 | The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet |  |
[47] The Pedigree
While I did narrowly investigate,
The race, and linage of my sinnes,
I found that sinne, and I were twinnes,
Begotten, and brought forth, at the same date
Of time, and so by consequence,
Subject unto the selfsame influence.
The race, and linage of my sinnes,
I found that sinne, and I were twinnes,
Begotten, and brought forth, at the same date
Of time, and so by consequence,
Subject unto the selfsame influence.
352
Destin'd to live, and dye together: Then
I blush'd for shame, and could have cry'd,
Because I was so closely ty'd,
To such an ougly Ethiopian:
But most it did afflict my heart,
'Cause t'was ordain'd, that wee must never part.
I blush'd for shame, and could have cry'd,
Because I was so closely ty'd,
To such an ougly Ethiopian:
But most it did afflict my heart,
'Cause t'was ordain'd, that wee must never part.
I wish'd her not my sister, but my wife,
For then I could have found a course,
To bee reliev'd by a divorce,
And to lay downe this burthen of my life:
But when more strictly I look'd in,
Reflecting on my self, as well as sinne,
For then I could have found a course,
To bee reliev'd by a divorce,
And to lay downe this burthen of my life:
But when more strictly I look'd in,
Reflecting on my self, as well as sinne,
I found, that wee two were together knitte,
More neare, then any Twinnes can bee
Ally'd; at least by a degree:
For wee bothe made but one Hermaphrodite;
This double shape, and forme I hated,
Which by figge leaves could not bee palliated.
More neare, then any Twinnes can bee
Ally'd; at least by a degree:
For wee bothe made but one Hermaphrodite;
This double shape, and forme I hated,
Which by figge leaves could not bee palliated.
While I my monstrous feature did deteste,
I tooke in hand a holy glasse,
Therein for to reviewe my face,
Bicause I knew, this Mirroir well exprest,
The just proportion of each line:
No glasse was ever seene so true, so fine.
I tooke in hand a holy glasse,
Therein for to reviewe my face,
Bicause I knew, this Mirroir well exprest,
The just proportion of each line:
No glasse was ever seene so true, so fine.
And though this Glasse did to me represente
Mine owne deformityes, yet there
A ray of beauty did appeare,
The ruine of a feature excellent:
This spectacle my spirits sad
Refresh'd, and did some consolation adde.
Mine owne deformityes, yet there
A ray of beauty did appeare,
The ruine of a feature excellent:
This spectacle my spirits sad
Refresh'd, and did some consolation adde.
353
And while I still did with this glasse advise,
More comfort to me did accrewe,
For it a heavenly forme did shew,
Though much defac'd by carnall vanityes,
Encourag'd by this good successe,
I still did hope to make my sorowes lesse.
More comfort to me did accrewe,
For it a heavenly forme did shew,
Though much defac'd by carnall vanityes,
Encourag'd by this good successe,
I still did hope to make my sorowes lesse.
And makeing still inquirye in this Glasse,
By humble speculation, I
Found out a present remedy,
For all deformityes, which did deface
My native shape, and by what art
I might a Monster to a saint convert.
By humble speculation, I
Found out a present remedy,
For all deformityes, which did deface
My native shape, and by what art
I might a Monster to a saint convert.
It shewd how I a liveing well might find,
Which from five conduits did cast forth,
Pure crimson streames, of soveraigne worth,
And here to bathe my self I was injoyn'd,
And then these springs should mee endue,
With an angelicke shape, and heavenly hue.
Which from five conduits did cast forth,
Pure crimson streames, of soveraigne worth,
And here to bathe my self I was injoyn'd,
And then these springs should mee endue,
With an angelicke shape, and heavenly hue.
| The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet | |