The Nymph’s Reply To The Shepherd by Sir Walter Raleigh

The Nymph’s Reply To The Shepherd by Sir Walter Raleigh If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd’s tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee and be thy love. Time drives the flocks from field to fold When rivers rage and rocks grow cold, And Philomel […]

The Conclusion by Sir Walter Raleigh

The Conclusion by Sir Walter Raleigh EVEN such is Time, that takes in trust Our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with earth and dust; Who in the dark and silent grave, When we have wander’d all our ways, Shuts up the story of our days; But from this earth, […]

The Artist by Sir Walter Raleigh

The Artist by Sir Walter Raleigh The Artist and his Luckless Wife They lead a horrid haunted life, Surrounded by the things he’s made That are not wanted by the trade. The world is very fair to see; The Artist will not let it be; He fiddles with the works of God, And makes them […]

Stans Puer ad Mensam by Sir Walter Raleigh

Stans Puer ad Mensam by Sir Walter Raleigh Attend my words, my gentle knave, And you shall learn from me How boys at dinner may behave With due propriety. Guard well your hands: two things have been Unfitly used by some; The trencher for a tambourine, The table for a drum. We could not lead […]

Song of Myself by Sir Walter Raleigh

Song of Myself by Sir Walter Raleigh I was a Poet! But I did not know it, Neither did my Mother, Nor my Sister nor my Brother. The Rich were not aware of it; The Poor took no care of it. The Reverend Mr. Drewitt Never knew it. The High did not suspect it; The […]

Sestina Otiosa by Sir Walter Raleigh

Sestina Otiosa by Sir Walter Raleigh Our great work, the Otia Merseiana, Edited by learned Mister Sampson, And supported by Professor Woodward, Is financed by numerous Bogus Meetings Hastily convened by Kuno Meyer To impose upon the Man of Business. All in vain! The accomplished Man of Business Disapproves of Otia Merseiana, Turns his back […]

Life by Sir Walter Raleigh

Life by Sir Walter Raleigh What is our life? A play of passion, Our mirth the music of division, Our mother’s wombs the tiring-houses be, Where we are dressed for this short comedy. Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is, That sits and marks still who doth act amiss. Our graves that hide us from the […]

Epitaph by Sir Walter Raleigh

Epitaph by Sir Walter Raleigh Even such is time, which takes in trust Our youth, our joys, and all we have, And pays us but with age and dust, Who in the dark and silent grave When we have wandered all our ways Shuts up the story of our days, And from which earth, and […]