The Tvvo Famous Pitcht Battels of Lypsich, and Lutzen wherein the ever-renowned Prince Gustavus the Great lived and died a Conquerour: with an Elegie upon his untimely death, composed in Heroick Verse. By John Russell |
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THE BATTELL OF LVTZEN. |
 | The Tvvo Famous Pitcht Battels of Lypsich, and Lutzen |  |
30
THE BATTELL OF LVTZEN.
The hel-born Furies, who delight in bloud,
And had of late swumme in a purple floud,
Which not at all their vengefull thirst abates,
Do now again invoke the Pow'rfull Fates
To hasten forward such another day,
Where they in midst of fire and smoke might play;
And with their pois'nous breath and fierie brands
Inflame GUSTAVUS and th' Imperiall Bands.
The All-disposing Providence above,
Whose presence makes the trembling heav'ns to move,
Doth yeeld to these infernall Hagges desire.
Let none presume a reason to require:
It was his will; let that alone suffice:
And sure 'twas just; though that the feeble eyes
Of our dimme mortall judgement never can
With punctuall knowledge heav'nly actions scanne.
Weep, mournfull Germanie; For once again
Thy childrens bloud thy wretched fields must stain:
And to augment thy losse, that Pow'rfull King,
Who hopes of peace and victorie did bring,
Must there receive his mortall wound, with whom
Shall thousands more receive their Fatall doom.
Thy freedome, which thou hast so long time sought,
Must with more streams of humane bloud be bought.
And had of late swumme in a purple floud,
Which not at all their vengefull thirst abates,
Do now again invoke the Pow'rfull Fates
To hasten forward such another day,
Where they in midst of fire and smoke might play;
And with their pois'nous breath and fierie brands
Inflame GUSTAVUS and th' Imperiall Bands.
31
Whose presence makes the trembling heav'ns to move,
Doth yeeld to these infernall Hagges desire.
Let none presume a reason to require:
It was his will; let that alone suffice:
And sure 'twas just; though that the feeble eyes
Of our dimme mortall judgement never can
With punctuall knowledge heav'nly actions scanne.
Weep, mournfull Germanie; For once again
Thy childrens bloud thy wretched fields must stain:
And to augment thy losse, that Pow'rfull King,
Who hopes of peace and victorie did bring,
Must there receive his mortall wound, with whom
Shall thousands more receive their Fatall doom.
Thy freedome, which thou hast so long time sought,
Must with more streams of humane bloud be bought.
Oh happie England, who wilt scarce confesse,
Drunk with securitie, thy happinesse;
That dost enjoy such Quietnesse, such Ease,
Such calme Tranquillitie, and blessed Peace;
And that not purchas'd by laborious Toil,
By fire, and sword, by ruine, and by spoil;
Nor by the losse of thy choice Youth, whose Fate
Thou wouldst not fear 'gainst Heav'n t'expostulate:
But it hath cost thee nothing: for behold,
On thee th' Almightie hath his blessings roll'd,
Without all labour or desert of thine,
Meerly by instinct of his love divine;
And hath enricht thee with a gracious King,
At whose blest Birth Angels of peace did sing:
Oh look upon thy neighbour Germanie,
Drown'd with a floud of tears and miserie;
Whose towns are ruin'd, and whose Cities burn,
Whose fields do flow with bloud, whose people mourn:
Think but on this all you that cannot weep,
Who in the arms of happie Peace do sleep.
Is't irksome to your eares? Your tender Heart
At these molesting sounds (methinks) doth start:
From Warres and Woes y' have been so long secure,
That now you cannot their rough Name endure.
Are you become like to the Sybarite,
Whose soft'ned spirit, sottish appetite
Could no harsh noise endure, nor that shrill sound,
That doth from hamm'red Steel and Brasse rebound?
And therefore such Artificers as those,
That did molest their eares with clatt'ring blowes,
By a preventing law they did compell
Farre off in some obscurer place to dwell.
Shall these my verses, that with clatt'ring ding
The strokes of Warre and furious Rage do sing,
Displease our British eares, who are of late
(It seems) grown tender and effeminate?
Your Amorettoes think them farre too rough,
Not smooth, nor pleasing, nor half low enough:
They cannot screw them any wayes to suit
Or consort with their sweet-tun'd warbling Lute:
They are too loftie for a Womans voice,
And drown all sweetnesse with a ratling noise.
Some hollow-sounding Drumme, or Trumpet shrill,
Or thundring Cannons, that the eare do fill
With frightfull sounds, fit Instruments would be
To Echo forth my lines melodiously.
The smaller shot shall serve for repetition,
While clatt'ring swords shall represent division:
And the more Discords that my verses show,
The better Harmonie from thence will flow.
Drunk with securitie, thy happinesse;
That dost enjoy such Quietnesse, such Ease,
Such calme Tranquillitie, and blessed Peace;
And that not purchas'd by laborious Toil,
By fire, and sword, by ruine, and by spoil;
Nor by the losse of thy choice Youth, whose Fate
Thou wouldst not fear 'gainst Heav'n t'expostulate:
But it hath cost thee nothing: for behold,
On thee th' Almightie hath his blessings roll'd,
Without all labour or desert of thine,
Meerly by instinct of his love divine;
32
At whose blest Birth Angels of peace did sing:
Oh look upon thy neighbour Germanie,
Drown'd with a floud of tears and miserie;
Whose towns are ruin'd, and whose Cities burn,
Whose fields do flow with bloud, whose people mourn:
Think but on this all you that cannot weep,
Who in the arms of happie Peace do sleep.
Is't irksome to your eares? Your tender Heart
At these molesting sounds (methinks) doth start:
From Warres and Woes y' have been so long secure,
That now you cannot their rough Name endure.
Are you become like to the Sybarite,
Whose soft'ned spirit, sottish appetite
Could no harsh noise endure, nor that shrill sound,
That doth from hamm'red Steel and Brasse rebound?
And therefore such Artificers as those,
That did molest their eares with clatt'ring blowes,
By a preventing law they did compell
Farre off in some obscurer place to dwell.
Shall these my verses, that with clatt'ring ding
The strokes of Warre and furious Rage do sing,
Displease our British eares, who are of late
(It seems) grown tender and effeminate?
Your Amorettoes think them farre too rough,
Not smooth, nor pleasing, nor half low enough:
They cannot screw them any wayes to suit
Or consort with their sweet-tun'd warbling Lute:
33
And drown all sweetnesse with a ratling noise.
Some hollow-sounding Drumme, or Trumpet shrill,
Or thundring Cannons, that the eare do fill
With frightfull sounds, fit Instruments would be
To Echo forth my lines melodiously.
The smaller shot shall serve for repetition,
While clatt'ring swords shall represent division:
And the more Discords that my verses show,
The better Harmonie from thence will flow.
Then cheerfully my loftie Muse proceed:
There will be some that will thy verses reade;
Such gen'rous spirits, in whose manly breasts
An ardent love of Fame and Honour rests;
Who still retain some sparks of that desire,
Which did their Ancestours brave hearts enfire,
When they did make Pagans and Cypriots feel
The direfull force of their resistlesse steel:
Or when so often, to their lasting glorie,
They did o're-runne the Gallick Territorie;
Or when the Worlds Disturber they did tame,
Who Europes Monarchie alone doth claim:
Such men as these will farre above thy merit
Approve thy lines, applaud thy loftie spirit,
That thus hast chosen with industrious brains
To shew thy vigour in Heroick strains;
And not in soft-tun'd Ditties, or such layes
As Ladies onely and their servants praise.
There will be some that will thy verses reade;
Such gen'rous spirits, in whose manly breasts
An ardent love of Fame and Honour rests;
Who still retain some sparks of that desire,
Which did their Ancestours brave hearts enfire,
When they did make Pagans and Cypriots feel
The direfull force of their resistlesse steel:
Or when so often, to their lasting glorie,
They did o're-runne the Gallick Territorie;
Or when the Worlds Disturber they did tame,
Who Europes Monarchie alone doth claim:
Such men as these will farre above thy merit
Approve thy lines, applaud thy loftie spirit,
That thus hast chosen with industrious brains
To shew thy vigour in Heroick strains;
And not in soft-tun'd Ditties, or such layes
As Ladies onely and their servants praise.
34
The Sunne had finisht now his annuall Race,
Since Fatall Lypsich with a mournfull face
Beheld GUSTAVUS, and his warlike Force
Her fertile plains die with a bloudie sourse;
Which scarce as yet fully exhaust appeares,
And scarce had Lypsich wip'd away her tears,
When lo, not farre, upon a neighb'ring plain
Bellona sounds her dreadfull trump again:
And Lutzen is appointed for the stage,
Where Mars intends to act a second Rage;
Lutzen, that Fatall Town, whose very sound
I feel my grief-disturbed heart to wound.
There Great GUSTAVUS, so renown'd, became
(Dire alteration!) onely now a Name;
Once of such power, that his conqu'ring hands
Could tame stout Nations, and subdue their Bands.
CESAR himself would blush, and never dare
His Conquests with GUSTAVUS to compare.
For had he liv'd to see what skilfull hands
And valiant hearts are in the Germane Lands,
Who go not naked now, but clad in steel,
And will not easily be made to reel;
Sure he had startled, and his conqu'ring course
Had been prevented by a stronger force.
Let not black Envie then presume or dare
GUSTAVUS worthie glorie to empair,
Who conqu'red had in such a narrow time
So many Lands, in such a warlike Clime.
Let the Proud Spaniard to his lasting shame
His many Conquests of the Indians name:
And let him boast, how many Millions too
Of unresisting People there he slew;
While a few Belgian Merchants in despight
Of all his Pride, Ambition, Pow'r, and Might,
Will not be tamed, nor be made to yeeld,
But still affront his Armies in the field;
Having no Kingdome, but a narrow State;
Yet his Imperiall Greatnesse Check and Mate.
What Honour then belongs to Swethlands King,
Who to subjection could such Nations bring,
That had been so inured unto Warres,
And ever exercis'd in bloudie Jarres!
Had Mars himself, attended with a Band
Of dreadfull Furies, entred in their Land;
They would have met him with a fearlesse heart,
Nor should his Name or Pow'r have made them start.
Since Fatall Lypsich with a mournfull face
Beheld GUSTAVUS, and his warlike Force
Her fertile plains die with a bloudie sourse;
Which scarce as yet fully exhaust appeares,
And scarce had Lypsich wip'd away her tears,
When lo, not farre, upon a neighb'ring plain
Bellona sounds her dreadfull trump again:
And Lutzen is appointed for the stage,
Where Mars intends to act a second Rage;
Lutzen, that Fatall Town, whose very sound
I feel my grief-disturbed heart to wound.
There Great GUSTAVUS, so renown'd, became
(Dire alteration!) onely now a Name;
Once of such power, that his conqu'ring hands
Could tame stout Nations, and subdue their Bands.
CESAR himself would blush, and never dare
His Conquests with GUSTAVUS to compare.
For had he liv'd to see what skilfull hands
And valiant hearts are in the Germane Lands,
Who go not naked now, but clad in steel,
And will not easily be made to reel;
Sure he had startled, and his conqu'ring course
Had been prevented by a stronger force.
Let not black Envie then presume or dare
GUSTAVUS worthie glorie to empair,
Who conqu'red had in such a narrow time
So many Lands, in such a warlike Clime.
35
His many Conquests of the Indians name:
And let him boast, how many Millions too
Of unresisting People there he slew;
While a few Belgian Merchants in despight
Of all his Pride, Ambition, Pow'r, and Might,
Will not be tamed, nor be made to yeeld,
But still affront his Armies in the field;
Having no Kingdome, but a narrow State;
Yet his Imperiall Greatnesse Check and Mate.
What Honour then belongs to Swethlands King,
Who to subjection could such Nations bring,
That had been so inured unto Warres,
And ever exercis'd in bloudie Jarres!
Had Mars himself, attended with a Band
Of dreadfull Furies, entred in their Land;
They would have met him with a fearlesse heart,
Nor should his Name or Pow'r have made them start.
But whither takes my roving Muse her flight?
I must not here a Panegyrick write,
Nor spend my self in such admiring laies,
As sound nought else but Great Gustavus praise.
A Battell is my scope, so dire, so fierce,
That my sad Muse doth tremble to rehearse;
And seeks an hundred slights, a while to stay
The black recitall of this bloudie day:
Like to some tim'rous Hart, that from the crie
Of Hounds and Huntsmen hastily doth flie:
Now here, now there he turns; then back again
Breaks through the woods, scuds o're the spatious plain,
And tries a thousand shifts, ere at the last
Himself on hazard of a fight he'l cast.
Thus my slow Muse digressions doth premise,
And large preambles (as you see) devise;
Onely to stay a while, ere she recite
The sad narration of black Lutzens fight.
I must not here a Panegyrick write,
Nor spend my self in such admiring laies,
As sound nought else but Great Gustavus praise.
A Battell is my scope, so dire, so fierce,
That my sad Muse doth tremble to rehearse;
And seeks an hundred slights, a while to stay
The black recitall of this bloudie day:
Like to some tim'rous Hart, that from the crie
Of Hounds and Huntsmen hastily doth flie:
36
Breaks through the woods, scuds o're the spatious plain,
And tries a thousand shifts, ere at the last
Himself on hazard of a fight he'l cast.
Thus my slow Muse digressions doth premise,
And large preambles (as you see) devise;
Onely to stay a while, ere she recite
The sad narration of black Lutzens fight.
Swethlands Heroick King his Martiall train
Neare Naumburg Citie spreads upon a plain:
Of fighting yet no hopes there did appeare:
His purpose onely was to march more neare,
And joyn his Forces with the Saxon Bands;
That so the surer with united hands
They might to all their foes attempts replie,
And not be forc'd coy Fortunes grace to trie.
'Tis found too deer a bargain in these dayes,
By valour onely for to purchase praise.
He's valiant now, that winnes the Victorie,
Be it by Number, Slight, or Subteltie,
By Stratagem, by Cunning, or by Skill,
By Courage, Furie, or by what you will.
And sure 'tis vain for an Heroick Breast,
That will not but on equall terms contest;
That scorns advantages to seek, or take,
But would that Valour should him Victour make;
While that his subtil foe doth sliely watch
All proff'red opportunities to catch,
And thinks it no disgracefull cowardize,
To wound or kill him as he sleeping lies.
Might Valour of it self alone suffice
To winne the day in ev'ry enterprise,
The noble Swethes with Great GUSTAVUS Name
Would like the Macedons the whole world tame.
Think it no wonder, that their Mightie King,
Whose presence onely oft did conquests bring,
Should notwithstanding, like to one afraid,
Expect, and wish, and seek for further aid.
It was not fear, but Martiall Policie,
That made him thus to others help complie.
Had he been ever thus, and ne're transcended,
This temp'rate Vertue had him safe defended:
He might have liv'd and flourisht to this houre,
And still should Rome have feared Swethlands Power.
But 'tis a wonder that he could so rule
His burning Sp'rit, and it so often cool
By mod'rate counsell, checking Policie.
Admire who will that he so soon did die:
My sorrow-strucken Muse admireth more
That he so vent'rous was not slain before.
Neare Naumburg Citie spreads upon a plain:
Of fighting yet no hopes there did appeare:
His purpose onely was to march more neare,
And joyn his Forces with the Saxon Bands;
That so the surer with united hands
They might to all their foes attempts replie,
And not be forc'd coy Fortunes grace to trie.
'Tis found too deer a bargain in these dayes,
By valour onely for to purchase praise.
He's valiant now, that winnes the Victorie,
Be it by Number, Slight, or Subteltie,
By Stratagem, by Cunning, or by Skill,
By Courage, Furie, or by what you will.
And sure 'tis vain for an Heroick Breast,
That will not but on equall terms contest;
That scorns advantages to seek, or take,
But would that Valour should him Victour make;
While that his subtil foe doth sliely watch
All proff'red opportunities to catch,
37
To wound or kill him as he sleeping lies.
Might Valour of it self alone suffice
To winne the day in ev'ry enterprise,
The noble Swethes with Great GUSTAVUS Name
Would like the Macedons the whole world tame.
Think it no wonder, that their Mightie King,
Whose presence onely oft did conquests bring,
Should notwithstanding, like to one afraid,
Expect, and wish, and seek for further aid.
It was not fear, but Martiall Policie,
That made him thus to others help complie.
Had he been ever thus, and ne're transcended,
This temp'rate Vertue had him safe defended:
He might have liv'd and flourisht to this houre,
And still should Rome have feared Swethlands Power.
But 'tis a wonder that he could so rule
His burning Sp'rit, and it so often cool
By mod'rate counsell, checking Policie.
Admire who will that he so soon did die:
My sorrow-strucken Muse admireth more
That he so vent'rous was not slain before.
As now he marches with his valiant Bands,
Some stragling Pris'ners fell into his hands,
Who did ascertain him, that not one Foe
Did of their march and neare approaching know:
Not farre off Wall'nstein with th' Imperiall Host,
Securely lay enquartred in that coast,
Not once supposing that his Enemie
Was in the field, or now had marcht so nigh.
When Swethlands King heard this intelligence,
Rapt with exceeding joy, his first pretence
He changes, now resolves without more aid
His foes thus unexpecting to invade:
Then to his Captains shews his new intent,
Who to his high designe gave soon consent.
Onely Knipphausen a stout Colonell,
And long experienc'd, lik'd it not so well:
And sure he did his judgement strictly joyn
Unto the rules of modern discipline.
Some stragling Pris'ners fell into his hands,
Who did ascertain him, that not one Foe
Did of their march and neare approaching know:
Not farre off Wall'nstein with th' Imperiall Host,
Securely lay enquartred in that coast,
38
Was in the field, or now had marcht so nigh.
When Swethlands King heard this intelligence,
Rapt with exceeding joy, his first pretence
He changes, now resolves without more aid
His foes thus unexpecting to invade:
Then to his Captains shews his new intent,
Who to his high designe gave soon consent.
Onely Knipphausen a stout Colonell,
And long experienc'd, lik'd it not so well:
And sure he did his judgement strictly joyn
Unto the rules of modern discipline.
The course of Warre is like a game at Dice;
Where Skill with doubtfull Fortune mixed lies.
It is the scope of cunning Management,
Fortunes deceitfull hazards to prevent;
And ne're to her blinde Favour once to stand,
But when compelling accidents command.
They that renouncing skill commit their game
To unknown Chance, deserve to lose the same.
This fickle Goddesse, that the world so fears
With doubtfull hazards, ne're more blinde appeares,
Then when in Warlike actions and in fight
She doth expresse her over-ruling Might.
Skill joynd with Valour, and a Pow'rfull Host
Can but the conquest promise at the most.
The Victorie is never sure till wonne;
And none can triumph till the fight be done.
The wisest Captains in these modern dayes
Do seek to winne the conquest by delaies.
'Tis no disgracefull Cowardize to stand
(Though uncompell'd) on the defensive hand.
It is the surest course and safest held,
To shunne a Battell, but to keep the field.
They that can best prevent their furious foes,
Shall winne the Conquest without stroke or blowes.
My noble Prince, this is my free advice:
But if your Royall will shall enterprise
Some more sublime designe, my heart and hand
Shall readily obey your just command;
And I would rush alone through midst of Foes,
Though that a thousand deaths should counterpose.
Thus grave Knipphausen spake with stayed look,
And minde unmoved. But the fierie Duke,
Bernard of Saxon Weimar, who could ne're
Endure the shadow of a seeming fear;
Whose burning courage could not brook delayes,
His resolution in such words displayes;
Now is the wished time, th' expected houre
Yeelded to us by Heav'ns disposing Power,
That we may now our former-vanquisht foe
Extirpate quite with his last overthrow.
Their hearts are quail'd alreadie; and shall we
Want hearts to meet them who desire to flee?
Shall we, that have so many Conquests wonne,
So many Lands and Provinces o're-runne,
Begin to faint, and shew we are afraid,
And dare not these half-stagg'ring foes invade?
Oh shame to think! Could we do more then thus,
If they had vanquisht and quite conquer'd us?
Shall we be so ingratefull unto Heaven,
Who unto us such victories hath given,
To make us fearlesse in so just a cause,
And to proceed without demurre or pause?
Shall we neglect so fair and fit occasion
T'assail our foes with undescri'd invasion?
Long, long we may expect, ere once again
The Heav'nly Fates such favour will us deigne:
And be assur'd, that if we do retreat,
We quite shall damp our souldiers vig'rous heat,
And make our Enemies become more bold,
When they shall once our tim'rous march behold.
Where Skill with doubtfull Fortune mixed lies.
It is the scope of cunning Management,
Fortunes deceitfull hazards to prevent;
And ne're to her blinde Favour once to stand,
But when compelling accidents command.
They that renouncing skill commit their game
To unknown Chance, deserve to lose the same.
This fickle Goddesse, that the world so fears
With doubtfull hazards, ne're more blinde appeares,
Then when in Warlike actions and in fight
She doth expresse her over-ruling Might.
Skill joynd with Valour, and a Pow'rfull Host
Can but the conquest promise at the most.
The Victorie is never sure till wonne;
And none can triumph till the fight be done.
39
Do seek to winne the conquest by delaies.
'Tis no disgracefull Cowardize to stand
(Though uncompell'd) on the defensive hand.
It is the surest course and safest held,
To shunne a Battell, but to keep the field.
They that can best prevent their furious foes,
Shall winne the Conquest without stroke or blowes.
My noble Prince, this is my free advice:
But if your Royall will shall enterprise
Some more sublime designe, my heart and hand
Shall readily obey your just command;
And I would rush alone through midst of Foes,
Though that a thousand deaths should counterpose.
Thus grave Knipphausen spake with stayed look,
And minde unmoved. But the fierie Duke,
Bernard of Saxon Weimar, who could ne're
Endure the shadow of a seeming fear;
Whose burning courage could not brook delayes,
His resolution in such words displayes;
Now is the wished time, th' expected houre
Yeelded to us by Heav'ns disposing Power,
That we may now our former-vanquisht foe
Extirpate quite with his last overthrow.
Their hearts are quail'd alreadie; and shall we
Want hearts to meet them who desire to flee?
Shall we, that have so many Conquests wonne,
So many Lands and Provinces o're-runne,
40
And dare not these half-stagg'ring foes invade?
Oh shame to think! Could we do more then thus,
If they had vanquisht and quite conquer'd us?
Shall we be so ingratefull unto Heaven,
Who unto us such victories hath given,
To make us fearlesse in so just a cause,
And to proceed without demurre or pause?
Shall we neglect so fair and fit occasion
T'assail our foes with undescri'd invasion?
Long, long we may expect, ere once again
The Heav'nly Fates such favour will us deigne:
And be assur'd, that if we do retreat,
We quite shall damp our souldiers vig'rous heat,
And make our Enemies become more bold,
When they shall once our tim'rous march behold.
These words, like oyl pour'd on the greedie fire,
Made Great GUSTAVUS burn with fiercer ire.
He gives command, that with the swiftest speed
His Royall Armie forward should proceed.
The hollow-sounding drumme and trumpet shrill
The Souldiers eares with cheerfull clamours fill;
While with the aire the waving colours play,
And by their motion point them out the way.
Forward they troup to Lutzens bloudie soil,
And with glad thoughts and hopes the time beguile.
Oft did the strictnesse of th' enclosing way
Their hastie speed and expedition stay:
Egg'd on with hopes of victorie and spoil,
They did refuse no sweating pains and toil.
Had you but seen those valiant Bands advance
With nimble feet, with cheerfull countenance,
And doubled pace, you would have rather guess'd
That they were hasting to some welcome feast,
Then marching to their grave, which was th' event
Of many thousands that then gladly went.
But notwithstanding all the haste they made,
So many lets and obstacles delaid
Their num'rous Bands, that now the setting Sunne
Swifter then they his usuall race had runne,
And did begin to drown his shining beams
Within the Oceans vast incircling streams.
Made Great GUSTAVUS burn with fiercer ire.
He gives command, that with the swiftest speed
His Royall Armie forward should proceed.
The hollow-sounding drumme and trumpet shrill
The Souldiers eares with cheerfull clamours fill;
While with the aire the waving colours play,
And by their motion point them out the way.
Forward they troup to Lutzens bloudie soil,
And with glad thoughts and hopes the time beguile.
Oft did the strictnesse of th' enclosing way
Their hastie speed and expedition stay:
41
They did refuse no sweating pains and toil.
Had you but seen those valiant Bands advance
With nimble feet, with cheerfull countenance,
And doubled pace, you would have rather guess'd
That they were hasting to some welcome feast,
Then marching to their grave, which was th' event
Of many thousands that then gladly went.
But notwithstanding all the haste they made,
So many lets and obstacles delaid
Their num'rous Bands, that now the setting Sunne
Swifter then they his usuall race had runne,
And did begin to drown his shining beams
Within the Oceans vast incircling streams.
Some troups of horse that nearest lay, began
To skirmish with the Swethes approaching Vanne,
Who with much losse of time had lately past
A narrow bridge, which stopt them in their haste.
These light-arm'd Crabats first of all did feel
The deadly force of their victorious steel.
From them an Ensigne too they did surprise
Depainted with an ominous device;
With happy Fortune, and Joves princely Fowl,
Whose Name did once the spatious world controll.
But the Finlandian Duke so small a prize
Beheld with sad and discontented eyes,
Griev'd that so soon the All-endark'ning night
Did stay their hands, and hide their foes from sight.
To skirmish with the Swethes approaching Vanne,
Who with much losse of time had lately past
A narrow bridge, which stopt them in their haste.
These light-arm'd Crabats first of all did feel
The deadly force of their victorious steel.
From them an Ensigne too they did surprise
Depainted with an ominous device;
With happy Fortune, and Joves princely Fowl,
Whose Name did once the spatious world controll.
But the Finlandian Duke so small a prize
Beheld with sad and discontented eyes,
Griev'd that so soon the All-endark'ning night
Did stay their hands, and hide their foes from sight.
42
Once the Dayes Charioter his circling pace
Vouchsaf'd to stop in middle of his race;
While Judahs Champion with unsparing hands
Hew'd down the Ethnicks Heav'n-accursed Bands:
But the blest name of Christians hath a force
To winne from heav'n an undeserv'd remorse;
And that they may so great a slaughter shunne,
Sol his diurnall Race will swifter runne.
Vouchsaf'd to stop in middle of his race;
While Judahs Champion with unsparing hands
Hew'd down the Ethnicks Heav'n-accursed Bands:
But the blest name of Christians hath a force
To winne from heav'n an undeserv'd remorse;
And that they may so great a slaughter shunne,
Sol his diurnall Race will swifter runne.
Now doth th' Imperiall Grand Commander heare
Frequent Alarms resounded in his eare:
Post after Post are sent to certifie
Of their so neare-approaching Enemie.
Here three at once quite spent and out of breath,
Yet told their mindes by looks as pale as Death.
Th' amazed Duke startled when he did heare
That the bold Swethes had gotten now so neare:
Then frets with anger, when he calls to minde
How all his troups lay scatt'red and disjoyn'd.
'Twas now no time to sleep, though the moist Night
The tired senses did to rest invite.
He recollects his spirits, and his eyes
Up to the Heav'ns he elevateth thrice:
At last spake thus; Thou Pow'r Omnipotent,
Great God of Hosts, that dost our Foes prevent;
Thou All-foreseeing Sentinell, whose eye
Through thickest clouds our Enemies doth spie:
Perpetuall Glorie and divinest Fame
Be rendred to thy ever honour'd Name,
That thus hast sent thy messenger of Night
To stay these cruell Hereticks from fight,
That 'gainst all Pietie and humane Lawes
Would trample under feet thy Cath'lick cause.
Frequent Alarms resounded in his eare:
Post after Post are sent to certifie
Of their so neare-approaching Enemie.
Here three at once quite spent and out of breath,
Yet told their mindes by looks as pale as Death.
Th' amazed Duke startled when he did heare
That the bold Swethes had gotten now so neare:
Then frets with anger, when he calls to minde
How all his troups lay scatt'red and disjoyn'd.
'Twas now no time to sleep, though the moist Night
The tired senses did to rest invite.
He recollects his spirits, and his eyes
Up to the Heav'ns he elevateth thrice:
At last spake thus; Thou Pow'r Omnipotent,
Great God of Hosts, that dost our Foes prevent;
Thou All-foreseeing Sentinell, whose eye
Through thickest clouds our Enemies doth spie:
Perpetuall Glorie and divinest Fame
Be rendred to thy ever honour'd Name,
43
To stay these cruell Hereticks from fight,
That 'gainst all Pietie and humane Lawes
Would trample under feet thy Cath'lick cause.
This said, he hastens unto consultation
For best directions, and for preparation:
He sends abroad his letters, and commands
For quick assembling of his scatt'red Bands:
Now thinks he on the fittest place t'advance
His greater Shot and fierie Ordinance.
Some Mounts were rais'd alreadie to his hand,
Where some of Ceres airie Engines stand;
But now rough Mars doth shoulder for the place,
And on the same his warlike Engines trace.
The Pioners had with laborious spade
About these Batt'ries strong Entrenchments made,
To guard them from their foes, who otherwise
Might with some headlong onset them surprise.
For best directions, and for preparation:
He sends abroad his letters, and commands
For quick assembling of his scatt'red Bands:
Now thinks he on the fittest place t'advance
His greater Shot and fierie Ordinance.
Some Mounts were rais'd alreadie to his hand,
Where some of Ceres airie Engines stand;
But now rough Mars doth shoulder for the place,
And on the same his warlike Engines trace.
The Pioners had with laborious spade
About these Batt'ries strong Entrenchments made,
To guard them from their foes, who otherwise
Might with some headlong onset them surprise.
Meanwhile did Swethlands grieved King command
His Royall Armie on the place to stand.
Here for a space their Martiall Rage and Spight
Lay buried in the drowsy arms of Night.
It was not yet the wished time, which they
Resolv'd to make a black and bloudie day.
In fair Battalia lay these warlike Bands,
With wearied limbes stretcht on the frigid sands:
Their Musquets neare them, readie to be found
At first alarm: upon the champian ground
Their Spears most orderly erected stood,
Like to some square and even-planted wood.
Here one his Helmet casteth from his head,
And for a pillow underneath doth spread:
Another there upon a rugged stone
His drowsie head most willingly hath thrown.
Now did the dampish Earth their Spirits cool,
Who scarce of late their burning heat could rule.
Here on his back a tired Souldier lies,
And doth behold the starres with stedfast eyes;
As if in them he searched to descrie
What was appointed for his Destinie;
And ev'ry starre, that twinkling doth appeare,
He thinks doth tremble with presaging fear:
Then turns aside, and folds acrosse his arms,
And seeks to drown these thoughts with sleepie charms.
Here did a Souldier with amazed heart
And troubled thoughts, like one affrighted, start:
His dreaming Phansie made him to suppose
That he was round encompassed with foes;
And too too plainly (as he thought) he view'd
How they in sunder had their squadrons hew'd:
He snatcht his readie Weapon, and begun
To look how he their feared rage might shunne:
As round he casts his terrour-stricken eyes,
Nothing but cause of horrour he descries:
He sees his Fellows on the ground are spread
No otherwise then wounded men and dead:
He had no heart nor power to flie; but stayes
Till time and space diminisht his amaze.
Many brave Chieftains on the earth did lie,
Having no other Cov'ring but the Skie,
No easier Pillow then the rugged Ground,
No softer Mantle then their Arms they found:
They stretcht their limbes, as if they sought what room
And space would serve them for a future tombe.
His Royall Armie on the place to stand.
Here for a space their Martiall Rage and Spight
Lay buried in the drowsy arms of Night.
It was not yet the wished time, which they
Resolv'd to make a black and bloudie day.
In fair Battalia lay these warlike Bands,
With wearied limbes stretcht on the frigid sands:
Their Musquets neare them, readie to be found
At first alarm: upon the champian ground
44
Like to some square and even-planted wood.
Here one his Helmet casteth from his head,
And for a pillow underneath doth spread:
Another there upon a rugged stone
His drowsie head most willingly hath thrown.
Now did the dampish Earth their Spirits cool,
Who scarce of late their burning heat could rule.
Here on his back a tired Souldier lies,
And doth behold the starres with stedfast eyes;
As if in them he searched to descrie
What was appointed for his Destinie;
And ev'ry starre, that twinkling doth appeare,
He thinks doth tremble with presaging fear:
Then turns aside, and folds acrosse his arms,
And seeks to drown these thoughts with sleepie charms.
Here did a Souldier with amazed heart
And troubled thoughts, like one affrighted, start:
His dreaming Phansie made him to suppose
That he was round encompassed with foes;
And too too plainly (as he thought) he view'd
How they in sunder had their squadrons hew'd:
He snatcht his readie Weapon, and begun
To look how he their feared rage might shunne:
As round he casts his terrour-stricken eyes,
Nothing but cause of horrour he descries:
He sees his Fellows on the ground are spread
No otherwise then wounded men and dead:
45
Till time and space diminisht his amaze.
Many brave Chieftains on the earth did lie,
Having no other Cov'ring but the Skie,
No easier Pillow then the rugged Ground,
No softer Mantle then their Arms they found:
They stretcht their limbes, as if they sought what room
And space would serve them for a future tombe.
Renown'd GUSTAVUS, whom delicious ease
And Courtly softnesse never once could please,
In middle of his armed bands did rest;
Whose troubled thoughts a thousand cares molest:
His Royall heart with sadnesse almost sinks,
As oft as on his weightie charge he thinks:
A World of lives now hazarded did lie
Upon the single fortune of his Die.
Remembring this, his over-burd'ned Soul
Innum'rous Fears and doubtfull thoughts doth roll:
It by no humane tongue can be exprest,
How many cares his noble heart distrest,
Who for so many thousands did endure
All that such troubled motions could procure:
The burning agitations of his breast
Depriv'd his sp'rits of their desired rest;
And those moist vapours, which the brain did send
To cause refreshing sleep, their heat did spend.
So doth Sols scorching beams, which are reflected
Upon the land where Memphis is erected,
Where Nilus fertilising stream doth flow,
Where their high tops the Pyramids do show:
Those liquid vapours, which the Earth in rain
Expects to be returned down again,
Are by the Sunnes so pow'rfull heat made rare,
And then do vanish into subtil aire.
And Courtly softnesse never once could please,
In middle of his armed bands did rest;
Whose troubled thoughts a thousand cares molest:
His Royall heart with sadnesse almost sinks,
As oft as on his weightie charge he thinks:
A World of lives now hazarded did lie
Upon the single fortune of his Die.
Remembring this, his over-burd'ned Soul
Innum'rous Fears and doubtfull thoughts doth roll:
It by no humane tongue can be exprest,
How many cares his noble heart distrest,
Who for so many thousands did endure
All that such troubled motions could procure:
The burning agitations of his breast
Depriv'd his sp'rits of their desired rest;
And those moist vapours, which the brain did send
To cause refreshing sleep, their heat did spend.
So doth Sols scorching beams, which are reflected
Upon the land where Memphis is erected,
46
Where their high tops the Pyramids do show:
Those liquid vapours, which the Earth in rain
Expects to be returned down again,
Are by the Sunnes so pow'rfull heat made rare,
And then do vanish into subtil aire.
Now the soft-gliding Starres were seen t'have runne
Half round the Earth, when Swethlands Prince begun
With eyes erected to the Heav'ns, t'invoke
Th' All-pow'rfull God of warre: and thus he spoke,
Dreadfull Jehovah, who didst first inspire
Into my heart this vig'rous heat and fire,
And didst inflame me with a Rage divine,
That I might tame these enemies of thine,
And free those Christians, who with grones and cries
Have pierc'd so often the all-cov'ring skies:
Be pleased now this Enterprise to blesse,
And our Designes to crown with good successe.
Thou know'st (O Lord) I neither fight for Fame,
Nor yet on Earth to winne a Glorious Name:
'Twas not the scope of these my painfull toils,
Thus to enrich my self with ill-got Spoils:
Nor do I thus with Warres these Lands o'rewhelm,
That I might stretch the limits of my Realm:
But 'twas the instinct of thy Pow'r above,
That to this high Designe my heart did move.
If any other sinister intent
Be in my heart, let not thy aid be lent:
No further do we pray for Victories,
Then in thy Name we onely enterprise.
Half round the Earth, when Swethlands Prince begun
With eyes erected to the Heav'ns, t'invoke
Th' All-pow'rfull God of warre: and thus he spoke,
Dreadfull Jehovah, who didst first inspire
Into my heart this vig'rous heat and fire,
And didst inflame me with a Rage divine,
That I might tame these enemies of thine,
And free those Christians, who with grones and cries
Have pierc'd so often the all-cov'ring skies:
Be pleased now this Enterprise to blesse,
And our Designes to crown with good successe.
Thou know'st (O Lord) I neither fight for Fame,
Nor yet on Earth to winne a Glorious Name:
'Twas not the scope of these my painfull toils,
Thus to enrich my self with ill-got Spoils:
Nor do I thus with Warres these Lands o'rewhelm,
That I might stretch the limits of my Realm:
But 'twas the instinct of thy Pow'r above,
That to this high Designe my heart did move.
If any other sinister intent
Be in my heart, let not thy aid be lent:
47
Then in thy Name we onely enterprise.
The sable Night being vanisht, a black Day
Begins his fatall lustre to display:
But Phebus, who foresaw what dire mishap
Was drawing on, his mournfull face did wrap
Within a muffled vail, a foggie mist,
Which did the piercing of his beams resist;
And thus he seemed to extend the night
By this obscuring of his cheerfull light.
Begins his fatall lustre to display:
But Phebus, who foresaw what dire mishap
Was drawing on, his mournfull face did wrap
Within a muffled vail, a foggie mist,
Which did the piercing of his beams resist;
And thus he seemed to extend the night
By this obscuring of his cheerfull light.
But notwithstanding such a sad presage,
Did both these Armies boil with longing rage
To meet each other, and to trie whose steel
Should soonest make their opposites to reel.
Did both these Armies boil with longing rage
To meet each other, and to trie whose steel
Should soonest make their opposites to reel.
Rang'd in Battalia, both the Armies stood,
Resolv'd ere long to march in streams of bloud.
Th' Imperiall Viceroy did present a fair
And spatious Front rankt with exactest care:
To such a distance both their Wings did stretch,
As sixteen furlongs full their breadth could reach.
The Right Wing Coloredo did command,
Under whose Banner ord'red now they stand,
Readie prepared at their Captains Breath
Boldly to meet inevitable Death.
The Duke of Friedland did his colours spread
In the Main Battell, which by him was led.
Count Henrick Holck Felt Marshall for that day
In the Left Wing his Banner did display.
Here divers Nations had from Countreys farre
Been sent to trie the Fortune of the Warre.
There might you see the Austrian, whose Name
Is branded with an execrated Fame,
For that their Princes in ambitious rage
Did with these warres the Germane Lands engage;
And to enrich themselves with others spoil,
So many States with discords did embroil:
The cold Hungarian, whose bord'ring lands
Are ever harried with Turkish Bands,
Who his best Cities have alreadie wonne,
And half his Territories overrunne;
Though he could scarce be spar'd, yet here he came,
In this fierce fight to winne perpetuall Fame:
The bold Bohemian, whose fruitfull soil
Had been the stage of bloudie Mars erewhile,
Who had them taught to think most dang'rous fights
But warlike sports and tragick-pleasing fights.
Next unto these was seen the Palatine,
Whose spoiled Countrey borders on the Rhine;
Who, as he flowing by, their ruines views,
With tears and crystall drops his banks bedews,
And grieves to think his waves could not o'rewhelm
And quench the fires of that deplored Realm.
The stout Bavarian doth likewise claim
Within this catalogue a noted Name:
Him did Revenge fire with a Martiall spight
Gladly to trie the hazard of a Fight.
The sunne-burnt Spaniards too were present there;
And if proud looks their Enemies could fear,
Sure, though but few they were, yet they alone
A greater Armie would have overthrown.
Th' Italian, now renowned more by farre
For am'rous Courtship, then for skill in Warre,
Yet hither came, resolved for to die,
Or to defend Romes hated Monarchie.
Resolv'd ere long to march in streams of bloud.
Th' Imperiall Viceroy did present a fair
And spatious Front rankt with exactest care:
To such a distance both their Wings did stretch,
As sixteen furlongs full their breadth could reach.
The Right Wing Coloredo did command,
Under whose Banner ord'red now they stand,
Readie prepared at their Captains Breath
Boldly to meet inevitable Death.
The Duke of Friedland did his colours spread
In the Main Battell, which by him was led.
Count Henrick Holck Felt Marshall for that day
In the Left Wing his Banner did display.
48
Been sent to trie the Fortune of the Warre.
There might you see the Austrian, whose Name
Is branded with an execrated Fame,
For that their Princes in ambitious rage
Did with these warres the Germane Lands engage;
And to enrich themselves with others spoil,
So many States with discords did embroil:
The cold Hungarian, whose bord'ring lands
Are ever harried with Turkish Bands,
Who his best Cities have alreadie wonne,
And half his Territories overrunne;
Though he could scarce be spar'd, yet here he came,
In this fierce fight to winne perpetuall Fame:
The bold Bohemian, whose fruitfull soil
Had been the stage of bloudie Mars erewhile,
Who had them taught to think most dang'rous fights
But warlike sports and tragick-pleasing fights.
Next unto these was seen the Palatine,
Whose spoiled Countrey borders on the Rhine;
Who, as he flowing by, their ruines views,
With tears and crystall drops his banks bedews,
And grieves to think his waves could not o'rewhelm
And quench the fires of that deplored Realm.
The stout Bavarian doth likewise claim
Within this catalogue a noted Name:
Him did Revenge fire with a Martiall spight
Gladly to trie the hazard of a Fight.
49
And if proud looks their Enemies could fear,
Sure, though but few they were, yet they alone
A greater Armie would have overthrown.
Th' Italian, now renowned more by farre
For am'rous Courtship, then for skill in Warre,
Yet hither came, resolved for to die,
Or to defend Romes hated Monarchie.
And now, my Muse, repeat each great Commander,
That did attend Swedens Imperiall Standard:
For sure it is not fit their Names should die,
Or yet in dark oblivion buried lie.
Duke Bernard, the sole Glorie of the day,
The Left Wing did for their prime Guide obey.
The King himself did the Right Wing command,
And at the Head of Steinbocks Troups did stand.
The Battell was conducted by Grave Neel,
A valiant Swethe, and clad in shining steel.
Betwixt them and the Rear a compleat Band
Of Musquettiers did Hinderson command,
A hardie and experienc'd Scot, whom Fame
Hath in these warres eternis'd with a Name.
The Battell of the Rear Knipphausen led,
A Noble Souldier, and a skilfull Head;
To whose fair conduct did their Enemies owe
The greatest part of their sad overthrow.
The Right Wing Bulach led, a Colonell
Of no small Spirit, as his foes can tell.
Ernest of Anhalt did the Left Wing guide,
A man in Warres well exercis'd and tri'd.
Behinde their backs, and in the utmost Rear,
A Regiment of Horse reserved were,
Which are by Oeme conducted, whose stout heart
Not any dangers could have made to start.
That did attend Swedens Imperiall Standard:
For sure it is not fit their Names should die,
Or yet in dark oblivion buried lie.
Duke Bernard, the sole Glorie of the day,
The Left Wing did for their prime Guide obey.
The King himself did the Right Wing command,
And at the Head of Steinbocks Troups did stand.
The Battell was conducted by Grave Neel,
A valiant Swethe, and clad in shining steel.
Betwixt them and the Rear a compleat Band
Of Musquettiers did Hinderson command,
A hardie and experienc'd Scot, whom Fame
Hath in these warres eternis'd with a Name.
The Battell of the Rear Knipphausen led,
A Noble Souldier, and a skilfull Head;
To whose fair conduct did their Enemies owe
The greatest part of their sad overthrow.
The Right Wing Bulach led, a Colonell
Of no small Spirit, as his foes can tell.
50
A man in Warres well exercis'd and tri'd.
Behinde their backs, and in the utmost Rear,
A Regiment of Horse reserved were,
Which are by Oeme conducted, whose stout heart
Not any dangers could have made to start.
Now had GUSTAVUS speech his souldiers fir'd,
And double vigour into them inspir'd:
Make me (sayes he) your Pattern; if you see
That once I shrink, I give you leave to flee.
This having spoken, without further pause,
With speedie hand his shining blade he drawes:
Then waving't o're his head, he doth advance
Toward his Foes with fearlesse countenance.
And double vigour into them inspir'd:
Make me (sayes he) your Pattern; if you see
That once I shrink, I give you leave to flee.
This having spoken, without further pause,
With speedie hand his shining blade he drawes:
Then waving't o're his head, he doth advance
Toward his Foes with fearlesse countenance.
And now their throats those fierie Engines stretch,
Whose sound and furie such a distance reach,
And ere one can behold or see his Foe,
Doth wound him deadly with a farre-sent blow.
In Ætna's sulph'rie cell inclos'd doth lie
(If we will credit grave Antiquitie)
A Monstrous Giant, who is prison'd there,
For that to fight 'gainst Heav'n he did not fear:
As often as he turns his sides for room,
He fills Trinatria with a pitchie fume,
Disgorging from his hellish jawes such smoke
And duskie flames, as the pure aire do choak.
Ev'n thus black Lutzen for a time did shroud
Her mournfull face within a pitchie cloud,
Proceeding from the Cannons fierie breath,
That ne'r speaks lesse then slaughtring, wounds & death.
No sight doth now appeare, but the bright blaze
Which the inflamed sulph'rie dust doth raise.
Here many Noble Spirits, who did scorn
To shrink for dangers, were in sunder torn
By those resistlesse Balls, whose furious Course
Cannot be stopt by any humane force.
Whose sound and furie such a distance reach,
And ere one can behold or see his Foe,
Doth wound him deadly with a farre-sent blow.
In Ætna's sulph'rie cell inclos'd doth lie
(If we will credit grave Antiquitie)
A Monstrous Giant, who is prison'd there,
For that to fight 'gainst Heav'n he did not fear:
As often as he turns his sides for room,
He fills Trinatria with a pitchie fume,
Disgorging from his hellish jawes such smoke
And duskie flames, as the pure aire do choak.
Ev'n thus black Lutzen for a time did shroud
Her mournfull face within a pitchie cloud,
51
That ne'r speaks lesse then slaughtring, wounds & death.
No sight doth now appeare, but the bright blaze
Which the inflamed sulph'rie dust doth raise.
Here many Noble Spirits, who did scorn
To shrink for dangers, were in sunder torn
By those resistlesse Balls, whose furious Course
Cannot be stopt by any humane force.
Oh how my Muse deplores the Fates of those,
Who nothing wisht but to behold their foes;
That so their Valour, when they once had tri'd,
Might by their Enemies be testifi'd!
Some murd'ring shot their noble thoughts prevents,
And furiously their corps in sunder rents;
And, which their manly hearts could not endure,
Kills them within a cloud of smoke obscure.
Who nothing wisht but to behold their foes;
That so their Valour, when they once had tri'd,
Might by their Enemies be testifi'd!
Some murd'ring shot their noble thoughts prevents,
And furiously their corps in sunder rents;
And, which their manly hearts could not endure,
Kills them within a cloud of smoke obscure.
The angrie Steeds, offended at the noise
That thundred from the Cannons iron jawes,
Do fling and spurn; and scarce the curbing rein
Can their proud sp'rits in any rank contain:
They fain would rush through midst of smoke and fire,
As if their breasts did burn with greater Ire.
The slaughtred heaps that round about them lie,
Cannot at all their Courage terrifie:
The brazen Trumpet Echoes in their eares,
Whose pleasing sound doth fright away all feares.
That thundred from the Cannons iron jawes,
Do fling and spurn; and scarce the curbing rein
Can their proud sp'rits in any rank contain:
They fain would rush through midst of smoke and fire,
As if their breasts did burn with greater Ire.
The slaughtred heaps that round about them lie,
Cannot at all their Courage terrifie:
The brazen Trumpet Echoes in their eares,
Whose pleasing sound doth fright away all feares.
What Muse is able to rehearse or tell
What direfull slaughters in this fight befell;
When humane Bodies onely do oppose
Against the Cannons castle-rending blowes,
Whose Furie would make hardest rocks to shiver,
Whose very sound doth make the earth to quiver,
Whose hellish breath is able to command
Most firm-cemented stones to fly like sand?
Squadrons of men were too weak walls to stay
Such dreadfull force, as would have found a way
Through Rocks of hardest iron, and would make
A spatious Tower with its blast to shake.
What direfull slaughters in this fight befell;
52
Against the Cannons castle-rending blowes,
Whose Furie would make hardest rocks to shiver,
Whose very sound doth make the earth to quiver,
Whose hellish breath is able to command
Most firm-cemented stones to fly like sand?
Squadrons of men were too weak walls to stay
Such dreadfull force, as would have found a way
Through Rocks of hardest iron, and would make
A spatious Tower with its blast to shake.
No wonder then to see the field so spread
With scatt'red limbes, and bodies strucken dead;
When as the Cannon and the Culvering
Their flaming furie round about do fling.
A murd'ring Curto here a rank doth spoil,
And there another sweeps away a file:
A brace of Demi-cannons here doth play,
Which through a squadron make a rugged way.
So blustring Boreas, when his rage he doubles,
And Sea and Land with furious motion troubles,
From sturdiest Oaks their rended branches throwes,
And all the field with these his ruines strowes.
The unaffrighted Swethes marcht forward still,
And up again those breaches quickly fill.
With scatt'red limbes, and bodies strucken dead;
When as the Cannon and the Culvering
Their flaming furie round about do fling.
A murd'ring Curto here a rank doth spoil,
And there another sweeps away a file:
A brace of Demi-cannons here doth play,
Which through a squadron make a rugged way.
So blustring Boreas, when his rage he doubles,
And Sea and Land with furious motion troubles,
From sturdiest Oaks their rended branches throwes,
And all the field with these his ruines strowes.
The unaffrighted Swethes marcht forward still,
And up again those breaches quickly fill.
Valiant GUSTAVUS with an angrie eye
Sees how his foes their greater shot did ply
With too too much advantage: for he found
Their Pieces mounted on the higher ground;
And on firm platforms the Imperialist
His Ordinance could traverse as he list,
While that the Swedish more uncertainly
Did in their motion at their Foes let flie.
The Swethes had left them now no other way
To hinder this their so unequall play,
But on their Cannons mouthes to march, and so
To stop their throats, and make them overthrow
Their own defenders. For these Engines are
Of such a hellish temper, that they care
Neither for friend nor foe, but both alike
With equall slaughter will their furie strike.
Sees how his foes their greater shot did ply
With too too much advantage: for he found
Their Pieces mounted on the higher ground;
53
His Ordinance could traverse as he list,
While that the Swedish more uncertainly
Did in their motion at their Foes let flie.
The Swethes had left them now no other way
To hinder this their so unequall play,
But on their Cannons mouthes to march, and so
To stop their throats, and make them overthrow
Their own defenders. For these Engines are
Of such a hellish temper, that they care
Neither for friend nor foe, but both alike
With equall slaughter will their furie strike.
In ancient fights, when as they us'd t'advance
In their first front a square of Elephants,
Who wheresoe're their unresisted force
They chanc'd to bend, they made an headlong course,
And with their massie Bodies over-laid
All that their furie would have checkt or staid:
Sometime on their own Squadrons they would turn,
And under feet their chiefest friends would spurn
With such a vengefull Rage, as if that those
They had mistaken for their deadliest foes.
Thus in these modern Warres it oft doth chance,
That the loud-roaring Shot and Ordinance
Being once reverst upon their friends will thunder,
And without mercie tear their ranks in sunder.
In their first front a square of Elephants,
Who wheresoe're their unresisted force
They chanc'd to bend, they made an headlong course,
And with their massie Bodies over-laid
All that their furie would have checkt or staid:
Sometime on their own Squadrons they would turn,
And under feet their chiefest friends would spurn
With such a vengefull Rage, as if that those
They had mistaken for their deadliest foes.
Thus in these modern Warres it oft doth chance,
That the loud-roaring Shot and Ordinance
Being once reverst upon their friends will thunder,
And without mercie tear their ranks in sunder.
Courage, my Hearts, cries Swethlands noble King;
And then his troups through show'rs of lead doth bring
Just in the Cannons face, who roar'd and spake
So loud, that all the neighb'ring Hills did quake.
But in their way a traverse ditch was made,
From whence with frequent shot their Enemies plaid
Full in their teeth. This trench them safe did hide,
And made them all the Swedish shot deride;
Till the provoked Swethes came storming on,
And made them wish them further off and gone.
And then his troups through show'rs of lead doth bring
54
So loud, that all the neighb'ring Hills did quake.
But in their way a traverse ditch was made,
From whence with frequent shot their Enemies plaid
Full in their teeth. This trench them safe did hide,
And made them all the Swedish shot deride;
Till the provoked Swethes came storming on,
And made them wish them further off and gone.
At that same time the Crabats had a minde
To fall upon their carriages behinde,
To seise upon their Arms and Ammunition,
And to blow up their Powder and Provision.
Bulach observes them with a watchfull eyes;
He charg'd them home, and made them quickly flie.
These light-arm'd Crabats never use to stand
For any space, and fight it hand to hand;
But if at first encounter they have mist,
They then resolve no longer to resist;
But turning faces do retire amain,
Waiting till Fortune shall be pleas'd again
Some fitter opportunitie to send,
And then th' are readie for to reoffend.
Thus the wilde Hawk, whom never humane art
Hath yet instructed with a constant heart,
With short and sudden flights pursues her prey,
And will not long in such an action stay:
If that she cannot winne them with a snatch,
For some more fit occasion she will watch.
But while that Bulach did return his Horse
To their first station with a wheeling course,
They break their order, and had now begun
Not in fair Squadrons, but in heaps to runne.
Surely it is no easie thing to force
So many Regiments of head-strong Horse
To keep a full proportion in their speed,
And not beyond their ord'red bounds proceed.
But then the Heav'ns, unwilling to permit
Their Foes should spie a season too too fit
To reassail them, at the instant space
Did with a vap'rie mist surround the place,
And hides them, till their confus'd cornets are
Ralli'd again, and made compleat and square.
Thus Venus once her warlike Sonne did shroud
Within the circle of an hollow cloud;
Which armour, though but weak it was, prevents
The blowes of Fortune, and all fear'd events.
To fall upon their carriages behinde,
To seise upon their Arms and Ammunition,
And to blow up their Powder and Provision.
Bulach observes them with a watchfull eyes;
He charg'd them home, and made them quickly flie.
These light-arm'd Crabats never use to stand
For any space, and fight it hand to hand;
But if at first encounter they have mist,
They then resolve no longer to resist;
But turning faces do retire amain,
Waiting till Fortune shall be pleas'd again
Some fitter opportunitie to send,
And then th' are readie for to reoffend.
Thus the wilde Hawk, whom never humane art
Hath yet instructed with a constant heart,
With short and sudden flights pursues her prey,
And will not long in such an action stay:
If that she cannot winne them with a snatch,
For some more fit occasion she will watch.
55
To their first station with a wheeling course,
They break their order, and had now begun
Not in fair Squadrons, but in heaps to runne.
Surely it is no easie thing to force
So many Regiments of head-strong Horse
To keep a full proportion in their speed,
And not beyond their ord'red bounds proceed.
But then the Heav'ns, unwilling to permit
Their Foes should spie a season too too fit
To reassail them, at the instant space
Did with a vap'rie mist surround the place,
And hides them, till their confus'd cornets are
Ralli'd again, and made compleat and square.
Thus Venus once her warlike Sonne did shroud
Within the circle of an hollow cloud;
Which armour, though but weak it was, prevents
The blowes of Fortune, and all fear'd events.
Now bold GUSTAVUS and th' Imperiall Horse
Had met each other with an headlong course.
A Regiment they were of Cuiriassiers,
Whose compleat Armour freed them from all fears.
But thou GUSTAVUS, in whose haughtie breast
Not any spark of fear could ever rest,
Thy offred Armour didst refuse, and chose
Thy Royall Bodie naked to expose
Against a storm of lead, which oft doth passe
Through hardest steel, through iron, & through brasse.
'Tis not a valiant Heart, and Coat of Buffe,
That in these warres is Armour proof enough.
Rare Jewels do deserve a costly Case,
And to be lodg'd within the safest place:
But Thou, the rarest Jewell of this Age,
O're-sway'd I know not by what Martiall Rage,
Would'st not at all thy Princely limbes inclose
In any Arms or Steel repulsing blowes.
Was it because thy too too narrow Fate
The Cassiopeian starre did antedate,
Whose glorious rayes were seen but for a time
To be displaid over thy warlike clime?
Or was it, as w' have all conjectur'd since,
Our great unworthinesse of such a Prince,
That thus hath short'ned thy victorious dayes,
Which hath all Europe stagg'red with amaze?
If ardent wishes might have proved charms,
Thou should'st have had impenetrable arms,
Of such well-temp'red Steel, and of such might,
As should a Culvering deride and slight;
As should have made a Cannons Massie Ball
Without transpiercing back again to fall;
Of firmer Metall, then that solid Plate
Which Vulcans Cyclops once did fabricate
For Venus Sonne, when he the Latian soil
With farre-sent warres and slaughters did embroil;
Of better temper, and compacted more
Then that same Armour which Demetrius wore,
Which the Greek Artist did so firm contrive,
That without fracture it could backward drive
A massie arrow from an Engine shot,
And never shrink, nor give, nor yeeld a jot.
But these our wishes of no vertue were:
They with our breath are vanisht into aire.
Had met each other with an headlong course.
A Regiment they were of Cuiriassiers,
Whose compleat Armour freed them from all fears.
But thou GUSTAVUS, in whose haughtie breast
Not any spark of fear could ever rest,
Thy offred Armour didst refuse, and chose
Thy Royall Bodie naked to expose
Against a storm of lead, which oft doth passe
Through hardest steel, through iron, & through brasse.
56
That in these warres is Armour proof enough.
Rare Jewels do deserve a costly Case,
And to be lodg'd within the safest place:
But Thou, the rarest Jewell of this Age,
O're-sway'd I know not by what Martiall Rage,
Would'st not at all thy Princely limbes inclose
In any Arms or Steel repulsing blowes.
Was it because thy too too narrow Fate
The Cassiopeian starre did antedate,
Whose glorious rayes were seen but for a time
To be displaid over thy warlike clime?
Or was it, as w' have all conjectur'd since,
Our great unworthinesse of such a Prince,
That thus hath short'ned thy victorious dayes,
Which hath all Europe stagg'red with amaze?
If ardent wishes might have proved charms,
Thou should'st have had impenetrable arms,
Of such well-temp'red Steel, and of such might,
As should a Culvering deride and slight;
As should have made a Cannons Massie Ball
Without transpiercing back again to fall;
Of firmer Metall, then that solid Plate
Which Vulcans Cyclops once did fabricate
For Venus Sonne, when he the Latian soil
With farre-sent warres and slaughters did embroil;
Of better temper, and compacted more
Then that same Armour which Demetrius wore,
57
That without fracture it could backward drive
A massie arrow from an Engine shot,
And never shrink, nor give, nor yeeld a jot.
But these our wishes of no vertue were:
They with our breath are vanisht into aire.
For see! Renown'd GUSTAVUS murdred lies.
Here with full tears my Muse doth close her eyes,
Not willing longer to behold the light;
But fain with him would vanish out of sight.
He that could never conqu'red be, is slain;
And He that ne're would yeeld, is pris'ner ta'ne.
He, upon whom the hopes of thousands stood,
Is sunk, and now lies weltring in his bloud.
The Armies life is stricken with pale death:
Like-dying men they struggle (see!) for breath.
Here with full tears my Muse doth close her eyes,
Not willing longer to behold the light;
But fain with him would vanish out of sight.
He that could never conqu'red be, is slain;
And He that ne're would yeeld, is pris'ner ta'ne.
He, upon whom the hopes of thousands stood,
Is sunk, and now lies weltring in his bloud.
The Armies life is stricken with pale death:
Like-dying men they struggle (see!) for breath.
He, from whose hand was sent that cursed lead,
That with GUSTAVUS struck so many dead,
Liv'd not to triumph, no nor scarce to view
What he had done: a Storm of Bullets flew
Like lightning at him, and his wretched Soul
An hundred wayes did from his Bodie roll.
That with GUSTAVUS struck so many dead,
Liv'd not to triumph, no nor scarce to view
What he had done: a Storm of Bullets flew
Like lightning at him, and his wretched Soul
An hundred wayes did from his Bodie roll.
But soon as e're th' Imperialist had found
That Great GUSTAVUS had his mortall wound,
With doubled Furie and Couragiousnesse
Th' amazed Swethes they did both charge and preasse,
Who now began to shrink and backward start.
Oh! can you blame them, when th' had lost their Heart;
Him, whom his Foes still fear'd, though he were slain,
And thought it Valour for to wound again
That Royall Corps, whose very Breath and Name
So many Armies heretofore could tame?
That Great GUSTAVUS had his mortall wound,
With doubled Furie and Couragiousnesse
Th' amazed Swethes they did both charge and preasse,
Who now began to shrink and backward start.
Oh! can you blame them, when th' had lost their Heart;
58
And thought it Valour for to wound again
That Royall Corps, whose very Breath and Name
So many Armies heretofore could tame?
Just at this time a duskie Mist did fall:
The Heav'ns lamented his sad Funerall,
And so amaz'd his Foes, that they forget
To bear away his Bodie: For as yet
Among a heap of slaughtred Corps it lies;
A ruefull Spectacle to mortall eyes,
To see him laid so low, that was of late
The glorious Head of such a mightie State.
But by this time the Swethes had recollected
Their Sp'rits, and now again their hearts erected.
Stollhanshe, enraged with a furious course,
Leads on a Regiment of nimble Horse,
Who gave th' Imperialist a charge so hot,
And with such frequent volleys of their shot,
As they not able to endure, begun
To yeeld their ground, such furious blowes to shunne.
The Heav'ns lamented his sad Funerall,
And so amaz'd his Foes, that they forget
To bear away his Bodie: For as yet
Among a heap of slaughtred Corps it lies;
A ruefull Spectacle to mortall eyes,
To see him laid so low, that was of late
The glorious Head of such a mightie State.
But by this time the Swethes had recollected
Their Sp'rits, and now again their hearts erected.
Stollhanshe, enraged with a furious course,
Leads on a Regiment of nimble Horse,
Who gave th' Imperialist a charge so hot,
And with such frequent volleys of their shot,
As they not able to endure, begun
To yeeld their ground, such furious blowes to shunne.
Then the sad Swethes did raise a mournfull crie,
When on the ground their murdred King they eye;
Whose bloud-distained Corps in heavie sort
From furie of the Battell they transport.
Meanwhile the Swedish Foot did backward beat
Th' Imperialist, and made them to retreat.
Grave Neels, a valiant and couragious Swethe,
That never car'd for wounds, nor fear'd for death,
His Yellow Regiment so bravely led,
That now they might have di'd their Name quite red.
And Winckle too with his Blew Regiment
At that same time so stoutly forward bent,
That now the Wall'nsteiners did gladly choose
Their ground and Cannon both at once to lose.
But then the Mist to such a thicknesse grew,
That the enraged Swethes could not pursue
This their advantage; but were then compell'd
To stand and pause untill the mist dispell'd.
When on the ground their murdred King they eye;
Whose bloud-distained Corps in heavie sort
From furie of the Battell they transport.
Meanwhile the Swedish Foot did backward beat
Th' Imperialist, and made them to retreat.
Grave Neels, a valiant and couragious Swethe,
That never car'd for wounds, nor fear'd for death,
59
That now they might have di'd their Name quite red.
And Winckle too with his Blew Regiment
At that same time so stoutly forward bent,
That now the Wall'nsteiners did gladly choose
Their ground and Cannon both at once to lose.
But then the Mist to such a thicknesse grew,
That the enraged Swethes could not pursue
This their advantage; but were then compell'd
To stand and pause untill the mist dispell'd.
At that same time a sudden strange affright
On part of the Imperiall Troups did light,
That with such terrour struck their courage dead,
That straight they turn'd their bridles, and then fled;
Not once their eyes reflecting back, to view
If any foes behinde them did pursue.
Some mutt'ring tongues a fearfull rumour spread,
That all their Troups were fully vanquished.
Some fifteen hundred Horse were then beheld
With swift Career to gallop out of field.
Fear taught them haste, and made them cruell too;
For in their headlong speed their friends they slew:
Their Bedets and their Women in the Rear
They trampled down, and some they kill'd with fear.
There many Ladies, who that day did wait
With trembling hearts upon their Husbands Fate,
Fling from their Coaches, then their Harnesse part;
(What will not fear enforce a tender heart?)
In Manly posture did these Females stride
Their sturdie Beasts, and so away they ride.
These fear-tormented Wights my Warlike Muse
Doth scorn to follow, when none else pursues.
Return we to those Noble Hearts, who ne're
Would shrink a jot, though all the world should fear;
That now in midst of fire and smoke did strive
Their Enemies before them for to drive.
On part of the Imperiall Troups did light,
That with such terrour struck their courage dead,
That straight they turn'd their bridles, and then fled;
Not once their eyes reflecting back, to view
If any foes behinde them did pursue.
Some mutt'ring tongues a fearfull rumour spread,
That all their Troups were fully vanquished.
Some fifteen hundred Horse were then beheld
With swift Career to gallop out of field.
Fear taught them haste, and made them cruell too;
For in their headlong speed their friends they slew:
Their Bedets and their Women in the Rear
They trampled down, and some they kill'd with fear.
There many Ladies, who that day did wait
With trembling hearts upon their Husbands Fate,
Fling from their Coaches, then their Harnesse part;
(What will not fear enforce a tender heart?)
60
Their sturdie Beasts, and so away they ride.
These fear-tormented Wights my Warlike Muse
Doth scorn to follow, when none else pursues.
Return we to those Noble Hearts, who ne're
Would shrink a jot, though all the world should fear;
That now in midst of fire and smoke did strive
Their Enemies before them for to drive.
Now Pappenheim being come, did reinforce
Th' Imperiall troups with new supplies of Horse:
He added Courage to their stagg'ring Bands,
And made them charge again with willing Hands.
He rang'd himself in the Sinister Wing,
Which (as he thought) opposed Swethlands King.
But as his Cornets now stood ord'red fair,
And he himself did for the Charge prepare,
A Bullet from a Falconet is sent,
Whose deadly force his arm and shoulder rent:
Soon it transcoloured his shining Steel
With bloud, and made this haughtie Captain reel;
He that the town of Magdenburg did spoil,
And levell'd all her buildings with the soil;
Whose Execrations, as we may presume,
Did hasten on his unexpected Doom.
Th' Imperiall troups with new supplies of Horse:
He added Courage to their stagg'ring Bands,
And made them charge again with willing Hands.
He rang'd himself in the Sinister Wing,
Which (as he thought) opposed Swethlands King.
But as his Cornets now stood ord'red fair,
And he himself did for the Charge prepare,
A Bullet from a Falconet is sent,
Whose deadly force his arm and shoulder rent:
Soon it transcoloured his shining Steel
With bloud, and made this haughtie Captain reel;
He that the town of Magdenburg did spoil,
And levell'd all her buildings with the soil;
Whose Execrations, as we may presume,
Did hasten on his unexpected Doom.
But when his Captains and Commanders saw
Their Generall his latest breath to draw,
He's slain, He's slain, aloud they all did crie;
Then facing it about, away they flie,
Ere they had fought one stroke, or in the field
The faces of their Enemies beheld.
Their Generall his latest breath to draw,
He's slain, He's slain, aloud they all did crie;
Then facing it about, away they flie,
61
The faces of their Enemies beheld.
But those Imperials, whom his presence set
On a fresh charge, stood to it stiffly yet,
And with such massie Squadrons overlaid
The Swedish Troups, that they were backward swaid.
Here Coloredo, and Tersica too,
With Picolomini, the fight renew
With no small! Furie, and with many hands
Which light upon Grave Neels and Winckles Bands.
The first of these above the knee being hurt,
His Souldiers from the Battell did transport,
Though after this he did not long survive.
And thou brave Winckle wert fetcht off alive
With double wounds. But thy Vice-Colonell
Was stricken down, and did not scape so well.
On a fresh charge, stood to it stiffly yet,
And with such massie Squadrons overlaid
The Swedish Troups, that they were backward swaid.
Here Coloredo, and Tersica too,
With Picolomini, the fight renew
With no small! Furie, and with many hands
Which light upon Grave Neels and Winckles Bands.
The first of these above the knee being hurt,
His Souldiers from the Battell did transport,
Though after this he did not long survive.
And thou brave Winckle wert fetcht off alive
With double wounds. But thy Vice-Colonell
Was stricken down, and did not scape so well.
Though thus th' Imperialist victoriously
Did for a while the Swedish Squadrons plie,
And now his Cannon had resum'd again,
Which erst he lost; yet for it was he fain
T' exchange so many of his bravest men,
The flow'r of all his Infantrie, and then
So soon their deer-bought bargain to give over,
Which the bold Swethes quickly from them recover.
There did old Bruner on th' Imperiall part,
A skilfull Captain, lose both life and heart.
The young Count Wall'nstein by some unknown hand
Was likewise there shot dead upon the sand.
There Fulda's Abbot di'd, whose sacred head
Was pierced by the rude and impious lead,
That never to distinguish yet would learn,
Nor be conjur'd a Mitre to discern
From a steel Helmet, but impartially
At all alike his unstaid force doth flie.
Did for a while the Swedish Squadrons plie,
And now his Cannon had resum'd again,
Which erst he lost; yet for it was he fain
T' exchange so many of his bravest men,
The flow'r of all his Infantrie, and then
So soon their deer-bought bargain to give over,
Which the bold Swethes quickly from them recover.
There did old Bruner on th' Imperiall part,
A skilfull Captain, lose both life and heart.
The young Count Wall'nstein by some unknown hand
Was likewise there shot dead upon the sand.
62
Was pierced by the rude and impious lead,
That never to distinguish yet would learn,
Nor be conjur'd a Mitre to discern
From a steel Helmet, but impartially
At all alike his unstaid force doth flie.
Here had the fiercest of the Battell been,
Here likewise was the greatest slaughter seen.
The sturdie Swethes had learn'd to fight and die;
But never yet had learn'd to shrink or flie:
The ground, which erst their warlike hands defended,
They cover with their Bodies now extended.
Death well might winne from them their lives; but loe,
Their ground he cannot force them to forgo.
Here likewise was the greatest slaughter seen.
The sturdie Swethes had learn'd to fight and die;
But never yet had learn'd to shrink or flie:
The ground, which erst their warlike hands defended,
They cover with their Bodies now extended.
Death well might winne from them their lives; but loe,
Their ground he cannot force them to forgo.
But now Knipphausen, who with watchfull eye
The slaughter of his Vantguard did descrie,
Most readie is to stop encroaching fear:
He sends them up two Brigades from the Rear:
The one Count Thurn, the other Mitzlaffe led,
Who gladly did their waving Colours spread,
And marching forward with a speedie pace,
Their now triumphing Enemies do face.
Having within a reaching distance got,
They did salute them with their thundring shot,
Which without ceasing they so roundly pli'd,
That now th' Imperials hearts were terrifi'd:
Being so lately tired, they could not
For any space endure a Charge so hot.
What could be done by Valour or by Skill,
Was there perform'd; they stand it out, untill
The eager Swethes by force and weightinesse
Expell'd them from the place they did possesse.
Once more th' Imperiall Cannon they had wonne;
And turning them, to thunder now begun
Against the Wall'nsteiners. At that same houre,
Bernard, that noble Duke, with all his Power
Of Horse and Foot fiercely assails those bands
And Regiments, where Coloredo stands;
Who did as then, like some unmoved rock,
Receive th' impression of his mightie shock:
At which the Duke did slacken his first heat,
And back again did orderly retreat.
The slaughter of his Vantguard did descrie,
Most readie is to stop encroaching fear:
He sends them up two Brigades from the Rear:
The one Count Thurn, the other Mitzlaffe led,
Who gladly did their waving Colours spread,
And marching forward with a speedie pace,
Their now triumphing Enemies do face.
Having within a reaching distance got,
They did salute them with their thundring shot,
Which without ceasing they so roundly pli'd,
That now th' Imperials hearts were terrifi'd:
Being so lately tired, they could not
For any space endure a Charge so hot.
63
Was there perform'd; they stand it out, untill
The eager Swethes by force and weightinesse
Expell'd them from the place they did possesse.
Once more th' Imperiall Cannon they had wonne;
And turning them, to thunder now begun
Against the Wall'nsteiners. At that same houre,
Bernard, that noble Duke, with all his Power
Of Horse and Foot fiercely assails those bands
And Regiments, where Coloredo stands;
Who did as then, like some unmoved rock,
Receive th' impression of his mightie shock:
At which the Duke did slacken his first heat,
And back again did orderly retreat.
But here once more the vap'rie mist descended,
And for a while both sides from blowes defended.
But when this cloudie curtain drawn aside
Gave space to both the Armies to be ey'd,
Wall'nstein did two of his chief Captains send
To see what now the Swethlanders intend.
At that time Bernard and Knipphausen joyn'd,
And both together had their Troups combin'd:
Their shatt'red Regiments they did repair
With fresh supplies, and made them straight & square.
These Scouts return'd, and to their Duke relate
How that the Swedish meant to iterate
The fight afresh, and did in Battell ray
Their bloudie Ensignes once again display,
And orderly were marching on amain,
Resolving for to conquer or be slain.
And for a while both sides from blowes defended.
But when this cloudie curtain drawn aside
Gave space to both the Armies to be ey'd,
Wall'nstein did two of his chief Captains send
To see what now the Swethlanders intend.
At that time Bernard and Knipphausen joyn'd,
And both together had their Troups combin'd:
Their shatt'red Regiments they did repair
With fresh supplies, and made them straight & square.
These Scouts return'd, and to their Duke relate
How that the Swedish meant to iterate
The fight afresh, and did in Battell ray
Their bloudie Ensignes once again display,
64
Resolving for to conquer or be slain.
Duke Bernard doth espie th' Imperiall Horse
Retreating from them in an even course;
Then twentie Cannons did he make to roar
With such a vengefull furie, that they tore
Both Horse and Man, defac'd both rank and file,
And their fair Martiall order quickly spoil,
Making their troups confusedly to show,
While on the grasse their mingled bloud doth flow;
And which before not any colour knew,
But the fresh green, is di'd with purple hue.
Here the proud Steed, who scorn'd & spurn'd the ground,
Stretcht dead upon the same is quiet found:
And there another, who did fiercely neigh,
And bravely did his reared crest display,
Is with a fire-wing'd bullet stricken dead,
And mangled lies without a crest or head:
Here was a file of Horsemen cut in sunder
By direfull force of this resistlesse thunder,
While th' untoucht Horse do start and fling about,
And so the next disorderly do rout.
The Swedish Cornets soon th' advantage spie,
And with a sudden charge upon them flie.
Before it thundred; now a storm of hail
And smaller shot their stagg'ring troups doth quail;
And then these haughtie Cavaliers begun
With swift and more disord'red pace to runne.
Their Infantrie no better then did fare;
These also by the Swethes repulsed are,
Who now prest on, and pli'd their Volleys round,
And shouldred out th' Imperials from their ground.
As when two Currents do adversely roll,
And seek each others motion to controll:
A while they seem pois'd with an equall force,
And both alike repell their spatt'ring sourse;
Till one of them assisted with a blast,
The others waves doth headlong backward cast:
Thus did the Swethes by force and Martiall toil
Compell th' Imperials backward to recoil.
But those that in the mud-wall'd Gardens lay,
Farre more securely for a while did play,
Under protection of those earthen Banks,
Upon the Swethlanders encroaching ranks.
But they, enrag'd at this unequall fight,
Advanced tow'rds them with a vengefull spight;
And like a Tempest storm'd upon their trenches,
Which soon with slaught'red bloud their furie drenches.
Retreating from them in an even course;
Then twentie Cannons did he make to roar
With such a vengefull furie, that they tore
Both Horse and Man, defac'd both rank and file,
And their fair Martiall order quickly spoil,
Making their troups confusedly to show,
While on the grasse their mingled bloud doth flow;
And which before not any colour knew,
But the fresh green, is di'd with purple hue.
Here the proud Steed, who scorn'd & spurn'd the ground,
Stretcht dead upon the same is quiet found:
And there another, who did fiercely neigh,
And bravely did his reared crest display,
Is with a fire-wing'd bullet stricken dead,
And mangled lies without a crest or head:
Here was a file of Horsemen cut in sunder
By direfull force of this resistlesse thunder,
While th' untoucht Horse do start and fling about,
And so the next disorderly do rout.
The Swedish Cornets soon th' advantage spie,
And with a sudden charge upon them flie.
Before it thundred; now a storm of hail
And smaller shot their stagg'ring troups doth quail;
And then these haughtie Cavaliers begun
With swift and more disord'red pace to runne.
65
These also by the Swethes repulsed are,
Who now prest on, and pli'd their Volleys round,
And shouldred out th' Imperials from their ground.
As when two Currents do adversely roll,
And seek each others motion to controll:
A while they seem pois'd with an equall force,
And both alike repell their spatt'ring sourse;
Till one of them assisted with a blast,
The others waves doth headlong backward cast:
Thus did the Swethes by force and Martiall toil
Compell th' Imperials backward to recoil.
But those that in the mud-wall'd Gardens lay,
Farre more securely for a while did play,
Under protection of those earthen Banks,
Upon the Swethlanders encroaching ranks.
But they, enrag'd at this unequall fight,
Advanced tow'rds them with a vengefull spight;
And like a Tempest storm'd upon their trenches,
Which soon with slaught'red bloud their furie drenches.
And now the Sunne, wearied with this sad sight,
Began from them to hide his shining light:
He now did seem with his declining beams
To kisse the Oceans azure-colour'd streams;
When lo a rumour was disperst by some,
That Pappenheims Foot-Regiments were come:
Duke Bernard then rallies again his Horse,
Resolv'd t'assail them with his utmost force.
But when the Signall was again resounded,
The cheerfull Souldiers, as no whit astounded,
Strictly did each embrace his Camerade,
And, Must we charge them once again? they said;
Then let us bravely and with manly Hearts,
And like true Souldiers, act our latest parts.
Then with such rage and furie did they close,
As if they had reserved all their blowes
For this last onset; and those new-come Bands
Did quickly feel their over-weightie hands:
They found that though the light did still decrease,
Yet the stout Swethes would not their furie cease.
After they had sustained for a while
Their rough encounter, and no little spoil,
They did betake them to a shamefull flight
Under protection of the wings of Night,
Leaving the field to their victorious foes,
Who on the same their wearied limbes repose.
Among his wounded Friends and Enemies,
On the cold ground the conqu'ring Souldier lies;
And ne're complaineth of so hard a Bed,
Where Victorie her pleasing arms hath spread.
Began from them to hide his shining light:
He now did seem with his declining beams
To kisse the Oceans azure-colour'd streams;
When lo a rumour was disperst by some,
That Pappenheims Foot-Regiments were come:
Duke Bernard then rallies again his Horse,
Resolv'd t'assail them with his utmost force.
66
The cheerfull Souldiers, as no whit astounded,
Strictly did each embrace his Camerade,
And, Must we charge them once again? they said;
Then let us bravely and with manly Hearts,
And like true Souldiers, act our latest parts.
Then with such rage and furie did they close,
As if they had reserved all their blowes
For this last onset; and those new-come Bands
Did quickly feel their over-weightie hands:
They found that though the light did still decrease,
Yet the stout Swethes would not their furie cease.
After they had sustained for a while
Their rough encounter, and no little spoil,
They did betake them to a shamefull flight
Under protection of the wings of Night,
Leaving the field to their victorious foes,
Who on the same their wearied limbes repose.
Among his wounded Friends and Enemies,
On the cold ground the conqu'ring Souldier lies;
And ne're complaineth of so hard a Bed,
Where Victorie her pleasing arms hath spread.
FINIS.
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