[Poems by Danforth in] Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society April 17, 1968 - October 16, 1968 : Volume 78 |
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A FEW LINES TO FILL UP A VACANT PAGE |
 | [Poems by Danforth in] Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society |  |
A FEW LINES TO FILL UP A VACANT PAGE
WO worth the Days! The Days I spent
I' th' Regions of Discontent;
Where I nought rightly understood,
But thought Good, Evil; Evil, Good;
Friends I deem'd Foes; Wrong I conceiv'd was done me;
I Swell'd & Rage'd, whole Heaven could not Atone me:
My Soul ('tis known) was not my Own, so far it had undone me.
I' th' Regions of Discontent;
Where I nought rightly understood,
But thought Good, Evil; Evil, Good;
Friends I deem'd Foes; Wrong I conceiv'd was done me;
I Swell'd & Rage'd, whole Heaven could not Atone me:
My Soul ('tis known) was not my Own, so far it had undone me.
Health, Fame, and Wealth were full of Stings;
Children, and Friends were no such Things;
My wholesome food was Poison'd all,
And Hony did but Swell my Gall;
God was no God, Christ was no Christ to me,
While thus I Drave in Discontentments Sea:
Thank this first Vice, that Adam e're lost Paradice, and me.
Children, and Friends were no such Things;
My wholesome food was Poison'd all,
And Hony did but Swell my Gall;
God was no God, Christ was no Christ to me,
While thus I Drave in Discontentments Sea:
Thank this first Vice, that Adam e're lost Paradice, and me.
Thus being Lost, wrong Course I Steerd
While neither Sun, nor Stars appear'd
Instead of Heav'n's Land, I made Hell,
I knew't by its Sulphureous Smell:
Coming on Waters, strait my LORD spy'd I;
Avaunt, Foul Fiend! Avoid, fell Foe! Cry'd I;
So vilely I mistook, and therefore spake foul Blasphemy.
While neither Sun, nor Stars appear'd
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I knew't by its Sulphureous Smell:
Coming on Waters, strait my LORD spy'd I;
Avaunt, Foul Fiend! Avoid, fell Foe! Cry'd I;
So vilely I mistook, and therefore spake foul Blasphemy.
'Tis I, quoth He, Be not Afraid.
Which Words He had no sooner said,
But all my Discontents resil'd;
The Ruffling Winds, and Waves were still'd;
By what Time, Faith and Hope my Sailes could hoise,
I got safe and firm Anch'rage in a trice,
Within the very inmost Bays of Blissfull Paradice.
Which Words He had no sooner said,
But all my Discontents resil'd;
The Ruffling Winds, and Waves were still'd;
By what Time, Faith and Hope my Sailes could hoise,
I got safe and firm Anch'rage in a trice,
Within the very inmost Bays of Blissfull Paradice.
| [Poems by Danforth in] Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society | |