Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

When great Assuerus (under whose Command
The worlds most part did in subjectiō stand,
Whose Kingdome was to East and West confin'd,
And stretcht from Ethiopia unto Ind',)
Whē this brave Monarch had with two yeers pow'r
Confirmd himselfe the Persian Emperour;
The peoples patience nilling to sustaine
The hard oppression of a third yeares raigne,
Softly began to grumble, sore to vexe,
Feeling such Tribute on their servile necks;
Which when the King (as he did quickly) heares,
(For Kings have tender, and the nimblest eares)
Partly to blow the coales of old affection,
Which now are dying through a forc'd subiection;
Partly to make his Princely might appeare,
To make them feare for love, or love for feare,
He made a Feast: He made a Royall Feast,
Fit for himselfe, had he himselfe beene Guest;

100

To which he calls the Princes of his Land,
Who (paying tribute) by his power stand;
To which he calls his servants of Estate,
His Captains, and his Rulers of the State,
That he may shew the glory of his store,
The like unseene by any Prince before;
That he may boast his Kingdomes beauty forth,
His servant Princes, and their Princely worth;
That he may shew the Type of Sov'raignty
Fulfill'd in th'honour of his Majesty:
He made a Feast, whose Date should not expire,
Vntill seven Moones had lost and gain'd their fire

When as this Royall tedious Feast was ended,
(For good more common 'tis, 'tis more cōmended)
For meaner sort he made a second Feast;
His Guests were from the greatest to the least
In Susa's place; Seven dayes they did resort
To Feast i'th' Palace Garden of the Court;
Where in the midst, the house of Bacchus stands
To entertaine when Bounty claps her hands;
The Tap'stry hangings, were of divers hue,
Pure white, and youthfull Greene, and joyful blue,
The maine supporting Pillars of the Place
Were perfect Marble of the purest race;
The Reds were rich right Princely to behold,
Of beaten Silver, and of burnish't Gold.
The pavement was discolour'd Porphyry,
And during Marble, colour'd diversly;
In lavish Cups of oft-refined gold,
Came Wine unwisht, drink what the people would
The Golden vessels did in number passe,
Great choyce of Cups, great choyce of wine was there
And since Abuse attends vpon Excesse,
Leading sweet Mirth to loathsome Drunkennesse

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A temp'rate Law was made, that no man might
Inforce an undisposed Appetite:
So that a sober mind may use his pleasure,
And measure drinking, though not drinke by measure.