The Grecian Story Being an Historical Poem, in Five Books. To which is Annex'd The Grove: Consisting of Divers Shorter Poems upon several Subjects. By J. H. [i.e. John Harington] |
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 | The Grecian Story |  |
He, welcome All (like former Friends) reply'd;
They closed strait with Him on either side.
Discourse by th' way, He gave them information,
What Treaty held with that Laconian Nation.
Those Frontire-Towns and Forts, but lately seiz'd,
Should Render'd prove, th' Arcadian King since pleas'd
To give large Sum; thought, as th' Affairs then stood,
Better by Coin redeem'd than Native Blood.
Peace (next) Confirm'd till Fifteen years expir'd,
With Joy to both the Realms so much desir'd.
His Lordship chose that early Hour to shun
June's fainter Heat; things well transacted, done,
With shorter Speed to Kiss their new King's hand,
Gonsalvus too, when both did strait demand,
With cheerful thoughts, Then is the young King Dead?
Yes, th' other answer'd there, his life was fled
Near Month ago, if that be News, unknown;
And th' Uncle now ascends the Royal Throne.
Conjoyned strait; He Dy'd in Grateful Hour,
Orontes when should be brought up to th' Tower
Midst Nightly Shades, false, Treas'nous Charge, Pretence
(Orsamnes Partner joyn'd) with Violence;
Then soon condemn'd: given speedy Order to
Two Troops of Horse; One of their Captains tho
Was sick that time, the Other Drunk did prove,
Whence caus'd some stop, Demur: e're Those could move;
Night past Inflam'd, and Day before, the King
Through Surfeit, Wine, felt extream Vomiting;
Enrag'd withall: was couched so in Bed:
Then further Pause, till Change discovered:
His Uncle too conceiv'd the Prince's Friend,
But soon Speech lost, and Life, so prov'd his End.
Those Courtiers fled, through Guilty hearts, that fram'd
False Traytor-Ianes, most fouly them defam'd.
They closed strait with Him on either side.
Discourse by th' way, He gave them information,
What Treaty held with that Laconian Nation.
Those Frontire-Towns and Forts, but lately seiz'd,
Should Render'd prove, th' Arcadian King since pleas'd
To give large Sum; thought, as th' Affairs then stood,
Better by Coin redeem'd than Native Blood.
Peace (next) Confirm'd till Fifteen years expir'd,
With Joy to both the Realms so much desir'd.
His Lordship chose that early Hour to shun
June's fainter Heat; things well transacted, done,
With shorter Speed to Kiss their new King's hand,
Gonsalvus too, when both did strait demand,
With cheerful thoughts, Then is the young King Dead?
Yes, th' other answer'd there, his life was fled
267
And th' Uncle now ascends the Royal Throne.
Conjoyned strait; He Dy'd in Grateful Hour,
Orontes when should be brought up to th' Tower
Midst Nightly Shades, false, Treas'nous Charge, Pretence
(Orsamnes Partner joyn'd) with Violence;
Then soon condemn'd: given speedy Order to
Two Troops of Horse; One of their Captains tho
Was sick that time, the Other Drunk did prove,
Whence caus'd some stop, Demur: e're Those could move;
Night past Inflam'd, and Day before, the King
Through Surfeit, Wine, felt extream Vomiting;
Enrag'd withall: was couched so in Bed:
Then further Pause, till Change discovered:
His Uncle too conceiv'd the Prince's Friend,
But soon Speech lost, and Life, so prov'd his End.
Those Courtiers fled, through Guilty hearts, that fram'd
False Traytor-Ianes, most fouly them defam'd.
| The Grecian Story | |