Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/326

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

240 A/nie Bradftreet^s Works.

Had not his Captains" fore againll his will

By realbn and by force detained him ftill.

Up then with fpeed a mighty trench he throws [117

For his fecurity againft his foes.

Six yards the depth and forty miles in length,

Some fifty or elfe lixty foot in breadth;

Yet for his brothers coming durft not ftay,

He fafeft was when fartheft out of th' way.

Cyrus finding his camp, and no man there,

Was not a little jocund ^ at his fear.

On this he and his Ibuldiers carelefs grow,

And here and there in carts their arms they throw

When fuddenly their fcouts come in and cry.

Arm, Arm, the King with all his hoft is nigh.^

In this confulion each man as he might

Gets on his arms, arrayes himfelf for fight,

And ranged flood by great Eu-phrates fide

The brunt of that huge multitude to 'bide.

Of whofe great numbers their intelligence

Was gather'd by the duft that rofe from thence.

Which like a mighty cloud darkned the sky.

And black and blacker grew, as they drew nigh:

But when their order and their filence faw,

That, more then multitudes their hearts did awe;

For tumult and confufion the}^ expe6led,

And all good difcipline to be neglected.

« a Captain ; " fiireft. / Rejoyced not a little.

? the King is now approaching nigh ;

�� �