Anne Bradstreet

Avery Hudson

• 1612 Northampton, England

• Thomas Dudley and Dorothy Yorke

• High social standing• Well educated• Simon Bradstreet• Massachusetts Bay• Eight children

To My Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me, ye woman, if you can. I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the east doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense. Thy love is such I can no way repay, The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevere That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Iambic Pentameter

Rhyming couplets

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye woman, if you can.

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye woman, if you can.

Logical if/then statements

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the east doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the east doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.

Similes

Thy love is such I can no way repay,

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persevere That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Thy love is such I can no way repay,

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persevere That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Love in heaven and forever

(persever)

numerous

Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666

(1) In silent night when rest I took

(2) For sorrow near I did not look

(3) I wakened was with thund’ring noise

(4) And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.

(5) That fearful sound of “Fire!” and “Fire!”

(6) Let no man know is my desire

(1) In silent night when rest I took

(2) For sorrow near I did not look

(3) I wakened was with thund’ring noise

(4) And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.

(5) That fearful sound of “Fire!” and “Fire!”

(6) Let no man know is my desireJudgment day

A moral lapse- unaware of sin

(7) I, starting up, the light did spy,

(8) And to my God my heart did cry

(9) To strengthen me in my distress

(10) And not to leave me succorless

(7) I, starting up, the light did spy,

(8) And to my God my heart did cry

(9) To strengthen me in my distress

(10) And not to leave me succorlesshelpless

Calls to God for help

(11)Then, coming out, beheld a space

(12)The flame consume my dwelling place.

(13)And when I could no longer look,

(14)I blest His name that gave and took,

(15) That laid my goods now in the dust.

(16)yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just.

(17)It was His own, it was not mine,

(18)Far be it that I should repine;

(11)Then, coming out, beheld a space

(12)The flame consume my dwelling place.

(13)And when I could no longer look,

(14)I blest His name that gave and took,

(15) That laid my goods now in the dust.

(16)yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just.

(17)It was His own, it was not mine,

(18)Far be it that I should repine;

(complain)

Possessions were always God’s

Job 1:21 “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.”

(19)He might of all justly bereft

(20) But yet sufficient for us left.

(19)He might of all justly bereft

(20) But yet sufficient for us left.

God also provided her with everything.

(21)When by the ruins oft I past

(22)My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,

(23) And here and there the places spy

(24)Where oft I sat and long did lie:

(25)Here stood that trunk, and there that chest;

(26)There lay that store I counted best.

(27)My pleasant things in ashes lie,

(28)And them behold no more shall I.

(21)When by the ruins oft I past

(22)My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,

(23) And here and there the places spy

(24)Where oft I sat and long did lie:

(25)Here stood that trunk, and there that chest;

(26)There lay that store I counted best.

(27)My pleasant things in ashes lie,

(28)And them behold no more shall I.

Reminiscing of her former home

(29)Under thy roof no guest shall sit,

(30)Nor at thy table eat a bit.

(31)No pleasant talk shall ‘ere be told

(32)Nor things recounted done of old.

(33)No candle e’er shall shine in thee,

(34)Nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be.

(29)Under thy roof no guest shall sit,

(30)Nor at thy table eat a bit.

(31)No pleasant talk shall ‘ere be told

(32)Nor things recounted done of old.

(33)No candle e’er shall shine in thee,

(34)Nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be.

Theology allows dreams.

Talks to house

(35)In silence ever shall thou lie,

(36)Adieu, Adieu, all’s vanity.

(37)Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide,

(38)And did thy wealth on earth abide?

(35)In silence ever shall thou lie,

(36)Adieu, Adieu, all’s vanity.

(37)Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide,

(38)And did thy wealth on earth abide?

Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

(scorn)

Confession -> Salvation

(39)Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust?

(40)The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?

(41)Raise up thy thoughts above the sky

(42)That dunghill mists away may fly.

(43)Thou hast an house on high erect,

(44)Framed by that mighty Architect,

(39)Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust?

(40)The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?

(41)Raise up thy thoughts above the sky

(42)That dunghill mists away may fly.

(43)Thou hast an house on high erect,

(44)Framed by that mighty Architect,

2 Chronicles 32:8 “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us fight our battles.”

2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Hebrews 11:20 “For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Earth is nothing compared to the eternal life.

(45)With glory richly furnished,

(46)Stands permanent though this be fled.

(47) It’s purchased and paid for too

(48) By Him who hath enough to do.

(45)With glory richly furnished,

(46)Stands permanent though this be fled.

(47) It’s purchased and paid for too

(48) By Him who hath enough to do.

Predestination vs. her sacrifice

(49) A price so vast as is unknown

(50) Yet by His gift is made thine own;

(51)There’s wealth enough, I need no more,

(52)Farewll, my pelf, farewell my store.

(53) The world no longer let me love,

(54)My hope and treasure lies above.

(49) A price so vast as is unknown

(50) Yet by His gift is made thine own;

(51)There’s wealth enough, I need no more,

(52)Farewll, my pelf, farewell my store.

(53) The world no longer let me love,

(54)My hope and treasure lies above.

Challenging predestination

(wealth)

Heaven

Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

• John Woodbridge

• “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, By a Gentlewoman in Those Parts”

• September 16, 1672

• “Several Poems Compiled with Great Variety of Wit and Learning”