerated brood,
On whom, nor threars, nor mercies could do good;
Laden with honour, priſoners, and with ſpoyl,
Returns triumphant Victor to his ſoyl;
Plac'd Iſrael in's Land, where he thought beſt,
Then ſent his Colonies, theirs to inveſt;
Thus Iacobs Sons, in exile muſt remain,
And pleaſant Canaan ne're ſee again:
Where now thoſe ten Tribes are, can no man tel,
Or how they fare, rich, poor, or ill, or wel;
Whether the Indians of the Eaſt, or Weſt,
Or wild Tartarians, as yet ne're bleſt,
Or elſe thoſe Chinoes rare, whoſe wealth, and Arts,
Hath bred more wonder, then beleefe in hearts;
But what, or where they are, yet know we this;
They ſhal return, and Zion ſee, with bliſſe.
Senacherib.[7 years
SEnacherib Salmaneſer ſucceeds,
Whoſe haughty heart is ſhewn in works, and deeds;
His Wars none better then himſelf can boaſt,
On Henah, Arpad, and on Ivah leaſt;
On Hena's, and on Sepharuaim's gods,
'Twixt them and Iſraels he knew no odds.
Until the thundring hand of heaven he felt,
Which made his Army into nothing melt;
With ſhame then turn'd to Ninivie again,
And by his Sons in's Idols houſe was ſlain.
Eſſarhadon.
HIs Son, weak Eſſarhadon reign'd in's place,
The fifth, and laſt, of great Beloſus race;
Brave Merodach, the Son of Balladan,
In Babylon, Leiutenant to this man,
Of opportunity advantage takes,
And on his Maſters ruins, his houſe makes;
And Beloſus, firſt, his did unthrone,
So he's now ſtil'd, the King of Babylon;
After twelve years did Eſſarhadon dye,
And Merodach aſſume the Monarchy.
Merodach Baladan.[21 years.
ALl yeelds to him, but Ninivie kept free,
Until his Grand-childe made her bow the knee;
Embaſſadours to Hezekiah ſent,
His health congratulates with complement.
Ben. Merodach.[22 years.
BEn. Merodach, Succeſſor to this King,
Of whom is little ſaid in any thing;
But by conjecture this, and none but he,
Led King Manaſſeh, to captivity.
Nebulaſſar.[12 years.
BRave Nebulaſſar to this King was Sonne,
The ancient Niniveh by him was won;
For fifty years, or more, it had been free,
Now yeelds her neck unto captivity:
A Vice-roy from her foe, ſhe's glad t' accept,
By whom in firm obedience ſhe's kept.
Nebuchadnezar, or Nebopolaſſar.
THe famous Wars, of this Heroyick King,
Did neither Homer, Heſiode, Virgil ſing;
Nor of his acts have we the certainty,
From ſome Thucidides grave Hiſtory;
Nor's Metamorphoſis from Ovids Book,
Nor his reſtoring from old legends took;
But by the Prophets, Pen-men moſt Divine,
This Prince in's magnitude doth ever ſhine;
This was of Monarchies that head of gold,
The richeſt, and the dreadfull'ſt to behold;
This was that tree, whoſe branches fill'd the earth,
Under whoſe ſhadow, birds, and beaſts, had birth;
This was that King of Kings, did what he pleas'd,
Kild, ſav'd, pull'd down, ſet up, or pain'd, or eas'd;
And this is he, who when he fear'd the leaſt,
Was turned from a King, unto a Beaſt;
This Prince, the laſt year of his Fathers reign,
Againſt Ichoiakim marcht with his train;
Iudah's poor King beſieg'd, who ſuccourleſſe,
Yeelds to his mercy, and the preſent ſtreſſe;
His Vaſſal is, gives pledges for his truth,
Children of Royal bloud, unblemiſh'd youth;
Wiſe Daniel, and his fellows 'mongſt the reſt,
By the victorious King to Babel's preſt;
The temple of rich ornaments defac'd,
And in his Idols houſe the Vaſſal's plac'd.
The next year he, with unreſiſted hand,
Quite vanquiſh'd Pharaoh Necho, and his Band;
By great Euphrates did his Army fall,
Which was the loſſe of …yria withall;
Then into Aegypt, Necho did retire,
Which in few years proves the Aſſyrians hire;
A mighty Army next, he doth prepare,
And unto wealthy Tyre with ha… repure.
Such was the ſcituation of this place,
As might not him, but all the world out-face;
That in her pride, ſhe knew not which to boaſt,
Whether her wealth, or yet her ſtrength was moſt;
How in all Merchandiſe ſhe did excell,
None but the true Ezekiel need to tell:
And for her ſtrength, how hard ſhe was to gain,
Can Babels tired Souldiers tell with pain;
Within an Iſland had this City ſeat,
Divided from the maine, by channel great;
Of coſtly Ships, and Gallies, ſhe had ſtore,
And Mariners, to handle ſayle, and oare;
But the Chaldeans had nor ſhips, nor skill,
Their ſhoulders muſt their Maſters minde fulfill;
Fetch rubbiſh from the oppoſite old town,
And in the channell throw each burden down;
Where after many aſlayes, they make at laſt,
The Sea firm Land, whereon the Army paſt,
And took the wealthy town, but all the gain
Requited not the coſt, the toyle, and pain.
Full thirteen yeares in this ſtrange work he ſpent,
Before he could accompliſh his intent;
And though a Victor home his Army leads,
With peeled ſhoulders, and with balded heads,
When in the Tyrian wars, the King was hot,
Jehoiakim his Oath had clean forgot;
Thinks this the fitteſt time to break his bands,
While Babels King thus deep ingaged ſtands;
But he (alas) whoſe fortunes now i'th ebbe,
Had all his hopes like to a Spiders web;
For this great King, with-drawes part of his force,
To Judah marches with a ſpeedy courſe,
And unexpected findes the feeble Prince,
Whom he chaſtaſed for his proud offence;
Faſt bound, intends at Babel he ſhal ſtay,
But chang'd his minde, and ſlew him by the way;
Thus caſt him out, like to a naked Aſſe,
For this was he, for whom none ſaid, Alas!
His Son three months he ſuffered to reign,
Then from his throne, he pull'd him down again:
Whom with his Mother, he to Babel led,
And more then thirty years in priſon fed;
His Unckle, he eſtabliſhed in's place,
Who was laſt King of holy Davids race;
But he, as perjur'd as Ichoiakim,
Iudah loſt more (then e're they loſt) by him;
Seven years he keeps his faith, and ſafe he dwels,
But in the eighth, againſt his Prince rebels;
The ninth, came Nebuchadnezar with power,
Beſieg'd his City, Temple, Zions Tower;
And after eighteen months he took them all,
The wals ſo ſtrong, that ſtood ſo long, now fall;
The curſed King, by flight could no wiſe free
His wel deſerv'd, and fore-told miſery;
But being caught, to Babels wrathful King,
With Children, Wives, and Nobles, all they bring,
Where to the ſword, all but himſelf was put,
And with that woful ſight his eyes cloſe ſhut.
A hapleſſe man, whoſe darkſome contemplation,
Was nothing, but ſuch gaſtly meditation;
In mid'ſt of Babel now, til death he lyes,
Yet as was told, ne…e ſaw it with his eyes;
The Temple's burnt, the Veſſels had away,
The Towers, and Palaces, brought to decay;
Where late, of Harp, and Lute, was heard the noyſe,
Now Zim, and Sim, lift up their ſhriking voyce;
All now of worth, are captive led with tears,
There ſit bewailing Zion ſeventy years,
With all theſe Conqueſts, Babels King reſts not,
No, nor when Moab, Edom he had got.
Kedar, Hazer, the Arabians too,
All Vaſſals, at his hands, for grace muſt ſue;
A totall Conqueſt of rich Aegypt makes,
All rule, he from the ancient Pharoes takes;
Who had for ſixteen hundred years born ſway,
To Babylons proud King, now yeelds the day.
Then Put, and Lud, doe at his mercy ſtand,
Where e're he goes, he Conquers every Land;
His ſumptuous buildings paſſes all conceit,
Which wealth, and ſtrong ambition made ſo great;
His Image, Iudahs Captives worſhip not,
Although the Furnace be ſeven times more hot;
His Dreams, wiſe Daniel doth expound ful wel,
And his unhappy change with grief fore-tel;
Strange melancholly humours on him lay,
Which for ſeven years his reaſon took away;
Which from no natural cauſes did proceed,
For by the Heavens above it was decreed:
The time expir'd, remains a Beaſt no more,
Reſumes his Government, as heretofore,
In ſplender, and in Majeſty, he ſits,
Contemplating thoſe times he loſt his wits;
And if by words, we may gueſſe at the heart,
This King among the righteous had a part:
Forty four years he reign'd, which being run,
He left his Wealth, and Conqueſt, to his Son.
Evilmerodach.
BAbels great Monarch, now laid in the duſt,
His ſon poſſeſſes wealth, and rule, as juſt;
And in the firſt year of his royalty,
Eaſeth Jehoiakims captivity.
Poor forlorn Prince, that had all ſtate forgot,
In ſeven and thirty years, had ſeen no jot,
Among the Conquered Kings, that there did lye,
Is Judah's King, now lifted up on high.
But yet in Babell, he muſt ſtill remain:
And native Canaan, never ſee again,
Unlike his father, Evilmerodach,
Prudence, and magnanimity, did lack
Faire Aegypt is, by his remiſſeneſſe loſt;
Arabia, and all the boardering coaſt.
Wars with the Medes, unhappily he wag'd,
(Within which broiles, r…ch Croeſus was engag'd,)
His Army routed, and himſelfe there ſlain,
His Kingdome to Belſhazzar did remain,
Belſhazzar.
UNworthy Belſhazzar next weares the Crown,
Whoſe prophane acts, a ſacred pen ſets down.
His luſt, and cruelty, in books we find,
A Royall State, rul'd by a b…uitiſh mind.
His life ſo baſe, and diſſolute, invites
The Noble Perſians, to invade his rights.
Who with his own, and Uncles power anon;
Layes ſiedge to's regall ſeat, proud Babylon,
The coward King, whoſe ſtrength lay in his walls,
To banquetting, and revelling now falls,
To ſhew his little dread, but greater ſtore,
To chear his friends, and ſcorn his foes the more.
The holy veſſells, thither brought long ſince,
Carous'd they in; and ſacrilegious Prince,
Did praiſe his gods of mettall, wood, and ſtone,
Protectors of his Crown, and Babylon,
But he above, his doings did deride,
And with a hand, ſoon daſhed all his pride.
The King, upon the wall caſting his eye,
The fingers of his hand-writing did ſpy.
Which horrid ſight, he fears, muſt needs portend,
Deſtruction to his Crown, to's Perſon end.
With quaking knees, and heart appall'd, he crys,
For the Soothſayers, and Magicians wiſe;
This language ſtrange, to read, and to unfold;
With guifts of Scarlet robe, and Chaines of gold,
And higheſt dignity, next to the King,
To him that could interpret clear this thing:
But dumb the gazing Aſtrologers ſtand,
Amazed at the writing, and the hand.
None anſwers the affrighted Kings intent.
Who ſtill expects ſome fearfull ſad event,
As thus amort he ſits, as all undone:
In comes the Queen, to chear her heartleſſe ſon.
Of Daniel tells, who in his Grand-fires dayes,
Was held in more requeſt, then now he was,
Daniel in haſte, is brought before the King,
Who doth not flatter, nor once cloake the thing.
Re-minds him of his Grand-fires height, and fall,
And of his own notorious ſins, withall;
His drunkenneſſe, and his prophainneſſe high,
His pride, and ſottiſh groſſe Idolatry.
The guilty King, with colour pale, and dead,
There hears his Mene, and his Tekel read;
And did one thing worthy a King (though late)
Perform'd his word, to him, that told his fate;
That night victorious Cyrus took the town,
Who ſoone did terminate his Life, and Crown:
With him did end the race of Baladan,
And now the Perſian Monarchy began.
The end of the Aſſyrian Monarchy.