Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DISTRACTED PURITAN, by RICHARD CORBET Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Am I mad, o noble festus Last Line: Come hear me pray nine times a daqy, %and fill your heads with crotchets Alternate Author Name(s): Corbett, Richard Subject(s): Puritans | ||||||||
Out of the church she [the servant] dragg'd him, and home did bring, And by her virtue cured the deadly sin; Who for five hours together durst not speak, Only a fish-wife's language could he break: But at the length, his silence he did break, And thus bespake his wife; "My Joan, for thy sake, I have this day escaped a deadly snare, And therefore for my safety use more care: Know you, my Joan, the Lord will not be mock'd, And therefore for my soul I must provide; No more shall ale or cakes my taste provoke, For my religion wills that I should fast: So shall my soul be with salvation blest, For I have fasted most religiously." At this his Joan began to cast her eyes Aside, and to soliloquize: Alas! how fond have I been all this while, To take a Puritan to be my dear; Yet I am sure he lov'd me at the first, And for my beauty I did quench his thirst. Oft would he sigh and look most pitiful, And make long speeches 'gainst the scarlet whore; But now, alas! his zeal hath made him mad, And in his frenzy he hath lost his wit." Thus did she mourn, while he did fast and pray, Thinking thereby to cleanse his soul each day: But he thereby grew leane and full of pain, And being not well, grew every day more vain; His eyes grew dim, his sight began to fail, His stomach sick, his body thin and pale. And to conclude, so clearly he was gone, That to the church-yard he could walk alone. The minister did comfort him, and said, Good brother, be not troubled in your head; Christ by his death hath sav'd thy sinful soul, And with his blood hath wash'd thee in the bowl Of his own mercy; therefore do not doubt, But in his promise rest, for he's most stout; Believe in him, and never be afraid, For he is merciful as well as just." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LETTER TO HER HUSBAND, ABSENT UPON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT by ANNE BRADSTREET BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ONE OF HER CHILDREN by ANNE BRADSTREET CONTEMPLATIONS by ANNE BRADSTREET LONGING FOR HEAVEN by ANNE BRADSTREET SOME VERSES UPON THE BURNING OF OUR HOUSE JULY 10, 1666 by ANNE BRADSTREET THE AUTHOR TO HER BOOK by ANNE BRADSTREET THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT by ANNE BRADSTREET THE TENTH MUSE: THE PROLOGUE by ANNE BRADSTREET THE TENTH MUSE: THE VANITY OF ALL WORLDLY THINGS by ANNE BRADSTREET A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET TO HIS SON, VINCENT CORBET, ON HIS THIRD BIRTHDAY by RICHARD CORBET |
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