The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet A Critical Edition by Amy M. Charles |
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55. | [55] Vivacitye |
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The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet | ||
[55] Vivacitye
When Phoebus is ascendent in the morne,
With the old Archer, or cold Capricorne,
The world remaines forlorne:
With the old Archer, or cold Capricorne,
The world remaines forlorne:
368
The Birds, are then as silent as the Trees,
Devested of their sommer liveryes,
And clad in mossy freeze.
Devested of their sommer liveryes,
And clad in mossy freeze.
So when thy Spirit (Lord) is from mee fled,
I am a body without heart, or head,
Even but a masse of lead.
I am a body without heart, or head,
Even but a masse of lead.
But when this blessed breath doth mee inspire,
I loathe the center, as a lumpe of mire,
And mount like active fire.
I loathe the center, as a lumpe of mire,
And mount like active fire.
Then I ascende with wings of zealous heate,
Throweing my self before thy mercy seate,
Fraught with devotion great.
Throweing my self before thy mercy seate,
Fraught with devotion great.
And ravish'd to this heavenly height, I can
Neclect the frownes, of supercilious Man,
Count richesse drosse, and branne:
Neclect the frownes, of supercilious Man,
Count richesse drosse, and branne:
Pleasure but dyrte: Honour a foolish fire:
And strength a property for Brutes t'admire:
Beauty a fraile attire.
And strength a property for Brutes t'admire:
Beauty a fraile attire.
Nor am I cur'd in my desires alone,
But in my feares, not dreadeing any stone,
Which may at mee bee throwne:
But in my feares, not dreadeing any stone,
Which may at mee bee throwne:
For Death I thinke to life a portall is,
And sicknes but a ready way to this,
And woe a seale to blisse.
And sicknes but a ready way to this,
And woe a seale to blisse.
The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet | ||