 | A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford |  |
Under Justinian 2/Leontius/Absemarus begining 687/697/699.
Justinian in the Throne can ne're abide
The Roman Prelates Haughtiness, and Pride.
Did Cruell grow. Lievetenant Stephen, and
One Theodore a monke, under him stand,
And Exercise Unheard of Tyranny:
Command the Army on a night that they
Constantinoples Citizen all slay.
Which to Prevent, Leontius Master once
Of th'Eastern forces, with the people bounce
And a few Captives, rout them: and Captive
Justinian; of's tongue, Nose, Eares him shrive
Sits in the Throne three years. Then Absimare
Doth Empire and his Nose too from his pare.
Justinian banis[h]t, treats Prince Cajane's aide.
Whom Absimare by Coine his Friend had made.
Hence he smelt danger, and to Terbell flies,
Lord of Bulgaria, and gets supplies.
Constantinople gets, and Captive takes
Leontius, Absimare treads on them, spakes
This song, Thou'st on the Asp, and Adar tread
The Lion and the Dragon trample, read
Their fatall Sentence, and they headed are.
Seven of the Chiefe, on Wooden Stakes (hard fare)
He Spits, and Rosts: and twenty more he drowns:
And multitudes by Cruel Deaths Confounds
Provides a Fleet their Infants to destroy.
Wherein were seventy thousand of his fry
Sent by a Storm to pave the Sea's broad floore.
Nay, and as oft as he (who'de gaind a Cure)
Did wipe his Snotty nose's place, he flew
On some, or other, and in vengeance slew.
The Roman Prelates Haughtiness, and Pride.
Did Cruell grow. Lievetenant Stephen, and
One Theodore a monke, under him stand,
And Exercise Unheard of Tyranny:
Command the Army on a night that they
Constantinoples Citizen all slay.
Which to Prevent, Leontius Master once
Of th'Eastern forces, with the people bounce
And a few Captives, rout them: and Captive
Justinian; of's tongue, Nose, Eares him shrive
Sits in the Throne three years. Then Absimare
Doth Empire and his Nose too from his pare.
224
Whom Absimare by Coine his Friend had made.
Hence he smelt danger, and to Terbell flies,
Lord of Bulgaria, and gets supplies.
Constantinople gets, and Captive takes
Leontius, Absimare treads on them, spakes
This song, Thou'st on the Asp, and Adar tread
The Lion and the Dragon trample, read
Their fatall Sentence, and they headed are.
Seven of the Chiefe, on Wooden Stakes (hard fare)
He Spits, and Rosts: and twenty more he drowns:
And multitudes by Cruel Deaths Confounds
Provides a Fleet their Infants to destroy.
Wherein were seventy thousand of his fry
Sent by a Storm to pave the Sea's broad floore.
Nay, and as oft as he (who'de gaind a Cure)
Did wipe his Snotty nose's place, he flew
On some, or other, and in vengeance slew.
The Lombards Tyrant Alachis, Exiles
King Cuniberd; in Christian blood much guiles
Threats when he's King, he'l fill his well, and trim,
With Clergy's Testicles unto the brim.
Whom he asserted, filthy Breeches wore.
King Cuniberd; in Christian blood much guiles
Threats when he's King, he'l fill his well, and trim,
With Clergy's Testicles unto the brim.
Whom he asserted, filthy Breeches wore.
The Arabs lay Armenia in gore.
Ulid their King the Christian Temples burns
Now at Damascus, Charges too to turn
Their Bookes into Arabian Language, and
To write no more in Greek, was his command.
The Sclaves, Avares too, the Churches wast
And Christians into bondage bring, defac'de
Ulid their King the Christian Temples burns
Now at Damascus, Charges too to turn
Their Bookes into Arabian Language, and
To write no more in Greek, was his command.
The Sclaves, Avares too, the Churches wast
And Christians into bondage bring, defac'de
The Eastern French do murder Chilian
And his brave sociats Tholman, Doloman.
Who did the Duke of Herbople with all
His Dukedom unto Christ Convert and call.
And his brave sociats Tholman, Doloman.
Who did the Duke of Herbople with all
His Dukedom unto Christ Convert and call.
Pipin Commands, or did permit the thing
To slay Lampert, who did reproove his Sin.
To slay Lampert, who did reproove his Sin.
Landobert follows Heimeranus cleare
Of Reignsburge in Bavaria, who were
By's harlot Sister Charg'd, ore tooke, and splits
Him on the Rack, and Cuts him all to bits.
Of Reignsburge in Bavaria, who were
By's harlot Sister Charg'd, ore tooke, and splits
Him on the Rack, and Cuts him all to bits.
In England the Picts getting the day
Down go the Churches, Doctors fly away.
Down go the Churches, Doctors fly away.
Evald the White, Evald the Black who, went
From England to Saxony, intent
To preach Christ there, were martyrde nigh to Breme.
The White they quickly slew, the Black a Stream
Of tortures did endure. And so they take
And Cut him all to bits as authour spake.
Now view this thrid, and tell me what you think
Is Justice Dead? Doth Patience make her Winke?
But what a Patience doth this Stage unfold?
Surely it writes her Fame in Liquid Gold.
From England to Saxony, intent
To preach Christ there, were martyrde nigh to Breme.
The White they quickly slew, the Black a Stream
Of tortures did endure. And so they take
And Cut him all to bits as authour spake.
225
Is Justice Dead? Doth Patience make her Winke?
But what a Patience doth this Stage unfold?
Surely it writes her Fame in Liquid Gold.
| A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford | |