Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/223

 The Four Humours of Man. 137

But when the firft offender I have laid,

Thy foothing girds fhall fully be repaid.

But Choler be thou coord or chaf d, Fie venter,

And in contentions lifts now juftly enter/'

What mov'd thee thus to vilifie my name,

Not paft all reafon, but in truth all fliame:

Thy fiery fpirit ftiall bear away this prize, [35]

To play fuch furious pranks I am too wife:

If in a Souldier rafhnefs be fo precious,

Know in a General tis moft pernicious.

Nature doth teach to fhield the head from harm.

The blow that's aim'd thereat is latcht by th'arm.

When in Batalia my foes I face

I then command proud Choler ftand thy place.

To ufe thy fword, thy courage and thy art

There to defend my felf, thy better part.

This warinefs count not for cowardize.

He is not truly valiant that's not wife.

It's no lefs glory to defend a town.

Then by affault to gain one not our own;

And if Marcellus bold be call'd Romes fword.

Wife Fabius is her buckler all accord.*

And if thy haft m}^ flownefs fhould not temper,

'Twere but a mad irregular diftemper;

Enough of that by our fifters heretofore.

He come to that which wounds me fomewhat more

•* After this the first edition has, —

Thy boafted valour ftoutly's been repeli'd,

\i not as vet, by me, thou iTialt be quell'd :

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