Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/304

 2i(S All fie Bradjl reefs Works.

��Darius Hyjiafpes.

TTAARIUS by election made a King,

■-^-^^ His title to make ftrong, omits no thing:

He two of Cyrus daughters then doth wed,

Two of his Neeces takes to Nuptial bed,

By which he cuts their hopes for future time, [99]

That by fuch fteps to Kingdomes often clime.

And now a King by mariage, choice and blood:

Three ftrings to's bow, the leaft of which is good;

Yet firmly more, the peoples hearts to bind.

Made wholfome, gentle laws which pleas'd each mind.

His courtelie and affability.

Much gain'd the hearts of his nobility. "

Yet notwithftanding all he did fo well,

The Babylonians 'gainfl; their prince rebell.

An hoft he rais'd the city to reduce;

But men '^ againft thofe walls were of no ufe.''

Then brave Zopirus for his mafters good.

His manly face diffigures, fpares no blood:

With his own hands cutts off his ears and nofe,

And with a faithfull fraud to th' town he goes,

c His affability, and milde afpecSl,

Did win him loyalty, and all refpedl; d ftrength. ^ After this, the first edition has, —

For twice ten months before the town he lay, And fear'd, he now with fcorn muft march away.

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