And yet in equal tempers how they 'gree How divers natures make one Unity Something of all though mean I did intend But fear'd you 'ld judge Du Bartas was my friend I honour him but dare not wear his wealth My goods are true though poor I love no stealth But if I did I durst not send them you Who must reward a Thief but with his due I shall not need mine innocence to clear These ragged lines will do 't when they appear On what they are your mild aspect I crave Accept my best my worst vouchsafe a Grave From her that to your self more duty owes Then water in the boundess Ocean flows March 20. 1642. ANNE BRADSTREET 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 neeâ—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 Calliopâ—'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 The Four Elements THe Fire Air Earth and water did contest Which was the strongest noblest and the best Who was of greatest use and might'est force In placide Terms they thought now to discourse That in due order each her turn should speak But enmity this amity did break All would be chief and all scorn'd to be under whence issu'd winds rains lightning thunder The quaking earth did groan the Sky lookt black The Fire the forced Air in sunder crack The sea did threat the heav'ns the heavn's the earth All looked like a Chaos or new birth Fire broyled Earth scorched Earth it choaked Both by their darings water so provoked That roaring in it came and with its source Soon made the Combatants abate their force The rumbling hissing puffing was so great The worlds confusion it did seem to threat Till gentle Air Contention so abated That betwixt hot and cold she arbritrated The others difference being less did cease All storms now laid and they in perfect peace That Fire should first begin the rest consent The noblest and most active Element Fire What is my worth both ye and all men know In little time I can but little show But what I am let learned Grecians say What I can do well skil'd Mechanicks may The benefit all living by me finde All sorts of Artists here declare your mind What tool was ever fram'd but by my might Ye Martilists what weapons for your fight To try your valour by but it must feel My force your sword Gun your Lance of steel Your Cannon's bootless and your powder too Without mine aid alas what can they do The adverse walls not shak'd the Mines not blown And in despight the City keeps her own But I with one Granado or Petard Set ope those gates that'fore so strong were bar'd Ye Husband-men your Coulters made by me Your Hooes your Mattocks what e're you see Subdue the Earth and fit it for your Grain That so it might in time requite your pain Though strong limb'd Vulcan forg'd it by his skill I made it flexible unto his will Ye Cooks your Kitchen implements I frame Your Spits Pots Jacks what else I need not name Your dayly food I wholsome make I warm Your shrinking Limbs which winter's cold doth harm Ye Paracelsâ—â— too in vain 's your skill In Chymistry unless I help you Still And you Philosophers if e're you made A transmutation it was through mine aid Ye silver Smiths your Ure I do refine What mingled lay with Earth I cause to shine But let me leave these things my flame aspires To match on high with the Celestial fires The Sun an Orb of fire was held of old Our Sages new another tale have told But be he what they will yet his aspect A burning fiery heat we find reflect And of the self same nature is with mine Cold sister Earth no witness needs but thine How doth his warmth refresh thy frozen back And trim thee brave in green after thy black Both man and beast rejoyce at his approach And birds do sing to see his glittering Coach And though nought but Salmanders live in fire And fly Pyrausta call'd all else expire Yet men and beast Astronomers will tell Fixed in heavenly Constellations dwell My Planets of both Sexes whose degree Poor Heathen judg'd worthy a Diety There 's Orion arm'd attended by his dog The Theban stout Alcides with his Club The valiant Perseus who Medusa slew The horse that kil'd Belerophon then flew My Crab my Scorpion fishes you may see The Maid with ballance wain with horses three The Ram the Bull the Lion and the Beagle The Bear the Goat the Raven and the Eagle The Crown the Whale the Archer Bernice Hare The Hidra Dolphin Boys that water bear Nay more then these Rivers ' mongst stars are found Eridanuâ— where Phaeton was drown'd Their magnitude and height should I recount My story to a volume would amount Out of a multitude these few I touch Your wisdome out of little gather
remed'less woes Again what veins of poyâ—on in me lâ—e Some kill outright and some do stupifye Nay into herbs and plants it sometimes creeps In heats colds gripes drowzy sleeps Thus I occasion death to man and beast When food they seek harm mistrust the least Much might I say of the hot Libian sand Which rise like tumbling Billows on the Land Wherein Cambyses Armie was o'rethrown but windy Sister 't was when you have blown I 'le say no more but this thing add I must Remember Sons your mould is of my dust And after death whether interr'd or burn'd As Earth at first so into Earth return'd Water Scarce Earth had done but th' angry water mov'd Sister quoth she it had full well behov'd Among your boastings to have praised me Cause of your fruitfulness as you shall see This your neglect shews your ingratitude And how your subtilty would men delude Not one of us all knows that 's like to thee Ever in craving from the other three But thou art bound to me above the rest Who am thy drink thy blood thy sap and best If I withhold what art thou dead dry lump Thou bearst nor grass or plant nor tree nor stump Thy extream thirst is moistned by my love With springs below and showres from above Or else thy Sun burnt face and gaping chopâ— Complain to th' heavens if I withhold my drops Thy Bear thy Tyger and thy Lion stout When I am gone their fiercenes none needs doubt Thy Camel hath no strength thy Bull no force Nor mettal's found in the couragious Horse Hinds leave their calves the Elephant the Fens The wolves and savage beasts forsake their Dens The lofty Eagle and the Stork fly low The Peacock and the Ostrich share in woe The Pine the Cedar yea and Daphne's Tree Do cease to flourish in this misery Man wants his bread and wine pleasant fruits He knows such sweets lies not in Earths dry roots Then seeks me out in river and in well His deadly malady I might expell If I supply his heart and veins rejoyce If not soon ends his life as did his voyce That this is true Earth thou canst not deny I call thine Egypt this to verifie Which by my fatting Nile doth yield such store That she can spare when nations round are poor When I run low and not o'reflow her brinks To meet with want each woful man be-thinks And such I am in Rivers showrs and springs But what 's the wealth that my rich Ocean brings Fishes so numberless I there do hold If thou shouldst buy it would exhaust thy gold There lives the oyly Whale whom all men know Such wealth but not such like Earth thou maist show The Dolphin loving musick Arians friend The witty Barbel whose craâ—t doth her commend With thousands more which now I list not name Thy silence of thy Beasts doth cause the same My pearles that dangle at thy Darlings ears Not thou but shel-fish yield as Pliny clears Was ever gem so rich found in thy trunk As Egypts wanton Cleopatra drunk Or hast thou any colour can come nigh The Roman purple double Tirian Dye Which Caesars Consuls Tribunes all adorn For it to search my waves they thought no scorn Thy gallant rich perfuming Amber-greece I lightly cast ashore as frothy fleece With rowling grains of purest massie gold Which Spains Americans do gladly hold Earth thou hast not moe countrys vales mounds Then I have fountains rivers lakes and ponds My sundry seas black white and Adriatique Ionian Baltique and the vast Atlantique Aegean Caspian golden Rivers five Asphaltis lake where nought remains alive But I should go beyond thee in my boasts If I should name more seas then thou hast Coasts And be thy mountains n'er so high and steep I soon can match them with my seas as deep To speak of kinds of waters I neglect My diverse fountains and their strange effect My wholsome bathes together with their cures My water Syrens with their guilefull lures Th' uncertain cause of certain ebbs and flows Which wondring Aristotles wit n'er knows Nor will I speak of waters made by art Which can to life restore a fainting heart Nor fruitfull dews nor drops distil'd from eyes Which pitty move and oft deceive the wise Nor yet of salt and sugar sweet and smart Both when we list to water we convert Alas thy ships and oars could do no good Did they but want my Ocean and my flood The wary merchant on his weary beast Transfers his goods from south to north and east Unless I ease his toil and do transport The wealthy fraight unto his wished port These be my benefits which may suffice I now must shew what ill there in me lies The flegmy Constitution I uphold All humors tumors which are bred of cold O're childhood and ore winter I bear sway And Luna for my Regent I obey As I with showers oft times refresh the earth So oft in my excess I cause a dearth And with abundant wet so cool the ground By adding cold to cold no fruit proves sound The Farmer and the Grasier do complain Of rotten sheep lean kine and mildew'd grain And with my wasting floods and roaring torrenâ— Their cattel hay and corn I sweep down current Nay many times my Ocean breaks his bounds And with astonishment the world confounds And swallows Countryes up n'er seen again And that an island makes which once was Main Thus Britain fair t is thought was cut from France Scicily from Italy by the like chance And but one land was Africa and Spain Untill proud Gibraltar did make them twain Some say I swallow'd up sure t is a notion A mighty country in th' Atlantique Ocean I need not say much of my hail and snow My ice and extream cold which all men know Whereof the first so ominous I rain'd That Israels enemies therewith were brain'd And of my chilling snows such plenty be That Caucasus high mounts are seldome free Mine ice doth glaze Europes great rivers o're Till sun release their ships can sail no more All know that inundations I have made Wherein not men but mountains seem'd to wade As when Achaia all under water stood That for two hundred years it n'er prov'd good Dencalions great Deluge with many moe But these are trifles to the flood of Noâ— Then wholly perish'd Earths ignoble race And to this day impairs her beauteous face That after times shâ—â— never feel like woe Her confirm'd sons behold my colour'd bow Much might I say of wracks but that I le spare And now give place unto our Sister Air Air. Content quoth Air to speak the last of you Yet am not ignorant first was my due I do suppose you 'l yield without controul I am the breath of every living soul Mortals what one of you that loves not me Abundantly more then my Sisters three And though you love Fire Earth and Water well Yet Air beyond all these you know t' excell I ask the man condemn'd that 's neer his death How gladly should his gold purchase his breath And all the wealth that ever earth did
give How freely should it go so he might live No earth thy witching trash were all but vain If my pure air thy sons did not sustain The famish'd thirsty man that craves supply His moving reason is give least I dye So loth he is to go though nature 's spent To bid adieu to his dear Element Nay what are words which do reveal the mind Speak who or what they will they are but wind Your drums your trumpets your organs sound What is' t but forced air which doth rebound And such are ecchoes and report ofth ' gun That tells afar th'exploit which it hath done Your Songs and pleasant tunes they are the same And so 's the notes which Nightingales do frame Ye forging Smiths if bellows once were gone Your red hot work more coldly would go on Ye Mariners t is I that fill your sails And speed you to your port with wished gales When burning heat doth cause you faint I cool And when I smile your ocean's like a pool I help to ripe the corn I turn the mill And with my self I every Vacuum fill The ruddy sweet sanguine is like to air And youth and spring Sages to me compare My moist hot nature is so purely thin No place so subtiâ—ly made but I get in I grow more pure and pure as I mount higher And when I 'm throughly rarifi'd turn fire So when I am condens'd I turn to water Which may be done by holding down my vapour Thus I another body can assume And in a trice my own nature resume Some for this cause of late have been so bold Me for no Element longer to hold Let such suspend their thoughts and silent be For all Philosophers make one of me And what those Sages either spake or writ Is more authentick then our modern wit Next of my fowles such multitudes there are Earths beasts and waters fish scarce can compare Th' Ostrich with her plumes th' Eagle with her eyâ— The Phaenix too if any be are mine The stork the crane the partridg and the phesant The Thrush the wren the lark a prey to 'th pesant With thousands more which now I may omit Without impeachment to my tale or wit As my fresh air preserves all things in life So when corrupt mortality is rife Then Fevers Purples Pox and Pestilence With divers moe work deadly consequence Whereof such multitudes have di'd and fled The living scarce had power to bury dead Yea so contagious countryes have we known That birds have not ' scapt death as they have flown Of murrain cattle numberless did fall Meâ— fear'd destruction epidemical Then of my tempests felt at sea and land Which neither ships nor houses could withstand What wofull wracks I 've made may well appear If nought were known but that before Algere Where famous Charles the fifth more loss sustaind Then in his long hot war which Millain gain'd Again what furious storms and Hurricanoes Know western Isles as Christophers Barbadoâ—s Where neither houses trees nor plants I spare But some fall down and some fly up with air Earthquakes so hurtfull and so fear'd of all Imprison'd I am the original Then what prodigious sights I sometimes show As battles pitcht in th' air as countryes know Their joyning fighting forcing and retreat That earth appears in heaven O wonder great Sometimes red flaming swords and blazing stars Portentous signs of famines plagues and wars Which make the mighty Monarchs fear their fates By death or great mutation of their States I have said less then did my Sisters three But what 's their wrath or force the same 's in me To adde to all I 've said was my intent But dare not go beyond my Element Of the four Humours in Mans Constitution THe former four now ending their discourse Ceasing to vaunt their good or threat their force Lo other four step up crave leave to show The native qualityes that from them flow But first they wisely shew'd their high descent Each eldest daughter to each Element Choler was own'd by fire and Blood by air Earth knew her black swarth child water her fair All having made obeysance to each Mother Had leave to speak succeeding one the other But ' mongst themselves they were at variance Which of the four should have predominance Choler first hotly claim'd right by her mother Who had precedency of all the other But Sanguine did disdain what she requir'd Pleading her self was most of all desir'd Proud Melancholy more envious then the rest The second third or last could not digest She was the silentest of all the four Her wisdom spake not much but thought the more Mild Flegme did not contest for chiefest place Only she crav'd to have a vacant spacâ— Well thus they parle and chide but to be brief Or will they nill they Choler will be chief They seing her impetuosity At present yielded to necessity Choler To shew my high descent and pedegree Your selves would judge but vain prolixity It is acknowledged from whence I came It shall suffice to shew you what I am My self and mother one as you shall see But shee in greater I in less degree We both once Masculines the world doth ' know Now Feminines awhile for love we owe Unto your Sisterhood which makes us render Our noble selves in a less noble gender Though under Fire we comprehend all heat Yet man for Choler is the proper seat I in his heart erect my regal throne Where Monarch like I play and sway alone Yet many times unto my great disgrace One of your selves are my Compeers in place Where if your rule prove once predominant The man proves boyish sottish ignorant But if you yield subservience unto me I make a man a man in th'high'st degree Be he a souldier I more fence his heart Then iron Corslet ' gainst a sword or dart What makes him face his foe without appal To storm a breach or scale a city wall In dangers to account himself more sure Then timerous Hares whom Castles do immure Have you not heard of worthyes Demi-Gods Twixt them and others what is' t makes the odds But valour whence comes that from none of you Nay milksops at such brunts you look but blew Here 's sister ruddy worth the other two Who much will talk but little dares she do Unless to Court and claw to dice and drink And there she will out-bid us all I think She loves a fiddle better then a drum A Chamber well in field she dares not come She 'l ride a horse as bravely as the best And break a staff provided be in jest But shuns to look on wounds blood that 's spilt She loves her sword only because its gilt Then here 's our sad black Sister worse then you She 'l neither say she will nor will she doe But peevish
set That Divine Ofspring the immortal Soul Though it in all and every part be whole Within this stately place of eminence Doth doubtless keep its mighty residence And surely the Soul sensitive here lives Which life and motion to each creature gives The Conjugation of the parts to th' braine Doth shew hence flow the pow'rs which they retain Within this high Built Cittadel doth lye The Reason fancy and the memory The faculty of speech doth here abide The Spirits animal from hence do slide The five most noble Senses here do dwell Of three it 's hard to say which doth excell This point now to discuss 'longs not to me I 'le touch the sight great'st wonder of the three The optick Nerve Coats humours all are mine The watry glassie and the Chrystaline O mixture strange O colour colourless Thy perfect temperament who can express He was no fool who thought the soul lay there Whence her affections passions speak so clear O good O bad O true O traiterous eyes What wonderments within your Balls there lyes Of all the Senses fight shall be the Queen Yet some may wish O had mine eyes ne're seen Mine likewise is the â—arrow of the back Which runs through all the Spondles of the rack It is the substitute o' th royal brain All Nerves except seven pair to it retain And the strong Ligaments from hence arise Which joynt to joynt the intire body tyes Some other parts there issue from the Brain Whose worth and use to tell I must refrain Some curious learned Crooke may these reveal But modesty hath charg'd me to conceal Here 's my Epitome of excellence For what 's the Brains is mine by Consequence A foolish brain quoth Choler wanting heat But a mad one sayl where 't is too great Phrensie 's worse then folly one would more glad With a tame fool converse then with a mad For learning then my brain is not the fittest Nor will I yield that Choler is the wittiest Thy judgement is unsafe thy fancy little For memory the sand is not more brittle Again none's fit for Kingly state but thou If Tyrants be the best Iâ—le it allow But if love be as requisite as fear Then thou and I must make a mixture here Well to be brief I hope now Cholers laid And I 'le pass by what Sister sanguine said To Melancholy Iâ—le make no reply The worst she said was instability And too much talk both which I here confess A warning good hereafter I 'le say less Let 's now be friends its time our spight were spent Lest we too late this rashness do repent Such premises will force a sad conclusion Unless we agree all falls into confuâ—ion Let Sangine witâ— her hot hand Choler hold To take her moist my moisture will be bold My cold cold melancholy hand shall clasp Her dry dry Choler 's other hand shall grasp Two hot two moist two cold two dry here be A golden Ring the Posey VNITY Nor jarrs nor scoffs let none hereafter see But all admire our perfect Amity Nor be discern'd here 's water earth air fire But here a compact body whole intire This loving counsel pleas'd them all so well That flegm was judg'd for kindness to excell Of the four Ages of Man LO now four other act upon the stage Childhood and Youth the Manly Old age The first son unto flegm Grand-child to water Unstable supple coâ—â— and moist's his nature The second frolick claims his pedegree From blood and air for hot and moist is he The third of fire and Choler is composâ—d Vindicative and quarrelsome dispos'd The last of earth and heavy melancholy Solid hating all lightness and all folly Childhood was cloth'd in white green to show His spring was intermixed with some snow Upon his head nature a Garland set Of Primrose Daizy the Violet Such cold mean flowrs the spring puts forth betime Before the sun hath throughly heat the clime His Hobby striding did not ride but run And in his hand an hour-glass new begun In danger every moment of a fall And when t is broke then ends his life and all But if he hold till it have run its last Then may he live out threescore years or past Next Youth came up in gorgeous attire As that fond age doth most of all desire His Suit of Crimson and his scarfe of green His pride in 's countenance was quickly seen Garland of roses pinks and gilli-flowers Seemed on 's head to grow bedew'd with showers His face as fresh as is Aurora fair When blushing she first 'gins to light the air No wooden horse but one of mettal try'd He seems to fly or swim and not to ride Then prancing on the stage about â—e wheels But as he went death waited at his heels The next came up in a much graver sort As one that cared for a good report His sword by 's side and choler in his eyes But neither us'd as yet for he was wise Of Autumns fruits a basket on his arm His golden God in 's purse which was his charm And last of all to act upon this stage Leaning upon his staff came up Old Age Under his arm a sheaf of wheat he bore An harvest of the best what needs he more In 's other hand a glass ev'n almost run Thus writ about This out then am I done His hoary hairs and grave aspect made way And all gave ear to what he had to say These being met each in his equipage Intend to speak according to their age But wise Old age did with all gravity To childish Childhood give precedency And to the rest his reason mildly told That he was young before he grew so old To do as he each one full soon assents Their method was that of the Elements That each should tell what of himself he knew Both good and bad but yet no more then 's true With heed now stood three ages of frail man To hear the child who crying thus began Childhood Ah me conceiv'd in sin and born with sorrow A nothing here to day and gone to morrow VVhose mean beginning blushing can't reveal But night and darkness must with shame conceal My mothers breeding sickness I will spare Her nine moneths weary burthen not declare To shew her bearing pains I should do wrong To tell those pangs which can't be told by tongue VVith tears into the world I did arrive My mother still did waste as I did thrive Who yet with love and all alacrity Spending was willing to be spent for me With wayward cryes I did disturb her rest Who sought still to appease me with the breast With weary arms she danc'd and By By sung When wrâ—tched I ingrate had done the wrong When infancy was past my childishness Did act â—ll folly that it could express My silliness did only take delight In that which riper age did scorn and slight In Rattles Baubles and such toyish stuff My then ambitious thoughts were low enough
the seven a Monarch chosen be All envy to avoid this was thought on Upon a green to meet by rising sun And he whose horse before the rest should neigh Of all the Peers should have precedency They all attend on the appointed hour Praying to fortune for a kingly power Then mounting on their snorting coursers proud Darius lusty Stallion neigh'd full loud The Nobles all alight bow to their King And joyfull acclamations shrill they ring A thousand times long live the King they cry Let Tyranny with dead Cambises dye Then all attend him to his royall room Thanks for all this to 's crafty stable groom Darius Hystaspes Darius by election made a King His title to make strong omits no thing He two of Cyrus daughters then doth wed Two of his Neeces takes to Nuptial bed By which he cuts their hopes for future time That by such steps to Kingdomes often clime And now a King â—y mariage choice and blood Three strings to 's bow the least of which is good Yet firmly more the peoples hearts to bind Made wholsome gentle laws which pleas'd each mind His courtesie and assability Much gain'd the hearts of his nobility Yet notwithstanding all he did so well The Babylonians ' gainst their prince rebell An host he rais'd the city to reduce But men against those walls wore of no use Then brave Zopirus for his masters good His manly face disfigures spares no blood With his own hands cutts off his ears and nose And with a faithfull fraud to th' town he goes tells them how harshly the proud king had dealt That for their sakes his cruelty he felt Desiring of the Prince to raise the siege This violence was done him by his Liege This told for entrance he stood not long For they believ'd his nose more then his tongue With all the city's strength they him betrust If he command obey the greatest must When opportunity he saw was sit Delivers up the town and all in it To loose a nose to win a town 's no shame But who dares venture such a stake for th' game Then thy disgrace thine honour 's manifold Who doth deserve a statue made of gold Nor can Darius in his Monarchy Scarce find enough to thank thy I yalty Yet o're thy glory we must cast this vail Thy craft more then thy valour did prevail Darius in the second of his reign An Edict for the â—ews publishâ—d again The Temple to rebuild for that did rest Since Cyrus time Cambises did molest He like a King now grants a Charter large Out of his own revennues bears the charge Gives Sacrifices wheat wine oyle and salt Threats punishment to him that through default Shall let the work or keep back any thing Of what is freely granted by the King And on all Kings he poures out Execrations That shall once dare to rase those firm foundations They thus backt by the King in spight of foes Built on and prosper'd till their house they close And in the sixth year of his friendly reign Set up a Temple though a less again Darius on the Scythians maâ—e a war Entring that larg and barren Country far A Bridge he made which serv'd for boat barge O're Ister fair with labour and with charge But in that desert ' mongst his barbarous foes Sharp wants not swords his valour did oppose His Army fought with hunger and with cold Which to assail his royal Camp was bold By these alone his host was pincht so sore He warr'd defensive not offensive more The Salvages did laugh at his distress Their minâ—â—s by Hiroglyphicks they express A Frog a Mouse a bird an arrow sent The King will needs interpret their intent Possession of water earth and air But wise Gobâ—â—as reads not half so fair Quoth he like frogs in water we must dive Or like to mice unâ—er the earth must live Or fly like birds in unâ—nown wayes full quick Or Scythian arrows in our sides must stick The King seeing his men and victual spent This fruitless war beg place to repent Return'd with little honour and less gain His enemies scarce seen then much less slain He after this intends Greece to invade But troubles in less Asia him staid Which husht he straight so orders his affairs For Atâ—aâ—a an army he prepares But as before so now with ill success Return'd with wondrous loss and honourless Athens perceiving now their desperate state Arm'd all they could which eleven thousand made By brave Miltiades their chief being lâ—d Darius multitudes before them fled At Marathon this bloudy field was fought Where Grecians prov'd themselves right souldiers stout Tho Persians to their gallies post with speed Where an Athenian shew'd a valiant deed Pursues his flying foes then on the sand He stayes a lanching gally with his hand Which soon cut off inrag'd he with his left Renews his hold and when of that bereft His whetted teeth he claps in the firm wood Off flyes his head down showres his frolick bloud Go Persians carry home that angry piece As the best Trophe which ye won in Greece Darius light yet heavy home returns And for revenge his heart still restless burnes His Queen Atossa Author of this stirr For Grecian maids 't is said to wait on her She lost her aim her Husband he lost more His men his coyne his honour and his store And the ensuing year ended his Life T is thought through grief of this successless strife Thirty six years this noble Prince did reign Then to his second Son did all remain Xerxes Xerxes Darius and Atossa's Son Grand child to Cyrus now sits on the Throne His eldest brother put beside the place Because this was first born of Cyrus race His Father not so full of lenity As was his Son of pride and cruelty He with his Crown receives a double war The Egyptians to reduce and Greece to marr The first begun and finish'd in such haste None write by whom nor how 't was over past But for the last he made such preparation As if to dust he meant to grinde that nation Yet all his men and Instruments of slaughter Produced but deriâ—ion and laughter Sage Artabanus Counsel had he taken And 's Couzen young Mardonius forsaken His Souldiers credit wealth at home had staid And Greece such wondrous triumphs ne'r had made The first dehorts and layes before his eyes His Fathers ill success in 's enterprize Against the Scythians and Grecians too What Infamy to 's honour did accrew Flatt'ring Mardonius on the other side With conquest of all Europe feeds his pride Vain Xerxes thinks his counsel hath most wit That his ambitious humour best can fit And by this choice unwarily posts on To present loss future subversion Although be hasted yet four years was spent In great provisions for this great intent His Army of all Nations was compounded That the vast Persian government surrounded His Foot was seventeen hundred thousand strong Eight hundred thousand horses to these
thousands else admire you in each Tittle â— W. Vpon the Author by a known Friend NOw I believe Tradition which doth call The Muses Virtues Graces Females all Only they are not nine eleven nor three Our Auth ' râ—ss proves them but one unity Mankind take up some blushes on the score Monopolize perfection no more In your own Arts confess your selves out-done The Moon hath totally eclips'd the Sun Not with her sable Mantle mufflâ—ng him But her bright silver makes his golâ— loâ—k aim Just as his beams force our paâ— lamps to wiâ—k And earthly Fires within their ashes shrink B. W. I cannot wonder at Apollo now That he with Female Laurel crown'd his brow That made him witty had I leave to chose My Verse should be a page unto your Muse C. B. In praise of the Author Mistris Anne Bradstreet Virtues true and lively Pattern Wife of the Worshipfull Simon Bradstreet Esq At present residing in the Occidental parts of the World in America Alias NOV-ANGLIA WHat golden splendent STAR is this so bright One thousand Mileâ—â—wice told both day and night From th' Orient first sprung now from the West That shines swift-winged Phoebus and the rest Of all Jove's fiery flames surmounting far As doth each Planet every falling Star By whose divine and lucid light most clear Natures dark secret mysteryes appear Heavens Earths admired wonders noble acts Of Kings and Princes most heroick facts And what e're else in darkness seem'd to dye Revives all things so obvious now to th' eye That he who these its glittering rayes views o're Shall see what 's done in all the world before N. H. Upon the Author 'TWere extream folly should I dare attempt To praise this Authors worth with complement None but her self must dare commend her parts Whose sublime brain 's the Synopsis of Arts. Nature and skill here both in one agree To frame this Master-piece of Poetry False Fame belye their Sex no more it can Surpass or parallel the best of Man C. B. Another to Mrs. Anne Bradstreet Author of this Poem I 'Ve read your Poem Lady and admire Your Sex to such a pitch should e're aspire Go on to write continue to relate New Historyes of Monarchy and State And what the Romans to their Poets gave Be sure such honour and esteem you 'l have H. S. An Anagram Anna Bradestreate Deer neat An Bartas So Bartas like thy fine spun Poems been That Bartas name will prove an Epicene Another Anne Bradstreate Artes bred neat An. VPON Mrs. Anne Bradstreet Her Poems c. MADAM twice through the Muses Grove I walkt Under your blissfull bowres I shrowding there It seem'd with Nymphs of Helicon I talkt For there those sweet-lip'd Sisters sporting were Apollo with his sacred Lute sate by On high they made their heavenly Sonnets flye Posies around they strow'd of sweetest Poesie 2 Twice have I drunk the Nectar of your lines Which high sublim'd my mean born phantasie Flusht with these streams of your Maronean wines Above my self rapt to an extasie Methought I was upon mount Hiblas top There where I might those fragranâ— flowers lop Whence did sweet odors flow and honey spangles drop 3 To Venâ—s shrine no Altars raised are Nor venom'd shafts from painted quiver sly Nor wanton Doves of Aphrodites Carr Or fluttering there nor here forlornly lie Lorne Paramours not chatting birds tell news How sage Apollo Daphne hot pursues Or stately Jove himself is wont to haunt the stews 4 Nor barking Satyrs breath nor driety clouds Exhal'd from Styx their dismal drops distil Within these Fairy flowry fields nor shrouds The screeching night Raven with his shady quill But Lyrick strings here Orpheus nimbly hitts Orion on his sadled Dolphin sits Chanting as every humour age season fits 5 Here silver swans with Nightingales set spells Which sweetly charm the Traveller and raise Earths earthed Monarchs from their hidden Cells And to appearance summons lapsed dayes There heav'nly air becalms the swelling frayes And fury fell of Elements allayes By paying every one due tribute of his praise 6 This seem'd the Scite of all those verdant vales And purled springs whereat the Nymphs do play With lofty hills where Poets rear their tales To heavenly vaults which heav'nly sound repay By ecchoes sweet rebound here Ladyes kiss Circling nor songs nor dances circle miss But whilst those Syrens sung I sunk in sea of bliss 7 Thus weltring in delight my virgin mind Admits a rape truth still lyeâ— undiscri'd It s singular that plural seem'd I find 'T was Fancies glass alone that multipli'd Nature with Art so closely did combine I thought I saw the Muses trebble trine Which prov'd your lonely Muse superiour to the nine 8 Your only hand those Poesies did compose Your head the source whence all those springs did flow Your voice whence changes sweetest notes arose Your feet that kept the dance alone I trow Then vail your bonnets Poetasters all Strike lower amain and at these humbly fall And deem your selves advanc'd to be her Pedestal 9 Should all with lowly Congies Laurelâ— bring Waste Floraes Magazine to find a wreathe Or Pineus Banks 't were too mean offering Your Muse a fairer Garland doth bequeath To guard your fairer front here 't is your name Shall stand immarbled this your little frame Shall great Colossus be to your eternal fame I 'le please my self though I my self disgrace What errors here be found are in Errataes place J. Rogers To her most Honoured Father Thomas Dudley Esq these humbly presented DEar Sir of late delighted with the sight T. D. On the four parts of the world Of your four Sisters cloth'd in black and white Of fairer Dames the Sun ne'r saw the face Though made a pedestal for Adams Race Their worth so shines in those rich lines you show Their paralels to finde I scarcely know To climbe their Climes I have nor strength nor skill To mount so high requires an Eagles quill Yet view thereof did cause my thoughts to soar My lowly pen might wait upon those four I bring my four times four now meanly clad To do their homage unto yours full glad Who for their Age their worth and quality Might seem of yours to claim precedency But by my humble hand thus rudely pen'd They are your bounden handmaids to attend These same are they from whom we being have These are of all the Life the Nurse the Grave These are the hot the cold the moist the dry That sink that swim that fill that upwards fly Of these consists our bodies Cloathes and Food The World the useful hurtful and the good Sweet harmony they keep yet jar oft times Their discord doth appear by these harâ—h rimes Yours did contest for wealth for Arâ—s for Age My first do shew their good and then their rage My other foures do intermixed tell Each others faults and where themselves excell How hot and dry contend with moist and cold How Air and Earth no correspondence hold
so vanquish them by flight For tumult in the night doth cause most dread And weakness of a Foe is covered But he disdain'd to steal a victory The Sun should witness of his valour be And careless in his bed next morne he lyes By Captains twice is call'd before hee 'l rise The Armyes joyn'd a while the Peâ—sians â—â—ght And spilt the Greeks some bloud before their flight But long they stood not e're they 're forc'd to run So made an end As soon as well begun Forty five thousand Alexander had But is not known what slaughter here was made Some write th' other had a million some more But Quintus Curtius as before At Arbela this victory was gain'd Together with the Town also obtain'd Darius stript of all to Media came Accompan'ed with sorrow fear and shame At Arbela left his Ornaments and Treasure Which Alexander deals as suits his pleasure This conqueror to Babylon then goes Is entertain'd with joy and pompous showes With showrs of flours the streets along are strown And incense burnt the silver Altars on The glory of the Castle he admires The strong Foundation and the lofty Spires In this a world of gold and Treasure lay Which in few hours was carried all away With greedy eyes he views this City rouâ—â— Whose fame throughout the world was so 〈◊〉 And to possess he counts no little bliss The towres and bowres of proud Semiramis Though worne by time and rac'd by foes full sore Yet old foundations shew'd and somewhat more With all the pleasures that on earth are found This city did abundantly abound Where four and thirty dayes he now did stay And gave himself to banqueting and play He and his souldiers wax effeminate And former discipline begin to hate Whilst revelling at Babylon he lyes Antipater from Greece sends fresh supplyes He then to Shushan goes with his new bands But needs no force t is rendred to his hands He likewise here a world of treasure found For 't was the seat of Persian Kings renownâ—d Here stood the royal Houses of delight Where Kings have shown their glory wealth and might The sumptuous palace of Queen Esther here And of good Mordicai her kinsman dear Those purple hangings mixt with green and white Those beds of gold and couches of delight And furniture the richest in all lands Now fall into the Macedonians hands From Shushan to Persipolis he goes Which news doth still augment Darius woes In his approach the governour sends word For his receipt with joy they all accord With open gates the wealthy town did stand And all in it was at his high command Of all the Cities that on earth was found None like to this in riches did abound Though Babyâ—on was rich and Shushan too Yet to compare with this they might not doe Here lay the bulk of all those precious things That did pertain unto the Persian Kings For when the souldiers rifled had their pleasure And taken money plate and golden treasure Statues some gold and silver numberless Yet after all as storyes do express The share of Alexander did amount To an hundred thousand talents by account Here of his own he sets a Garison As first at Shushan and at Babylon On their old Governours titles he laid But on their faithfulness he never staid Their place gave to his Captains as was just For such revolters false what King can trust The riches and the pleasures of this town Now makes this King his virtues all to drown That wallowing in all licentiousness In pride and cruelty to high excess Being inflam'd with wine upon a season Filled with madness and quite void of reason He at a bold proud strumpets leud desire Commands to set this goodly town on fire Parmenio wise intreats him to desist And layes before his eyes if he persist His fames dishonour loss unto his state And just procuring of the Persians hate But deaf to reason bent to have his will Those stately streets with raging flame did fill Then to Darius he directs his way Who was retir'd as far as Media Anâ— there with sorrows fears cares surrounded Haâ— now his army fourth and last compounded Which forty thousand made but his intent Was these in Bactria soon to augment But hearing Alâ—xander was so near Thought now this once to try his fortunes here And rather chose an honourable death Then still with infamy to draw his breath But Bâ—ssus false who was his chief Commander Perswades him not to fight with Alexander With sage advice he sets before his eyes The little hope of profit like to rise If when he 'd multitudes the day he lost Then with so fow how likely to be crost This counsel for his safety he pretended But to deliver him to 's foe intended Next day this treason to Darius known Transported sore with grief and passion Grinding his teeth and plucking off his hair Sate overwhelm'd with sorrow and dispair Then bids his servant Artahasus true Look to himself and leave him to that crew Who was of hopes and comforts quite bereft And by his guard and Servitors all left Straight Bessus comes with his trait'rous hands Layes hold on 's Lord and binding him with bands Throws him into a Cart covered with hides Who wanting means t' resist these wrongs abides Then draws the cart along with chains of gold In more despight the thraled prince to hold And thus t'ward Alexander on he goes Great recompence for this he did propose But some detesting this his wicked fact To Alexander flyes and tells this act Who doubling of his march posts on amain Darius from that traitors hands to gain Bessus gets knowledg his disloyalty Had Alexanders wrath incensed high Whose army now was almost within sight His hopes being dasht prepares himself for â—light Unto Darius first he brings a horse And bids him save himself by speedy course The wofull King his courtesie refuses Whom thus the execrable wretch abuses By throwing darts gave him his mortal wound Then slew his Servants that were faithfull found Yea wounds the beasts that drew him unto death And leaves him thus to gasp out his last breath Bessus his partner in this tragedy Was the false Governour of Media This done they with their host soon speed away To hide themselves remote in Bactria Darius bath'd in blood sends out his groans Invokes the heav'ns and earth to hear his moans His lost felicity did grieve him sore But this unheard of treachery much more But above all that neither Ear nor Eye Should hear nor see his dying misery As thus he lay Polistrates a Greek Wearied with his long march did water seek So chanc'd these bloudy Horses to espy Whose wounds had made their skins of purple dye To them repairs then looking in the Cart Finds poor Darius pierced to the heart Who not a little chear'd to have some eye The witness of this horrid Tragedy Prays him to Alexander to commend The just revenge of this his woful end