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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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[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.
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:
326

A tongue tipp'd with deceite, or guile,
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.
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.
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