Where valiant Betis ftoutly keeps the town,
(A loyal Subject to Darius Crown)
For more repulfe the Grecians here abide
Then in the Perfian Monarchy befide;
And by these walls fo many men were slain,
That Greece was forc'd to yield' fupply again.
But yet this well defended Town was taken,
For 'twas decree'd, that Empire should be shaken;
Thus Betis ta'en had holes bor'd through his feet,
And by command was drawn through every street
To imitate Achilles in his fhame,

Who did the like to Hector (of more fame)
What haft thou loft thy magnimity,"
Can Alexander deal thus cruelly?
Sith valour with Heroicks is renown'd,
Though in an Enemy it should be found;
If of thy future fame thou hadst regard,
Why didst not heap up honours and reward?
From Gaza to Jerufalem he goes,

But in no hoftile way, (as I fuppofe)

Him in his Prieftly Robes high Faddus meets,
Whom with great reverence Alexander greets;
The Prieft fhews him good Daniel's Prophefy,
How he should overthrow this Monarchy,
By which he was fo much encouraged,
No future dangers he did ever dread.

[134]

From thence to fruitful Egypt marcht with speed,
Where happily in's wars he did fucceed;

doth defend.

The Captaine tane.

9 muft yeeld a fresh.

thy late magnanimity?

To see how fast he gain'd was no small wonder,

For in few dayes he brought that Kingdome under. Then to the Phane of Jupiter he went,

To be inftall'd' a God, was his intent.

The Pagan Priest through hire, or else mistake,

The Son of Jupiter did ftreight him make:
He Diobolical muft needs remain,

That his humanity will not retain.

Thence' back to Egypt goes, and in few dayes; [135]

Fair Alexandria from the ground doth raife;

Then fetling all things in less Afia;

In Syria, Egypt, and Phenicia,

Unto Euphrates marcht and overgoes,

For no man's there his Army to oppofe;"
Had Betis now been there but with his band,
Great Alexander had been kept from Land.

But as the King, fo is the multitude,
And now of valour both are deftitute.

Yet he (poor prince) another Hoft doth muster,
Of Perfians, Scythians, Indians in a cluster;
Men but in shape and name, of valour none
Moft fit," to blunt the Swords of Macedon.
Two hundred fifty thoufand by account,
Of Horse and Foot his Army did amount;
For in his multitudes his truft ftill lay,

But on their fortitude he had small stay;

Yet had fome hope that on the fpacious" plain,
His numbers might the victory obtain.

s For to be call'd.

t Now.

For no man to refift his valour fhowes;

v Fit for.

w that eeven.

About this time Darius beautious Queen,

x

Who had fore travail and much forrow feen,

Now bids the world adue, with pain" being spent,
Whose death her Lord full fadly did lament.
Great Alexander mourns as well as he,

The more because not fet at liberty;"
When this fad news (at firft Darius hears,
Some injury was offered he fears:

But when inform'd how royally the King,
Had used her, and hers, in every thing,

He prays the immortal Gods they would reward [136] Great Alexander for this good regard;

And if they down his Monarchy will throw,

Let them on him this dignity bestow.

And now for peace he fues as once before,
And offers all he did and Kingdomes more;
His eldest daughter for his princely bride,
(Nor was fuch match in all the world befide)
And all thofe Countryes which (betwixt) did lye
Phanifian Sea, and great Euphrates high:
With fertile Egypt and rich Syria,
And all thofe Kingdomes in lefs Afia.
With thirty thoufand Talents to be paid,
For the Queen Mother, and the royal maid;
And till all this be well perform'd, and sure,
Ochus his Son for Hostage should endure.

To this ftout Alexander gives no ear,

No though Parmenio plead, yet will not hear; Which had he done. (perhaps) his fame he'd kept,

Nor Infamy had wak'd, when he had flept,

For his unlimited profperity

Him boundless made in vice and Cruelty.
Thus to Darius he writes back again,
The Firmament, two Suns cannot contain.
Two Monarchyes on Earth cannot abide,
Nor yet two Monarchs in one world refide;
The afflicted King finding him set to jar,
Prepares against to morrow, for the war,
Parmenio, Alexander, wifht that night,

To force his Camp, fo vanquish them by flight."
For tumult in the night" doth caufe moft dread, [137]

And weakness of a Foe is covered,

But he difdain'd to steal a victory:

The Sun fhould witness of his valour be,
And careless in his bed, next morne he lyes,
By Captains twice is call'd before hee'l rife,
The Armyes joyn'd a while, the Perfians fight,
And spilt the Greeks fome bloud before their flight
But long they ftood not e're they're forc'd to run,
So made an end, As foon as well begun.
Forty five thousand Alexander had,

But is not known what flaughter here was made,

• Instead of this and the five preceding lines, the first edition has,
Both Armies meet, Greeks fight, the Perfians run,

So make an end, before they well begun;

Some write th' other had a million, fome more,

But Quintus Curtius as before.

At Arbela this victory was gain'd,

Together with the Town alfo obtain❜d;
Darius ftript of all to Media came,

Accompan❜ed with forrow, fear, and shame,
At Arbela left his Ornaments and Treasure,
Which Alexander deals as fuits his pleasure.
This conqueror to Babylon then goes,"

Is entertain'd with joy and pompous showes,'
With showrs of flours the streets along are ftrown,
And incenfe burnt the filver Altars on.

The glory of the Castle he admires,

The strong Foundation and the lofty Spires,

k

In this, a world of gold and Treasure lay,
Which in few hours was carried all away.

With greedy eyes he views this City round,

Whose fame throughout the world was fo renownd And to poffefs he counts no little bliss

[138]

The towres and bowres of proud Semiramis, Though worne by time, and rac'd' by foes full fore, Yet old foundations fhew'd and fomewhat more.

m

With all the pleasures that on earth are found,
This city did abundantly abound,

Where four and thirty dayes he now did ftay,
And gave himself to banqueting and play: