SEVERAL

POEMS

Compiled with great variety of Wit and Learning, full of Delight;

Wherein especially is contained a compleat Discourse, and Description of

And beginning of the Romane Common-wealth to the end of their laft King:

With diverse other pleasant & serious Poems,

By a Gentlewoman in New-England.

The fecond Edition, Corrected by the Author, and enlarged by an Addition of feveral other Poems found amongst her Papers after her Death.

Bofton, Printed by John Fofter, 1678.

Kind Reader:

[iii]

Ad I opportunity but to borrow fome of the Authors wit, 'tis poffible I might fo trim this curious work with fuch quaint expreffions, as that the Preface might bespeak thy further Perufal; but I fear 'twill be a shame for a Man that can speak fo little, To be feen in the title-page of this Womans Book, left by comparing the one with the other, the Reader fhould pass his fentence that it is the gift of women not only to speak moft but to speak beft; I fhal leave therefore to commend that, which with any ingenious Reader will too much commend the Author, unless men turn more peevish then women, to envy the excellency of the inferiour Sex. I doubt not but the Reader will quickly find more then I can fay, and the worst effect of his reading will be unbelief, which will make him queftion whether it be a womans work, and aske, Is is poffible? If any do, take this as an answer from him that dares avow it; It is the Work of a Woman,

honoured, and esteemed where the lives, for her gracious demeanour, her eminent parts, her pious conversation, her courteous difpofition, her exact diligence in her place, and difcreet managing of her Family [iv] occafions, and more then fo, these Poems are the fruit but of fome few houres, curtailed from her fleep and other refreshments. I dare adde little left I keep thee too long; if thou wilt not believe the worth of these things (in their kind) when a man fayes it, yet believe it from a woman when thou seest it. This only I fhall annex, I fear the displeasure of no person in the publishing of thefe Poems but the Author, without whofe knowledg, and contrary to her expectation, I have prefumed to bring to publick view, what she refolved in fuch a manner fhould never fee the Sun; but I found that diverse had gotten fome scattered Papers, affected them well, were likely to have fent forth broken pieces, to the Authors prejudice, which I thought to prevent, as well as to pleafure those that earnestly defired the view of the whole.