Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) was an English poet, courtier, and explorer who is perhaps best known for introducing tobacco and potatoes to England. Raleigh was also a prolific writer and composer of poems, many of which were inspired by his adventures and experiences as a soldier, sailor, and statesman.
One of Raleigh's most famous poems is "The Lie," which is a meditation on the fleeting nature of fame and the dangers of vanity. In the poem, Raleigh reflects on the way in which people are often lauded for their accomplishments and deeds, only to be forgotten when they are gone. He writes:
"The lie, which Flattery doth speak in praise,
Doth oft provoke the hearer to the deed;
And cunningly can turn an angry baite
To an occasion to do well with speed.
But when the truth comes to be known, we find
The lie doth hide it, and the truth is blind."
In this poem, Raleigh cautionary tale about the dangers of believing one's own press and the importance of staying grounded and humble. He also warns against the dangers of flattery and the way in which it can manipulate and deceive.
Another well-known poem by Raleigh is "Nature, That Washed Her Hands in Milk," which is a tribute to the beauty and power of nature. In the poem, Raleigh describes the way in which nature is constantly renewing itself, and how it is able to withstand the ravages of time and the elements. He writes:
"Nature, that washed her hands in milk,
And had forgot to dry them,
Of all the tresses that she made
I thought the fairest one was thine."
This poem celebrates the resilience and majesty of nature, and the way in which it is able to withstand the passing of time. Raleigh's language is rich and evocative, and he uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the power and beauty of the natural world.
Overall, Sir Walter Raleigh's poems are notable for their wit, intelligence, and depth of feeling. Whether he is writing about the dangers of vanity or the beauty of nature, Raleigh's poems are always thought-provoking and moving, and they continue to be admired and read by readers all over the world.
The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd by Sir Walter…
In his 20s he took part in the suppression of rebellion. His expeditions under her name resulted in the lost colony of Roanoke Island in present day North Carolina, and in 1589 he left the court and went to Ireland. The share he took in the capture of Cadiz in 1596, where he was seriously wounded, was followed by a restoration of favour at court, and he was apparently reconciled to Essex, whom he accompanied on a voyage to the Azores in 1597. He had already made the acquaintance of Edmund Spenser and now visited him at his house at Kilcolman. In April 1584 Ralegh sent out two captains, Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe, on a voyage of exploration. Set Fair for Roanoke: Voyages and Colonies, 1584-1606. Gilbert was impoverished by his ventures, and Ralegh had to seek his fortune about the court.
Sir Walter Raleigh Poems > My poetic side
The expedition, on which the wreck of his fortune was spent, was ill-appointed and ill-manned. In prison he composed many treatises, and the only volume of his vast History of the World published. Hope of release and of a renewal of activity never deserted him, and he strove to reach the ear of the king by appealing to successive ministers and favourites. Philippa who married Oliver Weekes, of Tortingdon, Sussex and Anne who married William Knight, of Barrells, Warwickshire left descendants. In 1580, he took part in the English suppression of Ireland, earning a reputation as a war hero primarily for leading a massacre of unarmed Spanish and Italian troops. Ralegh encountered and attacked Spanish forces near Santo Tomé, and in the ensuing battle, his eldest son was killed.
Sir Walter Ralegh
In 1592 he was again at sea with an expedition to intercept the Spanish trade, but was recalled by the queen. Grenville, whose death in action with the Spaniards was the subject of one of Sir Walter's most vigorous pieces of prose writing. In 1590 he was named with the poet Marlowe and others as an atheist. Sir Walter Ralegh or Raleigh , British explorer, poet and historian, was born probably in 1552, though the date is not quite certain. His father, Walter Ralegh of Fardell, in the parish of Cornwood, near Plymouth, was a country gentleman of old family, but of reduced estate. Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library. Raleigh was born to a Protestant family in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne.
