ACROSTIC ON WILLIAM PADDY

One, who was well acquainted with his worth and gracious endowments, presented this following, as a testimonial of his good respects for him.2

Weep not dear wife, children, nor dear friends,

I live a life of joys that never ends. Love God, and fear him to end of your days:

Live unto him, but die to sin always. In heavenly place of bliss my soul doth rest,

A mong the saints and angels I am blest; Much better here, than in the world at best.

1 These verses were not in the first edition. Their author was the son of the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, of Ipswich. He was born in England in 1630, and came to America, with his father, in 1636. He graduated at Harvard College in 1649, and studied both divinity and medicine. He preached at Ipswich for some time, but afterwards devoted himself altogether to the practice of medicine. In 1683, he succeeded the Rev. Urian Oakes as President of Harvard College. He died suddenly, July 2, 1684, the day after Commencement, during an eclipse of the sun. He had requested, in the previous December, that the Commencement exercises should be held a day earlier than usual, as he feared the eclipse might interfere with them.-MATHER PAPERS. Cotton Mather says, "He was One of So sweet a Temper, that the Title of Delicia humani Generis might have on that Score been given him; and his Real Piety set off with the Accomplishments of a Gentlemen, as a Gem set in Gold."-MAGNALIA, iv. p. 130.

His wife, Elizabeth Denison, was the only daughter of Major-General Daniel Denison and Patience Dudley, and therefore Mrs. Bradstreet's niece. (Printed with this note in "Works of Anne Bradstreet," ed. J. H. Ellis.)

2 Nathaniel Morton's "New England's Memorial." See year 1658.

UPON THE AUTHOR

BY A KNOWN FRIEND

(ANNE BRADSTREET)

And after Winthrop's, Hooker's, Shepherd's herse,

Doth Cotton's death call for a mourning verse?

Thy will be done. Yet Lord, who dealest thus,

Make this great death expedient for us. Luther pull'd down the Pope, Calvin the Prelate slew:

3 These initials, which appeared for the first time in the second edition, are thought to be those of the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge, D.D., brother of the Rev. John Woodbridge. He was born in England, and after having studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, came to join his brother, and some other relations, in this country. He entered Harvard College, and his name stands first on the list of graduates. He was among the first settlers of the town of Andover; but he soon returned to England, where he succeeded the Rev. William Twiss, D.D., as minister of Newbury, in Berkshire. He held that position until his death in 1684, a period of about forty years. His learning, ability and goodness have been highly eulogized. (Printed with this note in "Works of Anne Bradstreet," ed. J. H. Ellis.)

THRENODIA ON SAMUEL STONE

A Threnodia upon our churches second dark eclipse, happening July 20, 1663, by death's interposition between us and that great light and divine plant, Mr. Samuel Stone, late of Hartford, in New-England.

BY EDWARD BULKLEY(?)

Last spring this summer may be autumn styl'd,

Sad withering fall our beauties which despoil'd:

1 About the time of his sickness there appeared in the heavens, over New England, a comet, giving a dim light; and so waxed dimmer and dimmer, until it became quite extinct and went out; which time of its being extinct, was soon after the time of the period of his life.

(Printed with this note in Nathaniel Morton's "New England's Memorial." See year 1652.)

The largess of the three, it was so great On him, the stone was held a light compleat.

A stone more than the Ebenezer fam'd; Stone splendent diamond, right orient nam'd;

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A cordial stone, that often cheered hearts With pleasant wit, with Gospel rich imparts;

Whetstone, that edgify'd th' obtusest mind;

Loadstone,that drew the iron heart unkind; A pondrous stone, that would the bottom sound

Of Scripture depths, and bring out Arcan's found.

A stone for kingly David's use so fit,
As would not fail Goliah's front to hit;
A stone, an antidote, that brake the course
Of gangrene errour, by convincing force;
A stone acute, fit to divide and square;
A squared stone became Christ's building

BACON'S EPITAPH, MADE BY HIS MAN

Death, why so cruel? What! no other way

To manifest thy spleen, but thus to slay Our hopes of safety, liberty, our all, Which, through thy tyranny, with him must fall

To its late chaos? Had thy rigid force Been dealt by retail, and not thus in gross, Grief had been silent. Now we must complain,

Since thou, in him, hast more than thousand slain,

Whose lives and safeties did so much depend

On him their life, with him their lives must end.

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If't be a sin to think Death brib'd can be We must be guilty; say 'twas bribery Guided the fatal shaft. Virginia's foes, To whom for secret crimes just vengeance

word, Mars and Minerva both in him concurred For arts, for arms, whose pen and sword alike

As Cato's did, may admiration strike
Into his foes; while they confess withal
It was their guilt styl'd him a criminal.
Only this difference does from truth pro-
ceed:

They in the guilt, he in the name must bleed.

While none shall dare his obsequies to sing

In deserv'd measures; until time shall bring

Truth crown'd with freedom, and from danger free

To sound his praises to posterity.

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Here let him rest; while we this truth

(The text is taken from the edition of 1673.)

THE DAY OF DOOM

(The Day of Doom; or, a Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgment.)

SOUNDING OF THE LAST TRUMP Still was the night, Serene & Bright, when all Men sleeping lay; Calm was the season, & carnal reason thought so 'twould last for ay. Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease, much good thou hast in store: This was their Song, their Cups among, the Evening before.

Wallowing in all kind of sin,

vile wretches lay secure: The best of men had scarcely then their Lamps kept in good ure. Virgins unwise, who through disguise amongst the best were number'd Had clos'd their eyes; yea, and the wise through sloth and frailty slumber'd.

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Like as of old, when Men grow bold
God's threatenings to contemn,
Who stop their Ear, and would not hear,
when Mercy warned them:

But took their course without remorse,
till God began to powre

Destruction the World upon in a tempestuous showre.

They put away the evil day,

and drown'd their care and fears,

Till drown'd were they, and swept away by vengeance unawares:

So at the last, whilst Men sleep fast in their security,

Surpriz'd they are in such a snare

as cometh suddenly.

For at midnight brake forth a Light,
which turn'd the night to day,
And speedily an hideous cry

did all the world dismay.
Sinners awake, their hearts do ake,
trembling their loynes surprizeth;
Amaz'd with fear, by what they hear,
each one of them ariseth.

They rush from Beds with giddy heads, and to their windows run,

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Viewing this light, which shines more bright

then doth the Noon-day Sun Straightway appears (they see't with tears)

the Son of God most dread; Who with his Train comes on amain to Judge both Quick and Dead.

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Before his face the Heav'ns gave place, and Skies are rent asunder, With mighty voice, and hideous noise, more terrible than Thunder. His brightness damps heav'ns glorious lamps

and makes them hide their heads, As if afraid and quite dismay'd,

they quit their wonted steads.

Ye sons of men that durst contemn the Threatnings of Gods Word. How cheer you now? your hearts, I trow, are thrill'd as with a sword, Now Athist blind, whose brutish mind a God could never see,

Dost thou perceive, dost now believe that Christ thy judge shall be?

Stout Courages, (whose hardiness could Death and Hell out-face) Are you as bold now you behold your Judge draw near apace? They cry, no, no: Alas! and wo! our courage all is gone:

Our hardiness (fool hardiness) hath us undone, undone.

No heart so bold, but now grows cold
and almost dead with fear:

No eye so dry, but now can cry,
and pour out many a tear.
Earth's Potentates and pow'rful States,
Captains and Men of Might

Are quite abasht, their courage dasht
at this most dreadful sight.

Mean men lament, great men do rent their Robes, and tear their hair: They do not spare their flesh to tear through horrible despair.

All Kindreds wail: all hearts do fail: horror the World doth fill

With weeping eyes, and loud out-cries, yet knows not how to kill.

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