Sir John Davies (1570–1626)

I KNOW my soul hath power to know all things,

Yet she is blind and ignorant in all:

I know I’m one of Nature’s little kings,

Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall.

I know my life’s a pain and but a span;

I know my sense is mock’d in everything;

And, to conclude, I know myself a Man—

Which is a proud and yet a wretched thing.