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 XIV.

The ARGUMENT.

Anton' of Achilles and Alexander Will act the part, and offer at their shrine; To quarrell, Massacre and woe doth wander, Great Parthia's Daughter serves him to combine More murther yet, he conjures and is slain, Macrinus chose, great fight, and Peace again.

1.

MAlitious Pride why dost thou still outrage, By thy suggest was Abel kill'd of Cain; Some doe commit the like in ev'ry age, So Geta here by bloudy Brother slain: Though we forget what formerly hath past, Yet blood for blood will vengeance have at last.

2.

Now Antonine from Ister Bank departs, And takes his journey downe along by Thrace; Great Alexanders Statues he imparts To them at Rome, and ev'ry other place: Pictures Intire Ridiculous were set, That you might see how both their Faces met.

3.

His habit chang'd from that of Ister Banks, With Macedonian Turban now hee's drest; His Sould'ers also stiled the Phalanx, And Captaines call'd as Alexanders erst: Then Spartan youths he sent for neere at hand, Them term'd Laconick and Pitanite Band.

4.

Securing Townes to Pergum next he went Some Physick there to take, for health, his will is; To Illium then his second march be bent, To grace the Tomb of Fame, renown'd Achillis, The which he deckt with Garlands trim and Flowers, Patr'clus lackt, for whom he poutes and Lowers.

5.

Yet that he might this Heroe seem to Act, This part he plaid amongst his other pranks; His Faestus dy'd, some said it was his Fact, For which his Friends did give him little thanks: Howe're the Corps to feed his fond desire, Was brought to Fun'rall Pile and set on fire.

6.

Then Beasts he kill'd, a Violl to the same Effusing Wines, and praying to the Winds; But People laugh when haire is thrown in flame, Bush naturall was so thin he little finds: Gen'rals he Scilla and Haniball affected, Whose Images and Statues he erected.

7.

Through Asia thus he minded these Affaires, And then in state from Illium he departs; Yet in his way to Antioch he repaires, Whom they receive perhaps not with their hearts: To Alexandria next he makes his Rhodes Their Heroe to revere, but more their gods.

8.

There Sacrifices of whole Hecatombs He order gave for him should be prepar'd; This hit the Alexandrians o're the Thumbs, Whose Cockbraines wist not how the blow toward: Yet joy they make and entertainment such, For any Prince was never made so much.

9.

Sweet Musick, Aromaticks and Perfumes, Light Torches, Gelsoms, Odours and Musk Roses, Arabian Spices, and the Richest Gums; The Emp'rour and his Army Round incloses, Who first to Sacrifice in Temple went, Then Incense makes and hundreds Oxen brent.

10.

Next offer'd he at Alexanders Shrine His Purple Robe, and Rings with Parrag Stones, His Belt, his Scarfe, and choisest Jewels fine, Then laid them all upon the Tombed bones: The People overjoy'd Feast day and night, But little dreame what Feast for them is dight.

11.

This was but Colour and his plausibility, For them to Massacre was his intent; At Rome he heard this Peoples incivility, How they for Brothers death to scoff were bent; And so their cutting quips and wonted jeering Of him and his, came often to his hearing.

12.

The jests of Open truth most keenely bite, And men resent them ever at the worst; This turn'd his fury into such despite, They now have cause to think themselves accurst: While they with Plaies and Sports doe squib and flash, Through dire revenge must ay endure the lash.

13.

The manner thus, when Festivall was over, As he had Trained some in Phalanx Order, Their gallant youths he wils them to discover Both of their owne and Regions that doe border; He Macedon and Spartan had before, Now Alexandrian should make one more.

14.

Regarding late the Honour he had done Unto their City, and their Heroes Tombe, They to this project were the sooner won, So bring themselves unto a Fatall doome; Submitting thus to be at his dispose, Them all unarm'd, his Souldiers doe inclose.

15.

These Dullards then were taken in a Toile, The Watch-word once dispers'd amongst the Rout, With Havock great the Souldiers kill and spoile, Some cut off Heads, some scatter limbs about: To Murther young and old they doe not stick, Some thrown in pits, and some they bury quick.

16.

Some Souldiers eke receive deserved hire; For grapled once with them of equall strength, They hale and pull and wallow in the mire, Then in one grave together lie at length; The slaughter ended, round about the shore, And Nilus mouth was dy'd in Purple gore.

17.

The Sirname Parthicas he next Affects, A Conquest much he covets in th' Orient; Embassadors he sends with his respects, Who tutor'd well upon this Errand went: Our Prince, say they, had rather then his life, The Daughter of your King to make his Wife.

18.

An Emp'rour he and eke an Emp'rours Son, None therefore fit for him but such a Queen; If once this Royall Intermatch were done, And of the Barb'rous people known and seen, Impediment no more would then remain, The World might Govern'd be betwixt them twain.

19.

The Roman Foot excell'd in Sword and Pike, For number Parthian Archers, and for skill In discipline, the World had not the like, With necessaries ready at their will; There may by this Affinity and Truce Both parts into one Monarchy reduce.

20.

Your Cities Odours yeeld, fine Silkes and Spice, The Roman Countries Minerals and Trades; In this division Merchants are not Nice, But traffick oft by stealth, and Vessels Lades: If we conclude their practise will not reach, But intercourse be had without impeach.

21.

At first the Parthians like not this dispatch, Or can conceive it tendeth to their quiet, For Romans with Barbarians to match, Who Language differ, habit, and in diet; The Roman Prince may match among his Peers, And so was pleas'd this Noble King of theirs.

22.

But Antonine his Suit doth re-inforce With Ample Gifts and Solemne Protestation; Then some perswade it was the wisest cource To give consent to this Solemnization: Whereat from Shouts the people did not cease, In Hope to have a sure and lasting Peace.

23.

Antonine Rivers past, and makes ingresse As free as if the Country was his owne; Who entertainment had of more and lesse, Which eke to King Artabanus was knowne: And he prepar'd as eagerly againe, To meet the Bridegrome in an open Plain.

24.

Crown'd Altars Sacrifice with Odours Sweet, And Floury Chaplets, Vestures wrought with Gold, With Pipe and flute they doe this Gallant Greet, Then Musick, Dance, and all the Mirth they could: To this their sport he seem'd so much affected, His Treachery was not by them suspected.

25.

But now they were together in a Rout, Both Faith and Oath he sticks not to infringe; For when his Souldiers compast them about, Fall on, quoth he, we have them in a spring▪ The tipled Parthians run as in a maze, Then Romans kill and follow on a Chase.

26.

King Artaban was rescued by his Guard, Some few with him had much adoe to fly, The rest of them were put unto the Sward, Their Armes were off and Horses were not nigh: The Bride might think this was ill-favour'd bedding, Yet who doe Weapons bring unto a Wedding?

27.

When as this mighty Massacre was made, The Souldiers rest from killing and from toile; Yet cruell still according to their Trade, They Cities burnt and bare away the spoile: Thus Antonine departs from Parthian grounds, And march'd along into the Roman Bounds.

28.

To Senate then, at Rome, he Message sent (Who heard before of all the pranks he plaid.) How he to them had vanquish'd th' Orient, This to Agnise they seemed well apaid; And though they knew him false in Word and Deed, Triumphant Honours ne'r the leste Decreed.

29.

In Mesopotamia he kept his Court, Where for a while himselfe he did Devote, To Combat Beasts with Races and like Sport, And there he meant to pay Macrinus Co'te: Two Gen'rals then, Audentius for the War, Marcrinus Law, and pleading at the Bar.

30.

This Prince Macrinus, us'd to taunt and check, Averse to him in diet and Attire, As Coward faint he threats to break his neck, For service done this was ingratefull Hire: But loe what hapt, Magicians he consults, And longs to know his end by their Results.

31.

Maternian eke who Govern'd then at Rome, Had word to call the Wizards far and near, To know of them what death should him become, Or who it was he needed most to fear; If Spirits told or he did so combine, He writes back word to looke unto Macrine.

32.

The Letters seal'd and sent away in Post, At Court arive in their convenient Tide, Where Antonine was making mickle boast Of Chariot Race how gayly he could ride; And being thus so earnest in his sport, He bids Macrinus see what they import.

33.

Macrinus with the Letters did retire, And lights on that which might him sore molest, You need not bid him throw it in the fire, Yet he acquaints the Emp'rour with the rest; And doubting now he must not long respire, Before Maternian sent he thought it best To call a friend, to wit▪ Centurion Martiall, Who had good cause to be a little Partiall.

34.

For Brothers losse whom Anton' caus'd to die Without due form or processe in the Law, These two together plotted by and by The Prince to kill, then doe themselves withdraw; That of the crime they might not be suspected Till it was done, which shortly was effected.

35.

At Carrae Antonine from Palace went, To visit once the Temple of the Moone; In hast was Martiall by Macrinus sent, Who thought it long till he this Deed had done, For that no harm (at Church) the Prince did looke, He private went and small Attendance tooke.

36.

And by the way he went aside to Ease, For manners sake his Servants stood Aloof; But Martiall Beck'ned, Hoe Sir, if you please, I something have to say for your behoof: Then ran so fast e're Antonine could mind, He with his Dagger Stab'd him in behind.

37.

Though Martiall fled, he shortly had his Hire, The German Horse, that was the Princes Guard, Pursu'd so fast they trod him in the mire, Their Javelin points he had no skill to ward; This Murder nois'd each one was of his keeping, Macrinus was the first that fell a weeping.

38.

And time it was lest he should be suspected, This Prince to Souldier fellow was and friend, None else as yet but Martiall was detected, They thought he tooke revenge for brothers end; Macrinus sent his Ashes, to be buried, Unto his Mother that at Antioch tarried.

39.

And there for Childrens losse her selfe she slew, If not compell'd, as some would have it thought; Thus Antonine this end upon him drew, For Brothers death and Murders that he wrought: He once defunct, the Souldiers (in a muse) Bethink themselves whom Emp'rour they should chuse.

40.

For Artaban was marching hitherward To seeke revenge for breach of peace and Murther, Audentius therefore safely shall them Guard, If he be pleas'd they meane to seeke no further; But he replies (with Modesty) I cannot, You see, quoth he, my time is super-ann'ate.

41.

The Tribunes then perswade to chuse Macrinus, Who after, you shall heare, with him combin'd; The Souldiers say the Parthians neer behind us, Wee will not now be obstinat inclin'd: King Artaban approch'd with mighty Band, Macrinus counsels thus him to withstand;

42.

For publike losse no marvell if we mourn, He was our Prince, yet Fellow did appeare; Though all of us to dust at length shall turne, Yet while wee live his Name to us is deare: But now we have perform'd the Funerall Rite, The present danger doth our care incite.

43.

The Barb'rous King is here with Eastern Power, Who have a quarrell good in their conceipt; They say we did their people all devoure, When they unarm'd did think of no deceipt; And kill'd his kinsmen in unlucky houre, When entertainment they had made us neat: To skirmish light no leisure time will yield, But you must fight it out in open field.

44.

This breach of Oath, if true, is somewhat biting, Our Prince, not we, ought answer for the Fact, Which is already done by fatall smiting; We Romans are, like Romans let us Act, Then keep your Ranks to barr them of their Ends, The Roman Empire now on you depends.

45.

The Barb'rous are unmarshall'd, wanting Art, And like enough themselves to overthrow; You disciplin'd in whole and ev'ry part, And by your Order have the skill to know: The Foot their Ranks, the Horsmen sure in Seat, Whereby you shall your Enemies defeat.

46.

Like Romans charge as often you have done, The Barb'rous people once again to quell, That men may know your conquest was not won Through fraud or breach of Faith, as they doe tell; What matter is't how they excuse their harms, So you prevaile by skill and Force of Arms.

47.

The Souldiers (in a streight) this Speech Allow'd, And instant put themselves in Battell ray; The Barb'rous folke with mighty Host and Proud Advancing, were next morne by break of day: As was their guise, they Invocate the Sun, And then with Shouts upon the Romans run.

48.

The skilfull Romans did their Battels Range, With Horse and Darts Moresco flank'd each side; Their Maniples with Intervals doe change, To flat the Charge and 'bate th' Assaylants Pride; Though they with Lance and Shot of Arrowes Gall, Yet hand to hand they by the Romans fall.

49.

But yet e're long, with numbers overprest, The Romans make as if they would retreit; Withall, they sharp and pointed Engins wrest, And hide in Sand the Barb'rous Folk to cheat; Which made their Horses halt with grievous paine, Great store of men and Camels eke were slain.

50.

The first and second day they fiercely fought, As Victors both they to their Camps retire, The third, Barbarians to inclose them sought, As if they would them catch in net of Wire; Which Romans to prevent their Front dilate, So skilfull are they both in this debate.

51.

Yet at the best to both was slaughter sore, And heads of Carkasses were seen to lie; Macrinus thinks their rage was so much more, To take revenge that Antonine might die: He saw to fight it out was their intent, Debating thus, with Heralds Letters sent.

52.

Which doe inform that Antonine was dead, For breach of Oath and League he had his hire▪ Macrinus chosen Emp'rour in his stead, To be at peace with them was his desire; And that they may be friends as heretofore, Their spoile and Captives he will all restore.

53.

The Parthian Lords doe each one take his Seat, To heare the Message that the Romans sent, And in the midst King Artaban the Great, Whom with the rest these Tydings doe content; The truth of Anton's Murther cool'd his heate, To take his spoyle and Captives now is bent: Then towards home he makes his next Approach, Macrinus likewise went to Antioch.

Notes

• Of the Cities
• Troy.
• Vid. Hom Ili. l. 23.
• An ancient kind of Fune∣rall.
• A hundred oxen.
• Embassage.
• Two Generals Audentius and Macrinus.
• Conjuring.
• Captaine of 100 men.
• De Luna.
• See Mr Selden de diis Syris.
• Collonels.
• They feared the Parthian more then any Nation.
• The Frame of their Battell.