_Minerva_ started when she heard the noise, And dying mens confused voice. From Heaven in haste she came to see What was the mighty prodigie. Upon the Castle pinacles she sate, And dar’d not nearer fly, Nor midst so many deaths to trust her very Deity. With pitying look she saw at every gate Death and destruction wait; She wrung her hands, and call’d on _Jove_, And all th’ immortal powers above; But though a Goddess now did prey, The Heavens refus’d, and turn’d their ear away. She brought her Olive, and her Shield, Neither of these Alas! assistance yield. She lookt upon _Medusaes_ face, Was angry that she was Her self of an Immortal Race, Was angry that her Gorgons head Could not strike her as well as others dead; She sate, and wept awhile, and then away she fled. X. Now Death began her sword to whet, Not all the _Cyclops_ sweat, Nor _Vulcaus_ mighty Anvils could prepare Weapons enough for her, No weapon large enough but all the Air; Men felt the heat within him rage, And hop’d the Air would it asswage, Call’d for its help, but th’ Air did them deceive, And aggravate the ills it should relieve. The Air no more was Vital now, But did a mortal poyson grow; The Lungs which us’d to fann the heart, Onely now serv’d to fire each part, What should refresh, increas’d the smart, And now their very breath, The chiefest sign of life, turn’d the cause of death. XI. Upon the Head first the disease, As a bold Conqueror doth seize, Begins with Mans Metropolis, Secur’d the Capitol, and then it knew It could at pleasure weaker parts subdue. Blood started through each eye; The redness of that Skie, Fore-told a tempest nigh. The tongue did slow all ore With clotted Filth and Gore; As doth a Lions when some innocent prey He hath devoured and brought away: Hoarsness and sores the throat did fill, And stopt the passages of speech and life; No room was left for groans or grief; Too cruel and imperious ill! Which not content to kill, With tyrannous and dreadful pain, Dost take from men the very power to complain. XII.