Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/251

 The Four Ages of Man. 165

I've feen a Itate unmoulded, rent in twain, But ye may live to fee't made up again. I've feen it plunder'd, taxt and Ibak'd in bloud, But out of evill you may fee much good. What are my thoughts, this is no time to fay. Men may more freely fpeak another day.*

��* In the first edition there is a different version of the events related in the passage beginning with line 3, page 163 (" We changed our queen for king," &c.), and ending here. It will be observed in this and many other places, that the author, in preparing her poems for republication, had regard to the political changes which had taken place. Charles II. had been restored, and it was necessary to be loyal or silent.

I faw hopes dalTit, our forwardnefle was iTient,

And filenc'd we, by A(5l of Parliament.

I've feen from Rome, an execrable thing,

A plot to blow up Nobles, and their King;

I've feen defignes at Ree, and Cades croft,

And poor Palatinate for ever loft ;

I've feen a Prince, to live on others lands,

A Royall one, by almes from Subjects hands,

I've feen bafe men, advanc'd to great degree,

And worthy ones, put to extremity :

But not their Princes love, nor ftate fo high •

Could once reverie, their fliamefuU deftiny.

I've feen one ftab'd, another loofe his head ;

And others fly their Country, through their dread.

I've feen, and fo have ye, for 'tis but late,

The defolation, of a goodly State.

Plotted and a6ted, fo that none can tell.

Who gave the counfel, but the Prince of hell.

I've feen a land unmoulded with great paine.

But 3'et may live, to fee't made up again :

I've feen it ftiaken, rent, and foak'd ifHDlood,

But out of troubles, ye may fee much good.

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