There was no number now of death, The sisters scarce stood still themselves to breath: The sisters now quite wearied In cutting single thred, Began at once to part whole looms, One stroak did give whole houses dooms; Now dy’d the frosty hairs, The Aged and decrepid years, They fell, and onely beg’d of Fate, Some few months more, but ’twas alas too late. Then Death, as if asham’d of that, A Conquest so degenerate, Cut off the young and lusty too; The young were reck’ning ore What happy dayes, what joyes they had in store; But Fate, e’re they had finish’d their account, them slew. The wretched Usurer dyed, And had no time to tell where he his treasures hid. The Merchant did behold His Ships return with Spice and Gold, He saw’t, and turn’d aside his head, Nor thank’d the Gods, but fell amidst his riches dead. XXII. The Meetings and Assemblies cease, no more The people throng about the Orator. No course of Justice did appear, No noise of Lawyers fill’d the ear, The Senate cast away The Robe of Honour, and obey Deaths more resistless sway, Whilest that with Dictatorian power Doth all the great and lesser Officers devour. No Magistrates did walk about; No Purple aw’d the rout, The common people too A Purple of their own did shew; And all their Bodies o’re, The ruling colours bore, No Judge, no Legislators sit Since this new _Draco_ came, And harsher Laws did frame, Laws that like his in blood are writ. The Benches and the Pleading-place they leave, About the streets they run and rave: The madness which Great _Solon_ did of late But counterfeit For the advantage of the State, Now his successors do too truly imitate. XXIII.