Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Thomas Hudson's historie of Judith

78
THE HISTORIE OF JUDITH.
My Prince is witnesse who at warrs did fall,
with king Arphaxat cause he raisde his wall
Of Ecbatane so high that it did shame
to Niniue, and Babell feard the same :
For which, he vndertooke to spoyle his throne,
And race his Scepter to the lowest stone :
with spite, his buildings braue, he cast adowne.
Arphaxat then, a man of great renowne,
And worthie of his Scepter and his state,
thought better in the field to make debate.
Then beare a scome, his Meds to battell drew.
Thus tweene them two did cruell warre ensewe.
Arphaxat armed all the yles of Greece,
where lason was, but sought no golden fleece,
But golden lingots with aboundant gaine,
wher Phasis streame bedewes the pleasant plaine.
The Harmastans, and Albans, strong, and wise,
that sowes but once, and haue their haruest thrise.
The men that neare to Oxus banks abydes,
And those that Antitaurus horns deuydes.
And those that mans the mount vpon whose brest
the ship 2 that scapt the genrall flood did rest:
And those that are (not hyd) within the Reame,
wher proud laxartes flowes with furious streame.
In short: the Meds brought men to ayde their plea
From Pontus farre beyond the Caspian sea :
And of this Hoste Arphaxat was commander
with hope and hart more high then Alexander.
My prince desirous then to winne or dye.
Left nought vndone that furthred to supplye :
His troubled state. He armed Syttacene,
And waged Archers out of Osrohene :
ye lords of lands that yelds the hundreth come,
Leaue Euphrates & bounds where ye were borne :
ye Carmans bolde that all on fish do feede,
And of their pelts do make your warlike weede :
i
SIC.
2 1584, shipt.