Page:The muses threnodie (Adamson, 1638).djvu/68
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48
The fourth muse
So tumbling headlong spears in hand they traile;
As firie dragons, seeme to have a taile;
Or Phaëton, or some sulphureous ball,
So from the bridge in river do they fall.
I pray the Gall, quoth I, that storie show[1]
Some things I heard of it, and more wwould know,
Tell it I pray. No, no, Gall did reply,
Lest I offend our neighbour town neerby,
When they shall hear how malice did provoke them,
Ambition them guide and avarice choak them;
Thinking upon our spoyles triumph to make,
And on th' occasion given our town to wrak,
With full commission purchast for the same,
T'intrude a Provest, else with sword and flame
All to destroy, given by the Cardinall,
At whose devotion then was govern'd all:
So in that morning soon by break of day
The town all silent did beset, then they
To clim the bridge begin and port to skall,[2]
The chaines they break, and let the drawbridge fall;
The little gate of purpose was left patent
And all our Citizens in lanes were latent,
None durst be seene, the enemies to allure
Their own destruction justlie to procure;
Thus entring through,, though well straitly, one did call,
All is our owwne, Come felloww-souldiers all,
Advance your Lordlie pace; take and destroy,
Build up your Fortunes; O with what great joy
These words were heard! Then did they proudly step
As men advanc'd on stilts, and cock their cap.
As firie dragons, seeme to have a taile;
Or Phaëton, or some sulphureous ball,
So from the bridge in river do they fall.
I pray the Gall, quoth I, that storie show[1]
Some things I heard of it, and more wwould know,
Tell it I pray. No, no, Gall did reply,
Lest I offend our neighbour town neerby,
When they shall hear how malice did provoke them,
Ambition them guide and avarice choak them;
Thinking upon our spoyles triumph to make,
And on th' occasion given our town to wrak,
With full commission purchast for the same,
T'intrude a Provest, else with sword and flame
All to destroy, given by the Cardinall,
At whose devotion then was govern'd all:
So in that morning soon by break of day
The town all silent did beset, then they
To clim the bridge begin and port to skall,[2]
The chaines they break, and let the drawbridge fall;
The little gate of purpose was left patent
And all our Citizens in lanes were latent,
None durst be seene, the enemies to allure
Their own destruction justlie to procure;
Thus entring through,, though well straitly, one did call,
All is our owwne, Come felloww-souldiers all,
Advance your Lordlie pace; take and destroy,
Build up your Fortunes; O with what great joy
These words were heard! Then did they proudly step
As men advanc'd on stilts, and cock their cap.
With