 | A Metrical History of Christianity |  |
Under Emperours East John Zimisce after the Sons of Romanus West as Otho 2d from 974 to 983
Otho the Second wares th'Emperiall Wreath.
His Uncle Henry here at doth grieve,
Prompt on by Abraham his Bishop, and
Kings of Beheme, Polone, and Denmarks band
With him against this Otho and are queld.
The French that Lotharinge ceiz'd are expelld.
Otho at Aquisgrane was nigh entrapt,
But scaping, Lothair by him was so strapt
As that he loses all he had, Otho
With fire, and Sword did unto Paris go
But turning home the River Ailene stroy'd
His men abundantly by its Swift tide.
Basil, and Constantine. Romanu's Sons
Pufft with their Syrian Victorie their drums
Beat up 'gainst Otho torn with Civill Wars
Snatch Dorus up: Machera gain make Scars
In Apuleia and Calabria
Out Otho came against them ways to pay
But them of Benevent, and Rome in fight
Proove treacherous when he'd nigh the Greeks quelld [quite]
That Otho scarce escapt the Foes: but fell
Into the Seamens hands, and by a Spell
Of Silver did redeem himselfe and free
Feigning himselfe another man to bee,
But now requoils. and Beneventum burns
And punishment on Romans he returns[.]
His Uncle Henry here at doth grieve,
Prompt on by Abraham his Bishop, and
Kings of Beheme, Polone, and Denmarks band
With him against this Otho and are queld.
The French that Lotharinge ceiz'd are expelld.
Otho at Aquisgrane was nigh entrapt,
But scaping, Lothair by him was so strapt
As that he loses all he had, Otho
With fire, and Sword did unto Paris go
But turning home the River Ailene stroy'd
His men abundantly by its Swift tide.
350
Pufft with their Syrian Victorie their drums
Beat up 'gainst Otho torn with Civill Wars
Snatch Dorus up: Machera gain make Scars
In Apuleia and Calabria
Out Otho came against them ways to pay
But them of Benevent, and Rome in fight
Proove treacherous when he'd nigh the Greeks quelld [quite]
That Otho scarce escapt the Foes: but fell
Into the Seamens hands, and by a Spell
Of Silver did redeem himselfe and free
Feigning himselfe another man to bee,
But now requoils. and Beneventum burns
And punishment on Romans he returns[.]
After Nicephorus John Zimiscee
Who him destroy'd the Emperour must bee
Whom yet the Patriarch refusd to Crown
In that his Masters blood by him fell down.
The Turks molest him: he them Swaddled well
And in's return, his eyes beholding fell
Upon the booty brave the Eunuch had
Was heard to say, it is a thing full sad
A Stallion Should such goods have in his den
Wonn by the blood of many noble men.
This Speech inflam'd the Eunuch's wrath, that he
Must by a mess of poison welcombd bee.
Now Justice hath her glory pollisht bright,
Wherein her balance Stands with Equall Weights.
Who him destroy'd the Emperour must bee
Whom yet the Patriarch refusd to Crown
In that his Masters blood by him fell down.
The Turks molest him: he them Swaddled well
And in's return, his eyes beholding fell
Upon the booty brave the Eunuch had
Was heard to say, it is a thing full sad
A Stallion Should such goods have in his den
Wonn by the blood of many noble men.
This Speech inflam'd the Eunuch's wrath, that he
Must by a mess of poison welcombd bee.
Now Justice hath her glory pollisht bright,
Wherein her balance Stands with Equall Weights.
| A Metrical History of Christianity | |