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Fierce Pafimond, their Passage to prevent, Thrust full on Cymon's Back in his Descent, The Blade return'd unbath'd, and to the Handle

bent:

Stout Cymon soon remounts, and cleft in two
His Rival's Head with one descending Blow:
And as the next in rank Ormisda stood,

He turn'd the Point: The Sword inur'd to Blood,
Bor'd his unguarded Breast, which pour'd al

purple Flood.

With vow'd Revenge the gathering Crowd
pursues,

The Ravishers turn Head, the Fight renews;
The Hall is heap'd with Corps; the sprinkled Gore
Besmears the Walls, and floats the Marble Floor.
Dispers'd at length the drunken Squadron flies,)
The Victors to their Veffel bear the Prize;

And hear behind loud Groans, and lamentable

Cries.

The Crew with merry Shouts their Anchors weigh, Then ply their Oars, and brush the buxom Sea, While Troops of gather'd Rhodians croud theKey.

What should the People do, when left alone?T
The Governor and Government are gone...
The publick Wealth to Foreign Parts convey'd;
Some Troops disbanded, and the rest unpaid.
Rhodes is the Soveraign of the Sea no more;
Their Ships unrigg'd, and spent their Naval Store ;
They neither could defend, nor can pursue,
But grin'd their Teeth, and cast a helpless view:
In vain with Darts a distant War they try,
Short, and more short the missive Weapons fly.
Mean while the Ravishers their Crimes enjoy,
And flying Sails and sweeping Oars employ;
The Cliffs of Rhodes in little space are loft,
Jove's Ifle they feek; nor Jove denies his Coast.
In Safety landed on the Candian Shore,
With generous Wines their Spirits they restore;
There Cymon with his Rhodian Friend resides,
Both Court, and Wed at once the willing Brides,
A War ensues, the Cretans own their Cause,
Stiff to defend their hofpitable Laws :
Both Parties lose by turns; and neither wins,
'Till Peace propounded by a Truce begins.

:

:

The Kindred of the Slain forgive the Deed,
But a short Exile must for Show precede;
The Term expir'd, from Candia they remove;
And happy each, at Home, enjoys his Love.

1

THE

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