"Childhood"
By
Anne Bradstreet
Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Staff and Research Assistants at The University of Virginia, John O'Brien, Sara Brunstetter
titleThis poem is the first of four poems in a larger work called Of the Four Ages of Man.breedingBreeding sickness is referring to her pregnancy. Source: Oxford English DictionaryalacrityAlacrity means cheerful readiness or willingness. Source: Oxford English Dictionaryby"By, By" is the title of a song, probably a lullaby.carkeTo cark means to labour anxiously. Source: Oxford English DictionaryauthorityBradstreet had no place in disputes between the people and the royal family. This is likely an allusion to the English Civil War, which she discussed in other poems. (Bradstreet,"A Dialogue between Old England and New; concerning their present Troubles”)statistA statist is someone who believes that the state should control either economic or social policy, or both, to some degree. Source: WikipediamartialistMartialist is another word for soldier. Source: Oxford English DictionarydiademThis use of diadem, which is another word for crown, is likely a metonym for royalty. She did not fight for royalty as a child.welteringTo welter means to wither. Source: Oxford English DictionarybowelsThis line is likely referring to when a person's bowels empty after they die.suitsSuits at law refers to lawsuits. Bradstreet had no legal troubles as a child.fraughtsFraught is equivalent to the modern word freight. Source: Oxford English DictionaryinsuingInsuing is equivalent to the modern word ensuing, meaning following. Source: Oxford English DictionarysinAdam's sinful fact refers to original sin from the Creation story of the Book of Genesis.gan'gan is an abbreviation of "began".fifthAnne Bradstreet was Puritan. The Fifth Commandment refers to "Honoring thy father and mother." Source: WikipediacruditiesImperfect Humours or indigestibles. Source: Oxford English DictionaryfluxFlux is an abnormally copious flowing of blood, excrement, etc. from the bowels or other organs. Source: Oxford English DictionarylittleAfter this, Bradstreet begins the second poem in Of the Four Ages of Man, "Youth."
[TP]
SEVERAL
POEMS
Compiled with great variety of Wit and
Learning, full of Delight;
Wherein especially is contained a compleat
Discourse, and Description of
The Four { ELEMENTS
CONSTITUTIONS,
AGES of Man,
SEASONS of the Year.
Together with an exact Epitome of
the three first Monarchyes
Viz, The { ASSYRIAN,
PERSIAN,
GRECIAN.
And beginning of the Romane Common-wealth
to the end of their last King:
With diverse other pleasant & serious Poems,
By a Gentlewoman in New-England.
The second Edition, Corrected by the Author,
and enlarged by an Addition of several other
Poems found amongst her Papers
after her Death.
Boston, Printed by John Foster, 1678.
POEMS
Compiled with great variety of Wit and
Learning, full of Delight;
Wherein especially is contained a compleat
Discourse, and Description of
The Four { ELEMENTS
CONSTITUTIONS,
AGES of Man,
SEASONS of the Year.
Together with an exact Epitome of
the three first Monarchyes
Viz, The { ASSYRIAN,
PERSIAN,
GRECIAN.
And beginning of the Romane Common-wealth
to the end of their last King:
With diverse other pleasant & serious Poems,
By a Gentlewoman in New-England.
The second Edition, Corrected by the Author,
and enlarged by an Addition of several other
Poems found amongst her Papers
after her Death.
Boston, Printed by John Foster, 1678.