wrath is little When thousands else admire you in each tittle â— W. Upon the Author by a knowne Friend NOw I beleeve Tradition which doth call The Muses Vertues Graces Females all Only they are not nine eleaven nor three Our Authresse proves them but one unity Mankind take up some blushes on the score Menopolize perfection no more In your owne Arts confesse your selves out-done The Moone hath totally ecclips'd the Sun Not with her sable mantle mufling him But her bright silver makes his gold looke dim Just as his beams force our pale Lamps to winke And earthly Fires within their ashes shrinke I cannot wonder at Apollo now That he with Female Lawrell crown'd his brow That made him witty had I leave to chuse My Verse should be a Page unto your Muse C. B. ARme arme Soldado's arme Horse Horse speed to your Horses Gentle-women make head they vent their plots in Verses They write of Monarchies a most seditious word It signifies Oppression Tyranny and Sword March amain to London they 'l rise for there they flock But stay a while they seldome rise till ten a clock R. Q. In praise of the Author Mistris Anne Bradstreet Vertue 's true and lively Patterne Wife of the Worshipfull Simon Bradstreet Esquire At present residing in the Occidentall parts of the World in America alias NOV-ANGLIA VVHat Golden splendent STAR is this so bright One thousand miles thrice told both day and night From th' Orient first sprung now from the West That shines swift-winged Phoebus and the rest Of all Joves fiery stames surmounting far As doth each Planet every falling Star By whose divine and lucid light most cleare Natures darke secret Mysteries appeare Heaven's Earths admired wonders noble acts Of Kings and Princes most heroick facts And what e're else in darknes seem'd to dye Revives all things so obvious now to th' eye That he who these its glittering Rayes viewes o're Shall see what 's done in all the world before N. H. Upon the Author T Were extreame 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 Skil here both in one agree To frame this Master-peice of Poetry False Fame belye their Sex no more it can Surpasse or parallel the best of man C. B. Another to M ris Anne Bradstreete Author of this Poem I 'Ve read your Poem Lady and admire Your Sex to such a pitch should e're aspire Goe on to write continue to relate New Histories of Monarchy and State And what the Romans to their Poets gave Be sure such honour and esteeme 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 To her most Honoured Father Thomas Dudley Esq these humbly presented DEare Sir of late delighted with the sight Of your T D. on the four parts of the world sour sisters deckt in black white Of fairer Dames the sun near saw the face though made a pedestall for Adams Race Their worth so shines in those rich lines you show Their paralells to find 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 soare My lowly pen might wait upon those four I bring my four and four now meanly clad To do their homage unto yours most glad Who for their age their worth and quality Might seem of yours to claime precedency But by my humble hand thus rudely pen'd They are your bounden handmaids to attend These same are they of 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 sinke that swim that fill that upwards flye Of these consists our bodyes cloathes and food The world the usefull hurtfull and the good Sweet harmony they keep yet jar oft times Their discord may appear by these harsh rimes Yours did contest for Wealth for Arts for Age My first do shew their good and then their rage My other four do intermixed tell Each others faults and where themselves excell How hot and dry contend with moist and cold How Aire and Earth no correspondence hold And yet in equall tempers how they gree How divers natures make one unity Some thing of all though mean I did intend But fear'd you 'ld judge one 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 theife but with his due I shall not need my 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 selfe more duty owes Then waters in the boundlesse Ocean flowes ANNE BRADSTREET THE PROLOGUE 1. TO sing of Wars of Captaines and of Kings Of Cities founded Common-wealths begun For my mean Pen are too superiour things And how they all or each their dates have run Let Poets and Historians set these forth My obscure Verse shal not so dim their worth 2. But when my wondring eyes and envious heart Great Bartas sugar'd lines doe but read o're Foole I doe grudge the Muses did not part 'Twixt him and me that over-fluent store A Bartas can doe what a Bartas wil But simple I according to my skill 3. From School-boyes tongue no Rhethorick we expect Nor yet a sweet Consort from broken strings Nor perfect beauty where 's a maine 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 speake afterwards more plaine By Art he gladly found what he did seeke A full requitall of his striving paine Art can doe much but this maxime's most sure A weake or wounded braine admits no cure 5. Iam obnoxious to each carping tongue Who sayes my hand a needle better fits A Poets Pen all scorne I should thus wrong For such despight they cast on female wits If what I doe prove well it wo'nt advance They 'l say its stolne or else it was by chance 6. But sure the antick Greeks were far more milde Else of our Sex why feigned they those nine And poesy made Calliope's owne childe So ' mongst the rest they plac'd the Arts divine But this weake knot they will full soone untye The Greeks did nought but play the foole and lye 7. Let Greeks be Greeks and Women what they are Men have precedency and still excell It is but vaine unjustly to wage war Men can doe best and Women know it well Preheminence in each and all is yours Yet grant some
small acknowledgement of ours 8. And oh ye high flown quils that soare the skies And ever with your prey still catch your praise If e're you daigne these lowly lines your eyes Give wholsome Parsley wreath I aske no Bayes This meane and unrefined stuffe of mine Will make your glistering gold but more to shine A. B. The Foure Elements FIre Aire Earth and Water did all contest which was the strongest noblest the best Who the most good could shew who most rage For to declare themselves they all ingage And in due order each her turne should speake But enmity this amity did breake All would be cheife and all scorn'd to be under Whence issu'd raines and winds lightning and thunder The quaking Earth did groan the skie look't black The Fire the forced Aire in sunder crack The sea did threat the heavens the heavens the earth All looked like a Chaos or new birth Fire broyled Earth and scorched Earth it choaked Both by their darings Water so provoked That roaring in it came and with its source Soone made the combatants abate their force The rumbling hissing puffing was so great The worlds confusion it did seeme to threat But Aire at length contention so abated That betwixt hot and cold she arbitrated The others enmity being lesse did cease All stormes now laid and they in perfect peace That Fire should first begin the rest consent Being the most impatient Element Fire WHat is my worth both ye and all things know Where little is I can but little show But what I am let learned Grecians say What I can doe well skill'd Mechanicks may The benefit all Beings by me finde Come first ye Artists and declare your minde What toole was ever fram'd but by my might O Martialist what weapon for your fight To try your valour by but it must feele My force your sword your Pike your flint and steele Your Cannon's bootlesse and your powder too Without mine ayd alas what can they doe The adverse wall 's not shak'd the Mine's not blowne And in despight the City keeps her owne But I with one Granado or Petard Set ope those gates that 'fore so strong was barr'd Ye Husband-men your coulter's made by me Your shares your mattocks and what e're you see Subdue the earth and fit it for your graine That so in time it might requite your paine Though strong limb'd Vulcan forg'd it by his skill I mâ—â—e it flexible unto his will Ye Cooks your kitchin implements I fram'd Your spits pots jacks what else I need not name Your dainty food I wholsome make I warme Your shrinking limbs which winters cold doth harme Ye Paracelsians too in vaine's your skil In chymestry unlesse I help you Stil And you Philosophers if ere you made A transmutation it was through mine aide 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 Celestiall fires The Sun an Orbe of Fire was held of old Our Sages new another tale have told But be he what they list yet his aspect A burning fiery heat we find reflect And of the selfe same nature is with mine Good sister Earth no witnesse needs but thine How doth his warmth refresh thy frozen backs And trim thee gay in green after thy blacks Both man and beast rejoyce at his approach And birds do sing to see his glittering Coach And though nought but Sal'manders live in fire The Flye Pyrausta cal'd all â—else expire Yet men and beasts Astronomers can tell Fixed in heavenly constellations dwell My Planets of both Sexes whose degree Poor Heathen judg'd worthy a Diety With Orion arm'd attended by his dog The Theban stout Alcides with his club The Valiant Perseus who Medusa slew The Horse that kill'd Bellerophon then flew My Crabbe my Scorpion fishes you may see The maid with ballance wayn with horses three The Ram the Bull the Lyon and the Beagle The Bear the Goate the Raven and the Eagle The Crown the Whale the Archer Bernice Hare The Hidra Dolphin Boys that waters bear Nay more then these Rivers ' mongst stars are found Eridanus 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 wisdom out of little gathers much I le here let passe my Choler cause of warres And influence of divers of those starres When in conjunction with the sun yet more Augment his heat which was too hot before The Summer ripening season I do claime And man from thirty unto fifty frame Of old when Sacrifices were divine I of acceptance was the holy signe 'Mong all my wonders which I might recount There 's none more strange then Aetna's sulphery mount The choaking flames that from Vesuvius flew The over-curious second Pliny slew And with the ashes that it sometimes shed Apulia's jacent parts were covered And though I be a servant to each man Yet by my force master my master can What famous Townes to cinders have I turn'd What lasting Forts my kindleed wrath hath burn'd The stately seats of mighty Kings by me In confus'd heaps of ashes may ye see Where 's Ninus great wal'd Town and Troy of old Carthage and hundred moeâ— in stories told Which when they could not be o're come by foes The Army through my helpe victorious rose Old sacred Zion I demolish'd thee So great Diana's Temple was by me And more then bruitish Sodome for her lust With neighbouring Townes I did consume to dust What shal I say of Lightning and of Thunder Which Kings and mighty ones amaz'd with wonder Which made a Caesar Romes the worlds proud head Foolish Caligula creep under 's bed Of Metors Ignis Fatuus and the rest But to leave those to 'th wise I judge is best The rich I oft make poore the strong I maime Not sparing life when I can take the same And in a word the World I shal consume And all therein at that great day of doome Not before then shal cease my raging ire And then because no matter more for fire Now Sisters pray proceed each in her course As I impart your usefulnesse and force Earth THe next in place Earth judg'd to be her due Sister in worth I come not short of you In wealth and use I doe surpasse you all And Mother Earth of old men did me call Such was my fruitfulnesse an Epithite Which none ere gave nor you could claime of right Among my praises this I count not least I am th' originall of man and beast To tell what sundry fruits my fat soyle yeelds In vine-yards orchards gardens and corne fields Their kinds their tasts their colours and their smels Would so passe time I could say nothing else The rich and poore wise foole and every sort Of these so common things can make report To tell you of my Countries and my regions Soone
crafty Barbell whose wit doth her commend With thousands moe 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 shell-fish yeelds as Pliny clears Was ever gem so rich found in thy trunke As Aegypts wanton Cleopatra drunke Or hast thou any colour can come nigh The Roman Purple double Tirian dye Which Caesars Consuls Tribunes all adorne For it to search my waves they thought no scorne Thy gallant rich perfuming Amber-greece I lightly cast a shoare as frothy fleece With rowling graines of purest massy gold Which Spaines Americans do gladly hold Earth thou hast not more Countrys Vales and Moundâ— Then I have Fountaines Rivers Lakes and Ponds My sundry Seas Black VVhite and Adriatique Ionian Balticke and the vast Atlantique The Ponticke Caspian Golden Rivers fine Asphaltis Lake where nought remains alive But I should go beyond thee in thy boasts If I should shew more Seas then thou hast Coasts But note this maxime in Philosophy Then Seas are deep Mountains are never high To speake of kinds of VVaters I 'le neglect My divers Fountaines and their strange effect My wholesome Bathes together with their cures My water Syrens with their guilefull lures Th' uncertain cause of certain ebbs and flowes VVhich wondring Arisâ—oâ—les wit ne'r knowes Nor will I speake of waters made by Art Which can to life restore a fainting heart Nor fruitfull dewes nor drops from weeping eyes VVhich pitty moves and oft deceives the wise Nor yet of Salt and Sugar sweet and smart Both when we list to water we convert Alas thy ships and oares could do no good Did they but want my Ocean and my Flood The wary Merchant on his weary beast Transfers his goods from North and South and East Unlesse I ease his toyle and doe transport The wealthy fraught unto his wished Port. These be my benefits which may suffice I now must shew what force there in me lyes The flegmy constitution I uphold All humours Tumours that are bred of cold O're childehood and Winter I bear the sway Yet Luna for my Regent I obey As I with showers oft time refresh the earth So oft in my excesse I cause a dearth And with aboundant wet so coole the ground By adding cold to cold no fruit proves sound The Farmer and the Plowman both complain Of rotten sheep lean kine and mildew'd grain And with my wasting floods and roaring torrent Their Cattle Hay and Corne I sweep down current Nay many times my Ocean breaks his bounds And with astonishment the world confounds And swallowes Countryes up ne're seen againe And that an Island makes which once was maine Thus Albion t is thought was cut from France Cicily from Italy by th'like chance And but one land was Affriea and Spayne Untill straight Gibralter did make them twaine Some say I swallowed up sure 't is a notion A mighty Country i th' Atlanticke Ocean I need not say much of my Haile and Snow My Ice and extream cold which all men know VVhereof the first so ominous I rain'd That Israels enemies therewith was brain'd And of my chilling colds such plenty be That Caucasus high mounts are seldom free Mine Ice doth glaze Europs big'st Rivers o're Till Sun release their ships can saile no more All know what innundations I have made VVherein not men but mountaines seem'd to wade As when Achaia all under water stood That in two hundred year it ne'r prov'd good Ducalions great deluge with many moe But these are trifles to the Flood of Noe. Then wholly perish'd earths ignoble race And to this day impaires her beautious face That after times shall never feel like woe Her confirm'd sonnes behold my colour'd bow Much might I say of wracks but that I le spare And now give place unto our sister Aire Aire COntent quoth Aire to speake the last of you Though not through ignorance first was my due I doe suppose you 'l yeeld without controle I am the breath of every living soul Mortalls what one of you that loves not me Aboundantly more then my sisters three And though you love Fire Earth and VVater wel Yet Aire beyond all these ye know t' excell I aske the man condemn'd that 's near 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 world thy witching trash were all but vain If my pure Aire thy sonnes did not sustain The famisht thirsty man that craves supply His moveing reason is give least I dye So loath he is to go though nature 's spent To bid a due to his dear Element Nay what are words which doe reveale the mind Speak who or what they will they are but wind Your Drums your Trumpets and your Organs sound VVhat is' t but forced Aire which must rebound And such are Ecchoes and report o' th gun VVhich tells afar th' exployt which he hath done Your songs and pleasant tunes they are the same And so 's the notes which Nightingales do frame Ye forging Smiths if Bellowes once were gone Your red hot work more coldly would go on Ye Mariners t is I that fill your Sailes And speed you to your Port with wished gales VVhen burning heat doth cause you faint I coole And when I smile your Ocean 's like a Poole I ripe the corne I turne the grinding mill And with my selfe I every vacuum fill The ruddy sweet sanguine is like to Aire And youth and spring sages to me compare My moist hot nature is so purely thinne No place so subtilly 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 turne to water VVhich 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 did or spake or writ Is more authentick then their moderne wit Next of my Fowles such multitudes there are Earths Beasts and VVaters Fish scarce can compare The Ostrich with her plumes th' Eagle with her eyne The Phoenix too if any be are mine The Stork the Crane the Partrich and the Phesant The Pye the Jay the Larke a prey to th' Peasant VVith thousands moe which now I may omit VVithout impeachment to my tale or wit As my fresh Aire preserves all things in life So when 'ts corrupt mortality is rife Then Feavours Purples Pox and Pestilence VVith divers more worke deadly consequence VVhereof such multitudes have dy'd and fled The living scarce had power to bury dead Yea so contagious Countries have me known That birds have not scap'd death as they have flown Of murrain Cattle numberlesse did fall Men
fear'd destruction epidemicall Then of my tempests felt at Sea and Land Which neither ships nor houses could withstand What woeful wracks I 've made may wel appear If nought was known but that before Algire Where famous Charles the fift more losse sustain'd Then in his long hot wars which Millain gain'd How many rich fraught vessells have I split Some upon sands some upon rocks have hit Some have I forc'd to gaine an unknown shoare Some overwelm'd with waves and seen no more Again what tempests and what hericanoes Knowes VVestern Isles Christophers Barbadoes VVhere neither houses trees nor plants I spare But some fall down and some flye up with aire Earth-quaks so hurtful and so fear'd of all Imprisoned I am the original Then what prodigious sights sometimes I show As battells pitcht i th' Aire as Countries know Their joyning fighting forcing and retreat That earth appeares in heaven oh wonder great Sometimes strange flaming swords and blazing stars Portentious signes of Famines Plagues and VVars VVhich makes the mighty Monarchs fear their Fates By death or great mutations of their States I have said lesse then did my sisters three But what 's their worth or force but more 's in me To adde to all I 've said was my intent But dare not go beyond my Element Of the foure Humours in Mans constitution THe former foure now ending their Discourse Ceasing to vaunt their good or threat their force Loe other foure step up crave leave to shew The native qualities that from each 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 Aire Earth knew her black swarth childe Water her faire All having made obeysance to each Mother Had leave to speake succeeding one the other But ' mongst themselves they were at variance Which of the foure should have predominance Choler hotly claim'd right by her mother Who had precedency of all the other But Sanguine did disdaine what she requir'd Pleading her selfe was most of all desir'd Proud Melancholy more envious then the rest The second third or last could not digest She was the silencest of all the foure Her wisedome spake not much but thought the more Cold flegme did not contest for highest place Only she crav'd to have a vacant space Wel thus they parle and chide but to be briefe Or wil they nil they Choler wil be cheife They seeing her imperiosity At present yeelded to necessity Choler TO shew my great descent and pedigree Your selves would judge but vain prolixity It is acknowledged from whence I came It shal suffice to tel you what I am My self and Mother one as you shal see But she in greater I in lesse degree We both once Masculines the world doth know Now Feminines a while for love we owe Unto your Sister-hood which makes us tender Our noble selves in a lesse 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 once grow predominant The man proves boyish sottish ignorant But if ye yeeld sub-servient unto me I make a man a man i' th highest 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 storme a Breach or scale a City wal In dangers to account himself more sure Then timerous Hares whom Castles doe immure Have ye not heard of Worthies Demi-gods 'Twixt them and others what i st makes the odds But valour whence comes that from none of you Nay milk-sops at such brunts you look but blew Here 's Sister Ruddy worth the other two That much wil talk but little dares she do Unlesse to court and claw and dice and drink And there she wil out-bid us all I think She loves a Fiddle better then a Drum A Chamber wel in field she dares not come She 'l ride a Horse as bravely as the best And break a staffe provided't be in jest But shuns to look on wounds and bloud 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 wil nor wil she doe But peevish Male-content musing she sits And by misprisions like to loose her wits If great perswasions cause her meet her foe In her dul resolution she 's slow To march her pace to some is greater pain Then by a quick encounter to be slaine But be she beaten she 'l not run away She 'l first advise if 't be not best to stay But let 's give cold white Sister Flegme her right So loving unto all she scornes to fight If any threaten her she 'l in a trice Convert from water to conjealed Ice Her teeth wil chatter dead and wan's her face And 'fore she be assaulted quits the place She dare not challenge if I speake amisse Nor hath she wit or heat to blush at this Here 's three of you all sees now what you are Then yeeld to me preheminence in War Again who fits for learning science Arts Who rarifies the intellectuall parts Whence flow fine spirits and witty notions Not from our dul slow Sisters motions Nor sister Sanguine from thy moderate heat Poor spirits the Liver breeds which is thy seat What comes from thence my heat refines the same And through the arteries sends o're the frame The vitall spirits they 're call'd and wel they may For when they faile man turnes unto his clay The Animal I claime as wel as these The nerves should I not warm soon would they freeze But Flegme her self is now provok'd at this She thinks I never shot so farre amisse The Brain she challenges the Head 's her seat But know'ts a foolish brain that wanteth heat My absence proves it plain her wit then flyes Out at her nose or melteth at her eyes Oh who would misse this influence of thine To be distill'd a drop on every line No no thou hast no spirits thy company Wil feed a Dropsie or a Timpany The Palsie Gout or Cramp or some such dolor Thou wast not made for Souldier or for Schollar Of greasie paunch and palled cheeks go vaunt But a good head from these are disonant But Melancholy wouldst have this glory thine Thou sayst thy wits are stai'd subtle and fine T is true when I am midwife to thy birth Thy self 's as dul as is thy mother Earth Thou canst not claime the Liver Head nor Heart Yet hast thy seat assign'd a goodly part The sinke of all us three the hatefull spleen Of that black region Nature made thee Queen Where paine and sore obstructions thou dost work Where envy malice thy companions lurke If once thou' rt great what followes thereupon But bodies wasting and destruction So
said was instability And too much talk both which I do confesse A warning good hereafter I 'le say lesse Let 's now be freinds 't is time our spight was spent Lest we too late this rashnesse do repent Such premises wil force a sad conclusion Unlesse we 'gree all fals into confusion Let Sanguine Choier with her hot hand hold To take her moyst my moistnesse wil be bold My cold cold Melanchollies hand shal clasp Her dry dry Choler 's other hand shal grasp Two hot two moist two cold two dry here be A golden Ring the Posey Unity Nor jars nor scoffs let none hereafter see But all admire our perfect amity Nor be discern'd here 's water earth aire fire But here 's a compact body whole entire This loving counsel pleas'd them all so wel That Flegme was judg'd for kindnesse to excel The Four Ages of Man LOe now four other acts upon the stage Childhood and Youth the Manly and Old-age The first son unto Flegme grand-child to water Unstable supple moist and cold's his Naure The second frolick claimes his pedigree From blood and aire for hot and moist is he The third of fire and choler is compos'd Vindicative and quarelsome dispos'd The last of earth and heavy melancholly Solid hating all lightnesse and al folly Childhood was cloath'd in white and given to show His spring was intermixed with some snow Upon his head a Garland Nature set Of Dazy Primrose and the Violet Such cold mean flowers as these blossome betime Before the Sun hath throughly warm'd the clime His hobby striding did not ride but run And in his hand an hour-glasse new begun In dangers every moment of a fall And when t is broke then ends his life and all But if he hold til it have run its last Then may he live til threescore years or past Next youth came up in gorgeous attire As that fond age doth most of al desire His Suit of Crimson and his Scarfe of Green In 's countenance his pride quickly was seen Garland of Roses Pinks and Gilliflowers Seemed to grow on 's head bedew'd with showers His face as fresh as is Aurora faire When blushing first she 'gins to red the Aire No wooden horse but one of mettal try'd He seems to flye or swim and not to ride Then prauncing on the Stage about he wheels But as he went death waited at his heeles The next came up in a more 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 Autumne fruits a basket on his arme His golden god in 's purse which was his charm And last of al to act upon this Stage Leaning upon his staffe comes up old age Under his arme a Sheafe of wheat he bore A Harvest of the best what needs he more In 's other hand a glasse ev'n almost run This writ about This out then I am done His hoary haires and grave aspect made way And al gave eare 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 the rest ful soon assents Their method was that of the Elements That each should tel what of himselfe he knew Both good and bad but yet no more then 's true With heed now stood three ages of fraile man To hear the child who crying thus began Childhood AH me conceiv'd in sin and born in sorrow A nothing here to day but gone to morrow Whose mean beginning blushing cann't reveale But night and darkenesse must with shame conceal My mothers breeding sicknes I will spare Her nine months weary burden not declare To shew her bearing pangs I should do wrong To tel that paine which cann't be told by tongue With tears into this world I did arrive My mother stil 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 disturbe her rest Who sought stil to appease me with her brest With weary armes she danc'd and By By sung When wretched I ungrate had done the wrong When Infancy was past my Childishnesse Did act al folly that it could expresse My sillinesse did only take delight In that which riper age did scorn and slight In Rattles Bables and such toyish stuffe My then ambitious thoughts were low enough My high-borne soule so straitly was confin'd That its own worth it did not know nor mind This little house of flesh did spacious count Through ignorance all troubles did surmount Yet this advantage had mine ignorance Freedome from Envy and from Arrogance How to be rich or great I did not carke A Baron or a Duke ne'r made my mark Nor studious was Kings favours how to buy With costly presents or base flattery No office coveted wherein I might Make strong my selfe and turne aside weak right No malice bare to this or that great Peer Nor unto buzzing whisperors gave ear I gave no hand nor vote for death or life I 'd nought to do 'twixt Prince and peoples strife No Statist I nor Marti'list i' th' field Where e're I went mine innocence was shield My quarrells not for Diadems did rise But for an Apple Plumbe or some such prize My stroks did cause no death nor wounds nor skars My little wrath did cease soon as my wars My duel was no challenge nor did seek My foe should weltering with his bowels reek I had no Suits at law neighbours to vex Nor evidence for land did me perplex I fear'd no stormes nor al the windes that blows I had no ships at Sea no fraughts to loose I fear'd no drought nor wet I had no crop Nor yet on future things did place my hope This was mine innocence but oh the seeds Lay raked up of all the cursed weeds Which sprouted forth in my insuing age As he can tell that next comes on the stage But yet let me relate before I go The sins and dangers I am subject to From birth stayned with Adams sinfull fact From thence I 'gan to sin as soon as act A perverse will a love to what 's forbid A serpents sling in pleasing face lay hid A lying tongue as soon as it could speak And fift Commandement do daily break Oft stubborn peevish sullen pout and cry Then nought can please and yet I know not why As many was my sins so dangers too For sin brings sorrow sicknesse death and woe And though I misse the tossings of the mind Yet griefs in my fraile flesh I still do find What gripes of wind mine infancy did pain What tortures I in breeding teeth sustain What crudities my cold stomach hath bred Whence vomits wormes and flux have issued What breaches knocks and falls I
not so white a face The Carter leads all home with whistling voyce He plow'd with pain but reaping doth rejoyce His sweat his toyl his careful wakeful nights His fruitful crop abundantly requites Now 's ripe the Pear Pear-plumbe and Apricock The Prince of Plumbs whose stone is hard as Rock The Summer 's short the beauteous Autumne hastes To shake his fruit of most delicious tastes Like good Old Age whose younger juycie roots Hath stil ascended up in goodly Fruits Until his head be gray and strength be gone Yet then appears the worthy deeds he 'ath done To feed his boughes exhausted hath his sap Then drops his Fruits into the Eaters lap Autumne OF Autumne months September is the prime Now day and night are equal in each clime The tenth of this Sol riseth in the Line And doth in poyzing Libra this month shine The Vintage now is ripe the Grapes are prest Whose lively liquor oft is curst and blest For nought's so good but it may be abused But it s a precious juyce when wel it 's used The Raisins now in clusters dryed be The Orange Lemon Dangle on the tree The Figge is ripe the Pomgranet also And Apples now their yellow sides do show Of Medlar Quince of Warden and of Peach The season 's now at hand of all and each Sure at this time Time first of all began And in this month was made apostate man For then in Eden was not only seen Boughs full of leaves or fruits but raw and green Or withered stocks all dry and dead But trees with goodly fruits replenished Which shewes nor Summer Winter nor the Spring Great Adam was of Paradice made King October is my next we heare in this The Northern Winter blasts begin to hisse In Scorpio resideth now the Sun And his declining heat is almost done The fruitful trees all withered now do stand Whose yellow saplesse leaves by winds are fann'd Which notes when youth and strength have past their prime Decrepit age must also have its time The sap doth slily creep towards the earth There rests untill the Sun give it a birth So doth Old Age stil tend unto his Grave Where also he his Winter time must have But when the Son of Righteousnesse drawes nigh His dead old stock again shall mount on high November is my last for time doth haste We now of Winters sharpnesse 'gin to taste This month 's the Sun in Sagitarius So farre remote his glances warm not us Almost at shortest is the shortned day The Northern Pole beholdeth not one ray Now Green-land Groen-land Lap-land Fin-land see No Sun to lighten their obscurity Poor wretches that in total darknesse lye With minds more dark then is the darkned sky This month is timber for all uses fell'd When cold the sap to th' roots hath low'st repell'd Beef Brawn and Pork are now in great'st request And solid'st meats our stomachs can digest This time warm cloaths ful diet and good fires Our pinched flesh and empty panch requires Old cold dry age and earth Autumne resembles And melancholy which most of all dissembles I must be short and short's the shortned day What Winter hath to tel now let him say Winter COld moist young flegmy Winter now doth lye In Swadling clouts like new-born infancy bound up with Frosts and furâ—'d with Haiss and Snows And like an Infant stil he taller growes December is the first and now the Sun To th' Southward tropick his swift race hath run This month he 's hous'd in horned Capricorn From thence he 'gins to length the shortned morn Through Christendome with great festivity Now 's held a Guest but blest Nativity Cold frozen January next comes in Chilling the blood and shrinking up the skin In Aquarias now keeps the loved Sun And North-ward his unwearied race doth run The day much longer then it was before The cold not lessened but augmented more Now toes and eares and fingers often freeze And Travellers sometimes their noses leese Moyst snowie February is my last I care not how the Winter time doth haste In Pisces now the golden Sun doth shine And North-ward stil approaches to the Line The Rivers now do ope and Snows do melt And some warm glances from the Sun are felt Which is increased by the lengthened day Until by 's heat he drives all cold away My Subjects bare my Brains are bad Or better Lines you should have had The first fell in so naturally I could not tell how to passe't by The last though bad I could not mend Accept therefore of what is penn'd And all the faults which you shall spy Shall at your feet for pardon cry Your dutifull Daughter A. B. The Foure Monarchies the Assyrian being the first beginning under Nimrod 131. yeares after the Floud WHen Time was young and World in infancy Man did not strive for Soveraignty But each one thought his petty rule was high If of his house he held the Monarchy This was the Golden Age but after came The boysterous Sons of Cush Grand-child to Ham. That mighty Hunter who in his strong toyls Both Beasts and Men subjected to his spoyls The strong foundation of proud Babel laid Erech Accad and Calneh also made These were his first all stood in Shinar land From thence he went Assyria to command And mighty Ninivie he there begun Nor finished til he his race had run Râ—sea Caleh and Rehoboth likewise By him to Cities eminent did rise Of Saâ—urn he was the original Whom the succeeding times a god did 〈◊〉 When thus with rule he had been dignified One hundred fourteen years he after dyed Bellus GReat Nimrod dead Bellus the next his Son Confirmes the rule his Father had begun Whose acts and power is not for certainty Left to the world by any History But yet this blot for ever on him lyes He taught the people first to Idolize Titles divine he to himself did take Alive and dead a god they did him make This is that Bell the Chaldees worshipped Whose Preists in Stories oft are mentioned This is that Bell to whom the Israelites So oft profanely offered sacred rites This is Belzebub god of Ekronites Likewise Bal-peor of the Moabites His reign was short for as I calculate At twenty five ended his regal dare Ninus HIs father dead Ninus begins his reign Transfers his Seat to the Assyrian plain And mighty Ninivie more mighty made Whose foundation was by his Grand-sire laid Four hundred forty Furlongs wall'd about On which stood fifteen hundred towers stout The walls one hundred sixty foot upright So broad three Chariots run abrest there might Upon the pleasant banks of Tigris flood This stately seat of warlike Ninus stood This Ninus for a god his father canoniz'd To whom the sottish people sacrific'd This Tyrant did his neighbours all oppresse Where e're he warr'd he had too good successe Barzanes the great Armenian King By force his tributary he did bring The Median country he did also gain Pharmus
thy fame shall sound whilst men have sence Yet o're thy glory we must cast this vaile Thy falshood not thy valour did prevaile Thy wit was more then was thine honesty Thou lov'dst thy Master more then verity Darius in the second of his reign An Edict for the Jews publish'd again The temple to re-build for that did rest Since Cyrus time Cambyses did molest He like a King now grants a Charter large Out of his owne revenues beares 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 but dare raze those firme foundations They thus backt of the King in spight of foes Built on and prosper'd till their walls did close And in the sixth yeare of his friendly reign Set up a Temple though a lesse again Darius on the Sythians made a war Entring that large and barren country far A bridge he made which serv'd for boat and barge Over fair Ister at a mighty charge But in that Desart ' mongst his barbarous foes Sharp wants not swords his vallour did oppose His Army fought with Hunger and with Cold Which two then to assaile his Camp was bold By these alone his Hoast was pinch'd so sore He warr'd defensive not offensive more The Salvages did laugh at his distresse Their minds by Hieroglyphicks they expresse A Frog a Mouse a Bird an Arrow sent The King will needs interpret their intent Possession of water earth and aire But wise Gobrias reads not half so farre Quoth he like Frogs in water we must dive Or like to Mice under the earth must live Or fly like birds in unknown wayes full quick Or Sythian arrows in our fides must stick The King seeing his men and victuall spent His fruitlesse war began late to repent Return'd with little honour and lesse gaine His enemies scarce seen then much lesse slaine He after this intends Greece to invade But troubles in lesse Asia him stay'd Which husht he straight so orders his affaires For Attica an Army he prepares But as before so now with ill successe Return'd with wondrous losse and honour lesse Athens perceiving now their desperate state Arm'd all they could which elev'n thousand make By brave Miltiades their chief being led Darius multitude before them fled At Marathon this bloudy field was fought Where Grecians prov'd themselves right Souldiers stout The Persians to their Gallies post with speed Where an Athenian shew'd a valiant deed Pursues his flying-foes and on the strand He stayes a landing Gally with his hand Which soon cut off he with the left Renews his hold but when of that bereft His whetted teeth he sticks in the firm wood Off flyes his head down showres his frolick bloud Go Persians carry home that angry peece As the best trophe that ye won in Greece Darius light he heavie home returnes And for revenge his heart still restlesse burnes His Queen Attossa caused all this stir For Grecian Maids 't is said to wait on her She lost her aime her Husband he lost more His men his coyn his honour and his store And the ensuing yeare ended his life 'T is thought through grief of his successesse strife Thirty six years this royall Prince did reign Unto his eldest Son all did remain Xerxes XErxes Darius and Attossa's Son Grand-childe to Cyrus now sits on the throne The Father not so full of lenity As is the Son of pride and cruelty He with his Crown receives a double warre Th' Aegyptians to reduce and Greece to marre The first begun and finish'd in such hast 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 derision and laughter Sage Artabanus counsell had he taken And 's cousen young Mardonius forsaken His Souldiers credit wealth at home had stay'd And Greece such wondrous triumphs ne're had made The first deports and layes before his eyes His Fathers ill successe in 's enterprise Against the Sythians and Grecians too What infamy to 's honour did accrue Flattering Mardonius on th' other side With certainty of Europe feeds his pride Vaine Xerxes thinks his counsell hath most wit That his ambitious humour best can fit And by this choyce unwarily posts on To present losse future subversion Although he hasted yet foure yeares was spent In great provisions for this great intent His Army of all Nations was compounded That the large Persian government surrounded His Foot was seventeen hundred thousand strong Eight hundred thousand Horse to them belong His Camels beasts for carriage numberlesse For truth's asham'd how many to expresse The charge of all he severally commended To Princes of the Persian bloud descended But the command of these Commanders all To Mardonius Captain Generall He was the Son of the fore-nam'd Gobrias Who married the sister of Darius These his Land Forces were then next a Fleet Of two and twenty thousand Gallies meet Mann'd by Phenisians and Pamphilians Cipriots Dorians and Cilicians Lycians Carians and Ionians Eolians and the Helispontines Besides the Vessels for his transportation Three thousand or more by best relation Artemesia Halicarna's Queene In person there now for his help was seen Whose Gallies all the rest in neatnesse passe Save the Zidonians where Xerxes was Hers she kept stil seperate from the rest For to command alone she thought was best O noble Queen thy valour I commend But pitty 't was thine ayde that here did'st lend At Sardis in Lidia these all doe meet Whither rich Pithyus comes Xerxes to greet Feasts all this multitude of his own charge Then gives the King a King-like gift most large Three thousand Tallents of the purest gold Which mighty sâ—m all wondred to behold He humbly to the King then makes request One of his five Sons there might be relead To be to 's age a comfort and a stay The other four he freely gave away The King cals for the Youth who being brought Cuts him in twain for whom his Sire besought O most inhumain incivility Nay more then monstrous barb'rous cruelty For his great love is this thy recompence Is this to doe like Xerxes or a Prince Thou shame of Kings of men the detestation I Rhetorick want to poure out execration First thing Xerxes did worthy recount A Sea passage cuts behind Orthos Mount Next o're the Hellispont a bridge he made Of Boats together coupled and there laid But winds and waves these couples soon dissever'd Yet Xerxes in his enterprise persever'd Seven thousand Gallies chain'd by Tyrians skil Firmly at length accomplished his wil Seven dayes and nights his Hoast without least stay Was marching o're this interrupting Bay And in Abidus Plaines must ring his Forces He glories in his Squadrens and his Horses Long viewing them thought