Ballad of Things Known and Unknown

Flies in the milk I know full well :
I know men by the clothes they wear :
I know the walnut by the shell :
I know the foul sky from the fair :
I know the pear-tree by the pear :
I know the worker from the drone
And eke the good wheat from the tare :
I know all save myself alone.

I know the pourpoint by the fell
And by his gown I know the frere :
Master by varlet I can spell :
Nuns by the veils that hide their hair :
I know the sharper and his snare
And fools that fat on cates have grown :
Wines by the cask I can compare :
I know all save myself alone.

I know how horse from mule to tell :
I know the load that each can bear:
I know both Beatrice and Bell :
I know the hazards, odd and pair:
I know of visions in the air :
I know the power of Peter's throne
And how misled Bohemians were :
I know all save myself alone.

Envoi
Prince, I know all things : fat and spare,
Ruddy and pale, to me are known
And Death that endeth all our care :
I know all save myself alone.