Herodians of Alexandria his imperiall history of twenty Roman caesars & emperours of his time / First writ in Greek, and now converted into an heroick poem by C.B. Staplyton.

CANTO XIII.

The ARGUMENT.

Two Emp'rours next doe enter Rome in state, Severus deified, and Funerall shew, Parting the Empire through a deadly hate, Th' Empresse forbids, Antonine Geta slew; He Cruell is, both prodigall and Savadge, And of the German Souldiers learns to Ravadge.

1.

VVHat was thy fall O Lucifer but pride; Was't not enough that thou thy selfe transgrest, But both the Sire and Brothers to divide, And Murther too a Crime by thee profest; Thus puft with pride to kill about a Crowne, Much better lost or spurned up and downe.

2.

The Princes and their Mother goe to Rome With jarrs and fresh debate, what ere she said, To eat together once they will not come, Of Poyson'd Cups were both alike afraid: The Palace (once at Rome) is wide and vast, There to divide they make the greater Hast.

3.

They thither come then, as the Custome was, With Laurels, People welcome them and Peeres; The Emp'rours formost of them all doe passe In Purple Robes, and seem'd to shed some Teares; Next after them, according to their Turne, The Consuls march bearing Severus Urne.

4.

In Pompous State they doe this Urn in-shrine, With Marcus deare amongst the Emp'rours best, And in the Temple did their Rites divine, Then to the Palace Princes went to rest; Yet severall Guards and severall Lodgings ••••ose, And all the doores betwixt securely close.

5.

They shew'd themselves but to content the People, And then their meeting at the Common Gate; They both were stiffe as any Wall or steeple, Which now the Romans greatly wonder at: Their Semblance yet each other did but threat, Till Fathers Name was deifi'd compleat.

6.

In that the Brothers were no whit at odds, This solemne Rite inviting them to pity, The Romans call it placing with the gods, Which first begins with mourning o're the City; The Corps in Sumptuous manner once interr'd, The Stately shew no Longer is deferr'd.

7.

An Ivory* 1.1 Bed o're spread with Cloth of Gold In Palace Porch Erected is on high, Which mournefully spectators doe behold, A waxen Image of the Prince doth lie: On one side sit the Noble Lords in black, And o're against faire Ladies doe not lack.

8.

But they in white according to the guise, Thus for a weeke they Cherish him and Nurse; And often come Physitians that are wise, Who doe conclude the Patient worse and worse: But when he seemeth dead to all Beholders, Young Knights and Gallants take him on their shoulders.

9.

And carry him along the Sacred Street, Unto the place where stands the Ancient Forum, The Magistrates and Senators him meet, On Scaffolds built the people all deplore him; Then quire of Boys and Ladies sighing Welody, With Hymns and Paeans making dolefull Melody.

10.

This done, the Bed they take to Mars his Field, And there a Structure make quadrangle-wise, Then many Lesser Circ'led Roomes they build, Dry wood within, without it is their guise; Rich Tapestry and Pictures seene, but seil'd With Ivory statues of a comely Sise: To that you may this Building well compare, Which Ships to Harbot guide is call'd a Phare.

11.

The Bed brought in they throw in heaps of Spice And Odours sweet the best the Earth Affords, Herbs, Fragrant Fruits, Gums, Arabicke and* 1.2 Nice, The Provinces and Cities search their Hoards; Which Persons great Ambitious are to send, As Presents choyce to dignifie his end.

12.

When they had rais'd this Aromatick Pile, The Knightly Orders mount on Gallant Steeds, Then prance and wheele about this Princely Ile, Performing many brave and Active Deeds: And farther yet to grace this Masse of Treasures, They joyn in fides to dance the Pyrrhick* 1.3 Measure.

13.

And Charioters 'bout the Frame doe ride, Bearing the Roman Worthies Represents; Then Fire with Torch is set on every side By him that for the Empire next indents; An Eagle eke from Turret Top doth slide, When Herbs and Spices burn with Fragrant Sents: The Romans think she carries up his Soule, Whom they Adore, and 'mongst the gods Enroule.

14.

This done, the Brothers home againe returne, But eftsoons fall into their deadly feud; Worse Flame then erst within their bosoms burne, And utterly their better part subdu'd: The things that either side would have in Action, To such as Lov'd them both were great distraction.

15.

Most part to Geta, gentle youth inclin'd, Because he Learning lov'd and manly Art; But Antonine they knew of stubborn mind, And would because of many broken Hart: Their Mother seeing them at such Discord, Assay'd in vaine to bring them to Accord.

16.

They now resolve the Empire to divide, Lest one by th'other might be Circumvented; This was debated by their Mothers side, Their Counsellors and Kinsmen eke convented: Then they to Geta Asia doe Assigne, And Europe fell in share to Antonine.

17.

Their Camps at Chalcedon and* 1.4 Bizance should Each other face, and both the Frontiers keep; The passage so they may defend and hold, That neither into others part doe creep: Alexand'r or Antioch for Counsell one, In Rome the others shall recide alone.

18.

Numidian Moores that lie upon the South, To Anton' fell, Geta in the Orient. While thus, their Mother came with open mouth, And said, my Sons I am not so content; If you so soone can part both Sea and Land, Divide me too and kill me out of hand,

19.

Each take a part of me and glut his Will. This said, with many Teares she claspt them both, Who now began to think they had done ill, And to offend her seemed very loth; Their Counsell then was presently dismist, And both content at this time to desist.

20.

Yet hope of Reconcilement there was none, In all Elections diff'rent sides preferr'd; And such as for Redresse did make their mone, More partially then justly were deferr'd: Yea at their Sports they contraries maintain, And sought their Cooks and Cupbearers to traine,

21.

With promise Large to poyson Sauce or Cup. Yet howsoe're this Bargaine they respect, Such care is had when they doe dine and Sup, This drift of theirs not yet could take effect; When Antonine thus mist by plots and Charms, He kill'd his Brother in his Mothers Arms.

22.

When this was done he runs and cri'd amaine, As if himselfe were likely to be kill'd; With help of Guard the Camp he did obtaine, The Souldiers knew not yet what bloud was spill'd: There Images were kept of Veneration, 'Fore whom he fals with thanks for Preservation.

23.

The Souldiers all Amaz'd unto him flock, Some spake their minde, and some upon him gaped; But then to let them know he did not mock, Discover'd plaine how narrowly he 'scaped: In sad Conflict some tooke their latest groane, Prais'd be his Fate he Emp'rour was alone.

24.

This Speech of his a little was distracted, To stop their mouths he double Largesse gave, Whereby they weigh not much what he had Acted, But mony tooke such store as they would have; By this exploit he all in pieces tears The Treasure Father got in eighteen years.

25.

A Traytor now young Geta must be thought, In Temple thus this night he him secur'd, The Coine the Souldiers had their Lesson taught, Of double Guards they Antonine assur'd; Through City then to th' Senate he makes way, Desiring them to heare what he could say:

26.

I know Domestick Murther hath a Brute Whereby the Most such Actors doe maligne,* 1.5 Though he that's vanquish'd doe receive the fruite Which must of Force be done to him condigne; And such as are not Partiall and self-will'd, Doe know 'tis better kill then to be kill'd.

27.

Besides, if one to Cowardise be bent, And seeke by poyson to Effect his mind, The other brave as proves by the Event, What else doth he but serve him in his kind; That he against me hath such practise wrought, For you to know I have his servants brought.

28.

Their owne Confessions will the matter cleare, And when in Mothers sight could not refraine, But he with more did put my life in feare, 'Tis not deni'd I have him justly slaine: How others did like mischiefe thus prevent, I can recite you many a President.

29.

First founder of our City Romulus His Brother quell'd, who his endeavours Jeer'd: Nero omit Brother to Germanicus, Domitian eke who Brother Titus fear'd; Phylosophick Marcus of deare accounpt Dispatched Son* 1.6 Lucius for his late Affront.

30.

So I my selfe by juster vindication Prevented poyson from a deadly Foe, Thank you the gods then for my preservation; Examine these if this be true or no, To Govern so is my determination, That quietly you may both come and goe: As Jupiter doth other gods exceed, So Emp'rour one 'mongst men is like decreed.

31.

This said in Rage on Fathers Friends he frown'd, Then Senate left with pale and ghastly looke; To Court he hurries, where he threw to ground, And Brothers Servants kill'd in ev'ry nooke: For Officers, yea Infants he inquir'd, Who out of Doors were thrown on heaps and fir'd.

32.

Unhappy they that knew of Get's Affaires,* 1.7 For all of them were put unto the Sword; Wrastlers, Char'oters, and all the players That him delighted by their Deed or Word, And wealthy Senators he also slew, That Brothers Friends were either old or new.

33.

An Aged Woman Commodus his Sister, Was Honour'd much as she was Marcus Daughter: Because she with his Mother wept and kist her, 'Twas Crime enough to bring her to the Slaughter: His Wife he kill'd that little harme had done, With Severus and Pertinax his Son.

34.

Lucilla's* 1.8 Son and all the Royall Bloud, With Presidents, he kill'd, and Procurators, And all that erst for Brother Geta stood, Or any waies his Favorites or Fautors; Whole nights to kill and slay he did not stick, And buried eke the vestall Virgins quick.

35.

At Last, to make his Cruelty the more, At* 1.9 Circen sports where he himselfe was set, A deed was done like never was before, His Souldiers kill'd Spectators that were met: A Chari'ter some silently did scoff, This was pretence enough to cut them off.

36.

Thus having plai'd these mad and Div'lish prancks, Perhaps some guilt of Concience might him sting, Upstarts as one expecting little Thanks, And to the North he now will have a fling; E're Long he did Arrive on Ister Banks, That better in a Rope deserv'd to swing: Sometimes at Race, sometime in Chasing Beast; Sometime in Judgment sate, but that the Least.

37.

This People he Accounts his fellow Souldiers, And for his Guard the strongest of them chose; Off Cast the Roman habit from his Shoulders, And Cassocks wore with Silver Trim'd like those; Then yellow Perwig of the German Fashion, Which made him deare to them in Estimation.

38.

Nor did the Roman Army this disgust, Because he was in gifts (to them) profuse, And often labour'd with them in the dust, And digg'd and delv'd in Trenches for their use; Then Bridges built and Stones and Morter carry, As if he were a Workman Manuary.

39.

He Junkets left and sparing was of Diet, Contenting him with woodden Cups and Platters, And fellow Souldier was to him more quiet Then Princely state, he thought of no suc•• matters: A little Wheat he tooke to knead in Cakes One to suffice, that in the Embers bakes.

40.

Thus for a while he quiet as a Loach Disdained not with them to goe on Foot; He rarely rid on Horsback or in Coach, His Arms he bore most willingly to boot: Th' Imperiall Standard also he would carry, Which made the strongest Bearer often weary.

41.

Then of a Souldier good, and Brave Commander, With Barb'rous people thus he got a Name; And marvell much it was to a By-Stander, How such a timbred man should doe the same: But of the rest if you delight to heare, The Canto next will make it soone appear.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deification of an Empe∣rour.
• * 1.2

  A City.
• * 1.3

  The Fune∣rall Dance.
• * 1.4

  Constantinople Propontick Gulph di∣vides both Continents.
• * 1.5

  Antonine to the Senat.
• * 1.6

  The report was Marcus. poyson'd him, but Victor says none but lewd persons bele••∣ved it.
• * 1.7

  They had not the Honour of decent Fune∣rall.
• * 1.8

  Commodus Nephew.
• * 1.9

  Circen sports in honour of Neptune.