There are Bell's priests who for themselves to shift,
Would needs their God a monstrous glutton prove,
Till Daniel did disclose their fraudfull drift,
And (as h's bargaine was) did them remove,
Then, these for God who did a dragon lift,
Which without force he fore'd, such to disprove,
And many thousands bursting forth deepe groanes,
Who prostituted soules to stockes and stones.
What millions, loe, pale, quaking, cry despair'd,
Which always sinn'd, yet never mercy claim'd,
And whilst that they for Heav'n's great God not car'd,
Did dote ou that which they themselves had fram'd,
By Dagon, Baal, and Ashtaroth snar'd,
By Milcom, Molech, Nisroch deities dream'd; Which could not raise themselves when once they fell,
Yet could who them ador'd cast down to Hell,
There stand two soveraignes of the world's first state;
The first is he who so prophanely rail'd,
Whose host an angell plagu'd with slaughter great,
Till forc'd to flie, his high designes all fail'd,
Loath'd as a monster, safe in no retreate,
Not altar's right, nor father's name avail'd;
But by his sonnes, before his God, kill'd there,
Idolatry and blood both venged were.
The next is he who that huge statue fram'd,
To be ador'd at every trompet's sound,
To whom the prophet twise told what he dream'd,
First of great empires, last what would confound,
Who with a haughty heart (fond foole) proclaim'd,
"Is not this Babel, which my hands did found?”
Then did abash'd with beastes a beaste abide,
Type of God's judgements, spectacle of pride.
What mighty monarchs follow after those,
Withwhom light's throne so great regard had wonne,
That of their empire purpos'd to dispose,
All met before daie's progresse was begunne,
Then vow'd their judgement should on him repose,
Whose courser's ney did first salute the Sunne;
A gallant coosnage, one the crowne did gaine,
Whose horse, or foote-groome, had more right to
raigne.
The Greekes, though subtle, raving in this sort,
With idoles earst defil'd, were last orethrowne;
From their high wittes bright nature did extort,
That some great God rul'd all things as his own;
Yea, some farre gone (though of the end still short)
Rais'd altars up unto a God unknown;
Yet by the multitude their state was borne,
Though those dumbe deities some durst clearely
One, who not fear'd that they themselves could
[beare,
Once with such taunts, as none but blockes could
With loves of gold, his cloake of cloth did change,
For winter warme, for summer light to weare,
Then since his sire had none, as in him strange,
From Esculapius his long beard did teare;
Thus he himselfe with spoiles of gods did fraught,
They impotent, he impudent, both naught.
What thinke those senatours when Christ they see,
Who whilst inform'd what fame of him was runne;
Of mortall ends that from suspition free,
He by great wonders confidence had wonne;
Since they to him no temples would decree,
Whose God-head without them had beene begunne;
O how they quake that he their course must try,
Whose deity they did trust, yet durst deny !
Rome coin'd (Heaven's rivall) deities as thought best,
And temples did, (as judge of God's) allow,
To fortune one, by fortune all the rest,
For flattery, bravery, or a doubtfull vow;
What thing esteem'd had not some altar dress'd,
Save fatall money which made all to bow?
But (still dissemblers) they the truth abhorr'd,
It (though no God profess'd) was most ador'd.
March forth you gallants greedy of respect,
Who did not rightly wooe, but ravish fame,
To court fraile echoes of a dying name,
(Though seeming vertuous) vitious in effect,
And ere the world such errours could detect,
Though thrown in Hell, did heavenly honours clame,
Marke what vaine pompes and deities do availe,
Which first your selves, then thousands made to
faile.
You, who of old did Candie's king adore,
As who might all the hosts of Heaven command,
Where millions now upbraiding him do roare,
Loe, how the naked wretch doth quivering stand,
(Then all the rest condemn'd for mischiefe more)
Whil'st thought Heaven's God, Hell's guide in every
land,
He father's state, and sister's shame did reave,
A parricide, incestuous, lust's vile slave.
Loe, his adnitrous brood, Amphitrio's scorne,
Right father's heire, ador'd for doing ill,
Whose fame, by fabulous deeds, aloft was borne,
Yet but great robber, did lesse robbers kill,
Till by a poyson'd shirt, last justly torne,
As whil'st alive by lust's vile harpies still:
Now he who once was fain'd to force the Hell,
There damn'd to darknesse may for ever dwell.
He trembleth now who spurning still at peace, With brags, the ayre, with blows did beat the ground,
And she with whom whil'st bent to sport a space,
He who brav❜d others did lye basely bound;
Then that lame dolt who prov'd his owne disgrace,
With him (their like) by whom the fraud was found.
What godly gods? what worth with titles even,
Thus seeking Hell, to stumble upon Heaven.
These do not scape who first for vertue knowne, Rais'd from love's thigh, or head, dress'd wines, and oyles,
Nor she by whom for food first corne was sown,
To furnish fields with autumn's pretious spoils,
Nor none of them by whom prais'd arts were shown,
To barre vice-breeding sloth by needfull toils:
Since they usurp'd what did to God belong,
And were, whilst doing right, intending wrong.
Not onely Gentiles who prophanely rav'd,
Do now curse those by whom they were beguil'd,
And Inde's new world, ere borne, in sinne conceiv'd,
From whom the light of God was farre exil'd,
But even these lews whose soules the truth per-
ceiv'd,
(With spirituall whoredome publickly defil'd)
They who ingrate, great benefits abus'd,
Loe, quite confounded, can not be excus'd.
O wretched troupe which did so grosly stray,
When God with you (as friends) did freely treat,
Who even whil'st Moses in ambassage lay,
In place of him a senselesse calfe did seat;
This, what you parting robb'd, did thus repay,
When turn'd to such an use, as Egypt's fate;
Where his great works forgot who did you leade,
And you such fools to trust in what you made?
Next them stand these when in Canaan plac'd,
And all perform'd what promis'd was before;
Who their appointed way no longer trac'd,
God's law, and wonders, not remembred more,
Who barbarous customes where they came embrac'd,
And did the idols of the land adore,
Yea, whil'st set free, when God had heard them
[mourne,
Who to their vomit did like dogges returne.
The Jews' first king, first mark'd who did begin,
By loath'd selfe-slaughter to prevent world's shame;
Though glory glos'd upon a ground of sinne,
Whil'st Gentiles sought to justifie their fame,
Feare but prevayl'd where courage came not in ;
They weakenesseshow, did of true worth but dreame:
Saul's end for soules is the most dangerous crime,
Which for repentance doth not leave a time.
From seeking asses he was rais'd to raigne,
And when enstall'd soone forfeited his right;
Once prophecied amongst the prophet's traine,
Then hunted was with sprits which loath'd the light;
Spar'd heathnish Agag whom he should have slaine,
And kill'd God's priests, though precious in his sight;
He ever abject was, or did insult,
Did first with God, last with the Devill consult.
He who made Israel sinne, forc'd, and entis'd,
O what huge anguish in his soule doth sit!
Who with religion policy disguis'd,
In heavenly things of too much worldly wit, [pris'd,
Whose hand stretch'd forth to strike, even then sur-
Was hurt, and heal'd, by him whom bent to hit:
The altar rent, as was his heart with feares,
The ashes falne, as should have done his teares.
Vp hatefull Achab, horrour, of thy race, [thought,
Whose heart, then hands durst do, more mischiefe
When quaking to behold Christ's flaming face,
The cheape vine-garden shall be dearly bought;
O bitter grapes, hard to digest, no grace,
When thy tumultuous minde to light is brought;
And for his cause whose life thou thus did'st reave,
Dogges did thy bloud, devils do thy soule receave.
You sisters faire whom God did love so much,
Both basely humbled did dishonour'd range,
He (abject rivals) jealous made of such,
Whose vilenesse did exempt them from revenge:
Mouth dumbe, eares deafe, eyes blinde, hands could
not touch,
[change?
What monstrous madnesse could procure this
Law, wonders, prophets, promise nought could move,
For infinite deserts, a gratefull love.
Some kings of Iuda idols did imbrace,
As he whose sonne through fire polluted went,
That hatefull Ahaz, Achab's steps did trace,
Next whom one more did sinne, but did repent;
And one before link'd with the loathsome race,
With him did perish, whom to follow beut. [moves,
"From them who make bad leagues the Lord re-
And often-times the friendship fatall proves."
Of Israel's monarchs to worke mischiefe sold,
When nearly mark'd I scarce misse any one,
Save it be lehu killing (as God would)
His hated rivals to attaine a throne,
Who (though the course of Dan was not controul❜d)
Of foure heires crown'd succeeded was when gone :
The rest with idols filthily defil'd,
Do finde how farre their judgement was beguil'd.
With Ahab match'd as fit to be his mate,
He stands, who both God's grace, men's love abus'd,
Who to be worse then worst did prove ingrate,
More evill then all whom God before refus'd:
His feare (as fault) not comes in my conceit;
Was this (vile monster) a reward to me?
When justly thus by God's great priest accus'd,
And couldst thou kill his sonne who did save thee?
With these now nam'd of idoll-serving bands,
What number loe (time past) their folly findes?
Some dead, some yet alive, whom in all lands,
Opinion clouds, or ignorance quite blindes;
Whil'st humbled to the worke of mortall hands,
Some simplie trust, some would comment their
mindes:
But that command beares no exception now,
Which before images discharg'd to bow.
O what dread troupe doth with strange aspects rise!
Those whose proud hearts did all the world despise,
I think their eyes flame fire, their hands drop blood?
That at their power abus'd astonish'd stood,
Did murther, robbery, sacriledge disguise,
With shows of valour, which their brags made good:
Where is that courage vaunted of so oft?
Whil'st crush'd with fears they dare not look aloft.
When as God's sonnes did with men's daughters lye,
Of the first world behold a bloudy traine;
But chiefly two most eminent I spie,
A barbarous murtherer, and a bragger vain:
He who to God durst with disdaine reply,
When for his brother ask'd (whom he had slain)
"Am I his keeper?" and I think he thought
Take up his offering, help'd thy favour ought?
This moth of minds, base spite, selfe-torturing gall,
Made devils to lose what he them once had given,
Then bent to be like God made man to fall,
Himselfe from Eden, and bis Sonne from Heaven,
(Though for their harme) with others would be even:
To which all children still by nature thrall,
A childish vice which onely weaknesse beares,
"One what he wauts, in others hates, or feares."
With him who first confusion did conspire,
The swaggerer's patron next in ranke is rang'd,
If seven-fold vengeance Cain did require,
Times seventy seven who vow'd to be reveng'd;
And told his wives that (insolent in ire) [chang'd.
He wounds for words, and death for wounds ex-
But who thus rioting did burden eares,
(With terrour freez'd) is all benumm'd with fears.
That hairy hunter given to sport with bloud,
Ere borne contentious, in the wombe prophane,
Who (as estrang'd from knowing what was good)
His birth-right sold, some pottage so to gaine:
Who further likewise gave, allur'd by food,
That which once scorn'd, was after beg'd in vaine:
This man still foolish findes his fault too late,
Whil'st being nam'd with them whom God doth bate.
These mighty monarchs whom rash fame call'd | Learn't Athen's founder, fabulously great,
Who once (world's idols) thousands made to bow,
Whil'st gorgeous courts with a prodigious state,
Too superstitiously did pompe allow;
O how farre chang'd! from what they were of late,
Them who brav'd hosts, a look makes tremble now;
Quench'd are these fires which once their breasts did
burne,
And majesty to misery doth turne.
There he whom first a diademe did fraught,
That famous hunter founding Ashur's throne,
Whose sport was glory, when he kingdomes caught,
The hounds halfe-men whose liberty was gone:
World's first example, who by practise taught,
That many thousands might be rul'd by one.
With terrour numbers Nimrod's name did strike,
When thundring down all where he went alike.
(Both sexes slaughtered) gain'd a glorious name,
And by much mischiefe mounting up a state,
Did drinke of death, whil'st thirsting but for fame;
Some virgins gain'd by force, some by deceit,
The Devill scarce scap'd from his adulterous ayme,
Who by vile murther, rapes, and fraud made
knowne,
Broke first his father's necke, and then his owne.
These of their times who were esteem'd the best,
And with strict laws did what they pleas'd allow,
Licurgus, Minos, Solon, and the rest,
Then all their mates, more paine attends them now,
Who heavenly wits to worldly wayes did wrest,
And but to Nature, not to God did bow;
They (save politick) all religion scorn'd,
And what they fain'd (as com'd from God) adorn'd.
Two who agreed to enterchange their raigne,
With griev'd Adrastus mutually do mone,
Next comes his heire, who first by right did claime Who forty nine alone (one fled) had slaine,
That which another's violence did take,
Yet then the father, worthy of more blame,
Who bondage would hereditary make;
And to great Niniveh did give the name,
Which turn'd God's threatning by repentance back.
Lord where no right was, where just lord a slave,
Who suffred ruine by the power he gave.
He dare not now behold the face of one;
Where is that valour vaunted of in vaine,
By that great bragger at the Argive throne ?
Whil'st quite confounded these do quivering stand,
The cruell Creon last comes to their band.
With prais'd Sesostris whom vaine pride did snare,
Despis'd Pelusium yeelds a bloudy band,
What Pharoes, Ptolomies, and sultanes there,
(Though once thought terrible) do trembling stand?
And well it seemes that valour then was rare,
When easie conquest grac'd so soft a land.
What seem'd their glory then, doth prove their
shame,
Who quench'd with bloud what kindled was for
O! what sterne troups I with Vexores see,
Whose courage was not (like their climate) cold,
But bent themselves extreamely to be free,
Oft by their strength encroaching states control'd;
Of barbarous squadrons monstrous numbers be,
Who did great acts which fame doth not unfold,
O! had they had as happy pennes as swords,
How many might have match'd with Rome's chief
lords?
To daunt the Medes that prince who first aspir'd,
Where wading long, at last was drown'd in bloud;
One fondly charg'd, and with disgrace retir'd,
Where losse did harme, to gaine had done no good;
And he who Attick figges to have acquir'd,
Would tosse a hill, force winde, drink up a flood;
With those stand stayn'd with bloud all Persia's
kings,
Save some to follow lust who left all things.
What quaking squadrons do together throng,
Whom (art's great nursery) pregnant Greece
brought forth,
Whose fame their funerals doth survive so long,
First sounded south, still echo'd in the north,
Whom flattering pennes did praise for doing wrong,
Whil'st mindes abus'd did dote on shows of worth:
Who thought grave pride a modest minde disclos'd,
And valour vertue, though to ill dispos'd.
What then avails (though prais'd so much of late)
When neere swolne Ilion Death threw famous darts;
Old Priam's pompe, proud Agamemnon's state,
Achilles' swift foot; Hector's hand and heart,
Vlysses' shifts, the valour of his mate,
Old Nestor's speech, or Ajax his mad part:
All vagabonds, or violently dy'd,
And what did manhood seeme, is murther try'd.
Then yeelds that towne which laws whil'st kept did
The crafty Ephor, and the halting king; [save,
One captaine greedy, two that were too brave,
Whom famous ruines both to death did bring;
Last him who place to none in courage gave,
From whom when dead a serpent forth did spring:
Who to strict laws love out of time had showne,
And offered freedome where it was not knowne.
From Pallas towne there flows a famous brood,
Who first foil'd Persians, with his gallant sonne;
He who by stratagems victorious stood,
And he whose gravenesse great regard had wonne;
He who both eminent in ill, and good,
All fortune's wayes had resolutely runne:
With numbers more whom former glory grieves,
And then from shame, nor paine, them not relieves.
Few Thebes gives that were renown'd in armes,
Two fain'd great gods, two found great friends I see;
Then, that Corinthian bent for tyrants' harmes,
Who kill'd his brother, Syracuse set free;
Who brav'd Rome's consul famous for alarmes;
Last Grecian great-man rank'd in this degree:
Who for some drudge when farre mistaken said,
He for deformity a pennance paid.
Neare those great Greeks their neighbour doth arise,
First forraine prince who them to bondage brought,
Who did great things, but did farre more devise,
And laid the ground where the great builder
Yet was much taxed by that age precise, [wrought;
For faults which moderne times not strange bare
thought:
That mightie father farre more fame had wonne, If not but vsher to so great a sonne.
These two when barr'd from hope of life's delights" The sire, and sonne, whom no man else would even, In fearefull formes, who with prodigious rites, Men's horrour here (how monstrous then to Heaven?) Where fatall offerings to th' infernall sprites, With soule and bodie prodigally given: Though once much prais'd, all now their folly tell, Whose fuinesse famine, wealth gave sense of want; Who hurl'd of purpose headlong unto Hell.
He who in one all kingdomes would combine,
And more perform'd then others dar'd to vaunt,
Who wish'd more worlds, whom this could not con-
fine,
With fortune drunk (not as was thought with wine) Now Pompeie's triumphes more torment his minde,
Who all without him, nought within did daunt:
Who, from so many life and state did take,
O what large count must that great monarch make!
By Persia's fall who did his empire found,
Is back'd by them whom he with fame did place,
One kill'd in Ægypt, and another crown'd,
Whose following heires were compass'd with dis-
grace,
And all the rest for mischiefe most renown'd,
In Greece or Syria who did raise their race. [kings,
Whose lord (made childlesse) prov'd a stocke of
Of whom when dead each feather turn'd to wings.
Next Macedon's, Epirus' prince doth come,
Whose state so oft as Fortune's dice was throwne,
Who but Levinius, did not Rome orecome,
And onely was by victory orethrowne;
How Alexander might have match'd with Rome,
By whom (a sparke falne from his power) was shown:
To whom he shew whose tongue such wonders
wrought,
That ease with ease which with such toile he sought.
O what huge troupe of Tiber's brood I see,
Whose glory shame, whose conquest proves nogaine :
Who were thought happie, then most wretched be,
And wish for flight their eagle's wings in vaine;
A smoking dungeon Heavens for all decree,
At severall times whom th' Earth could not containe;
With shadows clad they in strict bounds do dwell,
Who spoil'd the world, scorn'd Heavens, and con-
quer'd Hell.
There Rome's first king his deitie dearely buies,
Who bred with wolves did leave a ravenous broode;
And he for peace who coin'd religious lies,
His forg'd devotion now can doe no good;
This judgement straight those haughty princes tries,
Who famishing for fame, were drunk with blood,
Till bended pride long procreating hate,
Last, loos'd in lust, did alter all the state.
Of Rome (when free) whom fame from death redeemes,
The worldly worth what volume could record?
Hage Livie's worke imaginary seemes,
An epick poem with perfection stor'd,
Where numbers are whose parts time more esteemes,
Then all whom poets' pennes with dreames decor'd,
But though quick Nature quint-essenc'd the mind,
The soules, in senses wrapt, continued blind.
He who alone did brave the Thuscan band
On Tiber's bridge, and did the towne maintaine;
Five kill'd, Rome's champion, who did onely stand,
Till sister's slaughter did his triumph staine;
In raging flames, who freely rush'd his hand,
Which for the chiefe had but a second slaine;
Where (Fabians) force you me? and Scipios brave?
What famous families remembrance crave?
Then when Pharsalia crush'd him with despaires;
That æmulous old man (Parthia's prey) did finde,
With avarice ambition hardly shares;
First, to fierce warre, last, to soft ease inclin'd,
Lucullus here for both condemn'd repaires;
That triumvir stands with this troupe annoid,
Who first the state, and then himselfe destroid.
Rome many had who made her empire great,
Two Catos onely studied for the state,
Whilst they but praise, and statues striv'd to gaine,
And with strict lawes would liberty retaine;
But when expir'd to prorogate her date,
Two Brutes more brave her ruines would maintaine;
Yet were their aimes and ends in th' end not eaven,
Whose glory was their God, and Rome their Heaven.
Thou whose high heart boil'd in ambition soe,
(As pride had thee) to have the world surpris'd,
Who weigh'd but whither, not what way to goe,
(What ow'd to frends, or state, all bands despis'd) ·
Where bound ingrate, not francke but to thy foe,
The first of th' emperors, and then all more pris'd;
Thou for thy faults not onely charg❜d may be,
But for all theirs who had their power from thee.
His heire (lesse stout, more strong) the way prepar'd,
What this man courted, bravely to embrace,
Tooke from these two with whom the world was
By fraud the one's, by force the other's place,
Yet was (high hope must some way be impair'd)
Infortunate in family and race;
How could his state and wife in peace be left,
Since from just owners both before were reft?
Then Varro's losse, or Iulia's fame forlorue,
A greater griefe doth racke his guilty minde;
That deep dissembler, fomie Caprea's scorne,
(His heart pour'd forth) must now unmask his
minde;
That cruell prince who in the camp was borne,
A servant good, a master bad design'd;
The stupid dolt drawn by the heeles to raigne,
Their pleasure past all must repay with paine.
Though once too fierce, O how that squadron faints!
(Which make hearts quake, and haires for horrour
Who durst prophanely persecute God's saints, [rise)
With greater paines then paper can comprise,
Who not regarding groanes, nor just complaints,
(More hard then flint) all pitty did despise ;
They now in vaine from Christ compassion claime,
Whom in his members they so oft did maime.
Unnaturall Nero, monster more then strange,
With-all to rage, who reason's reynes resign'd,
And through the world, as wolves for bloud did range,
As sakelesse soules by them, they now are pin'd,
That brave man scapes not, who did something
When Plinie's letters mollified his minde: [change,
Those ten whom nought can cleare, no, not excuse, That queene of nations, absolutely great,
Of martyrs millions cheerfully accuse.
There throng great emperours, people's idols once, All bright with steele, whom armies did attend, Whil'st ancient kings fell downe before their thrones, That them as vassals they would but defend; Soules shak'd (brests earth quakes) do rebound with groans,
Whil'st griefe doth breake what pride so long did bend:
Who judging kings, gave lawes to every land, Poore, naked, base, in judgement trembling stand.
When crush'd by those whom she so oft did wound,
Though she deserv'd what could be hatch'd by hate,
Yet these rude bands which did her pride confound,
Like tempests still encroaching on each state,
Till Europe's beauties all in bloud were drown'd:
As actors first shall suffer once in ire,
Like unregarded rods thrown in the fire.
Rome's emulous sister, Easterne Empires height,
Who did by parting dissipate her power,
(Though Christians call'd) barbarians brings to light,
Whose lust to raigne did all things else devoure,
Who others oft (all dayes to them turn'd night)
Ere through twelve roomes the Sunne had run his When eyelesse made, entomb'd within a tower:
Three quickly rais'd, and ruin'd, did remaine,
(That to the grave he might not goe in peace)
A wretched old man forc'd by fates to raigne;
Who liv'd too soft, did stoutly death embrace,
That damnes him most, which greatest praise did
gaine:
Then he who had no sense, save onely taste,
By chance an emperour,
should have beene a beast.
He who the state when thus distress'd, restor❜d,
Whom first for emperour, easterne parts did know,
The best and worst that nature could afford,
Whose sonnes (farre differing) at the height did show,
And these whose raignes adoption's course decor'd,
Who all to worth, would fortune nothing owe,
Till unto him, whose vertue fame had wonne,
A serpent-wife did beare a tigrish sonne.
When once of state that mystery was knowne,
How emperours might for private men's regards,
Be made abroad, the senates will not shown,
By forraine armies, or prætorian guards,
Then (worth not we gh'd) all order quite orethrown,
The world was bought with promised rewards:
Such bent to please, or (scorn'd) to fury mov'd,
They slavish still, or then tyrannicke prov'd.
Yet from that height of foule confusion's rage,
When every province emperours did proclaime,
Some raign'd, whose acts of state did grace the stage,
By rebels' ruines, strangers put to shame,
Which might have match'd the best of any age,
If they had beene as fortunate to fame:
But barbarous times for great things grosly touch,
Aurelian, Claudius, Probus, and some such.
Huge numbers now my wandring thoughts amaze,
Of barbarous parts which did for state contest;
Rome's greatest rivall, sunne-parch'd people's
praise,
The reall rare bird, fables all the rest,
Which to fame's zenith did her glory raise,
Then fell in ashes, none, when not the best:
That haughty towne, whose worth her foe preferres,
She Africke's phenix, Hannibal was her's.
He whom oft victor Roman troupes did see,
Whose campe of many sorts still calme did prove,
The world's third captaine, scarce scap'd first to be,
Men, cities, Alpes, all opposites above,
(When Carthage rendred, onely living free)
To warre for him, who did great monarchs move:
He whil'st alive, though banish'd poore and old,
Still jealous Rome in feare of him did hold.
Bloud, friendship, duty wrong'd, with shamefull wounds, [founds. Who plagu'd with darknesse, darknesse them con
That stately towne selected to command,
To scepters happy, great against her will,
Who (though the emperour fell) did empresse stand,
Divorc'd, not widow'd, match'd with monarchs still,
She renders, joyn'd, a sometime differing band,
Of Ethnickes, Christians, Turkes, all damn'd for ill:
Huge is the troupe which doth from that part, part,
No turban hides the head, nor art the heart.
A savage troupe, the divels in order range,
Which lavish of men's lives their ends to gaine,
As Nature's bastards, quite from kinde to change,
Had (for first act of state) their brethren slaine,
That after it no murther might seeme strange;
An ominous entry to a bloudy raigne:
And well it may be said, he much commands,
Who, when he likes, men's lives, and still their lands.
That Turke who boldly past the bordering floud,
In Adrian's towne a barbarous throne to raise,
He brings a band of Ottoman's sterne brood,
Yet yeelds to one, who did the world amaze,
Whil'st in Bizantium he victorious stood,
And Roman power did absolutely raze:
For soules, and bodies, mischiefes worst to frame,
Curs'd Mahomet, damu'd be that fatall name.
Proud Selimus, who with a monstrous spleene, Thy father's ruine labour'dst long to worke, And gladly would'st a parricide have beene, | A tyrant, I, what can be worse? a Turke, Though once ostentive, curious to be seene, Thou in some corner now would'st wish to lurke: The soldan slayne, and mamaluckes orethrown, Who then sought'st all, thou now art not thine own.
Rhodes conquer'd quite, all Hungarie ore-runne,
He, who caus'd place upon Vienna's height,
His gaping moone, not fill'd with kingdomes wonne,
Though but a badge of change, portending night,
Lest Europe's empire had a hazard runne,
When two great armies were afraid to fight:
Great Soliman, sole-man by Turkes thought still,
Whom could he spare, who his owne sonne did kill?
"Twixt Turkes and Christians now no trumpets sound,
(Their warres of late transferr'd to other lands;)
The Persian doth the Turkish conquest bound,
Of too much weight, and borne with borrow'd hands,
Which their supporters threaten to confound:
As mamaluckes, and the prætorian bands,
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