American poet (1612-1672)
Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge--fitter to bruise than polish.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
Sweet words are like honey: a little may refresh, but too much gluts the stomach.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
Satan, that great angler, hath his sundry baits for sundry tempers of men, which they all catch greedily at, but few perceive the hook till it be too late.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lies Above.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
It is reported of the peacock that priding himself in his gay feathers he ruffles them up; but spying his black feet he soon lets fall his plumes. So he that glories in his gifts and adornings should look upon his corruptions, and that will damp his high thoughts.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
Fire hath its force abated by water, not by wind; and anger must be allayed by cold words, and not by blustering threats.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
After some time I fell into a lingering sickness like a consumption, together with lameness, which correction I saw the Lord sent to humble and try me and do me good: and it was not altogether ineffectual.
ANNE BRADSTREET
"To My Dear Children"
He that hath nothing to feed on but vanity and lies must needs lie down in the bed of sorrow.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
"Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on
Nothing but Meditation?
ANNE BRADSTREET
"The Flesh and the Spirit"
I sought him whom my Soul did Love,
With tears I sought him earnestly;
He bow'd his ear down from Above,
In vain I did not seek or cry.
My hungry Soul he fill'd with Good,
He in his Bottle put my tears,
My smarting wounds washed in his blood,
And banished thence my Doubts and fears.
ANNE BRADSTREET
"Occasional Meditations"
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
ANNE BRADSTREET
To My Dear and Loving Husband
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits,
A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong,
For such despite they cast on female wits;
If what I do prove well, it won't advance,
They'll say it's stolen, or else it was by chance.
ANNE BRADSTREET
"Prologue"
Among all my experiences of God's gratious Dealings with me I have constantly observed this, that he hath never suffered me long to sit loose from him, but by one affliction or other hath made me look home, and search what was amiss--so usually thus it hath been with me that I have no sooner felt my heart out of order, but I have expected correction for it, which most commonly hath been upon my own person, in sickness, weakness, pains, sometimes on my soul, in Doubts and fears of God's displeasure, and my sincerity towards him, sometimes he hath smote a child with sickness, sometimes chastened by losses in estate--and these Times (through his great mercy) have been the times of my greatest Getting and Advantage, yea I have found them the Times when the Lord hath manifested the most Love to me.
ANNE BRADSTREET
"To My Dear Children"
My love is such that rivers cannot quench.
ANNE BRADSTREET
"To My Dear and Loving Husband"
Wickedness comes to its height by degrees. He that dares say of a less sin, Is it not a little one? will ere long say of a greater, Tush, God regards it not!
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
Iron till it be thoroughly heated is incapable to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction, and then beats them on his anvil into what frame he pleases.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
What to my Saviour shall I give
Who freely hath done this for me?
I'll serve him here whilst I shall live
And Love him to Eternity.
ANNE BRADSTREET
"By Night when Others Soundly Slept"
The spring is a lively emblem of the Resurrection.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral
Sin and shame ever go together; he that would be freed from the last must be sure to shun the company of the first.
ANNE BRADSTREET
Meditations Divine and Moral