Book XII, Chapter 75

WHen Stafford and his double Charge to Italie were come,
In health, and rich (for hence brought they in Coine no little Some,
With Iewels of rare estimate, and else-what of great worth)
For Mandeuil they seeke, and him at last did listen forth.
That in Constantinople yet he was, a Marchant saide:
And thither Staffords Letter was to him with speed conuaide,
Purporting only that himselfe at Rome his comming staide.
Meane while in Rome (the Mistris once of all the world) they view
Such wonders, couch't in Ruins, as vnseene might seeme vntrew.
Once was it compast, as is read, with fiftie miles of wall:
Now some to twentie, some to lesse, in that accompt doe fall:
It hauing Towers so many as the yeare hath dayes in all.
From fortie miles was water brought in Pipes o[…] Arches thether.
Were vaulted walkes through euery Streete, gainst Sunne, and rainy weather.
The sumptious Bathes, with Pallaces thereto of rare delight,
The roomesome Ponds, where very Ships some Festiuals did fight,
The Trophie Arches, where to life Triumphants were purtraide,
The Statures huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters made,
The Theaters, Pyramides, the Hill of halfe a mile,
Raisde but of tribute Pot-sheards, so to boast their Power long while,
The Obelisks, of one whole Stone neere fortie yards or more,
Huge Pillers, caru'd in Masonrie with Prowse of Knights before,
The stately Bridges, sometimes Eight, now fewer, Tyber crosse,
The Thirtie goodly Gates, of which is now of number losse,
The huge Colosses, Conduites, and else-what, that shew'd a State
Beyond beleefe of ruin'd Rome, in part repair'd of late,
They wonder at, & how the world could yeeld such Pomp, debate.
Though some the seauen inclosed Hils, did ancient Rome containe,
Lye waste, or Vine-yards, more doth yeat of Maiestie remaine,
Euen in the Rubble of the old, than in the now renew'd,
Though Rome retaines a Statelines, nor fairer Pyles are view'd.
The round Pantheon, once the House of all the Heathen Gods,
Stands yet a Temple, but lesse deckt for rich by too much ods.
On Auentine the down-fals are of Temples store to see:
On Tarpie of the Capitol, were wont their Guild to bee:
On Palantine of Pallaces, on Caelius signes of Playes:
Quirinall, Exquell, Viminall, of Bathes shew braue decayes.
These Hils, with Vatican and old Ianiculum ore-past,
Shew we how Rome did rule, was rul'd, and ruin'd at the last.

FRom Ianus (called Noe of some, […]aphet of some Noes Sonne,
And Iaphets sonne of others) Rule in Tuscan first begonne,
Raign'd in sixe hundreth twentie yeares of Latines Twentie one:
(Son of the Eight of which was Brute, first Soueraign of our Throne)
The last of these Numitor was, whome Romulus did kill,
And, building Rome, slew Remus, there to lord-it at his will.
* This Citie, then Receptacle for all, how vile skils not,
Of Italie by one and one the Sixteene State-Lands got.
Tarquinius raign'd the Seauenth in Rome, whē for the Out-rage done
Vpon Lucretia, Kings did cease, and Consuls then begonne:
Whē had two hūdreth thirtie yeres bin Kings, that much had won.
* In this estate of Consuls (Two, remoueable each yeere)
Rome flourished in Victories fiue hundreth yeares well neere.
No age can boast like valiant Men, or Senatours so graue,
That Warre, and Peace, vnto the world at their Deuotion gaue:
Whose only naked Maiestie not Armour then could braue:
Like Monarchie none euer had, or likely is shall haue.
* When now the world was wholly Romes, and Pompei ouercome,
Then Iulius Caesar did Vsurpe the Common-wealth of Rome.
Had Thirtie eight bin Emperours successiuely, when as
Did Constantine to Siluester Rome, by Donation pas.
* This Constantine (surnam'd the great, Our heire, and of our blood)
Baptiz'd of Siluester, did hurt, as hap't, by doing good:
When to Constantinople he remou'd th'imperiall Seate,
Rome prou'd too proude for Priests, or pride of Priests for Rome too great.
Besides, was little Policie in Partnership of Raigne,
For Rome, and Greece, one Empier earst, was rul'd as if of Twaine:
Who also chose their Caesars, that their priuate Turnes did waite:
Whence, after at Bizantium Nine had held imperiall State,
Rome by the Gothe Alaracus was sackt in barbrous rate.
And here the Romaine Monarchie did palpably decline:
As doth her Prelacie, and soone shall quite, may we deuine.

But shall we yet digresse of Rome, subiecting vs so long?
Then least, as now your Eares, our Pen your Memories should wrong,
Remembred be wheare stayde our search of Countries, where left we
Of Manaeuil and Elenir, and wheare these Louers be.