leafed for the other. Gobrias about this time (a Nobleman, whofe only Son, the King of Babylon, in his Father's Life-Time, had in a hunting Match, villinoufly flain) toge her with his Friends, revolted to Cyrus.

It is very probable alfo, that no fmall part of thofe Troubles which fprang up in the Lower Afia, grew foon after Cyrus's Departure with his victorious Army, before the Conqueft was fully established. was fully established. For after Cyrus was returned out of Afia the Lefs, many Nations which were formerly conquered by Cræfus, and now by Cyrus, revolted from him; against whom he imployed Pattias, and then Harpagus, who first reduced the Phocians under their former Obedience; and then the rest of the Greeks that inhabited Afia the Lefs, as the Ionians, Carians, Eolians, and Lycians, who, very refolutely (according to the Strength they had) defended themfelves; but in the Attempt upon Babylon itself, it is not to be queftioned but Cyrus imployed all his Forces, having taken Order beforehand, that nothing fhould be able to divert him, or to raife that Siege, or to fruftrate that Work upon which he did fet all his rest.

And great Reafon there was, that he should improve all his Policy and Strength. unto the taking of that City, which, befides the Fame and Reputation that it held, as being the Head of an Empire, which depended thereupon, was fo ftrongly fortified with a treble Wall of great height, and furrounded with the Waters of Euphrates, that were unfordable, and fo plentifully victualled for many Years, that the Inhabitants were not only free from Fear, and doubt of their Eftate, but through their Confidence, they derided, and despised all the Projects and Power of their Befiegers.

For not long before, Nicotris, the Mother of Belshazzar, a witty and active. Woman,'forefecing the Storm that was ready to fall upon Babylon from the Medes, to hinder their paffing the River by Boats into Babylon, he turned the River. Euphrates, which before ran with a ftrait and fwift Courfe, drawing it through many winding Channels, which fhe had cut for that purpose, whereby fhe made it to run more flowly than formerly it did; and then the raised a huge Dam upon each Side of the River; and up the River from the City-ward, fhe digged a vaft Pond, which was every way three or four hundred Furlongs wide, into which fhe turned the River, thereby leaving the old Channel of the River dry; which done, the fell to work, and fenced the Banks within the City with BrickWalls, and raifed the Water-Gates,. answerable in every point to the rest of the Walls, which were made on the farther fide of the Channel, round about the City. She built alfo a stately and magnificent Bridge of Stone in the midst of the City, which joined to the King's Houses, that flood on each fide the River; and having finished all her Works and Fortifications, fhe turned the River out of the Pond into its right Channel again..

And now came Cyrus to invade the Country of Babylon, and appeared before the Wall of the City, and there challenged the King to a Duel, or fingle Combat, but he refused it. At this time Gadatis, a Nobleman of Babylon, whom Belfbazzar had gelt, upon a Jealoufy that he had of him with his Wife, fell over to Cyrus, in Revenge whereof the Babylonians fallied out, and fell upon his Lands; but Cyrus fet upon them, and routed them; at which time the Ċadufii,.. whom Cyrus had appointed to bring up the Rear of his Army, unknown to Cyrus, fet upon a Country lying near to the City; but the King of Babylon falling

'out upon them, cut them all off. Yet Cyrus quickly revenged the Death of his Men; and then came to an Agreement with Belshazzar, to hold truce with the Ploughmen on both fides, and the War to go on between the Souldiers only. After which, paffing beyond the City, he took in three of their Forts, and fo returned into the Confines of Affyria, and Med. a, and thither, upon his Invitation, came his Uncle Cyaxares, and was by him honourably received, and entertained in a Pavilion, that had been the King of Affyria's: and Winter now approaching they entered into Confultation to provide things neceffary to maintain the Siege.

The only Hope of Cyrus with his Medes and Perfians (who defpaired of carrying by Affault a City fo well, and ftrongly fortified, and manned) was in cuting off all Supplies of Victuals, and other Neceffaries; Whereof, though the Town was faid to be ftored fufficiently for more than twenty Years, yet might it well be imagined, that amongst such a World of People as dwelt within thofe Walls, one great Want or other would foon appear amongst them, and vanquish the Refolution of that unwarlike Multitude. Yet in expecting that Succefs of this Courfe, the Befiegers were likely to endure much Hardship, and Travel, and that all in vain, if they did not keep ftrict Watch, and fure Guards upon all the Avenues, and Quarters.

of it.

Which that he might the better do, he caufed prefently a vaft Trench, both for Breadth and Depth to be caft round about the Walls of the City, cafting the Earth ever towards his own Army, and made ftore of Bulworks all along upon it, for his Guards to be upon: and then, dividing his whole Army into twelve. parts, he ordered that each of them fhould Watch his Month, by turn..

And yet this was a very hard Work, confidering the vaft Circuit of thofe Walls which they were to gird in, having neither Men enough, nor yet fufficiently affured to their Commander; the confideration whereof miniftred unto the Babylonians, matter of good Paftime, when they faw the Lydians, Phrygians, Cappadocians, and others, quartered about their City to keep them in, who, having been their ancient Friends, and Allies, were more like to join with them, if occafion were offered, than to use much diligence on the behalf of Cyrus, who had, as it were but yesterday, laid upon their Necks the galling Yoke of Servitude.

Whilst the Befieged were thus pleafing themselves with this foolish Fancy, and vain Mirth (the ordinary Forerunners of fudden Calamity) Cyrus, who by God that fet him on work, was made ftrong, valiant, conftant, and inventive, devised, and by the Labour of his Men, digged fo many Channels as were capable of receiving the Waters of Euphrates, and fo to draw the fame from the Walls of Babylon, that thereby he might make his Approaches the more facile, and affured; which, when by the Labour of many Hands he had performed, he waited for a fit time wherein to put in Execution, what he had defigned. For he had left in each of the Trenches towards the River, certain Banks, or Heads uncut till he faw his Opportunity.

Now Belshazzar finding neither any Want or Weakneafs within the City, nor any poffibility for his Enemies without to approach the Walls, by reafon of the great River that furrounded them, he prepared an exceeding fumptuous Feast, publick Plays, and other Paftimes, and thereto invited a Thousand of his Princes, or Nobles, befides his Wives, Courtezans, and others of that Trade. This he did, either to let the Befiegers know that his Provifions were fufficient, not only

for

for all needful Ufes, but even for Superfluity, and Excefs; Or because he hoped that his Enemies by this time were difcouraged, and even broken under their manifold Difafters; Or elfe he made this Feaft in Honour of Bell, his moft adored Idol: or laftly, because it was his Birth, or Coronation Day: Or for many, or most of these Reafons.

Yea, he was not contented to ufe, and fhew fuch Magnificence as no Prince elfe could equal, but he lifted up himself against the God of Heaven, Dan. v. 23. For he, his Princes, his Wives, and his Concubines, made Caroufing Cups of the Golden, and Silver Veffels which his Grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple which was at Jerufalem; and in Contempt of the Lord of Heaven, he praised his own Puppets made of Gold, and Silver, and Brafs, and Iron, and Wood, and Stone; Whilft Belshazzar was thus triumphing, and had his Brains well filled with Vapours, he beheld a Hand, which by Divine Power wrote upon the Wall that was oppofite to him, certain Words which he understood not, wherewith, fo great a Fear, and Amazement seized upon him, that the Joints of his Loins were loofed, and his Knees fmote one against another; Which Paffion when he had in fome meafure recovered, he cryed aloud to bring in the Aftrologers, the Chaldeans, and the Southfayers, promifing them great Rewards, and the third Place of Honour in his Kingdom, to him that could read, and expound the Writing: But it exceeded their Art, and Skill.

In this Disturbance and Aftonishment, the Queen, hearing what had paffed, came in, and obferving what Distraction the King was in, after Reverence done, The used this Speech; O King live for ever; Let not thy Thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy Countenance be changed; there is a Man in thy Kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods, and in the Days of thy* Father Light, and Understanding, and Wisdom like the Wisdom of the Gods was found in him, whom the King Nebuchadnezzar thy ✦ Father, the King I fay, thy Father, made Master of the Magicians, the Aftrologers, the Chaldeans, and the Southfayers; For as much as an excellent Spirit, and Knowledge, and Understanding, in interpreting Dreams, and hewing of hard Sentences, and diffolving of Doubts were found in the fame Daniel, whom the King named Beltefhazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will fhew the Interpretation.

This Queen was either the Grandmother, or the Mother of Belshazzar; For it appears that he was not any of the King's Wives, becaufe fhe was abfent from the Feaft, and in regard of her Age, paft banquetting, and dancing; Yet upon the report of the Miracle, fhe came in to comfort, and chear up the King; and whereas Daniel was forgotten, and neglected by others, of younger Years, and latter times, this old Queen remembred well, what Daniel had done in the Days of Nebuchadnezzar, Grandfather to this Belshazzar, and kept in Mind, both his Religion, and Divine Gifts.

When Daniel was brought into the King's Prefence, he faid unto him: Art thou that Daniel, which art of the Children of the Captivity of Judah; whom the King my Father brought out of Jewry? I have heard of thee, that the Spirit of the Gods is in thee, and that Light, and Understanding, and excellent Wisdom is found in thee; and now the Wife-men and the Aftrologers have been brought in before Or Grandfather.

Or Grandfather.

Or Grandfather.

before me, that they should read this Writing, and make known to me the Interpretation thereof, but they could not do it: And I have heard of thee that thou canft make Interpretations, and diffolve Doubts: Now if thou canst read the Writing, and make known to me the Interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with Scarlet, and have a Chain of Gold about thy Neck, and fhalt be third Ruler in the Kingdom.

But Daniel made answer in a far different Stile from that which he had used to his Grandfather; For the Evil which he had foretold to Nebuchadnezzar he wished that it might befal his Enemies: But to this King (whofe Contempt of God and vicious Life he hated,) he answered in thefe Words; Let thy Gifts be to thy felf, and give thy Rewards to another; Yet I will read the writing to the King, and make known to him the Interpretation: which yet before he did, he fhewed him the Cause of God's Judgments against him, and the Reafon of this terrible Sentence, whereof the King and all his Wife-men were utterly ignorant, the Substance whereof is this, That Belshazzar, forgetting God's Goodness to his Father, whom all Nations feared, and obeyed, and yet for his Pride, and Neglect of thofe Benefits, as he had deprived him of his Eftate, and Understanding; fo upon the Acknowledgement of God's infinite Power, he restored him to both again; And thou bis Son (faid he) O Belshazzar, haft not humbled thy Heart, though thou knoweft all this, but haft lifted up thy felf against the Lord of Heaven, and they have brought the Veffels of his Houfe before thee, and thou and thy Lords, thy Wives and thy Concubines have drank Wine in them, and thou hast praised the Gods of Silver, and Gold, &c. and the God in whofe hand thy Breath is, and whofe are all thy Ways, haft thou not glorified: Then was the part of the Hand fent from him, and this Writing was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharfin, Whereof this is the Interpretation: Mene, God bath numbred thy Kingdom, and finifhed it: Tekel, Thou art weighed in the Ballances, and art found wanting: Peres, Thy Kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes, and Perfians.

The very Evening or Night of this Day, wherein Belshazzar thus feafted, and wherein these things were done, Cyrus, either by his Efpeials or being inspired by God himself, whofe Enfign he followed in thefe Wars, finding the Time, and Opportunity fit for him, even whilft the King's Head, and the Heads of his Nobility, were no lefs diftempered with the Vapours of Wine, than their Hearts were with the Fear of God's Judgments, he caufed all the Banks, and Heads of his Trenches, to be opened, and cut down with all Speed, and Diligence, whereby that great River Euphrates was quickly drawn dry, and himself with his Army paffing through the Channel which was now dry, without any oppofition, they eafily made their entrance into the City, finding none to disturb them; Invadunt urbem fomno, vinoq; fepultam: All the Town lay buried in Wine and Sleep ; and fuch as came in the Perfians way, were put to the Sword unless they faved themfelves by Flight, as fome did, who ran away crying, and filled the Streets with an uncertain Tumult.

Such of the Affyrian Lords as had formerly revolted from Belshazzar to Cyrus, did now conduct a felected Company to the King's Palace, which being easily forced by them, they rufhed ftrait into the Chamber where the King and his Princes were banqueting, and there flew both him and them without Mercy, who ftrove in vain to keep thofe Lives, which God had newly threatned to

take

take away. Now was that Prophecy fulfilled, Jer. li. 30, 31, 32. The mighty Men of Babylon have forborn to fight; they have remained in their Holds; their Might bath failed; they became as Women; they burnt their dwelling Places; her Bars are broken. One Poft shall run to meet another, and one Messenger to meet another, to fhew the King of Babylon, that his City is taken at one End. And that the Paffages are stopped (viz. of the River Euphrates) and the Reeds they have burnt with Fire, and the Men of War are affrighted; The Prophet Ifaiah also, two hundred Years before this Subverfion of Babylon, in his forty-feventh Chapter, elsewhere, defcribeth this Destruction fo feelingly, and lively, as if he had been prefent, at the terrible Slaughter there committed, and had seen the great and unfeared Change, and Calamity of this great Empire; Yea, and had alfo heard the Sorrows and Bewailings of every furviving Soul, thereunto subject; which Prophecy he begins with thefe Words; Come down and fit in the Duft, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon, fit on the Ground; there is no Throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans: For thou shalt no more be called tender, and delicate, &c. And though it cannot be doubted that God ufed Nebuchadnezzar, and the Chaldeans as his Inftruments to punish the Idolatry, and Wickedness of the Jews, yet did he not forget that in the Execution of God's Judgments, they had ufed much Rigour, and Extremity; as we fee Ifaiah, xlvii. 6. I was wroth with my People; I have polluted mine Inheritance, and given them into thine Hand; Thon didft fhew them no Mercy; Upon the Ancient beft thou very heavily laid the Yoke; and again, I will rife up against them, fays the Lord of Hofts, and will cut off from Babel the Name, and the Remnant, and the Son, and the Nephew: Meaning Evilmerodach, and Belshazzar. And again, Ifa. xiii. 15, &c. Every one that is found fhall be thrust through; and every one that is joined to them shall be flain with the Sword; their Children alfo fhall be dashed to pieces before their Eyes, their Houfes fhall be spoiled, and their Wives ravished. Behold, I will stir up the Mede against them, which shall not regard Silver, and as for Gold, they fhall not delight in it; their Bows alfo fball d fb the young Men to Pieces, and they shall have no pity on the Fruit of the Womb; their Eye shall not spare Children. And Babylon, the Glory of Kingdoms, and Beauty of the Chaldees Excellency, skall be as when God overthrew Sodom, and Gomorrah, &c. Read alfo Chapter fourteenth. No Hiftorian that was either prefent at this Victory of Cyrus, or that received the Report from others truly as it was, could better describe, and leave the fame to Pofterity after it was acted, than Isaiah hath done in many parts of his Prophecy, which were written two hundred Years before any of these things were attempted.

The Greatnefs and Magnificence of Babylon were it not by diverfe grave Authors recorded, might feem altogether fabulous; for it is reported for truth, that one Part of the City knew not that the other was taken three Days after; which is not impoffible, if we confider the vait Circumference of it. Diodorus Siculus faith, that it was in Compass three hundred and fixty Furlongs, which make forty five Miles. The Walls were fo thick, that fix Chariots might pafs in Front thereon, and they were three hundred and fixty-five Foot high, adorned and beautified with one hundred and fifty Towers. Strabo gives a greater Circuit, reckoning it at three hundred eighty five Eurlongs, which makes forty eight Miles and one Furlong. Herodotus finds the Compafs yet to be greater, namely four hundred and eighty Furlongs in Circuit; the Thickness of the Wall he mea

fures