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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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333

[34] Prodigyes

Wee heare of dire portents, and Prodigies,
Sad meteours of bloud, and fire,
The signes of heavenly ire,
Forewarners of the Earths calamityes,
Summons that call men in,
To give account for sinne
Presageing Death, and devastations
To Cittyes proud, and sinfull Nations.

Et penitus toto divisos orbe Brittannos.

Wee, who were Sep'ratists from the whole world,
Divided from the spacious maine,
By Neptunes wat'ry chaine,
Are now divided in our selves, and hurl'd
Into a sea of dangers,
Become a mocke to strangers,
Who whilome were their scourge, and terrour,
Such is our folly, and our errour.
The petulant proud French, Th' unstedfast Scot,
The Irish ever false, and bloudy;
And the rude Danes study,
Us utterly to ruine: 'Tis our lot
To have false freinds good store,
But Adversaryes more;
Yea every Nation doth envuye us,
Threatning to spoyle us, and destroy us.
334

And as if the whole world could not suffice,
And serve, for the production
Of our destruction,
Wee torne are with domesticke enemityes,
Our Preists invectives preach,
Strife, and dissention teach:
Pulpittes, with pulpitts are at jarres:
Are not these more then civill warres?
Like th' Elements, before the World was made,
Wee mixte are, and embroyled all,
In strife unnaturall:
The Anabaptist is through zeale starke mad,
And though Hee fairely doth professe,
The height of holynes,
Religion's very soule hee quittes,
For too much heate hath craz'd his wittes.
His noddle brings new Antichrists to light,
The purple Babylonian whore,
Is spoken of no more,
As if shee were become a Convertite;
Our rev'rent mitered Preists
Are now termd Anti-christs
As if they were Beasts more profane,
Than that upon the Vaticane.
A Clergy proud, and too licentious,
Ever more ready tithes to gather,
Then to preach truths, and rather
Conformable, then conscientious,
Neclecting for to give
Bread truely nutritive
To hungry soules, may chiefely owne
The troubles of this realme, and crowne.
335

I thirst, and daily pray for publicke peace,
But if it bee displeas'd Heavens will,
That Earth shall drinke bloud still
And that our sorowes shall not yet surcease,
Grant (Lord) that I may bee
Ever at peace, with thee:
So I no Prodigyes shall feare,
Though Death himself like one appeare.
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