Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/452

 ^66 Anne Bradjl reefs Works.

Thele to the world his merits could make known,

So needs no Teftimonial from his own;

But now or never I muft pay my Sum;

While others tell his worth, Tie not be dumb:

One of thy Founders, him N'eiu-EnglandVnow, [218]

Who flaid thy feeble fides when thou waft low,

Who fpent his ftate, his Ifrength, & years with care

That After-comers in them mie^ht have fhare.

True Patriot of this little Commonweal,

Who is't can tax thee ought, but for thy zeal ?

Truths friend thou wert, to errors ftill a foe,

Which caus'd Apoftates to maligne fo.

Thy love to true Religion e're fhall fhine,

My Fathers God, be God of me and mine.

Upon the earth he did not build his neft,

But as a Pilgrim, what he had, poffeft.

Hio:h thouohts he j^ave no harbour in his heart.

Nor honours pufft him up, w^hen he had part:

Thofe titles loath'd, which fome too much do love

For truly his ambition lay above.

His humble mind fo lov'd humility.

He left it to his race for Legacy:

And oft and oft, with fpeeches mild and wife.

Gave his in charge, that Jewel rich to prize.

No oftentation feen in all his wayes,

As in the mean ones, of our foolifh dayes.

Which all they have, and more ftill fet to view,

Their greatnefs may be judg'd by what they ftiew.

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