Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/391

The Souldiers pinched with this scarcity
By stealth unto Cassander dayly fly;
Olimpias means to hold out^[1] to the last,
Expecting nothing but of death to tast;
But his occasions calling him away,^[2]
Gives promise for her life, so wins the day.
No sooner had he got her in his hand,
But made in judgement her accusers stand;
And plead the blood of friends and kindreds^[3] spilt,
Desiring justice might be done for guilt;
And so was he acquitted of his word,
For justice fake she being put to th' Sword:
This was the end of this most cruel Queen,
Whose fury scarcely parallel'd^[4] hath been.
The daughter, filler, Mother, Wife to Kings,
But Royalty no good conditions brings;^[5]
To Husbands death ('tis^[6] thought) she gave consent,
The murtherer^[7] she did so much lament:
With Garlands crown'd his head, bemoan'd his fates,
His Sword unto Apollo consecrates.
Her Outrages too tedious to relate.
How for no cause but her inveterate hate;
Her Husbands wives^[8] and Children after's death.
Some slew, some fry'd, of others stopt the breath:

1. wills to keep it,
2. But he unwilling longer there to ftay,
3. of their deare Kindred.
4. unparalleld.
5. After this the first edition has, —
   So boundlesse was her pride, and cruelty,
   She oft forgot bounds of Humanity.
   
   
6. 'twas.
7. The Authours death.
8. Wife.