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The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet

A Critical Edition by Amy M. Charles
Knevet, Ralph (1600-1671)

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[section]
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ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΟΝ.
  
[dedication]
 3. 
[3] To his friend the Author.
 4. 
[4] To any to whom I write.
 5. 
[5] To the same.
 6. 
[6] To Captaine HENRY SHELTON.
 7. 
[7] To Mr. THOMAS KNEVET of Ashwell Thorpe.
 8. 
[8] To Sir ROGER TOWNSEND.
 9. 
[9] To Sir CHARLES LE-GROSSE.
 10. 
[10] To Sir JOHN HARE.
 11. 
[11] To Sir WILLIAM YELVERTON of Ruffham.
 12. 
[12] To Sir MILES HOBART Knight of the Bathe.
 13. 
[13] To Sir JOHN HENNINGHAM.
 14. 
[14] To Sir HEYMAN LE-STRANGE.
 15. 
[15] To Sir THOMAS SOUTHWELL.
 16. 
[16] To Sir THOMAS WOODHOUSE.
 17. 
[17] To Sir THOMAS RICHARDSON.
 18. 
[18] To Sir ROBERT GAUDY.
 19. 
[19] To Sir DRU DRURY.
 20. 
[20] To Sir JOHN HOBART.
 21. 
[21] To Sir ROBERT BELL.
 22. 
[22] To Sir WILLIAM DE-GRAY.
 23. 
[23] To Mr. FRAMMINGHAM GAUDY.
 24. 
[24] To Mr. SHEPHERD of Kyrby.
 25. 
[25] To Mr. WEBBE of Breckles.
 26. 
[26] To Mr. ANTHONY HOBART of Hales.
 27. 
[27] To Mr. PHILIP WOODHOUSE.
 28. 
[28] To Mr. WILLIM POSTON of Paston.
 29. 
[29] To Mr. PETTIE of Morley.
 30. 
[30] To Mr. JOHN HOLLAND.
 31. 
[31] To Mr. BARTHOLOMEW COTTON.
 32. 
[32] To Mr. THOMAS WARDE of Bixley.
 33. 
[33] To Mr. THOMAS LAYER of Booton.
 34. 
[34] To Mr. JAMES CALTHORP.
 35. 
[35] To Mr. WILLIAM BLADWELL.
 36. 
[36] To Mr. RAPH BLEVER-HASSIT.
 37. 
[37] To Mr. CLEMENT HYRNE.
 38. 
[38] To Mr. EDMUND KNEVET.
 39. 
[39] To Mr. AUSTINE HOLLE.
 40. 
[40] To Mr. EDWARD WOOTTON.
 41. 
[41] To Mr. EDWARD DOILY.
 42. 
[42] To Mr. JOHN CRUSO.
  
A DISCOURSE OF MILITARIE DISCIPLINE.
 43. 
[43]. A Threnode
 44. 
[44] Upon the death of Sir RALPHE SHELTON.
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RHODON AND IRIS.
 1. 
[1] To the right Worshipfull, Mr. NICHOLAS BACON of Gillingham, Esquire.
 2. 
[2] To his much respected friends, the Society of Florists.
 3. 
[3] To the Booke and his worthy friend the AUTHOR.
 4. 
[4] To his friend the Author.
 5. 
[5] To his friend the Author.
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RHODON AND IRIS
  
Prologue.
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ACT. 1.
 1. 
SCEN. 1.
 2. 
SCEN. 2.
 3. 
SCEN. 3.
 4. 
SCEN. 4.
 5. 
SCEN. 5.
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ACT. 2.
 1. 
SCEN. 1.
 2. 
SCEN. 2.
 3. 
SCEN. 3.
 4. 
SCEN. 4.
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ACT 3.
 1. 
SCEN. 1
 2. 
SCEN. 2.
 3. 
SCEN. 3.
 4. 
SCEN. 4.
 5. 
SCEN. 5.
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ACT. 4.
 1. 
SCEN. 1.
 2. 
SCEN. 2.
 3. 
SCEN. 3.
 4. 
SCEN. 4
 5. 
SCEN. 5.
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ACT. 5
 1. 
SCEN. 1
 2. 
SCEN. 2.
 3. 
SCEN. 3.
 4. 
SCEN. 4.
 5. 
SCEN. 5.
 6. 
SCEN. 6.
  
Epilogue.
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FUNERALL ELEGIES;
  
[dedication]
 1. 
Eleg. 1.
 2. 
Eleg. 2.
 3. 
Eleg. 3.
  
Epicedium.
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A GALLERY TO THE TEMPLE.
  
[dedication]
  
The Dedication
 1. 
[1] The Incarnation.
 2. 
[2] The Passion
 3. 
[3] The Deprecation
 4. 
[4] Solitude
 5. 
[5] Resolution
 6. 
[6] Blindnes
 7. 
[7] The Newyeares Gift
 8. 
[8] Sciences
 9. 
[9] Teares
 10. 
[10] Securitye
 11. 
[11] The Bankrupte
 12. 
[12] Griefe
 13. 
[13] Truth
 14. 
[14] The Vote
 15. 
[15] The Antiphon
 16. 
[16] Crosses
 17. 
[17] The Sute
 18. 
[18] Hypocrisie
 19. 
[19] The Conception
 20. 
[20] The Habitation
 21. 
[21] The Dialogue
 22. 
[22] Vanitye
 23. 
[23] The Apparition
 24. 
[24] The Rocke
 25. 
[25] Bounty
 26. 
[26] The Navigation
 27. 
[27] The Apologye
 28. 
[28] Infirmitye
 29. 
[29] Contrition
 30. 
[30] The Progresse
 31. 
[31] Neclect
 32. 
[32] The Treasure
 33. 
[33] Jordan
 34. 
[34] Prodigyes
 35. 
[35] Infinitenes
 36. 
[36] The Descension
 37. 
[37] Unconstancye
 38. 
[38] Devotion
 39. 
[39] The Bottle
 40. 
[40] The Deliverance
 41. 
[41] The Triumphe
 42. 
[42] The Extremes
 43. 
[43] The Feast
 44. 
[44] Weakenes
 45. 
[45] The Lamentation
 46. 
[46] Sanctification
 47. 
[47] The Pedigree
 48. 
[48] Peace
 49. 
[49] The Nosegay
 50. 
[50] The Pilgrimage
 51. 
[51] The Transmutation
 52. 
[52] The Burthen
 53. 
[53] Ostentation
 54. 
[54] The Race
 55. 
[55] Vivacitye
 56. 
[56] Hardnes
 57. 
[57] Intemperance
 58. 
[58] The Combate
 59. 
[59] The Echo
 60. 
[60] Moderation
 61. 
[61] The Prodigall
 62. 
[62] The Harpe
 63. 
[63] The Mistake
 64. 
[64] The Terrours
 65. 
[65] The Tempest
 66. 
[66] Conversion
 67. 
[67] The Refuge
 68. 
[68] The Mansion
 69. 
[69] The Imprese
 70. 
[70] Knowledge
 71. 
[71] Prayer
 72. 
[72] Sicknes
 73. 
[73] The World
 74. 
[74] Preacheing
 75. 
[75] Memorye
 76. 
[76] Simplicitye
 77. 
[77] Self-Love
 78. 
[78] The Hermite
 79. 
[79] Retribution
 80. 
[80] Remorse
  
L'Envoy

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[44] Weakenes

(Oh Lord) how can I observe thy commands,
Since I have neither heart, nor hands,
I want both eares, and eyes:
The facultyes,
Of my decrepite soule, are so decayd,
That they can lend my will no ayde:
For those things, I would doe,
I can't reach too:
So infirme am I, and so overlayd.
Hereditary sinne stickes in my bones,
From many generations;
The Parents of us all
Were sensuall,
347

And fix'd on us, through their intemperance,
That epidemicall disease,
Which none can cure, but Hee,
Who on a Tree
Expir'd: Thus Life with Death in race aggrees.

The crosse was/the tree of life/ & the tree of the/forbidden fruite,/the tree of death/


(Lord) even thine owne Disciples, who beheld
Thy great miracles, and were fill'd
With thy instructions, they,
Oft went astray:
Thy Parables, they did not understand,
And though by power from thy hand,
They went to cast out Devills,
And heal all evills,
Yet alwayes could not performe thy command.
Though in their sight, Thou, not with many dishes,
But a few loaves, and fewer fishes,
Didst many thousands feede,
Yet want of bread,
Did them perplexe, bicause they faith did want:
Though They, with Thee were conversant;
Infants to Thee presented,
Them discontented,
Though Thou to such alone, thy realme dos't graunt.
On land, They Thee but a meere Man esteem'd;
At sea, They Thee a spirit deem'd:
They wanted faith t'espy
Thy Deitye,
By sea or land; though Thou, by sea, and land,
Thy Godhead shewd'st: yea though thy hand
By wonders did out acte,
Eves whole extracte,
Yet They, Thee a mere Prophet understand.
348

Yea, one of those, who at thy Table fed,
Who tooke from thee that mysticke bread,
Which being taken right,
Gives life, and light:
Even Hee, thy life betrayd, with a light kisse,
Unto thy cruell enemyes,
Hee sold (for thirty pence)
The quintessence
Of life, and the Elixir of true blisse.
How then thy Flocke was scatter'd, on each hand,
Like winde-driven dust, or flyeing Sand:
Yea, that stout Champion,
(Who stood upon
His valour most) most faintly thee deny'd:
A silly Mayde his weakenes try'd,
Made him to curse, and sweare,
And shrinke for feare;
His Faith the touch, and tryall would not bide.
I feare, and wonder, when I doe behold,
These fayleings in thy chosen fold,
Therefore at thy feet low,
My self I throwe:
Begging that I may bee thought acceptable,
To gather crummes beneath thy Table;
For to drinke of thy cup,
I dare not hope,
Bicause I am unworthy, and unable./
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