Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/220

 134 Anne Bradjlreefs Works.

The help fhe needs, the loving liver lends, LS-^J

Who th' benefit o'th' whole ever intends

To meddle further I fliall be but fhent,

Th'refl to our Sifters is more pertinent;

Your flanders thus refuted takes no place,

Nor what you've laid, doth argue my difgrace,^

Now through your leaves, fome little time Fl fpend

My worth in humble manner to commend

This, hot, moift nutritive humour of inine

When 'tis untaint, pure, and moft genuine

Shall chiefly '^ take the " place, as is my ' due

Without the leaft indignity to you.

Of all your qualities I do partake,

And what you fingle are, the whole I make

Your hot, moift, cold, dry natures are but four,

I moderately am all, what need I more;

As thus, if hot then dry, if moift, then cold.

If this you cann't difprove,-^ then all I hold

My virtues hid, I've let you dimly fee

My fweet Completion proves the verity.

This Scarlet die's a badge of what's within

One touch thereof, fo beautifies the skin:

Nay, could I be, from all your tangs but pure

Mans life to boundlefs Time mioj'ht ftill endure.

But here one thrufts her heat, wher'ts not requir'd

So fuddenly, the body all is fired.

And of the calme fweet temper quite bereft.

Which makes the Manfion, by the Soul foon left.

c Though caft upon my guiltlelVe blulliing- face;

d firftlj. (' her. ./ If this can't be difpiov'd.

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