Anne Bradstreet
Various Poems
Anne Bradstreet Plaque at Harvard University
Introduction
Harvard’s Bradstreet Gate was dedicated in 1997 to commemorate 25 years of women living in Harvard Yard dormitories. The Bradstreet Gate itself, which includes the plaque above, is an homage to Anne Bradstreet, the first published American poet. Bradstreet was a reluctant traveler to the New World. She and her husband, both Puritans, sailed on the Arbella with John Winthrop; they would have heard his sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” before the ship landed in Massachusetts in 1630. She led a comfortable life in England, and this journey into the unknown meant starting from scratch. While we might initially think of the Puritans as strict & stodgy, Bradstreet’s poetry serves as a reminder to us that we might be stereotyping some Puritans too quickly. Her poetry reflects many of the challenges she faced, but this isn’t her only focus. She also offers meditations on the natural world, expresses her love for her family, and muses on what it means to be a woman writer.
NPR’s interview with Charlotte Gordon, as well as a brief excerpt from Gordon’s book Mistress Bradstreet: The Untold Life of America’s First Poet, provide more details on what life was like for Bradstreet. Bradstreet was expected to behave in ways appropriate to her position as a mother, wife, and Puritan woman. She was expected to fulfill these roles above all else. She was not expected to be a prolific writer, since writing could be a dangerous and unseemly thing for a woman to do at that time.
Bradstreet’s poetry was published during her lifetime, largely due to the efforts of her brother-in-law John Woodbridge. Woodbridge vouched for Bradstreet by emphasizing that her writing did not interfere with her attention to her family or religious obligations. Although this might seem ridiculous to us today, it meant a great deal to Bradstreet’s audience and her community.
As you read through her work, consider how Bradstreet adds another dimension to early American literature. Consider, for example, the wide range of subjects she treats, how she demonstrates her education and knowledge of literary conventions, how she presents various facets of her identity, or how she works through the challenges of life in a new environment.
Discussion Questions
- What does Bradstreet’s work teach us about life in the “New World”?
- Bradstreet speaks from several different perspectives, or roles, in her poetry. What do these varied positions tell us about the roles of women at that time, and in that place?
- Several of Bradstreet’s poems are about writing or the writing process. What does Bradstreet seem to be saying about writing or the roles of writers?
- How does Bradstreet treat religion or spirituality in her poetry? How do these depictions compare to what we find from other Puritan writers like John Winthrop, William Bradford, or Mary Rowlandson? In what ways does her poetry perpetuate or challenge our understanding of what counts as a “good” Puritan?
THE PROLOGUE
1.
TO sing of Wars, of Captains, and of Kings,
Of Cities founded, Common-wealths begun,
For my mean pen are too superiour things:
Or how they all, or each their dates have run
Let Poets and Historians set these forth,
My obscure Lines shall not so dim their worth.
2.
But when my wondring eyes and envious heart
Great Bartas sugar’d lines, do but read o’re
Fool I do grudg the Muses did not part
‘Twixt him and me that overfluent store,
A Bartas can, do what a Bartas will
But simple I according to my skill.
3.
From school-boyes tongue no rhet’rick we expect
Nor yet a sweet Consort from broken strings,
Nor perfect beauty, where’s a main defect:
My foolish, broken blemish’d Muse so sings
And this to mend, alas, no Art is able,
‘Cause nature, made it so irreparable.
4.
Nor can I, like that fluent sweet tongu’d Greek,
Who lisp’d at first, in future times speak plain
By Art he gladly found what he did seek
A full requital of his, striving pain
Art can do much, but this maxime’s most sure
A weak or wounded brain admits no cure.
5.
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a nee•le better fits,
A Poets pen all scorn I should thus wrong,
For such despite they cast on Female wits:
If what I do prove well, it won’t advance,
They’l say it’s stoln, or else it was by chance.
6.
But sure the Antique Greeks were far more mild
Else of our Sexe, why feigned they those Nine
And poesy made, Calliop•’s own Child;
So ‘mongst the rest they placed the Arts Divine.
But this weak knot, they will full soon untie,
The Greeks did nought, but play the fools & lye.
7.
Let Greeks be Greeks, and women what they are
Men have precedency and still excell,
It is but vain unjustly to wage warre;
Men can do best, and women know it well
Preheminence in all and each is yours;
Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours.
8.
And oh ye high flown quills that soar the Skies,
And ever with your prey still catch your praise,
If e’re you daigne these lowly lines your eyes
Give Thyme or Parsley wreath I ask no bayes,
This mean and unrefined ure of mine
Will make you glistring gold, but more to shine:
In Honour of that High and Mighty
Princess Queen Elizabeth OF HAPPY MEMORY.
The Proeme.
ALthough great Queen thou now in silence lye
Yet thy loud Herald Fame doth to the sky
Thy wondrous worth proclaim in every Clime,
And so hath vow’d while there is world or time.
So great’s thy glory and thine excellence,
The sound thereof rapts every humane sence,
That men account it no impiety,
To say thou wert a fleshly Diety:
Thousands bring offerings (though out of date)
Thy world of honours to accumulate,
‘Mongst hundred Hecatombs of roaring verse,
Mine bleating stands before thy royal Herse.
Thou never didst nor canst thou now disdain
T’ accept the tribute of a loyal brain.
Thy clemency did yerst esteem as much
The acclamations of the poor as rich,
Which makes me deem my rudeness is no wrong,
Though I resound thy praises ‘mongst the throng.
The Poem.
No Phoenix pen, nor Spencers poetry,
No Speeds nor Cambdens learned History,
Elizahs works, warrs praise, can e’re compact,
The World’s the Theatre where she did act.
No memoryes nor volumes can contain
The ‘leven Olympiads of her happy reign:
Who was so good, so just, so learn’d so wise,
From all the Kings on earth she won the prize
Nor say I more then duly is her due,
Millions will testifie that this is true.
She hath wip’d off th’ aspersion of her Sex,
That women wisdome lack to play the Rex:
Spain, Monarch sayes not so, nor yet his host:
She taught them better manners, to their cost.
The Salique law, in force now had not been,
If France had ever hop’d for such a Queen.
But can you Doctors now this point dispute,
She’s Argument enough to make you mute.
Since first the sun did run his nere run race,
And earth had once a year, a new old face,
Since time was time, and man unmanly man,
Come shew me such a Phoenix if you can?
Was ever people better rul’d then hers?
Was ever land more happy freed from stirrs?
Did ever wealth in England more abound?
Her victoryes in forreign Coasts resound,
Ships more invincible then Spain‘s her foe
She wrackt, she sackt, she sunk his Armado:
Her stately troops advanc’d to Lisbons wall
Don Anthony in’s right there to install.
She frankly helpt, Franks brave distressed King,
The States united now her same do sing,
She their Protectrix was, they well do know
Unto our dread Virago, what they owe.
Her Nobles sacrific’d their noble blood,
Nor men nor Coyn she spar’d to do them good.
The rude untamed Irish, she did quel.
Before her picture the proud Tyrone fell.
Had ever prince such Counsellours as she?
Her self Minerva caus’d them so to be.
Such Captains and such souldiers never seen,
As were the Subjects of our Pallas Queen.
Her Sea-men through all straights the world did round;
Terra incognita might know the sound.
Her Drake came laden home with Spanish gold:
Her Essex took Cades, their Herculean Hold:
But time would fail me, so my tongue would to,
To tell of half she did or she could •oe.
Semiramis to her, is but obscure,
More infamy then fame, she did procure.
She built her glory but on Babels walls,
Worlds wonder for a while, but yet it falls.
Fierce Tomris (Cyrus heads-man) Scythians queen,
Had put her harness off, had shee but seen
Our Amazon in th’ Camp of Til•ury,
Judging all valour and all Majesty
Within that Princess to have residence,
And prostrate yielded to her excellence.
Dido first Foundress of proud Carthage walls,
(Who living consummates her Funeralls)
A great E•iza but compar’d with ours
How vanisheth her glory, wealth and powers
Profuse proud Cleopatra, whose wrong name,
Instead of glory, prov’d her Countryes shame:
Of her what worth in Storyes to be seen,
But that she was a rich Egyptian Queen.
Zenobya potent Empress of the East,
And of all these, without compare the best,
Whom none but great Aurelius could quel;
Yet for our Queen is no fit Parallel.
She was a Phoenix Queen, so shall she be,
Her ashes not reviv’d, more Phoenix she,
Her personal perfections, who would tell,
Must dip his pen in th’ Heleconian Well,
Which I may not, my pride doth but aspire
To read what others write, and so admire.
Now say, have women worth? or have they none?
Or had they some, but with our Queen is’t gone?
Nay Masculines, you have thus taxt us long,
But she, though dead, will vindicate our wrong.
Let such as say our Sex is void of Reason,
Know tis a Slander now, but once was Treason.
But happy England which had such a Queen;
Yea happy, happy, had those dayes still been
But happiness lyes in a higher sphere,
Then wonder not Eliza moves not here
Full fraught with honour, riches and with day
She set, she set, like Titan in his rayes.
No more shall rise or set so glorious sun
Untill the heavens great revolution,
If then new things their old forms shall retain,
Eliza shall rule Albion once again.
HER EPITAPH.
Here sleeps THE Queen, this is the Royal Bed,
Of th’ Damask Rose, sprung from the white and red,
Whose sweet perfume fills the all-filling Air:
This Rose is wither’d, once so lovely fair.
On neither tree did grow such Rose before,
The greater was our gain, our loss the more.
Another.
Here lyes the pride of Queens, Pattern of Kings,
So blaze it Fame, here’s feathers for thy wings.
Here lyes the envi’d, yet unparalled Prince,
Whose living virtues speak, (though dead long since)
If many worlds, as that Fantastick fram’d,
In every one be her great glory fam’d
To the Memory of my dear and ever honoured
Father Thomas Dudley Esq Who deceased, July 31. 1653.
and of his Age, 77.
BY duty bound, and not by custome 〈◊〉
To celebrate the praises of the dead,
My mournfull mind, sore prest, in trembling verse
Presents my Lamentations at his Herse,
Who was my Father, Guide, Instructer too,
To whom I ought whatever I could doe:
Nor is’t Relation near my hand shall tye;
For who more cause to boast his worth then I?
Who heard or saw observ’d or knew him better?
Or who alive then I, a greater debtor?
Let malice bite, and envy knaw its fill.
He was my Father, and Ile praise him still.
Nor was his name, or life lead so obscure
That pitty might some Trumpeters procure.
Who after death might make him falsly seem
Such as in life, no man could justly deem.
Well known and lov’d, where ere he liv’d by most
Both in his native, and in foreign coast,
These to the world his merits could make known,
So needs no Testimonial from his own;
But now or never I must pay my Sum;
While others tell his worth, I’le not be dumb:
One of thy Founders, him New-England know,
Who staid thy feeble sides when thou wast low
Who spent his state, his strength, & years with care
That After-comers in them might have share.
True Patriot of this little Commonweal,
Who is’t can tax thee ought, but for thy zeal?
Truths friend thou wert, to errors still a foe,
Which caus’d Apostates to maligne so.
Thy love to true Religion e’re shall shine,
My Fathers God, be God of me and mine.
Upon the earth he did not build his nest,
But as a Pilgrim what he had, possest.
High thoughts he gave no harbour in his heart,
Nor honours pufft him up, when he had part:
Those titles loath’d, which some too much do love
For truly his ambition lay above.
His humble mind so lov’d humility,
He left it to his race for Legacy:
And oft and oft, with speeches mild and wise,
Gave his in charge, that Jewel rich to prize.
No ostentation seen in a•l his wayes,
As in the mean ones, of our foolish dayes,
Which all they have, and more still set to view,
Their greatness may be judg’d by what they shew.
His thoughts were more sublime, his actions wise,
Such vanityes he justly did despise.
Nor wonder ’twas, low things ne’r much did move
For he a Mansion had, prepar’d above.
For which he sigh’d and pray’d & long’d full sore
He might be cloath’d upon, for evermore.
Oft spake of death, and with a smiling chear,
He did exult his end was drawing near,
Now fully ripe, as shock of wheat that’s grown,
Death as a Sickle hath him timely mown,
And in celestial Barn •ath hous’d him high,
Where storms, nor showrs, nor ought can damnifie.
His Generation serv’d his labours cease;
And to his Fathers gathered is in peace.
Ah happy Soul, ‘mongst Saints and Angels blest,
VVho after all his toyle, is now at rest:
His hoary head in righteousness was found:
As joy in heaven on earth let praise resound.
Forgotten never be his memory,
His blessing rest on his posterity:
His pious Footsteps followed by his race,
At last will bring us to that happy place
Where we with joy each others face shall see,
And parted more by death shall never be.
His Epitaph.
Within this Tomb a Patriot lyes
That was both pious, just and wise,
To Truth a shield, to right a Wall,
To Sectaryes a whip and Maul,
A Magazine of History,
A Prizer of good Company
In manners pleasant and severe
The Good him lov’d, the bad did fear,
And when his time with years was spent
If some rejoyc’d, more did lament.
An EPITAPH On my dear and ever honoured Mother
Mrs. Dorothy Dudley, Who deceased Decemb. 27. 1643.
and of her age, 61:
Here lyes,
A Worthy Matron of unspotted life,
A loving Mother and obedient wife,
A friendly Neighbor, pitiful to poor,
Whom oft she fed, and clothed with her store;
To Servants wisely aweful, but yet kind,
And as they did, so they reward did find:
A true Instructor of her Family,
The which she ordered with dexterity.
The publick meetings ever did frequent,
And in her Closet constant hours she spent;
Religious in all her words and wayes,
Preparing still for death, till end of dayes:
Of all her Children, Children, liv’d to see,
Then dying, left a blessed memory.
CONTEMPLATIONS.
SOme time now past in the Autumnal Tide,
When Phoebus wanted but one hour to bed,
The trees all richly clad, yet void of pride,
Where gilded o’re by his rich golden head.
Their leaves & fruits seem’d painted, but was true
Of green, of red, of yellow, mixed hew,
Rapt were my sences at this delectable view.
2
I wist not what to wish, yet sure thought I,
If so much excellence abide below;
How excellent is he that dwells on high?
Whose power and beauty by his works we know.
Sure he is goodness, wisdome glory, light,
That hath this under world so richly dight:
More Heaven then Earth was here no winter & no night.
3
Then on a stately Oak I cast mine Eye,
Whose ruffling top the Clouds seem’d to aspire;
How long since thou wast in thine Infancy?
Thy strength, and stature, more thy years admire
Hath hundred winters past since thou wast born•
Or thousand since thou brakest thy shell of horn,
If so, all these as nought, Eternity doth scorn.
4
Then higher on the glistering Sun I gaz’d,
Whose beams was shaded by the leavie Tree,
The more I look’d, the more I grew amaz’d,
And softly said, what glory’s like to thee?
Soul of this world, this Universes Eye,
No wonder, some made thee a Deity:
Had I not better known, (alas) the same had I.
5
Thou as a Bridegroom from thy Chamber r••hes,
And as a strong man, joyes to run a race,
The morn doth usher thee, with smiles & blushes,
The Earth reflects her glances in thy face.
Birds insects, Animals with Vegative,
Thy heart from death and dulness doth revive:
And in the darksome womb of fruitful nature dive.
6
Thy swift Annual, and diurnal Course,
Thy daily streight, and yearly oblique path,
Thy pleasing fervor, and thy scorching force,
All mortals here the feeling knowledg hath
Thy presence makes it day, thy absence night,
Quaternal Seasons caused by thy might:
Hail Creature, full of sweetness, beauty & delight.
7
Art thou so full of glory, that no Eye
Hath strength, thy •hining Rayes once to behold?
And is thy splendid Throne erect so high?
As to approach it, can no earthly mould.
How full of glory then must thy Creator be?
Who gave this bright light luster unto thee:
Admir’d, ador’d for ever, be that Majesty.
8
Silent alone, where none or saw, or heard,
In pathless paths I lead my wandring feet,
My humble Eyes to lofty Skyes I rear’d
To sing some Song, my mazed Muse thought meet.
My great Creator I would magnifie,
That nature had, thus decked liberally:
But Ah, and Ah, again, my imbecility!
9
I heard the merry grashopper then sing,
The black clad Cricket, bear a second part,
They kept one tune, and plaid on the same string,
Seeming to glory in their little Art.
Shall Creatures abject, thus their voices raise?
And in their kind resound their makers praise:
Whilst I as mute, can warble forth no higher layes.
10
When present times look back to Ages past,
And men in being fancy those are dead,
It makes things gone perpetually to last
And calls back moneths and years that long since fled
It makes a man more aged in conceit,
Then was Methusilah, or’s grand-sire great:
While of their persons & their acts his mind doth treat.
11
Sometimes in Eden fair, he seems to be,
Sees glorious Adam there made Lord of all,
Fancyes the Apple, dangle on the Tree,
That turn’d his Sovereign to a naked thral
Who like a miscreant’s driven from that place,
To get his bread with pain, and sweat of face
A penalty impos’d on his backsliding Race.
12
Here sits our Grandame in retired place,
And in her lap, her bloody Cain new born,
The weeping Imp oft looks her in the face.
Bewails his unknown hap, and fate forlorn;
His Mother sighs, to think of Paradise,
And how she lost her bliss, to be more wise,
Believing him that was, and is, Father of lyes.
13
Here Cain and Abel come to sacrfiice,
Fruits of the Earth, and Fatlings each do bring,
On Abels gift the fire descends from Skies,
But no such sign on false Cain’s offering;
With sullen hateful looks he goes his wayes.
Hath thousand thoughts to end his brothers dayes,
Upon whose blood his future good he hopes to raise
14
There Abel keeps his sheep, no ill he thinks,
His brother comes, then acts his fratricide,
The Virgin Earth, of blood her first draught drinks
But since that time she often hath been cloy’d;
The wretch with gastly face and dreadful mind,
Thinks each he sees will serve him in his kind,
Though none on Earth but kindred near then could he find.
15
Who fancyes not his looks now at the Barr,
His face like death, his heart with horror fraught,
Nor Male-factor ever •elt like warr,
When deep dispair, with wish of life hath sought,
Branded with guilt and crusht with treble woes,
A Vagabond to Land of N•d he goes
A City builds, that wals might him secure from foes.
16
Who thinks not oft upon the Fathers ages.
Their long descent how nephews sons they saw,
The starry observations of those Sages,
And how their precepts to their sons were law,
How Adam sign’d to see his Progeny,
Cloath’d all in his black sinfull Livery,
Who neither guilt, nor yet the punishment could fly.
17
Our Life compare we with their length of dayes
Who to the tenth of theirs doth now arrive?
And though thus short, we shorten many wayes,
Living so little while we are alive;
In eating, drinking, sleeping, vain delight
So unawares comes on perpetual night,
And puts all pleasures vain unto eternal •light:
18
When I behold the heavens as in their prime,
And then the earth (though old) stil clad in green,
The stones and trees, insensible of time,
Nor age nor wrinkle on their front are seen;
If winter come and greeness then do fade,
A Spring returns, and they more youthfull made
But Man grows old, lies down, remains where once he’s laid.
19
By birth more noble then those creatures all,
Yet seems by nature and by custome curs’d,
No sooner born, but grief and care makes fall
That state obliterate he had at first
Nor youth, nor strength, nor wisdom spring again
Nor habitations long their names retain
But in oblivion to the final day remain.
20
Shall I then praise the heavens the trees, the earth
Because their beauty and their strength last longer
Shall I wish there, or never to had birth,
Because they’re bigger, & their bodyes stronger?
Nay, they shall darken, perish, fade and dye,
And when unmade, so ever shall they lye,
But man was made for endless immortality.
21
Under the cooling shadow of a stately Elm
Close sate I by a goodly Rivers side,
Where gliding streams the Rocks did overwhelm;
A lonely place, with pleasures dignifi’d.
I once that lov’d the shady woods so well,
Now thought the rivers did the trees excel.
And if the sun would ever shine, there would I dwell
22
While on the stealing stream I •ixt mine eye.
Which to the long’d for Ocean held its course,
I markt, nor crooks, nor rubs that there did lye
Could hinder ought, but still augment its force
O happy Flood, quoth I, that holds thy race
Till thou arrive at thy beloved place,
Nor is it rocks or shoals that can obstruct thy pace
23
Nor is’t enough, that thou alone may’st slide,
But hundred brooks in thy cleer waves do meet,
So hand in hand along with thee they glide
To Thetis house, where all imbrace and greet:
Thou Emblem true, of what I count the best,
O could I lead my Rivolets to rest,
So may we press to that vast mansion, ever blest.
24
Ye Fish which in this liquid Region ‘bide,
That for each season, have your habitation,
Now salt, now fresh where you think best to glide
To unknown coasts to give a visitation,
In Lakes and ponds, you leave your numerous fry,
So nature taught and yet you know not why,
You watry folk that know not your felicity.
25
Look how the wantons frisk to tast the air,
Then to the colder bottome streight they dive,
Eftsoon to N•ptun‘s glassie Hall repair
To see what trade they great ones there do drive,
Who forrage o’re the spacious sea-green field,
And take the trembling prey before it yield,
Whose armour is their s•ales, their spreading sins their shield.
26
While musing thus with contemplation fed,
And thousand fancies buzzing in my brain,
The sweet-tongu’d Philomel percht ore my head,
And chanted forth a most melodious strain
Which rapt me so with wonder and delight,
I judg’d my hearing better then my sight,
And wisht me wings with her a while to take my flight.
27
O merry Bird (said I) that fears no snares,
That neither toyles nor hoards up in thy barn,
Feels no sad thoughts, nor cruciating cures
To gain more good, or shun what might thee harm
Thy cloaths ne’re wear, thy meat is every where.
Thy bed a bough, thy drink the water cleer,
Reminds not what is past, nor whats to come dost fear
28
The dawning morn with songs thou dost prevent,
Sets hundred notes unto t•• feat•ered crew,
So each one tunes his pretty instrument,
And warbling out the old beg•n 〈◊〉,
And thus they pass their youth in summer season,
Then follow thee into a better R•g••n,
where winter’s never felt by that sweet airy legion
29
Man at the best a creature frail and vain,
In knowledg ignorant, in strength but weak,
Subject to sorrows, losses, sickness, pain,
Each storm his state, his mind, his body break.
From some of these he never finds cessation,
But day or night, within, without, vexation,
Troubles from foes, from friends, from dearest, near’st Relati••
30
And yet this sinfull creature, frail and vain,
This lump of wretchedness, of sin and sorrow
This weather-beaten vessel wrackt with pain,
Joyes not in hope of an eternal morrow,
Nor all his losses, crosses and vexation,
In weight, in frequency and long duration
Can make him deeply groan for that divine Tran∣slation
31
The Mariner that on smooth waves doth glide,
Sings merrily, and steers his Barque with ease,
As if he had command of wind and tide,
And now become great Master of the seas;
But suddenly a storm spoiles all the sport.
And makes him long for a more quiet port.
Which’ gainst all adverse winds may serve for •ort.
32
So he that saileth in this world of pleasure,
Feeding on sweets, that never bit of th’ sowre,
That’s full of friends, of honour and of treasure,
Fond fool, he takes this earth ev’n for heav’ns bow¦er.
But sad affliction comes & makes him see
Here’s neither honour, wealth, nor safety;
Only above is found all with security.
33
O Time the fatal wrack of mortal things,
That draws oblivions curtains over kings,
Their sumptuous monuments, men know them not,
Their names without a Record are forgot,
Their parts, their ports, their pomp’s all laid in th’ dust
Nor wit nor gold, nor buildings scape times rust,
But he whose name is grav’d in the white stone
Shall last and shine when all of these are gone.
The Flesh and the Spirit.
IN secret place where once I stood
Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood
I heard two sisters reason on
Things that are past, and things to come;
One flesh was call’d, who had her eye
On worldly wealth and vanity;
The other Spirit, who did rear
Her thoughts unto a higher sphere:
Sister, quoth Flesh, what liv’st thou on
Nothing but Meditation?
Doth Contemplation feed thee so
Regardlesly to let earth goe?
Can Speculation satissy
Notion without Reality?
Dost dream of things beyond the Moon
And dost thou hope to dwell there soon?
Hast treasures there laid up in store
That all in th’ world thou count’st but poor
Art fancy sick, or turn’d a Sot
To catch at shadowes which are not?
Come, come, Ile shew unto thy sence,
Industry hath its recompence.
What canst desire, but thou maist see
True substance in variety?
Dost honour like? acquire the same,
As some to their immortal fame:
And trophyes to thy name erect
Which wearing time shall ne’re deject.
For riches dost thou long full fore?
Behold enough of precious store.
Earth hath more silver, pearls and gold,
Then eyes can see, or hands can hold.
Affect’s thou pleasure? take thy fill,
Earth hath enough of what you will.
Then let not goe, what thou maist find,
For things unknown, only in mind,
Spir. Be still thou unregenerate part,
Disturb no more my setled heart,
For I have vow’d, (and so will doe)
Thee as a soe, still to pursue
And combate with thee will and must,
Untill I see thee laid in th’ dust.
Sisters we are, ye twins we be.
Yet deadly feud twixt thee and me;
For from one father are we not,
Thou by old Adam wast begot,
But my arise is from above
Whence my dear father I do love.
Thou speak’st me fair but hat’st me sore,
Thy flatt’ring shews •e trust no more.
How oft thy slave, hast thou me made,
when I believ’d, what thou hast said,
And never had more cause of woe
Then when I did what thou bad’st doe.
Ile stop mine ears at these thy charms,
And count them for my deadly harms,
Thy sinfull pleasures I doe hate,
Thy riches are to me no bait,
Thine honours doe, nor will I love;
For my ambition lyes above.
My greatest honour it shall be
When I am victor over thee,
And triumph shall, with laurel head,
When thou my Captive shalt be led,
How I do live, thou need’st not scoff,
For I have meat thou know’st not off;
The hidden Manna I doe eat,
The word of life it is my meat.
My thoughts do yield me more content
Then can thy hours in pleasure spent.
Nor are they shadows which I catch,
Nor fancies vain at which I snatch,
But reach at things that are so high,
Beyond thy dull Capacity;
Eternal substance I do see,
With which inriched I would be:
Mine Eye doth pierce the heavens, and see
What is luvisible to thee.
My garments are not silk nor gold,
Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold,
But Royal Robes I shall have on,
More glorious then the glistring Sun;
My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold,
But such as Angels heads infold.
The City where I hope to dwell,
There’s none on Earth can parallel;
The stately Walls both high and strong,
Are made of pretious Jasper stone;
The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear,
And Angels are for Porters there;
The Streets thereof transparent gold,
Such as no Eye did e’re behold,
A Chrystal River there doth run,
Which doth proceed from the Lambs Throne:
Of Life, there are the waters sure,
Which shall remain for ever pure,
Nor Sun, nor Moon, they have no need,
For glory doth from God proceed:
No Candle there, nor yet Torch light,
For there shall be no darksome night.
From sickness and infirmity,
For evermore they shall be free,
Nor withering age shall e’re come there,
But beauty shall be bright and clear;
This City pure is not for thee,
For things unclean there shall not be:
If I of Heaven may have my fill,
Take thou the world, and all that will.
The Ʋanity of all worldly things.
AS he said vanity, so vain say I,
Oh! vanity, O vain all under Sky;
Where is the man can say, lo I have found
On brittle Earth a Consolation sound?
What is’t in honour to be set on high?
No, they like Beasts and Sons of men shall d••
And whil’st they live, how oft doth turn their 〈◊〉
He’s now a captive, that was King of •ate
What is’t in wealth, great Treas•res to obtain?
No that’s hut labour, anxiou• care and pain,
He heaps up riches, and he heaps up sorrow,
It’s his to day, but who’s his •eir to morrow?
What then? Content in pleasures canst thou find,
More vain then all, that’s but to grasp the wind.
The sensual senses for a time they please,
Mean while the conscience rage, who shall appease?
What is’t in beauty? No that’s but a snare,
They’re foul enough to day, that once were sai•.
What is’t in stowring youth, or manly age?
The first is prone to vice the last to rage.
Where is it then, in wisdom, learning arts?
Sure if on earth, it must be in those parts:
Yet these the ••sest man of men did find
But vanity, vexation of mind.
And he that knowes the most, doth still bemoan
He knows not all that here is to be known.
What is it then, to doe as Stoicks tell.
Nor laugh, nor we•p, let things go ill or well.
Such Stote are but Stocks such teaching vain,
While man is man, he shall have ease or pain.
If not in honour beauty, age nor treasure
Nor yet in learning wisdome youth nor pleasure,
Where shall I climb, sound, seek search or find
That Summum Bonum which may stay my mind?
There is a path, no vultures eye hath seen,
Where Lion fierce, nor lions whelps have been,
Which lea•s unto that living Crystal Fount,
Who drinks thereof, the world doth nought ac∣count
The depth & sea have said tis not in me,
With pearl and gold, it shall not valued be.
For Saphire, Onix, Topaz, who would change:
Its hid from eyes of men, they count it strange.
Death and destruction the fame hath heard,
But where & what it is, from heaven’s declar’d,
It br•ngs to honour, which shall ne’re decay,
It stores with wealth which time can’t wear away.
It yieldeth pleasures far beyond conceit,
And truly beautifies without deceit,
Nor strength, nor wisdome nor fresh youth shall sade
Nor death shall see. but are immortal made.
This pearl of price, this tree of l••e, this spring
Who is possessed of, shall reign a King
Nor change of state, nor cares shall ever see,
But wear his crown unto eternity.
This satiates the Soul, this stayes the mind,
And all the rest, but Vanity we find.
FINIS
The Author to her Book.
THou ill-form’d offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth did’st by my side remain,
Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise then true
Who thee abroad, expos’d to publick view,
Ma•e thee in raggs, halting to th’ press to trudg,
Where errors were not lessened (all may judg)
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) should mother call,
I cast thee by as one unfit for light,
Thy Visage was so irksome in my sight;
Yet being mine own, at length affection would
Thy blemishes amend, if so I could:
I wash’d thy face, but more defects I saw,
And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw.
I stretcht thy joynts to make thee even feet,
Yet still thou run’st more hobling then is meet;
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought save home-spun Cloth, i’th’ house I find
In this array, ‘mongst Vulgars mayst thou roam
In Criticks hands, beware thou dost not come;
And take thy way where yet thou art not known,
If for thy Father askt, say, thou hadst none:
And for thy Mother she alas is poor,
Which caus’d her thus to send thee out of door.
Several other Poems made by the Author
upon Diverse Occasions, were found among
her Papers after her Death, which she never
•ednt should come to publick view, amongst
which, these following (at the desire of s•me
friends that knew her well) are 〈◊〉 ins•rted
Upon a Fit of Sickness, Anno. 1632. Atats suae, 10.
TWice ten years old, not sully told
Since nature gave me breath,
My race is run, my thread is spun,
lo here is fatal Death.
All men must dye, and so must I
this cannot be revok’d
For Adams sake, this word God spake
when he so high provok’d.
Yet live I shall, this life’s but small,
in place of highest bliss,
Where I shall have all I can crave,
no life is like to this.
For what’s this life, but care and strife?
since first we came from womb,
Our strength doth waste, our time doth hast,
and then we go to th’ Tomb.
O Bubble blast, how long can’st last?
that alwayes art a breaking,
No sooner blown, bu• dead and gone,
ev’n as a word that’s speaking.
O whil’st I live this grace me give,
I doing good may be.
Then deaths arrest I shall count best,
because it’s thy decree;
Bestow much cost there’s nothing lost,
to make Salvation sure,
O great’s the gain, though got with pain
comes by profession pure.
The race is ran, the field is won,
the victory’s mine I see,
For ever know, thou envious foe,
the soyle belongs to thee.
Ʋpon some distemper of body
In anguish of my heart repleat with woes,
And wasting pains, which best my body knows
In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed,
Bedrencht with tears that slow’d from mournful head
Till nature had exhausted all her store,
Then eyes lay dry, disabled to weep more;
And looking up unto his Throne on high,
Who sendeth help to those in misery,
He chac’d away those clouds, and let me see
My Anchor cast i’th’ vale with safety.
He eas’d my Soul of woe, my flesh of pain,
And brought me to the shore from troubled Main;
All things within this fading world hath end,
Adversity doth still our joyes a••end;
No tyes so strong no friends so dear and sweet,
But with deaths parting blow is sure to meet.
The sentence past is most irrovocable,
A common thing, yet oh inevitable,
How soon, my Dear death may my steps attend.
How soon’t may be thy L•t to •ose thy friend,
We both are ignorant, yet love bi•s me
These farewell lines to recommend to thee,
That when that knot •s unty•e that made us one,
I may seem thine, who in effect am none.
And ill see not half my daye that’s due,
What ••ture would, God grant to yours and you:
The many faults that well you know I have,
Let be in•err’d in my oblivions grave,
Many worth or virtue were in me,
Let that live freshly in thy memory
And when thou feel’st no grief, as I no harms,
Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms:
And when thy loss shall be repaid with ga•ns
Look to my little babes my dear remains
And if thou love thy self, or lovedst me
These O protect from step Dames injury.
And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse,
With some sad sighs honour my absent Herse;
And kiss this paper for thy loves dea• sake,
Who with salt tears this last Farewel did take
A. B.
To my Dear and loving Husband.
IF ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee,
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more then whole Mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence,
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love lets so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
A Letter to her Husband, absent upon Publick employment.
My head, my heart, mine Eyes, my life, nay more,
My joy, my Magazine of earthly store,
If two be one, as surely thou and I,
How stayest thou there, whilst I at Ipswich lye?
So many steps, head from the heart to sever
If but a neck, soon should we be together:
I like the earth this season, mourn in black,
My Sun is gone so far in’s Zodiack,
Whom whilst I’joy’d, nor storms, nor frosts I felt,
His warmth such frigid colds did cause to melt.
My chilled limbs now nummed lye forlor•;
Return, return sweet Sol from Capricorn,
In this dead time, alas, what can I more
Then view those fruits which through thy heat I bore?
Which sweet contentment yield me for a space,
True living Pictures of their Fathers face.
O strange effect now thou art Southward gone,
I weary grow, the tedious d•y so long;
But when thou Northward to me shalt return,
I wish my Sun may never set, but burn
Within the Cancer of my glowing breast,
The welcome house of him my dearest guest.
Where ever, ever stay, and go not thence,
Till natures sad decree shall call thee hence;
Flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone,
I here, thou there, yet both but one.
A. B.
Another.
Phoebus make haste, the day’s too long be gone,
The silent night’s the fittest time for moan;
But stay this once, unto my suit give ear,
And tell my griefs in either Hemisphere:
(And if the whirling of thy wheels don’t drown’d)
The woful accents of my doleful sound,
If in thy swift Carrier thou canst make stay,
I crave this boon, this Errand by the way.
Commend me to the man more lov’d then life,
Shew him the sorrows of his widdowed wife;
My dumpish thoughts, my groans, my branish tears
My sobs, my longing hopes, my doubting fears,
And if he love, how can he there abide?
My Interest’s more then all the world beside.
He that can tell the starrs or Ocean sand,
Or all the grass that in the Meads do stand,
The leaves in th’ woods, the hail or drops of rain,
Or in a corn-field number every grain.
Or every mote that in the sun-shine hops,
May count my sighs, and number all my drops:
Tell him, the countless steps that thou dost trace,
That once a day, thy Spouse thou mayst imbrace;
And when thou canst not treat by loving mouth,
Thy rayes afar, salute her from the south.
But for one moneth I see no day (poor soul)
Like those far scituate under the pole,
Which day by day long wait for thy arise,
O how they joy when thou dost light the skyes.
O Phoebus, hadst thou but thus long from thine
Restrain’d the beams of thy beloved shine,
At thy return, if so thou could’st or durst
Behold a Chaos blacker then the first.
Tell him here’s worse then a confused matter,
His little world’s a fathom under water,
Nought but the servor of his ardent beams
Hath power to dry the torrent of these streams.
Tell him I would say more, but cannot well,
Oppressed minds, abruptest tales do tell.
Now post with double speed, mark what I say,
By all our loves conjure him not to stay.
Another.
A•••ving Hind that (Hartless) warts her Deer,
S•uds through the woods and Fern with harkning ear,
Perplext, in every bu•h & •ook doth pry,
Her dearest Deer might answer ear or eye;
So doth my anxious foul, which now doth miss,
A dearer Dear (far dearer Heart) then this.
Still wait with doubts, & hopes, and failing eye,
His voice to hear, or person to discry.
Or as the pensive Dove doth all alone
(On withered bough) most uncouthly bemoan
The absence of her Love, and loving Mate,
Whose loss hath made her so unfortunate:
Ev’n thus doe I, with many a deep sad groan
Bewail my turtle true, who now is gone,
His presence and his safe return, still wooes,
With thousand dolefull sighs & mournfull Cooes.
Or as the loving Mullet, that true Fish,
Her fellow lost, nor joy nor life do wish,
But lanches on that shore, there for to dye,
Where she her captive husband doth espy.
Mine being gone, Head a joyless life,
I have a loving ph•re, yet seem no wife:
But worst of all, to him can’t steer my course
I here, he there, alas, both kept by force:
Return my Dear my joy, my only Love,
Unto thy Hinde, thy Mullet and thy Dove,
Who neither joyes in pasture, house nor streams,
The substance gone, O me, these are but dreams.
Together at one Tree, oh let us bronze,
And like two Turtles roost within one house,
And like the Mullets in one River glide,
Let’s still remain but one, till death divide.
Thy loving Love and Dearest Dear,
At home, abroad, and every where.
A. B.
To her Father with some verses.
MOst truly honoured, and as truly dear,
If worth in me, or ought I do appear,
Who can of right better demand the same?
Then may your worthy self from whom it came.
The principle might yield a greater sum,
Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crum;
My stock’s so small, I know not how to pay,
My Bond remains in force unto this day;
Yet for part payment take this simple mite.
Where nothing’s to be had Kings loose their right
Such is my debt, I may not say forgive,
But as I can, I’le pay it while I live;
Such is my bond, none can discharge but I,
Yet paying is not payd until I dye.
A. B.
In reference to her Children, 23. June, 166.
I Had eight birds hatcht in one nest,
Four Cocks there were, and Hens the rest,
I nurst them up with pain and care,
Nor cost, nor labour did I spare,
Till at the last they felt their wing
Mounted the Trees, and learn’d to sing;
Chief of the Brood then took his flight,
To Regions far and left me quite:
My mournful chirps I after send,
Till he return, or I do end,
Leave not thy nest, thy Dam and Sire,
Fly back and sing amidst this Quire.
My second bird did take her flight,
And with her mate flew out of sight;
Southward they both their course did bend,
And Seasons twain they there did spend:
Till after blown by Southern gales,
They Norward steerd with filled sayles.
A prettier bird was no where seen,
Along the Beach among the treen.
I have a third of colour white,
On whom I plac’d no small delight;
Coupled with mate loving and true,
Hath also bid her Dam adieu:
And where Aurora first appears,
She now hath percht, to spend her years;
One to the Academy flew
To chat among that learned crew.
Ambition moves still in his breast
That he might chant above the rest,
Striving for more then to do well,
That nightingales he might excell.
My fifth, whose down is yet scarce gone
Is ‘mongst the shrubs and bushes flown,
And as his wings increase in strength
On higher boughs he’l pearch at length
My other three, still with me nest,
Untill they’r grown, then as the rest,
Or here or there, they’l take their flight,
As is ordain’d, so shall they light.
If birds could weep, then would my tea•
Let others know what are my fears
Lest this my brood some harm should catch,
And be surpriz’d for want of watch,
Whilst pecking corn, and void of care
They fall un’wares in Fowlers snare:
Or whilst on trees they sit and sing,
Some untoward boy at them do fling:
Or whilst allur’d with bell and glass,
The net be spread, and caught, alas.
Or least by Lime twigs they be foyl’d,
Or by some greedy hawks be spoyl’d.
O would my young, ye saw my breast,
And knew what thoughts there sadly rest,
Great was my pain when I you bred,
Great was my care, when I you fed,
Long did I keep you soft and warm,
An w••m wings kept off all harm,
My cares are more, and fears then ever,
My thr•bs such now, as ‘fore were never:
Alas my birds, you wisdome want,
O• perils you are ignorant,
Oft times in grass, on trees, in flight,
Sore accidents on you may light.
O to your safety have an eye,
So happy may you live and die:
Mean while my dayes in times Ile spend,
Till my weak layes with me shall end.
In shady woods I’le sit and sing,
And things that past, to mind I’le bring.
Once young and pleasant, as are you,
But former toyes (no joyes) adieu.
My age I will not once lament,
But sing, my time so near is spent.
And from the top bough take my flight,
Into a country beyond sight,
Where old ones, instantly grow young,
And there with Seraphims set song:
No seasons cold, nor storms they see;
But spring lasts to eternity,
When each of you shall in your nest
Among your young ones take your rest,
In chirping language, oft them tell,
You had a Dam that lov’d you well,
That did what could be done for young,
And nurst you up till you were strong,
And ‘fore she once would let you fly,
She shew’d you joy and misery;
Taught what was good, and what was ill,
What would save life, and what would kill?
Thus gone, amongst you I may live,
And dead, yet speak, and counsel give:
Farewel my birds, farewel adieu,
I happy am, if well with you.
A. B.
In memory of my dear grand-child
Elizabeth Bradstreet,who deceased
August, 1605. being a year and half old.
FArewel dear babe, my hearts too much content,
Farewel sweet babe, the pleasure of mine eye,
Farewel fair flower that for a space was lent,
Then ta’en away unto Eternity.
Blest babe why should I once bewail thy fate,
Or sigh the dayes so soon were terminate;
Sith thou art setled in an Everlasting state.
2.
By nature Trees do rot when they are grown.
And Plumbs and Apples throughly ripe do fall,
And Corn and grass are in their season mown,
And time brings down what is both strong and tall.
But plants new set to be eradicate.
And buds new blown, to have so short a date,
Is by his hand alone that guides nature and fate.
In memory of my dear grand child
Anne Bradstreet. Who deceased June 20. 1669.
being three years and seven Moneths old.
WIth troubled heart & trembling hand I write,
The Heavens have chang’d to sorrow my de∣light.
How oft with disappointment have I met,
When I on fading things my hopes have set?
Experience might ‘fore this have made me wise,
To value things according to their price:
Was ever stable joy yet found below?
Or perfect bliss without mixture of woe.
I knew she was but as a withering flour,
That’s here to day perhaps gone in an hour;
Like as a bubble, or the brittle glass,
Or like a shadow turning as it was.
More fool then I to look on that was lent,
As if mine own, when thus impermanent.
Farewel dear child, thou ne•re shall come to me,
But yet a while, and I shall go to thee,
Mean time my throbbing heart’s chear’d up with this
Thou with thy Saviour art in endless bliss.
On my dear Grand-child Simon Bradstreet,
Who dyed on 16. Novemb. 1669. being but a moneth,
and one day old.
No sooner come, but gone, and fal’n asleep,
Acquaintance short, yet parting caus’d us weep,
Three flours, two scarcely blown, the last i’th’ bud,
Cropt by th’ Almighties hand; yet is he good,
With dreadful awe before him let’s be mute,
Such was his will, but why, let’s not dispute,
With humble hearts and mouths put in the dust,
Let’s say he’s me•ciful as well as just.
He will return, and make up all our losses,
And smile again, after our bitter crosses.
Go pretty babe go rest with Sisters twain
Among the blest in endless joyes remain.
A. B.
To the memory of my dear Daughter in Law,
Mrs. Mercy Bradstreet, who deceased Sept. 6. 1669.
in the 28. year of her Age.
And live I still to see Relations gone,
And yet survive to sound this wailing tone
Ah, woe is me, to write thy Funeral Song,
Who might in reason yet have lived long,
I saw the branches lopt the Tree now fall,
I stood so nigh, it crusht me down withal;
My bruised heart lies sobbing at the Root,
That thou dear Son hath lost both Tree and fruit:
Thou then on Seas failing to forreign Coast;
Was ignorant what riches thou hadst lost.
Source:
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) by Text Creation Partnership at the University of Michigan is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License.