CYRUS

The accidents that in our Nonage chance, When as our years grow ripe, slide out of thought Like fabulous dreams that Darkness does advance, And are by Day disdained as things of nought. For our Conceptions are not then so strong As for to leave th'impression long behind, Yet mix (deer Friend) old griefs new Joys among, And call afflicted Infancy to mind. More mighty matters now to muse upon, My memory with the remembrance cloy, That those are all forgotten, and yet tell on, For I delight to hear this childish toy. Some of the wise men then I herd remained, Who from their former sentence did recoil, Saying, no danger was since I had reigned, And so dismissed me for my native soil: Where when I had my unripe season spent, Your Letter came to give my fire new fuel, And told how many of the Medes were bent, T'abandon their own Lord that proved so cruel: And wished if to that Sceptre I aspired, That I should move the Persians to rebel, Which did succeed even as my soul desired, For they disdained in servitude to dwell. I placed my gallant troops in warlike ordour, And lest occasion should have slipped away, Marched with my army to my enemies bordour, Whereas you had the conduct for that day. T'is dangerous trusting one that's wronged we see, Just rancour unrevenged can never die. Behold how Croesus with his riches blinded, Durst come encounter with my warlike bans, And through a long prosperity highminded, Was not afraid to fallen before my hands. But he and his confederates have seen, How Victory does still my troops attend, And Persia must be once all Asia's Queen, Orwe shall to the world's end. Now Croesus is overcome rich Sardis taken, And Lidia fraught with gold is made our spoil, the Egyptians have th'vnprosp'rous league forsaken, This is the happy end of all our toil. But ah one sour unseasons all my sweets, Brave Abradatus my brother in arms, Whose praise through all the peopled circuit fleets, And with his love each generous courage warms. While but overbold for to be backed so badly, the Egyptian Chariots desperately he charged: There with euill-fortun'd valour fighting madly, His soul out of th'earths prison was enlarged. I hear you have not herd how his death proved The black beginning of a bloody scene, His wife Panthea at the first not moved, Seemed as she had some marble image been. The body that had oft her fancies fired She caused bear out of sighed, still deer, though dead, But being to Pactolus banks retired, She in her bosom did entomb his head. And then from rage she did some respite borrow, For sorrow by degrees a passage seeks, Vapouring forth sighs that made a cloud of sorrow, A tempest then of tears rained down her cheeks. And while her eye the wonted object misses, She many a languishing look does cast, And on the senseless lips still lavished kiss, As affectionedlie as in times passed. I posted thither for to have relieved This Lady of a portion of her woes, Heaven bear me witness I was greatly grieved, Who would, to save one friend, spare hosts of foes. She first a space me passionately eyed, Then with these words her lips did slowly move, My husband lo hath valorously died, Well worthy of your friendship, and my love. When I had all the flowers of comfort used. That a sad soul overcharged with grief could show, I went away with words that were confused, And scarcely could my last farewell forth throw. I was not well departed from her face, When as she char'gd the Eunuchs out of sighed, Then prayed her nurse to bury in one place Her and her Lord, as they deserved of right. Then looking on his corpse she drew a sword, And even as if her soul had flown in him, She stabbed her self, then falling on her Lord, Her beauty's blubbered stars were waxing dim. The faithful Eunuchs for their Sovereign sorry, And scorning to survive so rare a date, In emulation of their mistress glory, Died violently partners of her fate. Oh sweet Panthea rich in rarest parts! I must admire thy ghost though thou be gone, Who mightest have made a monarchy of hearts, Yet loathed unlawful loves, and loved but one. Oh wondrous wonders, wonders wondrous rare! A woman constant, such a beauty chaste, So pure a mind joined with a face so fair, Beauty and Virtue in one person placed! Both were well matched as any could devise, Whose undivided end their choice allows, He valorous, she virtuous, both wise, She worthy such a mate, he such a spouse. And Harpagus, lest that it should be thought, The memory of virtuous minds may die, Cause built a stately tomb with statues wrought, Where their dead bodies may respected lie. Abstract for old Croesus I am else resolved, He with some captives which I keep in store, Shall have their bodies by the fire dissolved, As offrands to the Gods that I adore. This city shall my soldiers pains defray, Since by their force it hath been brought to bow, I yield it unto them as their joust pray, Who taste the sweetness of their travels now. Of other things we shall so well dispose, That our renown over all the world shall shine, Till Cyrus name b'a terror to all those, I That dare against his Sovereignty repine.