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University of Virginia Library

The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse

Bradstreet, Anne (1612?-1672)

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES AND OCCASIONAL PIECES.

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[Mercury shew'd Apollo, Bartas Book]

To my dear Sister, the Author of these Poems.

Vpon the Author; by a known Friend.

[I cannot wonder at Apollo now]

In praise of the Author, Mistris Anne Bradstreet, Virtues true and lively Pattern, Wife of the Worshipfull Simon Bradstreet Esq;

Upon the Author.

Another to Mrs. Anne Bradstreet, Author of this Poem.

[So Bartas like thy fine spun Poems been]

VPON Mrs. Anne Bradstreet Her Poems, &c.

To her most Honoured Father Thomas Dudley Esq; these humbly presented.

The Four Elements.

Of the four Humours in Mans Constitution.

Of the four Ages of Man.

The four Seasons of the Year.

[The four Monarchies]

A Dialogue between Old England and New; concerning their present Troubles, Anno, 1642.

An Elegie upon that Honourable and renowned Knight Sir Philip Sidney, who was untimely slain at the Siege of Zutphen, Anno, 1586.

In honour of Du Bartas, 1641.

In Honour of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth OF HAPPY MEMORY.

Davids Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan.

To the Memory of my dear and ever honoured Father Thomas Dudley Esq; Who deceased, July 31. 1653. and of his Age, 77.

An EPITAPH On my dear and ever honoured Mother Mrs. Dorothy Dudley, who deceased Decemb. 27. 1643. and of her age, 61: Here lyes

CONTEMPLATIONS.

The Flesh and the Spirit.

The Vanity of all worldly things.

The Author to her Book.

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Several other Poems made by the Author upon Diverse Occasions, were found among her Papers after her Death, which she never meant should come to publick view; amongst which, these following (at the desire of some friends that knew her well) are here inserted

Upon a Fit of Sickness, Anno. 1632. Ætatis suæ, 19.

Vpon some distemper of body.

Before the Birth of one of her Children.

To my Dear and loving Husband.

A Letter to her Husband, absent upon Publick employment.

To her Father with some verses.

In reference to her Children, 23. June, 1656.

In memory of my dear grand-child Elizabeth Bradstreet, who deceased August, 1665. being a year and half old.

In memory of my dear grand-child Anne Bradstreet.

On my dear Grand-child Simon Bradstreet, Who dyed on 16. Novemb. 1669. being but a moneth, and one day old.

To the memory of my dear Daughter in Law, Mrs. Mercy Bradstreet, who deceased Sept. 6. 1669. in the 28. year of her Age.

A Funeral Elogy, Upon that Pattern and Patron of Virtue, the truely pious, peerless & matchless Gentlewoman Mrs. Anne Bradstreet, right Panaretes, Mirror of Her Age, Glory of her Sex, whose Heaven-born-Soul leaving its earthly Shrine, chose its native home, and was taken to its Rest, upon 16th. Sept. 1672.

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Upon a Fit of Sickness, Anno. 1632. Ætatis suæ, 19.

Twice ten years old, not fully 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.

238

O Bubble blast, how long can'st last?
that alwayes art a breaking,
No sooner blown, but 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 run, the field is won,
the victory's mine I see,
For ever know, thou envious foe,
the foyle belongs to thee.