Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/226

 140 Anne Bradjlreet''s Works.

If any doubt the truth whence this fhould come,

Shew them thy paffage to th' Duodenum;

Thy biting " quality ftill irritates,

Till filth and thee nature exonerates:

If there thou'rt ftopt, to th' Liver thou turn'ft in.

And thence with jaundies faffrons all the skin.

No further time He fpend in confutation,

I truft I've clear'd your flanderous imputation.

I now fpeak unto all, no more to one.

Pray hear, admire and learn inftru6tion.

My virtues yours furpafs without compare,

The firft my conftancy that jewel rare :

Choler's too rafh this golden gift to hold.

And Sanguine is more fickle manifold,

Here, there her reftlefs thoughts do ever fly,

Conftant in nothing but unconftancy.

And whatFlegme is, we know, like to her mother, [38]

Unfl;able is the one, and fo the other;

With me is noble patience alfo found,

Impatient Choler loveth not the found.

What fanguine is, flie doth not heed nor care,

Now up, now down, tranfported like the Air :

Flegme's patient becaufe her nature's tame;

But I, by virtue do acquire the fame.

My Temperance, Chafl:ity is eminent.

But thefe with you, are feldome refident;

Now could I ftain my ruddy Sifters face

With deeper red,-^ to Ihew you her dfgrace,

'' bittering. / purple dye.

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