 | The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse |  |
RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES AND OCCASIONAL PIECES.
9
To my Dear Children.
This Book by Any yet vnread,I leaue for yov when I am dead,
That, being gone, here yov may find
What was your liueing mother's mind.
Make vse of what I leaue in Loue
And God shall blesse yov from above.
A. B.
11
Here follow severall occasionall meditations.
I
By night when others soundly slept,And had at once both ease and Rest,
My waking eyes were open kept,
And so to lye I fovnd it best.
II
I sovght him whom my Soul did Love,With tears I sovght him earnestly;
He bow'd his ear down from Above,
In vain I did not seek or cry.
III
My hungry Soul he fill'd with Good,He in his Bottle putt my teares,
My smarting wounds washt in his blood,
And banisht thence my Doubts and feares.
IV
What to my Saviour shall I giue,Who freely hath done this for me?
I'le serve him here whilst I shall liue,
And Loue him to Eternity.
12
For Deliverance from a feaver.
When Sorrowes had begyrt me rovnd,
And Paines within and out,
When in my flesh no part was sovnd,
Then didst thou rid me out.
And Paines within and out,
When in my flesh no part was sovnd,
Then didst thou rid me out.
My burning flesh in sweat did boyle,
My aking head did break;
From side to side for ease I toyle,
So faint I could not speak.
My aking head did break;
From side to side for ease I toyle,
So faint I could not speak.
Beclouded was my Soul with fear
Of thy Displeasure sore,
Nor could I read my Evidence
Which oft I read before.
Of thy Displeasure sore,
Nor could I read my Evidence
Which oft I read before.
Hide not thy face from me, I cry'd,
From Burnings keep my soul;
Thov know'st my heart, and hast me try'd;
I on thy Mercyes Rowl.
From Burnings keep my soul;
Thov know'st my heart, and hast me try'd;
I on thy Mercyes Rowl.
O, heal my Soul, thov know'st I said,
Tho' flesh consume to novght;
What tho' in dust it shall bee lay'd,
To Glory't shall bee brovght.
Tho' flesh consume to novght;
What tho' in dust it shall bee lay'd,
To Glory't shall bee brovght.
13
Thou heardst, thy rod thou didst remove,
And spar'd my Body frail,
Thou shew'st to me thy tender Love,
My heart no more might quail.
And spar'd my Body frail,
Thou shew'st to me thy tender Love,
My heart no more might quail.
O, Praises to my mighty God,
Praise to my Lord, I say,
Who hath redeem'd my Soul from pitt:
Praises to him for Aye!
Praise to my Lord, I say,
Who hath redeem'd my Soul from pitt:
Praises to him for Aye!
ffrom another sore ffitt.
In my distresse I sovght the Lord,
When nought on Earth could comfort giue;
And when my Soul these things abhor'd,
Then, Lord, thou said'st vnto me, Liue.
When nought on Earth could comfort giue;
And when my Soul these things abhor'd,
Then, Lord, thou said'st vnto me, Liue.
Thou knowest the sorrowes that I felt,
My plaints and Groanes were heard of Thee,
And how in sweat I seem'd to melt;
Thov help'st and thov regardest me.
My plaints and Groanes were heard of Thee,
And how in sweat I seem'd to melt;
Thov help'st and thov regardest me.
My wasted flesh thou didst restore,
My feeble loines didst gird with strenght;
Yea, when I was most low and poor,
I said I shall praise thee at lenght.
My feeble loines didst gird with strenght;
14
I said I shall praise thee at lenght.
What shall I render to my God
For all his Bovnty shew'd to me,
Even for his mercyes in his rod,
Where pitty most of all I see?
For all his Bovnty shew'd to me,
Even for his mercyes in his rod,
Where pitty most of all I see?
My heart I wholly giue to Thee:
O make it frvitfull, faithfull Lord!
My life shall dedicated bee
To praise in thought, in Deed, in Word.
O make it frvitfull, faithfull Lord!
My life shall dedicated bee
To praise in thought, in Deed, in Word.
Thou know'st no life I did require
Longer then still thy Name to praise,
Nor ovght on Earth worthy Desire,
In drawing out these wretched Dayes.
Longer then still thy Name to praise,
Nor ovght on Earth worthy Desire,
In drawing out these wretched Dayes.
Thy Name and praise to celebrate,
O Lord! for aye is my request.
O, gravnt I doe it in this state,
And then with thee which is the Best.
O Lord! for aye is my request.
O, gravnt I doe it in this state,
And then with thee which is the Best.
15
Deliverance from a fitt of ffainting.
Worthy art Thou, O Lord of praise!
But ah! it's not in me;
My sinking heart I pray thee raise,
So shall I giue it Thee.
But ah! it's not in me;
My sinking heart I pray thee raise,
So shall I giue it Thee.
My life as Spider's webb's cutt off,
Thvs fainting haue I said,
And liueing man no more shall see,
But bee in silence layd.
Thvs fainting haue I said,
And liueing man no more shall see,
But bee in silence layd.
My feblee Spirit thou didst reviue,
My Doubting thou didst chide,
And tho: as dead mad'st me aliue,
I here a while might 'bide.
My Doubting thou didst chide,
And tho: as dead mad'st me aliue,
I here a while might 'bide.
Why should I liue but to thy Praise?
My life is hid with Thee;
O Lord, no longer bee my Dayes,
Then I may frvitfull bee.
My life is hid with Thee;
O Lord, no longer bee my Dayes,
Then I may frvitfull bee.
17
[What God is like to him I serve]
What God is like to him I serve,
What Saviour like to mine?
O, never let me from thee swerue,
For truly I am thine.
What Saviour like to mine?
O, never let me from thee swerue,
For truly I am thine.
18
My thankfull mouth shall speak thy praise,
My Tongue shall talk of Thee:
On High my heart, O, doe thou raise,
For what thou'st done for me.
My Tongue shall talk of Thee:
On High my heart, O, doe thou raise,
For what thou'st done for me.
Goe, Worldlings, to your Vanities,
And heathen to your Gods;
Let them help in Adversities,
And sanctefye their rods.
And heathen to your Gods;
Let them help in Adversities,
And sanctefye their rods.
My God he is not like to yours,
Your selves shall Judges bee;
I find his Love, I know his Pow'r,
A Succourer of mee.
Your selves shall Judges bee;
I find his Love, I know his Pow'r,
A Succourer of mee.
He is not man that he should lye,
Nor son of man to vnsay;
His word he plighted hath on high,
And I shall liue for aye.
Nor son of man to vnsay;
His word he plighted hath on high,
And I shall liue for aye.
And for his sake that faithfull is,
That dy'd but now doth liue,
The first and last, that liues for aye,
Me lasting life shall giue.
That dy'd but now doth liue,
The first and last, that liues for aye,
Me lasting life shall giue.
[My soul, rejoice thou in thy God]
My soul, rejoice thou in thy God,
Boast of him all the Day,
Walk in his Law, and kisse his Rod,
Cleaue close to him alway.
Boast of him all the Day,
Walk in his Law, and kisse his Rod,
Cleaue close to him alway.
19
What tho: thy outward Man decay,
Thy inward shall waxe strong;
Thy body vile it shall bee chang'd,
And gloriovs made ere-long.
Thy inward shall waxe strong;
Thy body vile it shall bee chang'd,
And gloriovs made ere-long.
With Angels-wings thy Soul shall movnt
To Blisse vnseen by Eye,
And drink at vnexhausted fovnt
Of Joy vnto Eternity.
To Blisse vnseen by Eye,
And drink at vnexhausted fovnt
Of Joy vnto Eternity.
Thy teares shall All bee dryed vp,
Thy Sorrowes all shall flye;
Thy Sinns shall ne'r bee summon'd vp,
Nor come in memory.
Thy Sorrowes all shall flye;
Thy Sinns shall ne'r bee summon'd vp,
Nor come in memory.
Then shall I know what thov hast done
For me, vnworthy me,
And praise thee shall ev'n as I ovght,
ffor wonders that I see.
For me, vnworthy me,
And praise thee shall ev'n as I ovght,
ffor wonders that I see.
Base World, I trample on thy face,
Thy Glory I despise,
No gain I find in ovght below,
For God hath made me wise.
Thy Glory I despise,
No gain I find in ovght below,
For God hath made me wise.
Come, Jesvs, qvickly, Blessed Lord,
Thy face when shall I see?
O let me covnt each hour a Day
'Till I dissolved bee.
Thy face when shall I see?
O let me covnt each hour a Day
'Till I dissolved bee.
22
[As spring the winter doth succeed]
May 13, 1657.
As spring the winter doth succeed,
And leaues the naked Trees doe dresse,
The earth all black is cloth'd in green;
At svn-shine each their joy expresse.
And leaues the naked Trees doe dresse,
The earth all black is cloth'd in green;
At svn-shine each their joy expresse.
My Svns returned with healing wings.
My Soul and Body doth rejoice;
My heart exvlts, and praises sings
To him that heard my wailing Voice.
My Soul and Body doth rejoice;
My heart exvlts, and praises sings
To him that heard my wailing Voice.
My winters past, my stormes are gone,
And former clowdes seem now all fled;
But, if they mvst eclipse again,
I'le rvn where I was succoured.
And former clowdes seem now all fled;
But, if they mvst eclipse again,
I'le rvn where I was succoured.
I haue a shelter from the storm,
A shadow from the fainting heat;
I haue accesse vnto his Throne,
Who is a God so wondrous great.
A shadow from the fainting heat;
I haue accesse vnto his Throne,
Who is a God so wondrous great.
23
O hast thou made my Pilgrimage
Thvs pleasant, fair, and good;
Bless'd me in Youth and elder Age,
My Baca made a springing flood?
Thvs pleasant, fair, and good;
Bless'd me in Youth and elder Age,
My Baca made a springing flood?
I studiovs am what I shall doe,
To show my Duty with delight;
All I can giue is but thine own,
And at the most a simple mite.
To show my Duty with delight;
All I can giue is but thine own,
And at the most a simple mite.
24
Vpon my Son Samuel his goeing for England, Novem. 6, 1657.
Thou mighty God of Sea and Land,I here resigne into thy hand
The Son of Prayers, of vowes, of teares,
The child I stay'd for many yeares.
Thou heard'st me then, and gav'st him me;
Hear me again, I giue him Thee.
He's mine, but more, O Lord, thine own,
For sure thy Grace on him is shown.
No freind I haue like Thee to trust,
For mortall helpes are brittle Dvst.
25
Protect him there, and bring him back;
And if thou shalt spare me a space,
That I again may see his face,
Then shall I celebrate thy Praise,
And Blesse the for't even all my Dayes.
If otherwise I goe to Rest,
Thy Will bee done, for that is best;
Perswade my heart I shall him see
For ever happefy'd with Thee.
26
[My thankfull heart with glorying Tongue]
My thankfull heart with glorying Tongue
Shall celebrate thy Name,
Who hath restor'd, redeem'd, recur'd
From sicknes, death, and Pain.
Shall celebrate thy Name,
Who hath restor'd, redeem'd, recur'd
From sicknes, death, and Pain.
I cry'd thov seem'st to make some stay,
I sovght more earnestly;
And in due time thou succóur'st me,
And sent'st me help from High.
I sovght more earnestly;
And in due time thou succóur'st me,
And sent'st me help from High.
Lord, whilst my fleeting time shall last,
Thy Goodnes let me Tell.
And new Experience I haue gain'd,
My future Doubts repell.
Thy Goodnes let me Tell.
And new Experience I haue gain'd,
My future Doubts repell.
An humble, faitefull life, O Lord,
For ever let me walk;
Let my obedience testefye,
My Praise lyes not in Talk.
For ever let me walk;
Let my obedience testefye,
My Praise lyes not in Talk.
Accept, O Lord, my simple mite,
For more I cannot giue;
What thou bestow'st I shall restore,
For of thine Almes I liue.
For more I cannot giue;
What thou bestow'st I shall restore,
For of thine Almes I liue.
27
For the restoration of my dear Husband from a burning Ague, June, 1661.
When feares and sorrowes me besett,
Then did'st thou rid me out;
When heart did faint and spirits quail,
Thou comforts me about.
Then did'st thou rid me out;
When heart did faint and spirits quail,
Thou comforts me about.
Thou rais'st him vp I feard to loose,
Regau'st me him again:
Distempers thou didst chase away;
With strenght didst him sustain.
Regau'st me him again:
Distempers thou didst chase away;
With strenght didst him sustain.
My thankfull heart, with Pen record
The Goodnes of thy God;
Let thy obedience testefye
He taught thee by his rod.
The Goodnes of thy God;
Let thy obedience testefye
He taught thee by his rod.
And with his staffe did thee support,
That thou by both may'st learn;
And 'twixt the good and evill way,
At last, thou mig'st discern.
That thou by both may'st learn;
And 'twixt the good and evill way,
At last, thou mig'st discern.
Praises to him who hath not left
My Soul as destitute;
Nor turnd his ear away from me,
But graunted hath my Suit.
My Soul as destitute;
Nor turnd his ear away from me,
But graunted hath my Suit.
28
Vpon my Daughter Hannah Wiggin her recouery from a dangerous feaver.
Bles't bee thy Name, who did'st restore
To health my Daughter dear
When death did seem ev'n to approach,
And life was ended near.
To health my Daughter dear
When death did seem ev'n to approach,
And life was ended near.
Gravnt shee remember what thov'st done,
And celebrate thy Praise;
And let her Conversation say,
Shee loues thee all thy Dayes.
And celebrate thy Praise;
And let her Conversation say,
Shee loues thee all thy Dayes.
On my Sons Return out of England, July 17, 1661.
All Praise to him who hath now turn'd
My feares to Joyes, my sighes to song,
My Teares to smiles, my sad to glad:
He's come for whom I waited long.
My feares to Joyes, my sighes to song,
My Teares to smiles, my sad to glad:
He's come for whom I waited long.
Thou di'st preserve him as he went;
In raging stormes did'st safely keep:
Did'st that ship bring to quiet Port.
The other sank low in the Deep.
In raging stormes did'st safely keep:
29
The other sank low in the Deep.
From Dangers great thou did'st him free
Of Pyrates who were neer at hand;
And order'st so the adverse wind,
That he before them gott to Land.
Of Pyrates who were neer at hand;
And order'st so the adverse wind,
That he before them gott to Land.
30
In covntry strange thou did'st provide,
And freinds rais'd him in euery Place;
And courtesies of svndry sorts
From such as 'fore nere saw his face.
And freinds rais'd him in euery Place;
And courtesies of svndry sorts
From such as 'fore nere saw his face.
In sicknes when he lay full sore,
His help and his Physitian wer't;
When royall ones that Time did dye,
Thou heal'dst his flesh, and cheer'd his heart.
His help and his Physitian wer't;
When royall ones that Time did dye,
Thou heal'dst his flesh, and cheer'd his heart.
31
From troubles and Incūbers Thov,
Without (all fraud), did'st sett him free,
That, without scandall, he might come
To th'Land of his Nativity.
Without (all fraud), did'st sett him free,
That, without scandall, he might come
To th'Land of his Nativity.
On Eagles wings him hether brovght
Thro: Want and Dangers manifold;
And thvs hath gravnted my Reqvest,
That I thy Mercyes might behold.
Thro: Want and Dangers manifold;
And thvs hath gravnted my Reqvest,
That I thy Mercyes might behold.
O help me pay my Vowes, O Lord!
That ever I may thankfull bee,
And may putt him in mind of what
Tho'st done for him, and so for me.
That ever I may thankfull bee,
And may putt him in mind of what
Tho'st done for him, and so for me.
In both our hearts erect a frame
Of Duty and of Thankfullnes,
That all thy favours great receiv'd,
Oure vpright walking may expresse.
Of Duty and of Thankfullnes,
That all thy favours great receiv'd,
Oure vpright walking may expresse.
O Lord, gravnt that I may never forgett thy Loving
kindnes in this Particular, and how gratiovsly thov hast answered my Desires.
32
Vpon my dear and loving husband his goeing into England, Jan. 16, 1661.
O thov most high who rulest All,
And hear'st the Prayers of Thine;
O hearken, Lord, vnto my suit,
And my Petition signe.
And hear'st the Prayers of Thine;
O hearken, Lord, vnto my suit,
And my Petition signe.
Into thy everlasting Armes
Of mercy I commend
Thy servant, Lord. Keep and preserve
My husband, my dear freind.
Of mercy I commend
Thy servant, Lord. Keep and preserve
My husband, my dear freind.
At thy command, O Lord, he went,
Nor novght could keep him back;
Then let thy promis joy his heart:
O help, and bee not slack.
Nor novght could keep him back;
33
O help, and bee not slack.
Vphold my heart in Thee, O God,
Thou art my strenght and stay;
Thou see'st how weak and frail I am,
Hide not thy face Away.
Thou art my strenght and stay;
Thou see'st how weak and frail I am,
Hide not thy face Away.
I, in obedience to thy Will,
Thov knowest, did submitt;
It was my Duty so to doe,
O Lord, accept of it.
Thov knowest, did submitt;
It was my Duty so to doe,
O Lord, accept of it.
Vnthankfullnes for mercyes Past,
Impute thov not to me;
O Lord, thov know'st my weak desire
Was to sing Praise to Thee.
Impute thov not to me;
O Lord, thov know'st my weak desire
Was to sing Praise to Thee.
Lord, bee thov Pilott to the ship,
And send them prosperous gailes;
In stormes and sicknes, Lord, preserve.
Thy Goodnes never failes.
And send them prosperous gailes;
In stormes and sicknes, Lord, preserve.
Thy Goodnes never failes.
Vnto thy work he hath in hand,
Lord, gravnt Thov good Successe
And favour in their eyes, to whom
He shall make his Addresse.
Lord, gravnt Thov good Successe
And favour in their eyes, to whom
He shall make his Addresse.
34
Remember, Lord, thy folk whom thou
To wildernesse hast brovght;
Let not thine own Inheritance
Bee sold away for Novght.
To wildernesse hast brovght;
Let not thine own Inheritance
Bee sold away for Novght.
But Tokens of thy favour Give—
With Joy send back my Dear,
That I, and all thy servants, may
Rejoice with heavenly chear.
With Joy send back my Dear,
That I, and all thy servants, may
Rejoice with heavenly chear.
Lord, let my eyes see once Again
Him whom thov gavest me,
That wee together may sing Praise
ffor ever vnto Thee.
Him whom thov gavest me,
That wee together may sing Praise
ffor ever vnto Thee.
And the Remainder of oure Dayes
Shall consecrated bee,
With an engaged heart to sing
All Praises vnto Thee.
Shall consecrated bee,
With an engaged heart to sing
All Praises vnto Thee.
In my Solitary houres in my dear husband his Absence.
O Lord, thov hear'st my dayly moan,
And see'st my dropping teares:
My Troubles All are Thee before,
My Longings and my feares.
And see'st my dropping teares:
My Troubles All are Thee before,
My Longings and my feares.
35
Thou hetherto hast been my God;
Thy help my soul hath fovnd:
Tho: losse and sicknes me assail'd,
Thro: the I've kept my Grovnd.
Thy help my soul hath fovnd:
Tho: losse and sicknes me assail'd,
Thro: the I've kept my Grovnd.
And thy Abode tho'st made with me;
With Thee my Soul can talk
In secrett places, Thee I find,
Where I doe kneel or walk.
With Thee my Soul can talk
In secrett places, Thee I find,
Where I doe kneel or walk.
Tho: husband dear bee from me gone,
Whom I doe loue so well;
I haue a more beloued one
Whofe comforts far excell.
Whom I doe loue so well;
I haue a more beloued one
Whofe comforts far excell.
O stay my heart on thee, my God,
Vphold my fainting Soul!
And, when I know not what to doe,
I'll on thy mercyes roll.
Vphold my fainting Soul!
And, when I know not what to doe,
I'll on thy mercyes roll.
36
My weaknes, thou do'st know full well,
Of Body and of mind.
I, in this world, no comfort haue,
But what from Thee I find.
Of Body and of mind.
I, in this world, no comfort haue,
But what from Thee I find.
Tho: children thou hast given me,
And freinds I haue also:
Yet, if I see Thee not thro: them,
They are no Joy, but woe.
And freinds I haue also:
Yet, if I see Thee not thro: them,
They are no Joy, but woe.
O shine vpon me, blessed Lord,
Ev'n for my Saviour's sake;
In Thee Alone is more then All,
And there content I'll take.
Ev'n for my Saviour's sake;
In Thee Alone is more then All,
And there content I'll take.
O hear me, Lord, in this Reqvest,
As thov before ha'st done:
Bring back my husband, I beseech,
As thov didst once my Sonne.
As thov before ha'st done:
Bring back my husband, I beseech,
As thov didst once my Sonne.
So shall I celebrate thy Praise,
Ev'n while my Dayes shall last;
And talk to my Beloued one
Of all thy Goodnes past.
Ev'n while my Dayes shall last;
And talk to my Beloued one
Of all thy Goodnes past.
37
So both of vs thy Kindnes, Lord,
With Praises shall recovnt,
And serve Thee better then before,
Whose Blessings thvs surmovnt.
With Praises shall recovnt,
And serve Thee better then before,
Whose Blessings thvs surmovnt.
But give me, Lord, a better heart,
Then better shall I bee,
To pay the vowes which I doe owe
For ever vnto Thee.
Then better shall I bee,
To pay the vowes which I doe owe
For ever vnto Thee.
Vnlesse thou help, what can I doe
But still my frailty show?
If thov assist me, Lord, I shall
Return Thee what I owe.
But still my frailty show?
If thov assist me, Lord, I shall
Return Thee what I owe.
In thankfull acknowledgment for the letters I received from my husband ovt of England.
O thou that hear'st the Prayers of Thine,
And 'mongst them hast regarded Mine,
Hast heard my cry's, and seen my Teares;
Hast known my doubts and All my ffeares.
And 'mongst them hast regarded Mine,
Hast heard my cry's, and seen my Teares;
Hast known my doubts and All my ffeares.
Thov hast releiv'd my fainting heart,
Nor payd me after my desert;
Thov hast to shore him safely brovght
For whom I thee so oft besovght.
Nor payd me after my desert;
38
For whom I thee so oft besovght.
Thov wast the Pilott to the ship,
And rais'd him vp when he was sick;
And hope thov'st given of good successe,
In this his Buisnes and Addresse;
And rais'd him vp when he was sick;
And hope thov'st given of good successe,
In this his Buisnes and Addresse;
And that thov wilt return him back,
Whose presence I so much doe lack.
For All these mercyes I thee Praise,
And so desire ev'n all my Dayes.
Whose presence I so much doe lack.
For All these mercyes I thee Praise,
And so desire ev'n all my Dayes.
In thankfull Remembrance for my dear husbands safe Arrivall Sept. 3, 1662.
What shall I render to thy Name,
Or how thy Praises speak;
My thankes how shall I testefye?
O Lord, thov know'st I'm weak.
Or how thy Praises speak;
My thankes how shall I testefye?
O Lord, thov know'st I'm weak.
I ow so mvch, so little can
Return vnto thy Name,
Confusion seases on my Soul,
And I am fill'd with shame.
Return vnto thy Name,
39
And I am fill'd with shame.
O thov that hearest Prayers, Lord,
To Thee shall come all fflesh;
Thou hast me heard and answered,
My 'Plaints haue had accesse.
To Thee shall come all fflesh;
Thou hast me heard and answered,
My 'Plaints haue had accesse.
What did I ask for but thov gav'st?
What could I more desire?
But Thankfullnes, even all my dayes,
I humbly this Require.
What could I more desire?
But Thankfullnes, even all my dayes,
I humbly this Require.
Thy mercyes, Lord, haue been so great,
In nvmber nvmberles,
Impossible for to recovnt
Or any way expresse.
In nvmber nvmberles,
Impossible for to recovnt
Or any way expresse.
O help thy Saints that sovght thy fface,
T'Return vnto thee Praise,
And walk before thee as they ought,
In strict and vpright wayes.
T'Return vnto thee Praise,
And walk before thee as they ought,
In strict and vpright wayes.
40
[In filent night when rest I took]
[_]
Here followes some verses vpon the burning of our house, July 10th, 1666. Copyed ovt of a loose Paper.
In filent night when rest I took,
For sorrow neer I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundring nois
And Piteovs shreiks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull sound of fire and fire,
Let no man know is my Desire.
For sorrow neer I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundring nois
And Piteovs shreiks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull sound of fire and fire,
Let no man know is my Desire.
I, starting vp, the light did spye,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my Distresse
And not to leaue me succourlesse.
Then coming ovt beheld a space,
The flame consvme my dwelling place.
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my Distresse
And not to leaue me succourlesse.
Then coming ovt beheld a space,
The flame consvme my dwelling place.
And, when I could no longer look,
I blest his Name that gave and took,
That layd my goods now in the dvst:
Yea so it was, and so 'twas jvst.
It was his own: it was not mine;
ffar be it that I should repine.
I blest his Name that gave and took,
That layd my goods now in the dvst:
Yea so it was, and so 'twas jvst.
It was his own: it was not mine;
ffar be it that I should repine.
He might of All iustly bereft,
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruines oft I past,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spye
Where oft I sate, and long did lye.
But yet sufficient for us left.
41
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spye
Where oft I sate, and long did lye.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest;
There lay that store I covnted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lye,
And them behold no more shall I.
Vnder thy roof no gvest shall sitt,
Nor at thy Table eat a bitt.
There lay that store I covnted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lye,
And them behold no more shall I.
Vnder thy roof no gvest shall sitt,
Nor at thy Table eat a bitt.
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recovnted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lye;
Adeiu, Adeiu; All's vanity.
Nor things recovnted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lye;
Adeiu, Adeiu; All's vanity.
Then streight I gin my heart to chide,
And did thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dvst,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trvst?
Raise vp thy thovghts above the skye
That dunghill mists away may flie.
And did thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dvst,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trvst?
Raise vp thy thovghts above the skye
That dunghill mists away may flie.
Thou hast an house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent tho: this bee fled.
'Its purchaséd, and paid for too
By him who hath enovgh to doe.
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
42
Stands permanent tho: this bee fled.
'Its purchaséd, and paid for too
By him who hath enovgh to doe.
A Prise so vast as is vnknown,
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
Ther's wealth enovgh, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lyes Above.
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
Ther's wealth enovgh, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lyes Above.
[As weary pilgrim, now at rest]
As weary pilgrim, now at rest,Hugs with delight his silent nest
His wasted limbes, now lye full soft
That myrie steps, haue troden oft
Blesses himself, to think vpon
his dangers past, and travailes done
The burning sun no more shall heat
Nor stormy raines, on him shall beat.
The bryars and thornes no more shall scratch
nor hungry wolues at him shall catch
He erring pathes no more shall tread
nor wild fruits eate, in stead of bread,
43
for thirst no more shall parch his tongue
No rugged stones his feet shall gaule
nor stumps nor rocks cause him to fall
All cares and feares, he bids farwell
and meanes in safity now to dwell.
A pilgrim I, on earth, perplext
wth sinns wth cares and sorrows vext
By age and paines brought to decay
and my Clay house mouldring away
Oh how I long to be at rest
and soare on high among the blest.
This body shall in silence sleep
Mine eyes no more shall ever weep
No fainting fits shall me assaile
nor grinding paines my body fraile
Wth cares and fears ne'r cumbred be
Nor losses know, nor sorrowes see
What tho my flesh shall there consume
it is the bed Christ did perfume
And when a few yeares shall be gone
this mortall shall be cloth'd vpon
A Corrupt Carcasse downe it lyes
a glorious body it shall rise
In weaknes and dishonour sowne
in power 'tis rais'd by Christ alone
Then soule and body shall vnite
and of their maker haue the sight
44
as eare ne'r heard nor tongue e'er told
Lord make me ready for that day
then Come deare bridgrome Come away.
Aug: 31, 69.
| The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse | |