NUNTIUS

I tell the wrack of us, and all that live Within the circuit of this wretched soil. It's made his spoil. No, but yet nearly escaped does live in danger. You know how Croesus at advantage lay, Still seeking means t'abate the Persians pride, And his confederates had assigned a day When they should for th'intended war provide. But Cyrus having herd how that they should Against his state so great and army bring, Straight raising all the forces that he could, Prevents, invades, overcomes and takes our King. When Croesus saw that Cyrus came so soon, He stood awhile with a distracted mind, Yet what time would permit, left nought undone, But made his Musters, marched his Foe to find. Our stately Troops that glisterd all with gold, And with umbrageous Feathers fanned the air, They with unwary insolence grown bold, More how to triumph, then to overcome, took care. The Lidian Horsemen are of great account, And are for valour through the world renowned, Them Cyrus chiefly laboured to surmount, And this devise for that effect was found. Untrussing all their baggage by the way, Of the disburdened Camels each did bear A grim-faced Groom, who did himself array Even as the Persian Horsemen use to wear. To them th'Infanterie did follow next, A solid Squadron Like a brazen wall, But those in whom all confidence was fixed, The brave Cavalry came last of all. Then Cyrus by the reins his Courser took, And being mounted, holding out his hands, With and assured and Imperious look Went breathing valour through unconquered bands. He willed all them that at Death's game should strive, To spare none of their foes in any form, But as for Croesus, to take him alive, And keep him captive for a greater storm. Where famous Hellus does to Hermus post In his broad waves t'entombe his strength and name, Our Army ran against a greater Host Enrich it likewise with our force and fame. Our Troops a time with equal valour stood, Till giving place, at length we took the chase, While as the River ran to hide our blood, But still his borders blushed at our disgrace. For so soon as the Camels once were come, Our Horses loathing to endure their sighed, Ran raging back again, and of them some Disordering ranks, put many to the flight. Yet others that were of more martial minds, Perceived the Stratagem that did deride them, And lighting on their feet, Like mighty winds, Bore down before them all that durst abide them. There, while: the world proved prodigal of breath, The headless troncks lay prostrated in heaps, This field of funerals, proper unto death, Did paint out Horror in most hideous shapes. There men vnhorsde, horses unmastered, strayed, Some called on them whom they most dearly tendered, Some ragde, some groaned, some sighed, roared, wept & prayed, Fighting, fainting, falling, desperate, maymde, rendered. Those that escaped, Like beasts unto a Den, Fled to a Fortress, which true valour drowns, Walls are for women, and the fields for men, For Towns cannot keep men, but men keep Towns. And we were scarcely entered at the Ports, When as the enemies did the Town enclose, And rearing many artificial Forts, To the Defenders did huge pains impose. There all the military slights werere found, Which at the Like encounters had prevailed, Both for to use advantage of the ground, Or for to help with Art where Nature failed. They ever compassing our Trench about, Still where the Walls were weakest, made a breach, Which being straight repaired, we threw tools out, And killed all those that came within our reach. There all the bolts of death edgde by disdain, That many curious wits inclined to ill, Helped by occasion, and the hope of gain, Had pour invent, were put in practice still. Yet as we see, it oft times hath occurrde, Where we suspected least, we were surprised, While fortune and the fates in one concurrde To have our ruin in their rolls comprised. The side of Sardis that was least regarded, Which lies t'wards Tmolus, and was thought most sure, Through this presumption, while was weakly guarded, Th'orethrow of all Lidia did procure. As one of ours (unhappily it chanced) T'o're-take his helmet that had escaped his hand, Alongst that steepy partly his steps advanced And was returning back unto his Band: He was well marked by one that had not spared No kind of danger for to make us thralls, For Cyrus had proposed a great reward To any one that first could scale our walls. And this companion seeing without stay, One in his sighed that craggy passage clime, Straight followed on his footsteps all the way, And many a thousand followed after him. By whom all those that durst resist were killed, The rest were forced, and knew not where to flee: For every street was with confusion filled, There was no corner from some mischief free. Oh what a piteous clamour did arise, Of ravished virgins, and of widowd wives! Who pierced the heavens with lamentable cries, And having lost all comfort, loathed their lives. While those proud Victor's did insist to-have stained Themselves with all the wrongs that such Like use, They by a charge from Cyrus were restrained, And durst no more their captives thus abuse. He seeing enemy of his State possessed, And that confusion seazde on every thing, Stood first amazed, scarce trusting his own sighed, His former fortune had him so transported, Yet it is hard for to deny the light, He saw a stranger that his wealth extorted. And when that he had deeply apprehended Th'vnbounded horrors that overflowed his soul, As one whose Joys had long before been ended, He could no more the signs of grief control. But bursting out in bitter sighs and tears, Plunged in the deepest depth of black despair, Through over great fear, leaving all kind of fears, Did of his safety take no further care, And never wished he so for a long life, But he o're-wisht it, wishing for death now, Still seeking danger in the bounds of strife, Providing that he died, he cared not how. While thus he fostered furies in his breast, A certain soldier by the way him meets, As insolent as any of the rest, That drunk with blood, ran raging through the streets: And seeking but and object to his ire, He made to him, and he to him again, I wot not which of them did most desire, Th'one for to slay, or th'other to be slain. But while so base a hand towering aloft, Did to so great a Monarch threaten death, His eldest Son, that as you have herd oft, Was barred from the right function of his breath. I cannot tell you well, nor in what fashion, If that the destinies had so ordained, Or if the vehemency of his passion Did break the strings that had his tongue restrained. But when he saw his Sire in such a danger, He bursted forth into those words the rather, Hold, hold thy hand in haste thou furious stranger, Kill not King Croesus, murder not my Father. The other hearing this, his hand retyrde, Then called his Kings commandment to mind, And to no small preferment he aspyrde, To whom this desert did his Sovereign bind. Now, when that Croesus, who for death did languish, Was of this fair occasion disappointed, O're-chargd with grief, and surfeiting of anguish, To see himself for further evils appointed. He with sad sighs those syllables did accord, Now cruel destiny do what thou can, Which would not unto me the grace afford That I might perish Like a private man. Ah! must I live to wish to-have been unborn, Charactring shame in a dejected face? Ah! must I live to my perpetual scorn, The finger-pointed object of disgrace? Yet this unto his soul more sorrow bred, He Kinglike as in former times arrayde, Was with a mighty acclamation led Strait to the Tent whereas their Emperor stayed. So soon as Cyrus God him in his pour, He caused bring bans of iron, burdenous chains, And clogged him hand and foot at that same hour, As one that was designed for grievous pains. Then caused in haste a pile of wood to make, And in the amid where all men might espy him, Caused bind the captived King unto a stake, With fourteen others of the Lydians by him. There, as oblation for his Victory, With sacred flames their bodies to combure, Although Jove hates preposterous piety, And does delight in offerings that are pure. Now while the fires were kindling round about, As one that to some powerful God had vowed, With eyes bent up, and with his hands stretched out, Oh Solon, Solon, Croesus cried aloud. Some hearing him to utter such a voice, And seeing Cyrus curious for to know, Now of what Deity dying he made choice, Did pray him liberally his mind to show. He answered; upon one in wit profound He called, with whom he wished, if it might be, That all the Rulers of inferior round Had had some conference as well as he. For he had told him while his fortune lasted, As one expert in good advises giving, That all his flowers of bliss might soon be blasted, And could not be accomplished he being living. Then he proceeded for to show at length The Dialogue betwixt Solon and betwixt him, Who prayed him not to trust in worldly strength, By which unto true bliss no man could clime. This speech moved Cyrus deeply, for to ponder The great uncertainty of worldly things, As thinking that himself might be brought under, Who had no privilege more then other Kings. Then having such a pattern placed before him, Whose farre-changd fortune thoroughly was revolved, He freely did his liberty restore him, And willed him from the fire to be absolved. Oh now Devotion! well appeared thy force, Which binds the earth and opens up the Heaven, In the celestial breasts a deep remorse Was strangely wrought while Coesus prayed; for even Whileas the flashing flames, in vain to quench, All men did labour, but could do no good, The clouds were opened and a shower did drench The firy ashes of the flaming wood. Now while that Croesus coming from the fire, Saw ruthless sould'ers sacking all the City, To save the same he had a great desire, And spoke to Cyrus melting all in pity. Great Prince, for famous Victories renowned, Who dost in arms all others so surmount, That it contents me much to be uncrowned By one so worthy, and in such account: And since I am constrained your thrall to be, I must conform my self unto my fate, And cannot hold my pace whereas I see Ought to preiudge the greatness of your State, Which ah! is wounded now with your own powers, While this rich City is sacked and overthrown, It is not mine no more, no, it is yours, And therefore (Sir) have pity of your own. Yea, though the lose of such a populous Town, That's rich, that's yours, your mind could nothing move, Yet think of this that does import your Crown; A piece of policy which time will prove. The barbarous Persians born with stubborn minds, Who but for poverty first followed you, Their matchless worth in arms all Asia finds, Their fear is fallen upon all Nations now. But if you suffer them in such a sort Enrich themselves with plenteous Lidia's spoil, Not able then their Conquest to support, The Victor of the vanquished gets the foil. For this will make them wealthy out of measure: Wealth to confusion many a Country leads; While feebled with delights, in-vilde with pleasure, No thought of honour harbours in their heads. Then Cyrus strait approving what he spoke, His soldiers from their pillage were restrained, Pretending first the tenth partly for to take, As a rich offering for the Gods ordained. Of our distress, this is the ruthful story; A stranger is possessed of this Province; Our King hath with the lose of all his glory Bought breath a while, a poor thing for a Prince.