Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/436

 350 Anne Bi'adjireefs Works.

The Mufes aid I crav'd, they had no will

To give to their Detra6tor any quill,

With high difdain, they faid they gave no more,

Since Sidney had exhaufted all their ftore.

They took from me the fcribling pen I had,

(I to be eas'd of fuch a task w^as glad)

Yet this preheminence thou haft above,

That thine was true, but theirs adult'rate love.

Fain would I ftievv, how thou fame's path didft tread,

But now into fuch Lab'rinths am I led

With endlefle turnes, the way I find not out,

For to perfift, mj mule is more in doubt :

Calls me ambitious fool, that durft afpire.

Enough for me to look, and lb admire.

And makes me now with Sylvejicr confefle.

But Sydney's, Mufe, can fing his worthineffe.

Too late mv errour fee, that durft prefume

To fix my faltring lines upon his tomb :

Which are in worth, as far Ihort of his due.

As Vulcan is, of Venus native hue.

Goodwill, did make my head-long pen to run,

Like unwife Phaeton his ill guided fonne.

Till taught to's coft, for his too hally hand,

He left that charge by Phoebus to be man'd :

So proudly foolifli I, with Phaeton ftrive,

Fame's flaming Chariot for to drive.

Till terrour-ftruck for my too weighty charge.

I leave't in brief, Afollo dot at large.

Apollo laught to patch up what's begun.

He bad me drive, and he would hold the Sun ;

Better my hap, then was his darlings fate.

For dear regard he had of Sydney's ftate,

Who in his Deity, had lb deep lliare.

That thofe that name his fame, he needs muft fpare.

He promis'd much, but th' mufes had no will.

To give to their detractor anv quill.

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