Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/406

 320 Anne Bradjl reefs Worlcs.

His brave Virago Afpes fets to her Arms/

To take her life, and quit her from all harms;

For "twas not death nor danger fhe did dread,

But fome difgrace in triumph to be led.

Here ends at laft the Grecian Monarchy,

Which by the Romans had its deftiny;

Thus King^ & Kingdomes have their times & dates,

Their ftandings, overturnings, bounds and fates :

Now up, now down now chief, & then broght under.

The heavn's thus rule, to til the world'-" with wonder

The Affyrian Monarchy long time did ftand.

But yet the Perjian got the upper hand;

The Grecian them did utterly fubdue,

And millions were fubjefted unto few:

The Gi'ecian longer then the Perjian flood,

Then came the Roman like a raging flood;

And with the torrent of his rapid courfe,

Their Crowns their Titles, riches bears by force.

The flrft was likened to a head of o-old.

Next Arms and breaft of filver to behold,

The third. Belly and Thighs of brafs in fight, [185]

And laft was Iron, which breaketh all with might;

The ftone out of the mountain then did rife,

and fmote thofe feet thofe legs, thofe arms & thighs

Then gold, filver, brafs, Iron and all the '"■ ftore,

Became like Chafli'upon the threfhing Floor.*

" Then poyfonous Afpes llie fets unto her Amies, / Kings,

g earth. h that. * Dan. ii. 31-35.

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