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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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[35] Infinitenes

(Lord) Hee, who goes about to find
Thy pow'r, and bounds would to it sett,
As soone may manacle the winde,
Or aire emprison in a nette,
Yea Hee as soone may with one spanne,
Measure the largest Ocean.
But when I of thy beauty muse,
Whose onely vision to us shall,
Divine beatitude infuse,
I into greater wonder fall,
And count it even the worst of crimes,
T' admire the beautyes of the times.
Nor doth thy wisedome lesse mee take,
When I behold the order rare,
Of things, which thine owne hand did make:
Even from the gloworme, to the starre,
336

From th' Angell bright, to the darke clod,
Thy wisedome doth extend (oh God)
But when thy justice (I behold)
I am forc'd to admire, and feare,
Th' examples bee so manifold,
Of thy great judgements every where:
As well in these; as essence, Thou,
Incorruptible ar't (I know)
While I a corruptible wretch,
My Judge incorruptible view,
Deepe sighes I am compell'd to fetch;
Such sorowes doe my sinnes pursue:
Yet I find comfort, when I see,
My Saviour my Judge shall bee.
Even like Ezekiels dry'd bones,
I am reviv'd, and in my mind,
Find new, and cheerefull motions,
(Lord) when I see thy mercyes kind
Which doe in number, farre surmount
All arithmeticall account.
T'was not impossible (oh Lord)
To count thy wounds, not onely those
Wherewith thy hands, and feet were gor'd,
But such as scourges did impose,
Or those which by the crowne of thorne,
Were fix'd on Thee, in cruell scorne.
But How thy sorowes did abound,
Beyond humane capacitye;
No griefe like thine was ever found:
Thy whole life was an Agonye:
337

Yet t'was not strange, thou dids't sweat blood,
Since such a burthen did thee loade.
For both Heavens wrath, and the worlds sinne,
Thou meekely, didst vouchsafe to beare:
Millions of Sampsons, had not bin
Sufficient, such a weight to reare:
But at thy death, the Sunne puttes on
Blacke robes, while th' Elements did grone.
Never was such an obite kept,
For at thy death, the Dead did rise,
(Who in the graves long time had slept)
To celebrate thine Obsequyes:
Angells, and Devills, mourn'd to see
The Lord of life, dye on a tree.
The symptomes of thy passion (Lord)
Remembrancers are of thy love,
Who with thy bloud mads't an accord,
For sinners, in the Heavens above:
Numbers confine thy suffrings might,
But (Lord) thy love is infinite.
An Angell, with a reede of gold,
Did measure new Jerusalem;
But Angells tongues cannot unfold
Thy love, and mercy: To mete them
It passeth geometricke skill,
For they both Heaven, and earth doe fill.
Oh give me leave for to adore,
Thy wisedome, Justice, strength, and beauty,
Rich in desires I am, though poore,
In the performance of my duety,
338

Let not thy love, my love despise,
But make my heart, thy sacrifice.
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