Poems on several choice and various subjects occasionally composed by an eminent author ; collected and published by Sergeant-Major P.F.

Vpon a Rare and Recent Persian TRAGY-HISTORY. 1655.

THis is an Age of Wonders; ev'ry Clime Abounds with Prodigies: there is no Crime, Not a notorious Villany or Fact, No soul insandous Thing, or ugly Act, That ever Adams Sons did perpetrate, But we have flagrant instances of late. For Sacriledge, and horrid Blasphemy, Base Lyes, created Fears and Perjury; For Scripture-pride, Extortion, Avarice, (The root of all our ills, and leading vice) For Public Frauds, False Lights, and Fatuous Fires▪ Fanatic Fancies clad in Faiths attire; For Politicians, if one could rake Hell, He hardly there could find their parallel.

Did Machiavil, or Methro live agen, They would be counted Saints match'd with these men: For Murther, and the crying sin of Blood, The like, but one, was never since the Flood. In some, we may for these, and thousand 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Vie Villanies with any Age before.

Nor is it Europe only that doth breed Such Monsters, but the Asian Regions feed As bad; witness this Persian Tragedy, Compil'd with so much Art and Energy: As if the Soul of Ben, of Pond'rous Ben, Did move in you, and guide both Brain and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 You make the Actors with such passion speak, As if the very Lines with Blood did reak.

Go on, brave Spark, improve thy Talent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And gain more ground on the Pierian Hill▪