prendre en la queuë D'vn grand cheval tant horrible à la veuë Qu' aussi souuent que sa teste il hausoit On eust pense que cela menacoit 11 Seraglio Those Palaces or Bawdy houses royalâ— are called Seraglio's in which the noble men and Princes in Persia Turkie and indeed all over Asia keep their Concubines every great Man has one commonly plentifully stored Emangoly as I have said had 300. women in his But that belonging to the Great Turk in Constantinople excells all in the world yet his Predecessours did not more exceed others then of late years Sultan Achmat did them in this point having his furnished with 1500. women whereof more then 500. of the choicest were Virgins all of them his slaves either taken in the Warrs or from their Parents Christian or others but the chosen Beauties of the Empire onely a free woman is not to be made a Concubine unlesse she consents and herein onely is the Grand Signiors power limited They were attended onely by women and Eunuchs nor were they presented to the Emperor untill certain months after their Entrance in which time they were purged and dieted according to the custom of the antient Persians when it was his pleasure to have one they stood rankt in a Gallery and she prepared for his bed to whom he gave his handkercher This custom is still continued and the Grand Signior sometimes bestowes some of his cast Concubines upon some of his Bassas and principall Favourites as rewards of prime services which is taken for a transcendent favour a certificate that they have pleased him being accounted a noble Dowry In so besotted a subjection are the minds as well as the bodies of those people to the Ottoman Tyrants For more of this subject I referre you Mr. Sandys his Relation and to a description of the Grand Signiors Seraglio in particular lately published c. 12 Persepolis was the head City of Persia according to Pliny and of the whole Orient according to Curtius so called from Perseus its founder say some and father of the Nation The Persians say Jamshet was the founder whose Image is frequently carved in most places hee ruled over Persia in nine descents from Noe and is by Historiographers supposed son of Ouchange fourth King of Persia. Others will have her built by Sosarinus who lived in the Median Dynasty and was the third Emperor from Arbaces who gave end to Sardanapalus and the Assyrian Monarchy which had continued from Belus Father of Ninus 1480. years in succession of 41 Monarchs Howbeit she was most beautified by Cambyses Son to Cyrus and second K. of the second Monarchy and continued the mightiest City in Asia from Cambysses to Darius Codomanus Son to Arsamus in the line of 13. Monarchs 230. years at which time it fell under the Macedonian Victor whose Historiographer Q. Curtius reports her built of Cedar Trees but improbably for the Country produces none if hee meant Cypresses 't is credible for they every where crown the bankes of the River Byndamir which waters this City Adjoyning are whole Mountains of black Marble of which the imperiall palace was extracted and cut out in which the Kings Throne was Gold and Orientall Gemms the Roof shined with Gold and Silver Amber and Ivory now a heap of ruines by the Inhabitants called Chil-manor or forty Towres their Ancestors may have seen so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now there are but ninteen standing and one below to the East though the ruines of eighty more are yet extant The Hall was cut out of black shining Marble wherin were placed 100. white Marble Pillars each Pillar fifteen foot high and forty squares round each square three inches From hence is a Prospect of all the Plains thirty miles about The ascent to it is hewn out of the Marble Rock as if the structor presaged fire and defied it the stairs reserving their durance and beauty to this day are 95. So broad that 12. horsmen may ride up a breast The immediate ascent is 22. foot high at which is the Gate in breadth six paces in height 30. foot very elegantly hewn out of the Marble fixt and durable for ever engraven with a mighty Elephant on the one side and a Rhynoceros on the other A little further from the Entrance are two Towers or Pillars of like shape and bignesse to the former near which is another part of the Gate wherein is engraven a Pegasus these are the Portalls to that Apollo supported by 100. white Marble Pillars Adjoyning to this was another four-square Room each square 90. paces 360 round it had eight doors four of which are six paces broad the other half so much each door has still seven engraven Marble stones fixt one upon another each stone four yards long and five quarters high all which eight doors are exquisitly carved with Lions Tigers Griffins and Bulls of rarâ— sculpture and proportion on the top of each door is in stonâ— the Image of an Emperour in State holding in his hands â— staff and Scepter this was the Dyning room The next waâ— the Queens and her Ladies room 't is Quardrangular but noâ— equall in form 2 sides being 60 the other 70. paces The fourth Room not yet quite obscured was the Nursery two sides 20 the other 30. paces long the black Marble wals are rarely wrote with Images of huge stature and have been illustrated with Gold yet in some places visible the stones so well polished they equall in lustre a steel mirâ—our At the highest of thiâ— Palace is cut out of the pependicular Mountain the Image of a King perhaps Cambyses adoring three Deities the Fire the Sun and a Serpent So far Master Herbert of whose exact description I have used the more because none have so well done it as he as also for the worthinesse of the subject this having been saith Diodorus Siculus the richest which you may guesse at anon when you see what wealth Alexander found in it and the most lovely City under the Sun It had saith the Historian a high stately â—ower environed with a threefold wall the first wall was sixteen Cubits high bâ—autified with battlements the second was as high again and the third as much exceeded that to sixty Cubits composed of hard Marble polished like a looking-glasse and as bright fixt with brazen gates To the East of which was a Hill of four Acâ—es wherein were Entombed the Monarchs of the world Nor was the glorious Temple of Diana here of lesse credit being as Josephus writes covered with refined gold Arist. lib. de mundo averreth the admirable ingenuity of the Persian Magi such combined with the immense cost of those Emperours that by well disposing of pipes in a wall reaching to this City they could hear in one day of all affairs though that bulkie Empiâ—e even from the Hellespont unto India Magin in Geogr. makes this City still in circuit 28. miles and to contain 60000 Families notwithstanding all
covetous in the â—uition of their riches Now Atlas flying thither from the invasion of Perseus figuring a Masculine and heroical virtue and there lurking was said to have been converted into that Mountaine and in regard of the altitude thereof to have sustained the heaven on his shoulders But Astronomically those Apples are taken for stars shining like gold and in figure orbicular said to grow in the West in that they appear not before sun set the Zodiack or our Hemispheare being the Serpent all of them supported in regard of his excellency in Astronomy by Atlas Some say that ascending aloft the better to observe the course of the stars he fell headlong into the Sea from this Mountaine called for this by his name as of that aspiring height the celestiall Columne all agree that he is said to sustaine the Heaven with his shoulders because he was the first Astronomer in those quarters and a famous Mathematitian who invented the spheare though others make that Archimedes his device and held the first light to the discovery of the motions and qualities of the celestiall bodies Homer makes Calypso that deteyned Vlysses seven years in her Isle of Ogygia Atlas his daughter and thus sings of him and her whilst he makes Pallas at the councell of the Gods call her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Daughter of Atlas that knew every where The Oceans inmost gulfes he that doth beare The two long poles that earth and heaven up rear I here put Ganges and Atlas in opposition one to another to express the divers ends of the world to wit East and West though indeed to speak strictly as Dr Brown observes in his Pseudodexia Epidemica lib. 6. cap. 7. There is no East and West in Nature nor are those absolute and in variable but respective and mutable points according to different Longitudes or distant parts of habitation whereby they suffer many and considerable variations For first unto some the same part will be East or West in respect of one another that is unto such as inhabite the same parallel or indifferently dwell from East to West Thus as unto Spain Italy lyeth East unto Italy Greece unto Greece Persia and unto Persia China so again unto China Persia lyeth West unto Persia Greece unto Greece Italy and unto Italy Spain so that the same Country is sometimes East and sometimes West and Persia though East unto Greece yet is it West unto China But laying the Scene in Persia 't is as proper to express the East by Ganges as China or any floud in it as well because of their affinity China bordring upon the Brachmans that adore Ganges as that Ganges is the most celebrated name These places to express the same meaning Du' Bartas makes use of in the first day of his first Week he saith That the Trumpe of the Angel in the last day shall be heard from Atlas to Ganges meaning from the West to the East 3 Let the haughty Duke of Shiras have a care left I absolve my self of my rash oath c. Emangoly Chawn great Duke of Shiras and Persepolis and Viceroy of them and Larr got an oath from King Abbas that he never should be beheaded a recompence for small reason too usuall from that Emperour Herbert p. 62. Mahometâ—lly beg had the like oath as I hint towards the end of the Play See more of the greatness and state of this Emangoly in the 9th Note upon this Act of his martiall acquests in the 18th and 19th Notes upon the fourth Act. See Persepolis described in the 12th and Larr in the 23d Note upon this third Act. 4 I 'l thrust him from the Government of Shiras This Duke Emangoly was Governour of Shiras where he kept his Court in a splendid manner when he was out of Armes Shiras you have seen enough of in the fourth Note upon the second Act. Herbert 5 I 'l turn his feast of Lillies into Cypress Shushan in the Province of Elam or Persia according to Nehemiah and Daniel was one of the three royall Palaces of the Median Monarchs one at Babylon another at Echatan now Tauris the third at Susa or Shushan This Palace is mentioned in Hester Cap. 1. That Ahasuerus An. mundi 3500. ruling over the Medes and Persians and over 127 Provinces made a feast in Shushan to all his Nobles and Officers lasting 180 dayes which custome it seemes is yet amongst them for yearly to this day the King of Persia celebrates a feast of Roses and the Duke of Shiraz or Persepolis who is Lord of Susiana or Shushan a feast of Lillies or Daffadillies of like continuance Herbert p. 140. Susa signifying a Lillie a Rose or Joy and so called from the Kingdom of Susiana in which it stands 6 Hyrcania Is a noble Kingdome of Asia now called Mozendram it was called Corca and Girgia meaning perhaps Georgia which is Iberia 'twixt the two Seas by some again Caspia from its sea and Steana and Myrach and by Mercator Diargument Tomasius will have it bounded on the East with the Caspian sea on the South with Armenia on the North with Albania on the West with Iberia M. Herbert and most of the moderns limit it on the North with the Caspian sea on the South with Mount Taurus on the East with Zagathia which is part of Scythia intra Imaum and on the West with Media or rather some part of the lesser Armenia upon whose tops the Ark rested Araxis from the Turisian Mountaines as Ptolomy writes from Sagapene Colthyan Seducene waters and fattens this peaceful Country to perfect which she is divided and subdivided so oft into so many rivolets that from an ample River ere she kisses the Caspian she loses her pride and gives one leave to wade through her deepest channel The Country is full of Woods so that the people of old thinking to hinder Alexanders entrance twisted one Tree to another but he that had dissected Gordions knot though very mystical with the same sword annihilated their policies and subdued them yet with no small difficulty not so much from their Woods as their Wolves Lions Bores Panthers Leopards Tygers so fam'd by the Poets and remembred in the forecited Veâ—ses out of Virgil and Scorpions with which they are stored Scorpions especially not more small in bulk then fierce in their venemous disposition He that is stung if he escapes death is frantique twenty hours at least and no better remedy then like Achilles's Speare to turn a Scorpion into Oyl and apply it to the place offended The Hyrcanians think to prevent their poyson by charms which they tie about their Armes yet they sometimes fail them then to excuse their charms they lay the cause on their that dayes sinne Though their woods could not hold out the Macedonians yet their noxious inhabitants of them defended them from the Romans in some sort recompencing to the Country in generall the hurt
Jerusalem The Epithet Fiery I ascribe to Bizantiums wall it being built of brick and stone intermixed orderly So was Thebes said to be walled with fire being walled with flint-stone in which that fierce element is most predominant 2 Good Gelden meaning Elchee See the 8th Note upon the third Act. 3 Hircania See the sixth Note upon the third Act. 4 The valiant Amazones In Cappadocia about the River Thermodon which runs through Anatolia into the Euxine Sea the Amazones were said to inhabit so called either quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they used to fear or cut off their right paps that they might be no impediment to their shooting or throwing of their lavelins or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sine pane because they used not bread or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they used to live together or from a Queen of Ephesus Priestesse to Diana called Amazona They were according to Pliny Justin c. a people of Scythia that valiant Nation which at several eruptions dilated its self over the whole world therefore stiled by divers Authors the Mother of all inundations Vagina Gentium Officina generis humani famous it was in both Sexes the men being founders of the Parthian and Bactrian and the women of the Amazonian Empire about the year of the world 2100. the occasion this in the time of Sesostris King of Egypt the Scythians bâ—oke into Asia bâ—inging with them their wives and houshold Gods but there happening a quarrell between the rest of the Nobility and Plinos and Scolpythus the Generals those two separated themselves and their faction fâ—om the â—est and sâ—ated between the Riveâ—s â—anais and Thermâ—don in Cappadocia a long tâ—me they combated and oft defeated the Themiscyrii who were the inhabitants of that Region but at last by a stâ—atagâ—m of thâ—irs lost their Army Their wives now doubly vexed both with â—xile and widdowhood and the extrâ—mity of gâ—ief and fear producing the usuall effect despeâ—atenesse they not only defâ—nded their boâ—ders against but set upon the Conâ—ueâ—ors wealâ—ed before by their Husbands and not onely overcame them but infinitely inlarged their â—ominions under the conduct of Marpesia and Lampedo their two Queens late wives to the two forenamed Captaines then finding the sweetnesse of Rule they not only resolved to continue Widdows but made so such as yet were not by muâ—dering all the men in the Country peâ—mitting none either to stay theâ—ein or to enter in but some â—ew for drudges They proclaimed themselves Daughters of Mars and defied the woâ—ld of which they conquered a gâ—od part accoâ—ding to Justin lib. 2. Their two Queens Marpesia and Lâ—mpedo made war by turns they subdued the better parts of the continent of Europe and many Cities in Asia where they built Ephesus though it was perfected by Andronicus the Sonne of Codrus and many other Cities Part of the Army they sent home with a noble booty the rest that stayed to defend Asia was overpowred by concourse of the barbarous Nations and put to the sword together with their Queen Marpesia in whose place succeeded her Daughter Orithya in the Throne famous no less for her martial aâ—chievements then her inviolate chastity At length having by War obtained peace for successions sake they used during two months in the spring to accompany with their Neighbours especially with the Sarmates saith Pliny lib. 6. cap. 7. who were their subjects with the Gelae and Leleges saith Plutarch in vit Pomp. The female issue they trained up to war searing the left breasts of the noble women lest they might hinder their wearing of shields and the right breast of the common women that they might not impede theâ—r drawing of Bows The Male issue say some they killed others say they sent them to their Fathers when they were weaned breaking the leggs and arms of those few whom they reserved for drudgery that they might be uselesse for war and fit only for procreation and husbandry Grown thus famous it was fit they should be honour'd with the contention of Hercules which happened thus The King for whom that stout Hero performed his twelve Labours commanded him as a thing impossible to fetch him the Armour of the Amazonian Queen He with Theseus and the choice youth of Greece shipt in nine Gallies and assail'd their Country at such time as their valiant Queen Orithya was making war abroad so that he found the lesse trouble in over-coming the other Queen Antiope Theseus took Hippolyta Antiopes sister prisoner married her and of her begat Hippolitus Hercules took the other sister Manalippe and for her Ransom took the Queens Armour and returned to the King that sent him Orithya to revenge it upon the Greekes demanded aid of Sagillus King of the Scythians who sent her a Noble Army of Horse led by his Son Panaxagoras but then the Athenians vanquished To Orithya succeeded Penthesilea who got fame before Troy She being slain her people continued their feminine Empire till Alexanders time their Queen Minthia alias Thalestris after she had obtained 14 days company with him to have issue by him dyed and with her the name of the Amazones so Justin. Plutarch in vit Thes. agreeing with Seneca calls the Amazon that Theseus took Antiopa and alledgeth the authorities of Hellacanus Menecrates Pherecydes and Herodotus for it that he made that voyage alone after Hercules's Dion saith he brought her away by stealth not force invited her to his Ship then hoisted sayl Clidemus the Historiographer agrees with Justin but which sister soever it was either Antiope or Hippolyta though Theseus his naming his Son by the Amazon Hippolitus as most say though Pindarus saith he called him Demophon rather inclines me to believe it was Hippolyta it 's certain the Amazones invaded Greece to revenge it to do which that they passed over the arm of the sea called Bosphorus Cimmericus being frozen as Hellacanus reports is scarce credible more like it is that they came by Land for in Thessaly through which they could not passe without fighting there are seen some of their Tombs about the City of Scotusa hard by the Rocks called the Dogs head that they subdued the Country about Athens and much of the City too is evident in that they pitched their Camp in the very City and fought Theseus in the place called Pnyce adjoyning to the Temple of the Muses This also the Graves of the women that dyed there do testifie Theseus having sacrificed unto the Goddess Feare according to the advice of the Prophesie he had received gave them battel in the month of August on the same day on which the Athenians do solemnize the feast Boedromia Clidemus writes the circumstances of the fight which was fierce and hot in which the Athenians were repulsed severall times and at last it proved little more then a drawn Battel After four months peace was made by the meanes of Hippolyta though some say she was slain fighting on Theseus's sâ—de with a
Foul with Virgin faces purging ere Their Paunches arm'd with tallons bent to tear And still with famine pin'd The Harpyes are feigned to be the daughters of Neptune and Tellus of old esteemed the Parents of Monsters some lay them to Neptune alone the Sea for the most part being Father of Prodigies and not without cause for according to Thales Milesius all things are ingendred of Humour whence it commeth that the Ocean is called Father Some will have them take their name of Harpalyce Phineus his wife being sent to revenge the wrongs done to her Sonns but it seems more probable that they were so called of of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rapio being the Emblemes of Rapine and wrong They are said to be Virgins in that barren because goods so gotten descend but seldom to posterity To fly in that they are swift in extorting to be covered with plumes for cloaking their prey and to have talons of vultures for griping and fast holding of their ill gotten riches These qualities are also charactered in their names Aello Ocypetes and Celaeno signifying a taking away that which is anothers celeritie in the Act and subtilty in concealing those three Virgil mentions Hesiod names but the two first Homer calls the last Podarge and saith that of her the wind Zephyrus engendred the Chariot Horses of Achilles named Balius and Ximphus The Harpyes are said to have the faces of women in that Avarice of which they are the Hieroglyphicks allures with a beauteous pretence but ends in a Serpent to this allusion some Mythologists and among them our excellent Sandys restrain the whole Fable making Phineus said to have put out his sonnes eyes in having abandoned wisdom and Liberality to have lost his sight and to suffer perpetuall Famine in that so blinded with Avarice that he could not see into hâ—mâ—elf nor afford himself the necessaries of life The Harpyes called elsewhere his Daughters are his covetous desires not suffering him to eat of the meat that was set before him himselfe polluting it with his sordid disposition being infected with Solomons evill to have riches and not a heart to use them therefore tormented with furies those being said as Servius observes to be afflicted with Furies who covetously abstained from the use of their own excellently expressed by Virgil in the punishment of Tantalus Aen. l. 8. Calais and Zetes import a calling of himself to account and a diligent inquiry into his own condition by a speedy Reformation expelling those ravenous Harpyes though forbidden utterly to destroy them in that they are the Dogs of Iupiter the Ministers of his wrath upon the covetous who are ever their own Tormentors Neither is this Fable of the Harpyes unnaturally wrested to Flatterers Delators prodigall Sycophants and greedy Officers who devour the Treasure and pollute the fame of Princes abused in their trust and blinded in their understandings Calais and Zetes are no other then timely advice and swift execution they are therefore winged in freeing Courts of such Monsters Natales Comes makes a somwhat different Mythologie understanding by the Harpyes the winds l. 7. Mythol Du Bartas in his third day called the petty fogging Lawyers Harpyes it being a common Metaphor to expresse any by that are rapacious injurious or blood-suckers of poor people The misery Phineus sustain'd by them and his happy deliverance from them are wittily described by Ronsard in his Hymn of Calais and Zethes 6 Mâ—y all the Scorpions of Cushan sting thee Cashan or for the better sound Cushan is a famous City in Parthia some six miles distant from Spawhawn the Metropolis The people are orderly and more given to trade then in the â—eighbour Cities Silkes Sattens and cloath of Gold are her ordinary Commodities plentifull and at a reasonable 〈◊〉 She is well seated well peopled and well built Here is a Carravansraw or common Inne which exceeds all in Persia and is fit to entertain the greatest Prince in Asia yet built by King Abbas onely for Travellers to lodge in upon fâ—ee cost 'T is two large stories high the material Brick varnished and coloured with knots and Arabian Letters Poâ—es of Azure red and white From the Basis 't is built six foot high of good stone The Fabrick is Quadrangular and each proportionable Angle 200. paces In the middle is a fair large Court whereof in the midst is a foursquare Tanck or Pond of puâ—e Water about it are spacious and fragrant Gardens This civility of the King to strangers is secondâ—d as they say there even by the stinging Scorpions and Serpents that infest this City and the neighbour Country in great abundance whose Love and understanding the inhabitants report to be such to Travellers as that they never hurt them Thâ—se Scorpions so numerous here as it is a frequent curse throughout all the Persian Empire May a Scorpion of Cushan sting thee Herbert 7 My Vncle and my Grandsire meaning Emir-hamze-Mirza and Mahomet Cadoband See the fiâ—st and second notâ—s upon the first Act. 8. Paradise The Paradise which Mahomet pâ—omises to his sect exceeds the vanity of a Dream and all old wives Fables though it is to be more then conjâ—ctured that he took his Pattern from the Pâ—ets Elyzium but hath so far mistoâ—â— his copy as of an ingenious Fancy to present an absurd extravagancy Thus Tibullus describes Elyzium Sed me qui facilis tenero sum sâ—mper amori Ipsa Venus câ—mpâ—s ducet in Elysios Hic choreae cantusque vigent passimque vagantes Dulce sâ—nant tenui gutture carmen aves Fert cassiam nâ—n culta seges totosque per agros Floret odoratis terra â—enigna rosis Ac juvenum serâ—es teneris immista puellis I â—â—it assiduè praelia miscet amor Ilâ—â—â— est quicunque rapax mors venit amanti Et gerit insigni myrtea serta coma Fleg l. 1. Eleg 3. But me whose heart to soft Love easily yields Venus shall lead to the Elyzians fields Here Song and dance abound Their slender throats The tripping Birds still strain for pleasing notes The wildest shrub doth odorous Casia yeeld And Roses each where paint the beautious field Youths mixt with tender Virgins there disport And still encounter in an amorous sort What Lover e're untimely dies is there A Myrtle wreath crowning his glorious hair And thus Virgil speaking of Aeneas his going thither to visit his Father Anchises Devenere locos laetos amaena vireta Fortunatorum nemorum sedesque beatas Largior hic campos aether lumine vestit Purpureo Solemque suum sua sidera norunt Pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris Contendunt ludo fulva luctantur arena Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas carmina dicunt Nec non Threicius longa cum veste sacerdos Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum Jamque eadem digitis jam pectine pulsat eburno Hic genus antiquum Teucri pulcherrima proles Magnanimi heroës nati melioribus annis Ilusque Assaracusque