Many their language labour to correct,
And for to speake in the best dialect,
But few, or none contend
Their lives t’amend.
Logicke, the art of reason others love,
But by their lives, their studyes they disprove,
Guided by appetite,
Not Reasons light.
Some divide numbers by Arithmeticke,
To smallest fractions, yet they want a tricke,
One penney to divide,
To those that neede.
Another by Geometry (at pleasure)
Both Cittyes feilds, and provinces can measure;
Yet in his life (God knowes)
No measure showes.
One studyes the accord of pleasant sounds,
While in his heart, with discord Hee abounds:
Hee’s out of tune within,
Through his vaine sinne.
Th’ Astrologer doth gaze upon the starres,
Till like a falling starre Hee unawares,
In a pitt plunged is,
That’s bottomles.
Another boasts diseases all to cure,
Yet findes not his owne pulse, or temp’rature:
His Heart a Spittle is
Of maladyes.
Of Troy, and Thebes th’ Historian can discourse,
Of Alexander Great, and of his horse,
Yet doth a babe become,
-In things at home.
Another doth professe, law to dispense,
But gives no law to his owne conscience:
Hee cares more for a fee,
Then equitye.
The Theologians rather strive to know
Gods will, then doe the same, their actions grow
Contrary to their speech,
And what they preach.
Most studye sciences, not charity,
Which is ‘twixt God, and Man the perfect tye:
(Oh Lord) instruct mee how
To love, and know.
(Ralph Knevet)
More Poetry from Ralph Knevet:
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, God Poems, Light Poems, Home Poems, Art Poems, Charity Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Reasoning Poems, Perfection Poems, Speech PoemsBased on Keywords: tye, showes, geometry, findes, fractions, professe, disprove, feilds, astrologer, rature, studye