Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/224

 138 Anne Bradjireefs Works.

Of learning, policy thou wouldft bereave me,

But 's not thine io^norance fliall thus deceive me:

What greater Clark or Politician lives.

Then he whofe brain a touch my humour gives?

What is too hot my coldnefs doth abate.

What's diffluent I do confolidate.

If I be partial judg'd or thought to erre,

The melancholy fnake fhall it aver,

Whofe' cold dry head^ more fubtilty doth yield,

Then all the huge beafts of the fertile field.

Again '^ thou doft confine me to the fpleen, Xz^^

As of that only part I were the Queen,

Let me as well make thy precin6^s the Gall,

So prifon thee within that bladder fmall:

Reduce the man to's principles, then fee

If I have not more part then all you three:

What is within, without, of theirs or thine,

Yet time and age fhall foon declare it mine.

When death doth feize the man your ftock is loft.

When you poor bankrupts prove then have I moft.

You'l fay here none fhall e're difturb my right,

You high born from that lump then take your flight.

Then who's mans friend, when life & all forfakes?

His Mother mine, him to her womb retakes:

Thus he is ours, his portion is the grave,

But while he lives, I'le fhew what part I have:

And firft the firm dry bones I juftly claim,

The flrong foundation of the llatel}' frame;

'■ Thofe. i heads. k Thirdlj.

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