Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/407

 Th e Fo u r Mo n a rch ies. 321

The firft a Lion, fecond was a Bear,

The third a Leopard, which four wings did rear;

The laft more ftrong and dreadful then the reft,

Whofe Iron teeth devoured every Beaft,

And when he had no appetite to eat.

The reiidue he ftamped under feet;*

Yet fhall' this Lion, Bear, this Leopard, Ram,

All trembling ftand before the powerful Lamb.f

With thefe three Monarchyes now have I done.

But how the fourth, their Kingdomes from them won,

And how from fmall beginnings it did grow.

To fill the world with terrour and with woe ;

My tyred brain leavs to fome better pen.

This task befits not women like to men:

For what is paft, I blufli, excufe to make.

But humbly ftand, fome grave reproof to take;

Pardon to crave for errours, is but vain.

The Subje6l was too high, beyond my ftrain.

To frame Apology for fome offence,

Converts our boldnefs into impudence:

This my prefumption fome now to requite,

Ne futor ultra crepidum may write.

The End of the Grecian Monarchy J

��* Dan. vii. 3-7. i But jet. f Dan. vii. 12-14.

j This is not in the first edition.

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