To save them from the Villain full of Dread Now here now there with her beloved Sons Hugg'd in her arms a pleasing burthen runs LV. What should she do She from one danger runs And streight into another mischief flyes As when the Dog the frighted Partridge shuns And in a moment by the Faulcon dyes Another ' gainst the eldest of her Sons Then sucking at her brest a dart employes That through his cheeks into her bosom goes Which late with milk but now with bloud o'reflows LVI But her soon joind the Barbarous Homicide With stronger Arms and threatnings terrifies The other child in her embrace he spy'd Weak safty and thus proudly scoffing cryes There is no reason I should thee divide From him whom Love to thee so strictly tyes And since we may not such dear knots unty 'T is fit he nail'd should in thy bosom dy LVII The silly wretch like an affrighted Deer That to some shady Covert swift retires Between those Mounts of Snow that chosen were By Love to keep his Seeds of liveliest fires Then under either brest possess'd with fear From th' flaming sword to hide his face desires And so much sense and wit retain'd to fly From rage and understand what 't was to dy LVIII But all in vain the horrid Villain bends The point towards him and erring gives a wound A cruel errour more cruel where it ends Which both transfix'd and threw them to the ground He both his arms in falling wide extends She under him in her embraces bound And while at once her voice and motion fade To her Son Crucify'd the Cross she 's made LIX One Arpin by thy Pensil so renown'd With painted Charity might well compare Where the sweet children in her armes are bound And in her bosom all her Bounty share Such seem'd the Lady fallen on the ground Barefoot undress'd with her dishevel'd hair And above her tender and full of Grace Shin'd five most lovely branches of her race LX. For though The King's Edict did onely cite Mothers with sucking Infants to appear Yet some of riper Age with great delight To th' fatal Court by her conducted were So that fraternal Love did them invite To entertain themselves and prattle there And wheresoe're she sate her feet or mov'd To keep them in her view she always lov'd LXI The first a Scholar was but very Young Nor could the notes of his small Tablet tell Beginning then to learn the Hebrew tongue Nor could the scatter'd lines distinguish well When see his head was with a blow so strong Cut off it streight into his bosom fell And on the guiltless Book as there he stood Writ his last Fate in Characters of Bloud LXII This head thus sever'd from the body streight The Villain to another runs in hast Who on an apple most unfortunate Then fed an apple of the bitter'st tast Quite through his throat as he the pleasing bait Took in the guilty steel the Murderer past And with one cruel blow his vital breath Cut off he swallow'd with the sword his death LXIII The third there wantonly leap'd to and fro Upon a fancied Palfry made of Cane Poor wretch he knew not by what sudden blow Of a most cruel Fate he should be slain When see that Hand that did no pitty know Stabb'd him and forc d his careere restrain He struck him down and left him on the place To tilt with death then past with smiles in s face LXIV The beauteous reliques of this lovely frame The fourth and fifth among the rest were there Their grieving Mother's coppy but that name Must cease hereafter two fair twins they were One 'mong the Troops pursued his little game Whipping his Top where streams of bloud appear And wholy on his childish sport intent Thought not at all of the most sad event LXV ' Gainst him the cruel Homicide streight bent His hand and weapon and comes on amain But it succeeded not to his intent Although the mortal wound was not in vain While interpos'd by chance the other went Near to his Brother and was sudden slain Not Me said he but thine own folly blame Which thus t' anticipate thy ruin came LXVI Then the Surviver of the Five to hide Under her Robe the weeping Mother steals But he his own escape could not abide But puiling that detects which she conceals She all the means to keep him under try'd While childish he the Pious fraud reveals Poor fool alass He could not silent there Continue ' cause he had not learn'd to fear LXVII She most unhappy and ill-counsell'd too To whom Love sense and Life did grief impart Dismai'd and pale as death no better knew Then sadly through her eyes to pour her heart But the Cry still grew loud as if to shew Whither the sword and fury should divert The voice he follows and the fatal sound Discover'd trace'd the way to give the wound LXVIII As ' gainst the greedy and rapacious Kite The fearful Hen strives to defend her Brood So she against the Murderer the fight A while maintain'd but all could do no good For he who did in cruelty delight Cut with the sword his throat then all in bloud Most horribly involv'd the Infant lyes Among his brothers carcases and dyes LXIX As when o'rewhelm'd in tears the Theban Queen Beheld the Arrows swiftly fall from Heaven Whence in one Day th Delian Powers had been Reveng'd and took away seven lives and seven At length when the last fatal shaft was seen To fall and the last mortal wound was given At the sad sight amaz'd and weary grown Of Life she fix'd and turn'd into a stone LXX Such the poor woman while she yet surviv'd Stood stupify'd among her children slain Of warmth of Colour and of Sense depriv'd Nothing of Motion Soul or Life remain You could not say She 's dead or that She liv'd A Statue of white Marble free from stain All purely white but when her Sons who bled So near had stain'd her snowy limbs with Red. LXXI At length the cruel mixture o're and o're She turns such vigour Pitty then supply'd On all sides the loved reliques to explore Which there the various forms of slaughter hide The mangled members all besmear'd with gore Love to her hand in this sad work was guid She quickly recollects together layes And of last exequies the Honour payes LXXII With tears she bathes them and doth thus complain Wretch that I am are these dear pledges mine Whose dismal sight pierceth my Heart again Prompts me to incorporate and with them join Here nothing but most horrid heaps remain Of Fragments rais'd by rage and curs'd design Nothing but bloudy Piles and limbs that are Lopp'd off and scatter'd as in fields of War LXXIII I late was wont and 't was not long ago For you poor children silken threads to spin Or Coats of linnen upon you bestow Which with my own hand I did first begin But now how infamous my labours show Where the sword
But he that for anothers bloud doth thirst As cruel by the King of Heaven is curs'd XXV And if in vilest souls of lowest fame That in the oblique path of sense do tread This raging fury is esteem'd a shame When beyond rule with it the spirits are fed Oh how much more from souls of highest name From Princes hearts should this be banished Oh how much more should they their wills restrain And from this cruel precipice refrain XXVI For as the Region of Heav'n above Is always in it self serene and pure Where nor dark clouds nor earthy vapours move To hide its Brightness or its Light obscure Or as Olympus doth his height improve Above all showers or Thunder to endure So in a Noble Brest and Royal mind We seldom storms or noise of Fury find XXVII Laws were at first for terrour rather made Then always to be rigorus and severe Their execution should be gently lay'd If the offence an easy hand will bear 'T is fit strong whips correct and guide the Jade Yet then still feel them let him rather fear Jove when he thunders with the dreadful noise Doth many terrifie but few destroys XXVIII Forbid it Heaven that I my Prince perswade Unto so Brutish so accurs'd a Deed That my dear Country should be desart made That Ruine should so great esteem succeed Or that so brave a City waste be laid And by a Civil Sword to death should bleed Poor the Command and vile the Scepter when The King a Kingdom wants the Captain men XXIX 'T is clearly open what you have in view But what you fear is doubtfully obscure After so long experience will you For future profit present loss endure And through vain fear of Ills that may ensue A certain mischief to your self procure A mischief that perhaps brings with it more And greater ruines than you fear'd before XXX Do you suspect a War and yet intend So many of your Youth should murther'd be Who knows but 'mong the new-born y 'ave a Friend Of greater value than your Enemy Tell me for Gods-sake then who shall defend Your Crown or arm for your security If an whole Army in its growth and spring You shall unseasonably to slaughter bring XXXI What then will Fame Report Alas that Fame Whcih Truth and Falshood does alike declare She 'l say that Thirst of Bloud did you enflame To fain them Rebels who most faithful were A People who adores and loves your Name Who far remote from your Paternal Air Amidst the Tumults that your Throne invade A constant Faith and true Obedience paid XXXII Nor would I credit Sir your Brother's shade That some nights since seem'd to appear to you I rather think you then the sport were made Of vainest Fancies and of Dreams untrue Or that the Prince of Darkness did invade Your thoughts and them to those Illusions drew For as I 've read Heaven 's King doth never chuse Fantosms for Messengers but Angels use XXXIII And then that King whom you so apprehend Must not expect his kingdom here below Him spir'tual and holy things attend In his all Grace with Love and sweetness flow Immortal wealth doth from his Lap descend Although he be a King most poor in shew Then let your fears that he brings Tumults cease Since He to Earth descends to give it Peace XXXIV He most Pacifick Mild and void of Harm Will all Coelestial Thunder lay aside And should he strengthen his most pow'rful Arm Against Thee how couldst Thou his Wrath abide Oh! how can You your self from the alarm Of shining Troops of winged Armies hide Who can conceal himself Or whither flee From Him who all Things moves and All doth see XXXV Whether this old Prognostick of your Crown Be false or true does not as yet appear â—f vain why is your Peoples Peace o'r thrown Why should you raise their Scorn or Hatred here 〈◊〉 wish for my part that it false were known But subtile wits are busie every where Such lewd Reports with Art abroad to fling To provoke God and Man against the King XXXVI If in the Stars it be engrave'd and writ If Heav'n decrees that this great Babe be born Why should you Fate oppose What can the wit Of man avail Why should your Subjects mourn Publish in vain your Edict and with it Your Threats and Fury to the Peoples scorn Yet maugre all He 'll live and grow his Birth Heav'n will protect and hide him here on Earth XXXVII â—ly Sir that Infamous and Foolish Name Of a King cruel and with Clemency Suppress that furious and swelling Flame Let your wise brest with prudence temper'd be Suspend your Anger be still kind and calm Let Justice from all violence be free Search out the Guilty and on him let all The punishments that now are threaten'd fall XXXVIII Farther would this grave Counsellor enforce His fluent speech with reasons grave and wise But that he saw the King at his discourse Offended did his Eloquence despise Tossing his head than a chaf'd Tiger worse Or wounded Bear he turn'd his envious eyes He saw him in his forehead and his brow Resolv'd no such good counsel to allow XXXIX Burucco was a Lord of haughty mind Bred up in Court and hoarse with murmuring A false and envious Knave Always inclin'd To mischief ' gainst the Kingdom and the King Hot-headed and with sudden Fury blind Affecting bloud and all to ruine t' bring A stranger to all Pity no regard Of Nature could his cruelty retard XL. Bald-headed he his Chin shav'd close had still A vigorous Body and an active Mind But mong his few black hairs against his will Through cozning time the scatter'd silver shin d. This Flatterer intent to pick some ill From this grave Speech a constant ear inclin'd And fixing on the King a steady look Stood up and kneel'd then sate again and spoke XLI Sir you have labour'd much and toyl'd in Wars And as your valiant and victorious hand Hath many deadly wounds and bloudy scars Printed on Foes that did your Pow'r withstand â—o many Mouths to praise and strongest bars To lasting Glory and to high Command Y 'ave open'd wide and 't may be said your cares Have overcome your enemies and years XLII Hence we may credit with this Lord 's good leave That with good Reason you have ground to fear Envy in other shapes doth oft deceive And now perhaps doth some great thing prepare And plots how she of life may you bereave Or make your People Arms against you bear For upon Kings it is decreed by Fate That Envy and Ambitious Greatness wait XLIII You govern Sir a People wild and rude Affecting Troubles ready to rebel An heady and inconstant Multitude Prompt to affront and your Commands repel A wise and prudent Prince will soon conclude To curb their Folly and their Fury quell Their Mischiefs to repair with punishment And providently future Ills prevent XLIV A little spark may soon extinguish'd be Before 't
seven hundred thousand Volumes and whence Learning was diffused into all Greece by several famous Philosophers as Plato c. Stanza CXLI Thebes situate on the Arabian shore of the Nile was once the Metropolis of all Egypt renowned for its hundred Gates Its last eminent ruine in the time of the Roman Power was some few years after the Battle of Actium Hermopolis of which name were two Cities Major und Minor this here mentioned is the Major where all the Toll was taken for Commodities brought down from Thebes Memphis was built upon the Western banks of Nile not far from the extreme part of the Delta where the River first divides it self very rich in Antiquities and stately buildings whereof three Temples of Venus Apis and Serapis beset with Sphynxes were very famous Stanza CXLIV After the death of Alexander Ptolomy the Son of Lagus seized on this Province as his Part of that Empire and made himself King of Egypt and his Race continued two hundred and four years by the Succession of ten Kings all of the same name and ended in Cleopatra's Brother The End of the Second Book THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS BOOK III. The Execution I. OH that my Tongue or stile as sharpe might prove And strike as deep as did the killing Sword That with a thousand Wounds I so might move All gen'rous Hearts in pity to accord Or since to shew such horrours is above My vile and obscure Pen Arpin afford Thine aid thy Pensil it will best become To paint the story of this Martyrdom II. Thy skilful hand which Life and sense can give To shadows and thy paintings animate Can make the Murder'd Companies to live Again feel wounds deplore anew their Fate The Tyrant and the Murderers revive And them again to slaughter irritate That these my Lines may imitate thine Art Thy lively Colours to my Inke impart III. The Morning rose resolving to bewaile The Sons of Israel with doleful tears The Scarlet colour of the Rose grew pale And Bloud the Violet and Lilly wears Day hid it self under Nights horrid veile Circled with Ominous Lamps that scatter'd fears The Sun a sad and dismal Face put on From his first Rising till his Course was done IV. Fly Mothers fly and your sweet Pledgesbear In your soft Arms to safer shelter fly See how a thousand Murtherers to their And your destruction arm'd streight hither hy See! their drawn Swords See how they cut the Air I hear most dreadful plaints I hear their cry Oh fly I now your chearful looks discern Into dire horrours and sad mourning turn V. In midst of Bethlem was a stately Frame Rais'd on an hundred Columns large and high Built like a Spherick Temple and of name For Rooms within of vast capacity The Cananean Kings 't is said by Fame Made it of old their Court and there did lie The work of that great King who this the Queen Of Cities made and chief of Palestine VI. The cruel Tyrant in the open air Would not survey the bloudy Tragedy But to a fitter Theatre repair And so ascends a stately Gallery At full view in an high Balcone there The dreadful Execution he could see And all their several Forms of Death a bold Spectator and Delighted Judge behold VII He thought perhaps that so conceal'd he might Hide from the eye of Heav'n his black Design But all he did was open to your sight Ye Angels Troops of Pity most Divine You saw their bleeding wounds in dismal plight And with your hands to wipe them did incline That so you might from what they cruel shed Enrich your whitest Robes with purest Red. VIII Thither so soon as Day began to rise The Cited came and as enclos'd within A Camp unnumbred several Companies Of Matrons and of Mothers there were seen No sooner entred but before their eyes Appear'd a strange Parade of Arms and Men. With doubts and wonder they suspended were A while but soon surpriz d with sudden fear IX Hither th' obedient Bands of Mothers brought Their Sons in Troops and numbers infinite Scarce any one of which was ever taught To speak or go their Parents to delight These understood no Form t' express a Thought Whether they cry'd or spoke few judg'd aright And those as they with doubtful steps came on Ready to fall and staggering they bemoan X. Now when with Murderers on every side Enclos'd themselves th' unhappy Mothers found Deluded in their thoughts they dumb abide And pale like Flow'rs new trampled on the ground When them thus languishing the children spi'd Frighted and trembling shreeks and cries abound This to the Bosome flies that to the Teat Those under veils and garments seek retreat XI Mean while sate Herod on his lofty Throne His head with Gems enrich'd and 's back and breast With these a shining Cuirass he put on And over all a Royal Purple Vest But most pleas'd with the Childrens doleful moan That horrour suited with his Fancy best He in the Sword and bloud delighted more Than in the Gold and Purple that he wore XII As when a Bird of Prey that watching sits On some high Tree a Flock of Pigeons spies He fits his Arms his Bill and Pounces whets Still keeping them in view with greedy eyes So his stern look he turns with fatal threats On the pale Mothers and the Infants cries Then to his Officer from his high stand To sound the Trumpet nods his last command XIII He from his back in hand his Trumpet takes Puts to his lips and e're he did begin Of all his Spirits strong collection makes And to his Jaws and Mouth sends from within His cheeks now rise now fall the blast streight breaks Into the air as it had thunder been The mighty noise strikes through the marble skies And busie Eccho to each note replies XIV The Signal thus dispers'd of what they fear'd A thousand hands a thousand Arms extend Over a thousand heads the Swords appear'd And streams of bloud from thousand wounds descend The Womens shreeks through all the Court are heard And th' air the doleful cries of Infants rend Dire Fury here there Death offends the eye The Murderers rage the Murder'd groan and die XV. How many there expir'd their last of breath Who their first Breathings newly had begun How many were surpriz'd by sudden death Who what it was to live had hardly known How many first beheld the shades beneath E're the worlds pleasing Light had on them shone And from how many the Impartial knife Cut off soon as begun the Thread of Life XVI Sad to behold how through the bloudy Court The frighted Mothers with their Children fly The ample Cupulos where they resort Tremble with the dire horrours of their cry Statues and Pillars if Fame truth report Continued streams of bloud so mollifie That they were seen to weep and trembling show Their Pity at the sound of every blow XVII And 't was a Miracle if Fame say true That many quite of sense
lost LXXVI And since he who thy Being gave with thee Hath It cut off and all my hopes o'rethrown In spight of Him my soul from fetters free Shall follow thee whereever thou artgone Thy Hearse my Body shall accompany The Fate o' th' Tree and Fruit shall both be One. And thus the cruel Murderer of my joyes With one sad slaughter many lives destroyes LXXVII Alass how much more happy hadst thou bin My dearest Infant when with mournful cryes To view the light of Day thou didst begin If Death had then for ever clos'd thine eyes If when with moan thy language from within These breasts thou oft did'st seek for fresh supplies Instead of milk which kindly from me flow'd My hand a mortal poison had bestow'd LXXVIII But this my Breast unto it self too kind Too foolishly injurious to thee When to another I a weight resign'd So dear and suffer'd it so nurs'd to be But now as bitter as belov'd thy mind It shall fulfil and do it liberally I will that Debt with interest now make good Thy want of Milk shall be supply'd with Bloud LXXIX At this sad language he began to melt His heart as hard as hardest Alpine stone With pitty touch'd seem'd to relent and felt A passion to his soul before unknown When with a Dagger hanging at a belt And in a golden sheath beneath her gown In her own brest she fix'd so deep a wound She streight fell pale and dead upon the ground LXXX Her Train of Women at this sad surprize Could not the fury of her hand restrain Herod himself in hast with weeping eyes Endeavour'd to assist her but in vain He trembled and grew pale his faculties Grief wonder and amazement all enchain He seem'd a Statue stiff and pallid grown As late his heart so now his limbs are stone LXXXI Thou foolish barbarous Prince What canst thou say See see how vain all humane Counsels are Wherein thou thought'st thy only safety lay Thou now dost find thy mortal danger there Thy Son and Kingdom both thou didst betray While to secure them thou didst thus prepare Thy sentence on thee falls and thou alone Hast punish'd thine own fault before 't was done LXXXII As when a Limb cut off by some surprize Or by the sword receives to th' quick a wound The bloud streight backward as affrighted flyes And for a while no signs of bleeding found But soon as pain o' th hurt the sense supplies Streight warm Vermilion streams o'reflow the ground And from the open'd veins the bloud its course Maintains like waters from their native sourse LXXXIII So sudden grief the cruel Tyrants tongue A while restrain'd and all his sense delay'd Till through excess of anguish in a throng His sighs broke out and for words passage made Tears from his eyes in rivulets streight sprung Like bloud from 's Soul and inward Wounds betray'd At length he fell where 's wife and son then lay Like Rocks of Marble in a Crimson Sea LXXXIV See! to what dismal sight these weeping eyes Heaven hath reserv'd Will ye ne'r close again Or that my griefs may give these warm supplies Must ye be forc'd still open to remain O Alexander dost not hear my cryes Flowr of my Soul cut off i' th Bud and slain O Doris dost not hear Giv'st no reply But hid'st the Sun of thy fair eyes Oh why LXXXV Wretch that I am Which shall I first lament My Son Or Thee dear consort of my Bed Who in the prime of years from me art rent And He alass no sooner born but dead On you these tears shall for my self be spent Your Fate I 'le weep as ruins on my head My Crown shall now no other purple wear Then what the Tincture of your bloud shall bear LXXXVI Poor Child Of a most cruel Father born Under the influence of a Star severe Are these the Ensignes should thy brows adorn Is this the Throne I have prepar'd thee here Oh with what tragique pomp the Fates here mourn My Nuptial Bed is turn'd into a Bier Those Lights which I to Hymen did commend Must now alass sad exequies attend LXXXVII Oh my distracted Soul What was design'd By my Fate or thy folly to what end This mad advice which made my reason blind So that I could not even mine own defend Nor when th' edict went out could call to mind To draw him from the danger did impend But this rebellious flames was your design Perfidious Stars your cruelty not mine LXXXVIII But you infernal Furies spurr'd me on To act all this though guilty I remain Of all these ills of all this mischief done 'T was I contriv'd it all I these have slain My Life from Life and honour from my Throne I have cut off and that which should sustain With Me and after Me my Race and Crown I onely have o'rethrown and trampled down LXXXIX Now what revenge thou most unhappy child Of an unhappy Mother can suffice For expiation of a rage so wild What can'st thou from thy Sire accurs'd reprize Not thy perfidious Nurse with bloud defil'd Nor Troops the Actors of my cruelties Nor if at once my kingdom to thy Shade And I my self a sacrifice be made XC The name of King and Father I 'le assume No more such titles too injurious were Vile Monster Devil will me best become Unworthy thee whom I have murder'd here How much since now too late I find my doom Do I to those dead Infants envy bear For since my Joyes no longer now survive 'T is fit that I this day should cease to Live XCI Yet could I wish those naked Souls which I Spoil'd of their bodies were now cloth'd again That spoiling them anew their limbs might ly Expos'd to salvage beasts winds frost and rain And should kind Heaven collect them as they dy That they may hidden from its sight remain Yet will I satisfy my grief though Fame Shall Me most cruel through the World proclaim XCII Oh who will give me here that sword which all My Joyes cut off for it is fit that I By the same weapon with my son should fall And since that Branch is broke the stock must dy Thus his complaints around the Country call To moan the Ruins of his Family While the most happy Spirits already fled There wings to'ards the Elysian Mansions spred XCIII As at the entrance of some shady grove In the declining of a Summer's day In Troops the flying little creatures move And in the trembling Light still waving play And to the Swains and Shepherds seem above Atoms inspir'd with life by every ray So that the false and still removing light Deceives the Children who pursue their flight XCIV Or as the busie and industrious Bees In Hybla's fresh and odorif'rous air The spoils of April from the rosie Trees And fragrant Lilies gather every where Whence cunning Architects in all degrees Their well-built Cells for Winter they prepare Ingenious Fabricks with most stately rooms Of Virgin Wax form'd in