The Poetry of Sir Walter Raleigh: "The world itself is but a large prison, out of which some are daily led to execution."

By Sir Walter Raleigh

Sir Walter Raleigh was born on 22 January 1552 (though some claim 1554) at Hayes Barton, East Budleigh, Devon, England. He is perhaps most well known for introducing tobacco into England but his life is one of great intrigue. After taking part in the suppression of various Irish rebellions he took possession of their confiscated lands and rose rapidly to become a favourite of Queen Elizabeth. By 1585 he was knighted. A leader in the English exploitation of North America he gained a Royal Charter to explore and named what he found in honour of the Queen – Virginia. By secretly marrying Elizabeth Throckmorton, a lady in waiting, without the Queen’s permission, they were both sent to the tower Of London. After release he retired to Sherborne in Dorset but by 1594 he was on his way to South America in search of the fabled El Dorado, of which he wrote an amplified account of his adventures. With the Queen’s death in 1603 he was again arrested this time for treason. He was released again to search again for El Dorado but unfortunately ransacked a Spanish outpost. The Spanish demanded retribution and he was again arrested and this time beheaded on October 29th 1618. Here we publish much of his poetry. Written in a plain style and much based on actual events it delivers a powerful voice from a man as colourful as his times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Copyright Group
• Release date: May 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781783944071

Book preview

The Poetry Of Sir Walter Raleigh

Sir Walter Raleigh was born on 22 January 1552 (though some claim 1554) at Hayes Barton, East Budleigh, Devon, England.

He is perhaps most well known for introducing tobacco into England but his life is one of great intrigue.  After taking part in the suppression of various Irish rebellions he took possession of their confiscated lands and rose rapidly to become a favourite of Queen Elizabeth.  By 1585 he was knighted.  A leader in the English exploitation of North America he gained a Royal Charter to explore and named what he found in honour of the Queen – Virginia.  By secretly marrying Elizabeth Throckmorton, a lady in waiting, without the Queen’s permission, they were both sent to the tower Of London. After release he retired to Sherborne in Dorset but by 1594 he was on his way to South America in search of the fabled El Dorado, of which he wrote an amplified account of his adventures.

With the Queen’s death in 1603 he was again arrested this time for treason. He was released again to search again for El Dorado but unfortunately ransacked a Spanish outpost. The Spanish demanded retribution and he was again arrested and this time beheaded on October 29th 1618.

Here we publish much of his poetry.  Written in a plain style and much based on actual events it delivers a powerful voice from a man as colourful as his times.

Index Of Poems

A Farewell to False Love

What is Our Life

The Artist

To His Love When He Had Obtained Her

A Literature Lesson. Sir Patrick Spens in the Eighteenth Century Manner

The Conclusion

A Vision Upon the Fairy Queen

The Lie

As You Came from the Holy Land

Epitaph

The Nymph’s Reply To The Shepherd

Farewell to the Court

Stans Puer ad Mensam

Nature that Washed Her Hands in Milk

From Catullus V

Song of Myself

His Pilgrimage

Her Reply

The Ocean To Cynthia

Sir Walter Raleigh to His Son

The Passionate Man's Pilgrimage

My Last Will

The Silent Lover I

The Silent Lover II

Even Such Is Time

Now What Is Love

To a Lady with an Unruly and Ill-mannered Dog Who Bit several Persons of Importance

Hymn

On Being Challenged to Write an Epigram in the Manner of Herrick

Life

Prais'd be Diana's Fair and Harmless Light

Sestina Otiosa

Sir Walter Raleigh (The Night Before his death)

A Poesy to Prove Affection is Not Love

Walter Rawely of the Middle Temple in Commendation of the Steel Glass

The Excuse, Written by Sir Walter Raleigh in His Younger Years

An Epitaph upon the Right Honourable Sir Philip Sidney, Knight, Lord Governor of Flushing;

Another of the Same

Reply to Marlowe

Like Hermit Poor

The Advice

In the Grace of Wit, of Tongue, and Face

Fain Would I, but I Dare Not

On the Cards and Dice

Sir Walter Raleigh’s Pilgrimage

To the Translator of Lucan

Sir Walter Raleigh’s Petition to Queen Anne of Denmark

Sir Walter Raleigh’s Verses