The Third Monarchy, [125] being the Grecian, beginning

under Alexander the Great in the

112. Olympiad.

GR

Reat Alexander was wife Philips fon, He to Amyntas, Kings of Macedon; The cruel proud Olympias was his Mother, She to Epirus warlike King was daughter. This Prince (his father by Paufanias slain) The twenty firft of's age began to reign. Great were the Gifts of nature which he had, His education much to thofe did adde:

By art and nature both he was made fit,

To 'complish that which long before was writ.
The very day of his Nativity

To ground was burnt Dianaes Temple high:
An Omen to their near approaching woe,
Whofe glory to the earth this king' did throw.

His Rule to Greece he fcorn'd should be confin'd,
The Universe scarce bound his proud vast mind.
This is the He-Goat which from Grecia came,
That ran in Choler" on the Perfian Ram,

That brake his horns, that threw him on the ground [126]
To save him from his might no man was found: * 2
Philip on this great Conquest had an eye,

But death did terminate thofe thoughts fo high.
The Greeks had chofe him Captain General,
Which honour to his Son did now befall.
(For as Worlds Monarch now we speak not on,
But as the King of little Macedon)

Reftlefs both day and night his heart then was,
His high refolves which way to bring to pass;
Yet for a while in Greece is forc'd to stay,
Which makes each moment feem more then a day.
Thebes and ftiff' Athens both 'gainst him rebel,
Their mutinies by valour doth he quell.

This done against both right and natures Laws,
His kinsmen put to death, who gave no cause;
That no rebellion in in his abfence be,
Nor making Title unto Sovereignty.

And all whom he suspects or fears will climbe,
Now taste of death leaft they deferv'd" in time,

Nor wonder is t if he in blood begin,
For Cruelty was his parental fin,

Thus eafed now of troubles and of fears,
Next fpring his course to Afia he steers;
Leavs Sage Antipater, at home to sway,
And through the Hellifpont his Ships made way.
Coming to Land, his dart on fhore he throws,
Then with alacrity he after goes;
And with a bount'ous heart and courage brave,
His little wealth among his Souldiers gave.
And being ask'd what for himself was left,
Reply'd, enough, fith only hope he kept.:
Thirty two thousand made up his Foot force,

[127]

To which were joyn'd five thousand goodly horse.
Then on he marcht, in's way he view'd old Troy,
And on Achilles tomb with wondrous joy
He offer'd, and for good fuccefs did pray
To him, his Mothers Ancestors, (men fay)
When news of Alexander came to Court,
To fcorn at him Darius had good sport;
Sends him a frothy and contemptuous Letter,
Stiles him difloyal fervant, and no better;
Reproves him for his proud audacity
To lift his hand 'gainst fuch a Monarchy.
Then to's Lieftenant he in Afia fends
That he be ta'ne alive, for he intends

This and the three preceding lines are not in the first edition. i Ancestor.

To whip him well with rods, and so to bring
That boy fo mallipert before the King.
Ah! fond vain man, whofe pen ere while
In lower terms was taught a higher ftile.
To River Granick Alexander hyes
Which in Phrygia near Propontike lyes.*
The Perfians ready for encounter stand,
And strive to keep his men from off the land;
Those banks fo fteep the Greeks yet fcramble up,
And beat the coward Perfians from the top,

And twenty thousand of their lives bereave,

Who in their backs did all their wounds receive.

This victory did Alexander gain,

With lofs of thirty four of his there flain;

Then Sardis he, and Ephefus did gain,

[128]

VVhere flood of late, Diana's wondrous Phane,
And by Parmenio (of renowned Fame,)

Miletus and Pamphilia overcame.

Hallicarnaffus and Pifidia

He for his Mafter takes with Lycia.

Next Alexander marcht towards the black Sea,
And eafily takes old Gordium in his way;

Of Afs ear'd Midas, once the Regal Seat,

VVhose touch turn'd all to gold, yea even his meat
VVhere the Prophetick knot he cuts in twain,
VVhich who fo doth, muft Lord of all remain.
Now news of Memnon's death (the Kings Viceroy)
To Alexanders heart's no little joy,

Which twixt Phrigia, and Propontis lyes.

/ think.

For in that Peer, more valour did abide,

Then in Darius multitude befide:

In's ftead, was Arfes plac'd, but" durft not stay,
Yet fet one in his room, and ran away;

His fubftitute as fearfull as his mafter,

Runs after two," and leaves all to Disaster.

Then Alexander all Cilicia takes,

No ftroke for it he ftruck, their hearts fo quakes.
To Greece he thirty thousand talents fends,
To raise more Force to further his intends:

Then o're he goes Darius now to meet,

Who came with thousand thousands at his feet.

9

Though fome there be (perhaps) more likely write

He but four hundred thousand had to fight,

The rest Attendants, which made up no less,

Both Sexes there was almost numberless.

1

For this wife King had brought to fee the fport, [129]
With him the greatest Ladyes of the Court,
His mother, his beauteous Queen' and daughters,
It seems to fee the Macedonian flaughters.
Its much beyond my time and little art,
To fhew how great Darius plaid his part;
The splendor and the pomp he marched in,
For fince the world was no fuch Pageant seen.
Sure" 'twas a goodly fight there to behold,
- The Perfians clad in filk, and glistering gold,