1Vain Herostratus
was so fond of fame, 2He set this sacred temple on a flame:
3That stately structure which was so renowned,
4And for the image of Diana
crowned, 5Which fell from Jupiter
, whom they implored— 6Whom Ephesus
and all the world adored. 7Thus some out of ambition, some for gain,
8Mingle together holy and profane.
9So cities, fanes
, and altars some have burned, 10And monarchies into confusions
turned. 11My dear Hibernia
made this story good 12When crystal Shannon ran with Christian blood
. 13As no edict could make that villain die
, 14So these are odious to posterity
. 15Then let me ever have a splendent
fame, 16Or let me lose Hadassah
, my loved name. 17Far better in oblivion live and die
18Than to survive with these in infamy.
19What got Antiochus, then Epiphanes
, 20More than the epithet of Epimanes
? 21Or what gained Brennus after all his plunder
, 22When he and’s
men received their pay in thunder
? 23Were they not sacrilegious villains both?
24Doth not posterity their names e’en loathe?
25What pleasure had Belshazzar
in his feast, 26Or what his grandsire
when he was a beast? 27One took the sacred utensils away;
28The other praised the gods of gold and clay;
29Nor would they be reformed of their error
30Till one was struck with madness, th’other terror.
31What got Cambyses at horned Ammon’s hand
32When fifty thousand men died in the sand?
33What will they get that do our fanes profane
? 34Sure shame and horror will be all their gain.