Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/207

 The Four Elements. 121

The ftork, the crane, the partridg, and the phefant The Thrufh, the wren/" the lark a prey to'th' pefant. With thoufands more which now I may omit [21] Without impeachment to my tale or wit. As my frefh air preferves all things in life, So when corrupt, mortality is rife: Then Fevers, Purples, Pox and Peftilence, With divers moe, work deadly confequence; Whereof fuch multitudes have di'd and fled, ,The living fcarce had power to bury dead; Yea fo contagious countryes have we known That birds have not 'fcapt death as they have flown Of murrain, cattle numberlefs did fall, Men fear'd deftruftion epidemical. Then of my tempefl:s felt at fea and land, Which neither fhips nor houfes could withftand, What wofull wracks I've made may well appear, If nought were known but that before Algere^ Where famous Charles the fifth more lofs fuftaind Then in his long hot war which Millain gain'd." Again what furious ftorms and Hurricanoes " Know wefl:ern Ifles, as Chrifiophers, Barbadoes.,

"I The Pje, the Jaj.

" After this the first edition has, —

How many rich fraught veffells, have I fplit ? Some upon lands, fome upon rocks have hit. Some have I forc'd, to gaine an unknown flioare ; Some overwhelm'd with waves, and feen no more.

•^ Again wliat tenipefts, and what hericanoes.

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