Online Texts for Craig White's Literature Courses

• Not a critical or scholarly text but a reading text for a seminar

 Verses upon the Burning of our House

[1]    In silent night when rest I took,
[2]    For sorrow near I did not look,
[3]    I waken'd 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.
[7]    I starting up, the light did spy,
[8]    And to my God my heart did cry
[9]    To straighten me in my Distress      [straighten = give order to]
[10]   And not to leave me succourless.   [succourless = hungry, w/o aid]
[11]   Then coming out, behold a space
[12]   The flame consume my dwelling place.
[13]   And when I could no longer look,
[14]   I blest his grace 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.      [his = God's]
[18]   Far be it that I should repine,
[19]   He might of all justly bereft
[20]   But yet sufficient for us left.
[21]   When by the Ruins oft I past            [Ruins . . . i.e., of her burnt house]
[22]   My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
[23]   And here and there the places spy
[24]   Where oft I sate and long did lie.                       [sate = sat]
[25]   Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,      [trunk = storage]
[26]   There lay that store I counted best,             [store = article of clothing, furniture, etc.]
[27]   My pleasant things in ashes lie
[28]   And them behold no more shall I.
[29]   Under the roof no guest shall sit,
[30]   Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
[31]   No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told             ['ere = ever]
[32]   Nor things recounted done of old.
[33]   No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,          ['ere = ever]
[34]   Nor bridegroom's voice 'ere heard shall be.        ['ere = ever]
[35]   In silence ever shalt thou lie.
[36]   Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity.                          [Ecclesiastes 1.2: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.]
[37]   Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide:     ['gin = begin; chide = scold, rebuke]
[38]   And did thy wealth on earth abide,
[39]   Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,           [mouldring = moldering]
[40]   The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
[41]   Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
[42]   That dunghill mists away may fly.              [dunghill = pile of rubbish, filth, applied to earthly cares]
[43]   Thou hast a house on high erect
[44]   Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
[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.
[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]   Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.             [pelf = property; store = possessions]
[53]   The world no longer let me love;
[54]   My hope and Treasure lies above.

Biographical note: The Bradstreet home in North Andover, Massachusetts, burned to the ground on 10 July 1666.