Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/247

 The Four Ao-es of Jlfan. t6i

Subje6t to all diftempers ' (that's the truth) Though fome more incident, to Age or Youth. And to conclude, I may not tedious be, Man at his beft eftate is vanity.

��Old A^e.

��^

��T T THAT you have been, ev'n fuch have I before:

^ ' And all you lay, fay I, and fomewhat more. Babes innocence, youths vv^ildnefs I have feen, [55] And in perplexed middle Age have been: Sicknefs, dangers, and anxieties have paft, And on this ftage am come to a6t my laft. I have been young, and ftrong,. and wife as you : But now Bis pueri fenes, is too true. In every Age I've found much vanity, An end of all perfe6tion now I fee. It's not my valour, honour, nor my gold, My ruin'd houfe now falling can uphold. It's not my learning Rhetorick wit fo large. Hath now the power, death's warfare to difcharge. It's not my goodly ftate,-^ nor bed of downe That can refrefh, or eafe, if Confcience frown. Nor from Alliance can I now have hope, But what I have done well, that is my prop ;

i Difeafes. J houfe.

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