 | The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet |  |
[28] Infirmitye
I want a volubility of tongue,
To trafficke for applause;
Although I know the lawes
And rights of rhetoricke: I am not strung
For sound, and musicke shrill:
My tongue's a silent quill:
My witt is dumbe, and doth rehearse
Things by mere signes, and characters.
To trafficke for applause;
Although I know the lawes
And rights of rhetoricke: I am not strung
For sound, and musicke shrill:
My tongue's a silent quill:
My witt is dumbe, and doth rehearse
Things by mere signes, and characters.
But my defect in this mercuriall part,
Doth chiefely mee afflict,
When I my self addict,
To praise my God, with a devoted heart:
I covet not a tongue,
To tune a wanton song:
A tongue tipp'd with deceite, or guile,
A tongue to rayle, or to revile.
Doth chiefely mee afflict,
When I my self addict,
To praise my God, with a devoted heart:
I covet not a tongue,
To tune a wanton song:
326
A tongue to rayle, or to revile.
But such a tongue I would desire to have,
As might impresse remorse,
In holy Auditours,
And rather cause them to lamente, then laughe:
Yet alwayes would I not,
Unto a tragicke note
My organe sett; but would make glad
(As time should serve) a spirit sad.
As might impresse remorse,
In holy Auditours,
And rather cause them to lamente, then laughe:
Yet alwayes would I not,
Unto a tragicke note
My organe sett; but would make glad
(As time should serve) a spirit sad.
Then since my tongue is so infirme (Oh Lord)
That I cannot aspire,
To bee one of thy quire,
Vouchsafe those gifts unto my heart t'afford,
Which may make recompence,
For my tongues impotence;
Then I shall praise Thee, while my will,
My tongues defects shall cover still.
That I cannot aspire,
To bee one of thy quire,
Vouchsafe those gifts unto my heart t'afford,
Which may make recompence,
For my tongues impotence;
Then I shall praise Thee, while my will,
My tongues defects shall cover still.
| The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet | |