Anne Bradstreet - Verses Upon the Burning of Our House July 18th 1666

Lyrics

In silent night when rest I took For sorrow near I did not look I wakened was with thund'ring noise And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice That fearful sound of "fire" and "fire," Let no man know is my Desire I, starting up, the light did spy And to my God my heart did cry To straighten me in my Distress And not to leave me succourless Then, coming out, behold a space The flame consume my dwelling place And when I could no longer look I blest His name that gave and took That laid my goods now in the dust Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just It was his own, it was not mine Far bе it that I should repine; He might of all justly bеreft But yet sufficient for us left When by the ruins oft I past My sorrowing eyes aside did cast And here and there the places spy Where oft I sate and long did lie Here stood that trunk, and there that chest There lay that store I counted best My pleasant things in ashes lie And them behold no more shall I Under thy roof no guest shall sit Nor at thy Table eat a bit No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told Nor things recounted done of old No Candle e'er shall shine in Thee Nor bridegroom's voice e'er heard shall be In silence ever shalt thou lie Adieu, Adieu, all's vanity Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide And did thy wealth on earth abide? Didst fix thy hope on mould'ring dust? The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Raise up thy thoughts above the sky That dunghill mists away may fly Thou hast a house on high erect Frameed by that mighty Architect With glory richly furnished Stands permanent though this be fled It's purchased and paid for too By Him who hath enough to do A price so vast as is unknown Yet by His gift is made thine own; There's wealth enough, I need no more Farewell, my pelf, farewell, my store The world no longer let me love My hope and treasure lies above