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238
Anne Bradstreet's Works.
His Interest in th' Kingdome now next heir.
More dear to's Mother then his brother farr:
His brothers Httle love like to be gone.
Held by his Mothers Intercession.
These and like motives hurry him amain,
To win by force, what right could not obtain;
And thought it belt now in his Mothers time,
By lower[1] steps towards the top to climbe:
If in his enterprize he should fall short,
She to the King would make a fair report,
He hop'd if fraud nor force, the Crown would gain
Her prevalence, a pardon might obtain.
From the Lieutenant first he takes away
Some Towns, commodious in less Asia
Pretending still the profit of the King,
Whole Rents and Customes duly he lent in;
The King finding Revenues now amended.
For what was done seemed no whit offended.
Then next he takes the Spartans into pay,[2]
One Greek could make ten Persians run away.
Great care was his pretence those Souldiers stout,
The Rovers in Pisidia should drive out;
[116] But left some blacker[3] news should fly to Court,
Prepares[4] himself to carry the report:
And for that end five hundred Horse he chose;
With polling speed on towards the king he goes:
But same more quick, arrives ere he comes there.
And fills the Court with tumult, and with fear.
More dear to's Mother then his brother farr:
His brothers Httle love like to be gone.
Held by his Mothers Intercession.
These and like motives hurry him amain,
To win by force, what right could not obtain;
And thought it belt now in his Mothers time,
By lower[1] steps towards the top to climbe:
If in his enterprize he should fall short,
She to the King would make a fair report,
He hop'd if fraud nor force, the Crown would gain
Her prevalence, a pardon might obtain.
From the Lieutenant first he takes away
Some Towns, commodious in less Asia
Pretending still the profit of the King,
Whole Rents and Customes duly he lent in;
The King finding Revenues now amended.
For what was done seemed no whit offended.
Then next he takes the Spartans into pay,[2]
One Greek could make ten Persians run away.
Great care was his pretence those Souldiers stout,
The Rovers in Pisidia should drive out;
[116] But left some blacker[3] news should fly to Court,
Prepares[4] himself to carry the report:
And for that end five hundred Horse he chose;
With polling speed on towards the king he goes:
But same more quick, arrives ere he comes there.
And fills the Court with tumult, and with fear.
