Zeal without knowledge is the sister of folly
             Sir John Davies was born in 1569 at Tisbury at Wiltshire. He started his career as a lawyer in 1595. Due to misconduct, he was disbarred but thereafter earned the respect of Queen Elizabeth and was reinstated in 1601.
             Before being reinstated, he published his well renowned poem Nosce Teipsum (Of Humane Knowledge) and shortly thereafter, his Hymns of Astraea. The Hymns were dedicated to Queen Elizabeth and the poems were acrostic, meaning when the letters were spelt vertically down, they read 'Elizabetha Regina'.
             Sir John Davies served as the Solicitor-General and then as Attorney-General for Ireland. During this period, England was able to grant Irish land to individuals who were loyal, thanks to Sir John Davies.
             This poem shows Sir John Davies' capability and control over his work. There does not seem to be any rush in the making of the poem. Daring and at the same time, lighthearted, the meaning of the poem throughout is clear. Though having deep philosophical meaning, the poem exhibits clear fluidity of thought and diction.
             This poem was written just after Sir John Davies was disbarred. Therefore, I feel, that he wrote this 'political' poem to reinstate himself. He, like other poets during his era, wanted to move up the social and political ladder. He achieved this objective by saluting the highest official of influence, the Queen.
             He used Astraea, Goddess of Justice, as a comparison to the Queen. This would have appealed to the Queen's sense of fair play. The Goddess of Astraea, in the poem, has bestowed her blessings on Mankind. She was however offended by Man's way of living and she distanced herself from him. Sir John Davies, at this point, is appealing to the Queen by proclaiming that the Queen has actually bestowed man with her many blessings.
             When the passage is read aloud, the emotion and passion in i
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