"Old Age"
By
Anne Bradstreet
Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Staff and Research Assistants at The University of Virginia, John O'Brien, Sara Brunstetter
[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. 54 Old AgetitletitleThe first section of the Tenth Muse includes four long poems known as the quaternions.These are the "Four Elements", "The Four Humors of Man", "The Four Ages of Man", and "The Four Seasons." Each poem consists of a series of orations with "Old Age" being the fourth portion of the poem "The Four Ages of Man" preceded by "Childhood", "Youth", and "Middle Age" respectively. Source:Poetry Foundation 1What you have been, ev'n such have I before, 2And all you say, say I, and something more; 55 3Babes innocence, Youths wildness I have seen, 4And in perplexed Middle-age have bin, 5Sicknesse, dangers, and anxieties have past, 6And on this Stage am come to act my last. 7I have bin young, and strong, ad wise as you, 8But now, Bis pueri senesbisbisLatin phrase meaning "old men are twice boys." Source: Encyclopedia Co. UK, is too true; 9In every Age i've found much vanitie, 10An end of all perfection now I see. 11It's not my valour, honour, nor my gold, 12My ruin'd house, now fallin can uphold; 13It's not my Learning, Rhetorick, wit so large, 14Now hath the power, Deaths Warfare, to discharge; 15It's not my goodly house, nor bed of down, 16That can refresh, or ease, if Conscience frown; 17Nor from alliance now can I have hope, 18But what I have done wel, that is my prop; 19He that in youth is godly, wise, and sage, 20Provides a staffe for to support his age. 21Great mutations, some joyful, and some sad, 22In this short PilgrimagepilgrimagepilgrimageAlthough Bradsteet is probably using Pilgramage as a metaphor to mean the narrator's life time, it could also be possible that she is referring to her move from England to the New England Colonies to support the Puritan cause. The ship by which she travelled docked at Salem, Massachusetts on July 22, l630. Source: Poetry Foundation I oft have had; 23Sometimes the Heavens with plenty smil'd on me, 24Sometimes again, rain'd al adversity; 25Sometimes in honour, sometimes in disgrace, 26Sometimes an abject, then again in place, 27Such private changes oft mine eyes have seen 28In various times of state i've also been. 29I've seen a Kingdom flourish like a tree, 30When it was rul'd by that Celestial sheshesheQueen Elizabeth; 31And like a Cedar, others so surmount, 32That but for shrubs they did themselves account; 56 33Then saw I France, and Holland sav'd, Cales won, 34And Philip, and Albertus, half undoneundoneundoneMost likely this is refrencing the destruction of the Spanish Armada in l588 during which Phillip II was the ruler of Sain. He organized a huge naval expedition against Protestand England in l588 which turned out unsuccessful and gave England a great advantage. The Spanish Armada anchored before Calais, a port city in Northern France. The vast success of Queen Eizabeth may perhaps be said to have "undone" Philip and Albertus, who was made Governer of Nertherlands by Phillip II of Spain. Source: Google Books, The Works of Anne Bradstreet in Prose and Verse; Wikipedia; 35I saw all peace at home, terror to foes, 36But ah, I saw at last those eyes to close: 37And then, me thought, the world at noon grew dark, 38When it had lost that radiant Sun-like spark, 39In midst of greifs, I saw some hopes revive, 40(For 'twas our hopes then kept our hearts alive) 41I saw hopes dasht, our fwwardnesse was shent, 42And silenc'd we, by Act of ParliamentactactIn progress.. 43I've seen from Rome, an excerable thing, 44A plot to blow up Nobles, and their KingplotplotThe Gunpowder Plot also known as the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England by a group of English Catholics led by Robert Catesby. The plan was to blow up the house lord during the State Opening of England's Parliament on November 5, l605. Source: Wikipedia; 45I've seen designes at ReeReeReeSent by King Charles I, George Villiers was the lst Duke of Buckingham and the leader of the fleet that made and unsucessful attempt to take the Isle de Rhe in front of La Rochelle in l627. Source: Wikipedia, and Cadesn007n007Refers to the failure of a naval expedition under the command of Sir Edward Cecil, an English military commander who sailed in l625 to capture some Spanish treasure ships in the Bay of Cadiz. Source: Google Books, The Works of Anne Bradstreet in Prose and Verse.crost, 46And poor Palatinate for ever lost. 47I've seen a Prince, to live on onthers landsexileexileThe elector of Palatinate, Frederick V, spent the rest of his life in exile. Source: Wikipedia, 48A Royal one, by almes from Subjects hands, 49I've seen base men, advanc'd to great degree, 50And worthy ones, put to extremity: 51But not their Princes love, nor state so high; 52could once reverse, their shameful destiny. 53I've seen one stab'd, another loose his headheadhead King Charles I who was beheaded after 59 commissioners signed his death warrant after his trial on January l649 proceeding the English Civil War. Source: Wikipedia; 54And others sly their Country, through their dread. 57 55It've seen, and so have ye, for 'tis but late, 56The desolation, of a goodly State. 57Plotted and acted, so that none can tell, 58Who gave the counsel, but the Prince of hell. 59I've seen a land unmoulded with great paine. 60But yet may live, to see'd made up again: 61I've seen it shaken, rent, and soak'd in bloodblood,The Irish Rebellion of l64l, which began as an attempted coup d'etat by Irish Catholic gentry who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions of Catholics. The rebellion broke out October l64l and was followed by several months of violent chaos. Source: Wikipedia 62But out of troubles, ye may see much good, 63These are no old weives tales, but this is truth; 64We old men love to tell, what's done in youth. 65But I returne, from whence I stept awry, 66My memory is shott, and braine is dry. 67My Almond-tree (gray haires) doth flourish now, 68And back, once straight, begins apace to bow. 69My grinders now are few, my sight doth faile 70My skin is wrinkled, and my cheeks are pale. 71No more rejoyce, at musickes pleasant noyce, 72But do awake, at the cocks clanging voyce. 73I cannot scent, savours of pleasant meat, 74Nor saporssaporssaporsTaste. Source: Oxford English Dictionary find, in what I drink or eat. 75My hands and armes, once strong, have lost their might, 76I cannot labour, nor I cannot fight: 58 77My comely legs, as nimble as the RoeroeroeThe roe deer. , 78Now stiffe and numb, can hardly creep or go. 79My heart sometimes as fierce, as Lion hold, 80Now trembling, and fearful, sad, and cold; 81My golden Bowl, and silver Cord, e're long, 82Shal both be broke, by wracking death so strong; 83I then shal go, whence I shal come no more, 84Sons, Nephews, leave, my death for to deplore; 85In pleasures, and in labours, I have found. 86That earth can give no consolation found. 87To grease, to rich, to poore, to young, or old, 88To mean, to noble, fearful, or to bold: 89From King to begger, all degrees shal finde 90But vanity, vexation of the minde; 91Yea knowing much, the pleasant'st life of all, 92Hath yet amongst that sweet some bitter gall. 93Though reading others Works, doth much refresh, 94Yet studying much, brings wearinesse to th' flesh: 95My studies, labours, readings, all are done, 96And my last period now e'n almost run; 97Corruption, my Father, I do call, 98Mother, and sisters both; the worms, that crawl, 99In my dark house, such kindred I have store, 100There, I shal rest, til heavens shal be no more; 101And when this flesh that rot, and be consum'd, 102This body, by this soul, shal be assum'd; 103And I shal see, with these same very eyes, 104My strong Redeemer, comming in the skies; 105Triumph I shal, o're Sin, o're Death, o're Hel, 106And in that hope, I bid you all farewel.
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. 54 Old AgetitletitleThe first section of the Tenth Muse includes four long poems known as the quaternions.These are the "Four Elements", "The Four Humors of Man", "The Four Ages of Man", and "The Four Seasons." Each poem consists of a series of orations with "Old Age" being the fourth portion of the poem "The Four Ages of Man" preceded by "Childhood", "Youth", and "Middle Age" respectively. Source:Poetry Foundation 1What you have been, ev'n such have I before, 2And all you say, say I, and something more; 55 3Babes innocence, Youths wildness I have seen, 4And in perplexed Middle-age have bin, 5Sicknesse, dangers, and anxieties have past, 6And on this Stage am come to act my last. 7I have bin young, and strong, ad wise as you, 8But now, Bis pueri senesbisbisLatin phrase meaning "old men are twice boys." Source: Encyclopedia Co. UK, is too true; 9In every Age i've found much vanitie, 10An end of all perfection now I see. 11It's not my valour, honour, nor my gold, 12My ruin'd house, now fallin can uphold; 13It's not my Learning, Rhetorick, wit so large, 14Now hath the power, Deaths Warfare, to discharge; 15It's not my goodly house, nor bed of down, 16That can refresh, or ease, if Conscience frown; 17Nor from alliance now can I have hope, 18But what I have done wel, that is my prop; 19He that in youth is godly, wise, and sage, 20Provides a staffe for to support his age. 21Great mutations, some joyful, and some sad, 22In this short PilgrimagepilgrimagepilgrimageAlthough Bradsteet is probably using Pilgramage as a metaphor to mean the narrator's life time, it could also be possible that she is referring to her move from England to the New England Colonies to support the Puritan cause. The ship by which she travelled docked at Salem, Massachusetts on July 22, l630. Source: Poetry Foundation I oft have had; 23Sometimes the Heavens with plenty smil'd on me, 24Sometimes again, rain'd al adversity; 25Sometimes in honour, sometimes in disgrace, 26Sometimes an abject, then again in place, 27Such private changes oft mine eyes have seen 28In various times of state i've also been. 29I've seen a Kingdom flourish like a tree, 30When it was rul'd by that Celestial sheshesheQueen Elizabeth; 31And like a Cedar, others so surmount, 32That but for shrubs they did themselves account; 56 33Then saw I France, and Holland sav'd, Cales won, 34And Philip, and Albertus, half undoneundoneundoneMost likely this is refrencing the destruction of the Spanish Armada in l588 during which Phillip II was the ruler of Sain. He organized a huge naval expedition against Protestand England in l588 which turned out unsuccessful and gave England a great advantage. The Spanish Armada anchored before Calais, a port city in Northern France. The vast success of Queen Eizabeth may perhaps be said to have "undone" Philip and Albertus, who was made Governer of Nertherlands by Phillip II of Spain. Source: Google Books, The Works of Anne Bradstreet in Prose and Verse; Wikipedia; 35I saw all peace at home, terror to foes, 36But ah, I saw at last those eyes to close: 37And then, me thought, the world at noon grew dark, 38When it had lost that radiant Sun-like spark, 39In midst of greifs, I saw some hopes revive, 40(For 'twas our hopes then kept our hearts alive) 41I saw hopes dasht, our fwwardnesse was shent, 42And silenc'd we, by Act of ParliamentactactIn progress.. 43I've seen from Rome, an excerable thing, 44A plot to blow up Nobles, and their KingplotplotThe Gunpowder Plot also known as the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England by a group of English Catholics led by Robert Catesby. The plan was to blow up the house lord during the State Opening of England's Parliament on November 5, l605. Source: Wikipedia; 45I've seen designes at ReeReeReeSent by King Charles I, George Villiers was the lst Duke of Buckingham and the leader of the fleet that made and unsucessful attempt to take the Isle de Rhe in front of La Rochelle in l627. Source: Wikipedia, and Cadesn007n007Refers to the failure of a naval expedition under the command of Sir Edward Cecil, an English military commander who sailed in l625 to capture some Spanish treasure ships in the Bay of Cadiz. Source: Google Books, The Works of Anne Bradstreet in Prose and Verse.crost, 46And poor Palatinate for ever lost. 47I've seen a Prince, to live on onthers landsexileexileThe elector of Palatinate, Frederick V, spent the rest of his life in exile. Source: Wikipedia, 48A Royal one, by almes from Subjects hands, 49I've seen base men, advanc'd to great degree, 50And worthy ones, put to extremity: 51But not their Princes love, nor state so high; 52could once reverse, their shameful destiny. 53I've seen one stab'd, another loose his headheadhead King Charles I who was beheaded after 59 commissioners signed his death warrant after his trial on January l649 proceeding the English Civil War. Source: Wikipedia; 54And others sly their Country, through their dread. 57 55It've seen, and so have ye, for 'tis but late, 56The desolation, of a goodly State. 57Plotted and acted, so that none can tell, 58Who gave the counsel, but the Prince of hell. 59I've seen a land unmoulded with great paine. 60But yet may live, to see'd made up again: 61I've seen it shaken, rent, and soak'd in bloodblood,The Irish Rebellion of l64l, which began as an attempted coup d'etat by Irish Catholic gentry who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions of Catholics. The rebellion broke out October l64l and was followed by several months of violent chaos. Source: Wikipedia 62But out of troubles, ye may see much good, 63These are no old weives tales, but this is truth; 64We old men love to tell, what's done in youth. 65But I returne, from whence I stept awry, 66My memory is shott, and braine is dry. 67My Almond-tree (gray haires) doth flourish now, 68And back, once straight, begins apace to bow. 69My grinders now are few, my sight doth faile 70My skin is wrinkled, and my cheeks are pale. 71No more rejoyce, at musickes pleasant noyce, 72But do awake, at the cocks clanging voyce. 73I cannot scent, savours of pleasant meat, 74Nor saporssaporssaporsTaste. Source: Oxford English Dictionary find, in what I drink or eat. 75My hands and armes, once strong, have lost their might, 76I cannot labour, nor I cannot fight: 58 77My comely legs, as nimble as the RoeroeroeThe roe deer. , 78Now stiffe and numb, can hardly creep or go. 79My heart sometimes as fierce, as Lion hold, 80Now trembling, and fearful, sad, and cold; 81My golden Bowl, and silver Cord, e're long, 82Shal both be broke, by wracking death so strong; 83I then shal go, whence I shal come no more, 84Sons, Nephews, leave, my death for to deplore; 85In pleasures, and in labours, I have found. 86That earth can give no consolation found. 87To grease, to rich, to poore, to young, or old, 88To mean, to noble, fearful, or to bold: 89From King to begger, all degrees shal finde 90But vanity, vexation of the minde; 91Yea knowing much, the pleasant'st life of all, 92Hath yet amongst that sweet some bitter gall. 93Though reading others Works, doth much refresh, 94Yet studying much, brings wearinesse to th' flesh: 95My studies, labours, readings, all are done, 96And my last period now e'n almost run; 97Corruption, my Father, I do call, 98Mother, and sisters both; the worms, that crawl, 99In my dark house, such kindred I have store, 100There, I shal rest, til heavens shal be no more; 101And when this flesh that rot, and be consum'd, 102This body, by this soul, shal be assum'd; 103And I shal see, with these same very eyes, 104My strong Redeemer, comming in the skies; 105Triumph I shal, o're Sin, o're Death, o're Hel, 106And in that hope, I bid you all farewel.