Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/328

 242 Anne B radji reef s Worhs.

At lafh difplays his Enfigne on a Hill,

Hoping by that to make the Greeks ftand ftill;

But was deceiv'd. to him they run '' amain,

The King upon the fpur runs back again:

But they too faint ftill to purfue their game.

Being Vi6lors oft, now to their Camp they came.

nor lackt they any of their number fmall,

Nor wound receiv^'d, but one among them all;

The King with his difperft, alfo incamp'd,

With Infamy upon each Forehead ftamp'd.

His hurri'd thoughts he after recolle6ls,^ [^19]

Of this dayes Cowardize he fears th' effe^fs.

If Greeks in their own Country fhould declare,^

What daftards in the Field the Perjians are,

They in fhort time might" place one in his Throne;

And rob him both of Scepter and of Crown;

To hinder their return by craft or force,

He judg'd his wifeft and his fafeit Courfe.

Then fends, that to his Tent, they ftreight addrefs,'*

And there all wait, his mercy weaponlefs ;

The Greeks with fcorn reje6l his proud Commands

Asking no favour, where they fear'd no bands:

The troubled King his Herrld fends again,

^nd fues for peace, that they his friends remain,

^ it thej make. y After a while his thoughts he re-coliei5ts,

z If Greeks unto their Countrj-men declare, « Thej foone may come, and.

b That their return be ftopt, he judg'd was beft, That fo Ruropians might no more moleft ; Forth-with he fends to's Tent, they ftraight addrelle,

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