He peer'd and por'd and glar'd, & said for wore, They both 'gan laugh, and said it was no mar'l: To see a Woman once do ought that 's good: -N. Ward, prefatory poem in The Tenth Muse, 1650. 'T were extream folly should I dare attempt False Fame, belye their Sex no more; it can -C. B., prefatory poem in The Tenth Muse, 1650. Twice have I drunk the Nectar of your lines, Flusht with these streams of your Maronean wines Above my self rapt to an extasie: Methought I was upon Mount Hiblas top, There where I might those fragrant flowers lop, Whence did sweet odors flow and honey-spangles drop. -J. Rogers (afterward president of Harvard College), prefatory poem in The Tenth Muse, 1678. "Madam Ann Bradstreet, .... whose Poems, divers times Printed, have afforded a grateful Entertainment unto the Ingenious and a Monument for her Memory beyond the Stateliest Marbles."-Cotton Mather, Magnalia (1702), Book II, chap. 5. MICHAEL WIGGLESWORTH (19) THE DAY OF DOOM. Stanzas 1-7, 20, 38, 51, 68-70, 144, 147, 148, 166, 167, 171, 180, 181, 195-201, 205, 219-24. The text is from the 1715 edition, except for a few readings from the 1751 edition. The poem is preceded by "A Prayer unto Christ, the Judge of the World," of which the following is a part: Thee, thee alone I 'le invocate; For I do much abominate To call the Muses to mine aid, Which is th' Unchristian use and trade Of some that Christians would be thought, And yet they worship worse then nought. Oh! What a deal of Blasphemy And Heathenish Impiety In Christian Poets may be found Where Heathen gods with praise are Crown'd: Till Juno, Venus, Mercury, 12. ure use. With frowning Mars and thundering Jove That which I know God doth detest. To give Gods Praises to the Devil. (20) 56. steads = places. (25) 209. then than. (26) 257. Renate = reborn. (27) GOD'S CONTROVERSY WITH NEW-ENGLAND. Stanzas 20-22, 25, 28, 61-64. The text is from the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, May, 1871, where it is printed from the manuscript. CONTEMPORARY CRITICISM "The sweet New-England poet."-Cotton Mather (?), in an elegy on Urian Oakes, 1682. "He Wrote several Composures, wherein he proposed the edification of such Readers as are for plain Truths dressed up in a Plain Meeter. These composures have had their Acceptance and Advantage among that sort of Readers; and one of them, the Day of Doom, which has been often Reprinted in both Englands, may find our Children till the Day itself arrive."-Cotton Mather, in a funeral sermon on Wigglesworth, 1705. In Costly Verse and most laborious Rymes, Thou 'lt praise the Cook and say, "T is choicest Food." -J. Mitchell, in prefatory poem to 1715 edition of "The NEW ENGLAND ELEGIES The first four elegies are taken from New-Englands Memoriall, by Nathaniel Morton. The text is that of the 1669 edition, from a copy in the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University. (28) UPON THE TOMB OF THE MOST REVEREND MR. JOHN COTTON. Lines 29-54. 13. Apollos: "A certain Jew named Apollos, . . . . an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures."-Acts 18:24. (29) 21, 22. Cotton, a brilliant graduate of Cambridge University, and of growing fame as a preacher, was driven out of England, because of his Puritanism, by Archbishop Laud. (29) LINES WRITTEN AT THE APPROACH OF DEATH. 20. Libertine = free thinker, heretic. (30) A THRENODIA. Line 19-34. 11. See I Sam. 7:12. 2. Orient=clear, bright. (31) AN ELEGIE UPON THE DEATH OF THE REVEREND MR. THOMAS SHEPARD. Stanzas 1-4, 28-31, 40-43, 51, 52. The text is from the 1677 edition. Shepard had been a pastor in Charlestown; Oakes was president of Harvard College. (33) A POEM Dedicated to tHE MEMORY of the ReverenD AND EXCELLENT MR. URIAN OAKES. Lines 276-91, 334-64, 427-30. The text is that of the 1682 edition, from a copy in the Harris Collection, Brown University Library. The elegy is attributed to Cotton Mather. Oakes was president of Harvard College and pastor of the Cambridge church, at the time of his death, in 1681. ¶3. In Name a Drusius: a play upon "Oakes," the Latin "Drusius" being derived from Greek Spûs, "an oak." ¶ 6. famose=famous (Latin "famosus"). ¶8. Graces Iliad: i.e., the Iliad of grace. (34) 9, 10. This was a avorite topic or dispute among mediaeval theologians. 14. Argus: the subject of "had" understood; Argus was a hundred-eyed giant. 16. bore away the Bell: won the prize; the phrase originated at a time when a bell was the usual prize at horse races. 23. Benedict and Boniface: St. Benedict (480-543) was founder of the Benedictine order of monks, who gave their time to prayer and mental and manual labor; St. Boniface (680-755), "the Apostle of Germany," won thousands of German pagans to Christianity by his eloquent preaching. 29. Sinus Abrahae="bosom of Abraham." ¶ 36. Sect'ryes Hammer: i.e., Oakes, the hammer which pounded the sectaries, or dissenters from the orthodox New England church, the Congregational. 42. Dicebam="I was saying," Dixi "I have said." (35) 49. both Hephsibah and Beulah bee: "Thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." -Isa. 62:4. JOHN GRAVE (35) A SONG OF SION. Lines 11-58. The text is that of the 1662 edition, from a copy in the Harris Collection, Brown University Library. ANONYMOUS (36) BACONS EPITAPH. The text is from the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, August, 1866, where it is printed from the manuscript; it was printed, imperfectly, in the Collections of the same society (Second Series, Vol. I) in 1814. The subject of the epitaph was Nathaniel Bacon, leader of the rebellion in Virginia, in 1676, who died just after taking Jamestown. 10. there their. (So in l. 18, 34.) 16. Parasscellcian Paracelsian; Paracelsus (1493-1541), a physician in advance of his age, worked some wonderful cures and was accused of receiving aid from evil spirits. (37) 20. The Heathen: the Indians, against whom Bacon led an expedition, in defiance of Governor Berkeley, whose Indian policy was one cause of the rebellion. ¶ 28. Child could=chill cold? ¶ 29. Lymbick=limbec, still. NICHOLAS NOYES (37) A PRÆFATORY POEM. Lines 29-60. The text is that of the 1702 edition from a copy (in the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University) of Christianus per Ignem: Or A Disciple Warming of himself and Owning of his Lord: with Devout and Useful Meditations, Fetch'd out of the Fire, by a Christian in a Cold Season, Sitting before it; the book is attributed to Cotton Mather. (38) A CONSOLATORY POEM. Lines 1-10, 21-36, 49-54. The text follows that in Stedman and Hutchinson's Library of American Literature. EBENEZER COOK (39) THE SOT-WEED FACTOR. Lines 516-625. The text is that of the 1708 edition, from a copy in the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University. SolWeed tobacco. Factor-agent. (40) 40. Oast=host. (41) 54. Oronooko: "Planters are usually call'd by the Name of Oronooko, from their Planting Oronooko-Tobacco."-Note in 1708 edition. 84. Cokerouse: "Cockerouse is a Man of Quality."-Note in 1708 edition. 88. Musmelion = muskmelon. (42) 102. Chinces: "Chinces are a sort of vermin like our Bugs in England.”— Note in 1708 edition. 105. Doxy=mistress, paramour. ANONYMOUS (42) SONG OF LOVEWELL'S FIGHT. The text is from Farmer and Moore's Collections, Historical and Miscellaneous (1824), Vol. III, pp. 64-66. "The following Song was written about one hundred years since. . . . . For many years it was sung throughout a considerable portion of New-Hampshire and Massachusetts."-Editors. In 1724 the Indians, spurred on by the French, began to threaten the northern parts of New England. The Massachusetts General Court having promised two shillings sixpence for each day of service, and a hundred pounds for every Indian scalp, Captain Lovewell with a small force of volunteers made two expeditions and brought back several scalps. On April 15, 1725, he started from Dunstable, Mass., with forty-six men, intending to carry the war farther north. He built a fort on Lake Ossipee, in New Hampshire, and left in it a reserve of men and provisions. With thirty-four men he pushed on some forty miles to what is now called Lovewell's Pond, near Fryeburg, Maine, just over the New Hampshire line, in the country of the Pequaket Indians. Here occurred the fight described in the ballad. How closely the ballad follows the facts may be seen by comparing it with the account published in The Boston News-Letter of May 20-27. "Early on Saturday Morning, the 8th Instant, the English discover'd an Indian on a Neck of Land which runs into a Pond, and by his Actions judg'd there were a considerable Number of Indians near the Pond, and that he was set on purpose to draw the English upon the Neck. They therefore laid down their Packs (that they might be ready to receive the Enemy's Attacks) when they had about two Miles to Travel round the Pond, to come at the Indian upon the Neck. When they came within Gun-shot of him, he fir'd one Gun, and slightly wounded Capt. Lovewell and one of his Men with Beaver Shot. Several of the English immediately fir'd upon him, kill'd and scalp'd him; and returning to the place where they left their Packs, before they could reach it one of the English discover'd an Indian, and calling out to the rest, the Indians rose up from their Ambush, shouted, and fir'd, as did the English at the same Instant. The Indians were reckon'd at least 80 in number, and Capt. Lovewell's Company consisted of but 34, nine men and the Doctor being left about 50 miles distant with a sick man. After the first Fire, the Indians advanc'd with great Fury towards the English, with their Hatchets in their Hands, the English likewise running up t› them, till they came within 4 or 5 Yards of the Enemy and were even mix'd up among them, when, the Dispute growing too warm for the Indians, they gave back, and endeavour'd to encompass the English, who then retreated to the Pond, in order to have their Rear cover'd, where they continu'd the Fight till Night. During the Fight the Indians call'd to them to take Quarter, but were answer'd that they would have it with the Muzzles of their Guns. About two Hours before Night the Indians drew off, and presently came on again; and their Shout then compar'd with the first, it was thought half their Number at Least were kill'd and wounded. Of the chief among the English, Capt. Lovewell, Lieut. Fairwell, and Ensign Robins were Mortally wounded at the beginning of the Fight, and Mr. Fry, their Chaplain, in about Five Hours after, having fought with undaunted Courage, and scalp'd one of the Indians in the Heat of the Engagement. Eight of the English dy'd on the Spot, and 9 were wounded, 4 of which Number were just expiring when they came away at Night, and the rest they brought off several Miles, but were oblig'd to leave them with what Provisions they had, when they were unable to travel with them. of our Men are return'd, tho' they had no Provision but what they caught in the Woods, the Indians having got all their Packs before the Fight. 'Tis thought that not above 20 of the Indians went off well at Night: but tho' we cannot have a certain Account of the Loss, yet it is evident that it was very great, and they were afraid of another Engagement; for tho' our Men staid several Hours after the Fight, and the Indians knew they had no Provision, yet they neither endeavour'd to keep them there nor way-laid them in their Return Home. His Honour the Lieut. Governour has been pleas'd to grant a Captain's Commission to Lieut. Wyman, who distinguish'd himself with great Courage and Conduct during the whole of the Engagement." MATHER BYLES Sixteen (44) AN ELEGY ADDRESS'D TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOUR BELCHER. Lines 49-74. The text is from an undated early edition in the Harris Collection, Brown University Library. JOSEPH GREEN (45) THE POET'S LAMENTATION FOR THE LOSS OF HIS CAT The text follows that in Duyckinck's Cyclopædia of American Literature, where it is reprinted from The London Magazine, November, 1733. "The Poet" is Mather Byles. ANONYMOUS (46) COMMENCEMENT. The text is that in A Collection of Poems, by several Hands (1744), from a copy in the Harris Collection, Brown University Library. The poem describes a Commencement at Harvard College. 4. commencing: |