The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, Part 5 · Section 4
The Roman Monarchy, being the Fourth, and laſt, beginning, Anno Mundi, 3213.
STout Romulus, Romes Founder, and firſt King,
Whom veſtall Rhea, into th' world did bring
His Father was not Mars, as ſome devis'd,
But Aemulus, in Armour all diſguis'd.
Thus he deceiv'd his Neece, ſhe might not know
The double injury, he then did doe:
Where Shepheards once had Coats, and Sheep their Folds,
Where Swaines, and ruſtick Peaſants made their Holds.
A Citty faire did Romulus erect:
The Miſtris of the World, in each reſpect.
His Brother Remus there, by him was ſlaine,
For leaping o're the Walls with ſome diſdaine;
The Stones at firſt was cimented with bloud,
And bloudy hath it proy'd, ſince firſt it ſtood:
This City built, and Sacrifices done,
A forme of Government he next begun;
A hundred Senators he likewiſe choſe,
And with the ſtile of Patres honour'd thoſe;
His City to repleniſh, men he wants,
Great priviledges then, to all he grants,
That wil within theſe ſtrong built walls reſide,
And this new gentle Government abide:
Of Wives there was ſo great a ſcarſity,
They to their neighbours ſue, for a ſupply;
But all diſdaine alliance then to make,
So Romulus was forc'd this courſe to take.
Great ſhewes he makes at Tilt, and Turnament,
To ſee theſe ſports, the Sabins all are bent;
Their Daughters by the Romans then were caught,
For to recover them, a Feild was fought;
But in the en…, to finall peace they come,
And Sabins, as one people, dwelt in Rome.
The Romans now more potent 'gin to grow,
And Fedinates they wholly over-throw:
But Romulus then comes unto his end,
Some faining ſay, to heav'n he did aſcend;
Others, the ſeven and thirtyeth of his reigne
Affirme, that by the Senate he was ſlaine.
Numa Pompilius.
NVmt Pompilius, is next choſen King,
Held for his Piety, ſome ſacred thing;
To Janus, he that famous Temple built,
Kept ſhut in peace, but ope when blond was ſpilt,
Religious Rites, and Cuſtoms inſtituted,
And Prieſts, and Flamines likewiſe he deputed;
Their Augurs ſtrange, their habit, and attire,
And veſtall Maids to keep the holy fire.
Goddeſſe Aegeria this to him told,
So to delude the people he was bold:
Forty three veares he rul'd with generall praiſe,
Accounted for ſome god in after dayes.
Tullus Hoſtilius.
TUllus Hoſtilius, was third Roman King,
Who Martiall Diſcipline in uſe did bring;
War with the antient Albans he doth wage,
The ſtrife to end, ſix Brothers doe ingage;
Three call'd Horatii, on Romans ſide,
And Curiatii, three Albans provide;
The Romans Conquereth, others yeeld the day,
Yet for their compact, after falſe they play:
The Romans ſore incens'd, their Generall ſlay,
And from old Alba fetch the wealth away;
Of Latine Kings this was long ſince the Seat,
But now demoliſhed, to make Rome great.
Thirty two years doth Tullus reigne, then dye,
Leaves Rome, in wealth and power, ſtill growing high.
Ancus Martius.
NExt, Ancus Martius ſits upon the Throne,
Nephew unto Pomphilius dead, and gone;
Rome he inlarg'd, new built againe the wall,
Much ſtronger, and more beautifull withall;
A ſtately Bridge he over Tyber made,
Of Boats, and Oares, no more they need the aide;
Faire Oſtia he built, this Town, it ſtood,
Cloſe by the mouth of famous Tyber flood:
Twenty foure yeare, th' time of his royall race,
Then unto death unwillingly gives place.
Tarquinius Priſcus.
TArquin, a Greek, at Corinth borne, and bred,
Who for ſedition from his Country fled;
Is entertain'd at Rome, and in ſhort time,
By wealth, and favour, doth to honour climbe;
He after Martius death the Kingdome had,
A hundred Senatours he more did adde;
Warres with the Latins he againe renewes,
And Nations twelve, of Tuſcany ſubdues:
To ſuch rude triumphs, as young Rome then had,
Much ſtate, and glory, did this Priſcus adde:
Thirty eight yeares (this Stranger borne) did reigne,
And after all, by Ancus Sons was ſlaine.
Servius Tullius.
NExt, Servius Tullius ſits upon the Throne,
Aſcends not up, by merits of his owne,
But by the favour, and the ſpeciall grace
Of Tanaquil, late Queen, obtaines the place;
He ranks the people, into each degree,
As wealth had made them of abilitie;
A generall Muſter takes, which by account,
To eighty thouſand ſoules then did amount:
Forty foure yeares did Servius Tullius reigne,
And then by Tarquin, Priſcus Son, was ſlaine.
Tarquinius Superbus, the laſt Roman King.
TArquin the proud, from manners called ſo,
Sate on the Throne, when he had ſlaine his ſoe;
Sextus his Son, doth (moſt unworthily)
Lucretia force, mirrour of chaſtety;
She loathed ſo the fact, ſhe loath'd h…r life,
And ſhed her guiltleſſe blood, with guilty knife.
Her Husband ſore incens'd, to quit this wrong,
With Junius Brutus roſe, and being ſtrong,
The Tarquins they from Rome with ſpeed expell,
In baniſhment perpetuall, to dwell;
The Government they change, a new one bring,
And people ſweare, ne're to accept of King.
The end of the Roman Monarchy; being the fourth and laſt.