GENTLEMAN

Sir, heavy news, this letter will inform you Sent from the Governor, which to bring hither In a disguised shape, I passed the guards, The trenches and the camp of Geolon, With thousand hazards of my life, all which I reckon not to do my Noble Prince, My Prince Amandus service. Oh Sir, I'm sorry my unworthy mouth Should be the organ to convey a found Unto your Princely ears, so harsh as this, So doleful, so unpleasant, I would rather Be silent in a story of such woe; Yet since you do command me, know my Liege The City is distressed for want of food: All their provision is consumed and spent, And nothing left for to sustain their lives. These two months have they fed upon the flesh Of horses, dogs, and cats, now they are driven To such and exigent, as they begin To eat sod leather, yea the excrement Of men and beasts, and which is more, their flesh, Their proper flesh: this day within Damascus, I saw a sighed which grieves me to relate, It did appear so horrid, 'twas a woman With hunger pined who had not eat a bit In seven days space of any ustenance, Fore'd with her knife to cut her infants throat That sucked upon her breast, to satisfy With its sweet fl sh her ravenous appetite: And for the ammunition of the town As powder, bullets, match, and such materials Oh war, it's almost spent, for three years ege Cannot but empty well the magazine; Yet notwithstanding all this misery, (Such as the Like I think was never herd Or seen in any age) they are resolved (So much their loyal hearts affect their Prince) Never to yield the town, so long as any Survives to make resistance, and despise All quarter, all reward that hath been offered By Geolon the Tartar As thou hast lived with him, so shalt thou die And serve him in the other world From Persia Sir. That the Persian Is marching hither with a mighty army To fallen upon your Kingdom, from the Court I did accompany the Camp, until I learned the certainty of their design, Then in the night I left them, and with speed Road post to warn you, that you might provide Against a strong invasion. I can in form you nothing of the cause, But so much of effect, I can assure you, Is it too too true. We had it from a prisoner, which our men Took of the Persians, who it seems, is one Of the fore-riders of the camp. We will sacrifice Their lives with speed, to pacify your spirit; But that's a poor requital for our lose: Villains, our swords must send you hence to hell, Go, and the furies give you entertainment. 'Tis done, deer Sir, see where the viliaines lie. Alas, deer Madame, we abhor delights As much as you, since our delight is gone; We thank your noble courtesy, but cannot Accept it, for despair and sorrow does Pos esse our very souls, come, let us go And leave this Land so much repleat with woe. With what confidence Of good success their Captain gave the onset? But when the Princes conquering sword dispatched him How soon his thieves were quelled. As we have The bounty of your noble disposition, For both our humble thanks—dresses him, In the confines Of Babylonia never fair Euphrates. Their Army does amount Unto a hundred thousand foot, their horse Equals that number bravely equipaged And furnished for the war. Prince Perseus himself. Sir I (So much I do prefer my King and Country Before my life) I might be proved a liar, Although I S ffer'd for it, rather then Behold the devastation of a soil So sweet as fair Arabia; but alas Your royal self, and we your loyal Subject's I fear too soon will have experience of The truth of my relation, and perchance Repent too late your incredulity, Grounded upon too much security. What should it ought advantage me to lie? It's because He was informed, though falsely, that the rape On fair Lucinda was committed by The Kings command, and she detained at Court.