The Second Monarchy, [91]
being the Perfian, began under
Cyrus, Darius being his Uncle and
Father-in-law reigned with him
about two years.
Yrus Cambyfes Son of Perfia King,
Whom Lady Mandana did to him bring,
She daughter unto great Aftiages,
He in defcent the feventh from Arbaces.
Cambyfes was of Achemenes race,
VVho had in Perfia the Lieftenants place
VVhen Sardanapalus was overthrown,
And from that time had held it as his own.
Cyrus, Darius Daughter took to wife,
And fo unites two Kingdomes without ftrife.
Darius unto Mandana was brother,
Adopts her fon for his, having no other.
This is of Cyrus the true pedegree,
VVhose Ancestors were royal in degree:
His Mothers dream, and Grand-Sires cruelty,
His preservation, in his mifery,
His nourishment afforded by a Bitch,
Are fit for fuch, whofe ears for Fables itch.
He in his younger dayes an Army led,
Against great Creffus then of Lidia head;
Who over-curious of wars event,
For information to Apollo went:
And the ambiguous Oracle did trust,
So overthrown by Cyrus, as was juft;
Who him puafues to Sardis, takes the Town,
Where all that dare" refift are flaughter'd down;
Disguised Creffus hop'd to scape i'th' throng,
Who had no might to fave himself from wrong;
But as he past, his Son who was born dumb,
With preffing grief and forrow overcome:
Among the tumult, bloud-fhed, and the ftrife,
Brake his long filence, cry'd, fpare Creus life:
Creffus thus known, it was great Cyrus doom,
(A hard decree) to afhes he confume;
Then on a wood-pile" fet, where all might eye,
He Solon, Solon, Solon, thrice did cry.
The Reafon of thofe words Cyrus demands,
Who Solon was? to whom he lifts his hands;
Then to the King he makes this true report,
That Solon fometimes at his ftately Court,
His Treasures, pleasures, pomp and power dfd fee,
And viewing all, at all nought mov'd was he:
That Creus angry, urg'd him to express,
If ever King equal'd his happiness.
(Quoth he) that man for happy we commend,
Whose happy life attains an happy end."
Cyrus with pitty mov'd, knowing Kings stand,
Now up and down, as fortune turns her hand,
Weighing the Age, and greatnefs of the Prince, [93]
(His Mothers Uncle) ftories do evince:
Gave him his life, and took him for a friend,
Did to him still his chief defigns commend.
Next war the reftlefs Cyrus thought upon,
Was conqueft of the ftately Babilon,
Now treble wall'd, and moated fo about,
That all the world they need not fear nor doubt;
To drain this ditch, he many Sluces cut,
But till convenient time their heads kept fhut;
That night Belshazzar feafted all his rout,
He cut those banks, and let the River out,
And to the walls fecurely marches on,
Not finding a defendant thereupon;
Enters the Town, the fottish King he flayes,
Upon Earths richeft fpoyles his Souldiers preys;
Here twenty years provifion good he found,
Forty five miles this City fcarce could round;
• Instead of this and the nine preceding lines, the first edition has, -
Upon demand, his minde to Cyrus broke,
And told, how Solon in his hight had spoke.
Gave him at once, his life, and Kingdom too,
And with the Lidians, had no more to doe.
"good" not in the first edition.
This head of Kingdomes Chaldees excellence,
For Owles and Satyres made a refidence; *
Yet wondrous monuments this ftately Queen,
A thousand years had after to be feen.
Cyrus doth now the Jewish Captives free,
An Edict made, the Temple builded be,
He with his Uncle Daniel fets on high,
And caus'd his foes in Lions Den to dye.
Long after this he 'gainst the Scythians goes,
And Tomris Son and' Army overthrows;
VVhich to revenge fhe hires a mighty power,
And fets on Cyrus, in a fatal hour;
There routs his Hoft, himself she prifoner takes, [94]
And at one blow (worlds head) fhe headlefs makes
The which the bath'd," within a But of bloud,
Ufing fuch taunting words, as fhe thought good.
But Xenophon reports he di'd in's bed,
In honour, peace, and wealth, with a grey head;
And in his Town of Paffagardes" lyes,
VVhere fome long after fought in vain for prize,
But in his Tombe, was only to be found
Two Scythian boys," a Sword and Target round:
And Alexander coming to the fame,
VVith honours great, did celebrate his fame."
s Had after thousand yeares faire to be seen. u bak'd
w Where Alexander fought, in hope of prize. * this y bowes. Instead of this and the preceding line, the first edition has,
Where that proud Conquereur could doe no lesse,
Then at his Herfe great honours to expreffe ;
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