If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
“To my Dear and Loving Husband” by Xavier Byams
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” was written by Anne Bradstreet, America’s first published poet, in 1628 and published in 1678. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” is a love poem from Bradstreet to her husband that is a glimpse into American Puritan life. Anne Bradstreet loved her husband very much and Can tell by reading this poem that Bradstreet was very well educated and a great grasp on the english language, but what does this poem mean.
In the first line of the poem Bradstreet says, “If ever two were one, then surely we.” which sets the tone for the whole poem. Bradstreet speaks confidently on her and her husbands feelings in this line which shows the connection between Bradstreet and her husband if the first line didnt already confirm that Bradstreet goes “If ever man loved by wife, then thee. If ever wife was happy in man,” In these two lines we see repetition of ever which puts the thought of no one will have ever loved like me in the readers head and you get that feeling of overbearing love like a mother to her child.
In lines four through six Bradstreet says, “Compare with me, ye women, if you can. I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold, Or all the riches that the East doth hold.” These three lines are the most important lines in the poem because Bradstreet is first saying to the world that no one can take my husband he is all mine and she is daring any woman to stand in between her and her love. Then she says that she treasures her love, her husband, more than all the gold and all the treasures of the east. She is saying that her husband is worth more than anything in the whole world.
In lines seven through twelve Bradstreet says, “My love is such that Rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee give recompense. Thy love is such I can no way repay; The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere, That when we live no more, we may live ever. Bradstreet is saying that her love is unquenchable and can never be contained. Bradstreet then says the only love that will ever match hers is the love her husband has for her. After that Bradstreet talks about the after life and eternal love after their lives have come to an end.
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” written by Anne Bradstreet, America’s first published poet, in 1628 and published in 1678 is a eternal love poem from Bradstreet to her husband in the purest way. The poem shows the thought of almost supernatural love. This poem gives us a look into the life of a puritan woman fully devoted to her husband .which is great for understanding the time.
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Bell McKee
Anne Bradstreet was a English colonial women who was a member of the Puritan church. Bradstreet wrote poetry and was one of the first women to publish a book of her poems in England. Bradstreet’s direct profession of her desires in her piece “To My Dear and Loving Husband” were not the standard for Puritan women and would have been considered rather inappropriate. In utilizing religious language throughout her piece, Bradstreet draws on sacred themes relating to Heaven and God, which the audience interprets as the Puritan stressing of God and his divine will reflecting people’s choices.
The Puritans believe that God has predetermined the course of their lives and when things go their way it is a sign from God that they are in his favor. By requesting that “the heavens reward thee manifold,” Bradstreet lends a hand to this ideology by requesting God’s eternal reward in Heaven to show their love was his will. Anne mentions materialistic value when referencing the value she holds on her husband’s love. Bradstreet calls her love for him worth “more than whole mines of gold.” To be materialistic as Bradstreet demonstrates in her writing would have been greatly discouraged in the Puritan life, for it was to be God above all, not material beings or possessions. Anne can be cited as saying that she has such a strong love for her husband that “rivers cannot quench” it. Simply put, her want and draw to her husband is one that could not be halted and is an abundance. WHile her piece was directed at her husband which allows for more intimacy in the Puritan eye, her public profession of such desires is what causes the outrage surrounding this piece.
Although the manner in which she proclaimed her love may have been rejected, her profession of an equal marital relationship would be one later appreciated.
