The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, Part 5 · Section 2
The Second Monarchy, being the Perſian, begun under Cyrus, Darius (being his Vnckle, and his Father in Law) reigning with him about two years.
CYrus Cambyſes, Son of Perſia's King,
Whom Lady Mandana did to him bring;
She Daughter unto great Aſtiages,
He in deſcent the ſeventh from Arbaces.
Cambyſes was of Achemenes race,
Who had in Perſia the Lieutenants place.
When Sardanapalus was over-thrown,
And from that time, had held it as his own;
Cyrus, Darius Daughter took to wife,
And ſo unites two Kingdoms, without ſtrife;
Darius was unto Mandana brother,
Adopts her Son for his, having no other:
This is of Cyrus the true pedigree,
Whoſe Anceſtors, were royal in degree;
His Mothers Dream, and Grand-fires cruelty,
His preſervation in his miſery;
His nouriſhment afforded by a Bitch,
Are fit for ſuch, whoſe eares for fables itch;
He in his younger dayes an Army led,
Againſt great Creſſus, then of Lidia head;
Who over-curious of wars event,
For information to Apollo went:
And the ambiguous Oracle did truſt,
So over-thrown of Gyrus, as was juſt;
Who him purſues to Sardis, takes the town,
Where all that doe reſiſt, are ſlaughter'd down;
Diſguiſed Creſſus, hop'd to ſcape i'th throng,
Who had no might to ſave himſelf from wrong;
But as he paſt, his Son, who was born dumbe,
With preſſing grief; and ſorrow, over-come,
Amidſt the tumult, bloud-ſhed, and the ſtrife,
Brake his long ſilence, cry'd, ſpare Creſſus life:
Creſſus thus known, it was great Cy…us doome,
(A hard decree) to aſhes he conſume;
Then on a Pike being ſet, where all might eye,
He Solon, Solon, Solon, thrice did cry.
Upon demand, his minde to Cyrus broke,
And told, how Solon in his hight had ſpoke.
With pitty Cyrus mov'd, knowing Kings ſtand,
Now up, now down, as fortune turnes her hand,
Weighing the age, and greatneſſe of the Prince,
(His Mothers Vnckle, ſtories doe evince:)
Gave him at once, his life, and Kingdom too,
And with the Lidians, had no more to doe.
Next war, the reſtleſſe Cyrus thought upon,
Was conqueſt of the ſtately …abylon,
Now trebble wall'd, and moated ſo about,
That all the world they neither feare, nor doubt;
To drain this ditch, he many ſluces cut,
But till convenient time their heads kept ſhut;
That night Belſhazzar feaſted all his rout,
He cuts thoſe banks, and let the river out;
And to the walls ſecurely marches on,
Not finding a defendant thereupon;
Enters the town, the ſottiſh King he ſlayes,
Upon earths richeſt ſpoyles his Souldiers preys;
Here twenty yeares proviſion he found,
Forty five mile this City ſcarce could round;
This head of Kingdoms, Caldes excellence,
For Owles, and Satyres, makes a reſidence;
Yet wondrous Monuments this ſtately Queen,
Had after thouſand yeares faire to be ſeen.
Cyrus doth now the Jewiſh captives free,
An Edict makes, the Temple builded be,
He with his Vnckle Daniel ſets on high,
And caus'd his foes in Lions den to dye.
Long after this, he 'gainſt the Sythians goes,
And Tomris Son, an Army over-throwes;
Which to revenge, ſhe hires a mighty power,
And ſets on Cyrus, in a fatall houre;
There routs his Hoaſt, himſelf ſhe priſoner takes,
And at one blow, worlds head, ſhe headleſſe makes;
The which ſhe bak'd within a But of bloud,
Uſing ſuch taunting words as ſhe thought good.
But Zenophon reports, he dy'd in's bed,
In honour, peace, and wealth, with a grey head,
And in his Town of Paſargada lyes,
Where Alexander fought, in hope of prize,
But in this Tombe was only to be found
Two Sythian bowes, a ſword, and target round;
Where that proud Conquerour could doe no leſſe,
Then at his Herſe great honours to expreſſe;
Three Daughters, and two Sons, he left behind,
Innobled more by birth, then by their mind;
Some thirty years this potent Prince did reign,
Unto Cambyſes then, all did remain.
Cambyſes.
CAmbyſes, no wayes like, his noble Sire,
But to enlarge his ſtate, had ſome deſire;
His reign with Bloud, and Inceſt, firſt begins;
Then ſends to finde a Law for theſe his ſins;
That Kings with Siſters match, no Law they finde,
But that the Perſian King, may act his minde;
Which Law includes all Lawes, though lawleſſe ſtil,
And makes it lawful Law, if he but wil;
He wages warre, the fifth year of his reign,
'Gainſt Aegypts King, who there by him was ſlain,
And all of Royal bloud that came to hand,
He ſeized firſt of life, and then of Land;
(But little Marus, ſcap'd that cruel fate,
Who grown a man, reſum'd again his ſtate)
He next to Cyprus ſends his bloudy Hoaſt,
Who landed ſoon upon that fruitful coaſt,
Made Evelthon their King, with bended knee,
To hold his own, of his free courteſie;
The Temples he deſtroyes not, for his zeal,
But he would be profeſt god of their Weal;
Yea, in his pride, he ventured ſo farre,
To ſpoyl the Temple of great Jupiter;
But as they marched o're thoſe deſart ſands,
The ſtormed duſt o'r-whelm'd his daring bands;
But ſcorning thus by Jove to be out-brav'd,
A ſecond Army there had almoſt grav'd;
But vain he found, to fight with Elements,
So left his ſacrilegious bold intents:
The Aegyptian Apis then he likewiſe ſlew,
Laughing to ſcorn that calviſh, ſottiſh crew.
If all his heat, had been for a good end,
Cambyſes to the clouds, we might commend;
But he that 'fore the gods, himſelf preferrs,
Is more prophane, then groſſe Idolaters;
And though no gods, if he eſteem them ſome,
And contemn them, woful is his doome.
He after this, ſaw in a Viſion,
His brother Smerdis ſit upon his throne;
He ſtrait to rid himſelf of cauſleſſe fears,
Complots the Princes death, in his green years,
Who for no wrong, poore innocent muſt dye,
Praraſpes now muſt act this tragedy;
Who into Perſia with Commiſſion ſent,
Accompliſhed this wicked Kings intent;
His ſiſter, whom inceſtuouſly he wed,
Hearing her harmleſſe brother thus was dead,
His woful fate with tears did ſo bemoane,
That by her Husbands charge, ſhe caught her owne;
She with her fruit was both at once undone,
Who would have born a Nephew, and a Son.
O helliſh Husband, Brother, Vnckle, Sire,
Thy cruelty will Ages ſtill admire.
This ſtrange ſeverity, one time he us'd,
Upon a Judge, for breach of Law accus'd;
Flayd him alive, hung up his ſtuffed skin
Over his Seat, then plac'd his Son therein;
To whom he gave this in rememberance,
Like fault muſt look, for the like recompence.
Praraſpes, to Cambyſes favourite,
Having one ſon, in whom he did delight,
His cruell Maſter, for all ſervice done,
Shot through the heart of his beloved ſon:
And only for his fathers faithfullneſſe,
Who ſaid but what, the King bad him expreſſe.
'T would be no pleaſant, but a tedious thing,
To tell the facts, of this moſt bloody King.
Fear'd of all, but lov'd of few, or none,
All thought his ſhort r…ign long, till it was done
At laſt, two of his Officers he heart,
Had ſet a Smerdis up, of the ſame years;
And like in feature, to the Smerdis dead,
Ruling as they thought good, under his head.
Toucht with this newes, to Perſia he makes,
But in the way, his ſword juſt véngeance takes.
Unſheathes, as he his horſe mounted on high,
And with a Martall thruſt, wounds him ith' thigh,
Which ends before begun, the Perſian Wa…re,
Yeelding to death, that dreadfull Conquerer.
Griefe for his brothers death, he did expreſſe,
And more, becauſe he dyed iſſuleſſe.
The Male line, of great Cyrus now did end.
The Female many ages did extend,
A Babylon in Egypt did he make.
And built fair Meroe, for his ſiſters ſake.
Eight years he reign'd, a ſhort, yet too long time,
Cut off in's wickedneſſe, in's ſtrength, and prime.
The inter Regnum between Cambyſes, and Darius Hyſlaſpes.
Childleſſe Cambyſes, on the ſudden dead,
The Princes meet to chuſe one in his ſtead,
Of which the cheife were ſeven, call'd Satrapes,
(Who like to Kings, rul'd Kingdomes as they pleaſe,)
Deſcended all, of Ach…menes blood,
And kinsmen in account, to th'King they ſtood,
And firſt theſe noble Magi 'gree upon,
To thruſt th' Impoſter Smerdis our of throne,
Their Forces inſtantly they raiſe, and rout,
This King, with conſpirators ſo ſtout,
Who little pleaſure had, in his ſhort reigne,
And now with his accomplyces lye ſlaine.
But yet, 'fore this was done, much blood was ſhed,
And two of theſe great Peers, in place lay dead:
Some write that ſorely hurt, they 'ſcap'd away;
But ſo or no, ſure tis, they won the day.
All things in peace, and Rebells throughly que…'d,
A Conſultation by the States was held.
What forme of Government now to erect,
The old, or new, which beſt, in what reſpect,
The greater part, declin'd a Monarchy.
So late cruſht by their Princes Tyranny;
And thought the people, would more happy be,
If governed by an Ariſtocracy.
But others thought (none of the dulleſt braine,)
But b…tter one, then many Tyrants reigne.
What arguments they us'd, I know not well,
Too politicke (tis like) for me to tell,
But in concluſion they all agree,
That of the ſeven a Monarch choſen be;
All envie to avoyd, this was thought on,
Upon a Green to meet, by riſing Sun;
And he whoſe Horſe before the reſt ſhould neigh,
Of all the Peers ſhould have precedency.
They all attend on the appointed houre,
Praying to Fortune, for a Kingly power;
Then mounting on their ſnorting courſers proud,
Darius luſty ſtallion neighed full loud;
The Nobles all alight, their King to greet,
And after Perſian manner, kiſſe his feet.
His happy wiſhes now doth no man ſpare,
But acclamations ecchoes in the aire;
A thouſand times, God ſave the King, they cry,
Let tyranny now with Cambyſes dye.
They then attend him, to his royall roome,
Thanks for all this to's crafty Stable-groome.
Darius Hyſlapſes.
DArius by election made a King,
His title to make ſtrong omits no thing;
He two of Cyrus Daughters now doth wed,
Two of his Neeces takes to nuptiall bed;
By which he cuts their hopes (for future times)
That by ſuch ſteps to Kingdoms often climbs.
And now a King, by marriage, choyce, and bloud,
Three ſtrings to's bow, the leaſt of which is good;
Yet more the peoples hearts firmly to binde,
Made wholſome gentle Laws, which pleas'd each mind.
His affability, and milde aſpect,
Did win him loyalty, and all reſpect;
Yet notwithſtanding he did all ſo well,
The Babylonians 'gainſt their Prince rebell;
An Hoaſt he rais'd, the City to reduce,
But ſtrength againſt thoſe walls was of no uſe;
For twice ten months before the town he lay,
And fear'd, he now with ſcorn muſt march away:
Then brave Zopirus, for his Maſters good,
His manly face diſ-figures, ſpares no bloud,
With his own hands cuts off his eares, and noſe,
And with a faithfull fraud to'th' town he goes,
Tels them, how harſhly the proud King had dealt,
That for their ſakes, his cruelty he felt;
Deſiring of the Prince to raiſe the ſiege,
This violence was done him by his Leige;
This told, for enterance he ſtood not long,
For they beleev'd his noſe, more then his tongue;
With all the Cities ſtrength they him betruſt,
If he command, obey the greateſt muſt:
When opportunity he ſaw was fit,
Delivers up the town, and all in it.
To looſe a noſe, to win a Town's no ſhame,
But who dare venture ſuch a ſtake for th' game;
Then thy diſgrace, thine honour's manifold,
Who doth deſerve a Statue made of gold;
Nor can Darius in his Monarchy,
Scarſe finde enough to thank thy loyalty;
But yet thou haſt ſufficient recompence,
In that thy fame ſhall ſound whilſt men have ſence;
Yet o're thy glory we muſt caſt this vaile,
Thy falſhood, not thy valour did prevaile;
Thy wit was more then was thine honeſty,
Thou lov'dſt thy Maſter more then verity.
Darius in the ſecond of his reign,
An Edict for the Jews publiſh'd again,
The temple to re-build, for that did reſt
Since Cyrus time, Cambyſes did moleſt;
He like a King, now grants a Charter large,
Out of his owne revenues beares the charge;
Gives ſacrifices, wheat, wine, oyle, and ſalt,
Threats puniſhment to him, that through default
Shall let the work, or keep back any thing,
Of what is freely granted by the King;
And on all Kings he poures out execrations,
That ſhall, but dare raze thoſe firme foundations;
They thus backt of the King, in ſpight of foes,
Built on, and proſper'd, till their walls did cloſe;
And in the ſixth yeare of his friendly reign
Set up a Temple (though, a leſſe) again.
Darius on the Sythians made a war,
Entring that large and barren country far;
A bridge he made, which ſerv'd for boat, and barge,
Over fair Iſter, at a mighty charge;
But in that Deſart, 'mongſt his barbarous foes,
Sharp wants, not ſwords, his vallour did oppoſe;
His Army fought with Hunger, and with Cold,
Which two then to aſſaile, his Camp was bold:
By theſe alone his Hoaſt was pinch'd ſo ſore,
He warr'd defenſive, not offenſive, more;
The Salvages did laugh at his diſtreſſe,
Their minds by Hieroglyphicks they expreſſe;
A Frog, a Mouſe, a Bird, an Arrow ſent,
The King will needs interpret their intent;
Poſſeſſion of water, earth, and aire,
But wiſe Gobrias reads not half ſo farre:
Quoth he, like Frogs, in water we muſt dive,
Or like to Mice, under the earth muſt live;
Or fly like birds, in unknown wayes full quick,
Or Sythian arrows in our fides muſt ſtick.
The King, ſeeing his men, and victuall ſpent,
His fruitleſſe war, began late to repent;
Return'd with little honour, and leſſe gaine,
His enemies ſcarce ſeen, then much leſſe, ſlaine;
He after this, intends Greece to invade,
But troubles in leſſe Aſia him ſtay'd;
Which huſht, he ſtraight ſo orders his affaires,
For Attica an Army he prepares;
But as before, ſo now with ill ſucceſſe,
Return'd with wondrous loſſe, and honour leſſe.
Athens perceiving now their deſperate ſtate,
Arm'd all they could, which elev'n thouſand make;
By brave Miltiades (their chief) being led,
Darius multitude before them fled;
At Marathon this bloudy field was fought,
Where Grecians prov'd themſelves right Souldiers, ſtout;
The Perſians to their Gallies poſt with ſpeed,
Where an Athenian ſhew'd a valiant deed,
Purſues his flying-foes, and on the ſtrand,
He ſtayes a landing Gally with his hand;
Which ſoon cut off, he with the left
Renews his hold; but when of that bereft,
His whetted teeth he ſticks in the firm wood,
Off flyes his head, down ſhowres his frolick bloud.
Go Perſians, carry home that angry peece,
As the beſt trophe that ye won in Greece.
Darius light, he heavie, home returnes,
And for revenge his heart ſtill reſtleſſe burnes;
His Queen Attoſſa, cauſed all this ſtir,
For Grecian Maids ('tis ſaid) to wait on her;
She loſt her aime; her Husband, he loſt more,
His men, his coyn, his honour, and his ſtore;
And the enſuing yeare ended his life,
('Tis thought) through grief of his ſucceſſeſſe ſtrife.
Thirty ſix years this royall Prince did reign,
Unto his eldeſt Son, all did remain.
Xerxes.
XErxes, Darius, and Attoſſa's Son,
Grand-childe to Cyrus, now ſits on the throne;
The Father not ſo full of lenity,
As is the Son, of pride, and cruelty;
He with his Crown, receives a double warre,
Th' Aegyptians to reduce, and Greece to marre;
The firſt begun, and finiſh'd in ſuch haſt,
None write by whom, nor how, 'twas over-paſt;
But for the laſt he made ſuch preparation,
As if to duſt he meant to grinde that Nation;
Yet all his men, and inſtruments of ſlaughter,
Produced but deriſion, and laughter;
Sage Artabanus counſell, had he taken,
And's couſen, young Mardonius forſaken,
His Souldiers, credit, wealth, at home had ſtay'd,
And Greece ſuch wondrous triumphs ne're had made.
The firſt deports, and layes before his eyes,
His Fathers ill ſucceſſe in's enterpriſe,
Againſt the Sythians, and Grecians too,
What infamy to's honour did accrue.
Flattering Mardonius on th' other ſide,
With certainty of Europe feeds his pride;
Vaine Xerxes thinks his counſell hath moſt wit,
That his ambitious humour beſt can fit;
And by this choyce, unwarily poſts on,
To preſent loſſe, future ſubverſion;
Although he haſted, yet foure yeares was ſpent,
In great proviſions, for this great intent;
His Army of all Nations, was compounded,
That the large Perſian government ſurrounded;
His Foot was ſeventeen hundred thouſand ſtrong,
Eight hundred thouſand Horſe to them belong;
His Camels, beaſts, for carriage numberleſſe,
For truth's aſham'd how many to expreſſe;
The charge of all he ſeverally commended,
To Princes of the Perſian bloud deſcended,
But the command of theſe Commanders all,
To Mardonius, Captain Generall;
He was the Son of the fore-nam'd Gobrias,
Who married the ſiſter of Darius:
Theſe his Land Forces were, then next, a Fleet
Of two and twenty thouſand Gallies meet,
Mann'd by Pheniſians, and Pamphilians,
Cipriots, Dorians, and Cilicians,
Lycians, Carians, and Ionians,
Eolians, and the Heliſpontines;
Beſides, the Veſſels for his tranſportation,
Three thouſand (or more) by beſt relation,
Artemeſia, Halicarna's Queene,
In perſon there, now for his help was ſeen;
Whoſe Gallies all the reſt in neatneſſe paſſe,
Save the Zidonians, where Xerxes was.
Hers ſhe kept ſtil, ſeperate from the reſt,
For to command alone, ſhe thought was beſt.
O noble Queen, thy valour I commend,
But pitty 'twas, thine ayde that here did'ſt lend,
At Sardis, in Lidia, theſe all doe meet,
Whither rich Pithyus comes, Xerxes to greet;
Feaſts all this multitude, of his own charge,
Then gives the King, a King-like gift, moſt large;
Three thouſand Tallents of the pureſt gold;
Which mighty ſ…m, all wondred to behold.
He humbly to the King then makes requeſt,
One of his five Sons there, might be relead;
To be to's age a comfort, and a ſtay,
The other four he freely gave away:
The King cals for the Youth, who being brought,
Cuts him in twain, for whom his Sire beſought.
O moſt inhumain incivility!
Nay, more then monſtrous barb'rous cruelty!
For his great love, is this thy recompence?
Is this to doe like Xerxes, or a Prince?
Thou ſhame of Kings, of men the deteſtation,
I Rhetorick want, to poure out execration:
Firſt thing, Xerxes did worthy recount,
A Sea paſſage cuts, behind Orthos Mount.
Next, o're the Helliſpont a bridge he made,
Of Boats, together coupled, and there laid;
But winds, and waves, theſe couples ſoon diſſever'd,
Yet Xerxes in his enterpriſe perſever'd;
Seven thouſand Gallies chain'd, by Tyrians skil,
Firmly at length, accompliſhed his wil;
Seven dayes and nights, his Hoaſt without leaſt ſtay,
Was marching o're this interrupting Bay;
And in Abidus Plaines, muſt ring his Forces,
He glories in his Squadrens, and his Horſes;
Long viewing them, thought it great happineſſe,
One King, ſo many Subjects ſhould poſſeſſe;
But yet this goodly ſight produced teares,
That none of theſe ſhould live a hundred yeares:
What after did enſue, had he fore-ſeen.
Of ſo long time, his thoughts had never been.
Of Artabanus he again demands,
How of this enterpriſe his thoughts now ſtands;
His anſwer was, both Land and Sea he feared,
Which was not vaine, as it ſoon appeared:
But Xerxes reſolute, to Thrace goes firſt,
His Hoaſt, who Liſſus drinks to quench their thirſt,
And for his Cattell, all Piſſirus Lake
Was ſcarce enough, for each a draught to take.
Then marching to the ſtreight Thermopyle,
The Spartan meets him, brave Leonade,
This 'twixt the Mountains lyes (half Acre wide)
That pleaſant Theſſaly, from Greece divide;
Two dayes and nights a fight they there maintain,
Till twenty thouſand Perſians falls down ſlain;
And all that Army, then diſmay'd, had fled,
But that a Fugative diſcovered,
How part, might o're the Mountains goe about,
And wound the backs of thoſe bold Warriours ſtout.
They thus behemm'd with multitude of foes,
Laid on more fiercely, their deep mortall blowes;
None cryes for quarter, nor yet ſeeks to run,
But on their ground they dye, each Mothers Son.
O noble Greeks, how now, degenerate?
Where is the valour, of your antient State?
When as one thouſand, could ſome Millions daunt;
Alas, it is Leonades you want!
This ſhamefull Victory coſt Xerxes deare,
Amongſt the reſt, two brothers he loſt there;
And as at Land, ſo he at Sea was croſt,
Four hundred ſtately Ships by ſtormes was loſt,
Of Veſſels ſmall almoſt innumerable,
Them to receive, the Harbour was not able;
Yet thinking to out-match his foes at Sea,
Inclos'd their Fleet i'th' ſtreights of Eubea;
But they as valiant by Sea, as Land,
In this Streight, as the other, firmly ſtand.
And Xerxes mighty Gallies batter'd ſo,
That their ſplit ſides, witneſſ'd his overthrow;
Yet in the Streights of Salamis he try'd,
If that ſmal number his great force could bide;
But he, in daring of his forward foe,
Received there, a ſhameful over-throw.
Twice beaten thus by Sea, he warr'd no more:
But Phocians Land, he then waſted ſore:
They no way able to withſtand his force,
That brave Thymiſtocles takes this wiſe courſe,
In ſecret manner word to Xerxes ſends,
That Greeks to break his bridge ſhortly intends;
And as a friend, warns him, what e're he doe,
For his retreat, to have an eye thereto:
He hearing this, his thoughts, and courſe home bended,
Much, that which never was intended!
Yet 'fore he went, to help out his expence,
Part of his Hoaſt to Delphos ſent from thence,
To rob the wealthy Temple of Apollo,
But miſchief, Sacriledge doth ever follow;
Two mighty Rocks, brake from Parnaſſus Hil,
And many thouſands of theſe men did kil;
Which accident, the reſt affrighted ſo,
With empty hands they to their Maſter go;
He ſeeing all thus tend unto decay,
Thought it his beſt, no longer for to ſtay;
Three hundred thouſand yet he left behind,
With his Mardon'us, judex of his minde;
Who for his ſake, he knew, would venture far,
(Chief inſtigater of this hopeleſſe War;)
He inſtantly to Athens ſends for peace,
That all Hoſtility might thence-forth ceaſe;
And that with Xerxes they would be at one,
So ſhould all favour to their State be ſhown.
The Spartans, fearing Athens would agree,
As had Macedon, Thebes, and Theſſalie,
And leave them out, the ſhock for to ſuſtaine,
By their Ambaſſador they thus complain;
That Xerxes quarrel was 'gainſt Athens State,
And they had helpt them, as confederate;
If now in need, they ſhould thus fail their friends,
Their infamy would laſt till all things ends:
But the Athenians, this peace deteſt,
And thus reply'd unto Mardon's requeſt;
That whilſt the Sun did run his endleſſe courſe,
Againſt the Perſians they would uſe their force.
Nor could the brave Ambaſſador be ſent,
With Rhetorick, t' gain better complement:
Though of this Nation borne a great Commander,
No leſſe then Grand-ſire to great Alexander.
Mardonius proud, hearing this anſwer ſtout,
To adde unto his numbers, layes about,
And of thoſe Greeks, which by his skil he'd won,
He fifty thouſand joynes unto his own;
The other Greeks, which were confederate,
One hundred thouſand, and ten thouſand make.
The Beotian Fields, of war, the ſeats,
Where both ſides exercis'd their manly feats;
But all their controverſies to decide,
For one maine Battell ſhortly, both provide;
The Athenians could but forty thouſand arme,
For other Weapons, they had none would harme;
But that which helpt defects, and made them bold,
Was Victory, by Oracle fore-told:
Ten dayes theſe Armies did each other face,
Mardonius finding victuals waſt apace,
No longer dar'd, but fiercely on-ſet gave,
The other not a hand, nor ſword will wave,
Till in the entrails of their Sacrifice,
The ſignall of their victory doth riſe;
Which found, like Greeks they fight, the Perſians fly,
And troubleſome Mardonius now muſt dye:
All's loſt, and of three hundred thouſand men,
Three thouſand ſcapes, for to run home agen;
For pitty, let thoſe few to Xerxes go,
To c…rtifie this finall over-throw.
Same day, the ſmall remainder of his Fleet,
The Grecians at Mytale in Aſia meet,
And there ſo utterly they wrack'd the ſame,
Scarce one was left, to carry home the fame;
Thus did the Greeks deſtroy, conſume, diſperce,
That Army, which did fright the Univerſe;
Scorn'd Xerxes, hated for his cruelty.
Yet ceaſes not to act his villany:
His brothers wife, ſollicites to his will;
The chaſte, and beautious Dame, refuſes ſtill.
Some years by him in this vain ſuit was ſpent,
Yet words, nor guifts, could win him leaſt content:
Nor matching of her daughter; to his ſon:
But ſhe was ſtil, as when it firſt begun.
When jealous Queen Ameſtris, of this knew,
She Harpy-like, upon the Lady flew:
Cut off her lilly breaſts, her noſe, and ears;
And leaves her thus, beſmear'd with blood, and tears
Straight comes her Lord, and finds his wife thus lie,
The ſorrow of his heart, did cloſe his eye:
He dying to behold, that wounding ſight;
Where he had ſometime gaz'd with great delight.
To ſee that face, where Roſe and Lilly ſtood,
O're-flown with torrent of her ruby blood.
To ſee thoſe breaſts, where chaſtity did dwel,
Thus cut, and mangled by a hag of hell.
With loaden heart unto the King he goes,
Tels as he could, his unexpreſſed woes,
But for his deep complaints; and ſhowres of tears,
His brothers recompence was naught but jears:
The grieved Prince finding nor right, nor l…ve,
To Bactria his houſhold did remove.
His wicked brother, after ſent a crew,
Which him, and his, moſt barbarouſly there ſlew,
Unto ſuch height did grow his cruelty,
Of life, no man had leaſt ſecurity.
At laſt his Uncle, did his death conſpire,
And for that end, his Eunuch he d…d hire.
Which wretch, him privately ſmother'd in's bed,
But yet by ſearch, he was found murthered,
The Artacanus hirer of this deed,
That from ſuſpition he might be freed,
Accus'd Darius, Xerxes eldeſt ſon,
To be the Authour of the deed was done,
And by his craft, ordered the matter ſo,
That the poor innocent, to death muſt go.
But in ſhort time, this wickedneſſe was knowne,
For which he dyed, and not he alone.
But all his family was likewiſe ſlain,
Such Juſtice then, in Perſia did remain,
The eldeſt ſon, thus immaturely dead,
The ſecond was inthron'd, in's fathers ſtead.
Artaxerxes Longimanus.
AMongſt the Monarchs next, this Prince had place
The beſt that ever ſprang of Cyrus race.
He firſt, war with revolting Aegypt made.
To whom the perjur'd Grecians lent their aide,
Although to Xerxes, they not long before,
A league of amity, had ſworn before.
Which had they kept, Greece had more nobly done,
Then when the world, they after over-run:
Greeks and Egyptians both, he overthrows,
And payes them now, according as he owes,
Which done, a ſumptuous feaſt; makes like a King
Where nineſcore days, are ſpent in banquetting,
His Princes, Nobles, and his Captaines calls,
To be partakers in theſe feſtivalls.
His hangings, white, and green, and purple dye;
With gold and ſilver beds, moſt gorgiouſly.
The royall wine, in golden cups doth paſſe,
To drink more then he liſt, none bidden was:
Queen Vaſhty alſo feaſts, but 'fore tis ended,
Alas, ſhe from her Royalty's ſuſpended.
And a more worthy, placed in her roome,
By Memucan's advice, this was the doome.
What Heſter was, and did, her ſtory reed,
And how her Country-men from ſpoile ſhe freed.
Of Hamans fall, and Mordica's great riſe;
The might o'th' Prince, the tribute on the Iſles.
Unto this King Thymiſtocles did flye.
When under Oſtraciſme he did lye.
For ſuch ingratitude, did Athens ſhow
This valiant Knight, whom they ſo much did owe;
Such entertainment with this Prince he found,
That in all Loyalty his heart was bound;
The King not little joyfull of this chance,
Thinking his Grecian wars now to advance.
And for that end, great preparation made,
Fair Attica, a third time to invade.
His Grand-ſires old diſgrace, did vex him ſore,
His father Xerxes loſſe, and ſhame, much more,
For puniſhment, their breach of oath did call,
The noble Greek, now fit for generall.
Who for his wrong, he could not chuſe but deem,
His Country, nor his Kindred would eſteem,
Proviſions, and ſeaſon now being fit,
T'Thymiſtecles he doth his war commit,
But he all injury, had ſoon forgate,
And to his Country-men could bear no hate.
Nor yet diſloyall to his Prince would prove,
To whom oblig'd, by favour, and by love;
Either to wrong, did wound his heart ſo ſore,
To wrong himſelfe by death, he choſe before:
In this ſad conflict, marching on his ways,
Strong poyſon took, and put an end to's dayes.
The King this noble Captaine having loſt,
Again diſperſed, his new levyed hoaſt.
'Reſt of his time in peace he did remain;
And dy'd the two and fortieth of his reign.
Daryus Nothus.
THree ſons great Artaxerxes left behind;
The eldeſt to ſucceed, that was his mind.
But he, with his next brother fell at ſtrife,
That nought appeas'd him, but his brothers life.
Then the ſurviver is by Nothus ſlaine;
Who now ſole Monarch, doth of all remaine,
Theſe two lewd ſons, are by hyſtorians thought,
To be by Heſter, to her husband brought.
If they were hers, the greater was her moon;
That for ſuch graceleſſe wretches ſhe did groan,
Diſquiet Egypt, 'gainſt this King rebells,
Drives out his gariſon that therein dwels.
Joynes with the Greeks, and ſo maintains their right,
For ſixty years maugre the Perſians might.
A ſecond trouble, after this ſucceeds.
Which from remiſſeneſſe, in Aſia proceeds
Amerges, whom their Vice-roy he ordain'd
Revolts, having treaſure, and people gain'd:
Invades the Country, and much trouble wrought,
Before to quietneſſe things could be brought,
The King was glad, with Sparta to make peace,
So that he might, theſe tumults ſoon appeaſe.
But they in Aſia, muſt firſt reſtore
All Townes, held by his Anceſtors before.
The King much profit reapeth, by theſe leagues,
Re-gaines his own, and then the Rebell breaks:
Whoſe forces by their helpe were overthrown,
And ſo each man again poſſeſt his owne.
The King, his ſiſter, like Cambyſes, wed;
More by his pride, then luſt, thereunto led.
(For Perſian Kings, did deem themſelves ſo good,
No match was high enough, but their own blood,)
Two ſons ſhe bore, the youngeſt Cyrus nam'd,
A hopefull Prince, whoſe worth is ever fam'd.
His father would no notice of that take;
Prefers his brother, for his birth-rights ſake.
But Cyrus ſcornes, his brothers feeble wit;
And takes more on him, then was judged fit.
The King provok'd, ſends for him to the Court,
Meaning to chaſtiſe him, in ſharpeſt ſort,
But in his ſlow approach, ere he came there;
His fathers death, did put an end to's fear.
Nothus reign'd nineteen years, which run,
His large Dominions left, to's eldeſt ſon.
Artaxerxes Mnemon.
MNemon now fits upon his fathers Throne,
Yet doubts, all he injoyes, is not his own.
Still on his brother, caſts a jealous eye,
Judging all's actions, tends to's injury.
Cyrus o'th' other ſide, weighs in his mind,
What helps, in's enterprize he's like to find,
His intereſt, in the Kingdome, now next heir,
More deare to's mother, then his brother far.
His brothers litle love, like to be gone,
Held by his mothers interceſſion.
Theſe and like motives, hurry him amain,
To win by force, what right could not obtain.
And thought 'it beſt, now in his mothers time,
By leſſer ſteps, towards the top to climbe;
If in his enterprize he ſhould fall ſhort,
She to the King, would make a fair report:
He hop'd, if fraud, nor force the Crown could gaine;
Her prevailence, a pardon might obtain.
From the Lieutenant firſt, he takes away,
Some Townes commodious in leſſe Aſia,
Pretending ſtill, the profit of the King,
Whoſe rents and cuſtomes, duly he ſent in.
The King finding, revenues now amended;
For what was done, ſeemed no whit offended.
Then next, the Lacedemons he takes to pay;
(One Greeke could make ten Perſians run away)
Great care was his pretence, thoſe Souldiers ſtout,
The Rovers in Piſidia, ſhould drive out.
But leaſt ſome worſer newes ſhould fly to Court,
He meant himſelfe to carry the report.
And for that end, five hundred Horſe he choſe,
With poſting ſpeed towards the King he goes;
But fame more quick, arrives ere he came there,
And fills the Court with tumult, and with fear.
The young Queen, and old, at bitter jars:
The one accus'd the other, for theſe wars:
The wife, againſt the mother, ſtill doth cry
To be the Author of conſpiracy.
The King diſmay'd, a mighty Hoaſt doth raiſe;
Which Cyrus heares, and ſo fore-ſlowes his pace:
But as he goes, his Forces ſtill augments,
Seven hundred Greeks now further his intents:
And others to be warm'd by this new ſun,
In numbers from his brother daily run.
The fearfull King, at laſt, muſters his Forces;
And counts nine hundred thouſand foot and horſes:
And yet with theſe, had neither heart, nor grace;
To lo…k his manly brother in the face.
Three hundred thouſand, yet to Syria ſent;
To keep thoſe ſtreights, to hinder his intent.
Their Captain hearing, but of Cyrus name.
Ran back, and quire abandoned the ſame,
Abrccomes, was this baſe cowards name,
Not worthy to be known, but for his ſhame:
This place was made, by nature, and by art;
Few might have kept it, had they but a heart.
Cyrus diſpair'd, a paſſage there to gain;
So hir'd a fleet, to waft him ore the Maine,
The mazed King, was now about to fly;
To th'utmoſt parts of Bactr'a, and there lye.
Had not a Captain; ſore againſt his will;
By reaſon, and by force, detain'd him ſtill.
Up then with ſpeed, a mighty trench he throwes,
For his ſecurity, againſt his foes.
Six yards the depth, and forty miles the length,
Some fifty, or elſe ſixty foote in breadth.
Yet for his brothers comming, durſt not ſtay,
He ſureſt was, when furtheſt out o'th' way.
Cyrus finding his campe, and no man there;
Rejoyced not a little at his feare.
On this, he and his Souldiers cueleſſe grow,
And here, and there, in carts their Armes they throw,
When ſuddenly their Scouts come in and cry,
Arme, arme, the King is now approaching nigh;
In this confuſion, each man as he might,
Gets on his armes, arayes himſelfe for fight;
And ranged ſtood, by great Euphrates ſide,
The brunt of that huge multitude to bide.
Of whoſe great numbers, their intelligence,
Was gather'd by the duſt that roſe from thence:
Which like a mighty cloud darkned the skye;
And black and blacker grew, as they drew nigh
But when their order, and ſilence they ſaw;
That, more then multitudes, their hearts did awe:
For tumult and confuſion they expected,
And all good diſcipline to be neglected.
But long under their fears, they did not ſtay,
For at firſt charge the Perſians ran away.
Which did ſuch courage to the Grecians bring,
They ſtraight adored Cyrus for their King,
So had he been, and got the victory,
Had not his too much valour put him by.
He with ſix hundred, on a ſquadron ſet,
Of ſix thouſand, wherein the King was yet;
And brought his Souldiers on ſo gallantly,
They were about to leave their King and fly,
Whom Cyrus ſpi'd, cries cut, I ſee the man,
And with a full career, at him he ran.
But in his ſpeed a Dart hit him i'th' eye,
Down Cyrus fals, and yeelds to deſtiny;
His Hoſt in chaſe, knowes not of his diſaſter,
But treads down all, for to advance their Maſter;
At laſt his head they ſpy upon a Launce,
Who knowes the ſudden change made by this chance;
Senceleſſe and mute they ſtand, yet breath out groans,
Nor Gorgons like to this, transform'd to ſtones.
After this trance, revenge, new ſpirits blew,
And now more eagerly their foes purſue,
And heaps on heaps, ſuch multitudes they laid,
Their armes grew weake, through ſlaughters that they made.
The King unto a country Village flyes,
And for a while unkingly there he lyes;
At laſt, diſplayes his Enſigne on a Hil,
Hoping with that to make the Greeks ſtand ſtil,
But was deceiv'd; to it they make amain,
The King upon the ſpur, runs back again;
But they too faint, ſtill to purſue their game,
Being Victors oft, now to their Camp they came;
Nor lackt they any of their number ſmall,
Nor wound receiv'd, but one among them all:
The King with his diſpers'd alſo incampt.
With infamy upon each fore-head ſtampt;
After a while his thoughts he re-collects,
Of this dayes cowardize, he feares the effects;
If Greeks unto their Country-men declare,
What daſtards in the field the perſians are;
They ſoone may come, and place one in his Throne,
And rob him both of Scepter, and of Crown;
That their return be ſtopt, he judg'd was beſt,
That ſo Europians might no more moleſt;
Forth-with he ſends to's Tent, they ſtraight addreſſe,
And there all wait his mercy, weaponleſſe;
The Greeks with ſcorn reject his proud commands;
Asking no favour, where they fear'd no bands.
The troubled King, his Herauld ſends again,
And ſues for peace, that they his friends remain;
The ſmiling Greeks reply, they firſt muſt bait,
They were too hungry to capitulate;
The King great ſtore of all proviſion ſends,
And courteſie to th' utmoſt he pretends;
Such terrour on the Perſians then did fall,
They quak'd, to heare them, to each other call.
The King's perplext, there dares not let them ſtay,
And feares as much to let them march away;
But Kings ne're want ſuch as can ſerve their will,
Fit inſtruments t' accompliſh what is ill;
As Tyſſaphern, knowing his Maſters minde,
Invites their chief Commander, as moſt kinde;
And with all Oathes, and deepeſt flattery,
Gets them to treat with him in privacy,
But violates his honour, and his word,
And Villaine-like, there puts them to the ſword.
The Greeks, having their valiant Captaines ſlaine,
Choſe Xenophon, to lead them home again;
But Tyſſaphern did what he could deviſe,
To ſtop the way in this their enterpriſe;
But when through difficulties ſtill they brake,
He ſought all ſuſtinance from them to take,
Before them burnt the country as they went,
So to deprive them of all nouriſhment;
But on they march, through hunger, and through cold,
O're mountains, rocks, and hils, as Lions bold;
Nor rivers courſe, nor Perſians force could ſtay,
But on to Trabezond they kept their way;
There was of Greeks, ſetled a Colony,
Theſe after all, receiv'd them joyfully:
There for ſome time they were, but whilſt they ſtaid,
Into Bithynia often in rodes made;
The King afraid what further they might doe,
Unto the Spartan Admirall did ſue,
Straight to tranſport them to the other ſide,
For theſe incurſions he durſt not abide;
So after all their travell, danger, pain,
In peace they ſaw their Native ſoyl again.
The Greeks now (as the Perſian King ſuſpects)
The Aſiatiques, cowardize detects;
The many victories themſelves did gain,
The many thouſand Perſians they had ſlain;
And now their Nation with facility,
Might win the univerſall Monarchy;
They then Dercilladas, ſend with an Hoaſt,
Who with his Spartans on the Aſian coaſt;
Town after town, with ſmall reſiſtance take,
Which rumor makes great Artaxerxes quake;
The Greeks by this ſucceſſe, incourag'd ſo,
Ageſilaus himſelf doth over-goe,
By th' Kings Lieutenant is encountered,
But Tyſſaphernes with his Army fled;
Which over-throw incens'd the King ſo ſore,
That Tyſſapherne muſt be Vice-roy no more;
Tythrauſtes now is placed in his ſtead,
And hath command, to take the others head,
Of that falſe perjur'd wretch, this was the laſt,
Who of his cruelty made many taſt,
Tythrauſtes truſts more to his wit then Arms,
And hopes by craft to quit his Maſters harmes;
He knows that many towns in Greece envies
The Spartans height, which now apace doth riſe;
To theſe he thirty thouſand Tallents ſent,
With ſuit, their force, againſt his foes be bent;
They to their diſcontent, receiving hire,
With broyls, and quarrels, ſets all Greece on fire.
Ageſtilaus is called home with ſpeed,
To defend, more then oflend, he had need.
They now loſt all, and were a peace to make,
The Kings conditions they are forc't to take;
Diſſention in Greece continued long,
Til many a Captain fel, both wiſe, and ſtrong,
Whoſe courage nought but death could ever tame,
'Mongſt theſe Epimanondas wants no fame;
Who had (as noble Raleigh doth evince)
All the peculiar vertues of a Prince:
But let us leave theſe Greeks, to diſcord bent,
And turne to Perſia, as is pertinent;
The King from forraign foes, and all at eaſe,
His home-bred troubles ſeeketh to appeaſe;
The two Queens, by his means, 'gin to abate
Their former envie, and inveterate hare;
Then in voluptuouſneſſe he leads his life,
And weds his Daughter for a ſecond wife;
His Mothers wicked counſell was the cauſe,
Who ſooths him up, his owne deſires are Lawes:
But yet for all his greatneſſe, and long reign,
He muſt leave all, and in the pit remain;
Forty three years he rules, then turns to duſt,
As all the mighty ones, have done, and muſt:
But this of him is worth the memory,
He was the Maſter of good Nehemie.
Darius Ochus.
GReat Artexerxes dead, Ochus ſucceeds,
Of whom no Record's extant of his deeds;
Was it becauſe the Grecians now at war,
Made Writers work at home, they ſought not far?
Or dealing with the Perſian, now no more
Their Acts recorded not, as heretofore?
Or elſe, perhaps the deeds of Perſian Kings
In after wars were burnt, 'mongſt other things?
That three and twenty years he reign'd, I finde,
The reſt is but conjecture of my minde.
Arſames, or Arſes.
WHy Arſames his brother ſhould ſucceed,
I can no reaſon give, cauſe none I read;
It may be thought, ſurely he had no Son,
So fell to him, which elſe it had not done:
What Acts he did, time hath not now left pend,
But as 'tis thought, in him had Cyrus end:
Whoſe race long time had worn the Diadem,
But now's divolved, to another Stem.
Three years he reign'd, as Chronicles expreſſe,
Then Natures debt he paid, quite Iſſue-leſſe.
Darius Codomanus.
HOw this Darius did attain the Crown,
By favour, force, or fraud, is not ſet down:
If not (as is before) of Cyrus race,
By one of theſe, he muſt obtain the place.
Some writers ſay, that he was Arſes ſon,
And that great Cyrus line, yet was not run,
That Ochus unto Arſames was father,
Which by ſome probabilities (ſeems rather;)
That ſon, and father, both were murthered
By one Bagoas, an Eunuch (as is ſed.)
Thus learned Pemble, whom we may not ſlight,
But as before doth (well read) Raleigh write,
Antd he that ſtory reads, ſhall often find;
That ſeverall men, will have their ſeverall mind;
Yet in theſe differences, we may behold;
With our judicious learned Knight to hold.
And this 'mongſt all's no controverted thing,
That this Darius was laſt Perſian King,
Whoſe warres and loſſes we may better tell;
In Alexanders reign who did him quell,
How from the top of worlds felicity;
He fell to depth of greateſt miſery,
Whoſe honours, treaſures, pleaſures, had ſhort ſ…ay;
One deluge came, and ſwept them all away;
And in the ſixt year of his hapleſſe reigne,
Of all, did ſcarce his winding ſheet retaine.
And laſt; a ſad cataſtrophe to end,
Him, to the grave, did …raytor Beſſus ſend.
The end of the Perſian Monarchy.