 | The Collected Verse |  |
166
OF BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND
Oh Boston, though thou now art grown
To be a great and wealthy town,
Yet I have seen thee a void place,
Shrubs and bushes covering thy face.
To be a great and wealthy town,
Yet I have seen thee a void place,
Shrubs and bushes covering thy face.
167
No houses then in thee there were,
Nor such as gold and silk did wear.
No drunkenness was then in thee,
Nor such excess as now we see.
Nor such as gold and silk did wear.
No drunkenness was then in thee,
Nor such excess as now we see.
168
We then drunk freely of thy spring,
Without paying of anything.
We lodged freely, where we would.
All things were free, and nothing sold.
Without paying of anything.
We lodged freely, where we would.
All things were free, and nothing sold.
And they that did thee first begin
Had hearts as free, and as willing,
Their poor friends for to entertain,
And never looked at sordid gain.
Had hearts as free, and as willing,
169
And never looked at sordid gain.
Some thou hast had, whom I did know,
Who spent themselves to make thee grow.
Thy foundations they did lay,
Which do remain unto this day.
Who spent themselves to make thee grow.
Thy foundations they did lay,
Which do remain unto this day.
170
When thou wast weak, they did thee nurse;
Or else with thee it had been worse.
They left thee not, but did defend
And succor thee, unto their end.
Or else with thee it had been worse.
They left thee not, but did defend
And succor thee, unto their end.
Thou now art grown in wealth and store.
Do not forget that thou wast poor,
And lift not up thyself in pride.
From truth and justice turn not aside.
Do not forget that thou wast poor,
And lift not up thyself in pride.
From truth and justice turn not aside.
171
Remember thou a Cotton had,
Who made the hearts of many glad.
What he thee taught bear thou in mind;
It's hard another such to find.
Who made the hearts of many glad.
What he thee taught bear thou in mind;
It's hard another such to find.
A Winthrop once in thee was known,
Who unto thee was as a crown.
Such ornaments are very rare,
Yet thou enjoyed this blessed pair.
Who unto thee was as a crown.
Such ornaments are very rare,
Yet thou enjoyed this blessed pair.
But these are gone; their work is done.
Their day is past; set is their sun.
Yet faithful Wilson still remains,
And learned Norton doth take pains.
Their day is past; set is their sun.
172
And learned Norton doth take pains.
Live thee in peace; I could say more.
Oppress not the weak and poor.
The trade is all in your own hand;
Take heed thee do not wrong the land.
Oppress not the weak and poor.
The trade is all in your own hand;
Take heed thee do not wrong the land.
173
Lest He that hath lift you on high,
When as the poor to him to cry,
Do throw you down from your high state,
And make you low, and desolate.
When as the poor to him to cry,
Do throw you down from your high state,
And make you low, and desolate.
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