Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/391

 The Four Monarchies. 305

The Souldiers pinched with this fcarcit}^

By ftealth unto Caffander dayly fly;

Olimpias means to hold out-'' to the laft,

Expecting nothing but of death to taft;

But his occafions caUing him away,''

Gives promife for her life, fo wins the day.

No fooner had he got her in his hand,

But made in judgement her accufers ftand;

And plead the blood of friends and kindreds" fpilt,

Defiring juftice might be done for guilt;

And fo was he acquitted of his word,

For juftice fake fhe being put to th' Sword:

This was the end of this moft cruel Queen,

Whofe fury fcarcely parallel'd ''' hath been.

The daughter, filler, Mother, Wife to Kings,

But Royalty no good conditions brings;''

To Husbands death ('tis "' thought) fhe gave confent,

The murtherer" flie did fo much lament:

With Garlands crown'd his head, bemoan'd his fates,

His Sword unto Apollo confecrates.

Her Outrages too tedious to relate.

How for no caufe but her inveterate hate;

Her Husbands wives^ and Children after's death.

Some flew, fome fry'd, of others ftopt the breath:

y wills to keep it, " But he unwilling longer there to ftay,

« of their deare Kindred. i> >'et unparalleld. c After this the first edition has, —

So boundleiTe was her pride, and cruelty,

She oft forgot bounds of Humanity. d 'twas. ^ The Authours death. / Wife.

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